Winter had arrived at Sundown village, and all was covered in snow. All the little children from the village were playing out side and men were going in to the wood’s to get more fire wood for they’re huts. A rush of cold past Alexia and woke her up, she yawned while stretching her arms in the air and then crawling out of bed to put on her samurai clothing. She combed her hair in to a high pony tail and disappeared out her door in to the corridors leading to the court yard and the kitchen. She stopped to see the white flower that was growing near the entrance of the kitchen. Alexia turned around when some one taped her in the back and saw one of the many maids there at the Otosanwa. The plum old woman was giving Alexia a big warm smile_ “How are ye, dear?” she said now engulfing Alexia in a deep bear hug. “Im fine Mrs. Merry”, said Alexia in between gasps for some air. The plum old woman released Alexia and asked her signaling outside, “Ye know what day it is today, dear child?” Alexia tilted her head and looked to the side and noticed that it was snowing, she gave a big gasp and ran to the court yard and thru her self in the snow. She lade there for a while till she saw Eji her uncle and master coming up the stairs of the garden from below caring a basket full of petals from the cherry blossom tree , she quickly got up and went running to get her sword. She got it and hid behind one of the bushes now filled with snow and waited until Eji was close enough and then.... “Iya!” screamed Alexia jumping out from the bush and attacking Eji_ but Eji was to quick for her and had leaped to the side leaving her down cast on the floor while some of the petals flickered down in the air, she turned around and kicked Eji in the leg letting him fall down, the basket that contained the cherry blossom petals flew out of his hands and all fell gracefully to the ground. Alexia stood up quickly and took her sword out from the ground. While she did this Eji rolled over, grabbed the basket and thru it at Alexia,  Alexia cut it in half and ran to where Eji was but Eji disappeared from sight and Alexia was left there staring at all sides to see if she could find him. After a few minutes Alexia got hit in the back and fell to the ground, she rolled over only to see Eji laughing in front of her doing his little victory dance. There Alexia took the chance to kick the middle aged man and let him fall to the ground with an audible thud, she then took her sword and pointed the sharp side straight to his throat, making just a  little  amount of pressure towards it. Alexia extended her hand to Eji removing the sword out his thin neck, he quickly got up while making an effort of smiling in between gasps for air. “So how am I doing so far uncle Eji?”, asked Alexia placing her sword in her slit. “Very good, my dear child. Better than I would ever had expected from you.” Eji said sitting in the little mural next to Alexia, his breath coming back to normal. “Arigatou!!” said Alexia in a very happy tone. “Im glad for you’re improve__ Eji’s thought disappeared in to the gloom of far away screams from 3 boy’s that were running towards them. One of the boy’s was tall and well in strength, with long dark blue hair, clad in a red and black with numerous belts cast on the side of his right leg. The other boy was short compared to the other boy, he had black spiky hair and had a white T-shirt with some short jeans. The last boy was a little higher than the spiky haired kid, he had tanned skin with red up to ear length hair with bright green eyes, he was wearing dark green pants with a white shirt. All three were running to where Eji and Alexia were sitting. Both Eji and Alexia stood up and stared at the boys that were now falling to the ground panting real hard. “Master Eji...the village is being attacked!, the tall boy gasped holding his chest. “By...a ...demon” the green eyed boy said to him. “Please....help....”, said the other trying to get up but Alexia sat him back down again. Eji frowned and looked at Alexia, she frowned as well and stood next to Eji again. “ Ok, understood” said Eji now walking slowly to the exit. Alexia looked at the boys and at Master Eji now reaching the exit, she ran to him living the boys alone. “What are you doing?” asked Eji at Alexia now beside him, She stared at him blankly. “Im coming with you” she said to him walking faster dew to the increased pace in Eji’s walking. “No you’re not ready for such a thing” he said not even bothering to look her way. “But” she said disappointment in her voice. “You’d best stay here and take care of them, Alexia” he said now stopping. “But I can help”, said Alexia stopping a two steps down, from were Eji stood. “It’s too dangerous Alexia. Stay here and give them some water, understood?” he asked sternly. “But... understood”, Alexia sighed, lowered her head and leaned near a tree, watching Eji walk down the steeps of the Otosanwa. After a while she went back to the boys who were taking a little rest after all the running they had made.  “Hey weren’t you supposed to bring us some water?” asked  the boy with spiky hair to Alexia. “Sure I’ll get you water”, she sighed and went to look for water in the well.


<half an hour later>

“Master is taking too long, I’m worried”, said Alexia out loud suddenly losing her self in thought. “He’s probably fine”, said Cox the spiky haired boy, turning his head to look at her. “Yeah, probably eating while we starve” said Grima the raid haired boy, shrugging. “I don’t know, he wouldn’t do something like that. I’ll go check it out” said Alexia taking her sword and putting it back on her slit. “But he told you to stay here”, Cox said now getting up and getting in front of her. “I don’t care! What if something happened to him?” screamed Alexia at the spiky hair boy and pushed him aside. “Your right Alexia, Im going with you”, saidYnos the blue haired boy, while smiling at her. “You are!” Cox and Alexia exclaimed in shock  at the same time. “Yes. I am”, he smiled while extending his had to caress Alexia’s cheek. Alexia clears her throat and look to the side. “Well, get a sword you guys might need it” she said starting to go down the stairs. “Ok, might as well help out too”, said Cox and Grima at the same time. “Ok, fine. Lets go”, said Alexia turning around to look at them.

<At the village>