Do not own. Want to own. Please R&R. Enjoy the story!!!

Why...
Willow EarthFlame

Chapter 5

"So let me guess," Faust said as he and Hel strolled down one of the many interconnecting hallways in the mansion, "It was fun and Disc said he loved you more than the sun itself?"

Hel looked over at Faust, her living eye looking him straight in his. "How did you know?" she said, a little shocked. Faust grinned and laughed congenially, patting her living hand, which rested on his arm.

"It is simply a matter of knowing what to look for," he said, his thick European accent hinted with lingering laughter. "You are a very beautiful woman in your own way, but a creature such as Disc would not see you that way. He would not see past the exterior shells you posses. He would only see you as a tool to achieve the ends he requires."

Hel looked at her feet. Sure, she loved gutting or electrifying a person as much as the next, but she didn't want to be used! She was the realm-keeper of Hell, for fires sake!

"Well," Hel said, grinning suddenly, "I don't really feel like being used. Will you walk me home, dear Faust?"

Faust smiled and nodded his assent. Hel grinned at the shaman/necromancer (he'd be great to barbecue one day,' she thought) as she opened a portal to Hell at the end of the hall, startling Disc, who appeared at the top of an adjoining stairwell.

"Hel!" he called out, limping toward her and Faust, "What are you doing? Where are you going? Where's Ren..."

Hel cut him off with a simple wave of her hand. She also bound him in place till she left through the portal. Turning toward Faust, she said, "I am evil in nature, as you know. I have no remorse or regrets about hurting your friend. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was quite fun too (although Ren screams like a little girl in my opinion).

Faust nodded grimly, then sensed that Hel was going to add something more.

"You have done me a great service, good Faust," she said, grabbing his hand, "In return, I grant you a boon. No one else has ever helped me mostly of their own accord. You have. It is wise to accept..."

"A gift like this from one of such power," Faust finished, looking Hel in the (uh...) eye. "I know. Thank you and I accept. Shall we go?"

Hel smiled a disturbing smile (made so 'cause she was half-dead), and she and Faust walked calmly through the brimstone-scented portal, which disappeared behind them. Disc was suddenly released from his bonds.

"What in the HELL was that about?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jes and HoroHoro walked over to Ren. Carefully, they knelt down and, with the towels and medical supplies Anna handed them, they began to clean him up some. Jes looked up in time to see silent tears that matched her own run down HoroHoro's cheeks. It was his fiancé that they were cleaning up, helping, and as strong as HoroHoro was, seeing Ren like this was tearing at his heart.

Of course, it was tearing at Jes' heart too. After what she and Ren had shared, had been through, how could it not? And she loved him with all her heart, as he loved her and HoroHoro.

Meanwhile (far, far away from La La Land), Anna, Jun, Pai Long, Yoh, Amidamaru, and Bason were constructing a makeshift stretcher to transport Ren on. Which they did, ten minutes later, when Ren had been sufficiently cleaned up and readied to move.

Ren's breathing was shallow, making Jes worry. Quickly pulling up memories of the healing lessons all her healer friends had taught her, Jes selected the right one she needed. Carefully, as not to stick a finger in an open wound, she placed two fingers on Ren's throat and two on her own. Reciting an incantation (in Latin, no less), she placed a spell of double breathing on her and Ren then sealed (gasp!) the spell that would allow her to breath for him.

HoroHoro and Yoh both looked at her, and she shrugged. When they entered the front hall (all except Faust and Hel), they heard a shout from behind them.

"And where do you think you're going, weaklings?" Disc called from the top of the main stairwell.

Jes and HoroHoro stuck their tongues out at Disc (real mature, huh?).

"Out the front door, obviously," Anna said contemptuously. "And you're in no shape to fight and actually win, so I suggest you take your leave."

Disc's eyes widened in rage. How DARE that snotty little blonde tell him what kind of shape he was in! He could fight and win! (But what about losing to Jes?' his thoughts said).

HoroHoro and Yoh gently set Ren down by the front door and instructed Jes to keep watch over him as Jun instructed Pai Long to stand watch and protect her comatose brother and Jess. She started to protest when she remembered that she was also breathing for him. Damn.

HoroHoro was the first to speak.

"So why don't you come down here and fight us, macho man. What, you afraid you're going to lose?" he taunted, grinning.

Yoh smiled and looked up. Yeah, like he was real concerned about fighting. Suddenly Disc attacked.

"Shamus, spirit form!" he shouted, pulling a broadsword out of the sheath on his back. "Into the sword!"

"Hey, that's my line!" Yoh said, creating his own spirit control. "Ready Amidamaru?"

"No, I'm just sitting in this sword for looks," Amidamaru said sarcastically. "Of course I'm ready!"

Yoh stuck his tongue out at his sword, and then he and HoroHoro attacked.

10 minutes later... "Damnit!" Disc swore, defending himself from a blow by Yoh. These kids' are good!

"Give up yet Dicks...er, I mean, Disc?" HoroHoro grinned, gearing up for another attack.

Disc stuck his tongue out. Forget this! he thought to himself, sheathing his sword. I'll end you with my own hands!

"What's he doing?" Yoh looked back and asked Anna.

"He intends to kill you with his bare hands," she said, standing next to Jes and Jun to observe the battle better. "He is strong, though nowhere near as strong as Ren's Uncle En."

Yoh nodded. That was good to know...eh?

"Let's go, Amidamaru!" Yoh shouted, charging at Disc, who was currently stunned by a powerful blow from HoroHoro. "Celestial Slash!"

Jun: Willow...you know how evil that was, right?

Willow: I have no idea what your talking about...

Jun: Oh yes you do. You created a horrible cliffy by stopping the chapter in the middle of a battle.

Willow: (gins) Oh...that. Yeah, I know. Evil is fun.

Jes: Willow, don't worry. I do the same thing with my stories, all the time.

Willow: Yeah, you do, don't you? (laughs)

Jes: (grins) Yeah...sometimes on purpose too.

Willow: Dork.

Jess: Anyway readers....stay tuned for the next chapter! It is gonna be great! Lots of yummy badness for the mind!

Willow: HEY!!! That was MY line!! (remind you of any part of the story??? LOL)

Jes: I know

Jes & Willow: R&R. Ja ne!!!