The First Long Day

Siren and her friends experience the first day of their journey.

 

 

 

 

 

You're My Protector

Chapter 4- The First Long Day

"Hurry Up! Get a move on!" yelled Toya at the top of the large hill. Siren and Shuran stood at the bottom and looked up at him. Toya crossed his arms, impatient with them for taking so long. Siren turned to the tired, panting Shuran, who stood next to her.

"Do you want to take a minute Shuran?" asked the worried Siren who motioned for the girl to sit on a nearby stone. Shuran waved her hand and shook her head.

"N-no.....I'm....Al....right..." she said panting and gasping for air. Siren furrowed her brow.

"Are you sure? You don't have to worry about us if there's something wrong." she said softly, concerned for her health and well being. Shuran shook her head and smiled. Sweat drops were pouring from her head.

"No....Im fine, really." she said and turned to the hill in front of her. Toya yelled from atop the hill.

"What's taking you two so long?!" he yelled. Siren helped Shuran up the hill. She offered a hand to her.

"I'll take your bag, so it'll be easier on you." she said. Shuran looked at her and nodded. She took off her bag and handed it to Siren and continued up the hill. Siren trailed along behind her, making sure she would be okay. So this is what Master Yen was talking about, she thought. She immediately remembered the day when he first told her.

Flash back

"Master Yen you called us?" called the small Toya who stood in front of him. Shuran stood next to him and bowed gracefully to Master Yen. Master Yen smiled at them.

"I want you guys to meet someone." he said and motioned to the brown haired woman standing in the back of the room. With her was a small white haired girl, who's eyes were lifeless as a dead man. The woman handed the girl to Master Yen. He cleared his throat.

" This girl's name is Siren and she will be training with us from now on." he said at placed a hand on her head, stroking her hair. He looked at the woman, who now stood next to him. "Oh yes, this is Reina, her gaurdian."

"It is nice to meet you two. I hope you will treat Lady Siren well." she said bowing to them. Shuran bowed. She saw Toya and immediatley grabbed his head and forced him to bow too.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Lady Reina." Shuran said back to Reina. Reina smiled, then looked at Master Yen , who was looking at Siren. Siren showed no signs of movement and stood there like a lifeless doll. Shuran looked at her wondering what made her like this. She then saw Toya walk towards the girl.

"My name is Toya." he said and extended a hand out to Siren. "It's nice to meet you. I'm the strongest and the oldest one around here, so you'll have to give me full respect, okay?" Everyone was waiting for Siren's reaction, but nothing happened. She continued to stand there like a lifeless doll. Toya started to get annoyed with her. "What's the matter with you?! You can't even answer someone when they're talking to you! That's no way to treat someone whop is older than you! And also---" He was cut off. Siren had raised her hand and smacked him hard in the face., making his head turn the other way. Shuran gased, Master Yen and Reina narrowed their eyes, and Toya stood there stunned. Siren had her head down. She spoke with her hand still in the postion it was in after she hit Toya.

"Shut up...." she said in a cold, dark, ominous tone. Everyone was silent. She continued to speak, "Respect you?....Give me a break......You're nothing but a pathetic excuse for a living being.....An ameba......Yet you have the audacitiy to tell me what to do?.....Heh." The room was filled with tension. So much of it, that it could kill. Siren looked up, her eyes were that of a demon's. She was enraged. "I don't serve anyone, but my masters! No one else! All of you can go to hell for all I care!" She turned and ran out the door with Reina following behind her. Master Yen followed them after, leaving Toya and Shuran alone. Toya grunted.

"That damn witch! How dare she?!" he yelled. Shuran looked in the direction, they left in.

"Toya, I wouldn't be so rough on that girl" Shuran said, "I don't know why, but I have a feeling she's been through a lot." Toya grunted again.

Master Yen and Reina had found Siren in a corner crying. Master Yen tried to approach her, but she smacked his hand away.

"Go away!" she yelled then her voice got really quiet, "Just leave me alone....." Master Yen and Reina were quiet. Then Master Yen spoke.

"You should try to make friends with them Siren." he said softly, "One day, you'll be worried abot them, just as they are about you." Siren snapped at him.

"They don't care and I don't want them too!" she yelled at him. A soft voice spoke.

"But.....we do care Siren." said a small voice. Master Yen and Reina turned around, it was Shuran. Shuran approached Siren. Master Yen and Reina moved out of the way.

"You're apart of or family now...." Siren's eyes became like demons again.

"You're not my family! My family died and my masters abandoned me! I'm alone!" screamed Siren, tears streamming down her face. She then felt arms come around her. Siren looked up surprised. Shuran had her.

"You're not alone..." said Shuran gently, "My family died too.....but I have a new family and I would like you to be part of it." Siren's tears stopped as she continued to look at Shuran. "Will you please come join us?" Siren had nothing to loose. She nodded her head.

"Okay....." Siren sniffled and Shuran smiled. She helped Siren get up off the floor and extended a hand out to her. Siren looked at it.

"My name is Shuran." she said softly, "I will be your big your big sister, if you want. Oh and don't let Toya's words bother you. That's just the way he is." Siren smiled and took her hand.

"Okay Shuran" she said and both started laughing. Master Yen and Reina smiled. Shuran spoke.

"I think you should apologize to Toya." she said. Siren looked down. Shuran reassured her, "Don't worry. I'll go with you." Siren nodded her head. The two left with Master Yen and Reina following behind them.

Siren smiled after she remembered.

"Siren come on!" said Shuran who had joined Toya at the top of the hill. Siren ran to meet them. Shuran smiled.

"We're close to a town, so we're going in to shop for some supplies." she said then followed Toya. "Wait up Toya!"

This is my family, she thought to herself and ran to meet the two. They headed into the bustling town in search of supplies.

"Ooo look at this Siren!" said Shuran pointing to a dragon puppet hanging on the roof of the small stand on the street. Siren smiled.

"Yes it's beautiful." she said softly, " But we don't need that where we're going." Shuran puffed up her face. Siren shook her head. She may be older than me, but she's still a kid, she thought. Shuran ran around going from stand to stand looking at all the trinkets they had. Siren followed along behind her, sighing all the way. Suddenly, her eyes were set on a braclet with a dragon and tiger charm on it. She went to the stand to get a closer look. It was gold and was very shiny. In some ways it reminded her of her master Tetsuya. This gave her an idea.

"Can I have that bracelet please?" she asked the stand owner and pointed to the gold bracelet. The store owner looked at it, then smiled.

"Yes, you can." she said taking it off the display. Siren started to look in her bag for money, but the lady stopped her. "For you, I give for free. You like yes?" Siren's face lit up. She nodded her head and took the bracelet from the owner.

"Xie xie." Siren said as she started to leave from the stand. The store owner waved to her as she left. Toya and Shuran were searching around for Siren. Shuran turned her head to the sound of approaching foot prints.

"I think I see her." she said to Toya, who was impatient as ever. Siren ran to meet them.

"Sorry, I got distracted by something." she said with a smile on her face. Toya hmphed and Shuran made a sly smile.

"And that would be?........." she coaxed Siren, trying to persuade her to spill the beans. Siren just smiled even harder and placed a finger on her lips.

"It's a secret." she said quietly. Shuran nodded her head and turned to Toya.

"What now?' she asked him. Toya turned to look at her, his arms crossed.

"Well, while you two were off lolligaging.." he started smugly, "I went to by us some food and medical supplies. So we can start heading out now." Shuran puffed her face then relaxed. Siren kept her cool even though she really wanted to knock him of his 'I'm superior' attitude. She looked at him with cold eyes.

"So where do we go now?" she asked him, teting him to see if he knew where he was going. Toya smiled coyly, then pointed east.

"It's this way!" he yelled triumphitly and started to walk in that direction. Shuran, not knowing where she was going at all, followed him. Siren sighed. Normally she would have just followed along just to see the look of stupidity on Toya's face when he realized he went the wrong way. He was always had a bad sense of direction. This time though, she wanted to get to the palace as fast as she can because she wanted to see her master again. I really don't wanna do this, but I have too, she thought to herself. She put her hands around her mouth before she spoke.

"Hey! That's the wrong way!" she yelled. Shuran and Toya looked back at her. Toya was annoyed.

"What do you mean it's the wrong way?!" he yelled back, walking back to Siren with Shuran following close behind. "I know I'm right. I always have been."

"You haven't been right a day in your life!" she yelled back. Now thinking about it, Shuran realized that Siren was right. Toya's face grew red and he snapped.

"You don't know nothing about me! You're just an abandoned servant that doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut!" Toya yelled with veins popping out of his neck. Shuran fearing the worst tried top stop him from saying anything else.

"Toya! Stop it! Before you really say something you don't mean!" she yelled with tears in her eyes trying to restrain him, but Toya didn't listen.

"You're just a nobody with no family!" he said without any hesitation. Shuran pleaded with him to stop. Siren lowered her head and stayed quiet. Shuran knew what was copming next. She'll explode if this keeps up, she thought and countinued to stop Toya's rant.

"She's part of our family!" Shuran counteracted, tears flowing from her face. Her face showing pleading expressions for him to stop. Toya grunted then shouted the worst posible thing to say.

"She's no family of mine!" he yelled and then stopped. He felt an ominous aura coming from the silent Siren. Shuran sighed and turned, already knowing what was going to happen. Siren looked up with her demon eyes. Toya and Shuran shuddered, feeling that something bad was about to happen. Siren spoke.

"I'm no family of your's am I?" she said in a demonic tone, her eyes piercing through them. Her glares were like daggers aimed straight for their souls. It was like she was a demon herself. Toya flinched and started to back away with Shuran following right behind him. Demonic Siren chuckled a dark laugh. Then spoke again. "What happened to the big talker now? Lost your bark?"

"I-I'm not scared of you...." Toya said weakly hiding behind Shuran who looked at him surprised. Demonic Siren raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really now?" she said darkly, "Then I will go to the palace on my own." Siren started to walk away. Shuran and Toya were too scared to say anything while she was leaving. They started to move until she turned back around to look at them. She smiled malevolently. "Good luck kittiens!..." Then she walked off leaving Toya and Shuran frozen like statues. Toya shivered and spoke.

"I think I wet myself just now....." he said nervously. Shuran stared at him in amazement and moved away.

She's the demon from hell, they thought together and walked off to find the palace with Toya leading.

Siren walked off frustrated. How dare he tell me that! He has no family himself!, she thought to herself, he even told me that he was my big brother. Siren started to remember the day he told her.

"Hah!" yelled the young Siren as she lunged towards the young Toya who stood there waiting for her. Toya doged and Siren went rolling on the floor into the back wall. Toya shook his head.

"Not good enough!" he yelled at her, staring at her sternly. Siren got up, panting, then stared at him. Toya grunted. "Come on! Get up off your but an fight me!" Siren ran towards him again, but Toya dogded her then turned around and grabbed her arm and flipped her. Siren laid there on the floor stunned. Toya was getting annoyed. He crossed his arms. "You pathetic worm! Don't even try to make an excuse that you're a woman or that you have no family! I have no family also, they abandoned me, but I'm still stronger than you!" Toya kept going on taunting her, "That's probably why your family died to get away from you!" Toya knew it was a low blow, but was trying to get something out of her. This struck a nerve in Siren. In a quick motion, she kicked Toya's legs from underneath him. Toya slammed into the floor, letting out a gasp. Siren sat on top off him and grabbed him by his robe. Se glared at him.

"Don't you ever say that to me!" she growled piercing his soul with her eyes, "I will be stronger than you! Even if I'm a woman and the I have no family. I will be better than you, I swear!" Toya smiled this is what he wanted to get out of her. He grabbed her hand on his robe and spoke clearly.

"You'll have to try real hard if you wanna beat me, brat!" he said then in a he used his other hand to ruffle her hair. Siren stared at him confused. The look in his eyes were gentle and happy almost. He spoke softly, "I'm sorry about the family thing.....You do have family....I'm your older brother after all." He then pushed Siren off of him and stood up. Then he spoke in a loud voice, "If you do somehow beat me......then you'll have a long time rival twerp!" Siren who sat back on the floor stared in amazement. Then suddenly, tears started to flow from her eyes. Toya looked at her, then scratched the back of his head. "Oh geez..." He squatted down next to the crying Siren and placed a hand one her head. "It looks like you have a long way to go...." Siren contined to cry.

And then I was winning those battles ever since, she thought to herself and smiled. She continued to walk down the trail until she came across a torn piece of white cloth. Siren picked up the white cloth and held it in her hands. It's still warm, she thought then narrowed her eyes, meaning someone is nearby... A rustle came from the bushes. Siren put her body in a fighting stance with both hands in fist, one behind her and the other in front. Her legs were spread apart. Indeed, it was the perfect stance. The sound started to get louder.

"Show yourself!" she yelled at the bush, thinking an enemy was there. The noise stopped and out came a baby panda looking at her. Siren let go of her stance and walked over to it. The panda looked up at her with it's big eyes. Siren smiled. "You scared me there, little one." She squatted down and patted it on it's head. It let out a little yelp of approval. Siren gigled. "Aw you're so cute." Then Siren narrowed her eyes and grabed the panda into her arms. She back against a nearby tree "I'll help you look for your mom later Mr. Panda..." she paused, looking again at the bushes then continued "But first I have to take care of our visitor...." Out of the bushes emerges a group of people two men and a woman, dressed in yellow garments. Siren looked at them coldly. "State your name and business!"

"My name is of no concern." said the woman darkly, the two men stared at the woman waiting for her order, "Our buisness is with you..." Siren started moving backwards staring straight at them. The panda in her arms stared at her then started to whimper, sensing danger. The woman looked at the two men and nodded her head once, giving them the signal. The two men nodded and lunged at Siren in a flash. Siren dodged quickly and fell into a bush. The two men were baffled as to where she went. The woman grunted. "Find her! We can't let her escape!" The two men went searching for Siren. Siren hid in the bushes and put the baby panda down.

"Wait here until I come back." she whispered then stood up out of the bushes. "I'm right here." she said and the two men and the woman turned to look. The woman chuckled.

"You're a brave one to not run away when you had the chance." she laughed, "But it's also very foolish." She raised her hand and snapped her fingers. The two men lunged at her again, but Siren was ready this time. In a quick flash, she appeared before the shorter of the two men and kicked him dead in his face. He went flying past the woman and hit the tree, bleeding perfusely. The taller man looked back at him.

"Ryuhei!" he yelled back then turned his attention to Siren who was waiting in her perfect fighting stance. He clenched his teeth and growled, his eyes filled with abhorrance and disdain. Siren beckoned him with her finger.

"Take your best shot..." she said austerely. The man lunged at her again and the woman called out.

"Ryuichi! Don't let your emotion get the better of you!" she yelled, but Ryuichi was too blind by revenge to hear her. He threw a punch at Siren, who caught with one hand. Ruichi stood there amazed. Siren's once blue eyes were now a dark, ominous purple. He started to get scared. The woman started to get annoyed. "Ryuichi don't just stand there! Finish her off!" Ruichi heared the woman's voice and used his other hand to punch her. To his surprise, she caught the other one too. Siren chuckled a sinister laugh and smiled darkly. Ryuichi flinched.

"Heh......you're in for it now, boy!" Siren said darkly. She held both of his fists tightly and threw him into the air. She then raised her right leg and in a quick motion, kicked him reatedly over a thousand times, sending him flying into the air. The woman looked at the Ruichi and gasped. Ruichi hit the ground eith a thud, blood spuwing from his mouth. He layed there unconcious. The woman screamed, then looked at Siren with disgust. She ran towards Siren, fist out to puch her, but Siren disappeared from in front of her. The woman stood still trying to find her, only to find Siren underneath her. Siren smiled darkly and in qucik flash, she kicked the lady in the face, making her fly onto the ground. The woman laid still. All three of them were defeated. Siren grabbed the woman by her dress.

"I'll ask you one more time.." she said sternly, the woman coward underneath her grip, "What is your name and your business?" The woman shivered.

"M-my name is Melin." she said, trying to get away from Siren. "U-under the order of our master, Master Ryuuga, we were sent to kill you and your friends." Siren brought her closer. She whimpered.

"Who is Master Ryuuga?!" she yelled at her. The woman started to cry.

"H-He the youngest brother of M-Master Teikari." she said nervously. Siren grunted and let her go. The woman fell to the ground with a thud, then looked up at Siren. So even after all these years, it's still the same, she thought, then she came to a realization, Wait she said me and my friends right? She doesn't mean.... Siren ran away from the woman and ran into the bushes to get the baby panda, then ran into the direction she knew Toya and Shuran would have gone in.

Please tell me they're all right...., she thought.

"Shuran go and rest." Toya said concerned for the panting Shuran who stood next to him, "I'll finish up here okay?" Shuran nodded her head and went to sit down on a nearby tone while she watched Toya pick up the injured enemies they had just fought. Shuran caught her breath breath before she spoke.

"I....wonder....who sent them..." she gasped. Toya looked at her apprehensive. Then he turned back to the unconcious enemies lying on the ground.

"Yeah I wonder that too...." Toya said quietly. Suddenly there was a rustling in the bushes. Toya jumped in front of Shuran and stood in a fighting stance. Toya spoke. "Who are you?!" Then came Siren out of the bushes with a baby panda in her arms. Toya relaxed and Shuran gasped. Siren raised a hand.

"It's just me." she said. Shuran jumped up and ran to hug her. Toya stood there annoyed. Siren closed her eyes and hugged back. "I'm sorry for leaving earlier, Shuran." Shuran cried into Siren's dress, then Siren turned to Toya. "I apologize to you too....Toya..." Toya turned his head away in disgust, but then sighed and smiled.

"I guess I'm sorry too." he said, "And I guess, I don't know where I'm going." Siren smiled and motioned for Toya to come here. Toya walked over to Siren and Shuran and joined in on the hug. The hug stopped when they suddenly heared a whmper coming from Siren's arms.. Shuran and Toya stepped back to look. It was the baby panda bear they saw Siren holding earlier. Shuran looked at it. Aww so cute!, she thought to herself. Toya looked at Siren who smiled and shrugged.

"I couldn't leave him alone...." she said and gave the panda to the excited shuran who beg and pleaded to hold him. Shuran smiled and Toya sighed. Shuran looked at Toya for his approval to keep him. Toya sighed again and shrugged. Shuran's face lit up.

"I'm gonna name you Rune-rune!" yelled the excited Shuran who cuddled the small panda in her arms. Toya gave an aggitated expression.

"Shuran don't go naming the thing, before you get attached to it." he said to her. Shuran puffed up her face then let it go, her eyes got teary. She looked as if she was ready to cry. Siren put a hand on his shoulder and sighed.

"Oh let her name him." she said looking at Shuran snuggling the panda, "It'll give her something to do on this trip. Besides, it's better than calling him Mr. Panda or "it"." Toya sighed, then looked at the sad-eyed Shuran talking to the panda. Her walked over to her, but not before giving Siren this 'I'm holding you accountable' look. Shuran stopped talking to the panda and looked at Toya.

"Alright, you can name him." he said. Shuran's eyes got big and her face was brimming with happiness. Toya interjected before she did anytthing. "But before we get to the palace, you're going to return him to the wild!" Shuran smiled and nodded then looked at the now named Rune-rune. She hugged him tight. Rune-rune let out a yelp and Shuran seperated herself, afraid she hurt him. Toya went back to Siren who was looking at the defeated warriors on the ground. toya stood next to her and spoke.

"They just attacked us out of nowhere...." he said to her. Siren turned to him, worried.

"Yeah me too..." she said and Toya looked concerned, "I got some information out of of one of the warriors named Meilin." Toya stared at her, waiting for her to explain. Siren took in a deep breath. "The whole reason I trained with you guys was because I needed to be strong to protect my master, Master Teikari son. Master Teikari is dying, so his son, master Tetsuya, is his successor. It's because of this, that master Tetsuya is in trouble for Master Teikari's brothers are vying for the postion as well."

Toya proccessed the infromation in his head before he spoke.

"So those people, we're sent by one of the brothers?" he asked her and Siren nodded, "Which brother was it?" Siren looked at him, then looked at the sky.

"It was his youngest brother, Master Ryuuga." she said in a stern voice. Toya nodded his head then looked at the sky with her.

"Then our journey just got interesting..." he said and Siren turned to look at him. He looked at her, "it's getting late, we better find somewhere to sleep for the night. We'll have to get to the palace by tomorrow. It's top priority now." He smiled a crooked smile, "We'll go the way you said to go. Apparently, I was going the wrong way. Shocker." Toya turned and walked towards Shuran and they started to walk away. Siren stood there thinking.

Yes, this has just gotten intresting Toya, she thought then started to walk to catch up to the two.

The three made it to a clearing. It was late and it started to get dark. Siren stood in the middle of the clearing.

"I think we can stay here." she said pointing to the ground. Toya put his stuff down. Shuran sat on a nearby rock with Rune-rune fast asleep in her arms. Shuran smiled. Siren got the blankets from her bag and spread them out of the ground. Toya got some wood and rubbed them together to make fire. Once the fire was lit, he took a few dumplings out of his bag and handed one to Siren. Shuran placed Rune-rune on her blanket and grabbed a dumplin from Toya.

"Xie xie." she said and took a bite out of it. They ate for a while, before Shuran laid next to Rune-rune and fell asleep, leaving Toya and Siren alone. Toya cleared his throat.

"Master Tetsuya is your master right?" he asked randomly. Siren looked up, shocked by the question.

"Yes, he is." she said answering him, staring into the fire. Toya stared at her.

"When was that decided?" he asked, pressing her to leak some information. She looked at him.

"I don't exactly know....." she said hesitantly then continued, "I guess since birth......He probbaly knows......I was born when he was one. I'm exactly one year younger than him." Toya looked confused.

"What do you mean by exactly?"

"Master Tetsuya and I have the exact same birthday. Many of the servants usually forgot and even I forgot my birthday because on that day, his birthday was celebrated." she said then smiled, "But the person, besides my parents, who gave me a present on that day, was master Tetsuya." Toya looked at her, surprised by the bliss she was showing just by talking about her master. He must really be important to her, he thought, then yawned.

"Alright, I'm going to sleep." he said then laid down on his blanket, "Good night." He fell asleep quickly and started to snore. Siren rolled her eyes, then smiled.

"Good night Toya...." she said quietly, then layed down on her blanket and fell asleep.

I have to do my best, wait for me master!, she thought.

This is an original story written by Imani Smith June 20 2009

Author's Note

anything goes