Chapter 1:  One Fine Day

"Hikaru-chan! Hotaru-chan! Where are you?" Hideyoshi Eboshi stood up from her kneeling position and tossed down the rag she had been using to wipe the floor with a snort of annoyance. Stomping over to a pair of paper doors, she looked out into the small garden surrounding the Hideyoshi home. The flame of anger in Eboshi's eyes died as she spied her two 4-year old daughters tossing a ball back and forth delightedly. With a sigh she tugged on the scarf keeping her hair in place, allowing the chestnut-colored locks to fall freely down her back.

"Hikaru! Hotaru! Come here!" she called, stepping outside. Two identical cherubic faces turned to look at her in surprise before running over to their mother. Eboshi had to bite back a fond smile. With their dark hair and bright green eyes, the twin girls reminded her so much of their father. Unfortunately, both Hikaru and Hotaru would never know the man whom they resembled so closely, for he had died in an accident just before the girls were born.

Suddenly both mother and daughters were distracted by cheerful “hello” from the far side of the garden. The two girls rushed forward to unlatch the gate, their mother hurriedly trailing after them just in time to see the toddlers let in a young girl with a woven basket hung over one arm.

“Misao-neechan!” shouted Hikaru excitedly seconds before she hurled herself at their guest, almost causing her to drop the basket. Her twin sister immediately followed suit, not wanting to be left out of the excitement. The two girls energetically dragged Misao into the house, barely giving her time to hand the food-filled basket to Eboshi.

“What brings you here, Misao-chan?” asked Eboshi with a welcoming smile. Makimachi Misao’s face broke into a grin, her blue eyes brightening considerably.

“Jiya sent me over to see how you and your father were doing. He would have come himself, but he and Aoshi-sama had some business over on the other side of town. And of course they refused to let me come along.” With a disgruntled snort Misao tossed her long braid over one shoulder and rolled her eyes in disgust as she followed Eboshi into the living room.

‘Why don’t you come in and have some tea, Misao-chan? I’m sure Father would be happy to see you too.” Eboshi led her young guest to a low table and set down the heavy basket while motioning for everyone to take a seat before bustling off into the kitchen. She returned moments later with a pot of steaming hot tea and found Misao sitting cross-legged on the floor with the twins each scrambling for more space on her lap.

“My father was just talking about you the other day,” she continued as she set out the cups and poured. “He was wondering where you’ve been lately.”

“How is Hideyoshi-ojiisan?” asked the young girl before taking a sip from her steaming cup. “Is he feeling any better?”

“He has his good and bad days, but that’s to be expected. We finally convinced him to get some rest for the afternoon, but I’m sure he’d be glad to see you.”

“Come! Come!” shouted the two girls excitedly, who practically shot out of Misao’s lap and proceeded to drag her towards the rear of the home and a room hidden behind another set of doors. Quietly, Misao slid the doors open and poked her head cautiously inside to keep from disturbing the room’s occupant.

“Now don’t lurk in doorways,” called out a gruff voice from inside. “Come in, Misao-chan.” Misao quickly ushered the two little girls through the doorway and watched with a smile as they immediately headed towards an elderly old man sitting behind a low table with a calligraphy brush in his hand. As the twins found a comfortable position in their grandfather’s lap, Misao took a seat across the table and watched Hideyoshi Shou give each of the girls an affectionate pat on the head.

Then Shou turned his sharp gaze on the young girl in front of him. His clear brown eyes twinkled as he gave Misao a thorough inspection, missing nothing despite his increasing age. Amazing how much she looks like her grandmother, mused the old man silently. Giving his beard a thoughtful tug with two fingers, he asked, “Well Misao-chan, what brings you here to visit this old man today?”

Misao smiled in answer. “You’re not old, Hideyoshi-ojiisan! You’re the same age as Jiya, and he seems to have no trouble chasing around women less than half his age!” The annoyance was plain to see on her face, but so was the affection the young girl felt for the man everyone knew as “Okina”. Shou swallowed a laugh as the young girl continued. “Anway, since we haven’t visited in a while, Jiya sent me over with some food from the Aoiya. He wanted to come himself, but he and Aoshi-sama are off on some business today.”

A small grin lifted the corners of Shou’s mouth. “So have you managed to snag that young man yet? Or are you still working on it?”

“Hideyoshi-ojiisan!” Misao’s face flamed bright red in embarrassment, causing Shou to break into gales of laughter. Not quite understanding but wanting the join in the fun, the two girls began to giggle behind their hands.

“Well, well. Invite your okashira over next time, Misao-chan. Tell Aoshi that I would like to have a word with him.”

Misao nodded. “Yes, of course. But you know, he basically ignores me most of the time so I don’t know if he’ll want to accompany me.”

“Oh, come now. I’ve never known your family to be a bunch of quitters.”

“Of course not!” gasped Misao indignantly as she unconsciously sat up straighter. “I’m a Makimachi, and we never give up!”

Shou slapped his hand on the table and chuckled in approval. “That’s a girl! You know, I first joined the Oniwabanshu when your grandfather wasn’t even okashira yet. You remind me of him, Misao-chan; hot-headed and quite volatile, but with an even bigger heart to match. He’d be proud of you.”

Misao’s blue eyes widened in surprise. “Do you really think so?”

The elderly man nodded.

“Thank you, Hideyoshi-ojiisan. That means a lot to me.” With a quick glance outside Misao sighed and gave an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry, but I really have to leave now. I promised Omasu-san that I’d help out at the Aoiya later this evening.”

Hideyoshi waved his hand towards the door. “Go on, Misao-chan. And don’t forget to come visit again, understand?”

Misao nodded, her “yes” drowned out by the two twins’ cries of delight. After a quick bow, the young ninja exited the room with the little girls following not far behind.

As Misao entered the main room, Eboshi appeared and gave her daughters a gentle push on each of their backs. “Come on you two, its time to wash up for dinner. Why don’t you wait for me in the kitchen while I see Misao-chan out?”

“Bye Misao-neechan!” called out Hikaru over her shoulder as she headed back towards the kitchen. Hotaru smiled and waved before chasing after her sister.

As soon as the girls were out of earshot, Eboshi let out a weary sigh. “Those two will definitely turn my hair gray.”

Misao laughed as the two walked through the Hideyoshi’s small garden, stopping at the wooden gate. “Thank you so much for the tea, Eboshi-san. Please stop by the Aoiya when you have time, I’m sure Omasu-san and Okon-san would love to see you again.”

Eboshi nodded. “Say hello to everyone for me, too.”

“Of course! I’d better get going, so I’ll see you later!” called out Misao before taking off through the busy Kyoto streets and disappearing into the crowd.

As Eboshi locked the gate and walked back through the gardens, she noticed a peculiar silence had settled around her. Approaching the front door on light feet, she carefully slid the paper doors open and took a silent step inside. A strange, eerie feeling sent shivers down her spine, and Eboshi suddenly realized that she was being watched. Making her way to the kitchen, she gripped the tanto hidden in the folds of her kimono more tightly and tried to calm her nerves. The situation wasn’t right, and all of her ninja instincts were screaming a warning. Bursting into the kitchen, she hoped to see her children happily playing inside. However, the gruesome sight that greeted her caused Eboshi’s eyes to widen in horror. But before even a scream could escape her lips, cold steel pierced her back and she collapsed onto the floor.