Chapter 15

Title: Twist of fate...part I

written by: Shaun Witt / Ryu Kitsune.

Not long after returning from his last mission, Ryu was called out to go on yet another one. He and a few others were to return to the village where he and the others had left the week before and make sure the hive was destroyed.

Not long after Ryu had left the valley Mai began to have a weird feeling as if something awful was going to happen. It wasn't until three days after leaving the group returned.

Mai Stumache began to turn as she saw the truck approach the house. Two guys got out of the back first and she watched as Ryu was slowly helped out of the back. Mai ran up to him giving him a big hug seeing him safely home.

"Ouch. Mai please be careful of my side." Ryu yelped.

Mai concerned lifted his shit up to find a bandage placed over the ride side of his gut area. Mai took a few sniff and found his scent had changed.

"Ryu what happend and why do you smell diffrent." Mai asked.

Ryu didn't answer her but insted walked passed her and into his house. Ryu looked at Machean and told him he did not wish to be disturbed for awhile. Ryu then walked up the stairs and to his room with Mai fallowing him.

"Ryu? Please talk to me and tell me what is going on." Mai demanded.

"I'm not in the mood right now Mai. Please leave me alone for now." Ryu replied and shut the door to his bedroom.

Mai could only stand there and wonder why Ryu did not wish to talk with her about what had happend. She did as he wished and left him alone.

She walked back downstairs to find Machen talking the two men who helped him down from the back of the truck. The two guys noticed Mai and said goodbye to Maechen and left.

"Maechen what going on?" Mai asked.

"Ryu's jewel was taken from him by a demon and seems to have reverted back to a half demon." Maechen replied.

"But he going to be ok, right?" She asked concernd

"His wounds will heal but he may never get over it. For you see his Sister's soul was taken from her by a demon to forge the sacred jewel which he had kept safe inside him for almost 80 years." Maechen replied.

"So he must feel as if he let his sister down somehow by losing the jewel which her soul is trapped in." Mai replied.

"Correct. For now just leave him alone for awhile." he told her.

"But I feel helpless. Isn't there anythign I can do?" Mai asked.

"I'll have dinner ready soon enough. When it done you can take his meal up to him. I'm sure he will let you in his bedroom by then." Maechen replied and went towards the kitchen.

"Think it might help if I prepaired something for him?" Mai asked.

"If you wish to cook something for Lord Ryu then fallow me." He replied.

Mai spent the next couple of hours fixing Ryu his meal. she had prepaired miso soup, rice balls, and some dumplings for him. Maechen checked the food himself and gave her praise on a job well done. Mai said thanks before taking a tray with food on it up to Ryu's room.

With her hands full she lightly tapped on the door with her foot and said, "Ryu I have some food for you."

"I'm not in the mood for anything right now Mai." He politely replied.

"But I fixed it myself." Mai said with disappointment in her voice.

A few seconds later Ryu opened the door and allowed Mai to walk in with the tray. Ryu walked back over to his bed and sat back down to continue reading a book his mother left behind for him.

"Ryu, I'm sorry to hear about what happend to you and your jewel but I want you to know I am here if you wish to talk." Mai said before she headed for the door.

"Did you really cook that food?" Ryu asked.

"Yes I did. But I had a little help from Maechen." she replied.

Ryu placed a book mark into the book he was reading and walked over to the desk. "Smells very good so let's see how it tastes."

Ryu first tried the soup and Mai was a little nervus. "How's the soup?"

"Very good. It's almost as good as the Miso soup my mother use to fix for us." Ryu next tried the dumplings then the rice balls.

Mai watched Ryu eat the entire tray of food. Mai was very happy someone liked her cooking.

"You are a very good cook. Thanks for the wonderful meal you fixed for me." Ryu said with a smile.

"Glad you liked it and good to see you smile again." Mai replied.

Mai could still sense Ryu was angry about something but was a little afraid to ask what it was. Ryu Noticed this and asked, "Something wrong?"

"Why are you so upset about loosing your jewel?" Mai asked as she braced for his reply fearing he may explode.

"When I absorbed that jewel into my body I made a promise. I had promised to always keep my sister's soul which was trapped in that sacred jewel forever safe. In return for my promise it made me a complete demon. Now that I have failed her I have become a hanyou once more." Ryu told her in a rather calm manner.

"I'm sorry you lost your sister's soul and your jewel to Naraku's demons, But what can you do now?" Mai asked.

"I can get stronger. I'm going to start training at the priestess school tomarrow." Ryu replied as he walked towards his bed.

"Well goodnight." Mai said as she left his room.

To be continued...