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For people, nay even animals, for them to live their hearts have to beat. For a heart to beat it most be in proper working conditions. Maybe it’s a long shot, the true process of passing, but it gone from shocking to boring. In all honestly , she didn’t know if she wanted to stay on her back like this any longer, consequences be damned.
So okay…3…2….1
“LETS GO”
As she rose from her bed, standing up suddenly she realized just how hoarse her voice is and how nauseous it makes me feel & how
…
these are not her clothes. Trying to overcome shock, the ‘princess’ bothered herself more with the, where was she and the, how she could even be. For she remembered it well, as her arm and chest were suddenly pierced by one of the few not magic-like Deviant Chips. How Emonzaemon had seen through her and back stabbed her much like a ninja would, even if he always argued that he wasn’t that hair splitter.
Still for her to be here now, someone must have saved her. Was… it her dear Shichika… even after she revealed to him the finale of her plans.
“Shichika, is it really you”
“Seems you’re finally awake snake lady”
…and so her ‘caretaker’ rose from a futon, with the mask of a Wolf visible on her head, so she had been captured. By the Maniwa clan, there were worse fates for sure. But that didn't mean she liked this one.
“Out of the fire and into the pan is it? Very well, MANI-”swiftly the girl with the wolf mask put her hands over her mouth
“A. you’re being far too loud, it’s dangerous for you with your injuries & to us as we’re mostly hiding”
…though she had an answer to that, annoying a ninja slayer at this distance was a death sentence & she didn’t wish to fight that fight so soon again.
“B. Is that really the way you speak to your savior? If we hadn’t been enemies before I’d be offended”
That voice, her only real point of reference to her was the intonation. Was this a student of Maniwa Kyouken she was talking to or…
“Kyouken of the Maniwa, is that you”
“Togame of the Hida, the only thing that frightens me more than your wisdom is that fact that it seems you can’t recognize me, I thought my abilities with the Medicinal Mask had improved and that the surgeons of the Arasaka would allow you to recuperate fully”
…
“You lie, after my failure the Aragari wouldn’t waste a second to get rid of me, much less my corpse”
“But deals signed on honor and life are power, especially here in Tokyo even for the Underlords”
“So
…
you held the deal even though you sought revenge for my treachery?”
“At first when I woke up, I was bitter, even more when your friend in purple yellow begged me to honor Hoos second deal, even with him dead, I had to raise the price on it”
…
“I told her that I could not accept such an exchange without an out”
“An out?”
“You and I, we are the vanquished. Perhaps not more so than your friends. But still the point stands, your clan and my clan have little to no more power to vie for and no way to claw for a cushy seat in this nations underworld. With your ‘treasonous sword’ murdering the COO that arranged for their gathering and incapacitating or killing all but one”
As she actually points out the quotation marks with her two hands when speaking ‘her sword’
“Him, your friend Hitei, that mistress of the dojo & the lil bear Konayuki, have fled Japan and taken the blame for the scattering 12 of the Deviant Chips & Treasures if not destroying them all”
She couldn’t believe this.
“With the Arasaka only being to keep only the chip Satella and the treasure Zetto Kanna, they scrambled with only Kosha being able to wield them properly in the present and neither at the same time. They say foreign and even in-land Corpos are at the gates ready to dethrone Arasaka as Japans number one”
The former princess of the underworld, now not even a false warrior or princess, steeled herself and interrupted her captor.
“You say they ran away, left me here & that there are no more worthy wielders of the Deviant Chips or Treasures”
In a flash the, though physically weak, proud Maniwa had found herself pushed against a wall in this hotel. Booked specifically because it was near a hospital bound to her deal, should complications arise.
“Wai-now hold on”
“I am here”
…
“Are you not here too? You can call yourself the vanquished, hell, you can say that of those weak cowards too. But I am here and I don’t intend to give in without a fight”
The form of the wolf girl was now far clearer now, it was not the Ninja she had originally puppeteered, nor her “little bear friend” she did much the same too, this form was far weaker than that, yet
…
what colored her was not fear, it was disappointment.
“Princess… Togame, see reason the only reason the Aragari doesn’t oppose us is that as incompetent as we were, our ‘enemy’ overcame them too. To return to that, we’d have to slave away for lifetimes on end to fail at gaining anything like a victory”
…
“Let go please, there is no future on that road”
“And what of you Kyouken, what road waits ahead for a secluded family of ninja killers without any master to serve”
Though the ‘princess’ did not allow her rage subside, she did release the little ninjas wrists
…
for now
“Assassin killers ,Togame , my plan you ask, well I planned to guard you until you were healthy to allow my family there out. From there, we will turn to a simpler life, I myself have thought about aqua-farming”
“My mentor Kawauso
…
he taught me a bit of it, getting back on that horse I feel like I could make something of myself”
“So your mad dash for revenge is over, now that you’re weak. And you take the excuse of one final job & a decent pay as an out”
…
Togame believed she had struck a chord, perhaps in the depths of her heart, wishing for a reason to kill or be killed by the woman. Perhaps that’s why the snakes eye flickered. But if it was a reason she was looking for, didn’t she already have plenty?
“Yes”
“I betrayed the closest I ever had to friends, the little bear you knew, Konayuki among them, I couldn’t hold on to my loyalty for my mentors sake, in my rampage for revenge, the original killer, the demon boys sister, slaughtered most of us guards sent to retrieve the Deviant Chips & Treasures.”
…
“As I came to my senses with the fallen princess’ pleading, I recognized that the only reason holding on to my betrayal hadn’t killed me, was so I may suffer the consequences.”
She began removing her mask
“The two other surviving Aces want nothing to do with me. So I’ve endeavored since the year or so ago I found you still breathing that I would see my oath true and repay my family what I’ve lost”
As her mask fell and her face was now in full view, Togame well could recognise that her eyes had lost almost all color, one darkened the other whitened, both leaning towards
…
violet
“You really don’t want revenge”
The defeated ninja shook her head.
“But you don’t care to spend the rest of your days as a fishmonger”
This girl, her head bent slightly to the left, now appeared in full. Short, blackish or blueish unkempt hair with a face covered in claw-like scars that stretched to her neck, maybe even chest, the marks of her treasonous sword breaking her possession. She bore a mix between a modified kimono on top and simple pants on the bottom. Both an ugly green grey, a striking departure from her possessed forms wielding a gaudy pink kimono as a makeshift cloak to shield from the elements, as the original bodies had more tattered clothes.
“What do you-”
“You want redemption”
Togame, maybe just Togame now interrupted.
“And I know how to get you there, follow me”
The false princess said as she all but dragged the false wolf by the hand.
“Wait please, not only did you just get up but from your infamy, you should at least hide your appearance in a red sector like this”
“Fine, yeesh this girl, just give me your medicinal mask”
While now a bit pouty, the shorter girl complied. As she hands her a Nomen mask with horns, their eyes make an extended contact.
“Respect your seniors, why are you even still being mean to me, we’re allies now no?”
Both began putting on their masks.
“Nope, you’re my bodyguard now. And it’s on your honor and redemption that you’ll keep me safe. Besides, how old could you be?”
“My mission & oath was to nurse you back to full health, after that we can go our separate ways if you don’t charge right back into the underworld like a fool with a death wish. And same to you”
“18”
“21”
“Huh no wonder”
The young serpent quipped.
“You’re real drunkard material. Maybe that’s why you’re so down in the dumps, take a bath & do your hair and you might fix your broken heart. Guys these days love depressed girls like yourself, especially as thin as you are”
“You really are a rude peanut, troubles don’t get solved looking for someones penis and I’m pretty sure I bathed more than you even when you weren’t in a coma”
Though it was a struggle, they had managed to regulate the loudness of their argument all the way to the entrance of this hotel.
“Well huh, I have been in a coma for a year huh? Guess that makes me 19”
Said the ex-princess, as she removed her mask in the entrance in front of the receptionist who woke up with slight shock.
“Miss Togame you're awake & going out with your bodyguard?”
“Not this time sir…”
“Mrs, Ryoko is my name”
“My apologies and congratulations on your marriage, would you happen to know what’s the quickest way to check out , so me and my ally may head to the house of the Maniwa”
The wolf mask spoke up.
“Miss Togame, I must warn you all our illicit activities have seized & that currently we serve purely as a standing security services”
“Excellent so they have already gone out of their way to establish legitimacy”
“And that because of my failures I have all but been blacklisted to the House”
“Then we have not a moment to wait in re-establishing your legitimacy”
“So you two really do plan on leaving the criminal lifestyle, well I’m proud of you. As for your journey the Bullet Train station should let you reach the House Maniwa in less than 11 minutes, do you want the tickets to be bought straight from your account”
“Lil Mani, does it still work”
The wolf though annoyed, nods.
“Yep, two please and if they have it food service, I’m starving”
“Little Toga, we can eat when we get there, I know many dining places around”
Though out of sight, the white-hairs eye flash with a snake symbol, she really was enjoying this madness too much. Maybe she was just taking it less seriously this time.
“Sorry miss, the snacks are all bought in station and must be deposited in their respective trash cans”
“Understandable, has the transaction already been made?”
“Yup”
“THEN WE’RE OFF”
Though less shocked and keeping more pace, Kyouken couldn’t deny she still felt some worry and pull from Togames course of actions. Still, fueled by a faint hope of redemption & of eating at a restaurant back home, as she had deposited all the money of her final job to the Maniwa Corp in their effort to achieve legitimacy, leaving her to lay low and do odd jobs whenever they proved available.
This weak wolf, this failed girl. She steeled herself
“Lady Snake you wish for me to be your bodyguard and follower in this strange journey you seek even after failing your previous one”
She said intentionally altering her voice, for her training hadn’t floundered just yet. The ‘snake lady’ came to recognize her true voice is quite a bit deeper than the average woman she just imitated. For such a shrimp.
“That’s right my weakend comrade”
She said, failing to imitate the wolfs new girly fake voice.
“Then know this my only request, I shall not kill and I shall not use my power again”
Without missing a beat Togame responded now trying to imitate her own father, unbeknownst to her listener
“Redemption is not about suddenly pretending to be a good person, it’s about making the world a better place”
“Is my request denied then”
“Not at all but I must say-”
They began to slow down as they reached the train station
“To let yourself be the weaker one, the vanquished as you said, for the sake of the wrongs we did and caused only makes us bigger targets, not any nobler”
…
Though very few heard their exchange and in truth none could actively care because of the presence lowering effects of the Maniwa mask.
“Even so, I wish to change, I don’t intend to be the evil of a wolf anymore”
“So now you’ll be a wolfish heroine”
“Now, I’ll try to be as good of a person as this wolf can be”
Many bystanders couldn’t help but hold their breaths, wanting to know where this exchange between what appeared to them as overgrown middle schoolers, as their little play reached its final act.
“If this all a request ninja girl, then I say”
As she lets go of her hand entering the train, once again even through the mask their eyes lock.
“Please try to be as good as human can be, no more less for your own sake”
This time alone, in all of their talks could Kyouken Maniwa, was that a title or a surname she was still allowed to wield, understood that the snake eye within Togame flashed, looking at her. The treasonous woman, the foolish lady, the evil princess, the girl that tried to save her home from the jaws of the underworld. Somehow, in all the fear, doubt, disappointment and weakness she had felt today, she could not find it within herself. All she found was a strange hope, for
…
their silence had been broken by what appeared to three bystanders clapping and one laughing.
“Wow ladies, you should join the theatre”
Neither of them understood if the boy meant that as compliment or mockery, so they kept silent as the train started to count down before closing.
“We forgot the snacks”
The snake that couldn’t be a princess said.
“Then we save more for the restaurant”
The wolf that couldn’t guard her own or her oath replied.
“You better not be leading me by the nose with this restaurant business or i won’t forgive you”
“Ditto, my lady”
Not without mirth, not without grief. Two allies ,made purely because no-one else was left there to pick up their pieces. Try as they might to save their worlds, maybe that role just wasn’t theirs. But they weren’t the like to give up even in the face of defeat. Indeed even if one to the other, couldn’t find the hero they needed the most right now, perhaps they could find something like forgiveness. something like redemption, maybe more. But who's to say other than this strange duo.