ROSE TYLER, NINJA ASSASSIN
Chapter Eighteen The Doctor thanked the female attendant as she left their rented room. The attendant bowed deeply, went outside the room and slid the door closed. They had rented room on the top floor of the two story inn. The room was small with tatami mats covering the floor. There was a cupboard on the right side of that room that had kimonos, futons and blankets as well as a white ceramic bowl and ladle. The bowl was filled with water that the attendant had brought up to them. When they rented a room for the night, the Doctor had to use the bandits story with the staff to explain why they had no luggage with them. The owner of the inn graciously recommended a couple of shops where they could buy western style clothing and some supplies. The Doctor opened the shutters covering the small window at the back of the room and stared out at the castle. There were only three houses between them and the lake surrounding the castle. He admired the beauty of the white castle with its sloping black roofs. As he leaned out the window, he glanced over and smiled when Rose came up beside him and shared the view. "This is gorgeous," the Doctor said, pointing to the castle. "I've always loved Asian architecture. I think this castle is grander than any in Europe." "Have you traveled all over the world?" Rose said. "Oh yes, been all over the planet. Seen it all, done it all. I love most of the places I've visited but Japan is one of my favorites. Course that my planet in my universe. For all I know, this castle is guarded by real dragons since this is a different reality." "There are legends of dragons," Rose said. "They are good and help people but you have to search for them." The Doctor chuckled at that and Rose smiled. "You don't believe that?" she said. "I've seen all sorts of things in my travels. Never seen a dragon the way the Asians depict them but you never know, perhaps some day I'll find one." "I'd like to find one with you." The Doctor gazed at her and his eyes drifted down to her dress. "Will you be wearing that when we go hunting?" he said, pointing to the dress. "No!" Rose said emphatically while the Doctor sniggered, "this thing is heavy and it's hot. How can English women stand it? I'll be glad when Akira brings our ninja outfits. I feel more comfortable wearing that. Did your Rose wear dresses like this?" "Are you kidding? She'd run screaming before she wore that. I can count the number of times on one hand that she wore a nice dress. No, she preferred casual clothes. Actually, women wore a more feminine version of what men wore in my Rose's time. In the future, women won't be restricted to dresses and kimonos and they'll have more opportunities as well." "Sounds wonderful," Rose said. "Women can even rule and be in charge of entire countries," the Doctor said. Rose's eyes bulged. "They can?" "Yes," the Doctor said. "Actually, there have been queens in England, among other places. There are some places where women have more of a say in how they live their lives. You've tasted some of that being a ninja but if your parents were never killed, you would have grown up a proper English woman and probably would have led a demure life. Marriage, domestic work and babies would have been your lot in life. So in a way, you were very lucky to land up in the mountains." "And I was very lucky to meet you because now I get to travel," Rose said. "Oh yes. And I will show you things that will astound you, Rose. You'll think dragons are just a boring little lark once I get through with you." He glanced over his shoulder when he realized Hattori hadn't said anything. He noticed he was sitting on the floor by the door, quietly listening to him and Rose. "Sorry, didn't mean to ignore you, Hattori," he said, turning around. "No, I was listening to what you were saying," Hattori said. "I've never met anyone like you before. All these things you told me and I know I shouldn't believe them since they sound like the ramblings of an insane man but somehow I believe you." "Well, I have a very truthful face. Helps to have that sweet, baby face that everyone can't help but adore." He looked at Rose and shrugged when she gave him an odd look. "I agree with Hattori-san. No one talks like you do," she said. "Baby face, that's me," the Doctor said. Hattori shook his head and Rose giggled when he gave them a cheesy grin. XOXOXOXOXOX "We're here," Akira said as he and Donna stopped their horses. They had been following the forests, riding inside and behind them to avoid detection and now they were right by the city wall. "What do we do now?" Donna said, getting down from her horse. Akira felt the packs on their horses and found the one he was looking for. "We will use the shuko to climb the wall and go over. We must wait till it's night so we won't be seen. I will go up first and sit on the wall and use a grappling hook and rope. I will lower the rope and you put the packs on the hook and I will bring them up. When the packs are up and over the wall, you climb up the wall and we'll jump down on the other side. We can hide the packs somewhere near the wall and come back for them when we find the Doctor-sama. Can you do that? You couldn't climb the trees." "No, I couldn't go from tree to tree like you lot. I think I can use those climbing claw things to go up and over the wall," Donna said. "I told the Doctor I was gonna start pulling my weight and I mean it." "Okay," Akira said. "We'll rest here then by the wall and wait for the sun to go down. Get some sleep while I stand guard. It may be a long night." Donna nodded. She found a place to sleep underneath a large tree. She was about to lie down when Akira pointed to the bed roll on the back of her horse. "Forgot about that," Donna said, grateful for something to put between her body and the ground. Akira took it off the back of the horse and handed it to her. Donna unrolled the bed roll and crawled into it. Akira sat down under a nearby tree and kept watch while Donna closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
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