It was confusion in the pitch dark. Sounds of battle all around. Kiera trusted her senses to lead her to her King. Anger raged throughout her body. It was an ambush in the middle of the King's castle! How dare they!

She wanted to fight but she knew she was the only one remotely capable of protecting her beloved King so she stood in front of him. Her senses heightened to any approaching assassins. In the midst of the fighting she heard the man's name being called out and a floating glow illuminated a face. A beautiful face eerily lighted by the strange glow. Her eyes narrowed in anger. She knew that face.

She had seen it before. He was of the infamous and supposedly highly organized society of rebels. She herself had led the attack on their hideout fortress. She had seen his face as their leader's blood soaked her clothes; he had escaped that day along with 3 others. It would seem that this Uruha was in league with them. How disappointing, he was too beautiful to be executed by her sword.

Her grip on the swords tightened. Rather than seeing, she sensed the King behind her draw his own weapon. She couldn't help the smirk that came to her lips. The King was not as defenceless as people like to assume. He had more hidden daggers upon his body then anyone she knew.

"We should be more careful next time." He commented. His tone void of any hint of fear, instead he sounded excited. "I suppose his pretty face distracted you, my friend."

She scoffed. "Then I shall remedy that"

As suddenly as the torches had gone out, the flames came back to life. The scene that lay before her was a mess of blood and fallen bodies. The servants huddled in a corner eyes wide with fear. There in the midst of the massacre stood the assassins and one very confused looking Uruha.

The flames flickered on as if nothing had happened. But the view Uruha could see was the aftermath of absolute chaos. Shou, whom he had considered one of this best friends, stood beside him, his hand still tightly holding his shoulder while the other had a sword, blood slowly dripping down from its edges. He looked like a fearless, merciless warrior. It wasn't the Shou he knew, who was kind and shy. This one was a murderer.

Across the room of bloody bodies lying motionless on the floor, Uruha's eyes landed on the other standing figures. He couldn't believe his eyes. They were all his friends. They were all nice guys, happily laughing without an evil thought in their heads and now here they stood crazy murderous lust in their eyes. Hiroto, who'd always been bullied by everybody for being the small one, walked casually towards them, sheathing his sword and stepping on the bodies like they were stairs laid out for him. Bloodstains on his face, Tora joined them too, his face impassive and... emotionless; and Saga appeared right behind Shou, he too soaked in the blood of the King's men. Uruha felt chills run down his spine. Were these people really his friends?

"Sondalle," said Shou, his voice stern and authoritative, "I see you've captured our friend." Shou's hand gripped Uruha's shoulder even tighter and for a split second Uruha thought he felt something similar to an electric shock run through his body.

Shou's eyes drifted to the girl who stood in front of the King. "It seems to me, Kiera" said Shou, his voice filled with hatred, "That you find sick enjoyment in taking away the friends and family of other people." The statement was directed at Kiera although Uruha didn't understand why and he just hoped that this was a very long... detailed, confusing nightmare.

"We just came by to give you a taste," said Hiroto, malice apparent in his words, "of what's coming next."

"Hope you enjoyed our present," Shou chuckled, placing his foot onto the head of one of Sondalle's men. Uruha could see rage burning in the King's eyes. He was not liking the situation one bit.

"Sick enjoyment you say? Funny how I was thinking the same thing about you." Kiera retorted. Her whole body tense ready to fight at the slightest provocation. She looked directly at Uruha, "If I knew you associated with such mindless murderers I would have killed you the moment I laid eyes on you."

Kiera felt a slight movement behind her followed by a pained groan. She glanced at the King who was supporting a massive grin. He winked at her.

"My bad. My hands are just so clumsy." One of his hidden daggers had found its target in the tallest man's shoulder. "Did you really think to scare us with this? Your idea of a heroic attack and rescue is not quite grand."

The tallest clutched his bloody shoulder glaring at the King in pure hatred. The shortest of them stopped, his feet mid way through stepping in a pool of blood.

"Mind your step little one. Wouldn't want you dirtying the castle floors with bloody foot prints." Kiera employed the most mocking tone she could muster.

His face coloured drastically at her words. A string of incoherent words tumbled from his lips. He flung himself at her direction. She was aiming for that very reaction from him. She casually turned her blade. One more step and he'd pitch himself on its sharp edge.

"HIROTO STOP!" someone yelled. Two pairs of arms wrapped around the short man's torso. "You're running right at her sword you idiot!" It was the beautiful man who spoke.

Kiera made a sound of annoyance. It would've been an easy kill.

"This is getting boring." A voice echoed in the room.

"Someone better start killing again. You're ruining my entertainment." Came another voice. Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs she felt as if her stomach had dropped a thousand miles from a cliff. This cannot be good. A sharp intake of breath behind her told her the King had the same thought.

"Who is there? What is this?" Hiroto shouted. The unseen voices chuckled in response.

"You shouldn't ask stupid question to your superiors, you vertically challenged human." The second voice was like flowing silk and mocking.

Uruha hadn't said anything for a while now. Thoughts were running through his head like bullets. Tora had just been wounded with a dagger and he didn't really react much; as if having a knife thrown at him was just another day's work. And now, suddenly, some more surprises have randomly appeared. His friends seemed to be just as surprised as he was at the strange voices that have resounded in the hall.

This couldn't get any worse. Uruha was exhausted. He had been dropped into this mess of a world, ran like mad from Sondalle's guards, been hauled through curious judging eyes into this hall which was now bloody and filled with bodies; and now some more crazy people are about to show up?

"Can someone please just stop for a minute and explain to me what in God's name is happening here?" Uruha yelled, the loudness of his voice putting everyone off guard.

"You!" Uruha pointed at Kiera, "You just keep accusing me for no reason! First I'm a bird, then I'm a witch, and now I'm in league with mindless murderers? Make up your mind, woman!"

"Speaking of mindless murderers," Uruha turned to his friends, feeling pain as he honestly asked them, "Who are you people? Shou, Tora, Saga, Hiroto... what the hell happened to you? I know you guys... you're not killers. And here you stand, after murdering people in cold blood without even a sign of regret on your faces."

Nobody replied. Everyone seemed to be staring at him, shocked at his sudden outburst.

"And now!" Uruha said angrily, "Now I hear voices coming from nowhere! Whoever those voices belong to better show themselves right now! Because I'm getting really close to going permanently insane here, and surrounded by bloody corpses, murderous friends, flying daggers and INVISIBLE people is NOT HELPING at all!"

"How cute. Isn't he just simply adorable?" the second voice commented. Kiera sighed. It was never a good thing when these deities interfere. Uruha was just begging for trouble it seems. But she had to agree with the goddess he did look rather adorable in his panic.

"I don't like your tone. Ask nicely" came the first voice, obviously male.

Cute? Uruha was losing his mind here and they dared call it "cute"?

"Oh i'm sorry for not asking NICELY," said Uruha bitterly, "But aren't you the rude ones who can't even show yourselves or introduce yourselves? Unless... you can't show yourselves, are you like ghosts or something?"

Uruha, only after his words, regretted it. For some reason, he felt like he'd made a horrible, childish mistake. The expression on Kiera's face confirmed his anxieties.

Her heart sank. He had dug his own grave. She can already picture herself laying flowers on his grave. The air around them suddenly increased in temperature. The assassin closest to Uruha dropped to his knees clutching his head as if in pain.

"Saga!" Hiroto called out. Before he could run to his friend's aid the man named Saga sprang up with a snarl. As if out of thin air his knife appeared in his hand pointed dangerously close to Uruha's pale throat.

"You are a fool to speak thus." He hissed. He pressed the blade deeper into his throat drawing blood. For reasons she could not phantom, Kiera leaped as fast as she could covering the distance between her and Uruha and hauled Saga away from him.

"Apologize. Now! Believe me, you do not want to anger him further."

Uruha could only stare in horror as Saga glared at him, the dagger still pointed towards him. If Uruha had thought Saga looked scary earlier, it was absolutely nothing compared to the monster inside Saga now.

Kiera had come to his rescue, for some reason. It was confusing, since all she's every done was insult him and threaten to kill him all day but here she was, protecting him. Whatever made her change her mind, Uruha was glad.

"Uh," Uruha spluttered, not sure if apologizing to the unknown voices was enough to stop the madness but it seemed to be time to swallow his pride, "Sorry, I guess."

Why he added the "i guess" at the end, he doesn't even know himself because Saga, or whatever is inside Saga right now, didn't look very happy with it. Uruha mentally kicked himself; his mouth and his brain were not cooperating today.

"Come now, Ares. Don't be such a spoil sport. Let the poor darlings be." came the unseen goddess's voice. This time it did not seem to echo in the room. In fact it sounded very much like she was close by. Kiera turned in what she assumed was the direction of her voice.

Merely inches away from King Sondalle's shoulders stood the goddess of chaos in all her beauty. The King must have sensed her for he hastily took a few steps from her. He gave her a respectful bow but decided to keep his silence. Kiera followed his lead and bowed in a curtsey towards the goddess. She looked back at Saga, she noticed the flush of rage fade from his face replaced with a look of utter confusion.

In spite of the situation, she felt pity for him. One could not count being possessed by the God of war as a pleasant experience.

"You would not be saying that if not for their pretty faces." Said the god, materializing next to Eris. She waved a hand in dismissal.

"Are you happy? You can see us now. What say you? Do I suite your tastes?"

Kiera had the mad urge to burst into very unladylike giggles at the expressions on all the men's faces. Obviously none of them seem to own the ability of speech at the moment so she took it upon herself to answer.

"If I may ask my Lord and Lady, Why are you here among us?" she kept her voice neutral. Ares was giving her a very appraising look, she avoided meeting his gaze. It was rather unsettling to be the focus of his attention.

"Well, to be quite honest, we were bored. Decided to spin a little magic. Pick a few unfortunate victims here and there. I must say it is quite fun to watch." said Eris.

"It was until, you all decided to just talk." Ares put in.

"We're not toys for your amusement." said a calm voice. Kiera almost jumped at the sound. She had not expected it to come from the mysterious dark hair man with the King's dagger sticking out of his shoulder.

"I like you. You seem like you would do mighty fine on a battlefield. Tis a shame what the Fates have planned." Ares declared suddenly. A heavy arm landed across her shoulders. Out of pure instinct she drew her blade ready to attack the owner of said arm only to realize it was the fiery tempered god. He gave her a lewd smile as he stared down at her figure. "Mighty fine indeed. I'll be keeping an eye on you, love. Come Eris, I tire of humans."

"Alright. Until next time then my pretties."

With that they were gone as if they had never been in the room. Kiera released the breath she did not realize she was holding.

Uruha waited for his heart to slow down but even after the two mysterious beings left, it still continued to pump furiously in his chest. The woman was very beautiful, but there was something about her that disturbed him. The man, though, he was just terrified of. Both of them seemed oddly familiar, as if Uruha had seen them many times before but he was absolutely certain this was the first time he's every come near them.

What now? Uruha looked around him. Everyone seemed slightly shaken by the events that just transpired but the atmosphere has become lighter.

"Well," Shou said finally, looking like he just ran in a marathon, "That was an unexpected experience."

Then, Shou raised his sword, its tip dangerously close to Kiera's face as a drop of blood slyly trickled off it onto her clothes.

"You know me, don't you?" Shou snarled, his grip on the sword tightening, "I was waiting for the perfect day to avenge our leader. But I couldn't stand idly by while you kidnap another one of our friends. I don't care if Ares just complimented you. You're nothing but a second-grade degenerate dog who knows only to obey her master so obediently." Malice was dripping from every word Shou said.

Uruha didn't understand what he was talking about; He didn't know about Kiera, but Shou's words were just plain insulting. He found himself angry for Kiera although he should really be siding with Shou.

"Stop it," said Uruha, lowering Shou's sword and stepping in front of Kiera, "I don't know what's going on or what kind of history you two have; but this girl just saved my life. I don't want you treating her like that."

Stunned speechless would be the appropriate term to use for Kiera when Uruha chose to defend her. Not that she needed protection especially not from him but at the same time she could not deny that she was quite pleased. Before she could think of speaking up however, the little one stole the stage in a fit of rage.

"How could you side with her! We're your friends! Do you have any idea what's she's done to us?"

Uruha could only gaze back at the familiar faces of his so-called friends in a daze. All those fun memories he had with them seem so distant now. They were funny, energetic, lively... There are so many good qualities Uruha could name for each one of them. But they were not heartless murderers. These people standing in front of him, soaked in the blood of victims they had just slaughtered, without any form of regret... was not them.

"You're not my friends," Uruha said, his voice shaky with anger and sadness, "You're just a bunch of guys that look like them. Where are my real friends? What did you do with them?"

Kiera rolled her eyes to the heavens. This was getting a little too much like a family dispute. She did not disturb though, catching the look from the King's eyes. She hid a smirk. The other guards should be on their way.

"This is your fault." The beautiful man glared at her. If looks could kill she would've dropped dead right then.

She raised her brows, "And how is that so? Do tell."

Shou walked towards Kiera, his eyes boring into hers with absolute hatred, his hands tightening around the sword.

"Do I really need to explain?" Shou asked menacingly. With one swift motion, Shou had redirected the sword at Kiera's throat, its sharp edge merely inches away from her smooth skin. Uruha let out a panicked gasp, afraid that Kiera would be hurt. But the expression on her face was calm, almost like she'd expected Shou to do exactly this.

Shou continued bitterly, "Have you forgotten what you did to us? What you did to our leader?"

Leader, what is Shou talking about? With a looming sense of despair, Uruha realized that someone was missing. How could he have overlooked it?

Finally starting to understand why Shou hated Kiera so much, Uruha turned his attention to her.

"Wh-where's Nao?" Uruha asked, afraid of the answer.