Fan Fiction ❯ Stars ❯ Bad Day ( Chapter 1 )

Bad Day

The wind picked up and the clouds ran through the sky, the stars shone bright. This night was the night, the one he had been waiting for. His red eyes groped through the dark sky searching for it, the one star that would lead him to invincibility.

A quick flash of light grabbed his attention and he stared to the left. He watched the object of his desire fall closer to the earth, it got brighter and brighter until even he had to turn his eyes away in fear of becoming blind. A loud crash and violent rumble of the ground signified it had landed, the star was finally here.

He grinned and if you knew this man, like some others did, you would not want to be in his presence when he smirked let alone grinned. He drug his feet along the grass, it became drier and drier as he walked closer to his destination, and he could see numerous pieces of the rock. The closer he got the bigger the pieces became, the grass was burnt and charred here, eventually the ground became bald.

He walked to the edge of the crater; he kneeled down and surveyed the area. His eyes filled with worry, it had to be here. He jumped into the crater, being sure not to touch the extremely hot remains of the fallen star. He blinked his red eyes, the steam and dirt was irritating.

"Where is it?" he had muttered to himself, wishing the object would sprout legs and walk to him. His eyes widened and he got down on all fours. His nose jumped slightly as he smelt the sulfur cloaked dirt. He looked closely at the ground, it had to be close, and it had to be there. He gasped, and blinked over and over, hoping his eyes were playing tricks. How could this be? He barred his teeth and drove a clenched fist into the hot ground. "God damnit!"

He removed his hand and sat back on his feet, letting the wind blow through his hair that had fallen from its tie. Drawing in a deep breath he stood, then he exhaled. The taste of sulfur was imbedded in his mouth. He placed his burnt hand into his pocket and climbed from the crater. As he walked away he didn't look back, he walked into the night confused, wondering... how could someone have gotten there before himself?

~*~

The young girl flipped through the air. She slid as she landed on the dry ground finally coming to a stop she laughed and looked at her master, she held her pudao* in front of her with both hands. She didn't point it at him, knowing he could and would easily just jump in front of her and knock it from her grasp. She held it close to her, letting the blade slide a hairs width from the ground. Her sensei took a step to the side; she did as well making sure she stayed right in front of him. He was brutal when it came to side attacks.

Knowing it would be extremely difficult to even lay a single strike against her sensei, she slammed the blade into the ground and jumped up; she swung her legs out and pulled her pudao from the earth as she rose in the air. She held it tightly as she fell to the ground, feet first. Her sensei shook his head and jumped into the air. Her eyes widened, she hadn't expected him to join her in the air. He was a mere blur to her eyes and she held the handle to her paudo in front of her face as a guard, her left hand was empty and ready to block any attack he may try.

She heard his familiar chuckle and ducked her head as she grasped the handle of her pudao and shoved it over her head and in front of her back. The incoming swipe of her sensei was blocked. She sighed knowing she just saved herself a few weeks of a painful recovery. Her feet met the earth and she rolled to the side then got to her feet. She didn't stand straight up knowing that was just an invitation for a blow to the head. Instead she had kept her left knee bent so her rear was practically sitting on her ankle. Then her right leg was stretched straight out to the side and her foot rested sideways, comfortably on the ground, also using her left hand for support she held her pudao in her right hand behind her back.

"You're being a little tougher than usual Masuyo Sensei.. rough night last night I suppose?" She looked around for any sign of her teacher. Then looked up as she heard his voice reply. "Nothing to be concerned about Michi, but I suggest you stop slacking. I can tell you have been practicing. But You have not slept well in a while. Also, you are not eating as much as you used to. Something troubling you?" Masuyo pulled his gunsen* from the insides of his robes then jumped from the branch he had been crouched on. With a flick of his wrist the metal fan opened, Michi once again rolled out of the way. He landed with his back to the girl.

"No my lord, nothing has been troubling me. I find it easier to practice without the cramps I get from eating my fill." she silently pulled a kunai* from her belt and ran forward. She threw the small weapon towards her sensei, knowing since he wasn't himself today he'd fall for the bait. Which he did. Masuyo turned and grabbed the blade and received a firm kick to his right shoulder.

"Wow Masuyo-sensei, you really are out of it today." Michi walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Does it hurt?" He rolled his eyes and snorted. Dropping the kunai he walked away, his head swimming in its own world of thoughts. He was in no condition or mood to spar with Michi at this time. She on the other hand just put her kunai away and walked in the opposite direction, towards the heart of the woods. She was sure she'd run into someone that would be worth fighting.

~*~

Kiyoshi walked with his head slumped, one would think he found his feet extremely interesting. The young man raised his head and turned his eyes toward the heavens, he couldn't see the sky thanks to the trees coverage. He tilted his head right then left letting his neck crack and pop. He heard footsteps and stopped walking, they we're defiantly coming his way.

Wanting to avoid any confrontation, Kiyoshi jumped up into one of the trees. He stared at the ground, not something new to him. He watched as a tall man with blood red eyes walked underneath him. The man stopped right next to the tree Kiyoshi was sitting in, the strange man stood there in silence. Then walked on in the same direction he had been heading in.

Kiyoshi exhaled and jumped down from the branch. "And you are?" he heard a soft voice speak. The surprised boy looked over his shoulder, there stood a girl, probably the same age as he. She was extremely beautiful, yet her body had many scars. He hadn't seen so many scars on a woman before. Her eyes were a light grey colour and her hair was tied back sloppily.

"Why would you care?" He then felt a small poke on his lower back and looked down, he hadn't even noticed the girls' weapon. "A pudao? Interesting choice of weaponry for a woman." The girl pulled the weapon back and held it next to her. With the bottom of the handle on the ground the blade reached about 3 inches above her head.

"Infact it's interesting enough to just see a woman with a weapon." The girl rolled her pale eyes. Kiyoshi wasn't sure if she could see fully or clearly with such pale eyes. "I didn't ask for your opinion on my weapon or my sex. I asked who you are." He turned to face the girl completely." My apologies... " He looked at her figuring she'd tell him her name. "Who the hell are you? I have never seen you around here, and with weapons such as yours I'd think you were a threat." Kiyoshi looked at the girl with a strange expression. "My weapons you say? How do you know what weapons I have. I have them hidden beneath my cloak."

The girl shifted but didn't express any intention of answering the boy. "Look, answer me now. Or I'll just kill you and be on my way." She said glaring with her eerie eyes.

~*~

Masuyo had made it to his small home and had started making some tea. The news he had received earlier wouldn't cease to disturb him. He had heard that the star did collide as it was rumored to. But now the one thing that he had feared had happened. The heart of the star was gone. He feared it had gotten into the wrong hands. If it was in the hands of someone evil Masuyo wouldn't be surprised if Armageddon was right around the corner.

He poured himself his tea and sipped it, his mind was buzzing with so many possibilities. Perhaps the heart was destroyed when the star crashed to the earth? He doubted it, knowing the story of the star he knew it would take more than that to destroy it. Masuyo was so deep in thought he did not notice the person who had just walked into his home.

Sipping his tea once again he stared straight ahead, but he did not see the wall. His mind was surfing through the tales he had been told of the star and what could happen now if the tales were true. A sharp pain ran through Masuyo's entire body. His hands went ridged and his teacup slipped from his grasp and went crashing to the floor. It shattered into many pieces.

His eyes became heavy and the pain in his torso was too much to bear. He failed to see his assailant and fell to the ground with a thud. His blood pooled around his body, staining his clothes and tainting his skin. His eyes closed and he exhaled his last breath. The last person on his mind was the young girl he had been sparring with earlier. He hoped she was still alive.

~*~

"Gyah!" Shouted Kiyoshi as he deflected another attack from the girl. She was pretty damn strong, stronger than she looked no doubt. She trusted her pudao at him again, and once again he blocked it. He had mastered his yuen yang blades* long ago, they protected his arms easily thanks to their design. They were also easy to attack with since it had so many different blades.

"I give you credit boy, you're more skilled than you look." Michi thrusted the pudao at him again, knowing he'd deflect it the same way, but this time she maneuvered the blade through the opening between his blade and his hand. Then pinned it to the ground. She held onto the handle of her weapon as she jumped up and swung herself around to kick him in the face.

Unfortunately he figured out her move and had let go of the blade she had pinned down and dodged her attack. He leaned back far enough to let her feet go over him. His free hand shot up and grabbed her ankle. He then yanked her and her grip slipped from the handle of her pudao. Now she had her hands resting on the ground, her ankle in the boys hand and his blade at her stomach.

Not a good position to be in.

The blood was rushing to her head, she looked up at him and he looked down at her. He began to chuckle and she realized her dress had flopped over her stomach exposing her undergarments to the boy. Lucky for her there was too much blood in her face for him to notice her blushing. She sneered at the laughing boy and grasped his own ankle.

"I really think I have the upper hand here girl. I'll let you go if you tell me your name." His voice was one of triumph, he was sure she'd give in now. "Well boy, you shouldn't think -it doesn't suit you." he looked down at her puzzled then let go of her ankle as he felt her teeth dig into his. She let her feet fall to the ground and stood up. She shoved off the ground, pulled a short back flip in the air and landed next to her puado. Michi pulled it from the earth and stuck the blade to the boys' throat.

"How about, I'll let you go if you tell me your name." She said with a sneer.

"Michi-sama!" shouted a familiar voice. "Michi-sama!"

"Michi eh? Nice name." Kiyoshi said knowing she'd probably be aggravated. She simply glared at him and lowered her weapon.

"What is it Nori-kun?" she said obviously annoyed. Couldn't the boy pick a better time to bother her?

"Michi-sama, I have some terrible news." The girl looked at him with confusion in her eyes. Never has he come to her with terrible news, its usually unfortunate or bad news. But terrible?

"Michi-sama, Masuyo-sensei.. has been.. slain." Nori broke into a fit of tears, and Michi dropped her Pudao. "S-slain!?"

Kiyoshi looked between the two and picked up his blade. He shoved them under his cloak and onto his back. He watched the young boy cry and the girl stand in shock. Perhaps he should leave? He looked to Michi, the excitement he saw in her face was gone and replaced by a creepy sort of calmness. He looked to her eyes and noticed they were now a piercing green, no longer the pale grey he first saw.

"Nori-kun, who? who did this to him?" She kneeled down and picked up her pudao. "Who dares to slay my master?!" she said in a raised voice.

Nori looked at her then looked down to the ground. "Nobody knows Michi-sama. No one saw anybody enter or leave the hut." Michi's grasp on her pudao became so firm her knuckles were white. She looked over to Kiyoshi and as quick as a flash had her blade in his throat again. "Who the hell are you, I am not playing games. Answer me now if you value your life at all."

"Kiyoshi. That is my name." He knew better than to press his luck.

~*~

Nanashi wiped the blood from his katana*. He looked around the hut for any more life forms that may have been witnesses to the senseis' death. Satisfied there was no one there, he walked from the hut and into the nearby trees. At that precise moment he watched a small boy run into the hut with a smile on his face calling out for "Michi".

It hadn't even been ten seconds until Nanashi heard a startled scream from the hut, then he saw the boy bolt from the house and into the forest. Calling out still for "Michi" Nanashi stood there, wondering if he should await this Michi and kill whoever it was too. But he decided against it when he saw how many locals were gathering to the hut now.

He looked at the hut for a moment and pulled two small needles from a pocket of his robes. He whispered a small spell and placed them on the ground. Without hesitation or looking back, he walked back into the forest with a stone cold look on his face. Unfortunately for him, the hardest part wasn't over.

~*~

Michi jumped from tree branch to tree branch, then from tree branch to the floor of the woods. Whichever way was faster for her to return home. She knew Nori was following, she doubted Kiyoshi was though, she couldn't sense him anymore. Michi jumped from the trees into the outskirts of the town. She could see the villagers gathered around Masuyo-senseis home.

"Move!" she shouted, pushing people out of her way, she ran into the home and made her way to Masuyo's body. She knelt down beside him. Someone had placed a white cloth over his body, she could see the blood soaking through some of it. She looked around the room, for any clues of who had done this. But the place looked like it always did, clean and in order.

Michi sighed and stood up, she bowed to the few men inside the hut who were praying for Masuyo. She walked into the small room that was hers and sat down on her futon. How could her day get any worse?

A small tap on her thin door was heard, then it slid open. Nori walked in and bowed low. "Michi-sama... what are you going to do now?" She heard the concern in his voice, she could also hear him sniffing still. For some reason she just couldn't cry. She couldn't remember a time when she had cried ever since being with Masuyo-sensei. He had taught her to be strong and not let anything get in her way.

"Nori just leave me." She flopped back on her futon and stared at the ceiling. Surely since Masuyo had died they will give the hut to someone else. It was small, but it was very nice. Plus she wasn't high ranking at all for any sort of living accommodation this nice.

Michi sighed realizing it was all downhill from here for a while. She heard Nori leave her room and heard the people leave the hut with Masuyo's body, which most likely would be cremated soon. She then heard people cleaning up the blood from the floor, she closed her eyes. She could think better after a nap, a nap was exactly what she needed.

~*~

Kiyoshi walked the direction he had been before his interruptions. He kept thinking about Michi and her eyes. The girl had seen his weapons even though they were under his cloak. But then her eyes were a normal beautiful green last he looked. Strange.

The look on her face when she had learned of the death of this Masuyo was unnerving. She was so calm, yet he could see the shock and sadness in her face. Then she just took off after finding out his name. He stopped walking and looked around. Something was wrong, out of place. He began to run in the direction of the uncomfortable aura.

He came to a village the aura was acting oddly. It would be strong one minute and weak the next. The aura was coming from a small hut near him, in the outskirts of the village. He walked up to it and tried to open the door but it wouldn't move. He stood back and kicked the door, surely had it been a normal day the thin door would've shattered under so much pressure and impact.

~*~

Michi awoke with a gasp, her eyes shot open and everything around her was a haze. Something was wrong. She sat up and looked around, her door was still closed and her room was still normal. But she felt it wasn't the same outside her bedroom door. What's going on?

She got to her feet and grabbed her pudao, Slowly she made her way to her door. Knowing it could be anyone or anything she slid the blade between the wall and the door. She slowly slid it open and looked out into the main room.

Nothing.

It was all clear. Was she just dreaming? Or acting paranoid? either was likely. Michi held her pudao by her side but no longer as a necessity, just because it was already in her hand. She walked into the main room and could still see where the blood had been on the floor. She walked to the front door and opened it, a swift wind swept through the doorway, through her hair carrying in the scent and leaves of sakura blossoms.

She smiled and dropped her pudao, she inhaled the sweet scent and closed her eyes. Slowly forgetting her troubles of the day. Wait.. troubles? What troubles. She didn't have any troubles. Her life was perfect.

Michi walked out into the yard, so many sakuras covered the grass it was like a pearl ocean. She spun around in a daze and fell backward onto the soft grass. She lay there watching the sakuras fall, some landed on her hands, some on her toes, one landed on her nose. She giggled and smelled the sweet air.

"Hello!!?" She heard someone shout, it sounded as if someone was in a panic. But who could be panicking at a time like this? "Anybody in there?!" In where, she was outside swimming in sakura blossoms. "Hello Anyone!?" Michi began to feel warm. She looked up at the bright sun but quickly looked away. "Hello!??!!" She looked around but couldn't see anybody.

The sun seemed to be turning redder, it was getting warmer, way too warm for summer time. Michi jumped up and decided to go rest inside where it would probably be cooler if she put a fan on. "Hello!! Someone OPEN THE DOOR!" Michi looked around again. Suddenly her fingertips we're becoming extremely warm and her vision became fuzzy.

She fell to her knees grasping her throat, choking for air. The sakura blossoms disappeared, the sun vanished. Michi sat straight up coughing and looked around, the hut was on fire. She jumped up and grabbed her pudao. Practically choking she made her way to the front door, constantly putting out the little fires that would catch on her clothes.

She tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge. "Hello! Anybody in there?! Hello!" That voice.. she had heard it in the field... in her dream. "Yes! I'm in here! Get me out!"

~*~

Kiyoshi could tell someone was in the hut, that was why he didn't leave right away. But when no one answered his many calls he was worried it was too late. The sound of someone inside coughing made him work harder. But the damned door just wouldn't open! "Just stay calm I'll get you out!" He shouted as he pulled his cloak off. He threw it away from the hut and grabbed his blades.

"Alright back away from the door!" He saw the shadow of the person inside fade and he ran towards the door. He swiped at it making it crack and rip but it wouldn't open. It was obvious someone wanted whoever was inside -dead. He continued swiping at the door, small slivers of light shone through but nothing happened that would help.

~*~

Michi coughed hard, smoke was surrounding her and fighting its way into her lungs. She fell to her knees, knowing the air would be even a little bit clearer. She gasped and rolled to the side when she felt something brush by her leg. Now holding her pudao tightly looking around. Was someone else in there with her? Michi coughed even more, she realized she had rolled right next to one of the larger flames.

It was difficult to look through the smoke filled room, she couldn't tell if anyone else was with her or not. Could it of been the same person that had killed Masuyo?

"Are you ok in there?!" She heard the boy shout from the door, it still hadn't opened. "I am for now!" She said than went through another fit of coughs. She closed her eyes and coughed harshly into her hands. It was becoming painful now. Michi knew if she didn't get out of there soon, she would die. Her coughing ceased for a brief moment when she felt a sharp pain on her lower leg.

Michi gritted her teeth and gave a small cry of pain. She looked down and saw a snake had attached itself to her leg and was winding the rest of his body around her legs. She rammed her pudao into the snake, not caring if she hit herself. It flopped dead to the ground. Its head was still attached to her leg. She picked it up and threw it away.

The body on the ground flopped, Michi stared at it, ready to strike if something weird happened. She watched as it began to form a new head. Michi reached back with her weapon and just as she was going to split the snake into halves again, there was a loud creak above her and the ceiling collapsed. She screamed and became pinned to the ground under the heavy bar that once held up the main room ceiling.

~*~

Kiyoshi watched the house collapse and jumped onto the remaining roof then into the burning building. "Where are you!" He looked around at the floor and saw a small hand grasping the handle of what seemed to be some sort of weapon, he figured the rest of the body was under the burning rubble. "Hold on!" he ran over and began picking up pieces and throwing them off to the side. Quickly he made his way to the girl who was trapped. He grabbed her around her stomach and hoisted her through the hole in the ceiling and into clean air.

He landed a good distance from the hut and placed the girl on the grass. She began a fit of coughing and he just sat back. Kiyoshi looked at her and realized she was the girl from before. Michi. He smiled to himself and let his eyes survey the girls' body for wounds. He saw the blood on her lower leg and leaned closer to check it out. It looked like a snake bite. But what would a snake be doing in a burning building?

Kiyoshi leaned in closer then grasped her leg and began to suck on the wound, Kiyoshi could taste the poison in his mouth, and he sat up and spat it out before repeating his actions.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"What's it look like." Said the boy, well so she figured that's what he said. His mouth was full so his words were muffled.

He sat back and spat blood from his mouth again. "I don't know if I got it all." Michi looked as the rest of the hut crumbled before her eyes. "Don't worry about it. Thanks allot." He just nodded and fell back on the grass. He was exhausted from trying to open the door. He dropped his yuen yang blades to his sides and closed his eyes.

~*~

Pudao* A Chinese weapon, a long handle wrapped for good grip and a 30" + blade.
Gunsen* A Fan made of metal with iron tips.
Yuen Yang blades* Two blades held by a handle in the center, one part of it extends up the arm, useful for blocking attacks. It then has a rainbow design of blades. (Look it up on Google for a pic and you'll see what I mean ^.~)
Kunai* A small throwing knife usually used by ninjas.
Katana* Japanese sword which curves slightly.

You can find all of these on Google if you have the time, they're really interesting :D

~*~

Anyhoo, that's the first part of my story ^.^ I hope you enjoyed it! I know I had allot of fun writing it and I'm going to try to keep on going. I have half of Chapter two done. I also have a bunch of ideas of where this'll go.

This is also the first time I've written a story and liked it =D *jumps in air with fist extended* O.o; ok that was weird! xD haha Thanks for reading! *waves*