Crimson Roses

Chapter 8

Seven years later

"Argh!", the masked person grunted as they spared against their sensei.

"You're using more force. Control yourself!", the sensei warned.

The sensei charged towards the person but she quickly dodged, tripping the sensei by knocking his foot and pressed the ice blade against his neck.

"Control....hmm...good point sensei.", the woman added with a challenging look before lending a hand to the sensei to pick him up.

"Good Belle." Sensei and the student bowed.

"Thanks, Kiyoshi.", she added with a childish grin.

"Also, Akira and Simon wanted to talk to you.", Kiyoshi added.

"Okay.", Belle added.

"So you're really going away next week?", Kiyoshi asked.

Belle nodded.

"Yeah...I think it's time. I just need to sort out some things in Greece, then I'll be off to Italy.",

"You know...I'll be here if you ever need anything, you understand that, right?",Kiyoshi asked as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes."

.

.

.

"Woo! Bottoms up guys!", Akira added as they clinked their glasses together before they could chug.

"Seriously speaking Belle, we're really going to miss you.", Akira added.

"Yeah right. You'll be so happy when she leaves because you can have her room!", Simon added, making the girls laugh.

"Maybe.", Akira stated with her hands up in surrender. " But honestly, I think the big guy is gonna miss you.", Akira said as she leaned closer to Belle nudging her in the direction of a certain someone. Kiyoshi.

"Poor dude...looks like he's going to be drinking his life away tonight. Tsk.", Simon stated with a pitiful look. "He definitely likes you."

"No!", Belle exclaimed in annoyance.

"Guys looks, he's heading this way. I bet he's going to asked Belle for a dance, Simon. Whatcha say?", Akira said.

"I'm with you on this one.", Simon added.

Belle downed another drink as she rolled her eyes at her friends.

They watched as Kiyoshi walked towards them but was soon stopped by a woman in a short body fitting dress. Belle choked on her drink as they all began to laugh.

"Hm...doesn't seem like 'Yoshi's type though.", Belle added.

"Agreed.", Simon and Akira added in unison.

They watched as Kiyoshi shook his head no and cringed.

"Oof...that ought to hurt.", Akira muttered.

"No shit sherlock.", Belle added sarcastically.

"Hey...I think he's heading this way. Let's go Aki.", Simon said as he pulled Akira away.

"Hey!", Belle yelled at them. "Traitors...", she mumbled.

"Belle.", Kiyoshi called out in a low voice which would have been barely audible since they were in a noisy crowd. Belle turned around to face Kiyoshi and smiled.

"Hi.", she greeted.

"Would you like to dance?", he asked.

"I would love to-", Belle stopped talking as her heart dropped when something caught her eye.

"What's wrong?", Kiyoshi asked.

"N-nothing...look...I've gotta go....I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye." Belle quickly gathered her jacket and her purse, placing a kiss on Kiyoshi's cheek.

Belle began to follow a girl to the back alley.

'What the hell am I even doing...? Why does she look so familiar?', Belle began to ponder.

She quickly hid in the shadows as she saw a dispute between the girl and the gang.

"What's a young pretty girl like you doing out here all alone?", one man asked as the girl faltered and walked back.

"Come on, baby girl. Let us walk you home...we wouldn't want you to be all alone here out in the cold.", another man said as he ran his hand on her arm, causing the girl to flinch.

"Don't touch me!", the girl yelled at the man as she stomped on his foot.

"Feisty one huh....let's bag her up boys.", he said.

"Damn it! I should have just stayed inside....", Belle muttered as she began to contemplate. "I'm not allowed to interfere.....I worked so hard for six frickin years ... .how can I blow it all up over some kid? I'm so close to completing my plans..."

The girl began to scream in horror.causing Belle to flinch.

"Shit...", Belle huffed out as grabbed a dragon mask from her handbag along with a dagger.

"Hey!"

Belle yelled, causing the men to pause. They eyed her head to toe.

"Let. Her. Go.", Belle gritted.

The other man whistled as he circled her.

"I bet you're cuter under that hideous mask of yours. How about this....an eye for an eye.", the guy who held the young girl held a strand of Belle's hair in his hand.

"Sounds perfect."

Belle grabbed the dagger that was holstered to her midthigh and jabbed it at the man's chin. The guy next to him held Belle's arm which held the dagger while his other hand pulled on her hair.

"Weak move.", Belle commented before grabbing the hand that held her hair and twisted herself around to face the man just to stab him continuously until he fell. Belle knelt over him aimed the dagger a centimetre away from his eye as he trembled in fear.

"An eye for an eye, huh...?", Belle smiled.

"AHHH!"

The man's last words of horror.