Demonic Dreamers ©a story by Animegamer2007

Chapter 8: Truth and Lies

I entered the casino and went to the back room where Lena and Freddy were chatting. Steve-O stood by the door prepared for anything.

"Not working the craps tonight?" I asked pulling out another cigarette from my vest pocket.

"S'not the only job I do Kyo. What's that hanging out of your pocket?" He asked noticing the badge I found outside. I handed it to him, lit up and sighed deeply.

"Don't know. A disguised woman dropped it outside the door…" I paused to take a drag. "She…uh… tried to… God! I don't know! She wasn't trust worthy, I'll say that much at least."

"Hmm. Looks like a swastika or something' to me." He said handing it back. I shoved it in my pocket and puffed on the cigarette some more. "Tough night, kid?"

I sighed. "A little stressed and tense, that's all. That woman creeped the hell outta me. By the way…"

"What?"

"Did you ever tell Freddy's that you told anyone?"

"'Cept you, I don't recall that I have."

"Were you supposed to?"

"No. It was a secret among the family… I never told Boss Ishii 'bout it. He just put two and two together, I guess."

"You told him?" shouted Freddy from the doorway. It was at that moment that we both became aware that she was there.

"Yeah, but its among friends Freddy. I didn't wan' him to find out the hard way."

"What? By sleeping with me? Oh, that's nice, Steve-O, real nice. Goodbye, I'll be in my room throwing knives at your picture if you should ever need me. Just don't tell anyone I'm there!" she said with resentment and sarcasm, and she stomped off toward the elevator.

Lena, who was right behind Freddy, took a moment to glance at the two of us and then rolled her eyes.

"Morons. Kyo, I've been meaning to ask you about that sword…"

"What about it?"

"You didn't have it the night we met, during the gang shoot-out; correct?"

"Yeah,"

"So where did you get it on such short notice?"

I looked away from her, took the sword from my back and stared hard at it, as if it were a priceless treasure that words couldn't describe. And it was, but what was even more unbearable was to tell Lena who I got it from. Sure, I could tell Steve-O without much difficulty but to tell Lena… I wasn't sure if I ever could.

"I got it in a dream."

She chuckled. "Yeah, sure, okay."

"I'm not joking. It was a gift from…" I stopped short. I couldn't bring myself to say it… not in front of her, not here.

"From who?"

I sighed and suddenly became aware that the cigarette in my hand was burning between my fingers. I let it drop and stomped it out. "Can I tell you in private? Its not a secret, I just don't think I can tell more than one person at a time."

"I see. Steve-O, can you go work at one of the craps tables for a little bit?"

"Yeah. Don't keep me in suspense Kyo… tell me later."

"You bet." I muttered as Steve-O walked down the hall.

"Come in here. It'll be quieter."

I wandered in without a second thought pondering how I was going to tell Lena about my mother and the sword and… my life if it came down to it. I glanced around at the large circular room with a large opening full of clothes, shoes, costumes, and performance instruments. I sat on the queen sized canopy bed and stared at the black carpet.

Lena sat beside me in silence waiting expectantly for the answer to her previous question. I glanced at her green eyes and looked back down at the carpet. Everyday I tried to ignore my feelings for her… telling myself its just hormones and that'll pass. But the feeling just hid away in my gut, nervous that she might not feel the same in return. I sighed.

"I got the sword from my mother."

"Your mother? I'd like to meet her some day."

"She's dead." I whispered.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I had no idea…"

"She died when I was eight. The doctors said it was some type of cancer and that they were really sorry. They placed me in this cheap-ass foster home where they ignored me completely. I blamed myself for her death and ran off. Most of the time I'd hide from the cops out looking for me, in alleys, backdoor steps, anywhere that was safe.

"I was a lone wolf from the day she died to present. The night we met I had a dream about her. She came down from the heavens and gave me this sword saying 'Protect her at all costs.' I wasn't sure I could wield such a weapon, but I took it."

"Her?" Lena asked in confusion.

"You…"

"I see. Did I know her?"

"I don't think so. I didn't know about you until we met."

We sat in the room in silence for a while, not knowing what to say to the other; staring into the uncomfortable abyss of time, waiting for the other to say something to break the silence. The uncomfortable silence you see in movies and read in romance novels. Sweat started to trickle slowly down my brow in anxiety.

What was going to happen next I could not tell. Was she going to kiss me? Was she waiting for me to make the first move? I was as confused as a monkey doing a math problem. I started to shift closer towards her. She closed her eyes and I closed mine, and our lips brushed against each other if only for a brief moment.

Lena pulled away and cleared her throat. "Does the sword have a name?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah. When she gave it to me she said it was called 'The Sword of the Spirit'."

She gasped. "No way, I've only heard tales of its power and majesty. One story was that a chosen angel descended from heaven with the blade and dueled Satan one-on-one. Satan lost and fled back into the depths of hell cursing the Lord's name. The angel, having no use for the blade anymore left it in the hands of the monks in a temple that has yet to be found. I just thought it was a story they told in churches and such to keep the kids interested, I didn't think it was an actual object that I could see and touch. I didn't think it existed."

"It does. I'm only beginning to learn how to use it."

She jumped out of her spot and stood in front of me. "I'll teach you."

"What?" I muttered in disbelief.

"C'mon! I have a martial arts weapon instructor degree black belt. I know how to use all sorts of weapons and would love to teach someone a little of it."

I agreed and after a few hours of practice I felt more confident that the weapon was indeed meant to be mine and that I was able to control it. I took Lena's hand and positioned myself behind her.

"Let me teach you how to focus attacks effectively." I whispered.

"I already know how."

"A little, but, can you make your weakest kick do the most damage? Can you channel your life into a single area to make the most of its power? Lemme teach you how. First, close your eyes. Picture your opponent… feel him move…now, what do you want to do?"

"Kick the crap outta him."

"Focus your life force into your legs… tell it that your life depends on it… believe you will die unless you defeat your enemy. Believe…"

Without warning she kicked the air without opening her eyes with such force that I was knocked back into the nearby wall. I blinked a few times and sighed.

"Excellent."

The door slammed open and Freddy came rushing in with a note clutched in her hands, sweat pouring down her face and her glasses hanging off one ear.

"Lena!" Freddy shouted.

"What is it, Fredrika?"

"This!" She shoved the paper into her hands.

"It says…

Lena Ishii,

Meet us at the old warehouse east of Las Vegas or your friends are dead. Our new leader has a bone to pick with you.

The Black Cobras."

"Looks like its time to finish what they started." I said lighting up another cigarette.