Inside a dimly-lit room, a man moved about quietly so as not to wake up his sleeping children next door. He opened a drawer and with his wrinkled hands delicately lifted out a long, thin bundle. He glanced towards the door.
"I hear you," the man said softly. "Come in."
The door slid open to reveal a frail, teenage boy with intense violet eyes. They regarded each other for a long moment in silent gloom.
"So you've come back, my boy," the man spoke. "Kamui."
At the sound of his name, Kamui's eyes flickered with a semblance of warmth that quickly disappeared. Without acknowledging the familiar greeting, he stepped into the room and focused on the silk-wrapped bundle in the man's hands.
"Your mother told you of the sword, I see."
"My mother is dead." Kamui's voice and face showed no emotion, but something haunting in his eyes made the man shudder.
"You have not made your choice yet. You have no right to this sword."
"It is mine." Kamui clenched his fists, his intentions obvious. The sliding door slammed shut with a lift of his chin. Purple lightening suddenly flashed through the room close enough to the man to threaten, but not harm. The man tightened his grip on the bundle, though he knew that he could not win the fight. Kamui was indeed the foretold one.
"You're stronger than me, but I cannot let you take this. The time will come for you to claim your sword, if it be this one."
"Give me the sword!"
The room exploded. A howling whirlwind gathered at Kamui's feet and ripped towards the older man, plowing floor and furniture. The lightning danced violently around the room, leaving black-purple streaks on the walls. In the midst of the chaos, a voice was heard outside.
"Father! What's going on?" A girl. "Are you okay? Father!"
"Kotori! Get away from there!"
The madness stopped. When the man managed to breathe again, Kamui was already gone.
"He's stronger than I had expected," Hinoto pulled back her psychic eye and faced her audience of two, a boy and a girl, both in their teens. "He would have killed if that girl hadn't shown up. Arashi, Sorata, I want you to bring him to me."
Arashi dipped her head in acknowledgement, her dark hair falling forward to veil her face. Gazing intently at her, Sorata tugged his ratty baseball cap over his own mop of brown hair. She didn't seem to notice his constant attention.
"He's got some temper, that Kamui," said Sorata after a pause. Then he broke into a silly grin. "We're gonna be great buddies!"
Arashi looked up incredulously. This boy was ridiculous. It's the battle for the world they were dealing with, not some frat party. When he returned her look, she caught herself and slipped back beneath her dark veil.
