Stealth Warriors

Winter 13, Friday (Feb 27)

I’m reading a Research & Debate skill book when I pause to breed a frog. Yay!

Juwon: Why bother with leveling your Research & Debate skill when you have L10 Romance?

Tae: That’s true, but do I want my studio filled with flirty sims? I’ll need to think about that. By the way, wanna go on a trip with Watcher and me?

Juwon: Where to? Hard pass on another fishing spot.

Tae: Nah, we’re going to Iga village, the homeland of one of Watcher’s ancestors (who, sadly, weren't ninjas).

Juwon: For real?

Watcher: Yes, for real! I heard it from my maternal great-grandfather.

Tae: Iga village was the birthplace of one of the two strongest ninja clans in Japan during the late medieval and early modern eras.

Juiwon: Oh yeah! Who hasn’t heard of the Iga ninja? Count me in!
Note: “Ninja,” a multi-color woodblock print by Utagawa III Kunisada (1797-1858), depicting kabuki actor Nakamura Shikan II on stage. 

Masked figure: Who goes there?

Watcher: My name’s oshizu. My travel companions are Tae Lee and Juwon Park.

Ninja: Welcome to Iga, oshizu. We’ve all been informed of your arrival. Please follow me.

Juwon: Wow, it’s like we’ve time-slipped back to 16th- or 17th-century Japan.

Tae: This is probably a National Heritage Site.

Watcher: Stop dawdling, you two. The Mayor awaits us.

(Back home, hours later)

Juwon: I can’t believe your Watcher let me come with you to Iga! What’s next?

Tae (on phone): Hey, perfect timing, Cebolla! Instead of the Talent Showcase, can you meet me somewhere remote? Someplace like, I know! Moonwood Mills! It won’t take long.

Cebolla: Another surprise? Sure, I’ll see you there.

Cebolla: So?
Tae: So, I've been hearing lots of talk about “Cebolla’s List” lately and thought of a way I could maybe offer some backup.

Cebollla: You? How?

Tae: A band of highly skilled, deadly ninja to do your bidding. Although, you probably don’t need their help anymore, seeing that you can summon lightning. 

Cebolla: Wha---?

Cebolla: Get outta here! I’d never even seen a ninja before and now I have a whole group of Iga ninja at my beck and call? Awesome!

Tae: Uh, Irene, is that you?

Irene: Darn it, how did you recognize me? 

Tae: Only a wild guess…

Irene: I really want in on this action, Tae! My followers are craving more excitement!

Tae: I don’t mind but I also don’t want you jumping off a roof and hurting yourself. I’d feel much better if you simply dressed in all black and did your recording and took photos from a safe distance.

Irene: You’re right. And I also don’t want to get in the way of their “missions.” I’ll go talk to the group leader and ask Cebolla how she feels about media exposure…

Cebolla: How does this arrangement work? You get paid by the hour or by gig? Or you’re now my permanent minions?

Group leader: We’re at your service for no charge to help out with The List. Temporarily. Frankly, by the looks of you, I seriously doubt you even need our help. Unless, of course, you want to completely erase any traces back to you.

Cebolla: I’ll have to think it over, but I’m pretty sure I can handle things with my besties’ help.

Cebolla to herlself): Get real, girl! Ain’t nobody gotta find Tae attractive just cuz he went out of his way to bring you a band of stealth warriors!