Chapter Two
"You saved...me?" Driretlan stammered sitting up and looking around. She was in a dense forest and it had to be well into the midnight hours.
I must have gotten washed pretty far down stream. Driretlan thought. And it is all Kixston's fault, if he had listened to me in the first place I wouldn't be here.
A guy with shoulder length black hair that had brown highlights, and deep brown eyes sat at the base of a tree opposite of Driretlan. He put on a friendly smile as he caught Driretlan's gaze. "Yes I did save you.... You were floating in the river at first I thought that you were dead, but you still had a pulse so I revived you."
"Thank you for saving me. Now I can find Kixston and kick his ass for not listening to me in the first place." Driretlan said in a low tone. "Oh I am Driretlan, I should have introduced my self earlier...but you pick up bad habits when you travel with people who have them."
The guy laughed "I am Jin Kenketsu, nice to meet you Driretlan."
"Well now that we have the formalities out of the way." Driretlan sighed "Do you think that you could help me find my way? I have not a clue where I am and I need someone to direct me."
"Sure, we should wait until morning though. You should get more rest before we leave." Jin suggested "but you don't have to rest if you don't want to."
"No you had the right idea I should rest some. I mean a person needs at least one goodnight sleep every couple of days."
Jin nodded ". So. You probably travel a lot."
"Occasionally. I like to stay at my home though, but that is for a personal reason." Driretlan explained
"Oh, I see." Jin said
"Yea unluckily for me every time I go somewhere Kixston drags me into it." Driretlan said "I have spent a lot of my life with that guy and let me tell ya, he can be a pain...just to warn you for if we find him on our way."
"I will help you find your way and your friends don't worry." Jin smirked
"Maybe not. Knowing Kixston he is probably still on his way to the Mirojen Province." Driretlan muttered "He probably figured that I was dead and moved on."
"Well if he did that then he isn't much of a friend now is he?" Jin pointed out
Driretlan chuckled "You would understand if you knew him, besides I don't blame Kixston. He has to get there as fast as he can so he can help his brethren."
Jin just nodded not really sure what to say.
Driretlan sighed and leaned up against the nearest tree. "So how far west was I taken?"
"That depends on where you were to begin with." Jin said
"Oh yea...stupid me. I think that I was in...Where was I?" Driretlan thought aloud "that water must have seeped into my brain."
"I take it that you do not like water."
"I hate it. Stupid Kixston must have thought that I could swim or something trying to drag me across that river." Driretlan mumbled
"You are telling me that your friend tried to cross the river that I pulled you from!" Jin gasped
"Yea why?"
"That part of the river has been possessed with a water monster for nineteen years now. It devours every one that enters the river and steals their energy. The word is that no one has survived an attack from it." Jin replied
"Are you telling me that the thing that nearly got me drowned is a water monster!!"
"Yes."
"I thought that it would have been at least some sort of lower class demon or something but all it was, was a simple monster. I must really be getting weak." Driretlan exclaimed
"You are probably very strong. You said earlier that you could not swim right."
"Yes I did what does that have to do with anything?"
"How can you expect to fight well in water if you cannot swim?" Jin asked
"You do have a point there." Driretlan smirked "You need to travel with me more often, you are great at making someone feel better."
Jin smiled "why thank you."
Meanwhile
Kixston and Ichigo were traveling west along the riverbank.
"Kixston not to be a downer or anything but..What if she is dead? What are you planning on doing then?" Ichigo asked
"I plan on bringing her back to life and kicking her ass once more." Kixston growled "I have known that kid all of her life, I will not allow her to die like her brother.."
"Hu?"
Kixston stopped and sighed "Driretlan had an older brother but he died when she was young, since then I have sort of been her guardian."
"Oh...Did her brother drown?"
"Well sort of, he had been in a fight and he was injured badly. He went to the river to wash off his wounds and something dragged him under...Damn and I thought that between Lunus and I it would be me that died first." Kixston sighed "Well not everything comes out as you plan."
"Wait a second, you said that he was never seen again that does not mean he is dead." Ichigo corrected
"Now you sound like Driretlan. Listen Lunus is dead and that is that; you can't believe such foolish things as that. It can stop you from living a normal life; you wouldn't want to turn out like Drir would ya? Living on lost hopes and other things that will get you nowhere." Kixston asked
"Well...I don't find it hopeless. If you truly believe that they are still alive that is entirely possible."
"So you are telling me that I should believe that Lunus is alive...or that Drir is alive?"
"Both I guess." Ichigo muttered
Kixston chuckled and started to walk along the bank again, "You have your heart in the right place Ichigo and you truly do."
The night was colder than usual and the breeze was a bit stronger. Kixston gazed up at the moon that was starting to wean, his mind drifted off into his memories and he closed his eyes and listened to the river flow.
It had been eight years since Lunus disappeared. Kixston and him were best friends even though they were an odd match, a demon and a Half-vampire, but that didn't stop them. Driretlan was only seven years old then, it seemed like yesterday to Kixston. Lunus and him had just gotten out of a huge battle and they were patching up their wounds on shore. Lunus was worse off then Kixston because Kixston healed rather quickly. Lunus had just gone out into the shallows of the river to rinse off the gashes on his legs when a huge shadow appeared in the water; Kixston had called out to Lunus telling him to get out of the water. But it was too late; something grabbed Lunus' foot and drug him into the deep water. There wasn't much that Kixston could do, but he tried anyway. Once Kixston knew that it was totally hopeless, which took three days, he returned to Lunus' home to tell Driretlan the bad news. She didn't take it well, she was only seven and she had lost her mom, her dad, and her older brother. Kixston went on a guilt trip and he made Driretlan the main priority in life. He took her in and was like another older brother to her, he taught her everything from fighting to how to build well almost anything. After you live for a couple hundred years you pick up a few skills.
Kixston slowly drifted back to reality and he kicked a few rocks into the river. "That is for taking my best friend's little sister." He growled
Driretlan woke up the next morning to a bright ray of sunlight shining in her eyes. She groaned and snaked back into the shadows of the trees.
"So you finally woke up?" Jin said
"Well you could say that...I am not fully awake yet." Driretlan yawned pulling herself to her feet. "How about we sleep for a few more hours."
"It is your choice what we do."
"Don't say that. Don't ever say that. It only results in bad things. You could get yourself killed by saying that." Driretlan said groggily.
Jin laughed "Well I will keep that in mind."
Driretlan smirked and went to adjust her sword on her belt when she realized that her sword was gone. "Shit, it must be in the river somewhere." She muttered.
"Hmmm, what is it?"
"I dropped my damned sword when I was trying to swim. I have to get it back." Driretlan said urgently
"How do you expect to get it back if you cannot swim?" Jin asked
"I will figure it out when I get there. " Driretlan said starting to run towards where she thought where the river was then she stopped. "Uh...which way is the river?"
Jin turned and pointed in the opposite direction of where Driretlan was running.
"Right I knew that." She said running towards where Jin was pointing. Driretlan ran into the forest then she turned to Jin. "You aren't backing out now are you?"
"No." Jin smirked
"Then come on!" Driretlan said running back and grabbing Jin's arm.
Jin stumbled along behind Driretlan as she drug him to the river. Driretlan made an abrupt stop on the riverbank, and Jin nearly fell into the water because he had so much momentum left over.
"Oops sorry about that." Driretlan laughed pulling Jin away from the river.
"It is quite all right." Jin smiled.
Driretlan stared at the river for a minuet as she formed a plan. "It don't even know what part of the river my sword is in.. How in the hell am I supposed to find it?" She muttered.
"What are you planning on doing?" Jin asked
"I am not sure yet but it may have to involve a swim." Driretlan said dryly
"I thought that you couldn't swim."
"I can't. But as much as I hate water, I will have to learn how to swim someday."
"I won't let you dive into that water and drown." Jin said firmly.
"Well what other option do I have?!" Driretlan snapped yanking off her cloak. A dagger fell to the ground as Driretlan tossed her cloak to the side. She snapped her attention to the dagger then she smacked her forehead. "I completely forgot that I had this. Now I might not have to get into the water."
"What does that dagger have to do with your swimming or not?" Jin asked in a confused tone.
"Just watch." Driretlan said crouching down and spinning the dagger. "Where is my sword?"
Jin got an even more confused look on his face as he watched.
The dagger spun around at a very fast rate then it suddenly stopped pointing northeast. Driretlan smiled "Brother was right about you, your are very reliable." She picked up the dagger and her cloak then started to walk.
Jin cocked an eyebrow then followed Driretlan, "If you don't mind me asking this, why were you talking to a dagger?"
"This is no ordinary dagger. It is my trusty 'spell breaker. An enchanted dagger, it is a family alum." Driretlan said proudly, she walked with the dagger in the palm of her hand watching it as if it was a compass. The dagger took a quick spin and pointed to the left at the river. "Found ya." Driretlan smirked and walked to the edge of the river.
"You aren't going to jump in are you?" Jin asked
"Nope I don't have to." Driretlan said examining the water. "All I have to do is remember the little retrieval incantation."
Jin sat down on the riverbank, and pulled out his flute.
"This may take a while." Driretlan sighed "so occupy you."
Meanwhile
Kixston's sword began to glow with a deep green light, and he snapped awake. He grabbed his sword and unsheathed it examining it closely. "Well I'll be damned." Kixston said hopping up. "Well even more damned than I is now."
"What was that Kixston?" Ichigo asked waking up.
"I found Driretlan...well sort of." Kixston said quickly
"What do you mean how do you sort of find someone?" Ichigo asked
"It is hard to explain you'll just have to trust me and follow me." Kixston smirked.
Ichigo stood up and looked at Kixston. "Okay, I'll follow."
"Good." Kixston said starting to run along the riverbank. As he ran west the glow from his sword increased.
I forgot that she still had that sword and dagger with her. Kixston thought. Good thing that she does have them otherwise I would have no clue as to whether she was alive or not.
"Kixston, what is going on with your sword?" Ichigo asked running beside Kixston.
"A spell. This sword is part of a set of three weapons that are all linked together. Driretlan has the other two weapons, and she must have activated one of them." Kixston said "now this sword is acting like a homing device, the closer I get the stronger the glow."
"I get it."
The only problem with this situation is which weapon she activated. Let's just hope that it was spell breaker not the Terrifen. Kixston thought. Other wise we will have a problem on our hands.
Later on
Driretlan had finally, after about twenty different attempts, remembered the correct spell to retrieve her sword.
"Well Jin now that I have this baby back, we can get moving." Driretlan announced walking along the riverbank going east. "Let's just hope that we can catch up with Kixston."
"Maybe we will run into him half way." Jin smirked
"Maybe...or maybe that monster thing killed him. You never know." Driretlan chuckled
"You are an optimist."
"And you are sarcastic, so we are even." Driretlan added.
Jin and Driretlan walked east for about another hour beside the forest before it dead-ended into a vast field.
"Well we must be getting close to where I fell in." Driretlan muttered.
But there is still no sign of that bum Kixston. Driretlan thought. He probably moved on with out me.
Jin noticed two figures running toward them. He tapped Driretlan on her shoulder breaking her train of thought. "Would either of those people happen to be your friend?" He asked
Driretlan stared forward and recognized the figures as Kixston and Ichigo. "That is them!" She yelled running toward Kixston and Ichigo. "Come on Jin they won't bite." Driretlan stopped in her tracks "Well Ichigo won't...never mind, just come with me."
Jin shrugged and ran with Driretlan towards Kixston and Ichigo.
Kixston ran up to Driretlan and glared at her. "What the hell happened to your face? Did that guy do it to you?!!" Kixston snapped staring at Jin.
"No Kixston Asamee happened to my face remember?" Driretlan corrected. "That is Jin he saved me."
"That kid saved you? Is that a joke, he looks barely big enough to pick up my sword." Kixston laughed
"I am not a kid." Jin growled "and for your information I did pull Driretlan from the river."
"Well that is a shock." Kixston laughed
"Shuts up Kixston leave him alone. You have no right to be picking on him." Driretlan snapped
"You know what Drir that kid should have just let you drown it would save me a lot of trouble." Kixston sneered
"Well if I am so much trouble then why didn't you just move on with out me?" Driretlan asked
"Because I forgot how much of a pain you were." Kixston replied defensively. "I don't know how I forgot that you were a pain but I did."
"I am a pain?! What about you, all you do is yap, yap, yap!" Driretlan yelled "it is a wonder that someone hasn't closed that big mouth of yours permanently!"
"I have a big mouth look who is talking." Kixston snarled "How about you do me a favor and jump back into the river."
"Why should I do you a favor? You are just a jerk. I don't even know why I traveled with you."
"I don't know why you did either; I don't even know why I invited you to come." Kixston growled
"Well then I will just go back home! And you can travel with Mistress Ichigo, to the Mirojen Province!" Driretlan yelled
"Good! She is better company than you are anyway! I hope that something kills you on your way home." Kixston yelled back before stomping off in the direction that he came.
Ichigo watch Kixston as he started to stomp off then she walked up to Driretlan. "If it is worth anything I am glad that you are okay." Ichigo smiled "and Kixston did care, I don't know what got into him."
"His stupid vampire pride. That jackass, Oh well. You had better go catch up with him." Driretlan sighed "Thanks for caring about me."
"You're welcome." Ichigo yelled over her shoulder as she ran to catch up with Kixston.
"What are we doing now?" Jin asked
"Well I am going to head home. You can follow if you want." Driretlan said walking up the river.
Jin nodded and followed Driretlan up the river.
Kixston and Ichigo were only about twenty feet ahead of Driretlan and Jin. Kixston was walking muttering to himself.
"You were very rude to her." Ichigo pointed out. "Maybe you should apologize."
"Apologize?!" Kixston yelled "No way in hell. She should have drowned and saved me the trouble."
"You need to decide whether Driretlan is your friend or not." Ichigo said ignoring what Kixston said "Last night you were set on finding her and now you want her to die? What kind of friend are you?"
"The kind that is tired of listening to her mouth. Only if you have known her as long as I have then you would understand."
"Why didn't you just get rid of her before if you are so tired of her mouth? I think that you should swallow your pride and look at the situation properly." Ichigo said jogging in front of Kixston.
Kixston glared at Ichigo and thought over the situation. He finally stopped and waited for Driretlan to catch up.
"I don't want to hear it Kixston." Driretlan said walking past him.
"I am sorry that I was a jerk, I am glad that you are okay." Kixston muttered
"What was that?" Driretlan asked
"You heard me." Kixston growled "Now can we please get on our way to the province. We have a lot of time to make up for."
Driretlan smirked "okay. As long as we don't have to cross that river, or any other large body of water."
"Why don't you just jump over the river?" Jin asked "could you jump that far?"
Kixston looked at Jin then Driretlan "Why don't you just jump over the river Drir. I have seen you jump gaps about that size."
Driretlan's face lost all of its color, and she froze."Me jump that..."
"Yea you can do it." Kixston said "that way we don't have to deal with that water monster."
"But...I...." She stammered "What if I fall in?"
"Well if that happens then shrimp here can save ya." Kixston smirked "You will be fine don't worry."
"Easy for you to say, you can swim." Driretlan growled
Ichigo, Jin and Kixston sat on the bank trying to convince Driretlan to cross. Kixston was ready to just throw Driretlan in the river but he withheld the urge.
"Just jump across before I throw you in." Kixston snapped "Give me your weapons and you cloak and go already! You are such a wimp when it comes to water."
"Well I have good reason to dislike water." Driretlan said defensively.
"For once ignore your stupid fear and jump!" Kixston yelled
"It is not a fear!"
"Then prove it and jump!" Kixston snapped
"Fine I will." Driretlan bit back. She backed up about twenty feet from the bank and got a good running start for her jump. Driretlan ran and jumped the river landing on the other side safety.
"Well now that, that is done." Kixston muttered. He tossed Driretlan's stuff into the air and floated it into her arms. "Okay guys' do you think that you can jump it or are you going to wade across?"
"I will jump the river." Jin smirked
"Me too." Ichigo said.
"All right then, let's get moving." Kixston urged
Jin backed a good ten feet away from the bank then ran and jumped. At first it looked as though he wasn't going to make it, but a huge gust of wind arose and pushed him to the other side safety.
Both Ichigo and Kixston made it to the other side with out a hitch. Then the group started to walk north again.
I just hope that my being delayed didn't cause any problems among my brethren. Kixston thought. I wonder what had them so worked up anyway. In the message that I got, they sounded horribly desperate like Satan himself had come and condemned them.
"Well Kixston with our delays how late are we going to be?" Driretlan asked
"I am not sure, it depends on our road ahead. A lot has changed in twenty years. I am not completely sure if the same route will be there." Kixston said bluntly
"Do you think that there is a short cut that we can take?" Driretlan asked
"I don't know." Kixston sighed
"Do you know of a short cut to the Mirojen Province Jin?"
"Sorry, I don't know of one. If we find a village we can ask the locals." Jin suggested
"Well what exactly are we looking for a short cut through?" Ichigo asked "is there a big swamp or mountains ahead?"
"There is neither...." Kixston muttered "I think that we are pretty much all set for now."
The day quickly turned to night and the field also quickly turned into a dense dark forest. The forest had an eerie feel about it that no one in the group really liked or welcomed for that fact. Moon light spread through any hole that it could find, like it was reaching for the ground. And a fog slowly began to creep through the trees as the creatures of the night began to stir.
"Kixston." Driretlan whispered "Are they're any of your kind out in these woods?"
"I don't know Driretlan are there any of your kind?"
"This is a serous issue Kixston. I am not to keen to the idea of having all the blood in my body drained." Driretlan snapped
"If any of them come go hide behind your little rescuer." Kixston sighed looking through the trees to check for any movement
"I think that we should offer you as a sacrifice to them." Driretlan mumbled angrily.
A shadow moved quickly in the trees in front of Kixston and then two other shadows followed it.
Kixston froze and put his arm out to stop Driretlan and the others from walking on. "There is something up there. Something that is moving quite fast."
"What do you think it is?" Ichigo asked
"I am not quite sure." Kixston said
"Well whatever they were they moved passed us, so let's go on." Driretlan suggested moving Kixston's arm and walking on.
Kixston started to object but he shut up and followed.
As they walked there was a swooshing sound periodically. It sounded like someone moving very quickly in the trees. Kixston was very cautious as he walked making sure that there weren't any traps on the ground that could snag someone. There was a loud crash and everyone jumped as a tree fell to the ground.
"Well we are all a bit jumpy." Jin laughed
"But for good reason." Kixston added
A gust of wind moved through the group as a shadow flew by. There was a sound like ripping cloth as a long cut appeared across Kixston's arm. Kixston quickly pulled out a small dagger and threw it into the foggy forest. There was a deep thump noise then a shadow fell from a tree limb and landed in front of Ichigo and Jin. Kixston ran over and examined the shadow.
"Damn it is a scout." Kixston cursed
"A scout for what?" Driretlan asked
"I am not quite sure for what exactly."
"Then how in the hell do you know it is a scout?!" Driretlan snapped
"By the clothing and the weaponry. It was mostly likely some sort of hired scout. Someone that isn't normally on the payroll." Kixston explained
"Well that makes sense." Ichigo said
Two more shadows appeared in the trees in front of Driretlan, these shadows weren't moving they were standing still.
"Thank you for helping me catch that one." One of the shadows said walking forward. "It was starting to bug me."
The two shadows approached the group. As they got closer you could tell that they both were girls.
"Who would you two be. And who was this scout working for?" Kixston asked
"I can answer your first question but I am not sure on the last one." The girl said "I am Darkwolf and that is Hotaru."
"So we are still at a loss about the scout." Kixston muttered
"Kixston I doubt that the scout was after you anyway so why does it matter?" Driretlan asked
"It just does." Kixston growled.
"Whatever." Driretlan sighed "I guess that we should introduce ourselves."
"Or you could go on arguing among yourselves either way it is just as entertaining to me." Hotaru said
"Wow Drir, she reminds me of someone I know." Kixston laughed
"Shut up." Driretlan growled "I am Driretlan, that oaf is Kixston and the two hiding in the fog behind us are Ichigo and Jin."
"Nice to meet you two." Kixston smirked "Now if you don't mind we shall be going."
"Watch your selves there are things in these woods that take people all the time." Darkwolf warned
Kixston shrugged and walked on, Driretlan on the other hand stood there giving Darkwolf a puzzled look.
"What kind of things? Is there a.." Driretlan asked
"You say the 'R' word or the 'W' word and I will hurt you." Kixston threatened
"I was just going to ask. You know it never hurts to ask people things like that." Driretlan said "As I was saying what is in this area."
"Oh nothing much, just some sort of creature that destroys entire villages and causes mass chaos." Hotaru sighed
"Sounds like my kind of creature." Driretlan laughed
"We will be sure to watch out for this monster thing. Now lets move." Kixston Urged walking off into the fog.
"Yes sir." Driretlan muttered
"Where are you headed?" Darkwolf asked
"The Mirojen province. Do you know of a short cut?" Driretlan asked
"Well I do but it is sort of..." Darkwolf started
"A total short cut. It will knock two or three days off of your trip." Hotaru interrupted "After the next village you there is another forest. Instead of going all the way through it you cut east that way you avoid that annoying set of hills, and you get there quicker."
"Really..." Driretlan said suspiciously
"Yes really. I would go catch up with that guy and tell him." Hotaru insisted
Driretlan nodded and raced after Kixston, Jin followed close after and Ichigo gave Hotaru an untrusting glare before following. Once Driretlan and the others were no longer in hearing range the winged figure from the field landed behind Darkwolf. The fog faded and the figures features were more noticeable. Darkwolf had long silver hair and magenta eyes with blue slits for pupils. She wore a spike collar, and a blue fighting uniform that had purple slits in the sleeves. Her ears twitched as the winged figure spoke.
"That was very good you two."
"Thank you Johnny it was no problem." Darkwolf sighed
Hotaru smirked and brushed her blue hair out of her violet eyes. She wore a simple black fighting outfit with a blue vest over it. "That was too easy. Do you think that they will go through the graveyard?"
"I am certain." Johnny smirked, his yellow eyes brightened at the thought of his plan succeeding. He ran his fingers through his black spiky hair. "Well ladies you must excuse me. I have to go set up the rest of this operation." Johnny spread his black wings and took off into the night just as quickly as he came.
"Lets just hope that it all falls in line as planned." Hotaru said.
"It will don't worry. And if it doesn't it isn't our fault we played out part." Darkwolf muttered walking off. "Well for now we did."
Day broke over the land and the rays of sunlight danced on the leaves in the forest. Kixston had kept the group walking all through the night, and according to him they would make better time if they walked all day too.
"Kixston have you ever heard of cruel and unusual punishment?" Driretlan asked
"Yes I have. Why do you ask?"
"I just wanted to make sure that you were familiar with the term so I can enact it on you after I get some sleep." Driretlan yawned
"Well Drir that will have to wait a few days for that." Kixston said. "We have to make good time on this."
"I'll show you good time. I will take it and shove it up your ass." Driretlan said underneath her breath.
"Why don't we take the route that Hotaru suggested?" Jin asked "it should save us some time."
"Yea! I forgot about that Jin, thanks for reminding me." Driretlan smirked "There is supposed to be a short cut after the next village that we come to. It is supposed to cut a few days off of our trip."
Kixston spun around and looked at Driretlan, "I am not risking anything on a 'supposed to' I would rather go the long way then run into a dead end."
"I agree!" Ichigo added "there might be something dangerous in that direction."
"Well if there is I will kill it plain and simple. Besides Kixston don't you want to get there faster? This is your brethren that we are talking about, so what ever you choose I guess I will have to stick behind." Driretlan said
"Good then it is settled we will stick to my path." Kixston said firmly.
Damnit I was sure that quilting him into it would work. Driretlan thought. I am just going to have to try a different approach. I can't go on for days with out sleep; it weakens my fighting ability.
"Kixston we should at least ask some other locals about it before we turn the short cut down." Driretlan coaxed
Kixston took a deep breath and started to say something but stopped.
It isn't going to do me any good to argue with her. Kixston thought. Her skull is thick and she is horribly ornery. I will just agree to her terms so she will shut up.
"Fine we will ask around but if I am not satisfied we will go my way got it?"
"Got it Kixston." Driretlan smirked
I hope that we end up going Kixston's way instead of taking that short cut. Ichigo thought. I really don't trust either of those girls that we met up with. There was just a strange aura about them.
When the group got to the village there wasn't much time to ask that many questions because the village was up in flames. People were running around panicked and screaming.
"Are we going to do something or just stand around?!" Driretlan snapped
"Lets go in and help, I want my question answered and a bunch of corpses won't answer very well." Kixston growled running into the village.
Driretlan and the others followed but they all split up going off to help with different things. Driretlan was at a loss of what to do, she was used to creating fire not putting it out.
"Damn how come I always get into these situations." She grumbled
There was a loud noise then the sound of rushing water. Driretlan jumped as it started to rain. Driretlan looked around and saw a woman standing ontop of one of the roofs.
The woman jumped off of the roof and landed onto another one. She had long brown hair and wore loose black clothing that flowed in the light breeze. As soon as the fires were all put out she simply disappeared and it stopped raining.
A voice rang out in Driretlan's ears, "Go find the missing children."
Kixston and the others met up with Driretlan who was staring off into the distance.
"Drir, we have to get moving." Kixston said
"Not until we find those kids." Driretlan said
"What?" Kixston asked
"There are kids missing we have to find them." she said urgently.
"We don't have.." Kixston started
"I will go with you." JIn volunteered.
Kixston let out a low growl. "Lets make this quick. Where did they go missing at?"
Driretlan felt something pull her east like a sixth sense telling her where the kids were. "We go east to find those kids."
Everyone nodded and they headed east right towards where Hotaru had directed them.
Johnny stood on a tree branch watching the group head out. "Pch, that was simple. I wonder if they will make it through?"
A cloaked figure stood at the base of the tree. "They will be eliminated then they can no longer interfere. Especially that Kixston...he will suffer great pain for meddling in the past."
"You saved...me?" Driretlan stammered sitting up and looking around. She was in a dense forest and it had to be well into the midnight hours.
I must have gotten washed pretty far down stream. Driretlan thought. And it is all Kixston's fault, if he had listened to me in the first place I wouldn't be here.
A guy with shoulder length black hair that had brown highlights, and deep brown eyes sat at the base of a tree opposite of Driretlan. He put on a friendly smile as he caught Driretlan's gaze. "Yes I did save you.... You were floating in the river at first I thought that you were dead, but you still had a pulse so I revived you."
"Thank you for saving me. Now I can find Kixston and kick his ass for not listening to me in the first place." Driretlan said in a low tone. "Oh I am Driretlan, I should have introduced my self earlier...but you pick up bad habits when you travel with people who have them."
The guy laughed "I am Jin Kenketsu, nice to meet you Driretlan."
"Well now that we have the formalities out of the way." Driretlan sighed "Do you think that you could help me find my way? I have not a clue where I am and I need someone to direct me."
"Sure, we should wait until morning though. You should get more rest before we leave." Jin suggested "but you don't have to rest if you don't want to."
"No you had the right idea I should rest some. I mean a person needs at least one goodnight sleep every couple of days."
Jin nodded ". So. You probably travel a lot."
"Occasionally. I like to stay at my home though, but that is for a personal reason." Driretlan explained
"Oh, I see." Jin said
"Yea unluckily for me every time I go somewhere Kixston drags me into it." Driretlan said "I have spent a lot of my life with that guy and let me tell ya, he can be a pain...just to warn you for if we find him on our way."
"I will help you find your way and your friends don't worry." Jin smirked
"Maybe not. Knowing Kixston he is probably still on his way to the Mirojen Province." Driretlan muttered "He probably figured that I was dead and moved on."
"Well if he did that then he isn't much of a friend now is he?" Jin pointed out
Driretlan chuckled "You would understand if you knew him, besides I don't blame Kixston. He has to get there as fast as he can so he can help his brethren."
Jin just nodded not really sure what to say.
Driretlan sighed and leaned up against the nearest tree. "So how far west was I taken?"
"That depends on where you were to begin with." Jin said
"Oh yea...stupid me. I think that I was in...Where was I?" Driretlan thought aloud "that water must have seeped into my brain."
"I take it that you do not like water."
"I hate it. Stupid Kixston must have thought that I could swim or something trying to drag me across that river." Driretlan mumbled
"You are telling me that your friend tried to cross the river that I pulled you from!" Jin gasped
"Yea why?"
"That part of the river has been possessed with a water monster for nineteen years now. It devours every one that enters the river and steals their energy. The word is that no one has survived an attack from it." Jin replied
"Are you telling me that the thing that nearly got me drowned is a water monster!!"
"Yes."
"I thought that it would have been at least some sort of lower class demon or something but all it was, was a simple monster. I must really be getting weak." Driretlan exclaimed
"You are probably very strong. You said earlier that you could not swim right."
"Yes I did what does that have to do with anything?"
"How can you expect to fight well in water if you cannot swim?" Jin asked
"You do have a point there." Driretlan smirked "You need to travel with me more often, you are great at making someone feel better."
Jin smiled "why thank you."
Meanwhile
Kixston and Ichigo were traveling west along the riverbank.
"Kixston not to be a downer or anything but..What if she is dead? What are you planning on doing then?" Ichigo asked
"I plan on bringing her back to life and kicking her ass once more." Kixston growled "I have known that kid all of her life, I will not allow her to die like her brother.."
"Hu?"
Kixston stopped and sighed "Driretlan had an older brother but he died when she was young, since then I have sort of been her guardian."
"Oh...Did her brother drown?"
"Well sort of, he had been in a fight and he was injured badly. He went to the river to wash off his wounds and something dragged him under...Damn and I thought that between Lunus and I it would be me that died first." Kixston sighed "Well not everything comes out as you plan."
"Wait a second, you said that he was never seen again that does not mean he is dead." Ichigo corrected
"Now you sound like Driretlan. Listen Lunus is dead and that is that; you can't believe such foolish things as that. It can stop you from living a normal life; you wouldn't want to turn out like Drir would ya? Living on lost hopes and other things that will get you nowhere." Kixston asked
"Well...I don't find it hopeless. If you truly believe that they are still alive that is entirely possible."
"So you are telling me that I should believe that Lunus is alive...or that Drir is alive?"
"Both I guess." Ichigo muttered
Kixston chuckled and started to walk along the bank again, "You have your heart in the right place Ichigo and you truly do."
The night was colder than usual and the breeze was a bit stronger. Kixston gazed up at the moon that was starting to wean, his mind drifted off into his memories and he closed his eyes and listened to the river flow.
It had been eight years since Lunus disappeared. Kixston and him were best friends even though they were an odd match, a demon and a Half-vampire, but that didn't stop them. Driretlan was only seven years old then, it seemed like yesterday to Kixston. Lunus and him had just gotten out of a huge battle and they were patching up their wounds on shore. Lunus was worse off then Kixston because Kixston healed rather quickly. Lunus had just gone out into the shallows of the river to rinse off the gashes on his legs when a huge shadow appeared in the water; Kixston had called out to Lunus telling him to get out of the water. But it was too late; something grabbed Lunus' foot and drug him into the deep water. There wasn't much that Kixston could do, but he tried anyway. Once Kixston knew that it was totally hopeless, which took three days, he returned to Lunus' home to tell Driretlan the bad news. She didn't take it well, she was only seven and she had lost her mom, her dad, and her older brother. Kixston went on a guilt trip and he made Driretlan the main priority in life. He took her in and was like another older brother to her, he taught her everything from fighting to how to build well almost anything. After you live for a couple hundred years you pick up a few skills.
Kixston slowly drifted back to reality and he kicked a few rocks into the river. "That is for taking my best friend's little sister." He growled
Driretlan woke up the next morning to a bright ray of sunlight shining in her eyes. She groaned and snaked back into the shadows of the trees.
"So you finally woke up?" Jin said
"Well you could say that...I am not fully awake yet." Driretlan yawned pulling herself to her feet. "How about we sleep for a few more hours."
"It is your choice what we do."
"Don't say that. Don't ever say that. It only results in bad things. You could get yourself killed by saying that." Driretlan said groggily.
Jin laughed "Well I will keep that in mind."
Driretlan smirked and went to adjust her sword on her belt when she realized that her sword was gone. "Shit, it must be in the river somewhere." She muttered.
"Hmmm, what is it?"
"I dropped my damned sword when I was trying to swim. I have to get it back." Driretlan said urgently
"How do you expect to get it back if you cannot swim?" Jin asked
"I will figure it out when I get there. " Driretlan said starting to run towards where she thought where the river was then she stopped. "Uh...which way is the river?"
Jin turned and pointed in the opposite direction of where Driretlan was running.
"Right I knew that." She said running towards where Jin was pointing. Driretlan ran into the forest then she turned to Jin. "You aren't backing out now are you?"
"No." Jin smirked
"Then come on!" Driretlan said running back and grabbing Jin's arm.
Jin stumbled along behind Driretlan as she drug him to the river. Driretlan made an abrupt stop on the riverbank, and Jin nearly fell into the water because he had so much momentum left over.
"Oops sorry about that." Driretlan laughed pulling Jin away from the river.
"It is quite all right." Jin smiled.
Driretlan stared at the river for a minuet as she formed a plan. "It don't even know what part of the river my sword is in.. How in the hell am I supposed to find it?" She muttered.
"What are you planning on doing?" Jin asked
"I am not sure yet but it may have to involve a swim." Driretlan said dryly
"I thought that you couldn't swim."
"I can't. But as much as I hate water, I will have to learn how to swim someday."
"I won't let you dive into that water and drown." Jin said firmly.
"Well what other option do I have?!" Driretlan snapped yanking off her cloak. A dagger fell to the ground as Driretlan tossed her cloak to the side. She snapped her attention to the dagger then she smacked her forehead. "I completely forgot that I had this. Now I might not have to get into the water."
"What does that dagger have to do with your swimming or not?" Jin asked in a confused tone.
"Just watch." Driretlan said crouching down and spinning the dagger. "Where is my sword?"
Jin got an even more confused look on his face as he watched.
The dagger spun around at a very fast rate then it suddenly stopped pointing northeast. Driretlan smiled "Brother was right about you, your are very reliable." She picked up the dagger and her cloak then started to walk.
Jin cocked an eyebrow then followed Driretlan, "If you don't mind me asking this, why were you talking to a dagger?"
"This is no ordinary dagger. It is my trusty 'spell breaker. An enchanted dagger, it is a family alum." Driretlan said proudly, she walked with the dagger in the palm of her hand watching it as if it was a compass. The dagger took a quick spin and pointed to the left at the river. "Found ya." Driretlan smirked and walked to the edge of the river.
"You aren't going to jump in are you?" Jin asked
"Nope I don't have to." Driretlan said examining the water. "All I have to do is remember the little retrieval incantation."
Jin sat down on the riverbank, and pulled out his flute.
"This may take a while." Driretlan sighed "so occupy you."
Meanwhile
Kixston's sword began to glow with a deep green light, and he snapped awake. He grabbed his sword and unsheathed it examining it closely. "Well I'll be damned." Kixston said hopping up. "Well even more damned than I is now."
"What was that Kixston?" Ichigo asked waking up.
"I found Driretlan...well sort of." Kixston said quickly
"What do you mean how do you sort of find someone?" Ichigo asked
"It is hard to explain you'll just have to trust me and follow me." Kixston smirked.
Ichigo stood up and looked at Kixston. "Okay, I'll follow."
"Good." Kixston said starting to run along the riverbank. As he ran west the glow from his sword increased.
I forgot that she still had that sword and dagger with her. Kixston thought. Good thing that she does have them otherwise I would have no clue as to whether she was alive or not.
"Kixston, what is going on with your sword?" Ichigo asked running beside Kixston.
"A spell. This sword is part of a set of three weapons that are all linked together. Driretlan has the other two weapons, and she must have activated one of them." Kixston said "now this sword is acting like a homing device, the closer I get the stronger the glow."
"I get it."
The only problem with this situation is which weapon she activated. Let's just hope that it was spell breaker not the Terrifen. Kixston thought. Other wise we will have a problem on our hands.
Later on
Driretlan had finally, after about twenty different attempts, remembered the correct spell to retrieve her sword.
"Well Jin now that I have this baby back, we can get moving." Driretlan announced walking along the riverbank going east. "Let's just hope that we can catch up with Kixston."
"Maybe we will run into him half way." Jin smirked
"Maybe...or maybe that monster thing killed him. You never know." Driretlan chuckled
"You are an optimist."
"And you are sarcastic, so we are even." Driretlan added.
Jin and Driretlan walked east for about another hour beside the forest before it dead-ended into a vast field.
"Well we must be getting close to where I fell in." Driretlan muttered.
But there is still no sign of that bum Kixston. Driretlan thought. He probably moved on with out me.
Jin noticed two figures running toward them. He tapped Driretlan on her shoulder breaking her train of thought. "Would either of those people happen to be your friend?" He asked
Driretlan stared forward and recognized the figures as Kixston and Ichigo. "That is them!" She yelled running toward Kixston and Ichigo. "Come on Jin they won't bite." Driretlan stopped in her tracks "Well Ichigo won't...never mind, just come with me."
Jin shrugged and ran with Driretlan towards Kixston and Ichigo.
Kixston ran up to Driretlan and glared at her. "What the hell happened to your face? Did that guy do it to you?!!" Kixston snapped staring at Jin.
"No Kixston Asamee happened to my face remember?" Driretlan corrected. "That is Jin he saved me."
"That kid saved you? Is that a joke, he looks barely big enough to pick up my sword." Kixston laughed
"I am not a kid." Jin growled "and for your information I did pull Driretlan from the river."
"Well that is a shock." Kixston laughed
"Shuts up Kixston leave him alone. You have no right to be picking on him." Driretlan snapped
"You know what Drir that kid should have just let you drown it would save me a lot of trouble." Kixston sneered
"Well if I am so much trouble then why didn't you just move on with out me?" Driretlan asked
"Because I forgot how much of a pain you were." Kixston replied defensively. "I don't know how I forgot that you were a pain but I did."
"I am a pain?! What about you, all you do is yap, yap, yap!" Driretlan yelled "it is a wonder that someone hasn't closed that big mouth of yours permanently!"
"I have a big mouth look who is talking." Kixston snarled "How about you do me a favor and jump back into the river."
"Why should I do you a favor? You are just a jerk. I don't even know why I traveled with you."
"I don't know why you did either; I don't even know why I invited you to come." Kixston growled
"Well then I will just go back home! And you can travel with Mistress Ichigo, to the Mirojen Province!" Driretlan yelled
"Good! She is better company than you are anyway! I hope that something kills you on your way home." Kixston yelled back before stomping off in the direction that he came.
Ichigo watch Kixston as he started to stomp off then she walked up to Driretlan. "If it is worth anything I am glad that you are okay." Ichigo smiled "and Kixston did care, I don't know what got into him."
"His stupid vampire pride. That jackass, Oh well. You had better go catch up with him." Driretlan sighed "Thanks for caring about me."
"You're welcome." Ichigo yelled over her shoulder as she ran to catch up with Kixston.
"What are we doing now?" Jin asked
"Well I am going to head home. You can follow if you want." Driretlan said walking up the river.
Jin nodded and followed Driretlan up the river.
Kixston and Ichigo were only about twenty feet ahead of Driretlan and Jin. Kixston was walking muttering to himself.
"You were very rude to her." Ichigo pointed out. "Maybe you should apologize."
"Apologize?!" Kixston yelled "No way in hell. She should have drowned and saved me the trouble."
"You need to decide whether Driretlan is your friend or not." Ichigo said ignoring what Kixston said "Last night you were set on finding her and now you want her to die? What kind of friend are you?"
"The kind that is tired of listening to her mouth. Only if you have known her as long as I have then you would understand."
"Why didn't you just get rid of her before if you are so tired of her mouth? I think that you should swallow your pride and look at the situation properly." Ichigo said jogging in front of Kixston.
Kixston glared at Ichigo and thought over the situation. He finally stopped and waited for Driretlan to catch up.
"I don't want to hear it Kixston." Driretlan said walking past him.
"I am sorry that I was a jerk, I am glad that you are okay." Kixston muttered
"What was that?" Driretlan asked
"You heard me." Kixston growled "Now can we please get on our way to the province. We have a lot of time to make up for."
Driretlan smirked "okay. As long as we don't have to cross that river, or any other large body of water."
"Why don't you just jump over the river?" Jin asked "could you jump that far?"
Kixston looked at Jin then Driretlan "Why don't you just jump over the river Drir. I have seen you jump gaps about that size."
Driretlan's face lost all of its color, and she froze."Me jump that..."
"Yea you can do it." Kixston said "that way we don't have to deal with that water monster."
"But...I...." She stammered "What if I fall in?"
"Well if that happens then shrimp here can save ya." Kixston smirked "You will be fine don't worry."
"Easy for you to say, you can swim." Driretlan growled
Ichigo, Jin and Kixston sat on the bank trying to convince Driretlan to cross. Kixston was ready to just throw Driretlan in the river but he withheld the urge.
"Just jump across before I throw you in." Kixston snapped "Give me your weapons and you cloak and go already! You are such a wimp when it comes to water."
"Well I have good reason to dislike water." Driretlan said defensively.
"For once ignore your stupid fear and jump!" Kixston yelled
"It is not a fear!"
"Then prove it and jump!" Kixston snapped
"Fine I will." Driretlan bit back. She backed up about twenty feet from the bank and got a good running start for her jump. Driretlan ran and jumped the river landing on the other side safety.
"Well now that, that is done." Kixston muttered. He tossed Driretlan's stuff into the air and floated it into her arms. "Okay guys' do you think that you can jump it or are you going to wade across?"
"I will jump the river." Jin smirked
"Me too." Ichigo said.
"All right then, let's get moving." Kixston urged
Jin backed a good ten feet away from the bank then ran and jumped. At first it looked as though he wasn't going to make it, but a huge gust of wind arose and pushed him to the other side safety.
Both Ichigo and Kixston made it to the other side with out a hitch. Then the group started to walk north again.
I just hope that my being delayed didn't cause any problems among my brethren. Kixston thought. I wonder what had them so worked up anyway. In the message that I got, they sounded horribly desperate like Satan himself had come and condemned them.
"Well Kixston with our delays how late are we going to be?" Driretlan asked
"I am not sure, it depends on our road ahead. A lot has changed in twenty years. I am not completely sure if the same route will be there." Kixston said bluntly
"Do you think that there is a short cut that we can take?" Driretlan asked
"I don't know." Kixston sighed
"Do you know of a short cut to the Mirojen Province Jin?"
"Sorry, I don't know of one. If we find a village we can ask the locals." Jin suggested
"Well what exactly are we looking for a short cut through?" Ichigo asked "is there a big swamp or mountains ahead?"
"There is neither...." Kixston muttered "I think that we are pretty much all set for now."
The day quickly turned to night and the field also quickly turned into a dense dark forest. The forest had an eerie feel about it that no one in the group really liked or welcomed for that fact. Moon light spread through any hole that it could find, like it was reaching for the ground. And a fog slowly began to creep through the trees as the creatures of the night began to stir.
"Kixston." Driretlan whispered "Are they're any of your kind out in these woods?"
"I don't know Driretlan are there any of your kind?"
"This is a serous issue Kixston. I am not to keen to the idea of having all the blood in my body drained." Driretlan snapped
"If any of them come go hide behind your little rescuer." Kixston sighed looking through the trees to check for any movement
"I think that we should offer you as a sacrifice to them." Driretlan mumbled angrily.
A shadow moved quickly in the trees in front of Kixston and then two other shadows followed it.
Kixston froze and put his arm out to stop Driretlan and the others from walking on. "There is something up there. Something that is moving quite fast."
"What do you think it is?" Ichigo asked
"I am not quite sure." Kixston said
"Well whatever they were they moved passed us, so let's go on." Driretlan suggested moving Kixston's arm and walking on.
Kixston started to object but he shut up and followed.
As they walked there was a swooshing sound periodically. It sounded like someone moving very quickly in the trees. Kixston was very cautious as he walked making sure that there weren't any traps on the ground that could snag someone. There was a loud crash and everyone jumped as a tree fell to the ground.
"Well we are all a bit jumpy." Jin laughed
"But for good reason." Kixston added
A gust of wind moved through the group as a shadow flew by. There was a sound like ripping cloth as a long cut appeared across Kixston's arm. Kixston quickly pulled out a small dagger and threw it into the foggy forest. There was a deep thump noise then a shadow fell from a tree limb and landed in front of Ichigo and Jin. Kixston ran over and examined the shadow.
"Damn it is a scout." Kixston cursed
"A scout for what?" Driretlan asked
"I am not quite sure for what exactly."
"Then how in the hell do you know it is a scout?!" Driretlan snapped
"By the clothing and the weaponry. It was mostly likely some sort of hired scout. Someone that isn't normally on the payroll." Kixston explained
"Well that makes sense." Ichigo said
Two more shadows appeared in the trees in front of Driretlan, these shadows weren't moving they were standing still.
"Thank you for helping me catch that one." One of the shadows said walking forward. "It was starting to bug me."
The two shadows approached the group. As they got closer you could tell that they both were girls.
"Who would you two be. And who was this scout working for?" Kixston asked
"I can answer your first question but I am not sure on the last one." The girl said "I am Darkwolf and that is Hotaru."
"So we are still at a loss about the scout." Kixston muttered
"Kixston I doubt that the scout was after you anyway so why does it matter?" Driretlan asked
"It just does." Kixston growled.
"Whatever." Driretlan sighed "I guess that we should introduce ourselves."
"Or you could go on arguing among yourselves either way it is just as entertaining to me." Hotaru said
"Wow Drir, she reminds me of someone I know." Kixston laughed
"Shut up." Driretlan growled "I am Driretlan, that oaf is Kixston and the two hiding in the fog behind us are Ichigo and Jin."
"Nice to meet you two." Kixston smirked "Now if you don't mind we shall be going."
"Watch your selves there are things in these woods that take people all the time." Darkwolf warned
Kixston shrugged and walked on, Driretlan on the other hand stood there giving Darkwolf a puzzled look.
"What kind of things? Is there a.." Driretlan asked
"You say the 'R' word or the 'W' word and I will hurt you." Kixston threatened
"I was just going to ask. You know it never hurts to ask people things like that." Driretlan said "As I was saying what is in this area."
"Oh nothing much, just some sort of creature that destroys entire villages and causes mass chaos." Hotaru sighed
"Sounds like my kind of creature." Driretlan laughed
"We will be sure to watch out for this monster thing. Now lets move." Kixston Urged walking off into the fog.
"Yes sir." Driretlan muttered
"Where are you headed?" Darkwolf asked
"The Mirojen province. Do you know of a short cut?" Driretlan asked
"Well I do but it is sort of..." Darkwolf started
"A total short cut. It will knock two or three days off of your trip." Hotaru interrupted "After the next village you there is another forest. Instead of going all the way through it you cut east that way you avoid that annoying set of hills, and you get there quicker."
"Really..." Driretlan said suspiciously
"Yes really. I would go catch up with that guy and tell him." Hotaru insisted
Driretlan nodded and raced after Kixston, Jin followed close after and Ichigo gave Hotaru an untrusting glare before following. Once Driretlan and the others were no longer in hearing range the winged figure from the field landed behind Darkwolf. The fog faded and the figures features were more noticeable. Darkwolf had long silver hair and magenta eyes with blue slits for pupils. She wore a spike collar, and a blue fighting uniform that had purple slits in the sleeves. Her ears twitched as the winged figure spoke.
"That was very good you two."
"Thank you Johnny it was no problem." Darkwolf sighed
Hotaru smirked and brushed her blue hair out of her violet eyes. She wore a simple black fighting outfit with a blue vest over it. "That was too easy. Do you think that they will go through the graveyard?"
"I am certain." Johnny smirked, his yellow eyes brightened at the thought of his plan succeeding. He ran his fingers through his black spiky hair. "Well ladies you must excuse me. I have to go set up the rest of this operation." Johnny spread his black wings and took off into the night just as quickly as he came.
"Lets just hope that it all falls in line as planned." Hotaru said.
"It will don't worry. And if it doesn't it isn't our fault we played out part." Darkwolf muttered walking off. "Well for now we did."
Day broke over the land and the rays of sunlight danced on the leaves in the forest. Kixston had kept the group walking all through the night, and according to him they would make better time if they walked all day too.
"Kixston have you ever heard of cruel and unusual punishment?" Driretlan asked
"Yes I have. Why do you ask?"
"I just wanted to make sure that you were familiar with the term so I can enact it on you after I get some sleep." Driretlan yawned
"Well Drir that will have to wait a few days for that." Kixston said. "We have to make good time on this."
"I'll show you good time. I will take it and shove it up your ass." Driretlan said underneath her breath.
"Why don't we take the route that Hotaru suggested?" Jin asked "it should save us some time."
"Yea! I forgot about that Jin, thanks for reminding me." Driretlan smirked "There is supposed to be a short cut after the next village that we come to. It is supposed to cut a few days off of our trip."
Kixston spun around and looked at Driretlan, "I am not risking anything on a 'supposed to' I would rather go the long way then run into a dead end."
"I agree!" Ichigo added "there might be something dangerous in that direction."
"Well if there is I will kill it plain and simple. Besides Kixston don't you want to get there faster? This is your brethren that we are talking about, so what ever you choose I guess I will have to stick behind." Driretlan said
"Good then it is settled we will stick to my path." Kixston said firmly.
Damnit I was sure that quilting him into it would work. Driretlan thought. I am just going to have to try a different approach. I can't go on for days with out sleep; it weakens my fighting ability.
"Kixston we should at least ask some other locals about it before we turn the short cut down." Driretlan coaxed
Kixston took a deep breath and started to say something but stopped.
It isn't going to do me any good to argue with her. Kixston thought. Her skull is thick and she is horribly ornery. I will just agree to her terms so she will shut up.
"Fine we will ask around but if I am not satisfied we will go my way got it?"
"Got it Kixston." Driretlan smirked
I hope that we end up going Kixston's way instead of taking that short cut. Ichigo thought. I really don't trust either of those girls that we met up with. There was just a strange aura about them.
When the group got to the village there wasn't much time to ask that many questions because the village was up in flames. People were running around panicked and screaming.
"Are we going to do something or just stand around?!" Driretlan snapped
"Lets go in and help, I want my question answered and a bunch of corpses won't answer very well." Kixston growled running into the village.
Driretlan and the others followed but they all split up going off to help with different things. Driretlan was at a loss of what to do, she was used to creating fire not putting it out.
"Damn how come I always get into these situations." She grumbled
There was a loud noise then the sound of rushing water. Driretlan jumped as it started to rain. Driretlan looked around and saw a woman standing ontop of one of the roofs.
The woman jumped off of the roof and landed onto another one. She had long brown hair and wore loose black clothing that flowed in the light breeze. As soon as the fires were all put out she simply disappeared and it stopped raining.
A voice rang out in Driretlan's ears, "Go find the missing children."
Kixston and the others met up with Driretlan who was staring off into the distance.
"Drir, we have to get moving." Kixston said
"Not until we find those kids." Driretlan said
"What?" Kixston asked
"There are kids missing we have to find them." she said urgently.
"We don't have.." Kixston started
"I will go with you." JIn volunteered.
Kixston let out a low growl. "Lets make this quick. Where did they go missing at?"
Driretlan felt something pull her east like a sixth sense telling her where the kids were. "We go east to find those kids."
Everyone nodded and they headed east right towards where Hotaru had directed them.
Johnny stood on a tree branch watching the group head out. "Pch, that was simple. I wonder if they will make it through?"
A cloaked figure stood at the base of the tree. "They will be eliminated then they can no longer interfere. Especially that Kixston...he will suffer great pain for meddling in the past."