Rogue

By: Steven Dally Jr.

Chapter One

This story takes place in the grim, near not far, future. This is a story about a boy who is put into exile by his own people; this is the story of a boy who becomes a Rogue. This boy's name is Keikoku, a boy of only 15 with short brown hair that is covered by a band that he wears around his head. The story starts when a young girl, Shelly, runs into the boy that will later become a hero…

Shelly was a young girl who was only of 15 years of age. She loved planting flowers and she loved being out in the sun. Shelly lived with her grandmother most of her life, living in shame of never knowing her parents, for they were killed in an accident that is unknown to her because she was too young to remember. Shelly was always complemented on her beauty and nature by everyone, always being harassed by her grandma because of it. Shelly was grateful for her grandmother, for she took care of her like a mother would and always explained things to Shelly so she would understand to her full advantage. Shelly always regretted never being able to do what her grandma wanted her to do, travel and have an adventure.

"Shelly, are you every going to escape?" Shelly's grandma would ask politely as she laid in bed, now getting older and more fragile.

"I don't know grandma." was always her response.

Shelly would look to the stars for guidance as the days went on, little did she know those stars would answer back full force.

It was a beautiful day, being the first in what seemed would be a long spring and this made Shelly happy. Shelly of course was in her garden watering her plants as she hummed a soft tune saying hello to everyone as they passed. Shelly loved looking on with pride at the end of the day, looking out at the flowers she tended to and seeing what her hard work did.

"Shelly could you come here?" Shelly's grandma called out. Shelly paused wiping the sweat out of her eyes as she placed the can of water down and starting up the stairs to her grandma's room.

"Yes grandma?" Shelly asked politely as she peeked around the door.

"Yes dear, could you run to the store for some things?" Shelly didn't want to, she wanted to plant and not waste any time she had. But she sucked it up and said yes grabbing the list that her grandma held in the air.

Shelly walked to the local grocery keeping an even pace, quickly rushing as quick as a walk could be. She stepped in and got her local hellos as she waved to the people and grabbed a cart. Shelly got so much attention not because of her looks alone, but her positive attitude. She inspired people to be the best they could be. Shelly got her items and made her way up to the counter. Shelly wasn't focused on the man that walked behind her as she quickly got up to the counter. Shelly definitely didn't expect what happened next.

"Freeze bitch!" the man said as he pulled a knife out on Shelly and held it to her throat. Shelly freaked out.

"Okay!"

"Shut up! I'll tell you when to talk!" the robber said and he pointed the knife to the man behind the counter. "Either give me the money and call no cops or I slit her throat and I'll kill you as well!" he threatened.

What this man didn't notice as well was that there was a boy that had just walked in and hid behind bags of chips. The boy wasn't very tall, about 5'9" or so, with brown hair and light blue eyes. He also had a giant sword strapped on his back. He stood up and decided to talk the stranger down.

"Hey you!" the robber looked at this boy like he was crazy for doing this. This boy's name was Keikoku, and this average robber wasn't aware that he wasn't going to have a good time with this boy. "Let her go."

The robber continued to look on like Keikoku just morphed before his eyes. "Why should I?"

"Because you have to face me if you kill her, and you would be just delaying the inevitable why pissing me off in the process.

The robber continued to look on and laughed while wiping the sweat out of his eyes. "You pretty funny, you had me going kid!" he went to put his hand over his eyes again and didn't get a chance to see Keikoku move toward him.

Keikoku moved with lightning speed, Shelly who had been watching him the whole time didn't even blink and lost track of him. Keikoku moved quickly, placing the sword down and charging down while easing his way up. By the time the stranger had looked up to see the boy he had him in his face. Keikoku placed an uppercut in the jaw of the criminal and knocked him out in one punch, freeing Shelly. Shelly fell to the floor as the robber was stuck in the ceiling, only his legs sticking out. Shelly looked up to better see her rescuer, but before she could he grabbed his sword and ran out the door. Shelly looked at the store owner who only shrugged his shoulders to show that he didn't understand it either and picked up his phone to call the police. Shelly quickly paid for her things and ran out the door to see if she could find her hero. She looked in the local ally near the store and saw him walking down it with his head down.

"Wait up!" Shelly called out to him. He paused and looked behind him and stopped as she caught up to him. "Who are you, I've never seen you here before." She asked him quietly.

He looked up at her with dead eyes, eyes that looked dead but still screamed for life in the background. "My name is Keikoku, but you know that most people introduce themselves before asking another's name." he quickly pointed out.

"I'm sorry, my name is Shelly Youkai." She bowed her head and looked up to see him walking away. "Wait! Can I ask you a question?" He looked behind himself again and waited for her to say what she wanted to say. "I was wondering if I could at least treat you to dinner for saving me back there. It's the least I could do."

Keikoku seemed content with this and agreed to it. They walked back to her house in quiet, awkward silence. Shelly felt weird about it but she soon excepted it as to who he is and left it at that. They walked up the steps to her home and Shelly's grandma was standing there looking worried.

"Where have you been?"

Shelly tried to find the words but was covered by Keikoku. "She was threatened at the grocery and I helped her out, she didn't want to take all that time but obviously it couldn't be helped." Shelly's grandmother looked at Keikoku weirdly. "I'm sorry he smiled, I'm Keikoku." And he put his hand out to shake.

Shelly's grandmother put out her hand and took Keikoku's with pleasure. "My name is Jane Youkai. You saved my granddaughter? Well then come on in and have a seat!" and she rushed Keikoku into a seat and grabbed her granddaughter by the arm. "What happened?"

Shelly tried to reassure her grandma that it was nothing. "It's okay, someone tried to rob the store, I got caught up in it and Keikoku came to my rescue that's all."

"Well than we should make him a feast huh?" Shelly's grandma asked and with a smile. Shelly nodded and started for the kitchen.

Shelly cooked for hours, both her and her grandmother and eventually served Keikoku a feast that he was delighted to eat. They talked about current events, straying away from just why Keikoku was just wandering through and why he didn't talk much.

"So why are you in town? How long do you plan on staying?" Shelly tried to pry.

"Shelly!" Shelly's grandmother yelled at Shelly. "There is no reason to be rude you know!"

"It's okay." Keikoku put his hands up in defense. "It's okay, really. I'm just wandering through really; I don't plan on staying long. To tell you the truth…" Keikoku was cut off by a knock at the door.

"I'll get it." Shelly offered. "I'll be right back."

Keikoku stared at his plate as he watched Shelly get up from the table and excuse herself out of the corner of his eye. Keikoku took a minute to think deep on what he was just about to say to the two before him before being interrupted. Shelly came back into the room and said with a little hesitation.

"There are two ugly looking dudes saying that they want a word with you Keikoku." Shelly pointed to the doorway.

Keikoku didn't think much about it for a second then looked toward the doorway and stood up, going for his sword. Keikoku didn't have any time for the door exploded into pieces and two figures came through it in a hot flash. Keikoku tried to protect himself and took a right hook to the chin and was sent flying into the wall. While all this was happening Keikoku could hear the screams of Shelly in the background before he blacked out…

…2 hours later…

Keikoku woke up, still feeling dizzy as he started to get up out of the hole he was now buried in. Keikoku kept inching out until he felt the hard surface of the floor and landed on both feet. Keikoku dusted himself and set himself up straight and listened to the soft cries of someone else in the background. Keikoku started walking to the doorway where the two strangers busted through and saw Shelly's grandmother kneeling on the ground crying.

Shelly's grandmother heard Keikoku coming up behind her and turned around with tears in her eyes. "They took her!" she screamed. "They took her!"

Keikoku cleared his throat and asked "Why?"

"They said that you would know what they meant by that they were looking for some necklace and that you would have it." The old woman looked at Keikoku with dreadful eyes. "Do you know what they are talking about?" she asked with a fierce tone about her. "How could you just do this to us, not tell us that these men were after you this whole time?"

Keikoku looked down in disappointment at himself. "I'm sorry. Your right, you did trust me and I did want to tell you but I didn't." Keikoku looked up at the old woman that was before him. "I will fix this, I will get your granddaughter back and I will make things right." And with this Keikoku grabbed his sword and took off down the street.

Further down the road, Shelly was realizing that she was in more trouble than she originally thought.

"When do you think he will get here Enkou?" A smaller man asked as the 6'2" giant hovered over deep in thought. "I'm getting bored and I want to kill something already!"

"You need to be patient." Enkou said to the little man who called himself Drake. "This boy will come, and we can't just kill random people anyway were bounty hunters not mass murderers." Enkou looked down to see Shelly looking rather confused as he said this. "What is it my dear?"

"Why are a couple of bounty hunters doing here in the middle of nowhere? Why are you after Keikoku?"

Enkou laughed. "Haven't you put the pieces together yet? Your little boyfriend is a freaking murderer!" Shelly looked as if she didn't believe him. "You don't believe me do you? Well you just watch, he could kill a normal man with just his thumbs."

Enkou looked up and laughed some more into the night sky. He seemed to be enjoying himself Shelly thought. Shelly still had some questions for these two idiots still anyways.

"Well if you're after Keikoku that why didn't pick him up when you busted down my door?"

Enkou looked down again. "Yet another little thing I guess he hasn't told you. We want something of his; let's just put it that way for now." Enkou looked up to see across the park. "He is here."

Enkou pointed over to where Keikoku was walking over to them. Drake looked excited to see him coming; he wanted to spill some blood tonight. Enkou smiled as Keikoku came up to them.

"Well did you bring what we wanted?" Enkou asked

"Of course I did." Keikoku said while looking over to a clearly pissed off Shelly in the background. "Now let her go."

Enkou shook his head. "No, I don't think I want to until the object is in my hands and you are under arrest." Enkou pulled out his cuffs from his back pocket.

"Enkou Musha, you should already know that I can't go with you, I have too much to do still before I'm hung to death." Keikoku stated and prepared himself to fight…

To be Continued…