Early Evening. The cobbled stone building, 'The Sakura Murasaki', was bustling with life. The restaurant & Bar was well known for the great cherry blossom tree that grew out from the centre of the two-story structure – its branches reaching out beyond the territory of the restaurant itself. An amazing sight; the violet lamps, hence its name 'The Violet Sakura', illuminating the tree in a dazzling display. The building glowed in the colder months and became its own light show in the others. It was easily the most popular place to stop over within the entire village.

Espio and Shiro strolled in through the doors, greeted by the heavy bass of the music. The place was packed with people. Diverse colours of the different chameleons swarmed them as they struggled through.

Shiro leapt up onto a bar stool. Leaning on the table stand, he called out "Hey gorgeous." He grinned at the waitress in front of him, who was busy cleaning some cups.
The waitress did not look pleased – even from behind, Shiro could see the seething anger. He smiled at this.

"Shiro..." She said crossly. "I told you not to call me that." She turned. It was Mariko wearing a modest, black maid costume as her uniform with a name tag.

"Would you rather 'Mar'?" He chuckled.
Mariko simply just hissed at him, gritting her teeth.

"Hey don't be mad." Shiro said, snickering. "You know I'm just playing."

"Yeah, whatever." She shook her head, cracking a slight smile. "Where's Espio tonight?"

"Oh he's still trying to push through the crowd." He pointed back over his shoulder.

"Should be here in a sec."

Mariko quickly started patting down her uniform and looking at her reflection through a glass cup.

"You really have the hots for him don't you Mariko?" He teased.

Mariko froze for a second before replying "I...I do not."

"Pssh. Please."

"I don't!" She tried to hide her colour change and even covered her face with her hand. She then sighed. "Ohh. How'd you find out?"
Shiro attempted to lean back on his stool – nearly falling off after realizing that it was a stool not a chair.

"Puh. Clearly you haven't studied the Acrodon Clan code – 'How we live by infiltration and finding the weaknesses in our enemies before they even spotted us.' Meh, was kinda simple anyway."

Mariko frowned and lifted up a glass cup ready to strike him.

"What do you mean by 'simple'?" She snarled.

Shiro flinched. "I-I'm talking about how it was kind of obvious."

"Oh." She murmured. She laid herself on the counter, drawing circles with her finger.

Shiro let out a sigh of relief, before Mariko suddenly jumped up excitedly and yanked him towards her by his horn.

"Oy! What are you doing?!" He yelled.

"You're Espio's best friend right?" She asked quickly.

"Y-Yeah; we're buds. Why?"

"Do you...know what he...what he thinks of me?" She asked, rubbing her fingers together. "Does he like me just as a friend or does he like me or..."

"Hold on a sec Mar…" Shiro interrupted her as he turned his head to a commotion going on.

Mariko was about to lose her temper over him, but she too became absorbed with the sound of men laughing in a large crowd.

SMACK!

"GAH!" They heard.

THUD!

Another male yelled out "Lady! What is wrong with -"

CRACK! THUMP!

The crowd then opened up, releasing a beautiful, violet chameleon maid. She left two men unconscious and drooling on the floor.

"Come again boys." She called back to them with a malevolent grin.

The men in the crowd laughed and cheered. Many flirtatiously whistled at her as she walked over to the counter.

"Oh, and thanks for the generous tip!" She snickered.

Mariko shook her head as the she approached them. You can tell from her physical form that she was much more 'mature' than Mariko – around her early 20s.

"Aya…" Mariko chuckled shamefully.

"Hey Mariko." She replied.

"What did they do this time?"

"Same as all the other guys do – asking for something that wasn't on the menu."

Shiro couldn't contain his laughter. Mariko just began to blush with embarrassment.

"So…so what did you do?" She asked.

Aya smiled. "I showed them today's specials." She replied, lifting up a dented pan against her face, still smiling.

"Oh my…"

"Pretty soon, they're gonna start thinking you're a guy if you keep beating them all up." Shiro jumped in.

Aya leaned her head towards him with a dark, false smile and the pan held behind her back with both of her hands.

"Y'know Shiro, there's plenty of space left on this pan for your 'handsome' face."

Shiro used every ounce of strength that he had in order not to quiver in front of her. He knew a dangerous girl when he saw one. And Aya was probably the most dangerous of them all. Just the way her voice strikes people is the equivalent of getting mugged in a dark back-alley – and she hadn't even done anything yet!

"You're gonna get into trouble if you keep doing that to the customers Aya." Mariko said concerned.

"Ah – don't worry your little head about that." She turned her head back over to her, the friendlier smile returned. "You should actually start looking after yourself Mariko, the guys look at you just as much as they do me. You don't lash back either and it can only get worse when you get older. They can get away with more -"

"I don't need you to teach me how to defend myself." Mariko laughed. "I'm a ninja, remember?"

"Oh?" Aya leaned back sarcastically. "Well if I remember correctly…what was that thing that happened to you before?"

Mariko's eyes shot open widely. She knew exactly what Aya was talking about.

"When those guys asked you to pick up their beers from the floor?" She started chortling.
Mariko blushed and began twisting her tail nervously.

"HA!" Shiro laughed out. "That's the oldest trick in the book!" He almost fell off the stool in his laughter.

"Alright, fun's over. Mariko, take this guy's order so he can leave now."

"Hai." Mariko replied, taking her notepad and pencil from her pocket.

Shiro wiped the tears from his eyes, attempting to catch his breath.

"What can we get you then?" She asked him with a cheerful smile.

Shiro looked at her and laughed. "Mar…it's me. You don't have to do your weird service smile."

Her smile quickly turned to a frown. "Just shut-up and order already…"

"Let's see now…" He looked up to the ceiling in thought, tapping his fingers as he counted. "About three portions of your finest udon noodles….some sir-fry vegetables…errrr…I think that's it."

"That's it?" Mariko seemed puzzled. "You two usually get a lot more than this."

"It's just some stuff to help out my uncle – he's just missing a few ingredients is all."

"Oh. Are you sure you don't want anything else?"

"Well, if you're offering…two rounds of sake would be nice." He smiled casually.

"Ha! Yeah. Okay."

"I'm serious – hook us up! I can at least pass for twenty."

"I'll set Aya on you!" She giggled.

"Is that, what it's come to now?" Aya called out from the kitchen.

"Well if that's it, then I'll go send it in." She smiled and walked off into the kitchen.

Aya returned and began wiping the counters. At that moment, Espio finally crawled up onto a stool.

"Dude, where have you been?!" Shiro asked him.

"I just had to take care of something outside…" He replied.

"Hey, if your Mom calls, y'know, your Mom calls." Shiro replied jokingly.

Espio just ignored him.

"Hey Aya." He said.

"Espio." She nodded in response, continuing to clean the counters. "How's things with you now?"

"They're good. Master's intensified the training a little though…"

"Hey, maybe they'll be sending you out on missions soon and you'll be getting all the girls when you get back." She laughed. "By the way, how come you aren't seeing anyone yet?"

Espio didn't know how to answer, but Shiro did.

"Well we know why you don't." He sniggered.

His face was suddenly met by the pan he had heard of. Espio watched his friend drop to the floor. His scales turned a very pale colour.

"I warned him." Aya shrugged.

"Sh-Shiro? Are you okay? Can you stand?" Espio shook him.

Shiro's eyes were spinning but he was able to reply.

"Yeah. I'm an Acrodon ninja remember? It'll take a lot more than that."

"Can't you two just get along?" Espio chuckled.

"Nah, this is much more fun."

Mariko walked back out of the kitchen with a tray of freshly cleaned dishes.

"Shiro, about what we were saying before…does Espio-"

She looked up and saw Espio standing there.

"GAH!" She shrieked as she scrambled for dear life to keep a hold of the dishes.

"Put those down before you break something!" Aya called out, almost sprinting over to aid.

"Does Espio what?" Espio asked.

"Um…er…d-does Espio…want some apple pie too?" She almost let out a sigh of relief with that excuse.

"Pie?" Espio said.

"I-I made it myself actually." She blushed. "I know you like apples and…"

"It's actually pretty good Espio. Take some before I finish it!" Aya laughed as she walked back into the kitchen.

"Well, I can't right now but maybe lunch tomorrow?" Espio replied.

"Sure." She beamed. "I'll save you some."

Aya came over with their order. "Here you go guys."

Shiro struggled back up from the floor.

"Th-Thanks." He winced. "Put it on my uncle's bill, will ya?"

Both Mariko and Aya giggled at him.

"Didn't listen did ya?" Mariko smirked.

Shiro ignored them. "C'mon Espio – let's go."

"Aww, I think I hurt his pride too Mariko!" Aya chuckled.

Espio turned to them and bowed. "Arigatto Gosai-!"

Mid-sentence, the violet chameleon smacked his head on the counter, knocking himself unconscious instantly.

Mariko gasped. "Oh – Espio? Are you okay?"

Espio's tongue and tail both rolled out onto the floor at that moment. He slowly slumped off of the counter.

"Ouch…that's gonna be there tomorrow…" Aya winced. "Shiro!"

He came quickly to the counter.

"Wow. That's gonna leave a mark." He said as he hauled his friend onto his back and trudged on out of the restaurant.

"Hey Mariko." Aya tapped her on the shoulder. "Can you help me with this next batch of dishes?"

"Sure." She nodded and followed her through the wooden door.

The kitchen was almost blinding to the unfamiliar eye; the walls and floors were white with shiny surfaces and all of the equipment was reflective silver.

The pair walked over to the great sink that always appeared to be full of sudsy water.
Mariko then noticed the lack of this 'batch of dishes' Aya was speaking of. Aya whipped around, leaning on the counter with a smile that really unnerved her.

"So…"She said.

"What?"

"What's going on with you and Espio?"

"What?!"

"Please. You've been acting weird for a while now – so distracted and then so focused when he's around. It's so obvious."

Mariko placed her hand on her crest. "Oh it so is obvious isn't it? He thinks I'm strange doesn't he?"

Aya laughed. "Don't fret girl. Experience has told me that both members of this dance are oblivious that they are even doing it."

"Oh."

"But what you need to do now is to break that."

"Huh? Why? How?"

"Well if you both dance this dance without knowing about it, pretty soon the dance is gonna be over and you would've missed out."

"W-w-well how do I do it then? Should I just tell him?"

"No, no. Y'see the guys like to know that they're in charge – whether they are or not. You've got to let him be the one to start it off. Otherwise you'll just scare him off."

Their conversation was interrupted when one of the other maids called out to them "Hey ladies, quit the chatter huh? It's getting busy out there."

"No worries!" Aya replied before turning back to Mariko. "C'mon we better get back out there."

"But how do I do it Aya?" She pleaded.

"Don't sweat it Mariko. Just socialise with him a little more, give subtle hints but don't make it too obvious. Above all though, be yourself. If he does like you, he'll come around."

Aya then exited the kitchen leaving Mariko confused. She wasn't too sure if Aya's advice was actually that helpful.

"Well it's better than nothing…"She shrugged as she too exited the kitchen.

Shiro had dragged Espio all the way up to his house. It wasn't long after that he awoke and the three of them; Espio, Shiro and his uncle Jinei, sat down to their evening meal.

They sat cross-legged on the wooden floorboards, atop cushions that matched the colour of the floor. Espio held his chopsticks in one hand, an ice-pack to his head with the other.

"I must've looked like an idiot in front of her." Espio groaned.

"Don't sweat it man." Shiro said, although more focused in the slurping up of his food.

"I knocked myself out whilst bowing! Who does that?!"

"I've done that once. Also in front of a girl too – boy was she a looker." Shiro's uncle exclaimed.

"Really sir?" Espio responded.

"Nope. But it did make you feel better though eh?"

"Uh…sure Mr Nagata." Espio went back to quietly eating.

Shiro threw down his chopsticks with a sense of self-fulfilment.
He gave out a content sigh. "Wow uncle, you get better and better every time you make those."

"Ha ha! Thanks my boy. With practice comes perfection I say." He replied.

Uncle Jinei was a black chameleon with many noticeable battle injuries; scars from blades covered his body, his sharply pointed crest was chipped in several places and then end of his tail appeared to have been torn off by a wild animal of some kind.

"How's your mother doing?" He turned to ask Espio. "She doesn't seem to come out of that house of yours all too often."

"Oh…uh…mother likes to keep to herself nowadays. She is quite into reading now and stuff…"

"Well, make sure to tell her that there's good folk, like myself, who are willing to do anything for her should she need it if she passes by or anything. I know when I lost my wife that socializing with others was quite the healing remedy. I'm sure if she got out a little more she'd feel better."

"Sir, it's been several years now – she's not still suffering from-"

"I know, I know – but you'll still give her the message won't you?"

"Sure Mr Nagata, of course."

"And with that…" Shiro jumped in. "We better be leaving!"

The pair began their trek to the dojo.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Uncle seems to really be into your Mom…" Shiro said.

"Don't worry about it." Espio smiled.

"Well do you think, maybe, you could persuade her to go out with him sometime? I don't like how he's been acting recently when he's alone. I think he's begun to lose it."
The stars in the sky were as numerous as grains of sand in the beach. The low levels of light pollution opened up the glories of the universe to them.

"So we're getting master to send us out on a field mission today." Shiro exclaimed to break the silence. "You know the plan right?"

"Sure. We train harder than ever before, impressing master, so when we finally ask him he'll finally see that we're ready."

"Yup. Hey, can you see it?" Shiro nudged him on the shoulder. "See when we return from this mission when we save those captured ninjas?"

"Yeah." Espio smiled.

"Just think; the respect we'll get – people will cheer as we stroll through the village. Discounts at the stores, bigger houses – living like kings!"

"The honour we'll bring to our family names. The awe in the eyes of the villagers – the kids pretending to be us for generations!"

"We'll see places we've never even dreamed of seeing!"

"Action and adventure around every corner!"

"The ladies will adore us – every one of them will want to be with us!"

"Yeah…"

Shiro smirked. "Hey, and with each mission, brings you and Ms Mariko that little bit closer. Heck, she'd call, you her little hero at some point I'll bet."

Espio beamed at the thought.

Shiro laughed "Or, with the way things are going now – it could also be the other way around!" Espio's expression shifted into a frown instantly after.

The two stepped into the dojo. Mariko was just getting up from her meditation, when she noticed them come in.

"Wow! You guys are early." She smiled.

"Yeah, yeah whatever – let's just get to training already." Shiro responded waving away the conversation.

Mariko swayed her head towards Espio. She gasped at large, dark swollen area on his head. "Espio – your head!"

"Wha?" He responded. "Oh yeah. I-It's nothing. Just a bruise, it'll clear up tomorrow…or Friday…"

"It most certainly is not nothing." She dashed over to him with the first aid kit. "You shouldn't just leave it untreated like that! It could get infected or something."

She took out the bandages from the box. Espio began to blush slightly.

"You ought to be more careful with yourself."

"Yeah, I know. I was an idiot."

She frowned as she began wrapping the bandaging around his forehead. "You shouldn't put yourself down like that either Espio."

"Still…you have to admit it was quite embarrassing."

"It wasn't that bad. I've done it a couple of times myself..."

"Really?"

"Well, I didn't knock myself out, but yeah...it's happened before. I doubt it'll be my last."

"Impossible – you're too..." Espio hesitated.

Mariko paused the bandage work for a second. "Too what?" She asked curiously. "Oh never mind – it was probably going to be something silly anyway." She continued wrapping.

There was a bit of silence after that moment, until she finished the bandaging him up.

"There, done." Mariko said cheerily. "Is that better?" She asked, her eyes closed and her hands stretched out behind her.

He couldn't help but smile back. "Yes. Thank you Mariko."

Shiro yawned and drew his sword.

"Are you gonna kiss it better too Mar? Or are we gonna start training?" He grinned.

Agitated, Mariko twirled around, simultaneously drawing her Sais. "Fine" She smiled. "Prepare yourself!"

They leapt at each other and began sparring. Espio stood back and thought of his feedback from earlier in the day.

"I celebrate too early?" He muttered. "Master can't be right - I am not arrogant. But he did say that we could be quieter."

"Espio!" Shiro called him. "Aren't you coming?"

Espio smiled and drew his katana "Incoming!" and he leapt in.

It wasn't long before Master Shen entered into the dojo. He made a light smile as he watched his students training hard.

"Excellent my pupils. Not only are you on time, but your performance already has improved exponentially in comparison to this morning's session."
The trio halted their spar and bowed in greeting to their master. Shiro looked at Espio and nodded. Now was the time.

Espio swallowed hard as he approached his master.

His master spoke before Espio even opened his mouth. "What is it that had happened to your head young Espio?"

"Err...A training accident?" He lied.

"He hit his head when bowing to some girls, master." Shiro snickered.

Espio scowled at him. "Thanks…"

Master almost laughed. "Yes, the female of one's species can be the end of one inexperienced warrior. I am sure that young Mariko will make full use of this technique when she is older."

Espio cleared his throat in another attempt to speak to his master. "Master. Shiro and I have been meaning to ask you something..."

"Oh yes, my apologies, please continue."

"...well, it's actually more of a request than a question...or maybe it is a question that we would-" Espio continued.

"Speak Espio. The point becomes unclear when you ramble." Master Shen interrupted.

Espio took in a deep breath. "When will we be leaving on our first field mission?"

Mariko looked over curiously. "Mission?" She said.

Master Shen looked down at Espio sternly. "What are you talking about Espio?"

"Master, we have trained almost our whole lives – over a decade now." He looked to the floor. "I believe it's time to perform our first task in the real world."

"No!" He responded.

Espio was surprised. "N-no?"

"You three will not be going anywhere until I see that you are fit for the outside world."

"But sensei -"

"You are not ready yet my students. I do not want to hear any more of this." He proceeded to walk past them into the dojo.

Shiro stepped in. "Master, what about the experience of learning out in the field?"

"Shiro, you are not ready. This morning's session has proven that you still have a lot to learn."

"But you just said that we've improved significantly."

"Yes, and you must show that you can keep it up or improve – not just a single outburst of improvement."

Espio grew concerned. "But chancellor Katsumi said-"

Master Shen froze in surprise. "Katsumi?" He slowly turned around, his eyes glaring at his three students. "What has he been saying to you?"

Espio realized what he had just said. "Er…he…uh…"

Shiro jumped back in. "We heard the conversation about the captured agents and how all the trainee ninjas will be sent out to rescue them."

Master's glare became far more piercing at this moment. His eyes widened. Each pupil focused separately on the two of them.

Espio and Shiro nearly began to shiver at the weight of his eyes upon them. Master went on to dart his head at Mariko.

"Were you involved with this also Mariko?" He growled.

"W-What?" She jerked. "No – I don't even know what's going on."

"What is going on…" He replied, turning back to his other two students "…is a great deal of dishonor."

"Dishonor?" Shiro felt somewhat bewildered. "Sensei, in what way did we -"

"You spied on the council of your own clan. Do you not see the dishonor you have committed?!"

"That's not the point of this though sensei – we need to help those captured agents!"

"You do not have the skills or the experience to do this!"

"Well…" Shiro said with an embarrassed smile "Since you didn't know that we were there, we probably could've done a better job than the 'experienced' guys who were captured."

"SILENCE!" Master roared. Shiro fell back onto the floor and the other two flinched in fear. "Do not disgrace the honor that those men and women have received with your child-like arrogance."

Shiro crawled into a bowed state, his face to the floorboards and his tail curled against his body.

"They may perish in the hands of the ruthless Raiju clan – a clan who has taken many of us before; including your father. Those few trapped now, knew the risk they were getting into and you sit there mocking them?!"

"Master…Sensei please, that was not my intention." Shiro said with his head still bowed to the ground.

"SILENCE! I do not want to hear another word from you Shiro for the rest of the evening except to answer a question or a 'Hai Sensei'. Am I understood? "

"H-Hai Sensei."

Master scowled at him for a moment after that before returning his attention to Espio.

"I am disappointed in the both of you."

"But Master, why must we sit here hitting lumps of meat, whilst fellow Acrodon Ninjas are tortured by the Lynx clan?" Espio said.

"But it is not what the two of you truly seek, is it?"

"Huh?"

"You seek vengeance for the death of your fathers. You also seek the fame and fortune you believe will welcome you back."

Espio frowned.

"You are looking for personal gain – not true honor. I especially cannot let you go out if these are your motives."

Espio clenched his fists hard. "No Sensei! You are wrong about us!" He yelled.

Mariko watched in shock. Never before had she ever seen Espio this angry – nor anyone who would ever show this level of disrespect to Master Shen.

"It is the truth young Espio. And you will not survive if you go like this."

"It doesn't matter if I survive or not!"

Master widened his eyes in surprise.

"I know my destiny Master Shen!" Espio screamed. "My father died an honourable death defeating many of the Raiju! It is my destiny now, to finish what he started."

"You dare dishonour your father?! By throwing away the life that he gave to you?!"

A lump had developed in Espio's throat. He fought back the water in his eyes.

"Lord Masao fought to protect his people and the ones he loved."

Mariko staggered back in astonishment."E-Espio….is the Constant Vigil's son? Prince of the Acrodon?" She murmured.

Even Shiro looked up from his bow in surprise.

"His death changed us Espio." Master continued. "It was with his fall, that the Acrodon code of Infiltration and Observation was brought upon us. Do these things mean nothing to you? Does your father's death mean anything to you?"

"My father was and is everything to me!" He shouted in response. His body trembled with anger. "What with you…it meant nothing to you. It was everything to me!" He was losing his battle with the oncoming tears.

"Espio…your father was important to me too. He-"

"You never cared! You did nothing!"

Master closed his eyes. "I may not have been there in his final battle, but I was there every day since. I promised your mother I would take you in as one of my students. I would train you to be a great ninja warrior like your father." He opened back his eyes.

"You're right Espio, I did do nothing. Because you are not Lord Masao."

Espio staggered back.

"You dishonor me. You dishonor his sacrifice. But most of all, you dishonor him."

"N-No…" He muttered.

"You have dishonored and shamed him!"

"No…" A tear trickled down his cheek.

"And he would be very disappointed with what his son had become!"

"NO!" Espio cried as he fled out of the dojo.

Mariko reached after him "Espio!"

"No Mariko!" Master snapped, causing her to flinch again. He cleared his throat, restoring a calmer tone. "Leave him. His wounds are deep and he has much searching to do. It is better that he is left to it for the moment."

"But Sensei, what is going on?"

He responded with a fatigued sigh. He glanced over his shoulder to see Shiro still in a bowed state on the floor. "Hopefully it should not concern you. You will remain here and complete your training. To my dying breath, I will ensure that you are not sent away from here."

Chancellor Katsumi entered into the dojo, his usual serious and disapproving expression shadowing the room.

He was approached by Mariko who politely bowed before him "Why, Good Evening Chancellor Katsumi-sama."

"Child." He responded.

"How are you this evening?"

"Hmph." He snorted, before walking over to Master Shen. "Old Ninja Master." He greeted him.

Master Shen snorted at his presence. "What is it you seek from me Katsumi?"

"I wish to speak with you old Master." He then looked back towards a cheerful Mariko as well as Shiro, who only now began to stand up to his feet. "I have important news that I am to discuss with you...privately."

Master Shen stood silently for a moment. "Very well." He answered. "Mariko, Shiro" He called out. They turned their heads towards him as he told them "We shall continue training tomorrow morning. I promise you."

Both Shiro and Mariko stood side-by-side and bowed. "Hai Sensei." They said synchronously. "Sayonara."

"Hmph." Katsumi grunted.

The two young ninjas then left.

Mariko turned to Shiro. "Do you know where Espio is? I'm kinda worried."

"Huh?" Shiro looked up. "Oh yeah. Err...he likes to go to the Cliff-face by the great waterfall. He says he enjoys meditating on the branches of the Sakura tree that rests there."

Mariko noticed that Shiro was upset. "Hey. Chin-up...kay?" She said to him.
Shiro smiled. "Don't worry about me." His face drooped a bit again.

"Don't get too down about what master said."

"I guess it was just…I…it was just so real to me. I had my plans built up, my dreams. Now, they're gone."

"Don't worry about it – we'll get our chance someday huh?"

"Yeah…but I also feel bad for Espio. I mean, I kind of pressured him into this – I never meant for any of this drama."

"Nobody ever does. But, did you know about the -"

"No, I was as surprised as you."

"I wonder why he kept it hidden for so long."

"Well, why don't you go ask him?"

"Yeah."

"Can you apologize for me? There's some things I need to take care of now."

"Of course. Don't worry about it Shiro." She said, patting his shoulder. "I'm sure things will be brighter tomorrow." She smiled.

Shiro chuckled. "You're probably right."

She darted her eyes nervously from side to side. "Er…do you wanna do one of those 'Ninja Fist-bumps' you two always do?"

Shiro laughed. "Never thought I'd see the day."

They collided fists. It was actually just a regular fist bump, but Espio and Shiro wanted it to at least seem like it was unique.

"Thanks Mariko. You always seem to be so good with people."

"I just don't like to see my friends so down."

"Ha. Thanks."

Mariko then ran off to find Espio. "Seeya!"

Now Espio's meditating spot was a truly wondrous place. A cherry blossom tree stood defiantly at the edge of a cliff face on the mountain, many of its branches reaching out over the edge. Nearby was a waterfall, of which its river can be seen from the branches of the tree as it flows through the Dragon Lands.

On this night, it was quite a sight to be seen. The stars were plentiful. The full Moon stood watch over the land. Mist from the waterfall hugged the middle of the mountain – as if a belt. The occasional blowing of wind caused some of the tree blossoms to drift down into the land below.

Mariko ran in to see Espio sat on one of the out-reaching branches.

"There you are!" She yelled out.

Espio did not respond. Instead he just sat there watching over the dragon lands below, thinking about what his master had said.

Mariko then dropped from the leaves and Blossoms, landing next to him.

"Hello Mariko." He said softly. He was clearly still feeling down – having changed into a bluer shade.

"I think master was just upset at some things at the time Espio." She said gently. "I don't think he meant some of the things that he said." She smiled at him, hoping that he would return one. She was sadly mistaken.

"It's not that Mariko. It's my father..."

"Lord Masao?" She looked down into the world below the falls for a moment as she thought about the past. "Were you ever gonna tell us?"

Espio remained quiet, crossing his arms and resting his head upon them.

"You made us all think that you were another villager, like us, and that your father was a soldier that died in aid to Lord Masao. Why didn't you tell us the truth?"

"I always wanted to be a great ninja warrior like my father. He couldn't teach me anymore when he died and my mother feared that the Raiju were trying to find our village and that I would be the target if they did. So she sent me off with Master Shen to be trained into becoming a warrior with the villagers. He was a close friend of theirs, so he took me in without question."

"Ohh." Mariko exclaimed. "So that's why you were gripping onto his leg like that when he first brought you here." She chuckled.

Espio smiled. "Yeah – I was so scared. That was back when the group was much bigger. So many other kids – I didn't know what to do."

"But then, if the Constant Vigil's your mother then who's Aki?"

"Aki was one of my mother's most trusted servants. She said that it would be hard for me to live a normal life if everyone knew, so it was better for me if they sent Aki to pose as my mother. She was just the right age to pull it off too."

"I see. So master was master was the only one who knew your true identity?"
He nodded. They both sat quietly for a while, listening to the sounds of nature.

"What was he like...do you remember?" She asked softly.

"I was only five or six at the time...ten years ago...when we lost him." He said. "He was my hero. I wanted to be just like him when I grew up; strong, courageous…It was hard to watch him leave to go to war. I used to sit by the palace windows – staring outside...waiting for him to come home. But he never really did, not to us."

"I'm...I'm sorry..."

"The thing is...Master was right. I was trying to get out there for myself." In frustration, he then threw a twig down below them. "But...But I feel now that I need to finish what he began. We need to go down there; even if people don't know."

"Espio...it's too dangerous."

"Shouldn't we at least try?"

"I...I don't know Espio. Master seems to be really trying to protect us from whatever's happening there. Maybe we should continue our training first. We can still get our chance."

"...Perhaps...I guess you may be right."

"Think of it as 'We're the Guardians of the Acrodon Village' or something." She said, putting on a comedic voice.

"Ha hah. Yeah, you're right."

She beamed. "Of course I am, silly."

Espio returned a light smile.

"Hey." She poked him on the side. "If you do a good job on my chores tomorrow, maybe I can get you your own apple pie, on me, at the SM."

They both laughed.

"One of your apple pies would be good." He smiled.

Mariko smiled in return. She then stood atop the branch.

"Well, I'm going home." She said. "Chancellor Katsumi came in to speak to Master after you left. I don't know what for, but I have a feeling we're going to be woken up pre-tty early tomorrow for whatever is going on. Oyasumi-nasai."

"Oyasumi." Espio replied. "And Mariko..."

She stopped and turned to him.

"Thanks." He smiled.

She smiled back. "It's good to know you're okay now."

She then leapt off of the tree and back onto land. Espio continued to look at the sky. Wondering what the future held for him.

The next morning. The rays of the sun crept in over Espio's elevated bed through the glassless windows.

"Master Espio. Young Master Espio!" A chameleon woman called softly as she tried to shake him awake.

She was lime green in colour and had vivid blue eyes. Her scales were smooth; showing a life of little confrontation.

"Mmuurr…M-Ms Aki?" Espio awoke. "W-What's wrong?"

"There are two gentlemen at the door who seem to be looking for you. It seems important."

Espio stretched out before slowly crawling down the wall to the floor. He walked sluggishly over to the door and answered it. Two quite unhappy looking Acrodon Officers were waiting there.

"Officers?" Espio gasped in surprise. "Is there something of which I can be of assistance sirs?"

"Hmph." One grunted.

"Yes…" Another said. "Espio Takemura-"

"Y-Yes?" Espio returned. He was surprised – they knew his full name. His real name.

He then glared in fear and shock with what was said next; "For the murder of Ninja Master Shen Chameleon; you are under arrest."