Chapter Four: Only Me

            Silence was all around Lei. The only sound that he could not escape was that of water hitting the windowpane due to the light rainfall outside. The shutters were closed so that no light could enter. He shut himself within his room for days now, doing nothing but sharpening his skills. He was more determined than ever to show Zato that he did not need that plotting dog, Venom. Lei was going to prove that he could be more proficient. More reliable. More effective than what Venom could ever be! There wouldn't be a need for mercy upon him, as there was with Venom. Zato would have someone worthy of his favor! Lei stared at his reflection in the mirror. He had been working on his appearance and mentality since before he ever decided to join the Assassin's Guild. When he was fifteen, he remembered hearing about the Guild from a group of people who too were considering joining. He remembered them talking about the master of the Guild, and of how the master was said to be undead, and possessed ungodly power.  Researching this man, that was when he discovered master Zato. The elegance of beauty of him beckoned Lei and caused him to join, along with the promise of such a title as "assassin". He left behind his parents and friends at seventeen for a chance at becoming renowned in the Guild. And he vowed that he would win recognition from the master, Zato. Though Zato only knew his name now, Lei wanted more and more attention from Zato. And he wanted Zato for only himself. He didn't want anyone else capturing his attention.

Lei breathed slowly as he closed his eyes, and slowly reopened them. He stared at his reflection again.  Here he stood presently eighteen, six feet tall, and of a decent build. He was toned fairly well, and had grown his hair out to just below his shoulder blades, and had it secured it a ponytail. He was Asiatic in origin, and thus had eyes and hair of a chocolate tint. Quite handsome, he was, and active when he wanted to be. Aside from his problem with rejection, Lei could pass for an average person.

"…Today," he said coldly. "I will change everything…and everyone will see who is worthy."

-

"Why do you think Lei did what he did last night?" Yu asked Terra as the two walked alongside one another, heading for the proving grounds outside the manor, so that Yu could try once more to beat Zato in combat. Terra rolled her shoulders, for she was just as clueless as Yu.

"I don't know. It was kinda scary, though, seeing him like that."

"Yeah.  I thought he might have a crush on the master…but yesterday was like…obsession."

Terra nodded in agreement.

"Maybe we should talk to him about it and see if we can help him?" she offered. Yu shook his head.

"Maybe you, but not me. He won't listen to me because I'm still facing the master, remember?"

"Yeah," Terra sighed. "Oh well, Yu. I'll see you later. Hope you do well against Master Zato this time!"

"I hope so too…and what's sad is that this is just the weapon portion of combat training. Later, after I see Master Venom about my potential, I'll have to use more powers, if I possess any."

-

            Venom stepped back, avoiding a swing from Lei before he used his pool stick to strike at the young man's side. Lei saw the attack coming and blocked it with the side of his blade. Using force to push the blocked pool stick away from him, Lei let out a yell before he advanced during Venom's moment of unbalance, and delivered a harsh side-kick to Venom's stomach, sending him to the ground, and let his blade swing downward, the tip stopping centimeters from his trainers throat. Venom chuckled faintly, using his pool stick to nudge Lei away from him before he stood.

"That is what I want to see: pure devotion. You are now worthy of facing Master Zato." he said. It was like music to Lei's ears. Worthy. He was…worthy. And then…he could now face master Zato.

"Thank you, Master Venom. I will prove myself worthy to Master Zato, just as I have to you," he vowed. "And I will not be a disappointment."

-

"Lei," Terra said as she approached her friend who was busily washing his body, cleansing it of dirt and sweat from the previous spar. " I wanted to ask you about last night."

"About what concerning last night?" Lei asked. Terra bit her lower lip a bit before she could speak again.

"About…the master...you know?"

Lei ignored her as he reached for a towel, and as he began to dry his upper torso finally decided to dignify her question with a response.

"Anxiety." Was all that he could say. Terra contorted her expression into one that lingered between anger and confusion. There had to be more to him than what he was leading her to believe! Deciding that bluntness was best, she attempted a different approach to the situation at hand.

"Yu and I…we…we want to know what exactly draws you to master Zato so much. Why are you falling in love with an assassin you will never know? He is your master…if you confessed how you felt to him…he'd break your heart..! We….no..I don't want you going through that. So please tell me, Lei." she pleaded. Lei sighed as he listened to her, and shook his head.

"You're wrong…I will know him one day. Master…..Master Zato will know my name! He will recognize me before I become an assassin!" he yelled, causing Terra to shudder lightly.

"..You're not listening to me, are you?" she whispered.

"NO, I'M NOT!" he bellowed. "BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO ME! I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU OR YU THINK!"

"Please, Lei, listen to me…you don't see what I see—."

"NO! I see more than what both of you see! I will be the best there is! I will surpass Master Zato! And not only that—I will do whatever it takes to gain his favor! When someone needs the most proficient of the Guild, Zato will choose me!"

"….Why do you want him to notice you? Why should he love you?" Terra asked, her gaze thinning as she narrowed her eyes at what once was her friend but now stood a young man gone mad. Lei readied himself to respond, but then thought about what Terra said to him. There was no doubt in his heart that he wanted to lock himself within Zato's heart…but…could Zato ever love him….? Could Zato ever….return that same….blind affection?

"…I…I want him to notice me….and love only me…I can be more loyal and sufficient than Venom. Venom is just…just using him!! He doesn't see what I see!"

"Then what do you see?" Terra asked. Lei gave a crooked smile as he let the damp towel fall into the crumpled fingers of one of his hands. There was so much to say…but he wanted to say so little.

"I see…I see someone that does not know how beautiful he is. Someone that goes unappreciated, even if he does not know it. Zato is the reason I am here, besides the title of assassin. He is like…a possessed angel. When he sparred with Venom…it was like a violent dance. The wisps of white breaking from the white demon curling around his delicate fingers… and the black leather melding with the parasite gorgeously while he screamed and directed everything so perfectly…it was almost like a dream, Terra. I don't think anyone can admire him as I do," Lei concluded as he shook his head gently. "And that is why no one else is worthy of him. Only me."

"But Lei…you have to think logically," Terra said as she cautiously raised a hand to play her fingers along the lines of his shoulder and back. "If you impose yourself on the master, then he will only become agitated…you can't make him love you."

"But I can try, Terra. If—if I could express my emotions just once—."

"And what if he turns you down, or even possibly exiles you?" Terra asked. Lei squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't want to think of such a thing.

"…I….I have to find out." Was all that he could say.

*

Zato summoned the demonic parasite once more, manipulating the emanating wisps of white that swiveled upward, thinning into the air. He was growing bored with the competition as of late. And the only good competition that even came close to posing a threat to him was Yu. Aside from his entertaining spar with Venom, Zato was yearning more and more for competition. Someone that could possibly dethrone him, or at least ground him and keep him there, as Yu had done. He missed the action. And….he missed chaos. Without it…the Guild had less and less meaning each day.

"Master," an elite member called with an apologizing bow as he entered the doorway to Zato's quarters. "I am to inform you that you may decide upon which trainee may face you first."

Two in the same day? Fate was beginning to smile upon him!

"Who are the contenders?" Zato asked, an obvious smile broadening his features.

"Yu Li Xiao and Lei Furamaya. Both are very good candidates…but one is more headstrong than the other."

Zato seemed to be intrigued by this.

"Which is the more headstrong?" he asked.

"Lei, sir." the member said. Zato chuckled faintly to himself.

"Then it is settled. I am to face Lei. This should be promising." He declared.

-End Ch 4-