Chapter 6: 

Night finally fell across the city of ShaoYin. All of the lights were down, the hum of crowds lowered, and the shine from the stars taking the spotlight. Per usual, Yumi was still in her room. She stared outside while still laying in her bed, thinking about her promise to herself. 

“I just have to wait for the right moment…”

She quietly waited for the clan's sounds of sparring to stop and her perfect escape. As she took one last breath, she was off into the night. Hopping out of her window and landing perfectly on her feet, her ninja skills clearly evident. 

“I just need to clear my mind…a walk should be fine for now…”

She thought to herself, knowing exactly where to go. As the beams of the moon hit her outfit, she quietly and peacefully walked down a secluded garden out of sight from the village. It was just as she remembered…The same spot she used to sneak off to as a kid. The place where she would play and enjoy herself. The place where she was actually a kid. 

“It really hasn’t changed…”

She quietly mumbled, as she was still taking in her old memories. Walking past all of the sakura trees, koi ponds, and all of the spots that brought her joy at a young age all flooded back to her.

She could practically hear all of the memories that were made. Whether it was the tallest sakura tree, long blades of grass, and even the pile of sticks she made, they all carried the essence of her chaotic and “Action Packed” childhood. 

“BOOM! Take that Tree! I have the power of laser beams!” 

Her younger self would carelessly shout at the trees, pretending that they were evil bosses. 

“I was so stupid back then…”

She said with a giggle. Another memory she had was at the big yuzu* bush, where her younger self would always get lost on her “Adventures.”Her past self would always journey into those bushes, holding onto a stick, which was her “Sword,” and imaginary enemies all sound her, looking to get her. 

“I need to get into the bush, ASAP! The enemy ninjas aren’t gonna get me today!”

She would think to herself, imagining that she was running away from an enemy clan. 

“I’m safe here…for now. I might as well eat some of these, they look so good!”

As she got her quick snack. Yumi never knew just how special those days were…before all of her ninja duties came into play on her life. 

She finally found her spot to lay down at, right under a large sakura tree. The soft thud of her sitting and the whistling of the night was all that could be heard. She reached into her bag and pulled out her essentials for her meditation: An old blanket, a small radio, and her favorite lemon candles. Her careful arrangement was finally complete, as she played her radio at the lowest volume of calming ocean waves. She was finally at peace, resting under her favorite tree, until…

*snap*

“Oops…my bad, please tell me no one heard that…”

It came from the other end of the park. It was a voice she’s never heard before. 

“Why…Why now…”

She thought to herself, still on high alert, yet wanting to go back to her meditation. The footsteps of the voice continued to get closer, all in Yumi’s direction. The figure slowly started to get into the eye’s distance, but Yumi had no time to wait. 

“What if he’s dangerous? I have to hide, or…”

She saw the tip of her blade peak out, heavily considering the option to attack. With one last deep breath, she jumped out from behind the tree. Before she knew it, “AAAAAH!”

She was met with a scared boy, holding some kind of box, flinching at the sight of her with a heavy scream. He was completely frightened at the sight of her, and the sight of her katana. 

“Please, Please, I’m so so sorry!”

He was already on his knees begging for his life, slight tears already forming on his face in fear. Yumi was first startled from his freak-out reaction, wanting him to shut up, but also immediately scanned him down. 

He looked just about her age, had soft and messy brown hair. He was also on the tall side, yet kneeling from fright at the sight of her. What truly gave away who he was the clearly hand-made outfit. It was clad with a bright green plaid shirt, a dirty white apron, scratched and stained jeans, and the nametag made out of a napkin. He was Yuji Toshida. 

“Yuji…”

She whispered, testing the new name. 

“Uh…H-How do you know my name m-ma’am?”

She pointed the blade to his nametag as a subtle reminder. “Oh…”

He said with new realization. It finally hit her. 

“He’s…the boy that tried to calm the village…”

She thought to herself, finally realizing who he was. The same one that tried all he could to keep the village happy that night. Still on his knees, he was on the verge of tears, and filled with fear and intimidation of Yumi and her blade. 

“I don’t want trouble ma’am…please…don’t hurt me…” As he pleaded once more, Yumi noticed a plump in his front apron pocket. She pointed her blade to the pocket and gave him a confused look. Yuji immediately understood what she wanted. 

“This is my cat, soy sauce!”

He let out a soft “Nya” as he was pulled out. He was really small and a really dark brown, but Yumi was on the verge of something…actually giggling. She caught herself just before one slipped. 

“What are you doing Yumi!? This can’t be happening…” 

She thought to herself, still trying to maintain her tough facade. 

“I-uh…Don’t want any trouble…I-I want you to have this, on me!”

He handed her the box that he’d been carrying the whole time. She took it hesitantly, not knowing what was inside. “What if it’s dangerous…or is he…just being nice?”

She thought. She was nervous from his generosity, and fled away before she broke her intimidating presence. All Yuji could hear from her was 

“Forgive me, Yuji…”

before she smoke-bombed* away. 

“I couldn’t hear you ma’am! Are you…still here?”

He sat on the ground. 

“Oh soy sauce…that was crazy…”

He quietly said in between the two of them, just quiet enough for them to hear. It felt as if he was still stunned from the encounter…and her beauty. 

Yumi finally spawned back at the dojo, still holding the box Yuji gave her. After setting it on her bedside table, she could only stare and scan the box. She is used to anything given to her to be a weapon or trap, and never takes something without checking, but this one was different. This box was plainly given to her, not in secret, which cancels all of her thoughts. 

“The one time I just wanted to walk…”

She thought to herself, looking at the box as a newfound responsibility, but now…she had some new found curiosity for it. After scanning it one last time, she closed her eyes, and lifted the lid. Inside, was a single koi cake*, courtesy of Yuji’s own cooking stand down in the village. It was small, yet had so much detail in it. It contained a bright red koi in the center, and was gently wrapped around in seaweed and coated in rice as the last layer. Yumi was stunned at first, not even knowing how to feel. “It’s…just food. Why did I panic like that back there?”

She quietly said to herself. She picked up the koi cake and admired it again. Before she knew it, she had already taken a bite. She didn’t test for blades in the food, she didn’t check for poison, she actually wanted to enjoy it. “Mmm…wait…what am I doing!?”

She finally caught enjoying the koi cake. 

“Why was it so good…He must have put something in there…”

 She said, trying to deny any form of appreciation. “He won’t do this to me…stupid Yuji trying to brainwash me…”

She said, the taste of the koi cake still dancing in her mouth.

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