Hana

Eight Years Ago

As the darkness released an eerie silence over the streets, the house seemed destitute of life. Rain subsided hours before, leaving small puddles along the grass. Random insects began a spirited song as they crept slowly over the back garden and increased in volume as they drew near. The three women were difficult to see, since there were no lights present outside of the house. They separated as they approached and prepared for some significant event.

The tallest of the three hid behind the nearest tree from the house. Her sapphire hair was pulled back with a black band, and she wore a black long-sleeved fitted shirt with black pants. A utility belt of the same color adorned her waist and was filled with small weapons. She adjusted the black fingerless gloves on her hands and waited for a signal.

Another woman with long blond hair hid along the base of the house near a window. She wore a black dress that seemed out of place for the mission, and a pair of black leggings underneath them. Her hair was twisted back on top of her head, and she wore a black baseball cap. As her emerald eyes surveyed the surroundings she nodded and waved a signal with her hand into the darkness.

Their leader emerged from the woods quickly, running full speed to the back door. Her orange hair was pulled into a neat ponytail at the back of her head but bounced around aimlessly against each of her ears. Her outfit was very simple: a black tank top with black shorts. She also carried a utility belt at her waist, although very small, and she stopped abruptly when reaching the back door.

"Marion," she whispered.

The blond haired girl stared at her without moving.

"Go to the front door. Kanna and I will stay back here. Don't let anyone leave."

"Understood," she replied quickly and left her position.

Kanna peered around the tree and waited with her hand firmly inside one of the pockets of the utility belt. She bit her bottom lip before running quickly to the base of the house.

"Matilda," she whispered, "if it's not clean you have to walk away."

"I'm not leaving without him," Matilda replied angrily. "I can't."

Kanna didn't say anything else and watched as she entered the house from the back door without resistance.

When Matilda stepped into the kitchen, darkness and silence greeted her entrance. She was certain no one was awake, and she exhaled softly with relief. She knew this had to be done quickly, so she made her way to the staircase. Much to her surprise, the stairs made no noise as she ascended them, and when she reached the top, she paused to stare at the doors along the hallway.

She had no idea which bedroom she was looking for and hoped she would guess correctly. The abrupt sound of heavy snoring startled her and she turned quickly to its direction.

"That's not his room," she whispered and walked the other way.

Matilda decided she had no choice but to pick a door. She decided on the last room at the end of the hall because there was a window there that she could easily escape through. She opened the door slowly and quickly stepped inside, closing the door behind her entrance. The room was so dark she couldn't see her hands in front of her face. After waiting for her eyes to adjust to the new change in moonlight, she noticed the outline of a baby crib near the window. Relieved from her discovery, she stepped toward it deliberately until light quickly illuminated the room and startled her. She blinked her eyes quickly a few times and rubbed them before looking for the source of the light. There was a small lamp on a table near the crib and a woman with pink hair standing beside it.

"Tamao. Move aside."

"You won't get what you came here for, Matilda." Her voice was calm.

"I'm not leaving without the boy. You will move aside."

Matilda placed her hand delicately against her belt and her eyes narrowed.

"You won't get past me," Tamao replied in the same tone. "I'm warning you. Leave."

"What, you're Anna's bodyguard now?" She laughed at her.

"I will do whatever is necessary to protect Hana," Tamao said as she took a step forward, "even if I have to kill you."

"I'm aware of your power, Tamao," Matilda replied sarcastically. "I'm afraid wind won't stand up very well to daggers."

"This is your last chance," she said, seemingly unaffected by Matilda's chide.

They stood in front of each other in silence. Tamao's calm demeanor angered Matilda greatly, and she knew the confidence was for a specific reason. The crib caught her attention again, and she frowned when noticing the bed was empty. Her frown quickly faded and she stared at her with softened eyes.

"It was a trap," Matilda mumbled bitterly.

"Your friends have already been detained," Tamao added. "I'll allow you to leave, if you do it now."

"I don't believe you. You're not strong enough."

"I assure you that I am."

"Where is he?" she demanded. "I'm taking him with me, and you can't stop me!"

Matilda's body was lifted suddenly from the floor. Paralysis overcame her as she lost control of her limbs. She looked around the room frantically as very small daggers hovered from her utility belt into the air and completely surrounded her.

"How?" she whispered.

"Surrender now or you'll die by your own weapon," Tamao said as her eyes narrowed.

"No way...You can't be this strong! This is impossible!"

"You don't get it, Matilda," she replied blankly. "I will kill you."

The sudden sound of screaming in the back yard startled her and she rapidly blinked her eyes.

"Marion!" she recognized the voice, but was unable to free herself.

"We'll let them go as well if you surrender, Matilda."

Matilda stared at her angrily, although her eyes revealed fear. Tamao hadn't moved from her position and was peering into her eyes with blankness that pierced her senses. She couldn't move even if she wanted to, and the sharp daggers slowly closed in on her.

"I surrender." She closed her eyes. "Release me."

"Thank you for understanding," Tamao replied with a weak smile.

Matilda's body crashed through the bedroom window suddenly, and she screamed as she was hurled to the ground. Before slamming completely into the grass below, however, she stopped short and landed on her feet. Her daggers fell randomly in the grass, and she stared at her hands momentarily with defeat.

"She knew we were coming. I can't believe it."

"Matilda!"

She spun around quickly and saw Marion lying on the ground curled into a tight ball. Her hair and clothes were singed; she could barely move. There was a man standing over her with dark violet hair, but the shadow kept her from viewing more than an outline of his body and face. She ran quickly to Marion's side and held her in her arms.

"Who are you?" Matilda demanded.

"Tamao told you to leave," he replied, ignoring the question. "...You're still here."

"Answer me!"

"You must not understand the danger you're in," he said evenly. "She spared your life just now, but I won't. I will not hesitate to kill you right here."

"She can't move!" Matilda tightened her grasp. "I have to help her!"

"You should be more worried about saving your own life."

Kanna fell out of a tall tree suddenly and hit the ground hard. Matilda stood abruptly and noticed she had the same injuries as Marion.

"You're not listening," he said with irritation.

A bolt of lightning appeared out of nowhere from the sky and engulfed Kanna in a horrific dispersion of light. She screamed from the impact, and smoke lifted from her body as if she had been on fire.

"Lightning?" Matilda whimpered in disbelief.

"You're running out of time," he said.

"Ren? Tao Ren?" she whispered in horror. "What is he doing here?"

"Matilda," Marion struggled to talk. "You have to...get out of here. Kanna and Marion...will survive."

"I can't leave you here." Her eyes welled uncontrollably. "I can't leave either of you!"

"He won't...kill them if you...leave," she whispered "Please, you have to get back...to Master."

She stared at her in desperation as Marion closed her eyes from fatigue. Matilda darted her eyes in Kanna's direction next, but was distracted when she saw her body shudder violently from the trauma. After seconds of hesitation, she ran quickly into the woods as the tears fell unrestrained from her eyes. The trees were illuminated suddenly, and she heard painful screams of terror in the distance. She wanted to go back but knew if she did she would die. The wind rustled through the trees and tickled her arms, neck and legs in taunting bursts, and the tears choked her throat.

"Hao," she whispered. "I've failed you."

Tamao stared out of the broken window for several minutes then quietly exited the bedroom. As she entered the hallway another bedroom door opened, and a blond haired woman wearing a white robe emerged from the darkness.

"It's done, Anna," Tamao said.

"Thank you for protecting us," she replied warmly, although her expression was blank.

"How is he?"

"Hana's fast asleep," she said with a smile.

"And Yoh?"

"Snoring."

Tamao giggled lightly, but her smile quickly disappeared as she folded her arms over her torso.

"I have to get Ren. He'll kill them if I don't."

"Go," Anna sighed.

She left her standing in the hallway and quickly descended the stairs, disappearing into the darkness of the first level. Anna stared down the hallway in silence and exhaled heavily before returning to her bedroom. Yoh was lying in bed on his side with Hana on his back beside him. Hana's legs and arms were curled up into his torso as if he was dreaming about crawling, and his breathing was very calm. Yoh had been snoring loudly, but once he was on his side the disturbance stopped. Anna returned to her side of the bed, placing her hand delicately on Hana's stomach. He stirred lightly but didn't open his eyes, and she kissed him on the forehead.

"I'll always protect you, Hana," she whispered. "No matter what it takes."

"Anna?" Yoh mumbled hazily without opening his eyes.

"Everything is fine," she said softly. "Go back to sleep."


The active wind left a delicate chill around the clearing, causing her skin to blister with small goosebumps. She took a few steps forward but stopped abruptly and stared at the grass. The night sky blanketed the area in darkness with the exception of pale moonlight. Her head was still lowered solemnly as she closed her eyes, and she folded her arms tightly across her chest.

"Is there something you need to say to me, Matilda?"

His voice was calm, sending terrible chills through her body. She knew he was sitting on top of the large rock staring into the night sky but had no idea he was aware of her presence. Honestly, she couldn't conjure the nerve to say anything to him, but now that he was asking her a question, she had to respond.

"Master Hao..." she started nervously.

"I've already told you it is unnecessary to call me that."

Matilda stepped closer and noticed he was wearing a pair of black linen pants. Since she was standing behind him, his long auburn hair hid the rest of his clothing, and his expression was indecipherable.

"It would anger the others if I'm the only one who doesn't," she replied while attempting to calm her nerves.

"They could never be angry with you publicly."

She didn't respond and bit her bottom lip.

"They follow because they fear me," he said. "You don't fear me."

Matilda swallowed hard and closed her eyes.

"You're here because you love me. Am I wrong?"

"I've come to tell you about Hana," she said, quickly changing the subject.

"Hana?"

"He needs more time. You told me not to force him."

"I see," he said.

"There's a girl with him as well," Matilda sighed. "She may be a problem."

"Ren's daughter. Excellent."

"What?"

"She will want to come. I want you to bring them both."

"I..." she hesitated. "I don't understand."

He jumped lightly off of the rock and stepped toward her. The moonlight outlined his body, but she couldn't see his face. Slightly disturbed by the thought, she approached cautiously until they were a touchable distance away.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied without hesitation.

"Then there's no need to question my request, is there?"

She glanced at her feet. "No."

"I know you won't disappoint me."

"I'll bring them," she said firmly.

"Good." He smiled and gently grabbed her hand.

They walked toward the surrounding trees, and her body trembled slightly from his warmth. She couldn't understand why after all of this time he still intimidated her, but she didn't care as long as he wanted her by his side.

"Hao?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sure your plan is correct," she sighed. "I mean, I have no doubt..."

"You want to know why I'm interested in Ren's daughter?"

"She may be more trouble than she's worth."

"She can be very useful, Matilda." He shot her a cheerful smile. "This will also give you a chance for revenge."

She released his hand, but he continued walking a few steps.

"The only way is to kill her," she said through clenched teeth. "To take Ren's precious daughter...would be even better than killing him."

Hao stood in front of her in silence for a few moments without turning around. Matilda took a step forward and balled her hands into tight fists.

"Be patient, Matilda," he replied. "You have time."