Samurai Files: Dreamweaver- A blog fiction

| [Tuesday, June 22, 2004]

Act 3: An Assassin's Blood

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The sharp blaring beeping sound pierced through my sleep and shook me. I opened my heavy eyes and looked where the sound was coming form. It was just my alarm clock blaring, screaming for me to wake up. Disoriented, I slammed my hand on it for it to stop it from its screams. Why do I have to be always rudely awakened? Ok, I'll just close my eyes for a moment until my whole body is perked up from this suspended animation. I never felt so groggy, the same thing every time I wake up in the morning. Jeez, what time did I sleep last night? 3? I can't seem to remember...

Finally, after some few moments, I'm fully conscious. I looked at the alarm clock on the table beside my bed. It's 7:00. Which reminds me, I got to be ready in less than hour for my class, my stupid class. Going to school seems senseless for me these days, yet I don't know why I still continue to go there. Oh yeah, it's because of Dad. Because Dad says so. So at least I can have a "bright" future, like other people going to college. And while I'm at it, I can be also trained to take over our stupid family business. Yeah right, some bright future.

The steady hum of the aircon fills the stillness of my room. The cold draft blows on my body, sending goose bumps over my skin. I lied on my back, staring blankly on the ceiling. From the shiny dark mirror tiles on the ceiling I can see my faint reflection. There's me, lying on my back, arms stretched like I'm being crucified, my hair lying disheveled with silver streaks spreading out like silver snakes, wearing only my black skimpy tank top and shorts. No wonder I feel so cold. It's stupid that I hate the cold, yet I'm here on my tank top with the aircon set on coldest.

I stretched my hands towards the ceiling, trying to reach my reflection. I know this is stupid. No matter how I hard I stretch my hand, I won't reach the ceiling with me lying here in my bed. But somehow, it's quite amusing seeing my reflection trying to reach me out here. Funny, someone is finally reaching out for me, wanting me, making me feel that I'm wanted. I've been always a lone kunoichi (female assassin), never been needed nor having the need to need someone. Perhaps if only mother...

"Ms. Gail Murasame!!! Get your pale ass down here!!! You'll be late for your class!!!"

That's Dad calling me. Since Mom has departed, Dad has been trying hard to fill out her shoes. Trying too hard, if you ask me. I quickly jumped out of my bed. I never cared to put something decent. After all, it will be just Dad and me on the breakfast table. I left my room and headed to the dining table.

At the dining table, there was Dad sitting on the far end. He was, as usual, deeply absorbed in his newspaper, probably reading about the latest stock quotes and other business stuff I never tried to understand. I sat on the other end of the table, opposite to him. As I sat, he gave me this "what-the-hell-you've-done-again-Gail " stare. I simply smirked at him and greeted him a good morning.

"Jesus, Gail, you could have at least combed your hair before going here. And at least worn anything other than that tank top."

I replied with a grunt.

"And about your hair. Didn't I tell you last night to get rid of it?"

He's talking about my silver streaks. I dyed my hair about a week ago out of pure whim. He was furious upon seeing it. It's not ladylike, you look like a cheap whore, what will your Mother ever say if she sees you like that now, and other crap he said I never bothered to remember. He's always like this, trying to make me conform on what he sees as "normal". As one of those in the elite circle of the society, he always saying that "I should be much more lady-like, fit to be the one who will someday take over our family business". Ladylike, tsch, so much for that crap.

"I'm out of black dye. Can't find one in the stores."

"That's stupid. Don't give me that lame excuse."

"Honest, Dad." I replied, trying to sound as honest as possible. But I can't hide my mischievous grin.

Dad finally gave up. He looked up, letting out a big sigh of resignation. This is both a good and a bad sign. The good thing is this means he finally surrendered and would not bother me about my hair. The bad thing is it's a sign that he was about to start his another round of "rapid-fire-sermon".

"Gail, I wonder what will your Mother will think of you if she's still around here to see you! If she hasn’t met an unfortunate accident, she would probably hit you on the head for acting like...like a slut! And looking like one! Oh, if only Mayumi was here, she would probably have her heart broken for seeing her only daughter like this..."

I never made the trouble of listening to Dad's "litany". I focused on eating my breakfast as many and as fast as I can. Yeah, bacon, rice, and sunny-side-up eggs never tasted this good. I belched silently as I finish my breakfast. Dad, noticing that I wasn't listening, suddenly paused from his "litany" and turned a glare on me.

"Gail, are you still listening?"

I nodded. He knew that was a lie, of course.

"Well if you have started acting normal and being much a decent lady in the first place, I wouldn't yak here first thing in the morning."

"I rather be dead than to be conformist sheep," I murmured. I knew he heard me say that, but he pretended as if he heard nothing. I'm used to call all conformists "sheep", as they tend to be always in the same way as the whole herd. The same clothes, the same style, the same crappy life. If you were one of the herd, why be a plain dull white sheep? You could be a colorful sheep, or a dark sheep. In my case, I wasn't one of the sheep. I am the wolf who hunts the sheep.

You may think being the only and seemingly spoiled daughter of the most successful multi-millionaire businessman in the city is the best thing in the world, think again. You may think being the only daughter of Gary Murasame, one of the top businessman here in the city is like being a princess in fairy tales, well, that's quite right in the shallowest sense. It's true, I do live like a princess. I have the best clothes I wanted, all the luxury a 17-year old girl always wanted, and a team of maids on 24-hour standby to attend my slightest whim.

That's when all the good stuff stops, and here's when all the crappy things about being the unica hija starts. First, your nosy Dad gets in your every personal aspect of your life, including who your friends are, how you must act, up to what clothes you wear. Then, treat you like a kindergarten like setting the time for your bedtime, riding and picking you after your classes, teaching you to be much like "ladylike". If that wasn't bad enough, if you do something wrong, endure a barrage of endless homily from Mr. Morality himself for at least an hour and then invoking the name of my late Mom. She must be turning in her grave now. Yeah, a rich girl's life isn't all that peachy.

"Umm...Dad?" I broke in.

"You got anything to say, young lady?"

"Can I go to Hanzo Hattori this weekend?"

"What?!" surprised upon hearing the name, as if I said some sort of a forbidden word.

"Can I visit Hanzo Hattori...Grandpa this weekend. It's been a while since I last visited him..."

"Gail," he said in a serious tone. "I thought we have talked about this."

"But Dad, Grandpa..."

"I told you not to go anymore to your Grandpa's place."

"I still don’t get it. Do you have something against Grandpa?"

Dad was silent. He was staring blankly on the newspaper, his eyes on the verge of tears.

"Umm...Dad. I'm done eating. I'm going to take a bath now. I'll just ride the bus to school."

Sensing tension, I stood up from the table. I don't know if he heard me. Though he always invoked Mom's name, he never told me much about her. After all, I was just four when she passed away. He was always telling me that Mom was a good woman who died in a car accident long time ago. That was all he was telling me. The way he always invoked her name made me think she was a good woman alright. Aside from pictures and scraps of stories from our old maid, I have no idea was she was exactly like. Only Grandpa was my link to this lost past. But recently, Dad has been stopping me from seeing Grandpa. I knew he was hiding something. I knew he was not telling the whole story. I knew he have to hide Mom's secret, but not for long...

I grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom. I opened the faucet to fill my bathtub. Funny, I have few minutes left before my class and here I am, wallowing in my bathtub. The lukewarm water seems to lull to sleep as I lie in the water. I stared blankly on the wall, somewhat mesmerized by the intricate patterns of the tiles. Dad doesn't have to hide all the facts about Mom, coz I knew it for a long while. Grandpa told me this one time when I went to him to train. No wonder Dad would stop me from seeing him for he fear that this time of revelation will come.

Dad would rather hide the truth about Mom rather than lying about her. Mom wasn't all a good woman all the way. At the most apparent side, she was a mother to me and a wife to Gary Murasame. But on her darkest side, she was Mayumi Hattori, the infamous kunoichi (female assassin), and a scion of the Satsuma clan, a clan known for its infamous assassins for countless generations. She was a mercenary, hired by the underground mob, businessmen, politicians, and powerful men to do assassinations. She was not after the money, as she would carefully choose her assassination jobs based on her own judgment and insight. She always chooses to take out evil men and those whom she sees as those who were not fit to live. She was known to do a job very well, so well that nobody knew the assassination took place until they see the body of the victim.

She was the best kunoichi around. She never used guns except for some assignments. But as time goes by, time catches over her. She then realized she have to lay down her sword and lead a normal life. She fell in love and married her own client who asked her for an assassination job, the powerful businessman Gary Murasame, Dad. Then I was born, everything was normal until four years later she got married, and that fateful day came.

I never knew what happened that fateful day. Dad always tells me that she died because of a car accident. But I don’t believe him. I knew it has something to do with her being an assassin. When Grandpa told me about Mom's dark past and came to this part, he was holding back his tears. He wouldn't tell me, as he said I'm not yet ready to hear it. That's why I need to go to him this weekend, to coax him into telling me the real cause of Mom's death.

I snapped out of my self-induced trance. I quickly stood up from the tub and wrapped a towel around my pallid body. I headed towards my room. The sun was already shining brightly through the window. I drew the blinds down, partly because I'm naked, but most of all, I just hate the sunlight. No wonder I'm so pale. I looked like a vampire in deep need of blood. I glanced at the clock. Jeez, it's 8 minutes before 8! Gotta hurry.

I quickly put on the black blouse and my black skirt. Gothic look for today. I quickly jumped inside my boots then picked my backpack. I was about to rush outside when I suddenly remembered something. I turned to my closet and opened it. There it was, my prized nodachi (four-foot long katana), forged by the legendary swordsmith, my Grandpa Hanzo Hattori. Grandpa told me that this nodachi belonged to my Mom. In this sword Mom's soul flows to me and gives me the strength to fight. This sword is my only link to Mom. A sword covered with blood of Mom's victims, and now mine's. This sword is a legacy of a kunoichi, a legacy bound in my blood and destiny as a scion of the great Satsuma clan, a bloody legacy I chose to tread upon.

I drew the sword a bit. As I looked upon the shiny silver blade, I saw my reflection on it. I gazed upon it, imagining that the reflection I see was of Mom. I touched the blade. Cold. Is this the same coldness Mom felt whenever she slays her victims? They say assassins are cold-hearted, but I wonder if Mom is too. Will I must be this cold to tread the path of a kunoichi? Funny how others and I call me a kunoichi when I never did a single assassination job for someone. All I did is duel with those pathetic losers. Slash them with this assassin's blade after putting up a futile fight. Much honorable than slashing a victim in cold blood. I wonder if Mom ever came to think of that.

I knew it would be stupid to carry a bladed weapon in a public place, let alone bringing my nodachi in the university. But my instincts tell me I should bring at least a small bladed weapon. Yeah, here goes my assassin instinct. Being an assassin may be in the genes, an inherited vocation. So I took a rough gray cloth and wrapped my nodachi inside it, then tied it with strings, then slung it on my shoulders. I put a little bloody red lipstick on my lips. I love bloody red, especially most of the ones I fight who admit that they like my bloody red lips before I finish them off. Now with everything set, I'm ready to go.

I quickly headed out of my room and of my house. I made my way out of our spacious garden and to the bus stop. I should be inside Dad's car, but I prefer riding the bus. Partly, I'm running late, but most of all, I hate riding with Dad. It didn't take me long before I can board a bus.

I stood at the middle aisle looking for a seat. As I scanned the seat, I can see all the people. They were like faceless marionettes, drawn by strings of their daily boring routine. Tired rounded eyes. Half-drawn sighs. I quickly found a seat. I averted my eyes from them. The sight of these faceless beings sickens me.

It didn't take me long before I reach school. I quickly headed to my classroom. Inside, I scanned the room in the midst of the ruckus, looking for a familiar face. Where could he be? This is his first class of the day, he should be here. Damn, will he miss his classes again? Our professor has entered our classroom. The ruckus inside suddenly subsided and was replaced by a mind-numbing silence. The old bald professor started his roll call in his monotonous voice. But he is still not here.

"Akizuki. Jedd Akizuki?" he called. I glanced over the whole room again. No signs of Jedd. His table at the back row beside the window sat empty. I guess he's not coming.

"I guess I'll just mark Mr. Akizuki absent again," he slurred, as if he was drunk.

I wonder where the heck is Jedd. He hasn’t been here for almost three days. Did he fought a duel last night and was unlucky to be wounded, or worse, killed? Nah, that wouldn't happen. Jedd wouldn't be taken out so easy. Which reminds me, I haven't seen him for almost a month. Well, not really that I didn't see him, but we haven't talked to each other for that long. The incident on the ghetto where he took out that fat guy was the last time we talked to each other. He was virtually incommunicado after that.

He was always like that. Cold, silent, and aloof. He would sit in his place on the back row, staring blankly on the window for the length of our class. After that, he would simply disappear into oblivion. Maybe it has something to do with that tournament thingy. Did he finally found those who got Relina? Such sweet girl. She was like a little sister that I never had though I had met her only once. Too bad she's gone now...

"Murasame. Gail Murasame."

"Uhh...here...present..." I awkwardly answered. This class sucks. I wish this would be over soon.

After our old professor finished his roll call, then started another one and a half hour of mind numbing lesson. What the hell was he talking about? Physics? Algebra? I didn't care anyway. My mind was flying ten times the speed of light oblivion and beyond. Disparate thoughts about Mom, Jedd, Relina, duels, my nodachi, Grandpa, Dad, and even my lunch flew randomly in my head. So rapid and random that I can barely make anything out of it.

"That will be it for now. Be prepared for a recitation next meeting."

What?! The class is over? How I've been in trance? I looked at the clock. 9:30. So my mind has been flying around for almost one and a half hour? Time really flies fast when your mind does.

I headed out of the classroom. My next class will be at 11. That means I have an hour and a half more to roam and frolic like a moron. I leaned at the railings on the side of the corridor. I'll just kill time here by staring at the passersby and eavesdropping on other's conversation.

A group of girls gathered near me. They were giggling like morons hearing a stupid joke. Hmm, cheerleaders. Hiphop chicks with their shiny bling-blings, is that what they call it? They cover their faces with thick powders and make-ups, an attempt to hide their ugliness inside with lies and deceit. They sicken me. They have nothing against me, but I have everything against them.

"…and do you know what he gave me last night? He gave me beautiful necklace!!! (giggles) Here, take a look. He was like, aaawww!!!! Isn't he sweet? I think I'm starting to like him..."

Jeez, what a sucker. Just few crappy dole-outs and these poor imbeciles are jumping like overjoyed gerbils on coke. Yeah, diamonds are girls' best friends. I manage to hear more of their stupid talk.

"...you know, I'm starting to worry about my skin...I'm not getting enough sunlight!!! My gosh!!! I'm turning into a zombie!!!"

Damn, while I'm hating all the sunlight, these morons here seems to be chasing all of it. What if I tie them in our rooftop and let them fry in the sunlight, will they get enough sunlight now? Tsch, me and my fiendish pleasures.

"...my God, I don't be like...like...so pale like that...that...that one!"

I turned towards them. They were looking at me, as if I'm some sort of an alien being from some other planet. I flashed them a baleful look. They were giggling like stupid, then whispering to each other, then giggling again. These assholes are really getting to my nerves. I try to steer away from any fight or commotion, so I walked away from them. I'll kill time somewhere else, anywhere than here.

"My gosh, will you look that? Gothic. And her hair, sliver streaks?! It's like sooo waaay out! No wonder she had no boyfriend." I heard one of them say as I pass them, then a chorus of giggles.

"Yeah, I have no one to screw me like a Thanksgiving turkey. I don't need someone screwing me all night just to feel beautiful and accepted," I replied loud enough for them to hear. Fiendish smiles.

"Why you slut?!" one of them yelled at me, the girl with red bangs.

"Do you have anything against me?" I asked her coldly.

"Yeah...lots of it...coz you're weird! Freak..." then a mad giggle from her fellow insects.

"Keep pushing it, asshole, and you'll have it."

"And just what are you gonna do? Hit me with your sti..."

A swing from my shrouded nodachi hit her face before she can finish what she was saying. I hit her lips, which was now bleeding. I think I hit her with the hilt side of my nodachi. I didn't expect my sword would be still this deadly even if it was covered with rough cloth.

I turned away from her and walked away. It took her a while before she realizes that her lips were bleeding. Stupid bitch. She drew first blood anyway, she said if I'll hit her with my "stick", so hit her with my stick I did.

"Why you bitch?! Look what you did to my face!!! I'll show you!!!" I heard her scream as she ran towards me. She's berserk.

My training honed my reflexes very well. She tried to grab my hair while I wasn't looking. I quickly dodged aside. Then she raised her fist trying to sock me. Before she could even charge with her punch, I hit her on her belly with the end of my nodachi. She fell on the ground in pain.

"Urgh...why you..." I heard her say as she flinched.

I looked at her. She was so pathetic. I turned away, the sight of her disgusts me.

"You'll not get away with this, Murasame!" she shouted as her fellow insects came to her to help her up.

I walked away from them as it started to attract a crowd. I'll go somewhere to kill time without being pestered by these insects. I finally came to a secluded place in the campus. It was surrounded by ancient large trees that effectively blocks most of the sunlight. Have I been here before? I walked along the shady corridor. It was so silent. There were no one except me here. Only the rustle of the leaves as it swayed with the wind fills the air.

Suddenly, I hear slight draft of air behind me. Instinct tells me that somebody is here. I took my nodachi and slowly removed the strings. It's getting closer. I can feel it even I didn't see it. I slowly removed the cloth covering my sword. It's approaching. It's coming straight towards me. I didn't dare to look back. I slowly drew my sword. It's coming closer. Closer. Closer. NOW!

CLANG!

My nodachi fell heavily on another blade, resounding a loud clang. Good thing my instincts never failed me. It was a shinobi (male assassin) who was stalking me. He was armed with a short katana. He was wearing all black, his face covered with a black shroud, leaving his eyes uncovered. I started charging towards him madly. I swung my nodachi at him as hard and fast as I could. Every blow seems to shake him as he helplessly manages to parry my attacks with such small blade. I swung my sword with ferocity. I make sure every blow will shake him to the bone. I will stun him with my hard blows, or break his sword then move in for the kill. Blows, blows, and more blows. He was so helpless that all he can do is block my attacks without attempting to counter. At last, my last blow causes him to fall helplessly on the ground. Stunned by my attack, he fumbles his sword and desperately tries of take hold of it. I pointed my nodachi to his neck before he can take hold of his weapon.

"Who sent you here?! Speak, before I kill you!"

"You're good, young kunoichi. It is what I expect from a scion of the Satsuma clan..." he said while trying to reach for his sword. I pressed my nodachi on his neck, then kicked his sword away. Damn, he's really getting to my nerves!

"Cut the crap...who sent you here!!!???"

"My intent is not to kill you...I am here to deliver a message..."

"A message?"

"Yes...an invitation...but put away your weapon first..."

I pressed my blade further, he began to gag, "I don't trust you. As soon as I sheathe my sword, you'll charge for your sword and slash me."

"No, my kunoichi...please...trust me...I'm just sent here to deliver a message for you and Akizuki..." he said pathetically.

His pathetic voice irritates me, but I have no choice but to trust him. I put back my nodachi on its saya (sheath), its place of rest. I remained on my toes for any sudden attack.

He kneeled before me, and then gave a low bow. A salute to a kunoichi? Then he handed me a bamboo tube with the seal of the red fox on it. I broke the seal and drew a paper scroll inside.

"An invitation from Gyokumen Kyoushu, the Red Fox, to join the tournament..."

"A tournament?" this must be the one Jedd said to me about a month ago.

"Yes...all warriors, duelists, assassins, soldiers, and mercenaries are invited to fight..."

I simply nodded as I read the contents of the scroll. Gyokumen Kyoushu, hmm, some new underground group. Houtou Mansion? That's somewhere in the outskirts of the city. Hmm...sounds interesting...

"The opening ceremony shall be in Houtou Mansion two days from now...we can't find Akizuki now, so just relay the message to him...I'm sure he will be more than willing to join..."

Even they couldn't find Jedd. That means he was really missing for the past few days. Where could he be?

"Details about the contest will be announced at the Mansion...come, if your interested...generous rewards awaits for the winners..."

My eyes were still fixed on the scroll, reading every detail again and again. Soon, I rolled the scroll back to its bamboo tube.

"I'll be going now, my kunoichi...I'm looking forward in seeing you fight in the tournament..." he said, then jumped towards a tree limb, looked at me before jumping away and disappearing from view. A good shinobi.

A tournament? Cool. This is a good venue for me to hone my skills. This is going to be fun. But first, I must let Jedd know about this. He told me that certain group who got Relina is going to start a tournament. Could this be it? I know he would like to know about this.

I took out my cell phone and searched for Jedd's number. After some few rings, someone answered. It was Jedd's familiar husky voice.

"Hey Jedd, it's me Gail..."

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

Finally, all of my classes are over. I'm just here sitting, killing time, waiting for Jedd to come. I said we'll meet here in Tiffany's, a cafe just outside our school. Me and Jedd used to eat here most of the time.

I gazed upon the bamboo tube. Why am I really joining? Do I really have to? Is it because I wanted sheer fun? No, that's an extremely shallow reason I think. Is it because I enjoyed seeing bloodshed, deriving fiendish pleasure from it? Nah, if I wanted that then I would stick on dueling instead. Lots of pathetic duelists are dying to take me out by themselves.

Maybe it's fate? Nah, I don't believe in that destiny crap. But maybe it's fate. A legacy handed down in our family. Am I bound to follow that legacy too Like my countless ancestors did? Like Mom did? This sword is a testament to this legacy. A bloody legacy tied to every scion of Satsuma clan.

Why do I fight? Is it because it is where I get my kicks? Maybe. I wonder if Mom also got her kicks from seeing her victims bleed to death, or seeing her blade slowly sink in the fragile flesh of her opponents. If Mom is has this morbid pleasure, I wonder how my mild-mannered Dad fell in love with her.

Funny, I fight because of kicks. The flood of dopamine in my brain in the heat of a battle takes over me. I wonder if Jedd fights because of kicks. Nah, I don't think so. I never saw him overjoyed on the sight of a dying victim. A bloody legacy such as mine? I don't know. He doesn't talk about much his past. When he fights, he fights as if a raging demon set loose for a while. After that, no hint of any rage he got during the fight. No fiendish pleasure, no sarcastic smile, no sighs of relief.

"Fighting is a proof of life". That's what he says to me always. I wonder what he meant by that. I took out my cigarette pack and fished out a stick. Yeah, if a duelist or an assassin wouldn't kill me, maybe cigarettes will. Damn, how long have I been waiting here? Time feels like so slow when you're doing nothing. I looked at my watch. 4:09. He should be here any minute now.

Suddenly, I felt a warm touch from a hand. I turned to look. There it was. His shiny midnight black shoulder length hair, his dark rimmed glasses, his deep dark brown eyes.

"The diabolical golden eyes of a fierce, merciless swordsman. And a deep dark brown eyes of a troubled young man..."

His eyes. Far different from his diabolical golden eyes I see in his fights. There were no traces of any guilt, disgust, sarcasm, or anything. Just plain tired, haggard eyes. Soon he averted his gaze. Is he conscious that I'm trying to decipher his psyche through his eyes? Heh, Jedd is such an interesting person. He's a walking contradiction. Innocence and brutality. Rage and taciturnity. Diabolical and holy.

He sat opposite to me. He was carrying a backpack. I bet he got his twin kodachi (short sword) inside. He's always on his toes. Good instincts. I drew my nodachi closer to me.

He was the usual: staring blankly nowhere. Then he turned to me. I managed a faint smile. He replied with the same faint smile. I guess all this dueling and finding for his missing sister have caught up with him. Taciturnity began to loom between us. I waited for him to say the first word. Getting sick of the silence, I decided to break the first word.

"Hi..."

[Jopeth] // [11:20 AM]

| [Monday, May 31, 2004]

Act 2: Lone Twin Swords

I woke up extremely groggy. The sunbeams shining through the blinds fell to my eyes. It irritated me. Took me a while to pick enough strength to open my eyes. Damn, feels like I've been run over by a truck last night. What time is it? The alarm clock on my bedside tells me it's almost 2 pm. That means I've been sleeping for almost 10 hours. Every muscle of my body is sore. I could hardly fully open my eyes. Daylight seems to hurt my eyes. I reached for my glasses on the table on the side of my bed. That seems to take all of my strength. It took me minutes before I can finally get up from my bed.

I headed straight to the bathroom. I looked at myself on the mirror. My hair disheveled. Every strand of it seems to be tangled with one another. I could see my face. I looked like hell. I opened the faucet, splashing some water into my face. The cold water seemed to perk up my senses. Now I’m fully awake.

I headed out of the bathroom to the kitchen. I opened the fridge to see if there's anything edible. There's a cup of instant yaki soba. I took it out then closed the door of the fridge. I opened the pack and poured hot water into it from the thermos. I wasted no time in devouring the yaki soba. When was the last time I had a real meal? The day before yesterday? I haven't been home for days. I've been sleeping on the alleys, on the gutters, on the rooftops. Which reminds me, this the first time I slept on a real bed for days.

After consuming the yaki soba, I took a look around. The whole house was a mess. Trash were strewn on the floor. Pages of old magazine were scattered on the sofa. Cigarettes butts litter across the house. My bedsheet hasn't been changed for months. Everything was in disarray. The only thing in its place is my kadachi blades. It hangs undisturbed on the wall. I haven't cleaned my apartment for almost weeks. Probably if Relina was still here, she would scold me for being too messy. She's too bossy for a ten year old. But with Relina gone, I guess I lost the reason to clean this place.

I took it from its place, drawing the blade from its sheath. As I looked at its shiny silver blade. It has some sort of slight red shade on it. Blood? I sniffed it. Smells like rust. Yeah, it's blood. I forgot to wipe my sword clean after that nasty encounter last night. Five thugs blocked me on my way home after wandering aimlessly for days. Challenged me into a duel, five of them against me. Funny, when I was just starting out, I have to be out for days just to hunt a single duelist. For this week alone, I had seven duels. Now, the hunter becomes the hunted.

It's funny that all the duelists were after the infamous 'Devil of the Twin Swords'. Some reputation I earned. To them, I'm a prized kill. For me, they're another bleeding corpses. Those fools last night thought they could take me out by numbers, but they were wrong. I can see clearly how five of them grinned, thinking how cunningly they cornered me against the wall in a dark alley. But there's no other more dangerous than a cornered wolf.

My eyes changed its shade, everything became so slow. I could see every twitch of their muscles. I could see how my blade slowly buried into their flesh, how the steel sliced into their bodies with such ease before they can even realize it. I can clearly see the blood gushing out of their bodies, draining the life out of them. They're so slow. I could cut them open before they could realize it. The duel only lasted for five seconds, the five of them dead, left drenched in their own blood. My thoughts were on going home, sleeping on a real bed, and eating a real meal. I had no thoughts of those five thugs. They were just one of those who wanted to hunt me, ending up as another unidentified corpse in the city morgue.

I took a paper towel and wiped the blades clean. Now, the red shade is gone. It's back to its pure silver sheen. As I put back the blades to its saya, I noticed a picture frame lying on the floor. I picked it up. It’s our only family picture left. There's Mom, Dad, Relina, and me. Suddenly, disparate images of that painful night flashed back into my mind. Images I thought I have shunned long ago.

The sound of mad shuffling of footsteps...Mom's screams...Dad's mad yelling...can barely make anything out of the uproar outside. Relina was sobbing madly as we hugged each other under the bed. The lights suddenly went out. I held Relina tighter. Suddenly, a blade pierced through the bed, blood dripping on it as a deafening scream tore through the darkness...

I don't want to remember anything from that night. Makes me sick. I headed back to my bed. Even after almost 10 hours of sleep, I feel so tired. I fall into my bed, lying on my back. There, I stared blankly on the ceiling. I gazed on the cracks on the paint of the ceiling. Unconsciously, my mind was trying to make out images out of the chaotic patterns of the cracks. For a moment, I can see a crooked sword piercing through a withered body. Then, the cracks turned into two twisted figures, embraced to each other, as if in a dance. The figures disappeared and became spiders. I averted my eyes from the crack, as I soon became tired of making images out of it.

I began to feel drowsy again. I was tempted to sleep again, to indulge in my temporary suspended animation. I wished I could sleep, sleep, and sleep, never to wake up again. Sometimes everything feels so unreal, that my dreams feel much real than reality. Feels like I’m just a ghost trapped in this puppet, in this shell. In this murderous shell. This shell that everyone prizes as a worthy kill. This shell that trusts no one. This shell that...

RING!!!

A sharp ring pierced through my consciousness. I bolted up from the bed, quite disoriented. I looked around for the source of the sound. It was just my cell phone, ringing madly on the table beside my bed. I picked it up. It's Gail calling. But why? It’s been a while since I last saw her. I pressed the "CALL" button to answer the call.

"Hello..."

"Hey Jedd, it's me Gail."

"I know, so what's up?"

"Haven't seen you for a while."

"Yeah..." I just replied, half-conscious of what I was saying.

"What's wrong with you? You missed all of our morning classes."

"Missed? Oh...yeah..." I remembered that I was still enrolled in the university, and Gail was my classmate for almost all of my classes.

"Anyway, remember the tournament I told you a month ago?"

"Tournament? Oh...that one...what about it?" I remembered that was the last time I met Gail, on the rooftop where I took out that fat guy.

"Yeah...some guy gave me some info about that...asked me if I'm interested to join..."

"So you're going?"

"More than willing."

"So tell me more about it."

"Umm...I can't...I'm here outside our school...let's just meet later at four...at Tiffany's...my treat."

"Okay...I'll be there then..."

"Umm...Jedd..."

"Yes Gail?" I asked, sensing some sort of urgency in her voice.

"Nothing...I'll just see you then...bye"

"Okay...bye" I said before pressing the "END" button.

Words began echoing chaotically inside my head. Tournament...Relina...Dreamweaver... This could be my chance to find Relina, if the group behind Relina's abduction. I have to be there...I have to...if not for myself, for Relina.

I looked at the clock. It's past 3. Damn, I've been loafing around here for almost an hour? It feels like it's been almost 15 minutes have passed. I lost sense of time lying in here; chewing over some crap my mind has been churning out. I have an hour to spare before meeting with Gail. I headed to the bathroom. Which reminds me, I haven't taken a bath for days. Jeez, if Relina were here, she would get mad and drag me screaming and kicking to take a bath.

I took off my stinky clothes and dumped it on the laundry basket, which was overflowing with my other stinky clothes I haven't washed for a month. I have to do the laundry as soon as I'm done meeting with Gail. This should be done soon. I opened the shower, receiving a full hail of cold water bullets. Each drop seems to hurt me. Somehow, the cold water shook me out of my drowsiness. These are the few moments I am sentient. The cold hail of water piercing through my shell, piercing into my ghost, the quintessence of my humanity. The water runs to my eyes, misting my view. I haven't felt a liquid run through my face this cold. Most of the time, it's the warm blood of my opponents. The still-warm red fluid, its slight rust-like smell. It rips, ripples, and pours through my blade, into my hands. The warmth of blood and the coldness of water, things that reminds of my sentience. Of course, there's Relina...

At last, finished with the agonizing task of taking a bath. I wiped myself dry with the moldy towel hanging on the wall. I looked at myself at the bathroom mirror. I looked at the scrawny shade in the mirror, dark long hair dangling covering its face. It took me a while to realize that it was I. Damn, I really looked like hell. When was the last time I took hard look at myself at the mirror? I never cared much on what I look, or what others thought of me. All I cared is surviving, showing my proof of life, and searching for my sole reason to exist...my sister.

I headed to the wooden dresser on the corner of my room. It doesn't really matter what will I wear. I’ll just wear the first dress I see inside. I pulled out the dresser. Few scattered pieces of clothing came into view. Not much choice, I see. I pulled out the black shirt. I glanced on my stinking laundry pile. I really have to do my laundry.

I put on my shirt, my faded corduroy pants, my sneakers, then my glasses. I reached for my twin blades. I decided on taking them. You can never be too careful. Duelists are getting bolder these days. Back then, you can only have duels at dark. Now, bold duelists have the guts to slash each other at broad daylight. Too risky, if you ask me. This could expose the hidden world of dueling that has existed for decades in secret. But will anyone really care? They may find the slashed, impaled bodies of the vanquished, but no one will really care. It may make the news right now, but tomorrow it will be all forgotten. As long as they find the bodies in the dilapidated buildings, in the alleys, in the derelict neighborhood, no one would really care. Another unsolved murder. Another case of common ghetto killings.

I stashed the blades inside my backpack. I noticed on the table a pile of mail lying. How long has it been there? I never noticed it first when I first went out. I picked it up, sorting through the envelopes. Nothing but junk mail. Firms promising instant riches, peddling fantasies to losers, selling pretenses to the masses. At the bottom of mail pile, an envelop with the seal of a bank. It's our monthly pension from the insurance company. Dad managed to get one before his demise. Good thing he had foresight, otherwise Relina and me wouldn't keep on going. After Dad and Mom were gone, we have to leave our old house. Partly, it's because we have no money, partly, for security reasons. We can’t take any chances. Those men who raided our house might come back for us. So we moved here in this apartment. Quite old, but neat. A bit rundown, but homey for Relina and me. Our monthly pension kept us in school and from starving. Though we hardly make both ends meet most of the times, we were somehow contended on what we have. Nobody how crappy our place looks, we still got each other, a good reason to live.

Back then, I sometimes duel for money to add up to our meager living. Money wasn’t the main reason for my entry into the dueling world. It was my search for vengeance. It was my blind hope that in one of my duels, I will find the one who took out Mom and Dad. But with Relina gone, reasons changed a bit. Fighting has been my proof of life, a testimony of my existence. A duel is my vindication. A search for Relina, and myself.

I tore open the envelope, taking out the check. I made a mental "to do" list: after meeting with Gail, go to the bank and cash the check, and then go home and do the laundry. No dueling for tonight. I took my backpack and headed out of my place. I took a last glance inside our place before locking the door. Our place is like a dump. Or the word dump is underrated? I don't know...

As I walked in the street, I see other people going about in their mundane lives. I looked into their faces. Beneath, the thick makeup, beneath the shades, beneath the fake smiles, beneath all these sham, I can see their tired eyes. I can see how sick they are with their lives. They wake up, do their morning rituals, eat the same cereal, and walk the same road to work, go home, sleep, and do the same stuff the next morning. They were like puppets with painted happy faces, but with tired gloomy eyes. As I neared our university, I see students going out from their classes. Beneath their shrill giggles, their endless chattering, I can sense how they loathe their pre-ordained lives. Beneath the youthful glow of their faces, I see angst in their stupid fated existence. They go on with their studies, their classes, and eventually graduate. Then they'll have a crappy job, be the slave ant of the system, the cogs of self-perpetuating stupidity. Be brainless zombies directed to work endlessly for their crappy existence. Soon, they're going to have children, and another generation of brainless zombies was born.

I averted my eyes away from them, looking blankly on the ground. Makes me sick looking at those same jaded eyes. It didn't take me long before I reach the place I was supposed to meet Gail. Tiffany's. A small cafe in front of our university. Quite shabby place. It's flanked by beautiful, well-painted buildings. Funny they didn't give a thought of bringing the cafe down, as it seems to be a bit out of place. In the midst of fine-looking establishments, it looks as if it's a forgotten child left out by its magnificent neighboring buildings.

I headed for the door, pushing it open. There were few people inside. The blinds were drawn down, allowing sparse daylight to enter the windows. Though the afternoon sun was shining blindingly outside, it was a dark den inside the cafe. The thin light piercing through the blinds casts an ugly shadow on the people inside. The ceiling fans wobbles as it spins feebly, as if it was spinning its last. More tired faces of people, only they weren't as pretentious as the ones outside. Here, they shed their inhibitions, bask in the shadows, and sigh away their grief. Most of them on their tables, exhausted, slowly sipping their coffees. Some impatiently waiting for their orders. Some were talking with the skinny old waitress, giving their orders.

Getting tired of looking at these exhausted people, I scanned the tables. At a dim corner, I recognize a familiar figure. A petite girl with a silky raven black hair with silver streaks on it. It's Gail. I headed towards her table. She was staring blankly through the blinds. I tapped her shoulder. She turned to look at me. And there she was, her resolute yet friendly eyes. Her stare somehow gave me a bit comfort. I somehow missed this, someone’s eyes who would look at me without inhibitions, without pretensions. No judgmental eyes, just pure innocent stare of this kunoichi (female assassin). Out stares lasted for more than a minute before I averted my gaze. What could be she thinking back then? Was she again deciphering my personality, my emotions behind my stares?

"The diabolical golden eyes of a fierce, merciless swordsman. And a deep dark brown eyes of a troubled young man..."

I can remember her saying that to me long time ago. Was she taking an interest of me? I don't know, and I don't care. All that matters now is the thing she will tell me. This could lead me to the one I've been looking for the long time.

I opposite to her. I laid my backpack on the table, ready to open it and grab my blades just in case. You can never be to sure. Beside Gail leans a long object wrapped in a black, coarse cloth. It’s her four-foot long katana. Even she doesn't take any chances. A good assassin's instinct: never be caught off-guard.

I looked at her, she smiled at me. I managed to reply with a weak smile. I guess I'm either too tired or too depressed even to smile. I waited for her to say something. I guess she's waiting for me to say something too. Sickening taciturnity began to take over between us. Suddenly, her bloody red lips began to quiver.

"Hi..."

"Hello..." I replied awkwardly.

"What took you so long? I've been waiting for you for quite a while."

"I walked." I answered coldly.

"Okay..."

I can sense tension in her voice. I knew it. This is going to be a long talk. I can foresee it now. It's going to be one hell of a day ahead of me.

[Jopeth] // [1:55 AM]

| [Wednesday, April 28, 2004]

Act 1: First Sortie

It was a cold night. The pale moonlight pours its dull taint upon the city. On the rundown residential area, derelict apartment buildings were lit by occasional flicker of fluorescent bulbs inside. Walls were smeared by dust and soot, its paint peeling off showing the red brick inside which it is made of. Far different from the noisy and bustling aura of the downtown, it was eerily quiet, broken only by occasional noises from the vagrant people living inside the derelict buildings.

On the rooftop of one of the derelict buildings, a dark shade in a black cloak basks on the ashen moonlight. Its slim figure and gentle body contours could not be hidden by the dark leather cloak she was wearing, it can't be mistaken she was a woman. She sits on the edge of the rooftop, wearing a black hood to conceal her face. Her long dark silken hair flailed weakly as the cold wind blew past her. She was clutching her four-feet long katana. She stroke the saya (scabbard) of her katana with her taut fingers, as if communing with the soul of her sword. She let out a sigh, her breath forming a thin mist before her face.

Suddenly, footsteps disturbed her solitude. She turned to look, tightening her grip on her katana, ready to draw on any slightest sign of attack. A shadowy behemoth figure came looming upon her. She kept her gaze upon the figure. It's a man in a brown leather armor-like vest. He is bald, his hair off. He was carrying a heavy large broadsword nearly as large as himself on his shoulder. He was a behemoth in terms of his bodily proportions. His shoulders were nearly as wide as a refrigerator. He was almost seven feet tall. His face was covered rough beard, making him look like one of those goons on cheap action movies. His every step seemed to send tremors on the rooftop floor. Her grip on her sword grew tighter as the behemoth swordsman drew nearer towards her.

"What could a konouichi (female swordsman) be doing in a place like this?" he asked her in a booming voice.

"None of your business," she snapped back in a whispering voice.

"The only thing a konouichi will be doing here is waiting for a duel, am I right?"

"I have no time to waste for you, swordsman," she hissed, tightening her grip on her sword and giving a baleful look upon the monstrous swordsman.

"And why is that?"

"I don't want my sword be smeared by an unworthy swordsman like you," she retorted, drawing her sword a bit, gazing at her reflection on its shiny silver blade.

"How dare you insult me, you lowly konouichi!!!" he roared, swinging his broadsword smashing the floor few inches away from her. The enormous impact sent debris and dust flying. The dilapidated rooftop was shook by the impact. But the female swordsman was unfazed by the swordsman's bravado. She maintained her position, unmoved, keeping her tight hold on her sword.

"Do you know what happened to the last person who insulted me?!" he roared, lifting back his sword then pointing the blade to the konouichi. She remained undaunted by him, flashing a spiteful glace on him.

"I chopped off his head and hanged it on the radio tower!!!" he continued, drawing his broadsword closer to her face.

"Tsch. Too bad for him," she sneered back, flashing a contemptuous smile.

"Why you????!!!!!" he roared, raising his enormous broadsword. "That’s it, you bitch! I challenge you into a duel!"

"No, I won't take your challenge. I won't waste my energy on such a worthless insect," she replied spitefully.

"Yes, you will!" he snarled back, drawing the blade close to her neck. She was caught off-guard. She felt the cold steel of his broadsword touching her neck. One wrong move and she’s done for.

"Damn, how could he move so fast with such weapon?" she thought, looking at the blade. "I should have known better, I shouldn’t been so careless..."

She tightened her grip on her katana, ready to strike should the behemoth swordsman let down his guard. She was about to draw her sword, but he pressed the blade into her neck. An inch more and her neck would be cut off.

"Not so fast, my konouichi," he said in a gruff voice, then flashing an evil grin. "Now why are you keeping that hood down? Lemme see your beautiful face...hehehehehe!" he laughed hoarsely, trying to lift off her hood with his broadsword.

She clenched her teeth hard. "I never felt so helpless...damn...one move and my head is off..." she thought.

"Let her go," a stern, cold voice commanded.

"Wha...what??? Who's that??!! Who goes there??!!!" he roared, looking for the voice.

He scanned the rooftop, looking left and right. His eyes stopped at the chimney. A young man was standing on the chimney. His black shoulder-length hair fluttered as the cold wind blew past him. His long black leather coat flapped as the cold wind intensified into a gale. His eyeglasses shone palely as the pallid moon shone above.

"Let her go," he said tersely.

"Who are you?! She's mine now. This konouichi is going down with my blade," he snarled at him.

"Akizuki. Jedd Akizuki. A swordsman. Let her go now. Her business is with me."

"Akizuki?! Heh, you must be the 'Demon of Twin Swords', right?" he roared happily, as if expecting and longing to see him.

"She refused your challenge. Now, she's with me," he said coldly.

"Even if you're the infamous Demon, I would not allow you to take my kill. She's mine now!!!" he bellowed, taking his large broadsword and pointing it towards him.

"I would not allow your dirty hands to kill her. She's mine."

"Why you duel-monger!? I challenge you to a duel, Demon of the Twin Blades!!!" he snarled at Jedd.

"Challenge accepted," he said, flashing a contented grin. He jumped down from the chimney, walking towards him.

The behemoth swordsman grinned seeing Jedd close towards him. "I am Wedge Hottscapp, the master of the giant broadsword. Your butter knife katanas is no match for my broadsword!!! I will cut you down in one slash!!!!"

"Tsch. Enough talk. Let's get this over with," Jedd snapped coldly.

"So this is the infamous Demon of the Twin Blades. Heard of him but never saw him. I never expected him to be so young. He doesn’t look strong, nothing seems special with him," Wedge thought.

"I would be famous if I had taken down this Demon," he grinned. "This battle should be easy. His katana won’t hold long to my broadsword."

"Prepare to die!!!!! Gwaaahhhh!!!!!" Wedge hollered, dashing towards Jedd. Despite of his behemoth build, he can still manage to dash and move fast enough. Agility at such size is a wonder.

Jedd simply dodged left and right. He watched Wedge as he tried to slash him with his enormous sword.

"He's fast for his size...yet still too slow..." he thought as he dodged his attacks.

He paused his barrage of attacks. "Heh...hee...you're pretty fast..." he said, chuckling. "But you can't defeat me by just dodging my attacks. Show your weapon. Or are you too scared to fight me, sword for sword?"

"If you insist..." he said coldly, tipping up his glasses. He opened his coat, revealing a twin kadachi (short katana) tied at both side of his waist. He quickly drew them both, striking a defensive stance strike. A gray cloud slowly covered the moon, dimming the rooftop.

"Heh, a kadachi no ken style. Still no match for me! I will break you into pieces in no time!!! HIYAAAAAAAHHH!!!!" Wedge roared, dashing forward to Jedd, swinging his sword towards him.

Jedd managed to parry Wedge's attack. He didn't attempt to counter. He just went on with parrying, waiting for the right time to strike.

"Now you die!!! YAAAHHH!!!" Wedged hollered, taking a step backward then thrusting his weapon forward with his full force. As he drove his enormous broadsword forward, he felt a slight resistance, as if his weapon had pierced through a human body.

"I got you now!" he shouted, thinking he got Jedd. He looked at the point of his sword, expecting to see Jedd impaled.

"What the...?!" he saw nothing but Jedd's coat hanging at the tip of his sword. Where could he be? He looked side to side, back and for, looking for him.

"He couldn't just disappear!" he thought, big drops of sweat forming on his forehead. He nervously searched for him, Jedd's coat still hanging on his sword.

"I'm here..." it was Jedd's cold voice.

"Where the..." Wedge's words were cut off when a sharp cold gust hit him. As the gust blew past him, he felt a sharp pain piercing through his left chest. Wedge turned to see Jedd's left hand holding the blade that stabbed through his body, his right hand clutching the other kadachi blade as if ready to strike. The sky cleared, the moon revealing its pale taint. He looked at his eyes. It was glowed golden yellow, as the moon shone upon it, like the eyes of a demon. There was no hint of any emotion. No wicked gaze, not even a sparkle of victory of defeating his enemy. It was as if his face was just a cold mask Jedd was wearing.

Wedge felt his warm blood starting to soak his leather armor. He refused to accept his defeat despite of his injury. "It's not yet over, Akizuki!!!" he howled, then gathering his remaining strength to turn and swing his weapon towards Jedd. He quickly drew out his blade from Wedge's body then ducked to evade his attack. Blood suddenly spurted from the wound, spilling on the ground and forming a small pool.

"Now it's over," Jedd coldly whispered. He gripped the blade on his right hand harder as he thrust it hard, stabbing Wedge's chest. His blade buried with ease on Wedge's chest, then he slashed across his ribcage, cutting through the ribs with so much ease like a hot knife through butter. Warm blood gushed forth freely, drops of it squirting on Jedd's face, some soaking Jedd's blade. He felt the warm blood as it dripped and soaked his hands. Wedge dropped dead in an instant, falling first in his knees then finally dropping dead on his chest, resounding a loud thud. His blood formed a pool of gore, which quickly spread on the ground.

"Now I know why...he was called...the 'Demon...of the Twin Blades'...he fights...as if...possessed by a…demon..." he thought to himself as his blood quickly spread on the ground, then finally heaving his last breath and finally passing away.

Jedd stood over his body, like a wolf checking on his kill. He watched him emotionlessly as his pool of gore spread further, watching the reflection of the pale moon on it. He gazed at his reflection on it. He can clearly make out his face from it. He can see his golden yellow eyes on it. He looked at Wedge's face. His mouth was still open, as if screaming in pain beyond his death. Then he felt something wet on his cheeks. He wiped her cheeks with his hand, and then looked at it.

"Blood?" he thought, wondering where he have got the blood. He remembered the moment he slashed through Wedge's body. He can see clearly how blood gushed forth freely like fountain, some squirting on his face. How Wedge breathed his last on his nape before he dropped dead. He remembered the warmth of his victim's freshly spilled blood, how it soaked his sword and dripped through his fingers. He can clearly hear the thud, the sound of an enormous body suddenly dropping dead. It is as if he was reminiscing every moment of his kill. Just like a wolf circling over its carcass, celebrating its kill.

He took his coat that was still hanging from Wedge's broadsword. He took out a white handkerchief from its pocket, and then wiped his face clean from blood. He wiped his blades clean with it, and then tossing the blood-soaked handkerchief on Wedge's body. He sheathed his twin blades back to its saya, its place of rest.

He turned to the konouichi, who was still silently on the edge of the rooftop, her hood still down, covering her face. She gazed at his oddly colored eyes. Then he suddenly blinked, his eyes returning to its normal dark brown color. It was no longer the eyes of a killer demon that she saw moments ago; it was just the troubled eyes of a man.

"And as for you..."

His words were cut off when the woman suddenly dashed forwards him, drawing her four feet-long katana then swinging it towards him. He quickly drew his twin blades to parry her attack. Was it another duel?

"Stop it..." he coldly said as the konouichi continued her barrage of attacks. He simply dodged and parried her thrusts and slashes.

She took a step back, gathering enough momentum to swing her sword, and then swung it forward to Jedd. A strong draft of cold wind hit him as he caught the blow with his blades, resounding a loud clang, skidding a bit back because of the enormous force put into the blow.

"She strikes so hard, as hard as gale," he thought, recovering from the blow.

"There could be only one woman who uses a four feet-long katana and strikes hard with such force," he said to her, pushing her back with his blades. He looked at her eyes. Though she struck him with such enormous force, he could see in her eyes that she was somewhat hesitant to make another blow. It wasn’t the mean eyes of a killer; it was warm, passionate eyes of a woman.

"Hesitation will cost you your life, my konouichi," he said to himself.

He leaped backwards, flashing a threatening glance on her. He smiled, and blinked. His eyes went back to its diabolical golden hue. Then he suddenly disappeared from her view. She was stunned. "He couldn't just disappear into thin air!" she thought. She scanned the rooftop quickly, left and right, her front and her back. No sign of Jedd.

"Where could he..." she said to herself, her words were cut off when a cold rush of gale blew past her, as if a ghost hovered through her. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat, as if an invisible blade stabbed her. She was heaving her every breath. Suddenly, she felt the seams of her hood rip off. The cold gale blew off her hood, revealing her full face. She felt her neck if there were any wound. She let out a sigh of relief when she felt there were no signs of any wound. She turned at her back, expecting to see Jedd there.

And there he was, standing few feet from her, still in defense stance. He took a step towards her, pointing his blade towards her. His diabolical golden eyes were still glowing.

"Gail Murasame, I knew it was you," he said.

"You're good, Jedd. How did you know it was me?"

"Like I've said, there could be only one woman who uses a four-feet-long katana, and wears such terrible perfume," he replied, drawing back his blades and placing it back to its saya tied at both sides of his waist. He blinked again, his eyes returning to its normal dark brown tint.

"Terrible? You're mean, Jedd," she said, letting out a soft, shrill chuckle.

Jedd coldly shrugged his shoulders, walking away from her, sitting on the edge of the rooftop. He took out a pack of cigarettes from the pocket of his coat, picking one then holding it with his lips. He fumbled around his pocket, looking for his lighter.

Gail suddenly emerged from his side, holding out a lighter. Jedd gave a puzzled look, and lit his cigarette with it. She sat beside him, taking out her own cigarette pack, then lighting her cigarette with her lighter. She sucked her cigarette gently, savoring the smoke, and then blowing the smoke upwards. She gazed upon the smoke at it slowly disperses through the air.

She began to get tired of the looming taciturnity between her and Jedd. She turned to look at him. He was gazing blankly at the dark alleys below. He seemed so detached, even after winning his duel. No excited glances, not even a smile of contentment.

"So you really had it coming last time, huh?" she said abruptly, breaking the silence.

"Huh?" he replied, puzzled.

"That fat guy, you really had it coming. You killed him in less than a minute."

"Oh, that one..." he replied coldly.

"You could have let him live for at least another minute. Or at least played along with him, to make things a bit interesting."

"Tsch. I have no time to play with him. I can't waste my energy on an opponent. I have to kill him the moment I have the chance."

"And you did?" she said, smirking at him.

"I'm getting rusty. I should have killed him earlier," he said, looking at his right hand.

"Rusty? What rusty?" she asked.

"I was aiming for his neck. I miscalculated my distance from him. Instead, I stabbed his chest and allowed him to strike back. He left me no choice but to slash him open," he said coldly, no hint of morbid pleasure.

"Yeah, right."

"If my enemy wasn't as slow as him, then I would be done for. I would be dead the moment he strikes back," he replied, puffing at his cigarette, and then blowing the smoke away, watching if slowly disperses.

"Yeah, kill the enemy as quick as you can, huh? Sounds like quickie sex to me," she said, sniggering. Jedd replied with an indifferent silence.

Gail got tired at laughing at her own joke. Soon, taciturnity began looming again. Sickening silence reigned between them.

"You’re getting careless, Gail," Jedd said, breaking the silence. She looked at him with surprise. It was unusual for him to break the silence, let alone to start a conversation.

"Me? Careless?"

"Yes. You got yourself caught so easily."

"By that guy?"

"Yeah. He moves so slowly, yet he got you off-guard," he said grimly, his gaze fixed on the dark alleys below.

"Oh, that one. So you've been watching us for quite a while?"

Jedd nodded.

"I was just playing around with him. I mean, would you expect me to be easily caught off-guard just like that?"

"Umm...yeah?" he replied, mocking her in a cold tone.

"C'mon Jedd. Dueling is like sex: there's no fun without foreplay. You can't just get to the killing part so fast. Besides, I was about to strike back if you haven't showed up."

"So that's why you attacked me. Did I rob you of your kill?"

"Sort of. That guy was mine."

"Tsch. Pleasure-killing," he said, throwing a sickened glance on the sky.

"But really, you're so damn fast," she commented.

"Yeah, and you're so damn slow," he snapped back.

"No, I'm not."

"I could have easily cut off your head back then."

"I didn't see you coming. The next thing I know was you were behind me, cutting my hood off."

"That was just a simple fast attack. You could at least guess where would I strike if you can't follow my movements."

"Yeah, and you ruined my coat. That coat cost me 5,000 bucks."

"It's better off without a hood," he said, managing a weak smile. He threw his burnt cigarette to the alleys below, watching the dim ember fall and dissipate as it lands on the ground. He picked out a new stick, lighting it with Gail's lighter, and then started inhaling the noxious, addictive smoke.

Gail also noticed her cigarette burnt-off. She tossed it away, then taking out a new stick. She noticed Jedd's lit cigarette. She motioned him to come closer so she could light her cigarette with his. He came closer, joining the glowing tip of his cigarette to her. He gazed at her face. Her bright bloody red lips gleamed softly as the moonlight shone upon it. He then looked at her eyes. He could see her deep black innocent lady-like eyes gleaming.

"Underneath this fierce konouchi, there's an innocent woman free from all angst and bloodshed. Or it could be the other way around..." he thought at he gazed at her eyes, as if falling into a trance.

She noticed he was gazing at her eyes. She could not help but to gaze back at his. She stared at his deep dark brown eyes behind his eyeglasses. It is as if they both fell into trance gazing at each other's eyes, trying to decipher the hidden messages behind those gazes and glances.

They both withdrew their gazes. Jedd returned his gaze at the dark alleys below, puffing from his cigarette. Gail sighed, trying to find something to say. She hated the silence that was once again looming between them.

"The diabolical golden eyes of a fierce, merciless swordsman. And a deep dark brown eyes of a troubled young man..." she blurted out. Jedd remained indifferent.

"Which one is the real you, Jedd?" she asked, turning to him.

"Both," he coldly replied. Gail simply nodded.

"How about the body? What will happen to him?"

"It will stay there for few more days before somebody finds it. He will be just another unidentified dead body stuck in the morgue. It's the duelist's fate: live or die in obscurity," he answered sternly.

"So how's your search for Relina going?"

Jedd replied with a dead silence.

"I'm sorry about Relina..." she apologized. She regretted asking him about his missing sister.

"Some powerful group got her," he replied coldly.

"Who? Who got her?"

"The group sponsoring a tournament next month."

"A tournament? Where?"

"Here. I just heard it from a rumor. I've heard they will be inviting all warriors not only from the city, but from other places as well. It's an underground tourney."

"Really? So you're joining that tourney?"

"To find Relina."

"Oh," she replied, puffing for her cigarette. Silence began to loom again, but she didn't take notice of it. For now, she wanted to take silence more than anything else, thinking of Relina, or the upcoming tournament. She somewhat sympathizes with Jedd's loss.

She now felt quite uncomfortable with her long coat. She took it off, revealing the black tank top she was wearing underneath. She laid her coat beside her. Jedd looked at her. He couldn't help noticing her smooth, fair complexion, her tight uplifted breasts. He looked at her pallid shoulders. Smooth and flawless, not even a mark of a scar.

"Not even a scars or wounds of defeat. You’re still new the secret world of dueling. You haven't tasted any defeat. For you, dueling is fun. But it's not, Gail. You have still a lot to learn," he thought.

She noticed him staring at her. She smiled, seeing Jedd seemingly admiring her body. He then withdrew his gaze, reverting it to the dark alleys below. He puffed last from his almost burnt cigarette, he tipped up his glasses, and then tossed it to the dark alleys below. He stood up and walked away from her.

"Where are you going?" Gail asked.

"Home," he replied coldly as he continued to walk away.

"Hey wait up," she said, walking after him. "What's the rush? Aren't you going to stay up a little bit?"

He stopped then turned to Gail, "I had enough dueling tonight."

Gail was taken aback. She watched him walk away from her as the cold gale blew past her, sweeping her long midnight black hair. She took a deep sigh.

"Jedd, I'm sorry for Relina...if I could do anything for you to ease fill the missing part she left..." she whispered to herself.

Jedd continued walking away. He stopped at the edge of the rooftop, looking at the dark alleys below. He sighed, thinking of things ahead for him. Is his life bound to be like this? Bound in the fate of his swords, bound in the fate of duels?

"Relina, you promised to slow down time so we could be together for much longer time. Now, make this promise true. I need you now..." he said to himself.

He then looked at the silver pale moon. He then managed to break a weak smile.

"Is this the same moon that shines upon you, Relina?" he asked silently. "I hope you were looking at this moon, at least we see each other...through this moon."

He then sighed, looking at the alley below. A cold breeze blew, sweeping back his hair, fluttering with the wind. His dark brown eyes slowly transformed into the diabolical golden yellow tinge. He smiled, and then flung himself into the darkness below. Gail stood astonished seeing him fall.

"Jedd, what the...?!" she almost screamed.

As Jedd fell down, everything to him was like in an extreme slowdown. Seconds seemed minutes for him. It is as if he wasn't falling, he was slowly hovering downwards. His golden eyes were fixed downwards to the ground he was about to drop on. He closed his eyes, feeling the cold, damp air passing through him.

"Freedom...so elusive, yet at this moment...it's in my grasp..."

He continued to drop downwards, his body spinning like a rifle bullet as he continued his descent.

"Freedom so ephemeral...evanescent, it will be gone the moment I reach the ground...and snap back to the reality..."

As he continued drifting downwards, he saw an ashen gray moth making its night flight. He watched it slowly flew past him. As he can perceive it, he saw it not frantically flapping its wings, but slowly beating its wings up and down, as if dancing in the cold night wind.

"The moth could see things as I see it...everything is in extreme slowdown, time slowly flies by. For the moth existence is so short, so it makes most of its life by slowing time as it sees it. I made most of my life fighting, making time slow down in my duels. My existence, as ephemeral as the moth's..."

As he neared the ground, he twisted his body in midair, somersaulting to reduce his momentum. Suddenly, a loud thud broke through the dead silence of the alley. The ground shook at Jedd landed in a crouching position. The dumpster and the trash cans jumped from its place from the shock of the landing. The ground he dropped on cracked as he landed violently. Dust and dirt filled the air.

Jedd stood up after landing amid the dust. His returned to its dark brown hue as the dust slowly cleared.

"Here I am now...back again to my worthless existence..."

He then started walking aimlessly away from the alleys. Gail watched him as he slowly disappeared in the darkness.

"Jedd, the Demon of Twin Blades...such a troubled man..." she said to herself.

Meanwhile, in some distance away, in a secluded place, a young girl was gazing at the moon through the window of her room. The pale moonlight spills through her window and to her face, revealing her delicate, innocent features: her long, straight, dark brown hair, her innocent young eyes. She gazed at the moon as she lied on her bed, moving her tiny lips as if whispering a prayer to it.

"Jedd, I hope you are looking at the moon too. It has never been this beautiful." she whispered.

She sighed, closing her eyes, letting her consciousness drift into oblivion.

[Jopeth] // [1:31 AM]