…
Chapter 2:
Destiny's Door
…
"WHAT a day!" Hitomi sighed tiredly as she stretched both of her arms after a good practice in track.
"And so we have it ladies and gentlemen. Another Hitomi specialty. Being thirty minutes late for homeroom class," Yukari said, sticking her index finger with a knowing look. "And another excuse by our teacher's respect to you because of your undying devotion to school."
"And Yukari's devotion to keep telling me," Hitomi followed. "Yukari, please stop doing that already! You've been saying that all morning!"
Yukari giggled as she put her arm around her friend's shoulder. "You know I like teasing you, Hitomi. Anyways, since that hard math tests is over, let's go and eat."
"YES!" Hitomi screamed excitedly, making everyone in the sidewalk look in her direction.
"And you're paying this time…"
Hitomi's eyes widened. "Nani?! Why?"
"Because you practically ate all my lunch today. Remember…an eye for eye…"
"And a meal for a meal, right, right," Hitomi sighed depressingly.
"I knew you see it my way," Yukari laughed. Both girls giggled as they started to close in on a small restaurant. Before Yukari opened the door, Hitomi suddenly stopped in her tracks as she stopped laughing, a pale look on her face. Yukari stopped when she noticed that her friend stopped in midair. "Hitomi, daijobou?"
Hitomi's eyes narrowed as she felt someone's eyes lingering on her back. Fists curled on her sides, she looked around to find that source. To her surprise, she didn't find anyone that was looking at her. Hitomi started getting worried. She turned her head and looked at the ground thoughtfully.
"Hitomi…?"
"Yukari," Hitomi began as she turned to her right, feeling that same feeling, only this time, these eyes were different. "Do you feel like we're being watched…?"
Yukari raised an eyebrow, confused. "No…I don't think so…"
Hitomi whirled completely behind her. No one was there again. Her heart started to pound against her chest. Slowly, she put her hand to her heart, panting heavily. "What is this? What is feeling?" she asked subconsciously. Hitomi turned to Yukari with another worried look. "Yukari… I think we should be careful. I have this feeling…that someone IS watching us…"
"Are you sure about this?" Yukari asked, just as cautiously.
"Believe me, Yukari, I am never wrong…"
Slowly, the girls cautiously went into the restaurant, looking side to side to see if anyone suspicious were looking at them. As soon as it was safe, they entered the restaurant.
Just as they closed the door to the restaurant, a woman in her middle ages, with long honey hair tied to pony tail appeared before them, tired, pale blue eyes looking at the two young girls. Her eyes met Hitomi's brighter green eyes. An uneasy smile passed on Hitomi's lips. "Hi!"
Yukari, who was confused at the moment, looked around the little restaurant. She went outside to see the restaurant name. She frowned once her gaze settled on the sign. "It figures. She's broke. So she brought me to her mom's restaurant…that sly girl…"
Hitomi's mother still looked at Hitomi as both girls took their seats. Without greeting her own daughter back, she coldly turned her back and continued on with her work. Hitomi didn't seem shocked when her mother gave her the cold shoulder. Hitomi simply smiled and nodded understandingly.
Yukari watched the two family members at work. Hitomi started opening her bag and grab her books to start studying. Yukari looked to Hitomi's mother's way as she too looked at Hitomi with an observant eye. Looking into her blue eyes was all the confirmation she needed. With a look of disgust, her mother turned and returned to work. Yukari watched Hitomi's mother try her best in dealing with all the customers, with only a few coworkers and a single chef helping around the restaurant.
"Hitomi, why don't you help your mother out?" Yukari suggested, in hopes of lifting the uncomfortable atmosphere.
Hitomi momentarily stopped writing on her paper, her small pink mechanical pencil stood only a few centimeters away from the lined paper. For a while, Hitomi remained silent. As the silence grew, her hand started shaking nervously. Her eyes remained glued on her paper, her bangs covering her eyes to hide her emotions. Slowly, with one sigh, she placed her pencil on her paper and started writing. "Yukari, I would gladly help mom. I really would. But…simply…I…can't. You know…"
Yukari looked at her friend to see her shaking. She isn't shaking out anger or being nervous. It was something else. Yukari's eyes closed and heaved a sigh. "I see," she said, looking at her friend with a considerate smile. "It's okay. Don't worry. I shouldn't have brought it up. Do you want to do anything after this?"
Hitomi simply nodded and continued writing. Yukari looked back at her friend, a sad look appeared in her brown eyes.
"Through her eyes, I am simply…nonexistent in her world," Hitomi said sadly to herself, gazing at her book.
---
Closing time was near as the customers left. Her mother was finishing up the last remains of the dishes. Yukari and Hitomi were still in the restaurant, tending to the things that Hitomi's mother had not got to. After wiping the last table, Hitomi's mother passed by them, purse in hand, without taking notice of her daughter and her best friend.
"Okaasan…do you want me to lock-" Before she could finish her question, her mother slid the door nonchalantly in front of her.
Not a single sound passed between Hitomi and Yukari the moment her mother closed the door. Hitomi's eyes remained glued on the fleeting form of her mother. Yukari could see the pain coursing through Hitomi's eyes, despite the fact that she remained unemotional about what her mother did. "Hitomi…"
Hitomi turned her downcast face to Yukari and smiled. "Well, shall we?" Yukari blinked for a while. First, Hitomi looked like she was about to cry. Then, as quick as a flick of a light switch, Hitomi smiled as if that previous event with her mother didn't affect her. Yukari regained her composure and shook her head, smiling back. Gathering their stuff, they made some last checks to see everything was all safe and locked the doors to the restaurant.
For the next thirty minutes, they started walking towards their homes, talking about anything they can think of as they walked along without a care in the world of what people think or what might happen to them. It was almost a quarter until seven when they finally reached Yukari's neighborhood. "Hitomi, are you sure you will be okay by yourself?" her friend asked.
"Don't worry, you know my house is not far from yours. I'll be fine," Hitomi reassured. "And I have good self-defense skills. Trust me."
A smile appeared on Yukari's face. "Okay then, Oyasumi!" she greeted cheerfully and ran to her house.
"Oyasumi!" Hitomi called back, waving at her friend. As soon as her friend disappeared into her house, Hitomi started walking to her block.
Minutes after she exited Yukari's neighborhood, Hitomi walked along, one thought after another coming through her mind. "Okaasan's still ignoring me. I really wish I can talk to her, but it's hard. At least Oniichan's with me…"
Hitomi wanted to go home. But, she didn't feel like it. Somehow, it's always her routine to go somewhere else whenever she stops by her mother's restaurant. She went to the nearest train station leading home. After settling down, she gazed out of the window to see the coastline and the beach that was near her home. "Otousan," Hitomi whispered to herself. "I'm trying my best. I just don't know what to do with Okaasan. Will we ever talk normally?"
Out through the window, she can see the full moon in the dark blue sky. Somehow, she felt nostalgia when she gazed at the moon. Suddenly, she had this urge to go somewhere. Somewhere that was peaceful and quiet where she could clear her mind. Then, her mind remembered the pink leaf that flew off last night. She wanted to see the cherry blossoms. She decided to break the rules a bit and go out for once to relax. The train stopped as soon as she made up her mind and took the path to the one place where the cherry blossoms are gloriously shown and the place is quiet.
Hitomi walked through an empty alley, deciding not to take the city sidewalk. She took the shorter way just so she can get away from the bustling city. She only took a few steps when suddenly, her mind ached again. Her vision became hazy the moment that ache came, causing her to stumble a bit until she regained her balance by sitting against the wall. Along with the aches, she heard a sharp ringing in ear. She jerked her hand to her head and leaned on it as if her life depended on it.
"Help our world…"
"Not again," Hitomi thought, grasping her head in pain. She clenched teeth.
The words never left her mind. Endlessly, it kept repeating itself many times to the point Hitomi can memorize it by heart. Hitomi looked up to the sky, in hopes of answering her questions; Question about everything that was confusing right now. Destiny. The voice. The figure bathed under the white light. The colors blue, green, red, green, white, and black. The sounds of a clock ticking. The pendant. Everything from her reoccurring vision kept repeating itself in her mind. These images made her feel as if she was still in that vision.
Slowly, her free hand unconsciously grasped the pink pendant. It felt surprisingly warm when she touched it. Suddenly, the ache in her mind, the ringing in her ear, and the visions immediately disappeared. She opened her eyes and looked at the glowing pendant in the palm of her hand. How beautiful it looked under the dark night. Hitomi was drawn to it, as if she was a bee drawn to perfectly beautiful flower that stands out from the rest.
"Please…"
Hitomi continued to gaze at the pendant again. She could feel something through this pendant; something that she never felt before. She could feel a great sense of power within this pendant, a power that can only be used by those with good intentions. "But, this is a pendant. A simple, ordinary pendant. A great sense of power? That could only be found in fairy tales," she reassured herself. Yet, the feeling in her mind was telling her that she was wrong.
"Believe me Yukari…I am never wrong…" She was reminded of what she said to Yukari early that day. Somehow, that simple phrase made her recall the very first time when she was suddenly becoming accurate with her predictions. Ever since she predicted one situation after another a few years ago, from the beginning of the sixth grade and on, it kept growing and growing. It wasn't until she reached her freshmen year in Junior High School that her predictions were exactly the mark. No matter how much she denied it, no matter how she ignored it, Hitomi would always be right.
"I call upon you…"
"Why?" she asked herself out loud, never leaving her gaze from the pendant. "Why do I have these predictions? Why do I have these dreams? Just what is in store for me?"
"The times have changed. You can no longer go to the life you once lived…"
The pendant started to glow.
"The time has come…"
"What's happening?" Hitomi gasped as the pendant grew brighter and brighter in the dark night.
"Everything rests on your shoulders. It is time for you to complete the destiny you are born with…"
A pink hue started to filter the whole entire block, making Hitomi wince at the sudden intrusion. Her heart started beating rapidly against her chest. The voice in her head continued to talk as the light continued to grow.
"It is time…for you to awaken…"
Hitomi could not tell if she was in a dream or not as the light suddenly burst, surrounding the whole entire area with its pink hue. The light emanated an oddly familiar warmth that Hitomi felt comfortable. Crossing her arms comfortably across her chest, Hitomi enjoyed basking in it. She felt like she wanted to stay in this warmth forever.
Time passed and the light finally dimmed, along with the warmth that Hitomi had the pleasure to be basked in. The winds started picking up just as the light disappeared, lifting her tied up hair towards the sky. Hitomi slowly opened her eyes to see that her surroundings had returned to normal. Quickly, her eyes averted to the object in her hand, seeing no glow coming from the pendant. Clasping it gently in her hands, she looked up into the sky to see the full moon above. "What is going on?" she asked, once again wondering if she was in a dream or not.
Slowly, she let the pendant slide down her hand and let it dangle in midair. With one gentle move from her hands, she let the pendant swing.
One…two…three…four…
Hitomi watched as the pendant swung in seconds. It was strange to see a mere jewelry swing like that. Mentally, a sound of a clock ticking started was heard in Hitomi's mind as the pendant continued to swing in seconds.
Five…six…seven…eight…
As if by instinct, Hitomi slowly closed her eyes and concentrated, imagining the pendant in her mind swinging in time with the clock. As she concentrated, the pendant glowed, this time, in control. Hitomi's eyes instinctively opened. Hitomi was taken by surprise as the pendant started to glow. Now her thoughts about being in a dream were put to rest. "This…really happened…" Hitomi stuttered. She remembered in her dream that there was a clock ticking in the distance. Could this pendant be linked to the clock?
Suddenly, the pendant swung sharply to the left, as it was pointing at something. Hitomi's eyes widened just as the pendant shot to the left. "What…is it pointing at?" she asked.
"You have that power…"
Hitomi froze. She felt that feeling again at the restaurant. She could feel four pairs of eyes boring into her back. Her heart started to race like never before as she heard footsteps coming into her direction. Carefully, she clasped the pendant securely in her hands.
"After all these years, we have finally found you," continued the voice. She felt two more walk behind the first group that appeared. Then another. What was going on? She remained where she was, thinking of ways to get away from them as much as possible without getting hurt.
"What power?" Hitomi asked firmly, trying her best to show that she was not scared. "I'm only a normal girl. You must be mistaken."
"Who really cares if you are just a normal girl? That power is no mistake. It is your destiny. The one who is in touch with the pendant is the chosen one."
"The pendant?!" Hitomi thought exasperatingly as she looked at the pendant again.
"That pendant is the very essence that will destroy our Great one's ideals. It is only used by the chosen one who shall awaken those who protect the world. And you, the normal girl you are, have the ability to use that power willingly. You unlocked what is inside."
"Inside?" Hitomi asked thoughtfully. Are these men crazy or what? What did she unlock that made these guys think she was the person with that power? The leader slowly extended his hand towards Hitomi's shoulder. Hitomi could feel his body heat come near hers, his hand inches away from her shoulder. She closed her eyes, concentrating her mind and soul to prepare.
"Now that you have awakened, before you gain anymore powers, there is no choice…"
"No choice," repeated his henchmen.
Hitomi suddenly gasped when her mind suddenly clicked on something the moment she could feel him. Right through her eyes, she envisioned him taking out his sword and stabbing it through her body. She can see the man steal the pendant and disappeared. In that moment, she could feel the warmth the pendant was emanating. She knew exactly what to do.
"Good-bye, chosen one." He drew out a sword from under his cape and immediately impaled it towards Hitomi's body.
The instant the man said his last word, Hitomi immediately stepped to the right just as the sword scraped some of her clothing on her right side. She could see his hand at her peripheral vision and immediately grasped it as best as she could. With her strong grip, the sword fell to the ground. "Yaah!" Putting all strength in her lower body, she threw the man in front her successfully.
"Agh!!" yelled the man. Hitomi jumped on the man's stomach and started running for her life.
"Sir!"
"Get her!"
As much as she wanted to kick those guys' behinds to the moon, her instincts told her to run for her life. The sword was nerve-wrecking and she never done anything with weapons before during self-defense class. She couldn't handle this many opponents. So, she continued to run to the farthest part of Tokyo, finding a place to hide until her pursuers had given up. "What I don't get is how do they know about what I witnessed? Are they some supernatural detectives or something?" Hitomi's eyes caught something dangling in her right arm. To her surprise, the pendant was lighting up and swinging towards the left. She looked to the left and saw piles of boxes mounted against a high wall. Somehow, she felt the pendant was the good choice to follow at this situation. Hurtling herself to that direction, Hitomi thought this would be a great plan to escape from those suspicious looking men. Looking at the box, she made sure that they were safe and started climbing as fast as possible.
"Come back here!"
She could hear those voices come closer to where she was. For normal men, they sure know how to run fast. And most men these days lack exercise at this time and age, in Hitomi's opinion. But, she was wrong. She increased her willpower and climbed as fast as she could. By the time she reached the top of the wall, she looked down to the see men climbing as well. With one mighty push from her legs, the boxes fell one by one, leaving the men climbing with an endless struggle.
With that done, Hitomi jumped down to the other side and sprinted as fast as a cheetah. Once again, the pendant swung and this time it was pointing to the right. Hitomi would had thought it was strange for a pendant to do such a thing, but it didn't cross her mind. All that mattered was getting away from these men and the best choice right now was to follow her instincts and the pendant.
---
Hitomi finally decided to stop. She did not hear the approaching footsteps or the yells anymore so it was safe to rest. It had been an hour since she started running for her life. She tried as best she could to lose them, however, they seem to catch on, despite the many traps she made on the way while trying to lose them. Hitomi's legs ached, asking her to stop and take a rest as well as her lungs, needing air for her entire body. "They're so persistent," Hitomi said. She leaned against her knees and took in deep breaths. After regaining her normal breathing power, she looked around her surroundings. Suddenly, it hit her. Around her, there were many cherry blossom trees around her, with a small pound in front of her. She looked around more to see the buildings behind the trees. She recognized this place. She was in Hibiya park that she recently went with her brother to view the first day the cherry trees blossomed. To think this was the place she wanted to go to clear her mind.
The winds started to pick up the moment her breathes evened, nurturing her sweaty brow graciously as if the winds knew her predicament and aided in her cause by giving her what she needed. She was truly grateful that it is spring and the weather is perfect. She let herself submerge with the wind, relaxing her beating heart.
"Chosen one…"
Hitomi's heart stopped at that moment. "No! It couldn't be…"
"We're tired of playing your game!"
Suddenly, out of thin air, her pursuers appeared around her, blocking any opening she could escape to. Hitomi's widened the moment they appeared. How did they find her? Or better yet, how they appeared just like that? These men are not normal humans. Fear started to filter her entire body as she slowly backed away until her back settled on a cherry blossom tree. Slowly, she let her hand rest against her heart as she looked at the men dressed in black cloaks, their faces covered darkly under their black hoods, matching who they were as mysterious and strange.
"Like I said, I am NOT the chosen one!" she exclaimed, trying her best to be brave.
"It is already too late. There is nothing you can do. You are who you are. And nothing can change that…" Slowly, the men started to gather closely as the leader extended his hand. Suddenly, a dark purple light started to swirl around his hand. Hitomi's eyes widened at this new relevance. The other men stood behind, reaching into the black cloaks to draw a sword in their hands, each growing into their stance, prepared to fight. One of the minions suddenly slammed his fists into the ground, causing the whole area to shake.
In a blink of an eye, the whole entire park dissolved in color. The beautiful cherry blossom trees that were filled with pink blossoms now turned bare and black as night. The tranquil, blue scenery changed into darkness, leaving the place black and white. Hitomi could see the whole entire place's life was wiped out into nothing. She couldn't believe it. This exact scenery looked exactly like her dreams. She looked at her body to see that her vision wasn't clear. It was blurry as if she was in an old movie. She looked up to see the clothed men, smiling evilly at her.
"W-what did you do?" she asked cautiously, putting her defense up. "Where are we?"
"Our realm," said the leader. "We very well need to hide ourselves. People in your world do not know that we exist. They will not see us. We fit better in this place of darkness. The alternate reality of what you see this world."
"Like a dream," thought Hitomi as her eyes grew wide, acknowledging how familiar the scenery looked before her. Scenes of a black, desolate place immediately came into her mind briefly. "Who are they?"
"People who come upon this dark world of ours will only be shadows in this world," the leader continued. "They will freeze as if time has stopped and will not know of the events that occurred in this very place. No normal person can exist here, but us. But you. You are different. You remain in your form." Hitomi looked at herself to see that she was in her form. Her whole entire body was still colored, making it stand out from the bleak place. She narrowed her eyes and prepared herself for the worst. She didn't take self-defense classes for nothing.
"It's no use, chosen one. Your weak moves cannot fringe us," said one of the minions. Hitomi froze right when she was about to smack their heads. Her nerves began to grow on her. She knew nothing that would fight against them. All she wanted was to go home. Slowly, she backed away as the strange caped men began to close in her. She looked directly the purple light that was produced in the leader's hands. Fear was written all over her face.
"Die!" the leader said. With one stroke from his arm, he hurtled the purple light towards Hitomi. Her instincts began to detect a great danger coming from the purple light. Each time it got closer, Hitomi could feel that her time in this world was up. It was beginning to crumble Hitomi's spirit. Her eyes widened. Was she going to die like this?
"Stop!" she screamed fervently as she closed her eyes, curling herself into a ball. Just as the ball of purple neared Hitomi's defensive body, a sudden pink light suddenly surrounded her, shielding her from any danger. The purple magic hit that very light, struggling to break through. Yet, it was no use as the pink light was strong and impermeable. The black magic dispersed immediately when it used most of its strength to pass through that barrier. Hitomi's eyes opened and saw that very pink light surround her. She looked at her hands, her feet, and her body. Without a doubt, this was the same light she saw before. Her eyes immediately went to her pursuers to see that their mouths gaped open, awed.
Slowly, the pink light dispersed around her. As the pink light disappeared, the dark realm suddenly dispersed, going back to the real world, where the light of the pale full moon glistened on the pink cherry blossom trees. Hitomi was surprised. "It can't be?! How…?! I thought…"
Hitomi's eyes remain staring at her hands. "What…just…happened?" she asked herself.
"Sir. What should we do? We can't bring her back to the other world now," one of the henchmen asked.
The leader tried to call upon his black magic. But, it didn't appear like he wanted to. Nothing came out. Surprised, he looked at Hitomi. "Is she that far" Hitomi was still astonished that she would had something like that in her body. She didn't know how she was able to call it up. The leader sneered. "Although she is strong with magic, she won't be able to call it up willingly. Physically she is weak. Kill her."
With a single nod from the group, they started running towards Hitomi. Hitomi finally snapped out of her reverie the moment she heard those hideous screams. She looked to see them running towards her in great numbers, swords stretched high and ready to kill.
Hitomi squinted her eyes and prayed for the pink light to appear again. But, it didn't appear like she expected. What will she do? She can't avoid them because they will find her. She can't fight back because they have weapons and she never dealt with weapons before. The only thing she can do was wait for her impending death.
"Somebody," she whispered, hoping from the bottom from her heart that someone would hear her.
The men were inches away, their swords pointing towards her body.
"Somebody!"
Their eyes revealed itself to Hitomi from under their hoods, heavy with lust for blood.
"Help me!" she screamed.
The moment Hitomi screamed for help, her screams were soon caught short as she felt another presence around her. This presence was different from what Hitomi felt from these men. She felt that this new presence was strong. Stronger than these men and their leader put together. The moment she thought that, a sudden white chi hurled passed her. The blast hit them directly and they all fell one by one. The leader looked around as he saw his men fall instantly.
"Show yourself! Who are you and what business do have with us?!" the leader asked, quite apprehensive. "How dare you interrupt us?!"
As the leader continued to ramble on, a shadowy figure jumped from one tree to another, causing Hitomi to watch its every movements. With one final jump, the shadowy figure landed behind them, his entire body soon manifested under the pale moonlight. Slowly, the figure emerged from the trees and showed himself to the enemy, his clothing, ancient and beautiful, glowed a gentle white in the dark night. Hitomi could not make out his face or his hair.
"Who are you?!" asked the leader, drawing his own sword from his black cloak. The men who were down before started to get up one by one, aiding their boss as they staggered behind him.
Once the leader drew his sword, the man in ancient clothing extended his arm in front of him, his hand erected with the palm facing the enemy. His other arm was placed close to his chest, his palms facing the enemy as well. The young man slowly bended his knees, ready for the fight to ensue.
The leader took this as a sign of resistance and immediately readied their swords. "What are you trying to do, boy? You can't beat us!"
"Don't worry," the young man finally spoke, directing his words to Hitomi. Hitomi's eyes wondered aimlessly. Something about him was oddly familiar that she couldn't point it out. "Even if it costs me life, I will protect you!"
Hitomi's eyes widened once she heard his statement, his voice passionate and beautiful under the quiet night. The winds started to pick up as cherry blossom petals started whirling about, his loose clothing floating along with it.
"We will make sure your life is ours!!" With those monstrous screams again, the men went straight to the man, weapons in hand. The young man ran as well when they were a close distance between him and them. One man swung at the young man with his sword. The young man dodged it and punched the man square in the face. His opponent fell with one shot. Once he fell on the ground, he suddenly disappeared in thin air, without any remnants of his body. He moved on, avoiding another attack from another henchmen, this time punching him multiple times on the stomach after he parried the attack. With one hard kick to the abdomen, another disappeared. Another came to his left. The young man jumped from the attack and kicked his chin effectively with his knee. Another came to his right and with one full thrust. He immediately dodged that attack and kicked the guy on the face with his foot.
Hitomi continued to watch as one by one her pursuers fell without a fight. She watched how fluid her rescuer used his fighting skills, watching as he fought from one side to the other, using the right moves to perform the right counter attack. He did one final kick to the last henchmen that stood still the entire time, his body shaking as he saw all his comrades gone. Knowing that his boss would want him to fight to the death, the henchmen finally decided and ran, using all his strength in this last match. The young man instantly saw his attack and instantly moves aside. When his enemy's stomach lay directly above his knee, the young man kicked up, making the enemy scream in utter pain. Putting his leg down, he used his elbow and impelled it to his enemy's back.
"Who is he?" she wondered as she watched him heave a sigh after finishing the deed.
The young man took in a deep breath. Slowly, after taking a moment, he turned around, looking at the leader. Moving his arms back into his fighting stance, he exhaled, slightly bending his knees.
The leader twitched unbelievably. How could a man like this beat all of his members without much of a fight? Lifting his sword, he readied himself, preparing to fight.
"Abunai!" Hitomi screamed the moment the enemy lifted the sword.
The leader ran, screaming as he lounged the sword towards him. The rescuer immediately dodged it, strands of his hair was cut as it passed above his cheek. Immediately after his thrust, the enemy turned around fluidly, his sword immediately coming back into position. He lunged towards him in great speed that was different from his members.
"Die!" the leader said and swung his sword at his head. Hitomi closed her eyes, fearing the worst for the young man who graciously saved her. Her rescuer instantly reacted to this move and with one graceful movement, he grabbed the edge of his opponent's blade. His opponent flinched the moment the young man grasped the blade, trying to push it forward towards his body. But, it wouldn't budge as the young man's single grasp was strong. The young man used his opponent's strength and let go of the blade. He sidestepped, making his opponent fall forward. Just as he was about to recover, the young man used his leg and slammed him down on the ground.
After many minutes avoiding these men, the leader was the last to disappear. Hitomi was relieved as her life was saved. Slowly, her eyes looked at the young man, his back turned towards her. She was nervous at first since this was a man she never met before. Without a doubt, this man was strong and wistful. She never had seen a person with such prowess before. Slowly, after her nervousness finally succumbed, she courageously took small steps towards him.
The winds started to pick up, lifting his hair and loss garments to the air. From the treetops, the pink leaves started to surround him and her.
She was closing in as his obscure moderately become clearer. "Who?" she asked. "Who are you?"
…
Author's note: Yes! I'm finally done with this chapter! I'm sorry for the long wait. Again, it's a little slow. But, I guess you can say it's starting to pick up. So what do you guys think? A little more exciting than the first chapter? I honestly had a hard time with this chapter. But, I managed to pull through. Now, from here on, I will begin to add in the characters now that I set up Hitomi's plot…a little. I apologize for any mistakes. I am still having a hard time with past tense and present tense. And don't forget to review! For the next chapter, all I have is the title for now. "Lone Wolf." And you know who will finally appear in Chapter 3? Yes, you guessed it:D But, on writing, it's actually done. And I'll be writing it soon. Anyways, thanks again for reading! Bye-bye for now!
-Kuti