"You wanted to see me, Koray?" Katana asked, as she and Koray stood in a small room in the stronghold.
"Yeah. I have a few things to say to you." Koray said with a slight grin.
Katana sighed. "If it's about your position as a General-"
"It's not." Koray interrupted. "I don't plan on regaining that status."
Katana eyed him curiously. "Why not?"
"I have more important things to do. Being a General would just hold me back." Koray said with a smile.
"I see..." Katana muttered as she turned her gaze out the window. "Koray, I want to tell you that even though you were a complete jackass, I did value what you had to offer as a General. I've been thinking about it a lot, and I guess all the crap you put me though made me a stronger leader. So thank you."
"It was... Just a promise I made to someone." Koray replied with a strange sadness filling his eyes.
"A promise? To who?" Katana stared at him curiously.
"It's what I came here to talk about. I made that promise to Lord Velimir shortly before he was killed." Koray said.
"The previous Lord..." Katana muttered. "Just what did you come here to tell me?"
"I wanted you to know that I held a lot of respect for him. He was the kindest person I ever met, and I would never be where I am today if it weren't for him." Koray explained. "When I first came here, I was having trouble getting used to the way things work here, and even later on I still had problems that wouldn't have been resolved without his help. I felt you should know that."
"Why would you tell me this?" Katana asked.
Koray began to slowly approach the ruler. "Even though you're just an orphan that he adopted, he still treated you as his own daughter." Koray placed a hand on Katana's cheek and looked her in the eye. "Even as he neared death, Lord Velimir was thinking about your well-being. 'Protect Katana in my place.' That was his final wish..."
Katana's eyes widened. "But... Koray, how would you know that?!"
"I couldn't keep my promise..." Koray muttered
"Answer me, Koray!" Katana screamed.
"His final wish..." The fire demon continued.
"KORAY!"
"Before I killed him..." Koray then surrounded his hand with aura, and then sent it through Katana's chest, piercing her heart. The girl gave a loud cry as she coughed up blood, and her body slowly got weaker. Tears flowed down her face as she looked up at Koray with a horrified expression. She couldn't understand why he was doing this. She didn't understand why there was such sadness and guilt in his eyes. Surely there was a reason for him to be doing this. Koray then embraced her dying body and whispered into her ear, "I'm sorry."
With that, Katana's life faded away and she lay dead in Koray's arms.
**********
"Koray, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes... Lord Velimir." Koray replied. "I just... wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me up until now. And I'm glad I was able to serve under you."
"Is something bothering you?" Velimir asked.
Koray hesitated. "No..."
"Don't lie to me, Koray." Velimir smiled. "I know you well enough to tell when something's wrong. So, what have you come here for?"
Koray began to tremble. "Well... I've..."
"You've come here to kill me, haven't you." Velimir stated.
Koray's eyes widened with shock. "What?! But how... did you know...?" He stuttered.
"I also know that you're a member of the Black Knights." Velimir smiled. Koray's eyes widened further as he drew his sword and got ready for some form of ambush. "Don't worry, I haven't told anyone. You can relax and talk with me."
"How long have you known?" Koray asked.
"Many years now." Velimir replied.
"I don't get it! Why keep me at your side, if you know I'm a double agent?! You're not that much of a fool!" Koray demanded.
"Well... It's because I trust you." Velimir smiled. "I know that the person obeying the Black Knights isn't the real you. I know that you have more gentle and caring heart."
"Bullshit." Koray muttered.
"You haven't forgotten, have you? The reason you're alive to this day... And the reason you joined the Black Knights?" Velimir asked.
"What...?" Koray muttered.
"You survived this long for her, right?" Velimir smiled. "As well as your children, isn't that so?"
Koray's eyes widened as memories began to flood into his mind. "Hina..."
"Isn't it about time you reunite with them? Believe me, the Black Knights will never allow you to get what you want. You need to get away from them, and fully commit yourself to your children. Since you were ordered to kill me, you should carry out that final order and then leave the Black Knights behind you."
"But Lord Velimir...!" Koray stuttered.
"Just promise me one thing... Please protect Katana in my place. She will be the next ruler, even though she's not ready. You need to be there for her, and make her stronger. Can you do that?" Velimir pleaded.
"Yes... I promise I'll fulfill this last wish of yours." Koray stated with sad eyes, as he readied his sword for a strike.
"Thank you, Koray." Velimir smiled as a tear fell down his cheek.
With a quick movement, Koray delivered a death blow, killing Velimir, the ruler of the Island of Wind.
**********
"KORAY?!" Archelaus exclaimed from the doorway as he stared in horror. Koray's hand was still pierced through Katana's body, which lay lifeless in his arms. "What the hell is going on here...?!"
Koray stared back with a terrified expression.
"Answer me! This had better not be what it looks like..." Archelaus gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
"I'm sorry, Archelaus..." Koray muttered as he removed his hand from Katana's body and gently placed the corpse on the floor.
"You... SON OF BITCH!" Archelaus shouted as he punched Koray with all his rage. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?! WE ALL TRUSTED YOU!" He grabbed Koray by the neck and then started punching him in the ribs over and over. "I THOUGHT YOU WERE OUR COMRADE! MORE THAN THAT, I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS! AND YET YOU BETRAY US LIKE THIS!" Finally he released Koray who staggered a bit, but still stood up as if nothing had happened. "Don't you have anything to say for yourself?!"
Koray stared at Archelaus with weak, regretful eyes. "It had to be done..." He muttered.
"That can't honestly be the best you can come up with!" Archelaus growled through gritted teeth.
Koray said nothing.
Just then, guards entered the room, having heard the screaming. They demanded to know what had happened, and then became utterly horrified when they saw the corpse of their ruler. Archelaus informed them that Koray was the one responsible for her death and then ordered his arrest. Koray said nothing, nor did he struggle as he was shackled, received spells to seal off his aura, and then dragged off to prison.
**********
"Ahhhhhh." Yusuke yawned as he stretched. "Is that bastard still not back yet? It's been a whole day... What the hell could he be talking about with Katana for so long?"
"It must be something of great importance." Kurama stated.
"You'd think he could have told us how long he'd be so we wouldn't have to wait like this." Kuwabara whined.
"Who cares, he'll come back when he's finished." Hiei muttered.
Suddenly they heard a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Yukina said as she hurried and opened the door. "Mr. Reuel! It's great to see you." Yukina smiled as she led the General into the house.
"It's... good to see you too." Reuel smiled awkwardly.
"Is something the matter?" Kurama asked. Reuel hesitated.
"And where's Koray, anyway?" Kuwabara questioned.
"Koray... Won't be back for a while..." Reuel replied.
"Why's that?" The group stared curiously.
"He's been put into prison..." Reuel explained. "For the assassination of Lady Katana."
Hiei's eyes widened, as he stared at Reuel with disbelief. "What...?!"