Could it? Or could it not?

[Shashari]

This is where I'm gonna post the chapters and stuff as I finish them.

Prologue

Did you forget?

A Kitsune landed on the stone floor, whimpering. She was obviously injured; dark red stains were dotting her white kimono. Tears found their way down her cheeks as she scrambled to get to her knees. There. A man with a tangle mess of gray hair and a murderous look in his eyes stood before her, sneering.

It still haunts you…

The man stepped forward, saying something, but the girl was too tired to listen. He reached down and pulled her fox ears, twisting them painfully. She yelped, and lashed out. The sound made the man smile, until he was raked in the face by sharp claws. He yelped himself, and dropped her. She landed on all fours, ready this time. Snarling, she pounced…

Why?

The little Kitsune didn’t know the details of the battle. She had been overtaken by an uncontrollable rage. She had almost no problem wiping the man out, but she had no idea how long it took. She only remembered standing there, blood on her claws and dripping from her mouth, and a dead man lying on the ground before her. Horrified, she ran.

You know why…

If you have opinions, I'd love to get them through PMs. If you would refrain from posting here...

[Shashari]

Second chapter, here I come! The first is done, the first is done!

Chapter One

Kitura awoke with a gasp. She sat up quickly, breathing heavily from fright. It was a dream, ok? A dream. She had to tell herself many times before she could breath normally again. She shook the dream away and looked around the room she was in.

It was a large room, with four beds lined up on the north wall. There was a little table next to each bed, but other than that, not many other furnishings. Across the room was the door that led out into a hall. That hall had many rooms branching off of it; most being similar to the one Kit was in.

In the bed next to her, a woman was stirring. Odd, it is still night… Kit started to lay back down, when the woman spoke.

“Had that dream again, did you?” Lita Talina sat up, waves of messy brown hair falling in her face.

“Yes.” The Kitsune answered softly.

Lita sighed, “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you ten times. You should put all that behind you. You aren’t alone anymore.”

Kit said nothing, not looking at Lita.

“Kitura, you really aren’t. We may barely get by, but we aren’t doing that bad.”

“Yes we are,” Kit whispered, “No one ever comes here, not anymore.”

“Kit…”

“Face it, we’re loosing money!” The Kitsune broke in, not whispering anymore, “I was doing better as a thief!”

“Kit!”

Lita couldn’t say anymore before Kit was out of the room. The Kitsune didn’t want to hear the useless lecture she’d heard again and again. She didn’t want to be treated like a child anymore. If Lita would just let her, she’d be able to save the inn and those who worked for it! But she wouldn’t. She’d just make a fuss at the suggestion, and punish Kit.

“Kit?” Came a voice.

Kitura furiously wiped away a tear, walking to the stairwell. When her fox ears caught the noise, she stopped, but didn’t turn around. “Go back to bed, Menin.” She said firmly.

The young boy stepped forward. “Why are you up?”

“Go back to bed. It’s not even sunup, Menin.”

“But—“

“Now.” Kit said forcefully, turning around to stare into aqua blue eyes. Her own yellow ones were piercing, and rather intimidating. “It’s to early to wake up.”

Menin nodded, looking frightened. He turned and ran back into his room, shutting the door quietly.

Kit looked down; this happened every night. That horrible dream would wake her up, and then something else would go wrong. She’d make it out of the room, but then one of the children would most likely have been woken up by the exchange between Lita and Kit.

“Things never work out. They never will.” She whispered to herself as she descended the stairs. There were to many people to feed, and to little money. Things were getting worse and worse. The children had to go to bed hungry, even if they did get whatever skimpy dinner Lita made. “If things keep going like this, I’ll have to go back to my old job.”

The stairs ended by leading Kit into the Lobby. It was large; the main building in the Talina Inn. A few feet to the right, the bar entrance stood, the counter sparkling clean as was everything else in the room. The rest of the area was taken up by multiple tables and their chairs. There were no other furnishings, decorations or the like. If they spent money on that kind of stuff, there’d be no money to buy anything else.

Kit stepped behind the bar, knowing it was only a matter of minutes before Lita decided to come down; same as every night. She leaned on the counter, putting her face in her hands and trying to doze off. It was sad. This happened so often, it had become what Menin liked to call ‘The Nightmare Routine’. Maybe it had a connection with the dreams…Nah.

[Shashari]

Chapter Two

A few hours later, Kit was in the back, sitting on the floor and dozing. Lita had come down only a few moments after the kitsune had decided to hide back there, and she hadn’t come out yet. This is new… She mused, having been startled out of her doze by a loud crash outside the door. Lita never breaks stuff.

She stood up slowly, stepping softly to the door and putting an ear up to it. Lita’s angered voice rang out loud and clear. “Nitea! We don’t have many of those, I can’t believe you’d be so—“

“Whoa! Take it easy!” Kit spoke above the woman, slipping through a ready-made crack, “She’s just a kid, and anyway, I can get us more.” She looked over at Nitea, smiling sweetly. “Don’t listen to her, she’s just to picky.” She joked, putting a hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“Kit, if I hear one more of those types of hints—“ Lita started.

“Lita.” Kit lost the grin, and looked up at her friend seriously. “You’re trying to fool yourself into thinking we can go on like this. Let me break the spell…You’re wrong. If we’re gonna make it, I’ll have to go back to my former job. It won’t happen any other way.”

Lita looked down, her jaw set with anger. But something kept her from shouting when she spoke again. “But…What if Griffon finds that job? You could make us some more money.”

“It’s to late now, Lita. Please. I want to do this…For the kids…For you.” Kitura said slowly, moving her hand from a confused kid’s shoulders. “I—“ She was cut off by a noise coming from the other side of the door. It was Griffon’s half-knock. She shook her head and smiled, looking to the opening door through wisps of white hair. “Hello, Griffon.”

Griffon was a tall young Neko Youkai, with white hair much like Kit’s own. He had two white cat’s ears, and a long slender white tail hanging behind him. His eyes were the perfect emerald shade, the kind Kit had always wanted. For some reason, he was never found without his chain shirt, over a white cloth shirt, and ragged black pants.

Kit grinned and walked towards him. “Right on time, I thought you were gonna be late.”

Griffon smiled in return, shutting the door behind him. “I almost was. Got caught up by a traveler in need. He didn’t need healing or anything, just some traveling partners. I think I have a job for you.”

“What?” Lita asked, looking almost as confused as Nitea had earlier. But she somehow got through it, and continued. “Oh! How exciting, what is it?”

The Neko nodded in greeting to Lita, and barely managed to catch Menin, who had jumped at Griffon with all his might. “Oof! Hello, Menin, I do wish you’d stop doing that. Anyway, that guy asked for someone to help him take out a dragon and all that. Kit, I know this is a lot to ask, but I think you should go. The treasure you’d get from it—If your family can survive for a few—“

“No.”

Griffon looked at Kit in surprise. She was looking at the floor, crying. At least, tears were falling rapidly, but there was no sound. “What?” He whispered.

“I-I can’t, Griffon. You know why I can’t, it’s to much to ask.”

“Look, girl...” Lita began, but then realized what she was about to say, and fell silent.

“Kit…” Griffon tilted his head, “I’ve seen you—No, I’ve fought you, and I know you can do it. With your spear, you could do it! I’ve been training for years longer than you have and I still can’t beat you with my sword.”

“And what happens when I kill something?” Kit asked aggressively, looking up at Griffon sharply. “What happens then, huh? I’ll run, that’s what! I’ll leave everyone, and I’ll run, all because of a stupid, blasted dream!” Tears of anger were flowing down her face. “I can’t do it!”

Griffon stepped back in surprise, but regained his calm demeanor quickly. “Kit, think it over.” He said quietly, looking into her eyes, “Odds are, he’ll be here a few more days. I’ve already chosen to go, I hope you will reconsider while you have the chance.”

Kit looked away, moving her gaze to the floor. Her red, tearstained face looked rather pitiful. She didn’t speak, and didn’t move for awhile, cause an uneasy silence to overwhelm everyone in the room. Finally, she turned sharply and walked to the stairs, pushing Nitea out of the way.

“Ow!” The girl yelped, falling to the floor helplessly. Lita was at her side almost instantly, glaring at the retreating kitsune.

Kitura didn’t stop, look back, or change her demeanor in any way. Her tail was straight out behind her in rigid anger. She broke into a run when she reached the stairs, ran through the hall, and locked herself in the room Lita and she shared.

She paced around the room, racking her brain for the reasons this was happening to her of all people. She thought about the last dream; how it would pause for a few seconds at a time, letting voices penetrate her mind. One…one of the voices had sounded different, one the was much like her own. Had she been the one to ask why? If so, did she really know why the dream had been haunting her for so long?

She finally sat on her bed, her thoughts slowed to a crawl. She had stayed up there for hours without knowing it, trying to figure out this new problem. To some degree, she felt as if she was being very selfish, but that was just making her feel even more frustrated.

“Why?” She sobbed, hugging her knees and burying her face in them, “Why am I being haunted? Why is this happening to me?” Suddenly she looked up, her eyes blanked out. You’re hiding from your future…She gasped. Had she thought that on her own?

[Shashari]

Chapter Three

The next day started much like the past, with Kit waking up from the dream, Lita scolding her, and a kid waking up to irritate her even more. She ended up in the lobby, leaning over the counter and
getting a few hours doze before the day actually started. This time though, something different had happened.

Kit had woken up, just as usual, but while Lita and she had been talking, she had changed into her tan leather armor. Sure, it would be hard to doze off once she got downstairs, but she planned to end the cycle.

As the first light crept through the front doors dirty windows, Lita came down tiredly. She seemed mildly surprised when she saw Kit—Not hiding in the closet, but still dozing on the counter. Kit looked up through bleary eyes, her gaze telling Lita not to say a word. Lita nodded tiredly and sat at a near table, trying to doze off for herself.

It was another half hour before Griffon got there. He opened the door to two kids busily packing a large sack. Kit watched him stand in the doorway, a confused look plastered on his face.

“I’ve decided.” She finally said, knowing he wasn’t about to open his mouth for a long time otherwise. “I’ll try it.”

Lita came down from the upstairs, carrying a changed of clothes for Kit. At which time Kit looked at her in confusion and shook her head hastily. “No. Uh…No thanks, Lita. I’m not about to change on this type of travel.”

Lita looked a little put out, she was an absolute slave to routines. If the old way was the same, the old way was better, that’s what she thought. Kit, on the other hand, scooped up the sack the kid were fiddling with and smiled and the still thunderstruck Neko.

“I stayed up late last night getting a few provisions, and Lita’s not spoken to me since. She absolutely hates lawbreaking, which makes me wonder why she took me in in the first place.”

“Well I shouldn’t’ve, now I can see that plainly, Kit!” Lita finally spoke up, dropping the clothes on a table.

“Now, now, Lita,” Griffon finally got over the shock of seeing things go differently after two years, “She’s a good girl, no matter how much lawbreaking she’s done. Things have been going so bad because she’s been hiding.”

Kit gasped, and stared at Griffon. “What?” She whispered, her eyes wide and her ears flat atop her head. “What did you say?”

Griffon backed away, afraid Kit might be getting angry. “Uh…Why don’t we go find Rodress, the traveler I told you about.”

Kit looked at her bag, her claws digging into it so tight they made five little holes in the top. She nodded, but didn’t move. Her shock was deeper than her friends had been, and she could only think about what Griffon had just said. I’m…Hiding? She thought. Was she hiding from her future?

Griffon looked at his friend, a worry line between his eyebrows. His own ears were held back, and his tail was waving about uneasily. He was very concerned for Kit. “Are…You alright?” He asked, leaning toward her.

Kit opened her eyes, startled. She looked up at Griffon, and shook her head. “No, I’m not alright. I’m tired from two years of next to no sleep, I’m…Hiding behind my past.” She turned and walked out of the inn, something she had only done for practice not so long ago.

Griffon was out right after her, and told her her family said farewell. “I have no family.” Was the answer, and the neko knew better than to push it. She was in a depressed state again, and Kit could tell he blamed himself. “It’s fine.” She managed to say while keeping all the hurt out of her voice. Griffon knew her to well; he didn’t look the least bit relieved.

“I’m telling you, it’s fine.” She snapped.

“Then tell me what that was back there!” Griffon snapped right back, swerving in front of her and blocking her path.

“It was nothing, and I’d like it if you’d get out of my business, Griffon!” She snarled, pushing past him to get to their destination. It was a tavern, and the building that attracted more people away from their little inn. It had an old rickety sign that had the paint worn off so long ago Kit didn’t remember it’s name. The laughter and drunken singing came out of there that always did, and it made Kit feel sick.

Griffon growled, but was much better at holding it in then Kit was. He knew how dangerous she was with her spear she was currently carrying, and he didn’t want her to get any more angry than she was.

Kit pushed though the door, it’s creaky hinges making a few of the occupants wince, but the kitsune’s face was set. She stepped up to the bar without giving anything else a second glance. The bartender hurried over to her, shouting above the noise. “And what can I get you, good traveler?”

“You can get me a man who goes by the name of Rodress, and you can hurry.” She snarled at him, feeling better already. She found it satisfying to scare the bartender out of his skin.

He hurried to oblige, and Kit leaned her back against the dirty counter. She looked at Griffon apologetically, and mouthed the word ‘temper’. He nodded, and leaned on the counter beside her, waiting.

[Shashari]

I will not be updating for awhile, as you can probably see.