บท 36: The Sleepy Ninja
"A mujina? What's that?" Allen asked curiously.
"It's an animal similar to a badger" Ayaka was the one who answered.
"So lady Mujina, what were you doing on top of the tree? Were you spying on us?" Allen inquired. He wouldn't be surprised of having someone following them from the Kamisato Clan or ordered by Tomoki, but it was strange to send someone so young.
"I wasn't spying...waw" she yawned with tired eyes "I was just focusing on my important matters."
"And what would they be those important matters?" Allen asked.
"Of course, it would be taking a nap" She answered seriously "I need to rest if I want to grow taller... Don't try to stop me and force me to train."
'Seeing how she acts, she seems genuine. In the end, she seems too young'
"Don't worry about it, we weren't trying to find you, it was all a coincidence" Allen answered "Anyway, who might you be, lady Mujina? We are Allen and Ayaka."
"Allen... A-ya-ka?!" she said sleepily, tilting her head with Ayaka's name "Are you Asahi's daughter? waw" She yawned. Even when asking questions she seemed more worried about returning to sleep rather than the actual answer.
"You know father?" Ayaka asked.
"Hum!" the girl nodded a little "I'm Sayu... a trainee ninja of the Shuumatsuban working under Asahi."
"Ninja? Shuumatsuban? That sounds like some secret organization" Allen laughed it off.
"It is..." Sayu answered "Keep it a secret."
"You know anything, Ayaka?" Allen whispered her.
"No" Ayaka answered "But if it's a secret, I doubt father would tell me. I'll need to ask brother to be sure."
"But if it's truly a secret, you shouldn't go telling to anyone" Ayaka reprimanded Sayu "And you shouldn't slack off and put effort in training."
"Training... tiring." Sayu answered "Takes time from important matters."
Ayaka fiercely looked at Sayu, knowing that her important matters were sleeping "Hahaha!" But Allen's outburst.
"Do you think it's funny? That she is right?!" Ayaka said inquisitory at Allen.
"I think it's funny how different are you both. You should learn from each other." Allen answered.
"What should I learn from her?" Ayaka said pointing at Sayu.
"Working too much would stress your body and mind, affecting your growth"
"Working... bad" Sayu nodded.
"But resting too much is also negative, Sayu" Allen said "A good equilibrium is necessary between work and rest. If you truly want to grow, it would be best to do some exercise, have a good diet and rest accordingly. Too much exercise would stunt your growth, the same way that too much rest."
"That way, both should learn from the other, Ayaka learned to rest and Sayu to work."
"You can't compare us, Allen" Ayaka interjected "I'm already grown up. She is only a child."
"Sayu is not a child... 9 years old I have" She said yawned, Allen's and Ayaka's eyes going wide.
"Really?" Allen asked shocked "You only have one year less than us? I thought that you were about 6."
"I'm not 6!" Sayu said angrily, the tiredness of her eyes disappearing.
'It seems that she really is very worried about her height'
"I only did not have my growth spurt" Sayu defended.
"Sorry, sorry" Allen apologized "You surely will grow in the future."
"Mm!" Sayu nodded "Waw!" and yawned, returning again to her sleeping state.
"So what ninja techniques do you know?" Allen asked curiously. He didn't even know that ninjas existed, so he was curious about them even when he didn't have much faith in someone young like Sayu.
"Yoohoo Art...waw" Answered Sayu "For cloning and escaping."
"Really? Can you show it for u-" "Someone is coming!" Allen was about to ask when Sayu tensed.
"Clone!" "Puf!" white smoke surged from Sayu, leaving a doll of a mujina daruma in her place.
However, Allen and Ayaka's gazes went towards outside the smoke from where Sayu left running at a great speed while running on all fours.
"I don't think it's a good technique" Ayaka said while looking at the run away Sayu.
"It's not so bad, she is quite agile and fast" Allen said "The problem is the place, if we were indoor, it would have been more effective. She is young and needs to learn better, but she could be a great ninja."
'She is quite fast and with techniques like that, she could become a great spy to recollect hidden information.' Allen analyzed Sayu's figure disappearing 'I would like to have her working under me.'
"Anyway" Allen said turning around to Ayaka "She is a funny girl. I'll like to meet her again in the future."
"Yes" Ayaka agreed "I should ask brother about her and meet her again. Maybe we can be friends."
"It's a pity, but it seems that our date end here" Allen said looking at the three people approaching them from the Kamisato's State's direction, being Tomoki, Ayato and Thoma 'Sayu really have a good awareness of her surroundings.'
"Allen, you shouldn't act like this" Tomoki reprimanded "You should warn us next time, we were worried about you both."
"Were you really worried?" Allen lifted his eyebrow.
"Not really, but it's a pain having to deal with him alone" Tomoki whispered to Allen while signaling at Ayato with his gaze.
Ayato was fiercely looking at Allen with a stare with what it seemed killing intent "How you dare to kidnap my sister, leaving the grounds. Do you not know how dangerous could it be?!" Ayato shouted angrily "I forbid you to meet my sister again!"
"Brother!" Ayaka interjected angrily "Nothing happened, we were simply out of a walk. And...and" She said nervous "And it was my idea!" She lied "I was the one that forced him to go out!"
"Puaf!" Tomoki burst out laughing receiving the deadly stare of Ayato and confused look from Ayaka.
"Sorry, sorry. You are very cute, but do not try to defend that boy. If there's a bad idea, I'm sure that it's his fault. Hahaha!" Tomoki laughed it of.
"Ayaka, were you lying to defend him?" Ayato asked softly.
"Mm!" Ayaka nodded "I don't want to never meet him again. He is my friend!"
"Friend" Ayato turned towards Allen who had a smile in his face 'He is Ayaka's first friend. Should I let them continuing playing together? It certainly seems that Ayaka is far more lively today. But...' Ayato clenched his hand 'I don't really like this kid.'
"Okay, you can continue meeting" Ayato sighed in defeat, letting his sister win.
"Thanks, brother!" Ayaka smiled cheerfuly.
"But you should always have someone guarding you. You are too young to be alone" Ayaka nodded at Ayato's words.
"And you" Ayato approached Allen and whispered "If I see doing something strange to Ayaka, I'll kill you."
"Mmm!" Allen held back his laughter. It was funny seeing how much of a siscon he was and the threatening that clearly lacked killing intent. Compared with the bloodlust from the people at Snezhaya, this was nothing!
"Aren't you ashamed to threaten a child about 10 years younger?" Allen whispered grinning "But I'll take into a account" Then Allen quickly turned to Ayaka "Shall we return together?" He took her by the hand and started returning to the State.
Seeing the two children returning while holding each hand, Ayato clenched his hands strongly and turned towards Tomoki "I hate that child!"
"I won't lie to you. That's also my opinion most of the time. Hahaha" Tomoki laughed it off "But he has his good parts" Tomoki said smiling while looking at the smile over Ayaka's face.
"Let's return with them." The three young men started following the children.
...
After leaving Ayaka to the Kamisato State, Tomoki and Allen returned to the Niwa Manor.
"So, how did it go?" Tomoki asked Allen.
"Good. I don't really like playing with children, but Ayaka is quite cute. It's funny teasing her." Allen answered.
"You shouldn't tease the poor girl" Tomoki shook his head "But you did a good job cheering her up. But please, don't think of her as a toy."
"Who do you take me for?" Allen asked offended.
"For someone that had worked under Pantalone." Tomoki answered truthfully.
"Touche!" Allen recognized it "While his methods are productive, effective and sometimes necessaries. I, at least, don't want to become like that. If it's not completely necessary, I would prefer to avoid it."
"That what worries me" Tomoki said serious "Everything for your sister, no?"
Allen glanced at Tomoki, but in the end sighed "Yes, I won't mind it if it's to save and stay with Ellen"
"I'll take into account" Tomoki nodded "I hope that you had enjoyed today, rest for today." Tomoki said leaving the room.
"And one more thing." Tomoki stopped just at the door "You are a good teacher, teaching about working and resting, but a very bad student. Try to follow your own words and don't force too much" He said before leaving the room.
"I'll try"
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AN: End of the chapter. How did you feel about Allen's interactions, too forced?
I really didn't have put much thought in it, completing them as I wrote, I hope do you find to your liking.
Next chapter will be a time skip about a year and we will go towards the first actual episode at Inazuma.
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