• [/align]Prologue
    Once Upon a Time
    I looked down at the blood spattered snowy ground, all around me the wind howled and the snow swirled like my favorite painting. You know the one with the stars and how their painted so they look like they shine, and the swirling motions of the brush. Abstract, that was the word. I looked down at my little pudgy hands. So it was this one again, this dream. I was five back then. I looked up to find a sword in front of me. It was a beautiful black that seemed to glow and shimmer in the moonlight. I could feel the hot tears turn cold as they streamed down my little cheeks. The red snow circled around me. Over and over this would play in my mind for the rest of the day as soon as I woke up. The snow was circling me and the moonlight seemed to splash onto me like a spot light. A dark figure appeared from the snowy mist around me and stretched his hand out toward me. I looked at this strange man, who was he? Why was he here? The questions circled my mind. "Nao, I am your uncle, do you remember me?" I nodded, frozen stiff. Mum had told me about this man what was it she always said? ah yes "Kichimi always lies," I almost hissed the words. "Good girl," his smile was devious, he knew what I had meant when I said that. I took his hand and we walked, out of the circle of snow and the spot light of moon light. Away from the safety of that sword. Oh yes the sword, I must get it. I let go and ran to get it. I picked it up, light for it's size, at that same moment it shrunk and slithered into a smaller version. More of a dagger now. I slid the sword into a a hilt that seemed to just appear, much like Kichimi, at my side. Maybe I was hallucinating. Who knew? I knew what came next. As soon as his hand touched mine,we faded to nothingness.


    Chapter 1: Keeping Secrets

    I woke up shivering, the feeling of frost and snow clung to me like your clothes and hair did when you stood in the rain. I pulled the sheets over my head and laid there for a couple of minutes thinking. Finally I threw the covers back up and sat up. I lazily stared at the wall, easily finding each hidden carving. I had done this billions of times before. I swung my legs over the side of the bed. My sheets were a sunset pink and orange, followed by a couple of purple pillows. I cursed myself at getting those colors, as I did most every morning. I slid off the side of the bed and over to the dresser, I looked like a freak show had stopped by in town and had done my makeup. I glared at my reflection and combed through the mess of blond tangles. I threw on a ripped pair of jeans and an aqua tank top. I whistled three long notes for Yue, she was my Mizu shinobi and kunoichi often have some type of pet to help us with tracking and other various skills. Yue is a water Konpanion, she is the reason I now have a little crescent moon mark on my left shoulder. At young ages Konpanion's often shift shape, until they find their true form. Yue still shape shifts, though both of us believe she will be of the dog family. She fluttered in my 3rd story window and then poofed into a squirrel. I sighed, "So this week it's squirrels next week it'll be a chimera for all we know," I chuckled. "At least I'm getting bigger every new change, Nao-sensei!" I giggled, "Alright true, true." She poofed again this time into a wolf pup.