The Heart Of A Shinobi

2.

The man dipped his large hand into the bag behind his back. He pulled out three sacks and dropped them onto the table. Once they hit, out poured gold coins.

My mistress and my mouth flew open. A night with one of our top girls is only ten coins, but this man was trying to purchase me for ten times as much. I looked toward her with pleading eyes. She had never let anyone touch me. She used my talents for martial arts, dancing and singing for security, and had always had my back when it came to this. She gave me a sad look, and I knew what she was about to say.

"Sold, wait in the front room while I write you a bill of sale," she said, beginning to count the money.

The man simply nodded and looked at me. "Gather your belongings. Only as much as you can carry," he said as he walked off.

I looked at my mistress, heartbroken.

"Dont you dare look at me like that, Ruka," she said sternly before meeting my gaze, my green eyes wetting with tears. She sighed, "He promised not to do anything to you. He only wants to use your fighting skills, and he said if you wished to return afterward, you could."

"And you just believed him?!" I yelled.

"Do not raise your voice to me, girl. I saw truth in his eyes. If I truly thought differently, I wouldn't be counting coin right now. Now come help me count," she said, staring down at her work.

I shrunk my tears back into my eyes and turned to walk away. "Count it yourself, mistress. I need to pack. I am just property after all."

The mistress was hurt by her words but continued to count. I ran into my room and slid the door shut. I kept my favorite kimono on so I could take it and opened one of my drawers for a bag to sling over my shoulder. I grabbed two more bags that my girls could carry on their backs and began filling them up with things I knew I would need. I packed one more kimono with all the accessories, a few snacks for the girls, some candy, a brush for my hair, my red makeup, a hair ornament to hold up my hair, a blanket, haori, toothbrush, and a simple yukata. I kept my fans and ribbon attached to me as well as my bells.

I gathered my remaining hair ornaments and jewels as well as any candy I had in a decorative box and nodded at the girls, who barked in agreement. I walked to the front solemnly and smiled sadly when I saw all of the girls of the house waiting for me, as well as the man who bought me and the mistress who sold me. The two little girls, Kirimi and Tsubaki, were holding back their tears with the backs of their little hands. I walked over to them and bent down to their level with the box in my hands.

"I am afraid I must go off on an adventure now, so I need you girls to keep this box safe for me. Can you do that until I return?" I asked them with a smile.

They both nodded, sniffling as they tried not to cry loudly.

"Excellent, then your reward is everything in the box, ok?" I smiled as I handed it to them.

"You don't want what's inside?" asked Kirimi.

"Nah, I just really like boxes," I said and patted them on the head. I stood and saw the mistress give the man the bill of sale. He folded it neatly and placed it in his pocket, and looked towards me.

"Ready?" he asked.

I nodded and turned towards all of the girls and my mistress, "See you all later."

I watched in awe as they all bowed their heads respectively to me and said in loud unison, "we wish you luck, Miss Ruka!"

I held back my tears as I waved at them all with a smile spread across my face, the first time I truly smiled in years. The man waited patiently for me, and we turned to head to whatever destiny awaited me.

We walked in silence for hours, and my feet were beginning to hurt with each step. Instead of complaining, I would shift my feet every few steps to put more weight on one and then switch. My girls looked towards me and whined, loud enough for the man to hear. He glanced towards me and sighed.

"Just a few more feet, and we will be able to rest," he said.

I stayed silent and just kept following him. Up ahead was a mansion, surrounded by cherry blossom trees and plum blossoms trees. It had a waterfall behind it that looked to lead to a pool for bathing. It looked spacious, so much so that I shouldn't have to run into this man while we stayed here, with plenty of places to hide. An older woman greeted us at the front gate and bowed to us respectfully.

"Welcome back master, the others are waiting for you in the main room," she said as she looked down.

He acknowledged her with a grunt, and I began to panic on the inside. What the hell did she mean others!? I stopped after we entered the gate and stared at him. He must have noticed I stopped following because he turned to look at me.

"What am I here for?" I demanded.

"Because I bought you and you come with me?" he questioned as if I should already know that.

"No, I mean, why am I here? What do you want me for?" I asked again.

"You will know soon enough," he said simply before turning to walk towards the manor.

I became irritated and let loose from my usual calm demeanor, "If you're going to r**e me or pass me around to your friends, at least tell me so I can prepare myself!"

He stopped dead in his tracks and turned, looking at me with wide eyes before, in the blink of an eye. He rushed at me and was in front of me. He was very tall and looked down at me with a sad expression, "I have no intention of r****g you or passing you around."

I stood on my tip toes and met his gaze, "how would I know that if you never even told me where we were going? You haven't even told me your name or asked for mine."

He stared at me for a long while before he simply said, "Ryuuki."

"Huh?" I said, not hearing him.

"My name, it's Ryuuki Takahashi. I give you my word on my honor. No one will touch you. I bought you for another purpose, and once that purpose is fulfilled, you may return to your geisha house if you wish," he said.

Satisfied somewhat by his answer, I nodded and said, "Nice to meet you Ryuuki, my name is Ruka Hinata."

He smiled slightly, "Nice to meet you, Ruka." He held his arm out for me to take it, and I accepted, wrapping my tiny hands around his muscular arm as he led us into the manor. Yuuki and Kuromi look at each other before sharing two wolf grins before tailing behind us.

The manor was as beautiful inside as it was outside. Traditional artwork lined the walls, and it was built in traditional style. The doors had murals painted into them, some had cranes, some had blossoms, and some even had demons on them. Ryuuki smiled slightly, watching me look around in awe. He led me to a door with the word "Gather" painted on it, and I could hear male voices inside. My hands instinctively gripped his arm harder, and he patted them with his, telling me there was no reason to worry.

He slid the door open, and four men were inside eating, drinking and laughing at one another. They were all young men like Ryuuki, around their late twenties, and they immediately eyed us at the door.

"Ah, Ryuuki! There you are," said one man. He was tall, with hair as red as fire down to his chin and eyes to match. He wore the same attire Ryuuki did, but instead of his shirt buttoned down, he had it buttoned up with no sleeves. He wore a red oni mask in the side of his head.

"Who is that cute girl you have there with you!" said another man. This man had curly blonde hair long on top and short on the sides and beautiful blue eyes. He again wore the same attire, but his shirt was long sleeved, and he wore a tengu mask.

Another man with his arms crossed simply glanced at her. He had long black straight hair, tied in the back by a cord and bright yellow eyes. He wore the same attire, but his shirt was long sleeved with no buttons at all, and he wore a snake mask.

The last man she noticed was chewing on a bao bun, his cheeks full. He had short spiky brown hair with brown eyes to match. He wore a sleeveless shirt like the red-haired one and wore a neko mask.

I looked to Ryuuki, and he smiled gently, "Why don't you introduce yourself?"

I nodded and bowed to them, "Hello. My name is Ruka Hinata. It is a pleasure to meet you all."

"HI Ruka, I am Kyosuke," said the red-haired one with a wave.

"Oh my gosh, she is too cute, I am Makio! But everyone just calls me Maki," said the blonde one.

"Ren," said the black haired one, sounding bored.

The brown haired one swallowed his food and looked at her puzzled. "I'm Genki, but what are you doing here?"

"She is the girl I have been watching for a few days. I purchased her for our mission," Ryuuki said flatly.

"Oy Ryuuki, is that the w***e!? What good does a w***e do us?" Genki said meanly.

My girls growled behind me and I instinctively dropped a fan into my hand and slung it at him, so hard it stuck in the wall beside him. He choked for a minute and they all looked at me wide eyed.

"Do not mistake, I am no w***e," I said with my eyes narrowed. Ryuuki smirked beside me and crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"Ooohh I like her already," said Kyosuke with a grin.

"Cute and deadly, what a perfect combination," said Maki folding his hands together.

Ren just smirked.

I flicked my wrist and retracted my fan from the wall and back up my sleeve.

"Ruka is going to be with us until our mission is complete. She already has a good understanding of martial arts and some weaponry abilities. She also has two wolves that will assist just like we all have our companions. We will train together, eat together and sleep under the same roof but under no circumstances is she to be treated any less than our equal. If anyone disrespect her, they will have to go through me, is that understood?" Ryuuki commanded.

"Hai!" They all yelled.

"Oh and by the way, she is right. She might have worked in a geisha house but she was no w***e. She worked security and did a damn fine job of it, so no more mention of that," Ryuuki said narrowing his eyes at Genki.

Genki huffed and continued eating his bao in silence. Ryuuki motioned for me to sit and he hollered at the older woman to bring me food. She came back moments later and set the tray in front of me. I thanked her and looked towards Ryuuki.

"I am not used to being served, I can actually cook and clean too if she needs help," I said with a smile.

"Good! We could use a woman's touch around here," said Kyosuke with a smirk.

"Speak for yourself," Genki muttered under his breath.

'This is going to be fun,' I thought in my head sarcastically.