Hey, guess what? I have my internet back. More stories to come. Just read this one.

A Mysterious Past

Mai jumped around in the bamboo forest. She looked down from the bridge onto the patrolling swordsman. She pulled the reverse-blade sword and swung downward and cracked his head open. When she landed from the attack she looked back at the unconscious man. "I didn't mean to hit him so hard." She continued throw the small river underneath the bridge. The water led into a cave where she sensed two men. She tried to run through the water but she sensed the guards' suspicions. She had to crawl through the water slowly.

'Great. This is going to take longer than I thought.' As the guards turned away, she quickly jolted towards him and with one blow to the back sent him flying into a torch. She immediately grabbed her grappling hook and grappled to the cave ceiling where she sat till the guard burnt to death. The other guard was too drunk to do anything about it so he just laughed. He was silenced when Mai brought her sword down on his chest. When he fell to the ground, she continued up the stairs to face her next challenge.

Werewolves were patrolling this area. Lucky for her, Mai jumped on top of a bamboo wall and took them all out with shurikens. She continued to move with swiftness through the bamboo forest until she got to an area below the main gate. 'Three guards?' she asked in her mind. 'This is going to be tough.' When one guard went around the corner, she jumped up and took out the other two with one quick blow across their chests. They didn't even see her coming. She hurried into the gate thinking that the other guard was a waste of time.

Behind the gate there was a small house. It looked like it was a hideout for thieves. She sighed and opened the door. "I thought you would get here sooner," said the person in the hut.

"I had some trouble with dogs and water. Are you ready? I didn't come here just to look at the back of your messy ponytail." Mai laughed as Ayame turned to face her. Ayame also gave her a cocky smile.

"Alright. Let's see what you got." Mai ran outside with Ayame at her heels. Ayame charged at Mai but she blocked Ayame's attack. She counter attacked with an upward attack but missed. They continued to attack and block each other. Ayame tried a somersault kick but Mai blocked that too. "You should hold still. I don't want to get blood on your new outfit." Mai had changed into black baggy pants just like Ayame. Instead of wearing a halter top, she chose a blue kimono top with the sleeves cut off at the shoulders. She had also put her soft black hair into a long braid. She thought she would be able to move easier like this. Ayame insisted that she cut her hair, but Mai was too stubborn.

"I'm sick of this." Mai got ready for her attack. They both charged at each other. Ayame saw that Mai had left herself open so she took her chance. She brought her swords down on her. She saw them connect but she didn't feel the connection.

"What?" Mai was right behind her ready to strike. Ayame turned around and put her blades against Mai's neck. Mai laughed.

"Why did you stop?"

"You stopped first," Ayame answered as she looked down at Mai's blade. It was pointing right at her heart. They both sheathed their swords. "You've gotten better, much better. I'm curious. What is that move?"

"It's called the Shadow Attack. You have to move fast enough to produce an image that is coming at your opponent then step to one side. While the image is distracting your opponent, you can attack from behind with full force. I learned it from my great-grandfather before he died. It's just been bottled up for so long I haven't been able to release it." Ayame was surprised. This time there were no tears. 'She has become so much stronger,' she thought.

"You really miss your parents, don't you?"

"You have to move on. I will always miss them, but if I mourn forever I won't be able to protect the ones I have left." Ayame smiled. She never knew Mai would learn so quickly. She had only been with them for about two months and she had already learned how to use ki and other ninja abilities. "I can still remember the days we spent together. We used to go to Kyoto every summer. Did you know that I used to have an older sister?"

"No, you never told us." Ayame asked curiously. She wanted to know more about Mai's family.

"I don't remember much about her. All I do remember is that we couldn't be separated. She used to tease me but every time someone tried to hurt me, she always stood up for me. She always made me laugh when I was down. Even though we were about seven years apart, we still loved each other dearly. But then Kyoto was massacred.

"It was about ten years ago. I was only about four or five at the time, but I remember it like yesterday. People were screaming and yelling. The buildings were set ablaze. We looked all over for my sister. Father wanted to get us to safety so we left without her. After the samurais left, we set out to look for her. It was horrible. The city smelt of death. Bodies were floating in the red river. Mother covered my eyes as she cried. I called for my sister, but we never found her. We didn't even find a body.

"I've been hoping that somehow she was still alive. That's why I wanted to train with the shachihoko. That way I could find her and protect her. I just hope and pray that we will meet again." By this time, Ayame was pale. The memory of watching the bodies float down the bloody river had returned. 'It must have been hard for her to see that,' she thought. 'I'm surprised that she hasn't gone insane.' Then something interesting hit Ayame. Those memories were hers also. What if…was it possible?

"Mai, do you remember what your sister's name is?" she asked shyly.

"Of course, I'll never forget her. Her name was Omon." Ayame's skin became even paler. She couldn't believe it. It was impossible. "Ayame, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Excuse me." Ayame ran leaving Mai in the bamboo forest. She finally reached the dojo where her master used to train her. A million thoughts went through her mind. "It's impossible. It must be coincidence." But she had to admit it was strange. Ayame and Mai were seven years apart in age. Ayame used to live in Kyoto. She had lost her family on that same day Mai had lost her sister. The biggest similarity was the name. "Omon."

She couldn't believe it. She wouldn't believe it. There was no way that Ayame and Mai were sisters. 'Maybe it is possible,' she thought. 'Our last syllables are the same, may. We do look a little alike. What am I thinking? My family died a long time ago.' She finally decided what to do. "I won't say anything. I'll just act like nothing has happened."

"How do you intend to do that?" Ayame turned around and saw Rikimaru sitting on the roof.

"How long have you been there?" Ayame asked as he jumped off the roof.

"Long enough. I had a feeling that you two were connected." Ayame started to protest.

"You don't know anything," she spat at him.

"I know what you two are. Shiunsai told me about before he died. He thought that he had seen a little girl looking for you, but he didn't see the fact in bringing home two girls. He decided to raise you on his own. I thought that one day that she might come looking for you." Ayame scowled at him. "I won't tell her, but you will have to face the consequences. One day you'll have to tell her. She deserves to know. In the meantime, you better go back to her. I wouldn't like it if you left me alone in the bamboo forest."

Ayame sighed as Rikimaru ran off. He was right. She would have to tell her sooner or later. She always wanted a sister and now she had one. But for some reason, she was half-scared and half-relieved at the same time. She decided that she would love and protect her no matter what.

Hey, what did you think of that? I know. It's a little boring. I don't know exactly when the warlords attacked Kyoto or how old Ayame was. I just made it so it would work in my story. Please forgive me. There will be some action in the next chapter. Please keep reviewing.