In the beginning, Kujakou was late for school, again. Her alarm clock rang just as the bus was pulling away from the stop in front of her house.

“Oh Crap! That is the fifth time this week!" (today being Friday), Kujakou screamed while dressing, eating, and running out the door. Kujakou glared at her long, thick hair for slowing down her run. She got to the front door just as the tardy bell finished ringing.

“Damn, damn, damn . . . ” She said in time with her steps. She slowly pushed open the class room door, hoping to be able to sneak inside . . . every eye was on the door, including Mr. Delszaki’s (her math teacher).

“Late again, Miss Mora? Was your homework eaten as well?” he asked sarcastically while writing up a detention slip.

“How did you guess? Did it happen to you too?” Kujakou replied straight-faced while slipping into her seat beside her best friend, Kiyone.

“He knew you would be late, he was waiting,” Kiyone stated matter-of-factly.

“KIYONE SITORA! Please stand up!” Mr. Delszaki said from the front of the class. “Hands at your sides!”

“Roll call,” Kiyone whispered to Kujakou as her hands went to her waist to roll down her knee-length skirt (it was mid-thigh). Mr. Delszaki walked to her desk and placed the yellow detention slip upon it.

“Same time Monday, Miss Sitora?” he asked.

“Of course not! I’ll never do it again!” She said with an innocent smile, while she sat back down (hands already at her waist rolling the skirt back up). “This is going to be one of those days,” she whispered while looking at the detention slip.

“I trust you girls know the way,” Mr. Delszaki said while handing Kujakou a yellow paper.

“Damn,” Kujakou muttered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” she replied while taking the sheet.

Kiyone was giggling the whole time. Mr. Delszaki looked at her and she was instantly silent. “This is the tenth time this month I have caught you out of dress code. Congratulations!” he said with a smile as he handed Kiyone another slip. “You may beat your old record.”

Kujakou and Kiyone walked silently through the empty halls to the even emptier detention room, no one else wanted to be stuck here on a Friday, not even the teacher.

As the sky began to darken the two friends walked out of the school. They could have been sisters they looked so much alike.

Kujakou was fairly tall (around 5'8"), with long black hair that was constantly in her face. Today her make-up colour of choice was purple. She wore purple sparkly eyeshadow and "Frosted Mauve" lipstick. This was her way of "expressing herself".

Kiyone was a little more sane (not much but some), she didn't rebel half as much, only through her choice of clothes. She was quite tall (6'0"), with legs that went on forever. Her eyes were a deep, rich brown, and she had thin, long dark blue hair that was always perfect. The skirt had found its way back to her thigh... like always.

They both loved music. Kiyone dreamt of being a world famous singer. Kujakou would be her back up. Kujakou wished to marry rich and have Kiyone as her maid.

While walking they passed the abandoned house next to Kujakou's, just to see that it isn't abandoned anymore.

"I wonder who is moving in," Kiyone said.

"Don't know, don't care," Kujakou replied while walking up her front path. In the window of the front door Ms. Mora was standing, holding Kujakou's forgotten lunch in front of her. "Oh...thanks Mom, I was looking for that," Kujakou said while ushering in through the front door.

"Why are you girls late?...wait I already know."

"Thanks mom...bye mom," Kujakou yelled as she ran up the stairs dragging Kiyone behind her. Kiyone only had time for a quick wave.

"What's the hurry?" Kiyone asked. "Stop pulling! I need that arm!"

"Sorry. We can see the neighbours through my window," she said off-handedly.

"Oh, you mean spying? Why didn't you say so?" Kiyone said as she started running as well, leaving Kujakou in her dust.

As the girls made their way to Kujakou's large bay window, a girl that was their age (around 17), was in the window across from Kujakou's. She was Kujakou's height and her hair was the same but blond. Her eyes were green and she looked quiet and reserved.

While Kujakou and Kiyone were fighting over the binoculars the girl looked out her window. Kujakou noticed and dove for cover. Kiyone noticed after and waved out the window.

"What are you doing?! Get down here!" Kujakou yelled while grabbing Kiyone's arm.

"What do you mean? She looked, I waved," Kiyone replied. "I think we should go over there and help."

"Ok. But I'm not doing any lifting!" Kujakou said.

"Sure you will, you're just saying that," Kiyone said with a grin.

Kujakou smiled back. "Ya...I know."

Katana hated her “new” room, she hated their “new” house and she hated their new neighbours. The nerve of them spying on her. Oh well. She grabbed another box marked “Katana’s stuff. Do not touch. Punishable by death!” Just as she reached the top of the stairs the doorbell rang and her mother answered it. She waited to hear who it was.

“Katana... our new neighbours are here. Why don’t you come down and say ‘hello’,” her mother yelled up the stairs. Katana groaned, and put on her “happy daughter” smile.

“Hi!...oh . . . it’s you,” she said with contempt.

“What is your problem? Take a pill! I didn’t want to be here but you don’t see me being all snarky . . . oh by the way . . . hi! I’m Kujakou . . . this is Kiyone,” Kujakou said, gesturing to Kiyone.

“Hi!” Kiyone said with a little wave. “Sorry about earlier . . . we were curious.”

“Oh how wonderful!” Mrs. Lee exclaimed. “Katana why don’t you show them your new room?”

“Sure,” Katana mumbled. “Right this way.”

When the girls got to Katana’s room, she shut the door. “Ok . . . here’s the deal . . . I don’t like you, the only reason you’re in here is because my mom asked me to. You stay for ten minutes, no more no less, and then you leave and never come back!” Katana said.

Kujakou and Kiyone looked at each other. “Brat Attack!” they screamed simultaneously, and then started giggling.

“Don’t worry we’ll leave in 10,” Kiyone said while walking around the room, touching everything.

“Don’t touch that!” Katana screamed.

“What? This?” Kiyone asked holding up a porcelain doll. While holding up the doll, she stepped on a weak board and fell through the floor.

“Ouch!” Kiyone yelled then cursed quietly. Kujakou raced over.

“Oh . . . a book!” Kujakou said as she reached into the hole and grabbed a dusty book with a faded title.

“Here I am lying in agony and all you can say is ‘Oh . . . a book’?” Kiyone yelled at her.

“You ok?” Kujakou asked, and after receiving a nod, started reading.

After Kiyone realized that Kujakou wouldn’t help her out of the hole she started getting out on her own. When she got up, she saw a worn wooden box.

“You sure you ok?” Kujakou asked without looking up from the book.

“Ya . . . the floor broke my fall . . . this box did too,” Kiyone said.

“Oh . . . a box,” was all Kujakou said before grabbing the box. “Oh . . . amulets.”

“I think you’re mocking me,” Kiyone said.

“Ya think?!” Kujakou replied grinning.

“Hey this book says what the amulets do,” Kujakou exclaimed.

“Well? What do they do?” Katana asked finally getting into things.

“Well . . . they do a transformation of some kind . . . the feather is 'Raven Spirit', the flame is 'Dragon Spirit', the paw print is 'Tiger Spirit', and the dog head thing is 'Fox Spirit',” Kujakou said.

“There are four? We only have three . . . I don’t see a dog head thing,” Kiyone said while looking through the box.

"I want the dragon one!" Kujakou yelled while grabbing the amulet from the box.

"Fine....do you know how to work it?" Kiyone asked smugly for she took the book when Kujakou stole the amulet.

"Well... no... why don't you tell me?" Kujakou retorted.

"Fine, you just say 'By the power of the animal' and it should work...i want the tiger one," Kiyone said while putting on the amulet.

"Ok....BY THE POWER OF THE DRAGON!!!" Kujakou yelled, but nothing happened. "Kiyone.....mine's broken!" Kujakou whined.

"Let me try mine," Kiyone said. "BY THE POWER OF THE TIGER!!!" Kiyone yelled. All of a sudden, Kiyone was engulfed in a flash of purple light. "Wow," was all anyone could say.

Kiyone was now dressed in a skin-tight, purple cropped shirt with silver tiger strips on the sides and three silver slashes on the front. It had a zipper that was half undone. There was a skirt that went to her knees with two slits up each side. On her feet were silver spike-heeled shoes.

"To my knees??? I don't think....AHHH!" Kiyone complained before falling flat on her face because of the heels.

"Nice going," Kujakou said while laughing. "I want the raven one....here Katana, you can have the broken one." Kujakou said while tossing the broken amulet to Katana.

"Gee thanks," Katana said snidly.

"No prob, BY THE POWER OF THE RAVEN!!!" Kujakou yelled. She was engulfed in a bright white light and when you could see her again she was clad in a shirt similar to Kiyone's but it wasn't cropped and was solid black. Her skirt was short but the most amazing thing was that she now had feathered wings that were as black as the night itself.

"Wow...i got wings!" Kujakou said to Kiyone who was finally on her feet. Kujakou flexed her wings experimentally. The wings spread and knocked Kiyone back onto the floor.

"Thanks Kujakou," Kiyone said from the floor. "I think I'll just stay here." Kiyone rolled over and sat indian-style on the floor. "Try yours Katana," she said afterwards. "Maybe Kujakou did it wrong."

"Ok," Katana said with a sigh, then unenthusiastically said, "By the power of the dragon."

After the yellow light that occured dissipated, she was in a black jump suit with one pant leg missing. On the other legging, yellow flames crept up her leg.

"That's it?! We find all this in my house and you get the wings?!" Katana screamed at Kujakou. "Give me the raven!"

"It wouldn't work, just like the dragon didn't work for Kujakou," Kiyone said trying to keep the peace.

"It might..." Katana grumbled.

"I wonder where the fourth pendant is..." Kiyone said, changing the subject.

"I don't know, and I really don't care. Let's see what these puppies can do!" Kujakou said as she stole the book back and began reading.

"I love the weekend!" Kiyone said from the matress on Kujakou's floor (she spent the night).

"Same here!" Kujakou agreed. "What do you want to do today?" She asked. "I don't know why you would want her to come. She's stuck up, selfish, spoiled, snotty..." Kujakou said with a sneer.

"Some poeple say the same thing about you, and besides, if we are nice to her we might be able to get her to lend us the book," Kiyone replied evenly.

" I just had a great idea! If we invite Katana to come with us she might lend us the book!" Kujakou said.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Kiyone said sarcastically.

"I don't know. Let's get ready so we can go," Kujakou said.

"'kay."

Kiyone, Katana and Kujakou walked slowly through the mall looking in every window.

“I love that dress!” Kiyone exclaimed, pointing to a short, black cocktail dress.

“Kiyone, you would have to squat to make it reach your thighs,” Kujakou said.

“Your point?”

“Apparently I don’t have one,” Kujakou said, rolling her eyes.

“Are you sure you girls are friends?” Katana asked with a puzzled look on her face.

“Yup!” the two girls in question replied together before they burst out in a giggle-fest. Soon Katana joined in as well. The girls walked off laughing.

When the girls passed, a handsome young man who looked in his early twenties with a mop of short blond hair walked out from between two stores.

“Those are the Spirit Warriors?”

The handsome man watched the girls for a short time longer. The one named Kiyone looked very familiar to him, but he could not place from where.

“Sire, these “Spirit Warriors” will be no challenge for us. They are nothing but children. Hardly worth our time,” the handsome man reported to his boss, The Shadow Master.

“Then you should have no problem defeating them. It is better to kill them now while they are still children and know not of their potential. Do you not agree Grey Ninja?” The evil lord asked the handsome man.

“Of course Sire,” The ninja replied quietly, knowing that was the only right answer if he valued his life.

The shadow Master was exactly as the name suggested: black, empty and evil. Very few have looked upon him and lived to tell about it. Even out of the loyal subjects only the four shadow ninjas have seen more than just the evil red eyes beyond the hooded cloak.

First was the grey ninja, Takgami. He was the “Silent Observer” as the others were fond of calling him. He will study his opponents until he has their fighting technique memorized, only then will he fight them. He has never lost a fight. Physically he was an imposing 6’3” with shoulders that would make any football player jealous. He had short blond hair and unusually purple eyes that often held an evil light that would make the strongest and bravest of men cry and beg for mercy.

Next was the red ninja, Yama. He was the leader without a doubt. He was also 6’3” but that is where the similarities ended. His hair was long and black and even though he wore it pulled back in a ponytail it reached his knees. He had eyes as blue and pail as ice and just as cold. His manner and posture screamed arrogance. He was very aware of his skills and made sure others were as well.

The yellow ninja's next, Hibiki. He’s arrogant, but to a lesser degree than the others. He was 6’0” but just as frightening as his larger comrades. He had longish brown hair and eyes that are so dark they looked like coal. He was the smartest of the four. He rarely engaged in physical battle, he was a sorcerer. He could render an army to nothing but scorched bones and charred flesh with a look. He may very well have been the most dangerous, if not the most imposing.

Lastly, the blue ninja, Shinji. He was the weakest of the four. His lack of power was compensated by his ability to heal any injury or ailment. He was 6’2” and had short white hair. His eyes were a chocolatie brown that would make any girl go weak in the knees. Unlike the others, he knew that there were those who were stronger than he, therefore he was humble. He believed in fair fights and honor. He was the closest to human out of the four. He was flawed.

“So you get two of the Spirit Warriors? Are you sure you’ll be able to?” Yama asked condescendingly.

“Yes I’m sure,” Takgami replied.

“Well if you can’t you could ask me to do it, I won’t tell anyone,” Yama said with a grin.

“I’ll be fine,” Takgami replied testily.

“Fine, I was just trying to help,” Yama said while leaving the room.

Takgami remained a short while longer and then left to observe the Spirit Warriors, and Kiyone.

The girls were at Katana’s house in her room. They each had enormous piles of bags from countless stores.

“What do you think of this dress Kujakou?” Kiyone asked while modeling a short silver dress. It had spaghetti straps and the dress itself was tight, very tight.

“Are you sure it’s your size? It looks a little big,” Kujakou said sarcastically.

“You’re just jealous!” Kiyone replied giggling for this was a long running joke between them. Katana was unsuccessfully trying to ignore the two “friends” whom she was starting to become fond of.

“Why don’t you two girls stay the night and we will read more of the book?” Katana suggested.

“Sure! I have to run home to get more clothes though. I’ll be back in about an hour,” Kiyone said, running out the door.

Kiyone lived about 20 minutes away from the two other girls. About ten minutes into her walk she felt as though she was being watched.

“Who’s there?” Kiyone asked despite her instincts telling her to run. “Don’t make me come after you!”

“Very scary Tiger.” A voice said.

“Tiger? Why do you call me that?” Kiyone asked, trying to keep the man talking so she could find him.

“Because you are the Tiger Spirit Warrior. Are you not?”

“I guess I am....BY THE POWER OF THE TIGER!” Kiyone yelled to transform into the Tiger spirit warrior.

Shit! They have found the book! Takgami thought to himself. What do they know? He wondered as he changed into the grey ninja and stepped out of the shadows. “Hello Tiger,” he said.

Kiyone did not reply except she brought her hands in front of her chest, crossed at the wrists, and yelled, “Tiger claws!” and three blades appeared from each bracelet. “Cool!”

F***, this can’t be good! He thought to himself. “No need to get tense Tiger. I’m only here to speak,” Takgami said trying to calm her down.

Kiyone walked up to him and placed her fist (and its claws) at his throat. “So speak.”

“I simply wish to introduce myself. I am Takgami the grey shadow ninja, and your executioner. Hahahahahahaha!” Takgami laughed evilly as he roughly grabbed her shoulders and gave her a punishing kiss, ignoring the claws at his throat. “Hmmm...Perhaps when I kill the others I will spare you so you can be my willing slave,” he said with a grin and a disturbing look in his eyes that made Kiyone flinch. “Until then Tiger,” Takgami said and the shadows seemed to swallow his form.

Without a thought Kiyone ran all the way back to Kujakou’s.

“Boy Kiyone that was fast!” Kujakou said when she saw Kiyone run up the stairs. “Where are your clothes?”

“I didn’t get that far....” Kiyone began and then proceeded to tell the whole story in thirty seconds.

“What?” Katana asked, only catching two or three words.

“She said that this guy who knew what she was stopped her and scared the crap out of her,” Kujakou recapped.

“Wait...you caught all that?” Katana asked amazed.

“Of course. She always does that,” Kujakou replied off-handedly.

“Don’t worry about him Kiyone, I doubt he was serious,” Kujakou said trying to calm her down. “Why don’t we read the book again.”

“Ok,” Kiyone replied.

Kujakou took the book out of Katana’s hands and started reading.

“Are you going to tell us what it says?” Katana asked testily.

“No. I don’t like you. I don’t want to tell you, I’ll tell Kiyone,” Kujakou replied.

“What! Why does she get to know? It’s my book,” Katana yelled.

“Finders, keepers. Kiyone and I found it.”

“Actually I found it,” Kiyone said while snatching the book out of Kujakou’s hands.

Kujakou grabbed it back. “I’m older! I have seniority!” Kujakou yelled.

“Fine you big baby!” Kiyone replied, sticking her tongue out.

“Hey look at this! I’m the leader!” Kujakou screamed excitedly.

“What?! Why are you leader?” Katana yelled.

“Because the book says so!” Kujakou yelled back while she was still reading. “Hey Kiyone! You got claws!” Kujakou exclaimed.

“I know,” Kiyone replied calmly while fixing her hair.

“How did you know?” Katana asked knowing that she hadn’t read since the day before.

“I don’t know,” she replied still looking in the mirror.

“What do you mean you don’t know? You must know!”

“I mean, I DON’T KNOW! It just came to me.”

“Leave her alone,” Kujakou replied, still reading.

“Oh shoot! I still don’t have clothes for tomorrow. I’ll be back in a bit,” Kiyone said while walking out the door, closing it behind her.

Outside Katana’s house, Kiyone started the twenty-minute walk again.

“Is that her?” Yama asked Takgami quietly. They were about ten yards behind her.

“Yes. She is the Tiger Warrior.”

“Well then. Why don’t we give her a proper welcome,” Yama said with an evil grin, cracking his knuckles.

“You said I could have her. Alive.”

“Don’t worry! I’m just going to make her more co-operative,” Yama said with a smirk. He quickly determined that they were far enough away to attack. “Come on.”

Kiyone walked quickly towards home, she had that feeling again and it made her uneasy. She took a quick glance behind her but she saw nothing. When she turned back around she ran right into Takgami who grabbed her shoulders.

“Hello again Tiger.”

Kiyone wrenched out of his grasp and transformed, taking out her claws as well. She quickly pounced on him and held her claws at his throat. “What do you want?” She growled at him.

“I just wanted to introduce you to my friend, Yama,” he said as Yama grabbed her in a choke-hold. She took a quick glance and saw the evil in his eyes before her world went black.