"Cooro—!" Nana gasped, reaching out a hand helplessly as she stared at the strange girl who towered over her terrified friend. His eyes, wide with fright, locked on her wild ones, and his complexion turned pasty white.
"Naaaannna" he whined, cowering against the ground "Don't let it kill me, I didn't do anything to deserve thiiiissss….!!" The frown on his captor's face became even more murderous
"What did you just say?" she asked, her voice dangerously soft. A suspenseful second passed. Cooro looked as though he was about to burst into tears as he whimpered shrilly
"I—I just said that-th—that—" She cut him off, her furious whisper silencing his stuttered explaination
"Did you just call me….AN IT!?" Cooro squeaked as she suddenly howled like a wild animal, throwing herself at him, punching and kicking in every direction
"NO ONE CALLS ME AN IT!!!" she screamed "BE PREPARED TO DIE, FOOL!" Nana's eyes widened in horror
"No! Cooro! Rose, what are we going to—" she turned to look to Rose for help, but the cat +Anima was no longer beside her. "Wha--Rose?!" there was a flash of movement in front of her, and suddenly Rose appeared at Cooro's side, her body lowered into a ready position and her claws shimmering in the sunlight. Swiftly, she plunged her hand into the fray, seizing Leone by her frilly collar and dragging her away from Cooro, who was yelling "GET HER OFF ME! AHHHHHHHH!" repeatedly, and covering his face with his hands.
Throwing the still snarling culprit over her shoulder, Rose retreated a few steps before setting her furiously down and putting her hands firmly on Leone's narrow shoulders to prevent her escape. The cat +anima's face was red, and her eyes flashed with fire as she tightened her fingers so that her claws nearly pierced the little girl's skin. "Leone, you little brat!" she exclaimed at length, her golden eyes never leaving the large brown ones. "What did I tell you about attacking people?! You could have killed him!" Nana shivered, so intimidating was the look on Rose's face at that moment, but Leone didn't seem to be scared at all. She merely sniffed indignantly, although her face did soften a little, and she stopped struggling and focused her attention on Rose. "Well he would have deserved it—First he lands on top of me, and then he calls me an IT! AN IT! I'm not an ANIMAL you know!" She glanced ruefully at Cooro, who was now lying spread-eagle on the ground, breathing heavily. She sighed, shaking her head. Rose groaned in exasperation
"Why oh WHY did I let you come along with me?" she wondered aloud "You HAVE to promise you'll quit trying to kill everyone we run into, or you are so out of here, you little pain" Leone grinned sweetly
"Of course, Rose-chan, whatever you say!" she answered in a sugary voice. Rose smiled, slowly releasing her hands from Leone's shoulders
"Alright, but you'd better be serious about—" Leone shot away, stopping several yards away to stick her tongue out at Rose and burst into a fit of giggles
"Haha, I was just kidding! See, I had my fingers crossed the whole time! GOTCHA THAT TIME ROSE-CHAN!" she sprinted off cheerfully before Rose could catch her again, hiding behind a rock and waving teasingly from behind it. Rose growled in frustration, shaking her head as she turned to help Cooro up.
"I'm sorry about her" she said wearily, gesturing in Leone's direction. "She just started following me one day while I was in town—she won't tell me where she lives or why she was by herself, but I couldn't just leaver her like that—although sometimes I wish I had. Cooro, mate, are you alright?" Cooro shook his head from side to side several times, as though trying to clear his thoughts, then nodded, smiling shakily
"Ya—I'm fine." His eyes found the rock where Leone was hiding, and he watched her fixedly
"You mean you don't know where her family is or anything?" asked Nana, who had now joined the little group. "That's odd—she wouldn't tell you?" Rose shrugged "Nope. I don't know if she's an orphan, or a runaway, or what, but she had her heart set on coming with me, so I let her come. She's really a pain in the backside most of the time, but I suppose I must admit, she can be sweet if you get to know her. Also, she's a +Anima, although I don't know much about that either. She wont tell me anything, you see…" her voice trailed off as she watched Cooro, who was still staring mesmerized at Leone, who had come out from behind the rock, and was now pirouetting across the grassy field, laughing merrily
"Cooro, are you sure you're ok?" he blinked, nodding and turning away from the lion +Anima.
"Ya—hey Nana-chan, shouldn't we get back to Husky-kun and Senri-kun? I mean—what if they're—" Nana nodded fiercely
"Yes, you're right of course—Rose, do you think you could help us? I mean—we can't—we don't know what we're going to do. I'm so worried about what will happen to us—I really don't know what's going on at all." She looked up at Rose, and her eyes were full of deep sincerity that could not be mistaken. The cat +Anima smiled gently.
These kids she thought, twisting a lock of her hair between her fingers They really are like a family. They're so different, and yet they work together so perfectly somehow…She put a hand gently on Nana's shoulder.
"Look, I've never heard about anything like this happening before, but you can count me in, okay? Don't worry, I'm sure we'll work it out somehow—Husky and Senri'll be fine." Nana's face lit up with the greatest gratitude
"Really? Thanks, Rose-chan!" She threw her arms around Rose's neck, hugging her fiercely, clinging to her like a child to her mother. "Thank you." Rose laughed uneasily, unused to this kind of attention, but good-naturedly hugged Nana back.
"It's no problem, really. I'd do anything to help you guys—you, Cooro-kun, Husky-kun…..and Senri-kun of course…..you're all my friends, and I never let my friends down, right?" Cooro cheered loudly, leaping joyfully in the air
"Hurray! Rose-chan is gonna help us! Yipppeeeee! Now can we go get something to eat, Nana? I'm famished—say Rose-chan, do you have anything in that pack that I could nibble on…?!" Nana turned to Cooro, an exasperated expression on her face "Of course you have to bring up food. Can't you forget your stomach for even one minute, Cooro-kun?" Cooro shrugged
"What, I've been hungry all day, but you were so concerned with finding help that you wouldn't do anything about it. Now we've found help, so can we PLEASE get something to eat now?!" Leone appeared in a flash at Cooro's side
"Food? Did someone mention food?! Roooossse-chan, we haven't eaten all day, Nana said Cooro-kun can have something to eat, why can't I?! It's not fair, Cooro-kun's nothing but an old wimp anyway, and—" Rose interrupted
"Wait! Cooro, Nana didn't say you could have anything to eat—"
"But I'm hungry!" He answered pleadingly "C'mon Rose-chan, please?!" Nana stomped her foot angrily
"Come on! We don't have all day! Husky-kun and Senri-kun are waiting for us! Both of you, you'll have to wait until later to eat—I'm sorry, but we really need to get going right now. We need to get to the mountain before dark. Alright? Let's go!" Slowly, they began their journey back towards the mountain, which loomed in the distance far along the dusty path, Nana in the lead, with Rose following and finally Leone and Cooro, who, despite their rough first impression of each other, were now chatting like old friends. Rose smiled as she listened to their conversation, inwardly chuckling at each one's obvious attempts to impress the other, a childish practice that Rose remembered partaking in when she was young.
"Do you have a +Anima, Cooro-kun? I'll bet it's not better than mine!"
"Oh, you wanna bet? MY +Anima is better than a stupid old lion one anyday!" "Well what is it then, Mr. High-and-Mighty? Are you going to show me or not?" "I don't think I will—well, unless you promise to steal the food Rose-chan is stashing away in that pack for me"
"What? No way! I think you're just scared because you don't have a +Anima at all! Anyway, if I could steal the food, I would have already eaten it. Trust me, I've tried…"
"Of course I have a +Anima! See—look!"
"Woah—so pretty! Uh—I mean—a crow, that's so stupid! Mine is much better…."
The cat +Anima laughed quietly, turning her attention to Nana as she marched ahead, her small feet traversing the stones and gravel of the path with apparent ease, and her gaze fixed on the trail ahead. She somehow looked older, more mature than Rose had ever seen her before—she seemed to glow with an aura of leadership and intelligence that stretched far beyond her eleven years.
It seems like I've been away for too long Rose thought, adjusting the shoulder strap on her bag and looking up at the brilliant blue sky Although they don't know it yet, Cooro-kun and Nana-chan are growing up.
Husky couldn't speak--his voice seemed to have been torn from his throat. Faintly, deep below the shock and surprise that overran his senses in the moments of silence that followed the conclusion of Kohaku's story, he knew that even if he had been able to verbally express himself again, he would still have been stopped for lack of the proper words. As he looked at the thin, pale girl who sat before him, her sallow, tear streaked face and ruffled hair half hidden by shadows, it was as though he saw a whole new person. All he had known—all he had thought—was gone now.
She was always so kind—so quiet and calm, never questioning and never passing up an opportunity to help he thought in wonder And all that time she had that sadness and pain bottled up inside, with no one to confide in, to share her burden. I can't imagine what that must feel like...being so alone...having your whole life stolen from you in a matter of minutes like that…..it must be terrible Kohaku looked up at Husky, her hands trembling and her eyes wide, but no longer crying. Her face held no emotion as her amber eyes stared deep into his blue ones, and for several awkward minutes—or perhaps it was hours, neither of them could tell—they sat, neither saying anything, each contemplating the other as though for the first time. A few feet away, Senri moved in his sleep, the leather of his clothing making a scuffling sound against the cave floor, and a low sigh issuing from deep in his throat. The spell was shattered.
"Husky-kun" Kohaku said suddenly, shifting slightly and looking at the ground. "I'm sorry" Husky gaped in surprise.
She's…sorry?!
"What are you talking about?" he said aloud, as soon as he trusted himself to speak. Kohaku shook her head, her voice an almost inaudible whisper
"I….it's my problem. I shouldn't have told you about it. I don't want people to worry about me, or feel sorry for me or anything. I live alone because I have no other choice—but also because I want to. I like it. It's what I do. I just….I mean…." She stopped, her eyes pleading "Just please don't worry, or think any of this is your responsibility to fix" she said at length "Promise me, Husky-kun" Husky's mind was blank. Of all the reactions he had expected, remorse was definitely not one of them. She was—guilty, as though she had done something wrong.
She's so stupid he thought suddenly she thinks no one cares about her—what happens to her, and what she feels. She's accepted the fact that she's all alone, even if it means cutting herself off from the rest of the world. She would never open up to anyone before this because she thought if she did, she would only be hurt again. It was at that moment that he realized something that he hadn't noticed, with all the shock that had previously overwhelmed his senses. She was waiting…waiting to find the right person to confide in…and somehow, she chose me. He stared deep into her eyes—and saw in that instant the radiance of her real character, which had been hidden for so many years. It was a light so bright that it cut through the darkness of the cave, penetrating every corner and every crevice with brilliance, and filling Husky's heart with a strange joy.
She's so…beautiful he thought I only wish I could tell her...make her see what I see now. But he also knew that she was still so unsure, so broken inside. Husky shook his head, chiding himself mentally. And even if she wasn't he reasoned firmly She's a girl—you've gone too far already.
"Look" he said, his voice gruff—and yet still surprisingly gentle "You don't have anything to be ashamed of, okay? I'm—I'm glad you told me, its not good for you to just live by yourself like that, with no friends and no one who cares about you. So don't say your sorry….just don't" Kohaku gazed intently at him her bottom lip quivering and a pink spot glowing in the center of each white cheek
"You—you really mean that?" she asked shakily "You care—about me?" Husky's stomach knotted in on itself, and he swallowed hard, trying strongly to resist the urge to reach out and hug her again.
What's wrong with me?!
"Uh—well, yeah—you know—of course I care about you and stuff—I mean you saved me, right?" She looked at him in disbelief for a second, and then slowly, like the sun as it rises at dawn, a smile spread across her face.
"Thank you" she said, her voice radiant "You have no idea how much that means to me, Husky-kun."
Before Husky could dodge out of the way, she leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek, her rusty hair brushing his face and her lips soft and warm against his icy skin. Stunned into silence once again, Husky's face turned from white to purple to deep, deep red.
"What—what was that?!" he spluttered, trying to adopt an expression of infuriation as his heart leaped into his throat. She giggled and scrubbed a hand across her face, wiping away the remnants of tears.
"You're so much like Masa-kun." She laughed out loud now "maybe that's why I was so drawn to rescue you back in that little chamber" Husky still had not recovered "But why did you—ahhhhgahhh??!" She was on her feet now, and moving towards Senri, obviously with the intentions of checking on his wounds, but now she glanced back over her shoulder, the look of calm, distant intelligence coming back to her eyes.
"Shhh" she instructed "You really should be getting some rest, Husky-san. What will the others say if they see you like this? And don't argue—I'm not in the mood." Without another word, she turned and disappearing into the shadows.
As Husky lay back, closing his eyes and resting his leg against the cool stone floor, he found to his surprise that he wasn't angry at Kohaku as he had expected himself to be. Instead, (to his great annoyance) he felt a little bit pleased—a discovery that shocked him.
I think I saw a small piece of who she was today—who she wants to be again, but doesn't know how. He thought in wonder, reaching up to touch the place on his face where her lips had touched him. I almost wish—Oh, nevermind.
Husky listened to Mayumi-Kohaku going about her work, always so motherly and caring, never questioning and never complaining—and he smiled.
Tashi: Mmmmmm….summer time =D
Nana-chan: What's your favorite part of summer, Tashi-san?
Tashi: I don't know….relaxing, camping—oh, and actually having time to work on this fanfiction!
Leone: I like swimming! And eating watermelon! And cooking marshmallows! Yay!
Cooro: Yummy! Marshmallows!
Kazana: Well, MY favorite part of summer is going to the beach and seeing all the hot girls—
Rose: *smacks Kazana* Alright, that's enough out of you—-where did you come from, anyway?!
Senri:…
Kazana: Haha, see, Senri agrees with me, don't you Senri? ;D
Rose: Of course he doesn't! Unlike you, Senri isn't a perverted idiot, and anyway, he didn't even say anything!
Kazana: Senri?
Senri: ….*nods*
Rose: Wahhhhhh?!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAHGHAGHAHGHA! &^$$#&*(($#!
Tashi: Yaaaaahhh—-hehe—I think we are all in agreement about the fact that summer is the best season of all! So for a treat for you all, I am now publishing 2 chaps today instead of just one…..enjoy, and have a great summer!
"Ummmm…..Nana-chan?" Leone stood at the foot of the mountain, her neck craned back as far as it would go, staring up at the tiny cave opening almost 200 feet off the ground. Rose stepped forward bearing her claws and attempting to burry them in the rock, as though to get a hand hold, The dry stone cracked, coming away in a shower of rubble. Rose frowned, and asked the question both she and her traveling companion had been thinking
"How're we supposed to get up there?" Cooro flopped to the ground, huffing and puffing dejectedly
"Oh no! Nana-chan! What're we going to do? It's sooooo far up!" Nana stood over him, glaring down with eyebrows raised
"Cooro-kun, you idiot" she said "We have wings! We can fly!" Cooro thought for a second, and then smiled broadly
"Hey! You're right!" Rose tapped a claw against the rock
"Er…..I think you two are forgetting something here." Nana and Cooro both looked questioningly at her, and she spread her arms wide, flapping them limply "You two may have wings" she continued "But we don't!" she gestured to Leone and herself "We can't really climb either, the side is too crumbly—we'd fall!" Nana looked at her feet "Oh...um…..well I…shoot, I was counting on that." She murmured "I don't think Cooro and I can fly you guys both up. It's too windy today, and we'd get tired really fast." Cooro stepped forward defiantly
"I could take it!" he exclaimed "Leo-chan's not that heavy!" Leone giggled, but Nana looked thunderous
"And just where does that leave Rose-chan?" she demanded. Leone stepped between Nana and Cooro, holding her hands out protectively
"Hey! Who do you think you are, yelling at Cooro-kun like that? He was only trying to help!" she turned to Cooro, grabbing his arm and snuggling up against his shoulder, purring in contentment
"Cooro-kun, you're so sweet, offering to carry me up" Cooro's cheeks turned slightly pink as he looked down at her, and he smiled shyly
"Oh—uh—thanks Leo-chan" Nana turned her head, grumbling to herself
"Don't make me sick." Rose shrugged
"Well, she does have a point you know" she said "Yelling at each other isn't going to make things any better. What we need is a plan" Nana sighed
"I suppose you're right. But what are we supposed to do? I mean, it seems like climbing up is out, since the rock is so crumbly, and all, and since flying is a definite impossibility—" she was interrupted suddenly by the sound of wings beating the air, followed by a loud thump about twenty yards away. The four friends spun around, bewildered at the sight that befell them. Standing there, his head bowed and his black hair sweeping across his face, was a strong-looking young man of about nineteen or so. From his back protruded a pair of huge, powerful looking wings, and where his feet should have been, two sets of razor sharp talons glittered in the light. Shaking his hair out of his eyes, the intruder looked up, his golden eyes sparkling and a smile touching the corners of his mouth.
"I think you should rethink that last statement, Nana-san." he said. Nana's eyes widened "Kazana-san!" she exclaimed "What are you doing here?" he shrugged, flexing his bare arm muscles
"Oh, dunno, I was just flying by and I saw you four down here and thought I'd drop by. Hey, where's the fish boy and that other one? Don't they normally travel with you and Cooro-san?" Nana nodded.
"Yes" she answered "but they were kidnapped, and we want to rescue them, so we need to get to that cave up there, but Cooro and I aren't strong enough to carry everyone up, so—" Rose stepped forward, fixing the rebel +anima with a steely glare
"So we're in a bit of a hurry, and would you mind giving us a lift?" Kazana grinned cheekily at her
"Ah, and who might you be? I haven't seen you around in Sailand or these werebouts—I would have recognized such a hot babe for sure" Rose turned bright red "What did you just call me? Say it again and I'll tear you to bits, friend or not!" she howled, lunging forward, her claws bared. Kazana took a step back, throwing out his arms to protect himself, but Nana and Cooro had already grabbed a hold of Rose's arms and were holding her back. "Lemme go!" she exclaimed "Lemme at 'im!" Kazana laughed
"Pretty—and feisty too. We have those things in common at least—and the fact that we're both +anima. So whataya say, sweetheart, wanna get together some time?" Rose gnashed her teeth, still trying to pull away from Nana and Cooro, who had to dig their feet in to restrain her.
"Not in your dreams, you featherbag idiot, No one calls me sweetheart!" Kazana shrugged
"Relax, I was joking…..don't kill me, okay? I'm sorry!" although she calmed down enough for Cooro and Nana to tentatively release her, Rose's face was still thunderous, and her eyes never left Kazana's.
"You'd better be sorry…..don't think you'll get off so easy next time" Nana laughed weakly, stepping forward with a gesture of resignation
"Well—uh—you two seem to have hit it off quite nicely—Rose-chan, this is Kazana, he's the leader of a group of rebels in Sailand who fight for the freedom of +anima everywhere. Kazana-san, this is Rose, she's a traveling peddler who we met during our travels. She's going to help us save Husky and Senri from the Council of Water and Stone—they're a sort of gang that captured us up in the mountain, and—" There was a flash of orange as Leone zoomed out in front of Nana, nearly knocking her over as she struck a dramatic pose, her hands waving broadly
"Hi Kaza-kun! I'm the great and beautiful Leone Goldenpaw! It's such an honor to meet a rival so fit as you!" She swung her arm around, offering her tiny fist to Kazana "Do you accept my challenge, oh brave soul?" Nana looked bewilderedly at Rose "Um…does she always do this?" Rose, who had been smoothing her hair irritably, shrugged
"Ya….more or less. You wouldn't believe how many villages we've been kicked out of due to her making a scene. Dunno why she isn't an outlaw by now, really" Kazana smiled
"Well" he said at length, "I—I think it might be wiser for me to decline" Leone gasped "You—you cowardly wretch! You liverbrained swab! You—" Kazana held up a hand for silence, then slowly, he knelt until he was bowing before Leone. He took her tiny hand in his, and caressed it gently with his lips before continuing.
"No, no, you're not understanding me at all. What I meant was that if I want to keep my life—which I value very much—I have no choice but to bow down before your superior abilities, oh Lady Leone" Leone blinked. Obviously, she had never gotten this reaction to one of her rants before. She looked down at Kazana with wide, awed eyes—then suddenly, she leaped at him, latching onto his muscular arm
"Yay! Kaza-kun! You're so cool!" she yelped.
"Can we keep him, Rose-chan? Please please please?!" Rose looked exasperated. "Well….I suppose if he'll help us get to the top of that ledge……but I'm not making any promises after that…." Nana grinned at Cooro , who was looking worriedly towards Leone, who was now squeezing Kazana tightly around the waist
"Well that's a relief! Now we can all get to the top, isn't that great Cooro" the +Anima boy grunted in an almost Husky-like manner
"Ya….just spectacular" Kazana, freeing himself from Leone, bowed low before Rose, offering a hand
"Well then" he said "Might I be of assistance?"
It took a while for the little party to reach the top, with Nana in the lead, Kazana, who was carrying an extremely disgruntled Rose, after her, and finally Cooro, who had insisted upon carrying Leone by himself. Twilight had almost fallen when they finally reached the little ledge in front of the cave, and they scrambled up, exhausted, and flopped down on the cool stone
"Ahhhh…..that was harder than I thought…..this ledge really is far up" breathed Nana as she pressed her cheek to the cool surface. Rose instantly pulled herself free of Kazana's arms, which had been wrapped tightly around her waist, moving as far away from him as possible and eying him angrily, while muttering under her breath about perverts and almost being suffocated. Cooro was lying spread eagle, sweat pouring from his face, and his breath coming in gasps. Nana chuckled to herself.
He's so stupid, carrying her by himself all that way…she thought, watching as Leone bent over him worriedly, running her hand along his face.
"Cooro-kun—are you ok? I'm sorry I'm so fat.." Cooro shook his head bravely, smiling up at her "No Leo-cha….you're not fat, I'm…fine" the bat +anima smiled fondly They're so cute...Nana's thoughts were cut of short as her bat ears perked up, and she drew in her breath. She had heard something…..a footstep, or maybe just a whisper….gliding closer and closer in the night that was now falling.
"Shhhh" she exclaimed "Everyone down, I think someone's here—" but it was too late. Suddenly, two green lights appeared, illuminating vaguely the form of a woman swathed in the Council's long, black robe. Nana gasped as she drew closer to the edge of the stone ledge. The woman's eyes were bright green, and glowing.
What should I do?! She wondered desperately, trying to muster up as much courage as possible although her teeth were chattering. Scrambling to her feet, she held her fist aloft "Hey! Who are you, and what do you want? Where's Husky and Senri?! Give them back at once! If you hurt any of my friends, I'll—" a soft laugh emanated from the woman's chest as she threw back the hood she was wearing, and instantly everything was bathed in green light. Although her skin was stretched over her bones and bore a distinctly unhealthy sheen, which glowed unnaturally in the green light of her eyes, she was still remarkably beautiful, almost eerily so. Her long, whitish silver hair fell down her back as she drew the material of her hood from her face, a cascading waterfall that shimmered and sparkled in the night. Her lips, pure red, curled slowly into a smile as she addressed the quivering group, each one of them fearing for their lives as they lay before this princess of darkness
"Don't worry" she said at length. "My name is Hisoka. I am the sister of Delmor-sama—the leader of the Council. I'm here to help you rescue your friends."
Tashi: Sleeeeeeppppp……
Rose: Are you alright? You look as though you're about to pass out
Tashi: Gahhahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…………..
Nana: I think she's tired. It is 1 in the morning you know
Rose: Gah! She just fell over….what should we do?
Leone: Fetch water!CPR! Someone do SOMETHING!
Kazana: Did I hear CPR? Allow me….
Rose: Don't you dare touch her!
Cooro: Maybe if we feed her some pocky?
Tashi: Don't…want……..pocky
Cooro: *gasps* but…..but pocky always makes ME feel better!
Tashi: Just…..want…..sleep
Nana: Well then….I suppose I'll have to do the little closing comment thing today…..thanks for reading this chapter everyone, stay tuned—Kazana! What are you doing to—Cooro, stop trying to shove pock down her throat! She'll suffocate—okay, got to go, thanks again everyone!