This is the second to last chapter of this fic. Hope you enjoy.

Parting ways

"So what are we going to do now?" Jounouchii asked as I hurried from the

small cave. I searched for an answer, but could find nothing, as I didn't

know what to do myself. I knew I had to find Phelios before something

happened to him, but I also wanted to foil Sloth and Angel's plans. It was

just a matter of where to begin...

I stopped suddenly, causing Jounouchii to walk into me due to his lack of

attention. He lost his balance and fell to the ground.

"Why'd you stop?" Jounouchii asked as he stood and brushed himself off. I

told him to hush and inhaled the air deeply. Sloth. There was no mistaking

his filthy stench in the air, and better yet, he had just passed through.

"This way!" I whispered sharply in Jounouchii's direction and took off in

another. He followed, utterly confused and slightly frightened. After

tracking Sloth for about an hour, Jounouchii broke the silence between us.

"What are we doing? Have you gone mad?" I turned to face him.

"I can smell Sloth. He came this way.² Jounouchii nodded.

"Then why couldn't I?" I shrugged and continued walking.

"I have a better sense of smell I guess." Jounouchii continued after me.

"I see..." he paused, "It's the whole vampire thing... Isn't it?" I nodded.

"Now no more questions. We must find them." Jounouchii continued along,

cautious not to make a sound.

"Darn it," I muttered faintly. We had reached a river, and by the looks of

it Sloth used it as a means of transportation. His scent lingered faintly in

the air, but not enough to determine which way he had gone.

"What?" Jounouchii asked, conquering his fear of speaking.

"He used the river," I pointed out, "He went for a swim and that decreases

his scent greatly."

"Oh... I see," Jounouchii said even though he was totally clueless. I

muttered a few colorful words and turned to Jounouchii.

³We¹ll have to split up,² I stated pointing in a direction, ³You go that way

and I will go this way.² I started to walk away, but Jounouchii stopped me.

³What if I meet up with Sloth? You know what a big fat chicken I can be!² I

sighed and nodded, knowing he was right. If Jounouchii was to run into Sloth

­ and with our luck, that¹s what would happen -- he would be scared stiff.

³I get your point,² I muttered and quickly though of an alternative. ³Here¹s

what well do, we will split ways and if you run into Sloth, whistle,² I

paused a moment, ³You do know how to whistle right?² Jounouchii nodded.

³Of course I do!² he pouted slightly, ³I¹m not that dumb.²

³Then let¹s go,² I turned in the direction I had chosen and Jounouchii went

in the other.

I don't know why some of the qutation marks are number o.O; Sorry, but I'm too lazy to fix it XD