Beneath The Stars

Chapter 2: The Black Panther

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Tenchu chars or the song, which is by Enigma I think, and it's called 'Return to Innocence'…probably anyway.

Don't be afraid to be weak,

Don't be proud to be strong,

Just look into your heart my friend,

That will be the return to yourself.

The return to innocence.

Ayame pushed the younger girl ahead of her, keeping a tight grip on the back of her black shirt. She'd already tried to run off twice, not that Ayame had any trouble catching her again, it was just that it wasted time, and since it was pouring down with rain, both of them were soaked by the time they reached the edge of the village.

The girl stopped suddenly, Ayame nearly walked into her.

'What's wrong?' She hissed at the girl

The girl shot her an evil smirk, and made a loud yowling noise, not unlike the wild cats which could be found in the bamboo forests in this area. The girl twisted out of her grip, and shot into the darkness. Ayame had been ready for this however, and started after her. A dark figure dropped from the tree in front of her. The long sword in one hand was quite visible even in the darkness.

Ayame brought her kodatchi up in time to block a down blow from the sword. The sword jammed in between her crossed blades, and she kicked out at the shadows knee. She was rewarded with a satisfying crack, although the shadow didn't falter and finally managed to pull the sword free.

Ayame ducked beneath the blade, and lunged in with her blades. The stranger leapt back, brought a leg around in a swipe, kicking Ayame in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She back-flipped just as the sword hummed by her face.

The swordsman lunged in and they traded blows for awhile, neither seeming to get an advantage. The sword came down towards Ayame's head once more, and she side-stepped to avoid it, lashing out clumsily towards the dark figure before she caught her foot on a rock, and fell to her knees. The stranger leaned back to avoid Ayame's slice, and overbalanced, falling into the mud.

Ayame's struggled to her feet. She was exhausted, but she dragged herself over to where the prone figure struggled in the mud. She snatched the mask from the strangers face. Another pair of angry, defiant eyes stared back at her. They were a disquieting shade of green.

'Well? Are you going to kill me or not?' The boy said defiantly. Well, Ayame thought, not really a boy. He looks about my age.

'I should kill you, except I'm guessing that you're the 'Master' ninja 'round here.' She replied curtly. 'I came to speak with you, but you attacked me, and before that you sent your apprentice to steal from me.'

The other ninja looked away. It was obvious that he did in fact realise what a breach of code it was to send a ninja out to steal. Not to retrieve, but to steal money.

'Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now?' Ayame demanded.

He looked around at her angrily, 'Well, for a start, you've made a fatal mistake in letting me get my breath back.' He leapt to his feet, with ninja speed, his sword in hand. 'And besides that…I have to send my apprentice out to obtain any money she can get.'

'And why's that?' Ayame said coolly, not even flinching from the sword which the stranger brandished.

Green eyes regarded her once more, and then the man sighed. 'Because we are starving. I tell you this only because it is obvious that you are also a ninja, and in hope that you will understand our troubles.'

Ayame regarded him for a moment longer, before lowering her blades. 'Ok, I'm willing to believe that. Where are you stationed? Perhaps you want to explain these 'troubles' to me in more detail?'

The stranger smiled, and lowered the sword. 'Very well. Follow me.' He turned to the darkness, 'Neko, you may come out now.' The girl whom Ayame had caught in her room, stepped from the shadows, glaring balefully at Ayame.

The boy turned to Ayame and smiled. 'My name is Kurohyou, but please call me Hyou.' He indicated the white-haired girl who was still scowling at Ayame, 'This is my apprentice, Suteneko, but she prefers Neko.'

Ayame nodded politely, 'My name is Ayame. I am Master of the Azuma Ninjas.' Oh well, they had no way of knowing she was Master because she was the only Azuma left. Silently, she followed the other two out of the clearing.

***

As Ayame sat cross-legged and sipped a warm drink, which tasted faintly of a healing herb that Ayame was familiar with, Hyou explained to her how his clan had been reduced to stealing money.

Suteneko was his sister. Both of them had been found, alone, beside the roadside and taken in by the Master at the time. Ayame knew the custom of leaving children with strange 'deformaties' by the roadside. Hyou's bright green eyes and Neko's strange white hair were probably enough to denote that evil spirits were troubling the children. Parents usually left such children to the perils of the roadside. Rikimaru's silver hair had probably been the reason he'd been left for Master Shiunsai to find. Ayame never knew why she'd been left, or Tatsumaru for that matter.

Hyou continued, explaining how there had been many ninja's in the clan at that time, but the last two had died with honour recently, protecting the reigning Lord in the area until the end. Just allowing the Lord to escape by sacrificing their own lives to take a whole horde of the enemy's men with them. Now though, he and his sister were the only ones left, and since the wars were coming to an end there seemed no need for them anymore. The Lord had left for another province some time ago, and ever since then, the food and orders had stopped coming. They'd been forced to steal food, money and anything else that they required.

After Hyou had finished his tale he fell silent, and broodily stared out of the open door at the rain. Ayame ate her small bowl of rice as politely as she could, and thought carefully about what she had been told. Perhaps there was a way to help them she decided. Off to the north, she had heard that there was a place where ninja's could be hired, if they thought that the cause was just and honourable. She had always been taught to look down on the type of travelling ninja who hired themselves out to anyone, but it would definitely be the perfect solution for Neko and Hyou. Besides which, Ayame wasn't sure she would ever be able to return to the Azuma Ninja village, the place had too many memories.

Ayame cleared her throat, 'I have a suggestion for you both…'

***

It was still raining the next morning, and the muddy road had turned them all a nice shade of brown up to their waists. Neko was muttering to herself, and periodically giving Ayame evil looks. Ayame ignored her, and instead concentrated on keeping an eye on their surroundings. This area was fairly well known for bandits, even so it was hard to imagine any bandits hard down enough on their luck to try and rob such obviously bedraggled and poor travellers.

Dark figures appeared at the side of the road. Ayame smiled grimly and without humour. She loosened her blades.

'Are you Ayame from the Lands of Lord Goda?' Said a gruff voice from an indistinct figure beneath the trees at the side of the road.

'What is it to you?' Ayame replied curtly and readying herself for the attack she knew would come.

The man sneered and brought his sword around, 'I'm to bid you farewell from 'Night Owl' before you die, ninja scum!' With that he lunged at her with surprising speed. Ayame dodged to the side just a fraction too late and the sword bit into her arm. Gritting her teeth, she shifted her stance trying to ignore the pain.

Looks like it's gonna be a long journey

Author's Notes: Well whaddaya think so far? Sorry for the delay in posting up this chapter, but my computer has being dying over the last few months. More chapters up soon if I get some nice reviews! LOL