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Prologue

The rain beat down hard as the little boy watched his best friend disappear in the mist. His light blue eyes dripped salty tears that was disguised by the rain. His heart and mind was filled with warm memories that he had shared with his friend. The mist was grabbing the last sight of her. She looked back through the mist to glance at him one last time. Tears streamed down both of their faces. Slowly she raised her hand and said her last goodbye before backing up and disappearing for forever.
Never would he see her sweet smile. Never again would he hear her gentle voice. Never would he see her eyes sparkle in the mourning sun. No more playing. No more talking. No more anything. Everything was gone and he couldn't stop it. There would be no more memories between them.
He remembered her last words. Soft and gentle.
"My life is in danger and I can't stay. I wish with all my heart I could but... but I can't. Maybe we will see each other sometime."
She looked up and gave him one last hug. He could still feel the warmth of her fragile arms. Never would he forget that precious moment.
Gone. Never again would he be comforted by her wise words. Never again would they spend the morning playing in the warmth of the sun's rays. No more laughing. No more joyful moments. Now the only thing left of her were his memories. She was gone. That's all there was to it.




Chapter 1

It had been 14 years after Sadayo had last seen his friend. His entire life had changed so much the last few years. He became an orphan not long after he had been given his powers in a sword called hinjitsu. In the land of Kyoto everyone had a certain power. The powers would very within each person. The powers were based on the seven elements; earth, wind, darkness, light, fire, water, and thunder. Sadayo had the power of wind. He could only use his power through his sword. The sword didn't look like much, but it was very powerful. With one blow, he could destroy an opponent easily. But that didn't mean that he went around killing everyone. Sadayo only used his power for good and to defend. He would practice almost everyday to improve his skills.
One day, Sadayo was in the market place getting some food for the week. He was turning the corner, when a girl ran into him. She knocked Sadayo onto the hard ground. He looked up and saw a beautiful girl that looked about his age. She had blue eyes and light brown hair that fell a little below her shoulders. Her skin was pale, as if frightened. Sadayo lied there looking at her as she rushed to her feet.
"Are you okay? I'm so sorry!" the girl said.
She held out her hand to help Sadayo up. Sadayo took her hand and she pulled him to his feet.
"Ya, I’m fine." Sadayo said.
"My name’s Amaya." she said shaking Sadayo's hand.
"Sadayo." he said shaking back.
Sadayo stared at Amaya. He looked at her full body. She was skinny and tall, almost the same height as Sadayo. She had long arms and fingers. She was wearing jeans and a black tank top. Sadayo looked at her feet. Amaya had white, worn-out sneakers, but the jeans covered most for them. The bottom of her jeans were wet and ripped. Sadayo let go of her hand and Amaya let her hand fall to her side.
"So.... um... do you live around here?" Sadayo asked not knowing what to say.
"Ya. I live down the road." Amaya answer while shaking her head.
"If you don't mind me asking," Sadayo started, "why were you running?"
Amaya thought for a second. Wondering if she should tell.
"I was running away from someone. That’s all,” she said.
Sadayo shook his head showing that he understood. Amaya turned around looking to see if the person was behind her. But when she turned around, Sadayo saw a long scratch on the back of the arm. It was bleeding and the blood ran down her arm. He wondered if Amaya knew and was just holding in the pain.
"Um... do you know that you’re bleeding?" he asked.
Amaya turned around to face him and looked at him funny.
"I am?" She asked.
Sadayo grabbed her arm gently and turned it around so that she could see.
"Oh, I didn't notice." she said.
"Don't you feel it? I mean, it looks like it hurts." Sadayo said letting go of her arm.
"No. But know that you mention it, it does hurt a little." Amaya said.
"Why don't you come over to my house and I'll bandage it up. I mean, well, you can't walk around like that." Sadayo said thoughtfully.
"Oh... I don't want to bother you." Amaya said looking at him.
"It's no bother, really. Follow me." Sadayo said and started to walk away.
Amaya was hesitant for a minute. But then ran after him. They walked down the road and turned on a corner. Then Amaya saw a little wood house. It had a big lawn and a few plants around it. Amaya didn't say anything about the house. She just followed Sadayo up the walkway and through the door. The inside was better then the out. There was a small couch and chair and TV sitting on the ground. A few floor lights and a small rug completed the room. To the right, there was a kitchen and to the left a hallway.
"You can sit down and I'll go get the first aid kit." Sadayo said.
He walked down the hallway and turned into a room. Amaya went over to the couch and sat down. She wondered where his parents were. Sadayo walked into the room. He was caring the first aid kit and a wet towel. He sat down next to Amaya on the couch and put the first aid kit on the floor. Amaya held out her arm and turned it so the scratch was facing Sadayo. Sadayo put the towel around the scratch and rubbed gently.
"Am I hurting you?" he asked.
"No, not at all and thank you for doing this." Amaya said as she smiled.
Sadayo smiled back at her. He continued to rub gently. After a few minutes, he stopped rubbing and took the towel off her arm. He put it down the floor and picked up the first aid kit. Sadayo opened it up and took out a long bandage. He picked her arm up gently and rapped the bandage tight around. He tied the two ends together so the bandage would stay on.
"Is that better?" Sadayo asked releasing her arm.
"Yes. Thank you." Amaya said.
Silence feel between them as they sat still on the soft cushions. A crow cawing outside broke the silence.
“Stay here!” Whispered Amaya. “Be very quiet.” Without making a sound, she snuck up toward the window and peaked out. “There’s someone outside!”
Sadayo felt his body tense as he slowly stood up from the couch. He crouched down and went to look out the window.
“See, he’s right there!” Amaya raised her hand to point to a thick tree.
“I don’t see anything,” Sadayo replied but Amaya didn’t say speak. Instead she kept looking out the window.
“I see him!” A tall figure moved from behind the tree to some bushes nearby. Slowly he crept up to the house. A sparkle from the sun told Sadayo that there had been a hidden dagger on the man’s belt. Sadayo felt himself tense again as a terrible memory swept over his mind. Neither he nor Amaya spoke for a long time.
Sadayo glanced over at Amaya. The man was obviously someone Amaya knew. She looked frightened and mad. “I should have never of come here!” he heard her whisper to herself.
“Do you know him?”
“Yes,” Amaya answered. “I must go! Do you have a back door I can sneak out of?”
Sadayo was about to nod but fear flooded his mind as there was a knock on the door.
“Quick! Hide!” Sadayo silently showed Amaya a secret door under a rug. His grip tightened as he lifted the cold, black handle. Amaya claimed down a ladder that led to a dark room.
“I’ll be fine! Get the door!” Amaya called up.
There was another knock at the door. Sadayo locked the hidden door and covered it with the rug.
“I’m coming!” he yelled as he rushed to grab his sword. He put hinjitsu on a belt behind his back. The man knocked again.
He opened the door and revealed a tall man with black clothes. He had short black hair and dark brown eyes. His face was grim has he listened to Sadayo.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting,” Sadayo said, trying to keep his voice calmer than he felt.
The man grunted and nodded. “You should have hidden that girl faster boy! Where is she!” The man leaned over Sadayo and pushed him aside. Sadayo felt an urge of anger run through him. He had not hidden Amaya fast enough!
"What are you talking about and who are you?" Sadayo said trying to sound innocent.
"My name is Azi and I am looking for an Amaya." the man said harshly.
"Well," Sadayo started, "I don't know any Amaya and if I did, what do you want with her?"
"I have came to kill her." Azi said calmly.
Sadayo's mouth dropped. He couldn't believe his ears. Even though he just met Amaya, why would anyone want to kill her?
"May I ask why?" Sadayo asked.
Now Azi was annoyed. "No you may not!" he yelled. “I know you are just playing dumb! Where did you hide her!”
Azi started to search the room, looking around and opening things up. He was walking over the rug hiding the trap door. He stopped as the floor squeaked under his feet. Azi stomped his feet a few times. You could hear the door's hard wood and the hollow hole underneath. Azi got down on the ground to pull up the rug that covered the floor. Sadayo became nervous.
"Here!" Azi yelled out and lifted up the rug and revealed the trap door.
Sadayo saw Azi's hand reach for the handle. Sadayo quickly grabbed hinjitsu and drew it from the belt. He raised the sharp blade and, with all his power, cut down through the air. The blade cut through Azi's back and blood flowed out of his body. Azi’s hand on the handle slide off and dropped to the ground, with Azi's body following. Sadayo watched and couldn't believe what he had done. Azi was on the ground. His body lay lifeless. His eyes were staring far away into another world. Azi was now entering heaven or hell. Sadayo rushed to the trap door. He pushed Azi’s body aside and pulled up the handle. Amaya climbed out and looked at Azi's body and the streams of blood coming out. Sadayo dropped hinjitsu and it fell to the ground. The clinging blade against the ground echoed throughout the house. Sadayo found himself on his knees. He held out his hands.
"What have I done? I killed someone!" Sadayo said.
His hands were shaking and he was staring at them with terrified, blank eyes. Amaya looked at him, confused. She kneeled down on the ground beside him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"You did what you had to do. I really am grateful. If you hadn't done what you did, I would be lying on the ground dead right now. Thank you." she said sweetly. “I don’t know how I can repay you.”
Sadayo looked at her. Amaya's blue eyes shinning with hope. Sadayo put his head down and dropped his hands to his side. Amaya reached over and pitched up hinjitsu. She held it out in front of him. Sadayo looked at the sword. The bloody tip, sharp and hard.
“You must have the element wind. Only people with the wind could possess something like this.” Amaya examined the sword closely.
Sadayo knew what Amaya was doing. She was trying to get his mind off of the terrible scene that kept playing through his head.