'Why are you here?'

Snowie slowly opens his eyes, it's Syrence who is perching on a pin in front of him.

'Syrence, what do you want?' Snowie barks.

'You're not a real wolf, aren't you?' Syrence asks.

'What do you mean?' Snowie stands up, looking at the eagle.

'I sense no wildness in you. You're not a real wolf, you're… something else.'

Snowie's silent for a while, then he replies 'You're no ordinary eagle. Am I right, Syrence? A normal eagle couldn't have such comments.'

Syrence doesn't answer, she starts pluming herself 'We're the same, Snowie.' Then she continues 'I don't know who or what you are, but you're right about that. Now if you don't mind, I will get some sleep.'

Syrence closes her eyes. Snowie looks at the eagle for a while then he leaves the cabin.

"Snowie? I though you're still asleep?"

That's his master, a boy named Colt. Colt sits down and pats Snowie's head. "Be a good boy, ok? I need to change Syrence's bandage right now."

Snowie obediently barks. Colt smiles and stands up, heads to the cabin where Syrence is. Snowie looks at his master silently.

Is it time yet? He can't keep hiding from his young master like this, can he?

*************

An hour has passed…

It begins to rain outside the aircraft. Tum tum looks out of the window worrily, then he turns around:

"The weather isn't very good…"

"Fear not, the rain's kinda light. We can make it, don't worry." Gery says.

Tum tum sits down next to Gery. Hope everything will be ok…

Koutetsu is talking to Rocky about something, he's better now, Rocky can tell. Koutetsu is a funny man, but sometimes he can be a little… weird. After finishing the conversation, Koutetsu takes a seat and looks outside the window. Rocky makes his way to his seat, he suddently sees Colt.

Colt is looking outside the window, with a sad look on his face. Rocky takes a seat next to Colt. "What is it?"

Colt turns around "What?"

"You look sad. What's up?"

Colt's silent for a while. Then he mumbles "I hate rain…"

"Why?"

"It brings back unpleasant memories…"

Rocky looks at his younger brother silently. Colt continues with his sad voice "I hate rain… it makes me remember that accident…"

Rocky frowns. Yes, he remembers that accident too, it happened in a rainy day, but it was two years ago… "Haven't I told you that don't look back to the past?"

"I don't." Colt talks back "But the rain reminds me of it…"

Rocky sighs then holds his brother's hand "Then try not to remember it!"

"It's hard…" Colt sadly says "You know what… at that time, I was scared…"

Rocky doesn't reply, he's still looking at his brother. Colt continues "I was scared… of losing someone important to me… I was scared… of me…"

"I realized that… It was about time to change myself…" Colt lowers his voice.

"So this was the reason why…" Rocky mumbles "…You tried to become a calm and thoughful brother, right?"

Colt nods "A hot-headed character won't solve anything… in fact, it only brings troubles."

Rocky sympathizes his brother.

Should I tell him?

Colt wonders. Maybe I shouldn't, we have enough troubles today, I don't want him to worry. Somehow Rocky have a feeling that Colt's hiding something.

"You're… hiding something, aren't you?"

"Why do you ask?" Colt looks ourside the window.

"You look away. You only look away when you're hiding something. Don't try to fool me, Colt! I know you better than anyone else."

"Now you demand me to TALK! Not again!"

"Hey, Colt! I always do the right thing to you, right? I'm worry about you!"

Colt closes his eyes. Then he turns around, opens them and looks at his brother. Rocky can notice the fear in his eyes.

"Rocky, even if you know… will you be able to help me?"

"I'll try my best."

"No, you can't. I'm sure about that." Colt insists.

"Rocky… there's a monster inside me." Colt says with a shaken voice.

Rocky widens his eyes. What does he mean? Colt stands up, intends to leave. Rocky calls after him.

"Colt! Hey, I don't get that!"

"I know. I don't expect you to get that, either!" Colt replies, his voice has returned to normal.

Colt leaves to another cabin. Rocky's sitting silently, thinking what his brother meant.

Colt sure has changed a lot. But Rocky knows him better than anyone else. Colt is always trying to be strong boy with a sense of humor. But actually, he's very sensitive and easily broken. But still…

What did he mean by "there's a monster inside me"?

***************

Colt closes the door behind him, thinking that he should go to meet Snowie. Suddently, Rocky appears in front of him.

"Waa, don't scare me like that, Rocky!" Colt yells.

Rocky doesn't answer. Weird, there's something isn't right.

"Rocky?" Colt approaches his brother "I saw you back there… then… why are you here?"

Bad feelings…

Rocky smiles. Colt suddently feels scare. What is happening?

"Stop that, Rock! You're freaking me out!" Colt demands.

Rocky still doesn't answer. There's something wrong with his brother. Colt frowns, he takes out a chakram and points it at Rocky.

"You are not Rocky! WHO ARE YOU?"

"You're a ninja…" Rocky speaks "…an amatuer! Don't you know that… a ninja is also a masquerade expert?"

He takes of the Rocky mask. And there, standing in front of Colt's eyes is…

"ONOUKA!" Colt yells.

"Well met, little boy!" Onouka grins.

"How-how can you get on this aircraft?" Colt widens his eyes.

"Oh… do you remember the pilot? Well, I borrowed his face when we got here."

"What? That's mean nobody is controlling the aircraft, right now?"

"Not exactly… I turned to the auto system." Onouka smiles.

Colt takes his fighting attitude, staring at Onouka "What do you want now?"

"I'm here on my mission. Don't your grandpa teach you that a ninja's mission is a secret?"

"You're going nowhere!" Colt yells and begins to attack Onouka.

Onouka easily dodges his attacks. Colt stands back and lauches another attack, but he misses again. Onouka is too fast!

"Not bad, not bad at all! You're faster than your brother, but that's not enough to beat me!" Onouka laughs.

Colt frowns angrily and attacks again. Onouka dodges it again. Strange, why doesn't he counter? Colt holds the chakram tighly in his hands, then jumps forwards to attack.

But this time…

Onouka blocks Colt's attack. And with only one hand, he quickly grasps Colt's wrists and pushes him to the wall. The chakram falls off from Colt's hand.

"Danmmit! Let go of me!" Colt yells.

"You're still weak…" Onouka comments "… and you call yourself a Tanaka's grandson?"

Colt's trying to break free, but it's hopeless. Onouka frowns "Be a good boy and follow me, don't try to fight back."

"What do you want from me?" Colt frowns.

"Not only you. I have to kidnap you THREE." Onouka answers "I don't like being called a kidnapper. However, this is my master's order, I have to obey no matter what."

"I'm not letting you hurt Rocky and Tum tum!"

"What can you do? Look at yourself! You're weak! And hopeless…!" Onouka mocks.

Hopeless? Am I?

Is it true that… I'm too weak? I can't protect my loved ones… can I?

It's raining outside… those images are running in Colt's head, like a movie… Colt suddently remembers that accident…

……………………………………………

"Rocky! Please don't leave me!"

Colt was holding his brother, who was unconsious, blood were everywhere, covering the ground. It was Rocky's blood…

Colt was crying and screaming, while Rocky's eyes were closing. He was cold…

That was a rainy day………

……………………………………………

Colt stops breaking free, he lowers his head. Onouka was right. He's too weak, too sentitive…

....Too humanatitarian to become a ninja....

Onouka looks at Colt silently "It's hurt, right?"

Colt looks up. Onouka frowns "It's hurt for being called a failure, right?"

Why does Onouka ask that question? Colt wonders. Then he nods slightly. Onouka lets go of Colt's wrists and stands back.

"Why?" Colt asks "You have chance to kidnap me…"

Onouka doesn't answer. He looks down, for a second, Colt sees sadness in his eyes.

"Colt, I heard some noises. What's happening?"

That is Rocky's voice! He's going to be here soon! Onouka frowns, then he speaks precisely.

"Hey, kid, I'll come back to get you and your brothers! By that time, let's see if you can stand a chance against me! Training hard, will ya?"

Then Onouka throws a smoke bomb and disappears. The door is opened. Rocky looks at his Colt.

"Colt, what happened? I heard some noises."

Colt turns around and nods "Everything's fine. I took a false step and fell down, that's all."

"Then why are you crying?"

Crying? Colt was crying, and he didn't even notice that! Colt tries to smile "Well, it's kinda hurt when I fell down."

Colt intends to leave, Rocky graps his hand "Hold it right there, Colt. You're lying. There's no way you would cry because of that silly reason."

"I'm telling the truth! What do you expect me to say?" Colt cries.

Rocky doubtfully looks at Colt. He's lying, Rocky knows for sure. But why?

"Let me go, Rocky… I want to be alone… for now…" Colt begs.

Rocky lets go of Colt's hand. Colt leaves the cabin, heads to where their companions are. Rocky sighs, then he notices Colt's chakram lying on the floor. What just happened? Colt had a fight with someone?

But who?

Colt's hugging Snowie. At time like these, he just want to be alone.

It keeps raining…

This is the reason why Colt always wants to be lonely, like a lone wolf, wants to run free, like a wild horse. Because he doesn't want to love anyone, the more love you give to someone, the more pain you have to suffer…

If it means to give up my heart to become a real ninja… then I'd rather choose another path to go…

(to be continued)