Master Raven: Origins

by dunkingman

(Requested story). This tale follows the life and upbringing of Master Raven. She once had a family of her own before civil war destroyed her hometown. Lucky for Master Raven, she was saved by her new guardian and took up his discipline as a ninja spy. Soon Master Raven would take over the leadership position of her clan and role as a spy after her guardian's death.

3. New Home

New Home

Near Morotsuka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan…

The secret agent ninja, Crow, agreed to take in the former princess Urenna as a student in Japan. It was true that the Shika-Ryu Ninjitsu needed fresh blood. Crow was only one of two survivors in that clan. If he were to die soon, the martial art and legacy of this clan would perish forever. As the girl slept behind the backseat in the cockpit of the hovercraft, Crow needed some ways to figure out how effective Urenna's training should be.

Crow (Thinking): "Taking this girl to Japan will be very much a culture shock for her. First I should contact my fellow clanswoman Omani. She will need to act as Urenna's personal teacher as far as education is concerned. The girl's physical training I can handle. Of course I will not be there to watch her at all times. My job will not allow it. I hope Omani is doing well. I will need her support in the early stages of Urenna's development, even on the days I am not there to see the girl's progress. When I arrive at Morotsuka, I will contact Omani immediately. Find out where she is."

The Shika Clan is the only functioning ninja clan left in Kyushu Island, not counting the performers who make up their own style of ninjitsu to please tourists. The clan shares it origins from the Koga branch of ninjitsu. After the Sengoku Warring States era, the clan maintained a base deep within the mountains of Miyazaki Prefecture. Some of the base was embedded within a cave while the remaining half overlooked the valley side on top of a cliff. Because the area was in such a barren state, Crow simply landed his hovercraft right above the Cliffside. From here, Crow managed to contact Omani.

Crow: "Omani?"

Omani: "Hide (Pronounced as Hee-day). Hide it's been too long! How are you?"

Crow: "Ssssshhhh! I have something important to tell you, but do not yell out my real name."

Omani: "What is wrong? Why are you whispering?"

Crow looks back, Urenna is still asleep…

Crow: "Just listen. Listen very carefully. I do apologize for not speaking with you in recent months. The job has been getting very busy as of late. Now I finally have a bit of a break. However, can you please meet with me at the base today?"

Omani: "I can but I am work at the school right now. Are you really back home?"

Crow: "Yes I am. I know you are working right now, but please come back here as soon as you can. There is someone that I want you to meet."

Omani: "Ohhh…I see. Then I will come before sundown Hide. See you then."

Crow (Annoyed): "Omani!"

Omani: "Oh gomenasi Crow." (Laughing)

Then Urenna wakes up…

Urenna: "Hmmm…mmm." (Stretching)

Crow: "Sayonara." (Hangs up.)

Urenna: "Huh? Where are we?"

Crow: "Come. Let us get out."

When Urenna climbed down from the hovercraft, her eyes widened at the sight of Kyushu's mountains and valleys scattered all across the horizon. Was she dreaming this? It was so serene and beautiful. Yet the temperature felt chillier than back home in the Niger Delta Region. Even with a jacket on, Urenna felt cold. Seeing this, Crow told the girl to come inside the cave complex so she could warm up and talk with her.

Crow: "So…what do you think?"

Urenna (Looking around): "Think of what?"

Crow: "Japan. Your new home."

Urenna: "It is beautiful…but cold."

Crow (Smirkes): "Yes…well lucky for you little one the temperature will warm up for it is almost spring here."

Urenna: "It was cold back in New York too. At home it is always hot, but never cold like this."

Crow: "Indeed, but you must bear it if you wish learn my discipline."

Urenna sat down on top of a small stool. She felt warmer sitting on it. It used to belong to Crow's master whenever he was polishing his weaponry. Crow continued to speak while standing up inside the dim cave.

Crow: "The place we are inside now is our ninja hideout. This is the place where my Master raised me and Omani in the art of ninjitsu known as Shika-ryu."

Urenna: "Shika what?"

Crow (Frowning): "Shika-ryu. You should remember the name well."

Urenna: "Shika-ryu. Does that have something to do with ninjatsu or ninjootu?"

Crow (Face palms & thinks): "This is exactly why I need Omani. If I explain the details of this art the girl may not ever pronounce proper Japanese dialect!"

Urenna: "Did I say something wrong?"

Crow: "Don't worry about it." (Yawns) "Flying back over here still has me weary. I'm going to take a nap. Make yourself at home. I have a friend that is coming before nightfall, she will assist me in teaching you about our way of life. I will be sure to wake up by then okay."

Urenna: "Um…okay."

Crow walked into the lone hallway where he retired for his old room. By the time Crow closed his door, Urenna stood up from the stool she sat on. Looking around some more, Urenna couldn't help but marvel at all of the things that were foreign to her. From scrolls that were written in Japanese characters, to the ninja weaponry, a huge map of the world with pins attached on various locations, jars full of concoctions in the kitchen area, and finally there was an old television adjacent near a big sofa. However, the TV had no cable. All Urenna got was static. Then Urenna spotted a clock anchored right above the television. The time was totally wrong and the batteries on it were long dead. Feeling bummed out, Urenna just went over to the sofa and laid down again, drifting back to sleep.

Sundown…

Crow woke up from his nap early. He walked back into great space of the cave base where he found Urenna napping again on the sofa. Crow looked at his watch for the time. It said 6:12 pm.

Crow: "Omani should be coming at any minute now. Do I need to call her?"

Finally, the front door of the cave complex opened. It was Omani who was still in her work clothes, and she was carrying her briefcase full of schoolwork. She gave Crow a warm smile. Though they kept tabs on each other, it had been three years since Crow and Omani met face to face, and six years since they both met at the base. Omani was happy to see Crow, but Crow kept his game face on and nodded his head.

Omanii: "You look well Hide."

Crow: "Yes and I guess the same can be said for you." (He noticed Omani looked heavier than usual in body weight) "Have you been exercising or did you gain weight since we last met?"

Omani (Not amused.): "Is that all you have to say?"

Crow (Changing the subject): "Okay forgive me. At any rate, this is important because I need your help with someone I brought here from Africa."

Omani: "You brought a visitor here?"

Crow: "Hai. I will show you."

Urenna was still sound asleep on the sofa as the two ninjas look over her. Omani couldn't believe Crow was willing to bring a foreigner her into the base, let alone a young girl. Since she was so found of children, Omani needed to know what was going on.

Omani: "This is the one right?"

Crow: "Indeed. I decided to bring her here for two reasons. Reason one is because she lost her family in a nasty civil war in her home country of Nigeria. And two, our style of ninjitsu must not be extinguished in the flow of time. Therefore, we must bring in fresh blood to keep our clan's existence intact."

Omani: "I see. Just like us."

Crow: "Omani, I ask that you handle the girl's education, teach her our history and grammar."

Omani (Holding her heart on her chest): "Poor thing, losing her family to civil war."

Crow: "So will you help me out?"

Omani "Hai. I will help you look after the girl. However, no one from around here is used to foreigners Crow. I understand it took a while for the locals to get used to you because you are not fully Japanese, but you were just a stow away child. It's not like I can just bring the girl over to my school and have her be a regular student. It will take some time."

Crow: "Do not bring her to the public school. She will have to study here on the weekends. I can stay and help you train Urenna until my next mission."

Omani: "How long will that take?"

Crow: "Could be days, could be weeks."

Omani (Shakes her head): "Crow, I agree that our clan needs a suitable heir, but we have tried this in the past, our previous candidates lost interest saying it was the training was too hard. Then with your job at the UN, you expect me to always watch her with my work?"

Crow: "No. But you of all people should know my job comes with danger. Master didn't ask you to do the same thing."

Omani: "I know that but…"

Urenna wakes up after being disturbed by the growing argument between the ninjas. She looked at the woman first, wondering who she was. At least she didn't look nearly as freaky as Crow did.

Urenna: "Um…hello."

Crow: "Welcome back Urenna. This is the person I wanted you to meet. The other half of our clan, Omani."

Urenna: "Nice to meet you."

Omani: "Yes likewise." (Nervously laughs) "What is your name?"

Urenna: "Urenna."

Omani: "Urenna. What a pretty name. Where are you from?"

Urenna: "Calabar."

Omani "Calabar?"

Crow: "It's in Nigeria."

Omani: "Well she could have told me that."

Crow: "Urenna this will be your teacher. Omani will teach you our history, language, and anything else school related. I will be supervising your physical training on the days I am here. You will not be allowed to leave this area without our permission. If you do, then we will not come and try to find you. Like I stated, you will be on your own."

Onami (Frowning): "Isn't that rather harsh? I mean she is a refugee in a foreign land."

Crow: "I will not have it any other way Omani." (After pausing) "This is all in an effort to make you strong and survive the trials that are ahead little one. You have much to learn from both of us. If you work hard, the benefits of your labor will astonish you. That much I can guarantee."

Urenna knew Crow's words had plenty of merit. Far away from home and staying in a strange land, she had to obey her new caretakers from here on out. Urenna just hoped that she could live up to their expectations. Suddenly, Omani's stomach began to rumble of hunger. The sun was finally settling down and the cave was quickly getting dark.

Omani: "Oh my! I haven't eaten a thing since my break in school. Crow did you bring food?"

Crow: "No I didn't."

Omani: "You idiot! Bringing this poor girl here and not buy food! Since you are geared up, go out to the store and buy groceries! I know you have money!"

Crow: "I guess you are right. The food here is so old and rotten, I couldn't possibly feed this to Urenna."

Omani: "I know for a fact! You haven't been back here in years! And while you get the food, I'm going to have to clean up after you! Now get moving!" (Pushes Crow)

Crow: "Hey!" (Thinks.) "Gah! This is why I try to avoid this woman! Always teasing me in front of others!"

Crow quickly leaves…

Omani: "Silly man! Always thinks he's such a hotshot!" (Looks at girl) "Urenna, was it? I think you and I have some work to do. Your first task as a genin will be to help me clean up the place. We will start with the kitchen alright?"

Urenna (Liking Omani): "Alright."

It look about an hour for Crow to buy as many groceries from the small store as possible could so he could return at the cave in a reasonable time. When he arrived back at the cave, the kitchen had already looked spiffier in his eyes. Omani wasn't satisfied still since she had to get rid of spider webs inside the cabinets and throw away spoiled food. The oven was still not clean. There were stuffed trash bags all outside the door. Crow did feel ashamed to let the cave be in such poor condition all of this time. Omani then looked at the items Crow bought, thinking of something fast to make.

Omani: "Hmm...well I'm happy you bought snacks. Urenna would you like some chips?"

Urenna: "Yes please!"

Omani: "Good! I'll just make some hand rolls then. Crow the stove is still dirty and not working. I hope you bought a generator."

Crow: "I did, infact it was heaviest thing I bought at the store."

Omani: "Plug it up so that I can activate the stove. Does the TV work?"

Crow: "It should be, but no cable."

Omani: "What about the VCR? Is it still here?"

Crow: "I didn't bother to look."
Omani: "Ugh. Fine I know where it is."

Omani went inside the storage room and found the VCR underneath one of the old dressers stashed behind by their master. From there she made Crow hook the VCR under the TV. At least now Urenna could watch home tapes. Omani wasted no time using the rice, seaweed, and tuna Crow bought to make the hand rolls with. Soon they all sat in the table together and ate dinner. Even though it was a Friday, Omani took the next day off from her school job in anticipation of Crow's return. It would take too long to drive back to her house, so Omani decided to reminisce and stay in the cave with Crow and Urenna. The woman slept with Urenna on the sofa to keep her company since Crow did not want the same treatment.

The next day…

After getting a lot of sleep, Urenna felt much better after the long jet lag. She discovered that Omani got up before she did and Crow as well. The front door was open, but Urenna remembered Crow's warning not to venture off without permission. So she called out Crow's name. Eventually the person she called for stepped back inside the cave.

Crow: "Urenna?"

Urenna: "Crow. I didn't see you guys, so I called out your name."

Crow: "Oh, sorry about that. Me and Omani are outside. We are cooking more fish for breakfast and then we will show you the rest of our camp outdoors. Come! This way."

Urenna (Shivering): "It's still cold!"

Crow (Gets her one of his jacket when he was smaller): "Here, I know it smells, but it will keep you warm."

Urenna didn't care how it smelled for she still could not handle the cold breezes that Japan's mountains had to offer. Outside Crow guided Urenna to Onami who was now in her dark purple ninja outfit but the mask was off her face. Omani was happy to see girl finally wake up while tending to the grilled fish.

Omani: "Morning! How are you feeling?"

Urenna: "Cold."

Omani (Laughing): "Yes, it is cold. However a ninja's blood must be thicker than water. Thicker than most people anyway. Are you hungry? It's been so long since I ate outside at the cave. Brings back so many memories."

Crow: "Is the fish ready?"

Omani: "Just about. Why don't you sit down Crow? Relax."

Crow: "If you insist."

Once the trio finished eating breakfast, Crow led the two ladies deep within the Shika Clan territory. Hidden within the forests Crow showed Urenna exactly where her physical training will take place. There were a total of six different obstacle courses. The first course was the tightrope stage for balancing practice. The first level was on the ground, then the middle level was about 25 feet high. The third level would be 50 feet high and above. The second course was built like a shooting range, except for shiruken throwing. The third course looked more normal with narrow roads zig zagging across the trees and small hills. This would be the area were Urenna must run laps for endurance. The fourth course was actually a small creek where Urenna will practice speed running & cross jumping. Speed running consists of running as fast as possible without sinking into the water. Speed running is vital for the ninja to master. Cross jumping is similar but for the time being, Urenna will practice jumping on the ground level. The fifth course is where the forest was very thick. It was difficult to navigate through here because the vegetation grew so wildly over the years. Crow explained that this area is where the ninja must learn to travel freely within the shadows, as well as putting on disguises. The last course was the abandoned temple. It was in pretty bad shape, so Crow knew that he needed to clean the area up. This temple is where he and Omani first learned ninjitsu self-defense techniques and it served as an area of meditation. Meditation provided the ninja focus, self-awareness, and spiritual guidance.

The tour lasted for hours. By the time the three got back to the Cliffside, they were all pretty exhausted from the hiking and cutting away at the old paths that were covered by tree limbs & tall grass. The temperature went up rather quickly throughout the day. Urenna was sweating due to the constant walking while wearing the thick jacket. Plus, her feet were aching really bad. Omani could sense Urenna's fatigue and discomfort. Back in the cave, Omani gave her some cold bottled water to drink. Crow was tried himself, but he wanted to make sure the girls were settled.

Crow: "Are you two ok?"

Omani: "We are pretty tired from walking, but what about you?"

Crow: "I am but I should return to the temple and continue polishing the place up. Stay and watch the girl until I get back."

Omani: "Don't make us look for you Crow!"

Crow ignored Omani's retort and kept right on walking. Omani then reassured Urenna that she knew how rough it was during her time here at the Shika clan camp.

Omani: "Tell me young one. How are you really feeling?"

Urenna (Starts whimpering): "My feet hurt."

Omani: "Believe it or not, mine are too. It has been years since I have ventured deep into camp like that. So I'm pooped." (Laughing) "Urenna, how old are you?"

Urenna: "I'm just 7."

Omani: "7 years old. I actually started training here when I was 5. I'm now 36."

Urenna: "Five?"

Omani: "Hai. I lived here every day for 13 long years until I decided to go to university. My master was worried that I would compromise our location by going, but I kept my lips sealed." (Smiling) "In no time, I picked up my degree and I started teaching. I tried the big city schools, but I missed the countryside so much I moved back here to teach kids your age at the local village."

Urenna: "Really you live close?"

Omani: "Sort of. I teach at Morotsuka but I actually live in another city called Misato. So it is not the shortest drive."

Urenna: "Why don't you do the things that Crow does, like fight bad guys?"

Omani: "I'm not as talented as Crow I hate to admit. Master always said I was the best spy, but he was the best fighter. Besides, my heart was never into fighting like that. I only did it out of self-defense. Taking on the role as a full-time ninja is something that is better suited for Crow. It is the only way he knows how to live. Me, I rather use my skills in a more discreet manner and live for myself. I will continue to support Crow, but I wish he would settle down and stay here instead of fighting the world's battles on his own."

Urenna felt better listening to Omani's soothing voice. The woman pets the young girl's messy braids in comfort. Something inside Omani made her feel that Crow made a wise choice to pick this girl to continue the Shika clan legacy.

Omani: "Everything will be just fine."