Chapter Three: Mysterious

Author’s Note: Finally after a couple of weeks of “writer’s block” and tons of rearranging I have Chapter Three done.  I say “writer’s block” because I could only get a word done on this, but I took a break from Sweet Nightmare to write some other articles which helped majorly. So here it is Chapter Three: Mysterious. Enjoy. ^_^;

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“I know I said yesterday that we would be getting right to work, but that will be put on hold…for now. Rules…that I have set for my class will be learned then strictly enforced. You will copy them down and be responsible to have them with you at all times. Also I’m willing to let you sit where you please as long as you behave yourselves. Is that understood?” Caden’s voice was stiff as he spoke. He focused his gaze intently on Chishio. No one spoke, but nodded in response. Caden smiled halfway then turned to the board and began writing. Chishio glanced at Ashe then back at Caden. There was an unexplained tension between the two of them. Ashe sighed then wrote everything that was on the board and tried to pay attention.

“You were right,” Ashe said to Chishio as they walked together to their next class. “Oh,” he said then chuckled lightly. “About what?” She glanced up at him with a raised eyebrow. “You know very well what.” He wore a half smile on his face as he shook his head. “The whole thing about Caden changing his mind about the getting-straight-to-work thing.” They stopped outside the classroom. Many of the girls giggled as they walked by him. “He is so beautiful…” Ashe heard often while Chishio rolled his eyes. “Teachers are predictable,” he said smoothly. She turned to walk into the class then said, “I’ll see you later, Chishio. And don’t get to big of an ego.” He laughed. “I’ll try not to,” he said then walked off quickly.

Ashe aimlessly drew patterns on a piece of paper in the library during lunch. She sighed as she felt her eyes begin to droop. She began to think it was her boredom that was causing her to nod off. Ashe tried to shake it off, but sleep had consumed her then she began to dream…

She stood in an unfamiliar place. By what she could tell at one time it had been a small, prominent town that had been deserted quite suddenly. It was if a plague of some kind happened and wiped away the people…like they never existed. Time had been the sole player of erasing the town’s past and future. The very proof of life existing had been worn away by time’s harsh rule. The adrenaline rushed through her veins while the only while the only sounds she heard was the howling wind through the empty street ways and the thumping of her own heart. Each step she took echoed with every beat it made. She walked through the maze of narrow streets till she came to the core of the town. It too was dark and dreary.

A man was standing near by an inoperative fountain. He had his back facing her. Her heart raced as he turned around. She relaxed somewhat when she saw it was K. He took off his sunglasses and stuffed them away in his blazer’s pocket then placed a hand on his hip. Her jaw slightly dropped at the sight of him. The trace of a smile on his delicately carved face had faded away when his eyes rested on her. “Ashe,” he said in a strong tone. “What are you doing here?” He walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She was surprised by color of his eyes. In the depths of the blackness was an intensity of wonder. She had just noticed the cold radiating from his hands. She shivered. He pulled off his blazer and offered it to her. She shook her head. “I’m not cold…” He draped it over her shoulders then said, “Doesn’t matter… But answer my question. Although a better question would be how did you get here.”

“I don’t know… This has to be dream, right?” she said uncertainly. He cocked up his eyebrows. “Are you certain of that?” he asked. He kept his tone level. “I remember sitting in the library, drawing while feeling a bit drowsy. I assume that I fell asleep after that…” He slipped an arm around her shoulders and tried to lead her to the fountain. “Anything is possible” Ashe froze as she grew panicked when she thought she saw something out of the corner of her eye. She studied the darken streets for any further movements. “There is nothing there. Even if there was it wouldn’t be able to hurt you,” he said reassuringly. On the other side of him she saw his hand resting on the hilt of a sword.

Ashe sank herself down the fountain ledge. “So why are you here?” He shook his head. “I was called here… I believe it may be about stopping something that should have been long ago, but I never had the power to…until now,” he said as he sat down. He held his head low while his arms rested limply on his legs with his hands grasping each other tightly. “You’re anxious,” she observed. He nodded. “For this to be finally over…yes, I am.” She moved herself to close the gap between them and placed a hand on his shoulder. “What are you suppose to stop?” He recreated the distance between them and maintained the silence.

She reached over and directed his head towards her. “K, what are you trying to stop?” His eyes were filled with agony. He pursed his lips, remaining silent. “If you can’t tell me that than tell me how I got here… Why am I here?” He took her hand in his and looked away. “I do not know the answers… Trust me I will find out one way or another.” Ashe frowned while trying to pull her hand out of his. She shivered as she slipped her arms into the sleeves of the blazer when he let go. “There has to be an answer somewhere, K. Like your name for instance,” she said. Her frustration was beginning to make an appearance in her voice. He got off the ledge and knelt down before her. “Look, Ashe, it would be better for you not to know a whole lot about me. Those reasons have to remain hidden,” he said softly. Her eyes widen while her jaw dropped. “Why?” she whispered. “Yes, brother, why? Surely you’re not going to deny her the pleasure of knowing who you really are.”

Ashe froze where she was while K stood up. She felt the hair on the back of her neck rising as chills ran down her spine. She looked up at him and found that his face was grave. “I am surprised,” K began slyly. “Surprised that you even referred to me that way.” Anger distorted his features. “Well, that is what you are…Kuro,” the voice answered back. “Kuro…” Ashe repeated. “Not now,” he muttered. He pulled her to her feet and pressed her firmly to his body while taking a protective stance. “I think it would be wiser for her to know who and what she is involved with.” Ashe heard a distinct noise of a growl in his chest. “Of course, you would…” he snapped. Kuro bent down till he was level with her ear. “Ashe, I want you to listen to me carefully. I want you to run as fast as you can to the clock tower. Now go!” He turned her in the direction she needed to go and pushed her away. “I will be close behind you.” She started to run as the voice began to tsk.

“Oh, Kuro…That’s shameful that you are willing to keep secrets from a lady. You know that doesn’t seem right, but when have you even been honest?” Kuro’s growl was drowned out by the cold voice’s laughter. “Why don’t you come out of the shadows, brother?” he spat. Ashe slowed down then looked back at Kuro. She desired to see who was the echoing voice was. “You have something more urgent..more pressing than I, Kuro. I believe…you left someone unattended.” Kuro’s eyes widen as fear began to set in. “Ashe,” he whispered then glanced back over her shoulder. “Why did you stop?”

“I thought I told you to run! Go!” Ashe did not budge from where she stood. She refused to go alone. Kuro ran toward her at an amazing pace and grabbed her by the arm then led the way through the streets. The voice had been silent for several moments. This was not easing Kuro’s tension. He pulled Ashe ahead of him then picked her up without stopping. “We’ll go a lot faster if I carried you.” She nodded as she tried to make sure she held on to him tightly. His breathing remained even through the added weight and speed. “Oh, Kuro…where are you?”

He set her down when they arrived and went over to the entrance then tried to open it. “Stand back,” he said then rammed himself into the doors. They broke free then fell to the floor with a loud bang while splinters flew into the air. “Are you ready for a short flight to the top floor?” She reached forward to touch what she though look like a pair of black wings. He turned around before her fingers even touched the smooth surface. “Flight?” He held her tightly against him then smiled softly. Ashe soon felt her feet lift off the floor. “You’ll see. Just hold on alright.” She wrapped her arms around his neck then closed her eyes. She now began to feel afraid. “Going up!” he said then zoomed through the opening.

Kuro avoided all the support beams perfectly then landed as soon as he reached the top. He let his grip on her waist slacken enough for her to stand on her own feet. The building shook after a loud boom. A moment later he let go of her then pulled out his pocket watch. “What are you doing?” she asked. Kuro opened the watch and began what looked like he was setting it. “I’m setting you up for a trip home. I won’t promise that you’ll land in the same place, but you will be home. That should be right.”

The hands of the clock began spinning till it they were nothing more than a blur. The glass face lit up then it shattered. Each piece glittered within the blinding light that soon faded. The town’s skyline now appeared in the opening. “Ashe,” Kuro said as he tucked his watch away. “You need to go through the portal.” She stared at him like he had lost his mind. “Are you barking mad?” she asked. He shrugged then said, “That is up to you, but right now the only thing that concerns me is your safety. My brother is getting close to us. I can hear him.” She walked over to the opening and looked down. “It is not as far as you seem to think.” Kuro placed a hand on her shoulder then pulled her back slightly. “Don’t worry I’ll be with you shortly.” He then pushed her forward and let go of her shoulder. Ashe screamed, but could not be heard as the clock’s ticking turned into a booming ring.

Ashe fell into a tree then onto the ground. “Ouch,” she groaned then sat up. Her eyes widen when she saw a foot. She slowly moved her head up and silently gasped. It wasn’t who she had expected. It was a different man that appeared to be in his mid to late twenties. “You’re not Kuro,” she said. His dark eyes held her stone cold. “Hm…I heard a scream,” he said as if she didn’t speak. “And instead of what I hoped to find…I find you.” His face maintained an expressionless front except for the twitch of a smile.

“Well, I’m sorry for bursting your bubble… Wait, do I even know you?” she said coolly. He glared at her with empty eyes. “No, you don’t, but I’ve seen you go out to the cliff,” he said slyly. She clenched fists tightly. “So you’re the reason I nearly drowned the last time I was there,” she muttered. His smile turned into a smirk then he grabbed her and pulled her to him. “I suggest you stay out of these woods, because you may not be alive the next time you come in here.” Ashe jerked herself out of his grip while stumbling back a few steps. “Who are you to tell me what to do!?” she screamed. He placed his hand over her mouth while he gripped her arm tightly. “Look, girl, I’m doing this for your own good. I won’t always be around to save…the same goes with everyone else. Not even…Kuro.” As soon as he released his hold on her she pushed past him.

She halted in her tracks. “Kuro!” He rushed over to her then held her close to him. “You’re safe,” he whispered softly. Ashe looked up and saw he was staring out toward the horizon. “Who was with you just now? Did he try to hurt you?” She shook her head. “I don’t know the man and no…he did not try to hurt me.” He nodded once. “Good. Let me get you back to school. If someone asks just say you fell asleep because you didn’t feel well.”

He moved her into a chair. “I leave you in the school’s capable hands.” Her eyes widen. “You’re leaving me…alone?” Kuro knelt down beside her then sighed. “I’m sorry, Ashe, but there are things I have to do. I have responsibilities to fulfill. It is only a temporary separation. At the first sign of danger even if you are not in any and you just feel afraid call for me. All you have to do is call my name and I’ll be there in matter of seconds.” He pulled his jacket off her then quickly put it on. “You’ll be fine, Ashe…for now at least,” he said then left swiftly before she could argue.

Ashe could feel sleep creeping over her mind again, but she didn’t want to give in. She feared dreaming of the town, but the voice even more. She didn’t want to hear its echoing terror. She allowed her head to rest on her arms as her eyes began to droop. No…I must fight it…off. She knew she couldn’t fight it off much longer. Ashe shivered while she sat there. She began wishing that Kuro’s blazer was still around her. She felt mildly safe then…as if nothing could hurt her so long as she wore it. She finally let her consciousness go and slipped into a light sleep.

“Ashe…” The voice sounded distant as it called her name. She looked all around then saw Chishio standing a short distance away. “Ashe, you need to wake up,” he said softly. She reached toward him while taking a step forward, but fell into the black abyss below.

Her eyes snapped opened suddenly, but didn’t move. She noticed that she had an arm out like she was reaching for something. Was that real or was it a dream? Ashe could now feel someone shaking her. “Ashe…Ashe. Are you awake? Come on, Ashe, wake up.” The voice of whoever was trying to wake her sounded frantic with worry. She soon felt two ice cold fingers on the upper part of her neck which caused her to shiver. “Ashe?” She sat up then rubbed her eyes. “I’m fine,” she said groggily then glanced up. “C-Ch-Chishio… What are you doing here?” she stuttered. He placed a hand behind his head then said, “Well, I thought I could offer you a ride since you decided to miss your bus.” He grinned. She forced out a small laugh. “Thank you. That is very considerate of you.” She still felt very sleepy. “Do you want to go now?” Ashe nodded then followed him out of the school.

“What happened to you?” he asked as they walked to the car. “Um…” She was unsure of how to answer until she remembered what Kuro had told her. “I…uh…didn’t feel very and I guess I fell asleep in the library. I feel better now that I slept.” He seemed satisfied enough with the answer he was given. “If you feel that you need to sleep then you are free to.” He pulled out of the parking lot and headed down the road. Ashe relaxed herself in the seat, but did not fall asleep.

The ride to her house was short and silent. “You have nothing to say. That is quite interesting…” he trailed off. She pretended to yawn then looked at him. “Ashe, I knew you were awake. There is no point to keep up that charade.” She opened the door and stepped out of the car. After she slammed the car door then ran to the house. “Ashe, wait!” She pulled out her keys, but froze when he grabbed her hand and ripped them away from her. “If you knew, why didn’t you say anything?” He opened his mouth then closed it. “Now, look at who has nothing to say,” Ashe said curtly. He let go of her and dropped the keys. They made a soft clink on the wooden porch.

He turned away. “I’m sorry,” he whispered then walked away slowly. “Chishio!” He didn’t stop or bothered to look back. Ashe stood there stunned as Chishio drove off. “What…was…that all about?” she wondered aloud. She grew puzzled and confused by this then sighed. “I’ll find out tomorrow…I guess.” She picked up her keys then unlocked the door. She paused and glanced up at the dark, clouded-over sky. “Tomorrow…”