Next chapter….im still sad cause im getting no reviews…..

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Chapter 12

Information from the Graystorms

Casie was offered a seat by Ash and she took it gratefully as she rubbed her bruised shoulder. The young boy had left and Arwin leaned on the far wall, a scowl on his face. Ash brought a chair for herself and sat in front of the Squad 9 Captain. A smile that was as big as London was on her face and then she said,

"So what is your name? It must be fascinating to be a Soul Reaper! And if you're a captain, it must be even better!"

Casie smiled slightly and replied slowly, "My name is Casie Noelia. Thought to the other captains I'm Noelia Jr. cause my older sister is a captain too. And I guess its nice being a Soul Reaper."

Ash giggled. Arwin sniffed and growled, "Ash just get on with it!"

"My name is Ash. Ash Graystorm. And that is Arwin. Don't mind my brother. He really is grumpy all the time." Ash said then she turned to her brother, "Why don't you go have a smoke?"

Arwin shook his head, but did not object and left through a hidden back door. Casie watched him go with curiosity but did not question. Ash turned back to her and asked, "So, what are you looking for?"

"Any suspicious activity of the locals. See, I and a couple of other people were sent to stop this weird creature that attacked the Rukon District recently. I beat it, but it was powerful. And huge too. The General wanted me to find out more information, but I didn't find anything." Casie replied.

Ash nodded. "Those "beasts" as you call them are known as demons. They are ancient beasts that have been dormant for generations, but now have been re-awakened. Arwin and I are investigating, but we aren't getting much out of it either. No one remembers demons, and no one has kept stories of them. But we too have noticed things. For example, those infected with a demon go insane, then the demon takes over the body and then changes it to match the shape of the creature. The bigger it is, the weaker it is."

Casie stared open-mouthed. She stuttered, "So…The one I beat was a weak one?"

Ash nodded again. "Yes, I suppose so."

"Oh man…" Casie said as she looked at the ground. After a moment she asked, "What about my lieutenant? I need to help him."

Ash scratched her nose with a finger. "I don't know. We know he was taken to the hills, but not much else. Who knows if he's even still alive."

"He'd better be or I'll…" Casie began in a threatening voice. Ash's cheery face turned to one of astonishment. Casie finished in a quiet and defeated tone, "I'll cry. I haven't got to apologize to him for being mean. I'd feel awful if I never told him sorry."

Ash put a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder and smiled warmly. "Don't worry, Arwin and I will help you. We don't have anything else better to do anyway."

Arwin poked his head into the house and snapped, "Since when did you decide what I was going to do?"

The silver-haired girl growled and replied, "Because I'm dominant to you, and I'M the female here. So shut your face."

Arwin growled to himself, but did not reply as he returned outside. Ash turned back to Casie with her huge smile and continued, "We'll start now if you like, or we can wait."

The Squad 9 captain rubbed her shoulder and thought for a moment, then nodded. "Let's get going! He can't always take care of himself!"



Shuhei opened his eyes and glanced around. He was in a small clearing of trees, their shadows falling over him as if trying to hide him. He struggled to sit up, but found that his hands and feet were bound. He let his pounding head fall back to the earth and closed his eyes again.

The last thing the lieutenant remembered was walking around an old abandoned building then being attacked by a huge and gangly beast. Somehow, before Shuhei had a chance to draw his sword, he had been knocked unconscious.

He struggled against his bonds again, even trying to bite through the ones on his wrists. But it was futile. The magic-draining ropes were tied tight. He cursed under his breath, and then rested his head again. Darkness descended as the sun set, and he tried once more to get free, but to avail.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps, crunches on the leaves, hurrying past his resting place. He was tempted to call out for help, but what if it was the creature? He kept his mouth shut out of fear, and the footsteps quickly faded into the trees. Shuhei sighed and decided it would be in his best interest to sleep.