The countryside was both familiar and strange to thecheerfully whistling bard. He was going towards his old home at a nice clip when cries of rage and battle caught his ear. His good mood destroyed, he stopped whistling and spurred his mount off in the direction the cries had come from.

*****

Satura eyed their attackers uneasily. She was in a circle with both seishi to her right and left, Miaka was in the center. She knew that the attackers were just common bandits. Unfortunately, even the lowliest born person is blessed with some magical skill. That was what she was most worried about. Satura was known far and wide as the most powerful magic user, but she also knew that some of the most primitive spells could stop her. However, she detected little magic on the bandits. They were still outnumbered though. She was about to give the word to attack, when all of a sudden a strange flute came out of nowhere. She grinned as she recognized one of Garret's battle songs.

Garret continued to play the song. When all of the bandits were out cold he emerged from his hiding spot, flute in hand. I'm always getting you out of trouble, Satura. He joked. The woman ran forward to hug her friend. Chichiri looked out at him from behind his mask. So your Garret na no da? he asked. Yup. Garret de Roncor, thieving bard extraordinaire. Satura said happily. Miaka asked. A bard who is trained as a thief, but only uses those skills for the good of the people. Garret explained.

The words struck a cord in the monk's memory. I think we may have found our fifth person no da.Huh? What do you mean? Tasuki asked. The legend said, A bard who no longer walks the minstrel's path will make use of shadows and deceptions'. Chichiri explained. You mean that you think I'm the fifth person? the bard asked. Well it is a remarkably accurate description of you. Satura commented. Garret gave them a smile as he said, Alright then! Count me in!

*****

Lifting a jeweled hand the dark wizard slammed it back down. One two many strokes of good luck so far. He muttered to himself. The wizard stood up and walked over to the window. The view was nothing but darkness.Trees, plants, and animals all covered by a blanket of blackness.It was this darkness he sought to spread over Delika and other realms as well.But that stupid mage has to interfere."He looked over at the shadows. A cruel smile lit his face he would enjoy watching his creatures tear apart the mage and her friends, 'I feel sorry for that miko and her seishi, to think they'll never see their world or their loved ones ever again and Delika will fall into darkness.' He looked off into the shadows. I want all of you to finish them off!Hisses, roars and growls answered him.

*****

Satura laughed as she recalled the time she and Garret had broken into her mother's workshop. He looked so funny covered in Ayron potion. He was blue all over!The mage broke down laughing again. You didn't look much better, if I remember correctly you had blue hair for five weeks! Garret retorted.

Miaka quietly got up and left the campground when she thought no one was looking. Tasuki watched her go and then crept away a few minutes later. he asked. The girl jumped then quietly asked, What is it, Tasuki? I've just been worried about you lately. You're not yourself. Miaka didn't know how to answer this show of caring from the bandit. I-I just miss home. I miss Taka. I- Two arms grabbed her around the middle and hugged her. The miko laid her head on Tasuki's chest and simply let her tears go.

When she stopped, Tasuki pulled away to slightly to look at her. What she saw in his eyes was both astonishing and heartwarming all at once. Love. Quiet, simple, tender love burned in the seishi's eyes. Miaka held her breath. This was unexpected, yes, but not unwanted. She had to admit to herself she was feeling something for Tasuki. So she didn't object when Tasuki leaned forward and gently laid his lips on hers. The miko could feel love burning in every particle of her being. Tasuki's love for her and now her growing love for Tasuki. The seishi pulled away and looked at her. Tasuki I- A loud roar followed by screams broke the spell. The two looked at each other then tore back through the underbrush toward their friends.

*****

Satura fired another blast at the necromancer attacking them. The creatures were four-legged brutes with blue fur, clawed feet, the horns of a bull and an ugly snot with sharp teeth. And their own brand of magic. The mage drew her sword and started circling around her present opponent. Trying to find an opening to strike a necromancer took time and effort. The beast suddenly lunged at her and Satura saw her opportunity.She plunged her sword directly through the beast's heart. The creature gave a final painful roar, and then lay still. A roar from her left alerted her to another attacker, and she managed to turn in time to slash it in two with her sword. She pulled back panting heavily as she regarded the now closing circle of beasts in front of her.

Garret and Chichiri stood back to back. Garret held his sword out in front of him, glancing warily from side to side at the beasts surrounding them. Chichiri gripped his staff in both hands, tense and ready to knock the first beast that jumped at them.What are these things? the monk asked. Necromancers. They live in the shade and shadow. Light hurts their eyes, but their immune to light spells. Their magic consists of a few attack spells and illusion spells. The bard explained. The seishi didn't like the sound of that. A necromancer started glowing and pretty soon a small flame had formed around its body. It lifted a paw and shot the beam toward the pair. Both men barely dodged the blast. Their to weak to try that again. Garret said panting, trying to get his hear rate back to normal.

What do you mean? came the monk's question. That necromancer borrowed power from its brothers to form that flame. The flame was small, but very hot. It could've burned all our skin off. Luckily we missed it na no da. Chichiri said. And thus our odds of survial have risen an incredibly small margin. Garret replied dryly. he was prevented from saying snything further as the necromancers started to lunge at them. Garret managed to hack the leg off one and Chichiri knocked one across the clearing where it smacked its skull into a tree, and slid down the trunk, dead. The pair backed up until they were once again back to back. The men then readied themselves for the incoming attacks.

Miaka and Tasuki reached the campground to find their friends being attacked by large snarling monsters. Tasuki had already taken out his tessen and wasted no time in attacking. Miaka raced to her pack and dug out her bow and quiver of arrows. She then stepped back and lined up an arrow to the string. She looked for a clear shot and let the arrow fly. A pained roar met her ears as the beast clawed at the arrow in his neck. Taking a shaky breath, she started to fire the arrows in rapid succession.

Tasuki slammed his fan down on a necromancer's head. The beast slumped to the ground, a large crack in his head. The seishi then decided it was time to get serious. LEKKA SHIEN! the tessen shot a flame towards five necromancers. The flames dissipated to reveal five over cooked necromancers. The beasts took two steps toward the bandit and fell apart. Tasuki stared at the pile of ash and bone pieces in front of him. Don't just stand there you idiot! Do it again!" Satura's voice cut through his confusion. He raised his tessen and pointed it at the largest group of necromancers. LEKKA SHIEN! Another group fell to Tasuki's tessen. Satura and Miaka decided to get in on the action. Satura formed a small fireball and shot it at the monsters. Miaka on the other hand was a bit more hesitant. She thought back to her training with Satura,

Magic is a difficult thing for anyone to learn. Magic is mostly made up of sheer will. You have to want to create something, to will it into existence. The power of the spell matches the strength of your will. Then that means you must have a very strong will, right? Miaka asked. Yes. I guess it does. Satura smiled. Miaka broke out of her reverie. She raised both her hands and fire started to gather around them. The flames grew until a spiral was whirling around the girl's body. She lifted her hands and sent the spell towards the remaining necromancers.What happened next was nothing less then spectacular. A huge explosion of flame forced them to duck and cover. The seishi shielded their miko's body from flying debris. Garret had grabbed Satura and shielded her body. After the explosion ended the group looked up to see no sign of their attackers. The mage was the first to recover. Good job, Miaka! You did it! Satura cheered. Nice job there. Garret approved. The two seishi slowly uncovered their miko. That was some blast Miaka-chan. Chichiri said looking at the piles of ash in slight awe, You learned your lessons well na no da!

Tasuki was a bit more colorful. Damn that was #$%^&*( good Mi-chan! And with that her and kissed her full on the mouth. Chichiri exclaimed more at the fact that Tasuki was kissing in public then who it was. It had been pretty obvious that the bandit was in love Miaka. The girl had started showing signs of returning that love a few weeks ago. He glanced over at the other two to see their reaction. Garret was giving Satura what seemed to be a too drawn out kiss on the cheek. Judgeing from the becoming blush and happy smile it was obvious the mage had no objections.

came the exasperated sound of an annoyed feline. The monk patted Tama on the head. I know how you feel no da.Chichiri was just as amused and annoyed as the cat. Finally, after about five minutes he couldn't resist asking mischievously, Don't you have to breath some time soon no da? Both couples gave a start and realizing what they were doing and the ridiculousness of the situation began to laugh. After they had calmed down, the monk commented on the teaching job Satura had done with Miaka. You did a good job with her na no da! You might be able to teach me a few things. He said.Please, I'd rather not. Miaka was enough to last me a life time. The mage said, an expression of mock pain on her face.

The men all laughed at the self-pitying mage and blushing miko. It had been well known that Miaka was an adept, but still clumsy pupil. Satura had often remarked that had Miaka needed to learn more she would go gray prematurely. Well I think its time we all turned in. We've still got a lot of traveling to do. Garret said after calming down. Good idea. Miaka said yawning. They unrolled their bedrolls near the fire and slipped under the covers. In a few minutes all were asleep.