Currently unnamed fantasy, novel, WIP

[Ishling]

Good on ya Sakaki! And if your otousan knows what's best for him, he'll let you be a ninja *Character Army mutters ominously.*

[writerwyrm]

Her father... has his blind spots. He loves her, but he does not truly understand her. Nor does he understand the situation she's in as far as the rest of the skulk goes. Sakaki has her own blind spots and one of them is standing up to her father. It's just not done.

[Ishling]

Neither is my army of amazing characters attacking someone else's character...yet. ^^

[writerwyrm]

You sound almost looking forward to that idea.

[Ishling]

*innocent look* Me? Never! Perish the thought...

[writerwyrm]

Okay, sorry it took so long to post this part. If anyone was wondering, 'Penultimate' means the one before the last. Meaning this is the last part of the novel.

Father waited until the day after the funeral to talk to Sakaki. He probably felt it would be improper to do so before hand.

Fortunately Sakaki was able to talk to a few other people first. Kira and Ryoko-Sensei had come the day before, after her school declared Christmas break. She had forgotten about that.

More importantly, was the conversation with her mother.

“They told me you had to remember being Starla.” Mother had never been happy with her being an assassin. Mother had never been all that happy with her being a Ninja.

“Yes.”

“I don’t think I’ve told you, often enough, but no matter what happens, no matter who you become, I love you. And I’m proud of you.” Sakaki stared at her. “I mean it. I may not understand how or why you do these things but I know it isn’t always easy for you. But you do it anyway, convinced it’s the right thing to do. So I’m proud of you. And I always will be.”

The hugs after that were tearful and long. Yet over all too soon as Father walked in. It was time to take care of business.

Chapter Thirty

“You are uninjured from your mission?”

“Mostly.”

“You kept your vow.”

“Yes.”

“Then you agree that it is time to put aside your foolishness and accept your rightful place her. Training to be leader.”

She took a deep breath. “Do you want what is best for me?”

Father blinked at her. “What?”

“Do you want what is best for me?”

“Yes, of course. You are my daughter and I love you. But there are other considerations…”

“Do you want what is best for the skulk?”

“Yes. Of course. I’m the head. It is my responsibility.”

“What if I told you that what is best for me and what is best for the skulk were the same thing?”

“Wonderful. The best thing is for you to take your place.”

“I’m in my place. My place is doing what I am doing. I can not become leader.”

“What are you talking about?”

“They won’t accept me as leader. The never have, they never will. Putting me as leader could cause a split that would destroy us.”

“You are my daughter; your role is as leader.”

“They won’t accept a half-Were.” And it is at least partly your fault. You married a human without ever changing their view of humans. How could you possibly expect me to succeed? She didn’t dare say it, but somehow he knew anyway.

“Listen to her.” Her mother broke in, much to the Weres surprise. “You have decided her path her entire life. Enough. Let her chose her own. She’s right. We don’t fit. Not completely.”

Father sat silently for a moment. “What would you have me do?”

“Make Kira your apprentice.” Sakaki suggest. Dubious looks met her. “It’s perfect. She’s your twin’s child, almost the same as if she were yours. She’s a little older. She’s a full Were. She has the gift of leadership, and is a born nurturer. The skulk would follow her to the ends of the earth without complaint. I’d be lucky if they would follow me to the corner store. And she can work on changing views.”

“You would swear allegiance to her, giving up all rights of leadership?”

“I will revoke all rights of leadership now, before the skulk, and swear allegiance when the proper time comes. I will not cause trouble. You know that.”

“I’ve failed you.”

“Father?”

“If I had worked on changing the beliefs then you wouldn’t have this problem now.”

Okay that was partly true. “The past is closed. And even if they didn’t mind be being a half-blood, there is still the fact that she has the gifts required, and I do not.”

He was sad. She could tell. But he could deal with it. “If that would be best for all involved…”

“It will be. I have complete faith in that.” And for the first time in years, Sakaki and her Father embraced.

***

It was hard to imagine more surprise than the skulk had when Sakaki publicly gave up any rights she would have to lead. Except when one saw Kira. The vixen was in complete shock. Sakaki politely refrained from laughing in her face, but it was difficult.

“Me?! Me!? I can’t…”

“Of course you can. Much better than I could.”

“You will be my right hand, won’t you?”

“As long as you need me.”

“I’ll always need you.”

“Then I’ll always be there.”

“What about him?” Kira nodded to Todd in the distance.

“What about him?”

“You like him.”

“We only fall in love once. I don’t dare do so until I know it’s forever.”

Kira nodded. “Are you going to go back to school?”

“Yes, I want to get my degree. It’s important to me.”

“What about Starla?”

“It’s time to take care of that. Permanently. Get Todd for me, will you?”

***

Kira and Todd came in time to see Sakaki making a small wooden boat. She was almost done by this point. She then took a piece of paper and drew some Japanese kanji, he assumed so at any rate.

After she was done, she set the boat and paper aside. “I am burying Starla. I thought you might want to be here for that.” Both nodded, somewhat hesitant.

Sakaki went to her bag and pulled out some papers. Todd couldn’t tell what they were, but Sakaki took them to a small table then lit a match. “These papers are clippings of her jobs, her notes, and the like. Kira, would you like to do the honors?”

Kira nodded solemnly and lit the pile on fire. The three stared silently as it was reduced to ash.

After the ashes were cool, Sakaki put them in a small bottle, and put the bottle in the boat. She tied the paper to the mast and walked out the door, the other two following. When she got to the water, she stopped. Then she started to sing. He couldn’t tell the words, but it was sad. Kira must have known as she joined in.
Finally Sakaki handed him the boat, asking if he would like to send Starla on her final journey.

With a half smile, he took her hand, and gently pushed her hand, and thus the boat into the open water.
Silently they watched it until it was out of sight.

“What did the paper say?”

“Starla: Dead but not gone. Buried but not forgotten. Remain at rest.”

[Ishling]

Oooh good!

[writerwyrm]

I will be deleting this story in a few days. I have a very edited version that I am attempting to get published, so this copy needs to be removed. Pandaseal, if you read this, I need you to contact me about your Muna character.