"Daddy" cries a 5 year old girl as she is tied down to a table in a dark room. "Mommy... Big Brother." When she realizes that her cries aren't being heard she begins to cry. This was the day that daddy always talks about. The day that her new life began, but if daddy was so excited and mommy was so proud then why does it hurt so bad. Why were they constantly making her exercise and fight other little kids, why were they constantly shoving minimal amounts of terrible food down her throat. Why were they constantly poking her with needles and taking her blood. Sometimes the pain is so bad that she won't make it back to her room in the facility and the pain would cause her to black out.
But today was supposed to be different. Daddy said after today the pain would stop and for the first time in a long time mommy had a look of pride on her face. Today she is supposed to become strong, strong enough to beat the bad guys in the government. But if today is a happy day why can't she stop crying? Why is she tied to this table in a dark room where the only thing that can be seen is a large jar full of a reddish purple substance.
As the little girl sits there crying a man dressed in white walks in. The man dressed in white's name is Charles. Charles is the man that makes it so that the little girl is as comfortable as possible. Charles always had a look of sadness in his eyes when he looked at the little girl. He pitied the little girl who would never live a normal life, even if she survived the process she would be used as a weapon and never know freedom.
Charles pats the little girl on the head and gives her a warm smile as he leaves the room. After he leaves the lights come on and the table begins to turn stopping parallel to the ground. As the little girl looks forward she notices a big metal machine on the roof with arms that hold syringes, drills and all types of things that look painful. The little girl sees the machine start to move while her senses start to dull. Apparently, Charles gave her something to numb the pain. As she starts to fall asleep she sees the machine arms come closer. At least this time she won't feel the pain.
Leiko awakens with a start in her bed. After Quatra walked off she went back to the hotel room and went to sleep. Right now it's about 4 in the afternoon and Quatra is nowhere to be found.
"I gotta stop having that dream." Leiko says while holding her head. As she lays there she hears a knock on the door. "Come in."
"Are you alright?" Kyoya says as he walks in the door and sits on the empty bed opposite her.
"Yeah just a bad dream." She says as she sits up in her bed and faces Kyoya. "Been getting those a lot lately."
"Well what's it about?" Kyoya asks showing concern for the blue haired girl.
"My past." she says quietly while holding her head. "Anyway where is King Ass?" she said trying to change the subject.
"Quatra? I don't know. Yuri is out looking for him though." Kyoya says with a sigh "But if I know one thing it's that he always sticks to a mission until it's done. Are you worried about "King Ass""
"Of course I am." Leiko says with her hand still holding her head up. "I was just really pissed off at him this morning for what he said and the despicable act I saw after."
"What pissed you off his tone or the truth behind his words?" Kyoya asks with a serious face.
"Both" Leiko says frustration starting to take over.
"Well like I told Yuri earlier I think that the way he said it was wrong, but the message was something you needed to hear."
"So you think I need to change too?" Leiko asks with a frown.
"Nobody wants you to change Leiko" Yuri says as she teleports into the room surprising both Kyoya and Leiko. "Quatra was just frustrated at himself for being useless on the train and also due to the lack of sleep he lashed out at us. It was you who confronted him about his bad mood. Remember?"
"So you're saying this is my fault?" Leiko asks her voice starting to rise.
"No...well...yes, but listen to what I have to say before you start attacking me." Yuri says seeing the look of shock on Leiko's face. "Just like he was wrong for lashing out at you, I believe that you definitely could have handled the situation by just letting it go. Hell, you could have at least asked if he was okay nicely instead of saying and I quote "Alright Quatra what the fuck is wrong with you this morning? You have literally been king ass this morning so if there is something bothering you come out and say it" end quote."
"Yuri" Kyoya says sternly catching his attention. "Go find my brother."
"You're not my master." Yuri says as she crosses her hands and raises an eyebrow.
"Fine, Please go find my brother." Kyoya says slightly irritated.
"Much better." Yuri says as she teleports out of the room. After she leaves Kyoya goes and sits on the bed next to Leiko.
"Thank god she's gone." Kyoya says while sighing deeply. "For someone as pretty as her I think she needs to be a little more disciplined."
"What happened to Quatra today after he left the hotel room?" Leiko asks wanting the full story.
Kyoya takes a deep breath and begins telling the whole incident over again. When Kyoya was done explaining she still was angry at Quatra but she started to understand his thought process.
"Why was Quatra in such a bad mood?" Leiko asks trying to fully grasp the situation.
"Yuri was partially right but the main reason was the nightmare. After he told me what he saw I would be on edge a little more myself." Kyoya says calmly. "Quatra has always tried his hardest to keep his emotions under control, even when we were little kids. He does this because if he loses control of his emotions his natural bloodthirsty nature will come out."
"Natural bloodthirsty nature?" Leiko says with an eyebrow raised. "So you're telling me that Quatra is a killer, not by choice, but because he was screwed from the start."
"Not exactly. What I'm saying is that the killing impulse he feels every minute of every day is hard to just ignore, so he controls it by controlling his emotions. This morning, when he left the room I knew something like this was going to happen because when he left I could tell that he was an emotional wreck." Kyoya explains calmly.
"When you say everyday do you mean everyday lately or everyday since birth?" Leiko asks now showing concern.
"Since he was five years old. The first time we noticed something wrong was when he came home one day with a black stripe in his hair, golden eyes and a laugh that was bone chilling to say the least." Kyoya said visibly shaking from the memory but he continues. "Quatra had come home with blood on his hands from beating a neighborhood kid that was bullying him nearly to death. The next thing he said was "I would've killed the boy but I figured I would let him suffer." It was after that that auntie Kagura came and stayed with us. While she stayed with us she was giving Quatra lessons in controlling his emotions with meditation as well as introductory lessons in the way of the sword. The lessons were a huge help but outside of the dojo Quatra was having problems fitting in with the other kids. After the beating he gave that poor boy Quatra was pegged a demon by both the children and the adults because of the cold and merciless way he did it. When he left the house, kids always threw rocks at him. Most of the kids would beat him and leave him in the alleys because that's what he did to the little boy. The adults would never offer to help the boy because he was possessed. Unfortunately it later became common knowledge in town that my little brother is the reincarnation of that serial killer Ryoga."
"Wasn't he supposed to be a famous swordsman that went insane and started killing for no reason about a hundred years ago." Leiko asks sounding shocked.
"Yep, and he's also our great grandfather." Kyoya says looking like he tasted something bitter. "but I no longer want to talk about this" he says as he stands up to leave the room. As he gets to the door he turns to look at Leiko. "I'm gonna look for my brother. You coming?"
"Yeah I'm coming." Leiko says while still trying to process all the stuff that she heard.
Meanwhile a certain brown haired samurai has been meditating in the woods on the outskirts of town but unfortunately for him he can't clear his head like normal.
"I'm gonna go with him."
"You said that I could follow right? Well I'm gonna take you up on that offer."
"That was my first kiss so you need to take responsibility."
"Don't fuckin touch me you fuckin Demon."
"I can make her voice go away" says another voice in his head.
"Go away Ryoga" Quatra thinks in his head as if talking to the voice. "I let your sick impulses take me over earlier but I'm in complete control. This is my body and my mind."
"But it wasn't that bad now was it?" Ryoga says as he finally decides to materialize in his head. He looks exactly like Quatra except eyes are gold, and his hair is longer with a second black stripe on the other side of his head "Besides I'm kinda getting sick of Leiko this and Leiko that. Oooooooo I know I know...If I were to take over your body and kill Leiko the voice would go away and I would have your body so you wouldn't even really care that she was gone right?"
"Why are you bothering me now after so many years?" Quatra as as he materializes his body in his mind.
"Well after my darling little sister taught you how to control your emotions, I have just been biding my time. You see I figure that sooner, rather than later, something bad is gonna happen. Something so awfully terrible that your mind will snap, and when that happens well...you know the rest." Ryoga says with a twisted smile.
"So you showing up means that I'm slipping?" Quatra asks with an eyebrow raised as he stares back at him.
"Maybe...you will just have to wait and see." Ryoga says as he slips back into Quatra's mind with an evil laugh.
"Quatra wake up." Quatra was hearing Leiko's voice in his head again.
"Yoohoo...dude we gotta talk to ya." This time it was that other girls voice. What was her name...Yuri I think.
"I guess I've done enough meditating for one day" He thinks inside his mind as he allows the body in his mind to disappear.
Meanwhile in the real world. Leiko and Yuri have been racking their brain to figure out how to wake up Quatra. Leiko decides to pick up a nearby tree branch, sits down next to Quatra and starts poking him with it.
"Quatra...Hey Quatra...Can you wake..." Leiko starts but is interrupted by Yuri
"Um...Leiko?"
"What's up Yuri?" Leiko says as she looks at Yuri while mindlessly still poking Quatra. Yuri doesn't respond, instead she points to the samurai who has woken up and has a confused look on his face. Leiko turns around and finally notices that he was awake.
"Do you always poke non moving things?" Quatra asks with a shake of his head and a smile on his face.
"How else are you supposed to know if they are alive or not?" She says with a silly grin as she started to laugh. For no real reason, Quatra saw the look on her face and started to laugh with her.
"Hey guys" Yuri says but her voice is not heard. "I'm gonna go hang out with Kyoya" she says as she teleports away. After Yuri leaves Quatra decides that there is something he needed to say.
"Leiko, I'm sorry for the way that I've been acting all morning." Quatra says making Leiko look right at the samurai with a look of confusion on her face. "The science experiment comment was unnecessary. I should not have blown up at you. Please don't change who you are just because I'm an ass." Quatra finishes as he hangs his head.
"Holy crap, I never thought I would live to see the day that you apologize." Leiko says with a small smile. "But if we are apologizing I guess I should apologize as well." she says confusing Quatra. "I'm sorry for being short with you in the hotel room. I'm sorry about the King Ass comment, and the demon comment. God we suck at this couple thing huh?"
"Nope I wouldn't say that." Quatra says with a smile. "I love you and whether or not you hate my existence I will always be there for you.
"You love me?" Leiko asked quietly taking in what he just said. Quatra scoots over and wraps his arm around her.
"Yes I love you with all my heart." he says as looks at the sky which has turned dark enough to see the moon and the stars. Leiko leans on his chest and looks up getting his attention with all the movement. Quatra looks down and sees Leiko's face in the moonlight and leans in to kiss her. Leiko leans forward as well to receive the kiss. After a few moments they break apart.
"Quatra" Leiko says while looking into his eyes. "I love you too, with all my heart"
"Then I think we'll be alright." Quatra says with a smirk. "Besides my mom and dad argue like it's a sport and they're being paid to do it. But, I remember my mother saying to me that it's because they argue that their marriage is so great. She told us that every relationship has ups and downs but as long as you love the person you are with and understand who they are without attempting to change them that you can have a great relationship that last forever." he says while looking up at the sky eventually falling asleep due to the comfortable silence while leaning against a tree. Leiko realizing that he needed some actual sleep and if she moved she might ruin that for him, decides to stay wrapped in his arms as she looks up at the stars.
Eventually Yuri and Kyoya find the happy couple sleeping in the woods with the most peaceful look on their faces.
"It's gonna break me heart to wake them both up but right now we gotta catch a train." Kyoya says but before he can do anything Yuri stops him.
"You know I can just teleport us there right?" Yuri says with a smile as she looks at the couple sleeping in front of her.
"Okay but if you're gonna do that, there is a certain place that I think we should go before we go through with this." Kyoya says with a smile. "It's in the Pergrande Kingdom but it's in the far east."
"Okay but how far is it from the capital city?" Yuri asks with a sigh.
"About twelve hours by train" Kyoya says causing Yuri to sigh again.
"Give me the name of the town and I'll be back here tomorrow afternoon ready to go."
"Awesome" Kyoya says as he goes to break them apart "You carry Leiko and I'll grab Quatra."
"Kyoya." Yuri says in a hushed tone. "Come here." She says waving him behind a tree away from the couple. Kyoya follows Yuri.
"Yuri what's up?" Kyoya asked confused.
"Look" she says pointing at what they thought was the sleeping couple. "Quatra's awake, I wanna see what he does."
"Wow with them it really is like the raven and the butterfly"
Quatra had just woken up and to his surprise Leiko was asleep in his arms. He smiled as he maneuvered around her and leaned her against the tree. After he does that he hears his brothers comment about the raven and the butterfly and cant help but chuckle.
"Leiko would kick the crap out of you for calling her a butterfly." Quatra says just loud enough for Kyoya to hear. After realizing that hiding serves no purpose Kyoya and Yuri came out from behind the tree.
"I don't doubt it." Kyoya says with a chuckle. "But I call it like I see it Quatra, you know that."
"Yeah I guess she is beautiful, huh?" Quatra says without taking his eyes off of Leiko.
"Yep, it's when she starts talking and being herself that people realize that a butterfly would be the last thing that she would wanna be called." Kyoya says with a smile as he looks at his brother. "And the raven fits you to a tee, always has."
"I'd say, the raven is a bird that is a harbinger of death, a dark bird that also represents bad luck in some cultures." Quatra says as he grabs Leiko.
"That's not what I meant" Kyoya thinks to himself with a sigh. Then Kyoya remembers something "there was a change of plans.." he started.
"I heard" Quatra said surprising his brother. "You guys aren't the quietest people." he say while looking at Kyoya and Yuri with a smirk. "Lets go back to the hotel."
After they gets back to the hotel, they check back in for another night and Quatra puts Leiko to bed. Kyoya walks into their room and signals Quatra out of the room.
"Quatra lets go drinking." Kyoya says after Quatra closes the door and they are away from wandering ears.
"Why?"
"Because after the day you have had, I think a drink would be a great way to unwind. Besides you drank more than me last time. I wanna rematch!" Kyoya says a little louder than intended.
"Alright then" Quatra says with his arms crossed and a quiet smirk on his face. "But since you lost last time, you pay for the drinks." he says causing Kyoya's mouth to open in shock.
"Fine" Kyoya says as he walks down the hallway with Quatra right on his tail.
As they arrive at a bar down the road from the hotel Kyoya goes straight to the bar and orders a couple of beers for him and his brother. After he gets the beers he goes back to the table and starts drinking. After finishing the first glass a man with black hair barely more than fuzz, and sharp green eyes, wearing a black long sleeved turtleneck and gray cargo pants walks up to the table they were sitting at.
"Are you Quatra Mikazuchi?" the man says quietly while looking at Quatra.
"I am." Quatra says warily sensing that something is wrong. "Kyoya I want you to go back to the hotel room, now." Kyoya sensing the serious tone in his voice gets up to leave immediately. After he leaves Quatra continues to speak. "Who are you and what do you need?"
The man sits down across the table from him and begins to speak in a low tone. "Just call me Daze. And don't worry I'm not after that girl."
"Okay then what do you want?" Quatra asks calmly with an eyebrow raised.
Daze looks around and finds the owner of the bar. "Do you have insurance?" he asked the owner just loud enough for him to hear.
"No, If you're here to start something then take it outside." The owner says with a look of worry on his face.
"Don't worry" Daze says as he looks back at Quatra who hasn't move an inch as he stares back at Daze. "I'll pay for the damages."
"I know why your here?" Quatra says with a smirk. "Well, before we do this I wanna confirm something. Who ordered you to do this?" He says as he gets out of his chair and begins to close the distance between the two. "You seem strong, too strong to be controlled by the archbishop. So when I think of people able to control strong people they would have to be either strong or smart. And you don't seem the type to be driven by money otherwise you would be after Leiko." he says as he stops right in front of Daze. "Anyway the only two people that I could think of that would be able to control you would be my master Vaurol Crowne, or his older brother Mastodon's guild master Marilyn Crowne."
"You're not an idiot so I will confirm your hypothesis." Daze says standing up as well to stand at equal height. "By order of Mastodon and my master I have come to kill you."
Quatra starts backing up and preparing for a fight as he draws his sword. "Then by order of myself, I shall make you bow." he says as he starts to increase the gravity around Daze to make movement harder, but he realizes that this is not working. Daze, completely calm, stands his ground and charges at Quatra with a fist cocked back. He swing at Quatra only to miss as Quatra ducks under the fist. Quatra seeing an opening swings his sword and comes in contact with the midsection, but when it sword drags along the midsection he saw that the cut didn't even faze him. More importantly it felt like he just tried to cut metal. Quatra attempts to back up and regroup, but on the way back he catches a fist from Daze that sends him flying through the wall behind him and into the alley. As Quatra lays down in the alley only one thought crosses his mind.
"This is going to be a long fight."