A Secret Life

Chapter 20 Last Test and Lost Friend

Over the next few days Graywolf and the others have resorted to resting finally.  Graywolf was begining to become very antsy.  "That's it.  I can't take it!  When is the next test going to start?"  The others follwed her with their eyes as she paced.  They knew it was bad for her to get bored and now they were about to see the monster within.  "Here we go."  Hikashi said.  

"Alright Jamie time to spar."  He sighed and got up.  He knew better then to question his sister when she was bored and on edge.  "This is going to hurt."  He groaned out as he walked over to the open space.  The match began and Chorro watched her amused at her annoyance.  One thing him adn Ryuu could agree on, it was entertaining to watch her annoyed.  

Once the match was over Jamie motioned to Hothead.  He knew what to do after that.  He snuck up behind his sister and knocked her out.  "What was that for?"  Ryuu asked them alittle worried.  "Careful Ryuu someone might mistaken that question for caring about her."  Hothead teased.  "Relax.  We do it all the time when she starts to get unhinged like that.  She can't stand being bored so we had to get creative."  Jamie said laying back in his spot.  

They went to sleep that night with Graywolf still unconsious and the next morning a horn was blown shaking them all awake.  Graywolf jumped up and rubbed the back of her head.  Then she glared at the dou.  "You idiots knocked me out again didn't you?"  "Maybe."  They both said in unison yawning.  She was about to say something else when a young man came in telling them all to follow him.  "We will settle this later."  She warned.  

As they walked out they went to an area.  Graywolf heard alot of whispering coming from the building.  "What is going on in there?"  Jamie asked in the open.  Everyone looked to him.  "What?  Everyone was thinking it."  He defended.  Graywolf smiled at her bonded.  They walked through the doors to see 12 teams besides the three teams of them.  "Interesting."  Ryuu said.  They followed the young man up the stairs and he told them to just wait here till Lady Nadina spoke.  

Soon Nadina made herself known and everyones eyes were on her.  "Now you all have made it this far.  Lets see what team will win this years test of the ninja.  Now just because you loose today does not mean that you will not be qualified to be a ninja.  Now we will first start off with Hikashi and Bono.  Let us begin."  Hikashi got down and faced Bono.  They pretty much got the point.  It was a fight.  The ref in the middle explained the rules.  At all costs try to avoid death but if nececary to determin a winner do what must be done.  Other then that do your worst.  Last one standing wins.  Simple enough.  

Graywolf realized that all the ones here were very powerful and she had an uneasy feeling that something bad was about to happen so she pulled Ryuu aside.  "What is it Graywolf?"  "I got a bad feeling.  Look if something happens to me...."  "Graywolf don't."  He got what she was getting at and he didn't want to hear it.  "Listen to me Ryuu.  If something does happen to me.  I want you to take the kids and keep them with you.  I know I can trust my family but they are so attached to you that I feel they will do better if you are the one to take care of them."  "Graywolf."  "Promise me!"  "Okay, if, and that is a big if, I will take the kids.  But Graywolf nothing is going to happen to you.  I know you can handle this."  

She smiled at him and he did the same.  He was a total pain which she has mentioned many times to people but he really did always have her back when it came down to it.  'Ugh, this idiot is my best friend.  Kill me now.'  "I knew it!"  Jamie yelled at the two.  Alot of people around looked at him bewildered.  Not sure where that outburst had come from and some of them had never seen a talking wolf.  "Oopps.  Sorry guys."  "Stay out of my head big brother."  Graywolf told him bored.  

"HYKASHI WINS."  "Sweet."  She said walking back just in time to see Boro being carted away.  Hykashi walked back up.  "Knock out?"  "Knock out."  He confimed.  "Nice."  They highfived him and the others were up for their fights.  They were halfway through the fights when an explotion went off.  Chorro grabbed Graywolf by the waist and moved her back.  "I'm sorry."  He told her as he ran off.  She noticed he was fighting against the village and realized that he chose to be the wepon that they trained him to be instead of the ninja he could be.  

"This is what that bad feeling was."  Ryuu said after he was thrown beside her.  "Guess so.  Let's get this over with."  They both ran over the edge and joined the fight.  Fist after fist kick after kick.  They faught and faught till Chorro and Graywolf was nose to nose.  "This isn't you.  You know that."  "Graywolf you don't understand."  "No, I believe in you.  Don't be this guy.  Please."  He stared at her and someone threw a knife at Graywolf.  Something snapped in Chorro as she got hit.  He turned and attacked the one who hit her.  

His siblings saw that he had changed sides and decided to follow suit.  When his brother got close to him he began to talk as he faught.  "What's going on?"  "Change of plans.  They shouldn't have attacked Graywolf."  He smiled seeing his brother chose Graywolfs side.  

Soon the battle died down and Graywolf didnt understand why.  After the remaining traitors ran off they had time to look around.  "Graywolf."  She heard the yell and looked up.  It was Keni.  "What is it Keni?"  "You should look at this.  It's for you."  She jumped up to read what was on the note.  

'Graywolf My name is Ocaru.  I have been meeting with your brother for quite some time.  He has decided that it was time for him to come to my side of things.  He wants more power and who could blame him.  His brother turned his back on the family and he is finished with them all.  Though that is not your most pressing issue.  You see while they were sleeping last night I injected Chorro and Konkron with a slow acting but lethal injection.  You know this poison well considering you created it.  It holds the same antidote but you must act quickly or you will not have them much longer.  I admit I did tamper with it a bit to make it slow acting but all the same.  I will see you soon my dear.'

At that moment Konkron and Chorro fell to the ground.  "Shit."  She jumped down and made the antidote and gave it to them.  They were unconscious but she could tell they were going to make it.  After that she let it hit her.  She lost her brother today.  Takuke left with that man and she failed to keep him there.  What was she going to do now?  She walked to an isolated section and cried just enough to get the pain out then took charge.  

"What's done is done.  Let's get things back to the way they were to the best of our ability."  "Graywolf."  Hykashi tried.  "No, he made his choice.  Now we make ours.  Wallow in self pity or fix what is broken.  We start with the arena and the wounded.  Then we go after Takuke."  After that was said Keni came to give her a bone crushing hug and started carrying off the wounded to the infirmary.  After that they all did their part and took care of their own.  

'I don't know if Takuke will ever come back but I'm going to try.  But first I have to take care of the here and now.  Don't worry brother.  I'll get you for this, then I will bring you home.'