Shadows of the Past The ninja had just enough time to look up before he got a kunai straight into his chest.  Kumori quickly jumped back to avoid a strike from one of the other ninjas.  He stood ready, the kunai, now dripping with blood, held in a defensive position.  “And just why were you spying on us?”  Kumori said, smiling, a tear of blood dropping to the ground.  He looked at all three left, searching for any hints of any sort of signal to attack or otherwise.  “We’ll tell you… nothing!”  The one to the left said, as all three moved at once for Kumori, one drawing out a katana, another, two more kunais, and

The Rare Truth Kenshi and Kumori finally arrived home, and Kumori was nearly at the limit of his strength.  He had lost a lot of blood, and doubtlessly some ribs were broken.  They both returned to their rooms, making little noise, the dark corridors masking their return.  Or at least they thought.  The light to their room switched on, and Marina was standing there.  “Why are you two… Oh my.  What happened?”  “Kumori’s hurt.”  Kenshi said, rather lamely.  “I can see that.”  Marina replied, giving Kenshi a knock on the shoulder.  When Kenshi gasped, she saw that he was hurt as well.  “What have you

Echoes Kumori stretched out in the hot springs, the water soaking into his tired body.  It had been a long day at school, and it would be an even longer night.  Light footsteps alerted him to the presence of someone else, as well as a heavy padding.  ‘So much for being alone.’  He thought, and sighed.  Suddenly, a huge creature jumped into the hot springs in front of him, soaking him with the splash.  “What?!”  He exclaimed, but as the creature surfaced, he saw it was Rune, Miharu’s brother.  It was hard getting used to a Sui-Ren tiger just walking around.  Yet that meant… “Kumori-kun!”  Miharu said

Into The Life “School?!”  Kenshi and Kumori asked at the same time, both looking at the small speaker phone in Kumori’s room.  “No, Ninja Academy.  Before commenting that you have already attended the Academy back here, Kenshi,” The voice said pointedly, and Kenshi closed his just opening mouth. “You must know your enemy, and know how he fights, if you are to do your jobs well.  Besides, at eighteen, you two are the perfect age to start.  Don’t let me down, for your sake.”  The voice cut off, and Kenshi sat back down into the chair, splaying his arms over the side, and leaning his head back.  “I t

Their feet splashed through the muddy path, rain falling like blood on a battlefield.  Indeed, blood was there to join it, seeping through the warrior's hand, clamped to his neck.  With his other hand, he pulled along a fencer, rescued from the ambush of werewolves a short ways back.  To him, she was more than a fencer; she was his love, his life; and she had cost him it. They both knew what would happen soon, being the full moon, though that did not stop him from taking her as far away as possible from the scene of carnage.  They stopped, the shade from an oak offering scant shelter from the relentless rain.  The pain of the bite subsided f

The day dawned faintly, as if already dreading what was to come.  The sun was shadowed, its light dim, though there was no cloud in sight.  A breeze whipped at the Three travelers’ hair, though it was not a welcome one.  It did not smell wholesome, as if it had just now been liberated from a crypt.  It blew in their faces, found gaps in their armor, and darted through their clothing as if it was evil in itself.  They three knew that it was not the case; it was the wind of their home, though wounded and retreating from what lie ahead.  The Three travelers pressed on, however; they would redress the wounds already caused on their home a th

Episode 1: Welcome Home "So, Kumori, I wonder where we are staying.  I think it's going to be a nice hot springs, with beautiful women at my beck and call.  The missions are going to be easy, great pay, and all the food we could ever want.  What do you say, Kumori?"  Kenshi asked, as he walked along the dirt path, seeing the town gates where they were to be staying just up ahead.  He drooled slightly at the thought, but Kumori replied unenthusiastically, pushing up his glasses.  "A good sniper post, a good bed, and a good meal.  That is all I need."  "Ah, but you would not mind a couple of women, would you?  I'll make you a bet; 100 yen says

Times of my Home It is evening. I see the golden sun, in all its splendor, undimmed by the clouds afire with its presence. My heart now shares this fire, and I say the days are beautiful. It is night. The sun has fallen, its glory dimmed by time; time of darkness, time of evil. Yet the moon remains, a pale sliver of hope that better days will come. It is morning. The sun has risen anew, like a phoenix from the horizon. I see the earth lit up, alike in its splendor of old, and I say, "This is my home."

Cath & Lianna's Lullaby Oak and spruce, ash and Willow, Watch the clouds over your head billow. Millae and Tissel, Rose and Lilly, Watch them dance like a bright young philly. Go to sleep Ellaen's bold young friend, Close your eyes as the old days end. Wake anew to a better day, And see again the sun's bright ray. Dream of me, as you slumber, As the sun fades now to umber. As the moon rises in the sky, On wings of dreams you shall fly.

Fires of the Phoenix The Awakening The mist floated through the silent evergreen forest; the world was asleep, and the few on it who weren't were involved in war.  The animals in the forest did not hear the three riders making their steady way through the forest on an overgrown path.  These were no ordinary riders; no, these were the stuff of legends; the Three Founders of Athenar.  Elves, two of them, and the third was a cat-elf, no longer possessing his feline traits due to a great sacrifice made on his part on behalf of the one whom he loved.  That, however, is a different story, one that may be told in full at a later time.  Faerin, her