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A fog had set in over the land, casting shadow and darkness over the small villages. It was just another normal day in Nihoji Valley. Neko sniffed the musty air, the fog concealing her so that no normal person would be able to see her unless they knew she was there. Something was wrong.

Neko pounced out from beneath the trees and looked. Sichiku Village was still celebrating the birth of the Emperor’s daughter, as it had been for three days. The lights and lanterns shown through the fog and the fireworks erupted still in the sky.

Neko felt the hairs on her back stand on end. Something was wrong. But what? She could feel the danger in the air, but could see nor hear anything.

“Perhaps I was wrong,” she said. Her voice was lulling, almost a purr. Her parents had always agreed her voice was beautiful. Only her voice, nothing else.

Neko’s ear twitched. Something was stirring in Sichiku. She focused on the village, but soon realized the town was just cheering once again.

“Yes, that’s it. I’m just over-reacting. I need to sleep, nothing will happen to Nihoji.”
But the minute she rose from her spot, screams and cries of terror erupted from Sichiku Village.

Neko didn’t even stop to see what was going on. In half a second she had her Katana in hand and was racing to the village.

Many of the lanterns had gone out, leaving only a small portion of the village with light. Neko stayed concealed in the shadows, trying her hardest to stay hidden. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the emperor and his wife.

“Kuchi has been stolen from us,” the emperor said, speaking of his new-born daughter. “we must find the culprit.”
The empress didn’t say anything, instead she sobbed.
“Don’t worry, we will get Kuchi back.”

Neko slinked through a crowd of people, nobody noticing her.
Thank the gods, she thought. If she was seen, the uproar would be horrible. She would be put to death, plain and simple. Her parents had said this many times. All because of what she was, nothing more.

Neko finally pushed through the throng and noticed a man dressed all in black running up ahead.
“The kidnapper,” she hissed. It had to be. Neko dashed after him, her feet soundless on the dirt path.

The man turned and instantly Neko realized something that made her hairs stand on end: the man was not a kidnapper, but in fact one of the members of the emperor’s secret ninja clan.
The path was dark, but Neko still worried he’d see what she was. If he saw what she was, she was done for.

The man pulled a Katana out from it’s sheath and held it up to his chest.
“I am Izuku Kaiji, leader of the Sichiku Ninja clan. Prepare to die.”

Kaiji ran at Neko, who was at first unable to move. Fear washed over her. What was she to do? Kaiji was one of the emperor’s best ninjas, and she was self-taught. He would be able to slaughter her before she had lifted her sword.

But to her surprise, Kaiji’s moves were predictable. He lacked the natural grace and balance Neko had, and she soon realized she had the advantage. Katanas were clashing and striking each other, emitting small sparks every now and again.
Kaiji did not falter, however. He was determined to bring down the ‘kidnapper’ even if it caused his death as well.

Left, right, left, over, lunge, counter, slash, left… Kaiji continued on and on, and Neko could see each and every one coming. Her senses were sharp, perhaps too sharp. It was why she was always on edge: she could smell a fire from miles, she could feel an earthquake before it had even started, and she could hear a person screaming better than someone ten feet away the person in need.

Neko felt something warm on the back of her neck, bringing her back to reality. She could feel lantern light behind her, and she realized: She was being flushed strait into a lit ally way, where Kaiji would be able to see her face.

Neko tried to run, but it was too late. Kaiji had moved her from the safety of the dark to the reveiling red glow of the lanterns, and she was exposed. Kaiji could see, as could everyone else in the plaza, Odeshi Neko- the ninja cat.