Chapter 4

The day came to an end but Riku still pressed on. Madison was struggling to keep up and was exhausted. "How does he go on like this?" She wondered. She admired his determination for his goal and wished she could press on like him.

The sun sank and the sky turned a beautiful crimson speckled with splashes of orange and pink. Madison stopped to admire the falling sun and the rising moon.

"Why are you stopping?" Riku demanded.

"I'm just looking at the sunset." She said. "It's so beautiful."

Riku stopped and looked at it too. It was beautiful. The clouds were pink and the sun shone its last rays of light on the vast prairies. The birds flew back to the forest and the little rabbits and prairie dogs ran back to their homes to out wait the upcoming night.

"Let's keep going," he said acting completely oblivious to the setting.

Madison sighed and followed Riku into the dark.

Madison hugged the cold away from her. The wind whipped at her face and numbed her legs. Rain and thunder clouds crept across the sky. A bolt of lightning flashed off into the distance accompanied by a loud roar of thunder. Rain drizzled down on them and quickly fell rapidly on them. The sky turned purple and red as the storm worsened.

"That lightning is awfully close," Madison breathed.

"Yes it is," Riku agreed. "We must find shelter."

"Where?"

"There's a town not far from here," he said looking off to the north. "Most likely there's an inn. I need to restock anyway."

"I didn't now mercenaries stayed in inns." She said and ran up next to Riku.

"There is much you don't know about us do you?" He asked. She shook her head to his question. "Many do," he explained, "And I'm not like the others. I do what I please when I please."

"I kind of figured that." She giggled softly. Riku looked at her suspiciously and raised an eyebrow. "Well it's true!" Riku rolled his eyes and hugged his cloak around him. All was quiet save the roaring thunder and the pounding rain on the earth. "So Riku," she said, "Why did you become a mercenary?" Riku didn't say anything. "Riku…?"

"That will remain classified." He said strictly. "That's none of your concern."

"Sorry," she squeaked. "I was just curious." More silence. "Why is he so quiet?" She asked in her mind. "Okay that was a dumb question. But he's so young." She kept studying him in wonder of his story.

"What is it?" He asked without breaking his concentration of his destination.

"Nothing," she said, "I was just wondering about…"

"Quiet," he said harshly. "Something's out…"

Riku was knocked to the ground before he could finish his sentence. "Are you alright Riku?" Madison asked kneeling next to him.

"Get down," Riku tackled Madison as a flying beast swept over them. Riku jumped up and drew out his father's sword. His eyes scanned the darkness for the creature. A loud cackling penetrated the tension and flew straight at Riku.

"Well what do you," it shrieked, "The rumors are true. The son of the Sayian and elf lives on. I thought Shispon took care of you all."

"He fell just like you will," Riku said charging up.

"Rather unlikely." The creature flew into the dim light and revealed a little purple and red imp with orange cat eyes and long razor nails. "You see, despite my appearance, I'm quite deadly."

"Mind if I get that as a quote." Riku laughed haughtily. "Just make it easy on yourself and stop breathing now. God knows you don't want me to kill you."

That angered the imp. He soared in the sky and with a shriek he zoomed down to Riku with his nails pointed right at him. Riku chuckled softly and stepped to the side so that the imp plummeted to the ground face first. Riku looked down at him pathetically.

"Damn waste of flesh," he cursed. He walked over to him and raised his sword. "Night." Riku said evilly.

He raised his sword to drill in his back but the imp jumped up and shrieked at him. He shot past Riku's face and scratched him severely. Riku stepped back in pain and was cut on the arm by the imp's claw again. Riku recklessly swung his sword around hoping to hit him in his own handicapped state.

"This is rich," he cackled. "The son of might Trunks is swinging his sword with no skill whatsoever. Just like you father."

Riku stopped dead. "Don't you ever insult my father ever again!" He yelled. "You're not even worthy enough to sputter his name!" Riku charged at him with his full vision accompanying him, he dueled the monster. The imp jumped back and went side to side avoiding the deadly warrior.

"This is pathetic," the imp sighed. He held up his hand and a swirling red vortex appeared in his hand. "Say hello to your lovely mother for me." The vortex grew bigger and swarmed at Riku.

"Fire!" a fire ball sped right to the imp and burned his hand cutting the vortex off. The imp shrieked out a chilling cry and held his hand in pain. "Why you insolent little bitch!" He shrieked. "You're going to die!"

Madison backed up with an afraid look in her eyes. Riku held his sword in the classic stealth attack position and charged at the imp. With one mighty swing, he cut the beast in half. Purple blood spilled all over Madison and Riku and the ground. Purple blood flooded from the imp's eyes and poured to the ground.

"Damn you, you bastard." The imp gasped. He fell to the earth dead.

"They never learn," Riku mumbled while he stared at the imp. "Thanks Madison." He said.

"No problem," she piped. Riku cast his eyes over at her and he almost burst out laughing. She was covered in purple blood and dead skin from the imp. The look on her face was priceless. Her eyes were disgusted and horrified. Her pale skin was now pale from fright and her mouth was dropped open. "What's so funny?" She demanded.

"Nothing," Riku snickered. "Take this." He tossed her a rag and turned away to laugh.

"It's not funny." She said as she wiped the blood away from her face.

"Of course not." Riku agreed holding back hysteria. She glared fiercely at him and tilted her head upwards so the rain would wash the vile creature's blood away from her face.

"Thanks," she said after she finished wiping the blood away.

"For…?"

"Killing that thing." She said handing the rag back. "No doubt I would've been killed."

"Why didn't you just mount an assault?"

"I dunno," she said confused. "I really don't know."

"Well it's not a problem. Now let's get going." He walked passed her and continued to the north.

They walked for about an hour when they saw lights of a far town. When they got there, it was quite small. Only about fifty or so people lived there. It was a classic small town. Dust roads, small shops, and the town drunk getting kicked out of the tavern.

"Charming place," Madison said grabbing Riku's arm.

Riku raised an eyebrow at her and took his arm back from her. "The inn is up there." He said.

Madison looked forward expecting to see a nice hotel but instead she saw a wooden building with a sign swinging from the top. "The Cherished Lamb?" She said reading the sign. "What kind of name is that for an inn?"

"Good question," he said, "Unfortunately I don't have a good answer." They walked up to the door and stepped inside. It was horrible. Even Riku cringed at it. Tall brutal thugs chugged down ale and smoked large cigars, ragged and cheap sluts tried to seduce the thugs and drunken men tried to get money off of the people around them for more ale.

Madison clutched Riku's arm and stared around at the room. Riku didn't mind Madison clutching his arm this time and he walked up to the front desk.

"Hallo how may I help you?" The innkeeper asked.

"Do you have a decent distant room?" Riku asked.

"I take it you're charmed by our interior." The innkeeper said with disgust. "Lovely bunch don't you think?"

"Are they always here?" Madison asked.

"Sadly," he answered. "Anyway, I'm Scott Rasterbell."

"I'm Madison," Madison said happy to introduce herself.

"Nice to meet you Maddie," Rasterbell said with the same amount of cheer. "And you are you sir?"

"Smith," he said, "Now the room…?"

"I see you don't want your name to be known huh?" Rasterbell laughed.

"Yeah whatever." Riku said annoyingly.

"Pardon me," he said. "Yes we do have a distant decent room. I save that one for sophisticated couples such as yourselves. Now…"

"Sorry man but we're not a couple." Riku said angrily.

"Pardon me again hooded master." Riku glared at him through his hood and watched his go through the key hooks. As Rasterbell rummaged through the keys, Riku eyed the room. A man in the corner was vomiting from too much ale, a woman wearing too much make up and wearing hardly anything, was sitting on a man's lap making out and trying to take it further right there in the lobby.

"Ah here it is!" Rasterbell exclaimed. He went back to Riku and Madison and handed them the key. Riku nodded his head and flipped Rasterbell a few coins and left with Madison. "Good night Master Smith!" Rasterbell calls after him.

Riku and Madison walks out of the inn and out to the back where the room was. Riku unlocked the door and stepped inside before Madison to make sure it was safe. After he was completely satisfied that it is absolutely safe, he let Madison in.

Madison sighed with relief when she saw that it was clean, fresh, and free of bums. The main room was quite large, with a step down living room and brown leather chairs and a brown leather sofa. At the far end of the room there was a grand fireplace, with a fire already cracking in the hearth. A little kitchen was in the corner with a microwave, a mini refrigerator, cabinets, and a stainless steal sink. A door was on each side of the room. Madison went over to the door on the right and swung the door open. She let out a gasp, and in a blink of an eye, Riku was over there with his sword at hand preparing to kill anything that came out at her.

"It's beautiful!" Madison cried. Riku growled at the false alarm and sheathed his sword. Madison ran in the room happily running her hands over the light wooden furniture. A queen sized bed was pushed against the eastern wall with royal red sheets stitched with beautiful designs in gold thread. There were many pillows, a long body pillow, four rolled pillows, two heart shaped pillows, two round pillows, four big pillows against the dark cherry red head board, and two normal pillows. It puzzled Riku on why did one need so many pillows. Will a squeal of delight, Madison jumped on the bed and stared up at the dark red curtains on the bed's canopy. "Mmm, so comfortable." She murmured.

"Looks like too many pillows if you ask me." Riku muttered.

"But it's so comfortable!" Madison repeated. Riku rolled his eyes and turned to leave the room. "Hey Riku, think fast!"

Riku turned to her. "Excuse me-" A pillow flew into his face making him back up a few steps.

"Hey! What was that for?" Riku demanded without his tone of maturity and sounding more like a thirteen year old.

Madison giggled. "Ah so you're not that big tough guy I thought you were huh?"

Riku glared at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well," she began, "If you were what I thought you were like, you would've been in my face with your sword pointed at my throat."

Riku softened. "Is that so?" He sighed. "I do not attack weak bystanders."

"A weak bystander?" She cried. "I am not a weak bystander!"

Riku chuckled and walked out of her room. "Whatever helps you sleep at night." He said.

Madison glared after him and fell back on her comfortable bed and fell fast asleep.

Riku casually walked out the front door and into the dark streets. The street lights flickered of old age and cast shadows behind buildings. Riku's heart raced. He hated shadows. His life was full of it. Ever since he was a child, he'd hide under his covers from the shadows. But the shadows he'd witness as a child were no ordinary shadows. They seemed darker than other shadows. They were so dark that they seemed to be like a rip in the dimension and would allow demons and other horrible creatures in with ease. He'd cry for his mother to hold him and she'd always come: no matter how late. She'd sit on the edge of his bed stroking his stomach and hair until her fell to sleep. He shook the memory out for he did not feel like grieving on his parents at the moment.

He continued to walk down the streets jumping at the flickering shadows. His eyes darted across the streets, looking for any sign of danger that may be in the area. He reached the end of Main Street that lead out into the fields and proposed that there was no danger. For some reason, he felt as if he should make sure that the place was extra safe. He didn't know why but his heart felt so warm, warmer than it has been in years.

He turned back to the room and heard a scream. He drew out his sword as fast as he could and ran off with his elvish speed towards the scream. He turned down a series of ally ways when he came to a tall big man cornering a helpless woman.

"You're looking delicious." The man slurred.

"I think it's safe to assume he's drunk." Riku laughed in his mind.

"Get away from me!" The woman shrieked.

"Ah c'mon baby," he persuaded, "It won't hurt long."

"Don't touch me!" She screamed. "Help! Someone help me!"

"No one will help you!" The drunken man laughed. He reached for the woman's chest when Riku placed his hand on the man's shoulder. "What the-" the man began to turned around and Riku smashed his fist into the man's face. "God damn it!" The man wailed stepping back holding his eye which no dripped with blood.

"Oh c'mon that couldn't've hurt," Riku said coolly. "I didn't even try."

The man glared up at him, blood oozed from his eye. "You little brat! You'll pay for that!" He clenched his fist and charged at Riku full force.

Riku shook his head and chuckled. "Three…two…one…" The man charged at him and Riku stepped to the side and side ways kicked the man in the back of the neck.

The man hit the ground making the earth quake. "You're a big guy aren't you?" Riku teased. "Not many thugs would make the earth shake."

"Gah you bastard!" The man cried, "I'll rip your face off!"

Riku shook his head and prepared for the 'attack'. The man ran at him again and began to throw punches at Riku. Riku dodged each one without trying. The man stumbled, giving Riku a perfect opportunity to mount an assault. He stepped over to the side and drove his fist into the man's gut. He spit up blood and doubled over. Riku smirked and brought his elbows down in his neck, knocking his unconscious.

"Moron," Riku muttered. He looked up to see the frightened woman, his face hidden with the shadows of his hood.

"T-thank you." The woman stuttered.

Riku's ears twitched when he heard her voice. He strained his keen eyes to try to see her face better. His eyes widened in shock. His defenses dropped and his hopes and heart was lifted. "Is it really you?" He asked weakly.

"What?" The woman asked.

Her voice reassured Riku. "It is you!" He cried. He ran up to her and threw his strong arms around the woman's waist.

"Get off you freak!" She screamed and slapped Riku. Riku let go of her and stumbled backwards holding his face. "Who do you think you are? I thank you for saving me but that doesn't mean I'll-" She froze. Riku's hood was hanging around neck, exposing his messy silver hair, pointed elven ears, and sapphire eyes. "Oh my God," she whispered. "It can't really be you."

Riku's eyes lit up and he smiled his first smile in years. "Aunt Bra," he breathed.

"Riku!" Bra cried. She ran up to him, bringing him into her tight hug. "I can't believe you're alive! I thought you were dead!"

"I thought you were dead too!" He whispered.

Bra pushed her nephew back and looked at him. "My you look like my brother." She said. "You have his trade mark hair style, his eye shape, and his chin." Riku smiled at her. "And your mother. Her hair color, her eye color, her ears…" She sighed and her face brightened. "Are your parents alive too?"

Riku turned his face to hide his tears from his aunt. "No," he whispered, "They died, nine years ago. When everyone else did."

Bra's face saddened. "Oh Riku, please tell me you didn't-"

"I did," he interrupted, "I saw their death. Father, fell first, then, they took Mother's life, and the unborn child's."

She couldn't believe what he said. "She was pregnant?" She gasped. "And they killed her?"

"Shispon, the one who killed my father, was going to spare her for another eight months, but the other one, wouldn't see to that and slew her."

"Oh Riku," Bra cried and brought him back in her embrace. "I'm so sorry."

Riku was happy to receive comfort after so long. He hugged her back and buried his face in her shoulder. He was some what ashamed that he needed comfort in the first place but he did not pull back.

"I miss them so much," he said.

"I know, I know, I do too." She said. "But they're watching down on you, you know that right?"

Riku nodded his head.

"Good." She cheered up more. "Now, let's get out of here."

Riku and Bra walked out of the shadows as fast as they could and into the dim streets.

"So, what have you been doing these past nine years?" Bra asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." Riku said. He knew his aunt would not like to hear that he became a mercenary and killed for money.

"Oh come one Riku," she begged, "I go through life thinking that my only nephew is dead and when I find him he won't tell me what he's been up to? That's not what I expected from you."

"Please Aunt Bra please don't send me on a guilt trip." He pleaded. "I don't need that right now."

"I'm sorry Sweetie," she apologized, "I was just curious." She was silent for a moment. "Do you have a place to stay?" She asked.

Riku nodded. "The Cherished Lamb inn." He answered.

Bra looked at him with disgust. "That dump?"

"We have the good room." He explained.

"We?" Bra repeated. "What do you mean 'we'?"

"Well, um, this girl…"

"A girl!" Bra chorused. "Little Riku has a girlfriend!"

"She's not my girlfriend!" He barked. "She needs my help and I agreed to help."

"Help with what?" She asked mischievously. "Starting a family?" She added in her head.

"Finding her brother," he answered.

"Oh," she said.

"Where are you living?" Riku asked.

"Oh, a little house on the corner of Owens and Applevine." She answered. They came to one of the only intersections in town. "There it is right there." She pointed it a run down building which actually looked worse than the other buildings and houses around. The windows were broken, the front porch was falling apart with floor boards sticking out, wood was nailed up on the top windows, and the roof was falling apart.

"There?!" He cried. "No way!"

"It's not much but at least it's someplace." She said.

"I won't let you stay there." Riku said. "Come back to the inn room, there's another free room."

"Riku, that's real sweet, but I'd much rather sleep…"

Riku held up his hand to the house and a ki blast took form in his hand.

"You wouldn't," she said.

"You know I would," he answered, "That thing will cave in any day. I found out I actually have family left and I don't want you dead."

"Riku, if you fire that blast I swear I'll…" It was too late. He fired the blast and destroyed the 'house' to ruin. "Riku Maku Briefs," She cried, "That was my home!"

Riku shook his hands, "Now it's not. C'mon Aunt Bra, you'll stay over at the inn."

She glared at her nephew. "You are just like your father!" She cried. "Stubborn! Just like your grandfather too!"

Riku shrugged. "So? Gramma told me to take that as a compliment. Now c'mon."

Bra didn't have a choice. She was not about to sleep in the streets like a hobo so she followed her brother's son behind the Inn to the cabin. Riku opened the door and Madison immediately clung to his waist.

"Riku! There was a huge blast! I heard a huge blast and a woman scream. I thought something was wrong! What was it?!"

Riku looked down at Madison in shock and embarrassment. "Don't worry about it. I just destroyed a house and the woman is fine. Now, would you be so kind and let me breathe again?"

"Oh sorry," she piped. She looked behind Riku and saw Bra. "Hello," she said kindly, "Who are you?"

"I'm Bra, Riku's aunt."

"Really?" She squealed. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Madison."

"Hello Madison," she greeted. "Are you Riku's girlfriend?"

"Aunt Bra!" Riku cried outraged.

"Um, no, I don't believe I am." She said innocently. "I have just met him."

"I was just kidding Madison," she giggled. "But you two would make a cute couple." Riku glared at Bra and didn't say anything.

"Would you like to stay here tonight?" Madison asked rushing over to her.

"Well," she said glaring up at Riku, "I don't think I have a choice seeing that my nephew destroyed my house."

Madison looked at Riku in shock. "Riku, you destroyed you own aunt's house?"

"It was gonna cave anyway," he said walking past her and into the cabin.

Madison shook her head. "C'mon Bra-chan." Madison grabbed Bra's arm and lead her inside.

Riku was already sleeping soundly on the couch in front of the roaring fireplace. His head rested on the arm of the couch and his feet were relaxed on top of each other on the other arm. His breathed silently and made no snoring sounds whatsoever.

Madison blushed. "He looks kinda cute like that," she thought to herself. Her thoughts were interrupted by Bra next to her chuckling away. "What's so funny?" She asked her.

"Nothing," she snickered, "When my brother fell asleep like that when we were kids, I'd always prank him in some way. I'd put shaving cream on his face, dip his fingers in warm water, and stuff like that." She paused and laughed. "My favorite one was when he was having a nightmare and I took two flashlights, got really close to his face, and quickly I clicked them on and yelled, 'TRUCK!'" She laughed again. "He chased me around the house for about an hour he was so pissed."

"Was your brother Riku's father?"

Bra's face saddened. "Yes he was. He was a very good father too, despite the way our father treated him."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, our father, Vegeta, would call him brat, put him down, tell him he could never be as strong as he was and so on. But, I guess Kairi changed all that when they met."

"Who's Kairi?"

Riku grunted and shut his eyes tighter. "I think we should go into a different room." Bra instructed. They went into Madison's room and quietly shut the door. "Well, Kairi was Riku's mother. She didn't really approve of my father especially the way he treated Trunks. So one day, she got so upset at him that she slapped him as hard as she could and began yelling at him. 'How dare you treat you son and my love the way you do? He is your own flesh and blood and you treat him like an urchin! If it were up to me I'd kill you now!' And stuff like that."

"His mother," she said choosing his words carefully, "Sounds very nice."

"She was," Bra said, "But, not towards my father."

"Where are his parents now?"

Bra fell silent. She heart grew heavy as she fought back the tears. "They are looking down upon us," she said, "They were murdered nine years ago. Along with my husband, parents, and close friends."

"Oh I'm sorry," she apologized quickly, "I didn't mean to-"

"It's quite alright, Dear," Bra said, "You didn't know." She yawned and stretched. "I think I'll be getting to bed now, I had an interesting night. Good night Maddie."

"Good night."

Bra smiled and shut the door quietly behind her. She walked over to where Riku slept in a troubled slumber. Sweat dripped from his brow, his body shook, and he muttered 'father' and 'mother' quite frequently so Bra thought it was safe to assume that he was dreaming about that horrible day years ago.

Bra wiped the sweat away from his face and wrapped a blanket around him. Riku clutched the blanket and groaned.

"Poor dear," Bra whispered, "He's been through so much." She thought a moment. "I got it!" She quietly ran to the other room and gazed one last time at her nephew and shut the door.