Episode Four

Shadow Warrior

Her eyes darted back and forth across the courtyard. There was nothing but the gentle falling of the snow. She listened intently, but there was no sound. Her inner senses were screaming at her, sending chills up and down her entire body, but her outer senses could discern nothing. She looked around again, and seeing nothing, she stepped off the deck into the snow. Her feet crunched into the snow as she walked out into the open space of the courtyard. As she would walk, she constantly looked around searching for the thing that made her senses go wild, but she found nothing. She turned around, looking all around her, but there was nothing. She stood silent for a moment.

Without even thinking, her body jerked sideward. Her head turned, seeing a shimmer of metal whisper past her ear. She fell to the ground in the cold snow, but again, without even having a moment to think, she rolled back in a summersault. She sprang up, leaping far away as possible. She threw up her hands in a defensive stance and frantically looked around. Standing before her, a man dressed in black clothing raised his sword into an attack stance. It was the mysterious stranger that was in her house, but who had run away.

She gulped, feeling a heavy knot in her throat. He was ready to attack, and she was lucky to barely escape that surprise attack. He had her. The battle was finished. He could kill her easily at any moment; nevertheless, she held her guard up. "Who are you? What do you want from me?" She blurted out, panting heavily from the cold air.

The man stood silent, slightly smirking. He seemed to relish the fact that his opponent was flustered and scared, but after a few moments of watching her trying to catch her breath, he let his guard down.

"Who are you?" She asked again, with a calmer tone. She continued to have her guard up.

"It is of no consequence," He said, peacefully.

His voice—so soul piercing and mysterious lured her into a dangerous feeling. She let her guard down, even though she was terrified. She stood thinking for a moment. "Do you even have a name?"

At this, he looked up at her, eyes wide open. A slight look of surprise struck across the stoic man's face for a moment, but soon, his composure returned. He slowly raised his sword back to guard position. "Kagemusha."

"Kagemusha," Raye softly repeated the word, feeling a thrill shiver through her body. "The shadow warrior." Her hands went to her side, completely releasing her guard. "That is what they call you? You have no name?"

The man only nodded gently. His guard was ready.

Raye braced herself, reforming her guard. She wondered if she should take the time to reach into her shirt for her Sailor pen, but she decided against it. The moment she took her eyes off the enemy was the moment that she would find herself dead. She would just have to fight her best without her abilities as Sailor Mars.

The Kagemusha charged two steps forward then disappeared. Before Raye could even think to move, the Kagemusha appeared in the air above her. She was kicked in the face and sent flying backwards. It felt as if the whole world was spinning. Her vision swirled back and forth as she lay in the cold snow. She stared up into the grey sky for what seemed like hours. She was not safe. She could feel his approach like the darkness of the night. Soon, he stood towering before her. Her head ached, and her vision blurred. Surprised, tears began to leak out of the corners of her eyes. There was no where to run and no where to go. She was trapped. Soon, his foot pressed down on her stomach, holding her down. His sword went up into the air, ready to strike through her chest. Her heart pounded wildly, fearful of what was to come any moment.

The Kagemusha looked down for a moment at his soon to be victim. His dark blue eyes caught her violet orbs. Despite the trembling he felt from her fear, she continued to bravely look him in the eye. His sword was still raised in the air, ready to take the kill at any moment, but after staring for a few moments into the woman's eyes, he slowly brought his sword down. He dropped his hands to his sides, still holding onto the blade. He stepped off Raye's stomach and took another step back.

She continued to look at him—her tears stopping for a moment of disbelief. "I don't understand." She managed to choke out through her emotion.

"A life for a life." He looked over to sheathe his sword then looked back down to the woman lying in the snow. "But next time you will have no mercy." He turned around to walk away. After taking a few steps, he merely vanished into the air.

Raye immediately began to sob. The swirl of emotions poured out of her soul as she sobbed within the cold snow. She was inches from death and suddenly jerked back to life with the tip of a blade. His life was in her hands, and he would soon come for what he wanted. She could only lie in the cold snow and sob her heart out.

Serena lived in a beautiful apartment—it overlooked the beautiful Tokyo skyline and had plenty of space for the family of three. Holding a glass of water, Raye walked around the apartment looking at all the family pictures of Serena, Darien, and their newborn baby, Rini. As she walked around, it was difficult to suppress the jealous feelings that wanted to rise up in her soul. She turned to the balcony and looked out the glass doors seeing the city. She took a sip of her water.

"Everything alright, Raye?" Serena asked, coming into the room with a basket of laundry. She sat down on the couch and started folding the clothing. Raye stepped off the balcony platform and walked onto the living room carpet. She took a seat across from Serena and leaned back into the soft leather couch.

"I'm fine," Raye lied.

"I think Darien should be home within the hour. Do you want to stay for dinner?"

"No, I can't. I have some things that I have to do," She lied again.

"Like what?"

"Errands." Raye looked back towards the balcony.

"Ah," Serena said, continuing to fold the clothing. As she went through the laundry basket, she squealed, holding up a small little dress. "Isn't this so cute?"

Raye looked over at the baby dress. "Yes, it is."

Soon, the black cat named Luna came trotting into the room. "Raye, it is good to see you." The cat leapt up onto the couch and cuddled in Raye's lap.

"Yes, it has been a long time. Where is Artemis?"

"He's coming," Luna said. Soon, the white cat came out into the living room and jumped up onto the coffee table.

"Have you discovered anything about our new enemy?" Raye asked.

The cats shook their heads. "No, nothing," Artemis answered. "What about you?"

Raye pondered for a moment, seeing her life flash before her eyes again. "No, nothing, either."

Soon Darien came through the doorway, holding a briefcase and wearing a suit and tie. Excitedly, Serena got up from the couch and greeted her husband with a kiss. Raye looked away towards the balcony. Holding his hand she brought him over to the living room to say hello to Raye. The two greeted each other warmly, but as soon as possible, Raye looked away. Darien gave his wife a kiss on the cheek and headed into the bedroom to change his clothing.

"I must be heading home," Raye said.

"I thought you had errands," Serena said.

"Oh, yes, I will do that on my way home." Raye stood up. She hurriedly said her goodbyes and headed out the door.

Serena watched the doorway as her friend left. Soon, her husband came out of the bedroom wearing a pair of jeans and tee-shirt. Serena gave him a side hug as she continued to look towards the doorway. "Do you think Raye seemed a little strange today?"

"Any stranger than usual?" He asked.

Serena gave him a dirty look.

"I didn't mean it like that. What I'm saying is that she always seems so secretive and flustered. I always feel like there's something she's not telling me."

"That's exactly how I feel." Artemis said. "She's keeping something from us."

"But what?" Luna asked.

"Raye wouldn't keep secrets from her friends…" Serena said, but stopped from the looks she received. "Okay, maybe she would." She sighed. "I'm worried about her, that's all."

Darien pulled her close, holding her in a tight embrace. "I know you've been worried. We all have. She hasn't been the same since her grandfather died, but unfortunately, we can do nothing for Raye unless she opens up to her friends."

"I know," Serena sighed.

Two weeks passed. Time seemed to move slowly during the month of December. It was close to the Christmas season, and the city was filled with the hustle and bustle of the season. Raye, however, hadn't left the shrine grounds for those two weeks. She found other activities to occupy, such as shoveling the shrine grounds.

It was a snowy day once again. He peered through the trees, looking on in through the courtyard. He watched, standing in the cold air for hours, as the young woman shoveled the snow from the sidewalk running through the courtyard. He quietly inhaled and exhaled, watching his breath blow out into the air. In that time, he barely moved. Anytime he slightly moved, the woman would stop what she was doing and look around. She knew she was being watched. He was impressed—most could not even sense his movement, let alone his presence, but no matter how impressed he was, she was the enemy.

Raye stood up straight for a moment and wiped the sweat off her forehead. She looked around again, still not feeling secure. She was cold and tired. All afternoon she shoved the snow off the sidewalks in the courtyard. It was Wednesday. Yuka was in the front side of the shrine shoving the sideways while Raye remained in the back. Everyday she went outside to shovel the snow, but every night, the snow would cover the sidewalks in a fresh blanket of snow. Today, she was lucky to have Yuka helping her. She finished the task and looked around. She walked over to the shed and put the shovel away. She made her way back to the house through the freshly shoveled pathways.

She walked freely, but soon, she felt her body suddenly jerk back. Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, and a cold metal blade tickled her neck. She released a small gasp. Caught in his arms, Raye glanced back, seeing the Kagemusha holding a small blade to her neck. Her head tilted back, leaning against his shoulder. One arm was wrapped around her stomach and the other around her chest. The sharp blade gently rested against her throat. She dared not to move. Fearfully, her breath caught in her throat as she tried to speak.

He said nothing, only his warm breath tickled her skin. His breath was heavy, slightly panting. He held her close against him, feeling her tremble against him and the wild fluttering of her heart in her chest. She turned her head, facing him, trying to be brave, but only revealing the fear in her eyes. They looked at each other for a few moments, feeling the warmth of each other's breath against their faces.

"Miss Raye, I'm finished!"

Raye's eyes fluttered open. "Yuka! No! Don't come back here!" Raye yelled, hearing the tromping of Yuka's footsteps around the snow. "Yuka, just run!"

"Miss Raye, I…" Yuka walked around the corner.

Instantly, Raye felt the pressure on her body disappear. She collapsed into the snow. He was gone. Raye gasped deeply then looked up at the young miko.

The miko looked very confused. "Miss Raye?"

Raye stood up. "Sorry, I fell."

Yuka nodded, slightly creeped out. "Okay."

Raye wiped the sweat off her face. "You can go home now."

"But it's only three o'clock."

"That's alright. You can go."

"Really?" Yuka asked, excited.

Raye nodded and the young girl took off. After the girl left, Raye collapsed back into the snow.