YE: Ok to start this off I'm rrrrrreally sorry. I made you all wait a long time. I knew laziness was gonna kick in. Besides school gets hectic with the term paper and all.
Kurai: That was a short rambling. You spent valentines alone AGAIN?
YE: Well, THANK you. Rub it in why don'cha?
Tsuara: -walks in and looks at YE- What'd you say this time?
Kurai: She spent Valentines Day alone again. Did your latest obsession turn you down?
YE: -glares- It is NOT an obsession. I merely worship my beloved from afar and gather every piece of information on him. -sighs dreamily- Gaara-sama…
Kurai: -snickers than sneers at YE- Yeah, you're watching from afar. The closest you're getting to him is the computer screen. I can't believe you're STILL going on about Valentines Day. It was over a week ago.
Tsuara: Oh, NOW look at what you've done!
YE: -in the corner crouched down, doodling with finger on the floor while mumbling incoherently-
Kurai: Man she's sensitive. -grins evilly- Black mail material. -goes to the other side of the room plotting something-
Tsuara: Damn! Looks like I'm writing the chapter.
BAM
Tsuara: -on the floor unconscious-
Zalia: Not any more. Now for this ridiculous story…
Warnings: Potty mouth, occness, general cheesiness and unoriginality
Pairings: Dilandau/Tsuara, Nanashi/Lori, Van/Rea, Miguel/Karei (if you want other pairings like Folken/someone or Merle/someone contact me)
Tsuara's POV
Smug bastard. I think he set this up. He gave Van and Merle my room and claims there are no other available rooms besides his. He wants to keep a tighter watch on my movements. I didn't know he was into voyeurism. I wonder if he noticed the adjustments I made to my Melef.
Doesn't matter either way. Nanashi can do the same job but not quite as diligently as I could. If he wants to watch than I guess I'll give him a show. Probably not the one he wants or expects. Or maybe I could give him nothing to watch than watch him get frustrated.
With one last half glare at Dilandau-SAMA I saunter from the mess hall. Finally some free time. Maybe a good book to pass the time. Ahhh, the joys of manipulation…
Dilandau POV
I think she suspects that I set this up. She's practically seething. (A/N: sure she is. Make things up to feed your already overly large ego.) This should be fun. I'm going to provoke her till she caves, breaks or dies.
I have to admit, grudgingly, that if under control, she and her friends would be valuable assets. This will be great fun.
She gives me a glare and leaves. I wonder what she's up to…(A/N: If only you knew.)
Lori's POV
Something's up. I can practically smell it. Tsuara seems…disturbed? How weird is that? Something else went on last night that she's not telling us about and something happened earlier when Folken asked to speak to her. She keeps shooting glares at Dilandau who seems awfully smug. But what else is new?
Tsuara leaves and I watch carefully as Dilandau watchesher go. What's he up to? Oh well not my business. Now back to ogling my obsession…
Later General POV
"Why are we on code yellow 023?" Karei asked.
"There's an unconfirmed intruder. Something was stolen from Lord Folken's Lab. We're on lock down till intruder is found, stolen items found and/or intruder is proven gone." Koji informed them. The former Kage looked questioningly at Tsuara. She gave the barest of shrugs.
"So what do we do?" Merle asked.
"We stay in here until further notice." Dallet said.
"You sure you don't know what's happening?" Lori asked Tsuara suspiciously.
"Listen, I knew something got stolen. By whom? Don't care. What for? Doesn't concern me. Where are they? Not my business." Tsuara said slightly aggravated.
"What if it was Zalia?" Karei asked.
"How the hell would she get here? We're not in Kansas anymore Toto." Tsuara said sarcastically.
"Where's Kansas and who's Toto?" Chesta asked. Lori and Karei broke out in laughter while Nanashi and Rea smirked. Chesta blushed and Tsuara rolled her eyes.
"No really. Tell us." Dallet begged.
"It's just something from our home that takes to much explaining." Nanashi said. Rea snorted.
"I don't know that we ever had a home." Rea said.
"You've never had a home?" Merle asked incredulously. Van sent them a questioning look. Lori and Karei looked a bit sad but the other three became even more expressionless. Rea, Karei, Lori and surprisingly Tsuara looked at the ground. No one said anything for a while.
"We move around a lot. Staying in one spot to long is dangerous with our previous profession." Karei tried to explain mildly, not really looking at any one.
Everyone was slightly irked when Lori didn't respond sarcastically to Karei's choice of words. Tsuara's head bent down as she stared at the ground, obviously in deep thought.
"You weren't moving your entire life; were you?" Miguel asked.
"When I said 'we' I meant us as a group. I could not tell you what the others did or did not have before they became part of our group. We don't feel it necessary to dive" Rea tried to cover up but failed miserably.
They all shifted slightly except Tsuara who stood stock-still. Silence reigned. A small chill crept up Nanashi's spine and he tried to discover its source.
"Tsuara what's wrong?" Nanashi asked sharply. This brought everyone's attention to the motionless assassin.
"Tsuara?" Karei asked.
"Ah shit!" Nanashi cursed rather loudly. The other's turned their attention to Nanashi. He was usually quiet and almost never cursed.
"What?" Lori asked in a commanding tone.
Karei was looking at Nanashi for an answer with fright and worry written on her face. Rea had gone tense. Nanashi motioned to an empty corner. He grabbed Tsuara's arm and dragged her over to said corner.
They were momentarily stunned. Tsuara was not one to be touched much less dragged. Something was definitely wrong. Shooting each other a look they followed Nanashi to the corner.
The small group who they had been talking to was watching them with slight curiosity and apprehension. The sudden movement brought the attention of everyone else in the room to the group though nobody stopped their conversations.
"You know what's up." Rea stated staring at Nanashi intently with her arms crossed.
"For you to show your nervousness like this… Spit it out." Lori commanded.
"We have a right to know what's wrong with our leader." Karei added.
"I believe I'm your leader now." Dilandau's smooth voice interrupted. They turned to him. Nanashi thoughthe saw Tsuara move but ignored it.
"Quite frankly I couldn't care less. If it weren't for Tsuara I would have ran away with Rea, Van and Merle the night you attacked Allen's. Hell, I probably wouldn't be here. Can't speak for the others but I'm only here because Tsuara wants to be. That's where I stand." Karei said. Lori, Nanashi and Rea just looked at him but their agreement was evident in their eyes.
"Shut it. I am not you're leader and never was. If I wanted to lead something I would have stated with That man." Tsuara said gruffly and they turned too her.
Nanashi looked about to say some thing but Tsuara gave him a warning glare.
"Don't." she commanded. He closed his mouth and drew back slightly.
"Let's go Folken wants to speak with you five." Dilandau ordered and they followed him out of the room.
Ever tactless Karei openly stared at Tsuara worry clearly stamped on her features. Lori was a bit more indiscreet. She sent an occasional glance at the unconcerned blond, a frown firmly placed on Lori's face. Rea was lost in her thoughts and Nanashi just pretended nothing happened though an air of worry surrounded him. Tsuara just ignored the obvious worry that permeated the atmosphere.
Now, Dilandau was far from stupid. Some thing had happened before he had arrived that was making them all tense with the exception of the ever-indifferent Tsuara. He couldn't help but wonder why they were acting like this.
They eventually came to Folken's study. This was the same room Dilandau had taken Tsuara to when she had woken up. It was consequently also the room where Tsuara had been getting her books from.
Tsuara had been curious to know the foundations and beliefs of this world. Now it was to pass the time. Any books of mechanical interest was handed over to Nanashi and returned when finished.
Of course this was with out Folken's permission.
They entered the room, Dilandau in the lead. Folken was sitting in the same high back chair he had been sitting in when Tsuara had first met him. His countenance was looking slightly stressed.
With out waiting for an invitation, greeting or permission, Tsuara immediately took a seat, looking for all the world as if she owned the place.
"What's under your skin old man?" Tsuara asked, addressing Folken.
Dilandau was absolutely furious with his 'subordinate'. Not only did she sit down in front of her superiors with out permission, she was speaking in the most disrespectful tone he had ever heard. Her attitude was only further rubbing it in.
Only Tsuara could know whether or not it was intentional. The other four members of the Kage went and stood behind Tsuara's chair in an unconscious display of power. This only made Dilandau angrier. Folken on the other hand was slightly amused and showed this with a quirked eyebrow.
"You were assassins before correct?" he paused and continued after Tsuara gave a slight nod. "Some important and classified information on an experiment I'm conducting has been stolen. I know this is not in your area of expertise but I'd like you to conduct an investigation. I have been led to believe that who ever has stolen this information works more in your department."
"How do you know it wasn't missed placed?" Karei asked. Folken became visibly irritated at this.
"I'm the only one with access to this room. I have never missed placed something of this importance! Not only…" he was cut off as Tsuara stood abruptly, startling everyone in the process.
"Folken-sama this is unlike you. You are a leader are you not? This is an important problem which must be solved ASAP, correct?" she asked. He was not quite sure what the meaning of ASAP was but he got the general idea of it.
"They must have left something out of your training. A leader is to remain calm at all times and in all places. I expected better from you." She said. He was looking at her in surprise, as was Dilandau.
"Tsuara are you ok?" Karei asked coming forward to put a hand on her forehead.
"I'm fine." Tsuara snapped, slapping her hand away. Karei looked at her closely.
"AHH! Its you!" Karei yelled jumping backwards so that her back met the table. Suddenly the doors banged open and another Tsuara came in.
"What's going on?" Dilandau demanded.
"Che." Said the Tsuara who had reprimanded Folken.
"I knew you'd come. You always manage to find me." Said the Tsuara who had just entered.
"I was wondering where you were." The first Tsuara said.
Just as she finished saying this her outline became a bit fuzzy and her form seemed to melt. The colors swirled in an amazing array. The colors stopped moving and she once again took a solid shape.
This time she was slightly taller with a more oriental look. She had ebony black hair in a tight braid and her brown eyes were lighter than Tsuara's dark chocolate orbs. Her skin was that tan olive color most Orientals had. She wore a white halter-top and black pants covering soft-soled boots. Her hand was on her hip and she was smirking at Tsuara.
"When did you figure out I was here?" she asked.
"I knew you were here the second you stepped on the compound nearly a week ago." Tsuara sneered. The woman looked slightly shocked.
"I could know where you were 24/7 with barely a thought but you're not worth my time old woman." Tsuara continued.
"Really? Than why didn't you do anything?" the woman asked.
"Like an ancient ruin like you could do any thing, Zalia. Besides what you stole has nothing to do with me." Tsuara jeered. Zalia smirked.
"Of course it has something to do with you." Zalia said.
"You just can't stand being second best!" Karei told her.
"Stay out of this brat!" Zalia snarled.
"Careful not to get your face stuck like that. It already makes blind children cry out in terror." Lori mocked.
"Quiet whore!" Zalia bellowed.
"Watch who you talk to." Tsuara warned her voice menacingly low. Zalia sneered.
"You DO have a soft spot for these weaklings." Zalia said.
Tsuara glared at her. If looks could kill Zalia would have been wiped from existence.
The shadows around the room started to swirl and crawled around Tsuara's body like a pet snake as she took a slightly crouched position. You could see them in her eyes as she glared fiercely at the woman. Zalia started to look slightly nervous.
"Touched a sore spot, did I? How much do your faithful followers know about you? I wonder." Zalia mused.
The shadows became more intense and moved faster. They started crawling hungrily towards Zalia who was growing more nervous by the minute.
"Why don't we share it with them. You're fearless leader…" Zalia was knocked back and there was the sound of air rushing out of the lungs.
The shadows had dealt her a harsh blow to the stomach. She stood with a little trickle of blood coming out of the corner of her mouth.
"No patience huh? Well than I'll be back and when I do it'll be your down fall." Zalia said and jumped from the window.
"Cliché. Can't that woman get any more original?" Lori asked.
"Che." Tsuara said standing up straight.
"What the hell was that?" Dilandau demanded.
"That was Tsuara's self proclaimed rival, Zalia. It's kinda annoying how she always follows us around." Kurai said.
"Zalia is another assassin who seeks to steal the title of number one away from Tsuara. They go back further than we know. Zalia could tell you anything about Tsuara right down to the way she prefers her dinner." Lori expanded.
"What was that thing with the shadows?" Folken asked intrigued.
"Our group is called the Kage for a reason. Kage means shadows. We can manipulate and communicate with them through thought. It makes our job easier. Tsuara was the one to unlock their secrets and pass it on to us. She had the best control over them." Nanashi contributed.
"Could I study this ability?" Folken asked. Rea snorted.
"What are you, a scientist?" she sneered. Tsuara shot her a warning glare than shook her head.
"It is not an ability but an understanding. An explanation would sound like garbled words and you could not possibly see it without the understanding." Tsuara said.
"I see." Folken said looking thoughtful and a bit saddened.
"Why have I not been informed of this ability?" Dilandau demanded.
"One, you did not ask and two, you have seen a small demonstration of this before." Tsuara said. She turned her back to him and resumed the position Zalia had assumed when in her form. Lori and Karei had to hold in a giggle at this. Rea smirked while the barest hint of a smile touched Nanashi's lips. Tsuara gave Karei and irritated look
"Back to the investigation. I believe it is no longer necessary." Tsuara said.
"I need those documents found." Folken said.
"Zalia is our thief." Tsuara stated simply.
"I see that explains it." Folken said.
"Explains what?" Lori asked.
"How she was able to change her form into Tsuara-san's." Folken mused.
"Pardon?" Karei asked. Folken gave her a confused look.
"What she meant to ask was; what's that suppose to mean?" Lori clarified.
"It was the topic of the research. What do you suggest we do?" Folken asked patiently sitting up straight in his chair.
"There is no doubt, Zalia will be back. Until than all we can do is wait." Tsuara said.
"You seem awfully ready to accept advice." Rea said, voice baring a slightly suspicious tone.
"I know when I can benefit from taking other's advice." Folken said giving her a slightly dirty look.
"If you cannot wait for her return, the missing items can be remade by the shadows." Tsuara offered.
"They can do that?" Karei asked.
"Indeed. But shadows are not something to be used lightly so this is a case of absolute must." Tsuara warned.
"They seem eager enough." Lori said looking around the room.
"Your inexperience amazes me. You are my first student yet you have not learned to not abuse what is given to you. Take for granted? Yes. Abuse? Never. I give as easily as I take." Tsuara reprimanded.
"Forgive me." Lori apologized, head hanging. A small silence fell after this as the two silver haired males studied the group. Nanashi stepped forward slightly.
"Tsuara did you…?" he asked with a swiping motion of his hand. Most of the room's occupants did not understand what he was trying to ask by this. Apparently Tsuara did.
"That does not concern you." She replied.
"Hai." He said stepping back to once again lean against the wall. Karei was staring at Tsuara intently, a near frown on her face. (A/N: for those people out there who watch anime but do not speak a drop of Japanese 'hai' means yes.)
"What?" Tsuara snapped. Karei's eyes shifted nervously to Folken, Dilandau and than back. Tsuara gave her a look that said 'spit it out already.' Karei took a deep breath.
"Its just that after thinking about it I realized how little I actually knew of you. I mean you know all about me and my past and I'm willing to bet that it goes the same for the others. And we don't even know your age, birthday or last name even." Karei pointed out.
Tsuara gave Karei and indecipherable look. This caused Karei to gulp and step back. Tsuara moved her steady gaze from Karei to the window. Her eyes flickered briefly to Dilandau who started smirking. Lori looked at him apprehensively. Tsuara stood up and sighed.
"It's late. I'm going back to MY room." Tsuara said giving Dilandau a pointed look. He scowled slightly at her tone as she left the room. Karei sighed.
"Cheer up brat. She'll tell us. Eventually." Lori tried to encourage looking a bit sad.
"Watch your language. I'm older than you." Karei said.
"Yeah whatever." Lori said giving her a mock punch on the shoulder. Nanashi watched this exchange with slightly worried eyes. Rea caught his gaze in a silent message. She nodded and they left silently.
Folken and Lori followed this silent conversation, both with curiosity and Lori with a bit of sadness. Dilandau snorted and left the room. Lori sighed and headed back to her room. Karei waved energetically to Folken before leaving to raid the kitchen.
"Ok Nanashi spill. What's got you upset?" Rea demanded arms crossed. Nanashi sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Look, Rea, I'm not really authorized to tell you. If Tsuara found out my head would be mounted on her wall." Nanashi said.
"She doesn't have to find out." Rea stated.
"How can we keep it from her? She's got eyes and ears everywhere where there's light there's shadow." Nanashi argued.
"So it DOES have to do with Tsuara. I have a right to know." Rea said. Nanashi once again sighed.
"Come on. Let's go somewhere even more out of the way." Nanashi relented. They fell into the shadows and left.
Tsuara changed quickly and laid down. Dilandau entered about a minute afterwards. He shot her a look and went about his business. She ignored him for the most part as she thought over Karei's earlier words.
She heard the muffled splash of water from the adjoining bathroom. Karei was right. Tsuara was being unfair. They didn't even know they were being led by a nineteen year old. They at least deserved that, right?
Tsuara started brooding as Karei's words started to really bother her. She ignored Dilandau when he entered again with damp hair and nothing on but leather pants. (A/N: Drool.)
He stared at Tsuara a minute or two before sitting down at his desk.
He had inadvertently learned more about Tsuara tonight than he had these past week. Though she didn't show it she cared deeply for the four who followed her just as he cared for his Dragon Slayers.
They were also very tightly knit, like his group. They showed their affection by teaching them and being harsh to them so that no one could hurt them. Their tight control was another sign of their affection.
Tsuara growled suddenly and stood up. She had on a dark blue tang top and pants of the same color. Both were silk. Tsuara stalked over to where her stuff had been dumped and took out her gun; she twirled towards the door and stomped out.
"Where are you going?" Dilandau asked before the door closed.
"Out." She growled.
"You don't have permission." Dilandau said.
"I'd love to see you stop me." She said and disappeared into the shadows.
Dilandau smirked as the door closed.
Tsuara raced through the shadows heading for the hanger. Upon arriving she looked down over the edge, towards the ground so far away. Seemingly aimless, she shot into the forest.
"It's not like you to waste your precious bullets." Lori said walking up.
Tsuara ignored her. Lori placed a hand on Tsuara's shoulder. Tsuara whirled placing the gun to Lori's temple. Lori didn't flinch even as she felt Tsuara pull the trigger. The louder clicking sound filled the chamber. The gun was empty.
Tsuara lowered the gun and emptied the chamber. She threw the empty cartridge to the forest.
"What's got under your skin?" Lori asked.
"Nothing." Tsuara mumbled.
"Sure. We've known each other for quite a while. Isn't it time you trusted me even a little?" Lori pleaded. Tsuara said something even Lori's sharp ears couldn't quite pick out. "What?" Lori asked.
"I turned nineteen just last month." Tsuara said a bit louder.
"What?" Lori asked in disbelief. "You're joking right?" Lori asked.
"What do you want my birth certificate?" Tsuara snapped bitterness lining her voice. Lori stepped closer to her and put a hand on Tsuara's face.
"You're so young yet you act like you're in your mid twenties. What happened to you?" Lori asked.
"Nothing good." Tsuara replied stepping back so Lori's hand was no longer on her face. Lori let her hand fall. Normally one would worry about how close she was to the edge, but this was Tsuara and such worry was needless.
"I don't need your sympathy nor pity." Tsuara half snarled.
"I know." Lori said giving a gentle smile.
"We're here for you all the same." Karei said stepping from the shadows. Tsuara snorted and crossed her arms.
Suddenly the fortress shook in a violent shudder. Lori and Karei lurched forward at the unexpected movement falling to the ground. Nanashi and Rea were also pitched from the shadows in which they stood. Horror filled their faces as Tsuara was knocked backwards and sent flying from the Vione.
"Tsuara!" they all shouted getting up and rushing to the edge.
They could only watch as Tsuara disappeared from view as she fell further and further.
"TSUARAAAAAA!" Lori screamed. (A/N: Hmm. Should I stop here?)
Lori was sitting down slumped over with her hands covering her face. Rea was on the bed looking at the ground with her hands folded. Nanashi was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. Karei was pacing.
"Will you stop that? It's annoying." Lori demanded in a pained voice.
"Well excuse me for worrying about our leader. She hasn't sought us out for days; she fell a few thousand miles into a forest that caught fire not five minutes later. Excuse me for not being able to sit down and wait for some incompetent moron to do what I should be doing because the assholes higher up on the chain think we might leave!" Karei's voice had been getting louder till she finally ended in a yell.
"You think we don't want to go out and search! You think we like sitting here when are savior could be lying died, dying or god knows where in what condition? You think we're any less concerned?" Lori shouted jumping to her feet.
"Don't yell at me! Of course I know you're worried! If she did anything for you close to what she did for me than of course you're worried." Karei yelled stomping her foot.
"Shut you're fucking traps! I am in no mood to listen to your incessant bickering!" Rea snapped looking up to glare at them.
"Sorry." Karei apologized sullenly.
She looked down with her shoulders slumped. Rea snorted and went back to staring at the ground. Lori returned to her previous position. Karei hopped onto the table behind her and started swinging her legs.
They all ignored Dilandau who had entered at the beginning of the fight. He walked further into the room with Van, Merle and Miguel trailing in after him. The tension was so unbelievably heavy in the room that it was a wonder the Vione stayed floating. Everyone couldn't bare the silence yet they were all afraid to break it.
"Any news?" Nanashi finally asked.
"None." Dilandau replied.
The moods of the four assassins fell even farther if that was in anyway possible.
Karei curled into a ball on top of the table. She was on her side facing away from them. Silent sobs wracked her frame. Miguel's eyes lingered on her with sadness and longing.
"We're not familiar with your ways. How long till a person is assumed dead?" Rea asked. Miguel took his eyes off of Karei to look at Rea.
"A full scaled search for two weeks. For a year afterwards it's a steady stream of scouts than after that it's random search parties when entering new territory. The person is never assumed dead." Miguel explained.
His eyes traveled back to Karei after finishing the same speech. Lori didn't move. Silence once again descended like a ton of bricks.
Lori stood suddenly with a determined look on her face. The movement made the chair squeak shortly as the chair was pushed back not even a centimeter.
Karei looked up at the sound and everyone stared. Karei wiped off her tears and jumped from the table, her face assuming a similar expression. Rea was the next to stand, her face set. Nanashi opened his eyes and pushed off the wall.
They all looked at each other. Lori nodded. The other four occupants in the room were watching them with curiosity as a message was passed around that they missed. (A/N: WARNING! MAJOR CHEESINESS TO FOLLOW!)
"Where there is…" Nanashi started.
"…light, there is…" Rea picked up.
"…darkness. We five…" Karei added.
"…are the shadows." Lori finished. They left the room Lori in the lead.
"Where are you going?" Dilandau demanded. They turned to him slowly.
"Like it or not Tsuara is our leader. I do not recall us giving our oaths. The only one to do that was Tsuara. We followed you because that's what Tsuara wanted. We will find her and it'll be her decision on whether or not we are coming back. I refuse to follow any one else so long as I live." Lori said. Turning they left.
"Let them go Dilandau-sama. They'd follow her into the very depths of hell as we would follow you." Miguel said.
"You're out of line soldier." Dilandau growled.
"Of course! Sorry sir!" Miguel apologized snapping to attention.
"Fifty rotations in the chamber. Move!" Dilandau commanded.
"Sir." Miguel saluted than left the room at a jog. Merle giggled as Van merely shook his head and left.
Some Time Much Later…(A/N: You'll find out how much later next chapter, but it was not hours or days but weeks.)
"Holy shit!" Tsuara cursed looking up at the huge fortress. There was something not quite right with her, but was barely noticeable. The four standing slightly behind her looked at her oddly. Lori shrugged.
"How do we get in?" Karei asked.
"They've seen us." Rea said pointing to the guymelefs that had just been released. Tsuara watched the huge mechas as they descended to land in front of her.
"Tsuara-san!" Chesta exclaimed as the cockpit opened. Lori whispered something to Tsuara pointing to the now exposed males in turn. Tsuara nodded and Lori drew back. Lori was smirking and Karei had a huge grin planted on her face.
"Are we going to stand here all day? Bring us up." Rea ordered.
"Hai." The two replied and lowered the arms of the Melefs. Karei and Nanashi climbed on to the shoulders of Chesta's guymelefs. Lori and Tsuara took Miguel's right shoulder and Rea took the left.
"I sent a message up that you had returned." Chesta informed them.
"Thanks." Karei beamed.
Lori once again leaned forward and started whispering things into Tsuara's ear. Tsuara nodded every once in a while. The two looked at the other three who nodded.
As the Melefs docked Tsuara's face became more like its emotionless mask. She jumped from the shoulder of the Melef, quickly, followed by the other four. She didn't wait for the two pilots as she immediately headed for the two silver headed males.
As she strode toward them a smirk spread on her face silently sizing them up. She stopped in front of them and put a hand on her hip.
"Miss me Dilandau-sama?" she asked mockingly.
"Of course." Dilandau sneered.
"I am honored, oh great one." Tsuara returned sarcastically, as she gave a fake bow.
"I still have trouble believing you're so weak that, that tiny tremor knocked you flying from the Vione." Dilandau scorned. Something flashed briefly in Tsuara's eyes.
"I am ever sorry Your Majesty. I shall try harder to meet your low standards." Tsuara ridiculed.
"You will be careful when you speak to me." Dilandau warned menacingly.
"Are you gonna back up your threats for once? Or are you gonna leave them as empty as I remember." Tsuara sneered.
Dilandau was visibly trying to restrain himself. He looked about ready to jump on her and proceed to beat the living crap out of her. Folken put a hand on his shoulder.
A small noise brought every one's attention to a previously ignored and forgotten Karei. He face was beat red. A mirthful twinkle sparkled in her eyes as she held her hands to her mouth obviously trying to restrain her laughter.
Lori's body was facing them but her head was turned so that they could not see her face.
The two were shaking.
Nanashi let out a small smile and Rea rolled her eyes upward, probably praying for patience or mercy. She had her arms crossed in a slightly huffy manner.
"What's so funny?" Dilandau snapped.
The two finally broke out in laughter. Lori was crying a little and bending over slightly. Karei was actually rolling on the ground in her laughter. They both clutched their sides tightly.
"Tsuara?" Rea asked. Tsuara sighed and relaxed.
"I still don't get it." Tsuara said.
"These two find perverse pleasure in the weirdest and stupidest things." Rea grumbled.
"You must admit it was a little funny." Nanashi said defending the two.
"Would you like to explain?" Rea asked Tsuara. Tsuara crossed her arms and gave Rea an 'Are You CRAZY?' look.
"Explain what I still don't understand?" Tsuara asked. Karei and Lori's laughter broke out harder.
"Shut up!" Rea growled and kicked Karei in the ribs.
"OWW!" Karei cried out now clutching her stomach for an entirely new reason. Lori laughed harder.
"It's not funny!" Karei moaned indignantly and kicked Lori's feet out from under her.
Lori yelped loudly as she fell backwards and hit her head on the floor. She held the back of her head groaning. Rea stood over the two looking down at them with a triumphant smirk. Nanashi's face was carefully neutral. Tsuara could have sworn his eyes flicked worriedly to the moaning Lori.
"You two alright?" Tsuara asked. All activity froze with the exception of the other four members of the Kage. Dilandau was staring at Tsuara in shock with his jaw gaping. Folken's face also registered shock. Every one stared…….and stared…..and stared.
"Tsuara-san, are you feeling alright?" Chesta asked timidly.
"Absolutely." Tsuara said folding her arms.
"We've run into a minor problem." Lori said standing. Karei was slowly coming to her feet, though they still kept a hand to their injured body parts.
"What do you mean?" Dilandau asked eyeing the five suspiciously.
"Um let's go somewhere more private." Rea said suddenly nervous.
Folken nodded slowly and Dilandau huffed. They made their way quickly to Folken's study. A little to quickly for the taste of the four assassins. No matter how funny it would be to see their reactions it was gonna be by no means an easy task.
When they entered Dilandau and Folken turned to them.
"Why don't you take a seat." Lori urged. They did so hesitantly. The two were very wary now. What the hell was going on! Nanashi cleared his throat.
"Tsuara has lost her memory."
Silence descended. Tsuara remained completely unaffected by the tension in the room though she knew it was there the other four assassins however where apprehensively awaiting some type of reaction.
Though a speechless Dilandau was kinda funny. Dilandau ALWAYS had some thing to say. However, Lori and Karei did not laugh. Folken's face was blank and Dilandau's face was unreadable.
"WHAT!" Dilandau shouted jumping from his seat.
"How did this happen?" Folken asked a bit more calm than the fuming Pyro.
"I did a full scale check up or best I could considering what I have to work with. She had a minor concussion from the fall. Any normal person would have died but I have a feeling he shadow's cushioned her. It had mostly healed by the time we found her. If you worried about her abilities don't worry too much. They are intact though slightly dulled. She gave hell of a chase." Rea explained.
Dilandau calmed the smallest bit when hearing she was indeed still a skilled fighter.
Silence was dominant. Dilandau slowly calmed down. Soon a look entered his eyes. 'He's scheming some thing.' Folken thought watching Dilandau warily. Similar thoughts ran through the minds of the Kage, including Tsuara.
YE: Ha ha! This is what I call a successful cliffhanger.
Kurai: You skipped a lot.
YE: -shrugs- I know. I'm gonna get to it in the next chapter. You get to find out what happened to Tsuara when she fell out and a little info on Nanashi's past. Where'd everybody go?
Kurai: Tsuara's still knocked out by your feet and Zalia's over in the corner knocked out. Nanashi came in halfway and Zalia glomped him. He freaked out than passed out. When did you snap out of it?
YE: When Lori screamer for Tsuara. She's quite loud. Any and all reviews are greatly appreciated and I'm still waiting for opinions on how I should continue the story. And the plot moves.