Whoadie: Hi! ^_^;;; hee hee...sorry about the LONG delay? *ducks down from flying objects headed in her direction*
Roiben: LONG delay? It's been 2 months...
Whoadie: ^_^;;; sorry?
Everyone: *tackles her* SORRY ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!
Whoadie: *squished* Well I hope this chapter is still good, I sort of forgot the plot over the past two months and hopefully it will still be as marvelous as I planned for it to be!
Nicholas: Shut up! *gags her with a sock* TO THE BATHROOM EVERYONE! WE HAVE TAKEN THE AUTHORESS HOSTAGE!
Everyone: *cheers, marching with the squirming whoadie, to the bathroom*
Whoadie: T~T *betrayed*
Kevin-chan: (Mah home fry!) *pushes button to start fic* ^_^
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
// thinking
".." is talking
[ ] translations from elven to english
Rated: PG-13 (Whoadie: AND I MEAN IT! *hears groans, children under 13 leave* )
Suffering
Sakura sat up gasping, while clutching her throat. She could still taste the sea water that she swallowed in her dream. She ran a hand through her hair only to pull back a sweaty hand. She could hear her brother's voice laughing at her panicked state. She growled, clenching at the grass beneath her. She tugged at it, pulling a handful of grass free from the ground. She tossed it angrily ahead of her, picturing it hitting Tori's smug looking face.
"I thought elves were connected somewhat to the Earth, so why go trying to destroy it? Mankind is here for that." a husky voice chuckled from beside her.
She turned only to see a pair of auburn eyes staring back at her with such intensity. She was never one to back down but for some reason she looked away quickly. She couldn't seem to bring herself to glare back at those eyes who seemed to look at her with such hope. She couldn't even save her village so what help could she possibly give to this stranger.
"What, are you saying you don't remember me? I'm hurt!" another laugh escaped his dry lips. Weird, he was never one to joke yet here he was, kidding around with someone obviously more anti-social than him. He stopped laughing when he caught the look on her face. Her face was looking down towards the ground and had pain all over it. //I don't think she was hurt during the time she arrived and her "departure." So why the look of pain?//
As he went over what could be wrong with her, he took the time to look at her. Sure he had seen her in his arms before but he didn't really LOOK at her. He took up her body features, smiling appraisingly at her "fitness." The most luring feature though was her face. Emerald eyes that were as lush and exotic as the forest she was born in. Full pink lips that were set in a grim line at the moment, got him thinking suddenly at how they would feel and taste. He shook his head from those kinds of thoughts as he took in the rest of her face. A tint of pink covered her well toned pale cheeks from her earlier nightmare. She was gorgeous!
He felt himself blush when she caught him staring at her. He quickly masked his face of any emotion. Only when he heard his name did he turn to look at her.
"Li? That's your name, right?" it came out colder than she had hopped it would. She REALLY needed to relax. "Well answer me, mortal! Don't gawk!"
Li blinked at her before recovering. "Yea, how'd you know? You were out, I never really had the time to actually tell you."
"I heard your men screaming your name while they were being burned in the forest..." a look of regret and pity crossed her eyes. "They asked for your help despite the fact that they knew you would never come."
Li sat up straight, taking somewhat offense to that last statement. His men were good men and didn't deserve to die that way. Unfortunately, being the village bumkins they were, they weren't all too bright in the attic. "They were only calling for the one whose been there to guide them from the beginning! And they were right! I could have saved them!"
Her face remained as smooth as stone but her voice held that same annoyed edge to it. "Then why didn't you? Either you couldn't or you didn't want to is the only reasonable answer here..." she stared, waiting for him to answer her trick question. It was one of her talents to get to know others without actually participating in useless "chit-chat." She just manipulated them till they poured out enough information to get an idea of what their personality was really like.
Anger started to boil up in him, just who did she think she was? HE SAVED HER!! She should be grateful! "I was busy taking care of some old business..."
She smirked. //Arrogant AND conceited...common in man.// "So you rather finish old grudges than to help save people in the present? For all you know, you could have prevented their deaths and they would be living right now," she kept a cool composure even though she could see Li shaking with anger. "but their dead. No thanks to you, they were pleading to an closed ear! Whatever happened to you in the past, don't you think you could have prevented a similar event from happening now? Maybe by helping them?"
"I...didn't want to help them..." she looked a bit shocked from his response, she had been waiting for a more whiny explanation. //He's different, so the truth can come out of a man's mouth.//
He went on to explain himself, "I didn't want to! I was blinded by my own hatred towards our lord-" he paused, he didn't have to say that anymore. He had no respect for the man, so why give him such high authority? "I loathe Nicholas, I guess it was enough to turn a deaf ear to those who I really could have saved." he sighed. "But I only wanted to save myself..." //From this cancer like virus in my body that eats away at my very mind and will//
His eyes stared at the ground remembering what she said last, //They were just like me, alone and in need of help. She's right, they didn't need to die. An event like that certainly doesn't need to be repeated in the future, I couldn't help me and those in the past, nor could I keep those in the present from harm but maybe...// he looked at the girl next to him. //Maybe I can make it up and prevent future repetition, by protecting her and my remaining men! Even those captured elves.//
She shrugged. She had gathered the information she needed, he was just another stupid human who felt sorry for himself. "Whatever, what's done is done." she tried to stand but ended up falling forward, right on her face. She muffled an 'oof' into the grass. //Damn you Tori and your pressure points!//
Li had been watching her and couldn't help but let a snicker escape his lips. She deserved it, she was ignorant and full of herself. Not to mention as cold as ice, maybe colder. "So what's your name?"
She pushed herself up with her arms, spitting out a few blades of grass. "Ying-fa." No way was she giving away her real name, she wasn't that stupid. Code-name would have to do for now.
"It suits you..." he added that quietly to himself, he winced from the pain escalating in his ignored arm. The tattoo pulsed, reminding him what he needed to ask her. "Can I ask you something?"
"No."
He blinked at her subtle response. "Well I need your help."
She rolled her eyes, and so did the whole damn world. "What do you want, human?"
//Ouch..// that human/mortal thing was quite annoying and a hard blow to the ego. It's not like he asked everyday for help and she wasn't making it any easier. "Nicholas..." he continued after recovering from the look she sent him for saying that name. "He put this mark on me..."
"And?"
"It binds me to servitude and I need it taken off or else...I die."
"Is that my problem?" she was rubbing her legs harshly, thinking it would somehow speed up the paralysis time limit.
//Again, ouch.// he was becoming fed up with her attitude but really didn't want to start any fights at the moment. He needed her help. "Yes it is! I saved you and I'm calling in a favor!" He paled at what he said, he didn't exactly want those exact words to come out
She stopped her rubbing and glared at him. One that usually sent her opponent in sparring cowering. "I didn't ask to be saved now did I? I do recall saying that I needed a certain object before I left! DID I NOT!!" Her voice was slowly becoming louder, you could practically see frost forming off of her words.
"YOU were the one who grabbed ME! YOU were the one who decided to kidnap ME! I wouldn't have died as easily as you thought I would have! I'M NOT SOME PUNY WOMAN WHO CAN'T HOLD HER OWN IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE!" she wanted to so badly rip his throat out but was stuck, weaponless. That reminded her, she mentally slapped herself. She noticed her weapons were taken from her and were lying only a few inches from Li. //Damn him..//
He took in every harsh blow she made with her mouth. He made the mistake of letting those words fall out so it was only right to take what was being thrown at him. Once she somewhat settled down he mumbled quietly. "Like you said earlier, those men didn't deserve to die...if I were to live and help you, I would be somewhat on the road to repentance. I also want to keep future events, like the one you just saw back there, from happening again."
She took in a breath trying to calm her worked up nerves. "I don't need help."
His heart sunk, he was going to die here alone. Well things could have been worse, he could have been stuck back at the camp getting ready to move out. A small grin started to spread on his lips, finally I get to rest. But the process to get there wouldn't be an easy and clean one. He grimaced and the mark prevented him from any suicidal attempts. He'd tried...MANY times. He looked up seeing Ying-fa smile in triumph.
She stood up shakily but her feet were planted into the ground sternly! "Aha! Success! The pressure point wore off!" She walked over behind Li, retrieving her weapons. She fastened them to their rightful places, ignoring the man totally. She felt cold hand reach into her mind as if slapping her.
A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face, that was unnatural. Sure her kind was in tuned with forest spirits but this was ridiculous! Why would they be trying to contact her! It's not like she could do anything for them at the moment. //Don't be stupid Sakura!// she gasped at the voice in her head. Who had said that? It sounded like...
//Yea it's me, squirt. I came back to try and knock some sense into ya but look how that turned out...// she sweat dropped at his sarcastic attitude. Always was one to joke around. //Your being a total bitch! I knew you were coldhearted but I didn't know you would be downright inhumane. Yea yea your not human...but the analogy stays! Look at him...// She scowled. //LOOK AT HIM!//
She turned her head slightly, ready to take in a pathetic weeping man. What she found was a proud looking human sitting with his back straight as if ready to welcome fate with open arms. Was that fear that flickered in his eyes? She also noticed a bit of regret.
//You went off with that speech earlier and now your going to just let him suffer?//
She groaned. "You heard that? I was only trying to analyze him without actually having to TALK to him!"
Li raised an eyebrow at the girl above him. She had finished her packing but was just standing around now, talking to herself. "Is everything alright?"
She ignored him, arguing with her dead brother. //Really now Sakura, father taught you right and wrong, where'd that piece of information go?// "How DARE you bring father into this!" She was very protective of her parents, she loved them both dearly. Even though they were probably both dead now, she still had a lil tinge of hope glowing in the dark depths of her heart. (Whoadie: Yesh, her mama is alive, well for now.)
//WELL?! WHERE DID IT GO SAKURA?! I know you love him! We both do! So why ignore what precious knowledge he has bestowed upon you? //
Her eyes widened, he was right. She was betraying her father's words. She always absorbed what he taught her, he was one of the wisest people she knew. So where had this, right from wrong, gone too?
She could hear Tori sigh. //Look, just remember where you came from and what you are. Then take a good look at how you are now. Is this how you wanted to be when released into the world? After you achieved Sereg' wethrin? [Profession: Assassin]// his voice faded from her mind but that annoying question will stood.
She clenched her hands into fists, digging her nails into the palm of her hands. The last thing she wanted was to see disappointment on her father's face, even if he was dead. "I don't need help but...I could use a good ally." //He might prove himself useful in tight spots// she smirked to herself.
He looked up at her nodding. "Understood."
//Better get that marking off of him, that soldier/slave talk is annoying// She crouched down next to him. "Remove your armor and roll up your sleeve."
He nodded, without so much as a blush, he did what she asked. He watched with interest as she closed her eyes. Her hand hovered over his glowing tattoo. He couldn't understand what she was saying, but it was beautiful. The Language she spoke of rolled off her tongue like morning dew off of a blade of grass. Each silky word seemed to pound into his ears. He could see her aura, it was...pink? //Go figure...// The aura remained only a dim shining outline on her body. It was only in the early stage of the spell she was working up. He let his own aura out, thinking maybe it would somehow help her.
She didn't stop, the spell wouldn't let her. She had to complete it. She felt his aura release and was in awe. No human possessed this kind of strength. They had an aura since elves and humans were some what connected. Something in history she didn't really think was important, it had to do with being favored by the Gods? A battle, segregation and somehow Atlantis was mixed into all of this.
Sakura shook her head, blocking it out of her mind. She would dwell on the subject it later. She had finished chanting and was clutching the amulet that hanged around her neck. A key with a star on the end. It was a childhood trinket of hers, the only memory of her mother she had left.
~~~Flashback~~~
"Sakura! SAKURA! Where are you!" A beautiful woman looked around for her daughter. (Whoadie: Forgive me for not going into detail. I forgot how she looked! ^_^;;;; don't hurt me! *cowers*) "SAKURA!!"
"Here I am mama!" A little girl with light brown hair and large innocent green eyes ran up to her mother's open arms. Her pink frilly dress waved in the wind, one small hand clutched at the white hat that sat teetering on her head from the strong gust of wind.
"Where were you?" Her mother hugged her briefly, all her plans to scold Sakura disappeared from one smile from the little girl.
"Nicho stole my hat! But Ran-ran took it away from him and gave it back!" She smiled impishly.
"Nicholas was picking on you again?" Her eyes narrowed a little. That boy was quite the menace.
"Mmmhmm! Don't worry Tori is telling his parents right now, but he didn't look to happy about it. Me thinks, his parents don't listen to Tori. Nicho says his parents like the bad things he does, it's a sign of..pow..po.." She cleared her mouth by blowing a raspberry. "Power!" She smiled.
She laughed at her daughter's innocence and silliness. //Amazing how she could still manage to hold onto it when other children have long given up on staying a child. These council decisions of training children to kill at a young age are outrageous! I guess they have their reasons...//
"What did you need me for mama?"
"Oh..yes, well I have something for you." She set the curious Sakura down as she disappeared into the tree hut.
"Oh a present?" Sakura followed her in, her little hands clapping in excitement. "But mama, ish not my birthday yet!" a little giggle echoed from underneath the white hat.
"I was going to wait to give this to you when you get older but, now seems like the perfect time..." a small tear fell from her eyes. It trailed down her smooth cheek then dropped from her chin.
The tear fell onto Sakura's nose, the girl wiggled her nose with annoyance. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. "Mama, why are you crying? You don't have to give me the present if you don't want too..." she gripped onto her mother's leg, clenching the material of her dress in her hands.
She quickly wiped away the wetness on her cheek, plastering a forced smile on her red lips. She gave a short laugh at what Sakura said. //To think she was responsible for my tears, your one of a kind Sakura. I hope you stay this sweet and innocent after I'm gone.//
She was a seer for the council, she saw the future problems that could sever the peace between the humans and the other races, including the elves, and reported to them. That's where the Sereg' wethrin came in. ((Whoadie: I'm not repeating myself....-_-;;; *dun wanna say it means Assassin again*))
Unfortunately, she saw a glimpse of an upcoming danger to the whole planet. She reported it but the council said the other Seers said it was highly unlikely since they hadn't received any visions yet. She pleaded and argued but was turned away. The bad feeling in the pit of her stomach only grew from that day. She went to her husband, one of the advisors to the High Elf, but he said there was nothing he could do.
So here she was, standing before her only daughter. She was going to prepare her if this "Apocalypse" so to speak, were to happen. Tori was capable of handling himself, he had greatly excelled in his classes with Master Yue and was now studying other techniques to become stronger. As for Sakura, she was going to give her something to help her in the future since she was still, a little girl.
"Do you know what this is, love?" She took out a necklace, with the miniature star key dangling from it, from a plain mahogany box that was kept high out of reach on a shelf.
Sakura tilted her head at the necklace then shook her head. "It's pwetty though!"
"Hmm I guess you wouldn't, You've only seen it once but you were very little," she untied the necklace and draped it around Sakura's neck only to fasten it again. "this came with a book your father has, this book is like no other you have seen. It's powers are said to be great but is sleeping." She was trying her best to explain it to a child.
Sakura giggled, "Mama, how can a book sleep?"
She smiled, "Let's just say a magical spell was put on it so that it wouldn't hurt anybody."
"Why would a book hurt somebody?"
"The book itself is harmless, love, but in a bad person's hands...only bad things would happen."
"You said it had a magical spell so it wouldn't hurt anybody, well then it isn't really harmless, is it?"
She laughed at her child's wisdom, "No, I guess not, but the power it holds won't act on it's own it has to have someone to wield it, understand? Now if someone bad got a hold of it THEN bad things would happen, but if the power source is cut off then the bad person can't do anything."
"Ooooh...."
She shook her head, she knew she was confusing the girl more and more and it was no use trying to make sense of it, it was a complicated story to tell just in general.
"Now this necklace changed..."
"It did? Why? How?'
"Well when your father was handed this book from the High Elf to study, this necklace fell out. He was too involved in the book trying to solve it's hidden puzzles that he didn't see it fall, but I did. This sweet little angel got there before me. When she touched it...it changed.."
"Who was the angel?"
"You, love."
Sakura blinked, it changed because of her? "But why?"
Her mother shrugged, "To this day the Gods only know and haven't blessed me a vision of why my child was able to change an ancient relic. Not even your father could figure it out."
"Why are you giving it to me?"
"It's only right to give the Chosen their selected items."
"Huh?"
She bent down, poking Sakura's nose. "This key chose you for some unknown purpose, by changing it revealed that you have a link to it. It fed off of your aura, changed and bonded. It's connected to your very soul and was only put away for safety measures. You were only a toddler then but now your old enough to take care of it. Do you understand, Sakura?"
She nodded, gripping on to the little key in her hands tightly. Somehow, she felt it was her destiny to be wearing this key. "Does it do anything?"
"I don't know, love. Its depth of power is unknown. In time it'll reveal it's true face to you, but don't worry about it now. Go play with Ran-Ran, he's waiting for you."
Sure enough, a small brown headed boy came toppling in. He grinned as Sakura pulled him up from the floor.
"Can you come out now?"
Sakura nodded. She waved to her mother before exiting her home. "Is it time for lessons yet?" She walked along side of Ran-ran, heading towards the sparring arena.
Ran-ran shook his head, "Nah, Master Yue is away on a mission with the advanced team right now."
"Was Tori with them?"
Ran-ran nodded. "I saw him leave, your lucky to have such a cool older brother. I don't like my older siblings." he wrinkled his nose in distaste.
She giggled, "Yea, but Tori can be such a meany sometimes."
Ran-ran puffed out his chest trying to look brave. "When he's mean come and get me and I'll beat him up for you!"
She poked him in the stomach, making him blow out all his air. "Thankies Ran-ran, your the best."
Ran-ran smirked. "I know..."
~~~End of Flashback~~~
"Ran-ran..." her eyes became glossy from held back tears, she would never let them fall.
"Hey, you alright? What did you say? Can can?" he had finished putting on his armor and was just watching Ying-fa now. She zoned out after the spell and didn't seem to come back to reality till now, he hoped the spell didn't take a lot out of her they would need her at her very best when they attacked.
Ying-fa shook her head, rubbing at her eyes. "Nothing...just had a blast from the past, that's all." she bit her lip remembering her childhood friend.
Ran-ran and his family were taken to see the High Elf a few months later and was put on trial. Nicholas's family had accused them of plotting with the humans against the elves. Ran-ran's mother wasn't on very good terms with the Council and High Elf since she basically betrayed her kind and mated with a human. But seeing how they didn't want to waste a good Seer and would never condemn an elven child to death, they let her stay in the village. The human, however, was to be loved from afar and would never be allowed to enter their territory. On one her usual visits, she was stopped by a few humans.
They weren't the friendliest of sorts and were jealous of the elven kind. She was, of course, trained in the art of combat and only needed to unsheathe her sword to get her point across. Nicholas saw the whole thing and took it as an immediate threat to the elves. He proclaimed that she was the leader of their group and even had them under control since she didn't need to actually physically hurt them.
Interesting how she was only one woman against at least 10 men. It didn't make sense. So he made the connection that she was their leader and her little group was confronting her over problems. A disappearing problem. Their friends were disappearing in the middle of the night and they made the connection that the Elves had something to do with it. He guessed her army was slowly decreasing in numbers and the men were getting nervous and came to her since, her being an elf, would know what was going on.
The Council believed Nicholas's story and the High Elf could only shake his head with disappointment that his kindred would dare to betray them. Her and her family were sentenced to live with her human lover and were never allowed to return. The High Elf didn't have the heart to have her killed. Despite the Council and Nicholas's families pleas for her and her family to die instead of exile, he let her go.
That day, innocent and sweet Sakura died. She no longer had her best friend, playmate, and protector. She had to become stronger for him and herself. She needed to protect herself against these humans who took him away from her, that's where her hatred for them grew.
It was their fault that Ran-ran was sent away, it was their fault for putting a fine boundary on war and peace and it was their fault for living! She became cold and distant, friends meant nothing to an assassin, so why should she bother? However, if she ever found Ran-ran she would immediately rekindle their friendship. He was her other half after all.
She stood up when Li stood. She continued to linger in her past thoughts, they were great fuel for increasing her hatred towards Nicholas. He was also the very reason her Ran-ran was sent away. He would pay....
"Ready to go?"
"Yea..." her green eyes sparkled dangerously. The hunt was on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whoadie: ^_^;; how was that? I'm sorry if it sucked or confused you! *hides in shame* I'M SORRY! I'M FAILURE OF AN AUTHOR! *sobs*
Ran-ran: ^_^ Me lurves you! *huggles*
Whoadie: Oh your so cute! *huggles back* Please Review!
Roiben: LONG delay? It's been 2 months...
Whoadie: ^_^;;; sorry?
Everyone: *tackles her* SORRY ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!
Whoadie: *squished* Well I hope this chapter is still good, I sort of forgot the plot over the past two months and hopefully it will still be as marvelous as I planned for it to be!
Nicholas: Shut up! *gags her with a sock* TO THE BATHROOM EVERYONE! WE HAVE TAKEN THE AUTHORESS HOSTAGE!
Everyone: *cheers, marching with the squirming whoadie, to the bathroom*
Whoadie: T~T *betrayed*
Kevin-chan: (Mah home fry!) *pushes button to start fic* ^_^
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
// thinking
".." is talking
[ ] translations from elven to english
Rated: PG-13 (Whoadie: AND I MEAN IT! *hears groans, children under 13 leave* )
Suffering
Sakura sat up gasping, while clutching her throat. She could still taste the sea water that she swallowed in her dream. She ran a hand through her hair only to pull back a sweaty hand. She could hear her brother's voice laughing at her panicked state. She growled, clenching at the grass beneath her. She tugged at it, pulling a handful of grass free from the ground. She tossed it angrily ahead of her, picturing it hitting Tori's smug looking face.
"I thought elves were connected somewhat to the Earth, so why go trying to destroy it? Mankind is here for that." a husky voice chuckled from beside her.
She turned only to see a pair of auburn eyes staring back at her with such intensity. She was never one to back down but for some reason she looked away quickly. She couldn't seem to bring herself to glare back at those eyes who seemed to look at her with such hope. She couldn't even save her village so what help could she possibly give to this stranger.
"What, are you saying you don't remember me? I'm hurt!" another laugh escaped his dry lips. Weird, he was never one to joke yet here he was, kidding around with someone obviously more anti-social than him. He stopped laughing when he caught the look on her face. Her face was looking down towards the ground and had pain all over it. //I don't think she was hurt during the time she arrived and her "departure." So why the look of pain?//
As he went over what could be wrong with her, he took the time to look at her. Sure he had seen her in his arms before but he didn't really LOOK at her. He took up her body features, smiling appraisingly at her "fitness." The most luring feature though was her face. Emerald eyes that were as lush and exotic as the forest she was born in. Full pink lips that were set in a grim line at the moment, got him thinking suddenly at how they would feel and taste. He shook his head from those kinds of thoughts as he took in the rest of her face. A tint of pink covered her well toned pale cheeks from her earlier nightmare. She was gorgeous!
He felt himself blush when she caught him staring at her. He quickly masked his face of any emotion. Only when he heard his name did he turn to look at her.
"Li? That's your name, right?" it came out colder than she had hopped it would. She REALLY needed to relax. "Well answer me, mortal! Don't gawk!"
Li blinked at her before recovering. "Yea, how'd you know? You were out, I never really had the time to actually tell you."
"I heard your men screaming your name while they were being burned in the forest..." a look of regret and pity crossed her eyes. "They asked for your help despite the fact that they knew you would never come."
Li sat up straight, taking somewhat offense to that last statement. His men were good men and didn't deserve to die that way. Unfortunately, being the village bumkins they were, they weren't all too bright in the attic. "They were only calling for the one whose been there to guide them from the beginning! And they were right! I could have saved them!"
Her face remained as smooth as stone but her voice held that same annoyed edge to it. "Then why didn't you? Either you couldn't or you didn't want to is the only reasonable answer here..." she stared, waiting for him to answer her trick question. It was one of her talents to get to know others without actually participating in useless "chit-chat." She just manipulated them till they poured out enough information to get an idea of what their personality was really like.
Anger started to boil up in him, just who did she think she was? HE SAVED HER!! She should be grateful! "I was busy taking care of some old business..."
She smirked. //Arrogant AND conceited...common in man.// "So you rather finish old grudges than to help save people in the present? For all you know, you could have prevented their deaths and they would be living right now," she kept a cool composure even though she could see Li shaking with anger. "but their dead. No thanks to you, they were pleading to an closed ear! Whatever happened to you in the past, don't you think you could have prevented a similar event from happening now? Maybe by helping them?"
"I...didn't want to help them..." she looked a bit shocked from his response, she had been waiting for a more whiny explanation. //He's different, so the truth can come out of a man's mouth.//
He went on to explain himself, "I didn't want to! I was blinded by my own hatred towards our lord-" he paused, he didn't have to say that anymore. He had no respect for the man, so why give him such high authority? "I loathe Nicholas, I guess it was enough to turn a deaf ear to those who I really could have saved." he sighed. "But I only wanted to save myself..." //From this cancer like virus in my body that eats away at my very mind and will//
His eyes stared at the ground remembering what she said last, //They were just like me, alone and in need of help. She's right, they didn't need to die. An event like that certainly doesn't need to be repeated in the future, I couldn't help me and those in the past, nor could I keep those in the present from harm but maybe...// he looked at the girl next to him. //Maybe I can make it up and prevent future repetition, by protecting her and my remaining men! Even those captured elves.//
She shrugged. She had gathered the information she needed, he was just another stupid human who felt sorry for himself. "Whatever, what's done is done." she tried to stand but ended up falling forward, right on her face. She muffled an 'oof' into the grass. //Damn you Tori and your pressure points!//
Li had been watching her and couldn't help but let a snicker escape his lips. She deserved it, she was ignorant and full of herself. Not to mention as cold as ice, maybe colder. "So what's your name?"
She pushed herself up with her arms, spitting out a few blades of grass. "Ying-fa." No way was she giving away her real name, she wasn't that stupid. Code-name would have to do for now.
"It suits you..." he added that quietly to himself, he winced from the pain escalating in his ignored arm. The tattoo pulsed, reminding him what he needed to ask her. "Can I ask you something?"
"No."
He blinked at her subtle response. "Well I need your help."
She rolled her eyes, and so did the whole damn world. "What do you want, human?"
//Ouch..// that human/mortal thing was quite annoying and a hard blow to the ego. It's not like he asked everyday for help and she wasn't making it any easier. "Nicholas..." he continued after recovering from the look she sent him for saying that name. "He put this mark on me..."
"And?"
"It binds me to servitude and I need it taken off or else...I die."
"Is that my problem?" she was rubbing her legs harshly, thinking it would somehow speed up the paralysis time limit.
//Again, ouch.// he was becoming fed up with her attitude but really didn't want to start any fights at the moment. He needed her help. "Yes it is! I saved you and I'm calling in a favor!" He paled at what he said, he didn't exactly want those exact words to come out
She stopped her rubbing and glared at him. One that usually sent her opponent in sparring cowering. "I didn't ask to be saved now did I? I do recall saying that I needed a certain object before I left! DID I NOT!!" Her voice was slowly becoming louder, you could practically see frost forming off of her words.
"YOU were the one who grabbed ME! YOU were the one who decided to kidnap ME! I wouldn't have died as easily as you thought I would have! I'M NOT SOME PUNY WOMAN WHO CAN'T HOLD HER OWN IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE!" she wanted to so badly rip his throat out but was stuck, weaponless. That reminded her, she mentally slapped herself. She noticed her weapons were taken from her and were lying only a few inches from Li. //Damn him..//
He took in every harsh blow she made with her mouth. He made the mistake of letting those words fall out so it was only right to take what was being thrown at him. Once she somewhat settled down he mumbled quietly. "Like you said earlier, those men didn't deserve to die...if I were to live and help you, I would be somewhat on the road to repentance. I also want to keep future events, like the one you just saw back there, from happening again."
She took in a breath trying to calm her worked up nerves. "I don't need help."
His heart sunk, he was going to die here alone. Well things could have been worse, he could have been stuck back at the camp getting ready to move out. A small grin started to spread on his lips, finally I get to rest. But the process to get there wouldn't be an easy and clean one. He grimaced and the mark prevented him from any suicidal attempts. He'd tried...MANY times. He looked up seeing Ying-fa smile in triumph.
She stood up shakily but her feet were planted into the ground sternly! "Aha! Success! The pressure point wore off!" She walked over behind Li, retrieving her weapons. She fastened them to their rightful places, ignoring the man totally. She felt cold hand reach into her mind as if slapping her.
A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face, that was unnatural. Sure her kind was in tuned with forest spirits but this was ridiculous! Why would they be trying to contact her! It's not like she could do anything for them at the moment. //Don't be stupid Sakura!// she gasped at the voice in her head. Who had said that? It sounded like...
//Yea it's me, squirt. I came back to try and knock some sense into ya but look how that turned out...// she sweat dropped at his sarcastic attitude. Always was one to joke around. //Your being a total bitch! I knew you were coldhearted but I didn't know you would be downright inhumane. Yea yea your not human...but the analogy stays! Look at him...// She scowled. //LOOK AT HIM!//
She turned her head slightly, ready to take in a pathetic weeping man. What she found was a proud looking human sitting with his back straight as if ready to welcome fate with open arms. Was that fear that flickered in his eyes? She also noticed a bit of regret.
//You went off with that speech earlier and now your going to just let him suffer?//
She groaned. "You heard that? I was only trying to analyze him without actually having to TALK to him!"
Li raised an eyebrow at the girl above him. She had finished her packing but was just standing around now, talking to herself. "Is everything alright?"
She ignored him, arguing with her dead brother. //Really now Sakura, father taught you right and wrong, where'd that piece of information go?// "How DARE you bring father into this!" She was very protective of her parents, she loved them both dearly. Even though they were probably both dead now, she still had a lil tinge of hope glowing in the dark depths of her heart. (Whoadie: Yesh, her mama is alive, well for now.)
//WELL?! WHERE DID IT GO SAKURA?! I know you love him! We both do! So why ignore what precious knowledge he has bestowed upon you? //
Her eyes widened, he was right. She was betraying her father's words. She always absorbed what he taught her, he was one of the wisest people she knew. So where had this, right from wrong, gone too?
She could hear Tori sigh. //Look, just remember where you came from and what you are. Then take a good look at how you are now. Is this how you wanted to be when released into the world? After you achieved Sereg' wethrin? [Profession: Assassin]// his voice faded from her mind but that annoying question will stood.
She clenched her hands into fists, digging her nails into the palm of her hands. The last thing she wanted was to see disappointment on her father's face, even if he was dead. "I don't need help but...I could use a good ally." //He might prove himself useful in tight spots// she smirked to herself.
He looked up at her nodding. "Understood."
//Better get that marking off of him, that soldier/slave talk is annoying// She crouched down next to him. "Remove your armor and roll up your sleeve."
He nodded, without so much as a blush, he did what she asked. He watched with interest as she closed her eyes. Her hand hovered over his glowing tattoo. He couldn't understand what she was saying, but it was beautiful. The Language she spoke of rolled off her tongue like morning dew off of a blade of grass. Each silky word seemed to pound into his ears. He could see her aura, it was...pink? //Go figure...// The aura remained only a dim shining outline on her body. It was only in the early stage of the spell she was working up. He let his own aura out, thinking maybe it would somehow help her.
She didn't stop, the spell wouldn't let her. She had to complete it. She felt his aura release and was in awe. No human possessed this kind of strength. They had an aura since elves and humans were some what connected. Something in history she didn't really think was important, it had to do with being favored by the Gods? A battle, segregation and somehow Atlantis was mixed into all of this.
Sakura shook her head, blocking it out of her mind. She would dwell on the subject it later. She had finished chanting and was clutching the amulet that hanged around her neck. A key with a star on the end. It was a childhood trinket of hers, the only memory of her mother she had left.
~~~Flashback~~~
"Sakura! SAKURA! Where are you!" A beautiful woman looked around for her daughter. (Whoadie: Forgive me for not going into detail. I forgot how she looked! ^_^;;;; don't hurt me! *cowers*) "SAKURA!!"
"Here I am mama!" A little girl with light brown hair and large innocent green eyes ran up to her mother's open arms. Her pink frilly dress waved in the wind, one small hand clutched at the white hat that sat teetering on her head from the strong gust of wind.
"Where were you?" Her mother hugged her briefly, all her plans to scold Sakura disappeared from one smile from the little girl.
"Nicho stole my hat! But Ran-ran took it away from him and gave it back!" She smiled impishly.
"Nicholas was picking on you again?" Her eyes narrowed a little. That boy was quite the menace.
"Mmmhmm! Don't worry Tori is telling his parents right now, but he didn't look to happy about it. Me thinks, his parents don't listen to Tori. Nicho says his parents like the bad things he does, it's a sign of..pow..po.." She cleared her mouth by blowing a raspberry. "Power!" She smiled.
She laughed at her daughter's innocence and silliness. //Amazing how she could still manage to hold onto it when other children have long given up on staying a child. These council decisions of training children to kill at a young age are outrageous! I guess they have their reasons...//
"What did you need me for mama?"
"Oh..yes, well I have something for you." She set the curious Sakura down as she disappeared into the tree hut.
"Oh a present?" Sakura followed her in, her little hands clapping in excitement. "But mama, ish not my birthday yet!" a little giggle echoed from underneath the white hat.
"I was going to wait to give this to you when you get older but, now seems like the perfect time..." a small tear fell from her eyes. It trailed down her smooth cheek then dropped from her chin.
The tear fell onto Sakura's nose, the girl wiggled her nose with annoyance. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. "Mama, why are you crying? You don't have to give me the present if you don't want too..." she gripped onto her mother's leg, clenching the material of her dress in her hands.
She quickly wiped away the wetness on her cheek, plastering a forced smile on her red lips. She gave a short laugh at what Sakura said. //To think she was responsible for my tears, your one of a kind Sakura. I hope you stay this sweet and innocent after I'm gone.//
She was a seer for the council, she saw the future problems that could sever the peace between the humans and the other races, including the elves, and reported to them. That's where the Sereg' wethrin came in. ((Whoadie: I'm not repeating myself....-_-;;; *dun wanna say it means Assassin again*))
Unfortunately, she saw a glimpse of an upcoming danger to the whole planet. She reported it but the council said the other Seers said it was highly unlikely since they hadn't received any visions yet. She pleaded and argued but was turned away. The bad feeling in the pit of her stomach only grew from that day. She went to her husband, one of the advisors to the High Elf, but he said there was nothing he could do.
So here she was, standing before her only daughter. She was going to prepare her if this "Apocalypse" so to speak, were to happen. Tori was capable of handling himself, he had greatly excelled in his classes with Master Yue and was now studying other techniques to become stronger. As for Sakura, she was going to give her something to help her in the future since she was still, a little girl.
"Do you know what this is, love?" She took out a necklace, with the miniature star key dangling from it, from a plain mahogany box that was kept high out of reach on a shelf.
Sakura tilted her head at the necklace then shook her head. "It's pwetty though!"
"Hmm I guess you wouldn't, You've only seen it once but you were very little," she untied the necklace and draped it around Sakura's neck only to fasten it again. "this came with a book your father has, this book is like no other you have seen. It's powers are said to be great but is sleeping." She was trying her best to explain it to a child.
Sakura giggled, "Mama, how can a book sleep?"
She smiled, "Let's just say a magical spell was put on it so that it wouldn't hurt anybody."
"Why would a book hurt somebody?"
"The book itself is harmless, love, but in a bad person's hands...only bad things would happen."
"You said it had a magical spell so it wouldn't hurt anybody, well then it isn't really harmless, is it?"
She laughed at her child's wisdom, "No, I guess not, but the power it holds won't act on it's own it has to have someone to wield it, understand? Now if someone bad got a hold of it THEN bad things would happen, but if the power source is cut off then the bad person can't do anything."
"Ooooh...."
She shook her head, she knew she was confusing the girl more and more and it was no use trying to make sense of it, it was a complicated story to tell just in general.
"Now this necklace changed..."
"It did? Why? How?'
"Well when your father was handed this book from the High Elf to study, this necklace fell out. He was too involved in the book trying to solve it's hidden puzzles that he didn't see it fall, but I did. This sweet little angel got there before me. When she touched it...it changed.."
"Who was the angel?"
"You, love."
Sakura blinked, it changed because of her? "But why?"
Her mother shrugged, "To this day the Gods only know and haven't blessed me a vision of why my child was able to change an ancient relic. Not even your father could figure it out."
"Why are you giving it to me?"
"It's only right to give the Chosen their selected items."
"Huh?"
She bent down, poking Sakura's nose. "This key chose you for some unknown purpose, by changing it revealed that you have a link to it. It fed off of your aura, changed and bonded. It's connected to your very soul and was only put away for safety measures. You were only a toddler then but now your old enough to take care of it. Do you understand, Sakura?"
She nodded, gripping on to the little key in her hands tightly. Somehow, she felt it was her destiny to be wearing this key. "Does it do anything?"
"I don't know, love. Its depth of power is unknown. In time it'll reveal it's true face to you, but don't worry about it now. Go play with Ran-Ran, he's waiting for you."
Sure enough, a small brown headed boy came toppling in. He grinned as Sakura pulled him up from the floor.
"Can you come out now?"
Sakura nodded. She waved to her mother before exiting her home. "Is it time for lessons yet?" She walked along side of Ran-ran, heading towards the sparring arena.
Ran-ran shook his head, "Nah, Master Yue is away on a mission with the advanced team right now."
"Was Tori with them?"
Ran-ran nodded. "I saw him leave, your lucky to have such a cool older brother. I don't like my older siblings." he wrinkled his nose in distaste.
She giggled, "Yea, but Tori can be such a meany sometimes."
Ran-ran puffed out his chest trying to look brave. "When he's mean come and get me and I'll beat him up for you!"
She poked him in the stomach, making him blow out all his air. "Thankies Ran-ran, your the best."
Ran-ran smirked. "I know..."
~~~End of Flashback~~~
"Ran-ran..." her eyes became glossy from held back tears, she would never let them fall.
"Hey, you alright? What did you say? Can can?" he had finished putting on his armor and was just watching Ying-fa now. She zoned out after the spell and didn't seem to come back to reality till now, he hoped the spell didn't take a lot out of her they would need her at her very best when they attacked.
Ying-fa shook her head, rubbing at her eyes. "Nothing...just had a blast from the past, that's all." she bit her lip remembering her childhood friend.
Ran-ran and his family were taken to see the High Elf a few months later and was put on trial. Nicholas's family had accused them of plotting with the humans against the elves. Ran-ran's mother wasn't on very good terms with the Council and High Elf since she basically betrayed her kind and mated with a human. But seeing how they didn't want to waste a good Seer and would never condemn an elven child to death, they let her stay in the village. The human, however, was to be loved from afar and would never be allowed to enter their territory. On one her usual visits, she was stopped by a few humans.
They weren't the friendliest of sorts and were jealous of the elven kind. She was, of course, trained in the art of combat and only needed to unsheathe her sword to get her point across. Nicholas saw the whole thing and took it as an immediate threat to the elves. He proclaimed that she was the leader of their group and even had them under control since she didn't need to actually physically hurt them.
Interesting how she was only one woman against at least 10 men. It didn't make sense. So he made the connection that she was their leader and her little group was confronting her over problems. A disappearing problem. Their friends were disappearing in the middle of the night and they made the connection that the Elves had something to do with it. He guessed her army was slowly decreasing in numbers and the men were getting nervous and came to her since, her being an elf, would know what was going on.
The Council believed Nicholas's story and the High Elf could only shake his head with disappointment that his kindred would dare to betray them. Her and her family were sentenced to live with her human lover and were never allowed to return. The High Elf didn't have the heart to have her killed. Despite the Council and Nicholas's families pleas for her and her family to die instead of exile, he let her go.
That day, innocent and sweet Sakura died. She no longer had her best friend, playmate, and protector. She had to become stronger for him and herself. She needed to protect herself against these humans who took him away from her, that's where her hatred for them grew.
It was their fault that Ran-ran was sent away, it was their fault for putting a fine boundary on war and peace and it was their fault for living! She became cold and distant, friends meant nothing to an assassin, so why should she bother? However, if she ever found Ran-ran she would immediately rekindle their friendship. He was her other half after all.
She stood up when Li stood. She continued to linger in her past thoughts, they were great fuel for increasing her hatred towards Nicholas. He was also the very reason her Ran-ran was sent away. He would pay....
"Ready to go?"
"Yea..." her green eyes sparkled dangerously. The hunt was on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whoadie: ^_^;; how was that? I'm sorry if it sucked or confused you! *hides in shame* I'M SORRY! I'M FAILURE OF AN AUTHOR! *sobs*
Ran-ran: ^_^ Me lurves you! *huggles*
Whoadie: Oh your so cute! *huggles back* Please Review!
