Eternity

Chapter One: Stolen

      Kae glanced to her side. There was a fox youkai. She looked to her other side. There was another one. She was surrounded. But a smirk fell upon her face.

      "I wouldn't be so happy if I were you." One of them said.

      "Yeah." Kae said smugly. "But you're not me." She leaped up and into a tree, clutching a necklace holding a glass sphere containing Eternity, a light purple liquid. The fox demons chased after her, but she was too quick and agile for them. Kae swiftly jumped from tree to tree, not looking back. Finally, she reached the edge of the forest, where a clean stream lay where she could rest. Kae leaped to a high branch of the tree she was in and looked back the way she came. The path was clear. The fox youkai couldn't keep up. With a sigh of relief, she jumped from the branch, onto the path, and walked towards the stream.

      The cool spring air brushed her face. The Necklace of Eternity was around her neck. With her palm, she clutched the glass jewel. Finally, She thought. Eternity is mine. Kae walked over to the stream and looked into its flowing water. She saw her reflection. She wriggled her cat ears, making herself look cute. She smiled big, showing her fangs, and gently moved her claws across her face. She liked being a cat. She didn't like being a hanyou. Looking at her ½ human form, she sighed, wishing she was as strong as a full youkai.

      She stood up. Her dark brown skirt blew in the wind. It was short; about half way up her thigh. A belt hung loosely around her hips. There were pouches and bottles tied onto it. Those were potions. Her mother was the only one who knew how to make them. Also on her belt, was a long sheath containing a sword which she called 'Trinity'. Kae's top was cut off just above her stomach. It was a tank top, also dark brown. Her hair was light purple.

      "Kae." A voice came from the forest. Her gaze towards her reflection was broken. She jumped up, drawing the Trinity and clutching the Necklace of Eternity. "Don't fear." The voice was familiar to her. "It's just me." A figure emerged from the shadows of the forest.

      "Tsuneyo." Kae put her sword back in its sheath. Her voice was steady and feminine, but without a hint of weakness. She held the necklace tight in her hand, and turned slightly away from him.

      "You can't have it." She glared. "You're a youkai. You don't need it." Tsuneyo laughed.

      "I don't want it..."

      "Then why have you come?" Kae kept the stern tone in her voice. Tsuneyo didn't answer. He walked past her, to the stream. He kneeled down and cupped some water in his hand and drank it. Oh. Kei thought. He just came for water.

      "You stole the Eternity." Tsuneyo began. "You wont get away with it. The foxes will be after you, and the elves will be after the foxes." Kae stroked the glass jewel.

      "Let them do as they wish." She said. "Foxes are weak."

      "Not as week at you think." Tsuneyo interrupted.

      "What do you plan to do about it, then, Tsuneyo?" she asked looking up from the necklace. Tsuneyo shrugged. "Why do you care so much of what happens to me?" Tsuneyo sat against a near tree.

      "We've been friends since we were little children. You expect me to not care?" Kei laughed at his response.

      "You were mean to me when we were children!" she said. "You called me 'hanyou' and wouldn't let me forget that I was one!" after saying that, she looked down at the ground which she sat with shame.

      "There's nothing wrong with being a hanyou." Tsuneyo said to her. Tsuneyo was among few beings who didn't look down to hanyous. There was a moment of silence. Then there was a loud "whoosh!" An arrow was shot. It had barely missed her.

      "Kae!" Tsuneyo pulled on her shirt, causing her to lean towards him. Another arrow was shot where Kae's head was. Now angry, Kae pulled out the Trinity, and peered into the forest where the arrows were coming from. Tsuneyo pulled out his weapon as well. He had a long rod with sharp knives at each end.

      "It wants to fight.." Tsuneyo said, smoothly. Kae was concentrated on the forest. Her eyes were drawn to crimson glowing sphere. She squinted at it, trying to see what it was coming from. She was so concentrated, she couldn't sense the flying attack from behind.

      "Look out, Kae!" She turned to see what was behind her; a darkened figure. The face was not visible, but whoever it was, wore pure black clothes, and was ready to slash their sword at her.

      "Kyaaaaaaa!" Kae swung the Trinity at the darkened figure, cutting it at the stomach. The grip on the figure's sword loosened, and it fell out of its hands. Kae looked at the motionless figure she had just killed. Turning it over with her foot, she tried to see the face of it.

      "Xhaolin Ninja." Tsuneyo said, looking at the figure's face, covered with a black scarf. Now knowing who the darkened figure was, Kae looked back at the forest. The glowing sphere was no longer there.

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Written by Tsuyu