The streets of London were quiet this night. Escaping the dojo used to be difficult, especially when Sanosuke would intervene and try to drag me back home. He couldn't grasp the concept that I didn't seek his companionship and wanted to be by myself.

Hiroki-sensei understood that I was a loner. He was the first to call me 'Black Cat', the nickname that had derived from my first name, Katra. He had given me this title during my rebellious years of high school, when I would roam the streets much like tonight, just seeking solitude.

I had always been accustomed to the night. It was ironic, how my midnight black locks matched the night sky I wandered under so aimlessly, fluttering around my face and barely falling past my collar. Several random braids were throughout my locks, and my bangs were parting at the side, messily covering my forehead and falling to my eyebrows, hanging above green eyes that were like emeralds.

For twenty-one years I had dwelled on this Earth, an orphan who was raised by a Japanese Martial Artist and lived to rely on no one but myself.

I am Black Cat…

I am Katra Kattalakis…

And I will fight alone.

________________________________________________________________________

I heard the distant waves of birds as they drifted towards the sun, it's rays converging with the glass of my window and the light shining on my sleeping eyes.

Waking.

Waking from my sleep to face the day that I knew lay ahead of me. Constant surveying and watch of my mother; her sickliness being one of the forces behind my drive. My family, completely shattered, the devastation leaving my mother and me alone in a tiny apartment for three years.

The cool feeling of the sheets begged me to stay a few more minutes, but I grudged out of my cozy bed defiantly.

I must make breakfast, and I have to get to work, I thought.

Papers were scattered along my floor with incoherent dribble scratched upon them. The medical papers were stacking high and I'd have to turn them in soon. I shifted through and into my mother's room to find her on the floor again. I lifted her up onto the mattress.

"No! NO! Wyvie, STOP!" she wailed in my ears.

I calmed her down, telling her that we we're at home. Her mental health was in shambles, to match our family's history. I fed her breakfast and cleaned up the mess, and lead myself out the door to go to work.

Today is just like every other day, and tomorrow won't be any different. Nothing changes around here.

_____________________________________________________________________

There he is, waiting to lecture me like he does every morning that I come home from being out all night. I watched as he leaned against the entrance of the dojo, the sky starting to fade from its shade of amethyst to the pale blue or gray that normally took over the sky, and his caramel brown eyes finally landed on me. His towering figure was always a dead giveaway whenever he was near, nearly standing to six-four in height.

I hated to admit this, but Miyazaki Sanosuke was very attractive. He wore his dark chocolate brown hair so that his bangs were spiked and framed his face as they fell past his collarbone. It was cut short in the back, and he sometimes wore a headband, depending on his mood. Once again, he was in his trademark outfit of open-toed black sandals, pale blue jeans that had the kanji for 'warrior' on the left back pocket in black, his white v-neck t-shirt with red trim and hood that also had a black dragon design starting from his right hip and the head rested over his heart, and around his neck was a white chained necklace with a snow-flake pendant encrusted with a ruby that I knew was his grandmother's.

I sighed irritably, rolling my eyes the moment I was within hearing range.

"Kat, where have you been?! I've been worried sick about you…" Sanosuke said, placing his red fingerless gloved hands on his hips. "Seriously, Kat, you're gonna give me a heart attack the next time I go into your room to wake you up and I find out you've been out all night from Uncle Hiroki."

"Sanosuke, number one, stop calling me 'Kat'. It's Katra. Number two, what I do is none of your business. Number three…" I kicked him in the shin. "Shut the hell up."

Sanosuke rubbed his shin, whining as he followed me into the dojo. I ignored him the best I could, but it was pretty hard considering the fact I had been raised with this idiot. Entering the kitchen of the dojo, I bowed respectfully before my sensei.

"Ah, Katra, I am pleased to see you have returned to us unscathed." Hiroki said, his almond-shaped brown eyes dancing in amusement. "Breakfast?"

"Thank you, sensei."

I sat down on the floor, and Hiroki placed three trays before us. Sanosuke had finally shut up about my staying out all night, at least for the moment, and I couldn't help but watch him as he ate.

How was it he could wake up every morning and still have that damn carefree smile on his face?

He hadn't always been like that, of course. I had been at the dojo at least three years before Sanosuke arrived from Kyoto, Japan. He was an orphan too, having lost his parents at the age of nine.

His mother had died from a deadly disease that had spread through their village. It had only been found within women at the time, so Sanosuke's father and he were immune. However, in debt to the yakuza by his lost mother, they came to collect their debt from Sanosuke's father. He had died during the harsh beatings and labor they had put him through.

Before the yakuza could take Sanosuke to take his father's place, Hiroki arrived in Kyoto the day of his brother and sister-in-law's funerals, and took custody of Sanosuke, bringing him back to London, England to live with him. The moment Sanosuke arrived he began intense Martial Arts training to deal with his grief. I became his sparring partner…

And he became the thorn in my side.

"Katra, I found this in a box of your belongings while cleaning out the hallway closet. You should keep it close." Hiroki said, before sliding over photograph.

I glanced at it, seeing the picture of my Grandfather Enaes and my father, Evander with their arms around each other's shoulders while out to sea. This had been taken shortly before their deaths while searching for the lost city of Atlantis. They had both drowned, just like my mother had when I was two.

I don't remember my mother at all, and I had never seen a picture of her either. The only thing I had known at that time was that since I had no living relatives I was to go to my guardian, Miyazaki Hiroki, who lived in London and ran a dojo there.

"Thanks…"

I went to stand up, but Sanosuke pinned me with his glare. I turned away from it, glancing down at Hiroki, who was pulling his shoulder-length black hair into a ponytail. He glanced at me after a second.

"Is there anything you need for me to do specifically before I began training, sensei?" I inquired, my soft Greek accent barely noticeable within my voice.

"Would you run down to the corner bookstore and pick up my new book for me?" Hiroki replied.

I nodded as he handed me the money, and I hurried out of the room and up the stairs to my room. I washed up before changing into a black t-shirt, my black jeans with white trimming, a white and black studded leather belt, and black-shin combat boots that held zippers galore all over them. I pulled on my white fingerless gloves, and then my black cat collar that held a white bell, before adding my grandfather's pendant. It was Artemis' symbol on a silver coin and hung from a black leather cord.

"I'll be back soon," I informed them.

Sanosuke merely sighed and said, "When do you sleep?"

I gave him a dull stare, "With you home? Never. You give me insomnia."

Leaving him with a wounded ego, I smirked, and turned to head out the door.

________________________________________________________________________

"T hank you, have a nice day!"

I forced a smile at the current customer. He faked back a smile, just as they all do, and headed out the front entrance. I motioned down at the glass counter and almost startled myself.

How do these people not run from my face?

The white skin and the green eyes would seem normal, but doubled with my pale blond hair hanging into my face and brushing my chin, it was a sight indeed.

Maybe I was too harsh on myself?

But the forced goofy smile did pull the whole effect together. I rapped my hands on the cold register and rested my face on the wall.

Three more hours, and I'd be done.

The dirty floor of the ancient bookstore creaked with footsteps as a new customer entered the doorway.

Oh, great, the collar female was here again.

She clearly felt the same way when she recognized which cashier she would be dealing with today. Her emerald eyes rolled as she held out a slip of paper.

"One book order for Mr. Miyazaki," she in a bored voice as she reluctantly handed her paper towards me.

Her fingers were encrusted with dirt, and her eyes gave the sign of weariness.

When did this female sleep last?

I took the paper from her coarse hands and slipped the order into a drawer. I shifted my gaze to her face. She wasn't that horrible looking. Nevertheless, unfortunately, her personality ruined her appearance. She was one of the few who didn't force a smile, which I admired.

"Yeah, it's in the back, it came this morning." I lazily spouted.

"Yeah, I wouldn't be here if I hadn't already known this." she spat sarcastically.

Yup, my feeling from before was correct. Someone needed to put this chick down for a nap.

I shot her a glare and shuffled from behind the tiny counter towards the storage room. The dark haired female merely propped her head up in her hand on the counter and looked as if she was about to fall asleep. Turning away, I continued on with my task, entering the storage room.

The storage room was dark and smelled of old books. I swept my fingers across the dusty collection of paper and searched silently for the collar chick's order. The roaring of the air conditioner blared into my ears as I scanned.

Where could I have put it?

The hollow room had books sprawled in small numbers, so finding the order shouldn't have been a difficult task. My eyes lit up when I found it. I gathered up the book and rushed outside.

I was taken back at the sight waiting for me. The female was lying in the floor snoring loudly. Other customers were eyeing her wildly.

"Miss? MISS?" I shouted as I tapped her on the shoulder.

Why me?

________________________________________________________________________

Someone was going to die.

I jerked awake, immediately snatching the front of the shirt of whoever dared awaken me, and immediately the concealed handclaws of my gloves shot out, narrowly missing the jugular of the one who I was currently getting ready to destroy.

"SANOSUKE?! I'LL KILL YOU!!"

I paused a moment later, blinking as bright light cleared my blurred vision, and my tired eyes took in the sight of pale skin instead of tawny, long pale hair instead of spiky dark, and terrified green orbs instead of caramel brown.

Oh, dammit, did I just attack the creepy cashier?

"Um… female… please let go of me before I call the police." He said, his eyes staring at me like I was insane.

What the hell, maybe I was, especially considering the fact I hadn't exactly slept in more than forty-eight hours?

I did the smart thing for once in my life; I released the creepy one's shirt. Scrambling to my feet, my boots made the floorboards creak loudly, and I ignored the disapproving glares I was getting from the other customers. The cashier staggered away from me, before brushing the dust off his clothing with his hand, and I noticed what he was really wearing for the first time.

He wore a plain gray jacket that was zipped all the way up, white cotton pants that stopped just above his ankles, simple slip-on shoes, and had a set of goggles hanging around his neck. He wasn't as creepy-looking as I had originally thought, especially when his face was in view. If he actually smiled instead of that creepy doll-like smile he usually did, then maybe he wouldn't have struck me as creepy in the first place.

"Miss, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave now. Take your order, and please do not come back to this establishment for as long as I work here."

"Fine, whatever." I scoffed, not really caring.

It was a run-down, second-rate bookstore anyway. So Hiroki-sensei would just have to send that idiot, Sanosuke, to pick up his orders for now on. Not like I cared or anything.

I turned on my heel after paying for the damn book and stormed my way out of the store.

That would be the last time I ever saw that creepy cashier.

________________________________________________________________________

Yippee, she's gone.

The long silence that followed her departure was soothing. My face would have actually formed a smile if he didn't show up. I noticed him slip through the doors of the bookstore as I trudged back to my position behind the dismal counter.

The balding man had been stalking around the store for weeks. He stooped as he walked and his frail frame seemed to tremble when he moved. He eyed my position and smiled as he walked over to the manga.

What is an old man doing in the manga section?!

I slipped my sight towards the costumer, I gave her the usual tripe as she giggled and left with a sack full of manga and whipped her rose-colored hair as she turn to skip out of the door. I faced the old man again to check on his progress and I jumped as he was standing almost nose-to-nose with me.

"Uh… uh… c-can I help you?" I managed to stammer, completely taken aback.

"Yes, could you kindly explain to me what this book of pictures is about?" he smoothly inquired with a strange accent.

I nearly collapsed in fear as I realized his simple request. His lined-face formed into a gentle smile as he waved the book towards me.

"Uh… you've been looking at the manga for weeks and don't know what they are?"

"Yes, they've intrigued me with their delightful pictures." he laughed hoarsely and gave me a look that obviously meant to continue.

"Well, uh… they're um… how do I explain? Let's just call them 'Japanese comic books'. Here, let me direct you to some books that'd be more for your… taste."

"Why, thank you, Wyvie!" he said cheerfully, his charcoal black eyes smiling.

I froze.

Did he just call me Wyvie?

I glanced into the back of my head and thought, Of course, my nametag!

I gazed down and was in shock, my nametag said 'Vlad'. My first name. Wyvie came from my middle name, Wyvallace.

"How'd you know my name?"

I was intrigued; I had to figure this guy out.

"Oh, Wyvie, I know you very well!" he grinned.

I was in shock. Besides Ona, my mother, I had no friends or relations in London.

Now, all of a sudden this old man was claiming that he knew me?

No, ridiculous.

"Come on, we need to fetch our other friend!" he cheerfully exclaimed as he wrapped his bony fingers around my collar and pulled me over the counter with ease.

Where did this strength come from?

He looked as if he was as frail as paper!

I scrambled away from his grasp and snatched my medic bag from underneath the counter. His fingers were at my collar again as I was pulled out the store's entrance.

"STOP! I've gotta get back to work! CRAZY!"

_______________________________________________________________________

Sanosuke had that annoying smirk on his face again as we started doing our daily chores around the dojo while Hiroki was teaching his morning class. I scrubbed the window harder in an attempt to ignore him, and I struggled to keep my eyes open.

"I think someone needs a nap," he teased.

I sent a scathing glare in his direction, "I think someone needs to shut his mouth and finish sweeping!"

He did quiet down, and he did finish sweeping. I watched as he moved to clean the kitchen floors, leaving me with the tedious wiping of the counters and washing of the dishes. Annoyed, I finished the windows before moving to take out the garbage.

Late morning had arrived, the day turning out to be only mildly chilly. I walked over to the silver can in the alley next to the dojo, and jolted when I saw an odd girl inspecting the wall. She rapped it with her knuckles, pressing her ear against the wall, before shrugging and moving on.

I shook my head, not really phased. London was full of odd beings, myself included. I tossed the bag into the can, placing the lid back on it, and turned. Abruptly, however, I was face-to-face with the odd girl and staring into her only visible earth brown orb, her other eye hidden with rose red layered bangs.

"Hey, you wouldn't have happened to have seen any vampires, werewolves, or spirits around here, have you?" she asked me, full seriousness on her face.

"Uh, no," I replied shortly.

She snapped her fingers, "Shoot." And then she turned, and walked away.

That was a little… weird.

I turned to head back for the dojo, but I paused the moment two figures caught my attention. The first was a feeble-looking old man, dragging a young man down the street by his collar, and grinning in an almost psychotic manner. Once they were closer, I recognized the young man.

It was the creepy cashier again!

Talk about irony. I had been determined never to see him ever again, and there he was, being dragged by some loony old man. I was just about to head inside when all of a sudden my name was being called.

"Katra!"

My foot froze in mid-step, and I turned to stare at the loony old man. He said my name again, stopping only two feet away, and the cashier staggered and steadied himself. He glared down at the old man with his sad green eyes.

"How the hell do you know my name?" I snapped, "What are you, a stalker? Answer me, Old Man!"

He chuckled and said, "My, my, feisty as ever. You're such a black cat, aren't you, Katra?"

I twitched.

"Who are you and what do you want?"

"Oh, please, forgive my lack of manners, both of you." I watched as he bowed slightly, "My name is Araius."

I crossed my arms under my chest, "And your point?"

The pale blond boy glared at me before saying, "Have some manners!"

Araius smiled, "Thank you, Wyvie."

Wyvie? What kind of a name was that?

I peered at this Wyvie and glanced at his nametag.

"Your nametag says different. It says your name is Vlad." I pointed out.

Wyvie stiffened and spouted, "Vlad happens to be my first name, and Wyvie derives from my middle name, Wyvallace, thank you very much."

"Nice to know," I snorted, "Anyways, what do you want, Araius?"

Araius gazed at both of us with his charcoal black eyes, and I noticed he had receding gray hair and a lined-face. He was dressed comfortably in slacks, a gray sweater with a black blazer over it, and sturdy black shoes. He was as white and as frail as paper too.

"May we step somewhere more private? This matter is most important and concerns you both!" Araius replied, smiling at me.

I sighed, and against my better judgment, I showed them inside. Much to my happiness, Sanosuke wasn't anywhere in sight, and I led them into the small living quarters. Wyvie and Araius perched themselves on the edge of the couch while I parked myself on the floor in front of them.

"Speak, Old Man."

"Patience, child, patience."

Like I could have patience when some random old loon who knew my name was in my living room with vital information concerning me.

Araius gazed at me before slowly speaking, "Katra Kattalakis, what do you desire most in this life?"

"Adventure," I replied shortly, "And freedom from that idiot, Sanosuke."

"What about humanity? Do you care at all about it?"

I paused.

Now that question wasn't as easily answered…

"I guess I care about it. I don't honestly like people in general, but there are some people I respect, and would die to protect, like Hiroki-sensei. He may only be my guardian, but he took me in when he didn't have too, and he gave me a place to live and a bed to sleep in."

Wyvie snorted slightly at the last part.

"Got a problem?" I snarled.

"When was the last time you even slept, Kat?"

I twitched and hissed, "None of your business! And don't call me Kat!"

"So would you be willing to sacrifice yourself at any time in order to save humanity and life as we know it?"

"I guess… not like I have much to live for anyway."

Araius turned to Wyvie, who was holding what appeared to be a medic bag in his lap, and he eyed it.

"You are interested in medicine, Wyvie, are you not?"

"Yes, sir." Wyvie replied quietly. "I am taking medical courses at school."

"Would you be interested in finding vast medical discoveries that can cure, say, cancer or other incurable diseases known on Earth?"

His eyes widened and he quickly replied, "Yes, of course!"

Araius paused, meeting both of our green eyes, before his lips formed that creepy smile.

Suddenly, I had the feeling I was to be afraid…

Very afraid.

________________________________________________________________________

This was just too much.

The situation was growing grimmer as time passed. The lightly lit living room threw me off. Juxtaposed with Kat's attitude and fashion sense, the house seemed fit for royalty. I had assumed she'd live in a dump.

I was wrong.

Her Sensei's dojo was marvelous.

The old man turned to me, I was zoning out of his conversation with Kat to admire the lovely style of her home. His cheek twitched towards a grin, and his eyes lingered to expose the meaning behind his strange antics.

"You are interested in medicine, Wyvie, are you not?"

"Yes, sir." I answered. "I am taking medical courses at school."

"Would you be interested in finding vast medical discoveries that can cure, say, cancer or other incurable diseases known on Earth?"

I looked surprisingly to him.

Was this a request?

"Yes, of course!"

"Well, I have a proposal for you two." He paused, and the wrinkled man's expression became one of seriousness. "You two are destined to rescue humanity from the decaying evil that has been set upon it. It was foretold by augurs from the past that you two will be the final descendents of the High Council members. The High Council was formed from representatives of the twenty worlds set in their own dimensions. You two must come together to accomplish the goal to drive back the darkness and save the worlds before it's to late. Will you come with me?" His longwinded speech seemed to end, and I wasn't having any of it.

"Goodbye crazy, I've got to get back to work."

I turned to leave; his grasp caught me again.

"Wyvallace, you think it wise to leave without hearing what's in store, and why you must help?" he grimaced persuasively.

"Yup, I do. I don't believe in fairytales anymore mister. I have a family to take care of." I started towards to door.

"We can fix her you know." These words stopped me dead. What did he know about me?

Was my curiosity enough to keep me here? It couldn't hurt I guess.

"Fine, shoot. Explain to me why me and this freak are the only applicants you have to do this job." I scowled as I sat down on the soft armchair and lowered my head, beating myself up for staying in this black hole of crazy.

"Pure beings of the decedents of the Council are the only ones able to touch to darkness and destroy it. You two are the only ones who can do this job. The prophecy foretells that if you cooperate, you'll be victorious. This will be an adventure across worlds. You'll dip yourself in healing methods you never thought possible, and I'll think you'll find that you have more… special abilities in the art of healings than most humans. Wyvie, Katra, will you please come with me to save the worlds?" His eyes twinkled.

Healing methods? Would I really follow this man into the unknown? Who knows if he's even telling the truth? Other worlds? What is he playing at?

He seems so trustworthy though. I don't know what I should do. If I do follow him, what would happen? I could protect myself and run if he's insane. Was this worth the risk?

My mother…

"I'll leave you two in your thoughts. If you agree to come with me, meet me at the bookstore at midnight. We'll take the portal there."

Araius turned swiftly and vanished out the door. I turned to Kat; her face was complicated. She seemed to be thinking fiercely about the event between her, Araius, and myself.

What should I choose?