Penmanship

The letter folded neatly into four squares on her desk stared back at Akihana, full of more questions than she could ever have imagined a piece of paper delivering to her. The copy of the infiltration mission it had arrived with had been given due attention as personal issues always took a back seat. Denkiteki had been informed only be to be told he too had received a similar letter. Village defenses were in the process of being strengthened and the Queensmen watching the gates had been doubled. Akihana herself had been helping out at the gates, escorting as many as she could safely in while turning as many that seemed to be a threat away with due politeness. The kunoichi didn’t like the idea of someone trying to infiltrate Hoshigakure but reality as it was demanded that she deal with a lot of things she did not like. Along with her own efforts and that of the Queensmen, some young ninja had also risen to the challenge. Den too had taken to sending his clones to patrol the city when he wasn’t busy with council meetings or other matters that took up a Village Leaders time.

“Your Grace,” her chief handmaiden, Laraib tapped the door politely, making Akihana realize that the poor girl had probably been waiting a while to get the blonde’s attention.

“Uh, yes, sorry, I was just thinking,” The medic managed, her eyes returning to her desk and the inkpot full of dark blue ink. The desk she sat at was spacious enough, or at least it had been before the letter had arrived. Now it seemed like no place was big enough.

“The ink, M’lady,” Laraib pointed out, hurrying to Akihana’s side, but not in time to stop the wet quill in the kunoichi’s hand from dripping, leaving a dark blue stain one her pale pink gown. Akihana watched the handmaiden’s face fall, guilt already seeping into her own expression at the thought of the poor girl having to clean it up.

“It’s okay, I can wash it out myself,” Akihana assured her only for the other female to shake her head frantically. Apparently the idea of Akihana washing her own clothes was even more terrifying than the reality of one of Princess Lissandra’s dresses getting stained.


Dear Maku,

I’ve been making sure that the city gates are as secure as they can be. I showed Den the copy of the Black Market mission you enclosed in your note but he seemed to already know about it. That was good, it meant he didn’t have to wait for me to tell him to take action. Guards at the gates have doubled in number and tripled in scrutiny though the Captain says some little rat will manage to get through. I told him to be nice and that people aren’t rats and that rats shouldn’t be something bad to compare other species too as that’s unfair on rats but he just stared blankly at me.


"You want three wishes,
One to fly the heavens,
One to swim with fishes.
And one you’re saving,
For a rainy day.
For when your lover takes,
All her love away"

“What’s that song?” Akihana asked as Laraib sat across from her, across but beneath. Despite the kunoichi’s insistence that her handmaiden make herself comfortable on one of the chairs in the withdrawing room attached to her chambers, the girl resisted. Akihana didn’t force her. After all, the rug beneath them was just as comfortable,. And there was no shame in moving from her own chair to sit beside the servant, looking over the embroidery she was currently working on with swift and nimble fingers.

“A lullaby, M’lady,” Laraib answered with a grin, one that had grown a lot less shy of appearing around Akihana of late. “My mother used to sing it to my brothers and me when we were yeigh little .”

“That’s a bit odd for a lullaby,” the blonde commented, the letter she’d been working on tucked discreetly into the folds of her dress.

“Well,” the handmaiden laughed,” I say lullaby because that’s how we heard it M’lady. Lullaby’s a lullaby if it’s what your mother sings when she puts you to sleep, don’t matter if it’s an ode to the Queen or the ballad of the lecherous Prince Damien.” The blonde laughed, the younger woman had a point.

“How long were you with Princess Lissandra?”

“Since I was about Prince Arata’s age,” Laraib replied without hesitation. “She was my best friend, no offense M’Lady. I played with her when she was little, I took care of her when she grew up. And any income I earned from the palace supported my mother and all my brothers until they grew up. My mother said I was chosen from all the little girls in my district because I knew the letters. They wanted someone who knew the letters to be with the princess.” The surge of pride was plain to hear in her voice.


I wonder, why did you decide to visit Konoha so suddenly? I mean, of course you can go wherever you like but… but you can go wherever you like. I hope you’re having a pleasant trip so far. I haven’t been to Konoha in almost eight years. Is it still the same? There used to be this food stall that sold amazing banana wafers. I used to eat them with my grandfather. It was just outside the Akari compound. If the stall still exists, I highly recommend you try them. They’re one of the few things I really miss about Konoha.

If you have some time, I’d also suggest travelling to the north of the land of fire and crossing over to Flower Country. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world and one of the only places that has the rare blue rose. Of course, flowers anywhere can be made artificially blue by jutsu or science but Flower Country has the real deal. I used to love visiting there as a little girl.


“Your Grace, wake up,”

“I’m awake,” Akihana called out, not adding that she had heard Laraib’s footsteps from further than her own doorstep. She had also sensed that there didn’t seem to be an immediate emergency and so had stayed in bed, the unfinished letter containing her neat cursive writing now resided under her pillow. “What’s wrong,” the covers slipped off the blonde, revealing a slender frame sheathed in an old t shirt. She could wear gowns for the masses during the day but at night the kunoichi refused to compromise. None of the silken sleeping shifts would allow her any rest.

“I think Prince Arashi’s having a nightmare,” the handmaiden spoke, prompting Akihana to slide out of bed and out the door even before Laraib had finished speaking. Upon entering the room her two sons shared, Akihana noted that the servant was indeed correct. Arashi’s body seemed to be shivering and soft, terrified mumbles escaped his lips. Akihana was already sitting by his bed, one hand glowing with chakra as it rested on his temple when the maid entered the room, having run all the way to keep up.

“He just kept saying “let her go, get away from her”, I didn’t know what to do so I woke you up.”

“You did right, Laraib,” Akihana gave the girl a grateful smile. “Thanks for looking out for the boys. I owe you one.”


Maku, this is the third time I’m telling you about the Queen’s Joust, so please pay attention. As I already mentioned, it’s a holiday held in the Queen’s honor every year in Hoshi. There are various competitions organized for this event like jousting, archery, melee and even a pie eating contest provided someone sponsors the pie. Basically it’s a chance for people to come have a good time, compete, win prizes or just cheer on their favorite champions. The lists are already crowded with about three dozen people who want to joust for the Queen’s favor.

It’s good to know you’re so excited about it. The people here are too, this year in particular since for the first time in the last decade the city is in proper condition to host such an event. The children are even putting on a play in the Gazebo depicting the first day Den, Toma, Tomoya and I arrived in Hoshi. I saw a little girl spinning a blonde wig from straw, it was so adorable.

Cupcake too has been over the top excited lately, running through the castle and yipping his way into everyone’s heart. You wouldn’t recognize him from the ill looking dog we rescued from that place you wanted redone. He’s grown so thick around the middle now what with all the kitchen maids feeding him scraps. His coat has turned golden from brown and his eyes have gotten shinier. He also has a much louder bark now. The Queen finds him a delight and I think he’s really helping with her health. He sleeps in her room most days and she always looks happier with him around.


“Laraib, are you okay,” it was afternoon and the sun was higher in the sky than it should have been. Heat sweltered the city and forced many to congregate by the streams in the Water Garden but that was not all it did. Ever since news of Denkiteki claiming leadership of the shinobi had spread, the heat had turned some portions of the city into sects of raging wildfire. Protests in front of the academy were common but the first time a group dressed all in black had set up camp outside the palace gates, the Queen had shown concern. Still, they were peaceful protesters.

And then they were not.

“They… too many,” her handmaiden breathed as she collapsed on the floor, her old dress torn in places and blood seeping from a wound on her forehead. Akihana had begun the healing process even before she had asked the question, and facial wounds always bled more superficially but still someone had thrown a stone right at her, and it had hit, resulting in the gash on the young girl’s forehead.

“Why would they hurt you?”

“They’ve got the red eye, M’lady,” Laraib replied, her eyes closed as Akihana healed the wound and cleaned up the blood from her face, using her own dress to mop up the quickly congealing red substance from Laraib’s forehead and lip. “They don’t see who they’re hurting because they’re hurt. That’s what my mother used to say. When you get hurt, you just want to hurt others, don’t matter who.”

More footsteps, more worrying tuts, more people gazing at her as if she could stop the mob outside. Akihana didn’t know if she could, but she had to try. Once the kunoichi had made sure her handmaiden was taken care of, she stepped out the huge doors into the palace grounds, her white dress stained with an innocent girl’s blood.


We had a bit of excitement the other day too. Prince Arthur Pendragon is here. He was the late princess’s fiancé as I understand it. Apparently he ran into some of the missing nin that Minorin fought. He killed quite a few of them so I suppose we should be grateful. He’s nice, for a prince. I still don’t understand royalty to be honest but I guess I play the part convincingly enough. Or maybe I don’t, I don’t know anymore. I don’t know lots of things anymore…

We all miss you here, especially Cupcake. He really misses you. Sometimes he can’t even sleep properly through the night, poor thing. He’ll be overjoyed when you return for the festival.


“M’lady,” Laraib held out Akihana’s gown, a far too flashy lavender with laces cascading like miniature silver waterfalls down the material. Yet it wasn’t the dress that held the blonde’s attention, it was the young girl holding it.

“Why?”

Laraib tried faking it, Akihana could see the indecision in the young servant eyes. For a moment, Laraib had considered bluffing; even making up an excuse to why she held a dagger underneath the mounds of laces and petticoats. She had been in the kitchen cutting fruit, she might have needed it to shorten the gown to Akihana’s size. Any number of excuses would have done, and Akihana would have accepted them all. But in the end, brave girl that she was, Laraib decided on the truth.

“I tried M’Lady, but you’re not Princess Lissandra.”

“Have you ever killed anything before, Laraib?” Akihana asked, no fear in her voice, only sorrow for the poor girl, watching the dress slip to the floor. “It’s not like cutting meat in the kitchens. It’s warm, blood is warm as it flows down your skin. You can feel someone’s life slipping through their fingers, your fingers. And if you kill me today, you’ll have to live with that for the rest of your life.” Akihana took a step towards the maid, hoping to coax the dagger out of her hands. the kunoichi’s only worry was that Laraib would hurt herself with it.

“Stay away from me!” the handmaiden shrieked, drawing the dagger to her own throat. “Stay far away from me you bitch.” And with that, the girl plunged the dagger into her own throat, making sure to fall away from the dress. Even in death, Laraib bled away from her princess’s gown, making sure that it remained unstained.


Please come home safe… You asked a question a long time ago and I think I finally have an answer.

Akihana


2281 words

His time in konoha only lasted a couple days.  On the first the alliance with konoha was started, no doubt Jason, den, and Aki would see to it the rest was established.  It wasn't a business Maku had actually wanted to be involved in in the first place.  On the second day he sparred with the young hokage, got a measure of the man and his talents.  After the spar he would have vanished from Konoha as suddenly as he had come.  


Luckily he had just received the letter before he had truly vacated the premises.  Before he had however he saw to it to make a small gesture.  Within Akihana's room, he couldn't know if she was there or not, a tiny golden bubble would form.  It would last only a few seconds before it would disappear.  About 4 inches above the table a tin of wafers and a single blue rose would fall, landing with a clatter.  


It was around 2 or 3 am when he actually sent the small gift.  Not really thinking he might wake her up.  Inside the tin was a small hand written note.  


"See you at the festival" was all it would say, no name or how he was doing, or even where he was off to.  Just a simple sentence.

TWC: 2281

Claiming 11 stats converted to 1, 100 Ryo

Yeah, sure, take it.