Chapter 12
Rylea was breathing hard when she came out from behind the parked car she had been hiding behind ---her eyes searched the parking lot to make sure that her father was really gone before she bolted for the exit out of the underground parking lot. The glare of the sun made her wince as she entered out into the crowded sidewalk of Toyama from the dimly lit parking lot. She ran down the sidewalk, her feet pounding loudly on the cement in tune with her beating heart. Confusion, pain and betrayal were among the few things that registered in her mind, clouding her every thought as she just ran ---not really having a destination or place that she wanted to go. Rylea ignored the sideway glances and shouts she got from the people she bumped into or almost ran over ---she was too wrapped up in her thoughts to even care or pay them any attention.
The dark haired girl was startled from her thoughts when an arm wrapped around her waist, making her jerk forward from the sudden motion; stopping her from running any farther. Immediately her mind started racing with the possibility that the arm belonged to her father and in return she elbowed the person in the stomach and turned around with a raised fist, ready to punch the unidentified human behind her.
"Hey!"
Rylea blinked rapidly, clearing her vision as her mind registered who the voice belonged to before the image of the person's face became clear ---the person wasn't her father as she had first thought. The person doubled over clutching his stomach chuckled as if amused by her reaction, smiling as he stood up. "We really need stop meeting like this," Tadin told her; his face lit up with a cool and easy smile.
"Tadin," Rylea choked out as she buried her face in his chest, tears streaming down her face and falling onto the young man's shirt.
The dingy blond blinked in utter confusion at her before a frown started to crease his forehead. He didn't know what had happened or what was wrong, but knew enough to know that she was obviously upset about something. "What's wrong?" he asked her sincerely as he wrapped his arm around her in condolence, taken back by how concerned he felt for her ---when she didn't reply to his question he frowned more. "Come on," he said to her as he gently started to lead her away. "I know a place where we can go that's a little more private." Rylea nodded her head solemnly, wiping her tears away as she allowed the dingy blond to lead her away ---not really caring where he was taking her as long as it was away from her father and her problems.
Tadin lead Rylea to the outskirts of the city where the penthouse he shared with Adian, Sato and a few other lower ranked demons was. The girl who walked along side him said nothing as she kept her face lowered, her bangs hiding her eyes and the tears he knew were still there. Once inside he ushered her over to the three-section couch that sat in front of the big screen tv they had five finger discounted from a local electronics store a while back. Tadin did a quick sweep of the area with his senses, checking to make sure that none of the other tenants of the house were there ---giving a silent praise that the place was completely empty, he'd have a hard time explaining to them why she was there and not with Sirous. With his scan done, he flicked his gaze back over onto the dark haired girl slouched over with her forearms resting on her knees ---hands clasped together as if she were praying. Her shaggy dark brown-black hair hung over her shoulders as her wild bangs hung in her face, acting as a shield for her.
The young hybrid felt confusion come over him at how concerned he felt for the girl he was supposed to cross over and corrupt to the side of evil, supposed to make her one of them even if she didn't want to become one. Pushing the thoughts of compassion from his mind he cleared his throat and sat down next to her, setting his blue eyes on her as he thought of something to say to start a conversation. "Ah," he stuttered out while he pondered over what to say. "Do you want to tell me what happened to get you so upset?"
No reply came from Rylea, she didn't even so much as give him the slightest inclination that she was even listening to him. Tadin frowned more as he reached out to brush back her bangs from her face, trying to get a better look at what expression she had there now. Rylea didn't flinch away from him, actually allowing him to tuck her hair back behind her ear as she simply kept a livid and almost wounded glare pointed at the wood floor ---tears still present in her vivid blue eyes. "Lea," Tadin tried again, taken back by how sincere he sounded but ignored it. "What's wrong and I want an answer. Don't just tell me its nothing or you're fine because you're not. You look like someone who has a lot of troubles on her mind."
Rylea scoffed at his statement as a light smirk came to her lips. Tadin didn't know the half of all her problems. "You're right, I do have a lot of problems on my mind," she replied and turned her bright blue gaze on him. "Where do you want me to start? How bout I start way back to when my Mother died and I was left to die along with her or when I found out that I was destined to become what my father once was. Or do you mean for me to tell you that my father, the one person I trust and love more than any person on this wretched planet, just hurt me in more ways then he will ever know. Is that what you want to hear about, Tadin?!" New tears welled in her blue eyes as she ranted off to the surprised dingy blond who only blinked at her in startled confusion, "Well is it?!"
"Rylea I-"
"Didn't know?" she finished for him cynically, her eyes flashing dangerously at him as she turned her body sideways to face him. "Didn't know what? That my Mother is dead? That my life isn't as peachy keen as everybody likes to think it is? That I'm cursed to follow in my father's foot steps? That my life has been nothing but an up and down hill roller coaster since the day my Mother was viciously murdered? Which one was it, Tadin?"
Tadin just eyed the obviously enraged girl as she ranted off about the problems in her life. He didn't know what her father had done that could have hurt her this badly, Ryo hadn't given him the impression that he was that kind of father. As to her Mother, Tadin really hadn't known that she was dead. No one had told him that and he figured that she was just out when he had been over to her house that one day. Understanding for her situation filled him now. He himself had lost his Mother, along with his Father and whole family when he was young ---the only difference was he had no memories of any of them. In fact, he really didn't know that he had ever had a family to begin with. The only Mother figure he had ever had in his life was Lucinda, the demon woman who had taken him in as a young child. It had been years now since he had seen Lucinda and Tadin wasn't really sure as to how she was.
Meeting the tear filled vivid blue eyes of the dark skinned girl who sat next to him, he said as sincerely as he could, "I'm sorry Lea. I didn't know about your Mother and I didn't know that you had that many complications in your life."
"Heh," she huffed out and snapped her head away from the blond to point her gaze now at the wall as she swallowed the lump in her throat. "I don't want or need your pity. Save it for someone who does."
"Look," Tadin said sternly, getting tired of her stubborn behavior. He was trying to console her the best he knew how and she wasn't making it any easier on him. "I know what it's like to lose someone close to you. I'm not trying to put pity on you or give you my sympathy, I'm simply trying to help you. You're upset and I hate seeing you like this."
Rylea eyed the dingy blond, staring back at his unshaken and almost unnerving gaze. He meant what he said and she knew that, some how she just knew. This guy who she had barely known more than two weeks was actually concerned about her and trying to make her feel better the best he could. But why? Why would someone who you didn't know well enough to call a good friend waste his time on trying to sort out your problems? To take the time to say I care and want to help you. Immediately though, Rylea's emotional road blocks came into play and she shut herself down from Tadin ---not wanting for him to see her as weak or accept his help in any way. Accepting help from anyone was seen as a sign of weakness to her and Rylea Sanada was far from weak, or at least that's what she tried to portray to everyone. "Why do you care?" she threw back at the blond with a pointed glare, confusion melted across her face as she furrowed her brows into a slant.
Her question took him by surprise because Tadin didn't really know why he cared. He shouldn't and really wasn't supposed. Maybe he was starting to feel for this girl. The girl he would soon be turning, claiming a prize on for a job well done. Could that be true though? Could Tadin actually have feelings for Rylea? "I-I" he stuttered out as he searched for the right words. "I don't know. I guess because I know where you're coming from and can relate to you, I feel like I should. I really don't know how to put it in words."
An uncomfortable silence fell over the two young teens. Neither really didn't know what else to say to the other or didn't feel that what they wanted to say was the right thing to bring up at that moment. After a while of the uncomfortable silence, Rylea rubbed her arms in a nervous fashion before then standing up from her seat on the couch next to the young man. "I think I'd better get going," she stated quietly, almost mumbling, while walking back over to the door. Tadin frowned in confusion at Rylea before getting up and following after her.
"Why? Was it something I said?" he asked her, demanding an answer from her even if it wasn't the reply he wanted to hear.
Rylea turned around to face him at the door, half way standing in the door way on her way out, "No, you didn't do anything," she replied and then turned back to the door and began to exit it once again. "Arigatou for listening to me, Tadin-san."
The young hybrid allowed himself a slight smile, in what he considered to be, triumph as he watched her fleeing form disappearing into the now dark streets. He had overcome that boundary blocking him from gaining her trust and now he had it. He had her trust and he had her right where he wanted her. All that was left was for the word to come from Sirous and then the glory and fame would be all his ---but did he still want it? Did Tadin really still feel the need to turn her or was his feelings starting to change?
Hours had passed since the time Rylea had run off from her father til now. Night had fallen as the dark haired man paced the floors of his front room in his worry and anxiety. Kento, who was a cop for the Toyama Police Department, had been called in to search for her ---so far no news of her being found had come up. Ryu sat on the couch, watching his father pace with a sense of humor and perplexity. The brown haired young man chuckled as he listened to his father's babbling to himself, sure that if he paced any longer he was going to wear a hole in the floor. "Dad," he said to him, trying to keep the mirth from his voice as he scolded his worrying father. "Why don't you sit down before you wear a hole in the floor and then really have something to complain about."
"I can't," Ryo shot back at his son, not bothering to stop his persistent pacing as he continued to mumble things to himself. "I shouldn't have yelled at her like that, damn my temper. Gods why did I grab her? Stupid, stupid thing to do."
"Dad," Ryu reprimanded him again. "Stop beating your self up over this. If you ask me, it's about time you started disciplining her more efficiently. Besides, she'll be home soon. Where else can she go where someone won't call you as soon as she shows up?"
Ryo stopped his pacing to throw an annoyed glare over at his son. Although he did have a point about the coming home part. Outside of the family circle where else could she go? She'd have to come home evidentially, unless something were to happen to her. Ryo squashed the thought of that happening as quickly as it came across his mind, that was the last thing he needed to be thinking about now. He instead flicked his gaze from his son on the couch to his faithful white tiger who lay at Ryu's feet. Whiteblaze, besides Ryu, seemed to be the only one keeping his cool. The tiger was acting as if nothing were wrong. Ryo smirked in thought, now why can't I act more like Blaze? Just be laid back and act like I have not a care in the world. Maybe because I'm a human and not a cat and have the responsibility of taking care of a lazy son and a hot headed daughter.
Whiteblaze's ears perked up at the sounds of the front door opening and closing, followed by two pairs of feet ---this brought Ryo from his thoughts as he glanced over his shoulder in the direction the door would be. He glanced over at Ryu quickly to shoot him a hopeful smile before then quickly zipping around the wall that separated the two rooms. Coming around the corner he was met by the sight of Kento in his police uniform, complete with gun and all, as the ash-blue haired man came walking from the door. "Whoa," Kento said and held up his hands to ward Ryo off. "Don't rush me like that man. I could've pulled my gun out on instinct and shot ya."
"Where's Lea Kento?" Ryo asked him, skipping over the joke Kento had made to try and make him smile. His voice was almost pleading sounding as he searched the small hallway for his daughter. "Did you find my daughter?"
Kento sighed as he took one step to his left, revealing a nervous and almost cowering Rylea standing behind him. Her clothes that she wore were grungy, dirty and had grease stains on them from crouching on the cement ground of the parking lot as she hid behind cars to keep from being seen by her father. Ryo's expression on his face brightened at the sight of his daughter's safe and visibly unharmed return. "Lea! Thank God you're ok, koibito," he exclaimed while rushing to gather his daughter in his arms.
Rylea in turn stepped back away from him and behind her uncle, seemingly cowering from the man she striking resembled. Ryo stopped in his tracks, frowning at his daughter's actions in bewilderment. He didn't understand why she was acting like that towards him. Yeah, he figured that she'd be mad at him and probably wouldn't be talking to him for a while, but he hadn't thought that she would be acting like this towards him. Ryu came around the corner then, walking up behind his father with a smile at his sister as if nothing were wrong. His smile faded at the expressions from the three people in the hallway though as confusion slowly replaced it. The young man looked from one person to the other, silently asking for an answer as to what was going on.
Ryo stared at his daughter with questioning eyes, not understanding and almost hurt by her actions. "Lea I-" he started and stopped when he found him self at a loss of words. What could he say to her?
"Ah," Kento said as he reached behind him to gently lay a hand on his niece's back, trying to assure her that she was going to be ok with a warm smile. "Why don't you go ahead and go with Rye, sweetie. Your uncle Kento will have a chat with your Dad for you and make things right again, k?" He winked at her as Rylea nodded solemnly and took her brother's outstretched hand to walk with him up to her room ---not even giving her father a sideways glance as she passed him.
Ryo gaped after her in stunned disbelief before turning inquiring eyes on Kento. The large, oriental man sighed audibly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Ryo man, you've really done it this time," he told him flat out, not even wanting to beat around the bush with him. "I had to beg her to get in the car so I could take her home. She just didn't want to come here."
"Thanks Kento," Ryo replied angrily. "make me feel worse why don't you."
"Sorry Ryo, but I had to tell you," he said and then laid a hand on his shoulder in condolence. "Look, I don't know the whole story of what went on between you two Ryo, but I know that whatever you did really hurt her."
"Like I couldn't already figure that out? A lot of good you're doing me Kento."
"Hey," he replied with raised arms. "I'm just stating the facts. Look, if it makes you feel any better, I think that a little talking and apologizing might set everything right again. I know the girl loves ya too much to really hold a grudge. Then again.... this is Lea we're talking about here."
"Well, thanks Dr. Phil. I will do that. As soon as I can get her to look at me I'll try and beg her to forgive me for my stupid mistake, ok?" Ryo ranted to the ash-blue haired man as he threw his arms up in exasperation at the whole situation, feeling almost lost and confused.
"You do that," Kento replied with a grin as he patted his shoulder and opened the front door. "I'll talk to you later, Ryo. Ja Ne." With that Kento walked out of the door and then closed it behind himself, leaving Ryo alone now in the hallway by the front door.
Ryo walked back into the now deserted front room; he was feeling more miserable then he had before Rylea had been brought home. He still couldn't understand why she had acted as if she were afraid of him. Could what he had done upset her that badly? He sighed as he slumped down onto the couch, putting his head in his hands as he thought over how he was ever going to make things right again ---if he could ever make things right again with her that is.
A few hours later Ryo clicked off the tv and rubbed at his eyes tiredly. He hadn't really been watching it anyway and didn't think he could even if he tried. He glanced up with tired eyes at his daughter's room, frowning at the closed door that seemed to act as a barrier between him and her. Sighing to himself he decided that he should at least go and check to make sure that she was ok and still in her room, even if she wasn't talking to him at that time. Quietly he made his was from the front room, up the stairs and down the hall to Rylea's room. As silently as he could he opened her door, light from downstairs pouring in to illuminate the darkness that incased it. Ryo smiled lightly as he walked into the room on silent feet ---Whiteblaze's head shot up from where it had laid on his paws to see who the intruder was, which then made Rylea stir in her sleep.
Ryo reached out and patted the tiger to let him know who he was and then looked down at his sleeping daughter as Whiteblaze settled back down on the bed, content that the intruder was family and not a stranger. Gently as to not wake her, he sat down on the bed next to her ---just watching her slowly breathe for a while as he thought over what he was going to do. He smiled softly and reached out to gently brush back her unruly bangs from her face that hung over her eyes. After a while of silence Ryo decided to finally break that as he spoke softly to the sleeping child. "I am so sorry koibito," he whispered to her sleeping form, not really caring if she could hear him or not but felt that he had to say something for his own self. "I wish I could take back what I did. I really do."
Only the quiet stillness of the room came as his answer and he had anticipated he'd get that reply. Ryo smiled sadly as he leaned down to kiss the side of her face, lying his forehead gently against hers. "I really am," he whispered to her again. Rylea in turn stirred in her sleep suddenly, stretching her arms and legs before rolling over onto her side. Ryo smiled at her actions, gently brushing her hair from around her face again as it fell right back into the place it had been in before. It still didn't seem real to him in some way. It seemed like a dream to Ryo, he couldn't, or didn't want to, believe that he could have actually hurt his daughter with his own hands ---had watched as she ran from him as if he were some horrible person that she had to get away from. Watched her struggle to get away from him as if he were the enemy to her. It made him feel more and more angry with himself for what he had done the more he thought about it. He had to smile though when he thought about how skillfully she had taken down and evaded two experienced Ronin Warriors, but his brief humor quickly faded away as the thoughts of that day came creeping back to him.
All Ryo really wanted to do right then was hug her. Just scoop her up into his arms and hold her close while begging for her to forgive him, but instead he just sat there ---sat there watching her sleep for the longest time. He hadn't even known he had been there for so long until his eyes began to droop closed with the wanting of sleep. Rubbing his eyes as if to try and erase the sleep that he knew he needed, Ryo gave his daughter one last kiss good night before getting up and trudging out of her room with slouched, almost defeated looking posture.
Once the door had been shut and Ryo had gone, Rylea opened her eyes and stared off into the darkness that incased her room once again. She'd heard everything her father had said to her and a part of her deep down believed every word he had said. She believed that he was actually sorry and felt remorse for what he had done. Believed that maybe he hadn't really meant to do it and would take it back if he could. Immediately Rylea felt terrible about the way she had treated her father. Thinking that maybe she had over reacted and if she had just stayed and worked it out with him then maybe they wouldn't be in the mess they were in now. Somehow now it had gone from being her father's fault for the way she had acted to now being her fault in some small little way. Sighing and promising herself that tomorrow they would talk it all out, Rylea rolled over onto her other side ---snuggling close to Whiteblaze as if he were a stuffed animal as she tried to fall back asleep once again.
A few days had passed since the episode with Rylea and Ryo. Now everything was back to normal with the two. The sun was setting now, still high in the sky but was slowly starting on its descent. Ryo walked out onto his back porch, shouting out to his daughter, "Rylea!"
Rylea dropped her katanas to her side with an agitated growl as she glanced over her shoulder at her father and shouted back, "Nani?!"
Ryo allowed himself a slight smirk at her, "Your brother and I are going out to take care of some business. Will you be ok while we're gone?"
Rylea chortled ruefully at his question as she turned around completely to look at her father who stood on the porch in front of her, "Dad, how old am I?"
"Maturity wise or age wise?" he asked back sarcastically, smiling at the face she made at him.
"So not funny Dad."
Ryo smiled as Ryu came up beside him and smirked out at his little sister. "Oh I don't know," Ryu said as he pretended to ponder over it. "I thought it was pretty funny actually."
Rylea glared at her brother threateningly, "Yeah, well who asked you?"
Ryu smirked back arrogantly at his little sister, "Nobody, but I didn't ask for a bratty sister and still got one so I think its fair."
"Shut up!" Rylea retorted back angrily, not liking his comment about her at all.
"And I didn't ask for either of you, but I still got you two," Ryo added and both of his children went quiet. Glancing between the two sternly he then continued to reprimand them both for their behavior, "Lea, I was just asking a simple question. A yes Dad I'll be fine would have been sufficient and Rye, the comment wasn't necessary."
Rylea stuck her tongue out childishly at Ryu who in turn glared back and mouthed promises of enduring pain and torture to her. Ryo sighed and glanced up at the heavens briefly as he mouthed 'why', before looking back at his two children with a not so amused expression. "Ok, now lets try this again. Lea, your brother and I will be gone for a while. Will you be ok here by yourself?" he repeated his first question to her again, expecting the right answer from her this time.
Rylea grinned sweetly at him in return as she swayed from side to side, "Hai, Daddy I'll be fine here by myself. I'm a big girl now and I think I can kick an intruders butt if I need to."
Ryu chuckled at his sister as his father shook his dark head in mirth, wondering how he'd ended up with two brain damaged kids. "Must you always be sarcastic?" he asked her back.
"Yeah, if I wasn't then it just wouldn't be me," she replied with a triumphant, wide smile.
"Right, how silly of me to ask," Ryo retorted with a roll of his tiger blue eyes. "Ok, we'll be back soon. Come on Rye." Enough said to his daughter, Ryu and Ryo turned and began to walk to the parked car in the driveway.
A foreboding feeling of dread over came Rylea as she watched her brother and father walk away from her. Something in the back of her mind clicked and she had this terrible feeling that she wouldn't see them again. "Dad wait!" she shouted and dropped her katanas to run to her father.
"Hm?" Ryo replied as he turned around to be met with his daughter throwing her arms around him, making him stumble back before catching his footing again. Taken back her actions Ryo just stared down at her blankly. "Rylea, sweetie, I'm just going into town. Its not like I'm not coming back," he told her with a smile coming to his face.
"I know," she mumbled back, still holding onto him as if for dear life.
Ryo glanced over at Ryu for help who only shrugged and then back down at his daughter, "Jouchan, do you want to come with us? You don't have to stay here you know."
Rylea shook her head no as she stepped back from her father, "No, you guys go ahead. I'll be fine, I've got Whiteblaze here." The large feline walked up next to her at the mention of his name, rubbing his giant head against the girl's thigh with a purr.
Ryo smiled and patted the tiger's head, "You watch over my little girl, ok Blaze?" Whiteblaze purred back as his answer and Ryo smiled in understanding.
"We going Dad?" Ryu asked impatiently from where he sat in the car ready to go.
"Yeah, we're going," he replied over his shoulder to his son before walking towards the car and getting in. "Ja Ne Lea, we'll be back soon," he told her while pulling out of the driveway. Rylea waved to them as they left, not knowing that it may have been the last time she'd ever see her father and brother.
Smiling once again, Rylea picked up her katanas to resume her training that had been interrupted. The large tiger following after her, laying down on the grass as he watched her stop and position herself in a pose he had seen Ryo use many times before. Rylea stood out in the middle of her backyard, katanas in hand, one hand held out in front of her while the other was positioned on her side diagonally. Her eyes were closed as she tried to clear her mind of all thoughts. Whiteblaze watched her from where he laid on the grass. He didn't really understand what she was doing, but he had been ordered by Ryo to watch her and watch her he would.
All of a sudden the quiet stillness that surrounded the two was interrupted when Rylea let out a battle cry and started attacking the air around her in fluid, practiced movements. Whiteblaze stared at her as if she had gone crazy before remembering that it was part of her training and settled himself back down on the grass to watch his young mistress fight her imaginary foe.
"Hi-ya!" Rylea shouted, bringing one of her katanas down on her imaginary adversary. She then swung around gracefully as if she were doing a dance, stopping with her right hand raised with the katana held straight out in the air. Breathing hard, she smiled and exclaimed happily, "Ha! Take that Rye!"
Whiteblaze stretched as he yawned, the tiger's long claws extending from his large paws. Rylea strolled past him, stopping at the back door to the house to drop her katanas on the porch before walking inside. Whiteblaze got up and followed after her, walking up to the door after her to only find the door slammed in his face. Whiteblaze backed away from the door, staring at it in confused astonishment before deciding to settle down next to it instead of trying to get his absent minded owner to open it for him.
Inside, Rylea stretched her arms, loosing the muscles she had just used while practicing. She stopped suddenly, sensing something in the house with her. Her eyes darted around the room she was in, trying to find the intruder. The young girl's muscles began to tense with the feeling of a fight coming ---a predatory feeling rushed over her. That feeling like she was playing cat and mouse and she was the tiger in the game. Her lips curled into a smirk with out her knowing while she quietly slipped over to the wall ---pressing herself against it, trying to flatten herself out as much as she could. Her breathing became slow and silent as all of Rylea's senses went on heightened alert. Her ninja instincts told her to blend in, become as stealthy as a tiger and find her enemy and that she did.
Slowly with graceful, quiet steps Rylea made her way to the edge of the wall that divided the kitchen from the living room. She could feel her blood start to race through her veins while she peeked her head around the corner ---her eyes searched the dimly lit room for her enemy. Her body was on fire from the inside out and her fire pendant crackled and thrummed against her chest. Without knowing, she wrapped her fingers tightly around the smooth, but warm metal as a feeling of strength came alive within her.
Quickly Rylea slipped from the wall and crouched down next to the armrest of the couch in the next room of the house. Her adrenaline was pumping, coursing its self throughout her body ---she could feel the presence stronger then before now. Someone was here, in her house and she was going to find that person. Rylea pressed her self against the side of the couch more ---trying to blend in with it when her ears picked up the sound of silent feet. Someone was walking towards her from behind the couch and whoever this person was didn't want her to hear them.
She grinned, loving this game of cat and mouse. This person was on her territory ---she was the tiger and this person was about to become her prey. What an idiot. Think I don't hear ya, think again. You picked the wrong girl to mess with. The wrong girl pal. The sound of padding feet was getting closer to where she was positioned by the couch. Rylea's heart began to beat faster with anticipation. She clenched her hands into fists, getting ready to fight. That inner predator in her was out, that inner warrior was there and ready to kick some butt.
The footsteps came closer and closer. Rylea stayed where she was though, waiting for the right moment to strike. She was the hunter and he was the prey. Come on, come on. Closer and closer, step by step. That's it, just a few more. Come on. Step by step, closer and closer until.....
"Hi-ya!" Rylea shouted, leaping from her spot by the couch to attack the person. Her hand came out in a lethal swing but came in contact with no one. Rylea blinked, searching the room for the person she knew was there. "What's going on? I know there was someone here," she pondered out loud, baffled by her finding no one. "I don't get it. Huh," Her senses screamed out a warning that something was behind her and she turned around ---barely missing the fist that was aimed at her head.
Rylea jumped back away from her attacker, assuming one of the many ninja stances her father had taught her. Her eyes came to rest on her attacker and at first she thought she was seeing things. Rylea's attacker wasn't human, but a monster. The thing was an olive color with two horns protruding from his head. His fingers were more like long claws and were quite sharp looking ---a crinkly mess of red hair clung to the top of its head.
Rylea reeled back in horror from not only the sheer ugliness of the thing but from the stench as well. It smelled like rotting eggs and garbage. "Ew, what are you?" she asked the thing in front of her.
The thing only let out a gurgling sound from deep within its throat, "I'm the one who's going to bring you back and claim the glory for it."
"Back? Back where?" Rylea inquired as she blinked in baffled confusion before laughing as it all set in. "Oh I get it. This is some kind of a test. Ok, ok, I get it, Rye. Where's Dad?"
The monstrous creature blinked, confused by her questions. Rylea laughed nervously after seeing that, "Rye come on, you can stop now. Jokes over, ha ha you two got me. Dad you can come out now."
"Enough of your foolish babbling. You are mine hybrid," the creature stated and lunged for the dark haired girl in front of him.
Rylea quickly sidestepped him though, wincing when the thing crashed into the lamp on the coffee table ---sending it crashing to the ground with a loud smashing sound. "Hey pal, I am not getting blamed for that one," she stated to the thing angrily as she pointed to the now destroyed lamp. "Do you have any idea what my Dad's going to say when he sees that?"
The creature got up from where he had fallen on the floor, coming at Rylea with a furry of slashes, punches and screams. Rylea dodged all of them skillfully, barely missing being slashed to pieces a few times though. The noise coming from inside awoke the sleeping feline on the back porch. Whiteblaze climbed to his feet and paced by the back door, roaring and trying to find a way to get inside.
Not caring about what would happen, the tiger jumped through the window and collided with the kitchen table. Shaking his head to rid himself of the fuzziness that clouded his vision, he searched for his young mistress. Spying her and the creature that was attacking her, Whiteblaze roared and lunged for the monster. Landing on top of it he sunk his teeth into the thing who let out a yelp of pain in reply.
Rylea, seeing that the tiger had come to her aid, took her chance and ran for the backdoor ---flinging it open and headed for the woods that surrounded her house. Her heart was pounding loudly in her ears as something in the back of her mind kept telling her that something was familiar about all of this ---something that she couldn't quite grasp. Rylea blindly ran through the trees, not sure where she was going but knew that she had to get as far away from the house and that thing as she possibly could. Running into the opening in the woods she stopped and surveyed her surroundings. Something about this clearing felt oddly and almost terrifyingly familiar to her. The sound of a twig snapping alerted her senses to something or someone behind her. "Who's there?!" she demanded while whirling around to look behind herself.
"Well, this place sure does bring back memories," a male's voice floated to her ears from somewhere among the trees that surround the clearing.
"What are you talking about?" Rylea retorted, whirling around again to look behind herself. She gasped when she found the outline of a person standing behind her, half hidden from view by the trees and bushes before everything just went black and the dark haired girl crumpled to the ground like a rag doll.
A/N: Ok, I know that I don't have anyone else in this besides the Sanada family, Tadin and a cameo appearance from Kento, but I had to get all of this in here so that I could get this story rolling. The next chapter will have more of the girls in it, (I hope) along with Leinto. Special thanks to Two-BitGortez, Sifirela, Rogue and Morgan Ray. More chaps to come soon.