After walking all day, followed by climbing a mountain (this had been a first for Kai) he had been able to eat, clean up, and crash. Now he stood ready to start his ninja training so he could save his little sister and clean up the mess he was responsible for.

"Hey," said the annoyingly familiar voice, "Cheer up! It could be worse."

"I know, I know," Kai said aloud. "I just…" Kai thought of the past. He'd made a promise that day to himself to look after Nya, and make sure nothing would ever hurt her again. Especially nothing he did. "I'm going to get her back, Ash; if it's the last thing I do. Now be useful today and don't distract me."

Sounding slightly offended Ash replied, "I'm always useful. Maybe not in the way you want me to be…"

"Just, watch my back," Kai said as he left his room and headed for the courtyard.

Ash laughed, "Don't I always?" Kia could hear the mischievousness in Ash's voice.

Ash had been with Kai as long as he could remember. He was only a voice in his head, but Ash held a lot of sway with Kai. They were best friends, and Ash seemed to be the only one who really understood him, even if Ash was just something he might have made up and hadn't let go yet. They had thought Ash was his subconscious once, but Ash made a terrible subconscious, so instead Ash had remained as Kai's imaginary friend or split personality; however you wanted to look at it.

Kai rolled his eyes as he stepped onto the portico. There he found Sensei Wu kneeling on a mat with tea set up for one on a tray next to him. On his other side was a wooden sword. In the courtyard was what you could call a training course, or impossible.

The starting point had three human-sized dummies swinging from a platform turning counterclockwise. After that followed five or six posts with poles sticking out from them all turning in different directions. Another platform was turning counterclockwise, but with two spinning disks with swords sticking out attached to the center post. Five or four more posts followed, shifting up and down from the ground. A third spinning platform equipped with three chopping axes, followed by another five or six posts swiping the air for any unlucky participant. The course ended with one final spinning platform with a swinging flail. In the center of the course was a spinning central post armed with a swinging punching bag and flail.

Kai swallowed as he approached Sensei. "Wow… you really have your work cut out for you," said Ash.

Kai accepted the wooden sword from Sensei. "If it's what I've got to do, then so be it."

"Good luck bro. I'ma stay back here where it's safe, you know?"

"What happened to watching my back!?" exclaimed Kai.

"Finish the course before I finish my tea," said Sensei.

"I will… just from… you know, back here."

"Ugh, you're no help."

Kai burst into motion and ran straight at the first obstacle, only to be thrown back to the ground by the first dummy. He got to his feet and ran at the dummies again. Over and over he met the dummies on the spinning platform only to be thrown off, each time angering him further. Until Sensei told him to call it quits for now. Aggravated, Kai threw his wooden sword to the ground and stormed off to his room.

"Wow… real mature Kai." Ash said sarcastically.

"Shut up!" shouted Kai.

"Hey! Don't tell me what to do! And anyway you're yelling. That won't look suspicious at all," sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Kai took a breath and thought, "I'm stuck here trying to fend off dummies while who knows where Nya is or what's happening to her! How am I to finish the course in a time limit when I can't even beat the first obstacle? Was all that training a waste?" Kai was pacing the room.

"First off, I have a feeling Nya is fine. Second, the old man knows what he's doing. And third, that's different. You weren't going up against a training course. Plus this is your first day," Ash pointed out.

"I'll just have to move faster, work harder. I've got to get better." Kai started to head back to the training course.

"Good, use that frustration to your advantage. Let it fuel you."

When Kai reached the courtyard, he checked to make sure Sensei Wu wasn't out there before taking the course head on. He charged the first platform. Jumping on, he steadied himself, running against it trying to simply dodge the dummies. They swung with no rhyme or reason and eventually knocked him off. Kai got up and studied the platform before trying again. By the time an hour had gone by Kai had been knocked off fifteen more times.

"Kai… You're thinking too much. The more you think, the less you'll react."

Kai struggled to his feet. He felt beat up and majorly bruised. Even worse, he felt defeated. How had he ever thought he could protect Nya and their home when he couldn't even beat a moving dummy.

He watched the course swing and spin. He closed his eyes leaning on a wooden support. Nya's scream rang in his ears jarring him alert and tense. His eyes fell on the course again. He followed the path one of the dummies made on the platform.

He planted his feet, relaxed his muscles, raised his sword and charged. In one smooth jump, he landed on the spinning platform and took off running against it. First dummy dodged, second parried, third slammed into the center pole. A leap from the platform landed him for the first time at the second obstacle. Relief washed over him as he felt his determination return.

Second obstacle. Kai darted through it, taking some hits but blocking most. He weaved through the poles with the skill of a swordsman till he reached the other side. Five obstacles to go. He could and would do this! Kai forged on, though beaten and tired conquering the next two obstacles before finally meeting his match at the ax platform.

Exhausted Kai plopped onto the steps. "Well done," came a voice from behind causing Kai to jump. "Not many make it this far their first day," Sensei continued, "but now it is time for you to rest."

"Yes, Sensei," said Kai. With a hand from the old man, Kai got to his feet and drug himself to bed.

"I knew you could do it. I knew you could." Kai could tell Ash was smiling.

"I haven't done it yet," said Kai yawning. He pulled the covers up and closed his eyes. Turning in his mind, he saw Ash with his flaming red hair and vibrant green eyes watching him from beyond the dais. "But I will," he said aloud confidently.

Mischief danced in Ash's eyes as he smiled. "I know you will."