Caltan

The sound of chains grinding against the ground rang in my ears, the smell of death and sweat is everywhere, and the look on the guards faces show both hatred for those of us who fight and amusement when we die before them. I can feel the aguish, and the need to survive all at the same time. My wrists hurt from the shackles that have been slowly etching their metalic print into my skin, leaving scars that will never go away. My cloak sways from side to side as we pass each corridor one more narrow then the last. The guards behind me whisper to each other as if beckoning me to silence them for their ignorance is not the bliss I seek. The smell of death creeps closer and closer as we wind down another set of stairs. The stench is orverwelming. We've arrived, hundreds of cages lined next to one another. Each one with 12 or more people in them, by my count there is at least 1200 here give or take a few. I'm shoved into one of last cages in the 5th row, 6 people i will be bunking with, 6 people i will have to kill to survive. All my life I have been trained to take out my enemy with the most silent of ease. Never let them see it coming. I was born in the land of the Black Rose Continent in the 70th year of his highness King Trent Vosmulin, but my family was not under his reign. My family, the Kyosuke family, was above the king. We were ninja for hire, even the king hired us sometimes for his own personal gain. I was hired to come to Caltan undercover and shut it down from the inside, my father and I fought a lot about this mission, he says I am not ready for a mission this big, but I will prove him wrong. 3 days have passed since I arrived here, 3 days of constant groaning and screams of pain and sorrow. I can hear the guards walking this way with their heavy armor clamping down against the ground while their keys slap against their sides, jingling with every hit. As the sound gains to be louder, I wonder, which cage are they going to open, who is going to be forced to fight this time. There they were. Two guards both high in stature. Both buffed out like they lived in the training hall all year. The sound of their boots is now so loud it pierces your ears. They stopped, there they stood key out ready to take their next victim, they motion for everyone to move aside, they entered looking us over one by one. Who would last longer in the ring, who would put up more of a fight, which person should they choose to fight for their life. They stopped before me leaned in close, grasped my cloak and shoved me toward the door. The smile this guard had upon his face had me fueled with anger. He knew I would put up more of a fight then the children or the elders that they have locked away. How can someone in such heavy armor walk so fast, I can barely keep up with his pace. He brought me before a man clothed in satin, which means he is nobility, they forced me to my knees with my head bowed. "My name is sano sagita, and from this day forward you fight for me till the day you die or until I release you." This man dressed in blue and white satin, though his looks are quite frail, he is extremely arrogant, and if him basically telling me I'm his slave wasn't arrogant enough he had the gall to put a collar around my neck. He leaned in close as he put the collar on me and said.... "Just in case you get lost." The hatred I felt for this man goes beyond saying. He is a spoiled pompous rich brat, even if the tips of his hair curls in just the right way, and his deep masculine voice sends shivers down my spine, and the smell of his musk is both intoxicating and suffocating at the same time. Its hard to keep my head straight around him. I was put in a basic metal box surrounded by the screams and crys of women separated from their families, from their husbands and their kids. There is one window illuminating the cell. The sunlight feels good on my skin. I decided to sit on the small bench, that was chained to the wall, in a criss cross position. It seemed to be the the only comfortable way to relax before I fight, I can hear the cheering from the crowd's that plauge the fight ring. A few hours have passed, the cheering has died down, its almost dark out now and the comfort and warmth from the sun has dissipated, its now colder almost too cold for mid june but none the less it still wont stop people from flooding the stands. I jolt awake as the sound of guards walking down the hall reaches my ears and causes my heart to beat out of my chest. They took their sweet time to walk up to and unlock my door. I stood there waiting for them to connect my shackels, but they didn't, the had me walk in the middle. I was surrounded by 5 gurads it was as if they were shielding me from being seen. It was time, the fighters were getting ready. 8 people fighting tonight, including myself, looks like our rivals will be chosen at random. The bell rang and with it two cage doors open leading into the arena with a mid sized selection of weapons at the end of the tunnel leading to the arena. A skinny man with arms like twigs, a waist as small as my head, and dirt brown hair down to his shoulders. He entered from the north eastern part of the arena. Slow at first then began picking up speed. He got to the weapons and chose the bigest one he could find, a katana with a dual sided blade. Good choice for someone so tall, he could reach his opponent easily but it also has a few disadvantages. The south weastern part of the arena's cage doors opened, a man walked out. This man is built like a mountain, he's not only tall but his muscles are bigger then the gaurdsman's head. The tattoos on his shoulder spreading to his neck and back indicate that he is a Crisantrian. A race so strong both physically and mentally that they have been revered as death bringers on the battlefield. It has been said that they can decapitate a man with their bare hands. I guess I finally get to see if that's true or if it is just a rumor. The fight started with the long haired man rushing foolishly toward the crisantrian and sure enough one was all ot took to make the long haired man fly 20 feet across the arena and into the pit surrounding the fighting area. You could hear his screams of terror as the winner was being congratulated by the host who has been announcing the entire fight. Sad to see that even the announcer thought he was an i***t. My cage door opened I hurried to the weapons and grabed a smaller hand held sword attached to a chain. I felt the blade and chain in my hands and knew I'd have to put my very soul on the line to win this fight! I entered the areana my cloak swayed as I walked out confronted by that mountain of a man. My sword and chain beging for his blood to be spilt. I walked slowly around him trying to find a weakness, any weakness. He watched me like a hawk, I rushed him avoiding his right leg that is as big as my head if not bigger, my chain wrapped around his left calf, I wanted to weigh him down, to immobilize him. My chain that is now wraped around both my right hand and his left leg I pulled as hard as I could he fell with a massive thud. I thought he would have given more of a fight as I layed my sword next to his neck. His blood trickled into the gravel as my blade made its way into his mussel. It was as if he had given up or so I thought, I was sent flying right off the edge my fingers bleeding as I dug them into the side of the areana and climb my way back up. He waved my weapon in the air like a trophy as the crowd cheered. I re-entered the areana as he turned and his gaze met mine. My face swelled from where he hit me, my cloak torn, more shredded then my fingers. I've had it. This time I will NOT underestimate him. I rushed toward him he didnt see it coming as my left leg landed into his face sending him backward about 10 feet it wasnt enough but it was something. He wiped blood from his lip, I rushed him again, bounced off his arms as he blocked my attack, as soon as I landed on the ground I dug my feet into the gravel and launched at him again and again and again till finally I landed another hit on him. This time he was close enough to the edge that if I hit him one more time I'd win. But do I have enough energy, enough strength to do that? In order to live another day I'd have to. I rushed him one last time, as I zig zagged to him getting closer and closer, he on one knee holding his side, he is weaker now then what he was at the beginning of this fight. My fist landed hard against his jaw and even though I could feel each bone in my hand shatter it didn't stop me from sending him off the edge and into the blackness of the pit. The crowd silent for just one moment before breaking into a roar of cheers. A medical team entered the arena and forced me onto a stretcher to be taken to get bandaged. Sano entered the room, his soft curly black hair bouncing with every step, it took everything I had not to pass out in front of him. "Good job on the fight, I knew I picked the right horse." His arrogance is almost enjoyable. "Next time though maybe you should think about not getting thrown out of the ring. I've convinced the ref to not stop the match, I've also convinced our wonderful host to postpone your next fight till you are healed up. Your welcome." I'd chuckle if it wasn't for the three broken ribs that was given to me by a man who thought he could win by throwing me like a rag doll. Sano leaned in close his breath covering my neck and ear, his scent overpowering my nose, my lungs. As much as I hate to admit this, I wish we had met under different circumstances. "You are very reckless," His chest almost laying against my shoulder his hands on both sides of me, his eyes watching my every move, my every breath. "I know why you didn't want to lose, it's because you thought I'd abandon my cute little pet if you had lost. But there is no need to worry, I wouldn't leave you to die. After all if I did my plans for you wouldn't become a reality." I cracked a smile, its funny how he and I thought of the same thing, he backed away lifted my chin, slowly leaned back in less then 10 cm away from my lips. My heart quickened my breath more erratic as his forehead touched mine and a smile spread across his face. "Good to know your not running a fever, and even better to know that someone as brash as you can blush when confronted with someone as handsome as myself." His emerald green eyes staring back at me, enveloping me, as if I was drowning in a sea made of his soul. I have to remind myself not to be fooled by his good looks, everything that has happened is for the mission. I cant be falling for a guy I don't even know, I have to focus. He cracked a smile as he backed away, part of me wondering if this joke was enough for him or if there was more to come. The silence was broken by a nurse maiden who proceeded to prep me for transport to the nearest hospital.