Odds and Bobbs 3
Hey peeps, I heard you liked my corny chapter two, thanks for the small suggets's and everything! LOVE YA! –Qt~Chan (obviously, who else?)
Chapter 3
She was forced to follow Mamoru around after that, the pain was almost too much when she stepped more then seven feet away from him. Sighing she glared at the nape of Mamoru's neck. She couldn't step into Quatre's room at all because of the holding spell. Standing there she crossed her arms over her chest and sighed fitfully, "What the hell was the point of doing this damn spell on me? There's got to be a way to break it!"
"You wouldn't be able to break it. You're not strong enough."
"Tell me then if there's no hope of me breaking free!"
"No."
"MAMORU!" She screamed, walking up she slapped the back of his head, he grabbed her hand and applied pressure steadily.
"Don't be so cocky. Just because I said I was going to make you queen doesn't mean I have to."
Narrowing her eyes she pulled away from him, rubbing her red wrist, "I'm perfectly aware of that. I'd be fine dying."
"Oh, no I think I'd leave you in that cell to rot."
Usagi remained silent, she hated losing, and she had lost this battle, but of course, the war wasn't over.
*************
"Okay Panther."
The panther cub (cat) shot its head up glaring agitatedly at the youth, "If you really are Wufei Chang of the Dragon Clan nod your head."
Wufei almost didn't participate he was so disgusted with himself, Quatre's eyes took on a brilliant light, "Then you can be of some help."
Rolling onto his back the panther could care less about the boy's plans.
"Listen, I probably am younger then you, I'm twenty three."
Another wave of shock spread through Wufei, Quatre looked to be the young age of eighteen.
"Usagi's got a holding spell on her. She told me. Mamoru will be able to hear everything that's going on with her."
Wufei stared at Quatre almost stupidly; shaking his head he rose up onto his legs and gracefully pounced onto Quatre, knocking him back onto the bedspread. A shimmering light burst from Panther.
Quatre found that the cat he had been staring at just moments before had changed into the picture of a healthy man. He gaped at the still form of the cat lying peaceably on his chest, pushing the lump aside he stared at Wufei's misty outline.
"Look idiot, you keep your damn hands off of Usagi got it?" Wufei snapped, sighing he tapped his fingers against the desk, "I won't be able to do this again since it drains nearly all my strength. This is the only way I can communicate to YOU. Usagi, it's different. But anyway, you have a problem with the holding spell…I wouldn't know what to do. Ask the demon about it, unless his master has told him not to he can do what he wishes to Usagi…though I doubt he can harm her."
"What do you mean Heero can't harm Usagi?"
"That's his name?" Shaking his head Wufei continued, "You really are idiotic, boy any command given to the dem, to Heero he will follow…there's some connection with that limping man and Heero." He said absentmindedly, his brow furrowing in thought.
"Mamoru might be up for some competition…but meanwhile since Heero has probably been ordered off of Usagi and you it'll be safe to go up to him. Talk to him, persuade him to break the spell off of Usagi and that bastard…"
He winced suddenly and then faded, Quatre rose up without thinking, his hand brushed through the mist that had been Wufei's body. Sighing he ran a hand through his fine hair, "He says talk to the demon, WELL I'd like to see him try to talk to the demon!"
************
Quatre listened to the easy breathing of his captor and Usagi before closing the door, now that he had made sure Mamoru and Usagi were asleep he headed towards Heero's room. In all his days here he had never ventured close to the room, he had been too scared. It was something beyond mortal fear, it was something that reached down to squeeze his stomach tightly and make his heart freeze.
The door swung open before Quatre could lift his hand to knock softly, he stared into those cool orbs of light. He could feel himself freezing up, 'ask him!' some frustrated inner voice screamed, reaching his brain before it froze over.
"C…Could you hel…." He stood there for a moment, staring at Heero like an idiot, the demon was disguised in the form of a strong early-twenties year old body. His messy brown hair seemed to be fitting for him instead of combed back. Leaning against the doorframe he eyed the Arabian he had captured for his master, he could see the smooth pale skin was an odd hereditary trait he had gotten from his Arabian royal family. The boy didn't look built for anything besides being a good mating specimen.
His eyebrow raised at the idea, 'What do you want human?' He hissed, Quatre flinched when he received the mental message.
"Can you," He paused, maybe talking with their minds wouldn't be such a bad idea, 'Can you help Usagi?'
'She's in no danger.'
'She needs to look for someone from what she told me. Someone with a limp. The holding spell is the problem. She NEEDS to find this guy.'
Heero's eyes sparked interest and a keen semblance of hope, 'A man with a limp?'
'Yes. Please break the spell, she might be able to find your old master.' Quatre paused, 'you don't like Mamoru very much for a master do you?'
Heero remained silent lifting his hand he gently cupped Quatre's cheek his eyes widened he didn't dare tear away. Grinning Heero's hand slipped to his neck and tightened, "Run away little rabbit. Before I make a meal of you."
The twenty-three year old didn't need a second warning as he pulled away faintly and started towards his room at a quick pace. Even when Quatre had disappeared into his room Heero had remained in his position, leaning against the doorframe staring at his Masters door.
He knew his master had ordered him to never try and search or help for his former master, Mamoru had sensed the bond between the two and severed it as best he could. But, then again, freeing the girl from the spell he knew would allow the girl to go look for him…an indirect way of searching for his master, Heero had found a loophole, and a very good one at that.
************
The Hime's dream were of innocent things, weddings, romantic walks and then she saw the white dot of light hanging in the middle of nowhere in her dream. It grew before she found herself blinking in the endless white scenery. Yelping in surprise when Heero popped out of nowhere she gave a nervous grin, "Geez, weird dreams I'm having these days."
He didn't return the grin much less a thought to the comment, "I can help you break the spell. If you like." He murmured coming uncomfortably close to her, he frowned, "Strange…"
"What, you mean the holding spell? That would help a lot…Will it hurt?" She winced at the thought.
"Enormously. But you must keep going. Keep pulling, never stop." He murmured staring into her eyes, she was practically nose to nose with him. Frowning she pushed him away, "Your master says not to touch me."
"True…" Heero breathed, "Am I touching you?"
"No." Usagi blushed, "What do I pull on?"
"The bond." Without another word his body wavered and then broke like a drop of water.
Staring around her she sighed she began to walk forwards and found she was jerked back, looking down she found the source of her bond with Mamoru. It looked like some large smooth, glowing rope of red. Struggling against it she bit her lip as the rope began to cut into her stomach.
"I haven't even pulled that much and it's cutting into me!" Usagi chewed on her lip worriedly, "Heero said to keep pulling…"
'Maybe this was just a way to get rid of me…what've I got to lose?' she thought with false cheeriness.
Balling her hands into fists she gritted her teeth and backed up a few steps before taking a running start. When she reached the end of the line with surprising speed her mouth opened in a silent cry of surprised pain. But her legs kept pumping and she kept leaning forwards. She could feel blackness at the corners of her vision, struggling even harder in desperation she looked behind in time to see the rope snap.
And then her eyes snapped open and she had enough time to throw her hands out in front of her as she fell onto the cold wooden floor.
Gasping and sweating from her dreamy ordeal she felt the physical lightness of not having the spell on her. Letting her perspiring cheek rest on the cold floor she sighed in relief.
"Get up."
Glancing up she stared at Heero in surprise, "How, how did I get here?"
"You were sleepwalking. I thought it better to have you do your spell breaking during your sleep. The pain wouldn't be so much for you. Here, change into these and leave."
She took the clothes slowly into her hands there consisted a black spaghetti strap dress and a velvety black cloak (complete with a hood). She stared up at him, "You're kidding, right? Mamoru's going to be trying to get me under him from the moment he sees me."
"No. It's fine. You better leave, it's better that you look rich instead of a little beggar ne?"
"Well, I suppose. So you're not going to stop me leaving?"
"He never told me I couldn't."
"But…" Sighing she shrugged her shoulders, looking around for a place to change he motioned for her to go into his room. She did so, changing she stepped out holding a strange looking necklace in her hands.
His eyes widened, "So you can actually hold it…amazing." He whispered eyeing her over again.
"What? It's just a necklace." She commented genuinely.
"It's made of pure, solid Mercury."
Her eyes widened, "But then, how? Everyone knows people with any magic in their veins can get severely burned by Solid Mercury and I have some magic skills!" She said almost in defiance.
Heero shrugged, "It should keep you temporarily safe from Mamoru-san…." He stared at her for a moment, "Let me tell you that Solid Mercury can't be touched by me either."
Usagi stared at him, had he actually just said his weakness out loud in front of her? Glancing around she gave a smile of thanks before heading out the doors, she turned last secondly, "Thank you Heero."
He nodded his head watching as she disappeared into the night, the black cloak hiding her in the night's shadows.
Biting her lip was the only way to keep herself from screaming, a massive dark shadow was slinking towards her. Frozen there she stood watching, the moonlight finally struck the figure and she let out such an elated breath it seemed louder then should be. It was only Koury…Wufei's dragon. Seeing it made her smile, "Koury," She called softly, the dragon came slowly she realized that the dragon's eyes were trained on her necklace.
She fingered it reverently, if a dragon was afraid of it then she knew it would provide her some protection. Shaking her head when the dragon's pictures, for a dragon talks to you with pictures which in a way is much clearer that our language, reflected her idea of how she thought Usagi was going to hurt her with the necklace.
"No. Koury, I wouldn't hurt you, you don't deserve that. Can you do me a favor?"
The dragon was beautiful, it's wings could provide support if one of her legs was injured, it was the silvery color that you find on frost (if you care to look close enough) and her entire build was slender and sleek.
The dragon conferred her yes but also distributing the picture that she would like to stick her claws through Mamoru's throat. Smiling again Usagi felt safer in the presence of the dragon, climbing onto the back she suddenly realized she had no reins to hold onto. And she couldn't lean against the dragon for fear she might burn her.
Jumping in surprise when a silver spike burst from the dragons skin just in front of Usagi turned around when she heard the squelchy sound of breaking skin, everywhere the spikes were breaking out.
'So you don't fall off' the dragon murmured thoughtfully as Usagi took a grip on the spike. Beating her wings they were quieter then an owls wings besides the sound of rustling leaves from the force of the air. They lifted into the air; the ride was smooth but eerily cold and silent.
The dragon neared the edge of the small town, soaring about it for a while it landed on the outskirts of the town.
"Koury stay here. I need to send a note to Zechs and Treize so please don't leave."
'I will try my best Hime.'
Usagi nodded her head and set off down the hill, it took only a few minutes before she popped out onto the street, bright lights blinked and bleared her vision for a millisecond. Amazingly everything was still open and people were walking around like it was a holiday. Frowning she wondered if she would ever find the person she was looking for. Sighing she walked into another shop, ripping a notice from the side of the tavern she managed to find a quill.
Scratching the note out she set the quill down and headed back towards the landing area, the dragon patiently waited while Usagi found a way to stick the message onto Koury's foot. The dragon brought its swan like neck down so that she could stare into Usagi's face.
'Hime, I will come back if you wish?'
'I don't think you should…thank you though Koury.'
'Anything else Hime?' The dragon was backing away, already preparing to lift off. Usagi shook her head and watched as the dragon lifted into the air, she felt a tremor run through her body when the loneliness sank its jaws into her soul. Meandering aimlessly on the streets she paused to stare into a window filled with busy looking tavern women. Shrugging her shoulders she walked in. She was very timid, these people were different from those in the dragon clan, they were a mix of hunters, demons, and regular humans. She sighed, she didn't even know if the person she was looking for was human or not.
Resting eyes on the bartender he stared back at her, "A room fer ya tonight miss?"
"Um, no. I'm afraid I haven't the money." His eyebrows rose before he went back to cleaning his mug.
"Sir," She said modestly, he glanced at her again and his eyes traveled to her necklace with surprise, "Let me guess miss, you spent all your money on that solid Mercury necklace to ward off magic beings? Oy men!"
The entire tavern seemed to turn their eyes on the bartender and then the black-cloaked figure who was feeling smaller then ever.
"This ladies got 'erselve a solid mercury necklace lads, whaddaya think o that? Aye, miss, probably fake if ya ask me." He winked at her, she stared back at him wide-eyed. Taking the silence for a chance to speak she wet her lips, "Have any of you seen a man with a limp around here who helped a friend of mine out?"
She swerved around when she felt a hand tighten on her shoulder, she stared into the eyes with surprise, "Oy, why ya looking for Red ay? He's a good lad. But got a bad limp aye, bad limp." His eyes narrowed, "I don't suppose you one o 'dem lady hunters are ya?"
At mention of the idea she watched out of the corner of her eye as half or more of the crowd pushed through the doors.
"No." She said in a small voice, "I come from Heero."
The mans eyes bugged out, "Oy miss! I didn't mean no 'arm!" He yelled loudly, backing away from her and running with the rest. The bartender backed away from her nervously when she returned her questioning glance to him before he dropped his mug and ran to the room where the beer kegs were kept.
Usagi frowned, "What did I say?" What was she to do if no one would answer her questions? And would the man with the limp really help her? As these worries consumed her she turned to leave when her gaze was snagged on a lump of a figure huddled in a distant corner table.
His face and body were hidden under the draping white cloak; it was similar in build to Usagi's except for the sharp contrast of color. She stared before heading to him, "Excuse me,"
"Yea?" His voice was smooth as silk.
"Since you didn't run away I was wondering if you could help me."
"Aye, sure miss. You're searching for Duo? That demon was searching for Duo too, grabbed me by my neck and told me if I knew something to tell him, but that was before his new master told him to stop his search."
"Duo's alive?" She whispered in hope.
The hooded man nodded his head, "He's more then alive. He's got a bad limp from the solid mercury anklet that Mamoru snapped onto him. Bastard, worse then pond scum. But aye, he's alive."
"How come your not afraid of Heero? Or Duo?"
"Cause, I've found they're not so much for the bloody slaughter just for mischief…though I didn't think that demon was the sort for mischief and pranks."
"Tell me, where is Duo?"
A beady blue eye stared at her, "He's hiding under the winged snake."
"What?" She murmured thoroughly puzzled.
"That's all I'm goin to tell ye, if Mamoru gets ahold that I was prattling such things he would have Heero tear my face off. Good day to ya miss." He left before another word could be said, Usagi stared at her hands and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Hiding under the winged snake, that's a good one." Running a hand through her hair she decided it was time to be on the move, Mamoru could send Heero after her any moment now…
Treize sucked in a breath, raking a hand through his hair he stared up at Zechs who was worriedly shoveling through all the grid maps of the dragon clan territory. Finally in exasperation he threw the maps aside, letting out a snort he collapsed into the chair. "Well the demon's taken her…I was right there too Treize! Right there!"
Rising to his feet the general let loose another sigh, going behind his lover he began to gently loosen the tense muscles under the crimson uniform.
"There's got to be someone who knows where they are."
"No one will speak…"
"Why would he take Usagi though?"
"Isn't it obvious love?"
Treize frowned, "I don't think that's the only reason, men like that don't save themselves for just one pretty face."
"Who said he was saving himself, he's probably just in it for the fun…disgusting bastard."
"General! Kernel, we have important information, just delivered by Koury."
"Wufei's dragon!" Both cried out in unison as they stumbled towards the messenger who was looking flushed from the long run. Treize grabbed the crumpled piece of paper, the note read, 'I'm safe, Wufei is embodied in a panther, Duo is not who he seems, searching for him now'
Treize trembled, "This is it?" He finally snapped.
The messenger flinched and gave a edgy bow, "Yes General Kushrenada, there was nothing else, the dragon informed us of the town where she was last seen."
"Where?" Zechs said quickly gathering his wits.
"In a valley surrounded by forest, full of the damned, bounty hunters and regular humans. Koury also said that the Hime was wearing a solid mercury necklace."
There was a long, profound silence when the report had been rapped out, "Solid Mercury?"
"Yes sire. That is what was depicted in the picture language that they speak in."
Zechs rolled his eyes, "That could have been a simple mistake. There isn't a possibility that she could wear that necklace, she has magic in her veins. Bring Koury to our patio deck if you could please."
Bowing the little man quickly sped out of the room, Treize turned to Zechs, "Look at the back of this love, what do you make of it?"
Zechs's eyes scanned the notice on the back of the sheet of paper she had torn from a wall, "It's a notice for Anuks Jewelry, on seventh and 8th street…It has the exact city!"
"But they wouldn't post a notice if they lived in the village, I'm guessing this place is relatively small so Anuk's Jewelry will be in a few days travel from where this was posted…Koury said it was in a valley surrounded by forest. Get those maps out again." The two were breaking down the clues quickly, Zechs pointed to an area, "It has at least forty branching villages and towns in this valley, the only one with a forest surrounding it. We can narrow it down by the fact that the demon will be in the forest area for cover…that gives us the entire edge of this area and a few miles inward of this circle of villages…"
Treize moaned, "We need all the legions we have right now for defense…"
"We'll have to send Barton then."
Treize nodded his head slowly, "I think it's almost stupid of us to be doing this but I suppose it's the only hope for the Hime. Send Trowa in today, we MUST rescue the Hime." Zechs nodded his eyes, the spark in his eye was brightening his features enormously as the caged dove of hope was set loose of it's confinements.
Master Magician or not he knew he had to be careful on this assignment, sighing he loosened the hood over his clean brown hair, the wind whipped through it. Gripping the mane of the Griffin again he wondered what he was going to do if he actually came face to face with this demon.
"You're insides will be ripped out but before he does that he'll stick a knife through your eyes." The Master Magician's attention was averted to his mount, "Just because you have the gift of tongues doesn't mean people always cherish what you have to say." His voice was nearly lost in the wind. The griffin underneath him was an ashy black and just as insolent as his name, Futodoki, but now just called Doki they had named him that in the old language of the Dragon Clan since Insolence seemed like a barb to your mouth whenever you spoke it as a name. There was a chuckle, "Someday you will cherish my words MASTER magician." He guffawed loudly, "You should stay with the name your slaver gave to you, Trowa Barton."
A wave of heat temporarily beat through Trowa's heart before he knocked it aside like a clumsy tiger, "Who is the one that wears the collar now though?" There was measured anger in the tone. A breathless hiss, "Insolent idiot. You mock me now but could your little skills save you when the collar is off?"
Trowa remained silent, he could feel the muscles of the griffin's wings beating the air and the wind whipping through his hair, the rough mane of the griffin and the silky coat that covered the rest of his lithe body, the faint scent of pine still locked into the very hairs of the griffin reminding him of where his true home was. All of these sensations and yet he could summon nothing inside him to react, nothing inside him contorted with annoyance or anger at Doki's sharp tongue or the exhilaration that most would have felt riding a griffin thousands of feet above the ground.
"Doki, will I always be like this?"
The vivid green eyes closed slightly, "You should have never given me, your blood…that day."
"I needed to get to the Dragon Clan. You were the only way there." Trowa interrupted.
"You knew the consequences to giving a creature like me blood to keep me alive?"
"No. Not until now."
"I don't understand humans like you, you're an idiotic parasitic race. And I still come to only understand half of what and why you humans do things." A thin tongue shot back in and out of his yellow beak, a snakelike gesture, "Sometimes I wish some greater creature would wipe your race out."
"You would have died." Trowa interjected tonelessly.
"It is better then this, being paired together because the same blood that used to run in your veins is now running in mine, bonding us together like…like we are one."
"I could always kill you if you like."
"It would pain you and me…I will see just how long I can deal with you and your ways."
Trowa sighed, would he ever get a straight answer out of Doki on this matter? Probably not was the answer.
Usagi groaned, her head was practically exploding with pain, how was she supposed to think? Finding the first keeper of Heero was hard, impossible maybe, the headache had come all of a sudden, she knew it had to be some spell that Mamoru or Heero had cast to slow her down. Her thoughts were coming too slowly, disoriented and partly stupefied by the splitting headache that had been cursed upon her she had stayed in the same Inn for at least three days. But moving only made her withdraw further into wherever she was right now.
A Drunk banker stared at the deep mesmerizing blue of the nighttime sky, he blinked, was the sky moving? There was a small patch in the sky that seemed to move with deliberateness towards the little town. He blinked and wiped at his eyes, no, it was still there, moving even faster now, for no apparent reason he went into hysterics. The assembly of beer intoxicated men started in surprise as the town banker seemingly went mad, tearing at his hair and screaming most frightfully he started shouting things about the end and the apocalypse before sprinting out of the bar.
There was a dreadful silence, just as recuperation of the event had faded and they were turning to their drinks a large chunk of the roof collapsed inwardly.
Shielding their eyes temporarily they could hear the rumbling of the fallen beams settling themselves onto the ground, doubtless a few people had been crushed but that had been pushed far back into their minds.
Trowa clung to Doki's mane firmly, he knew it was only the griffin's impudence that had caused him to land with such force that the roof would collapse. Coughing and choking on the dust and dirt he buried his face into the mane. Doki stiffened when Trowa did that, his eyes remained unaffected by the dust, unlike the gracefulness that Doki had shown in the air he was clumsier then a babe when it came to moving on land. Trowa had always thought that this was the reason that griffins were so spiteful of landwalkers, humans.
Slipping from his back he was met with the eyes of all the tavern's occupants, Doki smirked, proud of himself for the chaos that he had caused. Embarrassed and at a loss for words Trowa remained silent, "Get back to your drinks men." Doki snapped aggressively. They did so, eventually the noise level in the bar uplifted, it was odd how they had suddenly forgotten that part of the roof was in pieces on the ground. The green eyes were as sharp as a knife, sighing halfheartedly he glanced at Trowa, he had started to grip Doki's mane again with fierce concentration.
Starting in surprise when the beams underneath there very feet began to quiver and jerk with what could have been taken as life but Doki wasn't so easily fooled. At a seconds notice the beams, straw, and everything else disappeared. The ceiling meanwhile, miraculously fixed itself.
Trowa had sunk into a kneeling position, still gripping a lock of Doki's misty gray mane. Sweating and trembling he inhaled deeply, Doki's eyes traveled to the men that had been killed in the tumult of timber, their bodies were slumped over the tables, to be marked as death from alcohol later on. The magician was a deathly pale color and was surely feeling the usual cramps in his side after such an excursion of magic use. Quieting his breath after what seemed an eternity Trowa met eyes with Doki who licked the tip of his nose in unhappiness, "Are you alright?" It came out calm and quiet, Trowa nodded his head before leaning against Doki, "Don't…do…that again." He breathed, the task had been strenuous to him obviously, he had fixed the ceiling, wiped all the memories of the people who had just seen the two and cloaked Doki as a dog.
Sighing he headed towards an empty table, not a single thought was put to the two as they disappeared into the crowd.
Heero didn't flinch when Mamoru made the motion to hit him, "You idiot. You let her go on purpose didn't you! You despicable little creature! I command you to find her now! I've cursed her so she'll be easier to find."
Heero grit this teeth, "Of course, Master." Narrowing his eyes he waited until Mamoru had left the room to let the façade of calm fall from his face. 'Master' he mimicked himself loathingly, Mamoru hadn't said to find Usagi as fast as he could so he judged he could wander around the area for a few days before he was told to go find her as fast as he could. But then his mind walked straight into another barrier that Mamoru had pinned Heero in with, he wasn't allowed to do anything against Mamoru's will. And it would be against Mamoru's will to go and wander for a few days.
Snorting Heero knew he could only give Usagi so much time before he would bring her back to Mamoru's. But there was still one trick up his sleeve, but it would only work if he brought Usagi back, she would be leashed again. He wondered it if would have been easier to have just given her the locket, no, he snapped back at himself, if she found Maxwell now he might be able to help her out, or her him. Either way things were looking up for the demon.
The night eventually dwindled down to the point where even the headstrong griffin was on his last nerve. They had asked countless numbers of people if they had seen anyone new or strange pass by. Anything that had to do with the Hime, no, and no again were the answers. It was despairing, Trowa stared at the wall dimly, "I don't suppose we should have come here first."
"If I remember rightly, which I do, twas you who suggested this disgusting little home of backwash humans would be the place where we would land." Doki had enough, he didn't care about any of this, "If you don't I'm going to ask for a room. Somewhere other then here."
"We don't have that much money, besides I'm too tired to move."
"You have plenty of money!"
"Well…" Trowa started before deciding against his, his mind wandered back to the despairing thoughts of his lack for feeling, sometimes Catherine would even say he had a heart made of stone. She was his own sister too…it hurt, he knew that whenever he felt something stir inside him it was only a fourth of what should be there. He had been drained of some of his humanity when he had bled himself for the Griffin Doki. Doki in return though, had forfeited the majority of his magical powers over to Trowa.
"Sir,"
The forest green eyes were met with patient, worried brown eyes, without even thinking Trowa read his thoughts.
'I hope that, that young girl is alright. Poor thing. Especially since she doesn't seem to be from around here…'
It sparked the last scrap of hope in the magician, "Excuse me, have you come upon a blonde girl recently?"
He was unperturbed by the question, "Aye I have. Quite sick she is now."
"Do you know her name?"
Doki had noticed the sudden attentiveness that Trowa was giving the bartender, 'Give it a rest Trowa. She's not here.' He thought annoyance spilling from his mind to his tongue in a hiss.
"Could I see her?"
"Uh, well. I don't think so…" He said slowly, "It's against my rules to go into other people's rooms without their acknowledgement."
"Oh." Trowa murmured, "Well…I hope she gets better."
The man nodded watching Trowa as he exited the tavern, Trowa turned to Doki, "Why did you get angry?"
"I was tired of you fooling around. There is no one here that is the Hime."
"How do you know? Without most of your powers you could mistake a rat for a bird."
"Just because my powers are limited doesn't mean anything."
"It does to me. And we're checking up on this girl that he says is sick."
"Why is this girl so special from all the other Tavern Girls?"
"Because…just a feeling."
"You don't have any feelings!" Doki barked. Trowa shrugged, "We have to be thorough, no telling where she might be."
They reentered the tavern around noon, the place was bursting with business, as he edged around the room towards the only doorway in the room he could feel Doki's impatience. Doki had resignedly followed Trowa back into the tavern, the dog image hiding him from any unwanted attention.
"Makoto would you check on that girl please?"
Makoto nodded her head, putting the finishing touches to her cookies, her father looked over her shoulder, "That's nice but the men here won't care if it says jack off on the cookies, Hun."
"Oh well." Makoto replied slightly miffed, ripping the chef's hat from her head she headed up the back steps to the Hime's room. Or at least that's what Makoto called her, she didn't even know the name of her sick attendant but she had the look of a princess and there were rumors that the Hime had been kidnapped in the Dragon Clan. Peeking around the door she hoped to find her awake, at the very least, but it was the same as a day ago, she was flipping constantly in her bed half asleep and half awake. The friendly connection that Makoto expressed with her attendant was shameless and kind.
Opening the cabinet she took the blue bottle out, shaking it she winced, there was no medicine left and what's more is her father was getting worried about the youth paying for rent. Makoto walked to the edge of the bed and stared at Usagi, the circles under her eyes were proof of her exhaustion and the small whimpers that escaped her were piteous.
"Makoto, what are you doing in here?"
She turned, her ponytail swung around and nearly whipped her in the face, her hand started to twist her rose earrings nervously, "Nothing Seiya. Besides. Why are you here?"
"Came to replace the medicine bottle. I noticed she was low so I decided to get a new bottle for her."
"She's going to have a huge bill when she wakes up." Makoto said with a sigh.
"If she wakes up." Seiya intervened slowly; he stared at Usagi, "My armies on the move. They're going to intercept the fleet of Dragon Clan members in the west sometime soon…I'll be leaving."
Makoto groaned, "I'll miss you. Come back."
"Course I will. Makoto, I hope you never stop baking those cookies." He added with a grin.
Makoto laughed, swiping the medicine bottle from Seiya's hand she opened it and dropped the pill into the water watching as the water began to bubble a deep purple, "Yea. I'll make them just for you, not, so General Seiya are you going to steal the Hime away." She cracked nervously, she had always seemed to catch Seiya when he was staring at Usagi.
Seiya started in surprise, he caught Makoto's hand as she bent to let Usagi take a sip of the water, "Why are you calling her Hime?"
"Because," Makoto stared at Seiya and felt protective defiance overcome her, "Why do you care!"
"Tell me Makoto," his eyes traveled to Usagi and were caught in her hair, which shone in a dull, tired mood.
"Well, doesn't she look like one?"
Seiya's eyes closed, "Sitting right in front of me." He laughed a sort of high tense laugh. Makoto's brow furrowed, "What's wrong. Seiya, don't you dare hurt her." She said suddenly angry at Seiya's prying attention.
"Never…" Seiya lied fitfully, he had come upon a prize, the queen of the Dragon Clan supposed to be a beauty but now, in her sick state she looked thin and sickly, which she was, her skin had turned a pale flaxen color and her hair had probably lost much of it's luster.
"Where are you going again Seiya?" Makoto questioned hoping to distract Seiya from her Hime, he straightened and let go of her hand, "I'm going west of here to the Valley Passage of Tukishada. We'll stay there for a few days. And if things turn out the way we want them to I'll be back here in a few days."
"Why would you want to come back here?"
"To make sure the Dragon Clan hasn't started associating with your village."
"We're only a single village."
"You're the only ones close enough for the Dragon Clan to actually wipe out. Besides," he said shrugging, "I like the beer here."
"Sure." Makoto murmured, "We'll I'll leave you two alone now but you better not hurt her Seiya. Even if you are a general that doesn't mean you can just take possession of her." She said grinning as she said it, her rough brown skirt and plain white shirt were enough to set some people laughing at the idea that she was ordering the great General of the West around like he was a child.
But Seiya didn't mind in the least, "I won't harm her at all. Trust me, no matter what, I would never hurt anyone who didn't deserve it."
Makoto nodded her head slowly and flounced out of the room, Seiya stared at Usagi sighing he rummaged around the room for a mirror. He found a tiny compact mirror in a drawer that Makoto must have left for the Hime if she ever woke up. Touching its surface he muttered a few words, the words came out rough on his tongue and drained him of energy.
The surface of the glass rippled and changed into a red color, and then orange before the face of a man came into sight.
"Seiya," the man was surprised, "What are you doing? Shouldn't you be packing or doing something useful?"
"What do you call useful?" He grumbled.
"You know what I mean." His brother snapped back at him, "Lord only knows how worried I've been about you."
"Mmm-hmm," Seiya muttered under his breath, "I think I might have found someone who might be useful to us."
"Who's that?" He asked back slipping into formality.
"The Hime of the Dragon Clan."
Yaten's eyes nearly bugged out, a few locks of silver hair slipped from his hold (he was combing his hair) "Are you serious! ARE YOU SERIOUS! GODDESS SEIYA ARE YOU SERIOUS?" He finally screamed in impatience.
Seiya sighed, "Of course I am." His slender fingers toyed with his long black hair, "She's right there." He pointed in Usagi's general direction, "She's been cursed. The bar people here have been trying to cure her with some medicines and all of that but it hasn't worked at all so far. Do you think you could fix her up?"
"Course I could." Yaten interjected quickly, the light green eyes were sparking with impudence, "Well, me and Taiki anyway."
Seiya nodded his head, "I'll see you in a few days then."
Turning to Usagi he smiled crookedly, "Well…I don't know what use you'll be to us in the west, but…" Shaking his head he quickly began to go through her drawers in case there was anything she might need. He drew his hand back suddenly when it touched the cold mercury. He bit his tongue, the burn on his hand felt as if a thousand bees had just stung him. Letting out a short breath his gaze traveled to Usagi, 'So she's a nonmagic person…interesting…rare.' That's the only word he could come up with for Usagi.
Hey peeps, I heard you liked my corny chapter two, thanks for the small suggets's and everything! LOVE YA! –Qt~Chan (obviously, who else?)
Chapter 3
She was forced to follow Mamoru around after that, the pain was almost too much when she stepped more then seven feet away from him. Sighing she glared at the nape of Mamoru's neck. She couldn't step into Quatre's room at all because of the holding spell. Standing there she crossed her arms over her chest and sighed fitfully, "What the hell was the point of doing this damn spell on me? There's got to be a way to break it!"
"You wouldn't be able to break it. You're not strong enough."
"Tell me then if there's no hope of me breaking free!"
"No."
"MAMORU!" She screamed, walking up she slapped the back of his head, he grabbed her hand and applied pressure steadily.
"Don't be so cocky. Just because I said I was going to make you queen doesn't mean I have to."
Narrowing her eyes she pulled away from him, rubbing her red wrist, "I'm perfectly aware of that. I'd be fine dying."
"Oh, no I think I'd leave you in that cell to rot."
Usagi remained silent, she hated losing, and she had lost this battle, but of course, the war wasn't over.
*************
"Okay Panther."
The panther cub (cat) shot its head up glaring agitatedly at the youth, "If you really are Wufei Chang of the Dragon Clan nod your head."
Wufei almost didn't participate he was so disgusted with himself, Quatre's eyes took on a brilliant light, "Then you can be of some help."
Rolling onto his back the panther could care less about the boy's plans.
"Listen, I probably am younger then you, I'm twenty three."
Another wave of shock spread through Wufei, Quatre looked to be the young age of eighteen.
"Usagi's got a holding spell on her. She told me. Mamoru will be able to hear everything that's going on with her."
Wufei stared at Quatre almost stupidly; shaking his head he rose up onto his legs and gracefully pounced onto Quatre, knocking him back onto the bedspread. A shimmering light burst from Panther.
Quatre found that the cat he had been staring at just moments before had changed into the picture of a healthy man. He gaped at the still form of the cat lying peaceably on his chest, pushing the lump aside he stared at Wufei's misty outline.
"Look idiot, you keep your damn hands off of Usagi got it?" Wufei snapped, sighing he tapped his fingers against the desk, "I won't be able to do this again since it drains nearly all my strength. This is the only way I can communicate to YOU. Usagi, it's different. But anyway, you have a problem with the holding spell…I wouldn't know what to do. Ask the demon about it, unless his master has told him not to he can do what he wishes to Usagi…though I doubt he can harm her."
"What do you mean Heero can't harm Usagi?"
"That's his name?" Shaking his head Wufei continued, "You really are idiotic, boy any command given to the dem, to Heero he will follow…there's some connection with that limping man and Heero." He said absentmindedly, his brow furrowing in thought.
"Mamoru might be up for some competition…but meanwhile since Heero has probably been ordered off of Usagi and you it'll be safe to go up to him. Talk to him, persuade him to break the spell off of Usagi and that bastard…"
He winced suddenly and then faded, Quatre rose up without thinking, his hand brushed through the mist that had been Wufei's body. Sighing he ran a hand through his fine hair, "He says talk to the demon, WELL I'd like to see him try to talk to the demon!"
************
Quatre listened to the easy breathing of his captor and Usagi before closing the door, now that he had made sure Mamoru and Usagi were asleep he headed towards Heero's room. In all his days here he had never ventured close to the room, he had been too scared. It was something beyond mortal fear, it was something that reached down to squeeze his stomach tightly and make his heart freeze.
The door swung open before Quatre could lift his hand to knock softly, he stared into those cool orbs of light. He could feel himself freezing up, 'ask him!' some frustrated inner voice screamed, reaching his brain before it froze over.
"C…Could you hel…." He stood there for a moment, staring at Heero like an idiot, the demon was disguised in the form of a strong early-twenties year old body. His messy brown hair seemed to be fitting for him instead of combed back. Leaning against the doorframe he eyed the Arabian he had captured for his master, he could see the smooth pale skin was an odd hereditary trait he had gotten from his Arabian royal family. The boy didn't look built for anything besides being a good mating specimen.
His eyebrow raised at the idea, 'What do you want human?' He hissed, Quatre flinched when he received the mental message.
"Can you," He paused, maybe talking with their minds wouldn't be such a bad idea, 'Can you help Usagi?'
'She's in no danger.'
'She needs to look for someone from what she told me. Someone with a limp. The holding spell is the problem. She NEEDS to find this guy.'
Heero's eyes sparked interest and a keen semblance of hope, 'A man with a limp?'
'Yes. Please break the spell, she might be able to find your old master.' Quatre paused, 'you don't like Mamoru very much for a master do you?'
Heero remained silent lifting his hand he gently cupped Quatre's cheek his eyes widened he didn't dare tear away. Grinning Heero's hand slipped to his neck and tightened, "Run away little rabbit. Before I make a meal of you."
The twenty-three year old didn't need a second warning as he pulled away faintly and started towards his room at a quick pace. Even when Quatre had disappeared into his room Heero had remained in his position, leaning against the doorframe staring at his Masters door.
He knew his master had ordered him to never try and search or help for his former master, Mamoru had sensed the bond between the two and severed it as best he could. But, then again, freeing the girl from the spell he knew would allow the girl to go look for him…an indirect way of searching for his master, Heero had found a loophole, and a very good one at that.
************
The Hime's dream were of innocent things, weddings, romantic walks and then she saw the white dot of light hanging in the middle of nowhere in her dream. It grew before she found herself blinking in the endless white scenery. Yelping in surprise when Heero popped out of nowhere she gave a nervous grin, "Geez, weird dreams I'm having these days."
He didn't return the grin much less a thought to the comment, "I can help you break the spell. If you like." He murmured coming uncomfortably close to her, he frowned, "Strange…"
"What, you mean the holding spell? That would help a lot…Will it hurt?" She winced at the thought.
"Enormously. But you must keep going. Keep pulling, never stop." He murmured staring into her eyes, she was practically nose to nose with him. Frowning she pushed him away, "Your master says not to touch me."
"True…" Heero breathed, "Am I touching you?"
"No." Usagi blushed, "What do I pull on?"
"The bond." Without another word his body wavered and then broke like a drop of water.
Staring around her she sighed she began to walk forwards and found she was jerked back, looking down she found the source of her bond with Mamoru. It looked like some large smooth, glowing rope of red. Struggling against it she bit her lip as the rope began to cut into her stomach.
"I haven't even pulled that much and it's cutting into me!" Usagi chewed on her lip worriedly, "Heero said to keep pulling…"
'Maybe this was just a way to get rid of me…what've I got to lose?' she thought with false cheeriness.
Balling her hands into fists she gritted her teeth and backed up a few steps before taking a running start. When she reached the end of the line with surprising speed her mouth opened in a silent cry of surprised pain. But her legs kept pumping and she kept leaning forwards. She could feel blackness at the corners of her vision, struggling even harder in desperation she looked behind in time to see the rope snap.
And then her eyes snapped open and she had enough time to throw her hands out in front of her as she fell onto the cold wooden floor.
Gasping and sweating from her dreamy ordeal she felt the physical lightness of not having the spell on her. Letting her perspiring cheek rest on the cold floor she sighed in relief.
"Get up."
Glancing up she stared at Heero in surprise, "How, how did I get here?"
"You were sleepwalking. I thought it better to have you do your spell breaking during your sleep. The pain wouldn't be so much for you. Here, change into these and leave."
She took the clothes slowly into her hands there consisted a black spaghetti strap dress and a velvety black cloak (complete with a hood). She stared up at him, "You're kidding, right? Mamoru's going to be trying to get me under him from the moment he sees me."
"No. It's fine. You better leave, it's better that you look rich instead of a little beggar ne?"
"Well, I suppose. So you're not going to stop me leaving?"
"He never told me I couldn't."
"But…" Sighing she shrugged her shoulders, looking around for a place to change he motioned for her to go into his room. She did so, changing she stepped out holding a strange looking necklace in her hands.
His eyes widened, "So you can actually hold it…amazing." He whispered eyeing her over again.
"What? It's just a necklace." She commented genuinely.
"It's made of pure, solid Mercury."
Her eyes widened, "But then, how? Everyone knows people with any magic in their veins can get severely burned by Solid Mercury and I have some magic skills!" She said almost in defiance.
Heero shrugged, "It should keep you temporarily safe from Mamoru-san…." He stared at her for a moment, "Let me tell you that Solid Mercury can't be touched by me either."
Usagi stared at him, had he actually just said his weakness out loud in front of her? Glancing around she gave a smile of thanks before heading out the doors, she turned last secondly, "Thank you Heero."
He nodded his head watching as she disappeared into the night, the black cloak hiding her in the night's shadows.
Biting her lip was the only way to keep herself from screaming, a massive dark shadow was slinking towards her. Frozen there she stood watching, the moonlight finally struck the figure and she let out such an elated breath it seemed louder then should be. It was only Koury…Wufei's dragon. Seeing it made her smile, "Koury," She called softly, the dragon came slowly she realized that the dragon's eyes were trained on her necklace.
She fingered it reverently, if a dragon was afraid of it then she knew it would provide her some protection. Shaking her head when the dragon's pictures, for a dragon talks to you with pictures which in a way is much clearer that our language, reflected her idea of how she thought Usagi was going to hurt her with the necklace.
"No. Koury, I wouldn't hurt you, you don't deserve that. Can you do me a favor?"
The dragon was beautiful, it's wings could provide support if one of her legs was injured, it was the silvery color that you find on frost (if you care to look close enough) and her entire build was slender and sleek.
The dragon conferred her yes but also distributing the picture that she would like to stick her claws through Mamoru's throat. Smiling again Usagi felt safer in the presence of the dragon, climbing onto the back she suddenly realized she had no reins to hold onto. And she couldn't lean against the dragon for fear she might burn her.
Jumping in surprise when a silver spike burst from the dragons skin just in front of Usagi turned around when she heard the squelchy sound of breaking skin, everywhere the spikes were breaking out.
'So you don't fall off' the dragon murmured thoughtfully as Usagi took a grip on the spike. Beating her wings they were quieter then an owls wings besides the sound of rustling leaves from the force of the air. They lifted into the air; the ride was smooth but eerily cold and silent.
The dragon neared the edge of the small town, soaring about it for a while it landed on the outskirts of the town.
"Koury stay here. I need to send a note to Zechs and Treize so please don't leave."
'I will try my best Hime.'
Usagi nodded her head and set off down the hill, it took only a few minutes before she popped out onto the street, bright lights blinked and bleared her vision for a millisecond. Amazingly everything was still open and people were walking around like it was a holiday. Frowning she wondered if she would ever find the person she was looking for. Sighing she walked into another shop, ripping a notice from the side of the tavern she managed to find a quill.
Scratching the note out she set the quill down and headed back towards the landing area, the dragon patiently waited while Usagi found a way to stick the message onto Koury's foot. The dragon brought its swan like neck down so that she could stare into Usagi's face.
'Hime, I will come back if you wish?'
'I don't think you should…thank you though Koury.'
'Anything else Hime?' The dragon was backing away, already preparing to lift off. Usagi shook her head and watched as the dragon lifted into the air, she felt a tremor run through her body when the loneliness sank its jaws into her soul. Meandering aimlessly on the streets she paused to stare into a window filled with busy looking tavern women. Shrugging her shoulders she walked in. She was very timid, these people were different from those in the dragon clan, they were a mix of hunters, demons, and regular humans. She sighed, she didn't even know if the person she was looking for was human or not.
Resting eyes on the bartender he stared back at her, "A room fer ya tonight miss?"
"Um, no. I'm afraid I haven't the money." His eyebrows rose before he went back to cleaning his mug.
"Sir," She said modestly, he glanced at her again and his eyes traveled to her necklace with surprise, "Let me guess miss, you spent all your money on that solid Mercury necklace to ward off magic beings? Oy men!"
The entire tavern seemed to turn their eyes on the bartender and then the black-cloaked figure who was feeling smaller then ever.
"This ladies got 'erselve a solid mercury necklace lads, whaddaya think o that? Aye, miss, probably fake if ya ask me." He winked at her, she stared back at him wide-eyed. Taking the silence for a chance to speak she wet her lips, "Have any of you seen a man with a limp around here who helped a friend of mine out?"
She swerved around when she felt a hand tighten on her shoulder, she stared into the eyes with surprise, "Oy, why ya looking for Red ay? He's a good lad. But got a bad limp aye, bad limp." His eyes narrowed, "I don't suppose you one o 'dem lady hunters are ya?"
At mention of the idea she watched out of the corner of her eye as half or more of the crowd pushed through the doors.
"No." She said in a small voice, "I come from Heero."
The mans eyes bugged out, "Oy miss! I didn't mean no 'arm!" He yelled loudly, backing away from her and running with the rest. The bartender backed away from her nervously when she returned her questioning glance to him before he dropped his mug and ran to the room where the beer kegs were kept.
Usagi frowned, "What did I say?" What was she to do if no one would answer her questions? And would the man with the limp really help her? As these worries consumed her she turned to leave when her gaze was snagged on a lump of a figure huddled in a distant corner table.
His face and body were hidden under the draping white cloak; it was similar in build to Usagi's except for the sharp contrast of color. She stared before heading to him, "Excuse me,"
"Yea?" His voice was smooth as silk.
"Since you didn't run away I was wondering if you could help me."
"Aye, sure miss. You're searching for Duo? That demon was searching for Duo too, grabbed me by my neck and told me if I knew something to tell him, but that was before his new master told him to stop his search."
"Duo's alive?" She whispered in hope.
The hooded man nodded his head, "He's more then alive. He's got a bad limp from the solid mercury anklet that Mamoru snapped onto him. Bastard, worse then pond scum. But aye, he's alive."
"How come your not afraid of Heero? Or Duo?"
"Cause, I've found they're not so much for the bloody slaughter just for mischief…though I didn't think that demon was the sort for mischief and pranks."
"Tell me, where is Duo?"
A beady blue eye stared at her, "He's hiding under the winged snake."
"What?" She murmured thoroughly puzzled.
"That's all I'm goin to tell ye, if Mamoru gets ahold that I was prattling such things he would have Heero tear my face off. Good day to ya miss." He left before another word could be said, Usagi stared at her hands and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Hiding under the winged snake, that's a good one." Running a hand through her hair she decided it was time to be on the move, Mamoru could send Heero after her any moment now…
Treize sucked in a breath, raking a hand through his hair he stared up at Zechs who was worriedly shoveling through all the grid maps of the dragon clan territory. Finally in exasperation he threw the maps aside, letting out a snort he collapsed into the chair. "Well the demon's taken her…I was right there too Treize! Right there!"
Rising to his feet the general let loose another sigh, going behind his lover he began to gently loosen the tense muscles under the crimson uniform.
"There's got to be someone who knows where they are."
"No one will speak…"
"Why would he take Usagi though?"
"Isn't it obvious love?"
Treize frowned, "I don't think that's the only reason, men like that don't save themselves for just one pretty face."
"Who said he was saving himself, he's probably just in it for the fun…disgusting bastard."
"General! Kernel, we have important information, just delivered by Koury."
"Wufei's dragon!" Both cried out in unison as they stumbled towards the messenger who was looking flushed from the long run. Treize grabbed the crumpled piece of paper, the note read, 'I'm safe, Wufei is embodied in a panther, Duo is not who he seems, searching for him now'
Treize trembled, "This is it?" He finally snapped.
The messenger flinched and gave a edgy bow, "Yes General Kushrenada, there was nothing else, the dragon informed us of the town where she was last seen."
"Where?" Zechs said quickly gathering his wits.
"In a valley surrounded by forest, full of the damned, bounty hunters and regular humans. Koury also said that the Hime was wearing a solid mercury necklace."
There was a long, profound silence when the report had been rapped out, "Solid Mercury?"
"Yes sire. That is what was depicted in the picture language that they speak in."
Zechs rolled his eyes, "That could have been a simple mistake. There isn't a possibility that she could wear that necklace, she has magic in her veins. Bring Koury to our patio deck if you could please."
Bowing the little man quickly sped out of the room, Treize turned to Zechs, "Look at the back of this love, what do you make of it?"
Zechs's eyes scanned the notice on the back of the sheet of paper she had torn from a wall, "It's a notice for Anuks Jewelry, on seventh and 8th street…It has the exact city!"
"But they wouldn't post a notice if they lived in the village, I'm guessing this place is relatively small so Anuk's Jewelry will be in a few days travel from where this was posted…Koury said it was in a valley surrounded by forest. Get those maps out again." The two were breaking down the clues quickly, Zechs pointed to an area, "It has at least forty branching villages and towns in this valley, the only one with a forest surrounding it. We can narrow it down by the fact that the demon will be in the forest area for cover…that gives us the entire edge of this area and a few miles inward of this circle of villages…"
Treize moaned, "We need all the legions we have right now for defense…"
"We'll have to send Barton then."
Treize nodded his head slowly, "I think it's almost stupid of us to be doing this but I suppose it's the only hope for the Hime. Send Trowa in today, we MUST rescue the Hime." Zechs nodded his eyes, the spark in his eye was brightening his features enormously as the caged dove of hope was set loose of it's confinements.
Master Magician or not he knew he had to be careful on this assignment, sighing he loosened the hood over his clean brown hair, the wind whipped through it. Gripping the mane of the Griffin again he wondered what he was going to do if he actually came face to face with this demon.
"You're insides will be ripped out but before he does that he'll stick a knife through your eyes." The Master Magician's attention was averted to his mount, "Just because you have the gift of tongues doesn't mean people always cherish what you have to say." His voice was nearly lost in the wind. The griffin underneath him was an ashy black and just as insolent as his name, Futodoki, but now just called Doki they had named him that in the old language of the Dragon Clan since Insolence seemed like a barb to your mouth whenever you spoke it as a name. There was a chuckle, "Someday you will cherish my words MASTER magician." He guffawed loudly, "You should stay with the name your slaver gave to you, Trowa Barton."
A wave of heat temporarily beat through Trowa's heart before he knocked it aside like a clumsy tiger, "Who is the one that wears the collar now though?" There was measured anger in the tone. A breathless hiss, "Insolent idiot. You mock me now but could your little skills save you when the collar is off?"
Trowa remained silent, he could feel the muscles of the griffin's wings beating the air and the wind whipping through his hair, the rough mane of the griffin and the silky coat that covered the rest of his lithe body, the faint scent of pine still locked into the very hairs of the griffin reminding him of where his true home was. All of these sensations and yet he could summon nothing inside him to react, nothing inside him contorted with annoyance or anger at Doki's sharp tongue or the exhilaration that most would have felt riding a griffin thousands of feet above the ground.
"Doki, will I always be like this?"
The vivid green eyes closed slightly, "You should have never given me, your blood…that day."
"I needed to get to the Dragon Clan. You were the only way there." Trowa interrupted.
"You knew the consequences to giving a creature like me blood to keep me alive?"
"No. Not until now."
"I don't understand humans like you, you're an idiotic parasitic race. And I still come to only understand half of what and why you humans do things." A thin tongue shot back in and out of his yellow beak, a snakelike gesture, "Sometimes I wish some greater creature would wipe your race out."
"You would have died." Trowa interjected tonelessly.
"It is better then this, being paired together because the same blood that used to run in your veins is now running in mine, bonding us together like…like we are one."
"I could always kill you if you like."
"It would pain you and me…I will see just how long I can deal with you and your ways."
Trowa sighed, would he ever get a straight answer out of Doki on this matter? Probably not was the answer.
Usagi groaned, her head was practically exploding with pain, how was she supposed to think? Finding the first keeper of Heero was hard, impossible maybe, the headache had come all of a sudden, she knew it had to be some spell that Mamoru or Heero had cast to slow her down. Her thoughts were coming too slowly, disoriented and partly stupefied by the splitting headache that had been cursed upon her she had stayed in the same Inn for at least three days. But moving only made her withdraw further into wherever she was right now.
A Drunk banker stared at the deep mesmerizing blue of the nighttime sky, he blinked, was the sky moving? There was a small patch in the sky that seemed to move with deliberateness towards the little town. He blinked and wiped at his eyes, no, it was still there, moving even faster now, for no apparent reason he went into hysterics. The assembly of beer intoxicated men started in surprise as the town banker seemingly went mad, tearing at his hair and screaming most frightfully he started shouting things about the end and the apocalypse before sprinting out of the bar.
There was a dreadful silence, just as recuperation of the event had faded and they were turning to their drinks a large chunk of the roof collapsed inwardly.
Shielding their eyes temporarily they could hear the rumbling of the fallen beams settling themselves onto the ground, doubtless a few people had been crushed but that had been pushed far back into their minds.
Trowa clung to Doki's mane firmly, he knew it was only the griffin's impudence that had caused him to land with such force that the roof would collapse. Coughing and choking on the dust and dirt he buried his face into the mane. Doki stiffened when Trowa did that, his eyes remained unaffected by the dust, unlike the gracefulness that Doki had shown in the air he was clumsier then a babe when it came to moving on land. Trowa had always thought that this was the reason that griffins were so spiteful of landwalkers, humans.
Slipping from his back he was met with the eyes of all the tavern's occupants, Doki smirked, proud of himself for the chaos that he had caused. Embarrassed and at a loss for words Trowa remained silent, "Get back to your drinks men." Doki snapped aggressively. They did so, eventually the noise level in the bar uplifted, it was odd how they had suddenly forgotten that part of the roof was in pieces on the ground. The green eyes were as sharp as a knife, sighing halfheartedly he glanced at Trowa, he had started to grip Doki's mane again with fierce concentration.
Starting in surprise when the beams underneath there very feet began to quiver and jerk with what could have been taken as life but Doki wasn't so easily fooled. At a seconds notice the beams, straw, and everything else disappeared. The ceiling meanwhile, miraculously fixed itself.
Trowa had sunk into a kneeling position, still gripping a lock of Doki's misty gray mane. Sweating and trembling he inhaled deeply, Doki's eyes traveled to the men that had been killed in the tumult of timber, their bodies were slumped over the tables, to be marked as death from alcohol later on. The magician was a deathly pale color and was surely feeling the usual cramps in his side after such an excursion of magic use. Quieting his breath after what seemed an eternity Trowa met eyes with Doki who licked the tip of his nose in unhappiness, "Are you alright?" It came out calm and quiet, Trowa nodded his head before leaning against Doki, "Don't…do…that again." He breathed, the task had been strenuous to him obviously, he had fixed the ceiling, wiped all the memories of the people who had just seen the two and cloaked Doki as a dog.
Sighing he headed towards an empty table, not a single thought was put to the two as they disappeared into the crowd.
Heero didn't flinch when Mamoru made the motion to hit him, "You idiot. You let her go on purpose didn't you! You despicable little creature! I command you to find her now! I've cursed her so she'll be easier to find."
Heero grit this teeth, "Of course, Master." Narrowing his eyes he waited until Mamoru had left the room to let the façade of calm fall from his face. 'Master' he mimicked himself loathingly, Mamoru hadn't said to find Usagi as fast as he could so he judged he could wander around the area for a few days before he was told to go find her as fast as he could. But then his mind walked straight into another barrier that Mamoru had pinned Heero in with, he wasn't allowed to do anything against Mamoru's will. And it would be against Mamoru's will to go and wander for a few days.
Snorting Heero knew he could only give Usagi so much time before he would bring her back to Mamoru's. But there was still one trick up his sleeve, but it would only work if he brought Usagi back, she would be leashed again. He wondered it if would have been easier to have just given her the locket, no, he snapped back at himself, if she found Maxwell now he might be able to help her out, or her him. Either way things were looking up for the demon.
The night eventually dwindled down to the point where even the headstrong griffin was on his last nerve. They had asked countless numbers of people if they had seen anyone new or strange pass by. Anything that had to do with the Hime, no, and no again were the answers. It was despairing, Trowa stared at the wall dimly, "I don't suppose we should have come here first."
"If I remember rightly, which I do, twas you who suggested this disgusting little home of backwash humans would be the place where we would land." Doki had enough, he didn't care about any of this, "If you don't I'm going to ask for a room. Somewhere other then here."
"We don't have that much money, besides I'm too tired to move."
"You have plenty of money!"
"Well…" Trowa started before deciding against his, his mind wandered back to the despairing thoughts of his lack for feeling, sometimes Catherine would even say he had a heart made of stone. She was his own sister too…it hurt, he knew that whenever he felt something stir inside him it was only a fourth of what should be there. He had been drained of some of his humanity when he had bled himself for the Griffin Doki. Doki in return though, had forfeited the majority of his magical powers over to Trowa.
"Sir,"
The forest green eyes were met with patient, worried brown eyes, without even thinking Trowa read his thoughts.
'I hope that, that young girl is alright. Poor thing. Especially since she doesn't seem to be from around here…'
It sparked the last scrap of hope in the magician, "Excuse me, have you come upon a blonde girl recently?"
He was unperturbed by the question, "Aye I have. Quite sick she is now."
"Do you know her name?"
Doki had noticed the sudden attentiveness that Trowa was giving the bartender, 'Give it a rest Trowa. She's not here.' He thought annoyance spilling from his mind to his tongue in a hiss.
"Could I see her?"
"Uh, well. I don't think so…" He said slowly, "It's against my rules to go into other people's rooms without their acknowledgement."
"Oh." Trowa murmured, "Well…I hope she gets better."
The man nodded watching Trowa as he exited the tavern, Trowa turned to Doki, "Why did you get angry?"
"I was tired of you fooling around. There is no one here that is the Hime."
"How do you know? Without most of your powers you could mistake a rat for a bird."
"Just because my powers are limited doesn't mean anything."
"It does to me. And we're checking up on this girl that he says is sick."
"Why is this girl so special from all the other Tavern Girls?"
"Because…just a feeling."
"You don't have any feelings!" Doki barked. Trowa shrugged, "We have to be thorough, no telling where she might be."
They reentered the tavern around noon, the place was bursting with business, as he edged around the room towards the only doorway in the room he could feel Doki's impatience. Doki had resignedly followed Trowa back into the tavern, the dog image hiding him from any unwanted attention.
"Makoto would you check on that girl please?"
Makoto nodded her head, putting the finishing touches to her cookies, her father looked over her shoulder, "That's nice but the men here won't care if it says jack off on the cookies, Hun."
"Oh well." Makoto replied slightly miffed, ripping the chef's hat from her head she headed up the back steps to the Hime's room. Or at least that's what Makoto called her, she didn't even know the name of her sick attendant but she had the look of a princess and there were rumors that the Hime had been kidnapped in the Dragon Clan. Peeking around the door she hoped to find her awake, at the very least, but it was the same as a day ago, she was flipping constantly in her bed half asleep and half awake. The friendly connection that Makoto expressed with her attendant was shameless and kind.
Opening the cabinet she took the blue bottle out, shaking it she winced, there was no medicine left and what's more is her father was getting worried about the youth paying for rent. Makoto walked to the edge of the bed and stared at Usagi, the circles under her eyes were proof of her exhaustion and the small whimpers that escaped her were piteous.
"Makoto, what are you doing in here?"
She turned, her ponytail swung around and nearly whipped her in the face, her hand started to twist her rose earrings nervously, "Nothing Seiya. Besides. Why are you here?"
"Came to replace the medicine bottle. I noticed she was low so I decided to get a new bottle for her."
"She's going to have a huge bill when she wakes up." Makoto said with a sigh.
"If she wakes up." Seiya intervened slowly; he stared at Usagi, "My armies on the move. They're going to intercept the fleet of Dragon Clan members in the west sometime soon…I'll be leaving."
Makoto groaned, "I'll miss you. Come back."
"Course I will. Makoto, I hope you never stop baking those cookies." He added with a grin.
Makoto laughed, swiping the medicine bottle from Seiya's hand she opened it and dropped the pill into the water watching as the water began to bubble a deep purple, "Yea. I'll make them just for you, not, so General Seiya are you going to steal the Hime away." She cracked nervously, she had always seemed to catch Seiya when he was staring at Usagi.
Seiya started in surprise, he caught Makoto's hand as she bent to let Usagi take a sip of the water, "Why are you calling her Hime?"
"Because," Makoto stared at Seiya and felt protective defiance overcome her, "Why do you care!"
"Tell me Makoto," his eyes traveled to Usagi and were caught in her hair, which shone in a dull, tired mood.
"Well, doesn't she look like one?"
Seiya's eyes closed, "Sitting right in front of me." He laughed a sort of high tense laugh. Makoto's brow furrowed, "What's wrong. Seiya, don't you dare hurt her." She said suddenly angry at Seiya's prying attention.
"Never…" Seiya lied fitfully, he had come upon a prize, the queen of the Dragon Clan supposed to be a beauty but now, in her sick state she looked thin and sickly, which she was, her skin had turned a pale flaxen color and her hair had probably lost much of it's luster.
"Where are you going again Seiya?" Makoto questioned hoping to distract Seiya from her Hime, he straightened and let go of her hand, "I'm going west of here to the Valley Passage of Tukishada. We'll stay there for a few days. And if things turn out the way we want them to I'll be back here in a few days."
"Why would you want to come back here?"
"To make sure the Dragon Clan hasn't started associating with your village."
"We're only a single village."
"You're the only ones close enough for the Dragon Clan to actually wipe out. Besides," he said shrugging, "I like the beer here."
"Sure." Makoto murmured, "We'll I'll leave you two alone now but you better not hurt her Seiya. Even if you are a general that doesn't mean you can just take possession of her." She said grinning as she said it, her rough brown skirt and plain white shirt were enough to set some people laughing at the idea that she was ordering the great General of the West around like he was a child.
But Seiya didn't mind in the least, "I won't harm her at all. Trust me, no matter what, I would never hurt anyone who didn't deserve it."
Makoto nodded her head slowly and flounced out of the room, Seiya stared at Usagi sighing he rummaged around the room for a mirror. He found a tiny compact mirror in a drawer that Makoto must have left for the Hime if she ever woke up. Touching its surface he muttered a few words, the words came out rough on his tongue and drained him of energy.
The surface of the glass rippled and changed into a red color, and then orange before the face of a man came into sight.
"Seiya," the man was surprised, "What are you doing? Shouldn't you be packing or doing something useful?"
"What do you call useful?" He grumbled.
"You know what I mean." His brother snapped back at him, "Lord only knows how worried I've been about you."
"Mmm-hmm," Seiya muttered under his breath, "I think I might have found someone who might be useful to us."
"Who's that?" He asked back slipping into formality.
"The Hime of the Dragon Clan."
Yaten's eyes nearly bugged out, a few locks of silver hair slipped from his hold (he was combing his hair) "Are you serious! ARE YOU SERIOUS! GODDESS SEIYA ARE YOU SERIOUS?" He finally screamed in impatience.
Seiya sighed, "Of course I am." His slender fingers toyed with his long black hair, "She's right there." He pointed in Usagi's general direction, "She's been cursed. The bar people here have been trying to cure her with some medicines and all of that but it hasn't worked at all so far. Do you think you could fix her up?"
"Course I could." Yaten interjected quickly, the light green eyes were sparking with impudence, "Well, me and Taiki anyway."
Seiya nodded his head, "I'll see you in a few days then."
Turning to Usagi he smiled crookedly, "Well…I don't know what use you'll be to us in the west, but…" Shaking his head he quickly began to go through her drawers in case there was anything she might need. He drew his hand back suddenly when it touched the cold mercury. He bit his tongue, the burn on his hand felt as if a thousand bees had just stung him. Letting out a short breath his gaze traveled to Usagi, 'So she's a nonmagic person…interesting…rare.' That's the only word he could come up with for Usagi.