Man -_-; I haven't worked on this in a while 0.0 baka (stupid) social teacher ripped up the original. To tell you the truth, the ending once again... SUCKS! but that's because I am tired, lazy, and in pain from falling down the stairs -_-; baka me no lol! With this chapter, i'm not exactly too sure what I am going with it. I have an idea but not full ideas that will keep this together -_-; so this chapter is very VERY weird and very random. And I would like to thank and say hello to my best friend (and twin lol!) Meghan! This chapter includes her so special! yay meghan! Lol! well i'm going to let you read this, and please don't kill me because I don't know where I am going with this and i am really tired and in pain.

Dragon Of Ruby

The group had been very quiet on their way to Bale. Asca started to avoid Evan's gaze at all time, there was so much she wanted to ask but couldn't find a way to express them. The sleeve of Evan's coat that had been carefully tied around her arm to slow the bleeding had started to turn a deep crimson color as they headed on their way. Asca would wince every so often that would make Evan very worried but even then, she tried to avoid Evan's usually cheerful eyes. The forest had been thick and dense, Asca lost track of all sense of time and direction as they walked along, what could of been minutes felt like hours. " Please, I wish that we would be out of this forest," Asca murmured to herself.

Whether it was fate or her wish granted, the forest seemed to become less and a clearing was seen ahead.

***

" Lucky," The shadowed figure spoke flatly, " No matter, if the boy is going to become a problem that can easily be changed."

The sun began to set behind the shadow as it let out a frozen laugh. " We'll see what happens after nightfall."

***

" I think we should set up camp," Dart spoke dropping the bag he had propped upon his shoulders.

Shana nodded in agreement putting a hand upon her husband's shoulder. " I wanna get fire wood!" Asca spoke cheerfully jumping up and down waving her hand in the air.

Evan frowned. " I think you should stay behind, you have a serious injury."

Asca stopped jumping and scowled, and for the first time since her accident, she glared harshly into Evan's eyes. " I think I can gather sticks and bring them back here. If you want, you can sit there and hold my hand to make sure I don't hurt myself," Asca taunted angered with a voice many would use when talking to a child no older than 3.

Evan's eyes grew angry and sorrowed. " I'm sorry I am worried."

Asca threw her hands in the air and sighed heavily then stormed off toward the forest. " Where are you going?!" Shana called after her.

Asca kept going but shouted back, " Getting fire wood, seems it is to hard of a task for little Evan."

Evan, troubled to find words for his anger, stamped off in the opposite direction and sat behind a rock and grumbled. Shana gave a soft sigh and went to help Dart out with the "camp site".

***

Asca kicked a stone harshly as walked with a bundle of sticks under her arm. " I can handle myself," Asca growled to herself as she kept an eye open for more sticks and twigs. A sharp pain struck where her gash was, she glanced down. Evan's sleeve was a deeper, more stained, crimson color. She was bleeding badly, she knew it, but if she were to do something about it, it might ruin her. Asca kept on her way, and gathered a few more sticks before heading back.

***

Evan didn't stay long behind the rock, he had gone back over to the camp and helped the other two set up. Sometime later on, Asca came back with fire wood and let Dart start the fire. Asca and Evan both avoided each other at all costs, both refused to talk, look or even take noticed to each other. Shana didn't like the way the two were fighting, it made her very uneasy. She prepared dinner, as Dart and Evan were talking. Asca wasted her time pulling at the sleeve tied around her wound. ' God, he annoys me so much!' Asca thought to herself as she laid back in the grassy field, ' I can take care of myself thank you very much Evan. Though, I'm not used to having a wound this long and painful before. I guess I'm not that mad at you Evan... wait a second. What am I thinking?! Of course I am mad at him, but I don't think the rest of me agrees.'

Evan had stopped listening to Dart ramble on about the importance of paying attention in a battle, he was too busy thinking to himself. ' I don't know what to think about you right now Asca. You are so stubborn, you shouldn't push yourself like that, you're going to get yourself killed this way,' Evan thought still acting like he was paying attention to Dart's speech, ' Why must you be so naive all the time, you don't see the danger you put yourself in! Yet, I can't stay mad at you, and can't help but feel like even though you are going to push yourself to your death, that I want to be there to protect you. Things are just so confusing when it comes to you, but why?'. " Evan... Evan... Evan are you even listening to me?" An aggravated Dart questioned.

Evan snapped back to his senses and spoke up, " Yea, of course I am! Just re-thinking your enlightening words...".

Dart raised and eyebrow then walked over to where Shana was. Dart leaned over and whispered in Shana's ear, " You go talk to Asca, I'll keep cooking for a bit."

Shana nodded then walked over to where Asca laid several feet away. She laid down next to the girl with bicolor eyes and spoke, " Hi."

Asca groaned in reply. " What's wrong?" Shana asked comfortingly.

Asca groaned again. " You know Evan is only worried about your safety, that's why he is over protective."

" Well I can take care of myself," Asca finally replied.

" I know you can but you won't always be able to."

" What are you implying? That he actually might like me that's why he is helping me?"

" No, that's not what I am implying, I am just saying there will be times when you will need other's help."

Asca just grunted and rolled over onto her side, Shana got the hint and got up to help finish up supper.

***

The meal had been simple but filling none the less. Shana and Dart cleaned up, as the other two still refused to give no notice to the other's existence. The sleeve had become so drenched in her own crimson blood that it now just ran down her arm, they had to find Bale and had to find it fast. Evan walked over and watched Asca wipe some blood from her arm. He ripped the other sleeve off his jacket and removed the original around Asca's arm. " What do you think you're doing?!" Asca snapped in demand.

" Helping you," Evan replied simply starting to tie the sleeve around Asca's wounded arm.

" I don't need your help!" Asca bark," Ow! That hurt!"

Evan tied the last knot in the sleeve then walked away not replying or anything. Asca just sneered in the general direction of Evan and got closer to the fire. ' I've made it through worse,' Asca found herself thinking, ' He is so stupid, don't know why I put up with him!'

Evan stopped when he was out of clear sight of the other three and sat down. Evan sighed deeply then got lost in his thoughts. ' Well it's not my fault she is so bitter and cold. Then again... by acting bitter back I don't exactly help do I? But all she ever does is act so cold and cruel, why can't she lighten up?! All I really want to do is make sure she doesn't bleed to death right now.'

***

It had gotten late, and the other three had put out the fire and been asleep long before Evan returned to the group. He sat down and slowly fell into a deep sleep himself. A pair of peeking eyes blinked at the sight and smirked happily. Slowly creeping out of the bushes and heading deep into the heart of their camp sight the figure looked around carefully. It slowly raised it's hand and Asca's body rose as well. Creeping back into the heart of the woods taking Asca with it, the figure gave a small laugh of success.

***

Asca awoke with a headache, she hadn't had a dream about the mysterious girl and place but the sound of a crackling fire awoke her. She went to rub her eyes but found her arms of no use. Blinking enough times, things became clearer. She looked down and saw the binds that kept her tied to the tree. ' What the hell?!' She thought looking around carefully, ' This isn't my camp site....'. A thin laugh made her look around. " Very good," A voice spoke to her from all directions," You are correct, this isn't your camp site, but indeed mine for now."

" Well if this is your camp site then why don't you show yourself?!" She barked putting a heavy accent upon the words you and your.

The shadowed figure stepped out into a clear light. Cloaked in all black with arms folded across it's chest it laughed again. " This doesn't do you much good now does it?!" It taughted her.

Asca snorted in disapproval. " You should be fine with that boy around you. After all he was bring you down no?" It questioned stepping close to Asca.

" What do you mean him?" Asca replied back with a question.

" The boy who tied that around your arm," It answered extending a gloved hand to Asca's wounded arm, it lightly brushed it's finger tips across the covered wound and made Asca wince.

The figure's hand retreated. " You better get back to sleep," It laughed and back away into the forested tree.

Asca looked around and tried to make out every detail clearly. There were a couple cloaked figures all huddled around a fire far away from herself. ' So they are on watch I see...' Asca thought clearing up all the details. A pair of rich milky blue eyes looked up at her from under one black hood then quickly retreated. Asca slowly fell back asleep over time.

***

Evan was first to wake, he had a very restless sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about how he and Asca had been arguing over the past day. When he looked over to the spot she had been laying when he arrived he noticed her body missing. It was very possible she had awoken before he had and didn't worry too much. He started a fire then looked into the deep, flickering flames.

***

Asca awoke with a splitting headache. She looked around, the fire was out and all but one cloak figure had left. It looked at her and spoke in no more than a whisper, " We'll be back for your blood later." Then left while laughing.

Asca looked at the figure that left scared, what did her blood have to do with anything?!

***

Shana and Dart had both woken up and looked over at Evan who seemed mesmerized by the flickering flames. " When did Asca get up?!" Shana asked curiously.

" She wasn't here when I woke up..." Evan replied, " Why?!"

" She never gets up before us," Dart replied, " And from the looks of it, you have been up quite a while."

Evan looked over at the couple worried. " What has happened to her... I hope she is alright."

***

The shadowed figures returned and all crowded around Asca's tree. Each concentrated upon her carefully watching her every twitch and blink. The one with the light milky blue eyes looked up once again and saw the slightest bit of fear traced upon her face. It threw down it's hood as a dark black light engulfed it's body. When the light cleared it showed a dragoon, armor in black red and grey. She had raven black hair with her light milky blue eyes. She bore a metal thorn crown upon her head and a metal plate on her right cheek. She closed her fist violently and a blade slide down her arm. She began to fight with the cloaked figures around, some died, but many ran. The dragoon turned to the shaking Asca and cut the binds around her. She transformed back into herself looking at a now surprised Asca. " Well we better get you out of here," The girl spoke, the metal plate from her cheek was gone and her metal thorn crown was now real thorns.

" You are really going to help me that easily?!" Asca questioned surprised.

" Do you have another way you wish to pull it off??" The girl asked, she wore a black dress and black cloak upon her shoulders.

Asca shook her head vigorously and followed the girl with the raven hair.

***

" Did you hear that?!" Evan questioned furiously.

" The sound of the killing? Yes... I did..." Dart replied slowly.

" That means....Asca could be in trouble!" Evan jumped up ready to run forward toward the forest when two figures can forward.

" Asca!" Shana gasped as she ran forward and hugged the her.

" Yes, I'm fine, thanks to her," Asca replied motioning toward the girl who stood beside her, " And a dragoon too."

" A dragoon?!" The other three questioned surprised.

The girl with the raven hair nodded then spoke, " I am the dragoon of Ruby, Dragoon of Death and Chaos. My name is Ul."

After the short introductions from the others they invited Ul to join in on their journey. She didn't deny their request. Before they set out again Asca walked up to Evan and spoke, " I'm sorry."

Evan smiled and answered, " As am I."

With a smile upon Asca's sad face, the five set out once again.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Well like I said, I have no idea where I am going with this except that Ul is Meghan and the name is said yule. Yay special Ul who would, in reality, not be so easy going BUT whatever lol! Don't hurt me meghan T-T.... anyway! here is the review reply section!

Chaos Valkyrie: Hey! Glad you like it. It's really too bad you're sick, I can't exactly say I'm in the best of condition lol!!!! I fell down the stairs and killed my ankle and i am sick as well! Lol!!!! I'm glad you like rose ^0^ I used to hate her (for proof ask my cousin lol) but now she rocks XP You guessed right about Asca and Evan's relationship i'm not sure how it'll work out but it is worth keeping it going lol no??? Keep up your story! I wanna read more ^0^

Youku's Girl: Hey! I am very glad you enjoy my story and here is the update lol ^-^ I am special I have fans who like it lol!

Himeko: Hey gal! Glad you like it!!! Me hoping to write more soon ^^;