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| NaNoWriMo 2003 |
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A black shape slid through the shadows. The movements, almost imperceptible, were quick and precise. Resting in the dark shadows near the lighted path, the ninja took a quick drag of Albuterol. She held her breath while she listened. “I’m sorry, sir, but you cannot join this harem. It is a strap-on harem, therefore reserved for women. You, my dear, have a protrusion in the way of a strap-on!” Her tone was gentle and explaining. The ninja guessed that this was the harem’s mistress, Aranja. Slowly letting out her breath, the ninja relaxed minutely. This was the woman she was sent to talk with. “But…but…” the man stuttered. The ninja woman could hear the sadness in his voice. Foolish man. Did he really believe he’d be accepted into this harem? Only eunuchs were accepted there. And in most other harems as well, the ninja thought. “I know, dear. I’m sorry.” Aranja sent the man on his way down the lighted path. She waited until she heard his sobbing outside of the front gate, then turned and started to laugh. It was quiet at first, but grew louder as Aranja thought about it. The man’s idea was quite ludicrous, really. A man, working in a women’s harem! Aranja snorted. Very ludicrous. Aranja had just commenced walking again when a dark shadow moving at her right caught her eye. She stopped abruptly. She’d had dealings with ninjas before, and she hadn’t liked the outcome. Just as expected, a black robed figure darted out of the shadows into the path in front of Aranja. “I am Minata.” “Is that all you’ve got to say? ‘I am Minata’? Well, Minata, I have a harem to run, so if you’ll excuse me.” Aranja started to elbow past the ninja, but a hand moved out to stop her. “Madam Aranja, that is precisely why I am here,” Minata said calmly. “I have a certain favor to ask you. Please, hear my tale.” *~*~*
Aranja seated herself comfortably behind her desk. She rested her elbows on the table and pressed her fingers together in a steeple. Minata conducted herself in a very business-like manner and moved toward the front of the desk but did not take a seat. Her terse manner was making Aranja uneasy. “Please, Minata, sit.” Minata glanced at the chair as if appraising it, and then finally sat at the edge of the cushion. “Now,” Aranja said. “What is it that I can do for you?” Her face was placid and questioning. The ninjas she had formerly dealt with generally wanted one of her harem girls to train for ninja-hood. Aranja was rather unwilling to let them go, even when the girls wanted to, because there was another girl to replace before the Lady Mistress found out. Sometimes there was no avoiding the Lady Mistress’ wrath, if She was attached to the particular harem girl. ‘Well,’ thought Aranja, ‘I suppose it doesn’t hurt to listen, although I may regret this thought later.’ “We, that is to say, the Ninjas of the Assemblage Kuriot, need your assistance.” “If by ‘assistance’ you mean one of my girls, then the answer is no. It’s out of the question. I cannot afford to find more harem girls right now. The Lady Mistress is very…touchy…about who Her harem girls are. I am sorry, Minata.” “No, that is not our request. The Assemblage Kuriot Ninjas are in dire need of a hideout.” “A hideout?” “Yes. There is a group of male Ninjas, the Assemblage Kalihiri, who are out to destroy us. We cannot allow this.” “Well, what better place to look for a bunch of women than a lesbian harem? You must admit, it does seem like an obvious place for women to be, does it not?” Aranja asked. “That would be the case for most males. However, the Assemblage Kalihiri are different. They are, shall we say, not very smart. They are also eunuchs, so will not stray into the harem out of lust.” “All of them are eunuchs?” Aranja repeated incredulously. “Yes. It is a Kalihiri requirement.” “Why ever for?” “Two reasons. One,” Minata listed, “that way they will not defer from their appointed target for a woman. Many targets try to stray male ninjas off course with lust. For the Kalihiri this does not work.” Minata stated this last bit with a trace of contempt in her voice. “And the second reason?” “They are all excellent singers. The Assemblage Kalihiri gains funding by running a choir. It is a men’s ensemble. You’ll have heard of the Shahira Group?” “That’s them?” Aranja asked, taken aback. “Yes.” “Wow, they’re very good.” “Yes.” Aranja leaned back in her chair, baffled. “So what you’re saying is you and your group of ninja girls need a place to stay because ninja eunuchs are after you.” “That is correct,” Minata stated. She seemed not to find the situation odd in the least. “And why have you chosen this harem?” “It seems suitably out of the way. Also, we would be provided with a suitable cover story as well. The Assemblage of Kuriot would pay well for your services, provided that we are kept well and out of the way.” “It seems reasonable, and I’m always willing to help someone in need. I will have to discuss it with the girls, however, before I can give you an answer.” “Fine. It would be best if you hurried, please.” “Of course. I shall have an answer for you by tomorrow. Please come back then.” “I will. Until then, Madam Aranja.” The ninja woman stood up quickly and, with not so much as a whisper of sound, slid through the door. *~*~*
“C’est magnifique, madame! It was only two years ago that we were in need of a hiding place. It is only right that we help these women!” Belle said with conviction. She tossed her brown hair over her shoulder in conviction. “I agree. I just thought we should discuss it first.” Aranja sat cross-legged on the floor with her fifteen harem girls. She looked at each one of them in turn, searching their faces for any trace of argument. Each girl looked eager to help these ninja women. ‘And also ready for a little excitement too, I’ll wager,’ Aranja thought. There was only one face that did not share the eagerness. “How do we know they’re telling the truth? I mean, they are ninjas,” Marla said peevishly. “They could be setting us up for…something,” she finished lamely, mostly because she couldn’t think of anything that ninjas would set the harem girls up for. “Marla, why do you always insist on thinking the worst of people?” Aranja said, exasperated. “It’s always ‘They’re trying to kill us,’ or ‘They have an ulterior motive,’ or other such nonsense. These ninja girls seem nice enough to me, why can’t you accept that?” “Well, I…uh…” Marla played with a curled lock of red hair, the action that she always did when nervous or embarrassed. “Oh Marla,” said Belle, “let’s just give them a chance, oui?” “All right,” Marla said. ‘At least she accepts defeat well enough,’ thought Aranja. The circle rose swiftly and resumed their harem tasks. Aranja strode out the door and was promptly confronted by Minata. A hand flung up to Aranja’s face. “Great Heavens, Minata. I thought you were coming back tomorrow to hear our answer.” Minata shrugged. “Why wait when we have our answer already?” she asked rhetorically. “I only lingered to let you know that the Assemblage Kuriot will be arriving in a few hours.” “A few hours?” Aranja asked. “Can you make it five? The girls and I need some time to prepare you some room.” “Five will suffice. We will see you then.” Minata strode swiftly down the hall and out of sight. Aranja watched until she’d disappeared and turned back into the girls’ hallway. “Girls! Finish what you’re doing and meet me in the main recreation room in half an hour,” she called and turned to go to her office. The Lady Mistress needed to know of the situation, as much as Aranja hated to confront her. She gathered up some notes and headed to the main area of the large castle. *~*~*
“Lady, Madam Aranja is here to see you,” Gaeuron, the Lady Mistress’ butler and cook, said. Aranja tried to peer around him into the room, but his girth blocked her way. “Why?” came the stony reply. “I am sorry, Miss, but she says she cannot say. She wishes to discuss it with you privately.” “Fine. Send her in, Gaeuron.” “Very good, ma’am.” Gaeuron stepped back and allowed Aranja passage. She looked up at him as she walked by and he gave her a broad wink. She smiled slightly and proceeded into the chamber. The door clanked shut as Aranja bowed to the Lady Mistress. The Lady’s blonde hair was pulled back into a severe bun at the nape of her neck, and her blue eyes cut through any mental defenses. Her tall, lithe frame was seated behind the large desk that held her business papers. She was no more than forty years old but was very successful in business and the like. Aranja wasn’t exactly sure what the Lady Mistress did, but she certainly brought home a lot of money. Aranja broke away from these thoughts and remembered the reason she was there in the first place. “Madam, I am very sorry to bother you, but I have a matter of pressing business to discuss with you.” She looked up tentatively to see the Lady Mistress’ reaction to this statement. She didn’t seem to care a bit. “Fine. State your terms.” “Well, Madam, a ninja named Minata came to see me yesterday.” “Yes? What did she want?” At the term ‘ninja’ the Lady Mistress’ ears pricked. “She said she wanted a place to stay for a while. Because a…ah…eunuch ninja guild is chasing them.” The Lady Mistress pierced Aranja with her blue eyes, as if seeking answers other than the ones she was getting. “These ninja groups. What are they called?” Aranja fumbled with the papers she had brought and fished out the one she had written the names on. She handed it to the Lady Mistress. “The group of male ninjas is called the Assemblage Kalihiri, and the female group is the Assemblage Kuriot.” Aranja watched as the Lady’s eyes perused the paper. “A woman named Minata was their envoy.” The Mistress’ eyes snapped up to Aranja. “What did you say?” she said severely. “M-Minata, Mistress.” “You are sure?” The Lady’s voice was very harsh. “Yes.” “Thank you for telling me. You are dismissed.” “But, madam, I…” Aranja began. “You wanted something else, did you?” “Well, the purpose of my intrusion upon you was to ask you if it would be all right for them to stay. “Oh. I remember now. Very well, Aranja, they may stay. But keep them out of my way unless I ask for them.” Her voice had softened greatly, and this was the only time Aranja could remember the Lady Mistress saying her given name. “Yes, Mistress, I thank you.” Aranja said, bowed again, and turned to the door. She’d just opened it a crack when the Lady spoke again. Aranja turned back toward the huge desk. “After they are arrived and settled in, I want this Minata in my office. I trust you will pass this information on to her?” “Yes, of course, my Lady. Good day.” Aranja exited the room. *~*~*
Belle stretched her lean arms above her head and strolled around the perimeter of the harem. “Ah, le ciel est beau aujourd’hui!” she exclaimed, looking up around her. And it certainly was. Deep blue with hints of clouds around the horizon made the sky seem nearly perfect. She stopped and crouched to look at a flower on the ground, its yellow petals gleaming with sunlight. It was petite but strong, much like Belle herself. Belle was just thinking of the similarities between herself and the flower when suddenly a shadow fell over the object of her gaze. Belle glanced up, startled, and saw a large black shape hovering over her. She gasped and stood up quickly, her brown hair falling back in around her shoulders as she snapped up. She backed up a step or two and stared warily at the black-clad man. Tentatively, she spoke. “Oui? Can I help you, monsieur?” “Perhaps,” he said softly. It seemed to Belle that this man’s green eyes were piercing through her. The thought unnerved her. “Um, what is it that you need?” Belle asked, unconsciously taking another small step backward. “I need to ask you a question, if you don’t mind, mademoiselle.” Belle’s eyebrows rose slightly at the man’s usage of her mother tongue. “Certainement, monsieur. What is it?” “We have word that women will be arriving to your harem shortly. I wish to know if this is true.” A black eyebrow quivered very slightly and although his mouth was obscured by a black cloth veil, she knew his lips had quirked into a tiny smile. ‘He must think me an idiot!’ Belle thought indignantly. ‘As if I would tell him. He is most clearly a ninja. Hmmph. Well, he will get no such information from me.’ Belle instantly smiled serenely and said, “Why, no, monsieur, not to my understanding. The Lady Mistress has plenty of harem girls at the moment. Why do you ask such a question?” The corners of her eyes crinkled as she adopted a brilliant smile, as if she thought the question was an odd one. She was known for the control over her beautiful face, and could fool nearly everyone with her brilliant lies. ‘Everyone but my Patrick,’ she thought. Her face fell only slightly before she silently reprimanded herself and brought the smile back. The error went unnoticed. “I am sorry, mademoiselle, but I cannot say. If, for some reason, many women come into the harem, please, let me know.” ‘Fat chance on that,’ Belle thought. Instead she said, “Of course! I aim to please. How can I reach you?” His eyes moved away from her face as he pondered this for a moment. “Do you know of the small café on Gallant Street?” “Of course! I go there every time I go shopping in the center!” This was a lie, she hated shopping, one thing that no one would suspect of her. However, she did know where the café was, and lying came easily to her. “Will you meet me there in one week’s time, at midday? You can tell me if there has been anything strange happening that you know of.” Belle didn’t know what to say. This man could be dangerous, but if he was after the Assemblage Kuriot, she could try to weasel some important information out of him for Aranja. She decided to agree. “Oui, monsieur, I will come.” She giggled and tossed her hair over her shoulder, a movement that she knew became her. ‘Never hurts to plant the seeds of desire in one’s target,’ she thought. This technique was one of her stronger ones, like lying. “Although I do not think that anything strange will happen around here. It rarely does.” “You may be surprised,” the ninja said cryptically. “Thank you for your time, I will see you in a sennight.” He turned to go, but Belle grabbed at his arm. He turned back to her, a questioning look on his face. However, he did not pull away. Belle smiled. “I am called Belle. What is your name?” There was a moment’s pause. Then the ninja smiled and spoke, “Call me Le Chat Noir. Au revoir, mademoiselle. Until we meet again.” Belle watched as he deftly grasped a tree branch and hoisted himself up into the foliage. He glanced back at her for just a moment, then disappeared over the tall walls of the garden.
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| Well, that's all so far. I'll keep working on it! ^_^ |