Danii gives the two of them a serious look. She knows that the three were trouble makers, but execution without trial, for a broadcast? That would never happen, especially in a place like the leaf and the history it has with authoritarian rulers. Surely, this village, that her home helped in their time of need, remembers the unjust rule of the daimyo they overthrew.
“Hahaha, very funny you two. What trouble did those three really cause this time? Are they back at the treehouse laughing at me? Are they in on thi…”
Her words fade out as Reicheru places the items on the table. As she recognizes them, she abruptly turns and makes a beeline for her father's sword hanging on a hook by the doorway into the kitchen. She let's her anger take over. She has no idea what she is about to do, but she knows she will need her sword to do it. Something tells her that, like a faint voice, an instinct, calling out from the sword and urging her on.
“Who did this? We can't just let them get away with it! They were our friends. And Katsu was… is one of us. He is a teammate, family…”
The voice in her head grows stronger as she reaches out for the sword's hilt, but before she can grab it a wooden spoon smacks her hand away.
“And what do you think you are going to do with that right now, little one?”
Her grandfather walks through the doorway and stamds between her and her sword. A serious look replaces the usual jovial one on his face. He stands taller and holds himself like the samurai he was in his youth. And Danii hates him in the moment. She has never wanted to strike him before, and the voice calls out to her to push him aside. She clenches her fists and stares him in the eyes. She takes a deep breath as she realizes that it isn't him she wants to hit. He's just a stand-in for the unnamed shinobi who killed her friends. His look softens and he pulls her into a hug. He whispers something to her.
“I know your angry, but youbare better than this. Your friends need you now. Stay strong.”
A single tear falls down her cheek as they pull apart. She reaches up and wipes it away as she straightens and turns back to her friends. No smile, but no scowl either. She had to be there for her friends, at least those that were here with her. She would help those that passed on, but not today.
“Take Reicheru and get her some clean clothes. I'm sure you have something that will fit her. As for you Maikeru, I think I saw some things of your's when I did the laundry earlier. They should be stacked on the table over there. I was going to have her bring it to you later. You two go get cleaned up, I'll have a warm meal for you on the table when you finish.”
“Come on, Rei. Let's find you something warmer to wear.”
She places a hand on her friend's shoulder to lead her into the other room. When they all return, Danii looks at Maikeru and then down at the bowl of stew sitting in front of her. She twirls the spoon around in it but doesn't eat.
“What happened to them and what did you do with their bodies? And did you mean what you said? Are we really leaving ho… this place?”
She couldn't really call it home anymore. That no longer felt right.
“Hahaha, very funny you two. What trouble did those three really cause this time? Are they back at the treehouse laughing at me? Are they in on thi…”
Her words fade out as Reicheru places the items on the table. As she recognizes them, she abruptly turns and makes a beeline for her father's sword hanging on a hook by the doorway into the kitchen. She let's her anger take over. She has no idea what she is about to do, but she knows she will need her sword to do it. Something tells her that, like a faint voice, an instinct, calling out from the sword and urging her on.
“Who did this? We can't just let them get away with it! They were our friends. And Katsu was… is one of us. He is a teammate, family…”
The voice in her head grows stronger as she reaches out for the sword's hilt, but before she can grab it a wooden spoon smacks her hand away.
“And what do you think you are going to do with that right now, little one?”
Her grandfather walks through the doorway and stamds between her and her sword. A serious look replaces the usual jovial one on his face. He stands taller and holds himself like the samurai he was in his youth. And Danii hates him in the moment. She has never wanted to strike him before, and the voice calls out to her to push him aside. She clenches her fists and stares him in the eyes. She takes a deep breath as she realizes that it isn't him she wants to hit. He's just a stand-in for the unnamed shinobi who killed her friends. His look softens and he pulls her into a hug. He whispers something to her.
“I know your angry, but youbare better than this. Your friends need you now. Stay strong.”
A single tear falls down her cheek as they pull apart. She reaches up and wipes it away as she straightens and turns back to her friends. No smile, but no scowl either. She had to be there for her friends, at least those that were here with her. She would help those that passed on, but not today.
“Take Reicheru and get her some clean clothes. I'm sure you have something that will fit her. As for you Maikeru, I think I saw some things of your's when I did the laundry earlier. They should be stacked on the table over there. I was going to have her bring it to you later. You two go get cleaned up, I'll have a warm meal for you on the table when you finish.”
“Come on, Rei. Let's find you something warmer to wear.”
She places a hand on her friend's shoulder to lead her into the other room. When they all return, Danii looks at Maikeru and then down at the bowl of stew sitting in front of her. She twirls the spoon around in it but doesn't eat.
“What happened to them and what did you do with their bodies? And did you mean what you said? Are we really leaving ho… this place?”
She couldn't really call it home anymore. That no longer felt right.