Blade

Chapter Eight

- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -

“Kiyoko! Kiyoko! Hey, wait up!”

Kihaku yelled for Kiyoko as he was running to catch up with her. His sneakers thumped on the dirt path and his dark brown hair rustled with the breeze.

She stopped and turned, colliding with Kihaku. They both fell onto the hard ground.

Kihaku managed to land on his hands and knees; he carefully raised his left hand to rub his concussioned head.

“Sorry about that” he mumbled lightly, his eyes closed beneath a furrowed brow.

Kihaku opened his eyes to find where Kiyoko had fallen so he could help her up, but instead she was pinned beneath him. He had managed to rip off a few buttons of her shirt exposing her breasts held in a white red laced bra. His face burned, turning even redder than Kiyoko’s humiliated blush.

She was just staring at him, and he at her. There was so much running through his mind, staring was about all he could manage to do. He quickly tried to slow his thoughts; when that didn’t work he opted for at least concentrating on breathing and blinking. Suddenly she sneezed. He was jerked back to reality and hastily scooted off her and stood up.

The moment he was on his feet, his mouth decided to take matters into its own hands. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean, well I should have slowed down! I’m sorry about your shirt, here take my jacket!” He nervously pulled off his coat and handed it to her.

She took it and pulled herself up, making sure to hold her blouse closed. After slipping into the jacket, which was a bit big, she straightened her clothes and brushed some debris of her skirt.

“It’s really ok, don’t worry about it.” She smiled briefly, but held little eye contact.

“But I…”

Kihaku spotted a glare coming from a gold bracelet on Kiyoko’s wrist.

“What’s that?” His finger pointed anxiously at her hand.

Kiyoko looked down at her wrist; the blue gem glowed in the early afternoon light. A small unintentional smile appeared on her face.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” She murmured dreamily.

Kiyoko lowered her arm in an attempt to cover the charm, leaving her left hand gripping the jacket closed, but Kihaku managed to catch her wrist.

He turned the bracelet over and over, like he was looking for something.

“What are you doing?!” She tried pulling her arm back, but he wouldn’t release it.

“Where…who gave you this?” He turned his face up and looked into her eyes. She stared back, but quickly regained her senses and pulled again at his grip.

This time when she tugged he let go. She held her wrist in her other hand, covering the bracelet.

“No one.” She finally answered.

Kiyoko looked away then quickly glanced back at him, his eyes were wide with concern and fear. She spun around to face the path, trying to ignore him.

“Kiyoko, who gave you that!?”

She continued to ignore his questions. Her wrist was still being held by her other hand, fingers fiddling with the bracelet as she began to walk away.

“Kiyoko--”

“It is none of your business, Kihaku!” She interrupted his third attempt to get her answer.

“Kiyoko!”

“Just leave me alone!” She set off running, tears flooded her aqua eyes.

Kihaku just stood there, watching her slowly move away from him. Like always, he seemed to chase her off.

“What have I done…?” He sighed.

- - - - - -- - - - - -

“Roiyaru, please sit down.” Akina begged him for the hundredth time that evening.

They were still in the quiet room where Roiyaru spent most of his less than wonderful days. The chair had been broken though; his fit of rage wasn’t exactly easy to quell. Akina was starting to wonder if Ookawa had thought her plan through when she decided to have her tell Roiyaru everything. Then again she probably didn’t expect him to slip into deranged depression either. She rolled her violet eyes, catching his still moving figure and gave a frustrated growl.

“Roiyaru, you’re being so immature!” Akina yelled at him; he still didn’t stop.

“I am NOT being immature! I think I have a perfectly good reason to be upset.”

Akina released a heavy sigh, her fingers slowly massaging the bridge of her small nose. He was really getting on her nerves.

“Yes, you do.” She said reluctantly. “But you’re not controlling yourself very well. If you can’t get a hold of things, we’ll just leave you out of it.”

“But aren’t I a part of Ookawa’s plan?” He shouted nervously.

“Yes.” She exasperated. “But you can be replaced.” A snobbish grin covered her face with imminent victory. She’d finally found a fault line in his tantrum.

“Fine!” He huffed. “What do you want me to do?” He leaned against the wall, arms crossed in annoyance.

“First, get some clean clothes and stop coming to this room to mope…it’s really bothersome and pathetic. Second, once you have finished getting dressed I want you to head over to Ookawa’s room and help Myto find the other watch. You’ll need it.”

“Ok and how do you expect me to find one of Ookawa’s technological creations? You know how secretive she is.”

“Yes, I know. You’ll help him search her rooms first, then, if that fails, Myto has special instructions filed away. According to him, he can get you into her workroom if the watch isn’t elsewhere.”

“Well that’s an irrational idea.” Roiyaru mumbled to himself as he childishly walked out of the room.

Akina smiled triumphantly as purple sparks weaved around her.

- - - - - -- - - - - -

Kihaku watched the sun burn in the blue, cloudless sky, his hands rested in his lap while he sat on a park bench. He had been there since he lost himself and yelled at Kiyoko. Her last words still danced in his mind. “Just leave me alone!”Her face had looked so pained and broken then.

There was only one week of school left before summer break and this Friday was the dance. He was going to ask her, but he had to go and ruin it. There was no way she’d go with him now. What kind of friend was he?

Kihaku sighed.

“Who gave her that bracelet anyway?” He mumbled quietly to himself.

“Kihaku?” Kiyoko’s placid voice suddenly appeared beside him.

He looked up quickly and met her aqua eyes, the blue and green was even more brilliant than usual. A soft blush came over him and he turned his face away from her.

“I’m sorry, Kihaku.” She sat down beside him, her bare thigh brushed up against his causing his heart to skip a beat. He wanted to tell her it was ok, that it had been his fault but he couldn’t, his mouth was so dry.

He could see from the corner of his eyes that she was fidgeting with the bracelet.

“I…I shouldn’t have gotten so upset with you. I just felt protective of him or something, I don’t know. Myto is such a mystery…but I feel I know him so well.” She giggled a little, “does that even make sense?”

She turned to face him, hoping he would laugh too, but instead he seemed more confused and deep in thought rather than agreeable. He appeared very concentrated as he stared at the ground.

“Myto?” He finally turned to face her, innocent curiosity on his face but seething anger in his body.

“Oh, um…he’s the white haired man who continues to appear around me.”

“Oh, that guy.” Kihaku really hated him.

“Yeah, he says if I’m ever in trouble I should call him using this” she pointed to the bracelet “…well, sort of.”

“In trouble? Why would you be in trouble?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged lightly. “He keeps saying things like that, it’s very strange but I know I can trust him…I’m just not sure why.”

“Oh, so you’re dating him?”

“Huh?” She looked slightly surprised. “Oh no. If anything, we are just friends.”

He gave a relieved sigh. For the last couple minutes he had been contemplating just turning to her tenuous face and kissing her deeply. Now that her position with tall, tan, and annoying was cleared it was the perfect chance.

Kihaku swerved in his seat only to find that she had stood up.

“Well I should go. See you at the dance!” She smiled sweetly and waved to him as she walked away…again.

Slumping back against the bench, Kihaku wondered if the universe had begun working against him.

- - - - - -- - - - - -

“Roiyaru, get off you butt and be useful.” Myto pleaded again. It seemed Roiyaru’s brain just wasn’t working right today. He was almost an entirely different person when Ookawa is gone…well for so long at least. Perhaps it’s like withdrawal? Myto smiled at his thought.

Roiyaru was clean though. His blond hair was shiny and smooth and braided neatly along his back. He was wearing the jacket Ookawa had made him and a light tan shirt beneath it.

“For your information Myto,” his muffled voice mocked “I’m on my face not my butt.”

Roiyaru had decided to drop face first onto Ookawa’s bed; he had yet to move and help Myto search for the watch.

Myto released an aggravated sigh. “Come on, the sooner we find it the sooner you will be able to see her.”

Roiyaru turned over to stare at the ceiling and exhaled longingly. Ookawa’s scent still lingered in the room. Vanilla and Pomegranate, though sometimes she smelled like hazelnut and butterscotch. It was always unique, warm, and salve. He really missed her. He shut his eyes and took another deep breath.

“I know. I’m just trying to prepare to see her again.”

Myto stood beside the bed.

“You do know that when we get there, it’s only for surveillance. She gave specific instructions and you are NOT to have any contact with her.”

“What!? Why!?” He shot up, making himself briefly lightheaded.

“She didn’t say exactly, only that you may trigger something prematurely if you came.”

“Like what?”

“I’m not sure; she only told me what I needed to know.”

“That sucks.” He slumped over, propping his face up with his hands.

“Indeed.”

Myto continued searching; Roiyaru straightened up and moved to the bed’s edge.

“Myto…”

“Yes?”

“How is she?”

Myto stopped and turned to him. Not surprised by his inquiry.

“She’s good. Healthy. Happy.”

“Does she have any friends or family?”

“Yes. Four close friends, a father, mother, and younger sister. She is actually played by Akina.”

“What!? Akina gets to see her everyday!?”

“Calm down, she’s there for a reason. Ookawa strategically placed everyone involved; Akina is where she is supposed to be.”

“Oh well” Roiyaru spoke sarcastically “then she must have placed me in that dull room for weeks until I was needed.” He sighed, trying to calm down “I feel like I was jammed in storage.”

Myto laughed.

“What could possibly be that funny?”

“Oh, nothing. Although she didn’t intend for you to shut yourself up in some room, you know.”

Roiyaru rolled his deep blue eyes. “Thanks for you insight, oh wise one. Please beguile me with your charms.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just quit moping and help me. You wouldn’t want Ookawa to see you acting so obnoxious and depressed.”

Roiyaru pulled himself off the bed and began helping Myto search.

An hour passed.

“Are you sure it’s in the room?” Roiyaru blurted as he swept a sleeved arm over his sweat covered forehead.

He was now exhausted from ripping apart the large bedroom and in serious doubt of ever finding this alleged watch.

“Of course I’m sure.” Myto replied tiredly.

“Then where could it be!”

“Hey you two, come on! I won’t wait all day!”

The two turned to face the doorway where Akina stood fully dressed as her 12 year old alter ego.

“But we still haven’t found the watch.” Roiyaru panted.

“Oh you idiots, I have the darn watch. Now come on!” Her aggravation seemed to make her hair even redder.

Myto and Roiyaru just stood there exchanging one cursory glance before running out the door to follow Akina. Roiyaru briefly entertained some ideas of her head catching on fire. He giggled to himself.

All of them stopped in Roiyaru’s old wallow room.

“Come on, we’ve got to hurry.” She hastened them in and then went to stand in the center of the polished floor.

Myto and Roiyaru came to the light purple circle that she had formed, both practically dwarfed her. She handed the watch to Roiyaru.

“Why do you have this any--?”

“Hush!” Akina snapped.

“Ok, now set your watches so that both hands are on the line between our time and Earth’s.”

“Got it.” Myto was gallingly quick; at least that’s what Roiyaru thought as he finally finished setting his. The stupid dials were so small.

“Roiyaru you’ll probably experience some spasms, discomfort, and disorientation…and possibly some temporary paralysis.”

“Paralysis?”

“Yeah, but that’s pretty rare so don’t worry about it.”

“Oh now I feel better.” He scoffed.

“Ready?” Akina said while holding her arms out before her.

Myto pulled Roiyaru down. As he settled on his knees the purple embers jolted his body, causing him to shake violently, though Myto’s hand on his shoulder helped to steady him. Not long after Akina’s arms started to vibrate slightly.

Everything was becoming hard to hear, the last thing he saw was Akina yelling something at them and then the cinders burst around the two.

He now understood what she meant about discomfort and disorientation. Although it appeared to be a quick jump from one place to another, the millisecond seemed like and eternity. Every lone molecule that made up his body felt so precariously close to losing cohesion. He couldn’t hear, breath, see, feel…nothing was real in that short span of time. And as a world of green and atmosphere closed in around him once more, Roiyaru didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed.

Now his ears were ringing.

“Roiyaru? Are you alright?” Myto gently shook Roiyaru’s shoulder.

“Huh?” Roiyaru felt strangely trapped within himself and yet not there at all. He nodded once and tried to regain composure. “Yes, I’m fine…”

“Don’t worry about the weird feelings, you Kou—uh humans do not seem to do so well with travel.” Akina told him as she checked her watch.

Roiyaru was confused. “What are humans?”

“They are Earth’s near equivalent to your race as well as most other none magic or teleporting species.”

“Really?”

“Yup.” She said irritated, trying to tie a ribbon in her hair.

“But I can use magic…why would the trip still disorient me?”

She shrugged her shoulders while adjusting the small bow in her short hair. “Perhaps you’re just not accustomed yet. I may be a master of teleportation but don’t expect me to know everyone’s tolerance. It varies with species, capabilities, and gender.”

“Oh…” Roiyaru stood up and straightened his clothes. “You think I’ll ever get over it?”

“Probably.” Myto answered for Akina since she had two hair clips in her mouth.

“But some people are just different.”

He nodded and followed the two as they brushed past the trees.

- - - - - -- - - - - -

The crickets chirped harmoniously in the evening air as Kihaku sauntered on home. He slipped his hands into his jacket pockets while he thought.

“What’s been going on lately anyway? Things have been getting so bizarre. Especially Kiyoko. She seems so …distant.”

He exhaled heavily then abruptly paused his steps.

Crossing the path ahead of him was Akina with two tall young men. One was handsome and kind looking with long, braided blond hair. The other was taller with white hair…white hair? Is that…Myto? He squinted thinking it would actually help him to see better.

They walked swiftly with Akina in the lead. She had a bizarre demeanor, as though she were in charge…definitely not the intelligent and ebullient young girl he knew.

- - - - - -- - - - - -

Kihaku had decided to follow them.

He knew he hated Myto, and although this other guy appeared nice he’d probably hate him too; but it was Akina that puzzled him the most. If he didn’t know better he’d swear she was a completely different person. Someone stronger, older, and more stubborn and commanding than the little girl he had known for so many years.

Perhaps they are apart of some secret organization? He laughed to himself. Though… they do have similar clothes, at least the guys do. And Myto has been around Kiyoko an awful lot. Did Akina know this? …Would that blond start hanging around her too?

A cursory check of the facts showed him that the chances of him ending up with Kiyoko were practically impossible with all these handsome guys popping up around her.

Why did she have to be so agonizingly beautiful and mysterious? He mentally groaned as he continued following the small group along the dark, abandoned street.

It was difficult to see the three strangers, except for all their bright colored hair; blond, red, and white. All fairly strange for Asians…come to think of it they did all have a weird look about them.

He tried getting closer but he could still hardly make out their placid voices as they lithely slipped through the alleys, most of which he had never seen before.

Kihaku had been following them for about a half an hour when they abruptly stopped in a dark passage sheltered by large abandoned buildings. The bright heads turned towards the blond who had paused their walking. Kihaku tried to hide closer to the little aggregation so he could hear them speak.

“Myto” the blond whispered; he had a soft, low voice but it was laced with predatory suspicion. “What do you see behind us?”

Myto turned his white head toward Kihaku’s stalking path and suddenly his once hidden eyes turned pale blue, as though lights were illuminating each eye from behind. Kihaku tried not to gasp at the alien lineament and covered his mouth, although he couldn’t help his heavy, nervous breathing.

Myto’s bright eyes focused on Kihaku, his index finger drew up to point at him. He nearly stopped breathing as he watched the blond and Akina turn toward him as well. For some reason the blond gave off a very threatening presence and Kihaku really didn’t want to find out why.

“There is a young man, perhaps sixteen or seventeen. Dark brown hair, black eyes; I believe he is the male friend of Kiyoko.” He paused, “I think his name is Kihaku.”

He heard a feminine gasp, but the voice seemed older. Akina attempted to step forward but the blond held her back.

“Roiyaru, I’m fine. Kihaku isn’t him. Just let me speak to him.” The voice coming from her was that of a mature woman, a little on the childlike side.

Roiyaru? It was yet another peculiar name, particularly for someone who appeared so intimidating. Kihaku attempted to step back but he found he couldn’t move.

“Kihaku?” Akina’s more familiar 12 year old voice called to him with caution. “Kihaku, why are you here? Is something wrong?”

“Akina?” Kihaku’s voice cracked under the stress.

“Yes, it’s me.” She smiled gently.

Kihaku lifted his finger towards Roiyaru and Myto, shifting his eyes from Akina to the two men.

Akina stepped closer, trying to assuage some of his tensions by speaking to him gently. “Calm down, Kihaku. There is no reason to be so frightened. Take deep breaths and relax.”

He nodded to her hypnotic voice and slowed his labored breathing.

“Good. Now tell me why you’re here” she whispered.

“I saw you leading Myto and the blond; I was curious why you were with them…leading them.” Kihaku was obviously being controlled, he struggled against it but it was like an ant trying to move the Great Wall of China, totally pointless.

Akina nodded.

“Why were you out so late? Isn’t there school tomorrow?”

“Yes. But earlier today I had talked with Kiyoko…I upset her so I just sat down on the park bench until I noticed the sun going down. I got up to leave and that’s when I saw you coming out of the trees.”

Akina nodded again and turned away from Kihaku, breaking her hold on him.

“Roiyaru, I think we need to have his memory wiped.”

Roiyaru came beside her, Kihaku pulled away from them. Roiyaru made him incredibly nervous.

“I agree, but how do you intend to do it? Neither Ookawa nor anyone from the council is here to help you.”

“You have some ability, plus royal blood…so you can help.”

He sighed “Akina, I have never done this before. If I’m not careful I may erase too much!”

“Don’t worry about that, I create a barrier so that we only erase what’s held inside it.”

He paused nervously, sighing again in defeat “alright, I’ll try…” Roiyaru stepped toward Kihaku and kneeled beside him, slowly he reached his hand toward him.

Kihaku flinched away and nearly fell backward.

“Myto, will you hold him still?” Roiyaru asked.

Myto nodded and came toward Kihaku, before he had a chance to run; Myto’s inexplicably strong hands were holding his shoulders steady. Yet again he was a lowly ant against stone.

“Please hold still, this won’t hurt at all.” Roiyaru placed his hand over Kihaku’s forehead and closed his eyes.

Akina shut her eyes as well and placed her petite hand over his. Her purple sparks began to dance around their touching limbs. A bright violet circle appeared on her hand.

“Ok, how do I do this?” Roiyaru mumbled.

“Your element is wood, right?”

He nodded.

“Ok. Pretend his head were made of wood; remember the feeling you have when you manipulate it. Then concentrate on the memories within the walls I created.”

“Is it supposed to be attacking itself?”

“Yes, that’s right. Keep going.”

Roiyaru furrowed his brow, a few drops of sweat slid down his forehead.

“I have a hold on them but they won’t force in on each other, they keep fluxing…”

“Make them!”

He was shaking with adrenaline and anxiety, more sweat beads slipped on his skin, he grunted as tried harder.

Suddenly Kihaku and Roiyaru jolted apart; Kihaku landed on his back, unconscious. Myto and Akina had leapt out of the way.

“Roiyaru, are you all right!?” Akina knelt down beside him.

“Yeah…I’m ok.” He breathed deeply. “Did it work?”

Akina looked over at Kihaku, then went to place her hand on his forehead and closed her eyes. She nodded slightly.

“It worked, but he’s knocked out cold…you must have accidentally tried to break the barrier.”

“Sorry,” he pushed himself up and held a hand to his head. “It’s a lot harder that it looks…” He pulled his hand away to check for blood, then replaced it “when I finally got it to start to dissolve away, it back lashed and forced me against the barrier’s wall. I may have attacked the wall when I hit the memories again.”

“Well, regardless, you did well. For a beginner.” She smiled sarcastically and winked at him.

“Thanks.” He chuckled.

Myto lifted Kihaku from the ground and placed him on his shoulder. “We should return him home.”

“Agreed,” Akina sighed. “Come on, if my mother finds out that I’m gone, she’ll kill me.”

Roiyaru scoffed jokingly and pulled himself off the ground to follow the two farther into the alley.

He looked at his palm, a black burn of an ancient, forbidden seal branded his skin. The symbol of the Chaos Cabal.

Roiyaru balled his hand into a fist. Just what is going on here?

- - - - - -- - - - - -

Myto gently closed Kihaku’s bedroom window. He’d luckily managed to get Kihaku onto his bed without waking him, even if he did run into a chair, three shoes, and a baseball bat before he found it. Nevertheless he was fortunate enough not to wake anyone else up either.

Akina and Roiyaru waited patiently in the shadows along the wall of Kihaku’s home. The sky was still pitch black.

A slight tap of shoes on the ground signaled Myto had returned as he landed beside the two.

“Is he still unconscious?” Roiyaru whispered.

“Thankfully.” Myto responded quietly.

“Hush you two. There will be plenty of time for gossip when we get back to my room.”

They both rolled their eyes, but nodded anyway not wanting to bring out her irritation.

Although she didn’t show it, she was very angry with Kihaku. She hated having to wipe memories; it’s difficult for all participating and very dangerous for the recipient. Memory alters screw with the brain; eventually you can totally disable a person. Victims not only have peculiar gaps in thought, but constant loss of short and long term memory. Because these processes are so difficult to reverse and can lead to death, memory layering was introduced. Unfortunately it had required so much power, it was practically impossible to perform alone. The fear of memory rape became too much, so they discontinued all studies and every project was considered forbidden.

It took about twenty minutes to get to Akina’s home. It wasn’t anything special, but he knew Ookawa was in there somewhere and couldn’t help but see it as amazing.

“So…why exactly am I here?” Roiyaru mumbled as he crawled through Akina’s barely open window.

“I told you. Ookawa wanted you here for surveillance.” Akina grumbled.

“Yes, I know that part. But why am I really here? Is something wrong?”

Myto looked concerned and glanced at Akina, who promptly gave a tired sigh.

“Alright. It’s true you were to be told and brought here for surveillance, but things haven’t exactly been going as planned.”

“What do you mean?” Roiyaru asked cautiously.

She sat onto her bed. “Nycero is already here. Myto and I fought him…he’s already so strong and he has only just woken up.”

Roiyaru creased his forehead. “Woken up? He was asleep?”

“Yes. Myto, you remember how I teased him about being a narcoleptic idiot?”

Myto nodded while leaning against a wall, he saw Roiyaru sit in a chair from the corner of his eye. He had never really understood Akina’s response that day either. When he heard it he thought it seemed lame and below her standards.

“Well, that’s sort of true. He’s narcoleptic in a way, but not like most would think. After sporadic periods of time, he just falls asleep. The reason I made such a cheap pun was to let him know that I knew. He has kept it a secret for millennia.”

“Really? Like he’s fighting and suddenly he’s sleeping? What kind of master is he?” Roiyaru questioned.

“No, it’s not like that exactly. He knows when the time is near, and once he slips away he makes sure he’s guarded somewhere safe and totally hidden. You never know when he’ll vanish or reappear. No one does. Except him.”

“Ok, so he goes into a coma, wakes up, and then goes back? Why? What’s wrong with him?”

Akina shrugged.

“No one knows. Ever since his murderous debut, he’s been this way. As far as our records show at least. He has a bizarre habit of constantly changing his name…so he could have been someone else before he became a major player.”

“Alright, I get all that…but what does this have to do with me?”

Akina slumped onto her covers and pointed to Myto. She was obviously worn out and getting tired of story time.

He answered for her slowly, “We have reason to believe Kiyoko may already be in danger. With Nycero here we can only assume he has several agents with him. We are to protect her, through whatever means necessary.”

Roiyaru didn’t answer for a very long time. Akina had fallen asleep and Myto gazed out the window as though he wasn’t really looking at anything. It wasn’t until the sun’s morning razes crept up on him that he decided to move.

“What does this mean for me?” His voice was so quiet; most would think it was the wind, but Myto heard him.

“You will eradicate any agents that intend to harm Kiyoko or anyone in contact with her.” He didn’t even look away from the window as he spoke.

“You mean physical combat?”

Myto finally looked at Roiyaru and nodded. “These are all skilled mercenaries and devoted members of various deposed chaos occults. Most will not know any thing about elements or magic. Even if they did, it’s probably so basic you wouldn’t need any barriers to protect you. But Akina will create ones around us all, just in case.”

“But…” Roiyaru looked down at his fidgeting hands wondering just how deep Ookawa was in all this, “I don’t have my sword.”

“Don’t worry, we will accommodate you.” He gave a faint smile.

Myto walked to Akina’s closet and slide the door aside. He pulled out a long katana like sword in a black silk wrapped sheath. He handed Roiyaru the blade.

“This will be your companion for as long as you serve Ookawa.”

Roiyaru grasped the sword in both hands, and then looked up at Myto.

“What do you mean?”

“Roiyaru, you are now to be initiated into The Council. It’s a small organization; Ookawa is the true leader, for the duration of her absence I was placed there in her stead. Currently we are working Ookawa’s plans--”

“What plans?” Roiyaru asked, pretending to be mildly curious.

Myto cocked an eyebrow. “That’s confidential Roiyaru, maybe if Ookawa decides you are to be a top member you’ll find out...anyway we are also looking into the Blade’s disappearance. And according to said plans, you are to be brought into our group once the need to fight arises.” Myto smiled “This is your sword, and will always be your sword.”

Roiyaru slid the sheath off, the steal gilded brilliantly; small intricate and expertly carved wooden symbols were set into the handle. Neatly engraved into the blade, was Silent Death in the delicate ancient language of Senkyou.

“So, do you accept? Do you swear to protect Ookawa with everything you can give in life and death?” Myto asked seriously.

Roiyaru’s dark blue eyes were narrowed and sure, he stared into Myto’s pale blue ones.

“Always.”