Chapter 9
Given destiny.
Day broke and the sun flung its rays across the land piercing right through the shades in Driretlan's room at the monastery. But they didn't phase her; she was in a deep dreamy sleep. The cave ordeal has worn her out.
After returning from the cave she was showered with questions and praise by the monks. Daruis on the other hand said a few cold snide words about her training and how her little ordeal was nothing compared to it. Then he just left. She wasn't too pleased about that. Or the fact that Kixston had shown up late, but she just blew everything off and went to bed. Where she had been sleeping for almost two days.
Jin slowly creaked open her door and peered in, she was wrapped up in her sheets with her hand oh her sword, which lay, underneath her pillow. He smiled and chuckled to himself stepping in. He was a bit curious as to if she was okay or not she was all right but from the looks of it she was fine. "I can't blame her for being worn out." He muttered "I slept the first day all the way through."
Kixston walked up behind Jin and laughed "What a bum, we have to wake her up."
"No." Jin protested "let her sleep."
Kixston let out a long sigh, "Sorry kid, but I have to wake her up I need her help with something." he said
"With what?" Jin asked
"I'll tell you later, along with the others." He muttered pushing past him and walking into the room.
Time to tell everyone about the Cronic issue. he thought.
Kixston stopped next to Driretlan's bed and shook her. "Wake up!" he yelled "You've been asleep for two days! that is too long to be slacking off."
Driretlan rolled over "Screw you..." she muttered groggily. "I will do what I want to, and I want to sleep."
Kixston let out a low growl and pulled her with her blankets off the bed. "Up now! like I said two days is too long to lounge around."
"I've done it for four once..." Kaneda muttered leaning against the door way and reading over his book.
"That explains a lot." Kixston muttered.
Driretlan got up and stretched. "Happy asshole I am awake." she muttered picking up her sword and walking out of the room stumbling a bit because her muscles had started to get used to doing nothing.
Kixston shook his head.
"You okay Dri?" Jin asked smiling a bit.
She nodded. "I am just fine, a bit tired though."
"That is what happens when you sleep too much." Kixston added
"No one asked you." she muttered walking into the hall.
Jin and Kaneda both followed her, Kaneda didn't even look up from his book as he walked. They reached the opening in the hall where you could enter the courtyard when Daruis popped out in front of them.
"Your finally up, and look you even brought your entourage." he chuckled
"I don't want to deal with you right now." Driretlan sighed
"Well, tough luck. now that you are awake you can start your training. We begin now!" he smirked. Darius got a glimmer in his eye and looked straight at them he pulled his hand out of his pocket and there was a blur of five lights coming at the group.
Before the attacks could hit anyone Kaneda jumped to the front of the group, swift fully pulling out his sword blocking each of the attacks. He then put it back onto his back and sighed "There will be no training until later." he sighed pulling out his book. "now if you will excuse us, I think that we will be getting some food." Kaneda lead the group off to the mess hall.
He has skill. Darius thought. I wonder how much skill he has...I will test that, soon. I need to find out what her relatives are like so I can calculate how far I can push her with our killing her.
Darius walked back up the hall the way that the others had come. He nearly ran into Kixston who was standing mid hallway with his arms crossed and an angry look on his face. "What is your problem."
"Don't ever try to attack them again, you can train her. But that does not include attacking the others." he snapped walking off.
Darius shook his head.
what a lively bunch, they all have attitudes and power to boot. But she will be twice as strong as all of them combined...she might even grow to my level. He thought.
Hotaru sat on a boat that was sailing across the ocean. She was off in a corner alone grumbling to herself. "I don't know why I had to do this..." Then she remembered that conversation that her and Johnny had, had after he saved her from Gothic.
"You must make up for what you did. You betrayed me and I am letting you live because you are a valuable asset to me. I want you to prove yourself by winning this tournament and getting the weapon for me." He had said. "I know that I could simply take the weapon but there is no sport in that and I know that you can do it, and while you are at it...if you see Driretlan's friends...kill them all. Leave her to me."
She mumbled to herself some more, "that is why I am doing this.....damn...." she growled "I bet that they won't even be there, they don't even live on the mainland. Which means after I get the weapon for him, I will have to leave Aviris and go all the way back to that godforsaken island and kill them." she let out a long sigh "And he just had to take my power of teleportation..."She stood up and leaned on the railing and looked over the ocean.
A guy walked up behind her he had spiky dark red hair and deep blue eyes, there was a long curved sword strapped to his side, and he wore light blue baggy pants with a orange padded vest. A mask covered a large part of his face. "You bored eh?" he asked in a deep voice.
Hotaru nodded " I hate sea travel." she muttered.
He shook his head. "Patience is a thing to learn. Especially for these fights ahead, otherwise you may end up dead."
She let out a low growl. "You don't know anything about me, don't make assumptions."
"Oh I don't, do I Hotaru." He chuckled. "Come come."
She stood flabbergasted for a moment while he walked away. "Who are you!" she called after him.
He didn't answer he just kept walking, then he walked into the cabin and out of sight.
"Who....was he and how did he know who I was?" she muttered. The sea wind ran through her hair and she sighed, "I'll meet up with him in the fights...then I will find out. one way or another."
Lunus leaned down by a stream and took a handful of water. He pulled it up to his lips letting the cool liquid slid down his throat. He craved more, like the flower in the desert, he drank the water until he was full. "I need to take a break more often, I shouldn't deprive myself of water." he muttered. He looked around him, the surroundings were vaguely familiar.
Hmm, maybe I am getting closer, which means that I shall come upon where mom and dad died all those years ago. Lunus thought. I should go pay my respects while I am there. Mom and Dad deserve it, after all the trouble that Dri and I caused them with Mitara. I should at least pay them more proper respects than I did on the day that they died.
He eased up satisfied with his short rest moving on. He walked through the creek into a small forest. As he walked he felt an odd presence, like something was there with him, and it wasn't something good either. He reached for his weapon but decided that he had best stick with hand to hand combat for now. He didn't have the Terrifen and wasn't going to use the sword that he had on this entity. He spun around as he heard a twig snap, he looked around the forest to see nothing, not even a moving shadow. "Who is there!" he demanded "Show yourself."
Nothing appeared and the only sound that could be heard was the flowing creek.
Lunus shook his head and dropped his guard for a second sighing. "This is far to frustrating." he muttered walking on. He heard something else behind him and turned to see a swiftly moving shadow. He then decided that it was time to get out of that forest. As he ran he felt the presence grow stronger and he could feel some one's icy gaze on his back. Once he reached a small clearing he stopped and drew his weapon. "All right I am sick of your games! show yourself!" he demanded.
There was a swift movement in the trees and a shadow came upon him.
He ignited his sword with blood red flames and waved it at the shadow. It of course fled from the flames. "Leave me alone." Lunus said
"I can't do that." the shadow whispered. "I have to destroy you!"
Lunus sighed and concentrated and his flames engulfed the shadow before it could even move. "That is the end of that." he muttered walking on.
The icy feeling returned again and before he could react a piercing pain shot through Lunus' back. Then he lost all feeling in his legs and fell to his knees.
"Nighty, night." The shadow hissed.
Then Lunus fell forward unconscious. And the figure behind him pulled off its hood to reveal it's self as a woman. She had long black hair and her eyes were deep green. Her skin was light, very light like she had been dead for quiet some time.
"Well brother, I hope you learned your lesson. After I kill you and that brat you call a sister I will hold the power once more." She sneered. "And with this new body I will be much better equipped to do so." She picked up Lunus' arm and drug him off deeper into the forest.
A little later
Driretlan bounded back and rebounded off the wall charging back towards Daruis. Daruis formed an invisible wall with a whisk of his hand and Driretlan smacked right into it.
"Don't be so hasty for an attack." He said coldly as she wiped a bit of blood from her lip.
"I wasn't being hasty!" She yelled "this is hasty!" Driretlan charged forward and then she seemed to disappear for a second.
She is very fast when she wants to be. Daruis thought. But that won't help her any, I am much quicker than she is.
Daruis took a back right stance and drew his sword. He closed his eyes and tried to find Driretlan's aura, but her energy surrounded him it was almost impossible to detect the source. Then he felt a vast amount of energy behind him and then a sharp pain spread through his back.
Driretlan stood still clutching her burning sword.
Darius caught his fall and bound back up making a charge. His aura expanded and formed an invisible spike around his sword.
Driretlan jumped over the attack and sent a ball of fire down at him.
Darius blocked it. "Foolish little girl." He sneered. He swung his sword up and cut her leg open.
Driretlan hit the ground hard and still got up.
"Don't bother, I have seen what skill level you are at. Now to begin the real training, follow me." Darius sighed walking out of the room.
Driretlan followed him limping a bit as he led her down a large hallway. "This is ridiculous." She muttered "it has to be the stupidest training regimen that I have ever participated. in. first he wants me to fight him, then he wants me to follow him to start 'the real training,' I don't think that he can make up his mind." She glared at him and stuck out her tongue. "Idiot."
Daruis glanced over his shoulder, "I saw and heard that. I have reason for all this; you must just acquire some patience."
She sighed and shook her head. "Where have I heard that one before?" The words echoed through her head except they were in Kixston's haunting voice. "That would be it," she mumbled.
Daruis lead through tall oak doors and into a large dark room. There was a single window up high near the top of the vaulted ceiling. Fine oak and cherry wood was used in the workings of the walls and even in the rafters in the ceiling. Daruis light a match and lit a single candle. "You will not leave this room once until your training is done. You won't see your friends and you won't even see the monks. You will get everything you need from me." He said coldly. The large oak door slammed shut.
"Okay let me get this straight. I have to get my food, my water and my company from you all while you are trying to kill me? You are twisted." She sighed.
"You either live or die. All on my whim, if am your preverbal god. I can sustain your life or take it away." He smirked
"See there is a few problem with that." Driretlan laughed. "One, I don't believe in one being controlling my fate. And two, if you think that you can take me down easily you have another thing coming. I am not as weak as you may think."
Daruis shook his head. "You will soon learn and accept both of those, because whether you like it or not one being does control your fate. Out there is someone who would do anything to obtain the power that your soul holds. And in the palm of his hand, is your fate."
Driretlan laughed a bit. "You don't know how stupid that sounds. Do you truly think that he would be able to take me with out a fight?"
Daruis shook his head. "You are not seeing the point. You are more thickheaded than I first thought."
"Point being?" She smirked
Darius let out a frustrated sigh, "Let's begin with your training." He muttered
Kixston sat on a wooden bench in the courtyard thinking.
When should I tell them about the little trip that we are going to be taking? He thought. And Driretlan can't come, so I will have to find a replacement for her. I could always take the kid in her place; Cronic might not like it. But as far as I am concerned he can take it and shove it up his ass. But I think that I will have to take Kaneda, Mitzuki, and Ichigo. Maybe Sharon and SuperX as well. If that isn't to his liking he can find someone else to do it.
Jin walked out smiling as usual. "Hey Kixston there you are. The others are looking for you. They want to know what we should do while Dri trains...I think that we should hang around until she is done...but that is just me."
Kixston nodded slowly. "Well I have a plan.. Or proposal if you will." He muttered covering his eyes from the sun as he looked at Jin. "Where are they?"
Jin used his head to point inside "There in the main hall."
Kixston sighed and eased up walking past Jin. "You had best come as well. You will need to hear this too."
Jin looked at him puzzled then he just smiled "All right." He shrugged.
Kixston walked inside forming a plan as to what he was going to say to the others and how she was going to introduce the plan. He let out a long sigh as he eased open the large oak doors to the main hall. Everyone sat at the large table talking to themselves, and Kixston listened in on small bits of each conversation before he sat down at the head of the table.
"Finally you get here." Mitzuki said. "What will our game plan be while the girl is training?"
Kixston took a deep breath about to start his explanation when Jin interrupted.
"I say that we all stay here until she is done then go to Aviris with her." He suggested.
Kixston shook his head. "I have a better plan," he started.
Everyone turned to him giving him their full attention.
"Go on." Ichigo said.
"Well after I fought Lunus, I was injured badly, very badly. I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for Cronic picking me up and dragging me to his hide out. But for his services he had a price, I had to do something for him." Kixston explained. "So he proposed that I fight for him in this tournament on the mainland for a powerful weapon. He said that I could take the offer and take you guys to the main land, or die. I chose the former; I have a lot to do before I can die."
"So you are dragging us into it?" Mitzuki asked.
Kixston nodded "Pretty much, so do you want to help or not."
"Well it is better than sitting around here until her training is done." Ichigo said.
"Yea, from what I heard she wouldn't even be able to speak to anyone but Darius." Sharon said. "So I am in."
SuperX gave a silent nod in agreement.
"Well, If you guys are pushing me into it I guess that I can go." Kaneda smirked
"What about you kid?" Kixston asked
Jin let out a frustrated sigh. "I am not a kid.... But I will go. Maybe the time will pass faster." He muttered.
"Good...We will set sail as soon as we can find a ship." Kixston said.
Mitzuki let out a long sigh. "Oh that is intelligent. Make a promise that you may not be able to keep because you have no transportation." She snapped
Kixston gave her an icy glare; "I will find a way to do it..." he muttered.
Then he remembered that Cronic was going to arrange the transportation.
Well that eliminates some of the problem, but how the hell do I contact him to find out where the transportation will be. He thought. I just have to find him, which will be hard.
Kixston stood up "Cronic is getting us transportation...We just have to find him first."
Mitzuki nodded. "I will go with you to find him."
Ichigo hopped up and smiled "I want to go too!"
Kixston sighed. "Well I guess you two can come with me, but we leave now."
They nodded and followed him to the door, and they walked out into the large fore yard where chickens ran around the monks in brown robes. As they approached the main gates there was a loud roaring noise.
Kixston recognized it and signaled for the others to back away. Soon Cronic came bursting through the gate on his motorcycle.
He slid to a stop and shot dust into their eyes. "Ahh there you are, I figured you would hide somewhere like this." He smirked. "So are you ready?"
Kixston let out a long sigh and turned to Ichigo and Mitzuki. They both nodded.
"I'll get Jin and the others." Ichigo said running back inside past the crowd of awed monks who were standing around looking stupefied.
Well finding him was easier than I thought it would be, apparently he has been keeping tabs on my location. I may have to look out for this in the future, incase he wants to make a habit of it. Kixston thought.
"So, are you bringing all your little friends?" Cronic asked.
Kixston shook his head. "One couldn't make it, but that is of no concern to you." He snapped.
Cronic smirked and shook his head.
Fool doesn't know what kind of hole he is digging himself into. Oh well, I just need them temporarily and if his other friend wants to chase me down after I dispose of them, then I will take care of them too. Cronic thought. It is of no loss to me, I just want that weapon. Too bad I don't have the time to get the weapon myself, if I did that would make it that much funner. Then again, the irony in their situation is enough entertainment for me. Getting slaughtered by the very weapon that you fought to win, that is my kind of outcome.
"Well have it your way. You are due to your ship, which is in the harbor by sundown." He said.
"Wait! Where is that harbor?" Kixston asked.
"It is beyond the East Ridge. If you go EAST from here you should find it." He chuckled.
"Don't be such a smartass Cronic. I know that the East Ridge is in the east. I am more intelligent than you may think." Kixston snapped
"You could have fooled me. You don't look that bright." He sneered "I mean what kind of pathetic creature are you, you reek of human, yet you have that dead smell to you...quite grotesque if you ask me."
Kixston snarled "No one asked you!" He kicked the dirt at his feet. "You are nothing but a bottom feeder Cronic, and if it wasn't for my life staked on this I wouldn't do it for you! None of my kind should associate with things such as you." Kixston spat at him in utter disrespect. All the years of utter hatred that he had for all humans and other creatures sparked back up in him. It took off like a whirlwind taking his emotions and judgment over. "You didn't think that I would be easily killed though. I wouldn't have needed your help I would have just had to wait until a traveler came that I could feed on. I would have gotten all my strength back then. What do you think of that?!"
Cronic stepped off his motorcycle and stared down Kixston, there was almost a heat generated by their stares. Like two rabid dogs fighting over the last piece of food, they started to slowly circle each other. "You are a disgusting loathsome creature, one of which should be wiped out like the rest of your succubus race. You feed off the blood of the others, I find that repulsive. And most consider me something of 'bottom feeder' and you are below even me. What would that make you Kixston?" He taunted.
Kixston let out a low growl. The hair on his arms and the back of his neck, he was beyond furious. The vampiric pride in him was swelling, no one insulted him! He wouldn't allow it. "You...you think that you are so mighty! You pathetic little human! I will kill you!"
"You aren't too good with negotiations are you?" Cronic laughed "I saved your life and you are about to go off and pay your debt for it. But if you wish I will kill you now."
Kixston smirked and took a step back into a fighting position tapping his hilt tauntingly. "I would love to see you try."
Cronic shrugged "but if I kill you I will have no one to do my bidding." He sneered
Kixston uttered an inhuman laugh. "What if I refuse to do your bidding further?" He asked
Cronic locked his gaze on Kixston's and muttered a threat across his mind. Otherwise I will kill your friends, all of them. I will slowly slaughter them one by one in whatever fashion I see fit. And don't pull that 'Go ahead do it, see if I care' shit. I know that you do care, your human side is weak.
Kixston took a step back baffled. He then scowled and shifted uncomfortably, putting up a barrier around his mind. "Fine, we will be at the bay by sundown."
Cronic smiled and got back on his motorcycle. "I am glad that you see it my way." He looked around at all the terrified monks and yelled "BOO!" He cracked up laughing as the monks stepped back. But the roar of his engine soon drowned the laughter out. Cronic fishtailed his motorcycle out of the yard kicking up a good amount of dust.
"Good riddance." Mitzuki muttered
Jin, Ichigo and Kaneda walked out of the main hall and down the small set of steps.
"Now that we are all here, let's move." Kixston ordered.
That night long after the sun had set Driretlan lay on the hard floor of the large training room. Daruis was already asleep and he lay on a bench against the wall. The moonlight streamed in through the little window up near the top of the vaulted ceiling, casting its silvery reflections everywhere. She let out a long sigh and slowly weaved her hands through the streams of moonlight. It was almost like she was weaving something extravagant with the light, making blankets of shadows casting from her hands. She hummed the melody that her brother taught her when she was little as she weaved her invisible blankets with moonlight and shadow. Her mind wandered into deep thought. She considered everything that had happened to her lately. A sudden turn in events from her quiet little life that she had lived since her brother died.
After she had actually gotten used to having Kixston there serving as a guardian of some type, things were back to normal for her. She trained daily and did little things around the home to
Make sure that it was kept in order. The other villagers would come and visit, they were the closest things to a friend that she had ever had. They like her were all demons, most mixed breed that somewhere along the line were tangled up with human blood. She remembered hearing someone refer to mix breeds as "Vines that choke out the flawless rose." She never liked that saying much and she didn't like the people who thought like that way either. But they didn't last long anyway, so she didn't care.
The only thing that ever was slightly exciting was when Kixston would travel and take her along. Even though they could never agree on anything or even get along for more then five minuets when they were awake, she found the traveling fun. She was always looking for an excuse to escape that village, but now she wanted to go back more than ever.
What would be the point in that though? What is waiting there for you? Nothing there is no point in going back at all. It isn't like there will be a warm welcome for you, you are the one that caused most the problems there. And your only true friend there was that bum Kixston, and you are stuck with him on a seemingly endless trip to 'follow my destiny' what if I don't want to follow this destiny? What if I wan to go off and live my life not having to worry about some wanna be dead guy stealing my soul? Do I truly have a choice in that? Why can't I just leave this, break free and do something else...maybe because in some sick demented way, I am doing the right thing for once. Am I? Is marching off to my death, as I am the right thing to do? Should I die for the need of the many, or just say off with em and leave? Driretlan thought. You know what there is no use to me thinking about it, they won't let me go off anyway, they all want me to do this. And I will, until I get the chance to take off, then I will do so. Maybe it will be soon; maybe I can live my life the way that I want it soon.... Maybe.... Someday, but for now I am stuck like this. It is like my body is paralyzed, but my mind is free to wonder free of all boundaries. I am dreaming while still awake, but I am caught in a nightmare. A deep dark nightmare, all except that glimmer of light. My one single glimmer of light that shines bright guide me out of this nightmare... set my soul free. Come back for me brother, I wish to join you and everyone else. In the blissful world of no where.
Driretlan managed a smile and a faint laugh. "Maybe, no matter what I do I will be stuck in this dream." She chuckled "maybe; I just have to adapt...then again, that was never my strong suit." She laughed a little bit then laid her hands under her head staring at the small piece of the moon that she could see.
All will tell with time though. Everything comes with time. She thought yawning and closing her eyes.
Soon she drifted off to sleep with a faint melody playing in her head.
The loud noise of a bell roused Kixston and the others out of bed. The morning sun was bright and it poured easily across the wasteland of fallen buildings and dirt. The mainland wasn't how everyone thought that it would be. After two days on the ocean they spent four days here, none of them truly enjoyed it, they all were anxious for the tournament to start so they could go back to their island.
The group all slowly assembled outside the small building that had become their quarters.
Jin sat on the roof enjoying the wind flowing through his hair and the way that it blew softly over the sand.
Kixston sneered "I take it that you enjoy this wasteland." He shook his head. "You are pathetic."
"You just have to make the best of what you have Kixston." he smiled. "There is nothing that we can do about this place, so we might as well enjoy it the way it is."
Kixston let out a low growl.
"You know that he is right though." Kaneda smiled "There is nothing that you can do about this place being the way that it is. You just have to make the best of your situation, either that or be miserable."
"Hmf. I think that you both are foolish." he snarled stomping off towards the main building.
Ichigo sighed and shook her head.
"Is he always this grumpy?" Sharon asked
"I think that it might be a morning thing." Ichigo said.
"Yea if morning it twenty four hours a day." Mitzuki sighed. "Face it the guy has a serious attitude problem and on top of that he doesn't know when to quit. I don't think that there is a single thing in the world that could make that guy happy."
Ichigo shook her head in disagreement. "There has to be something that can cheer him up, I think that he is just having a bad day you know? I think that we should try to make him feel better."
"Yea!" Sharon cheered. "Maybe then he won't be so depressing."
Mitzuki laughed "You two have at that. And while you are trying to find what makes him happy I will be getting old and withered. Trust me, people like that are best left alone."
"I think that is what his problem might be." Kaneda said. "I know that after being alone for a while it starts to get to you. I think that he was alone for too long."
"I don't know how that can be, according to Dri, he raised her. And before that he was friends with her brother. I don't know how alone he could have been." Jin said.
"Kixston is old...really old. Maybe it was damage done from earlier in life. Or maybe it is like Mitzuki said, he just has an attitude problem." Kaneda added "The only person who knows is him, and I think that we should leave it alone."
Loneliness is prolonged by a broken heart, maybe that is Kixston's reason for being the way that he is. No matter how many people he is around he always looks lonely. Kaneda thought. Being that old, there is no telling how many times he has had his heart torn apart. And he just tries to make us think that he is a hard ass.
Before Kixston entered the main building he turned and looked back at the others. "Are you coming or what!?" he yelled.
Jin jumped off the top of the roof. "I think that we should join him. Today is the first day of matches, we don't want to be late." He smiled
"Your always so damned upbeat Jin...kinda makes me sick." Mitzuki sighed walking towards the building.
"I think that it is encouraging." Sharon smiled
"You would." Mitzuki growled
Ichigo smirked and shook her head following them. "Coming Kaneda?"
"Yea." He nodded patting his chest armor. "Ahh man.. I will catch up guys! I forgot my book." He said jogging back into the small stone building.
"Him and that book I swear." Ichigo muttered
"Personally I am glad that he has it." Mitzuki said. "It is good to have hobbies."
Ichigo laughed a bit and they all walked into the large stone building where Kixston was. Inside there were hundreds of people and demons all gathered around a small table area where a guy stood with a microphone.
"Welcome all fighters!" he yelled. "I am glad to see such a turn out for this competition. I know why you are all here so I will cut to the chase."
There was a round of cheering as he said this, and the crowd moved forward like a wave.
"You all will be fighting on your teams against other teams for this weapon!" The guy on the table cheered. He held up a spear. "This is a weapon which belongs to the fabled Shuvanis Panch! One of the five most powerful weapons in the world!"
The crowd cheered and yelled. Most of them yelling for the fights to start.
"Power hungry fools." Kixston muttered.
"Rarti..." Jin muttered.
That is one of the weapons that the priest mentioned, we have to win this. We can't let someone else get that. If they do, they could use it against Dri and take her soul. Jin thought.
"What were you muttering about kid?" Kixston asked.
"That weapon is...never mind I will explain it later." Jin said. "For now we got to focus on the fights."
"Wow that almost sounded serious," Kixston laughed. "Were you going for that?"
Jin smiled "actually I was. Did I look really serious?"
Kixston nodded "You almost had me fooled."
"I am serious though, we can't lose this." he muttered
"I got you kid. I wasn't planning on losing." Kixston said.
Jin nodded and focused on the announcer as he explained everything for that days matches.
Every team was to fight one match, and the teams that had the most members in fighting condition after that match would advance to the next day. You could have as few members on your team as you wanted, but no more than six. The rules for the fight were simple, any thing goes. Which is how the crowd seemed to like it they all seemed like ruffians for the most part.
Why do I always get stuck in these situations? Hotaru thought. I don't want to be here with these pigs, I could be off doing something far more productive. Why does Johnny want that stupid spear anyway? So what if it is a Shuvanis Panch, there has to be more powerful weapons out there.
"Your wrong about that." The guy with dark red spiky hair from the boat chimed. "The Shuvanis Panch are the most powerful weapons out there. But that spear isn't the most powerful, I would say that Kaulo is, but it is also debated that Terrifen is the strongest."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Hotaru growled
"The weapons of course. Don't you know the story of them?" he asked
Hotaru snorted "Of course I do!" she stomped her foot. "Why are you talking to me anyway?"
"Is it a crime for a guy to make small talk." He asked
"It is when you are reading my mind in the process." Hotaru sneered. "That is how you knew my name on the boat. Correct?"
The guy nodded "Yea, the name is Crimson. I didn't mean to read your mind, just an old habit of mine."
"Then get out of it, it is rude." She sighed.
The guy shook his head. "I will if you will let me hang around...You wouldn't believe how unfriendly some of the girls are around here. Out of the few that is." He said.
Hotaru let out a long sigh, "If you agree to keep your mouth shut I will let you stay."
Crimson nodded "You have a deal."
The announcer set the first twenty matches for morning and early after noon.
Kixston and the others didn't have their match in that period of time so they all went back to their quarters to relax until the afternoon call was made.
Hotaru on the other hand had her match right after the meeting. Of course Crimson decided that he was going to tag along. The matches were held in a fallen skyscraper that had been modified into an underground ring. She was set to match some team with a name that she couldn't even pronounce. There were three members, against her. Fair odds in her opinion.
She stood on one side of the makeshift ring staring down the guy who claimed to be the team leader.
"The team with the last member standing wins!" The announcer yelled. "So FIGHT!!" he jumped backwards out of the ring and into the darkness of the stands.
"It is sad that I am going to have to tear you limb from limb little girl." The guy laughed.
Hotaru laughed. "I would love to see you try."
The guy let out a low growl and charged at her. She jumped over his attack and landed a kick to the back of his neck. He hit the ring face first and skidded.
"that was way to easy, are you dead all ready?" she teased.
The guy slowly picked himself up. "You will have to do better than that."
Hotaru smiled "I was hoping that you would say that." she took a back right stance and swayed a bit. "Okay, give me your best shot."
The guy pulled out swords and swung them around his body as if to show off.
"Please." Hotaru sighed. She concentrated her energy and muttered something. The ground shook a bit and cracked allowing a jet stream of water to shoot up from underneath the guy knocking his swords out of his hands. The water flow stopped suddenly and his swords came back down upon him. One pierced his shoulder and the other sliced a large but in his head. "ouch." Hotaru muttered as the guy hit the ring. "Next."
Another fighter stepped up into the ring, it was a guy with long brown hair and an eye patch over his left eye. "I hope that I serve a better challenge then my friend." he said.
"Maybe you will, maybe you won't." she muttered.
"Before we fight I wish to introduce myself. I am Mussashi." He said giving a slight bow.
"Ahh a gentleman. I am Hotaru, the deliver of your death." she chuckled. "Now lets start this."
Mussashi sighed and shook his head. He reached up into his sleeves and pulled out four throwing daggers in each hand. "I am afraid that I cannot die." he threw the knives at Hotaru. As they spiraled through the air a small field of electricity formed around each of them.
Hotaru dodged six of the ten, but the other four struck her in her thighs and forearms. "Pretty good." she muttered. There was a sudden pulse of electricity sent through her body that paralyzed her long enough to let Mussashi charge her and upper cut her. Hotaru flew back and hit the ring hard.
How did he do that? Did he just paralyze me, but how? was it the electricity. Hotaru thought. I will just have to dodge his electric attacks from now on.
She pulled her self back up and as he charged she drew two swords off her hips.
Mussashi threw some more daggers charging with electricity as well.
Hotaru muttered something and right before the daggers hit her they hit a force field. "Nice try, but that won't work against me twice." Hotaru jumped right through her own shield and sliced open Mussashi's chest.
He tumbled backwards gasping a bit then he got a twisted smile and pulled out what looked like a scroll. He quickly pulled a sheet of paper off it and flung it at her. "Demon exorcism!" he yelled.
Hotaru simply sliced it in half and lunged at him again.
Mussashi threw another one at her and it landed on her chest then fell off. He looked horrified. "What kind of demon are you?!" he yelled
She just laughed and kicked his shoulders sending him backwards. He landed on the ring and started to crawl backwards. Hotaru pinned him and put her swords to his throat. "I'm not a demon, just a servant of the devil." she smirked.
Mussashi passed out and Hotaru laughed standing back up and pushing him out of the ring and to the final member of his team. "So do you want to fight me?" she teased.
The guy laughed pulling off his cloak. He had long black hair and a deep tan with pure black eyes. "I will take you little girl. I will be glad to out do my poor team members."
"Big talk. Let's see you back it up!" Hotaru yelled taking a fighting stance.
The guy smirked and charged forward landing a punch to her stomach before she even had time to react. She was thrown back out of the ring.
He is tough, this one might be hard. She thought.
"Your not trying hard enough!" Darius yelled slamming his foot on the hard wood floor.
Driretlan picked herself up off the floor and wiped the blood from off her brow. "Let me be the judge of that." she muttered standing shakily. Blood was all over her clothing and the floor around her along with char marks from fire. She growled a little bit and summoned a flame in the palm of her hand. It grew and the edges of it licked her wrist and the flame rose high into the air. She smirked and it suddenly snuffed out. Driretlan made her charged throwing a punch with the same arm landing it square of Darius' chest before he could even block.
He gasped as the flame shot up around her fist and burned a whole in his shirt and started to burn his chest.
She managed to get the flame hot enough that it became invisible, I knew that she could do it. To bad the punch is still too weak. Darius thought.
He grabbed her shoulder with his right hand and punched her in the stomach with the left sending her back about ten feet.
Driretlan hit the ground and rolled a little bit coughing up a bit of blood.
"And that was just with my left hand, and I wasn't even hitting you hard. You need to be able to do that, or at least learn how to block an attack." He said coldly. "Your done for now, take a break and clean yourself up."
She let out a low growl. "My ass not full strength. That hurt like a bitch, I am going to show him a thing or two." She got up and charged him, Darius caught her first punch but with her other hand she hit him in the jaw then she kicked him into the wall. "That is for making me bleed so much." she muttered walking off to the opposite corner to clean up her wounds.
She has a temper I will give her that, but that won't get her as far as she needs to go. She needs to buckle down and pay occasional attention. He thought. Otherwise she is going to get herself killed, and I doubt that her brother will like that, then again what do I care what he thinks. I am the trainer, I can do as I please with her.
Driretlan sat wrapping the wounds on her arms and muttering to herself angrily. She wasn't liking the whole someone else being in charge of her bit. She didn't deal well with authority.
Hopefully this will be over with soon, he is driving me up the wall with his commands. I didn't know that he would be She thought.
Driretlan let out a long sigh. "Oh well, if this is what will make me stronger then I will have to put up with it now won't I."
Jin sat in the sunlight on the roof playing his flute waiting for their afternoon match. Hotaru's match had come and gone, with her arising as the victor after a very long bloody battle.
"Hey kid how long are you going to play that thing?" Kixston yelled from inside "It is staring to give me a head ache."
"Ahh lay off Kixston it is relaxing." Kaneda yawned.
"That is only because you are half way unconscious over there." Kixston grumbled.
"I am just resting up for that match is all." he muttered stretching out. "There isn't anything wrong with that is there?"
Kixston sighed and started to say something snippy when Mitzuki came in and interrupted him. "It is time that we get moving to the ring, our match is going to start soon."
Kixston nodded. "Everyone gather up your weapons and such we are heading out."
"Rodger." Kaneda mumbled putting his sword back in the sheath with a loud clang.
Ichigo slid her newly sharpened super sized shuriken into it's holster on her back.
Mitzuki did a few simple stretches and Sharon just hummed to herself.
"Let's go!" Kixston ordered as he started off towards the ring.
Jin jumped off the roof and followed closely. He could feel the tension in the air, everyone was a bit nervous but they didn't want to show it. There was no telling how tough their opponent or opponents would be. and they all knew, some better than others, what was riding on this. They couldn't lose a single match.
They walked through the huge doors and into the building. The crowd was huge and they were every where. There was a small path to the ring, which looked as though it only has a few feet around it to spare. As they shoved their way up to the ring they got a glimpse of their opposing team. It was a group of burly looking guys with scowls on their face.
"They look cheerful." Ichigo muttered
Jin smiled. "Well we have something on them then."
Sharon nodded in agreement. "I think that is somewhat of an advantage, you can't fight well when you are in a bad mood, or at least I can't."
When they reached the ring the announcer called for the first set of fighters to come up. The first guy to come up for the opposing team had black shaggy hair with red streaks. When Jin caught sight of him a gasp escaped his throat.
It can't be! he thought. But I thought that he died...why would he be here?
"Well this guy looks easy enough, I will take him." Kixston said.
Jin shook his head and stepped up. "I will fight him.." he muttered
"What? Why?" Kixston asked
"He is my brother and I have a score that I need to settle with him." Jin said giving a faint smile and hoping into the ring.
"Well what a surprise, my miserable little brother is alive. I thought that I killed you along with the others." the guy snapped
"Afraid not Shin. I survived..... barely though." Jin said. "Why did you have to kill them all?"
"This isn't the time or place for me to explain brother. You will find out when you join them on the other side." Shin said coldly.
"I won't join be joining them. I have too much to do before I can die." Jin said.
The announcer started the match and a blazing wind swirled around inside the arena.
"And I thought that Dri had family issues." Mitzuki muttered.
Kixston let out a low growl.
That Shin guy is way stronger than the kid, there is no way that he can win this. He is going to get himself killed...Kixston thought.
All of the sudden it hit Kixston that he was underestimating Jin the same way that he did Driretlan all the time. Whenever he said that she couldn't do it, she would.
Hmf. Maybe I should give him some credit then, I have been proven wrong about this sort of thing before. Kixston thought.
'Maybe you should give people credit every once in a while. There are people out there as strong as you Kixston. If you pulled your head out of the clouds every once in a while you might see that.'
Damnit Dri, for once you are making a little bit of sense. Lets just hope that the kid can do it. Kixston thought.
Shin and Jin were staring each other down, and Shin was the first to launch an attack. He formed a whirlwind around his fists and charged forward.
Jin dodged his attack and jumped up behind him delivering a tornado kick to his back.
As Shin hit the ground he shot a blast of wind at Jin that hit him in the shoulder.
Jin fell back but caught him self and used the wind to hover over the ground. "Take this Shin!" he yelled spiraling at him with a kick.
Shin wasn't able to dodge quick enough and Jin barreled down on him with a drill kick. He grabbed Jin by the ankles and slammed him into the cement and formed another whirlwind around his fist, except this time it was much stronger. "Remember this one little brother? What was it called again.. Tornado something...oh well it will come to me eventually." he laughed punching Jin in the shoulder.
The vest around Jin's shoulder ripped and the tornado started to cut away at his skin.
"I hope that you enjoy that feeling brother, because you have more of it coming!" Shin yelled forming another tornado around his other hand and barreling it into Jin's stomach.
I can't give up yet, I have to beat him! I have to stop him! Jin thought.
Jin kicked his brother off him then delivered a punch of his own to Shin's jaw. "I won't go down easily Shin... I am not a little kid anymore I am much stronger now."
"Ahh but you are just a kid! And you will die one too!" Shin yelled.
I have to try something, please let it work. Jin thought.
Given destiny.
Day broke and the sun flung its rays across the land piercing right through the shades in Driretlan's room at the monastery. But they didn't phase her; she was in a deep dreamy sleep. The cave ordeal has worn her out.
After returning from the cave she was showered with questions and praise by the monks. Daruis on the other hand said a few cold snide words about her training and how her little ordeal was nothing compared to it. Then he just left. She wasn't too pleased about that. Or the fact that Kixston had shown up late, but she just blew everything off and went to bed. Where she had been sleeping for almost two days.
Jin slowly creaked open her door and peered in, she was wrapped up in her sheets with her hand oh her sword, which lay, underneath her pillow. He smiled and chuckled to himself stepping in. He was a bit curious as to if she was okay or not she was all right but from the looks of it she was fine. "I can't blame her for being worn out." He muttered "I slept the first day all the way through."
Kixston walked up behind Jin and laughed "What a bum, we have to wake her up."
"No." Jin protested "let her sleep."
Kixston let out a long sigh, "Sorry kid, but I have to wake her up I need her help with something." he said
"With what?" Jin asked
"I'll tell you later, along with the others." He muttered pushing past him and walking into the room.
Time to tell everyone about the Cronic issue. he thought.
Kixston stopped next to Driretlan's bed and shook her. "Wake up!" he yelled "You've been asleep for two days! that is too long to be slacking off."
Driretlan rolled over "Screw you..." she muttered groggily. "I will do what I want to, and I want to sleep."
Kixston let out a low growl and pulled her with her blankets off the bed. "Up now! like I said two days is too long to lounge around."
"I've done it for four once..." Kaneda muttered leaning against the door way and reading over his book.
"That explains a lot." Kixston muttered.
Driretlan got up and stretched. "Happy asshole I am awake." she muttered picking up her sword and walking out of the room stumbling a bit because her muscles had started to get used to doing nothing.
Kixston shook his head.
"You okay Dri?" Jin asked smiling a bit.
She nodded. "I am just fine, a bit tired though."
"That is what happens when you sleep too much." Kixston added
"No one asked you." she muttered walking into the hall.
Jin and Kaneda both followed her, Kaneda didn't even look up from his book as he walked. They reached the opening in the hall where you could enter the courtyard when Daruis popped out in front of them.
"Your finally up, and look you even brought your entourage." he chuckled
"I don't want to deal with you right now." Driretlan sighed
"Well, tough luck. now that you are awake you can start your training. We begin now!" he smirked. Darius got a glimmer in his eye and looked straight at them he pulled his hand out of his pocket and there was a blur of five lights coming at the group.
Before the attacks could hit anyone Kaneda jumped to the front of the group, swift fully pulling out his sword blocking each of the attacks. He then put it back onto his back and sighed "There will be no training until later." he sighed pulling out his book. "now if you will excuse us, I think that we will be getting some food." Kaneda lead the group off to the mess hall.
He has skill. Darius thought. I wonder how much skill he has...I will test that, soon. I need to find out what her relatives are like so I can calculate how far I can push her with our killing her.
Darius walked back up the hall the way that the others had come. He nearly ran into Kixston who was standing mid hallway with his arms crossed and an angry look on his face. "What is your problem."
"Don't ever try to attack them again, you can train her. But that does not include attacking the others." he snapped walking off.
Darius shook his head.
what a lively bunch, they all have attitudes and power to boot. But she will be twice as strong as all of them combined...she might even grow to my level. He thought.
Hotaru sat on a boat that was sailing across the ocean. She was off in a corner alone grumbling to herself. "I don't know why I had to do this..." Then she remembered that conversation that her and Johnny had, had after he saved her from Gothic.
"You must make up for what you did. You betrayed me and I am letting you live because you are a valuable asset to me. I want you to prove yourself by winning this tournament and getting the weapon for me." He had said. "I know that I could simply take the weapon but there is no sport in that and I know that you can do it, and while you are at it...if you see Driretlan's friends...kill them all. Leave her to me."
She mumbled to herself some more, "that is why I am doing this.....damn...." she growled "I bet that they won't even be there, they don't even live on the mainland. Which means after I get the weapon for him, I will have to leave Aviris and go all the way back to that godforsaken island and kill them." she let out a long sigh "And he just had to take my power of teleportation..."She stood up and leaned on the railing and looked over the ocean.
A guy walked up behind her he had spiky dark red hair and deep blue eyes, there was a long curved sword strapped to his side, and he wore light blue baggy pants with a orange padded vest. A mask covered a large part of his face. "You bored eh?" he asked in a deep voice.
Hotaru nodded " I hate sea travel." she muttered.
He shook his head. "Patience is a thing to learn. Especially for these fights ahead, otherwise you may end up dead."
She let out a low growl. "You don't know anything about me, don't make assumptions."
"Oh I don't, do I Hotaru." He chuckled. "Come come."
She stood flabbergasted for a moment while he walked away. "Who are you!" she called after him.
He didn't answer he just kept walking, then he walked into the cabin and out of sight.
"Who....was he and how did he know who I was?" she muttered. The sea wind ran through her hair and she sighed, "I'll meet up with him in the fights...then I will find out. one way or another."
Lunus leaned down by a stream and took a handful of water. He pulled it up to his lips letting the cool liquid slid down his throat. He craved more, like the flower in the desert, he drank the water until he was full. "I need to take a break more often, I shouldn't deprive myself of water." he muttered. He looked around him, the surroundings were vaguely familiar.
Hmm, maybe I am getting closer, which means that I shall come upon where mom and dad died all those years ago. Lunus thought. I should go pay my respects while I am there. Mom and Dad deserve it, after all the trouble that Dri and I caused them with Mitara. I should at least pay them more proper respects than I did on the day that they died.
He eased up satisfied with his short rest moving on. He walked through the creek into a small forest. As he walked he felt an odd presence, like something was there with him, and it wasn't something good either. He reached for his weapon but decided that he had best stick with hand to hand combat for now. He didn't have the Terrifen and wasn't going to use the sword that he had on this entity. He spun around as he heard a twig snap, he looked around the forest to see nothing, not even a moving shadow. "Who is there!" he demanded "Show yourself."
Nothing appeared and the only sound that could be heard was the flowing creek.
Lunus shook his head and dropped his guard for a second sighing. "This is far to frustrating." he muttered walking on. He heard something else behind him and turned to see a swiftly moving shadow. He then decided that it was time to get out of that forest. As he ran he felt the presence grow stronger and he could feel some one's icy gaze on his back. Once he reached a small clearing he stopped and drew his weapon. "All right I am sick of your games! show yourself!" he demanded.
There was a swift movement in the trees and a shadow came upon him.
He ignited his sword with blood red flames and waved it at the shadow. It of course fled from the flames. "Leave me alone." Lunus said
"I can't do that." the shadow whispered. "I have to destroy you!"
Lunus sighed and concentrated and his flames engulfed the shadow before it could even move. "That is the end of that." he muttered walking on.
The icy feeling returned again and before he could react a piercing pain shot through Lunus' back. Then he lost all feeling in his legs and fell to his knees.
"Nighty, night." The shadow hissed.
Then Lunus fell forward unconscious. And the figure behind him pulled off its hood to reveal it's self as a woman. She had long black hair and her eyes were deep green. Her skin was light, very light like she had been dead for quiet some time.
"Well brother, I hope you learned your lesson. After I kill you and that brat you call a sister I will hold the power once more." She sneered. "And with this new body I will be much better equipped to do so." She picked up Lunus' arm and drug him off deeper into the forest.
A little later
Driretlan bounded back and rebounded off the wall charging back towards Daruis. Daruis formed an invisible wall with a whisk of his hand and Driretlan smacked right into it.
"Don't be so hasty for an attack." He said coldly as she wiped a bit of blood from her lip.
"I wasn't being hasty!" She yelled "this is hasty!" Driretlan charged forward and then she seemed to disappear for a second.
She is very fast when she wants to be. Daruis thought. But that won't help her any, I am much quicker than she is.
Daruis took a back right stance and drew his sword. He closed his eyes and tried to find Driretlan's aura, but her energy surrounded him it was almost impossible to detect the source. Then he felt a vast amount of energy behind him and then a sharp pain spread through his back.
Driretlan stood still clutching her burning sword.
Darius caught his fall and bound back up making a charge. His aura expanded and formed an invisible spike around his sword.
Driretlan jumped over the attack and sent a ball of fire down at him.
Darius blocked it. "Foolish little girl." He sneered. He swung his sword up and cut her leg open.
Driretlan hit the ground hard and still got up.
"Don't bother, I have seen what skill level you are at. Now to begin the real training, follow me." Darius sighed walking out of the room.
Driretlan followed him limping a bit as he led her down a large hallway. "This is ridiculous." She muttered "it has to be the stupidest training regimen that I have ever participated. in. first he wants me to fight him, then he wants me to follow him to start 'the real training,' I don't think that he can make up his mind." She glared at him and stuck out her tongue. "Idiot."
Daruis glanced over his shoulder, "I saw and heard that. I have reason for all this; you must just acquire some patience."
She sighed and shook her head. "Where have I heard that one before?" The words echoed through her head except they were in Kixston's haunting voice. "That would be it," she mumbled.
Daruis lead through tall oak doors and into a large dark room. There was a single window up high near the top of the vaulted ceiling. Fine oak and cherry wood was used in the workings of the walls and even in the rafters in the ceiling. Daruis light a match and lit a single candle. "You will not leave this room once until your training is done. You won't see your friends and you won't even see the monks. You will get everything you need from me." He said coldly. The large oak door slammed shut.
"Okay let me get this straight. I have to get my food, my water and my company from you all while you are trying to kill me? You are twisted." She sighed.
"You either live or die. All on my whim, if am your preverbal god. I can sustain your life or take it away." He smirked
"See there is a few problem with that." Driretlan laughed. "One, I don't believe in one being controlling my fate. And two, if you think that you can take me down easily you have another thing coming. I am not as weak as you may think."
Daruis shook his head. "You will soon learn and accept both of those, because whether you like it or not one being does control your fate. Out there is someone who would do anything to obtain the power that your soul holds. And in the palm of his hand, is your fate."
Driretlan laughed a bit. "You don't know how stupid that sounds. Do you truly think that he would be able to take me with out a fight?"
Daruis shook his head. "You are not seeing the point. You are more thickheaded than I first thought."
"Point being?" She smirked
Darius let out a frustrated sigh, "Let's begin with your training." He muttered
Kixston sat on a wooden bench in the courtyard thinking.
When should I tell them about the little trip that we are going to be taking? He thought. And Driretlan can't come, so I will have to find a replacement for her. I could always take the kid in her place; Cronic might not like it. But as far as I am concerned he can take it and shove it up his ass. But I think that I will have to take Kaneda, Mitzuki, and Ichigo. Maybe Sharon and SuperX as well. If that isn't to his liking he can find someone else to do it.
Jin walked out smiling as usual. "Hey Kixston there you are. The others are looking for you. They want to know what we should do while Dri trains...I think that we should hang around until she is done...but that is just me."
Kixston nodded slowly. "Well I have a plan.. Or proposal if you will." He muttered covering his eyes from the sun as he looked at Jin. "Where are they?"
Jin used his head to point inside "There in the main hall."
Kixston sighed and eased up walking past Jin. "You had best come as well. You will need to hear this too."
Jin looked at him puzzled then he just smiled "All right." He shrugged.
Kixston walked inside forming a plan as to what he was going to say to the others and how she was going to introduce the plan. He let out a long sigh as he eased open the large oak doors to the main hall. Everyone sat at the large table talking to themselves, and Kixston listened in on small bits of each conversation before he sat down at the head of the table.
"Finally you get here." Mitzuki said. "What will our game plan be while the girl is training?"
Kixston took a deep breath about to start his explanation when Jin interrupted.
"I say that we all stay here until she is done then go to Aviris with her." He suggested.
Kixston shook his head. "I have a better plan," he started.
Everyone turned to him giving him their full attention.
"Go on." Ichigo said.
"Well after I fought Lunus, I was injured badly, very badly. I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for Cronic picking me up and dragging me to his hide out. But for his services he had a price, I had to do something for him." Kixston explained. "So he proposed that I fight for him in this tournament on the mainland for a powerful weapon. He said that I could take the offer and take you guys to the main land, or die. I chose the former; I have a lot to do before I can die."
"So you are dragging us into it?" Mitzuki asked.
Kixston nodded "Pretty much, so do you want to help or not."
"Well it is better than sitting around here until her training is done." Ichigo said.
"Yea, from what I heard she wouldn't even be able to speak to anyone but Darius." Sharon said. "So I am in."
SuperX gave a silent nod in agreement.
"Well, If you guys are pushing me into it I guess that I can go." Kaneda smirked
"What about you kid?" Kixston asked
Jin let out a frustrated sigh. "I am not a kid.... But I will go. Maybe the time will pass faster." He muttered.
"Good...We will set sail as soon as we can find a ship." Kixston said.
Mitzuki let out a long sigh. "Oh that is intelligent. Make a promise that you may not be able to keep because you have no transportation." She snapped
Kixston gave her an icy glare; "I will find a way to do it..." he muttered.
Then he remembered that Cronic was going to arrange the transportation.
Well that eliminates some of the problem, but how the hell do I contact him to find out where the transportation will be. He thought. I just have to find him, which will be hard.
Kixston stood up "Cronic is getting us transportation...We just have to find him first."
Mitzuki nodded. "I will go with you to find him."
Ichigo hopped up and smiled "I want to go too!"
Kixston sighed. "Well I guess you two can come with me, but we leave now."
They nodded and followed him to the door, and they walked out into the large fore yard where chickens ran around the monks in brown robes. As they approached the main gates there was a loud roaring noise.
Kixston recognized it and signaled for the others to back away. Soon Cronic came bursting through the gate on his motorcycle.
He slid to a stop and shot dust into their eyes. "Ahh there you are, I figured you would hide somewhere like this." He smirked. "So are you ready?"
Kixston let out a long sigh and turned to Ichigo and Mitzuki. They both nodded.
"I'll get Jin and the others." Ichigo said running back inside past the crowd of awed monks who were standing around looking stupefied.
Well finding him was easier than I thought it would be, apparently he has been keeping tabs on my location. I may have to look out for this in the future, incase he wants to make a habit of it. Kixston thought.
"So, are you bringing all your little friends?" Cronic asked.
Kixston shook his head. "One couldn't make it, but that is of no concern to you." He snapped.
Cronic smirked and shook his head.
Fool doesn't know what kind of hole he is digging himself into. Oh well, I just need them temporarily and if his other friend wants to chase me down after I dispose of them, then I will take care of them too. Cronic thought. It is of no loss to me, I just want that weapon. Too bad I don't have the time to get the weapon myself, if I did that would make it that much funner. Then again, the irony in their situation is enough entertainment for me. Getting slaughtered by the very weapon that you fought to win, that is my kind of outcome.
"Well have it your way. You are due to your ship, which is in the harbor by sundown." He said.
"Wait! Where is that harbor?" Kixston asked.
"It is beyond the East Ridge. If you go EAST from here you should find it." He chuckled.
"Don't be such a smartass Cronic. I know that the East Ridge is in the east. I am more intelligent than you may think." Kixston snapped
"You could have fooled me. You don't look that bright." He sneered "I mean what kind of pathetic creature are you, you reek of human, yet you have that dead smell to you...quite grotesque if you ask me."
Kixston snarled "No one asked you!" He kicked the dirt at his feet. "You are nothing but a bottom feeder Cronic, and if it wasn't for my life staked on this I wouldn't do it for you! None of my kind should associate with things such as you." Kixston spat at him in utter disrespect. All the years of utter hatred that he had for all humans and other creatures sparked back up in him. It took off like a whirlwind taking his emotions and judgment over. "You didn't think that I would be easily killed though. I wouldn't have needed your help I would have just had to wait until a traveler came that I could feed on. I would have gotten all my strength back then. What do you think of that?!"
Cronic stepped off his motorcycle and stared down Kixston, there was almost a heat generated by their stares. Like two rabid dogs fighting over the last piece of food, they started to slowly circle each other. "You are a disgusting loathsome creature, one of which should be wiped out like the rest of your succubus race. You feed off the blood of the others, I find that repulsive. And most consider me something of 'bottom feeder' and you are below even me. What would that make you Kixston?" He taunted.
Kixston let out a low growl. The hair on his arms and the back of his neck, he was beyond furious. The vampiric pride in him was swelling, no one insulted him! He wouldn't allow it. "You...you think that you are so mighty! You pathetic little human! I will kill you!"
"You aren't too good with negotiations are you?" Cronic laughed "I saved your life and you are about to go off and pay your debt for it. But if you wish I will kill you now."
Kixston smirked and took a step back into a fighting position tapping his hilt tauntingly. "I would love to see you try."
Cronic shrugged "but if I kill you I will have no one to do my bidding." He sneered
Kixston uttered an inhuman laugh. "What if I refuse to do your bidding further?" He asked
Cronic locked his gaze on Kixston's and muttered a threat across his mind. Otherwise I will kill your friends, all of them. I will slowly slaughter them one by one in whatever fashion I see fit. And don't pull that 'Go ahead do it, see if I care' shit. I know that you do care, your human side is weak.
Kixston took a step back baffled. He then scowled and shifted uncomfortably, putting up a barrier around his mind. "Fine, we will be at the bay by sundown."
Cronic smiled and got back on his motorcycle. "I am glad that you see it my way." He looked around at all the terrified monks and yelled "BOO!" He cracked up laughing as the monks stepped back. But the roar of his engine soon drowned the laughter out. Cronic fishtailed his motorcycle out of the yard kicking up a good amount of dust.
"Good riddance." Mitzuki muttered
Jin, Ichigo and Kaneda walked out of the main hall and down the small set of steps.
"Now that we are all here, let's move." Kixston ordered.
That night long after the sun had set Driretlan lay on the hard floor of the large training room. Daruis was already asleep and he lay on a bench against the wall. The moonlight streamed in through the little window up near the top of the vaulted ceiling, casting its silvery reflections everywhere. She let out a long sigh and slowly weaved her hands through the streams of moonlight. It was almost like she was weaving something extravagant with the light, making blankets of shadows casting from her hands. She hummed the melody that her brother taught her when she was little as she weaved her invisible blankets with moonlight and shadow. Her mind wandered into deep thought. She considered everything that had happened to her lately. A sudden turn in events from her quiet little life that she had lived since her brother died.
After she had actually gotten used to having Kixston there serving as a guardian of some type, things were back to normal for her. She trained daily and did little things around the home to
Make sure that it was kept in order. The other villagers would come and visit, they were the closest things to a friend that she had ever had. They like her were all demons, most mixed breed that somewhere along the line were tangled up with human blood. She remembered hearing someone refer to mix breeds as "Vines that choke out the flawless rose." She never liked that saying much and she didn't like the people who thought like that way either. But they didn't last long anyway, so she didn't care.
The only thing that ever was slightly exciting was when Kixston would travel and take her along. Even though they could never agree on anything or even get along for more then five minuets when they were awake, she found the traveling fun. She was always looking for an excuse to escape that village, but now she wanted to go back more than ever.
What would be the point in that though? What is waiting there for you? Nothing there is no point in going back at all. It isn't like there will be a warm welcome for you, you are the one that caused most the problems there. And your only true friend there was that bum Kixston, and you are stuck with him on a seemingly endless trip to 'follow my destiny' what if I don't want to follow this destiny? What if I wan to go off and live my life not having to worry about some wanna be dead guy stealing my soul? Do I truly have a choice in that? Why can't I just leave this, break free and do something else...maybe because in some sick demented way, I am doing the right thing for once. Am I? Is marching off to my death, as I am the right thing to do? Should I die for the need of the many, or just say off with em and leave? Driretlan thought. You know what there is no use to me thinking about it, they won't let me go off anyway, they all want me to do this. And I will, until I get the chance to take off, then I will do so. Maybe it will be soon; maybe I can live my life the way that I want it soon.... Maybe.... Someday, but for now I am stuck like this. It is like my body is paralyzed, but my mind is free to wonder free of all boundaries. I am dreaming while still awake, but I am caught in a nightmare. A deep dark nightmare, all except that glimmer of light. My one single glimmer of light that shines bright guide me out of this nightmare... set my soul free. Come back for me brother, I wish to join you and everyone else. In the blissful world of no where.
Driretlan managed a smile and a faint laugh. "Maybe, no matter what I do I will be stuck in this dream." She chuckled "maybe; I just have to adapt...then again, that was never my strong suit." She laughed a little bit then laid her hands under her head staring at the small piece of the moon that she could see.
All will tell with time though. Everything comes with time. She thought yawning and closing her eyes.
Soon she drifted off to sleep with a faint melody playing in her head.
The loud noise of a bell roused Kixston and the others out of bed. The morning sun was bright and it poured easily across the wasteland of fallen buildings and dirt. The mainland wasn't how everyone thought that it would be. After two days on the ocean they spent four days here, none of them truly enjoyed it, they all were anxious for the tournament to start so they could go back to their island.
The group all slowly assembled outside the small building that had become their quarters.
Jin sat on the roof enjoying the wind flowing through his hair and the way that it blew softly over the sand.
Kixston sneered "I take it that you enjoy this wasteland." He shook his head. "You are pathetic."
"You just have to make the best of what you have Kixston." he smiled. "There is nothing that we can do about this place, so we might as well enjoy it the way it is."
Kixston let out a low growl.
"You know that he is right though." Kaneda smiled "There is nothing that you can do about this place being the way that it is. You just have to make the best of your situation, either that or be miserable."
"Hmf. I think that you both are foolish." he snarled stomping off towards the main building.
Ichigo sighed and shook her head.
"Is he always this grumpy?" Sharon asked
"I think that it might be a morning thing." Ichigo said.
"Yea if morning it twenty four hours a day." Mitzuki sighed. "Face it the guy has a serious attitude problem and on top of that he doesn't know when to quit. I don't think that there is a single thing in the world that could make that guy happy."
Ichigo shook her head in disagreement. "There has to be something that can cheer him up, I think that he is just having a bad day you know? I think that we should try to make him feel better."
"Yea!" Sharon cheered. "Maybe then he won't be so depressing."
Mitzuki laughed "You two have at that. And while you are trying to find what makes him happy I will be getting old and withered. Trust me, people like that are best left alone."
"I think that is what his problem might be." Kaneda said. "I know that after being alone for a while it starts to get to you. I think that he was alone for too long."
"I don't know how that can be, according to Dri, he raised her. And before that he was friends with her brother. I don't know how alone he could have been." Jin said.
"Kixston is old...really old. Maybe it was damage done from earlier in life. Or maybe it is like Mitzuki said, he just has an attitude problem." Kaneda added "The only person who knows is him, and I think that we should leave it alone."
Loneliness is prolonged by a broken heart, maybe that is Kixston's reason for being the way that he is. No matter how many people he is around he always looks lonely. Kaneda thought. Being that old, there is no telling how many times he has had his heart torn apart. And he just tries to make us think that he is a hard ass.
Before Kixston entered the main building he turned and looked back at the others. "Are you coming or what!?" he yelled.
Jin jumped off the top of the roof. "I think that we should join him. Today is the first day of matches, we don't want to be late." He smiled
"Your always so damned upbeat Jin...kinda makes me sick." Mitzuki sighed walking towards the building.
"I think that it is encouraging." Sharon smiled
"You would." Mitzuki growled
Ichigo smirked and shook her head following them. "Coming Kaneda?"
"Yea." He nodded patting his chest armor. "Ahh man.. I will catch up guys! I forgot my book." He said jogging back into the small stone building.
"Him and that book I swear." Ichigo muttered
"Personally I am glad that he has it." Mitzuki said. "It is good to have hobbies."
Ichigo laughed a bit and they all walked into the large stone building where Kixston was. Inside there were hundreds of people and demons all gathered around a small table area where a guy stood with a microphone.
"Welcome all fighters!" he yelled. "I am glad to see such a turn out for this competition. I know why you are all here so I will cut to the chase."
There was a round of cheering as he said this, and the crowd moved forward like a wave.
"You all will be fighting on your teams against other teams for this weapon!" The guy on the table cheered. He held up a spear. "This is a weapon which belongs to the fabled Shuvanis Panch! One of the five most powerful weapons in the world!"
The crowd cheered and yelled. Most of them yelling for the fights to start.
"Power hungry fools." Kixston muttered.
"Rarti..." Jin muttered.
That is one of the weapons that the priest mentioned, we have to win this. We can't let someone else get that. If they do, they could use it against Dri and take her soul. Jin thought.
"What were you muttering about kid?" Kixston asked.
"That weapon is...never mind I will explain it later." Jin said. "For now we got to focus on the fights."
"Wow that almost sounded serious," Kixston laughed. "Were you going for that?"
Jin smiled "actually I was. Did I look really serious?"
Kixston nodded "You almost had me fooled."
"I am serious though, we can't lose this." he muttered
"I got you kid. I wasn't planning on losing." Kixston said.
Jin nodded and focused on the announcer as he explained everything for that days matches.
Every team was to fight one match, and the teams that had the most members in fighting condition after that match would advance to the next day. You could have as few members on your team as you wanted, but no more than six. The rules for the fight were simple, any thing goes. Which is how the crowd seemed to like it they all seemed like ruffians for the most part.
Why do I always get stuck in these situations? Hotaru thought. I don't want to be here with these pigs, I could be off doing something far more productive. Why does Johnny want that stupid spear anyway? So what if it is a Shuvanis Panch, there has to be more powerful weapons out there.
"Your wrong about that." The guy with dark red spiky hair from the boat chimed. "The Shuvanis Panch are the most powerful weapons out there. But that spear isn't the most powerful, I would say that Kaulo is, but it is also debated that Terrifen is the strongest."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Hotaru growled
"The weapons of course. Don't you know the story of them?" he asked
Hotaru snorted "Of course I do!" she stomped her foot. "Why are you talking to me anyway?"
"Is it a crime for a guy to make small talk." He asked
"It is when you are reading my mind in the process." Hotaru sneered. "That is how you knew my name on the boat. Correct?"
The guy nodded "Yea, the name is Crimson. I didn't mean to read your mind, just an old habit of mine."
"Then get out of it, it is rude." She sighed.
The guy shook his head. "I will if you will let me hang around...You wouldn't believe how unfriendly some of the girls are around here. Out of the few that is." He said.
Hotaru let out a long sigh, "If you agree to keep your mouth shut I will let you stay."
Crimson nodded "You have a deal."
The announcer set the first twenty matches for morning and early after noon.
Kixston and the others didn't have their match in that period of time so they all went back to their quarters to relax until the afternoon call was made.
Hotaru on the other hand had her match right after the meeting. Of course Crimson decided that he was going to tag along. The matches were held in a fallen skyscraper that had been modified into an underground ring. She was set to match some team with a name that she couldn't even pronounce. There were three members, against her. Fair odds in her opinion.
She stood on one side of the makeshift ring staring down the guy who claimed to be the team leader.
"The team with the last member standing wins!" The announcer yelled. "So FIGHT!!" he jumped backwards out of the ring and into the darkness of the stands.
"It is sad that I am going to have to tear you limb from limb little girl." The guy laughed.
Hotaru laughed. "I would love to see you try."
The guy let out a low growl and charged at her. She jumped over his attack and landed a kick to the back of his neck. He hit the ring face first and skidded.
"that was way to easy, are you dead all ready?" she teased.
The guy slowly picked himself up. "You will have to do better than that."
Hotaru smiled "I was hoping that you would say that." she took a back right stance and swayed a bit. "Okay, give me your best shot."
The guy pulled out swords and swung them around his body as if to show off.
"Please." Hotaru sighed. She concentrated her energy and muttered something. The ground shook a bit and cracked allowing a jet stream of water to shoot up from underneath the guy knocking his swords out of his hands. The water flow stopped suddenly and his swords came back down upon him. One pierced his shoulder and the other sliced a large but in his head. "ouch." Hotaru muttered as the guy hit the ring. "Next."
Another fighter stepped up into the ring, it was a guy with long brown hair and an eye patch over his left eye. "I hope that I serve a better challenge then my friend." he said.
"Maybe you will, maybe you won't." she muttered.
"Before we fight I wish to introduce myself. I am Mussashi." He said giving a slight bow.
"Ahh a gentleman. I am Hotaru, the deliver of your death." she chuckled. "Now lets start this."
Mussashi sighed and shook his head. He reached up into his sleeves and pulled out four throwing daggers in each hand. "I am afraid that I cannot die." he threw the knives at Hotaru. As they spiraled through the air a small field of electricity formed around each of them.
Hotaru dodged six of the ten, but the other four struck her in her thighs and forearms. "Pretty good." she muttered. There was a sudden pulse of electricity sent through her body that paralyzed her long enough to let Mussashi charge her and upper cut her. Hotaru flew back and hit the ring hard.
How did he do that? Did he just paralyze me, but how? was it the electricity. Hotaru thought. I will just have to dodge his electric attacks from now on.
She pulled her self back up and as he charged she drew two swords off her hips.
Mussashi threw some more daggers charging with electricity as well.
Hotaru muttered something and right before the daggers hit her they hit a force field. "Nice try, but that won't work against me twice." Hotaru jumped right through her own shield and sliced open Mussashi's chest.
He tumbled backwards gasping a bit then he got a twisted smile and pulled out what looked like a scroll. He quickly pulled a sheet of paper off it and flung it at her. "Demon exorcism!" he yelled.
Hotaru simply sliced it in half and lunged at him again.
Mussashi threw another one at her and it landed on her chest then fell off. He looked horrified. "What kind of demon are you?!" he yelled
She just laughed and kicked his shoulders sending him backwards. He landed on the ring and started to crawl backwards. Hotaru pinned him and put her swords to his throat. "I'm not a demon, just a servant of the devil." she smirked.
Mussashi passed out and Hotaru laughed standing back up and pushing him out of the ring and to the final member of his team. "So do you want to fight me?" she teased.
The guy laughed pulling off his cloak. He had long black hair and a deep tan with pure black eyes. "I will take you little girl. I will be glad to out do my poor team members."
"Big talk. Let's see you back it up!" Hotaru yelled taking a fighting stance.
The guy smirked and charged forward landing a punch to her stomach before she even had time to react. She was thrown back out of the ring.
He is tough, this one might be hard. She thought.
"Your not trying hard enough!" Darius yelled slamming his foot on the hard wood floor.
Driretlan picked herself up off the floor and wiped the blood from off her brow. "Let me be the judge of that." she muttered standing shakily. Blood was all over her clothing and the floor around her along with char marks from fire. She growled a little bit and summoned a flame in the palm of her hand. It grew and the edges of it licked her wrist and the flame rose high into the air. She smirked and it suddenly snuffed out. Driretlan made her charged throwing a punch with the same arm landing it square of Darius' chest before he could even block.
He gasped as the flame shot up around her fist and burned a whole in his shirt and started to burn his chest.
She managed to get the flame hot enough that it became invisible, I knew that she could do it. To bad the punch is still too weak. Darius thought.
He grabbed her shoulder with his right hand and punched her in the stomach with the left sending her back about ten feet.
Driretlan hit the ground and rolled a little bit coughing up a bit of blood.
"And that was just with my left hand, and I wasn't even hitting you hard. You need to be able to do that, or at least learn how to block an attack." He said coldly. "Your done for now, take a break and clean yourself up."
She let out a low growl. "My ass not full strength. That hurt like a bitch, I am going to show him a thing or two." She got up and charged him, Darius caught her first punch but with her other hand she hit him in the jaw then she kicked him into the wall. "That is for making me bleed so much." she muttered walking off to the opposite corner to clean up her wounds.
She has a temper I will give her that, but that won't get her as far as she needs to go. She needs to buckle down and pay occasional attention. He thought. Otherwise she is going to get herself killed, and I doubt that her brother will like that, then again what do I care what he thinks. I am the trainer, I can do as I please with her.
Driretlan sat wrapping the wounds on her arms and muttering to herself angrily. She wasn't liking the whole someone else being in charge of her bit. She didn't deal well with authority.
Hopefully this will be over with soon, he is driving me up the wall with his commands. I didn't know that he would be She thought.
Driretlan let out a long sigh. "Oh well, if this is what will make me stronger then I will have to put up with it now won't I."
Jin sat in the sunlight on the roof playing his flute waiting for their afternoon match. Hotaru's match had come and gone, with her arising as the victor after a very long bloody battle.
"Hey kid how long are you going to play that thing?" Kixston yelled from inside "It is staring to give me a head ache."
"Ahh lay off Kixston it is relaxing." Kaneda yawned.
"That is only because you are half way unconscious over there." Kixston grumbled.
"I am just resting up for that match is all." he muttered stretching out. "There isn't anything wrong with that is there?"
Kixston sighed and started to say something snippy when Mitzuki came in and interrupted him. "It is time that we get moving to the ring, our match is going to start soon."
Kixston nodded. "Everyone gather up your weapons and such we are heading out."
"Rodger." Kaneda mumbled putting his sword back in the sheath with a loud clang.
Ichigo slid her newly sharpened super sized shuriken into it's holster on her back.
Mitzuki did a few simple stretches and Sharon just hummed to herself.
"Let's go!" Kixston ordered as he started off towards the ring.
Jin jumped off the roof and followed closely. He could feel the tension in the air, everyone was a bit nervous but they didn't want to show it. There was no telling how tough their opponent or opponents would be. and they all knew, some better than others, what was riding on this. They couldn't lose a single match.
They walked through the huge doors and into the building. The crowd was huge and they were every where. There was a small path to the ring, which looked as though it only has a few feet around it to spare. As they shoved their way up to the ring they got a glimpse of their opposing team. It was a group of burly looking guys with scowls on their face.
"They look cheerful." Ichigo muttered
Jin smiled. "Well we have something on them then."
Sharon nodded in agreement. "I think that is somewhat of an advantage, you can't fight well when you are in a bad mood, or at least I can't."
When they reached the ring the announcer called for the first set of fighters to come up. The first guy to come up for the opposing team had black shaggy hair with red streaks. When Jin caught sight of him a gasp escaped his throat.
It can't be! he thought. But I thought that he died...why would he be here?
"Well this guy looks easy enough, I will take him." Kixston said.
Jin shook his head and stepped up. "I will fight him.." he muttered
"What? Why?" Kixston asked
"He is my brother and I have a score that I need to settle with him." Jin said giving a faint smile and hoping into the ring.
"Well what a surprise, my miserable little brother is alive. I thought that I killed you along with the others." the guy snapped
"Afraid not Shin. I survived..... barely though." Jin said. "Why did you have to kill them all?"
"This isn't the time or place for me to explain brother. You will find out when you join them on the other side." Shin said coldly.
"I won't join be joining them. I have too much to do before I can die." Jin said.
The announcer started the match and a blazing wind swirled around inside the arena.
"And I thought that Dri had family issues." Mitzuki muttered.
Kixston let out a low growl.
That Shin guy is way stronger than the kid, there is no way that he can win this. He is going to get himself killed...Kixston thought.
All of the sudden it hit Kixston that he was underestimating Jin the same way that he did Driretlan all the time. Whenever he said that she couldn't do it, she would.
Hmf. Maybe I should give him some credit then, I have been proven wrong about this sort of thing before. Kixston thought.
'Maybe you should give people credit every once in a while. There are people out there as strong as you Kixston. If you pulled your head out of the clouds every once in a while you might see that.'
Damnit Dri, for once you are making a little bit of sense. Lets just hope that the kid can do it. Kixston thought.
Shin and Jin were staring each other down, and Shin was the first to launch an attack. He formed a whirlwind around his fists and charged forward.
Jin dodged his attack and jumped up behind him delivering a tornado kick to his back.
As Shin hit the ground he shot a blast of wind at Jin that hit him in the shoulder.
Jin fell back but caught him self and used the wind to hover over the ground. "Take this Shin!" he yelled spiraling at him with a kick.
Shin wasn't able to dodge quick enough and Jin barreled down on him with a drill kick. He grabbed Jin by the ankles and slammed him into the cement and formed another whirlwind around his fist, except this time it was much stronger. "Remember this one little brother? What was it called again.. Tornado something...oh well it will come to me eventually." he laughed punching Jin in the shoulder.
The vest around Jin's shoulder ripped and the tornado started to cut away at his skin.
"I hope that you enjoy that feeling brother, because you have more of it coming!" Shin yelled forming another tornado around his other hand and barreling it into Jin's stomach.
I can't give up yet, I have to beat him! I have to stop him! Jin thought.
Jin kicked his brother off him then delivered a punch of his own to Shin's jaw. "I won't go down easily Shin... I am not a little kid anymore I am much stronger now."
"Ahh but you are just a kid! And you will die one too!" Shin yelled.
I have to try something, please let it work. Jin thought.