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Ch.1-The Anbu
It was a rather gloomy feeling afternoon on the river banks surrounding Kumogakure.The sun was casting the sky in red,charcoal like streaks.The bridge from Jikari-yama(A small,buddist mountain community within the village walls.)(1) to the west Kumo market place was low hanging.The choppy current splashed over the wooden edges as people slipped on the accumulated algie.The darling sound of bells swept through the cool winds from the bridge-posts.
A silent monk passed over the bridge,feet silently moving forward.His head was slightly tilted in a sign of respect to thows around him.Upon his first few steps on the market side of the bridge,he winced.His eyes widened slightly as he looked down.A rock flopped over his foot and sunk straight down into the water without hesitation.
The man looked at a bunch of girls standing not to far away.They were all young and apparently juvenile in mindset(Judging by the rock throwing).The monk simply smiled at them and passed by,shrugging the hurt off with the ease of practice.
The girls all leaned over the booth they stood behind,and stuck their tongues out.Some of them giggled,and some high fived.
"Great Fuumiko!"A purple haired girl congradulated,although sounding a bit off put."You really are the best ninja in class.You're aim is so good!I would have never been able to hit a moving object.And he wasn't all that close either!Uaaah......."
One of the girls grinned,gapped teeth emmediately drawing everyone's attention from her clean looking face.
"It was nothin'.Them monks always walk slow anyways,Ha!I bet that guys been hit loads of times."Fuumiko mocked,looking quite proud of herself.Her teeth whistled as she spoke."Besides,your aim is O.K,Ri-Chan!"
Rikami merely frowned.She was probably never going to graduate from the Academy.She wasn't able to last year,and there she was this year.A whole head taller than all her peers,but still unable to get better.
Another girl looked up with a lolipop stick hanging from her blistered mouth.Omoi was her name,she never talked much,but enjoyed days like this with her friends.Her hands were on her hips as she stomped forward.
" 's getting late."Omoi said,dull eyes scanning the horizen.
"Yeah,I guess you right."Fuumiko agreed,Whirling her arms in an unattentive manner.All of a sudden,she hopped off the stool she stood on and stretched."Hey,does anyone know where Rei and Ikouze said they'd be?"
"They said they'd be in the farmers district.Reiko's momma needed food for the festival on Sunday.It's gonna be so much fun,isn't it,Fuumiko!"Rikami shouted,dancing in glee.Everyone knew that Tachibana Shizuka,Tachibana Reiko's Mother,was the best cook in the village.That was probably the reason Reiko was so popular with the other children.
"Yeah,I can't wait!Daddy took me shopping for a Yukata yesterday.It's really pretty!"Fuumiko gushed,trying to detail it in best to her friend.Her arms gestured wildly as she talked.
Omoi simply looked into the alleys nervously.She didn't like being seperated.It scared her.
----With Reiko and Ikouze----
Reiko bounced on the heels of her feet,black hair twisting around her arms.She glanced around once to make sure no one was looking.She reached into one of the stands and plucked out two apples.She quickly jammed one into the basket she was holding and the other into her jacket.
Glancing around again,she took off down the street.
She rounded the corner,almost crashing into a speeding buggey.
"Hey,watch where you're going!"The man driving the buggey yelled ahead of her.
She just glared at the man's back as she continued to run.
Two blocks down,Reiko slowed to a walk.Her forehead was sweaty as she sat the basket down.
She had wanted a snack but didn't have enough money left over from her mothers list.Reiko knew that if she had been caught,she would have been in a whole lot of hell.
I was all over,and all she had to do now was wait for her friend to get back from festival shopping.
----
The stars had begun to pop out in the cherry-colored sky,when Reiko spotted a familiar face.Fujiwara Ikouze weaved her way through the crowd over to Reiko.Her hair was messy from the day long since left behind.
"Ah,good,Rei-Chan.I'm so glad you're already here."Ikouze sighed,picking up the basket on the ground.She tossed a bag over to Reiko."That's yours,by the way.Like I was saying!I wanna get home as soon as possible.I'm late,and Mama wanted me home early to help her out with the chickens.They've all got ticks."
Reiko took a brown paper-wrapped parcel out of the bag she had just recieved.Tearing the paper off,she saw that it was a short purple kimono.She glanced over at Ikouze.
"Nice,shirt?"Reiko said.
"No,it's a kimono!"
"Yeah,it's real pretty and all,but ummm..."Reiko smiled,gesturing with her right hand."It's just really short,ya know?"
Ikouze laughed,her chubby cheeks puffing.(2)
"It's short because you said you were going to wear your new hakama with it!Right?"Ikouze asked,grinning.
"Oh,yeah!I was!Sorry,I forgot.I guess I'm just distracted today."Reiko mummbled,rubbing the back of her neck.She glanced quickly at the basket on Ikouze's arm,and then smiled.
------
The small group of children clambered up the rope-ladders of Jikari Yama.
Fuumiko,Rikami,Reiko,Omoi,then Ikouze.Higher and higher they climbed.The ropes somehow managing to hold them all.
The stars were now drenched in dark blue.A great many lights were visible in the night,and new ones popped up every second.It was always a truly breathtaking experience to view Kumogakure from atop Jikari.
The first stop the group made was at the civilian part of the mountain.
There were many houses held into alcoves by stilted structures.A series of rope ladders,stairs,and basket-like,woven bridges spidered their way into a system of pathways.
3 of the 5 kids easily dropped from the ladder onto an under-hanging bridge.
Reiko and Ikouze stayed on the main bridge,though,and kept making their way upwards.The climb was difficult after another minute,due to the cloud banks around the top.Like smoke,it obscured the girls' view of their surroundings.
"Aa,maybe we should've been quicker at the market!The north clouds are starting to move in."Reiko complained,trying to see her hands in front of her."This fog is pissing me off!"
"Everything pisses you of,Reiko..."Ikouze thought,humming under breath.
Upon reaching the peak,Reiko hoisted herself up first,and then went back to help Ikouze.Once both were steadily on the arrival platform,they hurriedly moved away from the edge.
If it weren't for the climb,you wouldn't realize that you were even on a mountain,let alone the top of one.
The whole thing had been completely terraformed.Dirt,from the low-grounds,and altitude surviving plants had been moved up and given their place.
Ikouze carried the basket from before on her shoulder,and the shopping bags from earlier were strapped to her back by means of a special belt.The belt was commonly used by the people in Kumo who needed to make extended trips up the mountains.
"Wow,it sure is late!"Ikouze yawned,throwing her arms out.She missed Reiko trying to reach into the basket."Mom is gonna KILL me!"
"Yeah..."Reiko agreed offhandedly as she grit her teeth.She had to find someway of getting that apple back!Reiko had thrown the other away out of fear that someone would see her with it.
Her stomach growled.
She was hungry,and her family wouldn't be eating that night.It was all because of the up in coming festival.It was tradition for all villagers to fast for the 2 days prior to the festival.
The first day was called Senshi no Shin(Soldier of Faith).It was where every member of Kumo's militant forces(Police,Ninja,ect.)are honored by the people in a show of will.
It was supposed to mean something along the lines of,"If I do not eat for you,that means you are my hero."
The second day was simply a continuation of the first day,but it also included a special ceremony at the old Memorial Building.People flocked to the site to pay homage to the dead.
The festival itself was called "Hanami".This was a holiday for viewing the new cherry blossoms.It was pretty simple,but it meant a lot to everyone in the country of Kirigakure.The festival just brought a more serene feel to the area.
"Ne!Ne!Did you see Sudou-Sensei at the market?She had her baby with her.Momo-Kun is so cute!"Ikouze started off,grinning at her friends surprised face.
"No,I didn't."Reiko replied.She tried to smile through the pain in her stomach."I'm so glad she has Momoto now.She's eased up a whole lot in class."
"Yeah,I finally have time to watch TV in the afternoon."Ikouze laughed,shifting the basket on her shoulder nervously.You never know when your teachers could be behind you.Especially ninja teachers.
"Is that all you care about?Geez,you are so pampered!"Reiko admonished as her eyes rolled."My mother won't let us even get a TV!"
"Which is why you spend so much time at my house?"Ikouze asked,raising an eyebrow.
"Nuh-uh!"
The two laughed as they walked through another cloudbank.
"Hey,Reiko-Chan?"Ikouze said timidly,shuffling her feet."Can you help me bring this stuff in when we get to my house?I really need someone there so mom doesn't blow up."
Score one for Reiko.
"Sure."
She would just grab the apple and leave.
-----------
Almost as soon as Ikouze entered threw the front gate,she could tell something was wrong.For one,the front door was opened.Two,her mother wasn't outside like usual.
Ikouze preceded slowly,but not enough to tip Reiko off that something wasn't right.
It wasn't until she stuck out her arm,that Reiko got the message to stop walking.
"On second thought,why don't you go home and rest?I can get this,I'm sure."Ikouze ushered.There were strange voices now coming out from the house.
"But...alright."Reiko muttered.She started walking away dejectedly with only a last flickered look at the basket.It would be a long night for Reiko.
Once her friend moved out of sight,Ikouze started forward again.
Out of nowhere,someone grabbed her shoulder.
"You are to wait here."
Ikouze screamed as she came face-to-face with an Anbu.
Ch.1-The Anbu
It was a rather gloomy feeling afternoon on the river banks surrounding Kumogakure.The sun was casting the sky in red,charcoal like streaks.The bridge from Jikari-yama(A small,buddist mountain community within the village walls.)(1) to the west Kumo market place was low hanging.The choppy current splashed over the wooden edges as people slipped on the accumulated algie.The darling sound of bells swept through the cool winds from the bridge-posts.
A silent monk passed over the bridge,feet silently moving forward.His head was slightly tilted in a sign of respect to thows around him.Upon his first few steps on the market side of the bridge,he winced.His eyes widened slightly as he looked down.A rock flopped over his foot and sunk straight down into the water without hesitation.
The man looked at a bunch of girls standing not to far away.They were all young and apparently juvenile in mindset(Judging by the rock throwing).The monk simply smiled at them and passed by,shrugging the hurt off with the ease of practice.
The girls all leaned over the booth they stood behind,and stuck their tongues out.Some of them giggled,and some high fived.
"Great Fuumiko!"A purple haired girl congradulated,although sounding a bit off put."You really are the best ninja in class.You're aim is so good!I would have never been able to hit a moving object.And he wasn't all that close either!Uaaah......."
One of the girls grinned,gapped teeth emmediately drawing everyone's attention from her clean looking face.
"It was nothin'.Them monks always walk slow anyways,Ha!I bet that guys been hit loads of times."Fuumiko mocked,looking quite proud of herself.Her teeth whistled as she spoke."Besides,your aim is O.K,Ri-Chan!"
Rikami merely frowned.She was probably never going to graduate from the Academy.She wasn't able to last year,and there she was this year.A whole head taller than all her peers,but still unable to get better.
Another girl looked up with a lolipop stick hanging from her blistered mouth.Omoi was her name,she never talked much,but enjoyed days like this with her friends.Her hands were on her hips as she stomped forward.
" 's getting late."Omoi said,dull eyes scanning the horizen.
"Yeah,I guess you right."Fuumiko agreed,Whirling her arms in an unattentive manner.All of a sudden,she hopped off the stool she stood on and stretched."Hey,does anyone know where Rei and Ikouze said they'd be?"
"They said they'd be in the farmers district.Reiko's momma needed food for the festival on Sunday.It's gonna be so much fun,isn't it,Fuumiko!"Rikami shouted,dancing in glee.Everyone knew that Tachibana Shizuka,Tachibana Reiko's Mother,was the best cook in the village.That was probably the reason Reiko was so popular with the other children.
"Yeah,I can't wait!Daddy took me shopping for a Yukata yesterday.It's really pretty!"Fuumiko gushed,trying to detail it in best to her friend.Her arms gestured wildly as she talked.
Omoi simply looked into the alleys nervously.She didn't like being seperated.It scared her.
----With Reiko and Ikouze----
Reiko bounced on the heels of her feet,black hair twisting around her arms.She glanced around once to make sure no one was looking.She reached into one of the stands and plucked out two apples.She quickly jammed one into the basket she was holding and the other into her jacket.
Glancing around again,she took off down the street.
She rounded the corner,almost crashing into a speeding buggey.
"Hey,watch where you're going!"The man driving the buggey yelled ahead of her.
She just glared at the man's back as she continued to run.
Two blocks down,Reiko slowed to a walk.Her forehead was sweaty as she sat the basket down.
She had wanted a snack but didn't have enough money left over from her mothers list.Reiko knew that if she had been caught,she would have been in a whole lot of hell.
I was all over,and all she had to do now was wait for her friend to get back from festival shopping.
----
The stars had begun to pop out in the cherry-colored sky,when Reiko spotted a familiar face.Fujiwara Ikouze weaved her way through the crowd over to Reiko.Her hair was messy from the day long since left behind.
"Ah,good,Rei-Chan.I'm so glad you're already here."Ikouze sighed,picking up the basket on the ground.She tossed a bag over to Reiko."That's yours,by the way.Like I was saying!I wanna get home as soon as possible.I'm late,and Mama wanted me home early to help her out with the chickens.They've all got ticks."
Reiko took a brown paper-wrapped parcel out of the bag she had just recieved.Tearing the paper off,she saw that it was a short purple kimono.She glanced over at Ikouze.
"Nice,shirt?"Reiko said.
"No,it's a kimono!"
"Yeah,it's real pretty and all,but ummm..."Reiko smiled,gesturing with her right hand."It's just really short,ya know?"
Ikouze laughed,her chubby cheeks puffing.(2)
"It's short because you said you were going to wear your new hakama with it!Right?"Ikouze asked,grinning.
"Oh,yeah!I was!Sorry,I forgot.I guess I'm just distracted today."Reiko mummbled,rubbing the back of her neck.She glanced quickly at the basket on Ikouze's arm,and then smiled.
------
The small group of children clambered up the rope-ladders of Jikari Yama.
Fuumiko,Rikami,Reiko,Omoi,then Ikouze.Higher and higher they climbed.The ropes somehow managing to hold them all.
The stars were now drenched in dark blue.A great many lights were visible in the night,and new ones popped up every second.It was always a truly breathtaking experience to view Kumogakure from atop Jikari.
The first stop the group made was at the civilian part of the mountain.
There were many houses held into alcoves by stilted structures.A series of rope ladders,stairs,and basket-like,woven bridges spidered their way into a system of pathways.
3 of the 5 kids easily dropped from the ladder onto an under-hanging bridge.
Reiko and Ikouze stayed on the main bridge,though,and kept making their way upwards.The climb was difficult after another minute,due to the cloud banks around the top.Like smoke,it obscured the girls' view of their surroundings.
"Aa,maybe we should've been quicker at the market!The north clouds are starting to move in."Reiko complained,trying to see her hands in front of her."This fog is pissing me off!"
"Everything pisses you of,Reiko..."Ikouze thought,humming under breath.
Upon reaching the peak,Reiko hoisted herself up first,and then went back to help Ikouze.Once both were steadily on the arrival platform,they hurriedly moved away from the edge.
If it weren't for the climb,you wouldn't realize that you were even on a mountain,let alone the top of one.
The whole thing had been completely terraformed.Dirt,from the low-grounds,and altitude surviving plants had been moved up and given their place.
Ikouze carried the basket from before on her shoulder,and the shopping bags from earlier were strapped to her back by means of a special belt.The belt was commonly used by the people in Kumo who needed to make extended trips up the mountains.
"Wow,it sure is late!"Ikouze yawned,throwing her arms out.She missed Reiko trying to reach into the basket."Mom is gonna KILL me!"
"Yeah..."Reiko agreed offhandedly as she grit her teeth.She had to find someway of getting that apple back!Reiko had thrown the other away out of fear that someone would see her with it.
Her stomach growled.
She was hungry,and her family wouldn't be eating that night.It was all because of the up in coming festival.It was tradition for all villagers to fast for the 2 days prior to the festival.
The first day was called Senshi no Shin(Soldier of Faith).It was where every member of Kumo's militant forces(Police,Ninja,ect.)are honored by the people in a show of will.
It was supposed to mean something along the lines of,"If I do not eat for you,that means you are my hero."
The second day was simply a continuation of the first day,but it also included a special ceremony at the old Memorial Building.People flocked to the site to pay homage to the dead.
The festival itself was called "Hanami".This was a holiday for viewing the new cherry blossoms.It was pretty simple,but it meant a lot to everyone in the country of Kirigakure.The festival just brought a more serene feel to the area.
"Ne!Ne!Did you see Sudou-Sensei at the market?She had her baby with her.Momo-Kun is so cute!"Ikouze started off,grinning at her friends surprised face.
"No,I didn't."Reiko replied.She tried to smile through the pain in her stomach."I'm so glad she has Momoto now.She's eased up a whole lot in class."
"Yeah,I finally have time to watch TV in the afternoon."Ikouze laughed,shifting the basket on her shoulder nervously.You never know when your teachers could be behind you.Especially ninja teachers.
"Is that all you care about?Geez,you are so pampered!"Reiko admonished as her eyes rolled."My mother won't let us even get a TV!"
"Which is why you spend so much time at my house?"Ikouze asked,raising an eyebrow.
"Nuh-uh!"
The two laughed as they walked through another cloudbank.
"Hey,Reiko-Chan?"Ikouze said timidly,shuffling her feet."Can you help me bring this stuff in when we get to my house?I really need someone there so mom doesn't blow up."
Score one for Reiko.
"Sure."
She would just grab the apple and leave.
-----------
Almost as soon as Ikouze entered threw the front gate,she could tell something was wrong.For one,the front door was opened.Two,her mother wasn't outside like usual.
Ikouze preceded slowly,but not enough to tip Reiko off that something wasn't right.
It wasn't until she stuck out her arm,that Reiko got the message to stop walking.
"On second thought,why don't you go home and rest?I can get this,I'm sure."Ikouze ushered.There were strange voices now coming out from the house.
"But...alright."Reiko muttered.She started walking away dejectedly with only a last flickered look at the basket.It would be a long night for Reiko.
Once her friend moved out of sight,Ikouze started forward again.
Out of nowhere,someone grabbed her shoulder.
"You are to wait here."
Ikouze screamed as she came face-to-face with an Anbu.
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