Chapter 13: Yozakura
Standing outside in the freezing cold wasn't the most pleasent feeling in the world especially tonight due to it being 25 degrees below. Being inside was better for many reasons, it was mainly due to the fact that tonight you were spending this night with the cutest girl you've ever laid eyes on. "Hey, can you reach this for me?" She asked pointing at a bowl that was up high but easy for you. Reaching up with no effort that caused her to pout cutely until she laughed it off. "Thanks!" She smiled as she went back to cooking as you helped cut the vegetable. "Oh yeah! Here, I need you to make the meat real quick cause I have the broth ready!"
... ...!
"Alright, now then I just need to make the cake!" She was like in a whole another world in the kitchen as if she was at multiple places at once while you felt very overwhelmed. You couldn't help but be star struck at that smile she held onto her while she was busy making a cake from scratch. You were so distracted by her that you accidently cut your finger like an idiot that it made you curse and instinctively place your index finger in your mouth to suck up the blood. "H-Hey, are you alright?"
... ... ...
"That's no good, here let me get the first aid kit." She said running to another room only to return seconds later having the white and red cross box in her hands. "Let me see your finger." You showed her the cut as she began to pour disinfecting spray that caused your body to flinch. "It doesn't hurt, does it?"
... ...
"I'm happy to know that." She wrapped a bandaid nice and snug around your finger like mother would to a child. "Alright, shall we continue?" You nodded to that question as she pumped her fist motivated to get the Christmas dinner ready. "To be honest, I'm not used to having help in the kitchen."
... ... ...?
"N-No! You're not a bother to me at all!" She stammered at your question. "If anything it's kinda nice having someone help me around the kitchen."
... ... ...
"I guess it's because you're mom didn't want you getting hurt." The both of you gave a soft chuckle at that, only to focus back on the cooking. After what seemed like an hour, Yozakura took off her apron with a sigh of relief to finally relax for a bit.
... ... ...?
"Yeah, something nice and hot would help me right now." You volunteered to make the drinks as she went to sit down and relax for a moment. Coming back with cups of hot tea and oranges that you set up on the kotatsu table with Yozakura leaning back. "Good idea to have the party here."
... ... ...
"That is true, being the only boy in a Girl's School." She winked at you in a playful manner. "Aren't you lucky?"
... ... ...!
"I know, I'm just messing with you." She laughed at your reaction before sitting close to you. "Still, this is nice..." She leaned her head on your shoulder getting comfortable that she didn't want to move an inch away from the spot. "It's nice to be alone, just the two of us..."
... ... ...?
"I know, that's why I want this moment to last forever." She was so cute up close that you couldn't help but try to wrap your arm around her only for her to stand up straight. "Oh that's right! We need to decorate!" There goes the moment... Both you and Yozakura started taking out a fake tree that barely reached the ceiling of your room which was perfect for the star. Now comes the biggest nightmare that happens every year for everyone... Christmas lights. "C-Come on...! You stupid...!"
... ...?
"Don't worry, I don't need help." She gave you a confident voice as she kept untangling the lights only for her to trip and fall on the ground.
... ... ...?!
"Uh... Okay, maybe I do need a little help." She blushed, not just in shame but in embarassment as the lights tangled around her body but tightly around her breasts and wrapping her hands above her head and her skirt lifting up that gave you a peak at a pair of what seemed like beautiful snow white color. "Um, please help..." After sometime you were finally able to untie the trapped Yozakura who was still blushing at such a shameful display. The next thing was the ornaments as they were a beautiful set of red and gold with a silver tinsel garland to wrap around that matched perfectly.
... ... ...
"Yeah! It looks amazing!" She seemed happy at the sight of the tree that it made her think back. "I hope everyone else was able to have a good Christmas." What did she mean by that? All the girls were coming over for Christmas, so did she mean someone else? Maybe those girls from Hanzo Academy you met some weeks ago.
... ... ...?
"Y-Yeah, that's what I meant." A feeling you had knew she was hiding something.
... ...
"It's that obvious, huh?" She gave a weak smile before sitting down at the kotatsu. "See, back then I had a huge family to take care for so long that celebrating without them feels... Empty." She looked down at the hardwood table to hide her face from you. "When I was little my mother died but I always tried my best to take care of everyone when my father had to work."
...?
"He died a year later." She answered. "I thought I was strong back then but all I could do was just make false promises and couldn't back it up." What surprised you was the droplets of tears rolling down her cheeks. "When distance relatives took my brothers and sisters away I was all alone, a little girl with no home or people to go to... Then that's when Grandfather Kurokage came... He gave me a purpose, he gave me a home..."
... ... ...
"He was. Grandfather was everything I wanted, everyday I saw him smile it felt like I could take on the world." Her smile was breaking as her fist clenched her skirt tightly like she was about to tear it off. "Grandfather, Yumi, Murakumo, Shiki and Minori... All of them were my family so I want to protect them but..."
... ... ...
"Yeah. After you transferred a year later he passed away..." Her eyes stared at yours like a convict couldn't deny their guilt. "To be honest I blamed you. I thought of you as nothing but a curse and the reason he died... But I know that wasn't it, it was just his time." She tackled you onto the ground, crying softly into your chest to let out every single pint of guilt she had. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
... ... ...
"No!" She stood up straight with a stern look on her face. "I did nothing but look down on you and never gave you a chance! I hated you for something that you couldn't control!"
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"IT'S NOT! I'M A TERRIBLE PERSON! WHY AREN'T YOU MAD AT ME?!"
... ... ...
"Wha...?" Her face started to blush red until you stood up close to her and gently took her hand in yours. "You're so good to me... I don't deserve you at all." She broke down once more as your hands wrapped around her body and bringing her close. "Thank you..." You broke the hug to stare in her eyes to promise her something important.
... ... ...
"I'll protect you too." She stated with confidence in her voice and a smile forming. She looked down once more while twiddling her thumbs. "I don't want to hide anything from you anymore... I want to protect you, but if I don't tell you now I might regret it."
... ...?
"You must swear to me right now." You nodded as she took your hands and placed it on her breasts. "Do you swear?"
...!
You stammered but she nodded where a strange aura surrounded her with a mysterious strong wind pushing you back. These winds were as if a storm of wild boars was charging straight at you as the wind was knocking the air out of your lungs every second! When you were about to be knocked away a gentle grip covered in what felt like iron was placed around your wrist to make sure you weren't blown back. When the light died down, your eyes were bewildered at the sight in front of you now. "Shinobi Transformation... Gessen Elite, Yozakura."
Instead of the cozy sweater and skirt she was wearing a second ago, she was now wearing what seemed to be a kimono with a color that faded from white to seafoam green that had the sleeves rolled up with her midriff exposed and large black metal gauntlets on her arms. Those gauntlets looked not only heavy to hold but also look very strong! Her skirt was open for her legs to move freely with a blue sash that had a floral pattern on it.
...?! ... ...?!
"I know you have a lot of questions, but please calm down." She placed the iron covered hand onto your cheek with a look of concerned. She sat you down on the couch, your head having a million questions banging off the walls inside.
... ...?
"I'm a Shinobi." A shinobi?!
... ... ...?!
"Yes, all five of us are the Elite group of Shinobi for Gessen."
... ...?
"I'm afraid so." She answered while taking a seat by your side. "A long time ago, Grandfather was one of the most powerful Shinobi in the world... However he saw things too grimly." Her grip tighten. "However, we all learned something precious that day and we learned many more by ourselves."
... ... ...
"Grandfather was one of a kind..." Yozakura's smile was nothing but filled with sadness at the memories of the old man. Your memories of him were brief but you knew how much he meant to Yozakura and everyone else. He was an amazing man who had the wisdom of someone who might've been alive for a century or more. If only he was here still... "But I know that deep in my heart, he's still alive and he's smiling at me."
... ...
"Yeah. We all lost our parents back then, so him being there for us was like a second chance. I owe my life to him." Her eyes started to water as you couldn't help but wipe them away. "I owe you so much too... We all do."
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"That's not true." She retorted. "You made us smile, you made us laugh, you made us know that you'll be there for us when we need you most. And for that I'll find a way to pay back my debt."
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"S-Shut up!" She blushed but smiled at your comment. "To tell you the truth, I'm happy I could tell you all this."
... ... ...?
"Well... We're Shinobi." She answered sadly. "Our parents died on the line of duty and one day it might happen to us next." Her eyes were serious as she looked down at the ground. "This life I live is one without regret, so I want you to know that if I ever disappear... I don't want you to think I left thinking I hated you."
... ... ...!
"Huh?" You placed both of your hands on her shoulders as you started to tell her everything you felt right now.
... ... ...!
She couldn't help but be surprised once more as she looked down with her forehead touching yours. "Thank you." The both of you kept still for what seemed like hours on end until she started moving slowly. Her hands slipped out of the black iron gauntlets as she held onto your shirt. "Hey... It's Christmas... And I still haven't gotten your present."
...?
"Close your eyes." Your heart started to beat fast like it was about to jump straight out of your chest! "I-I said close your eyes! This is embarassing ya know!" A gulp that seemed like you were swallowing an entire soft ball down your throat as you braced for whatever she had up her sleeve. The only thing you felt was a pair of lips softly touching yours, her hands being placed on your cheeks as the two you never wanted to be seperated.
The both of you stopped to look at one another only to kiss once more, then again and again until the both of you stopped for a moment to reflect on what just happened.
... ...
"Yeah." She nodded as she placed her head onto your shoulder. "I love you." She said closing her eyes as if she was about to sleep. "I love you so much."
... ... ...
"Never leave me." Both of you wrapped your pinkies around each other while the two of you were about to pass out... Until the smell of something burning came to your nostrils. "OH NO! THE FOOD!" The both of you ran back into the kitchen to save the food from burning! Thankfully it was saved just in time with Yozakura taking a taste test. "For second I thought we would have to go back to square one." She giggled nervously. "Alright, everyone is coming over soon so let's set up the party!"
Yozakura may look like a standard tomboy but deep down she had the most gentle touch that a mother would have. She was both kind and strong who knew how to look beautiful by doing both. Come rain or snow she'll always be by your side no matter how big a mountain may seem or how dangerous the ocean is. She's one hell of a woman and a damn fine Shinobi... Just seeing her smile while helping her cook made you the happiest soul on Earth.
EPILOGUE
The spring cherry blossoms were blooming wonderful this year as it was time for a lovely picnic. Family and friends gathered around the trees to see the flowers bloom where kids ran around to play tag with once another. "Dear, the tea is getting cold." She called out to you as you sat up from a nap to see your beautiful wife holding a baby in her arms. "Come now, if you eat and take a nap you're gonna get fat." She giggled.
"Mom knows best afterall!" A little girl by the age of 7 said with a smile as she ate a small sandwich. Your daughter had Yozakura's looks and demeanor, but not the tomboy attitude that she was best known to have at times.
"Oh sweet! I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!" A boy by the age of 5 came running up to the picnic who started gulfing down the food.
"Would you stop that?! You're gonna choke!"
"Ah! What do you know?!"
"That's enough you two!" Yozakura snapped causing them to flinch. "I reckon if you don't act up you're gonna get a whooping of a life time!" She spoke in her hometown accent that you found absolutely adorable.
"Y-Yes mama..."
"Yes mother." The five of you kept having an amazing time of your lives all laughing and smiling. This life was a life worth fighting for... Even though you're not a Shinobi like Yozakura you would be willing to fight an unwinnable battle just for her. To see all this happen in front of your eyes made you happy... Happy knowing that you would be able to spend the rest of your life with the woman you love.
"Dear," She gained your attention as she offered some food. "Say 'Ahh~" She teased as you did what you were told then biting down on the sandwich. Yeah... This life had no regrets, the way she wanted. The Shinobi world is troublesome as both good and evil shinobi were still out there somewhere, but it was best to enjoy the times of peace for now. To see Yozakura smile... That's all you needed.
END
Alright, welp that's one done and a bunch more to go. Here's hoping I get to Miyabi before December which will probably not happen due to how much of a dumbass I am. Up next, it's everyone's favorite gyaru/gal. Merry Christmas you beautiful bastards and here's hoping I get a lot done. For instance, I want to get the FINAL chapter of Rebel out before Christmas, I want to start on a new Ranma smut like my Sekirei one but instead of continuously going down the story I'm just picking different episodes and chapters of the girls I like. Except Akane. Cause fuck Akane.
If you have any questions for me you know what to do, PM me here, ask me in reviews or DM on twitter. Fair warning, nothing but anime tiddies on there.