Shadow within the Darkness

(Day 12 – Part 2)

By: Little Ucchan

"It's called the gihen."

"Gihen?" Rowen immediately asked. "As in, deception?"

Her nod, having had answered Rowen's question, now left him with a new one. But Ryo voiced it out first. "Laura…How do you—"

"I'm familiar with the technique," she had cut him off, already knowing what he was going to ask. "Because… it's been in my family for generations."

"What?!"

"You mean to tell me that the thief is a member of your clan?!" Rowen cried.

"Don't be stupid!!" she snapped, infuriated by the suggestion. "No honorable member of the Kinoku clan would ever resort to stealing!!"

"Besides!! None of them are—" Laura stopped, catching herself in time before she had said something she would have inevitably regret telling them. But that didn't stop the sentence from finishing in her mind. None of them are alive. The thought, although a known fact to her for so long, managed to tear open a new wound in her already scarred heart. She closed her eyes, any trace of anger long gone and instead, replaced with irrepressible sorrow.

"Laura?"

"…I'm sorry. But I have to go."

Grabbing her things, she excused herself from the table and left. Ryo was about to go after her, but Rowen stopped him.

"Don't Ryo."

"But Rowen…"

He shook his head. He had felt, along with Ryo, the sudden change in her heart as if it was screaming out to him in pain. But, unlike his companion who was willing to help at any cost, he thought it was best for things like this to be sorted out on their own.

"We should let her be," he said. "She just needs some time to herself."

***

Laughter filled the air as students idly chatted with one another as they migrated through campus. It was almost time for class to begin. Some students lazily strolled by, a hint of sleepiness still apparent in their eyes. Others entered in groups, more interested in socializing than in learning. And an occasional few barged in speeding down the hall to make it before the final bell. But one student didn't move. Even as the final minutes ticked on, she didn't stir. Didn't even bat an eye. Lost within the maze of her own subconscious.

Why? Laura asked herself, silently sitting on the school rooftop. Why am I like this? She wrapped her arms around her legs, drawing them in closer. I'm supposed to be strong… So why?! Gripping the fabric of her skirt she buried her face in her upraised knees. Why am I…

Crying…

Suppressing a sob, she blinked a few times in order to clear out the water in her eyes. Not a day has gone by where she hasn't thought of her clan. It's a thought that has occupied her mind countless of times. But… her reminiscing had never brought her to tears. Not until now. What made this time any different from the rest?

Laura gasped, quickly getting up when she heard footsteps approaching. She wiped away the remainder of her tears as another student stepped up onto the rooftop. But upon catching sight of the boy, she gave up trying to hide it.

"Ryo…"

***

The two of them had settled down against the wall Laura had previously been sitting by. She didn't say much to Ryo, but allowed him to stay with her like he had asked. He was just glad that she hadn't brushed him off, and instead, gave him a chance. But he didn't know how to go about cheering her up. Luckily, Laura spoke first.

"I appreciate the thought… but you don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine on my own."

"You know, that's exactly what Rowen told me," he replied with a slight smile. "But somehow… I couldn't do it."

"…You'll be late for class."

"I don't mind."

"Ryo—"

"Laura, don't forget. You're my friend. I don't leave my friends to face their burdens alone. And so… I'm not going to leave you."

At that very moment, the final bell rang. Class has started.

She sighed in resignation. "You're so stubborn, you know."

"Yeah, I know."

"And thick headed."

"Well…"

"And impulsive…"

"I wouldn't…"

"And…"

"Hey now! Don't you think you're getting a little carried away?!"

Laura looked at him, startled by his upraised voice. But before he could apologize for yelling, she laughed, giving him a warm smile.

"Sorry," she apologized. "Didn't mean to offend you."

"It's okay. No harm done."

Glancing over at her, Ryo couldn't help but see the far off look she had in her eyes. Although he was able to lighten the mood just a little bit, he still wasn't able to reach the heart of the matter. Dealing with situations like this was always difficult. Concern for his friend and the desire to be of any help drove him forward. But, at the same time, respect for her privacy and individual space held him back. There was a paper-thin margin that Ryo couldn't see clearly, causing him to be unsure of what action to take. So instead, he decided to continue to keep her company, sitting in silence.

"…Sorry."

"I already told you that it was alright."

"No," she shook her head. "I mean for running out on you and Rowen earlier."

"Oh that?" He smiled. "That's okay."

"No it isn't. You guys were asking for my help. And… I just turned my back on you."

"Did not! You helped us a lot! So don't worry about it. I'm sure Rowen doesn't mind either."

Laura turned to him, raising her head to meet his eyes. "You're too forgiving, you know."

"Maybe."

Silence was brought between them again.

"Laura?"

"Hm?"

"You think… a few years from now… if we're still friends, you'd tell me about your past and what happened to your clan?"

Laura didn't answer right away. But, nonetheless, she did answer. Later on, when she was to reflect back on this chance meeting, she couldn't figure out exactly what possessed her to say what she did. But at that moment… it felt right.

"Possibly… yes." She smiled slightly. "Yes, I think I would… You don't mind waiting?"

Ryo shook his head. "Just whenever you're ready."

She smiled at his reply, this time more cheerful than before. "Thanks Ryo."

***

Ever so slowly walking to the lawn court, Sage sighed heavily. He had just met with Sensei Teri, who had wanted to speak with him for some odd reason. He already knew it had to do something with today's upcoming detention. But Sage hadn't had the slightest clue as the what.

Well, it wasn't as bad as he had thought. But it was depressing, nonetheless. Sensei Teri just told him to report to the auditorium for detention after school, but that was enough. Sage had already deduced what he was going to do as work, having had remembered that there was to be a parent meeting later that evening. And if there was a gathering of any kind in the auditorium, it no doubt meant that the floor had to be mopped and the hall prepared for the meeting. It was not something he looked forward to doing at the end of the day.

"You just saw Sensei Teri didn't you?" someone asked from behind.

Sage slowed down a pace, allowing Rowen to catch up with him. "How'd you know?"

He smiled half-heartedly. "Because I saw him too."

Sage raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Rowen, you have detention?"

"Unfortunately," the young man sighed.

"What'd you do?"

"I slept through one of my classes."

Sage stopped immediately, giving his friend an incredulous look. "You slept through a class?"

"What?! Is that so hard to believe?"

"For you, yes," he answered, continuing to walk with him again. "I understand not paying attention because you already know the material. But sleeping?! That's a new one."

"Hey! Cut me some slack alright!" Rowen cried out in defense. "I was up all night thinking about that Sierra thing and then Ryo wakes me up with that damn water bucket!! I barely got two hours of sleep you know. So of course I'd fall asleep in Sensei Kantou's class! You actually need energy to listen to what he says!"

"That's true. Not a lot of people can understand his accent."

Rowen snorted at the remark. "The accent's not even the problem. You stand two feet in front of the guy and you still need to bend forward to hear him."

"You should be careful," a new voice called, their attention being drawn to the eavesdropper a few feet ahead of them. "Sensei might not be loud but his hearing's pretty sharp. Otherwise, he wouldn't have caught you sleeping."

"Hey Ryo," Sage greeted while Rowen gave his friend a peculiar look.

"How would his hearing have anything to do with me getting caught?" he asked.

"Hey, I was there," Ryo reminded him, falling into step besides them. "You sit at a blind spot in the back. No way Sensei Kantou could've seen that you were asleep. Yet he stopped right in the middle of class and singled you out. How else could he have done it unless he heard you snoring?"

"I do NOT snore."

"Yeah, but you breathe loud," Sage remarked, earning him a hateful glare from Rowen.

Ryo chuckled. "I guess you'd know since you roomed with him."

He smirked. "Stuck a sock down his throat and it still didn't shut him up."

"SAGE!!"

"What?! It's the truth!!"

Ryo had burst out laughing, unable to control himself any longer. He shook his head, smiling at his two friends. "I still can't believe you guys are best friends."

"What are you talking about Ryo?" Sage asked, an innocent look on his face. "Best friends always have the license to tease each other."

"Or kill each other, if necessary," Rowen added, shooting his companion a deadly sideways glance.

"If necessary," Sage repeated, stressing the if to emphasize his point. "I hardly think that this calls for it."

Rowen turned away abruptly. "I'll get you back during detention."

"Hey, that's perfect timing!" Ryo cried, smiling. "Now I won't miss it."

"You have detention?"  Ryo nodded, which caused Sage to grin. "What a coincidence."

"So what crime did you commit that was noteworthy of being detained?" Rowen asked, a smile playing across his lips.

"I was late for class."

"…Yeah right. What's the real reason?"

"What are you talking about, Rowen? That IS the real reason."

The boy shook his head. "You can't get detention for just being late to class. Trust me Ryo. I've done this a LOT of times and not once did I stay after school."

"Oh I don't know about that Rowen," Sage interrupted. "Sometimes it depends on the teacher…" Glancing over at Ryo he added, "…Or how late you were."

Sage smiled mischievously when he saw Ryo's lips tighten with his words. "So Ryo, which one was it?"

He looked down sheepishly. "Both, I'm afraid."

"Really?" Rowen asked, surprised. "Which teacher?"

"…Tsumoto."

He winced as if the name had visibly slapped him in the face. "Ouch."

"No wonder you got detention," Sage remarked dryly. "How long were you out?"

"…"

"Ryo?"

"…Almost an hour."

"AN HOUR?!" Rowen screamed, wide-eyed with shock.

Sage had an equal look of astonishment on his face. "You weren't in Tsumoto's class for an hour… and you're still alive?!"

"Yeah well…" Ryo coughed, slightly embarrassed by the reactions he was getting. "I was kinda surprised too. Didn't think he'd be that lenient."

"No kidding!" Rowen cried. "What were you doing for an hour anyway?"

"…I was talking to Laura."

"…Ryo, I told you to just let her sort it out on her own."

"Yeah well, you know me Rowen. I couldn't just leave her."

"That's because of your tendency to help out anyone you come across," he countered.

"There's nothing wrong with helping others," Ryo replied. "Besides, I bet you're happy that I did."

Rowen blinked. "Why's that?"

He smiled. "Because I was able to cheer her up, we got into talking about the gihen technique."

"So I guess that hour was well spent," Rowen smirked, glad that things were going well.

"The gihen technique?" Sage inquired, having had been left out of the conversation and absolutely clueless as to what had happened that morning.

"Yeah. The gihen is the technique that Lady Sierra had used on Rowen," Ryo explained as they finally made it outside to the lawn court. "It's one of the moves learned while practicing an art called ittou youjutsu. Roughly translated as the 'blade of the black arts.'"

"Wait a minute Ryo," Rowen interjected, suddenly thinking of something. "Didn't Laura mind? I mean, after what happened this morning, I thought that this would be the last thing she would talk about."

"Yeah, that's what I thought," Ryo said. "But she said that she doesn't mind talking about it… Although she still avoids mentioning a lot of stuff about her life."

"Figures," Sage mumbled.

"But I still found out some good info," Ryo replied. "For one thing, the ittou youjutsu is an original fighting style created by the Kinoku clan, and only selected members can master it."

"Selected?" Rowen asked as he sat down upon reaching their usual table. "If the clan was the one who originally designed it, shouldn't all members have the capability of learning it?"

Ryo shook his head. "There are three different arts studied within the clan. Ninjutsu, the way of the ninja, Utsubotsu, or the 'irresistible force,' and ittou youjutsu. All members are trained in the basics of these three fighting styles. But after that, the art you eventually study under depends on what you're good at."

"So the 'basic training' is really a test to determine your skills."

"Yes."

"Ryo, can you explain the styles a bit more?" Sage asked.

"Alright," he nodded. "Both of you already know that ninjutsu centers around espionage. Users of this art are fast, stealthy, and excel in one shot assassination sword techniques. Utsubotsu, as with ittou youjutsu, are only for members who demonstrate an unusual ability to manipulate their own chi energy. Utsubotsu is mainly for women who have high kinetic energy. This style teaches them how to control it. The techniques also revolve around exorcism and spell casting, and most don't require any real physical strength to master."

"And ittou youjutsu?"

"You could say that ittou youjutsu is the middle ground between the two other arts. It combines the basic skills and techniques of ninjutsu with that of the utsubotsu to create a whole new style where the sword acts as a channel for the user's chi energy. But it's not only limited to a sword. It can be any means of attack that the user is trained in."

"So that would include fist fighting as well," Sage mused aloud.

"Right," Ryo nodded.

"That's why the gihen is one of the skills of the ittou youjutsu," Rowen concluded. "It uses a ninja's speed combined with the user's ability to control their aura, or chi, during battle. If the manner in which the technique was carried out was lacking, even by a slight fraction, in either one of these areas, then the technique would be a failure."

"It just shows what kind of person we're dealing with here," Sage added. "It took Rowen three tries to finally break Lady Sierra's gihen technique. But he was only able to do that because Sierra was trying to take his armor and not kill him. I doubt any of her other opponents had that same opportunity."

Ryo nodded gravely. "The gihen is one of the final techniques of the ittou youjutsu. Not just anyone can master it."

"And not just anyone can hear about it."

All three boys stopped their talking immediately when that female voice had cut in. And, for the second time that day, Ryo had grown physically pale. Laura was just passing by with her lunch when she had overheard their topic of conversation, deciding that this was a better time than any to cut in.

"Oh, hi Laura," Ryo smiled weakly.

"You know, I really don't appreciate you talking about this out in the open," Laura glared at him, and then glanced over at Sage. "Especially with other people."

Ryo sank lower into his seat, ready for the upcoming onslaught. But instead of blowing up like everyone present had thought she would, Laura instead took in a deep breath and sat down at the table next to Ryo.

"But I guess sharing this information with a kendo practitioner might actually be useful." She smiled and then added smugly, "Since I have a feeling that, when you do find this thief, you'll fight her."

Rowen laughed nervously. "Gee. What gave you that idea?"

"Get off it Rowen. You already told me that you weren't going to get the police involved so how else were you planning on getting the swords back? And Ryo wouldn't ask me questions about the techniques and fighting styles unless he was preparing to fight."

At that moment, Rowen turned to glare at Ryo, who only responded to the hostile gesture by sinking even lower into his chair. The other man let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his blue hair. Damn it Ryo! Couldn't you have been a bit subtler when you talked to her?

"I'm right aren't I?" Laura asked when she saw the look on Rowen's face. "You're going to fight her to win back the swords."

Ryo gave her a small nod, giving up on hiding anything further.

"Well… I would say give up. Because if you're fighting someone who knows the gihen, which is fifth to ittou youjutsu's ultimate technique, then you'd probably die."

"FIFTH?! Are you kidding?!" Ryo screamed.

"But!" Laura interjected before he could say anything more. "I'd say you guys have a good chance, taking into consideration that Rowen has fought her and he's still standing. Never thought that would happen."

"Laura…" She turned towards Rowen, who was resting his chin on top of his hands. He had refrained from asking this question ever since she had arrived. For by doing so, he'd be treading on thin ice. But… if they were to win tomorrow, they needed to know more.

"Based on what I had told you… you agree that this thief knows the gihen technique of the ittou youjutsu."

"Yes."

"And you also confirm that the ittou youjutsu is an art developed solely by the Kinoku clan. There is no other. Not even in your sister clan in China."

"Correct. It's true that the clan in China has developed a fighting style that mirrors ittou youjutsu. But, like a mirror, it's still different."

Rowen nodded, then hesitated with this last question, remembering what had happened that morning. "So… isn't it possible that this thief is a member of your clan?"

"I know I asked this before," he quickly added when he saw Laura's expression grow grim. "And you were firm about it when you answered that it wasn't possible. But… based on the information you've told us… couldn't there be a chance? Maybe a former member, Laura? Please, we need to know who she is."

Laura took in a slow deep breath, letting her shoulders sag as she thought over what Rowen had said, searching through her past recollections of what she knew of her clan's history. "Well there is… no. Never mind."

"No wait," Rowen cried, a bit hopeful. "What were you saying?"

"…There was one member. A woman who had left the clan when she was 19 and was never heard from since." Laura paused, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she dug into the roots of her ancestry. She would always have to stop and think whenever she thought about the past. There were too many members… too many family lines incorporated into her own history that she would often get confused with just the names alone. But this particular name failed to escape her memory. The one family name that she had been trying to forget for the past four years had only etched itself deeper into her mind with such vigor that she couldn't hope to remove it. Kajuro.

"What'd you say?"

"Huh?" Laura snapped out of her musings. "I'm sorry, Rowen. Can you repeat that?"

The boy sighed, his blue bangs swaying gently with the slightest movement. "You spoke someone's name. I wanted to know who it was."

Did I say that aloud? she wondered, trying to hide her surprise, but then replied to Rowen's request.

"Kajuro was the last name of the ex-clan member who lived over 150 years ago," she then informed them. "Sierra Kajuro."

***

Ryo froze on the spot, zoning out completely in shock. Just like, he'd imagine, Rowen and Sage had done once Laura had spoken that first name. Sierra… Could it be? Could it be the same girl? The same Sierra that we're to face tomorrow? His mind swirled with questions, supposed answers, and even more questions. It couldn't be her. It's been 150 years! It just couldn't be her! But the similarity between names. Her connection to the demons. Her strange power. All of this surrounded that woman with a supernatural air. So was the possibility of both women being one in the same truly ridiculous? Especially with what Ryo has already seen in the Dynasty, and the Warlords' young adult appearance? Could a 150-year-old warrior really exist?

"What is up with you guys?" Laura cried, intruding into Ryo's thoughts. "You look as if you saw a ghost!"

"That statement might actually be closer to the truth than you think," Rowen replied, breaking his own ruminations to answer her. "The one who stole the Twin Fangs goes by the name Lady Sierra."

"Sierra…" she gasped, her voice coming out in a small whisper. "No… No, that's impossible…"

"It can't be total coincidence that the thief knows the gihen and also takes the name of a former member of your clan," Rowen said. "Laura, do you know anything that might somehow explain this? What kind of person was Kajuro-san?"

She didn't answer.

"Laura?"

"Rowen, just give her a break first alright," Ryo cut in, irritated by his friend's insensitive tone. "She's just as shocked as the rest of us. This a really big deal to her!"

"It's okay Ryo."

"What? But Laura…"

"I'm fine. Really," she assured him. "You don't have to worry about it."

Ryo looked at her skeptically for a moment longer before sighing, dropping the subject. She was in an emotional upheaval one second and then totally pacified the next. He realized the he had a long ways to go before he could even start to understand this girl.

Sage couldn't understand her either. He had decided early on that he would not participate in their discussion. Laura didn't know to what extent he was involved in the matter. So Sage kept to the pretense that this was a conversation between her, Ryo, and Rowen, and that he just so happened to be at the table.

But that latest reaction had definitely caused some turmoil in his mind. He already knew that things were going to get rough once Rowen told Laura the name of their "thief." And by the way he was pushing her to answer, it was only a matter of time before Ryo stepped in. But how she responded had managed to unnerve Sage. The Laura he knew would have been screaming at Rowen by now, since she was more verbally argumentative with him than with Ryo. But she didn't respond. Instead, Ryo did it for her. Sage tried to convince himself that it was nothing, but something about it just didn't seem right. Why'd she act that way?

"I really don't know what to tell you, Rowen. It could be a former member who took up Kajuro-san's name. But I'm still in doubt about that," Laura said, refraining again from giving a reason as to why she thought that way. "It's also possible that she had a successor. We did lose contact with her after all."

"A successor, huh?" Rowen repeated, sorting out his thoughts. Was that the person the Ronins now had to deal with? Sierra Kajuro's successor? "Laura, can you tell us a bit more about Kajuro-san?"

She nodded, complying with his request. "Even though she lived over a century ago, her history is very well known to the Kinoku clan. She was… a true demon hunter. And the youngest to reach the title of Kagemusha."

"Kage… musha?"

"…Shadow warrior. It's the title given to members who have reached a certain level of skill and expertise as demon hunters that, when they go on missions, they always come back unscathed," she explained. "They call them 'shadow warriors' because they are just like a shadow. No matter how hard you try, you can't touch them. That's how good they were."

"Kajuro-san had reached that title when she was only 16. But that's not what made her a legend in our clan," Laura continued. "What defined her from the rest was the fact that she was the only one in history who has ever mastered all three fighting styles of the Kinoku clan. Ninjutsu, utsubotsu, and ittou youjutsu."

"No way!!!" Ryo cried, amazed. "How old was she?!"

"She finally mastered the last art when she was 18. One year prior to her disappearance."

"Why did she leave?" Rowen asked.

"I don't know," she sighed. "They say that something happened during the previous hunt. The group she was in took on a hard job and a close friend of Kajuro-san's was killed. After that, she left… without a word to anyone."

"People believe that she left to become a demon hunter in its purest sense. Someone who lives their whole life with the sole purpose of hunting and killing demons. Our clan never went to that extreme. Because our settlement was permanent, we couldn't move freely to hunt demons. We'd only do it when they're in the prefecture, or if someone requests that we do. I guess Kajuro-san didn't want that anymore."

"So no one knows what happened to her?" Ryo asked.

"No. But we think she came back," Laura reported. "We don't really know for sure since no one saw her. But one day, seven years after she had left, a baby boy was found at the clan leader's doorstep. The only thing that made us believe that it was Kajuro-san's child was a small note with the title Kagemusha written on it."

"That proof's kinda vague," Rowen remarked.

"I know. But since no outsiders knew about the Kagemusha and the inner workings of the clan, the leader was convinced that the child came from Kajuro-san. She was the only female Kagemusha who was no longer a member of the clan. He took the child in and christened him Seta Kajuro. He didn't hide the truth about Seta's birth mother, keeping the memory of her alive till this day."

"…And that's the legend of Sierra Kajuro."