Ninja Love Story

Chapter 14

"Have you really gotten your memory back, Sheeta?" Yoshitsune asked incredulously. Hanzo and I had made it back to base in one piece and had gathered everyone in the dining room.

"Yes. I remember everything now." I answered.

Hyosuke piped up, "Even your background?" I nodded.

"So are you really an aristocrat?" asked Enya.

I took a breath. "Yes. I'm the only daughter of the Menai family."

Hyuga shook his head. "Why would someone like you be in a forest so close to a battlefield then?"

"Perhaps it's best if we stopped asking her questions and just let her speak." Hanzo said. "Sheeta, tell us what happened. From the beginning."

I took a breath and spoke before I had even compiled my thoughts. Somehow, I knew what to say before thinking. "For generations, the Menai clan guarded the Three Sacred Treasures of the Imperial family as it was our duty to oversee their protection. However, one day, as I was doing my chores, Father called me to him. I sensed that something was very wrong..."

"It is now time to pass the rites of the Treasures onto you, Sheeta," Father said.

I stared at him, confused. "But I thought that would only come to pass after my coming-of-age...?"

Father shook his head and grabbed my hands. "There's no time! I must prepare the succession ceremony for you at least, to signify you are now their guardian." Father rushed about the room to gather the things he needed, but I noticed he was very on edge.

"Papa, what's the matter? Why is there no time...?" I asked, fearfully

"I've received word that the Heishi army is coming for us and the Treasures," Father looked at me as he said this and took hold of my shoulders. He knelt down in front of me, "Sheeta, honey. If things take a turn for the worse, I want you to take care of the Treasures."

I looked around the room, but saw nothing that resembled these Treasures. "But... where are they?"

Father shook his head and stood up. "Don't worry. They are hidden in a safe place beyond the Heishi's reach. They are her-"

Just then, a great rumble shook the ground beneath our feet and angry fists pounded on our doors.. The door splintered and in poured the Heishi men. 

Father grabbed my arm and threw me to the secret exit. "Sheeta, run!"

My parents had gone over an escape plan should anything happen; we were always to meet up at the barn with the horses and make our escape. My father had found my mother and ran to me while I waited for them. 

Somehow though, our horses had escaped except for one. But it was still only a youngling and would never support the weight of three people. My parents looked to each other with tears in their eyes.

"Sheeta," my mother whispered, "You must promise us that you will continue further and not look back." 

Father helped me on the horse and squeezed my hand just as the barn door thudded. "Promise us, Sheeta!"

"Y-yes. I promise! Mama, Papa. I lo-"

I didn't get to finish.

My parents spooked my horse and she took off without another glance. It was only after I had made it to the hill that I broke my promise.

I looked back. Only to see my home, the very one I had been born and raised in, in flames. The smoke turning the golden moon black with cinders dancing on the wind. Men shouted and screeched orders, but I was too far away to hear the words. Suddenly, from the distance, I saw a group of soldiers scurry from the barn lead by two people. I recognized my mother's kimono immediately, even though I was so far away. 

They slammed my parents to the ground at the feet of the general, who seemed to order them to be blindfolded. After a few more moments of time standing still, the general stabbed my mother, then my father, their wails cut hauntingly short. NO-!

My body froze and my mind completely shut down. I couldn't move or think as I watched the army pick my parents' lifeless bodies and toss them into the roaring fires.

Mama, Papa... No! 

I saw one soldier in particular point in my direction and shout indiscernibly. My body reacted immediately and reigned my horse in. Egging her into a run, I heard thunderous hooves pound the ground behind me as we neared the forest. My mind was caught in a whirlwind of despair and I soon felt myself loosing grip on my horse's reigns. Taking a jump over a fallen tree, I fell off and rolled down a hill. I got up and walked for a few feet but collapsed soon after, my world becoming a haze of shapes and shadows. 

"I lost my memory there."