Chapter 1
Life is a fragile thing. Anything can shatter it; a rock, a bat, a sword, a natural disaster, or a combination of Yetis and Stone Golems.
Karik and Sapphire Star overlooked the small town on a hill. Star was on her knees, her face streaming with tears. Karik stood there solemnly, with his hands in his pockets. Wind blew, both their hairs flew wildly into their face, but they ignored it. They had just lost a comrade, a friend, a family member.
The little town that they have gone to so many times, whether it was for lunch, shopping, or just a quick stroll, together with one another, was gone now. Shrieks were heard, yells and cries for help rang out. The little town was on fire, and many buildings were on the ground in shambles. Yeti's, Stone Golems, and many smaller monsters rampaged the city right thirty minutes after Star and Karik left the cavern and were done mourning for Shaman.
They immediately rushed back to their cottage, ignoring everything else. When they got there, they had to fight off a few metal slimes and a lupin. They fared poorly since they were already out of stamina and were still depressed over Shaman. They collected all the necessities for traveling and also a few possessions of Robbie's. They left a note on the door and ran off as quick as they could. That's when they saw the town.
Screams kept on screaming, yells kept on yelling, pleas kept on pleading. It was endless. Karik wanted to do something, but at his state, he would die in an instant. Star was too heartbroken too even think clearly now. When they were in the cottage packing, she started babbling about how Shaman was still alive and she kept on hugging Shaman's helmet that was left in his room.
Shaman never wore his helmet……
Karik closed his eyes and bit his tongue. They had to keep on going, no matter what happens. They would have to first notify the officials first. They can't use any scrolls, because Robbie took them all when he left, and the town was now being attacked by many monsters, so buying one now was out of the question.
Karik swung his backpack over his shoulder. He nudged the kneeling Star with his hand.
Star looked up at him with puffy and red eyes, her face moist with tears. Karik made a motion to leave, but Star shook her head. She turned around and continued to despair silently for everyone, the town, the people, and Shaman.
Karik sighed, he was sad too, but if they stayed to long, the monsters might find them, and that would be trouble for the two of them.
The two of them stayed there for another moment, remembering the dead and mourning silently for those who are lost.
Later in the Forest...
SapphireStar and Karik walked for what seemed like an excruciating amount of time. They pushed through many branches and leaves and that left them dirty and scratched up. They dared not follow the main path meant for travelers, fearing that a scouting monster might find them and dispose of them.
They traveled until the sun became half an orange. That's when Karik rolled up his right sleeve and looked at a small watch on his wrist.
"It's nearing seven," he stated, "we should stop and make camp here."
Star nodded gloomily and set down her duffel bag and began taking out materials for the night.
They two set up camp. It wasn't much, just two sleeping mats with a thin blanket over each, and a small pitiful fire in the middle.
Owls hooted and the sun was swallowed by the dark. Karik, even though still feeling weak, quickly tapped his staff onto the ground and the ruby at the top of his staff suddenly glowed until it became pure white, than it shot out a white circle that flew up into the air and expanded, than landed onto the ground, encircling Sapphire and himself with all their equipment.
Karik sighed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground. He was out of energy and mana. He couldn't move at all.
"Karik!" Star rushed over to tend to him.
"Don't worry, I'm just out of magic…I'll probably be all right after a good nights sleep," murmured a drifting Karik. The magic line he cast should stay strong enough to repel small monsters for the night. He closed his heavy eyelids. He hoped that Star won't wander off.
Karik's eyes suddenly snapped open. Birds were chirping, not hooting. It was morning. Karik sat up groggily, tired from yesterday's events, than that's when he remembered Shaman, and the guilt that was upon him yesterday suddenly boiled up in his stomach. He felt as though he just swallowed an entire barrel of hot water. The pain of knowing that he abandoned Shaman.
He shook his head. They still had much ground to cover before they reached one of the nearest Six Main Cities.
He stood up. The magic line was still intact. Good. He took a deep breath of the clean, morning dew and stepped out from the line. He took a look back at Star. She was snuggled in her thin, blue blanket, sleeping on the ground with a bit of drool coming out the corner of her lip. Karik smiled.
He than took out a small, bronze, compass from his pocket. He clicked it open. The compass had a needle on it, but it did not say which way it was pointing. Karik than said out loud clearly, but not so loud as to wake up Sapphire, "Water." The needle than immediately pointed out into a direction deep into the forest. Karik sighed, this better not be a long walk.
Karik kept on strolling down the woods where the compass was pointing. He stared at the compass with intent eyes. He couldn't take his mind off of yesterday's events. How could so many things occur in one day? How could he be so careless? Why didn't he go back to save Shaman?
"Dear Lord…," thought Karik, "Please forgive my sin of abandonment, my unholy actions cannot be reversed, but please allow Shaman to go through the Pearly Gates. His death was not his time. Please forgive me."
Sploosh!
Karik hacked and coughed. He was cold, very cold. When he was asking for the Lord's forgiveness, he had unwittingly walked right into a large pond.
Karik muttered a few profanities under the Lord's name as he walked out of the pond soaking wet. He shook his head, causing the excess water on his hair to fly around aimlessly. He than stripped his wet robe off. It was made of very heavy material, woven with magic. It protected his skinny yet built body from any major, physical damage. He threw hung the robe onto a small but sturdy branch and let it dry there, still dripping with water.
Karik still felt cold. He cursed again, his undergarments, which were also completely soaked in the pond, was all white. The color of his skin could be seen in many different spots all over his body.
He suddenly blushed, even though nobody was around. At least he knew why now that females disliked wearing white all the time. Karik than stripped everything. He couldn't stand being wet. He hung those too up on another tree branch and then jumped into the pond naked.
He shivered as he treaded water. The water was indeed cold this morning. He started moving his arms in little circles in the water in hopes of circulating his blood. No use. He sneezed.
"Oh well," he thought, "at least taking a cold bath in the morning is good you."
Karik lifted his right arm up and sniffed his armpit. He immediately turned away. The stench was horrible! Ever since yesterday, he hasn't been able to clean up properly. Karik started scrubbing himself.
Meanwhile back at the camp...
SapphireStar awoke with a great yawn. Yesterday wasn't the greatest of naps. Sleeping on the ground sure had its issues. Star stood up and folded her blanket neatly next to her duffel bag. She then stretched out her back and limbs a bit. They cracked, and Star winced at the sound.
She than sat down again and took out a mirror from her bag. She first wiped away the dry saliva at the corner of her mouth, than she started combing her long and blue, hair. She kept on combing and combing, attempting to get out all the dirt and leaves caught in her hair. She sighed, they just weren't coming out.
Star looked around the campsite. The fire they started yesterday was smoldering with ashes, while Karik's blanket was flat on the ground. She went over and also folded it up.
Sapphire than looked at herself. Her entire clothing set was dirty, ripped, and damp from sweat.
"I need a bath," Star thought to herself, "It's very unlady like to walk around dirty and smelly like this."
Sapphire took off her jacket, which revealed a tight, black undershirt. It stretched tightly around her upper body, showing all the curves a woman should have. She looked at her black shirt; at least it wasn't ripped or torn.
She got a readied a small basket from her duffel bag and put in necessities of taking a shower or bath in the morning. Star looked around the area. She's been here many times.
"The lake should be…," thought Star, "over there!" Sapphire pranced happily in the direction of the pond where Karik was taking a morning bath.
Five Minutes Later...
Karik finally finished bathing himself and he stepped out the pond, dripping a trail of water to his clothing. He felt his robe and his white undershirt for any wetness. They seemed to be dry. Thank God for a clear day today, this was his only set of clothing he brought with him.
At that same moment, SapphireStar was humming a lullaby softly as she stepped out from the forest to meet the pond.
"Yay!" thought Star happily, "I was right! Now to,"
"Star!" asked a surprised Karik.
"What? Karik?" Sapphire turned to see a naked cleric with his back to her.
"OH MY GOD!" shrieked Sapphire covering her mouth, dropping her basket onto the ground, spilling its many contents all over the place.
"STAR!" yelled Karik as he turned around in surprise, still naked, with one hand on his robe.
SapphireStar's eyes widened as she saw God's full and glorious creation. Karik's face turned into twenty-seven different shades of red and pink as his entire body froze in horror.
At that same moment, both their minds snapped. Karik suddenly ran and jumped back into the pond with his robe in hand, while Sapphire just ran back to camp as quickly and silently as possible.
Karik's entire body stayed submerged inside the water, with only a quaint shadow of his body visible. He stayed underwater, mortified at what has just happened. He'll never be able to talk to Star again after this. A few minutes later, Karik realized he needed air.
"Maybe I should just drown myself," he thought, "that would redeem my sins of what has just happened."
SapphireStar raced through the whole forest back to the camp in less than thirty seconds flat. She immediately leaped over the now dead fireplace and ran to the other end of the camp. She stopped and paced herself. Her entire body was filled with sweat. She leaned back against a tree. What was Karik going to say to her after that? What if he never spoke to her again? What if he thought she was a pervert!
Sapphire slumped down onto the ground. "Oh my God," she thought, "What should I say to him later?"
Several Hours Later...
Karik and Star walked through the forest side by side, extremely silent. They dared not look at each other the whole time they walked. The thought of what has just transpired was just to much.
It had taken Karik a few minutes to realized during his submerging underwater that suicide is a sin, so he rose and had to dry his robe again.
Star on the other hand sat at the base of a tree thinking many thoughts in her head while the whole time embarrassed and guilty of what happened between them too.
Finally Karik came back silently with all his clothing dry and on. He silently picked up his belongings and waited for Star to do so too.
And now this is where they were, walking through the forest, not wanting to talk for fear of mentioning of their previous encounter.
Twigs and leaves snapped and crackled under their stomping feet. Many squirrels chattered and numerous birds chirped and whistled. But for the rest, it was silent.
Karik kept on walking, looking straight ahead, trying to find a way to the next major city and to also keep his mind off things. Karik sighed silently, he liked silence and all, but just not awkward silence. Star sneezed and Karik tensed up. He immediately straightened his entire body and marched forward at a faster pace.
Star followed and attempted to keep up. She never once looked at Karik's back or moving feet. All she did was look to the side and pretend to admire the scenery. But in the back of her mind, the image of a naked cleric burned brightly aglow. Star shook her head ferociously, flinging her blue hair back and forth.
They traveled for another hour in silence. By that time, both their thoughts of shame and embarrassment were lone gone, but they still refused to speak to each other.
Karik tightened his grip on his staff. This was getting nowhere. He needed an opening to tell Star that he was sorry about what happened at the pond. And besides, they still had another four hours to go before reaching the city.
Suddenly he heard sniffling. Could it be?
Karik turned around to find Star with streams of tears down her face, wetting her cheeks and collarbone. He stopped.
"Sapphire…," he said softly, "look, the thing…at the lake…," he sighed, this was the moment of truth, "it was my fault, I'm sorry for not bringing a towel or anything, please…it's not your fault…"
Star immediately burst out into wails. She collapsed onto the ground and kept on wiping her falling tears.
Karik backed away, he never was good with women, this was Robbie's area of expertise.
He knelt down shakily and slowly and put a hand on her shoulder, "Star…listen, please…it had nothing to do with you, it was my fault completely, you can stop crying, please, it was my fault completely." His voice faltered as Star started trembling.
"N-no," she hiccupped after a while of more crying, "It's all my fault…all my fault…if…" she hiccupped, "if I hadn't," she burst into another wave of salty water.
"Star! NO!" said Karik harshly, "It had nothing to do with you! You didn't know!"
Star looked up at Karik with her round and watery cerulean eyes, "No…, tha-that's not what I'm talking a-about."
Karik was silent, but he looked her straight in the eye with complete honesty and listened.
"If I've never…never said to g-go in the c-cave," Star started trembling more violently, "than S-sha-m-man would've n-never di-died!" Star fell over and started crying and moaning uncontrollably.
Karik's inside twisted in many degrees and angles. He didn't realize that Star had been feeling guilty for Shaman too, and all this time, he thought he was the only one in silent guilt for Shaman's loss. But as of right now, he would rather have the event at the pond happen a million times with the whole world than deal with the guilt of losing Shaman with Sapphire right now.
Karik's own hand started trembling as he reached out for Star's shoulder.
"Star," he said softly, " it wasn't your fault, you didn't know…." His voice trailed off. He had spent much time convincing himself that it wasn't his fault for leaving Shaman behind. But right now, what he was about to say shattered everything he forced himself to think.
"Star…it wasn't your fault…you didn't know, I was the one that left him behind. If I only held on tighter, than he would have…lived," Karik's throat and heart tightened. The inconsiderable amount of guilt in his skinny body welled up. It suddenly felt very warm, so warm in fact, that it felt like he was melting. His grip tightened considerably on Star's shoulder and started trembling.
Something touched his hand gently and lifted it. He looked at Sapphire, who was looking back at him with dried tears.
Her voice shook as she began to spoke, "Karik…you were tired…you couldn't…couldn't…do….," Sapphire's eyes welled up.
The two of them stayed kneeling on the ground, sharing a moment of true silence. The two of them deep in their hearts and mind both blamed themselves for Shaman's death. The feeling can never be shaken off, but it was nice to know that the person in front of each other carried the same idea.
Karik sighed, "Star…listen, it was neither of our faults. You didn't know, and I was too exhausted, we can't blame anyone."
Star sniffled, "But…but…."
Karik cut her off harshly, "STAR! For the love of God, Shaman would not like to have us crying over him. He would have us right now go tell the officials of the nearest city of what has just happened to our peaceful town! He's dead, I'm sad too, but we have to go on. To dwell on the past is to dwell on a fantasy!"
Star froze up and gasped, the last phrase Karik said was what Shaman always said. She suddenly stood up, her chest still breathing rapidly from all that weeping.
"You're right!" she said with a determined voice, "Shaman would have us go on! We have to go right now!"
Karik jumped up, his eyes stinging a bit from holding back from crying himself, "Than let's go! We have no time to waste!"
They both marched off together laughing.
Suddenly Karik stopped and sweat dropped, "Star…" he said slowly, "We're going the wrong way…"
Star looked up at Karik, "Eh…right…other way than…."
The two walked off into the forest to their desination.
A few more hours later and out of the forest...
"PEEYOO!" complained SapphireStar as Karik and her stepped out of the forest they have been in for two days straight. They emerged out to find a large construction site that was far from finished. Only a bare, metallic, skeletal structure was standing of a would be building. No human was in sight either.
Karik chuckled, he has been to the outskirts and inside of Kerning City once. Yes, it was a horrible city filled with thugs, thieves, assassin, and many other unsavory characters. The city was in horrible condition, it was littered with much trash and the civilians always either stayed in or to themselves. What's more, the leader of the city was none other than one of the Five Legendary Heroes. The leader also trained the most ferocious set of bandits and thieves in the history of Victoria Island.
But the smell was something an outsider would never get used to. The unfinished buildings and all the litter with sewage water, the stench was so horrible that Karik would rather go sniff a dog's ass as of right now.
Star held her nose as they stepped over many sewage lines and much dirt and gravel with lot and lots of metal and cracked cement. They traversed over this littered place of building equipment. Karik tripped once or twice since his long robe caught onto a stray, metal, wiring, while Star had her eyes watering due to the stench, even though she was doing her best in breathing through her mouth.
The two, one holding a breath, and the other tripping over sharp and dangerous objects, finally made it to the gates of Kerning City, which was just a ticket booth with a striped bar, intact, thought it can't be said much for the ends of Karik's robe.
"Two hundred mesos entrance fee," said a tired and depressed voice through an intercom on the glazed window.
"What?" Karik quickly dug into one of his many inner pockets on his robes, "Uh…I…," he stammered as he pulled out empty pockets.
"Karik!" hissed Sapphire as she ducked under the red and white striped bar.
"Huh?" Karik was surprised at Star for doing such a thing.
"Hurry! Come on!" whispered Star inconspicuously.
Karik gave a look at the shadow behind the glazed window, than made a mad dash for the bar. He looked quiet silly running with his robe on.
He got to the bar and hopped over it. But as he leaped, his ridiculously long robe caught onto a small nail on the ground and right as he was about to land over the bar, he got yanked backwards with a loud gasp of air, and than a loud crack, as his waist landed on the bar with his face and hair hanging upsides down.
Sapphire stifled a laugh, "Come on silly! Stop playing!"
Karik grumbled as he up righted himself. He tugged his robe and it ripped itself off. Karik cursed as he saw his now dirty and frayed ends of his robe. The material was extremely expensive!
Sapphire ran off into the city, which gave off an orange glow from all the bricks. Karik followed suit, except he walked. He gave on last look at the ticket booth.
"Enjoy your stay at Kerning City."
After a bit of exploring on Sapphire's part...
Karik and Star strolled down the empty streets of Kerning City. It was completely deserted, not even a rat was to be seen. Newspaper flew everywhere and beer bottles laid in the most surprising places. Karik scouted around quickly. The sun was setting, setting off a beautiful orange glow, but once night arrives, the city becomes alive. And dangerous. They had to find a place to stay for the night, fast.
Star's stomach suddenly grumbled ominously. Karik sweat dropped as he gave a look at Star. Sapphire looked back at Karik with a weak smile. Karik sighed.
They turned immediately into the first place that served food that they saw. They both entered the bar together, swinging the door open, letting dusty light in through the opening. Many of the occupants sitting and various and numerous wooden and metal tables moved away from the piercing light. Karik and Star walked forward a bit, allowing the door to swing shut. All of a sudden, the tables and chairs moved back to their original positioning. Karik and Star stood their a bit dumbfounded by the depressing, dark mood the place. It wasn't much. Their was one, sad, dying light bulb above each table, and a small stage with a young women dressed in scanty clothing singing soft music. Many of the occupants were either playing cards with their entire body hunched up or were drunk off their butts.
Karik whispered to Star, as not to disturb the image of the bar's mood, "Stay right here, sit if you want, but don't wander off, I'm going to go find the manager and see if I can get us some food with a room to stay in for the night."
Star nodded, a bit frightened by all the glares the two of them were receiving from the bloodshot eyes of the occupants of the bar. Karik stepped off towards to where the bartender was standing, polishing a small, glass, beer mug.
Sapphire stood there as she watched Karik speak with the bartender in small whispers and nods. She looked away. She felt too out of place in this setting. Her colorful and vibrant clothing did not match the gloomy mood in this bar, and her clothing seemed to make a few people the bar not to happy. She decided to sit down to hide from all the glares and lecherous looks.
As she sat down, she saw a plate with a piece of cold chicken leg on it. She gasped, food! Karik wasn't back yet, and who knows if he was to succeed? Better indulge when given the chance! She smiled happily as she reached for the chicken leg. As her arm extended halfway across the table, a large and hairy hand grabbed her frail and petite wrist.
"OW!" yelled Star from the bone-crunching grip. She looked up to whom the arm belonged to.
"Hey pretty-girl," said an extremely, overweight, man in his forties. He was dressed in extremely drab armor. His stomach fat came out in many places above his belt, and his boots seemed like they were yanked on with the Jaws of Life. His armor showed that he might be an extremely poor and out-of-luck soldier. His protruding triple chins was enough to make him look like any monster Star has ever seen. His breath stunk of beer, and his eyes had a perverted look in them, "If you want my food…you'll have to pay the price…heh heh he…,"
Suddenly the disgusting man's other hand reached over, opening wide, coming right at her chest!
Star's eyes widened and her body stiffened. Her bow and arrows were on her back, and she can't shoot with only one hand, and definitely in such close proximity. She could only do one thing.
"PER-,"
"AAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!" screamed out the fat man in a low and guttural pained voice, "WHAT THE HELL!" The man let loose of his grip on Sapphire and held onto the hand that was getting ready to grope her. Through the dim lighting, Star was able to see blood gushing out his left palm, with a small, metal object stuck in it. She screamed out in horror, for she hated the sight of blood. She kicked the man as hard as she could and fell out of her chair onto the ground.
The fat man kept on yelling, ignoring Sapphire's kick, and started knocking over tables and chairs all over the bar, also knocking out many customers and disrupting their dreary mood.
Star huffed and puffed with fine sweat all over her as the man rampaged throughout the whole café, knocking out many occupants. The singer kept on singing.
"You should think twice before touching an innocent, young lady." Said a cool voice from the shadows.
The man slammed himself into a wall and spat out angrily while still tending to his hand, "Who the fuck are you!" his face glistened with sweat form pain and anger.
"A hardworking man to some, a gentleman to others," the shadow shifted slightly, "as hopefully to the beautiful, young madam I just saved."
Star blushed and looked down onto the dusty, wooden floor bashfully.
"But to most," the shadow suddenly straightened up and a foot came into the dim lighting of the bar, "I am known as Inu, master bounty hunter of Kerning City!"
Inu stepped out in one full step, his appearance shown dimly by the swinging bar light. His head was in a black and white bandana, while he was dressed in all black, with many pockets over his baggy, black, windbreaker pants, his upper was just a tight shirt stretched over his chest, etching out well built and defined muscles. His body was lean and mean, skinny, but still fit enough to pick a fight with somebody far larger than himself. On his left hand, a black, leather glove was stretched tightly over, while his right hand boasted an extremely large glove that seemed to be made out of bronze and metal. It shone dully under the bad lighting, but it was clearly seen that it has maintained many battle scars. The glove reached up to his elbow, and it was also clearly seen that a long line of randomly assorted shurikens and kunais were locked onto a small compartment at the edge of the glove.
Inu flexed the large glove, and a small shuriken suddenly flew out, hitting the man's right upper leg. The man cried out in main and stumbled onto his left knee.
"And you are an extremely large bounty that the government of Kerning City has been looking for," continued Inu as he held up a piece of brown and parched paper with a black and white photo of the fat man's face grinning maliciously at the camera. The numbers 500,000 mesos was under his name with "Dead or Alive" etched clearly across.
Inu reached into a pouch behind his back right above his hip and took out a long line of string and walked over to the large man.
"Now would you rather come alive or dead? Please say you'll come in alive, because sometimes I don't get my full payment of money when your six feet under." Said Inu smugly with a mocking please in his voice.
The extremely large man kneeled there with his face down, panting heavily, as sweat slid off his face and dripped onto the ground. The occupants of the bar paid no attention to the happening and continued on with whatever they were doing. Karik was no where to be found.
"I choose…choose…," heaved the fat man faintly, "………….."
"What?" Inu said cheerfully, "I didn't catch that." He bent over low next to the man, his bandana falling over his eyes.
"I CHOOSE DEAD!" with that, the fat man stood up, shaking the whole bar. He ripped out both shuriken from his wounds, and than, ignoring the pain, reached behind his back and pulled out a concealed, doubled edged, axe.
Inu had already leaped away from the man, with his glove ready, cocked towards the man.
The fat man held his axe in a menacing position. He grunted out, "Dead for you, not me, you little piece of shit."
Inu chuckled and waggled his left, index finger at the man, "Ah ah ah, haven't your mother ever taught you not to say bad words?"
The man remained silent, both his eyes concentrating hard on Inu, with no sign of emotion on his face.
"I haven't introduced my claw have I? I call her Stained."
"Hmph, looks like your about to too yourself."
Fwmp
Two flurried kunais flew at the fat man. At that same moment, Inu rushed right behind his projectiles.
The bounty used his enormous axe and deflected both of the kunais with a metallic clang. Inu suddenly lept up into the air, given what limited room was in the bar, and the height of the roof.
Inu's top half twisted backwards and his claw suddenly shot out a small dagger connected to it. Still in midair, he swung back with his arm fully outstretched aiming at the bounty's arm.
The bounty broke the blade in half with one swinging block from his axe. Inu landed low on the ground and delivered a sweeping kick to the man's side. The man doubled over but in the meantime used the butt of his axe and shoved it at Inu's face.
Inu gracefully dodged the end by several centimeters backwards, than proceeded to pick himself back upright by doing a back flip. He landed gracefully with his back facing his opponent.
The man rushed him right when Inu landed and he swung overhead with a beastly cry. Inu was just in time to turn around and defend himself by using his claw. A large flash of sparks was seen lighting up the room.
The two were in a deadlock for a moment. Inu with his right hand claw over his head pushing back at his bounty, while the bounty pushed back at his pursuer with his axe from above.
The man suddenly retracted his axe and swung from the side. Sapphire shrieked as Inu was sliced in half.
"Too slow fatty."
The bounty swung around to find Inu right behind him.
"What?" stuttered the bounty, clearly surprised.
"Nothing special, just my after image mixed with a bit of mana," smirking Inu as he flexed the sharp metal on his claw, making a clinking noise.
"Wait," the bounties eyes widened as he realized his bare back was exposed to the bounty hunter.
"To late…"
The fat man fell over forward with a deafening thump. Blood leaked from behind his back like a small river from various places. The fat man's eyes rolled to the back of eyes, showing only white and red veins, and his mouth foamed.
Sapphire covered her mouth in fear. There was so much blood, and this was her first time seeing a dead person so close.
Inu sighed as he flicked off some dust from his claw. He walked over to his bounty and knelt down, pulling out the many numerous kunais and shurikens lodged in the man's back.
"I didn't want to mutilate his front or face, because the police usually won't a take a person with no identification…," said Inu to no one in particular.
Sapphire's fingernails dug into her skin. She was petrified to the bone to see a person so calmly touch a dead person with no affection at all.
Inu collected his weaponry and stood up and kicked the body. It jiggled a bit. He sighed.
"Now how am I supposed to take this to the station?"
Inu scratched the back of his head. That's when he took notice of the horrified SapphireStar on the ground.
He gave her a pitiful look, "Hey, don't worry, this happens all the time in Kerning."
Star didn't respond.
"It's a way of life here! How else are people supposed to feed themselves without killing a few people?" Inu smiled warmly.
He walked slowly and calmly to Star and reached out with his claw to her, offering to help her.
Star's eyes jerked to see his extremely large claw in her face. Her eyes widened. She could even see some old blood stains on it. She started shuddering horribly.
Inu's eyes narrowed, than he noticed what Star was looking at. He pulled back his right arm and offered his left on, putting his claw hand behind his back.
"May I offer you a dance, madam?" Inu said politely as he gave a small nod to still unaffected singer.
Star looked up at him slowly yet steadily, unsure of whether it was safe to accept the hands of a killer. After a bit of a mental battle, she finally accepted Inu's hand, her small hands, meeting with his rough and frayed glove.
Inu immediately pulled her up quickly, but with grace, and pulled her in close to him, enclosing her to his muscular body.
"You know…," whispered Inu softly into Star's ear, "It's not easy finding such a girl like you in Kerning…"
Star didn't know what to say, or how to respond. She's never been this close to a man before. His voice smelled nice, like mint. Suddenly she felt very warm and fuzzy.
The two of them stood there in that embrace until Star was suddenly snapped out this reverie by Karik's piercing voice.
"SAPPHIRESTAR!" Karik rushed immediately over to the two that were close together and pulled Star away from Inu, pulling her behind him.
"Who are you?" demanded Karik sharply.
Inu's eyes twitched a little, but he kept them on Star. He answered Karik with a monotonous voice.
"A nobody, just a passerby."
"And see to it that you stay that way!" Karik seethed.
Inu smiled faintly as he turned away and picked up the dead bounty with one arm onto his shoulder. He than turned back to face Karik and Star, but his eyes were glued on Star with a soft expression.
"Have it your way," Inu waved to Star and balanced his prize a little better over his shoulder.
Sapphire meekly waved back from behind Karik. Karik saw this from the corner of his eyes and gave a disapproving look.
Inu smiled again, but more directed at Karik. He than kicked open the door of the bar. He paused at the entrance. It was night already, and the city outside was pitch black. A cool rush of air came in and cleansed the room of all cigarette smoke.
Inu said quietly to Karik and Star without facing them, "We'll meet again." He left.
The whole bar was silent for a while. Suddenly the bartender that Karik was speaking to walked up to them.
"Would you rather have me show you two your room or have dinner first?" he said with a bit of snap.
Karik turned his head slightly to face the bartender, with Star still behind him, "Dinner first."
After Dinner...
"Hey Karik," asked Star as she sat on her bed, which was an extremely old mattress with a thin sheet covering it with a small blanket folded at the end, "where were you when…..um…..yeah…."
"I was talking to the bartender in another room. I was pointing out health regulations that his bar was not following and that could be seriously fined for if somebody was to tell the city officials," Karik said as he opened up his sack full of his possessions and scattered them out onto his own bed that was identical to Stars.
Star giggled, leave it to Karik to somehow get them free food and rooms through the law. Robbie probably would have just stuck roughhoused the barkeeper until he gave in. Than Shaman would have come in and……..
Star's face fell a bit. She forgot that Shaman was…
She fell over onto her bed, with her blue hair sprawled all over the place messily. She sighed, the past two days was just so much. So many things and events went through in such a quick time.
Karik's question broke her out of her thinking.
"Do you want to take the shower first or can I?"
Star sat up immediately, "I'm taking it first!"
After many attempts at hot water and a cold shower...
Sapphire walked out of the bathroom in their room with a bathrobe on. Her hair was wet but she had it tied up in a bunch with a rubber band.
She smiled at Karik, who was reading a magazine he found on the desk next to his bed, "Your turn."
Karik frowned at her, "Why are you smiling?"
Star kept the same expression on her face, "because I'm thankful!"
Karik gave her a questioning look, "for what?"
"For you silly!" Star chuckled, "I'm just thankful that you were able to protect me the whole way here!"
Karik blushed, "Well…yeah, you're welcome," he felt a bit bad now for being so suspicious.
Karik got up and went into the bathroom with a towel and toothbrush in hand. He closed the door and Star heard it lock with a click.
SapphireStar smiled, "and I'm also thankful for cold water…"
A loud yelp was heard throughout the whole bar/hotel.
Star smile smugly, Karik hated cold water.
The Next Day after a Restful Nap with Broken, Spring Mattresses...
Karik was quick to wake up as he usually does, but not because out of habit.
Today, Star woke up earlier than him, than proceeded to wake up him up with an ear piercing shriek.
Karik woke up with a start. Sapphire was on the gray carpet of the room, pointing with a shaky finger at the window. Karik groggily went to see what she was pointing at, to find the person that he saved Sapphire from yesterday at the window waving happily.
Karik gave a large yelp and he fell out of his bed with a thump. Fumbling with his blanket, he quickly reached for his staff next to his bag, than swung back at the window with his staff pointed readily.
To find that the window was open and empty. Karik wildly scanned the room. Where was that bastard!
Sapphire shrieked again. Karik swung back to where she was. Inu was sitting on her bed, Indian style, looking at the two of them as though seeing two people in pajamas, one screaming her head off, and the other wielding a powerful, magical staff, ready to blast a certain person to bits, was normal.
Karik pointed his staff at the intruder hastily, dropping it onto the ground. Karik froze.
The intruder stared at him bored and yawned.
"Are all mages clumsy? Or is it just you?"
Karik's temples suddenly grew a few stress veins. He responded through gritted teeth.
"Shut up…and who are you to say! You're intruding our room at…," Karik glanced at his watch, "three'o clock in the morning!"
Inu laughed, "Hey man, this is Kerning City, three'o clock at night is still early! Once the sun comes up, that's when it's late!"
Karik growled. His staff glowed brightly.
Suddenly Star ran in front of Inu, "Wait Karik! Don't! He's a good person!"
Karik almost fell over, "WHAT!" he roared, "he attempted to molest you than he woke us both up! WHILE WE WERE IN OUR PAJAMAS!"
Star gave Karik an exasperated look, "So? I don't care…"
"Aaaauuhh…," Karik stuttered, "Right….I don't….either..." he looked around awkwardly, " but that still doesn't give him the right to sneak in here while we're asleep!"
Star looked behind at Inu, "Yeah…why are you here in the middle of the night while we're still asleep?"
Inu sighed and shrugged, "To join you guys!"
"………….."
"………….."
Inu looked up to see a bowwoman and a cleric standing together at the corner of the room staring at him with gaping jaws.
"What?" he inquired innocently.
Star fell over face first as Karik's right eye started to twitch horribly.
Star raised her head from the ground and asked Inu weakly, "But why would you want to join us? We don't even know you!"
Karik's head grew a few stress veins and his jaw started moving in odd positions.
Inu replied with ease, "So what? I know you guys are good people!"
Star fell over again as Karik's muscles that were grabbing the staff started tightening and also twitching.
Inu cocked his head to one side and chuckled, "Come on…you guys look cool and all! You guys don't have to worry about slitting my throat or stealing all of my stuff because I trust you!"
Star didn't move, but Karik exploded.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN! IF ANYTHING ELSE, WE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT YOU SLITTING OUR THROATS OR STEALING ALL OF OUR STUFF!"
Inu fell off the bed backwards as Karik yelled. As Karik stopped, Inu popped his head back up and said distastefully, "Say it, don't spray it!"
"GRAH!" Karik fired off three shining balls of light that lit up the room as though it was the day at Inu in a rapid succession. Inu immediately hopped away from his position and the three balls struck right where he was.
A loud poof was heard. Inu looked back at where he was originally and laughed, "HA! You didn't even scuff the floor! You're a horrible mage!"
Suddenly the spot where Inu was shot up a pillar of light that made Inu fall over immediately. The pillar of light was so bright in fact that it lit up most of Kerning City. Suddenl it disappeared.
Inu got up shakily, "W-what was that?"
Karik smiled, "Pillar of Heaven," he brandished his staff, "care for another?"
Inu laughed weakly, "I'm not scared! It's just light!"
Karik smiled again and used his staff to point at where the light shone.
Inu looked to find that the Pillar of Heaven had made a perfect circle of its size on the ceiling, and the ceiling after it, and the one after that, all the way up into the night sky. And also the ground held a hole of its size all the way to mother earth itself.
Inu looked back at Karik, "Eh heh heh…you know what? You mages aren't all that bad…"
Karik's eyes suddenly flashed with the craze of an insane man.
Inu sweat dropped and took a step back, he didn't like that man's look.
"PILL-!"
"NO!"
Karik's staff stopped shining immediately. He looked at Star, "Why?"
"B-because that person saved me!" Star had stood up and was holding onto Karik's sleeve.
Karik gave Inu a sharp look, in which Inu gave him another weak smile and back away further.
"He did Karik, he did!" Star pleaded, "I'll explain…"
After much explaining and much questioning...
The trio were sitting on top of Karik's bed, with Karik fully dressed, but with Star still in her pajamas.
"Ah…," said Karik slowly while stroking his hairless chin, "I see I see…"
Both SapphireStar and Inu sighed simultaneously.
Karik hopped off the bed, "Excellent! Any person that helps Star can join this party anytime!"
Star bounced up into the air using the bed's springs and yelped a yelp of joy.
Inu smiled and fell over on the now shaking bed with Star hopping up and down all over it.
"YAY! We have a new party member and friend!"
Karik rolled his eyes and went into the bathroom to brush his teeth.
"Pillow fight!" screamed Star as she smacked the laid down Inu with a pillow right in the kisser.
One morning later and continuing into the afternoon...
Karik, Inu, and SapphireStar all walked down the street of Kerning City. Inu had just taken them to a very nice restaurant by this city's standard and had paid for all their bills, than took them to the infamous black market of Kerning City, which was actually very wonderful once you got used to the smell of the sewers.
"So…," asked Inu lazily as he twirled a shuriken on his index finger boringly, "where are we off too?"
"Ellina...," said Karik at once.
Inu raised an eye, "You know that's pretty far right?"
Karik paused, than answered again, "Yes…"
Inu laughed, "Than let's take the taxicab!
Star looked at Inu, "What's that?"
Inu gave her a weird look, "You don't know what that is?"
Karik coughed and Star looked at him, "Karik? Do you know?"
Karik sighed professionally, but he was quite glad to explain, "Kerning City hosts all of Victoria Island's most newest and strangest technology. The taxicab is one of their many older inventions that have been in use for quite some time. The Six Main Cities of the Island each has a station where the Taxi cab resides for customers who wish to travel to one of the other remaining Five Main Cities at an amazing speed for a certain price depending on the distance to each city." Karik finished off proudly and gave Star a knowledgeable look.
Star wasn't paying attention, because she was poking at a small ladybug that was on a handrail. Karik fell over.
"Y-you weren't listening at all!" he yelled.
Star looked back at Karik with a pouting face, "You were getting boring…"
Karik fell over once again.
Inu laughed out loud and kept on laughing.
Karik fumed and snapped at Inu, "FINE! You explain it to her!"
Inu struggled with a red face to keep down a chuckle, "Okay…," he faced Star, "A taxicab is a car with no horses that can take you to other cities really fast."
Star nodded immediately with a cute grin on her face and than said to Karik, "See? That wasn't boring!"
Karik's whole face was redder than the setting sun of Japan as his fingers moved in different tempos, ready to strangle something, preferably their newfound member.
Inu grinned at the two of them, pretending not to notice Karik's anger, "All right than! We'll take the taxi, I'll pay!"
Inu stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly, and in two seconds flat, a white taxi zoomed up right next to them.
The driver's window rolled down to reveal a young man with a yellow cap on his head, "Where to, lady and gents?"
Inu announced proudly, "Ellina!"
The driver grinned, "Hop in!"
Sapphire cheered as she jumped into the back seat with vigor, this was her first time riding a taxicab! She happily fumbled around in the back, examining the seatbelts and the vinyl seats.
Inu laughed as he threw a backpack full of his possessions in the trunk and got in back along with her. He than showed her how to put on her seatbelt.
Karik remained there in the same expression as he was, murderous and dangerous.
The driver looked at him, "You coming along too for the ride?"
Karik spat out horribly a yes and threw his items forcibly into the trunk. As he took the shotgun seat, he was already regretting for letting Inu join them.
The taxi driver looked into his rearview mirror, positioning it, "Everybody ready and have their seatbelts on?"
Star and Inu cheered, "Yes!"
"Than to Ellina!"