Yep! I'm starting to write this on the same day I posted chapter four! I REALLY wanted to write today, so here I am at nine-thirty at night beginning chapter five! After this I will begin the Chiya/ Tosuke story, so don't think I uploaded the wrong thing there. Don't worry; Ancient China will be back after a few chapters. :D And so, without further ado, I give you chapter five!

Volume One: Chapter Five

It was nearly sundown and Shizuka was sitting alone on the edge of the ramparts surrounding the bandit fortress. Her arms were wrapped delicately around her legs and she looked at the dying sun with the utmost tenderness. Her ruby orbs reflected the fiery red sun as it slowly descended the steps of the sky. She took no notice as someone quietly closed the door that lead to the interior of the stronghold and walked towards her.

"Dinner is ready… I thought you'd want to know," Aotsuki said softy. Shizuka took made no sign that she had heard the other girl. Aostuki sighed and sat down next to her friend. "It's not that bad… being here, I mean. We have to stay here for only a little while, okay? We'll be gone soon. On our own again. That's what you want, right?" Shizuka didn't move. "I know you don't want to do this… you don't think it's safe, but we're better off here. You know, they'd never look here-"

"Just shut up, okay!" Shizuka exploded. "How the hell could you know what I want! You can't manage your own self and you're trying to tell me what to do! This whole thing's shit. We shouldn't be here. It's wrong."

"But-"

"No arguing. You know it's only a matter of time before they start posting wanted sings. And I don't think these bandits grow their own food. Once they go down to the village and see the nice little prices they can get for us, do you think they'll let us stay then!"

"No," Aotsuki replied quietly. "I don't. You know I don't. But we can stay here for a while. A few days, no more. I'm going to dinner now." She got up and left through the same door she'd come through. Before closing the door she said, "You should come down to dinner. You won't be able to sleep, else." Shizuka grunted.

…

Neither Tasuki nor Kouji were at dinner that night. Cichiri ate a little and went to bed early, as did Aotsuki. Shizuka came in at the end of the meal, played with her food a bit and glared at anyone who so much as looked at her.

No one made a big deal of the two absences. After all, they had learned to accept that their leaders had some tasks that only they could do.

As it was, Tasuki and Kouji were approaching the cave where the dragon had been sighted. Not far from the cave, they could hear deep, slow, rasping breathing.

"It's asleep," Kouji murmured. "That's good. We don't know its temper yet."

They approached the entrance to the cave and with each step the breathing grew louder. They were standing right outside the mouth of the cave and the rasping breath was so loud it almost hurt. Curled inside was a long, scaly lizard-like beast. Its scales were an emerald green with streaks of deepest red and peony, flecks of blue and purple and nearly every other color. Its eyelids were a pale green that was so transparent that the two bandits could see glowing yellow eyes beneath the lids.

Then there came another sound. From far away, but growing steadily closer, they could hear singing. A young, female voice, sweet in the night and with an unusually low range. Suddenly the loud breath stopped. The dragon opened its eyes and let out a high whistling sound.

"There you are, my lovely!" called out the girl in a musical voice. The dragon made a crooning noise and then, for the first time, focused on Kouji and Tasuki. It let out a bellow of surprise and reared up to its full height. The girl was silhouetted in the light coming from outside the cave. "What is it, lovely?" she asked. Her ruby orbs danced in the moonlight and her short green hair flowed around her, framing her face. The full moon was directly behind her, showing her in a strange light. She stepped forward into the cave.

Waha! More evil cliff-hangers! XD Sorry 'bout that, people. Now will start the part of Chiya and Tosuke, so just you wait. Chichiri, Tasuki, Kouji, Shizuka, Kame, Aotsuki and the mysterious girl (to be called Ravaya) will be back in a few short chapters!

Until next time, your loyal authoress, Mie-chan