Chapter 3 A shadow arrives

          "Who!" Standing down the road from me is a mysterious masked figure. I can't see the figure's face but based on the body shape and voice I can tell it's a girl.

        "Who...who are you?" That was a dumb question. But why. After all I've seen symbols of 'non-everyday life' like this many times before and I'm sick of the sight of them! 

         Silently the girl raises both hands and everything around us is cloaked in white. "What's this?" Falling down from the sky is snow.

         "Snow at this time of the year?" It's like a dream playing on a projector. Like a dark light casting shadow over reality. This in the the middle of a cherry blossom season?

        Silence. Not even the sound of the wind a blade grazes my clothes. The fact that I was able to dodge it was thanks to my year of experience now engrained in my body and the instinct I was born with. That attack was from a perfect blind angle but she's right in front of me. 

         I roll around atop the snow dodging as one blade after another flies into the ground. They're the same as the weapon I briefly recgonised earlier. 'How may of this things does she have.' "Whoa"

       The throwing attack were just a distraction as she closes the distance between us and attack me which I was only able to dodge by a slim lick. But it's didn't stop there as the next attack comes in. A diagonal slash. "I can see it!"

       I dodge it too bending my body backwards. But before I knew it she's right in front of me with a deadly weapon in her hands. I stand there unguarded and the girl with her weapon in hands dashes forward at full speed.

     Dodging is Impossible, blocking is also out as it looks like certain death! "Dammit! It looks like I have to draw it!" Shouting this I kick a ball of snow in the girl's direction and in an instant her vision is clouded.

      "Is this supposed to be a smokescreen?" The girl is already swinging her blade forward. She'd made the obvious choice even if she can't see me.

 "Yeah I didn't think I can fool you with something like that!" Kicking snow at the girl didn't even stop her blade as it flew towards my neck. But just for an instant she flatered slightly and so..

"All I need is that single instant." The girl is surprised. Well of course she is because instead of cutting through flesh the sound of steel striking against another was heard. "You made me draw it."

       After a moment of surprise the girl put some distance between us. Then once again after moving away she readies her blade. "You shouldn't have been able to dodge that attack."

"Right. Normally someone wouldn't be able to dodge it from that close even if they tried to block it with that speed all they'd do is get their arm chopped off."

     "Then how." The girl seems clearly confused. How how will one escape an attack that means certain death? How can one cheats death? "Because I knocked it back." There was only one way I could defy fate.

     Dimly shinning on my right hand is that loathsome yet trusty steel blade.... "The Kamuy."

"Yep I drew it." The kamuy, a ninja sword. My partner for many years. Not that I care about it like before. It's just a symbol of many memories I want to forget. As long as I hold it in my hands I'll never become a normal and proper student.

      "*Sigh* oh well.." witha a clang I strike down her blade. "Stop let's talk for a bit" I say trying to find a way to settle this without us fighting each other.

"I just want to be a normal guy, a normal student so could you just pretend you never saw me and leave?" I say thus with a smile like aa student proposing a suggestion to a girl his age. Then she gave me her answer.

     Her answer is to raise her blade towards me once more. "Ah I see *sigh*. So I can kill you then?" I flipped the switch in my head. The youthful day loving student Kazuki is switched off and in it's place the death defying, shadow dwelling Kazuki is switched on.

"Alright shall we?" This is an underworld matter nothing to do with regular society. It doesn't matter who dies.

      The girl moves first 'she's fast'. Using the snow she hid herself. If i attack her first she don't stand a chance and that's why she chooses to strike first. "So that's how you want to play it" steadying my breathe and ready my sword I close my eyes.

      'Sight is a distraction. The enemy sure is going to attack from my blind spot and I can't get my self distracted by things around. She won't be able to kill me by throwing weapons. To do that it must be a direct hit'. "You're mine"

"No you're mine." Yeah I was waiting for this moment. She's now within the range of my sword. If I time it perfectly I can make a quick hit.

"Come snow!" The girl said and the blizzard grows stronger. And in front of my eyes is pure white but snow that melt when you touch it is nothing. Off by just a hair breadth.

     When I swing my blade it didn't cut through flesh and she distance herself away. "I'm surprised I didn't think you'd dodge the." I was sure I cut her down but it seems she's a better assassin that I thought.

     "Come on enough of this, next time I'll kill you so I'm warming you...if you're going to run away do it now." Once again the girl takes her stance. It looks like she doesn't plan on quitting which means there is nothing left for me to say. The next action will decide everything.

   "WHOA?! Snow? In the spring! FANTASTIC!" That dumb voice. Before I turn around the girl seeing me distracted seizes her chance to escape and at the same time the snow also vanished like it was an illusion. I put my sword back in my shinai bag anf let out a deep sigh.

      I flipped the switch once more and ordinary Kazuki is back again. "And now....

"What a ninja? It's a ninja so unbelievable!" Now I have to do something about him. "Johnny"

"Listen up Kazuki there was a ninja"

"Calm down dude there are no ninjas in Japan."

"It's true there was one and after all there was snow in the spring!"

"Snow does fall down in the spring here sometimes. It's rare but not impossible."

"Oh really but there was snow everywhere and...."

"But there's no snow now right? It must just be that you're excited to see something that you exaggerated in your mind. And this ninja did you really see it? Could it be that you're excited to see snow in spring that you saw something that wasn't really there."

"Well now that you mention it I did only see a shadow it's not like I see it clearly.."

"Right? I saw a little snow myself but everything else was your imagination."

"But still"

"Anyway what are you doing out so late"

"Oh you didn't come back so I came looking for you. It's almost curfew!"

"What!! Oh no! Let's hurry back then come on let's go."

"Okay hmmm?" Hurrying along with John who is still turning his head to look back, I hurry back to the dorm. 

      I know this is sudden but I'm a real ninja and my name is Kazuki Araya. To be precise I'm a ronin ninja. It's hard for me to talk about how things turn out this way. I've washed my hands of life in the ninja world. I was suppose to be an honest student but..

"I saw it A NINJA!" Rhe next morning when I arrive in class John is talking excitedly. "You saw it too right Kazuki?"

"No I didn't. All I saw was snow"

"There was snow yesterday" Yamabuki ask surprised.

"Yeah just for a little minutes"

"Wow that's unusual"

"Who cares about the snow" John slams his palm loudly on the desk. "It was a ninja! They're really out there!"

"Ninja?!"

"You're awfully worked up aren't you!"

"Hey Akari Enju. Did you just got here" I say greeting them 

"That's right. When we got here John was all worked up."

"Nevermind that. Johnny tell us about the ninja you saw and I mean every detail!"

"Okay! Well it was last night"

"Yeah? Wow this is so exciting!"

"*Sigh*. This is ridiculous. There's no way ninjas really exist!" Enju says cutting John off.

"I'm glad you're being logical at least!" To be honest it doesn't make a difference to me what happens to the girl that attacked me yesterday or whether the existence of ninjas is revealed. The problem is if someone were to find out my true identity my ordinary life will be over.

     I have to find a way to change the subject. "Come on John knock it off.."

"You've got no spirit for adventure Enju! No guy is gonna like you"

"What? This doesn't have anything to do with whether boys like me or not!"

"Hey I think you guys should calm down!"

"*Sigh*. Listen up okay. Ninjas are denizens of the darkness in other words it's only natural that there's no sightings of them in the regular socie..." I gave John a light punch on the shoulder telling him to keep quiet.

"What John saw was just an illusion!" I say then Enju follows up

"Like if you thought you saw a ghost but it was just a curtain!"

"HAHAHAHA! What I saw was no ghost. It's a real ninja!"

"That's not the point you scumbag!" Enju says getting angry. I think I better break this up before say says something awful.

"It's almost time for morning greetings so let's break this up!'

"Boo! Boo!" Both Akari and John are send me their boos but i just ignore them and take my seat and let out a sigh. It doesn't matter what John thinks. The real problem is 'is what happened yesterday."

       That girl is definitely an assassin from my village and I know I'll be attacked again. So before that I should come up with a counter move. I knew leaving the village means I'll become a target by them but I'll never expect it so soon. "Alright class this is Ricka Machiyuki the new transfer student."

"pleased to meet you." I couldn't see the girl's face last night of the mask the voice and her presence. There's no doubt about it, she's the girl that attacked me. "And Machiyuki's seat shall be the one behind Kazuki. Alright now that's done let's begin the firlst lesson. Take out your textbooks."

     The teacher went on to ask if she have a textbook but she said she's okay. From my front Akari is talking excitedly

"Wow! the school year just started and we keep getting transfer student. Uh! Kazuki what's wrong?

"Nothing." With this seat arrangement I'll need to keep my guard up. Surely she won't try to attack me in class but... I hear the sound of something coming from behind me and I swiftly grab it. "A poison needle?"

    She sit there glaring at me like an predator out for the kill. So she doesn't care about the lesson and is just going to come after me. I have to do something but we're in class... But who cares about lesson when you're dead. I stand up and face her but my teacher just yells at me to sit down.

"I think Kazuki was startled because of the bee flying around." Enju covers for me 

"Sorry sir. Thanks for covering for me Enju."

"What are you doing you idiot?" Enju replied angrily. And at this rate, innocent people is going to get caught up in this and I'll have to do something about her before that happens.

     In the end I spend the entire period being targeted by Ricka. Dodging the attack wasn't difficult but the fact that none of the lesson contents actually sunkbin my brain was a pain. 

"Dear me Kazuki. Are you really that intrigued by Ricka." Akari said turning around to face me.

"What makes you say that?"

"You can't fool me! You spent the whole lesson looking at her right? Hehe! You want to be her friend right? Well me too."

"No it's not that..."

"You come too Enju. You're the class rep.."

"I have something to take care of in the council room."

"Well I guess it can't be help! Come on Kazuki let's go makes friends with Ricka.

"Hey wai...." Before I could finish my sentence Akari takes my hand and drags me along.

"Don't try anything funny with Akari just because I'm not around you hentai!"

"Of course not!" And with that she leaves the classroom. It looks like Enju still don't trust me.

     'oh well I knew I had to have a proper talk with Ricka anyway'

"Ricka!" She looks up with her face that is as cold as Enju's stare. "What is it?"

"I'm Akari! Pleased to meet you!"

"Likewise!" She mutters it quietly then turn her gaze towards me. There is a look of uncertainty in her eyes. 'did she thinks I brought Akari along'.

"Hey you.." How am I going to broach the subject exactly? I need find time where we will be alone. Maybe I'll ask her to meet me later. Then I spot John walking towards me.

"Hey Kazuki I know this is sudden but I want you to listen to what I've to say" John said with an earnest look on his face

"Take a hint man!"

"I really do think what I saw yesterday was a ninja. I thought it might be an illusion like you said but I don't wanna give up just like that. I really think ninjas exist. Don't you think that too Kazuki." 

"There's no way ninjas really exist. I mean if ninjas really existed why haven't there been any sightings of them."

"Well that because they keep themselves hidden."

"If that's the case then how come you were able to see one Johnny?"

"Well....."

"It'd be amazing if they really did exist though!"

    "Yeah it would but I don't think they'd let themselves be seen that easily. Well basically even if they did exist they'd obviously be hiding in the shadows right? Been seen by a random person and worse attack someone in public, they'd be a disgrace to the very idea of ninjas."

"Haha it must be a very dumb ninja." Oh, Ricka is giving John a fierce glare not that he realizes it and hopefully this'll keep her in check at least a little.

"So the ninja I saw was real after all!"

"No I didn't say that!" Alright I just have to make this conversation neat and if it doesn't work I'll have to take a direct approach.

"Okay how about we try to find this ninja? The one Johnny saw!"

"What the hell are you talking about Akari?"

"That's a wonderful idea Akari" 

"Right? If there really ae ninjas I wanna talk to them"

"Yeah and I can ask to train under them"

"What are you two idiot saying?" For some reason the conversation has suddenly taken an unexpected turn. And without Enju here to shut them up, there's no stopping Akari and John from running wild.

"So like a school club! A club to seek for ninjas"

"Wonderful Akari! That's the best idea I've ever heard."

"There is no such club like that in this school."

"Well then we'll just have to make one!"

 Where have I heard of that before...? "Wait you're going to make WHAT?"

"We're going to form a ninja seeking club" This wasn't supposed to happen.