Wow, I haven't updated this one in so long... please R and R.

Time passed slowly, and the amount of time for Suzuka to reach her beloved home was longer than she had anticipated. Her feet beat rhythmically against the dust path on which she walked. She was well aware that if she had chosen, she could have easily been riding along at the moment in an emerald coach instead of traveling on foot like the destitute of the planet. However, she felt like the hedonistic life of riches did not suite one such as her. A warrior, she had always thought to herself, should live a detached life, training and working to attain the goal, which he or she desired. She lightly kicked a small round pebble on the path while all these thoughts swirled in her mind. A few moments later, she came up to the sight so familiar to her - the towering mansion envied by so many of the planet. The tall columns of ivory stretched endlessly to meet a golden roof delicately set with gemstones. She entered slowly, knowing in her mind that some servant would reprimand her for bringing dust into the house. Or certainly, one of her tutors would sigh in dismay at her condition. She could imagine them in her mind, so clearly spouting off angrily declaring "Suzuka! Look at yourself, is this a fit state for a high ranking lady such as yourself?" or "What would your mother say if she were to see you like this!?" However, Suzuka had learned not to care because they did not understand her; no one understood her. At first when she was younger and more naïve, this thought bothered her, but now she deemed it something trivial.

"Hello Suzuka," the voice was sweet and soft, it was Cantara, one of her more favored servants. Cantara was perhaps the only one who did not become angry when she came home as disheveled as she usually did. Still, Cantara did not fully understand her like Suzuka would have liked someone to.

"Is my mother home yet?" Suzuka knew the answer would be no, yet she felt compelled to ask.

"No, I'm afraid not," she smiled apologetically.

"I'll be in my room," and that was the end of the conversation. Suzuka marched up to firmly to her chamber, not even turning to look back. She stifled a yawn and laid down on her scarlet bedspreads in exhaustion. "Thank goodness," she thought, "if anyone saw me like this, they'd complain and saying I was getting my bedspread dirty." She lay there extremely still, allowing the minutes to waste away. Her eyes ached as they grew heavier, and she decided to succumb to the sleep that was overtaking her. Suzuka fell into a dreamy state..

The room she stood in was filled with creamy white candles, each one burning with a great intensity. She looked around; all the candles were close together, except for one. One single candle stood in the far corner, secluded from the other candles. The lone candle was not creamy white like its peers, but instead a deep shade of scarlet. For some odd reason, Suzuka felt herself drawn to this candle, as if it represented some part of her life. Then, from nowhere, a gale whistled through the room - a shrill cacophony, like the song of the banshee. In an instant, every candle except one was extinguished. The one that still burned was the scarlet one, the pariah candle that burned far from the rest.

Suzuka jumped from her bed, beads of sweat trickling down her forehead. She glanced at the clock; she had slept for about an hour. She was gasping for breath; the dream had seemed so haunting and it bothered her greatly. "Get yourself together foolish girl, you have a tournament to attend tomorrow," Suzuka muttered to herself. Still, though, her stomach churned as she strained to decipher the meaning of what she had dreamed. She was trying so hard to concentrate that she did not hear the door of her room open.

"Are you ok?" Cantara asked bringing in a load of washed clothes.

Suzuka let out a startled cry, which was unsuited for such a valiant warrior such as herself.

"Miss Suzuka?" worry filled Cantara's timid hazel eyes.

Suzuka nodded slowly, "Don't worry, you just startled me a bit ." Her heart raced as she tried to recall the dream once more.

"Something bothering you?" Cantara interrogated kindly.

Suzuka averted her eyes and pretended to suddenly become interested in her white curtains, "Oh no, no.. not at all." She hoped that Cantara would accept the lie and question no further.

"If you say so, Miss Suzuka," Cantara put down the laundry basket and began to fold and put away the clothing. Suzuka, wanting to be alone, got up from her bed and made her way downstairs. She walked through the marble tiled halls and into the garden in the back of the house. Her clothes were still dirty, and Suzuka began to wish she had changed into something less soiled. However, she knew that soiled clothing should be the least of her worries at the moment. Usually, nightmares would never bother her; they would just stir her up for a few seconds after awakening, and then afterwards she would forget about them altogether. But this one was different, this dream seemed to hold a hidden meaning, and because Suzuka could not grasp this meaning, it began to pester her. She did not know how long she had been out there, but she knew when the sun began to set over the horizon that it was time for her to quit mulling and prepare to retire. Inside, dinner was already ready and set on to the table, but her parents were still not home.

"I'm sorry Miss Suzuka," the cook informed her sadly, "but your parents are coming home late tonight." Suzuka nodded, it did not surprise her one bit that they weren't coming home while she was still awake. This was how life had played out the last few years - her parents always unavailable, having to go to events and having no one to come and cheer her on, and servants always playing the part of the intermediary. She finished her dinner quickly, even though she was not at all anxious to fall asleep. She wanted to put off sleeping as long as she could, but she also didn't want to stay downstairs to receive the sympathy of the servants. She heard it often, "Oh poor girl, parents out late again," or "Cheer up Suzuka, and we'll take care of you while they're gone." Suzuka thanked the cook hastily and then ran upstairs. First, she changed into a more comfortable outfit and then she lay down on her bed. She stared at the bright white ceilings and allowed her mind to drift far away. Far away to another planet, another universe, another life where she was a might warrior feared by all who dared get in her path and where she never had to depend on anyone to take care of her. An independent life free of servants and regulations, and most of all - free of pain. Her eyes began to droop and she could feel herself slipping from reality and entering sleep. She tried to stop herself, but it was too late - sleep was the victor and soon she was deep in slumber.

That's it for now! Tell me how you like it. ^^