Breaking and entering
Four years ago
Tsuki peered around the tree she was hiding behind.
"This is bigger than any house I've raided before…" She thought, inspecting the front of the huge, one storey house she was planning to break into. She could feel the presence of two humans inside, one the slow, uneven heartbeat of a sleeping elderly person, but the other was beating surprisingly fast. Tsuki decided the person was probably having a particularly nasty bad dream. In any case, they were unlikely to cause her any trouble, what with her new abilities and experience. The girl slunk out over the open area in front of the house. She tried the large oak doors, grinning in satisfaction as it opened with no resistance.
"This is too easy…" Thought Tsuki, creeping through the home's dark corridors.
Kazuki couldn't sleep. His sensei had told him that he was to go through a special process that would not only boost his powers, but make him a full member of Daichi's clan. Excited as he was, it was the latter that had his heart racing so fast. For once in his life, he would be part of something. For once, he would have some semblance of a family. Kazuki had wanted to leave for the special location right away, but Daichi had refused, claiming that we required a decent night's sleep before we departed. Kazuki was not getting that sleep as he sat, fully clothed on the edge of his bed, listening to the sound of birds outside his window. Suddenly, he heard something else. A soft thump, barely audible, coming from down the hallway. Kazuki knew instantly that someone was coming down the hallway. He listened closely and clearly heard light footsteps directly outside his door…
Tsuki froze. Where had the heartbeat gone? She stood outside a small wooden door warily. She was certain she had sensed a rapid human heartbeat on the other side, but it had disappeared, leaving only the distant throbbing of the old man's heart and the various beats of the mice and insects running around. Cautiously, she opened the door and crept into the room. She couldn't see anybody in there, but sneaked up to the bed to check if anyone was still in there.
"What are you doing here?" Whispered a tiny, rasping voice.
Tsuki stifled a scream and leapt around to face the speaker. She looked around the room but could see nobody. Suddenly, in the darkness, see saw the shape of a large spider descend from a strand of web in front of the door. Tsuki stared at it.
"Who are you?" The voice was definitely coming from the spider.
To Tsuki's alarm, there was a bright blue flash. She squinted into the light and saw the spider suddenly transform into a human. He reached a hand and flipped on the light switch. As Tsuki's eyes adjusted, she saw a boy, around the same age as her, blond haired, blue eyed and dressed all in black. And he was blocking her escape route. Then, both of them widened their eyes in surprise as they recognised each other.
Kazuki blinked at the silver haired girl. She blinked back with her sparkling purple eyes.
"You?!" They exclaimed simultaneously.
They both stared at each other, dumbfounded.
"Er… I'm Tsuki…" Said the girl meekly, holding out her hand.
Kazuki shook her hand, never once taking his eyes off hers. "I… I'm Kazuki."
Tsuki smiled at him. "Can I call you 'Zuki?" She asked innocently.
Kazuki blinked dumbly. "Sure…" He paused, recovering his composure. "Wait! What are you doing here?!"
Tsuki coughed sheepishly. "Erm… I was just…" He stuttered.
"Trying to rob us?" Kazuki ventured.
Tsuki coughed again. "Yes…" She looked Kazuki in the eyes. "Is that OK?..."
"Of course!" Kazuki blurted out before stopping and thinking. "What!? No!"
Tsuki nonchalantly shuffled towards the door. "Well, it was nice meeting you again 'Zuki…" She said. "I'll just be on my way…"
Before he could stop himself, Kazuki had stepped out of the way to let her pass. Immediately, Tsuki darted for the open doorway. In the nick of time, Kazuki realised what he had done and threw himself at the fleeing girl, tackling her and landing in a heap in the corridor outside.
"It's those damn purple puppy-dog eyes…" Thought Kazuki as he pinned her to the floorboards.
"Ahh! Let me go!" cried the girl, trying to wriggle out of Kazuki's grasp.
Kazuki kept a tight hold of her, determined not to let her get away. She began flailing her legs and caught Kazuki's knee, causing him to wince and loosen his grip. Tsuki managed to get an arm free. Bright green fingernails glinting in the light of the doorway, she poked Kazuki in the shoulder. Kazuki looked at her in puzzlement, and then poked her back. Tsuki locked eyes with him and stopped struggling. Instead, she focused on repeatedly poking the boy who was holding her down, and he poked back. In a matter of seconds, a poke war of epic proportions began, causing both of them to start laughing, despite themselves. The poke war ended in a draw as Kazuki and Tsuki both gave up, rubbing their aching shoulders and laughing hysterically. Suddenly, Tsuki stopped laughing and her expression became fearful. She could sense another human heartbeat behind her. Kazuki had stopped laughing too and was now staring over her shoulder with a worried expression. Tsuki slowly turned around and saw the old man standing there, a cold, threatening look on his wrinkly face.
"Er… This is Daichi-sensei," mumbled Kazuki to Tsuki. "Sensei, this is-"
"I know who she is," snapped Daichi. "She is a thief, come to rob me." He pointed a finger at the blushing girl. "Many have tried to steal from my home, none have succeeded."
"But I haven't taken anything!" Protested Tsuki.
Daichi stared at her in silence, his expression unreadable. Suddenly, with a flash of red, Tsuki was staring into the gaping maw of a large angry lion. Tsuki shrieked in terror. Kazuki tried to shout something but it was lost in the lion's powerful roar. Tsuki was paralyzed with fear as Daichi raised a massive clawed paw, ready to strike her. She screamed as the claws began to descend.
Suddenly she heard Kazuki let out a strange noise behind. Just as the lion's claw was about to rip her apart, something green flew in front of her. Time seemed to slow and she realised it was a turtle, its shell turned towards the lion, its seemingly concerned expression fixed on Tsuki. The claws struck the tough shell of the turtle, deflecting the claw and flinging the bewildered creature straight into Tsuki. Just in time, she raised her arms and caught the turtle. She was knocked to the floor by the impact, and when she opened her eyes again, the turtle was gone and instead, she was hugging onto Kazuki. The two hastily separated, Kazuki rubbing his sore back. The lion gazed at the two winded children with a bemused expression. In a flash, it transformed back into the familiar form of Daichi-sensei. He glared at the girl.
"Get out." He ordered.
Tsuki speedily clambered to her feet and bowed to the old man.
"Thank you, Daichi-sempai." She said before scampering down the hallway as fast as she could.
As she ran out of the front door, she stole one last glance at Kazuki, who waved at her. The girl smiled, waving back. Then she was gone. Kazuki eyed Daichi apprehensively, expecting some kind of lecture or punishment. But Daichi just smiled weakly and walked back to his room without saying a word. Kazuki stayed in the hallway for a minute or two, watching the doorway where Tsuki had left. He hoped, for her sake, that she did not return.