“And ours, sensei?”

“Coming to me means that you will learn more about stealth, thievery, and other missions that will enhance the clan’s foothold within the Han. You will learn to mind your tongue and listen versus question. To see before others can see.”

“What about—”

“No more questions!” he barked. “I’ve had enough of your questions for now. Ask your peers. I am your master from here on. You will report to me when needed and you will respect my orders. Otherwise, I do not want to hear from or see you. If I must, I will make sure it is well worth my time in punishing you, so you never disappoint this family.”

Shizu gulped. The kitsune had punished her for failing any part of the training, but it was always to ensure she got better. He was genuinely threatening her.

They turned down another corridor and through another false wall. It was dim. Nothing like the dark halls of the kitsune or when she had been welcomed by the clan. Lanterns dotted the room to illuminate what looked like wooden beams crossing one another to form a tower.

A large circular hole, half the size of the room, opened the room above to the outside world. The light from the moon peeked out near the edge as it reached the highest point of the night, showering the room with a soft light. Shadows cast across where lanterns couldn’t on the wooden beams. A maze-like forest, folded in on itself with ropes in the place of vines.

A shadow moved across one of the beams, stopping for a moment before darting further into the tower. A few other shadows danced through with incomprehensible whispers floating down to Shizu. Freedom. The dance was a freedom that she wanted to obtain for herself and reach the skies high above like a kami. The three of them understood her desires in ways she couldn’t touch yet.

“You’re getting sloppy, Matsuda!” her master barked.

“Kuso!” A voice choked.

Wood creaked and someone landed on the ground with a soft thud. He advanced into the moonlight. His black clothes blurred his form against the shadows, leaving his boyish face floating a head above her. His feet were wrapped in dark cloth, separating his toes into two groups. The other two stood a distance away so their faces were overcast with deepened shadows. His honey skin was impossible to hide with the flickering lanterns around the room. An imperfect shadow capable of blending in despite his flaws.

“What gave me away?” Matsuda ran a hand over his close shaved hair.

“You stopped to look at our newest member. If you can’t watch while moving, you won’t survive. Figure out how to scan your surroundings only when properly covered.”

Matsuda bowed and looked at Shizu. “So, you’re Shizuoka No Hikage? Mind if I still call you Shizu?” He nodded in her direction. “Didn’t think you needed me hovering over you in that giant room when I could easily see you in here in person before the others. Especially since I will be one of your mentors.”

“I would like that, yes. Thank you, Matsuda.” She bowed. “And please take care of me as I train.”

The boy’s smile widened and looked at their master. “Do you hear her? Didn’t think I would have the day where I had someone under me.”

The master grumbled under his breath and turned away from them. “Show her what she needs to know and head to bed.” He disappeared into the darkness.

Matsuda stretched his arms behind his back and leaned forward. “Well, let’s show you to your room so you can change, and then tomorrow I can show you your chores.” He grabbed Shizu’s wrist and led her past the wooden tower. “Trust me, you will love your new chores. I was stuck with them for almost a year now.”

She could taste the sarcasm flowing from his lips. Nothing like the priest who lied to kill her. Simply innocent talk that she yearned to hold onto longer. Still, she listened intently as he talked about nothing in particular from his training before coming here to his own naming ceremony.

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“What about before the trainings?” Shizu interrupted.

Matsuda shrugged. “Couldn’t say. Don’t care much either.”

“Do you,” she dropped her voice. “Do you get headaches when you think about it?”

He frowned. “You shouldn’t be trying to think so much about it. If Isamu-sensei finds out, then you’ll be punished. There’s a reason they chose kitsune to train us. Now quiet before someone else hears you.”

They strode through a large wooden doorway into a room almost as large as the previous one length-wise. It was thin with rows of beds lining each wall. At the foot of the beds lay a trunk. Windows lined the walls. Large enough for someone to climb through if they could reach. The light from the moon illuminated some of the beds. Most were in a deep slumber, or stirred, as the two walked past them.

Matsuda pointed to the first empty bed. “That one is yours. All of your clothes are in it including any tools you may need right now. Which is probably none until they distribute them.”

He pointed to another bed a few down from hers. “That one right there is mine.” He bit his bottom lip and tapped his cheek as if contemplating his next few words. “Don’t touch it and if you see me moving a little while I’m lying in it.... umm... don’t come over.” He shuffled his feet and turned his gaze away from Shizu. “Same for a lot of the other guys in here. It’s our private time.”

“Private time?”

Matsuda placed a hand over Shizu’s mouth to silence her. “Let’s not talk about that. Just know that men and women both sleep in here and we don’t like people talking to us when we are lying down.” He released Shizu’s face and nudged her toward her bed. “Sleep well.”

Shizu smiled and walked over to her bed. “Sleep well, Matsuda.”

She opened the chest and plucked out a large dark-colored fabric. It was thicker than the clothes she wore and a much-welcomed necessity against the cold air outside. Shizu glanced around to see if anyone was awake before stripping her kimono. She folded it inside the chest to the best ability and wrapped the thicker robe around her. The warmth relaxed her tense muscles in an instant as it embraced her as no one else had done before. She climbed into bed and closed her eyes, letting sleep take her out of the cold darkness of the clan and into a new world.

Shizu opened her eyes after what seemed like ages and looked across the multitude of beds in front of her. Something moved in the corner of her vision, and she adjusted herself to appear like she was sleeping to get a better view. The moonlight only lit up half the room now, casting deep shadows across the cloaked figure.

She would have assumed it was someone waking up to go on a mission if not for the lingering hatred around the mysterious shinobi. Her bladder cried out to be released. Perhaps from fear or not going since the afternoon prior, she wasn’t sure nor cared.

They leaned close to Shizu; their voice low so no one else could hear. “Just because they welcomed you, doesn’t mean I will accept you nor will the other families. You should have never been bought and I’ll make sure your life stays a living hell.” The person stood back up and stroked a slender finger across Shizu’s cheek. “Go back to sleep before I decide to save my breath and cut you down tonight.”

The cloaked person left Shizu’s bedside and disappeared through the doorway to the outside world. She didn’t sleep the rest of the night as birds chirped to signal morning was arriving.

Her head cried out in pain at the nightmare of the world around her. This wasn't the hidden home of the kitsune. There were people she didn't know who were as willing to kill her as she was.