Out of the Darkness Chapter I Out of the Shadows

Kyoto Japan, 1566 ~

Darkness, it was it only thing I knew. I have lived in shadows my whole life. I was trained to detest the light and fear being seen. For once one of the Shinobi is seen it is very dangerous for his whole syndicate. A Shinobi Syndicate is a group of Shinobi ninja warriors. We live by shadows and fear all that is of the dawn. If a Shinobi is seen then the leader of the syndicate will kill him instantly. There are no women in the syndicate, they live back in the village and produce heirs for us. I am the leader of the Tokei Shinobi Ninja Syndicate of Japan. We are the elite. We have no peers and pressure? Ha. There's no such thing. The Tokei have no need to fear the light, unlike the other syndicates, we kill any and all who see us. We have decimated whole villages over a few chickens. We are the assassins that murders higher to kill off the government. They know that no one who spots one of us shall ever live to tell about it. That is why the Tokei wonders freely in the day and yet no one knows of us. And that is also why the tale I have for you is such an unusual one. No one has ever lived after seeing a Shinobi of the Tokei syndicate, until I met her. Sakura, it's a beautiful name, no? She was as beautiful as the flower she was named after. The Sakura, or cherry-blossom. Gorgeous little things they are. But no flower could compare with my maiden. Sakura came to me one night. I was on a mission and she just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was three years ago. Three years ago my life changed forever. The Shinobi Ninjas were trained to stay out of sight and even a member if the Tokei syndicate wouldn't dare go against his sensei's teachings. I was doing my best to do so and thus set a good example for my followers. But once you kill it's hard to stop, and I had killed too much. There was a rustling in the brush beside me I was on my guard and pounced on her. Before she had time to scream I had my knife at her throught. "State your name and matter of business and I might let you live." I growled. "I-I am S-Sakura." She whimpered. "I have no other name. Just Sakura." She looked utterly petrified. "A-and y-you? You are o-one of the T-Tokei Shino- obi N-Ninja S-Syndicate. A-Are you n-not?" "I am. How do you know of my clan, onna?" I was not in a good mood. "I-I have heard stories. Tales of warriors who hunt at night and wreak mass destruction over the land." Suddenly she cringed. "Oh, p-please s-sir! Please do not kill me!" I paused for a moment. "I will not on one condition. That you come back to the village with me and offer your friendship." "T-That's all?" "Indeed. I am Nanashi. The No Name." "'Tis a pleasure to meet you, Nanashi. I am Sakura, as I said before. And Indeed I shall be your friend." And so I took Sakura back to the village and she lived there, although we never did have an intimate experience, not that I don't regret it now, mind you. A few months later I was killed in battle but my mission in life was, evidently, not yet complete, for my soul did not move on. I was forced to watch, as my poor Sakura died a broken heart.

Neo Tokyo Japan 3209 ~

1683 years had passed since my departure from the world of the living. I had yet to find away for my spirit to move on. Nobody, Shinobi or otherwise, had ever been quelled from departure to the world beyond, or at least not to my knowledge. But lately I had been sensing something. I'd been getting this feeling for about fifteen years now but I could never find the source. But this would be the day that I would find the reincarnation of Sakura. The day when I would get what I needed, and move on. Excellent, it seemed the object that I so desperately desired was coming towards me. There was a flash of black and gold as something sped by. The thing stopped and a person hopped off. Damn, it was one of those flying scooters again. I liked the twentieth century better. The person removed the helmet to reveal.a young boy?! Holy shit! That's Sakura's reincarnation? Damn, this afterlife business just keeps getting worse and worse! Oh damnit, Sakura! Why'd you have to reincarnate into a boy? You know I'm straight! Damnit! "Now I've gotta kiss .young man, at least in order to move on!" I didn't realize that I had said that last part out loud. But unfortunately, I did. As I watched the young man turn around to see who was talking I felt myself suddenly drawn to him. Yes, he had Sakura's spirit still in him all right. She was just trapped inside the little punk. "Strange." He muttered. "There's no one here." "No! Sakura, I am here! I am, damnit!" I willed .him to focus on the spirit sensual powers I knew he possessed. For Sakura had been my soul mate, I was sure, there for, that this boy would also have to ability to see me. "Is someone there?" He squinted and seemed to be looking somewhere just left of my shoulder. "Over here, damn you!" I shouted grabbing his upper arm and forcing him to look at me. "Do you from somewhere?"

Two hours later, same spot

"So what your saying is that you and your lover died, and you couldn't move on but your lover got reincarnated and I'm her reincarnation?" "I would never miss read Sakura's spirit registration." I confirmed. "Boy, her spirit's living within you. You are indeed the embodiment of my love." "." he seemed to be in shock, and who wouldn't be? I mean, a 1690- year-old ghost just told him that he was the reincarnation of his old girlfriend! ", I suppose that you should know my name." "That would be nice." "O-Okay .I'm Hiyaku Kyogine. I'm fourteen-years-old and I go to Yasimoko High School." "Nanashi. I am 1690 years-old, I grew up in Kyoto Japan in 1566 as the apprentice of the former Leader of the Tokei Shinobi Ninja Syndicate, around my 16th birthday my sensei passed away and I inherited the Tokei. I spent the next few years as leader then when I was 27 I went out on a scouting mission and met Sakura, brought her home and three months later I died during battle but didn't move on, then three days later she died of grief. I spent the next 1683 years searching for her spirit and/or reincarnation and here I am." "The Tokei Syndicate? Wow!" Hiyaku seemed genuinely impressed. "I've read books about you guys! You were really top notch! And to be announced leader at just 16? You must have been amazing!" I personally pride myself on being prideful, but not arrogant. How could I respond to this little boy's high admiration when I could physically feel the feelings I had felt for Sakura resurfacing towards him? Slowly I felt all sense of pride or self-restraint melt away as I looked into Hiyaku's big brown eyes, Sakura's eyes. Suddenly I wasn't in God Knows where with this little fifteen-year-old boy, but back home, in Kyoto, back home with my love. There she was sitting in front of me with laughing admiration in her eyes as I told her about my day in the Syndicate. Sakura, oh how could I not have taken her when I had the chance? It was obvious what I had to do to move on now. I had to fulfil my destiny and complete my romance with Sakura. Then I was leaning in to kiss her, but of course it was really Hiyaku I was kissing, but I had apparently lost all touch with reality. I could feel his lips against mine; they felt so sweet, so familiar. He froze and his eyes widened. Leaning back he fell over in an attempt to break the intimate gesture. "W-what was t-that?" he asked, terrified. "I-I'm sorry but- oh, you just look so much like her and I guess when you've been around for as long as I have you tend to reminisce at the most inopportune of times. Oh Gods! I'm sorry, Hiyaku! But I guess I just forgot and- and I miss her so much and- and." Then the tears that I had been holding back for over a century burst forth and I found myself in the middle of what could only be described as a mid-death crisis. "Why, Sakura? Why? Why?! Why did you leave me? Why did you return as the one I can never have? Sakura, I loved you so much! Why did you leave me alone like this?" Hiyaku was quiet for a moment after my little outburst as I sat there racking with silent tears. "She loved you too, Nanashi." He said quietly after a moment. "She told me." He looked up at me. "She's asking if I would try to take her place in your .I mean death. I know I'll never be able to replace your first love but I'm willing to try and-" " told you?" I asked him, still shell-shocked. "Y-you can talk with her?" "Not really. But sometimes she will send me memories from another time. Memories I know weren't mine. Oh, but please Nanashi! Let me have this chance to help you and Sakura! Please?" I smiled weakly. "Thank you, Hiyaku. You're a good person, but I could never ask you to uproot your life to help we with what small ruin is left of mine." "You wouldn't be. I've been wondering about it myself for a while now, and Sakura knows that. She wouldn't have asked me if she weren't sure. Please, Nanashi? Trust me. Trust Sakura! She wouldn't ever do anything to hurt you." I know that, Hiyaku. I know that now. Thank you, kid. Thank you so much. But instead of saying all of this I just leaned forward and captured him in another kiss. Letting only one word escape my lips. A very old word meant only for one person. I had always thought that person would have been Sakura, but that obviously wasn't going to happen. "Aishiteru."

~*TBC*~

Next Time: I knew that Hiyaku wouldn't be exactly like Sakura but I knew that he was the closest thing to her I was going to get. Sakura, my love, this was your choice. I truly believe that. I do care for Hiyaku, but do I really care for him, or am I still just in love with you? Next time- Out of the Darkness Chapter II Is it you or just your soul? Until then!