In the beginning, Kujakou was late for school, again. The alarm rang as the bus pulled away.

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

“Damn, damn, damn . . . ” She says in time with her steps. She slowly pushes 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 asks sarcastically while righting up a detention slip.

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

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

“KIYONE SITORA! Please stand up!” Mr. Delszaki says from the front of the class, “hands at your sides!”

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

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

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

“Damn.” Kujakou mutters.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” she replies while taking the sheet. Kiyone is giggling the whole time. Mr. Delszaki looks at her and she is instantly silent.

“This is the tenth time this month I have caught you out of dress code. Congratulations!” he says with a smile as he hands Kiyone another slip. “You may beet your old record.”

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

As the sky begins to darken we see the two friends walk out of the school. They could be sisters they look so much alike.

Kujakou is 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 is a little more sane (not much but some) she doesn't rebel half as much, only trough her choice of clothes. She is 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 LOVE music. Kiyone dreams of being a world famous singer. Kujakou would be her back up. Kujakou wishes 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 says

"Don't know, Don't care." Kujakou replies, while walking up her front path. In the window of the front door we see Ms. Mora standing, holding Kujakou's forgotten lunch in front of her.

"Oh...thanks Mom, I was looking' for that." Kujakou says while ushering in through the front door.

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

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

"what's the hurry?" Kiyone asks, "Stop pulling! I need that arm!"

"Sorry. We can see the neighbours through my window." She says off handedly.

"Oh, you mean spying? Why didn't you say so?" Kiyone says as she starts running aswell, leaving Kujakou in her dust.

As the girls make their way to Kujakou's large bay window we see a girl that is their age (around 17) in the window across from Kujakou's. She is Kujakou's height and her hair is the same but blond. Her eyes are green and she looks quiet and reserved.

While Kujakou and Kiyone are fighting over the binoculars the girl looks out her window. Kujakou notices and dives for cover. Kiyone notices after and waves out the window.

"What are you doing?! Get down here!" Kujakou yells 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 says.

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

Kujakou smiles back"Ya...I know."

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

“Hi!...oh . . . it’s you.” she says 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 says gesturing to Kiyone.

“Hi!” Kiyone says 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 mumbles. “Right this way.”

When the girls get to Katana’s room, she shuts 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 too. You stay for ten minutes, no more no less, and then you leave and never come back!” Katana says.

Kujakou and Kiyone look at each other “Brat Attack!” the scream simultaneously, and then start giggling.

“Don’t worry we’ll leave in 10.” Kiyone says 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 yells then curses quietly. Kujakou races over.

“Oh . . . a book!” Kujakou says as she reaches into the hole and grabs a dusty book with a faded title.

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

“You ok?” Kujakou asks, and after receiving a nod, starts 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 asks 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 says while looking through the box.

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

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

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

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

"Ok....BY THE POWER OF THE DRAGON!!!" Kujakou yells, but nothing happens, "Kiyone.....mine's broken!" Kujakou whines.

"Let me try mine," Kiyone says, "BY THE POWER OF THE TIGER!!!" Kiyone yells. All of a sudden we see Kiyone engulfed in a flash of purple light, "wow" is all anyone can say.

Kiyone is now dressed in a skin tight purple croped shirt with silver tiger strips on the sides and 3 silver slashes on the front. It has a zipper that is half undone. there is a skirt that goes to her knees with two slits up each side. On her feet are silver spiked heeled shoes.

"To my KNEES??? i don't think....AHHH!" Kiyone complains before falling flat on her face because of the heels.

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

"Gee thanks," Katana says snidly.

"No prob, BY THE POWER OF THE RAVEN!!!" Kujakou yells. She is engulfed in a bright white light and when we can see again she is now clad in a shirt similar to Kiyone's but it isn't cropped and is solid black. Her skirt is short but the most amazing thing is that she now has feathered wings that are as black as the night itself.

"Wow...i got wings!" Kujakou says to Kiyone who is finally on her feet. Kujakou flexes her wings experimentally. the wings spread and knock Kiyone back onto the floor.

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

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

After the yellow light that occured disapated she is in a black jump suit with one leg tight missing. On the other legging yellow flames creep up her leg.

"That's it?! We find all this in MY house and YOU get the wings?!" Katana screams at Kujakou, "Give me the raven!"

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

"It might..." Katana grumbles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"'kay"

We see Kiyone, Katana and Kujakou walking slowly through the mall looking in every window…

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

“Kiyone…you would have to squat to make it reach your thighs.” Kujakou says

“Your point?”

“Apparently I don’t have one.” Kujakou says 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 feast, soon Katana joins in as well. The girls walk off laughing.

When the girls pass by we see a handsome young man who looks in his early twenties with a mop of short blond hair walk 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, theses “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 is exactly as the name suggests black, empty and evil. Very few have looked upon 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 is the grey ninja, Takgami. He is the “Silent Observer” as the others are 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 is an imposing 6’3” with shoulders that would make any football player jealous. He has 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 is the red ninja, Yama. He is the leader without a doubt. He is also 6’3” but that is where the similarities end. His hair is long and black and even though he wears it pulled back in a ponytail it reaches his knees. He has eyes as blue and pail as ice and just as cold. His manner and posture scream arrogance. He is very aware of his skills and make sure others do as well.

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

Lastly we see the blue ninja, Shinji. He is the weakest of the four. His lack of power is compensated by his ability to heal any injury or ailment. He is 6’2” and has short white hair. His eyes are a chocolatie brown that would make any girl go weak in the knees. Unlike the others he knows that there are those who are stronger than he is, therefore he is humble. He believes in fair fights and honor. He is the closest to human out of the four. He is 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 says with a grin.

“I’ll be fine.” Takgami replied testily

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

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

We rejoin the girls at Katana’s house in her room. They each have 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” whome 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 says running out the door.

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

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

“Very scary Tiger.” A voice says.

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

“Because you are the Tiger spirit Warrior….are you not?”

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

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

Kiyone does not reply except she brings her hands in front of her chest, crossed at the wrists and yells “Tiger claws!” and three blades appear from each bracelet. “Cool!”

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

Kiyone walks up to him and places 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 laughs evilly as he roughly grabs her shoulders and gives 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 says with a grin and a disturbing look in his eyes that make Kiyone flinch.

“Until then Tiger.” Takgami says and the shadows seem to swallow his form.

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

“Boy Kiyone that was fast!” Kujakou says when she sees Kiyone run up the stairs, “Where are your clothes?”

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

“What?” Katana asks 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 recaps.

“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 says trying to calm her down. “Why don’t we read the book again.”

“OK.” Kiyone replies

Kujakou takes the book out of Katana’s hands and starts reading.

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

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

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

“Finders keepers. Kiyone and I found it.”

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

Kujakou grabs it back. “I’m older! I have seniority!” Kujakou yells.

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

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

“What?! Why are you leader?” katana yells.

“Because the book says so!” Kujakou yells back while still reading.

“Hey Kiyone! You got claws!” Kujakou exclaims.

“I know.” She replies calmly while fixing her hair.

“How did you know>” Katana asks knowing that she hadn’t read since the day before. “I don’t know.” She replies 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 replies, still reading.

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

Outside Katana’s house we see Kiyone start the twenty-minute walk again.

“Is that her?” Yama asks 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 says 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 says with a smirk. He quickly determines that they were far enough away to attack, “Come on.”

Kiyone walks quickly towards home, she has that feeling again and it makes her uneasy. She takes a quick glance behind her but she sees nothing. When she turns back around she runs right into Takgami who grabs her shoulders.

“Hello again Tiger.”

Kiyone wrenches out of his grasp and transforms, taking out her claws as well. She quickly pounces on him and holds her claws at his throat.

“What do you want?” She growls at him.

“I just wanted to introduce you to my friend, Yama.” He says as Yama grabs her in a chokehold. She takes a quick glance and sees the evil in his eyes before her world goes black.

TBC in Episode 2: The Rescue