Enmity

The surrounding air was suffocating. Smoke and overwhelming heat smothered his body as he ran as fast as he could to the front door. The red and orange flames swallowed the furniture and curtains, and he narrowly escaped a collapsing beam as he turned the handle. The bundle in his arms was heavy as he forced the door open. He tried to cover her as much as possible, but he could hear weak coughing feathered beneath the layers. Her feeble lungs would not be able to withstand such stress, and he had to get her as far away from the house as possible.

"Ren!"

Tamao was running toward him with her arms outstretched. He nearly collapsed as she removed the bundle from his arms, and he bent over to catch his breath as she unwrapped the blanket. The baby's cries were littered with terror and shock from being awakened with such urgency. Tamao held her close to her chest and kissed her forehead, and Ren fell to his knees as his breathing grew worse.

"It's okay, Mei," she said softly. "You're safe now."

Ren began coughing uncontrollably, and he held his hand over his chest.

"Ren!" Horo called to him. "The fire's spreading too fast. We can't contain it!"

"What do we do?" Tamao asked worriedly.

Ren rose to his feet again and stared at the house that was now completely engulfed. He scanned the surrounding trees for several seconds before briefly holding his breath and slowly widening his eyes.

"Where's Jeanne?" he asked weakly.

No one responded immediately. Tamao passed the baby to Pirika, who had been present but went unnoticed, and stared at the blaze with a terrified expression. Lyserg appeared suddenly from the side of the house running at full speed. Ren's hands trembled when he saw his frightened eyes and took a few steps forward.

"Jeanne's trapped in the bedroom!" he called hysterically. "I can't get her out!"

Ren ran frantically toward the house but was restrained when Horo grabbed his arms.

"It's too hot!" he warned him. "You won't make it!"

Lyserg collapsed suddenly as the smoke inhalation overwhelmed his ability to function. Ren pulled away from Horo violently and continued running toward the house.

"Jeanne!" he screamed.

"It's too late," Pirika said sadly.

He burst through the front door in an attempt to avoid being burned, and as he ran down what was left of the long hallway, the flames began quickly closing into the space. The fire was absorbing the surrounding oxygen at a rapid pace; he couldn't control the need to cough and gag under the smoke as he covered his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt. When he reached the bedroom door he tried running toward it, but his legs grew heavy from fatigue. His muscles desperately needed oxygen, and his brain neared the point of shutting down. He reached wearily for the door handle but noticed a large portion had been licked away by the flames. Ren squeezed through the space and coughed a few times while squinting his eyes to view the room.

The fire had already invaded through the walls; the curtains, bed and other random furniture were unrecognizable beneath the heavy orange embers. Heat smothered his back and neck relentlessly as he struggled to move his legs forward. He coughed again and fell to his knees as more of the smoke invaded his lungs.

She was only a few feet away from him. If he could muster enough strength he could save her, but he was unable to move. He glanced at the floor and gagged from the rushing smoke filling the room but quickly refocused his eyes to his wife. There was a man standing over him he hadn't noticed before. But now that the man was holding her delicately in his arms, Ren had to do something.

He narrowed his eyes again and covered his mouth. The man stood very still and appeared to be watching him struggle. He was curiously unaffected by the surrounding inferno, and although the long auburn strands of his hair were unrestrained, the fire did not singe them. She was unconscious. Her body remained motionless in his arms; her delicate features and clothing were also unmolested by the flames.

"Jeanne." It was a whisper and barely coherent. His body was succumbing to the fatigue and his headache yielding to a delirium he couldn't control.

The man said nothing in response, but after a long and deliberate pause he smiled.

"JEANNE!"

Ren opened his eyes and trembled as he hit his back against the large tree trunk behind him. The grass beneath him was cold, and he remained frozen against the wood for several moments while staring at her with entranced eyes.

"Ren?" She was sitting in front of him on her knees with a worried expression that was unavoidable.

He didn't respond and continued his confused gaze.

"It's me," she said softly. "Tamao."

"Ren," Lyserg called authoritatively and adjusted one of his shirt sleeves as he walked toward the tree. "Finally, we found someone."

He paused quickly upon noticing Ren's strange countenance and decided not to say anything else.

Ren cleared his throat and stood abruptly from the tree. Tamao followed and took a few steps back.

"Um..."

"Where's Yoh?" he asked weakly.

"We're not sure," Lyserg replied. "There was a coordinated effort to split us up."

"Why?" Ren seemed uninterested in the answer and stared at the looming trees in the distance.

"Anna was taken," he sighed.

"We...have to find the others so we can get her back," Tamao added nervously.

"Fine," Ren said with irritation. "Let's get this over with."

He began walking along one of the dirt paths, but Tamao was reluctant to follow. Lyserg hesitated as well and waited for her to speak.

"Ren?" she called sadly.

He stopped but didn't turn around.

"Um..." She bit her bottom lip and tightly clasped her hands together.

"I'm fine," he replied calmly then continued his pace. Tamao didn't move and watched as his pace led him further away. Lyserg stood beside her and exhaled.

"He called me Jeanne," she said faintly.

"If he says he's fine we have to trust him," Lyserg replied sadly. "Let's go."

The metal door that towered in front of her increased her fear. Mei wanted to enter the room quickly only because the hallway was so dark, but she didn't want to intrude. She raised a frail hand weakly to knock against the hard surface, but her entire limb trembled uncontrollably before making contact. She glanced down the hallway for a glimpse of Hao, but the path was swallowed by the darkness. This was something she definitely had to do alone.

Mei took a deep breath and opened the door with her eyes partially closed. She had to perform the action quickly so she wouldn't lose the nerve. The bedroom was very large, much to her surprise. The walls were lined with a few dimly lit lamps, but the light was enough to see her surroundings very clearly. This space was very different than other parts of the cave; the walls were painted black. Jeanne's room was also completely furnished, something extremely odd for a cave dwelling. She noticed a sofa with two antique chairs in the space but no bed, resembling a hotel suite. There were light footsteps in the distance suddenly, and she realized the bedroom was somewhere else.

A second hallway was now visible on the other side of the room; Mei was able to see it as her eyes adjusted to the light. A woman emerged from the shadow with a cavalier pace and entered from the hallway without addressing her.

She was beautiful. Mei couldn't control the need to stare at her. She was wearing a pair of white pajama pants with a white cotton tank top, and her long hair was completely unrestrained, covering most of her back and shoulders. The woman began pacing behind the sofa and tapping one finger against her cheek while staring at the floor. She was definitely contemplating something, and in this moment Mei knew she was completely unaware of her presence.

"Excuse me?" she said with a whimper as a chill ran down her spine.

The woman was startled by the sound of Mei's voice and clutched the back of the sofa with her hands as she stared at her in silence. Her scarlet eyes were intense and mesmerizing, and Mei was suddenly afraid to speak again.

"My...my name is-"

"My daughter."

Jeanne's response was a whisper but audible. Mei stared at her with widened eyes, and her hands trembled as she stepped away from the sofa.

"My precious daughter," she said again and walked toward her with a faster pace.

"Mother." This was the only way Mei could respond. There were overwhelming feelings of fear and relief as she stood completely still.

Jeanne grabbed the small girl and wrapped her arms tightly around her waist, burying her head into her neck and whispering something incoherent. Mei knew immediately the woman was crying, and she held her shoulders tightly with her hands.

"This isn't a dream?" Jeanne sniffed weakly. "Tell me it's not a dream."

"No, Mother," Mei said as her eyes filled quickly with tears. "I'm here."

Jeanne pulled away and held her hand, leading her slowly to the sofa. Mei sat on one end of it and smiled when Jeanne sat beside her. She stared at Mei for several moments without speaking; seeing her there was an obvious shock.

"I was afraid you wouldn't remember me," Mei admitted sadly.

"I could never forget my precious daughter," Jeanne replied happily.

She was suddenly afraid. There were so many questions Mei wanted to ask, but she was unsure of how to start a serious conversation.

"You're so beautiful," Jeanne added proudly and ran her fingers through the girl's hair.

"What happened, Mother?" she blurted without thought. "Why are you here?"

The door opened as Jeanne began to reply, and she was completely distracted. Hao entered the room and walked toward them without speaking. Mei was irritated by the timing and clasped her hands neatly in her lap.

"Are you okay?" The question was directed to Jeanne.

"Yes," she replied cheerfully and held Mei's hand.

Mei smiled at her, but her expression faded when she glanced into Hao's rigid eyes.

"I want you to meet someone special," Jeanne continued. "Have you met before?"

"Yes, Mother," Mei replied but was ignored.

"Hao, this is..." She paused momentarily and released Mei's hand.

Mei stared at her with a worried frown but didn't speak. Hao remained silent, and his eyes didn't veer from Jeanne's face.

"This is..." she repeated. Jeanne's expression quickly morphed into an irritated frown as she continued.

"Who are you?"

They walked in silence for several feet until reaching a small clearing. Ren was standing near the center, and there was a boy who captured his attention. As Tamao and Lyserg approached for a closer look, the boy appeared startled and took a few steps back.

"He's lost," Ren said blankly.

"Hi," Lyserg said warmly. "My name is Lyserg. You've already met my friend Ren."

The boy was staring at Tamao with entranced eyes and didn't respond. She noticed the staring immediately and was greatly uncomfortable. He wore a pair of black pants with a brown tunic that loosely draped his torso and seemed too big for his small frame. He was much shorter than Ren and was definitely young. Tamao assumed he was older than Hana since he was too muscular for an eight year old. His hazel eyes were exotic and beautiful, and she stared at them effortlessly without being able to turn away.

"And this is my friend Tamao," Lyserg continued. "What's your name?"

He didn't respond.

"Tell us your name," Ren repeated impatiently.

The boy's gaze remained fixed upon Tamao's face, and his expression was a mixture of fascination and confusion.

"Can you tell us your name, please?" Tamao offered softly.

He uttered a low moan upon hearing the sound of her voice and took a few steps forward. Tamao maintained eye contact with the boy but pangs rose in the pit of her stomach. The exchange was awkward but continued for several seconds.

"What's wrong with him?" Ren asked angrily.

Lyserg shook his head slowly but didn't answer.

"You're...a woman," the boy said finally.

"Um...yes?" Tamao replied. "I am?"

"You've never seen a woman before?" Lyserg asked with a frown.

"Beautiful," he whispered. "You're so beautiful."

Tamao's face flushed bright red, and she held her hand over her mouth. Lyserg giggled lightly and stared at the boy with an amused grin.

"What's your name, boy?" Ren asked again.

"Junichi," he replied breathlessly without veering his eyes away from Tamao.

"How old are you?" Lyserg asked. It was irrelevant information, but he was curious.

"Fourteen," he replied softly.

"Well, where do you live? Why are you out here in the middle of the woods?" Ren asked.

"An angel," Junichi said gently.

"Um..." Tamao couldn't control her nervous energy but decided she needed to use his undivided attention to their advantage. "We want to help you find your way back home, but you have to tell us where you live."

"Our territory shouldn't be far," he replied. "I could find it...but it's getting dark."

"We'll help you," she offered warmly.

"This is going to take too long," Ren said with frustration. "We need to keep moving."

"We can't leave him out here alone," Lyserg replied. "At the very least we'll have to take him with us."

Tamao smiled at the boy, and they began to pass through the clearing. Ren and Lyserg followed, much to Ren's disgust, but after Tamao gently held his hand Junichi stopped his pace.

"What is it?" Tamao asked softly.

He stared at her with sad eyes and quickly moved away. Lyserg stared at the boy's hand and noticed a large tattoo covering his forearm. Ren was annoyed by the pause and released an exaggerated sigh.

"Junichi," Lyserg mumbled thoughtfully. "I know that name."

"What's wrong, Junichi?" Tamao rephrased with slight worry.

Junichi scratched his neck and stared at the ground. For several moments he remained silent.

"We don't have time for this," Ren reminded them in agitation.

"Did I offend you by holding your hand?" Tamao offered. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"You can't go to Hao's camp," he said finally. "It's a trap."

Kiyomi and her men led them down a dark path surrounded by large trees for several minutes. The darkness made viewing their surroundings difficult, but she didn't use any light to direct them.

"Welcome to my home," she said finally.

The path along the trees emptied into a small village near a lake. There was a large stone building positioned in the middle of the square, and several tents surrounded the sides. The tents were made of stone as well, though smaller in scale, and each were lit with small torches of fire hoisted against the entrances. Manta was visibly surprised by the discovery. He stared at the buildings with his mouth agape but collected himself when Ryu punched him lightly in the shoulder.

"We don't have the accommodation for guests," Kiyomi explained, "but I'm sure we can find somewhere for you to sleep. Your injured companion can stay in the infirmary."

"Kiyomi, what's the meaning of this?"

A tall man entered the square from the main building as the others dispersed. He was lean with a muscular build and fully dressed in black linen. His long, red hair was tied back with a leather string, revealing a long scar stretching from his forehead down to his chin along the left side of his face. His dark brown eyes were emotionless, although his authoritative voice revealed irritation.

"They are our guests for the evening, Tamotsu," she replied and stood in front of them. "Please show them your gentle nature."

"Is this your husband?" Yoh asked calmly.

Tamotsu glared at him with a dark expression that was deeply uncomfortable. Manta and Ryu were visibly bothered it, but Yoh didn't react.

"No," Kiyomi said weakly. "He is my brother-in-law and leader of my army."

"So, you're married to her sister?"

"He was," she sighed, "before she was killed."

There was a long pause suddenly as Kiyomi stared aimlessly at a nearby tree. Tamotsu's demeanor remained unchanged, and his eyes didn't veer away from Yoh's face.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Yoh said politely.

"No you're not."

Silence resumed immediately after the statement escaped. Manta bit his bottom lip and swallowed hard. Ryu frowned at them but decided not to protest.

"Tamotsu," Kiyomi pleaded. "Your gentle nature. Please."

His face twisted into a disgusted scowl, and he continued staring at Yoh with wrathful eyes. Yoh noticed the attention but didn't address it. Kiyomi smiled at them and clasped her hands together.

"Please forgive me," she said. "He is extremely guarded."

"There's no need to apologize," Yoh replied.

"The three of you can sleep in my house," she added cheerfully. "Follow me."

Manta and Ryu followed her to the large building without protest. Tamotsu and Yoh stood in front of each other and shared a silent exchange that filled the air with great tension. Yoh's blank demeanor irritated him, and he clenched his teeth the longer he stared at him.

"You seem to have a problem with me," Yoh said finally. "If I have offended you, that was not my intention."

Tamotsu clutched his hands into fists but didn't respond.

"My brother and I are twins," he added gravely, "but we are nothing alike."

"You're right," he responded through clenched teeth. "Hao is honest about his sadistic nature."

Yoh was unsure of what he meant by the statement, but his expression didn't reveal the confusion.

"You're here because Kiyomi has requested it," Tamotsu explained. "She is the only one who doesn't want you dead. You should remember that."

"Have we met before?" Yoh asked with a frown. "It would be strange to have such hatred for a complete stranger."

Tamotsu took a few steps forward until he was directly into Yoh's face. He was much taller, but Yoh stood his ground and didn't move.

"It must be lovely to forget the past so effortlessly. That ability is fascinating."

He slowly walked away from him, heading toward Kiyomi's dwelling, and Yoh quickly followed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he admitted.

The statement dramatically increased Tamotsu's anger to a level that was difficult to contain. He didn't turn around but sped his pace. Yoh followed him and decided not to speak again, but they were both distracted when two men stopped them from entering the building.

"Tamotsu Sir," one of the men started gravely, "we have a situation."

"What is it?" he asked with irritation.

Neither of the men gave eye contact. Their heads were lowered in a docile fashion, and they stared at the ground as the second man spoke.

"Master Junichi is missing," he said gravely. "We've sent out spies for him, but he has not returned."

Tamotsu's demeanor quickly melted into extreme worry. He raised his fist in the air, and the men flinched when he responded.

"Send out as many men as can be spared," he demanded forcefully. "I want him back before dawn."

"Yes, Sir," they said in unison, but one of the men hesitated before leaving.

"What if he has wandered into Hao's territory?" he asked nervously.

"Do whatever is necessary to bring him back. Tell Shumei I gave you the order."

"Understood Sir," he replied reluctantly, and both men abruptly left.

"Who is Junichi?" Yoh asked with a curious frown.

"This doesn't concern you," Tamotsu replied coldly.

"You're worried about this person," Yoh responded, ignoring the man's dismissal. "He must mean something to you."

"Your fake compassion is laughable," he snarled.

"I remember the first time my son Hana got lost in the woods," Yoh said randomly. "I worried about every terrible thing that could happen to him since he was so small. My wife and I searched for him for hours. That feeling never really goes away. You always want your children to be safe."

Tamotsu's irritated glare softened slightly but he didn't speak.

"Junichi is your son," Yoh declared calmly. "I know when a father is worried about his child. It's the same look I had when I realized I'd lost Hana."

"Kiyomi is waiting inside." Tamotsu walked away without saying anything else. He didn't turn around but knew Yoh was staring at him, and he tried desperately to repel the thin tears that were beginning to fill his eyes.