Disclaimer: See the first chapter

Chap. 12

England, 1734

Ken exited the fine mansion house of duchess. It was a pleasant enough party, but Ken began to feel the time was needed to move on from this country. He had some thoughts about where to go, but they seemed a bit mundane. 'Perhaps I should wander around like Ryu. I wonder how he is.' As Ken continued down the darkened street, he suddenly stopped in his steps. The warning sign of a nearby immortal caused him to be alert and he looked around. There was no one in sight, but Ken didn't drop his guard once and he moved his hand to the side, reaching for the sword. Suddenly, a light brush of wind caused him to turn and he was faced with a feminine figure, covered in a deep red cloak. Her face was concealed in a hood, showing only the lower part of her face. Ken seemed surprised as the woman made no move to attack him.

"Have you...come for me?" he asked uncertainly.

The hood rose slightly, barely revealing the woman's eyes.

"Target acquired."

In a flash, her cloak shot open and she aimed a pistol straight at Ken's head. Ken ducked his head to the side just as she fired. But he wasn't fast enough as the bullet ripped into his shoulder. Ken groaned and stumbled off to the side, his sword dropping off his side. The woman then revealed a thin sword and began to advance on him. Ken struggled with the pain of the bullet as he crawled to reach his blade. But the woman saw was he was doing and leaped into the air, silently landing in front of him and the sword. Her foot calmly stepped down on the blade and she raised her own. Ken growled as he struggled more, but saw the rising blade. But he was more concerned with the woman's face. Her eyes were cold as ice, showing no emotion at all. But that didn't stop a drop of water from coursing down her face.

'A tear? Her eyes...what's wrong with her eyes?'

The sword suddenly fell, but Ken forced himself forward and tackled the woman to the ground. A cry was heard from her and Ken looked up to see that she had hit her head on one of the cobblestones on the ground. Ken winced as he lifted himself up. His arm now slowly healing, Ken looked down at his would be attacker. He began to hear the footsteps of the guard approaching due to the gunshot. He thought about leaving her behind, but the look in her eyes caused him to think about it.

'I just can't say no to a pretty face.'

Softly, he lifted the woman up and disappeared into the darkness...

Morning...

The rays of the sun caused the room to shine as Ken watched the young woman awaken in the bed. Her eyes blinked slightly at the light and Ken noticed that her eyes were the same as last night. Whereas those were cold and empty, these had life and beauty in them. She began to blink more rapidly and then shot up from the bed.

"Huh?" Looking around at the strange surrounding and then finally at Ken, "Who are you? Where am I?"

The woman jumped from the bed instantly, but Ken managed to rise and grab her wrists, "Whoa, calm down. You're in my house."

But his calm plea didn't reach her and she continued to struggle against him. "What have you done to me?" she shrieked.

"You? Last I checked, you were trying to kill me."

The woman's struggles began to lessen as she took in his words, her eyes searching around in half-panic.

"What? That can't...I don't..."

Ken looked at her and saw the blank expression in her eyes. "You don't remember, do you?"

The woman returned to her senses and glared at him, "If what you say is true, why am I still alive?"

Ken released his grip and stood up from the bed. "I don't know. You don't seem the same person you were last night." he replied simply.

The woman looked at him strangely. That didn't make much sense. If it had been any other immortal, she would have lost her head now. So then why...?

"Well, seeing as how we aren't going to kill each other now, how about your name?" he continued, sitting down on the nearby chair.

"..."

Ken sighed, "Okay, I'll go first. My name is Kenneth Masters. But you can call me Ken."

The woman looked away into the sunlight, but softly answered, "I'm...White. Camilla White."

Ken smiled, "Camilla. A lovely name."

She didn't react to his comment and he sighed again before rising, "Perhaps you should get some rest now."

Ken turned and left the room, but before he did, a voice called out again, "But...you can call me Cammy."

Ken smiled, "Cammy, it is."

"So how are you?"

Ken strode beside the lovely immortal woman as they walked together out in the church courtyard. She was still dressed in her religious attire with her hair drifting out from the back.

"Must you ask that every time you come here?" Cammy replied. "I'm in no danger here. You know that."

Ken shook his head slightly, "I know, I know. I just wonder how you are."

Cammy smiled lightly at his concern, "Well, I'm quite well. Father Jonathan is allowing me to teach the students here."

"That's great to hear." Ken replied simply.

A short period of uncomfortable silence passed between the two before Cammy decided to break it.

"...And you? Last I heard, you had married." she said quietly.

"Uh, yeah." Ken replied meekly.

Cammy smiled inwardly at Ken's expression. "It's okay. That's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Ashamed? No, no, it's not that. It's just...well I..." he stuttered.

Cammy smiled again, openly this time. "Ken. It was a long time ago."

It had been two months since Ken had brought Cammy into his house. At first, she wanted to leave, but she didn't know where to start. Her memories of the past were shadows in her mind, with no light to show her clearly. However, when they did come, they were always in the form of nightmares. In fact, that was the reason she was awake this night. Wearing only a white silk robe, she walked down the stairs of the luxurious house. Reaching the bottom, she saw a single light on in the living quarters. Moving toward it, she saw Ken sitting by the window looking out at the moon.

"Couldn't sleep, huh?"

Cammy was surprised. She didn't realize that he had heard her. Ken turned his head to face her and Cammy nearly gasped at the sight of the handsome man in the moonlight. Ken had let her dwell there until she felt ready to move on and she was grateful for it. But she couldn't help but wonder if her reasons for staying were just because of her memory loss.

"No." she replied simply.

"Nightmares?"

"No."

It wasn't the answer he expected and she watched his face contort to confusion. She then went on to explain, "I mean, that what I thought at first. But they were too vivid to be mere dreams. I believe..."

Confusion turned to worry as Ken stood up and moved to her, "What?"

Cammy's turned her head downward, "They may be my memories. Images of people in pain, people that...I may have killed." Tears began to fall from her eyes and she cried, "Oh god, what kind of monster am I?"

Ken placed his hands on her shoulders, "Cammy, don't say that. Even if these dreams were memories, what you did in the past is past. You can't let yourself be controlled by it."

She shook her head, "But...eventually, it will come for me. I feel that it will."

"If it comes, I will be there for you." Ken stopped briefly, "I mean it, Camila."

Cammy suddenly stopped crying and slowly looked up to meet with Ken's compassionate face. Ken lifted a hand and brushed away a few of the tears before finally letting it rest on her delicate cheek.

"Ken..." she whispered

Not realizing it, both began to slowly move toward each other and their lips touched lightly. Ken backed away a bit, but Cammy reached her hands up to his head and pulled him back into the embrace. The two lovers remained embraced as the moon shone above them. And for the first time in a long while, Cammy slept without nightmares.

"I just didn't think that discussing my marriage would be the best subject between us." Ken answered while scratching the back of his head.

Cammy shrugged and then moved in front of him as the re-entered the church, "Hm, well I'm going to change that. Name, hair color, and eyes."

Ken smirked at her attempted and answered, "Heh. Eliza, blond, and green."

Cammy joked, "Always the blonds...huh?"

Cammy suddenly stopped and both she and Ken turned as they sensed another immortal approach them.

"Expecting company?" Ken asked lightly.

At the entrance of the monastery came a large bulk of a man. He was dark skinned, badly dressed and had rings on various parts of his body. His head was bald, aside from the long mohawk of hair that ran up the center.

"Unwelcome company." Cammy muttered.

The man stumbled down through the row of seats and turned and began to approach the two, a disgusting grin on his face.

"How are you enjoying your little hole, mouse?"

Cammy simply stared at him silently. As much as she would have like to shut him up, she

couldn't due to her position. That and a certain rule that prevented her from challenging

him there anyway. However, Ken was another story.

"Hey, show some respect." Ken frowned. "We are in a house of God after all."

The man took his gaze off of her for a moment and looked at Ken, "What do we have here? The mouse has a bodyguard." Looking back, "What's wrong? Couldn't fight your own battles?"

At this point, Ken was getting ticked. Disrespecting a nun was bad enough, but when that nun happens to be a friend of his, then it's worse.

"Hey..."

But Cammy waved a hand out before him, "Ken, don't."

The large man smiled, "That's right. You can't touch me here. Not that you could anyway." He turned around and headed for the door. "Do yourself a favor and run along back to wherever you came from. And I'll see you tomorrow, mouse. Hahahaha!"

The man finally left, must to the relief of many of the spectators and people around. Cammy lowered her arm as Ken continued to stare at the door.

"Who the h..." Cammy gave him a quick glare, stopping him from saying hat he was going to say. Ken sighed and started over. "Who was that?"

Cammy turned around, "He calls himself Birdie. He's an immortal that been around here for some time. Every day, he come in and taunts me for living on holy ground."

'Every day? That punk...' Ken just went from pissed off to really mad. Nevertheless, he kept his voice steady as he asked, "Do you need...?"

"No." Cammy cut him off. She knew he was a bit angry and hoped to calm him down. "His taunts have no meaning. He can't do much else. Hopefully, he'll move on."

Ken growled lowly and then took a deep breath. There was no point in getting riled up for this. She was right. Chances are, he'll eventually move on and leave her alone. Either that or he'd get killed. Ken hoped for the latter.

"Alright." He then waved his hand in the air. "Geez, when's the last time he's had a bath?"

That earned him a small giggle from Cammy.

"You should bring them next time. I would love to see this boy of yours."

Ken nodded as he exited the monastery, "Tell you what. Next time I come by, I'll bring him along."

"Great. Well, stay safe Kenneth." she nodded.

"You too, Camilla."

Ken left the monastery and began to walk down the street. It was late in the afternoon and the sunlight was just beginning to fade away. As Ken walked on, the ringing in his head alerted his attention amd Ken stopped. He looked around to see where the immortal was.

"Show yourself."

"Hello, pretty boy."

Ken turned to the alley to see Birdie step out from it. His hand was behind him in the shadows, but Ken knew what he held.

"Well if it isn't the trash."

Birdie chuckled slightly, "You're gonna regret those words, pansy."

Ken leaned off to the side, "I doubt it." He then reached into the side of his jacket and brought out his sword. "Well, let's get this overwith."

He began to move forward when the sound of crazy chuckling came out from behind Birdie. Three more figure emerged, each dressed the way he was and wielding all sorts of weapons.

Ken growled, "This is supposed to be between us."

Birdie chuckled louder, "Aw, boo hoo. Get him, boys."

The three thugs advanced on Ken and surrounded him. Ken withdrew his sword and dropped into fighting stance. The first thug attacked with a knife. Ken quickly rolled off to the side and kicked him in the back. At the same time, the second thug advanced with a club and swung out at him. Ken narrowly ducked the blow and moved in to attack, but the third tackled him before he could punch. As they fell, Ken used the momentum to roll around and ended up on top of his attacker and swiftly punched him out afterward. Looking up, the thug with the knife dashed in to stab, but Ken rolled away on the floor. Both thugs attacked at once, but Ken suddenly hopped up with a double kick, flooring both of them.

Crreeeeakkkkkkkk!

Suddenly, a chain wrapped around Ken's neck and hooked tight. Ken grasped it as he followed it to its source.

"Loser."

Birdie pulled the chain back and flung his arms over his shoulder, causing Ken to be yanked into the air and through a window of an abandoned house. Ken groggily rose, but the chain was still around his neck. Birdie came through the shattered window, a chain in his left hand and a large broadsword in his right.

"Speak doggy, speak!"

Birdie pulled the chain and Ken was yanked again, this time toward Birdie. Birdie raised the sword to cut, but Ken used the momentum of the pull to launch himself into the air and kick Birdie in the face. Birdie fell back and Ken began to pull out his blade, but Birdie recovered faster than he thought and flicked the chain, causing Ken to drop the sword and fall. As Ken rose up and continued to try and pry the chain off of his neck, Birdie began to advance on him.

"Easy pickings."

Suddenly, both felt the presence of another immortal approach. At that moment, a whoosh of wind flew through and the chain was severed in two. Birdie blinked at what had happened while Ken pulled the remainder of the chain off. Looking up, his gaze traced the motion and followed it to the door where...

"Cammy?"

Birdie turned from the downed warrior to see Cammy, now wearing a deep red cloak and hood.

"The mouse has come out of the house." he taunted as he began to advance on her.

Ken tried to struggle to his feet, "Cammy, get out of here."

However, it didn't seem as if she had heard the two men. Her eyes were closed and her hand was grasping a small silver cross in her hand.

"Heavenly Father. Please forgive me." she whispered.

Then in one swift motion, she threw off the cloak revealing a blue jumpsuit. In her hand, a thin saber was drawn and she raised it to the brute. Birdie laughed at the display.

"Is that supposed to scare me?"

Cammy's eyes remained solid as she fell into stance. Birdie shrugged and struck forward, but the blow was deflected by the swift parry of Cammy's blade. Cammy suddenly went on the offensive and came with a quick series of slashes. Ken watched with amazement as Cammy moved in a literal sword dance. Cammy twirled and her blade followed. Birdie was powerless against the attacks, but his anger began to flare and he struck back. Cammy dodged the blow and slashed his leg. Birdie cried as his hulking frame fell on its knees, with her blade wound up an inch away from his throat.

"I spare your life. Please take it and go away." she muttered to him.

The blade shimmered away from him and she moved away to head to Ken. But while she did, Birdie fumed and raised his blade in a cry. Cammy turned and her blade followed, taking off the brute's head. Cammy gasped as Birdie's headless body slumped back toward the ground. Ken stood up just as Cammy dashed out of the building. Ken watched in confusion and was about to go after her, but the energy of the Quickening filled his body and stopped him. Ken cried at the power exploded around him and shattered the glass in the entire room. The building shook violently for awhile and then it ceased, leaving Ken to fall on the ground.

Ken panted heavily as he regained his footing and stumbled out of the building. There, the blond girl awaited him outside. It was then that Ken realized that she didn't run at the sight of Birdie's dead body, but because she wanted no part in the Quickening. Cammy was holding the cross in her hands tightly and Ken moved close to her and enclosed his arms around her.

"It's okay, Camila. It's okay."

Two days later...

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

Cammy nodded, now dressed back in her nun attire, "Yes, I'm sure. Father Jonathan had taught me that God forgives the repentant one. I...should let it go."

Ken smiled at her resolved, "Well, I better get going."

He turned to leave, but Cammy shot out, "Remember our deal. I want to see that boy of yours. And I want to meet Eliza as well."

"Are you trying to make me uncomfortable?" Ken retorted.

Japan, outskirts of small town...

A strange sight entered the scene of the quiet town. A black limousine rolled on the road and stopped. The door opened and a young woman stepped out. Her blond hair was set in fine curls and her green eyes surveyed the scene.

'Here I come. And this time, we finish this, Sakura.'