A/N: Sorry for the delay folks. Thanks for the reviews (both FFN & MM!)
School started back up so I've been awfully preoccupied. But I'll try to
update as much as possible. ~Belle
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Spawn's nerves were wearing thin. The elf beside him had been playing on his ocarina for the past five hours. Isn't he tired yet? It wasn't that the elf was a poor player. He was rather talented actually. However, the tunes that he chose to play all sounded as if they could see the truth in one's soul and that Spawn almost felt guilty. It was as if that blasted elf and his stupid ocarina could see right through his disguise.
However, he would not allow himself to feel guilty for using these three gullible warriors. It was necessary for him to attain Soul Edge if he ever wanted to see his time again. The 16th century was not such a great place to for one from the 21st century to live. He missed his television damn it!
Then those two in the back of the wagon, who did they think they were fooling? Did they think he couldn't hear them? Their laughing was annoying him even quicker than the elf's little wind instrument. He didn't really want to know exactly what they were doing. But would it kill them to shut up and sleep?
His last shred of sanity was lost and he pulled the horses aside much to the surprise of his passengers. Link slowly lowered his ocarina. The laughs from the back died down. The curtain opened revealing two confused faces that met Link's own confused expression.
The driver remained silent. It almost seemed as if some sort of green energy was being emitted from his person. Surely it was the heat causing such an illusion.
"Sir Al is there something amiss?" Kilik inquired.
Spawn cleared his throat, took three deep breaths, and forced himself to calm down. "Nothing is amiss. I just needed to rest the team of horses for a while."
Talim looked thoughtfully at the horses before hoping out of the wagon, much to Kilik's disappointment. She walked towards the glorious white mare and gently ran her hand across her muzzle. The wind priestess could see through the merchant's lie even without the advice of the winds. The horses were far from fatigued.
Link also jumped off his perch to stand beside the other horse. This chestnut colored stallion did not seem weary in the least. He and Talim exchanged meaningful looks.
"A short rest will do the horses well." Talim replied, easing suspicion from the mysterious man who conveniently was leading to the same directive. "Kilik will you take a walk with me?"
Kilik looked slighty confused by the trio's words and actions. Everyone seemed to be contradicting themselves. The horses didn't look tired and the merchant was obviously annoyed by something.
"Yes, let us go pick some berries or something." Kilik replied as he offered a hooked elbow to the woman. She linked her arm through the opening and allowed him to escort her away from the wagon.
Link sat down cross-legged on the wild field grass. Spawn remained sitting on his driver's seat with his arms crossed in front of his chest. The elf and the demon locked gazes, neither blinking, and both judging. Not one shared trust for the other's intentions.
After reaching the relative security of the tree line Talim unhooked her elbow from Kilik's and grabbed tightly to his forearm. "I trust him not. He was false about the horses and I still feel no wind."
"He is our way to France though," Kilik countered reasonably.
Talim shook her head fiercely. "Can you not feel it? Or is it just Link and I that can feel his hatred and malice?"
Kilik was becoming irritated. Why must she always bring the elf into the conversation? Link this, Link that, why couldn't that boy just go back to his home world? "And when did you and Link have this discussion? As I vividly recall it was just you and I in the back of that wagon. I think I would have remembered had the elf been back there with us," Kilik replied in a tone that was slightly cold and a little callous.
A dark blush rose up in Talim's cheeks to color her face a bright red. She was at a loss for words at first then hit Kilik not so lightly across the chest. He raised his hand to the site of affliction to prevent further assault. That was a stupid idea to antagonize her!
"Were you not listening to the songs he was playing on his ocarina?" Talim asked him as if it was the most obvious answer. Kilik slowly shook his head negatively afraid that the riled up wind priestess would inflict more not so light blows upon his person.
Talim sighed exasperated at his cluelessness. "I thought you were raised at a temple. How can you not have observed the meaning of those tunes?"
Kilik shrugged. "I'm tone deaf?"
Talim raised her hand to push him in the chest again but Kilik quickly caught her wrist to prevent the blow. "Will you stop that? I didn't figure out the meaning behind the songs. I was a little preoccupied if you'll remember. Would you care to enlighten me perhaps?"
Talim smiled sweetly at him. Kilik reluctantly released her wrist, even though he didn't quite trust that sugary smile. He took a step back so that he wasn't in her range for future assault.
"The melody Link was sharing expressed the darkness he felt about Al. He is more than he seems. Link and I both believe he is leading us into a trap. The horses do not know him. They are as familiar to him as they are to us. He recently acquired the wagon. He may be leading us to France, but it is more likely he is leading us to our doom." Talim answered with no intention of further abusing the man before her.
Kilik looked thoughtful. Behind his dark eyes intelligence was shining as he was carefully considering all the information presented to him. It was too convenient that Al showed up when the needed to travel to France and happen to be heading in that direction. At first he had thought his god was favoring their mission. Perhaps there was something more to it then.
Something about Al's presence reminded him of that evening when Talim was kidnapped by Yoshimitsu. That something brought to his mind the memory of the chill that ran down his spine that evening.
"You are right. He probably wants us to lead him to Soul Edge. I say let him try. The three of us can defeat him." Kilik replied while his eyes had lifted to the treetops, mesmerized by a few nesting birds in the upper boughs. He missed the joyful look that crossed Talim's features.
Talim's smile stretched from ear to ear. She rushed into Kilik's chest and wrapped her arms tightly across his torso. Kilik's attention quickly focused back upon her when all the air of his lungs was forced out.
"You're admitting that I'm as fine a warrior as you!" Talim squealed in delight. Kilik decided to wrap his arms around her tightly to prevent the punches sure to follow his next comment.
"It's more like I know how stubborn you are and although I'll probably spend more time trying to protect you than I should in battle, it's better than you getting kidnapped again." Kilik tried to sound serious but he couldn't keep a snicker from escaping his lips when the priestess growled at him.
Talim struggled uselessly in the cage of Kilik's arms. Why did he have to be so strong! "That's not funny!" She told him in defeat after realizing she couldn't escape his grasp.
"I know it's not. You are a fine warrior but I would still prefer if you weren't involved in this mission. It is rather dangerous." Kilik released her from his clutches to meet her chocolate orbs with a serious expression.
Talim shrugged. "I think that your rod may be my doom after all," Talim told him slyly while watching a crimson burn in the stoic man's cheeks. "Let's go back before he gets suspicious."
"What about the berries?" Kilik asked.
"Yeah, right, he'll be suspicious if we come back with berries. It was an obvious excuse for the two of us to be alone in the forest." Talim flashed him a suggestive wink.
Kilik shook his head at her behavior. "If I ever meet your parents they are going to hate me." Kilik told her solemnly, eyes downcast.
Talim stopped her walking to look at him in shock. "What are you talking about?" She asked him obviously concerned.
Kilik's eyes flashed with tomfoolery. "I'm corrupting their daughter!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yunsung was not enjoying his adventure to Greece in the slightest. He missed Talim and Link. He thought that it would be great to become better acquainted with Cassandra, but she had spent the entire ship ride in solitude. Apparently she needed to be in deep prayer and communion with her gods.
Seung Mina certainly wasn't make life any easier for him. She was constantly hitting him upside the head with her staff and reminding him of his imprudence. The elf's beatings were much preferred to that of his hero's daughter.
"Is there something on your mind?" Maxi asked as he took a seat next to the young Korean warrior near the bow of the mighty pirate ship.
Yunsung couldn't contain a chuckle of mirth from escaping him. "You could say that. Where's Xianghua?"
Maxi moved his hand to his chin to rub absently. He didn't really want to talk about Xianghua. For the past several nights he had been having the strangest dreams about her. It was as if hidden memories were coming to the surface. Sometimes Kilik would be in the dreams, but usually they focused on Xianghua.
"She hasn't really been talking to me lately. I think she's below deck somewhere. I'm not really sure." Maxi answered distracted by his own inner dialog.
Yunsung watched Maxi from the corner of his eye. Xianghua had stopped fawning over him, but he knew the only reason she did it to begin with was to make the pirate captain jealous. Those two needed some serious intervention.
"You two need to get over yourselves and just fess up your feelings." Yunsung breezily replied.
Maxi sputtered at the comment. "What are you talking about?"
Yunsung stood up and began to walk towards the mess hall for something to eat. "If you don't know what I'm talking about you're even more pathetic than I thought you were."
Maxi watched Yunsung's back until it retreated from view below deck. He then redirected his gaze to the waves. He shook his head in denial. That young man was too inexperienced to understand life. Maxi couldn't talk to Xianghua about possible feelings. He had to focus on killing Astaroth. He had to focus on avenging his comrades.
Maybe, if he actually survived his death match against that villain, maybe then he could think about pursuing something with the Chinese woman. Until that time, he would merely watch the waves roll by and pretend to be oblivious to her affections.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Raphael ran his fingers through his short blond hair. His spy network was bringing back news that made him grow uneasy. Not only was that elf coming to France but he was in the company of some pretty formidable warriors.
He knew about the holy man and the priestess. He was not aware that a hell spawn was in cahoots with them as well. Of course his spies didn't realize all of this when they reported back to him. However, if Raphael was something it was observant. He was able to piece the information together to identify the truth behind those travelers.
They were seeking Soul Edge. They were his most formidable competitors after Nightmare. What made them especially so difficult was that the three were a team. Kilik was in the successful team those four years before. Apparently he replaced his useless partners with better adapt ones.
Raphael continued to pace the halls of his library. His young ward, Amy, had recently gone to bed. It was important for him to attain Soul Edge for her sake. The nobles of France needed to be eliminated. If he didn't destroy the aristocracy himself a bloody revolution was no doubt lurking around the corner! (As in the French Revolution!)
Although his confidence in his skill with his sword was unparalleled Raphael was not foolish enough to believe he could take out four warriors of such excellent caliber on his own. Perhaps it was time he called his former ally the Assassin to his aid once more.
The Assassin knew many individuals who would have no qualms about attacking these warriors when their backs were turned in a dark alley somewhere. Yes, perhaps it was time to call in the Assassin and plan a welcoming party for the quartet.
Raphael left the library towards his chambers. He could contact the Assassin in the morning. He paused outside of Amy's room. He laid his palm gently against the wooden door.
"For you Amy, I do this for you," he whispered before continuing the last few feet towards his own chambers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I know! There was no violence in this chapter! Is it just me or is Raphael a little bit mental? Will Cassandra's gods answer her prayers? What is it in Greece that the warriors must attain? Will Kilik, Talim, and Link reach France in one piece? Or will Spawn lose his shred of patience and annihilate them all?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Spawn's nerves were wearing thin. The elf beside him had been playing on his ocarina for the past five hours. Isn't he tired yet? It wasn't that the elf was a poor player. He was rather talented actually. However, the tunes that he chose to play all sounded as if they could see the truth in one's soul and that Spawn almost felt guilty. It was as if that blasted elf and his stupid ocarina could see right through his disguise.
However, he would not allow himself to feel guilty for using these three gullible warriors. It was necessary for him to attain Soul Edge if he ever wanted to see his time again. The 16th century was not such a great place to for one from the 21st century to live. He missed his television damn it!
Then those two in the back of the wagon, who did they think they were fooling? Did they think he couldn't hear them? Their laughing was annoying him even quicker than the elf's little wind instrument. He didn't really want to know exactly what they were doing. But would it kill them to shut up and sleep?
His last shred of sanity was lost and he pulled the horses aside much to the surprise of his passengers. Link slowly lowered his ocarina. The laughs from the back died down. The curtain opened revealing two confused faces that met Link's own confused expression.
The driver remained silent. It almost seemed as if some sort of green energy was being emitted from his person. Surely it was the heat causing such an illusion.
"Sir Al is there something amiss?" Kilik inquired.
Spawn cleared his throat, took three deep breaths, and forced himself to calm down. "Nothing is amiss. I just needed to rest the team of horses for a while."
Talim looked thoughtfully at the horses before hoping out of the wagon, much to Kilik's disappointment. She walked towards the glorious white mare and gently ran her hand across her muzzle. The wind priestess could see through the merchant's lie even without the advice of the winds. The horses were far from fatigued.
Link also jumped off his perch to stand beside the other horse. This chestnut colored stallion did not seem weary in the least. He and Talim exchanged meaningful looks.
"A short rest will do the horses well." Talim replied, easing suspicion from the mysterious man who conveniently was leading to the same directive. "Kilik will you take a walk with me?"
Kilik looked slighty confused by the trio's words and actions. Everyone seemed to be contradicting themselves. The horses didn't look tired and the merchant was obviously annoyed by something.
"Yes, let us go pick some berries or something." Kilik replied as he offered a hooked elbow to the woman. She linked her arm through the opening and allowed him to escort her away from the wagon.
Link sat down cross-legged on the wild field grass. Spawn remained sitting on his driver's seat with his arms crossed in front of his chest. The elf and the demon locked gazes, neither blinking, and both judging. Not one shared trust for the other's intentions.
After reaching the relative security of the tree line Talim unhooked her elbow from Kilik's and grabbed tightly to his forearm. "I trust him not. He was false about the horses and I still feel no wind."
"He is our way to France though," Kilik countered reasonably.
Talim shook her head fiercely. "Can you not feel it? Or is it just Link and I that can feel his hatred and malice?"
Kilik was becoming irritated. Why must she always bring the elf into the conversation? Link this, Link that, why couldn't that boy just go back to his home world? "And when did you and Link have this discussion? As I vividly recall it was just you and I in the back of that wagon. I think I would have remembered had the elf been back there with us," Kilik replied in a tone that was slightly cold and a little callous.
A dark blush rose up in Talim's cheeks to color her face a bright red. She was at a loss for words at first then hit Kilik not so lightly across the chest. He raised his hand to the site of affliction to prevent further assault. That was a stupid idea to antagonize her!
"Were you not listening to the songs he was playing on his ocarina?" Talim asked him as if it was the most obvious answer. Kilik slowly shook his head negatively afraid that the riled up wind priestess would inflict more not so light blows upon his person.
Talim sighed exasperated at his cluelessness. "I thought you were raised at a temple. How can you not have observed the meaning of those tunes?"
Kilik shrugged. "I'm tone deaf?"
Talim raised her hand to push him in the chest again but Kilik quickly caught her wrist to prevent the blow. "Will you stop that? I didn't figure out the meaning behind the songs. I was a little preoccupied if you'll remember. Would you care to enlighten me perhaps?"
Talim smiled sweetly at him. Kilik reluctantly released her wrist, even though he didn't quite trust that sugary smile. He took a step back so that he wasn't in her range for future assault.
"The melody Link was sharing expressed the darkness he felt about Al. He is more than he seems. Link and I both believe he is leading us into a trap. The horses do not know him. They are as familiar to him as they are to us. He recently acquired the wagon. He may be leading us to France, but it is more likely he is leading us to our doom." Talim answered with no intention of further abusing the man before her.
Kilik looked thoughtful. Behind his dark eyes intelligence was shining as he was carefully considering all the information presented to him. It was too convenient that Al showed up when the needed to travel to France and happen to be heading in that direction. At first he had thought his god was favoring their mission. Perhaps there was something more to it then.
Something about Al's presence reminded him of that evening when Talim was kidnapped by Yoshimitsu. That something brought to his mind the memory of the chill that ran down his spine that evening.
"You are right. He probably wants us to lead him to Soul Edge. I say let him try. The three of us can defeat him." Kilik replied while his eyes had lifted to the treetops, mesmerized by a few nesting birds in the upper boughs. He missed the joyful look that crossed Talim's features.
Talim's smile stretched from ear to ear. She rushed into Kilik's chest and wrapped her arms tightly across his torso. Kilik's attention quickly focused back upon her when all the air of his lungs was forced out.
"You're admitting that I'm as fine a warrior as you!" Talim squealed in delight. Kilik decided to wrap his arms around her tightly to prevent the punches sure to follow his next comment.
"It's more like I know how stubborn you are and although I'll probably spend more time trying to protect you than I should in battle, it's better than you getting kidnapped again." Kilik tried to sound serious but he couldn't keep a snicker from escaping his lips when the priestess growled at him.
Talim struggled uselessly in the cage of Kilik's arms. Why did he have to be so strong! "That's not funny!" She told him in defeat after realizing she couldn't escape his grasp.
"I know it's not. You are a fine warrior but I would still prefer if you weren't involved in this mission. It is rather dangerous." Kilik released her from his clutches to meet her chocolate orbs with a serious expression.
Talim shrugged. "I think that your rod may be my doom after all," Talim told him slyly while watching a crimson burn in the stoic man's cheeks. "Let's go back before he gets suspicious."
"What about the berries?" Kilik asked.
"Yeah, right, he'll be suspicious if we come back with berries. It was an obvious excuse for the two of us to be alone in the forest." Talim flashed him a suggestive wink.
Kilik shook his head at her behavior. "If I ever meet your parents they are going to hate me." Kilik told her solemnly, eyes downcast.
Talim stopped her walking to look at him in shock. "What are you talking about?" She asked him obviously concerned.
Kilik's eyes flashed with tomfoolery. "I'm corrupting their daughter!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yunsung was not enjoying his adventure to Greece in the slightest. He missed Talim and Link. He thought that it would be great to become better acquainted with Cassandra, but she had spent the entire ship ride in solitude. Apparently she needed to be in deep prayer and communion with her gods.
Seung Mina certainly wasn't make life any easier for him. She was constantly hitting him upside the head with her staff and reminding him of his imprudence. The elf's beatings were much preferred to that of his hero's daughter.
"Is there something on your mind?" Maxi asked as he took a seat next to the young Korean warrior near the bow of the mighty pirate ship.
Yunsung couldn't contain a chuckle of mirth from escaping him. "You could say that. Where's Xianghua?"
Maxi moved his hand to his chin to rub absently. He didn't really want to talk about Xianghua. For the past several nights he had been having the strangest dreams about her. It was as if hidden memories were coming to the surface. Sometimes Kilik would be in the dreams, but usually they focused on Xianghua.
"She hasn't really been talking to me lately. I think she's below deck somewhere. I'm not really sure." Maxi answered distracted by his own inner dialog.
Yunsung watched Maxi from the corner of his eye. Xianghua had stopped fawning over him, but he knew the only reason she did it to begin with was to make the pirate captain jealous. Those two needed some serious intervention.
"You two need to get over yourselves and just fess up your feelings." Yunsung breezily replied.
Maxi sputtered at the comment. "What are you talking about?"
Yunsung stood up and began to walk towards the mess hall for something to eat. "If you don't know what I'm talking about you're even more pathetic than I thought you were."
Maxi watched Yunsung's back until it retreated from view below deck. He then redirected his gaze to the waves. He shook his head in denial. That young man was too inexperienced to understand life. Maxi couldn't talk to Xianghua about possible feelings. He had to focus on killing Astaroth. He had to focus on avenging his comrades.
Maybe, if he actually survived his death match against that villain, maybe then he could think about pursuing something with the Chinese woman. Until that time, he would merely watch the waves roll by and pretend to be oblivious to her affections.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Raphael ran his fingers through his short blond hair. His spy network was bringing back news that made him grow uneasy. Not only was that elf coming to France but he was in the company of some pretty formidable warriors.
He knew about the holy man and the priestess. He was not aware that a hell spawn was in cahoots with them as well. Of course his spies didn't realize all of this when they reported back to him. However, if Raphael was something it was observant. He was able to piece the information together to identify the truth behind those travelers.
They were seeking Soul Edge. They were his most formidable competitors after Nightmare. What made them especially so difficult was that the three were a team. Kilik was in the successful team those four years before. Apparently he replaced his useless partners with better adapt ones.
Raphael continued to pace the halls of his library. His young ward, Amy, had recently gone to bed. It was important for him to attain Soul Edge for her sake. The nobles of France needed to be eliminated. If he didn't destroy the aristocracy himself a bloody revolution was no doubt lurking around the corner! (As in the French Revolution!)
Although his confidence in his skill with his sword was unparalleled Raphael was not foolish enough to believe he could take out four warriors of such excellent caliber on his own. Perhaps it was time he called his former ally the Assassin to his aid once more.
The Assassin knew many individuals who would have no qualms about attacking these warriors when their backs were turned in a dark alley somewhere. Yes, perhaps it was time to call in the Assassin and plan a welcoming party for the quartet.
Raphael left the library towards his chambers. He could contact the Assassin in the morning. He paused outside of Amy's room. He laid his palm gently against the wooden door.
"For you Amy, I do this for you," he whispered before continuing the last few feet towards his own chambers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I know! There was no violence in this chapter! Is it just me or is Raphael a little bit mental? Will Cassandra's gods answer her prayers? What is it in Greece that the warriors must attain? Will Kilik, Talim, and Link reach France in one piece? Or will Spawn lose his shred of patience and annihilate them all?