Chapter 1

The streets of Tokyo had always been busy. Even at this time of the day, when children ought to be in bed, the famous Kabuki-chou was still busy and lively. Amongst the partying crowd stood a man with a long coat and hat, covering half of his face. The pale and frightened expressions on his face became a strong contrast to those around him. Looking nervously once again towards his watch, the man unintentionally wiped the sweat coming down the side of his forehead. His foot tapped against the dirty concrete floor repeatedly, hoping to release the tension he felt that made every hair on his body stand.

    "Have you got it?"

The man's body jumped a little when he heard a voice coming from behind him. Turning his face around as a reflex the voice stopped him in alert, although still whispering, but somehow demanding. Don't turn around, just keep looking ahead.

    "So have you got it?" The voice asked again.

    "Yes," The man in the hat replied trying hard to look ahead as the other demanded. Reaching inside his coat, the man's eyes looked nervously around him again before taking a white envelop out. "You know what to do with this right? It's a matter of National Security."

    "Of course, that is why they have sent me." The voice assured calmly. "Don't worry; you are doing the right thing."

The man let out a sigh upon what the voice said. "I did the right thing, but who will ensure my safety?"

    "You will be protected," The voice replied, "It's my promise."

---

    "What do you mean it's impossible?!" A man in his forties yelped with anger. Through the speaker phone, another man's shaky voice replied.

    "But sir, with all the security in the building, the alarm system, even an ant would be found! There is no way any person could have intruded the building without being caught!"

    "And if that was the case," the middle-aged man raised his voice again in anxiety. "Explain to me the two bodies lying in building area E?! How did they get attacked? Don't tell me they both just fell by themselves!"

    "We will find out the cause immediately sir! There are about 20 guards outside of your office already, no intruder will be able to harm you." The voice replied with assurance and pride.

Upon the reassurance, the man breathed out a deep breath in relief, "Alright, I want the intruder found! Now!" Slamming the handset of the phone, the man sank back into his chair. Twenty guards protecting him? Indeed he is fully protected. With a relaxed smile, he poured some whisky into a glass and opened the door outside of his office. "I want you all to stand alert! Is that clear..?"

 All of a sudden the man's voice stopped, the glass in his hand fell to the floor and broke into pieces as he gagged in horror. There were indeed, twenty guards outside his office, all lying on the floor.

    "Bingo." A cold voice abruptly appeared behind him, at the same time he sensed the touch of a pistol against his head.

    "You...you really broke through all these security and arrived here alone?" The man stuttered in fear and disbelief. Instead of answering the man's query, the intruder stepped back and moved the pistol away from the man's head.

    "So, am I qualified?"

    "Indeed. You are the best of the academy." The man laughed and turned around while he clapped and complemented wholeheartedly. "Congratulations, you are qualified now to become a real secret agent."

This task was to be the qualification exam to prove that one is able to graduate from training school and can be assigned real missions. However he must admit there was never a student that had passed the exam with such speed and in an empowering way. No, wait, there was one student a few years back that was the same. With the thought the man nodded, of course, the two have been the best they have come up so far, and with their close connection, the result was not surprising. ", who would have guessed that your results are so outstanding? Your personal trainer would be very proud of you." The man smiled.

showed no sign of the slightest stir of emotions on her face as she skilfully placed the gun back onto her belt. SHE, yes, indeed was a SHE. Further more, she was only a 17 year old girl. 's parents died when she was three, murdered by someone whom she still had not yet found out. It was then; she was brought back here to be trained as a secret agent. Her job was mainly to go undercover as a spy although her main field of training was on explosives. As she is young, no one would ever suspect her.

Here, in this governmental institution, 's identity to the world was non-existent. The secret agents were responsible for the underground work to protect Japan and most of all, the Japanese emperor. Indeed, in the westernised Japan today, many of the old Japanese traditions have been forgotten. In the old time of ancient Japan, this institution would be regarded as the Shinobi Clan. Throughout generations, the role of Shinobi have also became westernised. They learned to use guns and explosives, and in addition to that, the Shinobi skills were fortunately well-kept and not forgotten.

was trained with theory until she was nine. The day she reached nine years old, she was brought to her personal trainer, Aoshi Shinomori, who trained her martial arts and military skills until now. Aoshi was a very strict teacher. His cold, calm characteristics had a great influence on . learned to hide her emotions and feelings within her, as she was taught by Aoshi, showing away her emotions will only endanger her life. Especially, if she was to become a secret agent, she ought to give up her emotions.

was a very good and obedient student. She followed Aoshi's teachings, she worked hard, and thus became the best and most out-standing of the trainees.

The twenty men that lay outside all got up and sighed while moaning away. They looked at each other and shook their heads in shame. Twenty of them couldn't put down a seventeen year old girl? No, rather, they did not even have a chance.

The mid-aged man passed a folder. "Congratulations , here is your certificate and badge. You are one of us now."

Bowing and salute in absolute submission received it. However, she sensed no happiness, no glory, although everyone envied her.

    "One more thing ," The man said before he dismissed her. Turning to his speaker phone, the man reported. "You were right sir; passed the test and successfully reached me."

    "Very well, send her to my office now."

The man received the order and directed it to ." The Chief Commander wishes to see you."

nodded for acknowledgement and once again with a bow she left the office, standing tall. As she walked along the corridor, one of the twenty guards followed her. Noticing the person following, immediately became alert in unpleasantness.

Unfortunately, the man did not seem to notice as he smiled and strolled up to her. ", you are amazing! Would you have dinner with me tonight? Since we are colleagues now, let's get to know each other better." He looked at in anticipation although did not seem to respond to him. However, the iciness on her face made her even prettier. was indeed a good fighter, but also a beauty. He had wanted to go after for some time now, now he had the chance, he won't let go.

To the man's surprise, did not bother to respond and as if he was invisible, continued to walk off. Wait, was that an answer? Speeding up his pace, the man ran up quickly as he reached out his arm to grab her shoulder as an attempt to stop from walking further away. "Hey, I haven't..."

Suddenly he felt seized his hand that was reaching for her shoulder. Next he felt a pulling forth coming from as he fell forward. Before he could balance himself with the skills he inherited, moved aside in a swift pace as she kicked his leg causing him to lose his balance and fall flat on the hard ground. Just when he was going to let out a moan in pain, he felt 's leg on his back and an icy cold dagger against his throat.

    "Who said you could touch me?" Her voice was fatally merciless.

    "I...I am so sorry...!!" The poor man choked with fear.

    "Alright, that's enough." One of the other men came over quickly to help his partner out. "Let the poor guy go, okay?"

With a swing placed the knife back. Calmly she stood up and walked off not looking back at them again.

    "You must be out of your mind to set your target on her."

The poor frightened man swallowed a mouthful of saliva. "But I thought..."

    "You thought she is just a beautiful sweet teenager?" The man said ironically. He gave his partner a pat on the shoulder." Even if you dare to come in contact with , can you take it up to her teacher Shinomori Aoshi?"

    "Shinomori Aoshi....?!"

    "Yeah, he is the best of the best, the ace of our institute."

The frightened man gave a cold laugh in despise. "Aoshi is only 26, how can he be the best?"

    "Well, some has natural talents. Indeed Shinomori Aoshi has it, so does his student, ."

---

    "Sit down Aoshi, don't be so stiff." The Chief Commander greeted the tall man standing before him.

    "You wanted to see me?" Aoshi asked calmly as he seated himself down in front of the Chief Commander.

    "Yes, I will cut straight to the chase. We have a mission for you."

Aoshi's face remained calm to the order. "If I was to be assigned, it must be a most important mission."

The Chief Commander nodded and continued to smile. "Yes, indeed. That is why we are assigning two people to this mission."

Aoshi frowned a little with the unpleasant news. "You know that I work alone."

    "Chill, I believe you will have no problem with your new partner. Even you will believe that we have made the right choice."

Aoshi remained silent with his words, he was not interested in playing this kind of mind games the Chief was throwing at him.

    "Sir, the person you wish to see is here." when at this time the Chief Commander's phone rang.

The Chief Commander smiled mysteriously as he took a peek at Aoshi. "Sure, send her in."

Upon the command, entered the room and gave a bow to both the Chief Commander and Aoshi, her teacher. Aoshi's face remained unmoved although deep inside he agreed that he would work with no one but alone.

After signalling to join them at the seat assigned, the Chief Commander passed a folder to each of them. ", I must congratulate you for passing the exam today. It might be a little too fast but we wish to assign you your first mission."

    "Motomiya Gakuen?" Aoshi asked while looking through the files.

    "Yes, as you both were aware already, two weeks ago we had a traitor that stole a microchip from this institution. Unfortunately before we could arrest him and retrieve the microchip, he was murdered, his body found washed ashore the Yokohama Harbour. As expected, someone got to him before we did, and took the microchip. After plundering through his belongs, it was found that the person he might have contacted regarding the microchip was a undercover agent with the alias of a teacher in Motomiya Gakuen." Calmly explaining the Chief Commander pointed the files in both Aoshi and 's hands.

    "We have narrowed it down to two suspects, Seta Soujiro the Mathematics teacher, and Saito Hajime, the Biology teacher." The Chief Commander took off his glasses and leaned forward. Cautiously he added. "Must I stress the importance of keeping this matter as classified as we could."

Calmly Aoshi put down the folder and looked sharply at the Chief Commander. "If it was just to retrieve a microchip back, there should be no need to send two of the best agents to the mission. Is there something else that was not mentioned?"

The Chief Commander sat back in his chair and shrugged his shoulders. "You got me; I knew I could never hide things from you." With a mysterious smile, the Chief Commander pressed a button under his desk and slowly the wall behind him started to open.

Both Aoshi and stood up with what they saw. Behind the Chief Commander was a window and on the other side of the glass was a weapon laboratory. "The microchip actually contained the information of our latest invented biochemical weapon. As you know under the treaty we signed with the United Nations, we were not allowed to produce our own offensive weapons. However, once this news leak out, it endangers the national security of our country." The Chief Commander explained.

Both Aoshi and can not deny that they were surprised with the news. Indeed their mission was great, if they do not retrieve the microchip on time, the outcome maybe a third world war.

    "So what do you want us to do?" finally opened her mouth and spoke up.

The Chief Commander smiled and closed the wall again. "The person we are dealing with is also a professional like you and thus we need you to watch them constantly. Find out which one of them has the microchip. will be placed in Seta Soujiro's class as a student and as for Saito Hajime, Aoshi," The Chief Commander turned to Aoshi, "as you are a chemical weapon specialist, you will be the new chemistry teacher for Motomiya Gakuen. I believe I do not need to remind you what you need to do."

Before the conclusion of the meeting, the Chief Commander emphasised in strict order, no more smile on his face as he commanded coldly. "Find out who it is, retrieve the item and terminate the target."

---

    "I have heard of the good news." Aoshi commented as and he walked quietly down the corridor after their meeting with the Chief Commander.

remained silent and did not reply. Speech was never suitable for her. She knew very well that Aoshi will not praise her, and she expected none anyway. Aoshi was like a father figure to her, who trained her and taught her well. Although he never said things to encourage or comfort her, she respects him deeply. Without Aoshi, she would not be here.

Looking up at the cold, emotionless handsome face, she was once again reminded that it was Aoshi that helped her to live her life. Before he officially became her teacher, he was the only person that talked to her and cared for her. For an orphan like , Aoshi was like her nine year elder brother.

However once Aoshi was assigned to be her personal trainer, he became strict and serious. He never spoke a word of care to her. had learnt however that Aoshi's care for her was always within his long silences. She too replied him with silence and outstanding performances so she could honour him.

While was in her thoughts, Aoshi took a look at the cold but beautiful girl next to him as he stood still. "," stopped too and waited for her teacher to continue. Slight surprised showed through her eyes when she saw Aoshi passed a blue ribbon to her.

held the ribbon in her hand and investigated it carefully. She knew her teacher Aoshi would not suddenly give her a ribbon so she could adorn herself. With a swing, the ribbon became straight and stiff. It was actually a sharp blade made of thin soft metal.

    "My new design," Aoshi explained calmly. "A reward for your graduation."

For an instance 's eyes gleamed with slight gladness although she soon hid it. "The credit belongs to you, Aoshi sensei."

    "I am no longer your teacher, we are partners now." Aoshi stated as he headed off once again.

lifted up her head slowly as she watched Aoshi's tall figure walking ahead of her. Secretly she allowed a slight arousal of emotion inside her as she soon diminished it and followed after him.

Proceed to [ The Second Divide ]
 

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Iori
20.December.2006