Authors note: I'd again like to thank my reviewers (Darth and Nevorata) for of course reviewing, you give me the inspiration to write again! (That sounded corny didn't it?) Well on with the show!

Disclaimer: do I really have to do this (groans) all right, all right I do not own breath of fire, I only own the armored furball (snigger) that's my made up duel monster.

Paths of the Heart

Chapter IV: First strike

"It's getting dark." Nina said nervously.

"Hm" Ryu grunted in reply, not really paying attention, he was admiring the town, or rather city, it was the largest he'd ever seen.

"It's getting dark." He said bluntly, not realizing he was copying Nina.

" Hey! That's what I said, you mimic!" Nina said jokingly, Ryu said nothing he appeared to be looking for something, Nina blinked and asked, " What are you looking for?"

"Shelter." He replied

" Oh…" the wyndian princess said quietly and looked at the floor 'he's right, he is not very talkative.' She thought, then a 'brilliant' idea, If this was a cartoon then a lightbulb would have magically appeared right over her head, but alas that is not so. "Why don't we go down to the big town surely there must be an Inn there."

"Best idea you've had all day…" Ryu said smiling, Nina looked proudly at him, " I'm glad I thought of it." He ended cheekily, the big smile on Nina's face slowly wilted.

"HEY! I thought of it! Me, not you!" Ryu started walking off, "don't you dare run off I'm speaking to you, Stand here and face me you coward! Are you a man or a whelk!"

"I'm a dragon actually." Ryu said smugly, listening to the sound of Nina running after him, shouting various insults, it was quite amusing actually, or that was what he thought.

"Whelk! Fairy! Horse! Dog!" Ryu had to laugh at the simplicity of her feeble insults. But that second she grabbed Ryu painfully by the arm, sharp nails digging into him, and let a high pitch shriek to get his attention.

"What is it!" He said sharply, getting rather annoyed.

At this Nina folded her arms and puffed up her lower lip, " you're so mean! You were nicer when everyone thought you were mute, Ryu!" She growled.

Ryu was about to make a smart comment back, when he felt really bad and had a strange urge to apologize. "What is this magic has Nina cast a spell on me?' he asked himself.

"Nina, I don't know why I'm saying this… but I'm sorry." He said softly.

"Huh?" came the very confused reply of a certain wyndian princess, but her mouth then curved into a smile " I win Bing! Bing! Bing!" she said dramatically, and doing a strange victory dance which kind of looked like an ancient Egyptian boogie.

"C'mon we'll be here all night if we don't go down to the town soon." Ryu said, slightly amused with Nina's 'dance'

"Oh, right." Nina said, skipping off, Ryu chuckled and followed her.

"Everything looks so big!" Nina cried in amazement, Ryu could only mouth "wow" the blonde haired princess started running everywhere, trying to look at everything at the same time, with Ryu trailing her, lights flashed everywhere blinding them with colors.

'Lucky pound casino'

'Half price sale'

'Ginny's fashion'

Were just a small percentage of them.

"Whats a casino?" Nina asked, Ryu shrugged, they both then noticed everyone was looking at Nina strangely, though it was dark, her pure white feathers were illuminated quite nicely with all the lights around them.

"I think we should find an Inn soon, It looks rather dangerous here, could be thieves around." And indeed behind the flashy lights were their dark alleyways and rubbish littered streets, paved completely with concrete.

"I do decree that this place could use a makeover." Said Nina, but not a laugh was heard, and for some reason it seemed rather darker than usual "S-shall we ask someone then?" said Nina quietly, Ryu nodded and walked over to a 'reasonably' friendly looking man.

"Whacha want?" he asked, maybe this wasn't quite such a good idea, as he seemed to be looking at Nina very closely, too closely if you know what I mean, Ryu sharp-eyed as he is noticed this, and stood protectively in front of her.

"We was wondering if there was an Inn round here sir? Nina asked naively, her head bobbing above Ryu's shoulder, Unaware of the man's 'wondering' eyes.

"yeah turn left an ye'll find a place called 'the armored furball' it has a rather memorable name dun it? Say missy, yer mighty cute, whatcha say bout-"

But whatever he was about to say they never found out for at that second Ryu grabbed his sword by its hilt, and in a flash the man found himself against a wall with a sword pressed against his throat, in a record of 0.83 seconds.

"Shut up." Ryu hissed dangerous, Nina stood there with wide eyes as the frightened man legged it as fast as pudgy little legs could carry him.