I'm back! Here's the first chapter of my second fanfic, The Calling of Fire! Hope you like it! ;)

(Note: For those of you who don't know who Kilili is, refer to my first fanfic, Featherdance. Or you can just check my lookup. I put a description of Kilili on there.)

(Second Note: Zoruru wasn't half-cyborg at the time this story took place.)

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Chapter 1: The Dusty Past

4:49 PM

Koyuki, Dororo, and Kilili's Cabin

"Say, Kilili," a green-eyed girl started. "didn't you tell me a few weeks ago that you would tell me all about your incredible adventures?"

Her location was a small cabin tucked into the heart of the woods outside Tokyo. The cabin was constructed completely of stone, wood, and bamboo. Its shingled roof resembled that of old-time Japanese buildings, and a wide clearing sat in front of the cabin. A water wheel was turning slowly beside the building, powered by the serene stream that flowed beside the cabin. The water moved in one continuous ribbon, tumbling gently over the rocks. If you didn't know that it was the 21st century, you'd think that you were in Japan as it was many centuries ago.

Returning to our dialogue, Kilili, a light green-skinned and bright green-eyed female Keronian, replied, "Oh. I did, didn't I? Well, if you want to hear a story, I'd be glad to tell you one."

"You're telling Koyuki-dono a story, Kilili?" a light blue Keronian asked, stepping into the room.

"I am, Dororo," Kilili nodded.

"May I listen?" he requested.

"The more the merrier, as these Earthlings say," Kilili shrugged. "Sit down, and we'll get started."

After Dororo had settled himself onto a floor cushion, Kilili began, "You know this story, Dororo. It's from the days when you and I were in the same assassin troop. . ." She paused, as if trying to remember a memory that lingered just beyond her reach. "We were assigned to a mission with Zoruru to protect the Keronian ambassador . . ."

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2,000 Years Ago

9:32 PM

Keronian Military Base

A knife whizzed through the air, pinning a certain grey Keronian to the wall. It created a new rip in the ragged shroud that extended from his hat as it pinned him to the grey wall of the barracks.

"Your reflexes are still too slow, Zoruru," Kilili sighed, shaking her head as she emerged from out of the air. "It's a wonder you ever became an assassin."

"Perhaps you're just too fast, Kilili," Zoruru replied.

Wrenching her knife free from the wall, Kilili returned it to the space that she kept in her ears for throwing knives, shurikens, darts, and the occasional grenade. Zoruru stepped forward and swiftly climbed up the small ladder to plop onto the bunk directly above Kilili's. He peered over the edge of his thin mattress to see what she was doing.

Kilili had laid a huge spread of weapons on her bunk. Piles of throwing knives, shurikens, grenades, smoke balls, darts loaded with deadly poison, straws for blowing darts, lengths of thin, metallic strings, and a set of double swords. She was intent on straightening the piles and stacking them in perfect pyramids on her bunk. "I know you're staring, Zoruru," she said without looking up from her work.

"You've got eyes in the back of your head like my mother!" Zoruru murmured.

She finished putting a dart on top of its pyramid and lifted her head to look at him, grinning widely. "All girls have eyes in the back of their heads. It's how we keep boys out of trouble."

"And it's how I never got away with anything when I was little," he sighed. When Kilili started to put the weapons back into her ears, Zoruru asked, "How do you fit all those in your ears?"

"It's a secret you'll never know."

She finished stuffing her ears full of weapons just before a light blue Keronian's head popped in the door. "Kilili! I've been looking all over for you!" Zeroro (that was Dororo's name back then for you people that didn't know) exclaimed.

"I just finished organizing and storing my weapons," Kilili replied. "Why were you looking for me?"

"A messenger told me that I was to find you and Zoruru-san," Zeroro explained. "The Admiral wants to see us."

"The Admiral?" Kilili gasped. "Why?"

He responded, "All the messenger said was to find you two and come to his office."

"We shouldn't keep him waiting," Zoruru said, hopping down from his bunk. "Let's go."

The three trotted out of the barracks and strolled across the vast Keronian military base. Several formations of soldiers passed by them, and they saluted each other as they passed. A couple of times, they met a Keronian or two that they knew.

"Major Kilili-sama," Garuru saluted as he stopped in front of the trio.

"Stop that, Garuru-kun," Kilili sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you that you don't have to call me by my military rank every time we meet? We're friends."

"Military code dictates that we have to address each other by our ranks when we meet," Garuru answered.

"You're too uptight," Kilili complained.

"Anyway, where are you going, Kilili-chan?" he inquired.

"The Admiral wants to see Zoruru, Zeroro, and me," she responded. "I don't think that we've done anything wrong recently, but they say that eyes are always watching us. Or maybe the officers just say that to make us behave."

"Ahhh . . .," Garuru breathed.

"You know something about this, don't you?"

"Now, why would you say that?" he said in an innocent manner. "I have to depart. Good bye, Kilili-chan." Garuru inclined his head towards Zoruru and Zeroro. "Lance Corporals Zoruru and Zeroro."

Garuru marched away, rounding a corner and disappearing. Zoruru and Zeroro looked curiously after him, but Kilili, who knew what they were thinking, said firmly, "No mind reading. We have to see the Admiral, and I don't think he'll take 'We were reading Garuru-kun's mind' as an excuse for being late."

She stormed off, leaving the other two to dash after her.

They arrived at the Admiral's office a minute later. Kilili knocked on the door to receive a 'Come in' as an answer. She grabbed the silver knob and twisted it, pulling the door open. The trio filed inside as Zoruru shut the door behind them.

The office was spacious, with maps of Keron Star and several other planets plastered on the walls. These maps had notes in the Keronian language scribbled all over them, and sticky notes stuck on top of those scribblings. A long, polished meeting table of cherry wood stretched out in front of them, ending in a part of the room covered with shadow. Two large, black irises in white eyes gazed out at the newcomers as a voice greeted, "Welcome, Major Kilili-dono and Lance Corporals Zeroro-dono and Zoruru-dono."

"Admiral-sama!" the three saluted, planting their hands on their foreheads in the standard salute.

"At ease, soldiers. You're wondering why I called you here."

They nodded.

"You three are some of the best assassins in the Keron Forces. Especially you, Major Kilili-dono."

Kilili stiffened.

"Reports have reached me that you can create and manipulate lightning," the Admiral said. "Is this true?"

"I can't create lightning, but I can draw it from another source, like a power outlet, and manipulate it from there."

"A most unusual ability," he remarked.

"It's been called that before, sir." Kilili smiled. The Admiral seemed to smile, as well.

"Anyway, let's get to the point of your visit. Have you heard about the Keronian ambassador that we're sending to Planet Sonora?"

"Yes, sir."

"There is still much unrest on Sonora after the long and bitter war that was fought between our peoples. Therefore, the Keronian ambassador may be in danger on his visit with assassination attempts and mobs. He will require bodyguards, and that is why I have called you three here."

"You want us to be the Keronian ambassador's bodyguard, sir?!" Kilili exclaimed.

"Yes, Major Kilili-dono. Do you and Lance Corporals Zoruru-dono and Zeroro-dono accept this mission?"

She turned to look at Zeroro and Zoruru. They nodded. "We accept, sir," the three said together.

The Admiral nodded. "Good. The ambassador will be leaving for Sonora soon. Prepare for your mission and report back here at 0600 hours the day after tomorrow. You will meet the ambassador and the four of you shall set off for Sonora. You will be posing as his servants."

"S-Servants?" Zoruru said. "Surely, you must be joking, Admiral-sama!"

"I'm afraid I'm not, Zoruru-dono. It's the only way to avoid suspicion from the Sonorans. Unless, of course, you would like to be his siblings?"

"No, sir."

"Then you will be his servants. Dismissed."

After another vigorous salute, Zeroro, Kilili, and Zoruru left, shutting the door quietly behind themselves. They raced back to their barracks, leaping across the tops of the grey and camouflage green buildings. Kilili was the first one to get there, arriving several seconds before Zeroro and Zoruru. They walked silently back to their bunks. After lying down, Kilili called, "Good night, you two. By the way, we're getting up at three in the morning tomorrow. You two need to work on your reflexes."

There were small groans from Zoruru and Zeroro. "Don't complain! You're not tadpoles anymore! I'm still your teacher, and I say your reflexes aren't good enough. Another complaint and we wake up at two in the morning! Now good night. Rest up."

Kilili turned to face the wall to avoid Zoruru and Zeroro's resentful gazes. After a minute, her eyelids slowly slid closed, and she fell asleep.

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I've decided to make my chapters longer from now on, and add more detail, as well. It's my way of improving my style of writing. Anyway, look for the second chapter tomorrow, and review, please!