Chapter 8

Kitsune walked out of the alley way with his hand on his head and his arm around his stomach. The extreme pain from his hip hurt so much, it taunted the daylights out of him. Then he stumbled and crashed to the floor. His sword slid across the floor and he didn't notice. Then a man came up the street and saw Kitsune strangling for air on the floor. The man quickly went to Kitsune's rescue and then Kitsune soon passed out on the floor.

Kitsune woke up in a small room on a futon. Kitsune looked at his bare chest, he had bandages on his body and a wet pad on his forehead. Kitsune was confused and tried to speak. But his voice was gone. Not from the enormous pain in his side, but from slamming into that dumpster. Then the man who saved Kitsune walked in the room with a tea tray, a bowl of steaming hot water, and a rag. A very pretty lady went in after the old man.

The old man had on a normal white Kimono. A kind of Kimono that's usually worn in temples. His pants were red and he wore normal Japanese sandles. He had a bald spot in the middle of his head with white hair. He looked like he was in his 70's.

"Child, are you alright?" He asked. Kitsune was not ready to speak just yet. He understood. "My name is Shin Asuma. I own this house. Do you know who you are?" Shin asked. Kitsune shook his head no and looked down on himself.

"It's ok child. It seems you have a little amnesia. That will clear up in time and so will your voice. In the mean time my daughter Mitsume will take care of you. Please rest and you will get better soon." Shin got up and bowed to Kitsune. He then left the room and Mitsume took care of Kitsune. She used the rag and soaked it in the hot water.

"Please lay down. I don't want you straining yourself. Your at my care now." She smiled. Mitsume has a beautiful smile and a pretty face. Her hair is black and long. She's oriental and her obvious ethnicity is Japanese. She wore a white Kimono that had red rose designs all over it. Every time she reheated the rag she always had a smile on her face. Kitsune could not help but to smile back as well.

Days and weeks have passed since Kitsune was found on the street near death from some sort of condition. But Kitsune started to gradually recover from his body injury. With the care of Mitsume, Kitsune started to walk and talk a little bit at a time. Kitsune felt real comfortable in the care of this old man and his beautiful daughter Mitsume.

Soon Kitsune was able to walk on his own but his voice was still a little dim. Kitsune could do everything he could before but really, he couldn't remember his real powers. He could not remember his real strength, his power, or his ability to fight. The only thing Kitsune could only remember was his own name. Kitsune was at an urge to remember who he was. But really, not a light has shined in his head.

Then one bright day Kitsune was able to speak without any trouble. His vocal box was back and he started to have conversations with Mitsume. Thanking her for her care and being tender all the time. Mitsume could not help but to smile and blush. Then Shin wanted to talk with Kitsune and find out what had happened to him. Kitsune and Shin both walked out besides his temple looking at the cherry blossoms around them. It was a beautiful day out which had everyone in a good mood. But Shin had to be brief and find out who Kitsune is.

"So my question from before child, what is your name?" Shin asked.

"My name is Kitsune."

"Is that all you remember?" Shin said with a smile.

"Yes... I cannot remember anything but my actual name."

"Do you know where you live exactly? Any relatives? Family?"

"I... I don't know." Kitsune said frowning in disbelief.

"Well, you are welcomed to stay here for as long as you wish. This is my Dojo and I welcome everyone here."

"Dojo?" Kitsune asked.

"Yes. My Dojo teaches the art of Ninjitsu. A mystical and secret martial art among Ninjas. A very hard martial art to master and time consuming."

"What if I learned this martial art under your guidance?" Kitsune said.

"You want to learn the art of Ninjitsu? Hmmm... I do wonder if your steady for the kind of training I give my students." Shin rubbed his chin.

"I am. I need to find out who I am. I am interested deeply in this Martial art. My body aches for a fighting style. I just don't understand why it does..." Kitsune said in wonder to himself. Kitsune didn't understand why he wanted to learn so badly. He figures that it may bring him closer to the truth of who he is.

"I must warn you Kitsune, that this specific martial art is a dangerous one to learn. Mental and Physical discipline are two of the major qualities that you must face in this martial art. There will be times where you will be hurt and down. There will also be times where you will feel outnumbered by your enemy. All I ask of you, is if you feel you are prepared to learn and face the true consequences of true combat and learning the true code of the Ninja." Shin said with a serious expression.

"Yes, I am. I will face anything to find out who I really am." Kitsune's expression assured Shin that he was serious about learning Ninjitsu. But Shin had a certain feeling about Kitsune. He thought that maybe that Kitsune should be the man he should teach his true skills to. But to be absolutely sure, he needed to see how Kitsune handles himself during his class teachings.

"Kitsune. I now proclaim you as my student. And you should call me Master or Sensei. Do you understand?" Shin said.

"Yes master, I understand." Kitsune bowed and thanked Shin for taking him in as his student.

"Your trial starts tomorrow morning. Make sure to wake up bright and early. We have a lot of work to do." Shin bowed and left Kitsune's sight. Kitsune did not care what he was gonna put himself through, but he knew that maybe this type of training will light a spark in his memory. Or maybe, his intuition is wrong.

Kitsune started to train in with Shin's classes during the morning and afternoon times of the day. Shin wanted Kitsune to learn fast and see if he had the ability to be a Shinobi. Shin has always been looking for that one man who would do that one favor for him. But Shin is a very picky man. Shin always looks for men who are very serious about what they want to do and from the way Kitsune has been training in class, made an eminent impression during his class periods.

After a year of learning Ninjitsu, Kitsune learned a comprehensive amount over the year. Shin was very happy from his progress and thought to himself for a brief moment. What if he were to give Kitsune private lessons? Would that boost his overall performance? Shin then came to a stand alone decision. He was going to teach Kitsune his personal style of Ninjitsu. A style he never taught to anyone else except his daughter Mitsume.

Shin approached Kitsune one rainy morning and asked Kitsune to join him for tea. With a kindly gesture, Kitsune followed Shin to his dining quarters within the temple. The light sound of rain hitting to house always put Shin at ease, so it made things easier to explain. Kitsune as he walked, wondered what Shin could possibly want. As they walked they finally made it to the dining room and sat down.

"Mitsume, can you please make some tea for the both of us and yourself?" Shin asked.

"Yes father, right away." Mitsume said with a beauteous smile. Mitsume turned around and headed for the kitchen to prepare some tea. Shin made contact with Kitsune and smiled gently.

"Kitsune, I have been thinking more of you lately from your training. You have been greatly making progress this past year. I am very impressed. It seems your word was never made of iron, but the word of a man at heart." Shin said resting his hands upon his lap. "So I have come to a decision that I haven't made in years among men." Mitsume walked in once more.

"Father, how would you like your tea?" Mitsume asked her father.

"I would like mine with 2 spoons of sugar and milk." Shin said. Mitsume then eyed Kitsune.

"And how about you?" She asked.

"The same please, domo." Kitsune said. Mitsume bowed and left the room. Shin smiling at her kindness continued speaking to Kitsune about the matter at hand.

"I want to take you under my wing." Shin said with a momentous expression on his face.

"Take me under your wing?"

"Yes. I want to teach you what I do not teach many people. Only me and my daughter know this specific fighting technique. It's called the Mugen Tenshin Style. A forbidden fighting style under the Ninjitsu name." Mitsume came in with the tea she made on a tray and served it to both Kitsune and Shin. "Thank you Mitsume."

Mitsume bowed and left the room to return to the kitchen. Kitsune amazed how Shin wanted to dedicate something so serious to him was honoring. Kitsune could feel the positiveness in the room. Kitsune could tell that Shin was comfortable with his decision. Shin then started again.

"Kitsune, do you want to learn this style?" Silence then filled the room. "I must warn you before you make your decision. When I told you a year ago how much discipline you were going to go through for this martial art was great, the Mugen Tenshin Style is even more deadlier to learn. Usually, children at the age of 13 learn this style beforehand in Ninja villages. This particular style will be one of your biggest life challenges, one of your sorrows, and one of your trials and tribulations if you accept to learn." Shin couldn't say it any better. Kitsune then swayed in deep thought trying to make a decision. If this was going to make any sense of his ongoing amnesia, he was going to do what it takes.

"I accept. I will learn your Style. I still want answers to why I am still suffering from this amnesia." Kitsune said tightening his fists.

"Then you shall." Shin smiled. "Kitsune, if you can excuse me for a moment." Shin got up and walked out the back of the room. Shin walked down the hallway and into his chambers and looked at the sword he found laying next to Kitsune the day he found him. The sword with Gold dragons embedded on the swords sheath made this sword a magnificent piece. Shin then started to wonder, if this sword will jog his memory once his training is complete? Shin looked up and started to pray to the gods who he believed would bring back his granddaughter from her eternal damnation. As a runaway shinobi.

To be continued...