Ninja Weapons (story)

Night Stars

Imai dropped soundlessly from the tree limb onto the roof just as he had done so many times in the past few weeks. This night it was more difficult, because the rains and clouds, which had covered his movements before, were gone. The sky was clear and brightly lit by a full moon. He had to make use of every shadow. Without the howl of wind and the patter of rain he was also forced to move with extreme stealth and care so as to make no noise.
He was a Ninja, trained for such work. His shadowy form, wrapped in black cloth from head to foot, moved like a phantom from one patch of darkness to another. His many weapons and special devices were concealed and secured, silent, but accessible at any time.

Below him in the courtyard, the guards milled about, seemingly oblivious to his movements, wrapped up in the monotony of their tasks. As usual, a few of them by the walls were sleeping at their posts.

Nevertheless, Imai noticed a difference in the pattern of things. The guard had been doubled, mostly by the addition of spearmen and marksmen. They were alert, almost expectant. Imai did not like the looks of things, but it was vitally important that he fulfill his mission. His superiors needed constant reports. To make matters worse, they had heard that General Yoshitsune had hired other Ninja from outside of the region to act as his spies and security agents. Imai wondered if the enemy Ninja had arrived yet. He knew that he had to be very cautious and wary of a possible attack above everything else. The general was clever, fighting fire with fire.

Imai reached his listening post without incident. It consisted of a concealed tube inserted into the rafters of the ceiling above the bedchamber of one of the general's most trusted officers. While keeping his senses receptive to his environment, Imai bent his ear near the tube. The man that he was spying on usually spoke about matters of importance with his wife, who was an influential courtesan. The present night was no exception, and over the period of a few hours Imai listened intently without making a move or sound. At the end of that time the man and woman went to sleep, having unwittingly given the Ninja vital information through the discussion of their future plans. A military campaign was being planned and from what Imai gathered, his people would be caught up in the middle of it. He covered his listening tube with the roofing tiles as he always did, and turned to depart with his valuable information.

Then his acute senses detected something amiss. The night was too still. He sensed a presence nearby. Someone was on the roof with him. He barely heard the whirring sound and sensed the approach of a pair of Shuriken as they spun at him out of the darkness. Instinctively, he sidestepped the whirling blades without hesitation. One of the stars missed his face by a breath. At the same time he drew two stars of his own and quickly launched them to the left and right of from where the other Shuriken had come. He heard a stifled groan of pain as he ran silently along one of his preplanned escape routes.

By this time the Shuriken that had missed were clattering down the roof tiles and alerting the guards.
"What's going on up there?" Someone shouted. "Check the roof, quickly!"
"Where?" the other guards shouted. Imai kept moving, but he reached into a concealed breast pocket and drew another four-pointed Shuriken. He tossed the device over onto the other side of the roof. It landed with a loud bang and noisily rolled down the tiles.

"This way.. .over here," the disoriented guards shouted, rushing around to the other side of the courtyard. The diversion had worked perfectly.
Imai slipped down to the ground and ran to the wall, keeping to the shadows where he nearly ran into a lazy guard that he had seen sleeping earlier. The groggy fellow had awakened and was stumbling forwards to see what the commotion was all about. He froze in startled fear at the shadowy apparition before him. The Ninja reacted with blinding speed as the man fumbled for his spear. Drawing a Bo Shuriken spike from a concealed wristband, 1mM fell face forwards, driving the spike completely through the guard's foot and sandal. The guard dropped his spear and howled, reaching for his injured foot. Meanwhile Imai had already rolled to his feet and reached the wall. He produced a hooked rope, swung it over and secured it to the other side.
"Halt," a voice said as he began to climb. A shot rang out, ricocheting off the wall beneath his arm. He glanced behind him and saw two riflemen. One was reloading after the prior, hasty shot while the other was taking careful aim at him.

Reaching into the folds of his belt, Iami drew three Tsubute clubbing Shuriken and flung them all, quickly, at the marksmen. As two of the devices struck him, the guard who was about to fire, flung his rifle upwards and covered his face protectively with one arm as his rifle discharged harmlessly into the air. The third Tsubute went wide and struck the reloading guard, causing him to drop his powder.
Imai was already up the rope and over the wall before two of the outer guards caught sight of him, lowered their spears, and rushed at him. The Ninja reached behind his neck and drew another four-pointed star, snapping the thin thread holding it in place. Rapidly he threw the star into the face of the first guard with a snapping overhand vertical throw. From another place in his arm wrappings, he drew another star and flung it, horizontally, at the other guard's legs. It cut across the left leg and buried itself in the right thigh. Both men dropped to the ground, clutching their bleeding wounds. Imai melted into the night.

The guards conducted a thorough search of the area, but found nothing. The Ninja spy had vanished and escaped, they guessed that he was far away by now. Soldiers watched the roads and questioned travelers, but they did not expect to find anything.

Once again, Imai had tricked his enemies. He was a short distance away from the wall, hiding in a concealed pit. Hours later, while it was still dark, he came out-certain that he was safe.

He had traveled four miles running swiftly when a dark figure leaped out of the trees at him with a drawn sword.
"I have been waiting for you," the attacker said calmly. He was clad all in dark green, and the right side of his face was bandaged and blood-soaked. 

He charged Imai furiously with his sword. Instinctively, Imai gave ground and drew another star from his arm wrapping, throwing it as his enemy. The rogue Ninja in green swept his Ninja-bokken to one side, effortlessly swatting Imai's star to the ground.

"You must do better than that," the enemy Ninja taunted. Imai intended the throw only as a delaying tactic, while he gained enough time to draw his own sword and another four-pointed Shuriken. He held the star in the hand-fighting mode with three of the points protruding.

"I have watched you over the past few days," his enemy said. "I wasn't sure until now where your village was. You are very clever compared to these stupid guards, but of course you are no match for me. I will be paid handsomely for your head, or, perhaps, I will take you alive and let the general question you himself You will not tell him much, but he will enjoy the sport. Then I will lead the soldiers to your village."

The enemy pressed his attack with blinding efficiency. he wielded a wooden sword, painted green with so quick a blow that he struck Imai's steel sword away, before the young Ninja could react. Imai countered by striking the rogue Ninja's sword hand with the Shuriken. The sharp point stabbed deeply.

The two combatants disengaged. Imai flung his Shuriken at the green Ninja, who deflected it as easily as he had before and laughed.
"It is obvious that you have not trained in the Way as long as I have. How easy my victory is, yet you have caused me to bleed twice from your cursed Shuriken. For that affront I shall kill you myself."
"Who are you?" Imai said.
"As I cut you down, I am your death." He raised his sword to rush at Imai, but suddenly he staggered backwards and fell to his knees. "Poison!" the green Ninja cried.
"Yes, that was my ninth star," Imai said. "The poison acts fast and there is no antidote."
The rogue Ninja smiled sadly. "I underestimated you; how stupid of me." With the little strength left to him, he flung his sword away and tottered, nearly swooning. He looked at Imai once more with glazed eyes. "Who are you?" he groaned.
Imai retrieved his own sword as the rogue Ninja fell face forwards. the young Ninja in black replied, "I am your death."

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