Standard disclaimers apply.
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Xeo seemed to be more amused then worried. "Why would I offer to teach you if I intended to train you?" he asked lightly, pulling the bloody sheets off of the bed and tossing them down what was probably a laundry chute.
Kisa, holding his sword in a tight two handed grip, didn't respond for a moment. "I don't know - you're the criminal mastermind!" she finally shouted. Her breath was coming to quick and she was feeling queasy from the amount of blood that she had lost.
"I'm the . . . . ." Xeo's voice dissolved into laughter. "I'm no criminal mastermind. In order to be that, I'd have to have minions and flunkies, ne?"
Kisa blinked to clear her wavering vision. Xeo didn't appear to be dangerous, but then what if it was just a trick?"
She braced her feet solidly on the ground and relaxed her body into her defensive stance. It had been the last thing that Briar had taught her.
"When facing an opponent who you know is stronger then you, take up a stance," the black haired teacher had said.
"That's not a good position to assume when fighting me. In fact, personally, I don't like that stance at all. Back in my Academy days the teachers always tried to make me assume it . . . . . I hated it, but I did it and learned every weakness it has." Xeo smiled and walked foreword.
Kisa tensed.
"For example, against a stronger opponent, you're making it easy for the shinobi to hit you. You want to keep your enemies confused and the best way to do that is to move."
"If I move I'll fall over!" Kisa blurted out before she could stop herself.
"And you never tell your enemy your weakness either," Xeo continued. He passed her and opened a closet. Inside was a large selection of white linens. He pulled out a light white sheet and proceeded to head back to the bed.
Kisa lowered her sword. Even if he was pulling some sort of trick on her, she couldn't maintain that position and stay conscious at the same time. She had to pick one and the choice was really simple.
She slumped down against the doorframe and Xeo winced.
"You probably got you injuries dirty again. I didn't get a chance to wrap them up yet," he said, gesturing to a neat pile of white gauze."
"How'd you know?" Kisa asked, ignoring his words.
"Know what?" he asked, tossing fresh blankets over the bed.
"How did you know that I was a ninja?" she asked.
Xeo stopped moving for a long moment. "Actually, I didn't." He smiled slightly. "I guessed and you confirmed my guess with your reaction."
Kisa's mind blanked. That meant that he hadn't known. She had blown her cover herself. "Then you're going to kill me," she whispered.
Xeo shrugged. "I might not have to. There are a couple of options available, you know. First, I could just let you bleed to death (I don't think you like that option ). Either that, or I could pick you up and force some bandages on you, (I don't think you want to be picked up either . . .) You could behave and get fixed up, then I could go and get you some food and we could talk about your training - "
"Shut up!" Kisa interrupted. "I don't understand you at all!"
"Not many people do . . . . I've always been alone because of that," Xeo said.
"No, you haven't," Kisa said firmly.
"Really?" Xeo asked. "And how would you know, Miss Kisa? You don't mind if I call you Miss Kisa, do you? Would you prefer if I call you 'Ki'?" he added quickly.
"Ah . . . . " Kisa managed. "Just Kisa's good . . . I guess."
Xeo smiled. "Well then, Kisa, shall I go get you something to eat and then fix up your back?" he asked.
Kisa didn't say anything.
Xeo smiled and walked soundlessly past her. "I'll be right back," he promised.
While he was gone, Kisa stood up and wondered around the room. She placed his sword on the dresser, deciding that she couldn't beat him in a fight anyway.
It was all so confusing. He was an excellent ninja - she could tell from his mannerisms and movements - but at the same time, he was kind and considerate. He was, oddly enough, a gentlemen. He felt more like a good guy then everyone at Shinobi Academy, with the exception of Kenneth.
Thinking of Kenneth made her feel ill again. He had always pretended to be mean to her, but she knew that he appreciated her skills. He could have been her friend, if he hadn't been killed. She felt that eventually, he would have warmed up to her and then she could have -
The door opened, throwing her thoughts off. "Frost was your friend, so you weren't alone," she announced immediately.
"Frost was my friend," Xeo acknowledged. He set some food down in front of her. "But at a school like Shinobi Academy . . . . . . friendship doesn't count for much. You're always on your own. Having friends . . . . . it doesn't matter that much . . . you're in competition with everyone, and if you're the best . . . . . ." his voice trailed off angrily.
Kisa hesitated then prompted his to continue. "If you're the best . . . . . "
"If you're the best, then everyone's your enemy," Xeo said softly. "If you're at the top, then everyone . . . teams up to beat you. I wanted to be the best so that I wouldn't be alone anymore - just me and Frost and things got pretty lonely - I wanted to have lots of friends." He laughed. "In short, I got greedy."
"What about at home?" Kisa asked, thinking about Tohru and Haru. "Didn't you're family - "
"Orphan." Xeo said shortly. "My parents were both killed by Male, a teacher from the Black Rose Academy, after they refused to let me train at her school. I was only two then, and I've been alone ever since."
"What about Frost?" Kisa asked, watching him intently for any sign of a lie or sneak attack.
"Frost . . . . . he was a member of Cell Zero . . . my Cell. He requested transfer and became the leader of Cell One. He wanted to beat me and we haven't spoken since the transfer. I always wanted to make up with him, but I never got the chance," Xeo added.
"And now you'll never get the chance," Kisa murmured. She brushed tears away from her eyes, tears she hadn't realized she was crying until just then.
"Why not? He's coming here, isn't he?" Xeo asked. He wasn't crying, but his eyes were glittering brightly.
"No, he's dead, just like Mitsu said," Kisa murmured.
"Not likely," Xeo answered. "I know Frost better then that. And I know Ryu. He couldn't kill him, and besides that, he'd have no reason to kill off Cell One and a member of his team."
"He's probably following orders," Kisa answered.
Xeo frowned. "The teachers at Shinobi Academy all like Frost. He's . . . their fav. because he turned against me. They wouldn't order his death."
Kisa looked away. "You're working for the same people that Ryu's working for," she said.
"As far as I know, Ryu's not working for me . . . because that's who I'm working for, myself," Xeo said, jerking his thumb towards his chest.
"But aren't you working for the Black Rose Academy?" Kisa asked curiously.
"Nope," Xeo said. "I have no reason to work for my parents murderers. At least none that I can see. That's just speculation."
"Then why'd you steal the plans?" Kisa demanded.
"I didn't want those orders to be carried out," Xeo answered. "They're not plans, it's just a map."
"A map to what?" Kisa asked.
Xeo leaned closer to her, peering at her hard. "Didn't they tell you?" he finally asked. "I stole your teams next mission, I stole the map to Trinity."
"Trinity?" Kisa whispered.
"Yeah, Trinity. Their is a treasure there that shouldn't be touched. It's evil . . . cursed. But the only person who will be cursed will be the one who removes the treasure. That idiot, Konimitsu's father, managed to make headmaster. He wants the treasure, and he wants it bad. I wasn't ready to give up on my friendship with Frost."
"If I let him go, I'd never see him again. They'd kill him after he returned, favorite or not. It's my last duty as his friend to take the treasure and put it beyond their reach. Even at the cost of being cursed."
Kisa didn't respond as Xeo began to treat her cuts. She felt a little ill. She couldn't believe that he would be willing to be cursed for his friend, a friend that didn't even acknowledge their friendship anymore.
"I'm really sorry, but you are a member of Frost's Cell," Xeo announced softly.
Kisa blinked, and then the world darkened around her.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Author's notes,
It's been way too long since I updated this story, but I had a bit of writers block. Since its gone now, updates should be more regular.
I also want to mention that Kenneth is not dead. It's taking longer then I thought to get that point out. He's one of my fav. characters, so no worried about his death, kay?
Thanks for reading,
Kissa-chan
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Xeo seemed to be more amused then worried. "Why would I offer to teach you if I intended to train you?" he asked lightly, pulling the bloody sheets off of the bed and tossing them down what was probably a laundry chute.
Kisa, holding his sword in a tight two handed grip, didn't respond for a moment. "I don't know - you're the criminal mastermind!" she finally shouted. Her breath was coming to quick and she was feeling queasy from the amount of blood that she had lost.
"I'm the . . . . ." Xeo's voice dissolved into laughter. "I'm no criminal mastermind. In order to be that, I'd have to have minions and flunkies, ne?"
Kisa blinked to clear her wavering vision. Xeo didn't appear to be dangerous, but then what if it was just a trick?"
She braced her feet solidly on the ground and relaxed her body into her defensive stance. It had been the last thing that Briar had taught her.
"When facing an opponent who you know is stronger then you, take up a stance," the black haired teacher had said.
"That's not a good position to assume when fighting me. In fact, personally, I don't like that stance at all. Back in my Academy days the teachers always tried to make me assume it . . . . . I hated it, but I did it and learned every weakness it has." Xeo smiled and walked foreword.
Kisa tensed.
"For example, against a stronger opponent, you're making it easy for the shinobi to hit you. You want to keep your enemies confused and the best way to do that is to move."
"If I move I'll fall over!" Kisa blurted out before she could stop herself.
"And you never tell your enemy your weakness either," Xeo continued. He passed her and opened a closet. Inside was a large selection of white linens. He pulled out a light white sheet and proceeded to head back to the bed.
Kisa lowered her sword. Even if he was pulling some sort of trick on her, she couldn't maintain that position and stay conscious at the same time. She had to pick one and the choice was really simple.
She slumped down against the doorframe and Xeo winced.
"You probably got you injuries dirty again. I didn't get a chance to wrap them up yet," he said, gesturing to a neat pile of white gauze."
"How'd you know?" Kisa asked, ignoring his words.
"Know what?" he asked, tossing fresh blankets over the bed.
"How did you know that I was a ninja?" she asked.
Xeo stopped moving for a long moment. "Actually, I didn't." He smiled slightly. "I guessed and you confirmed my guess with your reaction."
Kisa's mind blanked. That meant that he hadn't known. She had blown her cover herself. "Then you're going to kill me," she whispered.
Xeo shrugged. "I might not have to. There are a couple of options available, you know. First, I could just let you bleed to death (I don't think you like that option ). Either that, or I could pick you up and force some bandages on you, (I don't think you want to be picked up either . . .) You could behave and get fixed up, then I could go and get you some food and we could talk about your training - "
"Shut up!" Kisa interrupted. "I don't understand you at all!"
"Not many people do . . . . I've always been alone because of that," Xeo said.
"No, you haven't," Kisa said firmly.
"Really?" Xeo asked. "And how would you know, Miss Kisa? You don't mind if I call you Miss Kisa, do you? Would you prefer if I call you 'Ki'?" he added quickly.
"Ah . . . . " Kisa managed. "Just Kisa's good . . . I guess."
Xeo smiled. "Well then, Kisa, shall I go get you something to eat and then fix up your back?" he asked.
Kisa didn't say anything.
Xeo smiled and walked soundlessly past her. "I'll be right back," he promised.
While he was gone, Kisa stood up and wondered around the room. She placed his sword on the dresser, deciding that she couldn't beat him in a fight anyway.
It was all so confusing. He was an excellent ninja - she could tell from his mannerisms and movements - but at the same time, he was kind and considerate. He was, oddly enough, a gentlemen. He felt more like a good guy then everyone at Shinobi Academy, with the exception of Kenneth.
Thinking of Kenneth made her feel ill again. He had always pretended to be mean to her, but she knew that he appreciated her skills. He could have been her friend, if he hadn't been killed. She felt that eventually, he would have warmed up to her and then she could have -
The door opened, throwing her thoughts off. "Frost was your friend, so you weren't alone," she announced immediately.
"Frost was my friend," Xeo acknowledged. He set some food down in front of her. "But at a school like Shinobi Academy . . . . . . friendship doesn't count for much. You're always on your own. Having friends . . . . . it doesn't matter that much . . . you're in competition with everyone, and if you're the best . . . . . ." his voice trailed off angrily.
Kisa hesitated then prompted his to continue. "If you're the best . . . . . "
"If you're the best, then everyone's your enemy," Xeo said softly. "If you're at the top, then everyone . . . teams up to beat you. I wanted to be the best so that I wouldn't be alone anymore - just me and Frost and things got pretty lonely - I wanted to have lots of friends." He laughed. "In short, I got greedy."
"What about at home?" Kisa asked, thinking about Tohru and Haru. "Didn't you're family - "
"Orphan." Xeo said shortly. "My parents were both killed by Male, a teacher from the Black Rose Academy, after they refused to let me train at her school. I was only two then, and I've been alone ever since."
"What about Frost?" Kisa asked, watching him intently for any sign of a lie or sneak attack.
"Frost . . . . . he was a member of Cell Zero . . . my Cell. He requested transfer and became the leader of Cell One. He wanted to beat me and we haven't spoken since the transfer. I always wanted to make up with him, but I never got the chance," Xeo added.
"And now you'll never get the chance," Kisa murmured. She brushed tears away from her eyes, tears she hadn't realized she was crying until just then.
"Why not? He's coming here, isn't he?" Xeo asked. He wasn't crying, but his eyes were glittering brightly.
"No, he's dead, just like Mitsu said," Kisa murmured.
"Not likely," Xeo answered. "I know Frost better then that. And I know Ryu. He couldn't kill him, and besides that, he'd have no reason to kill off Cell One and a member of his team."
"He's probably following orders," Kisa answered.
Xeo frowned. "The teachers at Shinobi Academy all like Frost. He's . . . their fav. because he turned against me. They wouldn't order his death."
Kisa looked away. "You're working for the same people that Ryu's working for," she said.
"As far as I know, Ryu's not working for me . . . because that's who I'm working for, myself," Xeo said, jerking his thumb towards his chest.
"But aren't you working for the Black Rose Academy?" Kisa asked curiously.
"Nope," Xeo said. "I have no reason to work for my parents murderers. At least none that I can see. That's just speculation."
"Then why'd you steal the plans?" Kisa demanded.
"I didn't want those orders to be carried out," Xeo answered. "They're not plans, it's just a map."
"A map to what?" Kisa asked.
Xeo leaned closer to her, peering at her hard. "Didn't they tell you?" he finally asked. "I stole your teams next mission, I stole the map to Trinity."
"Trinity?" Kisa whispered.
"Yeah, Trinity. Their is a treasure there that shouldn't be touched. It's evil . . . cursed. But the only person who will be cursed will be the one who removes the treasure. That idiot, Konimitsu's father, managed to make headmaster. He wants the treasure, and he wants it bad. I wasn't ready to give up on my friendship with Frost."
"If I let him go, I'd never see him again. They'd kill him after he returned, favorite or not. It's my last duty as his friend to take the treasure and put it beyond their reach. Even at the cost of being cursed."
Kisa didn't respond as Xeo began to treat her cuts. She felt a little ill. She couldn't believe that he would be willing to be cursed for his friend, a friend that didn't even acknowledge their friendship anymore.
"I'm really sorry, but you are a member of Frost's Cell," Xeo announced softly.
Kisa blinked, and then the world darkened around her.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Author's notes,
It's been way too long since I updated this story, but I had a bit of writers block. Since its gone now, updates should be more regular.
I also want to mention that Kenneth is not dead. It's taking longer then I thought to get that point out. He's one of my fav. characters, so no worried about his death, kay?
Thanks for reading,
Kissa-chan
