Chapter 2: Errands

Monique

With a low chuckle, I shook my head as Monica was laid down on her bed with a groan. She had been flickering in and out of consciousness since I had my thrall carry her out of the cave and the Master told me that she was to rest until her chi was fully recovered. She had exerted a lot of it by enabling her fighting spirit, followed by a concentrated high wire act which had been enhanced by her boosted strength. Had she held the electric current any longer, it may have affected her ability to function with her hands.

And she calls ME the naive one.

Placing my hands on my hips, I moved over to my sister and pushed some of her bangs out of the way and admired how peaceful she looked. Her pony tail had been undone, letting her raven black hair hang free. Her crimson red eyes, closed lightly and content as well as a matching smile on her sleeping face. Her chest rose and fell in steady intervals and even faint snores could be heard from her lips. Sighing, I grazed the side of her cheek with the back of my hand, reveling at how smooth and flawless her skin was, despite the constant work outside and training she had done.

"Rest easy, sis."

Taking a step back, I held my hands behind my back and turned on my heel swiftly, letting my pony tail flick up. Taking a few steps towards the door, I found myself fall into deep thought about how much our lives had changed:

We started out as two little girls who lost their parents and forced to barely scrape by due to living on the streets in Yehara's Mirage. All until that horrific day when we foolishly played in the Guardian of the Sand's den and were almost killed had it not been for Jiwan. And then we were brought to Master Hong, a legendary master who had created his own style of martial art which specialized in different variations and unlocked one's inner chi to expand the limits of what any normal Jin, Lyn, Gon, or Yun could hope to achieve. Given powers that transcended the realm of possibilities and do the impossible.

Monica and I were presented with the options of a few unique styles, in which Master Hong explained that only the Jin could master: The way of the honor as a master of the sword, disciplined training in the arts of using ones feet and fists to take down their enemies, mastering the shadows with efficiency and precision, or harnessing the dark arts of the nether realm to brandish in the mortal world.

Originally, the Master thought we would choose the same technique due to the fact that we were twins, but we did not. I chose the way of the nether realm, to have the ability to summon forth dark powers and summon ethereal beasts to fight at my will. I did not choose to fight using the nether realm for dark purposes, but to be able to harness what one feared the most and try and learn to control it.

Monica, however, had chosen the way of the silent blade. As an assassin. She had chosen to stay in the shadows and use strategy to her advantage as she stalked her prey. Deciding to sacrifice defenses for offense, Monica knew well that if she didn't act or even hesitate, it could mean the cost of her life, but that wasn't an option for her. She chose to be efficient with what she had and strike hard and fast before making her get away. She had reasoned as to why she chose this path: to some, they believed assassins to be mere cowards, hiding in the shadows waiting for their opponents weakness was exposed and eliminating them only to disappear from sight a moment later. But my twin was different. She had a calculating brain, was able to analyze situations and take them much more seriously.

Training under Master Hong, we were the only warlock and assassin currently at Heaven's Reach. The others had since gone off on their own journey's leaving us alone to train. Therefore we were forced to make due and perform techniques that we couldn't just ask others for help. Creating our own styles of fighting that quite frankly went against what we were taught to find creative and new ways to strike down our enemies. However we weren't the only students on the island.

There was a lone blade master in the same situation as we were. She was a gorgeous blonde, with beautiful yet mysterious gray eyes, a nice body and tan skin. However, she had never spoken a single word to me nor my sister since we joined the school and it always struck me as odd. She wielded her blade with confidence and any strike from her was bound to hit if one couldn't keep up with her lightning speed. She wielded the power of lightning and fire, infusing those elements into her already dangerous strikes to make them even more lethal than they already were. Her technique of summoning ethereal swords to swarm around her was no joke either as she harnessed the flock of blades around her without hesitation and her techniques were to be reckoned with.

My sister and I had never gotten the honor to spar against her and to be quite frank, I'm partially glad I haven't. I continued to walk towards the training hall, humming as I went on my way. I smiled happily and closed my eyes, enjoying the natural warmth of the sun against my skin. It reminded me of home... in the Scorching Sands.

I sighed sadly. I did miss living there, but I knew that it was for the best that I train under Master Hong's wisdom.

"Good afternoon, Monique."

I shrieked at the top of my lungs and summoned a protective barrier of floating charms as I dashed away from the sudden voice. Reaching for my razor which was situated at my shoulder, I gripped the handle and began to draw the weapon. Looking up, I gasped when I saw Master Hong standing there with his cane and an amused look on his face.

"O-oh Master!" I said quickly and bowed respectively to him, "I didn't see you there! I'm so sorry!" I apologized frantically.

Shaking his head, he moved closer to me, "It was my fault for startling you. I just noticed you walking to the training hall and thought I ask you a favor while you sister is out of commission for a while."

Straightening up, I looked down at my master who had stopped a few feet in front of me, "I need a few errands run down in Bamboo Village."

I cocked an eyebrow, "Forgive me for asking, but why? Normally we have the Bamboo Guard to bring supplies whenever we need it, which is rare in the first place."

Reaching up, he gently grabbed a hold of one of my hands and held it lightly, "This isn't a normal errand. It's extremely important and I need you to deliver a message to Dochun."

Pondering upon my Masters request, I nodded, "I'll do it. What do you need me to tell him?"

Releasing his hold on my hand, he shook his head and looked up at me, "All you need is to appear and reveal that you are one of my students and he will understand. You may wear whatever you'd like, as long as you can prove to him the fact that you are being taught in the ways of Hongmoon."

"Yes Master. When shall I depart?"

"Now preferably."

I bowed respectfully once more, "Yes Master."

Turning on my heel quickly, I made my way towards my quarters to think of what to put on since I was reprieved of having to wear the Hongmoon School's uniform. I decided on the newest edition of the Prime Time line of clothing that came out a month ago, this outfit consisting of white with gold highlights instead of the original bright red and full gold.

Stepping inside, I moved over to my wardrobe and extracted the dark gray top that would wrap snugly around my torso. It was made of a leather like material with a front that ended in a V. Along the sides were two lines that hugged the curvature of my breasts, replaced with a lining of nets to provide a place for my skin to actually breathe a bit if it were to get too hot. Taking off my own top, I folded it neatly and placed the white fabric onto my bed. Closing my eyes and letting out a relaxed sigh, I began to slip the top around my torso.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Jumping a foot in the air, I screamed as the sudden knocking made me drop the top to the floor and I brought my hands up on reflex, pointing my index fingers out and thumbs up with the others closed. I aimed it at the source of the knocking and began charging the dark energy from my body, ready to let it loose through my outstretched fingers into the target.

Looking at who had caused the knocking, I felt my face grow extremely hot and the energy charging into my fingers dissipate. Standing at the door with a stunned look on her face and her smokey gray eyes shot wide open was the lone blade master. Her blonde hair hung perfectly just above her shoulders and her mouth was agape. Her sword hung diagonally across her back and her body was as stiff as a board.

We stood in shock for painstakingly long moments before her eyes slowly trailed downwards. Curious to what she was looking at, I followed her gaze and I screamed as I realized that my upper body was completely bare, exposing her to everything. A cold breeze ran through the door and it made my bare skin shudder. If my face could get any hotter, it would be as hot as the sun in the sky.

In horror, I realized how this must look to her: A girl with her breasts completely exposed to the world, had screamed at the top of her lungs and was prepared to blast her away with dark energy! just because she knocked politely on the door.

I was completely speechless as she glanced up and down a few times before her own face began to grow bright red. The blade master opened her mouth to say something, but immediately closed it and awkwardly back away from the door before sprinting at full speed around the corner and out of sight.