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Dead or Alive

Chapter 2: The Wind and the Mist

Shiden stared down at the sweat covered pale face of his beautiful wife. Adjusting his red headband with one hand, he patted his small son reassuringly on the back with the other. The boy shook slightly. "Do not fear my son. Tonight is a glorious night." he said quietly, lovingly.

Ayame panted heavily. The pain was unbearable, it made her want to scream. Being a woman of strength, she found it within herself to stay quiet. She found her sole comfort in the face of her husband Shiden, his face illuminated in the streaming moonlight from a small window to the north. She reached her hand out, fumbling in the darkness in search of his. She found it after a moment and clutched it tight. "Are you here, Shiden?"

"I am. As I always will be." Shiden squeezed her small hand. Stroking her long black hair he leaned down and kissed her forehead. Then he looked up at the midwife sitting on the other side of his wife. Shiden looked down once again at his son. "Hayate is here too my love."

Ayame smiled and turned her head to gaze into her sons eyes. "My beautiful boy. Are you scared?" The boy shook his head, but his body said otherwise. "Do not worry my child, I am fine. Tonight a new friend is coming to live with us."

"Who mother?" Hayate spoke for the first time, gazing into his mothers eyes. Ayame could not respond as she cringed in pain again. Hayate scooted closer to his father, who wrapped an arm around him. Ayame screamed a final time and the pain was over. Her chest continued to heave as she gasped for air, thankful for the sweet release of pain.

A few minutes later the elderly midwife had finished her work, and handed the small child into the arms of its mother. "The new princess." Weak and elderly as she was, she kneeled in reverence to the child.

"Look Shiden. Our princess." Ayame's cheeks streaked with tears, her voice muffled through sobs of joy. "She needs a name."

Shiden gazed out the window upon the Mugen Tenshin village. A bright mist, intensified by moonlight, covered it from one end to the other. He turned back to his baby daughter. "She will be called Kasumi. She will be beautiful and deadly, like the mist. Radiant to gaze upon, but can hold armies within its shrouded exterior."

"A beautiful name," replied Ayame, stroking the cheek of the newborn Kasumi.

"Does my name have meaning father?" Hayate looked up at his father. Shiden kneeled to face him, smiling.

"Yes Hayate. Your name means hurricane, a suitable name for the prince of the Mugen Tenshin. The wind is invisible, and deadly. It is everywhere and nowhere. It is gentle, but can move mountains."

"So, I am like the wind?" Hayate smiled. Shiden stood and rustled his sons long hair.

"Come and say hello to your sister Hayate." Ayame held Kasumi out to show the small baby to Hayate. "Careful, and be gentle." Hayate looked into the tiny chubby face of the tiny baby girl wrapped in cloth. He stroked her cheek very gently with his finger, and Kasumi responded by gripping it tightly with her tiny hand. "She likes you. She knows who her brother is."

A few more kisses and a gentle caress later Kasumi had fallen asleep in her mother's arms. Hayate had been sent to bed, and Shiden stayed ever vigilant at the side of his lover.

Genra walked through the crisp autumn morning nodding to fellow villagers as he passed them by. He couldn't help but admire, even though he'd seen it hundreds of times over, the beauty of the Mugen Tenshin village. Hidden in the mountains of Japan meant beautiful forest, fresh air, and animals everywhere he looked. The sound of a trickling stream nearby made him smile as he swiftly climbed the steps of the large dojo in the village's center.

Genra was a man admired by many of the village women, being as handsome as he was strong and wise. His slender features led to a gentle demeanor that did him favor with the villagers. His abilities and spiritual magic made him revered as the leader of the Hajin Mon sect of the Mugen Tenshin.

Tossing his long ponytail of green hair behind him, Genra opened the sliding door of the dojo. The emptiness of the large dojo was an odd scene indeed, as he was used to seeing it filled with Tenjin Mon students, training daily in their own brand of ninjutsu. Today it stood empty, eerily silent, in honor of the newborn princess. A nearby door slid open and Shiden stepped out.

"Genra." Shiden embraced his beloved friend. "It is good to see you. Thank you for coming."

"It is my duty."

"Nonsense, today you are here as my friend and nothing more."

"Of course Shiden." Genra smiled and relaxed. "How is Ayame?"

"She is fine. Come." Shiden led Genra down the hall into the large bedroom, where Ayame sat upon a large futon, Kasumi cradled in her arms. Hayate lay fast asleep beside her. "Ayame, look who is here."

"Genra." Ayame smiled gently. "It is so nice to see you. I'm afraid I am in no condition to offer you tea or even be a decent hostess."

"Nonsense. You always have to be so kind to everyone don't you?" Genra chuckled. "You look as radiant as always Ayame." Genra peered down at the small baby asleep in her arms. "She has your eyes."

"And her father's strong grip." Shiden beamed from beside Genra. "Would you like to hold her?"

"No, I-"

"Go on, don't be shy." Ayame lifted Kasumi to Genra. Cradling her in his arms he stood and studied the small girl. Ayame reached over and stroked the hair of her sleeping son. "He's been very helpful. My boy." She patted him softly as Hayate rolled over and grumbled.

"Isn't she beautiful Genra?" Shiden locked his eyes on Kasumi's with a father's loving adoration. Kasumi breathed softly against Genra's chest.

"She is truly the princess of the Mugen Tenshin." Genra lifted his eyes to Ayame. "It looks like you have a rival as to who will be the most beautiful girl in the village." Ayame blushed.

The door slid open violently crashing into its frame. The resounding vibrations filled and echoed around the room. Kasumi began to cry loudly and Hayate groggily sat up trying his best to ascertain the situation. A large burly man, muscles bulging from his gi stood in the doorway, his large hands gripping the door.

"Raidou!" Shiden shouted stepping in front of his brother. "What is the meaning of this!?"

"I have come to see my niece Shiden. Is there something wrong with that?" Raidou's deep voice was impatient, his sake ridden breath spilling over Shiden's face. Genra knelt beside Ayame, handing the crying Kasumi to her.

"There would be nothing wrong with it if you could keep your head together. Instead you will see her when the rest of the village does."

"Why is he here then?" Raidou nodded toward Genra, "He's not even blood"

"He's more blood than you'll ever be." Retorted Ayame, but refrained from anymore insults when Genra laid a hand on her shoulder.

"He is right Ayame. I shall take my leave now." Genra bowed to slightly, and in a flash of purple smoke was gone.

"Don't..." Ayame's words were too late. The smoke was quickly vanishing. She turned to glare up at Raidou. "You have no right to be here, disturbing my children's rest."

Raidou crossed the room and stared down at her with lustful eyes, tracing the curve of her breast and smiling. "You always were a feisty one weren't you? Shame my brother got to you first. You could have been with me."

"Raidou!" Shiden howled furiously, grabbed the back of Raidou's gi and slung him into the hallway. "You are drunk again, as always I see. I told you not to come into my house, my dojo, when you're like this."

"You always let family in don't you dear brother?" Raidou laughed with the bellow of a drunkard. Shiden pinned the larger man to the wall. Raidou looked down in disgust at his younger brother's attempt to hold him. With one giant hand he pried Shiden off, shoving him away. "Think you're high and mighty because you lead this clan eh? Know this brother; the strong always rule. You will see one day when this clan falls because of your foolish aim of peace and inner strength."

"There is fine line between power and reckless tyranny Raidou." Shiden stood firm in the face of his giant brother.

"We shall see one day brother. Do not worry, I will be here to lead the Tenjin Mon when you fail as father's great successor."

"Get out of my house. You are a disgrace to father's name." Neither of the brothers spoke. The silence was deafening. When he saw that Shiden would not budge, Raidou finally made his way out of the hall to exit the dojo. Shiden watched the shadow of his brother leave. "He will be more trouble than he's worth.

Stumbling into the bright sun Raidou grunted and spat on the ground. "You, brother, are the disgrace to father's name. I shall redeem this clan and make it what it should be. Then I shall have the one thing you took from me. And when I have your clan, your woman, and your children look up to me as they should, I will show you the same respect you showed me. Mark my words Shiden, mark my words."