~ The Introduction~
Sayo, Still a bit nervous, reached for Akira's hand. He willingly held hers, gently and reassuringly, softly running his fingers across hers. "Are you ready?" He asked, looking at her. Sayo nodded, swallowing her fear as Akira slowly leads her inside the gates. He walked at her pace, sensing her still prevalent worry and wanting to calm her. "You sure they won't hurt me?" Sayo asked in a quivering voice. Akira stopped and looked Sayo in the eyes. "I swear on my life I will never let them hurt you."
Sayo felt her face go up in flames and quickly turned away to hide her blush. Akira continued to lead her across the expanding courtyard. Sayo began to notice all the beauties inside the walls of the Kenzu estate. The grass was lush and green, cut to the perfect height. There was a blossoming rose garden off to her right that captured her attention quite consumingly. "That's Shinda's," Akira remarked, following Sayo's gaze. "She's the youngest, and she adores all thing Nature," Sayo noticed a smile lingering on Akira's mouth as he spoke. "She's the youngest and also the only one in our clan that I'm related too. She's a sweet girl although, terribly shy. She's actually…."
Akira turned around "Right behind us," he said, kneeling down. Standing in front of him was a young girl, hardly even 8, hair wild and long. Black and curly with steamy grey eyes, she was most definitely related to Akira. "Who is her's?" Shinda asked, pointing a chubby finger up at Sayo. "Her's smells funny Bwuther," Her tiny eyes narrowed, "Her isn't a wuff, her's a bad girl Bwuther." Akria patted Shinda's head comfortingly and tickled her under her chin, which made a bubbly giggle erupt out of her. "Now, why would I bring a bad girl here, Hun? You know I'll always keep you safe Shin. No matter what," He kissed the top of her head and stood back up.
He smiled and took Sayo's hand soothingly; they continued their tour. Akira led her to the front door of the manor. Sayo looked at him nervously and he nodded, silently telling her again that she was okay. Upon entering the building, Sayo was slammed to the ground. A full bodied grey wolf was on her chest, teeth flared, yellow eyes glowing with bloodlust. Sayo struggled under the wolf's weight, her body gripped with fear. "p-please," she stammered "I-I don't w-want to hurt you."
The wolf growled in such a way that it sounded almost like laughter. In a gravelly voice the wolf spoke: "You can try as hard as you want. You cannot hurt me." Shaking in fear, Sayo's eyes closed. Her body was still as if she passed out. Then, sudden and erupt, laughter spilled from Sayo's lips. When Sayo opened her eyes, they were the color of fire. Her body was tense and both Akira and the unknown wolf felt power radiate from her. She smiled maliciously, her teeth sharp and elongated. She lifted her left hand, Nails now sharp as razor and roughly 3 inches in length, and grabbed the back of the wolf's neck. Sayo threw him off her and jumped to her feet.
"It seems you've gone and upset me," she purred and launched at the wolf.
The wolf, back on his feet, attempted to dodge but Sayo was too fast. Her kick collided with the side of the wolf's head with such force, he was unconscious immediately. Sayo turned to look back at Akira, her eyes once again emerald and smiled. His jaw was slack at the sight of Sayo's performance.
"What are you Sayo-Chan?" Akira asked, respect resonating in his voice. Sayo shrugged "I'm an Anima," she said simply.
"A what?" Akira asked again.
"Anima," Sayo said confidently. She shook her head, giggling slightly. "Im a genetically modified human, that was spliced with animal cells. The experiment was created so that when certain emotions are triggered I gain my animalistic qualities and my fight instincts kick in. There were only two Anima's made. Only one lived…" Sayo looked down, tears welling in her eyes. She sighed deeply. "We were created with the intention of making a better fighting army. But the two genetically different cells fought each other, killing my brother. The only reason I lived was because the animal I was fused with had genetic that were somewhat resistive. The emotion my Anima is linked with is anger only; becoming Anima when I feel pure rage, like with your friend pre-emptive strike."
"Not my friend," Akira said absently. Then "So what animal are you then?"
Sayo smiled. Bowing low in a mock curtsy, she said "I'm the Lioness Anima,"