A Ninja's Tale: Truth

                                 A Ninja's Tale: Truth

Characters:
Felina- Main Character- Kunoichi of Destiny
Jinno- Head of the Mei-Okazi Clan
Son- Felina's mother
Zankuro- Felina's husband
Andoro- Shinobi of Redemption

Chapter Nine: Andoro vs Zankuro. Jinno's plan exposed!

- Andoro is thrown out a window and slams into the dirt outside. He stands up as Zankuro jumps through the window.

Zankuro: I don't appreciate you coming in and interrupting my honeymoon.
Andoro: What do you mean honeymoon?
Zankuro: You dumbass..where have you been huh? Me and Felina are married.
Andoro: !!
Zankuro: Who the hell are you anyway?
Andoro: I don't understand...why did she
Zankuro: Answer me!
Andoro: Who I am doesn't matter anymore. i apologize for the intrusion. It won't happen again.
Zankuro: I don't want an apology. You pissed me off real good.
Andoro: Is that suppose to scare me in some way? I apologized I can do nothing more.
Zankuro: No...you can die!

- Zankuro charges at Andoro and punches him clean across his face. Andoro stumbles backwards and retains his footing. Zankuro then unleashes a powerful roundhouse which connects with Andoro's side. He goes spinning out of control into a brick wall. He slowly tries to get up. Zankuro rams  him into the wall. Andoro grunts from the impact and Zankuro backs up a bit. He then deals a series of punches at Andoro's stomach and face then he yanks a kunai from his pocket and stabs Andoro with it. He screams out in agony.

Zankuro: Awww did that hurt? Good.
Andoro: Why are you doing this? We are forbidden to kill in cold blood.
Zankuro: I'm not. Its self defense. You came at me first.

- Zankuro takes a moment to look at Andoro's face he notices the X- shaped mark on his forehead. He chuckles.

Zankuro: Oh...so you're that bastard she talked about.
Andoro: Who?
Zankuro: My wife. You are a true lowlife you know that? You cause her so much pain. I guess I'll be doing her a favor getting rid of you.
Andoro: Why is it that she hates me?
Zankuro: You lied to her. You betrayed her. You took her heart and you stomped it into the ground. She said she never wanted to see you again. She told me that she wish you were dead. I don't want to see her hurt like that again. If you are a problem to her...then i'll make sure you are dealt with.
Andoro: I've done all that you say? I see.
Zankuro: I want you to understand something.
Andoro: And I want you to understand something. I have a duty I must uphold. I cannot die yet.
Zankuro: Duty?
Andoro: I cannot explain it. Nor will I to you.
Zankuro: I don't want you to.

- Andoro pushes Zankuro away and throws the kunai at him. It flies past his face with great speed. Andoro gripped his side and exhaled heavily. Zankuro stared at him in shock as slowly a scratch appears on his face and it bleeds a little.

Andoro: In order to insure my duty is done. I will fight back. This is no longer about Felina. If you want my life then come and get it!
Zankuro: Fine! To the Death!

- Zankuro wiped a trace of blood away from his cheek and went into his pocket again. This time he came out with a shuriken and a kunai. Andoro walked towards him tightening his fists. Zankuro threw the shuriken and Andoro sidestepped it. He dashed forward and struck Zankuro in the chest with an elbow and the grabbed him by his throat.

Zankuro: Let me go.
Andoro: Do you fear death?
Zankuro: You're the one whoes dead.
Andoroin thought) He talks a big game. I've seen those eyes before. he truly means to kill me. Felina would never forgive me for killing him. Maybe...just maybe if i'm gone Akumo wont attack this village.

- Felina came running towards them holding the letters and the box tightly in her hands. Following closely behind her was her father and her mother.

Felina: ANDORO!

- Andoro looks at her with an expressionless face. He slowly open's his mouth to say something. Before he could speak Zankuro had taken the kunai he had in his hand and thrusted the blade into Andoro's throat. He wiggles free from Andoro's grasp and kicks him over. Andoro holds his throat trying to stop the bleeding and gasping for air while graggling blood. Zankuro turns to Felina.

Zankuro: Look honey. Now you don't have to...

- Felina brushs past him and bends down over Andoro. She grabbed his arm and tried to pick him up. Jinno stares in shock and Son goes to help Felina. They drug him to the medical bay leaving behind them a trail of blood and siliva. Zankuro looks at Jinno and hurries after them. Jinno, after composing himself, follows.

- When the two reached the medical bay Felina was wrapping his wound and Son held his hand. Chun had already removed the Kunai and began to heal his throat. Andoro was forced to spit out the blood in his mouth and his gasped for air again. Zankuro looked at his wife then at Jinno. Jinno was sweating. He stared deathly at the leeters and the box. Zankuro swallowed hard and cursed under his breath.

- When the women had finally stopped the bleeding and sadiated Andoro, Chun took her leave and Felina picked up the box and letters.

Felina: Father...is this your doing?
Son: Jinno where did these come from?
Jinno: The....the letters are Andoro's...to Felina.
Son: Why do you have them?
Jinno: ...
Felina: Why would you do that? I hated him because i thought that he lied to me. I turned on him...because I thought he turned on me. I HATED HIM because i assumed the worst.
Jinno: Felina...
Son: Jinno...
Zankuro: ....damn...
Felina: What? Zankuro...were you involved with this?
Jinno: Felina!
Zankuro: Yes.
Felina: So...you knew this and you almost killed Andoro? You almost killed him so that the lies could continue?
Jinno: I did this for a reason. I didn't think it would escolade to this!
Son: What reason was that?
Jinno: I just wanted Felina to be happy.
Felina: Happy? You call hiding letters from me...lieing to me...happiness?
Son: Face it Jinno...you still think that that boy will become a monster...that's why you put him the run down shack...that's why you sent him away. If anyone is a monster its you...and you too Zankuro.
Zankuro: Its not like that!
Felina: Then WHAT is it like dear?
Jinno: You're right Son. I was trying to pull them apart. I don't trust him at all. I see now that I may have been too judgemental on the boy. Felina? Do you still love him?
Felina: Even when I was mad...I thought about him. I...I do still love him.
Jinno: Then this marriage between you two never happened.
Zankuro: But Lord.
Son: Hold your tongue.
Jinno: Zankuro...i made you some promises that i cannot keep. I'm sorry. This marriage was a lie. You put on a good face...but to tell you the truth I don't want you around her anymore. We have all seen your true colors.
Zankuro: I can get better!
Jinno: See to it that you do. I will have to repent as well.
Son: Now you both seek redemption hmm?
Jinno and Zankuro: Yes.
Felina: Then talk to him when he wakes up. Tell him what you two did. Ask him for forgiveness.
Jinno: Felina...what about you?
Felina: Right now...i don't have the strength. What you both did was cruel. You Zankuro...I can never forgive.
Zankuro: Felina...
Felina: I did...I grew attached to you and only because I was upset with Andoro. i did it to get back at him.
Son: It seems you all need to talk to him. Tell him what you all did. From my point of veiw you are all responsible in your own way.
Felina: I wish to stay here with him.
Jinno: Then so be it.
Son: Jinno?
Jinno: Yes Son?
Son: You will sleep alone tonight. I will stay in Felina's room tonight.
Jinno: ...
Felina: Sleep well mother.
Son: You as well. And don't worry. I'm sure he'll live. He may be like that for a few days remember?
Felina: Chun is the expert.
Son: Good night Felina.
Felina: Good night mother.

-Son left and Felina took off the necklace she had around her neck. Even though she now knew it was a lie she still felt that maybe the link she had with Zankuro wasn't a lie at all. She admitted to herself that she did love him. She took the necklace and put it back on then she noticed her old one in Andoro's hand. She took it from him and looked at it. It glowed a soothing blue when she held it in her hand. She placed it in her Kimono and laid her head against his arm and drifted to sleep.

- Felina awoke the next morning rubbed her eyes. She looked at the bed and gasped when she saw that Andoro was gone. She picked up the box that lay in his place and she opened it. It was a sparkling ruby braclette. She stared at it in awe and a shiny new object caught her eye. It was a diamond ring. Felina pulled the necklace out of her kimono and stared at them. She spotted a piece of paper under the box. She picked it up and read it. When she had finished it she ran out the room and searched for him. She checked the bath house but he wasn't there. Then she checked his room and then the mess hall. She ran to the meadow and looked for him there. She searched the for a while longer before finally giving up the search. Then at that moment she saw him. He sat on top of her roof starring into the sky. She jumped up there to him and sat down next to him.

Andoro: Good Morning.
Felina: Morning...Andoro..
Andoro: hmm?
Felina: I just wanted to apologize to you.
Andoro: For what? You did nothing wrong.
Felina: ...
Andoro: You were mad at me. I understand that. I would be upset too if I though a loved one was lying to me.
Felina: But I should've seen it..
Andoro: You can't see everything. Some things cannot be seen. They just happen. It all depends on the situation and whom it is effecting. How is Zankuro doing? After I spoke to him he drifted off somewhere.
Felina: I don't know. I haven't seen him all day.
Andoro: Jinno wanted me to tell you something.
Felina: What... that he is sorry?
Andoro: Yes. He said that you can marry whom you want. Or you can stay with Zankuro.

- Felina grabbed the necklace around her neck and held it in thought. Andoro broke her chain of thought.

Andoro: So.. I'll ask you what i wanted to the day of the festival. Felina...will you marry me?
Felina: ...

- Felina sat for a second thinking. She looked Andoro in his eyes and opened her mouth to say something but stopped. Andoro had a calm look on his face. She cared about Andoro but she still had feelings for Zankuro. He comforted her when Andoro was gone. She enjoyed his company...she shared her first kiss with him. She looked away from Andoro and then to the sky.

Felina: Andoro....

- At the medical bay Chun walked into Andoro's room to check on him. She was shocked to see that he was gone. She picked up a letter she saw on the floor and looked at it. It was addressed to Felina.

---------------------------------------The Letter---------------------------------------

Dear Felina,
             
             I know that I haven't been around lately. I just want you to know I love you and i'm sorry for leaving you by yourself all those times... i wish i could just stay by your side forever. I'd rather be talking to you in person but just incase I wrote you a poem. I call it "A Song For One's Soul"

It is together that we sing.
It is together that we laugh.
It is together that we walk
down this forest past.

It is together that we cry
together that we hide
Shielding ourself with eachothers warmth.

It is now that we grow
and now that we love
the very being of one another
We soar like a dove

It is here and now
that i come and bow
before your beauty
before your grace

To appreciate you
and too cherish you
to hold you in my arms

And it is together that we sing
A song for the soul
It is together we acknowledge
The love that fills our holes

We are one in spirit
we are one at heart
we are one soul
we are one body
we are a voice

A voice that sings
a song for one's soul.

- Chun smiled.