CHAPTER TWO: Detour

"According to the map, we're in…Lith Harbor?"

"What! You mean we took the wrong path?"

"Oh crap! I was looking at the map the wrong way!"

The duo were in 'The Thicket Around the Beach I', wandering aimlessly, killing any monster that came in their way.

"Well, at least we got away from Mother. She was gonna beat the crap out of us." They took another path, which actually led them to the 3-Way Road Split. Miyuki snatched the chart out of Kaien's hands and stared intently at it.

"C'mon! Give me the damn map!" He yelled, trying to pry it from his brother. Suddenly…

RRRRRIIIIIPPPPP!

"Oh no…" they both said in unison.

"Oh shit! You ripped the map, Yuki!" Kaien yelled, gawking at the piece that was in his hands

"You were the one who was pulling on it!" Miyuki retorted, snatching the other part of the map from Kaien, sighing. He turned it in all sorts of ways, trying to make out another path for them to take.

"Crap. It's kinda smudged. Stupid gloves…" he murmured, finally stuffing the damaged paper into his bag. He sighed again.

"Wait, Yuki. There's someone over there…" Kaien whispered, grabbing onto his twin's shoulder. Miyuki looked up. A cloaked figure was walking ahead, perhaps a bandit or thief of some sort. The silver-haired teen smiled at his brother, then dashed towards the person.

"Hey, excuse me! You!" he exclaimed, waving a hand around. The thief turned to him, crimson eyes glinting strangely. Miyuki stopped in front of him to examine him. He was a slight taller than him, though a bit shorter than Kaien. He seemed to be at least 14-17 years old. Through the space for his eyes, you could see a few locks of silver-tipped black hair, falling over bright red eyes. A black cloak was covering over his whole body, except his head, which was hidden with an equally dark hood, drooping over the left side of his face.

"Yes? Was it me you called?" The sinister thief asked, lifting up his gloved hand to take off his hood, revealing his face. The other half was covered with a flap of silver-highlighted obsidian hair. Below the right eye were three scars, each a light mahogany colour. Kaien seemed to start sulking after, wanting to see why the guy was covering his eye. (It rhymes!)

"Yes, I was. Do you know where the we can find a road that'll lead us to-"

"Ellinia? You're going to have to turn around, but I'm afraid you'll get lost." The person said. Kaien fumed, but calmed down afterwards.

"So we'll take this path over here then, err…what's your name?" he asked, pointing towards the road to Middle Forest I.

"It's Shizuka Kusemono. And, perhaps, should I lead you there? You don't have a map, and you might find yourselves somewhere where you shouldn't be." Shizuka muttered, "Would I be able to join this little party of yours?" Miyuki looked at Kaien and Kaien looked back, leading Miyuki to look at Shizuka.

"Sure. Why not?" Miyuki said, extending his hand to their mysterious member. He just stared at it, then started to walk towards their destination.

"What's his problem?" Kaien mumbled, crossing his arms, Miyuki just started following.

"He's anti-social, I guess. That doesn't really matter, though. We just need to get to Ellinia. This route might take longer, but at least we'll see more of Victoria Island."

"Yeah…"

XXxxxxXXxxxxXX

"You guys, we've been walking for just 18 minutes and you're already tired?" Shizuka asked, his voice full of sarcasm.

"Ha ha, very funny. You're just making it hard for us, jumping into ditches full of those damned blue mushrooms, pigs, and lupins. I mean, they're not hard for us to kill, but with so little space to actually shoot an arrow, it's gonna take a long time for us to kill em'." Kaien angrily replied, flinging a banana slip off his shoulder. Miyuki let out a muffled laugh, then ran on ahead, letting an arrow fly off his bow, piercing a nearby mushroom directly on the forehead.

"Whatever. Okay, next portal." Shizuka announced, stepping into it. But then, almost as fast as he went in, he ran out, a bloody gash on his arm.

"Shit. I should've took out my weapon before I went in." Shizuka swore again, then took out a white potion, gulping it down. He cringed at the pain in his arm and the bitter taste of his drink, then looked at the twins.

"Some stupid bastard summoned. They're not low-level monsters either. Few Lycanthropes took some swipes at my arm. One managed to dig its claws in before I ran back here. I think I saw a glimpse of a Mushmom, a few tauromacis', and a couple of werewolves." Shizuka coughed, then sheathed his Deadly Fin. Miyuki noticed that he also did something with his other hand, but couldn't see, he hid it in his cloak. The brothers both took their asianic bows in hand, and focused their mana into them. Shizuka used haste for all three of them, then jumped into the portal. Miyuki and Kaien followed.

XXxxxxXXxxxxXX

The bowmen jumped out, releasing arrow bombs to the tauromacis. The horned monsters were not happy about their faces being exploded by little projectiles. They summoned thunderbolts to zap the two archers. Luckily they were able to dodge them before they got electrocuted to ashes. Miyuki turned his gaze to Shizuka after jumping onto a platform by a pile of bricks (Take note that they're in Kerning City Construction Site. Also a beginner's training place. coughtombcoughstonecoughgraveyardcough) He saw him kicking some mushmom butt, using Savage Blow. But then he saw that these small pointed objects flying from his cloak. He squinted. They were stars. Tobi Throwing Stars engulfed in intense flames.

'Whoa. He's a BanditSin…' Miyuki pondered on that thought for a bit before leaping back into action. He whipped his head around, looking for his brother. Nobody was there except the raging bunch of monsters. He grew frantic. Hurtling himself towards the ground, he saw glanced to the right to see a azure-haired person, lying on a ledge, blood pouring out from his side. His eyes widened.

"KAIEN! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" He shouted. No response. The teen didn't even move. Miyuki hopped from platform to platform. A lycanthrope had an attempt to bite his leg, but the adolescent swiftly swung his bow, hitting the beast right in the eyes. It let out an earsplitting roar, covering its hit location, long strings of saliva flinging out of its fang-filled jaws. Yuki (A.N. I'll call Miyuki that sometimes.) finally made it to his sibling.

"Kaien…" he whispered, a lone tear falling onto the brick ridge. The crimson liquid stopped flowing, but there still was a large amount of it surrounding Kaien.

"God…that damn werewolf's gonna get it. It's gonna get it so bad, it'll be screaming 'MERCY!' " Kaien said in a hoarse voice. He laughed after, but it sounded more like a groan than a snicker. Miyuki shook slightly, but managed a smile.

"Damn right he is. Are you all right? You're shirt's covered in blood." He asked, brushing a strand of cerulean hair away from Kaien's face. The older male grabbed his hand, and flung it towards his pack.

"In there. Some potions. And yeah. I'll make it. At least I hope so." He laughed again. Shizuka appeared behind them, holding a mushmom spore, werewolf toenails, and a pair of tauromacis horns.

"Too late, I killed em' all. Unless the Lycanthropes summon more." He said, sighing after, "I'm sorry, guys. We should've taken the other path."

"No worries. Hakuna Matata, or whatever that meercat animal said in that movie. I'm all right. He's all right. We just have to find a way to get to the portal on the other side of the horde of beasts." Kaien stated.

"You guys got a dilemma?" someone asked. Everyone turned around. Smiling at them was brown haired, green eyed sniper wearing the full set of armour (Blue Patriot, Blue Linnex, Blue Elf Shoes, Blue Eyes (that's a glove… . ), and a Gross Jaeger.

"Uhh, yeah. My brother's got a bloody gash on his side, and we can't get into Kerning City because of the stupid barrier of fiends blocking our way."

"Ah. I've noticed that." The crossbowman murmured, "Oh! Sorry! Forgot to introduce myself! I am Maguri Kitoyaki. Pleasure to meet you."

"Miyuki Kaito."

"It's Shizuka Kusemono."

"Kaien Kaito at your service." Maguri grinned again.

"So where are you guys off to?"

"Ellinia." The trio said in unison.

"So am I. But what for? I'm doing some crappy quest that I had put off years ago."

"I am just accompanying the two on their way there. It seemed that they have gotten lost, so I decided to help out."

"We need to get to Ellinia because of a certain destiny that has been set upon me and Miyuki's sister. We want to be the first to accomplish it as male hunters. You see, it's only for girl clerics and priestesses. And…yeah…" Kaien trailed off, not knowing what to say next.

"Hmm. Then I shall accompany you too."

"Huh?" The twins peeped in unison. Maguri laughed.

"You need another person in your party? I'd be glad to help. I'm a 3rd jobber too! C'mon!" he exclaimed, pulling Kaien's arm. The blue-haired kid sighed, then nodded.

"WHOO!" Maguri cheered. He pulled out his Gross Jaeger.

"Alright. First thing's first!" 4 glowing arrows flew from the crossbow, flying rapidly towards a nearby lycanthrope. As the golden arrows made impact, the white monster bellowed, after falling to the ground with a deafening 'BOOM'. Everyone gaped, except Shizuka, who just smirked.

XXxxxxXXxxxxXX

Soon after, the area was just nothing but a place where green mushrooms spawned.

"Wow! Thanks dude!" said a small rogue, a large grin on her face.

"Anytime. Now guys, lets get to town. Shizuka, you've called Niora Hospital, right?"

"Yes, I did. I also told them that we'd be entering Kerning, and that they shouldn't come out unless the coast is clear."

"Good. Let's get Kaien in."

XXxxxxXXxxxxXX

That seemed short. I dunno why. Well, I've got most of this story planned out. Perhaps for even the following story after this one. Characters may just pop out, out of nowhere, but ignore that. I might not know how to get em' in. Oh well…R&R!