I'm just moving along with this aren't I? Here's chapter 4. :3

Please enjoy!

Chapter 4

Scion stared into the mirror of the bathroom. Din had brought a maid with him from the castle to take her clothes once she was ready to shower. 'My second one today…' She sighed at the bloody sight of herself. There was dried blood down her left cheek, fresh blood still coming from her arm, and dried blood on her white sleeveless jacket.

Lime green eyes glared at the reflection in the mirror. She had cried in front of Din… cried because of her past.

"Pathetic," she muttered.

'You were supposed to be strong… to have left every piece of it behind in that old house…' She seethed at the thought. She felt weak – vulnerable – because of it all. Crying – to her – was showing weakness.

"You know what I think?"

"What do you think?"

"I think that you should grow your hair longer. It would look really nice on you."

"You don't like my hair as it is?"

"No Scion, I mean I'd like to see it just once."

"Well if you want to see it… then I have no problem with it…"

"Hey guys, she's going to do it!"

"…Really? Go Scion!"

"You're such a jerk!"

Scion clenched her fists at the memory. She tried to fight back the tears as they welled in her eyes. 'I did it all for you… It was halfway down my back when you left… when all four of you left…' Dipping a finger in the fresh blood, Scion brought her hair over her shoulder. With her bloody fingers, she drew a diagonal line across her hair. She repeated the motion a couple times before drawing her sword.

"Miss, are you okay in there?" the maid called from the other side of the door.

"It's nothing," she assured the maid, "I'm just looking at it."

Pulling her hair tight, Scion brought the sword to the beginning of the blood red line. 'I grew it for you… but I'm doing this for myself…'

Din returned to the room with a new set of clothes for the girl. She had been in the bathroom when he had left, and was now in the shower. Or rather… still in the shower.

"How is she?" he asked the maid as he handed her the new clothes.

"I'm not too sure… the girl has been very quiet…" the maid explained almost thoughtfully.

'Something's on her mind…'

"Something wrong?" he questioned.

"Not really… I just found a few strands of hair stuck to the blood of her sword," she explained, "I do hope she's alright."

"She'll be alright," Din assured her with a smile, "That girl's got some kick to her."

"Yes," the maid agreed with a small laugh, "The lady would have my head for mentioning this but that girl reminds me of the replica from a year or so ago."

"Yes, she certainly does in a way," Din agreed with a nod.

The straw-blond male heard the water stop in the bathroom and gestured for the maid to give a hand.

"As you wish master Din," the maid said with a bow before going to the door.

He smiled, picturing Scion's irritation from the maid continuously helping her. The girl must have been annoyed.

He had brought the maid to help Scion with handling her clothes. He was sure she didn't want to put something wet and bloody back on. He brought her back a dark blue kimono – much to her distaste – since it was a simple piece of clothing; one of the simplest in the area.

"And you really expect me to wear this?" Scion's voice asked with agitation as she came out of the bathroom.

His eyes widened at the sight of what she had done.

"What did you do to your hair?" he asked; astonished.

"Oh it magically disappeared in the shower," she said sarcastically, "What does it look like?"

"Why would you do that?"

Her lime green eyes glared at him. 'Apparently it is none of my business…'

"I cleaned it up before I showered," she shrugged before sitting in a chair.

Din was confused with those words. 'Before she showered? Then why is there still red on her tips then…'

"What's the red?" the maid asked from the bathroom door.

"Blood," Scion shrugged again, "I used it to mark where to cut."

"It didn't come out…"

"I don't know why it didn't, but I don't really care either."

There were a few moments of silence before Din looked at the maid.

"You can return to the castle now," he told her with a smile, "Thank you for your help."

"M-my pleasure master Din," the maid bowed, "It's been a pleasure miss."

And then the maid was gone.

Scion looked back at Din with a raised brow. Why did it matter to him on what her hair looked like? It was longer behind her right shoulder and was below her jaw bone on the left. She liked how it turned out. It didn't matter what anyone else thought. Not to her anyway.

"Why did you come here with me?" the girl asked.

'Shouldn't he have stayed to calm his lady down? See if that woman was alright?' She made a face that thought. She had barely touched the woman let alone hurt her.

"I figured if I let you go on your own then there was nothing to keep you from coming back," Din explained with a slight shrug, "Besides, I'd rather help you than her."

"Why?" she asked with a cocked brow, "I called you a bastard… I've had my sword clashed with yours…"

"Because we're friends aren't we?"

"Who said we're friends?" Scion questioned a little doubtfully.

"Well I like to think of us as friends," Din laughed with a shrug.

'Friends… that's new…'

"Besides that, you're my student as well so I'm obligated to teach at all opportunities."

"Ha, funny," she fake laughed.

Her eyes were on Din as she saw him laugh to himself.

"Changing your appearance doesn't change your attitude, does it?" he laughed, blue eyes watching her wait with his smile showing through them.

That smile… it was a good sign. He wasn't pushing himself to smile or laugh. 'He doesn't push so hard when he's around me.' Scion smiled inwardly at the thought. She was actually helping someone.

"I guess that it doesn't," she agreed, slouching back in her chair.

Din looked away and stared ahead of himself with a thoughtful expression. 'He's thinking about something… Is it a question? …A memory?'

"You know… I haven't laughed this much since they left," he laughed without amusement to himself; his gloved hands together.

He had gotten dressed before they left… having been shirtless when he had stopped her from killing the lady.

"Since who left?" she asked with a raised brow.

"Asch and Sin… Things turned desperate once Asch left," Din mused darkly.

She saw him laugh as he shook his head.

'Asch… Why have I heard that name before?' Brows furrowed at the thought of the name.

"What does he look like?" she asked without thinking.

Din looked at her for her curiosity.

"You'd know him if you saw him," he laughed, "Red flaming hair longer than yours. If you saw him he'd have a small black haired girl beside him."

Scion's eyes widened at the description. 'I know them… I've seen them so many times…' Her expression became hateful at the thought. 'Asch was the emperor for a while… and then the General of that army.' Her hands clenched as she silently seethed at the memory.

"I know who they are," she murmured, eyes narrowed as she stared ahead of her, "…I know where they are."

"…R-really?" Din asked with an astounded tone, "Where?"

Scion paused for a few moments before she could answer. She couldn't believe that this place had a tie to Blue Abarath… That the reason her memories were flooding her mind was because this place was tied to her past.

"They're in Blue Abarath… They are where my home was," she explained with a cold, quiet tone.

"Blue Abarath…" Din whispered; still astonished.

She pushed herself to her feet and touched the clothes that were hanging over by the warm fire. 'Damn… not dry yet.'

"What are you doing?" the blond asked curiously.

"Seeing if they're dry," she stated.

"Why?"

"So I can leave."

Din cocked a brow at those words. Did she mean leave for good?

"Leave where?" he asked; confused.

"Somewhere else," she muttered coldly.

"Like..?"

"It doesn't matter where."

He furrowed his brows. She was just going to leave? Just like that?

"If it doesn't matter, then why are you angry?" he asked.

Scion paused in her tracks at those words and she dropped her gaze. A few moments passed of nothing but silence before she turned back to look at him. He was confused with the expression on hr face. Was it… brooding?

"Why… why don't you come with me?" she asked; eyes locked with his.

He had to admit that the question caught him off guard. He hadn't expected something like that from her of all people.

"Where would we go?" he asked with a cocked brow.

"Sky's the limit," Scion shrugged the question off.

"Would you… take me to Blue Abarath?" he asked; tone almost doubtful.

If she hated her past… then she wouldn't take him there.

He could see Scion's hands clench and fiddle as she thought. He knew she knew why he wanted to go there… Why he would even consider it.

"I couldn't let you go alone," she muttered; watching him intently, "Since you've never left the castle you'd probably get lost along the way."

'She'd actually… take me?'

"Once my clothes are dry I'm leaving," she stated, "so you better be ready to go."

"Where are you two off to?" the innkeeper asked with a laugh, "You won't get far in that weather."

It was still raining as Scion ducked her head out the door. 'No one's there…'

"Just going out," Din replied with a sly smile.

"It's clear," Scion told him before checking again to make sure.

"About the bill for the room," Din started, rubbing the back of his head, "Ask one of the maids at the castle. They'll get it to you."

"If you say so master Din," the innkeeper chuckled, "You two have fun now."

Scion grabbed the straw-blonde's shoulder and pulled him out the door. They didn't have time to say goodbyes. They needed to leave before the lady or anyone else got suspicious of Din's absence. Her brows pushed together at the thought of the lady of the castle. She hadn't been able to finish the job.

"What the hell is your problem?!"

"You are my problem, you disgusting creature… you thing!"

"They are people, just like you are."

"Like hell they are!"

Scion clenched her fists at the memory. 'She's not worth it… She'll probably die soon anyway…'

Their feet ran quickly through the small city; through all the mud. There were no witnesses… they just ran to the exit of the city. No guards on patrol either at the gate. They were free to leave. 'This is so different from Blue Abarath…'

"So… how do we get there?" Din asked as he ran behind her.

"Follow the road through the forest… It should take us there," she explained as they crossed the field to the forest.

The rain poured as they ran and it had merely slowed when they reached the cover of the trees.

"I guess it was pointless to wait for this to dry, huh?" Scion asked, panting as they stopped in the shelter of the trees.

"Kind of," Din laughed.

They continued to walk; having no time to rest. They needed to put as much distance between themselves and the castle as possible.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" the blond asked with some confusion.

"You said that she spent months… looking for that man right?" she asked him, "She'd do the same for you, don't you think?"

'Or to just get the chance to kill me…' Scion thought with a scowl.

"I suppose you're right," Din agreed as he followed her through the trees.

Scion only got so far before some small creature ran out in front of her… some small… monster?

"You… what is that?" she asked with furrowed brows.

It was jumping up and down… shouting some kind of incoherent nonsense. 'What in the world is this thing?'

"Why are you calling me 'you'?" he questioned with a small laugh, looking over her shoulder, "It's a Cheagle… looks like it's trying to tell you something."

"Why me?" she asked with a cocked brow, "I don't even like it."

"Funny," he chuckled, "They usually run away from people."

"Mieu mieu mieu mieu!" the Cheagle shouted; arms going up and down in urgency.

'It's a thing… What does it want?'

"You think it needs help?" Din asked with a cocked brow.

"You serious?"

"Yeah, come on Scion," he laughed, "Lead the way little guy."

She sighed as Din ran after the Cheagle thing. She had to follow him… couldn't let him go off on his own when she was leading the way. 'I can't leave him behind either… If he wasn't going then I wouldn't be going at all.'

"Where is it going?" she asked with a cocked brow.

"Probably back to its home," he told her, "Something's probably happened."

Scion scowled at the thought of having to help this small thing. 'It's so annoying…'

The light green Cheagle brought them to a large tree where there were many other Cheagles cornered by a large catlike creature.

"Ligarre…"

"You sure know a lot for never being out of the castle," Scion muttered as her lime green eyes landed on the ligarre.

"I've been out," he told her with a small smile, "Just not out of the area."

"Very reassuring."

Their conversation was stopped by a roar from the ligarre and the squealing of the small Cheagles. The light green one that had led them there jumped up and down and pointed to its friends.

"Let's go Scion," Din told her, "Time for a real battle lesson."

Those words lightened her mood a bit. Training was good.

She drew her sword and prepared for battle. Din ran up behind the ligarre and pulled its tail to get its attention.

"You're aware that's stupid, right?"

"No," he replied as the ligarre's head turned back to look at him.

Another loud growl and Scion had to cover one ear at the sharpness. 'Someone's angry.' She scowled when the large creature spun and knocked Din to the side.

"Yeah," he groaned, "That was stupid…"

"…Told you do…"

Scion gripped her sword before the ligarre lunged. Its fangs bared before she used her sword to block.

The force of the attack pushed her off her feet; having to use two hands on the hilt of her sword.

"I'm not the one that pulled your tail!" she growled, turning the blade sideways.

The sword cut where the lips met and blood came from the wound. There was a growl from the ligarre before a hiss of pain. Its mouth withdrew and it turned its head toward Din. His sword was driven into its right hind leg.

Scion was about to get to her feet to help when the ligarre placed its large paw on her chest. She couldn't breathe when it applied pressure and used its tail to swat and the straw-blond male. 'You're… so stupid…' Scion winced as she couldn't fill her lungs with air. Her sight was getting blurred as another growl filled the air. It was followed by a hiss before the ligarre took its paw from her chest.

She was confused… What did Din do? Wincing, she propped herself up with one arm to see what had happened. The ligarre was gone… but there was a puddle of blood where it had been. Din's sword was held tightly in his hands before he turned toward her. A smile formed on his face as he made his way over.

"What… happened?" Scion choked, coughing at being able to breathe.

"I think I got its ribs," Din laughed with a shrug, reaching down his hand.

He helped her to her feet and she scowled openly.

"What's wrong?"

"Those things are so annoying," Scion muttered, turning and coldly glaring at the cheering Cheagles.

"Oh," Din laughed, shaking his head.

The light green Cheagle that had led them there tugged on Scion's pant leg. Her right eye twitched when she looked down. 'What is it doing?' It was jumping up and down as if with a smile on its face.

"I think it wants to thank you," the blond laughed with a small smile on his face.

"For almost getting crushed?" she asked sarcastically, "And what are you laughing at?"

"You," he laughed, shaking his head more.

Scion's lime green eyes glared at Din as the Cheagle jumped onto her shoulder. In front of her face was an apple – a thank you – from the small creature.

"Thanks," the girl murmured, taking the fruit, "I took the gift, can we go now?"

"Lead the way oh fearless leader," Din gestured with a chuckle.

Scion took the small creature off her shoulder and dropped it to the ground.

"Mieu," it mumbled when it hit the ground.

"We don't have time to fool around," she stated, "Her soldiers will be all over this place soon."

"I forgot about her," he admitted, rubbing the back of his head.

She sighed. 'Of course he would forget…' She scowled again at the thought before turning and walking away.

Din followed after her. They left the Cheagles behind and walked steadily through the slow rain.

"Hey you," Scion asked; brows furrowed.

"I have a name," he sighed, "What would you like?"

"Why is it following us?" she asked.

"I honestly couldn't tell you," he replied, looking back to see the green monster following them.

Din couldn't understand why Scion didn't like the Cheagles. They were cute and friendly. They weren't understandable, but not that annoying. 'Who knows. Maybe she just doesn't like cute things.'

They went to sleep that night with a small fire in the forest. There had been no sight of soldiers yet. So they had been safe for the time being.

Din groaned when he felt someone's foot nudge his side. It was dark behind his eyelids but that was disturbed when another foot nudged him again.

"What is it?" he groaned, half opening his eyes.

At first he didn't see much; just a blurry figure of silver and white.

"Wake up," Scion demanded; agitation clearly in her tone.

'What's wrong?' He wondered, sitting up in confusion.

Green was pushed into his face and he was surprised at the soft fur.

"Scion?" he questioned with a cocked brow.

"It crawled in beside me while I was sleeping," she stated, dropping the light green Cheagle into his lap, "It's your turn to sleep with it."

End of Chapter 4

Thank you for reading. :3 Hope you enjoyed it. Please R&R!

halfdemon-kai