Disclaimer: Ani DiFranco is a great musician. She doesn't own MR either.
A/N: Chappie 20! I told you guys to review for both CHAP! . *sighs* Oh well, here's chap 20.... Even though you don't deserve it! *sticks out tongue and runs away*
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Chapter 20: Attacked, Again?
You're sleeping again...
What do you want?
Heh... Nothing... I'm trying to help you...
Who are you? Why are you telling me these things? What do you want from me?
Nothing, little Achika... I just want you to know that nothing bad is going to happen to you... Yuri is there for you... And so am I... You know me Achika... Think...
Think about what? What do you want from me?
I don't want anything... I need you to do something for me... But that's not important now... Don't worry... You need to wake up... He's coming... You need to be awake... Now! Wake up! He's coming!
Achika sat up suddenly, the voice echoing in her head. She looked around frantically trying to find everyone. A very tired looking Mako was curled by the fire with a very relaxed Col. Genki and Holly were lying down, wrapped in a blanket, but Yuri was no where to be seen. Neither was Tiger... or Red...
She was still weak, and her leg was still pretty torn up. Achika couldn't go look for them. She tried to get up, but her leg gave out before she could even stand. She stayed, on all fours gasping. She was too weak. Why was she so weak?
"A-A-Achi... kaaaaaaa..." a muttering voice seemed to roar.
Achika looked towards the source. It was Red.
"Red! Why?"
"A.... A-Achi.... kaaaaaaaa...." he muttered as he walked forward slowly. The scar had grown to encompass the rest of his back.
"No... Red, it's me. Red, it's me Achika. Don't do it. I know what's wrong with you. Please, don't do it."
Red growled loudly at her as suddenly Yuri came crashing down on him. They rolled across the ground, biting, clawing, scratching, punching, kicking, and generally trying to kill each other. Tiger jumped out of the darkness of the trees and joined into the fight. Achika was beginning to become angry.
"STOP!" Achika screamed into the earth. Red threw Tiger and Yuri off of him and then leapt at Achika. She glared at him and he landed short of his intended target. He growled at her but did not move closer as she glared at him.
Yuri and Tiger looked towards Achika and Red with something that resembled fear. Red wasn't going to attack her again, was he?
"Red, fight it. I know you can. I've been speaking with you. I was talking to you, in a dream. You told me I was the only one that could help you. You told me that Yuri needed me and you were right. She needed to know that I was ok at that moment," Achika pleaded as the tears that ran down her face found themselves falling to the ground. She stared at Red with pleading eyes, begging for him to listen to her.
He growled at her and then shook his head. His face strained with concentration and great pain.
"A-A-Achi... Ka... Achika... I-I-I..." he trailed off and then howled He ran and plowed pass Yuri and Tiger. Tiger chased after him as Achika stared after him. Yuri walked over to her wounded and tired friend.
"Achika, are you all right?" Yuri asked as she grabbed her shoulder. Achika wrapped her arms around Yuri's surprised body. She shuddered against Yuri as she cried.
"Why can't he fight it? I know he's strong! I know it! He just can't seem to control it anymore! Poor Red..."
"Poor Red?! He attacked you! He tried to kill you! He doesn't deserve to live!" Yuri replied, holding Achika close.
"Yuri, he can't control it. It took over him. He isn't the one that attacked me. It's the jewel. The spirit of the jewel."
"What are you talking about? The spirit of the jewel. I think you've had too much sleep. Stay up with me ok? I can't believe you're defending Red! I nearly lost you because of him! I don't want to lose you," Yuri said, hugging Achika closer. The human girl stopped crying and stared up at Yuri's face. The concern etched across her face comforted Achika for some reason.
"I'm sorry Yuri."
"It's not your fault," Yuri said gently, kissing Achika's tear stained face. She kissed the little girl's face until all of her tears were gone. Yuri saw a lop-sided grin peering out of the corner of her lips. Yuri smiled down at Achika and kissed her jaw. She traveled up to the girl's ear and bit it gently. Achika shuddered, pleasure coursing through her body. Yuri smiled into her ear as she let a hand travel down Achika's back.
Achika grabbed Yuri's free hand and hugged her close. Yuri smiled and nipped her earlobe. Achika moaned lightly in her ear. Yuri shuddered, and smiled as she began to lie down with Achika in her arms. Achika snuggled closer, trying to relax into her arms. That is, until Genki started laughing. Both girls glared at the newly awakened couple.
"Hey Achika. Nice to see you awake," Genki said, getting up and stretching as Holly looked at the stew. There was some left, so she decided to serve Achika. Holly handed Achika a bowl and smiled at her.
"You feeling better?" Holly asked, as Achika ate faster then her brother. She shoveled the food in her mouth and tilted the bowl so everything slid down faster.
As soon as she finished, Achika grabbed a bucket of water and drank it all. She burped loudly and leaned against Yuri, "I'm feeling a little better, but my leg is still torn up. I can't walk on it just yet. I'm no help to you."
"Don't say that Achika. You just need to heal up a bit. It'll be fine. Plus, we gotta find out what is wrong with Red," Genki said as he held Holly in his arms. Holly stared at Achika and Yuri with a smile. They were a cute couple.
"I know what's wrong with him. I just don't know what to do. I think I'm the only one that can help him. If that's true, I'll have to face him alone," Achika said slowly as she stared into the flames. Yuri hugged her close, wishing she could figure out a way to take Achika's mind away from her problems. She did know one way, but Genki and Holly were awake. Yuri doubted Genki would appreciate it.
"So, who's going to get more firewood?" Holly said, looking straight at Genki's face. Genki looked at her confused, as Achika glared at him and Yuri coughed politely.
"What?" Genki said looking at the three girls. They all glared at him, because he just wouldn't get it.
Genki's eyes suddenly widened with realization, "Oh. You want me to go."
"Take Mako with you," Holly said, as she realized Col and Mako had also woken up. Nobody woke up with all the commotion, they woke up afterwards.
"Huh?" Mako said sleepily, as Genki suddenly grabbed his tail and dragged him behind. The boys disappeared into the woods.
"Who are you?" Achika suddenly asked, staring at Col. Col looked at her in surprised, mostly surprised by her brusque question rather then her rudeness.
"Don't be so rude!" Yuri whispered in her ear as Col got up and walked over. She sat down next to Holly and stared at Achika and Yuri. She had never seen such a strange couple.
"I'm Col. Mako found me out here. I'm just trying to get home."
"That's cool. I'm Achika. Genki's little sister and a close friend of Yuri's," Achika said with a little snicker at the ending of her sentence. Yuri rolled her eyes. A close friend?
"Col, I just don't know what you see in Mako," Holly said with a little giggle. Col blushed as Achika laughed insanely.
"Well, Holly what do you see in Genki? Or men for that matter?" Yuri asked, making Holly blush. Col raised an eyebrow. What did she mean by that?
"Yuri! Don't ask my sister-in-law such a question! I mean, that's my brother!" Achika said, making the blush on Holly's face turn brighter. Col and Yuri laughed as Achika rolled on the floor. Holly glared down at Achika playfully.
"Yeah? Well, your girlfriend nearly killed me!" Holly pouted. Everyone just continued to laugh.
Col was the first to recover. Her giggles sub-sided and she stared at Achika and Yuri in curiosity.
"This is the first time I've ever seen a couple like you," Col said slowly, afraid to offend them. Achika laughed even harder as Yuri raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean? We're a normal couple," Yuri said, flinging Achika over her shoulder and taking her back over to her bed. Yuri threw Achika gently onto the ground, onto her blanket, and pinned her down. Col watched, her curiosity overriding her disgust. Yuri kissed Achika's soft pink lips delicately.
Holly coughed politely. Yuri and Achika looked at her.
"Um, future sister! I don't want to see this," she said, laughing. Yuri and Achika giggled.
"Fine!" Yuri said, getting up and pouting. She stuck her tongue out at Holly as Achika sat up and looked over at Col.
"Col, you can't knock it until you try it," Achika said with a smile. Col smiled and nodded. She understood.
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A/N: Hee! I love Yuri and Achika! I'm sorry if anyone's offended, but I'm a flaming homo, so that's why I haven't written a lot about Genki and Holly, and Mako and Col. I honestly have no idea what to write sometimes! . Anyway, review, or flame. Whatever.
