Hey RK fans! For those of you new to this fanfic, welcome to "Death's Beauty" Now, before I go off on a tangent, let's get to chapter 4!

Crack! Whoosh! Smack!

Training again. I stood still as the boards tied to the tree fell around me one by one. Sighing, I sheathed the sword. Dull. I had aced this thing over a million times, and Mom still insisted that I do it. Parents. Jeez. I glanced at the wooden mess that lay around my feet. Each and every board had been broken clean in half. Well, there was no reusing those now. Yawning, I picked up the halved boards, and began making my way back to the dojo. Lately, it had been the same thing, day in and day out. Training with the boards, one hundred strokes, and training against my brother, whom I always beat. A warm spring breeze slithered through my hair. Closing my eyes, I relived the dark brilliance of last night. The energy was wonderful, the bloodlust, superb. I needed to feel that again.

"Tori? You okay?"

Dad. I opened my eyes, to find my father looking me over, with concerned eyes.

"Oh! Don't worry Dad, I'm fine."

Dad smiled, and looked down at the broken boards I held in my hands.

"Well, you've certainly been coming along nicely, haven't you?"

I nodded.

"If you'll excuse me, I have to get back home."

I began walking off in the direction of the dojo, when Dad's voice caught up to me.

"I'll see if I can talk to your mother about you and Kenji having another practice battle against each other."

Yes! Finally! I turned around and thanked my father, before continuing on. The sun shone clearly from a pale azure sky, making it's rays glimmer like golden crystals. Quickly, I set the boards down by the front porch and raced off to my room. When I entered, I knelt down in front of a little desk with a drawer where I kept my most precious belongings. A necklace of flowers Kenji made for me when we were children. A scarf Dad had given me, a few purple hair ribbons, a black crystal I had found, and the short sword. It lay buried, wrapped up in the scarf. Cautiously, I took it out and held it. There was no energy this time, Just a faint tingling sensation.

"Useless."

I muttered, as I put it back. I needed a sword, but where would I find one? Problems, problems. A rattling noise caught my attention. I jumped and scrambled to close the drawer.

"What are you doing in here, Tori? Finish training already?"

Mom. Thank the Gods. Putting a hand to my chest to still my fleeting heart, I turned around to face my mother.

"Yes. I'm finished. Did Dad talk to you yet?"

She cocked her head to the side before the light dawned.

"Oh! Yes he has. I think you and Kenji are ready for another one on one battle."

I smiled and gave my thanks as Mom turned and shut the door. I turned back to my little desk/drawer. What would I do with the short sword now that it no longer satisfied me? I couldn't throw it out. It could prove to be useful if I ever got caught alone at night. I would keep it, but I wouldn't carry it on me constantly. A breeze slowly sailed through my open window, bringing with it the scent of cherry blossoms and fresh earth. I didn't shut my window, rather, left it open and left my room.

* * * * *

Kenji and I stood facing each other, wooden swords drawn. Mom and Dad were on the sidelines. Silent and waiting for one of us to make the first move. My mind was dead. Filled with nothing but the blade I held in my hands before me. Suddenly, it shimmered, and became a blade forged of steel, and drenched with blood. I gasped quietly and the imaged disappeared. Kenji let loose a yell and rushed forward to strike. I sidestepped and swung in a downward arc, narrowly clipping his shoulder. He growled, and struck again. Again I dodged, and swung. This time catching my brother in the stomach. He wobbled a bit, but did not fall.

My turn. Like a wildcat lit on fire, I surged toward my brother so fast he never saw anything coming. I struck him full force in the chest, but he remained standing. We both backed off a bit, panting. Why wouldn't he go down? Dammit, it was starting to piss me off! Raising my sword high over my head, I rushed at him again. Maybe I was a fraction too slow, because as soon as my sword made contact with the back of his thigh, I felt his force cliff me on the shoulder. I gritted my teeth to keep from crying out. A satisfying thud met my ears as I heard my brother fall. I stood, waiting for him to get up. He struggled to push himself to his feet, but he did make it.

"C'mon! One more! I can still whip yah!"

Just what I wanted to hear. Before I could even get within swinging distance, Dad intervened.

"No you two. You're simply training. Not fighting to the death. Besides, it's almost dinner time."

Kenji nodded, and sheathed his sword. I did the same. My shoulder ached terribly. Kenji caught this and walked over to me.

"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you badly?"

Kenji. He had been battered by my relentless fighting, only got me once, and was still concerned about me. What a wonderful brother.

"No. I'm okay. What about you? I bruised you pretty good."

"These? They're nothing I can't handle. C'mon, let's go get dinner."

We began following Mom and Dad out of the training room, when something caught my attention. I looked out the open door. An ominous breeze blew through the trees. Somebody had been out there, watching Kenji and I face off. Who?

"Sis?"

Kenji looked at me curiosity making his eyes sparkle. I continued to stare into the darkening landscape. What did they want? Why had they been watching?

"Earth to Tori!"

They wee watching me. The knowledge of that frightened me. What did they want with me? Was it-

"Tori! Hello?! You hear me?!"

I turned back to Kenji, who was searching my face for some disturbance.

"Um…it's nothing. Let's eat, I'm starving!"

I said, pulling my brother along with me. Pain flared in my left shoulder. I cried out and dropped to the floor. Kenji had gotten me good! I was impressed. Normally I was able to walk free of any injury, Kenji had picked up without m noticing. I need to restore the balance of power. He needs to learn his place. No matter what, he is under me! No! Where had that thought come from? Kenji knelt by my side, gently helping me up.

"We should go into town tomorrow and see Megumi. You got me pretty good too. I think you actually cracked one of my ribs." (Note: She actually hair-line fractured his sternum, but I'm not sure if they had proper anatomy back then)

I nodded. The two of us sat down at the dinner table, Kenji keeping his eye on me. My shoulder didn't flare up for the rest of the night, but it continued to throb dully with my pulse. When I went to bed that night, I was still anxious. Where had that come from? I had never thought that way, much less towards my own brother. I sighed, and lay down gently, mindful of my possible bruised shoulder. I was thankful when the dark, cold waters of sleep began to brush softly against my worn out mind. It wasn't long before I fell into a heavy sleep.

* * * * *

I awoke with a start. What was it? Nightmare? Not possible. I'd remember if it was.

"You think she's what we need?"

Voices! Where were they coming from?

"I saw her perform. She's beautiful to look at, yet deadly in combat."

Men. In their thirties by the sound. They wanted me. What could I do? Scream? If I did, Mom, Dad, and Kenji would come running, but if I went out there?

"If we get her in our ranks, she could be the most powerful swordsman in all of Japan."

"You mean swords mistress."

Sword. Powerful. Those beautiful words rang in crystal tones in my mind, setting off silver bells. The chance to use an actual weapon, the chance to use a sword for its true worth. Slowly, I got up and made my way out of my room. I traversed the hallway silently, mindful of my sleeping family. Quietly I opened the door, and made a few cautious steps outside. They stood in the center of the yard, almost as if they knew I would come out and were waiting my approach. One had long ash blond hair that flowed down to the middle of his back, the other who looked about two years younger than him wore his ebony hair up in a ponytail. The blond bowed when he saw me. As did the other. Wordlessly I approached them.

"Who are you? Why have you come here? What do you seek from me?"

The blond smiled.

"Ah, so you heard us out here a little while ago. You've got good senses my dear."

The younger one stepped forward. He was holding a sheathed sword in his hand.

"We are an underground group of assassins who work for the government, The Tadashi Subeta Group. We have seen your performance and watched you closely since that brawl in the market. You posses skills that we have long sought after. Will you join us?"

Here is was. My chance to make the dreams that had haunted me a reality. To live the lifestyle that my father had abandoned long ago.

"Why? There are many other individuals that you could ask to enlist."

"None of them are as formidable an opponent as you are."

"Are you doing this because my father is the former Battosai The Man Slayer?"

"No. Your father plays no part in this. We ask only you. And we await your answer."

Should I do it? Was it wise to take hold of a destiny soaked with blood. Memories came back to me. Those dreams, the brawl, the short sword. The strongest was the energy that the blade had pulsated with. That breathtaking combination of ecstasy and ruin. I needed that energy. Besides, those dreams were telling me something, they had led me to this destiny. I just couldn't walk away now and be left to wonder.

"I accept your offer."

Both men smiled, and the ebony haired one handed me the sword. An insignia was carved into its handle. A shining blade. Both men took a step back from me. The blond spoke.

"Meet with us tomorrow night for your first assignment. You will find us in the Eastern Woods, by the rotting oak. I believe you know where that is."

I did. When we were kids, Kenji and I used to play there often. I got a broken arm from climbing too high, and breaking an old branch.

"Thank you. I will meet with you tomorrow night."

A stronger wind blew this time. When I looked up, they were gone. I unsheathed the blade. It shown brilliantly in the moonlight. A curved, steel beam of moonlight, made for one soul purpose. Killing. I sheathed the blade and walked back inside. Once in my room, I hid the sword under my bed. What would tomorrow night hold? My first bloodshed. My heart began to beat fiercely in my ears. My head buzzed with excitement.

"Soon."

I whispered to myself, placing one hand under by futon, and running my hand along the blade's handle.

"Soon."

Ooooh! Tori's first encounter with a blade! Will she go into the dark world of an assassin? Or will somebody find out? R&R!