Chapter 1 – Snow

The greatest thing about winter is that, the whole world can be covered by a white blanket of purity. As if, the snow can cover its blemishes for a few months, hiding what is truly there until the snow melts and is gone for another year. Those blemishes however, whether our own or of those from someone else, are hard to hide from others and especially when they are acted out upon the innocent. Manhattan had been quiet for the past ten hours, a new record in my books. Goons and thugs roam the streets, working under a super villain and his plan for a 'better' New York. I've come to train myself in the martial arts and take control over these murderous villains, stalking the streets at night in a rather undertone vigilante way; hoping, praying that I can stop them before they hurt or kill anyone else.

As I made my usual rounds tonight, past buildings and apartments, banks and offices, I couldn't help but to be distracted by the beauty contained within Central Park. Allowing myself to break from route, I made my way quietly into the park. The ground was covered in snow; the stark white had become a somewhat translucent gray in the evening shadows. Park benches, playground equipment and kiosks were hidden by the heavy snow that had fallen onto them. Although the park was quiet, I kept my weapons – steel fans with a hidden blade – close in hands reach. I was always prepared, always ready to defend myself in battle; I am a Kunoichi after all. I made my way past rose bushes and grand oak trees and as I did, I picked up on a muffled moan a few meters before me. I instantly crouched down closer to the frozen earth, with my fans held tight, I stealthily and very slowly moved closer.

No doubt, it was a fight between two. I could tell it wasn't a couple's argument or some kids teasing each other, it was two grown men in a brawl. It was, most likely, a Purple Dragon and a helpless civilian. Creeping up just a bit closer, making sure to obstruct my line of sight, I hid behind and overgrown and over flowered rose bush that had made it somewhat through the coldness of this December month. In my line of sight, stood a young man with gelled back hair which was dyed blue, a baseball jersey and jeans hung from his skinny frame, twig-like fingers coiled around a metal baseball bat. As a Purple Dragon, he was only worth, at least, three good and heavy blows before he was down and out. However, I wanted to see who he was up against.

The first glimpse I got of the Dragon's opponent was a flash of red, traveling behind his head. Was it a bandana perhaps? Could he possibly be another ninja? As I watched, I couldn't help but to notice the masked man's devotion, his pride in simply, beating the shit out of the street thug. As I watched on, my heart beating quickly in my chest, I managed to hone in on a rather specific and interesting sound, the red mask had steel weapons, most likely swords or some type of artillery fitting in that category. I knew, without doubt that Red was a ninja – the way he moved and fought, the way steel clanged and blocked off the swinging baseball bat.

The fight continued on for another two minutes until Red changed positions and stance, standing just inched away from my hiding spot. Sai's, I noted his weapon as twin sai's. It was funny, for such a stealthy and passionate fighter, the sai's suited him well. They were small swords with two prongs erecting beside the longer shaft of the sword, the tips of these prongs were not sharp at all. It took physical strength and accuracy to penetrate or wound through the skin of an enemy, Red didn't seem to have a problem with that. Clutching my fans a bit tighter, I was eager and ready to face Red, if he, turned around and caught sight of me. Funny thing was, he did turns his head back in my directions as if, a noise startled him. There were no other people, animals, or outside distractions making noise, and it certainly wasn't me.

He stood that way for a long time and his eyes, his green eyes hung in the empty void of sky in hopes of finding the intruder. Without much recollection or sensitivity on my part to what had happened next was eroded by his green eyes in somewhat concealment behind his red mask. My back hit a tree trunk, arching m head backwards in pain due to the sudden impact. The throw wasn't too hard but, hard enough to make me moan out in surprise and discomfort. As I opened my eyes, I faced not a red masked man but instead, what appeared to be, a red masked turtle. His left sai was drawn up to my face, threatening any rash actions on my part toward him. His eyes were filled with curiosity and what seemed to be an everlasting abundance on rage.

"Who are you? Who do ya work for? Why were ya sneakin' up on me?" he spoke, his voice was somewhat surprisingly deep and tinged with a Brooklyn drawl.

I kept my mouth shut, my eyes locked on his and for a quick second, just before he tightened his grip around my shirt collar, I spun right out of his grasp, landing a spin kick to his side and knocking him backwards up against the same tree trunk. I had managed to switch positions with him and the realization of who held power dawned on him. He stared at me, completely stunned and mute from what had just occurred. He was mine now, his weapons useless just as mine were a few seconds ago. He kept on a mean look, despite the overwhelming surprise attack I unleashed onto him.

I raised my fan, just as he raised his sai to me. He didn't flinch or even blink, a true fearless ninja. We kept our eyes locked until an annoying sound creeped into my concentration. It was the sound of something dripping. It was much too cold for the snow and icicles to melt and, water didn't look red against the snow. Quickly, I looked away from his eyes and to his right arm. He had a deep gash across his bicep, the blood trickling down onto the snow, collected into a tiny circle. I could tell he was trying his absolute hardest not to wince, his gaze still lingered onto my eyes.

I tucked my fan away, raising my arm up, palm open and he slightly moved his head in fear of being slapped. My hand did not come to his face but rather, hovered over the heat emitting gash. His eyes lowered to my tiny yet powerful hand. Within minutes, a burst of light appeared and his wound had cleared up and sealed.

He was shocked and at the same time, we both looked up from my hand and into each other's eyes. His were searching for answers, demanding reason to what had just happened between us. He was strong and temperamental, honest in battle and proud of his power. There was however a side of him I saw in the short time we met that told me, there a softer, passionate side of Red.

He opened his mouth to speak but before he could fling questions and accusations at me, I had vanished back into the blood stained night of New York City.