It was the long box on the top shelf that caught Tomoe's eye. Though it was worn and dusty, the clasp was unique, interlocking tendrils of flame that kept the case closed. She removed it gently, stepping down the ladder.

"What's in this one?" She asked Okon, pulling her long hair away from her face and tying it in a tail.

"Looks like a katana. Ji-chan collects all kinds of weird stuff. Says it part of our family history. Supposedly the Shinomori clan were like crazy ninjas back in the day. I've never seen that one though."

Tomoe opened the case carefully. Though the katana was clearly old, the blade dull, the cloth hilt discolored with age, Tomoe's fingers trembled. It was elegant, dangerous, somehow more real than the others she had looked at. She closed the case softly.

"May I borrow this one?" She asked.

"Sure. As long as you don't break it or anything." Okon replied over her shoulder as she rummaged through some old trunks. "Did you want to look for a ninja outfit to go with it? Just the katana won't be much of a costume."Okon asked.

"Nah. Akira is going as a samurai. I thought I'd just go in a traditional kimono to match and with a sword and maybe some fake blood to make it a little gory. It is Halloween after all. Going for slaughtered geisha or something." Tomoe said.

"Ok. That's cool. Send me a pic of your costume when you have it together… but don't post it. It should be a surprise for the party." Okon winked.

…

At home, Tomoe changed into her pajamas and prepared for bed. As she dried her hair in the mirror, the borrowed sword caught her eye. She set the long case on her bed and gently unhinged the clasp. She removed the katana. As her fingers closed around the hilt she felt a wave of rage and sadness. She gasped, dropping the katana. She flailed to catch it again, her fist closing over the blade instead of the hilt. It cut deeply. She stared in shock as the blood ran to the end of the blade and dripped onto her comforter. She felt a pulse, like a wave wash over her; it brought the sharp scents of the forest, pine and cold water. Her body felt whole and strong and powerful as though she were moving at great speed. Then the wave passed.

She opened her eyes and drew back in shock. Crouched low against the far wall stood a man, chalk white, almost translucent. His skin was pale, hair a dull orange, but his eyes, bright yellow eyes, cut across the room and fixed upon her face. She blinked and the figure was gone. She stood quickly, looking around the room. Nothing seemed out of place. No sign of the man, but her neck itched at the feeling of being watched.

A dull throbbing brought her attention back to her hand. She grabbed a tissue from her night stand and held it against the cut, the bleeding already slowing. She pulled several more from the box and turned to clean her bed. She saw the drops of blood on her comforter, but the katana gleamed brightly, no trace of the blood that had been running down the blade seconds before. A light knock on the door broke her from her thoughts. She quickly replaced the katana in its box, sliding it on top of her closet.

"Come in." She called. "Enishi. You should be in bed sweetheart." The little boy crept around the open door clutching a worn and threadbare stuffed dragon.

"Can I sleep in here tonight? Jake is with mom tonight."

Tomoe was about to send him back to his room, but his look of terror and hope made her swallow her words.

"Just for tonight short stuff. And no wetting the bed." She smiled as she tugged lightly at the soft blonde hair at the back of his neck.

He began to climb into her bed and stopped.

"What happened to your bed?!" He asked, alarmed.

"I…just cut myself on a broken glass. No big deal. See. It has already stopped bleeding. I'm just going to put a band-aid on it. "

Laying down that night she still felt the itch of being watched, but the soft snores of her little brother and the reassuring weight of him next to her in the bed soon had her eyes drifting shut.

…

Tomoe awoke the next morning feeling groggy with half remembered dreams… a forest, the feel of steel in hand, a joy of physical motion, almost like flying. Then her little brother, still sleeping soundly, kicked her in the kidney. He had turned nearly horizontal in the bed. She groaned and checked the bedside clock, only 5am, several hours until her morning class. She closed her eyes to see if she could coax herself back to sleep. No dice.

She stood slowly. A run; that was what she needed. She pulled on her cotton sports bra, athletic shorts, and a tank; laced up her sneakers, and pulled her long hair into a quick ponytail. She paused briefly to tuck dragon back in with her brother, closing the door softly on the way out.

The whiff of cigar smoke as she stepped out the kitchen door made her tense.

"You plan on going out like that? Like a little whore?" Jake sneered from the plastic chair on the back patio, lips pulling away from his stained yellow teeth.

"Just going for a run." Tomoe kept her voice even, sliding in her earbuds and breaking into a jog, forcing herself not to run full out away from the house.

"Well don't come crying to me if somebody tries to take a piece of you, you little shit." Jake's voice followed her across the back yard and into the alley. Tomoe's palm throbbed under the bandaid.

…

Tomoe's shoulders relaxed as she came to the end of the block and left the pavement for the dirt trail that cut through the wooded area that bordered her neighborhood. She breathed deeply. It wasn't quite like her dream; instead of the sharp scents of pine and water the woods held deeper scents of fresh dirt and decaying leaves. Still, her body sang as she opened up her stride, the cooler air burning her lungs. She ran until her legs burned and her sides began cramping. She had slowed to a walk, hands stretched above her head, feeling her heartbeat when she again felt the itching sensation on the back of her neck. She spun, scanning the trees for someone watching.

She stopped in the middle of the trail, holding perfectly still. She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. She focused on listening for the slightest sound of steps on the slick, leaf-covered ground. She willed her senses to extend, searching for anything that may be in the trees. She heard…nothing. Even the birds had stopped calling. There was no wind. She felt the trickle of sweat run from her hair down the side of neck, down her collar bone, and between her breasts. Then she felt it, body heat, as if someone stood inches behind her.

Her eyes snapped open. She held her breath, unable to move, too afraid to turn. She felt calloused fingers gently trace the curve of her neck. She spun around, bringing her hands up to defend herself. Nothing was there.

Tomoe sprinted home, ignoring the sting of already tired muscles.

…

That night, coming back from her classes Tomoe breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Jake's truck pull out of the driveway. If he was on the night shift this week then they probably wouldn't have to deal with him again until the weekend and Enishi could sneak into mom's bed.

Tomoe felt the itch again on the back of her neck. Her eyes were drawn to the katana case on top of her closet. She took it down, careful this time in opening and handling the katana to make sure that she would not cut herself. How strange that the katana had a case, but no scabbard.

The katana seemed to fit her hand, a little too heavy to lift comfortably. She set the blade across her lap. Her palm throbbed. She pulled the bandaid off, examining the cut that had scabbed over. On impulse she placed her palm near the blade and felt a pull towards it. Fascinated at the sensation she pressed her palm against the blade. The pull became stronger as the blood welled up under the scab and oozed slowly onto the blade.

The wave crashed over her again. This time the sensations were different. Heat, ash, burning wood filled her throat and lungs. She felt the rush of people all around, the tang of fresh blood, the adrenaline and heightened awareness of a predator ready to strike. She opened her eyes, keeping her palm pressed to the blade.

The man stood tense and still in the corner of her room. Still pale, he seemed more solid than before, his hair now holding a slight reddish gleam, his eyes still bright and piercing. The corner of his mouth tilted into a smile.

Heat shot up Tomoe's arm and into her belly, coiling tight and making her breath come faster.

"Who are you?" She whispered.

He was next to her, though she hadn't seen him move. He knelt, bowing slightly but keeping his eyes fixed on her. He leaned forward, his face inches from hers. She couldn't move, trapped in his gaze.

She felt the pressure of his lips against hers, warm, soft at first. Then he pressed forward, his mouth closing over hers. She opened her mouth to gasp and tried to pull away, but he pressed forward, his hand firm on the back of her head. She tried to breath, but he was pulling the breath from her lungs. This was no kiss; she had no air. Her eyes widened in panic, her head spinning, the edges of her vision going dim.

He pulled back from her, his voice hoarse and rasping in her ear.

"I am the Battousai."

…

Author's Notes:

Thanks for reading! Please leave me a note or review to let me know what you think. :)

- Eva