Pampered Lisa (mission, invite only)

[tsukiai0163]

OOC- ok, I know I’ve made this WAY too fu**ing long, I apologise for that… and I don’t mind if you don’t read it all- I had nothing better to do! ^^’ Besides… it was fun..!

Name: Pampered Lisa
Rank: C
IIC Length: 2 days
Difficulty: Easy
Description: A wealthy merchant has requested escort for his teenage daughter in her visit to Mashimizu, the capital of the Water Country. Her visit would last for two days. The man doesn't exactly have many enemies, he's simply concerned with the safety of little Lisa; thugs are all over the place and she's hardly unattractive. The young lady is most likely to visit many clothing stores, markets and perhaps a game arcade. She's also quite curious.
Objective: Escort Lisa and guard her life and belongings effectively.
Reward: 1,500 Ryo.

[Enter]

Mika knocked confidently on the large fancy door, taking a step back as a butler answered it. “Yes?” Mika smiled a warm greeting.
“Hello! I’m here to escort Mr. Matuzna’s daughter to Mashimizu capital.”

The butler looked her over with an uninterested look, then stepped back and offered her inside. Mika stepped lightly in, looking up in awe at the expensive interior.

She stood meekly on the marble flooring as a robed figure, plump and perfumed with the richest scents, stalked down the crimson carpeted staircase. “Momiji Mika I resume?”

Mika straightened up and placed her hands neatly together. “Yes sir.”

He stepped quickly towards her, coming straight up into her face so that Mika had to lean back somewhat. “Hmmm, do you have the qualifications required for a bodyguard?”

Mika blinked. “Ah, yes sir. I am a C-ranked ninja, qualified, and prepared for the protection of your daughter. I shall give my life to protect hers."

The man pulled a face, took a step back and observed Mika once again. “I was looking for a man,” He admitted bluntly. “I wasn’t expecting a little girl.”

Mika frowned, but quickly set her face straight again; no need to make things worse. She stood straight once again as Mr. Matuzna circled her and continued to hum and criticize.

“I guess that, since you’re a girl, Lisa won’t be under any danger of falling in love with you, so… that’s a plus…” He spoke positively, Mika straining to keep herself under control.

“Father…?” a voice, innocent, golden and young came from the top of the staircase. Mika looked up to see a girl, of about 16 with long golden straight hair, glowing blue eyes, long lashes and a short yellow summer dress.

Mr. Matuzna smiled as his daughter descended the stairs. “Ah, Lisa! My dear, this is Momiji Mika, she’ll be escorting you to Mashimizu today. “

Lisa slowed her pace down the stairs and locked sight with Mika, her sweet smile fading ever s slightly. There was a flash in her eyes, and then her smile was back. “Mika… that’s a nice name.” she came to the end of the stair, and stopped at her father’s side. “Nice to meet you, Miss Momiji.”

Mika smiled. “Please, call me Mika.”

Mr. Matuzna cleared his throat, glancing at Mika. “Well, I guess you’ll do.” He handed Lisa a wad of cash, to which she took with delicate fingers and placed in a fancy wallet at her handbag on her arm. “You have fun now, Lisa.” He spoke, leaning in and kissing her on the cheek. Lisa smiled and returned a light kiss to her Fathers cheek. “I will father.”

Lisa stepped out the front door and into the black carriage waiting for her outside. As Mika followed her, Mr. Matuzna took her by the arm. “I want her back by the evening meal, 6:00; unscathed, and unharmed. Understood?” The tone of his was that of a fathers; overprotected, and compassionate for his little girl. Mika kept the tears she felt for her lost father and recent foster father.

She smiled and grabbed at the strap of her bag. “Understood, sir. I will protect her with all my life.”

Mr. Matuzna frowned, unsure, but stepped back and allowed Mika to step into the carriage with his daughter. He watched the coach exit the large gates, then turned for a much needed glass of saké.

Mika set her bag at her feet and sat back into the leather seats of the coach. Lisa sighed and stretched, slumping into the seat. “Argh, he gets so protective all the time.”

Mika smiled. “He just loves you so much.”

Lisa rolled her eyes. “His love’s gonna suffocate me one day, I swear it will.” She sighed and straightened her knee-length dress. “Even when I manage to escape his ‘love’, he gets some babysitter to keep an eye on me!”

Mika frowned internally at this rude remark, but kept a straight face as the pampered little girl continued her mild rant. “I’ll admit that most of the time he hires a nice male ninja… cute, something to look at… but they never have the right attitude- so pushy and demanding; I’m to rush my shopping for them. They never want to have any fun either… I offer so much, and they brush me off.” She sighed in frustration, and placed her feet up on the seat in front of her.

Mika frowned gently now, taking a light tone of agitation. “Those shinobi were doing their job, which is protecting you. If they were to become involved, or even flirt with you, and Mr. Matuzna found out; they would be striped of their rank and thrown in jail.”
Lisa scoffed unsympathetically. “That’s their problem. I want a good time, and if they can’t or won’t give it to me, they should be punished.”

Mika’s chest throbbed with pure anger, and her breath became quick and shortened. What a spoilt little brat!

Lisa suddenly sat up in her seat and leaned forward toward the window. “Oh! We’re here!”

The carriage came to a stop, and the door was opened and a hand offered for Lisa to step out. She stood on the pavement and stared in childish awe at the colours, smells, and sounds of the lively Water City Capitol, a wide, dazzling smile brightening her face. “It’s beautiful!”

Mika stepped out beside Lisa, the rider leaning down to her. “Meet you here, 5:30pm madam?” Mika nodded and bowed. “Yes, thank you sir.” The driver gave her a strange look, having not being used to such courtesy shown to him. He gave her a nod and a crooked smile, then the door closed and the carriage pulled away into the mass of people; it was up to Mika and Lisa now.

[tsukiai0163]

Lisa stood tall and observant to the busy village, her hands up under her chin in excitement.

Mika smiled and stepped to her side. “Where to first, Miss Matuzna?”

Lisa turned her head slightly, her eyes never leaving the scene before her. “Oh, call me Lisa. forget the whole formal addressing, lets act as friends.”

The word ‘act’ stood plain and simple before the word ‘friend’; Mika realizing that this little girl was not interested in friends more than fitting and blending with the crowd. She didn’t allow this little fact to harm her; Lisa was not someone Mika would want to make friends with.

Miss Matuzna raised her chin and her grin toned to a less foreign smile. “Let’s just walk down the street and window shop.” she stated, not really giving Mika a choice in the matter. She pranced forward gracefully, glowing in contrast to the rest of the crowd. Mika took up her pace; keeping just at her side. Lisa glanced left and right, trying to take everything in at once. Mika smiled as she remembered her first time here. “Miss, ah, Lisa?” she asked, Lisa humming to prove her attention. “Is this your first time here?”

Lisa stopped and looked at her, laughing openly; a sweet, floating sound. “Heavens, no! I’ll admit, I don’t come here often, maybe once every 2 weeks, but I’m no stranger to this place! Though I am still exploring.” she smiled deviously at this last one, Mika noticing but not understanding the double meaning intended.

They continued down the left side of the street, Lisa suddenly pointing to a bright shop of fabrics and clothes. She skipped over and in, Mika rushing to keep up. Inside, Lisa picked garments of all different styles, colours, brands and prices; trying on each one sufficiently. Mika gave the girl some room, keeping at the dressing cubicles and giving positive advice and compliments at each garment Lisa paraded. Miss Matuzna bought 6 garments; 2 shirts, 1 pair of jeans and 3 dresses of different lengths, payed the woman behind the desk and stepped out the door. She smiled as she held the bags. “I’ll hold these, that way people know its mine.”

They continued in the street, only moving 2 shops down before moving through the door of the 3rd; another clothes joint. Mika stood at the dressing room once again as Lisa chose, flaunted, and bought 3 more garments. Lisa danced out the door and into the street once again, 4 bags of goods hanging off her arms. She smiled and blended with the crowd, matching their relaxed pace. She took in a deep breath. “I forgot how much I loved the markets.”

Mika smiled and took a glance at the unfamiliar faces, picking out the mist shinobi from the villagers; something she always liked to do. She turned her head back to Lisa as the girl gasped and rushed forward once again, Mika having to run to catch up to her. Mika stoped at the entrance Lisa had disappeared into. “An arcade?”

The medic stepped past the doorframe and into the dimmed room, games of all types greeting her entrance. She blinked at the sounds, smells and colours; she’d never been to an arcade before.

Mika scanned the room, finding Lisa at the front counter, swapping Ryo for tokens. She came up to her side as the man behind the counter handed her a generous amount of golden coins. Mika blinked again. Lisa caught her blank look and frowned. “What’s the matter?”

Mika coughed and stood straight, smiling. “Oh, nothing.”
Lisa shrugged and skipped over to a large machine labelled ‘pinball’. She inserted 2 tokens and the box lit up and began to make strange whizzing sounds. She pulled on a leaver and a metal ball was released into the middle field of the machine, then she began to press 2 buttons that controlled 2 flicking columns at the mouth of a large hole at the very bottom of the box. Mika frowned as she watched Lisa flick this ball back and forth about the metal box, which produced sounds and flashing lights every time it his or ran over something.

Lisa frowned and mumbled something as the metal ball passed the flicking columns and into the wide hole. “Damn.” She launched another ball and continued her game.

Mika shook her head and gave up trying to figure out the rules and point of the game, leaning her back against the large machine and listening to the bells and sounds of the game. The kunoichi began to scan the area, making a map of the room and all its contents. She studied the faces of each person in the room, weighing the possibilities if them to be of any danger; though she found none of any concern.

Mika looked back to the Pinball machine, jumping as a boy of 18 looked at her from his game. She leaned off the box and searched the room for Lisa, the boy smirking and leaning forward. “Lost something?”

Mika smiled at him. “I’m fine thanks.” She moved from the machine and continued her search, a flash of bright yellow catching her eye. Mika sighed as she saw Lisa standing over a boy at one of the other games; she was smiling and commenting on his gamesmanship. He smiled and looked up at her, replying, then returning to his game. Mika strode over and stood a little aside from the two, deciding to give Lisa some sort of room. Mika assessed the male, he was 18 or 19, no mist symbol could be found so he wasn’t a shinobi, and he was reasonably attractive and well built. Mika sighed as she could see where this was going to lead.

Lisa laughed at a joke, and the male leaned back from his finished game. He smiled up at her and smirked, the look in his eye suggesting a challenge. He stood straight and moved over to a pair of machines; both containing a seat and a steering wheel. Lisa took a seat beside the boy, and they both counted to 3 and inserted a token each at the same time. The boy leaned over to Lisa’s side and pointed out the controls and buttons, helping her select a vehicle. He leaned back and chose his own vehicle and the stage to which they would race, then the screen before them both counted down and they were both racing.

Lisa laughed openly in excitement, and the two began to mock each other in the contest. The male laughed as Lisa seemed to be running into lots of walls and other cars within the game. The male hit his 3rd lap, and Lisa laughed as she ran over the finish line that officially marked her 2nd lap. Mika sighed and leaned on the frame of the nearest game, folding her arms over her chest for comfort.

The male raised his hands in triumph as he passed the finish line, thus ending the game. He laughed and leaned over to help Lisa finish her game, but time ran out before she could finish her 3rd lap. She breathed out in exhilaration and smiled at him. He spoke something again, and Lisa smiled, nodded, but then her face fell. She spoke something to him, then he looked up in puzzlement and briefly scanned the room. Mika took an educated guess she had just informed her of bodyguard, and he was now searching for Mika. The medic leaned into the shadow of the machine she leaned on, the male’s eyes running straight over and past her. He looked back to Lisa, said something, then she looked up and quickly scanned the room as well. She smiled and looked at him, Mika guessing she thought her guard has left her momentarily. The male stood and Lisa followed his movement, they were both moving to the door.

Mika took a quick moment to weigh her options. On one hand, she could allow Lisa to assume she wasn’t being watched, and permit her this momentary freedom to do as she wished, with Mika shadowing her of cause. But, if she did that, things might get out of hand, and this boy mightn’t be who he lets out to be… Lisa could get emotionally or physically hurt. But then there was the second option, where Mika put a stop to this right now, and avoid all of that. Sure, Lisa might hate her forever, but at lest she would be safe.

Mika hummed, watching as the two reached the door. She sighed then shrugged; she’d allow it to go forward, but if anything went wrong –anything at all- she’d step in and stop it immediately.
The medic watched the two left the arcade, waited a couple of seconds, and then followed them out. Once Mika hit the streets, it was easy to pick Lisa from the crow, because of her bright yellow dress. Mika followed the two teens down the street, then the male turned them Lisa into a nearby restaurant. Mika stepped in the warm room just as they were taken to a booth at the far end of the room and given a menu. Mika was offered a table, and she sat at a spot that allowed her to see the two teenagers, but unless they looked really hard, they wouldn’t be able to see her.

Mika ordered a small bowl of ramen and ate quietly as she watched Lisa and her friend order their meals and converse. Mika took a moment to look about the restaurant, realizing that she was familiar with it. This was the restaurant she had been in a year ago, the restaurant that Zen and she had sat in with a new friend Ziro… who had betrayed them and tried to kill them by blowing up the restaurant. Mika noticed that they had re-built the little venue to almost the exact same structure it once had been. Mika placed her chopsticks down and stared at her bowl as her memories flooded back.

Mika remembered waking the next day after the accident to a white room, the hospital. She smiled as she remembered Aclime had taken her there, then he’d walked her home and they had become the best of friends. Mika sighed and felt a heavy weight upon her heart. Aclime. Ever since he had left for the chunnin exams, she had missed and worried herself sick about him. But she felt she needed him now more than ever, she needed to know he was safe, and she needed those reassuring arms around her that so often supported her mental frame; she needed his reassurance.

A chair was scraped and shouting could be heard as a man was removed from the restaurant, the noise startling Mika back into reality. She noticed a sensation upon her cheek and she traced her finger upon it, pulling it to her eye to see a tear-droplet. Mika stared in surprise, then sniffed and whipped the wet patches from her cheeks. The medic took a deep breath and sighed. If she’d waited this long, she could wait a little longer.

Mika looked up and over to the booth at the back of the restaurant, realizing that Lisa and the male were gone. She gasped and stood quickly, shaking the required loose change onto her table for her meal, then raced out the door. She scanned the crowd, not seeing the obvious yellow frock among the dull contrast of the village. She growled and moved to the nearest alleyway, jumping up one of the stores and taking to the roof-tops to aid her search. She moved lightly over the straw and mud roofs, keeping a sharp eye out for Lisa and her companion. A bright splash of yellow hit the corner of her eye, Mika stopping quickly to observe. She sighed as it was only a garment for sale out the front of a clothes shop.

Mika continued her search, straining ears and eyes for the little Miss Matuzna. She soon heard a shriek, and stopped dead in her tracks. She moved towards the sound and found a crook mugging a female within an alleyway. Mika frowned, jumped down and pulled a Kunai from her pouch. She ran up behind the man and placed he Kunai under his chin. “Don’t move.” The man whimpered as he finally noticed Mika, and kept his hands still as the blade was noticed too. “Drop all you have with you, turn and leave. If I ever catch you harassing anyone ever again, you’ll be lucky to enter the jail with all your limbs attached.”

The man dropped everything heavily, then slipped form Mika’s loosened grip and bolted. Mika replaced her Kunai, and turned to the female. “Are you alright?” The villager smiled with relief. “Yes, thankyou so much kind kunoichi, I don’t know how I would have handled that alone.” Mika smiled and picked up the dropped purse and wad of cash. “Yes, well, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m currently looking for someone, and must be off.” She handed the belonging to the villager. “Take care of yourself.” She jumped up onto the roof and ran off, barely hearing the woman’s last cry of ‘thank you’.

[tsukiai0163]

Mika growled as she became agitated at the missing Matuzna, worried at what had become of her. Mika stopped on the edge of a shop roof and scanned the water city capitol. She heard a commotion below her feet, shouting, scraping of chairs and the breaking of china and glass. Mika sighed. This village was a breeding ground for trouble. The medic jumped down onto the ground and entered the shop, immediately seeing the commotion before her. Her spirits rose as she spotted Lisa, at long last. Her spirits fell immediately after, though, as she realized that the commotion involved the girl. She was yelling and pushing her male friend off her form, and he just smirked and tantalized her. Mika realized that he had leaned in and was trying to kiss Lisa, and that his hands were inching towards her matured chest…

Mika stepped forward. “Excuse me sir.” She caught his attention. They both looked up, Lisa smiling in gratitude, and the male looking at Mika with no importance. “Who the hell are you?” he spat rudely. Mika took another step forward, her voice darkening. “I’m Miss Matuzna’s bodyguard. And you are currently violating her beyond her consent, and I cannot allow that. Please step away form her sir.”

The male blinked, then laughed. “What are you gonna do?” he mocked. Mika took a guess he’d missed her Mist shinobi symbol.
The medic reached forward and grabbed the male’s ear, pinched and began to pull. He released Lisa and grabbed at Mika’s arm. “Ow! What the hell?”

Lisa slid out of the booth they sat at and came to Mika’s side. Mika released the male’s ear, he still held her arm.
“What the hell?! What kinda freak pinches someone’s ear?? So lame!”

Mika rolled her eyes. The boy might have been a year or two older than her, but his behaviour was lower than the average 5 year old. “You have no right touching anyone like that! You can be fined and even jailed for it! If I ever catch you behaving like that again, you’ll go to jail with 2 missing fingers!”

The boy tightened his grip on Mika’s arm, and looked up at her with a murderous gaze. “How dare you talk to me like that. I don’t care if you’re her bodyguard or grandmother! You have no business butting in like that! And then to speak to me like I’m some child? You’re gonna pay. Mark my words, you’re gonna—“
He stopped in surprise as for Mika had ripped her hand out of his grip. She looked at him in disgust. “Have some manners and be on your way.” Mika turned now, motioning calmly to Lisa to exit the store. The boy stood up and grabbed at a table nearest him, grabbing a vase of flowers. “Don’t walk away from me bitch!” He threw the vase at Mika’s back; Mika, hearing his remark before his action, turned, noticed the vase only too late, and moved to the left; the vase crashing upon her right arm. Mika winced, the shards cascading to the floor. She looked up at the boy with a look of pure malice. “That’s it.”

Sen’eitaishu (Hidden Shadow Bandage Hands)
Rank: C
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Wraps bandages around a patient or object.
Special: --
Drawback: Must have a bandage source within the sleeve.
Description: The user thrusts their arm forward, releasing bandages from inside their sleeves towards the patient. These bandages are strong as ninja wire and fly forward at the speed of a kunai, wrapping around the target and immobilizing them. This technique has a range of five meters, plus five for every difficulty rank above D the user possesses.
Limit: Must be a medic.
Gantai no Jutsu (Bandage Technique)
Rank: D
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Creates a bandage out of surrounding materials.
Special: --
Drawback: Requires concentration in order to make larger bandages. Requires some sort of material.
Description: The user focuses chakra into a nearby material, such as sand, grass, or even water, forming it into an adhesive, sterile strip that’s reminiscent of a bandage. Once formed and applied, the makeshift bandage will remain without chakra input.
Limit: Must be a medic.

Mika grabbed 2 shards of the broken ceramic vase and forced her chakra into both; creating 2 rolls of sterilized bandage. One roll in each sleeve, Mika added her chakra to the hems of each and threw her hands out at the boy; the rolls of bandage wrapping several times around his form and binding his arms to his sides. The bandage ended and the boy grunted and fell back; his ankles to his neck covered in the cloth. Mika nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the shop manager who was onlooking the scene with a worried expression. “Call someone to dispose of him; they’ll decide what to do with him. I’m sorry about the vase, I believe he’ll cop it in the fine and you’ll get your money back.” She bowed in apology. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”

Mika turned and smiled at Lisa. “Shall we continue the shopping marathon?”

Lisa stared at Mika in awe and somewhat shock as they exited out and into the afternoon sunlight. “How’d you do that?” she asked. “I’ve never seen any of my other escorts use their chakra, let alone do that!” Mika smiled sheepishly. “Yes, well, only a select few of us can perform those Jutsus. It’s medical ninja art.” Lisa cocked her head to the side. “Medical? So, you’re a medic?” Mika nodded. “Huh.” Lisa commented, looking ahead again. “What kinda things do Nina medics do on the field? I mean, yeah, you tend to the injured; but what do you do to defend yourself or hit the bad guy?” Mika pondered. “There is a medic fighting style… I’m still to look into that though.” she looked at Lisa. “But just because we’re medics, doesn’t mean we can’t use the basic Ninjutsu. Water release, fire release...” Lisa yawned. ”Yeah, you’ve lost me now.” Mika rolled her eyes.
“Hey,” Mika spoke after a moment of silence. “What was going on between you and that guy back there?” Lisa sighed. “I though he was cute… and he seemed nice. I just wanted to hang out with him. Turns out not everyone’s a saint.” She looked to Mika. “He tried t kiss me you know.” Mika looked forward gravely. “Yes, some people think they can do whatever they please without other’s consent.” She smiled. “It would have been one hella’va story to tell your father.” Lisa suddenly looked horrified. “You’re not going to tell him are you? He’d be most upset with me!” Mika looked at the girl and laughed. “Of course I wont tell him. As long as you don’t tell him, I won’t tell him. Deal?” Lisa smiled. “Deal.”

They walked on down the street side by side. “Hey!” Lisa suddenly perked up. “That store looks good! Let’s go there!” She skipped over and into the jewellery store, Mika following at a moderate pace. They spent a good half an hour in the diamond-lit store; Lisa trying everything from rings and earrings to necklaces and bracelets. Once she had purchased all she liked the look of, she and Mika exited to the street once again; Lisa finally giving up and handing half of her bags to Mika.

The medic looked at the sky, estimating that it was 5:00. She turned to Lisa. “We have about half an hour until the coach arrives. I think one more store shall do it.” Lisa groaned. “Oh, but there’s still so much I want to do!” she shrugged. “well, I don’t think I can carry much more anyway.”

They followed the crowds 2 way traffic, checking all the stores for the last buy of the day. A bright pink building stuck out in the line of shops, and Lisa smiled wickedly at it. “Candy store.” she smiled. The two girls entered the sweet shop; the scents that greeted them making their mouths water. Lisa scanned the trays, boxes and displayed assortments up for grabs, and giggled with delight as she saw it was all on special today. She selected a handful of this, and a fist full of that, and took it to the counter. As she passed the man her money and he bagged each assortment, Lisa chuckled to Mika. “Dad doesn’t like me eating sweets. He says they’re very bad for your teeth and stomach line. But I have a high metabolism and a personal trainer, plus the best teeth in the country.” She grinned as the man handed her the bags, to which she handed over to Mika. “Ok, I’m set; let’s go!”

The two girls exited the shop and into the mass of people outside, this time coming back the way that had came towards the pickup destination. The carriage was sitting there already waiting for them, and the door was opened for Lisa and Mika to enter. They took a seat, placed the bags at their feet, the carriage door was shut, and they were off. Lisa overlooked her new things; clothes, jewels and sweets while Mika looked out the carriage window at the passing countryside. The mist was thickening as the temperature gradually dropped and the sun began its slow decent to the horizon.

Lisa placed her things back into their bags and looked up at Mika. “Ah, Mika?” she asked quietly. Mika turned to her. “Hmm?” The girl looked to her hands shyly. “Thanks for today, I mean, really.” She looked up. “I… I truly am grateful.” Mika smiled. “It’s ok; it was part of my duty. Plus, I cannot stand men like that!” Lisa smiled too. “Under different circumstances, I believe we could be friends.” Mika eyebrows in confusion, and she leaned forward. “Could..?” Lisa sighed as she answered the unvoiced question; why can’t we be friends? “Well, you’ve been hired by my father to protect me.” she begun, looking distractedly out the window. “How do I know that all you do or say isn’t only in my father’s favour?” Mika frowned as Lisa continued. “Like, that guy today; how do I know the only reason you helped me wasn’t just so you wouldn’t have to explain anything to my Father when you took me home? I mean, how can I trust your actions are of your own accord, and not for my father’s sake?” Mika shook her head as Lisa sighed and turned to face her. “I just… can’t believe your actions are your own.”

Mika placed upon her features a serious air, and she straightened up. “Lisa, whether your father hired me or not, if I saw you in that situation as a mere bystander and complete stranger; I would have helped anyway.” Lisa blinked, listening intently as Mika continued. “It’s got nothing to do with being a Mist Kunoichi and have sworn to protect the innocent; promises like that are easily broken if not sworn by the heart.” she smiled and looked her full in the eyes. “No, I never swore by the written contract; I swore with my very soul to protect all those I could, stranger and friend alike. It makes no difference to me if there is a reward, title or personal gain involved; as long as the person I help is safe, happy and well off, I will continue to protect others with my life. It’s a personal contract I’ve sworn by, and it can never be broken; so long as I live. ”

Lisa stared silently at Mika for a moment, gapping. “Wow, that’s deep. I didn’t know you thought that way.” Mika smiled in return to her compliment. The carriage pulled up to a stop at the front door to Mr. Matuzna’s mansion. The door was opened and the two ladies stepped from the carriage to the sturdy ground, each carrying a handful of bags. Mika turned to the driver. “Thank you!” The driver smiled and shook his head as he whipped the horses into movement once again.

Lisa and Mika barely even mounted the stairs to the front door when Mr. Matuzna opened it and welcomed his daughter with open arms. “Lisa, my flower!” Lisa laughed and moved into her fathers embrace, returning it with enthusiasm. “I wasn’t gone that long Father.” She laughed. He laughed with her, then led all inside. Mr. Matuzna chatted to his daughter enthusiastically. “So, did you get anything you liked?” Lisa held up her bags and motioned to Mika’s second load. “Tones!” Mr. Matuzna laughed and called for 2 maids; one taking Lisa’s load and the other taking Mika’s and taking them up to Lisa’s quarters.

Mr. Matuzna turned to Mika as Lisa followed the maids to help. “I believe all went well then?” Mika smiled and straightened. “Yes sir, she was very polite, and the day was quite splendid. No hassles at all.” Matuzna smiled half-heartedly, and then nodded to Mika. “You’re dismissed.” He spoke, his tone approving but not quite admitting it. Mika smiled fully. “Yes sir.”

Mika turned and left, shutting the door quietly behind her. She walked with a skip down the long driveway and out the front gate, headed home with a whistle of delight; tonight was a beautiful night.


[Exit]