Chapter 1

-Somewhere in the Forest Of Mira -
"I am sick of you... all you humans must pay!" "Do you wish to return once again?" "That power is inside me?" "Don't do it! Shadow!" "I don't know whether I will survive this.. this is for the children of tomorrow..." "Death destruction, darkness, its all apart of who I am... It IS who I am.." "Your evil, we could have never been one!" "Where are they? Why aren't they here?" "Darkness isn't evil, light isn't good, they are both forces of nature, they are what you make them out to be. Never forget that my.." "NOO!"

A figure wakes up in the middle of the night breathing heavily as the moonlight shown down on his pale chiseled chest; strands of his light brown hair brushed about his shoulders on the gentle breeze blowing through the open window. With a quiet sigh he tied his hair behind his back and drew his black cloak about him. He sat upon the windowsill, gazing over the valley that was bellow the structure of the Shinato Lodge where he had chosen to take refuge for the night. Looking down the cliff face of the hillside where the inn stood, he closed his eyes and allowed his mind to fade into his memories, knowing that Shinato Lodge like a home to him; every tree in the forest bellow, the mountains in the near distance where the refracted light of the sun at twilight amongst the gems hidden in the rocks made the hill seem to open up a portal to another world, and all the secrets in between. His eyes fluttered open as the memories faded to the back of his mind. His dreams had stirred him from his deep sleep and he knew all to well he'd find no peace for his mind if he remained indoors.

Gracefully he slid out of his window, running silently across the rooftops until he reached one of the edges that looked over a portion of the forest of Mira. With the agility of a jaguar he leaped into the surrounding treelines, enjoying the wind caressing his form and embracing the feel that came natural to him on nights of the full moon. The warmth and adrenaline that came with being a predator hunting in the shadows of the night.

Bounding from canopy to canopy for the better part of five miles, he kept up his pace before bringing himself to the forest floor, walking to a hidden waterfall that he was all too familiar with. The waterfall seeming like a mystical illusion with pristine waters flowing from the very trees into the large basin and illuminated crystals rising from its' depths had long since brought comfort and help him clear his mind when he was troubled or focus his energy to help him heal from some of his more serious encounters.

"What's going on with me. what are these dreams that are haunting my sleep?" he asked his reflection with a frustrated quirk in his eyebrows.

A warm touch fell on his shoulder, which brought a smile to his face. "They are probably memories of a time long past, or a time to come," spoke a voice gently on the currents of the wind. Gazing into the water below him, he saw a person who looked very similar to him start to form alongside his reflection, a celestial robe tight around his form and a holy glow about him.

"Those memories. we recall portions of them as well but not all." A second figured started to come into view in the reflections of the still waters near one of the bases of the trees, also resembling the young man but having a darker aura than his counterparts. His leather pants and gui were black as night and tight against him, blood red borders around the edges. "It's hazy to us but I'm sure, it has to be more than just a simple dream." With a smirk he added, "Afterall, nothing is ever simple with you now are they?"

The cloaked young man returned the smirk lightheartedly, acknowledging the comment with a nod. "Can't argue with that Shadow. I didn't realize I had disturbed the two of you with my actions. Shadow. Matrix. I'm sorry.

"D, don't worry about it," Shadow spoke as he leaned against one of the many crystal reflections in the waters before the young warrior. "We were awake anyway, trying to remember the past and how certain things happened. Besides we are all apart of each other. You know that just about as well as we do if not more."

"The one with three souls. Yea I've learned all too well," said D with a chuckle as he gazed upon the waterfall. "But Shadow." were the only words that he could speak before a thunderous crash echoed through the forest from a few yards way. Ripples in the waters echoed into the basin, the two companions disappearing as mysteriously as they came as D arose to his feet to his feet to meet his would be challenger.

He didn't have long to wait for a moment later; a large purple silhouette emerged from the darkness as tall as some of the surrounding trees on two bulk legs. Twin black horns protruded from the sides of its face and dangerous clawed paws for hands pushed the flora aside as if they were pedals taken up by the wind. A thick brown mane lead down its spine to its tail which whipped violently against the ground, three sharp blades at its tip capable of slicing through rock in one swipe. Malevolent red eyes settled on the young warrior as it opened its fanged mouth, traces of fire escaping to the sides to disappear in the air, a deep hollow voice echoing amongst the crystals. "Blood… I desire blood and flesh."

"A Behemoth..? This far north?" D's voice was full of curiosity as his muscles tensed, well knowing what this breed was capable of. "What brings you this far away from your mountains?"

The creature bellowed a bloodcurdling roar into the air, flames licking at the sky from its mouth as its eyes grew narrow in greed and reckless hungers. "Insolent human, your life is mine!" One of the trees next to the behemoth burst into splinters as 3 claws pierced the air intent silencing the cloaked mortals heart."

D's hand flew to his side and a swear escaped his lips as he realized in his haste of leaving the inn he hade left his swords behind. Narrowly he dodged the beast claws, running up its arm intent on going for its eyes. The other arm appeared from behind it but never found its target, D swiftly somersaulting backwards to avoid the blow. Launching himself from its hardened skin, he flew through the air moments away from its eyes when a quick whip of the behemoths bladed tail abruptly ended any hope of that assault. D flew several feet away, a tree catching him momentarily before he collapsed to the ground, a thick gash across his left shoulder where his hand attempted and failed to cover.

Slowly the behemoth approached as a hawk stalking its prey from skies above as its tail thrashed wildly behind it in delight. "Sweet blood… a foolish human thinks he could stand against me! Bow down and… what's this?" It backed up slowly with a growl as he watched D grin and stand up defiantly against him, the warriors' eyes having a light glow about them as his aura crackled with power.

"You were wrong you know in what you said earlier." D spoke as his fingers formed a basic symbol of Ninjustu, whispering the words Ap Do with his mind. His chakra surged around his feet as he looked into the behemoths eyes and smirked. "I'm not human." D's cape blew wildly about him as the chakra in his feet launched him into the air, his fist piercing one of the behemoths eyes. As it bellowed in pain, arms and tail flying without control, the young warrior looks around searching for a way to end this quickly. His eyes fell upon a tall tree that looked well aged and gave a rod of assent as he ducked, avoiding a claw of his adversary who was now getting focused once again but in a blind rage. That suited him just fine.

Kicking his way off the front of the beast, he smirked hoping to play on its rage. "Is that all you have? Maybe you'll have be better at hitting a rock, though I think the rock might outwit you."

"You bastard!" Rearing its massive head, a bright red light began to take form in its mouth before its shot a massive stream of fire towards the cloaked boy. D flared his aura and let out a cry of battle as from his forehead, a wave of pure energy was released, countering the beast flames. It shot through the center of the flames, easily disbursing the attack, and hit the purple titan in its mouth full force, which caused it to stagger, a little off balance.

"Now's my chance" whispered D as he dashed across the field and, focusing his chakra into his legs, sideswiped the behemoth making it fall to all fours. As D's feet reached the tree, he closed his eyes and a second burst of his Chakra emanated from his feet. He placed a foot on the base of the it and started to scale the tree, running vertically up its trunk. The behemoths tail pierced the air as D closed his eyes concentrating on timing his movement. He back flipped up the tree just as the blades struck where he had been, completely cutting through the thick trees diameter. D's cape flew through the winds as he launched himself into the night sky, looking down at the beast with pure concentration. The air around him grew dense as he gathered energy into his palm and pointed it straight down at the falling trees center and the behemoths back.

"Gravi Rei!" The gravity beneath him intensified to a crippling pressure and the tree, which had been falling immediately, hit the behemoth hard on its back as if a mountain had collapsed. Immobilized by the gravity, the beast cried and tried to move but to no avail. D quickly glided down onto the center of its back, placing a hand on its back. The air around the two of them grew colder as his eyes glowed a bright blue, the ground beneath them shaking.

"What are you doing!" The behemoth roared as it tried once again to move its body but to no greater success. D's aura whipped around him as he formed a dense ball of coldness inside the belly of the beast.

"Its over…" D whispered as he closed his eyes. "May you rest in piece."

"No!" It cried, feeling its end coming to hand.

"Gigan Zot!" Drawing his cape around him, he hopped off the creature, watching as a glacier of ice rose from the ground, piercing straight through the beast stomach and back as it reached for the sky. D's eyes narrowed as an unnatural dark aura seemed to cry out from the dead creature then as if faded, the body disaparated with it. D turned his back to it, hesitating for a moment as he looked over his shoulder and gazing at the glacier before he leapt into the tree line, heading back towards his room in the Shinato Lodge.

"Hey there D, back for a moonlight stroll?" asked a young girl from behind the inns counter. Her long black hair and vivid brown eyes complimented her innocence but said nothing of her intelligence. She was a very beautiful girl and despite her tender age of fourteen, was quite capable of running the inn within the absence of its other managers. A tragedy in her village long ago had made her an orphan in the course of the summers' night, her parents having died when the village was laid siege upon. Since they met, D had always been her big brother and protector in her eyes, the feeling being long since returned. Swiftly she ducked under the deck and gave him a tight hug as he entered the lodges' main door.

"Rinn," he whispered softly as he hid the concerns of his mind and smiled genuinely. Gently D returned his siblings hug and affectionately tussled her hair with his hand. "How are you this evening?"

"Great!" Smiling brightly Rinn twirled back to the counter with all the playful innocence one would expect from one so young. "Things have been quiet tonight and all the others went to town earlier. The peace has been wonderful!"

"I'm glad you've had a chance to relax," said D as he started to walk up the stairs."

"Do you want me to draw you a bath of anything?"

"No thank you, I think I'll just go straight to sleep."

"Are you surreee?"

"Night Rinn, and thank you.." he whispered as he closed the door to his room.

"Night D." Smiling softly gazing at the stairs, Rinn shrugged and went back to organizing the records of the inn.

Falling upon his bed after slipping off his shirt and cape, D looked out at the moon with a gaze that pierced the night sky. His mind traveling over to the battle from earlier and rumors he had been hearing earlier about problems emerging in the southern hemisphere. The thought of the black aura that seeped from the creature as it breathed its last breathes particularly held his attention. Gently he close his eyes, his long brown hair brushing against his bare chest as he laid there, looking like a chiseled roman sculpture.

"Hmm.. I guess we should head down towards the mountains in the morning but.." Shifting his gaze he looked a his katana leaning against the corner adjacent from him. "The supplies are getting low and it would be ill advised to go to the southern territories unprepared."

A taunting voice rang out from the darkness that caressed D's body. "You just can't help but get yourself involved with trouble can you.. Matrix and Shadow are right, nothing ever comes simple with you does it?" A growl of annoyance escaped D's lips. He wasnt given any time to respond as the vocie immediately continued. "Maybe we should stop in Lior first, its along the way and it would be nice to visit again. There were so many memories made when we were there last. Do you remember? Of course you do! Thats were that nice lil boy and his big sister Do.."

"Be quiet or I'll cut you off."

"Oh, hit a nerve did I?" Very well, I'll leave it at that for the night. You seem to testy for me anyway." The room became silent once more save for the sound of the gentle breeze blowing against the curtains of the window and the young warriors gentle breathing. Gazing at the moon once more, he closed his eyes and breathed out slowly, letting the darkness of sleep caress his mind. The wind blew softly about him then out the window, traveling across the lands under the moonlight, to a very different place, to a very different scenario. Yet still, D slept unaware of this and resting within the darkness of the world.