章 3: 3• The Fabled Sword of the Shadows

BLURRY....SO BLURRY

In his point of view, the vision of Hayabusa is moving weird like he is tipsy as hell. He can't see anything. He is anxious and tries to move his head left and right but all he sees is just an empty dark space. He also tries to walk but his feet are too heavy to move one step. What's happening? He tries to run but he feels that he was just running in place, slow-motion. After multiple anxious movements of his head, he sees a blurred object in front of him. It was like a human's back wearing aqua blue clothing. Kagura? Out of unclear vision, He thinks it is Kagura. Even it is hard to move, He made a few steps while wondering why she is here.

"Kagura" he calls, but she did not turn to look at him "Where are we?" he continued.

"I don't know" suddenly a soft respond from Kagura but still not facing him. Strange! but Hayabusa is more concern about what is happening and where are they. The place is dark and empty. Full of questions, he takes back his attention to Kagura, scanning her. "Where is your umbrella?" suddenly he notices that Kagura doesn't bring her umbrella with her.

"I don't need that umbrella" simply she says. Focusing on her hands, she grips something with her two hands slowly pulling upward, a sword, tip facing downward. Hayabusa reacts to what she says and feels something strange is going on. And Kagura still standing not turning her back to face him.

"...in a situation like this, you have to always bring that" he continues without a clue on everything "what if I am not here?" he says with a concerned voice.

Ignoring His statements, Kagura slowly pulls the sword up "I have a more precious weapon now" she said and slowly turn her back to face Hayabusa and reveal the thing she was holding. Hayabusa was shocked. He sees something different from Kagura. Kagura gives an evil malicious smile and her eyes are glowing red. EVIL KAGURA!

"what" out of shock He was stunned. He finally sees Kagura look like a little strange.

"ha ha ha" A soft laugh but has second deeper doubling her voice.

"K...Kagura" He doesn't know what to do. What is going on? He is facing Kagura holding...a sword with her both hands. It is unclear since his vision is still blurry and shaking.

Suddenly, evil Kagura pulls the sword upward and about to attack Hayabusa.

"You will die" and again she gives a malicious smile.

Hayabusa cannot even move. He was like petrified. Kagura is about to slice down the sword. " Ame no Habakiri" she says in double voice with the deeper one. And start to sway the sword down

"huh...K...Kagur-----"

Snap! Hayabusa opens his eyes quickly. What the--- a dream? When he realized he was dreaming, a really bad dream. In the middle of a quiet and cold night. He can't figure it out yet. A sudden pause trying to recover on that intense moment brought to him that wakes him up into reality.

He slowly pulls up his body to sit and put his both palm to his head while his elbow lying to his bended knees. That dream gave him a headache. Well, that dream left him with a question.

"Ame no Habakiri" He seriously remembers

when Kagura said it...no the evil Kagura.

-------

A bright sky and a mild heat this afternoon, giving bright lights shining inside this peaceful sacred temple.

One of the elders is currently praying and meditating. Bended knees to the soft small cushion lying on the floor and both palms flat on his lap.

When Hayabusa is approaching quietly, he stops and hesitates to come near the man. He decided to watch him and wait 'till he was done.

The elder man is concentrating. He remains composed and trying to avoid any noises around while his eyes close.

Hayabusa just watches over him and patiently wait.

After a few seconds of silence...

"What is it?" The elder speaks while his eyes close. Hayabusa reacts as if he assumes the man doesn't know he was there. Anyway, he decided to come near the man as he spoke like a calling for him. Hayabusa quickly comes near and face the elder. He bends his knees the same. He bowed as a sign of respect.

"Forgive me master" He says while bowing.

The elder opens his eyes to finally welcome Hayabusa for a conversation.

"What brings you here?" formal and calm he ask

"I want to ask something...master"

"What is it?"

Hayabusa hesitated but he asks anyway

"Last night, I have this bad dream" the elder master is just listening "And I heard words like----" He stares at the elder's eyes "Ame no Habakiri" he says in a questioning tone. The elder react quickly after hearing those words. "what is it, master?" Hayabusa ask with curiosity.

The elder master then stands up while Hayabusa looks at him and then stands up too.

"Let's go to the garden Hayabusa" The elder requested. "I don't want to talk about---" before he finishes his sentence he turns a quick look at the surrounding "---something ominous inside this sacred temple" and quickly turns to walk outside. Curious! then Hayabusa followed the elder master.

Finally a smell of fresh air surrounding them outside the temple. Serious as they approach walking outside that peaceful well-cleaned place. The garden was full of colorful vibrant flowers and green leaves. The high grass was cut evenly dividing the walkway to the ground grass. The garden was fully planted and organized.

"So that what bothers you?" The elder continues after they reach their designated place to talk.

"Yes master" he answered, "Over the years of learning a lot of things from the masters, I knew somewhat you all taught small details about that, but it was unclear". He explains.

"The Successor chose not to talk and remember about that tragical years the sword brought to the former clan, so they avoid talking about that" Elder master explain "but since you're now the rightful chosen Shadow, telling you will be a big help".

"Yes master, I want to know more about it" Haya said.

The elder look at him and then prepare to continue his saying

"Ame no Habakiri is the legendary sword created by Akakage most powerful first ninjas many years ago" The elder walk a little while Hayabusa seriously listening behind.

"It was written in history that the sword was forcefully made to seal a demon soul" finally he explained. "They succeeded, but since that was a powerful sword, after the death of the first ninjas, remaining Akakage decided no one is rightful to use it, as it posses of absorbing soul. It will just make any holder be obsessed with power so they hide it somewhere unknown to none Akakage" the elder master close his eyes. A sudden pause. The elder feels the surrounding. Hayabusa is just staring at him behind seriously. The elder then later open his eyes----" Until a chosen one. A full potential ninja was born in the Shadow sect" the elder continued. "Growing up, he then notices as a well-skilled ninja they have ever seen. He also became the leader of the Shadow faction and declared the rights to the title of the Shadow." The master turns his head to look at Hayabusa "...just like you" he addresses Hayabusa as his life was the same to their former leader in terms of being a great ninja. Hayabusa doesn't like it and closes his right fist tighter.

"He was obsessed with power. Hungry of honor to be the strongest ninja. Later then Akakage finds out he was also empowered by a demon poisoning his mind. And this demon told him about the sword and he was then eager to find it"

Hayabusa then realized there are a lot of hidden stories he doesn't know.

"Master" sudden break, he calls "did he finds it?" full of curiosity in his tone.

The elder pauses for a second and faces Hayabusa seriously.

"He has it" the elder answer with sadness Hayabusa was shocked to know the traitor has the powerful sword. Hayabusa did not expect that. He is not afraid but he knows this will going to be difficult. Now, many things are going around Haya's mind.

"I know this will going to be a tough mission for you Hayabusa" suddenly the master added like he knew what is inside Hayabusa's mind.

Hayabusa just stay in control and keep himself calm

"Don't worry master, I will win" He promise. "I just have to prepare myself a few more days before I can manage to set myself on finding him" A determined tone.

" If you say so, after all, you're already a rightful Shadow. You are a well-skilled ninja"

The elder praises him.

"Arigatou" He bowed to his master and about to set the conversation to end.

" Well then, I have some important matters to address" suddenly the elder master says "I have to go" and the elder is about to leave.

"okay master" Haya let him. The elder walk and left him still thinking of those things he heard. The things he finds out were alarming. He must not let his guard down on this traitor---- soon.

Afternoon play!

One beautiful butterfly being chase.

"Hahaha"

A happy four-year-old little girl playing. She is running and chasing that one butterfly. She continues running while laughing that unconsciously led her to a quiet place full of bushes and trees. After a minute of chasing, she missed the butterfly as it flies all the way up.

"Ahh" she murmured while slowing down from running. She turns her head upward to watch the butterfly. And from that, she realizes she is quite far from where she had been. The girl then turns again staring blankly to the direction of that butterfly. Then, a moment of silence when suddenly----

A quick snap of a pointed object falls unexpectedly and plant to ground. The girl reacted with that all of a sudden. She looks at it and sees It was planted a few steps away from her. It was a burnt small dagger and has smoke surrounding it. Suspicious as the girl just keep staring at that object.

What is it?