Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters, sometimes the setting, and a few of my own creations.

Authors Beginning Note: Hmm, well, interesting chapter to say the least. Definitely eventful.

I hope you enjoy!

Shout it outs!

Aharah Musici: No, and it isn't looking any brighter.

Velf : Thank you so much! The badder the bad guys, the better and more heroic the good guys will be.Creating likeable baddiesis fun. I'm glad to hear that ou think so highly of my baddies character development. (just between you and me, I kinda want the bad guys to have their way to.)

Rayne-chan: Bring on the glow sticks! I just can't wait to throw them in a pool of jello and watch it light up!

Chapter 35

The Irony of Illusions

Chihiro's P.O.V.
"You're a Kitsune. What happened?" I felt stupid and groggy, everything spun. My tongue felt weird and speaking was hard. Everything seemed to have slowed down almost completely.

"No worries love." Was his answer. I could barely comprehend each syllable as it rolled into my ear.

Then everything seemed to rush at me, or time fast-forwarded, and I could think like normal.

"You can put me down now." I whispered. The fox hesitated.

"What ever he did, I'm all right. I can stand." He gently put me down, but didn't look away from Aikia.

"What's wrong?"

"He's doing something."

"What?" He shrugged. There was nothing to do but wait.

Katsu's P.O.V.
"What are you doing?" I didn't get an answer. I don't see why I bothered asking. I know he's casting a spell of sorts. His lips and hands aren't moving, but I can tell by his eyes. They turn vacant, and hard.

What's he gonna to do 'em…not like they're worth wastin all your time and energy on…she's a weak…well was a weak human…Aikia is strong…and powerful…why doesn't he just kill her and get it over with…

Chihiro's POV
This doesn't look so good…maybe we should run…but where to…I mean…not that I'm ignoring this guys valiancy…but Aikia can be deadly…and if he can take Haku…then he's got to be strong…well…Haku was sick…and human…but he's still strong…and…wait…since when did I call him Haku…it's so strange…I started calling Arelinita Rin too…before I know it…I'm going to start being call Sen again…or maybe Jin…

I laughed at my stupid thoughts. Of all things, facing with possible death, I think about what I call people in my head.

"I hardly call this the time for laughter."

"Why not?" I smirked and laughed again. I looked at the cat that twitched his ears and looked at me, shocked at my behavior. Then my stomach rumbled and laughter erupted from my mouth like bubbly foam from a shaken pop.

"Will you shut up!" The fox turned angrily at me, and then his face lost its color as he looked past me. I looked past him and my laughter stopped.

"Where are we?"

"I don't know, but running may be in order."

"Why?" I turned and saw something that was unseemly horrible.

A beast stood before us, like a huge dog. His blue fur was shaggy and covered in a thick gooey film; his legs were thick with muscle, teeth sharp and spoked out like deadly spikes. A crown of thick, yellow horns adorned his head. His eyes were a nasty red.

"The Creppler? That doesn't make any sense. I thought, you couldn't see it unless you had special sight. How can you?"

"I am a fox spirit. A Kitsune. None compares to the sight of a trickster except thehawk spirits."

"Do you know how we ended up in the forest?"

"Transportation spell?"

"Any ideas?" He nodded. I watched the crippler watch us, and then it crouched low, like a cat.

"I'm going to change."

"What!" My cheeks turned beat red.

Change…what does he mean 'i'm going to change'…here…now…what…into clothes that might impress the crippler…I highly doubt that's going to help things…

He smirked, his eyes glistened mischievously.

"Not like that, unless you want me to…"

"No!" I slapped him on the head. He grinned like an innocent little boy, and then became serious again.

"What I meant was, I'm going to change into a fox."

"But, what good will that do you? Wait, you can change into a fox?"

"Oh yah." He said like a complete, over confident, egomaniac, on a power trip.

"Well? If you're going to, do it now, or else I'm leaving you here, and saving my own sorry hide!" I growled. I bent down slowly and grabbed a rock, not knowing if that was just for stupid security or if it might come in handy.

"Be patient." He closed his eyes, and jumped into the air. The Creppler sprung to leap at him.

"I don't think so!" I whipped a hard rock at the beast. He barely flinched as it hit him in the side of the head, but it distracted him enough to prevent him from getting at the Fox.

The horrible truth about causing distractions though is…you become the one in danger…

The Creppler leaped at me, and I had no choice but to run.

Well…I suppose I could have stood there and let that monster crunch on my bones…yuk…

I pumped my legs even faster as I heard trees snapping and crashing. A loud thunderous sound beated on the ground, causing me to loose my footing from time to time.

Oh what I'd give for a cup of coffee…or an energy drink… No...three cups of coffee...maybe eight...

I kept running, leaping over logs, roots, and what ever else was in my way. I dodged all of the trees, and ferns, mostly.

Good news about seeing in the dark is…well…I can see in the dark…in the forest… where I'm running…

I saw a small little bronze fire out of the corner of my eyes. I glanced, and beheld one of the more magnificent creatures ever to see in this world. A sleek, graceful, strong, golden/bronze, nine tailed fox leapt into the forest at my side.

"Now…what..." I didn't finish my sentence. I was thrown into the air, left breathless, as something rammed into my side.

Ouch…can't…breath…ouch…why…I'm moving…owe…stop…moving…

"St…op" I whispered. I fell onto something hard, and heard a thunderous roar of fury. Then a loud bark and snarl.

I gently opened my eyes, my eyes covered in spots.

"The desert?" I whispered, and to my shame, I felt something like drool fall off my lips. I tried to roll over on my back, but every slight tremble my body made, made my breath come shorter. A great shadow covered the sky, but I couldn't look up, so instead, I looked at the two figures far away, that stood in the middle of a sand dune.

Aikia…but…he looks so strange…not cold…more…kind…a strong…someone who seems to have an honest business…or at least work it…he doesn't fit that name any more…his name…Aikia…its foreign…and the boy…who is he…gentle…rough around the edges…but so gentle…its like…like they're trapped in a shadow…its so dark…and shiny…why can't anyone see it…

My vision blurred, and I felt more liquid drip out of my mouth.

Katsu's POV

"Aikia, what are they doing?" I watched them, as they seemed to become terrified about nothing.

"They're in an illusion."

I watched as they stood side by side.

"They look stupid."

"They are stupid." I shrugged my shoulders and plopped down in the sand.

Boring…how could he find this interesting…they aren't doing anything…

I watched.

"Whoa!" I jumped up as the guy turned into a glowing ball of light. The girl ditched and ran the other way.

"That would be the fox boy turning into his true form."

"Why is the girl running? Did he scare her?"

"A crippler is chasing her."

"But I don't see…oh."

Well ain't that just stupid…this is so not fun…Aikia could have been a bit more interesting…I mean…all I see is a glowing fox…which does look kinda cool…but not unusual…and a running human…looks more like a sickening romance than a near death happening…

Then she flew threw the air, only to hit something invisible, and land onto the fox's back, before slipping to the ground.

"But how did she?"

"An illusion is a materialized image that can trick the mind into thinking it is real. However, if the spirit, or human thinks he or she is dieing because of something caused by an illusion, than they will."

"How?"

"The mind is a powerful thing. No matter what creature, the mind can project amazing results."

"I still ain't gettin it."

"I still don't understand it." He corrected. I wrinkled up my nose distastefully.

"If you wish, I will have you begin your magical studies, starting with illusions. They are difficult to learn, but once understood, easy to conjure. Depending on the level of Illusion that you invoke."

"That sounds cool." I watched the girl. She shaking in the sand and looked right at us. Aikia's body tensed.

"Impossible." He whispered. A dark shadow filled the sky. I ignored it for a moment.

"Can she really see us?" She squinted even harder, before falling completely limp. A shock of red fell from her mouth.

"It seems I have underestimated the force within her. I don't know how she has changed, but I intend to find out. In the meant time, come. We have outstayed our welcome." A black fog surrounded us, but not completely before I looked up to see a large, deadly looking creature.

"What in Barba's name is that!" I said, vainly using the name of a wise man I once met. I memorized every part of the huge monster. It was thick and large, with a round belly. It wings were long and leathery. Its face was rectangular, and even the orange color was visible. Everything completely disappeared from sight.

I felt hard stone underneath my padded feet.

"That would be a mythical being. A type of dragon."

"But the dragons I know of are…"

"Long and without wings? In some territories, that's the only kind there are. In others, like the desert, it is common to come across any other type of dragon, but never both at one point."

"You mean, there are more kinds?" I curled and uncurled my tail, like a nervous habit.

"Yes. There are three main dragons, all sharing common similarities to the human retiles. A komodo dragon, a snake, and the other a combination. The one you saw was a pure breed, and looked almost exactly like the Komodo dragon.

"Aikia!" I cringed at the shriek. Aikia's eye twitched, but he smoothly walked through the hallways leading towards the throne room.

"Master Aikia,"

"I'll meet you in the study. When I am done, we will begin your studies." I sighed. A nodded. I disappeared into the shadows. He opened the doors, and walked in. Shutting them behind him.

Hmm…he's going to be in there for a while…which means I have time to do what ever…

I scamped through the halls, dodging the lethargic, dull servants, and stood before a portrait.

Aikia's POV
"Tell, me! What went through your pea brain mind as you did this! You could have killed them both in an instant, and rid me of that annoying human!"

"You saw, she is no longer human, and as far as I can tell, she is on the verge of death as we speak." I said calmly. I looked at the room.

It seems she's done some cleaning…last I saw…everything was ripped…torn…and broken…oh how decorative…she's even added black candles…and some swinging nut lights…

"I don't care what she is! You could have destroyed her but you let that chance fall through your fingers!" She yelled. Shafts of light speed at me, and I quickly jumped into a flip, and landed unscathed onto the hard floor. I glanced at the shards that melted the wall behind me.

"Why not send shards after her, if it will make you feel better?"

"Because dearest, sweet, brother, it is your fault that they are even alive! It was your job to kill them! A simple, idiot-proof thing! And yet again, you manage to mess it up!" Her hair lifted around her, and her aura turned a black/red.

"Well then, since I obviously mess everything up, maybe you should do it yourself." I retorted, quite stupidly.

She glared at me, and like a grain of sand in whipped wind, I was hurled against the hard stone.

She's gotten stronger…considerably so…but how can that be…if the boy is near death…than…Ahrima…I am going to kill you…with my own two hands…you witch…

I gritted my teeth, and stood, ignoring the pain in my back and let my body repair the internal bleeding.

She's been stealing my power…that…wretch…

"You've always stolen what was mine! Always! Even when we were little! You even stole my best friend! And then…" I began ranting. What I said, I didn't know or care. Flashes of memories fell into me and I yelled even louder.

"Aikia! You know nothing!" She screamed.

"I know everything! You even stole my…"

"Silence!" She yelled frantically. My mouth was clamped shut.

I have to say it…I have to…or else I will loose it all again…

"You are mine now, and will always be." She stood close to me and I lashed out, but was then held back by her magic.

She whispered one little word into my ear.

Aikia's POV (still)
"Leave. You are a disgrace!" She yelled. She glanced at her mirror and cast a familiar spell of falling shards.

I swept out of thereI recalled every dull boring detail I had told her, and lousy excuse I had made , but nothing out of the ordinary had occured.

I was weighted downwith a feeling of loss.

…But that can't be right…I didn't loose anything…