Other Worlds
Chapter 12
Konnichwa minna-san! I'm back from my summer vacation and I have a brand new chapter for you! I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: All things associated with Gundam Wing do not belong to me, instead they belong to those lucky people that created them.
…. = indicates thoughts
"Well, he's been here, that's for sure." Derek looked over the bustling city, holding a small triangle shaped crystal in his hand. It glowed faintly, but the light was quickly fading.
"You told me he would definitely be here." said Eulysia irritably, crossing her arms over her chest. "We need to get him to Lady Shara soon or it'll be our heads."
"Just calm down." He replied, looking down at the crystal in his hand. "It's still glowing, that means the trail is still fresh. If we hurry, we can catch up."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" exclaimed the sultry redhead. "Which direction?"
"Northeast." The half-elven mercenary replied. Eulysia immediately began walking in that direction as soon as the word left his lips.
"Come on, we've no time to waste."
After a few quick stops at the local cleric, alchemist, and general store to re-supply themselves, the small party left the bustling town of Canderis and began traveling northeast to Vesey. Duo and Aldrich were up towards the front chatting animatedly while Heero and Nikita hung towards the back walking in silence.
Heero's mind kept travelling back to that brief kiss Nikita had given him back at the inn. He found himself unconsciously licking his lips every now and then at the memory of her smooth soft lips pressed so warmly against his own, the way heat had flushed through his body. It was startling to him how that simple action had roused so many different feelings in him, but what confused him most was how familiar those feelings had been. Heero looked over at Nikita who walked silently beside him, kicking a small pebble. She had re-braided her hair before they had left, much to Heero's disappointment. He liked to see it hanging down her back in golden waves and being able to reach out and run his hands through its silky mass.
Heero sighed in frustration. What was wrong with him? Ever since meeting the petite blonde elf, it seemed that she was all he could think of. Thoughts of missing a mission or of his gundam's condition had barely occupied even two seconds of his thoughts. Nikita noticed him frowning and her brows crinkled together as a concerned expression took its place on her face.
"What's wrong with you, Heero?" she asked, startling him from his thoughts.
"Nothing." He replied quickly.
"Then why are you frowning over there like you have something serious on your mind?" Heero remained silent to her query. She frowned but decided not to press the issue.
"Where are we going now?" asked Heero suddenly.
"Aldrich thought it might be a good idea to go visit home for a little while." Nikita replied.
"Home?"
"Our guild in Vesey." Said Nikita. "Aldrich and I have lived there for as long as I can remember."
"Do your parents live there?"
"My parents are dead." She replied softly.
"I'm sorry." Said Heero.
"It's alright. They died when I was very young. I don't really remember them at all." She said, folding her hands behind her head and looking up at the sky. "I don't even know how they died. Aldrich remembers, but he won't talk about it and every time I ask him about our parents he becomes really quiet and depressed. He stays like that for a few days." Heero looked over at Aldrich who was laughing at something funny Duo said. He couldn't really imagine seeing the cheerful elf as anything but happy. He seemed to have a perpetual smile on his delicate face and his blue eyes had a mischievous sparkle to them.
"After a while I just stopped asking." Heero remained silent, unsure of what to say. The silence between them began to grow uncomfortable until Aldrich suddenly stopped and turned around to Nikita.
"Hey Nikki," he said in a quiet voice, "Did you happen to bring any gems with you from the bandits' treasure?"
"Yes, I have a few. Why?" asked Nikita.
"Give me a few. I want to have a few spells ready." He glanced quickly around their surroundings. "I have a feeling someone's been following us." Nikita reached into her belt pouch and dug through it in search of the items. Heero eased his hand onto the hilt of his shortsword, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings.
"What's going on?" Duo suddenly asked.
"Duo, do you have a weapon?" Aldrich asked while he took the small gems from Nikita.
"Well, I had a gun, but I dropped that in the zombie field…" He trailed off when he noticed the elves giving him a strange look. "What?"
"Gun?" Nikita asked. "What's that?"
"Well, it's a weapon, it fires bullets, you know…" Duo shrugged, unsure of how to really explain. The elves just looked more confused.
"You mean like a sling?" asked Aldrich.
"Uh…I guess…" Duo shrugged.
"Well, whatever, the point is that you don't have a weapon, right?" said Aldrich. Duo nodded. "Then we'll have to get you one. Nikki, do you have any spare weapons?"
"All I have is this dagger…" she replied, removing a sharp-looking dagger from its hiding place in her boot.
"It'll have to do." Aldrich took the dagger from her and handed it to Duo." You can use one of these?"
"Sure, no problem." replied Duo.
"Alright. Everyone be ready, we may be attacked at any moment." said Aldrich. The group continued down the path and had only gone a few feet when they heard a deep male voice behind them.
"Well, well. See Eulysia, I told you we'd find them." They all spun around to see where the voice had come from. They saw a man with long, messy black hair standing a few feet behind them, his arms folded across his broad chest. He was tall and muscular and dressed completely in black. An almost obscenely large sword was strapped to his back. Standing next to him was a beautiful woman with long crimson hair. She wore a scanty blue top and a long skirt that had slits up to her upper thighs running up both sides. She had on black boots and a shortsword hung in a scabbard off her right hip. Her lips had been painted a blood red and she had on a deep purple eyeshadow that stood out against her pale skin.
"I guess you were right, for once." smirked the woman. She pointed a finger at Heero. "Give us the boy and we won't kill you."
"No way!" growled Nikita. "Just try and take him and I'll kill you!" She unsheathed her longsword and held it out in front of her. Heero drew his own sword and Duo tried to look threatening with just a dagger. The woman gave a chilling laugh.
"Isn't that cute, Derek?" She said. "They think they actually have a chance at beating us." She raised her arms above her head and her partner drew his huge sword. She said in incantation and her hands whipped through the gestures of a spell. A dozen silver spikes suddenly appeared in the air and lunched themselves at Heero and the others. They all jumped out of the way, landing hard on the grass. One of the spikes managed to catch Heero's shirt, pinning him to the ground. Derek rushed at him and Heero tugged harder on the cloth that seemed to refuse to give. He brought his sword down on Heero but it was block by Nikita's own blade before it could even get halfway. She kicked the tall warrior in the gut, sending him stumbling back a few steps.
"Not bad, little girl." said Derek. He leaped at Nikita and slashed furiously. Nikita was hard pressed to parry all his blows. Heero got up and rushed over to help her. He then noticed that the woman was beginning to cast another spell.
"Somebody stop her!" he yelled to the others. "She's about to cast another spell!" Duo looked over at Eulysia. She was halfway through the spell. Duo took careful aim then threw his dagger, hitting her in the arm. Eulysia let out a cry of pain and clutched her injured arm.
"Nice one, Duo!" said Nikita. Duo grinned then ducked as his own blade came flying back at him. Eulysia had pulled it out and began casting a new spell. Aldrich threw a blue gem to land at her feet and said an incantation. The gem exploded and bolts of lightning burst out of it, striking the red-haired sorcerer. She screamed as the electricity ran through her, then feel to the ground unconscious. Nikita and Heero were having a hard time fighting off Derek who was relentless in his attacks. Aldrich said another incantation and threw a green gem at him. It hit him in the chest and a million vines burst from it, wrapping themselves around the tall warrior. Derek tried to quickly cut away the vines, but they kept growing, entangling themselves around his flailing limbs. He finally dropped to the ground, the vines tightly binding together his arms and legs.
"Damn you!" He roared, "I'll get you for this!" Aldrich laughed at Derek's frenzied wiggling.
"Isn't it a little cliché to say something like that?" He asked nonchalantly. Nikita walked over and gave a Derek a strong kick in the ribs. He grunted and doubled over slightly.
"That was for trying to hurt Heero." She said, flipping her long braid back over her shoulder and sticking her tongue out at him. She turned around and began heading down the road.
"Come on, let's go. We need to get moving in case there are more losers like these after us." She called back over her shoulder. Aldrich waved goodbye to the tangled man and followed after his sister.
Shouldn't we get rid of them?" asked Heero. Nikita and Aldrich stopped and turned around to face him.
"What do you mean, Heero?" asked Nikita.
"Shouldn't we kill them so they won't come after us again?" The elves each gave him a horrified look.
"What for Heero? We beat them, that's enough." Replied Nikita. "Why should we need to kill them while they're helpless?" Heero remained silent and looked down at Derek who looked a little scared. He sheathed his sword and turned to go follow Nikita. Duo followed after him.
"See you around." Duo called back to the tangled warrior. Derek watched them walk away, rage coursing through him at his somewhat humiliating defeat.
"Those little brats." He grumbled. "Just wait until you see what we have in store for you."
Well, wonder what Derek and Eulysia have planned? Will Heero and crew make it to Vesey first? Sorry this isn't much of a chapter, I promise the next one will be better. Anyway, thanks for continuing to read my fic and as always, please review! ^_^