Time to head home.

After a few more minutes of relaxing in the bath, the two of you actually did some washing up. Spending time with Miyabi was really nice and the two of you just made small talk for the rest of your time there.

After saying your goodbyes and getting another kiss from Miyabi you began your walk home. It was starting to get dark by the time you began your trek homeward. You could have gotten home much more quickly thanks to your shinobi speed, but tonight of all nights you wanted to bask in the amazing day you had. Your path took you through a side-road that was facing the setting sun, it was a good back-drop for the end of your day. Suddenly, you saw a shadow fall over you.

“Norizuka Ippan.” A feminine voice called out to you from in front of you. Sure enough a woman was standing between you and setting sun. She was wearing a sailor uniform, but you couldn’t tell what school she was from since all you could see was her silhouette surrounded by the golden light of the twilight.

“Uh, yeah?” You considered asking her how she knew your name, but you had a bad feeling about this. You often walked with your hands in your pockets, and for good reason. If you had to summon your weapon in a hurry nobody would notice until you withdrew your hand. Silently you did so, feeling the tight gloves suddenly take shape around your hands in your slacks.

“You’ve happened upon something pretty interesting, haven’t you?”

“I don’t really know what you’re talking about.”

“There’s no point in playing the fool Norizuka, I can clearly see the ornaments hanging from your ears. They glisten in the sunlight pretty clearly.” Your eyes widened.

“Who are you?” You finally ask.

“I am this world’s guiding light. A beacon of hope.” You are suddenly aware of dark red walls encroaching your surroundings. A barrier. Looks like the jig is up. You see a weapon materialize in her hand, a European-style rapier. You swiftly remove your gloved hands from your pants and get into combat stance, the razor-thin wires extending from each finger reflecting light through the environment.

Clever, she didn’t just approach you from this angle for theatric effect, with the sun shining down at you, your razor wires would be much easier to see. With that knowledge in mind you decided to adopt a more defensive stance until you could get a better vantage point.

“You didn’t answer my question.” You remind her, waiting for her first move.

“It doesn’t really matter. A metaphorical answer is as good as you’re going to get. Shinobi tenshin!” She shouts the final two words as she is enveloped in a familiar light. Her clothes change their shape, placing her in what appears to be a black leotard with European-style plated armor covering her arms and legs. In addition, a pair of feathery white wings extends from her back. “There’s only one thing you really need to know about me anyway…”

“It’s normal for her to hesitate before killing me.” You figured having insurance would be a good idea, in case this goes south. You were a bit concerned that she used her transformation so quickly. If you were weakened then you could use the transformation as a second-wind as it typically restored your stamina. Any shinobi worth a damn ought to know that. Which means she was either really confident in her ability to kill you without getting hit, or… or perhaps she was trying to hide her identity. You couldn’t identify her uniform, perhaps she doesn’t want you to know what school she’s from.

She vanished. Your eyes widened and you panicked trying to find her again, only to find she was right next to you, her rapier aiming right for your heart. She wasn’t hesitating! With a bit of quick thinking you flick your fingers bringing a cross of wires up to knock the rapier away. You feel a few hairs get sliced as the tip of the rapier is suddenly guided upward into the sky.

Now that she was closer you could get a better look at her. She had short, silvery hair about down to her neck, one jet-black right eye and one glowing red left eye. She had a sadistic smile on her face and the intent to kill was very apparent. But there was one more thing about her that gave you pause.

“Your trick isn’t going to work on me.” She said as her grin widened, and as she did you saw why. Hanging from her earrings was a glinting silver pair of earrings, both in the shape of an N.

With no shortage of panic, you lifted your foot and kicked her in the gut before she could bring the rapier back down on top of you. She went sailing backward. Without hesitation, you put yourself back into a defensive stance awaiting her return while you tried to consider your next move. She was fast, and if your weapon wasn’t so good at defending you would have been killed right then and there.

She finally stood back up and put her rapier into a piercing position. “I won’t miss this time.” You hear her say and then you prepare yourself for the worst. It never comes, as she seems to take notice of something. She vanishes but doesn’t reappear again. You see the red walls begin to fade from the background. You quickly put your hands in your pockets again but don’t unsummon your wires, just in case.

You’re suddenly aware of a presence next to you.

“Ippan.” You turn your head to meet your gaze with your sensei, Suzune. “Are you hurt?”

You let out a sigh of relief and unsummon your wires, suddenly panting. “Holy shit, you saved my ass there, sensei.” Clearly your would-be assailant left the moment she sensed Suzune’s approach. “No I’m fine, thanks. How did you know I was here? And how did you get here so fast?”

“Shinobi can sense a barrier being created if they are close enough. I happened to be nearby.” That explains it.

“What were you doing all the way out here?” You ask.

“I had an assignment. Don’t worry I was already done when I noticed you. Tell me what happened, who was she?”

You begin to give your sensei all of the details you could remember.

She rubs her chin, deep in thought. “Her description doesn’t match up with any of the Kunoichi I am aware of. This is concerning. She’s less likely to attack with me around, though. I’ll ghost you until tomorrow.”

“All night?” your eyes widen a bit in shock. She was going through quite a bit of trouble.

“I don’t have anything else to do tonight, besides, you are my student and therefore still under my care. It won’t be too much trouble trust me, I brought something to read.”

You nod and then she vanishes from sight. With a shrug, you continue your walk home, your thoughts were racing like crazy.

You weren’t seeing things, she had the same earrings that you had. They were a different color, but they were definitely the same shape. You had to be extra careful, if there was someone else out there who had the same powers you did, they could really throw a wrench in your plans… or your life for that matter.