Scarlet Shadow

Chapter III:Love at first Sight

Hayabusa's POV

What is she doing here...

"Oh wait! Freya, I'll skip this match for a while! Alice is just down the hall!" She said and walked away.

"Sorry, Kagura, Alice is busy! She had day-off." Freya said.

Wait, Kagura?

"But-"

"It's your first match. Don't waste the opportunity!" Freya said as she turned her attention to a certain map with Clint and Minotaur.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" I grabbed her arm. Instead, she just broke free.

"Sorry but... I do not know you."

A surging pain came crashing down on me. It felt like something in me snapped upon hearing those words. She should be bluffing. We knew each other since childhood. Then she's denying my identity to herself?

"You are in denial, Kagura!" I shouted and she looked away.

"You must be talking about my sister." She said. I was about to say something when Freya called us. I'll let go this time, but I'm not done with this. Is she avoiding me? What did I do wrong?

"Wow!" Clint said when we got teleported. But I didn't mind. I just went to the shop to buy things that I needed. After that, we all sprinted. I followed Kagura. I really need to talk to her. However, she just wavered around attempting to shove me off, but I just followed her to a bush.

"Hey Kagura-"

"Why are you following me?" She cut me off and hopped to and hopped to another bush. I just hopped again.

"Because you are denying me!"

"I really do not know you!"

I stopped when Kagura started shooting flowers at the enemy minions. The way she did it was graceful and calm, like she was oblivious of the dangers she faces.

"Stop talking and fight!" She said as she threw the Seimei Umbrella to a horde of minions, and it scraped a berserker. He does not look happy. Then, he started to dash through Kagura. No...

"Kagura, watch out!" I shouted and attempted to push her to the ground. However, she wasn't there anymore. I just saw her beyond our turret slaying minions. However, it caused me to take all the damage, considering the wounds I sustained. I held back, and threw shurikens at the enemies.

"How did you..." I murmured to myself. She just looked at me and continued slaying minions. She never realized that I was breaking inside, considering that she was my best friend since childhood.

Flashback...

Me and Kagura lived in Iga together with Hanabi when we were children. She was the daughter of the famous Onmyouji Masters, the holder of the Seimei Umbrella, a powerful relic that is constructed by the Seimei himself, that is also powerful.

It was a normal day. I was walking to my dojo with Hanabi when...

"Hahaha! What now, Miss White-Haired Freak?" The children shouted in a teasing manner. They were bullying a girl with white hair.

"Hey! Stop it!" I said as I sprinted to the bullies, Leaving Hanabi alone

"Oh look, Mr. Ninja's here." The said and they began to disperse, knowing that they can't handle me." COWARDS"

"Are you okay?" I asked her. I held out my hand and she took it, and I hoisted her up to her feet. I was definitely blushing.

"Yes." She said in a sweet voice. I smiled at her. She kept a smiling face despite being bullied earlier.

"Tell me if those bullies come again. I'll give them a piece of my Shuriken." I said, my hands forming to a fist.

"Oh, no need for those." She laughed and smiled again. Every time she smiles, I feel something within me. It felt like... a spark?

"But let me treat you!" She said and she dragged me towards the central park.

"Here. Thanks for saving me." She said as she handed me a container full of sushi. I took them gladly, and then I thought... saving her. Together at the park...

Something's a miss.

Oh yahh, we never got to know each other's names.

"You sure do eat a lot." She commented and she handed me a tissue. Well, I finished 3 containers.

"Well... ummm... never caught your name.And reminds me of the movie I've watched earlier" I said. Then, she smiled at me and took out her hand.

"Kagura." She said.

"Hayabusa" I said as I took her hand and shook it.

Wait... Kagura?

"D-don't tell me you're..." I stuttered. No way... all this time she's...

"One of the Onmyouji Masters? Yes, I am." She said and payed for our meals.

"You a-are?" I asked. Don't get me wrong, Onmyouji Masters are very respected. They are valuable members of the society. Legend say that they hold the Seimei Umbrella, a powerful umbrella made of 100 Souls.

"No need to be formal, Haya-Kun" She said and I got it. She was my friend now, isn't she?

"Haya?"

"Haybusa's too much of a mouthful. So I shortened it to Haya." She said as we walked to her house.

"Sure, Kagu." I teased her and she laughed.

"Oh well. See you!" She said and walked to her house. It was big, considering that the Onmyouji Masters were rich. I smiled and realized that I was late...

"My training!" I said and sprinted towards the dojo. I opened the sliding door to see my master together with Hanabi sitting down, eyes closed and in yoga position.

"15 minutes late, Hayabusa."My Master said and I reasoned out.

"Never knew you had a crush in such a young age. Saving her. Central Park..." he started. I got a bad feeling about this. "Your mother would be disappointed if she knew you just had a date."

"Furthermore, it was a member of the Onmyouji Masters. Nice pick, Hayabusa." He added again.

"W-what? No! I don't know what you are talking about." I said and got my weapons.

"Don't play the fool, Hayabusa." He said as he opened his eyes, his serious face turning to a devilish smile. "Or should I say Haya?"

"Senseeeeeiiiiiiiii! Not you Too"

End of Flashback

That's how I met her. Her sweet, gentle, smooth voice got my attention. After that, I started to see her everyday. Everytime I'm with her, the atmosphere surrounding me is neutralized. She's the only one who made me feel this way. Until my Sensei died.

To be Continued~