Eternity; The crimson sky will always be yours... forever and eternally.

Tears of a Crane

Prologue

“I am the shadow with a voice.”

-Nakigo Hanahoshi

The rain hurts when is smashes on your face; without mercy, without regret, without a sense of belonging. The thunder roars... I sit, waiting patiently as the rain spite me with its will and dripped down my hair as many times blood did... the devil that lives in me, breathing the breath of life. I close my eyes, the thunder is wondrous, the sound of rain on the roof tops glorious, the mood of a starless pitch black night inspiring.

I am drenched wet, but I feel refreshed by the rain. The rooftop in which I sat was the Kogami residence, I’ve been here far to many times for it to be foreign. I loved the cold air... even though my finger tips were losing the sense of touch. My kunai hand was quick to find motion as I have trained for fierce winters. I am never defenseless, and for that I am an invincible warrior. A shinobi to be more exact, the most respected in Japan... my name is Nakigo.

I closed my eyes, and felt the rain drain through my clothing. Like most of the other shinobi in the Ruzai, my outfit was designed and created by myself. I wore my lord’s crest. The Symbol of Eternity; three spheres that encircled one another. It was sowed into with white nylon on onyx short kimono fitted over a elastic full body cover. My arm sheath was a pure silver tint... it sparkled as the rain drops hit against it. I am the most powerful shinobi in the world... yet only those who respect me or fear me or have tasted my blade truly know me.

Footsteps approach the main entrance of the Kogami Residence. I can hear them... my fingers, without thought like an instinct, wrapped around four kunai from my wrist holder.

I looked up and out slowly... the figure approached...

The rain had blurred the image, but with the proper focus... I recognized him... Michiri.

I loosened the grip on the kunais.

He walked up his umbrella shielded him from the rain. He stopped just before the roof I sat on.

“What a place... to find a lonely shinobi...” He looked up... with a smile.

“I was thinking,” I looked up and returned the light smile with a courteous tease... Michiri... he would never change.

“And here I thought, Shinobi’s didn’t have feelings.”

I gave a vague smile.

“I was thinking of the past.”

“Well, Keisune is waiting for us...”

“I know... just though I would complete the thought before you arrived.”

“I will tell her that her dear friend needs a few more minutes then.”

“Thank you, Michiri... you’ve always been... understanding.” I gave another vague. The shinobi never give away too much emotion... its not proper nor safe. He smiled back and bowed a little. He left... he left me to ponder on the past as I had. The rain was becoming softer... and the inspiration leaving me. Kyoto... 1865... its been six years since I’ve seen Keisune Takashiro... I wasn’t about to greet her without thinking back on the old times.

My story starts... nearly fourteen years earlier.