The Threshold of Darkness and Light

Chapter 9

The sun broke through the clouds, directing their rays straight into Kina's face. She opened her eyes, peering at her surroundings as fear choked at her. The pain on the side of her head was a constant reminder of where she was. "Today is Shui's birthday." She sat up, glaring at John who had been watching her from a nearby tree. "She's three years old now."

"How sweet." He mocked her then smiled slyly.

"Can I at least speak to her?" She begged him.

"If she wants to talk to you, she can." John turned to return inside the house. "I sent a lovely note to your friends also."

"What did you do!? What did you say!?" Kina sprinted to the bars in a flash then an idea began to form inside of her mind. "I-I'll make a deal with you. Take me to the cave and show me the clue for the Key of Love and if I h-have the key I'll give it to you! I swear!" She pleaded.

"How do I know you won't run away?" John glared at her menacingly.

"You can tie me up! Anything! Just let me see the cave!" The red head looked down at the dirt, kicking the brown paste with her feet to make the dust swirl.

"Fine."

Her head shot up in amazement. She had been convinced he wasn't going to listen to her.

"But Shui will stay in the house. I will tie you up and if you try to run away, I will hurt you to stop you if necessary." John walked towards the house.

"Where are you going?!" Kina called out to him.

"To get the rope of course!" He left the door open.

Shui peeked out, staring at Kina from behind the open door.

"Happy Birthday Shui. I love you." Kina held out her hands toward her daughter.

Tears filled the little girls eyes as she ran to her mother.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" But Kina stopped as Shui pushed her mother's hands away then ran back into the house. Kina felt the tears drop to the dirt, she felt her heart being ripped out and thrown on the floor. And she didn't think she could bend and pick it back up. "How could he traumatize my daughter like that?! She is only three years old!!!! She doesn't deserve this! Shui should be growing up with her parents! She shouldn't be involved in his stupid plotting and...and....!!" But her voice dropped as she let herself fall to the floor, collapsing in tears.

"Get up." John grabbed onto her hands roughly, pulling them behind her back. He took a strong piece of metal wire and tied it around her wrists tightly. So tight it seemed like they cut into her skin. "Remember, you run. You get hurt." He hauled her to her feet, letting a piece of the wire hang down. He grabbed a hold of the loose piece and used it to pull her along behind him.

"Are we almost there?" Kina complained as she a tree branch snapped into her face. They had been walking for over an hour it seemed.

"Here we are." John stopped, causing her to bump into him.

Kina stumbled back but steadied herself. She looked up and what she saw left her in awe. In front of her was a giant cave, it's entrance was blocked off by two huge towering doors which were layered with purple lilies that hung down. John leaned forward and pushed back some of the fragrant flowers. The silver doors were elaborately designed with twists and twirls, spins and circles. It had an Inca like look to it. In the center was a large inscription which read "Key of Love" and a heart in circled the words. Near that was a picture of an angel being combined with a person, most likely to symbolize a human with the angel blood. Kina's brow furrowed in thought. "Key of Love. Key of Love. What would I have that could possibly be the Key of Love? What IS IT!?" She thought angrily. "What if I don't have it? What will I do then? Key of Love. Got to think, come on Kina! Key and Love!! Key, hmm...it could mean like a key to a door! Yeah, maybe! Love? How am I supposed to know what 'love' is? Key of Love, how can there be a key to love? But there is a heart around the picture. It's probably there just for decoration though, right? Key of Love. Key of Heart." Kina whimpered as she racked her brain for any kind of clue or idea. Her heart seemed to stop as a memory from the past filled her mind.

~~ Flash Back ~~

The song ended. Yue led Kina back to the table as their food arrived. The two chatted like old friends as they ate slowly. Then Yue reached into his pocked and pulled out a long, velvet black box. Kina's eyes blinked slowly as he opened it and inside was a silver key on a thin, silver chain. He gently took it out of the box and hooked it around her neck.

"Oh Yue, thank you!"

"You have the key to my heart." He whispered to her.

~~ End of Flash Back ~~

Kina froze, everything in her body seemed to remain still in time. "Key to my heart...Key of Love!!" Suddenly her hand flew to her throat where the silver necklace still hung gently around her neck. "It has to be it!!! It makes perfect sense! Key, the key! Love, the heart! A heart is what allows you to feel love! But if John gets this...then....then it'll be the e-end of Shui! I can't let him have this!"

John looked at Kina who was in deep thought. "Figure it out." He let go of the wire to push against the door and look at in some more.

"I'm thinking." Kina lied.

Kina sighed softly, "But if this IS the key, then it would have had to been passed down to me. And Yue gave it to me, so unless he was related to him, Grandma's great-grandfather, the one with the weird powers, then this is it. But he couldn't be related to me! He's full bishonen! If we were related we'd be like cousins or something! Eww, that's disgusting!" She winced. "But this is the only thing that I can think of that could possibly be the Key of Love. And it makes perfect sense if it is! I-I can't even bare to look at him if we're related....oh...my..gosh! What if we are? But how?" Her head began to ache from the thoughts as her eyes scanned the grass beneath her. Then she noticed it. John had let go of the wire. And he wasn't paying attention to her. It was now or never. Run or be locked away forever. She picked up her feet, turning around as she broke out into a mad dash, away from John. Kina dove through the bushes, praying she wouldn't trip. If she did fall, then with her hands tied up like they where, she was sure she wouldn't be able to get back up on her feet. She jumped over a fallen tree branch when she heard an angry scream coming from behind her. Kina could hear John running now, hear him pushing away the foliage. She heard him pulled out his sword as he advanced towards her. Her heart pounded rapidly as she ran. Pain filled her arm as she felt the razor sharp metal rip through her flesh, spilling crimson blood. She just seemed to be beaten up more and more lately. The pain was overwhelming but all she could think about was Shui. It was for Shui. She loved Shui. She was going to get away and then come rescue her daughter. Her numb feet kept pushing her forward as the blood absorbed itself into her shirt. She could hear John gaining up on her. Kina screamed as a flash of her bishonen power unleashed itself, sending John crashing backwards and Kina flying forwards, out of the forest and into unconsciousness.

~*~

"I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!" Yue screamed, smashing his fist into a nearby table. He stood up, knocking over his chair in the process. "I'm going to find her!!"

"Wait!" Nuriko grabbed Yue's arm.

"What?! DON'T STOP ME OR TELL ME TO THINK ABOUT IT!! I'm going!!" Yue yelled. He couldn't control himself; this was all too much. First his daughter and then his wife. Somebody was going to pay, badly.

"We're coming too." Hotohori stood up. "Shiva, we'll be back soon." He smiled down at the lifeless body in the bed. With that, the three ran out of the room.



Total Akugi

Kina: What if we're related!?

Yue: Kina...wheeze I am...your FATHER!!!

Kina: AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!