Early in the morning a young boy with brown hair woke up. The morning air was fresh and crisp. This boy’s room was extravagant. That had a white bed, red curtain, and other furniture that was elegant. Getting out of bed he laughed a little as his feet touched the plush carpet. Changing into his clothes he decided to wear a white shirt with black pants. Staring at the mirror he let out a sigh. It had been a year since he came to Ryoku and he felt like he still didn’t fit in. He was different from them. His red eyes were different from the people living here. His sister was the only one that had eyes like him. As he was putting on his shoulder armor a man with dark green hair and dark black eyes. This man’s name was General Quill Ichiro, the same man that took Yasha away from Lotus. The young red-eyed boy looked at him as he took a seat in his room. Like always seeing General Ichiro was never pleasant.
Since a year ago he would come in his room and discus training for the day. Though he has treated him well the past year, he still was the man that hurt his sister. He could never forgive that. As he tied the string he turned to face General Ichiro. “I’m almost ready for training,” said Yasha.
“That’s not what I am here for,” replied the General. “Someone has taken an interest in your training and would like to take part in it.”
“May I then ask whom it is?” Yasha asked taking a seat across from him.
“Than Row,” answered Ichiro. “He had heard about your progress.” Than Row is a terrifying demon that many people feared. Few had ever faced him in battle and lived. If you were a woman or a child you might have a chance to live, unless you ran away, then you would be dead. That is why he had the nickname Death Row. His first name meant death and the rest came naturally. It was said that meeting him was like seeing death right before you eyes.
“I’ve hear of him,” said Yasha staring at the window. “A woman in the Neutral Grounds lived through one of his attacks with her child. She said it was terrifying and that he was a real nightmare. I am refusing to train with him.”
Ichiro’s eye twitched a little at his sudden rebellion. He had been so obedient until now. The demon had to convince the boy to train with this murderous demon another way. “Yasha you don’t have a say in this,” said the demon. “Unless you want your sister to die.”
Yasha looked at him horrified that he would bring up his sister. “You said you wouldn’t lay a hand on her!”
A smile crossed his face. In fact he did make an agreement not to lay a hand on her since that day, but he had no intention of keeping it. However it proved harder than he thought. He left her alone thinking she wouldn’t be much of a threat. “And I won’t. But you must train with Than. Is that understood?”
“Yes,” said Yasha giving up. He had given up his freedom just to protect Lotus. Her fate lay in his hands. For a year he trained with demons, giving up himself for her safety. Since he’s been living in the life of luxury, however it didn’t mean much to him at all. He loved that simple life Lotus provided. The small beds and the home cooked meals. This elegant demon life was not for him. Yasha only did this to protect Lotus.
Leaving his room for the training grounds he noticed that one of the Generals training. Tearing apart a poor defenseless dummy. General Kei was the one that scared him. No telling what she might do or whom she might kill. Though he has only met and talked with her a few times this female demon knew how to fight. But to see her this angry, at a training dummy, was something else. What could have gotten her so mad? Yasha noticed the bandages on her that was caused by Ryker’s claws. Noticing that the two men walked into the training grounds she approached them.
“Hello boys,” said the female General. “Ichiro I have a complaint. I wished you had killed that girl when you had the chance.”
“What girl might I ask you are talking about?” General Ichiro asked Kei.
“That half-breed girl,” answered Kei. “The one that’s related to this little pain in the—“
Yasha grabbing onto her neck lifting her off the ground cut her off. Something just snapped when she was badmouthing his sister. Though she didn’t say much, but some General talking about his sister irritated him. “Don’t talk about my sister,” Yasha said. “She was supposed to stay in the Neutral Grounds. She forbade us to fight, including her.” The boy released her from his grip.
Rubbing her neck Kei backed away. “Well she broke whatever promise you had,” said Kei. “Because she is in the Ruins playing some sickly girl along with an attack towards my base. And heading towards Ryoku. So tell me do you think she is keeping her promise?”
“You’re lying! She hates fighting and would never leave out mother’s grave.”
“Hmm, brown hair and red eyes. That’s what I call your sister. She’s also traveling with a demon on our wanted list.”
“I think that’s enough,” said a mysterious man coming into the training room. As he walked out of the shadows and into the light of the room he wore a black kimono with gold flower and had a bandage covering his left eye. This man was none other than, Than Row. He was very handsome with black hair. He walked with a certain air about him, like you could sense his power coming from in. Even the most powerful woman in the king’s army respected him. “Kei stop running your mouth in front of my newest student.”
For a brief moment Yasha didn’t know what to do or what to say. He had never met Than before nor seen him at all. The only thing he knew was that this demon was cold hearted and was basically death’s is real form. This demon made him feel uneasy as he approached the three of them.
“Also I don’t think it’s wise to say such things about his sister around him,” he said smiling towards Kei. “Remember flowers always wilt.”
Kei knew very well what that meant, but Yasha was completely clueless about what Than meant by that. All he knew now is that he was so close to the most powerful demon he knew of and was still alive. However he seemed a lot calmer and less hotheaded than other demons Yasha had met. Maybe that’s why people were scared of him. Just how calm he was in any situation he was placed in. Yasha remembered the words of the woman in his hometown. He remembered how terrified she was that he came so close to killing her.
That’s when the demon smiled Yasha. It made him jump a little away from him. Coming closer he leaned down to Yasha. “You know my eye under my bandage is red,” stated Than pointing towards his eye. “An old student gave it to me as a farewell present. You won’t end up like my old student, will you?”
Yasha shook his head since he was scared that his words might land him in some deep water. “Good,” said Than patting on his head. “Ichiro this half-breed isn’t bad. He defiantly seems good in health. Now Yasha I will tell you something very important. When I put you in battle I expect you to kill everyone you meet. If you run into a childhood friend I don’t care. Kill them.”
“What about my sister?” Yasha asked breaking his silence. “Kei said she started fighting. What do I do if I meet her on the battle field?”
Taking his hand off of Yasha he frowned. “Just leave that to me,” said Than. “I won’t hurt your sister.”
“You will though,” said Yasha staring at him. “I don’t want anyone laying a hand on her.”
“I will not. You certainly care for you sister. I had a younger sister. So I know how you feel.”
“She’s my older sister and she sacrificed everything to raise me.”
Than rolled his eyes irritated at this boy and the connection between him and sister. “As Ichiro promised no one will lay a hand on your sister,” said the demon stepping away. “I’m amazed how much you love her. How about we train now?”
At the very moment a sword came flying towards Yasha. Taking action he dodged the blade grabbing it by the handle charging at Than. The sword was just inches away from his neck. The death demon was very pleased that Ichiro was right about his skills. For the rest of the day the two demons trained their little half-breed. The two of them were determined to make Yasha into a killing machine. This was their dream, along with the king. Turn him into a killing machine to destroy a human army in minutes. This was the dream and plan for these demons.
After a very intense training session Yasha entered his room. Taking off his sweaty clothes he went into the bath. The warm water relaxed his muscles. He had been doing this for a year now. He hoped that the water might wash away the thoughts of his sister. The thought of her down on the ground holding her bloody arm as he left. Lotus had never looked so sad and pitiful before. It was his birthday that day and they took him away. After he left he could see four men that were with Ichiro stay behind. A few days later they came back with scares and injuries.
Drowning his head into the water he heard the door open up to his rom. He knew it was the servant girl he liked so much. Getting out he quickly changed before she could leave. Walking around with a towel around his neck he took a seat. This girl had blond hair and gray eyes. He had talked with her a few times, but she either said yes, no, or no comment. She was a prisoner of war from the human side. A rule is that humans are not allowed to speak to demons. Yasha didn’t obey that rule because he liked her. She was so stunning, like a princess. Placing his teacup down she bowed then began to leave. Taking hold of her hand Yasha requested that she stay and have tea with him. The girl accepted. In the year that she has been serving him tea he only learned her name, which was Mio.
“Mio you can talk to me,” said Yasha in a calm voice. “You don’t say much it be nice to talk with you like a normal person.”
For a moment she was silent looking around. “I’m always scared to speak,” said Mio in a whisper. “A human awhile ago spoke and was killed on sight.”
“I used to consider myself human,” said the boy regrettably. “Ichiro proved that to me that I am not. It makes me wonder who my father was.”
“He must be a kind man if he fell in love with your mother,” said Mio smiling at him. How could a prisoner be so kind? “Yasha I want to ask you what it’s like outside Ryoku? I’ve never left the walls.”
“It’s nice. Not as pretty as this. The sky is red and the clouds are white. I wonder who the demon is that my sister is traveling with?”
“His name is Ryker Hail,” said Mio speaking louder. “I heard Kei talk with Than about him. He was his former student. The one that scared Than’s left eye. I don’t think he’ll harm your sister.”
“How do you know this? Are you sure?”
“A maid knows all,” joked around the girl. “Yes I’m sure. Another thing I must warn you is that Ichiro tried having your sister killed. He failed when they came back injured. That boy Ryker saved her. Yasha I’m warning you to be careful when mentioning her. I know these demons and they won’t let any emotion get in the way. Your sister is in danger because of you.”
Yasha’s eyes widened in disbelief, but deep down he knew that. Mio was the first person to tell him those things. But how could she know them? Why tell him now? Was it because she was afraid someone was watching her? He knew that that Mio wouldn’t lie to him. She didn’t seem like the type of person to lie. “But my sister is suppose to be safe.”
“I’m sorry, but she isn’t.” Mio took hold of one of his hands. “Kei tried bringing her here, but I don’t know how she failed. As long as she is alive, the demons fear your emotional connection with her might not make their dream weapon.”
“How do you know this? What can I do? Isn’t there anything?”
“No, but I can promise you that she is skilled and with other’s that will protect her. I’m sorry, but like I said the maid knows all.”
Smiling a little at each other they dropped the subject and went on idol chitchat. Yasha told her all about life outside Ryoku and about the Neutral Grounds. Though Mio never told anything of herself she loved listening to Yasha. At second Mio took the tea set out of his room. As she left Than walked past her. Not one word escaped her mouth as she walked past him. Shutting the door Than took a seat.
“Yasha you better sleep hard tonight,” said Than. “Tomorrow we start bright and early. It’s just I’ll be gone for a few day and until I leave there will be so tough training. Understood?”
“Yes sir,” replied Yasha. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
With those words he left the room. Yasha went out onto the balcony to stare up at the stars. Knowing that his sister was never truly safe anymore weighed on his shoulders. Lotus what are you doing? Yasha thought. What is happening on the other side of those walls?
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This is a little "What is he/she doing?" thing where people will know all points of the characters. And hopefully you will grow to love and adore them :) Anyways hope you like it. Also there will be chapters that tell you more about a characters lives. Like Lotus, Jiro, Ryker, and maybe other random characters you just love to hate or hate to love lol. Please vote, comment(only nice or constructive please, but if you post mean ones I'll understand). Also please fan me too!!!!! Thank you very much!!