Unfortunately it took longer to upload the chapter than planned. I just couldn't think of a suitable ending!
Somehow I'm still not satisfied with it, but it will probably get better in the next chapter.
Please write me your opinions and leave me something you think of them. And why did I suddenly get so little feedback in the last chapter? Was a bit disappointed.
Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy reading it! ; P

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Rumbling storm clouds spread like a great carpet in the sky and weak lightning bolts illuminated the eerie black night. The cold rain fell noisily on the old streets of the city, about which there are many legends, some of which had some truth. From a distance one could perceive individual steps hurriedly turning from one alley to the other.

For hours she had been sitting in silence on the water-flooded floor of a narrow crossroads and let her overly astute, yellow eyes roam the dark alleys. She ignored the cold and hard water that came out from the dark gray clouds, although her species had always avoided it. Even when the moisture slowly and surely penetrated her black fur and submerged her velvet paws, she remained completely inactive. As if she seemed to be waiting for something. Her pointy ears quickly turned in a direction from which she could hear something.

More steps, but these were particularly quick than the previous ones. They were on their way here, which is why she tilted her head in that direction. From the steps she could see that there must be at least three people. It was a street like any other. One was behind her and one to her right, but the steps were straight ahead. If you didn’t know this neighborhood, it’s easy to get lost here.

The old cobbled streets looked the same everywhere and very few zones were signposted.Her gaze briefly wandered over her surroundings again, looking for an escape route. When she caught a wall on her left and behind it trees, she turned to the veiled people who, because of the heavy rain, pulled their hoods deep into their faces. The strangers themselves hadn't noticed them. Much too excited, they turned into another street.

"Faster, otherwise we'll still be seen!" hissed the last person softly. Too late. Piercing eyes stared at them just now. The cat watched the people silently as they grew smaller and smaller, but they could still hear their voices clearly. Suddenly the steps stopped. The group had stopped, but why? The cat looked around with a jerk. Her ears had heard a sound that resembled a flutter. However, a short cry from the three men made them look down again. With wide eyes she watched as something black climbed up on the roofs and fell to the ground directly in front of the group without warning. That something was another veiled person in black. With an elegant movement, the stranger stepped towards the men, which made them run in the opposite direction. But before the first two reached the intersection, they suddenly dissolved. Her body turned into black mist.

"What's this!" one shouted desperately, but shortly afterwards there was nothing left of them. With shocked eyes, the third person looked at the stranger who was still standing in silence in the same place as before.
"W-what are you ?! What did you do to my friends, you murderer ?!" he shouted, examining his surroundings for the first time. Suddenly he wondered if this cat, behind him, had been sitting here the whole time.
"Murderer? Wasn't it you who tried to kill the Empress?" came a whisper.
“What ?!” “What.” He stared fearfully at the person in black as they slowly approached him."II, it wasn't my idea!"
"But you were there."

"They made me take part!"
“Liar!” Shortly afterwards the man, like his predecessors, also dissolved into fog.
“Your body is made of black dust, which means your soul is hopelessly lost.” Panicked, the man began to scream and looked up into the dark sky, which he could have sworn to have seen a large bird.

There was silence again. The person now stood alone in the rain and imitated his last victim. The night was still young and that meant he had to hunt down enough other depraved souls. But first he wanted to let the fresh and pure water rest on himself before he would go back to the Empress. A fluttering sound made his gaze dart to the wall. The troublemaker screamed briefly and spread his wings.

"You weren't alone? Who kept you company?" The bird screamed again and flew away. "A cat and two shadows?" it came in a whisper from his lips.

"I didn't even notice ..."
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For at least the hundredth time on this day, which had meanwhile changed to night, the young Nara stroked his straight, tied back hair and sighed in annoyance. A few meters in front of him stood the guilty party, who grimaced with displeasure and looked indecisively down at her hands.
"Ino, it's pretty late and people want to close for today."

"Yeah, then, help me, Shikamaru, than just complaining. Which one suits me better that or ..." First the blonde held up a large veiled dress in popping pink with her right hand and then a dark blue dress that something was cut more plainly and yet still ornate enough for his taste.

"The second. With the one on the left you will attract too much attention, which we want to avoid and besides, pink is cheesy." he muttered to it."Huh?"
"Oh forget it, just take the blue cloak."
"This is a Shikamaru dress and-"
"Yeah, I got it."
"Don't interrupt me if I want to say something!"
“Uh, excuse me.” A little irritated, Ino turned to the third person. A young girl around 10 years old stood behind her and smiled at her in embarrassment.

"Yes?"
"If I could give you a tip, but only if you would allow me ..." mumbled the brown-haired girl, shyly pointing to the blue dress in Ino's hand. She stared at the girl, still confused, and then at her dress.
"What about it?"

"Well, I think the young man has a good eye when choosing, because this one would certainly suit them better. The Rosane is more suitable for traditions and celebrations or is it already intended for the big carnival of the year?" Ino looked amazed to Shikamaru, then back down to the girl.

"Carnival? Actually it should only be for everyday and if I could ask who are you?" asked the blonde, whereupon the girl winced and blushed.

"Honey, are you having problems with your customers?" called a woman's voice and shortly afterwards a rather strong woman stood in front of the small group. The little one quickly waved it off and smiled at her mother. “No mom, I'm just helping.” With that, the girl turned back to Ino and continued to smile at her.

“I'm Vera and the daughter of the owner of the shop here.” Ino also conjured up a delighted smile on her lips when she saw how embarrassing the girl was and nodded in confirmation.
“It's okay and I'll take the blue dress.” The Yamanaka didn't know why she was listening to the girl, but as she had noticed, she did. She shrugged and went to the cash register. Maybe it was because the blue dress was cheaper in terms of price.

The Nara sighed in annoyance.At last he could take a rest. The only question left iswherehis friends were andwherethey would stay overnight. He followed his teammate in silence to the other end of the store. Did he mention that this shed was huge and that something glistened and sparkled everywhere you looked. On the walls, on the ceiling, even on the floor, there were masks that these wrapped figures wore. Large cloaks and dresses in all colors, including which he had never seen before, hung in bundles on cloakrooms and cupboards. Even he, when they entered the shop, was a little amazed.

"Oh dear, it won't be cheap." Mumbled the blonde and looked at the huge pile next to her.
"Oh, if you buy a certain number of our goods, you get a percentage, so it doesn't get that expensive." Vera tried to cheer her up. Ino Vera's mother quickly gave the money and picked up all the bags. Ino knew that the girl meant well to her, but at the moment she had completely different problems, which is why she turned to her neighbor.

“Shika, where are we going to spend the night anyway?” The person addressed just shrugged his shoulders and went towards the exit. But the blonde turned back to the saleswoman.
"Can you give us a tip where we could stay for a few days?" she said in a lovely voice, which made the woman laugh.
"You were really lucky. We still have a small apartment on the top floor, if you want you can have it. I'll even give you a great offer." Delighted, Ino dropped the bags and took the woman's hand.

"Seriously now? Shikamaru we are saved!" she called to the exit. This turned around in astonishment. How did this woman do it? He nodded silently. So they don't even have to go looking to find a place to stay. When he looked at the storm outside, it was more than just right for him to stay.Even the people here were very nice. He came back slowly and followed Vera, who climbed a small, steep staircase. The three of them disappeared to their new accommodation. He would have to look for the others later, but first of all it was time to put up all the shopping malls, the Nara realized as he looked down at the pile of colorful fabrics.
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Shortly afterwards the doorbell rang at the entrance of the shop and the owner came out from behind the cash register with a friendly smile.

"What can I offer you?" she greeted her new customers. There were two young men. One had pale to bluish skin and his sturdy body was tall and covered by a wide coat. Grinning, he stepped forward and looked around the shop in silence.
“We need two cloaks and masks for that.” Came a harsh, dark voice. Suppressing the uncomfortable feeling, she continued to smile at the two men and nodded politely.

“What size do you need?” Vera's mother turned