Chapter 10: Unexpected Guests

The outskirts of Geffen looked magnificent during autumn. Lei brought Yukino to a secluded outcropping near the gates of Geffen. The flowers and falling leaves produced a carefree ambiance. The silence only broken by hysterical laughter.

"And that's what happened." Lei finished his story.

Yukino's usually quiet demeanor was all but forgotten as she burst into comical laughter. Lei couldn't help but laugh in response. Laughter, they say, is contagious.

"You're kidding right?" the brunette said in between gulps of air.

"No, believe it or not that's how I met up with Azami."

"It sounds like something ripped off the pages of a manga!" she said after her bout of laughter.

"Yeah…" Lei sighed contentedly.

Yukino looked at him in an odd way. He raised his brow.

"Something wrong?"

"Umm… Lei."

"Yeah?"

The girl suddenly stood up, bent down till their eyes met each other. She leaned in closer and placed a hand on his cheeks which by now were crimson red.

"What are you doing?" he muttered breathlessly.

"There's some dirt on your nose." The girl said. She rubbed it on her sleeves and giggled uncontrollably.

"You two seem to be having loads of fun." A feminine voice hissed.

The two froze and turned their heads towards their spectator. She stood a few feet away from them, arms crossed with a smug look on her face. The girl was simply beautiful, her oriental outfit giving her an exotic look. The girl's green hair secured into a bun with two chopsticks. Her intense purple eyes rested on the now angry face of Lei.

"Ai." Lei muttered under his breath.

Yukino couldn't help but stare at the expression on Lei's face. His usually handsome features were contorted with rage, his hands rolled into a fist. It seemed that he was barely keeping his anger in check.

"And who is this… girl." she said dryly, giving Yukino an appraising gaze.

Lei stood up knocking his chair aside. He came closer and closer towards the girl, the raven-haired mage glared at her. Ai met his angry eyes with emotionless ones.

"A friend, a very close one at that!" he spat.

"Oh really?" came Ai's reply.

"Yeah."

"I can't have that now, can I?"

"Not your choice anymore."

She raised her hand and slapped him hard. He held his now stinging cheek glaring at the green-haired mage. Yukino instinctively ran in front of Lei with a scandalized look on her face.

"How could you do that!" Yukino hissed.

Yukino slapped the green-haired girl's face and pushed her back. Ai's eyes narrowed into two small slits as she brought a hand to her cheeks. The previously calm look on her face replaced with hatred.

"If you know what's good for you, get out of my way whore." Ai said in a voice dripping with venom.

"Sure I will!" her reply sarcastic, over exaggerated and came with a wry smile.

"If you insist."

The green haired woman snapped her fingers and from her shadows rose a several corpses. The creatures with metallic claws and talismans on their foreheads sprung into action. Three dove for Yukino and restrained the brunette. The remaining four surrounded Lei in a matter of seconds. Lei found talismans on all his limbs. No matter how he tried he couldn't move.

"So Lei, it seems I will get that kiss." The green-haired girl grinned.

Ai approached Yukino and drew out a curved knife from behind her.

"But first, lets get rid of your girlfriend." she said with a smile.

Yukino's screams were muffled by the creature's hands.

"Stop!" Lei screamed at the top of his lungs.

He considered blasting the bonguns with fire. But ever since he was a child, he hardly had any control over his mana. One of the reasons he had ran away from Kunlun and pursued to study magic in Geffen.

Ai playfully traced the flat side of her knife on a now crying Yukino's cheeks.

"Damn it!" Lei muttered between gritted teeth.

He had an idea, a very reckless one at that. He discarded his robes and prepared himself.

The mage quickly channeled all his mana into his muscles, the raw magic coursing through his veins posed a very dangerous threat. Mana-burn, the very reason why mages took time with their incantations, it could literally fry sinew and burn out nerves. Every fiber of his being pulsed with mana to the point that his body crackled with it. A bluish aura surrounded him and he broke free from the bongun's death-grip.

"No." he grunted. His face full of determination.

Ignoring the burning sensation he charged towards Yukino. The three bonguns leaped into the air, claws poised to deliver powerful blows. Lei stooped low and avoided the three by a fraction of an inch, He quickly he spun around to deliver a back kick to one of the bonguns. That sent it flying into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. One.

Two bonguns lunged towards him, one from behind another from the front. He greeted the first with an outstretched palm. Instead of dodging Lei propelled himself forwards with one foot, the other landed on the creature's throat. Using the creature's neck as leverage he did a hasty back-flip that pushed the creature aside, snapping it's neck in the process. The back-flip allowed him to narrowly avoid the second bongun's thrust from behind, which should have snapped his back in half. Two bonguns down.

Lei landed a few feet behind the third bongun. He quickly planted a foot into the ground and with the other delivered a rising kick to the bongun's backside. Three.

He was already taking in ragged breaths, the mana-burn was causing him so much discomfort. Seeing this. the remaining bonguns surrounded him and charged.

Lei surprised them by leaping towards one of them. It lunged towards him but he caught it by the arm. Using it's own momentum the mage spun around and flung it towards the others, effectively knocking two of them off the cliff. Six.

The last bongun found an opening and struck. It's claws were poised to strike Lei's unprotected neck but he blocked it with an arm. Lei grinned, no blood, no wound, the energy coat prevented the claws from digging into his skin.

With a wry smile he shoved the claws aside and screamed as he delivered a mana-enhanced punch to the bongun's chest. The creature's ribs collapsed and gave way with a lound crunch. Seven dead.

Ai stared in shock, her prized puppets now dead. She stepped backwards and raised a talisman into the air.

"I didn't expect this…"

Lei shot her a menacing gaze.

"You haven't seen the last of me Lei Fu Yang." She muttered under her breath before disappearing in a thick cloud of smoke.

Yukino rubbed her eyes. "Lei… That was amazing!" she said in awe.

The raven-haired boy turned around, and collapsed.