At Ruby Island, the crew of the Fire Soul signed up for the different competitions. Darien and Amara in shooting, Makoto in cooking, Serena in eating, Minako and Lisa in modeling, Rei and Ryan in Archery, Ami in art, and Jennie in fencing.
The crew of the Tallgeese II was right behind them. Treize and Wufei took fencing, Heero and Silver took shooting, Duo and Van took eating, Trowa and Sally took cooking, Zechs, Irvine, and Noin took archery, Quatre and Rudolf took art, Moonbay and Fiona in modeling.
"Attention!" came the voice over the intercom, "all participants in the archery compitition please report to the field!"
As soon as everyone was there, the voice announced the participants. "Today, competing in the archery compitition, is Rei Hino, Ryan Johnson, Zechs Merquise, Irvine...uh...just Irvine I guess, and Van Ta..Ta...uh...aw, hell, forget it. Also competing are returning champions Legolas Greenleaf and Rowen Hashiba! That's Hashiba, right? Ok, I got it right! Rowen Hashiba!"
"Mars Fire Soul," whispers Rei and she lets go of her arrow. The arrow not only hit the target, but her whole target caught fire.
The others whistled. "Not bad..." Legolas commented. He stepped up and drew his arrow. He shot at her burning target. He split her arrow in half Robin Hood style and a sort of gust of wind spread from his arrow, and the fire went out.
"Not Bad your self, Rambo." Rei says as she shoots another arrow.
Zechs shot his before hers got to the target and the arrow split hers in half in mid air. It hit the target as the two split sections each hit the ring outside of the bull's-eye.
"Nice one, hot stuff." as she walked to the local pub.
Zechs whistled, looking up and shielding his eyes. "I think that one's gonna hit the moon..." he said.
"Well, I should hope so," Legolas stated. "That was my goal."
"I hate Elves," Rowen growled.
"I heard that!" Legolas said, hitting Rowen upside the head with his bow.
To make a long story short, the compition went on well into the night...and morning. "Is there something you want to tell me?" Legolas smirked. He'd become very fond of Zechs (Not THAT kind of FOND!). "But enough playing around, time to end this!"
Zechs shot his arrow but a sudden gust of wind seemed to make it spin in place and hit the ground. Protruding out of the target was now Legolas' newly shot arrow. "Game, set, match," Legolas simply said.
Zechs laughed. "Indeed!" he walked to the pub for a meal, for he hadn't had one in about 10 hours, and saw Rei there.
"Hey Bartender, can I have another..." gargled Rei, because obviously she had been there for 2 hours....Drinking. She had also been talking to Chad the Bartender, asking him to join her crew. But Chad had other Ideas with Rei. Thinking that she wanted more then wanting him on her crew. Just when Zechs walked in Chad decided to escort Rei to the back Room. When Rei realizes what was happening to her, she decides to try to fight back. Then when she struggles against her new crew member. He back hands her so she hits the wall then the floor with a blood curling thud.
"HEY!" Zechs yelled. "What do you think you're doing?!" He ran up to Chad and pushed him away from Rei. Legolas was right behind him, now becoming a new member of Treize's crew.
"That's a good question," Legolas growled. "What DO you think you are doing?" He held Chad back as Zechs picked Rei up.
"I was just getting to know my Boss a little more.." said a pretty drunk Chad, to the now pissed off Zechs.
"Yeah, well you don't see me trying to get to know Treize a little more by getting him drunk off of his rocker and sleeping with him..." Legolas said.
"Gods, I hope not..." Zechs snickered.
Just as Zechs said that Rei groaned because her head hurt more than like hell. "I'm gonna take her back to the ship," Zechs said, carrying Rei to the door.
"And YOU'RE coming with us," Legolas said, pulling Chad by his ear like a schoolboy who just said a bad word. "And you can deal with her crew."
"Oh shit....Now you are gonna pay for pulling my EAR...." says Chad taking a swing at Legolas.Now the 2 were going at it for about an hour....Until finally Legolas knock Chad out. Meanwhile at the Fire Soul, Zechs is tending to Rei's Wounds in her cabin. He wrapped her head up in bandages and gently placed an icepack on her cheek. He then stood up and left the cabin.
When he got outside the cabin Legolas was there, Chad thrown over his shoulder. "And WHAT am I supposed to do with THIS?" Legolas asked.
"Throw him in the brig and chain him to the wall, at least until he's sober," Zechs said.
"How about I chain him to the wall until the crew finds him?" Legolas asked.
"Good enough," Zechs grinned. He assigned Minako to watch Rei, then went back to the Tallgeese II with Legolas. When they got there Treize and the crew seemed to have heard the news.
"Is Ms. Sanada alright?" Rudolf asked. "I was worried when I heard what happened."
"News travels fast around this island..." Zechs commented. "Who told you?" He regretted asking when Rudolf listed the whole order that the news spread through. "I'm sorry I asked," he said.
On the Fire Soul, Rei woke up with a massive headache. "Where Am I?," ask Rei with a groan.
"Your on the ship, M'Lady? Master Zechs brought you back. You were hit on the Head by the new bartender who is on our crew. But now his is in the brig chained to the wall until he's sober." stated Minako.
"so you are saying that Zechs saved me from the sex crazed bartender?" asked Rei.
"Yes, and he asked me to look after you. Until he comes back to see how you are doing? and to also check on the sex crazed Bartender." stated Minako. "You should get some sleep? I'll check on you later."
"Are you going to see Rei?" Legolas asked Zechs.
"Yes, I am," Zechs, said, pulling his coat on.
"Then I am coming too!" Legolas declared.
"If you wish," Zechs stated, leaving the ship. He went to the Fire Soul and to the captain's cabin. "Rei?" he said, opening the door. He was relieved to find her awake.
"Oh, Zechs how good to see you?" smiled Rei. "And Legolas, what a surprise!"
"Good afternoon, Ms. Hino..." Legolas replied with a bit of a bow.
"How are you doing, Rei?" Zechs smiled. "Legolas, go check on our drunken little friend."
"Yes, sir," Legolas said, walking out of the room.
"Oh fine, my head still hurts a little now and then. But other then that, I'm Fine. Ami said I could get out of Bed tomorrow. I can't wait. I have been confined in this bed forever it seems like. I just can't wait to get out and walk on the deck see the sunrise like I do every morning. I've missed those sunrises, just like I have missed those sunsets. But that will be cured tomorrow. I also can't wait to Give CHAD a piece of my mind."
"Well, it will have to wait," Legolas said, coming through the door. "He's still a bit drunk. And I didn't appreciate him trying to bite my leg either..."
"That jerk...wait till I get up..(Starts to get up...)..Ow....my head...." cries Rei.
"Please, don't try to get up..." Zechs pleaded, pushing her by her shoulders back down.
"Yes, don't worry about what happened to me...Sally can sew up the pant leg..." Legolas showed them where a piece of his brown pants had been bitten off in the front and a small cut was.
"But I have to stop...Chad...and I also want to give him a piece of my Mind. Now that my mind isn't drunk...." Rei says while rubbing her temples, because her head hurt.
"He'll be fine when he sobers up. And I'll be right there with you to give him a piece of my mind!" Zechs said.
"And mine as well, then!" Legolas said. "But for now, we must get back to the ship. The sun is starting to set, and I want to make sure I didn't catch rabies from that guy..."
"Well.. okay...night then." agrees Rei as she sits back down on her bed. "See you tomorrow, can't wait."
"Right, see ya," Zechs said. He walked out the door and Legolas followed, simply nodding to Rei. "Are you SURE you're okay?" he asked the Elf.
"Well, it is probably gonna get infected, but as long as I get to kick his ass tomorrow, I am just peachy," Legolas answered a bit disgruntled.
"I'm sorry I asked," Zechs muttered rolling his eyes.Later that night, Rei couldn't wait to go see Chad. So she got up, but just as she stood she fell down with a crash. When Mina heard the crash she came running in the room.
"M'Lady, are you alright?" asked Mina.
"I don't.. feel so good.." replied Rei. After she said that she went in to unconsciousness.
"Oh dear," gasped Mina." Jennie go get Master Zechs...and Ami."
"Yes ma'am.." said Jennie.Zechs soon came, Legolas, ever faithful, still permanently attached to him. "What happened?" he asked.
"Oh my, is she going to be okay?" Legolas asked Ami.
"She tried to get up.... and...when Mina came in to see what happened, she found M'lady on the floor, holding her stomach...saying I don't feel so good. Then she past out on the floor. Ryan put her back on to her bed. When he was holding her...he said that she was burning up with a fever. I have been trying to break it ever since then."
"Poisoned," Legolas suddenly said.
"What?" Zechs questioned.
"Ms. Hino was poisoned. I can smell it."
"What kind of Poison do you smell? I think I might be able to cure her if I know what kind it is?" stated Ami.
"It's from a drug...that's what I can tell..." Legolas said. He bent down next to Rei and felt her head. "I have confidence in your skills as a doctor, Ms. Mizuno, but I do not think you can cure this."
"It's gonna be a long night, but I think I can do it." sighed Ami. "I think I'm gonna need some help with this, too."
"I can help," Legolas offered. "I know ingredients you'd never think to use in a cure. And besides, I can slow the fever down." He pulled out a bottle from his belt. "This is an old potion that my people have been using for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years." Zechs held Rei up by her shoulders in a sitting position and Legolas poured the potion into her mouth. "It will take some time to go into effect, but the fever will slow down for hopefully enough time to find the cure."
"Good, now lets go Legolas we need to go down to the lab. Would you mind staying here Master Zechs?" asked Ami.
"Yes, I'd like to stay with her. But just let me get something from the ship and tell the captain where Legolas and I are," Zechs answered. He then left, coming back in a few minutes.
"Let us go, Ms. Mizuno. We have much work to do," Legolas suggested.
"Yes we do," stated Ami as she left with Legolas.
Meanwhile, Zechs is sitting by Rei waiting for her to do something. "Rei, please make it through this okay..." he whispered. "I am fully confident that with the combined skills of Ami and Legolas, they'll find a cure and you'll be all right."A few hours later, Legolas came storming out of the lab. "Legolas?" Zechs asked. "What's wrong? Is everything all right?"
"Oh, sure, everything is PEACHY!" Legolas said sarcastically. "I CAN NOT work with that girl! She is SOOOOOO wrapped up in modern means of chemistry that she denies EVERYTHING I suggest because it is so 'OLD FASHIONED'!" He then turned around and yelled back down. "OLD FASHION THIS! I AM GOING TO FIND THAT CURE, WITHOUT YOUR HELP!"
"FINE THEN I'LL TRY TO FIND ONE BY MY SELF, YOU ASS." screamed Ami. "YOU JUST GO AND FIND THE CURE FOR THIS POISON SEE IF I CARE."
"Oh, you humans are so...so...so illogical!" Legolas yelled, flinging his hands into the air. "You excluded, of course," he added at the indignant look that Zechs gave him. "Llie n'vanima ar lle atara lanena!" he yelled at Ami. He then stormed off of the boat and into the forest.
"Jack ass...I'll be in the lab, if anything happens to M'lady, you can holler." Ami says to Zechs, who is obviously going to stay with Rei until she is cured.
A few hours later (again), Legolas ran up to the ship. "I found it!" he yelled. "I found the cure!" He was holding a glass vile full of something purplish.
"You did?" Zechs asked, standing up. He looked at the vile. "This doesn't look much like a cure."
"Hey, it was either this or pink," Legolas retorted.
"Well then lets give it to her, I have a feeling that she isn't gonna make it a second longer." stated Ami.
Legolas nodded and they did a repeat of with the last potion they gave her. When they put her back down, Legolas stated, "Let it spread and it will eventually cure her completely."
"How long do you think it will take?" asked Ami.
"A day, two days at the most," Legolas said. She found that he was looking at her a bit expectantly.
"Legolas, can I talk to you out side. Plus I think that Master Zechs would want to be alone with M'lady." suggested Ami.
"Legolas, really fast before you go," Zechs said before Legolas left. "I just want to say thank you, she would be dead if it wasn't for you."
"It is okay," Legolas smiled. "Just doing my civic duty..." He then followed Ami out.
"I just wanted to say that I am so sorry about not believing in your chemistry. I just hope that this will Cure her soon." sighed Ami.
Legolas sighed. "Do you know how it feels to be completely insulted because of how you learned things? Because of EVERYTHING that made your race what they were? I was perfectly willing to accept your modern chemistry, but it really hurt when you said that my way could not work because it was so old."
"Well...I'm Sorry...I hope you can Forgive me?" asked Ami.
"Of course I can, but try to expand your mind a little," Legolas said. "There is more out there than cities made of stone and lessons written in books. Where I come from, the cities are in the trees and we don't cut them down. And the lessons we are taught are not written in books, they are told by voice and passed on by voice."
"OOOHHHHH Sounds exciting, it would be so interesting and fun to live in the trees. To learn the history of the Elf customs." Ami's eyes glowed with excitement.
Legolas smiled. "Maybe sometime you'll be able to see an Elven city, in fact, my city's on the Gold Island. I wish to return someday, but not without Zechs."
"If things go the way they are going with them. I doubt that Zechs would be able to go with you. But you never know until you try." commented Ami.
"If Ms. Sanada and Zechs must stay together," Legolas declared, "then I guess she will have to come too. I will not leave Zechs."
"Right, you really are devoted to him aren't you?" asked Ami, who was impressed.
"I swore that I would always be there for him. I can not explain it, it is an Elven instinct," Legolas explained. "I guess...I guess he reminds me of the last man I swore my allegiance to. I do not want to let him down this time."
"Good for you, I wish I had that kind of Devotion." sighed Ami.
"You can if you want to," Legolas smiled. "I am going to make sure he does not need anything..." He went into the other room and walked up to Zechs. "Zechs, is there anything you need?" he asked.
"No, I'm fine," Zechs, said.
"Is there something wrong?" Legolas asked.
"It's silly, I was just thinking what happens if your potion does not work?" Zechs said.
"You doubt my abilities?" Legolas asked.
"Why were you doubting Legolas?" asked Ami.
"I just...I don't know, it's just a thought, it has no meaning," Zechs said.
"Thoughts have just as much meaning as words, Zechs," Legolas said, looking down. "And they can hurt just the same."
"Don't Cry...Legolas," said the sympathetic Ami.
"Aw, Legolas," Zechs sighed. "I didn't mean anything by it, honest."
"You just do not understand, Zechs," Legolas said, sobbing. "All I have been trying to do is earn your respect. I swore to follow you and I will...I just do not understand how you can be so cruel..."
Rei stirs a little this movement attracts Zechs. "Rei?" Zechs said. He turned to her. "Rei, can you hear me?" he asked again. He sat on her bed. She didn't move again and he hung his head. "Lost her again..."
Legolas obediently wiped his eyes and sat next to Zechs, and put his hand on Zechs' shoulder. "It will take time, but she will be okay," he said.
"Master Zechs, Why don't you try and get some sleep? You could sleep here on the floor if you want, but you really need to get some sleep." suggested Ami.
"I won't sleep here," Zechs said. "I'll sleep on my ship." He stood up and walked for the door. "Goodnight, Ami," he said before exiting.
"Goodnight, Ms. Mizuno," Legolas said, following Zechs.
"Goodnight, Legolas," whispered Ami, she turns to Rei and just sits there watching her for the rest of the night.
In the Middle of the Night, "Zechs?" said Rei, in the mists of her slumber.
"Jennie, go get Master Zechs and Hurry." yelled Ami.
"Yes, Ami." says Jennie.
At the Tallgeese II Jennie ran up the plank. Stand on the ship trying to think of where Master Zechs. She starts to walks below the deck to go get Zechs.
When she found Zechs, he was in his quarters. Legolas slept in an opposite bed from him. Zechs looked like he was expecting her and before she could say anything he put a hand over her mouth and steered her out of the room. When out of it he whispered, "I think I know why you're here, but be quiet. Legolas has gotten less sleep than I have, so I don't wanna wake him up."
"Then why am I Here?" whispered Jennie.
"Because, you're worried about Rei. And who wouldn't be? I know you suspect I know something you don't, and I do...sort of...listen, it's hard to explain, come to the deck and I'll tell you," Zechs suggested. He led Jennie to the deck and leaned against the rail. "Where should I start? Well, you see, I have a younger sister. She at one point had a little bit of the same problem with men. Always attracting men but not meaning to. She had the same sort of encounter when she was about Rei's age. And encountered the same poison, I realized just as I was there. But the problem was that we didn't get to her in time. We couldn't make a cure for her. She died that night and I've regretted it since. I was waiting for the same symptoms on Rei that went with my little sister. I was relieved when the symptoms started wearing off. But I started thinking that they could have just slown down for all I know. I'm worried, and a little scared, but I can help because I've had expience with this poison." explained the worried Zechs.
"So what are you going to do? Are you going to come with me? or stay here. Then later on we'll let you know what happens, with M'lady that is." questions Jennie.
"I'll go with you," Zechs said. "Only because I don't want to lose someone else I love."
"Then I'm coming too!" came a voice behind them.
They both turned around to see a small form emerged from behind the mast. "Rudolf?" Zechs wondered. "What are you doing out here at this time? I mean, shouldn't you be in bed? I'm pretty sure back home you had a royal bedtime."
"I could ask the same of you," Rudolf retorted. "But I'm going with you, whether you like it or not."
"Why do you want to come?" Jennie asked, bending down to be at his level.
"Because, I feel it's my responsibility as royalty to make sure you make it too and from the 'Fire Soul' safely," Rudolf stated matter-of- factly.
"Van was snoring again wasn't he?" Zechs asked.
"Louder than an angry grizzly with a hernia," Rudolf agreed.
"No one has to live through that, so you can come," Zechs reasoned. "But STAY OUT OF TROUBLE!"
"Oh, you know I don't look for trouble," Rudolf said.
"Yeah, but it sure as hell has a great way of finding YOU," Zechs muttered. "Now, let's go. Jennie, lay down the rules of your ship while we go, Rudolf hasn't been introduced to them. And when he doesn't know the rules, it ups his chances of breaking ALL of them."
Since they had left the Tallgeese II, Jennie 'laid' down all the rules, until they got to the boarding plank of the ship. Soon as they boarded the ship Mina comes running up to Zechs with worry on her face.
"What's wrong?" Zechs asked, grabbing Mina by the shoulders. "Rudolf, she said don't climb the mast! (OOOOH!) Now, what's wrong?" he asked Mina again.
"It's...M'Lady...her fever is back again." whispered Mina, looking down at the floor.
"No...Rei!" he yelled, running past Mina to the cabin. Rudolf, of course, was right behind him. He burst into the cabin and ran over to her. "Rei! Please, don't let it be true (feels her forehead) OH GOD DAMN IT! MY GOD DAMN SHITTY LUCK!"
"What do we do now? We could go ask THAT bartender what he gave her and then find the antidote for it with Ami's help." asks Mina.
Zechs' head seemed to suddenly reel all at once. "No...no, first I've got to take care of something else," he growled. "Rudolf, I've got a very important job for you. I want you to stay here, and when I get back, I want you to tell me how Rei is. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!" Rudolf saluted.
Zechs marched back to the Tallgeese II and into his and Legolas' cabin. He leaned down and hit Legolas on the arm. When it generated no response other than a light groan of 'five more minutes' he loudly yelled, "GET UP, NOOOOOOOW!" Legolas almost jumped out of his tunic, he was so startled.
"Z-Zechs-sama?" he asked, eyes wide at the wild look. "What's wrong?"
Zechs laughed a bit too bitterly for Legolas' tastes. "What's wrong? What's WRONG?! Oh nothing! Everything's FINE! Oh, besides maybe the fact that your antidote turned out to be a little more in the ways of SPEEDING UP THE POISON INSTEAD OF PREVENTING IT!"
"S-sir, I..."
"SHUT UP, I'M NOT FINISHED!" Legolas swallowed. This COULDN'T be a good sign. "You knew that it was going to do that, didn't you?"
"Wha-?"
"I SAID SHUT UP! DON'T INTERRUPT! You wanted her to die, didn't you?"
"NO!"
"You were jealous!"
"NO!"
"You didn't want her to get between you and me!"
"NO!"
"You knew I loved her, you knew I wanted to marry her, so you wanted to kill her and take her place instead! Play it innocent, like you never knew it would happen and play pity on me and you knew I'd fall for the whole...FUCKING...THING!!!!!"
"It's not true! You're upset! You...you don't know what you're saying!"
"Oh, I know EXACTLY what I'm saying! And I'm saying...GET OUT OF MY SIGHTS AND NEVER EVER COME BACK! And if she does die, I am going to hunt you down and make sure to shove one of my biggest arrows up your STUPID SLUTTY LITTLE ASS!"
Legolas was dumbfounded, bamboozled, and all of those other funny words for confused. He didn't know what to say or do, and certainly couldn't believe what he just heard. But anger overcame all of that, anger out of accusation, and he clenched his fists. "You want me to go, then fine, I'll go," Legolas said. "But first, I think there's a little something I'd like to tell you." Zechs raised his eyebrow, absolutely curious, expecting something absolutely wild in Sindarin (Elvish) but what he did say took him by absolute surprise. "You know I don't think about you like that. I'd MUCH prefer your captain." Legolas then turned on his heel and left. Zechs was now all of those funny words for confused.
All of a sudden Zechs looks out the porthole and sees another ship pull up to the 'Fire Soul'. Zechs looks closer at the people on board the ship and sees a young man board the 'Fire Soul'. Zechs freaks out wonder what the Fuck is going on over there. Since that guy came on he had been in Rei's cabin a long time.
Zechs decided to see what was happening. He went over to the 'Fire Soul' to see who was invading his breathing room. He thought it quite interesting that he saw the slave boy and captain from the auction when this journey began talking to Rei. He didn't give it a second thought, though. The young man with ebony hair who entered Rei's cabin instead preoccupied him. He walked up to the cabin door and decided it best to knock, in case there was something he really didn't want to see in there.
Then he heard Rudolf. 'Aw, hell, nothing can be bad in there if Rudolf's still there, and besides, she's unconscious,' he decided. He opened the door, knocking on the way in. "Can I come in?" he asked. He looked in, seeing the young man with three rings, all three connected, and Rudolf laughing absolutely amused.
"Oh, hey, Zechs! Ryo decided that I looked lonely in here and wanted to entertain me," Rudolf said, smiling.
"Really..." Zechs said, looking suspiciously at Ryo. "What have I told you about being in rooms with strange people? (OOOOH!) Now, what do you and your crew want here?" he asked Ryo.
"Technically, it's not my crew..." Ryo said, amusing himself with the rings. "I'm just a gypsy, nothing really to do much with pirating, I'm just good with a sword."
"Well, what are you and the crew you travel with doing here, then?" Zechs asked, losing patience FAST.
"Nothing much, we just heard the captain is sick, and Rowen is helping Ms. Ami with the antidote," Ryo said, and then he lowered his voice, looking around. "And between you and me, I think he has a thing for her too..."
Zechs was very tempted to hit this young man. He was all worried that he was there for other intentions and now realized that all he had in mind was gossip and his magic tricks. "So, what do you think about the captain?" he asked. He had to be sure.
"She's pretty," Ryo simply said, busying himself with the rings again.
"Pretty as in...?" Zechs inquired.
"Pretty as in...um...she has issues with too many guys after her," Ryo shrugged. He obviously didn't know what he was saying, let alone probably that he was even talking.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Zechs asked, automatically taking the defensive.
"That means that a lot of guys would probably do anything to get her," Ryo said, tucking an ebony lock behind his ear and adjusting his red bandana. It was really the first time that Zechs took into point what the young man looked like. He looked maybe three inches smaller than himself, and had dark skin. He wore a tattered red shirt and black pants that had seen better days and a pair of brown loafers. The only sign of any day of old of him being in a truly civilized family was a golden hoop earring on his right ear that was about as big as his own fist (and that's pretty damn big).
'What am I so worried about?' Zechs thought. 'There's no way that Rei would ever associate with such a...VILE animal.' "So...what do you do to earn your rupees?" he asked, just to make light conversation.
"I don't need rupees, but if anything, I perform," Ryo responded. "Material possessions are SOOOOOOO over-rated."
"Oh...how...quaint..." Zechs rolled his eyes.
Ryo blinked. "Quaint? What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means...well..." 'What does it mean?' Zechs thought. He'd heard his collogues use it before and it just sounded like it fit at that moment. He'd never thought to figure out what it meant. But his knowledge couldn't be compared to the knowledge of...of...SWINE. "The definition is too complex for your meager little mind to comprehend."
Ryo stared at him blankly. "Huh?" he asked.
'There,' Zechs thought, triumphantly. 'That has enough big words in it to keep the little maggot occupied for weeks.'
Ami all of came barging in the room with Rowen right behind her. Zechs turned to see that Ami was carrying a vile of some kind of liquid. "We talked to the bartender and we found out what he put in the drink that he gave Rei. Well after we found that out, I told Rowen here what it was we were doing when he got here. He came down to the lab to see if he could help all and us out. So when I did tell him, I found out that he knew exactly what to do for the antidote."
"Good," Zechs states as he watches Rowen pour the liquid down Rei's throat while Ryo was propping her up. 'Okay, strange gypsy boy, touching girl I love, invading my space...' he thought, feeling his left eye twitch.
Zechs felt a little poke and jumped. He'd forgotten all about Rudolf. "Is there something wrong with your eye, sir?" Rudolf asked.
"No, nothing, just...tired, I haven't slept all night because of all this," Zechs responded. "I'm going to go back and to bed. If I'm going to see Rei well again, I think it should be minus bags under my eyes. I suggest we ALL get some sleep. It's been a long day." He gave Ryo a significant look. Ryo raised his eyebrows back and sat back against his chair, having put Rei down to let the antidote do its work.
"I think I'll stay here," Ryo smiled. "I slept on the whole way here."
"Yep," Rowen sighed. "He slept for the last 84 freaking miles. Say hello to the first ever human sloth." Ryo punched him on the arm.
"Of course you would have," Zechs muttered. "Filthy little swine have nothing better to do...but sleep and steal..." The whole room stopped. Ryo looked at him very indignantly. Ami was shocked. Rudolf scratched his head, not really getting what Zechs was saying. Rowen...well, let's just say if looks could kill, Zechs would be dead right now.
"I agree, let's all get some sleep," Rowen declared. "Except you, of course, Ryo." He then walked out of the room. Rudolf yawned and ran off, and then Ami decided that she needed to replenish her strength as well. Zechs left last, exchanging some last minute glares with Ryo before leaving.
As he was leaving, a hand on his shoulder stopped Zechs. "What do you want?" he asked, not even looking back. "I thought you were going to bed, you were so quick to agree with me."
"What do you have against Ryo?" Rowen asked, slamming Zechs' back against the mast.
"Hey, if we must quarrel, why don't we do it where we won't wake young ladies out of their beauty sleep?" Zechs offered.
Rowen smirked. "Yeah, well how about we go somewhere where no one will hear you scream when I break that filthy neck of yours?" he growled.
"Fair enough," Zechs said. "Lead the way, good sir." They went into the forest around the island to find a good place to 'discuss' this issue. "Now, what was your question?" Zechs asked.
"What...do you have...against Ryo?" Rowen asked through clenched teeth.
"Well, let's see...he's absolutely uncivilized, he could use a bath, he's uneducated, he could certainly dress better, he could use a hair brush...should I continue, or do you wish to go to bed before tomorrow?" Zechs inquired.
"Is that it? Some petty differences?" Rowen asked, exasperated.
"Petty differences? Please, we're not talking about mere differences between the higher and lower classes of society! We're talking about gypsies! Thieves! Barbarians! Why, I don't even know why such a man of high class would defend him? For all he's good for, he's no better than a slave!"
"EXCUSE ME!" Rowen shouted. "But it just so happens that one of my crew members is a slave, thank you! And I would appreciate it if you would not insult them in front of me!"
"Oh, this is beauteous! A man of high standards not only defending GYPSIES but also SLAVES! What are you going to defend next? Murderers? Adulterers? Sinners? Lawyers?"
"You know, you are really annoying. There's another reason why you dislike Ryo so much! Now what is it!"
"As if I'd tell you, you little rich snob!"
That was the last straw. They broke out into a wild fight, trying to tear each other limb from limb. The fight went on for hours (notice how a lot of stuff in here does that too?) and, unfortunately, neither was a victor. It turned out that they eventually knocked each other out, but it was lucky the ships sent out search parties for them, and Legolas, who mysteriously disappeared that night. Now, enough about that, let's get to what's really important.Ryo sat by Rei's side for the hours that it took for the antidote to kick in. In the process, the human sloth managed to fall asleep 4 times and only wake up 3. That meant that he was currently out like a light in la-la land.
Rei suddenly moved her hand unintentually. Not even knowing that she had been unconscious for a day or so. But when she realized that she was in bed, she started to get up and then fell back down because she was still week from not eating. But when she looked over at her side she saw that somebody was in the room with her.
"Ryo, wake up," whispered Rei, as she smacked her hand against his knee.
"Wha-?" stammered Ryo waking up with a start. He turned to see Rei looking at him with her big Amythest eyes.
"Rei your up," squeals Ryo with excitement as he gets up to hug and kiss Rei.
"Good to see, it has been awhile hasn't it? What have you been up to?" asked Rei.
"I'll tell you in a minute, but you must be starving!" Ryo exclaimed. He called for Ami, who was excited to see Rei getting better. "Where's Mina?" he asked.
"Tending to your fallen comrade," Ami said in mock-admiration. "Rowen and Zechs got into a huge fight last night. Apparently they knocked each other out cold."
"Wow," Rei gasped. "What were they fighting about?" she asked.
"Apparently Zechs doesn't know how to keep his big mouth shut and it cost him some bumps, bruises, and cuts," Ami replied.
"Legolas must be throwing a fit," Rei chuckled.
"He would be. But he's currently run off, and apparently that was Zechs' fault too," Ami sighed.
"What in this plot ISN'T Zechs' fault?" Rei threw up her hands, only to find that even that hurt from lack of food.
"The antidote that helped you," Ami smiled.
"Nuts, the guy I like, and the one thing he isn't responsible for is the only good thing..." Rei commented.Ami gives Rei some broth and salt crackers. Soon after a few days Rei was back on her feet, wearing one of her beautiful red silk dresses that had a low bodice and was tight in the waist area. This dress looked very sliming on her, since she had such a tiny, slim figure. But as for Zechs he still was in bed unconscious. Rei was by his bed every night until he woke up one morning. Rei was apparently asleep in a chair next to his bed. Zechs woke up to find Rei their. He tapped her knee gently, and she woke with a start.
"Zechs your up," Rei yawned.
"Up and so are you for that matter. I'm glad for that." smiled Zechs.
"Yep and I'm healthy as an Ox." giggled Rei.
"That's great, now as for me. I wish I could say the same but can't." groaned Zechs.
"Well we'll have Sally heal all your wounds." smiled Rei, that said this is going to be fun.
"OH GREAT! Just what I need. 2 Women at my every need." commented Zechs, who slaps his hand against his forehead.
Sally came in at that moment, humming. "Here's your lunch, Ms. Sanada! Oh, hi, Zechs! It's about time you woke up! I'll go tell Noin and she'll help us take care of you!" she said, upon seeing Zechs.
"Oh, great!" Zechs threw up his arms. "Now there's THREE of them!"
"Then who would you rather have take care of you?" Rei asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"I'd tell you, but then you'd kill me!" Zechs said.
"If it's not us then DAMN RIGHT we're gonna kill you!" Sally said.
"TELL US!" Rei demanded, shaking her fists at him, "Or I'm leaving!"
Zechs couldn't help but laugh. He was out numbered, two women to one man. "Promise not to kill me?" he asked.
"Depends on who you say," Rei huffed.
"Well..." Zechs said. "Actually, I kinda miss Legolas. I feel horrible about yelling at him. But..." Zechs sighed and looked down at his hands.
"Well, then Sally you and Noin can take of this womanizer and I'll be going to see RYO and ROWEN, back at my ship." Rei calmly says to Sally. Then she turns to Zechs and says, no more like screams. "YOU S.O.B, HOW COULD YOU BE SO ...SO..UNGREATFUL FOR ALL I'VE DONE FOR YOU. WHILE YOU HAVE BEEN IN THIS BED, UNCONCIOUS!! FOR THAT MATTER." Rei turned around on her heel toward the door and left with a huff as she slammed the door.
"WAIT! REI!" Zechs yells. "Great, I lie and I'm in trouble, and I tell the TRUTH and I'm in DEEP SHIT!"
"Nice going, hot shot," Sally sighed.
Zechs suddenly bolted straight up in the bed. "WAIT A MINUTE! DID SHE JUST SAY SHE WAS GOING BACK TO RYO?!"
"Gee, how observant of you," Sally slapped her forehead. "It only took you about 20 minutes to figure that out."
"REEEIII! WAAAIIIT!" Zechs jumped out of bed...and forgot that he just woke up about a minute ago. "Ow...sharp...pain...running...through...my...spleen..."
"After all that, you're on your own..." Sally muttered, leaving.
"WAIT!" Zechs yelled. He was stuck in his position of looking like he's about to run out of the door, like a statue. "HELP! I CAN'T MOVE!"
"Uh, Zechs..." Noin walked in and stopped.
"Great, can you help me? Just push me on to the bed, my feet are getting REALLY tired!"
"Um...well...I...Are you okay?" Noin didn't know what to say.
"JUST HELP ME!"
"Well!" Noin huffed. "If you're going to yell, you're ON YOUR OWN!" She then left.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" Zechs screamed in frustration. "DAMN IT, WHY ARE ALL OF THE WOMEN LEAVING ME TO FEND FOR MYSELF WHEN I CAN'T EVEN MOVE A MUSCLE?!"
"KEEP IT DOWN IN THERE!" Irvine yelled, punching the floor (ceiling in his room under the room Zechs is in) with a broom. "I'M TRYING TO PLAN A MUTINY IN HERE!"
"SORRY!" Zechs yelled back.
All of a sudden Jennie walked in on Zechs and burst out Laughing. "Sorry. I couldn't help it, But I came because when M'Lady walk up on her ship she wasn't to happy. So I came here to ask you what did you say to her that made her so mad." she says as she is helping him lay on the bed.
"Let's just say that, I didn't need her at that moment. What is she doing now?" asked Zechs.
"Well when she came on board, Rowen came over to her said something about needing to talk to her. That's when I left, to see you." Jennie explained.
"Now what?" Zechs sighed. "You know, no offence, but women are incredibly sensitive. I mean, all I said was that I missed Legolas and she freaked! Goodness, I mean, it's like she's not even worried about what could happen to the kid out there!" Zechs sighed.
Rei slams open the door, Zechs looks up at her and sees that streaming down her face were tears of anger and sadness. "Jennie go back to the ship please."
"Right, I need to talk to Ryan anyway." said Jennie as she left.
Zechs and Rei just look at each other. "How could you?"
"How could I what?" Zechs asked. "Tell the truth? Worry about some poor kid that's out there all alone because I yelled at him? Do you know how horrible I feel about what I did to him? He was loyal to me! He was ready to serve me hand and foot if I ever asked him for it! And I called him a slut! I accused him of trying to kill you! I drove him away and you know why? I DID IT FOR YOU! BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!"
"I'm NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT!! I'M TALKING ABOUT YOURS AND ROWEN'S FIGHTING EACH OTHER. ROWEN CAME UP TO ME AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID? TAKE A WILD GUESS!"
"Oh," Zechs sighed, leaning back on his pillow. "That dirty little friend of his. The gypsy boy, quaint little entertainer. What about him? Do you have something you want to tell me about him that I don't already know? Or do you want to leave now? Let's face it, he's loopy, nuts, wacko, poor, dirty, and not worth a GOD FUCKING rupee."
Rei walks over to him, right hooks him across the jaw. "You bastard, Do you have any IDEA of who your talking about?"
"I'm talking about a gypsy, a thief, for all I know he's PROBABLY a whore!" he said, standing up and facing her. "What do YOU care about him? Do you love him more than me?"
"Of course I Love him, and do you know why I love him?" Rei yells right in his face.
"NO! I don't, why don't you educate Me." yelled Zechs who through his hands in the air.
Rei right hooks him and then knees him where the sun don't shine. Zechs doubles over in pain, holding his stomach and falling on the floor. "Because His name is RYO SANADA, Does that name ring any Bells?"
Zechs sits there thinking 'Where have I heard that name before? Wait isn't her name Sanada. Oh shit now I've done it.' He looks up at her from his fetal position. "Your name is Sanada."
"Yeah you are fucking Idiot."
"Wait are you telling me that you are married that Little Maggot!"
"NO I'm telling you that, RYO SANADA, is 2 and 1/2 years younger than me. Why the hell would I be married to a guy who is 2 and 1/2 years younger me."
"I don't know, because you liked the guy."
"No you idiot! He's MY BROTHER."
"Wait so you are telling me that, Ryo, Is a guy who is in such lower class then you is your Little brother." Zechs yells as he get to her level again.
"Yep that's exactly what I am telling you. Thanks to you I'm doubting if I should ever see you again. Those words you spoke to Rowen about were Harsh. You know what I'm leaving," whispers Rei as she turns toward the door. "Oh and don't ever come near me, my crew, my family, my ship, and Ryo's ship again. I want nothing to do with you." With that she left slamming the door.
As Rei left the ship, someone smiled and snuck onto it. "Mr. Merquis?" he inquired.
Zechs turned around. "Oh, come on, you've got to be kidding me!" he yelled up at the ceiling. "WHAT do YOU want?"
"I'd be nice to me, especially after all that," Ryo snickered. "She won't be happy if you've been picking on her little brother again."
"Just...answer my question," Zechs growled, restraining from strangling Ryo.
"I'd just like to say that that was...a rather agreeable performance my sister put on," Ryo stated, gently fingering at the blade of his sword.
"WHAT is that supposed to mean?"
"It means..." in one quick swing the tip of Ryo's sword was at Zechs' throat, "...stay away from my sister, or I'm going to seriously kill you, you bastard."
"I don't think you have the authority to demand anything from me, gypsy," Zechs said calmly as his hand moved, unnoticed, behind him to the dresser. Ryo gasped and fell back as Zechs' sword knocked his away in a flash of light. "Now I'll have to kindly ask you to leave my cabin, in fact, leave this ship." Ryo glared at him and quickly grabbed his sword, running off of the ship.After their little encounter, Rei and Zechs haven't been talking to each other. Now they were on their way to Topaz Island for the Racing contests. Since Haruka was the best Racer on the 'Fire Soul' and there were other racers on the 'Tallgeese II' and 'The Dynasty'. They had just reached the island all of the crew from the 'Fire Soul' wondering in and out of the shops. Rei and Ryo were with Haruka sign up for the races. When all of a Sudden when the three of them were laughing about something. When Zechs and Moonbay were walking their way to the signing table.
"Well, well, looks like I've got a little bit if competition," Moonbay snickered. "Well, may the best woman win," she finished.
"Same to you," Haruka smiled, holding out her hand. Moonbay gladly shook her hand.
"Come on, Moonbay," Zechs said. "It's getting crowded around here. We've got to meet the others, they promised that the car would be ready when we got there."
"We've got a car?" Moonbay asked. "I thought we were going to bye one while we were here."
"It would take too long, so we decided to try something else," Zechs smirked. "Come on." He pulled her arm, dragging her away as she just finished signing in.
"That was interesting, Ryo you stay here with Haruka. I'm going to the Pub." stated Rei. "Don't worry, this time I'm prepared."
At the pub, Youji and the crew of the Weiss Kreuz were having a pre- race drink. The Vampires were there too, and they were absolutely avoiding all of the females, especially Rei.
"Oh, come on, Omi! Just drink it!" Ken laughed, slapping the young slave on the back. Omi just looked at the ale in his hands a bit unsurely. "Omi, it's not gonna bite you! Hey Rei, Omi needs a little provoking, wanna help?"
Rei walks over and sits down. "Hey Omi, would you rather me KISS YOU or you have this drink?"
Omi looked at the drink then her, then the drink again. He then set the drink down and grabbed her and kissed her. Zechs walked in at that moment and saw the kiss. He was jealous, but played it cool. He didn't want Rei to know he was jealous, he figured that's what he was playing for.
"Hey, bartender, give me a 'Get Naked'!" Rei yelled (the bartender was bartending at the other end of the counter).
"Coming right up!" in a quick second (it's a fast bartender) Rei had a HIGHLY alcoholic drink in her hands.
Omi gently tugged on her dress. "Excuse me, but a...'Get Naked'?"
"Sure, you want a sip? It's good for the soul..." Rei offered.
"No, thank you, I'd rather keep my clothes on," Omi said.
"Having fun over here?" Zechs asked, putting a hand on the bar counter on the other side of Omi, between the kid and Ken.
"I thought I told you to stay away from me, jerk," Rei says, taking a drink.
"I wasn't talking to you," Zechs raspberries her.
"I'm having...an interesting time," Omi said. He then whispered to Zechs, "That's the first time I've ever actually kissed a girl..."
"Ahh..." Zechs raised his eyebrows and ordered a drink. "Um, what's their problem?" Zechs asked, pointing to the other end of the bar counter where the vamps had snuck off to.
"They're afraid of Rei," Omi answered. "Nagi said it was something about a whompy."
"Riiiiiight...I remember now..." Zechs said. "I've never been question about that word before that day. Poor Serena's going to be scarred for life." He then turned to Rei. "So, how's the maggot?"
"I SAID DON'T TALK TO ME!" Rei yelled.
"Sorry for trying to bring up light conversation," Zechs muttered. He lowered his voice so that only Omi could hear. "So, how good of a kisser is she?"
"More or less, guys kiss better," Omi whispered back. Zechs simply patted him on the head and decided to leave the conversation at that. He then went over to see the vamps and made a nice conversation with them (which is an accomplishment, considering they don't know the meaning of "nice").
Rei gulped down the rest then turned to the bartender. "Hey Buddy, another round and One to go for a friend."
"What friend would that be?" the bartender asked, stirring up the drink.
"Just a gypsy, he'll be here shortly," Rei answered.
"A gypsy? Hm, I'm sorry, ma'am, but we don't let the likes of them in here. They cause too much trouble," the bartender apologized.
"But, Wait a minute I don't understand. You let THEIVES IN HERE! So why dont you let Gypsies in here." Rei asked, pointing to Zechs.
"Nice try, lady, but he's well known around here. A few years ago, he was the best racer here," the bartender laughed. "He's the first mate of a great ship, and he's no thief!"
"But he stole from me something that can never be replaced!" Rei exclaimed. She then walked off with her drink.
The bartender suddenly whistled, and the man who was standing at the door grabbed her arm. He was about 2/3 her height with long blond hair, tied at the end, a yellow jumpsuit covered in zippers, a red vest, and blue cape with a blueish-black witch's cap with a band and little skull pendant. The most noticeable thing about him was his bluish skin and pointy ears. He carried a staff with a "Celestial Egg" at the end.
"Excuse me, but one, you didn't pay, and two, you can't leave with your drink," the man said.
"Yeah, glasses here are expensive enough without people making off with them," the bartender agreed. Rei nodded, and chugged the drink, putting the glass with some money in it into the bartender's hand.
"Can I go now?" Rei asked.
"Yes, you're going now..." Rei turned around and Chad and Darien were standing there. "The races are starting and you need to sober up now," Darien continued. "Now come on." Darien wrapped an arm around her waist to support her and led her out of the bar.
"Oh! That's right, the races are today!" the bartender exclaimed. "Come on, Wiz! We gotta roll!"
"Wait up, Ray!" the young (yes, he's young for a Wizardmon) Wizardmon exclaimed, running after Ray.
"Come on, guys, I'm up," Youji said, putting out his cigarette and walking out of the bar. The others followed. Zechs was still gripping his glass hard from the sight of Darien with his arm around Rei's waist.
"Come on, everyone out of the bar, it's closing now!" Ray called, locking the door. Zechs finally left last and went to meet up with Moonbay, who was prepping for the race with Youji.
"Wow, where did you get this car?" Youji asked. The car looked like it cost maybe 10,000,000,000 rupees.
"We have our methods," the others smiled. The car was red and had white stripes down the middle. On each side was painted a bright yellow '02'.
"HEY!" someone yelled, running up. "Have you seen my racing car? It's the same model, except blue with purple stripes and the number '98'!"
"Nope," Irvine said, covering up the bit of blue paint that was showing through the red on their car. "Can't say I have..." The others all whistled innocently.
"Well, if you see it, could you return it?" the man asked.
"Sure, whatever," Irvine said. When the man walked away, he muttered under his breath, "Sucker..."
Rei and Chad were discussing how to set up a bar on the ship and that he should run it. Ryo came over to them saying "Haruka is in the Lead racing against Moonbay. And Zechs is over there about to strangle someone." He points over his shoulder and glances at Zechs. Rei bursts out laughing at his facial expression. She sobers up from laughing and says "COME ON HARUKA! YOU CAN'T LOSE! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!"
Moonbay, who was neck-and-neck with Haruka, suddenly smirked. "Time to stop playing!" she yelled. She hit a button and there was a sudden burst of flame from her tailpipe and her car shot foreword. "EAT MY DUST, TEN'OU!"
Haruka smirked. "Now THIS is a race, I was sick of holding back," she muttered. She hit her own NAS and shot foreword. They were again at neck to neck.
"It's gonna be a photo finish!" Ray yelled, jumping up and down. But he was wrong. At the last second, something flashed past Haruka and Moonbay. "Who is that?" he asked no one in particular.
The car that stopped was silver with white stripes, and the number '01' on the side. The photo finish was now to see who was 2nd and third because the mysterious driver had obviously won. "And the winner is..." the announcer seemed to scramble through his cards. "Um...I'm a sorry folk, but he didn't write his name down. Sir! Could you please step out of the car and remove your helmet?"
The guy instead just stuck his head out of the window, removed his helmet, and... "MR. MERQUIS! I WON!"
"Um...congratulations?" Zechs said, blinking and getting his voice back.
"What?!" Moonbay slammed her helmet on the ground. "I LOST TO A 10 YEAR OLD KID! GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK!"
"Hey Moonbay nice job," Congratulated Haruka.
Rei ran up to Haruka and gave her a big Hug saying, "Nice Race, But to bad you lost. But who cares it the thrill of the race right."
"Yes M'Lady your right, it is the thrill of the Race." agreed Haruka as she got out of the Car. Haruka then was busy talking to Seiji about how he raced and about racing apparently. Rei leaned against the Car and looked at Zechs for a moment then walk towards the docks where all the shops were.
Walking down by the shop windows, Rei turned a corner down a blind ally. Rei was oblivious to the fact that some people were following her.
"Well look here gentlemen look who we have here?" growled the leader of the group.
"Hey, Bradly isn't she the one who destroyed our Whompies?"
"NAGI!" the others yelled.
"SHHHHHHH!" he warned them.
"So, what are we going to do?" Schulderich asked.
"Well, let's see, we have three choices, we can either kill her, kidnap her, or let her beat the crap out of us again. What do you want to do?" Bradly asked.
"Oh! Oh! Can I kill her? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE?!" Farfello begged.
"No, you may not yet, Farfie, now shut up! (OOOOH!) Who else votes for killing her?" Bradly asked. Schulderich raised his hand eagerly.
"Okay, who wants to just kidnap her and hold her for ransom?" Bradly asked next, raising his own hand. Nagi raised his. "And who wants to have her beat the crap out of us? (cricket chirps) Okay, then. Time to flip a coin..." he pulled out a gold coin (from their homeland) and said, "Alright, Farfie, heads I win, tails you lose." He flipped the coin and it landed tails. "Tails, YOU LOSE!"
"Dammit...HEY!" Farfello jumped on Bradly. "You little..."
"OH, STOP IT!" Schulderich yelled, stepping between the two. "You can rip each other to shreds later! (OOOOH!) But there's a little problem...SHE'S RUNNING AWAY!"
"Wait! Stop! We didn't order fast food!" Farfello screamed running after her.
Rei ran into a boutique and hid in a dressing room. "We know you're in here somewhere..." Bradly said. "Check the dressing rooms, I'll check the lines."
As they walked through the dressing rooms, they opened several. Nagi soon reached one that was locked. "Aha!" he told himself. He then gave the door a kick.
Rei could hear it from down the rooms. A loud scream and poor Nagi's, "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! IT WAS AN INNOCENT MISTAKE! I THOUGHT YOU WERE SOMEONE ELSE! OW! PLEASE STOP HITTING ME WITH YOUR PURSE! OWOWOWOWOWOWOW!"
"Ah, Nagi, with the crowd you're drawing she's gonna get away!" Schulderich yelled.
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO!" Nagi whined. Meanwhile, Rei snuck out of the store and ran down the street, trying to get to her ship where her crew would be there to help her.
"She's down there! Hurry!" Bradly yelled.
"OH SHIT! WOULD YOU FUCKING GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU S.O.B.?!" Rei yelled, desperately picking up a large rock and chucking it at them.
"OW!" Farfello fell to the ground, now with a nice new lump on his head. "That's...gonna...leave a mark..." he said before going out cold.
"Great...Nagi, take Farfie back to the ship, Schulderich, come on, she's gonna get away!" Bradly ordered.
Meanwhile, as she ran, all of the sudden someone grabbed her and pulled her into an alley, covering her mouth. She struggled at first, but then shut up as the vamps ran by. "Aw man, I told you we'd lose her," Schulderich complained.
"Shut up and keep looking, ding-bat," Bradly said.
As soon as they were gone, the man that had grabbed her sighed and let her mouth go.
"What do you think you are doing?" looking up at her rescuer.
"Saving your ass," he said. He pulled her out into the street and she got her first real look at him. His red Japanese clothes, long white-silver hair and...dog ears?
"HOLY SHIT, YOU'RE A DEMON!" she screamed nearly falling back.
"Huh?" the whole street was now staring at him.
"I'M A DEMON, YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?!" he yelled at them. They all shook their heads and carried on with their business. "Technically, I'm only half-demon, but my brother's a full demon. Well, anyways, I'm trying to get away from someone myself..." he looked around and lowered his voice. "You wouldn't happen to have seen an extremely annoying teenage reincarnated priestess named..."
"INU-YASHA!"
"Oh, damn... (SIT, BOY!) ACK!" Rei stared as Inu-Yasha hit the ground with a thud, a teenage girl that strangely looked like her was standing above him.
"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE MY PERMISSION TO GO LOLLY-DAGGING IN THE STREETS WITHOUT ME OR SHIPPO?!" she yelled.
"83...well, I guess 84 now..." Inu-Yasha said, getting up. "Can I go play with my new friend now, Kagome?"
Kagome looked at Rei. "Do you have any experience in Priestess stuff?"
"Yes."
"Good, if he does anything you don't like just say 'Sit, boy' (THUD!). See? It works even when you don't mean it!" Kagome smiled.
"Oh, you mean like...SIT, BOY!" Inu-Yasha hit the ground like a ton of bricks just as he was getting up.
"Nononono, not so loud, just, sit, boy! (THUD!)"
"Oh, okay, so it's...sit, boy!" Inu-Yasha wasn't having as much fun as they were. Well, you wouldn't be either if you had the same curse put on you.
"STOP IT!" he finally yelled.
The two priestesses looked at each other and at the same time..."SIT BOY!" The two combined left a three foot hole in the road.
Rei whistled. "That's pretty powerful..."
"Play nicely, now!" Kagome practically sang as she skipped away.
"Now, I'm going to ask you. What do you want with me? Are you going to kidnap me too? Because beside having experience in the priestess business. I have experience in the Martial arts. So can I help you?" Questioned Rei as she was helping him out of the hole.
"Kidnap you?" Inu-Yasha asked. "Nah, I don't kidnap people. I'd rather kill them, but that's not what I'm here for. I just have a bone to pick with those vampires. They stole my Tetsuiga sword. I plan to get it back, if it means I have to hunt down all of the demons I can to help. I can't do this alone. I was trained to face demons, not vampires."
"Well, I'll help," Rei said.
"I said I wanted to find DEMONS not mere mortals. Kagome's different, I'm stuck with her," Inu-Yasha sighed. "I was looking for a ride though, so if you don't mind, I'd like to hitch a ride on your ship. With Kagome and Shippo of course."
"Excuse me...Shippo?" Rei raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, don't worry, he's a little fox demon, about this big, he wouldn't hurt a fly."
"What the HELL, Why not, sure you guys can come, but I'm the Captain so then you have to obey orders from me." explained Rei, as she grabs his hand and drags him over to her ship. Right as this happens, a shadow sees them grab hands and run towards Rei's ship.
Waiting there at the ship were Kagome and Shippo. "About time you got here," Kagome said.
"How'd you know we'd be here?" Inu-Yasha asked.
"Oh, you know, we heard here and there..." Kagome said. Then she saw they were holding hands and words caught in her throat.
"Would you two like to be alone?" Shippo asked.
"ACK!" Inu-Yasha suddenly let go of Rei's hand. "NO NO NO! That's perfectly fine!" he said, bowing quickly.
"Yeah, that didn't mean we were...you know..." Rei said, blushing. "I was just leading him to my ship."
"Sure..." Shippo said, giggling.
"HEY! WAIT FOR ME!" a yell suddenly sounded. Ray and Wizardmon came running up for some odd reason. "She promiiiiiiiised!"
"Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?" Rei asked, confused.
"Mina and I made a bet and she said that if Haruka-chan didn't win the race I could join your crew!" Ray explained. "Oh, and Wiz can come too, she said."
"Whoa are you saying that you are now going to LIVE HERE with us. MINA!!!" yelled Rei.
"Yeah sorry about that, I was going to run it by you but you were not anywhere to be found." giggled Mina nervously.
"Ok, before I get a Migraine. You can come with us, BUT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW MY RULES!"
"Of course, I always follow rules," Ray smiled. "Oh, and if one of your crew members gets blown away by Wiz, it's their fault, he's very jumpy..."
"Great..." Rei said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Just...brilliant..."
"Come on, Wiz...maybe we can get to know our fellow crewmembers by tonight," Ray said.
"Right!" Wizardmon agreed.
Rei sighed and started onboard, but was stopped by a sudden, "REI! WAIT!"
"Huh?" she turned around to see Zechs running towards her. "I told you to beat it, bastard."
"No, just listen, I need to talk to you!" Zechs begged. "PLEASE!"
"Oh, fine, come on to my cabin," Rei gave in. Zechs nodded and followed her. Once there she closed the door and asked him, "Now, what do you want?"
"Listen, Rei, don't be like that, please. This is serious. For the past day I've seen you kiss one guy, hold hands with another, and have another hold your waist, and these ones I KNOW weren't family. It's been driving my fucking crazy because it's not ME! All I want now is to kiss and make up so we can go on with our happy little RELATIONSHIP!"
"Whoa, Hold on, if you saw all this then it sure didn't bug you!"
"WHAT is that supposed to mean? Were you trying to make me jealous? Cause you sure as HELL succeeded! You've been running around town with guys that half of them I don't even know! I figured, 'Hey, if I run up and slug that guy right now, she'll hate me for life, so either way, I lose!' And you think that I didn't do anything because it didn't bug me? IT DROVE ME FUCKING MAD! And that's only the beginning!"
"FIRST OF ALL, I WASN'T EVEN TRYING TO MAKE YOU JEALOUS! I WAS JUST MAKING NEW FRIENDS AND MY OTHER FRIEND WHO WAS A GUY WAS HELPING ME JUST IN CASE I WAS DRUNK. THEN WITH OMI, I WAS TRYING TO GET HIM TO TRY HIS FIRST DRINK. I HAD NO INTENTION OF HAVEING HIM REALLY KISS ME!"
"Beautiful!" Zechs yelled. "Fucking beautiful! If you had said all of this in the first place we wouldn't be yelling at each other! What impression did you THINK that I was going to get from all of this? That they were all friends you were inviting over for tea?! You have a funny way of NOT trying to make a boy jealous, you know that?!"
"I had no idea I could do that to somebody. It has never happened to me before. I was just being myself, when I'm with my friends. So what do you suppose we do?"
"Maybe start over? Like we had never even fought in the first place? You know what I mean?"
"I think I do? So how does this sound you give me a day or more to think this over. I dont know if I really want to be with someone who dislikes my brother over something stupid as him being a gypsy." replied Rei, as she crosses her arms in front of her chests.
"Hey, it's not just that, he's not exactly very nice to me lately! He threatened me with his sword to stay away from you!" Zechs said, raising his hands.
"He was just protecting me, like every brother would! Beside, tell me why you dont listen very well to instructions. Since you obviously dont like him!" replied Rei, as she sat on the bed's edge.
"Why would I listen to him if I don't like him?" Zechs pointed out.
"Well why don't you explain that to me since I'm nothing but idiotic scum!!!!!" Rei stated, standing up quickly.
"I never said you were, I said your brother was, and you have to admit I have a point. He doesn't understand a word I say and his mind is almost always in another dimension."
"OUT!!!" cries Rei, as she walks to the door and opens it for him. "DONT YOU EVER DIS MY BROTHER, I DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD DIS MY BROTHER AND STILL THINK THAT IT WOULDN'T BOTHER ME!!"
Zechs threw up his hands and sighed, "I might as well leave, since every time I tell the truth I seem to get in TROUBLE..." He then went out the door and walked off to his own ship. When he got there however, he didn't enter as pleasantly as he'd exited.
"So, what happened?" Rudolf asked.
"Well, Rudolf, she kicked me out. Have any other stupid questions or would you like to leave me to my peace?" Zechs said, bending down and looking into Rudolf's eyes. Then he stalked off to his room.
"Excuse me, sir but is this the 'Fire Soul'?" asked a black hair beauty with blue eyes. She was the height of 5'8", looked about the age of 20, she also looked like she could dance and handle a sword very well.
"Does this look like the stinking 'Fire Soul'?" Zechs asked very irritably.
"Zechs, be nice!" Rudolf yelled.
"Oh, be quiet!" Zechs said.
"I was just asking you dont need to be so rude! Why can't you just tell where it is? You could be a lot of help, or you could be a complete ass!"
"Esmerelda, be nice," said a man about 38 walking up behind him. "Sorry, she's very irritable."
"ME be nice, he was the one who is being an ass," replied Esmerelda, as she turns around to see her Fiancé.
"Calm down, Essie," Phoebus said.
"It's okay, Zechs is having a romance crisis right now..." Rudolf grinned.
"RUDOLF!"
"Esmerelda can we leave yet? We need to get on the ship before it leaves." stated a boy about 16, who had black hair and gray w/yellow. He was at the height of 5'10", he looked somewhat like Esmerelda.
"Ethan we can leave once we find out where the 'Fire Soul' is." stated Esmerelda, as she turned to Zechs.
"Hey Zechs, M'Lady was wondering..." asked Ryan, before he could finish he saw Esmerelda and the others. "Oh there you are...You can Come with Miss. La Pierre and friends, I'll show you to the 'Fire Soul'."
"Right," replied Esmerelda, as she and the other left to the ship.
"It's about time," said the oldest (besides Phoebus) who had black hair, dark eyes, and the cutest goatee (squeals) the world ever said. He looked about 24 years old. "I'm patient, but if I wait too long, people get hurt."
"Clopin, dont get so full of your self." stated Esmerelda as she followed Ryan.
"Hey, don't insult me! I'm your king!" Clopin declared, running after her.
"Yeah, king of the pain-in-the-asses!" Phoebus rolled his eyes.
"PHOEBUS!!!" glared Esmerelda, as she turned to face him. "He might be KING, but do you know who I am?"
"What, are you saying you secretly married your brother behind my back?" Phoebus snickered.
"You know what I mean...if you don't want to sleep on the deck when we get on board tonight. Then you better watch what you are saying buddy." giggled Esmerelda, playfully shoved him.
Phoebus pouted. "I'll be good..."
"Right, and I'll stop being a gypsy." retorted Esmerelda, as she climbed the ramp.
"That was strange," Ray said, leaning against the railing of the ship, watching the entering gypsies.
"Ryo, who are they? Are they friends of your?" asked Rei as she looked over with Ray.
"Yep, just thought that they might come in handy. You see, Clopin's the heir to the gypsy thrown, and the others are his siblings. His sister, Esmerelda, is going to be married to Phoebus who is the captain of the guard."
"Oh I see, well we do need more crew members." smiled Rei, as she saw Esmerelda approach her. "Hi, I'm Captain Rei Sanada of the 'Fire Soul'.
"Oh Hi I'm Esmerelda La Pierre, and these are My brothers Clopin, Elton, and Ethan, and My sisters Elizabeth and Adelaide."
"Yeah, what am I, chopped liver?" Phoebus asked, jokingly.
"Hey, what's with your names?" Wizardmon couldn't resist. "You're all 'E's except Clopin and Adelaide."
"Well, father got to name me because I'm his heir. He wanted a strong name, so I'm Clopin Trouillefou La Pierre," Clopin explained.
"Yep, little did he know he gave a strong name to a pansy boy," Phoebus snickered. Clopin bristled and glared at him.
"Adelaide got her name because she was named after my fathers mother our Grandmother. Father wanted to have one of his girls to have her name, so he fought mother for it. As you can see he won." stated Esmerelda, as she Adelaide run up to Ryo and hug him.
"When did you get here?" asked Adelaide, as let go of him.
"Just a little while ago," Ryo said.
"So, these are your friends, Ryo?" Rowen asked.
"Yyyyyyyyyyyep..." Ryo laughed. "Just a bunch of goofballs!"
"Just like you, eh?" Rowen joked, ruffling Ryo's hair.
"Who could be funnier than Ryo?" asked Adelaide.
"Him..." Ryo said, jabbing a thumb at Clopin. "Check it out, he never goes anywhere without that thing, does he?" Ryo was talking, of course, about the Mini-Clopin-Puppet, which hung from the Gypsy Prince's belt.
"He never goes anywhere with out that thing, it bugs the crap out of everybody!" Adelaide exclaimed.
"Try telling him that, he'll raspberry you and run like a five-year- old..." Ryo sniggered.At that moment they noticed a ship pull into dock. It was completely black with your typical pirate flag flying above it. "Ahoy!" the captain, a swaggering yet attractive man of about 27, called. "How is everyone today?" he asked, swaggering down the ramp onto the dock.
Clopin groaned, "Oh, no, not him..."
"You know him?" Ray asked.
"You dolt!" Clopin hissed. "That's Captain Jack Sparrow!"
"Clopin!" Jack called, laughing. "Long time no see! How's your sister?"
"Don't talk about my sister!" Clopin declared.
"Is something the matter?" Jack asked.
"Oh no, everything is just PEACHY!" Clopin said sarcastically.
"Is there a problem over here?" Phoebus asked, walking up.
"Oh, this fellow over here used to date my sister," Ethan said coyly.
"Yes, and I wonder where I might find her?" Jack asked, continuing to swagger.
"Are you drunk?" Phoebus asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh no, he's always like this," Clopin said. "Dropped on his head as a child," he added, whispering.
"Ah..." Phoebus said, nodding his head. "So, which sister?"
"Elizabeth," Clopin said, while at the same time Ethan said, "Esmerelda."
"Wait, he dated Essie?" Clopin asked.
"He dated Elizabeth?" Ethan countered. Both looked at Jack.
"Yes, yes, very nice girls both of them, now, where might I find Esmerelda?" Jack asked, oblivious to the fact that he just put his entire well being in danger in a matter of 5 seconds.
"Right here," said a voice from behind him. Jack swayed his head in a 'U' style and found himself face-to-face with a very pissed-off Esmerelda. "What do YOU want, you overgrown sea-bastard?"
"Now, I can tell why you're mad, but do you have to go that far?" Jack said. "You see, I never knew my father," he added with high dramatics that were obviously false.
"Oh, shut up, son-of-a--" Esmerelda started.
Clopin stopped her, "Now, Esmerelda, you don't want him started on his mother again, now do you?"
"I asked you what you want!" Esmerelda declared.
"I just wanted to see you again, you see, I just can't start my day like I used to for the past five years since you punched me and said it was over..." Jack said, getting on one knee. "So I want to ask, will you have dinner with me again? Give me another chance?"
"Ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas and all, but wait a minute here," Phoebus said, pulling Jack by the arm back onto his feet. "Are you saying you dated her sister and her, and you just now decide that you want to have her back? Just now that she was the first of them you saw?"
"No, no, no, that not what I'm saying at all!" Jack said. "You see, her sister was just kind of a...test...that's all, just to see what would happen if I dated other girls, you know, if it affected my feelings for Esmerelda...but it didn't, so I've wanted her back for the past five years, but you know, with the whole dead demon pirates taking my ship thing, I couldn't find the time..." He steadied himself by grabbing Phoebus' shirt and just randomly added, "This is a nice shirt, where did you get it?"
"You are a sad, strange little man," Phoebus said shaking his head.
Esmerelda shoved Jack softly towards his ship, yelling, "So NOW you want me BACK after ALL these YEARS?! You HONOSTLY expected me to TAKE you BACK?! After everything YOU put me TROUGH?!"
"Well, actually..." Jack said, thinking for a second, "Yes...yes I did...is this a no?"
Esmerelda stopped with an, "Oh..." She started thinking for a minute.
"Wait a gosh-darned minute!" Phoebus declared. "This is MY fiancé you're talking to!"
"Oh..." Jack said, looking at one and then the other, completely still for once. "Oh, I see, so while I was out THINKING of you for the past five years EVERY NIGHT, you were getting ENGAGED?" he asked, completely exasperated.
"Well..." Esmerelda said.
"No, don't bother trying to explain!" Jack said, going back to swaggering again. "I understand FULLY!" he declared, turning on his heal and storming back to his ship.
"Wait, Jack, I...no...you don't...!" Esmerelda called. She then turned to Phoebus, "This is all YOUR fault you know!" She then turned to the Fire Soul and stormed onto that.
"What did I do?!" Phoebus cried to no one in particular. "Why is everyone always mad at me?!"