4 Chapter 4 (1/2)

”So, what is your plan?” Hanabi asked as she stands up to face the white-haired woman.

”I lend you my hand in hunting down the traitor,” Kagura started. ”We'll take him down together and I shall have the credit of ending his life.”

Hanabi scoffed in disbelief.

”What a selfish request, young lady,” she commented.

”If I take the credit, I will hold the power to stop your wedding and be Hayabusa's wife. It is a win-win situation,” Kagura explained further. ”You won't be forced into the marriage.”

”Yes, that would happen,” Hanabi replied, ”But the mere fact that you'd take the life of the traitor defeats the purpose of this alliance.”

”Ah, I get it,” Kagura said as she took a step foward closer to Hanabi. ”You want revenge. You want to avenge your father. What matters to you more? Tie the knot with a man you do not know or avenge your father?”

”I want vengeance,” Hanabi replied without any hesitance. ”Haru, let's go.”

The two left Kagura by herself. She clenched her teeth in annoyance.

”What is mine is mine,” she whispered to the cold wind that swifts through her hair.

Hanabi and Haru has gone back to their own quarters. Their absence are not noticed by their grandfather.

Hanabi, who couldn't sit still, decided to go out for a little walk.

”It's almost midnight, where are you going?” asked her grandfather who stood at the patio.

”I'll stroll for a bit around town,” Hanabi replied before leaving.

As she reach the busy street, the townspeople are still busy preparing for the festival. What caught her attention was the uproar at the center of the town. She couldn't see what was really going on for the people have crowded around.

She pushed her way in so she could get at the center of attention. She stood and saw two guys fighting with their kunais drawn out. The dark-haired guy has bruises all over his body and has coughed blood. While the other one seems to be enjoying the fight. Not a single bruise is seen in any part of his body.

Hanabi watched in awe as she observed the movements of the scarlet-haired guy. He is going easy and surely, he is not showing his full strength which made her want to join the fight.

The crowd is going rowdier and one of them pushed Hanabi in surprise causing her to jump into the fighting scene. She is able to compose herself immediately and sensed that someone is attacking her.

She shifted to her right and immediately took her kunai and blocked the sudden lunge of the redhead. The crowd went quiet.

Hanabi jumped backward to widen the space between her and the red-haired guy.

”Nice reflex,” he commented.

”Hm,” Hanabi simply responded. She kept her kunai and held out her hand for a handshake.

”Do you have time tomorrow for a little sparring?” she offered.

Hanzo, the guy with a scarlet hair, raised his brow. He smirked in amusement.

”Sorry but girls should just learn how to become a proper lady,” he replied. He turned his back towards her and was about to leave but Hanabi runs towards him with a kunai on both of her hands. She jumped and locked her legs around Hanzo's shoulder. She arched and held the two kunais on both sides of Hanzo's neck.

She looked at him eye to eye.

”A lady is only proper if she could do this,” she said.

The expectators starts shouting once again, expecting another fight to come.

”What do you think you are doing?” a familiar voice was heard from behind.

Hanabi got her feet back to the ground and sees Hayabusa and Kagura staring at her.

”Hanzo, you're still causing a ruckus,” Kagura stated. Hanabi looked at the guy she just attacked and was annoyed by his demeanor.

”Hanzo?” she blurted out.

Hanzo simply shrugged before patting Hanabi's head.

”Just having a little fun with this little girl,” he said before leaving.