SS is owned by NeoGeo, SNK, Takara, etc. I don't own Nako-chan or any other characters featured here. However, the storyline *is* my own.

I snapped my eyes open to the scent of smoke. So faintly in the air, I could smell it. I had been meditating and praying to the gods, but now my practice was interrupted. Mamahaha, my beautiful falcon cried wildly from her perch. Rimururu burst in.

"Sister, Nakoruru! What is the matter?"

My younger sister helped me to keep house. We lived in a cabin out in the lovely Hokkaido forestland with our grandparents. Our parents had passed away. I, eighteen, was old enough to go out on my own, but I felt needed to care for my sister and grandparents.

"Rimururu, take up your kodachi." Although it was almost a dagger, it was an aide.

"Sister! Where are we going?"

I commanded Mamahaha to my shoulder. I sheathed my own kodachi, Chichiushi. It had once belonged to my father, as he had been a brave fighter. I had always wanted to follow the path he had.

"Come, sister! The forest is crying!" Being an almost pacifistic girl and following the Shinto religion, I loved and cared for the environment of Kamui-Kotan around me. This land knew me as its priestess, and I was responsible to care for its holy ground. I had sensed danger during my meditation, and had soon smelled the smoke that now lingered inside the cabin.

Rimururu followed me outside, but we had been too late. A large section of the forest was burned down. The fire was put out, but the damage was horrible. I stood motionless and in shock for a few seconds, but then ran across a field leading to the site with my sister trailing behind. There was a man there who had gone to put it out. I was thankful, and asked him how it happened. He said that it could only be the work of an arsine.

Rimururu stumbled back. "Wh-what? Why would anyone do such a thing?"

I turned in anger to the field and stormed all the way home. The pain of the charred land burned within me, and sadness throbbed in my heart. My sister tagged next to me asking questions but getting no answers.

I reached the cabin and began to dress in my warrior clothing. Being one of the very few Ainu alive, I practiced their rituals in every way, including fighting, even though I was hesitant. Rimururu gasped.

"No! Nako-chan, what are you doing?"

"It is time, sister." I fastened my waist belt. "Watch the house and grandma an pa for me. I must go."

"Why?"

"I must find the one responsible. Someone is after me; I am being looked for for a purpose. My homeland has been harmed. I must find the one responsible."

I had been in a fighting tournament a year before, and lost miserably. Anytime one was involved in a tournament there were scandals and deception. Now I had been pulled in.

"Nako-chan, please don�t go!"

I stepped out onto the pathway that would eventually lead off of the forestland. I would miss it, but this I had to do. The tournament was probably going on this time of the year. I was being dragged back into it. I would fight; I had to.

I traveled far; I took a small boat trip to Aomori, Honshu. Miles from home; I was getting homesick already. I heard an explosion of cheers and applause coming from the street to the left of me. I was in the center of a small town. The cheers carried on the short breeze. I followed them.

I soon found a crowd of people gathered around, watching a fight. There was a man with long, straight reddish pink hair. He seemed to be taking on anyone who would fight him. Challenger after challenger, he was victorious. I watched in amazement. His blue and red cloak flew about as he jumped, slashed, and fought. He was very skilled.

I broke away from the crowd, not wanting to fight. I started looking for a nice place to eat. I found a little Western style cookhouse, and decided to eat there. The food was great! I paid my bill, and went on my way.

Missing my small forest home so soon, I decided to venture into the nearby woods. It was so peaceful and quiet. That is, until I heard clashing metal and grunting. I once again followed the sounds of a fight. I discovered the source, and watched from behind a tree. A man in ninja clothing and unbelievably wild black hair was sparring with a shorter man. The other man had on a blue Japanese skirt and a loose white shirt.

They seemed to be done fighting, and they each sat down. The ninja man took a drink from a sake bottle.

"Ukyo. Good fight. I needed the practice."

The blue haired man nodded. "Yes, but you�re still as sharp as ever. You�ll do fine in the match tomorrow. There are warriors all around who wish they had the power you do."

The ninja laughed. "Really now. Ha! I�m really not that much of a fighter; only a legend in this tournament!"

I gasped. Both of these men had been in the tournament the year before. One, Haohmaru, was a living legend and incredible victor. The other was a younger fighter who had been in training but was still fairly good.

I stepped out to them. "Excuse me, men."

They saw me and leaped to their feet, braced with their swords.

"Matte! (Wait!) I don�t want a fight. I am Nakoruru of the Hokkaido forestland of Kamui-Kotan. I am looking for the one responsible for burning my home."

Ukyo sheathed his sword casually. Haohmaru threw his head back and laughed. "Do you really think you�ll find him? No way! I bet I know the one responsible!" He turned to Ukyo, grinning. "He�ll never turn up!"

I gave him a blank look.

"Some people say that he�s a demon. He might as well be! What a fighter! What I�d give for another match with him!"

I couldn�t recall anyone in the tournament who this fighting legend would consider a demon�He must�ve been a skilled warrior.

Haohmaru continued. "He didn�t register in the tournament or nothin�! He walked right in and challenged me during the tournament! Remember, Ukyo, three years ago?"

Ukyo nodded with a smile. "He was powerful. A great warrior." Calmness flowed in his voice.

"But he is wicked."

I grew frustrated. "Can you help me find him?"

"Nakuroro, he turns up when he wants. We can�t find him for you!"

"Nakoruru," I corrected him, flushing.

"Whatever. I have to finish my practice, do you mind? I have a match tomorrow." I sighed. Men will be men. Rude and impatient. They were no help. A legend and his friend, and they were entirely useless.

I knew that since I had run into three fighters that day, the battlegrounds for the tournament must be near by. Fighters from around the world traveled to compete.

Walking down the street, I stopped a man and asked where the grounds were. "Iwate," he replied coolly. "That�s where everyone�s at."

"Arigato. (Thank you.)"

It took two days by foot, but I made it, tired and wasted, to Iwate. I got some nourishment from eating as much as I could at a local buffet. Mamahaha also helped herself, but then I was told to leave if I was to have �that bird� in the restaurant. So I left.

I was able to witness a battle- an official battle of the samurai tournament. A young man from the USA fought a ninja dressed in black. Their resemblance was shocking.

As I watched, I pondered what scandals were taking place this year in the competition. There was always cheating, double-crossing, and mystery. Many smart fighters stayed away for that reason. The rest of them loved to fight; it was their life. They had to, no matter what the price. I had participated one year, now I was being pulled back in against my will.

The match was over; the ninja man had won. He was praised momentarily, then the crowd died down and I was left. The two fighters were being told who their next opponent was and when they would fight. The blonde man from the US approached me.

"Hey, you look like a wonderful and able fighter yourself. I�ve seen you before. Are you in the tournament?"

"No, I am not."

"Well why not?"

I held my tongue and was a bit angry about the personal question. "That, gai-jin, is my business. I was in it last year, I have no desire to come back."

He grinned. "Well you are back. Something pulled you back; am I right?"

To keep myself under control, I left the site. As I walked past an alley, someone grabbed me by the arm and pulled me in.

The man stood there, his deep violet hair waving in the wind. He checked to see that no one was looking.

I pulled my arm, but his grasp didn�t loosen. "Who are you?"

"I am Kazama Sogetsu, rival of my brother Kazuki."

"Is he in the tournament?"

He looked serious as though the question was an annoyance. "Yes, and I once was as well. Nakoruru, this is not the time. There are important matters to be discussed."

"How do you know my name?" Again I tugged my arm. All this accomplished was his tightening his grip.

"I know of the challenge given to you. There�s a name on the street- Amakusa Shiro. Some say he�s after you. The only person to ever fight him and come out alive was Haohmaru."

"What? Why is he after me?"

"I can�t answer that. I don�t know. He wants a fight. The fire was his way of challenging you. He was trying to scare you back here, and you took the bait. You should be at home, this is really dangerous."

A small girl who looked to be about Rimururu�s age peeked around the corner. "Sogetsu, I want to go look for Kazuki�"

"Hazuki! You shouldn�t be here! Get moving. I will NOT go looking for him with you; for you shall not be with us the next time we meet."

"Oh? Who would this girl be?"

I wrenched free of his grip. "I am Nakoruru of the forest region of Hokkaido. Are you two�related?" I could see it in their eyes, a family resemblance.

"Yes. Sogetsu is my oldest brother then Kazuki who's 19. I�m Hazuki, the youngest. They were both part of a ninja clan, but Kazuki betrayed it and-"

Sogetsu left, pushing cruelly past his sister. Without turning around he said, "Heed my warning, or you will regret it."

Hazuki laughed a bit. "He�s always so serious. I�ve never been in a tournament, so I don�t know what it�s like. All I do know is that it gets to my brothers."

I smiled. "You remind me of the little sister I left at home."

"Ah! That is a beautiful falcon you have!" Hazuki ran to my side and stroked Mamahaha.

"You knew it is a falcon? How?"

"I can tell. I love birds, they are so beautiful."

I agreed. I noticed that it was beginning to grow dark out. "Hazuki-chan, I must go. I have to find a place to camp out tonight. I will see you another time."

She nodded and smiled sweetly. "I hope I see you again, Nako-chan. I�d like to have an older sister. Kazuki and Sogetsu get so dull and way too serious�and they hate each other. Goodbye."

I walked briskly out of the alley and down the street. The forest would always be the best place to camp out. As I passed a different alley, I saw a figure slouched against the wall. I leaned closer and saw that it was that American man, and he was out cold.