Chapter 1

Silence…Absolute silence. A shallow stream slowly made it’s way through the small clearing. Cherry blossom petals gracefully made contact with the surface of the water without disturbing it’s smooth, reflective surface. A ledge stood on the banks of the calm stream, a smooth, sand-colored wall at the top of which a winding path led far of into the forest.

The wind whispered through the trees, carrying the soft, pink petals down to the water. In a flash, a black-clad figure appeared at the head of the ledge. He wore a silken black mask over his nose and mouth and a matching kimono, and pants. Metal plated gloves covered his hands. His only visible skin was between his forehead and the top of his mask as he wore a thin piece of black material over his hair and forehead.

With lightning speed, he hopped over to a tree where he kicked off with his foot and rolled into a crouching position on the other side of the stream. Still, the only noise heard was his steady breathing. He rose and slowly walked beside the stream, breathing deeply, taking in the smells of springtime. It seemed as though the forest suddenly came to life at his prescience. Two doves sprang out of the tree and flapped their wings to fly far away from this man’s sudden intrusion. A fish swam lazily down the river and stopped only for a moment as if to greet the returning warrior.

Ryu sighed as he removed his mask and scalp cover, letting the fresh breeze cool his perspiring head. The path seemed to darken as he passed through a cluster of trees. This was it. He was almost home…