Hello readers, sorry i hav't updated in so long, it's just REALLY hard to write when NO ONE is reviewing my story. And if I get at least 3 reviews for this chaper I'll update the next chapter within the next week. So please HELP ME!

~RgoWolf

Chapter 2

I was fighting in the midst of a full out battle between four villages, I had two swords both covered in two different shades of red. Both of their hilts were a regular red while the blades were both blood red. I could not tell if it was originally that color or if it was actually from the blood of the people I killed. Every time I sliced someone down my heart grew weaker, but I knew I had to fight for both my village and myself.

'Hotaru let me take over, you need to rest!" I heard Miu speak in my mind.

"I can't, I need to show my worth," I stated, remembering all the terrified and exasperated faces of my fellow villagers.

"Please I can't let you die from exhaustion. You disserve a hero's death for all this effort, please just rest for two minutes at least," Miu sounded like she was about to cry.

"No one else is having that luxury so neither will I," I said with a firm tone in my voice, Miu stayed quiet after that.

It seemed to have taken hours, but our village finally won the battle. Two of the villages were later destroyed the other village retreated after they got what they wanted, their own Kokoro, the spirit of one of the destroyed villages. This was one of the first civil battles in our country. In the middle of the empty battle field was the islands crest. It has a white diamond shape in the middle and it looked like a whirl pool was surrounding it like everything was being dragged into the diamond.

"A glorious victory, I am impressed that you were willing to do all this," Miu said sounding a lot younger than what I was so used to hearing, like she was just a pupil and I her master.

I was the first Phoenix, turned at the age of eighteen, and have been fighting at the age of twenty one in one of the biggest civil battles yet. The entire village was scared of me because I was the most powerful person in the village and they did not know if I was a friend or foe. To help improve their way of thinking, I fought with all my might so no one after me had to go through the same abandonment. In between my shoulder blades was a marking, two red wings spread out with the shape of the moon in between.

Then while staring at all the carnage of the war there was a sudden thump and blood suddenly came out of my mouth. Looking down I saw a metal point sticking out of my chest, a knife, someone had stabbed me from behind.

"Hotaru!" Miu screamed with all her might but it was too late everything went black and Miu was left alone.

I awoke in a cold sweat, forcing myself not to scream. I was in my bed with only Persephone with me, but she was sleeping on the side of my bed. She always stays with me after I had an episode. When I looked around my room it did not seem as bright as it did the day before. I could not tell if it was just because of my emotions or the weather outside.

"Masami you're finally awake. I'm sorry I couldn't help with the pain this time, I only noticed what was happening when it was over." Miu spoke in my head, it was always weird hearing her voice after one of my episodes, she seemed so innocent, but now after living for almost three hundred years, I under stood why there was a change. I am actually the tenth phoenix, the others never died from old age; it was always murder, so Miu has told me.

"Miu, who killed me, the first me," I asked her wanting to understand who would want me killed.

Miu released a heavy sigh, "One of the Katsu assassins," that caught me off guard.

"Why?"

"They believed that all Kokoro died after being killed, after they obtained their own they tried to get rid of the others, only to realize we came back inside another body in our clan. They did not know this before they killed the rest of the Kokoro's clan so they could not retrieve it, but then the spirit faded."

"So, what are they going to do with me? The rest of my clan moved away, if I die I would be someplace totally different than here."

"I don't know what they are going to do with you, who knows, they might not do anything at all. You may just be too unpredictable," The way she said that made me think they will kill me. Who knows they might if I did anything to jeopardize the village, I know I would.

"Hm," Persephone moved, like she was about to wake up, and I lightly pet her head, trying to sooth her, and tell her everything was alright, "Mom?" she said in reply to me petting her head.

It shocked me; did her mom do that often? I did not want to give Persephone false hope and end up hurting her, so I replied in the softest voice I could manage, "No Persephone it's Masami, you need to get up or you'll catch a cold."

Persephone straightened up when she realized I was awake, "Oh my goodness, Masami. I'm sorry, are you alright, do you want something to eat or drink."

Those were the standard questions when I woke up, because whenever I had an episode I was out for at least twelve hours.

"Thanks Persephone, but I was actually wondering what time it is," Persephone looked a little confused but she looked at her wrist watch. She normally did not wear one, but I did not like to have clocks in my room.

One time I woke up in the middle of the night with my clock telling me that it was way too damn early to be awake. So I threw a fit caused by sleep anxiety, and ended up throwing the clock out the window. Persephone was only wearing one now because of that fact, she hated not knowing what time it was especially after one of my episodes.

"It's a quarter past nine at night you were out for almost twenty four hours, are you sure you don't want something?"

At first I was confused. I had never passed out for more than fifteen hours. 'It's probably because your remembering more and more each time,' Miu spoke inside my head, 'but I'm just as confused as you are, normally you get your memories right after you become the Phoenix, but there is a lot of stuff about you that is different from your past lives. Your flame is black, you were too young to control the powers, the marking on your back, and now the memories are now only coming to you slowly.' My head began to hurt again but not a 'memory coming to me' way, just an 'it's too confusing and I can't process it' way.

"Sorry Persephone I just need some time to think and get some fresh air," I quickly slipped on my shoes and headed for the door, "I'll probably get something to eat while I'm out. I'll be back soon, I promise!" I yelled while I closed the door behind me with a puzzled Persephone staring blankly at where I was.

I was not really paying attention to where I was going. I just needed to get out and feel the cool air across my face. That was until I smelled the sweet smell of brownies and cake. My stomach ached for sugary sweets, and I was never the one to argue with it. I let my nose lead the way and found a bakery in no time, to my great pleasure it was still open, and did not plan to close for at least an hour.

I ordered the one thing that seemed the sweetest on the menu, chocolate volcano supreme. It was a mountain of chocolate cake with hot fudge sliding down the side and more chocolate chips sliding down with the fudge, and since too much chocolate was never an issue for me. I did not hesitate to scarf it all down.

'I swear I have never seen someone eat as much sweet as you do, but I shouldn't be surprised. None of your past lives had the same taste buds, but you take it to the extreme!' Miu sounded a little worried, like I was bound to have a sugar induced coma at any minute.

I couldn't help but laugh at her, 'Common, being the Phoenix I disserve to have some pleasure in life, like sugary sweets.' I said and started to take a couple bites out the cake.

Miu laughed, 'And how long did that Halloween candy last you, a day, maybe two?'

'I don't see the point,' I refuse to give up candy, no matter what Miu says, then a thought crossed my mind, 'Miu I have a question.'

'What?'

'Do you remember all my past lives?'

Miu was silent for a minute, 'Yes, every one of them were magnificent, but all died too early and for ridiculous and awful reasons,' Miu seemed burdened by the memories of all my deaths, and now I was scared to see them all.

Without another word I finished the rest of my chocolate volcano supreme in peace. I was about to ask for the check when a hand was suddenly placed on my shoulder, I almost jumped out of my skin.

"Hey you're one of my new students right?" When I looked I saw bleach white hair and a black and white sock hat.

I immediately knew it was Kiari sensei, my new guardian for assassinations. When I saw her I was a little too stunned to speak so I just nodded. By the look of it she took it as more of an invitation to sit down.

"Great I was just thinking about how hungry I was… Wait a minute, there is no meat on here!" She bellowed as she looked at the menu for the bakery. "Fine let's go somewhere else to ea- I mean talk."

She quickly called the waitress to give me my check then we left. She seemed to be looking everywhere for something and decided to drag me with her, "Kiari Sempi what are we doing exactly?" I yelled out while Kiari simply looked around franticly.

"Finding a good place to ea- uh, I mean talk. I thought I already said this?" Then not even a second later her eyes widened with excitement, "Found it!" she said, with what looked like drool, dripping from her mouth. What I saw shocked me, it was an all you can eat Barbeque buffet, "Common treat your new sensei to a meal will you." Kiari looked like she would beat me to a pulp if I refused so I unwillingly nodded my head, and she looked like the happiest woman in the world. "Give us the best meat in the store put it on my students tab!" Kiari yelled out to the chief.

"So sensei is there a specific reason you brought me here or do you just want me to buy you Barbeque?"

"Don't call me sensei it's to formal, just call me Kiari that way I don't feel old," Kiari said with a smile on her face, "but yeah, I did want to talk to you. I heard you met Gaizka at the ball, how did it got?"

I felt stunned as I remembered the experience, "Uh, fine I guess. Why are you asking?" I looked at Kiari as her face lit up when the meat finally arrived.

"Because he is one of the rarest sights to see in this village, he and his twin brother Garaile only come out during the full and new moons we call them the werewolf brothers." Kiari explained then started to stuff her mouth in meat.

"Why exactly?" I asked remembering the clear moonless sky at the Ball.

Kiari swallowed her food and spoke, "Because," Kiari started, "the meanest and most destructive brother, Garaile, only comes out during the full moon. He rarely comes out since the village made a deal with him. They give him a room and a person of his choosing to spend the whole night with him. Some are killed others raped but most were both." I tried to think from the village's perspective, but the thought of sacrificing someone made my stomach hollow.

"What about Gaizka?" I had to ask, after all, he kissed me.

"He's normally nice, and we let him do as he pleases. I would say you were lucky it was a new moon that night and now a full moon. Gaizka seemed interested in you, and the twins usually had the same interests," Realization hit me hard, now knowing that a murderer and a rapist is interested in me made my blood run cold.

"S-so what do I do about it?" I asked fear clear in my voice. I have never had any real combat training besides the memories on my first life and the training with my fellow classmates. My first past life only knew how to handle a sword so that was always my useful skill so far. Also the training in school was full of stuck up girls that just ran whenever that saw a fight coming, others were Persephone and we already know each other's abilities, so it was not really training. So in short, if Garaile attacked, I would most likely only last ten minutes if Miu did not help me.

Kiari looked at me like that was a stupid question, "You run, getting in a fight with his is suicide. Garaile is a talented assassin who took on some of our finest assassins and won without a single scratch." She warned her face serious. "If I were you I would leave the village despite that collar of yours. I would rather fight the whole village then that monster."

Okay, I can honestly say that I was terrified, truly and probably permanently terrified to face this monster. However I was not going to run, my friends were here and this is the only place I could possibly live in peace. Yes I said possibly.

Kiari laughed, shaking me out of my thoughts, "Well you don't look like you will run, so I guess you are going to use the second option," Kiari stated with a smile. My heart stopped at her words. "You could get stronger before the full moon and possibly be able to defend yourself, however since you are a girl that will be difficult." Kiari stated, but there wasn't a single trace of disappointment in her face, as a matter of fact, she actually seemed eager. "Good thing you have me as your teacher," she laughed, "I have very good connections."

"Masami what are we doing out here!" Persephone wined, she was leaning against a tree while we were waiting for Kiari.

"Kiari said to come out here for a mission. She did not say anything else." I stated, "She did not even say a time!" I added with frustration. I woke up at the break of dawn to make sure Kiari did not start the mission without me.

"Well apparently it's not now," Imia said lying on the grass staring that the sky, however she looked like she was daydreaming.

"Yeah, let's go get something to eat while we wait." Persephone added with excitement.

"Whoa, were you three waiting long?" Kiari said walking towards us.

"Yeah, Amie insisted that we got here early." Imia wined sitting up and giving me a 'never again' look.

"Well you three should have headed out then." Kiari said her eye brow rose like she did not understand why were where hear in the first place.

"What do you mean?" Persephone asked.

"I let out three war prisoners into the forest, it's your job to catch them so what are you doing here?" My jaw dropped in astonishment.

"You did what?" Imia yelled, "Why didn't you ask older assassins to do this, girls are not supposed to get involved in the war!"

"Why are you complaining?" I asked my brain had finally put the puzzle together. "Do you want to spend the rest of your life as just an accessory to this dumb war? Or do you want to play a huge role?"

Imai looked at me with shock, "But this is not our-"

"Whether you want to do the job or not is up to you, but I'm doing it," Persephone stated excitement on her face.

"Me too," I added.

Imai looked at is like we were crazy but after letting out a deep sigh said, "Fine, I'll do it also."

"Alright let's go!" I yelled and jumped into the forest to fight my first real battle since my village was attacked.

What did all of you think? PLEASE TELL ME! Remember is I get 3 reviews I'll ipdate the next chapter withing the week. I also accept Flames of all sorts, so don't be ashamed to send some to me, it helps me advance in my writing skills :3

~RegoWolf