Disclaimer: Honestly, do you know how hard it is to be witty during disclaimer time? We don't own it, despite our undying love for the manwha itself.

Me: 'Nother chapter, very late, I'm sorry if some people were actually waiting for it. Real life has a habit of absorbing people. But see, we're some of the more obscure peeps here, so I guess it doesn't really matter.

And the usual notes. Please read: OOC-ness, blah, deliberate mangling of the English tongue, blah, pointless angst, and blah. Hope you manage to enjoy it. ;3

Penny: I'm not sure if I want to update. Though I have the story going somewhere, I think. So if you think this thing is still worth continuing, please say so!

You've noticed by now that I skip parts, right? I don't want to chronicle every moment, but not every important minute has been shown, either. Still, I hope the story is pretty much coherent.

Oh, and there are flashbacks in the middle of the chapter, but you could figure them out. I'm not too abstract, myself. There is swearing in this chapter. Nothing creative or explicit, just common thug swearing in one flashback portion, but, well, just a warning, okay?

Also, notice this: the accent that Yuki has is NOT from Amatsu. Why? Just remember the traveling part. Ruri, living where she is, has no particular accent whatsoever. Lorelei (being what it is) is a pretty complex place, but I can't focus on its dynamics much for now (not with rose-tinted reading glasses, anyway)…maybe soon? If anyone's interested, that is.

And last…if anyone is confused, just ask! In a review, or an e-mail, don't worry, if I see it I'll answer it. that is, if anyone cares enough to ask.

Me: By the way… GO TO OUR PROFILE. CLICK THE LINK. NOW, PLEASE. :D

Paul: And so the story commences! Please review!


Chapter 7

A breeze was blowing lightly, ruffling his hair. The bed was soft, warm, and comfortable. Another thing…it was also vaguely familiar.

Loki opened his eyes and found himself in a pale-colored room, soft light streaming through half-parted green curtains. Two paintings hanging from the wall, a cabinet and a shelf. A bedside table with flowers, small and yellow this time. He knew the place. That could only mean one thing. He was back.

How did…?

"Oh…so you're -finally- awake! How does it feel to be amongst the living again? After, oh, I don't know…FIVE -FREAKING- DAYS IN A COMA? Is it your hobby or something? Honestly, the way you get banged up all the time, you must be a living miracle! Do you want to HIRE people to save your butt? Are you as stupid as I-"

"Ruri-chan…what an interesting way t' welcome a person back. Especially considering the, ah, circumstances." Subtle, soft, yet strongly reprimanding. "I'm glad t' see ye're finally conscious, lad."

They were both there, he realized, his mind still a bit foggy. Yuki – he couldn't see her, but her voice was unmistakable. And (obviously) Ruri, too – sitting in the stool beside the bed, her eyes dark, even as she let out a resigned sigh.

"Alright, sorry, sorry…it's just that, well, never mind…" She closed them, but not before she had directed a slightly stormy glance at Loki anyway. "You're taxing on the nerves, you know?"

But he hardly noticed, his brain was slow; hazy, and his eyelids wanted nothing more than to droop shut. He almost didn't register her next words, before sinking back into the darkness.

"Welcome back, Loki-sama." Perhaps here was a hint of reluctant smile in her tone, like she meant it but did not want to. "Welcome back."


Cold.

It was cold, and dark, and painful. He could hear their voices.

It is strange, the way a memory or something decidedly insignificant moves people to do things, stupid things, out of character things he really did not understand at all. Not anymore. Perhaps it had something to do with magic? Somebody had explained a lot to him on the subject, on how it affected humans…

But he did not really have the heart or the mind for philosophical waxing. Not now.

The situation was not good, he needed all his wits about him…yet already he could feel his mind slipping, slipping, into that place where he felt all too human, too different, too jumbled, and he did not want that, because he had to assess this logically, but he was slipping and going and gone…

-

He had gotten it.

The earth was cold and it was dark and he could not move but he could hear them yelling and laughing and arguing and it hurt and he could feel, he could feel his blood flowing out, his life draining out with it, making him weaker and colder and killing, killing him slowly and swiftly at the same time and it hurt, but it was his damnit, so his folly was not for nothing and they attacked him first anyway but he had it but he was going to die and he didn't want that but he had it, and somehow, somehow, surprisingly, it made him a little happier.

-

"Well, how much?"

"No many, boss. Figgers, now comes a hell fighter, downing a hell of a lotta us number, and he hads … fifty zeny on his bag. "

"Stupid, really. Did he think he could beat us all?"

"Bu- if i' wasn' for ta blow-dar' he coulda'."

SMACK.

"Ow."

"Don't say stupid things! Now, maybe he's hiding his money somewhere else…"

"Naw, we che-"

" – wahaha – no, no, matey, he just wanted to rape ya."

"-fucking guy ripped my clothes while fighting, he DID NOT FUCKING STRIP ME GODAMNIT!"

"Whoa, take it easy matey. Didn't mean no harm."

"You two! What the fuck is this ruckus?"

"Well, well, mate got his shirt ruined pretty badly while fighting the guy."

"Cocksucking pigfucker, he lost me my damn pendant!"

"Stop bitching mate, you just picked it up in the forest."

"SO FUCKING WHAT?"

"ENOUGH. FUCKING. NOISE. You, screw your pendant, it's cheap and replaceable and we have to move out. NOW."

"Ah, sure, yes bo-"

SLASH.

THUMP.

"Yaa-!"

"What the fucking hell was that?"

-

It was still dark and cold and he was near, very near but then the voices changed and there were screams and yells and what was happening? He wanted to know.

But he did not know and it was hard to keep up and he lost his grip on it because he was weak but he heard her voice and he knew who it was, he felt slight irony but somehow knew it was fine so he allowed, allowed himself to finally relax.

"Hey, hey…still alive…but I gotta take him to Gram…and stay alive, okay?"

Then hands, small hands, strong arms, around him, and he was lifted up and moved, it was not comfortable but it was alright, and she was talking, and he was listening, best as he could.

"Sorry…had to do it…they won't be troubling…anymore though…and oh, hell…"

He smelled wildflowers and old pine and blood, but he did not mind, and she was still talking but her voice had went a little turbulent, and he opened his eyes and saw hers, violet-blue and sad and not looking at him, and he had seen this before, but it was different now and he did not understand much, then he remembered the thing, but he suddenly couldn't go on, his eyes closed and he was drifting, drifting away in her arms with the smell of blood and wildflowers and pine.


The figure shifted on the bed, face a little too taut, mumblings a little too forceful. She sighed and went to him, held his hand and whispered comfortingly in his ear. Gram said that's what she did when Ruri had nightmares, if they weren't too bad. And she couldn't just yell and shake him, now could she? Surprising, though, that Mister Ice Prince could actually have one, considering. Not really…

If it was ever a nightmare to begin with. Might be from the pain, but she didn't think that was the reason. As least he'd calmed down now.

"Baka Loki." Ruri's voice held exasperation, and a little concern. Straightening her back, the girl directed a questioning glance at her silent grandmother, returning to her chair.

"Why did he have to run into that band of robbers anyway? And," She wagged a finger at the sleeping figure, "I know he has skills. They should've been enough to avoid this situation, I can tell."

"Hmm."

"That wasn't particularly informative. Hey, why suddenly so quiet, Gram? D'you eat something you shouldn't have? Too many cookies are bad for you, you know."

"No, nothing… jus' thinking. An' now that I think about it, there's something I should do." Gram nodded and went out of the room.

"Oh…okay. Bye." That was abrupt.

Ruri down looked at her hands, and sighed. When seen objectively, it was most likely her fault things turned out this way. It was her actions that had started it all, anyhow. And maybe, he was gonna be okay anyway, even if I hadn't 'helped'. What if he just had very severe stomach cramps caused by eating bad oysters? It was the transfer that had drained him, after all, not the fit.

But then…nobody could have known what was going to happen, right? Right. Still, she felt a bit responsible. And besides, he doesn't have any place to stay…

Pushing away her more solemn thoughts, Ruri yawned, arching, and something fell form her pocket and landed with a small tinkling sound to the floor. Oh.

She looked at the weird thingy she'd found beside him. It was old, cracked, slightly faded, and had been caked with dirt and far too much blood before Gram washed it. What's this medallion for, anyhow? A charm, Gram had said. For what purpose, still unknown.

The gem's dull shine hid some of the dark markings she'd seen earlier. A word, written in familiar language, tugging at some dim part of her memory. She knew this symbol. She squinted at the character, slightly surprised to see that it was still readable.

Wolf.

End of Chapter 7


Ruri: ((pops in and looks around)) Oh, Looookiiiii…XD

Loki:Oh no, she's here! Fenris! Help! ((clings))

Fenris: ((blushes)) …umm…

Me: Oh, by the way…I like Kurama and Sasuke a lot too. :D Especially Sasuke. He's so kawaii, despite all the revenge blues. And Youko… I've got Youko Kurama shirt and I'm wearing it now! Hiei is nice, too. :D ((is a fangirl and PROUD of it)) There are a lot of bishies I really like!

Iris: Ahem…

Me: Whoops, time to go. ;D Please, leave us a review and some suggestions! Penny loves suggestions, and might take yours up! She also likes detailed reviews with constructive criticisms! She'll be grateful to whoever gives those, and you get credit-

Lynna: ((breezes in and clamps her hand over jj's mouth)) …actually, you might get a life-size Loki doll in a striptease uniform (with moving parts :D), or an extremely cute Chaos plushie as a thank-you bonus. But if you do, you can reverse their roles, or have both as either…just REVIEW! Any review will do.