Fan Fiction ❯ Corruption of an angel ❯ Clash of Beliefs ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6

Clash of Beliefs

"WHAT!?" Tenshi yelled, "you don't know that much, how could you not?" Katsuhiro watched as the exuberant teen paced back and fourth muttering about how a king didn't even know about the person who ruled before him. Tenshi sighed and slid down onto the floor, "well, do you know anything?" he asked his eyes filling with fake tears "please?" Katsuhiro stared at the strange youth and felt his barriers break "I'm sorry, I only know that the man went insane and murdered everyone within his range". Tenshi groaned and stood up, "alright, thanks anyway" he said leaving the throne room and leaning on the closed door. //He knows nothing, now how the hell am I suppose to find out? \\ he asked himself lightly banging his head on the door. Kaia stepped out of the library with Nami by her side and they both watched the silver-haired teen play with his hair in deep concentration.

Nami snapped out of her daze when she heard footsteps coming down the hall at an unstoppable speed. Sakura stormed up to Tenshi and placed her hands on her hips, glaring daggers at the Chouwan; "Where have you been!?" she demanded tapping her foot. Tenshi cracked his eyes open and stared at her with a look of annoyance and contempt, "I was minding my own business" he replied, "why don't you give it a try sometime?" Sakura scowled at Tenshi as he removed himself from the door and walked down the hall to the living area to see Tomoe sitting down staring at the outside.

"There is no pleasing that girl, is there Tenshi?" Tomoe asked smiling slightly before turning his attention back to the outside. Tomoe remained silent; he was busy dealing with the problems he was going through, and the gradual take over of what ever was haunting him. Though he was all right now, he didn't want Tenshi to get to close, in fear that he may hurt the boy. "Yes, she is quite a pain" he replied "I'm going out, so see you later Tomoe". Tenshi walked out of the castle and into the market place; he began to wander and came across an interesting stand. The booth had many different and elaborate jewels and cloth; Tenshi leaned over the counter to get a better look, when an elderly woman stepped out from the back.

The old lady noticed Tenshi, but what caught her attention, were the earrings he wore that dangled and sparkled in the light that cascaded down on him. "May I help you young man?" the elderly woman asked, her voice scratchy and labored; Tenshi shook his head and smiled "oh, no thank you, I have no money with me" he explained. The old woman chuckled and leaned closer to him, "well if you would be willing to sell those there pretty earrings, I may give you something" she told him reaching out and grasping the amethyst with bony fingers and making a strange noise in her throat. Tenshi moved away from the lady and said no thank you again. The woman grabbed his arm and dragged him back, "listen kid, I need those earrings, I have a very important client that would love them, and besides, a rich boy like you doesn't need them" she scowled.

Tenshi pulled away again, but the old lady still grabbed at him, "hey lady let me go!" he yelled knocking her down "I wouldn't sell these for the life of me" he said walking away from the insane woman. Sighing, Tenshi sat down at a fountain and touched the water gently with his fingers, "Hey Tenshi, what are you doing?" Yukiko asked sitting next to Tenshi, his legs dangling over the side, though they didn't touch the ground, "I haven't seen you lately, where did you go?" Tenshi sighed and looked over at the boy, "I have been really busy trying to find out things about Yoake" he replied; Yukiko raised an eyebrow, "why would you want to?" he asked his elder.

Tenshi shook his head, "I don't know, I was told something, and as strange as it is, I have a feeling that I know someone that is the same way" he stated staring at the reflection of the water, "but you know what? It's starting to feel like a lost cause, so maybe I'll just relax, I'm sure I'm only imagining things". Yukiko frowned, he had only known Tenshi for about three says, and he already knew that the older man was lying, but he didn't say anything, because he believed that it was best to leave the strange youth to his beliefs. "Now Yukiko, I have to leave" Tenshi said, getting up from the fountain "my curiosity has gotten the best of me, and I need to find someone, so I'll see you later". Yukiko waved goodbye as he watched Tenshi run out of the castle gates again, "what a strange guy" he said aloud returning home.

***In the forest***

Li Yamasaki laughed to himself as he walked with Etowa-ru through the lush, beautiful forest, "did you see his face Etowa-ru" Li laughed "haha I think I made him cry, what an idiot". Etowa-ru sighed, he actually liked the strange youth, he was so different form Li and very caring. Li looked over at his pet and stopped, "hey, what's wrong with you?" he asked kneeling down to the white wolf "you haven't said much since we left Tenshi back there". Etowa-ru looked down, he wanted to tell the youth what he was thinking but was afraid that it may ruin their friendship, "Li" Etowa-ru started, "I say this and know I still care for you, but it wouldn't hurt you to act more like him". Li looked shocked for a minute and then turned to anger, "more like him!?" Li shouted "I would rather die then be anything like him".

Etowa-ru remained quiet, he was right about upsetting Li; he walked away, feeling like a scolded puppy. Li watched the wolf walk away and in a huff he leaned on a tree and scowled after the creature, "tells me to be more like that freak, who the hell does he think he is?" he seethed. Li turned his head when he heard twigs snap; standing there was a young man no older then fifteen years old, with dark brown hair, light hazel eyes, and a slightly pale complexion. The boy stepped down from where he stood and glared at Li with an unknown hatred burning in his eyes. Li remained cool and his demeanor did not waver; he watched the boy closely and stood his ground, he was not about to let this kid get the best of him.

The other teen smirked and unsheathed his sword, watching as the light that came through the trees shine on the blade, "you know" the teen began, "you should listen to that friend of yours. He may be a wolf, but he knows what he's talking about". Li didn't move, he had just met this other guy and already he was pissed beyond comprehension, "what are you talking about kid" Li asked, his voice laced with malice "you know nothing about me". The boy laughed and stood only two feet away from the irate teen, "I've seen that other man, Tenshi, he's quite skilled in the art of philosophy and fighting tactics" the youth said, "his heart is pure, and he cares for others, before himself. He's comfortable enough that he doesn't need to preach about pride to feel worthy of anything".

The boy smirked when he saw Li's reaction to this, "so, what about you? Is your soul pure or are you tainted by your lust for self pride and respect" he said tapping Li lightly with his sword "if so, fight me, right now". Li was now more enraged by this kid more then the freak; unsheathing his sword he moved from the tree and faced the shorter youth causing the boy to smirk again, "great, I was getting bored today anyway" he chided stepping closer to the raven-haired youth. The two hesitated at first, they wanted to get a good feel and perspective of the others moves; the air seemed to stop moving and there was no sound throughout the forest. Li made the first move, charging at the younger teen whom simply evaded the attack causing Li to slide into a tree. He pushed himself off the tree and glared at the boy.

"Come on, can't you fight?" the brown-haired youth asked circling around the furious thief; this time the boy attacked, clashing one blade with the other, causing sparks to emit. The boy jumped away and breathed deeply, this guy was stronger then he thought, but he knew he could beat him, "so, what's your name anyway?" the boy asked "I mean, if it's alright of course"; Li sneered, "my name is Li Yamasaki" he said through clenched teeth, "and you?" The boy laughed quietly at the look on Li's face, "Shinji Mirai" the boy said "of the Cypherians"; Li shrugged and attacked Shinji, cutting the boy across the chest, leaving the white shirt the youth was wearing covered with a line of crimson blood.

"What's wrong, can't you fight?" Li mocked watching the boy as he placed a hand over the cut on his shirt. Shinji looked up, his face was cool and calm, "swords are not to inflict harm on people" he said smoothly "but to protect those that are weaker then the men and women who wield them". Shinji smiled, he leapt from his perch on a rock and flung himself at Li, knocking the older teen to the ground and jumping off him onto the ground. Li rose of the ground, he was getting tired of this kid's stupidity and he realized that he could tolerate Tenshi more then this guy. Li's musings made him lose his concentration; it wasn't until he heard Shinji come at him did he finally register his foolishness. He felt the blow, quite hard, and he wouldn't be surprised if his ribs were broken; he watched as the trees and the figure looming over him spin before everything went black.

Shinji looked down at Li, he wished to spare the arrogant teens life, so he did, as he had seen the Chouwan do many times, hit the jerk with the back of his sword. "If you wish to get through life" Shinji told the unconscious youth, "then redeem yourself, be more like the others that treat you with kindness, only then will you find what you search for". Shinji sheathed his sword and walked away from the youth into the darkness from whence he came.

***Somewhere else in the forest***

Tenshi walked carelessly through the forest like many times before; he watched as the birds collected small twigs for their nests and rabbits or squirrels running back and fourth from possible enemies. He watched the sun shine through the branches and cascade on the rocks. He stopped when he noticed a body lying on the ground, not caring for his own safety he ran over to the person and looked down at it. Tenshi gasped, it was Li, his normally smug and hard exterior, looked pained, sad, and almost gentle. Tenshi placed his hand on Li's shoulder and gently shook him, "hey, wake up, are you alright?" he asked now shaking the teen harder, "come on Li, wake up!"

Tenshi was now beginning to panic; he hastily wiped tears away and flipped Li onto his back, trying anything to revive the fallen youth, "Come on wake up!" Tenshi yelled, straddling the raven-haired youth and practically banging the poor boy's head on the ground "don't be dead, you can't be dead!" Li groaned, his ribs hurt even more now and he couldn't explain why; it wasn't until he opened his eyes and saw Tenshi sitting on him did he understand why. Tenshi stared at Li with wide eyes and something else was in his eyes that Li noticed, fear. He stared into Tenshi's pale green eyes and found himself lost in the deep pools, the windows into the strange youth's soul. He felt himself lean towards Tenshi, but before he did anything he would regret he pushed the Chouwan off him.

"What's your problem anyway freak" Li said trying to get on his feet, but failing miserably //fuck, how hard did that kid hit me? \\ Li thought placing his hand on his side. Tenshi noticed the current state of the ebony-haired youth and kneeled down to help him, "here, let me help you?" he said putting his arms around Li's shoulders. The taller man pushed Tenshi away again and tried to rise to his feet but staggered and used a tree for support. Tenshi watched sadly as the wild youth tried to walk, "you know" Tenshi began "there aren't a lot of trees ahead, so you won't have anything to help you". Li stopped and looked ahead, the little freak was right, there were no more trees for miles.

"W-why do you even care?" Li asked clutching his side painfully, staggering to the nearest object, the open arms of Tenshi. Li looked up and blushed crimson as he stared at Tenshi, "I don't need your help" he said looking down at the ground; he felt so ashamed of himself, allowing someone to assist him in the simplest human function of walking. Tenshi wrapped his arms around the taller man's waist and held him securely; Li put his arm around Tenshi's shoulder for better support, "ready?" Tenshi asked smiling slightly to the angry teen, "you know, it wouldn't kill you to smile". Li growled lowly at the exuberant youth and began to walk slowly with the help of the Chouwan.

For an half an hour Tenshi and Li walked along the path towards Li's home; finally Li needed a break, he was set down near a tree, while Tenshi went and got water for him. Li looked up at the sky though the trees and noticed how the colours looked a lot like Tenshi's eyes //why am I thinking like this? \\ Li thought, blushing again //I don't like him, I don't! \\. Tenshi returned to where he had left the rude teen and saw Li blushing about something and talking to himself, "wow, how hard was that guy hit?" Tenshi asked quietly walking over to Li and kneeling down.

Li looked up, his eyes widened and he looked away; the last thing he needed was to let that stupid little freak to find out that he had been thinking about him. "Hey, are you okay Li?" Tenshi asked pressing a cool hand to Li's heated face, "you're awfully warm". //Oh my god stop it!!!! \\ Li's mind screamed, he hated this, he wasn't about to let himself be attracted to some little rat that gnawed his way through the trees just to piss him off further. Li scowled at the smiling face above him and harshly pushed the boy away, "stay out of my face, you grotesque little worm" he yelled causing Tenshi to stare down at his knees. Li knew he was crying and that only furthered to enrage him, "stop crying you idiot," yelled again, "act like a man!"

Tenshi looked up, tears streaming down his face, it wasn't until Li saw this did he truly feel guilty, for the first time in years, "tell me why you hate me? Why it's wrong for me to cry?" Tenshi asked reaching behind his back and unsheathing his dagger. He got up and approached the wounded teen, and fell to his knees with the dagger still in hand, "do I have to make you cry Li?" Tenshi asked, his eyes and voice completely void of any emotion as he grabbed Li by the collar of his shirt, and bringing down the dagger until it grazed the ebony-haired youths neck lightly, "do I? Or will you fight back like a man?" Li watched the Chouwan closely, he had just met him, so he wasn't too sure what the silver-haired youth was capable of, not that he cared of course, but it was still good to know your enemies, even if they were attractive and kind of cute. Li shook his head, he couldn't believe he was having those thoughts now, when some crazed man was holding a dagger to his neck //I'm acting like some prissy little girl \\ Li thought

Li felt the blade move away, he gazed up at his assailant and noticed that Tenshi had backed off quite a bit and was staring at Li like a rabid animal, "even if I wanted to kill you" Tenshi whispered "I couldn't, I never can and never will. I've seen many ways to kill a man, some of which have been quite gruesome and some just plain disturbing". Tenshi picked up the dagger in one hand and watched the blade with fascination before bringing it down on to his arm, and dragging it to his wrist, leaving a trail of crimson blood. Li cringed at the site before him, he never thought that Tenshi would self mutilate himself, "ah, HEY STOP THAT!" he yelled dragging himself over to Tenshi and prying the dagger from his hands, "don't do that, are you crazy?"

Tenshi smirked at Li and grabbed the dagger from his hand, "well, that got you moving didn't it Yamasaki-san?" Tenshi asked sheathing the blade behind his back "so, we should get going ne?" Li's face fell, that little freak had tricked him in doing what he had no clue, but still, to hurt himself for some weird purpose, "yea, but your arm?" Li asked pointing to the blood trail. Tenshi looked down and smiled, "haha oh yea" he said pressing a hand to the wound. Li watched in awe as a soft glow was emitted from Tenshi's hand and the cut disappeared without a trace of any damage being done. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!!!?" Li asked looking grabbing Tenshi's arm and looking at it closely, "that was, that was…really cool". Tenshi started to laugh at Li's sudden outburst, to the point where he was wiping tears away.

"Oh my gods, you should have seen your face!" Tenshi laughed, followed by small snorts, until he was on his back in hysterics, "aha, *sigh* good times". Li couldn't help but smile at the little fit Tenshi had gone into, never had he ever enjoyed hearing someone laugh so much, but then again, not many people he knew would laugh like that. Tenshi sat up and stared at Li with a goofy grin, "so, ready to go?" he asked standing up and offering his hand to the emerald-eyed teen, which he eventually took. On the way to the destination set by the thief, Li and Tenshi got to know each other; both like to fight and enjoyed archery, but found out that their likes and dislikes were the complete opposites.

After a few more miles, they finally arrived at Li's home. With Tenshi's support they made their way to group of men, that were busy gambling or playing knife games, "What the hell happened to you Li?" one of the men asked looking him over, "did you get into another fight or what?" Li nodded, he did however keep it from the group of men that it was a kid that injured him so badly; his concentration was cut short when he felt someone else's arms hold him up. "Well now, what do we have here?" another man said, wrapping his arms around Tenshi's shoulders, "oh yea" another one chimed in "he's a cutie isn't he? Hahaha". Tenshi looked between the two men and suddenly felt incredibly nervous; he saw another one approach him and look him over, "hmm, quite an interesting sight, if I say so myself" the man said "such light hair and eyes, he's not a normal person".

Li noticed the Chouwans uneasiness, and staggered over, "hey guys, leave him alone" he asked leaning on Tenshi for support, "he helped me out". The three men that were bothering Tenshi looked between each other and smirked, "well" one of them said "that doesn't matter, we can still have some fun with him". Li felt anger gnawing away at him; he didn't like the way these men looked at Tenshi or what they said, so he did the one thing he could think of, he grabbed Tenshi's face and placed his lips on the Chouwans. All time seemed to stop for Li, he had never felt anything like what he felt right now, sure he had kissed girls before, but until then, it meant nothing to him, but this was different, and it scared him.

Li pulled away from the stunned youth and turned his attention back to the group of men, "see, he belongs to me" Li said, accenting the last word. Tenshi was still in shock; he was pressing his fingers to his lips to see if it was real or not, never in his life had anyone just done that. Normally they just made an attempt to do take advantage of him, but this was different, Li was almost protecting him. "Anyway, I need a doctor or something, so this way Tenshi" Li said pointing to a small tent not far from where they stood; Tenshi obliged and straightened up and helped Li to the tent.

Inside sat an old woman and three girls, who were busy preparing what looked like medicine, but then again Tenshi wasn't entirely sure. The girl turned when she heard them enter; she was dark skinned, had long green hair, bright green eyes, and wore a long emerald green dress robe. The other girls remained focus on what they did, but it didn't stop Tenshi from getting a better look at them; he carefully set Li down and was about to leave when Li pulled him down next to him. "What happened to you Li?" the old woman asked; Tenshi turned when he heard giggles coming from the girls in the tent. "I think Li-chan has been getting himself into trouble again, right Kaze?" the green haired girl asked another girl, obviously her twin, only she had white hair and pale blue eyes.

One girl with red and orange hair laughed lightly, "or maybe he made a pass at the kings daughter, right Yuki?" the girl asked another mirror image of the other, "you're probably right Kaji" she agreed. Tenshi counted, there was Kaze, the white haired girl, Yuki, the girl with blue hair, Kaji, the girl with red hair, but the other one he wasn't sure of until Kaze spoke. "Perhaps, Li-kun was taught a lesson, is my analysis correct Sono?" The old woman looked up from checking on Li and frowned, "you four girls can leave, I no longer need your assistance" she told them, returning to the raven-haired youth. Tenshi watched as the four sisters left, giggling like fools and leaving the tent.

Li rolled his eyes at the girls, they were all twenty years old, but you would never know it considering the way the acted, and ever since Li could remember they always delighted in making fun of him. Li turned his head when he heard laughing; he saw Tenshi leaning on a table with a smile on his face, obviously laughing at what the four sisters had said. "Hey, shut up you" Li said directing his comment to the silver-haired youth, which only caused Tenshi to giggle quietly. After a few minutes the old woman was done wrapping Li's injury and allowed him to leave, with the help of Tenshi. Outside the men from before were now busy harassing another person, therefore allowing Tenshi and Li to get away from the insane men and to the main house.

"Li, who is that?" Atsuko asked looking up from his work and making eye contact with Tenshi, "I've never seen him before". Li, again with the help from Tenshi, walked over to the aged man and sat down, accidentally knocking over some of the papers on the table. "Father, this is Tenshi, an acquaintance of mine". Atsuko leaned forward to get a better look at the Chouwan, and made a noise in his throat, "well, he's quite unusual, where are you from young man?" he asked placing the papers down. Tenshi looked over at Li and saw the other teen nod slightly, "oh, I'm from Rokushin" he replied staring the older man in the eyes, "I follow King Tomoe Rokushin". Atsuko smiled slightly and leaned back into his chair, "you follow him do you?" he asked crossing his hands over his keens "and how goes that, Tenshi?"

The Chouwan raised a silver eyebrow "I'm afraid I don't quite understand sir" Tenshi replied concisely "care to elaborate on that?" Atsuko leaned forward again and glared at the youth, "you do know everything there is to know about Tomoe, don't you?" he asked picking up a glass of wine from beside him. Tenshi nodded his head, "I know some sir, but Tomoe likes to keep to himself a lot". Atsuko laughed and drank again, "well, I have been following Rokushin for sometime now" he boasted, then became serious, "would you like to know all you can know?" Tenshi nodded, he wasn't entirely sure if this weird man, which was strangely enough Li's father, really knew anything about Tomoe, "alright sir, tell me what you know" he asked.

Atsuko smiled and nodded, "very well, were to begin" he mused aloud "if you know Tomoe, he always has certain times where he is excessively angry or mad, well, he was never really like that. As a child he grew up happy with his mother, father and three sisters in a small village. One day he went somewhere for hours, and while he was gone, a group of people showed up and burned his village to the ground. Tomoe only six years old returned and was unable to locate his parents and eventually passed out from the shock. When he woke the next day, he had been found by a slave trader and later sold to a very cruel man that delighted in beating him, and taking advantage of him. He finally managed to leave the horrid man, when he was fourteen, after he killed him to protect himself from another ravishing. Later he went to a place called Gaijin, where all the Chouwan's normally lived, and that was the last anyone saw him until he took over his adoptive father's throne".

Tenshi stared at nothing, "wow sir, that pretty well sums it all up," he said quietly, rising to his feet, "how do you know so much?" Atsuko shrugged and again tool a long drink from his wine "I told you before, I just know" he said staring down at the red liquid in his glass, "but I know nothing about you, tell me your story, if you will?" Tenshi was about to reply when he saw Li stand, "not now father, Tenshi has traveled quite a ways to help me, I think he's due for a little rest" he said staring out the window, "besides, I'm sure he doesn't want to impose". Tenshi nodded, understanding that Li didn't want him to confide any secrets or information about himself to his father, "so, we'll be leaving now father" Li said, exiting the small house, with Tenshi following behind.

"I don't have any respect for people?" Tenshi asked to the retreating form of Li; he ran after him and stopped the lewd youth, "you say that, and you treat your father like that, what the hell is wrong with you?" he asked, his vibrant eyes narrowing and turning cold. Li shrugged and continued walking, he was not about to justify that with an answer; he knew he was being disrespectful, but he had no idea why, and for one thing couldn't understand why he didn't care. Tenshi growled low in his throat, "you fucking coward!" he yelled, causing Li to stop and turn to him, his face hard and cold. Tenshi trudged up to him and scowled at the black haired youth "you preach to me about self respect and pride, yet you go and diminish that with your actions" he seethed grabbing Li by the collar "the I need to know why you persist in telling me I'm wrong, why do you hate me!?"

Li grasped Tenshi's hands and forced them down, having a little difficulty, for expecting the shorter youth to be weaker in strength, but in fact he met Li's with great force. "You hurt me, so I cried, yes it's true, but you know, I can cry, and if one can't, then they must be dead inside" Tenshi said "but it doesn't make me a bad person, this is just what I believe". Li stared at him for a long while; finally he let Tenshi's hands go and walked past the enraged Chouwan, "you don't understand what I've gone through Tenshi" Li said quietly, staring down the small cliff and wondered what would happen if he threw himself down it. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck brush and turned to see Tenshi glaring at him. "I know nothing about you really, I understand that, but that doesn't mean that you can treat me like shit, just because you're so fucked up" seethed Tenshi now standing in front of Li near the edge of the cliff.

Li reached out and grabbed Tenshi's shoulder; he began to push the other teen away from him, "ah, hey what are you doing!?" Tenshi yelled grabbing Li's arm to keep himself balanced "stop it, you can't kill this way if that's what you're thinking?" Li smirked and pulled Tenshi away from the ledge and laughed at the scowl that the Chouwan was giving him, "hey, I was kidding" he said, "where's your sense of humour?" Tenshi eyes widened, it was a joke, and this guy was willing to go through with it, just to Tenshi out. "What the hell's wrong with you? Tenshi screamed pushing the taller youth away, "I don't know what you're thinking, but I don't like to be scared so I piss myself". Li laughed again and proceeded to his favorite place under a tree; never had he had so much fun annoying one person as much as Tenshi, there was just something about the Chouwan that he liked.

Tenshi shifted uncomfortably and began to walk away; Li saw this and reached out to grab his foot, "hey what are you doing Yamasaki?" Tenshi asked pulling his foot away "I got you here safe, you had your fun, now I'll leave you alone". Li stood up and approached Tenshi, "you still mad about what I did to you?" he asked, crossing his arms lazily over his chest "if so, then you sure like to keep a grudge". Tenshi scowled at the taller youth and walked away; he had never met anyone so conceited, rue, and completely twisted. Li laughed again and followed after Tenshi, even though his chest was starting to hurt, he couldn't help but not want to bug the smaller teen, it was just so much fun, that and he wanted to see how far it could go.

"Aww, what's wrong Tenshi? Don't like it when people act stupid and childish around you?" Li asked stopping Tenshi and pushing him back slightly, "hate it when people get in your face and treat you like a fool, is that it?" That was all that it took, Li held his face in his hands, blood was falling from his nose and mouth, and he had been hit in the face by Tenshi's fist. It was a shock to Li, he never thought, even though he had only just met Tenshi, that he would hit him so hard, especially hard enough to draw blood. Li narrowed his eyes at the Chouwan and hit him with enough force that he sent the other man flying back and onto the ground, //I bet he'll be bawling like a baby \\ Li thought, smirking as he walked over to the fallen Chouwan.

Li gasped when he looked at the other teen; Tenshi's normal soft, happy look, was replaced with one full of malice and hatred. Tenshi's usually bright, happy green eyes, were now hard, stone coloured and lacking any of the sheen they always possessed. "Tenshi, are you okay?" Li stuttered backing away from the intimidating gaze "I-I didn't mean it". Tenshi smirked, he was well aware of his drastic change in personality and he didn't care, he was glad that he was intimidating Li this much, it was quite refreshing. "No Li, I wouldn't mind someone like myself, but when you act like that, just to taunt and hurt me, then I do mind, very much so". Li stared in quiet awe at Tenshi; the youth had a strange and mysterious air about him, and Li had obtained a newfound respect for the young man, and knew that he would go far in life.

Tenshi removed a cloth from inside his tunic and handed it to Li "here" he said handing the cloth over, "I'm sorry I hit you so hard, I didn't mean to make you bleed". Li grabbed the offered fabric and placed it on his swollen lip "you got a good right hook, I'll give you that" Li commented, rising off the ground, "I take it that you fight a lot, right?" Tenshi smirked slightly and turned, and walked away from the other teen //I have searched for many days to find you Yang, and now that I have, I know that you will search for me as well, to find answers to your questions \\ Tenshi mused. //I just hope that the next time our paths cross, that it will be for good and not what I have been foreseeing for many years now, I'll just have to wait \\.

Li watched as Tenshi disappeared from his sight, and he suddenly felt as though a part of him had left, "what is it with you?" Li whispered "why does it feel like I lost my best friend? And why do I wish you hadn't left? And why now, do I truly feel alone?" Li racked his mind with many thoughts, but couldn't understand the connection between him and the strange youth //were we destined to meet and maybe become friends? \\ he thought //are you the one the winged being that has entered my dreams before, and warned me of coming horrors, or are you the one that watches over me? \\. Li remained still, watching as Tenshi's form blended with the trees, until it was as if he never stood on the earth.

***Midnight***

//This is getting worse, pretty soon I won't be able to control it \\ A lone figure ran down the deserted streets of Yoake. Its feet pounded the hard surface, causing water to splash from collected drops of the skies tears, as it washed away any remain that the world was calm and serene. The figure, drenched in the sorrow of the clouds, ran. From what was unknown to anyone but himself, never stopping and, never ceasing his turmoil. The figure stopped finally, out of breathe, sweat trickling down its face falling from it's intense blue eyes and into the pool of tears from the heavens.

The figure began his escape, but from what was still the question, there was no stranger looming in the shadows, threatening to inflict harm on it. There was no creature out for his blood; there was only the person, a person whose pain was oblivious to the world and to others. Nothing mattered, a persons religion, race, or sex, it was all the same to it that night, as it pushed open the doors of a large temple, where the spirit that haunts, could not hurt it any further. Inside, the altar was bathed in moonlight that was able to peek out from behind the harsh clouds that covered it. The person fell to his knees and looked up to a large monument of an unknown god, "please help" the figure breathed out raggedly "I know not who you are, but please help me, save me from, from myself". The person was met with silence, not a sound was heard except the harshness of the cold wind on the shutters of the temple. The person collapsed on the altar, either from the sadness of his pleas not being heard, or from the exhaustion caused by the monster he had known for most of his life. The person lied there for minutes, until a sound was heard somewhere in the ashram, though at first it was thought to be the wind, it began to have a tone of pleasantness and it eased the jangled nerves of the fallen form.

"Who are you?" the voice asked hauntingly; the form rose from the floor and looked around him, the wind howled and thunder crashed, but the soothing sounds of the specter remained, and a white mist began to appear in front of the person, "who are you?" it asked again. The person breathed in deeply as it stared at the sight before him, "do you wish to know my name or my title?" it asked. The mist, although having no physical properties, looked as though it had nodded, "I wish to know what you were called when your soul was pure" it asked, "when your hands were not stained by the blood of the innocent, before you gave up your spirit to evil". The person nodded, swallowing hard, "The name I went by, the one that I was known as before my body was tainted, and what I go by now, is Tomoe Roku" he said, "I can tell you know more".

The incubus moved and circled around Tomoe, causing his mahogany-coloured hair to sway and fall around his flawless face, "what is it that you want?" the apparition asked, "only when I know, can I perhaps help you". Tomoe shook with an unknown fear, as if everything in his heart and soul depended on one request, "I need to know, why I am being punished? Why did so many have to die over something I couldn't control" Tomoe pleaded "and why did I have to ruin the life of my loves son?" The apparition remained silent and settled on the alter, "I know not how to answer those questions" it told him, "I only know that, it is up to you to set things right". Tomoe ran a hand shakily though his hair and shuddered, "I know that I will do something, no, that he will do something to hurt the ones I care for" he seethed. "As soon as I leave this sanctuary, he will take over and do unthinkable things to my friends and loved ones".

The spirit floated over to Tomoe and cupped his face in its hands, "don't be afraid of what may come Tomoe," it said, finally taking on the appearance of the man's lost love. "Ai?" he whispered, reaching out and trying to touch her beautiful face with his fingers, "is it really you?" The spirit of the woman nodded and smiled, she was just how Tomoe remembered, her long teal hair cascaded down her back, and her violet eyes sparkled, it was now that Tomoe realized exactly how much Tenshi resembled his mother. "You have to warn Tenshi" Tomoe said holding one of her hands that was still pressed to his face, "I've tried, but he doesn't allow me to tell Tenshi anything, and he hurts him so much, you have to do something!"

Ai remained quiet, she looked down and Tomoe could see tears fall from her eyes, "I cannot even approach him yet, it isn't the time" she said, "he and I will meet soon, but the details of what is to happen I know nothing of. All I can tell my son, is to be wary of you, the darkness has almost consumed your heart, but he is still oblivious to it, and I am only allowed to reveal so much to him". Tomoe stood silently and listened to the sounds of his breathing and the outside; he wrapped his arms around the form of his lost love and held her for what felt like hours. Ai placed her hands on him and gently pushed him away, "I'm sorry, but my time in this realm is diminishing" she whispered "I must leave now".

Tomoe nodded slowly, "so, you leave me yet again Ai?" he asked looking away, but she moved his head back and kissed him gently on the lips. "I will never leave you Tomoe" she said "not as long as you remember me and not as long as Tenshi lives, he is a part of my heart, just as much as you". Ai kissed him one final time before disappearing into the darkness from whence she came, leaving Tomoe all alone, in the cold, dark temple, //I have to warn Tenshi, if not, I fear what will become of him \\ he thought sitting in the pews, staring blankly at the monument. //Please, whoever governs this world and it's people, protect everyone from what he will do, this is all I ask \\ Tomoe prayed, closing his eyes, and for once in fifteen years, he slept without dreams of evil and pain.

End of chapter 6