allright. this looks pretty crappy from where i'm sitting. at least it's got paragraph breaks. i thought they said they'd fixed this. anyway. it might look just as crappy where you are too. i'm hopping that it'll get rid of the computer code and do it the way it's suposed to. if it doesn't, you have two options: 1. i can post like this all summer and change it when i have access to a comp the site likes. 2. i can keep typing these all summer just like i was updating and post them whenever i can. you tell me what you want; update with crap or wait for something good. tell me what you want. if it's fine from where you're sitting, just say that, even though i'll probably check. stupid computer. it might just make me learn HTML. AND i'm using explorer ..shudder.. here's the story.

WOTW 15

All right, back to the drawing board. More Lowell crap since no one said they didn't like it.

Shuffle, shuffle.

"Damn…(mumble)…stupid…(mumble)… spoon!"

Lowell shoved her way out of the bushes, only to be faced with more.

"The hell!... grrrrrr."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(it works, does it not?)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

15. Our Favorite Ninja

Sapphire-blue eyes snapped open. The red-head sat up strait then fell still, listening.

"Touya." he whispered, "Touya, wake up."

"I'm not asleep." Touya answered, eyes still closed, but perfectly awake.

"Listen."

There was a moment of silence. "What for, exactly?"

"Some'n. Kin'a far off. Noisy though."

Touya listened for a bit. "Yeah. I hear it. Not well. What do you think?"

"Big. Cursin'. Not a happy campe', I'll tell ya that." He paused. "I don' think they know what the'r headed for."

"Then why don't we make sure they don't find out."

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((border))))))))))))))))))))))))

"Filthy… stinkin'… son of a—" She fell silent. Someone was coming. /Damnit. Too much noise./

She hopped into a tree as they approached.

"They were jus' 'ere."

"I know."

/Let's see just how good these two are./ She slipped silently from here perch and landed softly behind them.

"What th' fuck?" the two yelled simultaneously as they turned around. Someone had just tapped them on the shoulders.

"Now, boys, that's not very nice language to be using around ladies." They whipped around again to face the speaker. Lowell smiled and waved, but otherwise didn't move.

"Y'ur a lady?" Jin asked rather rudely.

"Of coarse I am. But that doesn't mean I'm not a threat."

"But you aren't." Touya observed, "You have no intention of harming us… that is, if we don't try it first."

"That's right, you can read aura. Good to know."

"Y'ur no' jus' passen through. What d'ya want?"

"Now, I'm hurt. Is it that inconceivable that I just got a little lost on my way through this forest? Oh my! This isn't your territory, is it?" Now she was just messing with them.

Jin, with his amiable nature, almost fell into it and told here it was but Touya stopped him before he spoke. "Yes, it is that inconceivable, and no, you're quite lucky this isn't our territory."

"Oh, I know better than that. You've got at least forty men back that way." She pointed in the direction they'd come from. "Don't waste my time trying to tell me otherwise. I came here looking for you two actually."

"What for?" Touya didn't like this woman, but he couldn't find a reason to attack her; she posed no threat. She also was covered in wards. There was no way he could tell how strong she was. He may as well find out her intent.

"Information."

"That's bold."

"I'm not looking to stall. Where is Kurama?"

The two were shocked by this. Why was she asking them? How much did she really know? Jin covered well.

"How th' bloody 'ell should we know?"

" 'Cause you're his top two."

There was no denying it. "How do you know that?" Touya asked bluntly. Who'd leaked?

"How would I not? Kurama's seven are legendary."

"That doesn't mean anything. No one knows who they are."

"Yeah, that's what I haven't figured out: why no one does. I suppose it works for you, but honestly, it's not that hard. Kurama's six warriors that he trained for Yomi were loyal to Kurama, and him alone. Who else?"

"And the seventh?" How much did she know?

"The seventh is Kurama himself in disguise as a 'Revlis.'" She looked at their expressions and smirked. "You're that surprised after what I just said? Don't worry, I won't go shouting it from the roof tops. Knowledge is power. If I know it and no one else does, they'll pay anything for it. It also gives me a monopoly on the business for a while. If someone finds out that I know it, they can start bidding… unless I get my prize first."

"Then you don't need us at all, if you're so good at gathering information." Touya folded his arms over his chest.

"But, I do." she began, feigning friendly conversation, "I found him, and almost met him, but he ducked out, you see—left. That's not very nice. I just want to see if he wants to apologize. I have a feeling he got sidetracked. I wanted to give a chance before karma got around to him."

"Well, you can just catch up with karma because we don't know where he is." Touya snapped.

"Well, I don't suppose you've seen him in the last… oh say… week, have you."

"No." Jin spat.

"Let me extend the time period, six months."

No response.

"I see. I think I know what's going on here."

"Really. Do tell." Touya was not happy. She was pushing all the wrong buttons.

"You two, or anyone for that matter, haven't seen or probably even heard from your boss-man in a while, have you?"

Jin's face fell. He knew she was pushing them, but he couldn't help it. "No, we ain't seen 'im in three years."

"We've heard from him though." Touya felt the urge to defend his band's pride. They weren't following a ghost… yet. She'd been looking for him for a week, almost met with him; that proved it. But for how long it would be true, he didn't know. What had she meant by 'sidetracked'?

"Hm, well. Sorry to have bothered you. I hate to leave so coldly but I think that both of our parties have gleamed all we can for this lovely encounter. Ta." She half saluted like she had to Christof and left.

"Shit." Touya turned to see his friend's eyes a little more wet than usual. He was in the same mood.

"We're in trouble, ain't we?" Despite his expression, Jin spoke calmly and evenly.

"If by 'we' you mean the makai and everyone in it, yeah. We're in loads of it."

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((end chapter))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Awe, poor Jin. Neways, that's my Touya and Jin fix for a while. I don't think they come up for the rest of the section. Sorry guys. I love them too, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Still have writers block. Frustrating. Idee not helping. Infuriating. Stupid HPxOver getting in way. Maddening. Shogoth getting hungry. Inspiring.

Idee: No! please no! I'll help, really. School's almost out. We can work something out. Really. Heh heh o.o;

Kurama+munching on toast being fed to him by Kuro+ Better him than me.

Idee finally deciding to cooperate. Encouraging. Over all, very good day... except for the computer thing. whatever.

Liebe sie von Doomschneider.

6-2-05