Disclaimer: Don't own!
And we have returned to the main story!
Chapter 23
'...I can hear seagulls...' I thought faintly as I slowly came awake to the sound of seagulls and the back of my head screaming out in pain.
'What happened…?' I asked myself as I tried to remember the last thing I could remember.
'Let's see…I went out drinking with Zui and a friend of his…before I headed to my room that I was renting for the night, then…' I thought grimacing before I tried to move my legs and arms only to find that they were tied.
'That's it!' I thought in shock as I remembered waking up early that morning to the sound of someone breaking into my room and I killed several people before someone got lucky and hit me over the head, knocking me clean out.
'I've been kidnapped…!' I thought in shock before I held still and listened as hard I could as my kidnappers had put a sack over my head.
I could feel myself moving slightly up and down like I was on water as well as the sound of water hitting the side of wood.
'I'm on a boat, but where am I being taken to?' I asked myself and as if hearing me, I heard someone enter where I was and I went limp so they would continue to think that I was knocked out.
"Are you sure we can't kill him right now?" I heard a deep, rough voice ask in a whiney voice to someone that was apparently there with him.
"Of course you can't, you moron! If we kill him now, he'll be transferred back to the Central Continent-Rebirth Point!" A high, screechy voice snarled and I heard him moving something around. "Once we get him on the Eastern Continent, he'll only be able to go to the Rebirth Point on that certain continent!"
"…Oh, I get it!" Voice #1 said as his tiny brain apparently finally got it. "Then we can kill him and be rid of him?"
"Yep! That's the orders! He won't be able to communicate with his team members once he's on the Eastern Continent either! Ha-ha-ha!" Voice #2 laughed before I heard him walked towards me and I felt him kicked me, hitting my head.
The last thing I heard before blacking out once again was the fading sounds of the two men leaving the room, hooting and laughing…
Back on the Central Continent-Infinite Hamlet...
"I'll assign everyone's position for now. If you're unsatisfied, we'll change it when the feudal Lord comes back...And..." Wolf-bro said to the group before sighing mentally to himself as he thought, 'Hopefully, everyone'll be content...Prince, hurry and come back...'
*Military Department-the three-head generals: Wicked, Nan Gong Zui, and Broken Sword.
*Military Department-the left-right strategists: Ugly Wolf and Swan Beauty.
*The Treasury: Yulian, Snow White Rose, and Ice Phoenix.
*Construction-Protection and Traps: Kong-Kong, Lolidragon, and Playboy.
*Supervision and Design: Guileastosand Fairsky.
"I don't want to be the same group as him!" Fairsky whined as she pointed towards Gui who sneered before walking away from her.
"Fairsky, public and private matters are separate." Broken Sword scolded, frowning. "Don't mix them together!"
"I know..." Fairsky said as she looked down.
"Now there are only the ambassadors left. Who would like to help Lolidragon out?" Wolf-bro asked as he looked around the room.
"I recommend Feng Wu Ching." Loli said as she held up a hand.
"Hey! Why do I have to be in the Public Affairs Department? Especially working with you!" Ming asked, veins popping in his fury.
"What? You're scared that you won't work as well as me?" Loli asked manipulatively as she looked over at Ming.
"Who…who's scared?!" Ming repeated as more veins come out.
"Then, let's have a contest!" Loli said as she folded her arms and glanced at Ming.
"Fine! I'm not scared of you! I'll show you what a true ambassador is!"
"Yes…I'll be waiting." Loli said shrugging before giving Wolf-bro a secret thumbs up.
"We'll discuss the Guiltless Adventurer's troop next...I'll say it directly Nan Gong..." Wolf-bro said as he looked at Zui seriously. "Are you positive that everyone accepts Prince?"
"I am willing to kneel to him as proof of loyalty. I'm not a good leader. I don't have a ruler's aura, but Prince does." Zui said with a smile.
"I really want to see Prince standing mightily at the top of the castle." Broken Sword said as he looked up at the castle. "It feels really great when he grins wickedly at you."
"Really? I feel he's a bit dorky," Another one said with a scoff before adding, "…But he really does give his all when it's for his friends and companions. Even risking his life..."
"When he dances with his sword, that's what I call true happiness!" Kong said with a huge smile.
"Prince is the best!" Gui squealing as Fairsky, Phoenix, and Wicked joined him, their thumbs up with bright smiles on, hearts flying.
"ENOUGH!" Loli yelled, furious. "Stop complimenting Prince or his head will swell!
"Anyway, let's put Infinite Hamlet on track before Prince comes back!" Wolf-bro said, bringing the topic back on track, but all the Odd Squad was thinking the same thing.
'If Prince doesn't come back soon then this will certainly become very chaotic...'
-line-
Meanwhile, back to where I was...
THUD!
"Stay here, stupid elf!" Voice #1 sneered at me as I landed heavily, painfully on the floor. "We'll be back once we're celebrated! Ha-ha-ha!"
I heard the door slam shut before locking and I struggled for a few minutes to get loose, but it was impossible for me.
"Shoot! How am I going to get out of this situation?" I asked myself out loud, growling in frustration, not noticing the sound of bird's wings flapping..
"Mama?"
"…Sky?" I asked, blinking in surprise before I realized it really was her. "Sky! Help Mama out of this! Please? Burn the rope, Sky! Burn the ropes for Mommy!"
"Ok!" She said before I felt Sky get on top of my wrists where I then felt the rope catch on fire, but the heat of the flames didn't hurt me.
"Good girl, Sky!" I said as I broke from the rope and pulled the sack off my head.
"Thank you, Mama!" Sky chirped as she puffed her chest feathers out, proudly.
"Ok, now let's get out of here." I told her as I untied my legs before getting to my feet.
Trying the door, I did indeed find it locked tight, but I found a small window above the door so I quickly hopped up to it and squeezed my way through, landing quietly on my feet once I got through.
From there, I quietly sneaked past my snoring guardsmen as I grabbed my things and put them on me. (This always seems to happen in games-sneaking past sleeping guardsmen, I mean. *shakes head*)
Hurrying outside, I found that I had been held in a cabin in the woods so I quickly got away from the cabin so that I wouldn't get caught.
Coming to a high tree, I climbed it so I could see as to where I was and getting to the top and looking around with Sky, I couldn't help asking for her and myself;
"Where am I?"
-line-
…growl….
"Sorry, Sky." I said as I looked over at a very hungry Sky who was sitting on my shoulder.
"That's ok, Mama, I'm sure you're hungry too." She said back and I nodded.
"Yeah, I am. But how can I contact my team though...?" I said out loud to Sky. "I hate being isolated from everyone like this…heh…it's only when I'm actually away from them that I realize this fact."
"I've decided!" I said suddenly as I forced myself out of my depression. "I must get back as fast as I can…after I do some sight-seeing first!"
I couldn't adding that last part as I was literally filthy rich for all the money that I had saved as well as knowing where I could acquire money quickly-thanks to Father's journals.
If I wanted to, I could travel between the Eastern and Central Continents over 500 times by boat-that's how rich I was.
"Are you going to ride the ship home, Mama?" Sky asked innocently as she cocked her head at me.
"Yeah, but I want to enjoy my newfound freedom at the moment." I told her, grinning. "First on the list: I need to fight monsters to relieve some stress...then food!"
Several hours later….
"How many has it been now?" I asked Sky who was sitting on my head where she would be safe from monsters and my swinging sword.
"Mama, it's already the 505th one." Sky answered as she looked down at me while the last monster blew up into a puff of smoke.
"Good! I've easily gotten accustomed to the East Continent's monsters." I said with a murderous grin. "Looks like I'm ready to go deeper into the forest! After finding stronger monsters, the EXP should be higher too! Let's go, Sky!"
"WAH!"
"...What was that?" I asked Sky, upon us hearing someone-a girl-scream.
"Let's go take a look!" I said as I rushed to where the person was screaming.
"Don't come over! Save me!" She yelled as she ran away from several skulls that were chasing her.
"Oddly enough this looks oh so familiar…" I asked myself as a sudden image of Doll fleeing from her own summons suddenly appeared in my mind.
-line-
Doll, back at Infinite City, suddenly sneezed before she looked around in confusion, rubbing her nose.
Chapter 24
"Wen, come and save me!" The girl who really looked like Jing's doppelganger screamed as she ran. "I'm about to die!"
"'Wen'?" I repeated, recognizing the name as one of my classmate in math at the XX University.
"Jing!" A Wen doppelganger yelled as he raced past my hiding place.
"Wah!" I said as I ducked as he went by before I thought to myself, 'It's Jing and Wen? Holy cow!'
And when I straightened up to look at them again, I sighed in resign.
'It's them for sure.' I thought as I watched my two friends from school try to help each other only for it end up only worst then it was before.
...Sigh.
-line-
"Ah!" Jing screamed as she cringed away from the skulls, closing her eyes.
"GYARH!" The skulls roared as they slashed at Jing.
"Jing!" Wen screamed in fear, reaching for her, still trying to save her.
Jing waited for the pain to come, but when nothing did, she opened her eyes to see a sword blocking it just as a body follow as a stranger wearing a tattered cloak appeared, just as all the skulls exploded into pieces.
"A…amazing!" Wen stuttered in awe as he looked at the cloaked stranger.
"Thank you for your help!" Jing said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"You're really strong...unlike us two weaklings..." Wen said with a depressed sigh.
'Stop faking, Jing. You're a pro in Taek-won-do!' I thought in amusement as I kept my large hood up so that it was hiding my face in its shadows.
"It's because out 'friendship' level is low, so I can't protect you..." Wen sobbed as Jing tried to comfort him.
"Don't say that, Wen...I'm already really grateful you were willing to take me out to train!" Jing said as she patted Wen on the back.
"I just wish some strong Master would help up..." Jing continued sighing and Wen continued also sighing, "Yeah...But why would those Masters care for some puny peasants like us..."
'Sheesh...Just ask me, you two!' I thought as I rolled my eyes, laughing silently before I sobered up slightly. 'The situation right now is different from the Central Continent though since they're here and I'm worried about them not only figuring out that I'm Yun from math class, but that I'm Prince as well before it's safe for them to do so, but...'
"…Don't ask for my name. Don't ask about my business." I stated bluntly as I finally made my decision, tilting my head towards them. "Follow me if you need to."
"Thanks so much, Dage*!" They sang happily as they hurriedly got to their feet to follow me as I was already heading to town. (A/N: Dage means older brother.)
I started slightly at the title they decided to give me. 'Heh…Dage indeed…' I thought with a smirk to myself.
"Dage, my name's Wen Fei. I'm currently a level 45-Kekkaishi." Wen said as he pointed to himself.
"I'm Lu Jing. I'm level 30-Daoshi!" Jing said as she pointed to herself before giggling and I thought over what they had just told me, going according to Father's journals.
-The power of a Kekkaishi is to make barriers. They have many functions. They can counter, weaken, hinder, etc...But they don't do attacks. And Daoshi mostly use scrolls to cast various spells, but like wizards they have to chant and you can't chant when you're fighting unless someone makes them hold still long enough for you to do so.-
'No wonder they need someone to help them. They can't remain solo if they don't have any attacks!' I thought as I raised my eyebrows. 'And to actually manage to get to their current levels...? I'm impressed.'
"Dage, I think we can go fight demons now." Wen said to me, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Demons?" I repeated as I paused and tilted my head towards them.
"Yeah! The demons give a lot of EXP, have high drop rates, and have quests! But a master like Dage probably isn't in need of money!" Wen said as he slumped.
"Yeah..." Jing agreed sadly and I let them continue on as it was amusing me a lot.
"I wonder when we can go to the Central Continent." Jing asked before she growled out angrily, "Why're the ship fares so expensive?"
"Actually..." Wen said to me finally admitting what they were after. "We wanted to go to the Central Continent to find our friends..."
"…Oh? That's nice." I said softly before I started walking again. "Let's go fight the demons and do some quests that way you guys can level faster and get money to get to the Central Continent."
Excited, Wen and Jing winked at each other thinking that I wouldn't see, but I did.
'I have a feeling that I will die at the hands of my own friends...' I thought sighing mentally before I heard Sky's stomach growl softly from her hiding place on my shoulder in my hood.
"But first you're going to go get some quests." I told them as an excuse to get something to eat before I headed for the town with my two friends from real life hurrying after me.
-line-
-The East Continent lies to the east of the Central Continent. It has four major cities. It is separated as Azure Dragon of the East, White Tiger of the West, Vermillion Bird if the South and Black Tortoise of the North.-
"Mmm..." I said softly as I ate some fried food that I had gotten while I was waiting for Wen and Jing to return. "This is pretty good."
"Here, Sky, try." I said as I slipped some into my hood to Sky who took them, happily.
"Sorry for the wait! We've accepted the quest now." Wen and Jing said as they jogged towards me before Wen pointed to a store nearby. "To thank you, will you allow us to treat you to a meal, Dage?"
In the Chinese Restaurant…
"Dage, no need to be polite!" Jing said as our meal was placed before us. "Eat as much as you want!"
"Thank you." I said as I served myself/Sky a good portion.
"Dage, Cheers!" Wen said as he held out some wine to me which I took, but didn't drink as I just set it aside, having learned my lesson about alcohol.
"Hmm..." I hummed in enjoyment.
"Mama, Sky wants to eat too!" I heard Sky say as she pecked me softly on the cheek.
"Eh?" Wen asked as he looked around.
"I thought I heard a child's voice." Jing added as she too looked around with Wen.
"I know!" I whispered to her as I fed her some food while making it look like I was eating it. "Here, eat inside my hood. Don't come out."
"Oh? Isn't it Xiao Jing?"
We all heard a loud male voice asked and I looked up to see a man who literally could have been safely mistaken for a peacock-humanoid style.
"Why didn't you tell me you were eating at Zhon-Ghulaou?" He continued as he looked down on my friends, but to Jing mostly. "Those idiotic waiters didn't accept money from the female boss, did they? If they did, they're going to get a good hard lecture!"
'Ugh, I don't feel well!' I thought as I lost my appetite, but I continued to feed Sky automatically who was still eating happily on my shoulder. 'What's with this outdated person…?! He looks like a freaken' peacock! I think I'm about to barf my food!'
"Huang Wei, you're too much!" Jing said angrily as she got to her feet to face the Peacock man. "Who'd the female boss?!"
"Of course it's you!" Peacock man flirted as he slid closer to Jing who was very much visible repulsed by the man. "Xiao Jing, this restaurant is mine and you're my beloved wife, so certainly it's you!"
"Jing is not your wife. Stop spouting nonsense!" Wen yelled as he pulled Jing away from the arrogant man. "Get away from her! You're just pestering Jing..."
"And a piece of trash like you actually dares to walk with her?! I've told you before," The man snarled as he grabbed Wen's throat. "That every time I see you around herm I'm gonna kill ya. Do you not understand or what?"
"Huang Wei, let go of Wen! You hear me?!" Jing screamed and I could tell that she was scared, but she wasn't showing it.
Good girl.
"What, even if you kill me," Wen taunted as he gasped around the Peacock man's grip, smirking. "Jing will still follow me instead. Not you!"
"DON'T GET AHEAD OF YOURSELF!" Peacock man roared before he slammed Wen into the table causing it to flip, spilling food all over the floor.
"WEN!" Jing screamed, now looking scared as well as furious.
'The food...it's all flipped...' I thought in shock at all the food that was now covering the floor. '…and Sky is still hungry!'
"Tch, don't think I'm so easy to bully!" Wen said before he gestured to me. "I have a big brother to back me..."
"Oh, yeah? So what?" Peacock man asked before he gestured behind him. "I certainly don't have a big brother, but I do have a lot of little brothers. Let me see how much damage your big bro can do to my little bro's!"
"Heh-heh..." The goons laughed, but that was drowned out by Sky's soft creeling of hunger in my ear.
That was all that filled my ears as I silently drew my sword and attacked the person who had dared to deprive my poor baby Sky of much needed food!
"Huang Wei, I won't allow you to harm him!" I head Jing say as she moved in front on Wen, protectively.
"Good then you can become my wife and..." Peacock man said as I flashed from my spot at the overturned table to flip over the entire group of thugs before slashing at the man who dared waste precious food that my Sky could have otherwise eaten.
"First we'll OO and then XX..." I heard Peacock man gushed disgustingly as I land in a crouch near the doorway behind him, sword out to the side.
"Eh?" I heard him ask before hearing him fall to the ground with a loud thud. His goons turned to look at their boss just before he flashed away in a beam of light.
"WAH!" They yelled as they moved away from their disappeared boss. "Boss died!? How can that be? It was only a moment..."
I slowly stood up and slowly turned to glare loathingly at the group who all literally peed their pants.
-Again, readers, we had to censored the glare that Prince gave the poor unfortunate souls.-
"S-scary..." They whimpered in fear.
"So strong...Huang Wei was wearing high level equipment too..." Wen said softly in shock and awe as Jing crouched next to him, also in astonishment.
"Ten seconds...either scram or you're dead!" I snarled to them as I took a step towards them.
"W-w-we should take r-revenge for the B-b-boss..." One of them said nervously just as I happened to glance down to see, once again, the wasted food all over the floor which only reawakened my fury.
'It really pisses me off!' I thought before I jerked my head up and lunged at the group. "TCH!"
"NINE-HEADED DRAGON SLASH!" I roared as I killed a total of 15 guys within a few seconds, sending them all off to the Rebirth Point.
"WAH! Run for it!" The rest screamed as they all booked for it.
"You're so strong, Dage!" Wen said in awe as he got to his feet.
Wen, Jing…Dage has something to ask you guys..." I said slowly and softly as I sheathed my sword.
"What is it? Dage..." Jing asked, thinking it was serious.
"May I order another Chili Oil Wanton? I wasn't quite done eating..." I said as I tilted my head towards them.
"...Y...yeah..." Wen and Jing said slowly, sweat dropping.
I ignored them as I felt Sky peeping happily into my neck in thanks as I nuzzled her back slightly.
A/N: And that's it! :) R&R please!
A quick note to Angel368: Sorry for not answer you in your past review back in chapters 15-16 (Ch. 9) and the reason for that is because the answer for it is coming up in the next few chapters! :) I didn't want to ruin it. Also, about your last, review about Cloud acting like she was still wanting Zhou's protection-that's not at all correct. You see, from the point she met him and from now on, Cloud's been trying to get Zhou to realize that she a woman now and not a child that needs the protection. :) Does that make sense? Cloud hasn't changed from being the street fighter that she is, but she IS kind and gentle to her close friends and companions. I'm not gonna make her a killing monster to everyone who meets her that's just not plain human nature to be that way unless you have a few loose screws. :/ Hope that clears things up concerning Cloud and whatnot. :)