The Shinobi are shrouded in darkness. I mean this both figuratively and literally. Darkness represents the mystery of our nature, it is also what keeps us hidden from the world. It holds us in it's embrace, safely in it's arms. If we can't be found, we can't be hurt. This is where we belong.
I'm inside the temple where we live and train every day. This one little room, sectioned off from the rest of the building is reserved for meditation. I come here often to seek help from my sensei. The candles and incense have burned out, everything smells of smoke and sandalwood. I've been sitting here uninterrupted for eleven hours in the sukhasana pose. My hands are rested on my knees.
"Saa. Taa. Naa. Maa." It's a mantra. "Saa." Thumbs to index finger. "Taa" to middle finger. "Naa" Ring fingers. "Maa" You get the idea. Saa Taa Naa Maa: Infinity, Life, Transformation, Rebirth.
"The Dark Tournament is one year away."
"I know Touya."
Silence. I hear the door slide closed and he's gone, walking away from me again.
He wants me to join them, to fight and win so we can claim the light. His ambitions are only being fed by those around him; Risho, Gama, Bakken, even Jin. He is patient, but not patient enough. He doesn't understand that we choose to live in darkness, pass on our knowledge to one pupil, and then retire to the light. Spending so much time, so much of our lives in the night only makes us more appreciative of the light.
"Hotaru." Another male voice, and one I know well. Master Tetsuya. The Fire Master of the previous Shinobi. He is my teacher, guide, and lifeline.
My eyes open for the first time in hours, I look to him. "Master Tetsuya, what do you think I should do?"
"Little Firefly, so conflicted, take heart, do what you must. That is the Shinobi way, to do what you know you have to do. Understand Hotaru, this tournament is more dangerous than they think. You have been training to become a true Master of your element far longer than they have. They think they can get by with less than half of what they could have learned from the other masters. You know more than they do and you are reluctant to join them, but you will join them regardless. I can see it in your eyes. You want to protect them because they are your comrades, your team mates. If you decide to go, I will not stop you."
"You won't stop me, but you won't be pleased either." My head is bowed, scorn laces my words and immediately I am sorry for the tone. Emotions run high in fire demons and despite my training they still get the better of me sometimes.
I will go to this tournament, but only as their alternate, and I will not fight. We could spend the next twenty years training for this and still not be ready.
What a perfect team: six demons with only varying degrees of partial training, and powers covering a spectrum of elements. Earth, Ice, Wind, Fire, Mist, and Blood. Buddha help us all.