Author's Note:
Disclaimer, see chapter one.
I would like to say that some of this story isn't entirely mine though. Onyx and S have been helping me right the more detailed parts about their characters as well as the buildings and outfits.
Finally Onyx dismissed everyone. Slowly others dispersed but Kate stayed. Onyx got up to leave when Kate grabbed her arm. Onyx jerked around and glared at the young girl.
"How could you Onyx?" Kate growled.
"What are you talking about?" Onyx asked, continuing to glare.
"How could you not trust me? Lately you haven't been trusting me to do anything right!"
"Kai-chan, you have not been giving me much of a choice."
"It's like you're waiting for me to screw up!"
Onyx kept eye contact with the girl.
"Why can't you just trust my decisions for once?"
Onyx sighed. "Kai-chan, it's difficult to trust someone who continually creates havoc with her decisions."
Kate was beyond pissed now.
"So that's what you think?" Kate started raising her voice more with every word. "I'm a screw up? A loser? A no brainier? You think I can't do one damn thing right?!"
"Kai-chan, stop putting words in my....."
"No Onyx! I won't stand here quietly while you make a fool out of me. You're wrong about Troy and I'll prove it!"
Kate stomped out of the room. Onyx gave an exasperated sigh before tapping the emerald pendant she wore on a chain around her neck and popping out of the room.
Kate walked down the hall, tears of anger forming in her eyes as she went. She was so angry. She stumbled up the stairs but stopped when she saw who stood at the doors. Leaning against the dark wood doorframe was a tall blonde man. He wore tight black pants, boots that went up to mid-calf, a sword at his waist, and a loose tan shirt that made his topaz eyes look brighter. He looked down at the upset girl and started down towards her. Being angry, Kate only wanted to be alone so quickly and turned and hurried back down the stairs. He followed her as she went out the door and into the village.
"Kojika, what's going on?"
"I just want to be alone Neo." The girl yelled over her shoulder.
The man named Neo knew better than to leave her alone when she was that pissed. He followed her down the cobblestone street. His boots sounded heavy against the stones with each stride. Finally she threw open the door to another building and walked inside. He followed after her and was a few feet behind when she walked into the middle of a large workout room with mats on the floors. She snapped her fingers, changing her clothes into a tight top and a pair of tight pants. She turned to Neo and held up her hands. He walked into the ring as well and snapped his fingers, discarding everything except his pants. He held up his hands too.
"Kojika, what's going on?"
She took a swing at his left side, but he blocked it easily.
"Onyx." She finally answered before swinging at him again.
"What about her?" He asked as he swung his arm to block.
"She...doesn't...trust me." She said, throwing a punch at his chest with each word and driving him backwards a few steps.
Neo raised an eyebrow as he leaped forward again. "Doesn't trust you?" He repeated as he ducked a high kick.
"Yes." Moving backwards a step, the girl adjusted her weight to kick again.
"That can't be right," the monster muttered, aiming a kick at her shoulder, which she dodged.
"Well it is." She answered as she managed to kick him in the stomach, sending him backward by two steps.
When he regained his footing he moved back towards her.
"But that doesn't sound like Ony-sama. Why would she not trust you?"
"Because I brought someone in." She shot back, sweat now running down her face.
Neo stopped short at that and took a hit to the side of his head.
"OW! Wait, you brought someone in... You were outside?!"
Looking concerned, he rubbed his head and watched her carefully. "How many times have the other Masters told you to stay inside? It's not safe out there."
Kate struck at him again, which he blocked. "Just shut up and fight."
He punched her in the chest and knocked her back a few feet before she stood ready again and waited.
"I want an answer Kojika." He demanded.
"You are not the one to be demanding anything, Neo." Kate said as she kicked at him, only to have him grab her leg and flip her over.
She landed back on her feet and glared at him.
"Tell me." He said again, sweat making his bare chest shine.
Kate licked her lips at the sight, momentarily forgetting her anger. "No."
Unexpectedly he grabbed her arms and slammed her down on the mat, pinning her body to the floor under his. He pinned her arms over her head and held his face inches from hers.
"Talk to me." He said.
Kate struggled in vain get out of the position she was in. She tried to knee him, but he had her legs pinned down with his own. She was trapped.
"Talk to me Kojika." He said softly as he looked into her eyes.
She was breathing harder as their bodies were pushed together. Other thoughts were going through her mind at the moment, but she decided it best to answer him.
"You've told me a million times and yes, I brought someone in."
"Why would you endanger us by bringing someone in?"
This was not a question that Kate wanted to hear. She threw all of her strength into flipping Neo off and she managed to roll him onto his back, only to be rolled back onto her own.
"Kai-san, please... I-I didn't mean for that to sound rude."
"This – someone – looked in need of help." Kate said.
"So you brought this person in?"
"Yes. And now Onyx trusts me even less than she did before I brought someone in."
Neo said nothing. He just looked down at the blonde. Her eyes showed him she was being honest, but he still didn't like the idea of her being outside alone with some stranger. He didn't like the idea of something happening to her.
"Neo?" her voice came, bringing him back to reality.
Neo got up and pulled her up so that she was against his chest. He held her there for the longest time. A number of emotions ran through him, anger and sadness the two main ones. He was mad at her for leaving the safety of their home, yet he was upset because she had brought a stranger in.
"Kojika, just be careful. I would die if someone hurt you."
"I know, Neo, but I don't think Troy would...."
Neo stared at her with wide eyes, releasing her from his embrace and taking a step back. "Troy? The stranger is a male?"
"Yes." Kate said looking away from him.
He tried hard to mask the angry look on his face but the fact that he let her go tipped her off.
"Neo don't get any ideas. I'm not about to touch him and he's not about to touch me all right?"
He just looked at her for a moment, his eyes moving across her face. He knew she wouldn't let anyone touch her in any way she didn't want him or her too but he still didn't feel right. The silence was killing her. She hated it when he didn't say anything to her. She always felt like she had made him angry when he was silent.
"Neo." She said quietly.
He still remained silent. Kate was starting to get scared and quickly left the building. When Neo came out of his thoughts he realized she was gone and went after her once more, not caring that he was still only wearing pants. She was half way up the street when he came out of the building. Quickly he popped himself to just in front of her and held out his arms, grabbing hers.
"Kojika, wait."
She stopped and stared at him.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
Kate smiled faintly. "It's okay."
Neo grinned. "Can I make up for it later?"
Kate couldn't help but grin at that. "Yes."
Now within her own rooms in the corridor, at the opposite end from Troy's own, Onyx paced agitatedly back and forth in front of her sofa. Damus, who was sitting on the sofa, watched her in concern.
"May I speak my mind, Master?"
The tall woman turned and glared at the dark mage. "Don't do that, Damus. Not when we're alone."
"Very well – Rianna. Don't you think you were a little harsh on Katie-san earlier?"
"No, Damus, I don't. Cruel, perhaps, but what I said needed to be said." After Katie had left, the Yami had found Damus and told him everything. "She needs to learn. Otherwise, one of these days I fear she will make a fatal mistake."
Damus didn't answer, just stared at her for a minute. Onyx scowled at him. "Neo is watching Katie. Make sure our 'guest' stays where he belongs." And with that, Onyx vanished with a sharp pop.
Troy got out of his bath and dried off. He dressed in the tight pants and loose black shirt he was given. He pulled on the knee-high boots and looked at himself in the mirror. Maybe now that he was clean, he could get some food and start his search of the compound. He walked over to the door and slowly turned the knob. He was told to stay in the room but that just made his curiosity greater. He opened the door and peered out into the hallway. No one was in sight. He stepped out into the corridor and quietly closed the door. He waited a moment before moving on to the next door down. Gently and quietly he opened the door.
Behind the dark wood door was a beautifully decorated room. This room had cream-colored walls with back lit curtains hanging at various intervals, creating the illusion of windows, along with a very thick crimson carpet on the floor. Three handsome Victorian-style couches of very dark wood with thick velvet upholstery lay in different places around the room. There were side tables sporting cut-crystal vases, and at the back of the room was a tall set of arched French double doors leading to another room.
Troy stood for a second mesmerized by the fact that this room was so very different from any of the other rooms he had been in. The craftsmen ship that went into the making of these items within the room was amazing. He was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't heard someone come up behind him.
"Interesting isn't it?" A voice said behind him.
Troy jumped and turned to look into the eyes of one of the women from the conference type room. She was glaring at him. Her glare wasn't as piercing as the woman named Onyx but it still sent a chill down his spine.
"What are you doing out of the room?" She asked.
"I was...I..."
"You were disobeying my Hikari's direct order," the woman informed him, a faint accent in her voice.
How did she know? Troy thought.
"I was hungry. I need to eat something." He said, trying hard to hide his slight fear of the woman with the cold eyes.
"The dining room is downstairs but you aren't going anywhere." Veronique put out her hand and stopped him as he tried to step forward.
Troy looked into her eyes.
"If you pull anything, we will know about it." Veronique said.
"I'm not afraid of you." Troy said, trying not to stutter.
"You should be." Veronique said and snapped her fingers once.
With that Damus appeared behind her, overshadowing her slightly and glaring down at their 'guest'. Troy didn't really like the look of this man. His blue eyes were icy and made him feel cold. He knew than that this was going to be harder then he first thought.
"Damus and I will escort you down to the dining hall tonight for dinner. Until than you will remain in the room or else." Veronique said.
"Or else what?"
Veronique turned to Damus. "Would you like to explain?"
The mage nodded before speaking. His voice was deep and Troy could hear the magical power within it. "Should you disobey orders again, your head will be severed from your body and mounted on Ony-sama's wall as a reminder to anyone else foolish enough to test her patience."
Troy sat at the large dinning table feeling quite angry. He hadn't been escorted down by just one or two people, but by four. Damus, Veronique, Gartic and Daragon had all walked him down from his room. The room he sat in now was much different from the other room where he had first met all of these people.
Instead of having the great windows that the meeting room contained, this room was completely enclosed. The four walls were painted a soft, sandy color, with very dark wood trim where the walls met the ceiling. Hanging from the wood trim were great swags of crimson velvet, hung in smooth, even waves around the perimeter of the ceiling. The ceiling itself was high and arched, the polished beams of dark wood exposed. Hanging from the center of the ceiling, from a large, circular wood carving that held the ends of the beams together, was an enormous chandelier of crystal and gold. All of the candles in it where lit, making the room seem to sparkle slightly. Troy wondered briefly how they had lit the candles, as the chandelier hung at least ten feet above the table. Certainly they didn't have any monsters that tall?
The table, which could comfortably seat at least twenty people, was hidden beneath an expensive-looking white tablecloth with gold embroidery around its edges. The legs of the table, however, revealed that it was a very dark reddish wood, probably mahogany. The chairs matched it, all heavy and ornately carved with red velvet covers on the seats.
Troy sat quietly at the table, in the seat Veronique had indicated to him. Veronique sat at the head of the table, like she did in the other room. Gartic, one of the blond Elves, sat to her right. Sarah and Celtos had joined them a few moments ago. Sarah had settled herself next to Gartic, which placed Celtos between herself and Troy. Daragon sat on Troy's other side. Across from him were three more chairs. Damus occupied one while the other two remained empty. At the end of the table next to Damus was also an empty seat, presumably where Onyx would sit when she arrived. Troy kept glancing around the room, but only received cold glares each time he looked at one of the room's other occupants. He remained quiet until he heard footsteps in the hall. He turned his head in time to see Kate walk in. He smiled at the young woman but his smile faded when he saw the blonde man behind her.
Troy examined the man carefully. The man moved with a certain arrogance, the type that one saw in one used to fighting and winning. Dressed in tight leather breeches, boots, and a loose shirt, the man could almost have passed as human – except for the fact his eyes were the color of topaz stones. He carried a broadsword on his hip, and as he pulled out a chair for Kate Troy caught a glimpse of the calluses on his hands. Clearly the sword was not just for show.
Kate sat across from Troy, which put her next to Damus, the tall man with indigo hair. The blond man sat down on her other side. Kate, who had been smiling up until this point, glanced to the head of the table. Her smile faded when she saw the glare she was getting from her Yami. Kate stared defiantly at the tall woman for a moment, but when Veronique continued to glare, Kate dropped her eyes and began fussing with her napkin. The blond man gave the Yami an angry look before turning back to face the other side of the table and addressing Sarah.
"Sa-sama, when is dinner being served?"
"Once Mirai and the rest of today's kitchen staff finish cooking it, Neo," the brown-haired woman answered patiently, shaking out her napkin.
"Mirai is cooking? On second thought, I may skip my evening meal - "
Damus, leaning forward in his chair, pointed his finger at Neo and shot a large purple spark at the blond man. The spark singed the swordsman's cheek, and Neo leapt from his chair with a yelp. Troy tried not to jump at the sight of the sparks but than remembered that there were a lot of strange things happening here.
"My sister's cooking is fine, thank you very much, Neo."
"Provided she does not use majic, certainly, Damus-san," deferred the blond man, quickly sitting down again.
"Not after the last time, she hasn't used majic in the kitchen since," remarked Celtos with the faintest trace of a snicker. Laughter rippled briefly around the table, heightened when Sarah added 'yes, but don't mention suckling pigs to her!'
Kate sat quietly, not laughing at all and avoiding all eye contact with everyone except Troy who she occasionally glanced over at. Before the laughter could elevate further, they were distracted by the heavy double doors of the dining room opening. Troy twisted around in his chair, leaning it back onto its two rear legs, trying to see beyond the doors. Through the gap came sailing the most peculiar sight yet – a small, floating monster, barely three feet tall, roughly round, and covered with a thick, shaggy coat of brown hair. Enormous green eyes seemed to take up half of the entire body, and it was carrying a silver serving tray with a cover in its heavy green claws.
The sight of a flying peculiarity carrying a serving tray was enough to make Troy jump – however, as he had been leaning his chair onto two legs, that was enough to send both him and the chair toppling backwards onto the wood floor. Kate tried standing up to help him but was instantly reseated when Damus' long hand applied pressure to her shoulder. Sarah, who rose quietly from her seat to accept the tray from the flying... thing, hardly spared him a glance as she relieved the flying creature of its burden and set the platter on the table. Celtos, who was seated next to Troy, rose from his seat and pulled the human up by the back of his shirt before setting his chair upright as well.
"Expect the unexpected," the Elf offered with a slightly wicked grin, settling himself back next to Sarah as Mirai danced into the room carrying a platter of steaming vegetables.