Sai Orlianna: Hi! Hi! Back again! Here is the next chapter. Thanks to Merf and Anon who
reviewed. I'm glad you are enjoying it. Makes me happy to know that.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Saiyuki or the character…but God I wish I did.
Fate Plays Her Hand
ch. 5
Stepping into Eternity
The sun peeked sleepily over the mountains lighting up the small clearing. The sky was bright, but its brilliance lagged for something seemed to hinder its shine. It seemed as if no creature would stir, despite the day light biding them out. An unnatural silence fell over the forest as the sun light kissed it hesitantly. Slowly, the sun light reached the mouth of the cave and shone in upon the company asleep within. Hakkai lay closest to the mouth of the cave, stirring slightly as the day enticed him to wake. As he stood, stretching his stiff muscles, the sound of footsteps caught his ear. Smiling with amusement he turned to see the returning forms of Goyjo and Roxanne.
"And where have you been all night, Goyjo." He asked with a smirk as the two reached the mouth of the cave.
"No where." Goyjo replied with a smirk of his own as he strutted past Hakkai, making his way over to where Goku slept sprawled out next to Nara. "Oiy, baka saru, wake up!" Goyjo rolled his eyes as Goku, mumbling something about rice balls, turned in his sleep. "OIY!!!" Goyjo yelled as he grabbed the blanket Goku had successfully tangled himself in through the night and pulled…hard. Goyjo laughed as Goku and Nara both went tumbling over each other in a very rude awakening attempt.
"WHAT HELL WAS THAT FOR!?!?" Goku yelled.
"Time to wake up, baka." Goyjo replied nonchalantly.
"What's going on?" Emma said sleepily.
"Nothing, Em. Goyjo was just waking everyone up." Rox said with a smile. "And it seems to me that it's about time you woke up too."
"Huh?...oh. What time is it!" Emma asked groggily.
"Oh, I don't know." Rox said. "But the sun is up."
"NANI?!" Emma yelled as she jumped up and ran outside. "OH NO!!!! I SLEPT IN!!!! HOW COULD I HAVE SLEPT IN!!!!!"
"It's ok, Em. We all did. It's just past 9. We have time, don't worry." Hakkai said in an effort to calm her down.
"Oh…well, that's not as bad, I guess." Emma replied, a blush gracing her cheeks.
"Hey guys?" Everyone turned at the sound of Nara and Goku's voices. They were both standing by two separate empty 'beds' with identical worried expressions.
"Where's Sanzo?"
"Where's Sephira?"
'Not again…' Sanzo fought against the haze that at that moment continued to cloud his mind. 'Damn that woman…' slowly his mind cleared and his thoughts began to gather. He felt something rough and hard against the back of his head, which, he found, hurt horribly, along with the numbing he felt in his arms. Slowly, he opened his eyes to a range of blurred colors and shapes. 'Where am I?'
"We are a mile from the youkai's castle." Sanzo, not realizing he had spoken aloud, turned his glare on the black shape sitting across from him. 'Sephira…'
"What did you do to me?" he demanded.
"I knocked you out with a stronger herb mixture than last time. You've been out for hours. But now, it's time for you to wake up. They want you alive, and if I show up with you looking dead, it won't be pretty." Sephira answered in an unemotional tone that Sanzo had never heard from her.
"Why can't I feel my arms?" he demanded as he continued to glare at her, giving his eyes time to focus.
"Cause I tied them up and you have been leaning on them for the past thirty minutes." She answered again in the same tone. "I also took your gun so don't think about trying to escape."
"I can kill you without my gun." He retorted, threateningly. He was surprised when he heard a bitter laugh escape her lips.
"Go right ahead, if you wish. Either you kill me, or I die by the hands of a youkai. Doesn't make any difference to me." This time her voice took on a frighteningly cold edge that startled Sanzo, though he would never show it.
As Sanzo's eyes focused completely, the shapes and colors began to become recognizable things. They were sitting in an alcove of stone about half way up a mountain. The sky was becoming cloudy. The sun still pierced through and by its position, Sanzo figured it was now about noon. Finally his eyes landed on his captor. She sat stone faced in front of him, staring into nothing as if considering her next move. They sat in silence for several minutes; the deep breath before the plunge. Sanzo continued to watch her. Her face was expressionless, as if all feeling had been drained out of her.
Suddenly coming to a decision, Sephira broke her pensive gaze, rose to her feet and walked over to him. "Come on, it's time to tempt our fates."
"Fate? I don't believe in fate." Sanzo replied harshly as she lifted him to his feet.
"Neither did I." She whispered as she led him down the path to end their journey.
Running hurriedly into a vast, dark room, a small messenger knelt before the tall thrown at the end of the cold stone room. "My Lord. One of the human females has come. She has a monk in tow."
The being grinned maliciously as he leaned back in his dark thrown "Excellent. Prepare for the arrival of our prey."
"With pleasure, highness." The minion squeaked as he scampered away.
"Well, well, well, it seems his little students have come through after all. What fun." With a sinister chuckle, he made his way to meet his guest.
Sephira stood waiting outside the gates with Sanzo infront of her, his gun pointed into his own back. The sky was now covered in clouds, as they slowly darkened, heavy with an impending downpour. The anxiety in her stomach grew, along with her fear and nervousness. She fought hard to keep them down, knowing what she had to do. 'I have to do this, for everybody's sake…but…I'm scared…' She strained to remember her training, but for some reason, the training used in the past was eluding her. No matter how much she fought it, she couldn't keep her fear down. Suddenly, the cold words she heard only the night before came flooding back to her memory. ' "What are you trying to protect?"...What am I trying to protect?..."You can't protect them…" No, I can't. Not this time. He needs me more…' The harsh sound of the tall stone gates opening broke her from her thoughts. As the gates slowly opened she leaned closer to Sanzo letting her lips stop right by his ear.
"When you get out of here, please do one last thing for me. Make sure the others get back safely." The statement puzzled Sanzo. This woman, who has caused him enough trouble, had just issued a final request. Before he could answer, the gates where fully opened and they went inside.
They where led into a vast chamber with only a few high windows that allowed a very limited amount of light to shine through. They walked slowly, every step echoing through the vast hall. The doors shut loudly behind them. A deafening silence was all that followed, broken only by the sound of their footsteps. At the far end of the chamber was a man shrouded in a mysterious light. Sanzo immediately identified him as the head of this band of youkai. As they neared him, Sanzo felt the rope loosen around his wrists along with something cold and rough being pushed into his palm.
"At last, you have made it, my dear." The youkai lord said in a feigned gentlemanly manner.
"I have brought you what you've asked for," she said sternly as she forced Sanzo to his knees, "Genjo Sanzo and his sutra." She reached into the pouch on her hip and pulled out the sutra. "Now, where is he."
"Patience, sweet one. He is near by. Hand me the sutra and my men will lead you to him." The demon said.
Sephira hesitated for a moment, her grip tightening around the sutra. "I want to see him first, alive!" she commanded.
The demon lord smiled, "I like your spirit, young one. Very well." He snapped and a light appeared behind him. Inside the small circle of light sat a man with steal grey hair. His hands were bound to the chair he sat in; his head hung limply to the side. He looked as if he'd been through hell and back in the last few weeks. Slowly, he lifted his head, revealing crystal blue eyes that once held an unmatched strength but know where heavy with pain and fatigue. A small smile graced his lips as he saw his apprentice. "Sephira…"
She gasped at the sight of him. "Sensei…" It took everything in her not to run to him. Closing her eyes, she took a few deep breaths to calm the anger that threatened to burst out of her. "Ok." Stepping forward, she placed the sutra infront of the dark lord. "Now, Let. Him. Go."
"Now, now. Don't be hasty." He said as he bent down and picked up the sutra, examining it from every angle. "Seems authentic. Ok, then. Let her have him." He said with a sneer, stepping back into the shadows behind him.
Relief swept through Sephira as the demon who guarded her master cut the ropes that held him and pushed him along. He stumbled forward a few steps, raising his eyes to her face again; a sad smile played on his lips. Sephira froze, a sudden fear grasping her heart. She watched him intently. He stood a little straighter and met her gaze. Sephira felt a tear well up in her eye; the look in his eyes was one of farewell. Before she could comprehend this, a small cry came from his lips. His eyes widened as blood began to pour from his mouth. Sephira froze; her eyes landing on the sword blade protruding from her mentor's body. Time seemed to stand still as the blade was slowly pulled out of him. His limp form falling forward revealing the one whom the bloodied blade belonged too. Standing behind her master's body was the youkai leader. Sephira's heart stopped as shock filled her body. 'No…'
"Silly girl. Did you think we would let him go after all the crimes he committed against our clan?" he laughed mockingly.
Sephira couldn't move. The world around her disappeared. All she could feel was the overwhelming pain ripping through her body. A blood curdling scream escaped her lips as the scene of her master's falling body played over and over in her mind. Her body tensed as the pain she held transformed into an uncontrollable rage, fueled by the scoffing laughter she heard all around her. All conscious thought left her replaced by one thing - revenge. She turned her heated glare to the demon king. Outside, thunder could be heard. A flash of lightening shot through the sky, illuminating the scene inside. Seething with hate, she drew her blade and pointed right at him. "You bastard!" she screamed as she charged him. Suddenly, out of the darkness, hundreds of youkai appeared to face her, but she didn't care. Her only goal was the murderer on the far end of the room and she would kill any who got in her way.
The youkai surrounded them both. Sanzo watched as Sephira hacked her way through the youkai who stood in her way. A familiar pain shot through his heart as past memories flashed in his mind. He heard the storm outside, the thunder matching his mood perfectly, he was pissed.
"The Sanzo will be mine!" a youkai screamed as he charged Sanzo. "I will be…" his words were cut off as a bullet pierced his shoulder. The demon fell to his knees, clutching his wound. The youkai looked up at him helplessly.
Sanzo stood above him, his gun aimed at his head. "You caught me on the wrong day." BANG! Immediately the youkai dissolved but just as quickly, three more where on him.
Taking the three out, Sanzo stood ready for anyone else. Suddenly, a blast hit the doors. Several youkai stopped and turned toward the doors. Another blast was heard.
"There's more outside. TO THE GATES!!!" hundreds of youkai ran toward the new attackers, throwing the doors open, allowing the light to fill the room.
"Well, I guess they know we're here." Goyjo remarked as two youkai charged him.
"I would say so, considering the fact they are pouring out of the gates to meet us." Goku said as he knocked out a few more. "We need to get inside."
"Right. Goku, you and Nara fight your way in. We'll take out these pansies and meet you there." Goyjo said.
" Let's go, Nara." Goku yelled.
"Right behind ya!" she said as the two of them charged toward the fortress, fighting their way to the entrance.
Hakkai, Rox, and Emma where having their own troubles fighting off a hoard of youkai. Standing in a small line, they fought off any who dared to charge them.
"How many are there?" Rox asked as she knocked out another with a quick punch.
"Too many." Emma said as she threw one of her make shifts bombs and took out several more. "Is it always like this?"
"Yes. Most of the time, but don't worry, it ends eventually." Hakkai said with a smirk.
Emma laughed, despite herself as she fended off a few more. Looking to her right, she saw Goyjo standing alone fighting off his own hoard of youkai attackers. "Rox, go assist Goyjo on the other end. Hakkai and I can hold them here. Remember, don't go inside, we need to lure them out."
"Roger that!" Rox said, and with a beautifully executed front flip, she jumped over the charging youkai and ran in the direction where Goyjo was. "Come and get me boys!!!" she yelled back at her attackers as she slashed her way through the others.
Emma watched her leave as she, too, pulled out her fighting daggers. "OK, youkai scum. Come and get me." And with a cry she charged into them.
Goku and Nara stood back to back surrounded. Goku held his staff in one hand, ready for a fight. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nara extend her hand, a bright golden light emanate from her palm as a long, curved blade appeared out of nowhere. Goku looked at the blade now poised for battle as a sense of familiarity plagued the back of his mind. Shrugging it off, he turned back to his opponents. "Well, boys, if you're not going to attack, I guess I will." He yelled as he charged.
"Look, a little girlie wants to play with us?" One youkai snickered.
"Little…girlie?" Nara's eyes narrowed as a golden aura flared around her. Her voice took on a deadly tone. Nara opened her mouth and a voice not her own spoke. "Prepare for death, cause it's coming for you by my hand."
The youkai froze in terror at the being before them but didn't have a chance to look twice as a golden blade sent them to the next world.
After what seemed like hours, the remaining youkai fled, leaving the numerous bodies of dead comrades sprawled out over the ground. Goyjo and Roxanne, having finished off the last of the youkai made their way over to where Hakkai and Emma stood, finishing off the youkai who surrounded them. Both had several cuts and bruises, but nothing too serious. Hakkai sent one last energy blast through the last that charged him and took a deep breath, he clutched his shoulder where a certain youkai got in a lucky shot. He was also sporting several other cuts that would need attending later. He turned his gaze to where Emma was fighting a few feet away.
She was finishing off the last of the youkai, her hands soaked in blood. With one final move, she sliced the throat of the final youkai, his hot blood splattering on her face. Her arms heavy with exhaustion, Emma dropped her daggers and looked at her blood stained hands. Looking up, she noticed Hakkai watching her. The smell of the blood on her hands made her feel light headed as nausea took over her. The world around her began to spin. Her eyes unfocused as a pain ripped through her body from an unknown source. Grabbing her head with her blood soaked hands, she let out an ear splitting scream and fell to her knees heaving for air. Something was taking over her mind, a new emotion that scared her. Her head hurt so much; she couldn't think straight. All she could hear amongst the pain was one word…Kill…
Hakkai watched in horror as Emma fell to her knees screaming. He had no idea what was going on until her words from the night before came floating back to his mind. '…it took him a full day to wash the dried blood off my skin…' Dried blood, warring youkai clans, 1,000 youkai… 'Oh NO!' The answer hit Hakkai so fast that he didn't have time to think. He ran to her as fast as he could. Falling to his knees, he clutched her shoulders, feeling her whole body shaking. "Emma! Emma! Can you hear me?! Answer me!!! Emma!" Hakkai watched her small form and noticed dark streaks beginning to appear on her skin. Eyes wide, he saw her ears grow and point out. He was too late.
Emma stopped shaking. Her body bursting with new energy. She looked up to see a man looking at her intently. Kill… She met his eyes straight on, Kill... her mouth twisted into a sick grin as her eyes narrowed. "Kill…" Hakkai froze when he heard her hiss out the last word. Letting go, he jumped back.
"EMMA!!!" Roxanne screamed, panic evident on her face as she ran to her friend. She had felt a strong surge of youkai energy emanating from where Emma was. Hakkai grabbed her before she could pass him. Roxanne fought hard against his grasp. "Let me go! EMMA!!!"
"She can't hear you." Hakkai said, trying to keep her back.
"What happened to her." Rox pleaded as she felt the youkai energy growing stronger.
Hakkai let her go and turned back to face Emma. "She has been bathed in the blood of a thousand youkai."
"In other words, she's been turned into a youkai." Goyjo said, coming up behind her.
Rox looked forward in disbelief. "No…it can't be. She hasn't fought that often. And how could she have killed a thousand today?"
"It wasn't today. It was when she was found. Bathed in blood of both youkai and human, she just killed the last hundred or so today." Hakkai answered.
"What are you saying? That …that Emma is now a youkai? Can she be helped?" Rox asked, panic once again, rising in her voice. Hakkai shook is head.
"What do you propose we do?" Goyjo asked. Hakkai didn't answer. Hakkai turned toward Emma and stepped forward.
"NO!!! YOU CAN'T KILL HER!!!" Rox screamed as she ran infront of them.
Hakkai took in the pained expression on her face and sighed. "I won't. Goyjo, stay out of this."
"You sure, buddy?" Goyjo asked
"Yes." Hakkai said, not taking his eyes off Emma. Without another word, Goyjo walked up and took Roxanne's hand, pulling her off to the side to watch.
"Ok, Em. Here we go." Hakkai said as he slowly advanced on her.
Goku and Nara where both running toward the tall gates when Nara heard a pain filled scream. Freezing in place, she turned to see Emma fall to her knees, her head in her hands. Nara watched in shock as she saw Hakkai run toward her fallen comrade. Goku came up behind her, following her gaze to where Emma now stood facing Hakkai. Goku froze as he felt more then saw the difference in Emma.
"Goku." He turned to Nara, who was still watching Emma. "Go ahead inside. I'll be there in a minute." Goku nodded as Nara walked off. Watching her go, he turned his gaze back to Emma as Hakkai charged her. Hesitantly, he walked inside. Nara walked toward the ensuing battle, a golden aura flaring around her as she recalled her sword to her hand. 'Don't worry, my friend, I shall stop her.' Nara nodded as a tear ran down her face.
Hakkai fell back, hitting the ground hard. Emma had become stronger than he thought, and faster too. Before he could right himself, she was on him, her foot digging into his stomach. She lifted the blade in her hand, bringing it down in one swift motion, piercing his left hand, nailing it to the ground. Hakkai screamed as pain shot through his arm. Looking up again, he saw Emma staring down at him, a sick grin twisted her face. Pulling the blade out of his hand, she put the blade to her lips tasting the fresh blood upon it. Blood dripped from her lips as she raised the blade once more, this time aiming for his heart. Hakkai braced himself, but did not look away. Time seemed to freeze when a new sound hit his ears. Footsteps. Chancing a quick glance, he saw someone coming toward them.
Hakkai turned his gaze back to Emma as a golden blade appeared at her throat. Slowly, Emma stepped off him to face her new opponent. Grasping his hand, Hakkai stumbled back to where Goyjo and Roxanne stood in shock, all eyes focusing on the new comer. He followed their unwavering gaze. There, in front of Emma, was what seemed to be Nara, only this person was different. Her eyes had changed to a deep gold with a purple diamond evident on her forehead. The being before them was radiating power that shone golden around her. With a wave of her hand, the strange sword disappeared. The golden aura flared around her as she held Emma in her gaze.
"NO! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Emma screamed in fear, but she was rooted to her place. Nara's intense golden stare burnt a path into Emma's soul. "STAY AWAY! NOOO!"
Lifting her hands, Nara placed them over Emma's ears. "Come back to the light." Nara commanded in a voice deeper than her own. Emma screamed as the golden light surrounded her. Goyjo, Rox, and Hakkai covered their eyes as the blinding light flashed around them. As the light faded away, Emma and Nara collapsed.
The three witnesses rushed to their fallen companions. Roxanne ran to where Nara had fallen as Hakkai ran to Emma. Lifting her arm, he checked her pulse. Relief spread over him as he felt a strong, steady beat, she was alive. Lifting her head he noticed two small emerald earrings placed in each ear. 'Power limiters? But only the god's have the power to…' He lifted his gaze to Nara who lay limply in Roxanne's arms.
"NO! Please! Don't kill me! Please!" The youkai leader's pleads echoed through the hall. His minions lay dead all around him and now the cold blue eyes of death stared down upon him.
Sephira stood over him, her body covered in blood, both youkai and her own. Her eyes were burning with an icy flame. His pleads didn't reach her ears as she stood there, glaring at him.
The demon king quickly took out the sutra. "Here, you can have it back. I didn't want it anyway." He cried desperately as he flung it at her.
Sephira caught it and threw it behind her, still advancing on her cowering foe. She just didn't care anymore. The youkai's eyes were full of a fear no one could fathom as Sephira raised her blade above her head. Cold eyes burning his soul, she proclaimed his fate in one breath. "Die." In an instant, the demon king fell into oblivion, his blood splashing onto her down turned face. Her face was hot, covered in blood. Her eyes burned, her hands shook; her body, heart, and soul, were numb. Her blade was soaked in the blood of her foes. Glancing down at her now red sword she saw liquid fall onto it. Puzzled, she watched as another, then another bit fell. It wasn't blood for it began to burn a path as it slid down the hard steal. The burning sensation in her eyes caused her vision to blur. As she reached up to clear her eyes, she felt something hot and wet falling down her face. She looked at her finger tips, now wet with her pain. 'Tears…am I crying? I never…cry…' Looking up, she saw Sanzo just staring at her. His face was emotionless. 'Don't…don't look at me…not like that.' Sephira turned her head, not wanting this man of all people to see her in her weakened state.
Sanzo turned away. The image of a broken woman was something he had seen far too often. He had learned long ago to erase it from his mind but deep down he knew that this image would not readily leave his mind. Taking a few steps his eyes landed on something lying in the shadows. The Sutra. Reaching down, he picked it up and opened it. It was blank - a fake. She gambled everything on a fake sutra. Sanzo shook his head is silent disbelief.
"SANZO!!!" He turned as the familiar voice called him. Goku came bounding up to him. "You're alright." Goku looked around the room, noticing the numerous bodies lying around. "What happened here?"
"Much." Sanzo replied as he turned his gaze back to Sephira. 'Too much…'
By the time others arrived, Sephira had managed to put up the stone face of a leader. She knew she had to be the one to tell the others. She also knew that she would have to forget her own pain and become the one to carry the pain of the others. Hastily, she hid her pain in the darkest corner of her heart and walked stiffly to her comrades. Soon stories would be swapped, but now was not the time. The four guys stood back as the girls we told the news. A fresh wave of pain fell over all of them. With a final crash of thunder, the sky let loose the tears it had been holding back. The rain came crashing down, washing away the blood that stained the earth. Sephira turned to the opened gates and watched the downpour, resisting the tears that threatened to fall. The sky portrayed what her heart held secret.
The rain broke, leaving the ground soft and wet, as the small band marched solemnly back to their camp. Ironically, as they reached their camp, the rain started again. Sephira watched as the others hurried inside, but she did not. She stood by the edge of the clearing letting the rain fall over her, silently praying it would wash the pain away. Her eyes blurred again, but this time she didn't resist, she let her tears fall freely with the rain, her screams hidden by the loud thunder. She had failed and now the most important person in her life was gone. She fell to her knees as the rain soaked her through. 'Please…' she prayed 'just let me drown.'
Sanzo stood solemnly at the mouth of the cave as the rain fell harder, but his eyes were not on the rain. His cool violet gaze fell to the broken woman in the distance. The storm outside was nothing compared to the storm of emotion she had let loose. Sanzo turned back inside and sat by the fire, giving the grieving woman her privacy. He would get his sutra back tomorrow. He laughed an ironic laugh, they really were too much alike, and that's what bothered him.
The sun shone out the next morning as the small band began to pack their things. Sanzo had announced early that morning that they would be departing before noon. Rox and Nara were helping Goku and Goyjo pack up the Jeep in silence. Hakkai sat silently under a near by tree as Emma wrapped a new bandage around his left hand. They had been side by side since the day before as Hakkai did his best to help her cope with her new found life.
Sephira stood inside the cave, rummaging through her bag. Her eyes were tired and weak, the pain still fresh in her mind. But, as always, she put on a strong face, though her heart was breaking. Her hand grasped what she had been searching for and she withdrew it. Her gaze fell onto the Sutra. At least one part of her plan didn't fail horribly. 'Damn that monk…damn him for being right…damn him…' Sephira fought to keep her tears at bay as she swung her bag over her shoulder. Exiting the cave, she watched as the others were saying their farewells. Nara slid something into Goku's bag and whispered something in his ear. Rox and Goyjo were locked in a good bye kiss which Sephira quickly drew her gaze from. Her eyes landed on Hakkai and Emma talking by the front of the car. Finally she spotted the person she was seeking. Sanzo stood on the far side of the car, waiting to leave. Her mind yet again shot to the day before, to the look he had given her. If she had known better, she would of thought that she saw pity and understanding in his eyes. 'What would he know about it, he doesn't have a heart to break.' Gathering her strength, she walked up to him.
Sanzo watched her as she approached, is violet gaze catching her icy blue one. Sephira froze as she saw a flicker in his eyes akin to yesterday. Sanzo's gaze bore into her; he saw every bit of the pain she tried to hide for he had seen that look on his own face many times.
Sephira, trying to harden her eyes, held his Sutra out to him. "Here."
Sanzo took it, not turning his gaze. "Thank you." Sephira met his gaze once more, this time just watching as if wanting to say something but refraining. She turned from him and walked away. Sanzo finally tore his gaze from her and looked at his sutra. He opened and found the writing there. Putting it in place around his neck, he called to the other. "Let's go."
Kanzeon Bosatsu watched as her chosen four went on their way, again toward the West. A small smile played on her lips. Fate is a funny thing. Turning from her viewing pool, she walked over to a tall sakura tree and picked one small blue flower off the tree. To let them meet like this…oh yes, fate is a funny thing. Now, would she be kind and let them meet again? Only time would tell. She thought with a laugh. As she walked past Nataku's thrown, she dropped the small flower into his lap. "See, my dear, how fate plays her hand? Maybe she will play another in their favor."
She turned from Nataku's cold shell. "I wonder how long it will take them to notice, my sweet. How long till they find out their toy is empty."
End Ch. 5
Sai Orlianna: You know the drill, Review, and if you must, rant and rave. Hope you
enjoyed the new installment. That was my first big battle scene, so please, tell what
you thought and any hints and tips would be appreciated. Oh, and incase you were
wondering, this is not the end. There is more to this story. So please, review!
Ja for now!
