Thanks to the peoplewho reviewed. I appreciate your advice. I knowI can turn a simple sentense in a sudden ramble of pointless detail. but after all, improvement is the name of the game.

And Kochan1, if you can keep coming up with analogies like thati don't care what you say. That was classic. It was worth writing this story just to get that review. I'll remember that now everytime i write something. Thank-you.

Without further delay. . .

Chapter 2 – Night in mind

Ein stood near the edge of the hotel roof.

He looked down to the quiet street below. He could make it out clearly, even from up here.

Something was worked up in the fighter's mind.

Just events of today, Ein dismissed it.

He had laid still for over an hour within out even a hint of sleep. Not even the need to roll of turn felt appropriate. It seemed his physical action represented his mind on one front.

Blank, on the surface.

After some time, well past mid-night. He had decided to get some air and the roof seemed the. . . Natural option, perhaps.

This vantage point of sorts felt secure in Ein's mind. He could look down on everything here. At this time of night even the city had slowed to a quiet requiem of flashing lights and the odd car driving by.

It seemed more relaxing than just starring at his room's ceiling.

He couldn't escape his mind's quiet ravings though, even up here.

Shuffling one hand out of his pocket, he brought it up in front of his face. He balled it into a fist. Squinting his eyes on the fist as the knuckles slowly changed white. His vision beyond his fist blurred, but he could still pick out the Eiffel tower. It prodded from the earth, dressed in lights to meet his gaze.

To meet my gaze.

The world revolves around me. I choose who dies and who goes on to live.

How arrogant. I wonder if that notion is born from Ein or from. . . Whoever I was before?

He laughed aloud at the thought.

Letting lose a build-up tension he laughed louder. All too clearly entwined with hysterics.

"They say laughter is sometimes delusion" the voice rang out. Crisp in the night air

Ein flinched as the voice met his ears. It cut through his laughter.

That voice reminds me of a person. And who said that phrase? Where have I heard it before? Ein wondered

The last of the laughter escaped his lips. He almost sighed but held it back.

"Are you my next opponent?" Ein asked

"It would seem that way, Ein"

He didn't bother to turn around to meet this new-comer. He flexed his fingers, realizing his hand was still balled into a fist. The ache brought a new feeling to his mind.

I came through that fight with little to show for it really, he thought.

A silence pursued and it barely bothered Ein. He was content to stare on at the city for the rest of the night it would seem.

"Well? Nothing to say?" The voice scythed through the silence

There's impatience there, Ein thought.

Closing his eyes he simply listened.

There was a step forward. Very light, not easy to mask on concrete. From the way she walked and talked she was clearly female.

"Say something!" She exploded

"What would you have me say?" Ein replied

"I was expecting some taunting or something" She replied

"You came here to listen to me taunt you" Ein said with a bemused smile, though she couldn't see it

This is a rather bizarre encounter, he thought.

"Why did you really come here? Want to size me up?"

"Aren't you colourful crayon" came the cocky reply

"Are you here to bully me?" Ein replied with a chuckle

"I could kill you here" She stated

"Of course. My back is to you. It wouldn't be very hard would it?"

"Shut up" she snapped at his blatant words

"What on earth are you doing?" Ein asked, shaking his head

"What?"

"Aren't you going to attack? I'm not here to kill myself. I just like the view"

"You're crazy. . . I'm an assassin you know"

"You want a medal" Ein replied

He ran a hand through his golden brown hair. It appeared a sign of arrogance more than anything. Though, still he didn't turn to her.

"Who are you?" she said, taking a step back

"Perhaps you should look to yourself, Ayane"

There was a fragile silence after he spoke. Tension began to gather, ever so slowly.

The words had come out of his mouth before he could even consider them. Was this Ayane? If so who was she? Yet, still he resisted the urge to turn and look at her.

Ein put a hand around his throat, running a finger along his jaw line as he pondered his own words.

"How do you know me name?" She said finally

"Perhaps I know more, perhaps not" came the cryptic reply

"You're starting to piss me off" she muttered

"Manners. . . Ayane"

The name rolled on his tongue. It sounded halfway familiar.

"Who are you, really?" she asked suddenly, biting back the other reply that came to mind

"My name is Ein" was all he said

"You remind of someone else. Someone I once knew who had a tongue that jabbered nonsense like you" she commented

Avoided answering questions as well, she thought.

"By the way you walk you're more than an assassin. A ninja" Ein assessed

"You have quite the ear"

"It was partly because I didn't hear you when it may have mattered" Ein replied

"You're a strange one, Ein" she said

"Are you going to keep saying that all night? Go find someone else to banter with" Ein replied

He found this woman suddenly irritating.

"I'm sure its fate's word, we'll meet again" She replied simply

Ein gave a bitter laugh at this.

Ein heard a slight swish in the air. He listened on intently for a few moments, but there was nothing.

Excellent, he thought. The sound could have passed for a slight breeze. He had to admit, she was formidable.

He felt a wave of relief flow through him, now she was gone. He certainly wasn't afraid of her. It was more a matter of what she may have represented to his mind.

He'd been daring himself to turn around and look at a possible figment of his past, this Ayane.

He wondered whether she had found him familiar in any way. Obviously with his back turned and with the lack of light she wouldn't have really seen anything of him, but maybe his voice or words? She'd said something about the way he spoke.

"You remind of someone else. Someone I once knew who had a tongue that jabbered nonsense like you"

He knew he would have to face her down soon, if he was to progress into the third round. But he would be facing down part of himself alongside her.

His shoulders sagged with this thought. It was only now he allowed the mental stress to appear evident on his features.

"I am two people trying to become one" He whispered

I was scared to look at her. Scared of what I might find staring right back at me. What those eyes might awaken.

It was that which truly frightened Ein. It was that which would fill the void between whom he had been and who he had become. It was terrifying to think he could suddenly be washed away in a storm of memories. To wake once more and find his mind altered to a new personality melding with. . . Ein's. . ?

"I don't even know who I am!" He screamed into the night

Leaning forward, he looked down. The plummeting drop. . .

He contemplated it for a split second.

"Some people have a value, a purpose set by god in life. But you and me, Hayate. . . We are shinobi. We are the fingers on god's hands. We are here to ease the world of its rot, decay and wasters"

Who had said that? A teacher. . ? My father?

I am more than this. To hell with such weak thoughts!

Whoever I am and whoever I will become. I am the hand of god.

He stared up into the night. A new defiance against the world, born in his eyes.

"This is far from the end" He told the night before turning to leave