For those just now joining us: Read the other chapters, dammit! And for my present fans: Submit reviews at FF.net, dammit! And the rest of you, I give you chapter twelve..
Nature's Mercenary
At last, as he retyed his sash and reattached the scabbard to his hip, Seikensu stepped away from his very tidy bed. Golden eyes looked over the room in one quick sweep. As he nodded to himself, the young man strode to the door and opened it.
The quiet hallway was all he could hear for a moment before a clatter met his ears. He smiled softly and turned towards the stairs. His left hand smoothly slipping a grip to the handle of his sword as he took every step with great care.
A glimpse of Seikensu before xen turned away in the kitchen, pouring eggs onto a plate, then swiftly a few slices of bacon and nimbly dropping an springroll beside them. With a smile nearly forced, he turned with the plate in hand, an empty one in the table behind him and said quickly, "Staying for breakfast? Best not to travel on an empty stomach."
A quiet and gentle laugh before Seikensu released his blade, not straying his hand far from it and cautiously took a seat at a small table. Moving the sheath over his lap before nodding a little, "I would love a warm meal, thank you." bowing his head curteously as xen placed the plate in front of him.
Xen walked away with no more than a 'No problem' before attending various duties around the quiet inn.
Seikensu observed the paintings that dotted the walls sparsely. Portraits of warriors who have visited over the years. A few of them didn't look human, and most of them weren't human either, upon a longer look. They all looked very powerful, but more than a few wore cloaks.
With a sigh, Seikensu wiped his upper lip with a paper napkin, his plate cleared and nearly spotless. Lifting it in hand befor putting it down again at the silent gesture of xen to do so.
The red-heaired man replaced his sword and lowered his eyes, walking towards the door as his cheeks turned slightly pink. Smirking a little, but feeling more ashamed of himself than anything.
Xen suddenly turned and really grinned, "Uh, you forgot to pay, sir." causing a pause in Seikensu, "W-well you see.." and the door swung open, Seikensu sprinting away outside.
As his eyes slid open, the dark-haired man felt warm. Shivering a little inside, remembering his death. The darkness in all directions made him feel as if his eyes hadn't opened at all. As he rose slowly to his feet, he could feel cloth over his body.
Quiet surrounding him, he stood on strong and sturdy feet, trying to gain a little balance. The muscles on him didn't ache very much, as they usually have. He spoke in a cracked whisper, he spoke, "Where am I...?"
A quiet laughter met his ears before seveal bursts of light fell down around him, spotlights on seven spots. The shadowy forms there all stood properly, all looking very proper in most respects.
One man in a red robe, two in different shades of green, and a woman in a blue dress were what he could see, but darker forms stood behind him. The red and blue pair directly in front of them, glanced at one another before the man spoke in a heavy tone.
"You are in our court. We are the seven dark sides of nature." He spoke as if trying to be pleasant to the dark-haired man, as he looked over the subtle black robe they had dressed him with. The tall and slim woman in blue did not look pleased with it, while the two men in green seemed more observant than they.
The man tried to turn his head, to get a look at the others behind him, he could hear their breath, and the giggle of a girl, but found her couldn't move that well at the moment. Not yet saying a word, he turned his wondering eyes back to the man in red.
"I am Ifrit, of Fire. And this chamber is meant only for special occasions.." He said almost wearily, as if reluctant, "And you, Vicious, have attracted our attention."
The man flinched at the name, his hazel eyes looking a bit afraid of it. In a hushed whisper, he spoke calmly, "..How? What have I.. Done?"
A quiet laughter from the three behind him, causing the blue woman and Ifrit to look uneasy. Ifrit raised a hand and they grew quieter, only the girl's giggle lasting a moment longer.
Ifrit spoke again, this time as if to a child, "We have enemies that we can't reach from here. If you help us, you shall be rewarded."
The man in the lighter shade of green, a short beard and mustance over his beard, spoke now, "I still don't think this is necessary. If they show up, one of us alone could handle it."
Vicious looked a little around, then towards the portly man in a darker green robe who observed calmly the entire situation..
The woman in green laughed a bit at the light green man, "Yes, but I'd rather they don't even get that far. As much as I'd hate to give up my pet, I don't want anything broken."
A grunt from him told Vicious that he had given up. The others all nodded a little before Ifrit smiled to the woman, "Thank you, Shiva. And you do have a point. We must keep order in our regions of Hell. This man can surely take care of our friends above if we merely grant him the power."
A quiet murmer between two men behind him made Vicious turn his head a bit, trying his best to think and finding it very difficult. The darkness all around them made him feel a little uneasy, for he could now feel the shackles on his wrists and ankles, though he couldn't see them.
A moment later, Vicious looked back at Ifrit to see a glimpse of a great red beast, then the man in the red robe standing in it's place, looking a bit upset at something, "Alright, it is time. Vicious, if you accept, just close your eyes and nod, we will grant you the power to fend off our foes.."
As Darigan breathed in the morning air, he felt Ayane brush past him out the front door of the tavern. He laughed a little as Ayane rolled over forwards and jumped to her feet. Calming himself and smiling a bit as he crossed his arms and leant to the side against the doorframe.
Ayane turned back to him and laughed a little too, before starting to run backwards and quickly kick off the dusty earth. Her body bending backwards before she cought herself on her forepaws, then lifting her legs and pushing off the ground. Sent flipping into the air, she turned in place, and landed with her back turned to where she came.
Darigan clapped his hands together, stepping closer to her and nodding his head, "Bravo, bravo! That looked great, Ayane!" his cloak brushing the ground around his heavy boots, the ends of his long jeans scuffing a bit beneath the backs of his shoes. The cloak open at the moment, except for one clasped button.
Ayane bowed and licked her teeth once before turning and running off. Within a moment, though, she stopped in her tracks as the fur on her upper back bristled. Darigan swiftly moved a hand into his jacket and spoke calmly, "Ayane.. is there something wrong?" as he looked alert himself, casting a glance in all directions.
Then, he stepped back once as he saw the fur on Ayane grow a bit, and fade to white with dark stripes down her back. Her claws growing quickly on her paws and new blades brandishing on the end of her tail.
A more feline face formed as her face covered in soft fur as well. Golden eyes turning an icy blue, she whipped around, turning to the side and letting out a powerful roar.
The earth could be felt rumbling as Ayane's roar shook the air around her. The steel spikes on her tail tearing easily at the earth every time it whipped nearby, lashing impatiently.
Air settling a little, Darigan looking very alarms but trying to stay still. His eyes now focused on the large cat. His muscles bulged slightly, even straining the cloth of his jacket. He stepped closer once, but Ayane didn't notice, "Ayane, answer me if you can.. Are you alright?"
Another chapter complete! And with time to spare! Good for me, ya know? I took a bit longer writing this, since I felt like jotting down some Bio's for every character involved in this story. A few characters pending their creators' permission. Finally, I'm getting better at this and it's easier to write. Many thanks to System of a Down and a couple of friends for all their help.
Nature's Mercenary
At last, as he retyed his sash and reattached the scabbard to his hip, Seikensu stepped away from his very tidy bed. Golden eyes looked over the room in one quick sweep. As he nodded to himself, the young man strode to the door and opened it.
The quiet hallway was all he could hear for a moment before a clatter met his ears. He smiled softly and turned towards the stairs. His left hand smoothly slipping a grip to the handle of his sword as he took every step with great care.
A glimpse of Seikensu before xen turned away in the kitchen, pouring eggs onto a plate, then swiftly a few slices of bacon and nimbly dropping an springroll beside them. With a smile nearly forced, he turned with the plate in hand, an empty one in the table behind him and said quickly, "Staying for breakfast? Best not to travel on an empty stomach."
A quiet and gentle laugh before Seikensu released his blade, not straying his hand far from it and cautiously took a seat at a small table. Moving the sheath over his lap before nodding a little, "I would love a warm meal, thank you." bowing his head curteously as xen placed the plate in front of him.
Xen walked away with no more than a 'No problem' before attending various duties around the quiet inn.
Seikensu observed the paintings that dotted the walls sparsely. Portraits of warriors who have visited over the years. A few of them didn't look human, and most of them weren't human either, upon a longer look. They all looked very powerful, but more than a few wore cloaks.
With a sigh, Seikensu wiped his upper lip with a paper napkin, his plate cleared and nearly spotless. Lifting it in hand befor putting it down again at the silent gesture of xen to do so.
The red-heaired man replaced his sword and lowered his eyes, walking towards the door as his cheeks turned slightly pink. Smirking a little, but feeling more ashamed of himself than anything.
Xen suddenly turned and really grinned, "Uh, you forgot to pay, sir." causing a pause in Seikensu, "W-well you see.." and the door swung open, Seikensu sprinting away outside.
As his eyes slid open, the dark-haired man felt warm. Shivering a little inside, remembering his death. The darkness in all directions made him feel as if his eyes hadn't opened at all. As he rose slowly to his feet, he could feel cloth over his body.
Quiet surrounding him, he stood on strong and sturdy feet, trying to gain a little balance. The muscles on him didn't ache very much, as they usually have. He spoke in a cracked whisper, he spoke, "Where am I...?"
A quiet laughter met his ears before seveal bursts of light fell down around him, spotlights on seven spots. The shadowy forms there all stood properly, all looking very proper in most respects.
One man in a red robe, two in different shades of green, and a woman in a blue dress were what he could see, but darker forms stood behind him. The red and blue pair directly in front of them, glanced at one another before the man spoke in a heavy tone.
"You are in our court. We are the seven dark sides of nature." He spoke as if trying to be pleasant to the dark-haired man, as he looked over the subtle black robe they had dressed him with. The tall and slim woman in blue did not look pleased with it, while the two men in green seemed more observant than they.
The man tried to turn his head, to get a look at the others behind him, he could hear their breath, and the giggle of a girl, but found her couldn't move that well at the moment. Not yet saying a word, he turned his wondering eyes back to the man in red.
"I am Ifrit, of Fire. And this chamber is meant only for special occasions.." He said almost wearily, as if reluctant, "And you, Vicious, have attracted our attention."
The man flinched at the name, his hazel eyes looking a bit afraid of it. In a hushed whisper, he spoke calmly, "..How? What have I.. Done?"
A quiet laughter from the three behind him, causing the blue woman and Ifrit to look uneasy. Ifrit raised a hand and they grew quieter, only the girl's giggle lasting a moment longer.
Ifrit spoke again, this time as if to a child, "We have enemies that we can't reach from here. If you help us, you shall be rewarded."
The man in the lighter shade of green, a short beard and mustance over his beard, spoke now, "I still don't think this is necessary. If they show up, one of us alone could handle it."
Vicious looked a little around, then towards the portly man in a darker green robe who observed calmly the entire situation..
The woman in green laughed a bit at the light green man, "Yes, but I'd rather they don't even get that far. As much as I'd hate to give up my pet, I don't want anything broken."
A grunt from him told Vicious that he had given up. The others all nodded a little before Ifrit smiled to the woman, "Thank you, Shiva. And you do have a point. We must keep order in our regions of Hell. This man can surely take care of our friends above if we merely grant him the power."
A quiet murmer between two men behind him made Vicious turn his head a bit, trying his best to think and finding it very difficult. The darkness all around them made him feel a little uneasy, for he could now feel the shackles on his wrists and ankles, though he couldn't see them.
A moment later, Vicious looked back at Ifrit to see a glimpse of a great red beast, then the man in the red robe standing in it's place, looking a bit upset at something, "Alright, it is time. Vicious, if you accept, just close your eyes and nod, we will grant you the power to fend off our foes.."
As Darigan breathed in the morning air, he felt Ayane brush past him out the front door of the tavern. He laughed a little as Ayane rolled over forwards and jumped to her feet. Calming himself and smiling a bit as he crossed his arms and leant to the side against the doorframe.
Ayane turned back to him and laughed a little too, before starting to run backwards and quickly kick off the dusty earth. Her body bending backwards before she cought herself on her forepaws, then lifting her legs and pushing off the ground. Sent flipping into the air, she turned in place, and landed with her back turned to where she came.
Darigan clapped his hands together, stepping closer to her and nodding his head, "Bravo, bravo! That looked great, Ayane!" his cloak brushing the ground around his heavy boots, the ends of his long jeans scuffing a bit beneath the backs of his shoes. The cloak open at the moment, except for one clasped button.
Ayane bowed and licked her teeth once before turning and running off. Within a moment, though, she stopped in her tracks as the fur on her upper back bristled. Darigan swiftly moved a hand into his jacket and spoke calmly, "Ayane.. is there something wrong?" as he looked alert himself, casting a glance in all directions.
Then, he stepped back once as he saw the fur on Ayane grow a bit, and fade to white with dark stripes down her back. Her claws growing quickly on her paws and new blades brandishing on the end of her tail.
A more feline face formed as her face covered in soft fur as well. Golden eyes turning an icy blue, she whipped around, turning to the side and letting out a powerful roar.
The earth could be felt rumbling as Ayane's roar shook the air around her. The steel spikes on her tail tearing easily at the earth every time it whipped nearby, lashing impatiently.
Air settling a little, Darigan looking very alarms but trying to stay still. His eyes now focused on the large cat. His muscles bulged slightly, even straining the cloth of his jacket. He stepped closer once, but Ayane didn't notice, "Ayane, answer me if you can.. Are you alright?"
Another chapter complete! And with time to spare! Good for me, ya know? I took a bit longer writing this, since I felt like jotting down some Bio's for every character involved in this story. A few characters pending their creators' permission. Finally, I'm getting better at this and it's easier to write. Many thanks to System of a Down and a couple of friends for all their help.