I woke in the early morning to a cold sweat, my naked body was covered in a damp moist and my silver shaggy hair curled from the humidity. Particles of salty water dripped from my face and on to my muscled out arms and chest. I traced the scar in the center of my right eyebrow that reached in a straight line threw my amber eye and down to my cheek bone. Painful memories filled my mind, memories that I thought I had escaped from. Visions of her young innocent face flashed across my thoughts. It had been over four years since that nightmare, a nightmare that soon became my reality. It was a reality I didn't want to live in.

I sat up, leaned against the cold stone wall and took in a deep breath. I glanced around my tiny room and stared out the open door to the sun coming up over the turquoise ocean.

This one bed room stone house was suppose to be my place to get away from the troubles in my life, but this time they seemed to follow me. No matter how far away I could run they always trailed close behind.

The cool wind blew in threw the open windows making the white curtains dance. When the breeze hit my skin it sent a chill down my spine causing me to shiver. I sighed and ran my fingers threw my hair.

I decided I couldn't stay here any longer, four years had been long enough and it was time that I went back to the only family that I had. I prayed they had forgiven me; I was unable to forgive myself so how could they?

My eyes wondered around the room and lay to rest on my sword, Izayoi. I hadn't touched it since I came here and I didn't want to ever hold it in my hands again. Maybe Onikage was right, maybe all I was was a killer.

I shook my head and stood up to put my black baggy ninja pants on. I barley had them buttoned when I herd the faint noise of woman's footprints carefully hitting the white sand. The pattern in which they created was so familiar to my ears. The footsteps were getting closer and soon they were right out my door. The woman quietly jumped on my roof and crouched down above the doorway. She waited silently there.

Without making an ounce of noise I walked closer to the entry way reached up and grabbed her by the ankle. I yanked her down and she hit the ground hard landing on her back. I leaned over her and wrapped my hand around her tiny throat. Everything happened so fast I didn't have time to focus in on her face. She put her hands around my wrist and her brown deer like eyes stared into mine, it was then I knew who she was. I jumped off of her and backed away a few feet. She caught her breath, stood up and brushed off the sand that covered her dark purple mini skirt. Her sandals were black and laced up to her knees. She wore a black halter top that showed off her stomach and most of her torso. Black Hand guards covered her hands and up to her elbows leaving her fingers bare to the world. Twin Katana's were seethed on her lower back. Her short black hair was pinned up messy and strands of it fell on the sides of her face with beads of different colors intertwined in it.

"Well hell, it's nice to see you to." She said putting her hands on her hips.

"Ayame? How did you find me?" I asked looking at her confused.

"You may be good but you're not that good." Her sarcastic tone turned serious. "I came to bring you home. You've been gone for six years." Her voice was warm and familiar. I had known Ayame since she was a small child and I thought of her as my sister.

I chuckled once "Has it been that long, it seems like only yesterday that I left." I glanced out at the ocean and watched the wave's crash against the cluster of rocks, had it really been that long?

"It has Rikimaru, you need to come home." Ayame was a proud headstrong person and she didn't like to show she was hurting, but I could hear the sadness in her voice all to well.

I walked back in my small hut, sat down on the tatamibed and rested my arms on my legs; Ayame followed and sat down on the chair in the corner of the room.

"I know Ayame. I was pondering that thought this morning. I just don't know if I'm ready."

"You don't know if you're ready? After Kiku died you left, you just disappeared. It was an accident Rikimaru. Gohda preached it to you over and over again. She was his daughter and he forgave you," she looked at the floor and closed her eyes tight to keep from crying. "I forgave you." Her eyes met mine again. "Look at yourself, six years it's been and here you are moping around and feeling sorry for yourself. Gohda and I stayed; we stayed because we had to. Because it was our job, just like it was your job. You abandoned us all because you couldn't get over something that wasn't your fault. She said to you-" I cut her off.

"I know what she said damn it!" I yelled "Her words haunt me where ever I go. 'Do whatever you have to do Rikimaru.' Was there no other way? You come here and preach to me about getting over it, you didn't weld the weapon Ayame! You weren't the one who pierced her young heart with your own sword. I killed her to get to him; I killed Kiku for revenge on Onikage. How does one live with ones self after doing something like that? I killed her, she died because of me!" I clenched my fits and took in a deep breath to calm myself. "You couldn't possibly know how I feel."

My head hung low and Ayame walked over and sat down on the bed next to me, "Rikimaru your right, I don't know how you feel. But what about Lord Gohda, Kiku was his daughter and if he had thought about her safety before his people's safety she would still be alive. Onikage would have never been able to capture her in the first place because she would have been guarded by the both of us. You have to forgive yourself, we need you."

A soft breeze came threw the windows and carried with it the scent of the ocean and lavender, it was a nice smell and I lingered in it for only a moment. "I don't know if I can, it's been so long-" She cut me off and put her hand over mine.

"Someday soon something will enter your life and it will bring with it the happiness you once felt, I know it feels like nothing in this world could make you smile again but it's out there and I trust it will find its way to you." She smiled her childish smile at me and I tried to smile back.

"Everything will be alright; I will help you through this. We need you Rikimaru, please come home." She stood up and held out her hand, I took it without hesitation.

"Home." The word felt so foreign coming from my lips. "Alright, let's go home."

Authors notes: Hey everyone! I'm really new to all this so go easy on me *grins* please review!!