Shadow in my Memory.

Chapter thirteen

Night Stalk lazily stretches in bed, suddenly jerking upwards and lifting her hands in the air. She rises to her feet and changes into khakis and a tanktop.

After getting back to base, Storm Shadow was awarded from his heroic deed of eliminating a terrorist, despite his arguements of going to the ceremony. Night Stalk went through self-insituted treatments for her P.T.S.D. over her several rapes. She was moderatly over it, with few symptoms that only included; more awareness around men, shyness, increased modesty, and prudeness. She wasn't afraid to admit anything about herself.

In the end, she joined the G.I. Joes with Storm Shadow.

Night Stalk cracks her back once before heading down to the training area. She visited the Arashikage clan once after the whole even ended, to announce her new bonds with the G.I. Joes, same as Snake Eyes. Now, she practiced everyday to keep her skills up, even got to know some others.

She begins to meditate, her usual training. She was Mental Master, so her mentality had to be at it's finest. She stops her heart rate and starts it up again as Storm Shadow, her thoughts dwelling on him. He was often in her mind, thoughts of when he saved her. "I'm here." He said to her. His voice held something in it, a certain emotion. It didn't fit friendship, or usual concerns. It was something more, yet she still couldn't place it.

She snaps out of her chameleon state and returns to herself when she hears soft but sure footsteps enter the room, the heart rate and breathing pattern all too familiar.

"Storm Shadow." She greets.

"Night Stalk." He replies and watches her as she stands up.

"Will you do some Tai Chi with me?" She asks. Not long ago they learned this technique, different from Arashikage practices, but just as fun. He walks to be alongside her, both spreading their feet and beginning to lean to the left. With slow and graceful movements they push at the world around them, until Storm Shadow playfully trips Night Stalk, who uses her hand to flip to the side.

"Unfair." She states, narrowing her eyes when Storm Shadow smirks.

"Not many things are really fair." He replies, starting to circle with her. They get into fighting stances, prepared for each other.

"Offense or defense?" Night Stlak asks.

"Defense." He responds.

"Very well."

Storm Shadow lifts from the ground slightly and she runs forward when he is startled, trying to kick at him but he dodges her.

"So, when did you and Roadblock decide to use me as a pawn, before I even knew what was happening?" She asks while making jabs and quick attacks. Storm Shadow bends and erks while trying to dodge her incredibly quick actions.

"When they came. I told him the plan when Cobra was infiltrating." He replies, Night Stalk placing her foot on his so he can't move much.

"You decided to let me barely understand your actions and possibly get tortured again?" She asks, her face getting serious.

"We knew you could survive." Storm Shadow explains, both stopping all actions to just look at each other. Night Stalk takes her foot off his and steps back.

"Yet, I almost didn't." She whispers.

"That wasn't your fault. It was a sensitive moment." Storm Shadow argues.

"I could have faught back harder. There is always a solution to a problem, but I didn't find it when it happened." She mumbles, scooping her hair into a pony-tail. Storm Shadow takes a step closer, not about to let her sink into self-pity, but Night Stalk suddenly slaps him across the face.