Waiting For The Next Attack

[Kohana]

"Because I didn't think you liked me." Kohana replied, smiling. She sighed and adjusted her sleeves which were falling over her heads. She put her hands on her hips and itched her foot with her other toe.

"So what do you plan to do about this whole thing? You are officially my bodyguard until further notice, I guess. Maybe we can set up a trap so we can find out who this person is. They probably are the type of person you are going to be interested in fighting." Kohana said. She looked at one of the antique clockes that hung at the wall. It was nearing mifnight meaning she was probably going to go to bed in about six or seven hours.

[Maika]

Maika shrugged, a smirk on his face,” Your my leader and I guess you grow on people.." Maika looked around again somewhat relived that no one was eavesdropping anymore. The last thing he needed was for people to think of him going soft.

"I have a few ideas.." He folded his arms across his chest as he sighed. "Well, I guarantee you I won't be bored anymore until this ninja and I talk.." It was his genuine trademark that Maika had a chat with the corpse of his target.

Maika took another breath,” I don’t think a ninja would be caught so easily.. But I want you to do to the marketplace. I’ll shadow you and see if we can at least identify who he is..”

[Kohana]

"Going to the marketplace late at night? I guess, I could. I am running out on groceries. You think you would be able to come with me right now? We are running out of tea. I need my tea to survive." Kohana remarked. She grabbed a dark green robe that was made out of silk, wrapped the robe around her shoulders. She took the decorated sash and wrapped it around her wide waist, sigh angrily. She sucked her stomach in and tied it though the knot was stressed slightly.

"Of course I grow on people. I am a ray of sunshine." Kohana remarked, sarcastically, not looking up from the knot. She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to rest her eyes briefly. She had to pull an all nighter to make sure Maika did his job well.

[Maika]

Maika shrugged tightening the mask around his face," I'm up for it if you are..But I don't want to keep you up." The ninja pushed some hair out his eyes and ran his fingertips along the edge of the mask fabric.

"Oh yes, a bright ray of sunshine.." Maika laughed gently pushing Kohana backwards. "Just be careful, I know you'll keep your eyes open and a weapon ready.." He set a hand on the handle of one of his katanas," I'll be shadowing you a little farther than usual, if he really is a ninja, he'll easily find me at the normal distance.."

Maika’s adrenaline was running, and he loved it.

[Kohana]

Kohana glared at Maika for pushing her and lightly pushed him on the shoulder, rolling her eyes. She walked towards the stairs and took hold of the banister and carefully walked down the stairs in her high heeled geta. She tripped slightly, causing her ankle to bend over. "Damn sandals. I wonder how people actually get around in these." she muttered and she continued down the stairs, a look of displeasure on her face.

Kohana reached the first floor which was only a stair case down from the hall she had been in. She looked over her shoulder at Maika, waiting for him. "Mi'Lady, here is your tanto." a maid muttered, lightly tapping Kohana on the shoulder. She nodded and took the dagger and slid it under the large obi around her front, around her robe.

"Come on, Maika-kun, I want to finish shopping before the next centuary." Kohana yelled over her shoulder, impatiently.

[Maika]

"Then I suggest you hurry.." Maika called from a tree outside the headquarters. He was standing on a branch, and had already changed into his ninja attire. A smile was obvious despite the cloth hiding his face.

"I'll be following.." Maika called again, his hands reaching over his shoulders withdrawing a bow and several sharp arrows. " Remember what I told you." Maika then turned to face the path leading to the marketplace. His eyes narrowing around several tree branches and any place where someone could be hiding. The ninja was beginning to feel excited and hyper, instead of jumping around, his fingers tapped the bow in a continuous, fast rhythm.

[Kohana]

Kohana nodded and began to walk to the market, her geta making clopping sounds on the cobblestone path that lead out of the Aomori estate. She put her pale hands into the sleeves of her robe, trying to warm them up. She then continued walking along the path, the wind blowing her dark brown hair all around, making her sigh with annoyance. She hated the wind. If it was possible, she would probably lead a rebellion against the wind, just to get rid of it. But then again, Kohana was a very hateful person. A bit too hateful at times, especially when it came to the people she employed.

She walked into the hustle and bustle as people got ready for the next morning. Quickly spying someone who seemed to be easy to bargain with, Kohana walked over to a stand that was selling herbal tea. She began to badger the sales person for a better price, enjoying the agurment.

But little did the leader know that a enemy ninja was slowly creeping along the path she had just gone down, a senbon needle ready to be thrown straight at her neck as he or she dove into the bushes.

[Maika]

Maika pulled the large hood over his top of his head and he silently followed Kohana. Branch by branch, the male walked as if walking on the solid ground. Using a technique to make him lighter, Maika walked over branches, the leaves not even rustling or moving as he stepped over them.

Maika's eyes scowered over the trees and the path, an arrow already resting on the bow. 'I don't see anything..' Maika thought to himself still keeping a safe distance from his leader. The ever-faintest sound of leaves rustling caught Maika's ear.

The ninja froze, his arrow now aimed to where he thought he had heard the sound. 'When one sense fails you..The others pick up the slack..' He thought to himself.

[Kohana]

Kohana glared at the shopkeeper, her eyes narrowed. "You better not be charging too much." she said, taking a couple coins out of a pounch that she kept in her sleeve and dropping some coins on the counter. The shopkeeper shrugged and smiled. "Just doing my job, Aomori-san." he said simply though he counted up the coins. She childishly stuck her tongue out at him and took the small pound of tea and stuffed it in her sleeve.

The ninja who was following her quickly jumped into the next tree along the path. He grabbed a another senbon needle and aimed it at her neck once more. He or she, with a slight movement of the wrist, threw the arrow expertly and watched it soar towards her pale, unprotected neck.

[Maika]

The throwing needle was inches away from Kohana's neck; inches away from life and death.. Maybe even a turning point in the rebels vs. government war..

Out of no where shot an arrow hitting the needle with precision knocking it off course. The needle shot into the counter where Kohana and the merchant were bargaining seconds before.

Maika jumped over where he thought he heard the ninja run. His vision still failing him, Maika was glad the needle missed, but was still looking for its thrower. 'I'll never find them up here..' Maika decided as he swiftly jumped down onto the ground. He drew both katanas now creeping around the trees looking for the ninja..

[Kohana]

Kohana took a deep, shuddering breath when she realized how close a senbon needle had come to her throat. She moved her hand up to her neck and rubbed it, taking deep breaths. She shook her head, roughly, regaining her compusure. She looked over her shoulder at Maika who was standing a ways off from her.

"Do you think I should continue shopping?" Kohana said, her voice regaining its usual harshness and mocking tone. She glared at Maika briefly, though he was the one who saved her life. She always hated having to thank people, it made her feel like a child. She hated that feeling even when she was a young child. Her gaze drifted over to where the ninja had taken off running.

"Oh and thanks." the Aomori widow muttered, looking at her feet as she said this.

[Maika]

Maika jumped back into the trees when Kohana looked in his direction,' Doesn't she know the ninja is still out there?!' he thought to himself.

Maika motioned for her to return back to the headquarters," Thank me later.." he mouthed before jumping down from the trees in a different location," Take the needle with you!" he mouthed.

Still grasping both katanas, Maika looked around still trying to capture the ninja hired to assassin Kohana. ‘ Well this isn’t going as planned..’ the ninja thought to himself slowly lurking around tree trunks for any signs of movement or even the faint sound of someone’s heartbeat to give them and their location away.

[Kohana]

Kohana glared at where she last saw Maika and stuck her tongue out at him before picking up the needle as he had instructed her to and keeping it in her hand. She continued her way down the cobbestone path towards another set of shops. Her eyes flickered towards the trees surrounding her, wondering when the ninja was going to spring his next attack.

Suddenly another needle came rushing towards her, thrown with this effort and accuracy than the first. She tried to use the senbon needle to block it but only succeeded in having the needle get stuck in upper arm, causing red to start to stain her dark green sleeve. She looked around, her eyes wide. She left her arm unintended but began to run towards a bridge which lead into the next section of the marketplace.

The ninja jumped down from his spot in the trees, smirking from under the mask that covered the bottom of his face. He took off after the young leader, jumping from tree to tree which covered most of the area.

[Maika]

As the needle sliced through the air, so did Maika's arrow aimed at the ninja with enough space to hit the ninja as he ran. A growled formed on Maika’s lips, there was nothing worse than letting someone down, not being quick enough.. Not seeing it coming.

Maika cursed under his breath looking at Kohana only for a nanosecond before sprinting toward where the leaves were shaking. The other ninja was fast but not swift. Maika jumped into the trees as he continued following the ninja,' You won't get away..' he thought grabbing a kunai from his pocket and launched it at the ninja. Maika found a burst of speed as he lengthened his stride and began to catch up to Kohana and the ninja.

[Kohana]

The arrow skimmed past the ninja's shoulder, making a small cut. The ninja cursed under his breath but kept running towards Kohana who had crossed the bridge and was running towards a path that would loop around to the mansion. She was out of breath but was running for her life, not even looking of her shoulder for fear of falling over.

The ninja turned his attention towards Maika and threw about six senbon needles at him before turning back around and continuing his pursuit of Kohana. He finally was beginning to close in on her and with senbon needle in his hand he was only a couple feet behind her. Suddenlu Kohana tripped over her geta sandal, falling right on her face. She slammed the ground with her fist and struggled to get back up as the ninja appeared right above her, ready to strike.