I pushed the box aside, and hugged her tightly, cutting the ropes.
"If you wish to run, run now. This monster, I cannot hold much longer."
As tears rushed down her cheeks, she kissed me passionatly.
I was shocked at the purity and passion of her kiss, but I took it in slowly. We both knew this was our last chance.
"Stand down, Zed!"
It was Shen.
"No, Shen!"
Akali screamed.
I sighed, turning around.
"As we speak, my shadows are ravaging your 'safe haven'. How do you feel, not being able to protect them, just like all those years ago?"
"Zed... No..." Shen mumbled, horror seeping from him.
Shen... Just back off now... Please... I don't want to fight you anymore... I don't want to fight anything anymore... I'm done already... Just... Let me go...

How did it come to this...?
I had always been seen as inferior.
A true shadow.
No one noticed when I came, no one noticed when I left.
Akali had been the first to recognize my efforts, and pushed me on.
I had listened to her every word, ever since we had been found and taken in by the master.
I still remember Shen, taking care of us, and master's unwavering spirit.
His guidance, and his teachings...
I had first been spurred on in my mission by Akali.
You are good, probably good enough to beat Shen, she said.
I had hesitated, and did not really try, but as the fight wore on, I got more and more encouraged.
Shen had not been training to take care of us, and I was able to stalemate him until we agreed to stop.
At that time, I had thought Shen was giving me a chance.
A chance to prove myself.
I trained day and night, picking up new techniques, obsessing over ways to penetrate his defense.
But it was all for naught. He was always better than me, and we both knew.
To the untrained eye, Shen and I were equal. But to me, I could see the purposeful mistakes, the opportunities he gave me...
The way he allowed me to block his hits, to wait for me to attack before waiting for my mistake...
He was a good friend as well. I would have never thought to hurt him.
That day, I had approached Master for advice. He said, find what you have never found.
I figured it might be a characteristic, or some value of a person I never had. Needless to say, I decided to search for a physical object while thinking it over.
Chancing upon the dark book was just my luck.
As I approached it, I tried to run, knowing the dangers.
It's too late! The sight of the book is enough to addict thy.
So then and there, I touched the book, my whole essence writhing in agony at the countless wounds it struck in me.
By the end of what felt like an eternity of pain, I lay on the floor, sweat coating me, the world brighter than ever.
Too bright.
I crawled into a shadow, and many techniques flooded my thoughts.
Beat Shen. Go.
I hated myself. I hated everything.
This hate... It burns...
It was already night by the time I went to fight Shen.
Everyone had pretty much fallen asleep, but I insisted.
Insisted on my demise.
As I unleashed my wrath on the unprepared Shen, I could tell his fear.
And I liked it.
To be feared.
After I left, I had been gathering more and more disciples.
With every disciple, I grew more and more hesitant to continue, and held more and more regret for spreading this disease, this burden.
I had to make many tough decisions, kill many good people, for the sake of satiating the shadow within.
With every mistake, I dug this hidden blade deeper.
Truly, the hidden blade is the deadliest.
Master had muttered those words before.
He hadn't told me when he had banished me, but he had also mastered the shadows.
Like me, he had stalemated another ninja, and relied on forbidden techniques.
But it was not to be.
He realized how detrimental it was, and it took a toll on him.
He didn't want me down that path, but no one else could bear the burden of this secret.
I was his "sacrificial lamb", there because from the start he wanted me to hold that position, the aspect of Shadow.
On the night of my return, I really wanted to return, as a ninja, not as a traitor.
I did everything in order. I rang washed my hands, rang the bell, and dropped a few coins into the box near the entrance.
Then Master came out, and made a show, offering me a blade with the pretense that he should die for not teaching me properly, and requested I set them on the path of balance.
Then he brought me, alone, to the room with the book of Shadows.
"Master, I don't want this anymore. I want to return, a ninja. I know I've made mistakes-"
"That's not the point. I brought you here because I want you to take it, and protect it with your life."
That was when he revealed everything.
About how from young I already had the Shadows in me, he could see it. Knowing that, he did his best to drive me down this path, and though it pained him, only a Master of Shadows could keep the book safe.
About how I had already surpassed Shen, and had no need to do anything more, simply be the Aspect of Shadow.
About how, I was to pass this burden down.
"I will not do it! No one needs to suffer! Just destroy the book!"
"You have to. If you destroy it, balance will be destroyed. You know how important that is!"
I cried out, before slicing his head clean off.
I regretted it the moment I did it, but I stormed out, without the book, and screamed.
"Kill them all!"
Before walking back in, in grief.
I had to bear this burden my whole life...?
The Aspect of Shadow, the Secret Protector, the Fallen Ninja.
I was to me blamed for my whole life for the destruction of the old order.
But no one else could bear this burden but me. No one else should have to bear it.
My room would now be this room, confined with the book.
Forever.

Author's note:
Sorry for this flashback filler, I know it's quite bad, but I felt Zed needed more than just cruelty to regret.

Thanks to Katargo for favorite and follow, WingsofRequiem and Saraharmony for follow.

As always, thanks for all your support guys! Next one should be up by next Saturday!