Chapter 5
A Haunting Past

She could hardly sleep. All through the night she had dreams about the time she spent with Hyoujin clan. She got up out of bed and got dressed, unable to shake off the affect of the dream. She didnít know where the memories had come from, but she felt a lingering presence in the air. Something familiar that was following her around.

Picking up the star necklace, the only possession she held dear, she froze when she say a shadow move in itís silvery reflection. She whirled around, looking out the window to see if someone was there, but found nothing. She latched the necklace on and exited her room, scanning the hallway that was equalling void of any person.

No one else was up yet, the house dead quiet. But she still had the feeling that someone was around, a shadow that moved silently through day. Her instincts told her to go the garden, which she gave into, deciding to run instead of walking silently.

Her feet patted down the wooden floor, stopping at the entrance to the garden, where a figure stood beside the pond. He had his back turned towards her, his long black hair pulled back in a high ponytail, and a sword slung over his back. He glance over his shoulder, followed by the rest of his body.

She had thought that he was dead, yet there he stood before her.

She wanted to shout his name, but it came out as a whisper. ìMakoto...î

ìI finally found you.î

ìMako, I thought you were dead.î

ìFor awhile, I did too.î

She walked over to him. Despite all the pain he had put her through, she was still glad to see him alive and well. She came within three feet of him, when his sword came thrashing out, cutting a slice of her sari off.

She took a step back, confused as to why had had lashed out at her.

ìItís all your fault,î he said behind glaring eyes.

ìWhat is?î

ìThe destruction of The Hyoujin. Itís all your fault. If you would have just disposed of the Gundams like you were suppose to none of this would have happened.î

ìMako, it wasnít my fault. They knew I was coming. Someone tipped them off...î

ìSilence! I donít want to hear any of your excuses! All Iíve ever done is indulge you. I took care of you, killed for you. And you disappear without a trace. When I first found out that you were still alive, I was actually happy.î

He walked towards her, with the same threatening look he had given all his other opponents. Normally, she would stand her ground, but with him, she was paralyzed.

ìBut I come here and what do I find? Youíre helping the very people you were suppose to stop!î

Before she could react his hand stroke across her face, causing her to fall to her hands and knees. She was too shocked to move, even as his hand shot out and wrapped around her neck, lifting her up enough to force her to look him in the eyes.

ìNow I understand. You did it all for him. That worthless Gundam pilot!î His other hand yanked on the chain around her neck, pulling off the necklace and throwing it into the pond.

ìI should have killed him the first time he showed up. But soon Iíll fix that. Iíll kill them all. Everything that you love, everyone that you know, until you end my miserable life.î

He threw her down to the ground, releasing his hold on her and vanishing on to the roof, leaving her distraught and in tears.

ìKasen!î shouted Quatre from across the garden. She didnít dare look up, ashamed to be seen in such a state. She knew that they would never take her seriously now.

ìKasen are you alright? We heard shouting,î he said as he sat next to her, ìCome on, let me help you up.î

She lifted her head to see him with his hand outstretched with the same cheerful smile he always had.

ìNo..you canít help me..No one can.î She stood up on her own, walking over to the pond and sitting down on a rock.

Swimming on the surface was her necklace, the broken chain swirling around. She picked it up and clutched it near her heart. It was the only thing she had left to remind her of her parents.

Duo sat next to her, facing the opposite direction.

ìHe hates me.î

ìWho does?î

ìMakoto. Itís all my fault...î She tried to reel back in the tears, ìI need to be alone for awhile.î

ìAre you sure?î

She just nodded her head, staring at the water.

ìAlright,î he said as he stood up and joined Quatre, ìCome on Quatre.î

They left her alone, as she conteplated what to do. She knew she couldnít run from him. He would chase her to the end of the world. At the same time, she could not bring herself to face him. To watch his life fade away from the end of her sword.

Iíll kill them all. Everything that you love, everyone that you know, until you end my miserable life.

His cruel words replayed in her mind, leaving her with no alternative. She stood up, determined to keep going, even if it meant fighting him. Even if it meant killing him.

ìI hope Kasen is okay,î said Quatre, ìWho was that guy?î

ìRemember when she mentioned that other ninja? His name is Makoto. He showed up here,î said Duo.

ìI wonder what happened between the two of them?î

ìThat necklace...Iíve seen it somewhere before...î

ìWhat necklace?î

ìThe star pendant. I know Iíve seen it before, just canít remember where.î

ìMaybe we should go check on her.î

ìNo need,î he said once he had looked up to see Kasen standing in the doorway.

She had completely changed her attire, doning black harem pants with slits along the sides and gathered in the middle. Green fabric covered her cest, layered over by a maroon tunic that was buttoned halfway up. Her hair was pulled back, with some loose strands framing her face. Hanging from a black ribbon, bound tightly around her neck was the star pendant.

ìHey I was only teasing about the clothes,î said Duo.

ìItís not that. Itís Makoto. I have to face him no matter what.î

ìWhy?î

ìBecause heíll chase me to the end of the world if I donít.î

ìI see. Itís personal.î

She nodded her head in agreement.

ìThen itís none of our business.î

She looked surprised. ìYour not going to bombbard me with questions?î

ìNope.î

She smiled in relieve, glad that they were so understanding. ìThank you.î

Night had fallen, but Duo couldnít sleep. Something about the way the shadows moved. They contorted and leapt in strange way. Strange for animate objects. He decided to go outside, taking a pistol with him just in case. He made his way to the garden, where he found the shadow dancer.

She moved gravefully, not disturbing a single plant or rock in her path, as her sword sliced the air and come behind her neck in a pose. Crounching low to the ground like a tiger ready to pounce, she brought the sword back in front of her and lunged the blade forward, twirling around with another stab to the invisible target.

ìIs this the reason you sleep so late?î

She turned around, not sure how to answer his question. She wished that it was the reason. ìNo not exactly.î

ìYou think heíd be dumb enough to show up a second time in one day?î

ìOf coarse he will. He doesnít expect me to fight him.î She sat down on a rock, looking up at the stars. ìIt must be so easy for you.î

ìWhat do you mean?î

ìTo kill someone. All you have to do is pull the trigger. You donít have to stare the person in the eyes. See that horrible look in their face.î

ìYeah I suppose your way is harder.î

ìNo, the hardest thing is to not kill. To not pull that trigger.î She smiled at him, hoping he would get the hint.

ìItís kinda strange to hear this speech from a ninja.î

ìIím not a ninja at heart, and I never wil be. I value life too much.î

ìYouíre not gonna kill him, are you?î He said it though he knew the answer.

ìNo. He has rescued me many times before, and even though he wants me dead, I feel like I have to save him.î

ìWhat if he canít be saved?î

She looked at the ground for a moment, not really wanting to accept that, but she knew it was the most likely outcome. ìThen I will do what I have to.î

He figured he couldnít expect anything more from her. The two seemed to have been close at one time, but something tore them apart. Something that couldnít be healed with words, if at all.

He smiled and headed back to his room. ìGoodnight Kasen.î

ìGoodnight.î She said softly. Her sweet voice was such a starch contrast from her appearance, an angel in the guise of slayer.

Her gazed returned to the stars, waiting for him.

In a secluded room, Treize sat at his desk, listening to the report given by Lady Une. Although he was paying attention, he also thought to himself.

So you are alive after all. But why are you here? Why help the gundams? Perhaps it is that boy you are so fond of. I truly wish that we could met again.

She could tell that he wasnít paying attention, his gaze on the solid surface of the desk. ìSir? Will that be all?î said Lady Une.

ìNo. There is one more thing. If you ever run into the red head again, do not harm her in any way.î

Lady Une became concerned. ìBut sir, she is with the gundams. That...î

His sharp voice cut her sentence off. ìI donít care who she is with, you will leave her alone. Do you understand?î

Lady Une bowed slightly in obedience. ìYes, your grace.î

ìGood. You may leave now.î

She did an about-face and left out through the automatic door.

Treize pondered more about the girl. He was glad to know that she was still alive. Throughout his entire friendship with her father, he had always been quite fond of the girl. He saw the determination, the unselfishness, the beauty, the kindness that made her character even when she was only five. He knew that she was special and he would do anything to prevent harm from coming to her.

He couldnít believe it. She had stayed there all night, waiting for someone who never came. Curled up like a cat, she laid on the soft grass, clutching her unused sword. He leaned against a tree, contemplating whether or not he should wake her up.

She scrunched herself closer together, slowly opening her eyes to take in the light. The first thing she saw was the brilliant green blades of grass. A few inches away was a tree, where someone stood. She looked up to see Duo watching her.

She looked around her, seeing that everything was as peaceful as it had been last night. ì He never came.î

ìNope. Everythingís been pretty quite.î

ìI donít understand. I thought for sure that he would come.î

ìLook Kasen, I wouldnít worry about him so much.î

She got up on her feet and dust herself off. ìI guess so.î

ìOh I forgot what I came here to tell you. Quatre says weíre leaving.î

ëOw, and I was just getting use to this place. Iíll have to come back one of these days. So where are we going?î

ìQuatre got word that the Sanc Kingdom has been rebuild, and he wanted to go see Relena.î

ìSo she actually did. This is perfect.î

ìWhat is?î

ìWell I promised her Iíd come see her if she ever got the place rebuild.î

ìYou met Relena? When?î

ìAwhile back. She has it in for Heero.î

ìHeero? Youíve got to be kidding?î

ìNope.î

ìHow do you know?î

ìI am a girl. I can tell.î

ìOh yeah.î

She gave him a playful shove. ìAs if you could forget.î She let out a sigh, before changing the subject, ìI guess we should start packing.î She gave the garden one last good look before leaving, hoping that she would have the chance to see it again.