unfinished

She stood as a silhouette against the rising sun.  Sweat trickled lazily down her cheeks and she slowly lowered the sword she had been training with to her side.  She turned, her eyes brightly ablaze to watch the sun rise from beyond the horizon.1

“Kaida?” a voice called from a house behind her.  “Is that you?”2

Kaida looked over her shoulder smiling.  “Yes,” she replied.  “Come join me, we can practice together.”3

A tall figure stepped from the shadows of the house and walked forward.  “You should be careful out here on your own,” he scorned frowning.4

Kaida shook her head, bangs of black hair falling in front of her eyes.  “I’ve only been out fo a little, besides I was practicing,” she said patting the hilt of the sword at her side.5

“Still, we wouldn’t want anything to happen to you,” he commented putting a hand over her shoulder.6

Kaida smiled and looked up at him.  “You worry too much Xarant.”7

Xarant shook his and laughed gently.  “No, you don’t worry enough.  Let’s go get something to eat.  I’m starving.”8

“That’s all you ever think about!” Kaida commented hitting him gently on the shoulder as they walked back to the house.  “Food and eating.”9

“Not true,” Xarant replied haughtily.  “I also think about girls.”10

Kaida laughed, her blue eyes shining as they walked into the kitchen.  “Too true,” she exclaimed. 11

Saaski looked up from breakfast and smiled at them.  Her long blonde hair in a braid and pulled over her shoulder as she cooked.  “What’s so funny?” she asked.12

“Just a comment Xarant made,” Kaida replied looking hard at her sister.  13

Kiyoshi chose that moment to walk in.  He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked around at everyone.  “Is breakfast ready?” he asked, pure innocence.14

Saaski turned to Kiyoshi smiling. “Of course,” she said handing him a plate with ham, eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast on it.15

Xarant’s mouth watered and he stared at the food.  “There any more of that?” he asked practically drooling.16

Saaski nodded handing him a plate.  “Would you like some?” she asked turning to Kaida.17

Kaida shook her head.  “I already ate.  Perhaps I’ll go into town, do you need anything?”18

Saaski jumped up and ran upstairs.  Kaida stared after her wondering what was going on.  “Will you take this in to be cleaned? Oh and get some milk,” she said handing Kaida a bag of clothes.19

Xarant looked up, his plate half empty already.  “You shouldn’t go in alone,” he said around a mouthful of food.20

Kaida scowled and opened her mouth to refuse when Tariq poked his head in the door.  “O there you are,” he said looking at Kaida.21

Kaida smiled and started out the door.  “See you guys later,” she said pulling Tariq by the arm away from the house.22

Xarant scowled.  “I don’t like it when she does that.  And I don’t like him.”23

Saaski shook her head.  “You can’t restrict someone like her though.  And I wouldn’t suggest trying either.”24

Kaida walked quickly towards town.  “Perfect timing Tariq, as usual,” she said slowing down.  “Thanks.”25

Tariq shrugged.  “My pleasure,” he said smiling maniacally.  “So what sort of trouble can we get into today?”26

Kaida smiled.  “Just a sec, I should at least drop these off, then we can get the gang.”27

Tariq looked at the bag with a raised eyebrow but shrugged.  “Sure, I think most of them will be in the Back-quarter alley.”28

Kaida nodded and turned down the street with the cleaner on it.  “Morning Mr. Shizu, can you get these cleaned for Saaski?”29

“Good morning Kaida, of course I can,” Mr. Shizu said taking the bag.30

“Thanks!” Kaida called over her shoulder.  “Let’s go,” she said to Tariq and they headed toward the alley.31

Kaida walked into the alley first and a girl jumped out of the corner to confront them.  “Peace Nuria, it’s just me and Tariq.”32

Nuria backed off, her short cropped purple and silver hair shifting in the wind.  Ace stepped out of a doorway and motioned for them to come in.  His green eyes glinted from the light and the copper roots of his hair were beginning to show from beneath the streaks of blue. 33

Kaida smiled warmly and brushed gently against Ace as she stepped into the room.  Inside were almost all the members of their gang of friends, Mashiko, Braeden, Amaya, Keaira, and Malise.  Nuria was outside, but they were still missing Yukio and Xander.34

Ace closed the door behind them and put his arm around Kaida, leading her to a seat.  “I’m glad you could make it,” he said kissing her neck.35

“Yeah,” Kaida replied pulling a little away from his kisses, “But it was close.”36

Ace frowned.  “It was that Xarant again, wasn’t it?”37

Kaida nodded.  “He got mad at me for practicing outside alone again.”38

Ace shook his head and pulled her closer, “You really shouldn’t you know.”39

Kaida tried to pull away, but Ace was holding her too tightly.  “What do you know of it?” she asked resigning herself to his hold.40

Ace smirked looking around the room.  He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I know you’ve had problems before.”41

Kaida seemed to shrink into herself, but she nodded. “Yeah, but I’m still here right?”42

Ace squeezed her shoulders, “And you always will be.”43

Nuria came in the door then with Yukio behind her.  “We’ve already been waiting an hour.  If Xander doesn’t show it’s his problem.  Otherwise, he knows where we’ll be.  Can we get started now?” she complained.44

Ace nodded and loosened his arm around Kaida’s shoulders.  “Yeah, sure.  What have we got today?”45

Braeden stood up angrily, “There’s a new group around, think they’re all that.  We’re going to have problems with them if we don’t show them who’s in control of this town.”46

Keaira nodded.  “I’ve heard of them.  They gave my brother hell at the store the other night.  Almost beat him bloody,” she shook her head, her eyes dark in the light.47

Ace scowled, his features darkening, “Does anybody know where they hang out?”  He asked of the group.  48

Malise looked up her brown hair hanging in strands over her pale skinny face. “I do,” she replied quietly.  “If they aren’t meeting in the forest they hang out around the fountain on main street.”49

Ace smirked standing up.  “Well, what are we waiting for, I think we need to have a little chat with these ingrates.”50

Kaida grabbed Ace’s hand scowling.  “Nothing too harsh, we can’t keep drawing attention to ourselves.”51

“Come on,” Amaya said pulling Kaida up and out the door.  52

When the ten of them reached Main street, they saw a large group lounging about the fountain.  A couple of them were standing up pushing someone around.  One of the other boys gave him a hard push and he fell to the ground.  53

“Gods! Xander!” Kaida yelled running toward the fallen figure.  She bent over him, his shirt was bloody and torn. His face bruised and scratched, he had a swollen eye and split lip.  “Are you okay?” she asked quietly as the rest of the group came up behind her. 54

Xander nodded and Kaida smiled.  One of the guys from the other gang pushed her roughly away from Xander.  Ace stepped between them.  Kaida stood up and gently pushed Ace aside, “I can handle this,” she said quietly glaring at the older boy.55

The boy snarled.  “You expect me to fight a puny little girl? Please, I’d whip you.”56

“Don’t be an ass,” Kaida replied cheekily.  “Or perhaps you are?”57

“Bitch,” he said.  He bowed mockingly, “If it please you, I am Tyrian, leader of the Tupac’s.  This is Adish, Kali, Lilith, Nisha, Candace, Matt, and Haruko.”58

Kaida leaned back, balancing on her heels.  “And I believe you know who we are,” she said, nodding.59

“But of course, and now you’ve come to see your new rivals.  Am I right?” he asked sneering. 60

“If you were worthy enough to be considered rivals,” she replied looking at them.61

Tyrian charged her and Kaida calmly stepped aside.  A circle quickly formed around the two combatants. 62

“What too scared to actually face me?” Tyrian taunted circling around Kaida.63

Kaida quirked an eyebrow watching him.  “You’re going to tire yourself out if you keep doing that and then this will be far too easy.”64

Tyrian paused and looked at the sword at her hip.  “Would you rather dance?” he asked drawing his own sword.65

Kaida smiled.  “You just made a huge mistake.”66

Tyrian took a step forward and stabbed forward testing her defenses. Kaida easily blocked every move he made and managed to get in a few quick attacks of her own.  Tyrian smiled, “Shouldn’t be too hard.”67

“We haven’t even started yet,” Kaida said going into a fast pace attack routine of stab-slash-counter.  A few of the stabs and slashes hit Tyrian in various parts of the body.  Nothing vital of course, Kaida enjoyed practicing.68

It wasn’t long before Kaida had Tyrian on the ground with her sword at his throat.  “Peace,” Tyrian said glowering up at her.69

Kaida smirked and offered a hand to help him up.  Tyrian took her hand and pulled her to the ground, using the force of the pull to lever himself to his feet.  Kaida used the momentum of the pull and ducked into a roll, she came up on her feet facing him.  70

“Filthy bastard,” Kaida hissed.  Tyrian laughed, flipping her sword up from where it had fallen into his hand.71

He crossed both swords in front of him and strutted slowly towards her.  “It seems we’ve caught a little bird, and now she can’t fly away.”72

Kaida smiled, the smile a predator smiles when it has caught it’s prey.  She dropped into a crouch and swept her leg under both of his legs.  As Tyrian fell, Kaida leapt on top of him, pinning him down and holding both arms above his head.  “And you still can’t beat me,” she said spitting in his face.73

Kaida stood up, Ace stepped forward from the circle and handed her the fallen sword.  “I think we’re done here,” he said wrapping her in his arms.  74

Kaida nodded and looked around.  Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement on a roof top.  She glanced up and saw a flicker of shadow disappear behind a building.75

“Damn!” she whispered, “Let’s go now.”76

Ace nodded, not really paying attention.  77

“Kaida!” a small voice called from behind them.78

“Kiyoshi,” Kaida whispered in horror turning around.  She sprinted toward him, tackling him and rolling both of them out of the way as a small missile hit the spot Kiyoshi had been standing on.79

Kaida got quickly to her feet looking around.  Kiyoshi crawled to his feet behind her.  Neither of them noticed the shadow removing itself from the shadows behind them.80

Kaida’s neck tingled as if someone were watching her, and she twirled around on the balls of her feet to face the shadow.  81

“What are you doing here?” Kaida asked taking a step back in shock.82

The shadow removed its hood to reveal a good looking young man.  He was about eighteen with blonde hair and blue eyes.  He was tall and well built with a great summer tan.  He smiled softly and held out his hands, “I came to get you back.”83

Kaida shook her head and looked at him curiously, “But why would you attack Kiyoshi?”84

He stopped, looking confused, “I never . . . , I know what Kiyoshi means to you.”85

Kaida looked around a little unnerved now.  Ace popped up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.  “What’s going on?  Who’s this?” he asked glaring at the young man.86

“This is Aryn,” Kaida explained a bit too calmly.  “I’m taking Kiyoshi home before anything else happens.”87

“I’ll come with,” Ace offered placing his arm possessively over Kaida’s shoulders. 88

Kaida shrugged his arm off and leaned over to let Kiyoshi climb on her back. “Kay, but let’s hurry,” she said to Ace starting toward her house.  “Kiyoshi,” she spoke quietly, “Why did you come out here?”89

Kiyoshi hugged Kaida’s shoulder.  “Cause I wanted to play with you.”90

A small sad smile lifted the corners of her lips.  “But why did you come alone?  Or go play with someone else?”91

“You came alone.”  Kaida could feel his frown from the way he shifted his weight.92

“No, I didn’t.  And even if I had, I’m older.”93

“So!  I don’t have people trying to kill me!”94

Kaida tensed and glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone had heard.  Ace didn’t seem to have noticed, and Aryn was trailing far behind hoping not to be noticed.  “And what do you think just happened?  They will kill you to get to me.”95

Kiyoshi seemed to shrink down against her back.  “I’m sorry,” he whispered.96

“Oh, Kiyoshi.  You know I love you, I just don’t want to see you hurt.”  Kaida shifted Kiyoshi around in her arms and hugged him.97

Tiny arms wrapped around her neck as Kiyoshi returned her hug.  They soon came within sight of the house.98

“Put me down, put me down!”  Kiyoshi squealed, jiggling in Kaida’s arms.99

“Okay,” she laughed letting him down.100

“Shushiyoko,” a voice called from her left.101

Kaida slowly turned, trembling.  Ace and Aryn came up behind her.  “Go into the house.  Help Saaski and Kiyoshi,” she commanded in a whisper.102

Ace hesitated, but Aryn hurried in knowing when not to disobey Kaida.103

“Kaida, I”m staying with you.  Xarant will be enough to protect them.”104

Kaida shook her head, but conceded.  “Fine, just. . . stay back.”105

Ace nodded and stepped back.  “I’m here,” he said quietly.106

“Shushiyoko,” the voice called again.107

Kaida straightened up and forced herself to stop trembling.  Finally she looked up, her eyes burning.108

A figure stepped out of the shadows and bowed mockingly.  “Milady, his Lordship requests your presence.”  He stood up his black eyes churning with power.109

“And it shall be denied him again.”110

“Ooouuuhhh,” he pouted revealing vampiric fangs.  “He will not be pleased. . . Perhaps though, I won’t have to disappoint him. . .” he said as he stepped forward and was suddenly looming over Kaida.111

Kaida looked up calmly.  “Sorry to disappoint you. . . , but I’m not coming.”112

A quick step back took her barely out of arms reach as he stretched his arms out to grab her.  Four small red lines appeared on her upper arm.  “You’re new, aren’t you,” she mocked.113

“Perhaps, but I’ve learned from my predecessors mistakes.”114

“Have you?”115

“Yes,” he said appearing behind her and grabbing her arms in a vice like grip.116

Kaida stiffened in shock, but found she couldn’t move.117

Ace cam up behind the vampire and rammed his great sword through his back.118

“Ohh, that hurt,” he said as he disappeared with Kaida.119

“No!”  Ace stood there shocked, holding his bloody sword in front of him.120

Kaida!”  Saaski screamed, running out of the house onto the field.  She fell to her knees weeping, on the spot where Kaida had disappeared.  “I promised I’d protect her,” she moaned.121