There he is. I never thought this day would come. It will all be over soon. His head will be mine and my father will be safe again. Kayin Amoh will rue the day he crossed Atyon Seraph. I know I do. If it hadn't been for that one wish. . .never mind. I never wanted him anyway. It was a ploy, a trick to fool a woman that was already too foolish for her own good. But I know better now. Damn my heart. It hurts to have to kill someone I don't even know. Yet, if that's what it takes to get my father back in one breathing piece, I'll do it. Atyon has a chokehold on me, and I don't know if I can escape. It's too bad my only salvation is the death of Kayin Amoh.
-From the journal of Allouette James-



Toshindaibuki was here again. Kayin Amoh was more than ready for it. This year was different. The Himitsu Kessha was no longer in charge. The Gerard Foundation had been purchased by several stockholders and was now a legitimate business. This year, Kayin was going for the cash prize. It would come in handy when putting Naru through school.
The hotel was filled with other fighters in every shape and form. He looked for a familiar face. . Eiji's smile, Sofia's smirk, Ellis's bright hair. Every direction was filled with strangers. That's when he caught a glimpse of something he'd never seen at the Toshindaibuki. She was tall and carried a pair of matching blades, but seemed fragile just the same.
Her silvery cloak covered her from head to toe, but her hood was pulled back to reveal her long red hair, each side done in a thin braid and pulled back and fastened with a jeweled clip. In the sunlight, it looked as if her hair were blazing with the passionate flames of her eyes. She turned and looked at him, a small smile appearing on her face.
Kayin raised an eyebrow and she moved on, the vision of her dark purple eyes, her delicate chin, her high cheekbones etched into his mind like a pattern acid washed into glass. He shook his head, wondering why a woman across the lobby could make him feel so dazed. He hoped someone else would defeat her.
Allouette sighed in relief as Kayin Amoh turned his attention to something else as she walked away. The greeter at the front desk of the hotel handed her a key card and an itinerary for the tournament. She wasn't going to compete, but it was a convenient excuse to be in a place where death by sword wounds would be almost usual. Her cloak trailed after her as she stepped into the glass elevator.
The woman that was already inside smiled at Allouette, looking up with clear blue eyes and dark green hair. She wore a puffy pink outfit that seemed more appropriate for a circus performer than a fighter. Yet there was no mistaking the pair of sharpened dirks she carried.
"Hello. Are you fighting too?"
Allouette looked down, startled that the young woman would talk to her, "Um, yes."
"I'm Ellis." The young woman held out a petite hand.
Allouette extended her own slim hand, "Allouette."
"Pleased to meet you. Those are fantastic swords."
Allouette reached up and pulled one out the sheaths on her back. She held it out to Ellis so she could take a closer look. The hilts were molded to fit Allouete's hands, each bearing a dark purple stone in the pommels. The blades were silvery and smooth, well sharpened and polished. The cross pieces were sculpted into a delicate fleur de lis pattern.
"The stones represent protection, the blades are custom Toledo steel. The cross pieces are useful to pop the opponent's weapon out of their hands." Allouette explained.
Ellis was listening intently, politely. Allouette decided to share the same courtesy with small talk, "This is my first year here. Have you competed before?"
Ellis nodded, "This is my third year. You really must meet some of my friends. I'm sure you'd like Eiji. Kayin might take a little getting used to."
Allouette smiled, "Special, is he?"
Ellis laughed, "You could say that. He has a habit of getting on people's nerves."
"People like that are amazingly abundant in this world. I'll deal."
The elevator stopped on the sixth floor and Ellis got off, "This is my stop. See you later."
Allouette nodded, noticing a woman dressed in skin-tight leather gazing at her from the hall Ellis was going down. Allouette could have sworn seeing her somewhere before, but she pushed it from her mind as she got to the nineteenth floor where her room was. She had to admit, though Atyon Seraph was the biggest bastard she'd ever known, he knew how to treat his employees.
He had gotten her the invitation to Toshindaibuki, and had provided her with a room in the building that had to be far beyond what anyone else had. It was a suite, complete with a dinning area and a kitchenette. The TV was huge, the bed large enough for four full sized people to sleep in comfortably. The carpet was a plush wheat color and the walls painted to match. Along the ceiling was a border of maroon, black and gold that matched the black satin bedspread. Allouette had to wonder if Atyon was going to show up. The bed seemed like something he'd commission.
She put her bag on the bed and removed her silvery cloak. Allouette went into the bathroom and brushed through her long wavy hair and stared at herself for a long time. Sighing, she turned and went back into the bedroom, taking her outfit out of the bag. She removed the simple clothing she wore to travel in and put on the body-hugging white bodysuit with its halter-top and its cut out middle that revealed her lithe stomach. Then she pulled on a soft pale purple skirt made of spandex that went to her ankles, but had a slit in each side so her legs were clearly visible. Sown into the skirt were delicate flecks of silver that were flowers on closer inspection.
Allouette sat down on the bed and pulled on her knee high white boots, lacing them up tightly so they wouldn't slip when she needed her balance the most. She finished dressing by putting on a pair of silver gauntlets, etched with the same pattern her sword crosspieces were carved in. She looked out her windows and noticed that it was starting to get dark, which meant dinner would be served soon.
She put her back sheaths on and wrapped her cloak around herself. Walking out her room, Allouette took one last look at the bed and living room to memorize how she left everything. She shut the door behind her and slipped the key card into her boot and walked to the elevator.