A Ninja's Tale: Redemption

                         A Ninja's Tale: Redemption

Characters:
Felina- Kunoichi of Destiny- Main Character
Jinno- Head of the Mei-Okazi Clan
Kazuya- Jinno's right hand
Son- Felina's Mother
Andoro- Shinobi of Redemption
Zankuro- Future Shinobi
Messanger- He gets the mail...
Ororo- Dragoness Gaurdian of the North
Moro- Wolf Gaurdian of the East
Kago- Boar Gaurdian of the West

-This portion of the story takes place one year later. Andoro is sent away on a mission from Jinno himself.-

Chapter Eight: Seeking Redemption: Jinno's Plan

-Felina stands outside looking towards the village gates. She exhales and remembers what Andoro last said to her.

(Flashback) -In Andoro's Room-
Felina: Hey Andoro...Where are you going?
Andoro: Sensei has given me a mission. He told me i have to leave immediately.
Felina: This  is strange. You've been getting alot of missions lately. We barely even get to speak anymore.
Andoro: I wish i didn't have to go. I don't even know what it is.
Felina: Then how can you go on the mission? You don't know what it is.
Andoro: He told me that i needed to get to a village in the west. There i would get more details.
Felina: That doesn't make any sense.
Andoro: Yeah..but orders are orders.

-Andoro gets up and hugs Felina. He presses his nose gently against hers and closes his eyes.

Andoro: If everything goes right i'll be back in 3 days.
Felina: Be safe. I'll wait for you.

-Andoro wraps his arms around her waist and he edges his face closer to hers. She does the same. Their lips touch. Before they cak connect Jinno enters the room.

Jinno: Andoro? Why are you still here? Get going!
Andoro: Yes Sensei. See you later Felina.
Felina: See you soon.

-Andoro exits the room and leaves the village. Jinno and Felina walk to the main hall.

Felina: Father...why are you always sending him away? What is going on? You sent him away on my birthday and again when the festival was back in town. Its like you don't want him here.
Jinno: Its nothing like that at all.
Felina: Then what is it?
Jinno: Got get some rest Felina. I must attend to something.

-Felina leaves the room and the flashback ends-

Felina: Its day three. Where are you Andoro.

-The gates open and Andoro enters the village carrying three cows and dragging a mule. Felina's smile fades and she becomes angry

Felinathought) He sent him away to get livestock and a mule? That can't be right...can it? We raise our own cows...and we breed mules. What is going on?

-Andoro walks past Felina and winks at her. He drops the animals off in their respective areas and returned to properly greet Felina.

Andoro: Hey Felina.
Felina: Livetock?
Andoro: Yeah...he sent me to get some cows.
Felina: It doesn't make any sense.
Andoro: Hey...I could care less right now. I'm back and I'm standing here with you now. I'm quite content.
Felina: You should go get a bath. Lugging around stubborn cows and a mule has made you a little rank.
Andoro: You're right. I'll be back.

-That night Felina sat in her room and thought. She was also waiting for Andoro but he never showed. She went and laid down in her bed. A moment later Andoro enters the room in his shinobi outfit again. He had a bag on his back.

Felina: Andoro...are you leaving again?
Andoro: Yeah.
Felina: But you just got back. Why?
Andoro: Master says that in about two days the remaining gaurdians are supposed to meet in the mountains. He told me this would be a good time to go see them about my cursed mark. He thinks that they might be able to lift it from me...I think so too.
Felina: But can't you stay tonight?
Andoro: I can't Jinno has sent Kazuya to take me to the forest. I just had to see you before I left.
Felina: You're not going to be here for my birthday.
Andoro: I know...when your birthday gets here...go into my room and look on the desk.
Felina: When will you get back?
Andoro: I don't know yet. I just hope its soon. I'll write to you everyday okay? Expect my letters.
Felina: Okay.

-Felina gets up and runs over to Andoro. She presses her nose against his and goes to kiss him. Kazuya interrupts and pulls Andoro away before she can. The two disappeared into the night. Felina went to bed and awaited the next day.

-The next day-

-Felina awakens to the sound of the messanger ninja calling out the names of others in the village, handing them their letters from loved ones, business, or the occasional junkmail. She ran outside and awaited her name to be called but it never was. She became upset and went back to her room.

-Andoro made his way up the mountain until the sun began to set in the sky. He sat up camp and made a fire. After eating he pulled out a peice of paper and a writing utencil and wrote another letter to Felina. Then he went to bed.

-The Next Day-

Andoro awoke the next morning around dusk. He packed up camp and ate a quick meal. Once he had finished he addressed the letter that he worte to Felina the previous night and summon his carrier bird Sano. He tied the message to his neck and sent him on his way. Andoro then continued uphill for a few hours before reaching the place where the gaurdians would meet.

-The messanger ninja got the letter from Sano and took it directly to Jinno.

Messanger: My Lord. He has sent another message.
Jinno: Is it addressed to Felina?
Messanger: Yes my lord.
Jinno: Give it here.

-The messanger handed the letter to Jinno and he slid it into his robe. The messanger ninja went back outside and yelled out that the mail was here. Once again Felina ran outside and awaited for her name to be called and again it wasn't. Felina exhaled sadly and went to the bath house.

-Kazuya entered the main hall holding a box and a letter.

Kazuya: Here my lord. This was in his room.
Jinno: You heard correctly then Kazuya. Well Done. Go fetch the boy. Meet in the main hall. i will be there with Felina.
Kazuya: Yes My lord.

-Kazuya leaves and Jinno heads for Felina's room. She is in there sitting on her bed holding a pillow.

Jinno: Felina my dear.
Felina: Yes Father.
Jinno: Happy Birthday dear.
Felina: Thank you.
Jinno: What's wrong Felina? You look sad.
Felina: Everything he told me was a lie.
Jinno: Who?
Felina: Andoro. He told me some things before he left and I believed him. I was wrong. He is a liar!
Jinno: Where is he now?
Felina: You know where he is. You sent him to go see the gaurdians in the mountains.
Jinno: No I didn't. When he got back I told him that he would have to go our neighboring village and pick up something for me. No wonder he has been gone so long.
Felina: Why did he lie to me? I thought he loved me! I thought he cared!

-Jinno gives a smirk and goes over to comfort his hurt daughter. When she calmed down a bit Jinno gave her his gift. It was a new Kimono.

Felina: Thank you father. It's wonderful.
Jinno: You're welcome. Since today is your twentieth birthday we must find you a husband. How about Andoro?
Felina: No...I wont marry him.
Jinno: Hmm I see. Then come...lets go find you one.

-Andoro was writing his next letter to Felina when he heard the sound of footsteps coming up the mountain. He got up and looked. It was Kago and with him was the Dragoness Gaurdian Ororo. He waited them by the shrine and bowed to them in respect.

Ororo: Kago? Who is there?
Kago: Some young Fellow Ororo.
Andoro: Hello. My name is Andoro. I am a shinobi from the village hidden in the east. I come seeking redemption.
Kago: For what young one?
Andoro: I killed Akumo...the gaurdian of the south.
Ororo: So that was you?
Kago: Akumo was a corrupted soul. He was filled with hatred and he suffered for it. We know of the story. We thank you young one.
Ororo: You say you seek redemption. Then what you seek is wrong.
Andoro: No...I also killed Moro.
Kago: You? You slayed Moro? In cold blood?!
Andoro: No great lord. Please hear my words.
Moro: You did not kill me.
Kago: Moro? You are alive? Is this fellow before us insane?
Moro: No...he is not insane. He is just confused. Andoro was it? You killed my sister. I was there. I watched her turn into a demon. I was about to put her down myself when you came along.
Andoro: I don't remember what fully happened. I only know what I was told.

-Andoro showed her his arm that held the cursed mark.

Andoro: I was told that in that fight she hit me with some substance that had over come her body. It nearly killed me. I come before you to ask you all something. Can you left this mark from me?
Kago: We cannot. It is something you must do on your own.
Andoro: I don't understand.
Ororo: I see your future young one.
Andoro: ... my future?
Moro: What do you see Ororo.
Ororo: Young one... in order to lift the curse apon your body you must destroy the source of it.
Andoro: Who or what is it?
Ororo: Akumo's spirit does not rest easy.
Kago: I knew it. He's hatred will not die so easily.
Ororo: You must confront him in a months time. He will come to you when you least expect it. But he will not come as himself.
Moro: You must be ready to face him.
Ororo: Also know that you will die. I wish i could say different but no matter how i look at it you will die along with Akumo's spirit.
Andoro: But...I can't leave her...
Moro: Whom?
Andoro: Felina. She is the head's daughter.
Ororo: Do you love this woman?
Andoro: Yes. With my heart.
Kago: I see great things about you. Go to her... maybe there is some way for you to survive.
Andoro: Thank you for your help and your wisdom. Moro I apologize for what i have done. Ororo...i will heed your warning but i will not accept death. The future always has a way of changing. It just depends on the decisions we make.

-Andoro took his leave after bowing before them again. Moro stopped him.

Moro: Andoro! Thank you. Be well.
Andoro: I will. Thank you Moro.

-Andoro rushed down the mountain. He didn't stop to rest or eat. He had to get back to the village and fast.

-Earlier that day Jinno introduces Felina to Zankuro, a shinboi who was to graduate the next day. Felina took a liking to him. She found him kind, and funny. He wasn't the smartest but she figured she'd make do. They spent the day getting to know eachother and Jinno set the date when the two would wed. Tomorrow. After the Graduation.

-The next day Andoro gets lost as he goes into the woods. It was dark when he came through here and he had a rough time finding his way back. As he tried to navigate the forest. Felina and Zankuro had been fitted for their wedding attaire and had already begun. Andoro took a rest for a second after running around for the past day. Zankuro and Felina had been married and closed it with a kiss. Then they celebrated and went to the festival.

-After another hour of running around Andoro hits a river. He recognizes it and follows it downstream. He ran up to an old tree and gave a long happy sigh. He was at the meadow. Under the tree Andoro saw the necklace he gave Felina. He picked it up thinking that she may have dropped it and went back into the village. He ran straight to Felina's room and opened the door. He watched in horror as he saw Zankuro on top of her undressing her. Felina looked at him and gasped. Andoro's eyes filled with tears and hatred as he stared at them. he drops her necklace and jumps at Zankuro tackling him to the floor. The two fight and Felina leaves the room in search of her father.

-She enters her parents room and finds that they are no there. As she turns to leave she spots a smallo box and a bunch of letters lying underneath their bed she pulls them out and see's that they are all addressed to her from Andoro.