A/N: Hey guys i'm new at the whole story writing thing seeing as this is my first story and all. any critasism is welcome. anything that you think could make this story better, feel free to tell me. please excuse this chapther seeing as it is 4:08 a.m. and i just got done writing it. well r&r thx i'm going to sleeep now
Chapter five: memories
She was sleeping in a tree with an infant curled up in a blanket tightly pressed to her chest. She was jolted awake when a tremor shook the tree, starting at the base. What the hell? She sat up and looked to the ground to see one of the bandits kicking the tree.
"Wake up, wench. Boss-man wants to see you." He told her, smiling darkly. Obediently, she jumped down from the tree, still holding the infant close to her chest. She scowled at the man. "You could have said please, jackass," she stated, clearly not liking her wake-up call. "I'm up aren't I? Tell 'boss-man' he can come to me if he wants to speak that badly."
The gruff man walked off muttering something about wenches and mood swings. A few minutes later, Ichiro was sitting next to her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into his lap. "Since my dear friend, Hiei, left you and the child under my care, I can do what I want with you. So come over here and give me a kiss." He said puckering up.
"Ch. Like any woman would give you the time of day, pathetic ningen. I don't see why Hiei doesn't just kill you all and be done with it," she said pulling away from him and standing up. She turned to walk away until he grabbed her arm.
"Such an attitude coming from a worthless animal I own. Now why don't you reconsider that kiss and I might let you stay here until Hiei gets back." He was rubbing his knuckles across her cheek. She turned away from his touch and spat at him.
He grabbed her chin roughly enough to bruise the skin. He turned her to face him again. "Such a pretty face wasted on a despicable kitsune." She pulled away from him and said, "Even if I am just a kitsune, I have enough self-respect not to hit on every person I happen to see. Especially when their mate could kill me without even trying."
His expression darkened, he barked an order for someone to take the infant. She protested and kicked the opposing man in the face when he grabbed the child. When she'd hit him, a silent command passed through the men to attack her, steal the child and pin her down.
Once the woman was successfully pinned down, Ichiro came over to her, wiping his mouth. "Heh, It seems you wish to die onna. So sad. And I could picture us having some fun times together, too." He was walking around her.
"Go fuck yourself, jackass. It's the only way you'll ever get anything." She smirked. Her little outburst got her punched in the face. She rolled over and spit blood onto the ground. "Alright I dare you to hit me again, human." She growled out.
She sat the infant down, careful not to wake her. She crouched down low in a fighting stance. One of the men lunged at her, holding a switchblade in his hand. She kicked him in the stomach, then moved to knee him in the chin when he doubled over.
Two more men came running at her. She got punched in the stomach and her feet were knocked out from under her at the same moment. She kicked backwards, catching herself on her hands. She regained her balance standing on her hands. She started twisting, kicking both men in the chest, throwing them on top of the crowd. Four men fell down with them.
Two more men grabbed her arms, pinning them to her sides while a third punched her in the stomach, knocking the breath out of her. She was kicked in the face and she pulled away from the men, grabbing one's arms, she threw him over her shoulder and into the other two.
A man grabbed her throat, coming from behind and surprising her. She reached behind herself, grabbed his arms and twisted, bringing him flying across her side and into the crowd. Another man kicked her in the back, knocking her to the ground. She rolled onto her back with a grunt. She had just enough time to roll out of the way before the switchblade came within an inch of her neck.
Ichiro sat back watching in interest as the woman took on his entire clan. Hm. No wonder Hiei left her here by herself. He obviously knew she'd put up a good fight. I'm curios to see how well she would hold up against me., he thought. Ichiro stood up and unclasped the cloak around his neck, letting it fall to the ground. Everyone stopped fighting and looked up at their boss. He flicked his wrist absently and they all moved out of his way.
He walked over to where the woman was being held up by two men, trying to pull away from them. He stopped directly in front of them. He lifted her chin just enough to make eye-contact before she pulled away from him again.
"Let her go and give her a sword," Ichiro was still looking at her face.
"But sir-" one of the men holding her tried before being cut off.
"We will fight and no one will interfere. Now let her go and give the onna a sword. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir," everyone said together. The woman was given a sword from Hiei's personal collection. She tied the sheath to her hip and pulled the sword out, assuming a stance with the blade held up and out. Her legs were spread and she was low to the ground.
Ichiro lifted his eyebrows, shocked that she used such and old technique. He pulled out his double-bladed broadsword. He spread his legs, leaning forward with the tip of the blade touching the ground behind him. He had a wicked grin on his face.
He ran at her, bringing the sword up to bring it down on her head. She jumped back and swung at him and parrying another blow set for her chest. The two were moving too fast for the surrounding humans to see. They stopped abruptly, with the woman holding her sword to Ichiro's throat and his to hers.
The two jumped back and ran forwards again, brandishing swords for the impact. They hit and darted away again. Suddenly Ichiro's blade was deep in her stomach, she fell to her knees, blood spilling out of her mouth. Ichiro pulled the sword out and she collapsed on the ground.
He turned away, calling back, "Put her in the forest with the sword and the child." And with that, he was gone.
The men picked up the woman and carried her to the woods. She was laid down with the sword gripped in one hand over her chest pointing down to her knees. In the other hand, the child was placed.
Sai awoke with a start. Her breathing was ragged and her naked form was covered in sweat. She could hear Lexi crying. The soft -ping-
-ping- of tear gems hitting the floor was the only give away. She stood up and pulled on her t-shirt. Sai walked over to the balcony and leaned on the guard-rails. She put her arm around Lexi, trying to offer the child some measure of comfort. She knew Lexi had had the same dream as her. No. It wasn't a dream. It was a memory.
