Hey guys. Thanks for the reviews. I have an idea where this story is going. If you have any suggestions, don't hesitate to yell. Well, here's the next chapter.

Shachihoko

Mai woke up from here heavy sleep. She tried to remember what happened and how she got in the forest. Then it all came back to her. Jennai had destroyed her village. His men had beaten her to near death. Then the two ninjas saved her from death. But that was the problem. She had watched her parents die. She was going to be forced to marry Jennai. She didn't want to be saved. She wanted death to take her.

She looked at her wounds and noticed that they had all been bandaged up. 'That's right,' she thought. 'That woman did that.' She looked over her shoulder and saw the two ninjas fast asleep. This was her chance. She could end the pain. But how? The ninjas had their arms wrapped around their weapons. She couldn't climb a tree because her ankle was still sore. Then she saw it. There was a cliff about ten feet away. She would throw herself off.

Suddenly, Ayame's eyes fluttered open. She looked to her side and saw that the girl was gone. She jumped up when she saw the girl at the edge of the cliff. "What are you doing?" Ayame ran to Mai just as she was throwing herself over the cliff. She gripped one hand around the girl's wrist and another on the edge of the cliff. As Ayame was hanging from the cliff the rock started to give way. Ayame begin to fall with Mai, but they suddenly jerked to a halt. Ayame looked up to find Rikimaru holding on to her.

"You shouldn't play on ledges. You might fall," he said with a smile as he pulled Ayame and Mai up. Ayame turned to Mai with anger in her voice.

"Are you suicidal or are you just that stupid? You could have gotten us both killed!" Mai just looked at the ground. Ayame's face softened as she saw tears dropped to the ground.

"Why did you do that? Why didn't you let me die? I have nothing to live for. Everything I knew and loved is gone. Please, I beg you. Just kill me." Ayame walked up to her and lifted her chin.

"We may be ninjas but we're not evil. We protect the innocent, not kill them." Rikimaru stepped forward and handed her a healing potion. Ayame opened it and let Mai drink some. Instantly, Mai could feel her body heal. Her ankle or back didn't hurt anymore. "You'll be able to walk now. I wish I could heal the emotional pain as well as the physical. It will take time for it to go away, but we need to get you to the castle."

"We don't want you dead," Rikimaru said. "You are the only one left from the village. We'll find the man that did this and bring him to justice. But for now, we need to hurry to the village." Rikimaru threw Mai dark blue samurai shirt and pair of pants. "You should put that on. Your pink and green kimono sticks out too much." As they started walking, Ayame begin to talk with the girl.

"Do you have a name?" she asked.

"My name is Mai. How about you?"

"I'm Ayame. This is Rikimaru. We've been partners for quite some time."

"I know you two are Azuma ninjas. You were talking about Gohda before."

"Yep, that's us. So, could you tell me what happened?" Ayame knew she asked the wrong question we she saw the heartbreaking look on Mai's face. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's ok. I'm going to have to tell it sometime. Well, it all started with my great-great-great-great-grandfather, Kenjo Yama. He founded the Yama village when he was young after he defeated an army of demons for one of Gohda's ancestors. It was said that he was chosen by the gods to save our country. The gods gave him a great sword called the Shachihoko."

"Shachihoko?" Rikimaru said. "That's the chosen protector."

"That's right," Mai continued. "He defeated all the demons with that sword. The sword was passed down through the generations to my grandfather. He went on a mission to destroy a great demon lord. He was able to destroy the demon with the sword, but he paid a great price. When Ghoda's ninjas got to the scene, all that was left of my grandfather was the Shachihoko.

"When they returned the sword to my great-grandfather, he went into depression. He hid the sword away in the castle and from that day forth, the lords of our village hired men to protect it. My father was able to keep the peace through the samurais, but this year we couldn't afford their protection. My father arranged me to marry Jennai, the leader of the samurai clan that protected us. I never wanted to marry him, but I knew it was for the best interest of my villagers.

"Then Jennai showed up and burnt our village to the ground. He came for me and the Shachihoko. My father tried to fight against him with the sword, but I fear that he couldn't release its true power. Jennai murdered my parents and took the sword. If he figures out how to release its power, he'll bring forth evil on this land. We need to stop him." Rikimaru was the next to speak.

"I heard stories of the Shachihoko. It does possess great powers. If it gets into the wrong hands, it could mean trouble for the whole country. Ayame, you and I will take Mai back to Gohda's castle and then set out to retrieve the Shachihoko."

"Wait, I can help." The two Azuma ninjas turned to Mai.

"What? But you're just a kid," Ayame said.

"So what? I know how to fight. I've been training for the past two years. I know I can help."

"You can help on one condition," Rikimaru said.

"Name it."

"If I give you a sword, you must promise not to drive it into your heart" Mai nodded in agreement and Rikimaru threw her a sword he stole off the body of one of the ninjas he had slain before. Ayame begin to protest, but Rikimaru stopped her. "She could be of some help. You are going to keep an eye on her though. Help her out and make sure she doesn't turn that blade on herself."

"Yeah, easier said than done. Why do I always get stuck dealing with kids?"

"Because, Ayame, you act like one sometimes." Ayame started to fume when Mai tugged on her shirt.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Mai asked.

'Hit that jerk over the head,' she thought to herself. She couldn't help think how nice this might be. She finally had someone to boss around. But she kind of liked Mai's company. It was almost as if she had her very own little sister.

How was that? I thought it was a little funny at the end. Anyways, thanks for reviewing again. I love all reviews whether they're good or flames.

Amarayne: Love your name. Keep writing. I love your stories. Thanks for reviewing mine.

Inuyashagurl4563: I love your stories, too. Yeah, of course I consider you a friend. You're awesome! I can't believe I know someone from Japan. Anyways, please update Blurry Moon.

And if there's anyone I forgot, I'm sorry. Don't hurt me! The stories will keep coming if I can find a way to pay for the Internet. Cya.