Ok, people! Here you go, as promised: Chapter 2! This chapter is a bit longer… a bit more exciting. I promise things will start to pick up now! How do I know? I'm the author! (Duh! Jeez. Of course I know these things!) Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Ni

Ryo pressed his body into the shadows of the South Wall, watching the activity above him. The guard was getting restless; it was near time for his relief. Restlessness usually meant carelessness, but Ryo knew all precautions would have to be made. His contract depended on it; failure was not an option.

He made a quick scan of the wall before studying it more carefully, looking for any niche or cranny that would aid in scaling. He ran his eyes along it a third time, growing frustrated. No wall was perfectly smooth, surely this one wasn't either.

There.

Toward the center of the wall a small chink stuck out slightly. Ryo looked up at it as he pulled his sword from his belt. He unhooked the sageyo cord from the tip of the scabbard before plunging the sheath into the rocky ground. Even with the added height the step-stool sword would give, it would be a stretch. He pursed his lips as he tied on the black mask that would hide the bottom half of his face. He didn't worry much about his hair, long and black as the moonless night, so he left it loose. He attached the ashiko and nekode spikes to his feet and hands and looked up the height of the wall. Stretch or not, he had to get over the wall.

He tied the loose end of the sageyo securely around his belt before stepping nimbly onto the sword hilt. He looked up again to check the position of the crack before reaching up and securing the metal claws of the nekode into the it. There was another small break a little further up and to the left of the first, and Ryo pulled himself up toward it by his arms alone. The muscles in his arms and shoulders tensed and complained—they had been idle for two full days and nights—but he ignored the pain and secured his left hand into the second break. The tension eased some and Ryo continued to climb, not daring to set his feet until he was sure they could reach the first chink in the wall. The scraping of the metal claws against smooth stone would attract unwanted attention.

The going was easier once the spikes on his feet were secured in the tiny cracks in the wall, following the path his hands had made earlier. A steady weight pulling downward on his belt assured him that his sword and scabbard had pulled free of the dirt and were hanging by the thin sageyo cord. Perspiration slid down the side of his face and beaded on his forehead as he climbed, running occasionally into his eyes. Yet he kept careful scrutiny on the samurai above him. Any sudden change in his stance or position caused Ryo pause, if only for a moment. Suddenly, the samurai guard tensed, coming to stand abruptly at attention. Ryo also tensed, clinging to the wall and watching the samurai carefully. It was still too soon for the relief. What was happening? Suddenly, Ryo saw the reason for the samurai's strict attention: a blonde samurai strode over, a small smile on his face. He spoke to the other guard, and the breeze carried the conversation down to the young ninja hanging on the wall.

"Konbunwa, Tohiko-san."

"Konbunwa, Seiji-sama."

"A quiet night tonight, neh?"

"Hai, milord, it is that. I pray that it remains so."

"Oh? And why is that?" The blonde samurai's—Seiji's—voice was amused.

"'Tis no moon tonight, Young Master. It bodes great evil."

"The kami of the forest will protect us, Tohiko-san."

Ryo smirked despite himself. 'That's what you think.'

Something was wrong. Seiji could feel another presence in his mind. He looked out over the wall at the cliffs rising out of the dark forests like spirits. Was something out there?

Ryo pressed his body against the wall as if the fade into it, keeping his blue eyes on the battlement above him. The muscles of his upper arms and legs strained with the lack of movement in the compromising position, but he ignored the pain. His black clothing would help him blend into the shadows, and cause him to disappear to all but the keenest eyes. He prayed this overly-confident samurai did not possess them.

'I'm imagining things,' Seiji thought as the breeze played with his hair and tugged gently at his clothes. "I must be imagining things."

"My lord?"

Seiji looked at the other samurai in bewilderment before realizing he had spoken this last thought aloud. "It's nothing," he said, turning to return to his post on the East Wall. "Your relief shall be along shortly."

"Thank you, my lord," Tohiko said, taking a few steps after Seiji and bowing to him. He rose after a moment and turned to his watch. He never saw the shadow that detached itself from the top of the wall and ran silently toward the stairs near the west corner.

* * *

Imagining or not, the feeling of a presence did not leave Seiji's mind. Much as he tried to dismiss it or ignore it, he still felt there was someone inside the castle. 'Of course there are people here!' he mentally berated himself. 'You're surrounded by people. Of course you feel a presence!'

'A malicious presence,' a voice in his mind whispered.

Seiji shook his head, gazing out over the lightly wooded courtyard. Of all the ridiculous…

Wait.

Seiji peered into the gloom, his hand going to the hilt of his sword. Did something move down there just now?

Ryo somehow knew the exact moment he had been spotted. He also somehow knew exactly who had spotted him. He remained motionless except to look toward the East Wall. The blonde samurai was looking almost directly at him. Ryo's muscles tensed, ready to carry him out of the castle at the slightest gesture. If he had indeed been seen, he would have to run or die.

But the samurai made no move toward him.

Seiji scanned the courtyard again before turning with an aggravated sigh. Damn his overactive imagination. Tohiko's words were starting to get to him.

Ryo released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. 'But why?' he wondered as he sprinted along in the shadows. He'd never had trouble with his confidence before. But there was something about that blonde samurai. He'd never seen him before, but he was sure they had met. Somewhere. It was unnerving.

He melted into the shadow of the castle keep and shook his head to clear it. 'Forget it,' he told himself sternly. 'Keep your mind on your mission. You have contract, don't forget it.' He crouched as two samurai approached and walked by, never realizing he was there. Ryo merged with their combined shadows and followed them into the castle stronghold.

Whew! Some close calls! Reviews are greatly appreciated!

Will Ryo complete his task? Will Seiji catch on that there actually is a malicious presence in the castle? WILL THERE EVER BE A FIGHT SCENE???

Coming Soon: Chapter Three!