The Fire & The Requiem

Chapter 3

Chapter 3- Enter the Requiem!

    Kage felt his eyes widen as he stared at the child before him. She was- did he hear that right? Did she really say she was a requiem user? Glancing over he saw the requiem for shadows nod at him.
      "She tells the truth old friend."
       Kage nodded as he glanced down at the now sleepy child and thought about what he could do when all of a sudden the child went ramrod stiff.
      "Yuki? What is it little one?"
      Yuki however didn't speak, not yet a shadow was whispering in her ear and she immediately turned to leave.
        "Yuki?"
        "Sorry but it would seem my little brother is in trouble so I have to go help."
       And with that she ran off, leaving both the requiem and dragon in shock.
       "Do not fret, I will go after her. But what will you do?"
       Kage stared at him for a moment. "Go after the child Shade. I will find her again shortly." And with Kage took off to the sky as Shade vanished into the shadows now in full pursuit of Yukina.
Yuki however had picked up speed. After all she was running down a hill.
      Just- why? Why did she care what happened to Luffy? Why had she called him her brother? Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she realized she could get answers later.
      As Yuki got closer to town she could hear Luffy yelling at someone.
     "Stop bad mouthing Shanks you dirty bandit!"
       "You got a really bad mouth on you kid. You said you're gonna kick my ass? Well then. I guess I'll just have to kill you for your disrespect."
       Luffy felt his eyes widen and Yuki felt her blood run cold. Yet before anyone could harm Luffy, Yuki moved. The young girl was angry. The shadows around her almost hissing and when she knocked the one down with a well aimed rock to the head did she speak.
       "Get your dirty ass foot off my little brother now."
       Luffy looked over with wide eyes before he felt them tear up. For as long as he knew Yuki. Which wasn't that long maybe 6 months? She had hardly said two words to him. But she did always stop to help him if he fell or ended up in the water.
       "Your brother huh? Look my issues is with the kid. Not you now move along little girl."
       Yuki simply arched an eyebrow. Which had the man frown. "I said move."
        "How about no." She shot back. Anger, pure white unbridled anger was coursing through her. Luffy was just a child damnit! Granted she was as well but she was older than him by a good 3 years.
        "Cocky ain't ya? If you won't move. We'll move you instead"
        Yuki frowned, something about what that man said set warning bells off in her head but she still stood her ground.
        The bandit nodded and all of a sudden Yuki felt pain exploded in her shoulder.
         "Yuki!?" Came the distressed and horrified cry from Luffy who had to watch as one of them shot his sisters shoulder.
         "I'm fine Luffy." It hurt, but she could deal with it. She had to.
          "Now, now shooting kids? That is just wrong. Let the boy go."
         Yuki glanced over and saw a pirate with red hair and three scars over his eye glaring at the bandits. "You can mock me. You can throw food or drinks at me, but the second you harm a child. Two of them for that matter- well then my crew and I can no longer sit on the sidelines now can we?"
        Luffy felt his eyes widen before he smiled. "Shanks! You gotta save Yuki onee-Chan! That guy shot her!"
      Shanks glanced over at the young girl and frowned.
      "You okay?"
       "I'm fine. Just get my brother if you don't mind."
       Shanks raised an eyebrow, how in the hell was this child so calm? Then his eyes widened as not only was a gun pressed to the girls head but the head bandit had used a smokescreen and vanished with Luffy.
      "Luffy! Crap I lost Luffy!"
       "Calm down captain we'll find him. We gotta help the girl now too."
     Yet Yuki snorted. "No need."
      Everyone looked at her then, was she crazy? She had a fucking gun to her head.
       "Trying to act brave? The other brat is probably dead by now."
         That was it, that was the snap that pushed Yuki over the edge.
       "Fuck it."
       "Excuse me?"
    She was silent for a second before she spoke again.
      "I said fuck it. I don't care what this town thinks of me, I don't care anymore. If they love me, or if they hate me. I just don't care. If to them I am nothing more than a monster so be it. But I will not, allow anyone to harm people that I care for!"
        Shanks was shocked, what was this child talking about? "Yuki?"
        "Go, save that idiot before he does end up dead. I got the mess here."
        Even her voice was like ice, detached except he knew. He knew better. The child- no Yuki was fighting for her brother and was rather in control.
      "I leave them to you. Help her out men!" And then he was off.
      Yuki looked down and closed her eyes, it wasn't hard what she had planned to do. She just didn't wanna see the looks. That is until she heard a snicker so she looked up and the men recoiled. The girls eyes were narrowed into pinpoints. Those stormy grey eyes held nothing but anger in them.
        Raising her hand to her bloody shoulder she lifted her left arm and spoke. "Requiem of the shadows! Shadow blades!" And just like that the shadows moved, while usually they would shield her they could also be used for attacks.
       For a second everyone was silent until panic set in. "A requiem user?!"
       "Kill her now!"
        Yet Yuki stood her ground, and let Shade finally appear beside her. "You're hurt!"
     "Yeah, but no worries it's fine."
      Shade was tempted to argue that but wisely didn't and just moved to help and protect Yuki. The pirates had just about finished cleaning up the mess when one final gun shot was heard.
      The mayor looked over and his eyes went wide In horror. Yuki had been shot, but this time in the chest just above her heart. Yet the child didn't even react. Oh no, she just simply looked over at Shade. Shade who simply nodded and with the help of the pirates rounded up the rest of the wayward bandits.
      Just before anyone could say another word did Shanks come back with a crying Luffy.
     Turning on her heel she didn't pay attention to the way the red haired man's eyes widened, oh no. She was concerned about Luffy. But seeing he was safe she finally closed her eyes and fell backwards just as someone screamed.
     "Yuki!?"