Minawa: *sigh* there's so much work... at least I managed to finish this chapter.

Kai: Oh, I'm finally in it. How nice.

Minawa: uh, actually... you've been in flashbacks.

Kai: ...doesn't count.

Now sitting a bit further down from the docks I finally let myself catch my breath. For the first time in a while I had actually run the fastest I could in fear of whatever was chasing me.

It wasn't really Kai I was afraid of; it was the leader of Red Blade that frightened me. I was afraid of being a traitor and an enemy of my once close friends. The past I left behind was my biggest fear. `That's why I have to run´ I thought as I picked up a few rocks. I threw them as hard as I could out into the black sea. This sucked…

"Kayla!" I then heard someone call from behind. I turned around and saw Zoro come running from the direction that I had come from. I was a bit happy to see him but the feeling soon disappeared when I thought of the risks.

"Oi! What the hell's your problem, running of like that…" he said with an angry face as he walked up to me. I smiled at him, noticing the hint of worry in his voice.

"You're just drunk, let's go back." I said and grabbed his arm.

"I've just had one bottle, like that'd make me drunk." he protested as I dragged him with me.

"Hai, hai…" I said when a movement caught my sight.

Further away in the shadows a man stood, watching Zoro and me. Once he noticed the fact that I knew of his presents he moved forward. Even moments before he stepped out of the shadows I recognised him. A childhood friend, a brother and the man I once trusted my everything with.

Kai.

He smiled his usual confident smile as he walked towards us. His dark eyes, always reminding me of the sea, showed nothing but confidents. His hair hadn't changed, wild and dark bangs framed his face and he still wore the golden earring in his left ear, a gift once given to him by me. Everything about him still had that mysterious feeling, the aura of a leader. Now he was just a bit older and, if I have to be honest, a bit more handsome.

By putting my hand on the sword handle I let him know that he wasn't welcomed. He got the hint rather quick and stopped his pace. A moment of silence fell before I smiled too.

"So you found me. Good job." I said with a sarcastic tone. Kai put his hands on his waist and grinned even more.

"Pretty easy, Sweetheart. I have men everywhere nowadays so mapping your route wasn't difficult. But I admit, it did take us a while to recognize you. I like the hair by the way." He said and made a gesture towards my short hair. I smiled and dropped my hand.

"Thanks but I'm not your `Sweetheart´. If you're going to attack do it now cuz I don't got all day!" I said with a harsh voice. I was serious and it didn't help when Kai showed a pained and angry face. One I hadn't seen in a while.

"You think that's why I'm here? To kill you?" He asked now slightly angry. I grinned.

"I'm a traitor, remember? Isn't it your job to do so?" I said but then paused. "Or do you order others to do it now?" I said and once again laid my hand on the handle. Kai did the same.

"If you won't understand my feelings I'll just beat it into you!" he said and drew his sword. So did I and without waiting further we attacked head on.

The first to attack was I but Kai easily blocked every hit and backed away. From there he moved forwards and sliced air as I avoided his swings. He grinned when noticing my progress.

"You've grown." He said and attacked from above. I blocked it and stood face to face with him. He was slightly bigger than me so standing like this would be my disadvantage in the end. So I stepped in across and past him turning and ending up behind him. The movement surprised him slightly so I took the chance and kicked him hard in the back. He fell with the force and made a front fall to get back on his feet. With a distance we paused slightly only looking at each other. But something wasn't right. This wasn't how Kai normally would fight, not when killing someone. I looked at him for a second before I gripped `Hime´ harder.

"Kai!" I called out now angry as I pushed forward with the tip of the sword pointing down. When I reached close enough I sliced upwards and aimed for his chest and neck area. But in vain as Kai avoided it in the last second. The only thing hurt was his shirt.

"Are you looking down on me, Kai?" I yelled at him again and attacked. After a few hits I scraped his hand, making him drop his sword. But before I had the time to attack again he held my arms down in a clinch. Unable to swing my sword I tried tripping him but failed.

"How could I fight you seriously?" I then heard Kai whisper. I froze for a moment and slightly relaxed in his grip hoping he'd let go.

"You… I don't want to hurt you. Not in any way possible." He said still holding me in a tight grip. But just slightly the clinch turned into a hug and the lack of spirit made the fight useless to me. Thinking like that was a risk and I knew that but just for a moment I wanted to believe him. Just once.

"I only want you to return to my side. I don't see you as a traitor, you were scared and I shouldn't had forced you to do anything." He continued. "If you're not there… I wouldn't have a reason to live." He said and released his grip even more. I don't think I've ever heard Kai talking like this, not once. It's always been about me; my training, my needs and my interests. It was always me opening up to Kai and never the other way around. And now before I knew it my eyes where staring into his. And something in his look made me actually believe he was telling the truth. That he for the first time opened up to me.

A firm hand grabbed the back of my head and slightly tilted it up. Before I could protest his lips landed on mine. A taste of salt and sake reached my mouth but fore some reason it was sweet. Sweeter than anything I'd felt in a long time.

Suddenly Kai broke away, reminding me that I needed air. With this he let me go and took a step away opening his arms. He smiled gently as he nodded towards my hand.

"If you want to kill me it's fine. I got what I wanted." He said and closed his eyes.

His action had taken me by surprise but now I smiled too. I wasn't 12 anymore, Kai wasn't just my brother. He'd never been…

"Only a kiss?" I asked with a mocking tone as I put away `Hime´. "Can't you at least be a bit greedy if you're fine with dying?" I said and put my weight on one foot. Slightly Kai opened one eye and looked at me.

"No strike?" he asked.

"No strike." I said and sighed. Perhaps I was a fool for believing my earlier enemy but it didn't matter anymore. Now I was certain.

Just as I was about to step forward a sound reached my ear. A familiar sound that made me by instinct bend the air with my hands but it wasn't enough. An arrow hit Kai in his right shoulder making him almost fall over by the force. I turned towards where the arrow came from and stared into the shadows.

Kai: Geeh, thanks. I appear and you have me shot.

Minawa: *speaks in low voice* Skyll dig själv...(- Swedish)

Kai:...?

Ray: You. had. him. kiss. me? *dark aura appears*

Minawa: (-_-' ...shouldn't you be happy?