Chapter Four:

"So let me get this straight...she smells blood, she drinks blood.. .and she had red eyes.. shes a demon!!!" I squeaked. "I mean i figured she was a demon.. but she really is?" Mana nodded. "How do you know?"

"Eva got sick once... and stayed that way for a month.. she was unconscious most of the time, and i was really worried." She sighed. "So i asked her mom what was wrong with her, that's when her mom explained about her father, that he was a demon. She hadn't had a drop of blood, so she got sick.. after that though, she kept getting the urge for blood, and found ways to get it on her own.." Mana explained as we came up on Eva.

She was standing on the other side of this gate thing. She looked at Mana and pointed up. "What is this?" She asked.

"Its the gate into my old town...it was built not too long ago" Mana said walking up and grabbing Eva's arm. She started to pull her off.

"Its pretty"

"Only you would think so" Mana chided and let go of her arm.

"So were in your home town... RoseWood is next town right?" Eva asked. Mana nodded. I looked down and sat Nami. I smiled at it. He stared back at me. I rose an eyebrow and she hopped off. I frowned and continued.

The town was nicely built, everything newish looking. A certain sign caught my eye. I turned and walked in. I gasped as i walked in the door. Swords hung from the walls, and bows laid out on the counter. I almost drooled.

"Sereg?" Eva asked poking her head in. "WOAH!" She ran over scanning the bows. I nodded numbly. There was this beautiful sword hanging on the wall in front of me. It curved slightly and had ridges running up the other edge. Where the handle met the blade there was a gem. it was a deep red and sent little lines of red up the blade, making decorative designs.

I nudged Eva and pointed to the sword. I Heard a thump and looked around, then down. Eva had fainted. I laughed. She murmured. "i want that sword" I poked her. She opened one eye and looked at me. I offered my hand and took it, standing.

"May i help you?" A guy asked.

"How much is that sword?" Eva asked, pointing.

"ummm 6,870" Eva drooled.

Mana poked her head in. "You cant afford it, so get out of there!" Eva whimpered. "OUT" Eva sighed and walked out. Mana grabbed my arm and tugged me out the door. I waved to the guy.

"Aww, but did you SEE that sword?" Eva complained.

"Yes, and we don't have the money..."

"We could sell you..." A thok sounded as Mana hit Eva over the head. I tried not to laugh.

"Hey is there any source of water here?" I asked.

"Yeah there's a sea to the far side of town...why?"

"I feel like swimming" I winked at her and took off running.

'HEY!" Mana called. I ignored it.

The water was a beautiful blue. I laughed and walked towards the edge of the crystal blue water. Something zipped past me and splashed into the water. Eva shot up through the waves with a happy cry. Mana was yelling at her about being cold outside and how she was going to get sick.

"Well if she's going to get sick so are you" I said and grabbed her arm. She yelped as i dragged her towards the water. I picked her up and threw her in next to Eva. She shot her head out of the water and glared at me

"ITS COLD!!!" She whined. I laughed and ran into the water, splashing both of them. Eva laughed and tackled Mana, submerging them both.

-

The water was crystal blue, and you could see everything under water. I poked my head out and sighed. Something hit my shoulder and i was submerged again. I broke the surface sputtering. Sereg grinned at me and ducked underwater. I grinned and swam further out into the water.

We spent at least 2 hours out there in the water. Mana finally gave in and had a little fun. I challenged her to a dunking war, and won. After Sereg almost drowned Mana, we called it quits and laid on the sand to dry off.

I sat up, sand raining off my back. "I think were-" I started as i turned. Sereg and Mana were both asleep. I rose an eyebrow, then decided that that was a good idea. Laying back down i stared at the sky. White fluffy clouds floated above me, the crisp breeze pulling them along. I stayed like that for what seemed like hours before i finally drifted off to sleep.

-

I opened my eyes slowly. The moon shone down at me, and the stars danced around it. I blinked a few times before sitting up. Sand stuck to my arms and back. I shook myself and sand rained from my hair and arms. I looked over and saw Eva and Mana asleep. I sighed and stood up, letting the sand let go of me. I walked towards the water and let it wash over my feet. The water was cold but it felt good.

Walking back over to where i set my stuff. It was night but i could see one of the shops was still open. Grabbing some money i walked up there. "Good evning" The person greeted. "Whatcha doing up so late?"

"I should ask you the same" I stated calmly.

"That is true...so may i help you?" I nodded.

"Yeah i need a new shirt.." He ducked behind the counter.

"May i inquire why?" He asked popping back up with a stack of tunics.

"I got cut up pretty bad.. and i am the only one in my group who could sacrifice a shirt.. so we tore it up and used it as bandages..."

"wow, sorry bout that" I shrugged and pointed at one in the stack, he pulled it out and handed it to me, saying the price. I handed over the money and said farewell, going back to the beach. The girls were awake and talking quietly.

"You don't have to whisper ya know" I stated. Eva just snorted.

"Its pretty, no? so it deserves to be respected.. and that means no loud talking" Eva hissed at me. I stuck out my tounge and pulled my new tunic over my head.

"At the edge of the ocean, we can start over again..." Eva started singing. "theres a world i've always known, somewhere far away from home..."

We must have sat along the shore for hours just star gazing. Eva at one point got up and walked off. She didn't come back for a long time. She came back eventually, she seemed more relaxed, and part of me wondered what she had gone off to do.

As the sun started to rise i suggested leaving, but i got talked into staying and watching the sun rise. It was beautiful. Eva predicted the weather for the day before we left, apparently our destination was only an hour or so away.

"So is everyone rested?" Mana asked stretching. I nodded weakly.

"Doesn't really matter if your not rested, come-on, its only about an hour away" Eva was standing on a slope that lead back to the town. She started to walk off.

"Hey! don't leave us behind!" I yelped and ran after her. She let out a laugh before breaking into a run. She ran straight into the middle of town and into a huge crowd of people. I halted. She was know where. Poking my head into a few stores i searched but found no sign of her. I found Mana and told her to help me look.

"The best way is just to keep moving, you may not know where she is, but she always knows where you are, if we leave she will either stay behind and force us to find her, or catch up eventually" Mana replied.

"But but"

"Go and try to find her, you may have some luck" I stuck out my tongue before returning to searching.

-

I sat in the middle of the town, in a huge tree. I laughed as Sereg still tried to find me. Mana had given up on this and was sitting on a bench, telling Sereg to give it up. I just stayed in the tree untill he got to close, then when he nor mana was looking, i would change positions. After about an hour i wound up in the tree again. By this time I was tired of this.

With an exasperated sigh i jumped out of the tree and landed behind Sereg with a thump. "That is why you never run after me" I said one eyebrow raised before i turned and walked over to Mana, sitting next to her on the bench.

"So how was i?" I cheerped.

"I only saw you move once, and taht was to get into the tree the final time, you moved too many leaves..." mana said pointing out where she saw the leaves move. I sighed.

Sereg stood stunned before studdering, "Y-you knew where she was?" mana gave a smile and crisp nod. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked.

"Shes my sister, i didn't want her mad at me! She has a sword!"

"I have a sword too ya know" He growled unsheathing it.

"Now, now, its not like it was life or death, so everyone chill, ok?" Sereg sheathed his sword, Mana just smiled. I rolled my eyes. "Ok so lets go ok?" Mana stood.

For the first part of the trip, no one talked...

Leaves crunched under my feet in an unwavering rhythm. 1...2...1...2...step...step...this...is...getting...anoying...it marched through my mind in the constant rhythm of my steps. Finally i lost it and with a growl i spun on my tag-alongs.

"WILL ONE OF YOU TALK PLEASE?????" Mana blinked at me. "please?"

"He started it.." Mana said childishly kicking a leaf.

"Did not!" Sereg said defensively. I hung my head and turned back around. "Your the one who didn't tell me where she was!!!"

"YOU DIDN'T ASK!!!!" Mana shouted.

"YES I DID!!!"

"NO YOU DIDN'T!!! YOU ASKED WHEN I TRULY DIDN'T KNOW THEN WHEN I DID KNOW YOU DIDN'T ASK!!!!" I clapped my hands over my ears and continued walking. There was a pause in the noise.

"Ya know... Eva started this..." I turned around aghast. Sereg and Mana stared at me. "If she had never run off, none of this would have happened...." He stated calmly. A predatory smile came across his face and Mana nodded, agreeing. I got out one small 'epp' before i turned and ran.

I got maybe a few yards before i was tackled. Leaves exploded in a colorful array as i hit the ground. I gave a small groan and tried to move. Mana stood over me laughing, while Sereg laughed his head off, trying to get leaves out of his hair.

I hissed and rolled out of reach from both of them before sitting up. I coughed and started picking leaves out of my hair. "Aww" Mana chided between laughs. I glared and continued cleaning myself.

Nami hopped over and nuzzled my leg. I sighed and brought the bunny into my lap. Nami squirmed into a more comfy position.

-flashback-

Screeching to a halt underneath a small pine i leaned on my knees, trying to catch my breath. A small sound alerted me and looking up i gasped. On one of the branches a small white bunny hung but its hind leg. It had a gash up its side and blood stained the pure white fur. it sqwirmed again and i lept into action.

Climbing up i sat on a branch slightly lower than the one it was tied to. Carefully i brought the bunny into my lap to relive the pressure while i undid the knot. The bunny tried to get more comfy and gave a small noise when it couldn't. "Shhh, you will be free soon" I purred.

The knot finally unraveled itself from the branch and cradling the hurt bunny in my arms I leapt to the ground and ran towards home.

-End Flashback-

I smiled down at Nami, now asleep, as i thought of the day i retrieved the poor bun-rab from the small pine. I noticed Sereg and Mana were silent. I looked back to find Mana sitting on a upturned tree, while Sereg glared at her from the opposite side of the road. We were just slightly outside of RoseWood, i then realized, and they were bored.

They were just like small children, waiting on their mother to tell them where to go. Smiling at that metaphor i gently woke the bunny and set her on the ground. Standing i dusted my pants off and walked over to where Mana and Sereg were.

"Come now children" I purred as i walked inbetween the gazes of Sereg and Mana.

"WHAT did you just call me????" Sereg shouted after me. I laughed.

"We are NOT your children!!!!!!!!!" Mana yelled. I thought for a second, then replied.

"Your acting like it, so settle down, and make up" I said in a motherly tone, clapping my hands twice.

-

I reached out and grabbed her bow. I really didn't expect the reaction i got. She turned, unsnapping the button that held the bow to her back, and let out a low growl, crimson eyes alive and burning.

She crouched and tackled me, sending me onto my back. I let out a grunt as the air was knocked out of me. She sat on my chest and hissed at me. Reaching behind her she grabbed the hilt of my sword and pulled it out, before holding it two-handed over my throat, ready to stab.

"Never....Touch the Bow...or the sword for that matter..." She growled before getting up and stabbing the sword into the ground beside me.

Mana was laughing...she was bent over leaning on a tree, and laughing her head off. "I....i cant believe...you..you touched her bow!!!" I glared at her and retrieving my sword, sheathed it, and continued towards RoseWood.

Eva walked ahead of us, bow held at her side. I was a few paces behind, trying to ignore Mana, who brought up the back with non stop giggling. Only when she ran into a tree from her blindness due to laughing, did she stop.

---------------------------------------------------

Ryan- you are way overprotective of your stuff

Alya- long reason.. wanna hear?

Ryan- yeah

Alya ok starts talking

Miya- CLICK SOMETHING NOW!!- alya still talking- trust me you don't want to hear this! -grabs the mouse and clicks 'next'- thanks and good bye!

Alya- -glares at miya-