Red Sun (my story!)

[Dark Ninja Chik]

Little Hitogoe is a princess of the Thunder Lands. Sadly, an unexpected attack on her Palace Courts claims the lives of them all including her parents. She, her uncle, Yuugao, and her little brother, Kumori are the only survivors of the Brutal attack.

After realizing that she has not only lost her family and kingdom, but also her eyesight, she must learn to cope; however, she all too soon finds out that she is possessed by an ancient akki named Hollow. She must learn to control the akki within her as well as the immense power it holds in order to live a seemingly normal life with the little family she has.

When a sudden surge of power causes Hitogoe loose control and kill many peopl in the small town she has begun a new life in, she is forced to run away where she then finds out her destiny--she, along with the aid of her friends, family, and others who are also possessed with akki know as the First Shadow Walkers of legend, Hitogoe must stop the Akki Lord from beginning a new akki war.  

[Dark Ninja Chik]

This is the beginning. I wrote this a long LONG time ago so its a bit choppy, but bare with me. The true narrative starts after this. I will also post a list of info that will help you out along your reading jouney in Red Sun.
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Chapter One

It all began on the day I was born. My mother had struggled on her second day in labor. Something was wrong. She travailed in much pain, to the extent that her screams could be heard throught the palace courts.

After much travail, the baby's body slid out of the woman. Her heart ceased it pounding when she realized the utter silence. "Why don't I hear crying?" she asked frantically. "Why isn't my child crying?" she nearly shouted as she slightly rose from her bed.

The midwives quickly carried the baby into a corner with their backs facing the anxious mother as they worked to revive the child. The woman felt her heart splitting in two the longer she did not hear the cries of a live child.

Her husband came to her bedside and held her gently in his arm to comfort her. She lay her face upon his shoulder and her lips to his neck. She closed her eyes and prayed silently to God.She then began to speak louder and louder, "Please don't take my child. If I may but hear a cry. Just a cry so that I know that my child is well." She repeated this over and over as tears upon tears burned down her now pale cheeks."Just a cry." she whispered. "Please cry. Cry, cry!" she began to chant.

Just then, a midwife came to her bedside. "I'm sorry my lady, but there is nothing more we can do for the child." she said sadly, feeling the pain the woman felt.

"Can I hold my child before you take her?" the woman asked in a breaking voice. The midwife wondered how she new that her child was female, but she guessed that, as a mother, she could sense it. The woman sat up in bed as she was given her daughter. "It is not too late my child." she whispered as she rubbed her cheek, dampened by her tears, against her lifeless daughter's pale face.

"Cry for me just once and give me reason to live."she cried. Her husband stood above her, tears sreaming down his face as he held his wife in one arm and his breathless daughter in the other.

"We must take her now." the midwife whispered as she pried the child from her mother. "Cry!" she screamed as the midwife carried her child away. She jumped out of her bed and fell straight toward the floor. "You are too weak to be moving!" Her husband shouted as he caught her before her body hit the floor. She leaned in her husband’s arms as he held her to him. "Just cry." she pleaded to the lifeless child as she got further away.

Suddenly, she heard a faint wheeze. “Did you hear that! She exclaimed, eyes widened with hope. "We heard nothing." Her husband replied looking at his wife feeling that she was imagining things, for neither he nor the midwife carrying the child heard a sound. But the woman jerked his hand from her and ran toward her child.

"Stop" she yelled at the midwife who turned to see who had yelled. "She's crying!" she shouted. "She's calling to me." Her husband caught her just before she grabbed the midwife who had her child. "It is in your mind." he explained struggling to hold his wife down. "You are going to kill yourself if you do not take it easy!" he nearly shouted as his wife kept struggling. He could have easily held her still for he was a strong man, but he did not want to harm her.

She looked up at the child in the midwife's arms with eyes so filled with pain and longing for her child yet belief that her child still lived that it brought tears to the midwife's eyes. "Please cry!" the woman pleaded to her child, still lyingthere as limp and pale as death. "Cry! Cry! Cry!" She shouted over and over again.

Suddenly, as she yet shouted for her child to cry, a soft cough, followed by another silenced everyone in the room. The woman frantically urged the midwife to hand her child to her.

"Come now, cry for me." The woman whispered to her child with a soft smile on her face. Miraculously, the child let out a soft wheeze, then a faint cry. Everyone in the room stood in awe at the woman and child as she held her child and tears of joy flooded her face. Her husband helped her to her bed and she began to feed her beautiful new daughter.

By then the room had filled with several maidens and even her brother-in-law, Yuugao. All stood in awe at what had happened. Yuugao managed to speak. "What will you name her?" he asked. "Hitogoe." She said happily, her whole face now glowing. "It means 'cry'." She explained. "Her name is Hitogoe."  

[Dark Ninja Chik]

The sun had shown its beautiful rays all day long and it was now setting. Hitogoe, her mother Amira, her father Yamamaru, and the newest member of the family Kumori, were enjoying one of their favorite hobbies together, watching the glorious sunset. They had kept this tradition of theirs for as long as I could remember.

They sat out in their palace garden that overlooked a steep valley guarded by large iron rails for the children’s safety as I watched from inside the glass window. The valley, filled with every type of flower, herb, and medicine known to the Akkichi family line, wrapped around the entire palace and spread out for miles. A light layer of snow covered the winter plants that were in full bloom in the cold. Blue ice-capped mountains lined the horizon of the setting sun and the wind danced upon the grass in the fields below. Hitogoe played with her baby brother, who had just recently turned 3, while Yamamaru held his beautiful wife, Amira, in his arms.

Her complexion was a creamy golden caramel. Her thick, shiny, jet-black hair was as smooth and soft as velvet and hung long down her back. Her long bangs were wrapped in soft red silk and twisted back into a red band out of her face. Her dazzling honey-gold eyes, always wide with innocence that stunned any man who ever met her gaze, were the most irresistible to him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed into his deep red slanted eyes set low on his pale face and her hands rubbed his soft silver hair as it shimmered in the sunlight. His strong arms held her tightly and he softly kissed her on the swell of her breasts above her gorgeous, low-cut, velvet green gown.

“Daddy,” Hitogoe cried as she ran to her father. Yamamaru swung Amira in his left arm with little effort and held his right arm wide to catch his young daughter and swing her into his lap. “What is it Hitogoe?” She batted her beautiful large honey brown eyes twice. “Why do we always grow flowers down there?” she asked in sincere curiosity.

“Our family grows those plants because of our origins darling. The Akkichi family has a special ability that no family possesses, Akkinewoharu.” “Ak-ki-ne-wo-haru?” she repeated to herself. “Yes. It means demon root which is derived from the clan name, Akkichi, meaning demon earth. We as the Akkichi have passed down our spirit ki for earth and combined it with our learned knowledge of spirit ki for thunder to stimulate the earth; therefore, can freely produce plant roots and therefore create many strands of plants and flowers.

“Many years ago, the Akkichi clan was very small and isolated and had only become rich during the Great Akki Wars of Legend when they sold many medicines to aid the sick and wounded. After the Akki Wars, they still sold medicines, but it was not enough to support the larger population, so they began to sell many of their flowers. Hence the Akkichi Gardens, the large garden in the valley was created.”
Little Hitogoe watched her father speak with open eyes and then jumped from his lap and ran to the mini garden on the far end of the balcony.

She scooped up a hand full of dirt and ran back to her father. Without looking up, she focused on the plant as hard as she could and right before her eyes, a little red rose sprung up from her hands. “I did it Daddy! I’m gonna go make a whole buncha flowers now!” She ran off back to the little garden and began focusing on a little pile of dirt she set aside. Kumori was not far behind, his tiny legs running as fast as they could to where his sister was. His golden blonde hair was pulled up into a small band on the top of his head and his little blue pacifier was stuck in his mouth.

Yamamaru then swung Amira back into both his arms and began kissing her again. “I knew could find you here.” I finally spoke up from behind them. “Ah! Little Brother; how nice of you to join us.” Yamamaru said softly as he kissed on his wife.

“Uncle Yuugao!” Hitogoe sang, her short little legs scrambling to me. I grabbed her up and twirled her around. Her dark silky hair shimmered in the light of the setting sun and her large mystifying deep red eyes, the eyes of her father, contrasted well with her golden velvety skin. “Just call me Yuugao, Princess.” I said in a low tone. I had told her several times not to call me uncle. I didn’t like the way it sounded, being called uncle--uncle made me sound old.

“I would stay but I must go in a bit.” I replied to my brother’s question. “I came by to inform you of an important matter that has taken place. Its not too serious, but I think it’s worth mentioning.” “I see.” Yamamaru mumbled, still kissing his wife’s ear and down the back of her neck. Their public lovey-dovey nonsense always drove me nuts. That’s why bedrooms were invented.

“Please don’t treat this matter lightly just because I’m sayin it. Though I’m only 17, I am leader of an elite S.W. squadron, if you can recall.” I put him in remembrance of my position because he all too often took me too lightly, as if I were a child. “Don’t be offended little brother” Yamamaru quickly replied. “But don’t you forget that as Lord of this land that our family has inhabited for many decades I gave you that position. However, I will not make light of the matter. We will discuss the issue in the morning with the elders.” Yamamaru then turned around and pressed his lips against Amira’s. “I’m turning in for the night Amira, Love. I must prepare for the meeting with the elders for tomorrow.” he whispered as he kissed his wife once more and stood to go into the palace.

I stood in the glass doorway leaning against the window frame as the sun set over the horizon.
After the sun had set and night had fallen upon the palace deck, Hitogoe and her family prepared to turn in for the night.

“My Lady,” a young maiden softly mumbled in a shy tone of voice as she stood beside me, “The young prince and princess may take their baths now.” She was Mary, a young girl I had brought to the palace with me one evening. She was about sixteen when I had found her half naked and left for dead in the streets. Lucky for her I realized that she was still alive and brought her back to the palace for medical treatment. It was Amira, though, who insisted on keeping her around the palace to work. Amira was always compassionate and she knew that Mary had no family or home to go back to.

“Well then,” Amira gently replied. “I guess that means it’s nearly time for bed. Come along now my darlings, bath time.” Her voice was always so calm and reassuring, that’s Amira for ya. It's nearly impossible to think that she was once a Shadow Walker or S.W. operative, an elite group of supernatural demon investigators, also known as those who walk among the shadows (demons), who served in the Akki wars. She was once in the Book of Shadows, the book that listed only the most skilled and lethal S.W. operatives in the lands. She was an Ethiopian princess in her lands. She had come to our lands through captivity when she was very young. It was Yamamaru who had captured her for her bounty for the Elders of the Land of Thunder. However, during his assignment to capture her, they fell in love. They’ve been together ever since.

Hitogoe quickly leaped up and ran toward the maiden to prepare for her bath while Amira gently scooped up her little son and carried him to his bath. Meanwhile, I went maid searching through the palace.

To Be Continued...  

[Dark Ninja Chik]

I wondered around the palace searching for a lovely maiden. There were plenty of beautiful women here, but I had my eyes set on one particular girl.

Lucky for me, a soft voice hummed from the kitchen. It had to have been Kita. She was an Indian girl from a tribe somewhere in the Wind Lands. She had the most beautiful voice of all the palace women, and a gorgeous body to match.

I peeped into the kitchen to see if she was alone. I would never get her to come with me if Rhonda was there. Ugh! Rhonda, the kitchen overseer. Yea, she was a great cook and all, the best in the city, but she was like thirty. Way too old for my liking. And she guarded Kita like a hawk. I’d been try’n to get to Kita forever, but I’d only succeeded once.

That night was definitely my lucky night. Rhonda was nowhere to be seen and Kita was dancing with herself as she mopped the large kitchen area. Her black and white-laced mini dress, which I made every young maiden in the palace wear, twirled in the air as she spun around and danced.

“So you like to dance.” I whispered smoothly, leaning against the counter nearest her. “Oh! Lord Yuugao,” she exclaimed. Her cheeks flushed a rose red. “I didn’t see you there. Umm, I’m sorry if you heard me. Please don’t mind my silliness.” Her words ran together nervously. I strolled to where she was, took the mop from her hands, and pulled her into my arms. “But I love your singing and dancing.”

We twirled around slowly. I rubbed my cheek against her soft honey brown face and closed my eyes. “Calm down Kita, I’m not gonna bite.” I assured her. “I’m not afraid of you.” She said softly. She was enjoying our dance. “Well then I hope your heartbeat is reacting to my stunning charm.” I teased. She giggled and flushed red again.

Swiftly ceasing from our dance, I gently lifted her by the waist and placed her on the counter. She was a tiny girl, so the counter raised her face to my level. I parted her long black hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Her bright green eyes gazed up at me. Her eyes were a stunning aqua tint with a depth that appeared to be endless; both mystifying and alluring. I cupped my hand to the back of her tiny head through her long hairs and pressed my lips gently to hers.

As I caressed her lips, I could feel her grip around my neck get tighter. I slowly parted my lips just far enough to let the tip of my tongue play along her bottom lip. Our mouths slithered across each other’s until her tongue met mine.

I moved from her lips to her neck and then down her throat. As I kissed her body, I picked her up in my arms, her legs wrapped around my waist, and headed for the bedroom.

I was so close to the warm comfort of my bed that awaited me a few doors down. I began to think that maybe Rhonda would let me have some fun with her little chick without attacking me with those dang daggers of hers.

As I yet thought the words, a long silver spark flew past my face. A dagger pieced the wall beside me. I didn’t even realize how close it had come until I saw the inch long strands of my hair floating towards the floor and a dribble of blood fall from a small paper thin cut on my cheek.

“Ah, Rhonda,” I tried to reason. “Let’s not be hasty with the dag—” The sound of blades slicing through cloth at my shoulder and piercing the wall that stood behind me broke me mid sentence. Why did Rhonda of all people have to have been a former S.W. operative? She could have been normal like Kita and unable to generate ki. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to run for my life whenever I got near Kita.

“Let her go!” she growled. I imagined foam pouring from the corners of her mouth and sharp fangs waiting to shred my flesh.

I tightened my grip around Kita’s body, I wasn’t about to lose her to Rhonda again now that I was so close to the safety of my bedroom.

“Rhonda,” I tried to reason again, only this time more prepared to dodge her attacks. “I love her.” I whispered. But at those words, Rhonda’s body tensed up, the fury filling her eyes began to pour from her body as a flaming horde of ki so thick that it was almost tangible. That was just what I was hoping for. If I could get her angry enough, her aim would be slightly less precise and I could get past her to the hall my bedroom was on.

“How dare you tell me you love her!” Rhonda snarled. “But Rhonda,” Kita whispered shyly. “We love each—” “Don’t be foolish, girl.” Rhonda snapped back. “Two teens your age don’t know what love is.”
Kita shied away and hid her face in my chest. “Your lover,” she said the word with a hate filled tone. “is a good for nothing playboy who will use you and throw you away with the other garbage just like he did Mary.”

I grimaced at her words. But before I had a chance to get offended, a wave of daggers, each aimed for the kill, flew towards me. She knew her aim was off due to her anger, so sending several was a sure way of hitting me. I bent to the ground and threw up a hand, summoning forth a wall of vines to shield her attack. But I also used the temporary vines for my escape.

I focused my ki to camouflage both me and Kita to our surroundings. It was difficult to not only to keep silent, but also keeping us both hid as I slid past Rhonda, who had realized what I had done.

I was at the end of the hall, one corner away from safety. I looked backed to see if Rhonda knew where I had gone. Surely she wouldn’t have expected me to have even tried to get by her, I usually ran away from her, not towards her.

But as I turned to look over my shoulder, she turned quick as lightning and hurled a blade toward my face. I turned my head as quickly as possible to dodge the blade. But I didn’t dodge it entirely. I could feel the long locks of brown silky hair that once ran down my back fall gently to the floor.

Catching the next blade and feeling another glide across my arm, I made it safely to my room and ran inside. I quickly sealed the doors so that Rhonda could not get in.

The clatter of a dozen daggers sounded on the door. After cursing me with every swear word she knew, Rhonda gave up. I smirked a half grin, victory.

To Be Continued...  

[Dark Ninja Chik]

I slowly walked Kita to the double king-sized bed at the far end of the bedroom that paralleled a large window that took up most of the wall. Long red sheer curtains hung from the high bed post that secluded the bed all to itself. I pulled back the soft sheer curtain and sat Kita beside a small pile of gold cloth that rested at the foot of the bed. I then went to the large bathroom that branched off the room at the far left to assess the damage Rhonda had done.

I set the shower settings on the front wall to the left of the room to “thirty minutes, hot” as I walked in the large bathroom. The shower began running, the water splashing to the shower floor hummed in the background.

I pulled off my shredded clothes and stood before the mirror that covered the entire far wall of the large bathroom. I saw several scraps and cuts all over my body. Rhonda had really let loose this time. The worst was a deep gash that had sliced through the flesh on my right shoulder. I hadn’t even noticed the cut when I was in the hall.

I stepped into the enormous shower that stretched up to the high ceiling and let the steaming water pour over the wounds. It stung me like a thousand needles in each cut as I healed myself. I focused my ki on the wounds. Thousands of barely visible plant-like fibers intertwined each other slowly stitching up each wound and then fading back into my skin.
After a half hour of healing myself, I stepped out of the shower to re-assess my wounds. I grabbed a large towel and wrapped it around me. I stared into the mirror again. My body now left no hints of an attack except for that one gash on my right shoulder. It was now a faded scar that looked as if it were years old.

I then turned my attention to my hair. It now hung in jagged spikes roughly below my jaw line to the base of my neck. A few moments ago, it had reached the length of my back. A longer piece of the hacked brown silk hung in my face over my left eye. After analyzing my butchered hair, I pulled it all up into a red band and grabbed a pair of scissors from the little drawer beneath the sink that stood to the left of me on the wall opposite the shower. In one slow, smooth cut, I snipped my soft damp hair just below the band.

When I was done, I removed the band and analyzed my work. The back hung in a bit more of an even just barely hiding the pivot of my neck. I clipped the left side evenly at an angle from the base of my ear down to my jaw line. I decided to keep the front as it was, swooped over my left eye. It was already strangely cut evenly and it didn’t look too bad. In actuality, I wanted to stop playing barber so I could go see Kita.
I quickly dried my hair in a large white towel and draped it over the counter. I pulled on some white silk pants and a button down silk top—I didn’t bother with buttoning it though.

I walked out of the bathroom into the dark room. The only light came from the moonlight that shined through the window at the back of the room behind the bed. I slowly walked toward the bed, hoping that Kita had not fallen asleep. As I neared the bed, hidden by the sheer draperies, a smooth petite figure obstructed the moonlight. I slowly pulled away the sheer drapes. Kita stood on a solid platform that extended from the bed into the base of the window and gazed out into the night.

A long gold satin robe flowed from her body and flared out across the bed. I climbed into the high bed and slowly, without shaking the large silken mattress, walked over to her. I wrapped my long arms around her tiny shoulders, hugging her back into my chest. She slowly turned in my arms to face me.

Under her open nightgown, her body was covered only by the gold trimmed, white silken lingerie that fit snugly against her body. “You look beautiful.” I complimented. She smiled and flushed red. “Thank you.” She whispered softly. She gazed up at me and her lovely green eyes glistened in the light of the moon. “I like the new look…it fits you.” She whispered.
I gently placed my finger under her chin and passionately kissed her. Our lips parted almost simultaneously as our tongues met one another’s. I hugged her closer to me, her arms tightened around my waist. I slid her silk robe from her arms and threw it to the floor as I felt down her soft smooth body. My heart raced, beating through my chest, and my breath was heavy.

I scooped her up in my arms and lowered her to the bed. I slid from my top off and crawled over her. I gazed down into her anxious eyes, her hair flared out across the bed. Her soft, warm hands slid up and down my sides and I leaned over her, caressing her body with my lips.

We lay in bed under the satin sheets. Her tiny warm body, smooth and bare, lay on top of mine and her head rested gently in the nape of my neck. I ran my palm over her soft dark hair and gazed up at the ceiling. “I love you.” I whispered, kissing her forehead. I could feel the warmth rushing through her face at my words. “I love you too, Yuugao.” She whispered back, adjusting herself till she could see my face. “What would you say to us getting married early?” I asked her. “She gazed at me with curious eyes. “How early?” I hesitated.

“Saturday is three days away.” I answered, gazing back up at the ceiling. “I leave on a two week assignment. I want to be married to you before I go. I want to be with you freely like this forever and Rhonda will never let that be unless we are married.”

I looked down at her eyes to read her expression. I could tell she was trying her hardest to hide her excitement. I continued, still gazing into her eyes. “I know we are both young, I only seventeen and you a year younger, and Rhonda doesn’t seem to think that I am serious about you. I cannot deny my past with women, but I don’t like that she judges me based on the past rather than the present.” I paused before continuing. “I love you and I’m willing to commit my life to you if that is what it will take to be with you like this forever.”

Her expression was of shock. She didn’t seem to know whether or not I was serious.

I reached under my pillow and grabbed a tiny golden box. Kita’s eyes widened when she saw it. I opened the box and placed it in her hand. She was awed as she gaped at the twenty-four karat gold ring with three diamonds placed in a circular formation on top.

“I want you to marry me in two days, Kita.” I whispered as her tear filled eyes flashing up at me. A smile stretched wide across her beautiful glowing face. “I will!” Kita screeched, throwing her arms around my neck. I held her in my arms and kissed her several times. I was going to marry the woman I loved in two days. Nothing could ever ruin the happiness I felt at that moment.

To Be Continued...  

[Dark Ninja Chik]

A chilling scream woke me from my pleasant sleep that night. Hitogoe’s terrified voice filled the palace. I leaped up from the bed and threw on the silk pants I had worn earlier that night and ran toward the door. “Stay here.” I shouted to Kita over my shoulder without looking back. Hitogoe’s room was at the other end of the palace.

I dashed through the halls, leaving a trail of wind behind me that was nearly strong enough to blow the elaborate paintings of our ancestry, landscapes, legendary people, and so forth from the walls. Focusing my ki to increase my body’s acceleration was almost as easy as walking. I didn’t even really have to think about it, I just ran.

When I reached the hall her room was on, I saw Amira and Yamamaru burst through her bedroom doors, their room was a bit closer than mines was.

“Hitogoe darling, what’s wrong?” Yamamaru urged anxiously as Amira pulled the terrified girl into her arms. Hitogoe was still shaking and too stunned to speak. “Hitogoe speak to me, what is the matter?” Yamamaru calmly asked as he realized his daughter was unharmed, but had just had a nightmare.

She looked up into his deep red eyes that were usually as fierce as a lion, but were now soft and calm. That was one of the traits he had. He could cause a bull to stop in its tracks with his glare, but , when he wanted to, he could charm a…a wanted Shadow Walker like Amira.

“Hitogoe dear, you are safe now. Tell us what happened?” her mother whispered. A crowd of servants and maidens had gathered around me in the doorway to see why the girl had screamed, but Yamamaru sent them away. I quietly entered the room and stood beside my brother. Kumori had climbed from his bed after hearing the commotion and went to Hitogoe’s side before we had even entered the room. I took him and carried the young boy back to his bed on the other side of the dark room.

“They were all dead.” Hitogoe managed to mumble, partially regaining her ability to speak. “Everyone was dead, you were all gone.” She sobbed, pressing her head into her mother’s chest. “There were bodies and blood, I was covered in blood and I was alone.” Amira looked up at Yamamaru and then at me. I had just come from tucking Kumori back into bed. “It's alright.” Amira assured her daughter as she held her more tightly to her. “We are all here, it was just a nightmare.” Hitogoe didn’t know whether to think it was a nightmare or not. It all seemed so real to her. But why would a girl so young dream of such horribly vivid things I wondered?

After Amira had rocked her daughter back to sleep, we all quietly left the room and stood in the hall. “What kind of child dreams of death? She barely understands the concept, less known such gruesome details.” I whispered. “She has never seen a person die nor be majorly injured, yet her mind described death in such detailed accuracy. How could that be possible?” Amira glanced toward me. “What do you mean?” She asked in all curiosity, for she did not understand it either. “There's no use in pondering what is unknown.” Yamamaru interrupted. “We will ask her in the morning if she will speak of it. In the meanwhile, we need our rest.” I nodded once and turned to go back to my room.

Yamamaru felt for his wife’s hand and pulled it to his chest as they walked back to their bedroom. The bed was centered on the far wall draped in layers of red and white coverings that matched the long satin curtains that draped the windows on the eastern wall. To the west of the room was a little white sofa decorated with several pillows and a long narrow white carpet led from the room to the enormous bathroom separated by a wall. I stood outside their door eaves dropping. I wanted to know what Yamamaru had to say about the whole thing.

Amira gracefully glided to the large window that had a small step up and bench-like seat in the little area. She sat and gazed out the window for a short while before Yamamaru joined her. Amira sat twirling with her long silk night gown that ran down her long curvy body.

“I can’t help but be worried about her. She’s never had a dream like that before. What if something bad—,” Yamamaru placed his finger over her soft pale lips. When she was hushed he grabbed her hand in his and cradled her in his arms. “You are such a superstitious woman.” He accused, his breath gliding against her throat as he softly kissed her. “There is no need to worry; nothing bad is going to happen.” He promised as his hands caressing her shoulders and he gently slid her dress down her long smooth caramel toned arms. She turned in his arms to face him. She tilted her head slightly up so that he could access her throat better. “You have always had this power to calm me even in my most troubled times.” “That’s what I do best, love.” He mumbled against her cheek. Amira giggled. “Alright, I will no longer worry. Maybe I am just being superstitious.” She whispered as she led his lips to hers and kissed him passionately. Yamamaru carried her to the bed and slid her dress down further.

I turned and stopped listening. Amira was pretty religious when it came to that sort of thing. I guessed that there wasn’t anything to worry about, so I went back to my room to join Kita.

The next day, Hitogoe displayed very unusual behavior. She did not laugh and play with the other children in the palace as usual and she did not eat at all. I sat out on the balcony and observed them. Kumori could sense the change in his sister’s behavior and quietly laid his tiny head on her lap and gazed up at her, occasionally rubbing his tiny hand against her cheek as if trying to comfort her. She would give him a weak smile, gently pat the back of his hand, and drift back off into another world.

“I’m beginning to worry, dear. She has been acting strangely all afternoon.” Amira whispered in a worried tone as her husband approached her from behind. He put his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. They were inside but stood in the glass window that peered out over the balcony. I adjusted my head and focused my ki so that I could hear them better.

Hitogoe just sat there on the balcony with Kumori lying on her lap as they quietly watched the sun setting upon the horizon. “I’ll talk to her, but I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Yamamaru reassured her. Amira sighed. “Did your meeting go well?” she asked, still gazing through the window at her lifeless children. “There have been reported sightings of the spirits, both types, gathering in large groups in certain places in our lands.” “That makes no sense.” She replied as she turned in his arms to face him. I listened harder. I hadn’t been in the meeting so I didn’t know what was said; and if two rival spirit clans were gathering, something was up, but what?

“The vampire and werewolf akki never gather together. They could start another war amongst themselves.” Amira continued. Yamamaru’s eyes turned fierce as a lion’s and his eyebrow’s furrowed at the crease. “I know. It’s very unusual behavior from such ancient rivals.” He let out a sigh after seeing the distress in Amira’s face. “I’m sure this has nothing to do with Hitogoe’s dream, love. Amira glanced back out the window and then back at her husband. “What if they are planning an attack on us? What if Hitogoe saw it coming? What if she saw people dying, us dying?” Her words ran together nervously. Yamamaru face softened.

He grabbed her into his arms and kissed her long and passionately. Amira wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. Their lips caressed one another’s with passionate grace as they kissed as if it were their last time. Yamamaru pulled away when he noticed a tear trickling down her left cheek. He sighed. “I will talk to Hitogoe. I’m sure her dream means nothing, love. Her dream may not even relate to the akki gatherings so please don’t worry yourself.” He pleaded with his wife. She nodded once as he wiped the tear from her face with the back of his finger. He slowly released her from his arms, gave her one more reassuring smile, and turned to go out on the balcony.

Yamamaru sat down beside Hitogoe, who didn’t move the slightest bit. “The sunset looked just like this one in my dream.” She whispered with a rather depressed tone. “Yes, it’s is very beautiful, isn’t it?” Yamamaru sighed. Hitogoe turned toward her father and gazed up at him with her large deep red distressed eyes. “It’s the color of blood.” She solemnly replied. Yamamaru was shaken by her words. He gazed at her with a new confusion and worry on his brow.

“That dream of yours means nothing.” He said softly as he gazed at her and put his hand on her the soft black silk on her head. “Nothing is going to happen to anyone.” He reassured her smiled at her. She could not resist her father’s smile, no one could. His smile always made her feel better. She soon began to smile back.

“That’s the same smile I couldn’t resist when he asked me to marry him.” Amira whispered to herself as she watched from the window, smiling as she reminisced. I stood and turned towards the house to accompany her.
I glanced back over my shoulder as Yamamaru bent to hug his daughter, but the smiled dropped from her face. Her face was as pale as death; her hands were ice cold and began to tremble as tears began to pour from her eyes. Kumori began to whine loudly and Yamamaru and I exchanged frightened looks. “Hitogoe, What’s wrong?!” He shouted. Her eyes stared emptily into the horizon and she wore a blank expression on her face. Hitogoe couldn't even move, but she sat there frozen stiff with fear.

Suddenly Amira came running from the palace screaming so hysterically that immediately instinct made Yamamaru grab his children and leap onto the ground. I quickly reacted to the situation, perceiving there to be danger and jumped to their side. Without the slightest hesitation, I summoned my vines to form a protective sheath of my strongest vines over us all. I stood in a defensive position to guard anything that might get through the shield because there was no way of telling what was coming through the opaque layer of vines.

Yamamaru was still shielding the shaken crying children under his body when we realized that all was suddenly still. His wife had stopped screaming. I slowly let down the shield of vines. Amira was standing a few feet off with her back turned to us. Yamamaru ran towards her, but she collapsed into his arms. The expression on his face was that of horror. Everything had happened within a fraction of a second, but it seemed much longer than that. He managed to force his body to sit Amira down and he held his wife.

I took a step forward to see what was wrong, but what I saw was more horrific than anything I had ever seen in my years as a Shadow Walker. A large blade like wound pierced straight through her chest leaving a thin hole that stretched from her heart to her lower belly. Shards of bone and blood covered her body. She had thrown herself in front of a blade to protect us!

As she gasped for air, Yamamaru could do nothing but gaze at his dying wife suffer for her last breaths. Silver teardrops rolled down her face to her soft pale lips. Her breathing was fast paced as she gaped for every ounce of air. Tears began to plummet down his cheek uncontrollably as he saw his mangled wife lay in his arms. “Let me save you.” He cried. “I can give you my life ki—” Amira put her finger to his lips. “No. You will not survive a second time.” She muttered as blood poured from her mouth and ran from her frail body onto his. “You must p-protect our ch-children.” She whispered, her voice was faint as death crept over her.

With every ounce of strength she could muster, she took her necklace in her hand, a family heirloom she held very dear, and yanked it from her, placing it into his hand. He took the pendant and held her hand to his cheek. With one last painful breath, Amira whispered, “I love you.” Her eyes grew wide as she struggled to breathe again, but her breath did not return. Her hand clinched Yamamaru’s firmly as she gagged on her own blood. Yamamaru held her tightly too him as he tried his hardest to comfort her suffering. “I love you, Amira.” He managed to blurt out between his tears. As soon as he had spoken, Amira’s body grew still and her hand fell limp to her side, her eyes shut; she was dead.