Author's Note: I GOT IT OUT BEFORE SATURDAY OKAY?!
Hope you guys will like this chapter!
"Fight me, Shen!"
"Again?! Come on, even if you're not tired, I am!"
"Come on, Shen. Don't be such a spoilsport." I giggled.
Zed smiled as Shen rolled his eyes and got into position.
We were standing in the courtyard, where it was our private training grounds. Most of us were orphans, taken in by the Master. Except Shen, his father was our Master.
But that didn't push us apart.
Zed, in his white shirt and long pants, stood facing Shen, in similar attire. They looked almost alike, just that Zed was more small-built compared to the bulky Shen.
Kennen, in his purple robes, sighed.
"Seriously, you're just gonna stalemate again. I'm going to take a nap."
The three of us giggled, bidding him good night as he wobbled away on his tiny legs.
It's only noon and Kennen is already sleeping... Just like usual.
"Come at me, Shen!"
"Go Zed! You can do it this time!" I cheered, cheekily grinning at Shen.
Shen did a simple swipe with his wooden sword.
Zed leapt backwards, too agile for Shen.
Zed threw two wooden shurikens at Shen, but Shen dodged them, and lashed out with his sword.
Zed blocked with his shurikens with great accuracy, before throwing more at Shen, which he deflected.
This went on for the whole afternoon, up until dinner.
"Zed! You can't afford to waste so many shurikens!"
The voice of an old, weary, man came from the door as it creaked open.
Both Zed and Shen were panting. Shurikens littered the floor, and Shen's sword was badly cut as well. Both were completely unscathed.
"But Master-!"
"Quiet! A ninja must have discipline!"
"Master, Zed was perfectly in form. It was just that Shen has the superiority due to his sword art and experience. A shuriken user cannot afford to challenge another face to face. That's what you taught us, Master." I piped up.
"Whatever. All of you, go have your dinner. Ah yes, where is Kennen?"
"Still sleeping." The three of us replied in unison, laughing, the tension broken.
Master shook his head and gestured for us to proceed to eat while he went to wake Kennen.
I wake up with the feeling of cloths wrapped around me.
Jolting upright, I look around. In my room, everything was still the same. Kettle boiling, mats spread around, windows closed, door locked.
I was in my robes from the day Akali was caught.
Time... What time is it...?
The door opened, and a certain Hiten- style user came stomping in.
"Shen!"
"Huh? What is it, Irelia?"
"What is it?! You let Zed take over the old order and now you're in trouble, AGAIN?!"
I sighed.
"Kennen told me."
She snapped, before I even said anything.
It's not as if I hadn't tried.
"Just calm down and have a cup of tea."
"Tea?! Now?! Zed is probably ready to storm this place and Ionia as a whole and you're sitting here asking me to drink TEA?!"
"As I said, calm down. The solution shouldn't be too far away."
"I've already amped up security around the borders. We will catch them off guard, and end them, once and for all."
I shook my head.
"He has better awareness than that. The shadows are his eyes. He will know it before even stepping a foot out."
"How about infiltrating the old training grounds?"
...I hadn't thought of that. It might work, only...
"You have to be on guard here. Kennen and I will do our part."
"What makes you think I can't follow?"
"You're not a ninja."
She sighed.
"A full-fledged one at least."
"I was as good as you guys back in the day."
Irelia had trained with us for a bit, after Zed attacked us, to see how she could help us.
"It wasn't that long ago, Irie. Anyways, it would be dangerous for this place to be left unguarded without any of us."
Irelia frowned, but nodded her head.
It had always been me and Akali doing the infiltration missions, Akali with the stealth while I followed her lead, while Kennen did the distraction.
We wouldn't have the privilege of stealth this time.
"Zed, you won't be able to finish this fight."
"I don't care! I must beat Shen. If not today, then tomorrow, if not tomorrow, the day after. I will beat him! I will prove to Master that I am the best!"
"We all know you are already! Just cut it, and take a break! Maybe that's what you need!"
"I will beat him."
I sighed. He had become sickly lately, but still continued sparring Shen.
"Zed... This is crazy... You know he is Master's son. No one else will be able to get his praise."
"I will."
I quietly held his strong, right arm.
Then I hugged it, feeling my tears well up.
"Stop it Zed! You're obviously sick! Would you rather lose or leave it at a draw?!"
He shrugged me off.
My eyes widened.
He seemed... Different.
It had been dark for a while, but now, at midnight, it started raining.
He walked into Shen's room.
"Wakey wakey, Sword Boy. It's time to face your defeat."
"Wha? Zed. Ah, if that's what you want, can we do it tomorrow morning?"
"No! Now!"
He lifted up a hand, ready to strike Shen.
I didn't dare to look, covering my ears, turning away, squeezing my eyes shut.
The sound of metal on metal.
They are fighting with real weapons?!
"You're down, Shen. I won."
I turned around, surprised.
He actually won…?
The sight of Zed holding Shen by the neck, victorious, greeted my eyes.
Suddenly,
"Zed! You won by using forbidden techniques!"
Master...?!
"Master, I didn't touch any forbidden techniques. I won Shen, fair and square. Why won't you admit it?"
"You touched the Shadow Book. I know it. I can see the darkness seeping from you. Get out. I don't want to ever see you again."
"Fine, Master."
He spit, scornfully.
Where did my loving, kind, charming, handsome, disciplined, Zed, go?
"Zed, wait!"
I cried, running to his room.
He glared at me.
"You told Master, didn't you? You saw me the other day, didn't you?"
"Zed I-"
"Just leave!"
Zed, I love you! Why won't you listen!
As he slammed the door, the words echoed in my head, my tongue stuck.
I fell to my knees, weeping.
"Why are you so dumb, Akali?! Just say the words!"
I hissed at myself.
"Zed! I... Love you!"
I shouted, banging on the door again.
There were no more sounds inside.
I slid open the door.
No one.
Zed had gone, and it was my fault.
My brave, kind, charming, Zed.
Gone.
I shook my head.
Zed had been treating me reasonably well, in view of our old friendship, and despite his threat, had still given me many more chances to join him.
As my vision cleared, I gazed around.
He had taken special care to preserve the old compound, with many of our childhood memories still here.
The door slid open, and Zed entered, clad in white robes copied from our childhood.
His slightly brown hair was glaringly obvious in the moonlight.
He had a warm smile on his face, with a box in his hands.
"Akali, you're awake. I brought something for you. I'm sure you'll like it."
I peered at the box dubiously. Brown and dusty, it somehow jogged my memory a little.
He opened it with care, and inside, our old memories poured out: Our wooden training weapons, with our names etched carelessly on them, paintings of us running around, Zed and Shen's endless bickering...
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
At the end of it all, the dark book Zed had procured from the forbidden room.
"Akali... I know that you are trying to help me, but I cannot back out now. I've harmed so many, and they only obey the shadow now, not me. I will lead them into ambush, and we will fall as heroes. That is the only way."
"No! Zed! I don't want to lose you again!" I quivered, tears flowing more readily now.
"On the day I left, I already knew. I already heard your words. When you looked inside, I had simply hid in a corner, after hearing your words. I considered staying, but I could never put down the resentment. I know I shouldn't have blamed you. I'm sorry."
"Zed!"
He pushed the box aside, and hugged me tightly, cutting the ropes.
"If you wish to run, run now. This monster, I cannot hold much longer."
As tears rushed down my cheeks, I kissed him passionately.
I would only get this one chance, and I will keep it.
P.S. Thanks to sristy07 and Doominater87 for follow and thanks to ThatoneDoge and TheUnholyMessiah for favorite!