Disclaimer 1: I do NOT own Zoids.
Disclaimer 2: The characters Ibeyla, Obscura, Spectral, Rollo, Rabe, Salca, Playzia, Driacoul, Rika, Avea, Serrer and Libelle do NOT belong to me. They belong to ShadowRebirth37.
Disclaimer 3: The characters Atherin, Azel, Eiji, Tyme and Ryoko belong to ME as do the towns Redai and Jurei.
Author's Note: Sorry for the late update everyone. Work's been more than a little hectic as of late. Coupled with my lack of energy due to having to open 11 days in a row and my GM suddenly quitting….everyone's schedule is AWOL. Anyways, I hope this chapter makes up for the lateness ^^;
Guide:
[talking]-Vampire language. To save myself and Ibeyla some time, as well as save my neck and eyes from looking at the sheet, from now on all the vampiric language will be written like this!
This is a collaboration fic between ShadowRebirth37 and me. We thank those of you that Reviewed!!
Ͽ Girl Talk and Guy Talk Ͼ
A few days had passed since Rabe had nearly killed Atherin. He had once again 'fed' off of Raven thus clearing the silver from his system. Now all that he to do was rest and recover himself...which meant he had hardly left his room all too much. He had started to venture out of it, but never left his room for too long. Currently, however, he was out and resting in the living room with an ice pack on him to keep as cool as possible. Raven walked out into the living room and sat down on the couch opposite Atherin. "You seem to be feeling better Dracula..." Raven said, lying down on the couch, tired.
Atherin looked over to Raven. "I do feel better, but I wish that this wound would heal already..." Atherin complained. "....Why're you so tired?" Raven looked over. "Even with Ibeyla's medicine, the constant blood loss recently has weakened me a bit..." he said, "... I should be better in a couple of days..." He explained. "...Sorry.... You didn't need to let me take so much the last time..." Atherin said quietly. Raven shook his head. "It's alright... I'll live, don't worry..." Atherin sighed quietly; "I know...but I still feel bad taking so much from you..."
Raven rolled his eyes. "I told you, its fine..." he sighed, "Lighten up, will ya?" he said, throwing a pillow at him. "I am 'lightening up'. I'm out here aren't I?" Atherin asked backed. Raven glared at him. "Shut it Dracula..." Atherin only chuckled at him, keeping the pillow for himself. "I'm only repeating what you told me." Raven rolled his eyes, before he looked around. "Hey, where's Flipper?" "With Eiji... Now that there's no risk of me dying in my sleep he can go back to making sure that Eiji doesn't do anything too...destructive...." Atherin answered. "That's good... Donnie would have both our hides if that psycho three-year-old of a Zoid destroyed anything..." Raven teased slightly. "He can't help it... After being frozen for who knows how long and only having a year of freedom, Eiji doesn't like to stay cooped up in one place for too long... I've already gotten a few mental messages about him getting rusty or growing old by just sitting here..." Raven sighed. "I don't understand how you and that Liger put up with each other; you're nothing alike..." "What's that one phrase you humans use? 'Opposites attract?'" Atherin asked, managing to get the expression right this time. Raven nodded. "Yeah... but still..." "I wouldn't change his personality for the world though..." Atherin said quietly.
"Yeah, until he destroys something important..." Raven muttered. Ibeyla walked in a few minutes later, holding the flask of medicine. "Raven... you need to go to Alca and get me some Ruby-Sapphire Lilies to make more medicine, and some Aluru root for Atherin..." she said, handing him a small pouch of gold. "...Aluru root...? I thought that was a rare plant root due to over use...? Is it finally being monitored?" Atherin asked, immediately knowing what Ibeyla was talking about.
Ibeyla looked over at him. "Well, around here there are small pockets of it. It's still pretty rare. I have a few plants growing back at the base, but I hardly ever bring some with me. That's why I need Raven to buy some." She explained. "Figured that they were still really rare... Had I of known that there were some in the area I'd have told you about them sooner..." Atherin sighed. "It's alright Atherin. I'll make some medicine for you from it when Raven gets back, okay?" Ibeyla asked. Atherin nodded before turning to Raven. "Have fun!" Raven glared at him. "Shut it Dracula...." he growled, "If you weren't half dead, I'd be dragging you along too..." He 'threatened'. "You wouldn't have to drag me with you. I'd be happy to go along. I like crowds, even if I don't know the people." Atherin shot back.
Raven rolled his eyes before he got up. "I'll be back in about an hour. If I'm much longer than that, Rabe got me..." he said, before he went to the hanger. Shadow was there waiting for him. He fused with her and flew down to Alca. They soon landed and Shadow released Raven. Shadow hid in an alleyway while Raven walked to the flower and herb shop, and looked for the flowers and herbs Ibeyla wanted. He soon found the Lilies she wanted, but he couldn't find the root. He walked up to the store owner and paid for the flowers. "Do you have any Aluru root?"
A young girl of seventeen was milling around the flower shop. She wore an aqua short sleeved shirt with a gold breastplate along with a white skirt that stopped just above her knees while her black boots stopped a little before them. She had waist length ebony hair that was streaked with an aqua blue. Her eyes were of the same aqua blue which contrasted with her skin color drastically. Right now, she was looking for some herbs, flowers and roots to make her medicine. She registered the fact that some one else entered the flower shop as well and was a little startled to see such a darkly dressed boy enter the bright shop. She ignored him and continued picking out what she needed, just thinking that he was...rather odd... However, when he asked the store clerk for Aluru root, did she become interested. "What do you need the Aluru root for dearie?" the elderly woman that was at the counter asked the boy.
"My friend was badly injured in an...accident, and he needs medicine made from Aluru root...." Raven answered, not wanting to say what really happened. "Alright, dearie, just wait right there, and I'll get it for you." The caretaker replied as she went to a back room. The teen girl had taken an interest in the odd boy and somehow knew that there was more to his story. She went to the counter as well, trying to decide how she should approach him about what he was buying.
Raven glanced over at the girl that had been in the shop. He had to look again to make sure he wasn't seeing things. She looked a little like Atherin, which struck him as strange. The girl caught his second glance at her. She turned toward him and confronted him about it. It was also a good way to start a conversation with him. "You got something to say to me, Sweetheart? I saw you take another look at me." Raven blinked. That statement shocked him more than a little bit. "You just looked a little like my friend is all..." he answered truthfully.
"Your friend? The one you're getting the Aluru root for?" She asked curiously. Raven nodded. He didn't want to say much more than that. "What's the matter Sweetheart? Helkat got your tongue?" She asked when she didn't get a reply. Raven blinked. He wasn't sure what to say or how to react. He just wished the store owner would hurry back.
Raven's wish was granted. The store owner returned a few minutes later, but when she saw the girl standing beside Raven, she...completely forgot about him. "Ryoko dear! It's so good to see you again! It's been a while since you last visited. How have you been?" "I've been good Granny. It's a little lonely and I miss my brothers, but I'm doing alright..."
Raven turned to the girl. "Wait... Ryoko? You're Ryoko?" he said, clearly shocked. "Yeah... You got a problem with that?" She asked back. Raven didn't know how she'd take this, but he'd give it a shot. "Your brothers... their names are Tyme and Atherin, right?" Ryoko was shocked for a moment, before she was completely overcome with joy. "You know them!? Do you really know them!? Where are they!?" Raven nodded. "Yeah... Atherin is my friend..." he answered, "He's with my brother and my friends right now..."
Ryoko looked about ready to cry from hearing this news. She had thought both of them had been killed. In one quick motion, making sure to put the flowers down on the table, did Ryoko bear hugged Raven. She was just so happy to know that her youngest brother was nearby; she just needed to hug something... And as Raven was the 'something' closest to her…he would just have to do. Raven, needless to say, was taken completely by surprise. He wasn't use to vampire hugs, and he doubted he ever would be. Ryoko didn't let him out of her hug....not until she remembered that this boy was buying Aluru root. She let him go, but worry was now etched on her face. "He's the one that's hurt isn't he? Will you tell me what happened?" She asked. Raven nodded slowly. "I'll tell you when I'm done here..."
Ryoko nodded, understanding that the flower shop wasn't the best place to tell her what happened. Granny collected the money Raven owed for the Aluru root and then tended to Ryoko's needs. After everything had been bought Ryoko followed Raven out of the store, patiently waiting for them to get to a more secluded spot for him to tell her what happened to her little brother. Raven led Ryoko back to Shadow. She was curled up in an ally, and lifted her head upon sensing Raven. She got up and walked over to him, but stopped upon seeing Ryoko. She cocked her head and growled at her curiously, nosing her shoulder and sniffing her.
"Hello to you to....Shadow..." Ryoko said as she held her hand out for the Organoid to show that she wasn't a threat. Shadow cocked her head again and sniffed her hand. After concluding she wasn't a threat, she nosed her hand and licked her, wagging her tail. Ryoko giggled. "She's awfully friendly isn't she, Raven?" "Not normally... but I think she knows you're related to Atherin, and knows you aren't a threat..." Raven answered. "That's a relief... But...are you gonna tell me about what happened to my brother?"
Raven nodded. "Atherin and I were... attacked by a Vareix Organoid, named Rabe. You see, Tyme killed his mate Rika, and he was after revenge. He attacked us, and nearly knocked me unconscious. He then... injured Atherin with silver..." Ryoko's color drained from her face. So her fears about him being hurt with silver were true. "I can guess from the Aluru root that he's not in danger from dying..." She said quietly. Raven nodded. "No, all the silver's out of his system..." he reassured her.
Ryoko nodded before a look of determination came to her face. She hit her fist to her hand before declaring; "It's settled then. I'm going back with you." "I figured you would..." Raven said, "You'll have to ride on Shadow's back thou-" he stopped suddenly and turned to her. "Hey, how did you know Shadow's name? I never told you..." Ryoko giggled again. "It's quite easy really. I'm a 'Manipulator', or in your human language a Mind Reader. I read Shadow's mind to get your names." Raven blinked. "Okay... just please stay out of my head..." he said, before turning back to Shadow. "Don't worry. I don't like to use it on allies." She reassured Raven, waiting for when she'd be able to get back to her little brother. Raven nodded. He fused to Shadow, and Shadow lowered to the ground for Ryoko to get on. The vampiress got on Shadow's back and waited for her to take off. Shadow unfurled wings and flew up into the air. She kept her pace slower than normal, so not to put too much stress on Ryoko. They soon reached Horai and Shadow let Ryoko off, she then released Raven, and Ryoko waited for him to take her to her brother.
Raven first found Ibeyla and gave her the flowers and the Aluru root, along with the extra gold before introducing her to Atherin's sister. From the look of it, the girls would get along just fine. The Ancient Zoidian took the flowers back to the kitchen, where she'd make her medicine out of them. Raven then walked down the hall towards the living room, but stopped Ryoko before they entered. "Wait here...." he said quietly, before walking into the room and over to Atherin. "Hey Dracula I'm back..."
Atherin looked up to Raven and gave him a confused look. Was he...smiling!? "....What happened to you? I don't think I've ever seen you lookin' like this before." "I have a surprise for you..." Raven said, still smiling. Atherin just raised an eyebrow at him. He knew that Raven wasn't that nice that he'd willingly get him something. He was a little worried about what Raven had in store for him....and that smile was starting to scare him too... "....And what, may I ask, is this surprise?" "Not what, WHO..." Raven corrected, before he turned. "Okay, you can come in now..." he said to Ryoko.
Atherin sat up, not knowing what Raven was planning. However, as he saw who rounded the corner, he stood up slowly, not believing what he was seeing. "....Ryoko..." She just smiled and was to him, and hugging him in a blink of an eye. He always was closer to her because of their ages, but at the moment, he was speechless and shocked. Raven sat down on the couch, Shadow plodding over to him. He stroked her, letting Ryoko and Atherin catch up.
Ryoko finally let go of Atherin, and after re-establishing their mental connection with each started to catch up... Not that Raven could understand what they were saying as both were speaking rapidly in their native language. Raven continued stroking Shadow, letting them talk uninterrupted…
After the two talked with each other some one question that was bothering Atherin finally came up. He needed to know what had happened and why his sister was still alive… He knew that she had been killed that day…
[…Ryoko….I'm glad that you're alive, believe me, but…how? You were…] He started off. His sister sighed quietly. [I can't lie to you Atherin, but…I'm not quite sure how… All I remember is waking up in this strange base like place…and then escaping from it because the last that I could remember was trying to protect you… I never went back to Jurei though… I stopped outside of the gates and could tell that it would break me if I went back in…] She replied. She didn't understand how she had come back either, but there had to have been a reason as to why she brought back… […It doesn't matter how Ryoko… I'm just glad that you're alive and well.] Atherin said when he saw his sister's expression, Ryoko nodded, glad that she was back with her brother again.
After about an hour talking to each other were they all caught up, Atherin turned to Raven, him having been there the entire time. "...Thanks for bringing her here...Raven... I don't know how to thank you enough..." "No problem..." Raven said, "Honestly, she said she was coming with me no matter what, so I didn't have much of a choice in the matter..." he joked. Both siblings chuckled at him. "You got that right." They said in unison. Raven had to remember that Ryoko was older than Atherin with the way they acted.
Raven rolled his eyes, until he heard footsteps coming from down the hall. He turned to look and saw Donnie walking into the hall. He immediately stopped when he saw Ryoko. "Oh, I didn't know you two had company..." he said, "Might I ask your name?" he asked Ryoko.
Ryoko and Atherin looked over to Donnie when he entered. Ryoko blinked. "There're two of them? That's so cool!" Ryoko said completely forgetting to answer Donnie's question. Donnie blinked. "Well... we are twins..." he said. Raven sighed. "Her name's Ryoko, Donnie. She's Atherin's sister..." he clarified for his twin. Ryoko giggled again, before saying something that turned both twins red with embarrassment. "They're so cute too!" Raven rolled his eyes and groaned. Donnie just looked at her and blinked. Both didn't say anything, more than a little shocked.
Atherin was staying out of this. He knew that he wouldn't be able to stop her anyways. Ryoko got up and went over to Donnie. She gave him a sweet smile before pulling him into a hug, though not a bear hug like Raven received. She was a 'cuddly' vampire and liked contact. Donnie was, needless to say, a little surprised. Raven sighed and leaned back into the couch. He wasn't looking forward to being constantly hugged, and he was sure Donnie wasn't either.
Ryoko soon let go of Donnie. She didn't care that he was uncomfortable with it. She chuckled at his shocked expression before going back and sitting down beside Atherin. A sudden realization sudden came across Atherin's mind. "...Uhm...Raven...? What exactly are we gonna do with two sets of fangs to feed?" Raven looked over at Atherin. "I never thought about that..." he said, "... well, you can still 'feed' off me, but for Ryoko...." he trailed off, deep in thought, "Maybe Donnie could let her..." he said, turning to Donnie. Donnie looked really nervous. "I'll have to think about it... after hearing what happened with Tyme, I'm a little nervous..." he said.
Both vampires nodded. They knew that they were asking a lot from Donnie. "Donnie, if you don't want to let me, it's alright. I understand that Tyme betrayed everyone's trust. I won't ask you or anyone else if they're uncomfortable with it." She reassured him. "I could try to 'feed' both of you if it comes to that. Ibeyla is making more of her medicine, so I should be alright..." Raven said. Atherin shook his head 'no'. "That wouldn't be good for your health if you were to do that Raven." Atherin said. "I've been fine the last couple of days helping you get rid of the silver..." Raven said, "... and it wouldn't be forever, just until Donnie warms up to the idea...." "But in your condition 'feeding' both of us wouldn't be wise." Atherin replied. "I told you, I'll be fine in a day or two..." Raven sighed. "I still don't think letting both of us 'feed' off you is wise." Raven rolled his eyes. "I'll be fine..." he said.
Atherin sighed, knowing that Raven wouldn't budge from his decision. He leaned back against the couch, knowing that it was pointless to argue with him any more. Raven reached over and stroked Shadow. She started purring, licking his hand. Donnie was sitting beside Raven and Shadow now, not wanting to stand the whole time. Ryoko soon started up another conversation with her brother. But neither twin could understand them. Raven guessed that it was easier for them to speak to each other like that. Raven and Donnie both started petting Shadow to occupy them. She purred loudly, enjoying the attention she was getting.
The vampire siblings continued their conversation, however, when Donnie's name was mentioned did they start to wonder what they were talking about. Well, for one thing, Atherin didn't look too comfortable talking about this, but it seemed that Ryoko had his ear and continued to talk to him. Donnie was getting a little nervous. He didn't like how they were talking, probably about him and his brother, when he couldn't understand them. After talking a little bit more to her brother did Ryoko get up. "I think I'm going to go find Ibeyla to talk with her. Have fun you guys!" She said, waving as she left. Atherin sighed, relieved that she was going to talk to someone else about this.
Ibeyla was busy making her signature medicine, extracting the nectar of the Ruby-Sapphire Lily, pouring it into her small flask. Ryoko soon found her in the kitchen. She watched her for a moment, before speaking up. Mind if I help you Ibeyla?" Ibeyla looked up. "Oh, hi Ryoko!" she said, "And of course I don't mind, matter of fact, I could use a little help with the Aluru root..." Ryoko nodded and brought some of the Aluru root to her to start making the paste that was needed to help Atherin's wounds. She giggled suddenly, remembering how uncomfortable Atherin was when talking just a little bit go. "It's times like that that I wish I had a sister to talk to." She said more to herself than to Ibeyla. Ibeyla giggled slightly. "I used to think the same thing. My little brother Locke hated to listen to me when I talked about 'girl' things..." she said, smirking slightly.
"Poor Atherin. He almost turned beet red from embarrassment. But as we're close to each other we don't keep secrets from each other. I know he doesn't like to listen to me either...especially when Raven and Donnie are right there." Ryoko giggled harder. Ibeyla nodded. "Well, you don't have to 'torture' poor Atherin with your 'girl' talk; you could always talk to me..." She said. "I didn't mean to 'torture' him. It's just that I haven't seen him for so long I just wanted to talk to him... Even if it is 'girl' talk." Ryoko replied.
"I don't blame you at all..." Ibeyla said, pouring more of the nectar into her flask, "And I'm sure Atherin was happy to talk to you, even if it was 'girl' talk..." Ryoko nodded. "He was happy, but I'm not mean enough to intentionally 'torture' him... I guess I'll talk to him about something else later..." Ryoko mused as she started to get the Aluru paste where it was suppose to be and properly store it. "I bet he was happy... but if he ever doesn't want to have 'girl' talk, you could always talk with me, only if you want, that is..." "Of course! What brother wants to hear their sister talk about their friends?" Ryoko giggled again.
Ibeyla laughed. "Yeah, I ran into that problem with my little brother. I used to have 'girl' talk instead with my best friend Taska, and sometimes I even convinced Talon to listen to me, even though he was a boy..." "Atherin always listened to me when I wanted to talk. Even 'girl' talk...but at that time he still didn't really understand it and so didn't mind it as much. And if he was busy doing something else I'd talk to my best friend Yuli."
Ibeyla nodded. "I always talked to my friends about 'girl' stuff..." she said, pouring the nectar of another lily into her flask. Ryoko giggled again. "I can only imagine what Raven and Donnie are trying to get out of him." She said, finishing some of the Aluru paste and storing it in a gourd like container. Ibeyla giggled. "You mean Raven is trying to get out of him. Donnie isn't one to pry..." "Well I just met the both of them just a few hours ago. I didn't know they had completely different personalities...." Ryoko said quietly, thinking about something. Ibeyla snickered. "You have no idea..." she said, "Even though they're twins, they're completely different..."
Ryoko laughed lightly. "Then they certainly aren't like...them...then." Ibeyla nodded. She assumed she was talking about one of her friends. "It's really funny... Donnie and Raven are almost complete opposites in every way. It's a wonder they can stand each other..." Ryoko laughed again. "I guess it is funny. From what I could tell Donnie's shyer than anything and Raven's more outspoken. I think they're both cute though. I know Atherin just had to of loved when I said that out loud." She giggled again. Ibeyla giggled. "Yeah you're right. Donnie is really shy. Raven is a lot braver than he is which is why he's such a good pilot..."
Ryoko giggled harder. It was nice to actually talk about these kinds of things with another girl. "Say Ibeyla..." Ryoko said with a mischievous glint in her eye, "...which one of the boys out there do you think is cute?" Ibeyla giggled. "Raven..." she said. Ryoko giggled with her. "He's oblivious to it isn't he?" Ibeyla nodded. "But we're just friends or more like brother and sister..." Ryoko nodded too. "I understand that. Who would you answer if I asked you who you had a crush on?" She giggled again as Ibeyla turned slightly red. Ibeyla sighed. ".... Raven...." "Don't worry Ibeyla. Girl's honor. I won't say a word."
"Thanks..." Ibeyla said, "Now, do you have a crush on anyone?" She asked. "I think Donnie's cute, but I don't have a crush at the moment. After all, I did just meet them not too long ago." Ryoko replied. Ibeyla nodded. "Maybe after being around him a bit, you'll get a crush on him..." Ryoko giggled again. "Perhaps." She said with a mischievous smile. Ibeyla giggled. "After he calms down a bit, of course; He's still a little on edge with all the recent happenings..." She said. "I know he is. I don't want him to fear me or my brother with everything that's been going on." The vampiress replied. "Don't worry; he isn't afraid of Atherin anymore. I'm sure after a few days he'll warm up to you too..." Ryoko nodded. "That's good to hear. I was afraid that he'd leave a bad impression on Donnie... He has the tendency to do that sometimes..." She sighed. "He did at first, but since Raven trusts him, he's starting to trust him more and more..." Ibeyla responded.
Ryoko nodded. "That's good. But enough of this depressing matter! We gotta talk about girly things! You know, you're the first girl around my age that I've spoken to in five years! I have a lot of gossiping to catch up on!" Ibeyla giggled. "Same here. The last girl I talked to was1st Lt. Hartreigel, and she wasn't the most talkative of people..." Ryoko giggled. "I usually only talked to Granny at the flower shop that I met Raven at. She's a nice old lady, but I hardly go into town."
Ibeyla nodded. "That sounds like me. I used to talk to a woman back at my old town my brother and I called Granny. She was an herbal expert, and taught me all I know about medicine..." "I learned my medicine from my mother and father. Since I can't heal, I had to learn other ways to do so." Ryoko said. Ibeyla nodded. "I can't heal well either... but, that's why my best friend Talon carved me this..." she said, taking off her necklace and showing it to Ryoko, "... this is Red Magnite, it can heal not only Zoids and Organoids, but also people. It helps heighten my limited healing abilities too..." Ryoko looked at the Red Magnite in Ibeyla's hand. "It's really pretty, and really helpful too!"
Ibeyla nodded. "Yeah, my best friend Talon found a small shard of it. Back in Zoidian times, this stuff was worth more than its weight in gold. Now, it's priceless. It seems most of it was destroyed by the Death Saurer. I've never found any more of it..." "That's too bad. I wouldn't mind having something like that to help me with my 'healing'." Ryoko replied. "Well, if I ever find some, I'll be sure to give it to you!" Ibeyla said. "Thanks Ibeyla!" Ryoko said, continuing making some of her medicine. Ibeyla nodded, and poured the nectar of the last lily into her flask, going back to her medicine making.
Meanwhile….
Atherin sighed when Ryoko went to go talk to Ibeyla about who knows what. He was glad that she had gone to someone else to talk to about her....girly things... Raven looked over at Atherin. "What were you two talking about, anyway?" he asked. Donnie wasn't paying much attention, stroking Shadow's muzzle, which was making her purr. Atherin blushed slightly, he should have known better than to think he'd be able to get out of this. "N-Nothin' important..." He stuttered slightly. "You've got to work on your lying, Dracula..." Raven said, knowing he was hiding something.
Atherin's gaze looked away from Raven. He knew he was a bad liar, but he didn't like to tell his sister's...secrets... Raven blinked. "I know you're hiding something Dracula..." he said, "Spill it..." Atherin shook his head 'no'. "I can't.... It's...a...private conversation...." Raven rolled his eyes. "It's not like I'm going to go tell everyone..." "Still doesn't matter.... She trusted me to keep it quiet..." Atherin replied. Raven sighed. "Yeah? I told that to my sister Silvia all the time, and I still ended up spilling it sometime or another..."
Atherin still didn't look at Raven. He wasn't sure if Raven's sister ever made him listen to....girly...things... Especially when talking about his friends. Raven was getting annoyed. "Oh come on Dracula! Just spill it!" ".....Well she....she....she likes....one of you....a lot..." Atherin replied quietly. Both Donnie and Raven got a little red. "What?! She just met us!!" Raven said. "....That's what I told her... ...But....she still...talked...about it...." Atherin replied.
Raven blinked. "Is she always like this?" "Like what?" Atherin asked. "Her personality..." Raven replied. Atherin sighed. "Yeah...she's usually like this...." "Great... and I thought you were a handful..." Raven groaned. "But at least I don't talk to you about....these...kind of things..." Atherin said, blushing slightly again. "You have no idea how glad I am about that..." Raven said. "Me too... But it still doesn't mean that Ryoko won't talk to me about this again..." Atherin said. "Well... maybe she can talk with Ibeyla about that stuff instead of you..." Raven suggested. "That...scares me a little... It means both of them are talking about who knows what about us..." Atherin replied.
Raven groaned and leaned his head back against the couch. Donnie got a little red again. "I'm scared to even think about what they're talking about..." Raven muttered. Atherin sighed. He was scared too... Two teenage females talking about boys and other girly things wasn't something he really wanted to think about…
A few minutes later, Karl walked into the living area. He stopped, seeing the looks on everyone's faces. "Is there... something wrong?" he asked. "....There was some....'talk'....about us...." Atherin answered. Karl blinked. "Who was talking about you?" he asked. "....My...sister...." The vampire replied. Karl blinked in surprise. "Your sister? But I thought you and Tyme were the only ones still... around…"
"So did I... But it seems that Raven met her in town when he went to get some things for Ibeyla..." Atherin replied. Karl turned to Raven. "What is it with you and attracting vampires..." he sighed, ".... anyway, where is she?" "She's with Ibeyla. They should be in the kitchen making medicine..." Atherin answered.
Karl nodded and started towards the kitchen. He wanted to meet her for himself. He walked in, and saw her and Ibeyla making medicine. Ryoko looked over to the entrance when someone entered. This wasn't someone that she had seen before. "Hi. I take it you already know about me?" "Well, Atherin said you were his sister, but he failed to tell me your name..." Karl responded, "Oh, and I'm Major Karl Schubaltz..." he said, holding out his hand to shake. "I'm Ryoko. It's nice to meet you Major." She said, taking Karl's hand. "Nice to meet you too..." Karl responded, withdrawing his hand after shaking.
Ryoko smiled. "Come join us Major, we can talk and stuff. It's better than sulking out there with the boys." Karl blinked. "No thank you..." he politely declined, "I have to do a few quick repairs on my Zaber Fang, Krieger." "If you say so Major. Perhaps another time then." She said, smiling sweetly at him. Karl nodded. "Perhaps another time..." he repeated, "See you two around..." he said, turning to continue to the Zoids hangar. "Bye Major!" Ryoko called after him. "I think I'm gonna go back and check in on the boys. They don't need to sulk anymore." She said getting up from the table. Ibeyla nodded. "Okay, go ahead. I'll clean up here and be out in a bit." she said, soaking a washcloth in the sink to clean up some of the mess she had made.
"See ya later, Ibeyla!' she waved as she left. Ryoko walked back to where the boys were still sitting. They all looked at her when she entered and the twins turned slightly red, remembering what Atherin had told them. "Hey guys!" She said, sitting down beside Donnie, causing him to turn a little redder in the face. She was going to sit in between them, but Shadow was there so she'd just make do.
"Hey Ryoko..." Donnie said. Shadow leaned over and growled happily, wagging her tail. She had warmed up to her much quicker than she had Tyme. Raven turned to Atherin. "Hey Dracula, why don't you introduce Ryoko to Flipper..." he said. Ryoko giggled. "It's not nice to give Azel that nickname just because he clicks a lot, Raven." She said petting Shadow's snout. Raven rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything. "Just wait 'til you meet him, you'll understand…." She giggled again. "I think it'll be just fine. I already know about Azel and Eiji and what they're like."
Raven sighed. He knew he wouldn't be able to convince her otherwise. "Well... meeting them in person is completely different, Ryoko..." "I already know Raven. You don't need to tell me that." She continued petting Shadow, and then giggled quietly. Atherin blinked before looking away from her. She didn't need to tell him that now did she!? Raven looked at Ryoko and Shadow oddly. "Is everything... alright?" She giggled more; "Yep. Everything's just fine." Raven looked at her disbelievingly, but didn't push the matter. While still petting Shadow, Ryoko returned to her attention back to the boys. "So what are you all sulking about huh?" She asked.
Raven opened his mouth to lie, until there was a quiet squeak from one of the doors. Avea had walked in her human form, but stopped and literally squeezed the life out of Ligie upon seeing Ryoko. Ryoko looked over to Avea. Atherin looked over as well. He knew that he had to tell Avea who she was before Ryoko scared him. "Avea, this is my sister, Ryoko." "Sister?" Avea said, looking over at Ryoko, still hugging Ligie. "Yeah... Raven ran into her while in town and brought her back." He tried to explain.
Avea looked over at Ryoko. "Hi... Ryoko, I'm Avea..." she said quietly. "Hello Avea." Ryoko said, getting up from the couch and then knelling in front of her. "You're such a cutie!" Avea squeaked and vanished in a puff of smoke, reappearing beside Donnie. She clung to his arm, whining. "Avea, she's not gonna hurt you." Atherin said, trying to calm her down. Ryoko had stood back up, and walked back over to sit next to her brother.
Avea let go of Donnie and looked over at Ryoko. She vanished in another puff of smoke, and reappeared beside Ryoko in her true form, still clutching Ligie. Ryoko held out her hand to show Avea that she wasn't a threat. "So Raven, what were you gonna tell me earlier?" Avea purred and licked her fingers, wagging her tail. Raven blinked. "I was gonna ask if you got the medicine made..."
Ryoko pet Avea as she continued to look between the twins. She knew that they were talking about something else other than medicine, but she'd play dumb...for now. "Yeah, I got the medicine done. It'll help Atherin's wounds heal a little better." Raven nodded. "That's good..." he said, "And did Ibeyla get her medicine made? I need that if I'm going to 'feed' both of you..." "I believe she finished as well. She was just cleaning up when I left." She replied. "That's good... I need that stuff..." Raven said.
Ryoko nodded, still petting Avea. She was still talking to Shadow as none of the boys were too talkative. Boys...they never had too much to say... She often wondered how they kept themselves entertained. Avea continued purring, nuzzling Ryoko's fingers. She wagged her tail like a puppy, loving the attention.
"Oh! Hey Atherin! I gotta show ya something that I learned! Watch!" She said as she held out her free hand. A small sphere of water formed in her palm. Okay, that wasn't anything new, he had seen that before. Well...the next thing he saw, he wasn't expecting. The water sphere suddenly turned to ice was he was momentarily stunned, before he regained himself. "W-When you'd learn to do that!?" Raven and Donnie stared in astonishment. They had never seen anything like it. Even Avea and Shadow were surprised and staring.
Ryoko giggled at their shocked expressions. "I learned this about a year and a half ago. I can even make it snow if it's raining out!" She said as the ice sphere melted back into her palm. Raven and Donnie didn't say anything, stunned. Raven finally spoke up. "You better not freeze the pond; the fish'll get mad, like when Atherin shoved me in a few weeks ago..." "I won't freeze the pond. That'd kill the poor little fish." Ryoko replied. "Yeah... and I'd really not like that to happen..." Donnie said. Don't worry Donnie. I wouldn't do that to your fish." She said. Donnie nodded. Raven looked over at Ryoko. "I don't suggest sticking your fingers in the water. The fish are a little.... temper mental now that they've met Atherin and I...."
Ryoko chuckled. "I bet they are. I can only imagine what you two have done to make them so temper mental." "We didn't do anything too rash... just shoving each other in..." Raven defended. "Well that'd make me mad too...two teenagers disturbing my home. I'd resort to biting too." The vampiress replied. "Well... they haven't bitten us... yet..." Raven said. "They'll get there; especially if you two keep aggravating them." "Hey we fed them, so I think we're even with them..."
"If you say so, Raven." She said as she went back to petting Avea. "Anything interesting you all want to talk about? And not just about the fish?" She asked again. Raven looked over at Ryoko. "I don't really have anything else to talk about... but I could show you the garden..." he offered. Ryoko nodded and stood up. She didn't know where the garden was, so she'd need the twins to show her around. Raven and Donnie stood up. Shadow got up as well to follow them. Ryoko followed after Raven and Donnie. Atherin wasn't about to go back outside any time soon, so he opted to just go back to his room to rest.
Raven and Donnie led Ryoko outside to the garden. Shadow following behind them, enjoying being outside. Ryoko looked around the garden. She walked around and wound up at the pond. She kneeled in front of it and looked in. Raven and Donnie walked over to the pond as well. Raven walked down and picked a few handfuls of the berries and gave some to Donnie and Ryoko. "Just feed these to the fish..." "Thanks Raven." She giggled as she started to feed the fish. "The fish aren't exactly very happy to see you Raven."
"Figured they wouldn't... last time they saw me, I bled in their water and I'm sure they didn't like that..." Raven said, tossing in some of the berries. Donnie sat down beside him and fed them as well. "No, they weren't too happy about that. They also say if you or Atherin decide to play in their pond again, they will bite you." She giggled again. "Hey, we're feeding them, they should be happy..." Raven said, throwing some more berries to them. "You would think, but apparently that's not the case." She replied.
"Stubborn fish..." Raven muttered, "But, I think having Rabe jump in the water after me upset them a bit..." He added, looking at the slightly bloody Organoid tracks still faintly visible in the muddier part of the bank. "They're not happy with him either. And they don't appreciate you calling them stubborn." The vampiress said. Donnie snickered at that comment. Raven just sighed. "Well... they should be happy I kept Atherin from trying to eat one of them..." Donnie blinked. "He tried to eat one of my fish?!" he said in shock. Ryoko chuckled. "He wouldn't have eaten them... At least I don't think he would have..." Ryoko trailed, putting her finger to her lips in thought.
"He seemed pretty serious about it..." Raven said. Donnie swallowed a little hard, not liking that Atherin had wanted to eat one of his fish. "...If they weren't so toxic I'm pretty sure he'd have....tried to... And no offense Donnie...but...vampires just have this innate instinct to 'eat' just about whatever moves." She said, seeing Donnie's expression. "I wouldn't have let him..." Raven said, throwing a few more berries in. Donnie nodded slightly, though that fact made him a little nervous. "He'd have learned his lesson though." Ryoko replied tossing in a few more berries to the fish. She noticed Donnie's nervous expression. "Relax Donnie. It's extremely rare that we do so." "Okay..." Donnie said, throwing in a few berries to the fish.
After a while the berries were all gone, but the fish still weren't very happy with Raven. They made their unhappiness known when they splashed him with their fins as they swam away. Raven looked over at Ryoko. "You told them to do that, didn't you?" he said, brushing off some of the water. Donnie couldn't help but snicker. "....Maybe...." She said mischievously.
"I knew it..." Raven said. Donnie laughed quietly again. Shadow leaned over and looked at Ryoko and then to the fish. She didn't even make a move to stick up for Raven. "Here. You can't go back in all wet." She said as she gathered the remaining water that was on Raven, forming it into a sphere before placing it back in the water. "Thanks..." Raven said, getting up. Donnie got up as well. Shadow walked over and nosed Ryoko, purring and wagging her tail. The vampiress patted Shadow's snout. "You boys can leave us now. We've got some 'girl' talk to do." Ryoko said, winking at them. Raven and Donnie nodded. They walked back inside Horai to find Atherin. Shadow stayed behind, licking Ryoko and wagging her tail again.
Atherin had retreated back to his cave of a room. He may have been feeling better, but he was still recovering and still liked it as dark and cold as he could tolerate. Raven went to check on Atherin while Donnie went to the Zoids hangar to help Major Schubaltz work on his Zaber Fang. Raven knocked on the door to Atherin's room. "Hey Dracula, you in there?" He asked. "Yeah. Where else would I be?" The vampire replied. Raven opened the door. "I was just making sure, since you sorta just vanished..." he said, walking in and shutting the door. "Well, this is where I vanished to." Atherin said looking over to Raven. Since he had no lights on, all Raven could see were his glowing eyes.
Raven blinked when he saw that. "You really need to stop doing that..." he said, finding the chair and sitting down. "Stop doing what?" Atherin asked. "Your eyes..." Raven responded. "Well sorry! It's not like I can help it at the moment!" Atherin defended. Making sure that his eyes didn't glow in the dark required energy; energy that he didn't have to spare. "Jeez calm down Dracula... I was just joking with you..." Raven said, "It might freak me out a bit, but it's not like it bothers me much..." Atherin calmed down a little. Lately he found that he was quick to irritate and he blamed the fact that he was still recovering. "Ryoko still in the garden I take it?"
"Yeah..." Raven said, "She said the fish aren't happy with us... and that if we try to go swimming again, they just might bite us. Apparently they didn't like me bleeding in their water when Rabe attacked..." he said. "Well, at least we have a heads up to not shove each other in there for a while." Atherin said. "Yeah..." Raven said, "Apparently they were mad enough to splash me... although I think Ryoko had a hand in that..." "She probably did. I suspect that she told them to do it." Atherin responded.
Raven nodded. "Yeah... I'm almost afraid to think what she's trying to convince Shadow to do now..." He sighed. "She's talking to Shadow?" Atherin asked seeming a little nervous about that, even his eyes dimmed a little. "Yeah...why?" Raven asked. Atherin closed his eyes before opening them again. "....More....'girl' talk..." Raven nodded. "Yeah, I think she mentioned that, why? Is something wrong?" Atherin looked away from Raven. "...Well... Apparently...Shadow has...a beau..."
Raven nearly fell out of the chair. "What?!" he exclaimed. "That's what she told me earlier...." Atherin replied. "Why didn't you tell me?!" Raven more or less demanded. "You guys left before I could. And do you really think you can stop Shadow? In case you haven't noticed she is a girl too!" "I never said I was going to stop her... I just didn't know..." Raven said. "Well neither did I." Atherin replied. "Great..." Raven groaned, leaning back in the chair, "I just hope she doesn't go as far as hatchlings..." "....I think....that's what they're talking about....." Raven's eyes went wide. "Is she going to have hatchlings?!" "Not that I know of... If she is, Ryoko will find out...and then she'll tell me....and I'll tell you..." Atherin said. "If you find anything out, please tell me..." Raven requested. "I will. Don't worry." Raven nodded. "I just hope she doesn't have hatchlings..." "I don't think you'll be able to stop her." Atherin replied. "I know but... I'd like to think she won't..." Raven said. "Well...I just don't know what to tell you."
Raven sighed. "Anyway... how are you feeling?" He asked. "I'm feeling better. The Aluru paste is helping. I think...so long as I keep it on the wound, the healing process will be cut in half." Atherin answered. "That's good..." Raven said, "... we need you back on your feet, so to speak, as quick as possible. There's no telling when Rabe will return..." "I know. I want to get better too. I hate being cooped up inside the Zoid..." Atherin whined slightly. "You'll live..." Raven sighed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah just shut it." Raven smirked. "Well, you're certainly doing better...." Atherin mock glared at him. "Don't you have anyone else to bother at the moment?" "Nope..." Raven replied, smirking. "You're enjoying the fact that you can finally one up me aren't you?" Raven nodded. "You bet..."
"Don't tempt me into biting you again. In my bored state I sometimes like to 'eat' just for the hell of it." Atherin 'threatened'. Raven rolled his eyes. "You wouldn't bite me again..." "Yes I would." "I doubt it..." Raven said, smirking, "... you can barely walk, let alone bite me...." "So? I can paralyze you. 'Charm' you even." Atherin replied. "You said you wouldn't 'charm' me, Dracula..." Raven said. "It was a joke, but I never said anything about paralyzing you." Atherin replied. "And how would you do that?" Raven asked. "Want me to show you?" Atherin asked back. Raven looked at him and blinked. "No, I'd rather you not show me..." "Thought as much. But it doesn't hurt nor does it last long." Atherin said. "Still, I'd rather not find out..." Raven said, "Even though, you still wouldn't bite me..." "Do we have to argue about this? Can't we talk about something else? Preferably not about me 'feeding'?" Raven shrugged. "Sure Dracula..." ".... It would help if you picked something this time."
"Hey it's your turn. I brought up the fish being unhappy and you being to chicken to bite me. I'd say it's your turn..." Atherin wasn't happy about being called a chicken. He made his displeasure known when his eyes turned red, narrowed at Raven. Raven flinched when he saw that. For a second he thought he had gone into a blood lust. "Now you can't call me a 'chicken' any more." Atherin replied, as his eyes went back to normal. Raven nodded, before he lowered his gaze. He couldn't help but think back to the incident with Tyme.
Atherin sighed, perhaps he had taken it too far... "Look, I know what you're thinking about just by the look on your face. I didn't mean to bring that up." Raven sighed. "Sorry..." he said quietly, "But it was just, before Tyme... 'attacked' me, his eyes... flashed red..." "...That usually happens when we're upset or angry... I know that it also happens when we go into blood lust, but I think I can classify that as being angry too...." Raven nodded slightly, his gaze still lowered. He couldn't help but still be a little uneasy. Great. He had gone and touched a nerve on accident and now Raven would be like this for a while... There had to be something that he could do to get Raven to stop thinking about it. Raven's gaze was still downcast. He couldn't stop replaying the scene over and over in his mind...
"...You're not gonna start this again are you? I know that he scared you badly....but....I won't let it happen again." Atherin reassured. Raven nodded slightly. He knew Atherin wouldn't let Tyme get him, but that didn't mean he wasn't worried about it... Atherin sighed. He wasn't good at this sort of thing. "Do I need to call Ryoko in here to get you to cheer up?" Raven shook his head no. The company of another vampire wouldn't make him feel better at all... "....Do you want me to just shut up and pretend I'm not here?" Atherin asked sensing the faint vibes coming from Raven that said he was uncomfortable even with him a little. Raven shook his head 'no'. "...You're not making this easy for me to try and 'cheer' you up. Will you at least talk to me?" Raven didn't look up. He didn't really feel like talking at the moment. "...You're starting to make me feel horrible you know..." Atherin said quietly, his eyes dimming, showing that he was feeling bad. "... sorry..." Raven said quietly. Atherin sighed again. He knew Raven wouldn't snap out of this for a while. Raven drew his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. He was starting to shake a little.
Atherin knew that he had to get Raven's mind off what Tyme had done. So....he decided to change the subject, as discreetly as possible. "...I wonder who Shadow's beau is...." He pondered. He had been wondering, Ryoko didn't tell him anything past the fact that she had a beau. Raven glanced up at him. He didn't say anything, but at least he was looking at him. "....Well...I can cross out the possibility of it being Zeke... I know she'd sooner attack him than even think about him like that. That leaves....the possibility that it's either a male Organoid that we don't know about or...." Atherin trailed off. "Oh Eve...." Raven groaned, leaning his head back against the chair, closing his eyes and sighing at the thought. Atherin had to pretend that he didn't hear Raven...not that he could see him smirking anyways. It was still pitch black in him room. He'd let Raven start the...'conversation'...they were about to have. "Don't pretend you didn't hear me, Dracula..." Raven growled, "If it's who I think it is, I'm personally gonna strangle you..."
"Why me? It's not my fault." Atherin defended. "So? He's your Organoid..." Raven replied. "As Shadow's yours, but you don't see me making empty threat because of it." Atherin teased. Raven rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well Azel isn't the one that's going to have hatchlings..." "You don't even know if it is Azel. ....It could be Zeke..." Atherin teased, knowing that he'd get Raven riled up by that statement. "Shut it Dracula..." Raven growled, "Shadow HATES Zeke..." "Lighten up will ya? I know that she hates Zeke. I'm just teasing you." Raven rolled his eyes. He grabbed the pillow that was on the chair and threw it at Atherin, hitting him in his face.
Atherin was unfazed by the pillow; a sudden...thought had just come to him. "You know...if it is Azel...that'll make us 'in-laws'." Raven groaned and leaned his head back. "Great... just freaking great..." he muttered. "Aww, come on... It's not that bad...." Raven just glared at him. "For you maybe..."
Atherin closed his eyes again. As a sudden wave a fatigue washed over him. The Aluru paste was helping, but that didn't mean that he still didn't suffer from fatigue. He opened his eyes only half way before answering Raven. "...You'll live Raven..." Raven sat up instantly. "Hey Dracula, you alright?" Atherin nodded, and then remembered that Raven couldn't see him. "...I'm alright... It's just a wave of fatigue is all..." "Shouldn't you sit down?" He asked. "I am sitting down!" Atherin exclaimed. "I'm sitting on my bed! What are you!? Blind!?" "I can't see Atherin! It's freaking pitch black in here!" Raven shouted. Atherin laid down on his bed. He was too tired at the moment for a shouting match. That and it hurt his ears in such a confined space. "...Sorry... I'm not thinking straight..." "It's alright..." Raven said.
Atherin's eyes slid further shut, even though he was trying to stay awake. He hated being injured like this. It meant that he was bed ridden. As much as he tried he just couldn't keep his eyes open for too much longer. "...You should go find Ryoko and Shadow... I'm about to fall back asleep again..." Raven nodded. "Okay, get some rest. I'll go make sure Ryoko hasn't gotten into any trouble..." Atherin chuckled. "You left Shadow with her...and that was a mistake." Raven rolled his eyes. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?" he shot back, opening the door. "I said I'm about to, doesn't mean I am right this moment." Atherin replied. "Just go to sleep..." Raven sighed, walking out and closing the door.
Ryoko and Shadow were in the living area chattering away. At some point and time Ibeyla and Obscura had joined them. Raven walked out into the living area. Shadow immediately got up and ran over to him, licking him. He pushed her away and sat down beside Ibeyla. Shadow jumped up onto the couch and curled up beside him. "How's Atherin feeling?" Ryoko asked when he had sat down. "Better..." Raven answered, "Well, good enough to argue with me...." Ryoko smiled. "I'm glad to hear that he's feeling better. Hopefully he'll be better within the next week." Raven nodded. "Don't worry. By the look of it, I think he'll be running around again in a few days..." Ryoko nodded before starting to talk to Shadow again. Shadow would respond in growls, but Ryoko could understand her. Raven started stroking Shadow as she 'talked' with Ryoko. Ibeyla was busy stroking Obscura, letting Ryoko continue her 'conversation'. The rest of the day passed peacefully. Donnie had showed Ryoko a room that she could use while she staid on Horai before he went to bed, making sure she was comfortable where she was at near Atherin's room.
Author's Note: Who saw that coming? Huh? Besides you Ibeyla since you helped write it! XP Anyways! Apart from finding Atherin's supposedly deceased sister and finding out that Shadow has a beau nothing too bad happened, which is a nice break from their 'hectic schedule' of fighting off Organoids that want to eat them ^^; Hopefully I'll get back into my weekly update again this coming week.