Karida - Episode 5

Erotis Substance

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Chapter 5

The Untouched

Who was this sleeping beauty, whose radiance so captivated Tobias? Trying not to stare, he kept a respectable distance as he went through his morning stretch routine. With fluttering eyelids, Karida awoke and as she remembered where she was, sat up and took sight of the ancient scroll.

“Although you hold the sword above my heart-”

“I will prevail,” Tobias softly finished, startling Karida a bit as she quickly turned around to find him seated against the wall with his legs stretched out to his sides.

“Good morning,” he pleasantly said, and then with one fluid movement awed Karida by leaning his torso forward, tucking his shoulder and going into a tumble, smoothly coming out of the roll in mid-step and walking over to her.

Dressed in a black gi which tapered off at the bottom with black leggings and a black pair of Japanese tabi slippers, Karida found herself speechless as her eyes shifted from his handsome yet somewhat boyish face to the kanji of Nin embroidered on the part of his training outfit that was above his heart.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing in the flesh.

“You are a Ninja…”

“All who find themselves in the eye of perseverance are Ninja,” Tobias said.

He was a mystery to her. Like the other Americans he was warm and friendly, but while the soldiers had had a male rigidness to them, and the female soft and nurturing, he seemed more complex, like he was capable of any and all.

“So you’re familiar with Ninjutsu?”

“Only through books.”

“That’s how I started,” he replied.

“It’s hard to explain,” Karida went on, “but when I discovered this knowledge it was like I already somehow knew it. I mean on a subconscious level. Like it was more of a re-discovery than learning something for the first time. Like my soul had found its way home. But then I wondered how that could be when I had never known anything outside of Islam and the books I had read.”

She suddenly felt shy as she caught herself opening up to this person she had just met. But then again there was that perplexity, a part of her feeling it was only natural for her to do so.

“I know exactly what you mean. They are life-changing, aren’t they?”

The two shared a smile of knowing, but as their eyes returned to being attracted to one another, a shyness came over the both of them. But instead of turning into a moment of awkwardness it became playful, with a little hint of flirtation.

“By the way, my name’s Tobias.”

“Karida.”

Still holding the other’s hand, they secretly enjoyed one another’s touch.

“Can I call you Kari?”

“If I can call you Toby.”

“Deal.”

And with this they sat down together and began to learn of the other’s past.

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Karida could hardly contain her excitement as she headed back to her guest room with the gi Tobias had given her. It was just like his with the exception of the belt color, and after she put on the bra and blouse from the stack of clothes which had been laid out for her, she figured out how to dress herself in the new Ninja wear.

The black pants that tied at the side of the waist,

The special tabi socks that separated the big toe from the rest so as to easily fit into the tabi slippers, of which fastened up from the heel to the ankle.

And the leggings, to be velcroed from the top of the tabis to the top of her calves.

The only thing she couldn’t interpret was where the ties on the gi coat were supposed to be attached to, as well as how to properly tie the white belt around her waist. Something she planned to ask her new teacher for help with. But first she was to be escorted to an office to be debriefed by a military officer.

Many at the embassy already knew of Karida, and some even stopped and greeted her in the halls as Mehri took her to the morning meeting. Annie was among the friendly faces. A middle-aged American with a southern accent who introduced herself as the embassy’s librarian.

“Ah, honey, I feel like I already know you,” she said while wrapping her arms around the shy seventeen-year-old.

“Between the books I’ve sent to you over the years and your father’s stories of how you loved ‘em so. Did you get the last two Chronicles I sent for ya?”

“Yes, thank you so much. I treasured everything. They really saved my life.”

“Oh, honey,” Annie’s shaky voice replied as she went back in for another hug, the two then wiping away tears.

“You stop by absolutely anytime you wish, darlin’. The library will always be open for you.”

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The photos were shocking, graphic and unbelievable in the sense that she had known these people for the cousins, aunts, uncles, and acquaintances they were, but silently the images were also gratifying to her. Evidence that those who had been so cruel to her and her parents were now gone forever, including Omar, who due to Karida’s own hand was now pictured in eternal shock, the odd and grotesque image of his inner throat open for all to see.

One by one she identified them for the military officer, but as she neared the end fear began to overtake her with the realization that Mahaz was not among the dead.

“Where is he?” Karida softly said while taking in the photographs once more, hoping that she had somehow overlooked the evil that was her uncle.

In panic she looked up to the officer. “You didn’t get him?”

“Who, sweetie? Who are you speaking of?”