The Ghost

Chapter Two

The Reason for Being

Laying in the cold wake of darkness, my senses gradually became aware of the chaos nigh. Warmness engulfed my body along with the lovely scent of vanilla; however, a profound frost froze my innards as a bitter stench congested my head. Macabre thoughts clouded my mind, so many worries and fears. Yet, I pushed them all to the back of my consciousness to allow new troubles.

"What is it that you see?"

"The one who assumes control over the flame and the one gifted with sorcery has been removed from their citadel. One is in the custody of our own. However, he has carelessly allowed his intent to be fathomed, and now the thaumaturgist is in the hands of another."

"There will be a problem in retrieving this second one, no?"

"Indeed, the one who holds the thaumaturgist has an armed force in which is capable of complete galaxy annihilation."

"Yet, our own has an army equally strong."

"Perhaps; the answer is still unknown to me."

I awoke in a cold sweat; the sheets plastering to my body as if it were a second skin. My head overflowed with cogitation. What was the meaning of the dream? It was complete nonsense, yet, in a way, it made perfect sense. With a drawn out groan, I let the questions slip.

Kaori's POV

I found it hard to think amid the mounting sensation of mutilation to my mind and soul. Transiently, I lay awake with my eyes shut, all hope long subjugated. There was no longer any anticipation of a return home, for I knew I had been taken afar from my place of heart; though I acknowledged it to be for a reason, a reason that would change my life dramatically for the rest of time. However, the same question never ceased to persist, the simple query that I longed to be answered. Why?

I let out a small sigh, as if to release my current interrogations to rest. Subsequently, I pushed myself up into a sitting position inducing the sheets that once kept me warm to descend into a puddle of blue and white cloth around my waist. After long hours of feigning sleep, in order to buy myself time to contemplate, I came to only one reasonable conclusion; to play the game I was forced to join to the end.

My eyes darted around the area, in taking every detail looked upon. It was some sort of hospital room in which I stayed. A few eccentric machines environed the white room, all attached to me either through needles or pulse readers. Inhaling, I painstakingly removed every needle from my body followed by the pulse readers. As I disconnected each pad, machine after machine emitted varied high-pitched squeals; how I abhorred the screechy sounds. Soon after, the door to the right swung open with tremendous force, scaring the living daylights out of me. In rushed several bluish humanoid beings, seven in all; four dressed in black military uniform while the other three beings dressed in doctor's attire. I couldn't help but grunt with incredulity. Not only was I distant from home, but probably billions of light-years away from the planet.

The creatures, I assumed to be doctors, spoke in their native tongue to the uniformed personnel before reading the printouts created by the screaming machines. Watching the guards intently, I positioned myself into a crouching stance at the head of the bed, ready to assault any who dared to inflict harm. However, my threatening composition didn't cease the constables from effortlessly pinning me to the bed, strapping my wrist to the bed's guardrails, and chaining my ankles to the footboard. Damn it, what was with everyone and tying me down? Exhaling sharply, I slammed my head against the pillow, knowing that putting up a fight would prove futile.

Lying in the bed once more, this time constrained, I followed the movements of everyone with my eyes. The doctors at the far end of the room prepared needles and the likes. My insides sunk to the bottom my stomach at the sight; from the looks of things, it seemed to me they were preparing for my torture. I quickly turned my attention from the mad scientists to the small militia guarding the only entrance to the room. They stood placidly par for one whom communicated to an unknown via a translucent screen. As the transmission ended, the solider turned to the officers, ostensibly reluctant to dismiss them from the room, and before long, the doctors willingly followed suit, putting away their tools of torture in haste into the drawers and cabinets lining one side of the room. Overall, it was just the solider, which ordered everyone's leave and me in the room.

He shakily combed his fingers through his short-spiked orange hair, his dark blue eyes refusing to make contact with mine. What was it that he so feared? I looked around the room and then realization struck; he was afraid of me. Why? I hadn't a clue, but I sure as hell was going to take advantage of it. Smirking, I turned my attention to the officer. "What is it, afraid I might bite?" His head shook frantically with denial. "You're a very bad liar, you know. Anyway, who are you?"

Taking to heart my observation, the young man regained his composer, with both his feet together and his hands behind his back. "First Class Officer, Reen Toi. Assigned to see that you remain established until the arrival of Potentate Corin," he informed.

I nodded in deliberation. Reen seemed pretty young to be an officer, and way too nice… err… unsuitable for a position as a First Class Officer. And Potentate Corin… what a big title for just one person, eh. Besides, what does he want with me? I never did anything to anyone. And how would someone from another planet in a place as vast as space know about me? "Why would he want me to stay here until he shows up? It's not like I can go anywhere, anyhow," I pointed out, pulling on all three cuffs.

"By Lord Corin, himself, you have been marked hazardous to the wellbeing of Azure, therefore detained in this medical retention center to ensure your custody."

I chuckled inwardly. If only I were as dangerous as they proclaimed me to be. But why would this Corin person think I was hazardous? He doesn't even know me, unless… "Officer, who is it that brought me to this place?"

Officer Reen Toi's face contorted into thought. "It was never mentioned, who; however, you were sent here approximately six months erstwhile by Potentate Corin... Six months here would be one year on Earth."

One year… I studied the blank ceiling, my panic level rising rapidly. After hours of persuading myself to forget and live on, I could never let go of what happened to me. That one moment caused all of this, this huge downfall in my life. But why did he convey me to this consign, let alone allowed me life? I had to get far from this damned locus, desperately.

Hearing soft shuffling about the room, I turned my attention to the source. Before the door he stood dressed in all majesty and grandeur. A streaming mantle, colored deeply in red, flowed from his shoulders to his feet, barely touching the ground, and six triangles grouped into two larger triangles clasped the cape to his shoulders. A black outer garment, outlined in red, draped down his torso to his knees and a golden Triforce encircled by a crimson dragon centered his chest. However, a silky reddish black sash, fastened around his waste, interrupted the continuous flow of the outer garment. Underneath the external article of clothing, he wore a loose fitting long sleeve, which matched the color of his sash. His pants here also black but loose fitting; not too baggy though. His shoes were of an oriental style colored in black with gold outlining the edges of the footwear.

I breathed not for several moments at his sight, not in awe but in horror. He didn't even give me enough time to at least come up with some sort of escape plan. Aw fuck it; it would have never worked anyhow. Giving the room a once over, I realized Reen Toi had long gone. Nonetheless, he was here.

Potentate Corin strode towards me with his hands conjoined at his rear. As he neared, I kept my watch to the ceiling wishing to escape the moment. "Six months in a cataleptic state… how do you feel? I assume you to be more than well rested"

Inwardly, I scolded his remark. He spoke as if he had done nothing to me. And how did I feel?! I would love to give him a piece of my mind. Yet he already knew.

Corin towered over me, blocking my view of the ceiling. "Let me guess," he began, walking his fingers along my shoulder and arm. I could feel my heart pounding harder and harder with fury; however, I kept it bottled. "If you were unbound at this moment, you would try with every effort in you to draw my blood; am I correct?"

"You know what? You're right. But I'm not 'unbound'," I quoted in mockingly, "so I'm gonna lie here and tick silently, if you don't mind."

Shaking his head, Corin chuckled at my statement and then sighed. "You never cease to amuse me."

So he found me amusing. Just wait 'till I'm loose. Then you'll see how amusing Satan is. "Cut the small talk, asshole." I didn't care what response I received from him. I knew there was more to him then he willing let on, and I wanted to get to the bottom of it. "I know you brought me here for a reason and I want answers, now!" Through the corner of my vision, I could see Corin straighten and his expression grow with seriousness. But again, I didn't care; to me, I had long considered myself a dead woman breathing. Surprisingly, though, he never attempted to inflict harm upon me.

"Woman, I can tolerate but so much. You are pushing the limit."

I smirked, "Is that so? I didn't know monkeys, like you, had limits." I'm a trouble maker, aren't I?

My foe looked to the ceiling to calm his nerve. For some odd reason I could almost hear him silently count, albeit his lips remained still.

"Let's end this small talk," he announced after several moments. His fury seemed to have dwindled to a fragment during the short time span. "So, you want to know your reason for being, fine. I need you as you will need me. That's all you need to know at present. Things will become clearer in the future."

What? What was that suppose to mean?

Before I could further interrogate him, he continued. "I have assigned Officer Toi as your training personnel. Good-day Lady Yamuna," he ended whilst heading for the door. "That is your name as of now." Then he was gone, just like that.