Chapter 26
Gray-Haired Neko
Camp of the Legendary Five
The samurai's body disappeared from view. "I will take him now if you don't mind," a new voice said. Farren looked around the destroyed village bewildered. She stood back up and continued to look around.
"DAMN IT!" Farren yelled. "NOT RAVEN TOO!" The black-haired man was standing in a tree not too far from where the group was.
"That is until next we meet," the one known as Raven said. After that he vanished from sight. Farren gave a heavy sigh of frustration.
"What are we going to do now…?" Aquarius asked.
"I don't know…" Farren answered sadly. Raven brought Gakupo to Spirit. The samurai was barely breathing and on the verge of dying. Spirit breathed new life into the purple-haired samurai and had him completely under his control.
"Now, my warrior, you will learn how to kill those that you once protected," Spirit said. The samurai looked at Spirit with hollow blue eyes.
"Yes master…" he said in a dull voice.
Campsite
Adrian looked around the area where he and his friends confronted Spirit and Gakupo. "Let's get back to the camp where it's somewhat safer to think things through…" Adrian suggested feeling uneasy out in the open where they could be attacked at any moment. He put his right arm around his cousin's shoulders and guided her away from the burnt ruins of the small village. Farren nodded and walked with Adrian. Sakurajima, Jack, and Aquarius followed them silently. When they got back to the camp they had a visitor.
"Where's Gakupo?" the orange-haired woman asked as she crossed her arms over her chest. Farren looked at the woman for a long moment before she finally spoke.
"Who are you?" Farren asked.
"My name is Neru Akita; I'm a friend of Gakupo's. You came to our camp once some time ago. We are getting ready to leave and head home and we haven't seen him in some time." Farren lowered her head unsure of what to say on that subject.
"We don't know where he is either," Jack said. "We will let you know if we find him."
"Much appreciated," Neru said. The woman turned and left the camp. Farren let out a low sigh. A faint outline of a black-haired samurai appeared in front of Farren, his black ears twitched slightly.
"Farren Hawkins, we meet again," Obsidian said gently.
"O-Obsidian?" Farren said shocked.
"Yes it is me."
"I was wondering when we'd see you again," Jack said.
"I am not here for a pleasurable meeting."
"Why are you here then?" Farren asked.
"It deals with Gakupo."
"Does it really?" Farren asked surprised.
"It is not good news though mind you."
"What is it then…?" she asked him.
"He nearly died when Raven brought him to Spirit," Obsidian started. "Spirit breathed new life into him and made him virtually unstoppable. He is completely without a will of his own. He will be sent out to attack the very ones he once fought to protect." Farren lowered her head looking as if she was about to cry. Obsidian Daisho lifted her head up gently with a hand placed lightly under her chin. "He can be stopped, but are you willing to do what is necessary to stop him?"
"Yes," Farren answered with a nod.
"You have to wound his body severely to the point that he will almost die," Obsidian instructed.
"Alright I will do just that…" Farren said slowly. Obsidian's ears were laid back now as he instructed his friend on what to do to stop Gakupo.
"Mind you that this will not be an easy feat since he is a skilled warrior," Obsidian continued. "He is a duel-wielding samurai."
"I know that," Farren said. Obsidian turned his back on her.
"I can lend you my strength to use against him," he said. Farren nodded her head slowly. "Because of what I am, you will take on a Neko appearance for the duration of the time that I'm within your body."
"I thank you for that," she said faintly. Obsidian touched his right hand to Farren's forehead, her body glow a deep purple, and then he was gone, within her body. Farren looked at her body, her gray ears twitched slightly while her tail remained still. "I'm a… Neko…"
"For the time that I am within your body, you will be a Neko. I don't know if the change will remain after I have left."
"You have ears and a tail just like I do," Sakurajima stated.
"Great another cat to deal with…' Jack said in an undertone.
"My cousin is a Neko," Adrian said as he played with Farren's ears. "They're so soft!" Farren looked at Adrian with a raised eyebrow.
"Do you mind?" she asked him.
"It will take you some time to get use to having tail and ears. Your senses will be sharper as well," Obsidian said to Farren telepathically.
"No, I don't mind at all," Adrian answered and kept playing with Farren's ears.
"Right…" she said. Adrian moved to his cousin's tail and played with it.
"It's so fluffy!" Adrian declared.
"Gods help me…" Farren muttered.
"Use your tail and flick him across the face," Obsidian advised her telepathically. Farren used her tail and flicked Adrian across the face.
"Don't touch the ears or tail!" she scolded. Adrian took a step back from his cousin and pouted.
"Oh why not?" he asked sadly.
"Because I said so!" she said. "We've got some serious business to take care of!"
"Like when Gakupo makes his next appearance," Aquarius pointed out.
"Exactly," Farren agreed.
"We should take turns staying up at night watching the camp…" Sakurajima suggested.
"Good idea," Farren said.
"I will stay up tonight and keep watch," Jack said to them. I knew that I couldn't trust that samurai from the first time that I laid eyes on him. if he so much as harms Farren or the others; I will rip his throat out. Jack thought to himself. Farren sat down by the fire, her arms crossed over her chest, and her tail swishing back and forth every so often.