Chapter 1
Cold Eyes
While Ayane was on the plane the night sky was filled with stars, and light clouds. Now as she sped down the road in a Parisian taxi the sky grew bleak, gray, something was not quite right. Ayane knew this feeling; that pit in the bottom of her stomach; that gradually traveled up her throat. The wind was whipping at her face, nearly blinding her, but her sensitive eyes from years of training in the dark guided the short 18 year old. She was in Paris; beautiful as it was she couldn't stop and stare. Although, more people stared at her than she stared at Paris. She was beautiful, a young girl with lavender hair and bright eyes. Even though she was dressed in jeans and a white T she was still eye catching. But something was hidden behind her mahogany eyes. The passion of an assassin. A year after the last tournament, she was on a mission, a rather absurd one at that. She was to assassinate an assassin. Trying to kill an assassin was rather strange, probably Donovan's lackey. She wasn't exactly on the right side of the town either. It was pretty grimy, prostitutes roaming the streets waiting for a desperate man, beggars and paupers sitting around chatting of days long past. She felt sorry for them, but could do nothing. Her chunin, (a ninja rank) had given her a rather makeshift scroll with details. She flipped it open to check her target's whereabouts as a cat ran across her feet.
TARGET: Female
CHARACTERISTICS
Age: 31 yrs
Striking silver hair
Icy Blue Eyes
ADDRESS: Unknown
COUNTRY: Southern part of Paris, France
NAME:Christie

"Lucky I wore sneakers," Ayane remembered her, the tall, beautiful woman. Her fight with Christie was burned in her head. It was at DOATEC, and if they struck the glass it would surely send them crashing to the ground. She still had the bruise that Christie gave her, a knot on her temple. Christie's eyes were so dead, lifeless. It was like looking into a mirror. She just saw herself in them, and as she looked deeper she could witness her own unsettled disposition. She quickly tried to forget those eyes. She trudged through the rain and wind into a hotel. It was ok; it was what she was used to though it was just for a quick stay. It wasn't for lounging. She was waiting for a shower, a hot shower. She walked into the bathroom, slipped off her clothes and stepped in. She loved the feeling of hot water pulsating rhythmically against her back. She drifted into thought. Damn, I have to assassinate Christie. Why couldn't it be Leifang or somethin'... maybe I could poison her. Nah, she would know better. What about explosives? No, too much ruckus and not enough time to get away. She rubbed her back. Maybe while she's sleeping I can get her. Yeah that sounds good, maybe a distraction? N, maybe; ugh I guess Ill have to go along with the flow. What I would do for some Marrons Glace right now. Stepping out into her room and sitting on her bed, she stared at the parchment. She needed more information. She put her bag down on the bed, scattering the content. Lipstick, brushes, makeup, knives, kunai , poison tea leaves, all the stuff a girl should have. She took the kunai and placed it in another bag she bought just to travel around. Also thrown in were; shurikens, daggers, a small incendiary bomb, ninja claws, and poison darts. She threw on black jeans and a purple t-shirt labeled DANGEROUS. She walked out into the night air, a poncho clutched to her body as the wind stung her.

A club was in front of her, the perfect place for an assassin to frequent. It was very gritty, old men with beards making their hardy, boisterous laughs. Old women were hanging onto men who seemed like they had money. She was disgusted, but then again she didn't known what a good time was since she was alone most of the time. The bartender seemed to be ok, maybe around his early forties. She made a mental picture of his face; lean, large green eyes, narrow, long nose, Caucasian, peppery hair.
"Hello little lady, what's a pretty girl like you walking in a place like this? Many dirty men in this place. And you're hair is sure to make you stand out." He had a strong accent, that of French. She chuckled, "What's a little guy like you doing in here, and like you said many dirty guys in here." She mimicked his accent motioning a smile, but it quickly faded.
He made a loud, tumultuous laugh, "I can handle myself, which is more than I can say for you."

"You'd be surprised."
"What's your name miss, you're obviously not from around here." She didn't know this guy. "The name is Masae Akimato, I moved to the area recently and all I could afford was a small apartment nearby." His back was turned as he began to spray Bud Light into a cup, "How'd you know I wanted that?"

"You look like a Light type of girl, " he smiled and motioned his hand for her to continue.

"As I was saying, just moved and haven't taken in the sights much," she shook the bud light so as to arouse its full taste and she took it down. "Can you tell me about someone,"

"I live for this kind of thing," he said with a sly grin.

"My friend, her name is Christie, she's gonna' show me the sights. She's pretty calm, a fairly tall woman, silver hair, blue eyes, seen her?" She was itching for this info.

"Yeah, I saw her. Freaky woman she was, she came in for a drink met a man and left." He began to wipe the counter, and look around at random things.

A man, what man?

"She didn't even say thank you. The guy's face was covered with a baseball cap, and he was talking pretty low."

"She didn't tell me anything about a man, she must've finally got some," Ayane laughed loudly as if she knew Christie her whole life, "what else ya got?"

"Well, they were sharing a laptop and he pulled out pictures. He looked pretty shady, but she was so calm. Furthermore, "he leaned in a bit, "after a while the man left and I was cleaning the table next to her. She was drunk enough so that when I said where are you headed she told me she was heading to the Coquin Singe.

"Now she's into the one night stands, I should've known she was going there."

The bartender chuckled, it's about half a mile north from here. I have to say lady, your friend is pretty strange, why didn't you plan a place to mee..." Ayane shot him a glance with her large brown eyes. He backed off.
"Thanks," she moved in so her warm breath tickled his lips, "a lot." Shivering, he nodded his head, that was sure to get him to help her in the future. She thought to herself, "Ugh, men."