Lore: Returning Home

[Soran Nightblade]

Original Thread started by Sakura on November 5th, 2004.

History: Hepian - Ex Pirate Wanders in, Ashgrown Forest - Search for the Tigron Heart, Hepian - To Save the Vampire Girl

Total Posts: 864

[Soran Nightblade]

Sakura:

Snowy and cold, Mizuki and the others reached a little town called Anchor. Small place, but good enough for a pit stop.

"I think we should stop here for the night," Akisu suggested. "The mountains are not to be underestimated."

Tora glanced at the tiger, then at her comrades. Several days of traveling took a little bit out of everyone, Nevertheless, everyone seemed to have a strong, unbreakable will. This is why they got so far.

"What do you think?" Tora asked. "Should we stop here?"

Mizuki:

OOC: http://www.japanesekimono.com/kimono_patterns.htm

the very first kimono you see Is the one I think would look best on Mizuki and is what she is now wearing. But if you see a better one tell me. ^^; I don't know how to describe it so the picture is the best thing I can give. sorry!


IC: Shivering, Mizuki replied. "y-y-yes...P-p-p-please..." She was freezing! They entered the town and they ran into a store at the bottom of an Inn. "Yes! It's warm in here! We should buy some cloths since we're in here. Rai, let's go shop!"

After walking around and purchasing random things leaving Soran to sit on a chair in the front of the store, Mizuki and Rai emerged wearing winter cloths. Mizuki wore a beautiful kimono that kept her quite warm for this weather. It wasn't what she was used to but it worked for the weather.

She went to Soranand modeled playfully in front of him having fun. "What do you think Soran?" She smiled warmly.

Soran:

Soran looked up at Mizuki unreadably as she spun gracefully in front of him. “It suits you well,” he said honestly, then frowned down at his own threads. The trenchcoat’s leather had been thinning to begin with, but over the last few days it had been burned and stabbed and covered with flour and rained on and thrown off a building… Geez, what was it about these people? “I’m going to replace this,” he said, standing up.

Mizuki:

Mizuki smiled with Rai as Rai took his large hand in her's.

"We'll help!" Rai said enthuiasticaly[sp?] as they pulled him through the store.

"We'll help find you something good!" Mizuki said enjoying herself. She couldn't wait to she her beautiful, gracefull mother with her soft smiling face that Mizuki had inherited. 'We should all be dressed nicely to see my mother,' Mizuki thought, 'but she may already know we're coming.' She smiled sharing a secrete with herself. "Mother is going to love to meet you all so we should all be dressed nicely."

Sakura:

Tora shifted in her new black cloak. Nothing new, but she liked it.

"Eh, Mizuki," Akisu asked. "Where...excatly do you live? And who is this mother of yours?"

"No, your not eating her, Akisu," Tora sighed.

"I know that! I'm not as dumb as you think I am Tora. Too bad I cant say the same for you." The vamp sneered at the tiger, and soon enough the two began a fiery insult battle.

Soran:

Soran stiffly allowed Rai to lead him into the store. Inside, he saw rows and rows of men’s coats, mostly the newest fashions. Rai looked for coats that looked like his old one and began throwing them at him happily. Soran caught them, baffled by the concept of 'social shopping.' A long black trenchcoat was hanging in the corner by itself. Rai giggled as he walked predictably over to it and tried it on. It hung to his feet and fit his form comfortably. He turned to pay for it, raising an eyebrow at Tora and the strange tiger, who were making a scene over by the waistcoats.

Mizuki:

Mizuki tried hard not to laugh histericaly as Tora and her tiger began their insults. She turned her attention back to Soran and Rai. Rai was so cute running around Soran helping him withnew and different trenchcoats. It was like a father daughter scene only... not really.

Mizuki felt at peace. They were able to get through into the mountains with the slip they gained..er..stole from the innkeeper. The trip had gone well, besides to few highway men that tried to either rob, molest, or rape them. But they all failed. News spread of the fib Mizuki had to make of her being ''Nightblade's'' girl. She didn't mean for that to happen, it was only to protect Rai, Tora and herself.

It was actually quite funny at the last inn they had gone too. That information had spread far quick and when they entered poor Soran had been jeered for him to kiss Mizuki and Mizuki flipped. She had almost killed every man in the inn if Tora hadn't knocked her upside the head causing her to black out.

She smiled had laughed softly at the memory as she watched Soran pay for a trenchcoat he had predictably gone to.


OOC: I accidentaly posted as Sakura. lol Since I'm at her house =P
OOC: -.- too many.............mistakes!!!!

Sakura:

Tora and Akisu drug themselves outside, not missing a beat.

"Why you little!!" Tora began.

"Wait Tora, stop! Feel that?" Akisu said.

"...feel what?"

"What I have concluded is that your powers have been unlocked, but you havent been able to tame them yet. You can only use them while feeling angered or threatened."

"Then how come it was so easy back in Hepian?"

"Because I added my power with yours. You didnt honestly think you could do that on your own, did you?" Akisu's goal was accomplished as Tora's nails dug so deep into her palm she almost broke the skin. But he was right, Tora did feel the same energy spurring within her. "Now listen to me. Take your energy and cast it. The spell is 'Ignis [insert name of object/being you want to set on fire].' Try it."

Tora held out her hands as she concentrated all her energy on the tree in front of her. 'Ignis Arbor!' She shouted.

She opened her eyes. A thin tree branch was set on fire, only to be put out a few seconds later by the snow.

"Its a start," Akisu said.

Emora:

((OOC: I'd just like to say that controlling another person's character with out permission is against the rules. If you have permission than its fine. If I'm not able to post then it's alright to drag Rai around, but please don't control her conversations or anything. The "We'll help," was alright. ))

Rai looked at Soran and smiled at him. She liked her new clothes, the thick long dress and the jacket. She also liked her shoes. She grabbed Soran's hand and held it with one of her own. "Do you like my dress?" she asked and her smile grew into a cute grin.

"Do you think any bad people will be here?" she asked looking around for a moment. "They are starting to get on my nerves..." she giggled and looked to Mizuki who was watching them.

"Soran?" she asked in her sweetly soft voice. "Can you teach me to fight like Mizuki?"

Soran:

OOC: Sorry Emora, we’ll be more careful.

IC:
”Do you like my dress? Do you think any bad people will be here? They are starting to get on my nerves… Soran? Can you teach me to fight like Mizuki?”<br>
Soran led the child back towards the others as she bubbled excitedly, stopping to leave his old coat on the corner where someone who could make use of it might find it. He was only half listening to Rai’s questions, but she finally caught his attention when she asked him to teach her to fight.

“You’re too small to fight,” he said flatly as they reunited with Mizuki and Tora.

Mizuki:

OOC: Oh god sorry! >_<;;

Mizuki smiled as Soran and Rai came towards her. "Finished you too?" she asked and they both nodded. "Good, now lets see... what should we do next? I am getting kind of hungry, how about we have some dinner then get some rest?"

Sakura:

OOC: Oh god sorry! >_<;;

Mizuki smiled as Soran and Rai came towards her. "Finished you too?" she asked and they both nodded. "Good, now lets see... what should we do next? I am getting kind of hungry, how about we have some dinner then get some rest?"

Emora:

((OOC: It's alright, I don't mind if you drag Rai around with you so yall can post a lot, and I'm glad yall stuck with her character when you did it, making her seem still like the child she is But, all I ask is you never control her big time... I think ya know what I mean))

"Too young?" she asked softly, stopping for a moment before starting to walk again. She felt a little down now. She was to young to do anything. She couldn't help with plans or cook food or fight off bad things. All she was good for was hiding in a corner until the danger passed. Yep, totally and utterly useless...

Rai grabbed Soran's hand any way and looked up at him with a smile. When she got close enough to Mizuki she grabbed her hand too and held them both, a cute smile on her face. She liked holding hands, it made her feel safe. She looked curiously at the tiger, tilting her head in wonder. She was confused about why it had showed up all of the sudden and insisted on making things worst at some points.

Soran:

Soran watched Rai from the corner of his eye as they walked. She seemed put out by his comment, then gave him a big smile that to him seemed empty. Someone so young shouldn’t have been capable of making that smile. He looked ahead inexorably, not understanding the child’s disappointment.

He freed his hand and fell toward the rear of the group as they walked toward this inn Tora knew about, lost in thought. Down the street, a hanging wooden sign with the painted word “Lodging” indicated they had found the place; a two-story unpainted wooden building that was clearly in need of some repairs.

Mizuki:

Mizuki smiled as Rai held her hand. Rai was like the little sister she never had..... and this kimono was annoying her legs. Mizuki never wore a dress that went below her knees, but she had no choice here because apparently if a female wore men cloths... things just get bad.

Mizuki spotted the inn up ahead. "Is that the place there?" she asked. It seemed like it was overrun by an army of demons. "Oh... this looks safe.." she said sarcasticly.

Sakura:

Tora bit her bottem lip at the sight of the inn. Akisu went rushing in with no regards to the others. In a way, Tora felt embarrased and responsible for Akisu's actions.

She slowly climbed the stairs sulking. "I won't make you guys stay here, but I don't know where else you can go. I'm just following Akisu, and yes I know thats dangerous," Tora added sarcasm for her amusement only. Her mood went to an all time low, and for some reason she had a craving for booze. Tora, in truth, never drank before, but now is good of time as any. She went inside shutting the door behind her, not expecting the others to follow.

She sat at the bar in a dreamlike state. Tora ordered a huge ale, which sat in front of her. She stared at her drink, to lazy to pick it up.

"Ah, Tora I suppose." A man said, cleaning out a glass with a dirty dish towel.

"How do you know my name?" Tora asked. The man cocked his head toward the tiger, and Tora's expression darkened.

"You don't look too good." The innkeep continued to clean, although he kept aware of Tora. She observed him...hazy green eyes with black hair streaked blonde by the sun. He didn't look like a werewolf at all, although she could smell his blood.

She took a drink out of her mug, and her tastebuds were greeted with a nasty taste. Tora couldn't figure out why people liked this crap so much.

But yet, she took another sip. And another. And another.

She began to feel dizzy...

Mizuki:

Mizuki frowned but follwed her in with Rai and Soran. "These inn's all look the same if you ask me." she said pointing out every thing. There was a drunk man in the corner, the barkeep always "cleaning" when it could be just an excuse to get better looks at the women that would rarly come in,.... all the same. 'Cept for the perverts who tried their chances with her, they're not here... thank god.

"Rai, I think this place is fairly safe but, still stick with me or Soran." She gave a sidelong glance to Soran who also looked about the place. Mizuki spotted Tora sitting at the bar and she didn't look to good. Mizuki walked up to her and tapped her shoulder.

"Tora?" she said tapping. "Tora?... Damn... Soran the alcohol's gone to her head!" She complained like a child but she kind of had to. She eyed the barkeep. He seemed normal.... seemed....

Soran:

Soran hardly cared about the werewolf situation. Tora had ordered an ale, and though it was barely half finished, her head nodded like she might fall into it at any moment.

Tora? Tora?...Damn…Soran the alchohol’s gone to her head!” Mizuki said, indicating Tora.

After watching this with mild interest for a few seconds, Soran reached over and slid her heavy mug deliberately out of her reach. “It’s not fair to the liquor to drink it like that,” he said casually, taking a stool at the bar and ordering a whiskey.

Emora:

Rai looked around at all the strange people and she climbed up onto a bar stool, which took good effort since she was of her height. When she reached the top and sat down comfortably, looking very cute seated next to Soran in a chair that was much to high for her to be in. She looked the bar tender over for a moment and tilted her head.

Rai could tell there was something strange about him. She looked down at Toby and noticed he could tell too. When she looked back at the bar tender he was looking at her and she smiled before asking curiously, "Are you human?" Her voice was one of curiosity, the kind only a child could have. Her bright eyes looked at the bartender with wonder. She then glanced at Soran, Mizuki, and Tora...

Mizuki:

Mizuki faltered. "Ah!...Rai that's quite impolite!" Mizuki stumbled on her words hoping that the man took no offensive. She smiled at him while putting a protective hold on Rai.

"Actually if it's not too much trouble sir, do you know how the roads will fair after tonight? We need to get up to Yousei village." She asked hoping that his answer would be a postive one. She glanced quickly at Soran who drunk his own alcohol, he seemed to take it better than Tora but...still... 'Does anyone want a sane head besides me?' she thought wrinkling her nose at the smell of whiskey. 'I hope Gwen doesn't point this out when we get there....'

Sakura:

"I suggest you stay here tonight, these parts will be covered in snow. If you plan to travel tomorrow, good luck." The barkeep stared at Mizuki, admiring her beauty in a complimentary way. "I'm Deisel, by the way..." Deisel couldn't help but notice all the suspicious glances he was getting from his newcommers. "Akisu! What did you tell them about me?"

"Why me? Why is it I always do something wrong? Its the drunken vamp over there. She did it." Akisu layed out comfortably, as he always does. Tora, not sane enough to defend and attack Akisu's remark, fought dizzily for her mug that Soran took away from her.

Deisel turned back to Mizuki. "If you didn't know, yes, I'm a werewolf." He looked outside. Although the snows velocity picked up and outside was almost impossible to see, to a werewolf, the moon is always in sight. "It is a waxing cresent. I have a whole 'nother half a month. I promise you'll be safe with me." Deisel became quite enarmored with this half elf. Her smile and her sweetness was something he doesn't come around everyday, especially for being a werewolf. He leaned over to Mizuki and gave a flirtious smile. "So what can I get you to drink?"

"SWoRAN wtat mwine! Gwive it batt!" Tora reached out over the mugg, where if she was sober all she would have to do is lower her arm and grasp the cup firmly. A stirring in her stomach began, although this time it wasn't any source of magic...

-BWEEEEH!-

"AH, TORA!!! DID YOU HAVE TO VOMIT ON ME?!" Akisu, the first time anyone has seen him angry. The table are turned this time, Akisu is the once pissed off and Tora's the one laughing like a maniac, acting like a happy drunk.

Emora:

Rai giggled as she watched Tora act so funny. "I want what she has..." she said and giggled again. Her giggling stopped when Tora vomited and she covered her mouth. "Ew..." she said and closed her eyes. "Can I have something that will make me act funny but not get sick?"

She smiled cutely back at the bartender and tilted her head. He wasn't a bad thing either. This was great. He wasn't a human... but he wasn't a bad thing either! She waited a moment before asking. "Do you howl at the moon?" her curiosity was getting to her. She had never met a werewolf up close that wasn't trying to eat her. She wanted to ask all the questions she could.

Sakura:

Deisel smiled sweetly at Rai. He loved children, but nobody would ever let him near them for obvious reasons.

"Yes, I howl at the moon, but only when its completely round and bright." He stared out the window. "But not tonight." He zoned out for a breif second, then turned his attention back to Rai. "How bout I give you some milk?"

Emora:

Rai giggled, imagening him howling at the moon... She skooted up in the chair and smiled at him. Then he mention milk... "Milk?" she asked and tilted her head. "You people really know how to kill a kids fun..." she said and sighed.

"Alrighty," she said and grinned excepting the fact that he wouldn't give her what he had given Tora. "Milk."

Sakura:

Desiel sighed, feeling kindof guilty, but he didn't know what else to give her. There was no way he was going to give her ale, and water is a lot more boring than milk.

He gave her a tall glass. "I'm Desiel," he said kindly, holding out his large rough hand. "And whats your name?"

Emora:

Rai giggled again and held out her own hand. She shook his hand with vigor. "I'm Rai," she said and smiled to him. "Do you work a lot?" she asked taking his large hand in both of hers. His hand was ruff. Her dad's hands were ruff. He worked a lot so that they could be safe and have a nice place to live and food to eat.

"My dad worked a lot," she said and smiled slightly. Her eyes flickered with sadness, but she pushed the sad feeling away so she could stay happy.

Rai turned her head and looked out the window when she heard a gust of wind. It was snowing! "I want to go play in the snow!"

Sakura:

Deisel laughed just a little. He watched the snow come rushing down. "In truth, this is the hardest I've ever seen it snow in ages..." Deisel debated on wether or not he should put bordes up to protect the inn. Deciding against it, he eyed Mizuki, and then turned his attention back at Rai. When he was little, the village children gathered around the elders and listened to tales. There was one that would fit a night such as this. "Ever here of the Legend of the Snow Princess?"

Meanwhile...

"For the heaven's sake Tora, you didn't even finish the mug." Akisu tangled his claws in Tora's hair, in order to contol her head movements, such lowering the head when she was about to puke. Her intolerance to alclohol was unbelieveable. "How are you feeling now?"

"ayhatw?"

"Yeah, like I understood that." Akisu said as he lowered Tora's head once again to vomit.

Akisu and Tora were in the room alone, since the others were downstairs still at the bar. No one heard the loud crashes of shelves falling down when Tora crashed into them in a wild frenzy.

"Who awre y-y-you?" Tora asked, still feeling like her tounge had been cut off. Despite her drunkness, she saw a beautiful woman standing in front of her, as visible and detailed. Her skin as white as snow, her eyes filled with a heartbreaking sorrow...

"What are you talking about? I don't see anything." Akisu replyed sharply. Then a sudden pang came to him and felt a strange presence...

(OOC: Anybody can control Deisel, just to throw that out.)

Soran:

Soran looked at Rai incredulously. During his years of survival in the forest, snow had been an all-too-familiar threat to him, one more enemy trying to pry away his life. He had never thought of it as something to be played in.

He tilted his glass back and took another sip of amber liquid, ignoring Mizuki’s disapproving stare. He’d been drinking whiskey like others drank coffee for so long that it had long since stopped having any affect on him. The bartender was starting in on some story, which he tuned out and watched the snow blow past the window.

Emora:

Rai listened quietly as the story was told to her. She smiled when it got to the real good parts. After the story was told she sat there quietly. "Wow," she said and grinned.

She climbed off her stool and walked towards the window to look out. She walked right past the drunk man sitting in the chair and she smiled and shook her head. What was it about that drink that made people act so funny?

She peered out, climbing into a chair and sitting down comfortably. She was sitting there for a moment when she heard Toby barking. He was barking at a spot where there was nothing.

Climbing out of her stool she walked towards Toby and put a hand on his head. "What is it boy?" she asked and looked to the lion, then Soran, and back at the empty spot.

Mizuki:

Mizuki had fallen in love with that story and stared at the snow dreaming of it all. Deisel eyed her as she watched the snow until she suddenly got up from the barking.

"Toby! What's happening?!"

OOC: Sorry I took so long! ^-^; also had to rewite it

Soran:

Soran looked closely at the barking canine. Mizuki and Rai were looking to the corner of the room, at which the wolf appeared to be barking. The rogue took a closer observation of the angle of Toby’s head. “Not there. Whatever it is, it’s above us,” Soran said, looking at Mizuki.

Mizuki:

"I'm getting annoyed with all of these surprises!" she huffed. She stomped over to where the wolf was barking and kneeled down to him, petting his muzzle. "Shhh, what's wrong? Nothing is there...." Even as she looked up she saw nothing. She frowned and turned to Deisel, maybe he saw it.

"Deisel do you see anything?"

Soran:

“Nothing appears to be there,” Diesel said, ruffling his hair confusedly. “Maybe your friend is right. It could be something above us. But your friend is upstairs…surely if something was up there, we’d have heard something from her…” he mused. "Unless of course...how drunk was she?"

Mizuki:

"I wouldn't know." She said angrily giving Soran a glare. "If I had gotten in sooner I could've stopped her from drinking!" She looked up at the ceiling wanting to figure out what may be happening.

"...For all we know she may be throwing her fits at that tiger...." she said sighing. She looked at Soran. "Want to check?"


OOC: Tora.... when you told me about the barkeep flirting with Mizuki....oooh man... Answer me this question... why is it always Mizuki?! Lol

Emora:

Rai tried to calm Toby who wasn't paying any attention and instead ran up the steps. "TOBY!" Rai said and chased after him, not caring what sort of bad thing lurked up there. All she wanted was to make sure Toby wouldn't get hurt. "Toby, wait!"

She ran up the steps. Toby ran to a door and started scratching at it. "Toby, what's wrong?" Rai asked and her confused and worried expression seemed to stop the dog for a moment. He bit down on the sleeve of her coat and pulled her towards the door. He raised his head so her hand went in the direction of the door knob. She knew what he wanted her to do, but she was afraid to know what was on the other side of the door. She closed her eyes and opened the door quickly. She felt Toby run passed her and into the room, barking heavily.

Mizuki:

Mizuki gasped as Rai ran up the stairs after Toby.
"NO!" she called going after her. "For all we know something could be up there!"

She hurried up the stairs but was too late to see that the door was already opened. Toby was seemingly barking at nothing but Tora was going crazy. "Stay right here." she told Rai and went to calm Tora down.

"Tora! Tora calm down! What is it!?" she called to her friend as she tried to hold her close but Tora struggled.

"Wif shomwone der!" Tora called in her drunken daze, but Mizuki saw noone as she held Tora to her.

Soran:

Soran looked at Mizuki icily, about to offer to go check things out, and it took a moment to realize Rai had run up the stairs. He followed the half elf up to the second floor and came into a room where books and overturned shelves littered the floor. Tora was trying to explain what happened. Soran remained in the doorway, not sensing anything particularly dangerous, and waited for Tora’s slurred tongue to articulate the situation.

Emora:

Rai stood in the door way with Soran. She didn't know what was going on. All she knew that Toby found what ever it was in the room to be untrustworthy. She reached over, still looking at the room and grabbed Soran's hand. She liked holding hands with him or Mizuki, it made her feel better... more protected.

"What's going on?" she asked softly, looking up at him. She had to strain her neck, she hated being so small...

Soran:

Soran felt the presence of the child at his side, holding his hand, as seemed to be her habit. He half-heard her question, but his eyes were on Toby, who was barking at some invisible presence in the corner. The bark contained alarm, but lacked viciousness.

Narrowing his eyes at the empty space, for a brief moment he made out the form of a tall woman dressed in white. The image came in and out of focus for a few seconds, then faded as quickly as it had appeared. Soran blinked, but the figure did not reappear. He noticed the room had become windy, though the windows were latched shut. He pulled Rai behind him and exchanged a wary glance with Mizuki to see if she had seen the same thing.

Mizuki:

Mizuki still held Tora who seemed to have calmed down but, as she stared into that empty space...

It felt so familiar... everything else seemed to have slipped away as she looked into the light. A dark figure of a man came out of the light towards her holding out his hand. When he got closer he looked like Luc...

"Luc?" Mizuki half whispered but then it seemed as though his image changed into Soran. "Soran?...who are you...?" The man who's figure mixed to Luc and Soran smiled and caressed her face. Mizuki wasn't holding Tora anymore it seemed, all that was there was her and this man.

"It will all come back to us both soon..." he said. His eyes averted to where Rai stood and he smiled. "Even Jaylee will be back with us." Mizuki looked to where he saw but all she saw was Rai.

"Who are you talking about? That's not this girl Jaylee you speak of that's---" But the man 'shushed' her to silence and rested his forhead on hers with his eyes closed. Then warmth became cold as he went from man to corpse. A rotting corpse. Mizuki jumped back and screamed.....

Deisel had rushed forward to the collapsing form of Mizuki who's scream of pure terror rang throughout the inn.

"Girl it's ok!" Deisel said laying her on the floor craddled in his arms.


OOC: If I could ask of Emora Deen if I can update Mizuki's profile and if she doesn't mind if Rai kinda becomes part of a plot...that I came up with because I have nothing better to do in school. Emora, if you need to know the plot that Rai might become semi involved in PM me. I just want to know if it's ok if I can use her ^-^ Thanks!

Emora:

((OOC: Sure, I'll unlock it for you!))

"Mizuki!!" Rai screamed when she saw her friend fall. What was wrong with her? What was in the room that was making all this happen? She didn't care if it was a bad thing that could take her away! She wasn't about to let it hurt her friends.

Rai knelt down on the floor next to Mizuki and grabbed her hand. "Mizuki?" she asked softly. "Tora?"

What's going on? What's in the room? Is it a ghost? Is it a demon?

Soran:

Soran turned his attention from the figure he’d just seen as Mizuki suddenly screamed and sank toward the floor. The barkeep managed to catch her, lowering her gently to the floor in his arms. Something about it was distinctly unsettling to the rogue, but he didn’t place exactly what bothered him, only that something felt…off.

He didn’t dwell on it, focusing his thoughts on the cause of Mizuki’s strange behavior. The only one in the room who seemed to understand the situation was the damned tiger, who was sitting to Soran’s right, observing the whole situation with calmly knowing eyes. “Going to explain, or do you insist on spectating?” Soran quipped icily while the others panicked over Mizuki on the other side of the room. The cat knew something

Sakura:

"I...wasn't dreaming then," Tora stood up with full control. She is sober now, suprisingly.

She remembered the spirit, who took away her drunkness, preaching it was bad to drink because it tore apart families. But the spirit was one that fit the discription of the Snow Princess, a woman in a myth that was frequently told in these parts.

"I can get you to where you need to go, dearest," the white figure had said. "For a child is with you, you can not gamble with such a fragile thing."

Tora had her this woman's legend before. Of how she gave birth 24 times, and 23 of her babies died before they were a day old. One child survived, whom was named Hope, or Yukini according to some elders. Hope one day got lost in a blizzard, and her mother, for some reason remains nameless, went to go look for her only child. When she found Hope, her body was torn by teeth marks by a demon. The mother, full of sorrow, died in the blizard with her daughter. It is said she will come to anyone with a child and guide them saftley to where they need to travel.

It made sense...

No body seemed to pay attention to Tora. Everyone was concentrating on Mizuki, who was now...lying in the arms... of the barkeep.

"Eh, did I miss something?" Tora asked walking up to the group a little too casually after the way shes acted. "Nd' whats wrong with her?"

Mizuki:

"She just fainted!" said Deisel said still holding Mizuki. But Mizuki then slowly opened her eyes to see everyone hovering over her. "oh... she's awake! Mizuki, are you ok?" Deisel said in relief.

"I-I am fine but....." Mizuki spoke tiredly putting her hand to her face. But she looked up to where Soran should be standing, but what she saw was the corpse. Mizuki began screaming more feircly and pointing in his direction. "It's him! It's him! Kill him! Before he hurts Rai!"

"Wha--?" Deisel said turning to where Mizuki pointed only seeing Soran. "That's your friend Mizuki. The one who've been travling with."

"NO!" She screamed like she was being tortured. All she saw was that corpse grining like a madman at her. "You'll both soon come back to me..." the corpse whispered to her.

"Leave Rai and Me alone!"

Emora:

Rai was looking back and forth from the hysterical Mizuki to the calm Soran and could seen nothing of what she was talking about. "Mizuki..." she said softly and stood up, walking towards Soran and grabbing his hand. She pulled on it to urge him forward. "It's Soran... It's alright... it's just Soran."

Rai was very worried about her friends. They were all acting so weird. Had a bad thing gotten to them? Were they going insane. "Soran... I'm scared," Rai whispered looking up at him with worried eyes and then back at her friends.

Soran:

“It's him! It's him! Kill him! Before he hurts Rai!"
Soran stiffened and stared down at her with cold green eyes, unwilling to look wounded. The others were pleading with her, trying to explain he wasn’t an enemy. His mind was working through the various explanations (Did she drink at the bar? No…she could be ill…the trip might have been too much for her…she could have been injured fighting Luc without my knowledge…) but the half elf was staring at him with unmistakable horror and hatred in her normally soft face, and for that he could find no logical cause.

Now Rai was becoming frightened and the others all watched the rogue for answers. He crouched next to Mizuki and looked her coldly in the eye. “Whatever your motive, it seems no one here is bothering to kill me,” he said, though his voice was missing its intended sting. He ignored the warning glare of the innkeeper holding Mizuki, his narrowed eyes pressing her to justify her words.

Emora:

Rai tapped Soran on the shoulder while he nelt by Mizuki. "Soran..." Rai said softly and looked at him. "I don't think it is a motive to have you killed... I really don't think she is seeing you at the moment..." Once again Rai was speaking in her wise tone of voice, though she was trembling. She was scared, but she was trying to hide it and be strong for them.

"Please don't be cold to Mizuki... she's sick, that's all," Rai said and pulled her hand back and went to her knees, taking Mizuki's hand in both of her small ones, her hands were shaking...

Soran:

At Rai’s words, Soran rose back to his feet and decided it would be best for him to leave the room until Mizuki calmed down. Whatever was making her act this way, her distress seemed aimed at him. “I’ll be outside,” he said, his voice neither harsh nor gentle. He took one more brief glance at her haunted eyes as he walked out of the room.

Heading down the stairs, he opened the heavy wooden door and stepped out into the snow. There was a bench next to the entrance on the veranda, and he sat down on it, looking blankly at the familiar snow collecting on the ground and feeling nothing. That was at least what he was trying to do.


Ceron:

OOC: sorry guys, i have been kinda occupied lately with other things... yeah i know i have no life lol. but damn.... thats a lot of posts in like a week...

IC: Leon notices all the excitement from his perch across the street. "Maybe I should come back..." He jumps over to the window (sorry didn't read the whole thing not sure if their inside or what, but just assume I see them lol) and knocks on the glass and waits for someone to open the window.

Mizuki:

Mizuki watched and stared horrified at Soran who she saw as the corpse. No one would attack him, so it had to be her.

"You fools!" she cried getting up and reaching for her arrows. "If you wont do it then fine! He's blinding you!" She ran, arrows drawn downstairs and outside to where Soran sat and aimed.

"You may have fooled the other's with your magic, but you can't fool me you rotting corpse!!" she cried ready to let go of her arrow and unknowingly kill Soran who is the corpse in her eyes.

Ceron:

All of a sudden Leon hears some screaming from the street. "I wonder what that was..." He rushes down toward the sorce and notices Mizuki standing in front of Soran with arrow nocked. "What are you doing?" He walks in front of her to stop the arrow if she does decide to let it loose. 'I hope I can stop her without hurting her...'

Mizuki:

'What the hell?' she thought as someone came out of nowhere and stood in front of her.

"Step aside!" she demanded. It took her a moment to see it was the man, Leon, from back in Hepian. 'Why wont they let me kill him?' "He's tricking you! He is a walking corpse out to hurt Rai! Step aside so I can kill him!"

everyone was outside now, watching frightendly the sence before them.

Ceron:

"I am a master of illusion. It is nearly impossible to trick me. It is Soran, not a walking corpse. You must Trust me." He starts to cast a circle to try to hold the arrow in place after it leaves the bow. "I will not move... Please listen to reason."

Soran:

Soran eyed Mizuki with a level glare that said “I dare you to shoot” and rose to his feet sternly.

OOC: Going to a meeting, back in 20 minutes

Mizuki:

Mizuki glared at Leon and put her bow down. The other's sighed in relief thinking she came to her senses but Leon still stared her down, pleading in his eyes. So, she threw her arrows down in the snow and bowed her head staying silent.

"You're stupid," the corpse's voice came again. "The woman I knew didn't give up anything. Even the will to kill...."

"I wont give up..." she whispered to the snowy ground. "I wont let you all be fooled!" She cried running into Leon throwing him off and on the ground. Her target was the corpse/Soran. "I don't know who you are," she said in full fury coming at Soran with no weapons, "But I wont let you hurt Her!!"

OOC: No more posting. Soran should be here for this since it's him Mizuki is attacking, he should stop her. thanks.

OOC: Last post for tonight! Sorry. hopefully I'll be on tomorrow!

Ceron:

All of a sudden Soran stands up, "No, you musn't (that it???) do that. I will try to handle this..." He tries to get Soran to sit down again.

Sakura:

(OOC: 13 posts in 6 hours. Niice)

Tora stood next to the tiger, not knowing what to do. Every move seemed like the wrong move. However, she knew that Soran can well defend for himself, especially against arrows.

"So, your just gonna let the pysco kill the guy?" Akisu glared at Tora, but she just shrugged. "There's really nothing I can do," she said. She remembered the 'Snow Princess' and her promise to guide and protect them on wherever they need to go, since Rai was with them. Just as they thought they were going to have one peaceful journey through the snow, Mizuki decides to jump off the deep end.

"Has she seen visions before?" Akisu asked.

"Well, no... at least I don't remember if she did. But she has done some pretty weird things..." Tora couldn't help but speculate.

"Is there someone in her past? That just maybe..." Akisu's voice weakened when an understanding filled Tora's eyes.

"Is it possible," Tora whispered, "That Luc still haunts her?"

Emora:

((OOC: Just making a post to catch up))

Rai thought things were getting very out of control. She couldn't let Mizuki hurt herself... or Soran or any one else. Rai ran to Soran while the new man was trying to get him to sit down. "Mizuki no!" she yelled and jumped, grabbing onto Soran's shoulders to pull herself up and then wrapping her arms around his neck. She clung tight, not enough to choke him, but tight enough that it would take a very strong person to pull her off.

"Please," Rai whispered to him. "Don't hate Mizuki for what she's doing. She doesn't know... It's the bad things. They like hurting the people you love. It makes them happy."

Soran:

Soran sternly detached the child from his neck, lowering her to the ground next to where Leon had landed. “No one’s hating anyone,” he spoke firmly as he set her down, his voice containing an unspoken warning to stay off. The half elf looked ready to attack, and Rai would only be in the way.

"I don't know who you are," Mizuki said angrily, "but I won't let you hurt her!"

The words made something pinch inside Soran's chest, but the rogue prepared himself as Mizuki flew at him. Having dropped her bow, she now seemed determined to attack him with her fists.

Soran caught both the woman’s wrists firmly and held her off. There had been force behind her blows - enough to force Soran two steps back into the snow; she wasn't faking it. The two faced off, inches apart. When she continued eyeing him with the same hateful stare as before, Soran released her wrist and brought his palm sharply across her cheek, his gaze calm and stern, then let go of her. “Pull yourself together,” he ordered. The hand that had struck her, though with barely any force, lowered apologetically to his side. He stared her down, undefended.

OOC: If you guys don't mind, let Mizuki and Soran work it out. React to what we're doing if you want, but it makes it more interesting if nobody jumps in front of us.

Mizuki:

Mizuki put a hand to her face. It stung but then her vision cleared. She saw Soran again and looked at her hands. There was no blood and she didn't remember actually getting a blow in, but still...

"What has become of me?" she whispered to herself still staring at her hands. "You were someone in my eyes, blinding me to truth and I almost killed you!" She looked Soran in the eyes. Apologetic, sadness, gulit, and haunting...and something else unplaced, stood in her eyes. She slowly walked into his arms and put her head on his chest begging for forgiveness.

"I am.........sorry, Soran..." she whispered into his chest weeping silently.

Soran:

Soran looked down at Mizuki pensively as she rested her head against his chest, unsure what to make of her. She appeared to be back to normal. Or maybe ‘normal’ was just an act, and what he’d just seen was her true opinion of him. He wanted to ask why, what in the world she had seen. No, this probably wasn’t the time for that.

Mizuki rested against him, shaking with tears. Her sobs chilled him worse than the snow. He wondered why. He could think of nothing to say to calm her. Slowly, he raised his arms and placed his hands awkwardly on the backs of her shoulders, neither pulling her toward him nor pushing her away. Her back was warm beneath his fingers. He couldn’t believe he was doing this.

Mizuki:

Mizuki still wept silently in his small embrace, but barely noticed it.

"Please Soran, tell me you are forgiving me... or at least on the verge of it.." she spoke softly in his chest. "I swear it when I tell you I wasn't seeing true, and I am begging for you to forgive me!"

She then threw her arms around his back in a tight embrace still crying in sorrow of her actions.

Soran:

“Idiot, you didn’t even hit me!” Soran protested quietly, tense in her grip. It was his way of trying to comfort her.

Mizuki:

"But I could have!" she protested back. She pulled away enough to look him in the face. She had stopped crying, but the trail and redness was still evident. "I really could have. I was feeling anger at a being that would keep taking you or Luc's form, then turned into a walking, rotting corpse. He made me think you were him! And he wanted to hurt Rai and I of course wouldn't let that come to pass!"

She paused and waited for his response, and when she got none she continued on more softly. "I would never hurt someone so dear to me, and I feel shamed that I have tried to hurt you...." She bit her bottom lip and looked back into his eyes waiting in fear for his response.

Soran:

Soran frowned. “I’ll take your word,” he said, releasing his hands. He wasn’t entirely sure he trusted these people, but at the least it was the closest he’d come to trusting anyone.

He hadn’t seen Luc die, but Mizuki had seemed quite sure he was dead. The rogue didn’t believe in ghosts, so unless Mizuki was truly losing her sanity, which Soran hadn’t entirely ruled out, Luc wasn't responsible for this. There had to be some force capable of causing this kind of delusion.

He turned to Leon, to whom he still hadn’t really been introduced, but whom he knew was some sort of mirage-caster. “Have you heard of this type of witchcraft, illusionist?”

Ceron:

"I have heard of them, but I have never actually witnessed one being used untill now... I haven't really bothered to learn that type of illusion. I hope that answers your question." Leon looks rather concerned that he couldn't see the illusion or even the faint aura that usually accompanies an illusion.

Soran:

“Who would know how to use such a strange magic? Is it someone nearby, or could someone be doing this to her from outside the city?” Soran asked. Mizuki seemed to have a history with the Witch Queen, so maybe this was some sort of dark Arken magic.

Mizuki:

"Mother.." Mizuki whispered. "My mother! She could help!" her hope's began to rise as she turned to face Soran. "My mother can help us, she's a seer. She can tell us what may be happening!"

Mizuki turned to Rai with all the love, joy, and hope she could hold in her eyes. "Maybe even with your parents too Rai."

Soran:

Soran approved of the idea. He just hoped whatever they were dealing with wouldn’t turn them against each other before they could get there. “We should rest, and leave as soon as morning comes,” he said, ignoring the disappointed frown on the infatuated barkeep’s face.

Mizuki:

Mizuki agreed and everyone went inside to get out of the cold. It had just finally seemed to be nipping at their toes. First they all sat down to eat and drink, with Mizuki always giving Soran a dissaproving glared from the corner of her eye when he drank his whiskey.

"Rai," Mizuki said quietly to Rai. "You are not to drink alcohol of any kind as long as you are in my care." She hated the effects alcohol gave to people. Especially men who couldn't hold it. Mizuki was aware of eyes on her as she ate and conversed with Tora about their jorney and what happened earlier before Mizuki's escapade. Mizuki glanced up from her food and saw Deisel watching from his counter until he flushed slightly and looked away. Mizuki blushed by being watched. 'What was he looking at?' she thought nervously. 'Do I have something on my face?'

The though had hit her that Deisel had taken a liking to her, but he was such a nice man...er...werewolf. She wasn't going to hurt him as long as he didn't touch her in an impolite manner.

Her mind was full of their journey back to her home. Even as they retired to bed.

But Mizuki's mind then wandered back to what happened between her and Soran. She still felt so horrible, she didn't know how to describe her feeling, and it was just itching at her. Everything may have been fine and done between them now, it seemed, but..still....

''I wish I didn't cause you so much trouble Soran...." she whispered to herself in her bed.

Emora:

Rai went to bed quietly with a heavy weight on her shoulders. She was thinking about many things, mostly of what had happened that day. A bad thing had come... maybe two bad things to make Tora act so funny and try and hurt Mizuki and make her hurt her friends.

She tried to sleep, but found it hard for some reason and when she did sleep she had dreadful dreams of demons and monsters coming after to her as she cowered in a corner. There was a man there too.... he looked like he knew her... He just stood there and when she asked him for help he walked away... with Mizuki holding his hand. The bad things closed in all around her and...

She woke with a start, pulling the covers close to her nose as she turned on her side and hugged them. Her mommy used to come into the room when she would have a bad dream and hold her... but her mommy wasn't there any more. She missed her mommy... and her daddy.

A tear fell from her eye and landed on the pillow. Toby's head came up and he walked on the bed to where he was standing at her back and plopped down. He put his head on her shoulder and Rai smiled, scratching behind his ears. It was a sad smile, one only darkness could see for she was surrounded by the night.

Toby lay there with her for several minutes until her breathing evened out again and she was fast a sleep. He continued to lay there all night long as if protecting her from some unseen foe and the dreams inside her head.

Mizuki:

Mizuki kept staring out into nothing on her bed. 'What was that...thing to make me want to hurt Soran?' she thought. 'He seemed like he knew me... Wait, does he have something to do with the dream I had before we came here?' Mizuki lifted her head from her knee's. Was possible that the corpse was the nameless face in her dream? She had felt like she knew the person... and Rai... 'What does he want with her?'

"Mother... I hope you have the answers." she whispered in the night. It was so dark in the room, there wasn't even any moonlight because of the clouds pouring down the snow to the ground. She lay back down on her bed and tried to fall asleep.

It was hard to fall asleep with the events of the day swarming through one's head and fear for the future. She felt the great need to protect Rai and the other's from some uncertain doom. Finally fed up, Mizuki quitely got out of bed and went to stare out at her window. Outside was dark, but she could tell that the snow was flying through the night air vigorously. ' "The God and Goddess of birth may have given you life, but it is the Fates that give you a path to walk." ' Mizuki's mother had said that, she just wished the Fates would be more gentle with her path....

Sakura:

Tora sat crossed legged on her bed. She picked up on Mizuki's heavy footsteps as she flew out of the room into the night. Normally, Tora wouldn't let her friend do such a dangerous thing, but she had a feeling Mizuki would be ok on her own.

Akisu layed at the foot of the bed, as a normal tiger would. He was calm and sane, which was different for him. This would be a good time to get awnsers out of him.

"Akisu..." she whispered to him. "Why did you come to me in the first place?"

"To teach you magic, and that is all," he said dully. Anyone could be thrown off by is lack of enthusiasm in his voice, but Tora could tell he was hiding something.

"But why?" she asked, her emotions rising. There was a furtive silence between her and the tiger. "You can't blame me for asking questions, theres very few people who help strangers these days. Especially... animals." She sighed and kept her gazed fixed on the window. The snowfall had slowed to a slight drizzle, but she still questioned about thier journey to Mizuki's hometown.

"Listen, Akisu, I've had strange things happen to me lately. Theres been... actually was a voice in my head, I have been able to use strange magic-"

"Do you know what race you were before you became a vampire?" Akisu asked aruptly. Tora was taken aback for a few seconds, then shaked her head guitily. "Then how do you expect to remember anything else?"

"So this is about my past? What do you know about my past?"

"Why do you want to know about your past so much."

Tora's eyes seemed to have been emptied of all living emotion. They just so happened to lay transfixed at the falling snow. "Because, it is a part of me." She said dreamly. "I know knowing what happened will not change anything now. It is something I should not dwell on. But when a lover is missing thier significant other, they are missing a part of themselves. That is the same with me. The past is a part of myself missing, I part I hope to find."

She asked no more questions, instead just stared at the falling snow. Tora was suprised to see the light come through the window in what seemed in only five minutes. She had thought she did not go to sleep, but looking back she couldn't honestly remember.

Mizuki:

While staring out the window Mizuki saw a small child's, just barely seen, running in the snow.

"Is that child crazy?" she whispered and rushed out the door of their room and downstiars into the blowing snow. Mizuki could barely see but she heard laughter, a girl's laughter, get caught on the wind and carried to her. "Wait! Kid!" Mizuki called out and walked against the wind.

It was so cold but because of the cold, Mizuki wouldn't let that girl be running around outside. "Girl wait!" she called out again when the child came into view. The child didn't even hear her and kept running off. "Stupid girl... she'll be frozen out here!"

Emora:

Rai saw Mizuki leave talking about a child. She followed, despite the low protest of Toby. She ran out of the inn and into the storm, stopping for a moment. Mizuki shouldn't go alone... what if the thing that made her sick came back.

"Mizuki!" Rai asked and ran into the wind which was blowing snow and ice. She found she couldn't see anything and it was cold. She turned around to find Toby... but he was gone. She called out Mizuki's name... but didn't hear any reply. All she could hear was the wind.

Mizuki:

The child was gone from Mizuki's view and she was stumped. "What's that child doing out here?" Mizuki could barely hear her own voice but she did hear and see one thing quite clearly.....

"Even in a snowy storm you find your way to me, my lady.." The man who took on three forms stood before her once again. But love was shinning in his eyes.

"Who are you?" Mizuki asked but the man made no reply. His head turned slightly like he heard something.

"We'll be a family again. You, me, and Jaylee...." his voice was fading, and so was his image.

"What?! Wait! Come back!"

....."MIZUKI!" a small voice penatrated the wind to Mizuki's ear. She turned to the voice to find Rai calling to her.

"Rai?!"

Emora:

"Mizuki? Toby?" Rai said and folded her arms to keep her hands warm. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea... Maybe I should go back... Rai thought and turned around, but she could only see faint lights, the snow and ice in the wind was to thick. Was that even the direction? "Mizuki! Soran! Tora! Some one..."

Rai thought she saw some one in the snow. "Mizuki?" she asked and walked towards it, falling in the snow and getting back up. There was no one there... "Mizuki where are you?"

She heard something that wasn't the wind and turned around. She saw two green eyes in the darkness. "Toby?"

Mizuki:

"Soran? Tora? Leon? RAI!?" Mizuki called out but no answer came. It was cold and she was shivering like mad. Then a large blanket was draped over her shoulders with large hands holding it there. Mizuki yelped.

"Shh Miss Mizuki! It's me, Deisel." he said.

"Deisel? What are you doing out here?"

"I should ask you the same thing. Let's get in and find Rai. It has seemed that she has left her bed as well."

"But I saw a child running about!" Deisel sighed and explained.

"No child in their right mind would come out now. You must've seen the ghost of the Snow Princesses daughter. She is often seen by villagers here."

Mizuki was stunned. She had seen a ghost then? It shivered her to the bone as they wandered through the snow for Rai. They called out her name getting no reply. Mizuki began to get anxious.

"Where is she? What if she's gone like before!"

"Before? Mizuki what are you talking about?" Of course Deisel hasn't known of her first disappearance...wait... when has she disappeared? What was Mizuki talking about now? 'But... didn't she disappeare before? No..wait... that wasn't her...was it?' Mizuki thought. She seemed to have some kind of memory of something but didn't know what. Deisel gave her a worried looked but kept calling out Rai's name.

Emora:

Rai was so cold... Snow was all in her hair and on her eyes lashes and her cheeks were red from the cold and wind. She was shivering all over as she made her way closer and closer to the green eyes. "Toby? Come here, Toby, come here boy..." she said and stumbled on things hidden under the snow. The eyes didn't move, but stayed the same. In the distance she heard the faint calling of her name over the roar of the wind. Rai turned so her back was facing the pair of green eyes. "Mizuki? Mizuki over..."

Rai let out a frightened scream before finishing her sentence as she was jerked backwards...

((OOC: Wanna know something funny, I don't know what did jerked her backwards, I just wrote it, lol))

Mizuki:

OOC: lol. May I make a suggestion then? How about the corpse guy's minions to take her?

Mizuki and Deisel heard a scream, it had sounded pretty close. "That is Rai! We must go!" she said urgently rushing forward but Deisel yanked her back.

"If she is in peril it may be wise to get help," He said.

"I'll go find her then, you get the other's!" Mizuki then rushed off into the snowy wind towards where the scream had come from. Deisel sighed but was quick in action. He had easily, since living here so long, found his way back to the inn and sprinted upstairs to the others. First he barged into Soran's room. To him, and he hated to admit it, he seemed to have some kind of connection with Mizuki. [OOC: in his eyes btw!]

Deisel thrusted the door open and made his way to Soran's bed where he slept. "Soran! Soran!" He thrusted Soran out of the bed. "Rai is in trouble and Mizuki is going after her!"

Emora:

((OOC: Good idea!))

She was being held by something strong and what ever it was smelled, even the snow couldn't deaden it. "Let me go!" Rai yelled and jerked. It had it's arms wrapped around her so she couldn't get her hands free. She was kicking and struggling and some how fell free.

Rai landed in the snow and turned around to see what had held her so roughly. She couldn't make out the face that well until it bent forward to grab her again.

Rai screamed in fright. It was ugly and gross looking. It looked dead and it's skin was falling from it's bones. "Leave me alone!" Rai screamed and it grabbed her hands when she tried to hit it and make it go away. At that time three more, slumped over figures came from the thick snow.

Soran:

Soran jumped awake as unfamiliar hands grabbed his collar and tugged him up into a sitting position. He cracked one eye open and recognized Diesel’s face in front of him. In his half-asleep state, the rogue instinctively considered slicing open the man’s throat and going back to sleep, but Diesel’s words caught his attention just in time.

"Soran! Soran! Rai is in trouble and Mizuki is going after her!"

The rogue just frowned and began pulling on his trenchcoat and boots. “They’re out in the storm?” he interrogated.

“Yes,” Diesel was saying, annoyed with Soran’s apparent lack of concern, “I think I heard Rai scream through the wind while I was on my way back to get here. Mizuki is searching for her by herself,” he said, looking for a response.

Tora, who had been half asleep in the windowsill, heard this and did not need to be told again about the situation. She was ready to go when Soran emerged from his room with Diesel. The two followed the innkeeper briskly out into the storm. Various sounds flirted in the wind as they approached the place Diesel thought he had last seen Mizuki, but nothing clear enough to identify as her voice. They pushed through the whirling snow in silence, looking for sound in the darkness. Only Diesel’s occasional shout of “Mizuki?!” or “Rai?!” broke through the storm.

Mizuki:

Mizuki pushed her way through the snowy wind as she heard Rai's closer cries. "Don't worry! I'm coming!" she called out. She fought her way through but the wind was so hard.

"Leave me alone!" it was a faint cry half carried away by the wind, but it was enough.

"I'm coming Jaylee!" she called. Mizuki didn't know why she said that instead of Rai but she didn't have the time or second thought to ponder it.

"You're almost there my love...." the corpse's voice was ringing through her ears but she saw no sight of him. "You'll be close enough to one another soon... you will grab her hand keeping her safe from harm... just follow her voice!" Mizuki didn't know if either it was trying to help her, or aggravate her!

Then Mizuki saw it. Rai was on the ground surrounded by creatures. Mizuki's fury broke. "Rai!" Mizuki charged forward against the wind. She didn't have her weapons but she figured her fists were enough. With each strike the creatures went down in the snow. 'Too easy.' Mizuki's concious thought but Mizuki didn't care.

"Rai take my hand!" she called out and Rai reached for it. When they firmly grasped one another's hand Mizuki held her close trying to keep her shivering form warm.

"Mother caring for daughter... the perfect bond...." the corpse's voice came again but Mizuki tried to pay it no heed.

"We need to get back." Mizuki whispered to Rai who was bundled tightly in her arms.

Emora:

Rai hugged Mizuki tightly and didn't want to let go. She was warm. Rai was so cold and she was shivering from both that and fear. The bad things had almost had her. "I'm cold," she said rather absentmindedly. For some reason she felt drained... as if those creatures had sucked the energy from her. Her eyes were half closed and she looked like she was falling a sleep.

"Mizuki... they'll come after us..." she said and opened her eyes quickly to look back where the monsters had fallen... but they were gone.

Soran:

Soran trudged through the snow and looked down. A pair of small, fresh footprints lay in the snow up ahead, quickly filling with whiteness. The rogue took off in the direction of the prints, Diesel and Tora close behind. Soran could faintly make out a figure in the snow up ahead. He jogged toward it, thinking it was Mizuki, but when he arrived there the figure had vanished. No prints marred the snow where he had seen her standing. He made his way back to the tracks, but they had become too filled with snow to make out. He picked up his pace and continued in the direction the prints had seemed to be heading, becoming more and more uncomfortable with the situation.

Mizuki:

"I know." Mizuki held Rai tighter. It was so cold and she began to shiver. She was well aware of the fact that more may come.

"We've got to...get...away!" Mizuki struggled but since it was so cold she couldn't move. 'We're going to freeze to death here!' she thought panicking. "The Fates are too cruel!"

"Which is why you wont die again....." the corpse's voice and image came. But once again it took the form of Soran mixed with Luc.

"W-Why a-are y-you d-doing t-this?" she asked him shivering but he made no reply as he began to cast a spell. 'Mizuki he will take you and Rai away!' a warning voice went off in her head. 'I know, but I can't move and Rai's too tired!' she thought, answering the forboding voice. She began to feel herself and Rai disappear so she cried out with all the force she could manage.

"Soran! Someone! Help us! He's taking us away! Please hear me!"

Emora:

"Mizuki..." Ria said faintly and used all her strength to stay awake. Why was she so tired. "Mizuki... I feel weird..." she said and held Mizuki tight hugging her and pressing her cheek against her. She opened her eyes slightly and looked up at her.

"Mizuki!" Rai said as loud as she could manage as darkness closed around and she faded off. "Don't leave!" she said and then, darkness came and she fell into slumber.

Soran:

"Soran! Someone! Help us! He's taking us away! Please hear me!"

Sirens went off in the rogue’s head as he heard Mizuki’s desperate scream clearly off to his left. She was very close… He took off in the direction of the sound, darting through the trees until they suddenly opened up and he almost tripped over Mizuki, who was crouched shiveringly in the snow, Rai wrapped protectively in her arms. Her lips were turning blue from the cold…but she seemed to be fading. Soran gritted his teeth as Mizuki and Rai seemed to be fading from existence in front of him.

“Mizuki!” he shouted breathlessly, hoping the half-transparent woman could hear him.

Mizuki:

The man casting the spell opened his eyes and sneered. "The one named Luc has many memories of you." he said abruptly startling Soran. "You seemed to have stolen the one we have loved but..." he smiled like mad. "She will be ours again." The man thrusted his hand forward blasting Soran off his feet with the wind.

The man walked forward to Soran still grinning like he had won. "You shouldn't have come, I was going to avoid causalties for the sake of the two, but you just got in my way."

Mizuki opened her one eye and found Rai, a fading image, to be out in slumber. She too, was fading. She saw Soran being advanced one, but she could do nothing.

"S-Soran.... please don't give up." she managed to say before they completly faded.

Soran:

OOC: Whoah, this is getting interesting.

Soran was taken off guard by the invisible force that hurled him to the ground. He pushed himself back into a sitting position, waist-deep in snow. He could no longer see Mizuki and Rai. Turning to Diesel and Tora, who had been behind him, his eyes darkened as he found they were disappearing too.

“Soran, what the hell’s going on?” Diesel shouted, keeping the panic out of his voice.

“If you’re taken to the same place, protect Mizuki and Rai,” Soran instructed solemnly, pushing back up to his feet as he found himself alone with… himself? No, it was Luc, and then it was Soran again. Finally its form stabilized and became a perfect resemblance of Mizuki, save for the twisted sneer across its face.

[Soran Nightblade]

Mizuki:

Mizuki's darkness began to fade and she found herself in a tower on a bed alone with Rai. Rai was still asleep and cold so Mizuki wraped the blankets on the bed around her.

"Where are we?" Mizuki whispered. Deisel and Tora finally appeared and they had a reunion of hugging and tears.. mixed with surpressed fear.

"But where is Soran?" Mizuki asked.

"He's... still back there with....that person..." Deisel managed to say.

"No...." Mizuki whispered in panick and fear. Back with Soran and the creature that took on Mizuki's form, the creature sneered.

"You know, maybe I will kill you. For the sake of having an actual body." the creature laughed. "Because my old one just wont do anymore." It then quickly changed back into the corpse throwing off Soran. He purposely gave off the stench of rotting flesh to make Sran queasy. "Now you know what Mizuki was talking about."

Emora:

In Rai's mind she was having fitful dreams as her energy seemed to drain more and more....

There was darkness all around her, smothering her. She couldn't see anything or any one. She was all alone. Toby wasn't there and he wasn't coming. She didn't want to be alone, but no one was there. She saw Mizuki... She was standing off in the distance and as Rai ran to her she smiled, glad to find some one. But, as soon as she was reaching for Mizuki she disappeared. Some one called her name. She turned and it was her daddy. "Daddy?" Rai asked and smiled. "Daddy!" She ran to him as fast as she could, wanting to be in his protective arms again. She missed him so much. But as soon as he had lifted her up he was some one else. A man she didn't know... He looked familiar... yet not familiar. "'Ello Jaylee..." Then he changed into those horrible looking corpse things and she screamed. She tried getting herself awake... but couldn't. She began begging for help, but none came....

"Daddy?" Rai asked in her sleep as her head turned to the side. It was a faint sound, a tired sound. Then, it was clear that something was going wrong in her dreams... she was jerking and making frightened sounds. "I'm not Jaylee, leave me along...." She seemed to be fighting some one in her dreams. "I'm Rai! I'm Rai! Help..." the last part was faint as her energy felt drained again...

Soran:

Soran felt his stomach turn at the overpowering stench. “Where did you take them,” he demanded, bringing his blades up readily at his sides. He tried to think of what this thing could be. If it was an illusion, it was one that could affect all of his senses. He wondered dimly if Leon would know.

Ceron:

Leon is torn, he can't decide which group of friends to help. If he goes now he can find where Mizuki and the others are taken, but he's not sure that Soran can take on this being by himself... But if he goes to Soran they might lose the others.

"WHY MUST I CHOOSE!!!" He jumps head first down and slams his fist into the beings skull not sure what it will do... "Soran, I'm here to help."

OOC: Not sure if we should make this an illusion or what, ill let that be someone elses decision.

Mizuki:

Mizuki felt the small child begin to twist and turn frightfully in her sleep.

"Rai? Rai it's ok!" she tried to sooth the child and wondered what was happening to Soran now...

"I took them home." said the being. "The child Rai will soon be my child once again, those other two...I have no idea what I'll do with them yet but we'll see soon, and the woman... who has been 'wonderfully' rumored as your's Nightblade, will be my wife.... again."The being sneered at Soran waiting for his reaction.

But as he said that a fist slammed into its head and the creature crumpled to the ground. His illusion fell and everyone was back were they were.

OOC: sorry about that Ceron. didn't realize you meant to hit him. lol yes yes, i know...quite easy..but...the things a dead corpse! Lol

Soran:

Soran saw the others reappear in the places they had originally been, apparently unharmed. He walked over to the creature’s form lying on the ground. The fight had been too easy. There was some sort of catch.

“I took them home…Rai will soon be my child once again…and the woman... who has been 'wonderfully' rumored as your's Nightblade, will be my wife.... again." The creature’s words lingered in Soran’s mind. He pondered their meaning as he reached down and turned the creature’s body over to look into its face. His expression hardened as a pair of wide-open eyes and a deranged smirk greeted him from the corpse’s face.

“Now honestly,” the creature sneered, “you didn’t think it would be that easy?” he roared, firing another burst of magical energy with a tiny flick of the hand that threw Soran roughly backwards into Leon.

Ceron:

Leon is startled by Soran's flying body. "What the hell?" He sees the body on the ground still moving. "Damn, that is a strong willed dead guy..." After getting up from being knocked down by Soran, he helps Soran get up. 'I really don't need this...' Leon thinks to himself.

Leon then gets into a fighting stance. "Let's get this walking corpse..."

Mizuki:

"Of course..." said the creature getting up and rearranging itself, "you did make the illusion die. I congradulate[sp?] you." The creature began to come closer to Soran and Leon who defends him.

Mizuki still held Rai but she quickly put the child in Deisel's arms and sprinted towards the creature who predicited her movement and welcomed her with open arms. Mizuki had hurled herself at the creature and they both hit the snow hard, the creature holding her.

"Missed me, eh?" the creature now once again held the form of Soran mixed with Luc and smiled at Mizuki. Mizuki pounded his chest.

"You fowl, vile creature!" she yelled. "Leave us be!"

Soran:

Soran felt anger and disgust rise in his chest as the creature embraced Mizuki and they lay together on the ground. The creature appeared to be both Luc and Soran, a combination that sorely offended the rogue. “You fowl, vile creature!” she yelled, pounding its chest, “Leave us be!” Soran rushed over to it and brought his blade menacingly up against its throat. The creature abruptly took on the exact same form as Mizuki, and then rolled to the side, throwing up a cloud of snow. When the whiteness cleared, Soran could no longer identify which Mizuki was which. He stood at bay, trying to decide which one to attack.


Mizuki:

OOC: ooooh tricky....lol

Mizuki stood uncomfortably next to the creature who took on her form. 'No...' she thought desparatly.

"Well Soran which one am I?" the creatures voice rung in his ear but he did not speak a word.

"Soran this one's the imposter!" the real Mizuki said pointing to her right. But then the fake one pointed right back.

"You've traveled with me long enough to know who I am!" said the imposter.

Ceron:

Leon suddenly gets an idea. "All of you, hold for a second, I have an idea." He starts walking over to both of them. "Please come here, and may I apologize to the real Mizuki."

OOC: Only Mizuki shoud respond to this one. and I'm sorry but hey, this may get interesting.

Mizuki:

Both follow Leon. The imposter and the real one followed to where Leon went.

"Leon!" the real Mizuki shouted. "You know it's me yes?!"

"Silence you imposter!" the fasle Mizuki roared. But who could tell who was who?

Ceron:

Leon stops and faces them. "I am sorry, but to find out, I must do something I will regret. I must ask you two to turn around..." As they turn around, he slaps both of their butts and awaits there reaction.

OOC: I regret doing this, because I regret being an ass...

Soran:

OOC: LMAO hahahahhahahahhahahhaahaah

Soran blinked and stared blankly at Leon. He hadn’t seen that one coming.

Mizuki:

The real Mizuki becomes overtempered at the action and springs out at Leon. She pounds him to the ground forgetting why he did it and everything else while the false one delays in its action but then soon joins.

"How dare you do that Leon!" Mizuki [the real one] said slapping him like crazy.

OOC: -dies laughing-

Ceron:

"Good, that worked well. The one that hessitated is the false Mizuki, GET IT!!!" He then starts to try to restrain Mizuki, but not getting much leway... "I am sorry for all of this, but it was for your own good..."

OOC: That was a great response Soran lol

Mizuki:

Mizuki is praticaly growling at Leon but suddenly stops.

"You're dead later Leon." she said glaring at him and they heard the creature's retreating feet. "Don't let him go!!"

Ceron:

"If I didn't do that, Soran would have tried to hurt you. I resent what I did but i would have resented haveing you get hurt even worse." He gets up and helps Mizuki up as well. Leon also gets ready to fight the corpse.

Soran:

“The one that hesitated is the false Mizuki, GET IT!” Leon shouted, still grappling with the enraged half elf. Soran turned to the remaining Mizuki, who was backing away. Soran went after her, pinning the illusion roughly against a tree and holding his blade against its throat.

“Why, Soran? I loved you…” the fake cried, looking up at him with tears in her eyes.

Soran’s arm shook slightly, somehow unwilling to follow his brain’s instructions and slit her throat. ~’It’s a fake. This is the fake,’~ he insisted to himself, forcing his arm forward, driving the blade through the creature’s neck. But the form that had been in front of him dispersed into thin air, and all that remained was a dark laughter that floated through the air into all of their ears. “He was willing to kill you, Mizuki. Just remember that. I’ll be back for you later,” said the voice, and then it disappeared without a trace.


Mizuki:

"Why, Soran? I loved you…" the fake had cried. Mizuki froze. It felt like something stabbed her and then the worst. “He was willing to kill you, Mizuki. Just remember that. I’ll be back for you later,” its voice rang out with its hideous laughter.

' ''I loved you.'' ' the words rang in Mizuki's head as she tried to figure out why it said that and more. Shaking with anger at Leon still, and the events, she walked over to Deisel who held Rai still and looked at the child.

"Are you alright Mizuki?'' Deisel asked her putting a free arm about her shoulders.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just cold." she answered, but she was far from fine. Day was closing in on them and she felt like they had gotten no sleep.

"Well let's get inside and put you all finally to bed."

"Wait..." Mizuki walked out of Deisel one armed embrace and walked to Soran who still seemed to stand at where he had pinned the creature.

Soran:

Soran was still looking absently at the place where “Mizuki” had been before he slit her throat. The creature’s voice rang darkly in his ears. “He was willing to kill you…” Anger and unfamiliar pain were building in the rogue’s chest. He turned unreadably to Mizuki as he heard her approach.

Mizuki:

Mizuki bit her lower lip. She was nervous and didn't know what to say. She held out a quivering hand to him.

"Soran... that monster... we know it does tricks s-so... pay no heed to it..." she stumbled. She was scared how he would react to her now. 'I don't even know where or who that monster is and came from.' she thought.

"Let's go back to the inn and get rest..... please don't hate me. For you have saved my life more than once, I owe you much." she added in a whisper.

Ceron:

He hangs back from the conversations. 'I know there was another way, but I couldn't take the chance that Mizuki could be hurt... I know I have just met them, but I feel that I am closer to them than I have been to anyone in my long life... I should have found another way to tell them apart... This corpse must be a damn good illusionist to fool me...' Leon is very torn at this time and if someone came to him he wouldn't answer them.

Soran:

Soran looked at her, a question lingering in his eyes that he couldn’t put into words.
Then, as if he’d just been woken up, he pulled his sleeves firmly back over his armblades and prepared to make the return trip to the inn. The snow was falling thickly, but between Diesel’s knowledge of the area and Soran’s eyesight they could still make it back.

Mizuki:

Mizuki slightly smiled but was still sadened that he didn't answer her. She bit her lip again, unaware of the slight blood she surface and went to Leon who stood by himself.

"L-Leon?" she asked putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, it's just how I am with that sort of contact...." She looked at his impassive face and bit her lip harder. "Please forgive me as I have forgiven you....."

Ceron:

Leon replies quietly "...there must have been another way..." He remains mostly unresponsive except for that statement.

OOC: Mizuki, he is in shock lol yeah, your butt was that good. lol sorry it had to be said and I know its wrong but i know Mizuki OOC. All I have to say is... "Damn LAWYERS!!!"

Mizuki:

OOC: lmao. physco

Mizuki takes his hand and tries to lead him back to the inn. "Maybe Leon, but the way you had picked was much faster...and effective." She tries not to laugh and hides a smile. She was laughing at herself.

"Oh, please don't worry about it. What's done is done."

Ceron:

Leon is still in his own world but he does follow them.

OOC: sorry its such a small post but he is kinda not really doing much lol.

Emora:

Rai groaned and shifted slightly in Deisel's arms. Her eyes opened and she looked up at him tiredly. She didn't say anything for a while, but when she did speak she startled him, she guessed he didn't know she was awake. "Is every one alright?" she asked softly.

"Every one's just fine," he said and smiled at her.

"Did Soran kick his butt?" she asked and his smile grew.

Mizuki:

Deisel smiled at the little girl.

"We got 'im." he said. "Of course Mizuki got the bad 'end' of it." [OOC: heh...pun..] Deisel smiled to himself and received a whack on the back of the head by Mizuki who caught up with everyone with Leon behind her.

"You leave that part of the battle out of the story." she said sternly with some hinted humor in her voice. It was actually pretty funny now.

Emora:

Rai giggled despite her tired feeling and the feeling as if it wasn't completely over. "He's not gone is he," she said and she fidgeted for a moment. "May I get down?" she asked polited and Deisel put her down gently. "Thank you."

"I'm sorry... I fell a sleep at a bad time," she said and smiled slightly. She looked up at them and smiled.

Mizuki:

"Do not worry Rai," Mizuki said, "it's gone for now and now we must rest." Mizuki smiled and looked to Soran biting her lip more.

"Mizuki...your bleeding." Deisel said pointing to her lip.

"Oh..." Mizuki put a finger to her lip and looked at it. Yup, she bit it hard enough to bleed. She didn't really fuss over it though. She just stared off in Soran's direction with sadness in her eyes. She was unsure of what would happen next now.

Soon they entered the inn again with little difficulty of finding and once again they all retired to their rooms, but Mizuki stopped Soran before they entered theirs.

"Soran I...." she didn't know what to say. So she said what she thought was right. "I don't know who that creature is or was, but I do know as well as you that he will be back. But if it weren't for you and the others, me and Rai might have still been in his clutches and we thank you." Quickly, so not to have it last too long, Mizuki kissed his cheek and hurried back into her room.

Mizuki's breath was short and she felt somewhat flushed and tired. 'Was that a smart thing to do?' she thought to herself.

Soran:

Soran climbed the stairs of the inn, feeling numb from the cold. He was still thinking about ‘killing’ Mizuki. Why was he still thinking about it? He wondered how Mizuki had felt about what the creature had said before it disappeared. She had said all those friendly words to him, but somehow… He frowned and turned the key in the lock to his room. It wasn’t like him to be paranoid about something like this. He looked quizzically at Mizuki when she stopped in the doorway and turned back to him.

"Soran I....I don't know who that creature is or was, but I do know as well as you that he will be back. But if it weren't for you and the others, me and Rai might have still been in his clutches and we thank you."

Soran blinked, heart beating erratically as he felt her warm lips briefly press against his cheek. Forgetting to breathe for a moment, he watched in astonishment as she rushed away into her room and closed the door. After he entered his room and locked the door safely behind him, he reached up and touched his face hesitantly and suddenly realized how exhausted he was. Stripping off his snow-soaked clothes, he pulled a blanket around himself and fell asleep on the floor.

Emora:

Rai sat on her bed. She looked around. Something was missing... "Toby!" Rai said and grew very worried. "Toby!" She rushed to the window and looked out. She couldn't see any one, the storm had gotten worst.

She looked about with a worried expression on her face. She turned quickly and went to run to the door. "I have to look for Toby!" She ran to the door and reached up for the door knob.

Mizuki:

Mizuki grabbed the little girl before she reached the door.

"Hold on there kid!" she said. "Toby is missing?" Mizuki sighed, she wasn't about to have everyone go out there again but....

"Maybe the wolf's inside? I don't think the wolf would go out there now in this weather." Mizuki was concerned of course, but was the wolf was smart enough to not go out in this weather. Right?

Emora:

Rai looked at Mizuki. "He went outside with me, he never leaves me alone unless I'm with some one who can protect me..." she said and sighed heavily. "It's not a good idea to go back outside I know, but I'm worried about Toby. What if he got lost in the snow..."

She wanted to so badly to run out into the storm again and look for him but decided against it. She didn't want to risk everyone again. "Can I look for him in the morning?" she asked Mizuki kindly with a hopeful look in her eyes.

Ceron:

After being torn with the ordeals of the past hour. "There were other choices, but they wouldn't have been as fast or as safe... But I still regret doing it. She did forgive me right?" He is standing in the hallway outside of everyone's room not sure of where to go. He sees Toby in the storm, "Now what is that wolf doing out there..." Leon then walks out to find the noble beast.

Emora:

Toby was finding it easier to get around now that the snow was actually lessening or so it seemed to him. He couldn't smell anything.... it was deadening. The worst thing was he had lost Rai some where. No one knew that Toby the wolf was actually an eleven shape-shifter named Cargen Rall, who had been sent to protect Rai. She was a special child and only a few creatures knew that. Most of them were demons. He wondered towards the place he had last seen her, hoping she was alright.

Ceron:

Leon is walking around in the snow shouting "TOBY!!! WHERE ARE YOU? TOBY!" He thinks he hears the wolf over by where the ordeal had occered, but he wasn't sure. "Man its cold out here... I hope I find Toby soon."

Emora:

Rai couldn't sleep. She was so used to having Toby's comforting presence that it just felt weird for him not to be there. Maybe it was also because that bad thing had almost gotten herself and Mizuki. She wondered why the bad things wanted her and Mizuki... Rai slept on her side watching the door, hoping the bad thing wouldn't come back... If he did she wouldn't go to sleep this time.

Toby had heard the calling of his name and followed the sound. He was close enough though the wind had carried it a little off. He could actually see the person calling his name. It was the "bird man." Toby barked three times to let him know he was near.

Mizuki:

Mizuki sighed, she wanted to look for the wolf but, they'd be outside again and might get caught, again. She didn't want to risk it. 'Besides, it's a wolf.' she thought trying to reassure herself. 'He can take care of himself... right?'

She heard the barking from outside and bolted upright. 'Toby?' She didn't want to wake Rai who seemed to be sleeping, so she crept out of bed as quietly as she could and went downstairs. UNfortuantly Deisel found her first.

"And what do ya think you're doing?" he said.

"I thought I heard...Toby?" she said hesitating. Deisel nodded and walked outside with her. Sure enough, Toby was a yard or so away.

"Oh!" Mizuki called out. "TOBY! Rai's waiting inside!"

Emora:

Toby ignored the man completely when he heard from a voice that Rai was inside. He charged at the door, running passed them and up the stares, then into the room. He jumped up onto the bed and sniffed Rai. She woke and threw her arms around Toby's neck "Toby!" she said and giggled when he licked her cheek. He looked her over and plopped down in her lap when he knew that she was alright. "Hehe... you have snow all in your fur..."

Mizuki:

Mizuki and Deisel smiled and Mizuki yawned.

"You'd better get to bed girl." Deisel said. Mizuki agreed and headed towards the stairs with Deisel staring after. Dawn was getting close and she wasn't ready. She stripped herself down to her under garments and burrowed under her covers falling into a fast, deep sleep.

OOC: Someone can start the next day hours later now if they want...

Emora:

Early the next morning Rai was up out of her bed and running down the steps into the common room. She climbed up on a stool at the bar and sat down, looking over the counter to Deisel. She smiled and looked at him with a cheery expression.

"Good morning!"

Ceron:

Leon stretches in the hallway after a night of barely any sleep. "Man, I knew I should have gotten a room..." He walks down to the lobby and orders a drink. "My neck..." he cracks his neck to try to unstiffen it.

Emora:

Rai drank her milk and looked over at the new guy who had come down. He looked just like the bird/man that had scared her that day. She looked at him curiously for a moment and tilted her head. "Do you shape shift?" she asked her question out of the blue with as much curiosity as she was thinking with.

Rai was a cute little girl, but she had a habit of asking things out of no where to catch people of guard. They usually answered or just looked at her blankly. She found it funny and loved doing it.

Mizuki:

Mizuki was still in bed. Sound asleep and in a dreamless, yet peacefull sleep. Of course she had thrown her covers somewhat off herself showing her middrift but she was in too deep a sleep to noticed.

Ceron:

A little stunned at the strange question he answers truthfully. "Actually I don't, now where did you get that idea?" He is a little confused because he thought no one new that he was the little raven... To the bartender he says "I'll have another rum please."

Emora:

"Just wondering..." she said and grinned. She sat there quietly for a moment not doing anything but drinking her milk until she could barely hold in her curiosity any more. She turned to him and asked. "So how did you turn into the bird?" She looked at him, her cute smile on her smooth face and her eyes bright with humor, curiosity, and innocents... everything that was in a child’s eyes. But, there was a certain other something cause by seeing things that no child should at such a young age.

Ceron:

"I didn't... it was an illusion." By this point, he has stoped drinking his rum. "You know, you have a lot of curiosity, even for a little girl... Something tells me your not like other kids." Leon is looking right at her now, not even touching his rum anymore.

Emora:

Rai giggled and grinned. "I'm just a little girl... nothing more," she said and took the last sip of her milk. Rai looked out the window and noticed that the sun was shinning on the newly fallen snow and it was a pretty day outside.

"Can you make yourself look like a bunny?" Rai asked and giggled again feeling very light hearted this morning. She felt like the snow was calling her though. She wanted to go play in it so badly. "Or can you only do certain things?"

Ceron:

"I can do many things..." He smiles as he starts to chant. Suddenly he seems to turn into a rabbit. And many other rabbits seem to jump out of him. "How is that?" The rabbit seems to say.

Emora:

"Wow!" Rai said and hopped off the stool smiling in amazement and reaching up a hand to touch the rabbits. "I wanna know how to do that!" Rai said and grinned up at the rabbit. "I bet it's hard though..."

Ceron:

"Actually its very easy, the hard part is getting people to believe them." Thinks back to a few of his earlier tries and unconciously laughs.

Emora:

"Is that why I saw you and your bird form?" Rai asked making the long climb to sit back on her stool. "Or did you mean for me to see you?" She looked at him for a moment, remembering that she had been looking at the bird before that, feeling something about him that wasn't right. "Did you know that I knew that you weren't what you really were?"

Ceron:

Taken aback at this little child seeing through his illusion. "You really are a special child. It is very hard to see through my illusions. You have a special gift, never forget that." He drains his rum and walks back to wake up the rest of the crew.

Emora:

Rai giggled and watched him leave. She hopped off her stool and looked at Deisel. "I'm going to play in the snow!" she ran to the door and opened it, then ran out side.

Rai giggled and fell back in the snow, waving her arms and legs in it. She stood up and looked down and saw that the shape she had made was a snow angel. She picked up some snow and through it into the air. She laughed spinning around in a circle under it.

Soran:

Soran woke abruptly from his sleep, which had been dreamless as always. He sat up and pushed his hair out of his face. Mechanically he got up and washed and dressed, then walked out into the hall, where he noted Leon walking in the opposite direction.


Mizuki:

Mizuki made an unconcious sound from within her throat and stumbled awake falling to the floor.

THUMP!

"OW!" she cried stirring Tora who absently threw a pillow at her. The tiger still layed where he was undisturbed. Mizuki sat up on the floor in the confusion of blankets surrounding her half naked frame. Her hair was a jumbled mess and needed to be combed. Mizuki yawned and streched before getting back on the bed.

Slowly she made her way to the bathroom and fixed herself. Combing her hair and washing her face and getting dressed. Back in her kimono she headed downstairs for breakfast, she was still sleepy and looked like she was sleep walking. Absently she walks to the bar and sits down not saying "hello" or "good morning" to anyone.

Deisel smiles and goes to prepare something for her.

Emora:

Rai through some snow into the air again and spun under it. She began to ball up snow, rolling it and making a big ball. Then she made another ball and put it on top of that one. Then she made a smaller ball and put it on that one, it almost fell apart, but she managed. She picked two acorns for the eyes and then rocks for the mouth, these she had to dig through the snow to find. When she was finished she had an armless and noseless snow man because she couldn't find anything for them with out going close to the woods and she didn't want to do that.

She sat down in the snow, but it was beginning to make her all damp. "Toby!" she said and smiled when she pulled her hand up and petted the wolfs head. "Toby, what should we make now?" She giggled and hugged the wolf tightly.

Ceron:

Leon notices Soran and Mizuki are awake, even though one might be a little less awake than the other. "Hmm... so that leaves Tora, and that tiger... where ever they got that thing from..." Now that he knows who is awake, he heads back down to the bar after checking in on Tora to make sure she is fine.

Soran:

Soran went down to the bar as well and looked around to find almost everybody up. Mizuki was there too, but he didn’t see Rai with her. He scanned the room, wondering where she was. He raised an eyebrow at Mizuki quizzically as he sat down at the bar and ordered a drink, only just noticing her trancelike state. “What planet is she on,” he said almost jokingly, looking back at Leon, who he had finally begun to accept.

Mizuki:

Mizuki heard the joke but was still very tired. So she thrusted her fist into his arm and resumed eating her meal that Deisel kindely gave her.

"Where is Rai?" was all Mizuki said souding almost drone like.

"She went outside to play. The wolf is with her." Deisel simply answered.

Soran:

Soran glanced at his assaulted arm idly as he finished his drink. The concept of playing in the snow still seemed absurd to him. He stood and crossed to the window, looking outside. Rai was running around laughing, covered in snow from head to toe. It was the same snow that had brought him within inches of death so many winters during his time in the wilderness. He watched the child skeptically, intrigued by the sheer absurdity of her behavior.

Emora:

Rai skipped around, kicking up snow with her feet. She giggled and skipped in a circle singing a song about pirates that her mom had taught her. "I'd like to be a pirate!" she said and stopped, smashing a mound of snow with her feet. "If only you could see!" She spun around in a circle laughing. "I'd like to be a pirate where could always be free!" She fell down into the snow laughing.

She sighed and rubbed Toby's head.

"That was a cute song little one," and old lady said and smiled down at Rai.

Rai sat up and looked at the old woman. "My mommy taught it to me," Rai told her and grinned. She stood up and dusted herself off.

"You're a very pretty little girl," the old woman said and motioned for her to come towards her. "I've got something here just for you."

Rai looked at her and tilted her head. She followed the woman, and Toby followed too, though a little weary. "Would you like to see you mother again?" the old woman asked, but how did she know that her mother was missing. The old woman's face contorted and she began to turn into an ugly beast in broad day light!

Rai turned and fled as quickly as possible, when she turned around to see if she was being followed there was no one there. She and Toby were the only people outside.

Soran:

Soran was watching when Rai seemed to suddenly become frightened and run back towards the inn. She looked back over her shoulder and suddenly stopped, as though whatever had upset her had disappeared. Frowning, the rogue opened the door and stepped outside, walking through the snow towards Rai, searching in the direction she had run from but seeing nothing alarming.

Emora:

Rai saw Soran and smiled despite the eerie feeling she had. She walked up to him and grabbed his with her small one and held it. With him and Toby around she knew no bad thing could get her. "Soran, how old do you have to be to become crazy?" she asked wondering if she was going crazy for seeing the old woman turn into that thing. She looked up at him, her eyes had something hiding behind them, but she pushed her feelings down.

She looked behind her at the place where the old woman had been. “Would you like to play with me in the snow?” Playing made her feel better, not to mention she had a feeling he knew something was wrong with her and she didn’t want him to think that.

Ceron:

"I wonder what Soran is looking for..." Leon then gets up and walks outside too. "What's wrong Soran?"

Soran:

Soran looked at her, suspicious that she was hiding something. He didn’t know how to play in snow, nor had he memories of any time he’d played at all. “Why would I do such a foolish—” He was interrupted from his retort as Rai pulled on his hand with a disarming smile.

Emora:

"It's easy!" Rai said and laughed as she stepped away from Soran and picked up a ball of snow. "You just get snow and throw it!" she said and through the snow at Soran hitting him at the shoulder. She giggled and picked up some more snow, throwing it at Leon. Another giggled and she waited to se what they were going to do.

She picked up some snow and balled it up. "See! Fun!" She giggled.

Soran:

Soran backed away uncomfortably from the snowball, but tripped over a strange structure that appeared to consist of three rounded balls of snow stacked on top of one another. Falling onto his back, he looked up at Leon with a hilarious look that screamed “Save me.”

Ceron:

Leon starts to laugh as he gets hit with the snowball. "Now that does look like fun." He smiles as he picks up some snow, and starts to juggle the snow.

Emora:

Rai ran over to Soran and looked down at him with the snow ball in her small hands, it was a funny site to see her small hands holding such a big ball of snow. She gasped and looked around. "Ooh... you killed him!" she said and looked all around at her smashed masterpiece. "Poor Snowy..." she sounded sad for a moment. "He was a good snow man... fair the well, Snowy... Any ways!" she smiled and smashed the snow ball on him. "We can make another Snowy! And yes by we I mean you, me and Leon if he wants to help! But, you will help..." She smiled and went to her knees beside him. "It's good for brooding people, making snow men that is."

Soran:

Soran blinked as a huge ball of snow flopped onto his head. ~’Brooding people? I’m not brooding…’~ Brooding, he curled a ball of snow in his hands and chucked it lightly at Rai.

OOC: Dang, I need to go out for a bit, I'll be back around 8:30 (it's 7:40 here now). Sorry, I'll come back asap.

Emora:

She giggled when the cold snow hit her and she closed her eyes. "See, you catch on quick!" She threw some more snow at Leon and Soran and ran around to hide behind a pile of it. She hid there as if no one had seen her go there and she covered her mouth to keep herself form giggling to hard. She peeked over the top of the mound looking at them.

Toby was lying down with his head rested on his paws watching with interest to see if Rai could best the two men. He had seen the little girl do some remarkable things in her time...

Soran:

Soran climbed back onto his feet as Rai hid behind a mound of snow. He sort of understood. “Hiding won’t save you!” he said darkly, gathering a wad of snow and stalking toward her position.

Before he could reach there, another snowball caught him in the back of his neck. Soran turned a roguish glare on the culprit and decided to use his ammo on Leon instead. He watched the snowball break into a puff against Leon’s shoulder.

Emora:

Rai giggled when she saw that herself and Leon were double teaming Soran. She rose up a little and took some snow in both hands and through it at Soran, one missed and hit the ground, but the other hit him in the butt. She laughed and hid again in case he turned around. She covered her mouth again, giggling into her hand as she peeked over the mound.

Soran:

The rogue had no intention of losing, despite his odds. Soran wheeled around and ran toward Rai, swiping a ball of snow off a bench as he went. Towering over her dugout, he prepared to fire, green eyes glowing triumphantly.

Unfortunately, instead he was bowled to the side by an absurdly large hunk of snow. Soran glared up at Diesel, who had come outside and apparently attacked with the remains of Rai’s snowman. The rogue’s eyes narrowed, glinting evilly. Now it was war.

Emora:

Rai saw Soran towering over her and she covered her giggling mouth. She couldn't help it. He was giving her the giggles. Did he know he was covered in snow. "You have snow on your butt!" she laughed as he prepared to fire. Then, before he could a large snow ball hit him in the side. She used this time to go right up by his side and take snow. She pulled on the edge of his pants and dropped snow down, then ran towards Toby for her life. She had done it to her father many times and found it hilarious. She fell to the ground, turning quickly on her knees to see what would happen.

Soran:

Soran’s eyes widened as freezing cold snow fell down his pants. He turned vengefully on Rai, who was running toward Toby. She tripped and flopped down into the snow, then turned toward him grinningly. The rogue overtook her and grabbed her by the legs, lifting her up upside down. Carrying her over to a huge powdery snowdrift half his height, he flopped Rai into it, sending up a big cloud of snow.

Emora:

Rai giggled and laughed when Soran picked her up and dropped her into a pile of soft wet snow. She stayed down for a moment, before poking her head out, snow all in her hair and covered her clothes. She threw handful after handful at him hitting him every where she could, finally aiming right and getting him on the forehead. She covered her mouth and ducked down inside the snow she was in for cover.

She had almost forgotten about the scary old lady and snow fighting with them caused her to begin to.

Soran:

Soran dodged Rai’s attacks as best he could, batting some of the snowballs out of the way with his arms, getting hit by the rest. He gathered up snow for a counterattack as Rai burrowed back into the snowdrift and held it over his head. Poised over the pile, he waited for her to stick her head out.

The rogue suddenly dropped the snowball, his expression changing completely. Before him was no longer a snow pile, but Mizuki, staring up at him in terror with a bloody throat, clutching Rai protectively in her arms as though he were about to murder her. There was no mistaking that the gash across Mizuki’s neck was from his armblade…

Soran straightened and stepped back slowly, his face empty of expression. He shook his head, knowing what he was seeing couldn’t be real. “Go ahead, kill them. You’ve done it once already,” murmured a fuzzy male voice in his head. Noticing the offensive position of his arm, Soran brought it back down to his side. Then the vision abruptly faded and he was facing the snowdrift again. The rogue’s gaze hardened. He glanced around at the others, who apparently hadn’t seen anything unusual. He kept silent, seeing no point in alarming the group in the middle of such a light-hearted mood.

Emora:

Raipoked her head out at the moment Soran went all funny on her. Not funny in a good way either. To her he looked a little pale... and his face was all screwed up. She came out of her whole that Soran had so delightfully made for her when he dropped her into the snow. She walked up to him and tugged on his pants. "Did you see the scary old woman?" she asked in a whisper. She knew something was wrong with him, but she didn't know what it could be, natually she thought it could be the scary old woman.

Soran:

Soran frowned and kneeled in front of Rai. So something had happened before. It was enraging enough that whatever they had encountered last night was messing with his mind and Mizuki’s but Rai was just a child. “What did you see?” he asked seriously.

Emora:

Rai looked at him and then at the snow. "It was an old woman. She heard me singing my pirate song and then she told me she had something from me. She said I was pretty and then said she could take me to see my mother again... Then she turned into something scary... a monster... I ran from her, but when I turned around she was gone..." She looked at Soran. "I don't think it was what tried to take us away... I think it was one of the bad things that took my parents away..." She shivered slightly, a feeling running down her spine. She leaned towards him and whispered. "I think there coming..."

Soran:

“I think they’re coming…”

Soran was slightly disturbed by the tone in Rai’s voice. Mizuki knew much more about her past than he did, but her voice seemed achingly mature as though she had seen many things a child should not have seen. He decided he believed her analysis of the situation.

“You don’t need to worry about them,” he said after a pause. “We wouldn’t have brought you if we couldn’t keep you safe,” he said casually, standing up and dropping a wad of snow on her head.

Emora:

Rai watched him rize and felt cold snow hit her head. She waited a moment and the giggled, lunging forward and hugging his legs... basically because that was all she could reach. She looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you, Soran... for playing in the snow with me," she said softly and her smile was a happy one again. Before she let him go she dropped another handful of snow down his pants before turning to run away.

Soran:

Soran’s expression tightened as he fell for the same trick a second time. He grabbed a ball of snow and threw it after Rai, pegging her a little harder than he should have. Still, he couldn’t resist being amused when she flopped face-first in the snow, her legs stuck up above her head. The rogue smirked in satisfaction, then was suddenly smacked backward by another huge snowball from Diesel. Soran gave the werewolf a death-glare that compelled him to hold his hands up in front of his chest in a position of surrender.

Soran’s face was stern, but inside he was actually smiling. He felt like the lightheartedness he was taking part in was not meant for him, as though it was only a matter of time before he would end up paying some heavy price for it, but for the moment he held onto the unfamiliar feeling.

Emora:

Rai rolled over and looked at Soran for a moment with a childishly evil glare. She had an idea about stick more snow down his pants, but decided against it. She thought the joke got old after a while... if you did it on the same person. She snuck up behind Leon and did it to him with an extra large ball of snow. Then she ran to Deisel and did it to him. She laughed and giggled before hiding behind another mound of snow, prepared to hold up her fort if they attacked. While waiting on there attack she began her bombardment on Soran with snow balls as large as she could throw.

Sakura:

Tora watched the entire snow scene from the window of her room. She hibernated under a heap of blankets, but even all this could not take away the chill from her bones.

Ever since she came here, shes laid back a little, not getting really into situations. She felt somewhat detached...

Somewhat hungry...

Her stomach whimpered from time to time but it was nothing to worry about. It would take months to get back into the condition she was in.

Tora, after summoning all her energy, finally arose from her bed. She went directly downstairs, not even bothering to take care of herself. Her hair was a mangled mop and she couldn't even remember the last time she took a nice long bath.

Dragging herself to the barstool she took inhabitance on the night before, Tora had a clear view of the window, a clear view of the snowball fight. She considered an ambush, but decided against it due to her laziness. Akisu was not around, but she took no note of it. She just sat and gave little chuckles everytime Rai used her cuteness to shove snow down Soran/Leon/Diesel's pants.

Mizuki:

Mizuki stepped ouside and saw the whole thing. Mizuki smiled getting out of her groggy mood and walked slowly to them. Soran was actually playing...and smiling. Mizuki loved it. Loved it enough to pounce him from behinde.

"ATTACK!" Mizuki screamed bringing snow down onto his head and tackling him to the ground. Laughing all the way.

Soran:

OOC: Now now, I never said I smiled =P

Soran yelped under his breath as Mizuki tackled him, tumbling down into the snow. He flipped over onto his knees and threw a fist full of snow at Mizuki, springing back to his feet. It wasn’t that he had de ja vu, but somehow all of this felt distantly familiar. These vague intuitions were the closest thing he got to any kind of memories, though he never really thought about it. At the moment he was too busy thinking about dodging snowballs and trying to figure out why something so pointless was entertaining him.

Mizuki:

Mizuki laughed. She couldn't help it. She never had this much fun in so long. Plus, Soran was playing! It seemed to her.

"Rai!" Mizuki said laughing and brushing off the snow getting up. "How'd you get Soran to start playing with you? This has become quite interesting." Deisel then began throwing snowballs at Mizuki and she returned fire still laughing.

Ceron:

Leon starts jumping around from the snow in his pants. "Hey, that's it, this means war!" He laughs as he starts to toss snowballs over her little snow wall.

OOC: This will be fun lol.

Mizuki:

Mizuki tackles, again, Deisel to the ground with him not agruing...much. Deisel and Mizuki start laughing and rolling around in the snow shoving face full of snow balls in each others faces.

"Deisel you have met your match!" Mizuki shouted sitting on top of Deisel.

Emora Deen:

Rai was throwing snow balls at Leon as fast as her little arms could, but she was wearing herself out. She smiled and stood up, a plot forming in her little clever mind. "I surrender!" she called out and came out from around her wall. She walked up to Leon and pretended to trip, rather well actually. She put a lot of snow in her fist, but enough so no one would notice. "Leon!" she said and gave him a hug. At the moment she wrapped her tiny arms around him she dropped snow down his pants. "Gotcha!" she said, giggling and turning to run away before her could get her.

Mizuki:

Mizuki smiled down playfully at Deisel and rolled off him getting up. She gave him her hand helping him up and he gratefully took it.

"It seems you have won this battle." Deisel said bowing to her playfully. "Madam you claim victory." Mizuki smirked at him and played along.

"Ah, you were a brave fighter Deisel! I shall deeply miss you when we head off." Mizuki replied. Deisel's face slightly fell at the reminder. He took her hand in a gentlemanly way and brushed his lips over it.

"And I shall miss your company in return."

Mizuki blushed slightly at his gesture but smiled. 'At least he was a gentleman with it.' she thought approving. She hugged Deisel then turned to the others realsing him.

"When would you all like to head off?"

Soran:

Soran had finally managed to escape Rai’s notice, leaning against the side of a building and blankly watching the others run around. Occasionally, when someone had their back turned to him he would peg them with a snowball, then watch them go all-out against whoever he had framed for the attack. He began to consider the time and how much walking they had to do that day. He looked to the inn, curious whether Tora was up yet, then turned his attention to Mizuki.

“When would you all like to head off?” she asked, covered in snow next to an almost comically depressed-looking Diesel.

“The sooner, the better,” Soran said, shaking half-melted snow out from the inside of his shirt. “Populated areas will be sparse from here on. We have a lot of ground to cover.”

Emora:

Rai ran and slid behind a small wall of snow. She sighed, feeling rather tired after doing all that running and throwing and laughing and putting sand down people's pants. She leaned against her snow wall... smashing it.

She noticed Toby was staring off into some thick brush at something. For a moment she thought it was Soran... Soran.... she thought and a wicked childish sly grin came to her face. One last time wouldn't hurt...

She grabbed a small handful of snow and skipped off towards the bushes that he was standing behind. Little did she know that it wasn't Soran at all... In fact, to other people there would be nothing there. But, Toby knew.

Mizuki:

Mizuki smiled showing her white even teeth and stretched her arms up to the sky. The morning sun was warm on her face as it poked out through the snowing clouds.

"We should grab Tora and some supplies in case of camping." Mizuki started then suddenly turned to Deisel. "Deisel! Can you supply us with food and such?"

Deisel scratched his head thinking of what he could do for them. "I can give ya good traveling food that wont spoil too fast. But you'd have to go to the shop over there." he pointed over his shoulder to a log cabin store. "They'll give ya the things you need for traveling in this weather." He took Mizuki's hand again. "Ya sure you want to leave so soon?"

Mizuki smiled at him. "Yes I'm sure," she saw his face fall, "but I'll be back to visit!" Deisel face brightened up to the hopes of her next visit.

"Soran, Leon! Why don't we go over and get the supplies at that cabin over there? Rai could help Deisel with the food maybe?"

Mizuki had yet to notice Rai walking off to the bushes...


Emora:

Rai went up to him and he started backing of. He was smiling too, which was odd because she didn’t remember seeing Soran actually smile. She followed him, the bushes coming just over her head. She pushed her way there. Toby latched on to her dress and pulled on it. “Toby… it’s just Soran, silly wolf,” she said and pushed through the bushes. “Hehe… I’ll get you Soran!” she called into the small bushes that made a circle.

She saw him standing there and she walked up to him with the snow in her hand.

Mizuki:

Mizuki turned around to find Rai, but never saw her.

"Wasn't she just right there?" Mizuki asked Soran. "RAI!?" Mizuki began to fear the worst...again. She started to feel the panick rise within her chest and rushed over to Soran who had been with her last.

Soran:

Soran looked around and saw that Mizuki was right. The child was missing. At first he suspected she had merely hidden as part of her snow-play. Then he saw Toby, scratching pensively at the snowy ground at the edge of a circular hedge of bushes. The wolf hadn’t shown any sign of alarm before, but now his ears were back against his head. Soran walked toward the spot, giving Mizuki an indication to follow.


Mizuki:

Mizuki followed him but then suddenly clutched his arm. She looked straight at him pleading with her eyes for him to be careful.

"We've had too many things happen." Mizuki said. "I've already gotten you wounded... let's be careful." Mizuki meant it. She felt strange, like something was calling to her. Bidding her to come to it, and she didn't like the feeling. "Something strange.....I feel it...." she whispered.

Emora:

Soran knelt down in front of Rai and she smiled. She went to slap the snow in his face, but when she brought her hand up she felt something odd about the snow. She looked at her hand and it was worms. "Eww!" she screeched and flung the worms to the ground, wiping her hands on her jacket. When she turned her head to look at Soran his face was mangled and worms were coming out of his eyes and his jaw was missing and blood pored from many cuts. Rai screamed and fell backwards to the ground hard. She hit her head and let out a painful whimper as she scurried away. "Why can't you leave me alone!" she screamed at it as it crawled across the ground towards her. "Why!" she threw snow at it, as if it would do any good anyway.

It was right up on her, hovering over her as she cowered on the ground. It had left a trail of blood from dragging itself across the ground. She closed her eyes tightly, pain in the back of her head. When she opened her eyes it was gone. All that was left was the bloody trail. Rai crawled over to a tree and curled up beside it.

Soran:

Soran frowned, but nodded. “It doesn’t look like there’s a way in.” Rai’s voice cried out in fright from the other side of the wall of branches. He threw his coat in the snow and used his blades to hastily cut a narrow opening into the bush. “You’re small enough to squeeze through. Go in first, I’ll follow you soon.

Mizuki:

Mizuki was through the hole in no time.

"RAI! RAI!" Mizuki called out desparatly. She saw a horrific sight. A trail of blood and Rai, huddled against a tree frightened. "Oh my God! RAI!"

Mizuki ran over to Rai and hugged her. "What's wrong? What hurt you? Oh god are you alright?" Mizuki, almost in tears, held the frigthened girl.

Emora:

Rai was staring off at this one spot beside a tree. There was a woman standing there, scantly dressed. She had red hair streaked with black and a smile on her face. She had her arms folded across her chest.

Fear not child, her voice said in Rai's head. You will not be harmed, I need you more alive than anything else... I am Queen Shea, Queen of Darkness and ruler demons and beasts and everything impure.

Rai felt chills go all over her body at the woman's smile and she closed her eyes. "She's not there," she whispered to herself.

"Mommy..." she whispered and closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around Mizuki.

Soran:

The rogue sliced off branches, roughly throwing them behind him as he climbed through. When he emerged on the other side, he took in the situation. “What’s going on here?” he said, standing at the ready in case of an attack.

Mizuki:

Mizuki held Rai but shook her head. Rai seemed so frigthened, but at what? She stood up with Rai still in her arms and walked over to Soran.

"I don't know...I wish I did...Ah, Soran do you sense anything?" Mizuki looked around uneasy.

Emora:

Rai hugged Mizuki and kept her eyes closed, not wanting to see any more horrors. Why did she always have bad things happen to her?

From a dark corner a woman came forth, bring with her the presence of evil. It surrounded her and could choke the happiness from any good soul. She was clothed in black silk, barely covered by it at all. Her long red hair was streaked with black and her eyes were cold and cruel, as was her smile. She looked at the two grown ups and then to the child.

"Hand over the child," she said and smiled charmingly to Soran. "I can take care of her and as long as she is with me she will be protected from my minions. There will be no reason for them to go after her and yourselves any more. If you hand her to me I will make sure that none of my demons harm you any more."

Shea looked to Mizuki. "I'll make sure that Luc never harms you or your friends again. I promise you. Just give me the child."

Mizuki:

Mizuki gasped and held Rai tighter. She stepped closer to Soran as if he'd protect them all.

"I'll make sure that Luc never harms you or your friends again. I promise you. Just give me the child." the woman said.

"L-Luc is dead....." Mizuki said quietly. She felt so much evil come from this woman. "And I will not let you have Rai...."

Soran:

Soran narrowed his eyes. Something about this woman…was distinctly, though distantly, familiar. He felt Mizuki standing behind him, could hear the pained tone in her voice. He saw no need for words; everything about this woman seemed to emanate danger.

“L-luc is dead. And I will not let you have Rai!” she said.

“That’s the situation, so leave,” the rogue warned darkly, arms ready to take action.

[Soran Nightblade]

Emora:

Rai clutched Mizuki. "Don't make her mad..." she whispered to her.

The woman laughed. It was an evil sinister laugh. "Do you presume to say you can fight back the Witch Queen?" she woman asked and seemed amused by the whole thing. "Foolish idiots. No matter if I have the child now or later she will be mine. It will go easier on you however if you hand her over to me."

The woman stayed in the shadows where the sun did not touch and she wouldn't move from the shadows as long as the sun shown.

Mizuki:

Mizuki's blood ran cold. 'Whitch Queen? What does she want with Rai?' she thought. She felt numb and dizzy.
"Don't give her our child..... Mizuki!" It was the voice of that corpse thing. But she didn't understand. It seemed to make sense now, Mizuki thought that the corpse and the Whitch Queen worked together....but they weren't.

"I...cannot." Mizuki whispered. "Please don't give up... I wont let you, love..." it spoke again. 'I wish I knew who you were...' Mizuki thought to the voice, who never replied back.

Emora:

Shea was a gorgeous woman, probably one to be considered as most beautiful. She used her looks and her charm to seduce men and even women into doing what she wanted. She had an eye for catching strong men... and her eye had caught Soran. "Soran..." she said and smiled seducing. She held out a hand and beckoned him forward. Soran slowly moved towards her, but his feet never budged, he was hovering over the ground. She stopped him right before her.

Shea looked to Mizuki. "Reason with her... you know how well things will be if you do not have my minions and demons after you all. Besides, what does that child mean to you any way? What has she done for you that Mizuki hasn't. You and Mizuki can be together... the child would only hinder you and she is of no use to you. She will slow you down in your travels. Think like you normally do... think about yourself. Give me the child."

Soran:

Soran glared unblinkingly into the Witch Queen’s eyes as she transported him face to face with her. There was no doubt that she was beautiful, but all she stirred beneath his clothes was anger. “It seems someone taught you my name, but not much else” he said, icicles in his voice. “I don’t make decisions under duress.” He gestured sternly toward the ground without breaking his gaze.


Emora:

Shea looked at him and smiled coldly. Did he think his words angered her. "So I'm guessing you like having your friends killed one by one?" she asked and smiled seducingly. "I guess you like having the chance that the child might be harmed. Such a small thing could easily be crushed by a large demon." She glanced at Rai and then looked Mizuki in the eyes. "And a person who cared greatly for her... and you," She looked back to Soran. "could perish trying to protect her."

"I will ask you one last time to consider what is best for you and the child. Give her to me," Shea ordered with a deadly threat hidden clear in her voice.

Rai hugged Mizuki and whimpered. She was afraid they would hand her over to the scary woman.

Mizuki:

Mizuki, seeing that the Whitch Queen was...annoyingly distracted by Soran, Mizuki ran with Rai in her arms. Anything else the woman had said, Mizuki ignored trying to keep focus on one thing only. 'I have to get far away.' she thought desparatly. 'As far from here as possible!'

"Follow me!" it was that corpse man, but not in his corpse form. He was a vauge image, transparent, but he was enough to see.

"Who are you?" Mizuki called to him.

"All in good time, love." he replied. "You cannot fight that woman, I'm glad you took the moment to get out of there when you saw it."

"I just hope Soran will be alright!" Mizuki said. 'And he will not hate me....' she added in her thoughts.

Soran:

Soran noticed Mizuki leaving and tried to keep Shea occupied. “You have yet to prove convincingly that she would be happier with an old hag like you.” He sensed that such verbal tricks would be ineffective against her and readied his blades, prepared to attack should she attempt to follow the others.

Emora:

Shea arched an eyebrow. "You have chosen," she said rather dully as if she was bored by Soran. She stepped back and behind her came a flash of purple that sucked her in.

I'll see you later... personally.... she sent the thought into his head. Her laughter was one of sheer delight.

Rai was holding onto Mizuki. "She's gone," she said out of know where. The horrible feeling that had come with the woman was gone.

Soran:

Soran fell back to the ground as Shea’s spell released. As soon as he had his balance he jumped through the hedge and emerged on the other side, searching for Mizuki and Rai. He spotted her tracks in the snow and sprinted after them solemnly.

His head was spinning. He felt consumed by an unshakeable sense of danger. If that person had really been the Witch Queen, they were in an incredibly dire situation. Furthermore, if she was the Witch Queen then he shouldn’t have such a poignant feeling that he had seen her before. "Mizuki!" he called, clenching his fists impatiently as he ran.

MIzuki:

OOC: I hate my computer...I just typed something then it lost it...arg...

Mizuki turned around slightly after Soran's call and stopped running.

"She's gone," Rai said and Mizuki let her go slightly, but still held her. Mizuki looked back around for the man but he was no where to be seen.

"What....?" Mizuki said in a wonder. "You're in danger no matter whom you're with.... be carefull..." It was that voice again, but he was no where. 'He seems to be on my side,' Mizuki thought, 'Yet why does he fight us? Desire me and Rai?'

Mizuki turned her attention back to finding Soran and walked back a ways to find him. He started coming to her veiw and she ran back to him. The danger seemed to be gone...for now.

"SORAN!" Mizuki called out almost crying but never shed a tear.

Soran:

Soran finally saw Mizuki ahead of him and jogged to a stop in front of her. Both she and Rai seemed to be fine. “Go get your things together. We’re leaving,” he said with the faintest tint of urgency in his voice, “I’ll buy the supplies. Ask the others to get ready also.”

Emora:

Rai rested her head on Mizuki's shoulder. She felt very bad about it all. It was a sad feeling filling her heart. They were having to leave so soon because of the trouble she had gotten them into. She stared at anything her eyes found with a sad look on her face. Her eyes watered slightly. How come everything was her fault. Her mother and father were gone and now her friends were endanger too. It wasn't fair! It just wasn't fair.

Rai kept very quiet. She wanted nothing more than for her mother to hold her and right now her mother was probably no where close to her. Mizuki was the closest thing at the moment... And Soran was the closest thing to her father at the moment. In a way... they were rather like her mother and father.

Mizuki:


"Yes. We need to leave as soon as possible." Mizuki agreed as they hurried back. "Don't worry Rai... We'll protect you." She held her closer in a loving embrace.

They got back to the others and they all looked rather confused and worried. They quickly explained trying to keep out their encounter witht the Whitch Queen. Substituting her with another monster. Mizuki had to give Rai temporarily to Deisel for a moment.

"Rai don't worry," she said while exchanging Rai with Deisel, "Deisel will protect you also. I'll never leave you behinde..." She kissed Rai's forehead then told Leon to get Tora and tell her to start getting ready.

Before Soran went off to get their other supplies, she went to him and embraced him trying to hold back tears. "Help protect us please.....and I'll protect you." she spoke about protecting them all, but mostly her and Rai. If they all meant to stay a band of friends, now would be their test.

Soran:

Soran handed some coins to the shopkeeper, who seemed very confused that such an odd character wanted to buy five bedrolls and several days’ worth of rations, plus a good deal of miscellaneous medical supplies. The shopkeeper eyed them nervously; they weren’t just band-aids and cotton, but supplies for treating serious injuries and broken bones. He considered asking the stranger what all this was for, but the stern coldness in Soran’s eyes made him hold his tongue.

The rogue thought grimly about Shea’s last words to him. Just as she’d said, he had made this choice, and now he felt more than ever that he was responsible for the others’ safety. If anything happened to them…he stopped himself from thinking about it. But what was this bad feeling he had?

He hoisted everything onto his back, ignoring the shopkeeper’s astonished protest that he shouldn’t carry so much, and returned to the inn, where the others were sitting in the bar in an awkward silence, fully packed. He gave them a nod that said “Alright, let’s go.”

Mizuki:

Everyone was so subduded now. The attacks and possible kidnapping of Rai, it just got everyone so edgy. She felt so depressed too. 'What will we do?' she thought closing her eyes then opening them again as she heard the inn's door open.

Mizuki saw the heavy packs Soran carried as he came in.

"Soran," she spoke solemly, "do you need any help? I could carry some....for you...."

Emora:

Rai walked up to them and grabbed Mizuki's hand, holding it. "Can I help," she asked very quietly and looked up at them. She was still a little pale. Her head was hurting in the back from falling and hitting it, but she wouldn't tell any one, they already had enough things she had put on them.

Soran:

Soran was too practical to be stubborn. Trying to carry everything would just slow the whole group down. He distributed the bedrolls, keeping his and Rai’s, and gave half the food to Leon. He handed the light medicine bag to Rai, deciding that if her arms got tired he or Mizuki would take it from her. Fully geared, the group left the inn and started on the road that would bring them deeper into the forest, and closer to the border.

Mizuki:

Mizuki said her good byes to Deisel and so did the others. Deisel tried as hard as he could to not take Mizuki in his arms. He knew well enough that their path was only meant to collide[sp?] in a friendly way. Besides, it'd be more painfull to say goodbye if he did. He patted Rai's head, he was going to miss that cheerful little girl.

Soon then, they were all off. Mizuki thought about her mother. 'I wonder if she already knows....' she thought in a dreamworld staring at the sky. Her thought then drifted to the...man or corpse, or, whatever he was. He seemed to not really want to harm her, but Rai was another matter. 'What does he want with her?' the thought kept plauging her mind as they crossed even deeper into the forest

The forest was a mix of greys and white. Snow against the bare bark of the trees made the forest seem gloomy, yet some how beautiful. She traveled behinde Soran with Rai at her side. Since that last encounter, she wouldn't let the child out of her sight.

Emora:

Rai stumbled along, finding there were things hidden in the snow that her small feet would catch every now and then. She didn't fall, but caught her balance. She held the bag in her small arms, happy to be doing something for them besides cause trouble.

She smiled when she saw a little white snow bunny sticking its head out of a snow-covered hole. He was looking around as if interested in what they were doing. She wanted to pet it, but decided not to wonder off again.

Toby seemed to be sticking closer than usual and he didn't look to be a happy wolf. He seemed rather depressed to Rai. She reached over and patted his head lightly. "Cheer up, Toby, I'm alright," she said to him and his head turned towards her for a moment.

Mizuki:

Mizuki was off in a daze. Random, meaniingless thoughts popping in her head once in awhile. 'Before the attack Soran was cute back there when we fought with snow balls....' she thought absently then blushed and pushed the thought away. 'Gah! What are you thinking?! You've had your share of crazy guys, no more for you. Besides, we'll all probably split up after we get to my mom soon anyway.'

'Why do you say that?' her inner voice spoke to her.

'Because with my mother's power she could probably help us and things would just get...' she thought back then trailed off not finding a good retort.

'You're just saying that because you're afraid....' the voice answered back, taunting her now.

'Wha--? I'm not afraid!......what am I afraid of....?' But her inner voice just laughed and was gone. 'Crazy, psyco concious.' Mizuki sighed heavily and kicked a little mound of snow on the ground. Why she always thought they would split up soon she'll never really know. Maybe it was her pirate life coming back to her...

Mizuki then felt the brush of wings against her face and looked around suddenly.

"What...?" she said quietly so not to frighten the others. She could've sworn she felt feathers on her face but there was nothing there. 'A bird's falling feathers maybe?' she thought trying to convince herself it was nothing.

Emora:

Rai was getting bored with all the walking... There wasn't anything very exciting and happy about walking. She didn't like seeing the long faces on every one and it made it worst because it was possibly her fault. Actually Rai knew it had to be her fault.

Rai was so in thought that she didn't even watch where her feet were going and she tripped over a root. "Ow," she said quietly and she got up, dusting herself off.

Sakura:

"Are you ok?" Tora asked Rai. She hadn't said or done much of anything since she got here.

As she walked her minds were occupied on a dark woman she saw with Mizuki, Rai, and Soran earlier. She just left when Tora got there, but what could this woman possibly have to do with them?

Tora learned several spells in her little trip to Anchor. She went over them in her mind as she walked... maybe she was getting the hang of this...

Emora:

"I'm fine," Rai said and smiled slightly, though she felt rather embarrassed for being so clumsy. She looked to the tiger for a moment that traveled with Tora... she was still a little suspicious of it, but it was probably her child mind putting more with it than there should be.

Rai adjusted the pack in her arms and began walking again beside Mizuki, who seemed to be in deep thought.

Mizuki:

Mizuki sneezed out of nowhere startling everyone.

"Sorry." she said. She felt a tickling in her throat. She felt the need to cough but she didn't want people to hear that she might've gotten sick. But the tickling and need to cough overcame her and she buckled over in a mad fit of coughing.

It wouldn't stop and she felt like she was suffucating. She could get no air in her lungs and when she did manage, it was quikly drawn out again. 'Damn! What's wrong with me?!' she thought. She put her hand to her mouth to cover it and finally, when it subsided she looked horrified into her hand.


Blood.....

'Oh god not now....' she thought horrified.

Sakura:

Akisu's fur grew a bright red, meaning he just casted a warming spell on himself. 'Thanks for thinking of everyone else,' Tora thought to herself.

She traveled over the border once before for most of her vampire years in Arken. It was only recently she came to Ighten...

Tora looked just in time to watch Mizuki try to cover up the blood she just coughed out. Tora ran over to her friend and gave her a shoulder. "There is something definatly wrong with you, my friend," Tora joked, trying to create a light mood. She helped Mizuki, wondering how much longer it was until they got home...

Emora:

Rai tugged on Mizuki's pants, looking worried at her. "Mizuki?" she asked and looked up at the woman, tilting her head as if inspecting her with her pretty eyes. "Do you have a cold?" she asked.

"I get colds all the time. Momma used to make me soup... I don't know what type it was, but it always made me feel better. Maybe we can give you some soup," Rai said to her and smiled. She didn't want Mizuki to get sick, lots of things can get worst when you get sick.

Mizuki:

Mizuki gave a weak smile to Rai. She was pale from her fit, and absolute fear. But she tired to hid it.

"Yes, soup would be nice when we finally get to my home." she said quietly trying to reassure her friends. "But don't worry, I'm fine. Things happen...."

'But why now?' she thought. She looked around her group trying to figure it out. They all looked at her concerned and worried. Mizuki was trying to find something over their heads. 'You made me cough up this blood... what deadly fate is falling on the person you chose Death?' But Mizuki could not find the shadow of coming death hovering above their heads. Mizuki stared wide eyed.

"Who did you choose....?" she said under her breath so no one could hear her.

Soran:

Soran looked behind him at the sound of Mizuki coughing and stopped, backtracking to where she was standing. He took in the sight of blood on her hand and frowned. “Maybe we should stop and make camp here,” he said, his voice betraying his concern. There were only a few hours of daylight left anyway, and they had traveled a decent distance.

Sakura:

"Camp? In the snow?" Akisu jerked his head. "Are you serious?"

"What he's trying to say is that he thinks we should keep going," Tora translated. "Mizuki, how much further?"

Mizuki:

"We still have a ways to go." she said answering Tora's question. She quickly wiped the blood away on the inside of her sleeve so no one would see it. "But I'm fine! We don't need to really stop right now. I can go on..."

Emora:

"Soran," Rai said and looked at him. "I think we should stop, Mizuki is being hard headed and wants to keep going so no one will think anything is wrong with her," Rai said and looked to Mizuki, one of her little eyebrows arching. "I should know, I do it all the time." She looked at Mizuki as if she were looking at a child and she was the grown up. It was really a funny sight to see.

"Besides, Toby has fur and you have fur, your probably warmer than us!" Rai said to the tiger and smiled.

Sakura:

"Pft." Akisu looked away.

"I don't think Akisu will be offering his services," Tora said. "But maybe..."

She thought of the spell Akisu used earlier. She learned how to make single spells multiple a while ago, and the warming spell didn't seem that hard. Tora closed her eyes and concentrated on the spell. She articulated the words, and her reward was a warming sensation. The spell was working on her, and now she sent her magic on to her friends, to warm them.

Tora observed the reaction of her friends, to see if it worked...

Mizuki:

Mizuki suddenly felt warm and almost freaked out at the sudden sensation.

"What in the name of---?!" but she stopped. She saw that Tora was working to warm them all....somehow. "That's neat Tora! Thanks!"

Soran;

Soran knew it was true that stopping here would be unwise. He didn’t know how much strength Mizuki had left, or whether it was wise to push her to continue. The witch queen’s warning that she would kill the others one by one echoed in his head. Was this what was happening to Mizuki? He was distracted by a sudden warmth that swept over his body. He looked down at his bare hand, alarmed by its strange warmth and unable to see anything on it that would cause such a sensation.

Emora:

Rai giggled at the warm feeling and she smiled at Tora. "Wow..." she said, not really knowing another way to put it. "Thank you!"

Sakura:

Tora got excited. 'It worked! It really worked!' Its the first time she's really used magic on purpose outside of training.

"Don't get too hyped up. Its a basic warming spell. Any half-witted simpleton can do it," Akisu said dully. He kept walking ahead of the group. It seemed like he was going to get to Mizuki's house, wether or not everyone else follows him.

Standing against Akisu's remarks was a challenge in itself. She didn't let his commet get her down, and she turned to her friends. She was going to stick with them, despite where the tiger went.

"I think we should keep going. Stopping here could only make her sickness worse. She needs to get inside."

Mizuki:

Mizuki had to agree with with Tora. She wanted to get home and not worry everyone.

"Yes, I agree." she said. "Don't worry I feel fine now! Please don't worry about me...." her voice trailed off. 'You should worry about yourselves...' she thought.

She gave them a weak smile and tried to walk on t show them she was fine now, but she sneezed again and coughed once more. No blood came up this time, but she didn't need to be warned twice.

Soran:

When he realized Tora’s spell was what was warming him, Soran relaxed slightly. The rogue knew Tora was right about not breaking pace. He took Mizuki’s bedroll from her and added it to what he was carrying. “There aren’t any towns close enough to reach without stopping. As the landscape becomes more mountainous, we’ll be passing a lot of dry caves. Let’s hold out until then,” he said flatly.

Sakura:

"My dears," a familiar spirit said. "Have you forgotten about me already?"

Tora looked up to find the Snow Princess standing there with an angelic glow. The snow dancing around her gave her a beautiful essence. Her presences was strong enough for everyone to see.

"I know the way through the mountains. Please follow me. I will not let you loose anyone, as I have lost my daughter." The sorrow in her eyes was pure and truthful. "No one should have to suffer the lose of a child..."

Emora:

A cave? Bad things lived in caves... They were dark and cold and damp... and bad things loved that. She didn't know if she wanted to stay in a cave or not. But, if Mizuki and them were there with her she would stay. She felt safe with them.

From a high cliff face where no one paid any attention at Shea stood, clothes in fur, a strange change from her usual almost nothing clothing.

How many years had she been living? A good many. Her mother had sensed when she needed an heir. Shea could since it as well. She had been searching for the perfect man and had found that there was no such thing as perfect. Like her mother, she had taken Sinead’s father as her mate.

She had tried to get Vladimir Dracul interested in her, but he was so far past sanity that it really didn't work. He was more of a seducer than one to be seduced. She had tried the seduce the shogun... and it had worked, up until the point he discovered some flaw in her disguise... But, Soran... now there was a formable man. She smiled thinking of how fun it would be to try and seduce him. He seemed like a challenge, but she could think of many men in time that had been a challenge and she had succeeded in winning them over.

Soran:

The snow princess was right that Soran had completely forgotten about her. He wasn’t certain he trusted her, but he was getting that unsettling feeling from before again and felt it was worth the risk of trusting this strange spirit if they could reach their destination sooner. “We’re ready,” he told the snow princess solemnly, guessing from the others’ faces that they were thinking the same thing.

Sakura:

The Snow Princess turned and began to walk. The sounds of harsh winds were heard but not felt. It was only then that they realized that a barrier of wind and snow had been placed around them and moved as they walked.

Several demons and snow wolves had come out of nowhere and attempted an assult, but none prevailed. The barrier held strong as they braved the mountains.

A mountain was seen in the distance, as well as black smoke. One could only guess there was cooking, and where theres cooking, there is civilization. It was a good eight miles away, and the sun was beginning to set...

Emora:

Rai yawned and shook her head. She had been getting to sleep later than she should lately and she guessed it was making her tired earlier. She watched the Snow Princess with a rather sad expression. She felt sorry for the princess. The poor woman had lost her child and Rai had lost her parents. She knew what the woman felt in a way.

Mizuki:

Mizuki felt strange with this spirit. But, a familiar strange, like she knew....or....

Mizuki gagged, it felt like something lodged itself in her throat. She couldn't breath and she fell behind the group who never noticed since she could make no sound now. She felt herself falling, fading. Her vision going black. 'I'm....dying...' she thought. She stumbled to the side and her face fell into water creating a splashing sound. Before she finally faded into blackness, she lifted her head out of the water and saw the black cloud looming over her head.

'I....was...chosen...' Mizuki was then embraced by darkness.

Soran:

OOC: Did Mizuki disappear or just pass out?

Mizuki:

OOC: Oh sorry...she passed out...something..happened that I wont tell ya...

Emora:

Rai turned quickly. "Mizuki!" she screamed and ran to Mizuki's said. She fell to her knees and used her strength to roll her out of the puddle. "What's wrong?" But, Mizuki was out and couldn't answer.

"Mizuki!" she said and put her hands on Mizuki's for head and her neck. Come on.... work... heal her.... "Please..." she said to herself and closed her eyes. "Please, just this once..."

Rai knew that if she healed Mizuki she would take the sickness into herself, but it would go away and not hurt her for long. Just like she had felt Tora's broken arms after healing her.

A glowing light appeared under Rai's small hands...

Ceron:

Leon rushes over to Mizuki (or where she was depending on what happened lol) and tries to figure out what happened. "Mizuki! What's wrong?!"


Soran:

Soran glanced back as he heard water splash behind him. There he saw Mizuki lying on her side in the snow, deathly still. Soran ran back toward her, filled with a sense of dread. ~’I shouldn’t have pushed her to continue,’~ he thought as he numbly watched Rai roll Mizuki over in the snow. The slow rise and fall of the half elf’s chest dispelled his irrational suspicion that she had somehow died. Rai was holding her hands out above Mizuki’s chest, and a glowing light formed under her hands. Soran observed this warily, not sure what Rai was doing.

(OOC) Woot we're all here!


Mizuki:

"Get up." said a male voice. But Mizuki didn't respond and his voice came louder. "Get up!"

Mizuki opened her eyes but all she saw was black. Mizuki tried to speak but she couldn't.

"Don't speak." he said. "You have to get up now before the child kills herself trying to heal you."

'Rai?!' Mizuki thought since she could not answer him. The man she could not identify since black wings surrounded him nodded and disappeared. Mizuki forced herself awake.

As Rai tried to heal her, Mizuki felt it. 'She's in danger.' she thought and she summond all her strength to try and come back. Mizuki's hand suddely gripped Rai's arm accidentaly hurting her.

"Don't......Rai......." she managed to say. When Rai did not listen because she couldn't make out Mizuki's words Mizuki had to fight her motherly emotions on not hurting the child to get her away. "Death!.." and she swung Rai off of her before it was too late to stop Rai.

"As long as you keep me in connection you will live." the man said inside Mizuki's head as she fell back down into darkness, but she wasn't exactly dead. She tried hard to keep this man in connection so she would not die.

Emora:

The glowing light disappeared when Rai's healing was finished and it had taken much longer. For some reason Mizuki's sickness was not wanting to let go. But, it seemed to be doing so. Rai was feeling the effects of it well before the healing was finished. She didn't even react to Mizuki's words and seemed to be in a trance as Mizuki shoved her away. She fell back and once again hit her head. She felt the side of her head scrape a tree and small cuts were on the side of her cheek and forehead. She closed her eyes when she hit the cold snow and stayed still to tired to move. It felt weird for her to breath, as if her throat was a little closed up.

Sakura:

"What have I done?" the Snow Princess began to cry. "I have broken my promise! What a sin! Why do I exsist? So everyone who sees my presence falls ill? Oh, what a terrible existence! That must be the reason why I can only exsist within the snow...the cold, blistering, diseased snow!"

The barrier slowly deterioated with each words until the raging blizzard stung the cheaks of all who were tangible. It was almost impossible to see.

Mizuki was in pain, this weather is fatal, the sun is setting and there is no place to stop. The village was a good five miles ahead.

Tora felt guilty. She convinced them to go on, it was her fault they were out here.

'I must get them through this,' Tora thought to herself. In her mind she scanned her limited encycolpedia of spells she knew. She used the warming spell again, although it helped very little. Most of them were attack spells. There was one spell she could alter...

Tora tried to find Akisu but the snow blocked her vision. 'It could attract demons tho," she analyzed. 'But if I don't do it theres no chance to get out."

She chanted a spell for a ring of fire and fired it upwards. On gigantic ring of fire swirled in the sky, it was Tora's attempt to attract anyone who might be out there that could help them. The fire wouldnt last long, but hopefully someone will awnser them...

Soran:

Soran understood the purpose of Tora’s spell, but wasn’t willing to just sit there and hope someone would come. Shea was watching them from somewhere; he could feel her presence dangerously in the air. He exchanged a glance with Leon and lifted Rai up in his arms. “We need to keep moving,” he said.

Ceron:

Leon nods back to Soran and he starts to pick mizuki up with the help of Soran. "Yeah, we need to get her out of here..." They pick Mizuki up and even though she is barely breathing he feels that he has to do something... Even though he doesn't know what to do.

Emora:

“I call upon my dark powers, come together to cast this shower! Ice and snow, bring glorious death bellow!” Came Shea’s faint voice, being heard over the wind. She stood on the cliff, the snow and wind blowing her fur mantle around her and her hair around her face. She could see the ring and smiled. “It is almost to easy for me,” she said and closed her eyes, her hands coming up. “Death and gore shall come in due, I send my minions to destroy you!” From her finger tips came black mist that took form into giant crows.


Rai looked up at Soran through slightly closed eyes. She shuddered slightly at the cold wind and the weak feeling. “Help Mizuki… please.” Though she didn’t know why Mizuki had thrown her into the tree she still wanted her to be alright.

Mizuki:

'I need to tell them...' Mizuki thought.

"You can barely breath. Save your energy" the man hidden behind the wings said.

'You can hear my thoughts?'

"Of course! I'm in your head..." the man paused then took her in his arms holding her in the blackness. Mizuki still couldn't see his face. "I'll be damned if I let you die again. I found you finally and then that blasted Whitch Queen comes and decideds to kill you all off! Take away my chance on regaining my family." Mizuki was confused but she let him talk not seeing anything else to do. "ANyway, just keep conecntrating on me and you'll be fine."

'But...will I come out of this state?'

"Of course you will. Once you're out of rang of that 'Queen' you'll be coming back into the world of the living...not that your dead but you are on the borderline."

'That's comforting. But, is there a way I can...'

"Yes, and do it quick. She's coming." Mizuki was confused at what he meant, but being particaly dead gave you an advantage. She saw the attack coming before any of the other's could. 'I've got too...tell them.' she thought. Soran was the closest person she could think of about warning so she tired to tap into his mind.

'Come on Soran...HEAR ME!'

"Oh sure....call 'him!' " the man glowered but Mizuki paid him no heed.

Soran:

“Leon’s got her. Just stay quiet, we’ll be there soon,” Soran said firmly to the child in his arms, pushing forward through the snow that seemed to be heavier and windier than before. Through the rush of the wind in his ears, he could hear a darkly beautiful voice seem to mingle into the air, chanting something he couldn’t discern. He walked as quickly as he could without running into the trees, the snow making it impossible to see more than a few yards ahead.

The rogue stiffened as Mizuki’s voice pierced into his mind. “Soran!” The mental communication startled him, and somehow he felt the impulse to dodge to the side. He narrowed his eyes as a large, dark form flashed past where he had just been standing. Had Mizuki just warned him? The black creature sailed past them and disappeared into the snow, and Soran could hear it turning around to come back. He could hear strong wings flapping in beat with the storm, rushing toward them from more than one direction. “They’re coming,” Soran warned the others, preparing for an attack.

OOC: Hahahahahaha *can’t stop laughing*

Emora:

((OOC: Cows... hehe I meant Crows... but oh well, cows aren't exactly something Shea would send... but hehe, it's funny. If you want to keep it as cows go a head.))

Rai hugged herself. Toby was standing close to Soran making sure that Rai was protected. He wouldn't let anything happen to her again. He had almost failed once. He wouldn't fell again. "Soran..." Rai muttered. "Behind you."

Mizuki:

OOC: COW!

'He heard me.' Mizuki sighed happily. The man grunted.

"Whoopi....he lives." he responded glowering.

'Hey! He was holding RAI!' Mizuki then tried to ignore him and tried contacting Soran again.

'Soran... The Whitch Queen is attacking... you must find a way to protect yourselves....you....fight her....!!' Mizuki's thought were now having a hard time penetrating Soran's mind.

"It's that Whitch of a Queen. She wants you all dead but the elf boy and child alive."

'What?!' absolute anger running thru her veins and she tire prying into Soran's mind again. This time accidentaly screaming in his head hurting him.

'She wants you and Rai! Don't let her! Get out of there!! Please!!' she yelled to him.


Sakura:

"Akisu! Watch out!" Tora called out to the tiger who was far ahead. But as the dark figures went around the tiger, not harming them, and Akisu just walked. He obviously had no intention of helping them.

She readyied several fire spells on her lips, since fire spells are her strongest... but she realized that fire wouldn't do much. She learned on ice spell, where she can encapsulate enemies in ice. But she didn't know how many of them she can freeze.

Tora stood in a guard stance, ready.

Soran:

'She wants you and Rai! Don't let her! Get out of there!! Please!!’<br>
Soran’s head pounded as Mizuki’s voice screamed inside it, causing him to momentarily lose his footing. “I know!” he returned sharply as he regained the ground under his feet and glared into the snow, unable to see any sign of the flying creatures that he could hear in every direction.

“Soran, behind you,” Rai murmured weakly in his arms. Soran barely heard the warning in time to drop to his chest, narrowly ducking what seemed to be a huge crow, whose dagger-like beak would have split open the back of his head. The creature seemed unperturbed, merely changing its course for Tora. Soran saw another crow emerging from the vampire’s left, watching as the two converged on her location.

“Tora!” he warned, “Duck!”<br>

Mizuki:

'At least he can hear me...' Mizuki thought. The man mummbles something and Mizuki thwacked him over the head.

"Ow. Alright look," the man started saying, "Stop wasting your warnings on him, he knows already. Call Tora."

'Tora?'

"Yes, she got something to learn. I need you to tap into her mind so I can speak with her. That stupid tiger left so he couldn't teach her this, it's gotta be me."

'Well....alright.' Mizuki concentrated and tried to tap into Tora's mind. 'Tora....you need to listen to what your told now. and Duck!'

Sakura:

Mizuki was mumbling about Queen Shea, which confirmed Tora's suspicions on the woman she saw earlier. And she wanted Tora, Mizuki, and Ceron dead.

Tora was well aware of the crow on her right. She chanted the spell and froze it, although the ice was weak and the crow would break out in time.

"Tora! Duck!" Soran had shouted.

She ducked, barely. The crow comming from her right nipped the back of her neck. "So, Shea's out to kill me first? Then she has another thing comming!" She turned to the crow that was rebounding and comming towards her. Fire appeared in her hands when she saw a third crow appear behind Soran and Rai, claws out as if it were going to grab.

"Look out!" Tora shouted, forgetting about the crow comming after her.

Tora! a voice said inside her mind.

Mizuki?

Emora:

"Bring them to me my pets..." Shea said and smiled. She hoped the man wouldn't drop the child when he was grabbed up... He would kill her if he did and that would be most unacceptable.


Rai reached a hand over and grabbed Soran's shirt to hold on. All this jolting and jumping might make her fall out of his arms. On the left side of her face blood was poring from the scrapes that Mizuki had caused.

Mizuki:

'I don't think she's listening!' Mizuki said frustrated.

"Well then yelled at her." the man said. "She needs to learn this now in order for them all to get out alive!"

So Mizuki tried again. 'Tora! Please! Listen!' the man came up behind Mizuki and touched her shoulder and also called out.

"Girl listen now! You need to learn the shield of invisiblity now otherwise you're all dead! Crow food!"

Sakura:

"Girl listen now! You need to learn the shield of invisiblity now otherwise you're all dead! Crow food!"

Who are you? Tora said to whoever was in her head. Maybe it was the voice from before? No, it sounded different. The voice back from Hepian... sounded a lot like Akisu's... Tora just realized. But she pushed that thought aside and concentrated on who was talking to her now. What is this sheild?

She tried to concentrate on the voice and her surroundings. She manage to evade the crow, but it was comming back...

Mizuki:

"I'm going to have to make this quick." the man started saying. "Concentrate on protection. You need to feel your need to protect yourfriends and yourself. As you do that you have to make everyone feel like their not there. Like...air! You must focus on the feeling of protection, when your shield is up, it will be green. Combined that with separating physical with spiritual. You will be making everyone look like a ghost so then you cannot be touched. I know this sounds hard but you will get it! I..

'Me too!' Mizuki said.

"We have faith in you Tora...you CAN do it."

Emora:

"Soran... get down... don't worry about me... get down..." Rai said and took a deep strained breath. "They'll pick us up." But it was too late, a crow (or cow lol) came down and she saw it's talons grab Soran's shoulders. She held onto his shirt tightly. "Soran!"

Mizuki:

Mizuki and the man saw it clearly even though Mizuki's body was out cold. It was too late. Mizuki abruptly broke the connection and fell to the ground weeping silently but making no sound as she stared off.

The man didn't know to do, so he stood where he was. Mizuki was fighting the urge to kill something. But it was hard. It was forcing its way up, she had to scream.

'NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!'

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" Mizuki screamed coming out of her blackness. It was so sudden that no one expected it. Her body leaped out of Leon's arms and fell into the snow. Her spiritual form barely had control over her own body. She was in such a rage that her body was now reacting.

Her body grabbed her arrows and aimed. It fired and the arrow hit the creature straight in the head.

Ceron:

'Why is this happening?' Leon asks himself as he continueusly (sp???) dodges the crows all the while holding onto Mizuki. He tries to kick the birds as they go by not really succeding in doing much harm to them. "Man... these birds are tough."

Sakura:

I will... try my best

She closed her eyes and her heart began to race. Her friend's survial depended on this, and failure wasn't an option. But no matter how much she thought of protection, she couldn't get a sense of the spell. She gritted her teeth in frustration, not realizing-

"AIEEEEEEE" Tora screamed to break windows. The crow barely missed cutting her head off, and it wasn't going to miss its mark next time.

She layed limp in the snow covered in her blood. I can't do it... For the first time, as a vampire, tears rolled down her cheek.

But through her tears she saw a raven haired stranger. He looked down at her emotionless, powerful. Tora's heart throbbed and pained. It was a familiar face she had never seen in her life.

But the crow was aiming straight for his back, and Tora's eyes widenend. No... she told herself, finding strenght I won't be responsible for you death!

"I WILL NOT HOLD THE RESPONSIBLITY OF THIER DEATHS! I WON'T LET THEM DIE!" Tora cried as she felt her physical and spiritual self collide. Mixing together a green barrier appeared 100 feet high and 100 feet in circumfernce.

The barrier was strong magic that only an advance user can create. It was so strong that not the strongest demon can get in or out.

The crows became trapped inside as everyone else was protected from the weather and from anything lurking outside.

Tora was on her knees in a trance, putting all of her soul into the barrier.


Emora:

"This bores me!" Shea said and was infuriated by that woman stopping her demon from bringing her the things she wanted. "Looks like, as usual I'll have to do things myself. The man I can have anytime. The child I need now."


When Mizuki shot down the crow the jolt caused Rai to fall from Soran's arms and slam to the cold snow covered ground. She pushed herself up and saw in front of her a pair of bare elegant feet. She looked up to see a beautiful woman cloaked in black fur.

Mizuki:

Mizuki's body stumbled over to the fallen form of Rai, kneeled and fell holding Rai in her arms.

"N-no one...w-will...h-hurt you...." Mizuki's body spoke absently. While Mizuki's spirit was crying out and screaming.

'You Whitch! You wont touch her! Over My dead body will you take her!' she cried out. 'I will hold on until I really do die! But then my spirit will haunt you forever! There will be no end to your torment if I die!'

"Calm down! Calm down!" the man said but Mizuki never listened.

Soran:

Soran struggled to hold onto Rai and still fight the bird whose talons dug cruelly into his shoulders. Then the bird jolted roughly to the side as an arrow entered its skull, and he felt the small body slip from his fingers. With his now-free arms, he swiped upward at the crow that was gripping him, slashing its wings off and kicking off of it, back to the ground. He landed on his feet and found himself looking straight into the eyes of the witch queen. She stood mere feet away from him, and between them was Rai, who seemed barely able to stand, and Mizuki, who held the child protectively in her arms, screaming in a shaky voice at Shea. Soran gave Shea a warning glare as he slowly stepped toward the child and Mizuki.

Emora:

"Child," Shea said and reached down. Rai went to hold on to Mizuki tighter, but Shea grabbed her by her arms and lifted her up, not carring what Mizuki could do. Shea's long black nails dug into the poor child's arms. Shea looked up at Soran, smiling seducingly at him. "I'll be back for you later."


Rai was so afraid that she couldn't even struggle... or maybe it was because she was to week to. The sickness she had gotten from Mizuki made her so weak. Her throat felt closed in a way.
"Something is wrong with her..." Shea stated and looked to Soran. "What have you done to her? I need her alive you fool!"


Mizuki:

"If we're going to get our child back...we'll do it together." the man said and held her in his arms. Mizuki felt like they were molding together, becoming one....

Mizuki's body floated to a stand. Her head was bowed low but that's not what one needed to see to become frightened. Black wings sprung from her back. Her entire form shifted and when she lifted her head, her eyes were red. A bright, frightening red.

Her hand came up demanding the child. Two voices came from Mizuki's mouth. A male and female voice that belonged to Mizuki.

"You will give me my child back Shea....." the voices spoke from Mizuki's mouth.

Emora:

"Your child?" the Queen asked, unaffected by the scene or the voice. It would take more than this to frighten the Queen of all Evil. "I seem to think she is not your child, since her parents are locked dying in my dungeons of my palace!" Shea dropped the child for a moment and held her hands in front of her, calling a spell of black energy and throwing it at the woman who spoke with two voices.


Mizuki:

Mizuki's body laughed, but it wasn't her laugh.

"Not yet maybe..." the voices said. As Shea's black spell was fire Mizuki's form did not move. It hit her full force and Mizuki's body fell to he ground at Soran's feet.

'Soran....' Mizuki spoke into his mind. 'If I die know this...I...' But she was cut off.

Mizuki's body felt like it was being ripped in two. A form of darkness was being ripped out of her as she shook as if she was having seziurs[sp?]. The new form was finally ripped out of her in the form of a now identified man.

Mizuki was now out of the borderline between life and death and she got up shaking her head. She looked at the man who was in her mind and gasped.

Black wings as before but....

"Soran...?"

Sakura:

Tora sat in a trance, the barrier still going strong. She had not set it up in time to keep the witch queen out, but it seems that all the crows are dead. At least they have the evil queen in a contained space.

Outside the blizzard blew pounding on the barrier, weakening it ever so slowly. However, her friends still had plenty of time.

Tora could not help them fight the queen, but at least she could protect them from everything else.

OOC: Ive got things to do... I'll come back everyonce in a while and post. If you need to use Tora in something, feel free to do so.

Soran:

Soran looked back and forth between Shea and Mizuki…if that was Mizuki. He recognized that male voice. He didn’t trust any of them at this point, knowing only that for the moment Shea was the greater threat. He thought of her question about why Rai was sick. Up till now, Soran had assumed Shea wanted Rai for her healing powers, but now that it was clear she did not understand them, he wondered what other possible purpose such a powerful being had for the seemingly normal child. He looked over at Mizuki with her burning red eyes, trying to ascertain whether the man who seemed to have possessed her was causing her pain.

He heard her voice again in his head. “Soran…if I die know this…I…” The woman’s mental voice broke off abruptly as a wave of dark energy swept over her. Soran’s eyes were pure ice as he watched Shea’s magic attack Mizuki, and watched Mizuki’s form seem to rip violently, splitting into two visible beings. Mizuki fell to the ground on one side, apparently still able to pull herself to her feet, but the other half of the illusion… Before him stood a carbon copy of himself, coupled with a pair of large black wings. Soran eyed the copy coldly as he crossed to Mizuki’s side.

Mizuki:

The copy of Soran looked at himself, then smiled and laughed. He laughed an evil laugh.

"Well it seems I don't need to kill you after all Soran!" he said. "Me being coupled with a body that was barely living and then that dark blast did exactly what I needed for a body!" He looked at Shea and frowned thinking of what he could do for Mizuki.

Meanwhile Mizuki stared in astonishment. "Soran...but...what...?" she couldn't find words.

Soran:

The imposter’s words confirmed Soran’s suspicion that this being was the corpse that had attacked him the night before. “Who the hell are you,” the rogue demanded icily.

Mizuki:

The man with wings smiled evily at Soran and bowed mockingly at him.

"Lord Gaberial of Dark Angels." Gaberial smiled straightening. "And the woman there," he pointed to Mizuki, "Is Lady Alexial. My wife...or will be again."

Mizuki stared and wanted to faint. 'I'm married?!' She thought.

"T-That's insane...I'm not..." she began to say but Gaberial cut her off.

"That's because you died then was reborn. You died with our daughter Jaylee in these snowy lands."

Soran:

Soran felt rage rising in his chest. He was furious at Shea, who still held Rai and seemed to find the whole situation amusing. He was mad at this stranger for impersonating his form and for making up such outrageous lies, and angrier if it was the truth. And he was even angry with Mizuki, though he couldn’t place why. He stood silently sizing up the situation, his eyes cold and unreadable.

Mizuki:

"Oh..." Gaberial said amused. "The emotionless one actually seems to have a heart." His own eyes turned cold. "Maybe if your were a few centuries early you would've had her."

He turned to Shea and made a motion gesture with his hand summoning Rai to him. She came and rage filled Shea's eyes. Rai flew into his arms and Mizuki's eyes blazed and she stood up.

"Don't hurt her!" she cried.

"Why would I hurt my own child? Alexial, she's the closest thing to Jaylee and we can have her back. Our family will be back." he said.

"No! I don't know you! Rai's not our's!" she cried out and absently clutched Soran's arm.

Soran:

“Oh, so you’re a family?” Soran’s voice was taunting. “Funny, it seems to me you’re just playing house. Taking a real child with a real family, and making pretend she’s a girl from some past life that was meant to end years ago. Sure, Mizuki can be your wife, Rai will be your daughter, maybe I’ll be your son and we can all have a tea party,” he said flatly. "Give back the child."


Mizuki:

"Boy, you try my tolerance for you." Gaberial said angrily. He stalked toward him and shoved Rai into Mizuki's arms. "Let me tell you a little story," he grabbed Soran's arm forcefully. An emotion was in Gaberial's eyes of pure loss. "You know how hard it is to track down a soul only to find it already reborn then have to find the identical body?! I have yet to find my daughter. During the journey I was half destroy by the rage and loss I felt for lossing them both. I was in agony, something you wouldn't understand since you have isolated yourself of all feeling!"

"STOP!" Mizuki called out holding Rai. Gaberial was creating an attack Soran couldn't see because he was forming it behind his back. "Please stop it Gaberial!"

Gaberial stared at her and let Soran go. "I don't know who Alexial is. Maybe you're right, I was possibly her. But I'm not her now! Rai isn't your daughter! I'm not you who say I am anymore. Please, understand that."

Gaberial stared at her and backed away as if horrified at the sight of her. "I hope Shea kills this man who has taken your heart from me. Because she will do it." he smiled sardonicaly and flew off.

Mizuki never felt so empty in her life. She wanted to cry, but she didn't.

Soran:

Soran stood in silence as Gaberial left. It was the second time he’d been accused of stealing Mizuki, and he was beginning to wonder where that came from. His face was empty of emotion, and he saw no reason why wearing his heart on his sleeve would be preferable. An instinct inside him said that trusting people would only end in betrayal. He felt keenly at this moment, for the first time in days, that he could only rely on himself. Contrary to what Gaberial claimed, he did understand agony. Why he understood it….he could not remember. Focusing only on the current situation, Soran moved sternly in front of Rai and Mizuki, staring Shea down forebodingly, yet without a hint of passion in his eyes.

Emora:

Shea was sitting on a floating upside down moonlike thing, except it was black and did not glow. She found this all very amusing. How it seemed this child was involved in so many things at once. She was a child with a special healing ability, a key to a great demon that would bring the destruction of the known world, and now a reincarnation of a man's kid?

"Are you three quite finished?" Shea asked holding out her hand and calling the child back to her. She didn't have time to finish the spell, a wolf came from out of no where and bit her hand. She pulled back and the wolf landed in the snow growling.

"Alastar Rane," Shea hissed. "I see your doing your job well." She spoke to the wolf and her eyes flashed for a moment with a sign of loathing. "I thought you would be dead by now, amazing that a wolf that was once a powerful man has survived for this long. Well, no more!" She called her spells to her.

The wolf growled and in a bright flash from around it's body in a second turned into a tall elven man with ebony hair. His hand came up and he caught the spell. "Leave her be!" he shouted and sent the spell flying at her. It hit, sending Shea back mere feet, but her own spell had done some damage.

When Shea rose she looked at the wolf, now man. "I will," she hissed, holding her side. "For now." Then left.

Mizuki:

Another elf that was once a wolf, a man claiming she's his wife and Rai his kid, and Soran hates her. These have been the greatest days of Mizuki's life.
When Rai was taken from her arms she grabbed for her again when the Queen's spell was broken.

"Curse the Fates." Mizuki said under her breath. 'Who was this man? What the hell is going on now?!' Mizuki thought. The events were going in a whirlwind about her head. Shea was now gone...temporarily, and she held the child in her arms that had been hurt because of her.

"Rai," Mizuki whispered to the child. "I'm sorry I hurt you, but I had to get you away before you killed yourself."

OOC: Sorry guys but my mom's on my back kicking me off. Hopefully I'll get on tomorrow and post. Night!

Emora:

Rai looked up at Mizuki and smiled weakly. "It's alright," she said. Rai was to tired to really know or care what was happening now. She was just lying there, about to fall a sleep.

Alastar was standing in the cold snow naked as could be. But, what could you expect, he had just come from a wolf to a man. It was his curse. Shea had made it so he was a wolf all except for one day, a day he would choose. He could be a human for 24 hours once a year and he knew he was the only one at the moment who could repel the spells and send Shea away.

Alastar turned to them, not the least bit modest or shy about the fact he was naked. "Is Rai alright?" he asked.

Alastar was a handsome man, strong, with muscular body and broad shoulders. He was also very powerful.

Soran:

The rogue backtracked a few yards through the snow and found the first aid bag that had been dropped at the beginning of the battle. The wind and snow had calmed down after Shea’s disappearance, and returned to a more natural flurry. Soran came back to Mizuki and handed her the bag, not looking her in the eyes. She began bandaging up the child’s wounds, which though painful were not life-threatening.

The rogue noticed Tora bent on the ground, still struggling to hold together the overripe barrier. “Hey,” he said quietly, taking hold of her shoulder and breaking her from her trance. Her face looked exhausted. “It’s okay to stop now. She’s gone,” he said. He picked a tree nearby and sat back against it, resting his elbows on his knees, feeling extraordinarily empty. He suddenly remembered Alastar’s presence, and turned to him. “So you’re the wolf?” he queried.

[Soran Nightblade]

Emora:

"Aye," he said holding out his hands and conjuring a pair of pants and a long jacket for himself. "That I am, thanks to that whore." He pulled on the clothes, looking Rai over for a moment. He turned to Soran. "I thank you for what you have done for her. She has been through a lot for such a small thing."

She pulled the coat on and it when to his feet, which were bare. He conjured boots for himself so he wouldn't be frost bitten. He looked over the other elf. He knelt down and put a hand on Rai's face. He smiled at her and then rose. "I think she'll be just fine, she just needs to rest. You would have been dead a while ago if it wouldn't have been for little Rai."

He turned to Soran and looked at him. "It's amazing how much such a little one can do, even if they don't know they have the power."

Soran:

“And what exactly is her power?” Soran asked, watching the man use his own mysterious magic with mild interest.

Emora:

"Well, her healing ability is her magic," Alastar said and looked at Soran. "But, that is not what Shea is after." He looked over to Rai, who once she had been bandaged up, had wrapped her arms around Mizuki's neck and fallen a sleep leaning her head on Mizuki's shoulder.

"She is the key to unlocking a demon that will bring hell to this world," Alastar said and looked to Soran. "Of course it isn't known how exactly it will happen, I'm sure Shea knows how it will be done. It was rumored that Rai's blood had to be drained into a goblet, pored into a mold mixed with metal to forge a key... It was also rumored that she had to be sacrificed at the gate of the demons cell. Many other rumors, all involving the fact the poor child had to be killed. You can see why She would want her alive."

Soran:

Soran nodded, slowly taking in all that Alastar had said. Somehow, after everything else they’d seen on this journey, the fact that Rai was a key to releasing some secret demonic weapon didn’t come as much of a shock. He looked at Mizuki absently, lost in his thoughts. She had gotten inside his head earlier, and he wondered why she was able to communicate with him mentally.

She’d been saying something urgent before Gaberial broke out from her body. What had she been trying to tell him? He couldn’t ask her now; he assumed she was upset with him. He looked at the exhausted woman treating an injured Rai, and at Tora, who had put too much into maintaining the barrier around him. All of it was his fault, and in the end he hadn’t taken responsibility for Shea’s wrath.

He would not repeat that mistake again. Soran stood back on his feet and walked off to some trees nearby. He began training with his blades, attacking a sturdy tree fiercely. He interchanged kicks and other techniques, indifferent to the sting in his legs and fists as they rapped sharply against the bark. His rapid movements were silent and surreal in the slowly falling snow.

Sakura:

Tora rested her weary body. The barrier was still up although she wasn't replenishing it with her magic, so it would soon fade. She listened quite closely to Alastar's story.

Her head tilted left absently and was about to fall asleep, until what she saw in the corner of her eye stirred her anger.

"Akisu..." She whispered gravely. "How dare you come back."

"Now, now, don't be so quick to judge." He said as a sled pulled up behind him. White gryffins howled in the woman as a brown haired brown eyed woman jumped out of the sled.

"Alo! What brings you folks out here?" She scratch her head. The tiger had told her about a group of weary travelers that needed assistance. This must be them. Apparently everyone was hurt... make that only the women... the men seemed perfectly ok.

She raised her bow at Soran, keeping Alastar in the corner of her eye. "Sickos. Think its funny to beat on women? Explain yourselves!"


Soran;

Soran stopped training as he heard the sound of a bow being drawn. “Sickos. Think it’s funny to beat on women? Explain yourselves!” came an unfamiliar female voice. Soran turned towards her aggressively, thinking she was another enemy, then noticed the sled that stood waiting behind her and understood why she’d come. How she’d found them, he wasn’t sure. He didn’t appreciate being threatened with an arrow, but understood this wasn’t the time for aggression.

“You make quite bold assumptions. We all came under attack,” Soran said as he approached her, ignoring the arrow pointed at his head. He gave her a look and she slowly lowered it. “Can your sled bring those three to the town?” he asked after a moment, looking over at Mizuki, Rai and Tora.

Mizuki:

Mizuki was completely lost in thought, and tried to aviod looking at the naked elf that was thankfully now clothed. She did not speak at all. She couldn't. She held Rai protectivly still after she bandaged her and then this new woman came. She looked up, thinking the voice familiar.

"Hello?" Mizuki called out to the woman. "Who are you?"

Out of no where thoughts not hers purged her mind. 'He think's I'm mad at him.' she thought. 'Wait, why can I still hear his thoughts? I'm not.... oh please no...' Apparently she had been purging minds so often, mostly Soran's, she still has a weak connection to him. Absently, she spoke to him.

"It's not your fault...." she said softly.

Emora:

Alastar thought woman incredibly stupid. She had to be one of those people who thought that all men beat women... He folded his arms across his chest, looking at her sternly. He then looked to Mizuki and Rai, looking at Rai for a long moment.

Rai stirred slightly, and coughed. She snuggled up to Mizuki to stay close to the warm body. Her arms tightened around Mizuki's neck and her eyes opened slightly to see what was going on. She had yet to realize that Toby was now human and maybe it was for the best that she didn't know it.


Ceron:

Leon is standing gaurd in front of Mizuki. "I won't let them hurt any of you." He is in an aggressive stance awaiting someone to attack any one of his friends.

Soran:

Soran stiffened as Mizuki’s voice entered his head again. “It’s not your fault…” She sounded tired and wistful. The rogue wondered how long she’d been listening to his thoughts, wondered if she knew that he was wondering. He found the idea of someone freely entering his mind dangerous, but despite his apprehension about the way they were communicated, Mizuki’s words had a calming effect on him.

“My name’s Trish,” came the newcomer’s voice, bringing Soran out of his thoughts. “Sorry for misunderstanding, but we see all kinds of things in these parts. I wasn’t expecting so many of you all, but I can fit two or three in the sled.”<br>

Sakura:

"Yeah, thats why I brought... Mizuki...is that you?" Her eyes widened as she caught sight of her old friend. She ran over. "OMYGOD MIZUKI! Its been such a long time! Do you remember me? Its Naoki!" The woman looked over at Soran. "I told you my name is Trish, because, well, I don't trust you. My real name is Naoki." She looked back at Mizuki. "Your mom forsaw you! I thought she was being crazy again, but she was right!"

Tora just stared the the estatic woman. She was too happy for everyone, and plainly blunt to put it at that.

"Ohhh I get it." Naoki speculated, eyeing Soran. "Your mom said you were bringing your boyfriend home! Thats when I thought she was REALLY crazy, but she was right again!" She giggled. "Ok lets get you guys on the sled... MEN! Make yourselves useful! Help me with them!"

Mizuki:

"Naoki!?" Mizuki said excited. "Naoki!!!" She hugged her old friend around Rai. It's been so long since they've seen each other.

"Your mom said you were bringing your boyfriend home! Thats when I thought she was REALLY crazy, but she was right again!" Naoki said giggling. Mizuki faulttered.

"H-He's not my boyfriend!" she blushed. "My mom is crazy! She always assumes that when I bring a guy home!"

EMora:

Rai stirred in Mizuki's arm and came awake again. She loosened her grip and leaned back looking around. She coughed into her small hand, though she felt a little better now that the Witch Queen was gone. Rai had been woken from Mizuki and the woman hugging each other. She was a little confused, because now there were two new people.

"Mizuki?" Rai asked tiredly and looked at her before looking at the woman and Alastar. "What's going on?"

Mizuki:

"Mizuki" Naoki said, "When did you have a kid? OOhh, it's his kid ain't it?" she said pointing to Soran. Mizuki blushed like mad again and hit Naoki's arm.

"Uh...Rai, this is Naoki, a friend of mine. And that man...well...err...I'm as confused with him as you are." Mizuki said. The man was a wolf, now he's an elf. What more can happen on this journey?!

Emora:

Rai smiled slightly at Mizuki's friend. She thought that she was Mizuki's child. She found it funny, but at the moment was a little too tired to giggle like she wanted to. The reason Rai was so tired could be the fact she was so small and young and things hit her harder than they would a full ground woman or man.

"Where's Toby?" Rai asked looking around quickly.

Alastar faltered for a moment and replied. "I'm sure he's fine," he said trying to put the girls fears at rest. I would be just to confusing for her to find out her pet wolf was a cursed man.

Mizuki:

Mizuki nodded unintentionaly absently. She started thinking again. 'If I can hear his thoughts still, can he hear mine?' she thought almost afriad. She tired to see if he was thinking anything. She wasn't sure if he cleared his mind of all thought or the connection broke. 'I didn't mean to intrude if your can hear me.' she thought again.

Mizuki looked at Tora and walked over to her with Rai in her arms still. "Tora? are you alright? You seem tired. I know what you did because it was asked of you by me...er...Gaberial...."

Sakura:

Mizuki's sentance was inturrupted by Tora's snores. She was already fast asleep.

Akisu went over to her and nudged her. "She's out." He took her by the collar and dragged her over to the sled. Akisu managed to get Tora's limp body in the sled before he himself moved into it. "Can we go already?" is all he asked.

Mizuki:

Mizuki smiled a tired smile and followed the tiger to the sled. Naoki seemed to have been ordering the men about like slaves and Mizuki couldn't help but want to laugh. But it seemed to hurt her chest to laugh. Fearing her state she went to Alastar and handed the once wolf Rai.

"Please watch her for me." Mizuki said. "I don't think I can hold her anymore." Mizuki smiled to Rai and walked away slowly. She walked over to Soran who seemed to be about ready to pounce Naoki to the ground.

"Go easy on her," Mizuki said to him with humor. "She's... had her share of lazy men." She giggled a bit and knelt into the snow. 'Am I tired or is death trying to kill me again?' she thought.

Sakura:

Mizuki was still in the snow. Naoki took her old friend from under the arms and pulled her up into the sled, refusing any help from the elves.

"Ok! Is everyone important on the sled! Apparently so!" Naoki called like a tour guide. "Let's go!"

Emora:

Rai sat in the man's arms looked at him with both hands on her his shoulders. She looked at him for a long moment. "Who are you?" she asked very politely, her face wrinkled cutely. Alastar smiled and looked at her for a moment. "My name is Alastar, and you are Rai... I'm a friend of your father's."

"Daddy?" she asked and grinned. "Do you know where he is? Is he alright?"

"I don't know, little one," Alastar said and lost his smile for a moment. "I'm sure he is though, your dad is a very brave man. He can handle himself and your mother."

"Really?" Rai asked and smiled slightly. "I think he can, too." She smiled and nodded. She yawned and covered her mouth like her mother had taught her.

"When you cough and yawn, cover your mouth," she had said one day to her.

"Rest you head little one," Alastar said and held her close so she could sleep. "You are very tired." Her touched her head and Rai fell into a deep sleep.

Soran:

Soran followed the sled on foot as it slid off towards Mizuki’s home town. He and Leon had to run frequently to keep up, but it was just as well that they reach civilization as soon as possible.

The rogue looked at the back of Mizuki’s head. He had heard her last mental communication to him, but decided not to send a response. He could sense nothing from her end that she didn’t send deliberately, but she seemed capable of hearing more than that from him. An unfamiliar presence in the back of his consciousness told him the mental avenue that had somehow connected them was still open.

For the moment, he thought only about keeping up with the sled, but even his more concrete thoughts were not necessarily reliable, since he was often dishonest even with himself about his real feelings. The air held a vague scent of firewood, indicating that they had almost reached their destination.

Mizuki:

Mizuki's tired eyes caught sight of her home and her heart jumped. Hope flew widely and freely in her eyes.

"Mama." she said quietly. As their sled rushed into town people stopped to watch and some recongized Mizuki on sight.

"The seer's daughter returns!" one man called out. Everyone within earshot roared in happiness wishing them well and welcoming the Mizuki home. Mizuki's mother was the town's most respected and important elf, because she was their seer. The seer Gwendolyn.

'Mama can help us,' Mizuki thought with her heart racing. 'I know it.'

The sled came to a hault outside of a cozy cottage covered in snow and smoke coming out of its chimey. Mizuki didn't wait for an incitation. She leaped from the sled with Naoki laughing behinde her. Has Mizuki reached for the door it was already open and her mother's welcoming already spread open.

Mizuki leaped into her mother's embrace.

"I knew you'd be home soon." Gwendolyn spoke to her daughter. Gwendolyn looked up to her newly come home daughters friend's and smiled warmly. "Come in, it's quite cold out there. Alastar, put Rai on the bed near the fire."

Emora:

Alastar looked around at the towns people as he walked holding Rai close to keep her warm. He looked down at her, she was pale and her cheeks were wind burned and red. Her tiny little nose was red as well. She looked very cute a sleep, though she looked very cute awake too.

When they reached the house Alastar did what was asked of him and carried Rai in. He sat her gently onto the bed by the fire to let her warm up.

Soran:

The last quarter mile of the trip had been downhill for the sled, and so Soran wound up falling behind. The snow had finally stopped, and he could easily follow the runner tracks from the sled, so he decided to stop running and walk the rest of the way. As he finally entered town, everyone seemed to be in a bustle over something. He caught clips and phrases of their conversations:

“They’re with Seer Gwendolyn as we speak”,
“So she’s finally home! Thank goodness!”,
“How long has it been?”<br>
Soran drew little attention from the frenzied townspeople, many of whom seemed to be excitedly preparing for some sort of banquet to “welcome her back”. He had not suspected that Mizuki was such an important character in her village. Walking through the crowd down a wide cobbled street, he spotted Naoko’s sled parked in front of a cottage. It seemed awkward to just waltz inside, so he sat back against the front of the building and kept guard for signs of enemies.

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn poked her head out of the door.

"You boy," she said with humor smiling, "come inside and be with your friends. It would do my daughter good to see you inside and warm."

Gwendolyn pulled the relucant elf in and looked at him with her hands gently on his shoulders. Her long silver hair cascaded down her back and curled about her shoulders. She stared at him softly with her crystal blue eyes. Gwendolyn wore a long white robe which added to her look of a godess. Mizuki's beauty came from her mother when her hair, eyes, and personality came more from her father.

"My daughter picked wonderfully. I give you both my blessing!" she said happily hugging the bewilldered rouge now. "When will there be children?"

"Mother!" Mizuki called from behinde embarassed. Gwendolyn let go of Soran and pouted like a child.

"Don't be embarassed Mizuki!" she said to her daughter going to the kitchen to bring out the hot tea she prepared earlier. "Alastar put some warm blankets on her from the closest and have her drink this tea. It should make her feel much better." She said coming out with a tray of the tea and cups in hand.

Emora:

Alastar nodded to the woman and went to the closet, pulling down a large quilt and carrying it over to Rai. he draped it over her and nudged her slightly. "Little one," he whispered and Rai's eyes flickered, finally opened. "Wake up, we are here..." He smiled and then reached for the cup of tea. "Thirsty? Her drink this," he handed her the cop of tea and she smiled, sitting up and holding the warm cup in both her small hands. She took small sips of it, color finally starting to return to her cheeks.

"Thank you," she said and handed Alastar back the empty cup and he placed it back on the tray. Rai wasn't that much tired any more, she had slept well actually. She bundled up the covers around her and huddled inside there warmth with a grin on her face. She was wrapped so in the covers all you could see was her face.

Soran:

Soran reluctantly allowed the woman to tug him into the cottage, frowning incomprehensibly as she rested her hands on his shoulders .

“My daughter picked wonderfully! I give you both my blessing!” He stood stiffly as she reached around him and gave him a hug. “When will there be children?” Soran’s eyes flared slightly, but he kept his mouth shut, deducing that this person must be Mizuki’s mother.

“Mother!” Mizuki exclaimed, and the woman released him. The rogue subconsciously took a step back from Gwendolyn, wary of another embrace. But the woman just whisked out of the room and returned after a moment with tea. Soran looked over at Rai and Mizuki, who both seemed unwell, but Rai especially. Tora sat in the corner looking exhausted, but not sick. He wondered if Mizuki’s mother was a doctor. He had heard people in town call her the ‘seer’ but he was unfamiliar with that title, and didn’t know what it meant.


Mizuki:

"Mother first tings first," Mizuki said taking the tea from Gwendolyn. "Soran is not my boyfriend and we wont be having kid's." Gwedolyn pouted.

"And why is it you wont? It's because of Luc isn't it?" her mother said. Mizuki shook her head. Gwendolyn never met Luc but it was obivious she 'checked in' on her daughter.

"No, not Luc." Mizuki got quiet as she served the room. Tora was asleep in a corner and Alastar sat with Rai who was bundled in the blankets. Mizuki was sitting at the table with her mother and Soran was standing rigidly. "Mom, you made him uncomfortable. I'm sorry Soran, she--"

"Wants her daughter to have children and stop moping on the past!" Gwendolyn interrupted. "I'm a seer darling, I see things, and I've seen how you've been. You left home when your father died to be a pirate! The very thing he fought against!"

"Mother, if you knew--"

"That's just it! I do know! You thought his death was your fault so you left. Stop putting the burdens on yourself Mizuki. Then you tortured yourself more when your ship was captured, ratted out by the man you 'loved'. Do you call that love Mizuki?"

"He said--"

"He said that to save his own skin! Not yours! Sure, maybe he did hold a feeling for you, but it wasn't enough. Not the kind of love to go into marriage." Mizuki's lip quivered slightly since she knew her Mother was right. Luc didn't really love her. "And now you seem to have a past love on your tail. You tire me out so sweety."

"It's not my fault! He came out of nowhere! Besides, how should I know I used to be his wife in another life? Mom I don't want to fight..."

"Yes, you've been through much." Gwendolyn looked at her daughter sadly and soon spotted the cloud of death. "Mizuki..." she whispered. Mizuki bowed her head low.

"I know mom..."

Emora:

Rai climbed off the bed in front of the fire and walked over to Mizuki, the covers wrapped around her and the good bit of the cover that was left trailed behind her. She walked up to Mizuki and looked up at her. "Cheer up Mizuki," Rai said and coughed into her hand. "It's alright, your better. Death can't make you sick any more." She hugged Mizuki's leg smiling softly.

Rai of coarse still had the scratches on the left side of her face, but the blood had dried over them creating thin dark lines that could possibly scar her face. "And the scary man won't hurt you, not if he loves you." Her blue eyes sparkled in the dim lighting as she looked up to Mizuki, hoping she could give her some comfort.

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn smiled at the child Rai and tried to lighten up the atmoshpere.

"Yes," she said, "You are also in my care now. Death can't come to you." Of course, Mizuki and her knew they were lying for the child. Mizuki lifted her head slowly and weakly smiled back to Rai.

"Oh Rai, I promised you I'd help find your parents, I intend to keep that." Mizuki said to Rai. She hugged the girl and lifted her into her arms. Gwendolyn looked to Alastar.

"Alastar, come with me please." she motioned to the kitchen.

Emora:

Rai smiled, but knew that even if Death couldn't make Mizuki sick now it could find other ways to kill her. She knew that the two women were lying to her to make her feel better and maybe it would make them feel better if they thought they had done so. She smiled and hugged Mizuki's neck.

Alasat bowed politely to the Mizuki's mother and followed her into the kitchen wondering what she wanted to speak with him about. He had heard much of this "seer" when he was a regular elf. "Yes, my lady?" he asked her calmly.

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn smiled to Alastar. "You have looked over Rai very bravely Alastar. I only wish I could break that spell on you." Gwendolyn tried to find her words.

"You all have many harpships to come to yet but I must know one thing. How far will you go for Rai?"

Emora:

Alastar looked at the woman wondering why she would question him on how far he would go for her. "As far as I must to protect her even if it means giving up my life. Why do you ask Seer?" he inquired.

Rai coughed into her hand and smiled. "I think I'm coming down with a cold, hehe." she said but thought it was still what ever she had taken from Mizuki. It should have passed like all the other sicknesses and things she had taken from people. It could still be just a cold.

Rai looked at Mizuki for a moment. "Do you like Soran?" she whispered so only they could hear each other. "I think you do. Why don't you both just kiss and get it over with?" she asked and giggled.


Mizuki:

"Because dear, your perils will be so great that even trust can be altered." Gwendolyn said forebodingly.

Mizuki was still holding Rai and she heard her coughing. 'She still inherited a small sliver of the cloud of death.' Mizuki thought, 'at least it will only make her ill and actually not die.'

"Do you like Soran?" Rai whispered to Mizuki. "I think you do. Why don't you both just kiss and get it over with?" Rai giggled. Mizuki's face turned bright red.

"T-That's adult stuff sweety!" Mizuki stammerd. Mizuki face then fell slightly. "Besides, it wouldn't work. He has his way and I have mine. It's.... complicated."

'Besides I'm doomed to die any way.' she thought. 'What kind of love would there be if later I would die? There would be no point in getting that close...' Mizuki wasn't sure if Soran's mind was still connected with her's at all, but at this point, she didn't think it nessacary to care.

Emora:

((OOC: I forgot about one of Rai's abilities until now so I think I'll bring it in))

Alastar looked at the woman not sure if she was saying that in time he might betray Rai. Which he would never do. He just looked at her. "That is a true statement, my lady, but I will not turn my back on her."

Rai was listening to Mizuki and smiled slightly. She knew in her heart they would end up together. It was like that. Just like in fairy tails. She'd have to talk to Soran later.

Besides I'm doomed to die any way. What kind of love would there be if later I would die? There would be no point in getting that close... Now, Rai heard all of this in her head, but she always thought that they spoke out loud.

"Mizuki don't say things like that... your not going to die. I'll protect you," she hugged Mizuki's neck and smiled.

Mizuki:

Mizuki gasped and faulterd.

"Rai?! How'd you.......?" Mizuki couldn't speak or find words. "You can...." Mizuki then gave up trying to figure it out. What would be the point? PLus, she's seen even weirder things...

"I'll be protecting you too Rai."

Gwendolyn smiled at Alastar.

"Then you have a true heart that cannot be swayed by evil." she said. "But that is also my warning to you." She walked back out with Alastar to the group. She saw Soran still standing and smiled at him.

'That boy is very independent.' she thought and went straight to Tora and her tiger. "Tiger, you do nothing but sit and watch as your student lays exauhsted[sp]?" she scolded the tiger.

OOC: Reading minds is fun! lol. Last post for the night and hopefully everyone in the thread will be on tomorrow! Night!

Emora:

Rai looked at Mizuki a little puzzled, not having a clue on what she was talking about. She just looked at her for a moment and then asked cutely. "How'd I what?" she asked and narrowed her eyes at Mizuki in the cutest way as if she was interrogating her for answers. Rai giggled lightly. "You can be very weird some times, hehe."

Alastar looked at Mizuki and Rai for a moment and then back at Mizuki's mother. He had forgotten to mention something to her when they were in the kitchen... but he would say it later once Rai was a sleep. He didn't want her ears to hear his words, it would only make her very sad. He wondered also what the woman's warning meant.

"Soran!" Rai hissed and motioned him forward. She glanced at Mizuki wondering if she knew what she was about ask Soran. Rai wanted to know if he would give a more entertaining answer. Hopefully Mizuki wouldn't stop her before she could embarrass the both of them... How playfully twisted she was at times...

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn made sure Tora was comfortable with a blanket and pillow and got up. She even motioned a tired Leon to another couch. She turned to Alastar and smiled.

"You forget I'm a seer young man." she said with humor.

Mizuki smiled at Rai and decided to put the event aside. She was tired, so very tired and right now she didn't need any more surprises....

Soran:

The homey cottage seemed an unnatural environment for the rogue, but Soran had become slightly more acclimated to the setting. He planted himself on a wooden chair and listened to the strange flow of the conversations. Mizuki and Rai’s conversation seemed disjointed, as if half of it was being omitted. He noted the child beckoning him, but was distracted by Mizuki’s mother.

“You forget I’m a seer young man,” she was saying to Alastar.

Soran’s attention caught on the word ‘seer’ again. Several people had been saying it when he first reached the town. The rogue turned to the woman and decided to ask, “And what exactly is a ‘seer’?”

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn's eyes turned to Soran and she laughed.

"My dear boy," she said, "You know not a seer? Mizuki how dare you not tell him!"

Mizuki blushes and lays her head back against the chair.

"A seer is a person who can see into the past or future. Even into one's thought's if they so desire. But don't worry, I don't always fiddle with another's thoughts."

[OOC: can't...post anymore...baby nephew ....desires to smash...KEYBOARD!]


Sakura:

"She is not dying, Seer, she is taken care of," Akisu growled. "I am her master, not her father." The tiger kept his gaze fixed on the rising moon, as if her were waiting for something.

Tora slipped into a deep sleep. Although her body was shut down, her mind exploded with thoughts. Analytical, she tried to use logic to solve all these problems that have risen in these past events. The barrier, Gabriel, Queen Shea's familiar magic…<br>

~~~


But she was lost in the middle of thick heavy fog. Color only exsisted in Tora's skin, as the world around her adorned itself with blacks, whites, and every shade of grey inbetween.

"Mizuki? Soran?" She called out, turning and looking for some sign of life. "Rai? Leon? Anyone?!"

The mist deteriotated little by little, as sight became clearer. Dirt crickled beneath her feet as she ontinued her search through what seemed like an oblivion.

A wind brushed Tora's hand carrying a strange warmth only a human's skin could hold.

"Hey!" Tora called to the little girl who passed by her a second ago. Tora's back was to the fog as she watched the child sprint down the street of a small town. Strange, Tora hadn't not noticed a village there before. Or was it never there until now?

Tora followed the girl, chasing after an extremely agile child. With each heavy step Tora's color seeped out of her into the world around her.

The girl was young, probably a preteen. Her hair was raven, like Tora's, and wore it in a long braid that reached down to her waist. The child wore a kimono to compliment the autumn season, which the excess fabric flew behind her as she ran.

The young girl led Tora to a small house. The child rushed inside, excited. The vampire watched curiously at the window as the child ran up to a teenage samurai.

"Brother! Brother!" the girl cried. The boy, whose hair was as dark as his sister's, gave the young girl a warm smile. "I have something to show you."

"Ok, but not too long. Kasumi-Sensei would kill me if I were late."

"But look what I can do!" The girl cupped her hands in front of her. Tora's hands began to burn with familiarity, as a dark ring of black fire swirled in the little girl's hands. The child's eyes grew wide with excitement, as her brother's grew wide with fear.

The samurai swiftly placed his hands on his sister's, secluding the fire. She knelt down to meet her eyes and said, "Promise me you will never do that again."

His grave tone threw the girl off. Confused, she questioned, "But why not, Brother? You do magic all the time-"

"Shhh!" He hushed her, cupping his hands over her mouth. "No, I don't," he told his little sister in a harsh whisper. "Not anymore." He gently let go of the girl's mouth and took her hand. "Whatever you know of magic, forget it. Promise me you will never speak or practice magic again."

"But…" the girl began.

"Kyna!"

Tora's heart jumped. So the girl's name was Kyna… for some reason, Tora felt as if she knew that name better than her own…<br>
"Kyna," he said softly this time. "Promise me."

The girl hesitated, still befuddled at her brother's behavior. Nevertheless, she replied with a soft 'I promise.' The boy patted her on the shoulder once and rose to his feet. He fastened his katanna and made his was to the door. "I will be back sometime after sundown. You be a good girl, Kyna." The samurai shut the door behind him, leaving the little girl standing there alone.

"But brother… I don't understand."


~~~

"But brother… I don't understand," Tora mumbled. She began to twist and turn in her sleep. Naoki's left eyebrow raised.

"Is she ok?" Naoki asked, pointing to the vampire.

Mizuki:

Mizuki turned her head slowly to look at Tora. She looked like she was sleeping but..

"Mama..." Mizuki asked tiredly and pointed to Tora. Gwendolyn nodded and knelt down at Tora's side and placed her fingers to Tora's temples. Nothing happened for some time.

Gwendolyn's eyes were closed as she explored Tora's state of mind. Quickly she was out.

"She's having a sort of flashback..." Gwendolyn said. "But not to worry, she doesn't seem too disturbed in it. Now, why don't I get you some rooms?"

"Mama, we must be on our way quickly because--"

"Mizuki you wont get anywhere if you don't rest. YOU espeically, you've been through much and the Black Cloud will have it's way with you without even trying again." Gwendolyn implied to the Cloud of Death over Mizuki's head. Only visible to Gwendolyn and Mizuki's eyes.

Ceron:

Leon is standing in the corner just watching all of the turmoil. "I wish I could do something..." He says to himself.

OOC: yes... short posts I know... but I can't really do much with this char... I think im going to make another one...

Soran:

Soran regarded Gwendolyn skeptically. She had said she could see into the past and future, seemed to be able to read into what Tora was thinking, and now she made a strange reference to Mizuki about a black cloud.

"...the Black Cloud will have it's way with you without even trying again," she said firmly to her daughter.

The rogue wasn't in the mood to ask all the questions on his mind, but planned to put them to Mizuki later. However, something about the 'black cloud' reference sounded strangely foreboding, and he was particularly determined to find out what it meant. Was Mizuki under some sort of attack he wasn't aware of?

"Black cloud?" he asked icily, pointing the question at both Mizuki and Gwendolyn.

Mizuki:

Mizuki froze at Soran's question. She felt numb and cold. She'd hate having to reveil to him the truth but...

"The Black Cloud... I..." she couldn't speak so Gwendolyn tried for her.

"The Black Cloud...." her voice was quiet with dread, like she couldn't even speak. "Mizuki.... it's something only one gifted with 'seeing' eyes can see..." Gwendolyn trailed off. She couldn't bring herself to say that her daughter would soon die. Out of nowhere Mizuki said it fast.

"It's the warning that I will die! It looms over my head as we speak!" Mizuki said quickly. She got up fast almost knocking down Rai from her lap. She walked quickly out of the room and down the hall to her old room.

Sakura:

"It's the warning that I will die! It looms over my head as we speak!" Tora heard this at the last moment attached to reality. She slipped into an unknown world, where when she wakes up she'll have to reassure herself what day it is, where she is, and who she is.

Akisu left without warning. He casted a spell on himself to keep himself hidden from the seer's eye, although it was very loosely done. Akisu travelled two miles out of town into a small cavern. He waited for her...

Soran:

An unexpected chill ran through Soran’s body as Mizuki abruptly left the room. He stood up reflexively as if to go after her, still absorbing what she’d just said. Her words sounded crazy, but he’d never seen her act this way before. Not only that, but the supposed seer of the future seemed distraught as well. ~’No, this is absurd.’~ he told himself.

He turned to Gwendolyn, who wouldn’t look him in the eyes. “What’s happening to her?” he demanded in a low voice, cloaking his rapidly increasing alarm.

OOC: Sakura, did Tora just disappear? Or fall unconscious? Or...something else?

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn shook her head. "Her future is a blurr. I cannot look at it."

"What does that mean seer?" Naoki asked.

"It means she has many paths she could take, but she can only pick one and with the cloud above her head... it may be death." She looked deeply into Soran's eyes. "If that is the alarm I think I feel from you, I believe you should go to her..." She said it quietly so no one could hear but them.

Mizuki cried in her room, she tried to be brave but it wasn't working.

"I can't die... I still have to help Rai...I can't... Everyone I'm so sorry. Soran.... I wish I could be as brave as you...."

Soran:

Soran realized he was clenching his fists and forced them to loosen again. Was this what Shea had been referring to, about watching the others die one by one in front of him? Through his chaotic thoughts he heard Gwendolyn’s voice say “You should go to her.”

Without a word, Soran turned his gaze away from Gwendolyn and walked out of the room, down the hallway Mizuki had disappeared into. Soran passed several other rooms and came to a closed door. He could hear stifled sobs coming from inside. The sound heightened his sense of dread. He knocked twice on the door, not sure what he hoped to achieve when she opened it.

Mizuki:

Slowly, Mizuki answered the door trying to dry her tears. 'They wont see me like this..' she thought determind to try to act more brave than she had been. She opened the door to Soran and all her bravery left her...

Quickly she threw her arms around him. "I'm sorry! I wish I could be more brave like you!" She lifted her eyes to his and stared at him with her brown ones full of tears. "What I was going to tell you back in the forest Soran....." She straightened herself so she stood a foot in front of him now. She tried to dry her tears again with her sleeve.

"You're so brave Soran," her voice was a bit more calm now, "I wish I could be that brave... act calm... It would be better for you and everyone else if I did. I admired you from the first time you battled with me, Soran. Even though we had just met...." Mizuki trailed off.

Soran:

Soran looked down at the top of Mizuki’s head as she held him. Despite the awkwardness of the moment, her grip relieved him. She was warm and alive. He was unable to believe that she could die. He watched as she stepped back from him.

"You're so brave Soran," her voice was a bit more calm now, "I wish I could be that brave... act calm... It would be better for you and everyone else if I did. I admired you from the first time you battled with me, Soran. Even though we had just met...." she said, trailing off.

The rogue looked at her, not sure what to make of her words. He had that feeling again, the one he’d had when she kissed him the night before. She was breathing, she was crying, she was standing right in front of him. He didn’t know what to say, so he looked her straight in the eyes and told her the strongest thought that was burning into his head.

“You’re not going to die,” he said, firmly but gently. “I won’t let that happen.” He looked away uncomfortably as he heard the tremor of emotion in his own voice, feeling the tips of his ears grow warm.

Mizuki:

“You’re not going to die,” Soran said. “I won’t let that happen.”

It was the best feeling that swam over Mizuki since... well since the news of the Black Cloud. She could tell that this was, for Soran, an uncomfortable moment.

"I'm sorry," she giggled slightly, "I'm making you uncomfortable again...well... the first time it was my mother. She just really wants me to settle down and start a family. She wants to be a grandmother... badly." Mizuki watched Soran for awhile. She smiled. "Soran, I don't blame my mother. You are an attractive man...." she then blushed suddenly.

"I'm sorry! I did it again to you... do..do you want to come in? And... thank you Soran... maybe, I wont die... maybe..."


Emora:

Little Rai got off the floor, where she had fallen once Mizuki had risen up so quickly. She found that she was falling a lot because of Mizuki these days... Either by accident or for her on protection. But, it rather hurt Rai's feelings every time it happened. She told herself though that Mizuki always did it by accident. She sat down in the chair that Mizuki had been sitting in and looked around the room, her little feet swaying back and forth, a few inches off the floor.

She felt sad, because Mizuki said she was going to die and Rai didn't want that to happen. She'll be okay... I know she will. Soran, Tora, and Leon can make it better, I know it! she told herself and a small smile came to her lips. "I know it," she muttered out loud on accident.
* * *

As Akisu stood on the mountain she appeared from her purple light, clothed in her usual clothes and the black fur draped loosely around her bare shoulders. She smiled her usual smile to him. "Akisu...." she said her greeting, the chilling smile growing. "Did you hear my call? I suppose so since you are here... How go things?"

He hadn't yet said much about this... girl he would train. She wondered about her and how useful she would be. She also wondered how useful Akisu would be in getting the child...


Soran:

Soran pushed his concern back under control as Mizuki giggled lightly and smiled while talking about her mother. His alarm had been replaced with determination, but his heart rate still wasn’t returning to normal. An intensity he couldn’t name was lingering in his mind. He tried to identify it and explain it, but when that failed he just repressed it and buried it under logic.

He instead thought about how to fight off whatever was trying to kill Mizuki. A disturbing thought suddenly struck him: he’d assumed their enemies were fightable, but what if Mizuki’s peculiar illness was going to kill her?

“Soran, I don’t blame my mother. You are an attractive man….” Mizuki’s words struck Soran out of his thoughts. He’d been told such things by other women, but something in her voice seemed different from the lovesick girls that had followed him around in Hepian. He studied her expression, his own features back under his stern control.

"I'm sorry! I did it again to you... do..do you want to come in? And... thank you Soran... maybe, I wont die... maybe..."

The rogue didn’t know what to make of her, but he complied and went into the small room. He watched her from the corner of his eye as he looked around the room, trying to evaluate whether or not she was sick. He hadn’t considered that she would hide such a thing, but if she had withheld her discovery of this ‘black cloud’, she could be concealing other things as well. Another consideration came to mind.

He turned to her. “Are you still reading my thoughts?” His sharp green eyes gave no clues as to the motive behind the question.

Mizuki:

“Are you still reading my thoughts?” Soran asked.

"Oh, no." Mizuki said flatly. "I think the connection broke anyway. I'm sorry about that, reading and speaking to minds was my first time so... I didn't think we'd still have a connection... Please sit down." She motioned him to her old vanity chair. She waited awhile to find something to talk about Everything she talked about didn't seem like the right thing to say or just.. right at all.

Mizuki smiled slightly and sighed. "Soran, I'm going to have my mother train me in the abilities I have so I can better help us but, it may take awhile... I want to help Rai badly... she's like a sister I never had... I feel so horrible. I had to hurt her to keep her from killing herself back in the forest, when she tried to heal me..." she trailed off again.

Soran:

Soran nodded. He didn’t have any particular urge to be anywhere else, so why not wait for Gwendolyn to train her. He suddenly turned his attention to the window, narrowing his eyes warily. He’d heard something outside. Glancing briefly at Mizuki, he crossed over to the window stealthily and threw it open with one bladed arm.

He blinked at the ‘intruders’. He’d suspected Shea or maybe that winged impersonation of him, but instead found a small group of local children looking up at him guiltily. Soran raised an eyebrow, his glare demanding an explanation.

“S…s-s-sorry, we j-just wanted to s-see if there were any m-more animals inside!” stuttered one of the terror-stricken peepers. The rest looked torn between hoping for an answer and wanting to run for their lives from the cold-looking rogue.

“Animals?” Soran said icily.

“Yeah,” said another child, gathering up her courage, “We saw the cool tiger run out and w-we thought maybe there might be m-more…”

“The one that ran off toward the border!”<br>
“It was so huge! Where did you guys get it? It’s coming back right? I mean…if it’s ok to ask…”

Soran turned back to Mizuki, perplexed.

Sakura:

A glow came around the tiger as he transformed into an exotic human being. An old man with long silver hair stood before the queen. He stood in a long black robe woven with symbols that indicated he was from the Citadel of Dark Robes.

"My Queen, how could I have not heard your call?" He bowed. The ancient looking man was Akisu's true appearance. He looks old, but it would be unwise to underestimate his magic."It has been going well. My student has no clue what happened to her before her transformation into a vampire... but is this truly about her?" he asked, smiling deviously. His fangs told the world of his vampiric race. "Or is this about the child?"

Akisu sensed a destiny in Rai, that is the only reason he could think of why the Queen would come to him. He had come to Tora with his own reasons, his own vengence...

(OOC: Toras just asleep, and sorry for the short post ^^)


Mizuki:

"The tiger left?" Mizuki questioned. She smiled slightly to ease the children. "He propbably went out to hunt children, so, I advise you to get home soon....." she laughing jokingly and the children scurried off at her words of fake danger.

"Now really,where is that tiger? I wonder why we never noticed either." Mizuki hurried back to the kitchen with Soran. "Mama, the tiger is gone did you notice?"

"No, I have not... strange...." Gwendolyn said perplxed herself.


Ceron:

Startled at the realization that the tiger has gone, he states "We should go and find that tiger, if nothing else than to keep everyone safe." He starts to the door waiting for everyone to come. "We should hurry."

OOC: Not sure if i'm going to kill Leon off or not... I guess it depends on how creative I get with Poit.

Soran:

Soran looked around the room. Rai was sick, Mizuki was still recovering, and Tora was fast asleep. It did seem suspicious for the tiger to disappear, but it wasn’t the first time he’d wandered off. “We’re not in a good position to go on a search,” he said. “He’s probably out hunting.”

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn and Mizuki agreed. "Yes," Gwendolyn said. "Maybe..." she still seemed puzzled though from not noticing that the tiger had left. Though Mizuki went to Rai side and hugged her.

"I'm sorry I scared you Rai..from before..." she said quietly, her face next to the child's. Mizuki smiled remembering something then. "Would you like to see my dolls? I used to play with them when I was your age."

Gwendolyn smiled at her daughter at Rai then turned to Soran. "Soran, would you mind if we went into the kitchen?"


OOC: Soran? I was gonna have Gwendolyn kinda poke through his past... if that's ok?


Soran:

________________________________________
OOC: Hmm, sure that would be cool if she tried. I'll pm details to you later.

Emora:

Rai smiled and pulled on her dress. "I loved dolls! I used to have one! Mommy made it for me, I called her Lillie, don't know why... it just sounded pretty," she giggled and grinned cutely. She made a weird face and sucked in air through her mouth. "I have to sneeze..." she said putting a small finger to her tiny nose, trying her best not to.
* * *

Shea smiled coldly as her servant thought to question her for answers, she ignored it, however. "That's good to hear... so do you think she will come willingly?" she asked interested for a moment, but deciding to go a head and answer his question. "I have come to see about both. Such a coincidence the very thing I was searching for fell into your lap..."


Mizuki:

OOC: let's get into Gaberial's mind for a sec...

Gaberial paced his chamber floors in emense concentration. He was puzzled, he thought Alexial would remember him and re-awaken, but she didn't. To make matters worse she was already taken!

"I will not let this pass... at all..." he simply said after stopping his pacing. He had a plan......

-----


"Let's go back to my room then and I'll show you my old doll's Rai." Mizuki said smiling and took the little girl's hand walking towards her room. Gwendolyn smiled at her daughter, she found a happiness in an area of gloom. She turned her attention back to Soran.

"Soran I just want to help you all." she started saying. "Espeically Mizuki and you." she smirked playfully at him. "If you're going to be with my daughter we should find out why you're so untrusting to others!" she smiled like a little girl, clearly enjoying her missjiff, and tugged Soran ito the privacy of the kitchen leaving Leon with a passed out vampire.

Emora:

Rai grinned and held Mizuki's hand as they walked to her room. "Did you name your dolls when you were little?" little Rai asked and looked up at her, the scratches on her face cracking slightly.

"I only had one," she said and sighed for a moment.

Mommy made her pretty... she thought and looked at her feet as she shuffled across the floor. What if mommy and daddy are... are... Who will take care of me... Who will make me dolls and tell me stories and brush my hair and... and... Who will take me fishing like daddy? Rai grew very, very, very sad at that moment because she realized that it had been so long since she had seen her mom and dad that there was little chance that they were alive.

The little girl blocked her mind as best she could from that thought and smiled despite the incredible sadness that overtook her. She would cry later, that is what she told herself.

Mizuki:

Mizuki smiled. "I named all of my dolls, and I still remember them too!" she laughed at the thought. They walked into her room and she immediantly went to her old toy chest. It had ten beautifully made dolls within it. "This ones Cherry, then there's Lady, and Jade, Susan, Raven, Caterina, Rose, Katrina, Violet, and this straping man here was Joseph."

The only man doll out of the nine woman dolls. She smiled at the memory of always having the girls fight over him. She stared longingly at the dolls spread out on the floor. It was a childhood she missed very much.

"It's been so long since I've seen these..." Mizuki sighed then shook herself out of her memories. "Well Rai, pick any one...or two.. or three you like!"

Emora:

"Pick one?" Rai asked in disbelief. "I-I can have one?" she asked with a smile coming to her face, her eyes glimmering. "There all so pretty! I couldn't, hehe..." Rai smiled up at Mizuki, feeling the sadness edge some. She walked to the dolls and touched each one. "Hehe... You pick."
* * *


Alastar had snuck out of the house when he noticed that the tiger was leaving. He must have left under what ever mask the tiger had left under because no one followed them. He didn't trust the tiger... not even as being a wolf. Sure he didn't act distrustful, because he wasn't sure then, but now he was.

He followed him up the mountain and when he saw who he was meeting with and heard the words he knew what he had to do. "If you get this girl for me I will help you in any way. Right now the child’s parents lie starving slowly to death in my dungeon and I wouldn't feel myself if I didn't allow them to see her one last time..." She grinned. Alastar new what he had to do then. He turned and began to flee down the mountain, but was caught in the back with some of Shea's magic. He felt himself shaping and turning, the wolf form taking over. This wasn't supposed to happen... he had a good number of hours left... He had to warn them!

Soran:

Soran gave Gwendolyn an icy look when she grabbed his coat sleeve, but allowed her to direct him to the kitchen. When they reached the room, he stepped out of her grasp and looked at her expectantly, not sure what it was she wanted.

[Soran Nightblade]

Mizuki:

Mizuki looked at Rai smiling. "Of course! It's time I let go of some things. Otherwise they'll just collect more dust!" It was time she got rid of a few things. Though she will miss them, she'll also know the dolls are in the loving hands of another little girl.

Meanwhile Gwendolyn busied herself with Soran. "Soran, do you remember anything of your past at all? Because I want to help you. Maybe I can help you solve those un-answered questions?" She did want to help, and the sincerity in her voice showed her she looked at him expectantly. She hoped he would let her help him... 'I failed my husband. I wont fail my daughter and her friends.' she thought sadly.

Ceron:

"Now where'd that wolf man go..." Leon walks outside not sure what he is going to find when he sees Alastar running down toward the house, changing into the wolf. "What's happening Alastar?" He runs over to help the man get to the house faster.

Soran:


Soran eyed Gwendolyn coldly as he listened to her questions. He wasn’t sure how she knew about his amnesia, but judged that Mizuki had probably told her. Wait…had he even told Mizuki? It wasn’t a topic he frequently talked about. ~’And why would I? I’m fine as I am. Nobody said I needed help,’~ he thought. He was actually a little annoyed that they knew. ~’Besides, what could she possibly do about it?’~ He recalled her saying something about seeing the future AND the past, but…No.

“That’s not necessary,” he said to Gwendolyn flatly, turning to leave.

Emora:

Rai smiled and reached out, taking a doll with long curly ebony hair and bright green eyes. "May I have her?" she asked, but couldn't remember her name. She hugged the doll grinning sweetly. She looked at her, playing with her hair lightly and smiling like she had just walked into a candy store.

She hugged Mizuki tightly, still grinning. "Thank you!" She sat back holding the doll and she looked at Mizuki. Rai looked out the snowy window. "Mizuki... can I get a bath?" The thought of warm water made her want one and she hadn't had one since the night the scary dude showed up in the snow...
* * *


Alastar had no time to reply before the wolf form took him over and he was on the ground. He was Toby again and Toby didn't look well at all. He shook his head and tried to stand, but fell back into the snow with a mournful wimper. He had to be strong for little Rai. He had to protect her, but most of all he had to warn her.

He growled fiercely, but not at Leon. He pushed himself to his paws and began his slow trek back towards the house door. He hated that his hours had been stolen from him. He could have told them all about the tiger and what was going on. He could have warned them all and now he couldn't... not until next year...

Mizuki:

Mizuki looked at the doll Rai had picked. "Oh.. you picked little Raven. Hmm... Fine choice."

"Mizuki... can I get a bath?" Rai asked. Mizuki watched Rai and smiled.

"Of course! Follow me." She took Rai to their bathroom. She began pummping and heating the water into the tub.

Meanwhile Gwendolyn was having a had time with Soran.

"So, you want no help?" she simply said. "You're not even curious? I'm a seer! I can help you! There is something in your memories that you may need to uncover but can't get too! I could try and help you..." she was getting desparate now. "What about Mizuki? Or Rai? Whatever is in your memories may help you to get closer to the ones you care for..... even if you wont admit it to yourself." Quite tear began falling from her crystal blue eyes.


Emora:

When Rai was finished she was dressed again, feeling much better now that she was clean. Her wet hair caused her curls to fall down passed its normal length. She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand.

Toby back scrambling into the house, falling onto the floor with a thud. He scrambled to get up, but couldn't.

Rai looked in the direction of the sound. "What's... what's that?"

Mizuki:

Mizuki heard the thud too and frowned. "I don't know." She went out towards the sound puzzled completely. Then she saw the wolf. "Oh! Rai Toby's back!"

She hurrided to the wolf's side. "He doesn't look good though....."


Emora:

"Toby!" Rai said, running to Toby and falling down beside him. "Toby..." she looked him over, petting his snow covered fur. He wasn't moving, but he was breathing. "Something's wrong with Toby." She held the doll in her arms tighter. "Something's wrong with him! What's wrong with him?"

Toby raised his head slightly in Rai's direction and then to Mizuki. He glanced at the sleeping vampire. He wasn't seriously hurt, but he would need a little while to rest. He wouldn't go down that easily.

Rai was shaking her head and petting Toby, who was panting and looked very ill to her. Her small mind was having to much trouble taking all this death and gore and evil. She was having trouble taking it all and she had been burying it, but it was becoming very hard. If Toby was gone she would be alone... If her parent's were gone she was alone and had no one to take care of her.

She laid her head on him and hugged him. Toby wished more than ever that he was Alastar again, that way he could comfort her. He wished some one could read his mind so they could tell her...


Mizuki:

Gwendolyn heard the ruckcuss and almost forgot her current situation with the stubborn rouge.

"What's happening--- AHH!!" Gwendolyn yelped at the site of the wolf.

"Mama! It's ok," Mizuki said in comfort to her mother. "This wolf belongs to Rai. He doesn't look good mother..." Gwendolyn frowned and came towards the wolf putting her hand gently on his head.

"Where is Alastar?" Gwendolyn asked instantly.

"Uhh..."

"He had left but I haven't seen him since then." Naoki said coming from another room. She had been tending to her own things until she heard the noise. Gwendolyn gave a suspicous glance to the wolf who seemed to look desparatly back at her with human eyes. Narrowing her eyes more Gwendolyn mouthed Alastar's name to the wolf.

Emora:

Rai hugged Toby and closed her eyes. He was beginning to relax, or so she was thinking that. His breathing turned normal and he fell into a deep sleep. "He's alright," she told herself out loud. "He's alright.... I'd like to go to bed now..." She was speaking very quietly.

It must have seemed strange, yes, that she wanted to go to sleep all of the sudden. But, it wasn't because she wanted to be in a room alone with no one around the see her cry. If they saw her cry it would only make things worst. She didn't want make any one worry over her.


Soran:

Soran stood with his back to Gwendolyn as she spoke to him, wondering why she cared so much about helping him regain his memory. She said it would help him get closer to the ones he cared for, but he wasn’t even sure he was comfortable with the level of closeness he’d already reached. After years of strictly maintained distance from others, he was infinitely more involved with these people than he’d ever intended. Despite what he considered his better judgment, he wanted to know. He had always wanted to know, but…

~’What good are memories,’~ he told himself, though a more honest part of himself was implying he might actually be afraid.

The commotion in the next room cured his indecision as he put the idea of restoring the past out of his head and followed Gwendolyn out to where Toby lay on the ground.

The rogue watched Toby/Alastar contemplatively as the others spoke. He considered that returning to his canine form might have made the man ill, but that didn’t register with his claim that the human form would last a full day. It was too early for him to revert to being Toby, and his weakened appearance and ill composure clearly showed that something was wrong.

“Mizuki,” he said seriously, not taking his eyes off the wolf, “Can you tune into Toby’s thoughts?”

Mizuki:

"I'm not sure." Mizuki said in doubt. "I had help from Gaberial last time. But, I'll try..."

Mizuki put her hand on the wolf's head and tried to concentrate. She was getting something from the wolf's head but, it was a disjointed thought.

'Must...warn....protect...Rai...plotting...Shea...'

Mizuki finally let go, breathing heavily. "His thoughts were... He seems to be in disstress over something involving Shea, but we already know we're in danger with her."

"Is that wolf by any chance Alastar?" Gwendolyn asked.

EMora:

"No..." Rai said, her head still lying on her friend. "His name is Toby," she said quietly, petting his fur. "He's my friend..."

Rai really wanted to go to bed now. She wanted to cry. Most of all she wanted her mom and dad. She was tired of running around and tired of all the scary things that were happening. She was just tired and sad. She wanted her mother and father to hold her and she wanted to be rocked to sleep or told a bed time story. She just wanted everything to be back to normal. She loved Mizuki, Soran, Tora, and Leon... but she missed her parents so much.

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn looked at Rai and she seemed exhausted[sp?].

"Mizuki take Rai to your room and put her to bed." Gwendolyn said and turned to Leon when he came in. "Leon come here. We all need to talk now."

Mizuki nodded and took Rai's hand. "Don't worry Rai Toby will be fine. We want you to sleep now." Mizuki picked Rai up and settled the child under the covers of her old bed. "It'll all be ok Rai. I promise." she kissed the child's forhead and watched her drift to sleep before leaving the room.

When Gwendolyn saw Mizuki come back Leon had already put the wolf on the couch. "Does Rai know about Alastar?"

"No, not that I know of anyway." Mizuki answered her mother. Gwendolyn nodded.

"That's why I asked if he was Alastar. Oh this doesn't feel good. It's even worse because I can't purge his mind."

"What?" Naoki and Mizuki spoke together.

"That only happens if..." Naoki started saying.

"If a higher power is blocking mine, yes. Shea obviously." Gwendolyn paused for awhile looking to be in deep thought then she said. "What is it the Fates have in store for us?"


Ceron:

After Leon walks back in to the house, Gwendolyn said, "Leon come here. We all need to talk now." Leon then responds "Yes, we really do..." He then awaits her questions and tries to find answers to the ones in his head.


Soran:

Soran looked at the wolf. Its pained too-human eyes seemed trapped and exhausted. Trapped inside that body was the proud elf he’d seen earlier. There was something acutely tragic to Soran about the man’s current state. The wolf was whining softly, trying to communicate despite its severely weakened condition.

Soran turned away. “Let it sleep,” he said, leaning against the wall indifferently. After a moment one thought did occur to him, though. If Alastar could communicate as a wolf, then another wolf might be able to understand him, and Mizuki could read the other wolf’s unblocked mind. But there were certainly no wolves around. On second thought, other wolves might not even be intelligent enough to understand. He threw the idea away.


Emora:

When Mizuki left and the door was closed and no one was in the room with her Rai sat up and held the doll very close, burying her head in the dolls hair and sobbing. She wanted her mommy and her daddy to hold her because she was so scared and alone. She felt that way even though she had Mizuki and the others with her. The alone feeling didn't want to leave her. She didn't feel alone sometimes when Toby was around.. but now he was sick.

"Mommy..." she cried softly lying down and curling up. "I love you and daddy... please be alright..." After a while she cried herself to sleep.

Mizuki:

Mizuki couldn't take beening in the house anymore. She had to get out.

"I'm gonna go for a walk.." she mummbled and stepped outside into the crisp snowy air. It was peacefull and beautiful. The children were playing in the snow and as she walked people would welcome her home and say 'hello'. Mizuki walked down the road, a familiar road she always walked on when she was younger.

The road lead her to a lake that never froze and she sat near the edge of it. She looked at her reflection in the water and saw the Black Cloud. Angry, she threw her fist into the water, splashing the mirror reflecting her doom into distortion.

She wanted to cry, but she didn't. So much happening so fast. It was hard to believe.

"Alexial you should never be out by yourself." Gaberial was dangerously behind her and grabbed her into his arms taking off into the sky with his massive black wings.

Mizuki could only make one sound before he tied a peice of cloth around her mouth. Cutting off any chance of other sounds of disstress she could make.

"Fight me and you'll fall a couple hundred feet." Gaberial said wickedly and flew off for his castle.

Ceron:

Leon hears a faint scream, "That kind of sounded like Mizuki..." He runs out of the house and looks around not seeing anything. He runs back inside th house and yells "I think something happened to Mizuki!" Leon thinks he hears a faint beating of wings. "What is that?" He goes back outside and looks up and notices a creature carrying Mizuki. "Your mine..." He starts running after the creature on the ground.

Emora:

Rai woke something twisted inside her and this completely horrible feeling came over her. Something was wrong, something was very wrong. Rai ran out of the room and down the hall to where every one was. "Somethings wrong!" she said and ran out the door. Something was wrong. Mizuki, she didn't see Mizuki around... what was going on.

Why is it every one I love dies...

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn goes into a shock and forsees her daughter in the hands of the Dark Angel.

"GABERIAL!"She cries as she faints from the vision. It was the sheer shock of having her daughter taken by the Lord of the Dark Angels and the fact of her fate with the man that would soon take place.

Gaberial looks down to see a man running after them on the ground. He starts to laugh.

"Your friend there seems to think he can stop me." Gaberial smiled evilly and kept flying. Mizuki feared what he would do to Leon who ran after them.


Emora:

Rai had gone back into the house and grabbed a kitchen knife, hiding it in her sleeve...

"Mizuki!" Rai screams and runs with all her might after them, but what good could she do? What good? She had to try. "Hey you big ugly bat! Get down here if your so bad and pick on Leon!" She knew that Leon might not like it that much, but she had a plan if he'd come down.

"What scared your not as tough as you act?" Rai screamed, she was furious, but she wouldn't let her size get to her now. She would help, even if it killed her...

Mizuki:

Gaberial looked down angrily at the child as she taunted him. Mizuki tried to scream out for him not to hurt them, especially Rai.

"Mmmmm!!" Mizuki tried to scream but it wasn't working.

"The child wont be harmed. But the man..." Gaberial snarled and fired a blast of black energy down at Leon.

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Mizuki screamed behinde the gag cloth. The blast collided with the ground, Mizuki wasn't sure if Leon was even alive anymore.

Emora:

"No!!!" Rai screamed and took the knife. If probably wouldn't do any good, but she through it any way. She actually managed to hit the thing... in the leg, but she hit it and it stabed through. "Come down here if your so brave, brave people don't hide behind magic!" She screamed.

She ran to Leon, if she stood close to him maybe he would be alright. It was her fault again that Leon was hurt.... When the snow cleared she looked for him.

Ceron:

Luckily Leon was using a false image, because his other image just got blasted by a big energy blast. "Man this guy must really not like company..." He continues to follow but is staying in the shadows and is trying hard not to be seen from above.

Mizuki:

The knife hit Gaberial in the leg and he screamed in absloute pain as he stopped flying to yank the blade out.

"I lost all paitence." he said a went to throw it back aiming for Rai. But Mizuki saw it first and grabbed his hand. He never bound her arms or legs. For a time a struggled against each other untill....

Gaberial was stronger, much stronger. Mizuki's arms gave out and the blade plunged into her shoulder. Her cry was one to be heard from across the mountains. Gaberial floated, horror stricken that he accidentaly stabbed her. He was never really going to hurt her! Now, with Mizuki wounded he wasted no time in flying off back to his castle to repair the he wound he inflicted on her.

All the way he cursed himself and the others trying to stop him, practically ignoring his own wounded leg that dripped blood to the ground.


Emora:

No! No! No! She screamed in her head. "No!" she yelled and stared up, feeling totally helpless. It wasn't fair, nothing was fair. Nothing at all was ever fair. Now she had lost the only thing that was ever close to being her mother.

Rai felt a great coldness come over her. Not the cold from the outside, but on the inside. She just stared, watching him fly away and her heart grew even colder. She was tired of it all. Tired of being so small and helpless and defenseless and the fact she couldn't help any one. It made her so mad.

Soran:

Soran stood next to Rai, eyes smoldering with fury. His hands made fists at his sides, clenched so tightly that they were shaking. His heart was pounding and it felt like a suffocating grip was clenching around his chest. He was consumed by an overwhelming instinct to run after that winged bastard. It felt like that was the only thing that would make the pain in his chest subside, but he knew he could not keep up with the angel’s wings.

He looked back to where Leon had been struck down. The illusion had dispersed, and all that remained on the ground was a black scorch. ~’Clever’~ he thought. He’d had a feeling Leon wouldn’t go down that easily. He stared absently at the scorch, as though he would find Mizuki in it, fighting for control of the swirling rage that was muddling his thoughts.


Emora:

"I'll come back for Toby," she whispered and began to walk off to find this castle, even if she was going alone. She was tired of people dying or being hurt around her. It wasn't fair, it wasn't fair at all...

She was afraid of going off alone, but she had to find Mizuki. Though, even Rai knew she couldn't take down a powerful thing like him. She could try.


Soran:

Soran looked down at the child, who was walking away toward the direction Gaberial had disappeared to. Now that Mizuki was gone, he would need to protect the child alone. He turned to Gwendolyn seriously. “I’ll leave Tora and the wolf with you.” He began walking away, then turned back over his shoulder. “When I return, go ahead and read my past.”<br>
He came up beside Rai and looked down at her small form pushing through the snow. She hardly looked like a child at that moment. They walked in silence next to each other for several minutes before he spoke, still looking straight ahead. “You were foolish to throw that knife. He could have killed you,” he said coolly, though there was no real scorn in his voice. In fact, he was rather proud of her.

Sakura:

"Whats going on?!" Tora called out, rubbing her eyes from the deepest sleep shes ever had.

Soran:

"Your friends all ran outside! Something happened to Mizuki!" Naoko told Tora frantically. Her complexion was pale. She had stayed in the house because she didn't want to leave Tora and the wolf alone. "I don't know where they went, but I think there's trouble. You should go to them!"

Emora:

Rai was quiet for a long time, she still held the doll in her arms, the one Mizuki had given her. she watched the snow on the ground as she passed. "I know," she said very quietly. "I don't think I was thinking..." Her face was very solemn as the coldness grew a little.

"It's just every one I know keeps going or dying and... and I'm tired of it, because I can't do anything about it..." Rai looked at the ground for a moment and then up at Soran. She had a great strength in her eyes for such a small child. So young and yet she had seen so much. "I'm tired of it..."

"Can we get Mizuki back?" she wondered out loud and hugged the doll to her. "I'll do anything to get Mizuki back."
Shea watched from her mountain position. Well, the perfect opportunity to snag the girl and she missed it talking to her servant who didn't seem to be answering her questions. "Well?" Shea asked.


Sakura:

(OOC: My computer isn't working right, so i won't be able to post for long)

Tora looked at the frantic Naoki, emotionless. "It would be unwise to try to follow them in the snow when I had no idea what direction they went in." She looked around the room for her tiger mentor, but he was no where to be found. "Uh... Naoki, wheres Akisu? Is he with the others also?"

"No, he left, no one knew where he went." Naoki scratched her head.

"I'm going after him." Tora prepared to go outside. "Stay with the wolf." She didn't tell Naoki that she was taking on of her snow gryffins, but the gryffin behaved well and raced through the snow.

She fought the cold and tried to sense the tiger. Her magic was drowned out by a strange force.

But she was still a vampire that had a smell 20 times a normal humans. She sniffed the tiger out... and she found it... along with Shea's?! Tora understood, but she did not want to believe it. She raced toward the direction of where the scent was comming from, hoping the situation was not what she suspected it to be.

~~

Akisu could see the Queen's rising impatience, since the child is out on the loose, and Rai could be very easily captured.

"If you want me to capture the child, I will, for I can not refuse you." Akisu said. "If you want to do anything with my student, do as you please." Akisu hoped that the Queen wouldn't take the vampire just yet, but Tora will be very useful to the Queen later on, although Akisu has not revealed why to his ruler yet.

His senses tingled, and he knew the vampire was racing her way up here. "Shes comming," he said more to himself.

Emora:

Shea smiled and looked at him. "I want you to bring me the child and don't let anything stop you. As for your student, she will be most useful to me as well. Bring them both to me as soon as possible. For now I must return to my castle... there is some one there to see me," she said with a smile, sencing you it was... "Good day." Shea stepped back into her portal.

Sakura:

"Akisu..." Tora whispered harshly to the mage. She hopped off the gryffin and walked slowly towards her teacher. Tora had caught the Witch Queen leaving, and with Akisu unhurt it was apparent that he has allegiance to her. Tora couldn't help but feel a little betrayed.

"Ah... Kyna. It about time you found out." The old mage said. Tora's heart jumped again at the sound of the name. "Oh, I'm sorry, I mean, 'Tora.'"

Tora readied her magic, although nothing could be done on what happened to her next. Bright green vines binded her entire body, so tightly she could barely breath.

"The last time someone used this spell on you," Akisu whispered, stepping heavy steps toward Tora, "You countered it, and killed the caster. So whats different this time? Why can't you counter this spell now?" He tightened the binds on Tora, nearly leaving her breathless. He squeezed tears out of her before he was satisfied.

"I've...wanted revenge on you for the longest time. Unfortunatly, that revenge must be delayed. The Witch Queen wants you, alive, but before I hand you over, you need to do a favor for me." Akisu grinned widly, almost like a maniac. "...You know, they trust you a lot more than they trust me."

That was the last thing Tora rememebers.

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn sat with Naoki in the house fearing the worst. They had to stay with the wolf...er... Alastar.

"They'll make it to the castle but by then they'll be too late." Gwendolyn said remorsly.

"Why?" Naoki said worried for her old friend. Gwendolyn couldn't looked Naoki in the eyes.

"Then she will be taken to his bed."

"NO! I wont let that happen!"

"You could ride on the fastest animal in Heirot but it wont change a thing! I've been a seer long enough to know that sad truth."

"They'll change it..." Naoki said determind.

---

Gaberial flew into the castle and he limped from his wounded leg as he landed. Another Dark Angel with wings approached him.

"M'Lord." It was Gaberial's general.

"General I need medical help now!" Gaberial demanded and the general was off quickly returning with the medical doctor.

"How did she get this stab wound? And your leg!" the doctor exclaimed.

"Enough chatter! Just heal her before she's dead and your head is on a post!" The doctor went pale momentarily then proceeded to Mizuki and Gaberial's leg.

Soran:

“We’ll get her back,” the rogue said distractedly as he noticed a large paddock off to their left. Six or seven horses stood in the enclosure, grazing quietly. One of the animals, a tall stallion with dark brown fur, raised its head alertly and faced Soran. The rogue turned from their course and walked toward the paddock, watching the brown stallion intently.

The animal brayed softly and stepped gracefully toward Soran, as if it had been summoned, stopping in front of him and arching its long neck over the fence proudly. The rogue made a clicking sound between his teeth and reached his hand out to rest on the stallion’s forehead. The animal jerked back slightly, wary of the elf’s armblades, but allowed the contact.

Soran nodded approvingly and climbed through the fence, then walked toward the gate and opened it. The stallion followed him. After they were both outside the gate, Soran latched it behind him and led the horse back to where Rai was standing. “We’re borrowing him,” he said, lifting Rai up onto the powerful creature’s back, then getting on behind her.

He reached around on either side of Rai and buried his fingers in the horse’s long mane, forming a safety net for the child with his arms, then nudged the horse forward. The animal hesitated slightly, skittering around on the ground and half-rearing, but Soran kept his seat as though he’d been riding for years, giving no thought to the way he expertly shifted his balance above the nervous animal. After a moment, the horse calmed down and took off at a light gallop toward the direction Gaberial and Mizuki had disappeared in.

Ceron:

After a few hourse of running, Leon soon comes to a giant castle. "What in all the hells is this?" He starts stalking around the castle looking for any entrances...


Mizuki:

Mizuki woke up in a richly decorated room with a pain in her shoulder.

"Damn..." she said remembering it all. There was a bandage binding her wound which was only visible because of one thing...

"You dirty creep! Give me my cloths back right now!" she yelled in the chamber. The general walked in from her clatter.

"Gaberial will be with you shortly Lady. In the mean time dress in this." he said then walked out for her privacy. Mizuki grabbed the cloths the General placed on her bed and dressed in them with the only thought of being decent.

The dress was a pure white. Strapless and tight around her chest and waist then flowing out. A robe of white was also given to her and she threw that on too for more cover. She slipped on the slippers that were next to her bed and tried the door. Locked. She was locked in.

Her shoulder ached in pain making her sit down at a vanity. When she looked into the mirror the cloud was still above her head but she did her best to ignore it. So instead, she focused on her hair which seemed to be taken care of already. If she didn't know any better she thought she just had spa while she was out!

Her skin was soft from creams and smelled like honey. Her hair was silky and curled somewhat from being in wet braids and drying that way. She was half in awe and half annoyed that she would be pampered in her sleep. Meaning she had been possibly naked to Gaberial! Angered, she tossed the chair across the room causing a lot of noise.

"I will kill any man who had gazed upon me while I slept! AND GABERIAL YOU ARE SO DEAD!" she yelled.

Soran:

Soran and Rai had been riding for hours, but saw no sign of Gaberial. The trees had become taller and darker, blocking out the son with their dense leaves and preventing any undergrowth from surviving on the forest floor. He was actually heading slightly east of the correct direction, but by pure chance he happened to glimpse another angel flying toward the castle through a tiny break in the canopy.

The rogue redirected the horse in that direction, and sure enough he soon spotted a large castle mounted atop a hill in the distance. As they approached within ¼ mile of the structure, the horse became more and more skittish, until finally it stopped altogether and refused to approach any further. Soran took Rai and dismounted, and began approaching the castle on foot.

The rogue reached under his coat and produced a steel dagger from his belt. He turned to Rai and handed it to her hilt-first. "What I said about being too small to fight," he said, "Never mind that for now. If the time comes, use it."

Soran came to the stone wall of the building and ran along it, searching it for an opening, They needed to get in, but more importantly they needed to get out of sight. They were out in the open now, in plain view to anyone who might be watching from within.

Mizuki:

Mizuki stared angerily out the window. Calculating the distance down, she measured her odds of that survival.

"I may break a bone or two, but I'll be out of here." she finally came to that conclusion and started climbing the window to jump but Gaberial's hand descended upon her shoulder making her cry out in pain.

"Sorry, forgot which shoulder it was." he said and put her back on the ground facing him. "Alexial..."

"I'm not Alexial!" Mizuki screamed. "I'm Mizuki! Mi-zu-KI! OK?!" Gaberial sighed and forced his mouth down on hers. Mizuki would've struggled harder but her shoulder made struggling hurt more than it should.When he let go he placed her head on his chest and she began to weep. "I'm not Alexial. I'm sorry for your loss but I'm not her."

Gaberial ignored her attempts of begging and carried her to the bed. "If you wont accecpt me by choice, I'll take you myself."

"What?" Mizuki questioned until she realized his intentions. "NO! YOU FLITHY B*******! LET ME GO!" She screamed but her attempts were in vain. Forced down on the bed, she awaited her bleak fate crying.

Emora:

Rai looked at the dagger in her hands and back at Soran. Something bad was going to happen. Soran probably wouldn't give her this unless he knew that something bad was going to happen. She swallowed hard and held the dagger in her hands and she waited for him to find a way in. She walked up to the wall and looked at it.

There was something strange about the wall. It wasn't like the rest of the castle. It was a lighter shadow of stone. One of the stones was darker than the other ones. She put her hand on it, like in the stories her mom had told her and she pressed, but nothing happened. She turned around and leaned against the lighter part of the stones... and felt it push in. "Soran!" she said surprised and whirled around. The wall pushed back and slid open...

Ceron:

Leon hears stone on stone, and rushes to where he heared it come from. "I really hope that is an entrance..." When he gets there he notices that Soran and Rai are walking into the wall. "Soran, Rai, hold up... There aren't any other entrances... Let's get Mizuki." Leon states with cool determination.

Soran:

Soran straightened alertly as an angry and frightened scream came from a window high above him. "NO! YOU FLITHY B*******! LET ME GO!" It was undoubtedly Mizuki’s voice.

He had a sinking feeling he knew exactly what was happening up there. “Mizuki!” he wanted to shout at the top of his lungs, but if they were discovered he’d never reach her.

“Soran!” Rai said from his right, pushing open a secret passage in the wall. The rogue stared at it for a moment, then nodded to Rai. “We need to run.” He paused as he heard a sound from behind him and found Leon also searching the wall for an entrance. Soran waved him into the door, not particularly surprised to find him there.

They went in and closed the passage again behind them, and found themselves in a seemingly infinite spiral stairwell, the walls lined by burning sconces.

Without a word, they began scaling the stairs, searching the wall for any kind of passage that would lead to the main portion of the castle.


Mizuki:

Broken. She felt completely broken now. She lay on her side on the bed with her back to Gaberial. They were both quite and she could he Gaberial's breathing. It made her sick but after what just happened, she never felt so weak before.

She had been manhandled in the worst way and she cried softly. She had never been touched like this before and she had always kept it that way. Until now. She felt Gaberial move about on the bed. He lend over her and kissed her cheek. After he got off the bed she wiped it away.

"I'll be back." Gaberial said after getting dressed. Then he left the room and she heard the door locked. Quickly, wiping the tears from her eyes, she sprung from the bed and adjusted her missarranged cloths. That was her breaking point, she was getting out even if it killed her.

She grabbed the blankets and sheets from the bed making a quick rope. It didn't reach all the way down from the window but it was close enough. She tied one end to the heavy bed and through it out the window. She climbed down until she reached it's end and found she had to jumped down 10 feet. She took deep breaths and fell to the ground. When she landed she broke her ankle but that didn't stop her.

She limped her way through the court yard but to her luck gaurds spotted her. She had to fight her way out. Grabbing a rather large branch, she charged for a guard yelling.

Emora:

Rai ran up the steps holding the dagger, which could have been the most unsafe thing she could have ever done, but she didn't care. She wanted to find Mizuki and help her. She reached the top of the steps before Soran or any one and turned onto a hall looking around. She didn't hear Mizuki screaming anything any more and she didn't think she should yell her name. So how was she supposed to do this?

She looked around and felt that useless feeling come over her again...

Mizuki:

OOC: left and right there's posts happening. lol

Battered from the short fight. Mizuki kept limping her way through the yard. She stepped on a sharp rock causing her to tripped and cry out. Her dress was torn, she was bleeding from random scraps and scracths on her body, her ankle was broken, shouluder wounded, and she had a new gaping wound from a soliders sword across her middle.

"Why is it we can't rest?" she said getting up. "Why is it..." another gaurd came, but this time a wolf accompainied him. "WHY CAN"T YOU ALL JUST DIE!?" Her new weapon was the sword that gave her the wound across her middle, and she charged with it but the wolf struck her down.

"Lady stop fighting!" the gaurd demanded. But she wouldn't stop and before she knew it the wolf had a sword in its side and she took it out going for the guard.

"You'll all die..." Mizuki said. She now had an unusual thrist for their blood.

Soran:

The rogue came up next to Rai and looked out into the hall. The edge of a black wing was disappearing around the corner at the end of the T-shaped hallway. He followed the figure stealthily down the hallway, the others close behind him.

[Soran Nightblade]

Emora:

Rai ran down the hall, hoping the others were following. There was only one door at the end of the hall and she walked up to it, reaching above her head because the handle was higher than normal doors. She pulled on it and it opened. The inside of the room was very dark and she couldn't see. She didn't want to go in alone if she couldn't see. She looked at the inside and took a deep breath, but if it meant saving Mizuki she had to.

So she stepped into the dark room, not knowing what was on the inside. "Mizuki?" she whispered, not going very far, she wanted to see if she was in the room before she went any further. "Mizuki?"

No answer came so Rai turned to walk out of the room, but the door closed before she could make it out. Rai ran forward, but couldn't see so she ran into the door. She felt franticly for the door knob, but couldn't find it.

“Hello, little one…” some one said from behind her and she turned around, pressing up against the door. She held the dagger in her hands, ready to do anything if what ever the voice was came forward. The problem was… she couldn’t see if it was coming or not.

Soran:

Soran spun as he heard a door close. He felt a sense of dread as he realized Rai was not between him and Leon. The rogue ran to the door and turned the knob, but it wouldn’t open. He turned his back to the door and stuck the pointed tip of his armblade into the lock, maneuvering it hurriedly. Gaberial was getting away, he had no idea where Mizuki was, and he knew whoever was on the other side of the door with Rai was not on their side.

Emora:

Rai couldn't see the figure or who ever had the voice, but she knew he was in there with her. She didn't know what was going to happen. She just had her back to the door really tightly and held the dagger in shaking hands. Then, she felt the presence of some one standing right in front of her. "You look nice enough to eat..."

Rai grew very pale and she didn't even think about what she was doing. She just pushed forward with the dagger and heard the person howl out, stepping away. She held the dagger tight in her hands. She couldn't see how far away he was, or what it was. She heard something hiss...


Soran:

Soran heard a cry of pain from inside the room, and knew it wasn’t Rai’s. ~’Good job, kid, just hold on a bit longer.’~ He heard the latch in the doorknob unlock as his blade clicked it sideways. Turning to open the door, he found that it still wouldn’t budge. There must have been some kind of deadbolt on the other side. He took a step back and brought his leg up into a powerful kick, striking the door just above the knob.

He brought the leg back down and drove it into the door again and again, throwing all his irritation into his kicks. It shuddered each time with a loud crack, but didn’t open. “Rai, the deadbolt!” he shouted through the door, still kicking. He stopped and looked down the hall warily as he heard someone coming, masculine footsteps echoing on the stone floor.

Emora:

Rai was afraid to turn and look for the deadbolt, but she had to. Each time he kicked it pushed her off the door. She turned and felt along the door for the dead bolt. She had to jump and when she jumped she felt it finally. She jumped again and managed to turn it, just as something wrapped around her from behind. She stabbed at what it was, what ever was wrapped around her and she stabbed behind her head.

What ever it was it was pulling her away from the door and deeper into the room. It was laughing. She stabbed behind her head again and it howled once more, but held her tighter and it bit her hand.

Rai screeched and dropped the dagger, her hand was still in his mouth.

Soran should have been helping Mizuki, but instead he was helping her. He should be helping Mizuki. “Soran! Go help Mizuki, I’m fine!” She screamed as loud as she could.


Soran:

Soran ignored Rai’s plea to leave her alone. He didn’t want to lose her too. He heard the deadbolt unlock and flung the door open, just in time to see a large snakelike monster holding Rai captive in its coils begin to descend magically through the floor. It had several gashes in its scaly flesh, proof that the child had put up quite a fight, but the dagger was lying on the floor now. “No!” Soran growled as he lunged at the monster, but it disappeared with Rai into the floor and Soran’s blade met with nothing but stone. The rogue slammed his fist furiously into the ground, but Rai was gone.

Emora:

Rai was feeling pretty weird, sort of swimmy like as they went through the floor. She had this funny feeling in her stomach as if they were falling. "Soran!" Rai said when she realized what was happening. Her tiny hand was still in the snake man's mouth.

They fell to the floor and the coils tightening around her middle. "Owww," she said pulling on her hand to get it out of the mouth. "You better let go of me unless you want to get hurt!" Rai said, still not able to see what was going on. It was dark, but then the room began to fill with light, a red sort of light.

She looked down to find scaly stuff around her, they were red and black. She felt really funny and it sort of made her want to laugh because everything was spinning and distorting. She didn't know if they were still falling or not.

The snake walked across the floor, which was covered in even more snakes and he cleared a circle in the middle of the dark open room. "SORAN!" Rai screamed when she saw all the snakes. She squirmed but didn't want to fall. The snake man bit harder on her hand. "OWWW!" she kicked him as hard as she could and he dropped her into the clear circle. "Soran! I'm down-"

The snake smacked her with his tail and hissed. It flicked it's tongue and licked little Rai's cheek, hissing laughter. "Yummy..."


Soran:

Soran heard Rai’s faint voice shouting through the floor. “Soran! ..Soran! I’m down-!”<br>
The rogue stood up and spun back toward the door, only to see an armed and winged guard appear in the doorway. The two ran at each other and locked blades, Soran’s armblade versus his sword. Soran could immediately tell from the guard’s stance that he wasn’t skilled with his weapon. His sword wobbled uncertainly against Soran’s offence and was easily brushed to the side.

The rogue brought his leg around in a powerful spinning kick that met the guard’s ribs and chucked him sideways to the ground. Before the man could realize he’d fallen, Soran was crouched over him, one armblade pinning his throat threateningly to the ground.

“Show me the way to the room beneath us,” the rogue ordered icily, indicating that if the guard spoke one word he would slit his neck.

The man nodded with a frightened glaze in his eyes and Soran lifted his feet from the guard’s wings. The guard stood up hurriedly and moved carefully too retrieve his sword. Soran kicked it away and gestured firmly toward the door. The man lowered his head and began leading Soran down the hall and into another secret stairwell, but when Soran’s eyes were looking elsewhere, the guard grinned smugly.

The stupid elf thought he was a soldier, but little did he know that he was a telepathic patrolman in direct communication with Gaberial. ~’My Lord,’~ the guard empathed, ~’I’ve found them. They’re heading for the snake pit.’~

Mizuki:

Soran heard Rai’s faint voice shouting through the floor. “Soran! ..Soran! I’m down-!”<br>
The rogue stood up and spun back toward the door, only to see an armed and winged guard appear in the doorway. The two ran at each other and locked blades, Soran’s armblade versus his sword. Soran could immediately tell from the guard’s stance that he wasn’t skilled with his weapon. His sword wobbled uncertainly against Soran’s offence and was easily brushed to the side.

The rogue brought his leg around in a powerful spinning kick that met the guard’s ribs and chucked him sideways to the ground. Before the man could realize he’d fallen, Soran was crouched over him, one armblade pinning his throat threateningly to the ground.

“Show me the way to the room beneath us,” the rogue ordered icily, indicating that if the guard spoke one word he would slit his neck.

The man nodded with a frightened glaze in his eyes and Soran lifted his feet from the guard’s wings. The guard stood up hurriedly and moved carefully too retrieve his sword. Soran kicked it away and gestured firmly toward the door. The man lowered his head and began leading Soran down the hall and into another secret stairwell, but when Soran’s eyes were looking elsewhere, the guard grinned smugly.

The stupid elf thought he was a soldier, but little did he know that he was a telepathic patrolman in direct communication with Gaberial. ~’My Lord,’~ the guard empathed, ~’I’ve found them. They’re heading for the snake pit.’~

Soran:

Soran felt Mizuki's voice enter his head. "Soran!...'I'm...weak...so cold from snow....where are you? Are you all......ok?" The voice was definitely Mizuki's, but was full of a misery and defeatedness that Soran had never heard from her before. But she was contacting him, somehow, though he still didn't really understand the mental link. She was still alive! But something was terribly wrong...

"Where are you? What's happening?" he thought grimly, sensing there was some kind of emergency. He focused the thought as strongly as he could, not sure if she could pick up his signal or not. In the meantime he was following the guard into a large stone chamber that was pitch dark within.

He heard the door shut behind him and pressed his blade tighter against the guard's neck. Something was moving under his foot, and he kicked it away. As his eyes adjusted to the light of the room, the entire floor seemed to be sliding around...

Mizuki:

As side effect from connecting with Soran's mind she could see the floor...moving?

'Soran....trap...SNAKES!' she tried to tell him as she walked. 'Get out...i'm outside....' soon her connection was cut off for she was now out of the grounds of the castle, and in a snowy clearing. She was very exposed to more attacks and that's exactly what happened.

Two figures rushed towards her in a blurr knocking her down.

"Ah, sister, food!" They were two vampires. A male and female.

"Yes dear brother." the female hissed. "And I can really smell the blood on her!"

"She's so mangled. I can't have my fun with women if they are like this. Heal her sister."

"I shall, for I too like it when the food is alive and well to feel the pain of my fangs in their flesh!" With a wave of the females hand Mizuki's cuts, wounds and ankle were healed. Soon though, her body would be ravaged by a vampire and she was paralzyed from a spell the female placed on her after healing her. 'Help....' she thought.

Emora:

The coils wrapped around little Rai's body again and were very tight around her middle. She whimpered as she was drug over closer to the snakes by the large snake man.

I've done it again... she thought and took a big breath, finding it harder to breath. I'm always getting into trouble... and this time it looks like I won't be getting out...

The snake man left Rai lying in the middle of the snakes. She was lying on her side and about to role over when they started crawling on her. "I wouldn't move, they bite hard... Now, my petsss watch over her while I go tend to our guestssss..."

With in minutes Rai was covered in snakes that were squirming all over her. She closed her eyes and didn't move, it was almost as if she were dead she was so still. She barely even breathed...

The snake man rounded the corner to probably try and eat Soran too….

Mizuki:

"Rai......." a bright light hovered over Rai. It was Gwendolyn using all her magic to help them get out of there. The light driving all the snakes away, hissing as if burned. "Take my hand..." Gwendolyn's image held her hand out to the young child.




OOC: I'll change it if you don't want this happening. What? She's a seer? I don't think she would want them all dying on her like that...hehe ^-^;;

Emora:

Rai didn't know what it was at first, but she sensed it was good. She looked around at the snakes nervously. She hated snakes, she was deathly afraid of them... them and bugs. Rai reached high up and grabbed her hand tightly, sitting up and standing. She looked at the snakes worried that they would chase her and bite her.

"We have to help, Soran... and then we have to find Mizuki... I wish I still had my dagger," she said and looked around at the snakes as she moved closer to stand by the glowing form.


Soran:

The rogue could see almost nothing, but heard the snake demon hiss smoothly from in front of him. He threw the guard he’d been holding out of the way and brought his arms up, squinting into the darkness for a target to strike at. He could feel the ground begin to move up and wind around his ankles. He glared at the place where he knew the demon was standing as he realized he was standing in a vast pile of snakes.

“You don’t want to move,” came the demon’s twisted voice, “My friendsss are poisssonouss.”<br>
Soran heard a loud hiss as the demon’s fanged head shot out at him. He threw up one blade and caught the monster’s attack, slashing across a section of its stomach with the other. “Return the child,” he warned, preparing another attack. He cringed as dozens of tiny pricks drove into his ankles. A dull ache slowly began to spread up his shins.

“Ohh, now that was a missstake. My bite isss merely a narcotic, but theirs… will kill you sslowly!”<br>
The rogue growled and launched himself at the demon, slicing it neatly in half. It emitted a surprised shriek as it fell to the ground, shocked that the rogue had still attacked him. “You will die!” it hissed as it breathed its last.

Soran wasn’t listening. He ran through the snakes, deeper into the cavern. Occasionally one of the darting jaws would manage to grasp him, but he moved too quickly for them to latch on. “Rai! Where are you?” he shouted, careful to remember which way he had come from so he’d be able to find the exit.

OOC: Hmm interesting powers Mizuki, although if you have those abilities you should probably specify them in your profile. I think teleportation might be a bit overpowered, though I can’t tell if that’s what you’re doing.

Emora:

Rai looked up quickly when she heard Soran's voice. "Soran!" she called happily and looked in the direction that Soran was in. The glowing form was gone and so was the person, but the snakes weren't close to her, but they were closing in. She hopped to a clear spot. "Soran don't let them bite you! Be careful!"

She stood in the clear spot for a moment and hopped to another one. Her little hand was starting to throb where the snake man had bit her. She held it tightly, because strangely the pain was growing.

"Soran!" Rai saw him up a head.

Soran:

Soran her Rai shout his name and ran in the direction it had come from, relieved to hear her voice. He dimly made out her figure as he approached, and grabbed her as gently as he could as he ran past, swooping her up under his arm and looping back toward the exit. “Did any of the snakes on the ground bite you?” he asked urgently as he ran for the wall he’d entered through. He fumbled with his free hand against it, finding a rift where the door was and prying it open with his armblade.

Emora:

Rai shook her head and held onto his shirt as they ran. "Just the really big one," she said holding up her bloody hand with the bite marks on it. She held his shirt again. "Did you kill him?"

Soran looked pretty funny to her, he was all deformed and stuff for a moment, but it cleared and then went back the same way. "Did they bite you?" she asked with concern.

Soran:

Soran slid out the door and closed it tightly behind him, stomping on the head of one snake that had made it halfway out. He squinted in the brighter light of the hallway, looking at Rai’s wound critically. The demon’s venom was some sort of narcotic, assuming it had told the truth, but though that shouldn’t be lethal to an adult it could make a small child very sick.

“He's dead, and I’m fine. Close your eyes and try to relax. This might hurt, but I’m going to get some of the venom out,” he said.

He put his mouth over the wound and sucked out a tiny amount of blood, spitting it out on the floor. He’d done this to himself many times when he’d been bitten in the forest, but it seemed strange to do it to someone else. It was really only effective if it was done immediately, but he wasn’t sure how much danger Rai was in, so he didn’t take any chances. He didn’t bother with his own bites. The ache was spreading up his thighs and into his waist. By running he had circulated the venom through his bloodstream, and there was no point in worrying about it now.

He let her rest for a moment, then picked her up again, in both arms this time, and ran down the hallway toward the stairwell he had used earlier, which led outside the castle. “We’re going to find Mizuki now,” he told the child as they sped down the spiraling stairs.

Mizuki:

OOC: that was Gwendolyn. not Mizuki..she's kinda..too busy being attacked by vampires to be able to do that..heh..

Gwendolyn fainted in the room she stood at back in the house. Naoki rushed to her side.

"You over did it Lady." she said quietly to Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn nodded weakly but smiled.

"They are getting out" she said "but Mizuki is...ahh.." Gwendolyn blacked out and Naoki cursed wishing she was with them.

--

"Women are sooo much better when healed. Now be quite little Lady and I promise I'll be fast." the male vampire said. His body hovering over her's inside the cave they dragged her in. Mizuki spit in his face and the vampire wiped it away. "Fisty.."

"Get it done and over with brother! I'm hungry!" the female whined in a corner of the cave. Mizuki feared what a vampire could do to her body for a spilt second until re-focusing on trying to regain her body's movement.

"Acursed...things..." she spat at the two.

---

Gaberial was angry beyond rational thought. His guards openly attacked Alexial and the group was escaping! He stalked down the halls towards the snake pit until a guard came to him.

"We've spotted your Lady sire!" the guard said. They were around the corner from the pit and that aggravate Gaberial even more. 'So close...' he thought trying to resist the urge of throwing the fool into wall. "But she's been taken by vampires!"

"VAMPIRES!?" Gaberial roared. The very creatures he hated the most. He spread out his wings to both intimidate and exaggarate his anger toward the guard. "Get her out of there!" he ordered and the guard scuried off. Quickly, he went to a large balcony, spread his wings, and took off to find Mizuki forgetting about Soran, Rai and Leon.

Emora:

Rai wondered what he was doing when he started sucking on her tiny hand. She guessed it was some kind of funny trick to make her feel better. It hurt a little, but not as much as when she was actually bitten by that mean thing.

She held on tight to Soran so he could run faster. The fast they got to Mizuki the better. Rai hoped Mizuki was alright, she hoped Leon was alright to. She hadn't seen him yet... what if he was in trouble too. She hoped they found that Gabriel dude to… she wanted to get her hands on him and ring his neck for making all this happen…<br>
(OOC: If I was Mizuki and I had been healed the first thing I would have done was kicked that male vampire in the balls. lol)

Mizuki:

OOC: well, she was kinda paralyzed...

Gaberial flew across the sky in a rage.

"I hate vampires!" he yelled scouting the land for any sign of Mizuki..er...Alexial.

--

Mizuki could feel her arms regain movement as the two bickered over nothing worth hearing. She smirked when the male returned his attention to her.

"You should be coutning your sins now boy." Mizuki said evily. The two vampires snorted.

"And why's that." the male asked.

"You're about to die." in swift movement, her fist collided with his jaw in a terrible cracking sound. Slowly, but as fast as she could, she squirmed away from him trying to get feeling in her legs. Her body and torn dress was still stained with blood but it didn't seem to matter now.

In a snarling rage the female came at her but Mizuki avoided her quickly on the ground. A tearing was heard and Mizuki looked down to see the front of her dress ripped right off exposing her bare chest. Now Mizuki's rage boiled higher. She stumbled to her feet and pratically feel on top of the female pounding her fists in her face. The two brawled for some time before the male was fed up.

"That's it." he said. "A slow painfull death for you!" He grabbed a sword from the closest wall and came at her. His mouth was bleeding from where she had hit him, adding to his look of rage and...well...evil. They both attacked her at thesame time. There could only be one victor emerging out of the cave alive.

Emora:

Rai watched Soran's back to worn him if anything was coming from behind. She hoped they had seen the last of those snakes. No one was coming down the hall behind him. She thought it very foolish to have a big castle with no one to guard it besides aggravating snakes.

Rai glanced to the side and saw a picture of some one who looked just like Mizuki! "Soran wait a second," Rai said and looked at the picture. It was a picture of three people, Gabriel was in the middle and on either side of him were two people. One was of a woman who looked just like Mizuki, and the other was of a little girl who looked just like herself.

"Soran... why are Mizuki and me in that picture with that man?" she asked clearly confused by it. Under it and engraved into the frame were the names, Gabriel, Alexial, and Jaylee...


MIzuki:

Mizuki limped once again, out of the cave. She had been the victor in a gruesome battle. New blood was splattered upon her emanicated frame [OOC: surprisingly that came from english class in a Poe horror story. o_O ]. During the battle she was able to yank the sword from the male and hack off their heads. But she did get wounds from them, bite marks.

Every so often they were able to sink their teeth in her flesh then jerk away. She was a bloodied mess limping out of that cave. To an onlooker she would look like a walking corpse. Some of the new blood dripped onto the snow staining and marking where she has been. She held an arm over her chest to cover her bare chest since the fabric had been long since ripped away.

She was in the clearing once again and finding no more energy, she fell to her knees and cried out.

"SORAN! RAI!" she cried out. "....outside..."

Soran:

OOC: Ahhh, I see now, I completely missed that it was Gwendolyn!

Soran felt something sink inside him as he looked at the portrait. There was no doubt that Rai and Mizuki were standing there. Had everything Gaberial told them been true? He looked at it blankly, not sure why it bothered him so much. Aches were beginning to spread up his arms and they reminded him that he needed to move quickly. The pained tone in Mizuki’s voice from before echoed in his head.

“Don’t worry about the picture,” he told Rai, turning away from it and continuing the rest of the descent to the bottom of the stairwell. ~’First find her…’~ He located a stone door much like the one they had entered by and pushed it open, stepping out into the sunlight. The only problem now was finding out where exactly Mizuki had gone. He ran out into the snow, anxiety building in his nerves. Signs of battle showed everywhere, footprints and blood marring the once-perfect snow.

“Soran! Rai!” Soran spun in the direction of her voice and sprinted toward it, into a rocky area at the edge of the forest. He ran between the rocks, searching, then finally found her. She knelt in the snow, wearing torn and unfamiliar clothes and covered in blood. Soran froze for a moment, staring at her in horrified relief. “Mizuki…” he breathed, walking toward her carefully as if she might disappear at any second.

Mizuki:

Blood streak tears fell down her face now as she saw Soran and Rai come up. She smiled a haunting smile and stumbled towards them. She spoke not a word until she reached them. She put her free bloody hand to Soran's face leaving a bloody hand mark.

"Oh Soran...." she was dazed. She felt like she was in a dream and she fell into his arms. "I have waited...so long..." she was not well. From the gory battles evident on her frame and her rape, her mind had broken. She lifted her head to his, a lazy look in her eyes, and her mouth fell upon his for an instant before she fell in the snow, curled up in a ball.

"ALO!" Naoki cried in the distance and came up to them with a sled. She couldn't stand waiting any longer and left to help them. When she drove up to them on the sled she saw Mizuki's mangaled body. "My lord, What happened to her?"

Soran:

Soran stared unblinkingly as she touched his face. “Oh Soran…”

He caught her weakened body and supported it as she collapsed into his arms, Rai embraced between them. His eyes widened as she kissed his lips and fell to the ground. Her shredded dress had fallen open in front, but Soran’s attention wasn’t on that. He knelt next to her and grasped her shoulder firmly. “Mizuki!” he said, wanting her to wake up, but when he noted the wounds on her body he let go.

“Alo!” Naoki shouted, pulling up with her sleigh. “My lord, what happened to her?” she exclaimed. Soran turned to her with such an intense look that she almost stepped back for a moment. He was amazed she was there. There was still hope.

“Here,” Soran said urgently, handing Rai carefully to Naoki and gathering Mizuki into his arms, “Get them away from here, quickly.” He set Mizuki across the back seat of the sleigh, removing his coat and covering her with it. “Now!” he said impatiently when he saw the girl still staring at him. His weight would just slow down the sleigh, and he could escape on the horse he’d arrived on. Besides, he’d lost track of Leon. Soran sensed the illusionist was probably fine, but…

“Go!” He yelled at Naoki, who had reluctantly gotten into the sleigh with Rai. Soran slapped one of the griffins, and they burst into motion, speeding away. In the distance, he could see a winged form approaching.

Mizuki:

"Damn.." Gaberial couldn't find Mizuki, but he saw a sleigh. "She's on there...."

"My Lord the snakes have been..." a guard was coming up behinde him.

"Yes I know."

"Should we go after them sir?"

"No." Gaberial said throwing his leuitant off guard.

"But sir.."

"I know... but she has possibly been wounded and such. They'll heal her, besides, they somehow breeched my castle. Which means they can do it again!" he watched as the vampire he swore he had killed earlier run out of the castle and to Soran. The guard sensed he was in trouble and began trembling.

Gaberial was not in a good mood.
---

Naoki drove the sleigh fast back home trying to figure out why Soran would stay behind. "Rai are you ok?" she noticed the child's hand was wounded.

Emora:

Rai held Mizuki's head in her lap and was running her hands through her hair. She looked up absentmindedly, still feeling a little funny about everything. It was like the things closest to her moved in slow motion and everything around her moved really, really fast. She nodded and looked back down at Mizuki's face, petting her head lightly.

Rai looked sadly at Mizuki. She was worried about her mother, her father, Toby, Mizuki, Leon, Tora, and no Soran was running off to fight Gabriel... Every one was leaving her behind.

Soran:

Soran glared up at the winged replica of himself, leaning against a rock to catch his breath. He was furious – so furious he was surprised at himself. That idiot was supposed to be in love with her! The rogue wanted answers, but more carnally he wanted to beat the living hell out of Gaberial.

Still, his rational side took precedence. He didn’t see how Gaberial could fail to see him in such an open area, but he held still and watched just in case he’d somehow escaped detection.

Emora:
Little Rai looked at Mizuki and the thought came to her mind. She could heal Mizuki and make her all better. She would feel all the pain Mizuki felt, but it would feel better after a few minutes and Mizuki wasn't very conscious to stop her this time. Even if she tried she would knock her out of the sleigh.

Rai kept her hands in Mizuki's hair. It didn't matter where she was touching her... at least that was how Rai thought of it. She just wished she didn't have to try so hard. If some one could teach her how to bring the magic out properly she wouldn't have to force it out, which did more harm than good.

Come on... come on... Please come out... Heal... Heal... Rai sighed heavily when the funny feeling in her grew stronger from the snake bite. She couldn't do it.... She couldn't do it... Rai slowly bent forward, not intentionally, it just sort of happened. Her forehead rested on Mizuki's and her eyes closed. She went totally relaxed and her mind was clear of all things besides the fact her body felt so lacks.

I wish Mizuki was healed, that way she could protect herself... was the only thought she had.

Rai breathed in deeply and as her tiny body fell to the side gently the connection she had to Mizuki flared to life. Slowly Mizuki's bites healed and the blood sucked back into her body. She didn't get to heal her totally, but the many bites were gone, the other major wounds weren't. Rai used the side of the sled to pull herself up so she could sit up.

She began to sing a soft song, holding Mizuki's head until she woke up...

Mizuki:

Mizuki could feel her conciousness return to her and her first thought was Rai. She smiled slightly and turned her head to face Rai's. She lightly brushed the child's face as she seemed to sleep next to her.

"You do so much for a little one." Mizuki said quietly. She noticed Soran's trench coat on top of her and blushed. 'I had been naked....' She looked at her blood stained dress and looked at it with a ahunting look in her eyes.

"Naoki where is Soran?"

"He stayed behinde for some reason..." Naoki replied.

"Of course he did." It seemed typical that he would to Mizuki. "I just wish that he wouldn't do that. Wait, what of Leon?"

"I think he lives, I'm not too sure...."

OOC: PS, Gaberial flew back to the castle.. ^-^;

Soran:

Soran watched Gaberial turn away and return to his castle. His body felt like it was on fire, and his head was beginning to throb. His anger was slowly receding as he thought out the situation and understood he wasn’t in a good position to challenge Gaberial. He raised his fingers to his pulsing head, and when they lowered he saw blood on them. It took him a moment to remember it was Mizuki’s blood on his face. He needed to go back. The rogue made a low whistle and looked into the forest for any sign of the horse he had ridden earlier. He spun around as he heard someone coming up behind him, but it was Leon.

He turned to the illusionist. “The others went back. Mizuki and Rai are in bad shape.” He heard a shrill whinny in the distance. “There’s a horse waiting over there.” He pushed off the rock and led Leon to the place where the horse was obediently waiting. Not sure if Leon could ride, Soran took the front seat and Leon got on behind him. The horse sprung into a gallop and they took off toward Mizuki’s village.

Emora:

Rai smiled at her and brushed Mizuki's hair with her hand. "I try," she said and sighed heavily as she looked around them. She hoped they were safe. Rai had this stinging sensation all over her body, which could have been from the bites she had healed on Mizuki.

"Rest," Rai said and smiled at her again. "Mommy always said that you feel better after resting." But, Rai wouldn't rest, no matter how hard it was to keep from falling to her side and sleeping she kept her eyes open. She wanted to stay awake so she could watch over Mizuki.

Her hand throbbed and the stings on her body were becoming more noticeable to her. At least she's safe and I know Soran is to... I wonder if he got bit by those snakes...

Mizuki:

Mizuki noticed Rai's wounded hand. "Rai..your hand." she said taking the child's hand into her own. "When we get home I'll bind it with herbs..." Mizuki smiled, only it was sad. She's put the child in danger one too many times and she was doing the job of the adults.

Mizuki felt her heart ache.

"One day Mizuki you'll fall in love with a great man." her mother had said. "And you'll have beautiful children, like I did." Mizuki and laughed and said.

"I'll fall in love with someone like daddy. Strong and will protect me. I'll love no weak boys." Mizuki had said. She had only been 10. Her mother chuckled.

"A weak boy like that Samuel?" Mizuki nodded in agreement. She had beat him up when he tried to look up her skirt, and he was 13! He was such a weak boy then.

'I wonder what he's like now.' Mizuki thought smiling at the funny memory. 'A strong man I had fallen in love with. And he broke my heart, and now Gaberial who says he loves me. But take's me by force... I don't think I can trust a man anymore.' 'But what about Soran?' her inner voice said to her. 'Strong but stubborn and he shows no emotion.' 'You're cracking his walls.' 'Still... I was hurt twice...' Her inner voice didn't replied instantly, but it then said. 'Did your heart break when they hurt you? Or was your pride just wounded?'

Emora:

Rai smiled and shrugged. "It's alright... Soran did some funny trick, he sucked on it and spit stuff out... I don't know what it was for. I know it was to help though," Rai said and smiled weakly, her eyes fluttered and she shook her head when the strange distortion came back.

"Why are you wearing that?" Rai asked noticing that the clothes were different from the ones she had left in... and they were ripped.

Rai shivered, but she wasn't cold. Some bad feeling just came over her...

Mizuki:

"Why are you wearing that?" Rai asked. Mizuki stopped to look at her cloths that were thankfully covered with Soran's coat.

"I don't know. I had woken up with nothing else and these came to me. I couldn't find my other cloths..." Mizuki said staring at the once white dress and robe. "Then...things happened..." She remembered her battles and the people she had killed and dicapitade. Surprisingly, she wanted to laugh but she surpressed it unsure why she wanted to. The only remorse she felt was not being able to get Gaberial.

"You look like you've been in a bloody massacre Mizuki." Naoki stated.

"You know me. Don't get in my way or threatened me and my friends." Mizuki said flatly. Naoki shivered. Something somehow stopped seeming right with Mizuki. 'Gwendolyn will know...when she wakes up that is.' Naoki thought.

Emora:

Rai shivered again, but still not from the cold. "I saw a picture hanging on the wall in the castle... The man looked just like Soran and a woman looked just like you and there was a little girl who looked just like me... How are we all in a picture with different names under it?"

Rai held her hand tightly when it started throbbing worst. It was all red where the fangs were and around it was blue with spider web like veins spreading out all around it. It would go away, Soran's trick would make it better.

Rai didn't see Soran or Leon coming up behind them. She hoped they were okay. She felt safer with them around. She felt safe with any one around, but most of all with Soran.

Soran:

Soran looked ahead through the trees for signs of the others. For a moment they seemed to swim together, then separated again into their normal form. He frowned as his vision came in and out of focus, blinking it off. Considering the amount of time he’d been riding, he was very close now to Mizuki’s village. He wondered grimly if she and Rai’s conditions were worsening, but swatted the thought to the back of his mind.

Up ahead he could hear the soft crunch of the sleigh runners gliding through the snow. He picked up his pace and came up beside the sleigh. Mizuki was lying down in Rai’s lap, and he couldn’t tell how Rai was doing. “How are they?” he asked Naoki as he slowed down and fell into pace next to the sled.

Sakura:

"They're almost here," Tora said gravely, sitting at the table. Gwendolyn cocked an eyebrow at Tora. A strange dark aura surrounded her the vamp, but it was something unexplainable. No light reflected in Tora's eyes. Ever since she returned from the mountain, its almost as if she is dead...

Emora:

"Soran!" Rai said, clutching her hand for a moment, the burying it in her pocket. She ran a hand through Mizuki's hair. "I healed Mizuki as much as I could... I'm getting better at it I think... I used to not know how to do it, but I think I got an idea... I took away all the vampire bites and scratches and smaller things."

Soran's face distorted in her vision. His forehead grew big and his nose long, and his chin wide... But, then it faded back into its place and he was normal again.

She kept her hand hid from site because it would only give them something else to worry about and she didn't want to do that. She already caused them enough trouble as it was and thought it better if she didn't cause them any more. She didn't know how much they were in trouble before she had come along, but she couldn't help but think she had made it worst.

Rai could remember time when she was always happy. She never had any bruises or cuts on her face. No snake men ever bit her and no corps thing tried to get her. She and her parents were happy. But, now it was all gone, all stolen from her and she wanted it back so bad. She wanted the happy family. She didn't want to be hurt any more. She just wanted her normal life back. But, it was gone, just like her parents...

Soran:

Soran looked down at Rai and his head cleared for a moment. She had worked so hard to protect everyone, even after she was bitten. For a moment he felt proud, though he knew her strength hadn’t been his doing. But he recognized now, after seeing her taken away in front of his eyes, that he had decided to protect her. “You did a good job,” he said, glad she was okay. “It’s okay to rest now.” He looked at her confidently to reassure her things were finally safe.

Emora:

Rai smiled at him and nodded. She leaned against the side of the sleigh and closed her eyes for a moment, but the bumping and jolting of the sleigh kept her from falling to sleep. She just rested. Maybe if she rested she would be able to see straight with out things going all funny.

Now that Soran and Leon were back she felt safe enough to close her eyes...

Rai was beginning to notice how much she looked up to these people she traveled with. She wanted to be strong and brave like them. She wanted to know how to fight like Soran and wished she was as brave as him.

Mizuki:

Mizuki tried not to look at Soran at all. She felt...ashamed for some reason. If his eyes feel upon her she felt she would see dissapointment in his eyes. But why would he be dissapointed? Was it because of...? No, she didn't want to think of that at all.

The sleigh finally came back to the house and Gwendolyn rushed out of the door with doctors accompanying her. They grabbed Rai and Mizuki inside, one tending also to Soran, and Gwendolyn seemed worryed and fearful. She knew the doctors could and will help heal to injured well but...it was something else.

After everyone was inside it was hours after they heard anything else about the injured. Naoki became antsy and couldn't take it anymore.

"I can't stand it!" she yelled. "What's wrong with them?!" Soon a doctor came out, gave Gwendolyn one look and all the women were summond into the kitchen.

"Gwendolyn." the doctor began to say. "I fear you know why you two are the only ones hear?" Gwendolyn nodded but Naoki was confused. They began talking in hushed tones then 5 minuets later Naoki ran out of the room just as Mizuki burst into the room.

"I demand to know why the doctor looks at me in sympathy!" Mizuki demanded half yelling. She was only in a robe snce they had to examine her body for more injuries unhealed by Rai.

"Mizuki they are wrong!" Naoki yelled to her friend. "Tell me they're wrong! You weren't raped! You weren't...NO!"

"...I was Naoki..." Mizuki replied whispering.

"Then you are..." Naoki had tears rolling down her face.

"What is wrong Naoki?"

"Since that...event Mizuki.." Gwendolyn came out speaking, her face haunted. "They think you might be...with child..."

Mizuki stared horrified at the entire room, then collasped on the floor from the sheer shock.

OOC: Oh the drama never ends!


Soran:

When they finally reached Gwendolyn’s house, Soran climbed off the horse and helped the doctors carry Mizuki and Rai inside. Mizuki didn’t look at him once. He wondered if it was because he had come so late. The doctors took one look at her and ordered Soran out of the room, so he went back outside.

“Do you need treatment too?” asked an unoccupied doctor, eyeing him disapprovingly. He’d been warned about this one, but the man decided Soran wasn’t escaping without an exam. Needless to say, he was baffled when Soran nodded cooperatively and said “I’ll be right back.”<br>
The rogue walked out to the sled to get his coat that had been left there. He almost fell into the snow as he stumbled on something, but when he looked down nothing was there. He was losing control of his legs. ~’Damn it,’~ he thought, annoyed. He leaned against the sled for a moment, feeling out of breath, and then headed back toward the house.

When he and the doctor were alone, Soran pulled off his boots and rolled his pants up. His lower legs were covered in pairs of small punctures and blood was smeared everywhere. The doctor frowned at the wounds knowingly. “These are snake bites.”<br>
Soran nodded and went into the pocket of his coat, pulling out the head of the snake he had stomped on at Gaberial’s castle. “I don’t know what type it is.”<br>
The doctor accepted the corpse and looked at the scales. His eyes widened worriedly. “You were bitten that many times by this?” he exclaimed. Soran gave the excitable doctor a glare demanding a calmer explanation. “This has a deadly bite, but the poison works slowly… The antivenom is only available in the next town, but there should be enough time left for me to go and pick it up. But you...“<br>
“That’s fine," Soran said tiredly, displeased about all the fuss, but it couldn't be helped.

The doctor frowned and threw on his coat. “I’ll be three or four hours at the most. Drink a lot of water.” With that he rushed out of the room. He went in to explain the situation to Gwendolyn, not having time to ask about the grim expressions on Mizuki’s doctors’ faces. “The tall one is poisoned. I’m going to borrow your sled to go get the treatment,” he said apologetically, not waiting for a response before he headed out the door and slid away.

Mizuki:

Naoki burst into the room Soran was in practically out of breath. Signs of her previous tears were still there on her face.

"SORAN!" she huffed. "Mizuki's fainted!" she took one look at his legs and went wide eyed. "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED OVER THERE!?"

Soran:

Soran tugged his pants back down over his ankles uncomfortably as Naoki burst in. He looked at her sharply. “It's nothing. How is she?”

Mizuki:

"Not well." Naoki replied. "She fainted after we told her she may be with child!" Naoki spoke without much of a second thought. He had to know...right?


Soran:

Soran stiffened and his face went blank. “What do you mean?” His voice was dangerously calm.

Mizuki:

Naoki looked at his calm face. 'It affected him...' she thought. She had a slight wave of fear come over her being in the room with him.

"Well....she was raped. At least that's what she said. When the doctors examined her she...well...it was evident that her body had recently been taken by man..." she couldn't think of another way to explain it without invading Mizuki's privacy.

"Can you walk? Do you want to see her?"

Soran:

Soran stared at the girl standing in front of him. Her words reached him, but still hadn’t sunken in. Bit by bit the situation began to make sense to him; that scream he had heard from the castle, her battered condition, her refusal to look at him. He stood up, brushing off the fierce spinning sensation in his head. A dozen emotions fought for control of him at once. He did not want to be controlled by any of them. “Where is she?” he asked quietly, moving to follow Naoki.

Emora:

Little Rai lay on the bed beside the fire. A healer was tending to her hand, looking at it with concern. "The poison on an adult would have done nothing but paralysis... but you haven't even gone through that! It should make you!!! Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just amazed your still moving. Your going to get very sick, and I'm afraid we have no medicine to help, but your a strong little one, you'll pull through." He was wrapping up Rai's hand when she heard something about rape and Mizuki...

Rai didn't know what the word rape meant... but it must have been bad from the sound of the reaction when it was said. Mizuki was going to have a child? Was Soran the daddy? Rai was so confused... so very confused.

"First your going to get dizzy," the healer said, shaking Rai from her thoughts. "But, you've already done that... Next you'll get very bad cramps in your stomach. It's going to hurt, I'm not going to tell you other wise." Rai swallowed very hard... I'm going to die... "But, the part we need to worry about is the fever. When high enough it will make you delusional... and any higher it will kill you. If you ask your friend, he's going for a different antidote, you might can get it before you get sicker..."

Rai looked at him with wide eyes and a frightened expression... "Thank you for letting my down gently..." she muttered. It was a very grown up statement... but the only one she could think of.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not very good with children. I didn't mean to scare you..." the healer said.

Rai still wanted to know what rape meant. She was about to ask when he walked away. Mizuki was going to have a baby? But, the no one would be able to help her find her parents, because Soran needed to stay with Mizuki and Tora and Leon would most likely stay too. She had two choices: One, stay and have her parents die... Or two, leave and face death... and die. Those were not very good choices.

When he was gone Rai walked outside to see if Soran had left yet. She hoped not. Stomach cramps and a delusional fever.... she wanted something before she got sick. But, most of all she wanted to know what was going on.

Rai walked up to Soran and tugged on his pants. "Soran?" she asked quietly. "What's rape?"

Soran:

Soran was walking toward Mizuki’s room with Naoki when he felt pressure tugging on his pants. He looked down to see Rai standing next to him. “Soran? What’s rape?” she asked quietly. The word sounded unnatural coming from the child’s innocent lips. He looked hard into her confused eyes for a moment. There was no good answer to her question. “Go lie down. You should be resting,” he said sternly, making an effort not to vent his anger unjustly on Rai, and continued behind Naoki. He felt Rai shouldn’t think about such things, at least not until she was healthy again.


Emora:

Rai looked at him for a moment. Okay, this must be very bad... Rai thought still looking at him as he walked away. She hoped Mizuki was all right... She was so confused. She wondered why he wouldn't tell her what it meant... She wanted to know; maybe she could heal Mizuki and make the rape go away! She could try her very best! She wondered what it would do to her when it came into her after she healed Mizuki. Would it make her very, very sick? Rai was very confused...

She went and sat down on the bed beside the fire, looking down at her feet. A weird feeling began in the pit of her stomach. Like it was very tight... and then lose again. "Oh, no..." she whispered and laid down on the bed.

Rai was under the full conviction that she was going to die. Sure, the healer had said only if her fever becomes to high, but there were many ways to bring it down. Bu, the man had scared her so bad she really thought it was the end, but even through this she was still afriad more for Mizuki...

Rai hoped Mizuki was going to be okay. She didn't care about herself, though the fear of the pain that was going to come was making her very scared. She wondered how bad it would feel. But, even through that she was so worried about Mizuki she felt a knot in her throat grow. She could tell that this rape, whatever it could be, was very bad...

Mizuki:

Naoki lead Soran to Mizuki, she lay on a bed still out, but she was slowly coming back.

"Go." Naoki said to Soran and left the room thinking they should be alone. Mizuki stirred somewhat then sat up in the bed, half asleep.

"Soran?" she asked half asleep.

SOran:

The rogue took a seat in a wooden chair next to her bed. “How are your wounds,” he asked blankly, looking straight at her.


Mizuki:

Mizuki was still sleepy.

"Wounds?" she said dazed. Then she looked at her body and remembered. "Oh... I'm... fine now." She tried to keep from looking at him straight. Was she really fine? She could possibly be with child. Everything was just too much.

"They say, I could be... I hope they are wrong. I don't want to be. At least not with his." She wished someone else was with them, like her mother. She felt strange being alone with Soran. She was glad he was here but.. then she just felt...ashamed.


Soran:

“Then it’s true,” Soran said with a frown. She still wouldn’t look at him, but he wasn’t surprised. He had failed her in the worst way possible. When he was standing outside the castle…if he had shouted up to her then…everything might have been different…

He crushed those thoughts out of his consciousness. It was over and done. There was only one thing left to do. The fever that was rising in his blood intensified Soran’s desire for revenge. “He’ll pay dearly for this,” Soran said icily, looking off toward the window. He briefly reflected on how unusual it was for him to want to avenge someone.

[Soran Nightblade]

Emora:

"Well, this is happening pretty fast," Rai muttered, holding her stomach by crossing her arms over it and turning into a ball lying on her side. She reached down and pulled the blanket over her, completely covering her. She held her stomach and whimpered.

She wanted to find a place to go to where no one would just walk in and find her curled up and in so much pain. She didn't know where to go so she just pulled the covers over her head.

It hurts... she said inside her head and closed her eyes so tight that a tear streaked her cheek. She shook twice when her stomach hurt so bad she bit her lip. Is it supposed to happen this quick? Is it supposed to feel this bad? Rai wished her mother was there. Her mother would hug her or hold her hand.

She felt something bump up against her. With a trembling hand she pushed back the covers. There standing beside the bed was Toby. "T-T-Toby..." she said and Toby put his nose to her forehead. He climbed up on the bed and lay right beside her and no matter how hard her was pulling on his fur he didn't move. To him it was like a child squeezing his hand.

Mizuki:

"Soran, please," Mizuki begged to him putting her hand on his. "Don't do anything too rash. We are all healing from some kind of wound and..."

She stopped her words. Of course Gaberial would pay but, she wanted them with a plan this time. The wound in her shoulder burned and she flinched.

"Soran, I killed people." she said quietly. She felt the need to let it out. "That's why there was so much blood on me. It wasn't mine, it belonged to the others I killed. I could've just ran away, I could've. But I didn't. I took off heads, I sliced flesh. What's strange is, I feel no remorse and I just... I want to.... it's like it really doesn't phase me. I wanted to laugh once, after I killed them..."

She paused waiting for Soran's response and after awhile she said. "You think me evil don't you?"

Soran:

Soran looked at Mizuki’s hand, watching it come in and out of focus. He didn’t personally have any particular ethic as far as killing was concerned, but he understood Mizuki did and that it was apparently very strict. Regardless, though, he couldn’t find anything unjustified in the behavior she described. “It’s natural to act that way in your position,” he said, feeling another surge of anger at the thought of the scene he’d heard but been unable to stop. Many questions crossed his mind, and he felt sick for even thinking them. Of course she hadn’t enjoyed it…<br>
“You should stop worrying about it. If you were evil you wouldn’t be worried about it,” he said, not used to giving this kind of advice.


Mizuki:

“You should stop worrying about it. If you were evil you wouldn’t be worried about it,” Soran said. Mizuki sighed, his words somewhat helped her. She moved to get out of the bed.

"Soran were you wounded at all?" she asked him. She knew Gaberial had to have had traps waiting for them. She slowly embraced Soran. "I'm sorry. If I hadn't walked out like I did, none of it would have happened." She let him go and stood in front of him, finally able to look straight at him.

"I want my mother to look at my tarot cards. The doctors may be wrong... I hope."

Soran:


Soran felt tense with Mizuki’s arms around him, but she also felt warm against the chill of his fever. Her embrace coupled with her willingness to look him in the eyes told him she wasn’t angry. He opened his mouth to speak, but reconsidered telling her about the poison. She seemed to be in a delicate mood, and he felt like anything he said might suddenly break her. Instead he said, “I’m fine. Your mother can read that through tarot cards?” It made sense that if she could tell the future, she could tell things like that as well, but it hadn’t occurred to him. “Should I go get her?” he asked.

Emora:

Rai was trying to hold back the wave of sobs that wanted to escape her lips. She didn't want to give anyone of them something else to worry about. She was beginning to think she was a thorn in there side. She was always getting into trouble and always getting sick, passing out, sleeping in the most unusual times... She didn't want to bother these people any more. They were to good to her to bother them so.

Rai covered her mouth, choking on a sob. "Please... please..." the little girl whispered. In half elven years she was around seven, but her mother was father was half elven so that made her half-elven even thinner. Rai's real age was around five and some one so small had a hard time dealing with pain... especially pain so great.

Toby licked her cheek as she clung to his fur as if she were clinging to her life. When the pain subsided she choked on another sob and tried to cry as softly as possible with out making so much noise some one would notice her. She didn't know if it was working or not.

Then, Toby left her all of the sudden and padded down the hall. She was alone again. "Toby..." Rai muttered. She felt like she was going to be sick... But, the pain was gone for a moment and she was happy for that. Where was he going?

Mizuki:

"No, it would do my mother good to see us walking." Mizuki said and held out her hand to Soran hoping he'd take it.

Meanwhile Gwendolyn was a wreck. She couldn't see into her daughter's future so she could hopefully prove the doctors wrong. But she knew, Mizuki having this man, Gaberial's baby, wouldn't be good. He would be more demanding on taking her, and because of Mizuki's resistance to him she may die.

Gwendolyn didn't want to think about that. Not any of it, so she went to check on Rai. "Rai?" she said softly going into her room. She saw a bundle of covers on the bed and thought it was Rai. "Rai sweety? Are you alright? If you need anything, tell me..."

Soran:

Soran nodded and rose to his feet. He wanted the question answered one way or the other. He stood still for a moment as the ground seemed to move under his feet. The rogue looked at her slender hand uncomfortably. Rai was always holding his hand, but even then it felt awkward. He gave up and took it anyway, placing his hand over hers. ~’Only this once,’~ he thought, leading her out of the room. His legs felt like lead under him, but they moved. He felt off-balance as he walked out the door, touching the doorframe lightly for support as they went out into the hall.

Mizuki:

Mizuki could feel him hesitating on his feet. He walked acqwardly with her so she grabbed his shoulder from behind, switching her hands from his light grasp.

"Please?" she asked him, unsure if he would allow her to help him. She hoped he would ease up around them. She wanted to be his friend, heck she wanted to be friendly with anyone who was willing.

"You got wounded didn't you?" she said absently. "I want to say that you shouldn't have come after me but... I'm glad you did...." she looked straight ahead to avoid his gaze if he looked at her.

Emora:

Rai dried her eyes with the blanket before coming out from under it. Her eyes were red and one could easily tell she had been crying. Her hair was all a mess and tangled from all the squirming she had been doing. She looked up at Gwendolyn and through on one of her best fake smiles...

"I'm fine... just sleeping..." She pulled the covers over her head again and bit down on a wad of it when her tiny stomach cramped up inside with great pain. When that spasm was through she said shakily, "Just sleeping."

Rai hoped the medicine would hurry up. Had the healer sent for it? Had he forgotten? It was easy to forget about her. Rai poked her head out from under the covers. If Soran wouldn't tell her, maybe Gwendolyn would.

Though, Rai's stomach was hurting badly she wanted to know if she could help Mizuki before Rai died. "Is the rape making Mizuki sick? I could take it away... I could try real hard to heal her. I just wish I knew what it was..." Rai said and looked down. Her hands were under the covers, pressing in on her tiny belly, but it wasn't doing any good.

Toby padded in front of Soran and Mizuki. He wanted to tell them that if they were smart they would get Leon to turn into a wolf so he could understand him. But, no... it seemed it hadn't crossed there mind. Was he right to let Rai stay with these people. They endangered her life even more... Toby could only bark once at the after looking for a long time. Then he turned away to run back to Rai. He wished he could talk… He wished he was Alastar again… but, he was nothing.

Soran:

Soran felt Mizuki’s hand supportively on his shoulder. He tried to control his legs better, but every step he took felt more difficult. At the end of the hall he stumbled slightly, but Mizuki’s arm held him steady. His ears turned red in embarrassment. “Thanks,” he said quietly. He knew he had to give some kind of explanation now.

“I hurt my legs, but the doctor’s taken care of it,” he said, not exactly lying. He looked up at Toby ran over to them and barked, then turned as if he wanted them to follow. They walked behind the wolf until they reached the room Gwendolyn and Rai were in, and just in time to hear Rai’s awkward question.


Mizuki:

Gwendolyn looked at Rai surprised. Thinking fast, she tired to find a way to explain. "Rape is... it is not a sickness it's more of an unwanted action on a woman from a man. An action of force... don't worry, Mizuki will be fine... you just rest. Your pain and hurt wont get any better if you stay awake."

Gwendolyn turned to see the wolf now known as Toby and sighed sadly. She may not be able to read the creatures mind but she can tell emotions. And he was sad and somewhat angry... why she didn't know the reason of his anger.

Then she watched as Soran supported by Mizuki walked in and smiled slightly. 'She's determind...'

"Helo you two. Soran the doctor left awhile ago for the medicine. You shouldn't be on your feet though, I think."


Soran:

Soran eyed Gwendolyn suspiciously, not sure what the doctor had told her. Still, sitting down didn’t seem like a bad idea. His pulse was racing just from walking down the hall. He went and took a chair next to Rai’s bed, looking down at the little girl. He had spoken to her pretty harshly before, although it was for her own sake. He looked soberly at Rai and Gwendolyn. “Well? Going to try the reading?” he asked.

Emora:

Rai looked at Gwendolyn for a moment. She had no clue what she meant. But, she wondered another thing. "Can it happen to kids?" she asked out of no where. She was so confused because her explanation didn't help any. But, maybe there was a reason she wasn't explaining it so clearly. Was it really THAT bad?

Rai regretted her question because Mizuki was in the room now and she didn't want her to hear what she was saying about this strange thing... Because it had happened to her. Since it was so bad Rai didn't want to remind Mizuki or talk about it in front of her.

Rai went back under the covers, but not to sleep. She went under the covers to bit down on something and she clutched her stomach and the pillow. This time the pain didn't go away. It just stayed there... and it seemed to grow. She felt Toby climb back onto the bed with her and lay down behind her, resting his head on Rai so he could comfort her.

Mizuki:

Mizuki heard her question, then saw Rai burrow back into the bed. She smiled sadly and gathered the child in her arms sitting on the bed. Mizuki craddled Rai like a baby and began to hum softly.

"Little one," Mizuki said. "Do not worry about it. I would never let it happen to you." but then she paused remembering what still had happened. She was failing in her promise to protect Rai. Trying to keep from crying, she began to rock Rai back and forth on the bed.

Gwendolyn watched this scene played before her, eyes shinning with happiness that Mizuki would be alright.

"The tarrot reading?" she asked to Soran's words. "Oh, I never thought of that. But the cards wont speak clearly, kind of like riddles. And some cards have multiple meanings..."

Soran:

Soran frowned and leaned on the bed with his elbows. So there was no way to tell. He’d thought Gwendolyn could really see the future, but all she could glimpse was riddles. He wondered if she couldn’t really see the past either. He felt frustrated and still couldn’t catch his breath despite the fact he’d been sitting for almost a minute. He took slow, deep breaths, finding it more and more difficult to focus his thoughts.


Emora:

Rai kept her face covered with the covers. She didn't want to have everyone worrying over her. Mizuki had this horrible thing happen to her and she needs everyone to help her. What ever had happened must have been bad. She wanted to ask if the baby was Soran's... but she couldn't. Rai knew that if she opened her mouth probably a painful groan would come out.

Since Rai could not see Mizuki because of the covers. It felt like her mother rocking her back and forth and holding her. Rai trembled for a second as she bit her lip so hard it hurt.

Rai came out from under the covers for a moment. She looked up at Mizuki. I drop of blood was on Rai's tiny lip. Rai had a bad feeling about something again. She turned her head to look at Soran. He didn't look too good. He was having trouble breathing it seemed.

Rai wanted to heal him, since she couldn't help Mizuki about the rape. But, what if he through her like Mizuki had... He was strong... and it probably would hurt more... Maybe there was a way...

Rai climbed down from Mizuki's lap. She walked funny, as every step seemed to make her stomach hurt more. "Soran..." Rai said and climbed into his lap. Rai put her arms around his neck and held on very tightly.

"Thank you, Soran, for saving me from the snake man," she hugged him as tightly as possible so if he did decide to throw off he'd have to pry her loose. But, even then there would still be a connection...

Heal... please... heal..... Rai closed her eyes.

Soran:

Soran looked down at Rai as she climbed into his lap and hugged him. From the blood on her lips, Soran guessed she wasn’t doing nearly as well as she tried to show. He felt a faint tingling in his head, as if something were trying to tap into him. However, even with his current state, his defenses were a bit too high for the child to heal him. He was very good at keeping people out, even on subconscious levels.

It took Soran a moment to realize that the feeling was Rai trying to heal him. He was initially angry that she would try such a thing in her condition, but instead he took one hand and set it gently on top of her head, messing up her hair. “Don’t even think about it,” he said as casually as he could, “I’m fine.” He took the child gently away from his neck and nudged her toward the bed next to him. “Try to sleep.” ~’Such a heavy burden for such a small child,’~ he thought, looking at her.


Emora:

Rai found that she was to tired weak to heal him. She had managed to start... but couldn't go any further. If she would have it probably would have killed her instantly. She climbed back onto the bed and laid her head in Mizuki's lap, holding her stomach and closing her eyes.

Rai sighed. It was just like laying her head in her mother's lap... It made Rai feel a little bit of happiness come back into her heart. She found that all of it had been gone when Mizuki had been taken.

Rai was a happy-go-lucky child who could brighten a person's day just with a smile... but now... Now, Rai was beginning to smile less.


Mizuki:

Mizuki could feel all the sadness in the room, she had to get out but she didn't want to leave Rai. Her mother touched her arm.

"I'll set up the room," she said quietly, "come when your ready." then she left them. Mizuki sighed softly and stroked Rai's head. For a split second, she didn't think it would be too bad to have a baby. Even if it did belong to Gaberial. She still, though, hoped she wasn't.

"Soran," Mizuki asked him, "What do you remember when you were a child?"

Soran:

Soran looked up at her, surprised by her sudden question. “What does it matter?” he returned seriously.


Mizuki:

Mizuki frowned, but she didn't let Soran see it. She decided to sort of ignore his question.

"When I was a little girl I loved to try and predict my dolls future." she said smiling a small smile. "It was just a game I did, being so small. When I'm sad I try and think of my childhood and laugh at the silly things I did."

It seemed she had failed to lighten the mood so she stopped talking and just let it drop. 'Maybe it wasn't the best thing to say.' she thought.

"It's really not important. Never mind..." She continued to stroke Rai's head and she began to hum her soft tune again.

Emora:

Rai looked at Soran with confused eyes. How come he always was so serious with Mizuki and every one else. He had even been harsh to her that day when she had asked about rape. But, then again it could have been because he was so worried about Mizuki.

Rai bit her lip and tears filled her eyes as she thought about this. She wished that the man would hurry with the medicine... She also wished no one was in the room with her so she could cry as much as she wanted without being stared at...

Soran:

Soran listened quietly, letting Mizuki’s voice distract him from his problems for a while. Strangely enough, he could actually picture Mizuki doing something like that as a child. It seemed like she took a lot of comfort from her childhood memories, and for some reason so did he.

“I don’t remember anything…those sorts of things, …” he said idly after a few moments. “Everything past a few years ago is just…blank.” He was telling her because she had asked and he felt like he’d been too curt in his response, but he hoped she wouldn’t find it depressing. He didn’t.

Mizuki:

Mizuki listened to him. She found it strange that he couldn't really remember his past but, she guessed some memories escape people.

"I guess memories can escape a person if they really don't look into them for a long time." she said softly. "I don't remember much memories either..."

When she looked at Rai she thought the child sleeping, so she decided to get up and gently place her back down on the bed. After replacing Rai on the bed, Mizuki turned to Soran.

"We should go, she is sleeping. Would you like help walking again?"

Emora:

Rai pulled the covers over her head and opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out but a strangled sound. It hurt so much! It felt like her insides were being pulled out of her stomach. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, holding herself and resting her head on Mizuki's lap, the covers all wadded up over her.

She was cold... so very cold. But, she was covered up in a thick blanket. She let out a soft whimper...

She felt Mizuki set her down gently and heard her talk about leaving...

Soran:

Soran looked at Mizuki, not sure she’d really understood what he meant about his memories, but figured it didn’t matter. His eyes raced back to Rai as a strangled cry and soft whimpers came out through the covers. He looked at Mizuki in alarm, not knowing what to do in this situation. She was just a little sick, wasn’t she? He wondered where the heck the doctor was.

* * *

The doctor gave a quick good-bye to the nurse at the hospital he had gone to, two small vials in hand as he rushed back to the sleigh. THe child's medicine had been readily available, but it had taken them longer than he’d expected to prepare the antivenom, which was rarely needed in this area. He leapt back into the sleigh and snapped the reigns, sliding toward home. If he hurried, he could be there within an hour. “The elf should be approaching his limit about now,” the man worried, wishing the griffins would go faster.

Mizuki:

Mizuki heard Rai's soft cry and whirled around to comfort her. Rai was trying hard not to show her pain. Gently, Mizuki kissed Rai's forehead. She knew it must've been from her own wound that made her ill and in pain.

"I'm sorry." she whispered. "Please be strong Rai, your doctor will soon be back."

Mizuki felt she really couldn't do much for the child except be there for support. She also had this strange itching feeling not to leave her alone...

Emora:

All Rai wanted to be for the moment was alone. She didn't want any one to worry about her when they had bigger things to worry about. "I'm alright..." Rai said softly with half closed eyes. If some one would have touched her forehead it would have felt on fire.

"I'm... all-" Rai closed her eyes and opened them again. No, it had to be the fact she was seeing things. Her mother was looking down at her with her beautiful eyes and her long curly blond hair. "Mommy...."

Rai's eyes rolled back in her head and then rolled forward. She tried her best to stay awake. "Soran got bit by the snakes... he's sick... too..."

Soran:

Soran looked at Rai sharply. Where had she gotten that idea from? He suddenly wished he were alone. He didn't like being around others when he was injured. He’d always dealt with it alone before, and this was no different. It had been fine as long as they didn’t notice, but now…<br>
“Worry about yourself, kid,” he said tiredly. He stood up and forced his legs to carry him out of the room, not looking at Mizuki and Rai. He pressed his breath under control as he passed Gwendolyn, who was talking to the doctors. Once he was out the front door and shut it behind him, he let it come in spasmodic bursts.

He walked along the side of the house until his legs finally gave up and buckled under him. This spot was as good as any. He leaned against the house and breathed heavily; His blood felt like it was on fire. He picked up fistfuls of snow and used them to wash his bloody legs and cool off the wounds. His thoughts kept straying to Mizuki and Rai, but it was too much to think about. He leaned his head back against the wall dizzily, looking at the setting sun. The doctor was late.

Emora:

Rai climbed down and went to walk, but fell to the floor as if her legs were jelly. "Soran..." Rai said and pushed herself up. She wandered to the door and fell against the wall. She stumbled into the hall. Her eyes darting around wildly.

Rai fell to her knees, but quickly got up again. She hoped Soran wasn't going far. The doctor could come at any moment and he would be to far away...

Rai made it to the front door amazingly enough, though Rai was an amazing child. She opened up the front door and there in the door way stood her father. He was smiling down at her and he rubbed her head with his large hand. he knelt down in front of her.

"Daddy?" Rai asked and he nodded, smiling at her, but not speaking. The little girl broke into tears as she flew forward to hug her father one last time before she died. But, she fell straight through the air and landed in the snow.

Rai laid there her head lying on her arms and she was crying. So much happiness had come into her heart again when she saw her father standing there. And her mother had held her in her arms. She had thought for a few moments, because of the fever, that she had her family back. But, it was just the fever.

Rai's head was swimming. She took a breath, but felt like nothing came in. Her eyes fluttered as they closed and she passed out in the snow...

Soran:

Soran looked critically to his left as he heard noise coming from the front stoop. Rai was standing there with a huge smile on her face. ~’What is she doing up,’~ he thought, frowning. Then she suddenly tumbled forward into the snow and began crying uncontrollably.

~’Well, shit,’~ he thought to himself, climbing back onto his feet and making his way over to her. He couldn’t even feel his legs now. As soon as he was close enough to reach her he knelt down and gathered her small form up out of the snow. “What the hell are you thinking?” he criticized half-heartedly, pulling her in against his chest and scooting back against the side of the building.

He didn’t think he could carry her back inside, so he wrapped his arms around her and stared into the distance. He’d wanted to be alone, yet when he was holding Rai his mind was taken completely away from his own condition. Her burning skin was trembling against his chest. “Just a little longer,” he said firmly to her.

EMora:

Rai wasn't completely unconscious, she could feel the numb sensation of her body being pulled against something firm. When she was still again her eyes opened slightly to see a blurry form above her. Her head rolled around as she tried her best to stay awake.

She took a breath and rested her head against who was holding her. Rai could feel a deep blackness pulling her in. Her body felt like it weighed a thousand pound. Her limbs were so heavy she couldn't even move.

She began to mumble as her half closed eyes looked at the blurry form. "Daddy... I... love you," she said and a tear ran down her cheek. Rai was so very scared of dying.


Soran:

Soran looked down at Rai, startled. Not only wasn’t he her father, but… no one had ever said that to him before. Soran placed one of his huge hands protectively around the back of the child’s head. “Be brave. You’re not going to die,” he said feverishly to her.


Emora:

Rai swallowed and took a shaky slow breath. "I'm trying... to be brave, but it's hard," she said softly and closed her eyes finally. She didn't want to stop fighting to stay awake, but she was too tired.

Her body was so hot, like it was on fire and her mind was as blank. Her breathing slowed down and Rai felt herself falling into the heavy darkness around her. Maybe not to death... but to the verge of death. She whispered very low as she faded away, "I love you."


Soran:

Soran felt the child become limp in his arms, and wasn’t sure what was happening. He felt her neck in alarm for a pulse, but his own heart was beating so rapidly that his fingers couldn’t discern between his own heartbeat and hers. He looked to see if she was breathing, but she was so blurry.. “Mizuki,” he called in shock. His voice was weak; no one was going to hear him like this. He gathered his concentration and thought as loudly as he could, ~’Mizuki!’~

Emora:

Rai was floating in the deepest darkness between life and death. Her breath was so shallow that it was almost gone. Her pulse so low that it could barely be felt. But, she was living. Barely, but living. Her only chance was the medicine or for some one to try and get her fever down, though it was much to late for that.

Rai was floating deeper into the darkness with faces passing before her. Her mother, her father, Soran, Mizuki, Tora, Leon, Toby... Shea... the demons....

Rai wasn't really thinking about anything except hanging on to the small thread of life that was left in her.

Mizuki:

Mizuki had watched as they left but never followed. She didn't know exactly why she didn't follow but...

~’Mizuki!’~ a loud voice came into her head and she flinched. She stumbled through the huse and outside to Soran and Rai. Somehow, she just knew they were there.

"OH MY GOD!'' Mizuki cried out at the scene before her. She practically threw herself on both Soran and Rai crying. "Don't die RAI! Don't Die!"

Gwendolyn and the other's came out hearing Mizuki's cries and everyone panicked. Doctors took Rai back inside and began to help her. Quickly to follow the doctors, Mizuki began to help Soran back on his feet and inside.

"Don't you die on me too, Soran.."

Soran:

"Who's going to die?" Soran said indignantly, hoping to calm Mizuki down. He frowned inwardly as he realized he’d now given up his chance to be alone, but he’d really thought Rai might have died. He hardly felt like moving, but since Mizuki was watching him he got back on his feet and went to go inside. He felt her supporting him, but didn’t know how many times he stumbled or if he stumbled at all as they went inside. He sat down outside the room they’d taken Rai into and rested his elbows across his knees, carefully controlling his breathing so he wouldn’t get Mizuki any more worked up than she already was.

Outside, the doctor’s sleigh had just reached the edge of the village.

Emora:

A doctor was taking Rai's pulse, and even he was having trouble finding it. "It's so low..." he whispered, not knowing if any one heard him. He had to put his ear over Rai's lips to even tell she was breathing.

"Where's the medicine?! I need something that will keep the fever down long enough until the medicine gets here!" he said and turned to Mizuki. "What do you have?"

While he was asking that he knelt in front of Soran to see what he needed...

Rai was still floating and still clinging to the broken strand that was steadily breaking all the while. She felt tired... she felt like letting go. But, she couldn't. She wouldn't. Never ever would she let go.

Mizuki:

Mizuki was crying. She was going to go insane. It was her fault. IMages flashed through her head as she saw a grave for a little girl. It chilled her to the bone and made her cry out.

Gwendolyn went to grab some herbs that she would use when Mizuki would have fever's and gave it to the doctor. Using her seer sight, she knew that the child would not die but... she could go into a coma, for only the Fates know how long.

Everything was happening so fast for Mizuki that...she suddenly felt sick. Her vision was spinning and she felt like throwing up. Quickly, she ran outside and practically spilled her guts out. 'Why do I feel like this?' she thought in agony. 'It must be because of this situation... right?'

SOran:

Nearly an hour behind schedule, the sled finally arrived in front of Gwendolyn’s house. The frantic doctor jumped out of the sled and ran to the front door, nearly tripping on the front steps as he stumbled in with the medicine. He handed Rai’s medicine quickly to her doctor and said “Give this to the child by mouth. It should bring her fever down and stop the hallucinations.”<br>
The doctor looked around anxiously for signs of the elf. ~’Am I too late?’~ he worried. He relaxed slightly as he spotted Soran sitting in the hallway. He rushed over and knelt down next to him. “Sir, are you still awake?”<br>
Soran turned warily toward him. The doctor could tell with one glance that there wasn’t any time to waste. He nodded to the other doctors as they went into Rai’s room to give her the medicine. The rogue stared toward Rai’s room distractedly as the doctor felt his temperature and pulse and sighed worriedly at the results. He pushed to his feet as the doctor half-dragged him into the next room where there was a bed. “Can you feel your legs at all?” the doctor asked, slightly out of breath from supporting Soran’s weight.

“No,” Soran said dispassionately.

The doctor was filling a syringe with clear liquid. “The poison’s paralyzing you right now, but when this antivenom takes effect, it’s going to hurt like heck. I’m probably going to end up having to put you under for a while.”<br>
Soran felt strongly opposed to that idea, bracing himself as the cool needle slipped into his vein. At first he felt nothing new, but after a few seconds the feeling in his legs and the rest of his body began coming back at once. Now he finally felt the full extent of the nerve damage done by the poison. He clenched his hands against the mattress and gasped painfully at the sudden agony, his heart beating viciously in his chest. The doctor monitored his pulse with a frown. At this rate he would soon go into shock. The rogue eyed him icily as he saw the second needle flash out, but before he could protest the sedative had knocked him outcold.

Emora:

Rai was holding onto that last strand, the last fiber of life she had. She held it with all her might. The doctors managed to give her the medicine without making her choke. Rai didn't feel it immediately, in fact she didn't feel it really working until about ten minutes later. It felt like the strings were being tied back together.

Rai wasn't regaining consciousness, but her fever was slowly fading. The cramps in her stomach were gone finally. She felt the weights still on her, holding down her limbs as her eyes fluttered slightly after a while longer.

They closed again and she faded back into the slumber. She had dreams that she was alone in the darkness. All alone with no one to talk to or play with.

Mizuki:

Mizuki came back into the house feeling weak and drained. Quickly she washed up and risned out her mouth then went to one of the doctors.

"How are they?" she asked.

"The child will be fine." he replied. "She's...just out now. The man is also. But they'll both live." Mizuki nodded but then the doctor added. "You though, cannot visit the child. It's feared that a relapse may occur if they are other's present in the room. You don't look well either."

"I'm fine, just...the events have me drained. Can I see Soran though?"

"Yes yes, but he's sleeping." Mizuki nodded and went to the room Soran slept in. Quietly and slowly, she crept in and closed the door behind her. She went to his bed side and sat down. 'He's so peaceful when sleeping.' she thought absently grabbing his hand. She rested her head on the bed near his shoulder, suddenly feeling sleepy.

"I just wish..." she trailed off falling asleep with her head next to him.

Emora:

Rai woke sometime after Mizuki falling asleep. Her eyes fluttered as they opened. She stared up at the ceiling, thinking as hard as she can to try and get her body to move, but it was like led.

Rai grew very frustrated because she wanted to move, but she felt so heavy and drained. She used all she had to sit up with and scooted so her back was resting against the headboard. Rai wanted her doll; it must have been sitting in the living room where she had left it.

She wanted to hold it, but she felt to tired to walk. Toby looked up at her, jumping onto the bed and lying by her side with his head resting on her lap. His green eyes looked at her with a bit of happiness. He was happy to see her up after coming so close with death.

Rai raised a heavy hand and laid it on his head, scratching behind his ears with a soft tired smile coming to her face. "I didn't really see them did I Toby? Mommy and Daddy I mean. That wasn't really Daddy was it... I don't know who it was... but I felt safe with them. Was it Soran? I bet it was... I hope he's okay. I love them all... and don't want anything to happen to them." Rai sniffed.

"Maybe I should leave, but that's not a good idea, because they'll come after me and get into more trouble. I just don't want to call them more trouble. I tell you what I wish. I wish I could get away for just a little while and murder that bad, bad man that hurt Mizuki!"

Rai looked to Toby and a sly smile grew on her face. "Well, I can't go yet..."

Rai was glad no one was in the room to hear her… She was plotting with Toby… and Toby didn’t like her plot at all.

Soran:

Soran stirred slightly, cringing as the feeling in his legs slowly started creeping back into his consciousness, then grew still again. A thin sweat across his forehead showed his fever hadn’t fully broken yet, but his pulse and breath had returned to stable levels. He became vaguely aware of something warm next to him, and held onto that shred of reality, trying to pull himself back from oblivion.

EMora:

Rai's limbs weren't feeling as heavy as they had been and she really, really wanted to check on Soran and Mizuki. Who knew how long she had been a sleep! They could have left with out her!

She slipped off the bed and walked to the door, opening it and peaking out to see no one in the hall. She walked to where she guessed Soran was and peeked in to a lovely sight.

Rai grinned tiredly and stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. They reminded her of her parents... Rai's mom always stayed by her father's side, even when she didn't agree with him. She said it was because she loved him. Did Soran love Mizuki? Rai could tell that Mizuki loved Soran... The way Mizuki acted towards him showed her that.

Rai crept quietly towards the bed and where Mizuki was. She climbed on the bed, her light body made hardly the slightest hint of movement. She sat there for a while looking at them both. She smiled and lay down with her head close to their hands.

Before Rai faded off into sleep she had a strange thought. Mizuki and Soran were like her mother and father already, at least that is what it felt like. "Get well soon, Soran," she said, her back leaning up against him and her face facing the opposite direction.


Mizuki:

Gwendolyn smiled knowingly in her tarot room. She chuckled softly raising an unasked question from Naoki.

Mizuki never stirred. But she did dream.
She was pregenat, of course. She had to be near her due date since her stomach was so large. She knew exactly who the child belonged to and she didn't like it, but none the less she would still care and love for the child dispite it's father...

In her sleep she gripped Soran's hand...


Emora:

Rai was dreaming, but her dreams were terrifying. It seemed they were always that way since all the bad things started happening. She twitched, but just as the dream was getting worst it took a complete change and was all happy. Then, when she reached her deep part of her sleep she didn't dream anymore.

Rai laid there sleep for a while longer, but came awake. She liked being near Mizuki and Soran. She felt safe with them around. Rai got off the bed reluctantly, but she couldn't even sleep. She was so tired, but she couldn't sleep any more.

Rai walked to the window and looked out it, not seeing very much. Her head turned to Mizuki for a moment and then back at the window. Rai wished on everything she had that she could be grown for a day at least so she could get that evil man back.

If Rai only knew the direction of where the castle was and if she were only old enough and strong enough...

Soran:

Soran turned his head to the side groggily. He had regained enough sensation in his body to ascertain that his legs were sore, but not terribly. He opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar room. Something warm was pressed against his hand. Still disoriented, he looked down at it absently. It took him a moment to realize it was Mizuki lying next to him, and when he did he stiffened.

~’What is she doing?’~ he thought disapprovingly. He half-sat up, his first instinct being to free his hand and get out of the intimate situation, but as he was about to move he felt her grip tighten around his hand. He eyed her critically; she was clearly asleep, but she looked like she was in some great distress. Soran moved slowly back from her on the bed, but allowed his hand to remain in hers.

Warily he lowered his head back down to the pillow. He’d done this with Rai…why should it be any different with Mizuki? Yet it was, undeniably different. He frowned and pressed his fingers around hers hesitantly. After a few moments, her expression seemed to lighten somewhat. He watched her in silence, fighting the familiar distrustful instincts that were telling him ~’too close!’~.

Emora:

Rai turned around and found Soran's eyes open. He was looking at Mizuki in a funny way. She turned around and walked up to him slowly. Her tired eyes looked at him and a small smile came to her cute face. The cuts were fading from where Mizuki had thrown her against the tree, but there were new bruises now... It didn't make her look less cute though.

She pulled herself up onto the bed and sat just a little above his pillow. She looked at him for a long moment. "How come you never smile?" she asked in a whisper, not wanting to wake Mizuki. "Are you sad all the time?"

Rai had noticed this, she tried to remember all the times she had seen Soran smile... really smile. But, she couldn't remember if he had or not...

Soran:

Soran looked over at Rai blankly. He hadn’t noticed that she was in the room. After she’d asked her question, he faced away again. He’d never given it much thought, although he could see how it was probably true. He wanted to change the subject, but, remembering how bluntly he had avoided her other question earlier, he decided to try to humor her. “I’m not sad. I just…don’t,” he said indifferently.

Emora:

Rai looked at him for a long moment, just staring at his eyes. then she grabbed the edge of her sleeve and began to play with it. "I smile... even when I'm really sad on the inside. I smile for other people... so they won't think anything about it. Mommy said the best place to hide a bad feeling is behind a smile," she said absentmindedly. "I think that if I smile it will make other people feel better and won't make everything seem so unhappy all the time. But, it's getting harder for me to smile..."

For some odd reason she felt she could confide in Soran, she felt some connection with him that made her feel similar to him, though she didn't know if they really were. "Do you hide behind that expression you always have?"

SOran:

Soran balked inwardly at the term ‘hide’. “Of course not,” he said, but after a few moments he said, “Look, some people smile to help those around them, like you. But to others, it’s one more back you’re providing for people to stab.” He wasn’t sure if she was old enough to understand what he was saying. If he thought she would understand, he probably wouldn’t have said it.

Emora:

Rai looked at him very confused like. She wondered what he meant. "If I smile some one is going to stab me in the back?" she asked and brought her head back slightly. "That is weird..."

She looked at him for a moment. She wanted to know what he looked like when he smiled. He probably had a pretty smile and never used it and no one ever got to see it. She wondered if she could figure out a way to get him to smile. There probably wasn't one though. Soran seemed to be the hard unbreakable type that she would never make a dent in.

"I don't think you smile because you're afraid of people trying to get to close to you," Rai said out of nowhere after staring at the floor. "You push people away, because if you smile they might move in close and stab you in the back..." She was beginning to think she understood what he meant.

Soran:

There was a long silence as Soran looked down at Mizuki’s hand in his. Rai seemed to have understood what he said, but he felt no satisfaction by it. What if he disillusioned her and she stopped smiling too? He realized grimly that he was one of the people she smiled for, and that it would somehow be a great loss if she stopped.

He felt a strange compulsion to force a smile onto his face, just to show her he could, or to somehow say he had just been kidding. But he’d meant what he said…or did he? As hard as he had fought it, he felt he now trusted these people, at least to the highest extent he was capable of. So was the fact that he didn’t feel any different because he really couldn’t trust them after all, or had he just forgotten how to act any other way? Or was he incapable of it?

He frowned and stared at the bed. Knowing that Rai smiled to hide her pain, he felt selfish for hoping she didn’t stop. The only solution seemed to be to put an end to her problems, but Soran didn’t know where to start for that. “Those fake smiles of yours,” he said musingly, “You don’t have to make them at me.” He was quiet again for a moment, making sure of his decision before speaking, “Instead, you should tell me what’s wrong, so I can make it so you don’t need them.”

Emora:

Rai looked at him for a moment, tilting her head slightly. "You have to much to worry about already, you don't need anything else. I'm alright," Rai said and smiled. "I smile when I'm happy too." She said because she had the feeling that he now thought she only smiled because she was trying to hide the fact she was sad all the time.

"You and Mizuki make me happy by just letting me be around you. I know I'm a lot of trouble and I'm sorry," Rai said and looked down, she was still fiddling with her sleeve.

Mizuki:

Mizuki twitched slightly in her sleep and groped for Soran's hand again. She didn't feel him near her anymore, so she felt very alone as she slept.

"Where...are you?" she mummbled starting to awaken. She fluttered her eyes open seeing some blurry images at first. When her vision cleared she saw Soran first. Suddenly she felt her fear swiped into her. 'If I'm with child...will he leave?' she thought.

"No!" she jumped into Soran's arms. "Don't leave... don't leave if I have hjis child..."

OOC: modified one too many times! >_<

Emora:

Rai looked at them for a moment and decided that Soran was busy and she could talk to him later. So using Mizuki's crying as a distraction, she quietly slipped out of the room and into the hall. She felt so very sorry of Mizuki. And what about "his child?" Who was he? The bad man who had hurt Mizuki?

Rai stopped in the hall just before reaching the end of it. "Oh..." she breathed and felt a dark anger grow inside of her. She didn't really know much about things like that, actually she knew almost nothing, but Rai could put two and two together.

She picked her doll up off the couch and held it in her arms tightly. Rai wanted something bad to happen to that man. Something very bad. He had hurt Mizuki and made her do something she didn't want to do. He deserved something bad to happen to him. It was people like him who had taken away her parents. Who had made her lose her home. Who had almost killed her friends. People like him deserved to die!

That was a very dark thought for Rai... an almost eerie dark thought. Some one so young she never have to think such thoughts about others. Some one so young should never want to commit such an act to another. But, Rai's innocent lifestyle had changed when her parents were taken from her. She was thrown into the world alone and frightened and was learning how cruel it could truly be...

I’ll get him… Rai thought holding the doll tighter. “I’ll get him,” she whispered so low that she barely heard it.

Soran:

Soran watched Mizuki quietly. “Where…are you?” she murmured softly. Soran narrowed his eyes curiously, not sure what she was talking about. He jerked back as she suddenly jumped up against him.

“Don’t leave… don’t leave if I have his child!”<br>
His heart pounded as her bright eyes met his. The rogue frowned and paused for a moment, but he’d reached his limit for physical contact. His instincts told him to get out; It was too much. He pulled out of her grip as tactfully as he could and stood up. He felt surprisingly empty as soon as he’d done it, but it was done.

He looked back at her cautiously, remembering her request. ~’She’s thinking such things already…’~ he mused disapprovingly, concerned. What was he supposed to do in this situation? He scanned the room instinctively for Rai, but she had disappeared. The women he was used to dealing with back in Hepian were nothing like Mizuki… he always felt off balance when she was involved.

He realized that pulling away from her would probably make her upset, so he sat back down on the bed, facing away from her. “Don’t say such foolish things,” he said evenly, looking off at the window.

Emora:

Rai walked into her room holding the doll in her arms. She looked under the dress to make sure that the knife she had stolen was still tied there with the ribbon from the dolls hair. When the dress was pulled down you couldn't see it and wouldn't even know that it was there unless you were some weird person who liked looking up a dolls dress. She had stolen another kitchen knife for a just encase, just encase some one took her doll from her. The other knife was in her coat pocket.

Toby was looking at her; he had feelings something was up. She just smiled at him and climbed onto the bed holding her doll.

She would sit there for a while and wait until Toby fell a sleep. Then, she would make sure no one was paying any attention and sneak out the door. All she had to do was follow the sled tracks back to the castle.

It had been easy to steal the two knives. Every one was either resting or helping one another. Mizuki had Soran occupied and Mizuki's mother was doing something. She had no idea where Leon and Tora were. So basically it had been as simple as any one could make it.

It wasn't long before she had scratched Toby so much until she had caused him to fall a sleep. She slipped off the bed quietly, holding the doll in her arms as she slipped out of the room. She headed down the hall, looking at the door to Soran's room. She paused, staring at it. They would follow her if they found her footprints. She had to find a way to make sure they didn't follow her.

Rai went to the living room and grabbed a long coat; well it was long on her. She pulled it on over her clothes. The theory was that it would drag behind her and cover up her footprints. She didn't want to get her friends in more danger, and she knew a way to make sure that man would never hurt them again. She wanted to hurt that man; he was just like all the other bad people in the world.

He was just like the things that took her parents and she wanted to harm them more than anything in the world. She opened up the front door with out making a sound and closed it back. Rai glanced around to see if any one was looking at her. No one was in site. She walked along the house, ducking when she came to windows and when she reached the edge, the closest to the forest, she ran for it. From there she would follow the tracks of the sled to the castle...

[Soran Nightblade]

Mizuki:

Mizuki sat on the bed, her arms holding her weigth on the bed as she lend into it. She just felt so empty. Soran was looking at her dissaporvingly, she knew she had done something very stupid. It made her feel like a fool. 'It's so stupid.' she thought. 'Why try again?'

She wasn't hearing Soran talking. She had the sudden idea to put her old sparring armor on and challenge Gaberial for all he's done. As her own plan formulated in her mind she ignored all warnings and common sense.

To hide her facecial expression, she smiled at Soran. "Sorry, I was still dreaming." she lied to him. "I feel so stupid now." She got up from the bed excusing herself to Soran and went into her room. Slowly she went to her old chest in the cornoer of her room that contained the armor she used to use when she trained with her father.


Emora:

Rai didn't know how long she had been walking, but she guessed she was getting close. She pushed through the bushes and looked up at the castle towering over her. She took a deep breath, a little scared now. She didn't know what was going to happen and she was so small. Could she do it? Could she really do it? Rai didn't know if she could or not, but like her father had once said, "You never know your potential until you put it to the test."

What was her potential? To become a murder? Rai had half the mind to turn around and go back. But, that wouldn't stop this monster from hurting and he would probably want to hurt Mizuki again. She wouldn't let him do that no matter what. With that thought in mind Rai held her head up high and stepped out into the clearing that surrounded the castle. She made her way to the part where she remembered going into it at and looked around to see if any one was watching her. If she could sneak in it would be even better...

Soran:


Soran looked at Mizuki out of the corner of his eye as she left, torn. She hadn’t understood…or no, maybe she had? He had thought it was obvious what he meant, but thinking on it now, he had just sounded angry. ~’I’m not going anywhere,’~ he thought unconsciously. He wasn’t going to leave her, but somehow he felt like he just had. He turned around and looked at the doorway, but she was long gone. A strange feeling was aching in his chest. ~’What’s wrong with me. It’s just some woman,’~ he told himself unconvincingly.

He walked out of the room, his face back to its usual expression. He saw Gwendolyn sitting in the kitchen as he passed it, and they made brief eye contact, but he didn’t say anything. He continued outside where it was nice and cool, and sat on the front steps, idly crafting snowballs in his hands and chucking them inaccurately at a thin tree standing across the street.

Mizuki:

Mizuki donned her old armor. It was a black body suit with forearm metal armor, breast plate armor, shoulder armor, shin armor, and a chain mail skirt. She tied her hair up so it would stay out of her way in battle.

Now all she needed to do was sneak out, go to the weapons crafter and get to the castle. But how will she get out without being noticed? She looked at her window and smiled.

After she got out she walked steathily a ways down the house, staying in it's shadows and ducking the windows. Just as she was about to make the clear and get on the road...

"Where do you think you're going?" Gwendolyn said behind her. Mizuki spun around half afriad.

"Mom!" she stuttered. "I-I was going--"

"Rai's ahead of you. You'd better get her, but go alone and stay behinde her." Mizuki looked at her mother puzzled, but when Rai was going to the castle she wasm't about to ask questions. Gwendolyn's mother then held out her arrows and bow, a hand held axe and a sword. "For your battle."

Mizuki took them and put the arrows and bow, strapped to her back, latched the axe to her skirt and held the sword.

"Go." Gwendolyn said and Mizuki went off running to the castle without a second thought.

Gwendolyn smiled and entered the house the way she came, unseen by everyone. She entered her tarot room and laughed. A woman was gagged and bound to a chair in the corner of the dark room only lit by candles. Gwendolyn went to the woman and looked into her own face, smiling sardonicly.

"Soon your daughter and the child will be in the hands of my Lord." Gwendolyn sneered and shifted forms. She now became a Dark Angel with ebony hair and black eyes. An Angel that mastered the art of shifting. "No one will suspect that they have been gone... untill it's too late."

Gwendolyn, bound and gagged in the chair, stared frightenedly at the Angel. She couldn't contact anyone at all. He put a barrier around her magic.

Soran:

Soran finally stood up and walked back into the house. As the door closed behind him, he froze and looked around suspiciously. The house seemed unnaturally quiet. He remembered seeing Gwendolyn in the kitchen earlier and began walking toward it.

Emora:

Rai looked up at the tower and then back at the way to get in. Yep, she was still standing there. She was torn between running and pushing on the block to make the door open. She didn't know what she wanted to do. But, she finally did it. She pushed on the block and the stones moved to reveal the pathway. She took a deep breath and stepped in. Now all she had to do was find out where this evil man would be and do her best to make sure he never hurt Mizuki again.

Mean while Toby was running through the house sniffing the air. He had a bad feeling. Something was not right at all. He couldn't find Rai and he didn't know where Mizuki had gone. The worst thing for him however was that he couldn't find Rai. He sniffed around searching for that Seer. He had to find her and get her to wake up and smell the coffee. He had to get her to tell some one that they were gone so they could go looking for them.

Toby went to a door. He smelled all around the bottom of it where the seam was. He could smell something... and it wasn't just the sent of the Seer. He began to bark viciously at the door and then barking all around to try and get the attention of someone to come and see what was on the other side of the door. He barked and barked and barked... but didn't think any one was getting the hint.

OOC: I'm going to be gone until Wednesday so I would like yawl to drag Rai around. You can control her, but please stick with her personality. I know yawl can do it! Until Wednesday! BYE! (Sorry, this came at short notice)

Mizuki:

the angel turned and sneered at the door where the barking was heard.

"Thouse it seems." he sneered. "I have forgotten about a certain canine." he turned back to Gwendolyn and smiled. "I'll be back seer." The Angel again took the form of Gwendolyn and went to the door.

---

Mizuki ran into the clearing and stopped breathing heavily. 'This same castle...' she thought and wasted no more time. She sprinted up to the side of the castle and looked for a way in, staying close to the wall.

OOC: Sorry, short. I wanted it longer but mom caught me and kicked me off. Grounded again and not sure when I'll be capable off getting on and off again. Sooo, can you all keep it going slow please? Thanks...-__- I hate punishments...

Emora:

OOC: I'm back! Hope you get back soon Mizuki!

Would he be sleeping? Where would his room be? I could hide in it until he went to sleep and then sneak up on him.... A lot of questions went through little Rai's mind and the more she thought about it the more she found her whole idea really stupid. Soran and Mizuki are going to kill me for doing this... is someone else doesn't first... Rai walked down a hall that had no guards on it towards a large door. There were no other doors on this hall. She didn't know where the door led to, maybe she would get lucky and it would be the bedroom. She could hide there until she finally finished talking herself out of what she was doing. Then she could sneak out of the castle.

Rai stopped in the hall. She was to small to take on Gabriel... She wouldn't stand a chance. Sometimes she just let too many thoughts get the best of her. She knew she should turn back before she got herself into a situation worst than the one with the snake. If she hadn't have gone into that room there would have been no way for the snake man to get her and Soran wouldn't have gotten bit by all those snakes. She wanted to hit herself, but that would do no good. With a heavy sigh that sort of signaled defeat for her she turned to go back to the outside.

In the house Toby was barking up the storm. Was everyone in the house bloody deaf? He thought surely Soran or some other person would come running, but no! He was starting to really think seriously about leaving Rai with these people. As soon as he found her he was going to take her to a safer group of people...


Mizuki:

OOC: one post....then like It'll be 2 weeks till the next one..lol

IC: With amazing luck, Mizuki found the window to Gaberial's room. But how was she to get up there? Her previous make-shift rope was taken away. She tried to make a quick plan but none were coming up to mind.

Suddenly, arrows flew past her head and jammed themselves in the wall. One after the other almst...making a arrow ladder up the wall?. Mizuki turned around to investagate but no one was there... just an empty court yard.

But Mizuki had to work fast so she gripped an arrow and began to climb with some hestiancy [is that a word?]. When she found the arrows lodged in far enough into the wall, she climbed faster.

And somewhere in the woods shadowed figures smiled at the half elf's quick thinking...


Emora:

Rai walked all the way down the steps that led to the stone door she had come through. She had took it to memory to remember the way she had come just encase she got scared and wanted to turn back. She let out a breath when she found it. "Whooo," she breathed and smiled. She would be happy to get out of the castle.

She reached up for the brick and pushed... but there was no grinding of stone to signal it's opening, there was nothing at all. Rai pushed again and still nothing happened. Again... and again but nothing happened. "No!" she said louder than she wanted to and beat at the door. "No!" She kicked it and hurt her small foot; it felt like she had stumped her toe.

Rai's beautiful eyes looked at the place she was in. She had to find a way to get out. How did Mizuki get out? Rai was walking back up the steps that were stone and the walls were lined in torches, something different from the way it had been before. Wasn't it dark before?

"This was the most stupidest idea I've ever come up with." (OOC: Great grammar, lol) Rai slumped near the top of the steps near she door and sat there for a moment. She hugged the doll tightly to her and rested her head on it. "Soran and Mizuki are going to kill me... I shouldn't have done this. They're going to be so mad at me. They might not want to keep me with them... I've really messed up now..."

Rai thought that if she hid in the stare way no one would find her and if Soran and Mizuki came looking for her they could find her before any fighting started. However, the fates, a god, the Dragons, whatever it was that controlled or created anything in the sky on Heirot decided differently. The door to the stare way opened and the brighter light that flooded in made the figure in the door way a shadow and she couldn't tell who they were. They took one large step forward, grabbed her by both arms and hoisted her into the air.

When they turned into the hall, he was carrying her like a fragile mirror or something. She kicked him until he let her go and she turned to run, but he stepped on the long coat she was dragging with her and she fell backwards cracking her head on the stone. "Ow..." she whispered and pulled out of the coat quickly to make another run from them, but it was to late and she was in the air again... Still not knowing whom the person carrying her was, she didn't get a good look at his face.

Mizuki:

The man who held Rai began to summon a calming charm on her. There was going to be no reason to hurt her at all...

Mizuki was out of breath when she reached the window. Only it was closed this time by wooden planks. She grabbed her small axe and hacked away at the wood. After making a jagged hole in the planks of woods she smashed her shoulder into them falling and breaking more wood into the room.

She scrammbled to her feet and rushed to the door opening it wide. She walked into the hall then ducked back into the room when she heard footsteps coming her way. When they pasted she saw Rai in the man's arms. Mizuki snarled and leaped at him. She tackled him to the ground and Rai fell softly to the floor since the man had turned to his back as he fell.

"A little whitch..." the man snarled and leapt for her. Mizuki thrusted down with her axe hoping it would collided into his head but the man caught her hands in a firm grasp. "If you would just calm down and listen you'll find that we have no desire to hurt you or the girl."

"NEVER!" Mizuki yelled in rage. She hated this place, and she hated the lies she thought were being spun. She pushed the man backwards so he would stumbled to his feet, but he kept his firm grasp on her wrists and they fell to the floor together.

Meanwhile back at the house the angel again in Gwendolyn's form opened the door to the barking animal. 'stupid dog...' he thought but spoke in Gwendolyn's gentle voice. "Now, now...why do you bark so wolf?" he went to put his hand down to pet the wolf's head...

Emora:

Ria sat up on the floor holding the doll in her arms and watched Mizuki. If she was here wasn't Soran too? Soran probably would be the maddest at her... He seemed like the type that would get mad over having to come back here. "Mizuki be careful!" Rai said to her and hugged the doll tighter as she rose from the floor. She felt unusually calm... which was weird because she knew she should be freaking out about all of it.

Rai leaned against the wall and watched them with worry for Mizuki…<br>
Back at the house Toby lunged at the hand of the imposter and bit hard, pulling backwards until the body stumbled forward and fell to the floor. He barked and barked but realized that no one seemed to care at the moment so he would have to make them.

Toby bit down on the shoulder of the woman's dress and dragged her down the hall with every bit of strength he had, and it was a slow ride, but he managed. Just because he was a wolf didn't mean he still didn't have a man's strength... It was just harder to do in a wolf form. He pulled her into the living room, but was sure that the imposter wouldn't stay on the floor for long. He was hoping she would change back into her real form, because this body didn't smell anything like the mother of Mizuki...

MIzuki:

The imposter screamed in pain an yelled curses at the wolf as it dragged him about.

"You accursed creature!" he yelled. "If anyone's going to die here it'll be you!"

Then Naoki scrammbled into the room from her nap after being exhausted from all that's happened.

"Wolf! What are you doing!?" she cried and tried to get the wolf away from Gwendolyn, at least she tough the person was Gwendolyn. "What' has gotten into you--ACK!!"

"Girl, you shouldn't have come out of your room." the imposter held Naoki by her neck choking her.

"Gwendolyn!?" Naoki choked out. The imposter smirked evily suddenly getting cocky and confident of himself. 'These 2 couldn't possibly matter to my Lord...' he thought and shifted his form back into his own. Once again he was the Dark Angel.

EMora:

Toby jumped and lunged at the back of the imposters neck, latching on with his sharp canines and jerking his head from side to side. Blood pored into his mouth. It had taken Alastar a while to get used to the taste of blood in his mouth... but used to it he was.

He dropped to the floor and scrambled around to the arm of the Dark Angel, lunging at it as well and dragging his claws across the arm and he dropped to the ground, turning in a jerking fashion to admire his work. The growled and barked which in the words his human from would have said, "Let her go." But all any one would understand were barks.

Rai reached into her pocket and made sure the knife was still there, just encase she needed it. If she lost it she always had the one hidden in her doll.

MIzuki:

Mizuki raged as she went to strike the man on the ground. But before she could land a hit, she was grabbed by her collar like an animal, dissarmed and pulled against a rough chest. A very familiar chest.

"You scoundrel! Let us go!" she demanded.

"You are the one who came into my home, therefore..." Gaberial lowered his mouth to her ear so he whispered, "you should be punished.." he sent an unwanted shiver down her spine.

"You make me retch." she whispered hoarsly to him. She laughed deeply and signaled to two of his guards to pick up his fallen mage and Rai.

Though, back at the house Gaberial's Angel was having a rough time. He was bleeding like crazy and he was getting dizzy.

"Bloody wolf..." he said stumbling on his feet and letting Naoki go. Naoki, in a rage at being attacked by a man, lunged at him sending him to the ground, unconcious.

OOC: Soran maybe be off visting family er something. may wanna pause this until further notice. and...where ever Tora and Leon are I have no clue

Emora:

Rai struggled to get free, the calmness faded quickly at the sight of Gabriel. She struggled to get free so she could help Mizuki. "No! Let Mizuki go! Leave her alone!" Rai screamed, looking at the man who looked like Soran with an utter hatred that had never before been in the child's eyes. She wiggled and squirmed, wanting nothing more than to have her feet on the floor so she could attack that evil man. She was moving violently, jerking, kicking, clawing, biting, anything that would inflict pain she was trying. Finally the person holding her at bay let her go, clutching various parts of his body. Rai got up and ran towards Gabriel pulling the knife from her pocket and holding the doll in the other hand...

"I won't let you hurt Mizuki!"

OOC: Yea, your right. I do wonder where Sakura and Ceron have gotten to. Hopefully they'll come back.

Soran:

OOC: Hey everyone, sorry for dropping off the face of the earth (or in this case, Heirot, I guess) for so long. I had a hard drive failure and was unable to get online. Finals and Christmas preparations have kept me a little too busy to install a new one, but I have the new drive now and should have it up and running within a day or two. Merry Christmas, by the way! *grounds Mizuki's parents* Right so anyway I will be able to post again as of Sunday or Monday at the latest.

IC:
Soran heard the sounds of growling and Gwendolyn shouting from down the hall, but when he moved to run toward them, he was briefly stunned by a wave of dizziness. The sedative was still wearing off. (OOC: lame excuse : P) He paused for a moment and tried to regain his bearings, all the time listening to the sound of screaming and someone being dragged.

Reorienting himself, the rogue shook his head and ran down the hall into the living room, where he found a gore-covered Toby snarling over a near-dead Dark Angel. Soran crossed his arms and took in the situation frowningly, then moved next to Toby, gesturing for him to cease his attack. He knelt next to the dying Angel and felt his pulse idly. The blood and gore didn't faze him in the least; he'd seen it all before. ~'He might be useful'~ he thought.

"You were sent by Gaberial?" he demanded icily, ignoring the blood rapidly seeping from the man's body.

"Of course," the angel gurgled painfully, sneaking one hand down toward his belt to draw his hidden dagger.

"Then you have a lot of information to give, if you expect me to bind those pathetic wounds of yours," Soran said with true indifference, offhandedly striking with the edge of his hand against the man's inner arm. The Angel groaned painfully and pulled his arm against his chest, giving up on the dagger the rogue had knocked from his grip.

The Angel grinned in an attempt at bravado, though it failed rather miserably. "Heh! You think it's that easy to sway our loyalty to our master?" He looked from Soran to the wolf, unable to hide the fear in his eyes.

Soran shrugged indifferently and flicked the dagger up into his hand. "As you please. Well then, my patience is thin, so if you're not in the mood to talk I'll just off you and dispose of you now before you dirty the floor any further." He pressed the edge of the dagger earnestly against the man's neck, his eyes made of pure green ice.

"Wait! Stop! I'll talk...put the dagger down," the man said defeatedly.

"I'd rather keep it here," Soran said, not moving the blade. "Let's hear you talk, starting with where Gaberial is, what happened to Gwendolyn and why Mizuki and Rai aren't in the room despite the commotion you just caused."

MIzuki:

OOC: WOOHOO!! -__- I wish I could ground my parents. Anyway... welcome back! lol


IC: Angel told his story the best he could manage.

"Gaberial told me to take Gwendolyn's place and try to convince Rai to come to the castle." the Angel wince at the knife. "Something about playing with destiny... then have Mizuki come after her. Which, apparently she was going to do anyway.... one of the mages predicted that... I was to stay here and keep you all from coming... The Lord is planning to trap Mizuki and make a deal she can't get out of... that all I know! I swear!"

"I don't believe him..." Naoki snarled rubbing her neck. "He almost killed me... but, Mizuki and Rai are at the castle?" The Angel nodded earnstly.

"I saw them leave..."

In the castle Mizuki yelled to Rai to stay put.

"NO RAI!'' she cried. But the mage quickly casted a binding spell on the child and Rai ceased to move. "You coward. Fight me like a man!" she snarled to Gaberial who just smirked.

"First, I am a man and don't worry, we'll be fighting soon..." Gaberial said with confidence. He knew he was going to win and he knew the deal Mizuki would make with him. It would all go to plan...

Emora:

Rai felt all her limbs go so stiff, it felt like they weren't there any more. She fell to the side, not moving and just able to stare at the same place. She looked like she was dead and the only thing that could keep you from thinking so was the fact she was breathing wildly as she grew more frustrated about the fact she couldn't move.

No...nonononono.... she thought and her eyes watered. I need to help Mizuki! Please! Please move!

She felt some of the stiffness in her body loosen just enough and she screamed as loud as she could. "No! No! Let Mizuki go! Let her go! Leave her alone! If your a man why don't you go out and find a man to fight!"

She felt one of the guards grab her hair and pull her into a sitting position. He knelt down behind her and she felt a cold feeling against her neck. She closed her eyes and her mouth. She wished she could have held her nose when he spoke. "Shut your screaming," he breathed into her ear.

"Master," the dark man holding her by the hair and threatening her life with the dagger to her tiny throat. "Do you really need this annoying creature?" He looked to his master and grinned wickedly, showing many missing teeth. "You know how I love children..."

Sure he loved them... If you were the type that liked to strap firecrackers to cat tails... Or liked watching people die in horrible situations... Or if you were just some one who liked to cause pain in any way, as long as if meant you got to have fun.

Mizuki:

Gaebrial gave the man a wicked glare.

"One hair on her will not be harmed." he said icily. "Follow me." He then walked with Mizuki still trapt against his chest with his massive arms about her. 'Damn, damn, damn!' she thought. 'It didn't go right.... now Rai is trapt and I'm...'

She couldn't finish her thought for Rai was then placed and locked in a bedroom made for a little girl and their party moved on.

"She'll regain movement in an hour..." the mage said grinning wickedly at Mizuki.

"The child can't go anywhere Mizuki don't worry..." Gaberial said to her. "But you and I need to have a little chat.." He took Mizuki in a large room with battle scars on the walls and floor. Weapons of any kind stood at various corners in the room. "Stand outside the door and watch the window of the child's room... but do not go in there!" Then Gaberial slamme the doors on his men outside.

Mizuki was fearful of what may happen next but she kept a clear head and tried to calm her beating heart. She watched Gaberial's back as he stood at the door. Then he turned around and stalked towards her.

"I'll make you a deal Mizuki."

"What kind of deal?" Mizuki asked skecpticaly.

"You win the battle I let you and the child go and leave you all alone. But if I win... well, I think you know." he smiled at her.

"You keep me and Rai..." Mizuki breathed in fear and realization.. Gaberial nodded and grabbed two swords from a weapons rack. In return Mizuki grabbed her own sword and axe. They took their stances, and began their battle.

Soran:

"They went back there alone?" the rogue said disapprovingly, suddenly filled with a sense of foreboding. ~'What were they thinking?'~ he thought angrily, but his stern glare showed no sign of his reaction. The rogue reached into his jacket and pulled out a length of cord he kept with him. He flipped the dark angel roughly onto his stomach and bound his arms firmly behind his back.

"I'm going to search the house now. If I find anything contrary to your claims, you'll die by this dagger," he said darkly, handing the weapon off to Naoki as he left the room. She clutched its hilt and eyed the prostrate angel warily as Soran left her and Toby behind to guard him.

Soran walked through the rest of the house and checked outside the windows, but saw no sign of Mizuki or Rai. He noticed his armblades lying on the ground and pulled them on pensively as he began to realize the angel had told the truth. The more he realized it, the worse he felt. ~'Why didn't those idiots say anything! The probability of success would be infinitely greater with three people.'~ He wasn't sure why they didn't trust him, wasn't even sure why he cared, but with each empty room his frustration increased.

He finally came to the kitchen, where he found Gwendolyn tied up in the corner with an alarmed expression on her face. The rogue walked quickly over to her and cut off her bindings. Her worried expression was enough for Soran to know that she was aware of the situation. "I'm going to go find them," he said crossly, looking her in the eyes.


Mizuki:

Mizuki screamed as one of Gaberial's blades slashed her arm. A flicker of agony went through his eyes but it quickly past. He hated having to hurt her but... it seemed to be the only way he could have her now. Metal against metal echoed in the battle room as their blades grappled against each other.

Mizuki knew the horrible truth, she was going to loose. Gaberial was stronger and had more expirence in battle, but Mizuki was faster dessipte Gaberial's wings. She quickly fell to the ground to give his legs a swift kick so he would fall over. Which he did. He lost his balance and was soon on the ground. Mizuki stood over him, her blade to his throat.

"You move, and this blade will cut your throat." Mizuki said icily.

"You're forgetting something dear," Gaberial said, and in a swift, fast, carefull movement he was out from under her blade. Mizuki reactewd by moving fast forwards so he couldn't grab her. Unfortuantly his hand grasped her firmly and he wouldn't let go. He yanked Mizuki's axe out of her hand and threw it far off to the side where it lodged itself in the ground.

Mizuki cursed and tried to kicked him but he only move out of the way which knocked her to the ground. Now his blade was at her throat.

"You accursed creature..." Mizuki glared at him.

"I'm sorry, but I think I won the battle...wife." Gaberial smirked. Mizuki wouldn't go without a fight and knocked the blade away with her armored forearm. She scrammbled back to her feet and grabbed for her arrows aiming.

"You won't win....me?" Gaberial was gone. He was no where to be seen. Mizuki accidently dropped her guard and Gaberial came from behind her knocking her last weapon from her hands and pinning her again to his chest.

"But I have. You have no more weapons dear..." He was right. Before they had started Gaberial said the rules were that the first one completely dissarmed looses, and Mizuki had lost. She hung her head in shame and defeat.


OOC: what...? -ducks flying bricks- WHAT?!

Emora:

Rai could move her arms enough to push herself up to sit instead of lay on the bed. Why did that evil man want her alive? Didn't he want Mizuki? What do I have to do with anything?

She tried moving her legs, but they wouldn't budge. Rai wanted nothing more than to help Mizuki, but she couldn't in her situation. She heard her door click as if some one was unlocking it. With hope beyond hope she wished it were Soran. The door swung open and she froze. It was the dark skinned man and in his right hand he held a very wicked looking dagger.

"You can't hurt me..." Rai said to make herself feel better, but to also make him stay away.

He twirled the blade in his hand and he locked the door. "Well, everyone is busy and no one will notice a speck like you missing..."

"But- but the man said you couldn't hurt me!" Rai said protesting as the man drew near. She dragged herself off the bed, falling to the stone floor with a thud and she dragged herself away from the man, but he was closing in. "Your master will be mad!"

"He'll get over it, besides what could you possibly be useful for?" He knelt down and grabbed her by the front of her shirt. "Now... what should I do first?"

Rai glanced over at her doll lying on the floor, just and inch out of her arms reach...

Mizuki:

Mizuki was taken out of the room and into her's. There she would await the maid's that would dress her properly for the wedding that would take place soon. She felt so defeated. Every instinct in her said that she should still fight back, but she had no weapons, and a deal was a deal.

Meanwhile, Geabrial walked the halls in tryumph. As far for the wounds he got, he still felt victorious. But his concious wasn't letting him live it down. 'Look how you're hurting her!' it yelled at him. 'Alexial died a long time ago, so Mizuki's the reencarnation, it doesn't mean you can take her away from her life to go back to a past she doesn't remember!'

Gaberial tried hard to tune it out. He turned the hall to check on Rai but found the door open. He glowered and tried to figure out how the child could get out when it was-- the mage. Gaberial's anger flared as he rushed through the door and flung the wicked man away from Rai.

"I thought I said that no one was to harm the child or go in here?!" he roared. The mage winced at where he landed, afraid of his master.

"I'm sorry mi'lord..." he tried to lie. "I didn't think she'd be that important so--- AAHH!!"

"Listen to me cretain, I find you near the child or mizuki again your throat is slit." Gaberial had the dark man by the throat as he roared his threat to him. Gaberial then dropped the man and watched him as he clammoured out of the room. Gaberial turned to Rai. He knew she didn't like him at all so he didn't bother going near her.

"She has lost the battle child. She'll be my wife again within the hours. Maids will be by to dress you for it." his glanced at Rai. "I suggest you don't try anything stupid kid." and he walked out the door locking it behind him. A bit harsh, but at the moment he was none too happy now. 'Look you brute!' his concious pestered him again, 'I believe they were already on a journey before you decided to pop up yes? Talk to Mizuki, actually try to get on her good side! See if you can help them!'

Gaberial considered it after thinking it weird that he was having his own mind yell at him. He supposed it would be a smart thing to do...

EMora:

Rai was even more confused by the fact that bad dude had saved her from that man. What was so important about her?

By the time the maids came to bath her she could walk fully again. They had to pry the doll from her death lock on it. She didn't want any one to find the knife that was still hidden inside. They bathed her in water that smelled like a meadow of sweet flowers. It was amazing how all the bruises on her skin seemed to fade and some of the small scratches, but the bite on her hand stayed. They dressed her in a fine white cotton dress and made her sit in a chair while they brushed the many tangles out of her curly hair.

When they left she sat in a chair in front of the fire place in the child's room that had been given to her. She looked so pretty in and cute, so clean. She held the doll in her arms and stared at the flames.

You're useless... Something inside Rai said and her head lowered, but came up and watery eyes stared at the flames. Look what trouble you cause... You made Mizuki come after you and now she is stuck with that mean man... She bit her bottom lip as a tear fell from her eye and dripped down her cheek.

"I'm sorry," she told herself in a hoarse sob.

All the time Rai wished that she were away from people when she cried, but for some reason she just wanted some one to hold her at the moment. Maybe because she was scared to death, or maybe she just wanted some one to tell her she wasn't useless. But, it was her fault. She wished Mizuki were there so she could tell her she was sorry for what she had done. Soran would be so angry with her for getting Mizuki in danger... Mizuki would probably be mad because she had to marry a man against her will because she had come after her... It was all so wrong and it was all her fault.


SOran:

Soran was riding at a gallop through the forest, trailing Rai and Mizuki's footprints. He had wanted to take the sled, but the griffins weren't too fond of him. Based on the length of his last trip, he estimated that the castle should be coming into view at any minute. Soran rested one hand absently on the tired horse's neck. "Soon," he encouraged, then noticed something strange up ahead. He drew up the reigns and slid to a halt as the two sets of tracks diverged.

Soran eyed them carefully. If they hadn't taken the same route, then that meant they'd gone separately. With a frown, he turned and followed Mizuki's footprints. Ahead, the stone wall of castle rose into view through the trees.

Mizuki:

OOC: -mouth agapped and eyes twitch- who says Rai's useless?! lol sorry, she's so cute =3


IC: The maids came for her a while later. Mizuki was so depressed she couldn't even move, so they moved her themselves.

"Oh Lady Alexial," said one maid while washing her back with a fragrant soap that Mizuki didn't care to idenitfy. "It is so good to have you and the child back. The Lord has been practicaly an empty shell since you both left." Apparently the maids didn't know the whole story. Gaberial preffered that the companions of the Lady and child didn't know of their death. Female Angel's tend to get... eh... emotional.

Mizuki just nodded absently at everything they said and stood there as they dressed and comb her hair. Mizuki was dressed in a wedding gown. She had a gold band on her head which held the long white lace veil that flowed down her back. She wore a dress with a strapless corset-like top that then billowed out in white white cotton and silk. Little flowers were even entwind in her hair.

"I don't understand why the Lord is having a second marriage with you though." one maid said after finishing with her hair.

"Maybe it's an aniversary thing?" said another maid. They all nodded then left Mizuki alone to stare at herself in the wide mirror before her. Never had she looked so beautiful, yet so sad and empty...

The door opened and Gaberial walked in. He caught his breath when he saw her. Beautiful yet sad. The sadness surrounding Mizuki urked him the most. "Love?" he whispered into the room. Mizuki didn't turned when he came up behind her anddraped his arms about her shoulders.

"Isn't it bad luck to see the bride before a wedding?" Mizuki simply said.

"I wanted to ask you something..." Gaberial ignored her remark and went on with his question.

Meanwhile outside A lone guard noticed an oncoming figure approaching the castle.

"What the hell?"

Soran:

Soran left the horse just inside the woods and risked the open area that led to the castle on foot. He narrowed his eyes as he noticed a guard standing in the snow looking straight at him. Guards were bad news. A few angels would be no contest for him, but against the whole castle he doubted he'd have the upper hand.

The rogue burst into a sprint straight for the guard, whose eyes widened in surprise. The guard raised his fingers to his lips to sound a whistle and call the others, but the sound was almost immediately cut off as Soran knocked the angel unconscious with a sharp roundkick to the side of the neck.

Soran looked around warily, but if anyone else had seen him, they weren't coming after him directly. He felt along the wall behind the guard for some sort of entrance like the one they'd found the other day, and sure enough a section of the wall gave way to a narrow stairwell. The rogue dragged the guard's body in with him where it would be out of sight, then began climbing up the stairwell.

Mizuki:

"We were supposed to be helping Rai find her parents. They were captured by the Whitch Queen and are probably dying somewhere.." Mizuki said. Gaberial pondered this for awhile and thought of his mage. The man may be a little... er... strange but he had come into good use with predicting Rai's coming to the castle.

"What if I helped you?" he said absently staring at the floor. Mizuki spun to face him, surprised he would say that. "I can use my mage to help you locate the child's... true parents." Gaberial sighed in defeat. He gave up on Rai a long time ago, but it still hurt him to let her go.

"You would-- help us?" Mizuki stood completely overwhelmed by his words. "They wouldn't trust you immediantly, you know that." Gaberial nodded.

"Yes but," he tried to find a way to tell her without sounding crazy that it's been urking him for awhile now and his concious wasn't letting him live his victory of having Mizuki back. "I can try to at least... "

"I get it." Mizuki said figuring it all out. "I'll... marry you... but in return you help us find Rai's parents." Mizuki held out her hand to him. She didn't want to, but what else could she do? She lost the battle and she was doomed to marry him either way. "If you go back on your word though, I'll kill myself on the marriage bed." she said truthfully and sternly as they shook hands on the deal.

Gaberial's eyes flickered in fear for possibly losing her again to death, but shook on it anway. "I'll make sure there are no mistakes...."

Emora:

A tall guarded angel took Rai's small hand and led her out of the room. Her eyes were downcast and sad looking as if nothing in the world could make her happy again. The glow that usually surrounded the child and seemed to make other's mood lift was fading. Maybe finally the horrible things she had seen and the horrible things that had happened to her were taking over. Or maybe it was just thinking of what horrible fate would await her and Mizuki.

They led her down an empty hall, possibly taking her towards where the wedding would take place. Rai held the doll in her right arm protectively, the knife still lodged inside. She was amazed to find no one had found it yet... and she was glad. She looked to the doll... Maybe there was still hope for Mizuki...

Mizuki:

"Remember Gaberial," Mizuki said, "be nice..." Of course, if she were Rai she would trust the man either. After all he's done to them. They were in a room full of candles and a looking sphere was on a pesdestal in the center of the room. The dark skinned mage stood at it smirking evily but Gaberial kept a sharp glaring eye on him.

Soon Rai and the Guard came in and Mizuki cried in joy that she was ok. Mizuki ran to her and swept Rai in her arms.

"I'm so glad you're ok Rai!" Mizuki whispered to her. "I know you may have a hard time believeing it but, me and Gaberial made a deal and his part is to help find your parents..."


Emora:

Rai looked at Rai with her bright blue eyes and she shook her head, pushing away from Mizuki. "Let me guess you have to marry him... No, Mizuki! No!" The child looked angry. "It isn't right and I know where my parents are! That evil woman has them and I can't get them back! You made a foolish deal! He can find them, but he can't get them back. You'll be stuck with him forever. I can't believe you would trust him after what he's done to you!"

Rai stared at Mizuki disbelievingly. "Don't you find it funny that he hurt you so much and now he's trying to get on your good side?!"

Rai felt like she was falling into a pool of madness. Everyone around her wasn't thinking clearly. It was sucking her in deeper and deeper. "Why? Why did you make the deal? Weren't you thinking? Didn't you know he couldn't get them back? The Witch Queen uses people like him for her work... She'll strike an even better deal with him..." Rai backed away from Mizuki shaking her head. "It's not right... You shouldn't do this... You don't love him! It's not right!"

Rai looked at her seeming more like an adult than a child. Rai looked to Gabriel. "It's not right! If you love her you'll let her go! If you don't then you never really loved her any way..." She stepped closer to Gabriel until she was right before him and she looked up at him with no fear in her eyes. "If you love her, you'll set her free. The woman you love is not her... She looks like her... but inside it is not her... Please, if you love the woman from the past, you let the woman in the present go..."

Soran:

Soran climbed at least 5 flights before he found an exit from the spiral staircase. It seemed the stairwell had been built for some very specific purpose. The rogue put his ear against the door, but heard nothing on the other side. He slowly cracked it open, looking out through the crack, and saw...the sky? Crud, the door led to the balcony.

He took a wary step back as a guard flung the door open from the other side. Three more guards were posted on the balcony, and all four turned toward the intruder with weapons raised. Soran cast them all an icy glare and lunged forward into the guard who had opened the door, slashing his blade across the angel's neck.

As soon as the first guard fell, the rest came at Soran together. The rogue had an advantage where he was because it was dark in the corridor and because only one guard could fit through the door at once, so one of the guards darted his hand in and grabbed Soran's collar, tugging him roughly out onto the balcony. Soran stumbled backward across the balcony, adjusting his eyes to the daylight. He was surprised the the speed and strength of the guards, but now he was fully alert.

He raised his blades menacingly and leapt at the closest of the guards, slicing out at his chest. The guard dodged backward, as Soran expected. The rogue dropped to a crouch and swept his leg out in a spiral, taking the guard's feet out from under him. In the next breath, Soran was on top of him, neatly slicing the man's throat.

He spun around and threw his blades up exactly in time to block a descending blow from another guard's sword. Their weapons wrestled against each other for a moment, locked together, then Soran threw the guard's sword off to the side and kicked him firmly in the stomach, hurling him backwards to the ground. The rogue spun around to face the last guard standing, but was met by a strong kick quare in the chest.

Soran staggered back, regaining his bearings, then noticed the remaining guard raising his fingers to his lips. The rogue launched himself onto the angel, slicing one blade deeply into his arm as he knocked the guard down to the ground. The guard shouted out in pain at his wounded arm and, unable to sound the whistle, yelled out for the other guards at the top of his lungs. He managed this for only a second before Soran's fist knocked him out.

The rogue heard commotion from the balcony above. He needed to move, now. The stairwell apparently joined the guard stations, so he turned to a large glass door on the balcony. It was lined with curtains, apparently some sort of sleeping chamber or a formal sitting room. He didn't have time to wonder what was on the other side. He dove through the door and locked it behind him, then spun around to see where he was.

Mizuki:

Mizuki stood close to tears as Rai spoke to her. Rai was right but...

"Rai," she said trying to stay calm. "I lost the battle between us. I have to marry him either way! I'm sorry Rai!--" Mizuki couldn't finish because Gaberial grabbed her from behind jerking her backwards as someone ran through the door.

"GUARDS! SEIZE THE ELF!" Gaberial shouted and jerked Mizuki to another door at the other end of the room. "We'll have to do this later, Isei!" he shouted to the mage, "Grab the girl and follow us but do not harm her!...." Gaberial gave the mage a threatening glare and kept stalking towards the other door. Under his breath he muttered. "Pyschotic freak..."

Emora:

"You don't have to do anything if you don't want to... You can fight!" Rai said as she saw Mizuki disappeared and the Mage grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to follow them. Rai looked quickly to see who the elf was and it could only be one person...

"Soran!" Rai shouted in excitement then her worry came back. "Soran, I'm sorry!" she told him but the mage silenced her after that with a large hand almost covering her face.

"I'll cut your tongue out if you don't shut up," he smiled and continued down the hall after his master. he wasn't hurting the child... yet. Maybe it was this drive to cause pain, but it made him delirious to the fact that his master would kill him if he hurt Rai.


Soran:

Soran whirled around at the sound of Gaberial's voice. "Guards! Seize the elf!" he shouted. Soran spotted him tugging Mizuki out of the room, and another angel was pulling Rai out as well. Rai was trying to tell him something... Soran moved to run after them, but was halted by a leathery object suddenly wrapping around his neck. He grabbed onto it, trying to loosen it, and spun around to see a female angel holding the other end of the whip with a smirk.

Soran cast her a feral glare, not undersanding why the whip wouldn't loosen. He brought his blade up and slashed at it, but it barely made a nick in the leather.

"The whip is enchanted with magic," the woman purred darkly, yanking Soran forward into another guard's kick. Soran took the blow with a grunt, then rushed toward the female guard with weapons raised. He punched her several times in rapid succession and then spun around, ripping a kick across the side of her head. The woman screamed in pain and fury, shaking off the blows.

"You're fast, elf, but you're forgetting something," she snarled breathlessly. Soran stared at her coldly. "I have wings," she said, and flew up into the air, pulling up on Soran's neck. The rogue reached up with both hands to keep the whip from choking him, and the other guards in the room attacked. Soran knocked a few of them out with his legs, but with two guards on each arm they pulled his arms behind him and bound them together.

"There there, sweetheart," the female guard sneered, lowering him back to the ground, "We need to hurry or we'll miss the wedding!"

"What?" Soran demanded hoarsely, glaring at the woman with absolute hatred.

"Shhh, no talking. You'll ruin the fun," the woman purred, waving her hand in front of his face. When Soran tried to respond, his voice was gone. She had cast a silencing spell over him. Soran thought over his options. The binding on his hands was clumsy; he could get out of it easily, but he decided to follow the guards instead until he could gain a better understanding of the situation.


Mizuki:

"We'll finish with what we wanted to do after the wedding." Gaberial said tugging Mizuki to the alter. He turned around to see the mage with Rai standing a foot or so away from them. "Isei, get over here, I don't trust you with her."

Isei frowned but stood beside his Lord anyway With Rai in his grasp. The door swung open and Gaberial turned in frustration to find his best female guard Angel with Soran at her deadly whip. Gaberial laughed.

"I see Siren has caught you with her whip, no matter, more of an audience for this miraculous night."

Mizuki turned around only to meet eyes with Soran. She felt her heart shatter at the sight of him. She whished to the Fates that he wasn't here to see her like this. ABout to wed a man she doesn't love...

"Please, Gaberial," Mizuki pleaded with him. "Just get this done with! I can't... stand this..."

"Why? Let the elf watch you in misery get married to someone else!" Gaberial sneered. Mizuki tried to kick him in his groin but she missed and got his thigh. Gaberial grunted and grasped her arm roughly, turning her to face the man now in front of them that would wed them.

Emora:

Rai fiddled with her doll and bit the mages hand bringing the knife out as she rushed forward and she plunged it as high up as she could into Gabriel’s back, her teeth gritted. She couldn't stand that Mizuki was about to do something she didn't want to do and she wasn't even putting up a good enough fight. Rai stumbled back after lodging the long kitchen knife into the Dark Angel and tried to get out of any ones reach...

"It's not right!" she screamed at him.

Soran:

Soran blinked in astonishment as he entered the room and saw Mizuki standing beside Gaberial in a stunning wedding gown.

"I see Siren has caught you with her whip, no matter, more of an audience for this miraculous night," Gaberial said from beside Mizuki.

Soran tugged against the whip in vain; the more he struggled the tighter the noose became. He felt like his heart was stopping. What was going on? Didn't Mizuki hate him? Or had she come back here to marry him in private...

Soran looked over to Rai, who had sprung from the grasp of the one holding her and suddenly stabbed Gaberial in the back with a dagger. He was partly relieved that at least both of them weren't conspiring together, but on the other hand Rai had just put herself in great danger. "Rai! Behind you!" he tried to shout as he saw the mage closing in on the little girl, but no sound came from his mouth.

Mizuki:

Gaberial buckled backwards as the blade ran itself into his back. He cried out and Mizuki stepped back from him. She screamed, only from fright of Gaberial's agonizing one.

Gaberial slowly sank to the floor and reached for Mizuki. "Lady... love... I just wanted you back..." he spoke with his last breath and died in a puddle of his own blood on the ground. Mizuki was horror striken and somewhat sad. But she remember everything he had put them through and her heart harderen again towards his dead corspe.

Mizuki looked up to find an absolute frensey of anger. The female guard dropped her whip and screamed in sorrow for her dead Lord. Female Angel's were definatly very emotional. The dark mage rushed forward for Rai with a knife in his hands.

"NO!" Mizuki screamed and tackled him to the ground wrestling the blade from his grasp.

Emora:

Rai stared at the dead man on the floor, not even really hearing Mizuki scream or anything. She just stared at Gabriel as guards rushed in. At the moment she was closest to Gabriel and he had a knife lodged in his back... so that was all they really cared about. But, Rai was to shocked to really care that guards were about to spring on them all.

The female guard was enraged by the child, such a small and fragile child, taking the life of her great and powerful master.

Rai could only look at the body though, because she felt very strange inside. She had just killed some one... she didn't mean to kill him... She had just wanted him to stop for a second or to make the female guard let Soran go... "I didn't mean to..." she whispered and sat on the floor. "I didn't mean to kill him..."

She looked up to find angry and evil glares.


Soran:

Soran felt the whip loosen as it left the hands of its owner, and threw it off disdainfully. He was still confused about which side Mizuki was on, but now that the opportunity presented itself he freed his hands and showed no mercy to the Angels, cutting through the guards surrounding him in one fluid motion.

He turned on the sobbing female Angel, who was rather powerless without her whip. She lashed out with her fist, but he stepped easily out of the way and caught her wrist, wrenching her to the ground in a submission hold. She lay helpless on her back, looking up at the startlingly intense glare in his eyes as he raised his blade to strike her dead. “You…” she said with a glint of realization showing through her sad eyes, “You love her…”

Soran paused, baffled by her statement, then struck a pressure point in her neck that knocked her outcold and turned back to Mizuki and Rai, sizing up the remaining opponents. The Angel’s words echoed in the back of his head. ~’Nonsense,’~ he thought angrily, trying to push it from his mind.

Emora:

The black mage used a ball of magic to throw Mizuki a distance away. "I was waiting for this," he spat and crawled his way over to where Rai was. He fisted his hand in Rai's pretty hair and pulled her to the side until she was lying on the ground in front of him. "I'll make you a sacrifice to my true master, Shea!"

The mage placed his blade in the middle of Rai's chest. Rai gazed fearfully at the blade and at the dark skinned man. She was afraid to move, afraid the blade would go through her. But, maybe she deserved it. She had taken a life... Rai wasn't used to killing... She had never killed any one in her life. "I'll gut you right in front of all your friends."

Soran:

Soran saw the mage throw Rai to the floor and hold the dagger up against her. The rogue burst into motion, swiping a dagger off the floor and hurling it at the mage as he ran towards them in the same movement. The dagger struck the man just below the shoulder, forcing him to drop his weapon. He looked up from the child to Soran and released a sadistic growl as he slowly pulled out the blade, holding the elf in his gaze.

Soran ran in at the mage, weapons raised. The Angel smirked evilly and used his left hand to levitate Rai up in front of him. The child was surrounded by a cloud of black energy and floated up off the ground, right in front of the Angel’s vital points. Soran halted, barely stopping his blades before they sliced the child in half, and stared the mage down icily.


Emora:

Rai didn't know what to do. Not this again. She was always getting herself into trouble and it was getting oh-so-annoying. She was facing the dark skinned man who glanced from her and then back to Soran. "Go a head elf... stab me right through the middle. Two birds with one stone... I mean, as soon as Shea gets her hands on this child you'll have more to worry about than just me. If you kill her now there will be no way for Shea to get her demon and you get me in the same process."

Rai knew that Soran would never consider killing her. He would find a way. The mage stood and Rai rose up as he stood. He stepped back and she floated with him.

Rai thought for a moment. It always hurt when she got sand in her sores... She reached up quickly and dug a thumb into the gaping wound in his shoulder. He screamed and the magic around her faded. She fell to the floor with a thud. Her ankle bent funky and she fell to the side.

The mage looked at her with such hatred that it was like he could set her on fire with his eyes... Rai began to scramble to get away, she tried to step on her ankle to get up but it hurt and she fell back to the floor.

Mizuki:

From the blast Mizuki hit the far wall and broken both her arms. She cried out in agony but got to her feet anyway. Wincing, she cursed the dark mage.

"You worm," she stummbled on her feet and leaned against the wall. "YOU COWARD!" She saw that he used Rai as a sheild. Something inside her was raging like blazing fire's. If one could see aura's, and the mage certainly can, in Mizuki's aura would shape into giantic wings because of her past life.

Her energy overwhelmed the mage so he staggard back from Rai.

"She really is... Lady Alexial." the mage Isei stammard.


Soran:

Soran looked at Rai approvingly as she fought back against Isei, but once again her rash actions were getting her hurt. He looked at Isei icily as Rai scrambled painfully away. With nothing remaining between him and the mage, the rogue moved in with his blades, slicing both the man’s shoulders and then his thighs, so that he fell to the ground incapacitated. He took the dagger up and planted it straight through the man’s chest, his face eerily cold and blank as he delivered the killing blow.

The rogue straightened and examined the room. All the enemies were slain or unconscious. He turned to Rai first, grasping her shoulder gently. “Stay still,” he said, noting that his voice had returned. He looked at her twisted ankle knowingly, but hadn’t brought first aid with him. He turned to Mizuki next. She looked beautiful and powerful and injured and miserable at the same time, and he wasn’t sure what to make of it. “Are you hurt?” he asked coolly, his face blank of expression.

Mizuki:

Mizuki breathed heavily from her major energy explosion. 'What just happened?' she thought but then quickly dissmissed it.

“Are you hurt?” Soran asked her. Mizuki stared at him; afraid, sadened, happy, and just plain miserable emotions went through her. If she could, she'd throw her arms about him but they were broken and... he must hate her. They both must. She had made stupid yet rash actions.

"I just wanted to make him leave us alone... I hadn't planned on Rai being here but my mother said she was so I followed to save her. Then Gaberial challenged me and I lost. I had to marry him..." Mizuki said with some quiet tears rolling down her face. She leaned back against the wall wincing from her broken arms. She sunk to the ground and stared off into space with her arms laying limply at her sides. "I didn't want to... just so you know..."

"..My arms..." she winced again.

Soran:

Soran felt relieved and worried beneath his cold expression. He understood what she’d done now, though he didn’t approve. But from the unnatural position of her arms and the tears streaking her face, he knew she was far from okay. “I know. It’s all right,” he said to her quietly.

He wished he’d brought first aid with him, but there was nothing he could do for her until they got outside. Then he could at least splint her arms. And there was Rai’s ankle also… He heard more footsteps outside the room and knew there wasn’t much time. He needed to get them both down the stairwell in one trip.

He reached his arms carefully around Mizuki’s back and under her legs and picked her up slowly, not wanting to hurt her further. He felt like he should say something to her, but wasn't sure what. He stood and looked at Rai. “Can you hang on to my neck?” he asked, kneeling in front of her. The child wrapped her arms around his neck and clung on, and Soran walked quickly out onto the balcony and down the stairwell. He could feel Rai’s injured ankle flopping against his back, but there was no other way to get out. As soon as they were safely inside the forest, Soran stopped and set them both down, slightly out of breath.

[Soran Nightblade]

Mizuki:

Mizuki's back laid against a tree. Her brow furrowed as she tried to figure out how the heck Soran managed getting them all outside in one piece. Behind her she heard soft, barely above a whisper voices then the twang of a bow. An arrow flew past the tree she lend on and into the one before her.

"Ah.. Soran." she said trying to get his attention. Attached to the arrowed was a bundle of first aid supplies that they would need to splint together Rai's ankle and Mizuki's arms.

In astonishment, Mizuki tried to turn around to look for the people who shot the arrow, but all she acheived was a face full of snow as she lost her balance and fell. She fought back a cry of pain since she had landed on her right arm. 'Smart...' she thought to herself. 'real smart... but who shot that arrow? Was it like from before? When i had climbed the castle wall?'


Emora:

Rai was so quiet that if you hadn't seen her you wouldn't know she was there. Her ankle hurt now that she could feel it. It hurt a lot, but she was still shell shocked from killing Gabriel to even care. What was a hurt limb compared to the fact she had done something very bad. It hadn't even been in self defense. She didn't mean to kill him!

She stared at her ankle staying quiet with a solemn expression. She began to wonder now if she would ever be happy again. She wanted the snow fight back... that day when she had been fighting everyone in the snow she had felt so happy... She wanted it back...

Soran:

Soran looked back at the castle and saw the female Angel standing on the balcony, bow in hand. She waved to him somewhat sadly; he raised his hand up confusedly in response. After they’d killed her lord, she still helped him? He thought again about what she’d said. Was that her reason?

Soran looked back as Mizuki fell into the snow. She had landed on one of her arms; it had to be incredibly painful, but she still didn’t cry out. Soran knelt next to her and lifted her shoulders carefully, resting her arms at her sides and putting her back down on her back. He looked from Rai to Mizuki, not sure who to help first. The child’s face seemed haunted, and he sensed she was thinking about something serious.

Turning to Mizuki, Soran pulled the supplies off the arrow and lifted one of her broken arms gingerly, setting the bone with a painful snap, and binding the splint quickly along her arm. He knew she was in pain, but if he worked slowly it would only prolong her misery. He moved to the other arm and repeated the process, trying not to look at the agony on Mizuki’s face.


Mizuki:

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!" Mizuki screamed as Soran set her bones back in place. She cried, she wept, she gritted her teeth, she whished to the Fates that Soran was done. And when he was done...

"Soran..." she said wincing. "did you...happen to see whoever shot the arrow...?" Mizuki glanced Rai's way and saw her haunted eyes... 'She's never killed before... the poor child...' she thought.

Emora:

Rai pulled her hands into her lap, they were getting cold just lying in the snow. She looked at the castle door. Her doll was lying some where inside. She didn't want to hurt Mizuki's feelings, but she didn't know if she wanted the doll back or not. It would remind her of what she had just done.

Rai stared at her hands, the memory of how happy she had been so long ago flooding through her. She remembered her mother's glowing face and her father's proud smile. Then she remembered her words back in the castle. No one could get them back... Not Mizuki, not Soran, if Gabriel the great Dark Angel couldn't no one could.

Rai pushed herself to her feet, leaning on her good leg. She stared at the snow as she took a painful useless step forward. She fell to her knees, staring at her hands in the snow. One had blood on it from the Mage. She wiped it on her white gown, but once it stained it she began rubbing it over and over, not wanting some one else’s blood on her. She began sobbing as she did it, not because the fact that it wouldn't come off, but because so much pain was in her heart.

She didn’t want Mizuki or Soran to see her in such shape, but she couldn’t hold it in.

Soran:

Soran had to force himself not to cringe as she screamed out in pain at his touch. By the time he was done, his heart was beating out of his chest. He looked at her worriedly.

“Soran…” she said, her voice betraying her pain, “did you…happen to see whoever shot the arrow?”

“It was Siren,” Soran said tensely, “The guard that I fought earlier.”<br>
He turned toward Rai as he heard the child begin sobbing. He walked over to her and knelt down uncertainly. He had no idea how to address this situation. He remembered what Mizuki always did when she was upset, and put his arms around the child, pulling her protectively against his chest. He ruffled her hair absently with one hand, not sure what to say. He considered that the child might be crying over her ankle, but that didn’t seem like Rai to him. Something else was wrong, and unless she told him he couldn’t do anything for her.

Emora:

Rai buried her face in her hands and cried, "I didn't mean to..." She repeated it over and over, each time fading. "I didn't mean to kill him..."

She clutched his shirt and shook her head and cleared her throat. Trying to hold her horrible feelings at bay. This wasn't the time and this most definitely wasn't the place. But, when she looked up at Soran she couldn't help but begin to cry again. "I can't get them back, Soran... I can't get them back. I don't have any mother or father any more. I don't have any one." She cried harder. "It hurts," she said putting her hand to her heart. "I don't know why, but it hurts."

Rai's heart was breaking. She wanted her mommy and daddy to hold her, but she knew she would never see them again. Never would her dad laugh at her when she said something funny. Her mom would never kiss her goodnight. She had known this, but for some reason when she had said it out loud finally took away the delusion of there being some chance. When she realized that not even the mighty Dark Angel couldn't get them back, it hit her. And it was a hard blow.

She cleared her throat again and wiped her eyes. For a long moment she didn't say anything and then she spoke. "It doesn't come off does it?" She looked to the blood on her pretty white dress. "The blood."

Mizuki:

Mizuki watched as Soran held Rai. It was so cute and she wished she could do something too. 'Siren?' she thought 'But isn't she evil? Didn't we kill her Master? That makes no sense. Was she the one who had helped me?!'

Suddenly something soft was rubbing up against her. Mizuki looked down to see a...ferret?

"Little ferret." she said talking to it. "What are you doing over here?...you're so cute." she laughed as it climbed up her, thankfully avoiding her arms, and tickled her ears. "I think little Rai would like you. Would you like to cheer up Rai?" as if capable of hearing her, the ferret bobbed it's head up and down and scuried over to where Rai and Soran stood...

From the shadows figures whatched them. They spoke to each other in a strange tounge that none but they could understand.

Soran:

Soran listened silently to Rai’s words, understanding now what she was upset about. “If you hadn’t killed him, I would have,” he said. It was an adult situation, so he spoke to her with adult words, “Even if what you did was an accident, Gaberial accepted the risks of his actions when he made them. It’s not a situation that can be attributed to a single person, especially not you.”

“As for being alone,” Soran said, hesitating, “That won’t happen. Even if we don’t find your parents, it will never happen.” He wasn’t sure if he regretted his words or not, not feeling one hundred percent sure he was ready to make that promise.

He looked down as a ferret wriggled up the inside of Rai’s dress and curled itself under her chin, playing with its paws in her hair. It was so random and inappropriate to the moment that Soran almost laughed despite himself. He had a feeling Mizuki had something to do with it, and was relieved to see a grin on her face when he looked back at her. He glanced down at the stain on Rai’s dress. It was barely even noticeable, but if that was what bothered her… “Of course it comes out,” he said, pulling the tip of his blade lightly against the spot and cutting it out. He wrinkled the fabric in his hand and threw it in the snow.

Mizuki:

The ferret looked up from Rai to Soran and lifted it's little head up to his. It began sniffing him and it's whiskers tickled Soran's skin. It brought a little paw up it his face, placed it there and scurried away from them and back to Mizuki, who slumber against the tree in peace.

The ferret looked at Mizuki for a moment, then curled itself around her neck making a little bed under her hair and across her neck. Mizuki stirred only from its tickling furr then settled again.

"HO!" a voice belonging to a male, heavy with accent of another language, called to them. When he emerged from the shadows he had jet black, shoulder length hair tied back. His eyes were a deep blue and he had a tall masculine build of 5' 6''. He wore a black and grey tunic and had a dagger strapped to his side. (OOC: just in case, think of Legend of Zelda, Link's cloths..^-^; just no hat.) "Looks like you people could use some help! I have a camp nearby...''

Soran:

The rogue splinted Rai’s ankle while the ferret played with Mizuki. It was a bad sprain, but nothing appeared to be broken. When a strange man entered the clearing, the rogue eyed the newcomer distrustfully. “Who are you?” he asked. He wasn’t about to follow some stranger through unfamiliar territory, especially with both Rai and Mizuki wounded.

Mizuki:

At first glance you can tell he's and elf. Very friendly too.

"Whoa!" he laughed. "You must've come from somethin' bad then eh? My name's Sennyo, otherwise known as Sen. And that frisky little ferret wrapped around that sleeping beauty 'ere, is Sparks. Say 'ello Sparks."

The little ferret came from around Mizuki's neck and bobbed it's head up and down, then went back to cuddlingaround Mizuki's neck.

"Look's like he took a liken to 'er." Sen smiled a friendly smile to Rai. "So cute, I have a sister about your age back at my camp. Wanna meet 'er?"

Mizuki's eyes fluttered opened and she practicaly almost panicked from feeling fur wrapped around her neck.

"Wait..." she sighed in relief remembering it was probably the ferret. She eyed the new comer then gave a friendly laugh. "Is this your little creature?"


OOC: don't care if you control Sen or not, but he's gonna be important so don't try to loose him too fast!

Soran:

Soran frowned, still not convinced Sen was a friend, but he was equally dissatisfied with the prospect of subjecting Mizuki’s arms and Rai’s leg to an hour-long ride on horseback. The only thing that really put Sen in favor with Soran was that he was good with wild animals. Animals had good instincts; they were excellent judges of character. He looked at Sen and said with a slightly friendlier voice, “We’d be grateful for a place to spend the night.”

Mizuki:

Sen smiled and whistled out into the tree's. Soon a little girl came up that was about Rai's heigth and looked exactly like her brother. When she spoke, it wasn't in english and they conversed back and forth with each other in that language. Then the little girl smiled and ran over to Rai putting Rai's arm about her neck.

"My name Skye." She said to Rai and helped Rai walked where Skye had come from.

"It ain't too far off our camp." Sen said and looked to Mizuki. "Will you take 'er or would you like me to carry 'er?"

"I can walk!....I think..." Mizuki said trying to get up. It was kind of hard with having no arm use but she managed to stand. She gave them a weak smiling before falling back into the snow. Sen gave a little chuckle while coming to her side. Mizuki was wincing in some pain but she refused to cry out in front of Sen. It would be embarassing.

Sen helped her up, minding her arms. "How'd ya manage this damage girl?" Sen asked her.

"Er... " Mizuki couldn't really find a way to explain it to himso she called Soran over to her side. "Soran! Um... come on....ow!.." she stupidly tried to lift her arm.


Soran:

Soran came to Mizuki’s side, and she seemed to want him to answer the man’s question. He chose his words carefully, seeing no point in explaining everything to a stranger and not sure where the man’s loyalties lay with respect to the Dark Angels. “We had a battle with some of the Angels, and her arms were broken against the wall trying to protect the girl.” Soran lifted Mizuki up in his arms again, not fond of the idea of letting Sen carry her and not wanting her to walk by herself. He began following Sen through the woods, taking careful note of the route in case trouble arose.

Emora:

The blood on her dress had bothered her because it reminded her of what she had done. Though she knew from Soran’s words that it wasn’t so wrong,… She still felt horrible for taking a human life. Children aren’t supposed to do things like that… Although children shouldn’t go through half the things Rai has gone through.

Rai looked at the little girl as she helped her walk. "My name is Rai," she said with a weak smile coming to her face. Her eyes were still red from crying, but she felt strangely better after getting the sadness out by crying. She felt like something had been lifted from her shoulders just by hearing someone talk to her.

Rai didn't know anything else to say to the girl. She didn't know her well enough to say much. Rai looked back behind her to see if Soran and Mizuki were coming along.

She hoped they would get to go back home... Well, to Mizuki's home. She wanted to let Toby know that she was alright.

Mizuki:

Skye smiled at Rai. They were the same heigth and Skye wore a dress in the same colors as her brother. She produced a doll, much like the one Rai had, from her large pocket.

"Found this." Skye said in her not so good english. "Lady with wings give me it. Said to give it to a girl in white dress. You loose pretty doll?" Skye was so innocent and really had no clue what was going on. But Rai looked sad and she wanted to cheer her up!

In the group behind them Sen became overwhelmed by the thought of battle.

"Wow!" he exclaimed excitedly. "You were in a battle? With Angels too! 'Mazed you all live to tell the tale."

"So am I." Mizuki said in Soran's arms. She was trying hard not to blush by being carried by Soran. Sen looked back and smiled at them.

"Your daughter's cute. Skye and 'er will get alon' just fine I believe." Sen had no idea they weren't a family. He just assumed. "Look like you were in a weddin'. Wait! Don't tell me! She had to marry someone else but you, Soran, that's your name yes? anyway! You wouldn't have your love do that so you came in, blades drawn, and wiped out all the buggars who forced 'er!"

Mizuki turned beat red... "Er..almost...right.."

Emora:

Rai looked at the doll for a moment, not knowing really if she wanted to take it. But, she did and she held it tightly in her free arm. "Thank you," Rai said with another weak smile.

Rai grew quiet again, convincing herself that things would be better once they were all sitting together at a place. She was concentrating on walking mostly on her good leg and not on her bed one.

"I live in these woods," Rai said and her smile grew at the happy memory of her small home. "Well, not these, but in a house not far from here I think. Well, I live on the Border too."

Soran:

Soran looked ahead coldly and said nothing. The tips of his ears were turning red. Of course he had attacked the Angels for forcing Mizuki to marry. Who wouldn’t? Just because of that…it didn’t mean…

He could smell a campfire burning in the distance.

Mizuki:

"Ah! So you have family close?" Skye asked. "Or are the lady and man your parents? But isn't the man an elf? and lady half? you half? I'm a full elf!" Skye was always cheerful... even when it probably wasn't at the right time. "Rai... why you sad?" she said after a while when they got to the camp. Skye set Rai down on a log that served as a makeshift chair.

Mizuki could smell the campfire up ahead. Through the trees she could see that Rai and Skye had made it and were sitting.

"By the way Soran looks... it must be true!" Sen said smiling like a little kid up to no good.

"Only half," Mizuki corrected him. "I was... being forced into marriage but... me and Soran, we're not a couple..." Mizuki was sad at the truth, but it was true.

Sen's face actually fell. "Well... you've got yer time." Sen smiled and winked to them and ran on up ahead to his sister and Rai.

"I'm sorry Soran." Mizuki said trying not to look at him. Instead she tried to think about the ferret Sparks wrapped about her neck sleeping peacefully. "I seem to make everyone think that we're a couple." she tried to smile. "Let's just concentrate on regaining ourselves and push this from our mind... alright?"

Sen walked up to his sister and they dove into a conversation in their own tounge.

Their conversation translation (it rhymes!):
'Brother, was it right to help them?' Skye asked him.
'Of course!' Sen said enthusiastically. 'These people needed it. PLus those two are in denial.'
'Why are we diving into their personal affairs? Let them deal with it. I'm more interested in the sad Rai. She's been through much for a child of her age...'
'So did you when you were that young. Sorry your stuck in your child years...' Sen gave her a silly smile.
'If you didn't chalenge that stupid mage, we'd still be twins! Ah foo, let's not bicker and try our best to help these people.'


Soran:

Soran looked down at Mizuki and her expression seemed downcast. He frowned as she forced a pretend smile onto her face. “Let’s just concentrate on regaining ourselves and push this from our mind… alright?” she said.

“Sure,” Soran said and looked ahead again, unintentionally holding Mizuki a little bit tighter. He looked around as they stepped into a small camp where Rai was already sitting close to the fire, and Skye and Sen were talking amongst themselves in a tongue he didn’t recognize. He hardly felt cold with Mizuki pressed against him, but he walked to a log next to the campfire and set Mizuki down on it, sitting next to her. He was still on guard, listening carefully for signs of some sort of ambush.

Mizuki:

Mizuki watched Soran. 'He's always on guard for something.' she mused smirking. Then absently her mind wandered to the child she held and realized...

"Oh THE FATES!" she cried.

"What's the matter?" Sen asked.

"Is it dead?! Soran do you think the baby died when I crashed into the wall?! I mean, I know it's still in it's early formation but... oh no!" Mizuki panicked desspite the fact it belonged to the man who raped her.

"Yer with child lady?" Sen asked then smiled. "Congrats! But no, I don't think it's a stillborn... how recent is it?"

"Er...kinda a day or less."

"Then the babe shouldn't be in danger..." Sen pointed out. Even though it belonged to Gaberial... Mizuki still felt it was an innocent child that shouldn't just die because of it's father. Mizuki bit her lip and tried to forget it. Without thinking she laid her head on Soran's shoulder and rested there still in worry.

Skye shook her head at the flustered lady and turned back to Rai. "Rai, you quite. Would you like to lean on my shoulder?" Skye saw Mizuki do it and figured it would make Rai feel better if she layed her head on her shoulder. Desspite the fact that she's as old as her brother, about a few hundered years, she was still as innocent as any child since she didn't get to experience what adults can do...


Emora:

At the mention of family being close by Rai's eyes fell. But, she thought of what Soran said abut her not being alone and thought about how much she loved them and how they had stuck with her. She smiled a little more, "You can say that."

"Why you sad?"

Rai looked up at her and then back into the fire. Rai only shrugged, not feeling like talking to some stranger about her problems. The girl walked off to talk to her brother and left Rai sitting close to the fire.

Rai looked up at Mizuki and Soran, smiling slightly. The girl asked her a question about leaning on her shoulder. "No thank you," Rai said and continued to stare at the fire. She hugged the doll to her, but after a while she got up and walked to Mizuki and Soran. She wanted to be close to them. Rai sat down on the ground in between Mizuki and Soran and rested her head on Soran's knee.

Soran:

Soran tensed despite himself as Mizuki rested her head on his shoulder. Instincts from a time before he could remember were screaming at him not to get too close to anyone, but he pushed himself to relax. A moment later Rai came and leaned against his knee. Their gentle pressure against him made him feel a sense of responsibility, as though these two needed him. It wasn’t something he was used to or entirely comfortable with, but he breathed and accepted the situation. The orange flames reflected in his eyes as he stared sharply into them, deep in thought.

Mizuki:

Skye pouted, but accepted Rai's desicsion.
'Brother, make that sepical bone restructure herb drink mamma used to make for them.' she said to her brother in their native tounge. Sen nodded and went off to collect the herbs.

"Brother will be back with helpfull medicine." Skye said. She sat down opposite of them across the fire and stared at the ground not sure what to say. It looked like they needed some time in quiet so she said nothing. She went deep into thought about what her and her brother were doing.

Mizuki's mind was also reeling with scattering thoughts. 'I'm gonna have a child. I want to hold Rai so badly to comfort her. Children shouldn't be in these situations.' she thought. 'I want to find and save her parents. Can we beat the Whitch Queen?'

"All my intentions were, were to come home and excercise my abilities before we went further..." she said aloud by accident. The ferret Sparks stirred now, and came down from her neck and went to Rai. It crawled onto Soran's leg and sat before Rai's face looking at her with his cute fuzzy face. It sniffed her, tickling her face.

"Do you think we can do it Soran? Do everything we meant to do?..." she asked him.

Emora:

Rai smiled her first real smile all day when the ferret came in front of her face. She scratched his head with her small hand. He climbed off of Soran's knee and sat on the top of Rai's head, causing a soft giggle to come from her lips. She put a hand to the top of her head and felt him up there. He climbed down and curled around her neck for a moment, nibbling on her cheek.

Rai giggled again and shrugged her shoulders. "That tickles," she said with a smile as the ferret pawed her face gently. "Silly."


Soran:

Soran was drawn out of his thoughts by Mizuki’s question. They still didn’t have a strong idea of what they were up against. He personally didn’t believe Rai’s parents were alive, but kept the theory to himself. With Gaberial out of the way, their primary concern was now Shea, and he wasn’t certain how far her abilities extended. She controlled half the world and wasn’t to be underestimated.

He thought of Tora and Leon and that miserable tiger, realizing they hadn’t seen or heard from them in days. Their team might be smaller than they’d previously thought. He wondered half-seriously how he’d gotten himself involved in all this.

“It’s too soon to say,” Soran responded at length to Mizuki’s question. He heard sounds from the tent and looked over to see Sen emerging with a jug full of some sort of drink. It had a pungent scent, but Soran didn’t recognize it. He eyed it distrustfully as Sen handed a cup to Mizuki and gestured for her to drink.

Emora:

Rai giggled a third time despite the fact she felt so horrible inside. But, strangely the ferret was starting to lift her mood a bit. But, the thought of what she had done still lingered in the back of her mind. The ferret left her and scurried up to Soran's leg again. She smiled and looked at it, reaching up a hand to pet it. It pawed at her hand playfully and then scurried up so Soran's shoulder.

Rai rested her head on Soran's knee again, feeling tired from all the things they had done. Running, and fight... it was kind of taking a toll on her. But, she wanted to be brave and strong so they wouldn't have anything more to worry about.

Rai turned her head and looked up at Soran with a smile, because the ferret was messing with his hair. She got on her knees and turned towards him. "I think he likes you," she giggled when the ferret climbed on the top of his head.

Mizuki:

Sen urged Mizuki to drink it.

"It tastes like dirt but... it works." Sen said with some humor. Mizuki sniffed it, made a face, but drank it anyway. Immediantly after she drank it she gagged.

"Bleh! It does work right?" Mizuki asked him.

"Yes, but it takes a while. It speeds up the process of mendin' yer bones." Sen stated and went to give Rai a cup. "Just hold yer nose kid."

"I'm afraid..." Mizuki told Soran truthfully afterwards. She still had the bad taste in her mouth, but she ignored it. "What if we fail?" she closed her eyes tightly, she could feel the drink working since she could semi move her left arm. "I'll try to be brave like you and keep a clear head..." she gave Soran a smile and lifted off head off of his shoulder.

"I wonder how my mom and Naoki are doing..." she had no idea what had happened back at the house.

Soran:

Soran looked at the ferret skeptically as it climbed onto his shoulder. With some difficulty it managed to scramble up onto his head, playing with his hair. Soran endured it until the ferret stuck its whiskered nose curiously into his ear. Shuddering involuntarily, Soran reached up and grabbed the creature around the middle and relocated it sternly to Rai’s head, rubbing the tickling sensation out of his ear. He raised an eyebrow at Skye, who had seen the whole thing and was barely restraining a giggle.

The rogue turned to Sen. “If you don’t mind, we’ll stay here tonight, and tomorrow we’ll be on our way. There are people waiting where we came from,” he said, still rubbing his ear.

Sen nodded. “We have extra blankets, I bring.” With that he disappeared back into the tent.

Mizuki:

Mizuki laughed. It was great that they were all starting to smile again.

"Soran, you came from the house... how's my mother doing? Did she go hysterical at all? What about Naoki or Toby?" Mizuki asked. "Rai how's your ankle?" she couldn't stop pouring the questions.

OOC: sorry...little bit of writer's block! >_<

Emora:

Rai was barely able to keep down the liquid that had been given to her by the Sen fellow. It tasted absolutely horrible. She smiled when Soran placed the ferret on her head again and he slid down to her shoulder, getting slightly tangled in her curly hair. "Hehe..." she said trying to get him out, but he seemed quite content there.

Rai glanced up to Mizuki, a woman she had once thought to be strong. But, after she didn't fight for her own life when Gabriel was trying to marry her she didn't really know what she thought of Mizuki. She loved her and everything, but why didn't Mizuki stick up for herself? She could have gone down in a glorious fight... At least she would have fought. Just like the women in the stories her mother would read her. But, then again... life isn't like the stories... There aren't any happy endings to life.

Rai smiled, however, though it was a slightly fake smile. Rai had become so good at it that little to know one would be able to tell the difference. "It's fine," she replied and continued to wrestle with the ferret in her hair.

Soran:

"I found Gwendolyn tied up in the kitchen after Toby attacked a Dark Angel who was disguised in her image. She wasn't harmed; she just said to find you as quickly as possible. The Angel told us the rest. I left him under Naoki's guard. Whether she bound his wounds or not I left to her discretion." Soran paused for a moment, then added, "When I searched the house, Tora and that tiger were also missing."

Mizuki:

Mizuki's face flattered. 'M-mom?!' she thought fearfully. Soon anger boiled under her skin.

"I hope he's alive." she seethed. "Cause I'm going to murder him myself!" Desspite her broken arms she balled her hands into fists. Her nails dug into her skin making her bleed. She stood up abruptly. "He'll wish he never harmed my mother..."

Her body shook in anger. "I should've been there to protect her..."

Emora:

Rai looked up at Mizuki with the ferret's head sticking out from her hair and looking up, too. Rai could understand why Mizuki was mad about some one hurting her mother. She wished she was old enough to take care of those who had taken her parents. But, sadly, Rai was to young to do much of anything. Though, she was starting to think other wise... after all... she was a murder now.

Rai then looked to Soran, wondering what he thought about it all. She was glad that he was there... and he understood. He had told her that if she hadn't have done it he would have. But, to Rai it still didn't seem right.

She was brought out of her thoughts when the ferret licked her nose and pawed at her chin. It was almost like he knew she had bad thoughts and was trying to get her to stop thinking about them. She smiled at him and scratched his head. But, Rai then wondered about something else.

What would have happen if Mizuki would have never followed her to the castle? What if Mizuki and Soran and Tora and Leon had never came? What would have happened? The mage would have surely killed her... but then again he could have done that plenty of times.

Mizuki would have never gotten her arms broken, Gabriel wouldn't have fought her and made that deal, and Rai would have never had to kill. In a way it seemed like things would have been better if Mizuki would have just stayed home. Rai felt bad then, because it was her fault that Mizuki had come to the castle. It was Rai's fault that she was almost married to Gabriel and it was her fault that Mizuki's arms were broken. Sometimes she could just kick herself. But, Rai was not that stupid...

The ferret nibbled on her nose trying to distract her from her thoughts. It bit her a little harder than it usually did, but it didn't hurt. She just smiled a weak smile and patted his head.


Soran:

Soran was surprised by Mizuki’s sudden fury, but looked at her calmly and let her rant. He supposed this was not just about her mother, but a culmination of all the frustrations she’d dealt with over the past few days. His nerves were raw as well, so he was relieved when Sen emerged from the tent with a pile of blankets. He rose and nodded his appreciation as he accepted them from the stranger.

“We be in tent if you need anything. Keep fire hot, wood over there,” Sen said in his friendly voice, gesturing toward a wood pile near the edge of the camp.

“Thanks,” Soran said.

“Take care of them,” Sen said, giving him a strange knowing smile before retiring into the tent with his sister.

The rogue turned back to Rai and Mizuki, who both seemed to be brooding. The fire had managed to dry out the ground around its perimeter, and in the awkward silence Soran spread the three blankets down in a ring surrounding it. Despite the dark mood of the camp, Soran was grateful for the peaceful silence, free to retreat into his own thoughts. He put a few more logs on the embers and waited for them to catch.

Mizuki:

Mizuki was so frustrated. Her nails were digging in so deep into her palms that now they were bleeding more. Finally, she winced at the pain and stopped, she looked at her hands. Streaked with blood. She sigh and tried to hide them, but the sudden movement of her arms sent shocks of pain through her body. Her arms way of telling her that she's moving them to much.

She wanted to cry out, but she didn't. 'I've been too weak for the past few days...' she thought angrily to herself. Why did she become weak? Was it because of just, everything? Luc... Gaberial. To men that declared a love for her, but still boke her in so many ways. Emotional and physical. 'No more...' She thought. She declared no more of her being weak and... could she really live without that feeling towards someone else...?

Soran:

Soran looked at Mizuki from the other side of the fire and saw a drop of blood fall from her hand. “Mizuki,” he said, starting off stern but then just growing quiet, “Go to sleep.” The fire glowed warmly onto his skin as he prodded it absently with the poker.

Mizuki:

Mizuki nodded and laid down falling into a disturbingly dreamless sleep.

Skye stared at her brother for a long time, then broke the silence in their tent with their language.

'Brother?' she asked him. 'You didn't put anything in the medicine... did you?'
'What?!' Sen said playfully looking hurt. 'Why would you say a thing like that?'
'You have a tendency to put magic in herbs so the drinker would do something...'
'If your saying I did that so Mizuki would love Soran... HEY! For once I didn't touch it!'
'Shut up! They're going to sleep. Mizuki looks so disturbed in her sleep.' Skye said frowning. 'We should let them have Sparks, I think he's cheering Rai up a bit.'
'Meh, he cheers everyone up with his fuzzy face. But, maybe we should let him go I mean...'
'He's taken a liking to them, which means they need him more then us. We have to...' Sen nodded sadly. He really loved the little ferret, but... they do need him more. Skye smiled knowning her brother was agreeing. Besides, the ferret would go off without a second though anyway. Finally, they laid down and went to sleep also.

Emora:

Rai didn't want to sleep alone in the middle of the woods. What if the bad things took this as an opportunity and swooped down to take her away. She wanted to sleep close to Mizuki, because right now she was the closest thing Rai had to a mother. Rai pulled the blanket around her and laid down next to Mizuki, careful not to hit her hurt arms. She looked at Mizuki for a long moment and finally looked to Soran, who was the last person she saw before she fell a sleep...

Soran:

Soran sat watching the fire for a while before he finally decided to go to sleep. He walked to his own blanket, looking at Mizuki and Rai for a moment. Mizuki had shifted in her sleep, and her side of the blanket had slid half way off. The rogue had a crazy impulse to pull it back over her shoulders, but instead he lay down, the tops of their heads facing each other. After a few moments he was still thinking about it. He propped up on one elbow and looked at both of them warily. They seemed sound asleep.

Soran sighed to himself for indulging such a stupid whim, but no one was looking. He reached up and put the blanket back over her, then lay down heavily on his side, staring at the fire until sleep claimed him.

Mizuki:

Mizuki thought dreamless sleeps were supposed to be peacefull. If one watched her they would see her face contort as if in pain or misery and beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.

She kept having the deadly feeling that something bad was going to happen in the near future...

She saw herself with a baby in her arms. It had small little wings on it's back but it was wrap in a blanket. Rai was staring at the infant in awe and Soran stood at the window, indifferent to the whole situation. Then everything went dark and fell into peices. Now she just stood alone in a dark abyss with a child in her arms. Mizuki saw herself crying and absently walked up to herself.
'I pushed him away.' she said.
'Who did you push away?' Mizuki asked. It felt kind of weird, talking to herself.
'Don't push him away Mizuki... no matter how you feel don't push him away...'
'What? Wait!' the image of herself was fading. 'Don't push who away?! Wait!'

Then the dream ended and she bolted awake. Mizuki was breathing heavily and looked around. Everyone was sleeping so she thought it best to fall back asleep and not disturb them by accident. But when she laid back down the only thing she could think about was the dream and... 'Why would I want to push him away?' she thought to herself realizing who it was she was being warned about. Then she closed her eyes and fell back asleep.

Soran:

Soran woke up with the first hint of daylight at dawn. It took him a moment to remember where he was and who he was with. He sat up and pushed his hair out of his face, noting that the others were still asleep. The fire had died down and reduced itself to a pile of embers. He pulled his boots on and walked through the snow to put more wood on it. Now was a good time to work with his blades; he’d barely trained in weeks, and couldn’t afford to get sloppy.

Once the fire was going strong he went out a short distance into the trees where he wouldn’t make enough noise to wake people up and began training, keeping his mind empty of distractions and focusing only on the steel blades as they cut through the air rapidly in an intricate pattern, intermixed with spinning kicks and punches.

Emora:

Rai woke feeling a cold chill run through her. Her eyes fluttered and her little head came up to look around, She saw Mizuki still sleeping and she rested her head on the blanket that she was wrapped in. She hugged her doll tightly, wishing she had some one to hold her at the moment. She felt more comfortable sleeping out in the open like that. She remembered all the times she had bad dreams and climbed into the bed with her mother. Her mother would hold her and she would fall a sleep like that.

Rai shifted her gaze and noticed that Soran wasn't around. She wondered what he was doing... But, it was probably best she didn't get up and go looking for him. She had caused enough trouble already. Instead, she returned to thinking about her mother.

Instead Rai fell a sleep with a slight smile on her face at the thought of her beautiful mother. It brought her great comfort to think of that happy memory...

Mizuki:

Mizuki awoke feeling depressed. Her arms still weren't fully healed but she could semi move them. Mizuki looked at Rai and smile slightly. Wincing at the movement of her arm, she put her hand and stroke Rai's hair. 'So innocent... it's not fair that this has happened to her.' Mizuki thought getting up. She stretched and took note that Soran was gone and Sen and his sister still slept.

Quietly, Mizuki crept away but not too far where she couldnt keep an eye on Rai. She felt a light hand on her shoulder and spun around... but no one was there.

"What..?" she whispered then felt a light kiss on her cheek. "Alright cowered, where are you?" but there was no one. She shivered but not from the cold. "What the heck is going on..?" lace lightly brushed her shoulder and she remembered she still had that dress on. 'When I can fully move my arms I'm taking the blasted thing off.' she thought.

A sudden shocked of cold snow hit her back and she spun again. Still no one.. "Come On you cowered!" Laughter. A man's laughter. She stalked towards where she heard and it seemed like someone was calling her name and she felt drawn to it. She was getting frustrated and knew she was wandering away to far from Rai. But when she turn to go back, she tripped but never touched the ground. "What magic is this? Where are you?"

"Right here..." a man whisperd right next too her. When Mizuki looked up she cried.

"But you're dead..."

Emora:

Rai stirred slightly rinkling her nose at the sudden smell of smoke. She sat up and rubbed her tired eyes as she looked around. Where was everyone? She pushed her blanket off of her and stood up, seeing the new comers were a sleep. She wondered were Mizuki was... and Soran.

Why would they leave her all alone? Rai grew very worried. Why would they leave her with these new people?

Rai turned in circles looking for foot prints in the snow to follow, but the fire had melted any snow close to it. She walked around the small clearing until she found a set and she followed them...

Soran:

“Come on you coward!”

Soran stopped at the sound of Mizuki’s voice. It wasn’t coming from the direction of the camp… He waited a moment and heard her again. “What magic is this? Where are you?” Her voice was angry.

Soran’s first thought was that that Sen character from last night was up to something. He seemed like the mischievous type. The rogue strode sternly toward the noise, forced to neglect his training yet again. He looked for signs of Mizuki as he approached the spot he was certain her voice had originated from.

Mizuki:

"I can't die... when I'm still right here." He pointed to Mizuki's heart. It was true... she still couldn't forget him.

"Let me go please..." Mizuki asked him. "Rai is alone, I didn't mean to go so far from her. You have to let me go."

"I can't let you go.."

"Luc d*mn you! Let me go!"

His image broke and dissapeared and she landed lightly back on her feet. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. 'D*mn him..' she thought. It's been weeks since she had to kill him, he was hurting her, why would she still feel for him?

"B*stard!" she kicked a tree with all her might, and made a dent breaking it's bark. "Why are you still in this realm of the living?...''

Emora:

Rai made it to a part in the forest where it seemed a lot of feet had been, or just one person moving around a lot. Where were they? Why would they leave her alone? She knew they had their own lives and probably had other things to do... But, to leave her alone with strangers?

Rai looked around the clearing wondering where they could have gone from here. She really wanted to get back to the house and see Toby. If she had him he could sniff them out! But, she only had her doll and her doll couldn't sniff anything.

"Soran? Mizuki?" Her voice wasn't very loud, but she figured they couldn't have gone far. She decided to follow a set of footprints that were leading to another place in the forest.

Soran:

Mizuki came into view just in time for Soran to see her shout profanities at a tree and kick its bark. He found it sort of amusing until he noticed moisture in her eyes. “Why are you still in this realm of the living,” she said with sad frustration.

Soran froze as these last words registered. He stood out of view and considered going back to the camp and pretending he hadn’t seen anything. ~’She’s still thinking about that guy,’~ he thought, looking at the snow icily. He didn’t consider that maybe Luc really was still alive.

Mizuki:

Mizuki turned suddenly at the sound of footprints. 'Darnit!' she thought. Not bothering to see who it was, she sprinted away like a caught deer. On her path she ran into Rai.

"Oh the Fates, Rai." she said, breathing heavily. "I'm so sorry I left you." She bent down to hug the small child the best she could with her broken hers. "I'll never do it again, I swear it on my life."

She was so afraid of just losing everyone... she couldn't stand it.

Emora:

"It's alright," Rai said with a smile as if it had not bothered her at all. She was good at that now. Smiling when she didn't need to. "People need there time alone, I just got a little worried."

Besides, Gabriel was dead, there wasn't any one else after them except the bad things and Rai was beginning to think that they had given up! She hoped so.

Mizuki:

"Really, I am sorry." Mizuki said slightly smiling and getting up. "Let's get back to the camp, Sen and his sister may worry... do you think you know where Soran went?" Mizuki didn't think Rai would know since she was the last to wake up, but... it was worth a try.

Emora:

Rai shook her head innocently, her curls bouncing all around. "I don't know, I woke up and everyone was gone," she said sweetly and held Mizuki's hand lightly. Rai forgot about her broken arms, but remembered and drew away quickly. "I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

Her bright blue eyes sparkled with a bit of happiness for a second. Mizuki looked very pretty and Rai was just now getting to notice because she didn’t have to worry about mean people. She giggled for what seemed no reason at all, but she had a reason. "You know what? I'm starting to feel happy again. I guess... because I have you and Soran." She hugged Mizuki tightly, careful not to hurt her arms.


Soran:

“Hey! For moment I thought you gone already,” Sen said cheerfully, waving to Soran as he came back into the camp. Skye was sitting by the fire grilling strips of squirrel meat on a skewer. She gave him a friendly grin as he walked past her and sat on the opposite side of the fire.

The rogue noted that Rai was gone also, but suspected the child had been with Mizuki and he just hadn’t noticed her. “I can help cook,” he offered somewhat awkwardly to the child, not used to accepting hospitality from strangers.

Skye looked up at Soran with a grin. “Someone with eyes like that can’t cook!” she said, pointing with her free hand to Soran’s particularly cold expression.

“Fine by me,” the rogue returned indignantly, crossing his arms. He knew perfectly well how to cook, but didn't feel like arguing. He experimentally tried to forcibly relax the harshness in his expression, but it didn’t work and he just looked funny.

Skye grinned to herself and went on cooking, pretending not to notice.

OOC: Fixed Skye's name, not sure where I got Kyte from, heh.

Mizuki:

"Don't worry," Mizuki gave her a true reassuring smile, "you didn't." They walked back to the camp and Mizuki was glad to see everyone up and about.

"OH!" she called to them, "Sorry... just went for a walk." she lied to them. She wasn't about ready to tell them all about Luc's ghost visiting her... haunting her. She plopped herself down next to Soran and put on a silly grin to throw everyone off. "You cooking? Haha, Soran why are you frowning?"

Ok, maybe this was a bit too sudden to start acting like this because she probably just scared him, but Sen wasn't minding it. heck, he was happy she was smiling!

"Oi, there you all are! Come now, Skye just made us all some breakfast!" he said smiling.


Emora:

Rai figured since Mizuki was smiling and she was smiling it was about time Soran smiled. She around and knelt in front of him, looking at him very seriously. "Smile," she said and tried her best to keep the serious expression she head, but it faltered quite a few times.

"Smile," she repeated and thought of tickling him, but didn't think some one like him would be ticklish. She poked him lightly, a playful grin on her cute little face. "Smile, silly! Come on, you can do it!" She placed her hands on his face. "Be happy Soran! We're all okay!"

More than anything in the world she wanted Soran to smile… because he never did. And smiling was a good thing, whether fake or not.

Soran:

Soran looked blankly at Rai, craning his neck instinctively out of her touch. He hardly felt like smiling, though there was something infectious about her cheerfulness as she tried so hard to make him. He remembered her telling him that she smiled for other people’s sakes, even when she wasn’t happy…

“What makes you think I’m ticklish,” he retorted disdainfully, dropping a clump of snow on Rai’s head. The truth was that it had tickled, though he hadn’t expected it. No one in Hepian ever tried to tickle him, so how would he know?

Mizuki:

Disspite everything, Mizuki laughed. Through everything that happened she really couldn't remeber laughing. She laughed so much that she lost her balance on the log and fell on her back. She stopped but she still had a grin on her face.

While she laid there she stare at the sky. It was scattered with clouds.

' "I can't leave... when I'm still here." 'Luc's ghost had said. Her smiled faulttered but she gained it back. 'What does that mean?' she thought, 'he can't leave this earth if I still think of him?'

Emora:

Rai giggled and shook the snow out of her hair. "You never know," she said with a smile and poked him again. "Hehe." She her smile grew into a grin. "You probably act all tough and sour to hide the fact your really, really ticklish," she said as she poked him again.

Rai wanted him to smile or laugh or show some form of happiness. Mizuki was happy, Rai was happy, Soran should be happy, too! he did so much for them and yet he never seemed happy. "Come on." Poke. "Smile." Poke.

Soran:

Soran curled backward as the child poked him, but that only exposed him more. “Stop,” he protested, leaning further and further back as he tried to escape, “You little…heh…heh heh heh” Without his brain’s permission, he heard himself laughing as he tipped backward off the log and threw one arm back to catch himself, but he lost his balance anyway and thunked onto his back, his legs still over the log.


Emora:

Rai was so surprised that she stopped laughing and had a shocked expression. She hadn't expected that to happen. She stood up and looked over the log at him and when she saw him she couldn't help it, the sweet laughter rolled out of her and she giggled and laughed. She had done it. She made him laugh. She clapped her hands, smiling proudly.

"I knew you could laugh!" she said and climbed over the log, kneeling down next to him. "I knew you could! hehehe!" She poked again, just wanting hear him laugh and laugh. He had such a nice laugh. She grinned to Mizuki who was lying off the log too. "I did it!"

Mizuki:

Mizuki bolted upright.

"Is this some kind of miracle?" she exclaimed. "I heard "heheheh" from some one here!" she looked to her side and saw Soran on the ground. She smiled at him and decided to help Rai. Since she really had no arm strength..the next best thing was..

"PILE ON SORAN!" and she plopped herself across his stomach. "Now watch my arms..." she smiled laughing.

Soran:

Soran flushed as soon as he hit the ground, scrambling to get back up, but then Mizuki pinned him down. “What do you think you’re—“ Soran’s stern voice cut off unwillingly into more laughter as Mizuki’s weight prevented him from escaping Rai’s tickling.

He threw clumps of snow frantically at both of them, squirming to get away. He pulled his legs to his side of the log and sat up under everyone’s weight, letting Mizuki roll off onto his lap, and scrambled away breathlessly and looked at the two girls warily, absolutely shocked at what just happened.

Emora:

Rai got up off her knees laughing and ran up to Soran looking up at him with happy shinning eyes. It had been a long time since she had laughed so much. She tilted her head, grinning foolishly.

"Soran, you laughed!" She laughed and hugged him tightly. She smiled and looked to Mizuki after hugging Soran. "He laughed!"

"Now I know what can make you laugh! You better watch out, I'll get you while your sleeping," she said giggling, feeling the happiest she had been in a long while..

Mizuki:

Mizuki stilled laid in the snow smiling. 'What a breakthrough.' she thought. She closed her eyes then finally got up.

"Hey, could one of you take this stupid veil off me?" she asked them. "It's bugging the heck out of me." she smiled at them.

Soran:

Soran’s face grew serious for a second when he considered what he might accidentally do if she woke him up in his sleep. “Do NOT do that while I’m sleeping,” he said, not realizing it was just a joke. Then he realized what he’d just said. “Don’t do it at all!” he revised, half out of breath, feeling ticklish just looking at her near his stomach now. Something in his head warned him that he was making a serious mistake by letting his guard down, but for just this once he didn’t want to listen. What harm could it do...

"Hey, could one of you take this stupid veil off me?" Mizuki asked. "It's bugging the heck out of me."

Soran stood up and looked at her. He’d forgotten she was wearing a wedding dress. He reached up above her face and pulled the thing off. He looked at it for a moment. He thought of what she’d said in the forest and the fact that he didn’t really know who she’d been talking about, and wasn’t sure whether to throw it in the fire or give it back to her.

Emora:

Rai smiled at him as he told her not to do it at all. "Scared?" she asked and turned around as he stepped over to help Mizuki.

She grinned and looked at the veil. "Can I wear it?" she asked looking at Mizuki with a cute expression. It would be just like dressing up. "Please?"

Mizuki:

Mizuki gave him a pleasant smile and slowly took it from him.

"Thanks." she said, she looked at Rai who asked to wear it. "You want to wear it? Well... ok!"

Skye and Sen smiled at the whole thing. Skye whispered to her brother and went into their tent. She came back out with Sen's old cloths.

"I know guys cloths. Maybe they fit you?" Skye said giving Mizuki the cloths.

Mizuki smiled and took the cloths. It wasn't the first time she would wear guys cloths. She remembered that a long time ago when she was still on the ship Luc had let her borrow some of his when her's got destroyed.

"Thank you Skye." she walked into their tent to try on the cloths.


SOran:

Soran shook the snow out of his coat and his hair, sitting back next to the fire. Sen was grinning at him. Soran cast him an annoyed glare that said ‘What are you looking at’. His ears were carefully monitoring the child behind him, not interested in falling for that again.

Mizuki:

Mizuki came out in baggy yet alluring cloths. She wore a white v-neck sirt that will be always a little bit more lower than needed and green pants the covered her boots and had to be tied up with string.

"Heheheh.." Mizuki laughed rolling up her sleeves. "Works.. for now. Thanks Skye."

"You're welcome." Skye said smiling.

"Been awhile since I've worn guy cloths.."

"Well they suit ya!" Sen said with a charming smile. Mizuki blushed, she figured she should just shrug that off.

Emora:

Rai twirled around with the veil on her head. She smiled imagining she was a princess or something. A snow princess! She eyed Soran carefully, debating whether she should do it again or not. But, she decided that she would give him a rest... for now.

She crawled over the log and stood at his side, facing him. She had a smile on her face, a peculiar smile at that as if she were hiding something or were thinking up a plan. "Admit it," she said and grinned evilly. "You like to laugh!"

She thought for a moment. “Can Skye and I go play? I promise to stay close to the camp!” Rai said and grabbed Soran’s hand. “Please?”

Soran:

Soran looked at Mizuki, forcing his eyes away from her neckline. Didn’t that kook have anything more modest to loan her? He heard Rai come up next to him and ask if she could go play with Skye.

“Stay where I can hear you,” he said seriously. He didn’t think there was danger here, but enough strange stuff had happened. At least she was asking this time instead of disappearing.

Mizuki:

Mizuki looked at her neckline. 'hmmm...I should find a way to tie this..'. she thought.

“Stay where I can hear you,” Soran said to Rai. Skye had jumped up from her seat clapping and took Rai's hand.

"Come Rai. I know best place for snowman making near!" Skye said enthusiasticaly. Mizuki smiled and sat down next to Soran trying to keep her neckline from falling any further.

"So... my mom wasn't hurt?" she asked him. She wanted to tell him about what happened when Luc's ghost came but, she was afraid she'd make him angry and didn't think it was the best time after they got him to laugh.

[Soran Nightblade]

Emora:

Rai smiled and wrapped her arms around Soran's neck. "Thank you!" she said and turned to Skye. "Want to go play?"

"Come Rai. I know best place for snowman making near!" Skye replied and the two girls ran off together, though, Rai was moving slower for her ankle was still a little sore. But, the sprang was gone!

The girls were on there knees rolling up balls of snow making them as large as possible. They were giggling as they did so and throwing snow at each other everyone and a while.

Little did they know that they were being watched.

"Yay!" Skye and Rai said as one when they finally got the head on top of there snow man. They clapped and fell back in the snow giggling. "Now we need to find his arms and eyes and nose and mouth!"

Rai got up with Skye and they began to search around for sticks. They found two and placed them on each side of there snow man's sides. They dug through the snow until they found rocks and acorns. They placed them in specific places. "Now we need a nose!"

"I think I can help," came a voice from just behind the brush. There was a thin man standing there, thinner than normal men. He was dressed in dark clothing. He had long black stringy hair that fell in front of his face a little and he had dark eyes. They were eyes filled with something... but Rai didn't know how to describe it. They were inviting and warm, yet cold. She tilted her head as he came forward. He wasn't the handsomest man in the world that was for sure.

Instinct caused her to stand in front of her new friend. He smiled and stopped, understanding that he was frightening them. He held out his hand flat and waved another hand over it. A carrot appeared and Rai found herself "ooo-ing" at it. His smile grew and he floated the carrot over, it rested in the snow in front of them. "There."

Rai looked at the carrot and then to the man. He began to turn and walk away. "Who are you?" Rai asked noisily. The man turned and looked her right in the eyes. That's when she realized what it was in his eyes... they were filled with sin.

"You can call me Sam," he said with a grin and then he left.

"Well... that was weird," Skye said from behind her. Rai nodded and bent to pick up the carrot. She placed it on the snow man's head.

"We should go back now."

Soran:

“She seemed fine. We should get back though. She’s probably frantic that I didn’t bring you home yet.” Soran said.

The girls’ voices could be faintly heard in the woods, and Soran kept track of them in the back of his head. “Who are you?” he heard Rai say. The rogue looked coldly toward where they were playing. That seemed like a strange thing for Rai to say. But before he thought much of it, he spotted the two returning toward the camp.

Emora:

Rai threw on her best smile when she entered the camp. There was no need to worry anyone over the man, he was gone now and he probably wouldn't show up again.

"Soran! Mizuki!" Rai said happily and grabbed Soran's large hand and Mizuki's elegant one. Her hands were so much smaller than theirs. "Come see!" she said grinning. "I'll tickle you if you don't!" Her bright blue eyes sparkled as the thought of the strange man faded away.

Soran:

Soran half-smirked at Rai’s attempt to threaten him. He stood up indifferently, sticking his hands in his pockets and following Mizuki and Rai toward whatever she wanted to show them.

Emora:

Rai smiled and skipped over to the snow man, which had several leaves stuck on it. The sticks were deformed looking and the rocks were brown and black. The strangest thing on the snowman, though, was the nose. A carrot. Rai didn't think about it seeming strange that they would all the sudden have a carrot as a nose. She didn't even think about them asking where they got the carrot from... until now.

They’ll just think Skye let us use it!

"Isn't he cute?!" she asked happily and smiled at Skye. "We made him all by ourselves." Rai held Soran and Mizuki’s hand, looking at both of them in turn.

Mizuki:

Mizuki smiled at the snowman not paying attention to the carrot.

"It's very nice you two." she told them. A ccold clump of snow from a tree branch above her fell down the front of her shirt and she jumped back. "AAIIIEE!! It's SO cold!!!" She turned her back on them so she could jump up and down to get it out. When it finally was out she was hit in the head with a snow ball from nowhere.

"Ow... did anyone see who threw that?" when they gave her dumbfounded looked she sighed and stalked off towards the direction it came from. "I'll find the culpret. Maybe it's Sen." she lied. She knew who it was. 'Why wont you leave?' she thought as she walked into the trees

"Didn't think you'd come..."

"They'll think I'm crazy if they hear me talking to you.." she whispered. "Make this quick. Why are you still here?" Luc's ghost smirked and pointed at her.

"Come back with me... you remember that cloud over your head? Well I can see it now... you were supposed to die when you hit the wall..." Mizuki gave him a sharp look of surprise.

"What?!..."

Soran:

Soran looked blankly at the snowman, not understanding its significance. It looked pretty strange to him, but he held his tongue since Rai seemed so proud of it. He looked at Mizuki as she suddenly walked away without saying anything, thinking maybe she still had snow down her shirt.

Mizuki:

"I was supposed to die?" Mizuki exclaimed. "You're crazy! If I was why didn't I?!"

"You still have a job to do... the girl... protect her like your own."

"I try to... but so many things happen." Mizuki turned away so he wouldn't see her cry.. not that it mattered since he's dead. She felt light transparent hands on her shoulders and they moved down her arms.

"You'll hurt no more... you are strong." just as he said it she was able to move her arms arms. They were healed.

"How..?"

"Everywhere you look there is magic... good and bad... even if it died it'll still be there as long as one remembers... I was a fool..."

"Of course you were, but we can't change that now can we?" They sat in silence taking everything in. No matter how much she says she hates him... she will still love him, but she does have to let go. "I can't return with you. Since I still have to help Rai."

"I know.."

Emora:

Rai tugged lightly on Soran's hand with both of hers. She looked up at him with her bright blue eyes, a cute smile on her face. Her face grew serious for a moment. "Soran?" Rai asked holding his hand gently. "Are we going back now? I miss Toby... I bet he is worried about me..."

Toby might go out looking for them and get lost... She wouldn't won't that to happen. She loved Toby. Before meeting Soran and the others he was the only friend she had.

Rai looked very cute with the veil slightly falling off her head and the white dress. She was like a mini-bride. But, still she was extremely cute. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the cold and her nose was red. She had slight bruises on her arms and face, but they were light.

“What do you think Mizuki’s doing?” She asked, still holding his hand

Soran:

Soran nodded. "We're going back." He looked off to where Mizuki had disappeared, surprised that she still wasn't back yet. He began walking in that direction to find her.

Mizuki:

"I've seen everything that's happened... you can't stay out of trouble for one day can you?" he said with humor. Mizuki, though strange she was talking to a ghost, smiled back.

"Yeah well, you started it." she half joked and half stated. "Was I really supposed to die?"

"Everything dies.. heck, look at me! but yeah, you were. But you were spared because of your mission that still must be fufilled. Tell me, have things improved between you too?"

"What?"

"You and the elf, because he's standing right there now..." Luc's ghost smirked and dissapeared. Mizuki spun around to find Soran standing a few feet away. 'D@mn-it!' she thought cursing herself. What could she say now? Had he seen the whole thing?

Soran:

"Yeah well, you started it. Was I really supposed to die?" That was the first thing Soran heard from Mizuki as she came into view. The rogue narrowed his eyes and continued walking up to her. “What?” she said, spinning around and facing him. Soran frowned icily at the guilty look on her face. Something strange was going on, and she didn’t want him to know. He held her in a firm stare for a moment.

“We’ll leave whenever you’re ready,” he said unreadably as he turned away and started walking calmly toward the camp. Was this about whoever she was talking about earlier? It seemed he wasn't intended to know. ~’Fine, as though I care,’~ he told himself, not looking back. He couldn't help wondering if Mizuki was going crazy. It certainly appeared she was hallucinating up a conversation with someone.

Emora:

Rai looked at the carrot in the snowman's face and she tilted her head as she pulled it out to look at it.

"You can call me Sam."

Who was Sam? Had he even been real? He acted so nice, yet his eyes were filled with so much evil. She glanced over at Soran as he came back and she placed the carrot back in the hole.

She could talk to him about Sam later, when they were back at the house. Skye seemed like the type to blurt things out... Rai was actually surprised that there secret had stayed safe for this long.

Mizuki:

“We’ll leave whenever you’re ready,” Soran said calmly. Too calmly...

"...no..wait..." she whispered but it was to late. He was already gone. Mizuki feel to her knees in sadness. "I should tell him." She quickly got up and ran back to the camp only to trip on her pants that were too long. She fell face first in the snow. Something picked her up.

"What the heck are ye doing face first in the snow girl?" it was Sen. Sen helped her back on her feet. "Best go catch him... he looks a bit more emotionless then I've seen 'im before."

Mizuki thanked him and ran again, this time holding up her pants. "WAIT! SORAN!"

Emora:

Skye and Rai stood in front of the snowman alone since Soran had walked back to the camp and Mizuki was still in the woods doing what ever it was she was doing. Sen had walked off to help, Rai guessed.

"Grown ups," she said shaking her head and smiling.

Sky picked up some snow and through it at Rai. Rai giggled, brushing off the snow and throwing her own handful. Two snowballs came from a bush and landed right on both the girls. They stopped there laughing and looked in that direction. There was the man who liked to be known as Sam. He was smiling and then all the sudden he disappeared.

"Where he go?" Sky asked.

"Here," said a voice from above and there the man was sitting on a limb of a tree, two snowballs in his hands. He dropped them and it landed right on there faces. Rai dusted the snow off, not finding him very funny.

When she looked up he disappeared. She spun around. "Stop!" she said when she was hit with another snow ball. Now he was lying on his side on the ground, a cunning smile stretched across his face.

"Why? Don't you like playing? I love to play!" he said laughing as he picked up another snowball.

“Who are you?” Rai asked holding onto Skye’s hand. “Come on,” she whispered and turned to run.

“Please don’t go! Not yet!” Sam said. “I haven’t seen you in so long!”<br>
Rai turned around then looking at the man with confused eyes. “Who are you?”<br>

Soran:

Soran got back to the edge of the camp and raised two fingers to his lips in a low whistle. The horse had been following them loyally; he’d heard it moving in the woods the previous night. He walked back toward the fire to gather up their few belongings when he heard Mizuki call out to him. He stopped and turned toward her expectantly, not sure what she wanted.


Mizuki:

She was so happy when he stopped and turned to her. She smiled but with tears in her eyes as she ran to him.

"SORAN!" She called out again. When she was a foot away she tripped again and fell into his arms. "I'm sorry but, what you saw... I can't explain it but... you think I'm crazy but I'm not! I see, no saw Luc. I know we fought with him and killed him but he's a ghost connacting me..." she rested her head on his chest. She knew he wouldn't like it but... she felt safe.


Emora:

"I am Sam, Sam I am," he laughed and stood up, dusting the snow from his clothes. "I am Samall Sunstorm. Brother to Bryten Sunstorm." He bowed his head to her, his sin filled eyes smiling. "And your uncle."

"Uncle..." Rai breathed, having never known she had an uncle.

"My, you are dense, I bet it was your mother who did that," he said crouching in the ground as if he were a wild animal. He tilted his head, his black eyes looking the two children over. He grabbed a handful of snow and through it at Rai.

"I said stop!" Rai said wiping the snow from her eyes. He was very annoying, throwing snow right in her face when she didn't know him and didn't trust him.

"My, don't we have nice manners," he muttered as if his good mood were beginning to fall.

Soran:

Soran looked down at the top of Mizuki’s head disapprovingly. He didn’t believe in ghosts, which to him made her explanation sound even more like she was still in love with that guy. She was crying for him? Anger and concern for her were battling in his mind, but the anger won out.

“That person attacked me with poison gas and threw me off a building,” he said in a low voice. “Tora broke both her arms, and,” his voice inflection was intensifying, “Ceron was killed.” He stopped himself and brought his voice back down, not sure why he was getting worked up. He was considering trying to think of something more sympathetic to say when they heard Rai’s voice shout from back where the snowman was.

“I said stop!” Her demand echoed through the trees to where they were standing.

Mizuki:

“That person attacked me with poison gas and threw me off a building,Tora broke both her arms, and,Ceron was killed.” Soran said in anger. Mizuki's eyes sprung open and she backed up from him.

She was hurt, well of course how could she expect him to realy understand? She hugged herself with her newly fixed arms and stared at the ground.

"I said stop!" Rai's voice rang out. Mizuki looked to the direction of Rai's voice and without another word she sprung off for Rai. Tears pricked her eyes and they fell as she ran to Rai.

"Rai!" she called out trying to keep her voice calm.


Emora:

"If your my uncle how come I've never seen you?" Rai asked putting her hands on her hips. the man with the evil eyes grinned, very amused by her distrust.

"Because your father and I have never gotten along," he replied coolly easing forward. He toward over them, he was taller than Soran! But, he was thin... pale and pasty. But, his eyes were black as coal, darker than his hair and they were filled with so much sin. His eyes held the look of a man who had done a lot of wrong things in his time.

"Why are you here?" Rai questioned him as if she were a city guard interrogating a criminal.

"Rai!" she heard Mizuki's voice call. Her head turned in that direction.

"Well, it all started when I heard about your parents and you," he said grinning. "There gone and I am your only living family. I've come to collect you, since I am your legal guardian." He bowed his head, losing his smile at the moment. He bent to grabbed Rai's hand. "Come along, I am tired of playing with you."

"No," Rai said and jerked away, taking a few steps back.

"You're not very polite are you?" he asked stepping forward as a rumbling came from a path. A masked man on a black carrage driven by black horses was coming. He grabbed Rai's tiny hand. "Come along."

Mizuki:

Mizuki screamed as she watched the men try and take Rai away. She ran and leapt for Rai grabbing her tightly in her arms, but she hit the ground slipping on her pants...again. She cursed them.

Skye tried throwing snow at the men but they only ignored her as they went for Mizuki who held Rai tightly never to let go.

"Bullies! SEN!" Skye called for her brother.

Soran:

Soran chased after Mizuki until they came to where Rai was. A tall, pasty man was grasping Rai’s unwilling hand just as an unfamiliar carriage sped toward them. Soran glared at the stranger. “What’s the meaning of this?” he demanded icily, tensing his bladed arms at his sides. Whoever this joke was, he wanted him gone immediately before he made Mizuki try something with her broken….arms? His eyes flared slightly as he noticed that she’d been moving them with no apparent trouble. ~’What the…’~


Emora:



Samall looked greatly annoyed by this intrusion, but he backed off with his hands in the air as if he meant now hard. "I am sorry, I only came for my niece," he said bowing his head in respect as the carriage came to a stop just behind him.

Rai clutched Mizuki's shirt for a just in case. She didn't like the man. He said he was her uncle, but she had never heard her father mention him. She had never heard the name Samall mentioned at all any where until now.

"Now, if you would be so kind... I thank you for taking such wonderful care of my niece, but I would like her now," Samall said glancing into Soran's eyes. “If you do not believe me I can show you the papers…” he turned to go back to his carriage. He returned with a roll of parchment clarifying he was a Sunstorm and Rai’s uncle.

Soran:

Soran snatched the papers out of the man’s hand and looked over the text sternly. He felt a rush of shock as he confirmed that they were valid. He looked up at the person who was apparently Rai’s uncle with an unwilling glare. “This kid was lost alone in the forest for weeks by herself, and has been traveling with us for just as long. Where were you?” he demanded disapprovingly, restraining himself from his desire to cut the man in two. If this person was Rai’s real guardian, technically she belonged to him. But Soran didn’t care much about rules.

Mizuki:

Mizuki glared at the man and stood up with Rai in her arms still.

"i don't trust you." she said sternly. "And I don't trust those papers. If you're her Uncle why didn't you come before?"

Her heart told her not to trust him at all. Even if he did speak the truth there was nothing trusting about his eyes. Dark, black, sinester eyes.

Emora:



Samall smiled, his dark eyes full of glee. He tilted his head for a moment, for some reason finding Soran familiar. "Well, I was unaware that anything had happened to my brother until a few weeks ago and it has been very hard to find you out here. My brother and I have never been close... I... had to ask around... Have we met?"

Rai held Mizuki tighter when Soran seemed to realize that Samall was her uncle. She didn't want to go with him. Would Soran make her go? Would Mizuki?

"Anyway," the man said turning his dark eyes to Mizuki. "It matters not whether you trust me. The fact is the child is my kin and my blood and I have a responsibility as well as a right to take her with me. If you do not allow this you will be going against laws and I will go to the Queen if I have to."


Soran:

Soran cast the man a challenging glare, not offering his name. “Unless she goes by choice, you’ll not take her.” He couldn't care less what the law said. He’d lived outside the law his whole life and wasn’t about to become some kind of saint now.

Mizuki:

Mizuki stepped back from the man and gave him a death glare. Suddenly arrows shot out which gave Mizuki the deja vu feeling.

Sen was off in the distance shooting arrows like all their lives depended on it.

''Get out now.."

Mizuki took more fast steps away from the man.

Emora:



"Come along, child. I am the only family you have left now. I have received word that your parents were killed." Rai felt her heart shatter into a thousand pieces. The last hope finally drained. Her eyes watered. "I am your only family."

Rai shook her head, holding onto Mizuki and burying her face into Mizuki's shirt. "No...." she refused. His dark eyes lit with a fire. And then... arrows flew from some place.

"What?!" Samall asked and looked around. He looked to the man known as Soran, swearing he looked familiar. But, where had he seen him? Though, his dark sin filled eyes were burning with anger he laughed manically and something stranger began to happen. He changed and shifted into a great black bird that took to the sky. "I'll be back when your ready to have a more civilized conversation," he sent through his mind.

Then he disappeared and the carriage rode away. The papers in Soran's hand disappeared as well.

Soran:

OOC: Happy New Year!! Hmm it's 4 am....

IC: Soran tensed as Samall’s coarse mental communication burst into his head, watching coldly as both he and the carriage disappeared. The woods were suddenly very quiet. Soran was filled with a sense of emptiness as he looked to Mizuki and then to Rai.

A soft nicker came from his left, and he turned to find that the horse had answered to his whistle. Soran held his palm up absently next to him and the animal responded by coming up next to him. The rogue looked at his hand, not sure where he’d learned all these signals from. They came like second nature to him. He hardly cared at the moment.

Sen walked up behind him, still carrying his bow. “You should best go,” the elf said, his voice serious for once. “This place is no more safe. But that person was powerful…Sen sensed it. And no good. You three watch your backs,” he said.

Soran nodded grimly to Sen, having more respect for him than before. He walked back toward Rai and Mizuki with an absent gaze in his eyes until he and the horse stood beside them. Mizuki's arms were still held around the child protectively. Soran looked down at them. "Your arms..." he said, confused that they weren't broken.

Emora:

Rai looked at Mizuki and then at her arms, noticing that they weren't broken any more. Her mouth opened in a tiny gasp of awe. She looked up at Mizuki very confused.

How could Mizuki's arms have healed so fast? Was it what Sen had given them to drink? It made her ankle feel better, but could it heal broken bones.

Mizuki:

"My arms..?" Mizuki looked down to look at them. She had forgotten that Luc's ghost healed them. "Oh ummm..." she trailed off not knowing what else to say. Soran wouldn't believe anyway. She wanted to change the subject.

"Sen, Skye, thank you." she told them. "Thank you for all you've done." Both Sen and Skye smiled.


OOC: sorry about this one. sick and not feeling too creative..-_- -falls off chair-


Soran:

Soran frowned as he noted Mizuki was planning to hide that as well, but said nothing, swinging himself up onto the horse's back. He wasn't the type to nose into others' business. He turned passionlessly and held his arm out to help Mizuki and Rai up.

OOC: Get well soon Mizuki!


Emora:


Rai was glad that the man was gone and that Soran and Mizuki didn't let her go with him. She didn't like him. He was just weird. She didn't like his dark eyes either. He was her uncle? He looked like the type to be against her family.

Rai smiled and held out her arms to Soran. "Wee! We get to ride the horsy, too!" she said with a happy smile. She loved riding horses. She hoped to be big enough to ride one on her own one day.



OOC: GET WELL!


Mizuki:

OOC: WOOHOO!! I'm better now

IC: Mizuki helped Rai get on the horse then ignored Soran's help. She didn't think three people could fit on one horse and...

"I can run." she said without feeling. She turned to hug Sen and Skye, said her goodbyes then took off running back to her home. Her speed was inhuman but she never even noticed.

Soran:

“Wait…Mizuki!” Soran shouted out, but she didn’t stop. He watched in shock as she ran off much faster than she should have been able to, his ego hurt. If someone was going on foot, it should have been him… He considered that maybe she was embarrassed to ride a horse with a man. He’d heard of those types of women before, but didn’t expect that kind of irrationality from Mizuki.

He put his arms around Rai and gestured the horse forward, struggling with his pride as he trailed Mizuki at a gallop. If she tired, he hoped she’d at least ask for his seat. But from the way she was running, it didn’t appear she would need to. Had she ever been able to run that fast?


Emora:


Rai shook her head as she watched Mizuki run off. She was stuck some where in awe and confusion. As she road with Soran she said very knowingly, "She's stubborn."

Rai held onto the horn on the saddle at the front to make sure she didn't flop around. Her dad had taken her riding many times and she loved it. They would take her to the rive further south and try and teach her to swim, but she never really caught on.

Rai looked up and there she saw it, the bird. The big black horribly frightening bird. Every once and a while through the brush she could see it. "Soran look!"

Soran:

Soran looked upward and narrowed his eyes as he spotted the bird. It seemed they were being trailed. If they were all on the horse, he would swerve and take a winding path through a denser section of the forest until they lost him, but he hesitated to part routes with Mizuki. The last thing they needed was another hostage situation.

“Relax. We’ll deal with it,” he told Rai firmly, ripping into a full gallop and coming up alongside Mizuki. When he was sure he was in her peripheral vision, he swerved off to the side and began twisting off on a tangent route into an area where the canopy was too thick to see through, hoping Mizuki was following him.


Emora:


Rai was beginning to hear a slight roaring sound as they kept going. She couldn't see around Soran to tell if Mizuki was following, but she dearly hoped she was. The strangest thing was the roaring kept growing and growing. "What's that sound?" she asked looking around as the winding bath through the thick wood grew steep and it jolted her out of her seat. Thankfully for Soran being behind her she didn't fly off any where.

"It sounds like water," Rai said absentmindedly, not sure if Soran could hear her over the roar any more. When they came through the brush she saw it. It was practically right in front of them just off a small ledge.

She clutched anything she could get a hold of, because she had never ridden with Soran on a horse and didn't know if he was the type to try and risk going across rivers like this.

OOC: Sorry, boredom getting to me...

Mizuki:

Mizuki was to bent on the path before her and her thoughts to hearor notice anything. She had a blank, yet sad expression plastered on her face that may never come off.

It was hearing Rai's small voce say something off to her side that had her finally stop. At least, she thought it was Rai. She was alone right now. She wasn't sure if she had gone too far ahead or they bypasted her.

"Oh for the love of--!!" Mizuki yelled screaming out random curses. She began hitting trees at random.

"Oh calm down, they stopped at a river to your left!"

"What are you? My guardian angel?" She heard a snicker knowing it was Luc's ghost but went off in the direction he told her ignoring him. Finally she saw them. "Hey..wait!"

Emora:

.OOC: Sorry, boredom again. I PM'd Sakura about Shea helping with her plot and it's been a day or two. Is she away or has she left us?

Rai looked in the direction of where she heard the faint saying, "Hey... wait!" It was Misuki not standing very far away, just behind the curve of the rive. Rai waved, to her.

"There's Mizuki!" she told Soran and bent her head straight up to look at him. She grinned. "I knew she'd find us."

Rai looked at Mizuki with a happy face, but her happiness faded as she saw the black bird swoop down, almost taking Mizuki's head off. "Look out!" Rai pointed to the large bird that was heading towards them like a speeding arrow. It turned and flew just in front of them, barely missing them. It flew into the darkness of the forest on the other side of the river...

OOC: hehe... I got the idea for the man turning into the bird from a movie my sister was

watching. It was Barbie's version of Swan Lake. Lol

Mizuki:

OOC: I've got no idea. I wish they would tell us though -_-

IC: Mizuki screamed as she leapt to the ground. When it was gone she ran to them.

"What the heck was that?!" She said frightened.

Soran:

Soran held Rai tightly and brought the horse rearing to a stop just before they would have reached the river. Looking behind him, he tensed as he saw that Mizuki wasn’t there. Then, at Rai’s words, he spotted Mizuki off to their right and turned toward her. After the bird swooped past Mizuki, nearly nailing her in the back of the head, Soran kicked the horse into a lope and met her halfway as she ran toward them.

“What the heck was that?” Mizuki asked.

Soran shook his head, looking her over to see if she’d been hurt. “It seems he’s not so easily lost,” the rogue said, unperturbed. He had no intention of losing. The rogue glared off into the trees, looking for the bird. When it didn’t reemerge, he turned to Mizuki skeptically. “You were running as fast as the horse,” he said open-endedly. It seemed like nearly everything that was happening in relation to Mizuki was inexplicable to him lately.

Emora:



Rai smiled at Mizuki. "Yeah, you run fast!" she said her smile growing. Rai just happened to glance out the corner of her eyes then. It seemed like fate that she did it. But, just glacing could never prepare her for what happened next. She saw the bird coming, very fast. Her mouth opened in a gasp and she was about to scream when it hit. His talons gripped a hold of Soran and jerked him out of the saddle.

Soran still held Rai so she was taken with it and Samall hadn't expected that. When Soran was dropped into the river so was Rai. Rai let out a scream as she fell into the river, but it was cut off on impact with the extremely cold water.

Samall circled. He had so wanted to talk civilly with the man called Soran. He looked so familiar, but Samall couldn't place where. Samall was a full elf and had lived many years. Maybe he had seen this elf some where. He hoped the girl didn't drown...

Rai found herself at the surface, then back under the water, then on the surface again. Each time gasping for air. She kicked her arms and legs just like her mother and father had showed her, but it was useless, she kept sinking. When Rai could she tried to grab onto rocks but they were so slimy and slick she could get a good grip. Finally she slammed into one and hugged it for dear life, looking around for Soran.

She got a mouth full of water and spit it out. "Soran! Mizuki!" How do you swim? How? She tried to remember what her parents had told her about swimming. Something about panic... Well, she was panicking...

Samall came down and turned into his normal self. He looked to the woman. "I don't need you in my way," he said and held up a hand. A black orb covered Mizuki. "Now where is that child..."

Soran:

Soran grasped Rai in shock as he felt himself dragged up off the horse’s back. By the time he realized what was happening, he was up too high to let her go. He held the child against his chest protectively as he felt himself falling again, looking over his shoulder at his destination.

The rogue crashed back-first through the surface of the river, letting go of Rai as he plummeted downward into the current. He felt his clothes filling with water and sucking him rapidly deeper. Holding his breath in shock, he threw off the heavy coat and struggled with his steel-toed boots as they pulled him down like an anchor. When he was free of them, he swam forcefully back to the surface, gasping as he emerged in the rapid current. ~’Rai!’~ he dreaded, smearing his damp hair out of his face and looking for her as he swam violently against the current. This was a dire situation, especially since he really wasn’t much of a swimmer.

"Soran! Mizuki!" the rogue could faintly hear the child's voice nearby. Finally he spotted her clinging to a rock just upstream of him.

“Rai, stay there!” he shouted, choking on the choppy water as he fought his way over to her. He took the child up in one arm and held her face above the water, swimming on his side perpendicular to the current until he managed to reach the edge.

The riverbank was a steep rocky cliff, and he had to swim with all his might to hold Rai up out of the water high enough for her to find a grip on the stone. No sooner had he done so than a branch swept along by the current caught on his leg and tugged him backwards, cracking his head against a rock. He choked out a pained gasp before being sucked back under, disappearing from view.


Emora:


When Rai managed to get to the top she turned to see if she could help Soran up, knowing in her heart that she probably couldn't do a bit of good. Then she saw the branch and Soran was pulled back. He hit his head and he was gone. "Soran!" Rai screamed getting on her hands and knees and looking into the water. She couldn't see him. He didn't come up. "Soran!"

Please, Soran, come up, come up... Rai felt tears come to her eyes because she was so afraid that she had lost Soran... that he was drowning and she was helpless to save him. He was her best friend, she loved him and she didn't want him to die.

Rai was picked up from behind and her wet body was thrown over the slim bony shoulder of her uncle. He walked toward Mizuki who was trapped in the black boll. He smiled a crooked grin as the child on his shoulders hit and kicked him. "I think you should join your friend," he advised and took the spell of her, but immediately kicked her into the river.

The carriage came into stopped in front of him and he tossed Rai in, before climbing in himself. He looked around once last time and road off in the carriage... Now to stop by that house and check on the tiger for his Queen…

Rai, however, was not planning on staying locked up in a carriage with this extremely creepy man. She dove for the carriage door, but her uncle caught her by the arm. She reared back with all her might and hit him across the face before spitting in his left eye. He dropped her, trying to wipe the spit from his eye. Rai took this opportunity to fling the door open and jump out. Rai didn't think about how fast the carriage was going, or the fact there were trees and other deadly objects... She just jumped.

Rai landed on the ground painfully and she began flipping down a steep wooded heal, finally coming to a stup under a bush, slamming into a tree. For the first few seconds Rai couldn't breath. She opened her mouth and tried sucking in hair, but she just couldn't get any in. But, slowly and steadily she got her breathing back. She noticed she was lying under a bush that was thick with prickly holly leaves. She decided it was best not to get out from under it until she was sure that her uncle was gone. Then she would have to find Mizuki and Soran. Rai chocked back a sob. She loved them so much... she didn't want anything to happen to them. She didn't want to lose them like she had lost her parents...

Mizuki:

OOC: she was kicked in the water right?

IC: Mizuki didn't have time to scream as she plummetted into the water. Quickly she resurfaced gasping for breath. Her mind was reeling. She remembered what she saw, Soran going under and Rai being taken. But she couldn't get Rai alone and she'd be damned if she let Soran die!

She dove back into the water, a long life on the sea taught one well how to swim. She searched the rivers bottom, surfaced and looked above incase he had gotten up. She felt something brush under her foot in the waters and dove again. She grasped something heavy and brought it up.

"Soran!" she yelled. But he wasn't answering. The best she could she swam to shore with him in her arms. She grasped the shore and lifted him up onto the shore. When they were both up she tried getting him back. "Soran! Soran!"

Mizuki was panicking, she took his head gently in her hands and inspected it. She was welcomed with blood. "NO!" She smacked his face. "COME ON!" Crying, she tried to revive him by breathing air back into his lungs. "Please... please... wake up... don't die on me... Rai's in trouble... please...."


Emora:


Rai could hear the sound of feet walking around close by. She couldn't see anything, because if the thick bush she was lying under.

"Where is she?" she heard the familiar voice of her uncle ask. "She couldn't have gone far..."

"My lord... you hurt her friends, she may have ran back in that direction," a strange voice said.

There was the sound of rustling and a great wind from the flap of wings. Then it was quiet. Rai took a deep breath and crawled out from under the bush. There was no one around and she sighed deeply. "Please let Mizuki and Soran be okay..."

Rai didn't know which direction to go in, but she heard the sound of the river and if she followed it she could find them...

Rai was so scared... What if they died? What if something happened and they were swept so far down stream she never saw them again. She never even got to tell them she loved them... She couldn't let this happen. She couldn't let two people who had become so close to being like her mother and father die.

Rai began heading along the river, careful not to fall in. She climbed over boulders and jagged rocks...


Soran:

Soran lay still as a corpse for nearly a minute while Mizuki tried to revive him. He faintly sensed someone’s voice distantly shouting to him, but everything else was just black. The rogue suddenly burst out coughing as he regained consciousness. He rolled onto his side and choked up water, not thinking about his surroundings until he’d finally caught his breath. There was a dull ache above his forehead and his body was freezing.

He opened his eyes blearily and saw someone sitting next to him, but it took him a while to realize it was Mizuki. Somehow realizing she was next to him made him relax, and he almost fell back asleep until he noticed the expression on her face. She looked extremely upset. Piece by piece the situation came back to him and he remembered what was going on. “Where’s Rai?” he asked hoarsely.

Mizuki:

"Where's Rai?" Soran choked out and Mizuki cried in joy. She hugged him tightly.

"You're so cold... and I don't know where Rai is. I think she's gone! We have to find her! Oh the Fates we have to find her!" She rubbed his arms in an failed effort to warm him up. She was cold too but she wouldn't let him see it.

"But you're so hurt..." she ripped off the bottom of her shirt that was clinging wet to her body showing off every femenin curve, but she didn't care. She took the ripped peice and wrapped it about his head securely. "There... oh Fates have mercy on us... but you're alive!" She kissed his cheek as she cried out in happiness and then got up. She held his hand as she stood. "Come..."

Emora:


Samall flew into the clearing where the two were, the male seemed to be hurt and if Samall had a mouth he would have smiled. He landed and took his elven form again.

He glared at them and waved his hand. A fiery ring engulfed them in a circle. "Where's the girl?" he growled and looked at them. "The girl escaped, she must have come back here... You're hiding her! Where is she?"

His sin filled eyes gazed straight into Soran's. Who was this man? "I have done many evil deeds in my time and if I must I will do whatever is needed to get this information out of you."

Meanwhile Rai was climbing off a large rock and sliding down between the cracks to climb another one. This was very hard work, it was like she was going down a mountain. She pulled herself up on a slick rock and looked over it. Rai’s mouth opened in awe… She was over looking a waterfall and just bellow she could see Soran and Mizuki, surrounded by a ring of fire. Her uncle was standing outside of it.

Rai didn’t know what to do… What could she do? She was so thankful that her friends were safe and that they were alive… Rai was about to shout something to her uncle to drive his attention from them, but a slimy hand covered her mouth and lifted her off the rock. The person climbed on top of the rock and shouted, “Found her!”<br>

Soran:

Soran touched the side of his face without thinking as Mizuki pulled him up to his feet. He was slightly dizzy for a second, but his head was finally clearing and his body felt warmer now. But there were other problems already.

Soran and Samall glared at one another across the wall of fire with equally cold and stubborn eyes as the elven mage demanded that they produce Rai. Before they could respond, however, another voice he hadn’t heard before came from the cliff nearby. “Found her!” Soran squinted through the fire and saw a strange being holding Rai up by one arm victoriously.

The rogue stood angrily, preparing himself to run through the flames if necessary. “You, get over here,” he ordered Samall darkly, his voice low and dangerous despite its hoarseness.

Emora:


Samall looked at Soran and smiled dangerously. "Where have I seen you..." Samall asked and began walked around the small circle of fire. "You look so very familiar..." Samall snapped his fingers.

The being holding Rai was covered from head to toe in black. He was veiled and hooded. He was hunched over and making a wheezing sound. "Can you fly?" he asked and Rai was very confused by this statement. She was about to find out what he meant.

He jerked Rai around with on hand and swung her to the side, over the cliff and flying through the air. She was screaming as she flew through the air. Thankfully she didn't plummet to her death, but sadly she was caught by the strange creature who seemed to just appear out of thin air. He seemed very amuse by this, but Samall was not. Samall knocked the being up beside his head.

Rai was starting to feel a numb pain in her shoulder from where she was thrown through the air. The being held her up by the arm again.

"You know," Samall said and looked back at Soran. "I know I've seen you some where..." Samall grinned evilly. "So, do you plan on trying to kill me now or later? You know, after I kill you I might just that that lady there with me..." He nodded to Mizuki.


Mizuki:

At the evil man's (sorry, couldn't think of anything better -_-) statement, she practically jumped into Soran's arms.

"No way!" she yelled to him. She looked warily at the being holding Rai so, she wanted to kill it. "Let her go." she said in a low threatening voice. "She's just a child! If you're her Uncle why would you do this?!"

She held Soran tighter.


Soran:

Soran’s gaze grew dangerously cold. He didn't remember seeing this guy before, but he seemed half crazy to begin with so he didn't think much of it. He clenched his fists as Samall threatened to take Mizuki as well. There was no way he would allow something like that again. He held one armblade up, standing tall in Mizuki’s grip. The flames reflected eerily off the polished steel.

“These are awfully hard to swim with,” Soran said cryptically, not taking his eyes off Samall, “Want to know why I kept them on?” Without waiting for an answer, he dove through the flames and landed in a roll, then flew at Samall. He threw a kick straight into the surprised man’s ribcage, audibly cracking a rib, then hopped back and threw his arms up readily for a more deadly attack. “It was so I could cut you to shreds,” he said, deadly serious.


Emora:


Samall looked at Mizuki, his smile growing into an evil grin... but his face then turned very solemn and if possible sad. "Yes, all I wanted was my niece... oh, what have I done!" Any idiot could tell that he was clearly acting... and he wanted them to know he was acting. "I have my reasons and they are of no concern to you. Besides, surely you know how dangerous this child is. Things more terrible than I will come looking for her and it would do you good to give her to me. But, you won't because you are foolish and bound by the code of conduct in you head. You love this child as if she were your own and for that it will be your death!"

“These are awfully hard to swim with,” Soran said and Samall looked at him with an arched eyebrow. Then after few more words Soran lunged at him.

“It was so I could cut you to shreds."

Samall laughed and looked at Soran through his sin filled eyes. "Really? How sweet!" He used his magic to throw Soran back into the center of the fire. He put hand to his chest and glared at him. Something flashed in Samall's eyes, something that could tell Soran that Samall realized something.

"I must be going." And he waved his hands towards the fire as he turned away.

The being began to drag Rai away as the fires around Soran and Mizuki grew higher. Rai began to struggle, wanting to help her friends. She was scared they were going to die in the fire because she couldn't see them. When she couldn't get free she just yelled as loud as she could. "No! No... Mizuki! Soran! I love you!" Then she was thrown back into the carriage which seemed to have driven itself there... As the carriage dorr closed she screamed. "I love you!"

[Soran Nightblade]

Mizuki:

Mizuki gasped as Soran jumped through the flames and began fighting with the pale man. Unfotuantly, Mizuki wasn't as brave to jump through flames. 'D@mn-it..' she cursed herself. She looked to Rai and if it was possible, she could've glared daggers at the being that held her skull.

And she watched sadly as as in the next few moments Rai cried out that she loved them and was thrown into a carriage and was gone.

"No....NO!!!" Mizuki cried falling to her knees reaching to the carriage she could never reach.


Soran:

Soran saw something strange in Samall’s face just before he disappeared with Rai and the carriage. He was stuck in the fire again, staring through the flames with barely-restrained fury. Such cheap tricks. He hated magic users. The rogue turned to Mizuki and found her on her knees gazing into the fire. The temperature inside the circle was growing dangerously higher. Soran put one hand on Mizuki’s shoulder. “Time for us to get out of here,” he said quietly, running through plans in his head for a way to escape without getting burned. He was lightly toasted as it was.

Mizuki:

“Time for us to get out of here,” Soran said putting a hand on her shoulder. Mizuki got up slowly, shaking.

"She's really not gone.... no..." Mizuki was still gazing into the ever growing fire. It wasn't fair. Just a child...
"Soran... we'll get her back right? Soran?"

She looked to Soran with tears in her eyes.


Emora:


Samall wasn't in the carriage with Rai. She didn't know where he was. She tried opening up the door to the carriage, but it wouldn't open. She beat on it, but it just wouldn't budge. Rai slammed her fist in it and cried out when she broke through the glass of the window. she pulled her hand out bleeding.

The crazy driver was speeding up, she could feel it. The carriage began lifting up and turning curves only on two wheels. Rai was slung over into the seat, holding her hand.

Rai screamed as loud as possible and didn't care if her hand was hurt. She beat at the front of the carriage. The carriage swerved again and she heard a curse coming from the outside.

Nothing worked. She sat down on the floor and laid her head on the seat. Then the carriage came to a stop. Rai's head came up. The carriage door opened and a beautiful woman stepped in... She sat down in the seat across from Rai and she looked at Rai with a playful grin.

Rai didn't know what to think of the woman. She leaned forward in her seat and took Rai's hand. She smiled cunningly. "I do hope there's more where that came from..." she said and looked down at the blood on Rai's hand.

Soran:

"We'll get her back," Soran said firmly, deciding on an idea. He crouched down near the edge of the wall of fire and looked at Mizuki. "Launch off my hands and jump over," he said, holding his hands palms-up in front of him. "I have another way out."

Mizuki:

Mizuki nodded and put a foot on to his open palms. Almost without a warning he launched her into the air. She landed kneeling on the otherside and waited for Soran.

"You're not going to just run through them again are you?!" she called over to him.


Soran:

Soran twitched at Mizuki's question. Yeah, he was going to run through again. Not his favorite choice, but he intended to do it more intelligently this time. The rogue backed up to the opposite side of the circle and rushed forward, raising his blades over his head and slashing them downward powerfully as he reached the wall of flame. The flames flickered and receded for a split second as the force of air from his blades parted them and he ran through, pounding out the few flames that had taken to his clothing as he emerged on the other side.

He looked over at Mizuki and found her in one piece. He looked in the direction the sleigh had disappeared in with a frown. If they went after it now, they still wouldn't be much match for Samall without some form of magic on their side. He whistled for the horse and waited with a frown.

Emora:

Rai looked at the woman in her scantly dressed clothing, the fur coat around her falling off her slender shoulders. She pulled her head back and the woman looked at her. “What?” Rai asked and backed into the corner of the carriage, sitting in the seat and pulling her knees to her chest.

“Oh!” the woman said and grinned malice. “I’m going to kill you!”

Rai grew fearful, this woman looked just like the one from the forest when she had healed Mizuki from her sickness. Rai looked at her bloody hand.

“Yes,” the woman said and moved towards the carriage door. “As soon as you reach my palace in Arken you’ll be placed upon an alter and sacrificed to the great demon that lies in Mount May’em. I’m sure you won’t like it a bit, but I’ll thoroughly enjoy it…Ta-ta,” the woman said and left. Rai could hear voices coming from outside. “I don’t care what you do with the woman… but, I’d like to speak to this Soran… I’ve heard much about him.

“I knew there was something familiar… My Lady spoke of him often,” the voice of her uncle said. “Well, it seemed that they weren’t as easily persuaded by the forged papers saying I’m the child’s uncle… Well, they believe it, but I figured they would have handed the child over.”<br>
“There not as stupid as you think.”<br>
“So I’ve noticed.”

Mizuki:

Mizuki stood up. So afraid for Rai.

"Oh No! No! No!" Mizuki cried gripping her hair in frustration. "She may be already in the clutches of that horrible Queen! I told her I'd protect her! Soran why can't people just leave children alone!?" She clutched his arm. Their cloths were slowly drying since the fire that was blazing around.

"I'll kill them all..." she walked off to try wringing out the rest of the water in her cloths. "Even that man who claimed to be her Uncle and threatened to take me and kill you!... no man will touch me like that again..." she was practicaly mummbling to herself only loud.


Emora:

The creature who was called Flix pulled her out of the carriage. “Master says that we no travel in carriage sleigh, it no go up mountain." Rai looked around and noticed the woman was gone and only Samall remained. Flix put a long rope that was more like a noose around Rai’s neck. “Hehe, this is funny rope. If I pull hard!” He jerked on the rope and it tightened around Rai’s tiny little neck. “See, funny!”<br>
Rai fell to her knees, catching herself with her hands. On the snow was a bloody handprint. This brought an idea to Rai’s head. If she could keep doing this then she could leave a trail for Soran and Mizuki… But, she couldn’t keep falling, she’d choke to death.

Flix tied Rai’s hands to another rope to make sure she didn’t get away if the one around her neck came off. She could leave peaces of her dress behind… but her dress was white and it would blend in with the snow… Then another idea came. Not if she put the blood on the strips of clothing!

“Come Flix!” Samall yelled and Flix walked behind his master. Rai was forced to follow behind because if she didn’t the noose around her neck would choke her. She stumbled over roots hidden in the snow and often fell to the ground. Flix would drag her a few feet before realizing that she had fallen. But, every once and a while she would manage to rip a small piece off and rub it painfully across her hand which was bloody and had glass lodged in small cuts.

Rai was cold, tired, wet, hungry, and in pain… She was really starting to hate her life.


Soran:

"No man will touch me like that again!" Mizuki was ranting as she tried to dry out her clothes. Soran watched her strangely as she wrung out her shirt, then abruptly noticed how little she was wearing. His first instinct was to give her his coat, but he'd forfeited it to the river earlier when he was...

For the first time he wondered how he'd gotten out of the water and managed to revive. He could clearly remember his lungs filling with water and losing consciousness. His expression changed as he realized Mizuki must have gotten him out, and... he felt a wave of embarassment as he thought of how she'd probably brought him back to the world of the living. ~'She saved my life,'~ he reflected, torn between shame and gratitude.

After a moment the horse came to Soran’s call, tossing its mane nervously as it smelled blood on the rogue. It took some coaxing before Soran could approach the animal, and at length it finally relaxed. He turned to Mizuki, pondering.

“I think we should go after her,” he said. “Whatever they’re planning, I have a feeling that if we go back for the others, it'll be too late.” He swung himself onto the horse’s bare back and rode up to her, relieved that his feet were out of the snow. “Going to ride this time, or are you running again,” he said gently for once, holding his hand toward her.


Mizuki:

“I think we should go after her, Whatever they’re planning, I have a feeling that if we go back for the others, it'll be too late. Going to ride this time, or are you running again?” Sora asked her holding his hand out while sitting on the horse.

Mizuki watched his hand as if waiting for it to just punch her in the face. Slowly she took it and climbed on up behind him. (or in front... which ever Soran's comfortable with)

"I wont run again..." Mizuki simply said and held on tightly. She's never really ridden a horse at all in her life. Her father had tried to teach her but for her, the horse was just... too...big. "How's your head?"



Soran:

“It’s fine,” Soran answered predictably to her question about his head as Mizuki climbed on. He’d actually forgotten about it until she brought it up. The horse was dancing skittishly, spooked by the fire nearby, and Soran didn’t know how much of a rider Mizuki was, so he was eager to leave. Once she was behind him and had a strong grip on him, they rode off, following the tracks from the sleigh runners through the forest.

OOC: Yeah I saw lol. Sounds interesting =P


Mizuki:

Mizuki's mind was reeling with what she would do to all the vile little creatures that took Rai and threatened them all. But first they had to find Rai before she could kill them all. She held Soran tigher as the horse galloped through the forest. 'Oh Fates, please let Rai be alive and well. Please let us find her...' she thought and in a rush see saw something.

"Soran stop!" she cried. "I think I saw something in the snow!"

Sparks, that little ferret had been hidden in the folds of Rai's dress for sometime. He couldn't let himself be known so he had to wait. But in the mean time he could contact her.

'Rai... hey kid can you hear me? I'm the fuzzy little ferret that wrapped about your neck sometimes!' Sparks contacted her through telaphay. He was placed on this earth to watch over anyone in need. First he had watched over Sen and Skye now, these people need it.


Soran:

Soran pulled back abruptly when Mizuki cried out for him to stop, thinking there was some serious problem, and the horse slid to a halt, rearing up nervously. Soran had to reach behind him and keep Mizuki from falling off the back and simultaneously bring the animal back down onto all four feet. When the horse finally calmed down, Soran followed Mizuki’s gaze and saw the tiny rodent snuffling around in the snow. The rogue raised an eyebrow critically at Mizuki. They had stopped for this thing?

Emora:


Samall stopped in front of a cabin and looked it over. It was disserted and no one seemed to have been living there for a while. Rai, however, was face first in snow. She lifted her head and her eyes went wide with shock. There was no way... It wasn't possible... She never thought she would ever see her home again.

The cabin was nicely built and was a good size. Off to the side was a shed that held most of there meats and stuff, since it stayed cold on the Border the only thing that could really make meat go bad was being too old.

"Tie up the girl in the shed. We sleep here until morning," Samall ordered and opened the door to the house.

Rai managed to get up just as Flix was jerking on the rope to pull her along. Once inside the shed he threw the rope over a pipe where hooks hung from. He pulled on the rope that was tied to Rai's arms until she was hanging in the air painfully.

Rai whimpered, the smell of the meat going bad filling her nose. No telling what kind of bugs or things lived in the shed. Her father had always kept it clean... but her father hadn't been here for some time. "Please, sir, let me down..." Rai said softly, thinking that he might fall if she was some what kind in words. But, he held fast..

Flix laughed and said, "Nope, nope! Master said to tie up," he gestured to the fact Rai was three feet off the ground. She was sure that Samall didn't mean up literally.

Flix left her and when he entered the cabin his master had already started a fire and lit candles, with his magic no doubt. Flix was transfixed by a small portrait of three people. One was of a woman with beautiful innocent blue eyes, much like the little girl in the picture. The other was of a kind looking man who had a certain strength to him. They were hugging the little girl in the picture. "Pretty lady," Flix murmured.

"Yeah, pretty dead..." was all Samall said.

Rai's arms began to lose feeling after a while... She didn't quite understand why and it scared her. Rai closed her eyes, trying not to concentrate on the fact there was a very scary spider staring at her. Hey! Rai's head came up... but she heard nothing past that.


Mizuki:

Mizuki pointed at a bloody mark in the snow.

"Look! It's small like a child's hand... but bloody." she stated. Something in her gut said that it definatly was Rai. And she spotted not too far off, a bloody peice of what may have been a white dress. "It's Rai! I know it! Smart girl... I think Rai's trying to give us a path but... the blood...?" She wasn't sure on the blood and it made her suddenly afraid that Rai might be hurt in some way.


Siren:

Siren stood in front of the pyre where her master, Gaberial, had been given his final rights the night before. All of the remaining Dark Angels scurried around busily in the background, preparing themselves to return to their home city in order to receive new assignments. She sighed in annoyance, thinking about the remaining lords she could serve under. None were as handsome as Gaberial had been, or as good natured. Most were stereotypical greater-than-thou prickish nobles, caring nothing for their servants as long as they did their jobs, and punishing any who failed.

She stood leaning most of her weight on her left leg, with her arms crossed behind her head, looking up in thought. She didn’t want to go back to them, but had nowhere to go and nothing to do without a master. She thought back to the night of Gaberial’s death, replaying the events: The child, the woman’s match and betrothal, the elf who had come to her rescue…. An idea hit her; the elf! Curiosity burned within her. He had looked so much like her wonderful master, almost like a twin. She had been so caught up in the moment, with the excitement of her master’s reunion with the reincarnation of Alexial, that she had taken it for granted. She remembered that last look he had given her, before sparing her life and fleeing, wondering if he truly was in love with that woman or if he was up for game. A smile curled her lips as she thought of the possibilities.

She turned to her second-in-command. “Take the other angels back home, and make sure a small group is sent back to guard the castle against marauders. I will not be going with you.”<br>
The other angel protested, “But the elders! Surely they will ask why you have not come back! They will not tolerate your absence so easily.”<br>
Siren grinned. “If they ask, tell them I’m personally guarding Alexial and keeping an eye on Gaberial’s undoers. Let them fuss all they want on their own time!”<br>
With that, Siren took off, flying fast in the direction she had watched them go off in the other day.

She covered ground quickly, with a strong undercurrent boosting her along. Circling over a campfire with a lone pair, a man and a child, she noted a set of lines running through the snow, winding through trees. A carriage? Well, it was the best lead she had, so she followed it, moving past the river with her eyes only on the trail. She hovered in the air, spotting a clearing on top of a hill, far in the distance, with a thin line of smoke escaping through a cottage's chimney. The tracks had seemed to be making a B-line right for it, but suddenly veered off to the right as the terrain became steeper.

Taking another glance at the cottage, she followed the path the carriage had been following, quickly coming upon the contraption. Siren flew down and landed beside it, then proceeded to search it for signs of inhabitance. After a brief check, she stood outside, ruffling her hair slightly.

"Great, dead lead. No one is here anymore, anyway." She lifted off determinedly, focusing her energy into a big sweep of her large black wings and shooting into the sky. She looked towards the cottage again, sighed, and flew off to it, not expecting to find anything, but willing to take the chance.

OOC: Nice to meet you all! I hope you don't mind if I cut in on this dance

Soran:

Soran finally noticed what Mizuki was talking about and eyed the print in the snow. He nudged the horse forward to where the tiny scrap of dress was tucked in the snow, almost impossible to see unless one was looking for it. It was beginning to snow again, and the tracks they were following were barely perceptible now. He rode a few steps further, but saw no further clues. The rogue dismounted and walked over the snow, faintly making out one more shred of bloodsoaked cloth, but the trail stopped there.

Soran walked around in the area nearby, searching in a radius for any further indication of which direction Rai had gone in. He finally turned to Mizuki with an icy stare. “I can’t find any sign of her,” he said, a tiny thread of frustration in his voice.

OOC: Hey Siren!

Emora:

OOC: It’s just a guess but I thought Mizuki meant the ferret was in Rai’s clothing. If I’m wrong I can change this post! And welcome Siren! The more the merrier!

Rai opened her tired eyes at feeling something warm and fuzzy around her neck and something nibbling at her ear. She shook her head, thinking she was dreaming at first, but when her vision cleared she glanced out of the corner of her eye to see a ferret on her shoulder. It was the one that Skye had… But, how had it managed to stay with her?

“Mr. Ferret,” Rai said tiredly, not feeling very much like playing with it at the moment. She couldn’t really. She had no feeling in her arms. “Mr. Ferret I can’t play at the moment… I wish you could understand me… I wish you could go get Soran and Mizuki… I don‘t think my idea worked… I should have known…”

The ferret climbed down her dress and jumped to the floor. It scurried away and left Rai alone in the dark. “No, please stay!” Rai grew sad… She wanted the ferret to stay. She felt selfish but it had made her feel some warmth and just a little bit better.

Little did Rai know but the ferret understood her and was bounding over the snow gracefully, finding it’s way through the forest and to Soran and Mizuki as the snow came hard. He climbed up Soran’s leg and onto his shoulder. He nipped a little too hard on Soran’s cheek and jumped to the ground as if he were enticing Soran and Mizuki to follow him.


Soran:

Soran swatted the ferret off of him disdainfully, exasperated by its antics. He really wasn’t much for animals, though they seemed to like him well enough. At least a horse was reliable and didn’t try to climb in his ear and bite his face all the time. In his frustrated mood, he found this creature particularly irritating at the moment. He watched icily as it shook itself off and began chattering at him, retreating a few feet and then facing him again as though it were crazy.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” the rogue said coldly as it occurred to him what the ferret might be doing. But there was no way a rodent was capable of that kind of intelligence…

Siren:

OOC: Just for reference, I changed my other post for the sake of pre-existing charachters =) So please don't get confused! thank you!

Emora:


Samall kicked Flix out of the warm house to find more fire wood for the fire. The snow was growing heavier and Flix's eyes were staring at the ground to hard to realize the Dark Angel walking around any where near the cabin...

Rai was nodding off into sleep. She wanted to keep her eyes open and awake just encase Flix or Samall came back. She kept glancing at the evil spider that hadn't moved and was still sitting on a piece of meat hanging from a hook. It was staring at her through its many black eyes. She was waiting for it to pounce, that would probably finish her off.

She stared at it as it stared at her. Then... it crawled up the piece of meat and onto the pole. From there it dropped down on a piece of its web. Falling, falling, falling until it stopped right in front of Rai's face.

Rai screamed shortly, her eyes blue growing large, and wished with all her might that she could step back, but she couldn't even swat it away... The evil spiders tiny eyes stared at her.


Siren:

Siren looked away from the strange creature roaming around the woods picking up sticks at the sound of a child’s scream. It seemed to have come from the small, putrid-smelling shack next to the house. She glanced back at the creature, noting its snicker and cruel smile. ‘Torturing a child?’ she thought indignantly.

Ignoring the creature, she snuck over to the shack’s door, opened it a crack, and peered in. There was no one there, save a young girl, ‘The one who killed master?’ dangling by her wrists, looking quite petrified. It seemed like she was trying to suck herself backwards away from something.

Siren walked in casually, shutting the door behind her. She held no love for the little imp, but it was the elf’s friend, possibly family. Besides, she hated to see people, especially children, in pain. As she approached from the side, she followed the girls eyes to the source of her fright: a tiny little spider dangling from a strand of webbing. She could barely contain her laughter at the sight. She reached out a slender arm and flicked the spider away.


Mizuki:

OOC: Hello there Siren!

IC: Mizuki dissmounted and she recongized the ferret immediantly. She grabbed Soran's arm and started pulling him along.

"It's Sparks!" she exclaimed. "I think he wants us to follow him." She watched his face and she could tell he did not believe her. "Listen, I know you hate the fact that Luc had contacted me and all... I know you may think I'm crazy, but trust me... please..." She searched his eyes in pleading.

Sparks looked back to them and scurried back to Soran's pant leg pulling on it with his teeth. Sparks made chittering noises as if to tell them to follow. Unfortuantly Sparks could only contact innocents through telapthy. Rai was an innocent. A child. Sparks wished to the Fates that he could contact these two but they weren't innocents.

'Come on you two! Rai doesn't have all enternity!' he yelled in his mind.


OOC: When I say 'innocents' I mean children if anyone got confused. ^^;


Emora:


Rai looked from the spider to the woman. The woman kindly flicked the spider away from Rai. Rai glanced at her fearfully, wondering who the woman was. Maybe if she was nice the woman wouldn't hurt her.

"Thank you," Rai said softly, letting out a breath she hadn't even known she was holding. Then Rai grew very silent, a curly strand of brownish blond hair falling on front of her face. "May I ask... who are you?" She wondered if she was with Samall and Flix... or was she just some wondering... then Rai noticed the wings.


Soran:

Soran looked at Mizuki for a moment, trapped in her searching gaze as she pleaded for him to trust her. It sounded absolutely ridiculous, but he couldn’t say he had any better idea. “Fine, follow it,” he said with a sigh, resisting the urge to kick the creature as it threatened to chew a hole in his pants. The ferret hopped excitedly and spun around, then headed through the snow toward a steep hilly area. Soran exchanged a glance with Mizuki, beginning to wonder if the animal really could understand what they were saying as they chased after it.

Mizuki:

Mizuki smiled then chased after the ferret that sped it's way through the snow. Mizuki almost fell a ways as they desended down the hill. Below them a cottage could be seen and Mizuki's heart almost leapt. She dased down following the ferret to a shack with Soran behind them.

When they reached the shack Mizuki thrust the door open and found a woman with a great big pair of wings standing in front of Rai. Mizuki's anger raged.

"Dark Angel!" she cried hoping for Soran the hear and grabbed clumps of snow and started chucking them at the Dark Angel. "Stay away from her you fowl being with wings!" She could hold no trust for Dark Angels no matter what and hated them to no end.


OOC: The road shall be bumpy between these two. ^^;

Siren:

Siren was quick to put her finger up to her lips, signaling the child to stay silent. She was smart to be afraid, but now was not the time for any rash, startling noises. She reached down and took a small cutting knife out of her boot, then swiftly began to cut away at the ropes, one arm around the child so that she would not fall when her bindings loosened.

"My name is Siren, child. Do not fear, I mean you no harm." After a pause, "What in the blazes is going on here? And where is your Elven master?"

Just as she set the girl down, she heard a scream from behind her, "Dark Angel!" and clumps of snow were pelted her way.

"What in the goddesse's name do you think you're doing?!" Siren yelled back, casting a light warding shield and wiping herself off. "Of all the stupid things in the world... you could't have picked a better time for an outburst I suppose?" Siren was truely annoyed, knowing that there was no way the creature and any other dangerous beings nearbye could possibly have not heard that.

Soran:

Soran was checking out the area outside the cottage for signs of Rai’s captors when he heard Mizuki scream out “Dark Angel!” from inside the shack. The rogue was at the cabin door in an instant beside Mizuki, squinting to adjust to the dim light inside. When his eyes adjusted, he saw Rai stuck in the arms of…yes, there was no doubt. It was the Dark Angel that he’d fought with in Gaberial’s castle.

Soran closed the door firmly and locked it; there was no way this person was the only one left in charge of guarding Rai. He’d seen at least one other before at the river, and the noise had no-doubt attracted the others. For the time being, though, he just had to deal with this one. “You,” he ordered her with dark authority, “Step away from the child.” His armblades glinted warningly in the dim light.

Siren:

Siren smiled, 'Target located!' In the back of her mind she knew this could go very badly. She was trapped in a small contained room --with rotting meat-- and had no close range weapon skills to speak of.

So, she did the only thing she could think of. She obediantly stepped away from the child, then dropped to one knee with her hand planted on the ground firmly. "As you command, Master."


Soran:

Soran eyed the angel suspiciously as he crossed over to where Rai was standing. It was a relief to see her relatively unharmed, though a wound on her hand was in need of treatment. He inspected the severed rope hanging from the ceiling and the remainder that was still tied around the child’s hands, not letting Siren out of his sight. He wasn’t sure what she was up to, but though he didn’t trust her, it appeared she was as much an infiltrator as they were in this situation.

He pondered what the Dark Angels still wanted with Rai that they would send this woman to take her. “Whatever act you’re trying to pull, it’s not working. Gaberiel is dead. What business do you have with the child?” the rogue demanded flatly.


Siren:

“None whatsoever,” came the honest reply. “She screamed, so I came in. Really, arachnophobia can be a pain I suppose.” The lighthearted laughter in her voice was echoed in her smile as she stood up, brushing the dirt from her knees. Noting that she still held her knife loosely, she twirled it around her fingers and, bending down, snapped it back into her boot.

“As I said, no business with the child. You, on the other hand…” she quirked a smile at the elf. He really was nearly as handsome as her late master. She crossed an arm in front of her, resting her other arm on that one and her cheek in her free hand.

"You may remember me from the castle, my name is Siren, and I am here to serve you..." She bowed slightly, then raised an eyebrow in speculation. "Till you become boring at least!"

Soran:

Soran looked at Siren incredulously. He had to hand it to her for having a sense of imagination. “Even if I believed you, which I don’t, I’m not in need of any help,” he said, cutting the remaining rope off of Rai’s wrists and examining the bruises critically.


Mizuki:

Mizuki became befuddled beyond all thought. 'What is he doing?!' she cried out in her head.

"Gah! What are you--?! Soran! It's a Dark Angel! Kill it!! Don't talk! Kill!" she practically cried. Maybe she wasn't sounding too smart right here at all, but she had enough of the people and she wanted them all dead. "Gaberial is dead and I'm not Alexial! Rai's not Jaylee..." Mizuki couldn't find words for this situation. Not to mention the right ones.

And serve Soran?! Mizuki wanted to laugh, and don't forget rip out this woman's heart. She felt a very large twinge of jealousy looking at the Dark Angel. Mizuki sighed mentally after Soran pointed out he didn't trust her. 'I REALLY wish I had my sword right now!' Mizuki thought.

She walked up to Soran's side and took Rai in her arms and stood closely to Soran, glaring daggers at the Dark Angel before them.

"Are you alright Rai?" she managed to ask after tearing her murderous eyes away from the other woman.


Emora:


Yep, things were happening pretty fast around Rai. She didn't know who the Dark Angel was, but the lady said she meant no harm. Mizuki came in quickly and started flinging snow, which went every where. Soran was next and he too her arms under his gaze as he spoke to the Dark Angel. Rai stayed quiet, not saying much, but dearly wanting to hug them both. She had been so afriad that they wouldn't find her and that her clues had not worked.

Rai looked up at Soran and then back at her hands. The rope had caused bruises around her wrists and her small left hand had many gashes and cuts, some even still containing small pieces of glass. Rai was thankful to be held be some one for she was so tired that she didn't know if she could hold herself up.

Rai smiled at Mizuki weakly, hoping she wouldn't be too worried. Then she looked at Soran. "She's not with them, Soran..." Rai said softly. "They are in my house."


Soran:

Soran looked over at Rai. He wasn't surprised to hear that the angel wasn't involved with Samall, but, "Your house?" Before he could wait for an answer, a loud angry banging began against the door. Flix had heard noise from the shed on his way back from retrieving firewood, and now that he saw that the door was locked, he beat at it furiously.

Soran went to the tiny window next to the door and looked outside to see what they were up against. The same strange, gangly creature that had captured Rai by the river was outside throwing a fit. As unthreatening as the thing seemed, Soran kept in mind that he had clearly seen Flix teleport earlier while he was throwing Rai around, and he had no idea what other abilities he had. The rogue stepped back out of the way suddenly as Flix hurled a log from his pile and sent it crashing through the window.

Just then Flix remembered his voice. "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaster! Samaaaaaaaaall!!!" it shrieked, beating at the door until the hinges began to rattle.

Siren:

'What a mess,' Siren thought. She glanced up, but there were no go in that direction. She looked past the people standing in her way to the door; to freedom.

"I think we had better get out of here. NOW."
Realizing she sounded a bit desperate, she added lightly, "I don't think your blades will help you much if smelly dead carcasses are getting in your way anyway, my lord."


Emora:



Samall rushed from the cabin at the sound of Flix's warning being yelled as loudly as possible. He had no idea what the beast could be yelling about... but what ever it was it couldn't be good. Maybe those idiots had caught up with him?

Rai hugged Mizuki tightly and glanced at Soran who was looking out the window. She was so scared that Samall might get her back that she didn't know what to do. All she could think to do was to hold only Mizuki for dear life.

Flix was standing outside the shed, not wanting to wait on his master. Their Queen would be very angry if they lost the girl and no fate was ever more worst than when their Queen was mad. He teloported himself to inside the shed, glancing around quickly, delighted to see that no one had escaped. But, the girl was free... She was in the clutches of a woman.

Rai glanced at Flix and then hugged Mizuki and when Samall threw open sucked off the door using some kind of spell all she could do was close her eyes, the old if I can't see it, it can't see me was playing in her head. His blazing sin filled eyes looked around the room and then they rested on Soran. At this he took a small step back. "Flix," he growled and held a hand out, an invisible force pulled Flix from the room. "Come."

Samall quickly transformed into the bird as he looked at Soran with a strange expression. No longer did he think he had seen this man some where, but he knew he had heard of him. He took to the sky with Flix in his grip, heading back to his master with the glorious news.

OOC: Sorry for any spelling errors, I'm at school and the computer is old, no ABC spell check... Barely have internet.


Mizuki:

Thousands of questions and desires of bleeding flesh ran through Mizuki's mind. How can she trust this Dark Angel when her Lord captured her and had Soran at the threatening end of her whip?! Nothing made sense and she had no desire for trust.

When Samall bursted through she was half terrified he would grabbed both her and Rai. But he didn't...

"I don't like where this is heading." she said to Soran. "He'll be off to have the Whitch Queen chasing us again and we can't take that chance. Maybe my mother can show us what to do with her second sight?" Mizuki's eyes kept glancing over to the Dark Angel warily as if to ask, "what of her?"

Soran:

OOC: "Let’s eat her. I’ll get the barbecue sauce!” Sorry, just had to do that…<br>
IC: Soran nodded grimly, agreeing with Mizuki’s suspicion that Samall had no intention of giving up so easily. He was also unsettled by the knowing look Samall had given him before suddenly disappearing, but kept it to himself.

“Let’s get back to Gwendolyn. No more distractions,” he said, privately doubtful of her mother’s ability to ‘see’ things, but they needed supplies and a plan before they could take on this new enemy. He noticed Mizuki’s wary glance toward Siren. He supposed something did have to be done about her. “We’re leaving now. I suggest you do the same,” he warned her indifferently, leading Mizuki and Rai back outside.

Siren:

As the elf the girl had called "Soran" and his group left the building, Siren watched curiously. He had never said where she had to go, so she shrugged, folding her arms behind her head again, and started following them.


Soran:

Soran stared straight ahead, more and more annoyed as they progressed down the path. He knew she was still following him, but what in the world was she up to? After a few minutes he stopped short and spun around. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked in an icy-calm voice, staring her down with a prickly glare.


Siren:

Siren kept walking, unfazed. "I'm leaving the building, of course. It's not my problem if you're going the same way as me." As she passed them she grinned mischeviously, casting a impish look towards Mizuki.


Soran:

"Wouldn't an angel normally use her wings to fly," he criticized, taking a protective step closer to Mizuki and Rai as she passed him. He waited for her to get a few yards ahead of them, then shook his head and resumed walking. He was tired from drowning and wasn't in the mood for any more battles. The path would fork up ahead, and then he could just take whichever route she didn't.


Emora:


Rai stared at her home with a sad expression as they left. Once again she was having to run away from it. "We could have stayed in it, for the night," Rai said softly, turning her troubled gaze from it. "My mommy and daddy had clothes you could have had. I'm sure they would have fit," Rai said looking to Mizuki and Soran. But, they were walking down the path now and there was no use turning back.

As they walked she fiddled with her hand, painfully trying to get the smaller shards of glass out. She hadn't even told Mizuki or Soran thank you yet. But, strangely it didn't seem like the time for it. They were concentrated more on this new arrival. Rai wasn't to worried about her, though maybe because Rai was just too tried to care.

"Ahchoo," Rai sneezed and rubbed her tiny nose. She was beginning to hate winter. She wished it would be summer or spring, but the further you get up the mountain the less likely it is that there will ever by summer or spring. If you went towards Lowight you would be warm right about now and that's because winter had yet to reach there. It was about fall now.


Mizuki:

Mizuki looked at Rai when she sneezed and smirked.

"Don't catch a cold you." she teased and noticed her hand. "Oh!" Quickly, she managed to tear off a peice of her long shirt and wrap it around Rai's hand. "When we get back to my mother we'll bind it with herbs."

She hugged Rai never wanting to let her go. That Dark Angel was following them and she didn't like it one bit.

"Why do you feel the need to follow? Gaberial is dead." she said flatly. 'If this woman travels with us...' Mizuki couldn't finish her thought because Sparks started to tickle her face. She had almost forgotten about the little thing. Mizuki gave Sparks a small quick smile then resumed to glaring at the Dark Angel.

Sparks tried to figure out why Mizuki was being so hostile. This Dark Angel had helped Rai so why be so mean? 'What is it with human women and jealousy?' Sparks thought. He figured it was about Soran and Mizuki felt like another woman was stepping into her territory like how animals would react. He focused his attention back to Rai, she was hurt badly. He hoped that the wound wouldn't get infected severly and cause Rai trouble.

Soran:

Soran looked over at Mizuki as she gently bound Rai's hand with a strip of fabric from her shirt. Ahead of them was the horse, grazing lazily on grass sticking up through the snow, right where they'd left it. It trotted over to Soran as they approached, but the rogue opted not to ride. The horse looked exhausted and hungry, and though it could easily have carried them all earlier, and would probably be willing to do so now, it didn't seem like a good idea.

Soran gave it a signal and it tossed its head hesitantly before trotting off on its own toward home. Again he looked at his hand with mild curiosity as the horse understood his instructions.

The rogue worked the numbers out in his head and estimated they were probably only a few hours' walk from Mizuki's village. He hadn't taken his eyes of Siren, and eyed her closely as they came to the split in the road, waiting to see what she was up to.


Emora:



Rai gave a small smile to Mizuki and a soft, "Thank you." She looked at her hand for a moment, staring at the bruises and rope burns on her wrists. She knew she had to have them around her neck, the way the rope had tightened pinched...

Rai faded off into thoughts about her house as they continued to catch up with Soran. She remembered playing in the front yard with her father and mother.... But, one memory stood out more than all...

"No," Rai said with a grin. "I'm not ticklish!" She placed her hands on her hips and looked at him, daring him to tickle her.

"Oh, really?" her father asked and grinned. He rushed forward and threw her gently on the couch, tickling her sides and causing her to laugh and giggle. "I thought you said you weren't ticklish..."

Rai couldn't say anything, she was too busy laughing. "Hehehe..." The door opened and a beautiful woman with bright blue eyes stepped in. She had an apron around her waist and her hair was up, with a bit of flour on her smooth cheek. Rai leaned up and whispered to her father, "Let's tickle mommy..."

"What are you two conspiring about now?" she asked, using the same gesture as Rai, placing both hands on her hips. Rai's father rose from his kneeling position and walked towards her.

"Nothing," he said and stood right in front of her, looking down. "Need any help?" She didn't have time to answer before both the conspirators were attacking her with playful tickles. They all fell onto the couch laughing, Rai sitting on top of them. Rai looked at them both as her father kiss her mother and she grinned...

She missed being that happy. She remembered she was only just a little while ago when she had made Soran laugh. She had felt just like it was her father laughing and when Mizuki helped it was just like her mother. Rai looked at the two and she guessed that in a way, that is what they had become.

[Soran Nightblade]

Siren:

Siren cast a glance over her shoulder, checking to see what these other people were doing. Her stomach rumbled angrily and she put a pathetic looking frown on her face.

“So when are we eating?” She asked innocently, but in a whining voice. A fork in the road was getting closer and closer, and she had no clue which path to choose.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted something red in the brush and stopped suddenly. She turned towards it, her eyes becoming wide and a pleased “ohhh!” coming out of her mouth. She skipped over to the bush in question and crouched down, admiring the red vines that threatened to kill the plant. She began unraveling it carefully, but excitedly. “Lucky!” She hummed happily as she freed the last of it and began to wind the flexible vine around her hand into a coil.

Mizuki:

Mizuki tried hard to ignore the Dark Angel. There was no point in getting into a fight when it was more important to get home.

"Soran, how far would you think my village is?" she questioned him. "Rai should really get her hand looked at as soon as possible."

Emora:


Rai tugged on Mizuki's hand. She didn't want any one to still be worrying about her. "It's all right Mizuki! It's just glass... I got mad and was hitting things and my hand went through a window... It's all right really," she comforted with a smile.

She looked to Soran and her smile stayed, but she knew he could probably see right through it.

Rai's stomach growled in complaint. It wanted food and in truth so did she. But, it would be rude to barge in saying, we're back, we saved Mizuki, now give us food!


Mizuki:

MIzuki looked down at Rai, she wanted to scold her for trying to pretend everything was ok, but she was just a child.

"Rai please don't pretend." Mizuki said. "I've pretended for too long, it's better to tell the truth. If your sad share it with me," she was cut off by a cry from an eagle. 'Eagle? That's odd.' she thought.

The eagle landed in front of them and seemed to take shape. Shifting into human form. At first she thought it was Leon coming back, but it wasn't. Instead who stood before them was a tall, lean man with red hair and blue eyes. He wore black like Soran. 'What is it with all the black?' Mizuki thought.

He bowed and spoke in a deep voice that could make girl's swoon. "My name is Grye, I am a wizard and Gwendolyn sent me to find you all and help you home." He shifted his gaze to Siren. "Funny, she didn't mention a Dark Angel among the group." Without waiting for an answer he turned back to Soran, Mizuki and Rai. "Gwendolyn will be very happy to know you're all fine and living."

"Wait, you know my mother? she sent you?" Mizuki questioned him. "i'm sorry but we've run into a lot of people claiming to be trust worthy. I'd like you to prove I can trust you." Grye smiled expecting this.

"Gwendolyn said you wouldn't trust me right away." he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a crystal.

"That's a message crystal!" Grye nodded aproving Mizuki's knowing and threw it to the ground. Gwendolyn appeared but transparent.

"i've sent Grye to you for help and more protection. Trust him because I do. Mizuki, Soran and Rai, I want you all home unscathed and unharmed." Gwendolyn had said into the message crystal and then she dissapeared back into the crystal.

"Well..." Mizuki said hesitating still. "It was my mother..." She still wasn't sure if she could trust him. But message crystals can't forged so... but Mizuki was still doubtful. "Soran what do you think?" that was a dumb question, he still wouldn't trust the man who seemed to be able to shape shift.


Soran:

Soran frowned and eyed Grye skeptically. He definitely seemed suspicious, but the message from Gwendolyn had seemed real enough. Soran had a built-in powerful distrust for magic users. He'd never met a single one he liked and this one was no different. He glanced over at Siren, who was gathering some sort of vines just off the path. The general mood was tense to begin with, plus everyone looked hungry and truth be told, he was also.

He was also barefoot in the snow, and Mizuki had to be freezing. 'Trust' was the last word he would use to describe it, but he did feel that their prospects were better accepting the wizard's help, though he honestly didn't see how this Grye person was going to change anything. If he tried to pull something, he planned to kill him without hesitation. "Fine, we accept," he said warily, staring Grye down and watching his eyes knowingly for the slightest sign of treachery.


Mizuki:

Grye smiled and clapped his hands together. "Excelent! Now, if you three could join hands with me I'll get you out of the freezing snow Soran and into the air. That Dark Angel can obviously fly so..." He held his hand out. "Soran you don't nessearily have to hold my hand, just grab Mizuki's and we'll be off."

Mizuki hesitated. Flying? That seemed unlikely but... "Er, I guess it couldn't hurt." Slowly she went to grab his hand, holdin Rai's tightly too.

"This is good. Now you don't want to let go otherwise you'll fall." he smiled at little Rai. "I hope you're not afraid of heights little one."


Soran:

Soran grasped Mizuki's hand firmly in his, not taking his icy gaze off of Grye. There was something unusual in the wizard's eyes, though it didn't seem to be treachery. Still, the suggestion to hold only Mizuki's hand seemed suspicious, so the rogue completed the circle, taking the wizard's wrist disdainfully and casting him a look that glared ~'if you pull something, I'll kill you.'~


Siren:

Siren, her collection complete, stared on at the scene before her. From the way the eagle flew she knew it hadn't been a true bird, so seeing this man appear in its stead wasn't all that surprising. She did realize, however, that he meant to take her precious master away with him, and that Soran didn't seem too sure of this character.

She raised her left wrist, from which hung a charm bracelet, held out the coiled vine towards it, and spoke the command "bag subsume,” picturing in her mind the vine entering a large bag. The vine shrunk and de-materialized, its particles moving into a pouch-shaped charm.

She stepped foreword, indicating herself with her right index finger. "So I can come then? Wow! Finally an invitation!" She smirked and looked towards Soran and Mizuki innocently. She was getting better at this picking up of names thing too.

Her stomach growled again, quite audibly, and she lifted off into flight impatiently, hovering above the others. "So, are we going or not?"

Mizuki:

"Let me concentrate my energy first my lady." Grye said and Mizuki twitched. When Grye started focusing his energy into the group. Mizuki started feeling warm, and really light. Like, a feather light.

When she looked down they were about a foot off the ground. "Oh my--" Mizuki said startled.

"Don't let go my lady, or you'll fall. If you're afraid just don't look down." Grye said smiling at her and winked. Grye actually had his own...personal reasons for being with them. But with Soran glaring at him, he may have a hard time...

Emora:

OOC: I don't know whose hand Rai is supposed to be holding since Mizuki has Soran on one said and the man on the other... I'll just take a stab at this and if it's wrong tell me...

IC: Rai decided she'd grab onto Soran's hand. She didn't want to fly... What if this man dropped them. She held Soran's hand with both of hers, practically hugging it. She couldn't hold Mizuki's hand and she didn't want to hold the new man's hand because he might drop her. She trusted Soran not to drop her.

"Soran... Is this a good idea?" she asked quietly and holding his hand tightly. Her hurt hand wasn't doing much good on the tightly thing, since the shards of glass made it uncomfortable. The was also her left hand so she had to hold on with her right hand as well.

But, it was too late...


Soran:

Soran let go of Grye's hand and clasped onto Rai tightly as the child seemed about to lose her grip. The group continued rising up until they were over the trees; apparently letting go of Grye hadn't detrimented the magical process. Soran let Grye fall into his peripheral vision as he looked at Siren, who was flying alongside them casually. He mentally rolled his eyes under his icy expression, but there wasn't much that could be done for the time being.

Siren:

Siren had been walking on the ground for so long that the feel of the wind rushing through her feathers and grazing her face was quite intoxicating. She decided to play a little and have fun while she could, flying in circles around the levitating group and spinning herself around occasionally, all the while keeping an eye on her Soran and his friends.

Mizuki:

As Grye flew the group towards the village his thoughts raced. He wondered if Soran felt anything for Mizuki. He wondered if Mizuki even remembered him! But he doubted it. It was a long time ago and, well... how could he bring it up with Gwendolyn? How would Mizuki react?

'Maybe it's not the best time to bring it up.' Grye thought. 'They've been through a lot. But how the heck could I tell her? Her father never even told them. He thought he'd be alive long enough to tell Mizuki when she was 16! D@mn it all.'

Now they had reached the edge of the forest and were coming fast upon Mizuki's village. Mizuki's heart leapt in joy as she saw her home. Gwendolyn came out to greet them all smiling. When they landed she exchanged tears with her daughter and hugged them all.

''Oh I'm so happy you're all ok!" she exclaimed. She saw Rai's hand and gasped. "Oh the Fates child! Come in and we'll take a look at it You all must be exsausted and hungry. I've made a feast for you all. Come in!" She usered them all inside and took Rai inside the kitchen to tend to her hand.

Meanwhile when Mizuki glanced at the food she nearly drooled.

"Eat now! Don't wait!" her mother called to them. Mizuki practically leapt into a chair and started eating, but she managed to keep her manners. Grye smiled and took a seat across from her, smiling and staring at her all the while... and keeping an ear out for Soran.^^;

Emora:


Rai smiled when her hand was bandaged with all the glass picked out. She smiled and said thank you to Mizuki's mother then she walked to the table, climbing into a chair to eat. She looked down at the food and grinned, she was so hungry!

Rai picked up the fork and proceeded to eat the things she liked the most. She took a sip of her tea. Before long she had cleared her plate. She would wait until Mizuki was done eating and talking to her friends before she asked if she could have a bath.


Siren:

Siren had stopped before they arrived at the doorstep of Mizuki’s house, thinking that she should give them a little relaxation time on their own. They had been through a lot, after all, and her presence would have them all on guard. When she saw them all ushered in she leaned back on the roof adjacent to Mizuki’s house and lifted her charm bracelet again.

“Expunge provisions.”<br>
A small block of yellow cheese and a half of an angel-food cake appeared in her outstretched hand, wrapped in a dark blue cloth that was embroidered with tiny white flowers around the border. She sighed in disappointment. ‘Restocking soon would be a good idea.’

She wrapped the cheese up and commanded “subsume,” then took the cake and started chomping at its fluffy white body. She smiled happily, thoroughly enjoying her favorite food, but knowing it would not fill her for long.


Soran:

Soran sat down slowly at the table and looked at all the food and watched Grye stare at Mizuki. It seemed the wizard was truly an acquaintance of Gwendolyn's, though it seemed strange that Mizuki apparently didn't recognize him. It made little difference in Soran's sentiments toward him. Now that food was in front of him, the rogue wasn't particularly hungry. He ate some potatoes and then stood up, walking out of the kitchen without a word and down the hall. He had something to check on.

He came into the room where the fight with the imposter angel had taken place. The room had been tidied and only a few faded stains remained on the carpet. Continuing down the hall, Soran came to a closed door. As he opened it, Toby leapt out between the rogue's legs and bounded toward the kitchen where he could smell Rai. Soran looked into the room and saw that Naoki was half-sleeping in a chair next to the angel, who was lying asleep on the floor. Soran noted that Naoki had chosen to bandage the imposter, and also that the girl was still holding the knife Soran had given her to guard him until he returned.

Naoki started as she sprung awake at the sound of Soran's footsteps. "Ah, Soran! Is Mizuki okay?" she asked excitedly, glancing down at the angel to make sure he was where she'd left him. There were dark circles under her eyes; she'd probably been guarding him ever since the rogue left.

"She's fine. Seems like the angel is under control." Soran said blankly, looking down at the intruder.

Naoki nodded, thrilled that she would finally be relieved of her duty. A dull moan came from the floor as their talking began to wake up the Angel.

"Mizuki and Rai are in the kitchen with the wizard," Soran said flatly, indicating that she could go. He wanted a word alone with the Angel.

Naoki left the room triumphantly, handing off the dagger to Soran. As if he'd need it. He threw it on a chair and sat next to the Angel. As the Angel woke up he looked up and saw Soran there and his eyes became nervous.

"I need some information," Soran said authoritatively.

"Going to coerce me again," the winged man hissed.

"No threats," Soran said dully, leaning on the chair arm. "It concerns an angel named Siren."

Emora:


Rai jumped out of the chair at the sight of Toby. "TOBY!" she yelled with pure happiness. She fell to her knees when she met the wolf and she hugged him tightly. He sniffed her and licked her cheek. He barked and barked happily to see the child safe and alive.

Toby sniffed her hand slightly, but ignored it and went back to putting his nose to her cheek. He accidentally caused her to fall over, but she just laughed and scratched behind his eyes. "Oh, Toby I missed you!" she cried and grinned a happy grin. “Don‘t worry Toby I’m never leaving you again!”


Siren:

The trapped angel looked up sharply for a moment, a faint glimmer of recognition and worry in his eyes. Then they went dark with anger.

“If you have hurt her in any way, all of the angels who guard Gaberial shall be at your throat in an instant. That is all you need to know.” He spat in front of Soran as he said it, to accentuate his point. If this man was asking about her, he figured, he either has a guilty conscience or is planning to battle her.

Soran:

Soran eyed the Dark Angel disapprovingly. From his words, she was, as he had suspected from the others' behavior at Gaberial's castle, of high rank among the dead lord's guard. If that was so, this person could have been sent to Gwendolyn's home under her orders, and her aim in following them was probably to recover him and bring him back to the castle.

"Was it Siren that sent you here?" he asked firmly.


Siren:

"Was it Siren that sent you here?" Soran had asked.

The angel stared at him blankly for a moment, a look of confusion in his eyes.

“Siren? Of course not." He spoke dissapprovingly. "Why would she be bothered with such troublesome things?”
He laughed then, and decided to try intimidation. “If I was part of her team there would be no way I’d loose so easily. If you want someone to blame, go for the head of the snake, not the heart.”<br>

Soran:

Soran frowned through the angel's explanation, not certain whether or not he believed it. If the hostage was being honest, then Siren's story could, at least in theory, be true, although it was highly doubtful. One thing that seemed believable about his words, however, was that he didn't seem aware that Gaberial was dead. Well, there was no particular benefit to explaining it to him. Soran looked at the ropes on the angels arms and legs and the near-fatal wounds still healing on his neck and body. He wouldn't be going anywhere. Sensing that the angel had said all he was willing to say, the rogue took the knife and left the windowless room, locking the door behind him. A moment later he returned expressionlessly to where the others were still eating and sat down, thinking about what to do about the hostage.


Mizuki:

Mizuki, done eating her fill, leaned back in her chair and yawned. When was the last time she slept? Oh yeah, back at that camp. The ferret Sparks twitched around her neck and she nearly jumped. How many times will she forget about the little creature. She smiled and up her hand up to pet him, she offered him a cracker and Sparks nibbled on it.

She still hadn't noticed Grye looking at her. Grye was dealing with a battle of duty and noble honor inside his head. 'Fates d@mn me, it doesn't seem right to tell a girl who wouldn't remember that she has been bound by a secret her father and is best friend shared and agreed on.' Grye thought starting to frown without realizing it. 'I'm bound by their pact but... this isn't fair to her...'

"You ok?" Mizuki interrupted his thoughts he Grye stuttered out of them.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine my lady..." he said neverously. Gwendolyn finally came into the room and stared at the back of Grye's head. Her eyes searching, Mizuki knew that look, her mother was prying into his mind. Gwendolyn found it strange that this young man seemed to have known Mizuki and jumped at the chance to get her. She remembered the boy but only as a young pupil when she used to teach the children... until that incodent with that mage elf killing one of the great masters of magic. She didn't believe that story too much but, it was too late now, the girl had fled. And now this boy she had known as a pupil jumps to the chance of getting her daughter and her comrades, something just seemed... out of place.

She searched his thoughts and when she found it... "Grye, can I see you in my quarters?"

Grye winced, 'Oh crap... I think she read my mind.' he thought and relucatantly got up and followed her. But Gwendolyn stopped and turned back around.

"Fresh cloths have been laid out for you all in your rooms. Refreh yourselves as needed." and then she dissapeared down the hall with Grye. Mizuki jumped up and practicaly clapped, she was going to get in more decent cloths! But first... a bath.

"Rai..." she said over her shoulder. "How about a bath?''


EMora:



Rai's head came up and she gave a nod. "Yes, ma'am!" she said feeling a little bit icky all over from the lack of took off, Toby on her heals towards the wash room. She giggled as she raced Toby.


Mizuki:

Mizuki laughed and lead her to the bathroom.

"Just wait here and I'll go get the hot water for it." Mizuki said and walked to their built in well. Which was needed since the weather in the Boarder is so cold no one would really want to go out to it.

When she entered the well room Grye stepped in behind her looking quite... disturbed.

"What's the matter Grye?" she asked him sending a pale down into the well. Grye just stared off at the floor for a bit then looked up at her.

"Need some help?" he said ignoring her question. Gwendolyn had found out after she searched his mind, and she was none too happy. But Grye guessed it would be hard for her to except since well, her husband never told her he promised their only daughter to his best friends only son and never bothered to tell them. And now Grye is there to "collect" his bride to be. He tried to explain that he was bound to that pact his father and her husband made, but wouldn't ever dream of forcing Mizuki into a marriage she hadn't even known about.

Mizuki nodded to his question and together they filled a cauldren to heat up the water.

OOC: sorry about this new thingy, I promise there will be no battles over this. I was bored, getting creative and it was fantasy book influenced. lol ^^;

Emora:



It was almost like Toby had totally changed the way Rai was feeling. She was giggling and laughing. Toby was tickling her with his mussle. "Toby, you stink!" Rai said through a laugh. "You need a bath too."

Alastar wouldn't argue about that. He was quite hoping to have one.

OOC: She has to get married again! Poor Mizuki, looks like she just doesn't have a good way with men. Lol


Soran:

Soran got up after the others had left and walked out into the living room. He paused as he passed the well room, considering checking up on Mizuki, but when he heard Grye’s voice from inside he decided against it and continued walking indifferently.

He turned and went down the hall to where ‘his’ room, as Gwendolyn had apparently deemed it, was. She hadn’t been kidding about the clothes; not only a new shirt and pants, but a replacement coat and pair of boots were folded neatly on the bed. Finally alone, the rogue sank into a chair and looked at the clothes disconcertedly. A lot had changed since he’d left Hepian. What was he doing here, anyway?

He stared out the window absently, recalling Samall’s strange behavior earlier. He’d said something that sounded like—no, that fraud had definitely seemed to recognize him. Why? Soran didn’t recall ever seeing or hearing of him before. Was it possible that bastard was related to his past? ~’As if it matters. There’s no need for it; the past is over.’~ He narrowed his eyes somberly, wondering why he was dwelling on it.

Mizuki:

As amazing as it was they managed to carry the cauldren of steaming water to the washroom where Rai waited. They poured the water in the tub then Mizuki set out the things Rai could wash with.

"Ok Rai!" mizuki said smiling. "Would you like me to be in here with you or be alone with Toby? Since you haven't seen him in awhile." Mizuki turned to Grye then ushered him out. "Shoo you!" she laughed and So did Grye and he left them.

As Grye walked he past Soran's room. He stopped momentarily. He considered asking what Soran's feeling's were towards the group he traveled with but... he decided against it. He got the feeling Soran wouldn't say much anyway. So he walked on and also past Gwendolyn's room. The door was closed though..and locked. He figured she was probably meditating or something.

So he went outside and changed into a bird to fly onto the roof and changed back. He stared at the sky as it begun to turn black sparkling with scattered stars. He tried to figure out how to tell Mizuki she was to marry him...

"I don't think it will go over well." he said to himself.


Emora:



When Rai was clean and dressed in a soft cotton nightgown she thanked Mizuki and smiled. "I'm going to tell Soran good night before I go to bed," she said and ran from the room.

She ran into Soran's room and saw him standing in front of a mirror. She smiled and pulled a wooden chair up to him and stood on it. She grinned, feeling much better now. Not scared or anything. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Good night!" she said and climbed off the stool, leaving the room to find Mizuki, giggling as Toby chased her.


Soran:

Soran turned blankly toward Rai as she ran in happily and said goodnight, then bounded out again. ~'Tch. Everyone here's crazy,'~ he thought, though the child had broken him out of his uncharacteristically dismal mood.

He decided to go out and find himself a drink. The others appeared to be going to sleep, and he wasn't tired at the moment, so it seemed like a convenient time to go. The rogue changed into the new clothes and left the house, heading for the small tavern he remembered seeing down the street.


Siren:

Siren contemplated the man sitting on the roof across from her with curiosity. He seemed to have a lot on his mind.

Just as she stood up to go greet him, Soran came stalking out of the house, seeming to be in an overly sour mood. She looked back at the man sitting on the roof, who seemed to have just noticed her with surprise, waved with a smile, and started off in a running-flight, jumping from rooftop to rooftop as she caught up to Soran.


Soran:

Soran knew the Dark Angel was following him, but decided to play none-the-wiser and just get to his destination. There was no way she'd try to follow him into the bar. He pushed open the door to the tavern and walked to the bar. It was smaller and of a different atmosphere than the spots he frequented in Hepian, but whisky was whisky. He crossed the room and sat down at the bar, indifferently ignoring the looks of the small group of regulars in the corner who were curiously analyzing him. It was rare to see newcomers in such a remote village, let alone an elf wearing a long coat, strange blades on his arms and a chillingly unreadable expression. After a moment they went back to their own business of playing cards.

Soran calmly ordered a whiskey and relaxed as he took it down. The people were different, but at least the drink was the same.

"Oi. Don't believe I've seen you before. You new around here?" the barkeep asked casually in his gruff voice as he dried a glass and stacked it on the shelf above the bar.

"Just passing through," Soran replied, leaning roguishly on the bar and gesturing for a refill.



Siren:

Siren ignored his body language, telling her to bugger off, and stepped into the bar a minute or two after him, throwing the door open cheerfully and walking over to a stool two away from Soran’s. She winked and blew a kiss to the wide-eyed locals,
"What, never seen a girl that showed her midsection before?" she teased, neglecting to mention her wings in her description. She sat at the bar and tapped lightly with her index and middle fingers.

“I’ll take a Honey Mead please, good sir.”<br>
She looked over and smiled at Soran. “I haven’t had a good drink in the longest time! Second-in-command was such a tight-arse about it!”<br>
She dropped her voice into a tone of playful secrecy. “Had a fight with the misses or something, did we?” she joked.


Soran:

Soran ignored Siren as she entered, inwardly astonished that she would dare to come into the bar with those ostentatious wings. The rogue stared icily straight ahead as though burning a hole through the wall with his eyes. At her last question, he narrowed his eyes dangerously and turned to her with a proud glare.

The barkeep eyed the two interestedly, clunking a glass of mead down in front of the Angel. Although he knew nothing about the elf, it was clear the strange woman wasn’t getting any points for charisma in her absurd line of questioning. “Just as a disclaimer, miss: You’ll need to pay up with regular currency. We don’t accept no feathers here, milady,” the man quipped, rousing a round of laughter from the table in the corner.

Siren:

Siren smirked at the barkeep in annoyance, reaching down to her waist and pulling out a bag, plopping it down on the counter so that the ties loosened and gold and sliver coins became apparent. “I don’t think that will be a problem.” She stated dryly, looking into his eyes menacingly. She was well-paid and respected as top guard for Gaberial, and wouldn’t accept condescension from a peasant.

She gave a slight laugh then, pushing two golden coins, worth much more than her drink had been, towards the barkeep and indicating the locals and Soran with a sweeping hand motion. Her good-natured tone of voice returned then, “Ah well, no harm done. Next round’s on me!”

She lifted her mug in toast towards the locals, then took a large swig of the mead.
Around her, cheers erupted from the locals, who now held a much more favorable view of her.

Within the time it took her to down a few drinks she had them singing drinking songs and dancing on tables with her. She felt all fuzzy and tingly inside, numbed by the alcohol’s effects.

Mizuki:

Grye was surprised to see Siren on the roof but, Mizuki didn't seem to welcome the Dark Angel much so maybe being out here was better for them both. Sighing, he went inside and as he entered Gwendolyn cut off his path glaring at him.

"I suggest you tell her now before things get out of hand." she said almost icily. Grye understood her anger and went to take her advice.

Mizuki was in her rooms drying off after her bath. As soon as she stepped into a cream silk nightgown, a knock on her door was heard. "Come in." she simply said still brushing her hair. When Grye walked in she smiled and greeted him, but he looked...haunted.

"What's wrong Grye?"

"I need...umm..." he hesitated and closed the door behinde him. "Mizuki...I..can we speak in private?" Mizuki nodded and motioned him to the bed to sit down. "I..I don't know how to say this but." he took a deep breath and sighed. 'Just get it out!' his thoughts screamed at him.

"Well you see, a long time ago when your father was still alive he made a promise to his best friend that they'd marry their first borns. Since it was already known Gwendolyn was having a girl and my mother was having a boy, they made the pact and when we turned 16 I was to come to you. But when your father died it was found you left home so I've been spending time finding you. But now I have, I told your mother because she never even knew of the pact. I guess you can say I've come to collect you but..." he took her hand in his. "I don't want to force you into anything you don't want to do..."

Mizuki stared at him. It didn't quite register in her brain but when it finally did, she stood up quickly. "NO! My father wouldn't do that! NO, I was already forced into marriage once and I wont do it again." Grye stood up as well and took her hands.

"I'm sorry but my father wont releve me from it. He said it would be your father's dying wish so..."

"I don't care about dying wishes! I wont marry someone just because my father promised me to someone before I was born! I wont do it!" Mizuki wrenched her hands from his and ran out of the room and out of the house into the cold night. It was a mistake but, she had soft shoes on but she didn't have a coat, but she refused to go back in.

Grye came running after her and Mizuki ran off. "No please! Wait Mizuki!"

"I wont do it!" she kept running and she wouldn't stop even if she ran out of breath.


Emora:


Rai yawned as she walked down the hall looking for Mizuki. She wanted to tell Mizuki goodnight, but when she finally found her it seemed she was in deep conversation with the new guy and her mother. Rai sighed, but turned and walked into her room. She pulled down the covers and climbed under them.

Toby jumped to the foot of the bed and plopped down on her feet. They'd be staying mighty warm tonight. She smiled as she reached over and blew out her candle.

All bundled up in the covers she was quite warm and happy. In no time she was a sleep and had no nightmares what so ever. Maybe it was because of the fact she was feeling safe again.

Sparks scrambled out of the kitchen and up the bed post. He was wary of Toby, but what did Alastar want to chew on a ferret for? He went to the head of the pillow and sniffed Rai's face for a moment. He made a strange noise and nestled down in her hair for the night.

Soran:

Soran sat stiffly on the barstool and tried to ignore the ridiculous giddiness of the other patrons. The free glass of beer the bartender had placed in front of him sat untouched. He didn't feel like drinking from the Dark Angel's tab and had no taste for beer.

The roguef looked over at where the angel was belting out drinking songs with the locals. She certainly didn't fit with the image of her race he'd gotten at Gaberial's castle. But something would have to be done about the Angel in Gwendolyn's house. He wasn't fond of keeping hostages in the least, but he also didn't feel like killing someone too weak to stand. He just wanted the guy gone. If he took too long, Mizuki might end up finding him and then who knows what she'd do.

The rogue looked at his empty glass, but decided he was done for the night. He'd had three whiskies and wasn't feeling it in the least. The noise, on the other hand, was grating on him. He rose and set some coins on the counter, turning to leave.

Mizuki:

Mizuki just kept running, she wasn't even sure if he was following anymore. Her only thought was to just get away. She wasn't going to marry a man she didn't even know!

She was quickly running out of breath and getting tired. She couldn't hear his shouts or running footsteps behind her so... she gave herself a short rest. She leaned on a wall of some building she didn't even recongize. She remembered that he could change into a bird so she started off again, but at a jog. She was getting cold but she ignored it.

Grye had stopped chasing her. As much as he wanted her in his sights, he figured it would be best if she was alone. But not that far alone! His first though was find Soran but, wouldn't he kill him?!

"Oh for crying out loud!" Grye shouted. He couldn't find her by himself, so he figured Soran could help but. "He's going to kill me."

Soran:

Soran stepped out of the bar and back out onto the street. Siren seemed distracted and hopefully hadn't noticed him leave. The street was thankfully silent except for the dull echo of rowdiness from inside the bar. Soran leaned backward against the tavern wall with his thumbs hooked in his pockets as the brisk winter air comfortably blew across his face.

Mizuki:

Grye searched the streets for Soran, he glanced at the tavern and saw himm leaning against the wall. He let out a gratefull sigh and ran over to him.

"Soran!" he called out. "Mizuki ran off and I can't find her!"

Mizuki was still running but then she stopped at the lake she had first been captured at. The cold was finally sinking in and she wrapped her arms about herself. She shivered. This was stupid, he said he wouldn't force her... but he also said his father wouldn't releave him of that pact. She didn't want to be home when he finally had to marry.

But she was cold... very cold.

"Achoo!" she sneezed. Great, she was getting sick out here. She hoped Soran would come find her and comforte her, but that was unlikely. She looked up to the night sky and forced back tears that threatened to come.

Soran:

Soran looked up icily as the wizard from earlier ran up to him. "Soran!" he called out. "Mizuki ran off and I can't find her!"

The rogue gave him an unreadably cold look, suspecting that this guy was either excessively paranoid or the type who didn't take a hint. "Why would she 'run off'" Soran asked skeptically, not budging.


Mizuki:

"Why would she run off?'" Soran asked. Well, Grye lived a long life, right?

"uhh...well...." He stumbled. Eventually he took a deep breath and told him everything. 'Please don't kill me, please don't kill me!' Grye thought paranoid Soran would kill him.

Mizuki on the other hand, fed up with everything, decided to turn back home. What was the point? For all she knew she would spend her life chasing some guy who wouldn't even smile. Slowly she walked back home hanging her head.

"Maybe... he's nice, generous, kind... and it was my father who would want it." she talked to herself. "Maybe I should do it... for my father... but, wouldn't be like living somekind of lie?Well we could have a friendly relationship. We don't nessarily hae to be romantic... uhh..."

Soran:

Soran listened to the whole thing, dangerously silent. When Grye finished, the rogue was quiet for a moment and looked up at him darkly, though a spark of amusement was in his eyes. Not only was the story almost laughably absurd, but the guy was clearly terrified of him. Sacrificing oneself for the sake of keeping a promise you didn't even make was hardly a concept Soran sympathized with. As annoying as he found Grye, the fact that the guy had even suspected that method would work was entertaining to Soran. It made sense that Mizuki had run away.

"I'll go look for her," he said, restraining a laugh as he pushed off the wall and began walking down the street, hands still in his pockets. It wasn't until he'd gotten a short distance away from the baffled wizard that he began to consider the possibility that Mizuki might actually buy that story. No way, she'd never fall for that guy. Then again...his looks were probably considered attractive, he was a friend of the family, and he had saved them from a long walk in the snow. Did women go for those kinds of things?

~'What the hell am I thinking,'~ he thought stalely as it occurred to him he was behaving exactly as if he were jealous. Maybe those drinks had affected him after all. He walked back along the street that led toward Gwendolyn's house. He kept an eye out for Mizuki, but wasn't particularly worried about her safety. She wasn't as helpless as Grye seemed to think.


Mizuki:

"Achoo!Achoo!..D@MN-IT!" Mizuki cried. She was getting sick because she made a stupid move and ran outside. Maybe if she ran back she get home faster?

Considering it, she started running. She was still hugging her arms for slight but failing warmth. After a ways she saw someone ahead of her. She wasn't sure if it was Grye or Soran or someone else, and personaly, she didn't want to find out. So she went into the buildings shadows and stayed there, walking among them.

But... she sneezed again giving herself away.

Soran:

Soran paused and looked toward an alley to his left as he heard a familiar sneeze. “That you, Mizuki?” he said indifferently, not moving to chase after her.


Mizuki:

'Crap...' Mizuki thought. She considered staying in the shadows but, it was Soran so...

"Yeah..." she stepped out staring at the ground. She was shivering like crazy. Her body tempature dropped and her face was becoming pale. She didn't want him to see that.


Soran:

Soran looked at her blankly as she emerged from the shadows wearing nothing but a nightgown. She seemed like she was visibly shivering. “Grye went the other way,” he said, averting his eyes, “You’re going to get sick if you stay outside in that.” He began taking off his coat.


Mizuki:

"But then you'll be cold." she said as he drapped the coat around her. She was still looking down. "I'm sorry, it's just..Grye told me of a pact my father and his made and I just couldn't take it....

"I loved my father very much but... I don't think I could go through with that pact he made for me.."


Soran:

Soran watched Mizuki as she explained, deciding not to mention that he’d heard about the situation from Grye. “You have no duty to keep promises you didn’t make," he said, inwardly relieved that she didn’t seem to intend to cooperate with it.

Mizuki:

Mizuki smiled slightly but it didn't cheer her much. She wrapped the coat closer around her and bite her lip. 'What now?' her mind asked. She wanted to be closer to him but didn't dare since he seemed to have some kind of thing with physical contact.

So Mizuki looked to the sky, the moon was bright and big. "It's so huge at night." she said commenting on the moon.

Grye flew above them and he sighed, she was found and safe. It looked as thought they needed to be alone from his position in the sky so he left them and headed back to the house to tell Gwendolyn her daughter was safe. Gwendolyn would know her daughter ran out... she knew everything.

Soran:

Soran looked up at the moon and it reflected off his face. It was the same as always, nothing particularly interesting about it, but Mizuki was always throwing things like that into question because she saw things so differently. It seemed silly to be just standing there looking upward, but somehow he didn’t mind. He scorned himself as the breeze picked up and he shuddered involuntarily.

Mizuki:

Mizuki hugged him disspite it all.

"I told you you would get cold." she half joked and half said seriously. "Let's hurry back inside... before you get sick." She gave him a small smile before turning around and sneezing again. "Urg..." She loosened her grip on him and started walking back home.

[Soran Nightblade]

Soran:

“I’m fine,” he retorted, though his voice lacked its usual venom as Mizuki began leading the way home. He followed behind her, his expression unusually softened. The moonlight played on her hair as she walked and inspired an unfamiliar feeling in the rogue. It was a confusing feeling that he couldn't define as they returned to Gwendolyn’s house and stepped back into the heat.

Mizuki:

Gwendolyn stood in the doorway already holding a heavy blanket for Mizuki.

"You crazy girl." she said scolding her daughter. "Do you always have to run away from things? Get in, it's freezing out there!" Mizuki walked in returning the coat to Soran and wrapped the blanket around her. "Your face is so pale! Bed. Now! I'll bring you both tea."

Mizuki smiled at her mother's back as she walked into the kitchen. She closed the door and curled up on the couch. Her mom said bed but she didn't say which one. Heh Heh.

Grye was in his own room, but he didn't come out. He felt horrible for having her run out there, he felt like he just couldn't stand up to it. So he laid on his bed thinking about all the apologizes he would tell them before returning home. Then he fell asleep.

"Rai must already be in bed." Mizuki commented. "Poor kid, she's had a rough few days..." she gave Soran another small smile then asked him to sit down next to her.

Soran:

Soran folded his coat over the back of a chair and sat down on the couch next to where Mizuki was curled. The sudden warmth of the indoors made him aware of how tired he was. He looked over at Mizuki. Only her face was sticking out of the blanket. She reminded him of something he'd seen a lot in the forest. "Caterpillar," he thought. No, wait...he blinked as he realized he'd said it out loud.

Mizuki:

Mizuki started laughing.

"I guess I probably do look like one, huh?" she said smiling brightly. She undid the tight wrapping of the blanket, she always did this when she was a child sitting with her father. She drapped some of the blanket around Soran's shoulders. "I don't care what you say about it, you're sharing the blanket. And don't try shrugging it off mister!" she joked with a big smile.

Soran:

Soran blinked as Mizuki laughed at his slip and then threw half the blanket on him. He was confused but didn’t try to reject the blanket. He looked down at Mizuki’s arms and remembered something. There was no way that elf’s salve could really heal broken arms overnight. He leaned back with his arms behind his head. “Your arms. How did they heal so quickly,” he asked.

Mizuki:

“Your arms. How did they heal so quickly?” Soran asked. Mizuki looked down at them and just... kind of went blank.

"Errr...ummm..." she stuttered and staled. What kind of lie could she make up? He didn't believe her about Luc's ghost before, why would he believe again? That and she didn't want him mad at her! "Umm... I was... always a fast healer?" she smiled, hopefully it past. But, one tell she was lying... it was painted on her face.


Soran:

Soran frowned, leaning further back and closing his eyes indifferently. “If you don’t want to explain, that’s your business, but you’re a poor liar,” he said. A lot of strange things had been happening around her, and he was almost certain her explanations were all lies. All except the one about Luc. She had seemed serious then, but there was no way such a thing was possible.

Mizuki:

"I know," she said sadly, "I just don't want you mad at me..." she stared at the ground then absently laid her head on his chest. As of right now, she stopped caring how he would react.

"It's unbelievable, I know, unfortuantly he wont rest until I... follow him to the grave. He healed my arms, I don't know how but he did..." Her eyes stared too drop but she tried to stay awake as her mother came in with their tea, smiled and left the room. Knowing, all too knowing they wanted to be alone... or something like that.


Soran:

Soran opened his eyes and looked down tensely as he felt Mizuki’s head rest on his chest.

"It's unbelievable, I know, unfortuantly he wont rest until I... follow him to the grave. He healed my arms, I don't know how but he did..." she said softly.

He frowned uncomfortably. She sounded serious. ‘Follow him to the grave’? He didn’t like where she seemed to be heading with that theory. If Luc was helping her…was he an enemy or a friend? Soran had no intention of accepting him as the latter, but—~’For godssake, he’s dead,’~ the rogue argued to himself.

“Won’t rest until you’re dead, huh? Sounds like he cares about you a lot.” Soran said detachedly. He frowned as Mizuki didn't respond. "Hey," he said in annoyance, then realized she'd fallen asleep. ~'Damn it, now I'm stuck like this,'~ he pondered, trapped. Was she planning to lean against him all night?! The rogue let out a tense breath and closed his eyes, but couldn't bring himself to sleep with his instincts screaming out warnings at him for getting too close.


Darkrose:

(OOC: I'm playing Tora now, jus to let you know ^_^)

Tora rested her head on her arms. So much has been happening that no one seemed to notice something was wrong. Really wrong.

Tora lifted her head. A light reflected against her eyes, flashing thier a red for only a split second. The magic that was placed on the vampire put her in a state of vertigo. But it has settled in, and now is the perfect time...

Tora got up so suddenly that Mizuki's mother flinched at the sight of her moving. Passing by her without a word, Tora opened the door quietly to Rai's room...

Under the covers a young girl slept. The vampire stealthly creeped up to the side of her bed. Her eyes flashing red once more, she placed her hand over the girl and chanted a spell of silence.

This was almost too easy...

Emora:

OOC: Sakura has given DarkxRose permission to do this.

IC: Rai opened her eyes slightly. She was so tired, but had this strange feeling come over her. She had been dreaming about a bird that was irritating Toby by continuously swooping and pecking him on the head. Rai looked up through tired eyes at Tora. The ferret rustled her hair as it came awake and Toby came awake also. He began growling at Tora for some odd reason.

"Tora?" Ria asked very quietly and very tiredly. But, after that Rai found that she couldn't really say anything else. What was going on? Why couldn't she say anything? What was Tora doing?

Darkrose:

Tora grinned wickedly. The frightened child was so cute. Its almost impossible to believe that such a thing could be a key to releasing a demon of hellish power.

But it is what the Queen wished.

She sent a shock into Rai to paralyze her next. Tora, in thought. 'Mizuki and Soran are in the other room talking, they should not be a problem. The others are around the house doing thier own thing... all I have to do is sneak out the window with the child and meet Queen Shea on the top of the mountain."

Tora had completely forgot about Toby...

She lifted the child and turned her body to the window.

Emora:



Toby growled louder and stood up, his hair raised on his back as he heard a small gasp escape little Rai's lips when she was paralyzed. Tora lifted her up and that is when Toby unleashed his hatred for what the vampire was doing. When Tora turned her back to him and faced the window he lunged forward and clawed her back. But, with this vampire's power he couldn't stop her on his own. So he began to bark. Inside Alastar was screaming...

Rai looked up at Tora, not able to move or talk. Her eyes were the only things that could speak for her and they were frightened...

Soran:

Soran opened one eye as he heard footsteps in the hallway. ~'That's odd. I thought Gwendolyn went to bed,'~ he thought, shrugging it off. The house seemed a little too quiet for a few minutes, and then he heard Toby suddenly begin barking furiously.

The rogue shot up into a sitting position, almost throwing Mizuki off onto the floor. He reached down and caught her by the shoulders, tugging her up with him as he jumped to his feet. Something was very wrong. The wolf's barking resounded ominously through the house.

OOC: Hello DarkxRose! Sorry to hear Sakura is gone, but it's nice to meet you. Is she planning to eventually come back? (Going to wait till Mizuki comes back to make any more posts)

Darkrose:

Tora flung the wolf aside. It began to bark, and that was the cue for a quick escape. Not thinking to logically, Tora dived through the unopened window as glass shattered throughout. Landing on her feet, her body glided swiftly through the snow. By the time the others figured out where Tora was going, it would already be too late.

~On top of the Mountain~

"That was almost too easy, wouldn't you say?" Akisu smiled proudly. His grip on Tora was still strong. "Your heart has become weakened, since your memories are beginning to come back to you. Controlling you was too easy." He had served his Queen well.

~Tora, inside her mind~

It was grey again, and it seemed that she was placed in a field. Once again, the color began to seep out of her and into the landscape.

Tora felt like a ghost again. She glanced to her right, and a familiar face appeared...

Kyna.

"Brother! Brother! I found a rose for you!" The little girl jumped up and down excitedly. "Its your favorite flower."

"Thank you." He smiled. Earlier Kyna had asked him what his favorite flower was. He just blurted out a rose, since it was the first thing that came to his mind. Now he knew why she asked.

He must have spent a long time gazing at the flower, because when he looked up, Kyna was on a frail tree branch hanging over a speedy river.

"Kyna! Get-"

"AIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" The branch snapped and Kyna feel into the water. Her screams were muffled by the sound of the current.

He stumbled... should he use it? If he did, THEY might find them.

But his little sister was in trouble.

"KYNA! HOLD ON!" He shouted. He unlocked a deep level in his mind, where resided the dark energy. He focused that energy into a hand. To the naked eye, it looked as if Kyna was drug out of the river by an invisable force. However, Kyna could see the magic.

"Brother! Brother!" She came running crying into her brother's arms, after the magic had released her "Thank you!"

"Never, EVER, do something like that again!" He pulled her closer. "You scared me..."

"Brother...I scared you?" Kyna said, confused.

"Yes, you did. I though I almost lost you. But I swear Kyna, until the day I die, I will protect you!"

Kyna was too young to grasp the true meaning of these words...

~~~

OOC: Hello Soran! Nice to meet you too! And I don't know...

Emora:

Shea's form appeared on the top of the mountain next to the tiger. She looked at him for a moment and down the valley. Shea was there... yet she wasn't there. It was her form, but rather transparent since she was there only in spirit.

"How long before she reaches us?" Shea asked emotionlessly. Her flawless body had nothing to hinder it from being warm. She stood in her normal attire.


Darkrose:

"Give her ten minutes, tops. That is... unless shes wakes up." Akisu turned into his original form, one of the Mages at the Citadel. "However that is impossible. Who wants to wake up from good memories?"

Tora, in her sleep, witnessed event after event of Kyna and her older brother. How he fed her, looked after her, protected her.

Kyna's brother... somehow she knew him.

And Akisu smiled as Tora's spirit fell further into her dreams.

(OOC: I'm going to wait for the other to post ^_^)

Siren:

Siren stumbled out of the tavern dizzily, feeling slightly disoriented. Apparently her alcohol tolerance had gone down since she had stopped drinking while in Gaberial’s service. She leaned against the side of the tavern and began focusing her remaining clear thoughts into a spell, mumbling some phrases that would sound like gibberish to most people. It seemed to take her forever since her concentration was down, but she finally reached the conclusion, her least favorite part. “Expunge, detox.”<br>
No sooner than she had finished, her stomach became upset and she ducked into an alleyway to ‘expunge’ the extra alcohol that remained in her stomach and out of her blood stream. Then the second part of the spell came into effect. She began sweating as she felt her heart pace go up. She stood up, feeling altogether disgusting, wiped her mouth off with leaves from a nearby bush, and headed off in the direction of Mizuki’s house, leaving her inner body to the task of cleansing the alcohol from her blood stream.

One streamline of thoughts filled her mind in repetition: ‘I’m never doing that again. Boy, do I need a breath mint.' and 'This is going to hurt in the morning.'


Darkrose:

~This post is strictly OOC~

Um... Mizuki's computer just got a virus and the whole thing is completely shut down. So I don't know when she'll be posting again...

Just to let you all know ^_^

Mizuki:

Mizuki: OOC: OMGAWD!!! Me and Soran found a LOOP HOLE! MAIL! X3

IC: Barking... ditant sound off barking. Then suddenly the noise of barking hit her head on and she practicaly flew out of her sleep as if she were a bird.

"AHH!" she cried. Not noticing she clutched Soran like a child would a teddy bear in times of crisis.

OOC: Sorry, homework...mother..yelling...x_x thank god for loop holes! yay email! woot!!

Soran:

Soran was too focused on finding the cause of Toby’s barking to care much that Mizuki was latched onto him, half-dragging her as he ran to Rai’s room and threw open the door. Inside, the window had been broken and cold breeze billowed in the curtains. The bed was empty, and Rai was nowhere to be found. Toby was snarling viciously at the window; the situation was self-explanatory. But who could have followed them here and then infiltrated the house without their noticing?

“Come on. She can’t have gone far,” he growled, grabbing his coat and shoving Mizuki’s bow into her hand as they ran outside.


Mizuki:



Mizuki barely had any time to register what had happened before Soran was shoving her bow in her hands and running back outside. Quickly, she made a make-shift cape out of the blanket that was still around her shoulders by tieing it around her shoulders.

"What just happened?!" she asked Soran. All she saw was an broken window and Rai wasn't in her bed. Her thoughts raced. 'Is Luc behind this?!' she thought angrily. '...no...wait, he told me to look after Rai like my own. He would have no reason to hurt her if he ordered me to protect her! Ug! Why and what is happening?!'


Soran:

Soran didn’t know what was going on either, and was far from thrilled about it. They’d only just finally gotten out of their last crisis, and now a new one was springing up again. As soon as he got Rai back, he was seriously considering putting her under 24 hour surveillance.

He ran around the side of the house, pulling his coat on, and found a set of tracks leading from outside the broken window off into the woods. Further in that direction, a steep hill rose up above the trees. It was too heavily wooded for him to see anything going on at the peak, but that was where the tracks appeared to be leading. As he began running along the trail, his suspicions were confirmed as the ground became steeper under their feet.


Mizuki:

Mizuki followed Soran, the cold was sweeping up on her again. She tried to hold back a sneeze and prevailed. But coughing swarmed up on her like an ever winter… the Boader was an ever winter. She collapsed coughing like mad in the snow.

"Soran just….." she tried to say above her coughing fits. "Just go… I'll be fine….. I'll send you help!" She stumbled on her way back into the house trying not to look back. When she stumbled into the house she called out and Grye, Naoki and Gwendolyn came out in the panic. "Soran……. Needs help…. Someone… must… follow him…." Grye and Naoki stood up saying they would go and geared themselves.


EMora:

Shea used her power to looked down at the house from which the child was being taken from. She noticed the elf man named Soran running after them. She would not let him spoil her plans...

"I have better things to do than stand here," her transparent form said. She snapped her fingers. For a long moment nothing happened and then a thunderous clap sent lightening through the sky and from the bright flash a team of winged black horses pulling a flying chariot came from the dark clouds. "As soon as the child and your apprentice arrive leave on this..."

The chariot thundered to a stop beside them. The horses were not being driven be any one. They could handle it themselves. The demon horses snorted and stomped. Two black spiraling horns came from there foreheads. There wings were like a bats. In all they were hidious.

"Take the chariot to Darkwood. Then, once you have had a nights rest go on to Arroes. Do not try to use any form of portal travel. The child does not possess the strength in magic as you and your apprentice and will die. THAT, will mean you will suffer a fate worst than death..." Shea needed to return. She was doing two things at once. Trying to find out if Praxis was seriously wounded and trying to help her miserable follower... She faded off and disappeared...


Siren:

Siren had finally reached the house, and was feeling rather happily, till she heard Mizuki’s panicked voice, "Soran…… Needs help… Someone… must… follow him…"

Siren’s eyes went wide. She had just lost one master, she’d be damned if she’d loose another so soon. She ran the last steps to Mizuki, grabbing her by the shoulders tightly and spinning her around to face her.

“Where is he? What has happened to my master?” The look in her eyes reflected one of grim determination as she stared into Mizuki’s eyes.


Soran:

Soran stopped dead in his tracks as Mizuki suddenly began coughing uncontrollably. He turned to her blankly, not sure what was going on, but when several seconds had passed and she still couldn’t regain control of herself it began to seem that something was seriously wrong.

“Soran just…just go….I’ll be fine…I’ll send you help!” the girl coughed, turning and stumbling back toward the house. Soran watched her icily, but decided not to challenge her decision. There was no time right now. He turned on his heel and continued at a sprint up the mountain. The trees were becoming thinner as he approached the windy peak, and he could see the area ahead a bit more clearly. The rogue’s expression darkened as a shadow crossed above him. Jerking his head upward, he saw a flying chariot led by a team of pitch-black horses descend from overhead and land just out of sight ahead of him. This did not look good.

He picked up his pace and raced to where the chariot had landed. There he found an unfamiliar male who appeared to be some kind of sorcerer. He was holding a terrified Rai firmly and beside him stood…~’Tora?’~ What was she doing there? The vampire appeared to be in some sort of trance. Fairly sure he’d done nothing yet that would have caused them to detect him, Soran ducked into the shadows and watched warily to try to get a better idea of what was going on. There was no one there to back him up if he made a mistake, but he’d spent his whole life fighting alone and had learned the hard way not to miscalculate.


Darkrose:

"Good... you are here..." Akisu smiled at the corpse that carried Rai. The girl was still paralzyed, and the spell to manipulate Tora's body was still strong.

Everything was going according to plan.

He ordered Tora's body into the Chariot. This was the only thing bothersome, the stupid girl couldn't handel transportation. Personally, he didn't care wether Rai died or not. What more damage could the Queen possibly do to his already broken soul?

He had left his post at the Citadel for revenge on a girl... Who knew he would go on such an adventure? Nevertheless, he followed his queen's orders. Akisu jumped in the carriage...

... and headed off towards Darkwood.

(OOC: And this will probably be the beginning of a new thread... that is... if your attempting to save Rai. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA...ok. I'll probably make it tomorrow ^_^)

Soran:

Soran narrowed his eyes as Tora willingly stepped into the carriage. The footprints he’d followed to get here were too small to belong to the unfamiliar man. That left two possibilities. Either Tora had completely betrayed them, or that guy was somehow able to control her. There were very few things out there capable of subverting a vampire’s will other than the need for blood. If this person could use magic on that scale, Soran’s chances of getting close enough for an attack were 50/50. The risk was too high. The rogue watched coldly as Rai was taken into the carriage and it flew away.

Soran turned and began descending along the path he’d come on. They’d managed to take Rai…but there was no need to panic, yet. Soran recognized those horses, if they could be called such things. He’d encountered all sorts in the taverns of Hepian, not excluding several renegade citizens of Arken, and he’d overheard one such person speak of the demonic horses years ago. They were demonic creatures bred and trained only in the heart of the Witch Queen’s territory. They were expensive to acquire as well, which meant that whoever sent them here was either royalty or someone from the top of the nobility.

Based on past experience, Soran felt it safe to say that Shea, and not some noble, was responsible for this. If so, the carriage’s destination was most likely the Queen’s living place, the capital city of Arroes. But Arroes was more than one day’s journey from the border, even in flight. The carriage would have to stop somewhere.

Soran continued sorting out his thoughts as he returned toward Gwendolyn’s house. The witch queen was no meager opponent. For the first time in a while, Soran questioned to himself whether he really wanted to get into this. His face was empty of expression as he reappeared in Gwendolyn’s doorway several minutes later, just as Gwendolyn and Grye were about to rush out after him. They stepped back out of the way as he entered the room, watching him expectantly.

”What happened?” Gwendolyn asked worriedly. The rogue wasn’t meeting her eye. “Where is Rai?” she asked again.

“She’s been taken to Arken,” Soran said emotionlessly.


Siren:

As soon as Soran appeared, Siren released Mizuki hastily. The added anxiety had caused her heart to speed up and, on top of the already hastened flow of blood because of the spell, it was more than her body could easily handle. She clutched at her chest a bit as a stabbing pain surfaced, then leaned against the wall for support, trying to act as casual as possible.

"Ahh, thank goodness... All this anxiety really makes me have to pee!" She pretended a laugh as she walked off around the side of the house where they couldn't see her and sat against the wall, her wings wrapped around her protectively, and took deep breaths, waiting for her heart to slow.

Inside her head she yelled at herself for not thinking ahead when she had cast the spell, and for allowing herself to get in this state in the first place. She didn't expect any help to come, so she did the only thing she could; wait.


Darkrose:

OOC: Ok just to let you guys know the thread is "To Shea's Castle, Unleashing a Demon?" in the Darkwood section.

Its the only one there so its kind of hard to miss... lol ^_^


Soran:

OOC: Okay. We'll probably move over there as soon as our group leaves the border.


Mizuki:

MIzuki: OOC: =P if Mizuki's fit for the travel

IC: Mizuki was sweating and couldn't grasp reality at all. Her vision and hearing were blurred beyond compare. When she spoke she couldn't even hear herself.

"Please help Rai..." she said, not thinking of her own health and well being.

"You need rest." Grye said picking her up. He carried her to the couch and laid her there. "If anything we may leave you here with your mother." he spoke to her in a calming tone and of one towards a lover. He felt her
forehead. She was burning up. "Gwendolyn! She's burning up!" Gwendolyn rushed into the kicthen to fetch remedies.

"Oh Fates have mercy!" Naoki exclaimed. "I'll go with you, you'll need all the help you can get!"

"ANd I'll follow too." Grye said still at Mizuki's side and putting the cold, wet cloth on Mizuki's forehead that Gwendolyn had brought him. What no one knew was the Dark Angel child was forming quickly within her, causing her pain and making her seem unwell. Dark Angel children were always carried within the mother fast pace. Not like a normal pregnancy. "I can help in
area's were you lack. Like going ahead to see if it's safe."

"I just want Rai safe and all of you safe as well!" Gwendolyn said at her daughter's side also. "I will look into Mizuki's future and see what's happening, I'll be following your paths too. Me and Grye can stay in a
telekenetic connection. Just gear up and make sure you take weapons and first aid! Unlike last time..."

Meanwhile Mizuki laid, unable to hear or see anything, the only thing she could feel was a wet cloth and someone holding her hand. She clutched it in
response to the owner's own grip. Grye looked back down and gave Mizuki a weak smile before returning to the others.

Soran:

Soran watched with an empty frown as Grye set Mizuki on the couch and everybody began to rush about to tend to her health and make preparations for the journey. Something about the wizard’s demeanor aggravated the rogue, but he said nothing. He was alarmed by Mizuki’s rapid decline of health and felt anxious to do something about it, but there was little that hadn’t already been taken care of. And now it seemed he was to team up with the wizard to go and retrieve Rai. Well, that was the situation. There was no benefit to thinking about it.

He turned and went outside to escape the frenzied atmosphere, closing the door firmly behind him. Besides, there was other business to tend to. He walked around the corner of the building to where he could see the Angel sitting against the side of the house. Soran was standing about ten feet away from her, but it was evident from her posture that she was in some form of discomfort.

The rogue crossed his arms indifferently. “You’re still following me,” he said coldly from where he stood.

Siren:

Siren looked over in surprise at the sound of Soran’s icy voice. She felt a shiver run down her spine, tickling the spots her wings came out of as it went. She didn’t bother hiding her weakened state, since he’d know either way after first glance.

“Most guys would love to have a beautiful woman who says she want him to be her master following them around,” she said with a laugh.

“And yes. I am, and will continue, following you whether you like it or not. Think of it as compensation. You put in the effort, ended up robbing me of my lord, and now you have to take his place. Both a reward and a punishment, eh?” She held out her right hand, palm up, and continued, “I have my benefits as well after all.”<br>
In her outstretched hand she dropped a pinch of snow from the ground and formed a hollow blue sphere that shimmered slightly. She blew on it gently and watched as it engulfed a stick on the ground, just barely visible as a layer covering it. “Shield magic is among my more useful skills.”<br>
She looked over at him, wondering what he really wanted by coming out here. He didn’t seem the type to pick fights randomly.

Soran:

Soran looked down at the stick and then back at Siren. Her explanation was rather unrealistic, but coming from her it was almost believable. He wasn’t about to trust her, but if she could really do what she said she could… He noted that her body movements seemed strained.

“You need a doctor or something?” he asked detachedly, nothing in his voice particularly indicating that he intended to find one if she said yes.


Siren:

Siren squinted her eyes a little and glared at him, as if he was making a joke that wasn’t funny. “It’ll pass soon enough.” Her heart had calmed a little, and if she stayed relaxed it would go back to its normal pace within the hour.

“Drunken people do stupid things,” she explained in a school-teacher manner. “I did a stupid thing. NEVER cast drunk. But in a little bit it won’t be stupid anymore and it’ll just be painful, so don’t bother worrying. My head is already starting to hurt, in fact.” She rambled all this, which probably only made sense to her, as she put her hand to her forehead, which had started feeling symptoms of a bad hangover.

"So, what's wrong with the half blood woman?" She knew she was being dissprespectful, but was too preoccupied with the growing ache in her head to care.

Soran:

Soran opened his mouth to tell her it didn’t concern her, but changed his mind. “I don’t know,” he said honestly. The rogue heard noise from inside as Naoki was shouting to Gwendolyn in the next room about what was available to bring along as rations. He hooked his hands in his pockets and leaned his back against the wall, not interested in returning inside. “And after you left the tavern, how much did you drink?” he said dully.


Siren:

She looked up at him, making one way eye contact, her brows furrowed questioningly.

"After I left the tavern? Nothing, of course. It's not a store."

She scoffed a little and closed her eyes, preferring the darkness to the slight glints of light.

Soran:

“Then it’s no small wonder you’re in that condition,” the rogue said. ~’Well, I’m stuck out here anyway,’~ he thought indifferently. He reached into his coat and took his water canteen off his belt, tossing it to the Angel. “Drink it,” he said prescriptively, wondering if it was possible that she really didn’t know to drink water for hangovers.

Siren:

She looked at the canteen in confusion for a moment, then reached out and picked it up, opening the lid. She sniffed the contents, then took a test swig. 'Water? Seems safe enough.' She looked at him again curiously, making sure he made no suspicious movements, then took a few more swigs.

It felt good to have her tongue wet again. She gave him a perverse grin. "Now you didn't slip any strange substances in here to make me horny or anything, did you?" she teased.

She yawned, leaning her head against the wall. How long had it been since she had a good rest? Since her old master had died she had slept very little, and not well. Strange that she wasn't all that tired as she should be.

"So, one big question still remains among all the little details I've been dieing to ask. What the hell is going on here? And where's the runt?" 'Ok, so it was two questions. Too bad.'


Soran:

Soran tolerated her wild comment with a raised eyebrow, still trying to figure her out. When she asked what was going on, he just looked idly off into the trees. Just when it seemed he’d decided not to answer her at all, he spoke up.

“The details haven’t fallen into place, but the girl was taken by people under the Witch Queen’s command. They’re probably well into Arken by now, aiming to rest at Darkwood. We’ll be leaving any minute to intercept them there.” … … “So rest while you have the option,” he said emotionlessly, pulling out a file and running it purposefully along the edges of his armblades.


Siren:

Siren stood up hurriedly, almost falling over again from the standing too fast, and looked at him wide eyed, with an awed expression, which quickly became one of joy.

"Of course, master!" Her stomach rumbled again slightly. "Eh heh heh... I'm just gonna quick go get some rations from that store..." She rushed off, giving him a sidelong glance and enchanting smile as she passed, using her wings to propell her. 'Finally!' she thought.


Soran:

The rogue continued sharpening his weapons as the Angel hurried off, sure of his decision. If the fight was hand-to-hand, he was more than skilled enough, but the experiences of the last few days had shown him that he had a decisive vulnerability against magic. If the Dark Angel could reduce that risk, it was more than worth bringing her along.


Mizuki:

The child, unknowing to anyone, grew at rapid pace. Wings developing, small bodily features... as it grew Mizuki's stomache bulged slightly every hour, only Grye noticed this.

"Fates be damned!" he cried. Naoki and Gwendolyn looked to him in confustion. "Her stomache bulges as if with child! At a rapid pace!" Gwendolyn stared wided eyed at her daughter.

"I should've known." she said quietly. "But why so fast?"

"Should I tell Soran?" Naoki asked not bothering for any answers for she was already out the door looking for him. "Soran! Soran!" she called then turned the corner of her house and found him. "There you are! Why'd you leave?! That's not important, the pregnanacy is taking fast effect on Mizuki! Oh Fates! Why now?!" she ran back inside to pack and aid the bustling house.

Soran:

Soran’s eyes widened in disbelief and he flushed slightly. Pregnancy and such things had always been mysterious to him. More than just mystery – the whole concept didn’t sit well with him. Mizuki had already explained it to him, but the sudden confirmation that she was with child forced him to give it serious thought for the first time. He hesitantly followed Naoki back into the house and came to stand in the doorway of the room Mizuki was lying in. He looked at her carefully, finding it difficult to believe that what Naoki said was true.

The pain in Mizuki’s face was disturbing, and also angering. Gaberial had done this to her…that winged bastard. His death had been too easy. “Mizuki… we’re ready to go,” Soran said uncomfortably from the doorway. This seemed like the worst possible time to leave, but their enemies had the advantage of flight and would be difficult to catch up to. They’d taken too long already. He turned stiffly to leave, keeping his anger and impatience suppressed. Any other emotions that tried to take hold, he refused to acknowledge.


Siren:

Siren stored her newly-aquired provisions of water, cheese, bread, cake (angel food, of course), and salted meat in her bag charm, then left the shop and lifted into the air, flying back to Mizuki's house and landing on the doorstop.

Soran was standing there, looking rather impatient. "I didn't take that long..." she protested. "Anyway, ready when you are."


Soran:

Soran was so deep in thought that it took a moment to notice the angel standing right in front of him. "Soon." he said unreadably. He stepped out past her and then stopped again, seeming torn although his face was expressionless.

Inside his head, the rogue felt multiple loyalties fighting for dominance. Mizuki was in pain. Why hadn't he been able to go to her side, as Grye had? Was she going to end up giving birth by herself? What if she didn't survive? He hadn't known what to say.

But he was supposed to save Rai...she understood that he had to save Rai...it was only rational for him to leave immediately...

On the other hand, why was he dealing with this at all. He was a loner...always...anything else meant increased liability without any benefit. Everything that had happened to him since he met these people confirmed it.

He frowned as his mind called up memories of getting hit with snowballs, falling backwards off logs, sitting on the couch with Mizuki against him... He had felt stiff and awkward at those times, not in control... so why were they suddenly nostalgic in his memory? Why did he even hesitate to quit this style of living?

Well, he'd already committed to finding Rai. He would finish what he'd started. He coud decide the rest later. He'd been telling himself this since he left Hepian. Later. His anger and frustration had receded to the background, and for a brief moment the foremost thing on his mind was an anxiety to go back to Mizuki. It felt like he would never see her again. Damn it, he was contradicting himself. Only cowards hesitated.

"We're going with or without you, wizard," he called back icily, stepping out into the snow and considering what the most appropriate means of transportation would be. The griffins would be the fastest way to get there, as long as the woods didn't become too thick for the sled, but a horse would maneuver better if they were attacked along the way. No, speed was more important. He paused as he remembered how Grye could fly them.

He turned back to where Grye was standing in the doorway and looking anxiously back at his beloved Mizuki. "Wizard," Soran addressed him, turning Grye's attention away from her, "Are you capable of flying us the full distance to Darkwood?"

Mizuki:

Grye tore his pained eyes away from Mizuki's pained face from the rapid growth of the baby.

"I could fly us hald the distance." he replied looking at the ground. "Anymore than that and I'll not be able to fight." he turned back to Mizuki and held both her hands but she jerked one away to grip a pillow. She eyes were closed and tight in pain from the child's rapid growth. She couldn't hear a thing and it annoyed her. Voices were a dull, soft sound and there was no point in opening her eyes. Her vision was blurred too.

"Just... save... Rai. Why are... you...all...still...here?!" she cried a bit too loud, but she couldn't even hear the tone of her own voice. Her stomache grew slightly again and she winced. Her stomach was now a slight bulge beneath her cloths and the blanket. All her pained thoughts were of Rai's life, the pain and child within herself,... and how Soran was possibly dealing with it all. Is he sickened by her? Is he concerned?... will he hate her after the child's born..?

Soran:

"Naoki will bring us half the way on her sled. Then she will return here, and we'll continue to Darkwood using the flight spell," Soran said, "Time to go." He was walking toward the sled already, haunted by the agony in Mizuki's voice. Naoki looked indignant that her role was to be chauffer, but followed him and took the reigns. There would be time to talk on the road.

Siren:

Siren looked into the house, seeing Mizuki in pain. She looked on curiously. Siren and the others were already heading to the sleigh, but she ran inside quickly anyway. The tell-tale signs of pregnancy were all about Mizuki, though it seemed a little odd that she had changed quite this much since last seen.

Summoning the angel food cake from her charm, she handed it to the woman that appeared to be Mizuki's mother. "Feed it to her bit by bit, it's what we always use to comfort our expecting mothers back home. But whatever she says, no matter how much she beggs, if she asks for hot sauce on it don't let her! Horrible indigestion and such." Siren shivered invuluntarily, then dashed out, lifting off to fly beside the sled.

'So I held out a little... Well, I set them on the right track at least. They can get their own later.' Siren thought, remembering the two cakes she still had in the bag.


Mizuki:

Grye had set foot on the sled and then they were on their way. 'This poor kid is going through too much in a child's life.' he thought. He tried not to think of Mizuki's pain back at the house, but he couldn't stop himself from looking back. But when he did they were already swallowed up by the forest tree's and couldn't see the village anymore. He turned back around frowning, he glanced at the Dark Angel flying near them and considered turning into a bird to do the same, but then he would cut in half the distance he would need to fly them the rest of the way.

Naoki concentrated on steering the sled. 'Why do I have to go back!?' she thought angrily. 'That other woman get's to stay!....rrrrrrr..'

"Grye," it was Gwendolyn's voice connecting to him. "Make sure you stay in touch with me."
"Yes Gwendolyn." he replied then their connection went silent. Leaving him to concentrate on their current task.

Soran:

Soran sat in silence as the sled coasted through the forest, his face set in a contemplative frown. At length, the trees around them began to thin out, and then finally gave way to a vast plain. In the distance, the color of the ground changed from vibrant yellow and green grass to a dark, lifeless gray. A few bare, ghostlike trees spotted the landscape; otherwise it seemed lifeless. This was the border between Shea and Sinead's kingdoms.

"Beyond this point is Arken," Soran said in a low voice, "The ground will be heavily guarded, so we'll continue using Grye's spell." He got off the sled and looked at the dissatisfied expression on Naoki's face. "If you attempt to follow us, you will certainly be captured," he said firmly. Even in the air, it was going to be difficult to cross into Arken unnoticed. He still had the pass he'd acquired back in Hepian in his pocket, but attempting to use it would be a risky move. The queen was probably expecting them. "Time to go."

OOC: Moving to the Darkwood thread: To Shea's Castle...