《Shade of the Kitsune》


 Chapter 1

    Promise #3 No Matter Where You Run, You Belong To The Clan


    The cool spray of the ocean brushed through Haruka¡¯s hair. Out on the beach, the other children ran barefoot and screaming. If she dared to go near them, they¡¯d run off, calling her bug-eyed, daughter of a whore, or yokai. Plenty of names they chose from, some more creative than others.


    ¡°I heard about your mother, Haruka-chan.¡± One of the fishermen, Sakai-san, sat next to her. His crooked nose and bags under his eyes made him look twice his age. Haruka didn¡¯t know exactly how old he was, but she imagined he wasn¡¯t much older than her father.


    Haruka pulled her knees inward. ¡°They said she¡¯s going to have a baby. But she¡¯s been away from Otou-san for a long time. They say I¡¯m the daughter of a whore¡­I don¡¯t even know what that means, Sakai-san.¡±


    Sakai-san wrapped an arm around Haruka¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t worry your head about it. I¡¯m sure¡ª¡±


    ¡°Haruka!¡±


    She recoiled at the sound of her father shouting. ¡°Y-yes, Otou-san!¡± She pushed away from Sakai-san and stood up.


    Her father glared down at Sakai-san then back to Haruka. ¡°Come with me.¡±


    ¡°Come with? Where are we going?¡± She had never been called back home by her father before. Based on his short responses, it wasn¡¯t anywhere good.


    Sakai-san stood and grasped Haruka¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not going to do this, Goto. She¡¯s a child! She¡¯s barely seen more than eight cycles.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s my wife!¡± her father snarled. ¡°Unless you have the coin to pay, then I don¡¯t want to hear your complaints.¡±


    ¡°I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± He stormed to Haruka and grabbed her wrist. His veins popped in his hands. ¡°You¡¯re coming home, Haruka.¡±


    Haruka turned to Sakai-san who only stood by. The solemn smile flashed for a moment before disappearing into the sunken face of the hardened fisherman.


    ¡°How much?¡± Sakai-san croaked out.


    ¡°What?¡± her father snapped back to Sakai-san. He dragged Haruka closer to him.


    Sakai-san gulped. His entire body shook. ¡°How much is the fee for your wife?¡±


    Haruka knew Sakai-san to be strong willed. He raced across the waves while searching for fish and helped defend the village from wild beasts. It didn¡¯t make sense why he shook in front of her father. She never heard about a fee either. It was like so many secrets were being whispered in front of her, and she received only a few pieces to latch onto.


    ¡°Five hundred ryo. That¡¯s if that fee is still set. You know how the Hikage clan is.¡±


    What energy Sakai-san had in his body drooped into the earth. ¡°Five hundred¡­far more than a year¡¯s worth of wages¡­¡± He looked at Haruka and forced another smile. ¡°I will count and see if I can help.¡±


    There were stories of the Hikage clan hunting innocent people at night. Though Haruka never knew which stories were real, or the ones the kids all told while playing games in the streets. Tales stretched from the clan controlling yokai to being yokai themselves. The thought of her father being involved with the clan shoved a stone in her throat.


    ¡°You have until sunrise. We¡¯re leaving then.¡±


    He didn¡¯t say another word.


    Haruka and her father hiked back toward the village. Whispers echoed from person to person as they passed. None of them wanted to say anything directly. Not since her mother went missing a few moons ago. No one wanted to tell her what happened either.


    Inside their small house was quiet. The wooden floors were rotten where pieces met from a lack of replacement and holes where water leaked during storms. She was thankful most of the year stayed warm enough that the holes didn¡¯t bother her too much. After her mother left, they had to move here and sell their old home. Her father never looked in her direction the rest of the night, muttering under his breath as he fell asleep.


    ¡°Otou-san, where are we going?¡± Haruka looked up at her father and then down at the mud-covered streets in front of them.


    He ignored her question, like the others before that on their morning journey. Occasionally she received a grunt of recognition, but nothing more.


    The buildings were empty. The cracked windows were coated in grime. She imagined the city near their home would be filled with nice homes and wealthy people. Rumors from the children in her village claimed houses like these were filled with demons and monsters that hid from view until they could devour someone. She attempted to slow her pace and turn down another road back to the market. Despite this, her father¡¯s cobra-like grip around her thin wrist tightened and yanked her further along. She was helpless against his strength and held her breath in hopes it would keep any yokai away.


    They turned another corner and stopped in front of a statue of a stone serpentine dragon that blocked the building at the end of the alley. It glared down at her, twisting its body around a glass orb. Whiskers stretched across its face and down the sides of its cheeks. The hollowness of its gaze followed Haruka as she neared. Its three clawed fingers dug into the orb, daring anyone to approach and face death.


    She turned away and dug her heels into the ground, but her father dragged her closer to the statue. She shifted where she stood, not wanting to look back at it again. The fire in its gaze bore down on her all the same.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.A man dressed in a dark brown cloak with tattered edges and patches in multiple areas stepped around the statue. The man stood almost a head taller than her father. His expression twisted with disgust as if she were a filthy dog. Haruka recoiled behind her father.


    ¡°Bringing the girl won¡¯t change your debt,¡± the man said as if his voice were made of the wind itself.


    Her mother hobbled out from around the statue. Her cheeks were sunken in and her brown eyes dull and glass-like. The weeks had destroyed her mother¡¯s inner glow. Her stomach was round. Well into a pregnancy.


    ¡°Okaa-San!¡± Haruka shouted and tore away from her father.


    Her father grabbed the scruff of Haruka¡¯s robes and yanked her back. ¡°Stay still, girl,¡± he snapped.


    Her mother winced from Haruka and scuffled closer to the cloaked man.


    Haruka looked up at her father and then back at her mother, who stood as still as the statue next to her. They should have been embracing one another.


    ¡°Okaa-san?¡±


    Her mother flinched again at the sound of Haruka¡¯s voice. She wanted to reach out to her mother but knew to stay still for now. It pained her that the gap between them was so close and yet more distant than ever before. They¡¯d soon be hugging one another again as long as she stayed patient. At least, she hoped they would. Sakai-san claimed he would be giving her father the money to cover any debts. It had to be enough. But he hadn¡¯t come that morning, and she wasn¡¯t sure if he knew where they were.


    ¡°I¡¯ve come to pay the debt in full.¡± Haruka¡¯s father stood her between him and the cloaked man. ¡°She will provide you many more years compared to my wife. And I¡¯m sure there will be many who will pay for someone so...young to enjoy...¡±


    He took a step from Haruka, releasing her arm. His face contorted into a combination of disgust and sadness she had never seen before. Not since she cut open her leg and bled over the salmon, making them unsellable. At least he claimed they were unsellable, but she recognized the one her neighbor purchased the next day from the too short tail fin. The realization slowly poured over her. She was the fish today.


    The cloaked man nodded. ¡°We could find more use for her.¡± He pushed Haruka¡¯s mother forward, pinching her arm. She squirmed from the pain but didn¡¯t let a sound escape her lips. The cloaked man didn¡¯t seem to notice or didn¡¯t care, that he was causing her any pain.


    ¡°Saitou!¡± he shouted.


    From the darkness of the building came a young boy no older than Haruka. He had one long scar across the right side of his face. It reached from his brow past his lip. There was no life in his eyes. Every few seconds, his body twitched and shivered from an unknown breeze or pain.


    ¡°Bind the girl and take her inside.¡±


    The boy, Saitou, reached for his belt and held out a long rope. ¡°Of course, Kasshoku-sensei.¡± He wrapped the end of the rope into a loop and tested the strength of the knot. He strode up to Haruka and grinned. His teeth were half rotten.


    Haruka moved closer to her father and grabbed his forearm. ¡°Otou-san, you¡¯re not really leaving me, are you?¡±


    She glanced up at her father, expecting him to shield her from the boy and cloaked man. He continued to stare straight ahead at her mother. Like a knife cutting through any attachment they had, he wrenched from Haruka and reached out for her mother. She was isolated.


    ¡°You promise this will cover our debt?¡± His voice quivered.


    ¡°She will do.¡±


    Kasshoku-sensei pushed Haruka¡¯s mother forward. She stumbled over her feet and fell to the ground. Her kimono, which had once been a bright red, was now caked in grey and brown mud. Haruka remembered when her mother had first sewn the kimono. It had taken several moons, and she almost quit when funds were low, but they worked together to finish it. Now it was as disheveled as the rest of their life.


    Haruka wanted to reach out and help clean it off, but the stare she received from her father pushed her away. A lump swelled in Haruka¡¯s throat, keeping her silent.


    Saitou grabbed Haruka¡¯s wrist. She yanked away and shook her head. The cloaked man snarled in her direction. It sent a cold shiver down her spine, and she froze in place. If she moved, he would devour her in an instant. He was the demon they warned of. Not a real one like the stories, but a demon in human form.


    The boy took advantage of her distraction and slipped the loop around her wrists. He tightened it and drew Haruka closer to him. He stank of an unclean waste pit. She gagged. She pulled against the restraints and sucked in a deep breath of fresh air before he pulled her back in close.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, boy,¡± Kasshoku-sensei growled.


    Saitou nodded and held the rope in both hands. He turned to the man and handed the rope over. ¡°Yes, Kasshoku-sensei.¡±


    Kasshoku-sensei grasped the rope and gently held it closer to his body, dragging Haruka behind.


    Haruka turned to her father. Tears welled in her eyes. He looked away, not meeting her gaze. Her mother¡¯s face was buried in her father¡¯s shoulder. She was shaking and muttering apologies. Whether to her father or to Haruka, she wasn¡¯t sure.


    Kasshoku-sensei¡¯s face was cold, staring intently at her. She gulped down the need to scream in fear. This was the beginning of a nightmare that wouldn¡¯t end. No one said what her mother had done while she worked for the Hikage Clan.


    ¡°The debt is paid for. You¡¯re both free to leave.¡± Kasshoku-sensei waved a hand through the air as if shooing an annoying mosquito.

 Chapter 2

    Haruka¡¯s parents didn¡¯t say a word. They bowed deeply to Kasshoku-sensei then scurried off down the alley. That small bow took everything that made Haruka who she was. Halfway down, her mother glanced back and then faced forward again as if saying her final goodbyes in silence. Her mother was the only story of someone taken from the clan and returning. There wouldn¡¯t be a second exception. This was the last time she would see her parents, and Haruka couldn¡¯t tell how she felt. Empty was the best word for it.


    ¡°Kasshoku-sensei, are you really going to let them leave?¡± Saitou said.


    He shook his head but stayed silent for a few seconds. Once they could no longer hear her parents, he nodded. ¡°Keep an eye on them. They will fall in line like the swine they are. But we don¡¯t let swine think they have a sword in their hand.¡±


    Figures unfurled from the roofs of the buildings. She hadn¡¯t noticed them before. The two men, one on each side of the alley, sprinted across without a sound.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hu¡ª¡± Haruka tumbled backward as Kasshoku-sensei yanked on the rope tied around her wrists. He didn¡¯t wait for her and continued inside of the building with her behind. Saitou followed and placed a large plank of wood across the door to prevent it from opening.


    Haruka blinked to adjust to the darkness. The only source of light belonged to a single lantern by the far wall. Saitou dissipated into the shadows, leaving Haruka alone with Kasshoku-sensei. She brushed her foot across the dusty floor, kicking up small clouds which refracted the light.


    Kasshoku-sensei removed his cloak and sat on a small multi-patched cushion at the far end of the room. It sagged under his weight, struggling to not burst at the seams. He pulled a small blade from his belt and beckoned her closer.


    As she shuffled to him, he grabbed her hands and sliced the ropes binding her. She rubbed at the raw skin underneath and cringed. There wasn¡¯t a spoken reason, but something yelled at Haruka to remain silent until he spoke and hide as much of her fear as she could. Once she had the chance, she would let every tear rush through her.


    ¡°Can you dodge, girl?¡±


    Haruka didn¡¯t have a chance to ask what he meant before he flung the dagger at her. It flashed past her ear, slicing a few strands of her hair in the process. Ice pooled in her body as the realization flooded her. She opened her mouth, but closed it immediately, unsure of what to say. Not even her father threw a knife at her back home.


    ¡°Seems not. What of strength?¡± He pointed over to a bag of rice that stood to her knees. ¡°Pick that up.¡±


    Haruka shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t!¡±


    Kasshoku-sensei slammed his fist on the ground. Haruka recoiled at the sudden aggression. She didn¡¯t wait for him to get up and scurried to the rice bag. Haruka knelt in front of the bag and dragged it toward her. It tipped halfway before her knee caught it mid-fall. She grunted and pushed it back into place but couldn¡¯t move it. She forced more of her weight onto the bag. It fell backward with a thud.


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡± Haruka sniffed. She didn¡¯t know what would happen if she couldn¡¯t get it off the ground, but after the knife, she didn¡¯t want to know.


    Kasshoku-sensei stood up and grumbled under his breath. He hoisted the rice bag into the air and then shoved it into her chest.


    ¡°Hold it!¡±


    Haruka took the bag, but the weight was too much. Her arms gave out immediately and the bag fell to the ground, barely missing both of their feet. Dust curled in small puffs around their ankles.


    Kasshoku-sensei smacked her across the face, sending her to the ground. Her cheek burned and then tingled. The world spun around her, grasping at her mind to wretch it from her. His hand remained in the air, poised to strike again. She wanted to shrink in size and run away. Her breath caught in her throat as her chest heaved. There was nowhere to hide.


    ¡°I will find a use for you. Even if it means placing you in the same brothel as your damn mother. Someone will pay greatly to deflower you, brat.¡± He pointed at the bag on the floor next to her. ¡°Pick up the bag.¡±


    ¡°But I-¡±


    ¡°Talkback one more time, and I will sew your mouth shut.¡± He strode to the door. ¡°You have until I return.¡±


    ¡°What happens then?¡± Haruka squeaked out.


    He shut the door behind him without an answer.


    She rubbed her raw cheek. Likely what waited for her was worse than the pain she had rushing through her face.


    Haruka slumped onto the ground next to the rice. Her fingers stroked across the rough texture.


    "Otou-san...why..." she choked out between tears.


    She sat there for what felt like forever, sobbing. It was impossible to expect her to move the bag of rice. Better to kill her before the night ended instead of taunting her with challenges she couldn¡¯t complete. She saw others in the village take their lives when they couldn¡¯t live any longer, according to the other adults. She couldn¡¯t do it, but Kosshoku-sensei could. There was no chance to escape without possibly bumping into someone from the clan like the men that almost killed her parents.


    "I¡¯m going to die here," she whimpered.


    Her hand slid across the wooden floor, and something sharp stabbed her palm. She recoiled, holding her wrist to keep her hand stiff in front of her. Small droplets of blood glistened in the dim light, trickling down her palm. Haruka shoved her hand into her mouth, muffling a scream. The thought of Kasshoku-sensei or Saitou coming back in terrified her. She drew her hand back out and winced as cold air brushed across the wound. Haruka bit her lip to hold in the painful screams then squinted to see what had sliced her palm. The metal glinted in the darkness.


    The knife lay next to her. Haruka picked it up, wanting to throw it across the room. She wiped her palm against her clothes. The sliced skin tugged, opening wider. An impossible task meant for humiliation. There had to be more to the task than lifting it if he left her with the knife. She looked between the knife and bag of rice. He said to lift the bag. If she was wrong in her idea, she would be punished, but if she was right, then he¡¯d be happy with her. Her mother was always happy for her cleverness.


    "He said to pick up the bag. If I could just..." She found a corner where the fabric had gone thin and forced the dagger into it, tearing a small slit so the rice would fall out. The idea of wasting food made her uneasy, but it was better to waste food she couldn''t eat than die because she refused to.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.Rice spilled out of the hole. As it lightened, Haruka lifted the end so it continued to pour quickly. She wrapped the bag around her hand. The pressure gave relief to the aching pain. The rest lay limp, swinging underneath her arm.


    Even with the pain, she couldn¡¯t help but smile at her success. If Haruka didn¡¯t live past the day, at least she could say she did her best.


    She sat, listening for any movement outside of the building. Kasshoku-sensei paced in the other room, closer to the door than before. Haruka sat against the wall and shoved her trembling hands under her butt.


    Kasshoku-sensei walked into the room and leered down at her. He glanced at the bag still half wrapped around her hand and then at the rice spewed across the floor.


    "You lifted the bag?" he said and raised an eyebrow. Nothing like his mood earlier.


    Haruka held her hand in the air. "I-I can c-carry it above my hea-head now."


    Kasshoku-sensei smirked and sat back down on his pillow. "I see that. But did you lift it with the rice?"


    Haruka shook her head, waiting for the punishment.


    He waved his hand through the air. "No matter. You¡¯ll pay it off soon. Most don''t even bother lifting the bag before I get back. Leave a knife with a man and he slices his throat open. Floor''s stained in blood." His gaze drifted down to the knife and her wrapped hand. "Yours joined the rest I see." He leaned forward and lowered his voice. "You pass, for now."


    Haruka gulped. "Can I go home now?"


    He shook his head and chuckled. "Of course not. I own your mind, body, and soul. This just proves you''re worth the investment. If not, I would have let the men take you and get my ryo¡¯s worth in a day. Might still happen, but for now, you''re safe." He knelt and grabbed her hand. ¡°Show me.¡±


    Haruka squirmed and pulled the bag away. He called her an investment. Not something to be killed, but to be saved. Better than her fate earlier, but still trapped within the clutches of the clan. The cut was still sore. She held it to the light. Dried blood blotched her palm where the bag held the wound closed.


    Kasshoku-sensei tapped his foot on the tatami mat. It sounded rhythmic, almost purposeful as he tapped twice, paused, then tapped four times. He didn''t say anything, and his gaze never left Haruka. She stared at the floor to avoid their eyes meeting.


    The door to the other room opened again. Another man stood in the doorway. Unlike Kasshoku-sensei and Saitou, his face was completely covered except for his golden-green eyes with black slit-like pupils. He wore loose-fitted black clothes that made it impossible to see where the outline of his body ended, and the rest of the room began.


    He glanced at Haruka. When their gazes met, he snapped them away and looked directly at her captor. "Kasshoku-sensei," he purred and bowed low. "What is it you need from me?"


    "The girl." He pointed over at Haruka. "Starting today, you all will train her into a true kunoichi. I expect you have the room prepared?"


    The ninja''s eyes flashed in the light''s reflection. "Of course. But are you certain you want her to train with us? We kitsune are usually¡ª"


    "She is going to train with you. That is an order."


    Haruka retreated into herself while they talked to one another about her fate. She tried to figure out if the word kitsune was just another phrase they used within the ninja ranks. There was no way they were referencing the yokai that haunted the forests. The person in front of her was a man, and the only kitsune she remembered from the stories were women with tell-tale tails. Except for the eyes, he looked human.


    The ninja bowed once again. "As you wish, sensei." He bent down next to Haruka. He squinted as if he was smiling at her. "May I have your name, child?"


    Something about the question felt off. The familiarity and calm approach made her want to run. All of her energy drained out of her body as if sapped by the ninja.


    "Your name. May I have it?" His voice was growing more irritated.


    "Ha¡ªHaruka."


    The ninja nodded. "Good. Now, Haruka, forget it. Forget everything you ever knew about your life outside of this room. Any happy memory, any sad memory. Even the pain before I spoke with you. Forget all of it."


    He placed a hand on her forehead. It was warmer than she expected, building a fire deep inside of her core. The ninja pulled down the cloth covering his face and sneered, revealing a wide mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth. She wanted to run. To scream. But any strength she had left was used to hold her sitting in place.


    It wasn¡¯t a man that stood before her. A yokai. A demon that Shizu knew to avoid, and yet she was trapped within his control. Everything she knew about her world collapsed in on itself as she grasped within her memories the stories of legends and reality that were mixing together. They slipped from her fingers as if the memories never existed.


    "That''s it. Now sleep. When you wake up, all of this will be a bad dream."


    Haruka closed her eyes and felt the weight of the world release from her body. Visions flashed to show her mother and father standing together in the house. Tattered clothing wrapped around them, but they smiled and welcomed her with open arms. They smelled of the saltwater they caught fish from. They swirled away, replaced by children running around screaming in delight. She reached out for them, but it all melted away. She couldn''t even remember who the man and woman were anymore. They felt familiar, but she couldn''t figure out why. The only glimmer left was a mixture of hatred and love for the people. She grasped it, refusing to let go. She would never let go of that hatred.


    The room blurred and faded until all she could see was a kitsune sitting a few steps in front of her. His six tails swished through the air lackadaisically. The visage of the ninja was faint, almost like a phantom, standing in the same place as the kitsune.


    "That''s it, child,¡± both the phantom ninja and kitsune whispered. ¡°Forget. Just forget everything that happened. When you awake, you will be with your new family. You are no longer Haruka."


    She tried to focus on the fox-man. "My name''s not Ha¡ª? What?" Her head screamed in pain as if clawing for something she couldn''t identify.


    "From now on, you have a new name. A better name."


    "What''s my name?" Her voice didn''t feel like hers. It belonged to someone else. Someone who didn''t have a name any longer.


    The kitsune turned away. He walked into the darkness, leaving her to the visions that continued to melt from her mind.

 Chapter 3

    Promise #2 You Lose Your Blade, You Lose Your Life


    She brushed her hand on the ground. A thick layer of dirt coated a rough stone floor. She waved a hand in front of her, but it was too dark to even see it. No sound echoed through the room and reaching out around her didn¡¯t show how large the room truly was. The scent of wet moss was the only sign that she wasn¡¯t in the yomi-no-kuni and walking amongst the dead.


    "Hello?" she called out through a dry throat. No response.


    Her head hurt, trying to think of anything before the last few seconds. Images of rice scattered across the floor and a cloaked man looming over her flashed through her mind.


    Footsteps echoed through the darkness. It sounded more like a large cat than any human. It stopped a short distance from her.


    "What''s your name, girl?" It was deep and echoed through the room.


    "My name?" Her head pounded more, trying to think of what her name was. It was so simple. Yet it flew away every time she got close to it. "I-- I don''t remember..."


    "Good. From now on, your name is Shizu, for you will become silence."


    Shizu. It felt strange on her tongue. It was not her name from before. She moved her head back and forth, trying to find where the person stood. Shizu reached out for the person, her fingers burying in thick, soft fur.


    Something touched her hand and she jumped. It was cold and thin. Metal.


    "Take it, girl."


    Shizu obeyed and took the piece of metal gently in her hands. She moved her fingers across it, avoiding any sharp edges.


    "Stand up."


    Something lifted her into the air and held her in place. She couldn¡¯t move nor breath without whatever held her in place allowed it. She grunted and gasped for release. This wasn¡¯t normal. It echoed in her mind that magic shouldn¡¯t exist, and yet all she knew was the darkness and the captor. A nightmare. All she needed to do was wake up, and it would be over.


    "Do I have to tell you everything? Hold the knife in the air between your two forefingers and your thumbs."


    The control vanished, but she knew better now to not disobey and did as she was told.


    ¡°That''s it. Now stay there." He fell silent.


    She counted the seconds and recounted until she lost track of the number of cycles she went through as she held the knife in front of her. The feeling of someone near her vanished and she drooped her arms, thinking he was gone.


    A low growl came from behind Shizu. "Did I say drop it, human? You dare disrespect me?"


    "No, sir!" Shizu squeaked out and put her hands back up. Her arms slowly dropped again as her muscles screamed for release.


    "Good. Don''t do it again. This is your only warning. Next time I will put blades under your hands so you can¡¯t lower them without cutting your skin open.¡± His voice dripped with poison.


    Shizu wanted to cry. To collapse where she stood and wait for the nightmare to end.


    ¡°How could he have paid for you so willingly? You¡¯re trash. Worth nothing more than a bed in a brothel. Yet they ask the kitsune to train you.¡± His hot breath brushed across her cheek. ¡°Worthless.¡±


    Shizu turned to where she last heard the man. ¡°Will you feed me to the kitsune then? If I¡¯m worthless?¡± A lump grew in her stomach.


    "No," the voice was in front of her now. "We won''t eat you. Not enough meat for us to enjoy on your flesh. Worthless even as a meal." Voices surrounded her, all hissing worthless in the air. "Hold the knife up, girl!"


    The wind cracked and something sliced at her arm followed by her shoulder and back. Shizu released the knife and screamed, reaching for every strike. Her skin ripped where the impact occurred. Another whip on her lower back forced her to straighten back up with a roar of exasperation.


    "I said don''t lower the damned knife! Do you enjoy this? We will keep you here until you learn to hold that until I order the drop.¡±


    Fur-covered hands grabbed her under her arms and lifted her. Claws dug into her flesh. Something softer and more flexible like a tail lifted her arms back up. "Don''t think about dropping it again."


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.Shizu took in a deep breath and held her arms outward. She shifted the weight between each arm in small movements to relieve the pain. The burning in her arms kept her focus on the knife. Fire coursed through her skin. They didn''t care that she had fallen to the ground. Only that she lowered her arms. That''s all she had to do. If her legs got tired, she would sit but never drop the blade. The cloaked man praised her for something she did, this would be no different. If only the pain in her head would stop so she could remember what she did to receive the praise.


    "I can do it!" Shizu cried out. Roars of the invisible crowd filled the room as if in sync with her determination. They were there and cheering her on even if they had plans to devour her later if she failed.


    The pain from the lashes faded, placing focus directly on the strain from her arms being held up. She bit her bottom lip to pull her focus elsewhere so she wouldn¡¯t droop her arms from the pain in them.


    She relaxed the muscles in her legs and sat down on the cold stone underneath her. None of the kitsune around her attacked.


    "Get up, girl," the kitsune said. It had no malice this time, and she obeyed. "Drop the knife and follow my voice."


    Shizu lowered her arms and released all the muscle tension in her hands. The knife fell with a clack on the ground, and she let out a sigh. Blood rushed through her arms, bringing feeling back to the tips. The tingling pain was a relief compared to what she had endured.


    Every few steps, the kitsune let out a sharp bark. She recoiled from them, not wanting to get too close. Shizu lifted her hands to follow the walls next to her. It kept her balanced when the darkness threatened to turn her without notice.


    She counted each step, losing concentration whenever a kitsune brushed against her. After a few miscounts, one of the kitsune let out a loud bark. He was only a few feet away from her. She stopped next to him. His thick fur brushed against her fingers. She wanted to caress it and find comfort in the fur, but the image of its sharp claws and teeth filled her with dread at what kind of beast was leading her.


    "Eat," he growled.


    "Eat what?" Shizu asked.


    She sniffed the air, still not smelling anything. The kitsune let out a high-pitched bark, and a flame erupted in front of her. It burned her eyes and even when she closed them, the bright lights forced their way through her eyelids. She hissed out in pain and covered her face with her hand, sealing herself back in darkness.


    The light dimmed and Shizu opened her eyes. The flames, which had erupted just moments ago, were now small flickerings of their past self. Her vision was blurry, but she was able to see that the room she was in was made of almost all stone. In the center sat a low table made of dark wood with empty plates scattered across. Clean, dark red cushions lined each side, ready for a multitude of guests.


    The far walls were a combination of stone and trees fused into the wall and growing back out of the room. Dozens of kitsune sat huddled next to the tree trunks, staring at her. None of them had more than three tails with most only with one. She couldn¡¯t determine why the variety, but imagined it was related to age as the ones with more tails looked more mature in stature.


    The one who had led her here was the largest of the group. He had six tails all fluttering behind him. His head reached hers without having to stand on his hind legs. His fur in the light glowed a brilliant yellow with flecks of white on his paws and tips of his tails.


    The room fell dark again, but the fact that Shizu had seen the kitsune made her uneasy. Any of them could jump out at her and attack, and she wouldn¡¯t know until it was too late. At that point, it wouldn¡¯t be her problem anymore as she would be dead.

 Chapter 4

    She sniffed the air again. The smell of fire burning was faint, but what caught her attention was the scent of bread and fish. Her mouth watered. How long had it been since she had eaten? At least a day based on the order from the kitsune. She couldn''t see the food, but it was there. She was sure of it.


    "For finishing your mission, you can eat. Being a tool isn¡¯t all you were meant to be. Remember that well as we build you into a powerful weapon. Your soul will always belong to the clan no matter how much you fight it.¡±


    Shizu reached the table. Her hand brushed against the cold floor. She sidled onto the cushion and folded her legs under her to sit upright.


    She didn''t wait for anyone else to give her permission to eat and grabbed a bowl and brought it close to her. It was hard to see what she was eating, but she could brush her hands across the table to find different foods awaiting her. Her fingers swept across the bowl. Fish. She picked away at the flesh, mixing it into a small bowl of rice she found to her left.


    The tang of the fish melted down her throat followed by an acidic taste. She took another bite, thinking it was just her imagination. The second one still had the burning sensation. She pushed the fish to the side and took a drink of water. The cold liquid washed the remainder of the burn, but it had an aftertaste that reminded her of soap.


    She sat back and took a deep breath. The food wasn¡¯t the best, but it was at least filling. Better to not complain either with how the kitsune loomed around her.


    Her stomach grumbled and she wrapped her arms around her abdomen. Knives dug into her sides as the food churned. She leaned forward, folding herself into a ball. Tears welled in her eyes and she started to shiver. Shizu grasped for the cushion, pushing it against her body for comfort. Neither it nor the cold stone helped against the onslaught of her body attacking itself.


    "I think I''m sick," Shizu whispered through the pain.


    "Nonsense," the kitsune growled. "You''ve been performing fine all day. Of course, you wouldn''t be able to rest after stuffing your face as you did." His voice distorted like he was underwater.


    "No, I think I''m actually¡ª" It all came up, burning her throat the entire way. The scent of rotten meat with bile made her gag.


    "Kuso! Someone get her out of here!"


    A whooshing sound came from where the other kitsune had been hiding. In seconds, two men lifted Shizu into the air. Her feet brushed against the ground before her legs caved underneath her body. More of the food came up mixed with bile. It splattered across her feet


    "Disgusting..."


    "Humans..."


    The eldest kitsune interrupted their grumblings. ¡°To be expected. Her body can¡¯t handle it yet. Give her time.¡±


    The two kitsune dragged Shizu out of the room. She placed a little weight on her legs to help before they caved again. Her legs refused to take on any pressure without turning to liquid. The two lifted her fully into the air. A pleasant relief compared to her attempt at walking.


    They stopped and the crak of what sounded like a door swung open. There had been no doors that they traversed from the training hall into the dining room, so she had no concept of where they were now. The kitsune dragged her in and planted her onto something soft. She brushed her hand against it. Soft cloth filled with fur. No doubt a bed and far better than she expected them to provide her after everything she went through. She dropped her head onto the pillow, closing her eyes to the spinning world around her. The soft, cool cloth adding some comfort to her struggle. Shizu wrapped her arms around her legs.


    "Tonight, you sleep. In the morning you will eat again. Then you practice.¡± The orders sounded to be a struggle for the kitsune to get out, and many of the words were more like growls than language.


    Shizu didn''t question them. She nodded her head as best she could from the sideways angle. "Thank you for getting me to the bed." It felt strange thanking them, but neither of them had done anything wrong.


    She laid in silence with her thoughts. It would be easy to kill herself once she returned to training. Slice her throat and fall over, and let the kitsune finish her off. She had no memories of her life before the kitsune, and this wasn¡¯t the life she wanted. Even if she had chosen it willingly before her memory loss, she regretted every moment of it.


    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!¡°Kuso!¡± Shizu cursed and rolled onto her side.


    She refused to let the kitsune win. They poisoned her and attacked her countless times within her short period of existence. They didn¡¯t deserve the enjoyment of her death. She¡¯d push through and survive. She would escape and find where she belonged in the world. Not with the kitsune. Not with the clan. Someone out there needed her and she needed them.


    Once the two were gone, Shizu closed her eyes fell into a dreamless slumber.


    #


    ¡°Ichi. Ni. San. Yon. Go!¡± Shizu counted.


    It wasn¡¯t much, but counting down made the time pass faster. Even meals didn¡¯t upset her stomach nearly as much as before. She had lost track of how many days it had been since she started this training.


    ¡°Put the dagger down, Shizu,¡± the kitsune growled. Since their second day, Master called her by her name instead of girl or human. New respect he granted her, or so he claimed.


    Shizu obeyed and turned to face her master. Her sense of hearing had grown to the point that the kitsune couldn¡¯t hide as easily anymore. Every claw clicking on stone. Every breath they took. She didn¡¯t need her sight to hear them.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been training to hold the dagger like an extension of your arm for over a month. Now we must strengthen your mind.¡±


    ¡°Strengthen? But¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk back!¡± A whip cracked through the air. ¡°You will follow all of the training.¡±


    Shizu nodded and bowed. ¡°As you say, sensei.¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that it had been a month. Her memories of before still hadn¡¯t come back. Perhaps she didn¡¯t exist before the kitsune. ¡°What do you need me to do now?¡±


    A rock rolled next to Shizu, tapping the side of her foot.


    ¡°Take that stone and every other stone behind you. Then place them into the sand at the other side of the room." He paced to the other side of Shizu. ¡°Each one represents a promise to your clan. This one is your first promise. You are their tool to perform their will as they see fit.¡±


    She pushed aside the lecture. She would dwell on that while she performed her training. "How far is that?" Shizu asked.


    She bent to lift the stone. Her fingers wrapped around the rough-edged bottom of it and lifted it. It was far heavier than she expected it to be and she grunted after bringing it only up to her knees. The edges threatened to cut her palms open if she released them carelessly.


    ¡°You will find it yourself as you walk through the promises.¡± His voice was cold again just as it had been when she started her training.


    She let out another grunt and took a step forward. There was another smaller stone she had missed and tripped over it. She tumbled forward, dropping the stone and hitting her chin on the ground. Shizu hissed from the pain and rubbed her chin. No blood. She took a deep breath and crawled over to where the stone lay and attempted to lift it again. Her fingers were going numb from the strain and barely lifted them above her feet.


    "I can''t! It''s too heavy, sensei."


    "Too heavy for whom?" the kitsune asked.


    "Me!¡±


    ¡°You will bear each promise on your back henceforth. The weight will become part of you. Never forget that.¡±


    ¡°I''m not a farmer or a warrior.¡± At least, she didn¡¯t think she was. ¡°I can''t do this anymore." She held her fingers out. She didn¡¯t need to see them know how red they were. ¡°There¡¯s too many, sensei.¡±


    Murmurs filled the room. Most of the sounds of agreement with her statement. It hurt that no one seemed to want to cheer her on. There once was someone who did. A woman? No. A man who praised her for even the smallest accomplishment. Where was he? Who was he? She couldn''t remember and thinking about it made her head hurt even more than it already did.


    Shizu relaxed her body and fell to the ground. Tears rolled down her cheeks, wiping away weeks¡¯ worth of grime that had caked on her face in the darkness. She wanted to be a child. To go out and play like one and not worry about daggers or stones or kitsune wanting to kill her where she stood.


    The room fell silent and she lifted her head. There was no clacking of claws on the ground. No growls of hunger. Just absolute silence. She let out a sigh, thinking they had finally left her alone and laid down. The stone was hard and covered in straw and cracks that made it impossible to find any comfortable position. Her exhaustion got the better of her, and she soon fell asleep on the cold, hard ground.

 Chapter 5

    Promise #15 The Kitsune are the clan¡¯s patron spirit


    ¡°Release!¡±


    Shizu let out a sigh of relief and lowered the blade. She couldn''t say how long she had held the position. Her arms no longer ached when she lowered them. She didn''t even need to sit anymore to focus on holding the blade in her hands. Months of training put her body under enough strain that she knew how to focus on her performance. The darkness became a friend to her. Without the light, the kitsune were merely voices of the crowds. She could traverse the halls when she wasn¡¯t training, and understand their way of life and enjoy meals without staring up at a fox.


    She listened for the kitsune''s soft footsteps and moved her head in time with his location. "Master Kitsune." She waited for him to grunt in response. "You said I was close to completing my training. I¡¯ve mastered holding a blade like you said and memorized the promises by moving all of the stones." Shizu held her wrist. "I would like to go forward with the next phase!" She puffed her chest in pride at her decision to stand tall.


    The kitsune stepped in front of Shizu and let out a low growl. "Are you sure you''re ready, child?" His tails brushed against her arms.


    Shizu nodded.


    A sharp sting hit her shoulder. Shizu let out a hiss of pain, but it wasn¡¯t enough for her to react anymore. Another strike on the back of her leg and she fell to one knee. He struck her lower back and she bent backward, reaching for the pain. He hit again, this one aimed at her hands until she recoiled.


    Each strike was only seconds apart from the other. None worse or easier than the last. The thin slices burned like a fire erupting from deep within her own body.


    "Enough!" he yelled.


    The barrage of attacks ceased. Shizu still lay on the ground, now shaking from the pain. Her breath came in fast and shallow gasps. All she could focus on was not going unconscious. Focus on her goal. Don¡¯t let the kitsune win. She removed any thought beyond surviving.


    "Do not assume you know what''s best for your training." He took a step away from her. "Stand, Shizu."


    Shizu grunted and put pressure back on her knees. There were scrapes covering her legs. Dirt and pebbles lodged themselves into her skin. She took a deep breath and hobbled up, barely maintaining her balance as she moved her weight into her heels. Small flickers of flames danced around the edges of the room, casting shadows against the walls. She covered her face to block out some of the light. Small white dots coated the back of her eyelids. When her eyes finally adjusted to the light, she peered through her fingers. None of the other kitsune were lining the walls as before.


    Opposite her stood a tall man wearing red hakama pants that flowed like flames licking at his legs and a haori shirt that covered his upper torso. He narrowed his gaze, but Shizu could feel the anger in them piercing her. The shadow behind him was that of a kitsune. The shadow¡¯s multiple tails swished from side to side like a cat watching its prey before the strike.


    He charged at Shizu. His clothing flapping in the air behind him. He pulled out a blade that was around two forearms in length. Far too short to be a true sword, but long enough to not be a dagger. He sliced the air in front of her.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he cried out.


    Shizu stumbled over her feet to get away from the onslaught of attacks. He swiped again in a horizontal slash. The change in her center of gravity sent her falling onto her butt. The kitsune halted his attack. His face contorted into a snarl as he glared at her.


    Shizu didn''t know how to answer. He was trying to hit her and all she could do was dodge. She had no opening to attack him. He glanced at the ground. Shizu followed his gaze. The weak candlelight flickered on a dagger. Different than the ones before. The others possessed a straight hilt with leather wrappings. This one was flattened and dull with a large ring on the pommel. It wouldn¡¯t do enough to hurt him, but it was better than nothing.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.¡°The blade is an extension of your arm. Both a weapon and protection. Pick it up!" he barked.


    She scrambled to pick it up. Her fingers were loose but steadfast. The point aimed at the ceiling and a little forward. All as he had instructed her to do when holding it for so many hours. He smacked it out of her hand.


    "Pick it up."


    She picked the dagger and once more he smacked it out of her hands with ease. They continued multiple times until his swipe didn''t work. Her grip tightened just as his hand hit her own. She moved her pinky into the small circle at the end of the handle so the blade spun then returned to her grip.


    The kitsune smiled and nodded in approval. He put the short sword back inside his clothes. "As I said. It is an extension of your own arm. You lose your blade, you lose your life. Learn to maintain the grip and learn to keep your life."


    ¡°Promise number two,¡± Shizu responded.


    He held a dagger in the air. His left foot pushed back a bit to balance his body and held the dagger in the air to mirror her own stance. "This position is meant to let you feel the weight of the blade and become used to it." He twirled the blade in his hands. "However, don''t expect to do anything beyond stabbing with this." He flicked his wrist, sending the dagger through the air to his left. Before the blade reached the wall and flames, smoke engulfed it and transformed into a tall figure made of straw. "Practice stabbing. Then, we will continue."


    Shizu opened her mouth in surprise. She knew the kitsune could transform themselves, but seeing him change a blade into this was something she had never imagined. "Master, you said I shouldn''t assume when I''m ready¡ª"


    "I did. Don''t assume when you''re not ready either. Only I decide when you take a new path."


    Shizu bowed and walked to the straw figure. She just needed to stab the straw. Looking at the straw man made her nervous. In the light of the fires, the face contorted into that of a man''s that screamed for help. For a moment, it looked to have blinked down at her. She yelped and jumped back. Her shadow passed over the straw man and once more it turned lifeless. She reached for the body. The cloth was scratchy from the straw poking out of it. Nothing of a human corpse inside at all. Just a very real straw man.


    She shook her head, dispersing the thought, and thrust the dagger into the center of the straw body. The puncture felt far more solid than she had imagined, and she drew the blade out. Dark liquid coated her blade and she dropped it in surprise. Her hands shook as the realization of what she did flood over her.


    Shizu looked back up at the straw man who was replaced by a corpse hanging limp on the wooden post. Straw spilled out of the man''s clothes, removing the illusion.


    Shizu turned to run from the dead man and bumped into the kitsune. He sneered down at her. "What are you doing?"


    "The...The straw man! He''s¡ª"


    "Dead? Why wouldn''t he be? I said practice your thrusts and stabs. A simple clump of straw would only make you used to stabbing straw. Stabbing a body, even one that has grown cold from death''s grasp will be a far better of an experience. You need to be numb, or at least take pleasure, in the act itself." He strode around Shizu and lifted the dead man''s chin. "Do you know him?" He raised a brow as if waiting for her to answer with the full truth that she didn¡¯t have. ¡°He was a fisherman once based on what the others told me.¡± He lifted the corpse¡¯s chin. ¡°Nothing important to us, but what of you?¡±


    Shizu shook her head. "No, master. He is no one to me."


    "Then he shall remain no one to you. Continue your training."

 Chapter 6

    She looked back at the man hanging in front of her. His eyes were still open and his face contorted in perpetual fear. She closed her eyes, trying to reimagine the man once again as the straw figure. After a few deep breaths, Shizu opened her eyes again and focused on the straw-filled shirt.


    "Just straw. It is no one," she chanted and picked the dagger back up.


    She returned to the stabbing. With each new thrust, the fear and disgust of the dagger being shoved into a dead corpse lessened until all of the straw was gone and she was simply left with the mutilated corpse. Blood and flesh coated her forearms and face. The smell of the rotten corpse oozed through her nose. Death and decay. Promise number two: death was inevitable and another gift of life they controlled at their whim.


    "That''s enough for today," the kitsune barked.


    Shizu faced him. ¡°Master?¡±


    "Go wash up. Tomorrow we will begin anew."


    #


    The training room was just as brightly lit as it had been when she left. Where the destroyed corpse had been was now a fresh one. It didn''t have any straw or clothing to cover him. He was at least twice Shizu''s age and whatever genitals he may have had were already removed. Even the hair on his body was cut away to provide a clean body for her to stab. Next to him was a table with a mass of objects on top.


    Shizu walked over to the table. A multitude of weapons awaited her. The dagger sat in the middle. Around it was a few other weapons ranging from knives or long swords that were bigger than she was. She reached for the dagger to continue the stabbing practice but stopped when the kitsune in his human form stepped out of the shadows.


    "Not today. You understand and grasp the concept of stabbing an enemy. An easy maneuver, but useless for most missions when facing against someone actively attacking you with a sword.¡± He picked up one of the shorter swords and handed it to Shizu. The metal blade had been replaced by a piece of solid wood. "From today on, you will train with this."


    Shizu dragged her finger across the wooden blade. "What is it?"


    "A bokken. Until you are bigger, you will train with this every day. Practicing every strike on the man, and then when you''re ready, against me."


    Shizu held the sword out in front of her. The end was far heavier than she had expected. The sword tilted forward despite how much she tried to hold it upward. Once she was confident in holding it, she stood in front of the corpse. The man''s eyes and mouth were sewn shut. She took a deep breath and swung the sword down on the corpse''s shoulder. It barely made a sound from the impact and left no markings behind.


    The kitsune growled in frustration. "Your strikes are weak. Look," he said and stood behind Shizu.


    He wrapped his hands around hers, guiding Shizu''s hands to the proper area where to hold them. He relaxed her grip and indicated for her to do the same. His demeanor was far different than yesterday. Something caring and trusting in his movements as if acknowledging her as someone worthy of his attention rather than complete ridicule. He lifted their arms above Shizu¡¯s head and slammed the sword down on the corpse. It made a soft thud, louder than her own strike but still resulted in the kitsune grumbling under his breath again.


    "Keep practicing. You will eat dinner when you have killed your enemy."


    "But he is already dead!" She pointed up at the man¡¯s face.


    He narrowed his gaze. "Do you wish him to be alive?"


    He swiped his hand through the air and the room was filled with agonizing screams. Shizu looked behind her. The threads keeping his mouth and eyes closed were gone. He let out another blood-curdling scream. His gaze darted back and forth before landing on Shizu.


    "You! Demon! Murderer! I''ll fucking kill y¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish his threat, his body went limp and the strings reappeared. ¡°Always the noisy ones.¡± He sighed and brushed a hand against the corpse.


    Shizu took a step forward and gulped. She poked the corpse with the bokken. When he didn''t respond, she sighed in relief.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there."So, you prefer him dead, I see."


    Shizu nodded.


    "Good. Now strike him. I will tell you when I believe your strike would kill him." He leaned against the far wall and nodded at Shizu. "Begin."


    Shizu took a deep breath and held the sword in front of her as the kitsune had instructed. She closed her eyes, focusing her attention on the sword. Once again imagining it as an extension of her arm like the dagger had been.


    "Die!" Shizu yelled and swung the bokken down on the corpse. A true blade would have cut through the body without struggle, but the wooden sword was blunt. Not built for cutting someone open. The thwack sent a surge of renewed energy through her body, but the reverberation of wood on flesh made it hard to hold onto the sword. She dropped it and held her forearms. Both ached from just the single strike.


    "Again!"


    Shizu didn''t look back at the kitsune but picked up her bokken and tried to swing again. The second swing was far weaker than the first. She tried a third time. With each swing, it landed softer than the one before it. Her arms ached and she dropped the bokken to the ground.


    The kitsune tapped his fingers against the stone wall in impatience. "Get up. You haven''t killed him yet. He''s still standing."


    Shizu grunted and picked up the bokken. Her strikes held no power against the corpse. "If you gave me an actual sword, I could kill him!" Shizu screamed through the pain. Tears rolled down her face. She wanted to give up. Wanted to go back to her own bed and sleep. She didn''t care if it meant no food.


    He walked up next to Shizu and snatched the bokken out of her hands. He tapped her arms with the wood. She tried to step away from him, but he glared down at her, keeping her immobilized.


    "You don''t need a blade to kill a man. Any warrior worth anything could kill a man with a simple branch of a tree."


    He stood in front of the corpse and held the bokken in front of him. His left leg was in front while his back leg maintained his balance. The bokken lay in his hands horizontal to the ground. The kitsune let out a battle cry of rage, lifting the sword into the air and slamming it into the corpse. The flesh split open where the bokken made impact.


    Shizu looked between the blade and the corpse. Every one of her strikes didn¡¯t leave a single mark, and yet if she hadn¡¯t seen him perform the attack she would have believed it from a real sword and not a practice blade.


    He handed the bokken back to Shizu. "Kill him."


    Shizu bowed and turned back to the corpse. The damage was erased from the body, brought back to a pristine condition, or at least pristine in the sense of how she encountered it when she first walked into the room. Shizu held her body in the same stance as the kitsune had. Her muscles screamed to move and return to a more natural position, but she fought through it all. Her sword swung through the air and crashed on the corpse. Her arms hurt far less, and the thud of impact echoed louder than before. She continued to hit the corpse, pushing through every last bit of pain while the kitsune hovered over her shoulder.


    Her arms screamed for release. There was only one swing left in her body before she would collapse from exhaustion. Even the whips wouldn''t bring her back. She let out one final scream of frustration, letting the last bit of her energy out, and slammed the bokken into the man''s face. A soft crack of the skull made her halt her next attack. She lowered the sword, huffing and laughing in delight. Even the kitsune silently applauded her success. It didn''t split open his flesh like before, but a fractured skull meant one thing: death. She had killed the corpse.


    Her stomach curdled as her mind echoed the word death inside. She pushed the feeling down. This was her role in life. If she expected to survive, others couldn''t survive. Everything she faced would become like the corpse in front of her.


    Shizu stood and faced the kitsune. "I''ve done what you asked, sensei."


    He flicked his tails in response but didn''t speak. The way his face remained still like a pool of water spoke far more than words ever could.

 Chapter 7

    Promise #10 Never trust Others, Not Even Those In The Clan


    The entire domain of the kitsune illuminated today to celebrate Shizu¡¯s completion of her training. None of the kitsune spoke a word to her, but each helped in their own way in silence. She needed to mentally prepare for what was to come.


    Shizu wrapped the light-blue robe around her body. The sleeves were loose around her arms and drooped beyond her hands. Underneath the kimono, she wore a pair of pants with strips of leather wrapped around her thighs. On one of her legs was a set of four needles dipped with poison and the other leg had a sharpened dagger.


    A kitsune woman, wearing a plain black hakama, walked around Shizu to aid her in dressing. Where her master had only his tails to reveal his true nature, her whiskers sprouting from her cheeks gave away her fox-like true form. She held out a long thick strip of cloth. It had a light pink floral pattern like cherry blossoms floating through the wind. She wrapped it around Shizu¡¯s waist, tucking one end in to create a seamless look. She took another patterned sash off the table next to them.


    The second cloth covered the first one and stopped in the back. Shizu looked in the mirror to catch a glimpse of what the woman was doing. It was impossible to see without straining her neck, so she waited until the woman moved away again.


    The outfit was easy to breathe in despite how tight the midsection was. Added with the fact that Shizu¡¯s breasts were constantly in pain from growing now and having her first bleed, she was grateful for the comfort.


    Shizu strode closer to the mirror and turned to examine the back of the kimono. The second cloth was wrapped into a tight bow that again looked less like it was part of the outfit and more like it was attached and free-floating above her waist.


    Another kitsune woman strode into the room. This time, she was carrying a small bowl of black liquid. The woman bowed. She placed it on a table and left.


    Shizu walked over to the bowl and smiled gratefully. She lifted the bowl off the table and brought it to her mouth. It was bitter, but the cool liquid quenched her thirst and warmed her body. Once, the drink had made her sick to her stomach and unable to move. Now it was easier than water to ingest. They never gave a name to it, but she always referred to it as the blood of a kitsune.


    ¡°Shizu,¡± a voice growled from the doorway.


    She dropped the bowl and turned to see her master at the doorway. He wore a pure black yukata that made most of his body meld in with the shadows around him.


    Shizu bowed. ¡°Sensei.¡±


    He nodded in response. ¡°Is she ready?¡± he asked the kitsune that helped Shizu get dressed.


    The woman flicked her two tails.


    ¡°Good. You¡¯re free to go.¡±


    Smoke engulfed the silent kitsune, and in her place was a small thin fox. She gave Shizu one last glimpse before scurrying out of the room. Its two tails swished behind it.


    Her master looked back at Shizu, and for a moment, a smile crossed his face. ¡°You¡¯ve trained for four years. You¡¯ve bled for us in more ways than any man could. You¡¯ve eaten our food and bathed in our waters. Now you will return to the humans and show them what they have paid for.¡±


    ¡°I will, sensei.¡± She bowed again. ¡°Thank you for everything you have done for me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me, girl, until you prove to me my training wasn¡¯t for naught.¡± He flicked his tail at the remaining weapons she had yet to store in her clothing as a reminder. ¡°You¡¯re ready. You won¡¯t be able to kill a samurai, but your strength is enough to survive and be one of us. Today, you will celebrate your birthday within the city as a woman. Tomorrow, you will be a shinobi.¡±


    This was her moment. The push to survive and prove to the kitsune she could survive came to fruition. Her freedom was within her grasp. Her heart fluttered at the thought of leaving the kitsune den behind. The clan was her next step in finding where she belonged and regaining her lost freedom.


    Shizu bowed. ¡°Arigatou, sensei. I am glad to have joined your family after all of my training and await my new life with the shinobi.¡±


    #


    Shizu stepped outside for the first time in years. The light of the setting sun behind her. Before her was a city filled with buildings that stretched across the horizon. She brushed the dust off her kimono and turned to look at where she exited. From outside, it was a dilapidated shed, but to her, it was the only home she knew. It was strange seeing it from this side after having never left for so many years.


    Beyond the doorway were a dozen glowing eyes staring at her. Kitsune that had followed her out and wished her farewell. Their fur brushing against her hand during her walk out was comfort enough and filled her with the strength to turn from all that she knew. The only one that hadn¡¯t come was her master who chose to stay behind. Now she would be returning to her people.


    Outside of the building stood a single stone statue of a fox staring down at the city. She imagined it was an actual kitsune disguised as a statue to play as a guard for their people, but it never moved to prove her theory. She rubbed the top of its head for luck.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.She let out a soft sigh and began her trek into the city. ¡°Time to find the clan that holds my freedom and release it from their grasp.¡±


    There was no running away yet. Their gaze would be focused on her as soon as she left the fox den, even if she never saw them herself. Play the part of the budding shinobi and her path would open itself to her.


    The people within the city were far different than the people the kitsune had pretended to be. Their eyes were brighter, and there were no scars on their faces that looked like whiskers. She touched her dagger at her side through the kimono. Enough lessons and promises told her one thing: everyone was a possible enemy if they wanted to be.


    She needed to find her target her master instructed her on, a priest. He wasn¡¯t to be killed, but he never told her exactly what the intention of finding him was beyond joining others for a birthday celebration. Girls that were her age all dressed similar to her would be the path to her target. They would all be celebrating their birthday as they all turned sixteen within the last moon cycle.


    It didn¡¯t take long to find them. A small group of girls all huddled together in kimonos of different quality. She walked over to them. From a quick glance, none of them seemed armed and they wandered around as if unprepared for an attack at any given moment. It clashed against every lesson her master taught her.


    ¡°Hajimemashite,¡± Shizu said and bowed to them all. ¡°I¡¯m Shizu. Please, let me join your group. I¡¯m new to the village, so don¡¯t know my way around very well.¡±


    The girls all stared at her. None of them bowed or showed any sign of friendliness. She reached for the dagger, imagining the lack of protection they portrayed was all a ruse.


    One of the girls with a plain gray kimono skipped up to her and gave a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m Yoko.¡± She nodded her head to Shizu. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you as well.¡± She tilted her head to the side. ¡°You¡¯re not from here, but your dialect is just like ours.¡±


    Shizu relaxed and bit her lip, trying to think of what to say. ¡°My parents were from here.¡±


    The girl laughed and nodded. She grabbed Shizu¡¯s hand and dragged her down the road. ¡°Then let¡¯s go and get our blessings.¡±


    The group and Shizu all began their parade down the road once more. Adults lined the streets, either cheering on the girls or carrying out errands. Some talked amongst one another in loud boisterous voices, but they weren¡¯t her target and what they had to say didn¡¯t matter. Shizu tensed with every man that looked down at her, expecting them to attack.


    They arrived at the small shrine before nightfall. In front of the building stood a large red gate made of thick wooden posts. Each one would require at least two adults to wrap their arms around it to reach the full circumference. On either side of the gate stood statues of foxes. The one on the right had a key in its mouth while the other held a small scroll in its paw.


    She walked over to the one holding the key. The gray stone was smooth and well cared for. It wore a red bib that matched the wooden gate. She laughed at the idea of the kitsune who had trained her wearing these. The girls stared at her and continued under the gate to the shrine.


    Shizu followed and watched as an older man strolled out of the shrine to welcome them all. He had a gentle smile. Different from the kitsune who held so much malice. He wore a black hat that stood a hand-span above his head and tied under his chin with a white cord and a light-yellow robe with a white long-sleeved robe underneath. Her target.


    The priest bowed to the girls. ¡°Welcome to the shrine, young ones. Please step forward, and I will provide the offering for the inari for you.¡±


    Yoko was the first to step forward and bowed. ¡°I¡¯m Yoko. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.¡± He returned the bow and handed the girl a small brown object from the basket he was carrying.


    The other girls copied Yoko¡¯s movements until it was Shizu¡¯s turn. The man looked over to her with amusement. ¡°You¡¯re new here? The other girls visited the shrine almost a moon cycle ago to prepare, but I¡¯ve never seen you here.¡±


    Shizu bowed. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry, but my parents never told me how this goes.¡±


    The priest knelt in front of Shizu. She could see what the man had in his basket. The brown was tofu that had been fried and stuffed with rice. The idea of food made her mouth water. She wanted to reach down and devour it, but what the man had said earlier made her stop. He had called them an offering to the inari, another term for foxes the kitsune despised.


    ¡°I¡¯m the priest here. Now,¡± he stood back up, ¡°what is your name, child?¡±


    ¡°Shizu,¡± she mumbled. ¡°My name is Shizu. Arigatou, sensei. Please take care of me.¡±


    The priest bowed in return and handed her one of the tofu rolls. ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Shizu. Take that inarizushi and go with your friends. They¡¯ll help you with the offering. When you¡¯re done, please see me. I¡¯d like to talk with you.¡±

 Chapter 8

    Shizu chased after the other girls. They had placed their own offerings on a small plate and surrounded a short stone basin. Each of the girls grabbed a long wooden ladle from the basin and washed their hands one at a time. Shizu copied them, minding the water splashing onto her kimono. She didn¡¯t know what would happen to her if she got the clothing dirty.


    They ran down another path deeper into the shrine with their offerings in hand. The trees closed in on them. The group sped their pace up until they reached the offering area.


    Shizu peered into the large box in front of them. Inside was a multitude of coins of differing value. If she were to take them now, the only people who would see her were the girls. But she could present it to the kitsune for their favor. She shook her head to ignore the thought. They had not asked for the money from the shrine. Simply to perform her birthday offering as best as she could and get close to the priest.


    Yoko was the first to place her food on a small plate next to the offering box. She reached up and rang the bell above their heads. It chimed softly. Once the bell silenced, Yoko bowed, clapped her hands together then bowed again. Each girl after Yoko did the same.


    ¡°What are they doing?¡± Shizu asked Yoko in a hushed tone.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you been to a shrine before?¡± Yoko asked and raised an eyebrow.


    Shizu shook her head. ¡°They never let me leave.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re giving our prayers when we clap. The inari protect us and lead us to a great year. But this is special because we¡¯re becoming adults, so we get to ask for something special.¡±


    ¡°Something special?¡± Shizu didn¡¯t know what to ask for. She could pray to grow in strength, but that was already happening. Or she could request that her trainers be easier on her. Again, that wouldn¡¯t happen.


    It was Shizu¡¯s turn, and she still didn¡¯t know what to ask for. She rang the bell. Bowed and clapped her hands. Then stood there. Her mind raced to figure out something to wish for. She thought back to each of the girls she had accompanied and imagined what they had wished for. She¡¯d return to the shinobi to harness the skills of a killer through countless trainings and missions. These girls had no worry about that. They¡¯d return to their homes and a warm bed with family. Nothing scaring them or teaching them the horrors of the true world.


    It came to her as she stared at the other girls. Their innocence was something she would never have but wanted to taste again in their presence. The wish she wanted now. ¡°Please let me be able to see them again! And let them never be targets of any of my missions,¡± she prayed and bowed. The wind picked up for a moment, and when Shizu opened her eyes, in the distance sat what looked like a fox staring back at her. Its fur bristled before darting back into the forest.


    Yoko walked over to Shizu and grabbed her hand. ¡°Everything all right?¡±


    Shizu looked at Yoko then back into the forest. The trees were all still. She shrugged and let Yoko pull her along to the front of the shrine where the gate awaited them. She paused and turned to look at where the priest still stood next to the main shrine building.


    ¡°I¡ª I have to go. The priest wanted to talk to me about something.¡±


    Yoko smiled and nodded. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll be in the center of town if you want to find us.¡± She poked the center of Shizu¡¯s palm. ¡°So, you don¡¯t get lost.¡±


    Shizu looked down at her palm. Nothing magical happened from the touch, but her body felt warm all the same. Yoko released Shizu¡¯s other hand, and the group of girls ran off back into the village. As Yoko disappeared in the forest, the cold reached her. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she wanted to chase after the girls. She didn¡¯t want to leave Yoko¡¯s side.


    #


    The priest and Shizu sat at a small table facing one another. Underneath them both were small cushions that were softer than she had ever experienced in her life. It formed around her legs under her body, so it felt more like a cloud. Even the tatami had more bounce than the stone floors she walked across for so long.


    The priest poured water into a small cup. The tea leaves inside floated around lazily, soaking in the water. The water turned a dark sludge-like black. It reminded her of the drinks she had while with the kitsune.


    ¡°Shizu. You¡¯re sure that¡¯s your name?¡±


    She nodded. The question made no sense. Of course, she was always Shizu. Thinking back on a time that she wasn¡¯t made her head hurt and didn¡¯t want to deal with that today.


    The priest hummed to himself and put a small bento box in the center of the table. He unwrapped it to reveal a few pieces of fried fish inside. ¡°Your surname?¡±


    Shizu shook her head.


    ¡°Not even a surname... You know, Shizu, I know everyone who lives in this village. I understand you¡¯re not from around here, but I can¡¯t recall anyone telling me of a family moving in that had a young girl. You are lucky I carry extra offerings just in case.¡±


    He pushed the small bento toward Shizu and handed over a set of sharp chopsticks. Her mind went back to the weapons training. Each tool is an extension of her own hand and arm.


    She looked up at the priest for reassurance that she could eat. The kitsune had stopped her once before for eating without their permission. She picked up a piece of the fish and brought it to her lips. The taste had a lot of salt, but there was a hint of tang as well. She took another bite. The taste was all too familiar to her. Like the meals, the kitsune had provided her.


    A smile stretched across the priest¡¯s face, and a darkness Shizu recognized all too well flashed in his eyes. ¡°So, tell me, Shizu. Where are the kitsune hiding now?¡±


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.Shizu choked on her food. ¡°What?¡±


    He ignored her question. ¡°Or are you with the clan? Did they send you to kill me this time?¡±


    ¡°The who? I don¡¯t know anything about kitsune.¡± It was too obvious a lie, and the smile that stretched across the priest¡¯s face meant he knew as well.


    ¡°It¡¯s not polite to lie to your elders, girl. I¡¯ve lived here long enough to recognize when a new child comes here that shouldn¡¯t be. Kitsune might be smart and excel at tricking others, but you¡¯re a human.¡±


    A soft clink broke the tension. They both looked down to see a dagger stuck in the table between them. Surprised, Shizu looked up to the window, but there was no one there.


    The priest stood. ¡°Seems our time here is up.¡± He forced a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°It was a pleasure talking with you, Shizu. But it seems you are needed elsewhere.¡± He stood and closed the window. The priest turned to look back at her. ¡°You¡¯re sure you will be fine to leave on your own? Don¡¯t feel tired or weak in any way?¡±


    Sweat beaded at his temples. His gaze darted between the door and Shizu.


    She shook her head. ¡°I feel fine.¡± She stood up and wiped away any remaining dust on her kimono. ¡°Thank you again for the meal.¡± She bowed to the priest. There was something the knife-throwing shinobi didn¡¯t like about him, but she wasn¡¯t going to go against her teachings of politeness at the very least.


    She reached to open the door, but the priest ran over and held it closed. He furrowed his brow as if in deep contemplation. There was more sweat on his forehead, but he was focused on something she couldn¡¯t see. ¡°Wait. It¡¯s not safe out there.¡±


    Shizu sighed. He wasn¡¯t threatening her life, but he was becoming a nuisance. She reached down where the kimono folded over itself and grabbed a small knife of her own. She pointed it at the priest.


    ¡°Let me out now or I will do what the others failed to do.¡±


    ¡°Stupid child. You should be dead already. How are you still able to threaten me?¡± he hissed. ¡°I was right all along. You were one of them.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± She strained to not kill him like the straw men from the kitsune den. It would be simple enough, but there wasn¡¯t an order on his life. She could keep her hands clean this one time unless he directly attacked her.


    Before he could answer, someone burst in through the window. He was dressed from head to toe in black cloth. He was tall and lanky, towering a head over the priest. In his hand was a scythe on a long chain. She had been instructed it was a kusarigama but was never trained with the tool. It dragged behind him, scratching the wood.


    The priest tripped over his robe and fell to the ground, still moving away from the intruder. ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt her! Look, she¡¯s untouched. Just take her and begone, demon!¡± The priest shouted. ¡°I haven¡¯t broken our deal, so just leave me alone.¡±


    The black-clothed man turned to look at Shizu. His dark brown eyes scanned her body for a moment before turning back to the priest. He hauled the chain up to hold the sickle in his hands then stepped forward. His feet never made a sound on the tatami floor. He was more of a shadow.


    The priest pushed himself against the wall and covered his face. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t do anything to your clan again. There are offerings left in the box still. Take it and the girl. Please!¡±


    The shinobi stopped his approach and slid the sickle into a small strap at his side. He nodded his head and turned back to Shizu. The man grabbed Shizu¡¯s hand and led her out of the building and back outside.


    Shizu took one last glance behind her. The priest stood at the doorway, the fear wiped away from his face. Like a corpse that stared onward without any semblance of energy left in him. He wouldn¡¯t forget their encounter, and neither would she, if she ever had the chance to harm him. No different than the straw men from the den. Everyone was just made of straw that could be punctured and killed.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Shizu asked the silent shinobi.


    ¡°Home.¡±


    He didn¡¯t say anything else for a while as they traveled through side roads away from others. Stars welcomed them both in their travels through the village, blinking on with the first lamps in the buildings surrounding them.


    ¡°How do you feel?¡± he said, breaking the silence between them.


    ¡°I feel fine. Why?¡±


    He grunted in response. He lowered his voice. ¡°The fish was poisoned. The kitsune was to build your tolerance to it. Glad it worked.¡±


    ¡°Poison?¡± Shizu shouted.


    Before she could continue asking more questions, the shinobi covered her mouth. ¡°Shut up, girl. Obviously, it doesn¡¯t work on you. You ate enough in your years with the kitsune to be immune to most of them. So don¡¯t yell out over trivial matters.¡± He glared at her and removed his hand. ¡°Now stay silent before I sew your mouth shut.¡±


    They continued down another side street until they stopped in front of a small shop. The door had a blue curtain at the top with a script that she couldn¡¯t read. She peered inside where a few seats lined a bar. There were no patrons, but a man stood behind the bar examining a sharp cooking knife. It didn¡¯t seem like there was any food or drinks to be served, but the descriptions the kitsune taught her about the real world told her this was a restaurant.


    She expected the shinobi to have her sit at one of them. Instead, they walked to the other end. He placed his hand against the wall, and it slid to the side to reveal a large opening down into the ground.


    ¡°Welcome, Shizu, to the Hikage clan.¡±

 Chapter 9

    Promise #6 Your Family Will Receive All The Honor


    The darkness encroached around Shizu, leaving a small light beaming down from above onto the three men sitting in large throne-like seats in front of her. Another singular beam focused on her. She shifted, unsure if the report she gave to the masked shinobi made it to the clan before her meeting. She bowed before them as the kitsune instructed her and remained silent.


    Shizu stood in front of three men in light-blue sleeveless jackets. The clothing gave their shoulders a broad appearance as it flared out. The jacket folded in on itself over a pair of hakama pants. Underneath they had black long-sleeved shirts.


    The three wore straw sakkats with a white cloth that came down that hid their faces. Each cloth had a different symbol in the same writing she couldn¡¯t read. They held no visible weapons on them, but even she was trained in hidden weaponry. They were masters in the craft of ninjutsu, so she never questioned how well-equipped they were. If she said or did anything to displease them, she would be cut down on the spot.


    Two of them tapped their fingers rhythmically against the arm of their chairs. The master on the left stood stoically, like a statue incapable of collapsing to anyone¡¯s whim.


    ¡°You have trained with the kitsune for four years and proven yourself worthy of their tests,¡± the master on the left announced.


    ¡°Yes, master.¡± Shizu lifted her head.


    The one in the middle leaned forward. ¡°You claim the priest at the shrine attempted to kill you?¡±


    Shizu swayed. ¡°I believe he did. When he learned who I was.¡±


    ¡°And what did you tell him?¡± the third asked.


    ¡°I told him my name was Shizu and I was new to the village.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell him about your past?¡±


    Shizu shook her head. ¡°That was all that happened.¡±


    The three nodded and looked at each other. Their voices dropped to a whisper. Behind them was a slight movement like cloth fluttering in the wind. High above stood a multitude of shinobi who wore a mask of some sort to hide their identity from her. A few leaned over the railing that separated them from the room to get a better view of her.


    Finally, the three turned and looked at Shizu. They nodded in unison. ¡°You have trained well under the kitsune and survived an assassination attempt. Along with this, you kept our secrets without the knowledge that it would mean death if they were revealed.¡± The voice echoed across the room, making it impossible to tell who was speaking.


    ¡°Tonight, you will be reborn as part of the clan. Tonight, you are no longer just Shizu, but rather Shizuoka No Hikage. For you are the shade of Shizu and a member of our clan.¡±


    The room erupted in claps. Shizu jumped at the sound. Lanterns lit up faces high above her in the lofts. She squinted up in the new brilliance and could no longer count the number of shinobi that stared down at her. Far more than the darkness had led her to believe. Many left immediately without a second glance in her direction, leaving a select few still cheering.


    She had survived the training from the kitsune, and now her life as an adult and shinobi would begin. Shizu wanted to be proud, to scream with excitement as the others. Instead, a cold dread dug into her bones. This was her tomb.


    The master on the left stood up and walked toward Shizu. He removed his sakkat. Wrinkles creased at his eyes and lines drooped from the corners of his face, putting him in a perpetual frown. His gaze gleamed in delight at her welcoming. Nothing like the kitsune who was unfriendly and cold. His entire essence was a combination of age, wisdom, and rage that never burned away.


    ¡°From today on, you will be training with me.¡±


    Shizu bowed to her new master. ¡°Arigatou, sensei. I will continue to honor you and the clan.¡±


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.Good. Come,¡± he said and glided to the side of the room.


    The cacophony of cheering subsided, leaving the sound of footsteps echoing above as the only sign of others still surrounding her. Shizu followed her new master. His footsteps far outreached hers as she kept pace with him. The adrenaline from a moment ago drained from her feet.


    She slowed as they reached the far wall. He walked through as if there was an opening, his body disappearing past the bricks. Shizu reached out and touched the wall. The cool bricks passed by her fingertips like ever-flowing water. It rippled as she drew her hand back out.


    ¡°Catch up!¡± the master called out to her.


    Shizu blushed at the order, embarrassed at her amazement. She held her breath and stepped forward. Her body slipped through with ease as the rushing sound of water passed through her ears. When she came out the other end she was as dry as when she entered. Shizu looked back at the wall they passed through. Instead of the bricks, it was an open doorway into the large room beyond. She thrust her hand back through. The feeling of water still lingered but the rippling didn¡¯t show itself.


    She turned back to the hallway. Her master stood a few paces ahead, illuminated by dimly lit torches dotting the walls. They danced across his face, giving him an air of danger. His eyes glinted with the reflection of the flame. He tilted his head to indicate for her to catch up, turned, and continued down the hall.


    ¡°Starting tonight you will take on new duties,¡± he said, not looking to see if she had gotten close enough to hear or not.


    She wondered if that would be how things always would be. If she was there, she would know, but if not, there was nothing that could be done. The kitsune had taught her enough about what happened if she didn¡¯t pay attention to instructions.


    ¡°Your first duty is to your room. Keep it clean and organized at all times. You will be sharing it with others.¡±


    ¡°Others?¡± She had grown accustomed to having a room to herself with the kitsune. She was alone then. Others meant company that perhaps wouldn¡¯t be focused on her training. The thought of the girls from the village flashed into her mind. She smiled, wanting to see who these others were.


    He looked down at her with scorn. ¡°The others under my tutelage. Each of them is lower rank just like yourself. You will need to earn your keep. We provided the funding for the kitsune to feed you for four years. Now you must find ways to pay that back along with your current living arrangements.¡±


    Shizu couldn¡¯t imagine how much that would cost. During her training, the kitsune gave her a basic understanding of commerce. To repay all her training, it would take an entire room filled with stacks of coins to compensate for everything. She didn¡¯t fully grasp the worth of each coin yet or the full use. She hoped there would be time to learn from them before she slipped into a mistake in front of her master.


    He didn¡¯t pay attention to Shizu¡¯s lack of focus and continued. ¡°Your elders in our family will tell you what chores you will have beyond keeping your space clean. Once those have been dispersed, you will begin training.¡±


    ¡°Sensei, wasn¡¯t I just welcomed into the clan? Didn¡¯t I prove I was trained enough?¡± She hadn¡¯t expected more of the training to continue now that she was a shinobi.


    The master raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you think you are equal to me in mastering the arts of the shadows?¡±


    Shizu shook her head.


    ¡°Then you continue training. Each of the three families excels in different trades. One in assassinations and messages while the other in the battlefield.¡± Something twinged at the corner of their mouth as he mentioned the other families. ¡°We¡¯re separate from them.¡±

 Chapter 10

    ¡°And ours, sensei?¡±


    ¡°Coming to me means that you will learn more about stealth, thievery, and other missions that will enhance the clan¡¯s foothold within the Han. You will learn to mind your tongue and listen versus question. To see before others can see.¡±


    ¡°What about¡ª¡±


    ¡°No more questions!¡± he barked. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of your questions for now. Ask your peers. I am your master from here on. You will report to me when needed and you will respect my orders. Otherwise, I do not want to hear from or see you. If I must, I will make sure it is well worth my time in punishing you, so you never disappoint this family.¡±


    Shizu gulped. The kitsune had punished her for failing any part of the training, but it was always to ensure she got better. He was genuinely threatening her.


    They turned down another corridor and through another false wall. It was dim. Nothing like the dark halls of the kitsune or when she had been welcomed by the clan. Lanterns dotted the room to illuminate what looked like wooden beams crossing one another to form a tower.


    A large circular hole, half the size of the room, opened the room above to the outside world. The light from the moon peeked out near the edge as it reached the highest point of the night, showering the room with a soft light. Shadows cast across where lanterns couldn¡¯t on the wooden beams. A maze-like forest, folded in on itself with ropes in the place of vines.


    A shadow moved across one of the beams, stopping for a moment before darting further into the tower. A few other shadows danced through with incomprehensible whispers floating down to Shizu. Freedom. The dance was a freedom that she wanted to obtain for herself and reach the skies high above like a kami. The three of them understood her desires in ways she couldn¡¯t touch yet.


    ¡°You¡¯re getting sloppy, Matsuda!¡± her master barked.


    ¡°Kuso!¡± A voice choked.


    Wood creaked and someone landed on the ground with a soft thud. He advanced into the moonlight. His black clothes blurred his form against the shadows, leaving his boyish face floating a head above her. His feet were wrapped in dark cloth, separating his toes into two groups. The other two stood a distance away so their faces were overcast with deepened shadows. His honey skin was impossible to hide with the flickering lanterns around the room. An imperfect shadow capable of blending in despite his flaws.


    ¡°What gave me away?¡± Matsuda ran a hand over his close shaved hair.


    ¡°You stopped to look at our newest member. If you can¡¯t watch while moving, you won¡¯t survive. Figure out how to scan your surroundings only when properly covered.¡±


    Matsuda bowed and looked at Shizu. ¡°So, you¡¯re Shizuoka No Hikage? Mind if I still call you Shizu?¡± He nodded in her direction. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you needed me hovering over you in that giant room when I could easily see you in here in person before the others. Especially since I will be one of your mentors.¡±


    ¡°I would like that, yes. Thank you, Matsuda.¡± She bowed. ¡°And please take care of me as I train.¡±


    The boy¡¯s smile widened and looked at their master. ¡°Do you hear her? Didn¡¯t think I would have the day where I had someone under me.¡±


    The master grumbled under his breath and turned away from them. ¡°Show her what she needs to know and head to bed.¡± He disappeared into the darkness.


    Matsuda stretched his arms behind his back and leaned forward. ¡°Well, let¡¯s show you to your room so you can change, and then tomorrow I can show you your chores.¡± He grabbed Shizu¡¯s wrist and led her past the wooden tower. ¡°Trust me, you will love your new chores. I was stuck with them for almost a year now.¡±


    She could taste the sarcasm flowing from his lips. Nothing like the priest who lied to kill her. Simply innocent talk that she yearned to hold onto longer. Still, she listened intently as he talked about nothing in particular from his training before coming here to his own naming ceremony.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.¡°What about before the trainings?¡± Shizu interrupted.


    Matsuda shrugged. ¡°Couldn¡¯t say. Don¡¯t care much either.¡±


    ¡°Do you,¡± she dropped her voice. ¡°Do you get headaches when you think about it?¡±


    He frowned. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be trying to think so much about it. If Isamu-sensei finds out, then you¡¯ll be punished. There¡¯s a reason they chose kitsune to train us. Now quiet before someone else hears you.¡±


    They strode through a large wooden doorway into a room almost as large as the previous one length-wise. It was thin with rows of beds lining each wall. At the foot of the beds lay a trunk. Windows lined the walls. Large enough for someone to climb through if they could reach. The light from the moon illuminated some of the beds. Most were in a deep slumber, or stirred, as the two walked past them.


    Matsuda pointed to the first empty bed. ¡°That one is yours. All of your clothes are in it including any tools you may need right now. Which is probably none until they distribute them.¡±


    He pointed to another bed a few down from hers. ¡°That one right there is mine.¡± He bit his bottom lip and tapped his cheek as if contemplating his next few words. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it and if you see me moving a little while I¡¯m lying in it.... umm... don¡¯t come over.¡± He shuffled his feet and turned his gaze away from Shizu. ¡°Same for a lot of the other guys in here. It¡¯s our private time.¡±


    ¡°Private time?¡±


    Matsuda placed a hand over Shizu¡¯s mouth to silence her. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that. Just know that men and women both sleep in here and we don¡¯t like people talking to us when we are lying down.¡± He released Shizu¡¯s face and nudged her toward her bed. ¡°Sleep well.¡±


    Shizu smiled and walked over to her bed. ¡°Sleep well, Matsuda.¡±


    She opened the chest and plucked out a large dark-colored fabric. It was thicker than the clothes she wore and a much-welcomed necessity against the cold air outside. Shizu glanced around to see if anyone was awake before stripping her kimono. She folded it inside the chest to the best ability and wrapped the thicker robe around her. The warmth relaxed her tense muscles in an instant as it embraced her as no one else had done before. She climbed into bed and closed her eyes, letting sleep take her out of the cold darkness of the clan and into a new world.


    Shizu opened her eyes after what seemed like ages and looked across the multitude of beds in front of her. Something moved in the corner of her vision, and she adjusted herself to appear like she was sleeping to get a better view. The moonlight only lit up half the room now, casting deep shadows across the cloaked figure.


    She would have assumed it was someone waking up to go on a mission if not for the lingering hatred around the mysterious shinobi. Her bladder cried out to be released. Perhaps from fear or not going since the afternoon prior, she wasn¡¯t sure nor cared.


    They leaned close to Shizu; their voice low so no one else could hear. ¡°Just because they welcomed you, doesn¡¯t mean I will accept you nor will the other families. You should have never been bought and I¡¯ll make sure your life stays a living hell.¡± The person stood back up and stroked a slender finger across Shizu¡¯s cheek. ¡°Go back to sleep before I decide to save my breath and cut you down tonight.¡±


    The cloaked person left Shizu¡¯s bedside and disappeared through the doorway to the outside world. She didn¡¯t sleep the rest of the night as birds chirped to signal morning was arriving.


    Her head cried out in pain at the nightmare of the world around her. This wasn''t the hidden home of the kitsune. There were people she didn''t know who were as willing to kill her as she was.

 Chapter 11

    Promise #17 You Will Train To Perfection, Or You Will Die From Imperfection


    Shizu screamed as her entire world was flipped upside down. Beds, people, and windows all blended into one as she tumbled into the air and crashed into the ground. Her head smacked against the floor. Brilliant white spots dotted her vision. She groaned and rolled over, dropping her head in her hands. Blood pulsed through her mind, begging to be released through her flesh.


    ¡°Get up!¡± a gruff voice snapped.


    Shizu opened her eyes, blinking some of the pain away. Light flooded the room from the windows. The song of birds welcomed her to a new afternoon. She tried to process what happened. Memories of yesterday flashed in her mind when she was welcomed into the clan. A smile crossed her face. She wasn¡¯t with the kitsune any longer. There were no threats of tails whipping her or being forced to eat poison. She was with the clan. Not safe, but she was where she belonged.


    ¡°Are you being insubordinate? I said: Get! Up!¡±


    A swift kick in Shizu¡¯s leg sent her rolling to the side. An elderly man glared down at her. His head was cleanly shaven except for a small thin mustache that was barely visible. His face was contorted into a snarl. Not nearly as menacing as the kitsune¡¯s were, but it was enough that it sent Shizu to her feet.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± His snarl vanished, but the rage still boiled in his gaze. ¡°You¡¯re lucky Matsuda had other chores to do right now.¡± He handed Shizu a cloth and empty bucket. ¡°Collect the water from out back then scrub the floors in here.¡±


    He didn''t wait for her to say anything else and stormed out of the room, grumbling something under his breath. He slammed the door behind him, leaving the room in silence. Those inside glanced at her for a moment before turning their focus back to their own tasks. The brilliance of her welcome the night before dwindled to a single faint star in a vast sea of darkened skies.


    Shizu picked the bucket up. The cloth smelled of mold. Small black specks lingered on one half. She brushed a hand against the wood. Cracks erupted from where the knots on the wood lay, stretching from the top to almost halfway down. Not nearly enough to hold much water in it. Thankfully the bucket didn¡¯t smell nearly as bad as the rag did. It meant more back and forth, but at least the cloaked figure from the night before and the old man were no longer around.


    White, thin blankets covered most of the bed. Brown and red stains speckled each one from a combination of mud and blood. The corners of the blankets were tucked under creating a sharp angle. Even with the dirt, the blankets were smoothed out on the beds, so they gave an appearance of tidiness.


    She placed the bucket and cloth on the ground and prepared to make her bed the same. She laid the blanket across her bed, tucking the corners underneath. Wrinkles pleated on the edges and the top had a wavey look about it no matter how many times she undid her bed and remade it. Another project she would have to tackle before the day was through since Matsuda said she had to maintain a clean environment. At least her attempt without having been taught would suffice for now.


    Shizu clambered over to the chest to change from her warm clothes to something more comfortable. The others removed uniforms or casual wear out of theirs making her hope someone gave her more than just sleepwear. Inside was a tan yukata. Her clothes she wore yesterday were no longer inside.


    The others in the barracks were too focused on themselves and dressing that none looked over at her. With as quick a pace as she could, Shizu removed the thick robe and slide the tan yukata on. She glanced around again to see if anyone was looking at her before straightening it.


    The yukata only came to her knees and wrapped around her midsection. It was long enough that the front folded over itself enough to cover her, but the idea of the rope around her waist coming undone wasn¡¯t a welcoming experience. Nothing like the black pants or robes the others wore out of the room.


    Shizu lifted the bucket and tossed the cloth over her shoulder. She scrunched her nose at the stench, hoping to convince someone to replace it soon or find something else she could use.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Shizu squeaked out to one of the older men.


    He glanced over while tucking in the corners of his blanket. ¡°What?¡± he snapped.


    She held the bucket out in front of her. ¡°Umm¡­where do I get water?¡±


    He jutted his chin toward the far door she hadn¡¯t gone through yet. ¡°Go out there. Use the pump. Don¡¯t bother me again. I¡¯m focusing on a mission right now, unlike you lot who get it easy.¡±


    Shizu bowed her thanks in silence and scurried out the door. It was small. Barely large enough to fit around ten people in a circle without someone being pushed inward. Buildings surrounded the yard, closing it off to the rest of the outside world. Each one another section of the clan¡¯s hideout away from the village proper. A singular door led to the next building with windows lining the other two walls. All of them too high for Shizu to look through without standing on her toes.


    In the center awaited the old water pump. The metal was brown and rusted from age in a multitude of spots.


    She stepped onto the scratchy, brown grass. Her toes curled as her feet pressed against the small pebbles dotting the dirt. The ground around the pump was void of grass or stones. A circular indent of mud marked where the bucket was placed by so many over the years. She pushed the bucket into the mud so it wouldn¡¯t fall, then moved behind the pump.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.She lifted the handle then pumped as hard as she could. Only air came out from the first pump. She tried again, struggling against the rust preventing the handle from moving easily. A trickle of water dribbled into the bucket along with mud. She poured the mud out and pumped again. Water rushed up the spout, spraying into the bucket and splattering around, bouncing mud onto her feet.


    The cold, clear water overflowed from the bucket. The flow slowed down as she released the pump. Shizu reached out, scooping some of the flowing water into her hands and brought it to her lips. Her chapped lips smacked at the taste of water without the strange flavoring of poison in it. A thirst she lived with for so long without realizing it until now. She splashed more onto her face and hair, sleeking it back against her scalp.


    Amongst everyone, she was the smallest and weakest. The night before proved she would be cut down before she could protect herself. How the kitsune trained such monsters while she was nothing in their shadows didn¡¯t add up. She¡¯d need to find a blade or some form of protection to keep herself safe before the day was through.


    Water spilled from the top and sides of the bucket until it stopped halfway down. It seeped into the mud and dirt around them, feeding the grass beyond. Not the best amount, but no less than she expected when she was first handed it. Shizu lifted the bucket with a grunt. She slid her feet to continue moving forward across the mud and sharp grass. Dirt caked itself between her toes and she used a little of the water to wash her feet off before venturing back inside.


    The rest of the shinobi were awake and changing or gathering together to leave. She blushed, noting one boy walking around with just a small towel covering his groin. She turned her gaze away, focusing on the bucket.


    "So, you''re the new girl," a woman commented next to Shizu.


    Shizu jumped and looked up. The person next to her wasn''t exactly an adult by any means. She had wide hips and a large chest, but the round face gave away her still existing youth. She wore a black haori and hakama covered in dirt that hung loose around her body. The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn¡¯t place it.


    "I¡ª Yes, I am," Shizu muttered and looked down at her bucket. "I was told I need to wash the floors." For a moment, Shizu wasn¡¯t sure if she wanted to reach out and touch the woman in front of her to see if she was real. She wanted to feel the confidence the woman protruded in the room.


    The girl bent over so she was eye level with Shizu. She gave a calm smile. "This isn''t the place for soft-hearted girls." She nodded to the bucket on the ground. "You learn to clean the floors and learn that any sign of weakness here will get you killed." She stood up. "My name is Hime, and you will make sure you address me after today with the respect that I have earned in here."


    ¡°Like the princess?¡± Shizu forced a smile, hoping this would ease the tension between the two of them. ¡°They¡¯re not exactly known for being strong.¡±


    ¡°Expect you¡¯ll learn in here; a princess isn¡¯t the weakest one in the clan.¡± Her lips curled into a vicious mockery. "I expect my area to be spotless by the day''s end."


    Shizu shuddered. The girl scared her. Everyone did. Hime had so calmly made a threat without doing anything but smile. Matsuda had been friendly. It was all too possible he hid his darkness well. Eventually waiting to take advantage of her in some way or cut her where she stood. He had been the only light since she came here, but just as the water had grown murky from the dirt caking the edges of the wood, it was possible he was also hiding that darkness from her.


    She dunked the cloth into the water. Once it was soaked through, she rung it out and walked over to the first corner of the room and began scrubbing away at the dirt and grime. She didn''t get far in her scrub before having to return to the bucket to clean the cloth and go back over the floor once more.


    Hime sat on the chest, swinging her legs in the air as Shizu passed by. ¡°You missed a spot!¡± she called out as Shizu went to start in another corner.


    When Shizu went to check, it was still clean. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Hime smirked and tossed a handful of dirt across the room. ¡°Oops, silly me. It was over here. My mistake.¡± Hime cackled and walked out into the room where the training tower awaited her, leaving Shizu more messes to clean as she went.


    By midday, she had emptied the bucket more times than she could count. Her chest heaved in exhaustion, double checking where anyone last stood to see if they dumped any extra dirt. Her muscles ached from bending down and begged for a long stretch on the bed. Confident with how the floor looked, she sat back against the wall with the cloth hanging over the edge of the bucket.


    What sounded like something hitting the walls caught Shizu''s attention and perked up. The tapping stopped at the door leading out to the training hall and it flung open. An elderly man stood in the door frame. In one hand he had a short staff that came just above his hip that he leaned on. His bony fingers wrapped around the large knot on top. His body shook with every movement as he tapped the staff against the ground.


    His short, slow strides were accompanied by a low hum. He scanned the room, nodding in approval as he glanced at the beds. "You did all of this?" His gaze rested blankly on Shizu. Blue wrapped around his irises like a thin filament.

 Chapter 12

    She jumped up and bowed. "Yes, sir!" Shizu said a little louder than she had expected. She bit her lip and blushed apologetically as she stood back up.


    He tilted his head in her direction as if unable to bow properly any longer. "Good. Nice to meet you, Shizuoka No Hikage." The smile on his face seemed genuine compared to Hime''s. "You''re ready for your training?"


    Shizu stiffened in excitement. "If it means getting out of this room." She wouldn¡¯t refuse someone so willing to give her a sprinkle of freedom.


    The man lifted a brow. "You don''t agree with your chores?"


    She wanted to say no. It had been rough on her muscles. Using many she hadn''t thought she had before, and her fingers were wrinkled from all the water. She knew better than to say it out loud. "I just..." she thought on what she wanted to say. "If I''m going to be of use to the clan, then I should also learn to use all of my skills not just chores."


    He hummed to himself as if approving her answer. "Well, you still have to clean every day, but that is behind you for now." He turned around and walked back out of the room. "Clean your bucket and meet me out here."


    Shizu lifted the bucket back up. She let out a low grunt and hobbled out of the room and into the small yard. Her stride was faster than normal because of her yearning for actual training. She dumped the water out and put the bucket against the wall and the cloth inside of it. No one had told her where the bucket or cloth went, but at least outside it would be able to dry out in the sun while she began her training.


    #


    Shizu was like a mouse standing in front of a cat preparing to devour her. Ropes, ladders, and poles shot out in different directions like a spider''s web. Small netting attached different poles together to create platforms until they reached the ceiling. There were three others on the tower, spinning around gracefully like a dance.


    The old man tapped his cane on the ground and the collection of shinobi paused in their dance to look at him. "Is this where you''re supposed to be today or are there still chores that need to be done?" Despite the accusation, he never stopped his friendly smile.


    The group quickly slid off the ropes and landed on the ground. The eldest, a boy, bowed. "We''re sorry, sensei. We wanted to take a break before finishing our chores."


    "And when has that ever been a policy of the Hikage clan?"


    "Never," the boy said and cringed. "We''re sorry, sensei. We won''t do it again."


    He took off at a run past the old man and bumped against Shizu¡¯s shoulder. She took a step back and frowned. The other two boys bowed to the man as well before chasing after the first. Shizu watched them all, wondering how long it took them to be so good on the ropes.


    "Ignore them, girl. For today onward, this will be where you go after you finish your chores. You will come here every day until you can complete the course and reach the very top."


    Shizu looked up. The ropes all spun together into a centralized spot on the ceiling high above. A rope swung from the ceiling like a flag flapping in the wind from the window. "Is that even possible?"


    He chuckled. "They all said the same when they started their training." He sighed and shook his head. "Took them a year to get that good. Think you can do better?"


    Shizu gulped and took a step forward. She grabbed one of the rough woven ropes in one hand. It scratched at the tenderness of her still wrinkled hands. She reached out for her other hand, the loose threads in the rope pressed thin lines on indents into her palm. The kitsune had trained her to handle the weight of her body, yet the ropes were different since they flexed and moved with her weight. The ground tugged against her muscles as she held still on the rope. Her body swung like a weight on a fishing rod above its watery grave. She couldn¡¯t pull herself up any further and released her grip, dropping back to the ground.


    "Tougher than it looks. You''ll get it."


    Shizu stared back up at the mesh of ropes and ladders and shook her head. "This seems almost impossible."


    He tapped his staff on the ground. "Yet you saw they did it. So why not you?"


    Shizu took a deep breath. She grabbed the rope again and wrapped her legs around it to hang on tighter. She didn''t fall as quickly this time and managed to shimmy up a few inches before she twisted and fell to the ground. She arched her back from the impact. The hard floors smashed into her spine and skull stronger than she had expected it to. She blinked the white lights floating through her vision away.


    The old man banged his cane on the ground. "Get up." His voice was gruff.


    She scrambled to her feet. He had the simple smile on his face. It terrified her to see it. The friendly demeanor that should have grown angry with her for failing so much. It didn¡¯t make sense. That darkness loomed over him without erupting.


    "Use your legs more," he said and tapped the side of her leg with his cane. "You look like you''ve never climbed a tree, girl."


    Shizu shook her head. "I don''t remember climbing a tree in my life."


    He grunted and looked up at the ropes. "If you use your legs and feet to push yourself up and your hands to steady yourself, it will help you go up."


    Shizu examined her hands. She hadn''t thought of it, but when she wrapped her legs around the rope she had tried to use them only for support and her arms had tired easily from the few inches she did move.


    "I''m going to try again, sensei!" She trudged to the rope. "Hands for stability." She grasped the rope tight a little above her head. "Feet for strength." She wrapped her feet around the rope. It stung on her flesh, but she pushed it back. This was nothing compared to the kitsune. "Use both to climb," she grunted and ascended.


    Her feet did most of the work as she moved slowly up the rope. Every few inches she adjusted one of her hands, so it was higher again and stabilized her. Her arms and legs were shaking from the strain, but she persisted. She closed her eyes, focusing purely on moving. Her muscles screamed for release.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation."You can stop now," the old man said and tapped his cane against the wooden poles to get her attention. ¡°Get on the platform.¡±


    Shizu looked down and realized she was able to reach for the first platform. She stretched her left leg out, her toes pulling her closer to the platform. She kicked with her other leg to swing farther. Her left foot landed on the boards. She winced at the pain of her soles and took a deep breath. Finally, she released her arms so she could stand up straight and looked down.


    "Good. You''ve completed step one." He lifted his free hand and curled his fingers inward, indicating for Shizu to come back. "It''s time to eat. Tomorrow we will begin again, and I expect you to go higher."


    Shizu reached for the rope to climb down, but he stopped her by clacking the cane on the ground louder this time.


    "Sensei?"


    "Don''t waste energy on climbing down from such a short distance. Jump, girl."


    Shizu stared at the ground. It was twice as tall as she was. She gulped, imagining herself trying to jump and breaking one of her legs because she landed improperly. She shuffled her feet closer to the edge, her mind slipping into the impact versus the safety of her platform.


    "I¡ªI can''t, sensei."


    He slammed the cane on the ground harder this time. She looked at him. The smile that had been on his face the entire day was gone. His gaze was filled with an anger she couldn''t fathom. This was his real appearance. The anger of a man that would kill you if you got too close to him.


    "Do you dare go against me? After I led you like a baby to her mother''s tit?" He banged the cane again. "Drop down this instant."


    Shizu turned her gaze away. She knew what was going to come if she dropped down now. His face said it all. She took a deep breath and sat on the platform. His fingers tapping on his cane echoed in her head, counting down the time she had left before his rage built up again. She scooted forward until her legs dangled off the edge. Her heart pounded in her throat, begging her not to fall. Every nerve wanted to stay up here where it was safe and away from her teacher.


    "Now, girl."


    She pushed off and screamed. Her stomach rose into her throat. She landed; her legs bent to soften the impact. It was quicker than she had expected. She stood back up and looked at her teacher. The rage that had built so quickly was gone again. Instead, the face of the happy teacher had returned. She shivered, wondering how he could so quickly change his mood.


    "Hungry?" No rage was in his voice but now she could hear the fake nature of his cheer that they all hid behind.


    She bowed. "Yes, sensei. Thank you for your instruction today."


    He turned. His pace was slow, but Shizu stayed behind him. She didn''t realize how long she had gone without a meal already that day. The sky was turning a bright orange in the high circular window. Her stomach growled, reminding her just how hungry she was.


    The old man chuckled. "You will eat well tonight. Then you''ll go to sleep. When you awake, you''ll do your chores. Finish them to the best quality then return to me here. Do you understand?" There was a sharpness to his tone with the last question.


    "Yes, Sensei," she squeaked.


    "Good."


    They walked out of the room through a small hallway. There were windows on either side to help catch the sun''s rays. Outside there were more rows of buildings all belonging to the clan.


    "Sensei," Shizu said without thinking. She hoped it wasn''t against any unspoken rule to talk while walking.


    "Hm?"


    She was relieved he responded.


    "Do you train everyone on the ropes?"


    He nodded. "I was the one that built the course. Back then it was far smaller, and I was far younger. I could run around them all day without breaking a sweat." A faint smile crossed his face. His eyes glazed over as if staring into a long-lost memory.


    "I see... Sensei, what else will my training be like here? I thought the Kitsune had trained me in everything I needed to know?"


    He chuckled and shook his head. He didn''t answer for a few minutes as if deep in thought. "The kitsune teach you the basics on how to kill and not be killed. We hone the skills we need in this family. Just remember girl¡ª" he turned to look at Shizu. The smile was gone, but he wasn''t angry this time. It was like staring into a face devoid of any emotion. "We''ve invested a lot of money into you and everyone that resides with the clan. Do not make us regret pulling you from the slums you came from."


    "The slums?" Shizu''s heart raced. "You know about my past? I...I can''t remember any of it." The pain of thinking about her past twinged in the back of her head. Matsuda¡¯s warning about not talking about it flickered in her memories and she sealed her mouth closed. Better to let her master answer and explain things versus her prying more into it.


    "All children come from some kind of slums. So many children. Each from a different city. You''re no different. A noble would never sell their daughter here. They''re better used in brothels or as a geisha." He stopped. "Do not make us send you to the brothels. We will make sure every man breaks you in before the night''s through."


    Shizu gulped. She didn''t know what he meant by brothels or breaking her in, but the way he said it didn''t sound like it would be pleasant. "Did...did you send others before me there?"


    He nodded and the smile returned to his face. "Plenty of them. Some didn''t last the night and their minds broke before the sun rose. Others are still there as mindless servants for us. Makes no difference as long as they repay their debts they owe. Now come, let''s go enjoy dinner. I hear they made soba tonight and I don''t want to miss it."

 Chapter 13

    Promise #23 The Clan Will Protect You, You Will Protect The Family


    The rope wobbled underneath Shizu as she took another step. She was already at the second floor after a few days of training. She froze, letting the ropes slow their pace. Another step. Every breath of focus centered on her toes. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, cheering her on and pushing her further.


    "You''re almost there," the old man called out. She had learned in the last few days his name was Kamezo. The bruise on her leg was proof enough to not use his given name. Any time she mentioned him, she needed to address him with the title of sensei.


    She took another step. Her hands gripped the ropes dangling at her sides. It shook and she bent her front leg to keep her balance. The rope moved out from under her feet. In a blink of her eye, she would be facing the opposite direction or plummeting to the ground. She focused on the small platform and jumped, releasing the ropes at her sides to go further.


    The balls of her feet made impact with the wood, but her weight was behind her, and she tumbled backward. The wind whipped around her, pulling the scream upward as she fell. A small net caught her, and she bounced a few times before coming to a halt. Her heart pounded in her ears as she sighed in relief. The ropes and poles were built to prevent someone from dying accidentally, but not to stop them from injuring themselves. Pain was a fast lesson to avoid failure.


    Matsuda cheered from behind Kamezo-sensei. "Great job! You almost made it. Gambatte!"


    Shizu blushed and climbed down from the net. "Arigatou gozaimasu," she muttered.


    "Still have a way to go. Have you been doing the exercises I told you about?" Kamezo-sensei asked.


    Shizu walked over to them and nodded. "I''ve been doing laps around the room and holding myself in the air while hanging off of the pole as long as I can."


    He turned to Matsuda. "And has she been doing it as she is supposed to?"


    Matsuda nodded and looked over at Shizu, who was now sitting on the floor rubbing the bottom of her feet. "She works at it like any of us did. Do you think something is wrong with her?"


    Shizu perked up. She thought they were about to praise her for her improvements. Instead, they were discussing her failings. She had done so well in a matter of days, yet it never seemed enough. Her arms and legs ached from the exercises Kamezo-sensei asked her to do. Added with the chores of cleaning the floors and whacking dust from the sheets, it seemed almost impossible to do anything beyond sleep.


    "The kitsune saw some use in her." He walked over to Shizu. "Stand up, girl."


    Shizu obeyed. She winced at the soreness in her feet. She leaned on the sides of her feet to divert some of the pain temporarily.


    "Show me your hands and feet."


    "My hands?" Shizu asked, holding her hands out so sensei could see her palms.


    They were bright red from climbing. They didn''t have wrinkles anymore from her chores in the morning, but since the first day it had been easier to clean the floors. She woke up earlier and by staying on top of the cleaning she could cover the floors in a few minutes instead of half the day. Giving her more time to exercise and practice her climbing skills.


    He ran a finger against her palms. It stung, but she held the yelp back as best she could. He put another finger on them and pressed harder. She hissed and he seemed to smile in pleasure.


    "As I thought. No one has been giving you any ointment."


    Anger crossed his face. Shizu took a step back from him, unsure of what was about to happen. Kamezo-sensei turned to Matsuda. The anger growing wilder. Matsuda''s bright smile disappeared, and he stood next to her. There was no telling what Kamezo-sensei would do in his rage. No one dared speak of what occurred behind closed doors when he acted with anger. Those that did never spoke about it beyond a whisper and even then, they flinched when they thought sensei was close by.


    "Where''s the ointment?" Kamezo-sensei snapped.


    Matsuda gulped and pointed to the sleeping area. "It should be in the chests.¡±


    "Get it! Now!" His voice echoed across the walls. The air grew still. The drop of a grain of rice could be heard in the silence that followed.


    Matsuda took off at a run into the sleeping room. He stumbled over his feet a few times before reaching the room. Kamezo-sensei sighed and looked at Shizu with his faux calm demeanor.


    "You''ve been failing because your senpais have been failing you."


    "My senpais?" Shizu had never heard the term before. Only sensei which the kitsune had taught her.


    "All of the shinobi who are ahead of you in training. Each of them outrank you, but they are not your teacher. Matsuda was supposed to oversee you, but it seems he forgot that even when he was beginning his training you need the ointment to help your hands heal and gain better grips after a day or so on the ropes."


    Matsuda burst back into the training room with a small clay pot in his hand. He held it out for Kamezo-sensei. "I apologize, sensei. Please forgive me." He bowed slightly to avoid spilling anything from the jar.


    Kamezo-sensei ignored Matsuda and dipped a finger into the jar. It was a golden yellow thick liquid that slid down his finger. He smeared it against Shizu''s palm. The cool sensation creeped across her skin, burying itself deep into her flesh. The never-ending itch and hellish pain evaporated wherever the liquid sat. She let out a sigh. The idea of existing without pain had been so foreign for so long that she wanted time to freeze. To enjoy the embrace of the ointment and dose herself in it overnight and never awaken.


    He scooped a little bit more onto his fingers and smeared it onto Shizu''s hands. "Put some on your feet too."


    Shizu obeyed and sat. The pressure of her weight on her feet vanished as she pressed the ointment into her soles. The cool feeling like stepping through mud without the added dirt caked on. She coated the entire bottom of each foot, pulling them close to her face to verify it was all covered.


    "What is this?" Shizu asked, mystified.


    "A special medicine the Hikage clan created long ago. Use it too often and you become addicted to it and forget to use your own body''s abilities. Use too little and you end up how you were earlier, unable to walk properly or hold a cup without it burning." He tapped his cane on the floor. "Now climb."


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.Shizu stood up, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. The pain was there, but not nearly as violent as before. It took extra pressure to pull her feet off the ground and press them back down. A small wet stain showed where her feet last stood, but none of the ointment removed itself from her soles. She sighed in relief. It wouldn¡¯t peel off easily. Though purposefully removing it would be a different problem she would face later.


    "Better?" Kamezo-sensei asked.


    Shizu nodded. "Much. I didn''t know my feet or hands could feel this good."


    "Excellent. Now climb the ropes again." He pointed at the course with his cane. "You''ll be surprised how useful the ointment actually can be for you."


    Shizu ran over to the rope. Climbing onto it and getting to the first platform was almost easy now compared to her first attempt so many days ago. Her feet no longer scratched the rough spun ropes. It was a slower process, but she didn''t feel slip.


    She stood on the platform and looked at the bottom of one of her feet. There were marks where the rope had dug into the ointment, but none of it had reached her skin. Slowly, the ointment conjoined together once more into the solid mass she had rubbed on.


    Shizu continued her ascent. Slower than she was used to as she unstuck her hands and feet from the ropes and platforms, but her balance was there. She made it to the second floor, then the third. Soon she was at a point that there was no definition of which floor was which. She swayed near the top, holding onto the ropes with a death grip.


    "You''re almost there!" Matsuda shouted in encouragement. "Look how high you made it."


    It wasn''t the best choice of encouragement. Shizu glanced down and felt the world drop under her. Her stomach churned, remembering the feeling of falling from the short distance earlier. She shook her head and tightened the grip on the ropes. Every muscle refused to release its tension.


    "I ca¡ª" she stopped herself. There was a spark of anger in sensei''s face that she knew would arrive if she finished her complaints. She preferred his gentle nature over the frustrations he let get to him. The others warned him he his almost all his personal side from those he didn¡¯t complete missions with. A perfect shinobi with no attachment to others unless needed and a rage that pushed everyone forward.


    She took a deep breath and looked back up. The target rope was only a few feet above her. It swayed it below the darkening sky, inviting her to reach for it. She pushed off with her feet. Rising slowly into the air and reached up. Still too far down. She wrapped her foot around an adjacent rope, so her body was almost perpendicular with the ground then use her arms to lift herself up higher. She could almost touch, but she was too short. Her hand swung wildly, and she let out a roar of pain and anger that she had buried during every climb. The fear within her spilling out through her lips.


    "Jump!" Kamezo-sensei shouted and smacked his cane against the floor.


    On instinct, Shizu followed his orders and leapt into the air. She touched the small knot at the top and a low clang sounded. Now off course, and with no ropes to support her, she plummeted. Her breath locked as the floor rushed up to her.


    She waited for the impact. She made it to the top. There was no need to fear his wrath and awaited the earth to welcome her into its cold, hard embrace. The nets caught her. She let out a sigh of relief and let the strings bounce her around a few times before coming to a stop again.


    Cheers filled the room and within seconds the netting bounced. Matsuda was the first in her vision followed by a few of who she knew as her senpais. They all beamed down at her as they hung upside down above her or stood on the netting. If she had known such an audience was watching her, she doubted she would have been able to do what she had accomplished.


    Kamezo-sensei''s cane hitting the floor froze the celebrations. Everyone turned to him including Shizu as she rolled onto her stomach. He didn''t have the smile on his face like normal, but neither did he have his usual rage. There was no emotion to attach to him at all.


    "Too slow. You need to go faster next time."


    "Next...time?" Shizu gulped.


    The other shinobi and Shizu began their descent and stood in front of Kamezo-sensei. They all bowed in respect to him. He returned it in kind before turning his focus back to Shizu.


    "The ointment shows you the way up, but you need to also learn to accomplish this without it as well. You will need to become faster, or the samurai and daimyo will capture you.¡± He looked to the others. "You all celebrate this? Is this the kind of person you want to be seen with on the streets?" None of them answered. "Tomorrow you will take a break from the ropes."


    Shizu perked up. "A break? You mean I can relax--"


    He held a hand up to interrupt Shizu. "You will go with some of other shinobi who are currently working on the streets tomorrow and learn more about the outside world and how you will be repaying my time. After that, you will need to practice on the ropes without me."


    "I won''t be having you guide me anymore?"


    It wasn¡¯t likely she¡¯d see the girls, but the idea sent her heart soaring off the ground. The feeling of the sun while out in the streets and not from the tower would be a warm welcome on her body.


    Matsuda leaned forward and smiled. "I''ll be here. Sensei is only here to make sure you understand the basics. He has his own work."


    Shizu nodded in slight understanding. She wondered what Sensei could possibly do for the clan when he walked so slow and could barely see. Then again, he had surprised her with the rage he showed so it was possible that there was more to him than she imagined.


    "Matsuda will be taking full responsibility for you from tomorrow on," sensei said, giving Matsuda a stern glance. "I expect that he won''t fail you again or your blood will be on his hands."


    Matsuda gulped and bowed. "I won''t fail you or Shizu again, Sensei."


    "Good. Now let us all eat dinner."


    "Soba again, Sensei?" Shizu asked.


    Kamezo-sensei chuckled. It surprised her but she hid her shock. "Not today. I hear they caught some eels last night."

 Chapter 14

    Promise #12 Do Not Let The Village Revolt Against You


    The sun peeked above the horizon. The team of shinobi crowded around the outside of their hideout waited for her. They were dressed in casual wear that matched hers. Basic cotton yukatas of dull colors. When she had dressed that morning, Matsuda had made sure that she had a dagger strapped to her arm. He advised she wouldn¡¯t need it during this phase of training, but better to not die because of misjudgment.


    The oldest of the shinobi was a full-grown man. His hair-covered muscles rippled under his yukata. Matsuda claimed the leader of the group she was training with was as aggressive as a tanuki. She didn''t know what one of those was but meeting the man now she imagined it was a ferocious beast. He had a scowl on his face that seemed to never leave. His eyes were bloodshot from a lack of sleep. She wondered if he had even slept since the morning before last.


    "You''re Shizu?"


    She nodded and bowed. "Good morning, senpai. Thank you for having me today."


    He growled and stood her up. "When you''re with this squad there will be no bowing or calling people sensei or senpai. Here we are equals. Only two things are above us." He held up two fingers. "Death and money. Got that?"


    "Yes, sen¡ª" She paused and bit her lip. "Yes, I understand."


    A smile crossed his lips. "Good. They say you''ve already killed a man, that correct?"


    Shizu''s face lit up. "Yes! With the kitsune. They had me kill men all the time."


    He laughed. "Cute, kid. Those weren''t really killing though if they were stuck to a post. No matter, you managed to get on Kamezo-sensei''s good side, and you got stuck with our squad. So, I''m sure he believes you can do well here."


    ¡°I will make sure to honor our clan with your team.¡±


    ¡°Not mine,¡± he grumbled and jutted his chin into the crowd. ¡°Hojo¡¯s leading this expedition.¡±


    A tall lanky boy, not much older than Shizu, held a hand in the air to indicate he was the leader.


    The others crowded and talked at once. They introduced themselves, but it was all so fast that Shizu couldn''t keep up with any of the names. All she could do was smile and bow to each of them, hoping she didn''t come off as too rude. The only one she did manage to hear was the leader''s name. Hojo. When they were all done, only one question remained in her mind.


    "Um...Hojo. What is money exactly?" She had seen it the last time she was in the village and heard about it, but the kitsune had never instructed her on it. Perhaps it was because they had no use for it. She wasn''t sure. Kamezo-sensei talked of the coins being payments for her food and training, but she couldn¡¯t fully grasp onto the concept.


    Hojo crossed his arms. "Of course, those foxes still fail to teach the basics." He held a finger up. "Money is how you buy the goods and food you want." He lifted another finger. "For the Hikage clan, money is how we survive. People pay us in money to stay protected, but we also take it from those who have too much so we can stay alive and eat." Another finger. "Your job with us is to steal that money. Understand?"


    "A little. But why do we use money? Why not just take what we want?"


    "If it were that easy, we would be doing that already," Hojo chuckled and ruffled Shizu''s hair. "Unfortunately, there are some in the city that work for the daimyo and money is also how they operate.¡± He scowled.  ¡°We cut their funding as best as we can and they can''t fight us."


    Hojo headed toward the village. "Either way, Shizu. Money is how this world operates and sometimes you have to confine yourself to these limits."


    Shizu stayed close behind Hojo. They were entering parts of the city where regular citizens were walking through, and she didn''t want to say anything that brought suspicion on them. The others in the group took off in opposite directions. Some climbed up the walls of the buildings to hide amongst the rooftops, while others blended into the thick crowds.


    They turned the corner and stopped in front of a large house. It stood almost twice the size of the buildings next to it. Small blue and red flags fluttered against the outer walls with different writings on them. Women leaned out from windows, staring down at the streets, and calling out to the passersby.


    Screams of pleasure that Shizu reverberated outside. She reached for her dagger, but Hojo stopped her.


    ¡°Not here.¡±


    A young man traipsed out of the brothel and glanced down at Shizu with a large smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯ll be excited to see you in there during my next visit.¡± His tongue lolled in his mouth, slurring his voice.


    Hojo growled at the drunk man until he scurried off down the street. ¡°Ignore them. Stay close.¡±


    "What is this place?" Shizu asked.


    "Brothel. Your first stop and mission. The others will guard the building until we get out."


    Shizu took a step back and shook her head. "No!¡± She wrapped her arms around her body in a tight embrace. Her body shaking uncontrollably. ¡°I don''t want to go in there. I did good, didn''t I? What did I do that failed you?" She looked around the street to find an exit. Any way to escape from the brothel. She had done good, and they still were sending her there.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.The other shinobi from the team stood in different locations across the street making it impossible to run anywhere without bumping into one. There were no openings for her to run off. Her throat burned as tears rose. There hadn¡¯t been enough time to prove she was worth keeping.


    Hojo wrapped a hand around her bicep and squeezed gently. His voice softened to half the gruff nature it held before like soothing a child. "You''re not going in there as a working girl. You''ve not done anything wrong. We just need to add a bit of a disguise for you. We can''t be having you look like that and expect to steal from someone. You''re too cute for them to not notice you."


    ¡°But at a brothel?¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°Where else would you go where people know what¡¯s attractive and what¡¯s not within the populace?¡±


    Hojo pushed Shizu forward and the two walked into the brothel. It smelled of a sickly-sweet perfume. She gagged and covered her mouth, hoping for a small breath of fresh air that wasn''t so heavily scented. Blankets of various colors covered the walls, keeping the light of the outside world at bay. Small lanterns dotted the room, keeping it dim enough to not see anyone too clearly.


    Around the room women sat with their feet folded under and wearing the most beautiful kimonos Shizu had ever seen. Each one was a different color with flowers in patchwork designs. She wanted to reach out and touch it, imagining the cloth was smoother than water. The women all grinned up at her with small red lips. Some of their eyes glazed over as if not truly seeing her. Their white painted faces made them look like the ghosts of princesses.


    Hojo pushed her to a small counter. The woman standing behind it was older than the others. She didn''t wear makeup that hid her age like the other women did. Her hair was held back into a bun and frayed in multiple areas. Her smile was softer than the others as she looked down at Shizu with a sadness.


    "What''s this now? Got a new failure from the clan for me?¡± She leaned across the counter and sniffed the air exaggeratingly. ¡°The last one you gave me didn''t last the week. She looks like she won''t last the afternoon." She paused and narrowed her gaze at Hojo. "Is she at least a virgin? You know my boys won''t find interest in her unless they know she hasn''t been deflowered yet."


    Hojo shook his head. He dropped his voice, so Shizu had to strain to listen. "She hasn''t gotten there yet. Kamezo-sensei sent her to us. But well," he looked down at Shizu. "She''s got that natural pretty to her, you know. I need her to look more like a man and the only way I know how is with your trickery."


    The woman chuckled. "Trickery? It''s paint not magic, boy." She looked down at Shizu. "What''s your name, girly?"


    "Shizu," she said meekly. The conflicting messages of her purpose here mixed with the perfumes sent her head spinning.


    The woman nodded. "Interesting. Not exactly the most masculine of names to go around saying, but then again no one will be asking for your name." She held out her palm to Hojo "You know the fees."


    Hojo grumbled and plucked out a few coins from the small bag at his side. He slipped them into her hand quickly. She counted each one as she placed it in her pocket.


    "You overpaid; you know?"


    He nodded and turned his head to look at the women still lining the side of the room. "They for sale today?"


    The woman clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth and pocketed the money. "Not for the intentions you want them for." She pointed behind her. "My other girls are in back."


    Hojo shook his head, still looking at the women. "None of that today. I just...want to enjoy some entertainment.¡± His cheeks burned a soft red and shifted where he stood.  ¡°Not like that though!" His gaze darted away from Shizu and let out a low hum.


    She sighed and shook her head. She didn''t argue with Hojo anymore and turned her focus back on Shizu. "First we need you to find some bindings. You''re starting to poke through.¡± She tapped Shizu¡¯s chest with a sharp nail. ¡°Then we can talk about getting your face changed out."


    "My face changed out?" Shizu reached up and touched her cheeks. She had enough from the different blades slicing her body from training, she didn¡¯t think she could handle someone else with the blade cutting off her face.


    The woman laughed. "Oh, you poor thing. Nothing so horrible. You shinobi and your minds always going to violence." She shuffled around the counter and grabbed Shizu''s hand. "Like I said, it''s just paint. No magic no knives. Well, maybe a knife." She laughed again at Shizu''s shock. "I''m not going to stab you. The knife is to help with the paint if needed."

 Chapter 15

    Shizu pulled her arm out of the brothel owner''s grip and rubbed it. The woman had sharper nails than she thought and there were already indents in her skin. She took one last look behind her. Hojo was already walking over to one of the women. His face had a slight red tint to it as he began talking to the woman.


    "I told you my name. What about yours?" Shizu asked.


    The handful of rooms they passed were only big enough for a bed in the corner. Each one empty, except for the select rooms where a woman was pulling wrinkled sheets off. Those without beds had a table in the center of it and cushions on either side for a couple to sit at.


    They passed a few more rooms where the doors were closed. The moans and grunts she heard earlier louder from within. She hurried Shizu past the rooms and tutted.


    "My name is Tomei."


    They turned into another room at the end of the hall. A single floor length mirror sat against the far wall. In front of it stood a vanity and stool made of a dark wood that could have been mistaken for a noble¡¯s belongings. Racks of clothes lined the other two walls with a multitude of colors and sizes. In the center, staring down at Shizu with a cold demeanor was a fox statue. Tomei rubbed her hand against the fox¡¯s head before stepping over to the mirror.


    "Let''s begin the transformation."


    Her smile was brighter than anyone else''s Shizu had ever seen. It was warm. Almost motherly. She wrapped her arms around the woman''s mid-section and snuggled into her bosom. Tomei didn''t push her away. Instead, she embraced Shizu and stroked her hair. A low hum reverberated from deep within her chest. Tears welled in Shizu¡¯s eyes, but she pushed them back. There was no reason to cry. Nothing to be upset about. Yet her body didn''t believe there was nothing.


    "It''s alright. Mama Tomei is here." Her voice soft and melodic as she whispered. Tomei put a finger under Shizu''s chin and lifted her head, so they were looking into each other''s faces. "Now you stop that crying or the paint won''t hold, girly."


    Shizu nodded solemnly and sat down on the chair. Tomei calling herself mama felt strange to her ears like she had heard the term before. "What''s a mama?" Shizu asked.


    Tomei gasped and tutted softly. "A mama is someone that cares for little ones. She doesn''t necessarily give birth to them, but she can. In this brothel, I am everyone''s mama."


    "Even mine?" The thought of having someone like Tomei care about her made Shizu feel warm.


    Tomei nodded. "Of course, I am. Now hold still and keep your mouth and eyes shut. This shouldn''t take long."


    Tomei grasped Shizu¡¯s chin, holding her in place. Shizu closed her eyes, prepared for the transformation they all spoke of. Something soft and fuzzy brushed against her face in different directions. Then a stick that flecked around her cheeks. She wanted to giggle at the tickling feeling but held it for now until everything was done. Her legs were falling asleep when Mama Tomei told her she could open her eyes again.


    She looked in the mirror. At least, she thought she was looking into the mirror. In front of her was someone that looked like her, but far more masculine. Her jawline looked sharper and her lips thinner. There were smudges that looked like dirt on her cheeks to hide more of her feminine features.


    "What do you think?" Mama Tomei asked and put her hands on her hips. ¡°I¡¯d say I did pretty good for some last-minute work and your girlish looks.¡±


    "I can''t believe that''s me," Shizu muttered and put a hand against the mirror. "It''s like magic."


    "Magic has nothing to do with my skill. I can make an ugly girl turn into a princess for any man that wants her." She walked away and pulled out a bundle of clothes. "Now let''s get you changed into something a bit more boyish." Mama Tomei tugged at Shizu¡¯s yukata. ¡°Let¡¯s get you out of these old things.¡±


    Shizu slipped her robe off, covering as much of her body with her hands and arms as she could. The cool air sent shivers down her spine as she twisted in different directions. Mama Tomei held a rope up to Shizu¡¯s body, tugging her hands free to wrap it around her hips and bust. Every few measurements, Mama Tomei nodded and grunted in acknowledgement before grabbing something on the rack and tossing it on the ground next to Shizu.


    ¡°Arms up, Shizu,¡± she hummed while holding a long cloth in the air.


    Shizu slowly lifted her arms in the air and turned away from Mama Tomei¡¯s gaze. The cloth wrapped around her chest, tightening with every round it went. When she met Hime, she thought her chest was small, but with the bindings it was nonexistent. Her lungs gasped for air as she adjusted the extra skin around her chest.


    ¡°Throw this on.¡± Mama Tomei handed Shizu a brown pair of pants and long shirt.


    She slipped the pants on first and tied the rope on the waist as tight as it could go. Next, she put on the shirt. Any curves Shizu had before from her breasts and hips vanished with how large the clothing was on her. Patches covered portions of the elbows and other sections. On close examination they were all purposefully placed in different sections with small pockets in them. But from a distance, the patches were worn and tattered from wear.


    "If you had told me that what I did was magic without seeing it for myself, I think I would believe it right now," Mama Tomei chuckled and turned Shizu around to look into the mirror. "Shizu, meet Shotaru."


    She didn¡¯t see the young woman she was, but a boy that could be mistaken for any other running on the streets. If she needed to escape and hide, she could run water over her face and strip the binding off and look completely different. Shizu stroked a finger across her slender cheek. Awe filled her at the countless uses for future missions. If she learned Mama Tomei¡¯s tricks, she could use it for her escape when she had the chance. It wasn¡¯t her face and she would never feel comfortable with it for too long, but today it was who she was and she accepted it.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation."Arigatou, Mama Tomei."


    "Don''t thank me, boy. Thank your friend Hojo. Now let''s get him out of here before he causes trouble. Who knows what things he is saying to my ladies." She sighed and opened the door. "Promise me, boy, that when you become a man, you don''t start chasing after women like he does. It''s expensive and you have other things you need to focus on. Words of wisdom from your Mama."


    #


    Most of the group dispersed into smaller teams, leaving Shizu alone with Hojo and one other shinobi, Oda. They had been walking the streets until late afternoon without doing anything. Continuously they arrived back in the same place after taking a different route each time. Her confidence blossomed with every street corner they took. Hojo could place her anywhere in the village and she would find a path back to safety by following the sun or symbols hidden by the clan throughout the city.


    Shizu sat on top of a crate to get a better view of Hojo. This would be her first lesson. The disguise helped as most men avoided looking Shizu in the eyes. A trick the boys picked up throughout the years. People noticed those that were attractive, or at least pleasant to look upon. Those that were deemed dirty or less than weren¡¯t noticed nearly as much.


    Oda leaned against a nearby crate while chewing on a thin grass stalk he picked up on their walk. He pointed over to another man in the crowd in front of Hojo. His clothes were a deep-set blue with small embroidery on the sleeves. The receding hair line sparkled in the bright afternoon sun. With all her gained knowledge thus far, on the streets, it was obvious his clothing would cost more than she was worth.


    "That one has the most money. You can tell because he keeps his hand at his hip to pull out a blade at any moment. He''s not looking at anyone specifically and he is trying to get out of the crowd fast," Oda instructed.


    Shizu nodded and put the information deep into her mind. This wasn''t the first time someone had pointed out a wealthy person to her during their lessons. She was now starting to see the patterns. Yet no matter how many times they were pointed out, they never stole any money from the men. Hojo walked past the man, staring in the opposite direction as if focused on whatever was in the nearby stalls.


    "Why did Hojo ignore him?" Shizu asked in a low voice.


    "Because that''s not our target. Never is out in the streets. Most of them trained as swordsmen when they were younger. We''re strong, but if we can keep our heads low it''s better. Look," the shinobi nodded over to another man that was better dressed than most of the others but not by much. He carried a large bag of food in his hands and continued in a straight line. "That man is our target. He''s not able to see us and he is focused purely on getting home. He has the money to buy all of that too which means he probably has some money still on him. More likely if it was the morning, but we¡¯ll have to live with early evening targets."


    Shizu watched Hojo saunter up to the man and then past him. There wasn''t a single movement of the shinobi stealing the bag, yet when he returned, he had a small handful of coins and a wide smile on his face. He shoved them into his pocket and turned to Shizu.


    "You saw, right?"


    Shizu shook her head. "You just walked past him. When did you take the money?"


    Hojo laughed and re-opened his hand again to reveal a small blade between his forefinger and middle. He placed it into Shizu''s hand. "That''s what I did. As you come up to them, you cut a slit in their bag enough to let the coins fall out and catch them."


    He placed the blade between her fingers. It was smooth to the touch and almost weightless. If she opened her fingers and let it drop, she would never notice it missing. Hojo took Shizu''s other hand and had her poke the blade. It was sharper than she imagined and made her bleed immediately. She stuck her finger into her mouth and groaned at the pain.


    "Good. You know the pain so you know how easy it is to slice open the bag." He pointed to another man in the crowd. He wasn''t nearly as wealthy as the target Hojo had. "Tell me where the bag is."


    Shizu pointed to the man''s side. "Just at his hip."


    "Any money in it?"


    She looked closer. It hung limp. "Empty."


    "Look again."


    Shizu looked at Hojo. He wasn''t smiling so it wasn''t a joke. She turned back to the man and gasped. He had a bag of coins, but it was in his hands.


    "There!" she said almost a little too loud. She reached up to cover her mouth but stopped when she saw the blade still there.


    As quickly as she pointed the bag out, the man shoved it inside of his yukata and turned down another alley.


    "He''s getting away!" Shizu stood up to chase after him, but Hojo stopped her.


    "You''re not going to get anything from him. But you saw, right? Not everyone has money readily available. There are other thieves in these streets taking larger bags of coins. We''re not here to take all the money. Just enough that lets us get by plus extra. When no one in the city has money besides the daimyo and the Hikage clan, guess who the people will rally against first?"


    "Us?"


    "Exactly. So, when we see those who step on our territory, we will make sure they don''t survive the night with that exact blade in your hand."


    Shizu''s face lit up. "Does this mean that I have to go kill him?" She wanted to be useful for once and this was her chance. She hadn¡¯t practiced stabbing a strawman in so long, she almost hungered for the taste of metal on flesh.


    "No. Another squad will take care of them. For tonight we will return and report on what we saw and tomorrow you will steal your first coin."

 Chapter 16

    Promise #7 Money Is How The Clan Survives


    Shizu swayed in the morning light. Rings formed under her eyes like a tanuki. She quickly learned about them after encountering one scrounging for food during the twilight hours. It attempted to attack her before running off after a swift kick in the side. She imagined the rings they had were no different than hers. The idea of stealing her first few coins made it impossible to think of resting. Now she was regretting it with every passing yawn. Her disguise wasn¡¯t nearly as well done like when Mama Tomei put it on her the first day, but with her exhaustion and the dirt caking her face from a lack of a bath, it did enough.


    ¡°Are you sure you can do this?¡± Hojo asked. He tilted his head to the side, examining her. ¡°This isn¡¯t like cutting a purse and taking a few coins. You¡¯re taking from the stores themselves.¡±


    Shizu nodded her head and stifled another yawn. ¡°I can manage.¡±


    Hojo shrugged and pointed down the street. It was filled with people walking around. Some were crowding around different stalls that sold produce and meats in them. She was thankful she at least ate breakfast, or the smells would have added another distraction.


    ¡°Choose one of the stalls. Don¡¯t care which one you choose.¡± His voice grew dark, and he stepped in front of Shizu to block out her view. ¡°I mean it. Do not get caught. I may not be able to help.¡±


    Shizu gulped and shuffled into the crowd. Her fingers stretched and loosened over the dagger tucked away in her belt. None of those she walked past gave her a second glance. This wouldn¡¯t be a simple cutting of money bags with the needle blades he showed her the day before. This was up close and personal.


    ¡°Just one coin. All I need is one coin.¡± She muttered under her breath to maintain her alertness. Any misstep would lead to her being captured.


    She paced until there were no more stalls then traversed back up. All the faces blended into one another.


    The smells of various foods wafted through the air. Each one begging to be devoured and enjoyed for the tastes they brought forth. She licked her lips and swallowed the saliva forming in her mouth at the thought of eating something. She turned her focus to the stalls with trinkets lining them. Most were worthless garbage or fakes the merchant peddled off as genuine good luck charms. A few created by the clan themselves to aid in making money that didn¡¯t involve laundering or stealing.


    People lined the street, calling out to one another and negotiating prices. She slipped between people, dodging elbows and gazes in every direction. There were far too many people standing at each stall. She wouldn¡¯t be able to get behind any of them without someone noticing her attempts to sneak into the back. A few stalls looked promising at first. This didn¡¯t last long as more customers crowded the vendors like waves crashing into a cliffside.


    Shizu sighed. ¡°It seemed a lot easier yesterday.¡±


    There was no point in attempting to wander around anymore and chose one of the stalls. The farmer wore a large sakkat that hid the top half of his face and around him was a multitude of bags filled with a variety of produce. Someone would come up with a request on certain items, and he would stack bags of food in their hands before they walked away again. No one stayed long enough to notice if she lingered a bit longer than needed.


    She ambled toward the stall filled with fish next to her target. There were a multitude of local fish in large boxes at the stall. Some were cut open already to showcase the meat inside while others appeared as they did when they were freshly caught. She leaned on a pole holding the fish stall aloft to get a better look at what was behind her target¡¯s stall.


    With each purchase, the farmer placed the coins in a small bag attached at his waist then cinched it closed once more. It was close against his body and almost impossible to touch without him noticing her.


    She waited, watching the bag grow larger in size with every coin added to the bag. His fingers lingered on the new coins a little longer than she liked for him to. He stopped the line of customers by putting a hand up. With a quick movement, he untied the coin bag and dropped it into a crate next to his feet. He took an empty bag out from the same crate and tied it to his waist. Before he stood back up, he sealed the crate closed and wrapped a rope around the handle to lock it into place.


    Shizu smiled at her luck. ¡°Thank you for your good business,¡± she whispered and moved closer to the stall.


    Each step made her heart pound louder. She took a deep breath and focused her attention solely on the bag of coins.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± The vendor asked in a loud booming voice.


    Shizu stiffened and looked up at the vendor. His back was turned to her and facing an elderly man. His clothes were well-worn and tattered. She wasn¡¯t sure if his clothes were older or his skin with the wrinkles that covered his face. He had small whiskers of gray hair sprouting from his chin and ears. Much more than what was on top of his head.


    The old man smiled. ¡°I was worried about you. I wanted to come help. Are you going to deny your uncle at least that pleasure?¡±


    The vendor bit his bottom lip and grabbed a small cloth from the counter. He wrapped the cloth around the old man¡¯s shoulders, tying it in the front like a blanket. ¡°Oji-San, you need to stop worrying about me. I am managing fine on my own. You should be at home resting.¡±


    The old man shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve been working the fields and selling at this stall long before my brother had you. I can take care of myself.¡±


    Shizu let out a breath she didn¡¯t realize she was holding in. The two continued to argue amongst one another. She didn¡¯t understand why the vendor didn¡¯t just send his uncle out of the stall and back home. There was no need to respect a man who couldn¡¯t fight. The Kitsune explained to her in many of the lessons that the people respected their elderly, but it made no sense to her. A sharp tool was worth far more than one that could no longer cut. Kamezo-sensei was far older than the uncle, but his training methods were superior to anyone else¡¯s granting him worth.


    The thought of family made Shizu¡¯s heart ache. Her family was back at the clan. They never treated her like the vendor did for his uncle. It wasn¡¯t what family was with the Hikage clan. Yearning for family didn¡¯t make sense when your family wanted to induce pain instead of affection. She shook her head, pushing the thought out of her mind and inched closer to the bag. Shizu flattened her body against the ground and slid forward. Occasionally, she looked up at the vendor and his uncle who were still in deep discussion over his right to be there.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.She was a breath away and flicked her fingers, unraveling the rope around the handle. Shizu glanced back up at the vendor who was still fussing over his uncle. She opened the lid and tugged at the top of the bags. The bag slid open, revealing a multitude of coins. Many were shaped like rectangles ranging in bronze and silver in color.


    She lifted a few of the silver coins off the top of the pile and shoved them into her pocket. With a hard push, Shizu lifted herself off the ground and back toward the other stall. Her focus remained on the vendor and his uncle as she took a step back then another. Something hard bumped into her shoulder. She turned to look at what she hit and let out and audible high-pitched gasp. A stack of crates teetered back and forth before collapsing with a loud thud.  Shizu cringed.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t expecting that,¡± she groaned.


    ¡°Stop, thief!¡± The vendor yelled out.


    Shizu froze.


    ¡°You think I¡¯m going to let you take my food?¡±


    He grasped Shizu¡¯s shoulder and squeezed. His other hand reached down for her wrist so she couldn¡¯t pull away. He turned her around to face him. The vendor¡¯s front teeth were missing, and his breath smelled more like the kitsune¡¯s shit if not worse. She gagged from the smell.


    The kitsune taught her simple hand-to-hand combat to release herself from another¡¯s grasp, but her mind blanked to remember any of it. His hardened nails sunk into her flesh. Her feet wouldn¡¯t move for her. She looked at the uncle and past him to find an escape route. Her only way through was back and it was blocked by the pile of crates she knocked over.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about escaping, street mouse.¡±


    The vendor¡¯s uncle walked over to get a better look at Shizu and frowned. ¡°You¡¯re not from around here. I don¡¯t recognize that face at all and I know everyone in this town. Who are you, boy?¡±


    Shizu didn¡¯t answer. She leaned forward and snapped her teeth at the vendor¡¯s arm. He recoiled in disgust. She couldn¡¯t pull out her blades and be identified as part of the clan. An early lesson from Hojo was to never let people think you were a shinobi. Being a street urchin was better. Until then, simpleton maneuvers were the only options she could take.


    The vendor growled and yanked on Shizu¡¯s wrist. ¡°Brat doesn¡¯t know his place. Oji-San, get the samurai here to arrest him.¡±


    The old man didn¡¯t move. He shook his head. ¡°Just let him have some food. He looks like he hasn¡¯t had a true meal in so long and if he¡¯s not from around here, he may be lost.¡± The softness and warmth in his voice reminded her of Mama Tomei.


    The vendor snarled and squeezed Shizu¡¯s wrist tighter until she let out a yelp. ¡°We¡¯re hungry too, Oji-san. Or did you forget that taxes are coming up soon?¡± He turned and faced Shizu. ¡°If my uncle won¡¯t get the samurai, then I will just make sure you never steal from me again.¡± He reached down for a thin knife at his waist and stroked it across her finger. ¡°One should be enough payment for today.¡±


    It was Shizu¡¯s opportunity. Her mind raced to picture every movement he would make with the knife. All she needed to do was take it from his hand and then she could escape. Play it off as him fumbling so he didn¡¯t suspect her.


    ¡°There you are!¡± Hojo called out from the crowd.


    The vendor turned to see who was yelling. Hojo pushed through the crowd until he reached the stall. A smile stretched across his face but didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Rage burned within them. His focus was completely on her.


    Hojo bowed deeply toward the vendor. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Please don¡¯t hurt him. He grew up in the countryside. He¡¯s still ignorant of how life works here.¡±


    ¡°See?¡± the uncle chuckled. ¡°As I expected.¡±


    The vendor grunted and released Shizu¡¯s wrist. She scurried quickly over to Hojo and away from the vendor. She tucked the coins into one of the patchwork pockets. A celebration for later about her near escape.


    ¡°You should teach him better next time he comes out on his own. We don¡¯t offer free food around here. Next time we won¡¯t be so easy on him.¡±


    ¡°You should feed your brother more,¡± the old man said in a lowered voice. A glint in his eye toward Shizu made her more aware that he knew the truth of the situation and saw through Hojo¡¯s lie.


    Hojo cocked a half smile and scratched his head. ¡°He practically eats all of our food right now. Not sure where he puts any of it, but he will be working harder to mind where he¡¯s walking and not be so clumsy. I promise you that, Oji-San.¡±


    The old man grinned and nodded. ¡°You see that, Nezu? He¡¯s going to learn his lesson and will be fed more. No need to call any authorities.¡±


    The vendor, Nezu, grunted and shoved his knife back into his belt. ¡°I don¡¯t care if he is fed or starves for that matter. Just teach him proper manners next time.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Of course,¡± Hojo muttered and pulled Shizu closer. ¡°His lessons will most certainly dig themselves into his mind tonight.¡±


    They all bowed to one another. Hojo kept his hand on Shizu and dragged her away from the stall. His fingers burying themselves into her shoulders, shaking with rage that she knew all too well. The only thing left was the emotionless stare that felt more like daggers piercing into her very essence.


    ¡°You were supposed to take an easy target and not get caught,¡± he growled once they were halfway down the road.


    ¡°I thought he would be. His coins were just sitting there without anyone guarding them.¡± She plucked out a few of the rectangular coins and held them up. ¡°I got what we came here for anyways.¡±


    Hojo looked down and smiled. ¡°Good girl.¡± Hojo ruffled her hair and chuckled. All the rage melted from his features. He led her now an empty alley. ¡°You need to be more careful. If I wasn¡¯t watching you, you would have most certainly lost a finger at least.¡±


    Shizu gulped. ¡°Arigatou, Hojo.¡± She rubbed her fingers; thankful they were all still there.


    ¡°Just be careful next time, girl. Don¡¯t need our image lowered because a trainee failed to pocket a few coins. You¡¯ve got plenty more targets to go after before we¡¯re done with you out here.¡±