Well, it begins. I'm trying to rewrite this story over to a better version of it, since the former version (which I'm keeping up for references I suppose) really does have some loopholes. I truly appreciate the person who pointed it out, since I didn't notice it at all until she said something. So I have to say thank you to her...or him…But either way, thank you. Anyone else who has constructive advice for me is very welcome to offer it to me, and all is appreciated. As long as it's constructive. Well, aside from that I'm in a lull at school right now, so I've just passed my finals by. (YAY!) Soon the next semester will be upon me, but until then I hope to get this out as fast as I can. Secondly, if anyone would like to be my Beta reader, please let me know. I could really use someone who can help me go over my stuff so I can make it better all around. Other then that? Please enjoy the story and let me know what you think!

Insanity's Requiem (II)

Prologue

Kayura stood before her alter, head bent in prayer as she clutched a small purple gem within her almost frail looking fingertips. Bright eyes watched over her clasped hands, her pert lips touched together in a frown of worry and thought. Cloth billowed about her in the form of her ceremonial robes, long black hair cascading down her back and almost onto the floor. Breathing a deep sigh, she glanced over at the Ancient's staff, as if expecting it to do something, to tell her what it was she needed to do, "Ancient, give me guidance. Trouble is upon us once more, and again the Ronins have begun to battle without knowledge as to why they must do so."

"You can't help that, Lady Kayura," A firm voice behind her caught her attention, though she didn't turn to great it.

"I know, Dais. But I worry. Darkness has begun to move against us, in all realms. The Ronins once more have responded to the call to arms, but…"

"You're worried about her, aren't you?" Another voice beside Dais spoke out, the figure stepping from the shadows. Dark hair fell over a scared eye, and though he wore a simple Hakama and Gi, a wicked sword hung at his side.

Kayura nodded, "They've attacked the guardian of the spirits of the armors. She said she would be fine, but if that was the case, then why did she give me this to hold onto?"

"Meaning she's expecting to get caught and loose," Dais spoke up, folding his arms as Kayura nodded, "Yes. That's exactly it."

A face, usually cheerful, was now deadly serious, marked with bruises and cuts in a pale skin. Hair that usually framed a smiling face now limply fell over her shoulder as the girl held out a purple gem in her fingers, offering the item to Kayura, "Don't worry Kayura, I will be fine. I have to lead them away…"

"We could protect you," Kayura debated to the girl.

"I have fought to remain unknown, as have my forefathers that have guarded this gem. However, somehow the demons have discovered my whereabouts. I thought I was safe, hidden within the populace, but it appears that as long as I have this, they can now track me. I must go out and lead them away. I cannot let them touch the strength within this jewel, and you know that."

"I know, but it doesn't make it any easier to accept. Not once, in history, has a Guardian had to go into hiding, had to be separated from the jewel."

"I know that. I know the lore from my people, long dead, passed down to me by my mother when it was time for me to take up the responsibility. I KNOW this, Kayura! Please, take it!" The girl was firm in her request, shoving the thing at the Ancient. "Kayura, you yourself came to me, two months ago, when the demons began to rise. Please, you said at the time that I could ask favors from you in times of great need, and this is it!"

Kayura sighed, taking the gem from the girl's hands, "But…"

"Thank you, Kayura. Look, Arrow and I are going to lead the demons away, throw them off the scent of who actually is holding it. That's the best I can do, without being able to use the powers of it right now. I can at least buy you a little bit of time as you try to figure out what to do. With you, I leave my spirits: Boreas of light, Inigashi of Fire, Undine of Water, Zakei of Earth and Zephyr of the Wind. I know that it's a bit hasty, but they can find me if I survive this."

Behind the girl stood the five figures, each alight in their own elements, nodding in the order of their names being called.

"See? It will be alright, Kayura. I'm leaving now. I spent too much time here anyways, and have to see if I can get the demons away. I don't know why they attacked, but they've been doing it for a month now." The girl quickly unloaded her information, "I and the spirits have been watching them, and that's probably how they found me out. I do know they are rising, intent on invading Earth. They are having a difficult time massing in numbers because of the Door, but I don't think it will hold them back for too long, even reinforced. They have a new leader, ambitious too from the looks of it…He wants blood, tears, sorrow…everything that Talpa character wanted. I won't let that happen, and you know you can't either."

"But…Lenaira!"

" I'm going now. I have Arrow, don't worry. Good luck to you Kayura and best of wishes if we are destined to not meet again!"

A low, deeper almost raspy voice spoke, "She did well to bring it here where it could not be reached. We can protect it as others cannot. By taking precautions such as these, her sacrifice won't be wasted. Be grateful for that, for the fact that she is buying us all time to figure out what to do about the things that are beginning to emerge again."

"Distasteful true, but it sometimes has to be done. Lenaira did her ancestors proud, including by staying hidden till this time," Dais nodded, his cold logic shining through in his one good eye. White hair tumbled about his face as he patted his hands against the black Hakama. Shifting, he leaned against the hard wood of the walls, mindful of the paper door behind them all in the room. The fire ablaze before them lit his face in an eerie glow.

"I know, but it doesn't make me like it any more. Please, keep an eye on the borders. If you think it necessary, and if the Ronins spot you, inform them of this. Otherwise? Leave the information they have right now as is. I want solid proof of who the leader of the Demon's Rising before we take a plan of action," Kayura spoke, this time authoritatively as she stood to face the others. Each of the men nodded at her before leaving. Nothing had to be said. They knew what they had to do.

Kayura turned, holding up the gem before her face before slipping it over her head and onto her neck, "I pray you survive this day, and return to smile once more."

Hard breathing and the pounding of feet in endless repetition, that was what was left to do, the rush found amidst the panic. Brown hair, impossibly long, flew behind flew in a ponytail sort of fashion. Ornate clothing flew about her form, a sheer pink, shimmering cloth floated about her arms, seemingly seeped in power as it floated about the frantically moving form. Chinese style shoes, flat but comfortable in the color purple pounded against the ground in a flurry as strips of cloth that normally hung down from her hips whipped about wildly. Purple pants of a simple cloth lined her legs in the form fitting style of a martial artist's uniform. Feathers hung from her ears and headband, beads about her waist and wrists. She looked like a priestess that just stepped out of the pages of a fairy tail book. Well…she used to anyways. All of her clothing had obviously seen better days. Torn, smudged and all together in bad shape, everything bore evidence of a rushed retreat. Branches from the trees tore at the ripped fabric, making tears worse till the only thing that was of it's former brilliance was the pink scarf like cloth about the girl's arms and the silver flute within her hand.

"Arrow! Come on! We have to get out of here now!" The girl looked up at the horse sized wolfish creature with a nod, "They've found us again!"

The large dog guffawed, his flanks marked with red cuts, dried and wet blood and signs of battle. His indomitable endurance was beginning to fade, the chase they were taking part in having gone on for too long.

"At least we…got the gem to Kayura, that's all I'm happy about," Her voice held an exhaustion within it's depths, but still she did not stop, "Even if we fail, it is beyond their hands at this point. We have nothing to regret."

"No, but what about yourself? You must survive!" A firery voice entered her mind as she glanced to the figure flying at her side, wings of fire flapping rapidly to keep up the pace within his smaller form.

"Inigashi! I'm fine, but you need to be with the gem! Don't worry about me, I'm not important now!"

'Bull! That isn't true!'

"Don't argue with me!" She stopped, standing up, shoulders heaving, face glistening with sweat from within the moonlit trees about them.

'Lenaira! You know we don't think that,' A calmer voice, one of light and healing strength preceded another being of light, wearing cloth the color of green and wings of white feathers.

"I know, but you kno what's important now! You have to get back to the jewel and protect it. If I die, you have to find the new bearer, and teach them what they need to know! Now get out of here! Soul Demons are on their way, and you know they don't care what they suck up, Spirit or Soul! Now scat, both of you! Don't let me down!" Lenaira frowned, watching them nod reluctantly, flying off to protect the thing she ordered them to look after.

With a great sigh, she shook her head before blinking. A flash of light behind her told her that Arrow could hold up no more, and was at his former regular husky sized form. He was done in, and she not far behind. Turning, she gave him a smile, "Arrow….get out of here…"

The dog shook his head. He wasn't leaving, "Alright then. It's up to us now. Lets go!"

About to begin running, she heard the silence of the forest, an eerie settling of sound, a bare forewarning as a chill ran up her spin, hissing laughs filtering into the area. Slowly, from the shadows of the trees emerged creatures glowing eyes, grotesque and misshapen bodies covered in patches of fur. Sharp teeth glittered from within their mouths as they lurched forward. Turning, she backed up, "Seekers….."

"Yessss…descendent of Celeste…" One hissed, the numbers about her beginning to increase. A rapid count told her there were about 20 in all, "Gives ussss…what we want….."

"The jewel…."

"Yesss…the jewel of spirits…"

"Give it to usssss…."

"I will do nothing of the sort! You can't get it from me now. It's beyond your reach!" She tried to sound haughty, but it came out tired and weakened. She knew she couldn't fend all of them off, no matter how she tried. Panic began to stir in her chest as he spoke up, "Oh yesss……you will give it to usss….one way or anothers…."

Claws backed by rippling muscles covered in course fur began tearing at her as she moved to cover her head, trying not to get hit. Arrow was already down, unable to help in the fight. About to accept her face of death, a stern male voice filtered into the area followed by the brightest flare of lightning she had ever seen, "Thunder Bolt CUT!"

Demons hissed, lunging back to get away from the light, about 15 of them taken out by the slash that had felled the shocking strength. Others began to retreat away from the area, to come back at another time. A man in green armor leapt into the area, startling Lenaira into a dropping of her jaw, "Halo…it's the armor of Halo…"

Pulling her wounded body into a standing position, she watched him closely as he turned. Gray eyes framed by blond hair met with the brown amber of her own, seeming to try to glean answers from the gaze alone. Gathering up her courage once more, she spoke out, "Who are you…?"

"Sage of Halo. Don't be afraid, that was the last of them I think," He spoke, his voice pleasant to hear after hours of terrified running, "Who are you?"

"Lenaira. My name is Lenaira."

That was when a loud screech was heard to her right side. Gasping, she whipped about, trying to ready herself to defend as the demon cackled into the air, slashing her chest. The tear of cloth accompanied her scream of pain as she wheeled backwards, her flesh beginning to bubble with blood, staining the ruined clothing. Collapsing to the ground, she barely saw the green armored man slice the demon down as she fell, hitting her head hard on the large tree behind her. Slowly she slid into unconsciousness, oblivious to the world at last.

Startled, the man whirled around from the felled demon in time to see the girl fall, unconscious. As quick as ever, Sage made his way beside the girl before hearing another snarl. Leaping back, expecting another attack, he was startled to find a large dog standing over the girl. Grey fir with splotches of black, the dog was clearly a husky wolfish mix, heavily wounded and clearly not wanting the Sage anywhere near the girl upon the ground. With a sigh, Sage took a step forward, thinking he could get through, but again, the dog made as if to attack. He was frustrated, but kept it out of his voice, "Look dog, I only want to help her. I'm not a demon."

The dog began stepping back away from the girl slowly, still kept his hackles raised and tail in the air, a sign he was ready to spring if he saw something wrong. Sage smiled slightly, "Don't worry….I'm not going to do anything untoward…You guys are lucky I was on patrol."

Glancing down at the girl, he grimaced. The scratches were deeper then he thought, and far nastier too. Ignoring her odd clothing, he sighed, calling his armor back. Ignoring the fact that her clothing was split open in the chest, he pulled his outer shirt off, tearing it into shreds for bandages, "Why couldn't Mia have been here for this…"

He sighed, finishing the job. Quickly turning to his powers from his armor, he used what energy he could spare to fortify her healing system before picking her up gently against him. Turning, he began to take her towards the mansion, the dog following behind him. This just seemed to be one weird day.

Well, there it is! What do you think? Different I know, but it's all good I suppose. Any ideas? Suggestions? Fire away. I'd like to see what you come up with to see me try in the case that you do have something. Challenges are welcome too:P Well, until next time I suppose!

Thanks,

Hikaru