Ok folks! As promised here is my modern day version of Shall We Date: Ninja Love. As always I do not own Shall We Date: Ninja Love or it's characters. Just my OC's. Also, I do not own Yuuri or Cosset. Yuuri is an OC of CoolCat0720 and Cosset is an OC of Innocence and Instinct. I just hope I do your OC's justice ladies. Now on with the show!

~*Breaking Tradition*~

It was dark out and the night was still. Something Tonya found very disturbing. Looking around, she found herself on a familiar trail. One that only she and another knew about. A bad feeling began to invade her chest as she followed the trail deeper into the woods. Taking the twists and turns with ease as she broke into a sprint. Jumping over fallen logs and pushing off of trees to avoid thick roots growing on the trail that threatened to trip her up. Tonya pushed herself faster and faster, her lungs burning and her limbs aching. She'd never run so fast in her life, feeling that if she slowed down even for an instance that something terrible was going to happen. Finally she broke into the clearing and slid to a stop. Seeing a familiar tall silhouette against the bright moonlight.

"How did I know that you would come looking for me?" A hauntingly familiar voice asked as the man turned around. A few years older than she with pale skin and glowing yellow eyes.

"Ryu? You're alive!" Tonya called out with glee as a smile broke out across her face. "I knew it! I knew you weren't gone!"

"You shouldn't have come Tonya. It would've been easier if you'd just been a good girl and stayed with the others." Ryu sighed as he put his hands on his waist and looked up at the moon. "Then again, I was kind of hoping you'd come. I wanted to see you one last time."

"Ryu…What's going on?" Tonya asked as she slowly moved towards him.

"Simple. I'm moving on Tonya. I can't take it here anymore." Ryu said in that nonchalant tone of his. The one that usually said his mind was made up.

"What do you mean?" She whispered, fear taking a hold of her once again as Ryu turned his back on her.

"I don't belong here. I never did. The only reason your uncle kept me around for so long was to keep an eye on me. And I'm tired of being treated like some caged animal." Ryu growled as she watched his muscles tense up.

"You can't leave…Ryu please just come back. I know the others will forgive you!" Tonya pleaded as she started to run towards her friend.

In the blink of an eye Ryu had crossed the space and was now standing behind her. Still facing away as Tonya froze. Ryu had always been the better ninja. She felt his arms wrap around her as he pulled her into a hug. Tilting his head down so that she couldn't turn back and see him. He squeezed her softly as Tonya felt tears slide down her face. Knowing what was coming next.

"Please don't go." She whispered one last time as she felt him brush her hair out of the way. He gently pressed his lips against the nape of her neck, pouring all of his emotion into that simple action as Tonya felt her heart breaking.

"I'm sorry Little One." He whispered in return before hitting her just right to knock her out.

_._._

"Ryu!" Tonya hollered as she snapped up in her bed.

She was breathing hard as she sat there. Sweat covered her face as she pulled her sticky hair back and looked towards the window. The sun was barely peeking over the mountains as she suddenly remembered what day it was. A groan escaped her lips as she flung her feet off the bed and gathered up her clothes and headed for the shower. She quickly cleaned herself off and changed into the clothes she'd prepared the night before. Her ninja attire. The outfit she'd received for her birthday last year. One of the few things she had left from Ryu.

"Happy nineteenth birthday to me." Tonya muttered as she thought about what they day had to bring. She slapped her face, a grin appearing on her lips as she perked up. "Don't worry Ryu. I intend to keep my promise."

Tonya walked back into her room, catching her reflection in the mirror. A purple choker style halter top greeted her eyes, covering her chest and part of her torso before ending and letting skin take over. Black pants hung on her hips with slits in the material that showed off her thighs before rejoining the rest of the material the material that cinched together just above her shins. She wrapped her shins up with black tape before sliding into her ninja sandals. She repeated the wrapping process on her wrists before giving a satisfied grunt. Flipping her brunette hair over her shoulder, Tonya winked at herself before heading to her window. She opened it and perched on the sill just as her uncle opened her door.

"Tonya where are you going?" The man asked as she glanced back at him. Mid length raven black hair held together in a loose ponytail and green eyes greeted her. "You know what today is."

"I'll be back in time for that. After all, today is a special day." Tonya grinned as she turned back around.

Before another word could be said Tonya had flung herself out the window. Landing lithely on the wall before disappearing into the woods. Running as fast as she could, excited by what the day had to bring. A light bark greeted her ears as she glanced over to see a black wolf running beside her easily. Fang nodded at Tonya as the two headed down from the mountain, take a roundabout way down to the shrine that sat just on the edge of civilization, just outside a small town. Tonya slowed down the closer she got to the shrine. She was able to hear the sounds of cars going by on the highway, heading up and around the hill and towards the big city. It was like stepping out of the past and into the present with only a short run down the hill. She walked around to the back entrance and headed into the shrine with Fang sneaking in behind her. Quiet as a whisper, the two made their way around the walkways of the shrine to find two shrine maidens.

One was about a year older than her with light red hair, almost pink depending on how the light hit it, that fell well past her knees and curled at the tips. Her lightly tanned skin seemed dark against the traditional shrine maiden outfit. Her sea green eyes were focused upon something as the icy blue around them helped to accent the pure and gentle soul that the maiden held. She sat there humming as she worked on transferring the information from the old scrolls on to new ones.

"You seem to be in a good mood Cosset." Tonya called out to her friend who trained her eyes upon the girl and wolf behind her.

"Today is a nice day. The birds are singing, the sun is shining warmly, and I am full of serenity." Cosset smiled as beating footsteps could be heard drawing near.

"Tonya!" a small girl cried as she flung herself at her older companion. The two hugged for a time until Tonya put the smaller girl down.

"Nice to see you too Yuuri." Tonya laughed as the younger girl's light purple eyes sparkled as she looked up at Tonya.

Yuuri stood at 5'1" three inches shorter than Tonya and Cosset. She had long silvery white hair that she kept braided to the side and fell past her hips. She was also dressed in the traditional shrine maiden outfit, though her light skin blended a bit better with it than Cosset's. A fan rested on either hip as the girls moved to sit down. Knowing from past experience, Tonya put herself between the two. Already sensing a bad aura coming from Cosset.

"Yuuri you were chosen to become the next priestess. I suggest you start carrying yourself with a little more grace and stop acting like a child." Cosset snipped as Yuuri stuck her tongue out at the older girl.

"Oh Cosset lay off. Yuuri is still technically a teenager. She's only seventeen and has one year of high school left. Let her enjoy it while she can." Tonya waved off as Cosset sighed.

"Tonya how can you be so relaxed? Surely you of all people know about carrying on tradition and carrying out one's duties?" Cosset asked, trying for once to get Tonya to take her side.

"Just because we have duties to carry out doesn't mean we should let it affect who we are." Tonya sighed as she tilted her head back into the sun.

"Hey today's your birthday right? We should do something to celebrate!" Yuuri suggested before being tackled by Cosset who glanced back at Tonya who still seemed a bit moody.

"Idiot! You know what today is!" Cosset hissed as Yuuri realized her mistake.

Both knew that this day held two significances. Asides from the usually festivities, today was the anniversary of the day that Tonya had lost her best friend Ryu. Although Tonya didn't look at it like that. She viewed it more like he'd gone away for a while and that it was her job to bring him back. Wishful thinking that she refused to let go of. No matter how many times the others had pleaded with her to just let it drop.

"Stop freaking out you two. I came here today because I wanted to spend it with you, before I'm whisked away deep into the heart of rural Japan. Who knows when we'll get to see each other again." Tonya said as Cosset finally got off of Yuuri.

"So, are they here yet?" Cosset asked as Yuuri got lost in her fantasies.

"Master ninja are coming to whisk you away into the old country. Teaching you ancient techniques in order to complete your training and to join into their elite ranks. And it'll be just you and the four of them. You and one of your masters, alone, carrying out missions, having to stay close, forming a bond between master and student while you two secretly wish for more. Ahh it's all so exciting!" Yuuri screamed as both Cosset and Tonya rolled their eyes before giggling. Yuuri was a bit of a hopeless romantic.

"I doubt it'll be anything like that. She doesn't even know what these men are like. What if they're beasts?" Cosset shuddered as Tonya. "Oh I just hope you will be safe."

"I will. And I promise to write when I can. I'll come back stronger than ever. Then I can start my own journey." Tonya clenched her hand into a fist as other two knew what she was referring to. Cosset sighed as she placed a hand lightly over her friends.

"Tonya we've been over this. Ryu died a year ago. We all saw the aftermath of the crash. The explosion was horrific. They couldn't even find a body because it was so bad. I would think you of all people would remember that night." Cosset said gently as Tonya tore her hand away.

"And I'm telling you he didn't die. I know he's alive, I can feel it." Tonya held her hand across her chest as she let the issue drop there. Not wanting to get into it with her friend on what may be their last day together.

"Well Tonya I believe you!" Yuuri boomed as she grabbed Tonya's hands. "You and Ryu were as close as two friends could be. And a connection like that just doesn't disappear unless the other person fades from this world. So if you say he's alive, then he's alive. Who knows, maybe he's had amnesia all this time and is just now trying to make his way back to you."

The three sat in silence for a time. She'd heard it more times than she cared to recall. She'd dreamed up meeting Ryu after the accident. Wanting to believe that he was alive and well. After all, the two had been friends ever since they were little kids. After the accident, since only pieces of flesh could be found they'd all assumed Ryu was dead. Tonya had torn into the woods that night, not wanting to believe it. Not wanting to believe that the person who'd always been by her side had suddenly been taken away. She'd run off to the spot that only the two of them knew about. Tonya had wanted to be alone and away from it all, only to find Ryu there waiting for her. Not saying much before he'd knocked her out and left her on the edge of the property for someone to find. So unless ghosts could physically knock someone out and carry them the five miles back to her home, she knew he was still alive. And she was determined to find him no matter what.

'Ryu…where are you? Didn't you say you would always be there for me?' Tonya thought to herself as the other two began talking about something else to distract their friend.

That's how they spent the day. Hanging out at the shrine talking about nothing. Recalling their many times together. Both in the normal world and in the secluded one that only they knew. They had lived their lives in two separate worlds all their life. Going from being normal girls whenever they stepped off the mountain, and back to living in the old ways once they returned. It amazed them all of the hidden world that only a small part of the world knew about. It was a topic that never failed to bore them. The day flew by and eventually it had gotten late. A flapping sound could be heard as all talking ceased.

"Luna?" Cosset called out as she held out her arm for the snowy white owl to perch upon. A note was attached to her leg that Cosset quickly undid. "Tonya, your uncle is summoning you back."

"Very well." The brunette sighed as she stood up and turned to her friends. "It was nice knowing you girls. When you see me again, I'll be a full-fledged ninja master."

Tonya waved over her shoulder as she turned and left. Fang was hot on her heels as they made their way back around the shrine and headed up the mountain trail that led back to her home. Fang let out a low whine as Tonya reached down and scratched his ears. He could sense her change in mood and was hoping that she was ok. The two walked slowly back up the path, diverging a bit as they drew closer to the dojo style house that stood in the distance. Tonya easily weaved her way through the brush before coming out on the path that she and Ryu had first found as kids. Slowly making her way up it and towards the cliff that over looked the valley below. She sat down at the edge, enjoying the breeze as she recalled her dream. The memory that had haunted her for months after Ryu's disappearance.

'I can't believe that happened only a year ago. It feels like ages since I'd last seen him.' Tonya thought to herself as various memories played behind her eyes as she kept them closed.

Slowly her mind drifted back to the dream. She could still feel his arms around her, feel her tears falling down her face, feel him kissing the nape of her neck before he knocked her out. Tonya reached behind and touched the exact spot. On that day she'd known that he hadn't wanted to leave. A part of her had been hoping he would ask her to leave with him. After all, the two had been inseparable since childhood. Ryu had been an orphan that had wandered into their care. He'd become someone very important to Tonya. And since he'd left, she'd felt as if a part of her had been taken with him. Tonya opened her eyes as a pale shadow of Ryu greeted her eyes. He was smiling, his bright yellow eyes full of warmth as his shoulder length wavy dark blue hair blew in the breeze as well.

"I promise Ryu, I will find you." Tonya clenched her hand into a fist before pushing herself up. "Well boy, I guess we better head back huh?"

She grinned down at the wolf as they headed back down the path and towards her home. Humming to herself as she headed around towards the back entrance. Wanting to sneak back into her room and make herself presentable to her soon-to-be-masters. Before she hopped on to the wall though, a slight noise caught her attention. She snuck around the wall and listened until she heard a noise again. It was coming from further into the woods. And Tonya knew there were only two things worth any interest out there. The training grounds that her uncle had set up for her, and their hidden store room that held all the family history and them some in scroll form. She wondered who would be out there at this time of night.

"Damnit, how do we tell which scroll it is!" A voice hissed as another, calmer, one interjected.

"According to the source we'll know it when we see it." The other one said as the sound of scrolls being tossed about could be heard. "And he was right."

Tonya hid in the shadows as chuckling could be heard. She watched as two men walked out, one placing a very familiar scroll in his pack. One that Tonya knew her uncle prized above all else. Recalling the many times he'd stated its importance to her. Drilling it into her head since she could first understand words. Tonya glanced down at Fang and motioned for him to circle around as the wolf understood what she had planned. When he was ready Tonya stepped out of the shadows and made herself known. Drawing out the two kunai she always kept on herself. Another thing her uncle had drilled into her head. Never go out with some kind of weapons.

"Who are you and what are you doing with that scroll?" Tonya demanded as the men froze. Quickly pulling out weapons of their own. She could tell that they were ninja as well by the way they were dressed.

"Little girls shouldn't be out this late. Go back home and play with your dolls kid." One of the men sneered as Tonya returned it. Whistling loudly as Fang sprang into action.

The wolf latched on to the pack and easily tore it from the man's back. He ran over to Tonya's side as she picked up the pack and tied the broken straps across her chest as Fang growled at them. The two men glared at Tonya as she took up a defensive stance and slowly began backing towards the house. It wasn't very far and she knew she could easily out run them if she wished. Plus she knew the land. All the odds were in her favor.

"Well it's been fun boys, but time to go." Tonya said as she turned to take off.

"I don't think so!" one of the ninja hollered as a clicking sound could be heard.

Tonya turned in time to see a bomb in the man's hand as he let it fly. She hollered a Fang as the two jumped away from each other as the bomb went off. Tonya landed on her feet unharmed, and so did Fang. But now there was a wall of fire blocking her retreat back to the house. While she could easily make it through the flames, she knew she couldn't risk the scroll. She was in trouble now.

"Just hand that scroll over girl. And we'll let you go." The calm ninja said. He seemed to be the one in charge as he stepped forward with his hand out.

"Since you insist….No." Tonya smirked before pushing off the ground hard and up into the trees. Bolting across limbs and out of there as the two ninja were surprised by her speed. Wasting no time, Fang knew he had to get help for his master. Running back to the house to alert her uncle of what was going on. And hoping that he was in time and that nothing happened to the girl.

_._._

"I apologize for the wait. Tonya is a very—free spirit. She's been like that since she was little. But she is the finest ninja I've ever had the pleasure of training." Kharl's pride rang loudly in his voice as he wondered where his niece was.

Five ninja sat there. All patiently waiting for Tonya's arrival. Hanzo Hattori sat there, participating in the conversation every so often. The man had been like an older brother to the girl. He'd come visit every few years and always knew what to say to help the through her tough training. Now he was going to bear witness to the final stages of her training into becoming a master. A soft smile came on to his face as he glanced over at those who would train her. Beside him sat Goemon Ishikawa. He was younger than Hanzo, but clearly older than the other remaining three. Flaming red hair and an arrogant aura radiated off of him as he sat the casually enjoying the drink that Kharl had to offer. Beside him was Kotaro Fuma, a quiet white haired man who barely said anything at all. Taking his role as a ninja very seriously, he was never one to diverge from his duties. A stone like expression upon his face as he just waited patiently. Next to him was Saizo Kirigakure, with dark blue hair that framed his face with a small feather in his hair. Calling him pretty would be an understatement. He could almost pass for a woman. A master of disguises and a respected by his peers. And the last one was Sasuke Sarutobi. He was a tall boy, clearly the youngest of them all with long limbs. The youngest ninja to reach the rank of master in a long time.

"Kharl, its getting a bit late. Don't you think Tonya should've been here by now?" Hanzo asked as he began to worry for the absent girl.

"Well she you know how she gets. But I assure you that she'll be here. She's been looking forward to completing her training for some time." Kharl chuckled as he sipped on the sake left in his cup

"I'm sure she'll come around eventually. She's always been headstrong." Hanzo said more to himself than the others. But he just couldn't help but worry for the absent girl. He knew how much she'd been looking forward to this day. It wasn't like her to be late.

Quiet filled the air as the men just sat there. Enjoying small talk about the hidden villages and how they'd all finally decided to call a truce with each other. But the longer the time drug on, the more Kharl began to worry. A low howl drove them all into silence as Kharl felt his blood grow cold. He stood up and rushed to the back door, slamming it open as Fang stood there. Motioning for them to follow as he began to whine. The others walked out and spotted the wolf. Wondering what was going on before seeing the faint glow in the distance. There was trouble afoot.

I will admit this story will take a bit of time. It's a bit challenging trying to take the ninja's out of their time period and place them in the present. But I'm going to try! It's an idea that I've wanted to bring to life for some time now. So as always let me know how you all liked it!