Okay, I have the perfect excuse as to why I didn't update earlier: HURRICANE IVAN. Have you heard of it? Because if you have then you know that it was a category four and it made landfall like thirty miles from where I live! We were out of electricity for four days and I didn't get the computer back until later. AND I just got the Internet back yesterday! So you can't blame me for this one!!

Now, Thanks for all of the reviews! I can hopefully get to all of them soon! ::crosses fingers::

Okay, some of the characters, like Allen and Van, might seem a little out of character, but I just want to make the fact that they're really good friends come across and it'll help for other chapters as well!

And I'm really trying to get all of the chapters wrote and put up, but I just got a job, I'm in homeschool, and things are just really, really, really hectic around here lately!! So please bear with me!! Thanks!

Here's hoping you enjoy the chapter!!

(000)

Chapter Two

She was dragged back into a shadowed ally. She was frozen; even the scream had stopped halfway in her throat and couldn't move any higher. She felt the knife's cool tip against her skin and fear consumed her. She was thrown against the wall and suddenly the knife was in her line of sight.

A man with a ski mask covering his face held the knife. Two other men with ski masks on stood behind him. "Don't scream," the man ordered in a silky voice. "Don't even breathe."

Hitomi began to shake as the man waved his knife in front of her face. One of the men in the background gripped the man's shoulder. "She's not to be harmed. He wants her alive."

"I know how he wants her!" the man with the knife said in a hard voice. "But he didn't say we couldn't have a little fun first." He gave a soft giggle as he returned his attention to her. "Yes, let's have some fun." He traced the knife down her cheek and she gave a small whimper.

"Hey!"

All four people turned to see three men in the ally. In her fogged mind, Hitomi recognized them from school. It was Van, Allen, and Amono.

"Shouldn't three idiots such as yourselves be in the circus?" Amono called out.

The man with the knife seemed to come alive with anger. He threw the knife at Amono, but he simply ducked. The masked man turned to the other two men standing behind him. "Get them, idiots!"

The two men seemed to come out of their momentary stupor and charged forward. Allen and Amono engaged them in hand-to-hand as Van ducked and ran forward to fight the third man.

"You really shouldn't pick on someone smaller than you," he said lightly.

"Oh, and why is that?" the man sneered. "Because you tell me not to?"

"No," Van said calmly, "because it upsets me."

He moved forward so quickly, Hitomi strained to see him. The next thing she knew, she was being pushed aside and Van had the man slammed against the wall. The knife clattered to the ground. She stared at it as the man pushed Van back and the two of them began to fight.

Crouching down slowly, she couldn't take her gaze from the knife. Blurred images raced on the reflection of the metal. She reached out, hesitated, and then touched the knife with her fingertips. The vision came in a rush.

The three masked men stood in the ally, waiting for Hitomi to walk by. They knew that she would be walking more slowly than usual. She was all alone for the weekend.

They needed her. They needed her alive. He wouldn't be pleased if she was damaged in any way. He had to have her. He had to. Without her all those years of waiting and planning would be wasted. She was the one. She would make everything possible. She was the goddess; she was the first.

She came out of the vision feeling nauseated and lightheaded. She couldn't breathe. Such a feeling of evil had come from the knife. She dimly felt someone's hand on her shoulder and she raised her head high enough to look up.

Van's dark brown eyes were the last things she saw.

(000)

Hitomi groaned and rolled over in bed. Thank Kami it was the weekend. She could sleep as long as she liked and there was no schedule to adhere to that would make her have to get up earlier than she liked. She opened her eyes to see what time it was.

She had to blink her eyes twice to make the blurriness go away. What in the world? She sat up quickly and looked around. The covers fell away. She was sitting on a pallet-bed in a beige square room.

She looked down and saw that her shirt was unbuttoned. She quickly buttoned it back up and stood up. Brushing her hair from her face she also noted that someone had taken her hair down as well.

Quietly padding to the door she saw her socks and shoes and quickly bent down and put them on. She slid the door open and stuck her head out. It was dark outside, but she could see the beautiful small pond and bridge with the trees and flowers growing around it. The moonlight was reflected on the pond's surface casting a bright glow onto the door.

Turning her head right and left, she slowly stepped outside and closed the door quietly behind her. She didn't know where she was or where she was going, but she just turned left and began to walk.

As she turned a corner, there were small oil-lamps lit on the walls, each one meticulously designed as those from ancient times. The light slashed across paintings of ancient demons and goddesses.

One picture showed of a battle between a huge demon with nothing but a shadow for a body and red glowing eyes that were filled with malice and hate.

A figure in white stood across from the demon atop a small mountainside so that she could be level with the demon. The sky over the demon was gray, while the sky over the goddess was pure white, shining brightly. So brightly, in fact, that the eyes of the goddess weren't painted, just the light.

The two deities' lights met in the middle, captured by the artist to be stuck that way for all eternity until either the demon or the goddess wins.

Hitomi felt that it was a great portrayal of inner struggles against the shadow inside of yourself and the light. The title of the portrait was written in gold letters on the frame of the picture.

See No Evil

Hitomi shivered slightly and rubbed her hands up and down over her arms. She forced herself to turn away from the picture and continued following the lights down the hallway. She didn't stop to look at any more pictures.

Soon, after a moment or two more of walking, she began to hear soft sounds that resembled grunts and…swords? She followed the sounds and stopped at another doorway just like the one she had walked out of minutes before. Slowly, hesitantly, she slid the door open and stepped inside. She stopped cold and her eyes widened. Two men were dressed in some kind of armor and were fighting with swords as if their lives depended on it. She couldn't seem to move or speak; she could only watch the two fight.

The lights in the room always seemed to flicker away from their forms, leaving them to fight in the dark, but they seemed to be used to it. They moved gracefully, almost like some kind of song. Their form, from what she knew of martial arts, was completely in sync with each other. Their shadows danced on the floor and walls, making the room look as though ghosts were locked in an ancient epic battle.

One of the men looked her way and Hitomi felt her eyes go wide as she recognized him to be Van Fanel. As she looked at the other man, she remembered him, as well. He was Allen Schezar. What in the world was going on? Where was she?

The two men bowed to one another and took off their armor. Allen took his and Van's to another room in the back and Van walked over to her. He must have seen her confusion on her face, because he gave her a slight grin. "Glad to see you're up," he said. "We were wondering if you were going to awake or if we needed to get you to the hospital."

She shook her head and seemed to come back to herself. She cleared her throat. "No—I mean, yes, I'm fine," she stuttered and cleared her throat again. "I don't need to go to the hospital. Are you okay?" she asked, remembering that it had been he and Allen and Amono who had saved her from the men in the ally.

"We're fine," he reassured her as Allen walked up to them. He gave a slight bow to Hitomi and smiled.

"My name is Allen Schezar, I am glad to see that you are well," he greeted formally.

Van rolled his eyes and gave Hitomi a smile. "He does that to every female he meets. Like that line actually works. And besides," he said to Allen in almost-exasperation, "she already knows who you are."

"What my small-brained friend doesn't understand, though, is that I haven't had the pleasure of actually meeting you," Allen responded. "It's a pity, really, that no one stops to express chivalry any longer in this day and age."

"Whatever," Van said. He turned back to Hitomi. "Are you sure you're okay? I mean you still look a little shaken up."

She wasn't shaken up; she was confused. They were talking and joking with her like they were all old friends. She had never been spoken to like that before. It made her have a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Um, I'm fine," she said again. "Thanks for saving me. I'm glad you didn't get hurt or, um, anything." She was stuttering again. Why couldn't she seem to stop?

If they noticed her sudden speech impairment, they chose to ignore it, to which she was very thankful.

"I'm sure your parents must be very worried," Allen was saying. "We tried to look for some kind of identification, but could find none. If you wish to call them and let them know that you are safe, I would be happy to show you where the main office is for some privacy."

"Um, no," Hitomi said. Even if her parents were home, they wouldn't care. They'd probably be glad to get rid of the freak that shadowed their perfect world. "I don't have anyone to call. My family is out of town for the weekend."

Allen nodded. "Very well, then shall we have some tea? It will help you to feel better."

"No, thank you," Hitomi said. "I really don't want to be any more of a bother. If you'll just show me where my things are, I'll be on my way."

"Nonsense," Allen said smoothly. "I insist that you share a cup of tea with us. It will help us to feel better about your state of health."

"Trust me," Van broke in. "You don't want to argue with him about his tea. The man can get a bit homicidal where health is concerned. He doesn't even drink coffee, just herbal tea. So you might as well agree."

"Um…"

What the hell, she thought. Maybe just this once.

"Okay, but just one cup," she agreed.

Allen nodded and reached to take her arm. She quickly shifted her weight and hoped that he wouldn't be offended. He merely carried on as if he hadn't reached for her in the first place. He led them through another door to the side of the room and out into the moonlight again. It truly was beautiful seeing the light reflecting on the water and the lily pads floating carelessly on the surface with the fish swimming silently below.

They walked over the small bridge and Hitomi noticed that the wood had engravings on it that must have taken years to complete. It was beautifully designed and crafted.

Allen led them to another small building and slid open the door. This room had designs of cranes and cherry blossoms across the walls and a beautiful dark-haired woman dressed in ancient Japanese robes painted on the ceiling. It the middle was a small table with large cushions for them to sit on.

"If the two of you will just wait right here, I'll be right back with our tea," Allen suggested and was gone, leaving Van and Hitomi alone.

Van walked over to the cushions and plopped down, propping his bare feet on the pillow next to him. Hitomi slipped out of her shoes and sat down as well, but with a bit more reserve. Silence stretched out. It didn't seem to be bothering him--he had his eyes closed and his hands behind his head—but it was suffocating to her.

"Um," she wanted to break the silence. "Thanks for saving me again. Not a lot of people would do that."

He didn't open his eyes but shrugged. "They were probably just some thieves thinking they had found an easy mark. No offense or anything, but a young woman walking alone, well, you know the rest."

Yes, she did. But she remembered the deep emotion of the knife, and knew that they hadn't been thieves.

They lapsed back into silence so she spoke up again. "So this is the famous dojo I'm always hearing about. It's very nice."

"Yeah, it's been apart of Tokyo for more than six hundred years." There was pride in his voice, and something else, something she couldn't name.

Before she could try and figure out what it was, the door slid open and Allen walked in with a tray. He set it down on the table and walked back to close the door.

When he came back he set glasses in front of Van and Hitomi and himself and poured the hot tea. When he was finished he kicked Van in the legs until the other boy set up with a sigh and sat down across from Hitomi.

"So, Hitomi," he said, "I understand that you were partnered with Van here—you poor thing—to do our science experiments in Biology. How's it going?"

She took a sip of her tea and set it back down before answering. "It's going okay, I guess, we haven't really done anything major, but I really like the class."

"I do, as well," Allen said. "I find that the study of the human body is a fascinating and complex thing to learn, but out new teacher seems to be making it come across quite well. I think I'm much more interested in Biology this year than last."

"Or you could just be gay," Van said smartly with a smirk.

Hitomi choked on the tea she was swallowing, but Allen just rolled his eyes. He slapped Van in the back of the head and handed Hitomi a napkin. "You mustn't pay any mind to him, he's an idiot."

Van rubbed the back of his head and glared at Allen, but when he turned his eyes to Hitomi, they were full of laughter. Hitomi gave a small smile in return.

An hour later, Hitomi was putting on her coat and grabbing her backpack. She found herself wishing she could stay for just a little longer, but she knew that if she got too comfortable, she might let her shields down and see something she wasn't supposed to.

"Thanks again, for saving me," she said, "and for the tea. It was good."

"You are most welcome," Allen said and gave a slight bow. "I wish you safety on your journey home."

"She'll be fine," Van interjected. He was putting on his coat and grabbing his things, as well. "Seeing as I'll be walking with her."

Alarm went through her. "What? You don't have to do that," she said quickly. "I can get home by myself."

"I know," Van said, "but you might get in trouble again on the way home and I wouldn't be there to save you again."

"But it's probably out of your way," Hitomi tried again. "I live on Blossom Lane."

"Well, that's just perfect," Allen said with a smile. "Van lives only a ten minute walk from Blossom Lane. Seeing as you both are going the same way, it would only be natural to walk together."

Hitomi opened her mouth, and then closed it. Fine. Let them do what they wanted to do. It wasn't like she could stop them.

"Great," Van said. "Let's get going then."

They said their goodbyes to Allen and walked out the front gates, Van locking it behind him. They walked in silence down the street until Van spoke. "You didn't take me seriously about what I said about Allen being gay or anything, did you?"

She shook her head, and then looked at him. "He's not, is he?"

Van let out a laugh. "No. He has a girlfriend, she's just in America visiting some of her family."

"Then why did you make that remark?" she wanted to know.

"We always joke like that," he replied. "It's just always for a laugh, and then we forget about it."

She nodded slowly. "Allen seems to be older than seventeen," she commented.

"He's going to be nineteen in a few months," Van said. "When he was ten he was in a really bad car accident and he spent a year relearning the uses of his limbs."

"Sounds really bad."

"He almost died," Van said soberly.

"Well, I glad he's all right," Hitomi said. "He's seems really nice."

"He is," Van said fondly. "He's just a bit too health conscious."

They turned the corner and passed by Brookdon Avenue. They were only two streets from Blossom Lane. "Hey, what did you mean that you had never shook hands before?" he suddenly asked.

"Huh?" she asked quietly. Oh, no, she thought. He knew something was up.

"The first time we met you said that you had never shaken hands before. How come?"

"I just, um, I don't meet a lot of new people," she said and quickened her pace.

"Whoa!" Van said, lengthening his stride. "Okay, drop subject, gotcha."

She slowed down into a walk again.

"I didn't mean to be rude or nosy or anything," he said conversationally. "I was just curious."

"Like I said," she responded. "I just don't meet a lot of people."

He shrugged. "Okay."

They reached Blossom Lane and stopped. "Thanks for walking me," Hitomi said.

"I'll walk you to your door," he insisted.

"That's all right," she said. "I can make it."

"Come on," he said with a smile. "If you can take all that crap Allen spews out, then you can at least let me walk you to the door. For my sake."

She sighed and nodded. "All right." They began to walk down the lane.

"You know," Van said. "You're a pretty strange girl."

She nodded again, this time downheartedly. "I know."

"I mean that as a compliment," Van said. "It's good to be strange. Too many people these days want to look like someone else, be someone else."

"Maybe they have good reason to want to be different than they are," Hitomi said softly.

"Nah," Van shook his head. "If people would just be happy with who they are, then so many people wouldn't be unhappy."

She shrugged. They stopped in front of her house and she got out her key. She put it in the lock and opened the door. She reached a hand in for the light switch, wondering if she was supposed to invite him in or something. Then she gasped in surprise as the light filled the house. "What…"

The house had been completely vandalized. Books were thrown on the floor carelessly, and the bookshelves had been turned over along with the coffee table. The couch and chairs had rips in them like someone had taken a knife to them.

And then a loud thump came from upstairs.

Well, what did you guys think? I hope you liked it!!