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Kasumi
Prologue: "The More Things Change..." Current Location: Rokkaku =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Once upon a time..... My grandmother always began with that line whenever she tells stories, a familiar voice as old and leathery as the very books she took them from. Such an introduction seemed fitting somehow; every tale to be told only happens once in forever, after all. Each as different from the other as a sparrow differs from a hawk.
But then
my grandmother died, and I began my training as a ninja.
The
stories stopped coming.
I've
always wondered how my own story would turn out.
Don't get
me wrong. I love my work; am proud of who I am and where I belong. But
sometimes, it's so hard to live up to others' expectations when all I
really want to do is to go where I choose to go, to stay up all night
and watch what the very stars have to say because I want to. Duty, honor,
pride....sometimes they're just strings that weigh me down and clip my wings
before I even dare to fly.
I don't
want to be known as Kasumi, Vice Chancellor of Rokkaku, or Kasumi the ninja,
or even Kasumi of Rokkaku.
Just as
me. Kasumi.
I've had
my first taste of such freedom during the Toran wars, three years
passed. I fought first for Rokkaku, on Chief Hanzo's orders; then for the
Toran Liberation Army itself; then still later...simply because I wanted to.
It was
exhilarating, knowing that for once in my life, I fought of my own choosing,
never living up to anyone's expectations but my own.
It was
also a bit frightening.
Three
years. Three years since the founding of the Toran Republic, since I was
promoted and apparently, doomed to a life of paperwork, disputes, paperwork,
diplomacy, and more paperwork.
Since the
disappearance of McDohl, the republic's previous leader.
Three
long years.
Would I
live happily ever after, like in all grandmother's stories?
I wonder
if I'm allowed vacation days.
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The Stare was infamous
throughout Rokkaku, especially among the ninjas-in-training, political
underlings, goffers, and high-ranking spies, all of which made up about
four-fifths of the general populace. It has been emulated several times
by those of lower rank towards their subordinates, but has yet to be flawlessly
imitated. It consists first, of a large deep scowl that takes up nearly
half the hard angled face it currently occupyies, coupled with the
slow but inexorable downward slant of thick and bushy eyebrows, shadowing
dark eyes creased at the corners by years of hard work and
insurmountable iron will. Everyone within the vicinity old enough to be
trained has been the target of the Stare at least once in their
lifetime, and only if they were lucky.
At the
moment, the Stare is currently being inflicted upon one Kasumi, Vice
Chancellor of Rokkaku Hamlet. To her credit, she refrained from squirming
outwardly, given the fact that she has been the recepient of such a glare
more times than anyone else has ever had, more so during the past few
years. She was expecting it as well.
"Va-ca-tion?"
Master Hanzo spelled the word out slowly in a deep resonant baritone, as if
he'd never heard such a term before. "You're asking me to
give you a va-ca-tion?"
"Yes
sir." Kasumi said softly. After all, why not? She's been working the
hardest for the past few years after she had been promoted, going through
one crisis after another. Rokkaku was originally a village closed off to the
outside world, and no one has ever briefed her on how to establish ties
with the rest of the towns under the Toran Republic. But she muddled
through, and did a surprisingly good job of it, if she could say so herself.
She's been overworked and underpaid for the last three years.....
Wait a
minute. Underpaid? I haven't been paid since I took the job. So
maybe I don't need money. That much. Oh....Rokkaku Code, Article 3
Section 11. A ninja must always remain self-sufficient. Damn. Maybe I can
add a new clause when my next contract comes up.
"Why?"
Another Stare, two in a row this time. She seemed to be setting some new
records that day. "After all these years, why ask for a va-ca-tion
now?"
"Well...lately, my work has been mundane as of late. It's not that
I'm tired of my job." She hurriedly rushed on. "It's just that I
think I deserve a break. I spend more time indoors than I do out, and I feel
that I want -no, need- to relax, if only for a short while. I'm not
asking for a long vacation. A week would be enough." Monologue done,
she stiffened, waiting for a miracle.
"Hunh.
Is that all your reasons?"
This wasn't
going well. "Um. Well, sir. I think that going to other places beyond
Rokkaku would help me in my work...."
"Fine.
You may have your vacation."
"....meeting new people and seeing how they live would greatly
influence my............what?"
"You've
been slacking in your training, Vice Chancellor Kasumi. A good spy must be
observant at all times. I said, fine. You may have your vaca-tion." He
was getting the hang of the word now.
"I can
have my vacation?...."
"Stop
repeating after me, Vice Chancellor. You're beginning to sound like a
parrot. As soon as you can make the necessary arrangements and find
some people to take your place while you're on leave, you're ready to
go."
"Oh. I
mean, I do, I have people trained for my work. They'll do a good job while
I'm away." While I'm away? It's a good thing I've trained Raiko to
help Saiya, or Saiya'd lock herself up in a closet until I get back. If
I get back. That last thought surprised her.
"You've
been pushing yourself too hard, Kasumi. I've been waiting for you to ask me
for a leave of absence since a year ago. Take as long as you want, then come
back when you're ready." This, coming from Hanzo??
"Yes
sir. Thank you, sir." Kasumi straightened up, feeling like a trainee
all over again. Everyone does, at least in the chief's presence. She clicked
her heels smartly, turned and quickly exited the room. As soon as she was
out of hearing and visual range, she let out a loud unKasumi-like whoop that
startled some nearby pigeons into flight, before half-running, half-walking
down the small path, deciding how to break the news to Raiko and Saiya, and
humming an ancient battle hymn long forgotten until now.
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