Author's note:
L.O.S - Well, that certainly took longer then expected. (Notices people hurling available objects at her, and thus hides behind a table for cover.)
Riou - LOS really didn't mean to take so long.
L.O.S. - He's right! Listen to Riou! I finished the chapter a long time ago but the editing stage took forever!
Joey - I don't like this chapter.
LOS - OoO Why not?!
Jowy - Because I nearly have a mental bre. (Jowy is silenced as L.O.S. hits him over the back of the head with a frying pan)
L.O.S. - Don't spoil the chapter for everyone else you baka!
Jowy - *-*
Riou - OoO You killed Jowy!
L.O.S - Did not. He'll just wake up with a bit of a headache. (Looks at people glaring at her accusingly) What?! I need him for other chapters I wouldn't kill him.
Riou - Maybe you should thank the wonderful people who reviewed while I get Jowy some water.
L.O.S - That's right! Thank you everyone who was kind enough to review if it weren't for you this chapter wouldn't be up. And I will be answering all questions, but for fear of spoiling anything in the chapter all answers will be provided at the bottom of the story. See you there!
*^*^*
Being led up the two flights of stairs, Riou and Jowy found themselves in the meeting room of the Mercenary fortress. The entire fort was made of wood, dangerous if there was ever a fire. At least it made the fort smell nicer than if it had been made of cold stone.
The bear like man, Viktor, stood behind a large wooden table. Beside him, Flik, looked over the would be rescuer. Riou took the moment to eye the room; his movements seemed a bit fatigued. Jowy shifted his weight from one foot to the other, taking an apprehensive glance toward Riou. Viktor, rapped his fingers against the old wooden table, after a small pause he leaned forward. "Okay, we'll start with your name."
Snapping back to attention Riou looked at Viktor, "Umm, Riou."
Nodding a bit as Viktor put the name into his memory, he continued. "Okay, Riou. Since you came to rescue Jowy, can I assume you're also a Highlander?"
Riou nodded, "Uh hu, that's right."
Flik tilted his head downward a bit closing his eyes as he pieced together the small puzzle. "I see. then you're the one Jowy was worried about."
Looking to Flik out of the corner of his eye a spark of interest seemed to kindle within Viktor. "Now that you mention it, I never did hear how you managed to wind up in that mess."
Running a hand through his hair Riou tried to think of some astute response. "Well, ahhh. You see. umm."
Turning his eyes to Riou Viktor spoke, "Jowy said something about an ambush by the State, but the State Army hasn't moved since the peace treaty was signed. So what the hell happened?
Riou looked to Jowy while scratching the back of his head; Jowy sagged his shoulders and looked to the ground in deep thought. "Normally, we are forbidden to reveal any information to the enemy. We are, after all, Highlanders. But this. this is an unusual circumstance. Riou. I think we can trust these people. But, you decide."
Riou let out a small groan, which could have been taken for either confusion or annoyance. Looking from Viktor to Flik, Riou surveyed the duo, "Well, you see the truth is."
*^*^*
Nanami's shoulders quivered as she continued crying by her Grandfather's grave. "Grandpa.... I don't know. *sniff* what to do.What if Ri. Ri. Oh Riou."
Nanami buried her face in the plush grass before Genkaku's grave stone. Her entire body shuddered in constant convulsions, she opened her eyes as she heard someone approach, but it was hard to see anything through all the tears.
Rubbing her eyes with the back of her arm Nanami cleared a few of the tears away. As a few welling tears were wiped away Nanami focused on the blurry shape, which took a form. Very small and quite chubby, a furry coat of light golden brown, large blue eyes and a draw string cape. On her hands and knees Nanami crawled over to the squirrel like form. "Mukumuku."
Only a few meters away Mukumuku watched Nanami with sad eyes. The girl opened her arms pleadingly; Mukumuku understood the concept and went over to Nanami allowing her to bury him against her chest, sobbing uncontrollably over him. "Muku.?"
The chubby flying squirrel had been hanging around the dojo every since Riou escaped Lude woods. Both had gotten lost in the damp haze of the forest's thick mist, and had found each other and tried to work together to find a way out. Neither of them were successful in finding the exit of the forest but Grandpa Genkaku had found the two and led them out of the forest. Riou told the little squirrel that he would care for him till he found his friends. Year's later Riou still held true to his promise. Maybe too well, the squirrel had gotten quite chubby.
The squirrel had gotten rather dependent on Riou and generally followed him like a puppy unless Riou told him to stay behind. This happened when Riou and Jowy's brigade went off to war. He had asked Nanami to take care off Mukumuku until he got back. But sometimes the squirrel wondered who exactly took care of whom with Riou's absence.
Nanami choked on her own sobs rocking back and forth hugging Mukumuku -the living teddy bear-. "Muku. he's gone. he's gone."
*^*^*
Viktor gave a solemn nod, "This doesn't sound good, Luca Blight. I've heard of him but. Anyway, what were you planning to do after you rescued Jowy?"
Riou paused, "after I rescued Jowy.? Well, I was kinda hoping to go back to Kyaro Town. My sister is there, and I'm worried about her."
Flik looked at Riou, "So are you still planning on trying to escape?"
Riou gave a small smile, "Sorry, family obligation. Nanami could be in trouble."
Looking from one boy to the other Viktor paced a bit, then looked back to the boys. " Well you can just stay put in the cell for a while." -Viktor could have sworn Riou's face paled, - "We'll give you food and a place to sleep."
After that both Riou and Jowy were shown out of the meeting room, Pohl walked the two down the two flights of stairs and down the small hall. Though instead of taking them to the cell Pohl knocked lightly on the door at the end of the hall. "Dr. Huan? Are you available?"
A voice from within the room answered back, "Yes, come in please."
Pohl opened the door and motioned for Riou and Jowy to enter. When Riou gave a questioning glance to Pohl the man replied "I thought you should have your ribs tended to before settling down for the night."
Huan stood up as he finished writing something at the wooden table in the room. "Hello Pohl, Jowy and Riou, I take it you're here for an injury."
Giving a small nod Riou fidgeted slightly, not sure of what to do. Huan motioned to the bed and Riou slowly walked over while Jowy cast a watchful eye. Sitting on the side of the bed proved to ease up the pressure in his ribs a great deal. Huan motioned for him to lie down, Riou -feeling quite awkward- did as the doctor requested and lay down on the cot.
Opening Riou's tunic the doctor's hands gently probed along the youth's chest, searching for any further injury. Finding none he turned his attention to the stitches he had put in earlier. The doctor frowned with displeasure. The stitches were mauled to a point that they were useless, one part of he thread had been torn and the rest was pulled. "Well Riou, it seems you didn't take my advice to take it easy. You're fortunate that in the last village I visited, the father of the young girl I helped gave me a water rune."
Riou blinked as Huan held his right hand over Riou's rib's, Riou heard the doctor whisper something softly to the rune imbedded on his hand. Riou's own limited knowledge of runes told him that the doctor was performing a level one spell of the rune; kindness drops.
The rune embedded on the doctor's right hand gave a soft glow as a small orb of blue light formed under the rune. The soft blue light fell as though a water droplet, as the blue light fell upon Riou's chest it seeped gently onto the wounds. Riou inhaled deeply and closed his eyes as the cool feeling of the spell flooded every part of his body. His hands lightly clutched at the bedside blankets as a chill ran up his spine. The feeling of the rune's power felt comforting.
//find me.//
Then the feeling faded with the voice, Riou slit open his eyes and lazily sat up. /That voice. sounded like the white haired woman from my dream./
"Hey, Riou?" Looking up Riou saw Jowy with another one of his apprehensive looks. "What is it Jowy?"
Jowy seemed a bit bemused; "You just seemed to blank out for a second."
Standing up Riou closed his tunic; "I'm fine, just musing a bit. Thank you once again Dr. Haun."
Huan gave an amused smile, "thank me by not getting injured again any time soon. Be safe, that goes for all of you."
Pohl gave a courteous bow, "I'll see you later Dr. Huan."
The three exited the room with Pohl leading them; Riou was the last to leave and closed the door softly behind him. Across the hall Jowy looked at the cell door, which apparently had been fixed while they had been upstairs. Jowy then looked to Riou; his friend wasn't going to like this.
Quickly Jowy turned to Pohl who had been unlocking the cell door; "Can we go to the river?"
Pausing, with the cell door partially open Pohl looked at Jowy bewildered. "Jowy, it's dark out."
Jowy tilted his head toward Riou, "but he needs a bath. Look at all that mud, seriously."
True, Riou was still covered nearly head to toe with mud from his earlier escapade, but Pohl shook his head. "Sorry Jowy, I'll take the two of you out in the morning but it's too late right now."
Jowy bit his lower lip with apprehension as he walked a bit into the cell. As Pohl turned to Riou, who started walking into the cell after Jowy, Pohl noticed how a bit of color faded from the boy's face. "Riou, you alright? Is something the matter?"
Riou seemed to snap out of deep thought as he looked to Pohl, "I'm fine."
Riou entered the cell a moment later. Pohl delayed closing the door for a moment, then finally closed the door as the heavy metallic latch sounded a clear ring through the air. Riou winced slightly at the sound; Pohl lingered for a moment looking from one boy to the other then left.
After a few moments Pohl's voice echoed back to the cell, "Get some sleep you two."
Jowy paused before looking over to Riou who was staring at the bottom of the cell door. Riou sauntered slowly over to the crates that were lined together in the corner of the room. Then pulled himself up onto the crates and pressed his back against the corner of the wall. He buried his head in his arms as his knees were brought to his chest. Jowy frowned sadly as he walked over to a cold stone wall and seriously contemplated hurting -or at least attempting to hurting- the stone. "I'm, sorry Riou."
"It's okay.Jowy. Not your fault." Riou's words were a bit muffled till he brought his head up to talk. "If anything, I should be apologizing to you for botching up your rescue."
Jowy banged his had lightly against the wall, "we are so screwed. Any way you look at it; our own country's prince had our brigade slaughtered. Our captain betrayed us for a lousy promotion, we've probably been somehow blamed for all this back home, and to top it off, the enemy has caught us both. But the biggest problem is. do we even have any allies left. Riou, I don't know what to do."
Warmth covered his shoulders as a makeshift blanket -that was actually one of the crate covers- was pushed over Jowy's shoulders. As Jowy turned he saw Riou with one of the crate covers over his own shoulders as well. Riou gave a ghost of a smile to cheer his friend, "Jowy, don't think about it tonight. Try to stay warm, if you need to think of allies then think of Nanami, or even Muku back home. Think of your family, no matter what the Captain tells the people back home. Do you honestly believe whatever he'll say will be believed by everyone?"
Riou paused for a moment allowing what he was saying to seep into Jowy's mind. "Who knows what he'll say, neither of us can predict the future so lets just take what we have as it comes at us. For example," -Riou reached out with one hand and touched the tip of Jowy's nose- "If my best friend in the whole wide world catches a cold we'll be stuck here for quite a while because I'm not gonna carry him all the way to Kyaro. -Riou pulled his hand back under his own sheet and turned around, walking back to the crates he had left. -"So go to sleep Jowy."
Pausing for a moment Riou turned his head to be able to look Jowy in the eyes. "Jowy, question. Did you see my tonfar anywhere in the river?"
Jowy clutched the blanket tighter around his chest as heat escaped through his breath, /Why does the City-State have to be so cold./ "Your tonfar.? No. not that I can remember. And I actually lost your glove now that I think of it."
Riou gave a weak smile -when Jowy had been falling from the edge of the cliff he had pulled Riou's right glove off-, "No worries, Jowy. Gloves are easier to replace then weapons."
As Riou gave a heavy sigh and started to turn away again Jowy remember a bit of the City-State's geography. "Hey, Riou. The river, I think it's the Toran River but. whatever it's name it runs to a place called Radat. I remember from the tutor father hired for me that Radat has a dam that runs all the way across the river. Your tonfar, though it is a really slim chance, might get caught by the sluice gate."
Riou spun around looking at Jowy with hopeful eyes, "Really.? You mean my tonfar could be there?"
Jowy smiled, "Could be, but don't put too much hope into it."
Riou beamed, "but they could be there. You know Grandpa gave me those for my eleventh birthday, if I can get them back then, then, oh thank you Jowy."
Riou pounced over to Jowy hugging him tightly, Jowy smirked as he looked down at his friend, and playfully ruffled up Riou's hair. "What would you do without me."
Riou gave a sarcastic laugh as he went back over to the corner of the room he was taking claim to. "Like I'll ever have to worry about that. G' night Jowy."
Jowy went beside the crates and nestled down on the floor. "Night Riou." -a moment passes- "Umm, Riou?"
A voice perked up, "yes Jowy?"
Hesitating for a moment Jowy decided to ask, "This is coming out of nowhere but, umm I know prison cells aren't fun obviously but. why do you always seem to go distant, when you're near them?"
Riou was silent; Jowy could hear some rustling from the sheet Riou had. ". Whenever I get near a cell I'm reminded of something that happened in my past. Before I knew you, or Nanami or even Grandpa."
Waiting for a moment, Jowy realized Riou didn't wish to elaborate. Jowy pulled his own blanket closer to his chin, "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
Riou didn't say anything for a few more minutes then replied, "Good night Jowy. See you in the morning." Thus ending the conversation as sleep started claiming the youths.
*^*Dream *^*
"Care is heavy, therefore sleep," a woman's voice. Riou looked around; the room was faded as an old painting. Though it seemed small, the area had the touch of a woman. Nothing more could have been done for the broken down domain. It seemed odd that such a run down place should have colorful decorations. A few trinkets of gold and silver placed around the room carefully for maximum effect. . There was a woman sitting in a meticulously carved rocking chair. She was singing softly, the chair rocked back and forth. The woman's arms were folded delicately over a bundle of light blue, flannel cloth.
"While I over you watch do keep." The woman smiled lovingly, she was beautiful. Thick brunette hair tied in a loose braid over a shoulder, framing her slender and frail body. Her eyes though, were covered in shadows; her body seemed hazed, fading memories. Though she seemed happy, her lips edged upward in a smile as she sung to the infant wrapped in her arms.
"Sleep, pretty darling, Do not cry," the woman touched the child's cheek affectionately. Riou closed his eyes; he could feel the caressing touch on his own cheek as his head leaned toward the feeling. The gentle touch, with the familiar voice had him feeling as though the world was calm.
"And I will sing you a lullaby." The woman softly kisses the baby's forehead.
*Pitpatpitterpatter.* Riou looked to the ground, which though covered in darkness rippled as water fell upon it. /Rain. /
Riou sunk to his knees, reliving the hopeless angst that filled the city where he had been born. The Black Death, everyone was catching it. His mother hadn't been an exception.
"Mama? Mommy I got some bread for you, please eat mommy." The dank room smell of death it had been so strong in his childhood he could sense it clearly even now. His mother was beautiful, he remembered noble men would offer large sums of money for her company. Riou had never seen her accept an offer. She was too proud, and besides she was among the best thieves in the city, once she set her eyes on a target she always got it in the end. Soon as she deemed him old enough -although still quite young- his mother taught him how to steal for survival. How to tell if it was a knight or bounty hunter dressed in a way to lure in thieves. This is where her lithe frame became as precious as the gold she stole.
For as many years as she could his mother taught him all the tricks she knew. As he started getting a bit older his mother's friends would comment on how much he looked like her. Which was true, he did gain a similar body frame, the same stunning amber eyes, thick healthy hair. He was happy, but then the black plague came. Windows were closed; people locked themselves away tightly in their abode. It a harsh living, but it got worse when his mother caught the plague.
"Mom I got some food."-A young Riou looks up and sees a stranger crouching down beside his fallen mother. Riou goes defensive yanking free his dagger, - "Who are you? What are you doing to mom?"
The stranger stood up and turned to Riou, the man was dressed as a noble with white clothing, and toughened fabrics -of which only a few were actual metal- guarded the vulnerable parts of his body. He was a high-ranking knight, Riou could tell by the posture. Small dark eyes without much color to them other then black. In one hand he held the light purple colored gems he had stolen from a convoy a few weeks ago. The air around the man was best described as tense, heavy or foreboding. It was clear by the manner he held himself, the decorative white sheathed sword at his hip wasn't merely for show.
"A child. You said you were alone. I don't appreciate lies." The man looked down to Riou's mother who lay motionless on the floor; Riou focused intensely on a growing red stain on his mother's clothing. He didn't understand the full implication of the situation, only his mother was hurt. With his dagger he lunged at the man.
Not sure what happened exactly, one moment he was on the attack next on the ground where the room refused to stay still. Everything was spinning, swirling in a way that made him nauseous. Looking around he saw the man walk toward him. The silver blade intoxicated with crimson. Red falling down over his eyes from a head wound, the man now stood above him sword hovering ready to strike. Riou waited the sword came down though the sword's path wasn't for him but for his mother.
The deed was done; the man simply bore his eyes onto the body of the dead woman. She had been very beautiful, a small gem gleaming within a slosh of mud. The man looked away to the child, bright amber eyes same as the woman and tear stained cheeks. Despite the earlier inflicted injury the child crawled over to his mother. In a useless gesture he started shaking the shoulders of the woman calling out to her. The man turned, no longer wishing to stay in this domain, his job was complete. Or so he thought till he heard a soft whisper of the woman's once voluptuous voice, she was speaking to her son. "Run."-the woman choked as she tried to move to touch the face of her child. The movement caused her to sink back to the floor eyes closing. - "My angel.live."
The child broke down sobbing, "Mommy! Please! Mommy! MOMMY!"
The child's pleas were unheard by any who would care or so the man thought as he approached. The child looked to him through his tear-muddled eyes. The man turned back walking to the mother and child with sword drawn. Without warning the shadows seemed to spring out and attack the man. The man screamed as he fell back clutching his face from a dagger wound. Young Riou looked behind him as he recognized the two new figures as some of his mother's friends. The duo quickly snatched Riou and his mother before the man could recover from the shock of the injury and vanish back to the shadows.
*^* End dream *^*
True to his word the next morning, Pohl along with a Mercenary soldier -who agreed to go as well, - brought Jowy and Riou to the river. Of course Pohl and the soldier had to go with them to make sure they didn't try to escape, his friend came with him as a precautionary measure. But Riou and Jowy were quite content to wash the grime of the last few days off in the river.
Jowy dunked his head under the calm area of the river, scrubbing at his hair as thoroughly as he could. Pohl sat a bit away from Jowy with a fishing line in the water. Both Riou and Jowy were almost positive Pohl wasn't going to catch anything. One, because both of them were in the water. Two, he didn't put any bait on the hook.
The Mercenary soldier, Galious, squatted beside his friend making a small joke at Pohl's expense. Pohl in good humor shrugged and Galious stood up and cast a watchful eye over the surroundings before continuing to jest with Pohl.
The crystal clean water felt great against his skin cleansing every inch with a purity only water could keep. Droplets of water dripped down his pleasantly toned body, scrubbing hard the mud was rinsed away. Riou had already cleaned off his clothes and bathed in the water with only a white towel wrapped around his thin waist. The towels that were brought were courtesy of Pohl. Riou was glad that while he bathed all his clothes could begin to dry, including his pants.
Though, the slit up the towel showed off an indecent amount of muscular thigh of his powerful legs. His already drying clothes would be wonderfully warm by the time he got dry himself.
Riou finished rinsing his hair best he could without soap. After which he went out of the water to sunbathe and dry off. Riou's dagger was securely hidden behind the belt, locked within a hidden strap that would be close to his belly when the belt was worn.
Kneeling beside his tunic Riou's back faced Pohl as he unsheathed the dagger and dried it on his tunic. -No one at the Mercenary fort had found his dagger when searching him for weapons. - After Riou quickly but thoroughly dried the dagger he tucked it back into it's hidden sheath before Pohl or Galious noticed. Riou slid his pants back on before nestling down on his belly against the plush, cool grass. His eyes closed as he was began to sunbathe.
Galious looked from one bank of the river to the next, occasional Bon Bon's or cut bunnies would come to the river for a drink but as they felt his eyes upon them they would quietly slink back into the forest. Galious then looked to the two youths that were placed in his and Pohl's charge. The elder of the two was perhaps eighteen, and seemed to be very conscientious about his hair. As the blond would dunk his head under the water, scrub thoroughly pull back out of the water. Then comb through his hair carefully with his fingers, then he would find some speck of dirt or something rather re-dunk and scrub twice as thorough.
Galious smirked unnoticed by the blond as he looked over to the brunette. The youth was happily sunbathing in a patch of plush green grass. He seemed fairly young, with a svelte form that came with his youth. He had heard the boy talking a few times on the way to the river; he had a nice epicurean voice and was surprisingly warmhearted given the circumstances. Most prisoners of war were tightlipped and cold, but this kid felt more like a fellow recruit rather then a captive.
Around an hour later Jowy had a closed lip smile as he enjoyed the feeling of his clean blond hair. Tying it back into it's accustomed loose ponytail Jowy went over to Pohl. "Excuse me, Pohl."
The soldier looked up at Jowy who now stood beside him. "Yes, Jowy?"
Putting one hand on a hip and holding the other out palm upward for emphasis Jowy explained the situation to Pohl. "Could you take me and Riou to Radat? We just follow the river's current to get there."
Galious blinked as he looked away from the river to Jowy. "Radat? What do you want in Radat?"
Jowy looked at Galious; "Did you notice how Riou didn't seem to have any weapons when he came to the Mercenary Fort? Well, as Viktor or Flik have probably already told you we were ambushed in the night. I got away with my staff but Riou was caught and his tonfar were thrown into the river. You're both soldiers so you most likely know that a soldier's weapon is like a piece of himself or herself. Now it's a long shot but if we follow the river down to Radat and carefully watch the river bank to see if they were washed up along the way then we might find Riou's tonfar."
Pohl thought for a moment before it dawned on him, "Because of the water gate that blocks the river in Radat, right?"
Jowy nodded, "Exactly."
Both Pohl and Galious looked at each other for a moment, Galious finally shrugged. "If you clear it up with the boss it doesn't matter to me. It still counts as my patrol time."
Pohl looked back at Jowy then a glance at Riou who was oblivious to the conversation as he enjoyed his sunbath. Pohl couldn't help but smile and look back to Jowy. "Right. I'll clear it up with Viktor, but while I'm doing that you and Riou will have to do a few chores around the fort. Agreed?"
Jowy smiled with a small nod, "agreed. Thank you."
*^*^*
As the small party came back to the Mercenary Fortress, Pohl introduced the group to Leona. Galious turned red as soon as he saw the woman, as he stumbled for words he excused himself. Pohl told Leona the story; Leona smiled as she got Gengen -the kobold warrior- to go with Riou on an errand to Ruybe to get some flour. Even Tuta -apprentice to Huan- decided to come.
When Riou found out that Jowy would be stuck with cleaning up all the oil stains in the fort he felt bad for his friend hoping he wouldn't hold it against him later.
*^*^*
The trip to Ruybe was for the most part uneventful. A few Bon Bon's and Cut bunnies showed up but they weren't that difficult to take care of. Tuta was explaining to Riou all that he had too do as an apprentice to doctor Huan. Gengen later told Riou about his village, which was named 'Kobold village'. It seemed a bit strange to Riou to name a village after the people that inhabit the area but Gengen merely shrugged it off. Though he did seem a bit perplexed by this after Riou mentioned it.
Riou gave a small laugh as the eleven-year-old apprentice bounded ahead of him and Gengen. The child seemed to have an abundant supply of energy, as he jumped up and down impatiently for Riou and Gengen to hurry. Smells of things both foul and fragrant began filling the air as he entered the village.
In truth the village was smaller then he had expected. If this was truly where the Mercenary fortress gathered it's supplies then it a wonder they managed to feed all the soldiers. Then again, -Riou's eyes glazed over as he recreated the mercenary fortress in his mind-. Thinking back, there weren't that many soldiers as far as he was able to tell. Gengen had been by the well; two soldiers were parrying by the doors. Two more along with a border collie had been patrolling outside. He remembered that no one had been in the watchtower, back at the brigade they would use trees as the towers.
Inside on the middle floor there had been five soldiers waiting for food. Leona had been at the bar along with the item store clerk on the opposite side of the room. Riou counted them as being able to fight even though he knew their abilities in battle would be extremely limited. Upstairs only one soldier stood guard along with a kid who would be no help in the event of an ambush. Victor and Flick were there as well. In the basement, Barbara worked storage; she looked able enough to hold her own. One guard had been checking on the weapons along with the weapon smith. Then there was Pohl and Tuta. Then adding one extra in the case someone had been inside a room he hadn't looked at.
"Only twenty-one."
Twitching his K-9 ears Gengen gave a questioning glance to Rou, "Twenty-one what?"
Giving an apologetic smile to Gengen as he realized he had spoken out loud. "Nothing. Sorry, just thinking out loud."
His smile faded as his eyes watched the ground in front of him with an unfocused gaze. /Only twenty-one soldiers. We had about half that in the brigade and we were a mobile force, not to mention our numbers were small for normal mobile brigades. If highland wanted the fortress they could take it with strategy. The location is hard for a massive strike but still./
"Hi Gengen will it be the usual?" Riou pulled himself out of his thoughts as he heard a woman speaking to Gengen.
The woman who had spoke was behind an old but well mended wooden counter. She was a stout woman, with puffs of very light brown hair rifling around from under a bonnet. As Riou glance around he realized he noticed the wooden floor and kitchen smells.
/Hu? How'd I get here? / With a very feint blush -something he did when he got confused- Riou fidgeted with his hands, looking at his right glove-less hand as he remembered he forgot to get another pair of gloves. He gave a small frown as he looked up to the woman, opting to pay more attention to his surroundings -to prevent walking straight into a wall-.
Gengen wagged his tail as he placed his brown furry hand on the counter. "Yes, arf. Two bags of flour."
The woman smiled kindly showing high laugh lines around her eyes. She walked away momentarily as she took two large white bags from the corner. "I'll place it on your tab as usual. Come again soon."
Gengen and Riou each took a bag; Riou flopped the bag over his shoulder. A thick white cloud appeared, Riou closed his eyes as he held back the sneeze.
Tuta asked to carry one of the bags as the group walked back to the fortress but the bags were as big as he was tall and twice as wide. The child would have been squished under the weight. Riou unable to think of a better response then, 'you don't want to get back to the fort a pancake do you?' Decided to let Gengen explain why he couldn't carry the bags.
Riou was rather happy with his decision later, as it turned that Gengen had said a similar line and all the way back to the fort Tuta had been throwing pebbles at him.
*^*^*
As promised, when Riou got back with the flour Pohl rounded up Galious while Riou found Jowy and the small group headed toward Radat following the path of the river.
Looking about the surrounding area Jowy scratched the back of his neck. "So this is Radat, hu? I thought it would be a bit bigger then this; maybe a bit more outgoing. But, I'm not complaining," -Jowy arched his back, back as he got a number of cracks out of it. - "It's much better than cleaning up that fort."
After a moment of admiring the massive floodgate Riou nodded. "Is it just me or does anyone else notice how that fort smells like really old sweat socks?"
Pohl scratched the back of his head as he continued leading the group, "well. actually Riou, that probably is what you're smelling. Mostly everyone in the fort's gotten used to it but, you see we've had a bit of a rat infestation."
Galious scoffed, "A 'bit' of an infestation? Pohl, they're trying to take over the fort. We've been at war with them for over three months now!"
Riou piped in, "But why does the fort smell like old socks?"
Galious paused and shook a tight fist as though reliving the event; "They come when your guard is down. They can move inhumanly fast so it's almost impossible to give any warning when you see them, they come, they chew holes in your clothes, and your boots. But it doesn't end there, oh no. Those sly devils, every time they come they have only one goal in their twisted minds, our socks."
Pohl slapped his forehead and muttered something under his breath; Riou seemed rather confused, as was Jowy. "Why do they want your socks?"
Galious continued. "The fiends, they steal all our socks. Only those who have the gil for an endless supply of socks can keep up with them. They steal them all, the thin cotton ones, the thick wooly ones even if they're covered in a day's work and sweat."
Pohl sighed, "Galious thinks the rats are out to get us but they're using our socks as beds and taking them deep within the nocks and crannies of the fortress. We can't reach them, we've tried, but no one can get the socks out. You get used to the smell after a few weeks. Come on, we should pick up the pace if we're going to make it back to the fort before nightfall."
The group consisting of Pohl and Jowy left; Riou hesitated for a moment as Galious was so caught up in his speech about 'injustice' that he failed to notice the group was leaving. After a moment Riou sagged his shoulders with a sigh, not wanting to interrupt but Galious didn't seem to need any air as he continued ranting. After a minute Riou ran off to catch up with Jowy and Pohl, as he decided Galious would follow shortly.
".And another thing.?" -Galious looked around to realizing everyone left him, - "Hey! Pohl! Not nice people!" Galious chased after them across the bridge catching up as they ran into a tall dark haired man.
Riou did his best not to look too surprised at the height of the man; he was nearly three whole heads taller than Jowy. Wearing a loose open vest tunic, which was held closed at the waist by a purple sash. A few simple designs were hemmed on with the colors black and red. Plain wooded sandals on his feet. In one hand he carried a long but thin staff like paddle. His ink black hair was tied back tightly as not to get caught or interfere with his work. Riou could sense the friendly air around the man, which put him at ease.
The man looked over the small group; "May I help any of you?"
Pohl gave the man a friendly smile, "Sorry to be a bother but were looking for something."
The man jerked his head toward the road behind him, "There's an item shop down there that can help you in that case."
Riou gently pushed his way forward, "No, not items like that. You see, umm I lost something in the river."
The man used a hand to crack his neck, "Then it's gone kiddo, count your lose and get a new one."
Jowy glared at the man, cross with his way of speaking. "The weapon's are called tonfar. Wooden with metal sidings, they're able to with stand just as much pressure as any metal weapon."
The man paused for a moment, "Hang on." -He turned and called to a man who had been near a small hut at the end of the bridge. - "Yo Din, remember those wooden sticks you pulled out of the sluice gate earlier?!"
"Yeah."
"Bring 'em here would you?!" The man looked back to the group, "Just a sec."
No more then a few moments later, Din came running over. Jowy smiled as Riou's eyes lit up. "My tonfar!"
Riou snatched the weapons out of Din's hands and inspected them happily. Din smiled, "I found 'em in the grate. Strong weapons ya got. All that water pound'in at them, a lot of metals would have buckled under that kind of constant pressure."
Riou smiled happily as he looked to Din, "Thank you so much, Mr. Din." -Riou looked to the other man, - "Mr. Umm. sorry I didn't catch your name?"
The man gave a good laugh; "It's Amada, kid. And that's enough with the formality stuff it wasn't any problem, just don't let it happen again, Kay?"
Riou nodded once with enthusiasm, "Right, thank you Amada!"
*^*^*
As the group reached the mercenary fortress Galious stretched and gave a small wave to the group, "well if that's all I'm hitting the bar. Don't cause any trouble you two."
Riou returned a smile, his hands politely folded together behind his back as he leaned to a side. "It was nice to meet you Galious, I hope to see you again some day."
Walking away Galious gave a likewise movement with his hand by giving a loose salute. Pohl looked to the two boys, "well let's get you both tucked in for the night.
*^*^*
Riou gave a wayward glance to his tonfar, which rested outside the cell against the wall. Jowy's staff was also there leaning against the corner wall. Jowy was rummaging through what supplies they had gathered over the last little while. Jowy put everything in two different piles. Items for escape, items not for escape. /Flint, escape. Rope, escape. Oily rag, escape. Sheets, leave here. Spoon, escape. Boots, wait. boots? /
Jowy looked over his shoulder and held up the boots Riou had brought back from the errand that he had run earlier. Riou nervously fidgeted with his fingers. "I thought Pohl said three pairs of boots, he only said two."
Jowy shrugged and left the boots in the 'not for escape' pile. He then stood up and put the items for the escape on top of the crate, he then picked the spoon out of the pile and bent it sideways. Then started picking away at the cell lock with the bent spoon, it only took a few moments before an audible 'click' sounded and the door opened.
Jowy smirked, "They won't catch us this time. Come on Riou, and stay quiet."
Nodding just before the two of them took their weapons and dove down the hall and up the stairs.
"Whew, I'm all tired from that.*Yawn *."
Jowy peered round the corner as he pushed Riou against the wall. Two guards, both were starting to head upstairs. Jowy glanced at the main door, "The door is locked," -Jowy paused then looked to Riou- "give me the rag and flint."
Riou opens a pouch tied to his belt and fishes out the oily rag and flint. "Oh man, gross. The rag got my bag all oily. What a mess."
Jowy took the rag and flint, "Don't worry you can wash your bag out."
Riou glared at Jowy; "You've never washed oil out of anything."
Jowy shrugged as he broke the flint in half and started smacking the two sides together. "Is it that obvious? Oh well, least you can wash enough out so it won't be flammable." -Riou's eyes widen- "Flammable?"
The oily rag goes a blaze, faster then Jowy expected. Throwing the rag across the room Jowy bit his tongue to keep from crying out as the fire singed his skin. "Jowy?"
Riou noticed the distraction work as the two soldiers who had been heading upstairs quickly run to put out the fire. Jowy cradled his hand for a moment before ushering Riou toward the second flight of stairs. As they made it up and out onto the balcony Riou took Jowy's injured hand in his own. "Oh Jowy. hang on maybe I have something we can use."
Jowy shook his head, "No time, later. Where's the rope?"
Riou frowned not liking this one bit but he didn't have any potions. So he took the rope off his shoulder and proceeded to tie the knot onto the railing. "No Riou, let me."
Riou glared at Jowy and stopped the blonde's approach by head butting him gently away, as his hands were busy tying the knot. Jowy glared at Riou who didn't pay any mind as he focused upon the task of tying the knot. "Jowy, you tie the knot with that hand we both fall to the ground and break our legs. That sound appealing to you?"
Jowy didn't say anything; Riou smirked, "Good. Glad I got that through your head." -Riou finished tying the knot- "There, I'll go first in case you slip."
"So if I slip you can catch me?"
Riou grinned, "No silly. So if you slip and fall and bring the balcony down with you I'll have plenty of time to get away."
"Hu?"
Riou laughed softly, "Just kidding." -Riou looked up and frowned as he saw the banner of the fort behind them. - "Well that's original, Victor didn't tell me their banner had a hamster head on it."
Jowy looked behind him to see the flag, "I think it's actually supposed to be a bear Riou."-Jowy looked at the bright yellow behind the head of the creature sewn onto the flag. - "Maybe it's a fire bear."
Riou shrugged as he started going down the rope; "Maybe it's standing in- front of the sun?"
*^*^*
Pacing back and forth; unnerved by the current circumstances. Jowy glared at the small campfire that he had made as though it was the source of all his worries. Riou had been gone roughly three to four hours, the sun had long since set and only the light from a far hanging crescent moon and its army of stars that lit the land.
Jowy gritted his teeth still staring at the fire. /He's lost, I know it. I told him not to get lost, I can't believe Riou. I specifically said, 'Riou, whatever you do don't get hurt, don't get lost. Does he listen? Noooo. Course not why would he listen to me? I can't leave this place, what if he comes back? / -A look of hidden fear replaced that of anger, -/Wait what if he's not lost but hurt? We're on the run from both Highland and City-State. What if he was caught? Maybe I should go after him. Wait, what if he comes back and I'm not here? /
*^*^*
Riou sauntered through the shrubs of the forest moving quietly more by habit then want. It had taken him a bit longer than he had expected to find everything he needed. Then it took even longer to find Jowy's trail, once he did though Riou had no trouble figuring out which way to the campsite. Glancing through the last bit of forest cover before a small clearing he spied Jowy looking as though in deep thought, staring at the fire.
Riou grinned, as he began weighing his options. /Jowy has been so uptight. Not that I blame him, but I can't resist an opportunity like this./
From the shadowy protection of the forest Riou moved swiftly with the grace of a hunting cat as he leapt forward at Jowy grabbing him in a mock bear hold. "Caught you!"
*^*^*
Letting out a sigh Jowy brought himself out of the panicked stated when he was abruptly caught in a bear hold. "Caught you!"
Jowy seized attacker by the thin wrists and flipped him face down onto the ground. Jowy retracted his dagger fast as he pounced on top of the would be assailant, his knee drove into the attackers shoulder blades causing the assailant to let out a small cry. Jowy felt mildly surprised that attacker wasn't fighting back but he didn't stop to dwell on the matter. Jowy pressed the dagger against the enimies slender neck.
Both paused, Jowy breathed heavily as he kept on top of his attacker, he felt the blood rush out of his face as he noticed a golden ringlet partially hidden under the attackers chocolate colored hair. "Jowy, it's okay. It's me."
Jowy flung himself backward as though Riou's body was hot as fire, "R-Riou? I'm.... Oh gods Riou I-I'm so sorry.... I didn't know. I'm sorry. Oh, man Riou I nearly. I."
Riou got up; "It's okay Jowy, shh. It's okay, no worries. I'm okay. "
Riou looked at the panic stricken look in Jowy's eyes. The older boy looked at the dagger he had been holding and let it slip to the ground, Jowy looked ready to collapse. Riou quickly grabbed his friend and eased him to a sitting position on a fallen log. Riou kneeled down in front of his friend trying to look him in the eyes but Jowy gaze was locked upon the cold dirt of forest floor.
"Hey, Jowy? It's okay, I didn't get hurt I'm not mad or anything." -Riou paused as a second thought dawned on him. - "Or is it the whole situation?"
Riou noticed Jowy's rigid posture relax slightly. Riou sighed as he leaned his back against the fallen tree, sitting beside Jowy. "Our friends, we were all so close. Nothing happened among us that the rest didn't know of. I miss them all terribly, even Jason. Remember how Jason would wake up so early that the sun was just barely coming up and one morning we got so tired of him trying to wake the rest of us up we."
Jowy cut Riou off -a small smile played on his lips. - ".we tied him to a tree and left him there till we found out he was serious about there being a snake in the camp site that morning."
Riou smiles, "That's right, it was a taipan. None of you guys knew how to grab a snake without getting bitten and so you all tried to behead the poor thing."
Jowy smiled a bit at the memory, "I remember Rowd was waving his sword at it and everyone was dancing around the thing trying to get close enough finally Marcus brought out the arrows. Then you came back from scout and patrol. You smacked Marcus upside the head and despite all of us yelling how crazy and stupid you were being you snatched up the snake somehow and took it away from the camp."
"Well I just didn't want to see the little guy hurt." -Riou looked up, even through the forest trees he could see the stars shining brightly, twinkling with their inborn fires. - "Just you wait and see Jowy. One day we'll both look back, always there will be regrets but this is our life, we need to pull through. It's what we have. It will be better, you'll see."
Jowy looked up and over to Riou, who -as if sensing his friends gaze- turned his head around to give a hopeful smile to the blond. Then, standing up, Riou opened the pouch tied at his waist and fished out a healing potion. "I got this for your hand."
As Riou handed him the vial Jowy looked at the potion in deep thought, "Riou where'd you get he money for this?"
Riou looked away and went through his bag and pulled out some food. Dried figs, some cheese and bread and an apple. Jowy frowned, "I though you said you were going to stop."
Riou shrugged, "We need food and you need that potion. I'll pay it back when I get some money."
Jowy glared at the stolen potion, "Riou, Master Genkaku told you never to steal again, and you said you wouldn't."
Riou glared at Jowy through the flames, "I said I wouldn't as long as the need never arose. What would you do Jowy? Or what would you have me do? Are you telling me if the situation was reversed you wouldn't steal a potion for me? So I stole some food and a potion, its for survival Jowy."-Riou's eyes glossed over a bit as he stared at the flames, -"Mother told me, taught me to steal. She taught me how to survive before Grandpa, she said there's nothing wrong with needing to survive what's wrong is when you get caught surviving."
Riou watched the dancing fire; "Mother never got caught. She was really good at what she did, and she taught me as much as I could learn at that age. I was young remember Grandpa adopted me when I was young but because mother had died I was on my own for two years before that."
Whatever plagued Riou vanished with a crackle of the flame from the starving fire. A mask was placed to hide his hurt from years gone by. And Jowy wondered for the first time how much of Riou was an act for the spectators, and how much was the real him. The younger always bottled his negative emotions trying to absorb all the worry of others along with his own.
Both Jowy and Nanami have over the years gotten him to be a bit better at it expressing the negative with the positive. Even still, he sometimes bottled his emotions up so tight for so long he would just have an explosive temper. He would simply go berserk and Jowy had seen Riou take down a SunKing with his hot temper. But when his temper went cold as ice Jowy had yet to see anything stand any sort of fighting chance against him. Best thing to do was wait till Riou exhausted himself fighting at all targets available then pick up the pieces.
Riou claimed his mother told him it was always best to hide your feelings cause they could get in the way. Genkaku told him that was true only when you needed to use your head instead of your heart. Least Riou let the positive emotions out freely.
Jowy looked to the fire and poked it with a stick. Jowy silently contemplated Riou's past, he had heard snippets here and there, little pieces Riou handed out only to the ones that he had known for years. Mainly Jowy, Nanami and Genkaku. He knew a strange man had attacked Riou's mother when he was away and when he got back the only reason he survived was because two of his mother's friends had rescued him.
Rio stood up and stretched, "time to get some sleep Jowy, I'll take first watch. 'Kay?"
Jowy looked playfully suspicious at Riou, "Your not going to try and pull the whole night shift again are you Riou." -Riou looked to his friend with an innocent expression. - "Use that potion, eat your dinner and go to bed."
Jowy rolled his eyes before looking back to Riou, "Yes mother."
Riou glared at Jowy, "Don't 'mother' me or when you wake up you'll have a snake in your pants. Don't look at me like that. You know I'll do it, remember David?"
Jowy suddenly shrank back and used the potion Riou gave him and silently ate his dinner. Riou looked proud, /oh how I love that threat. /
Jowy took a bite out of his half of the apple, /it's been so long and I still can't believe Riou did that! /
*^*Dream *^*
"Do you wish to forget?" Riou lazily opened his dream eyes; the area held the familiar darkness that generally accompanied this woman. Sure enough he saw the woman who had been inviting herself into his dreams standing beside him.
Riou just wanted to close his eyes and sleep. /wait. I am asleep. Okay then what I want is a nice relaxing dreamless sleep. Is it too much to ask, don't I at least deserve that? /
The woman looked down to him; she was perhaps a little over a head taller than he was. "Who are you?"
Riou sighed, or rather felt like sighing. It's rather hard to do when you're dreaming. "I'm Riou, and you are?"
The woman seemed to appraise him; it wasn't a leaching look, but rather as though she was judging him for something. "You feel you have betrayed the trust of all who called you friend. Especially those boys in the brigade that failed to survive. You even went as far as to label yourself a coward."
The woman somehow in her quiet, seemingly apathetic state seemed somehow satisfied, as though she found what she was looking for. "You shouldn't think yourself a coward, few would ever take the risks you have. You have a kind heart. Pure, even after all that you've gone through, and still endure."
Riou pulled away, "Coward?! That came out of no where lady!"
The woman didn't react, as though she had anticipated this. "I could hear your thoughts earlier. They were quite strong. I rarely hear voices, nor am I able to communicate with things better then simple emotions. But with you, I can begin to rebirth my power. You and I, together as one. Your power will flow to me while my power will be unleashed through you."
Taking rein of his temper, -as Genkaku taught him to do- Riou managed to call it off before it manifested itself. /A nice dreamless sleep, that's all I ask. This woman talks in riddles and it's driving me up the wall. /
"Say," -Riou remarked in a friendly tone. -"You know my name but I don't know yours."
"My name.?" The woman blinked slowly, for the first time Riou saw an expression on her face. She was slightly perplexed by the question but at least there was something resembling emotion there.
Riou nodded as he relaxed a bit and managed to stand casually. The woman seemed to think for a moment, "A few from your world have called me Bright Shield."
Riou felt as though the name should ring a bell. / Bright Shield.? Where have I heard that./
"Why have you been following me?"
The woman didn't answer as the dream faded.
*^*End dream *^*
The morning rays of light filtered through the dense forest trees. Jowy rubbed his eyes and glanced at the position of the sun through the trees, /ugh, we slept in, its almost past noon already. /
Jowy rolled over away from the rays of light best he could. On the other side of the smothered -but not completely dead- campfire Riou slept, blissfully ignorant of the suns wake up call. Jowy quietly growled, jealous of his friend's ability to sleep through practically anything. /If I'm awake, he's awake./
Jowy crawled over to Riou, taking his own drinking skin Jowy uncorked the lid and readied to dump the contents over Riou. Seconds before the water hit Riou's eyes opened as his ungloved hand smacked the water-skin out of Jowy's hands. This caused only some of the water to be spilled on him most of the rest got tossed back to Jowy.
Riou wiped the dripping water off his face and started to glare at Jowy before bursting out laughing. Jowy's water-skin had ripped open and the entire contents drenched the blond head to toe. Jowy didn't find the situation as amusing as Riou did. "Why'd you do that?!"
Riou held his gut with one hand trying to hold back the fits of laughter. "Do what? Defend myself? Come on, you really expect me to lay here when I'm about to.*restrained laughing* be totally drenched?"
Riou covered his grin with one hand as he tried to get his laughter under control. Jowy looked bewildered. "But you were fast asleep."
Pausing Riou sat up, finally able to control his laughter. "I was fast- asleep. But mother taught me to sleep with a sort of danger sense. Comes in really handy."
Jowy snarled as he flicked some of the water off his arms. Riou gave a cat like grin as he started cleaning up the campsite. "Come on Jowy. By the time we get to Ruybe Village you'll be dried off, and hopefully you can buy a needle and thread so you can patch up your water bottle."
A look of detest crossed Jowy's face, "I don't sew."
Riou put both hands on his hips a he glared at Jowy, "And so you would have me sow your water skin just because of your lack of talent?"
Jowy grinned, "That would be great. Thanks Riou"
"I didn't say I was going to." -Jowy tossed his broken water skin to Riou who glared at the offending thing. Then moved his glare to Jowy, "do I look like one of your house maids, Jowy?!"
Jowy perused Riou thoughtfully, "Well most of the house maids back home wear these black and white frilly dresses."-Jowy was cut off by his water skin getting thrown at him, luckily for him he caught it. Riou huffed, "Fix your own water skin, I have better things to do."
*^*^*
Within a few hours the duo made their way to Ruybe village. The whole place seemed more lively then Riou remembered. As both Jowy and Riou went deeper into the village they understood the reason why. It seemed a band of traveling gypsies were performing in the village square. Three in total, a man and two women.
Rina frowned as she told the man his proposal wouldn't work out. He seemed to love struck to heed her advice as he wandered away. Rina sighed as she began to shuffle her cards again, right before two young men caught her eye. One blond the other brunette and they might be exactly who she needed.
Before the next parson walked up to her fortune telling stand Rina shuffled the cards with the two boys in mind, /fates and spirits of the other realm tell me what will be should our fated company be as such. /
Rina set the deck down and lifted the card on top to face her. The letter's at the bottom of the card 'IL CONIGLIO', made Rina smile. /The rabbit, a parting that would be in total safety but all too soon. A sign we will make it together if we choose them for our traveling companions. /
"Riou we should go." Jowy protested as Riou went to the Village Square, "Just for a little bit Jowy then we'll go."
Jowy frowned, /we stand out too much here. / ".Okay, but only for a minute."
Riou nodded and turned his attention back to the performers. A girl -probably a little older then himself- stopped juggling knives as she turned to the audience. "Okay. now for our next performance. Let's see. Okay you over there." -Riou tried to sink into the crowd, the shorthaired woman wouldn't allow it. - "Yes you!"
Riou thought he had sanctuary in the dense crowd though that notion was cut short as the crowd swiftly parted ways for the gypsy girl as she approached. Riou looked to Jowy for help; the older boy shrugged, his way of telling Riou to play along. The girl marched right up to Riou so they were practically standing nose to nose. Riou smiled weakly.
The unknown gypsy girl stepped back a bit, smiling, as she thoroughly looked over with an inspecting eye what seemed every inch of Riou's frame. "Okay you're the right height, and you've got a cute face too. Come here. Hurry, hurry!"
The warning bells in Riou's head flared loudly, /Jowy was right, this wasn't such a good idea. Can't call attention to myself. /
Before Riou could run the girl snatched his wrist and started dragging him into the square. "Not so fast sweetie." /Mmm, think I like this one. He's one of those cute but shy types. They're so rare these days. /
Jowy wasn't sure what to do as Riou got dragged into the square, best he could do was go to the front of the crowd and watch out for his friend.
The girl Eilie tied his wrists together behind him and walked back to the front of the crowd -near Jowy- readying her throwing knives. Riou nervously fidgeted with the ropes, the knot wasn't that well tied he could easily slip out of it but it would take a few minutes. Time that he did not have.
The only male of the travelling gypsies, -Bolgan- stood up front happily as he announced the event. "Everybody! Ummm, Here she is! Our knife throwing. expert!"
Eilie stammered and angrily marched up to Bolgan, "Hey! That's not how I told you to say it!"
Eilie scoffed as she went back to her position while Bolgan stammered. Remembering what he was supposed to say he tried again, "Umm. Here she is! The beautiful and famous knife-thrower Eilie! Feast your eyes on her magnificent face and form!"
The air gained a heated smell; Riou identified the scent as a woman's strong perfume. Looking over to his right he saw the fortune teller gypsy woman saunter easily over to him. She leaned next to him so her warm breath brushed ever so lightly against his right ear. "Please don't move. She hasn't been doing so well lately. But don't worry too much, I've got some good medicine."
Riou didn't exactly feel his worries fade with that last comment. He would have felt better if he could simply get the blasted ropes off. He could feel the knot loosening but too little too late. Bolgan, came forth and placed a small melon on top Riou's head then backed away. Riou blinked as he looked to Eilie, /oh man, this feels so much like the time I was nearly hung. /
Eilie dramatically wound her arm back with the throwing knife. "Here we go."
The knife was thrown, and hit the melon. A few in the audience cheered others clapped. Jowy stayed neutral, as Bolgan took half of the split melon away. Eilie threw the next knife hitting the half melon dead on. More people cheered than before.
Then Bolgan took the half melon away and replaced it with a peach. Many people in the audience voiced protests speaking how this was too dangerous. Jowy practically leaped over to cut this whole thing, Riou looked over to him and the gaze caused Jowy to walk back to his place in the crowd. Riou wasn't panicked like the crowd or Jowy. His eyes moved over to Eilie, the dark haired gypsy smiled, /he trusts me fully. He knows one slip and he'd be dead but he still trusts a stranger. /
Eilie wound the knife back; her focus was never before this strong. As it allowed her to hit the small target dead on. Something she hadn't been so lucky with the last few villages. Eilie smiled as she straightened her posture, Bolgan cheered loudly with the crowd. Jowy sighed in relief; his heartbeat, which had been pounding, began to calm.
Bolgan cheered with large exasperating, childlike, movements. "Yeah! Great job! Everyone! Big applause!" -Bolgan looked to Jowy who wasn't clapping, - "Hey you help out too!"
Jowy backed off a step as Bolgan marched in front of him. "Huh? Me?" -taking a glance behind him Jowy noticed the crowd was already half dispersed, the others waited only a moment to see if anything else was to be done then they left as well. -
Rina walked over to Riou ready to untie the ropes when she noticed his hands pull free of the ropes right before she got to him. Riou, relieved to be free of the infernal ropes handed them to Rina without a second thought. Rina took the rope in her hand staring at it for a moment before smiling. "Thanks for helping us out. We're travelling performers, I'm Rina."
The knife thrower walked over to Riou and Rina. "I'm Eilie. We're both sisters and this is our big brother."
Hearing his name Bolgan quickly went over to the group, "Bolgan!"
When Bolgan moved away Jowy made his way beside Riou. "I'm Jowy. This is my friend, Riou." -Riou gave a friendly 'hi' before Jowy continued. - "We're on our way to Kayaro town in Highland."
Rina grinned at their fortune, "Hey so are we. All the villages around here know us. It's time for somewhere new. The only problem is."
Eilie scoffed cutting off her older sister's talk. "I told you it would be okay. Don't worry about the Mist Monster. After all, I'm here."
Jowy looked blankly at Eilie, then to Riou questioningly. "The Mist Monster?"
Riou shrugged, "First time I've heard of it."
Rina relaxed her pose as she began to explain the rumors she had heard. "To enter Highland, you have to take North Swallow Pass. But we've heard rumors that a horrible Mist monster lives up there. If you guys are going to Highland too, maybe we could travel together?"
Jowy shrugged, seemingly indifferent to the idea. "Yeah. It's okay with me. How about you, Riou?"
Looking over to his friend, Jowy read Riou's expression before the younger even gave his answer. "Of course."
Rina sighed as she indiscreetly packed away her tarot cards. "Thank you. Now we cross the mountains with no worries."
Eilie smiled, despite her earlier disapproval for bringing the topic up she really was glad to be travelling with a larger group. "Great. Thanks a lot Riou and Jowy"
Bolgan jumped up and down happily. "Bolgan happy!"
*^*^*
The trip to North Sparrow pass held only a few battles, the cash earned from the monsters was split up between the members of the party. Riou mentally kicked himself as he remembered that he forgot to repay the storeowner for the items he 'borrowed' earlier. He was having déjà vu and amnesia at the same time, cause he had forgotten this before. Riou absent- mindedly began thinking of a way to repay the storeowner somehow. Then came to the conclusion he would wait till things at the borders cooled off and come back in a few weeks or so to repay.
Then they entered North Sparrow Pass; the conversations quieted as one of the two border guards approached. "Up ahead is the Highland border. There's also a rumor that a Mist monster lives up there. No one is permitted to enter by order of Mayor Anabelle of Muse. Please go back the way you came."
Jowy looked to the guard, he hadn't fully expected they would be blocked by boarder guards. "We have to get back." -Riou lightly elbowed Jowy in the stomach as the guard looked at them questionably. - "I mean we have to go to Highland."
The State soldier was un-swayed by Jowy's plea's as he shook his head, "sorry. Orders are orders."
Riou took a slight submissive stance as he spoke to the guard. "Please?"
The State guard turned to Riou, who was looking upward through convincing amber eyes. "We'll keep it secret."
The guard shifted under the un-swaying gaze, the guard started to back away, trying not to give in. Eilie closed off his escape; "C'mon can't you bend the rules this once?"
The guard looked around, cornered on all sides. "I. I can't. Sorry. I can't do that.."
A small flash of light ricocheted off Rina's large golden earring, tracing the hoop till the light faded with shimmer. Rina kept a small smile as with the grace she had used her years of life to learn she sauntered over to the other guard. The one the group had left un-bothered.
Easing her way behind the man, the grace being the way as not to be heard. She spoke softly onto the soldier's neck. "Umm, Mr. Captain."- Rina felt a bubble of pleasure swell, as she watched the hairs on the back of the man's neck stand on end as her warm breath reached him. - "Could we have a little talk."
The soldier turned to Rina, and took a quick survey of her, which Rina showed no objection to. Rina smiled as she trailed the tip of one of her nails ever so gently against the hairs on the man's neck. "Come over here. with me."
Rina sauntered away toward the trees of the forest. The State soldier stumbled as if in a trance as he followed her as the puppy following the master. As he entered the forest Rina gave a cooing laughter that was soft enough that only the man was supposed to hear it as she lead him deeper into the forest.
Watching the two go Jowy went closer to the edge of the forest, Eilie had been about to protest but threw up her arms in exasperation as she wandered a bit away from the forest. Riou was about to go over to Jowy to ask if he knew what was going on when a light brown garden snake caught his attention, as it sun bathed on a rock.
Listening for a few minutes Jowy abruptly went beat red before quickly marching over toward Riou. Jowy grabbed Riou by the back of his tunic and dragged him as far away from the forest as the mountain trail would allow. Riou's only complaint about being dragged was he had been watching what turned out to be a baby snake. Jowy just replied the snake could wait. Jowy told Riou to recite all the magic runes that were currently known followed by all the self-defense techniques learned in the Brigade.
Eilie and Bolgan sitting not too far away engaged in multiple games of verbal tic-tac-toe. While the one State guard began noisily sharpening his weapon.
*^*^*
An hour or so later Rina emerged from the forest looking as primed as when she entered. The state soldier lagged slightly behind. Jowy peered into the forest behind Rina and went beat red again as he saw the soldier tucking his shirt in fixing his armor and arranging his pants. Riou looked to Jowy, "You sure your feeling okay, Jowy?"
Jowy covered his face with his hands. He felt like sticking his head under the mountain. The soldier emerged from the forest, his hair in a disheveled mess, "Errr.. Umm. Go. But you have to promise to keep your mouths shut."
Riou blinked, Jowy looked over to his friend. He wasn't sure if it was just starting to dawn on the younger what just took place or if he still was utterly clueless. Rina grinned with such manifesto that it cried out with her deft victory. "But of course."
Eilie stood up and tried to look Rina in the eyes but her sister back was to her. "Rina. you didn't."
Rina turned and looked at Eilie with a sisterly smile. Jowy couldn't believe this woman, not to mention he was getting a bit flustered at the fact he couldn't read Riou. Rina brushed a hand through her hair, as she flicked it over her shoulder. "If this nice man says we can go, then we should take him up on his kind offer."
For his part Bolgan jumped up and down like a five-year-old. The group walked off down the mountain path to the misty road that lay ahead.
*^*^*
L.O.S. - (Whew) Okay, now as promised time for Q&A
(L.O.S. looks back to reviews and brings out a small list of questions)
L.O.S. - To Dragonssoldier, as per your two time request of this story being a Riou + Wakaba well I thought about it and okay. But you must be patient because it takes awhile to get to Wakaba in the game but I will pull out all the tricks I know to get her in ASAP.
Joey - What!? Your signing Riou's love life away on a spur of the moment judgment?!
L.O.S. - Not spur of the moment Jowy I thought about it and hey it works. Their personalities seem to click on paper and with a bit of author magic it can happen.
Joey - But. err.... No fair!
L.O.S. - Don't worry Jowy. Next up magesoldier, hope you don't mind too much about this being a Riou + Wakaba.
L.O.S. -But don't all you yaoi lovers leave. I've got something up my sleeve for everyone.
L.O.S. - Okay to Mikka, can't answer too many questions or I would reveal too much plot and all you wonderful reviewers would leave me. But as per the shounen ai question.
Jowy - (coughs)
L.O.S - Jowy stop interrupting or next chapter I'll make a tree fall on you!
Jowy - OoO
L.O.S. - Anyway, there will be a little something involving Riou and Jowy but I don't know if I should say what exactly it is. What if I reveal too much plot.
Jowy - Nooooo! Don't tell them!
Riou - (walks in with cup of water) Jowy your awake.
L.O.S. & Jowy - (Sweatdrop)
L.O.S. - It took you the entire chapter to get that glass of water?!
Riou - There was a line up!
L.O.S - Well, anyway guess I won't reveal but when some obvious signs of something start popping up I'll post a warning on the story's description thing.
L.O.S. - (Looks back to reviews and notices the other two questions from Mikka) Is their a relationship between the original character woman and Riou? Good gods no! I would never make up an original character romance! Don't worry about that. And about Luc, sure I can give him a big part, Luc's a great character. Strong willed, a bit cold at times, but he's a completely lovable bishounen. (Runs off to start plotting new chapters)
Riou - Read and Review people! Please! More reviews mean more chapters faster.
Jowy - Threaten never to put another chapter up. That might get more reviews.
Riou - Jowy! Don't be mean!
Jowy - You're right, if they don't like the story they just might run away without reviewing.
Riou - Jowy, stop being mean. LOL people and please review!
L.O.S - Well, that certainly took longer then expected. (Notices people hurling available objects at her, and thus hides behind a table for cover.)
Riou - LOS really didn't mean to take so long.
L.O.S. - He's right! Listen to Riou! I finished the chapter a long time ago but the editing stage took forever!
Joey - I don't like this chapter.
LOS - OoO Why not?!
Jowy - Because I nearly have a mental bre. (Jowy is silenced as L.O.S. hits him over the back of the head with a frying pan)
L.O.S. - Don't spoil the chapter for everyone else you baka!
Jowy - *-*
Riou - OoO You killed Jowy!
L.O.S - Did not. He'll just wake up with a bit of a headache. (Looks at people glaring at her accusingly) What?! I need him for other chapters I wouldn't kill him.
Riou - Maybe you should thank the wonderful people who reviewed while I get Jowy some water.
L.O.S - That's right! Thank you everyone who was kind enough to review if it weren't for you this chapter wouldn't be up. And I will be answering all questions, but for fear of spoiling anything in the chapter all answers will be provided at the bottom of the story. See you there!
*^*^*
Being led up the two flights of stairs, Riou and Jowy found themselves in the meeting room of the Mercenary fortress. The entire fort was made of wood, dangerous if there was ever a fire. At least it made the fort smell nicer than if it had been made of cold stone.
The bear like man, Viktor, stood behind a large wooden table. Beside him, Flik, looked over the would be rescuer. Riou took the moment to eye the room; his movements seemed a bit fatigued. Jowy shifted his weight from one foot to the other, taking an apprehensive glance toward Riou. Viktor, rapped his fingers against the old wooden table, after a small pause he leaned forward. "Okay, we'll start with your name."
Snapping back to attention Riou looked at Viktor, "Umm, Riou."
Nodding a bit as Viktor put the name into his memory, he continued. "Okay, Riou. Since you came to rescue Jowy, can I assume you're also a Highlander?"
Riou nodded, "Uh hu, that's right."
Flik tilted his head downward a bit closing his eyes as he pieced together the small puzzle. "I see. then you're the one Jowy was worried about."
Looking to Flik out of the corner of his eye a spark of interest seemed to kindle within Viktor. "Now that you mention it, I never did hear how you managed to wind up in that mess."
Running a hand through his hair Riou tried to think of some astute response. "Well, ahhh. You see. umm."
Turning his eyes to Riou Viktor spoke, "Jowy said something about an ambush by the State, but the State Army hasn't moved since the peace treaty was signed. So what the hell happened?
Riou looked to Jowy while scratching the back of his head; Jowy sagged his shoulders and looked to the ground in deep thought. "Normally, we are forbidden to reveal any information to the enemy. We are, after all, Highlanders. But this. this is an unusual circumstance. Riou. I think we can trust these people. But, you decide."
Riou let out a small groan, which could have been taken for either confusion or annoyance. Looking from Viktor to Flik, Riou surveyed the duo, "Well, you see the truth is."
*^*^*
Nanami's shoulders quivered as she continued crying by her Grandfather's grave. "Grandpa.... I don't know. *sniff* what to do.What if Ri. Ri. Oh Riou."
Nanami buried her face in the plush grass before Genkaku's grave stone. Her entire body shuddered in constant convulsions, she opened her eyes as she heard someone approach, but it was hard to see anything through all the tears.
Rubbing her eyes with the back of her arm Nanami cleared a few of the tears away. As a few welling tears were wiped away Nanami focused on the blurry shape, which took a form. Very small and quite chubby, a furry coat of light golden brown, large blue eyes and a draw string cape. On her hands and knees Nanami crawled over to the squirrel like form. "Mukumuku."
Only a few meters away Mukumuku watched Nanami with sad eyes. The girl opened her arms pleadingly; Mukumuku understood the concept and went over to Nanami allowing her to bury him against her chest, sobbing uncontrollably over him. "Muku.?"
The chubby flying squirrel had been hanging around the dojo every since Riou escaped Lude woods. Both had gotten lost in the damp haze of the forest's thick mist, and had found each other and tried to work together to find a way out. Neither of them were successful in finding the exit of the forest but Grandpa Genkaku had found the two and led them out of the forest. Riou told the little squirrel that he would care for him till he found his friends. Year's later Riou still held true to his promise. Maybe too well, the squirrel had gotten quite chubby.
The squirrel had gotten rather dependent on Riou and generally followed him like a puppy unless Riou told him to stay behind. This happened when Riou and Jowy's brigade went off to war. He had asked Nanami to take care off Mukumuku until he got back. But sometimes the squirrel wondered who exactly took care of whom with Riou's absence.
Nanami choked on her own sobs rocking back and forth hugging Mukumuku -the living teddy bear-. "Muku. he's gone. he's gone."
*^*^*
Viktor gave a solemn nod, "This doesn't sound good, Luca Blight. I've heard of him but. Anyway, what were you planning to do after you rescued Jowy?"
Riou paused, "after I rescued Jowy.? Well, I was kinda hoping to go back to Kyaro Town. My sister is there, and I'm worried about her."
Flik looked at Riou, "So are you still planning on trying to escape?"
Riou gave a small smile, "Sorry, family obligation. Nanami could be in trouble."
Looking from one boy to the other Viktor paced a bit, then looked back to the boys. " Well you can just stay put in the cell for a while." -Viktor could have sworn Riou's face paled, - "We'll give you food and a place to sleep."
After that both Riou and Jowy were shown out of the meeting room, Pohl walked the two down the two flights of stairs and down the small hall. Though instead of taking them to the cell Pohl knocked lightly on the door at the end of the hall. "Dr. Huan? Are you available?"
A voice from within the room answered back, "Yes, come in please."
Pohl opened the door and motioned for Riou and Jowy to enter. When Riou gave a questioning glance to Pohl the man replied "I thought you should have your ribs tended to before settling down for the night."
Huan stood up as he finished writing something at the wooden table in the room. "Hello Pohl, Jowy and Riou, I take it you're here for an injury."
Giving a small nod Riou fidgeted slightly, not sure of what to do. Huan motioned to the bed and Riou slowly walked over while Jowy cast a watchful eye. Sitting on the side of the bed proved to ease up the pressure in his ribs a great deal. Huan motioned for him to lie down, Riou -feeling quite awkward- did as the doctor requested and lay down on the cot.
Opening Riou's tunic the doctor's hands gently probed along the youth's chest, searching for any further injury. Finding none he turned his attention to the stitches he had put in earlier. The doctor frowned with displeasure. The stitches were mauled to a point that they were useless, one part of he thread had been torn and the rest was pulled. "Well Riou, it seems you didn't take my advice to take it easy. You're fortunate that in the last village I visited, the father of the young girl I helped gave me a water rune."
Riou blinked as Huan held his right hand over Riou's rib's, Riou heard the doctor whisper something softly to the rune imbedded on his hand. Riou's own limited knowledge of runes told him that the doctor was performing a level one spell of the rune; kindness drops.
The rune embedded on the doctor's right hand gave a soft glow as a small orb of blue light formed under the rune. The soft blue light fell as though a water droplet, as the blue light fell upon Riou's chest it seeped gently onto the wounds. Riou inhaled deeply and closed his eyes as the cool feeling of the spell flooded every part of his body. His hands lightly clutched at the bedside blankets as a chill ran up his spine. The feeling of the rune's power felt comforting.
//find me.//
Then the feeling faded with the voice, Riou slit open his eyes and lazily sat up. /That voice. sounded like the white haired woman from my dream./
"Hey, Riou?" Looking up Riou saw Jowy with another one of his apprehensive looks. "What is it Jowy?"
Jowy seemed a bit bemused; "You just seemed to blank out for a second."
Standing up Riou closed his tunic; "I'm fine, just musing a bit. Thank you once again Dr. Haun."
Huan gave an amused smile, "thank me by not getting injured again any time soon. Be safe, that goes for all of you."
Pohl gave a courteous bow, "I'll see you later Dr. Huan."
The three exited the room with Pohl leading them; Riou was the last to leave and closed the door softly behind him. Across the hall Jowy looked at the cell door, which apparently had been fixed while they had been upstairs. Jowy then looked to Riou; his friend wasn't going to like this.
Quickly Jowy turned to Pohl who had been unlocking the cell door; "Can we go to the river?"
Pausing, with the cell door partially open Pohl looked at Jowy bewildered. "Jowy, it's dark out."
Jowy tilted his head toward Riou, "but he needs a bath. Look at all that mud, seriously."
True, Riou was still covered nearly head to toe with mud from his earlier escapade, but Pohl shook his head. "Sorry Jowy, I'll take the two of you out in the morning but it's too late right now."
Jowy bit his lower lip with apprehension as he walked a bit into the cell. As Pohl turned to Riou, who started walking into the cell after Jowy, Pohl noticed how a bit of color faded from the boy's face. "Riou, you alright? Is something the matter?"
Riou seemed to snap out of deep thought as he looked to Pohl, "I'm fine."
Riou entered the cell a moment later. Pohl delayed closing the door for a moment, then finally closed the door as the heavy metallic latch sounded a clear ring through the air. Riou winced slightly at the sound; Pohl lingered for a moment looking from one boy to the other then left.
After a few moments Pohl's voice echoed back to the cell, "Get some sleep you two."
Jowy paused before looking over to Riou who was staring at the bottom of the cell door. Riou sauntered slowly over to the crates that were lined together in the corner of the room. Then pulled himself up onto the crates and pressed his back against the corner of the wall. He buried his head in his arms as his knees were brought to his chest. Jowy frowned sadly as he walked over to a cold stone wall and seriously contemplated hurting -or at least attempting to hurting- the stone. "I'm, sorry Riou."
"It's okay.Jowy. Not your fault." Riou's words were a bit muffled till he brought his head up to talk. "If anything, I should be apologizing to you for botching up your rescue."
Jowy banged his had lightly against the wall, "we are so screwed. Any way you look at it; our own country's prince had our brigade slaughtered. Our captain betrayed us for a lousy promotion, we've probably been somehow blamed for all this back home, and to top it off, the enemy has caught us both. But the biggest problem is. do we even have any allies left. Riou, I don't know what to do."
Warmth covered his shoulders as a makeshift blanket -that was actually one of the crate covers- was pushed over Jowy's shoulders. As Jowy turned he saw Riou with one of the crate covers over his own shoulders as well. Riou gave a ghost of a smile to cheer his friend, "Jowy, don't think about it tonight. Try to stay warm, if you need to think of allies then think of Nanami, or even Muku back home. Think of your family, no matter what the Captain tells the people back home. Do you honestly believe whatever he'll say will be believed by everyone?"
Riou paused for a moment allowing what he was saying to seep into Jowy's mind. "Who knows what he'll say, neither of us can predict the future so lets just take what we have as it comes at us. For example," -Riou reached out with one hand and touched the tip of Jowy's nose- "If my best friend in the whole wide world catches a cold we'll be stuck here for quite a while because I'm not gonna carry him all the way to Kyaro. -Riou pulled his hand back under his own sheet and turned around, walking back to the crates he had left. -"So go to sleep Jowy."
Pausing for a moment Riou turned his head to be able to look Jowy in the eyes. "Jowy, question. Did you see my tonfar anywhere in the river?"
Jowy clutched the blanket tighter around his chest as heat escaped through his breath, /Why does the City-State have to be so cold./ "Your tonfar.? No. not that I can remember. And I actually lost your glove now that I think of it."
Riou gave a weak smile -when Jowy had been falling from the edge of the cliff he had pulled Riou's right glove off-, "No worries, Jowy. Gloves are easier to replace then weapons."
As Riou gave a heavy sigh and started to turn away again Jowy remember a bit of the City-State's geography. "Hey, Riou. The river, I think it's the Toran River but. whatever it's name it runs to a place called Radat. I remember from the tutor father hired for me that Radat has a dam that runs all the way across the river. Your tonfar, though it is a really slim chance, might get caught by the sluice gate."
Riou spun around looking at Jowy with hopeful eyes, "Really.? You mean my tonfar could be there?"
Jowy smiled, "Could be, but don't put too much hope into it."
Riou beamed, "but they could be there. You know Grandpa gave me those for my eleventh birthday, if I can get them back then, then, oh thank you Jowy."
Riou pounced over to Jowy hugging him tightly, Jowy smirked as he looked down at his friend, and playfully ruffled up Riou's hair. "What would you do without me."
Riou gave a sarcastic laugh as he went back over to the corner of the room he was taking claim to. "Like I'll ever have to worry about that. G' night Jowy."
Jowy went beside the crates and nestled down on the floor. "Night Riou." -a moment passes- "Umm, Riou?"
A voice perked up, "yes Jowy?"
Hesitating for a moment Jowy decided to ask, "This is coming out of nowhere but, umm I know prison cells aren't fun obviously but. why do you always seem to go distant, when you're near them?"
Riou was silent; Jowy could hear some rustling from the sheet Riou had. ". Whenever I get near a cell I'm reminded of something that happened in my past. Before I knew you, or Nanami or even Grandpa."
Waiting for a moment, Jowy realized Riou didn't wish to elaborate. Jowy pulled his own blanket closer to his chin, "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
Riou didn't say anything for a few more minutes then replied, "Good night Jowy. See you in the morning." Thus ending the conversation as sleep started claiming the youths.
*^*Dream *^*
"Care is heavy, therefore sleep," a woman's voice. Riou looked around; the room was faded as an old painting. Though it seemed small, the area had the touch of a woman. Nothing more could have been done for the broken down domain. It seemed odd that such a run down place should have colorful decorations. A few trinkets of gold and silver placed around the room carefully for maximum effect. . There was a woman sitting in a meticulously carved rocking chair. She was singing softly, the chair rocked back and forth. The woman's arms were folded delicately over a bundle of light blue, flannel cloth.
"While I over you watch do keep." The woman smiled lovingly, she was beautiful. Thick brunette hair tied in a loose braid over a shoulder, framing her slender and frail body. Her eyes though, were covered in shadows; her body seemed hazed, fading memories. Though she seemed happy, her lips edged upward in a smile as she sung to the infant wrapped in her arms.
"Sleep, pretty darling, Do not cry," the woman touched the child's cheek affectionately. Riou closed his eyes; he could feel the caressing touch on his own cheek as his head leaned toward the feeling. The gentle touch, with the familiar voice had him feeling as though the world was calm.
"And I will sing you a lullaby." The woman softly kisses the baby's forehead.
*Pitpatpitterpatter.* Riou looked to the ground, which though covered in darkness rippled as water fell upon it. /Rain. /
Riou sunk to his knees, reliving the hopeless angst that filled the city where he had been born. The Black Death, everyone was catching it. His mother hadn't been an exception.
"Mama? Mommy I got some bread for you, please eat mommy." The dank room smell of death it had been so strong in his childhood he could sense it clearly even now. His mother was beautiful, he remembered noble men would offer large sums of money for her company. Riou had never seen her accept an offer. She was too proud, and besides she was among the best thieves in the city, once she set her eyes on a target she always got it in the end. Soon as she deemed him old enough -although still quite young- his mother taught him how to steal for survival. How to tell if it was a knight or bounty hunter dressed in a way to lure in thieves. This is where her lithe frame became as precious as the gold she stole.
For as many years as she could his mother taught him all the tricks she knew. As he started getting a bit older his mother's friends would comment on how much he looked like her. Which was true, he did gain a similar body frame, the same stunning amber eyes, thick healthy hair. He was happy, but then the black plague came. Windows were closed; people locked themselves away tightly in their abode. It a harsh living, but it got worse when his mother caught the plague.
"Mom I got some food."-A young Riou looks up and sees a stranger crouching down beside his fallen mother. Riou goes defensive yanking free his dagger, - "Who are you? What are you doing to mom?"
The stranger stood up and turned to Riou, the man was dressed as a noble with white clothing, and toughened fabrics -of which only a few were actual metal- guarded the vulnerable parts of his body. He was a high-ranking knight, Riou could tell by the posture. Small dark eyes without much color to them other then black. In one hand he held the light purple colored gems he had stolen from a convoy a few weeks ago. The air around the man was best described as tense, heavy or foreboding. It was clear by the manner he held himself, the decorative white sheathed sword at his hip wasn't merely for show.
"A child. You said you were alone. I don't appreciate lies." The man looked down to Riou's mother who lay motionless on the floor; Riou focused intensely on a growing red stain on his mother's clothing. He didn't understand the full implication of the situation, only his mother was hurt. With his dagger he lunged at the man.
Not sure what happened exactly, one moment he was on the attack next on the ground where the room refused to stay still. Everything was spinning, swirling in a way that made him nauseous. Looking around he saw the man walk toward him. The silver blade intoxicated with crimson. Red falling down over his eyes from a head wound, the man now stood above him sword hovering ready to strike. Riou waited the sword came down though the sword's path wasn't for him but for his mother.
The deed was done; the man simply bore his eyes onto the body of the dead woman. She had been very beautiful, a small gem gleaming within a slosh of mud. The man looked away to the child, bright amber eyes same as the woman and tear stained cheeks. Despite the earlier inflicted injury the child crawled over to his mother. In a useless gesture he started shaking the shoulders of the woman calling out to her. The man turned, no longer wishing to stay in this domain, his job was complete. Or so he thought till he heard a soft whisper of the woman's once voluptuous voice, she was speaking to her son. "Run."-the woman choked as she tried to move to touch the face of her child. The movement caused her to sink back to the floor eyes closing. - "My angel.live."
The child broke down sobbing, "Mommy! Please! Mommy! MOMMY!"
The child's pleas were unheard by any who would care or so the man thought as he approached. The child looked to him through his tear-muddled eyes. The man turned back walking to the mother and child with sword drawn. Without warning the shadows seemed to spring out and attack the man. The man screamed as he fell back clutching his face from a dagger wound. Young Riou looked behind him as he recognized the two new figures as some of his mother's friends. The duo quickly snatched Riou and his mother before the man could recover from the shock of the injury and vanish back to the shadows.
*^* End dream *^*
True to his word the next morning, Pohl along with a Mercenary soldier -who agreed to go as well, - brought Jowy and Riou to the river. Of course Pohl and the soldier had to go with them to make sure they didn't try to escape, his friend came with him as a precautionary measure. But Riou and Jowy were quite content to wash the grime of the last few days off in the river.
Jowy dunked his head under the calm area of the river, scrubbing at his hair as thoroughly as he could. Pohl sat a bit away from Jowy with a fishing line in the water. Both Riou and Jowy were almost positive Pohl wasn't going to catch anything. One, because both of them were in the water. Two, he didn't put any bait on the hook.
The Mercenary soldier, Galious, squatted beside his friend making a small joke at Pohl's expense. Pohl in good humor shrugged and Galious stood up and cast a watchful eye over the surroundings before continuing to jest with Pohl.
The crystal clean water felt great against his skin cleansing every inch with a purity only water could keep. Droplets of water dripped down his pleasantly toned body, scrubbing hard the mud was rinsed away. Riou had already cleaned off his clothes and bathed in the water with only a white towel wrapped around his thin waist. The towels that were brought were courtesy of Pohl. Riou was glad that while he bathed all his clothes could begin to dry, including his pants.
Though, the slit up the towel showed off an indecent amount of muscular thigh of his powerful legs. His already drying clothes would be wonderfully warm by the time he got dry himself.
Riou finished rinsing his hair best he could without soap. After which he went out of the water to sunbathe and dry off. Riou's dagger was securely hidden behind the belt, locked within a hidden strap that would be close to his belly when the belt was worn.
Kneeling beside his tunic Riou's back faced Pohl as he unsheathed the dagger and dried it on his tunic. -No one at the Mercenary fort had found his dagger when searching him for weapons. - After Riou quickly but thoroughly dried the dagger he tucked it back into it's hidden sheath before Pohl or Galious noticed. Riou slid his pants back on before nestling down on his belly against the plush, cool grass. His eyes closed as he was began to sunbathe.
Galious looked from one bank of the river to the next, occasional Bon Bon's or cut bunnies would come to the river for a drink but as they felt his eyes upon them they would quietly slink back into the forest. Galious then looked to the two youths that were placed in his and Pohl's charge. The elder of the two was perhaps eighteen, and seemed to be very conscientious about his hair. As the blond would dunk his head under the water, scrub thoroughly pull back out of the water. Then comb through his hair carefully with his fingers, then he would find some speck of dirt or something rather re-dunk and scrub twice as thorough.
Galious smirked unnoticed by the blond as he looked over to the brunette. The youth was happily sunbathing in a patch of plush green grass. He seemed fairly young, with a svelte form that came with his youth. He had heard the boy talking a few times on the way to the river; he had a nice epicurean voice and was surprisingly warmhearted given the circumstances. Most prisoners of war were tightlipped and cold, but this kid felt more like a fellow recruit rather then a captive.
Around an hour later Jowy had a closed lip smile as he enjoyed the feeling of his clean blond hair. Tying it back into it's accustomed loose ponytail Jowy went over to Pohl. "Excuse me, Pohl."
The soldier looked up at Jowy who now stood beside him. "Yes, Jowy?"
Putting one hand on a hip and holding the other out palm upward for emphasis Jowy explained the situation to Pohl. "Could you take me and Riou to Radat? We just follow the river's current to get there."
Galious blinked as he looked away from the river to Jowy. "Radat? What do you want in Radat?"
Jowy looked at Galious; "Did you notice how Riou didn't seem to have any weapons when he came to the Mercenary Fort? Well, as Viktor or Flik have probably already told you we were ambushed in the night. I got away with my staff but Riou was caught and his tonfar were thrown into the river. You're both soldiers so you most likely know that a soldier's weapon is like a piece of himself or herself. Now it's a long shot but if we follow the river down to Radat and carefully watch the river bank to see if they were washed up along the way then we might find Riou's tonfar."
Pohl thought for a moment before it dawned on him, "Because of the water gate that blocks the river in Radat, right?"
Jowy nodded, "Exactly."
Both Pohl and Galious looked at each other for a moment, Galious finally shrugged. "If you clear it up with the boss it doesn't matter to me. It still counts as my patrol time."
Pohl looked back at Jowy then a glance at Riou who was oblivious to the conversation as he enjoyed his sunbath. Pohl couldn't help but smile and look back to Jowy. "Right. I'll clear it up with Viktor, but while I'm doing that you and Riou will have to do a few chores around the fort. Agreed?"
Jowy smiled with a small nod, "agreed. Thank you."
*^*^*
As the small party came back to the Mercenary Fortress, Pohl introduced the group to Leona. Galious turned red as soon as he saw the woman, as he stumbled for words he excused himself. Pohl told Leona the story; Leona smiled as she got Gengen -the kobold warrior- to go with Riou on an errand to Ruybe to get some flour. Even Tuta -apprentice to Huan- decided to come.
When Riou found out that Jowy would be stuck with cleaning up all the oil stains in the fort he felt bad for his friend hoping he wouldn't hold it against him later.
*^*^*
The trip to Ruybe was for the most part uneventful. A few Bon Bon's and Cut bunnies showed up but they weren't that difficult to take care of. Tuta was explaining to Riou all that he had too do as an apprentice to doctor Huan. Gengen later told Riou about his village, which was named 'Kobold village'. It seemed a bit strange to Riou to name a village after the people that inhabit the area but Gengen merely shrugged it off. Though he did seem a bit perplexed by this after Riou mentioned it.
Riou gave a small laugh as the eleven-year-old apprentice bounded ahead of him and Gengen. The child seemed to have an abundant supply of energy, as he jumped up and down impatiently for Riou and Gengen to hurry. Smells of things both foul and fragrant began filling the air as he entered the village.
In truth the village was smaller then he had expected. If this was truly where the Mercenary fortress gathered it's supplies then it a wonder they managed to feed all the soldiers. Then again, -Riou's eyes glazed over as he recreated the mercenary fortress in his mind-. Thinking back, there weren't that many soldiers as far as he was able to tell. Gengen had been by the well; two soldiers were parrying by the doors. Two more along with a border collie had been patrolling outside. He remembered that no one had been in the watchtower, back at the brigade they would use trees as the towers.
Inside on the middle floor there had been five soldiers waiting for food. Leona had been at the bar along with the item store clerk on the opposite side of the room. Riou counted them as being able to fight even though he knew their abilities in battle would be extremely limited. Upstairs only one soldier stood guard along with a kid who would be no help in the event of an ambush. Victor and Flick were there as well. In the basement, Barbara worked storage; she looked able enough to hold her own. One guard had been checking on the weapons along with the weapon smith. Then there was Pohl and Tuta. Then adding one extra in the case someone had been inside a room he hadn't looked at.
"Only twenty-one."
Twitching his K-9 ears Gengen gave a questioning glance to Rou, "Twenty-one what?"
Giving an apologetic smile to Gengen as he realized he had spoken out loud. "Nothing. Sorry, just thinking out loud."
His smile faded as his eyes watched the ground in front of him with an unfocused gaze. /Only twenty-one soldiers. We had about half that in the brigade and we were a mobile force, not to mention our numbers were small for normal mobile brigades. If highland wanted the fortress they could take it with strategy. The location is hard for a massive strike but still./
"Hi Gengen will it be the usual?" Riou pulled himself out of his thoughts as he heard a woman speaking to Gengen.
The woman who had spoke was behind an old but well mended wooden counter. She was a stout woman, with puffs of very light brown hair rifling around from under a bonnet. As Riou glance around he realized he noticed the wooden floor and kitchen smells.
/Hu? How'd I get here? / With a very feint blush -something he did when he got confused- Riou fidgeted with his hands, looking at his right glove-less hand as he remembered he forgot to get another pair of gloves. He gave a small frown as he looked up to the woman, opting to pay more attention to his surroundings -to prevent walking straight into a wall-.
Gengen wagged his tail as he placed his brown furry hand on the counter. "Yes, arf. Two bags of flour."
The woman smiled kindly showing high laugh lines around her eyes. She walked away momentarily as she took two large white bags from the corner. "I'll place it on your tab as usual. Come again soon."
Gengen and Riou each took a bag; Riou flopped the bag over his shoulder. A thick white cloud appeared, Riou closed his eyes as he held back the sneeze.
Tuta asked to carry one of the bags as the group walked back to the fortress but the bags were as big as he was tall and twice as wide. The child would have been squished under the weight. Riou unable to think of a better response then, 'you don't want to get back to the fort a pancake do you?' Decided to let Gengen explain why he couldn't carry the bags.
Riou was rather happy with his decision later, as it turned that Gengen had said a similar line and all the way back to the fort Tuta had been throwing pebbles at him.
*^*^*
As promised, when Riou got back with the flour Pohl rounded up Galious while Riou found Jowy and the small group headed toward Radat following the path of the river.
Looking about the surrounding area Jowy scratched the back of his neck. "So this is Radat, hu? I thought it would be a bit bigger then this; maybe a bit more outgoing. But, I'm not complaining," -Jowy arched his back, back as he got a number of cracks out of it. - "It's much better than cleaning up that fort."
After a moment of admiring the massive floodgate Riou nodded. "Is it just me or does anyone else notice how that fort smells like really old sweat socks?"
Pohl scratched the back of his head as he continued leading the group, "well. actually Riou, that probably is what you're smelling. Mostly everyone in the fort's gotten used to it but, you see we've had a bit of a rat infestation."
Galious scoffed, "A 'bit' of an infestation? Pohl, they're trying to take over the fort. We've been at war with them for over three months now!"
Riou piped in, "But why does the fort smell like old socks?"
Galious paused and shook a tight fist as though reliving the event; "They come when your guard is down. They can move inhumanly fast so it's almost impossible to give any warning when you see them, they come, they chew holes in your clothes, and your boots. But it doesn't end there, oh no. Those sly devils, every time they come they have only one goal in their twisted minds, our socks."
Pohl slapped his forehead and muttered something under his breath; Riou seemed rather confused, as was Jowy. "Why do they want your socks?"
Galious continued. "The fiends, they steal all our socks. Only those who have the gil for an endless supply of socks can keep up with them. They steal them all, the thin cotton ones, the thick wooly ones even if they're covered in a day's work and sweat."
Pohl sighed, "Galious thinks the rats are out to get us but they're using our socks as beds and taking them deep within the nocks and crannies of the fortress. We can't reach them, we've tried, but no one can get the socks out. You get used to the smell after a few weeks. Come on, we should pick up the pace if we're going to make it back to the fort before nightfall."
The group consisting of Pohl and Jowy left; Riou hesitated for a moment as Galious was so caught up in his speech about 'injustice' that he failed to notice the group was leaving. After a moment Riou sagged his shoulders with a sigh, not wanting to interrupt but Galious didn't seem to need any air as he continued ranting. After a minute Riou ran off to catch up with Jowy and Pohl, as he decided Galious would follow shortly.
".And another thing.?" -Galious looked around to realizing everyone left him, - "Hey! Pohl! Not nice people!" Galious chased after them across the bridge catching up as they ran into a tall dark haired man.
Riou did his best not to look too surprised at the height of the man; he was nearly three whole heads taller than Jowy. Wearing a loose open vest tunic, which was held closed at the waist by a purple sash. A few simple designs were hemmed on with the colors black and red. Plain wooded sandals on his feet. In one hand he carried a long but thin staff like paddle. His ink black hair was tied back tightly as not to get caught or interfere with his work. Riou could sense the friendly air around the man, which put him at ease.
The man looked over the small group; "May I help any of you?"
Pohl gave the man a friendly smile, "Sorry to be a bother but were looking for something."
The man jerked his head toward the road behind him, "There's an item shop down there that can help you in that case."
Riou gently pushed his way forward, "No, not items like that. You see, umm I lost something in the river."
The man used a hand to crack his neck, "Then it's gone kiddo, count your lose and get a new one."
Jowy glared at the man, cross with his way of speaking. "The weapon's are called tonfar. Wooden with metal sidings, they're able to with stand just as much pressure as any metal weapon."
The man paused for a moment, "Hang on." -He turned and called to a man who had been near a small hut at the end of the bridge. - "Yo Din, remember those wooden sticks you pulled out of the sluice gate earlier?!"
"Yeah."
"Bring 'em here would you?!" The man looked back to the group, "Just a sec."
No more then a few moments later, Din came running over. Jowy smiled as Riou's eyes lit up. "My tonfar!"
Riou snatched the weapons out of Din's hands and inspected them happily. Din smiled, "I found 'em in the grate. Strong weapons ya got. All that water pound'in at them, a lot of metals would have buckled under that kind of constant pressure."
Riou smiled happily as he looked to Din, "Thank you so much, Mr. Din." -Riou looked to the other man, - "Mr. Umm. sorry I didn't catch your name?"
The man gave a good laugh; "It's Amada, kid. And that's enough with the formality stuff it wasn't any problem, just don't let it happen again, Kay?"
Riou nodded once with enthusiasm, "Right, thank you Amada!"
*^*^*
As the group reached the mercenary fortress Galious stretched and gave a small wave to the group, "well if that's all I'm hitting the bar. Don't cause any trouble you two."
Riou returned a smile, his hands politely folded together behind his back as he leaned to a side. "It was nice to meet you Galious, I hope to see you again some day."
Walking away Galious gave a likewise movement with his hand by giving a loose salute. Pohl looked to the two boys, "well let's get you both tucked in for the night.
*^*^*
Riou gave a wayward glance to his tonfar, which rested outside the cell against the wall. Jowy's staff was also there leaning against the corner wall. Jowy was rummaging through what supplies they had gathered over the last little while. Jowy put everything in two different piles. Items for escape, items not for escape. /Flint, escape. Rope, escape. Oily rag, escape. Sheets, leave here. Spoon, escape. Boots, wait. boots? /
Jowy looked over his shoulder and held up the boots Riou had brought back from the errand that he had run earlier. Riou nervously fidgeted with his fingers. "I thought Pohl said three pairs of boots, he only said two."
Jowy shrugged and left the boots in the 'not for escape' pile. He then stood up and put the items for the escape on top of the crate, he then picked the spoon out of the pile and bent it sideways. Then started picking away at the cell lock with the bent spoon, it only took a few moments before an audible 'click' sounded and the door opened.
Jowy smirked, "They won't catch us this time. Come on Riou, and stay quiet."
Nodding just before the two of them took their weapons and dove down the hall and up the stairs.
"Whew, I'm all tired from that.*Yawn *."
Jowy peered round the corner as he pushed Riou against the wall. Two guards, both were starting to head upstairs. Jowy glanced at the main door, "The door is locked," -Jowy paused then looked to Riou- "give me the rag and flint."
Riou opens a pouch tied to his belt and fishes out the oily rag and flint. "Oh man, gross. The rag got my bag all oily. What a mess."
Jowy took the rag and flint, "Don't worry you can wash your bag out."
Riou glared at Jowy; "You've never washed oil out of anything."
Jowy shrugged as he broke the flint in half and started smacking the two sides together. "Is it that obvious? Oh well, least you can wash enough out so it won't be flammable." -Riou's eyes widen- "Flammable?"
The oily rag goes a blaze, faster then Jowy expected. Throwing the rag across the room Jowy bit his tongue to keep from crying out as the fire singed his skin. "Jowy?"
Riou noticed the distraction work as the two soldiers who had been heading upstairs quickly run to put out the fire. Jowy cradled his hand for a moment before ushering Riou toward the second flight of stairs. As they made it up and out onto the balcony Riou took Jowy's injured hand in his own. "Oh Jowy. hang on maybe I have something we can use."
Jowy shook his head, "No time, later. Where's the rope?"
Riou frowned not liking this one bit but he didn't have any potions. So he took the rope off his shoulder and proceeded to tie the knot onto the railing. "No Riou, let me."
Riou glared at Jowy and stopped the blonde's approach by head butting him gently away, as his hands were busy tying the knot. Jowy glared at Riou who didn't pay any mind as he focused upon the task of tying the knot. "Jowy, you tie the knot with that hand we both fall to the ground and break our legs. That sound appealing to you?"
Jowy didn't say anything; Riou smirked, "Good. Glad I got that through your head." -Riou finished tying the knot- "There, I'll go first in case you slip."
"So if I slip you can catch me?"
Riou grinned, "No silly. So if you slip and fall and bring the balcony down with you I'll have plenty of time to get away."
"Hu?"
Riou laughed softly, "Just kidding." -Riou looked up and frowned as he saw the banner of the fort behind them. - "Well that's original, Victor didn't tell me their banner had a hamster head on it."
Jowy looked behind him to see the flag, "I think it's actually supposed to be a bear Riou."-Jowy looked at the bright yellow behind the head of the creature sewn onto the flag. - "Maybe it's a fire bear."
Riou shrugged as he started going down the rope; "Maybe it's standing in- front of the sun?"
*^*^*
Pacing back and forth; unnerved by the current circumstances. Jowy glared at the small campfire that he had made as though it was the source of all his worries. Riou had been gone roughly three to four hours, the sun had long since set and only the light from a far hanging crescent moon and its army of stars that lit the land.
Jowy gritted his teeth still staring at the fire. /He's lost, I know it. I told him not to get lost, I can't believe Riou. I specifically said, 'Riou, whatever you do don't get hurt, don't get lost. Does he listen? Noooo. Course not why would he listen to me? I can't leave this place, what if he comes back? / -A look of hidden fear replaced that of anger, -/Wait what if he's not lost but hurt? We're on the run from both Highland and City-State. What if he was caught? Maybe I should go after him. Wait, what if he comes back and I'm not here? /
*^*^*
Riou sauntered through the shrubs of the forest moving quietly more by habit then want. It had taken him a bit longer than he had expected to find everything he needed. Then it took even longer to find Jowy's trail, once he did though Riou had no trouble figuring out which way to the campsite. Glancing through the last bit of forest cover before a small clearing he spied Jowy looking as though in deep thought, staring at the fire.
Riou grinned, as he began weighing his options. /Jowy has been so uptight. Not that I blame him, but I can't resist an opportunity like this./
From the shadowy protection of the forest Riou moved swiftly with the grace of a hunting cat as he leapt forward at Jowy grabbing him in a mock bear hold. "Caught you!"
*^*^*
Letting out a sigh Jowy brought himself out of the panicked stated when he was abruptly caught in a bear hold. "Caught you!"
Jowy seized attacker by the thin wrists and flipped him face down onto the ground. Jowy retracted his dagger fast as he pounced on top of the would be assailant, his knee drove into the attackers shoulder blades causing the assailant to let out a small cry. Jowy felt mildly surprised that attacker wasn't fighting back but he didn't stop to dwell on the matter. Jowy pressed the dagger against the enimies slender neck.
Both paused, Jowy breathed heavily as he kept on top of his attacker, he felt the blood rush out of his face as he noticed a golden ringlet partially hidden under the attackers chocolate colored hair. "Jowy, it's okay. It's me."
Jowy flung himself backward as though Riou's body was hot as fire, "R-Riou? I'm.... Oh gods Riou I-I'm so sorry.... I didn't know. I'm sorry. Oh, man Riou I nearly. I."
Riou got up; "It's okay Jowy, shh. It's okay, no worries. I'm okay. "
Riou looked at the panic stricken look in Jowy's eyes. The older boy looked at the dagger he had been holding and let it slip to the ground, Jowy looked ready to collapse. Riou quickly grabbed his friend and eased him to a sitting position on a fallen log. Riou kneeled down in front of his friend trying to look him in the eyes but Jowy gaze was locked upon the cold dirt of forest floor.
"Hey, Jowy? It's okay, I didn't get hurt I'm not mad or anything." -Riou paused as a second thought dawned on him. - "Or is it the whole situation?"
Riou noticed Jowy's rigid posture relax slightly. Riou sighed as he leaned his back against the fallen tree, sitting beside Jowy. "Our friends, we were all so close. Nothing happened among us that the rest didn't know of. I miss them all terribly, even Jason. Remember how Jason would wake up so early that the sun was just barely coming up and one morning we got so tired of him trying to wake the rest of us up we."
Jowy cut Riou off -a small smile played on his lips. - ".we tied him to a tree and left him there till we found out he was serious about there being a snake in the camp site that morning."
Riou smiles, "That's right, it was a taipan. None of you guys knew how to grab a snake without getting bitten and so you all tried to behead the poor thing."
Jowy smiled a bit at the memory, "I remember Rowd was waving his sword at it and everyone was dancing around the thing trying to get close enough finally Marcus brought out the arrows. Then you came back from scout and patrol. You smacked Marcus upside the head and despite all of us yelling how crazy and stupid you were being you snatched up the snake somehow and took it away from the camp."
"Well I just didn't want to see the little guy hurt." -Riou looked up, even through the forest trees he could see the stars shining brightly, twinkling with their inborn fires. - "Just you wait and see Jowy. One day we'll both look back, always there will be regrets but this is our life, we need to pull through. It's what we have. It will be better, you'll see."
Jowy looked up and over to Riou, who -as if sensing his friends gaze- turned his head around to give a hopeful smile to the blond. Then, standing up, Riou opened the pouch tied at his waist and fished out a healing potion. "I got this for your hand."
As Riou handed him the vial Jowy looked at the potion in deep thought, "Riou where'd you get he money for this?"
Riou looked away and went through his bag and pulled out some food. Dried figs, some cheese and bread and an apple. Jowy frowned, "I though you said you were going to stop."
Riou shrugged, "We need food and you need that potion. I'll pay it back when I get some money."
Jowy glared at the stolen potion, "Riou, Master Genkaku told you never to steal again, and you said you wouldn't."
Riou glared at Jowy through the flames, "I said I wouldn't as long as the need never arose. What would you do Jowy? Or what would you have me do? Are you telling me if the situation was reversed you wouldn't steal a potion for me? So I stole some food and a potion, its for survival Jowy."-Riou's eyes glossed over a bit as he stared at the flames, -"Mother told me, taught me to steal. She taught me how to survive before Grandpa, she said there's nothing wrong with needing to survive what's wrong is when you get caught surviving."
Riou watched the dancing fire; "Mother never got caught. She was really good at what she did, and she taught me as much as I could learn at that age. I was young remember Grandpa adopted me when I was young but because mother had died I was on my own for two years before that."
Whatever plagued Riou vanished with a crackle of the flame from the starving fire. A mask was placed to hide his hurt from years gone by. And Jowy wondered for the first time how much of Riou was an act for the spectators, and how much was the real him. The younger always bottled his negative emotions trying to absorb all the worry of others along with his own.
Both Jowy and Nanami have over the years gotten him to be a bit better at it expressing the negative with the positive. Even still, he sometimes bottled his emotions up so tight for so long he would just have an explosive temper. He would simply go berserk and Jowy had seen Riou take down a SunKing with his hot temper. But when his temper went cold as ice Jowy had yet to see anything stand any sort of fighting chance against him. Best thing to do was wait till Riou exhausted himself fighting at all targets available then pick up the pieces.
Riou claimed his mother told him it was always best to hide your feelings cause they could get in the way. Genkaku told him that was true only when you needed to use your head instead of your heart. Least Riou let the positive emotions out freely.
Jowy looked to the fire and poked it with a stick. Jowy silently contemplated Riou's past, he had heard snippets here and there, little pieces Riou handed out only to the ones that he had known for years. Mainly Jowy, Nanami and Genkaku. He knew a strange man had attacked Riou's mother when he was away and when he got back the only reason he survived was because two of his mother's friends had rescued him.
Rio stood up and stretched, "time to get some sleep Jowy, I'll take first watch. 'Kay?"
Jowy looked playfully suspicious at Riou, "Your not going to try and pull the whole night shift again are you Riou." -Riou looked to his friend with an innocent expression. - "Use that potion, eat your dinner and go to bed."
Jowy rolled his eyes before looking back to Riou, "Yes mother."
Riou glared at Jowy, "Don't 'mother' me or when you wake up you'll have a snake in your pants. Don't look at me like that. You know I'll do it, remember David?"
Jowy suddenly shrank back and used the potion Riou gave him and silently ate his dinner. Riou looked proud, /oh how I love that threat. /
Jowy took a bite out of his half of the apple, /it's been so long and I still can't believe Riou did that! /
*^*Dream *^*
"Do you wish to forget?" Riou lazily opened his dream eyes; the area held the familiar darkness that generally accompanied this woman. Sure enough he saw the woman who had been inviting herself into his dreams standing beside him.
Riou just wanted to close his eyes and sleep. /wait. I am asleep. Okay then what I want is a nice relaxing dreamless sleep. Is it too much to ask, don't I at least deserve that? /
The woman looked down to him; she was perhaps a little over a head taller than he was. "Who are you?"
Riou sighed, or rather felt like sighing. It's rather hard to do when you're dreaming. "I'm Riou, and you are?"
The woman seemed to appraise him; it wasn't a leaching look, but rather as though she was judging him for something. "You feel you have betrayed the trust of all who called you friend. Especially those boys in the brigade that failed to survive. You even went as far as to label yourself a coward."
The woman somehow in her quiet, seemingly apathetic state seemed somehow satisfied, as though she found what she was looking for. "You shouldn't think yourself a coward, few would ever take the risks you have. You have a kind heart. Pure, even after all that you've gone through, and still endure."
Riou pulled away, "Coward?! That came out of no where lady!"
The woman didn't react, as though she had anticipated this. "I could hear your thoughts earlier. They were quite strong. I rarely hear voices, nor am I able to communicate with things better then simple emotions. But with you, I can begin to rebirth my power. You and I, together as one. Your power will flow to me while my power will be unleashed through you."
Taking rein of his temper, -as Genkaku taught him to do- Riou managed to call it off before it manifested itself. /A nice dreamless sleep, that's all I ask. This woman talks in riddles and it's driving me up the wall. /
"Say," -Riou remarked in a friendly tone. -"You know my name but I don't know yours."
"My name.?" The woman blinked slowly, for the first time Riou saw an expression on her face. She was slightly perplexed by the question but at least there was something resembling emotion there.
Riou nodded as he relaxed a bit and managed to stand casually. The woman seemed to think for a moment, "A few from your world have called me Bright Shield."
Riou felt as though the name should ring a bell. / Bright Shield.? Where have I heard that./
"Why have you been following me?"
The woman didn't answer as the dream faded.
*^*End dream *^*
The morning rays of light filtered through the dense forest trees. Jowy rubbed his eyes and glanced at the position of the sun through the trees, /ugh, we slept in, its almost past noon already. /
Jowy rolled over away from the rays of light best he could. On the other side of the smothered -but not completely dead- campfire Riou slept, blissfully ignorant of the suns wake up call. Jowy quietly growled, jealous of his friend's ability to sleep through practically anything. /If I'm awake, he's awake./
Jowy crawled over to Riou, taking his own drinking skin Jowy uncorked the lid and readied to dump the contents over Riou. Seconds before the water hit Riou's eyes opened as his ungloved hand smacked the water-skin out of Jowy's hands. This caused only some of the water to be spilled on him most of the rest got tossed back to Jowy.
Riou wiped the dripping water off his face and started to glare at Jowy before bursting out laughing. Jowy's water-skin had ripped open and the entire contents drenched the blond head to toe. Jowy didn't find the situation as amusing as Riou did. "Why'd you do that?!"
Riou held his gut with one hand trying to hold back the fits of laughter. "Do what? Defend myself? Come on, you really expect me to lay here when I'm about to.*restrained laughing* be totally drenched?"
Riou covered his grin with one hand as he tried to get his laughter under control. Jowy looked bewildered. "But you were fast asleep."
Pausing Riou sat up, finally able to control his laughter. "I was fast- asleep. But mother taught me to sleep with a sort of danger sense. Comes in really handy."
Jowy snarled as he flicked some of the water off his arms. Riou gave a cat like grin as he started cleaning up the campsite. "Come on Jowy. By the time we get to Ruybe Village you'll be dried off, and hopefully you can buy a needle and thread so you can patch up your water bottle."
A look of detest crossed Jowy's face, "I don't sew."
Riou put both hands on his hips a he glared at Jowy, "And so you would have me sow your water skin just because of your lack of talent?"
Jowy grinned, "That would be great. Thanks Riou"
"I didn't say I was going to." -Jowy tossed his broken water skin to Riou who glared at the offending thing. Then moved his glare to Jowy, "do I look like one of your house maids, Jowy?!"
Jowy perused Riou thoughtfully, "Well most of the house maids back home wear these black and white frilly dresses."-Jowy was cut off by his water skin getting thrown at him, luckily for him he caught it. Riou huffed, "Fix your own water skin, I have better things to do."
*^*^*
Within a few hours the duo made their way to Ruybe village. The whole place seemed more lively then Riou remembered. As both Jowy and Riou went deeper into the village they understood the reason why. It seemed a band of traveling gypsies were performing in the village square. Three in total, a man and two women.
Rina frowned as she told the man his proposal wouldn't work out. He seemed to love struck to heed her advice as he wandered away. Rina sighed as she began to shuffle her cards again, right before two young men caught her eye. One blond the other brunette and they might be exactly who she needed.
Before the next parson walked up to her fortune telling stand Rina shuffled the cards with the two boys in mind, /fates and spirits of the other realm tell me what will be should our fated company be as such. /
Rina set the deck down and lifted the card on top to face her. The letter's at the bottom of the card 'IL CONIGLIO', made Rina smile. /The rabbit, a parting that would be in total safety but all too soon. A sign we will make it together if we choose them for our traveling companions. /
"Riou we should go." Jowy protested as Riou went to the Village Square, "Just for a little bit Jowy then we'll go."
Jowy frowned, /we stand out too much here. / ".Okay, but only for a minute."
Riou nodded and turned his attention back to the performers. A girl -probably a little older then himself- stopped juggling knives as she turned to the audience. "Okay. now for our next performance. Let's see. Okay you over there." -Riou tried to sink into the crowd, the shorthaired woman wouldn't allow it. - "Yes you!"
Riou thought he had sanctuary in the dense crowd though that notion was cut short as the crowd swiftly parted ways for the gypsy girl as she approached. Riou looked to Jowy for help; the older boy shrugged, his way of telling Riou to play along. The girl marched right up to Riou so they were practically standing nose to nose. Riou smiled weakly.
The unknown gypsy girl stepped back a bit, smiling, as she thoroughly looked over with an inspecting eye what seemed every inch of Riou's frame. "Okay you're the right height, and you've got a cute face too. Come here. Hurry, hurry!"
The warning bells in Riou's head flared loudly, /Jowy was right, this wasn't such a good idea. Can't call attention to myself. /
Before Riou could run the girl snatched his wrist and started dragging him into the square. "Not so fast sweetie." /Mmm, think I like this one. He's one of those cute but shy types. They're so rare these days. /
Jowy wasn't sure what to do as Riou got dragged into the square, best he could do was go to the front of the crowd and watch out for his friend.
The girl Eilie tied his wrists together behind him and walked back to the front of the crowd -near Jowy- readying her throwing knives. Riou nervously fidgeted with the ropes, the knot wasn't that well tied he could easily slip out of it but it would take a few minutes. Time that he did not have.
The only male of the travelling gypsies, -Bolgan- stood up front happily as he announced the event. "Everybody! Ummm, Here she is! Our knife throwing. expert!"
Eilie stammered and angrily marched up to Bolgan, "Hey! That's not how I told you to say it!"
Eilie scoffed as she went back to her position while Bolgan stammered. Remembering what he was supposed to say he tried again, "Umm. Here she is! The beautiful and famous knife-thrower Eilie! Feast your eyes on her magnificent face and form!"
The air gained a heated smell; Riou identified the scent as a woman's strong perfume. Looking over to his right he saw the fortune teller gypsy woman saunter easily over to him. She leaned next to him so her warm breath brushed ever so lightly against his right ear. "Please don't move. She hasn't been doing so well lately. But don't worry too much, I've got some good medicine."
Riou didn't exactly feel his worries fade with that last comment. He would have felt better if he could simply get the blasted ropes off. He could feel the knot loosening but too little too late. Bolgan, came forth and placed a small melon on top Riou's head then backed away. Riou blinked as he looked to Eilie, /oh man, this feels so much like the time I was nearly hung. /
Eilie dramatically wound her arm back with the throwing knife. "Here we go."
The knife was thrown, and hit the melon. A few in the audience cheered others clapped. Jowy stayed neutral, as Bolgan took half of the split melon away. Eilie threw the next knife hitting the half melon dead on. More people cheered than before.
Then Bolgan took the half melon away and replaced it with a peach. Many people in the audience voiced protests speaking how this was too dangerous. Jowy practically leaped over to cut this whole thing, Riou looked over to him and the gaze caused Jowy to walk back to his place in the crowd. Riou wasn't panicked like the crowd or Jowy. His eyes moved over to Eilie, the dark haired gypsy smiled, /he trusts me fully. He knows one slip and he'd be dead but he still trusts a stranger. /
Eilie wound the knife back; her focus was never before this strong. As it allowed her to hit the small target dead on. Something she hadn't been so lucky with the last few villages. Eilie smiled as she straightened her posture, Bolgan cheered loudly with the crowd. Jowy sighed in relief; his heartbeat, which had been pounding, began to calm.
Bolgan cheered with large exasperating, childlike, movements. "Yeah! Great job! Everyone! Big applause!" -Bolgan looked to Jowy who wasn't clapping, - "Hey you help out too!"
Jowy backed off a step as Bolgan marched in front of him. "Huh? Me?" -taking a glance behind him Jowy noticed the crowd was already half dispersed, the others waited only a moment to see if anything else was to be done then they left as well. -
Rina walked over to Riou ready to untie the ropes when she noticed his hands pull free of the ropes right before she got to him. Riou, relieved to be free of the infernal ropes handed them to Rina without a second thought. Rina took the rope in her hand staring at it for a moment before smiling. "Thanks for helping us out. We're travelling performers, I'm Rina."
The knife thrower walked over to Riou and Rina. "I'm Eilie. We're both sisters and this is our big brother."
Hearing his name Bolgan quickly went over to the group, "Bolgan!"
When Bolgan moved away Jowy made his way beside Riou. "I'm Jowy. This is my friend, Riou." -Riou gave a friendly 'hi' before Jowy continued. - "We're on our way to Kayaro town in Highland."
Rina grinned at their fortune, "Hey so are we. All the villages around here know us. It's time for somewhere new. The only problem is."
Eilie scoffed cutting off her older sister's talk. "I told you it would be okay. Don't worry about the Mist Monster. After all, I'm here."
Jowy looked blankly at Eilie, then to Riou questioningly. "The Mist Monster?"
Riou shrugged, "First time I've heard of it."
Rina relaxed her pose as she began to explain the rumors she had heard. "To enter Highland, you have to take North Swallow Pass. But we've heard rumors that a horrible Mist monster lives up there. If you guys are going to Highland too, maybe we could travel together?"
Jowy shrugged, seemingly indifferent to the idea. "Yeah. It's okay with me. How about you, Riou?"
Looking over to his friend, Jowy read Riou's expression before the younger even gave his answer. "Of course."
Rina sighed as she indiscreetly packed away her tarot cards. "Thank you. Now we cross the mountains with no worries."
Eilie smiled, despite her earlier disapproval for bringing the topic up she really was glad to be travelling with a larger group. "Great. Thanks a lot Riou and Jowy"
Bolgan jumped up and down happily. "Bolgan happy!"
*^*^*
The trip to North Sparrow pass held only a few battles, the cash earned from the monsters was split up between the members of the party. Riou mentally kicked himself as he remembered that he forgot to repay the storeowner for the items he 'borrowed' earlier. He was having déjà vu and amnesia at the same time, cause he had forgotten this before. Riou absent- mindedly began thinking of a way to repay the storeowner somehow. Then came to the conclusion he would wait till things at the borders cooled off and come back in a few weeks or so to repay.
Then they entered North Sparrow Pass; the conversations quieted as one of the two border guards approached. "Up ahead is the Highland border. There's also a rumor that a Mist monster lives up there. No one is permitted to enter by order of Mayor Anabelle of Muse. Please go back the way you came."
Jowy looked to the guard, he hadn't fully expected they would be blocked by boarder guards. "We have to get back." -Riou lightly elbowed Jowy in the stomach as the guard looked at them questionably. - "I mean we have to go to Highland."
The State soldier was un-swayed by Jowy's plea's as he shook his head, "sorry. Orders are orders."
Riou took a slight submissive stance as he spoke to the guard. "Please?"
The State guard turned to Riou, who was looking upward through convincing amber eyes. "We'll keep it secret."
The guard shifted under the un-swaying gaze, the guard started to back away, trying not to give in. Eilie closed off his escape; "C'mon can't you bend the rules this once?"
The guard looked around, cornered on all sides. "I. I can't. Sorry. I can't do that.."
A small flash of light ricocheted off Rina's large golden earring, tracing the hoop till the light faded with shimmer. Rina kept a small smile as with the grace she had used her years of life to learn she sauntered over to the other guard. The one the group had left un-bothered.
Easing her way behind the man, the grace being the way as not to be heard. She spoke softly onto the soldier's neck. "Umm, Mr. Captain."- Rina felt a bubble of pleasure swell, as she watched the hairs on the back of the man's neck stand on end as her warm breath reached him. - "Could we have a little talk."
The soldier turned to Rina, and took a quick survey of her, which Rina showed no objection to. Rina smiled as she trailed the tip of one of her nails ever so gently against the hairs on the man's neck. "Come over here. with me."
Rina sauntered away toward the trees of the forest. The State soldier stumbled as if in a trance as he followed her as the puppy following the master. As he entered the forest Rina gave a cooing laughter that was soft enough that only the man was supposed to hear it as she lead him deeper into the forest.
Watching the two go Jowy went closer to the edge of the forest, Eilie had been about to protest but threw up her arms in exasperation as she wandered a bit away from the forest. Riou was about to go over to Jowy to ask if he knew what was going on when a light brown garden snake caught his attention, as it sun bathed on a rock.
Listening for a few minutes Jowy abruptly went beat red before quickly marching over toward Riou. Jowy grabbed Riou by the back of his tunic and dragged him as far away from the forest as the mountain trail would allow. Riou's only complaint about being dragged was he had been watching what turned out to be a baby snake. Jowy just replied the snake could wait. Jowy told Riou to recite all the magic runes that were currently known followed by all the self-defense techniques learned in the Brigade.
Eilie and Bolgan sitting not too far away engaged in multiple games of verbal tic-tac-toe. While the one State guard began noisily sharpening his weapon.
*^*^*
An hour or so later Rina emerged from the forest looking as primed as when she entered. The state soldier lagged slightly behind. Jowy peered into the forest behind Rina and went beat red again as he saw the soldier tucking his shirt in fixing his armor and arranging his pants. Riou looked to Jowy, "You sure your feeling okay, Jowy?"
Jowy covered his face with his hands. He felt like sticking his head under the mountain. The soldier emerged from the forest, his hair in a disheveled mess, "Errr.. Umm. Go. But you have to promise to keep your mouths shut."
Riou blinked, Jowy looked over to his friend. He wasn't sure if it was just starting to dawn on the younger what just took place or if he still was utterly clueless. Rina grinned with such manifesto that it cried out with her deft victory. "But of course."
Eilie stood up and tried to look Rina in the eyes but her sister back was to her. "Rina. you didn't."
Rina turned and looked at Eilie with a sisterly smile. Jowy couldn't believe this woman, not to mention he was getting a bit flustered at the fact he couldn't read Riou. Rina brushed a hand through her hair, as she flicked it over her shoulder. "If this nice man says we can go, then we should take him up on his kind offer."
For his part Bolgan jumped up and down like a five-year-old. The group walked off down the mountain path to the misty road that lay ahead.
*^*^*
L.O.S. - (Whew) Okay, now as promised time for Q&A
(L.O.S. looks back to reviews and brings out a small list of questions)
L.O.S. - To Dragonssoldier, as per your two time request of this story being a Riou + Wakaba well I thought about it and okay. But you must be patient because it takes awhile to get to Wakaba in the game but I will pull out all the tricks I know to get her in ASAP.
Joey - What!? Your signing Riou's love life away on a spur of the moment judgment?!
L.O.S. - Not spur of the moment Jowy I thought about it and hey it works. Their personalities seem to click on paper and with a bit of author magic it can happen.
Joey - But. err.... No fair!
L.O.S. - Don't worry Jowy. Next up magesoldier, hope you don't mind too much about this being a Riou + Wakaba.
L.O.S. -But don't all you yaoi lovers leave. I've got something up my sleeve for everyone.
L.O.S. - Okay to Mikka, can't answer too many questions or I would reveal too much plot and all you wonderful reviewers would leave me. But as per the shounen ai question.
Jowy - (coughs)
L.O.S - Jowy stop interrupting or next chapter I'll make a tree fall on you!
Jowy - OoO
L.O.S. - Anyway, there will be a little something involving Riou and Jowy but I don't know if I should say what exactly it is. What if I reveal too much plot.
Jowy - Nooooo! Don't tell them!
Riou - (walks in with cup of water) Jowy your awake.
L.O.S. & Jowy - (Sweatdrop)
L.O.S. - It took you the entire chapter to get that glass of water?!
Riou - There was a line up!
L.O.S - Well, anyway guess I won't reveal but when some obvious signs of something start popping up I'll post a warning on the story's description thing.
L.O.S. - (Looks back to reviews and notices the other two questions from Mikka) Is their a relationship between the original character woman and Riou? Good gods no! I would never make up an original character romance! Don't worry about that. And about Luc, sure I can give him a big part, Luc's a great character. Strong willed, a bit cold at times, but he's a completely lovable bishounen. (Runs off to start plotting new chapters)
Riou - Read and Review people! Please! More reviews mean more chapters faster.
Jowy - Threaten never to put another chapter up. That might get more reviews.
Riou - Jowy! Don't be mean!
Jowy - You're right, if they don't like the story they just might run away without reviewing.
Riou - Jowy, stop being mean. LOL people and please review!
