Part VII: The Encounter

Rowen could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing straight up. His senses were heightened, his mind in full battle mode; however, he had yet to be approached by whatever it was that followed him. He at last reached his apartment, and, pulling the door closed behind him, spoke in a loud, clear voice, "I know you've been following me! Show yourself!" He was almost surprised when he saw a shadow appear in the dark room before him. He suddenly began to panic, he could feel dark energy from the being, and realized he should have come up with a better plan; alerted the other Ronin perhaps.

"Do not fear me…" a female voice quivered.

Rowen was stunned. "Kayura?" he asked, switching the lights on. Indeed it was Kayura, clothed in a dirty kimono, her hair disheveled. "What happened to you?" he asked, surveying her.

"Oh no… I must look like a mess…" Kayura whispered, frantically smoothing her hair. "Wait… wait one minute…" she said. She held up the staff, and brilliant gold light surrounded her. When it dissipated, she was clothed in an elegant sea foam green kimono, and her hair was smooth. "There, that's better…" she murmured. Rowen eyed her warily, she seemed distracted, and the evil power he sensed had not faded at all.

"Kayura…" he began tentatively. "Why are you here?"

She looked up at him, tears forming in her eyes. "You are not… I mean… I thought that maybe… maybe you would be happy to see me…"

"It's not that I don't want to see you, but why? Why did you follow me? What do you want?" Rowen worded his sentences carefully, seeing that she was in a state of distress. "Has something happened?"

"Yes… something has…" She paused, and Rowen waited in silence. "I know what I want, and I am not afraid to admit it…" She dropped the staff and stepped towards him, until she was very close. She stared up at him, her hands reaching out towards his waist. "Rowen… you are what I want," she whispered. She stood on her toes, and angled her chin so that her face was almost level with his. She grasped him firmly by the waist and closed her eyes, leaning towards him. Rowen pulled back from her.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, backing into the door.

"I am talking about our love! Can you not feel it? Feel it all around you! Do not deny it, because I feel it, I feel the blazing in my heart! And so do you!" She pushed herself against him again, and attempted to kiss him. Rowen however, was too quick. He easily slid out from behind her. Rowen pushed Kayura against the wall, keeping her an arm's-length away from him. "Kayura! What do you think you're doing!"

"Rowen… don't… don't you love me?" she asked weakly.

"No Kayura, I don't…" he responded, firmly, yet gently. Tears flowed down Kayura's cheeks. She faced away from him.

"Not yet… but maybe soon…" she whispered, as violet light surrounded her and she, and the staff which lay on the floor, disappeared. Even though she was gone, he heard the next thing she said. "Definitely soon…"

"What?" Rowen exclaimed as he fell forward, his hands now leaning against the wall. "What is wrong with her? She… She thinks she's in love with me?"

Kayura reappeared in her room, sobbing. She fell to her knees; tears streaming down her face. "Why…?" she whispered. "Why does he not love me!" She knocked her fist against the tatami mat floor. "I can fix this, I can! I just need to concentrate!" She closed her eyes for a moment, but could not focus herself. "Why can I not concentrate!"

"In need of something Kayura?" a man's voice asked.

"Who… Who's there?" Kayura demanded. She looked up and saw Kale standing before her, clothed in his undergear as always.

"K…Kale… oh, um, hello," Kayura said, sitting up.

"Are you alright Kayura? Do you need something?" Kale asked, sitting beside her.

"Something… something's wrong with me Kale… I… I cannot focus…" she murmured. Kale reached over and touched her chin, turning her head so he could see her eyes. Within the dark orbs was a sort of fire.

"Kayura… have you been exposed to dark energy?" Kale demanded.

"Yes… at the coronation… I think…" she responded.

"This is bad! Kayura! Stay right there, I will get you something to calm you!" Kale shouted. He stood up and raced out of the room.

Kayura sat huddled in the corner of the room, tears falling from her eyes. "Why is this happening to me? I've been exposed to evil again, and after tonight… how can I possibly get Rowen?" As she spoke, a dark blue smoke filtered into the room. She did not notice it until it was upon her. As it hit her nostrils, she breathed deeply. Her eyes closed, and her body relaxed as she inhaled the smoke.

From behind the shoji screen door, a woman with bright red hair watched Kayura. "That's right Kayura, inhale the dark energy, become what you were."

Rowen stood in his kitchen, thinking about what had just happened. "What should I do about this? Kayura in love with me… it's insane! I can't believe this is happening! Why can't my life just settle down!" As Rowen ranted and raged, he blocked a thought from his mind, how embarrassed he would be to tell the Ronin about what had just happened.

Rowen sat down at the kitchen table, thoroughly frustrated. He looked down and saw the letter from Hachime Prep School. He stared at the picture of the school, the iron gate, the students. "Tokyo huh? Maybe it would be good to get away…" he whispered to himself, picking up the packet.

Kale returned, a cup of tea made with a blend of relaxing herbs in his hands. "Kayura! I have something for you!" he shouted. He was surprised however, to find Kayura not huddling or crying, but sitting in the middle of the room, meditating. A stick of incense created a smoky haze around her.

"It's alright Kale, I do not need that now. I am fine," Kayura said without opening her eyes.

Kale regarded her suspiciously, and as he walked out, he glanced at her once more. Then he closed the shoji screen behind him, all the while shaking his head. "Something is not right… I just know it…" Kale whispered.

As the door closed, Kayura opened her eyes. Her irises were glowing with fervent dark energy. She stared at the closed door, and smiled.


That was short, but it's all starting to pick up now! I hope you enjoyed it. Please review!

Sarah Shima