|
Post by Dragin "Hiku" Hikari on Oct 18, 2006 9:36:55 GMT -5
Hiku adjusted the blankets around Mai before standing back up, "She's sleeping okay...." He began to walk out toward the mouth of the cavern.
Shinjo stopped him, "Wait, where are you going?"
Hiku replied "I need some fresh air, I assume you can keep an eye on things here without my support." He said with a slight snap. Hiku pushed pasted him and went outside.
Shinjo just watched him go, "What's his problem anyway..."
Hiku stepped out into the cool breeze the evening brought, Aya was still in sight walking away in the distance. Hiku didn't think anything off it until he caught something moving in the same direction as her. "What the devil?" Hiku muttered, moving his hand to the side to check for his weapon which, fortunately, he hadn't removed. As much as he hated getting involved in things that were not of his concern, he more-so hated owing people. He already owed Aya too much for helping Mai earlier that day.
Hiku followed behind Aya and her pursuer, keeping his distance and making sure he was out of view. He followed up to the cave, hiding behind a nearby tree. "Well... now what? Aya must be in the cave ahead, but where's the other one?" He kept hidden, ready to act if something was to happen, unaware that this could be rather difficult to explain to Aya if he was spotted here alone.
|
|
|
Post by shadowhexblade on Oct 18, 2006 10:44:49 GMT -5
Blade could hear rushing water nearby, suggesting a waterfall.
"That would explain where she's heading. Looks like a lucky day for me..."
With a devilish smirk on his face, Blade dropped out of the tree he was perched in, barely making a sound as he landed, despite his odd footgear.
He didn't rise from his crouched landing right away, peering into the darkness of the cave. When he was certain she hadn't detected him, he stood and began walking towards the mouth of the cave.
Aya emerged from the cave about twenty feet up from the opening down bottom. She walked around the mountainside and down a slope to the smaller waterfall. She climbed down the rocks surrounding the small waterfall and reached the pond at the bottom. Aya took off her cloak and boots, placing her swords on the ground underneath the cover of the cloak. She took off her armor, only concealing herself with small cloth undergarments. Two scars can be seen running down her back from underneath her top. Aya takes her armor into the shallow water and begins to clean it off with a small, worn cloth. She puts the armor back near her cloak once she is done.
Aya walks further out into the lake and fully submerges herself underwater. She comes up, underneath the falls, and shivers at the cold of the water. She swims back out toward the center of the pond and barely touches the bottom with her feet. She can feel the gravel slipping out from under her toes, but the depth is only up to her collar bone. She takes a moment to stretch her arms out in front of her, she barely has her fingers intertwined, her hands appear to almost resonate with an aura. As Aya separates the tips of her fingers about two inches apart, two large white wings emerge from the scars on her back, their bright light is almost blinding. Their brightness subsides, and Aya stretches her arms out wide, then places her right hand across her chest, onto her left shoulder, while her left arm covers her right arm. She appears to be just holding herself with her face resting on her right hand.
A soft cracking noise emits from her five o'clock. She spins around rather calmly, relaxing her arms at her sides as she turns, her wings still fully spread behind her.
|
|
|
Post by shinjoyoshida on Oct 18, 2006 14:38:07 GMT -5
Hiku caught sight of Blade as he approached the cave mouth, deciding to intervene, "Hold it right there, don't move any further!" Hiku had his sheathed weapon in his grasp, but did not move it from it's place. Hiku got a better look, "Wait...you're that drunkard from bar..."
"Weird night." Shinjo said.
"Yeah. Though what concerns me most is the woman in the bar. What was her name?...Selene?" Oren inquired.
"Correct, though even more confusing was her knowledge of you. I had thought we'd been covering our tracks well enough." Shinjo got up from a mat he was sitting on and moved to the entrance of the cave.
"Shinjo, your sword. I've only ever seen that happen once before. Why did it's power activate tonight?"
"I'm not quite sure myself. Though I do know that the sword responds to my emotions. In the heat of the battle I almost lost myself..."
"You mean the..."
"Yes. I usually control myself but it was almost paralyzing. It was a good thing Aya carried me out when she did, I may have just sat there helpless."
"But the last time you had gone into a rage it was horrific. Why were the effects not as noticeable this time?"
"Mostly because I was trying to think of my sister. Whenever I had tantrums as a kid she would calm me down. She's some what of a sedative for my condition."
Oren stared at the fire longingly. He hadn't seen his adoptive father or step-brother in about four years.
"I honestly thought you were going to kill us all that night." Oren said.
"That's why I hate carrying this sword."
Shinjo tossed the weapon on the ground. It skittered across the earthen floor to rest near the fire.
"It's as if its sole purpose is to attract unwanted attention and force me to fight. I can't afford to lose myself to that... to that pain."
"So long as you've got us around you should be fine. But I do wonder why you've been committed to traveling with Aya and myself."
"It's hard to explain." sighed Shinjo. "I've not much reason to be here, but then again I feel like I ought to be around as much as I can."
The campfire grew dim. Oren picked up a small bundle of twigs and slowly fed them into the fire. The crackling noise made Mai wince in her sleep. The pair in the cave hoped she wasn't having nightmares.
"I'm going to go for a walk Oren. I'll be back in a short while."
Oren moved closer to the fire as he pulled his cloak over his body. His thoughts turned to Shinjo almost tearing his arm off during their last encounter with his awesome power. It was as if a golem had his arm in its clutch and was using all of its might to remove his arm from his body. His left arm twitched at the thought.
"What a horrible curse." Oren muttered
|
|
|
Post by seraph_phoenix on Oct 18, 2006 15:12:22 GMT -5
"A demon?!" Aya was barely able to mutter before the being behind her began to glow a strange fiery color. He emitted a battle cry and thrust his left arm forward, when he did, an enormous arm seemed to astrally project itself toward Aya. The large arm appeared to be made of flames, it latched onto her neck and lifted her several feet out of the water. Aya struggled to free the grip around her throat with one hand, but realized it was useless.
"Where is he??" The being yells at her in a twisted voice.
"Like I'd ever tell you..." She mutter back, out of breath.
"Then give me the key!" It yelled.
"Fuck off..." She managed.
The being began to chant as the fire grew more intense. Aya thrust her left arm out in front of her, her index and middle fingers the only fingers extended forward. She created a strange symbol in the air with her fingertips, as she did, the symbol physically appeared in front of her. Aya reared her left arm back and thrust it back forward toward the symbol. It immediately began to glow a brilliant white, and the being released its grip on her throat as it shielded it's eyes.
Aya plummeted down into the lake, sinking. The being shook off the injury and looked back toward the lake, only to see Aya quickly flying out of the lake, directly upward. The being's right arm resonated a dark blue aura, and he hurled a throwing dagger toward her. Aya could only look down long enough to see the dagger before it gouged into her, just below her left collar bone. She let out a small yell, the power of the blow knocking her onto the rocks that surround the waterfall. She fell onto several of them before crashing to the ground. She pulled out the dagger, barely able to keep her eyes open and tossed it aside.
"That enchantment was poison, Guardian." He snapped at her. Aya looked up at him, a bit surprised to be caught so off-guard.
"You can't heal those wounds with your divine energy. Your death will be painful. This is your punishment for protecting him." He says to her before turning tail back into the woods.
"...Damnit..." Aya tried to lift herself off the ground, but fell face down, her wings still spread. She tried to focus on anything near her, but she felt herself slip out of consciousness, the blood from her wound escaping her rapidly.
|
|
|
Post by shinjoyoshida on Oct 18, 2006 15:55:55 GMT -5
Fumbling in his pocket, Shinjo removed a small necklace. A finely crafted diamond hung from the jewelry piece. A small inscription was carved into the diamond, 'Endure'.
"Easier said than done."
Shinjo stuffed the necklace back into his pocket as he rounded another bend in the forest. He stopped in his tracks as he heard a faint cry.
"Aya..."
A jog soon turned into a full blown sprint as Shinjo moved toward the direction of the cry. His heart beat incessantly as his legs swiftly carried him onward. Stopping just short of the lake Shinjo slowed his pace and eventually crouched near the water's edge. Glancing around he noticed a faint streak of blood in the water.
Everything became silent, his now heightened senses commanded respect from the surroundings and seemingly hushed the ambient noise. A small noise. Metallic? Shinjo recognized the noise as a faint clinking of metal floated through the dead air. Creeping closer to a cluster of rocks near the water fall Shinjo heard a moan.
Aya was laying in a pool of blood as he approached, her left hand laying on a small rock. She had been tapping the ring adorning her left ring finger on the small stone. Her figure seemed to reach out to him but Shinjo would not oblige her grasp. His focus was now on the surrounding area. As a cautious person, his first thoughts moved toward the near future. Where was the offender hiding? Turning his back to Aya he slowly crouched and moved backward until he could look over her injuries.
Glancing over her blood stained shoulder he noticed a gushing wound. Yet, something prevented Shinjo from tending to it. A faint pungent smell rose from the gash near her clavicle.
"Poison..."
"Shinjo!"
Hiku ran toward Shinjo and Aya at an alarming rate. Catching his breath he took one look at Aya's state and moved for a small cloth tucked away in his garb.
"We can't deal with this Hiku. It may seem like it's wrong, but if we try and seal her wound now the poison won't have a direct way of being removed, we need to get Oren here."
"So what if it's poison, it's not like we can't suck it out."
"Yes but this isn't you're regular agent. What kind of poison do you know of the gives off a rank smell when administered? Most assassins that I've ever heard of want toxins that work quickly and attract no attention. But this is something completely different."
"Well if that's the case then you go get Oren, I'll stay here and watch her, at least I've got a weapon."
Shinjo almost let out a small laugh...almost. If only Hiku knew of his grim past.
"Fine then, I'll be quick. Keep her conscious as much as you can."
Shinjo sped off into the night. His thoughts were so jumbled. First there was the appearance of Selene, and now Aya of all people was in a critical state. People had always been after Oren, but it seemed like there was a myriad of forces making moves against him. The ground seemed to flee Shinjo as he worked his way toward the cave. He could not fail Aya...he would not fail Aya.
|
|
|
Post by Dragin "Hiku" Hikari on Oct 18, 2006 16:08:44 GMT -5
Hiku sighed, though he had a weapon, it was something even he feared to use. He leaned down using the water from the lake to try to keep her awake.
"You best not die like this, Aya. A Guardian doesn't deserve to die to such a cheap tactic.........besides, I don't want to have to tell Mai your dead."
Once again, Hiku could never accept a personal stake or show even the least remorse for someone else's pain. For now, his only job was strictly to keep Aya alive as best be could.
Hiku looked to his sword for a moment, "If Mai were here I could do something with this...but for now the only choice I have is to wait..." Hiku blinked, noticing blood on the metal corner of the casting that held it.
He thought back to when he entered the cave...Blade had managed to disappear before Hiku could even act, then a strange being sped past him from the cave. It had moved past him so quickly Hiku barely knew it. However, the blood suggested that perhaps the one who injured Aya had scraped his leg on Hiku's sheath when he ran past.
Hiku turned from the sword back to Aya...of course the stain could provide some much needed evidence as to the attacker, but for now that would have to take second priority.
|
|
|
Post by seraph_phoenix on Oct 18, 2006 19:59:48 GMT -5
"We...have to leave..." Aya muttered out. She clung to the rocks and held herself up.
"If Shinjo brings Oren...back here, Oren will be killed. I'm his Guardian...I can't allow that." She barely muttered out as she began to lose her grip on the rocks.
Hiku grabbed her arm and rested it around his neck to help support her walk. "What in the hell is going on...?"
"I don't know, I think it...may have been a demon, but I can't be sure. And you need to...protect Mai, not me." Aya said.
"What, why?" Hiku said as he stops walking.
"When I told Mai...I could teach her...how to do some of the things I do...it's because she has potential like mine. Not everyone can do these things.....I have...always been this way. And so has she."
Hiku said nothing as he helped Aya continue toward the cave.
"If I can pick up on it, others may...have by now as well. But I also fear for...Oren because of who he is...." Aya said wearily.
"...And who is that?" Hiku asked her.
"I'm not really...at liberty to say....right now. Someone might be able to hear..." Aya responded.
"It's that serious?" He asked her.
"Very much so..." Aya's voice had become very weak and frail, her wound still bleeding profusely.
Hiku looks back to Aya's wings, which were now retracted downward. He did not want to anger her by staring, but he kept glancing back at her wings.
".......Are you an ang--" He began to ask.
"If you're going to ask if I'm some sort of divine being...yes, I am. I was....given this life almost four years ago...I trained for four months...and then I was given the task to protect Oren...until he completes the path before him." She said to him weakly.
"And when is that?" He asked as he glanced back forward.
"I don't know...maybe tomorrow. Maybe three or ten years from now." Aya responded. Aya let out a small cry, as she wasn't able to support herself any longer. Hiku helped her to lay down in some foliage.
"You need to....go back and stop Oren from coming here. Tell Shinjo what I said....take Oren and Mai to Valencia...please. I am too weak to keep going right now...and besides....I'm a trap." She said while covering her wound. "If this poison is working...as Shinjo said it is, then whoever....attacked me wants me weakened."
"I could run ahead and come back for you, just myself or Shinjo, while the others head to Valencia." He suggested while crouching down near her.
"No...she is coming." She said softly.
"Who is coming?" He asked.
"Selene...." Aya said to him before losing consciousness.
|
|
|
Post by shadowhexblade on Oct 18, 2006 22:32:56 GMT -5
As Hiku struggled with what to do with the prone Aya before him, an inhuman cry of pain rings through the dark woods, then nothing. Before long, rustling can be heard from the brush behind Hiku, who instinctively grasps the handle of his sword.
"And here I thought she was a pretty good fighter." Blade scoffed as he emerged from the brush.
Blade held up his left hand in a manner to avert Hiku from unsheathing his sword, which of course he did not.
Blade held out his other hand, showing a dismembered head. "I believe this is what got her?" He walked over to the pair, making no hostile suggestions.
Aya blinks only to see the man from the bar appear before her.
"...You've been...following us, haven't...you?" Aya managed to mumble. "If your business...is with our friends, they are long... gone. What is it...that you want?" Aya said, barely leaning on the tree next to her for balance.
Aya hears a snap off to her right, in the direction of the cave, she refrained from looking in that direction, but feared it may be Shinjo or Oren coming to their aide. Anyone would be able to notice the distraught look in her eyes.
Hiku snorted, "Wonderful...you again...keep that creepy thing away, she's already had enough trauma for one day." Blade stopped walking forward but he didn't leave. Hiku lifted Aya's arm over his shoulder and began to walk toward Valencia.
He looked at Aya for a moment, " I...am aware of Mai's ability, it's part of the reason she's with me right now." Aya didn't respond, being too weak from the poison. Hiku frowned, unsure of what to do, before hearing the snap that Aya heard.
"This can't be good..." Hiku looked at Aya, "Sorry but the answer is no...it will do no good to simply leave you to die. And Mai is in good hands for now." He said. Blade felt like he was being ignored, shifting his weight to one leg, tapping his foot.
Hiku grasped the sword handle, frowning to himself.
"If anything else happens, I may be forced to use it...but without Mai...will I survive using it? I really hope it doesn't come to that..."
Blade looked at the demon's head and shrugged, then gave it a good toss, sending it flying through the treetops to land where some poor traveler would probaly see it, and promptly be nearly scared to death.
"Yeah, I've been following you." He said as he began to walk after them, "Don't really care 'bout the rest of your little group, as interesting as they may be; you're what interests me, kitten." Blade hesitated a moment before adding, "You know, if it's poison you're dealing with..." He sniffed the air, "...and it certainly smells like poison to me, I can help you with that..."
|
|
|
Post by shinjoyoshida on Oct 19, 2006 13:31:22 GMT -5
Oren looked up from the camp fire. Craning his neck over the flames he saw Shinjo approaching the entrance of their hideout.
"What's wrong?" asked Oren in an uneasy voice.
"It's Aya, she's been wounded." Shinjo started wheezing as he placed his hand on the cave wall to steady himself.
Oren said nothing. If something had wounded Aya so bad as to warrant his help, then there was no time to lose. Oren quickly got up and moved toward Mai.
"Wake up." Oren commanded. The little teenager yawned and looked up.
"What for?" She asked in a haughty manner.
Oren simply grabbed her extended arm and pulled her to her feet. The group started to make their way to the out of the cave before Oren stopped everyone.
"Don't forget your sword Shinjo."
As much as he hated using it, Shinjo complied. If anything else was lurking in the night he didn't want to be caught unprepared. Especially if Selene had survived their encounter. He would not think twice again about her motives.
Shinjo fastened the sword to his belt and ran after Oren. Mai trailed along as she tried to keep up with Aya's companion. As the group made their way through the forest it seemed as if everything around them was watching.
"Stay close and you'll be fine." Oren said while glancing back at Mai.
Mai looked at Oren with confusion written on her face. He didn't seem rather muscular, nor very tall. Who is he to protect her? Mai's thoughts turned to Hiku that very moment. She couldn't bear the thought of him fighting without her.
|
|
|
Post by seraph_phoenix on Oct 19, 2006 13:33:20 GMT -5
Aya pushed herself off of Hiku's shoulder and began to slowly walk back toward to waterfall, "I don't need your help. I have someone....who can help me."
Aya stopped and turned back toward the man, ".... And I said to not call me kitten." Aya turned back around and headed toward the waterfall again.
Once she had stepped away from Blade, she said to Hiku, "I need to...get my armor and swords. Once we are out of his...line of vision, please take the others to Valencia....I will be right behind you."
"As I already said, I'm not leaving you here to die." He said back to her.
"I'm not going to die yet....this poison is very slow." She said, then coming to a stop.
Aya looked up to him and said, "I will be right behind you, I promise."
As they walked further out of Blade's view, Hiku turned around to see that he is gone. He narrowed his eyes and wondered where he may have gone.
"Damn it woman. You better follow closely behind us so I don't have to explain to Mai why you never came to Valencia." He said to her in a slightly irritated tone.
"I will...be fine. Selene is coming, please go." She said. "My things at the waterfall aren't far behind, but the others need to leave this place now...I will have a much easier trek to Valencia if I can be assured....they are safe."
"Hurry back, Aya." Hiku said before darting off to the left, back into the woods, toward the cave.
About ten minutes later, Aya had made her way back to the waterfall area. Her things were still where she left them, undisturbed. The dagger that was used to poison her however, was gone.
"Someone has been here." Aya crouched to retrieve her armor.
"No, they're still here. Someone is watching me..." Aya darted here eyes around the perimeter rather nervously.
"Is it that man with the scythe? His aura is very disturbing..." Aya managed to get her armor back on, she had retracted her wings downward, coming through two slits in the armor as she adjusted her swords onto her back.
"I cannot see his true intentions. But why did he offer to help me? Maybe the demon wasn't a demon at all. He may have been employed by that man..." Aya pulled on her cloak and adjusted the hood over her head.
"...to find Oren. Maybe for Selene..."
Aya took a small bag from an interior pocket on her cloak. She opened it and took out a small tan colored type item, similar in appearance to bread. She put it in her mouth and swallowed it right away.
"I really hope this helps..." Aya turned North and slowly headed toward Valencia.
|
|
|
Post by Dragin "Hiku" Hikari on Oct 19, 2006 13:57:00 GMT -5
Hiku pushed his way through the brush, emerging on the road where Shinjo, Oren, and Mai were.
Mai ran over, kicking Hiku in the shin, "Where have you been? You know better then that!"
Hiku growled, "Ow! Knock it off Mai I don't have time to explain."
Shinjo walked over with a grim look on his face, "Where is Aya?"
Hiku looked at him, "Not far behind, but we must head to Valencia."
Oren looked over to him, "But what about Aya?"
Hiku looked at him, "She sensed trouble coming, so she wants us to head to Valencia, and that she would follow behind shortly. I warned her if she doesn't show up, that I will go back after her. For now, all we can do is keep going. There's too much at stake, though injured, her judgment seems clear. We must hurry,, Selene is fast approaching."
Shinjo seemed surprised, "Already?"
Mai interrupted and kicked Hiku again, "You tried to use the sword again didn't you! You know how dangerous the Defender is!"
Hiku growled, "I didn't! Now stop kicking me." Hiku lightly tapped Mai on the head. Though as strange as it seemed, perhaps this is how the two of them got along.
Hiku looked at them, "We'd best get moving before the situation gets any worse."
|
|
|
Post by shadowhexblade on Oct 19, 2006 15:28:58 GMT -5
Blade showed up alongside Aya before she even realized it. "Sending them off isn't such a good idea in your condition, you know. Even that demon I killed earlier could do you in as you are now, kitten."
He stepped out of range of her sword, preparing to dodge a reaction swing of her sword, though she was collected enough not to. "I can still help you, you know."
"Why in the hell should I trust you?!" Aya snapped at him as she stopped walking.
"I have made temporary mends to this ailment until I can get the help I need from him." Aya said as she starting back walking again.
"...and the demon caught me off guard, that's all." Aya said to Blade as she looked somewhat to the ground. She looked back up to see a silhouette, far off. It's a male, he appeared to be a bit taller than her, average build with black hair, wearing a white saint-style robes with pants...and a dark red cloak.
Aya stopped suddenly "Oren?!?" She muttered out softly. Aya blinked a few times and watched as the image disappeared.
"Great...I'm hallucinating..."
"So Oren is his name, huh kitten?" Blade said to her.
"I wish it were Oren, or Shinjo. Being near this man makes me feel uneasy. Oren is so easy to be around...but I feel like Shinjo might need me soon. I wonder why I've been feeling that way around him..."
"He is none of your concern. I'd suggest you drop that subject or I will retaliate against you." Aya said defensively while she took grip of a dagger near her hip, her wings arching up slightly. She was very on edge...
Blade held up his hands in a reassuring gesture. "Easy now, no need to unsheathe those claws on me. I know this Oren guy only by name. If you wish proof that I can be trusted, here." He pulled a worn, folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her.
"If you read this you'll find that they're my orders to track down and observe you. First objective complete, I suppose," He said with a slight chuckle. "With a face as pretty as yours, I certainly don't mind having to observe you. As for why my employer wants what he wants, I can't say, having sworn the mercenaries oath of secrecy, but truth be told he never even told me. Bastard couldn't even meet me face to face to make his offer," He grumbled.
He recomposed himself. "Continuing on, the last part of the order is to make sure you are alive until I receive orders to report back. So, you're kinda stuck with me whether you like it or not. So be a dear and let me do my job, huh, kitten?"
|
|
|
Post by seraph_phoenix on Oct 19, 2006 17:06:17 GMT -5
"So, you have no idea who you're working for?" Aya asked him.
"No, not at all dear. And the name's Blade." He responded.
"I care not for your name." She said as she continued walking. "I suppose if you are to tag along, you might as well do so, for now."
"Could it be Oren's father...checking on him maybe..? But why observe me?"
"So where are we headed kitten?" Blade said with a smirk.
Aya groaned and said, "You'll see when we get there."
"Aw, come on! Is it Valencia?" He asked. Aya says nothing but continues onward.
"I haven't been there in a few months. Quite the lovely city, in such a dark time, don't you agree?" He asked her.
"I suppose it is." Aya says back to him. She winced a bit, rubbing the spot at which she was injured.
"I fear the bread's effect is wearing off. I knew I should have asked Oren for more...I won't be able to walk soon if I keep pushing myself, I'm making the poison spread through my body more quickly..."
"What's the matter kitten? You seem to be in deep thought." Blade asked her.
"Would you quit calling me that?! I'm not a feline! And my thoughts are none of your business, idiot." Aya snapped back.
"Aww, I get a pet name too, love? How sweet!" Blade says flirtatiously, yet in a manner to get a reaction out of Aya.
Aya groaned again, "This is going to be the longest hour hike I've ever had..."
"Should I introduce Blade to the others? I don't know if that would be such a good idea....but then again, he is a mercenary...so he won't do anything that he isn't paid to do...I guess if his orders are to just observe me and keep me alive, then there's no harm in it for now. I will consult Shinjo on it when we reach Val-----"
Aya's thoughts are suddenly halted as her wings quickly retract and disappear as she falls to the ground. She lifts her head up to see Valencia ahead. There's blood on her hand from the wound, it had begun bleeding again. She can see Blade next to her, he's calling out to her but she can't make out what he's saying. Aya looked back at the city lights for a moment before losing consciousness.
|
|
|
Post by shadowhexblade on Oct 19, 2006 19:10:13 GMT -5
Blade held Aya's head up, gently shaking her, trying to get a response. He had rolled her onto her back and saw her wound bleeding rather profusely again, his hand slightly covered in it. He sniffed at it and licked it off his hand, his eyes almost eager as he ran his tongue along his hand.
"Whatever she took for the poison has already worked its way through her system on account of her strain."
He looked at her face and gently pushed a strand of hair to the side. She had the appearance that she was sound asleep. Blade swore, "Normally I always ask a lady permission before doing this; I do hope you'll forgive me, kitten."
He opened his mouth, revealing a pair of very large canines in his upper jaw. He slowly lowered his mouth to her neck, pausing for a moment, then sinking his fangs into the side of her neck, his eyes glowing bright red. Aya's body instinctively gasped at the penetration to her skin, but otherwise, she did not stir. Blade began to drink of her blood, sucking the poison directly out of her bloodstream. His insides burned on contact with the warm drink, his stained essence rejecting the purity of hers.
He stayed that way with her for a solid five minutes before withdrawing his fangs. He judged that her own enhanced immune system should be able to combat whatever traces of the poison remained. That, and drinking anymore of her blood would be chancing death, even for an immortal vampire such as himself. He gently set her head on the ground and rummaged through a bag at his waist. He pulled out some bandages and began to crudely dress her wound again.
Once the wound was dressed to the best of his abilities, Blade scooped up Aya and continued toward town.
|
|
|
Post by shinjoyoshida on Oct 19, 2006 19:24:00 GMT -5
"Fucking whore!"
A man ran out onto the street, throwing his shoe at a young lady.
"By the gods girl, where is your decency?!" The man proceeded to beat the woman with his fist. She only cringed and curled up into a fetal position. As his blows rained down on her head she could only think of her lover.
Across town, a drunk had just been thrown down to the ground outside of a tavern. His face puffed up from being beaten and his eyes bloodshot. Famed for its high upper class Valencia was proclaimed to be the most wonderful city in all of the lands. Though its under life was not something to be proud of. Constant chatter roamed the streets as rumor after rumor led to unjustified violence. They say in this city a silver tongue is more powerful than a silver sword.
The group moved awkwardly among the crowd in the market. Shinjo lead the group aimlessly through the masses as the travelers drudged on.
"Shinjo!" Hiku made an effort to call out to the confused Berserker but the roar of the city would not deliver his message. Seemingly understanding Hiku's concerns, Oren tapped Shinjo's shoulder and moved to his side.
"We've been walking around the damned bazaar for almost an hour Shinjo. You said you knew where we could get some room and board easily. 'No problem guys, I know where we can go.' you said." Oren bumped into Shinjo as a large guardsmen pushed his way through the throngs of citizens.
"Watch your step punk!" The guard spat. Oren simply glanced at the guard for a split second and turned his attention back to Shinjo.
"These people here are all so...so rude. If we don't find a place to stay soon Shinjo, I'm afraid I might snap." Shinjo almost fell over laughing. The last time Oren had "snapped" Shinjo had suffered from chronic laughing pains.
"Like the time you tried kicking me and you fell down that hill?" Shinjo croaked. His laughter almost became debilitating as his thoughts formed an image in his head.
"I'd thank you to never speak of that again." Oren huffed.
Mai had moved to Shinjo's rear and tapped him on the shoulder. Sensing her confusion, Shinjo whispered the story into her ear as she herself began to laugh uncontrollably. Oren had enough, he started to push through the crowd. His only intention was to walk a straight line until he hit a wall. From there he could easily make sense of his whereabouts and find himself a place to rest.
"Damned large cities...I remember why I left here so long ago." Whined Oren.
Hiku appeared behind Shinjo as more people moved in and around them. He handed Mai a small fruit. It was a perfect sphere with a black skin.
"What the heck is this?" Mai asked.
"It's a Talu. Native fruit around here, it's really sweet." Hiku explained. He took a bite out of one himself as did Mai, but she accidentally dropped hers on the ground.
"Aww...Hiku get me another one. It was really good."
Hiku gave her a sideways glance and wiped his mouth as he turned toward Shinjo.
"Where's Oren?"
"I'm not sure, we shouldn't wait around here for long though." Shinjo was right, they were competent fighters, but a few people against a city was a poor sight to behold. Valencia was famous for riots, though people only got wind of this when they actually visited the city.
The group moved out of the market in the opposite direction that Oren took. It didn't take long for them to find a side street to travel on. Horses and carriages trotted and pranced through the street like there was a festival being held. Women in fancy dresses, men in "high faulting" clothes, stewards in suits of the finest cloth. Everything about Valencia was an extreme. In this town, you either had everything or nothing. The lucky ones were those who had a normal life.
"Finally." A man said to himself in a soft voice.
The man known as Kenshin stood, looking toward the city of Valencia below. He took off his rectangular eyeglasses and pointed them to the setting sun. He was able to see just how dirty they had gotten.
"This is why I hate traveling in a hurry." He thought. The man had gray eyes and jet black hair, which was tied back in a low ponytail. He had on a tight black shirt with long sleeves, the neck line rose to mid-neck. Accompanied by a long, untied white kendo jacket and loose gi-style pants, worn around the ankles. A tied red cloth held his pants in place, and straw sandals adornes his feet.
He started to walk forward, glasses still in hand. In the twilight of the night sky, the man leaped off the cliff from which he stood. As he falls, his mind is empty and free from thought. Putting his glasses back on, he continued to fall, twisting into an upside down position. Just as he was about to hit the ground, he rotated his entire body and managed to land on his feet, making the dirt fly up from the impact. He took hold of his weapon and continued to walk toward Valencia.
As he moved along the foot of the cliffs, he heard the sound of water. Making his way to the source, he came upon a small waterfall, deciding to wash off his glasses and face. He noticed a strange smell in the air, he inhales deeply, paying close attention to the odor of the air. There was a very pungent smell, but he was unsure of what it was.
He paid no mind to the smell.
"It can't be anything deadly." He thought. The man took a dip in the pond to cool himself down from his long journey. After a while, he dried himself off and continued toward the city.
"Enter." A man sitting in a chair beckoned his servant to his side.
"Yes master?"
"What is the status of that mercenary we hired?" The lord sat upright looking intently at the servant. He rested his palm on the hilt of his sheathed dagger.
"Um...um..." The servant started fumbling with his hands in a scared manner. His whole body seemed to shake as the man in the chair leaned closer toward him with an even more captivating look.
"Well?"
"We've not received word from him for some time." Whimpered the servant. His brows lined with sweat as his stuttering became more intense.
"Let me ask you something Roderick. Am I not the most influential man in this city?" The man slouched in his chair and crossed his legs.
"Ye...yes." Roderick could barely speak now. His fear was most visible.
"Then let me ask you another question Roderick. Would you say that I would have to have a rather large intelligence ring surrounding me? I mean, what is power if you don't know where to find it?"
Roderick's lip began to quiver. His master's words cut to the bone.
"We...we...well sir. I would say you would have to the most extensive intelligence agency ever sir. Yo...you are the most well informed lord I've ever known sir."
"Ever known..." The lord uncrossed his legs and backed them against his seat. His posture said he was going to rise quickly and stab Roderick in the stomach. But instead he merely rose leisurely and shook Roderick's hand.
"My dear Roderick, you answer my questions with so much apprehension. You've known me to be a fair ruler haven't you? Why would I ever seek to harm you?" His other hand rested itself on Roderick's shoulder as the lord began to guide him to the exit.
"N...no sir. You've always been fair to me. I'm very happy have been able to serve you all these years." Roderick managed a smile as his fears began to dissipate.
"Well then my loyal friend. Be at ease!" The lord let out a small chuckle as he left Roderick at the door.
"I will sir!" Roderick now completely sure of his safety stepped out of the room and quietly shut the door.
"Ever known..." "You've only ever known one master fool, and I'm happy to say that your stupidity will not have to be endured by anyone else." Just then a scream rang out. The cry for help reverberated throughout the mansion as a sickening thud swept through the hallways.
A red haired woman stepped into the room, her dagger gleaming with blood.
"Well done my dear. Straight to the point as always." This gave a rise out of the woman, her laugh as cruel as her tactics.
"I'm not your bodyguard for nothing Jensen." The woman wiped her dagger with a silk cloth and sheathed it in one fluent motion. Her curvaceous figure fit well with her leather armor. It covered all of the essentials, but left her bosom to bare. An advantage that she used all too often.
"Where is the mercenary at now? I would have expected to have heard from him by now." inquired Jensen.
"I've heard that he's been making his way to the city as we speak. He should be entering shortly."
"And your sister Selene, what of her status?"
The woman looked away while she moved closer to Jensen, her walk entrancing.
"She's been having some difficulty with her objective, though I've never known her to fail her duty." She draped a lithe arm around Jensen's shoulder as she drew circles with her index finger on his chest.
Jensen chuckled, "Well then, what about you my dear? What about your duties right now?" Bringing one arm to her side the woman grasped Jensen's hand with her free hand.
"Come with me." She beckoned. Moving through the mansion they made their way to a bedroom.
"My dear Celeste, you never cease to amaze me."
"And I never will." She cooed. Though Jensen had no idea of his expandability. Once she and sister got what they wanted, his life would mean nothing to them.
"But why waste a good man and fine living arrangements." She thought to herself.
|
|