Ninja Love Story

Chapter 1

Where am I...? My mind was a haze as I realized I lied in pitch- black darkness.

What is this place...?

I felt uneasiness and fear shoot through my heart as I tried to recall my memories.

"What-?!" I can't move! What has happened to me?!

Hardly able to move, I felt heavy and paralyzed. 

I need to get out of here... But where do I go?

Slowly fumbling in the darkness, I reached my hand out to raise myself. It was then a great force seized my arm.

"H-Hey!" I wanted to say, but no sound emerged from my throat.

"Barely... Just barely. The flames of life have yet to be blown out in you."

I hear a voice... 

As I opened my eyes slightly, I could see a single ray of light cut through the darkness. In that light, I saw a valiant young man with hair drooping slightly in his face. His left eye held a jutting scar, but his piercing stare made me draw in a breath.

"Can you hear me?" he asked.

I groaned slightly at my stiff body. My eyes, still adjusting to the light outside, squinted at the handsome stranger. 

I feel like I can't speak!

He scowled at me, "Get a hold of yourself. The Heishi army draws near and you must decide immediately."

Decide? Decide what? Confusion must have masked my features, for he answered my unspoken question- 

"Either be brutally murdered by them, or, be cut down in one stroke by me. You have no other options."

What the heck is this guy saying?!

"It seems you lack the willpower to choose... Not that I blame you. However, let me put you at ease." He placed the edge of a cool, sharp blade to my throat.

"You can't be serious...!" I managed hoarsely. I glared at him as I tried to push his blade off of me. I felt the pressure lessen ever so slightly and I sat up as quickly as I could. The man was holding his katana to deliver my ending blow when I shoved his arm with all my strength. The katana sliced the air a hair's breadth away from where I had been. I glared at him again.

"So you chose to live..." The young man spoke with an expressionless face but still held his blade. He grabbed my wrist with his free hand to ensure my staying put. 

At this point, my vision cleared completely and I was able to take in my surroundings: I was deep in the mountains and had been lying face down on the ground near a grove of trees. "Ohh..." I moaned quietly, rubbing my fingers to my temple.

"Drink this," he instructed. His forceful grasp steadied my body as he shoved a bamboo cylinder to my lips. I looked at it first, then turned my gaze to him questioningly. "It's not poison. Just water." He poured some water into his palm and pressed it against my mouth.

"Ugh... Cough cough!" The water rushed down my throat before I was ready to receive it. 

"Don't resist. Drink it," he said again.

Doing as he said, I slowly drank from his hand until the liquid was gone. I tried to speak again, but my voice was hoarse. "Wh-where...?" I couldn't finish.

"We are in the mountains near the capital." His face still held the same empty expression.

"Near the capital," I echoed. I listened intently to my surroundings and heard shouting in the distance.