Wandering Pilot

by Mercaba

Waking up in an open field a weary pilot finds a trio of shapes moving in the distance, following them a whole new and adventure awaits them all

10. Chapter 10

Standard Disclaimer

Well back around to this story, and I'd like to remind you that I did say this story was going to have darker elements. So some of you might not like this chapter as it will be a bit…dark. Just letting you know before hand, and this isn't to say every chapter from here on will be dark, just this one in particular is going to be a bit disturbing. On a side note I'm digging Accel World

X-X

Wandering Pilot

Chapter – 10

With the sun setting on the second day of tracking, Leina felt her pensiveness rising to new heights. It wasn't just Shinji's abduction leaving her with an upset stomach and fingers that kept twitching, Risty being so close was the other part of it. Her mighty red-headed idol was their tracker, and that just endeared her to Leina all the more. Risty was helping her to find her captured husband-to be. The accusing eyes of Tomoe and Shizuka didn't help much either.

Hearing the crunch of branch underfoot, Leina readied her blade and eyed the tree line, somebody was coming. "Risty, is that you?" she called out with a bit of bite to her tone. They had just come across a small glade of trees, hardly qualifying as a forest amid the mountainous decline towards the capitol, but Risty had set out into it an hour ago. Holding her foot on Shinji's staff, it had moved only a few times that day, "Identify yourself or defend yourself!"

Pushing a small vine out of her face, Risty held up a dead rabbit and squirrel. "You attack me and no supper for you," her smile was broad and toothy. Tossing the broken necked creatures by Shizuka, Risty rotated her shoulder. "This little glade is not where that man of yours is. But at least we have some food for tonight. Tracks shifted back to whatever is dragging him, so we'll have to wait till morning for better lighting to continue," she hunkered down and pulled out a dagger.

Skinning the rabbit, Shizuka spat between her legs. "Hate not being able to keep going, but those dragging marks are to feint to see at this time of day," she cut off the head and tossed it into the woods. Keeping the blood from falling on her, she showed deft skills in defurring the small animal. "Been thinking about those tracks too. We know the footprints are Puppy-kun, but what could be making those others? Looks like a heavy solid mass, a wooden slay or something," she made every point not to look at Leina.

They blamed her for Shinji's abduction, not totally but at least the bulk of it. Leina didn't need to be reminded of Shinji's nature. She had explained what she had found at Cattleya's. The signs of a fight, little blood, and the hoof prints leading away. At first they thought it was all Shinji's fault for being stupidly caught off guard. Then Leina let slip that she had seen the church women the day before. Added to the guilt was everybody but Risty knew Shinji was to kind to hurt anybody. His life hadn't been on the line, and the women were only doing their duty…he couldn't kill them. Then they asked 'where were you when this happened, Leina?' Watching a fight with building battle lust.

Spying with a weak stomach as Risty carved out the rabbit's organs, Leina also regretted her inability to talk to Risty as much as she wanted. "S-so how have you been, R-Risty? I haven't seen you since our encounter back by the keep," oh how she wanted praise from the woman. Risty was to give her a reason to keep fighting, a goal to reach, or maybe just praise. "A-and are you sure we can't just keep following the staff's pull? It always leads to him anyway," she hated not knowing how Shinji was.

Picking the staff up, Tomoe gave Leina's shoulder a gentle touch. "If the spirit would respond with greater frequency yes. But it seems Ikari-san is not being allowed to focus on it much. If you'd allow me, I'd like to try speaking to the soul within it," she cradled the staff against the body. Her fingers trailed the coiled purple shaft delicately and with a touch of solemn reproach. With a hint of regret in her eyes, "Tis your place to say since Ikari-san is not here. It is now your possession until we get it back to him."

Tossing some of the fur next to the fire, Risty shrugged before skewering some of the meat. "If it helps us find Leina's man, I say do it. What is the harm that can come from this?" Leaning back onto her palms, her armor pulled to the sides exposing more of her chocolate skin to the early evening air. Shaking her head a little, her hair dragging on the ground, "I question why we're going through so much for this though? Are we even sure he didn't just run away on his own? Men are known to do that. They fuck and run. You make it sound as if this Shinji is something better."

Stomping her foot, plumbs of dust wafted up to Risty's face, Leina's hand became a tight fist. "He isn't that type of guy! He was kidnapped by the church because…" Leina again turned to Tomoe and Shizuka. They opted to have a little meeting away from Risty after forming their little party. The foreign born thought it best to keep Shinji's healing powers a secret. Risty was a great woman, so Leina wondered why the secret was needed but Tomoe had been so adamant. "And it's towards the capitol anyway, no-no reason not to help him!" she so wanted to tell Risty the truth…and to test her mettle against the seasoned warrior.

Adding several more skewers of meat to the fire, Shizuka drank heavily from the arm sleeve. "As much as it's a shock to me, Puppy-kun truly is different than most men. Offered myself to him if he'd have me, turned me down, same goes for Tomoe," Shizuka pointed a stick at the kneeling miko. If Tomoe heard anything, the meditating woman made no sign of it, content to sit with Shinji's staff on her lap.

"I knew it!" Leina expounded as she sat with a sulk next to Risty. She felt damn annoyed with herself right now. Part of her was fucking giddy! Giddy to be so close to Risty again, even knowing that Shinji was being held somewhere. "It was when I fought my sister wasn't it. When you came back with that damn container on your waist!" Leina knew he provided the Holy Milk…she hadn't suspected they tried to seduce him. Laying on her back, the sun glaring red in her eyes, "My body is so anxious, I need to do something. R-Risty would you like to…have a practice match?"

Spinning the meat around to evenly cook it, Risty let out an amused murmur. "That a wise thing to do? What if whatever oozed off with your man comes back for you? It apparently can shoot acid and take down a good platoon of church women. Not an easy task, last thing I knew that could do…" both Risty and Leina shot up to standing and exchanged a fierce glance. "Melona! But she should have died!" both women chorused in unison.

Leina's whole body shook with growing fear and anger. The damn slime that she had bested back at the keep, blown up if memory served, was back? "C-could the Swamp Witch have brought her back? D-did she go after Shinji because she knew he was w-wish me?" her mouth was suddenly very dry. If Melona went after Shinji just to spite her…what was she doing to him? A random man or woman taking Shinji to milk his potent healing powers was one thing, but that malevolent and sadistic bitch? Well that was just about the worst thing Leina could think of.

Pacing around the fire, Risty grabbed at her chin. The fire cast odd shadows on her skin as the light reflected off the various tiny scars the woman had riddled over her body. "But if it was that slime bitch, why not just kill the man where she found him? It would hurt you just as much," Risty grabbed her mace again. Attaching her shield, the woman walked over to a tree and gave it a mighty smash.

Leaping out of the tree, her cover blown, Echidna gave the woman a short bow. "And here I thought I'd get to listen all night before somebody spotted me. And as for your comment, the trail does seem to indicate a slime. Likely she's making him walk while awake, and takes over after he passes out. Maximize her travel time," the elf said knowingly. Grabbing one of the skewers she took a bite, "Burning a little. Nowhere near as good my pet's, but he did have magic hands didn't he?"

Under normal conditions Leina would have felt the urge to charge and attack the newcomer, but today was not normal. Leina knew the woman was skilled, and if Melona was indeed at the center of the abduction, well they'd all march together for the kill. "Why are you here stealing our food again, we're busy with something important," she didn't want to hear Echidna talk about Shinji. Shinji was hers! But the damn elf woman claimed him to be a pet!

Holding up her hand, Risty silenced Leina with a smile and a head bob. The moment the small gesture ended, Risty's visage hardened into one of strictly business. "Leina has a point, not everyday a bounty hunter stalks me. You after my reward, because if you are I'll have to break you. I can't leave those kids to suffer for you to get a new snakeskin dildo," Risty gave her mace and shield several thwacks. "And why would you bother helping us track this man…he's just a cleric isn't he?" Risty eyed not Echidna but Shizuka carefully.

Throwing back her head and bellowing out huge gales of laughter, Echidna ate the rest of the meat. Thumbing at Shizuka, "Bet it was that one that told you that, isn't it." Once Risty nodded, and Shizuka got to her feet with her hands on her weapons, "That boy, my pet, is a healer. One that can do so with holy energy, can produce holy milk. Just think how long you could keep that shoddy little orphanage you help run open with just ONE selling off of him." Tossing her empty stick into the fire, the light glinted off her eyes maliciously as she licked her lips.

Seeing Risty lower her hands to her side, turning with shock and confusion marring her face, Leina took a tentative step closer. "W-we wanted to tell you, but were afraid you'd…" she didn't know really. Leina truly didn't know why they should have kept it a secret. Risty wasn't the type to try and capture Shinji for herself, Risty was to noble for that! It was Echidna that had nefarious plans for Shinji, and now the woman strove to break their party up.

Her wrists twisted and buckled under an unknown emotion, as Risty turned to Leina fully. "I'm to stupid to know what this holy power and healing shit is, but if he can produce that salve…I would only need a single jar to keep the orphanage open for a good twenty years! And you were…going to go and try…no wonder that slime wants him then! She's liking raping him into unconsciousness right now! Leina!" Risty bellowed and charged the naive woman.

Shock and fear were the only things Leina knew at that moment. Those eyes, Risty's eyes…they were exactly like Shinji's when he was in a dark mood or Claudette during a very dangerous fight. They were frightful eyes, uncaring, and dead to all emotion. Leina had only the briefest moment to bring up her shield before Risty slammed into it. "Risty! W-why are you so angry? And I'm sure S-Shinji is fine! She wouldn't have had enough time…she likely doesn't even know it! We've been keeping it a secret," Leina dove under a vicious horizontal blow.

As the others got out of the way, Shizuka rushing over to Echidna for some private conversation, Risty stalked her pray. The tattoo on her right leg caught the light as her leather armlets slide up her mighty bicep. "This isn't a game Leina Vance! You need to wake up from your delusion!" Risty backhanded with her mace. Connecting in the center of Leina's shield, Risty hammered it again and again knocking the woman to the ground. "If what the snake bitch says is true, that man is a walking power factory and gold mine. And now he's in the clutches of the Swamp Witch! And what, you were just going to waltz in and save him? YOU?!" Risty kicked Leina's stomach hard rolling her over.

Spinning onto her back as the wind was literally beaten out of her, Leina was overcome with mind halting fear. This wasn't like the fights with the bandits, or even her spars with Tomoe and Alleyne. This was a battle to the death, and Risty was far her superior. She was going to die…for some reason Risty had snapped and was going to kill her!? "Stop Risty! Why are you saying this! We've…I've beaten Melona before, and I can do it again!" Leina pleaded as Risty smashed her shield against her legs.

Kicking Leina's shield away, leaving the woman defenseless and prone, Risty struck. Swinging down with a mighty scream, Risty's mace stopped a hairsbreadth away from Leina. "This fight is over, you're out of your league little girl. Go to the capitol. We'll find your man if he still lives, and bring him to you. Then I suggest you take him and hide. In all honesty I don't think we can trust you with such a commodity. Go Leina, you're not suited for this," Risty grabbed some of the food and headed into the woods alone.

Rushing to Leina's side, Shizuka had the flask of Holy Milk open and in hand. "Man, what a bitch. But she had a point Leina-kun," Shizuka smeared some of the salve on the more damaged looking wounds. "We're not going into spar with the slime, we're going in to kill her. If you're not ready to fight to the death, to face death, you're just a liability right now. We'll save Ikari-chan for you," she sealed the container and put it back at her side. "I don't agree with all she said, Leina-kun, you've skills alright. Just to green. Tomoe was like that until the shrine was attacked," Shizuka held a hand out to help Leina up.

Leina didn't take it, her pride was not mended by the salve already easing the pain in her body. "Risty…Shinji…" she felt like crying, but wouldn't submit to the pain. She felt her legs wet with the contents of her bladder, let loose when she was sure Risty was going to end her. Her thoughts were of Shinji and her mother, of failing both of them. Sitting up, watching Shizuka shrug and walk back to Tomoe's side. "I can't…can't let it end like this. I'm…I have to keep going on," Leina grabbed at the grass at her side.

Kneeling before Leina, Echidna nodded slowly. "I can help you with that. Tomorrow if you're really willing to learn how to be a real warrior. You've skills like they say, and I can help with the will. But you'll have to pay," Echidna licked her lips in anticipation. "And its not what you're thinking, well not fully…not now. My pet needs us, and for now I can't stay to keep eye on him for long. I need you to keep him safe when I'm not around. She'd just…well Risty has a thing for small guys. Living with bandits makes you enjoy less brazen men. She acts tough when needed, but she's a real softy when…well lets just say she's not all rough and tumble."

Taking Echidna's hand, Leina pondered for a moment before reclaiming her sword and shield. "Teach me…teach me how to be like her," Leina pointed her blade at where Risty had left. Those eyes, those motions…Risty was a killer, died in the wool killer and Leina needed to harness that energy. Shinji was depending on her, and she would not fail him. She'd be the killer if needed to protect him, she just hoped it never actually had to happen.

"In the morning, get your sleep. I won't go easy on you, and we have little time to train you. But I'll also put her in her place as well," Echidna pet Kelta who slithered a little.

X-X

A sharp smack to the side of his head brought Shinji back to wakefulness. The dream that Leina had found and saved him flittered in his memory for but a scant moment before it was gone. A chain about his ankle and the cold rocky floor served as a reminder of where and what he was. He couldn't be sure of how many days he'd been with this…woman Melona, but he had slept four times since the run in on the street. In reality it was the same day that Leina was to be given a rude awakening by Risty, but Shinji only knew it as another day in hell.

"Wakey-wakey toy, you're generous owner has brought you food to eat. So scarf it down so we can continue my paint job soon," Melona tossed Shinji some rotten meat. Keeping him starved and only feeding him things to hurt or sicken him had been her aim. Forming a blade from her arm, she pierced Shinji's side all the way though to the ground. "Finally a toy that I don't have to fear breaking, and provides such delicious food to boot," she 'licked' her lips as she pulled her hand out and dribbled his blood into her mouth.

Unable to keep his powers from healing the wound, Shinji hated this woman. He had never known true hate like this before, the feelings for his father was practically warm in comparison. Without a word, he picked up the rotten meat, a rabbit he thought, and started feeding. She'd only beat him more if he didn't, so take the lesser of two evils. Watching as the amorphous woman took her standard form, an attractive well endowed pink hued woman with bunny ears and 'hair' that formed hands that cupped what would have been breasts.

Shinji knew better now though, that this woman wasn't anything but a monster. Oh, but he also knew not to call her that. The trip to Melona's current torture grounds had been arduous and full of small enlightenments. On the morning of their second day of travel, the fell upon a hunter. The man called Melona a monster to her face, he was dead the next instant with his head cut off.

They had traveled non stop since his capture. Melona forced him to walk while she rested, and when his body collapsed in exhaustion she cradled him in her body and slid like a slug across the ground. At first he wasn't to afraid of the woman, well not overly afraid. Knowing she killed the church patrol left him leery, but her disposition wasn't anything to menacing. Menace teased and joked about like a spoiled child mostly. She would poke and prod him, pull at his body in alluring ways mocking him for getting an erection.

Not wanting to make his healing powers known, Shinji stove to keep all those injuries on his body. It took willpower, intense willpower to keep from responding. Oh how he thanked Alleyne for making him learn control, how he missed his wife…if she were here…

Things changed once they got to the river and their temporary home. That had been the night before, the night she carved into his skin with expert precision to make the most painful blow possible. She had said it was to mark him, so that if Leina ever got him back she'd never know the joy of 'her man' again. Well…Shinji's body responded by healing that little castration instantly. Melona shivered with joy and quivered as she continued to stab and cut him. Blood flowed constantly onto the ground, making it hard to stand from all the lubrication, but every wound healed instantly. He was beyond what willpower could control, the onslaught lasted for several hour.

That much use of his powers left his manhood standing painfully up. Oh how Melona laughed at that, calling him a masochist. But then they oddly playful side of the slime-woman kicked in and she enveloped that part of him with her body. Tugging and pulling, swirling about sensuously until Shinji couldn't hold back any longer. He stained her slime white, and it stayed white wherever it touched. He had feared she'd kill him for sullying her, but when she worked him off again, painfully and furiously he realized his mistake. The stain was an improvement, the Holy Milk improving and strengthening her, and she wanted more.

The jig was up, his abilities were made known to her after a little testing. Once he fired off a non enhanced load, she struck him angrily thinking he was playing with her. After two hours of that, her cutting and hurting him, then ravage his body until he stopped producing the milk, only to start again. Well Melona wasn't stupid, she realized all she needed to know. By that time half her body had lost the pinkness and was pure white. Thankfully he had passed out not long after, only to awake still confined.

"To think that bitch had something like you and let you get away," Melona tickled Shinji under his chin with pointed fingers. Drawing blood, she licked them clean, before enveloping his nude lower half. Pulsating against him, "Oh you're so warm too. My toy is a dirty and vile little thing isn't it. Getting all anxious from a little pain. You only have to submit, willingly become my toy and stop resisting. Serve me and maybe we can go without the pain."

Thinking of cold streams, an upset Leina, and forcing his body not to respond to the ministrations, Shinji bit into the rancid meat painfully. "No…Leina-san will come for me. She'll free me from you," he clenched his eyes shut. But it was a loosing battle, he felt his body about ready to go…and he did deep inside the amorphous body of Melona. Panting heavily, shame biting at his very core, he swore not to cry. It would only fuel the sadist he was held by. "Let me go…please let me go," he whimpered as he felt her pull away from him.

Reforming her legs, a patch of thigh now was pure white, Melona cocked her head back and laughed. "She'll die if she tries, toy. Only by trickery did she beat me last time. But eventually Mistress Werbellia will take you from me. And she will, in time, as even now I'm no match for her. So I have to make as much use of you as possible," Melona rubbed her new flesh and giggled. Her flower petal eyes twirled about in their sockets in utter delight.

Werbellia…that name, Shinji knew it from somewhere. In his dreams, it was the name of the voice calling out to him, hunting him constantly. Free of Melona's grasp, Shinji backed against the wall, his blood coated his body as he slide along the ground. He could see his clothing scattered on the far end of the cave, far out of reach of his shackled tether. This wasn't sex was supposed to be, it was supposed to be something beautiful, something pure, and something voluntary. Naked, hurt, and covered in his own viscera never factored into his early illusions of lovemaking.

Sounds of feet descending the stairs to Melona's chambers, caught both occupants attention. Shinji looked with hope, praying it was Leina come to free him, while Melona scowled. The slime molded against the wall, forming the shape and color of the rocks to blend in seamlessly. Sliding about briefly to make any attempts of Shinji to warn the intruder moot as she could be anywhere. Once the voice called out though, Shinji's body sagged into a broken pile on the ground, it wasn't Leina. "Menace-sama…why are you here?" Shinji croaked out just barely containing his sob.

Practically skipping down the last of the steps, the Amara princess landed on one foot while the other was gracefully crooked behind her. "Slave, is that you my cherished slave? Why are you in our meeting place?" Menace skipped over to Shinji, but out of his range. Bending at the knee, she wrapped her arm linen around Setora before the cat could speak. Her other bandage wrapped around Shinji's wrist and brought him closer. Inspecting him thoroughly, her eyes stalled on his still hard member. "My-my slave, are you that excited to see your master?" she teased as her hand went to sample the goods.

"Menace-sama look out!" Shinji cried out as he saw Melona dropping from the ceiling behind the undead. Only able to move so much as Menace still had his hand wrapped, Shinji didn't know what he could do. "D-don't hurt her please! S-she doesn't know what's going on," Shinji tried to defend the woman he had only met once. In knowing Menace, Shinji realized that the woman was spoiled but not fully evil. When Menace swore to protect Leina's innocence from Setora, Shinji formed the opinion that the beauty wasn't all bad.

Wrapping her hand around Menace's, Melona just smiled wickedly at Shinji. Pulling the princess away from her toy, "Oh Menace, what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? Don't touch my toy, by the way. He's mine until Mistress Werbellia takes him from me." In a mock dance, the half white half pink slime spun Menace away from Shinji. Standing before him protectively, Melona readied her nipples letting them dribble acid on the ground. "Make it quick, as you saw, we're about to have some more fun soon," her hair hands gave her breasts a playful squeeze.

Blinking fast, a finger going to her lips in a thinking pose, Menace tilted her head. "Well I came here to tell you to get ready. Two sizable forces of the Vance family are advancing on the capitol, and the Swamp Witch wants us to prevent their access. Airi and I are readying an army of the undead, but you will be needed as well," she circled around Melona a little.

Shinji watched as the body of the slime stayed stationary, but the head spun around freely. "L-Leina-san's sisters? W-why don't you want them…" Shinji didn't get a chance to finish. A tendril of Melona's an inch thick pierced his lung and ruptured out of his back. Pain swelled in him so hard he nearly broke teeth in how hard he clamped down. Then he felt her make barbs on it as she pulled it out, tearing more flesh and skin as she did. Falling to a heap on the ground, hand covering the wound, he could already feel it healing.

"Toy's don't talk unless asked a question," Melona giggled with a sweet smile on her face. Forgetting for a moment that Menace was there, Melona knelt before Shinji and spun him onto his back. "See how I had to hurt you, but if you don't learn your place I have no choice," she leaned over his body and rubbed her breasts against him. The acid seared in tiny droplets to counter the intimate touch. Pinching his cheek hard, "Now be silent while we finish our business."

Setora in hand, Menace trembled slightly. "What are you doing to my slave? I told you he was mine at the hot spring! You'll kill him if you keep abusing him like that, and I will not let my followers be hurt before my eyes," blue flame radiated out of her dropping the temperature of the room by several degrees. A large ball of flame forming in her hand, Menace held it out ready to strike, "Once we have killed the Vance armies as ordered, I will TAKE what is mine. Know that I am serious." She tossed her ball of flame at Melona's side.

Watching as his captor's pick flesh nearly dissolved in a flash of heat and pressure, Shinji wanted to plead to her to take him now. If only he had the strength to speak, but the damage to his lung was to fresh, and air to hard to take in. At that moment, Shinji wished for nothing more than to have Menace press her advantage. Oh he'd serve Menace until they met up with Leina again if it meant freedom from this pit. Nearly anything was worth doing to escape the endless pain, humiliation, and degradation.

Reforming her flesh as the flame abated, Melona waved her hands quickly before her. "He's yours! He's yours after the battle! I'll be there, it's several days away from now right?" an unexpected fear wafted out of the confident slime creature. "But you'll have to tell the Swamp Witch yourself why you're keeping a potential sure victory away from her. With his powers aiding us, once we break him, we'd be invincible!" Melona slide over Shinji's body, using him as a hostage.

Heading to the door, Menace nodded at the duo. "Three days travel time for them to arrive at the bridge. Be ready to strike them down, and be ready to give me my slave back. If I didn't need to tend to the army I'd take him now. And I will be asking what you did to him, so know that I'll know," that possessive fury of a spoiled girl bordered on ferocity. And just like that, Menace ascended the stairs and was out of sight.

His hand reached out feebly for her as he regained his strength, but Shinji felt Melona enveloping that as well. Drawing his arm back to his body, she formed her legs over him to keep him pinned. "Not so strong are you, she nearly killed you. Could have if she wanted," Shinji just had to say it knowing it would bring him pain. To knock this bitch down a peg, it was worth the inevitable pain she'd give him. Not like she wasn't going to anyway, and at least he stayed defiant.

What pain she had planned wouldn't come until later, right now Melona wanted her own pleasure. Forming the likeness of a standard female flower, she let Shinji's hardness penetrate it. "Oh you still have the strength to resist. I do love it when they fight back, but I love it when they submit too. Does your bitch like riding you like this…does she like having you in her…I do," she extended her tongue to lick Shinji's face.

Feeling her body thrusting against him, her channel conforming to his exact size, Shinji hated how good it felt. It wasn't emotionally good in anyway, but physically his body responded against his wishes. Cursing his weakness, Shinji closed his eyes as she ravished him again and again. She called Leina horrible things, taunted him for 'enjoying' it, and more than once herself she exploded against him in her own orgasmic release. And after a few goes, she cut deep into him, pain beyond measure mixed with shameful sex…

In the wee hours of the night, the slime slept contently after finishing her nights torment. Shinji curled up into a ball, hiding his face from the small fire that illuminated the cave, and prayed that somebody…anybody would help him. And as he slept, he dreamt his mother was there watching and weeping…and that made him cry. He had failed his mother…he was dirty and sullied. No longer worthy of being with Leina. Not if he couldn't resist the temptation, not if he felt any joy. He failed everybody.

X-X

Walking up with a start, Tomoe was quick to wipe away the tears from her eyes. They had been shed unconsciously as her spirit traveled across the plains towards the capital. Hours spent trying to commune with the spirit of the staff had paid off, only the reward was bitter and horrible. But at least she knew things now, she knew two important facts and one additional one she wished to never know. Where the beast had taken the young Ikari was well burned into her mind, a cave off of the river surrounding the capital several miles away from the bridge. Yui Ikari was the soul within the staff and confirmed much of Shinji's past, much to Tomoe's dismay.

Yui had let Tomoe know that Shinji had been selling his story lightly, not telling much of the bitter and sorrowful aspects of his life before meeting Leina. The soul followed Shinji in the previous world by sharing memories thanks to the beast he was forced to pilot, in this world she watched from his side. Tales that Shinji kept to himself, pains he had kept private, and through it all Yui had a sad but proud smile on her face. When Tomoe asked if Yui could find her son, the woman complied willingly. Tomoe was marveled by the compassionate soul of Yui, and angry that she thought poorly of Shinji after all she learned from the stories of Yui.

Then the tracked in on Shinji's bracelet, one of Yui's attempts at always being able to protect her son. Tomoe saw the mother burst into tears, rare for a pure spirit to do, but after seeing what Melona had done to Shinji, well even Tomoe felt revolted. What they had witnessed, the suffering and abuse the vile slime woman heaped upon the man with such joy. Tomoe knew hatred so profound it filled her mind with black thoughts, never had she wanted to slay a woman so deeply. But did she tell Leina what she had seen? What of Shizuka who she thought had a passing fancy for him? The only thing she knew for sure was she was going to keep the promise she made to Yui. Never would she tell Shinji of the soul within the staff. That was for Yui to decide when it was time.

Getting off the ground, fixing her robes as she did, Tomoe dabbed her eyes again just to insure she didn't still have any moisture. None was found, but it was hard to keep her eyes from going damp just thinking about the scene before Shinji fainted. Making her decision, "Shizuka, where is Leina-san?" Using the staff as a walking aid, the miko worked the kink out of her leg, "And her…friend Risty." The warrior thief was an unknown to Tomoe. At first Tomoe thought the woman a mixture of noble yet unbidden emotions, but after the battle with Leina there were doubts.

With her back to the rising sun, Shizuka was more sullen than she normally was. Poking at the smoldering remains of the last nights fire, the ninja was sulking openly. "Oh Leina went off with the elf early in the morning. I trailed them to a shack not a mile away. As for Risty, she went out hunting for breakfast. She should be back soon," Shizuka popped her back and fixed her own exposed chest from the effort. Unsheathing her blade, the woman started making small crude drawings in the dirt, "I hate sitting here. But with that staff not moving and Risty our only tracker…think Puppy-kun is safe?"

"Oh how I wish I didn't know the answer to that," Tomoe had to let them know. It would be a travesty for them to lose their composure in the heat of battle having come across it unprepared. After a healthy drink from their water, Tomoe informed Shizuka of what she had seen the night before. The blood, the shame, and the abuses were all told as openly as Tomoe's tongue would allow. As her details came to an end, Tomoe had to take another drink to wash the filth out of her mouth. "But at least we know he still lives, and how to find them. It wouldn't take more than another…day or so to get to them," but she knew what that meant.

Stabbing her short sword into the ground with increasing strength and fury, Shizuka's face was marred with rage and ferocity. "Damn it! DAMN IT! Even if we rushed we'd be to tired to fight! We have to leave him at her mercy for another…how could Leina have let this happen?" Shizuka vaulted to her feet and stomped about kicking the dirt. Wresting the staff from Tomoe's hands, the woman glared at the purple effigy, "Why didn't he use this to just kill those damn women?! Why did he have to be compassionate? If only…if only he was crueler or more selfish!"

Crawling out from the woods, a deer slung over her shoulder, Risty flung the fallen beast next to the fire. "Then he wouldn't be in the situation he is in, in more than one way," Risty said solemnly. Pulling out one of her daggers, she started work on breakfast. "From what I know of this man, he's soft when it comes to others. The type to look for diplomacy before war, a rare type. A needed type. It's really a shame that this happened to him, hope it doesn't change him," she tore into the beast. Rubbing at her eye, smearing blood as she did, the noble bandit showed herself far more compassionate than previously thought.

Taking the staff gingerly from Shizuka's hands, Tomoe intended to keep her friend from hurting herself. "He has faced hardship before, more so than he let on. This will hurt him, but he is stronger than we know. His…the spirit of this staff showed me much in my meditation. He'll recover just fine," confidence radiated from the miko. Yes, Yui showed years of loneliness and abuse that the woman gleamed from the 'synchronization process' that hadn't broken the man, this wouldn't do it either. Gathering dry sticks and reeds for the fire, Tomoe was quick to change the topic, "Aside from this unpleasantness, Risty-san…why were you so harsh on Leina-san?"

"Because she needs to learn the truth of this world. A kind nature in battle is just what got that poor lad captured," Risty confessed. Pulling the flesh from meat, Risty ground her teeth in frustration. "She's a fine warrior, truly she is, but she lacks the necessary mindset to progress! One moment of me going all out at her made her weak in the knees and broke her nerve. Had I wanted her dead or other…" she fell silent and continued her work on the meal.

Helping Tomoe start the fire, Shizuka cast a baleful glare at the woman for her audacity to speak the truth. Speaking hotly, "So we teach her how to overcome that fear! After what I heard, what you heard, can you honestly say she doesn't deserve to seek vengeance against this Melona? Hell I've only benefited from his generosity and spent only a few days with him, and I want to bathe in that things giblets!" On her hands and knees, Shizuka pulsated with unspent energy and untapped violence. "Yes she made a mistake in wanting to watch a battle over keeping an eye on him when she knew people were looking for him, we accept that. But…but if they were determined, truly determined they would have gotten him eventually," she tried defending.

"Not one person is to blame here. Not Ikari-kun, Leina-san, or any of the others that could have prevented this," Tomoe made to sooth the growing animosity. Blowing on the sparked fire, Tomoe coaxed it into a small blaze as Risty finished pulling the first of the meat from the bone. "We can continue to point blame, but in the end the only one truly to seek revenge on is this Melona. She could have, and likely would have, taken Ikari-kun in the night or openly attacked Leina-san had the church people not taken him first," never one to hold blame long, Tomoe wanted more a resolution over finding culpability.

Starting her limited attempt at cooking, Risty could only nod gravely. "I agree, the slime is a devious foe, and if she wanted this man she'd have gotten him somehow. So no more thoughts of blame. But that doesn't change the matter of Leina's weaknesses," Risty's foot kicked anxiously at the dirt. "Do either of you want her watching your back if somebody like Echidna or this slime is coming at us? I have to much to lose in risking having her at my back," she didn't sound reproachful just honest. The woman was just speaking facts, not being harsh to be cruel just to open eyes.

"Then I shall have her defend me. I have faith in Leina-san, and maybe even now this Echidna is helping where we should be," Tomoe got to her feet. Smelling the burning meat, never had she wished the young Ikari was there more than now. Hunger was apparent in her, it gnawed at her innards, but the promise of gamy and charcoaled meat would not sate her needs. Heading towards the road, "You said they went to a shack not far from here? I'll go check on them while you two eat and make ready to leave. Risty-kun, I'm sure if you help save Ikari-kun he will impart you with some Holy Milk for your troubles. He is never one to take without offering first." This woman needed a reason, money it seemed, to act.

Laughing without any real humor, Shizuka shrugged, "Yeah just follow the tree line a ways and you'll find it. I'd draw you a map but…" Shizuka didn't need to remind either Risty or Tomoe of the miko's inability to follow even the smallest of maps.

Sampling her wares, Risty grimaced at the apparent bitter taste, "I need to learn to cook better. And don't get me wrong here, I'm all for saving this guy. Nobody deserves to be abandoned or kidnapped. I'd have helped for free, but when Leina said what he could create I just lost it a little. I've been fighting for so long to get funds for war orphans. And here Leina had a walking fortune she just left alone without a guard? I'd have him on a leash to insure nobody got ahold of him. But then again grown men don't like leashes," she snickered a little.

Heading to the path, Shizuka's earlier footprints clearly visible, Tomoe remembered something about Shinji they forgot to tell the other woman. "Risty-kun, Ikari-kun is only fourteen, hardly the most worldly and only been in our world for several months. Tell her about him, Shizuka," Tomoe left the rest to her friend. If anybody could sell Shinji it was Shizuka, that mouth of hers was far more capable than Tomoe's. Walking along the path, Tomoe was perplexed by the thief though. War orphans, Tomoe had no idea that Risty was aiming for money for that purpose. Maybe more was to that woman that first thought. Tough, angry, yet jovial while in combat, but also aiming to aid children, quite the diametric emotions.

"She is right about Leina-san to a point to. Up until now she's never faced a warrior of our caliber in a serious fight," Tomoe rubbed her chin anxiously. Nothing that a little experience wouldn't temper, she had only just overcome the fact herself back when she left the temple. Leina deserved to be part of the rescue effort, it was her man suffering. Shizuka was taking the news far worse than expected to. Perhaps it wasn't just a little lust or greed fueling her companions frequent finger dances. "I will not rest until he is saved and that foul creature punished," Tomoe fought to keep her composure. Her thoughts about Shinji were confused, interested yes but she didn't want to step on Leina's toes on this. The Vance woman didn't seem the type to want to share. But after her talking with Yui, well…Tomoe's heart shifted towards him. She wanted to coddle, to hold, to sooth, maybe even to love him.

Finding the shack exactly as Shizuka stated, Tomoe approached the door. Confused by some of the odd sounds, moans and squeaks, coming from inside, she put her hand to her hilt and tiptoed closer. She had heard expressions like that before, from Shizuka when the woman thought she was asleep. Was Leina and Echidna playing at some intimacy while Shinji was being abused? Peeking around the corner, her eyes boggled at the sight. "Leina-san! H-how could you?!" she covered her mouth with her hand in shock.

Reaching out towards the door weakly, Leina cried out, "Don't-don't look!" The proud warrior woman was exposed from the waist up as well was Echidna. The two women were in an intimate embrace on the ground atop a blanket. Both were covered in some fluid, it shimmered and glistened in the early morning light. Meekly crying out, her face flush, "It's n-not what it…oooh."

Rubbing herself sensuously against Leina, Echidna playfully bit the woman's ear. "It's as she said, though you're open to join us. I'm just exacting my payment for training this little treasure in how to fight without fear. The sap I'm covering us in…well you'll see," her hands trailed down between Leina's legs and rubbed. "Nice and firm, he must love that, I know I do," she slipped two fingers into Leina's open mouth.

Backtracking from the door, Tomoe could only watch voicelessly at the show before her. It shamed her, but the act was making her moist and a little envious. Not knowing much of the pleasures of the flesh, Tomoe had to fight the urge to let her mind wander. It only took the flash of memory from her spirit quest to quell her budding lust. For a full ten minutes she listened to the mews, pants, and occasional scream as the two women covered each other in the see-through orange colored sap. Afterword, the red faced and panting Leina was helped to her feet by the giddy Echidna who helped herself to a firm sampling of Leina's behind.

"There, all ready for the training, your bill paid," Echidna drew hew weapons and pointed at Leina's. Waiting for her opponent to get ready, the woman struck out with savage glee the moment they she was ready. Vicious and cruel, Echidna dashed around to Leina's back and slashed a killing blow to Leina's back sending the Wandering Warrior to her knees. "See, no pain, not even any damage. I can go all out on you, and you'll be fine. Now," she licked her blade tellingly, "let's continue."

Drawing her own blade, Tomoe performed her daily exercises as the two battled. "I see the point now, this will help Leina overcome her fears. But do we have time?" and how would Leina react after the news was told. Training as hard as she could, sweat dribbling down her body making her Gi cling to her body, Tomoe watched as Leina slowly overcame her hardship. As the sun crested into early afternoon, the two women stopped, Leina having finally scored a single hit, but no longer flinching or fearful. The women put their clothing back on after cleaning off the sap. "Leina-san, I have something to tell you," Tomoe went into the second recounting of her findings.

What amazed Tomoe first and foremost was how Echidna ran off with such haste that it was frightening. Whatever the elf wanted, Tomoe wouldn't dear ask, but Leina…Leina just stood there shell-shocked. Her long blond braids swayed as the woman's head twisted back and forth in dull surprise. "I know you don't want to hear this Leina-san, that it hurts to know. But we can go now…get Risty and Shizuka and rush to his aid now," she tentatively approached Leina.

Holding her hand out to keep Tomoe from getting to close, Leina staggered but didn't fall down. "I'll kill her…kill her again and again until she stays dead! She…she can't do that to him! It's not fair! NOT FAIR!" Leina didn't head back to camp. She turned and started sprinting towards the capital and the waiting battle. Tomoe could only watch as her friend ran off, Shizuka and Risty emerged from the trees having watched most of the training in secret.

X-X

He didn't know if it was the waiting or the silence that left him more unnerved, but something was eating at his mind. Shinji sat with his legs drawn up to his chest, arms wrapped around them, and continued to stare at the room's entrance. Melona was gone again, a brief respite from the routine she had set up. So left to his inner doubt and turmoil, Shinji kept his sanity with the belief that in time Leina would come. It gave him something to keep from sinking into despair. She'd forgive him, she'd make it all better, she wouldn't think less of him for what this bitch did to him.

"I'm not bad for this, she is," Shinji clenched his toes as a firm scowl wrinkled his brow. As Melona continue to ridicule and mock him for each expulsion, a tiny fire started to build in his heart. It wasn't his fault what she was doing, he was the victim. In time he'd be free, and when he was she would pay for her crimes. His stomach rumbled reminding him that he had only eaten a little rotten meat the day before, "Wonder what she'll try and make me eat today."

With a wave and a flapping of her bunny ears, Melona tossed a hunk of fresh and bleeding meat at Shinji from the door. "Is my toy getting hungry? Your loving owner is gracing you with a little present for my new color and powers," the fully white Melona groped her breasts teasingly. Sauntering over to her captive, she tickled under his chin, "Eat up as we have a long day of fucking ahead of us. I need to be capable of killing your would be saviors if they even want you back."

Something about the meat worried Shinji, Melona never did anything without a purpose. Was she being genuine and wanting him healthier, no he couldn't accept that. Sniffing the palm sized hunk of meat, he couldn't place what type of animal it came from. "You'll lose when she comes. Leina-san won't lose to somebody that has to cheat for power," he set the hunk of meat back down. He wouldn't trust her, he couldn't.

Backhanding Shinji with all her might, Melona plowed the boy to the ground in a slump. "Did I say you could speak?" she roughly grabbed him by the neck and hoisted him up. Picking up the discarded meat she rubbed it against his lips, "Now eat what your provider has brought for you! It'll make you big and strong. Fresh breast meat is supposed to be good for virility, and I'm getting addicted to this. Maybe I'll just have to kill Menace when she shows up and keep you for myself. In time I'll even be able to kill Werbellia."

Ok, something had to be up with that meat or she wouldn't be so insistent he eat it. So Shinji locked his jaw with all his might as she bloodied his lips pressing it against them. 'I have to stay strong for Leina-san! She wouldn't give into this. No, she'd fight unto the last! Can't get depressed, can't be like the other day…be strong,' he pleaded with himself. Keeping his eyes shut as Melona dropped the hunk of meat and slammed her palm into his throat.

Giggling madly as Shinji started coughing and hacking from his nearly crushed windpipe, Melona grabbed his face. Sliding her fingers into his mouth, she mutated them into segments to force his mouth to stay open. "What? Don't want to eat the peasant girl I killed? And hear I heard mean love women's breasts," she shoved a small morsel into his mouth and clamped his mouth shut. "Now swallow and I'll let you breath again," she plugged his nose and mouth tightly.

Eyes opening wide, Shinji rebelled against both the thought of being a cannibal and the suffocation. Shaking his head violently against the slime mold enveloping his face, he balefully stared at the insipidly happy Melona. Grunting out sounds of negation, he'd rather die than submit to this one thing, this permanent pollution. He let her know with his eyes and features, that this wouldn't end with her victory. Thankfully, as his vision started to fade to black, he felt her relent and release him. Spitting out the hunk of meat, Shinji vomited just to get what little juice went down, "I won't…be broken."

Her knees bent, she smiled as she ruffled his hair, "They all say that at first. But as the days turn into weeks you'll change your tune." Lowering her hand from his head she caressed his cheek, tittering more as he tried to shy away from her, she let her hand move down his chest to his member. "Is this ready for today's injections? I think I might have a little pink left on me, and you need to fix that," she spun around and showed him her pert and perfectly molded rear that did have a spec of pink on it.

A small sound, barely noticeably drew Shinji's attention to the doorway and away from Melona's faux dark cherry. His breath caught in his throat, stammering and sputtering he covered his shock by looking at the ground and Melona's feet. It was Leina! She was coming up behind the bitch. He-he just had to keep her attention long enough for Leina to strike! "W-why do you hate Leina-san so much? So she beat you in a fair fight, you didn't die…is one lose that big of a deal?" please pay attention to the question and not the woman coming behind you!

Standing back up straight, Melona examined the ceiling as she thought of a suitable answer. Tapping her foot on the ground, her jelly thighs wiggled with each tap, toned and beautiful on anybody but her. "I hate losing, and it made me look bad before Werbellia. Can't have that now can I?" she got back down on Shinji's level. Wiggling her toes she rubbed the sole of her foot against Shinji's prostrated member. Then her head was on the ground, mouth opening and closing like a fishes, as her body fell to the side and dissolved into the rocks.

Her sword still held post strike, Leina panted in deep burst. "How could you let this thing capture you, idiot!" she yelled as she dropped her sword with a clang. Crawling over to Shinji, Leina tugged on the manacle encasing his leg. After several hard and painful tugs on his leg, "Of course you have to be chained up. If I didn't need you for your powers I'd have just left you here."

Wait, what? This wasn't right, Leina wouldn't…no she couldn't have been lying to him! "Leina-san what are you talking about, you…we…you said you love me!" he couldn't look away from her as he tugged on the cuff. Considering cutting off his leg and healing it back into place, he was mollified at the change in his companion. "You came for me, you saved me from her," he'd think it was a trick of Melona's had he not seen her die before his eyes.

Rolling her eyes, Leina let out a series of barking laughs. "Love you? Of course I'd say that to keep you tagging along! You provide a service, nothing more! But if you keep being a nuisance I'll just leave you behind. Maybe she had the right idea in keeping you chained up. Not like I WANT you with me. Just your dick and the sap you ooze out of it. The rest of you is repugnant," she spat on him before grabbing his hair painfully. "This is your last warning, bastard, get into trouble again and I'll just leave you behind," she thrust him away.

No, this was all wrong, this went so far against what he believed Leina to be he just couldn't accept it. "You're…you're not Leina-san! I can't believe that! She…I believe in her!" Shinji got to his feet and swiped a hand at Leina. "We went through to much for anything you've said to be true! Who-who are you?" he challenged. A trick of Melona's, it had to be, somehow she faked everything? But how?

Movement out of the corner of his eye saw it, the white slime fragments building back together into a form quicker than he thought possible. "Leina-san look out, she's not dead!" even if it wasn't really Leina he didn't want any needless death. And whoever this was, she was going to free him, and that counted for something until he could find HIS Leina.

"Men just let their pricks think for them. Tell them you love them and they'll follow you anywhere," Leina teased and wiggled her chest at him. "To think I let you touch these, from now on you'll…you'll…" Leina looked down at the blade piercing her chest. Grabbing a hold of the implement, she coughed up a trickle of blood, before turning back to Shinji. "This is…your fault," she slumped forward at Shinji's feet.

He didn't buy it, Leina wouldn't die this easy! "I'm not falling for it! This is all a fabrication, you're behind it all aren't you!" Shinji shouted at the laughing Melona. Stepping over the body of Leina, it looked perfectly like her down to the organs seeping out of the wound. No matter what, Shinji would always trust in Leina's feelings now, after what they went through in the last town he had no reason to doubt. "So stop pretending to be her, you don't deserve to look…" he felt the hands behind him.

In unison the ghastly pale Leina and Melona spoke, "Aw and here we thought we'd actually have you. Annoying this thing is, these emotions you have. But…maybe we can use this." The Leina body suddenly didn't have the armor or shield on anymore and started fondling the captive male. The normal white Melona pressed forward encasing him between the two bodies. "Thanks to you, I can form two bodies now. In time it will be three, then four…who knows how many in time," she kissed him hard and invaded his mouth with her slime like tongue.

Then the shame continued again, only Shinji's resolve was firmer now. It hurt to see Leina, even if he knew it wasn't her, saying how much she hated him. But he knew the real Leina loved him, knew she was coming for him, and in time he'd be free. Pain and pleasure mixed as both forms of Melona had their way with him, mostly using the form of Leina to mock him. As his body was spent, mind and body fatigued beyond belief, he passed out. The last thing he saw was the faux Leina riding him and mocking him while digging her blade into his arm.

The real Leina would come…and they'd destroy this thing. For once in his life, Shinji wanted something, no needed something dead. He hoped it was the only time he ever felt this way. Powerless, weak, and at her mercy Shinji vowed never to let something like this happen again. He'd be more aggressive. Had he fought back at Cattleya's, yes he'd have hurt some of them but they'd have lived. Likely Melona would have caught him eventually, she had said kidnapping him had been her plan ever since she learned of his existence, but at least others would have lived. Next time…next time he'd have learned from his mistke.

X-X

With her back to the cave wall, Shizuka moved as silently as her training allowed. With Shinji's staff stuck under her armpit, she contemplated blowing out the few torches she came across to increase her stealth. Seeing the cave expand into a larger room just up ahead, she stopped and closed her eyes focusing on her hearing. Shambling, the clanking of chain, and occasional grunting could be heard, but not enough to identify what was up ahead. She thought for a moment of how funny it would be if it was her that found Shinji over Leina and the others.

After Leina and Echidna's rather dramatic take off the other day, events happened in a rushed manner. Tomoe explained what Risty and she had seen, Leina's training and the payment for the improved combat maneuvers they saw. Now that was something Shizuka would have wanted to see, the great proud and prim Leina being rubbed off by Echidna. Bet it was hilarious, if not a little hot, to watch. Especially if the rosy hue on Tomoe's cheeks was anything to go off of. After the little bit of laughter ended, even Risty joined in on a good laugh.

Splitting what little gear Leina left behind with Risty, the trio rushed off after the departed women. They caught up to Leina first, more than three miles up the way, as she was catching her breath before rushing off again. After some convincing on Risty's part, mostly that a tired Leina would be easy pickings for Melona, the woman relented to a more relaxed pace. As they went, mostly in silence, Shizuka spent a little time trying to get to know the illusive Risty more. Crude, stubborn, greedy, but also funny, determined, and she saw kindness in how she reacted to Leina.

That night the four of them rested in view of the river, and the bridge to the capitol in the far distance. So close to their goal, but they had this one important objective to complete before crossing that grand construction. Shizuka wanted to bathe in that foul swills innards, carve it into pieces and stretch them out, and selfishly she wanted to be the one to save Shinji. It was foolish, her growing feelings, but he was constantly on her mind! She had seen many larger men, smarter, more attractive, but something about his kindness, his subtle charm, it just made her turn to mush inside.

When they woke, it was Leina rousing all of them into consciousness, Shizuka couldn't fault her for her drive to wake. Risty even looked apprehensive but wanting to move, it was only Tomoe that stayed their moving. After a few moments of meditation with the staff, Tomoe pointed again on where to go. Only this time she had a small smile on her face, but she didn't say why. Finishing their quest to the current dwelling of their prey, the quartet found their fifth waiting for them at the cave entrance. Echidna only said it was fair to have them all go in, as they all had their reasons.

Torches along the wall, Leina commented that they were the same color as the flame as the pyramids, lit the way they walked. Each with weapons drawn, came to a splitting of the path into three. Drawing lots on who took what path, Shizuka found herself without a partner. Risty and Leina went right, Tomoe and Echidna went center, and Shizuka got the left passage. Since she was alone, Leina handed over Shinji's staff. With its wicked power, they all agreed it made up for being alone.

Right now, the cool metal against her skin, Shizuka counted her blessings. "This could bring the whole chamber down if needed," she patted the bulbous head. If she had to use it, she'd have to be careful. Wouldn't do her any good to bring the cave down on her head, but if worse came to worse she'd get the final laugh. Creeping up to the lip of the room, her eyes adjusting to the brighter light of inside, she found her breath lost to her. Working her mouth several times, no words coming out at first, finally she was able to shout, "Shinji!"

Rushing into the room, whatever danger be damned, Shizuka rushed to the laying form with that familiar brown mop of hair. His lack of clothing didn't bother her, she didn't notice, neither did the fact he was covered in dried blood and other fluids. Spinning him onto his back, her eye catching sight of his lower movement, she gently patted his cheek. Trying to rouse him subtly but directly, "Wake up, Puppy-kun, wake up! It's time we got you out of here!"

Waking with a jerk, Shinji instinctively wiggled and fought against the hands holding onto him. In blind panic his arms and hands flailed about batting at Shizuka's attempts to calm him. "Stay away! I won't submit to you! They'll come…somebody will!" Shinji sputtered out as his hands were finally grasped by the wrists. After a few moments of fear, he blinked his eyes rapidly a few times, "S-Shizuka-san? I-is it really you?"

Sadness intermixed with joy at that face he was making, the extreme happiness and relief radiating out of him was telling enough. Smother his face against her chest, his flesh was hot against her exposed skin, "Who else would it be Puppy-kun. You gave us all quite the scare when Leina told us what happened." Pushing him back a little, the tears already in Shinji's eyes, she couldn't help but kiss his eye lids for a moment. "You're safe now, well soon anyway. Let's get you unchained shall we," she pulled a lock pick out from inside her clothing. She felt his hand on her back, desperate to maintain some form of contact, as she worked the lock.

"I was starting to think…starting to fear you'd never find me," Shinji gushed out. Grabbing a small amount of cloth from Shizuka's back, he possessively refused to release it. "W-where is everybody else? Tomoe-san and Leina-san? They weren't…hurt were they?" he yanked his foot out of the manacle the moment it was free. Rubbing his hands over the ankle that had been trapped, tears still streaming down his cheeks making clean tracks in the grim, "I'm so happy to see you."

Oh she wanted to tease him a little, but even Shizuka knew now wasn't the best time for such antics. Handing his staff back to him, "You need to keep a better handle on that staff of yours. Things would have been a little easier on you if you had it…in hand." Well she wasn't totally able to keep the innuendo out of her voice. It was a moment of pure bliss to see him blush at the comment, whatever that bitch did to him it hadn't ruined his personality. "Let's get your clothing back on. It wouldn't do good for you to flash the others. We picked up two more women on our way to get you," she winked as she lead Shinji over to his discarded clothing.

Putting his clothing on with such haste that he fell to the ground while pulling his slacks up Shinji bounced heavily off the ground. "They're all safe? D-did you find both of her forms? S-she can split herself into two now. S-so you need to be careful," Shinji pulled his cloak around him like a shroud. Once he was fully clothed, he moved far closer to Shizuka than he normally would have allowed. Seeing her giving him a smirk, "S-sorry, just…I feel…s-safe with you right now. It's been…I don't want to talk about it. But it was bad."

Kissing his forehead, she ruffled his hair playfully. "You stay as close to me as you like, hun. Nobody is going to say anything about it, and if they do I'll put them down," she flexed her bicep and let the light of the torches shine off her blades. He was handling this far better than she'd expected, but given what she knew of the boy's past…what was more pain and shame. Not a good thought, that he was able to cope so easily to something that would break others, but she was glad he took solace in her. Wrapping an arm around his waist, marveling in the heat again, "And I didn't see that thing, but when I do I'll…"

Walking into the room, her hair fluttering at her sudden stopping, Tomoe held her blade out defensively. "Y-you've found him and freed him already?" Tomoe slid her feet along the ground grinding dirt as she went. Giving each side of the cave a quick glance, she nodded and lowered her guard, "We found the cunning beast hiding in the other channels before taking her out. Leina and the others are outside waiting for us."

Whether it was Shinji clinging to her back, sliding behind her, or the soft whimper that left his throat, Shizuka wasn't taking any chances. "So you already took the monster down huh? Well that sucks as I'd like to have taken part of her as a trophy over this," she patted Shinji's leg rapidly. Keeping one hand on the hilt of her weapon she tried to think of something she could ask to prove whether or not this was Tomoe and not the creature she wanted to own. A growing feeling of adrenaline pumping through her body made her body vibrate. Best of both worlds, saving Shinji and killing the culprit. "Say Tomoe, want to make good on what we said we'd do back before we separated at the dessert? If we go out there Leina won't really let us," she slide up behind the woman and grabbed her shoulders softly.

"Shizuka-san what are you…but…" Shinji stammered but shut up when Shizuka raised a hand. He clutched his staff to his chest like a talisman to ward off anything that might spring itself. "C-can't we just get out of here? W-we don't know if they took out the weaker or the s-stronger version of her," he inched closer to the door. With Tomoe and Shizuka blocking the entrance though, he kept a good five feet between him and the others.

Gently touching Shizuka's hand, Tomoe bashfully nodded as crimson blossomed on her cheeks. "I don't know if it's the best time for it, but you're right about Leina," Tomoe turned around. Glancing over her shoulder at Shinji, the woman smile shifted from gentle to vicious as the woman's eyes shifted. "Why don't we start with yo…" she stopped as Shizuka's blade went punched through her stomach and tore upward cutting her upper half in two. Oddly both halves of her mouth asked in unison, "Was it something I said?"

Shoving the dissolving form of Tomoe away and to the ground, Shizuka slashed at the things legs. "Puppy-kun knew it was you, and Tomoe was to much a prude to agree to a little three way with cutie here," she slashed downward again cutting the creature in two. Diving over the congealing Melona, Shizuka stood in front of Shinji, guiding him with her body. "Thanks hun, I wouldn't have doubted her had you not been leery. She must have been following us once we got in. Just leave this to me," she spat into the puddle of pink.

Shinji didn't give either Shizuka a chance to act on her comment or Melona a chance to reform. He rushed the puddle of woman with a mighty war cry and slammed his staff down atop her. "Never again! I won't let you hurt anybody else! Never again!" he slammed his staff down again and again. Aiming at the largest mass of pink slime he could with each slam, he splattered her across the room. But it didn't stop the mass from trying to trying to reform, it did however start a cave in. Eyes red rimmed with rage and shame, he continued to attack until Shizuka grabbed his arm, "She can't…get away…with what she said…did. Where is her better half?"

Grabbing Shinji's arm, Shizuka pulled him away right before a bolder from the ceiling came crashing down on the bulk of Melona. "I know you need this, baby, but we have to go now, or we'll die in here," she jerked on his arm. For a moment she met eyes with the normally timid young man and was astonished at what she saw. The peaceful and tranquil man was replaced with an enraged berserker. Shinji's eyes were cold and hard, totally unlike he was normally like. But after a moment of exchanging a gaze, the firmness left and the tenderness came back in. Wrapping her arm around his waist again, she pulled him down the tunnel as the whole cave started to shake and more rocks fell.

With Shizuka pulling Shinji at rapid speed, the pair met up with the other women at the impasse. Once they saw Shinji the others nodded and made for the exit. Dodging rocks and debris as it fell, they made it out only a few moments before the entrance collapsed in a plumb of dust and pebbles. Risty and Leina had small cuts and abrasions liberally covering their bodies, but Tomoe and Echidna were free of any wounds.

After only a few moments of panting, Leina dove at Shinji taking the man to the ground as she rubbed her face against his chest. "You stupid-stupid man! Don't you scare me like that again! I was so worried that she'd kill you or worse," she cried out sharply. Once she recovered enough to actually separate from his chest, she peppered his face with kisses as his glowing hands soothed and fixed the wounds he had access to. Locking lips with the man for a solid minute of kissing, she broke away red faced and panting, "Sorry I didn't kill that monster. She-she slide out of a small tunnel once the cave started to shake."

Jealousy, raw and powerful rocked Shizuka's body as she watched Leina pamper and be pampered by Shinji. She saved him, he said he was safe with her, and yet Leina got all the reward. Kneeling by his side, she patted Shinji's shoulder, "Looks like that other half got away. We'll get her though, just have to find her and whoever she works for." Looking at the other women, Risty was smiling broadly, Echidna scowled and walked off, while Tomoe blushed and tried not to look at Leina cuddling with the prone man.

Gently pushing Leina off of him, Shinji got up to his feet and smiled sadly at Shizuka. Apparently he sensed some of her anger and offered what he could. "We need to hurry, your sisters are walking into some sort of trap. And I know who she works for…I've dreamt of her. Well nightmares," Shinji went into a brief and without details recount of the conversation he overheard of Melona and Menace. Walking over to Risty, Shinji stopped and drew his hands back, "I…I could heal those if you want. Bu-but my hands are…dirty. I'm dirty. If you don't mind, I'm sure they told you of the after effects of my healing."

Laughing broadly, Risty grabbed Shinji's hand and pressed it to the small gash on her stomach. "You ain't dirty at all boy. Little blood is nothing to be ashamed of, and what happened in that hellhole doesn't mean anything to us. As for feeling randy, well it won't be the first time," she slapped his shoulders a few times. Guiding his hands to the wounds as she wanted healed, she pointed at the bashful man, "So THIS is the man huh? I expected bigger and more muscular. Glad I'm wrong. You're right ninja, he is a cutie." She pushed Shinji into Leina's waiting embrace.

Shizuka fought against the smile, but it came regardless. It was endearing to see them hug, it was the end of one very painful ordeal for the man. Likely it would result in more than a few nightmares, and possible furlong from him wanting any loving, but he'd recover. After seeing that face of his, Shizuka knew that he had seen much in his short life. This was just another sad page in it, but one he'd recover from if they were there to help him. "Well, we better head to that bridge to warn those Vance girls of the attack coming. And I want another crack at that monster," she headed over to Tomoe who was resting on the ground.

Pulling out the braid of hair, Leina held it out to Shinji. "I brought this to you, you shouldn't lose something this important to you. To us," she put it into his hand. Her eyes went wide as Shinji pushed it back into her hand and closed her fist around it. "S-Shinji w-what are you…this is the symbol of our of…" she stammered out.

Kissing Leina's cheek softly, Shinji moved a step back from her. "I-I want you to keep it for now. S-so I know it's you. In the cave…she mimicked you all day yesterday. If you have this, I know it's you…that it's not her in disguise again," he rubbed her hand a little. Grabbing the gear that was dropped, Shinji walked with an uneasy stride.

Smart move, Shizuka had to admit, and it did help her a little to see that Shinji wasn't broken. The quartet eventually left the destroyed cave and headed towards the bridge and the battle they knew was coming. Shizuka overheard Risty telling Leina she'd allow another duel. Apparently Leina showed far more skill than ever before when fighting the main body of Melona. When it came time to sleep though, Shizuka was more than a little happy and surprised when Shinji curled up next to her. Giving Leina a fake look of confusion, they knew to give the man a little space. She earned a little loving, a little peace, after that battle. And Leina allowed it. Shizuka hadn't slept so well in a long time.

X-X

Notes

Like I said a bit darker than the past few chapters. But I don't want this to just be fluff and happiness. I wanted to branch out a little with this story, and I hope I didn't turn any of you off of the story. Their won't be many chapters like this, but a few will happen. I'll try to treat the subject materiel with the respect it deserves though, not just wagging it around for shock value.

Next few chapters will defiantly be happier…well the next will be a bit more action with the battle at the bridge, but then more madcamp adventures in the city as we add Melpha to the story a bit more and others that we haven't gotten to yet. Nyx, more Menace, and others.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and continue to support this oddity.

Later

Mercaba