XIII

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  Arc XIII Chapter 9

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  For a change, it was quiet in Amegakure. Far too quiet. The sky above the village had gone silent. The rain had ceased, giving way to the golden morning sun.

  The sun glittered on the horizon, her rays warm, comforting. It was a rare sight in these lands. Whereas rain had proven since time immemorial abundant, ever constant, the same could not be said about their lustrous sister. Few were the times that the sun graced the village with her presence. As such, her presence, rare as it might be, was appreciated by the local population. Even a single day without incessant rain was a much needed day of respite.

  And yet, the rain clung to the village, staunchly and stubbornly as ever. Even now, it refused to loosen its iron grip. The steel, the bricks, the roofs, the pipes, the cables, the lampposts, the railings dripped, each droplet slowly tumbling earthwards.

  Amidst all, two figures stood at the eastern gate, their umbrellas already folded now that the rain had ceased. A boy and a girl, brother and sister respectively, each with a backpack and fully geared for their upcoming mission.

  Together, Yuji and Mayumi were waiting for a certain friend of theirs to arrive, one who had made herself sparse despite assurances to the contrary. She was supposed to be punctual. And yet, she evidently was not this time. Quite the contrary, the girl was late despite them being meant to depart for a ‘highly important’ mission that they had been ‘personally assigned to all three of them’, by her ‘Onee-san’ no less. That was all that Yuki had told them yesterday in her eagerness.

  Ignoring the fact that they had been assigned a ‘highly important’ mission completely out of nowhere despite not having even graduated from the academy, neither of them had the slightest inkling of an idea what this supposedly ‘highly important’ mission exactly entailed, not to mention what her cherished ‘Onee-san’ had to do with all of it. In summary, the entire situation left them both with more questions than answers, most of which would most likely remain unanswered.

  “... ... ...” Yuji crossed his arms, his gaze wandering around. He scanned the area. Folk, merchants, artisans, labourers filled the bustling streets, yet neither the girl nor her beloved feline companion were anywhere to be seen. Granted, the girl had always been a rather illusive figure, but this was odd for her. She had never been one to break her word. Not when it had been she who had summoned them here. It was strange. “Hmmm ...”

  Mayumi looked at him, her eyes hopeful as usual. “I guess Yuki must be late. I hope that nothing happened to her, Nii-san.”

  “...” Yuji smiled at his sister. She was always such a caring soul, even when her concern was misplaced. “Don’t worry, Mayumi, she’s probably just late. Yuki will come. I’m sure of it. Remember how she always wanted to introduce us to her ‘magnificent Onee-san’. She wouldn’t waste this opportunity.”

  Mayumi pondered his words before agreeing. “I guess you’re right. So we’re finally going to meet her, eh?”

  Yuji merely nodded. “Apparently.”

  “Hmm ...” Mayumi tilted her head in a manner that reminded him way too much of ‘her’. His sister’s gesture lacked ‘her’ distinct sharpness, but even now Mayumi made a conscious effort to imitate her secret idol, to be even a little bit like ‘her’. Why would she not?

  It was three years ago that the girl saved them from the depths of despair. To this day, her name remained unknown, and yet, the both of them still remembered her face, her voice, her silken black hair, her aura like it was yesterday. Beautiful, magnificent, almost divine in nature. Nor had they forgotten the kindness she had shown them.

  They owed her much, much more than they would ever be able to repay. The signet ring that she had given them back then ... The white chrysanthemum on black ground ... Her crest opened them doors they never thought possible.

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  He and his sister were just some nameless orphans. Like so many others. Without a name. Without family. Without money. They were nothing, even less than nothing. The lowest of the low. Worth less than the dirt on the ground. And yet, the moment that he showed her crest, people started listening. No matter who, ninja, merchants, clerks, suddenly, they all listened. Suddenly, their pleas were heard, their questions answered, their requests no longer ignored. They were given food. They were given clothes. They were given lodging. They were even granted admission to the ninja academy without a second thought. It was ... unnerving. All thanks to a single ring. All thanks to a crest, her crest.

  Though, the latter was hardly surprising. These days, the academy was not particularly finicky when it came to recruitment. Especially, when people volunteered like he and his sister. Three years ago, the village had introduced universal conscription. Everyone was meant to serve. Now, they were taking everyone they could get regardless of family, regardless of background, regardless of ability. The village needed and wanted bodies. The more, the better. That much was clear.

  “Hmm ...” Mayumi tilted her head, her thoughts elsewhere. “I wonder what her ‘Onee-san’ will be like.”

  Yuji seconded her opinion. It would be a lie to say that he was not curious, either. Not after all the endless litany of praises Yuki had been busy singing of her. It was not much of a secret to say that Yuki had a patent sister complex. “I guess we’ll see if she’ll live up to expectations.”

  Mayumi nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. “Yuki calls her the ‘most magnificent Onee-san’ in existence.”

  “‘Kind, generous, flawless’”, Yuji added.

  “‘Elegance incarnate. Perfection.’” Mayumi raised her index finger, further quoting their friend.

  “‘The strongest. The brightest. The best. Unmatched in strength.’” Yuji chuckled.

  “‘The stars whisper her name. Even heaven envies her.’” Mayumi pointed out.

  “... ... ...” Yuji merely shook his head. By now, they were fairly used to Yuki’s eulogies, but it took admittedly time to get used to.

  Mayumi looked at him. “Do you think Yuki was telling the truth?”

  “Who knows.” Yuji shrugged his shoulders. “She was probably exaggerating somewhat, but I think there’s some truth to it.”

  “You think so?” Mayumi wondered.

  Yuji merely nodded. “Yes, Yuki can be quite ... enthusiastic when it comes to her Nee-san, but think about it, for a moment, what do we know about her? Based on what I can tell, Yuki must be from a rich and powerful family.”

  “Hmm, are you sure?” Mayumi looked at him, sunk in thoughts.

  Yuji’s voice left no doubt. “Have you never noticed, Mayumi, the way the teachers and instructors at the academy treat her. Also, she’s always wearing her expensive kimonos. She’s been changing them daily. And every time she leaves the academy, she’s always surrounded by guards. They’re waiting for her at the gates. Not forgetting, her speech and behaviour ... They’re different. And the fact that she’s always bringing her favourite cat along.”

  “Ah, yes, you mean Katsuki.” Mayumi brightened up at the cat’s mention, a happy smile surfacing on her lips. “Isn’t she lovely? She’s such a cuddly and huggly cat. Her fur is so soft and fluffy, right? Katsuki also loves when I’m scratching her chin and earsies.”

  “...” Yuji gave his beloved sister a blank stare. “Yes, she’s cute.” It was hard to deny. “But I think you miss the main point here, Mayumi, the cat is talking! She’s speaking our language! She even claims to be the hereditary princess of the cat clan!

  Katsuki must be one of these animal familiars we learned about! Now, who has access to them? Only clans and powerful ninja. So, yes, I am sure, Yuki must be from a rich and powerful family. Most likely from some old and influential clan. And so must be her sister.”

  Mayumi tilted her little head, thinking and pondering. “Hmm, if you put it all like that ... I guess it makes ... sense. I’ve never thought about it this way.”

  “Which was probably for the best”, Yuji conceded. “We’d’ve never made friends with her if it wasn’t for you. If you hadn’t talked to her.”

  Mayumi lowered her gaze. “Well, I only did because she always looked so lonely there with her bento. Nobody wanted to hang out with it. They all ignore her. Just like us.”

  “Not like us”, Yuji corrected his sister, harsh as the reality might be.

  “What do you mean?” Mayumi raised her eyebrow.

  Yuji took a deep breath, sighing. “They ignore us because we’re worthless scum that somehow made it into the academy. They ignore her because they hate her for being the pampered little princess. And for being the teacher’s darling and the top of the class. That’s how it is. We’re not the same.”

  “Hmm, I see ...” Mayumi turned pensive before returning to her more cheerful mood, more in line with her personality. A bright smile crossed her lips. “Better for us, then, I guess. If they don’t wanna be friends with her, that’s their problem. Yuki has always been kind to us.”

  “She has ...” Yuji nodded, his arms crossed. Despite their less than distinguished background, Yuki never looked down on them for who they were. Even if it was mostly due to her being an oddball, herself. Still, it was a rare sight.

  Mayumi clenched her little fists. “And she’s been quite happy to call us her friends.”

  “She has ...” Yuji agreed.

  “And she’s always wanted to introduce us to her Onee-san”, Mayumi added.

  “That’s true ...” Yuji pondered her words. Maybe the girls saw them indeed as her friends. Friends ... What a strange word. What a strange feeling. “... ... ...”

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