ELFEN TALES:

-2- Intruder

The sun's warmth shone through the windows, hitting the stranger right on his face. Unwilling to wake-up, he shut his eyes tighter. It's been so long since he's slept in a warm bed and he wasn't fool enough to pass up the opportunity.

"Should we wake him?" a male voice asked

"Nah, his injuries were pretty bad. When he wakes up, he'll be totally exhausted." this time the voice was female, which just seemed to irritate his ears more than the male's.

"well, we have to talk to him. I mean, we don't know anything about this guy. He could be some kind of criminal or…"

"My god, you worry a lot y'know. It's fine, even if he is a criminal, I can stop him. You know I've mastered both archery and human combat,"

He practically could hear the smile in the female's voice when she said this. It made him want to vomit.

" So, no worries."

But the male wouldn't let up, and they continued their bickering until the stranger found in impossible to sleep in such conditions.

"Ah fuck! I'm awake, ok? I'm fucking awake so would the both of you just shove it?"

he sat up in the bed and eyed the two, trying to figure out just where the hell he was. After a few seconds he recognized them as the same useless punks from before.

"God, you two again?" He sighed and turned away, striking a nerve in Demain

though she ignored it and instead smiled. "You were wounded pretty badly, so I expect that you'll be in bed for a good week or so. But anyways, How are you feeling?"

He hadn't expected her to speak so kindly towards him and looked her directly in the eye, something he'd never done before.

She found herself blushing for reasons not even she couldn't fully understand. But what was clear was, he had some beautiful eyes. There were like a forest green color, with a grey outline. Eyes like that were rare in Erinn.

He must be of good blood.

She found herself still captivated by his eyes, until he grinned at her. To her, the grin was even worse than his words. It implied so many things, that not even she could restrain herself time around. Before Ren could stop her, she reached out, tightly gripping his collar.

"Listen here, asshole, I didn't have to save you, I could've left you there to die but I didn't. Instead, I made this long ass trip back to Filia just to find Atrata so she could perform a rather unexpected surgery on your ass. So please, try and be a little more grateful!"

She let her head fall, catching her breath. His finger touched her chin; as light as rain. Slowly, he lifted her head back up. Her face was in full blush.

"Ok," his grin still in contact "Thank you." He leaned in closer, his breath against her ear "I owe you my life."

She practically ripped herself from him; falling back on stone tiled floor. Her face was now red in absolute anger.

"What the hell was that for!"

"Oh come on, you act like you didn't enjoy it." he winked "Such a cute blush, I wonder how far it runs."

"ok, that's more than enough." Ren sat in the corner, fuming the whole conversation. Desperately trying to control his own temper, but that last comment was more than he could bare.

"fine, whatever." the stranger rolled over in the bed so he faced the wall. Both Ren and Demain rolled their eyes. For a while they all sat in silence. It wasn't like an uncomfortable or awkward one but there wasn't much to say. Demain rose from the floor, not realizing how long she'd been sitting there, and began to walk out.

"It's almost 2:30, I have to go see that old bag. Be back soon."

Ren nodded. Though he didn't want to stay alone with the stranger, he had no choice. If Demain didn't go, she'd be in some serious trouble. For a while, the two sat in silence.

"Why is she so tan?" The question came out of nowhere, Ren was taken back by it.

why do you care?

"I mean, she's an elf, right?" Ren was quiet for a little longer, unsure if he should be telling Demain's business to a stranger.

"if you want to know that, then you should ask her. It isn't my place to tell you."

The stranger scoffed. He knew damn well that that girl wouldn't tell him a thing. After all he only knew them for…

"What day is it?" the question was unexpected and demanding.

"Alban Heruin."

The stranger's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Ren raised an eyebrow at him but didn't say anything.

"Don't you think the first thing you shoulda told me was that I've been asleep for two fucking days?! Shit, man!!"

He threw the light blanket from his body and rose out of the bed. A shock a pain surged through him, bringing him to his knees.

"Your surgery was over 7 hours long," Ren sighed and walked over to the stranger, offering his hand.

"Not only were you wounded, but the poisoned as well. How you were able to make it the desert in those conditions?"

Ignoring the question, the stranger grabbed Ren's hand. He looked around from his blades, which sat against a near by desk. Once in his grasp, he proceeded towards the door.

"Hey! where are you going?"

"Away from here. I can't stay in one place for more than 15 hours. Crazy shit starts to go down." He sighed "I'm surprised nothing's happened yet…"

"You're still injured. You couldn't possibly defend yourself if you left this place."

He turned to face Ren, His eyes flashed a menacing red. Ren took a step back.

"they're close to here. I can't stay." He placed his hand on the door knob, slowly turning it. He faced Ren once more "Please, that girl, Tell her I-"

"Tell her yourself."

Demain stood in the door way, her face to the strangers chest.

"Were you going somewhere?" She crossed her arms and stood firmly. As a future doctor, she refused to let a patient leave before the wound was fully healed. And that went for the stranger as well.

"Move." His words were harsh, cold.. To Demain, it felt like it entered her, ripping her bravery to shreds. Her stance lightened and he pushed right past her.

"Hey, wait! Dammit! Ya fucker!! I said wait!" she chased him to the outskirts of Filia, everything in her told her to give up, that he just wasn't worth all the trouble but her feet kept moving towards him. Suddenly, he stopped but he didn't face her.

"You should really leave me alone…I can't promise…" he turned to her, his green eyes now flickering from the beautiful green to that maddened red. "your safety."

He had expected her to look away from him, to run to do everything except for stay there and stare him down…which is exactly what she did.

"There's someone after you, is there not?" there it was again. That polite way of speaking and now a new look that he hadn't seen before. Worry or Concern. He scoffed again.

I swear this chick is bipolar. First she's calling me a fucker, now she's all worried.

"Yea, some real annoying guys are after me," he sighed "and if I don't get the hell outta here, they're gonna fuck this place up."

"Well, they're not here yet. There's no reason to be in such a rush is there?"

"oh, yes, there is~" Her eyes widened at the intrusion, the voice was masculine was sure as hell wasn't the stranger's.

The intruder materialized between her and the stranger. She took a step back, fully taking in the man. He had long blond hair swept round his lanky figure, He had the same crimson colored eye as the strangers, except…it was somehow…different. Something about it just….terrified her.

Everything in her was dying to scream. To run, to get the fuck out, but she stood her ground and masked her fear with anger. Normally, someone's presence wasn't enough to scare her. But she could sense such a power from his man. It was so strong, it was suffocating.

This guy…who is he…?

She watched the strangers look towards him. A hatred so pure that even an idiot could tell that some serious shit was about to go down. It was only a matter of time…

Ok, there's chapter 3 ^_^. I have to say, I do love "the stranger's" character. I think he brings a bit more seriousness (along with some sleaziness?) into the story, which really, would just be about some delinquent girl and her best friend without him. Though sometimes, while writing his lines and reactions I'll be thinking "Jeez, what an asshole." lol. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Until Next time~~

~Kyu-Kyu~