My first fanfic. So go easy on me! I do not own any of the Soul Calibur characters, wish i did, but can't.... damn!

This might contain a little yuri between Taki and Sophitia, get over it. The time of this encounter between these two characters is before Sophitia destroys one of the two soul edge swords (Think of Soul Blade).

"..." Speaking

'...' Thoughts

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Chapter 1: Temple of Spirits (Sophitia's Thoughts for now)

'Ugh! Why did Hephaestus have to send me on a mission so far away from home! These Japanese forests are so dark and thick, and I can't read the signs at crossroads.'

Sophitia had been walking through the forests for a few days now and its ominous feeling was slowly creeping up her back. It was night and the fear that a swift assassin or samurai would suddenly turn up behind her and slice her in half just as she turns around to face the new foe would jump at her whenever the night came.

'I just hope this shrine that Hephaestus spoke of is close. He told me to find the shrine and offer this Sword of Light to the shrine's keeper to ward off demons more effectively. What a strange sword it is...'

Her eyes cast down to the sword packed in a brown leather bag, it had a long blade with a golden hilt like an English knight's sword only the hilt's sides point themselves forwards at the ends, going parallel with the blade and looking like either thin wings or could possibly symbolize rays of light from the heavens. It was indeed a strange sword to her tastes, it looks nothing like a Greek sword, plus it was quite heavy due to its long blade.

'How can a person possibly use a weapon as heavy as this swiftly in combat I'll never know...'

She swung the bag over her shoulder once again as she caught sight of an opening in the forest. It looked like a stone shrine in the distance.

"Finally." Sophitia spoke to herself with a sigh as her straining muscles relaxed slightly. Her relief soon faded as she saw before her a battle between a ninja and a horrible shadow-like demon. Both paid no attention to the wandering intruder, they just continuously fought viciously against on another. The ninja stunned Sophitia as she threw a powerful attack; a blood red orb with small lightning sparks formed into her fist, she shrieked with rage as she harshly slammed her fist against the ground. The shadowy demon pounced into the air, evading the ninjas attack. When it landed it quickly grabbed the dagger that was on the ninja's back, its attempt to hold within its claw-like hands obviously failed as it shrieked loudly in pain as it hastily and aimlessly threw the weapon into a thick tree that stood at the other end of the platform.

"Rekki-Maru!!" The ninja cried as she saw in horror that her only weapon was way out of reach, leaving her vulnerable to any attack that this creature willed.

"Hold on!" Sophitia shouted at the ninja to let her know that the ninja had an ally. The ninja sharply turned to the voice calling to her, wondering who would have the gut of coming into a dark area like this. As the ninja looked away, the demon snatched the opportunity to jump into the air and when she turned back around to find her prey up in the air, Sophitia could only watch as it dove down the ninja's throat. Sophitia only watched in horror as the ninja dropped to the ground, shaking violently. The woman suddenly stopped, eyes open, dazed as they stared blankly into the dark sky, Sophitia slowly walked forward, expecting her to be in a coma of some sort.

She stopped as the ninja slowly and lazily rolled onto her stomach and lifted herself from the ground, her head hung down, not one part of her face could be clearly seen, her arms hung at her sides and her legs bent slightly as if she couldn't carry her own weight. She walked slightly, although she walked as though she was drunk and couldn't balance herself.

Sophitia slowly walked to the woman, careful not to scare her.

"Are... are you okay?" She gently placed her hand on the strangely behaving woman's shoulder. As soon as she touched the woman, she noticed that her skin was cold and clammy. The ninja brought a hand up to Sophitia's in response, at first it felt like a good sign, but the ninja's grip around her wrist slowly became tighter and tighter to the point where it felt like her wrist was about to break. The ninja sharply brought up her head staring straight into Sophitia's eyes, watching as her face cringed from the pain.

To Sophitia's horror, the ninja's eyes were wide and completely pitch black. She could hear the ninja breathing; it was deep, slow and quite shallow. Her hand left Sophitia's wrist sharply and closed around her throat. The ninja's face didn't change, it just looked blankly at her as she slowly lifted Sophitia from the ground.

Sophitia knew that the demon was doing all of this and must awaken the possessed woman choking her. She could feel the life being wringed from her with every passing second, she had to think of something, and fast!

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Well? I love cliffhangers, please review, no flames please. Thanks