Stepping into Shadows (Private; Lepa's Prologue)

[Lepa]

This was bad.

Lepa wanted to run. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to flee, but she was frozen to the spot.

Why? Why did she have to wander into the forest that afternoon? What possessed her to let her guard down and fall asleep under a tree? It was dark when she awoke, and when the reality hit her that she was alone in the woods, she panicked. After all, she was a rabbit at heart, so being this vulnerable spiked her fear through the roof. When she heard people's voices, she ran towards them, thinking they would lead her to safety, but... that man... no, that thing told her otherwise.

Toned physique and scars aside, he looked like a normal human. He sounded like a normal human. He spoke like a normal human. But... there was something about him that just... distinctly wasn't human. There was a menacing aura about him - something so incredibly evil within him that Lepa was sure just merely looking at him would get her killed. If it weren't for the wall of bushes between them, her only saving grace would've been the fact that his attention was entirely focused on a younger man dressed in white. It seemed she'd wandered into the middle of their conversation, but Lepa could definitely sense that there was an unpleasant tension in the air...

"...And I have you to thank, little bird." The menacing one said, his tone strictly measured but his words mocking. The younger man grit his teeth, gripping at the hilt of his bladed weapon so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Bastard...!" He hissed.

The man with the scars let out a small snort of amusement. A small smile crossed his face.

"Ever the emotional one, aren't you...?" He tilted his head. "Shame." He raised his brow, eying the younger man's stance. "It always did hold you back."

The distance between the men had closed as quickly as Lepa blinked. Their weapons struck each other with a loud clang, followed with a shower of sparks. Startled, Lepa stumbled backwards, barely keeping her balance. Her eyes darted about as she struggled to follow their movements through the foliage, but it was no use - she couldn't see them at all! Sure, she could hear their combat, wincing at the sound of metal rapidly striking metal, but what did it mean? Were they invisible? Were they moving that fast...? No one normal could do such a thing! Unless...

These people weren't normal.

The man with the scars sure wasn't.

[Lepa]

He'd been found.

So what?

Kurozuru figured it was inevitable, but it didn't really matter. Even if he'd failed in re-releasing the Dark Master, he was granted some of the old being's power before he was quickly resealed. Hell, the Dark Master's hasty imprisonment wasn't even a permanent fix, so ultimately it only delayed his grand plans.

Fei Yen was key to putting these plans in motion. Kurozuru had deceived him into disposing of a room full of their peers, and now Fei thought it was only right he atone for his sin by hunting down Kurozuru himself. He'd expected to see the bleeding heart of a prettyboy at some point, but he hadn't imagined it'd be this soon. The weight of Fei Yen's guilt must have pushed him harder than any other.

That emotion was one of Fei's greater strengths, but Kuro knew it was just as much of a weakness, especially with the nature of their work. They were agents who lived in the shadows of the world. They were spies, assassins, intelligence gatherers, mercenaries... All unable to live the luxury of a "normal" life.

Yet, Fei Yen had managed to do it. He'd done it in spite of his orders or his training. Most trained killers would harden themselves to such emotions, but Fei possessed a higher level of compassion and understanding in his heart.

Unfortunately, it just meant that he had much more to lose, and Kurozuru knew this.

All it took was detecting the presence of that lone girl.

"Ever the emotional one, aren't you...?" Kurozuru tilted his head. He almost spoke to Fei Yen like he was a child. "Shame." He raised his brow, eying his stance. "It always did hold you back."

Fei Yen had no doubt detected the girl as well. He must have understood the implications of Kurozuru's words, judging from how quickly Fei lunged at him. While he wielded two blades, Kurozuru wielded a single long one, skillfully deflecting the younger man's attacks. With the newfound power coursing through his body, defending himself was almost effortless.

Their altercation was brief. Even amidst the combat, Kurozuru's senses were so sharpened that he could hear the frightened woman trying to make her escape.

That was when he made his move.

[Lepa]

Lepa gulped. These people weren't normal at all...! She had to get away!

Quickly, she spun on her heel and began running. Whatever problem those two had, it was with each other! She wasn't going to get involved with it! Between facing them and the darkness of the woods, Lepa would take her chances on the woods!

She didn't get far.

One moment, she was running like the wind. The next, a strong grip snapped her in place.

"Ghk...!" Lepa yelped, dazed at the quick loss of momentum. As she tried to straighten herself back up, the grip on her tightened. She tensed up. Her eyes glanced downward. There was a muscular arm wrapped around her neck. A muscular arm covered in scars...

It... It was that man.

He... was even more terrifying up close! How did he know she was there...? And how did he catch up so fast?! Panicking, Lepa twisted and writhed, struggling to rip herself free or at least pull his arm away, but it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience to him. His strength must have been unbelievable - he'd only been holding her in place with one arm, after all. It only took another quick squeeze and Lepa nearly choked. She coughed a few times, then quickly did her best to quiet herself once his arm loosened again.

"...Hmph. Anyway," She heard him finally speak, trembling at his words so close to her ears. "As I was saying..."

Lepa grimaced, flattening her rabbit ears. Was he talking to her? It only took a second to get her answer. As she stared forward - the only direction she could look, really - she met the pointed end of a blade just inches from her face. On the other end of the weapon stood the younger man in white. He stood opposite of them, his lips pressed together in frustration. Cautiously, he pulled his sword back, but maintained a fighting stance.

The menacing man raised a brow as his opponent withdrew his blade. "...Too emotional. Too empathetic." He said plainly. "If you were as truly skilled as they say you are, you'd have no problem striking me down with a hostage in tow." He smirked. "Or do you care too much about the life of a bystander?"

Lepa shut her eyes. "P-please..." She whimpered, her voice small and quiet. "D... Don't hurt m-me..."

The younger man's brow furrowed at her plea.

"She... has nothing to do with this." He said steadily. "This is between-"

The other man scoffed. "She? Look at it, Fei Yen." He gave one of her rabbit ears a tug, earning a muffled cry from the poor girl. "This thing is subhuman. An animal. You shouldn't have a problem if an animal gets in the way of your target. To call this thing a "hostage" is being generous." He snorted. "No one would mourn vermin."

The man's words hit hard. Lepa bit her lip, failing to blink back her tears. As terrible as he was, he was right about one thing: she wouldn't be mourned. She had no family left to speak of. If she died right here, right now... no one would miss her. She struggled to hold in a sob at the thought.

She didn't want to die so alone.

[Lepa]

This man was scum.

Fei Yen stood his ground but made no move as Kurozuru tormented the poor girl. He knew Kurozuru could've just killed her or gotten away from him at any point... But the fact that he hadn't meant the man was simply taunting him. Fei had to think fast, damnit. He'd been deceived by this man into taking innocent lives before, and he wasn't about to lose another one because of him...!

As Fei weighed his options, his gaze met the girl's tear stained face. She continued to tremble, her hands feebly resting on the arm around her neck. Her eyes were desperate and afraid. Fei Yen had seen the expression many times before, but... there was also something incredibly lonely about the way they looked.

He knew he couldn't fail her.

"...Tch."

Fei relaxed his stance, lowering his dual blades. It seemed like he was giving up, much to the rabbit woman's despair.

"Maybe you're right, Kurozuru." He admitted. "Maybe I am too empathetic..." He clicked the two weapons together into a single, double sided blade. "But that has nothing to do with the fact that I'll kill you."

With a swing of his arm, Fei flung his transformed weapon forward. As Fei expected, Kuro stood his own ground, using the girl as a shield. She yelped in fear at the oncoming attack.

But the attack never hit.

Instead, it grazed past the pair. Fei Yen had thrown his blade just hard enough that a single gap in the helicopter-like spinning allowed his whirring blade to pivot past the girl's waist. Still, it didn't stop her from crying out. Kuro himself jostled his captive to shut her up, but was otherwise less than impressed.

"Hmph." He scoffed again. Kurozuru was well aware of Fei's weapon's capabilities. He repositioned his captive in preparation to take the hit, bracing himself for the double sided blade to come whirring back. "Did you really think your little boomerang trick will work on me?"

Fei Yen stared at him hard, then smiled softly.

"Who said that was the trick?"

[Lepa]

In the singular moment that Kurozuru was distracted, Fei Yen found his opening. Suddenly he closed the distance again. With his main weapon thrown, Kuro made the mistake of thinking Fei unarmed, but he still had his wall climbing sickle. Before his foe realized it, Fei had swiftly stabbed him in the back. The sudden pain quickly distracted him. His attention was divided. Amidst the pain, he struggled to dodge Fei's returning dual blade. Thankfully, Kurozuru's arm loosened just enough for Fei Yen to scoop up the woman. In the same motion, he caught his boomeranging weapon then made a swift retreat.

Lepa herself had no idea what was happening. It was too fast for her to comprehend. She was swept off her feet and now felt she was moving...?

"W-What...?!" She stammered, looking up. It was that younger man in white; the one that the scary man called Fei Yen.

"Hold tight," He said. Lepa didn't need to be told twice, immediately tightening her grip on the man. He was moving at a breakneck pace. Was he running? Leaping? It was almost like he was flying, but Lepa was sure they were still on the ground. Either way, she was grateful to be free from that terrifying man.

Kurozuru himself remained far behind, clutching as his open wound. He grit his teeth, but as he pulled his hand away, there was no blood on his palm; only a stain of liquid darkness. Whatever pain he felt quickly subsided, and his scowl morphed into a small grin.

"...Is that the best you could do, little bird...?" He said to himself, eying the direction Fei Yen had fled. His stab wound slowly began to leak viscous shadows as a dark aura gleamed in his eyes.

"You really have no idea of what you're up against."

[Lepa]

Lepa's face was still wet from her tears. Her cheeks stung from the chill of the wind, and she couldn't help but bury it in the man's shirt. Fei himself took notice of this and slowed his pace down. He glanced back over his shoulder to ensure they weren't being followed, then gently lowered the woman's feet to the ground. Yet, even when she felt the earth beneath her, she still clung to him.

"You're safe," Fei reassured her. "...For now, at least."

Only for now...?! Lepa didn't want to let go, and Fei frowned when she didn't. He didn't want her to panic any further, but... he had to be realistic.

"Why...?" She asked, her voice muffled by his shirt. Why only for now? Why would he still be after her? Why did she have to get dragged into this in the first place? It was a "why" for a lot of things, but her mind was too much of a haze of adrenaline and fear to ask- or even really understand what sort of answer she was looking for.

Fei Yen himself couldn't answer it, either. Even though he'd helped her out, he'd kept his responses brief and to the point. They were living in two different worlds, and their interaction was enough of a risk to her. She didn't need to know more than she'd already seen... and he'd like to keep it that way. Otherwise... his efforts to protect her would be for naught.

"That man... is evil." Fei Yen said slowly, careful with his wording. "His methods... are... underhanded." Lepa flinched as he gingerly placed his hands on her shoulders, then gently pried her off of him. Though she now stared at the ground, obviously still shaken up, Fei spoke firmly. "...So long as you are near me, you will be in danger." His brow furrowed. "You must flee."

Lepa sniffled at the coldness of his command. She scrubbed her wrist against her eyes, trying to regain her composure. A moment later, she looked up at him. It almost caught Fei Yen off guard. His expression remained stern, however, and he spoke again.

"...Do you understand?" He had to make sure she did.

With a quiet sob, Lepa nodded. Hesitantly, she took a step back. Then another. She paused, sparing one last glance at the man who saved her, then took off running. Fei watched her disappear into the distance. He couldn't help but let out a small sigh of relief. He couldn't relax just yet, though. Reaching for the weapon on his belt, Fei Yen turned and began back down the way he'd come.

There was still work to be done.

[Lepa]

"W-wait!"

Fei Yen stopped. He sighed. He'd hardly gone far. Why would she come back? He turned aside, eying the rabbit woman as she ran back towards him. As she drew closer, she slowed down to catch her breath.

"Wait...! Wait..." Lepa panted, curling over as she spoke in between breaths. The man had made no move regardless, but waited silently for her to continue. "Haa... Sorry..." She apologized, straightening herself up. "I just..."

"Did you not understand?" Fei spoke, his tone much more cold and distant than before. It was enough to make the woman pause. "Get away from me." He watched as Lepa grimaced. Her ears flattened at his scolding. He almost regretted the action himself, but it was necessary to keep her out of trouble.

"I..." She fiddled with the cloth of her skirt. She hesitated, then forced out her words. "...J-Just wanted to thank you! That's all!"

Fei Yen only stared at her in silence. She hoped for some acknowledgement, but his lack of words said otherwise. Unnerved, Lepa fidgeted under his unchanging gaze. Finally, he gave her a small nod, but nothing else.

"...Now, go."

That was it. It was an awkward exchange, and Lepa wasn't sure how to feel about it, but... at least she let her gratitude be known. That was enough for her. Rubbing at her eyes, she returned his acknowledgement with a small nod of her own, before turning on her heel and running off again.

Fei Yen, on the other hand, was glad it was over. That wasn't to say he didn't appreciate her gesture, but... there were more important matters at hand. When a threat like Kurozuru was around, everyone around him was a target, and Fei Yen sought to avoid as many casualties as possible.

Sometimes almost at the cost of his own life.

Perhaps Kurozuru was onto something after all.

[Lepa]

First, Lepa felt a shove. Then, an explosive force. Her body hurled forward. It must have been several yards before she landed. She hit the ground hard, rolling across the grass and dirt. Her momentum quickly died down, and she was left laying on her side. She coughed roughly as pain seared her sides. She struggled to open her eyes, trying to regain her senses.

With his back to her, Fei Yen stood in a defensive stance with his dual blades drawn. Whatever had happened, it looked like it had roughed him up. One of his knees suddenly buckled.

"D...Damnit...!" He swore, letting out a small hiss of pain. Lepa herself tried to push herself up, only to freeze at what she heard next.

"Hmhmhmhm..."

Oh no.

It was him.

Dread filled the girl's stomach as her eyes darted to the terrifying man that stood before them. Her eyes widened when she saw a dark aura emitting from his body. Even in the darkness of the night, she could see the energy licking at the air like fire. It was purple and black, teeming with raw, putrid evil. Is this what she was sensing before?!

"I warned you, little bird," Kurozuru sneered. Though he continued to speak in measured tones, there was much more of a biting edge to his voice now that he'd revealed this power. "Your compassion... will be the death of you." As if to prove his point, he lifted his elongated sword. His aura extended to the blade. With it, he struck a nearby boulder. The embedded shadows granted a supernatural heft to it, shattering the rock with an explosion of dark energy. The ensuing small bits of debris harmlessly rained from the sky, making it very clear to Fei Yen just what he was dealing with. He'd managed to push Lepa out of the way from Kurozuru's sneak attack, but if she stuck around any longer...

"...Get away." He whispered harshly. Lepa heard him, but she was still dazed. She replied with a weak groan. Fei Yen only grit his teeth. This was bad... He was already injured by that first strike, so he could only cover her for so long, damnit...!

"You are a fool, Fei Yen." Kurozuru smiled, approaching him with an eerie calm. "You're an assassin trying to protect a rat."

Once Kurozuru was in range, Fei Yen wasted no time. He struck at him with both of his blades. Kuro easily blocked them both with his sword of darkness. The sound of metal slid against metal as Fei struggled to break his defense. Instead, Kurozuru overpowered him. With a flick of his arm, he'd cast the younger man aside. It wasn't enough to seriously hurt him, of course - killing Fei Yen himself would be too easy.

Kurozuru had a much better idea for disposing of him.

[Lepa]

After seeing the man toss Fei Yen aside, Lepa's instincts kicked back into full gear. She had to get to her feet. She had to move! Unfortunately, her aching body made it hard... but she had to try; especially when she saw that man stalking in her direction. She tried to crawl away. Then she forced herself upright. With a burst of energy in her legs, she managed a leaping start. She only made a few strides however before she felt a strong hand clamp around her wrist. She yelped.

"Well, Fei Yen?!" It was the first time either of them heard Kurozuru raise his voice. "You want to protect this pathetic creature, don't you?!" Dark energy began to swell around his hand that held Lepa in place. She yanked at his grip, trying to pull herself free, but it was no use. As that happened, Fei Yen returned to his feet and lunged at him with an angry shout. Kurozuru smiled again.

"Let's see you handle this."

Fei didn't reach them in time. The aura burst forth from Kurozuru's hand, completely enveloping Lepa. Whatever scream she let out was cut off into hollow silence as she was absorbed into darkness. At that moment, Kurozuru was sure he'd won. Though fury filled Fei Yen's eyes as he launched his assault, it wouldn't matter. Soon enough, Kurozuru's little hostage would fall under the influence of his dark lord's powers. She would be transformed into a terrible monster, and any hope Fei had of saving her would be lost; he would have to choose between his life, or hers.

Kurozuru didn't expect her to be immune to the darkness.

[Lepa]

A glowing blue light pierced through the veil of shadow. Suddenly, the darkness shattered, and Kurozuru hissed as a burning sensation seared his hand. Quickly, he withdrew it, but the pain didn't stop.

"Shit...!" He growled. "What are you?!"

Fei Yen wasn't about to question what happened - he saw his chance. With a well aimed strike, he slashed a blade at Kurozuru's face. His hands flew to cover his eyes and he recoiled in further pain. At the same time, the light's glare died down as quickly as it had appeared. As it dimmed, it revealed a barely levitating Lepa. A soft glow outlined her figure as her feet gently touched the ground, and soon the light faded to nothing. She stood for a moment after, dazed, before falling to her knees.

Whatever had happened, Kurozuru did not plan for it, but Fei Yen wasted no time. He had blinded Kurozuru, and he intended to take advantage of every second he could to escape. With the amount of power he had accumulated, Fei Yen realized he was in over his head - he had to retreat if he wanted to live to see another day. Again, he scooped the rabbit woman in his arms (though this time with a bit of difficulty) and he took off running.

This time, he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.

Not until he found somewhere safe.