Ch 3 New Addition

"My dear, you did all you could," Torres said gently as he stroked Talme's hair.

"No!" Talme said sternly with her face buried in her arms. "I could have saved him." Suddenly she bolted to her feet and grabbed Sarinor's uniform collar. "Why did you stop me!?"

"There was nothing you could do!" he answered defensively. "You saw him as we did. He was already dead!"

"No! I know I would have saved him!"

"Please, lady!" said a voice from the branches above. "Your wailing is giving me a splitting headache."

"You want me to split something!?" she snapped. He recoiled, nearly falling off the branch. "Mind that fork tongue of yours before I choose to remove it."

"Unfortunately lass," Junid said with a sigh. "If my apprentice is dead, then serpent tongue is to be his successor."

Torres smiled as his mind detected the approach of a familiar presence. "No," he said. "I do not believe that is to be the case."

"Do you mean-" Junid stopped as a flash of light burst from overhead then moments afterward, a voice spoke behind him.

"I hope I haven't missed anything," said the voice.

Talme couldn't believe her eyes or her ears. "Shin?"

"Yes?"

"Where the hell have you been!?" said the man as he dismounted from the tree. He tried to look down on Shin, though it was impossible considering he was merely a few short inches taller. To Zari it was like looking at Shin's exact opposite, even down to the skin color, but mostly the disposition. "They were about to-"

"Who are you?" Zari demanded as she stepped around Shin.

"I do beg your pardon milady," he said smoothly. Zari raised a snowy eyebrow as she heard the slime in his voice. "I am called Thado." He reached to take her hand but she slapped down on it.

"Is it your custom to mimic the manners of others?" she asked snappishly. "You are a Prinon."

"... Prinon?"

"She means 'egotistical fool'," Talme said approvingly. "And I am inclined to agree."

Thado turned to Shin, "master, I am not an egotistical fool! Tell her that."

"I will not intervene in this argument," Shin stated. "For it is not for me to decide."

"Then might I suggest we move this conversation elsewhere," Junid said. "Tell us, who is this spirited lass?"

"Yes, please forgive my laziness. Zari, I would like to introduce to you my mentors. Junid, known as North Kai." Zari bowed in the pause. "Sarinor, known as South Kai. Our benevolent leader Dai Kaio."

"Please call me Torres," he said with a kind smile.

Zari bowed. "And West Kai. You know Thado and myself, commonly referred to as East Kai."

"Am I to know the name of milady West Kai?" Zari asked. Thus far West Kai had kept her back to Zari and Shin.

She sighed exasperatedly, "firstly," she said as she turned. "My name is-"

"Talme?" Zari asked as if she couldn't believe her eyes. Talme's eye widened as she took her first look at Zari.

"Well well," Talme said with a smile as she and Zari grabbed each others forearms. "Agi get fed up with you as well?"

"Unfortunately so," Zari replied halfway laughing.

"The two of you know each other?" Torres asked pleasantly.

"Yes sir," Talme replied as she placed a hand on Zari's shoulder. "Zari here used to be my apprentice before Agi cast me out."

"Again I apologize for that," Sarinor said as he lowered his head.

"Forget it," Talme said. "It's in the past."

"Will you be staying with us lass?" Junid asked.

"Not for long," Zari replied. "I wouldn't want to intrude upon you."

"No milady," Shin said quickly. "You are a guest here, never could you be considered a burden." He offered her his arm. "If you will come with me, I will take you to your quarters."

"I thank you," she said as she slipped her arm through the crook in his. She made no notice as Thado's face flushed, making his blue skin turn red in the cheeks.

He waited until they were out of earshot then turned to Talme, "doesn't he know the rule?"

"She saved his life lad," said Junid. "And she was cast into exile due to her actions. He is offering her a place to regain her feet."

"Where is he taking her?"

"That is none of your concern," Sarinor said sternly. "I will not permit you to tamper with her."

~*You won't comprehend before I've already had my way with her*~

"I'm afraid it's not much," Shin said as they approached Zari's quarters. All that could be seen from the outside was a stone balcony jutting out from the rock face. Rose vines cascaded down over the balcony archway, though there was no other entrance to be found. "But it possesses the greatest view at dawn and sunset."

"It's wonderful, beautiful in itself once the blossoms come into bloom." Slowly she rose over the stone rail. As her feet touched the stone the vines fell to conceal the enterance. She looked over her shoulder to find an empty balcony. "Milord?"

"I am here," Shin answered from the ground.

"What business have you on the ground?"

"It is ill-mannered for one to invite himself into a lady's household."

"I see. Then would you be so kind as to come and assist me?"

"Most certainly."

She stepped back as he flew over the rail and touched down beside her. "What I need to know," she said as she turned to face the vine barrier. "Is how to open this without harming a single pod."

"No, these will have to be removed for you to enter."

"I won't hear of that! I'd sooner sleep here on the stones then harm this plant. You can't find this elsewhere. Your planet is the only sanctuary for this species. It's been wiped out on the mortal realm. And yet it survives."

"I had no idea."

"Now you know."

"Indeed, but I believe a simple command would be sufficient." She parted her lips to speak when he intervened. "Da ni shalan."

The vines quivered then drew back like a curtain exposing the room that lie beyond. It was bare, stripped of any furnishings there might have been. Dried leaves and flower petals littered the stone floor and lie in raised beds in the corners and along the back wall. "As I said, it's not much."

"It's perfect, considering I won't be long." They stepped inside. While Zari merely looked about her, Shin examined the stone's condition.

"Seems to have held up well."

"Yes, but as I've said, I won't be here long."

"Well, about that," said a voice from the outside. "Shin I need to speak with you."

"I'll be but a moment,' he said to Zari then left.

"I'll be here," she said.

"Shin," Talme began once he was outside. "You do realize there are certain conditions if she is to stay here." He sighed then nodded. "This planet is for Kais alone."

"And for those whom a Kai owes a debt."

"Not to live on."

"In this case the rules do not apply. I owe her more than my life, I owe her my very being. I felt my soul slip away, freeze, then fracture. My mind was an empty void, I felt absolutely nothing! Had she not found me, I would have succumb to a fate far worse than death."

"That does not change the code. She must either join with us, or leave immediately."

"There has to be another way," he whispered.

"No, there isn't. Do you want me to tell her?"

He shook his head, "I'll inform her."

"Not like that you won't." Before he could blink his attire had changed back to his uniform. His overcoat was open and the cloth his arm hung in was exposed and still bloodstained. "I don't know what to do about that arm so Zari will have to attend to it."

He nodded solemnly but did not reply. Talme disappeared as he went back inside. "I bear ill news milady," he said grimly.

"What must I do?" she asked cheerfully. "I tried not to listen in, but I was not completely successful."

"Then you might know the circumstances."

"No."

He sighed softly, "I wish there were some other way." He hung his head.

Her fingers slipped beneath his chin and slowly tilted his head up. "What must I do?" she repeated softly. As his eyes met hers he suddenly felt as his strength wash out of his limbs and the will to speak vanished.

Still he forced his lips and tongue to form words, "you must abide by the code of the Kais if you desire to remain."

"Who am I to serve and protect?"

"That is your choice. However, I beg you not to exceed your primary decision. Your life will be stripped from you, completely out of your control. The code rules all life on this planet."

"So? I have no life now. I'm starting over." He shut his eyes tightly as she walked passed him then back to the center of the room. "Would it be possible for me to protect you?"

"Thado is responsible for my protection."

"Hm..." She crossed her arms and turned to face him. "Not anymore he's not. And give me a moment to tell you why. Firstly, I wouldn't trust that overgrown imp with a rock, never mind a man's life. Did he even offer to go with to on your latest mission? I noticed there wasn't a single scratch on him. Whereas you milord, your own mind had become your prison. He doesn't care about your life. He didn't even bother to ask you of your health, because he was far too busy with his own fancies. You even allowed him to give you orders. This may be a time of peace, but there is no excuse for such behaviors. And should he choose to pitch a fit, let him. He can go piss and moan elsewhere. And I shall inform him myself that he has been replaced."

"Please there is no need for that."

"The universe has but five Kaioshins, lose one and balance is destroyed."

"There will be no replacement." She opened her mouth, "and that is final."

"Very well, but if you won't let me protect you," she paused as she held her hands out. He stepped back. "What? I was only going to ask if I may tend to your arm first."

"I suppose."

"Have a seat then."

"Where?"

She turned sideways and gestured toward the back wall. "On the bed of course." He blinked in disbelief.

"That wasn't there before."

"And neither were the shelves or books to your right."

"What's happening?"

"I'm transporting the few things I own. It's the only way I'll know where anything is." He watched as the air crashed up against the walls then became solid as material objects became their nature. "Please have a seat," she said as she waited for the basket of healing herbs to solidify. "Go on and remove the top articles of your clothing, and when I say that, I mean your shirt. Be careful of your arm."

He quickly worked his way to the bed, avoiding the invisible waves. Once sitting he drew his feet up as a wave rushed beneath the bed.

"There it is!" she exclaimed as she extracted a small vile from the basket. She sat down behind him once his overcoat no longer covered his shoulders. "Hold your breath."

"Wh-" his breath was cut short as he felt her grip the back of his shirt and pull it through him.

"Does anybody ever tell you you ask too many questions?"

"No," he gasped. "Not as of yet."

"Well then hear this from me, you talk too much." She opened the vile and poured some of the sap into her palm. "I'm gonna warn you, this will burn like hell. But the first time is always the worst." Gingerly she pulled his arm from the blood stained fabric then tossed it on the stone floor. "This'll get the blood out of your pores." She rubbed both hands together then smoothed the sap on his arm, hand, and fingers.

His tone hinted slight panic, "it's cold."

"This is just the prep work, not the actual procedure."

"When will that start?"

Her right arm stretched out, palm up as if she was lifting something. A cloth floated from the basket and dropped into her hand. "As soon as I wipe this salve off. If I were to leave it on, the heat would be intensified. As it will be, it's pretty painful on the first round. After that it becomes almost soothing." She wiped the sap from her hands then rubbed her hands together rapidly. Her palms glowed orange like fire. She cupped her hands and blew across the palm. Sparks flew the scattered like fireflies. "Brace yourself."

He sighed as the coldness vanished. To her surprise, he didn't utter any other sound as she began to massage his weak muscles. At first she focused on his shoulder then slowly worked down to his arm. She felt him ease, as if he were about to fall asleep. "That's it," she whispered softly in his ear. Suddenly she felt him melt as she spoke, just when she thought he couldn't relax anymore. "There, you see."

"Yes," he said sleepily. "Quite pleasant."

"Your muscles will be much stronger once I finish. But they will be sore. You'll feel like you just fought a war using only this limb. Also, they won't be very flexible."

"How many times?"

"At least three." She was now down to his wrist. "Wait a moment." She rubbed her hands together then another gust of sparks sailed into the wall. He felt the heat soak into his skin and muscle tendons, feeling them grow stronger, bigger, but no where near as solid as those in his right arm. As his skin relished the warmth his mind felt the incisive pains of the bitter cold. Zari's voice sounded distant and hazy. His vision was black as his eyes were closed.

His hand began to tremble in hers. "Milord?" she asked softly. "What's wrong?" Now his whole body shook and she had no idea why.

Suddenly he felt something wrap around him and his eyes flew open. He started then was jerked back down. "Easy easy," Zari whispered in his ear as she held him tightly. He relaxed again as he felt the warmth of her body against his back then placed a hand on Zari's forearm.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

She rested her chin on his shoulder. "I understand your fears, though hear me. Nothing's going to happen to you or your mentors. No harm will befall you and death will stay at bay." She shifted and sat beside him. "I now stand between harm and you. And only should my soul pass into nonexistence, will you experience fear. I can tell you this, I'm not going anywhere."