Stir of Shadows
by Queen of Sarab
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Chapter Seven

Mia wasn’t in her room, her study, or anywhere else in the house. The two ronin’s did, however, find a note plastered to the door of her study:

Guys–
Took Yuli– wanted to get him out of harm’s way. Food in the fridge, contact you in a couple of days.
Mia

“That’s not like Mia,” frowned Ryo.

“That’s not Mia,” Rowen corrected.

The Ronin’s looked at each other. “Now what?” Ryo asked.

“We wait,” the blue-haired archer answered.

3...4...5...6...

Two sets of eyes fixed themselves immovably on the chiming clock.

7...8....9...

A cold wind began to blow through the den of Ronin Manor, making the remaining

Ronins shiver– not only with cold, but with anticipation.

10....11...

Ryo of the Wildfire and Rowen of the Strata tensed their muscles beneath their armor.

12.

Midnight..

“Waiting for your coach to turn into a pumpkin?”

Rowen and Ryo whirled around, weapons at the ready.

Kurai stood there, her cat-green eyes cold and mocking, raven hair swirling around her. The edges of her mouth twitched into a grin.

“Where are our friends?” demanded Ryo from between clenched teeth.

Kurai looked at him in amusement. “Where I want them,” she said simply. She glanced at their weapons. “I expected more from you.”

When she realized her opponents weren’t answering her, Kurai waved her hand dismissively and went on. “But I’m bored with this– will you surrender, or shall we fight?’

“ ‘Die before surrender’,” Rowen repeated mockingly.

“Fine,” Kurai sighed. “We’ll do this the hard way. But I’m not completely unsporting– let’s make this more interesting, shall we? Make it fair?” With a swift movement of her hands, Kurai pulled two foreign-looking weapons out of the emerald green sash wrapped around her slim waist. Twirling them, she grinned again. “Let the games begin.”

Ryo was the first to strike, his right foot snapping up in a roundhouse kick, directed towards Kurai’s jaw. She ducked as it swung over her head, then with two quick movements, grabbed his foot as it raced towards the ground and used his own momentum to send him tumbling to the ground. Ryo quickly scrambled back to where his fellow ronin stood to escape her reach.

Rowen didn’t even glance at his friend. Slowly, things began to click in his head, and his gaze fixed on the amulet around Kurai’s neck.

“What’s the matter, man?” murmured Ryo to his friend as he stood and brushed himself off.

“It’s her amulet,” Rowen said under his breath. “Remembah, Ryo? Like Kayura’s made her obey the Dynasty, only this doesn’t make her obey– it concentrates her psychic power.”

Ryo followed the direction of his friend’s gaze. “You sure?”

“Ye’a.”

“Then let’s get it.”

Ryo attacked again, this time using his datchi against her weapons. They were soon a blur of weapon, both opponents excellent fighters with their weapon of choice.

As this was going on, Rowen was slowly circling the room until he was directly behind the two fighting forms. Both fighters leapt apart simultaneously, a small wound welling up blood on Kurai’s cheek, and a similar gash on Ryo’s arm, slicing through his subarmor and cutting his skin.

Rowen was ready. As soon as they paused, Rowen, positioned behind Kurai, leapt forward, knocking his opponent to the ground.

“You really should learn to divide your attention, Kurai,” he grinned. He grabbed the amulet, knowing if he released it for a second she would disappear again.

A sudden pain lanced through his arm, originating with the amulet, which was now burning an angry green. Rowen’s hand burned, but he was determined to get the necklace, now more sure than ever of it’s power. Ryo reached over to help him, attempting to pull the amulet over the now struggling Kurai’s head. She stubbornly pressed her head against the ground, providing no way for that.

“Guess we gotta do this the hard way,” Ryo told his friend. “Pull it tight.” Rowen obeyed, the chain that held the amulet becoming taut. With a cry, Ryo swung down his blade, slicing the chain and stopping a millimeter from Kurai’s throat. Rowen pulled the amulet away from her throat as she screamed out as if in pain. Thrashing wildly now, Rowen could barely hold her. Which was when she bit him.

“Ah!” Screamed Rowen, and for a split second his hold on Kurai was loosened. That was all she needed. Wriggling out from under him, she darted away, jumping through the window with a loud crash. The Ronins immediately gave chase, but the dark girl had disappeared.

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