"Hey, did you sleep well Junjie?" asked Light
"No, I didn't sleep at all, I don't know how I'm going to destroy the snake today." I said
with a sigh
"Well we are close to the next town, so do you want to start walking?" Light laughed
"besides I heard there is a really good healer in the village we should check it out what do you
think?" he said with a smile
"I guess we can go see the healer first." I sluggishly got up and grabbed my sword
Meanwhile Cherry was making breakfast for Saki and getting her basket ready to go to
the herb fields.
"Saki Breakfast is almost done after we are done eating I have to go get herbs, will you
be okay to sit at home for a little bit by yourself?" Cherry said
"Thank you, and yes, I should be fine, you be safe as well." Said questionable of her
safety
"I will I do this every morning for fresh herbs for my medicine and I always bring a
weapon with me in the field just in case something comes" Cherry said happily. Cherry handed
Saki the Plate and grabbed her basket.
Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door, Saki jumped not expecting it.
" Hello, we need some herbs and bandages, and everything else that will help with
injuries"
"Sister don't open the door that's light, and Manchu is probably with him." I said as a
shot of pain filled my chest just saying his name
Cherry whispered, "please hide Saki I'll take care of them" Cherry yells "be right there"
and heads to the door sluggishly knowing that the man behind the door is the man that Saki loves
"Okay, but be safe they are stronger than they look." I said as I left to the back room
Cherry slowly opens the door "hello , how can I help you?"
"Yes, hello my name is Light this sluggish man over here is Junjie, we needed some stuff
to heal up for a battle." Light said with a huge smile
Junjie looked up at her and was he was complete silence, he just stared at her. Cherry
smiled back while looking at both here visitors
"Yes of course sir I have all the bandages you could possibly want but the herbs and
medicine will have to wait till I get back from the field, the freshest ingredients heal you fast"
Cherry left the door open and collected the bandages for the two men and walked back to the
door with the supply's "here you go is this enough for now?"
"Yes, ma'am thanks, how much will this be?" light smiled
"Is this all you do? I think you are much more than what you come off as?" I said
questionably
"It's on me this time I will have the medicine in an hour for worse wounds if you can
come back in an hour, I will give that to you as well" Cherry Smiles. Cherry looked up to the
other man with palms sweating and very nervous but kept calm to answer his question
"Yes, this is all I do for a living I take care of the people of this town and cure all that
ale's them I do nothing else nothing more sir" she said with a smile
"You should be nice, to her she's helping us man" light said with a worried look on his
face, "We can come back for more later before we go to the snakes." Light said
"I'm sorry but I have to head out to get the medicine if you can meet me here in an hour"
Cherry said nervously
"Of course, we can thank you." Said light
Cherry slowly shut the door behind her she knelt to the floor her face was pale like she
saw a ghost. Cherry slowly wrapped her arms around her legs and set her head in side her arms.
"What's wrong Cherry?" said Saki concerned
Cherry slowly lifted her head "You have feelings for the dragon of the Zodiac". In a very
shocked voice
"Um…yeah, he is very sweet but he can't let stupid things go." Said Saki as she sat on
the floor holding her hurt arm
Cherry looked into her sister's eye's "There is a problem with this…. I... I... might not be
able to be with you much longer". Cherry said sadly
"Why would you not be with me Cherry?" Saki said sadly
"I'm the rabbit in the zodiac". Cherry said almost in a whisper
"You're the rabbit!?!? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Saki said in an alarming tone
"I didn't tell you because I wanted a normal life for our family.'' Cherry said with tear
filled eyes
"There is no normal for us, and never will be." Saki said as she looked to the ground.
"I'm in love with someone I will have to fight in the future. I'm the monkey one of us will have
to die." She sighed heavily
"It will be okay" Cherry said confidently.
Cherry stood up and walked over to her cabinet and slowly opened it she reached in and
grabbed a whip with nine tails with was embroidered with razor like blades going through the
length of the tail's.
"I'll see you soon I'm going to the field I love you sister". Cherry said with a heavy sigh
"Be careful, I love you too." Said Saki
Cherry slowly walked to the door and opened it and smiled at Sake. Then shut the door
behind her. As Cherry walked to the field she thinking about how great it would be to possibly
see her sister again. Cherry took her time walking she spoke with all the people of her village.
looked at the sight's a little deeper enjoying every smell, every color she saw. Cherry finally
made it to the field saw the tree where she normally gets her herbs, around it was in a bright spot
with long grass and pretty iris flowers growing she could help but get saddened by this scene.
"Cherry, you will be fine". Cherry said to herself trying to build confidence in herself to
walk over there. Cherry walked slowly over to the tree with her heart racing knowing that she
was a rabbit walking into a trap.
"It's time for you and I to have our fight." Said Junjie
"Why do you have to fight her? Why are we following this poor girl? Oh, you mean
she…" light said with a pause
Junjie jumped out from behind the bush that him and light where hiding in and faced the
rabbit.
Cherry's eye's lengthened as she looked at Manchu. Cherry stood there as her soft pink
hair blow in the wind and as her sky-blue eyes stared at him as if she was looking in to his soul.
"Yes, I am the rabbit you are looking for my name is Cherry Haylo".
"Yes, it's time for me to destroy the rabbit, I'm sorry we were put into this due to the
past." Junjie said with a sigh
"Dude, do you really have to fight her she helped us, we have medicine for when we fight
again. Which we would have some leverage in this next fight if you wouldn't have run Saki off."
Light sighed as he placed his hands behind his head
Junjie looked at light with a devilish look "I wish you would stop saying that. She is gone
and I don't even know if she is alive... All that blood." He sighed heavily. "Anyways, enough of
this it's time to do this." He pointed the dragon sword towards cherry
"Young man it is impolite to point sharp objects at a woman normally I don't like to fight
but Saki is my sister and if you hurt her I will have to defend my family". Cherry said very
aggressive.
Cherry grabbed her weapon out of the bow of her kimono her eyes turned from a real
pretty sky blue to a blood red, her beautiful pink hair turned white as snow. she brought her arm
down and pointed her whip back at Manchu.
"Well, let's do this. I didn't hurt your sister." He sighed
Junjie got into position to start the first attack, he placed his left foot behind him and his
right in front of his body and leaned down, moved the dragon sword that was in his left hand
beside the right side of his face. He closed his eyes and sighed when he opened his eyes the
ocean that once stood in his eyes was now a huge storm. It was like a hurricane in his eyes, for
the first time. His sword was enraged but gentler then other times the flame that covered his
dragon was no longer a crimson red it know fell to a light blue color the color of passion from
Junjie heart.
Cherry lifted her arm and jumped into the air she let her arm swing as hard as she could
the nine tails came swinging down hard into Junjie's direction. Junjie swung his sword in
Cherry's direction, a blue flame came from the sword. He felt the pain of the razors pierced his
skin, he could feel them in his back and his right arm. The pain from it was almost unbearable.
Cherry Dodges the flame but she wasn't fast enough. The flame's grazed her kimono, set fire to
it as cherry jumps down.try to get to the ground she pulls her whip with her trying to take Junjie
off the ground with all her force. Junjie knew he was in trouble when he felt himself lift off the
ground and into the air. The razor's dug deeper into his skin, his blood was falling like ruby's as
he flew through the air. Light was shocked by what he was seeing, he had never seen Junjie's
weapon do what it was doing. The blue flame, the storm that was starting to engulf his whole
body. It was like watching the ocean take his body. Becoming the hurricane that was in his eyes.
Cherry quickly took off her kimono and was just standing in her undergarments
"That was my favorite one you will pay for that Dragon" Cherry yelled at him and then
started swinging her whip throwing Junjie from left to right.
Light watched as his friend was being swung side to side but he had a little crush on her
so he wasn't going to join this fight. Junjie's flames started to make its way down cherry's whip.
The flames roared and changed into a dragon. Cherry dropped her whip and jumped back. When
Cherry looked back up she saw Junjie bloody and near defeat as she thought to herself she could
win, a thought came to her mind about how Saki would feel if she destroyed him. Cherry's mind
started racing with thought's of Saki's sad tearful face. As cherry came home and never being
able to see Junjie again. Junjie saw that cherry was in her thoughts and knew this was a time,
where he could attack and win. He pulled the razors out of his skin and leaped towards her, he
was about to cut her in the shoulder, but something stopped him. He had to look through the
flames that had surrounded his body to see what had happened. It was Saki holding an ax looking
rod, the rod was gold and the blade was wrapped with green gold. His heart dropped, as he saw
the zodiac of the monkey on her shoulder. He dropped his sword and kneeled on the ground.
Saki stood there motionless for a moment as she noticed her arm had started to bleed again.
Junjie started to cry knowing the fate that lay in front of him and his ex lover.
"You… You betray me Saki… how could you do this to me?" he struggled to say
through his tears
Cherry turned around in shock "Saki you were supposed to be laying down resting you
will not get better fighting you will hurt yourself don't fight my fight" Cherry yelled worriedly at
Saki
"I know what I was supposed to do, but I couldn't just let you die either." She replied
looking over her shoulder
"I know what you are thinking Manchu but it's not like I had a choice to become this or
not. The zodiac chooses who it wants to give its power too." She said in a sad tone
"No, it's your fault you knew, you said you loved me for what? So, one of us will have to
die in the end. What about the love we made was that a lie too." He questioned feeling foolish
after the things he told her
Saki stood their speechless she didn't know what to say for a moment. No, it wasn't a lie
everything she felt for him was genuine. She loved him more than the air she breathed. He would
never believe her so she couldn't give him an answer he would believe.
"I will give you your medicines, if you will leave my village we have to many people
who are going to notice this battle soon. With all the flames and power coming from over here"
Cherry said cautious
"Deal, we will go, we don't want any more problems for you and your people." Light
said "It was nice meeting you Cherry my white rabbit. My name is light by the way." Light said
with a smile
Cherry smiled and walked up to light "Thank you so much for understanding, I will
quickly collect the herbs and get your medicine done came with me back to my place so they can
have time to themselves". Cherry winks and gives light a kiss on the cheek
"Oh, okay yeah I will go anywhere with you." he smiled through his blush
Cherry quickly grabs her basket and picks her herbs after she was done she ran back to
light grabbed his hand and pulled him a long running back to her house like they were two kids
in love.
"How could you do this to me Saki?" he asked
"How could I do this to you? you act like I chose this for myself. Then you act like
everything we had ever felt wasn't real." Saki replied almost in tears
"Well the truth is I never loved you, I just used you Saki. I was desperate haven't you
realized that yet? You were easier than I thought to get what I wanted from you." he lied
"What, even though I feel like you told me this before" she said as her heart wouldn't
stop her eyes from crying once again
"Yes, it's true if you weren't around I would have died several times. When we made
love, I was just paying you back for taking all the hits for me. Nothing more." he said as he
looked towards the ground so he didn't have to watch her heart break in front of him.
"You were the one playing me all along, how funny I should have known you can't
honestly love anyone. Your heart is so closed off you don't know what you had. You can't see
how much I loved you. No woman has ever loved you like I had and that's what scares you. I
hold you higher than even myself, but that's not because I didn't think of myself sometimes it
was because I wanted you happy and I was willing to risk everything to make sure you were
happy. You are a fool Manchu! You have made your choice to find someone more worthy of
your heart because it's not me. Women that hold others higher than themselves are stronger than
most. Even if I was being selfish with you my love for you is deeper than you knew. I opened my
heart to someone who can't appreciate me on a deeper level, you will never know love like I had
given you." Saki said harshly as she turned to walk away
I stood in shock as I watched her walk away, the blood kept flowing out of her bandages
that were wrapped around her arm. She didn't even show she was in pain or that anything I had
just done had affected her in any way. Than why did I feel so horrible for what I had just done, I
knew she loved me and I knew I loved her. What have I just done? I lost someone that was more
important to me then she would ever know. It's because I never told her how I feel for her, I
knew I would regret this moment for the rest of my life. I opened my mouth slightly to try and
stop her from leaving me. I saw her look back at me from over her shoulder, her beautiful fragile
body, her long brunette hair blowing into her face and around her body. Her crimson eye's that
where filled with water. I watched someone strong change into a weak and damaged woman if
only an instant, I could feel her heart break in that one look. I saw her beautiful full lips open to
say something to me. What she had to say made my heart drop, the pain I had felt with those
words she uttered to me was like a dagger in the heart.
I watched her disappear, I didn't know what to think I was so confused. I do love her she
is the mother of my child as well. I didn't know whether to cry or run after her. She wouldn't
listen to me even if I did go after her. Even if it was for a moment I felt the intense pain that she
had felt, a woman's heart breaking was more painful than I ever thought it could feel. I knew she
was worth it, worth the fight and worth my love. I just messed up big time. I fell to my knees and
uncontrollably began to cry. That was when the sword took complete control of my soul to be
honest It felt good that I didn't have to feel anything, no hurt, no pain, I could move on without
her and she would fall like we wanted.
As Saki was on her way home she stopped in the forest she dropped her weapon on the
ground before fully breaking out into an uncontrollable break down of tears and anger. She fell
to the ground and curled up into the fetal position and just let every emotion she had felt out. The
pain of Manchu's betrayal was more than she could take, she didn't want to move she just laid
there for what felt like hours wishing and hoping the pain would go away. It never did…
When I got to the cabin Cherry lived in I stood outside and leaned against a tree for
sometime waiting for Light to come out into the light. I knew that Saki wasn't there she seemed
to travel the other way. probably needed some time alone which I wouldn't have blamed her.
Because I needed time too, I still couldn't believe she was the monkey I would have to fight later
but the pain of betrayal was what hurt the most. I didn't want to fight her but at the same time I
felt like it was time to destroy her. I couldn't get my soul to be on the same page. I needed to
face that my soul was almost fully engulfed by the swords power and didn't know what I would
be capable of when I was gone from the light and thrust into the darkness. I had only felt it for a
moment when I almost killed Saki be for but now it was almost unstoppable.
Light finally emerged from the cabin with a smile on his face, I was wondering why but
he had already told her he had a crush during the fight. when I started thinking about that all I
could remember is Saki stopping me. How much rage filled her eyes and the unpleasant look on
her face. Light walked up to me with the bag of medicine he had gotten from Cherry.
"So, Saki is the monkey?" He said happily
"So… She is" I replied
"That means we don't have to worry about her anymore, She's on our side so you don't
have to fight her." he said looking at me intensely
"We do though." I could feel the evil talking for me " I need her power to become
stronger Light." I said
"Junjie, you don't need it. It's what the sword wants." he sighed
"let's go we must find the last three that remain. than I will deal with Saki last." I replied
Light knew there was no way of getting through to me at this point but the fate he saw for
Saki was something he wanted to try and fix before it was too late. He realized now that there is
no way of surpassing the power of the sword that would finish taking over Junjie's heart soon.
He placed the meds in a poush he must have gotten from Cherry that hung from his side. Light
looked back up at me.
" Well let's head into the city, I believe Cherry said it was a thirty minute walk from here.
the town of silver flake. She told me she heard a story of a woman who lives there that protects
the town from raiders. She said the story's say she holds a bow that is made of steel. The bow is
a sword, isn't that crazy. So she can shoot arrows and destroy enemy's with her sword like bow.
She sounds pretty awesome to me." Light said as he started to walk away
"Alright" I said as I followed him
The sun had already gone down by the time we reached the city. The lights were bright
and welcoming as we made our way through the town, we had asked several people about this
mysterious women we had heard so much about. No one would give us an answer just leads. We
started to get hungry and this was the first time I was able to take a good look at the city. It
reminded me of the old japanese cities it looked ancient but well kept together. There were shops
that had fruits and meats out in the open. Some of them had outside eating areas. One woman
caught my eye. She sat outside at one the restaurants, but the thing that I couldn't ignore was the
tattoo of a snake she had on the back of her neck. She sat with her legs crossed holding a book,
on the table next to her was a plate of what looked like beef and broccoli. Next to her plate was a
cup of freshly made tea she would sip on every once in a while. She had long teal hair and skin
that was as white as snow. She was wearing what looked like a halter top it was a dark green
color, that covered everything in the front of her chest, and the straps wrapped around her neck,
the straps made an X shape that showed her shoulders and her shoulder blades off the back of the
shirt was completely covering the rest of her back. The pants she wore were black, they were
tight against her thighs. They went all the way to her ankles. She was thin and beautiful in her
own way. I had started to walk over to her and she eyed me with a disgusted look on her face.
Her eyes where a sky blue, they looked like viper eyes.
"Excuse me miss." I said with a little hesitation
She looked up at me quickly moved her body away from mine. I could hear her breathing
heavily and set down her book. Next thing she did made me jump. She slammed her head on the
table and said in a voice as sweet as a hummingbird.
"Two more please." You could hear the irritation in her voice
I watched as the man scurred around and grabbed two more cups of tea and set them
down two sets down from where she sat. Light walked over and sat down where one of the cups
sat. I was so confused she seemed to not want anything to do with us at all but at the same time
she wanted us to sit.
"Thank you for inviting us to sit." Light said with a smile
"Your welcome." She said warmly to light
"My name is Light, may I know your name ma'am?" He said cheerfully
"My name is Viper Lee." She smiled
"Nice to meet you Viper." Light said
"Just Lee to you." She hissed
"Alright, Lee, nice to meet you." He said as he sipped the tea
I sat down in the chair closest to her, there was one sit empty between us. I started to sip
the tea. I was about to say something but she rang in first.
"What can I do for the great dragon?" She sounded more annoyed
"Do you have something against me?" I replied
"Well, since you brought it up, I'm not interested in someone who can't lead and can't
take control of their own weapon." She said not even looking at me " You are a pathetic fool I
can smell the negative energy flowing off of you." she said more cheerful
"How did…" I started to say
"How did I know that you only want blood." She sighed as she reached down and picked
up a baby blue viper from the ground
"Yes…" I said trying to not get any closer
"Does she scare you?" she questioned
"I don't like snakes much." I replied
"Don't worry she only kills what I ask her too. You seem like you want to lose a lot in
your life. Your name is Junjie…? huh?" She said without pausing more. "She told me what your
name is and has told me a lot about your travels… Also, the love you choose to lose." She said
"The snake?" I said abruptly
"Yes, I had her follow you for some time. Also, the snakes name is Sky." she said as she
rolled her eyes at me.
"Junjie, I have heard that Light has been trying to get you to see what you are doing to
yourself. Your last battle was a shock, wasn't it? You were finally able to get some of your
powers, the flame of the dragon. Did you know you could use that?" She said this time staring at
me I felt like I could feel her eyes looking through me
"No, I didn't know I could do that at all. Is it possible I could have more power than
that?" I questioned
"Yes, but the problem is you can't achieve it anymore. revenge and hatred was your
down fall Junjie." she said as she laughed
"What are you even talking about?" I asked
"Light has been trying to tell you the whole time just in the nice way." she said this time
looking at Light and Light looking back at her. "Light, you can't be nice to someone who thinks
they know everything there is to know." she said as she looked back at me I could feel myself
swallow hard. "You are a fool due to what you have done, such as the twelve of us, I am
surprised you found the thirteenth the Cat first. Luck was truly on your side having him with you
first. You ignored it all though. If you keep going through life thinking you know everything you
will fall and fall hard." she said as she laughed
"Can you just get to the point?" I said irritated now
"You needed all twelve to reach your true power." She laughed harder now
"Yes, when I kill them I gain their power that's what I've been doing." I replied
"No dummy, your sword does you gain nothing. You are helping your sword gain the
power which makes it easier for it to control you, But don't worry in a couple of days you will be
freed from the swords control, but at what cost to you… I wonder?" she said this time looking
serious
"This whole time I have been collecting the twelve swords. I was supposed to collect the
strongest seven strongest." I said as I looked down at my cup of tea
"Yes, I get that but you interpreted it wrong. Did you ever wonder why there was only seven
warriors who killed your family? It's because the last owner of that sword killed everyone else.
The zodiac has been trying to fix his mistake for the last century. Right now I could kill you
without lifting a finger, you are no match for me not know. I will not follow a cowered. Also,
know that you have killed most of the warriors, not saying that, that is any fault of your own, but
since you can't gather the twelve you will never have the power you need. Yes, collect us not
destroy us." She said
This whole time light was trying to convince me to do what he did with the rat, make
friends with them keep them close. thanks to Light and Saki I could control it more but now. I
have nothing and can't even gain my full power.
"Honestly, I think the dragon finally got it. You can take off that crown now Junjie, you
are in trouble when you meet the last two of the Zodiac they have tapped into their full potential
something you won't have till you turn the last page." she said as she drank the rest of her tea
and stood up.
She started to walk away with her snake wrapped around her wrist. Her hair was almost
down to her butt. I watched it sway back and forth as she walked. She quickly looked over her
shoulder and glanced at me.
"Your last battle will be up there." she said as she pointed to the top of a hillside where a
large castle like building stood. "They are already there waiting for you. I wish you luck because
your going to need it." She said as she turned away and kept on walking.
As she walked away I could hear her yell "I'm going to finish my book let me know who
wins." I was so confused by her she knew so much. Also what did she mean by I would soon be
freed from my sword? what else was I about to do that I wouldn't have control to stop myself
from doing. fear was know deep within me, what was it? I needed to know, but the last battle
was just before me. I looked over to light which sat on my left side. He glanced up at me slightly.
"Its time Junjie lets go." Light said as he stood up.
I followed behind him slowly behind him, as we started up the path the one I may never
come back from it was time for an end, or a new beginning I was about to find out...