Disclaimers Notice: Yes...n-n-no...maybe?

Authors Beginning Note: Thank Goodness! Computer is fixed and I am free to type! Yah!

Shout it outs!

Aharah Musici- blush um...yah...Sorry about that. This chapter should have better spelling and such.

Forest ranger who can't log in...- It's a good thing I won't stop writing this till its finished then-ne? (for my sake at least)

Shitza- Actually, I did before I started, and I decided I wanted more experiance and practice, you know, to see what others might think of my diferent ways of writing and such. What I feel most comfortable in doing. So when I think I have a good hold on everything, I think I might go ahead and attempt to write something to actually publish. Thats why I like harsh constructive critisism, it helps me to fix what I'm doing wrong, and what I can improve on.

Chapter 16

Seduction and Warm
I smiled. Maybe my sister truly does have an ounce of brains in that thick skull of hers. This plan...I can't believe I hadn't thought of it myself.

"Master Aikia?" I looked down at Katsu. Ahrima looked down disdainfully and nearly obliterated him herself, as she charged her finger up with a sick yellow energy.

"Ahrima." I growled softly. She looked up at me as if she didn't know what I was going on about, and looked slightly offended, but made no other move to kill Katsu.

"What is that?" He said pointing at the images in Ahrima's glass mirror.

"That is a water halfling."

"What does it do?"

"It mesmerizes people into going to it underwater, sometimes killing, sometimes taking on a mate. After you look in its eyes, there is nothing you can do to look away, and are doomed." I said. Katsu sat down lazily and watched the image of the water halfling before us.

"What are you going to do?" I looked at him fiercely. I hate it when people are nosy.

"Use him to further our plot." I said without emotions as I went back to watching our new plan unfold using this interesting winged water halfling.
"Who?"

"Brother Kherron. Fierce. Mean. Leader of family. Strong. Weak." He said while swimming almost completely in front of me. I was about to ask more questions, but he shook his head. Soon I could see another water spirit similar to the merboy before me, but not quite. He looks older.

His muscles more chiseled and larger. His face strong and definite like a mans. His tail was longer by a few feet and he stood (if 'standing' is the proper word) tall and straight. His wavy silver hair fell beyond his hips in soft locks, not rough and wild. His skin looked a slight shade of green, and on his back stuck out a pair of green translucent wings. I looked at his hands. Thick and calloused like someone who works hard and in one hand he held a flute identical to the one I hold now, but was shiny black. Like a black pearl.

What astonished me most is that his eyes held a red color to them...not like any other water spirit. I quickly looked away.

Why...why does he scare me? I don't even know him...I haven't even met him ...and I'm already scared?! Grow up Chihiro...there is nothing to worry about...you're just jittery from everything...nothing to be afraid of...

As if sensing my fear, the boy put his hand behind his back and I grasped is firmly, the only thing showing that I was even slightly afraid. This was a challenge though. Holding a bauble and a flute while grasping his hand, my dagger lay beneath my feet, but not forgotten.

"Brother. Why you come here?"

"Is that any way to greet me?" the boy growled and the water seemed to move in ripples.

"Why you here?" he asked coldly and I held on even tighter.

"I come for the spirit woman behind you. I will make her mine." I froze, feeling a pit in my stomach that made me want to hurl, my hand began to slip away but he held tighter. My body shook slightly and I tried to hide myself completely behind this boy.

"She belongs to another."

"I do not care. I will make her forget."

"No."

"No? No?!" the man seemed to tremble for a moment before calming himself, and even if I couldn't see his face, I knew the boy looked equally fierce as his older brother.

"You may be my little brother, but I will not hesitate to get what I want." He said viciously. My head began to throb from the harsh vibes that pulsated in my head.

"You may be my big brother, but I will not hesitate to say 'no' to you when I deem it necessary." A flute began to play, it was soft and hypnotic, soon I felt the boy in front of me waver and drift, falling into me. I dropped my bauble and the other flute, both landing with a soft 'chink!'. Hurriedly I pushed the boy off of me and began to shake him, while looking for my dagger.

"Hey..hey! Wake up! You can't sleep now...you have to get up!" I felt something brush against me and whirled to look behind me as I was pulled away and off of my feet.

"Let me go! Let me go right now! I'm warning you!" I screamed but the arms didn't so much as let up in their harsh grasp, my squirming and threats not once daunting my attacker or kidnapper...whichever one he may be.

Neither sounds good...now what...is this the work of Aikia? But...how...how is he able to find us...

"She...sweet little fish...you are mine now...you will always be mine..." came a soft purring in my head.

It's...so soft...it makes me...just want to relax...to sleep...to float...my head feels so thick...I...I can't think...why...who...what...

Involuntarily my muscles went lax and I was at the mercy of my captor. His hold loosened and I felt strong hands grasp my shoulders and turn me around to face him. And he glowed in the dark light a bright blue/green light. It was Kherron and his eyes looked soft and sweet. Even the red in them that usually made for a frightful sight looked warm.

They look like soft rose petals...and his lips...I want...to touch them...to feel them...wait...this isn't right...is it...but he...

"Shh...relax." I felt him tug at my helmet and I began to struggle.

"It's okay...it will only be temporary...I will only move the helmet...you'll be perfectly safe...I promise..."

"Why?"

"Why what?" he suddenly seemed startled and I could feel my head clear.

"Why are you doing this? Why should I relax? Why do you need to remove my helmet?"

"Because my sweet...I want you to join me...don't you want to be with me? Forever? In the vast water? I promise to be gentle. You will always be happy. I only need one thing from you?"

"What is that?" his voice wrapped me, encased me in its gentle caress.

"A kiss. That's all I need. Only but a sweet, long kiss." A smile fell upon my lips.

"A kiss?"

"Yes. Will you join me?"

"Yes. I want...I want you're kiss. I want it to be mine. Only mine." I said drunkenly.

I'll be able to feel his soft lips...I'll be able to taste him...to hold him...to be caressed...I'll be loved...by him...I'll be in the water...forever...the peaceful and swift flowing water...and he will be the master...like a god...

He lifted my helmet off and I held my breath. My ears rang and my body hurt, but I didn't care. I would be his.

...like a god... master....of a peaceful...and swift flowing...white... river... Kohaku...that's what Kohaku means...wait...Kohaku!

Just as his lips neared mine and were but a brush away, I drove the thing in my hand that I had been loosely clinging to, almost unknowingly, into his stomach and his eyes shot wide, the red in them darkened and overcame the aqua. A violent look clouded them. His body shook with rage as he pushed me back, and in his glowing white, I saw the pearl dagger driven completely through him and blood filling the waters.

Oh no...air!...I need air...but how...My body..it hurts...of course...the helmet must have controlled some of the pressurization...without it for long...I'll be crush by the water! No...I can't...black out...now...I...can't...
"NO! I was so close! This close! But that buffoon! He! Grrr!!!" She yelled. Katsu immediately clamped down on his ears and his face cringed.

"Asta silencio." I whispered. He took his hands down and shook his head. His quizzical eyes met mine and I raised an eyebrow. He nodded and became rather intrigued by my sister's tantrum.

"I can't! No! Why!? Why! Why! Why! He was too slow! I shall have to entrance the other than. It's the only way!"

"But..." I kicked the boy and shook my head. He nodded. What a quick learner.

The air crackled with green electricity that struck in various spots. I coolly stepped over to my left, missing a shock and Katsu was on his feet immediately, his claws flexed.

I grow bored. What she does next, is not of my concern.

"Katsu." I said and he understood. In a heartbeat we were out of the Throne room and into an empty hallway, Ahrima's screams of bitter outrage were not even muffled. We hurried through a secret opening in a wall and went through a dark tunnel.

Soon we arrived in a study of sorts. Large and open, more like a room and a library together. In one corner there was a large bed and a grand oak dresser. It had plants that seemed to thrive on their own. The other side contained a huge wall of books and an oak desk that matched the dresser. On it were scattered papers, quills, ink pots, and books.

I lifted my hand in the air and instantly the whole room was tidy. The bed made, the papers aligned in a pile or locked in the desk, ink pots in a row, books in their proper places on the shelves, and any other bit that wasn't quite in order, was.

"Hey, that was cool. Can I do that?"

"Maybe. Not now. First, tell me. What don't you see in this room?"

"Um...a window?" I hit him on the head and he scowled at me.

"I was quite serious. Quit with the smart-alecism." I scowled back. He glared at the room. He thought long and hard, while I stood growing ever more impatient.

"Many things. Things, if to be put in a category that shine, or reflect. Even your ink pots are made of wood." I nodded. Good, his wording is progressing along nicely and his answer was done in quite a manner.

"You know why?" He took a while, lost in thought, then slowly nodded.

"It's Ahrima's mirror. She can see things through it if they reflect. Like water, or armor, or even glass." I nodded

"That is right. This is my special room. Not even Ahrima knows about it. Whenever I can afford the luxury, I stay here undisturbed. You cannot tell anyone about it. Or, if you feel your tongue move of it's own accord and I find out, you will be without a tongue to be so lively. You understand?" He nodded and gulped. I crossed the room and stood before the pile of paper upon my desk.

"Where will I sleep?"

"In the room I showed you, for the most part, however, when here, you will stay in a separate room."

"Which is?" I scanned the paper I was looking over and turned to a blank wall. I lifted my hands steadily and held my palms up, parallel to the wall. A soft wind, its origin unknown blew around the room.

"Shiyatame Tis da ah nu dre secumde!" I said and a great big oak door instantly appeared where there had been none.

"There."

"In there? Are you sure?"

"You could sleep outside." He scampered in a catlike fashion over to the door and was quickly through it. I began to undress for the night of sleep. I waved my hand and all lights went out. When I was in bed, I was startled to find something close by my head watching me. With the reflexes gained from avoiding Ahrima's unchecked powers, I grasped his neck and felt claws dig into my skin. I waved my hand and the lights flickered back on.

"What are you doing!"? I growled. He made a gagging sound and I loosened my grip.

"My hearing. I can't hear hardly anything." I dropped him on the floor, where he landed with a thud and rubbed his neck.

"You won't need it for the night. With Ahrima's yelling, even with walls and spells as thick as these, you would be able to hear her."

"Yes. But. It doesn't feel right. I won't be able to sleep with out hearing." I sneered in disgust.

"Atsa osincelio." I muttered and he sighed in relief.

"Forgive me master Aikia...and...thank you."

"For what?" He twiddled his fingers.

"Well...even in the beginning, you tried to help me. You told me my sister would leave me, and she did, ...and after, you brought me here, and you even said I could be an apprentice of kinds. Right now...you're the only thing I have...and well...thank you for being that...and everything." He sighed. For a moment I was speechless.

He has got to be kidding me...he can't...actually look up to me...he thinks...I helped...him? For his sake...despicable...that...is utterly...disgusting...I can't believe it...my reputation is crumbling as I know it...this kid actually thinks...me...of all things...I really am too nice...from now on I kill any in my sight...I can't believe it...

"Go to bed and leave me alone till the morning." I said and heard him slip away. I said it without emotion and if any emotion could be detected, it would have been disgust. I said it as if it meant nothing to me.

But then why do I feel like it did mean something....

"Bah! It's Ahrima's yelling. Messed up my head." I rolled over and drifted off to sleep, with the feeling of being warm...something I haven't felt in thousands of years.