The men moved on swiftly, never stopping once to take a breath. Between them, Remy walked on quietly, his face cool and expressionless. It was obvious those men thought the battle was over. Remy was not too sure.

Just you wait, old friends, and I'll show you!

"Move on now!" As Remy's feet stopped momentarily, one of his captors did not hesitate to give him a hard cuff on the ear. "Move! We don't have all day!"

"Pardon me," Remy said politely, his tone mocking and unafraid. "But I'm afraid that, as a mortal, I have my weaknesses too. You can't expect me to go on walking forever, surely?"

"What rubbish are you talking? You walk for ten minutes, and complain? Huh! What a worm!"

"My apologies," Remy smiled, his left hand creeping very slowly to the back, unseen. "But you see, I was already involved in quite a bit of heavy fighting before you caught me. It's no surprise I'm so tired now. Do give me a time out, won't you?"

"Worm!" the man snarled. "Move on! Don't be such an idiot!"

In reply, Remy deliberately let out one huge sigh, flopping down onto the floor.

"Worm!"

There was no telling what happened next. Before the man could bend down to grab Remy, flashes of red and gold showed up in the air, before turning into exploding white cards. Yells and screams emerged, and Remy hastily took the chance to flee.

"How…you fool!" someone was yelling. "We told you to remove his weapons!"

"Lesson number one," Remy muttered. "Learn to actually look underneath the underneath." He silently fingered the rest of his cards in his secret pockets within the lining of his coat.

"There he goes!"

"On the run again," Remy grumbled, as he turned to flee. "Now…great! This place here isn't at all familiar!"

"Got ya now, you intruder!"

"Alright, alright." Cursing under his breath, and feeling like a trapped rat, Remy turned around, very slowly, still trying to figure a way out quickly…

"Ahhh!" There was something like a shriek from all three men, while sparks flew, and then the trio collapsed to the ground like limp sacks.

"Huh?"

"Thought you could do without my aid, eh, swamp rat?"

There was no need to look up further to know who was speaking. A wide smile spread over Remy's face, and he could not restrain himself from taking a step forward.

"Rogue! Ha ha! Who would have thought we would meet up in such an…auspicious place?"

"Auspicious place? Ha ha. Very funny, swamp rat," Rogue retorted, though it was obvious she was trying very hard to conceal a smile. "Need my help still? Or do you think you, the macho-macho man, can manage alone?"

"Still think me the tough guy?"

"Whatever. Now, for goodness sake, start moving out before we're turned to mush!"

"Which way, mademoiselle?"

"To where?"

"My father, of course!"

"Left here," Rogue barked out, grabbing Remy by the wrist and steering him in the direction. "Now, right! Down those stairs!"

"You seem to know much more than me at this point in time," Remy remarked.

"Duh! What do you expect, with all these memories?" Rogue retorted.

"Now what?" Remy demanded, as they descended into a large, dark hall below. "Why is it so dark here?"

"Hang on…now, where's that light switch…ah, here it is! Thank goodness."

Light flickered finally throughout the hall. Silently grumbling at the nevertheless-still-rather-dim-light, Remy observed a range of doors by them.

"Which door?" he enquired.

"This one." Unhesitating, Rogue dashed towards a small, inconspicuous gray door and yanked it open.

"Jean!" As Remy stepped forward briskly, he was greeted by the sight of a long-faced, brown-haired man bound to a chair. "Well, well, well. To come here, and, after so much trouble, find you inthis room? Well, I'll be!"

"Remy." There was a rather large smile now on Jean's face. "Hah! Rather late, aren't you? Now, how about actually untying me before half my muscles die?"

"Right away, monsieur."

"Do it quick, Remy," Rogue warned, from where she was standing, by the door, keeping watch. "I have a feeling they'll be along in seconds. Hurry!"

"I'm being much faster than usual, madam," Remy replied calmly, charging up the last bit of rope from Jean's arms. "OK, job done. Let's go!"

"This way," Rogue called out, swerving sharply to the left. "Then right!"

"OK. How does she know where we're going?" Jean enquired dryly.

"Trust me, she knows," Remy replied calmly.

"Stop right there!"

"Out of the way!" Rogue roared in return, ripping off a glove and touching their bare hands, while Remy followed the remaining men behind with a barrage of charged-up cards.

"Exciting powers," Jean remarked, eyes raised.

"Never mind that. Move on!" Rogue barked.

Jean chuckled. "Bossy little mademoiselle, isn't she?" he remarked to Remy.

"You'll get used to it soon enough."

"Out this way! We're near the entrance already! Get ready for any further confrontations, both of you!"

"Suits me," Remy smiled.

They ran on swiftly, ignoring the yells of angry men behind them. All the way, Remy couldn't help smiling to himself. May our paths never cross again. Ironic. Rogue herself had seemed serious enough when she had said that; why on earth did she return to aid him? There were plenty of questions for Remy to ask her later on. And, although he hated to admit it, it was quite a delight and joy for him to be laying eyes on her again.

"This way! Come one! We're almost there!"

Picking up the pace yet again, Rogue dashed ahead and forced the main door open. By then, Remy, and even Jean, could not help grinning wide, as their eyes laid sight on trees and woods and a river.

They had made it.

Sorry for the slightly slow update guys!! I've suddenly got a little…addicted, I guess, to Naruto fics.

Anyway, PLEASE REVIEW!!! Thanks to everyone who reviews so faithfully, especially Freegirl, Abbs of the Faeries and allyg1990!