Kuno-Uto

~Prologue~ (RD Chapter 1)  ***18 years ago*** It was near midnight and the moon was as nearly as bright as the shadows were dark. A dark shadowy figure leapt stealthily through the trees. The man rushed hurriedly through the forest like a predator hunting its prey. He stopped at the edge of the woods, still retaining the cover and concealment offered by the tree. He looked down upon a small cave. A voice came over his small radio headset.  "This is it, the target went down into that cave, looks like we have got him right where we want him." the voice said.  "So it would seem, but don't lose your head. Even the smallest beast will bare

      Vorian watched as the silver haired girl moved from Kross' side and to the center of the room.  Her movements were as smooth as that of a ninja, but she wore the attire of a temple priestess.  Something told him there was more to this girl than initially meets the eye.       The girl spoke with confidence.  "Good morning to everyone.  My name is Hikari Evanaline.  I am a priestess from the Northern Temple of the Six Paths.  I have come to inform you all of an anomaly I discovered a few days ago."  She spoke with a calm confidence as she began to scan her audience.  "6 days ago today, I was performing my daily meditations.  I sensed t

     The campsite shook from the force of the distant explosions. The girls sat by the camp fire eating small snacks and telling stories as if nothing were happening at the lake behind them.  Asuka chuckled to herself as shockwave from one of Kross' fiery explosions knocked over her drink.       Hikari moved to pick it up but Asuka motioned her away with a smile.  Hikari looked her in the eye; she noticed an absence of worry in her eyes.  She spoke softly yet anxiously.  "Aren't you worried about them?  Those explosions sound huge.  One of them is going to get hurt!"     Asuka looked off in the direction of the lake.  She sighed and smile

     The morning sun rose all too soon.  Kuno had been on last watch, so he was already awake.  He wandered from tent to tent kicking people awake.  Vorian and Kross awoke and got dressed, as they made their way out of the tent they saw Kuno dashing out of the girls' tent laughing as he dodged a flying chunk of ice.       A furious Asuka came barreling out of her tent clad only in a pair of small shorts and a tank top.  Her skin was wet and covered with goose bumps, yet her face was red with heated rage.  "KUNO UTO!" She raged, "I swear, if you ever fill my sleeping bag with snow again, I will kick you so hard that you won't be able to stan