Kymiko sat there, adjusting her hat to make sure it was it was snug on her head, and her mithra ears were comfortable in it. Eventually, the Warlock's Chapeau fit just right around her head, then gave a satisfied nod to the mirror in front of her. She turned to the others in her group, which consisted of only two Elvaan and a Tarutaru.

The blonde elvaan polished his Great Katana, sighing. "Well, who else thinks this is a suicide mission, or that we should've asked for more money?"

"Don't be like that," the Tarutaru decreed. "Or you'll be more trapped than a rat."

The blonde one scoffed. "So what? Aren't we all trapped since they locked that door to Whitegate?"

However, the red-haired Elvaan had different thoughts. "Hey, as long as we do our jobs, they'll give us the money. Then we can get back to you guys watching my training."

"Who said we'd ever do that for you?"

"But..."

"No buts. And another thing, you try to lick me in my sleep again, I will split that tongue in two with my blade."

The Mithra Red Mage sat there, laughing, watching them squabble amongst themselves in a humerous fashion. Still, eventually, this bored her, and she sat there, listening to the other people talk silently. One noise startled her out of her seat, and when she went to look over, it was a rather large group shouting, their cries echoing through the city. They calmed down, their raucous cheering still ringing in her ears. After a while, she got up, and her friends looked at her.

"I'm going to go take a look through Al Zahbi. Just uh... in case there's something weird going on."

"Take care of yourself, Kymiko," the Tarutaru told her.

"You too, Emma."

With that, Kymiko walked off, her tail swaying as she moved inbetween and around the other mercenaries. Many of them looked scared out of their minds, wanting a reprieve from the upcoming hell they were about to face. She did not want to fight either. However, she told herself that if this was to end faster, then she must do all she can to help the army win against the beastmen. Kymiko soon found herself in the section of Al Zahbi where a gate with two glowing marks. Entranced, she walked up to it, but before she touched it, a voice she barely recognized shouted, making her jump and hide. She looked from behind the corner, to see General Zazarg and another Imperial officer conversing, but not pleasantly.

"General, you will do as ordered and fight this threat."

"I will fight, but I'm telling you now, even I know my limits! We're gonna be wiped out in less than two days!"

"The Empress does not care if we are going to get wiped out. You stop this threat from entering Aht Urghan to the last man. The life of these mercenaries does not compare to that of her grace."

"Why you- These people have families, friends they need to see again! And you're gonna say that's not important either?!"

"Listen, General, I know your problems with this battle, but orders are orders. Even if you were ordered to execute your own children, you'd have to follow orders!"

Kymiko felt sickened by how the imperial officer adressed the general, and figured she had heard enough. She ran out of that block, and into the main path of Al Zahbi, and as soon as she got there, was suddenly knocked over. Looking to see who it was, it was an Elvaan Corsair on a green chocobo, whom turned quickly to shout, "Sorry!" to her. The way he rode off, to Kymiko, made it seem like he was in a hurry, and would explain why he didn't stop to see if she was okay. Curious, she tried to follow the Corsair to see where he was moving off to, but someone else caught her attention. A brown haired Mithra chasing after the chocobo herself, dressed in full Adaman gear. The mithra gave up the chase, stomping her feet in the ground.

"Dammit! Falgorrrr! Get back here rrrrright now before I- ARGH!"

Curious, she tapped the mithra on the shoulder. "That man who rrrrrode off... is he your loverrrrr or something?"

"Loverrr?! I think not. I'm his mentorrr, so don't mistake that again. I suppose I must introduce myself to you now. Yisume is my name."

Politely, Kymiko bowed. "I am Kymiko... I just got knocked over by him."

"What an idiot," Yisume scoffed. "He's always acting foolishly. I just got here when he started rrriding off, and I knew something was up when it was the Imperrrials he was rrrunning from."

Yisume sat down, the armor clinking as she moved. Kymiko, too, sat, but set a little distance from her new 'companion'. She did not seem like the type of person to talk angrily and not lash out at something at the same time.

"So, you here because the Imperrrials too?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah. They just grrrabbed every adventurrrer and set them out here."

"I see."

"They also prrromised to pay us afterrr the siege is done."

"Girl, you must be more foolish than him," she growled, nodding her head in the direction the Corsair went. "More foolish than his frrriends too."

Kymiko sighed, looking away from the Mithra Palidan. This woman seemed very angry with a lot of things, and probably wouldn't think twice about taking it out on her. Before she could get the chance, Kymiko tried to get up and leave, but the adamantium gloves of Yisume nabbed her wrist first.

"Listen. Don't get yourself killed. You'll see what I'm talking about."

Feeling unnerved, she wrenched her arm out of Yisume's grip, running away from this strange paladin. Still, something about what she said was a little odd. Now she just thought it wasn't her day, 'cause now she ran into someone else. A blonde Ranger, his hair down to his neck, staring down at her.

"What's this?"

"I'm sorry sir! Forgi-" she was cut off as the Ranger lifted her chin, smiling rather sweetly.

"It is you who should forgive me, miss," he insisted, getting awfully close... and cozy.

The Red Mage was a little panicky, wondering what was in store for her, and divine assistance be thanked that something happened before the situation could worsen. A Tarutaru summoner had smacked the Ranger in the knees with a staff, the little mage growling.

"Hj! What are you doing, you lech?! You're gonna end up making her retch!"

A moment passed before the Ranger scooped up the violent Tarutaru and squeezed the life out of him. "Oh my gosh! Hanyou! I missed you SO much!"

"Let me go you fool, I'm not a Mamool! My body is frail, and if this continues the only way back is by mail!"

Saddened, the Ranger put the Tarutaru down, mock pouting. As the Tarutaru brushed himself off, he talked to Kymiko. "I apologize for my friend, you need to know. He thinks women will flock to him as Xarcabard beckons snow."

Confused only slightly, she laughed nervously, scratching her chin. "Um... it's okay. Really, I was just in a hurry. I've hea... er... been away from my friends too long today."

"Well, let us escort you then. Direct us to them, would you?"

Hanyou sighed in disgust. "Flamboyant womanizer..."

The three continued along, Kymiko spying around for her friends. Again, Hj, the Ranger, was a little too close for her own comfort, however, was kept at bay from doing much else without the scrappy little Tarutaru from breaking his legs. It felt awkward for the silence to continue, so just as awkward, Kymiko broke it.

"That man on the green chocobo-"

"That was Falgor, and his prized chocobo, Yggdrasil. He's a bit of a glory hound, but that's why we love him. His crazy methods of fighting head on and without any regard for his own safety, ironically for others', is typical. In fact, when he sped off earlier, it was probably the same thing."

"Sure, he's a brash, but he just can't ever crash. His will is insane, and makes one think if he can ever be drained."

"Yes, yes, it's true. However, I think his days as a Dark Knight definitely worked on his combat style..."

Kymiko looked over her shoulder at Hj, curious. "Dark Knight?"

"Oh, he-"

The drums began pounding, and bells ringing loudly. The entire city suddenly sprang to life, all the mercenaries jumping to their feet, readying their weapons and spells for the threat that was now just outside their gates. Hj grinned widly.

"Here they come."