Khaibi Katana - Book 1 (Unedited)

Chapter 9 (Part 1)

Khaibi woke up and tumbled out of bed, not paying attention to her surroundings. The night before had not been one of her best, full of nightmares of events that could happen. She then looked out of the window. The clouds had covered the sun and the birds had just begun to sing, so she could tell that it was very early in the morning.

"Well, I never thought you'd stop lashing out in your sleep," Shade laughed as he leant casually against the wall. Khaibi could see the three slashes perfectly clear even in the dim morning light that managed to seep in though the curtains.

"Oh god, what happened to your face?" Khaibi asked, not realising that she was wearing almost nothing.

"Well, princess, you decorated it with this lovely pattern when you lashed out in your sleep." Shade laughed as he looked her up and down.

It was then that Khaibi realised that she had slept in her underwear.

"Nice underwear, princess," Shade said as Khaibi dragged the blanket around her.

"Well, if you will come in unannounced," Khaibi sighed as she attempted to find the clothes that she had ready for the day.

I just came to see if you were ready to go, it is way past the time that we usually get up to train," Shade said as he grinned.

- - -

As Shade joined the others he sat down and was met with sly, knowing glances.

"What?"

"Nothing," They all chorused.

"Nothing happened between us, alright," Shade quickly said as all eyes zoomed in on the scratches on his cheek.

"Sure, you keep telling yourself that," Spark laughed.

The only one that didn't join in the joking around was Azrael. He looked like a thunder cloud as he glared at everyone in the room, most of all he glared at Shade. No one noticed when he slipped out of the room, not for a while anyway.

"Where's Azrael?" Shade looked around the room, fearing the worst.

"Probably gone off to sulk somewhere," Hex said looking at the door which was slightly ajar.

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"You could say that," Anima replied, sitting back down on the sofa.

"What is up with him?" Shade repeated his question.

Everyone glanced at each other before replying with "Have you not noticed how close he has become with Khaibi since she has been here?"

"No, they're just good friends, that's all," Shade couldn't believe what they were insinuating.

"Yeah, give it time though," Spark scoffed.

- - -

Khaibi was just getting her stuff gathered up when she heard the door close softly, fearing it was an intruder she transformed her hands into claws and whirled around, pinned down the figure and held her claws to their throat.

"Easy, Rune, it's just me," Azrael held his hands up to indicate his surrender.

"Oh, Azrael. Next time don't sneak up on me like that," Khaibi said, helping him up.

"It's alright, I did sneak in after all," Azrael grinned as he held Khaibi's hand for a while longer, longer than he should have.

"So, is there anything in particular that you wanted?"

"I just wanted to talk to you," Azrael said as they both sat down.

- - -

The room was quite as the others all exchanged knowing glances while Shade looked at each of them in turn, as if he suspected mutiny from at least one of them.

"Look, Shade, we all know you've developed a bit of a thing for Khaibi," Hex said, closing his book in frustration as he watched Shade glance at the door for the tenth time.

"Is it that obvious?" was all that Shade could say, what was the point in denying the truth?

"You know as well as I that your father and brother would not hesitate to kill her if they found out," Hex put the book down and put a hand on Shade's shoulder, "For heaven's sake man, tell her how you feel before someone else snatches her from your grip."

"You all think the same? You would let her live if I were to be with her?" Shade asked the questions that had plagued his mind for days.

"Of course we would! She's our friend and ally," Spark cried, slamming her mad on the table violently, "She's family now."

"Look, we've all come to love her as we would one of our own, just be a man about it Shade. You are never going to know the answers you seek by sitting and doing nothing," Anima said calmly.