• Risa was at the ‘Blue Ice’ Leisure center. She was looking at all the notices, activities and classes they had to offer. She sighed out, “nothing… nothing at all. World, why do you hate me?” A woman with amazing golden eyes walked up to one of the notice boards. She was young, didn’t seem that much older than Risa but strangely she had silver hair. The she looked a little oriental from what Risa could decipher. ‘Wait a minute! I thought all oriental people naturally had black or brown hair and eyes like Rin! Huh, I guess that’s just a stereotype.’ The woman pinned up another flyer on the already, crowded notice board. She turned to her and grace her with a warm, tranquil smile then walked passed her. Risa curiously looked at the newly put up flyer. It read;
    ‘Learn the secrets of ‘Inukage no jutsu’.
    A technique developed in the land of the rising sun. JAPAN!
    Every Sunday from 4pm to 6pm (breaks included)
    Taught by specialist
    ‘Ayame Inumaya.’
    MASTER YOUR INNER ESSENCE!’

    “Inuucage…Innu…cage no jitzu? What the heck?” Risa was pondered over what it was and most of all; ‘how the hell do you pronounced it?’
    “It’s pronounced ‘innu~kagay no jusu’. Inukage no jutsu.” Risa jumped as she found the silver woman from before, behind her smiling. “I guess I should’ve put on how to pronounce it?”
    “I guess you should’ve. Umm…are you Ayamee?”
    “Yes. My name’s pronounced ‘Ayam~may’ by the way.”
    Risa turned faint shade of red and turned back to the flyer in embarrassment. “Sorry. What is inukage no jutsu anyway?” She was desperately trying to change the subject.
    “I guess you’ll have to find that out for yourself.” She vanished as Risa turned yet again.

    I suddenly felt dizzy; maybe it was from this not so normal Monday. Maybe it was from the young woman’s vanishing act. Maybe it was from me thinking too much. Or it could just be from the amount of spinning I just did. Even so; today was one of the weirdest days ever. A faint laugh: ‘So much for today being the usual, uninteresting day in my melancholy life huh?’

    “Mum! I’m home!”
    “What took you so long?! It’s been more than an hour since school finished. What were you doing?”
    “I did what you asked. I went to the Leisure Centre ‘cause there was nothing interesting at school.”
    Mum came out of the kitchen. “Oh good. What did you find?” Mum was clearly pleased I actually listened to one of her suggestions.
    I couldn’t stop myself from smirking, “It’s called inukage no jutsu. It’s from Japan. I’m interested in doing it. Have no idea what it is…but hey! I like surprises.” ‘A fake laugh to keep mum happy.’
    “Inu…what? Oh never mind. At least you’re doing something productive. Now change out of your uniform and get ready for tea. I’m ordering in. What would you like?”
    “Okay. How does Chinese sound?”
    “Chinese it is.”

    It was 10 at night. Most of the exhausted town was in the calm and comfort of their beds whilst a certain Japanese girl was awake; a phone in her cold hands. She stayed at a rented apartment on the outskirts of town near the secondary school at which she now attended. Talking a mixture of English and Japanese to someone in her mother land; a brew of annoyance and seriousness poured over her voice. “Onii-san. Hai, the plan is underway. Baka! Don’t underestimate me! Don’t underestimate me alright! Yes, she fell for the ‘inukage’ cover. Yup, we’ll be training her and she won’t even know it. But are you sure she’s ready for this. I know she’s your little sister but...” silence, “yes I understand. It must run in you’re blood huh Joe? Well, ja ne.” The line went dead.

    ‘Ayame’ smashed the phone against the wall. Her hair which was silver was now shining raven. Golden eyes turned to hypnotising obsidian. She was now her cover; the ivory, Japanese, school girl named Rin Yamamoto. Exhausted she crawled in to her bed, took a last glance at the crescent moon through her window and drifted in to an anything but peaceful sleep. ‘Not long now!’

    Risa let out long, relaxed yawn. As she got out of the comfort of her bed she could taste the rancid, foul stench of morning breathe which made her eyes water, “yuck, I hate the taste of morning breathe, how long was I asleep? What time is it?” She looked at her new alarm clock which her mum bought her yesterday after the incident she had with her previous one. It was 2 o’clock on a Sunday afternoon. ‘Wait a second… 2 in the afternoon!’ Risa rushed to her curtain and drew them back. A blinding light burst through the window. “Ack. Stupid sunlight. I’m so not in the mood!”
    “Glad to see you’re up Little Miss Sunshine.” Risa jumped at the sudden voice.
    “Mum! You scared the beejeezus out of me!”
    “Beejeezus? What in the world? Oh never mind, I hope you weren’t planning to stay in bed all day. Remember you have that class down at the Leisure Centre.”
    ‘Oh yeah. I can’t believe I almost forgot about that.’ “I remember Mum. Just let me get ready and eat breakfast…well lunch. Or is it dinner?”
    Her Mum couldn’t help but sigh and giggle a little. “What in the world am I going to with you huh?” With that she left her daughter to her morning…well afternoon routine.

    It was now 3:55pm; the class would start in 5 minutes. To be honest Risa was quite anxious. Firstly, she had no idea what the class was. She just came because liked the sound of it. Secondly, she only knew one girl in 5 people who were the waiting for the class to begin. ‘5 people including me; five people, what a turnout!’ The girl’s name was Naomi. She had bright, copper, red hair that was trendily cut into a bob. Her eyes were an amazing mixture of brown, green, hazel and even a spec of amber could be seen. She was quite a bold and an ‘I don’t care what you think of me’ type of girl. Risa never really talked to her at school. Suddenly the door opened to the class.

    Nervousness, anxiousness, anticipation and curiosity were all brewing, swirling… mocking even! In Risa’s head. ‘God, why!? Why did I sign up, I don’t know what this class is a~’ Risa’s thoughts were interrupted by a,
    “Kunichiwa! And welcome to Inukage no jutsu! I will be you’re teacher or master if you will of this technique. I’m Ayame Inumaya but call me Aya-sensei or just Sensei.”
    There sitting in the middle of the floor was the woman from the other day. Ayame!
    “Now, we’ve all got that clear. Let me tell you what inukage no jutsu means it means ‘Dog shadow arts or techniques’. Now are there any questions before I continue.”
    Silence. Then a shy hand rose up in the air. It belonged to a boy. He had caramel coloured hair and dusty, brown eyes. “Umm…Aya-sensei. I don’t under stand what that means? I though this was some kind of crafts or exercise?”
    “Well, young man, you’re not fair off. Inukage no jutsu is a kind of exercise… well… a martial art driven from Japan to be exact. And we will be doing crafts and artwork sometime in the future should you decide this is the right activity for you.” She ended with a warm grin.

    ‘Martial arts huh? Sounds interesting.’
    “Now peoples!”
    ‘Peoples?’
    “We’re not gonna be working in this room… or even in this building from now on, we clear?!”
    “What do you mean we’re not gonna be in the building? Why? Where are we going?!” Naomi looked confused.
    “Yeah why Sensei?” I asked.
    Clearly annoyed by all the questions and with a bit of thinking she finally replied, “Alright! Alright! Truth be told: the Leisure centre has no other rooms left for this class so they decided to hold it elsewhere. Now! Are we done with our little question and answer moment?” Pause. “Okay then! Everyone follow me!”

    ‘Where are we?’ We all followed ‘Sensei’ to this strange but spacious apartment just outside the Leisure Centre, ‘I can see my school from the window!’
    The apartment itself was opened up with a large living room which could easily fit 20 people if desired, it was decorated in a modern oriental theme with the mahogany and cream furniture pushed to the sides of the walls; it was a rectangle shaped room so it had three walls which were white and another which was terracotta. Aya-Sensei was waiting for our because she was sat in the middle of the dark, mahogany floor: with her legs crossed, arm folded and eyes shut. We all copied and sat on the floor waiting for our instructions.

    ‘Sensei is sure taking her time; this IS only a 2 hour lesson.’ Risa’s thoughts were interrupted when Ayame’s eyes opened only to reveal a shocking, concentrated stare which sent a spark of electricity down Risa’s back, numbing her spine. Any thoughts were blocked out by an ear shattering howl that seem to infiltrate her mind. For a moment all that could be seen was white. Finally, when it all cleared. Risa looked around at the other students; all she could see was confusion. Pure, thought-numbing confusion. She nervously turned to Sensei all she could see was an amused smirk and what looked like fangs…‘fangs?!’ The smirk gracefully turned into a sweet smile.

    With once last amused glance over her students the silver haired sensei said, “Alright class! Let the lesson begin!”