Chapter 10: Some More Focus on Our Protagonist

"Thank you so much for letting me spend the night here, Kushi," Iris said as Kushi unrolled a spare mat across the room for her own. "You really didn't have to."

"Oh, but that would be rude, letting Snowy's new friend sleep outside. Even if it's a beautiful night, you still never know what could be out there." Iris walked over to the mat, and sat down as Kushi returned to her own. Kushi sat on the eedge of hers. "So, Iris… where are you from? The capital?"

"Huh Oh, no, much farther than that," Iris said after a moment, mind racing for an easy way to explain… a NORMAL explanation. "Actually, I travelled here from another country in the west, and sort of ended up here on accident. But I like it here," she lowered herself onto the mat, "this is a gorgeous country, much less busy than San Francisco."

"Is that the city you're from?"

"Yeah, it is. It's a nice place, but honestly a bit too fast-paced for me... the only reason I still live there is because I can't afford to move anywhere else. Well, I couldn't, but seeing as how I'm suddenly a traveler, that doesn't seem to be a problem now, does it?" Iris laughed.

Kushi frowned a bit. "What about your family? Won't they miss you?"

"Mom and Dad? Not very likely. My mom doesn't talk to me anymore, and my dad…" she stopped, and rolled over so she wasn't facing Kushi, "My dad… died, when I was 13."

"Oh, I'm so sorry…" Kushi said, and Iris held a hand up.

"It's in the past, so there's nothing we can really do about it… well, I think that's enough of my sob story. G'night, Kushi, and thanks again." Iris sighed, and felt a wave of relief when, after all of the day's events, sleep's warm embrace surrounded her and her body relaxed.

"Dad, where are we going?" the teenager asked, stumbling to keep up with her father as he strode down the busy street. "Dad? You're not still mad about Mom, are you?"

Iris's father ignored her, and kept walking, keeping a firm grip on his daughter's wrist.

"Dad, please, tell me what's going on," Iris said. "Mom doesn't know what she's talking about, really! Even if you don't have a job – ooch!" A stray foot from a pedestrian tripped her, but her father kept walking, expression blank. "Dad, listen to me! Where are we going? Where are- the bridge?" Iris frowned as her father led her to the Golden Gate Bridge, with determination on his face.

Iris felt a shiver of fear crawl up her spine as they walked closer and closer to the large structure, and something in her mind screamed "Turn back! Turn back!" But she followed her father nonetheless, until he stopped at the edge and turned to his daughter.

"She's insane," he finally muttered, looking at Iris. "I thought she just wanted the best for us… but your mother is out of her mind. I can't keep living like this. I can't." His grip tightened. "And I can't make you live with her expectations, either."

"Dad?" Iris tried to pull her hand loose. "Dad, what are you doing?" He took a step closer to the ledge.

"We can't live like this," he said again. "I won't allow it."

"Dad, NO!" Iris desperately began to pull her hand away as reality dawned on her. 'No, no! I don't want to die! Dad, no!" He grabbed her wrist with his other hand, and began dragging her to the edge, and Iris tugged back with all of her might. "Just because you're not strong enough to handle it… Dad, let me go! You need help! DAD!" He was so close to the edge… "NO!" She gave one last vicious tug, and his grip on her broke.

Iris rubbed her wrists, before looking up and seeing her father stumbling back, closer to the edge…

"Dad!" She dashed towards him, grasping at the air where his wrist had been, and watched in horror as he went tumbling into the depths of the water below. "DAD!"

Iris was snapped awake when she was suddenly aware that somebody – a human – was in Kushi's house.

"Where is that girl?" Somebody hissed, and Iris carefully reached over the side of her mat, and closed her hand around her sword, putting he strap that held its sheath in place around her shoulder. Iris started to reach for her bag as well, when a hand grabbed her wrist. "There you are, Ayame. Master's displeased with you," he said, smiling at her with death-white teeth that somehow glinted in the dark.

Iris scrambled to her feet, suddenly glad she'd slept in her clothes from the day before, and pulled her hand out of the man's grip. "Who're you?" She hissed as a second one stepped out from behind.

"Simply here to collect our lost lady," the second man said. "Now, if you'll just come quietly…"

Iris pulled her sword out. "I'd like to see you try."