Young Writers Society

She pushed the thought away and left the room. Once outside, she let off a heavy sigh and ran her fingers over her face. She was sweating. She was trembling. She peeled her hands away from her face and examined the weak, shaking appendages. Why… Why am I shaking? I’m not afraid. What do I have to be afraid of? I’m immortal. I can’t die. Lady Kurin won’t allow that to happen. I still have my mission to complete.

She continued to tremble and her breath began to heave. Gods, no. Why am I afraid? I trust my friends. They’ll keep me safe…

But what if I don’t keep them safe? What if they die on my watch? Kai’s eyes widened and she slowly sunk to the floor, knees askew and face veiled by her hands. I can see it… I can see Kenichi’s mangled corpse draping over the red countryside, burned and ripped by Hono. I can see Pualani’s bloodless face as she watches the red dawn, her blood bathing her as well as everyone else’s. I can see Shun, impaled on one of the Great Demon’s claws or horns…

She didn’t even notice when tears began to leak from her eyes. A hand on her shoulder jolted her into the real world once more.

“Kai? Are you alright?” Shun asked her, sitting down beside her. “Are you remembering when that one boy broke your heart? What was his name again? Haru? Don’t you remember how I kicked his knees in when we were sparring and he was in the infirmary for three months?” He attempted to smile to cheer her up.

“It’s not that, Shun,” Kai hissed, stuffing the heels of her palms into the hollows of her cheeks. “What if you guys die? What if it’s my fault?” Her friend’s smile disappeared from his face, draining from his face like the blood in her day-mares. “Aaahh…” she groaned out.

“Hey, Kai. Look at me. Watch me,” he told her, standing up and smiling. He quickly began a form that he had been taught in the advance agility class. He kicked out in rapid scissor kicks and crescent kicks. He spun and struck out so fast that Kai had to strain to see anything. When he was finally done, he was panting and he looked to his friend. “Look. I’m tough. Don’t you dare think that I’m going to die on you. I’m gonna stick with you until the bitter end. If anything, you’ll be the one that needs protection.” He winked to her. “Now go get packed.” He left her side to do the same.

Kai immediately stood and nodded her head. Hurrying off whilst rubbing her eyes free of tears, she didn’t notice when she returned to her room. She simply stood at the door for the longest time, scrubbing.

“Nngh…” she groaned as if it were a chore to free herself of the impure salt water.

“Are you alright Kai?” Pualani’s voice sounded as her door clicked shut behind her. A smile was painted over her face, but her eyes screamed her concern. “Is there anything that I can do?” The other girl turned toward her friend cautiously before she sighed and shook her head.

“I don’t think so. You don’t have anything to help me with day-mares, do you?” Kai asked.

“No, why?” her friend asked. “What’s got you worried? Is it the trip?” There was a moment’s hesitation before Kai nodded her head. “Ah, I see. We’re all nervous about it, I’m sure. I mean, We have to find an impossible person. It won’t be easy, but we’re all going to stick by your side.” Tears began to come to Kai’s eyes again.

“Pualani…” her voice was breaking.

“Oh, what is it? What’s wrong? Don’t cry!” the other girl cried out. “Was it something I said?”

“No, no,” Kai said, “it’s not you…” It sounded as if there would be a continuation, but there wasn’t. Kai simply hid her face away, trying not to show her tears. Pualani’s brow furrowed and she slowly knelt down beside her friend.

“It’s alright to cry, you know,” she said, gently brushing her fingers of the Guide’s shoulder. The silence remained as Pualani watched uncomfortably as her friend sobbed. It broke her heart to see her cry. However, the Yin girl remained like stone: rigid and placid. This left poor Kai to cry with her friend by her side.

Soon, she gave up, stuffing away her tears and forcing herself to her feet. She smiled to Pualani sadly before she sighed.

“This is going to be a long trip… A very long one.” With that, she entered her bedroom and left her friend in the hall. Once inside, Kai was a robot. She packed her things into a neat little bag and then she sat. Fearful of the daymares that would come to pass from her solitude, she quickly fled her room, headed for Shun’s. She knew that he’d be able to take her mind off of the daymares and the oncoming journey.

The tips of her fingers absentmindedly skimmed along the cold walls as she passed through the halls. She was a wayward spirit. Her heart was already at the point of giving up. She couldn’t bear the thought of endangering her friends, but she couldn’t do this alone, and she certainly couldn’t give up and let the world burn. It was all up to her and her strength to keep everyone safe and alive.

Kai halted when she felt the end to the cold marble wall, where it gave way to wood. She had reached a door, and respectively the dorms. Walking only a few more steps, she found herself at Shun’s door. She knocked, and as if he’d been waiting for her, her friend opened the door.

“I was just about to come find you, Kai,” he said before noticing the redness under her eyes. “Are you alright?”

“I’m just… fine. I’m fine, Shun,” Kai told him, looking to her feet. “Pualani is still getting packed. We should check on Kenichi and Tara.” He shifted uncomfortably to the mention of those names-- or particularly Tara’s. “What is it?” Her eyes widened. “Is it about the argument this morning?”

“How do you know about that?” Shun snapped before he let off a shaky sigh. “So you heard the whole thing…” He turned from her and began to gather up his bags. “I’m sorry for snapping,” he said, shame thoroughly weaving through his voice.

“Let’s just get Kenichi. After that, we’ll get Pualani and Tara, and we’ll be out of here,” Kai said, and Shun nodded his head in agreement. He wasn’t as much help as she had wanted.