A/N: Hello! I'm back with a big chapter. Congrats to the one who found out the little secret in the story! Way to go! There's a big twist in this one! So enjoy!

Chapter 6: Blood and Battle

The cold disturbing wind rustled Kyle's chestnut hair. Dawn had broken through the dark, cloudy sky. The pale moon was deeply hidden above the clouds. The unnerving wind made Kyle restless. He had a eerie feeling that something was going to happen… Something bad. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

There was still no sign of Dora and her party. Kyle had hoped that they would be home at least by now. At least, during his watch. He wanted so badly to embrace her once again in his arms. The growing feeling of dread was rising in his chest, wanting him to believe that something had happened to her.

He shook that feeling. He was tired, that's it… Just tired, he thought. But he didn't believe it. His gut instincts were edgier than before. Every moving shadow, every little sound, made him jump.

"Oi."

Something tapped his shoulder. Kyle tensed and leapt to the side, throwing a kunai at his attacker. His attacker turned out to be Riko Kyumi who blocked the kunai with his own before it hit him. "Oi! It's only me, Riko!" he breathed.

"Dah! Gomen, Riko…" Kyle apologized, blushing in embarrassment. " Sheesh! Don't scare me like that again!"

"Hmm. Why are you so jumpy this morning? It's not like a Demon's gonna spring up and decapitate you," said the other man. Riko brushed his hand through his thick, hazel hair. It was his casual gesture for any situation.

Kyle sighed. "Hey, that could happen. You'll never know." He looked out over the gates, "It hasn't been long since that last attack."

"Bah. It was what? A few weeks ago? And it was only a bunch of…" Kyumi scratched his chin in thought.

"Crows. Big. Black. Crows." Kyle finished for him.

"Yeah, crows. Those mischievous bastards," his friend muttered under his breath. "I can still remember those stupid tricks they played on us."

Kyle nodded. "That was annoying. They kept making replicas of themselves to conceal their real body."

"Tricky, yet smart," Riko muttered.

Silence fell over them as they gazed over the tall wooden gates and into the forest. The unpleasant breeze rustled the trees in a unruly manner, sending shivers to those in it's path.

Sighing, Kyle rested his eyes for a moment. "She'll be back soon." he heard Riko say. He opened his eyes and looked over at his friend's reassuring grin. "She always did."

Kyle couldn't help but smile. Riko was right. Dora came home no matter how tough her missions were. Once she almost died from massive blood loss from a fatal wound to her abdomen. A giant Wolf Demon caught her in surprise with it's raw, yellow fangs. She stayed strong throughout the whole trek back to Vale as her team mates quickly carried her home. That was way before Yime had discovered his special power. That day, Kyle was a afraid to lose her…

Dora managed a smile when she felt his hand, firmly holding hers as she laid in the hospital bed. She stayed strong through her recovery then. And she always had been.

Always… he thought with pride. "Yeah. She always did," he whispered. "Are you gonna stay here all night or are you just visiting 'cause you couldn't sleep?" he asked.

"A little of both… I had a rough time in bed with Shina… Oh, let's forget I said that. Anyway, your boy's a good kid. He's polite, smart, and so obedient, unlike my son. Heh…" Riko said. He brushed his hand through his hair.

Kyle nodded, grinning. "Isaac's a good boy. I only wish I could be with him more often, you know?"

Riko leaned onto the gate ledge. "He really needs a father to look up to, Kyle. You should take tomorrow's night shift off. It would be a good idea. I've seen the sadness on his face many times when I'm around him and my kids…"

"I… I know," Kyle said sadly. Isaac, I'm sorry… "I'll ask Heidachi-sama if I could take a break tomorrow."

"Hey, better yet: Take the whole week off. Isaac would really appreciate that," Riko suggested.

Kyle rolled his eyes in the dark. "Like that would ever happen. Heidachi-sama would never let anyone take time off for that long."

"You should try."

"Nah."

"Yeah. Do it for yourself, and for Isaac."

"…."

Riko placed a hand on his shoulder, grinning. "It wouldn't hurt to ask," he said. "Well, I'm going home before Shina bites my head off for being out too late." Then he muttered under his breath as he walked away, "I'm a grown man… I shouldn't be punished for staying out too late."

Kyle watched as the other man left. The peaceful village quietly slept before him. It was his duty to protect the village. He couldn't step away from his job. Never.

But, Isaac needed him more than the village needing him. Maybe it was a good idea to take the whole week off and spend time with his family. Now would be a perfect time. With Dora and Yime going to be home as well, they would all spend time as a family. A big, happy family.

Kyle couldn't help but smile as he returned to his duty. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask…

That nagging feeling fell over him as he slowly watched the morning light, brighten up the sky. He was afraid of what this day will bring.

Isaac wolfed down his entire breakfast consisting of hot chicken noodles, milk, and an orange. He was excited for the weekend. Surely, his mother would be home by then and he would be home with her and Yime. He choked on his orange.

"Slow down, Isaac!" Shina cried, patting the boy's back. "What's the rush? School's going to start in thirty more minutes. You have all the time to eat."

Isaac wiped away his tears and grinned. "I'm excited about the weekend," he answered. He took another bite into his orange slice.

"Ah, the weekend," she said. "That reminds me. Kids, I won't be home tomorrow or the day after."

"What?! Why?" Jenna and Felix both asked, disappointed.

"Well, Mommy's got a job to do. A big, bad group of Wolf Demons have been spotted to the west. So me and my team are going there tomorrow morning," she said.

"Aww. I'm going to miss you!" Jenna cried. Shina patted her head.

"Don't worry," she said. "Before you'll know it, I'll be home in no time!"

After breakfast, they all got ready to leave school. They changed their bandages and wore leather protective gloves this time to handle those sharp shurikens. "I think it'll be harder to throw them with these," Felix muttered, wiggling his fingers.

"At least we don't have to worry about cutting our hands!" Jenna giggled.

Her father drowsily waved goodbye as he headed towards the kitchen. Her mother grumbled, "That lazy father of yours. I grounded him for staying up too late."

The children giggled. But their laughter was soon ended by a sharp cry from outside. Then an explosion that shook the house.

"We're under attack!" someone screamed.

Startled, Jenna screamed, "What was that?!"

Riko came in, fully awake now. "What's going on?!" he cried.

Shina opened the door, shocked to see smoke rising from the gates. She heard cries far off in the same direction and the loud echoing clings and clangs of swords striking each other. There was another explosion, shaking the ground. Behind her, Jenna began to cry. Riko squeezed beside her and saw the commotion. He looked fearfully at her. "An invasion…" he whispered.

They went back inside, closing the door in haste. She ran upstairs with Riko right behind her and grabbed her shurikens, knives, kunais, and sword, and strapped them on. Riko grabbed both his katanas and strapped on his knives diagonally across his chest. Then they both equipped their black leather arm and leg guards.

"Kids, whatever happens, stay in the house. Understand?" she said sternly.

The children nodded. Jenna continued to cry, while Felix and Isaac did their best to comfort her. "What's going on?" Felix asked.

"An attack…" his father answered. "Don't leave, understand? We'll be back shortly. Lock the door when we're gone."

Both of his parents left in a rush. Felix slammed the door and locked it. Not wanting to know what might come in. Another explosion, a bigger one this time, knocked him to the ground. Jenna screamed.

"It's okay, Jenna! Don't… Don't cry…" Isaac whispered, stroking her hair as she sobbed in his arms. "Let's go upstairs, we could see what's happening."

They all slowly walked upstairs, afraid of another terrifying explosion. Outside, they could hear people yelling, screaming, shouting , and cursing among the havoc. Once upstairs, Isaac peeped out the window, eyes wide, seeing pillars of smoke and flames at the gates. That was where his father was…

He saw people, below, running towards the destruction, weapons ready. What exactly was happening around the gates, he couldn't see. Buildings blocked his view, but he had a feeling of what was happening. Something was attacking. For all he knew, his father was out there fighting whatever it was. Or he could have been caught in one of the explosions…

Isaac had to see for himself. He just had to. "I'm going to look for my father!" he said. He ran downstairs with Jenna calling behind him.

"Don't go! It's dangerous!" she cried. He ignored her as he put on his sandals and unlocked the door. He was suddenly knocked down by Felix who held him down.

"You're going to get yourself killed!" Felix cried, struggling to restrain his friend.

Isaac twisted and turned, wriggling out of Felix's grasp until he could push him off. "I'm going! I'm going to help father! You guys stay here! I'll go alone!" he screamed.

Felix stood at the door. "You're not leaving. Mom and Dad told us to stay! You can't go!" he yelled angrily.

Jenna stood at the bottom step. "Don't go, Isaac!" she cried, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

Isaac snorted. "I'm going no matter what! I'm not gonna let anything happen to father!"

Felix crossed his arms and glowered at his friend. "There's nothing you can do to help him!" he snarled.

"Yes there is!" Isaac retorted angrily. "If father… if father dies, then it'll be my fault for not doing anything!"

"No," Felix said sternly. "It could never be your fault. What can you possibly do to help him?!"

"You'll see…" Isaac growled, walking towards him. "Step out of the way, and I'll show you."

Felix shook his head. "No."

"Get outta my way!" Isaac cried, throwing a punch at Felix. The dark haired boy didn't expect his friend to attack him, not at a time like this. He stumbled to the side from the impact, rubbing his sore cheek. He glared at his attacker with eyes, stung with tears from pain, and from hurt.

Isaac opened the door and stopped, looking solemnly at his feet. "I'm sorry, Felix." Then he left, slamming the door behind him.

"Isaac!" Jenna cried. She sobbed once more, running to the door.

"Jenna! Don't! We have to stay here!" her brother cried, hastily wiping his tears.

"But, Isaac…" she whispered, choking back sobs.

Felix growled in anger. "Let that fool go! It's not my fault if he gets killed!" He locked the door and slowly slumped to the floor, pounding the wall with his fist. It won't be my fault. That idiot!… Don't do anything rash, you fool…

Isaac hid behind a house as adults ran past, towards the main battle. He didn't want to get caught. They'll probably lock him up in a house, away from all of the commotion. If that happened then there was no way he could find his father.

He peeked around the corner, seeing the last person disappear from sight. Then he hopped on top of a fence and jumped onto the roof. This was a better way to find anyone than roaming the streets. He searched, left and right from his perch, finding no sign of his father. He leapt onto another house then another, until he heard a voices below him.

Two people standing a few meters apart, were facing each other, swords ready. One man was huge. He wore heavy black armour with red designs all over it with a flowing black cloak with a symbol of fire. Everything else he wore was black. A black shawl concealed his face, while his pale purple hair dangled to the side. His blade was massive. It was no ordinary ninja sword at all. It curved like an ordinary blade but it was wider at the end and narrowed down to the handle, much like a scimitar. Isaac realized that he must be one of the invaders.

The other man was his father. He wanted so badly to be at his side, but he knew he would get in the way. So he silently watched them from his perch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle was almost home to get some sleep right after his shift, until he heard the explosion that shook the whole village.

"We're under attack!" he heard someone yell from the distance. The gates, he saw smoke rise from them. That eerie feeling… He was right about it.

He rushed back to the gates with all the other ninjas. Another explosion burst the gates into flames. Kyle heard screams of battle ringing in the sky. He continued on. A third explosion shook him to the ground. He climbed to his feet, shaken up.

All of his allies were long gone towards the main battle. Kyle knew he had to get there. But, then, in the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a moving shadow behind a house. He decided to pursue it instead. Whatever attacked could be sneaking it's way in.

He ran, on top of the roofs, following the dark figure who followed the shadows of the back road. A man, cloaked in black. Very likely he was a thief.

Kyle had to stop him. He took out a shuriken and threw it at the unsuspecting foe. The dark figure blocked with a quick swipe of his knife and stopped in his tracks, looking straight up at him.

The piercing red eyes of his foe, sharply glared at him. A samurai of the Fire Clan, Kyle had read about them back in the history books about the Battle of Fire. A battle, where both his grandfather and grandmother had fought and died. This samurai standing before him wore the same black and red armour that symbolized the clan.

The samurai began to laugh in a deep taunting voice that was slightly muffled due to his shawl. Kyle drew out his sword and landed on front of his foe. He glared back. "It ends here," he said in a low, threatening tone.

The man laughed once more. "A pathetic ninja like you is going to stop me? Do you know who I am?" he snarled with much venom to every word.

Kyle smirked. "It doesn't matter. You're just a thief, aiming for the Elemental Stars. Am I correct?"

The man laughed. "Stupid fool. I am the strongest of my clan! You are right about the Stars, but as well, I am here to get revenge for what your pathetic ancestors did to me one hundred years ago."

Kyle raised a brow. "Hoh? You mean you survived that battle?"

"Ha ha ha ha! I survived all right," the man scowled. "And I'm back to repay for what your pathetic kind had done to us that day. I'll avenge all my brethren lost in that battle!" He grabbed his samurai blade hidden under his dark cloak. The blade was gigantic, it was the same length as a fully grown man.

"Feel my wrath, pathetic ninja!" he roared, rushing forward, sword ready at his side.

Kyle threw two shurikens at him, but he blocked easily with his massive blade. The man swung his sword, nearly hitting Kyle who leaped up and over his foe, landing right behind him. Kyle spun and swung around quickly with his own blade but it clashed into his foe's knife he still held. The man swung with his other arm, bringing the sword down on him.

Kyle brought up his sword to block it. Sparks flew when both blades grinded against each other with great force. The man was too strong. Kyle's thin blade cracked under the force of his enemy's blow, nearly knocking Kyle to the ground who grunted at his foe's strength.

"Dad!"

Both fighters looked above and saw a small boy, watching them with frightful blue eyes. Kyle's eyes widened with fear. "Isaac! Get out of here!" he cried. His foe took the opportunity to kick him away.

"Dad!" Isaac cried out once again.

Kyle landed hard on his back, but he got up quickly in time to see the man throw a knife straight for Isaac! "Isaac!" he screamed, throwing a shuriken at the knife.

Both projectiles collided in the air before hitting Isaac, redirecting their route. The knife landed beside Isaac who stumbled back in shock. Relieved, Kyle let his guard down…

The man threw his knife at him. Kyle blocked too late as the blade nicked his left side. The dark man laughed. "A weakness…" he grunted, amused. "I'll kill that kid first!" He leapt high into the air, landing on the roof before the frightened boy, grinning as he brought his blade upon him. But he was diverted by the kunais flying at him. He jumped out of way.

Kyle cursed when he missed. He landed in front of Isaac, glaring with menace at his foe for trying to hurt his son. "Isaac, go home," he growled, keeping his eye on his opponent.

"Dad…" Isaac whispered.

"Go home!" he snapped. He heard Isaac clamber up and shuffle away.

"Not so fast!" the man called out as he leapt into the air, and threw a knife right at Isaac who was unaware.

"Isaac!" Kyle yelled as he dropped his sword and ran towards his son. He summoned the Wind Element to increase his speed, as he leapt into Isaac, shielding his son.

He felt the knife pierce into his back as he and Isaac both fell over the edge, straight towards the grass-covered ground. He landed on both his feet, carrying Isaac in his arms. Pain surged through his entire body.

He coughed, tasting the blood dripping down his chin. Isaac turned around and gasped, tears in his frightened eyes. "Dad, I'm sorry!" he sobbed.

"I-Isaac, run! Get out of here! I'll hold him off!" Kyle told him.

His son nodded, then his eyes widened, "Dad! Look out!"

Kyle didn't hesitate as he dodged to the side, still carrying Isaac, to avoid another knife. The samurai laughed, drawing the rest of his knives.

Kyle cringed in both pain and fear, tightly holding his trembling son in his arms. "Isaac," he whispered, "Run as far away from here as possible and hide." He coughed once again, blood droplets staining his son's hair. He released his tight hold on Isaac, "Go!" He spun around, reaching into his pouch and pulling out his last shuriken, and threw it at the samurai who blocked with one of his knives.

He turned back to see Isaac still standing around a few feet away, watching him, too frightened to move. "RUN!" he shouted.

Isaac took a step back, then turned to run.

But the samurai didn't allow it. "You're not going anywhere!" he roared.

Two knives flew straight at Isaac who stood frozen in place, unable to move.

Kyle jumped just in time to intercept them with his own body. Gasping as they impaled deep into his back… Kyle fell forward, reaching out his son. "Run…" he choked, blood filling his mouth.

Isaac didn't budge.

Kyle's vision blurred from his very own tears, realizing that his son might not survive. "Run…" he whispered. He saw nothing but total darkness as he finally hit the ground.

The gloomy grey sky began to cry. Blood and rain stained the grass a bright red around his father's motionless body. Isaac stood, frozen in place, too afraid and too shocked to move. Run! his father's voice rang in his ears, but his legs wouldn't budge . He watched, instead, as the blood flowed freely onto the grass.

No… He slowly shook his head in disbelief. Hot tears, stinging his eyes, blurring the sight of his father. He choked back a sob. He didn't want to cry.

A menacing laugh broke through the silence that had fell over them. "Looks like I'm out of knives," the man, no, the murderer, had said.

Anger and rage overwhelmed Isaac's thoughts. Jaw and fists, tightly clenched, as he continued to watch his father's body. He hated. He hated everything; the rain, the laughter, the blood. He wanted to kill. To kill the murderer. To grab a knife and slit his throat. To feel the blood on his own hands.

"Well, I guess I was wrong when I said I'll kill you first," he black murderer spoke, landing with a thump, a few feet away from his father's body. Isaac couldn't see his face, but he saw his feet. Those big black boots, stepping on blood.

Kill him…

Destroy him…

Show him no mercy… That murderer!

Avenge your father…

Isaac cringed at every step the man took towards him. Kill him!

Isaac shook all over, wanting to taste the blood of that murderer. Wanting to kill him, with his own hands. Rage and anger took over him, as everything he saw, became red as the blood.

Agatio laughed at his opponent foolishly jumped into his knives. Pathetic human, he smirked. Now all he had to deal with was that boy. The little brat who didn't follow his daddy's orders.

"Well, I guess I was wrong when I said I'll kill you first," he told the shivering kid. Agatio enjoyed toying with his opponents. The fun he gets when he torments his foes was amusing.

He laughed again, seeing the boy before him, frozen in fear as the rain continued to pour. He grinned. By now, his troops should be through the front gates and charging in on the helpless village. Until they come, he'll just have some fun.

He took out his sword, the Dragon Blade. Slowly he took one step after another towards the boy and the fallen corpse of his former foe.

But he soon stopped as he felt a tremendous, growing power flow from the kid. Swirls of pure energy became visible, as the boy's power increased. Psynergy… Agatio had noticed. The energy he was feeling was Psynergy.

"I-Impossible…" he croaked, frozen in awe and surprise. He could see the rage the boy was filled with as each passing second formed more pure, pale red Psynergy. The energy was like a breeze as streaks flowed passed him, catching his hair.

He took a step back, then shook his head. He couldn't believe this! He was afraid of a little kid! He roared and charged at the boy.

The boy looked up, stopping him dead in his tracks. The once blue eyes were now a fearsome red, glaring back at him. Dangerous eyes. And burning on his forehead was an ancient symbol Agatio had seen before, but… he couldn't remember.

H-How…! What's going on?! he gasped. The boy smirked and charged, too fast for him to see. The boy slashed, blinding his left eye. "Aargh!" he bellowed, cupping his wound. He glared at the boy with his good eye, seeing him holding one of his knives from the dead body.

Agatio hissed as the kid jumped to strike again. This time, Agatio reached up just in time to grab the puny neck of his foe. The kid drove the knife deep into his arm, but he ignored it. He wanted revenge for the damage done to his face. He tightened his hold, squeezing every breath out of kid's puny body. The boy's Psynergy faded, as did the ancient symbol as the boy gagged and feebly clawed at Agatio's large hand. Each attempt growing weaker and weaker, until finally, the boy stopped. He was nothing more but a limp, lifeless body.