AN: SORRY! Again. Fanfiction kept trolling me. I really did wanted to upload this earlier, but I kept getting trolled! Let's just hope this time I wont get an error when I try to save the doc on AGAIN, and lose all the progress. Funny story. ''Her trial'' and ''His betrayal'' were suposed to be two different chapters, but hey, it's x-mas! This is my gift for you, and my thank you for sticking up with me! I love you guys! 3 . Also, warning: I suck at describing fighting scenes -3- , so have mercy!

Disclaimer : I own nothing! T_T

The shadows of her memories chapter 7

One day. One day before the greatest event of her life. One day before the time she will have to fulfill her mother's promise. And strangely, she didn't felt any kind of emotion. She was standing in her room, watching herself in the mirror. Many things had changed in one year. She had gotten taller, and her features had shaped, looking much more like a girl. Training had taken a toll upon her body, taking a slender shape. Her hair had grown longer, and untied it was going past her waist. Her eyes, in essence still the same, looked somehow different.

The past month had been hell. She couldn't remember the last time she had put so much effort in training. She had been trained mercilessly and didn't complain. It was probably for the best, since she didn't wanted to fail this. Tomorrow was the day that will settle the battle that had been going on between she and her sister for years. And, unlike her past self, Akyo had no intent in losing. She still couldn't believe she had the courage to step up, and fight her sister. And again, many had changed this past year.

Memories danced in her mind, good ones and bad ones, but in them all he was omnipresent. Today Zed and she hadn't trained. It was a relaxation day for her. To calm both of her mind and body. Even if he had told her he believed in her, and her self esteem had grown, she still had her fears. What if even after all the training she still wont be able to touch her sister? What if she will back out the last minute like a coward? There were too many possibilities, and that didn't helped her at all.

They were standing across each other in the clearing, and supposedly 'meditating' . But with so many questions and fears running trough her mind and heart, there was impossible for Akyo to meditate. Zed observed her uneasiness, and after a while spoke:

''Still feeling scared?'' he asked with one eye open, before opening both of them.

Akyo too opened, her eyes, and let out a heavy sigh.

''I can't help it. There is just too much for me to think of. I just... can't help but think... what if everything I did doesn't pay off?'' she said, her voice softer and softer and she spoke. ''What if I wont be able to fight her and I fail?'' she said looking at Zed.

He could see the worry in her eyes. The sadness and fear that only the thought of tomorrow could bring. She rose to her feet and told him she's going to get some rest. She waved him good bye and started walking away. Before she could exit the clearing how ever, Zed called for her and caught up. She turned around only to be greeted by a warm embrace. Her eyes widened, her face filling with a blush. She was stunned, standing there not knowing what to do. Zed let go of her, and had to suppress a laughter when he saw her face.

''Come on, stop being such a scaredy cat. No matter what happens tomorrow you'll still make her proud. I'm sure of it.'' he said, while ruffling her hair in a fond way. She looked adorable with the blush covering her cheeks, and the embarrassed face she had. As she looked sheepishly at him, a smirk made it's way on Zed's face which didn't helped her blush at all. Even so, she smiled and hugged him tightly.

''You're the best, you know that?'' Akyo said smiling.

He gave an inward sigh. '' Yeah,yeah I do.''

~(o-o)~

After Akyo waved Zed goodbye and left. He too, soon left the clearing. As he was walking trough the forest, he could hear small steps, never meant to be heard. He stopped, and looked around. The steps stopped too. As he started walking, he could hear them again, closer this time. In the blink of an eye, he turned around and his hand was prepared to strike. However, he stopped it just in time, in front of a girl's face. And that girl was Zayenn. He suppressed the urge to growl.

''Such fine senses. I'm impressed.'' Zayenn said as she smirked towards Zed. He merely retracted his hand and crossed his arms, his face unreadable.

''What do you want Zayenn?'' he asked, not beating around the bush.

''Hmm? Straight forward are we?'' she said while she let a charming smile across her lips. Zed was unimpressed. ''Nothing too fancy. You and my sister are quite close, aren't you?''

He didn't respond to her question, which only made her smile grow more. '' It's alright, you don't have to be embarrassed. Akyo never was somebody you'd be proud with.''

She saw his face grew a little dark, his aura becoming dangerous, her smile disappearing. Zayenn had to tread lightly with him. So she tried another tactic.

''Easy there. No need to turn into a demon. I'm just saying that my sister always had this effect on people.'' she said her face showing slight disgust.

''What do you mean?''

'Ah, finally a response.' she thought as her smile grew again.

''She...she makes people forget about certain, very important things. And if you do spend a lot time around her, you start turning, hmm, how to call it? Oh yes, soft.'' she almost whispered the last part. She saw him frown at the word.

''I don't feel like I've turned 'soft' as you say it. You might be surprised but your sister is much more stronger that you think.''

'If you'd only knew...' she thought. Her smile remained on her face while she spoke:

''Alright, I'll give you credit for that. But don't you feel like you've forgotten something?''

He frowned, deep in thought. Zayenn let out a small laugh at her small victory.

''Just as I thought.'' she told him before speaking again. '' Tell me, what was the last time you decided to measure your powers with Shen?'' at this his eyes jerked up, his crimson irises glowing with anger. Her smile grew once more.

''As I told you before, my sister does make people forget about certain things. You might not know it, but while you helped her, your power level itself has gone low. I saw you so many times battling with Shen, and I do believe you are the superior one. You just need... A little help.'' she saw him thinking at this. Her smile turned into a cheshire like one. She was winning him, bit by bit.

''And by this you mean?'' he asked her.

''Long ago, before shadow borns were brought to Kinkou, they used to have a leader, the most powerfull from them all. But, the master at that time decided he was too much of a threat so he executed him, and sealed all of his powers into a box. The box is hidden into the order, and the only ones that know it's location are me,Akyo and master, since mother had unfortunately left us.'' she looked cautiously at him.

Zed considered this idea. In truth, it had been way too long since he had battled with Shen. He had wished to start looking for this 'little help' back that day a year ago, but a certain girl had busted up his plans involuntarily. Suddenly Akyo's smiling face popped into his head, as well as a discussion they once had.

Before Lady Keyan's death, Zed and Akyo were sitting in the clearing, meditating. Suddenly a question he had meant to ask her popped into Zed's mind.

'Didn't you ever thought about searching for any kind of source that could help you raise your powers?' Zed asked Akyo, as he saw her open her eyes and frown at him.

'No. Not at all.' she answered honestly. As she watched him in the eye, she knew what he was thinking of.

'You don't need nothing of those sorts either.' she said, her tone serious. He was a little surprised by her. She was completely serious and she did meant what she had said.

'How are you so sure of that?' he asked her. Her face remained impassible, as she spoke again:

'I don't believe you need anymore power. You are in all honesty the best ninja I've ever seen. The fact that you and Shen are equal in fighting shouldn't darken your mind. You have to be proud to be so strong to face Shen.' she looked down, as slight sadness washed over her face before she spoke again: 'I wasn't able to beat even my sister, although it's supposed were almost alike in what means power and skills. And...' she rose her eyes to meet his, sadness present in them ' If you were to become more powerfull, then you'd leave me, since I'm a weakling.'

He couldn't believe her. How could she possibly think that?She was the most amazing person he'd ever met, and he would never, ever leave her. He looked confusedly into her eyes.

'I'd never leave you.' he said his tone serious. 'How could you even think of that for a moment?'

She blushed in embarrassment, and looked away. He just sighed and called her name. She rose her eyes again and looked at him.

'I'm serious. If it makes you feel better, I promise that I will never leave you. No matter what.'

She smiled those beautifull smiles of hers at him and thanked him.

Back into present Zayenn was getting worried and worried. He had been silent for way to long. So she decided to speak again.

''So, do you wish to see it?'' she said, her tone somehow cautious, but her usual charming tone over it.

He looked at her, and had the impassible face he had when he saw her the first time. She swore under her breath.

''No thanks. I don't need any kind of power.'' he said, smirking as he saw her face turn from sly to slight rage.

''You don't know what you're losing. I could show you the greatest power of Ionia itself.'' she said, hoping to catch him in her grasp again. Unfortunately he scoffed at her and then turned to walk away. Her face darkened, and Zayenn was practically fuming.

~(o-o)~

'Today's the day.' Akyo thought to herself. She was standing in her room, looking at herself in the mirror again. She had tied her hair in a pony tail, her usual lateral bangs framing her face. She was wearing a sleeveless shirt, with simple pants and shoes. Her entire attire was black, since she had been asked to wear a black costume. Her training staff was on her bed nearby, and she was just waiting there. In just ten minutes she will have to face her sister, and fight for her mother's title and job. She decided to grab her staff, and head out.

A trial of such sorts, was a rare sight to see. The place the two girls will have to fight was right in the middle of the training grounds. The master itself, along with his helper, a young man with long black hair kept in a ponytail, was standing on one of the sides of the circle, the two girls will use as combat ground. A crowd had gathered around to watch the two girls, honor their mother's memory. The old master, with long white beard, and little hair on his head, was waiting patiently for the two girls to arrive.

Soon enough on his left was standing Zayenn, being dressed just like Akyo. Her hair however, was let loose. Not long after Zayenn's arrival, Akyo made her appearance on the master's right side. Both had their staffs with them. He looked at them, one at the time. They both nodded, and headed into the middle of the circle, mantaining the distance between them. Once they reached the middle, they turned to look each other in the eye, both of their faces impassible, but yet Akyo's face was giving off a little uneasiness.

''Today, the two girls, proud daughters of Lady Keyan, the best Shadow Born Kinkou had ever had, will fight to prove their superiority, and pick the job their mother had left behind.'' the voice of the old master silenced the crowd, gaining everybody's attention. ''The battle will not be one of life and death, and only when one of the two will rise, and the other will fall, it shall be settled who will be the next shadow born.''

Zayenn slightly scowled at Akyo. She remained impassible, but gulped.

''On my count the battle shall start. On three...two...one...'' The master rose one of his hands in the air. Pure silence across the crowd of people. Akyo gripped her staff tighter, while Zayenn was already thinking her first strike. Then the master's hand descended, and it began.

Zayenn ran to Akyo, her staff in her right hand. She striked Akyo's left side, but Akyo blocked it with her own staff. Zayenn quickly retracted her staff, and launched another attack on her sister, this one blocked too. The way the two girls fought left even some of the elders in slight awe. While they had different styles of battle, the two clashed their staffs with grace and elegance, in perfect harmony. However, speed was Zayenn's forte, and it wasn't long before this was taking effect on Akyo.

She was panting hard after blocking another attack. Zayenn also had a ragged breath, but had a better stamina than her sister now. As Akyo held her staff in a defensive manner, Zayenn saw it as her chance. Her sister was going down.

She charged towards her, and Akyo put all of her force into her hands. However, in the blink of an eye Zayenn disappeared. It wasn't long before she saw her coming from above. It was too late unfortunately. The impact almost dislocated Akyo's hands, but she hold strong. However, the staff flew from her hands not far away, but her sister striked her into the abdomen before she could even do anything. With a small scream of pain, she fell to her knees. Zayenn approached her sister, and kicked her in the stomach. With another grunt of pain, Akyo was laying on the cold ground. She was bruises and wounds all over her, and the pain in her hands and abdomen ripped her entire body. She was still holding onto her stomach, before she heard her sister speak:

''Come on! It's that all you can do?!'' she shouted at Akyo, but she was too much in pain to respond. She then pointed the sharp peak of her staff to Akyo's neck, and put little pressure on it. She saw her mother's necklace hanging from Akyo's neck.

''No wonder why even mother pitied you. Did you really believed she gave you her necklace because she believed in you? She had never believed you would defeat me, sister. Never!'' Zayenn shouted again.

Akyo already had tears streaming down her cheeks, not only from her physical pain, but also from emotional one. How could she have been so stupid? Of course her sister was right. She could never beat her, never. On point of giving up, her mother's voice sounded clearly in her head, like she was next to her right now, speaking to her.

'I believe in you Akyo. I always did, and always will.' the sweet voice of her mother ringing in her ears.

''Mother...'' she whispered, before she heard her sister speak again:

''Now, I'm going to claim what it's rightfully mine. My title, and my necklace.'' As soon as she said that, something inside Akyo snapped. She just suddenly was filled with rage and anger, it almost scared her. Her mind was darkening a little but so slowly the darkness became clarity for her. She wont let Zayenn take the necklace away. She wont break her mother's promise. She wont let Zayenn take the last memory of her mother away. She will no longer show weakness to her sister! She will no longer lose to Zayenn.

Before Zayenn could give the final blow, however, she saw Akyo slowly rise on her feet. The elastic band she had used to hold her hair tied had snapped somewhere during the battle, her long hair cascading down her back. Her bangs were covering her face, but from the aura she had, Zayenn understood her sister was angry. And for the first time in her life, she was scared of her little sister. She hold the staff ready to strike, but then so soon, Akyo just disappeared from her sight. She was confused as everybody else. Where on earth was she? As she looked around her, she could see the other staff disappeared as well. Suddenly she felt a presence behind her, and turned just in time to block a powerfull strike. Her sister was standing there, her eyes still not in sight. Akyo retreated with her staff and then striked again, with even more blocked this attack with more effort, and was getting scared by the second. When the two girls distanced again, Akyo waisted no time at all. She dashed for her sister, and then when she was just right in front of her, spinned around, and amplified the force of her strike. Upon contact with the other staff, Zayenn's staff cracked in two, leaving her weaponless. Using the momentum, she spinned again, using her staff to cut Zayenn's balance. Akyo hit the base of her feet, making her sister groan in pain. Once Zayenn was the one sprawled on the ground, Akyo quickly put one foot between Zayenn's legs, and pointed the sharp peak of the staff at her sister's neck. From the ground Zayenn could finally see her sister's eyes, her own green eyes widening. Her usual icy blue irises, were now painted in crimson red, her face in an angry scowl.

While the silence across the battlefield was nerve wracking, ever so slowly, Zayenn could she the red dissipating from Akyo's eyes, as the red was soon replaced with blue. Just as her eyes started to change, her face turned from angry, to confused. It wasn't longer before the master spoke again.

''It is decided!'' the old man said, sounding somewhat relieved and happy.'' The one that shall honor the job of being the next Shadow Born is Akyo!''

As soon as those words left his lips, small claps could be heard from the crowd, and not long all of them were clapping. Akyo looked around with an unbelieving face, letting the staff fall to the ground. She couldn't believe it. She was dreaming wasn't she? But while looking into the crowd she saw a familiar pair of red eyes, with a very annoying but familiar smirk plastered across his face. It was like he was telling her : ''I told you so.''

Soon, she felt a hand on her shoulder, and turned around to see the great master. The old man smiled slightly at her and told her:

''You've won child. Now, you have to come with us.'' she slowly nodded, and followed the master and his helper, back into the order. Opening the door, she followed to the two mans on hallways that weren't familiar to her at all. After many twists, turns and even stairs, it was finally that they reached to a door. The master opened it, and let Akyo enter first.

The room itself had no windows, so it seemed they really were underground. Torches lighted the room, and as she looked on the floor, she could see a stylized circle, with tons of symbols unknown to her sprawled across the room. The circle itself was in another circle and so on, she counted up to five circles. She was still standing in the doorway, but the master and the helper had passed her and closed the door. The master looked kindly at the confused girl and told her:

''Child, you do know that now comes the hard part?'' she rose her head, and looked confusedly at him. ''You will have to be sealed now.'' . Her eyes slightly widening, her mouth shaped in a small ''o'' . The master showed her where she had to stay, which was right in the middle of the smallest circle. She stood on the ground, with her legs beneath her, having her back to the master. He then made one observation that almost sent her face on fire.

''You will have to take down the shirt, child. We will need your shoulder blade uncovered.'' . Even tho for the great master it didn't seemed so much of a deal, Akyo's face was red with embarrassment. Luckily, underneath her back shirt she had a white one, which covered her chest, and her lower back, leaving both of her shoulder blades revealed. The master was ready to begin, but spoke to Akyo:

''Are you ready, Akyo? This will hurt a lot I warn you.'' He received a small but determined nod from the girl.

Then, Akyo heard the master chanting something she could not comprehend. From what she picked up, it seemed a very horrifying lot with a curse. She just waited there in silence, and then she felt the master's hand on her shoulder blade. At first she didn't felt anything, but soon, after a split second, she felt her entire being in the most horrible pain she had ever felt, like all of her bones were broken in the same time. She couldn't help but let out a shrill cry of pain. It maybe lasted for a second, a minute, or an hour. But the pain seemed to last forever. As soon as the great master's hand was away from her shoulder blade, the pain itself started subsiding.

She was panting hard, her palm turned into fists, and she could feel her nails digging into her palm's flesh. Her face in a deep frown, her eyes shutted close. If she went trough this pain when she was little, she was glad this was over. The master looked worriedly at the girl, before speaking :

''Are you feeling alright Akyo?'' she nodded.

''How did it felt?'' he asked, watching the girl open her eyes, obviously still in slight pain.

''Like I was ripped from inside out.'' she answered, her voice strangled by the pain she felt.

~(o-o)~

Zed couldn't help but smirk. She had won that trial. He told her so. He had been worried when he saw her on the ground. But then, when she turned the battle in her favor, his worries faded away and were replaced with pride. He had observed her lost look on the eyes, like she thought she was dreaming, but the look he sent her assured the opposite. She wasn't dreaming, she won!

Soon, he saw the master come next to her, and talk to her, before they started walking for the order. Out of curiosity, Zed followed them at a safe distance. The road they took was unfamiliar even to him, as he had a hard time keeping up. He eventually got a little lost, but found his way. He stood next to the closed door, his back sticked to the wall, his ears sharp. But he couldn't hear much thing, only mumbles and so.

But then, when he really did thought this wasn't what he thought it was, a sharp cry of pain resounded clearly from behind the closed door. The cry itself expressed pure pain, it shook him to the core. He heard that sealing processes were painfull, but that terrified even him. He decided it was for the best he would leave now, so the master wont preach him about 'a bad curiosity' again.

~(o-o)~

Like all other full titled ninjas, Akyo was assigned now to do various kinds of missions. Even if they were easy missions that would take her no longer than three days, as soon as she returned to the order, the master had new assignments for her. That's how she had spent her first two weeks as a shadow born. Nothing much had happened, only now she was dressed differently.

Her hair was still kept in a ponytail as she used to, a sleveless shirt which also covered her neck, along with a pair of black skin tight pants, which had small pockets here and there, but being made out of an elastic material, it gave her plenty of movement freedom; and a pair a grey to black boots. A black mask with red accents was covering the lower half of her face, leaving only her eyes unrevealed. Fingerless grey long leather gloves were covering her arms, while a black cape on the outside, and white on the inside covered most of her body. And the piece of resitance was the slight golden leather belt she was wearing around the waist. In the middle it had a circle, which inside possessed a stylized red ''S'' . As for her weapon, the staff was alike to the one she used to train, but it was slightly longer, and red runes shone on it, every time she attacked.

She just took off her cape, and put her staff away, before she plopped on her bed, letting out a tired sigh. Home sweet home. After two tiring weeks of missions she was finally getting rest at home. But even if her body and brain begged her to get some sleep, she reminded of somebody very important she hadn't saw these past two weeks : Zed . Just as the thought flew in her mind, she rose from her bed, opened the door to her room, and exited her quarters. The first place she started searching was the training grounds. And, surely, Zed was there, along with Shen. When she arrived the two of them were in the middle of a battle. It wasn't long however, before the two of them separated, both panting hard. She bit her lip underneath her mask, as she was sure of the end of the battle : a tie. Zed looked extremely angry, and stormed off in her direction. She was slightly glad that he was coming her direction since she wanted to talk to him.

But before she could even say hi to him, he dashed just past her like she was invisible. She had a hurt look over her face, but he just needed time to cool off. She decided it was for the best to go back to her room and get some sleep. Since it was just morning, she'll talk to him tonight.

Zed walked angrily across the hallways. He had had enough of it. His mind darkened by anger and jealousy, he looked for the person who had offered to help him some time ago. It wasn't long before he saw Zayenn.

She hadn't changed much since the trial. Only the hatred she had towards Akyo grew more. She was leaning her back against a wall, her eyes closed in thought, her face serene. However, when he got into sight, she opened her eyes, and greeted him with those charming smiles of hers.

He was quite sure his presence, and aura told her everything she needed to know, but he still voiced his wish to her:

''Lead me to it.'' he said, his tone dark and dangerous.

Zayenn's smile only grew more, and she motioned to him to follow her with her hand.

~(o-o)~

Akyo slowly opened her eyes, and let out a small yawn as she stretched her body. She had only taken her mask off, and kept the rest, since she really didn't knew when master was going to send her in another mission. Just as she rose from her bed, and stretched her arms above her head, she heard even trough her closed windows a lot of commotion outside. Putting her mask, taking her cape and staff, she strolled out of her room outside, following the noise. It led her on the training grounds.

There was a crowd formed around something that looked like a battle. Akyo started walking towards the crowd, and pushed her way to the middle. Her heart stopped at the sight. Zed and Shen were battling again, but there was something really off with Zed. His attacks were fast and powerfull, Shen couldn't keep up with them. In adition, Zed seemed to disappear and reappear too often. It was like he was melting into the shadows. Her heart frozen at the thought. It couldn't be...

It wasn't long before Shen fell to the ground. He was still finding support in one of his hands, while he wiped blood from the corners of his mouth with the other. Zed's face turned from indifferent to just evil in mere seconds. The smirk on his face showed the sadistic intention of his next attack. She couldn't let that happen.

It was like everything happened in slow motion. Zed started dashing for Shen, when she heard somebody scream. She was screaming. She didn't knew when she started running, but she had to get between them, or Shen was going to die!

''NO! STOP IT!'' she yelled, before she put herself in time between the two. She closed her eyes and waited, her hands stretched on her sides. She felt a presence in front of her, and slowly opened her eyes to see the great master's back.

''Master!'' she found herself say in relief. Zed was a few meters away from them, and then the master turned to look at Akyo.

''Akyo, did you betrayed the order?'' he asked, slight pain in his voice. She was scandalized by this. She would never ever do that.

''No, master, no.I swear on my own life that I kept the secret of the box.'' she said, scared that he might not believe her. The master looked at her and saw the honesty in her eyes, but it wasn't long before the question that hang in the air was answered.

''The little Akyo didn't do anything, not like she had the courage to do so.'' they turned their eyes to look at Zayenn, who was now standing just behind Zed, who seemed extremely quiet.

''Zayenn...'' Youken (AN: I'm tired calling him master, so just so you know his name is Youken) said looking at the girl.

''Sister...'' Akyo said, unbelieving. How could she do that? They had promised to their mother!

''Why did you do it child?'' Youken addressed to the girl, slight kindness in his voice.

''Well, he wanted power. Who am I to keep him away from it?'' she said, a sly smile making its way on her lips. Akyo looked at them, pain obvious on her face. She could feel her throat knotting itself. 'Why...?'

Youken sighed, and shook his head. He never had to take such a decision, but it was necessary now. ''It is a pity, but you two have comitted treason against the order. You have failed the promise you did to your mother, and shared the secret of the forbidden art of the shadows. Zed,Zayenn, you are no longer considered ninjas of the order. You are banished from the order.''

Both of them had slight frowns on their face. But turned their back, and left. Akyo could only watch in disbelief, how Zed left the order. This wasn't supposed to happen. Why, why did her sister showed him the location of the box, and why did he accepted to unlock it?! Suddenly, a thought so painfull entered her head. He did not only betrayed the order. He betrayed her. He broke his promise to her.

Youken looked slightly worried at the girl, her head hung, eyes sticked to the ground. He had wanted to take her to his office, and talk her out of this mess, but as soon as he wanted to open his mouth, she ran from the scene, unable to watch it anymore. All she knew it that she ran, she didn't knew where, but she wanted to put as much space as possible between her, and that place.

It wasn't long before she found herself in the clearing. This clearing wasn't the perfect place to be now, but she didn't felt like leaving. While it hurt seeing the place it hold so many dear memories, it was also comforting to be here. Like everything that happened was just a bad dream, and she was going to wake up soon enough.

When she started running, she hadn't realised the crystal clear tears flowing down her cheeks, and into her mask. But as soon as she reached the clearing, her legs gave out, and she fell on her knees. While finding support in one arm, the other covering her mouth, she closed her eyes tightly, but the tears kept flowing. No other sound rather than her breath could be heard.

''How could you... You promised me...'' she said, weeping in silence.

She just stood there, crying in silence, while the moon lighted her small form. It was ironical how she felt alone, but it was like all the forest was watching her in silence. Always the silent crier it seemed.

AN : Ah~, I just love how this turned out :3 . I'm extremely sorry for not updating earlier, but here's my X-mas gift for you darlings. Remember, please drop a review or two, it really gives me impulse to write ^^ . Until next time have a dancing face ^('o')^