11 The Temple
Haruka lounged back in her bed while Setsuna sat in the chair at her desk mindlessly spinning. They talked about the usual school gossip intermittently between reading, and snacking. The day was long and lazy. It had been a while since Haruka had a day like this. She had sorely missed rest and relaxation ever since she became a futa ninja.
A knock sounded at the door. Haruka and Setsuna's heads snapped up to the noise and a moment later Ayame walked in. She had a bowl of cut up fruit in her hand. She placed it on Haruka's desk.
"Hi Mom," Haruka said before scooting her way up into a real sitting position, rather than half laying half sitting in a way that could not be good for your spine.
"What's up?" Setsuna asked.
"I need you two to go to a temple in Hokkaido to help out a friend of mine," Ayame told them.
So that was the pretence to the fruit. Haruka thought to herself.
"Doing what?" Haruka grimaced.
Setsuna didn't say anything yet but her face said it all.
"You'll see when you get there. Look, I just need you two to do me this favour," Ayame said.
"What's in it for us?" Setsuna asked.
"If you go without complaint there will be a reward in it for both of you," Ayame then told them, a smile spread across her face.
The girls eyed their mother for a few moments before agreeing to go. Although it was the last thing they wanted to do the reward sounded promising. Besides, it might have been a request but Ayame could surely force them if she wanted to.
After that Ayame instructed them to pack for at least a couple of days. That made them wonder how long they'd even be staying.
***
According to their map the temple was close by.
Haruka and Setsuna took a short break to check where they were and make sure they didn't get lost. They took the train as far as it would go but they still had to get to this place. It was way out into the country so there was no one and no taxis around to help them.
The countryside was picturesque. That's to say it was empty bar electrical lines, greenery, and a smattering of village style houses in the distance.
"It's definitely this way," Haruka pointed at the map then in the direction of a hill. Setsuna nodded and they began in that direction.
Setsuna and Haruka were on a small dirt road that doubled as a footpath. They looked ahead of them as the hill came into view. Soon the hill turned into a set of steep ancient looking steps.
"I didn't realise this was going to be so much work," Setsuna whined as they got to the bottom of the staircase. "I was just planning on well doing nothing."
"Come on, maybe it will be fun," Haruka said with a chuckle. Her curiosity of this mysterious place was growing. "Besides, lazing around is all you ever do."
Setsuna huffed and soon they made it up the stairs. After that the old temple was in clear view. They wouldn't have to walk very far to reach it.
The temple was three storeys tall and surrounded by jungle. It was red with a dark roof. It had been kept in good condition. As they moved closer to it they noticed the stunning zen garden that surrounded the structure. At the very least, Haruka thought, it was a beautiful place to be.
They were almost at the temple when unnaturally fast wind blew on the back of the women's necks.
With their ninja skills kicking into gear the women spun around to see a cloaked figure with a staff held out in front of him.
Haruka went to speak but the figure wordlessly charged at them with the staff. Haruka was quick to dodge his attack even landing one of her own. A palm to his chin had him reeling back.
The boy then charged for Setsuna. But she easily dodged him and grabbed his staff before lifting it. The figure jumped and his hood fell off revealing a young boy with big downturned eyes and a scruffy haircut.
Haruka almost laughed when she saw him. Was this kid serious?
He snatched the staff back from Setsuna in a moment of distraction then stood back and held it in an attack position.
"Who are you?" he yelled desperately.
"Hey we didn't want to be here," Setsuna growled.
"Relax," Haruka said with a small chuckle. "We were asked to come to this temple to help out our mother's friend. I can't imagine you're that friend?" Haruka asked.
The alarm died in the boys eyes. He lowered the wooden stick and then turned around and walked toward the tree. He picked up a broom head and screwed it back onto the handle as he walked back.
"Oh you're Ayame's daughters," he said.
They both nodded and then he motioned for them to follow him. They began to walk in the direction of the temple together.
"I'm sorry about all of that," he started to speak as they walked. "I thought you were intruders."
"If we were intruders, then what?" Setsuna asked, teasing him.
The boy didn't seem to heed her teasing, he continued on as if she were really asking that question. "Well, I was hoping to scare you off not kill you, if that's what you're asking."
"Oh well it's good to know you weren't planning on killing us," Setsuna replied with a small laugh.
They continued down a plant lined pathway up into the main entrance of the temple.
"We're here," he said as he pushed the large door open. It was at least four times the size of a regular door and that was only one half of it.
The temple was grand on the inside as it was on the outside. Both Haruka and Setsuna were in awe as they stepped through the threshold. Their eyes could not stop on one thing as they were moving to the next. The architecture was traditional, ancient, and made of high quality materials. There were artefacts on pedestals lining the walls as well as art you might not even see in a gallery hung up.
"I know it's all big and boring," the boy said. "Come let's go sit out the back with some tea so we can talk."
Haruka and Setsuna's eyes snapped to him. They almost questioned him but thought better of it. The boy began to walk and they followed him through the grand temple before finding themselves in a small kitchen. He filled a tray with a small contraption that held a teapot, cups, saucers, and a pot of tea before walking through a back door.
"Come on," he said.
They followed him out the back. Beyond the small deck there was a garden even more beautiful than the front. It spanned until the edges of the property which then turned into dense forest. The garden was made up of grass and sand that had patterns drawn into it. There were also pathways made of large flat stepping stones surrounded by pebbles. In the middle back of the garden was a coy pond that Haruka imagined housed fish and other creatures. And a small half moon footbridge was built atop it leading into the other half of the garden.
The boy placed the tray down on a small low table then took a seat himself. Haruka and Setsuna sat across from him. They noticed the contraption beneath the teapot was to boil the water. They watched as he began the process.
"I'd like to formally introduce myself, after what happened outside I'm slightly embarrassed," the boy began to speak as he finished setting up the tea pot. "My name is Saku, and you are?"
"Nice to meet you Saku, I'm Haruka and this is my sister Setsuna," Haruka said motioning between her and her sister.
"It is good to put names and faces to what I was told. My father just said some women would be coming to help me, daughters of his friend Ayame. But he didn't really extrapolate further," Saku explained.
The water started to boil and Saku turned his attention to the pot. He turned off the water heating contraption and
"I am the only person at the temple right now, well, until you two came here," Saku then said.
"Oh, there are no workers here?" Haruka asked him.
He shook his head.
"It's just me and my father. Our family have been tasked with looking after this temple for generations now. Well, it's now just the two of us," he explained.
"Is your dad here?" Setsuna questioned.
"No, he is out on business. He should return in a few days," Saku told them.
Haruka and Setsuna nodded. Saku poured them both tea now that it was finished brewing. They drank some before the three of them started to chat as they drank their tea.
They continued talking about their days and journey to the castle.
"Would you like a tour around the temple?" Saku asked them as they finished their first cup of tea.
They nodded and then the trio stood up and started walking back inside. Saku showed them around the temple. Pointing at different artefacts and pieces of furniture before going into a small explanation about them.
"This place has been around for hundreds of years, or so I'm told," Saku explained to them.
"I can tell," Setsuna joked.
Saku chuckled and they continued on through the temple. "I'll show you to your room," he said.
They followed him up a set of stairs then behind a paper screen they had a room set up for two. "I'll be back, I'll let you get settled in."
***
When Saku returned the two sisters were sitting in the middle of the room relaxing. He called out and they told him to come in.
"So, what will we be doing here?" Haruka then asked him.
"Well, I came just to let you know. You'll be here to help me run this place. That begins with cleaning it," Saku said.
"Like, all of it?" Setsuna asked with raised brows.
Saku nodded. He stepped to the side and picked up some brooms holding them up in the doorway.
Setsuna grimaced internally.
Haruka motioned for Setsuna to get up when she did. They grabbed the brooms from Haku and got to work. They went to the top floor and started there. Sweeping, dusting, and mopping if need be. They cleaned each room one by one spending hours on the top floor before moving downstairs. They continued on down each level. It was starting to get dark when they finished cleaning and Saku popped out of the woodworks.
"I think that's enough for one day," he said.
Haruka and Setsuna nodded. "No one told us this is what we were here for."
Saku let out a nervous laugh before taking the brooms and other cleaning supplies from them. "I have set up the baths for you. We have a selection of soaps and oils," he then said.
"I guess I could forgive you." Setsuna smiled brightly at him.
Saku smiled back. "Follow me," he said before leading them to the baths.
The bathroom was large with a tub just like at a bath house. There was a large window behind it showing the stunning view.
"Thank you Saku," Haruka said before bowing.
Saku bowed and disappeared before the women stripped down. They both got into the sub together letting their muscles relax after the day they just had.
"That was horrible," Setsuna groaned.
"I didn't mind it so much," Haruka replied.
"Well, you wouldn't. You're such a goody two shoes," Setsuna said before
slapping Haruka's tit.
Haruka frowned. "Stop that."
Setsuna swum over to her once again and then honked them before throwing her head back with laughter.
"You're so immature," Haruka said but let Setsuna continue playing with her body.
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