Foreword:
Hi, I'm back! Did you really believe that I'd leave you guys hanging after the last chapter? I'm not THAT mean. Besides, the story is about to kick off proper with the villains now taking centre stage. All the plans and secrets will be out and there'll be action too. Just got to pace and choreograph it out as well as figure out where it's going to go...
I hope you haven't given up on this story or tired of it. Those faithful readers of mine will be familiar with my style of building things so I would urge all new readers to read the earlier work so as to get a better understanding of the story. Updates will vary depending on how 'happy' I am with the chapters. Unfortunately, I'm a little overwhelmed with other interests including the latest Harry Potter book, Inuyasha, Spiral, Get Backers and a dumb anime called Sexy Commando Masaru (non-hentai). Yeah, I'm a little distracted.
I would also like to thank all the readers who had taken time out to leave a review. I'm very glad to hear from you and the encouraging words you've left behind have really motivated me to continue with this story. I hope that this new story arc will continue to live up to the expectations of all.
~ Bern (June 2003)
PS: Do visit my new website where the previous chapters are hosted. I've had them very nicely presented too. Maybe leave a little something in the Guestbook to let me know what you think? Thanks!
Prologue
Koneko no Sumu Ie, Tokyo
Before dawn
Ran's hands gripped the steering wheel of his Porsche as he waited for his sister's arrival. He had arrived at the shop almost an hour before but there had been no sign of either her or her motorcycle. He was torn between his desire to search the streets of Tokyo or to remain where he was, watching the rear entrance of the shop. By now, he was certain that Aya might have a separate base from which she handled her 'activities'. The memory of her crashing into the heavy crates sent a shudder of fear and anger through him.
Recalling the events that had unfolded in the warehouse, Ran was almost bursting with unanswered questions. He had thought that after the first encounter, there would be no more of those foul creatures. And the few successive missions had seemed to confirm it. But earlier tonight, Ran had seen Hell with his eyes wide open and no wishing it away was going to deny it. The most galling part of it was that Schwarz seemed to have a marginally better idea of what was going on. And that man Seki was very persuasive in his insistence of both Schwarz and Weiss attending tonight's meeting.
Thinking of Seki soon brought him back to the issue of Aya. Although he had missed a significant amount of the drama, he had nevertheless witnessed his sister's fighting abilities. As he had watched her battle that Chinese man, he had wanted to step in but something held him back. He couldn't understand it and after discovering Aya's hidden identity, he deeply regretted not jumping in even if it was against his instincts. But the shock only hit him when he had finally held her in his arms again. His little imouto-chan…
Gods, but it had hurt. It had seared through his soul when she had cried out her grief, her fears, her loss. Ran had been trying so hard to justify his absence from her life after her awakening but it made up for nothing. If anything, he had pushed her away and thus missed out on the transformation and trials into her current person. Ran had no excuse for his behaviour - none at all. Manx had offered him the chance to return to her soon after her awakening but under his misguided perceptions, chose to abandon her. He felt his fist slam hard against the steering wheel in anger.
And where did that leave the both of them now? A part of him was glad that the deception was over, but another part worried for the future given the trouble unfolding. Schwarz knew of her, as well as that Chinese man who fought her, and gods knew how many others. The dangers now weighed on her like a suffocating mantle. But at the same time, Ran couldn't help but wonder if Aya was more than capable of standing on her own two feet. She had survived a deadly fight and seemed to possess an exceptional stamina and strength. Another mystery to solve on top of a hundred others.
His eyes flicked down to the sheathed sword in the passenger seat beside him. After Aya had sprinted out of there with lightening speed and rode off, he had found her sword. It was Crawford who had pointed it out to him. The Schwarz leader had briefly mentioned that it was her primary weapon for eliminating those monsters. Ran had been in too much of a shock to reply but simply cradled the sword to his chest. Both groups had then parted ways, an uneasy truce until the meeting that was to take place tonight. After that, the situation would depend on its outcome.
His hand unconsciously reached out and picked up the sword. In a movement he had performed with his own sword, he unsheathed it partially. The unnatural gleam startled him momentarily and at the back of his mind, he could sense a hidden power. It curled gently within his soul but at the same time cautioned him about its rightful owner. The blade appeared to glow briefly as he sheathed it once more. Replacing it on the seat, he turned once more to stare at the dark windows of the flower shop. Strangely, it seemed that time had somehow passed while he had been reflecting and studying the sword.
As he continued to look up, the first rays of dawn's light touched the window of Aya's room. And Ran wondered for the hundredth time, where she could possibly be and if she was alright.
This chapter is meant to 'bridge' the gap between the previous story arc and the current. It's rather heavy on contemplation but then again, it's Ran we're talking about here. Also, things will move at a different speed from the earlier series. As exciting as I hope this new Act would be, my muse is making things a little difficult. Patience, please? Thank you!
So please drop a little something in the box to let me know what you think about the start. Sometimes, all one needs is a little motivation to get the creative juices flowing. Till the next chapter, ja mata ne!