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Post by Dragin "Hiku" Hikari on Oct 19, 2006 19:59:16 GMT -5
Hiku groaned, "Great, now we've lost both the guy and his Guardian...this is going so well."
Mai blinked and crossed her arms, "Well getting frustrated isn't going to help ya either."
Hiku looked to Shinjo, "This isn't going to work, there's too many people around for use to locate anyone. I'm going to scout around and see if I can find them. Mai, stay with Shinjo."
Mai blinked at his comment, "But I want to go with you."
Hiku shook his head, "No I can move much faster on my own."
Shinjo frowned, "Hey, don't I get a sa-"
Mai growled, of course none of what Shinjo was trying to say was getting through to them.
Hiku looked over at Shinjo, "We'll meet back here in a few hours." And with that, he dashed off.
Mai growled, "That idiot thinks he's such a tough guy!"
Hiku merely began to head toward the edge of town, he really wasn't worried about Oren in the least, his safety wasn't his problem and he didn't know why he was so important. Aya had been gone a little longer then expected. He climbed a wall at the edge of town to get a better look around
Mai was still grumbling furiously as they walked around, "That idiot..."
Shinjo kept his head forward, pushing through the crowds"You two fight quite a bit. Why do you travel together if you get along like this?"
Mai snorted slightly, "Because he needs me and won't admit it....besides I've been following him since I was ten...almost four years ago. Ever since my parents died."
Shinjo asked simply, "He takes care of you?"
Mai shrugged at his question, "If that's what you want to call it. He doesn't like me calling him anything but his name. The real reason it is because of the Def-" She stops mid sentence.
Shinjo gave her an inquisitive look, "What?"
Mai shook her head, Nothing...um... I'mgonnagofindOrennowokaybye!" She strung together and ran off.
Shinjo was slightly caught off guard, "Wait a minute, stop running!" As he tried to chase after the girl.
Hiku spotted someone approaching, it was the stranger from before, carrying someone he quickly recognized as Aya. Hiku ran along the wall, hopping down in front of them just as they were about to enter town.
Hiku gave Blade a stale look. "Where do you think you're going?"
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Post by shadowhexblade on Oct 19, 2006 20:12:27 GMT -5
"Where do you think, buddy? The lady here needs rest, so I'm looking to get her a bed. If you care, then help me find an inn or something." He said as brushed past Hiku.
Hiku jumped back in front him, "With you? I don't think so. I don't trust your intentions at all pal, and if you want her to rest, then I suggest you come and join the rest of us. It's fine if you don't wish to leave...but one way or another, I'm not leaving here without her."
"Well, then lead the way boss-man, your intervention isn't helping her recover any faster, you know." Blade said in a sarcastic tone.
Hiku gave Blade a stern look. "Pfft.." He muttered before turning and heading back toward the center of the city. Blade began following Hiku through the busy streets.
Walking around the city for the first time didn't amuse Kenshin in the slightest. He promptly made his way to his destination, fearing he spent a little too much time in the lake. Once he arrived, he knocks on the door. No response. He knocks again...nothing. His eye twitches. He then remembers the instructions given to him, and knocks correctly this time. A man answers the door, behind him, stands a woman. They are not as young as he is, but not too old either.
"Welcome, Kenshin. We thought you would have been here sooner than this, considering how much your master has praised you."
Kenshin, with a small smile on his face, said "Forgive me."
"Hahaha, you're too kind my boy. None the less, you made it in record time."
"Thank you."
"Well come on in, we don't want you to catch a cold out there. The temperature has dropped as of late."
Kenshin walked in, and they made their way to the basement, where all the preparations had been made.
"Now Kenshin, this will be your final test. After this, you will stand on equal ground with your master... however, you still have your whole life ahead of you, and you must use it to surpass him in every way."
"I understand."
After the test was over, the man congratulated Kenshin on his success, giving him a sword, which he had made. By request of Kenshin's master, the man had taken well over five months to award the sword to Kenshin, if he succeeded his final test. The woman tended to his wounds and made sure he got a healthy meal before he left. As Kenshin walked out the door, he turned around and gave his old sword to the man.
"Heh, your master sure wasn't lying when he said you don't talk much. 'You'll be lucky to get a full sentence out of him.' That's what he said to me."
"Give this to my former master as a memento of his student, and tell him 'thank you' on my behalf."
"Sure."
With his new weapon in hand, and now a master of his art, Kenshin decided to celebrate. He traveled to a tavern and ordered a drink. Afterward, he set out to see what else he could do for his celebration.
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Post by seraph_phoenix on Oct 19, 2006 22:08:41 GMT -5
Oren began wandering toward the side of the giant over-sized walkway, managing to relax by resting his back on the side of a shop for a moment.
Confusion ran through Oren's head as his vision blurred and cleared a few times. He felt short of breath and sat down on a small stool outside the shop entrance. Three girls wandered over to the shop, while giggling in a girlish manner, eying him before they made their way inside. Oren did not give them a second glance other than that of a passer-by.
"... Aya... I should have gone ahead to her while I could have. Maybe I should go back... but she'd be angry if I did so on my own."
Oren ran his fingers through his hair and rested his forehead in the palm of his hand to shake off his nervousness about Aya. Just as he looks up, he sees a wandering Mai passing by in the crowd.
"Oren! There you are!" Mai said somewhat excitedly. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you for some time now.."
"Mai, I'm sorry if I worried you...." Oren says as he glances behind her. "Hey Mai, where is Hiku?"
"Oh, he told me to wait with Shinjo so that he could find you and Aya. I went with Shinjo to look for you, but we got separated a little ways back. I was trying to find a place with a good view so I could spot him, but I haven't had any luck." Mai said to Oren.
"Aya, she still isn't back yet?" He asked her with a concerned tone.
"No...Hiku must be worried, or he wouldn't have left like that. And if something happens, he can't really defend himself without me there to support him.." Mai said somewhat looking off to the side.
"...What do you mean by that?" Oren asks.
"Oh, it's nothing." She says with a smile to deter the subject.
"You are like her." He says, while looking to the ground. Mai looks to him, a bit perplexed.
"Like Aya." He says, without really moving. Mai says nothing to him, as he stands up in front of her.
"I will not elaborate on the subject any further. I can see it may somewhat frighten you a bit." Oren said as he smiled.
The last thing he wanted to do was frighten Mai or make her feel uncomfortable around him. "We should go on up ahead. There's a small cove of shops, we'll be able to see Shinjo or anyone if they happen to come by."
"Alright." Mai said with a smile.
Darkness seemed to fall rather quickly that night, as Oren and Mai sat at a table outside a quiet tavern. Mai was eating a Talu rather aggressively.
Oren looks at her and laughs a bit. "Hey, you've got that all over you."
Mai's face turns red as she wipes off her mouth, giving Oren an awry look. "It's been a long time...do you think we missed them?" She asked.
"No...I know this city fairly well, even though it has grown immensely since the last time I was here." He said while looking out the window.
Mai looked at him funny, waiting for him to elaborate.
"I grew up here, but it was a long time ago. I hated this city so much, I still hate it now. Such atrocity." Oren said before standing up. "This is a small, family-run tavern and restaurant. It's going to close in about a half hour, we should go ahead and get going."
"Where are we going to go?" Mai asked.
"Well, around here the busy taverns are the only things that seem to keep anyone's interest. Also, the auction house and whorehouses seem to be favorites. Other than that, the streets seem rather clear. There are several inns, I imagine one of our friends may have already gotten a room."
"Okay, I'm full anyway!" Mai said before standing up and rubbing her tummy, the table was littered with the skins of about eight or nine Talu fruit.
"Hah, I would hope so!" Oren said with a laugh.
The pair exited the small tavern and began to leave the cove area. The area had become considerably darker, and many of the shops were already closed. The lights were very dim on the walkways, and the alleyways were darker than the evening sky.
Mai began to wonder where Hiku had been all this time. She wondered if he'd found Aya, or if he'd gotten hurt because he didn't have her support. But she remembered Oren saying that she was like Aya.
"Maybe Aya could help him too..." Mai pondered. Oren stopped at a small shop, the keep was just closing up.
"Excuse me sir, my friend and I are looking for some of our companions...." His words seemed to drift out of Mai's head as she stepped away, looking about the city. She wandered over to a streetlight, surrounded by tiny bugs fluttering about. Mai heard a strange noise in the alleyway ahead, she peered into the alley to see a very large, hulking figure.
"O...Oren....." Mai said with a startled tone.
"...Thank you for your time sir..." Oren said to the shopkeep before turning his attention to Mai. "What is it..?" He asked before he fully focused in on the figure Mai was facing.
"What's that smell?" Mai asked.
Oren crept slowly toward Mai, while extending his hand out to her. "Mai...we have to go now."
"What IS that thing?" Mai asked. Just shortly after, a horrible bone-crunching sound emitted from the alleyway. The figure reared it's head backward, eating meat off of a bone.
Mai almost let out a cry, but Oren covered her mouth from behind, pulling her close to him.
"That's a Stalker...a horrible carnivorous beast. They're extremely aggressive, tall, very massive and frightening. They usually don't venture out on their own...and we're in real trouble if it has friends..." He said to Mai.
Her eyes dreadfully watch the creature ripping apart whatever had happened in it's wake.
Oren slowly began backing up with Mai, into the shadows. "Don't worry, they usually don't eat humans. It's most likely a deer..." Oren said to comfort Mai.
Mai seemed to calm down a bit, as they blended into the shadows and darted behind some kegs of fruit. They watched the creature as it tossed aside the remnants of dinner and wandered around onto the walkway. The beast stumbled around aimlessly, looking for something. He continued on the walkway, unfortunately, in the direction Mai and Oren needed to go.
"Why are they called Stalkers?" Mai asked.
"They are somewhat like mercenaries, they are employed by someone who sends them out to perform tasks. Usually it's kidnapping, bringing home the nightly whore to its master...anything you can think of. They're somewhat like scavengers. Some are pretty stupid actually, but there are others...who seem to be on a higher level, that are much more viable of the name 'Stalker'. I need to find Aya...she will be in no condition to fight them if they find her."
"If they find her? Why would they look for Aya?" Mai asked.
"Because they've been hunting me." Oren said with a rather grim tone.
The low-ranking Stalker disappeared down another alleyway, further down.
"Come on, we can head that way now, just be quiet and keep a look out." Oren said as he took Mai's hand.
"I know I am not as strong as Shinjo, Aya or Hiku...but I will protect you. I know that sounds like nonsense coming from someone who has a female Guardian, but trust in me." Oren said while his hands began to resonate a red aura. He raised his arm into the air and traced a circular pattern, it tranformed into a visible bubble of sorts and encompassed the both of them.
"This will deter them from our smell, so now we can find the others without being seen, hopefully." The pair took to the shadows of the walkways, searching for their friends.
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Post by Dragin "Hiku" Hikari on Oct 19, 2006 23:25:08 GMT -5
Blade stopped for a moment, "Something's approaching us, quickly..."
Hiku frowned, turning, as he saw a trash can fly out of the nearest alleyway. Three Stalkers emerged from the alleyway, snarling, these were apparently slightly higher on the intelligence scale than the one seen by Mai and Oren just a moment earlier.
Blade frowned, "Stalkers...they're searching for something..."
A serious look swept over Hiku's face, "Whatever they are, they don't look happy to see us."
Blade narrowed his gaze, "They don't normally attack humans, so what would they be looking for?"
Hiku growled a bit, "My guess is her." Averting his eyes to Aya momentarily. "Get her to the others I was traveling with, you should be able to find them from here."
Blade cocked a brow, "And you're going to do what exactly?"
Hiku looked over to him, "Look, I'll keep them busy, just go! Find the girl I was with and tell her what has happened."
Blade didn't argue any further, and made a dash toward the inns. As the stalkers turned to chase Blade and Aya, Hiku stepped in the way.
Hiku grasped the casing holding his sword, "Damn, it looks like I have no choice but to use the Defender. Mai...I'm sorry. I just hope I can end this quick enough to survive..."
Hiku slowly drew the sword out of it case, the silver colored blade emerged, crackling. It was as if there was literally power flowing through it.
Hiku threw the casing to the side. "Well buddies I've got about twenty minutes before I'm drained...so let's go!"
Out of the corner of Kenshin's eye, a sign caught his attention. He stopped and turned around to see what it was.
"A whorehouse?" He scrounged through his pockets, checking to see how much money he had... not enough. He continued running on the building tops, looking for other things to do, but night fell hours ago and not many places were left open. While perched atop a chimney, Kenshin heard the sound of a trash can hitting the ground. He went toward it silently, but still keeping a fast pace. Crouching on the edge of a rooftop, he saw a man with a drawn sword, and some creatures he had never seen before.
Instinctively reaching to grasp his new sword, he took into consideration his wounds from the final test earlier. And without knowing what the creatures were capable of, he decided that it would be best to just watch the battle unfold.
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Post by seraph_phoenix on Oct 20, 2006 14:21:37 GMT -5
Blade ran down a nearby alleyway carrying Aya. Many of the shops were closed now, he'd have to find an open inn somewhere. He managed to find his way to a well-lit area with travelers out and about. He saw an open inn, set inside a relatively calm and dimly lit tavern.
Blade managed his way over to the tavern barkeep.
"Nice catch youuuu got thar, man!", "Hey, hows abouts youu let meee borrow 'er fer a lil' while?" were among a few of the comments Blade heard as he carried the unconscious Aya over to the bar counter.
"I need to get...umm..." Blade muttered to the barkeep. The keep looked at him strangely for a moment, as Blade recalled that there were others asides from just he and Aya. There would be about six people...
"I need a room or small living quarters for about six people, what do you have?" Blade asked the keep.
The keep was a short, fairly old man. He was bald and frail but looked to be quite feisty, if given any hell.
"Well, you can get a few rooms with two beds each, but if you all want to room together, I have a more expensive den area with one large room with a large bed and one small room with 2 single beds. The den area itself has a few cots." The barkeep said, his eyes drifting off, while pondering the possibilities.
"Fine, I'll take it." Blade said while tossing a small bag of gold to the old man, who promptly catches it with surprising reflex. "Keep the rest for yourself. There will be a group of at least four coming with me. An average young man with black hair wearing white, a young girl and two warrior type fellows with strange swords...the rest is for your silence on the matter." Blade said politely to the old man.
"I got ya son, but you know..." The keep muttered to Blade, catching him off guard.
"Eh?" Blade muttered, confused.
"I can't really be letting you take the pretty lady in there like that. It's a bit unruly if you ask me. Knocking women out and taking them to your bed, what kind of man are you?" The keep said to Blade. He glanced over Blade's appearance again. His dark, worn and tattered clothes were accompanied by a beautifully crafted scythe upon his back and his hair was tousled about carelessly. Aya, on the other hand, was wearing new, shiny silver-trimmed red armor. Her dark green cloak was nearly black in appearance, offsetting her long blond hair, draped across Blade's arms.
Blade just stood there with a blank look.
The old man saw Aya wincing, her hand covering her clavical, and he groaned. "Ah fine, do as you please." The keep said as he pocketed the gold and tossed a key on the counter.
"But don't be letting me catch you in any funny business or I'll have your ass, son." He said in a somewhat brash tone, turning back to the drunkards. "The rooms are all upstairs." The keep said, while keeping his attention to pouring more ale.
Blade picked up the small metal key, which had a light engraving on it which said "Room 12". Blade carried Aya upstairs and opened the door to the room. It was rather large, with a fireplace in the large room and one in the den. There was also a small balcony off of the den area.
"Well this is actually kinda nice, eh kitten?" Blade said as he looked down at Aya. She was somewhat frowning from her pain, but she still not awake.
Blade took Aya into the larger room and put her to rest on the bed. He decided to feel her head before leaving.
"Eh? You're sweating to death but your skin is cold as ice..." Blade said. He went over and started a small fire, pulling a light blanket over her.
"Alright woman, I'll be back...don't die or anything stupid like that." He said before heading back out of the room. Blade hurried down the stairs and back outside to find Hiku.
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Post by Dragin "Hiku" Hikari on Oct 20, 2006 15:31:57 GMT -5
Mai stopped suddenly and turned to look behind her. He stop yanked on Oren's hand, jerking his body to a halt. "Something wrong?" He asked.
Mai shuddered, "Something is wrong, I know it...I've got to find him!" Just as before, she dashed off into the night before anyone can stop her. The illuminating orb, protecting their scent from the Stalkers, burst into nothing as she broke free of Oren's grip and started her run.
Oren called out, "Wait, Mai! The barrier is gone! Gah, how can one child move that fast!?" He exclaimed as he tried to catch up to her.
Hiku growled as the Stalkers surrounded him. He had been fighting them off for several minutes already, however, they were a lot stronger than he first thought. If they had been what he assumed, he would have ended this scrap moments ago. "I don't know what Aya and Oren are wrapped up in, but it must be something to draw Stalkers of this caliber."
One of them impatiently lurched forward, Hiku smirked. "Bad move, buddy!"
He flipped over the beast, thrusting the sword into the back the creature's neck. A high charged energy flew through the creature for several moments before the beast quickly vaporized.
Kenshin was still perched atop a nearby building top, he had still been watching the short battle. He was even feeling a little surprised. There was no sign of Hiku having used any magic, it seemed to be emanating from the weapon itself.
Hiku landed from his attack, but grunted slightly. As the sword emitted a soft glow, he nearly lost his balance.
"Damn it, I forgot this thing wasn't fully charged from the last time I used it. This is very bad...."
His eyes widened quickly as reality snapped back to him, the remaining two Stalkers charging at him again. Hiku lazily stepped to the side to avoid the attacks, nearly getting himself hit by the second Stalker. Kenshin would obviously see that Hiku was growing weaker every minute, even though he has yet to be struck by the beasts.
Hiku took a wide swipe at one of the Stalkers, slicing its torso once, then again, with the same destructive result of the first. Hiku stumbled back, growling. "My time's almost up...Mai..."
The last beast prepared to make it's charge at him.
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Post by kenshin075 on Oct 20, 2006 16:09:35 GMT -5
Kenshin saw the beast charge toward the man, he was unsure whether the man would be able to pull off another swing like the previous ones. He decided not to take a chance and go for it. As the beast rapidly approached the man, Kenshin thrust himself in the direction of the beast.
"Damn, lets hope I can make it." Hiku said.
As he swung his sword as hard and fast as he could, he noticed the Stalker was already decapitated. Hiku's eyes widened and a look of confusion swept his face.
Kenshin landed next to the beast, with his back to Hiku. The sound of ripping cloth filled Kenshin's ears in the dead silence of the night. He looked down and noticed he had been cut on his right leg by the man's sword, but the electrical effect that caused the death of the beasts didn't happen.
He turned to Hiku and said, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, sorry about your leg...you came out of nowhere. I wasn't able to stop."
"It's alright."
Kenshin was glad that he didn't suffer the fate of the Stalkers by being struck by the man's sword. Hiku collapsed from exhaustion, Kenshin figured that the sword somehow weakened the man, as he had not been fighting long enough to be this worn out.
Kenshin helped the man up and told him, "I'll take you to an inn."
"No...I must get back to Mai and the others..."
"Mai?"
"Shes my companion. I need to find her."
As the Hiku stood up and set off, there was another sound of a trash can falling over. He stopped as Kenshin moved in front of him. A girl with black hair came running around the corner, followed by a man in white.
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Post by seraph_phoenix on Oct 20, 2006 16:39:00 GMT -5
Mai came running out of the alleyway and darted over to Hiku. She was ready to scold him for leaving her behind, and for using the Defender, as Oren ran over to them as well. Hiku stood there, catching his breath, while looking like he'd nearly been killed. Mai stopped in front of him in mid-swing of slapping him, with a concerned look on her face. She dropped her arm back to a normal position.
"Come on, we should find a place to rest so I can take care of you..." Mai said as she grabbed onto Hiku's arm.
"Where.....is Shinjo...?" Hiku asked between breaths.
"We got separated, I don't know. Oren and I stopped for hours to find him, but he's still no where to be found. I'm a little worried." Mai said as she walked down the pathway.
"Who are you..?" Oren asked Kenshin.
"He.....helped me...." Hiku said to Oren. "He is...fine to come with us...." He said, panting. "We'll still need........to search for Aya...and Blade. I don't know which....inn they went to..." Hiku said.
Oren's attention suddenly turned to Hiku. "You left Aya with that man???" Oren's anger dropped when he saw how exhausted Hiku was, he would deal with Blade later.
Although Hiku and Mai had just joined them, he didn't think Hiku to be the kind to leave a woman in distress. And Mai is fond of Aya as well...so he would not have done so without good intention. Oren walked over and lifted Hiku's other arm over his shoulder and began to walk onward.
Mai looked back to the man following them and leaves Hiku's side. She runs back toward Kenshin and says, "Thank you for helping him." She said with a bow.
Kenshin just nodded to her and said, "It's no problem." as Mai smiles back to him in return. Mai was such a cute young girl and she could stop tavern brawls with her innocent smile. She was just that kind of person.
The group paused for a moment as Blade came running quickly out of an alleyway a bit ahead of them.
"Hey!" He said as he waved to them. Oren snarled at the fact that he was without Aya.
"Don't worry...about Aya..." Hiku said to calm Oren. "She would....not let her guard down.....around someone like that....without reason."
Oren glared at Blade a bit, but said nothing.
Blade jogs up to them. "Descendant of Denethor...." He says in a very serious manner.
Oren stops immediately and looks up to Blade with a bit of a shocked look on his face.
"I have heard rumors of the things you can do. That girl needs you, right now." Blade said to him.
"But we still haven't found Shinjo!" Mai says to Blade.
"It will have to wait. I need to get him to Aya." Blade said with a straight face.
"Where is she?" Oren said, somewhat coldly.
"Come, I will show all of you to the inn. She is resting." Blade said as he turned to take the group back to the inn. As he turned, he noticed the new addition standing next to Mai. Blade's eyes wander over him for a moment, as he turns back forward, heading to the inn.
As the group walked on, Mai said to Oren, "So, is that why she's guarding you? Because you're the descendant of him?"
"Yes..." Oren said with regret in his voice. "...it's my fault she's like this..."
"Don't blame yourself, she does her job because she was hired to. And besides, she cares about you." Mai said, taking Hiku's arm back over her shoulder.
Oren looked at Mai for a moment with a funny look.
"What? You haven't seen it, have you?" Mai looked up and asked him. Oren looked puzzled.
"Oh, men are so dense!" Mai said before snuffing her nose into the air and turning her head back forward.
Kenshin walking behind the group, was observant to everything they said. He knew of the Denethor of which they spoke as well.
"Denethor was a God that existed around one-hundred years ago....He was a horrid God, often referred to as the Demon Lord. He took rule over the lands of Edenia at his will, but I heard he died fifty years ago... Strange powers preceded him that could not be explained, yet he seemed like an ordinary man before he awoke to his power. Oren does not seem like that man at all, at least not in the latter sense. He seems much more conservative. The young girl said someone was guarding him...a female. She must know about this as well. Apparently these Stalkers have been chasing them for some time, but this amount of them must have just started attacking. If this group wishes to continue on like this, they will have to understand why that man is being targeted. And they are still shy one companion..."
The group continued onward toward the inn.
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Post by Dragin "Hiku" Hikari on Oct 21, 2006 1:42:08 GMT -5
Back at the inn, Mai helped Hiku to one of the small beds, where he immediately fell asleep. Oren merely went over to check on Aya, only peeking in on her before closing her door.
Kenshin walked over with Mai and asked, "Is he stable?"
Mai nodded, "He'll be okay. The effects of the drain are only temporary." Kenshin nods and goes to sit down on a small stool in the den.
Mai glanced down at the ground for a moment, then looks back up, "When Aya wakes up and Shinjo gets here...I think it time for us to tell our story..." No one replied to what she said, but sooner or later, it was going to come out.
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Post by kenshin075 on Oct 21, 2006 6:01:47 GMT -5
The group continued talking about the situation they were in. Kenshin listened in and managed to get a grasp of what they had gone through since they first met. He felt uncomfortable among the group, he didn't know any of them well enough to be intruding in on their business.
"I'll get going now."
"Good." Blade said. "I only paid for six people and we're still expecting Shinjo."
"Please don't go." Mai grabbed Kenshin's sleeve before he could leave the room. "You saved Hiku...I owe you a favor and if you leave now I don't think we'll see each other again."
Kenshin gave her a slight smile and started to head out again.
"Grrr." Mai rushed toward Kenshin, timing her kick to ensure that he would fall, she'd hit the back of his knee. Kenshin fell to one knee, got back up, and turned to face Mai. He looked at her thinking of what he should say.
"A favor...never kick me again." He said to her in a joking manner, with a smile.
"Sure thing."
He adjusted his glasses and walked out.
Mai started to follow Kenshin, when Oren ordered her to stay in the room. "Mai, stay here." He said, his arms folded as he sat on a stool with his back resting against a wall.
Kenshin made his way downstairs to the innkeeper and asked for a room. He walked back to the group's room and knocked on the door. As Mai opened the door she saw a key with 'Room 10' inscribed on it. She smiled and said, "So does this mean you'll be joining our group?"
"Oren?" He asked.
"We'll have to discuss it at a later time when Shinjo is present and once Aya and Hiku have fully recovered."
Kenshin paused for a moment, "There's your answer." He then headed to his room to give the group some privacy.
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Post by shadowhexblade on Oct 21, 2006 8:57:14 GMT -5
Blade winced slightly, trying his best to hide his pain from the group as he held his stomach. His gut was on fire, as his insides tried to ignore the fact that they belonged in his body, and were trying to get out. The pain had started as a slight discomfort when he first started carrying Aya through Valencia, but it escalated very quickly.
He knew that another "drink" would help his system, his fangs ached longingly whenever he looked at the young Mai, but he refused to let himself give in to the urges, like some kind of animal.
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Post by seraph_phoenix on Oct 21, 2006 16:41:01 GMT -5
"Your friend with the green glowing sword... he's the absent one, right?" Blade asked Mai. He did not bother to ask Oren, who'd been glaring at him since they'd come back to the inn.
"Yeah, he's still gone...we looked for him but we couldn't find him." Mai said back to Blade.
"I saw him in the tavern, when you fought that woman with the red hair...I'll see if I can find him for you." Blade said as he pulled on his cloak and scythe. Blade turned and headed for the door.
Just as the tip of his finger grazed the door handle, the group heard a small cry.
"Aya?" Mai said as she rushed into Aya's room. Oren ran to the doorway and Blade stood behind Oren, overlooking Mai and Aya.
Aya had tried to get out of her bed, but she was still too weak. Mai settled her back down.
"I should really look at your wound Aya..." Mai said to her with concern. "...but we'll have to get your armor off." Mai said to Aya as she started to unlatch the armor.
Mai stopped instinctively and turned to glare at the two men lurking in the doorway.
"Get out, you perverts!!" Mai howled before slamming the door in their faces.
The two men stood there, a bit bewildered, but turned to sit down. Oren sat in a small chair near Aya's door and Blade sat on the floor near the fireplace, cleaning his scythe.
"I will wait to hear of Aya's condition before I search for your friend." Blade said to Oren, not looking up from cleaning his scythe.
"Her condition is of no concern to you." Oren said while glaring at Blade.
Blade stops and looks up at him, "I think it is, pretty boy. I probably saved her life back there. If I had tried to help her any further, I'd have risked my own life. I understand that she is your Guardian and you are protective of her. She is rather attractive, isn't she?" Blade said while smirking at Oren.
Oren stood up quickly, his chair hitting the wall. "THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!" Oren yelled at him, but he did not lunge, or attack Blade. Mai would probably be angry with him, since Hiku and Aya needed to rest.
"Oh I'm just joking pretty boy, calm down." Blade said while waving his hand in a motion to calm Oren's mood. "Here, maybe this will explain things..." Blade said as he hands Oren the same paper he gave to Aya earlier. "I am to observe Aya, and keep her alive until I receive other orders." He said, while returning to cleaning his scythe. "...While I'm not entirely sure what they might be."
"You're a mercenary?" Oren said, looking up from the paper, relatively calm from his actions a moment ago. After all, it was the paper of The Royal Order, it's made especially for those in the royal court, he had no reason to not trust him, for now.
"Yeah, the guy didn't even meet me to give me the offer, so I don't know who he is, sorry." Blade said with slight irritation in his voice.
Oren just looked out the window.
Mai sat Aya's armor, cloak and swords in a pile on the night-stand. She walked back over and sat next to Aya on the bed, taking out a few things from a red medicine bag. Mai removed Blade's bandage to see that there was a bit of discoloration to Aya's skin. Mai had a concerned look on her face.
"Aya, this might hurt a little..." Mai said, as she took a small needle out of the bag and lightly scraped the tip across her discolored skin.
"Did you feel anything?" Mai said while looking to Aya.
"No...not at all. I can't feel anything...on that area..." Aya said.
Mai's eyes narrowed as she gently pressed the needle onto the skin, nearly piercing it. She looked up at Aya, who said nothing. Apparently the entire area was numb. Mai finally broke the skin with the needle, Aya didn't flinch.
"....Aya?" Mai said while looking at the wound. It was not bleeding, nor leaking any fluid.
".....?" Aya looked at Mai, then to the wound. She didn't know her skin had been pierced by the needle. "What...is it?" She asked.
"...."
"Mai??"
"It's a necrotic poison. It works very slowly and literally deadens the body's cells. Certain arachnids and snakes contain this venom....but this is diluted to slow down the processing time. There isn't anything I can do for it....."
"What's going to happen..?" Aya asked.
"I'm not sure...it's spread since I first checked on you when we got here. It's suppose to literally kill your body, to deaden it. Medicine might help but...I'm not sure. We can try." Mai said as she handed Aya a small powder from the bag.
"Swallow that and drink some water to wash it down..." Mai said while she cleaned the wound.
Aya swallowed the powder, coughing immediately. "Aw...this...is gross..." She muttered before drinking some water.
Mai finished bandaging the wound, as Aya sat the glass down onto the nightstand. Aya's hair moved as she laid back down, and Mai noticed the puncture wounds on her neck, though Aya had mentioned nothing of it. Mai said nothing but had a gut instinct of where they came from, as they were not on Aya the last time she saw her.
Aya laid her her to the side and tried to rest. Mai took a dampened cloth and wiped Aya's forehead with it.
"Aya...you have a fever." Mai said to her. "Maybe I should put out the fire..." Mai said as she dropped the cloth, which fell near Aya's arm. Mai picked it up, grazing Aya's arm she she retrieved the cloth. Mai paused for a moment and smiled at Aya. "Just rest Aya, you'll be fine." Mai said as she took the medicine bag and walked to the door.
Right as the door to the room opens, Oren stands up and Blade looks to see who is coming out. Mai walks out, with a saddened look on her face. She closes the door behind her, somewhat slowly, and set the medicine bag down on a table.
"Mai..?" Oren asks, sensing her concern.
"Aya's wound is necrotic...her skin is rotting....I can't do anything for it except hope that the medicine I gave her can stop it from spreading. If it doesn't, I'll have to cut it out for fear of it getting worse...." Mai said, not looking to either man.
Both Blade and Oren looked at her with a bit of shock as to hear about the poison's effects.
"However, she has a fever...but her skin...it's freezing." Mai said while sitting down. "I think she may have lost too much blood from the injury, it's a very deep wound. I'm not sure what to do for her. She's freezing but she's burning up as well. Her fever is from the poison, but her body is cold from the blood loss. She will have to stay very warm in order for her blood to circulate throughout her body." Mai said while rubbing her forehead.
Blade stood up and put his scythe on his back. "I'll go look for Shinjo." He said as he quietly left the room.
"Mai.." Oren said, while looking to the ground. "Stay near Hiku, but keep an eye out for when Blade returns, with or without Shinjo."
"Alright, but please go see Aya, it might help her feel a little better." Mai said as she stood up, walking toward the room where Hiku was resting. She opens the door, but stops, "Try to keep her warm." Mai said while entering the room, closing the door behind her.
Oren sighed and rubbed his right temple with his thumb. "This is all so crazy..." Oren heard a whimper come from Aya's room, he looks up. Oren stood and grabbed the door handle to the room, but stopped before opening the door. He'd remembered what Mai had said earlier for some reason...
"What? You haven't seen it, have you? Oh, men are so dense!"
Oren gulped. "What was she talking about??"
Oren shook off his thoughts and entered Aya's room. He walked over and sat on the bed, taking her hand. It was very cold, like Mai mentioned.
"...Aya?"
Aya was still very weak and appeared to be sleeping fairly uncomfortably. She looked to be in pain. Oren stared for a moment, but then stood up and took off his cloak, setting it next to Aya's things. He took off his large priest-style shirt, then his undershirt and set them with his cloak.
Oren knelt on the bed and took the blanket off of Aya. He pulled her to him, elevating her upper body. He gathered the blanket with one hand, holding her up with the other. Aya flinched a bit, and he looks down to her. Aya was only wearing her undergarments from earlier, and her bosom was in his direct line of vision. Oren's face turned red, he stopped and shook his head for a moment, pulling the blanket around her and himself, lifting her up.
Oren walked over and slowly sat down next to the fire. His back was against the wall, his knees slightly raised, as he held Aya in his lap. He pulled her close to his body to keep her warm, resting her head on his chest. Rested his head on top of hers, he fell sleep.
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Post by shadowhexblade on Oct 21, 2006 18:24:45 GMT -5
Blade muttered to himself as he exited the inn, beginning his search for Shinjo. He still suffered from a searing pain in his gut, but it was the least of his worries...his "package" was slowly deteriorating, and there was nothing more he could do.
"I don't understand, I withdrew enough of that poison from her blood. Even if it is that necrotic of a poison, her body should be able to easily fight it off. Her decreased blood level shouldn't make a difference..."
Blade rubbed his chest on the left side, around the heart area. If anyone had been observing him carefully, they might have noticed that his hand actually dipped into his chest slightly.
"Even in my condition my bite should be sufficient...perhaps it's because she's not actually human either..."
Blade leaped onto a nearby rooftop and scanned the streets below, searching for any signs of Shinjo or his sword. He hadn't a clue where to find the guy, and he wondered why Shinjo hadn't shown up at the inn, asking around.
"Wait a minute...duh!" He jumped off the building and landed in a crouch, wincing and grasping his side in pain, before breaking off into a run.
"If he can truly handle himself, then he should already be resting at an inn or checking various taverns for us."
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Post by shinjoyoshida on Oct 21, 2006 20:19:12 GMT -5
Shinjo stumbled around another corner and lazily stared off into the distance. The soft light from the street lamps hit his skin strangely, he seemed to emit a golden glow.
"Shtupid shity... Can't find a...damn thing." Shinjo gripped his sword as he started to walk forward, though the alcohol in his system would not let him. His whole body lurched sideways, as his feet tried to regain control of his momentum. Skipping once or twice he managed to hold himself up by hugging a wooden post.
"What tha hell is thish?" The post had many excerpts of scripture fastened to it, but one writing caught Shinjo's eye.
"To all those who wish to make a hefty profit, I issue the following decree. My mansion will be holding a convention of sorts for mercenaries. I will be selling contracts to the lowest requested amount of gold. All of these contracts will be handled with the utmost of secrecy and all parties will have their identities and personal lives unrevealed. -Lord Jensen Tremere"
Shinjo squinted for the longest time at the ad. His brain wouldn't let him make much of the text, but his photographic memory would surely help him to decipher the words at a later time. As Shinjo let go of the post he heard a cry in distance. The voice sounded feminine.
"Wha?" Shinjo started to stumble in the general direction of the commotion as he struggled to keep upright.
"Damn Oren for running off without me. Damn Hiku for leaving me with Mai. And damn Mai for leaving me with myself and I..." Shinjo heard more noise from his left, just as he reached a four way intersection in the road. As he rounded the bend with great difficulty, he spotted four rather large men toying with a small girl. They had removed all of her clothes, save a pair of panties.
"Hey!" Shouted Shinjo. His voice was full of hesitation, the booze in his system would make a fool of him by the night's end.
"Look guys! More fun!" one of the thugs exclaimed. One of the men stayed behind while the three others ran toward Shinjo. Not being particularly stable while hammered, Shinjo made an effort to dodge their rush at him, but only fell forward. One of the thugs caught him midway and rammed his knee into Shinjo's face. The warrior reared backward and fell on his behind.
"Haha, what a fucking joke!" The trio began to kick Shinjo in the ribs while the young girl screamed in terror. The man restraining her threw a lazy punch, aimed at her stomach. She collapsed onto the cobbled street.
Shinjo tried to get up. More and more pain seemed to pop up all over his body. He felt a large hand remove his sword from his belt as his face was smashed onto the ground again.
His voice a faint whisper, Shinjo called to the girl, "Are you ok...?" The men continued to beat Shinjo. Their blows becoming more and more vicious. By now, he had at least four broken ribs, a broken nose and multiple bruises and cuts. One of the men pulled out a small knife and stabbed Shinjo in his left arm. The sickening sound only spurred on the gang as they laughed and howled. Finally, Shinjo managed to roll away from them, as his drunken figure made clear the state of the girl.
Her head was laying cockeyed on the ground as blood streamed from an open wound. He tried calling to her but the words would not vocalize. As the man pulled the knife from Shinjo's arm, he threw it at the girl's neck. The blade pierced her skin and she let out a final cry. Her form grew limp as her last breath escaped her.
"No..." Shinjo's eyes widened. His iris thinned into a slit as he pulled himself up. The sword that had been removed was thrown somewhere in the alleyway, behind them. It's green aura was a sight to behold, it looked like an ethereal treasure, to be controlled by no one. As his body began to twitch uncontrollably, Shinjo pulled out the necklace from his pocket.
"I am sorry." He managed to whisper. His anger was such that he could barely talk at all. Shinjo tossed the necklace aside and closed his eyes. When he opened them, all the vagabonds could see were red orbs with black slits in the middle. The Berserker had finally awakened.
Shinjo screamed. As the sound pierced Blade's ears, he immediately started to make his way toward it. Grasping his stomach, he stealthily picked his path through side streets and corridors, as more and more sounds reached his senses.
It was all Shinjo could do to keep from grunting like some feral animal. As he ran toward the group, he could only picture the image of the innocent girl they had ravaged. He reached them in a matter of seconds, as he flipped his body over them and landed behind one of the gang members. A taught arm rammed its way through his chest cavity. Shinjo pushed the appendage even further through the man as he reached up and grasped the man's face. The power in his hand literally ripped part of the face from its skull. Blood dripped everywhere, as veins and arteries spewed their life giving substance.
The men started to realize what they were dealing with now. One man pulled a short sword out of its sheath and ran toward Shinjo. At the last moment, Shinjo removed his arm from the deadened corpse and met the next attacker head on. The sword pierced his lower body and cut a swath through his inner organs. Shinjo did not move. His grasped the sword with both hands cutting them as he pulled the man closer.
He grasped the man's neck and pulled him within an inch of his own face. As he stared at him for a few moments the man started to soil himself. Shinjo let out a howl and pushed his thumb into the man's air tube. As the blood painted Shinjo's face red, he felt only the need to continue until ever last fiber in his body was at rest. Without even thinking, his other hand grasped the throat he was holding onto and pried it open.
Shinjo let him fall to the ground as the world turned a deep crimson red. He couldn't think, his most basic instincts driving him forward. The third thug turned to run away but Shinjo pulled the short sword out of his own body and threw it at the thug's legs. With him incapacitated, he turned to the fourth assailant. The man fell to his knees, begging for mercy. But Shinjo could not hear him. He palmed his head with one hand and lifted his body from the ground. Looking at him with his fire red eyes, he smashed his head against his knee. Teeth flew everywhere. A hairline fracture had developed in the man's jaw as he could not talk now. All he could do was crawl away from Shinjo and gurgle feeble sounds. Shinjo would show no mercy.
He grasped the man's shoulders with both of his hands and placed his thumb near the area of his clavicles. Pushing his thumbs through his skin, he felt the bone. An effortless upward movement left the two structures snapped clean in twine. The man screamed for help. Shinjo's face showed no emotion, the rage within would let him focus only on the task at hand. He picked up the mangled man and threw him down near a curb. Placing the man's head on the curb, he kicked his neck in. The bone shot through the front of the now deceased thug's neck. A grim reminder of Shinjo's anger.
The final member of the group had been crawling all this time, away from Shinjo. But his wound would not escape Shinjo's flair for blood. He immediately sniffed the air as he moved his gaze to the feeble man. Shinjo sprinted toward him and jumped in the air. With the weight of a god it seemed, Shinjo landed on a pair of hands. The digits on his fingers split open as the whole structure within his hands dissolved. A blood curdling scream tainted the night sky as Shinjo started to scrape the man's chest open.
Little by little, his flesh was stripped from his body until his heart was barely visible. Shinjo removed it with both of his hands as the man tried to cry. He couldn't speak, his voice failed him, the pain was too much. Staring at the weakened soul below him Shinjo dangled his heart in front of his eyes. As his own eyes widened so did Shinjo's. And with a final squeeze he crushed the crucial organ. The man's life seemed to fade as Shinjo's form rose from a crouching position.
By now, guards were running toward his location. In his blood drenched state, he scooped up the little girl and started to walk away from the scene of carnage. Just then, Blade dropped down to see Shinjo. His whole body was blood red, scratches and bruises covered his entire form. A gaping wound was visible near his stomach area. A small tear made its way down Shinjo's face. His pain was not physical. He held the little girl close to his body as he fell to his knees.
"I'm so sorry..." As Shinjo's eyes reverted to normal so did his inhuman strength and resilience. He immediately collapsed onto the ground with the girl's corpse in his caring grasp. Blade could not believe what he had just seen. In all of his travels, he had seen much bloodshed, but the men's bodies weren't even on par with some deaths he had witnessed. Shinjo's broken spirit had stirred something within Blade. He could not bare to see him in this state. Collecting Shinjo he started to run back toward the tavern.
The sword in the alleyway had stopped glowing. Its emerald color faded into nothing. It would have to wait for its master's return in the morning.
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Post by Dragin "Hiku" Hikari on Oct 22, 2006 1:19:23 GMT -5
Hiku groaned in his sleep, as he dreamed.
A vision from the past consumed his mind. Before him stood a shadowy monster, larger than any building he'd ever seen. It slowly began to move away from him. Hiku was running toward it, but it was like he was making no progress.
Holding the Defender in his hand, he yelled. "No, you're not going to get away from me! I won't let you! Come back and face me! Don't you dare run away! Damn you!"
The further the beast inched away, the more angry Hiku became...but he began to feel weaker, as the sword began to drain him and the creature fled even faster. "Damn it all, why I can't I control this thing..? How can I be this useless!?"
Hiku sat up quickly in his frustration, waking himself by screaming. "Eliza!"
Mai looked up in surprise, "You're finally awake..."
Hiku looked to her, "Finally...? Oh, right...I succumbed to Defender again."
Mai nodded, only whispering, "Yea."
Hiku simply said, "You don't want to hit me?"
Mai groaned, "You sure do deserve it. But I don't have it in me........I see you still haven't be able to let my sister's death go."
Hiku sighed, "It was my fault."
Mai stood up slowly, "Hiku, you can't keep blaming yourself about what happened to our village. You were able to protect the Defender........and me."
Hiku went silent, glancing at the sword. Mai sighed, "Hiku I know you feel limited, needing me to use the sword...and to this day I don't know why the sword doesn't feed on me like it does other people. You need to stop facing this alone. You got lucky this time...if you die..."
Hiku turned back to Mai, who looked to be crying, Hiku was rather alarmed by this.
Mai shook her head, "You're all I have left... don't do anything stupid please...I know you loved my older sister, but please... Don't rush yourself to death like this..."
Hiku sighed hugging Mai, "I'm sorry.........I wasn't thinking...and I still have a vow to keep to both you and Eliza."
Hiku held Mai like a father, comforting his child. As much as they had fought...deep down that was all they had left. The two had developed almost a father-daughter kind of bond that had pulled them through the recent years. The Defender simply gleamed in the light of the lamp, before the candle finally went out, allowing Mai and Hiku to rest. They both knew a long day awaited them once the sun rose.
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