The Island Of Kiken

Chapter 3 - Kuroai

As Ren was skipping away into the horizon, Takao started to run after her "I'm gonna get you!" he shouted forward in a jokey tone, but the reply was nothing other than the blood curdling screech of his little baby sister, Takao's heart exploded, before he knew what was going on he was sprinting down faster than he had ever sprinted before to reach her. When he got to the end of the path where she just was a moment before, there was nothing there other than the whistle of the wind and Takao's heart, beating as if it was about to fly out of his chest. "Ren!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, as he ran into the trees he heard the faint mumble of Ren's familiar and reassuring voice, "let me go" Takao saw a bright, orange glow, like a fire, so he ran towards it.

In haste he pulled out his sword, and continued running. His Dad had given him this sword when he was just 14, the night before his parents were killed. The sword he was now holding firmly in his hand, was the sword that was given to his father by his father and had been carried down from generation to generation. this was his chance to prove that giving him that sword was no mistake, he would save his sister.

He could see there were people around the fire, all dressed in blue, and on their arms they all had the same, black tattoo. It was a sword with stars around it. when he got a bit closer he noticed that they were already fighting, fighting with a boy who looked around his age, he was blond and wearing a blue t-shirt and black jeans with a red patch sewn onto them. Takao saw that the sword that he was holding was not like the others, it had a black handle unlike anything he had ever seen before. As he stood watching, Takao saw that the boy had been pushed down and had a polished sword against his chest Takao ran up the cold-blooded killer and stabbed him in the back, as he toppled over, the boy stood up and gestured to Ren and continued fighting, knowing what he had to do, Takao ran to Ren and brought her out of the madness. "stay here" Takao told his little sister, Ren nodded and Takao went out to help his new acquaintance.

"My names Katsu by the way" he said kindly once they had finished them off, he held his hand out for Takao to shake it. "is that your sister?"

"yes, that's Ren and my name is Takao" he said, finally shaking his hand. "I didn't think we'd run into other warriors here"

"Well, i wouldn't say i was a warrior, I'm not that good" Katsu said in a slow tone

"you were amazing out there, where did you learn to do that?"

"i guess having something to fight for can help"

"Why are you here?" asked Takao intrigued

"Its a long story" he mumble, looking at the ground, I noticed your sword, it seems pretty special" he said eager to change the subject.

"Oh yeah, i got it from my parents, I noticed yours too, its unlike anything I've ever seen before" Takao said staring down at the shiny, black handled sword in his hand,

"Yeah, its my Kuroai. Its nothing really" explained Katsu "so where are you heading?" he asked

"we're heading to the island of Kiken"

"isn't that were they are?" he asked in a creeped out tone "well, i don't really know where I'm going, I just want to find the rest of my family, and I'm not going to stop trying until i do" he said, his voice cracking on the last word. I just wish I had someone to travel with, its hard to stay motivated by myself, although, you'd think I'd be used to it having been alone my entire life." he said with a sigh.

"Well you can come with us" he said with a smile.

"That would be great!" he said with an excited look on his otherwise sad and lonely face.

As they walked along the muddy forest path with Ren, they chatted, when suddenly, against all expectations there was a thump behind them, as they turned around they realised that Takao's nightmare was now coming true. As Takao picked her up he realised that she had tripped over a thin rope that they had missed. He looked and saw that they had just missed an arrow...

"big brother..."

Katsu looked down at Ren and saw that she had an arrow stuck in her thigh and was bleeding way too much.

"We need to get her somewhere. Quick." yelled Takao, tears in his eyes.

"I know a place" Katsu reassured him just before he started to run through the trees. Takao hoisted Ren up onto his shoulders and followed.