Title: Shattered-
Episode 1: "A New Beginning"
Author: Makoto Shizaki
Summary: Life has only shown Matesuri misery and torment. Then one day
a tall, strange, young man walks into her life and everything
changes...for better or for worse.

Shattered- Episode 1: "A New Beginning" By Matoko Shizaki

© Matoko Shizaki, 2002

Author's notes: This is a cool original that started out as a manga
and worked its way up. Thanks to the author of Science Page45 for
showing me the site that I've added this to.

Introduction: "My name is Matesuri Abe. I'm 14 years old and in 8th
grade but I'm anything but normal. When I was 3 I was found in the
streets abandoned and sores and blisters caused by the sun covered my
body. After being in an intensive care unit for 2 years, I was
released and moved into the Children's Home in Tokyo. That's where I
am now. I can go back and I can't go forward. I have no future... But
I have a feeling this will all change..."

The alarm clock next to Matesuri's mat on the floor went off telling
her it was 7:00 AM and time to start another busy school day. The teen
rolled over smacking the clock face down and turning off the alarm.
Matesuri yawned and threw off her covers revealing the large t-shirt
and shorts she had fallen asleep in. The Children's Home was buzzing
with noise and Matesuri checked her wristwatch to find out why. "Oh my
god! It's already 7:00! I'm going to be late for school!" She
scrambled up knocking over a stack of mangas and changed into her
school uniform making sure that she packed her baseball shirt and
jeans to change into later.

The kitchen was crowded with the younger children, the ones in Jr.
High and Elementary school when Matesuri burst in. She stole a piece
of toast from a passing tray and darted out the door, her skirt flying
behind her and her bag whipping in the wind.

Pushing her way through the crowd, Matesuri finally caught up with her
best friend, Sasaki Kome. Sasaki tugged at her skirt and grunted a
greeting before muttering, "Damn, I hate wearing skirts!" Matesuri
nodded. "I do too. Can't do much about it though." Sasaki shifted her
bag. "It's a little embarrassing to have the greatest gang in the city
wearing girly clothes like this." Matesuri nodded and the two
continued on through the crowd.

A figure leaned against the pole on top of Jahashi High. He watched as
Matesuri and Sasaki raced into the building hearing the bell. Tapping
his staff on the roof he smiled. "So that's her. One of the chosen
ones." The figure held a pictured in front of his face, the smiling
visage of Matesuri Abe glaring back at him. The dark, shadowed figure
stroked the cheek of the picture with a satisfying smile as if he was
savoring its very existence. He stopped and shoved the picture back
into his jeans pocket. "No, it can't be. I gave up on those lowly
human emotions years ago." With a graceful leap, the stranger soared
off the edge of the building and into the bushes below.

Steam flowed from the open door of the shower in the locker room and
Matesuri stepped out of the veil still buttoning her baseball shirt.
She had changed into her boys' tight jeans and baseball shirt just in
time for the end of school. With the short sleeves, her two barbed
wire tattoos on her arms were showing and her chain wallet dangled at
her side. Sasaki followed her out the gym's back door and into the
soccer field. "What are you doing now Abe?" Sasaki asked throwing her
black sweatshirt over her shoulder so it dangled down her back.
Matesuri turned back. "I'm just going to walk over to the arcade
downtown. You want to come?" Sasaki headed down the sidewalk going the
opposite of Matesuri. "Nah, I'm going home. I'll catch up with ya
later." "Ok." Matesuri said waving a short goodbye. Sasaki took no
notice and continued to stroll along the avenue taking in the sights.

The fishing part of town wash alive with commotion as the fishing
boats came in for the day hauling in their catches with them. The
fishermen yelled things out to each other, waving the nets above their
heads to knock the fish out. Skates tumbled into the containers and
were sealed away for the next day as bait. Matesuri watched closely
while continuing on her way. Looming in the distance was the abandoned
construction site of a skyscraper and beyond that, the arcade and
shops in the market. Matesuri jammed her hands into her pockets and
walked on with a smiled.

The construction site was gaunt and gloomy throwing a shiver up
Matesuri's back. A flash burst across Matesuri's eyes. Her intuition
told her to stay as far away as possible from the abandoned site.
"Well, I do have some spray painting to do." She bounced a black
metallic can of spray paint in her hand and ignored what her fears
were telling her. She leapt nimbly over the fence with the "No
trespassing" sign on it and landed in a mound of dirt. The dust flew
up in her face making her cough. Matesuri sputtered and gagged as she
came out of the smoke and studied the area. The iron structure was
rusting and hung high above the ground. A ladder led up to the tallest
beam overlooking the city. Equipment lay around giving the feeling
that no one had been there in years. Matesuri smiled. "That giant iron
dumpster over there is perfect."

Savoring the moment, Matesuri strutted to the spot and proudly studied
it finding that the other punks hadn't painted their symbol on it yet.
Matesuri blew the dust off her chosen spot and readied her can.
Quickly and gracefully, she painted her symbol over the orange, rusted
dumpster. "The club and barbed wire." She muttered stepping back to
look over her work. Finding satisfaction as a chef does with his
finest dish, Matesuri turned to leave but smacked into something ruff
and hard. "What the...?" Matesuri looked up slowly only to find her
self face to face with something... a man... or was it a monster? It
had purple skin and red, glowing eyes. Fangs hung out of its mouth and
saliva dripped down them. The trench coat over its body was ripped and
blew in the wind. "Ah! For so long I have craved the blood of a true
Warrior." Matesuri felt the hairs on her neck prickled and she walked
backwards to avoid the creature. "True Warrior? What? I don't know
what you're talking about!" More creatures emerged from the scraps of
metal in the site. They were even more gruesome, their features
varying from horns to crude bumps and wrinkles covering their faces.
"Blood..." The creatures moaned ignoring Matesuri's last comment.
Matesuri's eyes widened in horror as the creatures advanced on her
ever so slowly. Taking up a rod of iron, Matesuri stood ready to
defend herself. The first creature cackled and extended its claw from
the sleeve. Its nails were long and sharp, so much so that they shone
in the fading light. Matesuri whacked the beast holding her rod like a
baseball bat. In a cloud of rage, the creature slashed at her, tearing
her shirt and flesh right at her stomach. Matesuri yelped and hunched
over with her wound angrily. "You bastard! What is it you want?" She
cried trying to be brave and ignore the scary feeling that her
deserved fate was about to come. The beast smiled. "You've surrendered
to me already. The fear in your eyes says it. You know you're about to
die. Matesuri braced her self as the creature lashed out but she
didn't feel anything except the pain of her other wound.

She found her self in the arms of a tall, handsome man wearing a
trench coat with the front open and the sleeves rolled up. He had
biker gloves on and a mesh shirt. His jeans were ripped and
bloodstained him. Strapped to his back was a staff. His one eye was
blank and unblinking, clearly blind. He smiled at Matesuri and then
looked back at the creatures. "Damn you Katorasu! What business do you
have meddling in our affairs?" The leader hissed. The man name
Katorasu smiled. "I'm working for the EPA. You know that. It's my job
to protect the Warrior of the Shadows. I don't work for you demons
anymore." The demons hissed. "You rotten traitor. Kill him and the
girl!" They sprung forward but Katorasu was too fast for them. Before
they were within a foot of him he leapt up landing on the second
highest beam. He sat Matesuri down on her feet. "Are you okay?" He
asked, concerned. Matesuri looked up at him, her heart pounding.
"Yeah...but who are..." Katorasu silenced her. "I'll explain later.
Right now I need to get you out of here." Katorasu was sent to his
knees as a blade slashed across his back. The demon was back. "No one
betrays me and gets away with it you insolent fool!" Katorasu pulled
the staff from his back. "Shadow Runner, transform!" The back of the
staff sprouted a knob and a long blade broke away from the wooden
pole. Matesuri watched in amazement as the staff completed its
transformation into a scythe. Katorasu shot black spikes up from his
wrist that buried themselves into the beam leading to the top of the
structure. "Climb Matesuri! Get out of here!"

Matesuri stood frozen. A demon from came up from behind her and dealt
another blow to her back. Matesuri swayed and then blacked out while
Katorasu's yells echoed in her mind.

The moonlight shone into Matesuri's eyes as she woke up. Her eyes
would only open a crack but she looked around. She was in what looked
like a hospital room and Katorasu sat in the chair next to her bed
with his trench coat and shirt off. A plastic tube ran from in his arm
into Matesuri's arm carrying blood. "He's... giving me a transfusion!"
Matesuri thought in shock. "So, will she be alright?" Katorasu asked,
concern in his voice. The scientist looking woman by the door looked
over the test sheets on her clipboard. "She'll be fine. You've given
her enough blood already Kato." Katorasu pulled the tube from his arm
and then from Matesuri's. The scientist left and Katorasu and Matesuri
were left alone. "Katorasu? Is that your name?" Matesuri mumbled.
Katorasu looked up from changing the bandage across his chest. "Uh,
ya. So, you're awake." Matesuri frowned. "You've got a lot to explain.
First of all, who are you and what do you have to do with me? Oh, and
why were those things after me?!" Katorasu frowned nervously. "Well,
my name is Katorasu Rio. I'm your Guardian, the Guardian of the
Shadows. You are the Warrior of the Shadows, one of the eight special
girls who's deaths will cause the rising of hell. The demons need your
blood to conquer the world. My job is to keep you safe." Matesuri's
head swam and she lay back down. "Maybe I should go back to sleep."
Katorasu laughed and got up to leave the room. "Oh, Katorasu?"
Katorasu stopped. "Yes?" The two teens' faces came close to each other
so that Matesuri could feel Katorasu's sweet breath on her face.
"Thanks. For everything." Katorasu smiled. "It's no problem." Matesuri
then drifted off to sleep and Katorasu got up.

Katorasu sat on the roof in the moonlight. "I truly am in love. Could
it be?" He paused and laid a hand across the scar on his chest right
over his heart. "Maybe..."