Chapter 4: Rumors and Research

Ryu and Teepo finished the obstacle course in record time, both grinning at the exhilarating rush as they made it to the finish, their captain with that perpetual look of surprise on his face. Since they'd arrived over a month ago and began their training as new recruits, they hadn't stopped surprising him. He shook his head and approached them, clamping his hands on their shoulders.

"You two are downright amazing," Captain Mitsu said with a laugh. "Why did you two decide to join us now instead of years ago? You both would already be lieutenants—at least—by now!"

Ryu laughed. "Teepo had gotten himself lost. I spent the last couple of years looking for him. He has no sense of direction!"

Teepo and Ryu shared a laugh, both still glad that Ryu had been there to find him, even after all their years apart. Nobody knew much about them—and they preferred it that way—but everyone accepted the fact they were siblings.

Captain Mitsu only shook his head and waited as the rest of the troops began to slowly make their way to the finish. He gave Ryu and Teepo a glare. "Well, don't just stand there, you morons! Go get your swords and start your training! You finished early, so you get to do more work! Now get on with it!"

"Yes, sir!" they replied in sync. They headed toward the training room, grabbing their swords a long the way. Nobody was in there at the moment, which was strange to the two of them. There was almost always someone in there training. And if there wasn't a soldier at least old man Rufus was there drinking tea, ready to beat some foolish would be swordsman into the floor.

Even Teepo and Ryu had gotten whooped by old man Rufus. And to his shock, all they had done, unlike all the other soldiers who had though of themselves as swordsmen, was give him face-splitting grins.

Ryu tapped Teepo's sword and got into low stance. "Well, since old man Rufus decided to take a potty break, I guess it's just you and me, brother."

Teepo laughed. "You know better, Ryu! You know what Rufus told us." He coughed and made his best imitation of the older man. "Both o' ya bunglers have a lot o' power but no finesse! Swordsmanship is 'bout killin' your enemy in one blow an' then movin' onto the next! Finesse! Just swingin' the sword around will do nothin'! At least Teepo knows his bloody footwork!"

Ryu laughed. "Well, you did have some sword training skills as a kid. Rei just gave me a short sword and said, 'HACK!'"

Teepo tsked. "And that's all you ever learned to do in over eighteen years. Just hack!" Teepo stepped in and swung at Ryu. Ryu parried the expected blow easily. "Luckily, old man Rufus wants to grab our 'untapped potential'," he said, returning to his mimicking of the old man. "An' make swordsmen out o' us."

Ryu laughed again and using the footwork he'd eventually mastered over the last month, stepped to the side and attacked Teepo. The violet-haired young man laughed, parried and the spar was on.

So consumed in their enjoyable battle, they didn't hear the two people approaching. Nor the conversation.

"Ya heard what Mitsu said Montague. These boys must've been fightin' since lads, with no formal trainin'. Their power is raw. They're formidable all on their own—if we could hone them, their skills would be tremendous. They're brilliant, clever. They improvise."

The white haired man who had been quietly listening raised his eyebrows, a hand coming up to stroke his beard. "Improvise? It takes years of training before a soldier or swordsman can finally break free from their ingrained techniques and learn the truth about improvisation in battle. Only honed warriors who have seen life and death truly have mastered their techniques using improvised methods."

Rufus nodded, his red hair, streaked with gray, bobbing with his movement. "Aye! An' yet, these two, with no formal trainin' have mastered the ability to improvise. I don't know if I can even teach them a style. They've seen battle, Montague. A lot o' it. Their skills are based solely on what they can come up with after readin' an opponent. An' they're smart about it. Teepo is a bit more volatile; his emotions come out a bit more. But Ryu is ice. The most he shows in a battle is amusement. He thinks more about his actions than Teepo. The elder—that's Teepo—will figure out a method and use that one, and if it doesn't work, oh well, he tries something else. Ryu is more strategic. He will go through several possibilities in his mind before choosing an' action—an' he does it instantly. Our trainin' here is a walk in the part to these two. They don't belong as soldiers, General."

"Well, I'll be the judge of that. You still beat them, didn't you?"

"Since I gauged their power, I haven't. But I've watched them. They've improved drastically. Just learning the proper footwork boosted Ryu's power exponentially!"

"I can see that."

Rufus turned and stopped beside the General, watching Ryu and Teepo having a gleeful time sparring. Montague's pale blue eyes were intent as he watched them.

Ryu dove under a swipe of Teepo's, rolling and coming up to parry another attack. Teepo swung around and thrust toward Ryu after a feint to the right. Ryu laughed, reading right through Teepo's elegant moves and coming in strong. Teepo grinned, falling back at a powerful lunge from Ryu, rolling away and swinging at Ryu's legs as the blue haired man regained his balance. Ryu leapt away, narrowing missing the slice of Teepo's sword at his ankles.

"You play dirty, Teepo," Ryu said with a grin.

Teepo laughed. "Who said we were playing, little brother? This is a spar!" He came at Ryu, sending their arms and blades into a whirlwind of parries, thrusts, swipes and dodges. Teepo pressed on, Ryu stepping back with every movement under Teepo's powerful attacks. "Just concede, Ryu! I've beaten you already!"

"I don't think so, Teepo!" Ryu yelled back, suddenly turning the tables and going from defensive to offensive in an instant.

"Enough!"

The shout from an unfamiliar commanding voice froze both Ryu and Teepo, blades stopping instantly in air with a skill only honed from battle. They turned and recognized Rufus instantly. But the man who had spoken was unfamiliar… but the medals on his coat weren't. Ryu and Teepo straightened immediately and bowed at the figures before them. The man was a general. Didn't matter which general or who. He was far above them in the line of command and as soldiers had to show their respect.

Ryu stiffened with worry under the penetrating blue gaze. If this was Montague then his entire future with Nina was riding on this one man. And if he wasn't, he probably did know Montague. He had to make a good impression. Ryu returned the general's gaze with confidence. He didn't have to look at Teepo to know he was doing the same.

The general came toward them and gave them a once over. They were not really prepared for an inspection. Both he and Teepo were stripped down to their waist. They were only wearing their pants, their bodies dripping with sweat from the exertion of sparring which they had just been doing. Their adrenaline was still pumping, their hearts beating wildly. Ryu could hear nothing but the pounding of his heart and the rushing of his blood. He drew in breath, wishing he was more presentable to the warrior staring at them so intently.

"Those are a lot of battle scars soldiers. Where did you acquire them?"

Teepo answered first. "I got my first few at the Tournament."

The general's eyebrow arched in disbelief. "Oh? And how did you get there? Did you join up?"

"No, sir. I was ten. I was forced into it."

He put his arms behind is back. "Oh. Is that so? Explain further."

Teepo took a short breath, but answered quickly. "I was beaten almost to death when I was ten years old. When I came to I was captured by some slave traders and sold to the tournament. I was there a while before I escaped, sir."

"That's a lot of scars for being at the Tournament for only a short while."

"The rest were against monsters. Mostly in a desert. Sir."

The general gave Teepo a hard look. "What desert? There are no deserts on the entire continent."

"I refer to the continent across the ocean, sir. The country there is mostly barren wasteland."

The general looked skeptical. "Oh? And how did you get there. Did you swim?"

"I was kidnapped as a child, sir. I don't know how my kidnapper got there."

Ryu admired how well Teepo could lie when he wanted to. Ryu absolutely sucked at it.

"I see." Those blazing blue eyes turned on Ryu. "What about you, soldier? You two are brothers, from what I have been told. But you have more scars, despite being younger. Were you also kidnapped?" he added with a scoff.

Ryu could feel Teepo's anger but was glad the violet haired young man kept it under control. Ryu was as cool when he met the penetrating blue gaze. "I spent most of my childhood looking for my kidnapped brother. I was nearly killed at eight years old, sir. My brother was missing. I went searching for him. I too fought in the tournament as a child and I eventually crossed the ocean myself in order to find him. I couldn't tell you exactly where I got most of these, sir." Ryu didn't worry. Everything he'd said was true. He'd just omitted some details. Perhaps though, he had been too longwinded?

The general's expression was cynical, but he didn't comment on the length of Ryu's answer. "You crossed the ocean no one has ever crossed alone?"

"No, sir, I was traveling with my friends."

"Ah. I see. And where pray tell are these friends?"

"One is dead, sir. The rest are scattered all over the country living their own lives."

The general gave Ryu a cold smile. "And if I chose to dig into this information it would be accurate."

"You may speak to Guildmaster Beyd in Rhapala if you like, sir. He and his wife funded our journey across the ocean. Zigg, the best sailor in Rhapala, was our personal captain, sir."

The general's eyes flashed some surprise, but his expression didn't change. "Oh? Is that so? So Guildmaster Beyd will be able to tell me, 'Ryu traveled across the ocean searching for his long-lost brother Teepo'?"

"No, sir. Beyd will be able to tell you he gave me a ship because he trusted me implicitly and didn't ask what I was going to try and do with it. Zigg will tell you we tried to cross the ocean."

The general stood there in silence for a moment, and Ryu thought, this is it! I've screwed up. He'll hate me and if he catches me with Nina, I'm a dead man. Dragon. God. Whatever. But Ryu waited for a long time for Fate to curse him. He dared steal a glance again at the general. The man was trying to hold back laughter. Ryu's jaw almost dropped. The general turned to Teepo. "And what happened when your little brother found you."

"I tried to kill him."

Amusement quickly died. The general's eyes narrowed. "Why is that?"

Ryu saw Teepo meet the general's eyes with a glare. He didn't want to talk about it. "I had been brainwashed by my kidnapper to think my brother and his friends were my enemies. I fought them. They beat me within an inch of my life. I snapped out of it and came home with them. Sir."

The general turned his attention back to Ryu. "Good." Silence fell.

Both dragons gave the general a silent stare. He glared at them both back. "It is believed by your captain and old man Rufus that you two had seen more battle than most, if not all, the Wyndian army. Rufus is under the impression that with a little more training you both shouldn't be kept in the position of soldier but be moved up more quickly in the ranks. As General of the Wyndian forces, I had to meet you myself and decided whether what they believe to be true is accurate." He paced before them. "I have decided that I believe your stories. You both seem like bluntly honest men, and because Teepo's anger to my prodding, I could tell the subject is not something that makes him proud." Ryu saw Teepo's face flush, but said nothing. The general continued. "From the reports I've heard and from the lovely performance you two managed to present to me before I interrupted, I can see no reason to keep such intelligent skilled men as privates. Men with your talent and skill need to be put in a place where it can be used. But!"

Ryu and Teepo who had been just about to get excited were quickly made stiff again at the barked word. "You will both be tested to see if you can perform more important responsibilities." He turned away from them and headed toward the door. "I suggest you get some rest, boys. Tonight you'll be suited up and you'll have graveyard shift guard duty at designated points throughout the castle. I will see you both again at 2000 hours." And with that he strode out.

Ryu just stared after him in shock. Once he was out of earshot Teepo cursed. "I was really looking forward to some sleep tonight!"

Rufus smirked at him. "Well, ya listen to what General Montague says an' ya do it an' ya ask no questions."

Ryu stared at Rufus wide-eyed. "That was General Montague?"

"Aye."

Ryu looked from Rufus to Teepo. He suddenly bolted to the door, calling out behind him, "We've got five hours till 2000 hours, Teepo! Sleep dammit and don't complain!"

All Ryu could hear behind him was Teepo's groan and Rufus' laughter.

Ryu ran all the way to the back of the castle. He looked up, seeing the light on in Nina's room. He could see her movement as she did…well, probably princess-like things. Making sure no one was around, he transformed quickly into Myrmidon, and took off into a speedy flight to her room. He landed on her balcony without a sound, and double checked that she was alone.

He could hear her soft footsteps as she wandered around her room. He could smell only her sweet, sugar flower and baking bread scent. Ryu stepped into the light and came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her neck.

Nina stiffened only for a moment, relaxing instant with a small moan at the lips against her throat. He loved it when she made little sounds like that. His lips moved over her sweet skin, tongue lightly caressing and he could hear her soft sigh. Ryu trembled. She finally turned in his arms after a lingering moment. Ryu let the Myrmidon transformation fall away and he stood before her, grinning.

"I guess today went well," she asked, his smile contagious.

Ryu pulled her against him and kissed her, his mouth moving gently over hers. "I just met General Montague," he whispered against her lips, rubbing his bottom lip against hers. He suckled on the corner of her mouth.

Nina was soft and pliable in his arms. She put her soft hands on his shoulders and gently moved back staring at him in surprise. "You did? But it's only been a month since you joined the army! Why would he come see you so soon?"

"He actually came to see both Teepo and I. Apparently, everyone's been talking so much about us at the barracks—like Captain Mitsu and old man Rufus—that he came to see us himself. He gave us an assignment tonight. We're on guard duty—graveyard shift. If we do well, who knows what'll happen? But I think they're going to upgrade us. Make us captains or something."

Nina squealed wrapping her arms around him and hugging him close. "That's great news, Ryu!" She grabbed his face and gave him a quick kiss. "This plan may actually work! If General Montague likes you and moves you up, my parents will have to see the light!"

Ryu nodded. "I still worry that when he tells them about us, they'll figure it out and tell him how horrible we really are and he'll believe them instead of the other way around." His forehead softly touched hers, his nose against her nose.

Nina shook her head softly, not moving too much away from his touch. "I know it's a worry, but I have a good feeling about this, Ryu! Maybe our luck will finally start changing!" She wrapped her arms around him and stroked his naked, slick back. She kissed his collarbone. She pulled back a moment and gave him a slow smile. He loved it when she looked at him like that. "Pray tell, why are you half naked in my bedroom?"

Ryu blinked and then glanced down at himself. He chuckled. "I was so excited, I forgot to make myself presentable as I ran over here to see you."

Nina nodded. "I figured as much." Nina ran her hands down his chest, fingers curving around the muscles there. He flexed beneath her fingers. They'd been having secret meetings like this for the last month, and every time she seemed to grow more daring. He wished their future wasn't so speculative. And he wished sometimes he wasn't such a gentleman. He wanted to toss her on her bed and make her even more naked than he was. She kissed the center of his chest and Ryu restrained a moan.

"Nina…" he breathed, one of his hands sliding into her hair. He wanted to hear her moan his name with pleasure…

"When do you have to go to guard duty?" she murmured.

"2000 hours."

She gave him a firm glance. "That's less than five hours away. What are you doing here! You should be sleeping! You're going to be up all night! You need to get some sleep!"

Ryu only nodded, knowing his face was flushed from her closeness.

Nina rolled her eyes and shoved him away. "Get into my bathroom and take a shower, will you? You can crash on my bed. I'll wake you up a half hour before your shift, so you can get out of here and be at the barracks before anyone misses you."

Ryu grinned and leaned down, taking her lips. His mouth moved over hers, gently, sweetly, savoring the taste of her. His tongue ran over her soft lips, caressing and suckling. Nina moaned against his mouth and Ryu almost lost it. He pulled away with a great deal of effort. "All right," he said hoarsely. "What will you do while I'm asleep? If someone comes in while you're gone…"

"I'm not going anywhere. I have paperwork to do. Besides, I want to be awake so I can see you in your guard uniform. So maybe I'll take a nap too."

Ryu clasped her in his arms and nuzzled her face, breathing in her scent. "I'd like that," he whispered.

Nina sighed and held him close. "Now get into that shower and then get some sleep. You've got a long night ahead of you."

Ryu grinned at her. "Yes, ma'am!"

"Where did Ryu go?" Rufus asked Teepo who had stayed to help him close up the dojo. Teepo glanced at the old man and smiled.

"Probably went to tell his lover the good news."

Rufus' gray eyebrows shot up. "His lover? I didn't know Ryu had a lover."

Teepo shrugged. "Well, he's sort of courting her. Her parents are very stubborn about their relationship. It's one of the reasons we joined up. If he was a soldier, at the very least a captain with time, they may be more accepting." Teepo put away the last of the practice swords and locked the closet they were kept in. "If we move up in the ranks faster—that may mean that Ryu and I will be more than captains sooner rather than eventually. That'll, ideally, make him look better in the eyes of his future in-laws."

Rufus scratched his unruly mass of red and gray peppered head. "But ya're both good kids. Why wouldn't they want Ryu for a son-in-law?"

Teepo laughed. "Didn't you hear what we told General Montague? We both were in the Tournament. We've traveled all over the world battling monsters. We haven't ever had real jobs—we're impoverished nobodies. No matter how good he is with a sword, that isn't something you want your daughter marrying if there's someone out there that can take care of her better and at least has a house of his own! Ryu and I live together with an old friend we consider our brother—even though there's really no relation."

Rufus nodded sadly. "Pity really. How people can overlook goodness for the sake o' wealth an' stability. Rather marry ya daughter off to a wealthy bastard, instead o' the young good man who'll take care o' her. Damn shame."

Teepo smiled at Rufus. The old man was a good guy. "Thanks, old man. I'm sure if Ryu heard you say that he'd have a little more confidence. Who knows? Maybe you'll be able to put in a good word for him when they turn him down again."

Rufus' brow furrowed. "Ya mean even if he does get a promotion, the parents o' his lover still might tell him no?"

"Most likely. They think he's some sort of hoodlum who's brainwashed their daughter instead of a good guy who loves her and would do anything to protect her."

"Well, that just won't do at all."

Teepo grinned. Rufus was renowned for being the best swordsmaster in Wyndia… and a notorious gossip. Who knows? Maybe this could help Ryu even more than the stupid good word of General Montague.

Rei hauled up another load of wheat onto the wagon with only a grunt of effort. He put it down and stared at the near bursting wagon. He wiped the sweat on his brow with his bandana. He stuffed it back into his pocket and ignored the sighing and giggling of the farm girls nearby. He'd gotten used to it.

He'd offered himself as a loader to the farmers in McNeil. They cut their wheat, put into the barrels and baskets, and he loaded the damn heavy things into the wagons and carts before they got pulled off to Wyndia and the McNeil mansion. The new governor of McNeil had already been installed, a distant relative of the family, and had already made some positive changes in the town. Taxes weren't so high, farmers got paid a good amount for their wares and services, along with some extra benefits.

Rei was just glad he managed to get something similar to a job, even if it paid only forty zenny a day. Total. A collective sum from all the farms he worked for. Some of them were even considering not having him come back because he was apparently distracting the local girls. Not like he could fathom why. He was just a Woren, one they had all known growing up even after he disappeared for years.

"Hey, Rei!"

Rei was already lifting the last for this wagon. He put it down and turned to see one of the farmers, Ganson, running toward him, red faced.

"Yeah, what is it?" Rei motioned to the barrels and baskets he had left. "I still have to load two more wagons before I call it a day."

Ganson had to regain his breath before he could speak. Rei rolled his eyes. "Spit it out already, man. I'd like to be able to head home before the sun sets."

"I doubt you'll be going home before then, Rei," Ganson finally got out.

Rei growled at him. "What do you mean?"

Ganson took no offense. Rei growled at everything. He handed him a paper. "When you're done with the last two loads, McNeil wants you to get on the wagon toward the mansion and have a meeting. McNeil's heard about how you've been helping out and how we don't have much to really pay you."

Rei gave him a hard look. "So? He doesn't owe me anything. I don't even know the guy, nor do I want to. I'm fine with what you guys give me."

Ganson shook his head grinning. "Don't jump to conclusions, Rei. I think he's going to give you a job. Or maybe he's just going to be paying you for helping out. But here," he pointed at the sheet Rei was holding. The Woren rolled his eyes and skimmed the paper. "McNeil said he'd have dinner for you there and everything. I think you should go, Rei. You may be able to get a more steady job."

Rei stared at Ganson for a minute, masking his surprise. He noticed then that a lot of the farmers had gathered to hear what was going on. Rei couldn't stop the slow smile that came to his face. "You guys ratted me out, huh? Went to McNeil to let him know I'm slaving out here for chump change…" He looked up at them and smiled. "I-I really didn't think you guys cared."

One of the older farmers chuckled. "You were always a good kid, Rei. You stole because you couldn't really do much else. You never had someone to guide you. And when you came back, you were a full grown man, with responsibilities. You tried your best to get a job on your own. We know that Ryu and Teepo are living with you. It must be hard on all of you, trying to survive on your own without really knowing how."

Rei shook his head and hoisted up another barrel. "Thanks. I appreciate it. McNeil may not like me though, you're warned. I really messed up when it came to those guys as a kid. I almost lost Ryu and Teepo because of them. That and I'm rude."

"We know, Rei. We already warned him ahead of time that you had some pretty grating rough edges." The farmers laughed.

Rei found himself joining in… and touched.

As the wagon rolled through the McNeil gates, Rei couldn't help the foreboding feeling that crawled up his spine. The last time he'd been through these gates had set off the events that had made him loose Ryu and Teepo for the following ten years. He really didn't have happy memories about the place littered with twisted ghosts.

He hopped off the wagon and thanked the driver for letting him ride with him. Guards led the driver away to where they needed to drop off the crops. Rei pulled on his vest and tied his bandana around his head, looking ever more the ruffian. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and headed to the gates.

The guards there looked like they were fed and paid well. Much different than the set Rei remembered. He showed them the letter the farmers had given him and he was let through without a problem. Something he would have never imagined really happening. He thought for a minute there they would take out their swords and try to stab him.

He made his way down the great hall and hung around, not sure what to do. He really didn't want to go wandering around the damn place. Memories weren't pleasant.

"You must be Rei!"

Rei looked up, surprised to hear a young woman's voice. She was dressed in breeches, slick looking riding boots with a long tunic that accented her curves and a large jacket. She hurried down the steps taking them two at a time. Her dark hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, curls cascading down her back. Her ears were large and slightly furred indicating a mixed blood, but of what, who knew? When she was at ground level Rei realized she was a lot smaller than she looked. Her boots gave her an extra inch, but she was still no taller than his shoulders. He blinked down at her in confusion.

"I'm Lyssa Teimos—the current McNeil." She stuck out her hand. It was tiny. "Pleasure to meet you."

Rei looked at her suspiciously. "Bull shit."

She laughed, soft peals of laughter spilling from her and floating around. "Well, I was warned that you were more than a little brusque." Her grin was wide, her red lips splitting with a white toothed smile. "I really am the McNeil. When they say distant cousin, they mean distant! I think the McNeil last name is fifth in running behind Teimos. And it is a pleasure to meet you, despite your rudeness."

Rei blinked at her as she bounced onto the steps. "Come on—let's go to my office. I'd like to talk to you about several things."

Rei stared at her, unable to grasp the situation. It was just going to fast. He hadn't had a chance to digest any of this crazy information. She…this little bit of a woman, really was the McNeil? Rei shook his head. "Sorry—I'm recovering from shock. Can you just tell me here what it is you wanted? I'm not very comfortable in this place."

Lyssa gave him a curious look before comprehension dawned. "Well, and here I though those were just old stories. I guess you really did break in here when you were just a kid, huh? By the way," she bent down, but didn't leave the steps, "Thanks for getting rid of those ghosts for me. Would've cost me a fortune trying to get someone in here who would do it!"

Rei just blinked at her in confusion. She chewed on her red bottom lip. "Okay—then let's get down to business." She came back down the steps and moved passed him to a chair. "At least have a seat."

Rei did do that. He sat in one of the chairs that he'd always thought would be as unyielding as the McNeil. These were all soft and cushy. Rei's confusion only grew.

"All right—I don't know what the farmers told you, but I'd like to hire you," she began. She paused.

Rei stared at her. "You don't waste time."

"Well, you're uncomfortable here, you're confused, and I must seem like an alien right now from what you've always known of the McNeils. So, I'll make it quick and painless," she said with a smile.

Rei didn't know what to say. "Uh. Thank you."

"You're welcome," was the bubbly reply. "All right. I guess the crudest way to put it, is that I want to hire you to be my secretary and/or gopher. I honestly couldn't tell you the proper name for it. But technically, you'll be a lot more than that! You won't need to do any paperwork or anything of that nature. I'll do that stuff. But I've got my hands full trying to get McNeil back up and running. I need someone to do the things that need to get done that I can't do anytime soon. Deliver papers. See shipments are run smoothly. Guard transports of products to Wyndia, etc. Trying to salvage the mess that the last McNeil created hasn't been easy and I'm still short on a lot of cash. If I had more, I'd be paying the farmers more and in turn they would've been paying you more." She took a breath.

Rei tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean? I don't think I quite get what you want me to do in this 'job'."

She nodded, understanding. "It sounds a little complicated I know. Let me give you an example. I just recently bought four machines that would help the farmers gather their crops more easily. It's called a Harvester. The only problem is I got them at a reduced bargain price, which means I could pay the farmers their wages without a hitch, but it also means the machines themselves are in serious need of repair. I need to find someone who can fix them. I'm new in the area and I have no idea who. That would be your first job, Rei. Find me a mechanic who can put those things in working order so cash flow can start coming in more easily to this little town of McNeil."

She leaned forward folding her hands. "I'm money and business savvy, that's why I was the one picked for this job. I could really put this place back on its feet. But I need help. This kind of help. You'll be paid well for it."

Rei sat there, mulling over what she'd said. He glanced at her, her dark eyes looking hopeful. Well, damn. She seemed smart and good-natured. No one in their right mind would offer him such an important position if they were out to get him. And the farmers had nothing but praise for her. Rei noted that they'd decline to mention that they new McNeil was a wisp of a girl. Rei had assumed it was a he and they didn't try to inform him otherwise.

Rei stood up, decision made. "All right. I'll take the job. I've got three mouths to feed, including my own, and this doesn't seem too complicated. Something I can do."

Lyssa bounced up, her smile wide. Grinning like that made her both scary and pretty. It was an odd combination. "Wonderful! Thank you so much, Rei! You have no idea how much this is going to help out McNeil! I can save money on hiring people for only one specific job and pour that extra cash into the town and its people! This'll be great!" She headed away from him, motioning for him to follow. "Come on! I had dinner made. Let's celebrate!"

Rei shook his head. "Um, honestly, Ms. Teimos—"

"Lyssa."

Rei coughed. "Lyssa. Um. Yeah. Honestly, you're great and all, but I still don't really much like being in this house. So I don't think I'll stay. Besides," he glanced over at the clock. There was still an hour before dark. He could run. "I already know who to get to fix your machines. It may take me a while to get her lazy ass over here, but at least I can get you set up with her. The faster we get those things up and moving the better, right?"

Lyssa stared at him, her dark eyes huge on her pale face. "You know a mechanic who can fix those things? I was told it would probably take months to find someone."

"Yeah, well, I have connections. Even if they're a pain in my ass."

Momo was sitting on her bed, face red, only in her shift, looking through another one of her father's magazines. She stared at the strange position of the man and the woman in the image and wondered how interesting that must feel with him inside of her. Their expressions didn't help Momo's runaway imagination. Her legs rubbed unconsciously together, restraining the heat that had been growing steadily in her all day. With a humph, she tossed the magazine and flopped back onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. In the last month she'd been coming back and forth from Wyndia to the Tower and back again, her excuse to Nina usually being to experiment on Chrysm.

In reality she kept coming back to the Tower to continue doing her 'research' as she had officially dubbed it.

Momo looked at the piles of the dirty magazines and books almost covering her entire bed. In her mind's eye she saw Rei again, stroking himself, moaning. Momo closed her eyes tightly. It had been so hard to concentrate on any kind of work in the last month. All she kept seeing was Rei doing that, the heated half passionate half angry look in his eyes when he asked her why she was telling him to stop. She felt his mouth on her neck, his thigh between her legs. She groaned and tossed a bunch of the magazines off her bed. They splattered on the floor, spreading like leaves over the ground.

She looked down and saw one with the woman on the cover grabbing onto her bare breast, her nipples hard, and the other hand inside her underwear. The woman seemed to be moaning in pleasure. Momo cursed and flopped back onto the bed. After a moment, she closed her eyes, imagining Rei moving over her. He imagined him stroking her in the way some of the men in the magazines did to the women and felt her breath shorten and her nipples harden.

Momo bit her lower lip as her hands came to her breasts and gave them a squeeze. Pleasure shot unexpectedly down her body to the moist heat at the crux of her thighs. One hand stayed kneading a breast, tormenting her nipple, little gasps coming from her throat, as the other made its way down her belly. She pulled up the skirt of her shift, until she could slide her hand easily into her underwear. Momo moaned as her fingers dipped between her wet lips and stroked the erogenous nubbin. She rubbed her fingers over herself in circular motions as she squeezed her nipple, the sounds escaping from the back of her throat becoming louder.

She cried out as a particular touch sent shards of pleasure stabbing up her body.

Rei climbed the Tower, killing all the monsters in his way with more annoyance that actual exertion. It was already well past dinner time. Both dragons would be home by now, wondering where the hell Rei was. He'd forgotten how far out this place was. He was going to take forever going back. Maybe he could convince Momo to give him a piece floor and they'd both leave to McNeil in the morning. His stomach growled. He didn't mind staying for some of her cooking.

He cursed as he finally made his to the top. That meal she's going to make for him better be sublime for all the effort he exerted getting up here.

As he approached her door, he heard a small cry come from within. His eyes widened. Oh, damn! Did a monster get in there while she wasn't paying attention and caught her off guard? He rammed into the door, but the solid oak wouldn't budge, and it was locked.

Double damn. "Momo! Momo, can you hear me? Are you all right?"

At the sudden slam against her door, Momo was startled out of the dizzy haze of pleasure and fell off the bed from the surprise. Legs sprawled on either side of her, hair wild about, she tried to gather her scattered thoughts.

"Momo! Momo, can you hear me? Are you all right?"

She stared at the door. Rei? But what was Rei doing here…?

"Momo! Dammit! I'll break down the damn door then. Momo!"

She shook herself out of it, realizing the direness of the situation. She stared at all the magazines around her and panicked. "No! No, Rei, I'm fine! I'll be right there! Don't break my door!"

Using her comforter, she tossed it over her bed, effectively covering all the magazines still on it. The ones scattered all over the floor, she quickly shoved under her bed, hoping that he wouldn't find any of them.

"Momo, are you all right? Why is the door locked? Momo!" Rei blinked as the lock loudly unbolted and the door swung open. The sight that greeted him robbed him of speech and thought.

Momo stood there before him, in nothing but a very see-through shift. He could see her rosy nipples through it, hard and obvious. Her small dainty panties were glaringly dark under the soft color of her shift. Her entire shape was clearly visible; the curve of her hips, her thighs, her belly. And her face. Her glasses were somewhere, but not on her nose like they should have been. Her lips were red and swollen, her eyes still looking half dazed, her hair loose and wild, hanging down to her knees. Rei could only stare with his mouth hanging open.

She ran a hand through her hair, the movements making those large, perfect breasts jiggle enticingly, stretching her body, making her all the more delectable and exposing that lovely column of pale flesh she called a neck.

"What are you doing here, Rei?" she asked, her voice just slightly raspy.

Rei felt like he'd been kicked in the gut. He just stared at her, unable to say a single word. His body was already rock hard and uncomfortable in his pants, just from what he'd seen and heard so far. She looked, for all the world, like a woman who'd just been having some damn good sex and had been rudely interrupted. That thought sobered him up very quickly. He highly doubted there was a man hiding somewhere in her room that had been doing things to her that kept Rei awake at night, but the idea ticked him off enough for him to get his bearings against the seductress before him, posing as an nerdy engineer.

"Came to offer you a job," he snarled, pushing his way passed her and into her place. As he moved by her, he took a deep breath. She smelled of woman musk, but other than that scent being thickly laid over all the other scents that made her Momo, there was nothing else. No other guy had been touching her. Then why the hell did she look and smell like a woman bent on sexual adventures?

"A job?" she asked, that raspy voice still there. He cursed silently. In his mind, he heard that same voice moaning his name and his body grew all the more uncomfortable.

"Yeah, a job, you deaf?" he snapped.

Rei waited. He blinked. No… verbal retaliation?

He looked over to her and saw her quietly moving passed him and away, towards her small lab/kitchen. "What kind of job? Why are you offering it to me?"

Rei stared at her curiously, wondering what was wrong with her. She never ignored the bait when he dangled it so obviously before her. Something was definitely up. He watched her hips sashay away, and he couldn't help staring at her glorious ass. He was glad though that her body was mostly out of view. "I got a job working for McNeil. She needs someone to do a lot of the physical and more arduous stuff that she doesn't have time to do, so she hired me. First on the list, was getting a mechanic to fix the Harvesters she bought so the farmers could save more time gathering crops and gather more at a time…"

"Oh," she murmured, putting some tea to heat on her burner. "I've fixed Harvesters before. Shouldn't be a problem."

"I didn't think it would be for you, which is why I came to ask if you were interested."

Momo nodded. "Yes… I haven't had a lot of steady work lately. This will be good to get me back into perspective."

Back into perspective? What the hell did that mean? Rei crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, since I came all this way, this late at night, I was wondering if you would at least give me a decent meal."

She blinked up at him. She looked dazed. "Hm? Oh! Yes, food. Actually, now that you mention it, I'm kind of hungry too. I'll make us some food. Just make yourself comfortable…" she murmured, pattering away.

Rei wondered if she'd even noticed her state of undress. He looked around, planning on doing exactly as she recommended. The closest thing to sit down on, since she apparently didn't believe in comfortable chairs, was the bed. He made his way toward it and stopped barely a foot away.

The bed reeked of Momo's female musk. Rei's arousal became painful. He moved closer and sat down carefully on the bed. Her scent was overwhelming. And he noticed very quickly he was sharing the bed with something that lay beneath her covers. Books? He shifted slightly to lift up the comforter and felt something fall against his foot.

Moving away from the comforter for a moment to glance down, he saw… Well, Rei stared at it for a long moment, trying to figure out what it was he saw. He picked up the magazine and stared.

It was a smut magazine. A woman adorned the cover, starting to pull off her underwear as her breasts nearly busted out of the tiny top she wore. Rei, brow furrowed, flipped through the pages. There were articles on sex, how to give and receive pleasure, and tons and tons of pictures of women naked and men having sex with women.

Rei slowly bent down, and peered underneath the bed, only to see tons of this same type of magazine shoved under there. He blinked. He straightened and then abruptly whirled back to the comforter, lifting it up. More of them.

He replaced the comforter carefully, his mind reeling with the implication. Momo had been lying in her bed, reading smut magazines… When he'd coming banging on the door. He paused. Wait. He'd heard her cry out. That's why he started banging… Realization hit him so hard he dropped his face into his hands. She'd been lying in bed probably touching herself. That explained her appearance, the smell of her sexual musk permeating the bed. Rei's eyes stole over to the kitchen where she had been moments ago. She'd probably latched onto his comment about food to try to right herself. He'd caught her completely off guard.

And in the middle of doing something very naughty.

Rei's grin was feral. The image of Momo on her back, legs sprawled, her hand caressing her heat sent him into a painful lust that he almost regretted it. Almost. Damn, he wished the door hadn't been locked and he could have caught her in the act.

But then, if he had, he probably would've have stared at her for a moment, stripped, and been all over her, showing her what it really meant to be touched that way.

Rei was now seriously considering staying the night after all. Just to drive her crazy. But his lecherous thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of her movement and knew she was coming. He quickly stuffed a couple of the exceptionally raunchy magazines into his pockets.

After all, if Momo was doing some research, no reason why he shouldn't be prepared and do some of his own!

"Well, don't that just beat all," he murmured.