Authors Notes: Hey guys, just a quick note from me, I just started writing for the fun of it, and I'm interested to hear your opinions on the story, and use that to influence how the story continues! So please leave your reviews and let me know what you think!

Born from the shadows

Chapter 1

Lurking beneath the canopy of the dark Noxian woods, the fist of shadow skulked, plotting how she would balance the equilibrium of Valoran. Under the watchful Eye of twilight, and the cover of darkness she moved swiftly, ever closer to her prey. This time, the sinister blade had gone too far. Killing a few deadbeats is one thing, but when her tally was nearing the thousands she had to be stopped. Anymore killing and the triumvirate would have some serious work to do. The prey was marked. And with a flick of the wrist, the sinister blade, Katarina Du Couteau, was pinned to the ground by the fist of shadows' Kama. However, what she had not realised was that despite being remarkably quick Katarina was a trained Noxian assassin, the fist looked down and saw one of Katarina's sparkling silver blade positioned just below her ribs.

"Long time no see Akali" Katarina whispered up to the fist of shadow. Akali could not help but think how much of an asset Katarina could be in the right hands, but regardless, she had made too many mistakes to turn back now.

"Ah Katarina, a pleasure as always" Akali spat back. The eye of twilight had seen the blade from atop a distant tree and had just appeared from the tree line, and from the other side approached the heart of the tempest. "Ooh lucky me, I have the whole gang! How's it going Shen, Kennen?" Katarina asked rather chirpily despite the Kama around her neck. "Ok, I can see you're all in a remarkably chatty mood tonight, so, what do we say you release this Kama Akali and I'll withdraw my blade?" quizzed Katarina as she put a little more pressure on the blade, making Akali feel it's cold, sharp tip dig in to the gap between her ribs, right below her heart.

"Fine." Replied Akali in an icy defeated tone "You first." The pressure of Katarina's blade released, and true to her word Akali released her Kama. Katarina looked into Akali's deep brown eyes, winked, and disappeared. She had given the triumvirate the slip once again. The trio regained their composure and began the journey back to the Kinkou order temple in Ionia.

As Akali burst through the door she shouted "Shen! How could you let her pull a blade on me! I thought you were meant to watch that!" and before Shen could open his mouth to speak Akali shouted once more, this time to her small furry friend "and you! How late were you?! I thought the plan was to hit her at once!?" With that Akali went to the training room to take her anger out on those poor training dummies. Shen and Kennen went towards the mess hall for food and something to drink, they were parched after the long and unsuccessful journey. Silence resided over the meal, until they caught each other's eye line. Sat, not breaking the silence, Shen was wary as he knew Kennen could read peoples thoughts via the eyes alone, and he did not want Kennen knowing what he was thinking. After about 5 minutes they both started giggling, the tense silence had grown too much for the trained ninjas. Shen spoke first, "Man Akali can be a bit of a handful sometimes, right?" Kennen nodded in agreement and commented "She didn't even give me chance to explain why I was late before she stormed off! The route she had given me had an unexpected Noxian camp on it! I had to fight my way through there first!"

"I know! I was watching! Which is why I missed Katarina pull the blade! I only noticed it a little too late!"

The two started laughing again. "Ah well, we'll have that red-head next time! Right Fuzzball?"

"Yeah!" Kennen said excitedly, although dismayed at the new nickname Shen had dreamt up for him. It was still dark out, but the pair knew morning approached so decided to retire for the night.

Meanwhile, down in the training room, Akali kept on swinging at the dummies, muttering to herself as she went. "Damn idiots, why weren't they there when I asked? Why didn't they stick to the plan? I was sure we had her that time"

"Patience child" Akali turned quickly, Kama's in the air ready. "I'm sorry master, you startled me" She said whilst sheathing her Kamas and bowing her head in respect.

"I have heard all about tonight's raid my dear Akali; do not be so down on yourself. The plan was great, you have no need to be disheartened by this failure child. As a member of the Kinkou, you pride yourself on balance, yet was what you said to your fellow triumvirate balanced? I think maybe you need to talk to those who may have been slightly hurt by your actions as you returned, don't you?"

"Yes master, I snapped, I do apologise."

"It isn't me you should be apologising too Akali is it?"

Akali looked down in shame, her master was right. She had wronged her two greatest friends, allies and equals in this world, and with that, she looked to her master, thanked him for his wisdom, bowed and turned to leave, heading straight for Kennen's room to apologise.

As he removed his mask and headwear, Kennen's blonde Yordle hair flopped. He ran his hand through it to try and make it feel more comfortable, but once again, he had acquired helmet hair. "Dammit, looks like I need to shower to get rid of this knot." There was a soft knock at the door, followed by a gentle voice, "Kennen? I need to speak to you." Kennen's eyes widened, he thought, "She can't see my hair like this! It looks a mess!" He quickly pulled his mask and headwear back on to cover his hair. "Come in!" He shouted to the door, his high-pitched yordle voice, squeaking as he shouted. Akali slowly poked her head round the door and Kennen gestured to his bed for her to take a seat. Once seated, Kennen moved to sit beside her and looked upon her with longing eyes. Akali looked like she had only just returned from battle, a small amount of sweat dripping from under her head band, her hair slightly messy with her mask down round her neck. She placed her Kama's down, propped up against the bed and sighed. "I'm sorry for snapping before Kennen. For someone who strives to keep balance, it was a very unbalanced discussion to why the plan didn't work." Kennen nodded in agreement, Akali looked slightly hurt by this agreement but preceded anyway, "Was there any reason that you were late to the scene?"

"Well, the route that I had been given had a rather sizeable Noxian camp on it, so I had to fight my way through that first."

"Why didn't you just go round? Are you not quick enough?"

"Oh, yeah, I could have done that… I'm sorry for my mistake Akali." Slightly annoyed that Kennen had been the reason for her plan not working, she accepted the apology. "Kennen, why have you got your mask and headwear on still? It's only me; you don't have to hide yourself from me!" He shrugged his shoulders, hoping she didn't want him to take it off. "Okay, your choice." She smiled at him and ruffled his hair, or at least his head where his hair would be, then stood and made her way to the wooden door in the corner. With a glance over her shoulder she wished him sweet dreams and was on her way.

Shen stood in front of his window, overlooking the sleeping city-state of Ionia with pain in his eyes. After bottling all his pain up when around his master, he often did this to relieve himself of his suffering, for that is the price of being the Eye of twilight. Tonight however, his pain hurt more than usual. For it was his fault that Akali had nearly been killed. Every time he thought of Katarina's blade pushing against Akali, he felt a stab in the chest, like a dagger had been thrown through his heart. Yes, Shen is trained to act dispassionately and remove emotion from his decision making equations, but in all actuality, Shen is a kind soul, as compassionate as any man and when he's alone in the evenings, he lets his emotions run free. Tonight, his emotions ran wild. He was angry at himself for not seeing the blade, he was upset at losing Akali, but he was also relieved that she was okay, for he didn't think that he could live without her in his life. There was something special about her, for in Shen's mind, she's more of an angel than Kayle, more of a warrior than Garen, and a kinder person than Queen Ashe. But no one can know this is what he thinks as he is supposed to be dispassionate and emotionless, for he is the eye of twilight. As a tear ran down his cheek, a knock came, followed by her soft voice, "Shen? Can I come in?" He quickly composed himself, as he asked for her to come in, yet he remained facing the window, his back to Akali who stood just in the doorway. She saw him, meditating on the occurrences of the day and she turned to leave. "Don't go," Shen spoke after her, "Your presence is soothing." Akali couldn't help but blush a little. She entered and shut the door behind her and made her way to the bed to sit and wait for Shen. All the rooms around here were the same, but for some reason Shen's room was always immaculate. Every time she came in, spotless, bed made, the tiled floor waxed, the shelves dusted and all books in order. Akali couldn't help but wonder when he had the time to do all this, for most of the waking day, they're together and she hasn't once seen him clean. Silence prevailed for the following 10 minutes after Akali had entered and sat down. Shen used this time to compose himself completely and when he felt ready to face her, he spun on his heel and moved to sit next to her on the bed. "To what do I owe the pleasure Akali?" He asked in his deep, velvety voice.

"I'm here to apologise Shen, my outburst earlier was unacceptable."

"I'm also sorry Akali, I should have been watching you entirely for you were dealing with a real killer, but my mind was drawn by Kennen engaging on the Noxian camp," He could feel himself starting to well up again, but was determined to stay calm and collected. Surely Akali knows he isn't completely dispassionate? Surely she knows that is entirely impossible for any person upon Valoran to be completely emotionless? "I know," Akali said ever so gently as she raised her hand to Shen's unmasked face, her soft skin soothed his cheek as she moved her hand down and brought his face to face hers, her deep brown eyes, looking straight into his slightly teary blue eyes, he could feel himself relaxing, but at the same time his heart began to beat many times faster than he had ever experienced before, he could feel it in his throat. "Kennen and I have already discussed that part, so there's in no need for you to concern yourself with it, it was most certainly not your fault." Akali knew that no matter how composed he seemed, Shen worried. She knew that he would immediately assume it was his fault and blame himself, for no one could be completely emotionless. Shen smiled at her softly as her eyes drifted from his and began to scan the room again, she removed her hand as Shen stood up once again and made his way to the window. "Shen, how do you find the time to keep your room this clean?" Akali queried with an air of disbelief, but also in a joking manner. However, Shen's reply was nothing like the joke she was hoping for, "I don't sleep well anymore"

"Why? What's up?"

"I have something on my mind recently, that's all." He turned and smiled at Akali as she stood to leave.

"Well you better get some sleep! Big day tomorrow! 10 major operations if I remember correctly? Anyway, good night Shen, sweet dreams."

"And to you." With that she left the room, closing the door behind her. Shen's pale blue eyes began to glaze over, but this time not so much of the sadness of earlier, but a bit of joy had crept in, he would savour that moment with Akali for a long time to come.