Crimson
By Harmony283
Summary: Jay is eleven years old, and he's still an apprentice to Solon. What happens when, after a successful assassination he is followed by a Radiant girl named Ruby?
Time-line: 5 years before the game
A/N: Another ToL fic from me. Honestly, I really shouldn't be thinking up any more ideas, especially when I have some other things to finish. But meh, oh well. This is the prequel to Hidden Past—or at least that's what I'm hoping for this to be. I'm still not sure on some details that I want to put in Hidden Past, but as of right now this is the prequel. Well, I'll stop talking now…
Enjoy!
An Eleven year old boy with raven black hair—held off to the side by two black ribbon-like hair ties—and violet eyes crouched down on the tree limb he had been resting on. His eyes narrowed as he peered out through the green leaves of his hiding place. His eyes wandered across the ground, leaving not an inch unscathed from his ice cold gaze.
He was searching for something.
And he found it...or rather them.
In one leap he hurled out from his hiding place and landed gracefully on the pathway below. Gasps could be heard from the ones he had stopped as he drew out a single gleaming knife. He held it up, letting the sun glint off its silver blade before starting into a full dash towards his victim.
A few minutes later—fifteen at most because of the boys lightning speed—the raven haired boy was sitting off to the side, his hands dirty and his clothes splattered with blood. Mounds in the dirt next to the road showed the quick make-shift graves he had made. They were graves for his victims.
He turned briefly to look at them before pulling out the same knife he had used to kill them with. The once silver blade was now a sickening crimson, coated with blood from the all too successful assassination.
The boy let out a sigh and started off at a fast pace down the pathway back into the forest. As he walked along, staring at the beautiful flowers—blue with white stripes on the petals—he couldn't help but smile.
"This place is so peaceful." He murmured to himself, "For the mainland anyway." He let out a sigh and stopped for a moment, running his hands through his hair, "Yeah…especially since Gardoria…and then…the war that might happen." He squinted and stared up at the azure sky peaking through the leaves of the trees.
He then continued walking. Walking until he reached his other destination. He stopped at the mouth of a long, dark and not so nice smelling, tunnel, letting out one more sigh—and unintentionally flinching—before he walked inside. His footsteps echoed off the walls and it made him feel slightly sick.
'What am I doing here?' he asked himself, 'I could have just run the opposite direction…after that assassination…'
He shook his head and continued walking, 'No I couldn't do that! If I did then the parents to that boy…and his older sister…they would find out for sure. All because of…' he reached into the pocket of his baggy purple shirt, pulling out the crimson blade. In the dark the blade didn't seem to be red. It looked black.
'I…I could throw this away right now. I could turn back…I can do it. I know I'm fast enough. Master doesn't have to know.'
At that thought he quickly turned around and practically ran back out of the tunnel and into the morning light. He stared at the blade in disgust, gripping the handle tightly before throwing it as far as he could.
He watched as it flew through the air and then hit a tree a few feet off from where he was standing. He smirked and pushed aside his bangs, walking forward.
What he didn't expect, though, was for someone—someone with blond hair—to cry out and flail backwards from behind the tree he had hit.
His eyes widened and he quickly backed away into the darkness of the tunnel, waiting until the 'someone' got up.
They did eventually, and it even further surprised him that it was a girl. A girl with short cropped blond hair. She was dressed in a plain white dress with long sleeves and a blue sash tied around her middle. Her eyes were shut tightly as she fixed the lone red ribbon in her hair
'A…a Radiant?' the boy asked himself quietly, waiting for the girl to open her eyes. When she did he nearly gasped out in surprise. Her eyes…were red, such a deep shade of red that they matched the blood that was on his blade…which was currently stuck in the tree.
She didn't seem fazed when she saw the knife. She just squinted and shook her head, taking a step back. She was about to turn and leave, but, just like that, she tripped again.
"Oww…stupid shoes…" the girl muttered, rubbing what looked to be like a swollen ankle.
'Well it figures she'd be hurt, she's wearing sandals after all. Those aren't good shoes to be running in.' the raven thought to himself, trying to suppress a smirk. But he was also suppressing the sudden urge to step out into the light and help the girl up.
'It…couldn't hurt could it?' he asked himself, but the reasonable part of his brain had something to say to that; 'Of course it would be a bad idea! Not only would your Master be angry with you, but it even further delays your…attempts…at an escape.'
The boy let out a soft sigh, knowing full well that the voice of reason in his mind was just that—reason. It was never wrong, in the few times that it decided to help out…but…
He stepped out into the sunlight, walking over to the girl who was now struggling to get up, "Are you okay?" he asked when he reached her. This made her jump and turn quickly around to face him. The boy put up his hands, "I'm not going to hurt you."
"You tried to throw a knife at me."
Well…he certainly wasn't expecting her to say that, but; "I was not. I didn't know you were there."
"But you're a ninja."
'Okay…it wasn't a good idea to speak to her.'
"Hah I'm right!"
The boy squinted down at her, "So you accuse me of being a ninja and just because I don't speak you think you're right?"
The girl flinched, "Well I am right. I mean, What normal Orerines would walk around in clothes like those?" she asked, waving her hand at the clothes the boy was wearing, "I mean, you look like a clown."
That made the raven haired boy even more annoyed, "Did I ask you to criticize what I wear? I happen to like this outfit, it's both water proof, and it's comfortable to move around in."
"Which proves you're even more a ninja."
The boy felt his eye twitch, "You're really annoying."
The girl growled…literally growled at him, her blood red gaze turning from the same annoyed look he was sure he had on his face, to one of hate.
"And you growl like a dog."
In a split second the girl was up, and her hand was moving forward, clearly intent on connecting with his face in a painful slap.
But of course, the boy didn't want to be slapped, so he just stepped aside. This caused the girl to lose her balance and fall forward on the ground.
"You…" she whispered as she sat up, rubbing her nose, "could've at least caught me."
"Why would I catch a dog."
"I'm not a DOG!"
"But dogs growl…and you just growled. That makes you a dog."
"Grr…"
"See?" the boy stated, crossing his arms over his chest, "Or would you like to be called a monster instead?"
Now the girls hands were balled up in fists, "Just who do you think you are to call me a dog or a monster? You're a NINJA! You…you kill people for a living!"
The boy sighed, "Who do I think I am? Well, my name's Jay, and as for killing…so what?" he could help but let his voice shake as he said the last part of that sentence.
"I never asked for your name back! Ninja boy!" the blond snapped back, still glaring hatefully at him, "But since it's only polite, my name's Ruby."
Jay cocked an eyebrow, "Named after your eye color?"
"yes." The girl mumbled, closing her eyes as all the anger she once had drained out of her, "And I hate my eye color."
"Not my fault."
"I never said it wa—ahh!"
Jay quickly opened his eyes and turned around to see what the girl had been pointing at.
To his astonishment, and utter horror, he saw that in the shadows of the cave…was none other than…
His master. His master who had disgustingly long pale brown hair—which he kept coiled around his neck like a snake—pale skin and vibrant blue eyes. Just him being there made Jay flinch.
But he also had another man with him. A man who was much taller—and yet definitely younger than himself.
"Ah Jay, this is where you were hiding? So close to home, and yet never showing up, neh? How cute." Jay's Master asked, stepping towards him with a sickeningly wide smirk on his face.
In a split second Jay found himself pulled roughly into a hug, a hug he didn't want.
"M-Master?"
"You've been gone for nearly an hour, Jay, I was getting worried." His Master stated, running a finger down the boy's back—causing him to shiver in disgust.
"I'm sorry…Master."
"Apology accepted." His Master stated briskly before letting go of him and looking at Ruby, "And who might you be?"
Jay flinched as he felt his Master move past him towards the hurt blond. Whatever happened he knew it wasn't going to be good.
"What's your name child?" his Master asked again and finally the girl spoke:
"R-Ruby…"
"I see, Ruby eh? Hmm, you have such beautiful eyes."
Jay turned to watch as his Master stroked the girls face and examined her eyes. He could tell that, despite her attempts to hide it, Ruby was scared.
"How old are you?"
"T-Twelve…" Ruby answered back feebly, shying away from the man's touch. She looked as if she was about to throw up.
"I see. Jay, who is she?"
Jay snapped to attention, "I don't know, Master. I-I…I think she followed me here."
"Hmm…"
"Master Solon."
Jay nearly jumped as the other, younger, man stepped up behind him. He turned to look at the older man, and almost gasped.
This man looked to be in his twenties, maybe early thirties, and was about 6'3—from what Jay could tell first off. His hair was purple and finely cropped, and his eyes were a steel grey.
This man was—
"Ah, Vaclav what is it?" Solon asked, annoyance clear in his voice, "Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Yes Master…but I am busy as well."
Solon glared at the younger man before standing up, sighing in defeat, "Fine, fine, Valcav. But do not forget your place here." He looked back down at the girl, "Why don't you come with us? And Jay?"
Jay nodded his head, "Yes Master…I-I'll look after her."
Vaclav raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing as he allowed Solon to take the lead into the dark tunnel. Once they disappeared into the darkness, Jay turned to face Ruby. He sighed and bent down, holding out his hand, "Come on, we'd better catch up to them."
"Why do I have to go?"
"Because he saw you."
"What does that have to—"
Jay's eyes narrowed, "Don't complain. Now come with me. You're lucky he didn't notice you're a Radiant."
The girl's eyes widened, "Wh-what…? You noticed."
Jay shook his head, "Of course I did."
"But," Ruby looked down at her feet, "My eyes are red."
The raven-haired boy shook his head, "It doesn't matter. What you're wearing, and the fact that the only place close to here is a Radiant village tells me that you are one. Now let's get going. I'll help you walk."
Ruby scowled but said nothing as Jay slung one of her arms around his neck, placing one of his own arms around her waist before helping her up.
A few minutes later and the two had finally made it through the long dark tunnel and out into the bright sunlight once more.
But this time, instead of standing in front of a forest, they were standing in front of a building. A building made of stone with steel plated doors and that was, quite literally, built into the side of the mountain.
"Here we are. They're probably already inside—let's go." Jay muttered, shifting his weight a bit before pushing on the steel door with his shoulder. Once inside, with the door firmly shut and locked, it was Ruby's turn to gasp.
"This…is the inside of a Ninja Base?" she whispered in awe, looking around with large eyes.
"Not a Ninja Base. Master has another—this is where we live."
"You and your Master? But why do you…live separate from the other ninja's?" Ruby asked, turning to look at Jay, who was in the process of tacking off his shoes.
He just shook his head, "You'll figure out soon enough." He took in a deep breath before stooping down and helping the Radiant girl to her feet again, "Now let's go. It isn't too much farther from here."
"What isn't too much farther?"
"Where Master and…and Vaclav are."
"Oh." She whispered, "Um…o-okay. They won't hurt me will they?"
Jay shook his head, "I doubt it."
Ruby sighed in relief.
"Then again that's a very small doubt. Master doesn't normally need a reason to hurt anyone anymore…sadly…" he looked down briefly, his eyes filling with foreign sadness, before he quickly recovered and began walking.
Sure enough, only two minutes later they reached a beautifully decorated—and in Ruby's opinion much too large—room. It was a study of sorts, as books lined the walls and there were many bookcases scattered about the room. At the end—through the somewhat maze that the bookshelves seemed to make—of the large room there was a large desk. Sitting at this desk, in the leather chair, was Solon. He had his elbows resting on the desk and his chin resting on his hands.
"Ah, Jay, Ruby, come in, come in." The older man waved his hand towards a nearby chair, Jay moved towards it and quickly sat Ruby in it before turning back to face his Master and Vaclav—who was standing right next to him.
"So you're the Jay I've heard so much about?" Vaclav stated, an almost evil smirk playing across his lips, "I've heard a lot about you."
Jay flinched at this, 'I know what he's going to say now. Everyone who hires me…everyone…says it.'
"But I'm surprised such a young child could do so much."
"Now, now, Vaclav," Solon scolded, "Jay is perfectly capable of handling any situation."
Vaclav shook his head, "I know that, Master, I would never doubt your word. But I am…hesitant to give a—"
"Eleven year old."
"Eleven year old…" Vaclav coughed, looking slightly shocked, before he quickly recovered, "this mission. I want many people killed."
Solon smirked, "Oh don't worry about that. You don't mind killing people do you Jay?"
Jay mutely nodded his head, letting his bangs fall over his eyes, "No Master…I don't mind. It is my job after all."
"Yes, yes it is." Solon grinned, "And to make sure you do complete this mission…Jay come here."
Jay flinched at the coldness in his Master's voice, but there was also a hint of…of that in there. That sickeningly sweet tone that made Jay want to throw up. When he chanced a look at both Vaclav and Ruby, he saw that they both seemed to hear that tone of voice.
Vaclav looked disgusted for a moment, but then the look in his eyes turned to a kind of knowing-ness that made Jay's stomach drop even more.
Ruby just looked plain disgusted, but she hid it well.
Once Jay had reached Solon, standing next to him, he asked hesitantly, "Yes Master?"
Solon smirked and turned his chair so that he was facing Jay. He leaned in towards the boy so that their noses were almost touching, "If you do not, for any reason, complete this mission then I will take you to that special room." His smirk widened as a look of fear flickered in Jay's eyes, "You wouldn't want that now would you?"
Jay wanted to shake his head, to tell him yes he would have hated it. But the consequences for doing that, he knew, were far worse than just accepting it. So he did nothing but murmur a quiet, "Yes Master." Before waiting to be dismissed.
But Solon didn't dismiss him, instead he turned to Vaclav, "I would like you to take Ruby here to one of the guest rooms. It seems she'll be staying here a while. Besides, there's something else I wish to speak to Jay about."
Vaclav nodded his head and walked over to Ruby, picking her up gently before carrying her out of the room—not a word leaving his mouth.
Shortly after the sound of the door being closed could be heard Solon gripped Jay's wrist, "Or maybe I should just go with you to that special room now?"
Jay gulped audibly, and almost…almost shook his head. But he kept still, not saying a word.
This just made Solon laugh, "You're so obedient, my pet." He ran the fingers of his free hand through Jay's raven hair, gently untying the two ribbon-like clasps that held his hair in place off to the side of his face, "My Jay…" his voice was now a whisper as he stood up, dragging Jay forcefully over to one side of the room—to one of the many bookcases.
He picked up a lone book, a book that had some strange writing on the cover, and opened it. Almost automatically the bookshelf slid aside, revealing a door of sorts. Solon quickly kicked the said door, causing it to open, before pushing Jay inside.
Meanwhile Ruby was being forced into a room down the hall from the study. She struggled a bit, but not much. She knew she couldn't win. And when she had heard a scream—a scream that she knew had to be Jay's even though she had never heard him scream before—she had stopped altogether along with Vaclav.
The screaming continued on before a sickening 'clunk' rang out.
Vaclav slowly peered out the door, towards the study, muttering, "Maybe this room is too close." He turned to face Ruby, "Let's go."
Ruby felt herself being lifted once more into the tall, slightly muscled, man's arms and sighed as she was carried off down the hall. The only thing she could feel then was pain.
And she hoped Jay—the Ninja boy she had only just met—was okay.
But somehow she doubted it.
And Vaclav—judging from the look on his face—did too.
And here it is, the end of Part 1 of Jay's Past. I guess it's a good thing I'm doing this, because I know I don't really get around to having Jay and Solon interact in Hidden Past (and in my other fanfic Nightmare) until much later.
Well, I guess that's it until the next chapter—so please, tell me what you think by leaving a review! CC is welcome, but please, no flames.