Chapter Eleven!

Holy CRAP.

And I still need to celebrate for ten... maybe buy myself something nice with my imaginary money. I spent the last of my real money on the first part of FMA Brotherhood, so yeah. It's not as good as the original, but that applies to everything.

Luke: ...

Me: EXCEPT FOR YOU! (spazz)

Asch: Are you implying that I'm inferior to that dreck?

Me: N-no... uh... DAMMIT, I CAN'T WIN.

And then there were review replies!

co426e: 9- Username is interesting. Yes. ^ ^ I could never come up with something like that. I'm glad I could clarify the PCP for you. Sorry for the nonsense part. I like to write laaaaaaaate at niiiiiiiiiiiiiight... so I know my annoying ass little brother won't come in and bother the HELL out of me... and yes, Asch had me pinned. It was a 'I'MA GONNA KEEEEEL YOU' pin, not... something else. ^ ^ ' You're going to quote me? YAAAAY, I feel so loved. Vocaloids are NOT nerdy. Now, if you went up to Luke and went all "USE THE FOOOOORCE" then I might consider you a bit nerdy. ^ ^ ' Fear Garden is freaking amazing. And DON'T DIE! I LOVE YOU IN A COMPLETELY HEALTHY AND NON-CREEPY WAY!

10- Heeehh... (sweatdrop) And... as for that question, you will find out. ^ ^ I don't like Natalia, yes, especially when she first joins the party. And yes, Luke is an asshole. It's a trait he was raised with. And when I first started reading your review, I thought you were mad at me... ^ ^ ' Anyway, thanks. Here's the next, enjoy.

Commandant of Heart: Yes, cliffhanger. I actually didn't originally intend to end it there... it just kinda happened. MY STORY WRITES ITSELF, le gasp. Plotty? YAAAY. ^ ^ Just because of your review and the reviews from the others I hurried with this chapter as fast as I could. I love nice reviewers, you all make me so happy... You could kick Van's ass with a stick of gum. Or a plunger. Or a staple gun. Or all of the above. ^ ^

Luke: And as for what you said to me, I KNOW. I won't be apologizing for that until later, though.

You know about UTAU? Yay, a lot of people don't. My UTAU is named Nanamine Shijimi, she sounds absolutely terrible and I have a lot of kinks to work out (voice samples to fix, editing...) but I should stop now before I start ranting, yes... GUMI hymn? Oketay, I'll see what I can do. The UST isn't perfect, but I think it's damn good... urgh, that sounded arrogant. Sorry. ^ ^ '

GamerGirl1992: Interesting, huh? Thank you. ^ ^ You'll find out. Yes, Luke can be a bastard. I did good with Natalia, really? Thanks a lot. ^ ^ I appreciate your praise. ^ ^ And I devour your virtual cookie and send virtual granola bar.

DG a.k.a Demon Gurl: Sorry for how short it was. ^ ^ ' I'll be working on longer chapters. Um, you'll find out. The PCP isn't related to that, actually. ^ ^ Asch does use Cloak Girl to vent, yes. She isn't soulless due to fomicry, but... you'll find out. ^ ^ Thanks for the compliments. Kidnapping again, you say? We'll see. And yes, Asch can be rather sadistic at times. Yup, no got to see Miyagi. But maybe later. Won't be staying there; it's not a hotel. ^ ^ ' Thanks for the feedback.

Myo43: Thanks. ^ ^ I'm glad you like my alias. I've made many, but Temari Haruhara is the only one I've kept and used for... um, two years. ^ ^ And yes, stab Mohs. (stab stab stab staaaaab) I love you in a completely healthy and non-creepy way. ^ ^

Starmony: Really? Thank you. ^ ^ You think T-chan (meh) is adorable...? Thank you...

xXBright AkatsukiXx: Yes, indeed. Instead of "Tales of the Abyss manga" it should be called "Luke fon Fabre striptease manga". Fortunately for me my mother only comes in my room (where I'm always online) when she wants me to do something... or I'd be in biiiiiiiiiiiig trouble. ^ ^ '


Usotsuki, Usotsuki

Chapter Eleven

Of Arrangements and Familiar Faces

It never took long for Luke fon Fabre to get frustrated, especially when people were angry at him for reasons unclear. That was precisely his situation as he wandered around Baticul at night with Guy and Tear, both of whom were glaring at Luke every chance they got.

What the hell had he done wrong? He had just been arguing with Tear when the Wallflower randomly decided to bolt. How was that HIS fault?

On a different note, what was Wallflower's problem, anyway? She would act all sweet and polite, then get mad and say unpleasant words and stuff. Women would always confuse him, the redheaded aristocrat decided. There was no point in even trying to understand.

Or maybe he could ask Master Van... he knew about everything. He could tell what the Wallflower's problem was and tell Luke how to fix it, or fix it himself. Either way, it was better than just getting mad at him without explaining anything... case in point: Tear and Guy.

So, he thought, what should he do? Maybe just tell the Wallflower some stupid lie to boost her ego. He was always told that it was a bad thing to lie, but people lie all the time. It can be good sometimes. Besides, according to Jade, the Wallflower had been doing some lying of her own. Give the confusing little wretch a taste of her own medicine.

Luke smirked a little to himself at the thought of finding Wallflower somewhere and seeing her bow before him, apologizing and calling herself stupid. That would probably be her reaction, Luke thought, as his smirk widened slightly. She was in the wrong, not him.

If only he could convince Tear and Guy of that fact...

Luke stumbled backwards as a Kimlascan soldier ran by hurriedly. As he bumped into a nearby building, he swore under his breath and called out to the armor-clad man.

"Hey, you! What the hell are you in such a hurry for?"

"I've been alerted by a civilian that there's a fight taking place at the port. There have been many reports of a young boy with dark hair running in that direction earlier, so I thought I'd investigate both. Now please excuse me, Master Luke." The soldier saluted hurriedly and took off once again, making a beeline for the port.

"Whoa, wait. Young boy with dark hair?" Guy asked thoughtfully.

"That sounds like Temari... people usually think she's a boy at first glance..." Tear mumbled, looking concerned.

"Really? And she's fighting someone?" Luke asked, not really expecting an answer. Tear and Guy hadn't talked to him much at all since they had started the search.

"Oh no..." Guy started, his eyes widening as he reached some realization.

"It could be the Oracle Knights, trying to capture her again!" Tear exclaimed, startled enough to dash off immediately.

"What? Dammit, don't they ever quit?" Luke yelled in exasperation. He followed after Tear's retreating form, reaching for his sword as he did so. Guy followed suit, muttering a foul curse under his breath along the way.


My entire mind was a complete blank. I knew exactly what I was seeing, I just couldn't (or wouldn't) believe it. It wasn't possible. There was no way that it could be possible. It had to be a trick, a mistake, some huge misunderstanding that had yet to be worked out.

That's what I kept telling myself as my eyes stuck, riveted, to the girl in front of me, her monotonous voice mirrored by blank, impassive eyes. They seemed so empty, so devoid of the life that all human beings had. Of course, that's not what unnerved me the most.

That girl's face... it was the same face that I saw in the mirror every day. It was like staring down your own reflection, minus the comforting edges of the glass that separated the your reflection's world from your own.

It couldn't be right. It was an illusion or something, or maybe lack of sleep getting to me.

There was no bloody way...

"It... it can't be..." I choked, dropping to my knees. "There's no way... it's impossible..."

"If it were impossible, I would not be here. You know that." Cloak Girl stared me down with a neutral expression.

"That can't be! No one has ever had the chance to extract my replica data, and even they did, I'D BE FUCKING DEAD, wouldn't I?" I screamed hysterically, much to the amusement of Asch the Bloody. To put it nicely, he looked like a little kid who'd gotten everything he'd wanted for Christmas.

"Not all originals die; I'm alive, for one thing," he replied tauntingly.

"Well, yeah, but... there's still no way! I've never been anywhere near a replica facility-"

"That's not true," Cloak Girl interrupted suddenly, with an idle toss of her head.

"Yes it is! I'm pretty damn sure I'd know if I got-"

"Ever heard of amnesia, rat?" Asch asked roughly, still bearing a sadistic grin.

"That... that can't be it..." I gasped.

"Many attempts were made to create a successful replica," Cloak Girl explained, still in a flat monotone. "Most of them failed due to your..."

"Your body isn't composed of fonons... or it wasn't, back then. It made the replication process a lot more difficult... or so I've heard," Asch added. "So... I take it you still don't remember any of it."

"You... you're lying... there's no way... why the hell would anyone want to make a replica of ME?" I practically screamed.

"I don't know," Asch shrugged. "I had nothing to do with any of that."

"Useless..." I grumbled. "Fucking USELESS!" I swore and ran at Asch, preparing to stab and slice and generally injure him with the stolen katana of Cloak Girl's.

About two seconds later my stolen katana was back in its owner's hand and I was on the ground with two swords hovering at my throat, breathing heavily as I continued to freak out. I wouldn't quite call it hyperventilation seeing as I wasn't drowning in fear, but disbelief and anger instead.

"You need to work on controlling your emtions," Cloak Girl droned. "It is not difficult for me."

"That's because those bastards raised you from a blank slate to a mindless drone..." I growled. "How long... have you been alive?"

"Four months."

"WHAT? But I've only been here for two months-" I shook my head a little. "Never mind... How the hell are you already able to walk and fight and stuff?" And how can you just stand there with a straight face with your back sliced open?

"That is none of your concern." Bitch. Uh... oh, yeah, later on in the game they could program replicas to do stuff, implant knowledge and all that. It makes sense that they'd do the same for this one... but I didn't know they already knew how to do that at this point.

"Fine... then what's your name?" I asked shakily, jerking my head back slightly from discomfort. Having a blade just a hair away from a vital artery is never fun, believe me.

"I have no name."

"I see..." I muttered, gulping nervously as Asch prodded my exposed throat with the tip of his sword. "Th-then... from now on... I'm calling you Toshi."

"What the hell? Why bother give this pathetic little replica a name?" Asch snarled, glaring at the newly christened Toshi. "She'll just be tossed aside as soon as I take you back to them."

"WHAT?" I yelled. "You mean you'd kill one of your own, just like that?"

"It's not up to me, but I don't really care either way."

"That's... that's bullshit!" I yelled, backing away hurriedly and jolting to my feet. "Hey! Toshi! Are you really okay with that?"

"My only goal is working for the cause. I am an expendable resource for that cause. If I am to expended for the good of the cause, then so be it." Toshi tilted her head slightly, as if considering me. It made me think of one of my mother's cats right before it kills a mouse. "Why do you call me Toshi?"

"It means 'mirror image.' It was... the first thing that came to mind," I gasped, still unnerved by her face. It was MY freaking face, for the love of anime and manga. The really weird thing was, she looked like me but... she was prettier. I don't mean to sound like a lesbian or anything (I do NOT swing that way), but she looked rather nice. Not drop dead gorgeous or anything, not way overdone like those slutty broads on the covers of those preppy gossip magazines, but... yeah. It was wrong, it had to be... someone that nice-looking couldn't be a replica of me.

I know I'M not the replica. I have all my memories... except for this supposed replication process... but what if they're just trying to get to me? Toshi here is way too pretty to be a replica of me... she might be a replica of someone who happens to look a hella lot like me.

"You... you're not telling the truth," I muttered. "There's NO WAY you're my replica, you're too pretty. And besides, when I woke up in Baticul I still had all my possessions, including my iPod, and the clothes I left home in. Try explaining THAT," I hissed venomously, backing up another step. Toshi sheathed her katana absently and leaned against the nearby stone wall, breathing a little heavily. Ah, the blood loss must be getting to her.

"What do you mean, when you woke up in Baticul?" Asch asked suddenly, completely forgetting about Toshi as he stomped toward me. Augh, SHIT! How could I let that slip?

"I left home, then next thing I know I'm in Baticul," I blurted without thinking.

"Really... interesting." Asch paced slowly in a circle around me. CREEEEEEEEEPY... "And you don't remember anything in between at all?"

"No," I grumbled. "Stop walking around me like that. It's creepy as hell... I assure you, I am not edible..." Asch makes an unpleasant face and shoves me roughly into the nearby stone wall. He decided to sheathe his sword and glared me down as I swore and rubbed my throbbing left shoulder.

"You're a pain in the ass, you know that?"

"And you're a petty, vengeful stalker," I shot back. I got punched in the face for that little comment; I think I saw Toshi twitch a little, as if sympathetic, even as she swayed on her feet and dropped to one knee. I recovered from the throbbing pain in the left side of my jaw after a minute and cast my lookalike a concerned glance.

"C-Commander..." she gasped. "I am in need of urgent medical attention..."

"H-hey..." I stuttered as Asch turned away. "Aren't you going to help her?"

"No."

"What- WHY THE HELL NOT?"

"Because it bothers you."

"This... this was your surprise...?" I asked cautiously, eyeing Toshi as she continued to plead for help. "Letting me find out she exists and making me watch her die?"

"Well, I didn't plan the part about the little replica dying, but that makes it all the better." I choked on air for a second, then swung my arm in a wide circle and punched Asch in the face as hard as I could, which was made easer by pretending he was Luke for a brief moment. I realized with silent glee that 1: I hadn't broken any fingers that time. 2: I definitely caught the sadist off guard.

"You're a SICK bastard!" I yelled harshly, withdrawing my throbbing fist.

"...Call me what you like, wretch. Maybe now you'll try harder to keep your big mouth shut." Asch wiped away a little bit of blood at the edge of his mouth and gave me a critical look. "Well, now that you've had your fun, you can either come quietly or get the beating of a lifetime. Take your pick."

"You, Oracle Knight! Don't move!" a Kimlascan soldier yelled at the top of his lungs, running from the direction of the aircar. Asch made a face like he had just swallowed a lemon and glared forlornly at me. Toshi, meanwhile, finally lost consciousness and sprawled out on the cold ground.

"You always get backup at the least convenient times..." he grumbled. He made another unpleasant face, walked briskly over to Toshi, picked her up with almost no effort, and ran like hell down the obsolete path that had been used before the aircar was installed. The Kimlascan soldier swore out loud and moved to follow the retreating general, but froze when he saw the shape I was in.

Okay, to put it nicely, I was having a mental breakdown of sorts. I was sitting there, holding my head in my hands, gasping and choking as I started to cry yet again. I had watched someone who looked almost identical to me get slashed for no real reason, beg for help and get denied, and then... well, she wasn't dead when Asch had grabbed her and ran, but she probably wouldn't survive; her blood was all over the place.

Of course, the main reason I was breaking down (again) was that everything was happening way too fast. Auldrant, manor job, hyperresonance, traveling, concussion, PCP, interrogation, being chased by an awful lot of people, finding out that I had been replicated... it was just too much. I never have and never will handle stress well, AT ALL. I think I scared the soldier when I punched the stone wall next to me, broke my hand (judging by the loud series of snapping sounds) and continued to generally freak out.

"Lorelei and Yulia..." said soldier gasped. "Are you all right...?"

"DO I BLOODY LOOK ALL RIGHT?" I yelled hysterically, leaping to my feet in a second. "I'VE BEEN HAVING A REALLY ROUGH TIME LATELY AND I NEED TO FUCKING BREAK SOMETHING!" I ignored the horrible pain in my right hand and the tears streaming down my face as I punched the stone wall again. Pain in the hand got worse. Did I bloody care at the time? Hell no.

"Lorelei and Yulia..." the soldier gasped again. I guess that's the Auldrant version of 'Oh, my God' or something along those lines. "If you keep punching that wall, you're gonna break your arm..."

"I DON'T FUCKING CARE!" I shrieked, ramming my fist into the wall again and leaving a bloody imprint behind. I would have kept going if I hadn't been grabbed by behind and dragged toward the aircar. I screamed and struggled against whoever had grabbed me (it wasn't the soldier; he was too shocked to even move.) In retrospect, I'm honestly surprised at how... feral... I sounded.

"Jeez..." Voice. Familiar. Who cares? Hand. Pain. So what?

"LET GO! LET GO OF MEEEE!" I wailed, once again dissolving into tears. I fell to my knees in front of whoever it was that had grabbed me and started sobbing loudly again. The person behind me hesitated, then dropped on one knee next to me.

"W-Wallflower..." Oh. Luke. Person. Does it matter? No. "What... what happened?"

"I... I need... to break something..." I sniffed, still crying.

"Look, if this is about what I said before-" Luke started awkwardly. Luke. Talking. Listen? Why? I coughed a bit and lowered my head more.

"Damn that... sadistic bastard..." I sniffed miserably as the tears continued to fall. Luke grunted and I looked up slightly to see him muttering to Guy, who had apparently nudged him or kicked him or something. Some muttering from Guy could be heard.

"WHAT? Why?" Luke asked loudly, looking at Guy as if he were an alien. Guy. Luke. Talking. Listen? Try...

"Because I obviously can't, and she needs it," Guy replied sternly. "It won't hurt anything, Luke."

"...Fine... but if Natalia starts to chew me out-"

"She won't."

"Whatever," Luke grumbled. I barely noticed due to the hysteria, but he seemed bothered by something... maybe the fact that I was sobbing loudly right in front of him yet again. I didn't even bother to consider it further; I couldn't even try, really, especially when Luke hesitantly hugged me.

Oh noes. Fangirl murder. FAAAANNGIIIIIIIIRRRRLLL MUUUUUURDEEEEEERR...

"Okay, now what?" Luke asked, looking up at Guy.

"Just wait until she calms down."


Unfortunately I didn't calm down for some time. FANGIRL MURDER. Oh jeez, must sleep with one eye open now.

Tear set about healing my hand (and the few little nicks and scratches from Asch's sword) while Luke let me go with a huge sigh of relief. Guy merely watched from a reasonable distance with crossed arms and a concerned frown. After I was fixed up (and convinced Guy that my hysteria had NOT interfered with my ability to walk) we headed back to the main part of the city via aircar, as we had earlier that day. Did anyone speak? NOPE.

It was only after we got to the front of Luke's manor that I got pelted with questions. Well, at least they had the courtesy to wait that long.

"Temari, what happened?" Tear asked, hands on hips and with a motherly I'll-kill-the-bastard-that-hurt-you expression. Well, that was really more of a MY mother-ly expression... but that's beside the point entirely.

"I-I... I saw Asch the Bloody again..." I muttered. I'll have to tell them about Toshi, too... but I'll be leaving out the part where she's a replica... of ME... "There was this girl with him. I had her constrained and he slashed at me; I dodged but that girl got cut open... and he just let her suffer...!"

"That explains all the blood down there..." Guy muttered, his voice laden with disgust.

"Then what?" Luke asked, also disgusted but insatiably curious.

"They started telling me all these stupid lies... I know I shouldn't have let it get to me, but..." I made a face and looked away. "...I'm sorry... for getting all hysterical like that..."

"It's okay, Temari. Don't worry about it."

"It's NOT okay. I'm the only one who ever complains about ANYTHING and it's fucking ridiculous..." I grumbled as I rubbed my throbbing head. Tear crossed her arms and made that familiar get-ready-for-a-tongue-lashing face.

"That is NOT true. Luke complains all the time; and besides, you don't speak often enough to complain." I looked away as Tear continued her miniature lecture. "You shouldn't put yourself down so much, Temari."

"Yeah, she's right. You need to have more confidence in yourself," Guy added. He nudged Luke with his elbow as inconspicuously as he could, but Luke made it obvious when he loudly protested.

"What?"

"You have something to say to her," Guy hissed, making an angry face at his redheaded master.

"Huh? Oh, yeah..." Luke tossed his head a little and turned to look at me. "Wallflower, I was wrong. You're not flat." It only took one look at his face to tell that he was thinking 'I'm such a good liar' when he obviously wasn't good at lying at all. As an experienced liar myself, I should know. Please note that I said "experienced" and not "good."

"Not that, you idiot!" Guy yelled, shoving Luke a little more roughly than usual as my face turned red and Tear facepalmed.

"No, Guy, it's fine..." I mumbled. "Master Luke, can you swim?"

"No, why?"

"Then it's a very good thing we're not at the port anymore..."

"Dammit, what did I do to piss you off, anyway?" Luke asked with a deep snarl.

"Oh, I don't know, Master Luke," I replied in a sickeningly sweet voice. "Maybe it was that thing where you claimed that my parents don't want me. For your bloody information, Mom was bawling her eyes out when I left and also, I never asked any of you to feel sorry for me." I crossed my arms and made the best neutral-evil face I could. "I don't expect an apology, sir, but I would very much appreciate it if you would refrain from talking about my family any further. Is that too much to ask?" I drew the words out in a slow, deliberate, almost threatening hiss, much like Jade's tone of voice when he had interrogated me on the Katsbert Ferry.

"You're starting to sound like Jade," Luke noted absently, trying to act like I hadn't disturbed him at all. I shrugged and headed toward the manor, nodding once at the unpleasant guard (the nice one was off his shift.)

"Oh really? Maybe if I'm lucky my eyes will turn red..."


I despise mornings. Too bright. FAR too bright. It makes me even more mad when someone comes in my room and wakes me up. With my family, it's always, "Good morning, now get your ass out of bed and get to work." Or, as my brother might say, "Hey, Sister! Go clean up that cat mess!"

As much as I hated it, I forced myself to get up AT BLOODY DAWN and go wait outside the BLOODY inn for Ion and warn him that there is a BLOODY plot to make BLOODY terrible things happen (to him.) Fortunately I remembered to grab my sword, and decided to pack my travel bag (iPod, journal, bandages, dagger, wallet, food, sword sharpening stone, polishing stuff, small fonon lantern.) Yes, I intended to go to Akzeriuth with or without the invitation. If Duke Fabre decided to fire me, then I could find a better job elsewhere. Maybe Ion would make me a Fon Master Guardian if I asked...

I was still seething from Luke's idiocy. Even though the rest of the previous night led to him avoiding me like the plague, that stupid comment about... ugh... made me want to break his face. Sure, he's a man and all, he's probably not going to be an expert at being all touchy-feely, but what kind of BLOODY idiot comments on... that... after watching a girl freaking BREAK DOWN into BLOODY hysterics? He didn't even apologize for the other stupid comment he made about my parents, though I honestly didn't expect him to.

"Too... bloody... bright..." I grumbled as I loitered around at the inn's entrance. Okay. Ion will be coming out here-I can stop him. He won't put up a fight, he's way too docile. Soooo we can avoid that trip to that bloody desert ruin, get to Chesedonia, get to Akzeriuth, plunge into a poisonous hell and have a LOVELY spot of tea. Whoot.

"Temari? What are you doing out here?" Ion asked as the inn's door creaked open. WOOOW, that was fast. He's an early riser for sure, this one. Must be something the original hammered into him all the time.

"Oh, good... I wasn't sure if I'd catch you..." I sighed. "Fon Master, please don't go anywhere for awhile. I ran into those Dark Wings yesterday and I just KNOW they're planning something unpleasant."

"We saw them too... and they were talking with Oracle soldiers..." Ion muttered, looking concerned. "Temari, you should come inside with me. You probably aren't safe out here."

"M-me? Ion, dear, you're probably the one they're after," I pointed out quietly. Ion shook his adorable little head and grabbed my arm.

"The Oracle Knights have been trying to capture you as well. You're in just as much danger as I am." Even after all that, he was more worried about me than himself. That little darling is so sweet and adorable it defies logic.

"I-Ion..." I stuttered. NONONONONO DO NOT HUG THE CUTE ONE YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T. "Um..." Ion smiled at me brightly and gently pulled me towards the door to the inn.

"Now, why don't we have some breakfast?"

"W-well..." I mumbled awkwardly. Just then, I got another sudden flare of PCP and ended up on one knee, swearing and hissing in agony. Ion looked on in horror as I pounded the poor ground with my fist; stupid, I know, but I was trying to distract myself from that horrible, piercing pain. DAAAAMMMITT! It's getting worse and worse... it hurts so much... dammit...

"Temari! What is it? Are you wounded?" Ion asked, kneeling in front of me. I managed only to cut off a pained grunt and shake my head slightly, but the pain was so bad I could barely even breathe. Everything felt as if it were being stabbed by something very, very hot and that something was being twisted CONSTANTLY.

"It... it's nothing..." I managed to gasp.

"Temari, if you're in so much pain you can't even stand, it's a lot more than nothing." Ion got to his feet with one fluid motion. "I'll go get a doctor. Please wait inside the inn, all right?" As the PCP gradually faded, I remembered the whole reason I was in front of the inn and grabbed Ion's sleeve as he turned away.

"I-Ion, don't... If... you go out... into the city... you'll most likely... get captured..." I wheezed as I tugged on Ion's sleeve some more. "It's nothing... Ion, please... please don't go..." I reached my other hand out and wrapped my fingers around Ion's arm. I sat there clinging to Ion's left arm for another two minutes or so until the PCP finally came to an end. I took a huge breath, exhaled slowly, and stood up as if nothing had happened.

"Temari..." Ion started, looking at me with those big green eyes. So... cute... must not hug... "Let's go to the hospital. You need to see a doctor right away."

"N-no..." I protested weakly. "No doctors... I HATE doctors... and it's nothing to worry about, really. I'm all right."

"I still think-"

"Ioooonn... why are you up so eeeaaarlyyy...?" Anise yawned slowly as she trudged out of the inn. She rubbed her eyes blearily and looked over at me. Her expression changed to one of mild surprise, then sympathy.

"Good morning, Anise," I greeted with a bow of my head.

"Temari? Why're you here?"

"I have a bad feeling about those frickin' Dark Wings, so... I wanted to try to provide Ion with extra security, if possible."

"Oh... um..." Anise looked away, as if troubled by something. "Temari... I heard about what happened last night."

"Ungh... oh. That? I-it's no big deal..." I stuttered, waving a hand as if dismissing the subject. I glanced at Ion, whose expression had also morphed into one of sympathy. "Master Luke just... was himself... I guess."

"Anise, I want to take Temari to the hospital. Could you come with us, please?" Ion asked cordially, casting me a concerned glance. Damn. I was hoping he'd forgot.

"The hospital? Why?" Anise asked, tilting her head.

"Temari was in a lot of pain earlier. I'm worried..." Do NOT hug him, especially not with Anise right friggin' there!

"It's nothing," I said yet again, managing a smile.

"No, we should go anyway," Anise declared loudly. My hopes were painfully shot down. FUCK. I guess I should find out what the deal is with this damn PCP, but not with Anise and Ion or anybody else with me...

"I-I can't, actually. Not now," I replied quietly, spurred on by a sudden recollection. "I have to be in the king's audience chamber soon. But... I promise I'll go see a doctor later, okay?" I offered hopefully, as Anise and Ion exchanged a look.

"...Fine. Can we go with you?"

"Of course. I'd be honored." I bowed my head as a gesture of humility, then turned on my heel and started heading toward the elevator. Anise and Ion followed without a word. Ha! Take that, friggin' Dark Meat Chicken Wings! I cheered in my head as we all smushed into the elevator and initiated the ascent.


At first, I was denied entry by the two guards standing on either side of the ten foot tall doors to Baticul's castle. I was about to march over to the manor and have Duke Fabre make them move (uh, wait, he's probably already at the castle... damn...) but adorable little Ion politely told them, "She's with me, let her through."

Two words describe the interior of the castle: huge, and red. So much frickin' RED. And the sheer size... you could have very easily fit my house in the entrance hall; hell, maybe even my aunt's house along with it.

"Whoa..." I gasped. "This is freakin'... just... wow..."

"You've never been in here, Temari?" Anise asked, inclining her head slightly.

"Never. I'm just a servant, after all..." I muttered, still struck by the sheer size and... red-ness of the place. I shook my head as I tore my eyes away from the impressive sight. "S-so, let's get going to that audience hall, shall we?"

Needless to say climbing all those bloody stairs was FUN... note my sarcasm. If I was in the same shape as I was back home, I never would have made it. I was pissed at the Kimlascan architects and impressed with myself all at the same time... such a strange feeling, yes. I stood in front of the enormous doors to the drawing room only very slightly winded as we were placed under the scrutiny of two guards stationed there.

"Temari Haruhara?" one asked curtly, to which I nodded and bowed my head.

"Yes, sir." I looked up. "I am accompanied by Fon Master Ion and his Fon Master Guardian, Anise Tatlin. May they enter?"

"I'm afraid not. This is a meeting that the King and Duke Fabre arranged with you and you alone," the same guard (on the left) replied. Wow, just for me? It must be about Van, then.

"Please enter. The King awaits," the other commanded politely, gesturing toward the doors as Anise made a very irritated face at him. HOOOOOOLY SHIT I'm gonna go talk to a frickin' KING holy shiiiiit... I forced my anxious trembling to stop as I strolled to the enormous doors (they were HUGE. Freaking Largo could have walked through with Asch standing on his shoulders, and Asch would NOT have hit his head) and shoved them open.

Huge. Huge, and red, and important people all looking at me and HOLY SHIT VAN IN CHAINS YEEEEEESS.

"Ah, you must be Temari," Ingobert smiled kindly at me as Van gave me a look.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty..." I mumbled, bowing and refraining from giving Van an evil grin. Yup, it's about Van. No matter what I say, his ass is SOOOO in jail... but I really shouldn't lie about the hyperresonance thing. That could cause all KINDS of problems.

"Do you know why you have been asked to attend this meeting?" Natalia asked, seated next to her "father."

"No, Your Highness. Duke Fabre merely asked me to attend."

"They want you to testify against me," Van grunted, rattling the chains around his wrists. I made a surprised face.

"Oh... oh dear..." I muttered. THROW HIM IN JAIL WHERE HE CAN DIE A SLOW PAINFUL DEATH AND FRY IN THE DAMNING FLAMES OF IMAGINARY HELL! Van was promptly nudged (very roughly) by one of the three soldiers flanking him. Geez, they sure are uneasy about that man... for good reasons, too... friggin' Family Vehicle...

"It is as Van said. We need your account of the incident," Duke Fabre explained as he shot said evil man a dirty look. "Tell us exactly what happened." I took a huge breath, physically forced myself not to glare at Van, and started recounting the events of Remday, Rem-Decan 23.

"I was training in the courtyard with Master Luke. Dorian General Grants and Guy Cecil were present... um, so was Pere... uh..." I smacked myself mentally. IDIOT! These people are ROYALTY, talk NORMAL! "Then we heard a fonic hymn, and Locrain Sergeant Tear Grants appeared and attempted to assassinate Van." I lowered my gaze to the floor momentarily, then looked back up at Ingobert and continued. "I attempted to guard Master Luke. He insisted upon trying to help Dorian General Grants, and attacked Tear. I decided to help as best I could." Fudge... I suck at telling stories... "Master Luke and Tear's Seventh Fonons interacted and a hyperresonance occured. We were blown away to Malkuth territory..."

"I see..." Ingobert grunted thoughtfully. "Did Van have anything to do with the events that conspired?"

"No, Your Majesty. He was almost the victim of an assassination; he did not cause the hyperresonance, nor was he conspiring with his sister." Hey... I'm getting better at this... I looked away to make eye contact with Van, who gave me a very surprised look in return. "Please do not punish this man for crimes he did not commit."

"...Take him to the prisoner's cell," Ingobert commanded, to which the soldiers flanking Van gladly obliged. I bit my lip to keep from cheering and decided to protest to seem normal.

"Y-your Majesty...! I-I assure you, Dorian General Grants is not guilty!" I declared, just remembering to keep my voice down. Not guilty of the hyperresonance, but VERY guilty being a petty, arrogant, revenge-driven, homicidal bastard.

"Van will not be executed. We will need to discuss this further at a later date." Ingobert leaned back in his throne. "There is something else we'd like to ask of you, Temari."

"Yes, Your Majesty...?" I asked, watching as Van was escorted from the audience hall.

"Luke will be going to Akzeriuth as an ambassador. Please accompany him."

"Yes, sir," I agreed, mentally shrieking in fear. "If I may ask, why do you wish for me to accompany him?" I asked, internally cringing at the very sour look Natalia was giving me. Friggin' possessive fiancee, is she not? FUCK, she's probably going to give me a hard time...

"You are his personal attendant. Also, you have managed to protect him on his way to back Baticul," Duke Fabre replied. I didn't protect him from jack shit... he was helping me more often than not, you all are IDIOTS.

"I-I see..." I muttered. Natalia stopped glaring at me and summoned a White Knight almost silently. She muttered something to him, then he nodded and clanked on out of the audience hall like his life depended on it.

"I sent a messenger to Luke. He'll be joining us soon," Natalia explained to her father. Oh, crap. I need to act clueless again.

"M-Master Luke? I-If I may ask, Your Highness, do you need his account of the incident as well?"

"No, we need to ask him to be our ambassador," Ingobert replied as Natalia started to glare at me again.

"B-but... you said he was going to be an ambassador... when he hasn't even agreed to it yet?" I asked quietly, squirming under Natalia's evil look.

"He will do this for us. It's his duty as a noble; I know he won't refuse," Natalia sighed, irritably, as if she wanted to stomp on my head or something. I nodded again and bowed so Natalia wouldn't get to glare at my face.

"Should I leave?"

"No."

So I get to stand here while Luke drags his lazy ass up here. It's like Ingobert here is telling me "Bitch, stand there and look ugly while we wait for our idiot human sacrifice." I repressed a shudder as I remembered the true intent of every person in that room (except me, of course...) Send Luke to "save Akzeriuth" when they all knew through that bloody Score that he was going to destroy it and die. But it was the SCORE. It HAD to be obeyed. The very thought made me sick to my stomach. Everyone, even his own "father", was sending him off to die.

All because of seven huge rocks with chicken scratch on them from TWO THOUSAND BLOODY YEARS AGO. Religious people can be painfully idiotic at times; such as the ones who started the Salem Witch Hunt and those churchy people that burn Harry Potter books because they have SORCERY and SORCERY is a devil art or something. Now, don't assume; I am NOT saying that ALL religious people are idiots. Just the ones who take their beliefs WAAAY too far.

Twenty minutes of standing like a statue later (during which Jade showed up and talked to Ingobert a bit), Luke slams the doors open and struts in like he owns the world with Tear and Mohs behind him. First thing he says makes me want to hurt him even more.

"What? Why the hell is the Wallflower here?" I grit my teeth and forced myself not to say anything. I tuned out the conversation due to not wanting to hear it again, but it was basically: 'Luke, go to this city and represent us because this pretty shiny rock says so.' 'I dun waaaannaaa...' 'If you go, we'll send Van.' 'Ooh! Okay!' Then Luke ran off to go visit Van. I sighed and followed him out of the room just so I could stop choking on the 'BITCH-OBEY-ME' vibes coming from almost everyone in that room... and to keep from trying to strangle Mohs. I settled for giving him the most evil look I could muster; said evil look had once scared away a drunken thug back home...

Don't think about home.

I shook my head a little as I noticed Luke roughly shove a White Knight aside. Sure, he's the duke's son, but for the love of anime and manga, there are some things he shouldn't be getting away with. THAT, for one. Anise and Ion had apparently gone outside, to which I paid little heed. I decided to follow Luke a bit more, even if it meant getting yelled at afterwards.

The White Knight closest to the door stopped me from entering due to me not being royalty or a guest. I gave up without a fight and decided to just wait in the entrance hall for Luke instead. During which I got a few weird looks and noticed a chip in a pillar that looked rather... unnatural. I wonder how that happened... maybe it's just Asch's way of saying "BITCH I WAS HERE." I decided to hide behind said pillar when Natalia walked on by to find Luke (and end up eavesdropping.) I had to hide again as she came out, looking concerned, and she crossed the hall and headed to her room. After awhile, I faintly heard a door open.

"Hey. Wallflower. Master Van wants to talk to you." Oh, so I get to listen to Van... Wait. What?

"Wh-what?" I asked airily as Luke emerged from the other side of the door. To say he looked irritated would be a vast understatement.

"You heard me. Master Van wants to talk to you. Alone. And hurry it up, would you?"

"O-oh... yes, sir." I bowed and slipped through the doorway, sending a taunting look at the White Knight as I passed. Oh CRAP, what does he want? I'm SOOO glad I have my sword-worst comes to worst, I can just stab him and run. Van was just on the other side of said door, with his arms crossed and a serious look on his face.

"Temari. We need to talk," Van grunted, bowing slightly as a form of greeting. I refrained from making a face at him.

"I kind of knew that, seeing as how you sent Luke to fetch me," I replied stiffly. "What do we need to talk about?" There was a brief pause, then Van grabbed my arm, opened the nearest door, and practically flung me inside. He dashed in the room shortly afterward and hurriedly closed the door. "Aaugh... what the hell-"

"I know where you're from, Temari." OH. SHIT. OH. FUCKING. SHIT. I bit my lip to avoid showing fear, then tried to stick to my lie. There's no way he knows. He's just trying to scare some information out of me.

"Yeah, I'm from Belkend. Why is that so impressive?"

"You're lying."

"You think so?" I asked testily, making an impassive face.

"You don't have to pretend, Temari. I know who you are, where you're from. I can help you, if you let me," Van urged in a persuasive hiss.

"I'm NOT pretending anything, and I do NOT need your help," I growled.

"You're lying," Van accused again. "You've told us a lot of things and none of them have been the truth."

"You can't prove that," I shot back.

"Oh, I'm sure I can." Van reached into his pocket and withdrew a piece of paper. "This 'letter' you sent to your family has nothing written on it."

"That's just a piece of paper. You can't prove I sent that to my family."

"I got it from the carrier pigeon you almost killed."

"You can't prove that either." I crossed my arms and laughed harshly. "Ha. You can't prove anything."

"That's not true." Van shoved the paper back in his pocket and changed the subject. "Have you been in pain recently?"

Oh my imaginary gawd.

Pain.

The PCP.

"No, why?" I lied, trying to fight down my rising panic. Oh my imaginary GAWD, what did this bastard DO to me? "Is this why you ordered Asch the Bloody to capture me, because you think I'm pretending or something?"

"I didn't order Asch to capture you." Liar. LIAR.

"Yes you DID, you command the Six God-Generals! I'm not a bloody idiot!" I yelled, as panic enveloped my mind. Van smirked a little, as if saying 'ha, got you to snap.' He hid it as quickly as he could and tried to act reassuring.

"They are part of the Grand Maestro faction, Temari. They're likely under orders from Mohs," he explained slowly and patronizingly. "That's not the point, though. I want to help you, Temari."

"Yeah, I'm sure you do," I grouched sarcastically. How do you explain Toshi? Or the fact that Asch has tried to KILL me? I grabbed the doorknob and flung the door open with far more force than necessary. Van grabbed my arm as I tried to leave.

"It seems I still have to earn your trust... just remember, my offer still stands."


I felt filthy, disgusting, and ended up running to the nearest bathroom to scrub the arm Van had grabbed twice. EWWWWW! Family Vehicle TOUCHED me, GEEEEERRRMMSSS! I scrubbed my arm even more, with my sleeve rolled up and gloves torn off. Does he REALLY know...? Seriously? ...Well, whether he does know or not, he certainly doesn't want to "help" me. He just wants to add me to his tool collection. If he thinks he can sweet-talk me, I'VE GOT BLOODY NEWS FOR HIM.

I dried my hands and arm, rolled down my sleeve, and shoved my gloves back on as I headed out of the castle. This is going to be bloody delightful. Luke and Tear are going to ATTACK me and demand to know what Van and I talked about...

"Hey! Wallflower!" Luke waved a bit, still looking irritated. I tried very hard not to look at Van as he looked at me.

"Hello again, everyone," I greeted, with a small bow. Jade, hurry up and arrange the decoy and get this disgusting bastard AWAY. "I'm sorry I took so long. I got a little lost."

"Temari, we've decided to travel by land to Chesedonia and send a decoy ship out instead." Thank you, Mr. Suspicious.

"Oh... Mohs is causing problems again?" I asked as Tear made an unpleasant face.

"Well, we don't know for sure that it's Mohs..."

"I'll board the decoy ship," Van announced. By all means, do. I wish they would sink it.

"I see," I mumbled. Van exchanged a few words with Luke and Tear and left, much to my relief. I allowed myself to glare like hell at his retreating back, which I'm sure Jade noticed; he didn't comment, instead deciding to make some preparations and left me standing there with Luke, Tear, and Guy.

"So that leaves the cold-blooded woman, the flat-chested Wallflower, and the woman-hater..." Luke sighed, examining all of us like fascinating objects. Tear facepalmed at Luke's tactlessness as my face heated up again. Guy, being the sensible one, could smell a fight coming on and decided to divert the tense attention.

"Hey, don't give people the wrong idea. I LOVE women!"

"Womanizer much?" I muttered, to which Luke sniggered a bit.

"I'm not sure shouting declarations that you're a womanizer is much better," Tear agreed, facepalming again.

"Hey, Wallflower. What did you and Master Van talk about?" Oh, look. The Question.

"Stuff," I replied vaguely. "I got a little loud because he keeps denying that he sent Asch the Bloody after me when HE COMMANDS THE FRIGGIN' GOD-GENERALS..."

"Luke, that was a nosy question," Tear scolded, crossing her arms. Yeah, it was, but you wanted to know too. Luke shot back a biting retort, which led to another miniature argument that Guy ended up breaking up by calling it a "lovers' quarrel" and inciting their wrath. With that, we headed off toward the elevator; I bit back a groan for my dislike of heights.

"Temari?" Tear asked quietly.

"Eh?" I grunted.

"Aren't you still... angry at Luke?"

"Of course. I'm plotting my revenge as we speak." Luke twitched noticeably as the elevator arrived at the destination. After we met back up with Jade, we were promptly attacked by a panic-stricken Anise, who I woefully noticed was lacking her Ion. Oh HELL no... don't tell me I got up at dawn for NOTHING...

"Luuuuke!" Anise glomped said aristocrat around the waist. "Ion got kidnapped by those Dark Wings!" Of bloody course. I swore foully and facepalmed.

"DAMN it... fuckin' Dark Meat Chicken Wings!" I yelled loudly, much to the alarm of the nearby soldiers. "I KNEW I should have just gone Fear Garden on them yesterday..."

"D-Dark Meat Chicken Wings?" Luke asked, trying not to laugh as he shoved Anise away.

"Don't ask..." I grumbled. "We should go after the bloody idiots. Today is just a LOVELY day for a fight, you know?"

"We can't! Sync the Tempest is right outside the city!" Him. Oh, lovely.

"So we can't leave Baticul?" I asked weakly. Anise got a little confused and Luke briefly and hurriedly explained the decoy ship plan.

"Damn it, we've got to find a way out..." Guy, that's your cue.

"What about that old abandoned factory?"

"Abandoned factory?" ...And you may or may not know how it goes from there. We agreed to go to said abandoned factory, and to take Anise along so she could hunt down widdle Ion. Hence all of us crowding onto the next elevator (poor Guy smushed himself in the corner.)

"I missed you, Luke... but you're always with Tear and Temari, aren't you..." Anise pouted, as she pursued her MARRY-INTO-MONEY plot.

"Sorry, Anise-I'm not with him willingly," I objected, discreetly keeping my eyes covered. This ridiculous fear of heights HAS to go...

"Neither am I," Tear agreed automatically.

"...Ouch..." Luke muttered miserably. I could faintly hear Guy sniggering a little. When Luke turned around and glared at him, he only sniggered more loudly. He then grabbed my arm and acted as though he was going to fling me at him. Guy stopped sniggering at once. Ooh, low blow, man. That's just not fair.

As soon as we got out of that elevator (much to Guy's relief) I just noticed the aircar that goes to the abandoned factory leave the station with a bright blue and white figure inside. Uh-oh... Hannah Montana's on the loose. I bit my lip as another very brief and minor bout of PCP flared up and immediately dissipated. Oblivious to my pain, Luke led everyone toward the empty aircar dock, which quickly filled the vacancy again. Oh, yeah, I was supposed to see a doctor... too bad. Fortunately Anise is too preoccupied with the missing Ion to bother me about it.

Guy immediately noted the absence of the guard (I bitterly remembered him as the one who pulled my hair my first day in Baticul) and a civilian idly explained it to him as he passed. Of course, he also mentioned that someone else had taken the aircar... cough Natalia... but no one thought much of it as we piled in that aircar (I saw poor Guy cringe visibly...) and sent it on its way.


Dark factory shaky aircar WHOA DUSTY OILY NASTY SMELL. And a LOT of drippy noises. I huggled Mieu like a plushy as we clamored on out of the aircar, much to said fluffy thing's confusion. I was careful not to squeeze him too hard and started absently scratching his ears as I would if he were a cat. Needless to say Mieu didn't complain.

"This place smells bloody wonderful..." I drawled sarcastically as Mieu made a cute noise similar to a purr. "So... I suppose we're going in a general THAT WAY direction...?" I asked quietly, jerking my head toward the dark, musty doom ahead.

"Yeah," Guy replied rather gruffly. Huh. Must be irritable because of being smushed in a small place with three girls. Repeatedly. Poor man.

"It's really hard to see... and Thing can't breathe fire the whole time..." Luke muttered irritably. I shifted Mieu in my arms and freed my right hand. I then took out my tiny travel pack with that awesome arte applied and fished out the fonon lantern. I held it up in the air above my head and grinned at it.

"Ha. I knew bringing this was a good idea." Yeah, now if only I knew how to use it...

"Very good thinking, Temari," Tear praised lightly, taking the fonon lantern and lighting it with Mieu. As soon as light enveloped the area, I whirled around to see Natalia standing RIGHT BLOODY BEHIND ME.

"HOLY HELL!" I screeched, jerking away and bumping into Luke. Natalia merely gave me a haughty, irritated look as everyone else stared at her like she was an alien. She smirked and looked over at Luke, who looked like he had recently swallowed a lemon.

"I found you."

"Wh-what are you DOING here? And why are you dressed like that?" Luke practically screamed as he shoved me away (unfortunately toward Guy, who immediately retreated as far as he could as I fell on my face.)

"Two bitter enemies are about to make peace. This is no time for a princess to be sitting at home."

"Sure it is," I muttered sourly. Thankfully, I was ignored by everyone except Anise, who shot me an irritated (but agreeing) look. "Uh, Your Highness... with all due respect, you will probably be much more useful by staying in Baticul..."

"You may end up having to fight PEOPLE, you know; not just monsters," Luke grouched as he crossed his arms.

"I paid a visit to northern Chesedonia three years ago to encourage the troops. I am prepared for battle," Natalia snipped, whirling her head to glare at me. Okay, this idiotic Mean Girl treatment is already getting ridiculous. I DON'T WANT HER FRIGGIN' FIANCEE.

"Raising morale and actually fighting are two different things. You're probably better off staying behind," Anise replied flatly, but rather politely considering Natalia's tone.

"With all due respect, I have to agree," Tear added, keeping her stony, neutral soldier expression.

"Your Highness... it would be best if you returned to the castle..." Guy offered as the finishing blow. Natalia, highly displeased at the blatant refusal, promptly went from 'proper princess' mode to 'BITCH-OBEY-ME-NOOOWW' mode. I cringed internally at the rather demonic look on her face.

"SILENCE! I am a master of Lanvaldear-style archery! I'm also a studied healer!" Natalia glared at me, Anise, and Tear with obvious scrutiny and pointed at us dramatically as she continued her miniature monlogue. "I'll certainly be more useful than that empty-headed Oracle Knight, that disgraceful, bumbling servant, and that UNCIVIL one."

"Anyone else think I should rip daddy's little girl a new hole?" Anise growled, with her teeth clenched as she lifted Tokunaga from her back. I glanced at Tear to see that she looked completely unfazed by Natalia's bratty insults. Must be the soldier training. Woman, give me your patience. Give it to me NOW.

"How vulgar. You demonstrate your lack of refinement," Natalia snapped as she glared down at Anise.

"Gaaah, whatever. Just don't follow us," Luke warned irritably. Natalia's demonic expression went away and was replaced by a sly, sneaky one. And here comes the blackmail.

"I'll tell them about you-know-what," she threatened smoothly, as she casually turned around.

"What're you talking about...?"

"Something I overheard about you and Van-" Luke promptly spazzed, ran at Natalia, and dragged her away from the group by the arm. Needless to say that earned him quite a few weird looks, from me included. Wow. Haven't seen someone spazz like that since I stabbed that guy with scissors.

The rest of the dreary conversation led to Natalia being added to the team. I never liked Natalia; I always thought she was useless, and her attitude made me want to break something. I just assumed she would be more helpful in actuality and kept my mouth shut in order to keep the peace.

My assumption was correct, as it turns out-Natalia is much more useful than on the game. She's nowhere near as vulnerable, slow, and unreliable, and her aim is nearly flawless. However, there was also the fact that most of the healing spells she would cast would be for either Luke or herself, and the rest of us just had to wait on Tear... or were just shit out of luck. I have an intense dislike for bats now-they, like those damn flying snails, had a habit of flying at my face.

Jade did us all a favor and bitched at Natalia a bit when she started ordering us around. She actually apologized and backed off, but then Luke made her mad... and I kinda helped. Well, I was quietly telling Anise and Tear the story of the Evil series. I had finished the Daughter of Evil part when Luke decided to comment:

"That Daughter of Evil sounds like Natalia."

"Uh, I doubt Natalia has ever had a country destroyed just because of some stupid crush," I corrected quietly, as Natalia verbally abused her fiancee. Anise and Tear gave me expectant looks, as did Natalia when she finished chewing Luke out, so I continued telling the story by explaining Servant of Evil.

"That... that's so sad..." Anise muttered, when that part of the story had been told. "I feel so bad for the servant..."

"I know, right? I don't like his voice very much, but that's just because I'm weird like that..." I mumbled as a reply.

"You don't like his voice?" Tear asked, confused.

"The Evil series is a series of songs. Daughter of Evil is sung by Rin, who represents the princess. Servant of Evil is by Len, who represents the servant, and I'm not a big fan of Len's voice."

"Oh, I see."

"What about the other two songs?"

"Those are both by Rin."

"Ah... could you sing Daughter of Evil for us, then?" Natalia asked politely. I shook my head.

"I don't remember all the lyrics quite right, and I am the worst singer in all of Auldrant."

"I doubt that," Tear objected kindly. I looked at her with a deadpan expression etched upon my unattractive face.

"I'm so bad at singing, I made my neighbors back home move away." Lies. I never made anyone move anywhere. "If I can remember all the lyrics, I'll teach you the song, Tear... if you want to learn it, that is. You have a much better singing voice than I do."

"Thank you, Temari, but I'd rather hear you sing it."

"Uhh..." I bumped into Luke as he abruptly stopped walking.

"...Sing it."

"...What?"

"You heard me. Sing it." I looked up at Luke in absolute horror.

"M-Master Luke, I can't... I don't remember all of the lyrics, and my singing would kill everyone here-"

"GET DOWN!" Jade commanded loudly and suddenly. Luke reacted immediately and tackled me onto the floor just as a huge blade whooshed overhead. Luke's hair got sliced a bit, which he didn't even notice as he crushed me with almost two hundred pounds of arrogant aristocrat. That huge blade embedded itself in the opposite wall; I stared at it in horror.

HOLY SHIT.

If I had been knocked over just a SECOND later, I would have been decapitated by that bloody thing.

"What the FUCK?" I yelled loudly as Luke clamored off of me and drew his sword. A slim figure leaped clean over us and retrieved the enormous sword from the wall. I drew my sword and glared him down as soon as I knew who it was. Guy muttered a foul curse and followed suit, as did Anise, while Natalia merely looked on in blatant confusion (still recovering from the shock of having a sword fly over your head.) Jade merely sighed and conjured his spear.

"Hey, you people. I'm here for Haruhara," Wes explained casually, pointing his sword at me.


Done! Last chapter's cliffhanger almost killed a few of you, didn't it?

Luke: No, but it probably made them mad enough to want to kill you.

Me: Oh dear. Weeell, if you decide not to kill me, my few but beloved reviewers, then you get to hug Luke... or Ion, if you are so inclined.

And about Toshi... HOW THE HELL DID EVERYONE KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO? AM I THAT BLOODY PREDICTABLE? (head/desks repeatedly)

Asch: You can't "head/desk." Your desk is covered in CRAP. Hence why you're hunched over your laptop that is positioned in a chair.

Me: Nyeeeeh.

Asch: Slob.

Me: Daaaamn straaaaight... I WANT ANOTHER GRANOLA BAR. And yes, I actually have stabbed a guy with scissors. He wouldn't stop bothering me, so I grabbed the scissors on the teacher's desk and acted like I was gonna stab him. Then he goes "Stab me, I dare you." So I did... right in front of the substitute teacher... and got away with it... I only stabbed him in the hand, though. No permanent damage. He spazzed and left me alone. ^ ^

AAAAND here is my UTAU singing (cough butchering) The Grand Fonic Hymn: h tt p:/ / ww w .y ou t ub e.c o m/w at ch ?v =7D Ra Lf U aJ w 8 (minus spaces as usual...)

It's not quite right, but it's HARD to make non-Japanese sounds with mostly Japanese syllables (I recorded a few English sounds, such as va and le...) But yeah. I'll be contacting a friend on YouTube who has most of the female Vocaloid programs, and she'll probably be glad to use the UST. Enjoy...? Oh, and be careful if listening to my UTAU- your ears might bleed.

AAAAND the rest of Yagate! ^ ^

Rider: h t t p: / ww w. fa na rt- cen t ra l. ne t / pic - 78 83 12 .h tm l

Wes: h tt p:/ w ww .f an a r t- ce n tr al .n e t/p ic -788 375 .htm l

Ryndan: h t t p: / w w w .f an a rt - ce ntr al . ne t/ pi c-7 883 74 . ht ml

Saimen: ht tp :/ /ww w.f an ar t- cen tra l. net /p i c- 7 8 85 22.h tml

Also, we have Toshi! Damn FanArt Central rejected the submission due to its size... good thing I remembered my old Photobucket account: h tt p:/ /s 24 0 .p h ot ob uc ke t.c om/ alb um s/f f28 /M aga tta_ Moj i/? acti on= vi ew&cu rrent =To sh g

AAAND HOLY IMAGAINRY HELL I GOT FANART. h tt p:/ /f c 07 .d e vi an ta rt . ne t/ f s 71 /i / 20 1 0/ 1 5 9/7 /3 / Te m ari _H ar u har a_ by_ Aym e_ Ku g ur umi .j pg

I've gotten addicted to The Logical Song... the remix by Scooter... and Bones Shatter by Hedley. Yeah...

Oketay, thanks for reading, reviews are very nice but not necessary, and don't be mean to your food before you eat it. It WILL try to choke you.

~Temari Haruhara (MyDarkSideHasAWayOfHerOwn)