Gessen Instructor Pt. 5

It had been days and Hajime was confined to his bed. His wounds were closed but he drifted in and out of consciousness. Hanzou allowed the girls to watch over him as he healed. Yozakura took on nursing duties and made sure his bandages were clean and that he was shifted to prevent sores and at night Murakumo, and her wolves, would stand guard. When it was Shiki's turn she'd tap away on her phone and recite the heart sutra aloud. Minori was let off of the hook due to her short attention span.

 

The students ire had shifted from Hajime to Hanzou. He admitted he knew all along about Hajime's past and that he told neither him or his students about each others history. It was also his idea to call Hajime away but it wasn't his idea for Hajime to take on a dangerous mission during his leave. Hanzou always took such risks. He'd done so when he enticed the Shinobi Battle Royale between Gessen and Hanzou National Academy and his ploy had succeeded.

 

Yozakura watched over Hajime so that the rest of the girls could gang up and nag the old man. Yumi took the initiative 'Was he telling the truth? Did Kurokage..?' Yumi closed her hands together in preparation of an answer she wouldn't want to hear.

 

'Your grandfather was an outlaw and many attempted to apprehend him.' Hanzou admitted 'Hajime's parents were among those that tried.'

 

'So you put a fox in a chicken coop' Murakumo grumbled 'He could have killed us out of revenge.'

 

'What makes you think he would do such a thing?' Hanzou inquired. He smirked and his moustache bent upwards.

 

'Well after my parents died-" Murakumo muttered '-Let's just say anger gets the better of you.' It was true that the each of the girls had gone through their stages of grief after being orphaned and their former desire to fulfil Kurokage's dream likely would have resulted in committing terrible deeds in the process.

 

'He never really gave me that vibe though.' Shiki spoke up for Hajime. She might not have liked the situation but he had helped her train and study. Even though he had plenty of opportunities to make a move he never did. She gave him the benefit of the doubt.

 

Their conversation was interrupted by squabbling from Hajime's bedroom. Yozakura struggled with an unruly patient and her pleads drowned out his growls. 'You can't move yet!' Yozakura held firmly onto Hajime's shoulders tried to pin them to the bed 'You'll open you wounds!' Hajime ignored her and tried to sit up. Murakumo and Shiki came to Yozakura's aid and brought him back down. Minori, who wanted to be helpful, sat on Hajime's legs.

 

Hajime relaxed. He was more coherent when he woke this time around and the sight of Hanzou and Yumi grabbed his attention. He sat back and prepared to be scolded like a child. 'I know, I know. I got cocky.'

 

'I don't blame you for looking for a little excitement' Hanzou grinned 'But your responsibility is to these girls.'

 

'If they will even still have me.' Hajime sighed.

 

'Do you even know who we are?' Yumi grit her teeth. She had agonised over this. 'I'm Kurokage's granddaughter and we're all his pupils.'

 

Hajime turned to Hanzou 'You never told me that.'

 

'Yes, well remember that promise to my old friend?' Hanzou scratched the back of his neck 'Kurokage was that old friend and I wanted you to experience what he did when he taught them and how it changed him. I wanted you to find closure.'

 

All except for Yumi turned and stared at Hanzou in disbelief. 'Closure?' Yumi may have found her answer. 'Hajime? As Kurokage's granddaughter I suppose I owe you an apology for what happened to your parents.'

 

'You're not the one who should be apologising.' Hajime offered Yumi a smile 'Besides you all took care of me when I needed it most. I'll always be grateful.'

 

Yumi is shocked 'You don't hate us?'

 

'I don't and never would have if I had known' Hajime declared. 'I would have accepted you all regardless of your former master.'

 

The girls smiled at each other and Yumi stepped forward 'So would you be interested in staying on as our instructor? With some stipulations of course.'

 

Hajime raised his eyebrow 'Such as?'

 

Yozakura jumped in 'Well for one you're to stay put and not go on any more reckless missions.'

 

'Well I guess that is part of my mission' Hajime smirked.

 

Murakumo came forward 'You'll also have to pose for romance scenes in my manga and model as an artistic nude for my practice sketches.' Kumo was joking but it was lost on everyone else.

 

'Not on your life!' Hajime blurted out.

 

Hajime and his students came to an agreement and after he recuperated from his wounds he took back his role as their teacher. It was weeks later and it was time for another dinner time at the Gessen ninja room. Yozakura had slaved over a meal for her team mates but Shiki was absent. Hajime went to fetch her and found her in her room glued to her phone. He motioned for her to hang up but she brushed him off.

 

'Hey I thought we were friends again.' He joked.

 

Shiki covered the mouthpiece and grumbled 'Just two minutes, please!'

 

She went straight back to her call. 'Is that how it's going to be?' Hajime muttered to himself. He dashed behind Shiki and snatched the phone from her hand. She gasped and pleaded with wide eyes for him to give the phone back. Instead Hajime had some fun 'Hey there, is this Shiki's friend?'

 

'Don't talk to them!' Shiki groaned.

 

'Did she tell you she had a boyfriend?' Hajime grinned at a horrified Shiki 'I'm surprised she didn't tell you about me. I bet she also didn't tell you she liked older men.' Hajime had to duck and weave to dodge a frantic Shiki. Her arms flailed to grab the phone back from him. She squealed for him to give it back. 'Well I'm sorry but I'm going to have to take her from you. Tonight's a "special" night for us so wish us luck.'

 

Shiki let out a blood curdling screech and violently smacked and grabbed at Hajime 'Give it back! Give it back! GIVE IT BACK!' She jumped up and grabbed Hajime from behind. She had her arms locked around Hajime's neck and her chin rested on his shoulder. 'PLEASE! I have to tell her you're joking or something! I can't let that get out!'

 

Hajime took advantage of Shiki's position to take a selfie of the two on the phone camera. As the camera clicked to denote a picture shot Shiki let out a scream right in Hajime's ear. 'Hey! Hey! Don't worry! Once I put this picture on your blog everyone will understand!'

 

'DON'T YOU DARE!' She growled like a wild beast and locked her legs around Hajime to gain leverage. Shiki wrestled with him all the way to the dining area. Shiki grabbed and pulled on Hajime the whole way but he kept her phone out of reach. Hajime was more concerned with the feeling of Shiki's chest against his back and her soft thighs wrapped around his hips. An instructor shouldn't think of their students in such a way.

 

'Look who's ready for dinner!' Hajime laughed and waved at Yumi and Yozakura. Minori thought Hajime and Shiki were playing and immediately got jealous. She latched onto Hajime's leg and demanded that she be able to play wrestling too. 'Hey come on Minori! Not you too!' Murakumo's wolves Kotarō and Kagerō joined in the excitement and Murakumo turned a blind eye to their misbehavior. In her words they were simply responding to a threat to the pack.

 

'Don't let him go Minnow! Get that phone from him!" Shiki roared. 'Help me out Murky!' She wrapped her arm around Hajime's neck and started choking. Murakumo couldn't ignore a summons from her friend and joined the spectacle.

 

'Shiki! Enough! Your friend heard you shouting! She didn't believe a word I said!' Hajime croaked.

 

'I don't care! You never spread gossip about a girl!' Shiki reached her hand out and clawed at her phone. 'Give it back!'

 

Yumi and Yozakura simply stood witness to the madness and sighed yet both admitted that seeing Hajime with both girls seemed familiar somehow. As if they had seen that kind of playfulness before. Eventually Hajime got Shiki and Minori to their seats and even bartered for peace with Shiki by giving her phone back. Finally they were able to enjoy another meal together.