Crearulian Angel: The third chapter I believe. (wow I can count!) Yes well then moving on...

'thoughts'

"speaking"

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Fates Entwined

The sun was harsh today. Beating down relentlessly on his bare already tanned back. Yes indeed it was harsh. The well muscled teen swiped some of his ash brown locks from his azure blue eyes. He pushed the fence post deeper in the ground grunting with effort.

His onlookers, three horses tied lazily to another make shift fence, whuffed their approval of the new paddock. This was how it was every time they moved. The three horses, a bay a chestnut and a dusty roan were his permanent horses that sometimes assisted in his business of training other peoples horses.

Ryo Akiyama moved around a lot with his three faithful companions. Staying in one place made him feel trapped. Besides he had moved around a lot in the orphanages as well. He didn't like thinking of those days. But he well remembered the jubilant day he sought freedom and escaped. He learned to fend for himself, at first feeding himself with 'borrowed' goods then finding that he could work to be fed and sheltered.

Ryo spent most of his childhood around horses and when he found a home that needed a stable boy the old man took him in. Teaching him how to care and train for horses without breaking them but by saving their spirit and training them through trust. He even gave him a horse of his own. But the short lived happiness was stolen from Ryo as a figure rose up to claim power and reap the village of their workers and goods to serve 'The Lord Rafarl'.

Ryo's boss whom he looked up to as a fatherly figure was slaughtered for having a conscience when he refused to give up what he worked for. That was when Ryo fled with Laxmi the stocky bay horse given to him. That was the day he vowed to avenge the death of the only father he knew.

"Why must I constantly live in the past Laxmi?" He asked his four legged friend after stretching his aching back. He would have to go on duty tonight and scope the new area.

The only answer he was given was a moist snort from Laxmi. But the sight of a man leading a frantic looking horse made his spirits rise.

"Looks like a customer."

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Filtering through the glassless window and over the bed that contained a sleeping form. Ruki stirred and came back into consciousness and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

'Arriel.'

She swept the blankets from her body shuddering from the cold that came to meet her. She was just at the door when she heard a knock. Purposefully she opened the door and met Henry the boy that had saved her.

"Good morning."

"Where is Arriel?"

"Nice to see you too. In the stables I'll come with you." Henry tagged along behind her a little un nerved. Unfortunately his thoughts were cut off by a shrill whinny that reverberated around the entire stables, small as it was. A finely chiselled black head was tossing in one of the box stalls. A dainty white star was on her fore head partially covered by Arriel's forelock. Ruki ran forward and hugged the beautiful horse who returned the hug in horsey way, nuzzling her chest as if to say sorry.

With greetings done with Ruki sat on the stall door and addressed Henry.

"I want to help you. I want to fight this arrogant prick and if you have a way I want to hear it. Just so you know there is no way to change my mind. So don't even try." She was casually stroking Arriel's sleek nose expecting him to take this easily.

"There are a lot of things you don't understand. You cant just claim you'll help me when you haven't any idea what your up against!"

"I told you I don't care, I'm going to fight whether you like it or not. Fill me in and I'll make it worth your while. Lets just say Ruki is one tough cookie!" She gave him the closest thing to a smile he had seen from her yet but detected the mock taint in it. "So, please oh Intelligent One share your knowledge with me."

"Well. I may as well start from the beginning. Lord Rafarl is a cruel and unfair ruler who took power by force and continues to do so, forcing his law on all who submit to him. Those who don't are either made to set an example through being tortured or slaughtered mercilessly. He has destroyed peaceful towns, murdering helpless children, leaving his soldiers to rape women and girls and loot the towns bare of all their goods.' He paused for all this to sink in. Ruki was frowning deeply but didn't interrupt.

'Since he came to power the unbalance in the world had allowed creatures from the dark tales to manifest and inhabit our world. No mortal weapon can harm them or Rafarl for that matter. They are other worldly and need to be defeated by other worldly beings."

Now Ruki saw the chance to interrupt. "Where the hell are we going to find these other worldly beings that will be on our side?" She nearly burst into laughter but suppressed the urge at the look on his face.

"I have already found that. Well at least one. The creature that saved you last night, calls himself Gargomon, a green knight that... That..." Henry seemed to be lost for words. He had never had to explain what happened when Gargomon came to fight.

"That?" Ruki was getting impatient giving Henry a cold glare with her violet eyes. He noticed she was leaning dangerously on the ledge she sat on. She looked a little like Suzie when he was telling her a story. Only Suzie wasn't as pretty or strong looking as her.

"That, well comes from me. I don't know exactly how it happens but he comes from my body and fights any of the horrible creatures we can find." He finished rather lamely.

Silence passed between them as Ruki thought this preposterous notion over. Then nearly kicking herself she thought: 'I'm starting to sound like my mother!'

"Can I meet him?"

"Tonight. We'll go on duty but don't get in his way."

"Pfft excuse me!" The word duty seemed somewhat familiar. But she cats it from her mind. "So you plan of action is?"

"To go to the source of course. The root of the problem. Rafarl himself."

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The tears wouldn't stop. The pain wouldn't go away. Ruki would never come back. Juri Katou was feeling pain she never knew she could. Not physical of course but even the comforting hand of Takato was not enough to stop the steady flow of tears rushing down his loves dainty face.

"Juri. Please, don't cry. Crying won't do anything, if you want to help Ruki you need to find her. And I will not rest until we have found her I promise." His words full of sincerity and courage it was hard for Juri to not love him. She looked into his warm face, at the gentle features of his almost child like face with sweet cinnamon coloured eyes and a soft but encouraging smile.

The tears ceased and she sniffed while nodding ever thankful for Takato. She would find Ruki and help her friend see where she belonged.

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Crearulian Angel: So how was that?! A little fluff at the end just for you Jurato fans. So we learn of the lone horse trainer Ryo and little more of Henry. Ruki is yet to find the deeper meaning to the word 'duty'!