It was a heavy, humid night. Nathan silently lay on the small bed Poi had arranged for him. The house was eerily quiet, apart from the faint ticking of the old clock on the wall. Creeping slowly out of bed and being careful not to wake Poi, he snuck out the front door, latching it quietly behind him. Once it was shut tight, he stepped silently into the surrounding forest, wearing only the pants he had been asleep in. His bare feet moved swiftly across the damp forest floor, his eyes occasionally glancing back, making sure he hadn’t woken Poi. After about fifty meters he heard the ghost from earlier.

“Hello Nathan Cross,” it muttered, the voice bouncing off the trees, condensing around him.

“Where are you?” Nathan asked back. Wondering whether it had been a good idea to come alone into the woods.

“Right in front of you,” a black mist swirled, forming into a person, concealed in a black cloak.

Nathan went to place his hand on his blades, only to realize that in his rush, he had left them behind.

“Forget something?” the figure asked curiously, drawing two familiar looking swords.

“Yami! Akarui! How did you get those? And who are you?” Nathan took a couple of steps back in shock, until his back was pressed against a tree.

“You of all people should recognize yourself!” the figure removed his hood, revealing Nathan’s own face staring back at him. The ghost took the black sword, plunging Yami into Nathan’s abdomen. It then leaned close to Nathan’s ear and whispered, “Let the evil consume you, it’s the only way to stay alive.”

Nathan screamed, bolting upright in his small bed. Cool beads of sweat dripped down his face and he breathed heavily, checking his abdomen for any signs of a wound.

“It was just a dream…” he thought to himself, relaxing slightly, “But it seemed so real…”

A faint yellow glow appeared through a doorway, and Poi slowly entered, carrying a flickering candle.

“Bad dream?” she asked, already knowing the answer. “You didn’t seem so unsettled when you got here. But I suppose this place has ways of doing that to people.”

“It was nothing, just a bad dream,” Nathan replied, not wanting to continue the conversation.

“Dreams are the thoughts of your soul, the only time they can communicate with you, is when you are in a deep sleep. What was your soul saying to you?” she sat on the bed next to him, looking intently into his eyes as she spoke.

Nathan looked back, trying to work out if the question was rhetorical or not. “I dunno,” he finally said with a shrug.

“You only don’t know because you are afraid what knowing might reveal. Now come, we will talk more in the morning, try not to talk to your soul anymore tonight,” she smiled, standing up, “Good night Nathan Cross.”

“Good night Poi,” Nathan replied, lying back down on the hard bed, shutting his eyes once more.

He tossed and turned in the small bed, trying to get to sleep. But his mind was awake now, and all he could think about was Poi’s words, resonating through his mind. You are afraid of what knowing might reveal…

Poi's quiet snores began to come from the other room.

She must be asleep... he thought to himself, I’m going to get some answers.

He picked up Yami and Akarui, making sure they were fastened securely to his belt. Carefully opening the door, then just as quietly shutting it behind him.

His bare feet lightly touched the damp ground of the forest, and he slowly made his way forward.

“I know you are here,” he said in a harsh whisper.

Silence greeted him in return.

“Where are you?” Nathan called out a bit louder this time.

Still nothing responded.

Nathan could feel that eyes were watching him from the darkness. He unsheathed Yami, using the swords power to move the shadows, allowing him to peer into the forest without the restriction of shadows. Creatures of the night scuttled and flew away as the light revealed them.

“You cannot hide forever,” he said in a low whisper.

“I don't need to hide,” the low voice appeared from behind him.

Nathan slowly turned to see the man from earlier, “I’m sick of this game, who are you?”

“You saw me in your dream didn't you?” the man replied.

“How do you know that?”

“I have been sent to watch out for you,” the man stared at him from under his large hood.

“Well I am sick of people watching out for me like I am some kind of child!” Nathan shot back.

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“That sword you hold has great evil in it,” the man said pointing to Akarui.

“Your words would hold more standing if you showed me your face,” Nathan said, not believing what the man said.

“You must not let the evil in that sword consume you, or you will surely die. But if you give it to me, I can destroy it for you,” he raised a hand out, motioning for Nathan to give it to him.

Let the evil consume you, it is the only way to stay alive. Nathan’s mind flashed back to his dream. Why is it opposite? He thought, The dream and reality don't make sense.

“Don't give him the sword Nathan,” Poi's stated from behind him.

“Stay out of this Poi Hyung. You have no idea what that sword is capable of,” the man said, annoyance rising in his voice at Poi's appearance.

“Balthazar, why don't you crawl back into the hole you came from? I thought they may have sent you, but now I am certain,” she shot back.

Balthazar let out a sinister laugh, “I will get what I came for Sister of Cho. Your death will just be a sweet addition to that goal.”

A large whip unrolled from his hand, a bright orange glow in amongst the flakes of black, giving it the appearance of a flaming tiger, “At last I will be able to get out of this damn forest. Watching you has been the worst job I have had. I was told before coming that you were dangerous… I have never been so bored. But then Nathan Cross showed up and things became far more interesting,” his voice went dark and sinister.

“Don’t let that whip touch you,” Poi instructed Nathan, “It was created from the flames of hell.”

“What else do you know about me?” Balthazar asked with a curious smile.

“I know you are one of only three level five hunters. And that the only way we will leave here alive is if we defeat you. But you pride yourself on being thorough with your targets,” Poi replied without emotion.

“You have done your homework,” Balthazar replied.

Nathan looked stunned at the two of them, they seemed like old friends catching up.

“It doesn’t matter, this will be over soon,” he moved fluently with the whip in hand, it circled around him and suddenly shot out towards Nathan, he didn’t have time to react and it collected him hard in the chest. Letting out a scream of pain as the whip knocked him to the damp forest floor, slicing open his chest in burning agony. Balthazar fired it in his direction again, but this time it wrapped around Yami, still in Nathan’s left hand. Giving the whip a stern pull, Yami flew through the air, landing on the ground next to Balthazar. He smiled as he bent down to pick it up. His hand just about to touch it, when the end of Poi’s staff collected him hard in the face.

Balthazar stumbled backwards, grabbing at his nose, “You will pay for that Poi,” he muttered, the whip flicking around him once more. It seemed to move around his body by itself, like it was a burning snake.

Nathan still writhed on the ground in pain, clutching the slice on his chest “I…It... Burns!” he screamed through clenched teeth.

Poi stood ready to fight with Balthazar, “I have been watching you also Balthazar. I know why you’re here.”

“Do you now…” he said with a sneer.

The whip cracked out in Poi’s direction and she knocked it away with amazing swift speed using her staff.

“You’re not here for me or the boy, are you?” she spoke calmly to him.

“It is to no concern to you what I am here for,” Balthazar replied.

The whip cracked out again, she knocked it away a second time. The orange cord sparking as it glanced across the trunk of a tree, leaving a seared burn mark from the impact.

“Your movement is good,” Balthazar complimented Poi. “Let’s up the ante.”

He rolled out a second whip from his right hand, but this whip did not have the glow that the first had.

“There was only one Demon whip,” Poi called to him, “So that means, the black one is standard.”

“One is enough,” was his cocky reply.

The demon whip shot out, swinging horizontally at Poi’s head. She bent backwards, allowing it to fly over her body. Her staff hit the ground, and she lifted her legs as the second whip flew under her from the other direction. The black whip wrapped quickly around the staff and Balthazar tossed it aside.

Poi jumped back, landing in a crouched position. She looked around urgently, trying to find something to use for protection.

Balthazar laughed, shooting out the Demon whip once again, Poi dodged it again but this time the black whip wrapped around her ankle.

“This is over, sister of Hyung. You were wise to avoid Akuma, but now you are trapped,” Balthazar flicked the orange whip around to execute his final blow, but it was knocked to the side again, this time by Nathan wielding Akarui. He stood opposite Balthazar, a white glow surrounded him and a large burn mark was visible on his chest.

“This is between you and me,” Julian’s voice had taken over Nathan’s.

“Is it boy?” Balthazar didn’t seem fazed by this turn of events. “Although, how is it you are able to stand after being struck by Akuma…? That swords power is truly remarkable.”

Akarui had grown significantly, Nathan now used two hands to hold it. “I will not let you hurt her,” he said confidently.

Balthazar flung Akuma around, letting it lash out at Nathan, who quickly moved the large white blade to block. They could both feel the power when the two weapons collided.

“You became quicker as well, interesting…” Balthazar seemed to be studying Nathan’s abilities.

“What are you talking about?” Nathan replied, “I have not begun to speed up yet.”

Nathan pointed Akarui at Balthazar, firing a large white beam towards the Hunter, Balthazar jumped out of the way at the last second, the beam shooting past him, disintegrating everything that got in its way.

“What the hell was that? I knew those blades were strong, but that could have killed even me…” Balthazar said as he returned to his feet.

Nathan did not waste any time, moving quickly towards Balthazar, swinging the large Akarui. Balthazar jumped backwards and it just nicked the front of his cloak.

Nathan felt his right foot slip out, realizing the black whip had wrapped around his ankle. Quickly moving Akarui over his head, he blocked Akuma, the giant whip crashing down on top of him.

Akarui started to glow bright before sending out a pulse. Balthazar got blown backwards, he landed on the forest floor, rolling a few times before coming to a stop. Nathan stood up, slicing the black whip in half and allowing it to slowly uncoil from his ankle.

Balthazar seemed to teleport back to his feet with blinding speed. Akuma lashing out from beside him, wrapping around Yami which now lay between them. “I have wasted enough time with you,” he said, giving the whip a flick, making Yami fly towards him. He caught the black blade in a cloth at his side, wrapping it up tightly. “I will take my prize and depart this place,” he said with an evil chuckle.

Nathan went to run after him, but took two steps and fell to one knee. The pain on his chest was now taking its toll on his body. Akarui returned to its original samurai form. Gathering the energy to stand up, he stumbled over to where Poi was.

“You did well young Nathan. He was one of the 3 level five hunters and you stood your ground, truly incredible. They each hold an unearthly weapon… To go toe to toe with one and live is not something that many have done… Ever.”

“Yeah, well he is still alive, and he now has Yami… Not much of a victory,” Nathan replied glumly, collapsing next to Poi.

“I never said it was a victory… But you are still alive, that must count for something,” Poi slowly stood to her feet, helping Nathan to his, “I think it is good he took Yami. That sword was built from pure evil.”

“Evil or not, I can’t leave Vex in their possession. She cannot be trusted. She is psychotic!” Nathan said weakly, looking off to where Balthazar had vanished.

Poi just nodded, “Let’s get you inside so you can rest up. That wound is going to make you quite uncomfortable.”