Kurei and Kurenai walked down the street. Kurei was swinging a plastic bag of groceries at his side in one hand; with the other, he held Kurenai's hand. Hanabishi had sent them to the store to fetch a few necessities for tomorrow's dinner. Ordinarily, he would have driven the short distance, but it was such a lovely night, and it was only a few blocks. The couple had decided it was a perfect evening for a walk. Even though it was still relatively early in the night, no one else was out and about. The only sounds was the low murmur of their conversation, the clicking of their shoes across the pavement, and the soft jangle of the bangle-bracelets on Kurei's wrist. Kurenai had always pestered him why he wore them. He had always laughed off her questions and made up some excuse. He wasn't comfortable, telling her that he felt bad things would happen if he took them off. It seemed as though he had always worn them.

There was a movement in the shadows ahead of him, and Kurei tensed. The neighborhood wasn't the most pleasant one; still, he had established long ago that he was not one to mess with. The local idiot street toughs had learned to leave him alone. He, by himself-- he wouldn't have worried. But this time, Kurenai was with him. Squeezing her hand reassuringly, Kurei kept his pace steady, but his senses were fully focussed.

A woman in a black dress stepped out into his path. "Kurei," she said calmly.

Kurei looked at her indifferently. She didn't look like some adoloscent idiot gang member. Early twenties, perhaps... She was now standing under a streetlamp, and he noticed two small moles under her bottom lip. "I don't believe I know you," he said. And I don't plan on knowing you, either, he mentally added, but refrained from saying so out loud. Hanabishi had taught him to be relatively polite to women.

"You don't remember me," said the woman, "But I remember you very well. You may call me Kage Houshi." She watched with narrowed eyes as he tried to walk past her. She intercepted the couple. "Stop. Show me your Flame," she instructed.

Kurei raised his eyebrow. How does she know? he wondered in surprise. His Flame was a carefully guarded secret. Not even Kurenai had seen it. On occasion, he would bring it out as his own personal amusement, but there was no way a complete stranger would know of its existence... He stopped dead in his tracks. Keeping his voice calm, he replied, "I have no idea what you're talking of."

Kurenai nodded. "I think you're confusing him with someone else," she said hesitantly. She uncomfortably tugged on Kurei's hand, but he remained still.

"Haven't you ever wondered why you have this strange ability? Your blue Flame? Let me describe it to you. It's a cold Flame that burns. I know all about it. I can tell you about it, and why. And I can help you control it better, and become stronger. Show it to me."

Kurei considreed. "No."

"You are a Flame Master. There is another. You are destined to meet, and to fight. If you don't improve your natural talents, you will surely die," warned Kage Houshi. "Show it to me."

He shook his head. "I really have no time for this nonsense," he answered, and took a step forward.

Faster than he thought possible, she had drawn a knife and viciously slashed Kurenai in the leg. The girl shrieked. Kage Houshi grabbed her, with the knife blade resting gently against Kurenai's neck. "Maybe I was wrong," she said coldly. "But if that's the case, I must dispose of you both. Beginning with her."

"Let her go," said Kurei, his voice choking. Something inside him was raging suddenly. He wondered vaguely where the intense, fiery feeling had come from... "Let her go."

Kage Houshi grinned mockingly at him. "After I'm finished with you two, even your little high-school friend won't be able to help you," she sneered.

Kurei glared at her, seething. This woman knew too much... how did she know so much? "Don't even," he said in a low voice, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"Wouldn't I?" purred Kage Houshi. To make her point, she gave Kurenai a few light jabs along the neck with the knife. The girl whimpered in fear.

Kurei dropped the bag of groceries. Oranges went rolling across the sidewalk, and he was crunching packets of Ramen underfoot, but he no longer noticed and no longer cared. He raised the arm with the bangles on it and a cold, eerie-looking blue flame flickered across his fingers. At first, it was a tiny, inconsequential flame, but it seemed to feed upon his anger and rage and grew. "I said NOOOOO!!!!" he yelled in anger, flinging the Flame towards his oppressor. It sped across the short distance, growing larger and larger, even after it had left his hand.

Kage Houshi's eyes lit up. Was it with pleasure? Satisfaction? Kurei couldn't tell; he was too angry to see properly. The woman shoved Kurenai out of the way, and accepted the brunt of the attack. The flame faded from view, and Kurei and Kage Houshi were left staring at each other in theaftermath.

"I suggest that your girlfriend see a doctor," said Kage Houshi coolly. "And I also suggest that you practice more. That was a pathetic attempt. You shall see more of me in the future. Be prepared next time."

She vanished into the shadows, leaving Kurei staring at where the woman had been.

Back to the KFC