Duo sat on his favorite branch of the tree in the yard. He liked it there,
it was a nice place to think. And when he was there at night it gave him a
good view of the stars.
It was just starting to get dark now as the sun slowly set in the distance. Duo looked down into the sitting room as Nabiki talked with her father. He smiled as he remembered the brief fight he had with his beloved's father.
***Flashback*** He had insisted on the fight the second he woke up after the initial shock of Nabiki being engaged. They had all gone to the Dojo so they wouldn't tare up the house.
Once they were there Mr. Saotome named the rules, "Ok. Its anything goes. The first to go unconscious is the loser." He looked at the two combatants, "Ready. FIGHT!"
Duo bowed and assumed a casual fighting stance. Soun dropped into an offensive stance and charged at Duo. What followed was an elegant performance that was worthy of any kung fu movie. Soun would attack with fast well practiced strikes meant to end a fight quickly, and Duo would simply dodge as if it were nothing. Soon the man was resorting to some of his 'special' attacks, but Duo didn't really fall for the old trick of 'get the guy to shift his attention to something else then attack him when he isn't looking.' He did give him some credit though, some of Soun's attacks were only near misses. And Duo never expected anything like the 'flight of the preying Mantis' attack. That one had caught him square in the chest, and sent him stumbling back a few feet.
The two looked at each other with a new respect. They both dropped into offensive stances and charged at each other. They leapt into the air and struck. When they landed it was clear that the match was over, as Soun fell to the ground unconscious. *** end Flashback***
Duo looked back up to the stars as he slowly drifted off to sleep dreaming of his new life with his beloved.
Chapter 6 The Wanderers Hidden Past
When Duo awoke it was late. The moon was high in the night sky, and the stars shown brightly. The house was dark, everyone was asleep. He quietly climbed down from the tree and walked towards the back door. A light came on in the sitting room. He slowly walked to the door and looked in.
Nodoka sat down at the sitting room table and began to drink some tea. Duo looked at her, there was something familiar about her. But from where? After a moments thought it dawned on him.
He had to be sure. He entered the house and sat across from her. She smiled at him and offered him a cup of tea, "Good evening Duo, I didn't think anyone was up."
He took the cup and said, "I was sleeping in the yard."
She took a sip of her tea, "I'm sorry about Soun. He took his wife's death very hard. He just doesn't like the idea of his girls leaving him." Duo nodded, but remained silent for a moment. "Is something wrong Duo?" she asked.
He snapped out of his trance, "Oh. Its nothing." Her eyes seemed to look threw him, he knew that he couldn't lie to her. "Actually. There was something I wanted to ask you." He took a drink of his tea before continuing, "What would you say if I said that I am one who travels from the east seeking a friend I thought was lost."
Nodoka thought for a moment then her eyes went wide as she gasped, "I would say that I am one who travels from the west, your search is over my friend it is me whom you seek." She smiled as she stood and walked over to him. As he stood she gave him a crushing hug. "I thought it might be you." She said as she pulled away looking at him, "I almost didn't recognize you."
Duo smiled and pulled her into another hug, "It's been a long time Nodoka." They sat down and Duo took another drink of tea. "If I remember correctly the last time I saw you was at my mothers funeral. You left not long after that."
Nodoka frowned a little as she poured fresh tea into their cups, "Kalaa and I were very close. I didn't really know at that time how to deal with the loss of my best friend." She took a sip of the fresh tea as a tear rolled down her face, "I understand that you were adopted by your master."
"Yes. That was a little over a year after mother died."
Nodoka looked at him for a long moment, Duo. Do you know how your father knew your master?"
Duo thought about it for a wile before answering, "No." he thought some more, "No, it never came up. I never thought about it."
She placed a hand on his shoulder, "That's because your father asked your master not to tell you. Your mother on the other hand asked me to tell you when I thought you were ready." Duo looked at her, tears began forming in her eyes as she spoke. "And I think your ready now." She brushed away a tear that rolled down her face. "As you know your mother and I were best friends, we would share everything with each other. And we got into our far share of trouble too." She laughed lightly, "She loved your master very much, they were very close. When she married your father he was there, and he watched as your father took your mother away not seeing them again for almost three years."
She drank some tea, her mouth suddenly dry, "You may be wondering how this is all possible, I can see it in your eyes." She brushed away a few tears that found their way down Duo's face. "Your master was Kalaa's brother. That makes him your uncle."
Duo was in shock. He didn't know what to think, not that he could think at the moment, his brain had crashed. After a few minutes his brain finally came down off its overload, "My master is my uncle. Why didn't they want me to know?"
Nodoka drank the last of the tea, "They were trying to protect you." She said, then saw that confusion on his face and continued, "Your father had a brother, I can't remember his name it was a long time ago, he was killed by Karasu. They just didn't want you getting hurt."
"But why? Why would Karasu kill him for no reason?" Duo's mind threatened to overload again. This was a lot to take in.
Nodoka shifted uneasily where she sat, "Well that's because of who Karasu really is." She swallowed nervously, "Karasu is a sort of half demon. He has taken a human form, but it's impossible for him to return to his true form. And he can't get stronger unless he kills people." Duo looked like he was about to faint. He took a drink of his tea as she continued. "When he kills a person a portion of there spirit energy flows into him. It's what makes him stronger."
Duo's face turned hard as he clenched the cup in his hand, "So. Karasu killed my father just so he could get a little bit stronger." The cup shattered.
Nodoka put a calming hand on his fore arm, "Duo please. Your father would not have wanted you getting killed over this. Don't fight Karasu, he's too strong."
Duo relaxed a bit, then heard someone in the hallway. He turned as Nabiki walked into the room her face wet with tears. "Duo." She sobbed, "I heard everything. I'm sorry for listening in but I couldn't sleep, and I saw the light on." Tears seemed to flow freely down her face.
Duo felt like his heart had just been shot. He had hoped that Nabiki wouldn't find out about this. He walked over to her and pulled her into a loving hug. He turned back to Nodoka, "Thank you." She smiled, "I'm going to take her to bed. Please don't tell the rest of the family about any of this."
Nodoka smiled brightly at him, "I wouldn't dream of it." She stood and walked over to the couple, "Go on you two."
Duo smiled at Nodoka and walked with Nabiki up to her room.
**********
They stood in her room for a few minutes. Both not really knowing what to say. Nabiki started to speak, "Duo I. I don't want to loose you." Tears began flowing again.
Duo embraced her in a light hug, "Oh Nabiki." She looked up into his loving eyes as he wiped away her tears, "If it will make you feel better, I have already decided not to hunt Karasu any more." She smiled at him, "Now that I have you my search for vengeance no longer seems necessary." He pulled her closer and placed a loving kiss on her lips.
Nabiki smiled at him as she spoke, "Let's get some sleep." She didn't let go as she pulled him down onto the bed. They soon fell asleep resting softly in each others arms.
Out in the hall Nodoka smiled as she closed Nabiki's door. They really did love each other.
**********
The dark cloaked figure ran through the night away from the Tendo estate. 'Lord Karasu will be most pleased with this information.' He smiled an evil smile, 'Perhaps he will let me have the honor of killing them.' He began laughing evilly as he bounded over buildings on his way to his master. He would be waiting for him at his new despoils house. The house of Kuno.
It was just starting to get dark now as the sun slowly set in the distance. Duo looked down into the sitting room as Nabiki talked with her father. He smiled as he remembered the brief fight he had with his beloved's father.
***Flashback*** He had insisted on the fight the second he woke up after the initial shock of Nabiki being engaged. They had all gone to the Dojo so they wouldn't tare up the house.
Once they were there Mr. Saotome named the rules, "Ok. Its anything goes. The first to go unconscious is the loser." He looked at the two combatants, "Ready. FIGHT!"
Duo bowed and assumed a casual fighting stance. Soun dropped into an offensive stance and charged at Duo. What followed was an elegant performance that was worthy of any kung fu movie. Soun would attack with fast well practiced strikes meant to end a fight quickly, and Duo would simply dodge as if it were nothing. Soon the man was resorting to some of his 'special' attacks, but Duo didn't really fall for the old trick of 'get the guy to shift his attention to something else then attack him when he isn't looking.' He did give him some credit though, some of Soun's attacks were only near misses. And Duo never expected anything like the 'flight of the preying Mantis' attack. That one had caught him square in the chest, and sent him stumbling back a few feet.
The two looked at each other with a new respect. They both dropped into offensive stances and charged at each other. They leapt into the air and struck. When they landed it was clear that the match was over, as Soun fell to the ground unconscious. *** end Flashback***
Duo looked back up to the stars as he slowly drifted off to sleep dreaming of his new life with his beloved.
Chapter 6 The Wanderers Hidden Past
When Duo awoke it was late. The moon was high in the night sky, and the stars shown brightly. The house was dark, everyone was asleep. He quietly climbed down from the tree and walked towards the back door. A light came on in the sitting room. He slowly walked to the door and looked in.
Nodoka sat down at the sitting room table and began to drink some tea. Duo looked at her, there was something familiar about her. But from where? After a moments thought it dawned on him.
He had to be sure. He entered the house and sat across from her. She smiled at him and offered him a cup of tea, "Good evening Duo, I didn't think anyone was up."
He took the cup and said, "I was sleeping in the yard."
She took a sip of her tea, "I'm sorry about Soun. He took his wife's death very hard. He just doesn't like the idea of his girls leaving him." Duo nodded, but remained silent for a moment. "Is something wrong Duo?" she asked.
He snapped out of his trance, "Oh. Its nothing." Her eyes seemed to look threw him, he knew that he couldn't lie to her. "Actually. There was something I wanted to ask you." He took a drink of his tea before continuing, "What would you say if I said that I am one who travels from the east seeking a friend I thought was lost."
Nodoka thought for a moment then her eyes went wide as she gasped, "I would say that I am one who travels from the west, your search is over my friend it is me whom you seek." She smiled as she stood and walked over to him. As he stood she gave him a crushing hug. "I thought it might be you." She said as she pulled away looking at him, "I almost didn't recognize you."
Duo smiled and pulled her into another hug, "It's been a long time Nodoka." They sat down and Duo took another drink of tea. "If I remember correctly the last time I saw you was at my mothers funeral. You left not long after that."
Nodoka frowned a little as she poured fresh tea into their cups, "Kalaa and I were very close. I didn't really know at that time how to deal with the loss of my best friend." She took a sip of the fresh tea as a tear rolled down her face, "I understand that you were adopted by your master."
"Yes. That was a little over a year after mother died."
Nodoka looked at him for a long moment, Duo. Do you know how your father knew your master?"
Duo thought about it for a wile before answering, "No." he thought some more, "No, it never came up. I never thought about it."
She placed a hand on his shoulder, "That's because your father asked your master not to tell you. Your mother on the other hand asked me to tell you when I thought you were ready." Duo looked at her, tears began forming in her eyes as she spoke. "And I think your ready now." She brushed away a tear that rolled down her face. "As you know your mother and I were best friends, we would share everything with each other. And we got into our far share of trouble too." She laughed lightly, "She loved your master very much, they were very close. When she married your father he was there, and he watched as your father took your mother away not seeing them again for almost three years."
She drank some tea, her mouth suddenly dry, "You may be wondering how this is all possible, I can see it in your eyes." She brushed away a few tears that found their way down Duo's face. "Your master was Kalaa's brother. That makes him your uncle."
Duo was in shock. He didn't know what to think, not that he could think at the moment, his brain had crashed. After a few minutes his brain finally came down off its overload, "My master is my uncle. Why didn't they want me to know?"
Nodoka drank the last of the tea, "They were trying to protect you." She said, then saw that confusion on his face and continued, "Your father had a brother, I can't remember his name it was a long time ago, he was killed by Karasu. They just didn't want you getting hurt."
"But why? Why would Karasu kill him for no reason?" Duo's mind threatened to overload again. This was a lot to take in.
Nodoka shifted uneasily where she sat, "Well that's because of who Karasu really is." She swallowed nervously, "Karasu is a sort of half demon. He has taken a human form, but it's impossible for him to return to his true form. And he can't get stronger unless he kills people." Duo looked like he was about to faint. He took a drink of his tea as she continued. "When he kills a person a portion of there spirit energy flows into him. It's what makes him stronger."
Duo's face turned hard as he clenched the cup in his hand, "So. Karasu killed my father just so he could get a little bit stronger." The cup shattered.
Nodoka put a calming hand on his fore arm, "Duo please. Your father would not have wanted you getting killed over this. Don't fight Karasu, he's too strong."
Duo relaxed a bit, then heard someone in the hallway. He turned as Nabiki walked into the room her face wet with tears. "Duo." She sobbed, "I heard everything. I'm sorry for listening in but I couldn't sleep, and I saw the light on." Tears seemed to flow freely down her face.
Duo felt like his heart had just been shot. He had hoped that Nabiki wouldn't find out about this. He walked over to her and pulled her into a loving hug. He turned back to Nodoka, "Thank you." She smiled, "I'm going to take her to bed. Please don't tell the rest of the family about any of this."
Nodoka smiled brightly at him, "I wouldn't dream of it." She stood and walked over to the couple, "Go on you two."
Duo smiled at Nodoka and walked with Nabiki up to her room.
**********
They stood in her room for a few minutes. Both not really knowing what to say. Nabiki started to speak, "Duo I. I don't want to loose you." Tears began flowing again.
Duo embraced her in a light hug, "Oh Nabiki." She looked up into his loving eyes as he wiped away her tears, "If it will make you feel better, I have already decided not to hunt Karasu any more." She smiled at him, "Now that I have you my search for vengeance no longer seems necessary." He pulled her closer and placed a loving kiss on her lips.
Nabiki smiled at him as she spoke, "Let's get some sleep." She didn't let go as she pulled him down onto the bed. They soon fell asleep resting softly in each others arms.
Out in the hall Nodoka smiled as she closed Nabiki's door. They really did love each other.
**********
The dark cloaked figure ran through the night away from the Tendo estate. 'Lord Karasu will be most pleased with this information.' He smiled an evil smile, 'Perhaps he will let me have the honor of killing them.' He began laughing evilly as he bounded over buildings on his way to his master. He would be waiting for him at his new despoils house. The house of Kuno.