Millsain was the name of a village 60 miles in from the border of Flanan. It had been attacked by Akuma's army two days previous. No help from the royal army had arrived. It only took one day for Millsain to be fully occupied by the enemy. Many were killed. Those who still had their lives knew it was only a matter of time. It was rumored that Akuma's army took no prisoners. Even women and children, no one would be left behind when the forces moved on.
Currently, the unnatural forces of the invading army were taking full advantage of whatever resources the village had to offer. What few people were still alive lived in fear. They dared not leave, but they knew their stay meant death. The soldiers were everywhere; looking somewhat human, but radiating a darkness that said they were also something else. Most of them were massive, heavy; and looked around with a dangerous burning in their eyes.
A large group had congregated in a tavern for the evening. Several young girls who had been spared from the earlier raid were being held prisoners there and forced to run the tavern so the soldiers would have someone to serve them drinks. Charlotte Baker was one of those girls. Both her parents had been killed in the raid. Her older brother had joined the Falnan forces two weeks previous. She had no idea where he was or if he was still alive. And she doubted she would live to find out. She was only sixteen.
There was a heavy banging of the door as it was opened and someone else entered the tavern.
"Servant girl!" A deep voice bellowed. "More wine! Food! Come serve our commander!" The creature then added with a throaty laugh. "He's had a busy day!"
Charlotte looked around. All the older girls were already fearfully serving at other tables. So far, the soldiers had been too tired and famished from their attack to want anything else besides food and sleep. So far. But Charlotte and the older girls feared that may change soon. However, she was the oldest one behind the counter. The other two girls that huddled there were 12 and 13 and were terrified. So Charlotte took out a large picture to answer to the call.
"Wine, M'Lord?" She tried as hard as she could to steady her voice.
The Commander who just entered was even larger than most. He had the bulk of a bull.. His skin was dark and dirty and caked with hair and grime. His eyes were deep set in his skull and hungrily glowed red as he looked up at her. Charlotte fought the panic rising at her as his stench reached her nose.
"Wine," the monster growled back, brandishing his large goblet. "And food."
"Wh--What would M'Lord wish to be prepared?" Charlotte asked, trembling.
She cried out as the massive thing grabbed her wrist, pulling her arm forward, forcing her to lean across the table. The panic in her heart built higher as she felt the Commander sniff her, growling in a tone that froze the blood in her veins.
"You smell like a virgin," the beast grinned in her ear. "I bet no man has ever touched that creamy skin of yours." His snake-like tongue slithered out and up her neck. "I bet your blood tastes so sweet."
Charlotte's eyes were wide, her body beyond her control in fear. Other soldiers were looking at her, all of them hungry. What where they going to do to her? In her heart, she prayed for someone to help her even though her head knew there was no one in the entire town that could. Massive hands closed around her and she could not stop the tears from falling.
The tavern door opened again. This time with such a forceful slam, all heads had to look up at the noise. In the doorway was a figure too short and thin to have come from the enemy army. The figure was in a hooded cloak, all body and facial features hidden. The tavern went silent as the stranger walked in on silent footsteps. Even the whisper of the cloak wasn't loud enough to reach the ears. It was like liquid silence slipping past the large masses. The stranger walked up to the back where the two youngest girls still were. All eyes were riveted on the hooded figure's back.
"Water," said a voice; quiet and gravelly. As if it had not been used in quite a while.
Loraine, who was 13 was horrified. She had no idea what she was supposed to do. Would the soldiers kill her if she helped this person or was she supposed to? Hana, who was 12, however, was so used to doing what she was told, instantly filled up a glass and gave it to the hooded customer without thinking. The newcomer sipped at the glass casually.
From his place, the Commander let go of his hostage. Once free, Charlotte ran to one of the other girls, sobbing. The Commander hoisted himself to his feet and stomped over to the hooded figure at the bar.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
The figure just looked at the cloudy water in their glass and then sipped again. "Just a traveler passing through. And you?"
"A traveler?" the Commander roared. "That's rich! You must be one stupid guy! Didn't you know there's a war going on? I'm the Commander of Akuma's troops around here. We've taken over this village and you, my poor traveler, have come into the wrong town."
He placed a meaty hand on the cloaked person's shoulder and his eyes went wide.
"That's quite a thin shoulder you have there, Stranger," he said with a sinister grin. "No man can have a frame like that." He looked the hooded figure up and down, smile growing. "You must be a woman under there."
Pale, pink lips curved into a smirk beneath the hood. "Is there a problem with that, Commander?"
"For you, maybe," the massive creature continued to grin. "If you were a man, I would just kill you right here. But as a woman..." He licked his grimy lips. "There's a toll to pay for coming in here."
Ever so slightly, the figure tensed at those words and the Commander gave a throaty laugh, sending a few of his soldiers chuckling as well.
"Oh, I can sense what you're feeling, girly," the Commander growled at her. "It radiates from you. You want to kill me, don't you?"
The stranger didn't move or respond.
"Surprised that I know?" The Commander continued to mock. "Working for Lord Akuma has its advantages over the regular pathetics of this kingdom. And don't worry, I don't take it personal, those feelings of malice. In fact, I find it quite captivating to meet a woman such as you; with such fire and spirit. Especially since I also can sense you haven't a single weapon on you."
The stranger tipped their head in the Commander's direction. "Extra senses are not meant to make one cocky, Commander. What if I took your weapon and used it against you?"
The Commander broke into riotous laughter, causing the same reaction from his troops. The few serving girls shrank back, feeling sorry for the newcomer. But the stranger didn't budge as the large man laughed in her ear.
"You want to know why I think that is so funny?" The Commander demanded with his grin still in tact.
There was the shuffle of metal and leather and then a large sword was swung onto the table top. The wood creaked under its weight, it's length easily the height of the hooded figure.
"Now you see the punch line of the joke," The Commander bragged. "Grown men have trouble lifting this. A tiny woman like yourself would not be a threat to me with or without this weapon."
The two young girls behind the counter were wide eyed. Why was that woman still smiling under her hood?"
"Do you remember Winter, Commander?" she asked, her voice becoming clearer, more feminine. "How the first big snow would blanket everything in white? How it seemed to suck up all the sound from the previous year over night and leave a layer of silence as the sun rose?"
The creature cocked an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? It hasn't snowed anywhere in over 100 years. This world is forever summer."
"The people of the South," the stranger continued. "When they danced, the snow would come. It was a beautiful dance, leaving everyone who saw it so in awe, they could not speak. A Dance of Silence. Would you like to see it, Commander?"
The Commander grinned wider, running his tongue lustfully over sharp teeth. He eyeballed what of the figure he could see underneath the cloak. "Show me," he growled.
Behind the counter, the two girls continued to watch, unable to move. The stranger reached out and patted Hana's head. Then, pushed her down. Both girls allowed themselves to be motioned to their knees.
"Don't look," the stranger whispered.
Then the stranger stood and the Commander was granted a straight view of the face and body beneath the cloak. He grinned as the woman pressed a finger to her soft lips and let out a sound barely beyond a whisper.
"Sh-h-h-h..."
The Commander looked to the counter, his sword was gone.
The older girls huddled together as they watched it all with wide eyes, unable to look away. It played like a silent film. There should have been sound, but it was somehow kept away from their ears. The bones as they were sliced, the voices as they cried out in horror, the blood as it splattered thickly on all sides of the tavern. Even as the pieces of the bodies fell to the floor; there was not a sound. The Commander slid into two pieces, both sides still quivering. The girls could not even utter one gasp among them. For a moment, all sound was gone.
"Commander! Commander!" a soldier called as he ran in. "The Queen's forces are approaching! They're a day's march away! We need to--"
He, too, was quickly silenced. The woman watched the body as it fell to the floor, leaking its life energy. Ignoring the gruesome sight within, the woman looked to the doorway, thoughtfully hoisting the gigantic, blood-covered sword to her shoulder as if it were nothing. That act made her hood fall from her head. A trail of bright red hair spilled out; the same color as blood.
"The Queen's forces are coming, huh?" she smiled. "Maybe I should go say hello."
************

Into darkness, into danger,
Into storms that rip the night.
Don’t give in, don’t give up
But give thanks for the glorious fight!
You can tremble, you can fear it
But keep your fighting spirit alive, boys!
Let the shiver of it sting you.
Fling into battle, spring to your feet, boys!
Never hold back your step for a moment!
Never doubt that your courage will grow!
Hold your head even higher and into the fire
We go!

Guardian Souls
By: Ghost of the Dawn

Chapter Fifteen: Don't Make a Sound

Cye looked about the darkening countryside. The sun was going down, but in the wooded area where he was sitting, it was already dark. He was crouched on a rock, subarmor on, as he watched about between the trees surrounding him. It was starting to get cold, but he ignored the camp fire burning a few yards away. He wasn't fully away from the fire's light, but he was far enough away from the crackling and snapping that he could hear the sounds of the forest. It had been three days since they had left the castle and marched towards Akuma's kingdom.
Past the lengthy fields that surrounded the village at the castle’s base, it eventually all turned into wild brush and then into thick forests. Cye had no problems with forests, but he began to feel the air of the environment change the closer they got to Akuma's kingdom. At first, the woods felt normal. Like any other woods in any other world. But then they started to change. The atmosphere grew darker, almost sinister. The birds eventually stopped chirping and the forest animals disappeared. Even the trees started to look dark and foreboding. This night, even the crickets had stopped chirping. Aside from the fire, the night was silent.
But Cye knew silence didn't mean empty. There were still things in the forest, he could sense them out there. Unnatural things--unnatural like the Dynasty. Dynasty things, however marched and clanked and made their presence known. These things put Cye at a far greater state of unrest. These things slunk and slithered and salivated in the darkness. Cye could feel their eyes hungry watching him and he refused to lower his guard. Even though he only had sub armor on, he also had his Yari and he clutched it tightly, feeling better with the cold steel of it in his hands.
Around the fire were his friends. Ryo was sleeping next to the flames. They were taking turns sleeping and keeping watch just as they had done several years previous. Sage, who was also supposed to be sleeping, was sitting on his bed roll, elbows resting on his pulled up knees as he stared at the fire. Rowen was next to him, probably wondering as much as Cye when Sage was actually going to get some sleep. Ever since they had left, it had not gone unnoticed that the blonde seemed to be pushing harder than anyone else. If Cye had to guess, he would suppose it was probably because of Sage's lack of armor. Cye could only imagine. Without Halo, Sage didn't feel as useful and was attempting to pull more than his weight on this journey. It was probably wearing Sage out. The fact that Rowen was constantly at Sage's side like a babysitter wasn't helping. Even now, Strata was right next to his best friend, mirroring Cye's expression as he looked at the blonde. They needed to think of some way to persuade Sage to go to bed..
Behind the small camp were other camps and tents and horses and torches and large numbers of soldiers--Darris' army. It was strange traveling with them. They weren't used to working with another group of people to do anything. Especially not a group this big. It was almost too much for the four young men. Each felt an urge to be separate from them--fully knowing that they would be the main target of any attack. Camping slightly away from the army was the best the Ronins could do for now, but they all worried about the future. What would happen to these men? Where they supposed to protect them all from the dangers ahead? COULD they protect them all?
Cye lifted his head as a tall, masculine figure entered their small camp. His dark skin almost melted into the night, but his hair shined like silver in the firelight. It was Hariel. The deity had been coming in and out all through the journey. He would be walking with them and then he would disappear for a time. There were moments when he would be seen as White Blaze running through the woods ahead of them or seen by the soldiers as Hariel standing at the rear, watching the last of the army press on. The past two nights White Blaze had always padded into their camp and slept with whomever was sleeping and would be gone by morning.
But this time, Hariel was the one to enter their camp that night. Though Cye was sure he was feeling about as useless as Sage since he was forbidden to interfere, Torrent still couldn't help but notice Hariel seemed far more antsy that night. It made Cye more on edge as well. It felt like something was coming.
All that were awake looked up when Hariel approached. The white haired man wandered around the camp once or twice as if looking for something he had forgotten. Then, he wandered over next to Sage and looked down at him, arms folded.
"If you don't get some sleep, Sage, I'm going to make you get some."
The blonde looked up at him, his visible eye wide. Hariel's expression said he was not joking.
Sage turned and grumbled something inaudible, possibly rude, as he climbed into his blankets. Hariel must have heard because he reached down and touched the back of Sage’s neck and the young man was out like a light.
Rowen looked at him, eyes wide a bit himself. Hariel waved back and then walked over and sat on the rock next to Cye. The Bearer of Torrent raised his eye brows at him. Hariel hadn’t really paid that much attention to him. He had never even been this close to the white haired man before. It was kind of weird to sit right next to him and size him up like that. But it was also nice to feel the unnatural things in the darkness shrink away as Hariel sat down.
“You seem a bit on edge today, “ Cye observed. “Is something going on?”
Hariel rubbed his face tiredly; something very uncharacteristic for a god. “Everything is going on, Cye,” he said cryptically. "I can sense all of your agitations, your worries, and your fears. But I cannot do anything about it."
"Can't or won't?" Rowen shot from across the fire.
Cye thought he looked a bit bitter. In fact, Strata had seemed far more sullen and angry since they had left the castle. Since Robyn had disappeared, to be more precise. Cye could hardly blame him, too. They were all worried. They still weren't sure what was happening. All they knew was that Robyn was injured and where ever she was, she was probably alone. A scenario like that didn't sit well with any hero.
The fact that Myune and Miniko were both along on this journey didn't help matters any at all. It was understood Miniko was remembering more and more about her past lives and she was listening to Myune a lot these days. This made the Ronins wary of both Myune and her. It was out of the question for Mia to come along. So with her still at the castle, Diana was the closest thing to a mediator the two groups had. But even Cye had to admit they didn't know her that well. They only turned to her because she was the only one to yet so any aggression to either party and there wasn't any other alternative. Diana also stayed with the other priestesses as it would not be proper for her to bed with the warriors. She would only drop by if she had any pertinent information or to ask how they were doing.
The camp was large and the two groups hardly saw any of each other, but that did little to settle the tension that passed by them. Rowen, with his insistence to baby-sit Sage and all his other personal feelings that Cye could only guess at, seemed to be wearing the thinnest. And now he had turned his frustrations on Hariel.
"You can't help us or you won't help us?" Rowen repeated when he didn't get an answer.
Hariel regarded the frustrated Ronin with all the patience that White Blaze had during their problems. He sat with knees up, mouth resting on his interlaced fingers.
"A little of both, I guess. It's not that I don't want to--and I do--but I can't. Even if I tried, it just wouldn't work."
Rowen and Cye both looked at him like they weren't following what he was trying to say. Hariel tried again.
"You see, every type of being is created for a purpose. The purpose of beings like myself is to watch over beings like you where as your purpose is to do. As mortals, your function is progress, change. I cannot do either. I stay the same forever. Even if I were to intervene, there is nothing I can do to influence the outcome. I just don't have that type of power. Neither does Yanushi. We don't have the ability to change anything. That's your job. I'm only here to make sure you go back home alive and finish out living YOUR destinies when you're done with this world's fate."
Rowen huffed. He still wasn't understanding how someone with so much power could accomplish so little. He got up and wandered the perimeter of the camp, unwilling to listen to any more of what the deity said.
For his part, Cye mulled the idea in his head. It kind of made sense to him, he supposed.
"You almost make it sound like, as mortals, we're more powerful than you are, Hariel," he told him.
Hariel smiled. "You are. Gods can only create. It takes the power of a mortal to change."
Cye tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I think I'm understanding. Though I'm curious as to why you're visiting us tonight. Or was it just to piss Rowen off? Though reason enough if you ask me."
Hariel chuckled. "You two amuse me to no end, but...." He trailed off and Cye noticed he was watching Ryo sleeping by the firelight. "I cannot change things and I cannot help him. I just wanted to make sure someone was here when he woke up."
Cye looked down at Ryo and then back up at Hariel. The deity looked sad and Cye was confused. Why would he be concerned about Ryo waking up without others around?
There was a gasp from around the fire and Cye turned his head in time to see Ryo bolt up from the ground, eyes wide and panting. It took Wildfire a few seconds to realize he was no longer dreaming. Then he clutched his head in his hands and pulled up his knees, painting a very pathetic picture to the bearer of Torrent.
Cye looked on, quite worried. What has Ryo been dreaming about? He looked close to almost breaking down in tears. When Cye turned to Hariel for a second opinion, all he saw was a white tiger jump off the rock next to him. White Blaze padded silently over to Ryo, taking time to nuzzle his shoulder before laying down next to him. Ryo instantly rolled over to curl up next to the tiger and bury his face in the thick fur. He suddenly looks so childlike, laying there. Cye surmised he probably did that a lot as a child.
Torrent stood and approached the scene. He knelt on the other side of the massive cat and leaned over White Blaze's back to get a look at his leader.
"You okay, Ryo?"
He could see Ryo's eyebrow twitch. Obviously Wildfire was not happy with Torrent being witness to his earlier display.
"...Yeah.." Came the delayed reply.
Cye leaned further over the tiger. "Are you sure? Do you want to talk about it?"
Ryo opened one eye to glare at him. "I said I'm fine, Cye. Don't worry about it." He closed his eyes again and snuggled closer to White Blaze to finalize the conversation.
But Cye was not finished. He got up and went around the other side to sit next to Ryo and lean against the tiger as well.
Ryo opened his eyes again. "What...are you doing?"
Cye made himself comfortable. "Whenever you're ready to tell me, my friend. I'll be right here."
Ryo inched away from him. "I told you to drop it, Cye. I don't want to talk about it!"
A stubborn expression crossed Cye's face. And he thought it was hard getting Kento to talk to him. There was only one thing left to do.
Ryo's eyes went wide when he noticed Torrent was advancing on him. "Cye?! What are you doing? Get off of me! Get away! Leggo!"
As the two struggled next to him, White Blaze opened an eye lazily. The tiger was aware of a constant presence in the back of his consciousness that was finding great amusement at the scene. But White Blaze himself just yawned and put his head back in his paws. What those two did was their own business. His job wasn't to protect his wards from each other.
*******************

Captain Darris looked up when someone entered the main tent. He wasn't expecting anyone as the night watch had just been sent out. He was even more surprised to see who it was.
"Are you busy?" Miniko asked timidly. She was now dressed more for battle instead of the usual priestess robes.
"Not more than usual, My Lady." Darris gave a slight grin. "Please come have a seat."
Miniko did so, noticing all the maps and notes spread out on Darris' table.
"How is...everything looking?"
"Good so far, I suppose," Darris nodded, continuing to write notes on his maps. "We've been lucky not to run into any of Akuma's forces. I'm a bit surprised. I was sure he would have sent something out after us by now. I would venture to expect we'll be encountering something or another on the morrow."
Miniko nodded absently. She sat in silence, listening to the papers being shuffled and drifting off into her own thoughts. Darris stopped what he was working on and looked up at her.
"Something troubles you, My Lady."
Miniko looked up and then looked embarrassed. "Yeah, I guess a little. But I probably shouldn't have brought it here. You have so much to worry about and I--"
"No, it's fine. If you would like to tell me about it, My Lady, I will listen."
Miniko wrung he hands as she sat. She felt stupid coming there. Like a lost child. But she trusted the captain and she had no one else with her to talk to.
"I just worry about how tense it is around here. I'm supposed to be helping the Armor Bearers but Lord Strata won't let me near him or any of them. Diana is the only one able to talk to them. And even then, they're suspicious of her, too. I understand why they're acting this way, but I don't know how we're supposed to work together if we don't trust one another." She sighed and rested a hand on her fist. "I miss the way it used to be. Everything fell into place then."
Darris raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you saying you are remembering your past lives?"
Miniko gave a weak smile. "Myune's been helping me, but it's starting to all come back."
Darris had a thoughtful look on his face. Miniko was suddenly very curious to know what he was thinking.
"Do you remember a young boy of about eight who fell into a river?"
Miniko looked at him blankly. She didn't recall anything like that. At least, not when she lived in Japan. When she lived in Falnan, however....
"That was YOU?" Miniko gasped.
Darris tried hard to fight back a smile; he failed. "I was half drowned when you pulled me out. I thought angels had come to take me to heaven." He chuckled. "But from then on I wanted to do nothing else but serve and protect those angels. My family was only slightly well off, but I worked hard to get into the royal army and then on the elite guard. All my ambitions led to that. I wanted to use all my skill to be near you and protect you."
Miniko nodded politely and then her eyes went wide. "You"? Did he mean you as in you four or you as in just....
She could hardly finish the thought as her face grew warm. Her heart was beating faster. No, NO! Stop it! You can't be like this! You can't love him! It's not allowed! It's not–
A scream tore through the night. The scream of a grown man.
"CAPTAIN!" A frantic soldier burst into the tent. "Monsters! The camp is under attack!"
*************

"Cye, I feel ridiculous! Let me go!"
"Sorry Ryo, you're bringing this on yourself. It's your fault I'm not letting you go. Are you going to talk to me?"
Instead, Ryo just sulked. Both were still laying against White Blaze's side, but Cye was hugging Ryo from behind, pinning his arms to his sides with a vise like grip. Ryo had been surprised at Torrent's sudden strength. Cye could be quite strong and stubborn himself when he wanted to be. There was no getting out of this hold any time soon.
Ryo would have never admitted it in a million years, but he was glad Cye was there. Even though he was fighting to not talk about it, just having his friend near made him feel a little better. In Cye's strong, stubborn hold, Ryo sighed and leaned against him, tired of struggling against the grip.
"I don't know how this is going to end, Cye," he said quietly.
"No one does," Cye replied, still not loosening his hold. "It's the same as when we fought Talpa. We didn't know if we were going to win then either. We just had to hope and do our best."
Ryo shook his head. "No, this one is different. This one hurts more. It's not even our world but...I'm not sure what to do. I don't know if....I can save her."
Cye sucked in a breath at Robyn's mention. Three days without a word of where she was or what had happened to her. And they were marching away from her despite Myune's assurance that she would soon follow. Cye was sure Ryo was going through the same turmoil he was. Torn with the feeling of wanting to run back to the castle to find her. But they also had a job to do. Their duty as Ronin Warriors was to protect the innocent and the people of this world needed them. How could they turn their back on them?
"Cye?" Ryo then asked. "How are you taking this so calmly? You make me feel like an idiot. Why am I the only one freaking out about this?"
Cye smiled a bit at the back of Ryo's head. He moved his arms so he was hugging Ryo more than holding him down. "You aren't the only one. You missed my tantrum back at the castle before we told you and Sage. Unfortunately for me, Rowen was the only one who saw it."
"Yeah well, Rowen is stuck witnessing a lot these days," said Rowen, who was standing over them with his hands on his hips and a confused look on his face. "What are you guys doing? Having a date or something?"
Ryo's face went beet red, but Cye had already got him back in that strong hold of his.
"Ryo's being punished," Cye informed Rowen, not embarrassed at all. "He has something he needs to tell me. He can tell you, too, if you want."
Rowen grinned. That sounded like fun to him. He squatted next to the two to get the whole story when a series of horrified cries reached their ears.
Cye let go and all three ronins were instantly on their feet. Cye picked up his discarded yari and ran after Ryo and Rowen. Up ahead, through the trees, they could see tents, supplies, and bodies flying through the air as some large...thing tore through the camp.
"What is it?" Ryo asked as he squinted at the chaos. "Can you guys see it?"
"Barely," Cye replied. "It's like some kind of...snake or something. It's so black though."
It was more like, Cye decided, it was the color of night--not of black. Only when one of its coils slithered near firelight could an outline be seen. One of the soldiers cried out as he was lifted into the air by toothy jaws.
"We have to do something!" Ryo cried.
"We need light!" Cye called back. "So we can see the bugger!"
"I've got this!" Rowen announced. "Armor of Strata!"
The creature froze, dropped its victim and lunged towards Rowen with surprising speed for its size. There was no time for Rowen to finish calling his armor. The mouth full of teeth, each tooth the size of a large dagger, was upon him. The monster grabbed him around the mid section, his arm down the creature's throat, and lifted him up in the air.
"Rowen!" Cye and Ryo called.
Rowen gritted his teeth against the attack. His sub armor was keeping his skin from being pierced so far, but he could feel the pressure of the teeth. In a sparse moment, Rowen noticed the thing had no eyes. It had blood and pieces of clothing stuck in its jaws. Evidence of earlier meals. The breath coming from the creature’s throat was also extremely fowl, smelling of rotted flesh. Rowen fought the urge to hurl as he was tossed about in the creature's attempt to get a better hold on him.
With is free arm, Rowen tried to wedge himself loose and, a few times, tried to punch some of the teeth in. He could hear his friends calling his name, but there was nothing he could do about it. Then, he noticed a glowing in the back of the creature's throat. Rowen almost stopped struggling for a moment to wonder what it was.
"Hang on Rowen!" Ryo called, about to call his armor.
He nearly forgot what he was doing, however, when another creature came up behind the first one. It was even harder to see. The only way Wildfire and Torrent even knew it was there was that there were gaping, bloody bodies hanging out of his mouth.
Both warriors instantly felt sick at the sight.
"Ryo, we have to do something!" Cye panicked. He had never seen anything so gruesome before. "They're going to kill everyone!"
Rowen screamed. Blue arcs of energy seemed to surge from the creature's throat and into him.
"Rowen!" Ryo cried. "Hang on! I'm coming!"
He started to call his armor again.
"No, Lord Wildfire! Don't!" Diana cried out as she ran up to them. "They'll attack you, too, if you do!"
Ryo was about to ask what he was supposed to do then when a rain of lightning engulfed both creatures and they screamed shrilly in agony. The first one dropped Rowen as it howled in pain and Cye ran to catch his friend.
"You okay, Ro?" he asked as Rowen struggled to sit up. Strata looked more than a bit shook up.
"Yeah, jus....Just gimmie a second." Rowen was staggering as if he had been stuck on the Merry-Go-Round a bit too long. His hair poked up in funny angles like he had been shocked--and he probably had.
"You SURE you're okay?" Cye pressed.
"Yeah, yeah. Just point me in their direction. I'll get them." Rowen stumbled back and fell on his rear.
"Why don't you want us to call our armors?" Ryo demanded.
Myune dropped down from the treetops. "They don't have eyes," She told them. "They see with their other senses. They eat flesh and also arcane magics. Armor bearers like yourselves would be most delicious for them. The second you try to call your armor, that's like ringing a very loud dinner bell for them."
"Great, so what do we do?" Cye asked as he pulled Rowen to his feet again.
"I don't wanna be eaten," Rowen told them. "Even just my powers. It's not fun."
"We need our armors!" Ryo insisted. "We'll have to distract them long enough for one of us to call ours up. Cye, take Rowen and try that first one. I'll take care of the other one."
"I'll go with you, Lord Wildfire," Myune told him. "I can distract them easily." She made an arch of electricity over her finger tips to prove her point.
"Careful, Myune," Diana warned. "You don't have as much power without an armor bearer."
Even with all the chaos about, Cye and Rowen did not fail to notice that. Why did she take the armor away from Sage and not give it to anyone else if it was making her weaker?
Now was not the time. The two creatures attacked and everyone scattered. Cye and Rowen jumped one way while Myune and Ryo jumped the other. Diana stood her ground. She had a quiver on her back and a bow in her hand. She let loose a barrage of arrows into one of the creature's face and it howled in pain again.
"Wow! She's gutsier than she looks!" Ryo marveled.
"This way, Wildfire!" Myune called, taking to the tree tops. "Call up some of your power and they'll follow us."
"Ryo's got the right idea," Rowen said from the ground, fully aware it wasn't really Ryo's idea. “We gotta get them out of the camp ground. Let's go Cye!"
The two groups split, each calling up just enough of their power to entice the monsters and clear the area. Once they were gone, Diana lowered her bow and went to see what the damage was. Her powers would be more at use at camp than fighting the creatures.
***********

Ryo was impressed with how quick Myune got around in the trees without any sub armor. He mildly wondered if any of that came from her Halo powers or if she was just that good. Though there was no time to be too impressed unless he could also be impressed with how fast the worm-like creature was slithering after them.
"When I give the word," Myune told him. "Call up your armor. Don’t hit him with any power, just your element."
Ryo had barely nodded when Myune’s “NOW!” rang through his ears. Myune suddenly switched directions, jutting back the way they had come while Ryo lept to the ground. The second his feet hit, he called Wildfire’s name. He felt more than saw the creature suddenly turn all its attention right on him and prepare to strike. He needed more time. Ryo’s armor was still forming.
Thick bolts of lightning came down again and the creature screamed. The second Ryo felt the sword on his back form, he reached for them.
“Hurry! I can’t hold it!” Myune’s voice called from somewhere.
Ryo brandished his twin swords. “Armor of Wildfire! FLARE UP NOOOOW!”
He willed the blades to massively hot temperatures and fired the consuming inferno right at the creature. The monster howled and screamed as it was consumed in fire. Ryo didn’t let up. He poured on the flames, willing the temperature even higher. The snake-like thing gave one last scream before it was incinerated in the heat.
Wildfire’s attack died down and he stood in the darkness, panting. The monster had been reduced to ashes and only a few trees were slightly sparking. Ryo was pretty proud of himself as he slapped the fire off one trunk with his blade. Not too bad for a night’s work.
There was some shuffling and panting in the night. Ryo walked towards the sounds and found Myune breathing hard and trying to stay on her feet.
“Takes a lot out of you, doesn’t it?” he asked, not offering any assistance.
Myune glanced up at him, but didn’t reply.
“You need an Armor Bearer or your strength fades just like that. It’s because you get your power directly from the strength of the one wielding the armor.” Ryo went on. “Why don’t you give Halo back to Sage–even if it’s just for this battle? We both could use his armor’s help.”
Myune looked up at him, her panting beginning to slow. “I don’t expect you to understand why I did it. I’m not giving it back to him. He doesn’t deserve it. He’s not worthy of an armor as great and true as Halo.”
Ryo visibly bristled at that comment. “You can’t say that! You don’t even know what kind of person Sage is! You had no right to take Halo away like that! You don’t know anything about us!”
“And you don’t know anything about me,” Myune shot back. She laughed darkly. “You must hate me by now, Lord Wildfire. I dishonored your friend by calling him unfit of his armor, and I tried to kill the girl you love.”
“Love?!” Ryo’s eyes went wide and his face instantly flushed a deep red. “I dunno if I l-love..I mean, I like her and all and I’d like to, you know, do stuff with her but, I dunno if it would do THAT kind of...” He trailed off as his imagination took a hold of him and his face went even redder.
Myune just stared at him, not believing the reaction she just got. “What on earth is wrong with you?” she demanded. “Did you not hear a single thing you were told? You’re not supposed to be doing this! You can’t fall in love with a Priestess!”
Ryo’s expression instantly changed again. He looked at Myune pragmatically. “But I didn’t fall in love with a Priestess; it was Robyn. And I can’t change that. That’s the way it is.”
Myune looked away. He was right. That was the way it was and nothing could be done about it at the moment. It was a monstrous waste of time to push the subject further with what was going on at the present time.
Ryo called off the Wildfire armor. Now in just sub armor, he walked up to Myune and squatted down, his back to her.
“Come on, I’ll take you back.”
Myune looked at him skeptically. She, a sacred priestess, was going to ride piggy back style on one of the armor bearers?
“Come on,” Ryo repeated, sounding impatient. “You’re too beat to walk and I can’t leave you out here. It’s either this way or I carry you over my shoulder. Your choice.”
This way was bad, but the thought of being brought back to camp slung over Wildfire’s shoulder was far worse. Myune heaved a big sigh to voice her disapproval, but put her arms around Ryo’s neck anyway. As they started off Myune couldn’t recall a time when she was more embarrassed. What would everyone at the camp say when she arrived like this?
“And I don’t hate you,” Ryo suddenly said out loud. “I just wish you’d realize we are both on the same side.”
Myune didn’t reply. Inside she knew that wasn’t entirely true.
I wish it were true, Lord Wildfire. But I feel we will all be fighting against each other soon enough. Not for this kingdom, but for something else.
**********

Cye and Rowen raced through the forest in the opposite direction. It got considerably darker the moment they left camp. It was, after all, the middle of the night and they were now away from the camp fires. Cye could hear more than see that the monster was still right on their heels. He had no idea what he was going to do about it. It was so fast, neither of them would have had time to call their armors. Cye was spending most of his concentration just trying not to run into anything in the pitch blackness.
"We gotta do something soon, Rowen," Cye told him as he dodged this tree and that rock. "We can't keep this up forever unless you WANT to run around until sun up."
"I'm thinking, I'm thinking," Rowen replied. "If there was just a way we could--"
Cye looked to his side. Rowen was not there any more.
A downed Strata was laying on his back, wondering what happened. His neck hurt from being clothes-lined by a particularly evil branch that was hidden in the darkness. His sight was bad enough with just being half eaten and drained, but now Rowen was really seeing stars. His vision slowly started to clear and he could see a few real stars between the tops of the trees. Then a large, black mass shadowed his view. Rowen struggled to sit up as the worm creature posed to strike him again
The gaping mouth lunged and Rowen felt someone grab him and whisk him off into the air. All the creature got was a mouth full of dirt. Cye was supporting Rowen with an arm around his shoulder a few paces off.
"We almost needed a new Strata, there," Cye joked wryly.
The creature howled angrily at its escaped prey. Cye tensed to flee again.
"Wait, Cye," Rowen told him. “Be quiet. Don’t make a sound.”
Cye wasn't sure why Rowen didn't want them to run for their lives from the massive creature, but he did what he was told. Rowen watched the creature, his face a mask of concentration. It was hard to see the monster in the darkness; only when the moonlight hit its skin could a slight silhouette be seen. But Cye knew better to question Rowen when he had that expression on his face.
"It can't find us, Cye," Rowen whispered. "It can't sense where we are."
"Yeah, but it will if we try to put our armor on," Cye replied.
Rowen nodded, still thinking. There had to be some way.
The light of the moon gleamed off something in Cye's hand.
"You still have your yari, Cye?"
"Yeah, but I doubt it will do us any good. It would probably only feel like a pin prick to a monster that size."
Rowen tensed and Cye could almost feel the strings of a plan coming together in his mind. The creature was continuing to thrash around in the forest. It was only a matter of time before it either found them or ran back to the camp where it knew other prey was.
"Cye, do you remember back at the castle gate? When Ryo put on the Wildfire armor without actually calling it up? It was like he just...willed it onto his body."
Cye looked at him. "Are you saying you want us to try and call up our armors like that? It may shave some time, but it still might not be enough. That thing is too fast. And besides, we don't know if it will even work. We've never done it before."
"That's not exactly what I had in mind," Rowen continued. "But what if you could will power into your yari withOUT calling up the full Torrent armor?"
"I think you got hit too hard, Rowen. That's even a longer shot than the other idea. Sounds a bit dodgy to me."
"Well if you don't think it will work, it's not going to," Rowen huffed at him. "It's not like I can try it for you. My power's been drained, I can't see straight, and I don't exactly have Strata's bow with me. It's you or nothing."
The creature was getting tired of searching. It was turning around.
"Well, I dunno Rowen. We don't have time to actually test that theory."
"Good, glad you're with me Cye!" Rowen began to call up some of his power.
The creature stopped, turned, and made a bee line straight for them in an alarming rate.
"ROWEN! You're bloody daft, you fool!" Cye yelled at him.
Rowen interlaced his fingers, signaling for Cye to put his foot on them. "You've got one shot Cye! Go!"
It was far past argument time thanks to Rowen. Cye stepped up and then Rowen sprung him high into the air. Cye could see the creature as it was almost upon his comrade as he back flipped in the air. The creature lunged. Rowen still had enough wits about him to jump out of the way. Cye landed on the monster's back and plunged the tip of his yari into the tick hide.
'Torrent, if you can hear me, give me the power to do this," Cye prayed. "Armor of Torrent! SUPER WAVE SMASHER!"
The power came from deep inside him; from the very core. It poured up his body, down his arms; into his hands and then into his weapon. Cye poured all of Torrent’s power from the tip of his yari into the body of the beast. The second it realized it was under attack, the creature stopped pursuing Rowen and began to squirm. It could feel the power building, but it could do nothing to get its attacker off its back. The monster began to glow from the inside out and Cye knew when it was time to step back. Pulling out his blade, Cye made a hasty retreat from the creature right before it exploded.
He felt the force of the explosion as the power was released, but none of the backlash hurt him. It was his own power after all. The only thing he did catch were a few slimy pieces of monster on his sub armor. Cye brushed them away in disgust.
"Rowen? You alive?" Cye then called to the darkness.
"Alive and kicking," Rowen replied as he walked out from behind a few trees. He had more time to get away before the creature exploded and his armor was less messy. "You missed a piece right there." Rowen pointed to his shoulder.
Cye glanced over and flicked the piece of blubber clinging to his shoulder in disgust.
"Nice job, buddy," Rowen gave him thumbs up.
Cye frowned. "Yeah well, I demand more notice next time you decide we're going to do one of your "brilliant" plans."
Rowen laughed and clapped a hand on Cye's back. "Whatever you say, Cye. Whatever you say."
When they got back to the camp, they almost ran into Ryo who was set on going out after them.
"Oh, there you guys are!" Ryo cried. "I was getting worried."
"Nah, we handled it just fine," Rowen waved him off.
"You mean *I* handled it after you *threw* me at that monster!" Cye retorted.
"Same difference."
"Uh, Rowen? What's....?" Ryo indicated on his own neck the spot where Rowen's neck was still bright red from running into that tree.
Cye snorted.
"Shut up!" Rowen shouted at the laughing Torrent. "Shut up! Shut up! Don't you DARE tell him!"
Cye winked to Ryo and mouthed "I'll tell you later." behind his hand.
"My Lords, you all made it back," Darris greeted as he approached them. "The monsters have been vanquished?"
"Too right," Cye confirmed, giving a thumbs up. "All done on our end."
The captain breathed an audible sigh of relief as a soldier trotted up to him.
"Sir! Damage report," the soldier saluted.
"Go on," Darris nodded.
"Sir, there have been eight deaths and fifteen casualties--three of them critical. Lady Strata is looking after them."
"She is?" the Captain demanded. "Don't let her do that kind of thing. That work isn't for a Lady."
The soldier still continued to salute. "Sir, she was told she didn't have to, but she insisted she had medical training and told us to let her. I--I wasn't sure what to--"
"That's fine," Darris waved him off. "If that is what she wishes, then so be it."
"I'm sorry," Ryo spoke up, catching everyone's attention. His fists were shaking at his side as he spoke. "We should have been there sooner. If we had been paying more attention, no one would have gotten hurt or killed."
"No Lord Wildfire," the captain disagreed. "I appreciate that sentiment, but it is because of you the rest of us are alive. These are the kind of creatures that roam this land. You are our only defense against them. Without you, this whole trek would be a waste. As long as you are here, we have a chance. But don't look at this world with high hopes, Lord Wildfire. This is still a war. People are going to die and every soldier here knows that. Blaming yourself for every life will not help you. Every man is here of his own volition. Just remember that."
Cye and Rowen were impressed. That was the kind of talk Ryo needed a long time ago.
Rowen put a friendly arm around Ryo's shoulder. "That's why you’re the captain," he sang. "We'll be back at our camp if you need us."
The two managed to get Ryo turned back towards their own camp fire. The three returned to their little corner of the camp in sub armor, rousing a somewhat cranky White Blaze to his feet. He growled his displeasure at the three when they approached.
"What's up with White Blaze?" Cye wondered.
"Guys, we're idiots," Rowen announced, pointing to whom White Blaze had been guarding while they were gone.
Sage was still in his bed roll, fast asleep.
"Woah, way to go Blaze. Thanks for covering for us," Ryo said sheepishly.
"Sage is going to be properly miffed when he finds out we left his sleeping body here without even thinking," Cye observed.
Rowen looked at both of them, hands on hips. "Guys, I won't tell if you won't."
********************

The sun was just peeking over the hills, frost was still on the ground. Most of the landscape was flat with sparse brush and trees. Near one of the bigger trees, a white dragon paced agitatedly. He had waited long enough. He poked at the large bundle sleeping on the ground with his nose. The figure mumbled something before going back to sleep. The dragon tried again, nudging the sleeping form a bit more insistently. A thick arm came up and lazily shooed the dragon away.
"Nggh..don't you ever sleep?" A deep, scratchy voice said. "Gimmi a few more minutes, would ya?"
The arm fell back to the ground as the owner of the voice went back to sleep.
The dragon, however, was none too pleased. Seiji stuck his nose into the bedroll and snorted.
Kento shrieked as he felt ice cold in places no person would ever want to feel cold. He jumped a good three feet in the air before hitting the ground with a clumsy thump. He then glared at the white dragon.
"I hate you," he told the creature.
Seiji just huffed a dragonish kind of huff and looked meaningfully at his saddle and packs.
"Fine," Kento grouched as he picked himself up. "Just lemme get something to eat and we'll go." He moodily crawled over to the discarded packs and rummaged through his rations for something suitable for breakfast. Kento sighed as he munched on some dry fruit. He missed all the big banquets they gave back at the castle. He certainly wasn't going to stay out camping longer than he had to.
As he ate, Kento watched Seiji, Robyn's ice dragon, pace around. He swallowed the bit of food he had in his mouth.
"What are you so worked up for?" he asked the dragon.
It had been three days since Kento had left the castle. Three days since he had seen another person or talked with anyone. It took only one day before he started talking to a creature who couldn't talk back. It was like talking to White Blaze, Kento had rationalized, only the dragon acknowledged your presence more. The creature had such emotional eyes and quite animated gestures. Kento sometimes felt like he was having a real conversation with Seiji. Or maybe he was just going crazy from being alone too long. He kind of wished he had taken one of the others with him. Maybe Cye to keep him company. Maybe Sage since he'd lost his armor and didn't have anything else better to do.
Not that it mattered now. After traveling over miles and miles of boring landscape, he was almost there. Kento did not need a map to know this. He could see and feel the land growing darker as he neared the land belonging to Akuma; a man said to be under the influence of darker powers. Even so was his land. The very dirt seemed a shade darker to Kento and the plants, more unfriendly.
Seiji was more agitated here than he had been when they first started out.
In response to Kento’s question, the dragon snorted and looked to the bags again. Then paced some more. Kento sighed as he swallowed.
“Fine, I’m getting ready now.” He put the last bit of food in his mouth then set about saddling the dragon and packing the bags. Before he got on himself, he grabbed the reigns and looked the dragon in the eye. “Why do I get the feeling you’re acting this way more because there’s somewhere specific you want to be instead of just not liking this place?”
To that, the white dragon did not respond. Kento was getting some “none of your business” vibes from the creature and let it drop. He climbed up on the dragon and they were off again. Seiji was running faster this time. Kento knew for sure the dragon was in a hurry for something.
Up in the distance, he saw it. Over the shadowed hills, a tall, dark tower appeared on the horizon. Kento tensed when he saw it. They were completely in what he considered to be enemy territory now. Akuma’s castle was straight ahead, but that didn’t mean it was going to be easy. It never was. There was always some army or trap or labyrinth one had to conquer before reaching the main bad guy’s castle. Always.
“Huh,” Kento marveled as he stood outside the castle gates, hands on hips. There had been nothing. No army, no traps, not even guards at the gates. The place almost looked deserted. He turned to his companion.
“Did we come to the right place?” He asked Seiji. “I swear there’s going to be hell to pay if I came all this way to save the princess and all I get is a little mushroom saying she’s in another castle.”
The dragon just looked at him and began pushing open the gates with his head. Kento decided he might as well help and the two managed to swing the massive gates open. Inside was the courtyard leading to the castle’s front doors. It, too was empty. Save for one stout, goblin-like creature standing before them. It had beady, yellow eyes and green skin. Kento stared.
“Lord Hardrock,” The creature-like man bowed low, his voice was gravelly with a certain hiss at the same time. “Welcome, His Highness has been expecting you.”
“....Really?” Kento wondered. This was definitely not how he pictured his arrival to this place would be. Masses of warriors and much Iron Rock Crushing of the enemies, sure, but this...?
The little man nodded. “Yes, My Lord. Please come this way. Your dragon will have to stay in the courtyard.”
Kento turned to Seiji. “That cool with you, buddy?”
Seiji just gave a suffering sigh that seemed to say “make it quick” and sat on his haunches.
Kento gave a shrug that said “I’ll do what I can” and followed after his smaller guide.
Inside, the castle was just as glum and shadowed as the rest of the land around it. But even though it lacked the color, Kento couldn’t help but think it looked familiar. He was no expert in architect, but he couldn’t help but feel that it was somewhat reminiscent of the queen’s castle. It almost seemed like the person who designed this castle had liked the design of the other one and used it as inspiration for this one.
Except, while Falnan’s castle had been full of people, this one was empty.
“Hey, can I ask you something?” Kento asked.
“Yes, Lord Hardrock?” the guide asked.
“Why aren’t there any soldiers or servants around? Isn’t this a war? Isn’t he afraid someone will get in here if it’s not guarded?”
The goblin gave a grating laugh similar to nails on a chalkboard. “His Highness’ walls protect themselves, My Lord. If he did not want you in his castle, you would not have made it this far.”
“I see,” Kento replied, rasing an eyebrow. To himself he thought ‘This Akuma guy sounds like an arrogant bastard. I won’t be staying long.’
The throne room was about where Kento guessed it would be. Large, ornate doors were opened by unseen powers. His guide ushered him in and left him as the doors closed behind him with a resounding, heavy thud. The room itself was large and dark and appeared to be empty as well. Though Kento could hardly shake what his senses were telling him. The place *looked* empty, but it didn’t *feel* empty. It felt as if it were full of presences. Kento was starting to understand what the little guy was talking about the castle protecting itself. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to stupidly walk all the way into the heart of the castle by himself. Kento readied himself to call up his armor.
“Lord Hardrock, it’s an honor to have you here.”
Kento looked up. In a black velvet and gold throne which he originally thought was empty, sat a young man, hardly older than he was. His face was pale and his body thin. Kento wouldn’t have thought twice about him if he saw him on the street. But the person on the throne radiated something that made his armor tell him he might be dangerous.
“You Akuma?” Kento asked.
“I am,” the young man replied. His voice seemed to come from all corners of the room. “And I am pleased you were able to accept my invitation.”
“Yeah, whatever. I just came for the girl,” Kento shot back. “Where is she? If you did anything funny with her, I’ll–“
”Akuuuumie!”
At the sound of the high sing-song voice, the king of the dark land suddenly looked very tired.
A brightly dressed young lady in a beautiful gown came trotting into the throne room. She ran right up the steps and threw her arms around the king’s head, thrusting her generous cleavage in his face.
“Akumie,” she sighed dramatically. “I am SO bored. Let’s go out and DO something.”
King Akuma looked away from the breasts in his face with minor annoyance. “I am in the MIDDLE of something right now....”
The woman looked up to the extra person and hopped down the stairs towards Kento.
“Hey, I know you!” she said, pointing at him. “You’re one of Robyn’s guys....Wait, don’t tell me. It’s....Ken something, right?” She looked him up and down. “Nice outfit.”
Kento grabbed Natalia’s shoulders urgently. “Are you okay? He didn’t do anything to you, did he?”
The blonde woman looked at him dubiously. “Of course not. What did you think was happening to me here?”
“As I told Lady Hardrock, she is not harmed."
Kento jumped back as Yanushi suddenly appeared next to him.
"Either Lady or Lord Hardrock could come to fetch her and would not be harmed," the deity continued. "That was the deal I made to her."
"You're here, too, huh?" Kento demanded, looking ready to fend off any sudden attack.
"Oh! You two know each other," Natalia grinned. "What a great coincidence! How did you guys meet?"
Kento looked at her, suddenly realizing how crazy this girl really was. "He's the GOD of this world! How do YOU know him?!"
In response, Natalia looked Yanushi up and down in an unimpressed fashion. "God? Yanni? Oh, I don't think so."
Kento actually snorted. "Yanni?"
Yanushi coughed an uncomfortable sort of cough. "Lord Hardrock has come to take you back with him. I believe you have friends there."
Natalia brightened, turning to Kento. "Oh, are you guys done? We ready to go back?"
"Uh...not exactly," Kento replied, confused. "What--"
"Because I was under the impression I was just going to be staying here until you guys were finished with what you were doing, then you'd come get me. Are you guys not done?"
"Well, no. Not really." Kento was starting to feel like his world was spinning. This was so not what he had expected and he hated not being in control. The whole place wasn't anything like he imagined it to be. "Robyn wanted me to come get you."
"Oh, Robyn!" Nataila's questioning face brightened right up again. "How's she doing? Is she holding up in this place okay?"
Kento shook his head, regretting bringing her up. "Robyn would have come here herself, but....she got hurt. It's pretty bad. She wants you to come back."
Natalia's expression was instantly somber and serious. "I'll go change and pack right now." She turned to the thin figure on the throne. "Akumie, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to go with him."
"Please do," the king sighed tiredly. "I'm quite busy now and you're rather distracting."
Natalia seemed to ignore that last comment. She gave Kento a quick "I'll be as fast as I can" and ran out of the throne room. Thus leaving Kento alone with two men whom he had been told were supposed to be his enemies.
"So....you guys are just going to let me walk out of here, then?" Kento asked, still not sure if he was getting the proper impression with these guys.
"Yes," Akuma nodded. "Bringing the girl here was my mistake. I always tie up my loose ends. When she comes back, you are free to go. Just remember this, Lord Hardrock, after you leave these grounds all deals are off. If you return to the Queen's army, you are then my enemy and thus, fair game."
Kento narrowed his eyes. That made a bit more sense to him. "Yeah, I gotcha."
"Now you," Akuma continued, now addressing Yanushi. "I haven't seen in a few days. What have you been doing?"
Yanushi looked pointedly at Kento and then walked up the steps to the throne. Obviously, this wasn't a conversation meant for Hardrock. The deity bent down and whispered in the king's ear. Akuma listened quietly and then his eyes grew wide.
"Minami!?" he spoke a little too loud.
That caught Kento's attention.
"So she finally showed up, did she? Pity we couldn't get a hold of her before then. Where is she now?"
"She's hard to track because of the circumstances," Yanushi said lowly, though not below Kento's hearing. "I believe she's currently tailing the queen's army. When she's done there, she's going to be coming after you next, Your Highness."
A thoughtful expression crossed Akuma's face, but he made no reply to that.
Kento's mind was spinning. They said Minami was *here*. That she was trailing the queen's army. But what did that mean? Did she come back from the dead? It couldn't have anything to do with Robyn, could it? Last Kento saw of her, she was injured and in bed. Robyn couldn't be involved... could she?
He suddenly had an overwhelming urge to leave. Whether he should go back to the castle or try to find the army, Kento wasn't sure. But he knew he had to leave.
"I'm ready," Natalia called as she came in. She was dressed now in travel attire with a satchel on her back.
"Great, we need to go now," Kento said, grabbing her wrist. "I don't think we have much time to loose."
Natalia seemed to not noticed his urgency. She waved to the other occupants in the room. "Bye Akumie! Bye Yanni! Bye everyone! Thanks for everything!"
"Everyone?" Kento questioned as he pulled her out the door.
Natalia blinked at him. "Oh! You can't see them yet!"
Ice seemed to creep up the back of Kento's neck. "Them??"
"Oh yeah," Natalia confirmed. "The place looks empty to you, doesn't it? That's okay, it took me a few days to see them, too. It was a bit creepy at first, but then I got used to it."
Kento quickened his pace. He hated that kind of stuff. How was Robyn's friend taking it so natural like that? Was she insane?
The two of them fled into the courtyard where Kento stopped in his tracks and Natalia gasped at the creature in front of her.
"Is that a--a..?"
"You stupid dragon! What are you doing?!" Kento demanded of Seiji.
While Kento was gone, Seiji had chewed off the straps on his saddle and was sitting smugly with all of Kento's supplies on the ground.
"He's so pretty!" Natalia marveled. "Can I touch him? He won't bite me, will he?"
Kento seethed. "No, because he's going to be dead in a few minutes!"
"You know, I don't think yelling at that animal will help any," Natalia advised.
"Oh, he understands me," Kento assured her with venom in his voice. "How do you think we'll make it back without any supplies, you idiot?"
Seiji got up on all fours and spread out his wings--which were now quite large at full span--and looked at Kento expectantly. Hardrock's face paled.
"We're going to fly on him?!" Natailia squealed with delight.
"No!" Kento said more to the dragon than to her. "We are NOT flying! No!"
Seiji walked up to them, crouching down to be mounted.
"Didn't you just hear me? I said no!"
"Oh please!" Natalia begged, tugging on his sleeve. "Ever since I was old enough to read fantasy novels I wanted to. PLEASE! I'll drive if you want."
Kento was suddenly offended with this American girl implying he was afraid to fly. Even though it was entirely true. Plus she was looking at him with those pleading eyes and she was extremely attractive. Every bit of testosterone in his body wanted to satisfy whatever need she had. In this case, she needed to fly on a dragon. Kento couldn't say no to her.
"Fine," he grouched, folding his arms to show his dissatisfaction.
"Yay!" Natalia squealed. "Thanks so much!" She jumped on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him square on the mouth. It wasn't a long kiss, but it had the full affect. He didn't fail to notice her supple breasts press against him either. Kento was absolutely stunned when she moved away.
"I think we can still pack a few of these on his back," she called as she rummaged through the ruined saddle.
It took a moment for Kento to shake himself. "Uh...yeah. Whatever....whatever you can salvage is fine."
Natalia packed what she could on Seiji's back in record time and before Kento knew it, she was on the dragon herself and reaching out a hand to him.
"Let's get going, shall we?"
Kento sighed. He might as well act like a man and bear it. He took Natalia's hand and she helped pull him up behind her. Eagerly she grabbed the reigns and with a "hang on" told the dragon to go. Kento hardly had time to grab Natalia's waist before Seiji lurched forward. With one jump, Seiji lept to the top of the castle gates and then up in the air. Kento had his eyes closed the whole time.
"You okay back there?" Natalia asked, obviously having the time of her life.
"Fine," Kento gritted, trying to remain calm.
"Good, 'cuz you're squeezing me a bit too tight. Loosen up. It's not THAT scary."
Kento forced himself to loosen his hold a little. Inside, a small part of him that always thought he was tough enough for anything died. He sighed inwardly to himself. Like everything else in this crazy world, his whole "rescue" wasn't anything like he thought it would be.