Rininji

Okay, for starters, the names in my story might be hard to pronounce so we (my beta and I) have
provided you with a guide ^__^

Tsukiko [two-sue-key-ko]
Masuyo [may-sue-yo]
Naoki [nay-oh-key]
saki [saw-key]

Rininji [Rin-in-G]

Enjoy!


Chapter 1

She held her ground, pride stopping her from falling faint to the mud coated ground. Her opponent, a lively young man, chuckled at her determination. Her comrade stood honorably
beside her, his once calm expression changing to one of worry for his friend.

“Tsukiko” The sorceress’s comrade placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. The muttered word and strength of his courage in her was enough to regain the once lost composure she
generally held.

“Thank you, Naoki” The young sorceress smiled to her friend, assuring him she was prepared to fight. The rininji nodded in response, settling an eye piercing glare upon their opponent not far from them.

The woman returned her attention once again on the man they were faced off against. This was it, the final battle, or so she hoped. Everything would return back to normal, or at least back to the way it use to be.

“If you return to me Tsukiko, I will be lenient in your punishment” The blond, immortal being forewarned. The tension was building, starting the beginning of something. The air itself seemed to be changing, morphing and sculpting to fit something other worldly.

“I never belonged to you to begin with, Masuyo” The beauty shouted, her words cutting through him like ice yet spoken with such sorrow. She could never hate anyone, much less the man
standing before her. The pain he had gone through, traumatizing events, all leading to his ultimate decent into darkness.

“I don’t blame you for being upset, my love” He retorted, a devilish smirk gracing his immortal lips. Raising his sword he struck the earth with his blade, currents of dark energy spurring towards the sorceress and her rininji ally. “I’d be upset too, after losing someone as dashing as myself.”

The sorceress held firm, reciting a line from the hard bound volume in her hands. A light glow intercepted the dark attack, vanquishing the electric current of his negative charge. Neither had used their full capacity of energy, yet hours of fighting, rebutting and attacks had worn them both
down, if not just a little.

“I’m sorry, but you only serve to flatter yourself” She stated, her voice the first to break the silence. Her opponent sneered, intent on believing otherwise. The sorceress shook her head, still holding onto her hopes of finally breaking through his seemingly impenetrable shell.


She tried once more “I do not intend on returning your feelings.”

Her words broke through him, but the effect was not what she had expected. His expression contorted first into anguish, then anger. “Damn you” he bellowed, thrusting his sword in the air
for another attack.

She reacted immediately, uttering an attack by instinct. A luminous light was thrust in his direction, diminishing his attack and striking him dead on. It had been more potent then she had intended it to be, subjecting him to stagger.

“Masuyo, stop this” she pleaded, every fiber of her existence reaching out to him “I am obliged to fight back if you persist further.”

Sheer pain. She fell to her knees, grasping her arm in agony. Just being conscious was a surprise to her, after how much energy had been sapped from her waning body.

“Tsukiko, you mustn’t push yourself over your limits” her trustworthy friend warned, worry etched into his features. Gathering her attention with a single touch by grasping her chin with his delicate, clawed hand, he stared into her glazed eyes. Her last attack had been far to much to handle, and she was now paying the penalty for it.

“Yes, my love” came the customary comment “Let us bring an end to this rubbish. Come, come into my arms.” The blond man outstretched his arms, expecting her to rush into his embrace and declare her everlasting love for him.

Rather, the bold rininji knelt beside her growled up at him. “I’d sooner die then see Tsukiko in your arms, vermin!” He spat, venom lacing his every word. His brotherly emotion for the
sorceress reflected in his intense, hate filled eyes. He had, with all certainty, meant every word he said.

The immortal man clenched his fists by his side, piercing his gaze on the riniji by the young woman’s side. The rininji, who at the moment, had turned his attention away from him to assist
the beauty to stand.

At that moment, watching the woman he loved being held by another man, his hatred and loathing consumed him. He could no longer stand by and play folly with his nemesis. “That can
be arranged” he snarled, sword at the ready. His will, so tarnished with vile hatred, radiated from his weapon in waves. Clutching his sword with both hands he raised it’s large blade for an assault. “Now die”

Before his attack could be fully summoned he was hit by a blast of spiritual energy. The sorceress stood her ground, coming down from her quick attack. Behind her, his true target was glaring at him, his claw protracted. She had protected her friend from his wrath far too many times, it would be her last, he would see to it!

“Why do you protect such a weak rininji, Tsukiko!” He demanded from the sorceress.

She ignored his question, asking one of her own. “Masuyo, you don’t truly want this, do you?” She gasped in pain, clenching her arm close to her side. The bleeding had sped up in their battle, the once white cloth blotched with red spatters.

Nevertheless, she proceeded. “This is not how it must be, we can change it. You can change.” her voice quivered “Let this come to an end”

Whether he had listened to a word she said was indefinite. His gaze was cast down, his blond tresses obscuring the view of his face. Was he smiling? Frowning? What was he thinking, in this
moment, what thoughts were going through his mind? She needed to know.

Then, his gaze met hers. His eyes were wild, frantic...insane. His countenance had altered so swiftly that he seemed like a completely different person. But it was him, in the flesh. His eyes seemed much more narrowed, his smirk strangely more wicked, his aura less juvenile.

“My Dear, sweet Tsukiko. So optimistic, so noble. But you do make one good point-” His sneer struck her like a blaze of fire “This must end”



-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

An unconscious form appeared on the white, sandy shore of Baton Beach. Blood exuded from severe wounds and gashes upon her body, hiding the creamy, ivory skin of the beauty from sight.
The night would conceal her until morn, when she would be found, grains of sand mingled with her long, brunette hair.

A mysterious, amnesiac young woman.



___________________________________


The early, morning haze lulled Saki as she trekked along the street pathway, barely awake. Daybreak hadn’t yet set in, but here she was, doing her father’s every need. He was bossy, quick
with his temper and going on his third year of unemployment, but she still remained loyal to him.

“It’s so cold!” Saki wailed, rubbing her bare arms. She tusked herself for having forgotten to grab a jacket on her way out the door. ‘I’m going to freeze to death, all for Father’s milk!’ she thought stubbornly, knowing full well if she’d said so to Father he’d have a brazen comeback.

The nearest convenience store was about another mile away. The mid-September weather had chilled her down to her core, yet it wouldn’t break her spirit. However, her temper was another
issue.

“Milk!” Saki complained, throwing her hands to the heavens in a rather dramatic gesture. “I’d never suspected he drank anything other than Rum and Vodka.” She was more than half serious
about that.

Ever since her Mom died four years ago, he had allowed himself to become consumed by his own grief. Morning after tedious morning he would rise and ridicule every movement and
decision Saki made. ‘I would suspect he wasn’t even my Father...’

Shaking herself from her own haunting thoughts, she cast her gaze to the road. At the moment the lanes were clear of any vehicles, and why wouldn’t they be? It was barely dawn. She didn’t even know if any of the town’s shops would be open at this hour.

Saki focused on counting the white strips separating the two lanes, now faded by the suns UV rays and teenager’s hazardous driving skills. When an orange speck passed her waning gaze, she
had to recoil and take another look.

There, settled in the middle of the road, sat a small, orange Tabby cat. Curiosity claimed the better of her, encouraging her to senselessly inspect its whereabouts. Maybe it was lost?
Abandoned? Or, perhaps, a stray? No, she could not turn her back on a creature in need.

“What are you doing out here Mr. Cat?” Saki questioned, stepping up to the kitten. It’s ears flattened against it’s small, round head as she approached. Careful, not to make any sudden movement that’ll frighten him, she paused. Past experiences with wounded animals taught her to allow him/her the opportunity to judge whether she was trustworthy or not.

The kitten in question tipped it’s small head to the side and uttered a faint “meow”. Brimming with joy, Saki plopped to her knees and smiled broadly at him (she supposed it was a “he”).

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr Cat” Saki said to him, tickling the fur behind his ears with her fingertips. The kitten turned into her hand, rubbing against her palm. He was quite the friendly
little thing. ‘I wonder where your owner is’ she thought, noticing the absence of a collar.

“Father would thwart his knickers in a bunch if I brought you home” Saki contemplated, pivoting back on her haunches and tapping a finger to her lower lip in concentration. The kitten uttered another meow, pawing at her unlaced sneaker.

She could always sneak him away to her bedroom until his owner turned up. Of course, if he were discovered by her father, she might as well say goodbye to every privilege she had at the
moment. ‘Am I prepared to sacrifice that?’

Staring back down at the playful kitten, she smiled. “Definitely” she breathed to him, rubbing his
small, triangular ears. He meowed in response, sitting on his haunches to copy her own current position.

“I guess your coming home with me” She told her new companion, preparing to stand. The kitten followed her example, coming to a stand on his four paws. The sudden appearance of blaring
lights and thrumming tires brought Saki’s attention to the street before her. She had completely forgotten she’d walked into the middle of the road.

The car steadily approaching blared it’s horn, apparently having no intention of slowing down. Saki only had seconds to consider her options, which didn’t really seem like options at all. She had to get out of the road, and quick.

Gathering her wits, which were in fragments at the moment, she tucked the startled kitten away in her arms. Without time to stand, she simply rolled her body to the lane beside them, shielding the small bundle in her arms from the pebble concrete.

The car drove passed them, barely scraping Saki as she tumbled into a heap in the second lane. Heaving deep breaths, she glanced down at the kitten in her arms and then up at the fleeing vehicle.

With the wind blown right out of her, and her wits wild about her, Saki laughed in relief and sighed. When times were too rough to cry, a good laugh was always the cure. She could have
been killed by that driving maniac, but, in that instant, all she was relieved about was that the bundle in her arms was unharmed.

“You are one lucky boy” Saki declared, loosening her grip on the kitten. He stared up at her, a gaze of puzzlement on it’s tiny face. He was unharmed, but the same couldn’t be said for Saki. She winced upon observing the scrape wounds on her legs and arms, releasing the kitten to inspect for any other injuries.

“No blood.” She sighed, still in pain but elated to be alive. She had also noted that one of her shoes was no longer on her foot, but left behind in the other lane. She gasped in pain as she attempted to stand, applying pressure to her legs and crumpling back down to the ground instantly.

“I’m a sitting duck out here” She whimpered to her new pal, who was curled up in the lap. He meowed in reply, fluffing his tail around himself. ‘He’s a prima donna?’ she thought to herself,
submersed in gaping at the kittens habit

A loud horn blare crash-landed Saki out of her revere. Skittish, she turned around, hoping for the best. However, luck wasn’t on her side this morning. There, approaching at excessive speed, came an enormous SUV truck.

The kitten, startled far too many times that morning, reacted without delay. He made a mad dash for safety, his orange tail disappearing completely into the morning fog.

Again, for the second time that day, her life was directed in danger. Staring blindly into the two blazing headlights and massive bumper plate, Saki sank into panic. Would she die like this? Really die, without even being informed first!

The thoughts raced forth, stunning her along with the oncoming peril. She had to think fast, what would she do. She was already injured, so mobility was limited. She could always limp her way to safety, a better option then rolling had been.

No time, it was coming. This was it, she was done for. Yes, they would mourn her death, such a young life lost so suddenly.

The headlights were closer now, blinding her. She would be pulverized!

Seconds before impact, she threw herself to the ground, shielding herself from what was happening around her. She would sink into denial, awaiting the moment tires would screech,
impacting with her languished body. When that moment came, it would all end. Her fears would be gone, and so would the life she knew.

Seconds passed by, turning into minutes. Had she predicted the distance wrong? Surely there would have been some sort of clash by now, screeching tires, a ringing in her ears...anything.

Now that she thought about it, she couldn’t feel the ground beneath her. Perhaps she’d gone numb, or she was already dead? No, she wasn’t dead, not without a collision. ‘What is going on!’

Unable to resist temptation, Saki opened her eyes. Unadjusted to the change of light, her bleary eyes were unable to make out the scenery around her into anything other then blobs of dark and light orbs. As her surroundings slowly came into focus, she noticed that something was obscuring the sky.

She recognized that texture and color, her eyes trailing the colored leaves to the tattered bark it remained sealed to. “I don’t remember a tree being there.” She muttered to herself, momentarily forgetting all the previous events.

A breeze, that she hadn’t felt before, swept beneath her. Saki looked down instinctively, a mute voice prodding her to do so. The lure was strong, urging her to take at tiny peek. ‘It’s not like it’ll kill me’ she reasoned, sarcasm lacing her thoughts.


Saki froze as she stared into her own reflection mirrored in the clear, blue pond she was currently hovering over. As she stared into her own surprised orbs, the atmosphere shifted, shattering the hold on her.

Saki landed in the cold, knee length water of the pond, still shell-shocked at the change of events. Only moments ago she was faced with head-on danger and now she was completely lost,
sprawled in an mysterious pond.

End chapter 1