Earth Overcome, Part 8: Sheath

  When Sara said "Guns Blazing" she meant guns blazing.  That's what hers were doing.  I for one was really curious about the team,

  "What are they like?" I asked. 

  Sara didn't answer.

  "How did they do on the mission?"

  Still no answer.

  "I hope they're okay."

  "Yukino, I could use some help."

  "Yeah." I nodded, I had been trying to avoid this.  I really didn't want to do this, but it couldn't be avoided, we needed Sheath.  I sighed and closed my eyes.

  Sheath Awoke

   Sheath was strong fast and silent, for that was what she needed to be.  One of the thug's trying to kill Raft noticed her and rushed her.  What a fool, he would be the first one.  Sheath drew her sword and spun around and slashed!  He fell to the floor, dead.  Another one decided to run at her, surely he would do better than his predecessor.  He didn't.  Sheath easily sidestepped him and tripped him.  He fell onto the floor, she spun her sword around and stabbed.  He screamed, but Sheath was silent.  The third was smarter, almost.  He shot at Sheath.  It was a Magnum.  Hard to aim, easy to dodge.  She ducked under the bullet and before he could get off another shot, she ran up and slashed.  That would be the last bullet he would ever fire.  Two more decided to follow suit and fired at her from opposite sides.  She ducked... and the bullets passed over her head and found their mark in the other man.  Silently Sheath rose from the floor and closed her eyes, her work was done.  For now.

  Yukino Awoke

  When I got control back from Sheath, there were bodies everywhere.  I don't even know how I got control back or why.  The only person not dead was Sara and she looked afraid.

  "Come on." she said when she saw it was me, not Sheath. "Let's go."

  Video Log: Scar

  I love Yukino as a friend, I really do.  But it's not easy.  I'm a little scared of Sheath, and why shouldn't I be?  She has the potential to kill us all!

  End Log

  On the way back to Sara's ship, we had to be quiet, if we weren't we'd be caught.  Though I wish we could've because that left me alone with my thoughts.  Sheath was usually quiet but sometimes she talked to me.  She says that she wants control over my, I mean our body.  But I can't let that happen, because she also wants to kill people.  I can't be responsible for that.  What's even worse is the way she works.  I don't know why she gave me control again.  It's like she's bidding her time, and that scares me.  Having this... thing!  Inside me.  I just, just, I just wish my other personality was a pacifist.

  When we did get to the ship, I'll be blunt, I was surprised.  The team was not at all what I had expected.  I mean, I knew who was going to be on the team, but they were different from my expectations.

  Sara strapped into the pilot's seat and started to fly.  the dragon guy, Agon decided to make a comment, "So that's the chick we came all the way out here to get?  I'm impressed."

  "Yes this is Sheath." Sara sighed.  Gallatian was quiet, almost quieter than Sheath.  It was creepy.

  Agon waved at me, "Wow she's quiet.  Kinda like Gallatian.  Match made in heaven if you ask me."

 "I do talk." I told him.  I hated people who said I didn't speak, that was Sheath not me.

  "Alright, so much for that wedding."

  "Could you leave her alone?" Sara called from the cockpit.

  "Fine." he sighed, but just because he wasn't picking on me, didn't mean he wasn't going to shut up.

  "So yeah, great first mission and so worth it.  Glad to know we can function, sorta."

  I couldn't take t anymore, "Will you shut up?  All you've done is make snide comments and criticize.  Sara you may have picked the heavy hitters, but this team sucks."

  "Could you please calm down, Yukino?" she asked.

  "No!  So far we have the wise-guy and the one who doesn't talk."

  "This may not be the best time, but during the mission Agon became feral."  Everyone shut up, Gallatian has spoken. 

  "Wow, Sparkles, you pick that to talk about?" asked Agon.

  "You did what?" Sara yelled.

  I decided to stay out of it and so did Gallatian.

  "I couldn't help it, I don't have complete control."

  "Then you better learn control!"  She yelled.  Then she sighed, "Great this whole team is a time bomb."  She turned back to Agon, "How many people did you kill when you lost control."

  "I don't remember, there was red and fire.  That's all."

  "Great, just great." she muttered.  Then she was quiet for a minute, thinking.  "Look." she said.  "Because we had to extract our spy we don't know where Wilson is going to attack.  This means we can only defend when it happens.  Come back here when that attack happens.  Until then, I think we need some private space." 

  Everyone is quiet while she lands the jet, and once that process is over, we all go our separate ways.

Earth Overcome, Part 7: Sara Raft

    The second we landed I was out of the jet and inside.  I had to be quick, I had to be efficient, and I had to be professional.  Yukino need me.  I didn't bother to say anything to Agon or Gallatian.  I had the feeling neither of them were very stealthy.  Though  I couldn't help but be a little ashamed for abandoning them.  I shook my head.  I didn't have time to be sorry.  I just shook it off and kept going, like I always do.

  I ran straight past a huge open room, and into a hallway.  Yukino was in the basement and I took some stairs down to the lower levels.  As I started down the stairs I noticed something.  No guards.  No one was on these stairs.  Then I heard a giant crash.  it sounded like Agon and Gallatian had the guards distracted.  At least they were doing their jobs.  I crept down the hallway and heard some voices around the corner.  I drew my pistol, silenced of course.  I peaked around the corner and saw three guards.  Each one of them armed.  Though I had the element of surprise.

  I took a deep breath and whipped back around the corner and shot one of the guards.  He crumpled to the floor but the others saw him fall.

  "Someone's here." he yelled!
  
  I whipped back around and before the could notice me, I took aim and pulled the trigger twice.  They both fell.  I didn't hesitate.  quickly I got out of my cover and sprinted down the hall, taking care to step around the bodies.

  The next room was a more open area, with a door. That had to be where they were keeping Yukino.  The only problem was the two thugs standing guard.  I reached down to my belt and pulled out a grenade.  I stared at it.  If I used it they would all know where I was, but it was the only way.  There was no way I could take down the guys equipped with machine guns.  Silently, I pulled the pin and chucked it across the room.  I heard it bounce once, twice, then it rolled. 

  "What the..." started one of the guards but he never finished.  The explosion was so loud it left my ears ringing.  All I did was shake my head and run to the door (which had been blown off it's hinges.)

  "Yukino!" I called, standing at the top of the stairs.

  There was a voice at the bottom, faint but strong, "Sara!  You're hear?"  I heard her footsteps coming up the stairs and then she was standing right in front of me. "Finally." she grinned.

  "Yeah, I even brought the rest of the team."

  She nodded, "Good, that's good.  So how are we getting out?"

"Guns blazing."

  She tilted her head, "Seriously?"

  I took her sword out of my duffel bag, "Yeah seriously."

  "Dragon Fang." she whispered.  I nodded, Agon would get a kick out of her sword name.

  She unsheathed it and looked around, "I like this plan."

Earth Overcome: Part 6, Gallatian

  It didn't take long for night to come.  You'd think it'd take forever since I had nothing to kill time.  Even if I did it wasn't like I could.  I was starting to wonder why we attacked at night.  They would know we were there soon enough.  That was just one of the many holes in the plan.  What do expect from the eighteen year old strategist.  Though hey, what can you do?  It's not like I could talk.

  Sara landed the ship right outside of their warehouse.  The heat sensors had placed the ninja in the basement, which would mean that Scar had to use the stairs.  There were two guards outside the main door, but Scar shot them quickly and quietly.  What kind of person can just kill without remorse? 

  "We're using the front door?" asked Agon.

  "Why wouldn't we?" asked Scar.

  Agon put his hand on the wall closest to him. "Why use the door..." I swear I've never seen anything like it.  he put his entire hand through the wall.  Then all he had to do was flex and it came crashing down.  "When we can make our own, elaborate entrance?" he finished.

  "Agon..." Scar started to scold.

  "What?  They already know we're here."

  I nodded, the whisper had told me that, though I wasn't able to tell anyone.

  "Fine." she grumbled.  Then before any guards could get us, she stepped around the rubble and rushed inside.  It was just us.  Me and Agon against everything.

"So." started Agon. "How do we grab their attention?"
  "You smash stuff?" I thought.

  "I'll smash stuff!" he yelled.

  He punched a different wall and it too came crumbling around him.  The dust was flying in the air, but it worked.  There was a stream of thugs running into the room.

  "Take them out!" one guy yelled, and that was all anyone said.  They all moved the same way and had the same glazed look.  They were either high or being controlled.

  Agon went ballistic and tore into the nearest person.  I instead, let the suit take over, it kicked into the air and hovered there above the guards.  I watched as my fist glowed and gleamed.  Then a beam leapt out of it blasted straight into a guard.  The whisper and the suit were working together, it'd tell it where someone was and the suit would blast it.  I was just along for the ride.  My arm whipped around again and I the bolt of energy felled another one.

  "Lasers?" asked Agon. "That's awesome."

  Agon himself was a blur.  He was a flurry of slashing and fire.  The guards didn't know what to do.  they didn't know how to approach him.  So they fell.

  I raised my arm again and the laser sprayed across the room.  I don't know how many people I hit, but it was a lot.  I didn't a thing.

  Then I heard a BLAMM!!!  A gunshot.  I looked down at my arm and there was a hole.  No blood, just a hole.  The pain came in hard and I hit the ground.  Two of the thuigs saw there chance and rushed me.  I struggled to my knees.  They got closer.  I steadied myself with my good and arm and slowly raised my bad one.  They grinned at each other, then at me.  Instead of a laser, I shot out a shockwave and they flew across the room.  They looked like they hit the wall pretty hard.  Be fore I could recover, another tried to rush me, but this one had a knife.  He slashed and I stepped back to avoid him.  He lunged and I sidestepped.  That was my moment.  I grabbed his hand and made him drop the knife, then I brought my hands back and shot off another shockwave!  He landed in a heap on the other side of the room.

  I looked around myself.  Whatever guys I didn't hit, Agon had.  The fight was over.  Then I remembered Agon and looked over at him.  He was shaking and twitching.  His breathing was heavy, almost like a growl.  I inched closer, wondering what was wrong.

  "Agon, are you well?" It wasn't what I wanted to say, but it's what I did.

  ROARR!!!  He turned around and tried to jump on top of me.  if it wasn't for the whisper and suit I would have been clawed.  Instead I was hovering in the air.  I raised both arms and shot him twice, but it didn't faze him.  He was too strong.  He jumped up and grabbed me by my leg.  Then he pulled me back down!  I was on my back, with him right on top of me.  He opened his mouth to breathe fire and started to see the back of his mouth glow. 

  "Don't..." I thought.  I never realized how scary he was up close.  Then something happened.  He stopped, and then he shook his head.

  "What happened?" he moaned.

  I wanted scream, "You almost killed me!" but I said: "You attempted to murder me."

  "How?" he asked.

  "It appears you lost control."

  "Again." he shook his head.

  I was sighing on the inside, but I never did, I just said "Come let's get back to the aircraft."

    Video Log: Agon

  "I feel bad about this... I blame dragons... and Long."

  End Log

Earth Overcome: Part 5, Agon

  When she said 0800, I think Sara meant eight hours 'cause that's when we left to get the ninja.  We were on some kind of fighter jet, but I don't really know what it was because it was huge.  Big enough to fit ten people with space to spare.  Sara, I mean Scar, was flying and Gallatian still was talking.  that meant it was just me and...

  "August!  We can not waste time with these fools."  Long was ranting in my head again, and it kind of hurt.  I swear if I could get him out I would jump at it.

  I tried to speak calmly and slowly, "Listen, Long.  We're doing something equally important here.  It's not everyday you get to save the world."


  He didn't shut up, "Saving the world?  you three are delusional fools with visions of grandeur!"

  "Just shut up." I muttered.  I was starting to get looks from the others.  Well, Sara anyway.  they probably thought I was nuts.

  "We can save the world." I said quitter. "We have powers and resources that other people dream of."

  "We just met them.  you have no teamwork, no training, and no previous experiences.  You'll be lucky if you don't kill each other."

  "Well, we can sure as hell try."  Usually I'd snap back with some witty retort, but not now.  Long was saying everything I had been thinking.  Did he have access to my thoughts?  He is in my head.  I'd have to ask him.  Though if what he was saying was true ( and it kind of was) how were we supposed to save the world?

  Video Log: Scar

  I'm not sure I'm liking Agon's attitude.  Maybe having a guy who a smart-ass and a cynic wasn't such a good idea.

 (End Log)

  "You done talking to yourself, Agon?" asked Scar.

 "Yup." I told her. "It has all the fun of talking to other people, yet less sociable."

  "Cute." she remarked.

  "You do have a plan to rescue this woman, right?  A plan would be really beneficial." I half asked half told.

  Gallatian just stood there with his creepy silence.  I don't think he had any helpful to contribute.

  "I actually don't have a plan." she said just a little too briskly. "Do you have any suggestions you'd like to make?"

Scar had all eyes on me.  All four of them.  I knew that even Gallatian was staring.  Planning is hard.  Especially when there's pressure.  Then something clicked inside of me and I said, "Does this thing have heat sensors?"

  "It does." she nodded.

  "Good.  We'll need those to find out where she is."

  "Fine.  Then what?"

  "Like you said we have a Dragon, a Cosmic Being, and a Butt-Kicker.  I say we pull a smash and grab." 

  "How?  There is a telepathic in the building."

  Then something weird happened, Gallatian spoke. "What Agon is implying is that we have a distraction."

  "Thank you." I said. "Me and Gallatian will distract them, while you rescue the ninja."

  Scar nodded, "Glad we have that sorted out.  We'll go down there once night hits."  then she walked back to the cabin.

  I could see why Sar- Scar looked so stressed all the time.  Leading was hard.

  "You handled that well." said Long.

  "Yeah I guess.  Why would Sara do that?"

  "I wonder why?"

  I thought about it, "She set me up didn't she?"

  "Yes."

  "HA!  Little does she know that after you get scales nothing can ever embarrass you!  Plus the only person here was Gallatian.  We all know that he won't talk about it."

 

 

Earth Overcome: Part 4, Sara Raft

  I walked quickly but briskly down the hallway.  I was needed for a meeting.  A meeting with my team.  It had been three months since Wade Howlett's last attack, and now he was trying again.  This time it was more.  More help, more plan, and a bigger desire to carry his plan out.  That just made my desire to stop him bigger.  I had spent three months putting together my team, and now I was about to talk to them.  To tell them the problem, I was about to them just why I needed their help.  Funny, what three months can do.  I wasn't scared anymore, I was determined.

  I pushed through the giant doors and into the small conference room.  I'm not at liberty to say what our location is, technically this is a government operation. 

  "Gentlemen..." I started, trying to sound professional. "Welcome to the team.  I assume you've already met each other?"

  Gallatian was standing in a corner and not saying anything, and Agon was slumped in his chair.  That seemed about right.

  "Cut to the chase, Sara." said August. "It's really just us, and Space Face here doesn't talk.  Like, at all."

  "Fine." I grumbled. "As you both know there is a crisis that threatens this world and I need you to..."

  "If you would stop being ominous  we would help."

  "Please shut up and stop interrupting August."

   "Fine." he grumbled.

  "Now the problem is a supervillian named..."

  "She said supervillian!"

  "August!  If you don't shut up I will tear those wings off your back and feed them to you."

  "Shutting up now." he said quickly.

  "Good.  Now, a supervillian named Wade Howlett, has a viable plan to control all the animals on Earth and make them attack the American government."  August sat up and Jeph kept staring.  I had their attention now.

  "He can do that?" asked August.

  "Using a form of telepathy, yes."

  "So like mind control."

  "That is what I implied, isn't it?"

  "Query:" said Jeph. "Couldn't humans be considered animals?"

  "So you can talk." remarked August.

  "Let me answer him August."

  "And who says query?"

  "Shut up!" I yelled. Then I turned back to Jeph. "Yeah, humans are animals, but we're basically too smart to be controlled."

  He nodded like it made sense.

  "So he's powerful, right?  Cause there are a lot of animals on Earth." asked August.

  "Powerful he would be." I nodded.

  August looked around nervously like he thought Howlett was in the room with him.  "What do we do first?" he asked.

  "Well there's one more member of our team we need to rescue.  I had sent her to spy on Howlett but he found out about her.  I haven't heard from her in two months."

  "So we rescue her?" asked August.

  "Yes, her name is Yukino Pichelli."

  "What can she do?"

  "She's a painter." He snorted. "Who has multiple personalities." He laughed. "With the other personality being a ninja."

  He stopped and looked at me.  Then he said, "You plan to save the world with a teenager, an astronaut, a painter, and a CEO?"

  "No.  My plan is to save the world with a Dragon, A higher Cosmic Power, a Ninja, and a Butt-Kicker."

  "When you put it like that..."

  "Glad you agree.  Mission start in 0800 hours, but you need codenames for the operation."

  "Wow codenames?  What are we? Two?"

  "Just pick one."

  He shrugged, "Agon."

  "Gallatian." said Jeph from his corner.

  "Yukino is Sheath."

  "And yours?" asked Agon.

  "Scar.  I'll see you two at the mission launch."  Then I left.

  Video Log: Agon

  Sara, I mean Scar (I wonder why she calls herself that) wants us to do these video logs as part of mission reports.  I'm too lazy to write so these video logs work just fine.  She asked for our thoughts on the other members.  They seem okay, but Gallatian creeps me out and Scar is way serious.  People aren't that uptight without a reason  I wonder what's hers?

  Video Log: Gallatian

  -Error-  Codename: Gallatian has not recorded any logs.

  Video Log: Scar

  My thoughts on this team?  lord help us all?  I only really considered power hitters and not personalities.  I'm not naming names but one of us in particular was annoying.  I guess maybe a mission will whip them into line.



 

Earth Overcome, Part 3: Sheath

  Yeah, so... where to start?  It had been two months since the whole Sheath fiasco and a lot had changed.  For one I was now a spy.  For another I lost my job, and to top it all off I had to share a mind.  Though I may be getting ahead of myself, how about we go back?  You see, about two months ago Sara Raft came to me and told me about some terrible problem that threatened to destroy Earth.  then she told me where Wade Howlett was hiding.  She wouldn't tell me her source, but she did send me into their base so I could spy on them.

  I haven't painted in a month, but what was worse was that I got no sleep.  You see me and Sara figured out that Sheath was triggered by me closing me eyes.  which meant if I wanted to control her I had to keep my eyes open. I can't sleep.  I can't.  If I do Sheath will kill everyone.  My name is Yukino Pichelli and I need... sommmme sleep.

  Looking back, I was bound to screw up.  The human body needs sleep.  I remember being dragged into Wade Howletts office (which was really a curtained off corner, but that's not important).  Wade was a tall, scraggly, thirty something year old man  Who hadn't shaved in quite awhile so he had hair everywhere.  Just wild hair growing every which way.  He smelled like old cheese, which I was told that was all he ate, but what I immediately noticed about him was: despite all his hair his ears still managed to stick out.

  "How long did you expect me not to know?" he asked me in his curtain office.  At first he seemed so calm, so serious.  Then he threw his head back and cackled like a hyena! "I'm a freakin' mind reader girly!  You can't hide anything from me!"

  I didn't say anything to him.  Though it wasn't much help.  He really is a mind reader.

  "You've been here for two months.  Sara trained you to clear your mind, and you can't sleep or the ninja in your head will kill everyone correct?"

  I didn't say a thing.

  "I am correct." he said triumphantly. "You know my dear, you really are an interesting person.  Seeing as how you have two minds to read."

  Then he stopped, and looked at the guards, "Do we have a dungeon?"

  "No sir?"

  "Do we have a basement?"

  "Yes?"  The guards seemed just as confused as I was.

  "Then throw her in there."  Both guards nodded and stood me up.  Then they started to walk me downstairs.  I didn't struggle.  I didn't even try.  Sara had taught me so many different things and one of those was how to pick my battles.  Even Sheath couldn't take on a full warehouse of thugs.  They did throw me into the basement and I do mean threw.  It took all my willpower to keep my eyese opened as I tumbled down the stairs. 

  "GAHH!!!" I screamed.  When I landed flat on my back.  I lay there for awhile and wondered what I was doing with my life.  Then I sat up and looked around me.  I've been down here since.

Earth Overcome, Part 2, Gallatian

  Have you ever wondered what it'd be like to attend your own funeral?  Well I can tell you first hand.  It sucks.  You can see everyone, your family, your friends, anyone who ever cared about you, and you can't tell them that you are alive.  I really couldn't tell them, I can't speak.  My name is Jeph Wolfman, I'm also Gallatian. Everyday I hear everything.  Literally everything.  I know everything, but only as it happens.  I can't see into the future, I can only hear the present.  You'd be surprised at how much of it is bad.  You'd be even more amazed at what I do with this ability, I ignore it.  I ignore so I can wallow in self-pity at my funeral.  I have the power to right every wrong in the world, and I do nothing.

  So I stood far away, under a tree, and I watched my family.  I watched and heard as my brother, Michael, got up to speak,  "Jeph... um... Jeph was brave.  The bravest person I had ever known.  He pushed the boundaries, beat the odds, and achieved his dream of going into space.  It's... terrible that he was taken away from us, but he will be remembered.  Thank You."

  It hurt.  I wanted to tell them that I was here, that I was alive, but I couldn't.  I'd ruin their lives.  So I kept watching as my mother took the stand, "Jeph was  not only brave, he was kind.  the second he heard that something was wrong, he'd do anything in his power to help.  He always helped, no matter what.  Thank-You." 

  A piece of me fell apart after that.  Had I changed that much?  Had I just become greedy and self centered?  I continued to stand there and watch.  When I had got back to Earth, I had expected to welcomed with open arms.  After seeing the funeral the reality was setting in.  Not only was I covered in stars, but I had come back from the dead.  It would be selfish of me to come back into their lives now.

  Then I heard a voice behind me, "So what's the universe really like?  I mean, you'd know."

  I whipped around, ready to blast whoever was there.   But it was... Sara Raft?  There was an awkward silence, for some reason the suit wouldn't let me speak. 

  "You don't talk huh?" she asked.  "Why don't I skip right to it?  There's a matter of national security and we need... superheroes.  A team of superheroes to be exact, and you'd be perfect."

  A matter of national security?  She said I was needed?  The Creators had told me about a disaster on Earth.  Was this it?

  "I'll help." I thought. "I will assist you." I said.

  "Good." she nodded, "You should come with me."  Then she left, and I followed her.  Though I did look one last time at my family.  I was leaving that life behind.

Earth Overcome, Part 1: Agon

  "Why the name?"

  "What name?" I asked.

  "Agon."

  "That?"

  "Yes."

  "It's the greek word for anger."

  "Your powers come from China."

  "I'm a superhero." I said. "I think I have the right to name myself."

  "Stop being a smart-@#$."

  "It's better than being a dumb one." I retorted.

  "This is what I mean."

  "Let it go." I said. 

  Yeah, that's the kind of conversation I have everyday.  Don't worry I'm not talking to myself, I talk to Long my... friend.  Well that's note entirely true.  Long is a little old Chinese man, who just happens to live in my head.  I'm not kidding, though I probably am crazy.  Though I'm not lying about the super powers, those are real.  I can breathe fire, I have wings, and a tail.  That also comes with strength and durability, which seem to be the stock superpowers.  I also have a Chinese man in my head, and that's one of my better assets. 

  My name is August Summers, and I'm... half-dragon and half-human.  I'm still not kidding.  I look like a Dragon on two legs.  Being a superhero (if I can even call myself that) is way different from the movies.  Iron Man never accidently killed someone, and J.A.R.V.I.S. is way cooler than Long (the guy in my head).  It had been two months since San Francisco where I fought Dark Sage, and I was poor.  Here's a shocker, no one wants to hire a half-dragon guy.  Trust me I tried.  Most people scream when they see me.  If they have a weapon they try to kill me.  I'm not exactly well loved.  So instead I live on roofs where nobody could find me.  that's where I was when my life changed for the millionth time.

  The whole reason I'm this ugly is because Long chose me to find the lost Dragon civilization.  I had no leads on where to look, besides that they were underground.  I had no family (except for my sister but she didn't want to see me) and I had no friends.  That's when the change came.  I guess somebody had heard my brooding because I was on my roof, when I heard someone behind me.  I sat there, and pretended to be oblivious.  Then I whipped around and slashed with my claws!  Whoever it was managed to roll out of the way.  I swiped again but she stepped back.

  "You always this friendly?" she asked.  I swiped again, but she just sidestepped.  "Don't you even want to know who I am?"

  "No." I grunted. "I want you to leave!"

  "My name is Sara Raft." 

  "You must be deaf." I said. "I said for you to leave!" I yelled bringing my claws over my head and down on her!  Again she just simply stepped out of the way.

  "We need you... August."

  That hit hard, "H-how do you know my name?"

  "I know a lot about you." said Raft.

  "Probably more than you want to know."

  "Don't be a smart-@#$!"

  "People keep telling me that, I haven't stopped yet."

  She sighed, "The point is there's a threat to national security.  Something that we've never seen before, something that we need heroes for.  Heroes like you."  She pointed at me like I had no idea who "you" was.

"I don't know..." I said. "Maybe I just want to fight you some more."

 "You can try." she said.

 "Let me check with Long."

 "Who?"

 "The Chinese man in my head."

 "Okay?"

  I could almost see her locking me in some asylum so I really didn't want to get on her bad side.

  "Long, what do you think?" I thought.

  "I think you should kill her and keep looking for the dragons."

  I sighed, "Good talk, Long."  Them I switched from thinking to talking, "Miss Fury..."

  "It's Raft."

  "Miss Raft I'm in."

  She put out her hand and I shook it, "Two down, one to go." she said.

  "What?" I asked.

  "You'll see." she smiled.

Sheath, Epilogue

  I got home at 1:03.  It was dark, and I had returned the bike.  It was just enough time to get some sleep before work... if I could still go to work.  I shared a mind with a ninja.  I'm pretty sure I'd be a danger to anybody else.  My mind was reeling, and I couldn't stop shaking.  What did this mean?  Why didn't I already know this?  How could I not know that a ninja lived in my head?

  Suddenly the lights flicked on... and I hadn't turned them on.  There... on my couch... was a woman.  A woman with brown hair, and eyes that radiated authority.

  "Yukino Pichelli..."  She said.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"My name is Sara Raft..."

"Sara Raft?!"

"...and I want you to help me."

"Wait... what?"

"I want your help."

"I just killed a man."

"We  can help you with Sheath."  Everything was quiet.

"How'd you know?"

"That's not important.  Will you join?"

"Join what?!  To do what?!"

"Read the email."

"O.K. I really don't want to say this again, but 'what?'"

"On your phone, read the email."  I unlocked my phone, and read.  I could feel my eyes growing wider, bigger.  This... this was bad.

"You-you want me... to help with this?"

"That's the size of it."

"I... I'll do it."

"Good now get some sleep.  You have work at 9:00"

"I'm not even going to ask how you knew that."

"it's better that way."

  Then she left through the door, and I... I fell back onto the couch.  Then I reached over to the table, and grabbed some papers.  Sara had... paid my repo.  I was sold.  Though I still had one question:

"Was Sara Raft... just in my house?"

Sheath, Part 8

Sheath Awoke

  And quickly got dressed.  For tonight was different, tonight was the night she killed Brown.  Sheath knew she couldn't use rooftops to get to her destination.  So instead of climbing out of the window, she ran all the way down the stairs of her apartment.  Soon she was in the streets and searching.  It felt... unnatural for Sheath to be out in the open.  Everyone staring at her because of her clothes.  She wanted to shrink back into the shadows... or kill them all.

  Then, she finally found what she was looking for: an empty street... and a lone motorcycle.  Sheath was looking for a car, but this it would have to do.  She had already wasted enough time.  quickly she she tried to start it without a key , and after three tries... she was off!  No one noticed, but now... but now Sheath was a petty thief.  No better than a rat, but she would make it right.  She would buy the man a new motorcycle.

  Brown's safe-house was all the way in the countryside.  This told Sheath what kind of man he was.  he was one that took risks.  In the country his safe-house would be hard to find, but is something happened to him and his bodyguards... no one could get there in time.  That was what Sheath was counting on.  the rest of Sheath's ride was quiet... and thoughtless.  Even her mind was silent.

  When she finally rode up to the house, she noticed two guards outside.  Stashing the bike in the bushes, she drew two shuriken.  She aimed, and THUNK!!! THUNK!!! The two guards fell with two tiny, shiny, metal shurikens sticking out of their necks.  Then she walked into the house, going for the man they had guarded heir lives with.  The inside of the house was no different from the outside, small, and messy.  A T.V. flickered from the living room.  It was not the place you'd expect a crime lord to live in.  You would not expect the man watching the T.V. to be a crime lord either.

 He was a tall, and skinny man.  With brown eyes, brown hair, and crooked glasses.  He wore a t-shirt and jeans.  It seemed misdirection and simplicity was his disguise, but that was Brown.  She drew her sword and crept closer.  But he saw her, he smiled and said with a ice cold voice:

  "A ninja?  Williams must be running out of mercs."  WHUNK!!! Sheath fell to the floor with a stabbing pain in her head!  A guard stood over her, while Brown taunted:  "Do you really think that I don't check my sent mail?  the minute you sent that to yourself I knew you were coming!  Anyway...  nighty night!  Knock her out!"  Even more pain, and everything was dark for Sheath.



Yukino Awoke

  I woke up in...   god knows where!  it looked like someones attic.  For a moment I sat there... then it dawned on me.

  "Oh my... OH MY GOD I'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED!!!" I thought!  I still couldn't talk, it hurt to much.  Then slowly I looked down "Why the hell am I wearing a ninja suit?" I thought.  That's when I really started to look around the small space.  There was only one other person, but... he looked like a guard, not a captive.  I kept quiet.  He had his back turned to me, and had a sword on his hip, but he didn't look like he knew how to use it.  I did.

  Quietly I got up,and sneaked behind him... then I grabbed him by the face, and held him until he knocked out!  So I picked up the sword, and went quietly downstairs.  I still had no idea where I was, but I saw a T.V. blinking from a living room.  My breathing was heavy and my palms sweaty, but I tried my best to sneak over there.  I was seen.

  The man on the couch yelled:  "Guards she's up!" his voice was cold.

"What are you talking about?"  Then I was hit from the side, and I flew across the room!  The man was standing now, and a thug stood over me.  I can't tell you how scared I was.

"I'm sorry dear, but you can't leave just yet."

"What are you talking about?!"

"Oh... so you talk now?"

"What?"

"Why don't you tell me why you're here... mercenary? "

  I was quiet... what had he called me?  The thug leaned over:  "Can I kill her now?"

"Go ahead."

  I started to shake, but I remembered my training.  I pushed off, and slid right across the floor into the thugs legs!  Knocking him to the ground!  I jumped up, but he was all ready standing!  He threw a punch, and I blocked it!  Then he lifted a leg and kicked him in the side.  While he recovered I punched, and punched, and punched, and punched!  My hands were a flurry of fists hitting his face!  Then he fell over, unconscious.

  The man just stood there.  "Guards!" he yelled, and three more came in!  I was shaking worse now,  I could take one not three!  My heart raced faster and faster.  I closed my eyes.

Sheath Awoke

Sheath grabbed the arm of the nearest goon, and threw him straight into another!  While they fumbled around, the other rushed her!  But she drew her sword and stabbed!  He fell.  One of the other two got up, and threw a punch!  Sheath blocked, but then he kicked her legs out from under her!  He tried to stomp, but Sheath rolled out of the way, jumped up and stabbed!  He fell.The final one looked at her, then looked at his boss.  Brown nodded.  The final goon rushed her, but Sheath jumped!  Right over him, and... stabbed his back!  He also fell.  then Sheath closed her eyes.

Yukino Awoke

  I opened my eyes, and I was standing over three bodies... with a bloody sword in hand.

"Oh... my god." I whispered.

"Y-you're not going to kill me... are you?"

  I looked at who had talked, Calvin Brown.  I looked at him, and I hated him.  Hated him for all that he had done.

"Are you?"

"No..."  his face lit up.  I closed my eyes.

Sheath Awoke

"I will." finished Sheath.  She stabbed, Brown fell... dead.  Sheath was done, and without any remorse.  She closed here eyes, and...

Yukino Awoke

   I woke up standing over another body

 

Sheath, Part 7

Yukino awoke

  Like I said before:  I went to bed happy and I woke up happy.  "This job interview is going to be great!" I thought.  "The interview's at ten, so I have... time."

I looked at the clock... it was nine! "Oh crap!"  I shouted!  BAM BAM!!!  My neighbors hit the wall!

"Shut up!"

"We have kids!"

"So?"

"They don't need to hear that!"

"They're going to have to learn it sometime!"  Then the husband called me a bad word.

"And you're worried about my mouth?!"  That shut him up.  The nerve of some people... what was I saying before?  Oh yeah!  Now I had to get ready.

  I jumped into my room,  threw on a black dress, and brushed my teeth.  I didn't put on any make up though, it just feels really fake. Then I was out the door in under a minute!  I didn't even eat!  Good thing I wasn't hungry.  I was in the car and driving to the gallery.

  It wasn't far, but then something happened.  I thought "What if I don't get the job?"  It had been a fear that I hadn't thought about.  I didn't have any job skills.  I had always made enough money off my paintings,... and credit cards. The only job I had ever worked was McDonalds in high school.  That meant... someone else might get the job, and... where would that leave me?  Poor?

  Though I had to stop thinking about it.  I was there.  I stepped out of the car, and walked up to the door.  I stood there a moment... then I took a deep breath, and walked through the door.

The inside of the building was white, and quaint, just like the outside.  There was a woman sitting at a desk, and the walls behind her were covered with paintings.  The woman herself was tall.  That was really all I noticed,  except one thing.  Her nose, her long sweeping nose.  She was as intimidating as she was tall.

"May I help you?" she said, her voice was cold.

"I'm here for the interview."

"Ah yes... follow me."

I followed her into a small room off to the left.  The room was white with two chairs and a table.  I sat down on one end, and she sat down on the other.

"My name is Matilda Granov, and if you impress me,  I'll be your boss."  I gulped.  "So what makes you think you are qualified to work here?"

"Well... I can hang paintings, and make sales."  All she did was raise an eyebrow, and not in a good way.  "Actually I'm here because I'm a painter myself, and struggling with money."  then her expression softened.  She now looked sweet... and caring... like a grandmother.

"Tell me more."  she said.  So I told her... everything.  About the auction.  About the repo notice.  We had just met, and we were talking like life long friends.  Then she said:

"I'm so sorry."

"It's fine."

"... Are you willing to learn the ropes?"

"Yes!"

"Welcome aboard!  You start tomorrow!"

"Thank you!  I won't let you down!"

"I know."

Then I went home... happy.

Sheath, Part 6

Sheath Awoke

  Again she scaled up the side of the building, and again she went unseen.  Again she donned her suit, and again she leapt from roof to roof.  None bothered to look above their heads.  Thoughtless and noiseless she continued her journey until she reached her destination.  The thug had been right, you couldn't miss it.  The building was pointed directly pointed at the stars, as it spotlights lit up the sky.  It was painted gold, and had beams running up the side of the building.  Clearly it was a place meant to inflate one's ego... that is, if one could afford it.

  But something was wrong when Sheath looked through the glass doors.  There was a strange shape on the ground.  Slowly... it dawned on her... it was the body of the doorman... and he had been shot.  Sheath scowled, bullets and guns were the weapons of cowards.

  Not one to pause for long, Sheath flung open the door, and raced up the stairs!  She climbed floor after floor.  Stair after stair, She didn't bother with stealth, Sheath knew who the killer was and what he was after. 

  When she came to the door, Sheath looked through the peephole and saw what she had feared.  It was Caliber, he was a muscular man with a blond buzz- cut.  He had a ex-commando look, which made sense because he was one.  He also had guns, lots of them.  Almost every inch of his body was covered in rifles, pistols, and even a rpg. He had so many guns Sheath could not see hat he was wearing.  Caliber was destroying the room, that meant Calvin Brown wasn't there, but Sheath viewed this as the perfect time to take out the competition.

  She looked around, there was a air vent on the ground next to her.  Another look through the peephole showed that there was one in the penthouse.  A plan formulated itself.  She knelt down and pulled the vent right off the wall!  Then she started to crawl.  Slowly and silently she crawled until she got to the vent.  She looked out, Caliber was still there. Then, Sheath took out two smoke pellets.  It was very Hollywood, but it worked.  Then she placed the pellets between the grates.  Then she pulled back her leg, and kicked!!!  The grate flew off the wall and hit the ground!  Making the pellets break and filling the room with smoke!

"What the?!" he yelled, but Sheath had already moved into the room.

"Smoke pellets? Really? That is so Hollywood!"  Sheath said nothing. "Look! I'm guessing that you're the other merc, but you have to realize something! Brown would still be here if you hadn't left a warehouse full of bodies!"  Sheath still didn't talk.  Suddenly he whipped around and fried the two rifles! RATTA RATTA RATTA!!!  Sheath dodged left, and hid behind the couch, but now he was firing blindly.  RATTA RATTA RATTA!!!

"You don't talk much for a merc!" RATTA RATTA RATTTA!!!  He kept swinging his guns around and firing!  Sheath was safe, but for how long?  The smoke was starting to clear.  Then Sheath formed a plan. She drew two throwing stars, and waited. Then the smoke cleared!

"Finally I can see!"  Sheath leapt over the couch and threw the stars!  THUNK THUNK!!! ARGGHH!!!  The two shuriken had struck his hands!  Then he dropped his guns!  While he recovered Sheath rushed him!  She drew her sword and sliced! Though he was ready and stepped back! 

"You want some of this?!"  Sheath lunged forward, but he sidestepped!  Then she brought the sword down overhead! Though somehow... he caught it midair!  Sheath didn't waste a moment, she kicked him onto and ground, spun her sword around, and stabbed!  He stopped moving, stopped breathing, he was dead.

Mercilessly she stepped over his body to the computer.  Then she went into Brown's email.  The fool was still logged in.  She found a email that looked right. It was, it was a email telling all of his men where his safehouse was.  It was perfect, she sent the email to herself, and walked down out down the stairs.  Tomorrow... she would find Brown.

Sheath, Part 5

Yukino Pichelli awakes

  I woke up at one in the morning.  Nothing new there.  At first I was happy, I mean, I was still alive, but then I remembered the night before.  Then I became a grump, I mean... stick figures?

  Slowly I stumbled to the kitchen for cereal (so healthy, I know) then I went into the hallway to get my newspaper.   I think I might be the only person in the world to still buy papers, but since I can't afford cable it's my only way of knowing what's going on.  Once I had it, I turned around to go inside and almost immediately wished I hadn't.   There it was, the eviction notice.   I didn't own the apartment, I had two weeks to get the money, and I had no money.   I know you're wondering about the money from the auction, but I wouldn't get that money for at least a month.

  "@#$%!" I swore, and I didn't care who heard!  I stomped back in and screamed!  "ARGHH!!! Why Why WHY?! Why don't these buttholes want me to live! RGHHH!!!"   BANG!!! BANG!!! That was my neighbors' way of telling me to shut up.  "Stuff it!" I yelled back.  Then I sank into the couch... that also wasn't mine.  I just sat there... moping. I had plans for that day... and I didn't want to do anything.

  Then I had an idea, a bad one, but it was something.  I picked up the phone, and called my mom.  Worst plan ever.

  "Hey mom."

"Hello sweety.  I'm so sorry about last night. "

"Not your fault Mom."

"It's just awful, and after you worked so hard."

"Yes Mom, but I have..."

"And you didn't even make enough money to live."

"MOM!"

"Yes?"

"I have a problem, I don't have enough money to pay rent."

"Oh... so that's what this about?"

"No, I'm not..."

"You're asking for money?!"

"No..."

"Well you dug yourself into this hole, so you have to get out! Goodbye!"

  Any hope I had was gone now.   I was going to live in a dumpster.   Matt was out of the question.   He was struggling too, and his apartment was small for one person, let alone two.   So I was going to die, basically.  I didn't know what to do.  I barely even knew what was happening.  I sat back down on the couch, kinda sad, kinda angry.

  Then I got off my butt, and looked at the help wanted ads.  Wal-Mart was hiring. I was really considering it, when my phone rang, I answered it.

  "Hello Yukino!"

"Dad?"

"The one and only."

"Is something wrong?"

"Your Mother told me about your problem."

"I don't want money, really."

"I know, your Mom..."

"Has a temper?"

"Just a bit."

"So why is you're calling?"

"Well... a art gallery I look at is hiring"

"Really? You look at galleries?"

"Yeah, I've told you this before."

"You did?"

"You said galleries were for junk sculpture loving hipsters."

"Oh yeah!"

"Well this one is hiring, and I even set you up a interview!"

"Really?"

"Yes."   He gave me a time, and a address.

"Thanks Dad."

"Anytime, let me go talk to your Mom."

"Bye."

"Bye."  I went through the rest of the day pretty happy, then I went to bed the same way.  

Sheath, Part 4

Even more roofs later, Sheath came to the warehouse. The warehouse, she knew it was the right one because of the two armed guards outside. Sheath hoped Brown was there so this could end quickly, but first she had to get inside. This would not be a trouble.

Sticking by the shadows, Sheath slowly moved into place. Looking for the right spot to aim. She drew two throwing stars, took aim, and THUNNK!!! The two shuriken found their mark. The guards' necks, they fell to the ground, both dead. Sheath stepped out, and moved swiftly to the door that they had guarded with their lives. Quietly, she opened it, this is where the fun began.

She looked around. There was a machine literally blowing fake bills. People' greed is rivaled by no other. Sheath also saw five guards, but one look was all it took to see Calvin Brown was not there. That meant she would have to collect info, but before that she had to take out at least four guards. Then she stopped looking at the people, and started looking at the place. The only thing in there was the machine but it did have a catwalk, and some other rooms. It would do.

Keeping to the shadows, Sheath slid to the nearest thug. She drew her sword. He didn't make a sound. Sheath stepped over his body like it was nothing, then she noticed a ladder to the catwalk. She scaled it and waited. Patiently she kept waiting, Sheath was not one to let go of a advantage. Soon enough another thug walked under her, she vaulted the railing and... landed right on top off him. Then she flipped her sword around and stabbed! AUGHH!!! He died, but brought attention. Another guard was coming to the noise. Right next to her was a window to a office, it was broken. She jumped in, and waited. It didn't take long for the thug to come and investigate the body. When he did, Sheath jumped back over and window, and stabbed! He fell without a word.

There was one guard left, he would be one to give answers. Sheath didn't bother with stealth. She ran right at him, and before he could turn around she had grabbed him! She kept running and rammed him right into the wall!

Then... Sheath spoke: "Calvin Brown! Where is he?!" her voice was loud and raspy.

"I don't know!!! I don't know!!!" he did, it was the panic that kept him from talking. Sheath knew it.

"Where is he?!"

"In is penthouse! It has spotlights on it! Top loor! You can't miss it! Please let me live!" he was a coward, like all men. She ended him, and walked away. She would go after Brown the next day. For even she had to sleep.

Sheath, Part 3

Sheath Awoke

She picked herself up off the bed, and headed for the window. Why? Because that was where the roof was. Quickly, silently she went out the window, and began to climb.

Wordless, Sheath made it to the roof unseen, people never look up. Sheath had learned this long ago. People only look forward to what they'll do in the future, or back to regret the past. Sheath was neither, Sheath was one who looked up.

She made her way to a corner off the roof. That was where she stashed her suit. A suit that Americans called "her ninja suit". In the dark of the night she changed into her suit, then she strapped on her sword. It's name translated into "Dragon Fang", supposedly it was a gift to humans from dragons. The dragons had made it out of a actual dragon fang. Sheath didn't believe it.

Quietly she ran toward the edge, faster, faster. Then she... jumped! Fearless she landed on the next rooftop. She jumped again, and again she landed. Then she did this again, and again, and again. No one saw her as she leapt right over their heads. She did this because she had a new client, waiting for her on a roof.

Sheath landed on another roof... right before her new client. Fisk Williams, Chicago's head crime lord. Yes, Fisk Williams was at the top of the crime business, but to stay there he had to knock others down. That was what Sheath was for.

"So..." he said "You have arrived." Williams looked like a crime lord. Big, and strong looking, with jet black hair and black eyes. He looked strong enough to squeeze someone in half.

"As you know, I am Fisk Williams." He continued. "And require your... skills." He waited for a answer, but got none. "Your target is a man named Calvin Brown. As of late he has risen to power, and I need someone to take care of him... can you do that... mercenary?" He said that like he despised the word, but Sheath nodded.

"Don't talk much do you? Anyhow you'll find a illegal money counterfeit operation in this warehouse."He handed her a piece of paper. "It belongs to him. See if he's there, and if not question his men." Sheath turned to leave, but he yelled at her: "You're not the only merc I hired! There's another! His name is Caliber!" She didn't listen and kept walking. Though she did hear him mutter: "God, I hate mercs."   

Sheath, Part 2

Let me say one thing: "Art goers... suck." and you'll probably see why. We were almost instantly seated, and were told to be quiet. It was a silent auction, and I couldn't blame them, some people have come to blows over the art. I kid you not. Right after that, a schedule was forced into my hand. I was the second artist, right after "Jayson Jackson". Finally the auction started.

The auctioneer was right to business, I kinda liked that. No introductions, no speeches, just business, and business meant he started talking right away.

"This first painting is by Jayson Jackson and is done in his infamous stick figure style." He pulled a sheet off of the painting, which revealed a picture of... a stick figure... riding a stick horse. Stick figures? Stick figures.

"Shall we start the bidding at three hundred?"

Almost immediately someone yelled "Four hundred!"

Then someone else "Six hundred!"

"One thousand!" yelled someone else.

"Going once, going twice, SOLD!!!" that was the auctioneer. Then it dawned on me, my mouth went dry. Stick figures had made one thousand dollars, mine would make even more! They had to, I mean: come on! It's stick figures!

That's when I stopped paying attention, I was too busy thinking about my money. I would be living in a mansion, with a studio that takes up an entire floor! But I did listen enough to know that the next painting made five thousand, and the next eight thousand. Then the others made, sixteen thousand, twenty- seven thousand, and thirty-one! That's too much money! For stick figures! I kinda hated the Jayson guy. Then his paintings were taken off, and mine were taken on. I was so excited!

Then the auctioneer started to talk. "These next five paintings are made by the artist Yukino Pichelli." I blushed. "Miss Pichelli really has no standard art style, but she prefers to dabble in them all, as these paintings will show." What can I say? Art styles are like potato chips, you can't just have one.

"The first piece is called 'The Prey Goes Hunting'" he pulled off the cover to show the painting. It was one of my funnier pieces, it had a deer chasing a hunter with a shotgun. Funny... right? "Lets start the bidding at three hundred?" The room was silent, no one spoke, then Matt yelled

"Three-Fifty!"

Then my Dad jumped on "Four Hundred!"

"Five Hundred!" it was Matt again. Thankfully Dad backed off, or Matt probably would have never talked to him again.

"Going once, going twice, SOLD!!!" almost right after that my next painting was brought out. It was the Japanese Art my Mom was talking about. It was a waterfall, running into a black forest. I was hoping that it would help show life and death, but I don't know if anyone got it.

"This painting is starting at Five Hundred."

Mom almost jumped in her seat. "Six hundred!"

"Going once, twice, sold!" I was happy for Mom, but it still wasn't the money I wanted. My portrait of Bruce Willis sold for seven hundred. My painting of a super using her powers, sold for one thousand. Finally, my pixel art of a dragon, sold for twelve hundred.

I made five thousand dollars... five thousand. That wasn't enough for a month's rent, and worse of all... I was beaten by stick figures... stick figures. My heart beat faster, but I was almost to tears. All that work... for nothing. I got up, and ran out. I didn't even tell anyone where I was going. But I wanted to spit on everyone in that room. I wanted to kill, Jackson! But I didn't. I went home, and went to sleep. That was all I could do.

Sheath, Part 1

RINGGG!!! RINGGG!!! That's what I got to wake up to. A phone ringing, I probably wouldn't even have got up if it weren't for that. RINNGGG!!! RINGGG!!!

"'kay 'kay." I muttered, then I answered, it wouldn't stop until I did. "Whoizit?"

"Yukino I know you have caller I.D." it was my mom, Hisoka Pichelli.

"Waizit?"

"Did you just wake up?" Thankfully I did, just then.

"What? No, I've been up for hours." then I yawned.

"Uh-huh. Well, I was calling to see if you were excited?!"

"Yeah! Excited for what again?"

She just sighs. "Excited for the art auction? Tonight? The one you're selling art in?"

"Right... oh yeah!"

"Well I'm glad to have jolted your memory, but I have to go."

"Bye mom."

"Bye."

I rolled over to go back to sleep, the auction was at eight, so I was hoping to get some sleep. Then the hone rang again. RINNGGG!!! RINNNGGG!!! This time I actually looked at the caller I.D. It was my boyfriend, Matthew Anderson. He's engineer, good with numbers and all that. The most I understand about his job is that he builds bridges.

"Hey you." I said.

"Hey, I was calling to ask if you were excited. I'm bringing five hundred dollars just for you."

"That's sweet, but why does everyone keep asking if I'm excited? Of course I'm excited, why wouldn't I be?"

"You're mom woke you up again?"

"How'd you guess?"

"Lucky guess. Look I have to run into work, see you later. "

"I love you."

"Love you too."

"Bye." then he hung up. I rolled over trying to sleep, but I couldn't. I was already up so part of me said: "Go get some work done." and the other part said: "Go back to sleep." For better, or worse the first half won out, so I changed into my painting clothes and went into the studio.

I painted for about three hours. I'm working on this cool piece. Basically I'm painting these neon color bands, and painting them in patterns. When I'm done it should look like a human head, making a cool visual effect.

After that I ate some breakfast (cereal 'cause it was all I could afford.). Then I watched some T.V. (it was actually netflix on my cheap laptop.) Then I painted more, and after that... it was time to get ready.

And by get ready I mean throw a black dress on, and run a brush through my hair. Then I practically jumped out the door. I had five paintings I was selling, and I didn't need to be late. When I got there (in my junk car) Mom, Dad, and Matt were waiting for me. I walked up to them, and said "I'm here."

"There she is!" yelled my Dad. He's a pretty loud person, and looks it too. He's... big, but not fat. Has these seas blue eyes, and blond hair. The first thing I always notice about him, is his buzz cut, and how it makes his ears stick out. I don't know why he likes buzz cuts.

"Calm down George." That was my mom. She's Japanese like me, and has long black hair. Her eyes are a beautiful brown, and she's very thin. What you kinda notice about her is just how long her hair is, it goes below her waist.

Matt said "Which painting do you think you'll make the most off of?"

"I have no idea, I told him." Matt is thin and has brown hair, with green eyes. I think what you'd notice about him is that he has wrinkles on his forehead, he tells me it's because he thinks too much.

"Well I want the picture of the deer hunting the hunter!" said Matt. the picture was a humor piece I did.

"No! I want that one!" yelled my dad! Thankfully no one was paying any attention to us. While they laughed Mom walked over to me.

"I would really like the Japanese art homage." I just smiled to myself, I had painted that with her in mind.

"What time is it?" asked Matt?

"Time to go in!" yelled Dad, and so we did.

Sheath, Prologue

Twenty-one years ago a baby was born. A Japanese baby, born in Japan. You probably don't think much of this, thousands of children are born every year in Japan, more across the world! But this one was different,... special you might say. Nothing looked special about her, but it was there, in the way she acted.

She would be happily drawing, or coloring, then she would get up, and sneak around. When she did this we always lost her. She didn't come out until she said so. She'd continue to slink around, then she'd jump! Onto anything, furniture, ankles. Many pets fell victim to this attack. Then she would stop, and go back to coloring. Almost like it had never happened, like she remembered nothing.

This continued until she was three. That's when she learned to talk. She told us... that she couldn't remember her attacks. She said all she did was color. We got... worried.

We took her to many doctors. One said it was mood swings, another said it was memory loss. Each doctor just said the opposite of the last. Then we took her to one last doctor, a physiologist. He told us she had multiple personalities. This seemed like the right answer so we listened. He took her into a room and we waited, and waited, and waited. For what felt like hours. Then he came out, and told us.

"I spoke to your daughter... and she does have separate personalities." We just sat, and listened, it was all we could do. "I was able to talk to both personalities, and diagnosis it. When she switches, sh can't remember anything about what she did before the switch. Unfortunately I could'nt find out what brings the switches." We just sat there quietly, we had no idea what to say, then my husband said:

"What are the two different... um... personalities."

"This is the interesting part. Your daughter is a artist, a creator. While her other... self is a..."

"A?" I asked.

"That other personality acts like a assassin, a destroyer, a killer." we didn't know what to say, what could we? We had just found out our daughter shared a body with a killer. "I'm so sorry." said the doctor.

"What would say to do?" I asked.

"I would say martial arts, and sword when shes older. That will teach her discipline and control."
We thanked him and left. Still a little shocked.

At five she started karate. Then at fifteen she took sword. It helped, but the problem was still there. At seventeen we had to move to America. We had no choice. She continued to practice, and even graduated with a arts degree. Now she is twenty-two, and the story truly begins. Though that is hers to tell you.