My Heart

Chapter One

1972

Moving quietly and swiftly, the small girl was running towards the giant monster to her right. Out of nowhere her companion joined her.

"Haji!" the girl yelled.

"Yes." He replied and, without a moment passing, threw a sword right to her.

Catching the sword, Saya unsheathed it, and quickly cut her thumb. The only thing that could kill these things was her blood, along with an injury large enough for them to lose enormous quantities of their own blood. Within a second, Saya jumped up and hacked the monster's head off, and not until another second had passed, and Saya had landed back on the ground, did the blood start gushing out of the body like a fountain.

Saya loved this part of her job, being able to destroy the creatures that attacked innocent humans. She loved the thrill of the chase, knowing at the end, she would always be the victor. In fact, she almost loved it too much. Saya gave a little discontented frown at this thought.

"What's wrong, Saya?" Haji asked. He was worried about her as usual.

"Nothing, I'm just thinking. Do you think there are anymore around here?"

"Probably, but not in the immediate area," Haji said thoughtfully.

"Except for missing the chase, I wouldn't mind if they would all just disappear," Saya said. "In fact, I could do without the chase, if it meant that there would be no more…"

Haji handed Saya a cloth for her to wipe off her sword, then took both and put them back in his cello case. He studied Saya's frowning face for a few more moments, and then stood back up. He took Saya's outstretched hand with a smile. Just like 'old' times, when they went for strolls in the moonlight. He shook the thought out of his head as he and Saya started walking towards the Red Shield base.

Saya examined every detail of the people around her. Lewis and David, the members of Red Shield that were sent with her. She always assumed the two men who always wore black suits knew more about her then what they would tell her. She just knew it.

Everyone else seemed innocent enough, but they probably knew too. It was like everyone knew who Saya was, who she was, but her. A movement brought Saya out of her trance. Haji had just entered the tent. The only things Saya knew about herself, this man had told her, but she still had no idea what he was to her.

"Haji," Saya whispered. The sound was smooth on her tongue, like creamy milk going down the throat. Haji glanced over at her, like he had heard her, then smiled slightly. He had indeed heard her. That caused Saya to turn away and blush bright red. She always had the feeling that she had known Haji for the longest time, but couldn't explain it. She had just met him only two months before.

Brushing her long black hair out of her face, Saya stood up and left the tent. Though Saya liked the man, she still couldn't stay around Haji too long, or she started getting really bad visions of him. Images of him lying in a pool of blood at the base of a mountain. These images disturbed Saya greatly, and left mental pictures long after she had left Haji's presence, all because she didn't know where these things were coming from. She heard a couple of people trying to get her to come back inside, but she just kept on moving forward. She looked behind her to see if anyone was following her, but no one was in sight. Saya still felt the presence of someone else, though.

Reaching her destination, Saya flopped onto the ground, loving the coolness it provided. Vietnam was hot during the day, like most jungles are, but relatively cool at night. She looked up at the stars, seeing the constellations twinkle, seeing each individual star twinkle. She sighed.

"What's wrong?"

Saya jumped. She looked over at Haji.

"You scared me," she accused.

"I didn't mean to startle you," Haji apologized. He sat down next to Saya.

"Do you not feel comfortable around me?" He asked.

"Not particularly, no," Saya replied. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, okay maybe I did, but it's just because…" Saya trailed off. She saw the amused look on Haji's face.

"What's so funny?" She demanded.

Haji outright laughed at her flabbergasted expression.

"What, really?" Saya asked again.

"Nothing, really, you're just acting like your 'usual' self," Haji explained.

"Really?" Saya was confused again. "What is my 'usual' self?"

"I don't really know if I'm supposed to tell you," said Haji, hesitantly. "Well, actually, I don't know what I'm allowed to tell you."

"Why wouldn't you be able to tell me anything?" Saya asked.

"Just some of the things you might…" he trailed off. "Never mind, what do you think of the stars here, you can see them so much better without all of the pollution"

"Don't try to change the subject, Haji!" Saya exclaimed. " I want to know what you aren't telling me! I want to know what I don't know about me!"

" I told you, I don't know if I can," Haji sighed, " I wish I could, I really do."

"Whatever," Saya said. She jumped up, her hair following after, and ran from the spot, ran from Haji. "Don't come after me!"

"Saya," Haji called after her. "If that is your wish…"

Saya was far enough away, that whatever came next, faded off into the distance.

"What do you mean she ran away?" David yelled. "You mean to tell me that you didn't go after her?"

"It was Saya's wish that I didn't follow, and I" David cut him off.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever your wish is. You should have gone after her!"

"I couldn't disobey her," Haji quietly argued back.

"She's running alone in the middle of a Vietnamese jungle, while we're in the middle of a war, and you're worried about disobeying her?" David criticized. The usually calm, composed face was turning deep red with rage with every word David yelled.

"I think the danger of her becoming out of control is far greater a risk than her getting hurt out there," a new voice enter the discussion. Lewis came and sat down in the chair next to the one currently occupied by Haji.

"That's true, but what happens if she does get hurt? What will we do, we can't locater Saya this far out," David countered.

Haji interjected," I can sense her still."

"Well, why aren't you going out there bringing her back?" David demanded.

"Because Saya needs some time to cool her horses. Don't get so uptight about it, David," Lewis answered for Haji. "She'll come when she's ready to listen to what we have to say."

Haji gracefully stood up, the tails of his black jacket swaying, and left the tent.

What the hell is so bad that I can't know? Saya thought to herself. It's not like I'd freak out that much or anything. Saya heard footsteps, faint, but still noticeable.

"Haji, I thought I told you not to come after me!"

"Yes, but David wishes to speak to you," came the voice from the behind the tall green plants. Haji pushed aside the humongous leaves, and beckoned for Saya to come with him. Wiping the tears that now flowed freely, Saya violently shook her head.

"No, I'm not going back until someone tells me what's going…" She was cut off by a deep, guttural growl coming from behind her.

"Saya." With one word, Saya ran to Haji, grabbing for the sword. Haji picked up the cello case and dashed towards the chiropteran. Saya let loose her own cry, jumping up into the air, nicking her thumb, then swung her sword in the direction of the beast's throat. Barely missing, Saya landed behind the giant thing, then leaped again, this time aiming for it's arm.

Saya hit her target, and the creature's large arm fell to the ground with a loud, deep thump. The blood started gushing freely, and the places where Saya's blood touched, began turning the monster's flesh into crystallized dust. Saya leapt one last time, making the mark, and chopping the head off the chiropteran.