Iridescent: Chapter Fifteen

Iridescent

Chapter Fifteen

~Every Day’s a Saturday~

After the Fall

When Deontay led Zara and Miwa to the village where he was staying they received a huge welcome. The children of the village ran out to meet with the friendly visitor. Deontay, being a friendly fellow, ran up to them and picked them up. One of the children gave him two vials that they had found a few miles from the village. He thanked them with the little of their language that he knew and rubbed the child playfully on the head.

He led his friends into the village. Deontay led them to a makeshift home that looked to have been built in the last few days. He let them in and made sure that they were comfortable.

“Well, welcome to my humble abode!” Deontay spread his arms out, “It isn’t much but I like it. Keeps things simple and your priorities straight, you know?”

Miwa found a corner that he seemed to like and dropped down, “I like it!”

“You’ve been living here a while?” Zara asked.

“Yeah,” Deontay nodded, “I didn’t see any reason to leave and the kids kind of grow on ya. They are a bunch of great kids. Don’t know what they’re saying most of the time though… Anyway, make yourself at home.”

“It will be nice to sleep under a roof for a change,” Zara looked around.

“Yeah,” Deontay nodded, “Sleeping in the plains isn’t exactly the most comfortable.”

Zara smiled, “Yeah, you can say that again.”

“I’m sure I have some canned food somewhere,” Deontay looked through a bag of his, “What is your position on canned peaches?”

“Haven’t had any in months,” Zara sighed, “I’d love some.”

“Good,” Deontay laughed, “The kids in the village love the stuff.”

Miwa looked over, “Where do you get your supply of food?”

Deontay pointed around in a vague circle, “Around. You’d actually be amazed how many people drop everything when they see a sawed off shot gun.”

“You robbed people?” Miwa asked.

Deontay looked appalled, “No! I tried to give their things back but they just kept running!” He looked at Zara, “I didn’t realize I was that scary of a guy.”

Zara shrugged, “I guess when you’re carrying a sawed off shot gun it’s understandable.”

“Hmm,” Deontay nodded thoughtfully, “Well, we should get to bed. We have a long day tomorrow.”

“You can say that again,” Zara sighed.

The next day Deontay said goodbye to the village children. They were sad to see him go and so were the rest of the villagers. He left each family a can of fruit. Deontay promised that he would visit when things died down on the Island. Zara was unsure if they understood all of what he said but they seemed to get the just of it. The younger children cried at Deontay’s departure. After saying his last farewells, Deontay led Zara and Miwa out of the village.

“So what is our travel plan?” Deontay asked when they were some ways away from the village.

“We head through the desert to where we can get off the Island!” Miwa answered.

“Yeah,” Deontay said, “I got that but how are we going to travel through the desert? I mean you weren’t thinking of walking were you? That’s suicide. You know that, right Zara?”

“We have water,” Zara said.

“Yeah, but not travel-all-the-way-through-the-desert-on-foot kind of water! We’ll be dried prunes before the week is out!” Deontay thought a moment, “Wait, what day is it? I’ve lost track.”

Zara shrugged, “Feels like a Saturday.”

“Actually it’s—” Miwa tried to answer.

“No one asked you,” Zara glared at him.

Deontay nodded, “I’ve always liked Saturdays. Let’s say it’s Saturday.”

Miwa looked up at his two travelers, “But it’s—”

“In that case, we’ll be dried prunes before the end of next week! Do you want to be a dried prune? I don’t!” Deontay exclaimed.

“We’ll make it,” Zara smiled at her team mate, “Besides, I can’t die now. I’ve got someone’s butt to kick when I get the chance.”

Deontay nodded, “I mean that’s pretty good motivation.”

“Yeah,” Zara nodded, “So I can’t die until I cross the desert and get to where Miwa says we’ll find a way off the Island, cross the ocean, get to the mainland and kick Scar’s butt. Then I can die happy. But I won’t.”

“You won’t die happy?” Miwa asked, “But you just said…”

“No, what I was saying is that I won’t die,” Zara smiled, “I plan to live my life as an independent woman as an Agent. Maybe I’ll get a pet along the way somewhere but that’s just about it.”

“You won’t settle down? Maybe find yourself someone you can spend the rest of your life with?” Deontay questioned.

“Nope,” Zara looked at Deontay, “There is no man in ‘independent woman’.”

“Actually…” Miwa started.

“Be careful of the next few words you say, Robo-dog,” Zara glared at Miwa, “You tread on very thin ice.”

“Never mind,” Miwa muttered.

“Right,” Deontay nodded, “Not even—nah, never mind.”

Zara looked at him, “Not even what?”

“No, it’s nothing,” Deontay shrugged it off, “Well, what if this guy really likes you and he’s just too shy to say anything.”

“Deontay,” Zara said quietly, “do you have something you would like to say?”

“Hmm?” at first Deontay didn’t understand, “Oh! No! It isn’t me! I was talking about someone else!”

“Uh huh, sure,” Zara looked unconvinced.

“No really!” Deontay stressed.

“I’m going to jog ahead,” Zara said, “Please take your time following me.”

Zara jogged off and Deontay tried to call after her but to no avail. She jogged ahead until she created quite a distance between them. Zara remained within view but didn’t turn around to make sure the others were keeping up. Miwa continued to walk alongside Deontay. There was a long silence between the two after Zara left. Deontay sighed before breaking the silence.

“I swear I was talking about someone else,” he said.

Miwa nodded, “Yeah, I believe you.”

“Do you really?” Deontay asked.

“Yeah, I do,” Miwa answered, “Now the trick is to get Zara to believe you.”

Deontay groaned, “Chaud owes me big time.”

“That he does, my friend,” Miwa sighed, “That he does.”

Wedding Day

A Big Turn

A Spin-Off

~Wedding Day~

*Warning: Characters May Be Completely Different*

Zara stood facing the mirror and tugged and teased at her dress. She never really felt comfortable in them. It was something that carried over into her twenties from when she was a little child. They just never felt right. And now on her wedding day she would have to wear one.

She wore a slim white sleeveless dress that fit her exceptionally well. The dress was long enough to make a lovely circular train around her. Her figure was beautiful; she had the Tower and all the missions she had to thank for that. She shifted on her white high heels as she tried to look more comfortable in her dress. Her hair was pulled back and pinned in place with white flower pins. She didn’t have the traditional veil as a personal preference. Also, she wore no makeup. She hatted the way it made her face heavy. Only a touch of lipstick decorated her face.

Zara sighed and leaned against the mirror. What was she doing? Was she out of her mind? What happened to “I’m an independent woman, I don’t get married”? She groaned loudly against the mirror. Suddenly, she felt sick.

There was a knock on the door and both Hina and Vicky walked in. Hina crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. She wore a purple dress and shoes. Hina looked at Vicky who was wearing the same thing.

“She looks like she’s about to die,” Hina stated.

Vicky shrugged and walked up to Zara, “You okay?”

Zara shot up and started walking briskly to the door, “Nope, I am an independent woman and I don’t need a man. I’m leaving.”

Hina blocked the door, “Uh, no, you’re not.”

Zara shot her a dirty look, “I am not getting married to day or ever for that matter.”

“Uh, yeah, you are,” Hina stated.

Vicky rushed to Zara’s side, “It’s okay to feel this way! You’re just nervous! Just calm down and think it over!”

“Nervous?!” Zara turned to her, “I stare down gun barrels for a living! I don’t know the meaning of nervous!”

“Well, ‘walking out on your wedding’ is a pretty good description,” Hina answered.

Vicky looked around Zara, “Hina, you aren’t helping.”

Hina shrugged, “I just giving her a description of nervous.”

Zara pulled away from the group and flopped down on a sofa, “Argh! I don’t know what I’m doing anymore!?”

Hina and Vicky looked at one another for a moment before going over to console her.

Vicky sat beside her, “You’re getting married to the man you love today.”

“That’s another thing,” Zara stated, “I don’t even know if I really love the guy.”

Hina stared at her, “You don’t know if you love him? You’ve practically been dating for seven years! Seven years! And you said yes when he proposed.”

Vicky looked at Hina, “That was cute when he did that.”

“It was,” Hina agreed.

Zara put her hands on her face, “I feel like I’m going to die.”

Chaud opened the door to his changing room and peaked out. He crept out into the hallway and processed to sneak quietly. His white hair had gown a bit, similar to his fathers but not nearly as long. He wore a tan casual suit as he snick down the hallways.

He finally came to where he was looking for. The bride’s changing room. He straightened himself out before knocking on the door. When there was no answer he opened the door lightly to get a peek inside. The door suddenly opened fully and Chaud jumped back startled.

Naru stood in the door way, his eyes narrowed in disapproval, “Looking for someone?”

“Jeez, Naru! What the heck!? You nearly scared me to death!” Chaud tried to breathe normally again.

Naru looked at him, “I know. And what are you doing here?”

Chaud looked a little irritated, “I was just looking to see where they kept the pun—this is the bride’s dressing room! What do you think I’m doing here!? I wanted to see my soon to be wife!”

“No,” Naru stated.

“No, what?” Chaud questioned.

“You can’t see your wife until the ceremony. It’s bad luck otherwise,” Naru explained, “That and Zara might punch you in the face.”

Chaud considered the statement, “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Of course you didn’t,” Naru sighed.

“Where is she anyway?” Chaud asked.

Naru shrugged, “Hina said something about an emotional breakdown. Something to do with water, throwing things, and—what was it—oh yeah, jumping out of windows. Long story short they took her to the bathroom where there are no windows.”

Chaud stared at him, “Seriously?”

Naru nodded.

“She’s taking this a lot better than I thought she would,” Chaud stated, “Can I go see her?”

“No,” Naru started pushing Chaud back to the changing room he was assigned.

Deontay stood in front of the door with a confused look on his face. When he saw Chaud and Naru further down the hallway he looked to relax.

“Oh good, you found him,” Deontay sighed, “I was gone for two seconds and he booked it. Where’d you find him?”

“Trying to find Zara,” Naru responded.

Deontay looked serious all of a sudden, “Don’t you know it’s bad luck, man. It’s just like the cornbread, you just don’t do it. That and she would have probably punched you in the face.”

“So I’ve been told,” Chaud muttered.

Deontay looked at Naru, “I hear a rumor that she tried to jump out a window?”

“It’s on the first floor,” Naru shrugged, “She wouldn’t have gotten hurt or anything. Come on, Chaud; let’s fix up that suit before the ceremony starts.”

Chaud wondered, “Are there any windows where the ceremony is being held?”

“Quite a few,” Deontay nodded, “Why?”

“Would it be a problem to have the ushers stand in front of them?” Chaud asked, “It’d buy me some time in case she decides to make a run for it.”

“Hmm,” Deontay turned to walk away, “Sounds like a good idea.”

Chaud stood at the wedding altar. It was his turn to feel dizzy. So many questions ran through his mind. Would she be here? Would she leave him at the altar? What dress would she be wearing? Why were the lights so hot all of a sudden? He felt Deontay’s hand on his shoulder.

“You okay, man?” Deontay asked, “You need some air?”

Chaud smiled, “I’m fine, never been better.”

“Oh, boy,” Naru whispered, “He’s panicking.”

“Panicking?” Deontay looked at Naru, “What do we do with a panicking groom?”

Naru shrugged his shoulders.

“Will you boys stop whispering?” Hina whispered from across the aisle, “People are starting to stare!”

“The flower girl is coming!” Vicky warned as Amber skipped down the aisle.

“How did Zara feel before you left?” Chaud asked, “Did she feel okay?”

Hina rolled her eyes, “She isn’t going to jump out of anymore windows, if that is what you’re asking.”

“Guys,” Naru tried to be heard, “we should really stop whispering.”

“But seriously,” Chaud insisted, “what was her state of mind? Was she happy? Sad? Angry? At this point I’d be happy with angry. At least then she has to come up here and smack me.”

“Dude, are you sure it’s a good idea for you to get married?” Hina asked, “Seems a little like an abusive relationship to me.”

“Zara isn’t abusive,” Vicky said.

“She only hit him when he deserved it,” Deontay agreed, “No offence.”

“None taken,” Chaud smiled.

“Uh, guys,” Naru tried to warn the others as the orchestra got into position.

“Great, now people are really staring at us!” Hina groaned.

“No, they are all staring at Zara,” Vicky pointed.

All eyes turned to the back of the room as the wedding music started. Pachelbel’s Cannon in D Major was played by the orchestra. Zara stood in the back of the room, frozen, with a bouquet of white flowers in her hands. She couldn’t seem to move her feet which suddenly felt like concrete blocks. Her breath got caught in her throat and she found it hard to breathe. She felt lightheaded and leaned back. An arm caught her as she leaned. She looked up to her left at her escort.

Puppetmaster smiled down at her, “Are you alright child?”

Zara was out of breath, “I can’t breathe.”

“It usually helps if you exhale first,” he suggested.

She hadn’t realized it but she had been holding her breath. Zara breathed out and in again.

“Are you ready?” Puppetmaster asked.

“N—yes,” for some reason the word was so hard to say.

Puppetmaster escorted her up the aisle. Without any family left on her side of the family, Zara asked Puppetmaster to give her away. He accepted, of course and even bought a new suit and some dress shoes for the event. He didn’t look the most comfortable in a suit and tie but Zara didn’t mind. She was happy that he was there to make everything go a little more smoothly.

Zara looked ahead at the altar. The Maids of Honor and the Best Men seemed to be having a whispering argument. Zara sighed.

“I wonder what they are arguing about this time,” Zara muttered.

Puppetmaster looked at her, “Not all of them seem so irate.”

Zara looked again and sure enough Chaud was the only one not engaging in whatever argument was taking place. His eyes were only on her. She wondered what about her that had captivated his attention. It wasn’t like she was that attractive. She felt her cheeks turn red and decided that the floor was more interesting to look at.

Puppetmaster stopped at the base of the stairs as Zara continued on. Her legs felt like they were wobbling as she walked up the three or so steps. It felt like she was climbing a mountain. She stood on the left side of the altar and waited.

Vicky looked at Hina and nudged her in the arm. Hina looked at her with annoyance and then with understanding. She rushed down to fix Zara’s train. As she did that, Zara looked over her shoulder. Chaud’s family sat in the front row on the right side while Puppetmaster sat on the left, Shuppet sat beside him in a tiny suit and waved at her.

“You look beautiful,” Chaud whispered to her.

Zara looked at him, “Why are all the ushers standing by the windows?”

“Um, well,” Chaud laughed awkwardly, “funny story about that.”

“Dearly Beloved,” the pastor started, “We are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

“Oh, please someone say something,” Zara closed her eyes and whispered.

Chaud looked at her, “You aren’t expecting anyone to, are you?”

The room was silent and the pastor continued, “Through marriage, Chaud and Zara make a commitment together to face their disappointments, embrace their dreams, realize their hopes, and accept each other’s failures. Chaud and Zara will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together through mutual understanding, openness, and sensitivity to each other.”

Hina tried to stifle a laugh but she wasn’t fast enough. She couldn’t picture Zara being sensitive at all.

The pastor continued, “We are here today, before God, because marriage is one of His most sacred wishes, to witness the joining in marriage of Chaud and Zara. This occasion marks the celebration of love and commitment with which this man and this woman begin their life together. And now, through me, He joins you together in one of the holiest bonds.”

Right at that point the room filled with the sounds of ringing cellphones. Every Agent in the building looked at their cellphones. Even Sirius looked at his and Kaiba was first one to look at his. Zara reached down to her shoe and pulled out her phone that was strapped to her ankle. She looked at Chaud who was staring at her.

Zara shrugged, “What?”

She opened the cellphone and looked at it. She sighed.

“What?” Chaud asked.

“Apparently something’s happened in Egypt,” Zara shrugged.

Chaud sighed, “And there aren’t any other Agents to deal with it?”

“If there were, we wouldn’t have gotten the call,” Zara hit Chaud in the arm.

“We’ll it isn’t the Bahamas exactly,” Chaud muttered, “I hope I can get my money back.”

“We were going to go to the Bahamas?” Zara looked at him.

Chaud shrugged, “Egypt’s good too.”

She turned to the pastor, “Could we skip to the ‘I Do’s please? We’ve gotta run.”

“Well, um,” the pastor looked slightly confused, “Do you Chaud take Zara to be your wife, to live together, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” Chaud said.

“Ditto!” Zara said. She snapped her fingers, “Rings!”

Deontay reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. Naru reached over to Chaud and tried plucking off a piece of lint that had been bugging him throughout the ceremony.

“Dude,” Deontay looked at him.

“Sorry,” Naru stated, “It was all I could think about.”

Deontay handed Chaud the ring. On Zara’s side, Vicky patted herself down as if she had lost the ring and didn’t know where it was.

Hina rolled her eyes, “It’s on your thumb!”

Vicky looked and sure enough, it was. She pulled it off and handed it to Zara. Chaud placed his ring on Zara’s ring finger and Zara placed her ring on his.

The pastor finished up, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

Zara kissed Chaud on the lips and hiked up her dress and ran down the aisle. One of the ushers had went to grab the marriage license and was coming up the aisle. Zara grabbed a pen and signed. She looked back and saw the others standing where they were.

“Well come on!” she shouted, “I’m missing out on the Bahamas and now someone has to pay! I’d like to get to Egypt and punch the living daylights out of who thought it was a good idea to steal the sphinx! Chaud, get over here and sign the stupid license!”

The others started waking after her. Chaud smiled sheepishly at the murmuring crowd.

“Go ahead to the Reception; we’ll pay for it,” Chaud said, “Enjoy the meal. I heard the salmon is great.”

“CHAUD!” Zara yelled.

“Coming, dear!” Chaud ran after her.

The Turn: Chapter Six

The Turn

Chapter Six

~Twice a Day~

Three Years before the Turn

Once everyone made their way to the shrine they all sat on the floor, weapons in hand. Crow walked around for a while. He disappeared into a room. Shortly after, he pulled out a long table of weapons. After that he sat down in front of the others. He stared vaguely at them before speaking.

“Alright,” he started, “let’s get a few things straight. I hate repeating myself. If I need to repeat myself I won’t, I’ll just have you do something else to get the point across. No shoes inside the shrine. It isn’t easy to clean this place, you know. No talking out of turn. Pretty much what I say goes for the next two weeks. Any questions?” There were none, “Alright, when I call you, I want you to stand up give me your name and tell me what power you have. After that you hand me your weapon to inspect it. You.”

Crow pointed in Zara’s general direction.

Zara stood up with her katana, “Name’s Zara Uzek. I’m a fire wielder.”

Crow extended his hand and Zara walked up and placed her weapons in his hand, “Ah, a katana, and horribly balanced one at that.”

Hina leaned over and whispered in her brother’s ear, “Of course it’s a katana, anyone can see that. Is he blind?”

“As a matter of fact, yes I am, but I’m not deaf. You can take a jog around the shrine when we’re done here, young lady. I distinctly remember telling you not to talk out of turn,” he said. His hands ran up and down the two blades, “Is this a school issued weapon?”

“Yes,” Zara answered.

“Return it,” Crow said flatly, handing her the weapons, “Get a new pair over there. Next.”

Zara walked over to the table and looked at the weapons. She quickly looked over her shoulder to see Chaud handing Crow his weapons. They looked to be a special advanced type of gun. She shrugged and continued looking of a pair of katana. Two shining blades lay on the far end of the table. A decorative carving was etched onto both blades. It looked like a type of wild cat jumping though a blazing fire. Zara picked up one and instantly saw the difference in her own katana. She picked up the two new shiny blades and went back to her seat. Naru walked past her carrying his sai. He smiled at her and she nodded back.

When everyone’s weapons were inspected, Hina was sent running around the shrine while Crow explained their next task.

“Alright, everyone up. I want to see how well, or poorly, they trained all of you. Uzek, step forward,” Zara did, “Attack me.”

For a moment, Zara was unsure of what to do. He was blind after all and she didn’t want to hurt him in any way.

“It’s alright,” Crow said as if he read her mind, “I’ve gotten this far in life with being blind; I can get through the next few minutes.”

Zara noticed his hand drop his sword. She moved her right leg back. She shifted her weight on her ball of her feet. Then Zara raised the katana in her left hand and held it in a horizontal position. She pulled her right shoulder back so the blade was even with her eyes. Crow moved his left foot back and gripped the hilt of his long sword with his right hand. Zara took a quick breath and charged forward.

With only feet to spare, she saw Crow draw his sword. She half spun, causing the right katana to hit the sword. Zara stabled herself, her back temporarily facing Crow and her back leg situated appropriately. She shifted her grip on the left katana and shifted her body to make a stab attempt. Crow pivoted out of the way, placed his left hand on the back of his sword and pushed. Zara lost her balance and had to move her foot forward to keep herself from falling.

“Good approach,” Crow noted; he kicked her leg into its right position “balance could use some work. Try again.”

Zara nodded and assumed her position again. This time, however, her left hand was extended across her body and the blade tip pointed to the left horizontally. Crow held his sword with both hands, his arms were bent and the hilt of the sword was by the corner of his eye. Zara ran forward.

Crow lunged forward and extended the sword in an attempt to pierce. Zara quickly reacted and spun on her right foot and jumped lightly into the air. Her arms were extended and tilted in an angle, the blades hummed quietly in the quick change. The blades clashed together. Zara’s blade pushed Crow’s aside. She landed on her left foot and took a large step with her right. Then she dipped low, pivoted on her right and swung her right katana at Crow.

He brought his blade back and blocked the low attack. Zara quickly got to her feet shifting only slightly at the impact. When she got to her feet, she used her right blade to block a sudden attack. The attack made her take a few steps back. Zara silently cursed as she lost her balance again. Crow kept on her, attacking in rapid succession. Zara blocked, parried, and dodged accordingly. She kept looking for an opening but she couldn’t find one.

Suddenly, Crow stopped, “Good,” he stated, “You’re getting better already. Your speed is good too and it seems that the school has at least taught you how to use the katana properly. Have a seat.” Zara did so, secretly happy that she wasn’t in the spotlight anymore. The others clapped at her performance. Glad for her darker skin, Zara blushed with self-consciousness. She was glad that no one seemed to notice. She glanced at Chaud as she sat down. There was a phantom of a smile on his face. Oh, how she hoped that he didn’t notice her reddening cheeks.

“Galaxy, your next,” Crow called.

Chaud stood up and walked across from Crow. Zara took the opportunity to look closer at the weapon. In looked like some of the more advanced guns that she had seen some agents carrying. It was black and silver in color and design and it was a little bigger and longer than most hand. Other than that it looked normal. Chaud placed one gun in a holster on his belt.

“Begin when you’re ready,” Crow placed his weapon in its sheath.

Chaud smiled and pressed a button on the gun. It seemed to dismantle to everyone’s surprise and form a sword. The sword’s blade was silver and the back of the blade was coated a thin layer of the black material that the gunblade was made of. For a brief moment, Zara felt a pang of envy for Chaud and his money, but she pushed the feeling aside. As cool it would be to have a weapon like that, she was better with the curved katana and more comfortable with it.

Crow situated himself moving his left leg behind his right, his hand lightly on his sword. Chaud kept his sword pointed slightly down. He waited a moment and then ran forward. Crow drew his sword and struck out at Chaud in a wide arc. Chaud raised the sword, blade outward and hand on the bladeless side. The two blades clanged together loudly. The impact caused Chaud to slightly loose balance and Crow took advantage of the fact. After the first strike, Crow withdrew the sword, pivoted, and attacked in a straight up and down arc. Chaud acted quickly, shifting the position of the sword and crouching down to lessen the blow. He reached for the other gunblade in its holster. Quickly aimed, and pressed the trigger. There was an empty click that signaled the end of the battle.

Crow smiled and placed his weapon in its sheath. He began walking back to his starting point, “You think fast and you’re resourceful. But again, balance.”

Suddenly, he turned around; sword coming in on Chaud’s left side. Chaud, surprised, acted quickly. He raised his left hand and caught the blade in a section of the gun.

Crow nodded, “You’re reflexes are good too. Hina!”

Hina stood stiffly. The after effects of the run had started to tighten her muscles. Zara could see that Hina was going to make Crow pay for making her run. She got into position and raised her fists; a light purple mist began to form around them. Her violet eyes narrowed with determination. Without warning, she shot forward.

Crow took several evasive steps back. Hina punched and jabbed at him, shouting various swear words at him. Crow hit her arm to one side, crouched down, and lifted his sword sheath from his sash. The hilt of his sword hit Hina square in the lower sternum. She staggered back trying to gain her breath. Crow stood up and replaced his sword in his sash. He smiled slightly.

“It looks like we might have a temper problem,” he stated, “I think that will be enough. What do you think?” he asked, naturally, Hina had trouble answering. He looked over to Naru, “Come on up, Naru!”

Naru quietly stood up. Zara noticed that he rarely said anything, a complete contrast from his sister. He was quiet, waiting for the test to begin. Crow cleared his throat and got into position as Hina sat down. The scowl on her face spoke volumes.

“Start when you’re ready,” Crow said.

He had just finished the sentence when two shuriken stars flew passed his face. For a moment, Crow paused.

“I win,” Naru stated flatly.

“How so?” Crow asked.

“The first star, had I actually struck, would have cut the external jugular vein. The other, as a failsafe, would have nicked the right brachiocephalic vein. Either way, it would be a bloody mess.”

There was now a sense of ‘wow, not messing with him’ in the air. Looks like those anatomy classes paid off. Crow simply smiled.

“What if I had moved my head?” he asked.

Naru flicked his wrist and in a swift movement, threw something in Crow’s direction. He avoided one of the objects but suddenly he lost feeling in his left leg. He looked down and saw a long pointed needle in his upper leg. Crow reached a hand to his sword. Naru ran toward Crow. He drew one of his sai. As Crow withdrew his weapon from its sheath, he tried to defend himself but Naru’s sai caught the sword in the sai’s yoku. Naru dug the short blade into a crack in the floor, temporarily trapping the long sword rendering it useless. He continued his charge without slowing and jet out his hand. Naru struck Crow in his front shoulder. Crow’s arm felt weak and he dropped the hilt of his sword. Then Naru grabbed his second sai and rested the tip under Crow’s chin.

“The sciatic nerve runs down the length of your leg from your spinal cord. Strike and keep the pressure there and it might be a little hard to move that leg for a while. The brachial plexus in your shoulder is made up of the posterior cord, the lateral cord and the medial cord. The lateral and medial cords join up to create the median nerve that runs down your arm. Strike here hard enough and your arm goes to sleep. Care to take a guess what happens when a sai goes through the roof of your mouth?”

Naru stood up and pulled out the needle in Crow’s leg. He went to sit down.

“Am I finished?” Naru asked looking over his shoulder.

Crow made his way to his feet, “I guess so.”

Naru bowed his head respectively, “You should get feeling back in your legs soon.”

“I appreciate it,” Crow muttered.

Hina smiled at her brother’s return. She lived out her revenge though him though he probably didn’t do it on purpose, not with that sweet innocent face. They were complete opposites. While Hina was more of a powerhouse, Naru was precise. If there was an enemy behind a closed door, Hina would kick the door down. In Naru’s case, he would use the rules of ricochet on a paperclip and rubber band though the key hole.

It was silent while Crow tried to get the feeling back in his leg. It was now apparent to everyone who could easily get away with murder and no one wanted to be Naru’s first.

“I think that’s enough for one day,” Crow stated as he tried to get the feeling back in his legs, “I’ll get the remaining two tomorrow.”

“Do we keep the weapons?” Zara asked.

“You have any better ones?” Crow asked, “Keep them. It’s better that they are used.”

At that, the six teens went their separate ways.

IOIOIOIOIOI

“These are beautiful,” Puppetmaster nodded as he looked over the two katana.

The two weapons lay in his lap as he fingered lightly at the carving in the blade. Shuppet sat in his master’s lap and seemed interested as well, its wooden arms on the blade as well. Puppetmaster’s eyes tended to light up at a work of art, whatever it was and no matter how bad it looked. He enjoyed viewing other people’s masterpieces. His eyes looked up at Zara.

“I hear you’re training in the Old Shrine,” he said.

Zara looked shocked, “How did you know that, I didn’t tell you!”

“You didn’t,” Puppetmaster looked at Shuppet, “He did. He also tells me that he was left in your locker at school…”

“I was late!”

Puppetmaster laughed and handed Zara back her new weapons, “You need a scabbard, don’t you?”

Zara shrugged, “I guess, now that you think of it.”

Puppetmaster leaned in from his perch on the large desk, “I could make a pair for you. What do you say?”

She smiled, “If you want to—”

“I must,” Puppetmaster withdrew, ending the decision, “Do you have a bus fair?”

“Yeah, I have enough,” Zara nodded.

“Good then,” he pointed to a broken clock on the wall, “It’s time for you to go or you’ll be late.”

“That clock is broken,” Zara looked at him as if he were insane.

Puppetmaster looked at her and smiled. His purple eyes seemed to glow in the darkening room, “Even a broken clock is right twice a day. And that one says you’ll be late.”

Zara shrugged and walked toward the door, “I’ll see you later, Puppetmaster.”

“Goodbye, friend,” Puppetmaster said as the bell rang. There was a moment of silence as the dolls all seemed to settle for sleep. Shuppet looked up at its master. Puppetmaster smiled, “Oh, shush, so what if it isn’t 8:30. She’ll just be early then.”