Wind exploded through the tree line, tossing many old pines into the sky like toothpicks. Uzugi watched in horror, the group of men stood frozen by fear. The one closest to Mogi had started to run, dropping his blade as the first burst of power erupted through the dense forest.

Mogi was floating in mid air, her body taken over by swirling red waves that looked like tattoos made of flowing lava. A hand raised pointing it towards the group of stupid men trying to rob them on the road.

“Mogi don’t !” Uzugi quickly jumped over a tree that had fallen, running over to her young friend.

“Get out of my way!” Her voice was harsh and demonic sounding, as Uzugi stopped just short of her outstretched hand.

“They can’t hurt you”

“They wanted to do more then hurt us…. I could hear their thoughts!” She looked over at the men, some praying, others starting to plead for their lives or mercy.

“You know they can’t….” Uzugi’s voice was calm as she reached out to touch Mogi.

Her tan skin met with Mogi’s pale skin, the flaming tattoos were cool to the touch. Mogi’s eyes met hers, the red starting to fade. Mogi fell into Uzugi’s outstretched arms. Out cold.

“She’s a demon!” One of the men shouted, Uzugi glared at him.

“She’s a monster!” Another added in.

“She’s a girl! And if anyone speaks a word of this to anyone. I’ll hunt you down and end your life.” Uzugi watched them all start to run. “It’s ok little one, I’ll protect you”

Uzugi carried her young friend for miles. Finally reaching a town when the sun started to rise. Thankfully Mogi’s small frame made her very easy to carry. Stepping into a small inn at the edge of the town, a small old woman behind the counter.

“You revealed in the ways of the light” Uzugi spoke without looking away from a large painting that hung just above the right of the counter.

“Light rises and falls but darkness may only be cast away for a time.” The old lady smiled at her , a few teeth missing from both the top and bottom rows. “Right this way dear, I have a room for you two”

Walking down the long hallway , red and black decor littered the walls. The woman stopped at a door made of steel, a well known symbol etched into it.

“Weary travelers be warned, Darkness is always watching” Uzugi said out loud and the doors tumblers started to fall away.

“You two are so young…. Have a nice stay” The old woman retreated from them without another word. Just the shuffling of her feet.

The room was much bigger then it looked on the outside. Smack dab in the center of the room stood a pool filled with a black liquid. Like water except instead of being still it was rippling as if someone was standing above it letting drops fall into the center.

“Rest little one” Uzugi kissed Mogi’s forehead quickly as she started to lower her into the pool.

Slowly her body started to sink, until her eyes flashed red for a second. And it all turned solid red, Mogi was moved by the liquid. Floating on her back, hair flowing in the ripples.

Two days went by without Mogi moving in the red pool. Uzugi watched over her like a hawk, running to fetch food for herself only twice a day.

Laying at the edge of the red pool Uzugi looked down on Mogi’s pale face. It had been two days, the last time it had only taken a few hours in the recovery pool.

“Run girls!!” The old woman’s voice gurgled from the other side of the door. As blood started to flow through the small bottom crevices.

“Mogi wake up!” Uzugi yelled, reaching for the girls arm in the pool.

As she stretched over the pool of red the steel door exploded of its frame. Flying just out of range of Uzugi. Looking at the door she gasped. In the doorway stood a boy, short white hair, a black bandanna wrapped around his face and neck, yet his bare chest was full of the red tattoos Mogi had.

“Isn’t she cute sleeping peacefully?” The boy took a step forward wiping his bloody blade on the brown cargo style shorts he wore.

“Who are you!” Uzugi pulled her blade and pointed its sharp tip at him, half challenging/ half threatening.

“Your new? I wouldn’t fall into the red. Even touching it the slightest bit could make you one of us….. it’s extremely painful…. So I’d advise against it “ The boy chuckled taking two more steps, each step coming closer to the pool.

“Not another step!” She shouted, sword in hand ready to swing.

“I dare you to swing it at me” He laughed a bit more, then licked his lips deviously. “Get ready!”

In one failed attempt she quickly unsheathed the blade and swiped. Only for him to catch the blade in his bare hand. Laughing as he pulled it without hesitation or a single cut. She let it go without a fight, dropping to the red edge.

“Please Mogi” She started to sob, reaching out for the girls hand.

“I could use another sister” With a swift kick, Uzugi was falling forward.