Chapter 4-Earth

Leonardo

She became a distraction. A surprisingly pleasant one. I never planned on giving this a chance, but all of a sudden I saw her in a new light. We began to spend more time together, got to know each other better. Of course I was cautious. I'd been that way since the first time we crashed into each other's lives.

Her laughter was foreign to me but it suited her. And I'd realized I hadn't laughed in a while either. Our tangled relationship finally felt right. Soon, our past didn't matter anymore. She dug up the small, withering brightness within me and I began to shine along with her. She accepted me and, in turn, earned my acceptance. I couldn't believe how swiftly she... well... stole my heart. I thought I'd been careful to keep my feelings secure. She was sly. She was my equal, my opposite, and I needed her.

I found the courage to bring her to the Lair to meet my family. Aside from the shock and confusion... and a long explanation from me about my keeping such secrets, they understood. I hoped that someday they too, in spite of the dangerous life we had, could find someone to... Love.

I didn't think that it would be easy. Although our pasts wouldn't restrict us from moving forward, I didn't want parts of the past creeping up and reeking havoc, delaying the happiness we promised each other. I wanted to do things right...

I made up my mind. Enough time had gone by. I had something I needed to ask her and I wanted her to hear it from my lips alone. I had to tell Karai about the woman I loved.

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Karai

I've never broken my word. And I never would. My threats weren't shallow and my promises were always kept. There was no exaggeration. I made sure my will was infallible by keeping a tight rein on my tongue.

I also tightened the closure of my lily kimono as I sat across from Leonardo. He was explaining to me why he could no longer have sex with me. He used words like 'just, only, guilt and wrong' when he described what he had with me. Then he used words like 'new, happy, free, beautiful... Light... to describe what he found with 'her'.

I suppose I shouldn't have been so hurt. He never said that he loved me. And I was a fool to think my actions spoke louder than a true confession.

He was so respectful, such a gentleman. He said that he hadn't laid with her, and he wouldn't until he spoke with me. I told him that I was fine with breaking our secret clause and that the rest of our truce was still valid. My exact words were "Leonardo, don't be so serious! Only you would turn innocent fun into an arranged marriage."

That son of a bitch thanked me and left. He walked out of my door. It was sunny that day.

I sat in my chair a full hour, just staring at the wall. Every horrible thought was running to the front of my mind so I opted to think of nothing.

I couldn't... I couldn't... He...

He...

"How dare he! Used me! Such a desperate fuck! Monster! You monster! Desperate, desperate whore! Worthless, insignificant, worthless insignificant! Not worth a shit! You're dead! Dead!"

I want sure if I was cursing him or myself. My sight went red as I my body violently tremored on the floor in front of my floor length mirror. I wretched at my haggard appearance.

"No, no, we are equal, equal!"

I let Leonardo's madness eat away at me. Surely, he must have been fucking insane, to think a normal, human woman, a naive little prick of a girl, would look at him and know him and understand him better than I.

"I'm not insane!"

I couldn't function. I couldn't eat, I wanted to sleep but my nightmares haunted me. Instead of him being my relief, Leonardo had become my distraction. I couldn't move forward without him. He was so selfish! How couldn't he not know that I needed him? He was lost, distracted by the hollow promises of a world we could never be a part of. I've excepted it. What the hell was wrong with him? He was going to get hurt. I had to do something before he got hurt!

Then it all clicked. It was all so perfectly clear. I knew what I had to do. I had to remind him of who he was... of where he came from, where he belonged... to whom he belonged.

I went to my soldiers and gave them a task. They completed the task with stealth and swiftness. I cleaned myself up, dressed for the occasion. Everything was set perfectly for him. All he had to do was choose. And if making the decision became difficult, I would help him choose. His life, his hatred, his turmoil, his heart and attention, everything he was, even the things he refused to admit about himself, belonged to me.

"And it's fine for me to kill you if I have to. I won't break any promises or go back on my word if I kill you. Is not like you're part of his family." I said to the young lady, tied and gagged in front of me. I touched her smooth, dark skin and gazed into her big brown eyes...They were warm and bright, even against the fear I caused her.

I hated her! I didn't want to wait for him to show up. I wanted to slice open her throat right then and be done with this whore who had filled my Leonardo with such confusion.

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Leonardo

Never, never trust your enemy. No matter what peace they offer, remember that they will always hold dear their original intentions toward you.

I should have known Karai would never keep her word. She never had any honor. She was never taught how valuable it was. I had to show her one last time.

I cut down the messengers she sent. After they told me why I was being summoned, I knew there was no turning back. My only mission was to save the woman I loved.

My brothers followed me without hesitation. I made a promise to myself that I would apologize to them for lying once this was over.

I knew the layout of her building all too well. We fought to kill, climbing to the top of her tower, barging through her chamber door... She had no idea how alone she was.

"Karai!" I roared. I saw her hovering over my love, pulling back her head by the curls of he hair, displaying a sharp dagger pointed at her vulnerable throat.

I didn't hear one word she said. I just held tight to my sword and quickly walked toward her. I would never let this happen again. This had to end.

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Karai

"It's time you stopped living in a fantasy world, Leonardo, and make a..."

He marched toward me, one katana aimed at my chest. He barely let me get my last word out. I was frozen by the look in his eyes... Total rejection. They were cold and animalistic, laced with a level of disgust more potent than my father ever dared. There was no tomorrow for us in his eyes. I could have reacted, but I did not...He had made his choice ages ago. It was never going to be me. So why would I have wanted to escape his blade and live another day?

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Leonardo

It dipped into her skin so smoothly. The hilt of my sword rested between her breasts. The pain cracked over her face and then melted into the surrendered calmness I had seen once before. I removed my weapon sharply and Karai fell to the ground.

For some reason, as my brothers untied and tended to my love, I knelt over Karai. I watched her fight to breath. She looked at me and smiled.

"I was wrong about you, Leonardo. You are nothing like me, you're... you are not d-darkness like me. You are not a slave to the darkness like me."

I sat and listened to her strained words. I would stay and look at her until the last breath. I owed it to her, my greatest rival. Then she reached out her hand to me... And I took it. Her words were soft and clear. "I love you... I love because... you were the only light I h-had."

I shook my head. I should have said it back... Allowed her to die hearing those words said to her at least once in her pitiful life. "Karai... I... I'm sorry."

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Karai

I nodded my head. It was just as well. I wanted him to lie to me but I knew he wouldn't. I couldn't stop my tears however. "Don't let me go into the darkness alone." I pleaded with him one last time. He held my hand tighter but his face started to grow dim in my vision.

As I felt myself slipping, felt the cold fingers of darkness rise around and beneath me, fear shot up my spine and I panicked. I didn't want to go alone! I raised my dagger to his throat.

Then it all went black.

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Leonardo

I saw her eyes fly open with fright. She said that she didn't want to go alone. She tried to take me with her as her arm came swinging at me with her knife. By instinct, I twisted it away and sliced her throat. Her dark eyes became even more so and she exhaled. I closed the lids of her eyes and stood.

Her paleness and stillness bothered me. I felt like a part of my being died with her...Karai... Why didn't you tell me before? I wish I'd known it all meant so much more to you. Maybe...

My family shook me out of my thoughts and the woman I loved wrapped her arms around me. We left that desolate place together, making sure that no one would ever know we were there.

Later Oroku corporation fractured and was absorbed into other companies.

Later I would stop thinking of all that had happened in the darkness of our lives. Later I would be able to move forward in the kind of happiness that so few people experience.

Later I would watch the full moon rise on a cool autumn night and the smell of kindling would fill the air. And I would be able to think of her without the sting. Because of Karai, I came to understand the cost of such happiness for creatures like us. Because of Karai I promised to hold on to those I love and be grateful for the peace in my life. Such things, I also came to understand, Karai's life was not graced with. If I was her light, her only light, then perhaps she was never truly consumed by the darkness. I hope someday we can both find eternal rest in this truth.

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The End

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A/N: I hope you enjoyed. This was just a flowing thought that came to me over the past week. Kind of Tragic but most romances are! Please review if so compelled.