A/N: sorry it took so long for all those hordes of people reading this
(hear the sarcasm?) that it took so long to get this chapter out. My
computer ate the beginning of it. Anyway, tiene algunas problemas. Read
the chapter and enjoy! ^^
The Idea and Plan of Mishi
Mishi wasn't happy with the idea of losing. He had never lost a duel like that to a newcomer since he could remember. He took a look around him as he swirled his cup of scotch. What met his eyes were the regular scum that occupied the bar. He was so angry he turned and randomly flung his scotch across the room, barely missing someone. A thought struck him. He motioned to his men that had accompanied him before leaving the tavern, going to a secure location, and telling them of his plans that had come to him as he threw the scotch.
!@#*%&!#($!*#@%()!
Koyo and Riis were walking towards the sparring courts. Apparently, Koyo had a "surprise" for her. When they got there, the courts were empty. Koyo said that they must be eating in the garrison or something. He led her over to a tall standing shelf, opened it, and thrust into her hands the glaive that she used yesterday.
"But."
"No," Koyo told her firmly. "Father and I both discussed it. He said, since no one else here has ever moved as well using that weapon. He and I both agreed that you should have it."
"Um.Thank you," Riis said looking at the glaive.
"I'll be taking that, Missy," a harsh voice said from the shadows. The owner stepped into the light to reveal himself as...
"Mishi?" Koyo sounded confused.
"Come out and play," Mishi said as a few other men stepped out of the shadows to surround the two teens. Riis sighed and shed her human form. Her tail twitched as she crouched into a defensive stance. The two teenagers and six adults stood there, ready for anything while Riis' ears swiveled at the background sounds. One sound in particular caught her attention. She turned, and saw a most blood chilling sight.
"Koyo!" she shrieked as she grabbed him and threw him into the air. The arrow that had been meant for him hit Riis in the side. Snowy feathers fell to the ground as the men all attacked Riis.
It is fair to say that Riis was at a disadvantage. Six to one: not good odds. With ears constantly turning to catch every sound, Riis held her position blocking most of the attacks that came her way. All the while, she noticed, Mishi stood on the sidelines.
::Wait!:: Riis thought. ::If Mishi is on the sidelines, and before there was six, then...where did this guy come from?!:: She turned to Mishi. She must have shown something in her eyes for Mishi laughed and whistled. Several more men leapt out of the shadows with swords and started to attack her as well.
"Not good," Riis muttered as she was thrown on the defensive. She attempted to jump above them, but a sword scored her tail and licked her back. She growled, turned on the man, and decapitated him with out thinking. She was eventually surrounded, the men forming a circle around her with swords and short glaives jabbing at her to keep her in the middle of it while another ring of men with pikes and spears kept her from jumping out of the circle. All she could do was stand there and dodge the boldest men and growl at Mishi.
A few particularly bold men, who hadn't discussed their intentions with one another, rushed her at the same time creating a gap. Riis sparred with them for no more than a breath before she flew through the gap; her actions anticipated by a spears man. Her freedom cost her a good slash across her shoulder. As the fight began again, Riis heard a shrill whistle that pained her ears. Her ears unconsciously flattened against her hair, somewhat impairing her hearing, as she cringed.
Those few seconds of distraction gave Mishi the opening he was looking for. Rushing into the fray, with the flat of his sword, he cuffed Riis upside the head. She collapsed on the ground like a sack of grain.
"Aaaw Miiiishiiiii!" someone whined. "Why'd you cut it short?"
"Yeah," Greffyn said. "You said that we could have some fun with her."
Mishi turned angry eyes to them before pointing to the sky. They all looked to see two white splotches coming at them rather fast. "Do you still want to have fun with her in front of the King and the Prince?" Panicked looks and nervous gestures spread through the group like flame to oil. " I didn't think so. Someone grab the vixen and let's get out of here."
Greffyn ended up with the task of carrying Riis. He wrapped her in her cloak before draping her over his shoulders. He muttered about how heavy she was as he and the rest chased after Mishi. They fled the training courts, castle grounds, and town area. Mishi and his group took refuge in a series of caves not unlike a catacomb. He chained the unconscious girl in one room with a carpet of straw. When he returned, Mishi addressed the group.
"Now, we have all our cards," he started. "The question now is: do we play our cards now, or do we wait and toy with them, waiting for the jack pot to increase?"
!#(&$!#@()$*!#@%(!&
Van and Koyo carefully picked through the mess that had once been a pristine training court. Van nudged various objects with the toe of his boot while Koyo was searching for something. Van sighed. He was probably looking for Riis, or something that told him she was either still here or still alive. He didn't want the boy to worry needlessly. He knew the fox- girl wasn't here. How he knew he had yet to figure out. He sighed as he watched Koyo.
"Koyo," Van called.
"What?" Koyo replied somewhat distracted. He smiled. If he was still his age and it had been Hitomi, he probably would have already left to follow the people with Allen hot on his tail. "Could you please send your mother out here then find Dutch?"
Van's eyes were steady as Koyo searched them for some reason that would answer the question in his eyes.
"Please, Koyo? I know you want to search too," Van started. "I'll let you know first thing if anything comes up." Koyo nodded before he took off running. He jumped in the air in an explosion of feathers. He was gone before the smile on Van's face pulled at the corners of his mouth.
!(#&%!(#$*!)@#%&!@#$(
Koyo didn't want to leave the training courts. He wanted to find Riis, but his father had to be obeyed. He started to run, but then decided he'd fly. It would get him to his destination faster. All the wonder he wondered why he was so eager on getting Riis back. He didn't know her that well and she had only been in Fanelia for a day or two at most. He sighed. The girl couldn't keep herself out of trouble.
His next problem suddenly presented itself as he flew over the castle. How was he supposed to get in? He knew the corridors of the castle allowed him to fly, but how to enter. He circled the entrance for what felt like an hour when they opened to let a few guards out. Koyo dove and entered the castle with much yelling from the guards. He flew through corridor after corridor, asking people if they had seen his mother. He finally found that she was in the East Garden from one of her handmaidens. He thanked them and flew out an open window to the Gardens.
!@#()%&!)#($!)#$!)#($
Hitomi was sitting on one of the many stones in the East Gardens watching the birds. She loved to watch the Fanelian birds that were so different from the birds on earth and on other parts of Gaia. They were special unto the region.
When she was watching, she felt another presence grace her. She was about to address it as one of her handmaidens when the wind picked up and ran around the garden taking with it snowy white feathers. Now her search narrowed to two people, Koyo and Van. She noted the size of the feathers and guessed it was Koyo. Upon turning around, her question was finally answered
Koyo stood before her, bare-chested and disheveled. His hair was more unruly than usual; his dark pants were stained with something that looked like blood. He looked like he was at conflict with himself.
"Come sit with me, Koyo," Hitomi addressed her son. "It looks like something's on your mind." Koyo shook his head. Hitomi suddenly felt like something was very wrong. "Is it about Riis?"
Koyo was silent for a moment before he shook his head yes. "Father wants your presence at the sparring courts."
"Since it involves Riis, go find Dutch," Hitomi instructed.
"Yes, Mother," Koyo said as he flew back into the castle. Hitomi made her way to the sparring courts. What met her eyes startled her.
When she had first arrived in Gaia, she had seen Van sparring with Balgus in an indoor court. Later she had found out that there had been outdoor courts as well. Van had showed her the immaculate courts and their fine weapons. Now the pristine place was a mess. The weapons carelessly littered the courts. Various objects were broken and scattered. Blood coloured the ground a deep crimson and angry scarlet. She was suddenly very frightened, but her demeanor showed nothing but a calm, young woman.
"Van," Hitomi started, "you wanted to see me?" She watched as Van turned to face her. His eyes were glossy and sad, his face sporting a sad, empty smile.
"Riis," he began. "She's gone."
!$(%&!#$(!@%&!#@
Koyo flew. He didn't know where he was going. Koyo flew through the castle forcing the servants to stop what they were doing and pick up his feathers. Draconian feathers were a sacred and most valuable possession...if you could get them. But even though Koyo knew of these dangers, he flew. He had a mission. He needed Dutch.
He first checked Riis' room. He had told her once that Dutch, when she was gone, liked to sleep on the bed taking up as much room as he possibly could. Dutch wasn't in Riis' room. He looked around and couldn't find any dog hair. That means he hadn't been in the room since the maids collected the sheets. He ran out the door.
He looked everywhere; the bathrooms, the kitchen, Merle's quarters, niches in various places. He had no idea where to look for him anymore. At the end of his willpower, a memory surged to the front of his mind.
~*Flashback*~
::"Do you have any gardens around here?" Riis questioned Koyo as Dutch trotted next to his mistress.
::"Yeah," Koyo responded. "There's the South, East, West and Cliff Gardens."
::"Does one of the gardens have roses?" Riis had stopped and was now looking at Koyo with such hope in her eyes. He looked at the steep side of the cliff that was behind the castle.
::"The Cliff Gardens have roses at the~"
::"Great! Just wonderful!" Riis exclaimed. Her green cloak billowed as a breeze caught it. Her long ponytail accompanied her cloak. "I love roses. Especially white roses. Roses are my favorite."::
~*End Flashback*~
They had ended up practically running to the Cliff Gardens. There, Riis had seen various coloured roses from blood red to white to black, each having a spectrum of different flowers. Riis had chosen two white roses that were native to only Fanelia: Dragon's tooth and Dragon's bane. Dragon's tooth was the purest white rose in existence on Gaia while the latter was a creamy off-tone white. The hue was almost a gray.
Realization hit him as he entered the dining hall again. He turned, but changed his mind and flew out an open window in the dining hall getting warned from advisors and laughed to by cooks. He knew where Dutch was now. He flew with the wind to the Cliff Gardens.
($%&!#@($*!#@(&%!
Dutch had carefully sniffed out the two rose bushes his mistress liked the best. He was lucky. The two bushes had by chance been planted next to each other. Whining he lay down between the two. He cried himself to sleep.
Dutch was slowly coming to wakefulness by someone scratching his ears and his snout. Thinking it was his mistress he opened his eyes only to find Koyo. His eyes softened and he whined.
"I know," Koyo told him. "I miss her too." Dutch let himself be pet as the two cried. When that was done, Koyo wiped his eyes and shushed Dutch.
"Do you want to help me find your mistress?" Koyo had once over heard Riis scolding Dutch about disobeying his "mistress" so he used the term. Dutch stood up and started to prance around Koyo. To help find his mistress! He was overjoyed. Koyo leapt into the air with Dutch following him on the ground.
!$#(%!(#%&!#$*!@#
Van looked up when he heard an odd tone to the wind. Koyo landed outside the fence. He was a little confused when he turned around seemingly to wait for something. His questions were answered when Dutch rounded the corner at breakneck speed, inches off the ground. He had to leap the fence he was going to fast. Koyo, with Dutch on his right, turned to Van. Van motioned Dutch to the ground and he started to sniff.
Dutch sniffed endlessly, or so it seemed to Van. He finally barked, waking Koyo up from his nap against the wall. Van walked over to Dutch. He sniffed the ground, ran a little towards the woods, then back.
"It appears that the infamous half-breed has found a lead," Hitomi remarked slyly as Van and Koyo agreed. Dutch smiled and wagged his tail.
The Idea and Plan of Mishi
Mishi wasn't happy with the idea of losing. He had never lost a duel like that to a newcomer since he could remember. He took a look around him as he swirled his cup of scotch. What met his eyes were the regular scum that occupied the bar. He was so angry he turned and randomly flung his scotch across the room, barely missing someone. A thought struck him. He motioned to his men that had accompanied him before leaving the tavern, going to a secure location, and telling them of his plans that had come to him as he threw the scotch.
!@#*%&!#($!*#@%()!
Koyo and Riis were walking towards the sparring courts. Apparently, Koyo had a "surprise" for her. When they got there, the courts were empty. Koyo said that they must be eating in the garrison or something. He led her over to a tall standing shelf, opened it, and thrust into her hands the glaive that she used yesterday.
"But."
"No," Koyo told her firmly. "Father and I both discussed it. He said, since no one else here has ever moved as well using that weapon. He and I both agreed that you should have it."
"Um.Thank you," Riis said looking at the glaive.
"I'll be taking that, Missy," a harsh voice said from the shadows. The owner stepped into the light to reveal himself as...
"Mishi?" Koyo sounded confused.
"Come out and play," Mishi said as a few other men stepped out of the shadows to surround the two teens. Riis sighed and shed her human form. Her tail twitched as she crouched into a defensive stance. The two teenagers and six adults stood there, ready for anything while Riis' ears swiveled at the background sounds. One sound in particular caught her attention. She turned, and saw a most blood chilling sight.
"Koyo!" she shrieked as she grabbed him and threw him into the air. The arrow that had been meant for him hit Riis in the side. Snowy feathers fell to the ground as the men all attacked Riis.
It is fair to say that Riis was at a disadvantage. Six to one: not good odds. With ears constantly turning to catch every sound, Riis held her position blocking most of the attacks that came her way. All the while, she noticed, Mishi stood on the sidelines.
::Wait!:: Riis thought. ::If Mishi is on the sidelines, and before there was six, then...where did this guy come from?!:: She turned to Mishi. She must have shown something in her eyes for Mishi laughed and whistled. Several more men leapt out of the shadows with swords and started to attack her as well.
"Not good," Riis muttered as she was thrown on the defensive. She attempted to jump above them, but a sword scored her tail and licked her back. She growled, turned on the man, and decapitated him with out thinking. She was eventually surrounded, the men forming a circle around her with swords and short glaives jabbing at her to keep her in the middle of it while another ring of men with pikes and spears kept her from jumping out of the circle. All she could do was stand there and dodge the boldest men and growl at Mishi.
A few particularly bold men, who hadn't discussed their intentions with one another, rushed her at the same time creating a gap. Riis sparred with them for no more than a breath before she flew through the gap; her actions anticipated by a spears man. Her freedom cost her a good slash across her shoulder. As the fight began again, Riis heard a shrill whistle that pained her ears. Her ears unconsciously flattened against her hair, somewhat impairing her hearing, as she cringed.
Those few seconds of distraction gave Mishi the opening he was looking for. Rushing into the fray, with the flat of his sword, he cuffed Riis upside the head. She collapsed on the ground like a sack of grain.
"Aaaw Miiiishiiiii!" someone whined. "Why'd you cut it short?"
"Yeah," Greffyn said. "You said that we could have some fun with her."
Mishi turned angry eyes to them before pointing to the sky. They all looked to see two white splotches coming at them rather fast. "Do you still want to have fun with her in front of the King and the Prince?" Panicked looks and nervous gestures spread through the group like flame to oil. " I didn't think so. Someone grab the vixen and let's get out of here."
Greffyn ended up with the task of carrying Riis. He wrapped her in her cloak before draping her over his shoulders. He muttered about how heavy she was as he and the rest chased after Mishi. They fled the training courts, castle grounds, and town area. Mishi and his group took refuge in a series of caves not unlike a catacomb. He chained the unconscious girl in one room with a carpet of straw. When he returned, Mishi addressed the group.
"Now, we have all our cards," he started. "The question now is: do we play our cards now, or do we wait and toy with them, waiting for the jack pot to increase?"
!#(&$!#@()$*!#@%(!&
Van and Koyo carefully picked through the mess that had once been a pristine training court. Van nudged various objects with the toe of his boot while Koyo was searching for something. Van sighed. He was probably looking for Riis, or something that told him she was either still here or still alive. He didn't want the boy to worry needlessly. He knew the fox- girl wasn't here. How he knew he had yet to figure out. He sighed as he watched Koyo.
"Koyo," Van called.
"What?" Koyo replied somewhat distracted. He smiled. If he was still his age and it had been Hitomi, he probably would have already left to follow the people with Allen hot on his tail. "Could you please send your mother out here then find Dutch?"
Van's eyes were steady as Koyo searched them for some reason that would answer the question in his eyes.
"Please, Koyo? I know you want to search too," Van started. "I'll let you know first thing if anything comes up." Koyo nodded before he took off running. He jumped in the air in an explosion of feathers. He was gone before the smile on Van's face pulled at the corners of his mouth.
!(#&%!(#$*!)@#%&!@#$(
Koyo didn't want to leave the training courts. He wanted to find Riis, but his father had to be obeyed. He started to run, but then decided he'd fly. It would get him to his destination faster. All the wonder he wondered why he was so eager on getting Riis back. He didn't know her that well and she had only been in Fanelia for a day or two at most. He sighed. The girl couldn't keep herself out of trouble.
His next problem suddenly presented itself as he flew over the castle. How was he supposed to get in? He knew the corridors of the castle allowed him to fly, but how to enter. He circled the entrance for what felt like an hour when they opened to let a few guards out. Koyo dove and entered the castle with much yelling from the guards. He flew through corridor after corridor, asking people if they had seen his mother. He finally found that she was in the East Garden from one of her handmaidens. He thanked them and flew out an open window to the Gardens.
!@#()%&!)#($!)#$!)#($
Hitomi was sitting on one of the many stones in the East Gardens watching the birds. She loved to watch the Fanelian birds that were so different from the birds on earth and on other parts of Gaia. They were special unto the region.
When she was watching, she felt another presence grace her. She was about to address it as one of her handmaidens when the wind picked up and ran around the garden taking with it snowy white feathers. Now her search narrowed to two people, Koyo and Van. She noted the size of the feathers and guessed it was Koyo. Upon turning around, her question was finally answered
Koyo stood before her, bare-chested and disheveled. His hair was more unruly than usual; his dark pants were stained with something that looked like blood. He looked like he was at conflict with himself.
"Come sit with me, Koyo," Hitomi addressed her son. "It looks like something's on your mind." Koyo shook his head. Hitomi suddenly felt like something was very wrong. "Is it about Riis?"
Koyo was silent for a moment before he shook his head yes. "Father wants your presence at the sparring courts."
"Since it involves Riis, go find Dutch," Hitomi instructed.
"Yes, Mother," Koyo said as he flew back into the castle. Hitomi made her way to the sparring courts. What met her eyes startled her.
When she had first arrived in Gaia, she had seen Van sparring with Balgus in an indoor court. Later she had found out that there had been outdoor courts as well. Van had showed her the immaculate courts and their fine weapons. Now the pristine place was a mess. The weapons carelessly littered the courts. Various objects were broken and scattered. Blood coloured the ground a deep crimson and angry scarlet. She was suddenly very frightened, but her demeanor showed nothing but a calm, young woman.
"Van," Hitomi started, "you wanted to see me?" She watched as Van turned to face her. His eyes were glossy and sad, his face sporting a sad, empty smile.
"Riis," he began. "She's gone."
!$(%&!#$(!@%&!#@
Koyo flew. He didn't know where he was going. Koyo flew through the castle forcing the servants to stop what they were doing and pick up his feathers. Draconian feathers were a sacred and most valuable possession...if you could get them. But even though Koyo knew of these dangers, he flew. He had a mission. He needed Dutch.
He first checked Riis' room. He had told her once that Dutch, when she was gone, liked to sleep on the bed taking up as much room as he possibly could. Dutch wasn't in Riis' room. He looked around and couldn't find any dog hair. That means he hadn't been in the room since the maids collected the sheets. He ran out the door.
He looked everywhere; the bathrooms, the kitchen, Merle's quarters, niches in various places. He had no idea where to look for him anymore. At the end of his willpower, a memory surged to the front of his mind.
~*Flashback*~
::"Do you have any gardens around here?" Riis questioned Koyo as Dutch trotted next to his mistress.
::"Yeah," Koyo responded. "There's the South, East, West and Cliff Gardens."
::"Does one of the gardens have roses?" Riis had stopped and was now looking at Koyo with such hope in her eyes. He looked at the steep side of the cliff that was behind the castle.
::"The Cliff Gardens have roses at the~"
::"Great! Just wonderful!" Riis exclaimed. Her green cloak billowed as a breeze caught it. Her long ponytail accompanied her cloak. "I love roses. Especially white roses. Roses are my favorite."::
~*End Flashback*~
They had ended up practically running to the Cliff Gardens. There, Riis had seen various coloured roses from blood red to white to black, each having a spectrum of different flowers. Riis had chosen two white roses that were native to only Fanelia: Dragon's tooth and Dragon's bane. Dragon's tooth was the purest white rose in existence on Gaia while the latter was a creamy off-tone white. The hue was almost a gray.
Realization hit him as he entered the dining hall again. He turned, but changed his mind and flew out an open window in the dining hall getting warned from advisors and laughed to by cooks. He knew where Dutch was now. He flew with the wind to the Cliff Gardens.
($%&!#@($*!#@(&%!
Dutch had carefully sniffed out the two rose bushes his mistress liked the best. He was lucky. The two bushes had by chance been planted next to each other. Whining he lay down between the two. He cried himself to sleep.
Dutch was slowly coming to wakefulness by someone scratching his ears and his snout. Thinking it was his mistress he opened his eyes only to find Koyo. His eyes softened and he whined.
"I know," Koyo told him. "I miss her too." Dutch let himself be pet as the two cried. When that was done, Koyo wiped his eyes and shushed Dutch.
"Do you want to help me find your mistress?" Koyo had once over heard Riis scolding Dutch about disobeying his "mistress" so he used the term. Dutch stood up and started to prance around Koyo. To help find his mistress! He was overjoyed. Koyo leapt into the air with Dutch following him on the ground.
!$#(%!(#%&!#$*!@#
Van looked up when he heard an odd tone to the wind. Koyo landed outside the fence. He was a little confused when he turned around seemingly to wait for something. His questions were answered when Dutch rounded the corner at breakneck speed, inches off the ground. He had to leap the fence he was going to fast. Koyo, with Dutch on his right, turned to Van. Van motioned Dutch to the ground and he started to sniff.
Dutch sniffed endlessly, or so it seemed to Van. He finally barked, waking Koyo up from his nap against the wall. Van walked over to Dutch. He sniffed the ground, ran a little towards the woods, then back.
"It appears that the infamous half-breed has found a lead," Hitomi remarked slyly as Van and Koyo agreed. Dutch smiled and wagged his tail.