Chapter 4

Raphael cautiously advanced into the area of Antares Forest devoid of trees. His rapier, Flambert, was out with its razor-sharp edge pointing dead ahead. His eyes flickered over the indigenous trees and plants, noting the positions should they be needed later.

He caught sight of a patch of dirt that had been recently moved, and a few cracked twigs. He kneeled down next to the disturbed ground, recently moved. He was getting closer.

"Fufufufufu…" the chilling laugh echoed throughout the clearing, freezing Raphael's burning blood. He whirled, slashing cleanly through a large plant behind him. Its top half fell to the ground, sending leaves spiraling across the clearing.

The leaves convalesced, forming a spinning whirlwind that blew past Raphael. He shielded his eyes from the gusts blown around him. The form of a woman in a black shirt with a forest-green vest appeared inside the leaf-whirlwind. Although it was blurred and indistinct, he recognized the ninja Taki immediately.

Suddenly, the whirlwind dissipated, and in its place was a grinning Taki. Her hair was taken out of its usual knot, and now hung down to her green-covered shoulders. The normally chalk-white face had been camouflaged with two peach dots on her forehead. Two knives were attached firmly around her waist, and one on her back.

"Well, looks like you did get my little invitation. Tell me, did you bring the presents?" her defined voice was dripping with mockery.

"Where is Amy, you wretch!" he snarled, gesticulating the point of his rapier in Taki's direction. The only thing that kept him from immediately tearing Taki to shreds was his lack of knowledge of Amy's condition. As soon as he found out where she was, however, nothing would stop him from killing the black-haired intruder.

"Hmmm, I'll take that as a 'yes'." She snapped two delicate fingers, and large tree that had standing behind her moments before collapsed into a pile of leaves and branches. Amy was tied to the trunk of the tree, thick rope restricting her hands and legs. Her head lolled on its side, eyes flickering dully under her eyelids.

Raphael felt a sudden pang in his heart at the sight of her injured. He channeled his rage into his sword arm, moving it in a graceful arc towards Taki's neck. She moved with amazing speed as she stepped backward, deflected his sword upward, brought her leg around and slammed her knee into his gut.

He stumbled back as she flipped away, laughing as she executed a midair somersault and landed on her feet. Raphael's rough coughs filled the sound of the forest, disturbing a flock of birds from their perches.

"Fufufufu, Raphael, up your game or hand over the shards. This is simply boring if I have to beat you down before taking…" she stopped; Raphael's coughs had turned to rough wheezing, which sounded almost like laughter.

Without words, Raphael brought up a hand he had been clutching to his chest. He held a small dueling dagger, and dark blood decorated the tip.

Taki glanced down at her leg, and saw a long line of blood ran from the bottom of her knee to the thin shoes she wore. The injury was merely superficial and would not seriously limit her abilities.

A smile touched her lips. "This will be better than I thought."

Raphael rushed forward again, throwing a roundhouse slash at Taki's chest. She leaped over the blade, flipped once, then landed lightly behind him. Raphael's grip flipped the sword backwards, his back still facing Taki. He turned and stabbed blindly, forcing Taki to duck under the blow. The dagger held in his other hand flashed toward her face, and stopped a millimeter from her eye.

She quickly returned to her feet, coming at Raphael head-on. In a split-second she had pulled out Rekki-maru, and brought it out and down. He easily parried, and delivered a snapping kick to the kunoichi's midsection.

The blow spun Taki like a top, and she used her momentum to lash out with both Mekki-maru and Rekki-maru. A loud clang shook the clearing, jarring the combatant's eardrums like a weather vane in a storm. Their blades were locked, each only a hairs' breadth from cutting the other's throats.

Raphael let out a grunt, and shoved the ninja away from him, only to join her battle a second later. Their fight was ferocious and unforgiving; Taki's speed and flexibility were only matched by Raphael's power and innovation. They each amassed a collection of bruises and cuts, and the sun waned as the battle wore on.

Taki leaned back from another slash, and then caught the backslash with her blade. Moving with blinding speed, Raphael thrust his dagger at the ninja's exposed chest. Taki saw the dagger coming, however, and easily blocked it with the other knife. Too late, she saw Raphael's plan. Both her knives were locked between Raphael's, and she was wide open for an attack.

She caught a flash of a smile from Raphael before he spun, swinging his foot into Taki's neck. The force of the blow sent her flying, her blades falling from limp hands as the light left her eyes. She crashed into a tree, and heard a sharp crack as her left arm snapped in two.

The last thing she saw before she blacked out was a sideways view of Raphael running to Amy, rapier discarded and dagger abandoned.

Amy's half-opened gaze widened as she felt her tight binds lessen their vice grip on her torso. A large breath of air rushed into her lungs, refreshing her air-deprived brain. She felt hard, but comforting hands lift her from the trunk and lay her gently on the ground.

In her mind, Amy battled with the confusion settled upon her by Taki. Potent medicines and powers had been inflicted upon her, and she was weak in both body and spirit.

Amy?

A small voice broke the barrier of unconsciousness. She grasped at it, reaching out of the void against the slowly relinquishing hold of the ninja.

Amy?

With a final pull, she flung her eyes open.

Raphael kneeled over her, beaten and cut face smiling a warm greeting. His hair was filthy and his face was streaked with sweat, but it was the most beautiful sight in the world to Amy.

"Enjoy your nap?" said the sarcastic voice again.

"Probably as much," she said her voice tiny, "as training with you."

She carefully sat up, now level with Raphael. A look of concern flashed across his face when she stumbled and almost fell.

"C'mon, I'll carry you from this pestilential place." He pulled Amy to his chest, making sure not to touch the shining bruise on her leg.

Amy, the feeling of security overwhelming her tired brain, entered a state of relaxed sleep, one thought blaring through her mind.

I'm in his hands now, nothing can touch me.

But.

"Outmaneuvered, Raphy." Where the last words that Raphael Sorel heard before cold steel bit into his chest.

His eyes grew wide as his gaze fell to his breast, right above Amy's head, where the metallic glint of metal protruded. A feeling of numbness spread from the coldness of the blade. The paralyzing wave began to consume his body in a deadening slow process.

Then the blade was pulled out, and a small amount of his life's liquid splattered onto Amy's pale cheek. His knees gave way, and his once graceful form slid to the ground. Amy was gently laid onto the dirt with the last of Raphael's resolve.

He gazed into her closed eyes, seeing the life that he had given to her, and the small bit of life he had gotten back in return. Amy was strong, she would survive. She was peaceful, her breathes even and deep even with his blood staining her cheek.

An image of perfection, then Raphael thought no more.

There were two main reasons why this took so long to update.

Mainly, my internet was completely destroyed at the beginning of December, and was only recently returned.

Next, I kept writing and rewriting the end. I can't believe I killed off Raphy in such a sentimental way; I hate Raphael.

Stay tuned for the final chapter.

MPmagi