Author's Note: Heh, this is my first time co-writing something so bear with me…^.^;;

Of Love, Demons and a Frenchman

Svelte Rose's part

            "This has gone quite far enough!" Kayura cried, Mia's shield from magic having finally worn off. "Mia, you must vanquish this Demon on your own! The chant has weakened his control on your mind!"
            "I…" She managed to stutter out before she flung up both palms and clutched her head. Her slender frame fell to the ground, mahogany tresses flying everywhere.
            Ryo spat out another mouthful of blood as crawled slowly over to Mia, Kento following not too far behind. Cye swallowed hard and managed to stagger over to the fallen women. Helped up by Sage, Rowan clutched a wound, bleeding profusely from his left arm.
            Three feet away, they heard a shuffling and a deep, commanding voice.

            "Stop, she has to fight this herself." Commanded the priestess. "You guys won't help her any if you crowd her, hell, you might even cause her to lose her concentration in fighting Belford mentally."

            "Kayura swore," Seckhmet sniggered.

            Dais twitched and pinched him.

            Seckhmet gritted his teeth and glared at his fellow warrior.

            "Grow up you two," Kayura rolled her eyes.

            The five Ronins smiled meekly.

            "How strong is Belford?" Sage finally asked the question that had been on all their minds.

            Kayura sighed as she tried to think of an answer that wouldn't alarm them, "How strong he is shouldn't matter. Trust in Mia to overcome the odds and she will because all she needs now, all she can have now is our trust and confidence."

            "How strong?" Rowan asked once more, grimacing in pain. "Just tell us,"

            "Think of Talpa, multiplied by ten," Seckhmet answered, his expression dismal.

            They hissed.

~*~*~*~

            In Mia's mind…

            "Those roses, those beautiful roses were for me," Mia said, a small smile flitted across her lips.

            Belford materialized a chair out of thing air and sat down, leg crossed over the other. "Of course they were for you,"

            "You sound patronizing, why?" She asked softly.

            Belford sighed, "I'm saying that perhaps, it was only an excuse,"

            "How?" Her voice grew harder.

            "It works like this dearest," Belford got up, his bracelets jingling as knelt beside her figure. "Men, would think up of any excuse, no matter how far fetched, to get in someone's good graces. Unfortunately, it usually works," His facial expressions were sympathetic.

            "He wanted to get into my good graces?" She stood up, Belford standing up with her.

            "Mia, you were kicking their butt," Belford chuckled. "I mean you had the power there,"

            Mia turned around, facing away from Belford. The silence that stood between them was unsettling.

            "Mia," Belford began.

            "Belford,"

            "Yes?" He stopped.

            "If Sage lied to me so that he could get in my 'good graces' as you so put it," She started softly. Hesitating for a moment.

            "Go on," Belford pushed.

            She turned around, her green eyes piercing his golden ones. "Then how do I know you aren't doing the same?"

~*~*~*~

            Mia lifted her head, blinking, her face wet from crying before. "Guys?" She blinked, her eyes wandering over the spacious room, finally settling on a group of 8 people huddled together, some better off than the others. One man sat on the bed, completely ignored by the others.

            A silence washed over them as the group and Mia locked eyes.

            She cleared her throat and smiled, "I'm okay,"

            Simultaneously, eight of them broke out into grins.

            "I knew you could do it Mia," Kento coughed out.

            Her eyes immediately filled with guilt, "I'm sorry guys, I'm really sorry, oh god, I'm so sorry," She rambled as she quickly hurried to help the bleeding ones.

            "What happened to Belford?" Gravelam questioned.

            They ignored him.

            "We're okay, we're glad that you're back though," Ryo grinned, a small trickle of blood running from his lips down to his chin.

            At that statement, the air was infused with the scent of sandalwood, Belford appearing in a cloud of smoke. His face was hard and cold as he practically flew over to Mia. Yanking her up by the arm, his eyes flared as he clenched his jaw and smiled crudely. "Not for long,"

            "Let me go!" Mia screeched, kicking and scratching.

            Belford paid no attention as he swung her to his chest, one arm over the waist and one arm over her arms. "Say goodbye Mia, because you won't be seeing them for a long time and perhaps if the fate's are kind to me, never again,"

            "MIA!" Seven men and one woman shouted as they watched her disappear right before their eyes.

            At that moment, the bedroom door chose to be flung open, Cale and White Blaze looking just a might bit frazzled.

            "Where's Mia?" A frightened look in Cale's eyes as he asked, already knowing the answer.

            "She's gone," Cye volunteered, as he slouched over. "Belford's taken her, she's gone!"

~*~*~*~

            He knelt down and studied her sleeping figure. A black robe similar to his, clung tightly to her figure. Lifting a hand to brush a strand of silky hair, he put his lips right next to her ear, "Soon, just you wait. We'll have the world at our fingertips and you'll never be able to refuse me again…" He pressed his lips to her unmoving ones, first caressing it softly, and then pressing harder and harder. The dark room they inhabited was filled with an awesome light.

            When the light finally disappeared, she started to stir. He stood up, moving a few inches away.

            "Mia, stand up," He commanded.

            The elegantly garbed woman on the floor shot up in a sitting position. Emotionally, it seemed every motion she made seemed mechanic but physically, she moved gracefully, as if she were born to move that way. Her legs folded under her as she stood up, the folds of the robe falling in glossy waves around her. Her hair was clipped up in the half-ponytail style, with just one hairpin holding all the hair up framing her pale face.

            Ethreal. Belford's eyes wandered over her feminine figure, appreciatively.

            "What is your next command?" She questioned, the deep voice void of any emotion.

            His lips curved upward in a diabolical smile, "We have some business to attend to,"

            She closed her eyes and nodded as she gave a small bow, "I am at your command,"

~*~*~*~

            "You bastard, what's he done with her?!" Cale snarled as he lunged at Gravelam.

            The unsuspecting man was caught off guard as he and the warlord fell off the bed in a web of tangled limbs. Seckhmet and Dais quickly hurried to separate the two apart.

            "How the fuck should I know?! Don't you think I would've prevented it if I could?" Gravelam growled. He was held away by Dais, as Seckhmet pulled back the angry warlord.

            Cale shook Seckhmet off violently and pointed one finger at Gravelam. "If we don't see her again, I'm going to eat you alive," He threatened gravely. "And if you run, I will HUNT you down and I will EAT you alive,"