The Crimson Soul

Red was Karai's favorite color. Red was a good color. It was bold, yet subtle. It stood out, but blended in. Red could disappear into the shadows just as easily as black. Red was a good color.

Against white, however, red was too loud. It stung the eyes. Red and white was not good for a ninja. Red on white was bad.

She leaned her forehead against the white tiles on the wall, watching the swirls of red dance in the water before disappearing down the black hole into the drain. Her breath was short, and the humidity in the room sucked the last bits of oxygen right out of her lungs.

As she felt her legs give in, she gently placed her back against the wall and slid down. The friction stung at the open wounds but the cold, wet surface numbed her a fraction. She pulled up her legs and tried to take deep breaths.

She leaned her chin against her bare knees and watched the blood run through her toes. Fascinated, she watched with tired beryl eyes.

I hate this.

She had to stop talking back. For every time she raised her voice she was punished. She had learned to bite her tongue now, but for the most part but some things just slipped out. She had never known how cruel or impatient her father really was. He would snap at the smallest thing and beat whoever was in his way until he grew tired. Karai tried her best not to be in his way, but things were different now.

She placed her forehead on her knees, letting the hot water run down her head and back. She would heal soon. These marks where shallow and few. She had received much worse in the year since she had learned her father's true ways. Even in blind rage her father was careful. All the marks would be hidden by her clothing. He knew the cut of her clothing, and he made sure never to endanger the image of his perfectly fine daughter. Look on the bright side, Karai, she thought. At least you have only been beaten twice this week.

She found herself wanting to call Coral.

Swiftly, she dismissed that thought. Even if she DID call, Coral would not talk to her. Or listen, for that matter.

It would be nice to go over, be greeted by her kind and warm parents, eat the spicy food, curl up in the big couch, and watch some ridiculous movie until the sun came up again. Suppose it's true, you don't know what you have until you have lost it it. Who would have thought that not having her friend call her almost every day, being forced to endure those silly excuses for entertainment, and being stuffed full of food with hardly any nutrients at all would be something Karai would miss?

The thought of the short, loud girl made tears burn under Karai's eyelids like so much chlorine. She had seen her not too long ago, and it had ripped open the scar in her soul. Karai had been out, on a mission for her father, and while perched on the edge on a rooftop she had spotted her. Coral had been in a hurry, a sports bag over her shoulder, and a steaming Thai-box in her hand. Karai saw her as she hurried through the crowd, holding the food high over her head so as not to spill it on anyone.

Coral was fine. She had healed and she was as good as ever. Karai had managed to save her. An iron ball of guilt had fallen from her heart. Her friend was safe.

On her way back, she had strayed a bit to have a look at the little red house with the big backyard. The lights were on downstairs and she could hear the TV from the living room. She knew Leonardo wasn't there, but knowing his family was well was good enough. He would return to them. She hoped it would be soon.

Shaking her head so that crystalline droplets flew around her, Karai tried to pull her thoughts away from Leonardo. It hurt so much, and she was in enough pain as it was.

Finally a bit stronger, she stood and turned the water off. She wrapped herself in her thick bathrobe and walked out into her room. She pulled the curtains apart and opened the window to let the warm spring air in. The sun had set, but the sky was still a collage of colors. She sat down on her bed and looked out over New York.

It had been eleven months, two weeks and six days since she had stabbed Leonardo and received her new place by her father's side. It had been eleven months, three weeks and four days since she had broken off with her best friend and condemned herself to a life as a ninja. She had killed her soul and strangled her heart. She was a tool, used at her masters will, and tools do not feel despair.

"I suppose, then, that I am not a real ninja yet…"

Sighing, she pulled in her legs and curled up on the thick bedcover. Her damp hair stuck to her face and she lazily brushed it away from her cheek. Her body screamed in agony at the movement but she ignored it dutifully. She was used to that now. Suddenly, she remembered that time she had been sparring with Leonardo, the time he had kissed her and pushed her down. Suddenly, she wished that she hadn't stopped him! It wouldn't have made much difference, but, as it was now, she was looking at dying a virgin. She could actually feel herself dying, growing thinner and more wasted by the very hour. Her body and mind couldn't take many more beatings, but she had ceased caring long ago. Well, it was no use. Even if she hadn't stopped him he wouldn't have done it. He was too honorable to complete such an act. Still, it would have made a nice memory.

She wished that she had more memories of him. Right now she only had those two weeks and the times before that, when she would watch him and his little circle of friends and family from afar. She wondered if he knew that he had passed her in the hallway almost every day before first period. She would see him sometimes, hurrying off with his gaze set straight forward, never noticing that she was keeping an eye out for him.

Sighing again, she rolled over on her back and undid her robe. Leaving it on the bed as she got up, Karai walked in behind her red screen with the huge black dragon painted on it. Well hidden by the thin paper, she started to wrap her torso in soft, white bandages and pull on her uniform. Wincing at each pass, she thought about going back to bed and forgetting about her duties. She discarded the thought as she remembered the consequences would outweigh a good night's sleep tenfold. No, tonight she had work to do. A shipment was coming in at midnight and her father did not trust that the other party would hold up their end of the bargain without a bit of persuasion. He would have sent Hun, but the big fool had gotten himself beat up by some vigilante on a motorbike.

Karai didn't even bother trying to feel sorry for her ex. Lately he had become even more annoying, treating her with less and less respect. A few weeks in the hospital would perhaps do him good. If nothing else, his ego would have some mending to do.

She stopped in front of the mirror, her sash only half done. The boldest of the marks on her body peeked up over the rim of her clothing. She released the red cloth hanging around her waist and pulled down her collar a bit, grimacing as the fabric caught briefly on the tender skin. The mark stood out against her pale skin, red on white in the dark room.

Nobody would want her now, she convinced herself, not as scarred and torn as she was. She was a warrior now, not a woman.

She had received this scar the day she had protested against killing a man who had messed up a delivery. He was only a couple of years older then her, probably with a worried family at home. She had refused to take part in it, and for that she had been punished.

First she had been roughed up, beaten cruelly before being tied down. Her father had taken a piece of iron from a burning brazier, swinging it nonchalantly back and forth. He had leaned down and whispered ever so softly to her. She had learned to brace herself when he did that. The pain he would cause after soft words was usually the worst.

"Karai, my dear Karai. Do you still not understand?" he whispered her, patting her blanched face gently. "You have no will anymore. You are mine. You are shinobi, a ninja. A ninja's purpose is to serve her master. To obey without thought. When I say kill, you kill. When I say die, you end your life. Do you understand, my child?"

She was shaking, but she had not yet learned, not yet understood. So she spoke.

"My heart will not let me kill innocents… It is not honorable!"

He grabbed her throat and squeezed as he hissed at her.

"I am your honor, and you will obey me! Your heart is mine! I say what it allows you to do!"

He held up the still red hot iron so she could see the design on the end, forcing a piece of leather into her mouth to keep her from biting off her tongue.

"And this is to remind you of that…!"

She pulled her shirt closed and tightened her sash, hiding her father's mark. Hastily, she cleared memories of boiling skin and sadistic grins from her mind. It was time to go.

It was dawn when the transaction had been fully completed. The sky was so bright yellow and pink it almost faded to white. The sun had not shown itself yet, but it was coming. Karai was still out, jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

The cargo had been unloaded and stored away, the other party had been paid before being removed from the scene when they had decided to try and get away with both the payment and the goods. They would be found by their comrades, as a warning. One does not mess with the foot.

She had dismissed her ninja-squad and now she tried her best to tire herself out before she had to return home, to sleep. If she was tired enough, she wouldn't have such vivid nightmares. She took a six feet jump over an alley and continued her run. Eventually, she reached a street that was too wide to jump. She sat herself down in the cover of a stone gargoyle and watched the sun rise over her home.

Her memories came back to haunt her. She remembered the time there had been a warm body and not a cold, stone figure beside her; a sunset instead of a dawning sun. She could still feel his arms wrapped around her body, even though it had been a whole year since he had let her go. That had been the first time she had cried in front of anyone. It had been embarrassing and yet comforting.

Suddenly, a bell rang close to her, then another. It was Sunday. The churches in the neighborhood called to the faithful. She had never believed in God, but she suddenly found herself sliding into his house through an open window conveniently placed by a tree. Karai had no idea what had possessed her to do this, but while she was there, she could might as well watch. She had never seen a Christian ceremony before.

She was on a balcony above the organ, a flock of God's lambs busying themselves with finding seats and making their children behave despite the early hour and stiff clothes. She placed herself in the shadow of a marble angel and looked out over the crowd.

So many people, all blind to the fact that praying and hoping brought nothing of value to this world. If you wanted something, you had to get your hands dirty. But, then again, looking at this particular crowd, they probably knew that.

The old building was run down, the benches not much better off than firewood. The people sitting on them where just as worn down as their place of worship. This was down-town. These people, she realized, were here to find the strength to live for another seven days despite the harsh reality outside the thick stone walls.

Then, the priest walked out in front of them, warm smiles and kind words flowing from him like water from a broken aquarium. The words he spoke were nothing but nonsense in Karai's ears, but looking at the people beneath her she had to admit he knew how to affect a group of lost souls. They clung to his every word, nodding and clapping whenever he paused. Perhaps she could learn some leadership-skills from this one. He was good with his words.

Before she could think much further, he backed down and a group of women of all ages, all dressed in long robes, took place in front of the altar. As the music started, Karai suddenly recognized the one stepping forward for the solo.

"Sidney…"

She had not seen the tanned girl for a long time, but she had not changed much. Now that she thought about it, she had been told that the other girl was in a choir. The little gold cross she always wore around her neck had answered all other questions.

Karai had to admit, Sidney was a good singer. Her voice was strong and she had no need for a mic, her voice carrying all the way through the place. She put a lot of feeling into it, too.

Karai watched the girl that she had know what seemed like a lifetime ago. The sound of her voice started to move something inside her. Too late, Karai realized that she was crying. Even when the rest of the choir sang full force, Sidney's voice stood out.

Her song promised a friend, a shoulder to lean on. She swore to aid, to never leave and always walk the same path. Even when her heart was filled with sorrow and despair. She would carry her.

Covered by the sound of echoing voices, Karai cried. She had not let herself do so for a long time. She had been afraid to cry in her home, under the same roof as her father. Neither could she let her feelings out when she was on missions. But here, hidden by a strong, familiar voice, she could not hold it in anymore.

When the ceremony was over, Karai stood again. She glanced down over the leaving crowd and found a laughing Sidney, waist encircled by an arm and cheek kissed by a dark-haired boy. The image stabbed at Karai's heart. She knew another boy, very similar to the one by Sidney's side, whose embrace was warm and safe, and whose kisses where gentle and kind.

She found the window again, sneaking out without a single soul ever knowing she had ever been there. Well away from that place, she promised herself never to do something so foolish again. She was a ninja now. She would leave her weak heart in that place, abandon her memories inside those cold stone walls. She would never wish herself back in time again. It did her no good.

When she had finished her report to her father, he looked at her strangely. Then he smiled a pleased smile and dismissed her. She bowed in respect, as graceful as bamboo in the wind, and left on silent feet.

Oroku Saki put down his brush and stroked his chin.

"Finally. Not a day too soon, either. The date is almost here. Finally my hard work will pay off."

He stood and looked out over the city he was about to claim as his own.

"Soon, my dear Karai, I will release you from my service. You are about to serve the greatest purpose a child can do for her father. Soon."

His smile would have turned Karai's blood to ice, had she seen it. The sun shone brightly in the small room, but at that moment, it almost seemed as its warmth diminished.

[A/N: Not as angsty as I planed it…But better then my last try! Did you miss my evil cliffhangers? Just reminding you, comments makes Tai type faster!]