CHAPTER 10

R.I.P

Everything reverted back to normal. Ryuko stared at the crater where 3 bodies laid, unconscious. Ryuko moved her eyes across slowly, scared to see BLANKE. But she saw Yruo, Mage and….some girl she didn't recognize. BLANKE's presence was gone. Completely, she smiled with tears rolling down her cheeks as she stumbled down the crater to hug Yruo, who woke up when he felt his sister choking him in her embrace.

Yruo smiled as the sun shined brightly. Mage sat up and scratched his head and laughed to himself quietly as Ryuko smothered Yruo. But the third person sat up. It was a woman with black hair.

The woman stood up and studied the three. She saw a girl with black hair and red highlight smothering a boy of the same hair, she assumed they were siblings based on facial structure and body build. She looked at the boy that stood before her, she was only five inches or so taller than him, which came as a surprise, most men were taller than her or at least her height by the time they were seventeen. He wore khaki pants, a dark blue T-shirt, grey shoes, and a crimson collared shirt. From the way he was standing, she could tell he was an experienced combatant, not tensed up, but ready on a hair trigger. His expression was cautious, hard, and slightly irritated. He was analyzing her as well. She frowned and wondered if she should talk, then decided that she wouldn't get answers any other way. She felt warm from the sun shining on her nude body ("OOOH YEAH!" *she punches him in the face*) which didn't bother her, it was just skin. But there was another source of heat radiating from the boy in red, a blaze that promised destruction. She leapt back, defensive seeing that there was a fire on the surface of the boy's skin.

"What is that?!" She spoke for the first time. "Why are you on fire?!"

Mage said nothing, still scrutinizing the woman. There was something off about her, similar to how Zahn and Yruo first felt. Ugh, why is it always him that has to deal with this stuff? First it's a monkey, then it's Life Fibers, then Saiyans, what's next a talking hippo?

"Er, hello? Do you speak this language? If not then I'm screwed." Jolted out of his staring, he thought it best to err on the side of caution and answer like a Fae.

"I do speak the common tongue, yes. How did you get here? And yes, you still might be 'screwed'." He was not concerned with her name. As a dragon, he could look at a person and See their Name. And this person was no different. She was taller than him by a significant amount, her black curly (it was more spiky really) hair reaching her lower back, her features, while soft, also held a hard edge to them. Her body was far above average in appearance, which would have the majority of men drooling. The fact that she was naked didn't help anything, her light tan skin rather stark against the burnt stone.

She stared at him. "No clue…W-what's your name, Fire-man?"

Mage raised an eyebrow at that. Reminds me of Dresden. Oh crap! "I'm known by many names; The Destroyer, The Guardian, Manslayer, God Slayer, Thunder Lion, the Chocolate Axe, but you may call me Adam."

"I don't wish to share my really name, but call me Caesar." She wasn't relaxed yet, the boy, if it was a boy, was still a threat as far as she was concerned. Humans shouldn't be able to use magic the way 'Adam' demonstrated. When using magic one had to remember that even though they could summon the elements, once they were there, they acted like they would normally. The fire should be burning the boy, yet it was doing nothing to his skin or his clothes. A young boy shouldn't have that kind of control over one of the most out of control elements!

"You don't need to give me any name, Katrina."

In a panic she grabbed ("HIS-" "IF YOU CONTINUE I'LL FREAKIN CASTRATE YOU FOR ETERNITY!) his shirt and yelled. "DON'T YOU USE THAT NAME!"

Interesting, sensitive past maybe? Not important, the others had caught notice by now, with Satsuki brandishing the Scissor Blade. Yruo was being held up by Ryuko, who looked like she was struggling to carry him. "Too late, they already heard me. So why don't you put me down so we can talk this over, hm?"

Clenching his shirt tighter and grinding her teeth, Katrina wasn't sure how to respond to this, thing, that knew who she was. "You..." she punched him in the stomach. Mage was actually thrown back from the punch, flying back aways before landing on his feet smoothly with an irritated look. Looks like someone else isn't quite human either.

Caesar examined the others and noticed that none were staring at her figure. Good, that'll keep them alive. They all saw her as a threat, and one was ready for battle. She didn't have to make it obvious though, Caesar could have seen it without the odd sword being waved around. She frowned trying to figure out their weaknesses. The two siblings' bond was one, and the obvious pride of the other girl. Adam however, seemed odd. He was full of weaknesses in his stance and posture, which was weird for someone so obviously experienced in fighting. And he seemed far too relaxed than a human should be, not paying any large amount of attention to her at all. She was tempted to go to him and poke at his ribs just to see if he was watching. This was not good.

"So, if you would like, we can go to Lady Satsuki's place to get cleaned up and food. Anyone disagree?"

Satsuki nodded, albeit uncomfortable with the idea of people in her personal living quarters, surprising Ryuko for a moment.

"Really Satsuki you would do that? Who are you and what have you done with Satsuki?!" Ryuko yelled.

"You're Satsuki?" Caesar asked and then stared at the girl that had just yelled. Then she spoke in a voice dripping with authority, "Shut it girl! You should be appreciative!" Caesar smacked the girl in the back of the head. Yruo just about attacked her though a) he's hurt b) she seems very strong c) she was drop dead gorgeous and d) sleeeeeeeeeeeeep sounded good.

"Why? What has she done for me?" Ryuko was staring at the woman now. At about twenty-sixish she was older than Ryuko, and had more physical mass as well. Not in fat, but in muscle. Caesar looked as if she took on gorillas for a living, holy cow she had muscle! And then there was the fact that she was more well endowed than Ryuko, and Satsuki for that matter. The look she gave Ryuko gave no room for argument, she would get her way whether Ryuko liked it or not. She was also very beautiful, she made Ryuko a tad envious actually.

And the woman absolutely terrified Ryuko. The presence of power she gave off was astounding, despite being, well, naked. Ryuko had no doubt that she was dangerous. The woman seemed to glow almost.

"We'll have time for introductions later, but for now there are injuries to take care of. So Satsuki, if you would lead the way." Mage also spoke in a tone that left no one doubting his command. This was not going to be good for anyone.

Satsuki turned around and lead them to the remains of the academy doors, up several flights of stairs, and up an elevator to her personal room. Caesar examined everything with some slight admiration at the decor, and at that point had just about figured out everyone's weakness. The girl, Ryuko is too impatient, the brother pushes himself too much. Satsuki was too prideful. But she still couldn't identify Adam's. She smiled to herself and followed Satsuki.

Far away from where the previous battle took place, far away from the very realm even, a giant stood contemplating his next course of action.

"I could say hello. Or I could just kill them all. Maybe a long epic battle to get the drama flowing? No, that doesn't wo- Oh, what's this? He has decided to fight once more? This is interesting. I think I'll go pay The Destroyer of Gods a visit and see if my brother is still alive" Here he started to laugh, a great rumble that shook the hearts of everyone in that galaxy, turning into a great bellow that made its way to the ears of Mage, who looked up at the stars and scowled slightly.

The hulking creature calmed down and climbed into his miniscule space pod and took off flying away from the charred and broken remains of a once thriving civilization, the screams that perversed the terrain nothing but ghosts now.