Cast by Light (Private; Lepa's Prologue Pt 2)

[Lepa]

"Miss rabbit! Are you awake?"

Lepa sat up with a jolt. She blinked hard a few times, then rubbed her eyes. What time was it...? She glanced down at the blankets she'd been nestled under. She stared at them groggily, then her heart skipped a beat. This... wasn't her home.

Quickly, Lepa glanced around and saw her clothes folded neatly on a nearby dresser. She paused, looking down at the foreign oversized shirt she wore, then shook an embarrassing thought out of her head.

"Miss?" The voice was coming from behind a door.

"Ah... Y... Yes!" She answered. "Just... wait, please...!"

As she flipped off the covers and hastily changed into her own apparel, she couldn't help but notice some bruises on her body. She squinted into the mirror, trying to recall what had happened. She was in the forest... And she tried to find help... And... And...

"Apologies if I've woken you, miss!" The muffled voice spoke again. It was gruff, but amicable. "Are you hungry?" Lepa's ears perked up at the suggestion, and her stomach answered with a loud growl. It was only now that she realized she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday morning...

"Y-yes!" She stammered, answering almost a bit too eagerly.

"Oh! Good! I have something to whet that appetite of yours! May I come in now?"

"Um..." She hesitated, but her rumbling stomach insisted. "...Please!"

With that, a tall, broad man made his way into the bedroom. Lepa couldn't help but scuttle backwards a bit, startled by his size. He wasn't abnormally huge or anything, but... she was still wary after such a terrifying night. The man himself paused.

"Be not afraid, miss rabbit!" He placed the food tray down on the dresser. "I am Kiai Seigishi, the Lion of Justice!" He reassured her, beating a hand against his chest. "This is my humble abode! You are a guest here, and I make sure that no harm ever comes to my guests!"

His cadence was almost exaggerated, and she could tell he meant well, but goodness, this man was loud. Lepa couldn't help but pull her long ears down and press them against the sides of her head. Of course, Kiai noticed this and quickly made an effort to lower his voice.

"Aah...! Apologies." He scratched his head sheepishly. "I was not sure how much of those were for show!" Kiai gestured at her ears. "Admittedly, Master Fei Yen has not given me any details about what had happened, but..."

"W-Well...! They're real!" Lepa pouted indignantly, but her expression quickly changed. "Wait... Fei Yen? ...He's here?"

Kiai smiled. "Eat up first! When you are ready, feel free to come outside!" He nodded. "I will be waiting with him." He paused again, then made his way to the door. "But please, take your time, miss, uh... ahh... umm... hrmm..." He frowned, then cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, miss, but I never asked for your name!"

"L... Lepa! It's Lepa," She repeated. "My... name's Lepa."

"Lepa, Lepa... Hmm..." He echoed. It seemed he was committing it to memory. "I see! Well, Lepa! Please, enjoy the meal!"

"Th... Thank you."

[Lepa]

"...How is she?"

"A little shaken, but otherwise okay!" Kiai gave a small salute as he stepped back into the small living room. His apartment was modest, but cozy. "The bunny ears were a bit peculiar... but I suppose you find all kinds around here!" He laughed, taking a seat across from his comrade, Fei Yen. Fei himself had been leaning back against the couch's arm, scrolling on a phone. One of his legs was propped up on a cushion; a small section of it was wrapped in gauze. Kiai eyed the sore spot with a frown. "What about you, my friend? How is your knee?"

"It's better. It's not recovered, but it's better." He looked up and glanced over to him. "Thanks again for taking us in on such short notice..." He managed a small smile. "I'm glad to know your hospitality is still unmatched."

"Of course! How could I turn down a friend in need? It just... surprised me, was all!" He scratched at his head. "I'd imagine you'd be busy elsewhere! It's not every day a top agent shows up at your doorstep like that..." Kiai tilted his head, raising a brow curiously. "Unless... there was work for you to be done around here...?"

Fei hesitated. "...In a manner of speaking." He frowned. "It's not an official assignment, I'll say that much."

"Oh? Does that mean..." Kiai leaned forward in interest, as if Fei was withholding juicy gossip. "I may learn the details...? Ah - only if you allow it, of course! I acknowledge this is a selfish request, but..."

"It's okay, Kiai." He let out a small breath of an amused laugh. "It's the least I can do. Besides..." He frowned again. "I believe this would be relevant to you sooner or later..."

[Lepa]

Kiai sprung from his seat.

"Kurozuru did WHAT?!" He'd shouted in disbelief. Fei motioned for him to lower his voice. The larger man just stared at him, wide eyed and mouth agape as he processed the bombshell of a fact. "Kurozuru...? A traitor...?!" He spoke more softly this time, murmuring to himself. That man was well respected in the organization that Kiai once worked for. Kurozuru's family had founded it, and to think that he would betray it like that...!

"Why?!" Kiai grit his teeth, clenching his fists. "Why would he do such a thing?!"

"Power." Fei Yen furrowed his brow. "He lusts for more power."

"More?! He's of the Kurozuru family, and he wants more?!" Kiai huffed. "I... I was wrong to ever show respect to that man..." He shook his head in regret. "...It seems power always corrupts... Ouuugh...!" He started to pace irritably. "Granting someone power should be determined by a man's worth!" Kiai spun on his heel to face Fei. "Not by his bloodline or birthright...!"

"...Well said."

Both of the men looked over to the new voice. Kiai squinted.

"Master Ryusei?!" He'd stepped backwards in surprise. Appearing out of thin air seemed to be a normal feat for the other man, but it didn't make it any less startling whenever it happened. "H-How did you get into my apartment...?" Kiai murmured rhetorically.

"Ha..." Fei Yen let out a relieved sigh. Even he was worried for a moment, fearing it could have been Kurozuru. "Glad you could make it, Ryusei."

"Mhm." The man in blue nodded, pulling his red scarf down from his face. His expression was relaxed, but it was only a brief moment before it hardened. "So, you found him, huh...?" He frowned. "It's unfortunate, but I think Kiai might be onto something..."

"Haah?"

"There's a very real chance that Kurozuru may have been planning this for years." He folded his arms, leaning against the wall. "He had easy access to all of the resources he needed..." He furrowed his brow. "He was always in the position for it."

"That villain...!" Kiai clenched a fist again, stomping his foot.

"Then... how long do you think he's been planning this?"

Ryusei frowned. "Long enough that he'd done enough research to undo the seal."

"The seal? You don't mean..." Kiai looked up, eyes widening. "The one that holds back the Dark Master?!" Both Fei and Ryusei nodded. Kiai just about exploded.

"HE BROKE THE SEAL?!"

[Lepa]

Lepa winced, recoiling from the cracked opening of the bedroom door. That Kiai guy was so loud...!

Initially, she hadn't meant to eavesdrop. She'd scarfed down her meal and planned to meet them out there like Kiai had suggested, but... After getting some food in her and clearing her head, she had enough time to recall the events of what had last happened, and that was she'd been caught up in some quarrel between two very scary men. Kurozuru was one thing, but even if Fei Yen had protected her, Lepa had gained an understanding of his strength, and frankly, she was still wary of him. Maybe if she tried to observe them first, she'd feel more comfortable...

But listening in didn't help matters much. Sure, she'd heard everything clearly. She noted certain tidbits of info, like Fei Yen being a "top agent" or Kurozuru being part of some organization... but it was still all over her head. She was a simple girl of the forest. She lived her life with her head down and out of the way. She just wanted to forget all of this ever happened and go home...!

"...It was my fault."

Lepa's ears perked up again. It was Fei Yen. She couldn't help but lean in to listen once more.

Fei Yen's brow furrowed as he cast his gaze downwards. Kiai was about to go off on another tirade, but he respected Fei Yen far too greatly to speak over him. Agitated but determined to stay disciplined, Kiai folded his arms with a huff and sat back down.

"I was deceived..." Fei murmured. "Kurozuru warned me that several other agents had found where the seal was hidden... He feared they would break it and re-release the evil within, so..." He grit his teeth. "He asked me to dispose of them. I... was foolish not to realize it sooner..."

Kiai growled. "That vile snake...!"

"Kurozuru thought he could do the same with us," Fei continued, eying Ryusei. "If it weren't for you... I don't think we would've been able to stop him." He paused. "...No. Delay is more accurate. It'll only be a matter of time until the seal fully breaks..."

"So he sought power from the Dark Master..." Kiai thought aloud. "But if you both kept him sealed... then Kurozuru should be without the Dark Master's powers, should he not?! After all," He glanced over Fei's injury again. "If you did battle with him, it seems to me you've come out mostly unscathed...!"

Fei Yen shook his head.

"In the brief moment the seal was broken, Kurozuru managed to inherit some of the Dark Master's power. When we fought last night..." He rubbed at his temple. "I thought I could take him down... but I underestimated him. I only caught a glimpse of what he was truly capable of." His eyes narrowed. "...Kurozuru was just toying with me. Fighting him one on one without a plan would be suicide. There were only two reasons why I managed to escape: blinding him, and... that girl."

"Huh? That girl...?" Kiai repeated. "Just how is miss rabbit involved...?"

"...Miss rabbit?"

"Oh! Master Fei showed up last night with a strange bunny girl in tow..." Kiai explained, rubbing his chin in thought. "She told me her name was Lepa!" He added. Ryusei raised a brow, curiously shifting his gaze to Fei Yen.

"She was a bystander," Fei quickly explained. "...Kurozuru tried to use her as leverage against me. But..." He trailed off, glancing down the hallway. "When he tried to... do something to her involving those dark powers..." He folded his arms, tilting his head. "She was able to dispel it somehow...?" Fei almost didn't believe it himself.

"Hoh?" Kiai perked up. "Like a secret technique...?!"

"I'm not sure..." Fei shook his head. "She clearly wasn't the fighting type..."

"...I see. That's why you brought her with you," Ryusei reasoned. "...because that now makes her a target."

[Lepa]

The door creaked open.

The trio glanced down the hallway.

"How long have you been listening... Lepa?" Fei Yen guessed.

"Eep!"

It was the only reply he received before the bedroom door immediately slammed shut.

"M-Master Fei!" Kiai stuttered. "Why would you accuse her of such things...?!"

"The mechanisms on the doorknob didn't make any noise," Ryusei pointed out. He and Fei Yen were trained to pick up on such small details. "It's likely the door was already open. Which means..."

"Ack!" Kiai glanced back down the hallway in concern. "I thought I'd closed it all the way... S-So she heard everything...?!" He grimaced. "Forgive me...!"

The door creaked open again. "Y-yes... I'm sorry..." Lepa answered. She timidly peered out through the door. "I heard most of it, but..." She stepped out, brushing her hands over her ears and pulling them down. "It's just... hard not to sometimes..." She fidgeted, looking down at the floor. Fei blinked.

"Well," Fei sighed. "At least it saves us the explanation..."

"I don't want to be involved...!" Lepa cautiously asserted. She jerked her attention his way. "All of that... It's too much for me. I-I don't know anything about any of this..." She rubbed at her arm and grimaced. "I just want to go home..."

Fei Yen shook his head. "No - I don't think it'd be safe. I have no doubt that Kurozuru now sees you as a threat to his power. He tried to kill you last night; I'm sure he'd have no problem trying again."

The words chilled Lepa to the bone.

"I don't know anything about what I did...!" She protested. "It just... happened... but I don't know anything about it, I swear...! Let alone all of this strange talk about powers and sealing... I-It's like you said." She shook her head. "My kind... the rabbit-eared kind... we're not fighters."

"Hah?" Kiai frowned. "Then how does your kind defend yourselves?"

Lepa tensed up. She grew quiet, looking down again.

"...We don't."

[Lepa]

It was that lonely look again.

Fei Yen recognized it as the same look from the night before.

"...What do you mean?" He asked. "How do you... survive?"

Lepa fidgeted again. She'd come closer to the living room, but she couldn't help but keep to the wall.

"I... I run. I run away and hide," she admitted. "I've... always lived my life like that." Saying it out loud made her realize how sad it kind of was, but... there was some sort of comfort in being able to share her struggles.

"So you... live your life in fear?!" Kiai sprung to his feet again. "That's no way to live!" He objected, pointing and all. Lepa backed up slightly. As true as it was, she couldn't help but get a bit defensive.

"It got me this far...!"

"Even so...!" Kiai protested, lowering his arm. He didn't pursue the issue, but... he just couldn't imagine it. Surviving wasn't the same as living. Even without that villain Kurozuru getting involved, was this girl really planning on spending her days running away...?

"...No matter how skilled you are at it, I don't think it's possible to run away forever." Fei Yen frowned, mirroring Kiai's thoughts. "...Not from him. You and I... both saw what he was capable of."

Lepa grimaced again. "B-But...I d-don't...!" She stammered, trying to protest, but trailed off. Fei Yen was right. From the moment she laid eyes on Kurozuru, she could sense his killing intent. She could feel his raw evil. He snatched her up and played with her life, dangling it like a toy just to taunt Fei Yen. He was cruel, and she was only a bystander then. Now that he had more reason to go after her... Lepa shivered. "Wh... What am I supposed to..." She could feel her eyes watering. "I don't..." She pressed her back to the wall and sank down. "I don't want to die..."

The other three sat in silence as the young woman quietly wept. They'd always been careful to avoid involving bystanders when they could, but sometimes it was just... inevitable. None of it was Lepa's fault, of course - she was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. It didn't stop Fei Yen from feeling guilty, though... Kurozuru had only grabbed her specifically to mock him. He knew Fei Yen's weaknesses, and he exploited it. Damnit... If only he wasn't so weak willed, then... she wouldn't have been involved. Kurozuru would have left her alone. It was his own fault. It was his responsibility.

"...I'll protect you."

Lepa pressed her face into her arm.

"Haven't I burdened you enough already...?" She whispered in between quiet sobs. "I-It's my fault... I got in the way..." She tightly clung her legs close to her chest. "Y-You almost died because of me...!" She took a shaky breath. "If I wasn't th-there, then-!"

"Then I would've died."

Lepa flinched, startled that the voice was so close to her. She lifted her head ever so slightly - just enough to see that Fei Yen had knelt down beside her. She paused. His voice was soft and reassuring; a stark contrast to the night before.

"It was because of you... that we were able to escape to safety," he explained. "You were able to resist Kurozuru's powers. You don't know why, I don't know why, but I'm not going to question good fortune," Fei Yen let out a small breath almost resembling a laugh. "But please, just know... You didn't get in anyone's way." He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I promise... I'll protect you."

Fei Yen sat with the rabbit woman in silence. Then, he saw her shoulders begin to shake. She then let out a small cry and shifted towards him, arms outstretched, clinging to him as tightly as she could. Her sobs were louder now, though muffled by his chest. Yet, Fei Yen sat patiently, patting her back in reassurance. As he did, he looked up, exchanging glances with Kiai and Ryusei in silent understanding.

"Th... Thank you..."