This is my first fic ever so please be gentle. ^_^
DISCLAIMER: The Sailor Senshi, Queen Serenity, Luna, Artemis, Silver
Millennium and the rest of the Sailor Moon cast, items, and all other things
that is Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, DIC, and Kodansha. Ryu
Haikai belongs to only three people, Me, myself, and I. If you wish to use
him (I don't know why you WOULD but who knows) please ask. I'm a generous
person and will normally say yes but may say no to certain situations. ^_^
C&C is appreciated. Please send to cyanne@home.com. Flames will be saved
till winter time where I will use it to feed my fire to warm my chilled
bones. Either that or I'll just use them to create a massive bonfire to
burn the many many many victims that I choose for my daily sacrifices.
In the Eyes of the Shadow
Chapter 1
The lone figure shifted silently in the shadows, watching, waiting.
Soldiers marched passed, completely unaware of the lurker in the shadows.
Chuckling silently, the figure ran noiselessly down the hall, leaving the
soldiers completely oblivious that there was an intruder inside the castle
walls.
Upon nearing the massive double door, the thief <or Adventurer/Treasure
Hunter, he preferred to be called> came to an abrupt stop. (Shit!) he
thought, as he could see that the door was heavily guarded. He had slipped
past ten times the number of guards this particular door had but his
instinct told him that these guards were different and in his profession, he
trusted his instinct more then anything or anyone in the world.
(How am I going to get past those guards? Slipping past them in my
usual fashion isn't going to work, not this time and there's no way for me
to be able to fight them all.) Leaning against the wall, he looked about
his surroundings, hoping to find something that might be of use to him. The
sounds of footsteps rang in the hall and he shrank back deeper into the
shadows as the sounds grew closer. Coming from down the hall was a man
dressed in armor similar to ones the guards were wearing but more ornate,
clearly showing that he was of a higher rank then the other guards. The
officer stopped before the guards and seemed to be saying something. The
lurker hiding in the shadows, glided closer to hear what they were saying.
"..-quested that you report immediately to the throne room."
"She asked that?"
The officer nodded and with a command from the guard that was talking
to the officer, the soldiers formed a rank and file and marched off down the
hall. (Here's my chance!!), the young 'adventurer' thought and so he waited
until all the guards were out of sight before slipping forward towards the
massive double doors. Smiling, he reached up to push open the doors, but to
his surprise the doors opened at the slightest touch.
Looking around first, he entered the room. His eyes grew wide as he
took in the splendor of the room. The walls were made from a marble/crystal
hybrid, the light dancing along it while all the colors of the rainbow were
reflected. The ceiling was high vaulted, about 20 feet above the floor.
Looking around, he realized that in such a large, beautiful room there was
nothing here, nothing except for a pedestal in the middle of the room.
Walking forward, his footsteps echoing in the large room, he approached the
pedestal. Resting on a red satin cushion, on top of the pedestal, was a
crystal. It was small, no bigger then his thumb, the 'adventurer' mused.
Circular in shape, the crystal shone with a light that seemed impossible for
it to generate all by itself but it did and from the looks of it, was the
only source of light in the room. What was particularly strange about the
crystal was the fact that instead of being transparent like most crystals
were, this crystal was silver in color.
(This must be the legendary Ginzuishou.) Reaching out, he grabbed the
silver crystal and placed it inside a black leather pouch that he had
brought specifically for this reason. Smiling proudly to himself, he turned
and ran out of the room as fast and silently as he could, but before he
could get to the door, he was struck by something from behind and his whole
world went black.
********************
Groaning loudly, the would be thief woke up slowly. Looking around, he
took in his surroundings and discovered that he was in a, what looked liked,
well furnished room, albeit a bit dim lighted. Feeling his face, he
discovered that he was no longer wearing his mask, "Shit.." Then he felt for
the pouch he had slipped the crystal into, and that to was missing.
"Strange.. Only my mask and the crystal are missing." As he contemplated
his next move, the door that was directly in front of him opened. His eyes
opened wide as he saw who entered. She was a tall stately woman, wearing a
long flowing white gown and silver hair that flowed down her back and were
tied in two long ponytails. (She's.. She's.) Immediately the young man got
to his knees, "You're majesty!"
The woman smiled slightly, "Stand. You are the one known as The Dragon'
s Shadow are you not? Tell me, what is your real name?"
"M.my. my real name your majesty?"
"Yes. Your real name."
"H. H.. Haikai Ryu, your majesty."
"Haikai Ryu."
Ryu nodded nervously, "Yes your majesty.. What are you going to do to
me?"
The woman smiled, "Nothing.. Yet. I will have someone bring you food
and drink shortly." With that she turned and left.
Queen Serenity shut the door behind her and sighed, "He's to young to be
the one but I have no choice..."
********************
"WHAT?!?! He's here?! THE Dragon's Shadow. One of the greatest thieves
in the universe is here, in one of OUR cells?!"
"Yes Artemis. Now calm down. He isn't going anywhere."
Artemis laughed and scratched the back of his head, "Sorry Luna, it's
just that this is perfect. What do you think Queen Serenity is going to do
with him?"
The young woman Artemis called Luna replied with a sigh, "I don't know.
All I know is that we are not allowed to tell anyone that he is here and
that we are holding him. In fact I believe only the three of us even know
he's being held here at all. Plus, her majesty has asked me to tell you
that the two of us are responsible for bringing him his meals."
"What? I wonder why she wants to keep him a secret.."
"I don't know Artemis but I think it's time for him to be served his
meals so go and get his food from the kitchen."
"What? Why me?"
"Because I said so. I'll take him his food tomorrow now Go!"
With that, Artemis headed off to the kitchen grumbling all the while.
********************
Ryu looked up as he heard the door open. Sapphire blue eyes meet
Silver ones. (Who is this?) Ryu pondered as he looked up to the tall man
standing in front of the open door. He had long silver hair that feel about
mid-back and was wearing a simple suit of silver cloth with a crescent moon
made from silver hanging around his neck by a thin leather strip. He was
moderately tall, (Not as tall as I am though) Ryu thought with pride, and
the frame of his body was lean and lanky and he walked with the grace of a
cat.. His face was long and angular, with big silver eyes that shone with a
merry twinkle. In his hands was a simple wooden tray that contained a loaf
of fresh bread, a wedge of properly aged cheese and a pitcher of cool water.
Artemis grinned as he handed the tray to Ryu, "Hello. I am Artemis and
you are?"
Ryu smiled back as he took the tray gratefully, "Haikai Ryu sir."
Artemis nodded and leaned against the wall, his arms folded carefully
across his chest, eyeing the young man who was currently busy slicing up the
cheese wedge and putting them into the pieces of bread, making some sort of
sandwich. He had blue-black hair that was cut to just below his ears, and
deep blue eyes the color of sapphires. His face looked like it was hewn out
of stone, long and rugged, the sharp features were softened by the easy
smile he was currently wearing. Ryu was wearing a form fitting black
doublet and matching pants that outlined his lean and muscular physique.
Artemis sensed a very easy and relaxed aura around Ryu but also, underneath
this aura, he sensed something darker, more secretive. (Nah. it must be my
imagination) Artemis thought.
"How old are you Ryu?"
Ryu looked up at Artemis and after washing down his meal with a long
draught for water from the pitcher he smiled, "20 years old sir."
A look of surprise flashed on Artemis's face only briefly before he
quickly covered it up, (Only 20?!)
A knowing smile danced on Ryu's lips, "A surprise to discover the
Dragon's Shadow is only 20?"
Artemis looked at him carefully, "Not really. Are you done with your
meal yet?"
"Huh? Oh yeah.."
Artemis nodded and took the tray, now empty of it's pervious contents,
"I'll be leaving now." With that, he turned and walked out the door.
********************
Ryu leaned against the wall, his legs carefully folded underneath him,
as he contemplated his situation. Here he was, locked away in a cell
located gods know where, no tools, no weapons and no means of escape. The
cell wasn't so bad, there was a comfortable bed and a toilet. Certainly a
lot nicer then some of the rooms he's slept in. Speaking of rooms, he was
suddenly reminded that all his things were still back at that one inn he
stayed at the night before his failed attempt to take the Ginzuishou.
"Damn.. I could really use my flute or something right now."
Sighing, he laid down on the bed and closed his eyes, it was going to
be a long night.