Chapter 1

Idly braiding my hair, I looked around the hanger. Seeing the open doors, I edged around the jet and poked my head outside. Looking up I watched the clouds float past. A security guard came over to keep me inside when he noticed me by the door. Sighing in defeat I sat down and went back to braiding my hair for something to do. Smelling cologne I looked around to see my partner Nightshade coming in from the runway.

"Come on. We have a new job."

"Where are we going this time?"

Receiving no answer to my question I held back a grumble while I followed the man who had called himself my husband for the last five years. As we waited for the jet's stairs to be lowered I wondered what my childhood friend and training partner Snake Eyes was doing. I often did this to take my mind off Nightshade's abusive words and actions. The man turned his head and glared at me as though he could sense my thoughts. It kind of creeped my out the way he could somehow tell when I was thinking of life before he took me.

"You need to focus! I will never be able to understand why you in the ways of the ninja."

I started to wonder why I planned to escape if his spirit would always follow me. I planned to slip away during this mission if the opportunity arose. Something I had been very careful to hide while setting up an international credit card. I'd been waiting three years for a good chance and something told me this would be my best opportunity for a long time. I couldn't decide between Egypt or Rome; I might even go back home to Japan after a few months. All I knew was that I had to get away from Nightshade.

I stopped and checked the small pack that carried my tools at the bottom of the boarding stairs. It held shuriken, smoke bombs, a small assortment of poisons and my art things. This time however I had hidden a passport and my credit card with a secret identity inside.

I quickly boarded the plane when when Nightshade turned as if he was going to come down and drag me up the stairs. Once the plane was in the air he began meditating after saying I should have checked my bag sooner with his hand on my throat. I simply looked out the window and began thinking about Snake Eyes again knowing I would learn about the mission later. I thought about when we trained with the other students. I smiled upon recalling the times we had sat on my bedroom's roof together and watched the stars when we could see them.

Sometime later I felt my shoulder being shaken a little roughly. I opened my eyes to my partner's face inches from mine. I shook myself awake, realizing I must have fallen asleep thinking of Snake Eyes. Stretching and popping my neck, I apologized.

"Forgive me for falling asleep. I must have been more tired than I realized."

"It's fine. Catching up on sleep is what our plane rides are for. We'll be landing in a little bit so get your art things out."

My eye twitched when I glanced out the window at the destination. Our mission was in one of the hottest vacation spots of the world. The Caribbean. 'Seriously?! It's going to be hard to escape. Nightshade's bound to be keep an eye on me since it's so crowded. Why couldn't we have gone somewhere like Russia or something? People get murdered all the time there.' Barely keeping a straight face, I prepared to draw a reference image of our target's face.

"What does our target look like?"

"He is of medium height, a little overweight, pale skin, a narrow jaw, large dark green eyes, and brown hair. He's also fatally allergic to peanuts. Try to get your hands on some peanut dust to sprinkle in his food or drink."

The plane began landing as I finished my drawing and showed it to my partner who nodded his confirmation. I asked is I should show my picture around and ask if people have seen our man. At Nightshade's nod I kept my sketchpad out while putting the pencils away. Approaching the nearest person, I asked them if they knew where to look.

"Excuse me, sir. I'm sorry to have to bother you but have you seen my friend? He looks like this."

"I'm sorry. I think I saw him earlier though I don't know where he is right now. If I see him would you like me to tell him you're trying to find him?"

"No thank you. I'm surprising him. It's an early birthday present. We haven't seen each other in a few months."

"Well good luck finding him."

This was how it went for over an hour. I'd ask somebody it they'd seen the man and they would all say no. If they asked why, I would tell them the story I'd made up. I met up with Nightshade near the hotel entrance with no clue as to where the target was.

"I haven't found him yet. It might be easier to find him if I knew his name. How do we even know he's here?"

My next words died in my throat when Nightshade slapped me. A few nearby people started coming over as if to help. Nightshade grabbed my arm in a bruising grip and led me to a more verbal area before he let verbally let loose.

"Are you questioning me?!"

"No. Not intentionally."

"Good. You'll do well to remember to remember who's in charge. Never question me again, especially on a mission. Our intelligence says the target is here, it came in 15 minutes ago. We need to search inside the hotel now. I'll take the rooms. You take the pool and buffet area. Make sure you're wearing your earwig. I'll let you know if new information comes in."

"Very well."

With that we both headed inside and I went to the reception desk. She looked at me suspiciously though I couldn't blame her. I was wearing worn jeans, a long sleeved shirt and short boots in August, not exactly proper Caribbean attire. After telling the woman the story, I was surprised when she smiled and pointed me towards the pool side buffet. After thanking her and heading the indicated direction, I informed Nightshade of the update.

At my partners acknowledgement, I glanced around and noticed the receptionist's suspicious look had returned. Cursing myself for not pretending to use my phone, I smiled at her and hurried along. Taking a plate upon arrival, I looked around while grabbing some snacks. Seeing someone who looked like the target head outside, I started after him. Pretending to use my phone, I spoke into the mike on my wrist and told Nightshade I had located the target. He reminded me about the peanut allergy before falling silent. Backtracking to the ice cream toppings I grabbed a couple and placed them in my pocket. Pausing by the door to look for the target, I noticed him approaching with a somewhat lecherous grin.

"Hello beautiful. You look lost. If your by yourself, you can come sit with me."

"Thank you. I'm not here on my own but what my husband doesn't know won't kill him."

Maintaining a genuine looking smile quickly proved difficult as the man proved himself mildly perverted. Withdrawing my hand from his, I asked if he would get me something to drink. He eagerly jumped up and headed towards the bar as I reached into my pocket for the peanuts. Crushing them over his ice cream and stirring it in, I got up to watch from a distance after making sure he was still busy at the bar. He looked around for me but shrugged and resumed eating his ice cream. Panic soon ensued as his allergy kicked in as people tried to help. Staying until hotel security and pronounced him dead upon failed CPR, I let Nightshade know on my way back to the plane. I arrived at a couple of minutes later and told the the pilot he could take off. Nightshade nodded at me and began meditating.