1000 Birds
"Guardian!"

"Zenji!"

The battle was on.

We were slashing at each other without knowing where it would land, I jumped back.

"Hell's Vortex" I swung my sword at mid-air and a large red beam shot from it going fast at Guardian, or Kenshin, which was his real name.

"Fire Spiral" He swung his and a large spiral of fire came out.

They collided.

"You have to stop this!"Kandy yelled out,"This kind of fighting is not the answer!"

The blows exploded.

"If they keep this up, this place is gonna blow"Shadow calmly stated.

"The air is getting dense"Dragonstar said.

"We need to leave! Come on!"Madi was attempting to sway us to get out.

"Ok, how?"Skits responded.

"So you're all suggesting we just abandon him, after all that's happened here?"It was easy to tell that Shadow was getting aggressive, "We can't do that, or at least I'm not."



Black marks came from my neck and went across my body then futher to cover my body, I transformed, and I knew what was next.



My hair grew longer and turned blue-ish white, my skin became pale, the white of my eyes became black, and my pupils grew red, and then finally the huge claw-like wings came out of my back, I hate that part.

I prepared a Chidori, that's Japenese for 1000 Birds, it got it's name for the sound it makes when you use it, sounds like birds, but not this one, this one sounded like a low pitched dying bird, and it went from blue to black and white.

Guardian's hand had a fire spiral around it, but it cover his whole hand making it like a spike of fire.



This was it, and the place was coming down, I was scared, but then again, I usually am in these moments.

"CHIDORI!!!!"

"TOTOMANSAI!!!!"

We both dashed forward.

"I can't breath" Dragonstar started panicing.

I looked at Kandy, she looked like she was going to be sick, and Shadow seemed to be toppling over as well.

That's all I could see in the corner of my eye.

Water was becoming a wave around us, the rocks were falling, and the pressure from his totomansai, a huge explosion from the side sent Helena,Koga,and Ceno came bursting through but then were cut-off by the explosion of our blow preparing for the real thing.

I took one last look at Kandy…Kanna…

I mouthed "I love you" then it all exploded.



That's what happened…and I could only wonder how we led to it.



I felt a kick in my side.

"Get up,you bum"A familiar voice said.

"Geez, be gentle Dean"I said.

"I already told you everyone calls me Shadow, your no exception"Shadow said with a hint of aggression.

"Hahaha,ok then Shadow"We laughed for a few seconds then I went down stairs to eat some good ol' breakfast,yummy.

I've been living with Shadow ever since I can remember, we're very good buddies but neither of us would ever admit it, though it's obvious.



"A new girl came into our village, her name is, ummm, Ka-Ka-Ka, umm, oh I can't remember it, sorry I think it

Wa-"I cut Shadow off.

"KASUMI, ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!"I yelled.

"Huh? I dunno' I haven't seen her yet"Shadow responded.

Kasumi was a very old friend of mine, we were very close but when she was given the opportunity to become the Mizukage(mist village leader) she ran away.

"Do you know where she's located!?"I aggresivly asked.

"Yeah yeah, I know, let's go"Shadow said.

I ran as fast as I could to Kasumi's? house.

I finally got there and I moved slowly to the door and moved my hand very slowly to the door.

"Just do it you drama queen" Shadow stated.

I rolled my eyes then knocked.

"Coming" A woman's voice called.

I remembered how close I was to Kasumi, we we're together all the time,I was never able to tell her how I felt, and as I was thinking this I absentmindedly knocked again.

"I already said I was coming geez!"She said.

As she opened the door my mind felt like it was being filled with water and uncontrollably threw my arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"What the hell!?" She seemed to panic,"Get off me!!!"

I started to realize what was happening when I felt a hard punch sending me into the ground.



I woke up lying in a bed, some girl was lying next to me.

"Damn,where am I" I was kind of dazed.

The girl was breathing so I was relived, but it looked like we were both sucker punched,oh! Shadow where is he?

"Ugh,not again"The girl spoke.

"Wha, you say somthin'" That didn't sound quite right.

"That was my father, he does that"She said.

"He…does???" I asked.

"Yeah…" She looked depressed all of a sudden, so I changed the subject.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Kandy,or that's what everyone calls me"She explained,"and you?"

"Zenji"I responded.

"Nice name"She said.

"Kanna git' your butt in here"A loud voice yelled.

"Yes, Father"Kandy yelled back then hurried off.

Nice name, I thought, I followed Kandy carefully.



All of a sudden everything hit me and I was wide awake.

"Kasumi, where is she!"I absent-mindedly yelled out.

Kandy spun around with a strange look on her face.

"Who's Kasumi?"She asked.

"Wait where am I where did Kasumi go and who are you and who punched me and how did I end up here"I started shooting random questions.

"Umm, you hugged me when I opened the door then my dad punched me and you and that other guy left"She responded.

"Wait so your not-"Her father started yelling.

"Kanna who is this boy!" He had quite the loud voice.

"I dunno'"She said.

Kandy's father slapped her so hard she hit the floor.

"Hey! What was that for! She did'nt do nothin'"I yelled.

He came towards me.

"You got somthin' to say"He came closer.

I smirked then hit him hard in the gut.

"You no good rotten kid son of a" He cussed me out.

"Call me what you want but at least I know what I'm doing"I was still dazed…and that was bad.

"YOU LITTLE"He pulled out a gun and started shooting at me.

I dodged the bullets barely then swooped to the side and kicked him in the back as hard as I could then strangled him on to the ground.

"Stop!"Kandy said in between sobs.

I let him go.

He fell dazed."Thank you Zenji"She said still crying.

I walked over to her and absent-mindedly hugged her tightly, she just fell in my arms and hugged me back.



Shadow busted through the door "Sorry I got alittle held up by the forces."

"Yeah it's ok, I held my own" I responded.

"From what?" Shadow looked confused and began realizing what had happened,"What did you do!?"

Kandy was still crying in my arms, and Shadow looked at Kandy's father on the floor mumbling cuss words.

There was a knock at the door. "I guess I'll get it" Shadow answered the door.

"Shadow, what the hell are you doin' here?"It was Madi,Skits and Dragonstar.

Madi was dressed in her normal all black outfit with those weird studded bracelets, Skits was in a school girl looking outfit, and Dragonstar was in a blue T-shirt and jeans, gosh she was preatty too, but I never really thought to hard about it.

"Zenji and Shadow, what are you two doin' in the new girl's house, and why is that man beat up on the floor, what happened here"Madi was getting suspicious, and so were the others.

"It's…nothing"Kandy managed to spirt out, and after she said that she relesed my body and walked stood up,"Just don't worry about it ok."She stated.

"How bout' we all go to get some milkshakes" Skits intervened,"The new girl can come too."

"You up for it, Kandy"I asked.

"I guess"Kandy said.

Skittles smiled and we all left.



If you're wondering why we all have such strange names, we all tried to pick names for each other that suited us well, and it stuck.

My real name is Zenji so don't bother, Shadow's real name is Dean but we all call him Shadow because of his coolness, his scythe, and his black cloak. Then there's Georgia, we all call her Skittles, or Skits for short cuz' she usually drowns herself in skittles, hence the name Skittles.

Madi's real name is…Madi, and that's it.

Next is Dragonstar, her real name is Katie, and she came up with her name on her own, and we called her that.

And last but not least is Kandy, I don't know much bout' her but her real name is seemingly Kanna, nice name, I think I'll grow to really like that girl, or maybe not.

"I'll have a choclate milkshake"Skits eagerly asked.

I spotted him, ugh, per usual he's trying to convince Helena to let him join as a force in the village.

Guardian, or Kenshin, he immediately moved over to Kandy as soon as they locked eyes.

"What are you doin' hangin' out with them"Guardian said.

"YOU hang out with us…dummy"Shadow responded while nodding.

"Yeah yeah keep talkin'"Guardian remarked.

Kandy laughed alittle then smiled at Guardian,at that moment everything was set into motion.



I whispered to Shadow "You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"

"Yeah, they could make better milkshakes"Shadow responded.

I elbowed Shadow "That's not what I ment, I ment that Kandy and Guardian seem to be flirting"I explained.

"Ooooohhhhh that's what you ment,, so?"He said.

"So! Do you know what Kenshin could do to her"I was getting annoyed.

"Umm, did you say something"Dragonstar intervened.

"Yeah, do you remember what happened when you and Guardian were going out?"I asked.

She looked down for a second,"Yeah…I do…and I'm glad I gave him up."

Shadow began to realize, he was kinda slow sometimes, he walked over to Guardian and pulled him to the side, I couldn't hear what was goin' on but I had a feeling, a feeling that it wasn't good, Shadow reached for his scythe.



O boy, I thought, it takes a lot to rile up Shadow like that.

"I don't care what you think Shadow!"Guardian was yelling, Dragonstar open her knife pockets and reached for her sais.

"Dammit, this ain't gonna be good"Madi cursed alittle then looked around.

Kandy ran beside me and clinged to my arm,"Why are they fighting all of a sudden"She looked like she was gonna cry again, she looked so sad last time, I didn't wanna see it again.

"Will you two stop before I knock your heads in!" Helena had finally intervened.

Ayane was in the corner quietly watching.

Ayane's real name isin't Ayane, it's really Kelly, she just loves old ninja tales and Ayane is her idol, though shes usually very quiet and only talks if she needs too.

Also Koga was there, now he's almost as good as a bud as Shadow is, Koga speaks out a lot, and really never shuts up, his real name is Brady, and he just loves to kick.

"Guardian you need to learn how to shut up, if you don't then I'll do it for ya'"Shadow slashed in the air next to Guardian.

Guardian pulled out his exotic sword, it was huge.

"You wanna make me"Guardian said.

Shadow slashed at Guardian but Guardian blocked it just in time.

"Hey take it outside"The manager of the diner said.

So they did and we all followed, except for Skittles, she stayed in and ordered about 20 more milkshakes.

"More for me"Skits couldn't be happier and I was tempted to drink with her, but I decided to take my leave and let her pay the bill.



"Please don't fight"Kandy pleaded.

It was too late though, Shadow and Guardian were going at it like it was a roman duel.

"Lighting Strike!"A lighting bolt shot from Shadow's scythe.

Guardian dodged it and threw 4 knives at Shadow, all of which were caught then thrown back, but Guardian dodged and fire swirled around his sword.

"Fire Spiral"He called out as the spiral shot at Shadow.

"Look out"I called but as it was just about to hit Shadow, Helena blocked it and kicked Guardian in the stomach knocking him out then hit Shadow's neck knocking him out.

"I said stop didn't I?"Helena questioned, I wondered if she expected an answer.

Skits walked out and tried to say something but then burped and ran fast into the bathroom.

"I'm gonna go help her"Dragonstar left.

"Man, that's gotta suck"Koga blankly stated.



My head started to hurt, and I heared something that sounded like a voice in the back of my head.

A white haze filled my mind then I was in a room, with mirrors surrounding me.

"Shadow! Kandy! Koga! Madi! Where am I" I was scared.

I saw a girl in one of the mirrors, I looked behind me but nothin' was there, I looked at the mirror, and the girl was coming closer, everytime I looked behind me nothing was there but it was getting closer, and closer, and closer, I screamed and a loud ringing came from the mirror and my body was tensing up.

"Who are you! Get away from me!!!" My breathing was hard.

She came out of the mirror.

"What the hell? Dammit where am I who are you!? Get the hell away from me!!!"I was panicing and cussing without cause.

The girl stood there, she was wearing a kimono with blood stains all over it.

I vomited.



The room turned black and white and a blob of dead bodys appeared behind her floating there.

Two hands grabbed me and thrusted me to the wall and this girl came toward me and reached one hand out as if to touch me and I saw my life flash before my eyes.

"ZENJI!!!!"Shadow?

Shadow blocked the girl and I woke up.

"ZENJI!!!! ARE YOU OKAY!!!"Shadow was screaming.

I gasped for air then sat up quickly with Kandy clinging to me and Shadow yelling loudly at me.

"Ugh, shut up Shadow I'm ok"I managed to say.

"Scary…Are you sure you're ok?"Madi asked.

"Yes just shut up please, I wanna go home"I pleaded.

I looked around, Helena was kneeling at my feet, Kandy was squeezing me from next to me, Shadow was over my head, Madi was on the other side of me, and Koga and Ayane were next to Shadow.

"You just fell over screaming bloody murder"Koga explained.

I didn't respond and just desperately wanted to go home, so I did, Shadow put me on his back and everyone went home…except for Skittles, who was now in the infirmary.

As I was lying in bed everyone was gone, and I just was lying there alone, for a long time, until I heared the door creep open.



"Who are you!"I quickly snapped.

"Zenji"I saw Kandy's face through the door, I'm just glad it was her.

"Oh, Kandy, sorry for that"I apologized.

She laughed alittle then said walked over beside me.

"I wanted to come over here to get a break from my dad" She explained.

"Of course, you're welcome here anytime" I said.

"Thanks, but I really wanted to tell you, I think I'm in love with that Guardian guy" This shocked me.

"What!? Do you even know who he is or what he's done" I raised my voice alittle.

"He seems nice, and I really like him" She told me.

I thought about what was happening for a minute,"Are you really serious?"I asked.

"Yes" She quickly responded.

I sighed, "Then go for it, but I won't let him do anything bad to you" I said.

"He won't do anything bad, don't worry"Kandy said.

I was still uneasy about it, so I decided to spy on Guardian, and I was happy to know that Koga came along.



"She's asking him!"Koga looked like he was watching a soap opera.

"Yeah…I guess…"I didn't know why I was so sad about this…

All of a sudden I was pushed down on to the ground.

"Ow! What was that for Koga!" I scorned.

I realized he was on the ground next to me.

"Hahahaha, what are you doin' down there" Oh great, just the person to show up while I'm spying…Heather.

"Heather! Can't ya see were doin' somthin' here!"Koga exclaimed.

"Hahahahaha, like what"Heather responded.

"What were you to doing on that cliff?"Kandy had obviously spotted us.

"Taking a walk"I responded,"Then Heather pushed us off."

"Hmph, keep your dirty palms of this situation" Guardian was such an ass sometimes…we didn't really like eachother, not anymore.

"Guardian, don't be mean" Kandy kind of scorned.

"I'm not being mean, I'm being nice compared to what someone spying on us deserves"Guardian said.

"You b****"Koga was getting mad, and apparently didn't know how to cuss.

"Koga, shut up, and learn how to cuss correctly, or don't cuss at all"I said while rolling my eyes.

Heather started giggling and so did Kandy, we all laughed for a second then Guardian went back to being serious.

"But still, you two need ta' get outta' here" Guardian scorned.

"Yeah yeah make us, ya' stupid idiot dummy little damned crappy piece of

Shi-"

"Brady, shut up please"I pleaded.

I took a look at Heather, she was in baggy jeans, a white T-shirt, and long blonde hair, and when I first met her I thought she was lovely, but after getting' to know her we became…half-friends I guess…

Kandy though, she looked mature and naïve at the same time, it was lovely, lovely, that word, it used to be Kasumi's, and ever since then I've over-used it.

Anyway back to Kandy she had dark purple eyes, long black hair, she was kinda' short and pretty skinny.

"Umm,Zenji,you've been standin' there for a good 10 minutes" Kandy explained.

"Everyones gone, and he said yes!"Kandy was exicted.

"Yeah…good for you"I tried to sound exicted too, but I just couldn't, and I didn't know why.

"Hey Zenji! Whatcha' been up too so far frome home" Shadow musta' been looking for me.

"Yeah, sorry, I- ahhg, that pain in my head again,AAAAHHHHH"I screamed then passed out.

I woke up in a room full of dolls on shelves, dolls on the floor, hanging from the ceiling, and glued to the wall.

"Shadow! Kandy! Common' where are you"I called out.

"It was the rope shrine maiden, AAAAHHHH HAA HAAA HAAA" There was a dismembled man in the corner.

"What the hell"Blood was falling all over the floor.

"Kusabi"The dismembled man said.

"Kusabi? You're a Kusabi, a human sacrifice, what the hell is this"I became scared.

"You will die here"Kusabi came toward me.

"Dammit, get me outta' here!!!"I wanted Shadow to be here, but I realized he wasn't coming.

I have to let it out, I don't have a choice.

I let the black marks out, the Curse Mark, they went half-way across my face, I stopped it there.

Please let this work.

"CHIDORI!!!!"I dashed forward.

I went right through Kusabi and hit the wall.

"What are you!" I had no choice now.

I let the Curse Mark go farther, to stage 2.

My hair grew longer and became blue-ish white, my skin became pale and the white of my eyes became black, my pupile became red and the claw-like wings came out of my back, I winced when it did then prepared for battle.

"Interesting"Kusabi said,"Kirie, show yourself!"

"…"That blood stained kimono girl from before.

I was able to get a better look at her this time around, she had a white blood stained kimono on, her bangs were in her eyes, and her face had no expression, then I looked deeper, into her soul, and the world became blurry and I passed out.

I woke up in total darkness, but Kirie was standing infront of me, totally clear.

"You, you are Kirie, Kirie of the Malice"The Malice was the blob of dead bodies from before, but it wasn't here this time.

"…"She was silent.

Suddenly dead bodies were all around me, blood, gore, mutilation, everything, it was so, so sick.

My stomach jumped and I vomited immediately.

"Help….me….need….free…dom"Kirie spoke.

"Freedom, freedom from hell, yes I will help you"I said, but it seemed I wasn't controlling myself, at all.

Kirie came up to me and wrapped her arms around me, I was too scared to move, the Malice appeared behind her and wrapped totally around me, and I…gave up.



"NO!!!!"



I woke up in my bed with Shadow asleep in my chair and Kandy asleep next to me clinging to me tightly.

"Shadow? Is there pizza in the microwave for milkshakes inside of the pantry"I was out of it.

He woke up,"Are you out of your mind?"He responded.

"No I'm just in a blender of skunks" I was just spewing out random words.

"You're….where?" Shadow was confused.

"KIRIE!!!" I shouted.

"Kirie? What the hell are talking about" Shadow was still confused.

Kandy woke up,"Zenji, you're ok? You've been sleeping for an entire 3 days."

"Really" I was shocked.

"Yeah, Shadow has been with you the entire time, and I've been here most of the time, but I don't think Guardian liked it…"Kandy explained, as she said that we heared a knock at the door.



Shadow went to get it. It's not like the door was 50 miles away but me and Kandy were there hugging, staring at eachother for what seemed like forever, and something in me clicked.

"I think I lo-" I was cut-off by Guardian and Shadow walking through the door reaveling us how we were.

"KANNA" Guardian yelled.



"You what Zenji" Kandy didn't realize what was going on yet.

"Dammit Zenji" Shadow cussed under his breath then went on his guard

"What are you doin' in this guys arms Kanna" Guardian was getting madder and madder.

"I'm just comforting him, I thought he was gonna' die!" Kandy fought.

"HE SHOULD HAVE" After Guardian said that even more was put into motion.

"GUARDIAN HOW COULD YOU SAY SUCH A THING!!!" Shadow was off his rocker, litteraly, he blasted the chair back.

"Guardian!!! This isin't like you!" Even Kandy was mad.

We were all yelling at eachother when Skittles ran in.

"Madi she, she, she" Skits was studdering.

"She what!?" Shadow questioned.

"Madi has been ambushed outside, HURRY" I've never heared Skittles so scared and aggressive in my life.



We all ran outside equipped with our weapons ahead of time, my Hell's Sabre, Shadow's Hell's Scythe, Guardian's Dragon Sword, and Skittle's Kumpus.

"Hell's Vortex"

"Thunder Strike"

"Fire Spiral"

"Kunai String"

We all went nuts like the fight never happened in my room.

It was four ninja dressed in black, no headbands, and they were going nuts on me and Shadow, attacking Madi with less force then us, barely scratching Skittles, and not touching Guardian, even though he was dishing out the most damage, lovely.



"Madi are you ok?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm ok" Madi responded.

After Shadow gave the signal Kandy came outside.

"Hey Guardian, how come they didn't touch you?" I suspisicouly asked.

"I don't know, they just didn't" He responded.

I think I know what was going on and I was gonna' stop it.

I impaled Guardian without hesitation, the blood ran down my sword.

"ZENJI, WHY?" Kandy screamed.

Guardian coughed up blood.

"So you think…I did this" Guardian asked.

"I don't think, I know" I spoke quietly.

I pulled out Hell's Sabre then let him fall to die.

Everyone watched in silence while Guardian slowly…died.



Kandy sobbed silently, Madi was still in shock, Shadow looked at the ground, Georgia seemed to be ready to cry.

"Guardian…I'm…sorry" I slowly said.

Kandy held Guardian closely.

"Zenji, dammit man…what the hell were you thinking" Shadow asked.

"He was trying to kill us, I had too" I responded.

"NO HE WASN'T, HE'S NOT LIKE THAT" Kandy screamed out at me.

An erie silence came, and everything turned black and white.

"What the hell is going on here" Shadow prepared himself.

I remembered when I was in the room of mirrors…



"KIRIE" I yelled out.

She appeared behind Madi.

I ran infront of Kirie and held my hands out to my sides.

"You can't do this Kirie!" I yelled to her.

"…" Kirie looked sad and wrapped her arms around me again, I had no idea what to do.

A Malice hand grabbed Guardian and ripped him out of Kandy's hands.

"Guardian!" Kandy started uncontrollably crying.

He was absorbed into the Malice then spit back out.

"Kirie…What did you just do?" I asked her.

She looked exactly at my eyes.

(You will see)

"What?" I asked.

"No one said anything" Madi said,"Now get that thing off of you."

(I will spare you and your friends)

She left.



The worlds color came back and Guardian woke up.

"Ugh…Where am I" Guardian said.

"KENSHIN" Kandy hugged him instantly.

They kissed and my mind filled with white rage.

That's all I remember.



I woke up on the floor in stage 2 with Shadow on the ground breathing heavily, Guardian leaned against a tree, Madi passed out on the floor, Skittles on the roof, and Kandy sobbing up against the wall.

Koga Helena and Ceno ran in.

"What's happened here" Helena instantly called out.

I was in a daze again.

"I saw Kenshin kiss Kandy then my mind went blank" I tried to explain.

"You…went into Curse Mark and tried to kill us" Shadow explained softly.

"I…did?" I was shocked.

I looked at Kandy, she was unharmed, that relived me.

I ran over to her and she flinched.

"Kandy, what did I do?" I managed to ask.

She was silent.

"I'm…so sorry…I couldn't control myself" I softly explained.

"Don't…come…near me" Kandy said that and I instantly broke into tears.

"Zenji, you gonna' be ok?" Ceno asked.

I couldn't talk because I was bawling.

Kandy looked at me, and slowly put her hand on my shoulder.

Neither of us were looking directly into each other's eyes, but we just sat there silently sobbing.

After a healthy 3 minueits of sitting there Guardian ran over to me, picked me up and through me into a tree then followed it up with a hard punch to my stomach.

"YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER!!!" Guardian screamed.

"I was only-" He hit me again then pulled out his sword and held it to my neck.

"Guardian stop" Shadow managed to spirt out.

He through his sword forward and I felt a warm sensation fly through my neck and everything went white.



I heared screaming and yelling, swords clinging and blasts being fired.

"Kenshin!!!" Girls voice.

"STAY AWAY" Guardian I think.

"IM GONNA KILL You" Everything was slowly becoming harder to hear, and I fell asleep.



Something wet hit my forehead.

"Is that you Kandy?" I dazily asked.

"Yeah, it's me" She responded.

"What happened, how am I alive" I asked.

"Shadow saved your life, he took the blow to his stomach and only the bare tip of Kenshin's sword hit your neck, Guardian…He left, he said he'd be waiting for you in some cave" Kandy explained.

"I have to go" I said.

"No please don't, please just don't" Kandy pleaded,"There's ninja everywhere, you won't make it!" Kandy yelled out.

"I won't go alone, tomorrow I'll pick teams and we'll all go out, ya dig" I tried to sound confindent.

Kandy layed her head on my chest.

"There are so many things I want that I don't have" She told.

"Yes, but there our also things you DO have that you want" I responded.

"Like what?" She asked.

"Why don't YOU list something" I said.

"Anything"

"Yeah"

"You"

That was the one answer I didn't expect, and to have heared that, I had tears build up in my eyes and I hugged her without saying anything but,"Anytime"

She reached up to kiss me on the cheek.

This was the calm, this was before the war, before everything happened, before people died.

I kissed her and I turned out the lights.



When I woke up, Kandy was dressed already and I was watching her call up everyone.

Within a half-hour everyone was sitting infront of me.

"Ok so whats your plan" Helena asked.

Everone was there, Dragonstar, Ceno, Madi, Shadow, Skittles, Koga, Heather, Kandy, Helena, Ayane, and of course me.

"Ceno, Helena, Koga,your job is to cut through the side and attack Guardian from the side!" I commanded.

"Yessir'" Koga responded.

"Ayane, Heather, you two will defend the outside and make sure no one gets in!" I commanded.

"Got it" Heather responded.

"Skittles, Dragonstar, Madi, you two are gonna protect Kandy from getting a scratch on her and get her inside that cave" I commanded.

"Alright" Dragonstar responded.

"Me and Shadow are gonna cut right through to fight Kenshin!!!" I loudly commanded.

"I'm with ya'" Shadow responded.

We all headed out, doing backflips and jumping on trees on the way there, Kandy always right next to me.



I saw all of the men, wearing black, no headbands, this was it!

They all knew what to do, Helena Koga and Ceno went off to the left, Ayane grabbed her chain scythe and Heather put on her claw gloves and the both jumped down off the cliff straight into the crowed.

Skittles pulled out her Kumpus and Dragonstar pulled out her Kunimitsu Sais, Madi fired a training shot out of her index and middle fingers and her little red beam shot out, all three surrounded Kandy and walked closely down the cliff.

"Shadow, don't slow me down now" I gloated.

"I was just about ta' tell ya' the same thing" Shadow responded.

It's been awhile since we fought together like this, but we were all pumped up!

We both took a jump right off the cliff and went straight down to fight.

I pulled out my Hell's Sabre and started stabbing and slashing at everything that moved and so did Shadow.



All of a sudden it was no one but me and Shadow destroying targets. All of the others were totally out of sight.

After what seemed like hours of pure fighting with Shadow, we found the entrance to the cave and everyone was there waiting.



"Guardian!"

"Zenji!"

The battle was on.

We were slashing at each other without knowing were it would land,I jumped back.

"Hell's Vortex" I swung my sword in mid-air and a large red beam shot from it going fast at Guardian.

"Fire Spiral" He swung his sword and a spiral of fire came out.

They collided.

"You have to stop this!"Kandy yelled out,"This kind of fighting is not the answer!"

The blows exploded.

"If they keep this up, this place is gonna blow"Shadow calmly stated.

"The air is getting dense"Dragonstar said.

"We need to leave! Come on!"Madi was attempting to sway us to get out.

"Ok, how"Skits responded.

"So you're all suggesting that we just abandon him, after all that's happened here" It was easy to tell Shadow was getting aggressive,"We can't do that, or at least I'm not."

Black marks came from my neck and covered my body, and I transformed, and I knew what was next.



My hair grew longer and turned blue-ish white, my skin became pale, the white of my eyes turned black, and my pupils grew red, and then finally the huge claw-like wings came out of my back, I hate that part.

I prepared a Chidori, and Guardian prepared a Totomansai.



This was it, and the place was coming down, I was scared, but I usually am in these moments.

"CHIDORI!!!!"

"TOTOMANSAI!!!!"

We both dashed forward.

"I can't breathe"Dragonstar started panicing.

I looked at Kandy, she looked like she was going to be sick, and Shadow seemed to be toppling over as well.

That's all I could see out of the corner of my eye.

The water was becoming a wave around us, rocks were falling, and the pressure from his Totomansai, an explosion from the side sent Helena,Koga,and Ceno came bursting through but were then cut-off by the explosion of our blows preparing for the real thing.

I took one last look at Kandy…Kanna..and mouth "I love you" then it all exploded.



It seemed like the world was coming down, and all that was running through my head was Kanna Kanna Kanna Kanna as I was being blown back into a wall, I felt a bunch of hard sharp things hit me everywhere and I passed out.

When I had awoken I saw Kirie in distance, everything else was black.

"Kirie, where am I" I asked.

(You are where you need to be)

"What does that mean" I became confused.

(Tell me who is the one you truly love)

Her mouth wasn't moving but I heard everything.

(Is it really Kanna, is it Katie, or maybe Madi, or Georgia, or perhaps Dean)

"Whaddya' mean Shadow??? Are you outta' your mind" I was close to laughing.

(I would not know)

What the hell?

(So then who is it)

"I have to choose" I had that feeling that if I didn't somthin' bad was gonna' happen.

I knew what to say, how to say it, and why.

"My answer is Kanna" I felt my body become hot, was that what I really wanted.

(Kanna)

Kanna…when the rocks fell did she…die.

So much has happened….what if I'm dead. What if I'm gonna' be trapped here with Kirie for the rest of my life, in an endless, pointless, conversation.

"Kandy…Kanna…Is she dead" I manage to ask through hard swallows.

"…" Kirie wouldn't answer me.

"Common', speak!" I demanded.

The darkness became light, and the light opened up to a wooden ceiling.

I was blurred but I heared someone calling my name.

I looked up, it must have been Shadow, I was relived that he was alive.

"We all took quite a beating cuz' of you" Shadow quietly said.

"Yeah…sorry" I spoke softly.

He looked depressed…and not like he usually does…like mourning depressed, he broke into tears.

"We were all ambushed and Dragonstar she…" Shadow was really crying, it was scaring me to death.

"Shes….dead isin't she" I was close to crying myself.

"She…isin't dead…she's captured…and so is Helena, and…" He stopped and just looked down,"Kanna."

My mind went blank.

"Dammit…no no no not her she wouldn't let herself be captured, you have to be joking you have to be!!!" I raised my voice.

"There all going to be killed" Ayane said while walking through the door way.

She never says anything, ever.

I figured that since Helena, her mentor, was captured she was probably motivated.

"Zenji, you killed Kenshin" Shadow said.

"How? We both collided" I responded.

"Before you got blown back you slit his neck with the Corrupted Chidori" Shadow explained now looking serious but still saddened.

"We're leaving to save Helena, NOW!" Ayane yelled.

"Ayane…" I looked at her,"YEAH LET'S KICK SOME ASS" I felt confident and roared up.

I got up in despite of the pain and ran out the door going to Madi's, Heather's and Koga's room along the way and we all headed out in one team.

"Prepare for trouble, make it double, to announce the evils of truth and love, to defend reach to the stars above-"I was cut-off by Heather punching me telling me to stop copying Team Rocket…and I punched myself for the same reason.

As we stepped forward gunshots were fired right in front of me.

"The first, No food, No drink, Only Money" It was a young girls voice.

"The second, Either for Good or for Bad, All for the Money" Sounded selfish.

"The third, No Glory, Only MONEY" What the hell?

"I am YUKI, THE GREATEST BOUNTY HUNTER IN THE WORLD" The young girl presented.

"I've never heard of you" Shadow calmly stated.

"Grrrr! How could you not have!!!" Yuki asked.

"None of us have" I said.

"Well that's because you're all stupid morons!" Yuki insulted.

"Well I've never seen a midget bounty hunter before" Koga said.

"Shut up shut up shut up MORON" She got angry.

"She ain't big on the looks either" Shadow unusually said.

"Mleh you morons" Yuki was getting angry,"I'm really hot" She struck a pose and Madi fell over laughing.

"Hey she isin't THAT bad" I wasn't lying either.

"Yeah!!! I'm the best there is" Yuki stated.

Gosh she was loud.

"Lovely" I stated.

"W-w-what, we just met" Yuki turned at me.

"That's not what I ment" She instantly got it.

"Oh so now I'm annoying" She seemed more like a high school student then a bounty hunter.

"I never said that" I responded.

"Well to get to business, that Heathers got a bounty on her and I'm gonna' kill her" Yuki was ready to rumble.



"Me? Well I haven't even had anything happen to me yet" Heather stated.

"Will you've got one for killing over 2,000 ninja single handedly" Yuki explained harshly.

"And you think you can kill me?" Heather taunted.

"Please, I don't belive a word of it" Yuki stated,"But it's getting' me money so I'm gonna do it!"

I didn't wanna' needlessly hurt her so I was gonna' try to talk her out of it.

"How about this I'll pay you the amount of the bounty and you can leave" I offered.

"Are you serious, I got an idea, how about you pay me, then I kill her and get double" Yuki was serious.

"What if I pay you triple" I offered.

"WHAT!!!! YOU'D DO THAT FOR ME!!!" She seemed happy about that.

"Umm sure, for you" I was trying to sound like it was for her, when in truth it was for Kandy.

"Wow! You're the best, that's over 1,000,000 bucks" Yuki was overjoyed.

"Hmmm, I'll pay you quadrupile if you join us too" I tried to sound convincing.

"WOW!!!!!! YOU'RE SOME GUY, HELL I'LL BE YOUR PERSONAL SERVENT FOR THAT MUCH" It was fun to see her happy, not so much screaming though.

"Yeah sure, obviously you can fight, but were goin' in to fight an entire army, the more the marrier" I said.

"Hey I'm gonna' pass by my house and catch up with you, I gotta bring the best cook in the world, Makoto" Yuki said.

"Sure just make it in time" I stated.

Hey wait a second.

"What the hell kind of name is Yuki and Makoto" I asked.

"Are dad was asian, and are mom was American, are dad named us" Yuki responded,"What's your name?"

"Zenji" I responded then realized that it was a strange name.

"I absoulutly love that name, anyway Makoto and me will be with ya' in a sec'" Not the answer I expected.



We approached the futuristic building where everyone is held.

For a few minutes we waited for Yuki and when she came she was wearing yellow cowboy hat, a yellow shirt with a target on it, blue jean shorts, and cowboy boots, she also put on a temporary tattoo of a big money sign.

Makoto was a boy with a yellow shirt that showed his stomach, and short blue jeans, Yuki had light brown hair that went as far as her shoulders, Makoto had blonde hair that wen down to the top of his back.

"So did you all come equipped" I asked.

I grabbed my Hell's Sabre, Madi fired a training shot, Heather put on her Claw Gloves, Ayane pulled out her Chain Weapon, Shadow pulled his Hell's Scythe out, Yuki pulled out two Broken Butterfly magnums out of her pockets, and Makoto pulled out a Saxaphone with hearts on it?

"What the hell is that?" I asked.

"Honey, It's a Sax" He responded.

"We figured but I really don't think that's gonna help" I stated.

"Oh yeah" He blew into it the saxophone and a tree blew up.

"Damn dude" Koga instantly said.

"I'll kill them all if that's what it takes!" I said.

"It's my fault there gone, I have to make up for it" Shadow said.

"I'll make sure they don't get back up this time" Madi said.

"This is gonna' be fun, chuu" Heather said.

"I'll kick em' into next week and two months" Koga said.

"I will take Helena back, I swear it" Ayane said.

"I'll swiss cheese em'" Yuki said.

"I won't even give them a last meal honey" Makoto said.

"Ok LET'S GO" We all dashed in and immediately met a team of men with big chain guns.

Ayane threw her chain weapon around on of the guns and exploded it.

"Damn sister" Makoto exploded two others and Madi beamed one down to exploded it.

When they shot Yuki shot back knocking them all back.

Me, Shadow, and Heather dashed right on in slicing everyone that came close.

We all fought our way into the building.

After we got in they stopped attacking, was this a trap?

"We've got company" Shadow prepared.

I sensed it too but it instantly dissepeared.

"It's Kirie isint it" Koga asked.

"Yeah" I responded.

"Just makes things more interesting" Shadow responded.

As we turned through the numerous corners we found a few guards that Yuki immediately shot down.



We found an area where prisoners were held.

"Katie! Kanna! Helena! Kanna common' answer" I yelled out.

"Zenji?" I heared a call back.

It was Dragonstar.

Makoto blasted open the door and Dragonstar slowly walked out.

"Thanks gay person" Dragonstar said.

"Your welcome easy girl" Makoto responded.

"…" I just had a strange face.

"That was disturbing" Heather and Koga said.

I heared a light sob from one of the cells, could it be Kandy?

"Kandy, is that you!?" I called out.

"Z-Zenji"

"KANDY!!!" I busted the door open with my palm, silently screamed from the pain, then tackle hugged her.

"I missed you so much!!!" I felt very happy.

I got up to help Kandy out of the door.

We all continued on.

"I feel that presence again, Kirie must be just around the corner" Shadow explained.

We very slowly turned to find a girl dressed in a blue MIST ninja outfit with a small dagger and long light brown hair.

"So we meet again Zenji" The mystery girl said.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"You can't remember me?" She said.

She dissepeared and in a fraction of a second was behind Kandy with her knife to her neck.

As soon as I got a look at her face I had like a flash back to when I was eating breakfast with Shadow before all this.



"Some new girl came into our village her name was, Ka-Ka-Ka, oh I can't remember"

KASUMI!!!



"KASUMI!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOIN'" I yelled.

"I've been sent to kill all of you" Kasumi explained.

"After all we've been through, THE BOND WE HAD!" I yelled.

"IF THERE WAS A 'BOND' THEN YOU WOULD HAVE STOPPED ME" Kasumi was also yelling.

"NOW SAY GOOD-BYE TO KANNA" She yelled out while moving her knife, the Hokage (japenese for Knock out, or Leaf leader in hiragana) and moved fast at her neck.

"NOOO!"

I threw a kunai at Kandy's side to knock her just out of the way making Kasumi stab her own gut.

I picked up Kandy and held her close to my side.

Kasumi looked at me with a sad look then dissepeared.

"Kasumi…" When we were born we were ment to be married by are parents, and they both gave us strange names, and I wasn't reluctant to it either, but now that I've met Kandy, I know what I want and what I need in one package.

As we went further on we never found Helena… but we did find a passage leading somewhere else.

I knew Kasumi was following us and so did Shadow but we didn't tell the others and we didn't show any signs that we knew.

After hour after hour of walking in this straight cave we finally reached the end.

"That cave was very straight and easy to get through" Koga stated.

"Is that supposed to be an insult" Makoto responded.

Madi opened her mouth then closed it realizing now wasn't the time to say her trademark cuss word.

I saw infront of me a huge shrine, with ropes all around it.

"I've heared of this place" Dragonstar said,"It's the shrine of the Rope Shrine Maiden."

I remembered seeing Kirie, with ropes on her neck, her arms, her legs, it was horrible.

"This is the shrine of Kirie" I stated.



That was pretty obvious.

"So then what are we gonna' do" I said.

"I guess were going in" Zenji said.

We all walked in.

Zenji started talking at random, I guess he was talking to Kirie.

"We're going up stairs" Zenji said while walking straight up.

I followed, I still felt this was all my fault but I knew I had to do this, I need to stop Kirie, me and Zenji!



As we walked up the stairs I heared loud screams and then a bang. There where a lot of stairs, and as we were half way up we saw something that looked like a girl on the railing of the steps, she jumped.

"Oh my god!" Kandy yelled out while screaming that was soon cover by the Falling lady's scream then the loud bang on to the bottom.



We heared loud crazy laughter then silence.

Out of nowhere the same lady fell again right infront of us. She was twisted up and laughing.

"Oh lord what is that!" Kandy was freaking out hanging on to Zenji.

I pulled out my scythe and sliced right at it knocking it back.

From up the stairs came another lady with a neck twisted all the way around, and slowly coming down the stairs was a lady with blood coming from her eyes.

"Holy s***!" Koga was freaking out now too.

"This is all Kirie's doing, we need to run, we can't kill them!" Zenji stated.

"Seems like a good idea to me" I said and we all ran up and shut the door behind us.

We were in a room of dolls.

"I remember this place" Zenji said.

"Kusabi" A totally mutilated man in the corner slowly came toward us.

"Jesus Christ, what the hell is with this place" Madi stated.



I was scared out of my mind, but no ones gonna' know it.

"We need to run!" Zenji yelled out.

"Then common'" Shadow said.

We all ran while Yuki and me were shooting at the Kusabi thing while, but I didn't move fast enough and the door was closed on me.

"Oh god dammit" I said.

"Madi, what about her!" I could hear Shadow talking about me.

"There nothing more we can do" Zenji said.

He's just giving up on me….no….

I heared the footsteps getting lighter, did they really just leave me here…

They locked the door so I couldn't get out.

The Kusabi was coming closer, I just closed my eyes tried to remember all the good things that ever happened to me.

"CHIDORI"

"Zenji?" I was shocked,"You came back?"

"Of course, I wasn't gonna' leave the one of my best friends behind" Zenji turned to me and winked.

"Besides when I said, there nothing we can do now, I ment for him" Zenji said.

I guess I'll let him off the hook, just this once.

He busted through the door and led us out.



As we all finally made it to the top, the Rope Sacrifice room, I heared sobbing pounding through my head, I held Kandy as close as I could, to admit, I was scared as hell.

"Stay close and becareful" I said.

"ZENJI GET BACK!!!" Helena?

I jumped back and so did everyone else as a boulder came down on Helena chrushing everything exposing half of Helena's bloody body.

Ayane ran over to her.

"HELENA!!!" Ayane was in total tears.

Kasumi appeared as well and I was kneeling over here.

"Dammit…" Kasumi even though on the other side was still upset, she was all our mothers, all our teachers, all our friends….

I saw Kirie.

"You…would have to be….brainless….to fall for that" Kirie slowly said.

"You…" Ayane clenched her fists,"YOU b****!!!YOU WILL DIE!!!"

She threw her chain weapon at Kirie who easily dodged it.

A malice hand came up ripping one of Ayane arms off.

"AYANE!" I yelled out.

More malice hands were ripping off Ayanes limbs, leaving only her body and head.

I ran over to her.

"Ayane…" I was overthrown with anger and sadness.

"Zenji, avenge me, avenge Helena, avenge all of the people who died here" With that last thing she said slowly died…



"Kirie…Kirie!...Kirie!!...Kirie!!! KIRIE!!!!!" I was so angry and frusterated,"YOU WILL DIE!!!"

I immediately let the Curse Mark take over and transform me.

"ZENJI NO!" Shadow yelled out.

I dashed forward and kicked, she dodged it and threw three malice hands at me, I blew them all back then went for a kick to her face that was blocked by her hand.

I jumped back.

"CORRUPTED CHIDORI!!!" I used that black and white Chidori from the fight with Guardian.

It hit her but only did light damage, that was it light, but using that Chidori might… I don't have a choice.

"WATER STYLE WATER VORTEX JUTSU" I used it.

"Are you outta' your mind???" Dragonstar asked.

I shot it out Kirie and it did absoulutly nothing to her but it did manage to make a puddle in the corner.

"CHIDORI" I evaded Kirie and hit the puddle, the water swirled up around me, and I dashed out.

"LIGHT CHIDORI" I was moving so fast I could feel the skin on my arm rip off.

Kirie didn't have time to dodge but I purposely missed her and hit the Malice.

I ripped the malice in half.

The malice screamed and slowly faded away.

Kirie fell to the floor.

"How did you know?" Kirie said.

"I didn't" I responded.

"Real safe" Yuki insulted.

Shadow just smiled.

"Zenji, I'll be watchin you" Kirie said then faded away.

"Watchin' me huh" I responded.

The place started shaking and collapsing.

"We need to get the hell outta' here!" Koga yelled.

We all ran out, except for Kasumi, she wouldn't leave, and only said that she needed to go with Helena and Ayane, so we left.



Back at home, Kandy was now living with us, and I grew closer and closer to her, one day, we may get hitched.

And so this is the story of:

1000 Birds.



3 years later…



I woke up next to Kandy clinging to me, softly asleep, breathing softly.

I didn't want to wake her but I did wanna' see Shadow and eat but I didn't hear anyone in the kitchen.

"Shadow?" I whispered,"You there?"

No answer.

I softly shook Kandy.

"Hey, hotshot, you're up early" Kandy softly said then smiled at me.

"Shadow, he ain't here" I softly said back.

I got up and got dressed, tucked Kandy back in and told her I'd be back soon.

I looked around the house and didn't find him.



"Shadow!!! Where are you!!!" I was running around looking everywhere in the village.

He was nowhere…



HIM!!!

I followed him, the one man I have to kill, the man that killed my parents, and Zenji's.

"Get over here!" I yelled out.

I followed him all the way to the collapsed building where Kirie once was.

He stood infront of sliding doors.

I dashed at him with my scythe.

"DIE!" I yelled out.

He blocked it with his Wasabi Sword.

I tried to push his sword down but I couldn't.

"Dammit!" I kept trying but I couldn't.

He pushed me back and sliced through the sliding door revealing an entire room of dead bodies, and one tattooed girl with spokes nailed in to her neck, hands, and feet.

"AWAKEN, REIKA, THE TATOOED QUEEN!!!" Him, my brother, was about to awaken this crucified queen.



The spokes shot up from the ground and fell and the girl opened her eyes.

"You are under my command, my queen" My brother said,"I've brought you a sacrifice as well, use him as your king."

The queen came toward me and touched my face, crystal spikes shot through me and fused.

"Agh! AHHHHH!!!" I couldn't breathe and everything faded.

"You will kill the one who killed Kirie" Reika said.

"Yes, my queen" I was under her control…



Part 1, FINIS

Sequel

The Double Heartbeat

-EDIT- I did write the sequel, and am currently working on the the third, tell me how you like this one though.