Hello Everyone! (The Duchess here)

I would like to take this time to apologize for not updating this story and forgetting I even tried posting a fanfic to begin with. But, I can assure you I'm back and ready for action. I have even resigned myself to finishing this story by the end of the month! I'm looking forward to any reviews you guys can give me on my work (hoping it's all constructive).

The Encounter

Yako stared down at the island since Neuro draped her like a sack over his shoulder. She saw the curves of trails and the detail in the trees. Yako enjoyed the imagery she knew was a once in a lifetime sight. Just as she noticed something in the corner of her eyes Neuro dropped her…

Yako quickly shut her eyes and could hear her heart beat inside her head. She could feel her stomach doing flips and turns in her throat. As she waited for the end it never came and she reluctantly opened her eyes to see herself suspended a foot from the ground. Neuro's hand held her by the collar and Yako turned her head to see the large smirk that graced his face.

Dropping her Neuro touched the ground and said, "Let's explore, I saw something that intrigued me."

With her face planted straight into the ground, Yako pushed herself up and follow Neuro; all the while incoherently mumbling.

After walking a good amount of time Yako grew tired and started a conversation with Neuro. "Are you looking for something specific?"

"You should know better than to ask those sort of questions," Neuro said not bothering to turn around.

At that point Yako figured a conversation wasn't the best thing and chose to end it by not answering his comeback.

Wondering around for what seemed like hours to Yako was becoming unproductive so she swallowed her fear and questioned Neuro, "What are you looking for? We've been walking around this jungle for hours and haven't found anything. The sun is about to set and I'm starving."

"Stop exaggerating, we'll arrive soon."

"Arrive? We are in the middle of nowhere? How can we arrive?"

"Why don't you take a look up ahead?"

Yako turned her head and stopped in her tracks, right in front of her was a village with a couple dozen people waiting to greet them.

"Oh my…"

"Welcome guests!" The entire village boomed as they greeted the two of them.

A man stepped from the crowd dressed in a kimono embroidered with a crest that was placed throughout the entire village, "Welcome to Michi No Kaze; I am the chief, Saito, and we have waited for your arrival Yako Katsuragi," the man said.

"How do you know my name?"

"The elder has told us of your arrival to the island. He said that only you could lift the curse that surrounds us."

"Elder. Curse. What's going on?"

"Please we'll explain everything, but first come and eat with us Miss Katsuragi."

"Alright," Yako joyfully answered, she had gotten tired and was starving because of Neuro's need to find this place; I might as well enjoy it.

Following the man through the large compound she saw something she never expected to see, feudal Japan. A streak contrast to the European designed mansion. The outside walls were made of Shoji and the entrances had two banners hanging. One with the crest the man leading them had and the other differed by house. It might be the chief's family crest.

"This is incredible." Yako whispered as she took in the sights of the village. The children were running down the small streets playing with kendo swords. Couples were walking and holding hands, some old, some young, but Yako could tell they were all in love.

As they continued to walk through village Yako couldn't help but think this was all so out of place. Everyone was in kimonos and some men even wore a haori. Yako took in the center of the village, tables were lined together to create an almost square design, but one side contained a stage rather than a place for dinning.

"Please take a seat Miss Katsuragi. You and your friend are welcomed here." He led them towards the table facing the stage and pointed to the two seats that lay in the middle. As soon as Yako had taken her seat everyone began to trickle in and take a place around the stage. Yako turned her attention to Neuro. His expression showed nothing, but boredom. She was about to ask him how he knew about this village and why it was so important to him, but was interrupted by the name who had introduced himself as Saito.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Yako Katsuragi. The one the elder has prophesied of." A low murmur erupted through the tables as the man made his announcement. "Please, now is not the time to fear or rumor, but to enjoy the coming of a new time for us." A silence had ensued since the man finished his speech.

From the distance Yako could see a man begin to rise from the corner of the right sided table. "Saito, your foolishness will lead to our downfall. How can such a young girl lift the curse?"

A cough broke the tension and everyone turned towards the stage. There Yako saw an old man; he was dressed in a simple black kimono with a haori covering his fragile form. A crest embroidered with white silk was on the right side of his haori. "Yako Katsuragi would you please rise and come towards the stage, I would like to test your skills."

A feeling of dread passed through Yako as she heard her name being called and froze as she heard the words "test your skills." Her head snapped in Neuro's direction and she was furious when she saw he had a smirk on his face. That bastard! He's enjoying this!

Swallowing her fear Yako slowly made her way towards the stage. Her legs felt like lead as she walked up the four steps and towards the center of the stage to the old man.

He smiled and introduced himself, "Hello Yako Katsuragi, My name is Yuri Kenshin and I am the village elder. I have foreseen your arrival and would like to welcome you to the village of Michi No Kaze. " The man lifted a small emerald from the pocket of his haori and held his hand out, "Miss Katsuragi this emerald has been used for five decades to confirm the identity of the one who will lift the curse. The emerald will glow when in the hands of its true owner. Do you accept the challenge? If the emerald shall glow in your hands will you lift the curse?"

Yako stared at the small piece stone. It was rectangular in shape and fit in the old man's palm perfectly. She lifted her eyes to examine his face, wrinkles from laugh lines and crow's feet covered his face. His eyes were a black abyss and glazed over. She could tell he was waiting for an answer, but words escaped her.

Suddenly she felt something pull her right arm. "It's time to go Yako." She looked up to see Neuro with a puzzled expression.

She left a tug on her left arm, "Please Miss Katsuragi, answer the question." His eyes were screaming for something Yako couldn't place, but the raw emotion behind was unsettling.

"Yes…" With that the old man placed the emerald in Yako's palm and a blinding light shone through her enclosed fingers. Behind her she could hear Neuro hiss and he let go of her hand. The light died abruptly and a silence resonated through the crowd.

"Incredible," the old man exclaimed.

Yako eyes were focused on the emerald in her palm, it was completely normal. The glow from before was gone and the only thing left was a simple piece of green stone. Yako turned to face Neuro and ask him what happened, but he was gone.

Low whispers began to form in the crowd below. Some people were quiet and simply stared at Yako through wide eyes, other were whispering to their neighbors and casting suspicious glances her way. The old man broke the tension again this time to say, "The stone has chosen, Yako Katsuragi is the one who will lift the curse, let the feast begin."

Applause resonated through the tables and some people cheered her name and their approval of the stone's choice. Yako was led back to her table by the old man, once seated she began to look side to side frantically, Neuro was nowhere in sight.

Yako turned to her left side again and was surprised to see someone other than Neuro by her side.

"Hello Ms. Katsuragi, my name is Keito."

"Oh, Hello Keito," Yako was a little apprehensive of the man, but she took notice of his appearance. He was dressed like most of the men in the village, but his kimono was a deep green color and his haori bore the same mark as the village's chief. He was handsome in Yako's book. With wavy black hair loosely hanging from the sides of his face, but what really set him apart was his ice blue eyes. They looked as if he could peer into a person soul, and Yako was left speechless.

"May I call you Yako?" A smile graced his face. His eyes danced with fascination and laughter. He looked inviting and filled with trouble.

"Umm…that sounds fine." Yako could hear the stutter in her own voice and couldn't help but smile back at him.

"Excuse me; it seems you've taken my seat." Neuro face betrayed his voice; his smile was deceptively kind, while his voice dripped venom.

I would also like to take some time to thank all of the people who have already reviewed:

Sayume214: I can assure you there is a reason for Yako's behavior towards Neuro, that's all I can say without giving spoilers, but I hope you like it enough to continue reading and find out what it is!

Additional mentions go out to:

Ivyknightfire

Fairofdreams

Goldy

Thank you all for reviewing and I'm sorry for the REALLY long wait!