Besarki: SPECIALGUESTWRITER! SPECIALGUESTWRITER! SPECIALGUESTWRITER! Iiiiiiiit's Grazereeeeee!

Grazere: Hey, you deserve most of the credit for the chapter.

Besarki: Aww, well thanks, but you know, you definitely helped out quite a bit. Added a lot of humor value. Especially to Men.

Grazere: I just really love envisioning Men's character.

Besarki: He's such a wiseass! You have to adore him. Anyway, I did still write the bulk of the chapter ('cause it's my plot and I kinda have to. Grazere doesn't really know where we're going), but Grazere definitely contributed. See if you can detect Grazere's writing! The "Omniscient" parts are entirely my writing. Compare it to the middle section with Hana, Anna, and Men, which is a blend between my own style and Grazere's. Hee hee! This is gonna be great!

Oops. Forgot this originally: Omniscient is a narrator (as in 3rd person Omniscient), but it sounds better, don't you think?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down, they got
All the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down, they said

Everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down, they said
Everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah we're going down

~All the Right Moves, OneRepublic


Omniscient

The alarms of Hao's unholy fortress blared as a a single, thin shadow slunk along the darkness falling off the building.

A parade of soldiers bustled by, each wielding a sword, a dagger, or both, and wearing a long red sash across his chest and waistline, replacing the gunbelt on most soldiers. None of these were gunmen, something the shadow found strange. It led him to think that perhaps Hao did not truly believe in such drastic weaponry and only allowed it in the field. Perhaps his morals were higher than the shadow had previously thought. Perhaps he was still good at heart. And then, perhaps the shadow would never know.

"This way!" The leader of the charge barked, leading his army down a different corridor, one even farther from their target. The soldiers followed without thought, without will, and without wanting to. As the last straggler rushed past his target, the shadow quickly made his way farther up the flame-lit passageway.

The clop-clop-clop of his feet hitting the pavement was nearly drowned out by the screaming alarm--something he was thankful for, because, in his haste, he had no time to mask them. Not that that would have stopped him had the situation been altered. Nothing in the world could have kept him away.

As he ran, he clung to the stone-emblazoned wall--his hands functioning as empathic channels, guiding the thoughts and feelings of those on the other side into his mind.

Gloom.

Regret.

Despair.

So much negativity in such a small amount of space: things were worse than he could have ever imagined.

Where are you? He mentally asked the atmosphere, knowing that speaking even a single word aloud out here in the open could be the death of him.

Onwards he ran, quiet as a fox scurrying across the forest floor. He hand hung on the wall, listening to the moans and sobs of the lost souls on the other side of it. They were quieter now, as he grew farther and farther away from the main prison. Security here was lax compared to where he was going.

As he came to another corner, he slowed to a halt. There was a guard hiding just around the corner--he could feel it. To continue forward this way would be suicide. The guard would see him, and Hao would be alerted. He couldn't let that happen.

The shadow backed up and glanced over his shoulder. No, he couldn't go back. There would be no detour he could take that wouldn't be just as guarded as this one.

He held his breath and pressed himself against the wall.

The wall!

Yes! He could climb the wall! The stones would provide proficient enough holds for him, and there would be no guards up there.

Instantly, the shadow flipped around, searching for the nearest viable hold. It took him only a moment to locate one.

Slowly, carefully, he scaled the side of the graying tower. His eyes remained transfixed on wall, too cautious to take his attention off it for even a moment.

"Sarge!" A man called from below. The shadow didn't dare look. "Sarge, we lost him!"

The clank of heavy armor alerted him that the man around the bend had been one of Hao's "Super Guards," the stronger soldiers who could take on half an army by themselves. Often times, they were possessed and oversouled with onis and other ultra-powerful tainted spirits, providing them with enhanced strength and durability. The Super Guards were, thankfully, few in number and were only used in special cases, to guard special people.

In other words, someone important was nearby. The shadow could only hope it was the person he was looking for.

The shadow zoned out the rest of the conversation as he crawled around the corner, quickly moving past the torch's thrown light which could give him away if he wasn't careful.

Safely past the Super Soldier's post and back into the darkness, the shadow dropped down from the wall and headed deeper into the encampment.

The cries of the agonized souls picked up again, screaming so loud that it nearly ruptured his ear drums. He tried in vain to sift through them, to find the voice he was so desperately searching for. He couldn't hear it.

The horrible possibility that the voice he was looking for might not be calling anymore drifted over him.

No, He said to himself. This was one person too important for Hao to simply allow to die. Too important to me, to him, to his terrible plan...

Alive. Has to be alive.

The shadow continued his trek, mentally apologizing to the tortured souls who cried out for help as he pushed them from his mind, the anguished cry of a dying child pushing through the rest and cutting him to the bone.

The sounds brought tears to his eyes, and it was all he could do to keep running.

I'll be back for you. For all of you. I promise.

With his mental promise uttered, his journey continued, taking him down winding paths and around searching soldiers.

An unlucky twist of fate brought him face to face with a straggling soldier whom he was forced to incapacitate before any warning could be released. He felt bad leaving the young soldier lying there mutilated, but the wounds were not life-threatening and his comrades would help him when he was located. That was enough for the kindly man, and he was able to keep on with little remorse.

Has to be close. Running out of area, His mind whispered to him, as his eyes did a quick sweep over his surroundings.

The shadow had seen enough previously to know how the encampment was set up. Hao's fortress had one big main prison, and about a dozen scattered smaller ones, all connected to the main tower, and all but one accessible from the outside. The one that wasn't had only one cell, empty because Hao was waiting for someone in particular to be captured and used to fill it.

The stronghold itself was designed so it functioned as a giant maze, long walls serving no purpose other than connecting the individual holds to each other and to the High Tower. The walls that formed the massive labyrinth were more designed to keep escapees in rather than to keep offenders out. Hao just dared his enemies to try, overly confident that he could take anything they threw at him. At the stage he was at now, the shadow knew that he probably could.

So, since he had already passed the main prison, as well as...eight of the smaller holds, if he was counting correctly, then that left a total of three more buildings to inspect. Three more. He was almost there.

I'm coming for you. I'm coming. Can you hear me?

No response. Of course. Still too far away.

Which ruled out the prison nearest to him. He ran past it.

The shadow stayed close to the wall as he advanced forward. There were two more dungeons, each very close to each other. The shadow had never been held here, but he had seen them many times. There were three flights of giant steps leading to the High Tower. Sitting on the pedestals that stood at either side at the top of the first flight were a set of twin chambers, both entirely identical except for some erosion in the huge stones that made up their composition.

That was where his target resided. The problem was getting inside them.

The stairs were heavily guarded, and while there was a second set of stairs within the grand steps themselves, it would be difficult getting to them.

He slowed to a stop and paused against the wall he was running along. He knew that there was really only one option.

He'd have to fight, and possibly kill the guards. War makes for hard choices, but this was definitely something he was totally against. His whole life, there was nothing he loathed more than the excuse, "I did it because I had to." To him, it was cowardice, poor thinking, and unforgivable. But now he found himself thinking: Was there another choice? Was death really the only option?

He glanced in his desired direction.

He could see the dungeons from here. He was close, so close.

Can you hear me? He asked the wind.

...

Though there was no perceivable answer, his eyes widened and lips curved into an enthused smile. He recognized the tenor of the silence. The mind was one he recognized.

Alive. You're alive.

...

His eyes glowed with elation. Alive. Alive...

A new-found shot of confidence shot through him. He analyzed the situation again.

There were two dungeons a few hundred feet in front of him. Within one of them was the one he was searching for, weak and ill, but alive.

A single Super Guard stood between the two structures. One on one, the shadow could beat him, and...keep him down. If others came, as they inevitably would, then he would probably be forced to extreme violence, possibly killing an entire wave of them--something he would go to any length to avoid.

He paused, thinking that statement over. Almost any length.

He determined that a fight would take too much time. He'd quickly and harshly attack and incapacitate the Super Guard, something that would probably leave him paralyzed but alive, then hastily determine which chamber held what he sought.

It would take only a moment to enter inside the correct establishment. Once within, he would inevitably be met with more guards, though these would be normal soldiers with no special abilities, making it easy to bypass them with little difficulty.

The shadow had never been in one of these prisons, but he could tell, just by looking at one from the outside, that these twin dungeons were small. Once inside, it wouldn't be hard to find what he was looking for.

Getting out would be significantly easier than getting in due to a secret weapon with which he had the ability to fly, a distinct advantage he had over the average guard, or even a Super Guard for that matter--an advantage he was going to need. His target was going to be in no condition to be partaking or withstanding any kind of battle.

The shadow swallowed. This was it, then. Months of preparation all built up into what he was about to do.

He only hoped his luck held.

With one quick spring, the shadow lunged forward, sprinting at full speed into the jaws of the beast.

"Look! There he is!" Someone yelled, a call that met with the accompaniment of a barrage of war cries and hyping statements.

The shadow ran forward, slipping into the darkness whenever he could to avoid the very-average vision of the very reluctant guard.

The Super Guard on the steps saw him and prepped his katana, holding it diagonal across his body.

The shadow narrowed his eyes and braced himself, rapidly closing the distance between himself and the giant soldier.

The Super Guard sported a cocky smile and waved his huge arm over the space in front of him, urging all the normal soldiers back. He was confident he could handle this shadow man on his own.

He was wrong.

The shadow jumped to the side as a humongous tremor racked the earth, splitting near the middle and dragging the screaming Super Guard down into its depths. It wasn't the shadow's original plan, but it worked, it wasn't a lethal strike, and it managed to scare the remaining soldiers into fleeing. The fracture wasn't so deep that the soldier would be unable to free himself, but it was deep enough that it would take him some time--more than necessary for the shadow to make his rescue and escape.

Bypassing the long indent, the shadow rushed into the location occupying the midpoint between the two prisons. He hastily looked both ways and put his head down and closed his eyes, listening for the desired voice.

Where are you? He asked.

A quiet sigh rang in his left ear, and his eyes flew open. The left one!

The shadow quickly turned and ran into the unprotected front door of the left prison. He originally debated just tearing through the wall, but decided that to be too dangerous. He didn't know how strong the structure was and couldn't risk it collapsing.

Once inside, the shadow paused to glance around the building. The inside was very basic: Five stone walls--four on the sides and one in the middle, dividing the lengthy cell block from the front of the building where there sat two chairs and a small table. moving around the middle wall would take him to the prisoners, including the one he sought. Moving around to the other side of the wall, he should find sixteen holding cells with a single person in each one. There were only two armed guards--and both just normal soldiers who guarded the inside. Theoretically, the worst was behind him.

The shadow slipped around the corner only to jerk to a sudden halt in intensive shock. A horrible sense of dread washed over him.

The cells were empty--every single one of them. Had he come this entire way only to fail?

"Intruder!" One of the two guards shrieked, rushing toward the bewildered man. Had the soldier's opponent been anyone else, to catch him off guard would assure victory, but, sadly for him, his target was no average warrior.

The shadow caught the guard's extended katana by the blade and ripped it out of his hands. Immediately after, he kicked him in the stomach and sent him rolling to the ground. The second soldier hung back and the shadow was forced to rush him.

The shadow stayed low as he approached the second man who evidently preferred a good defense over any kind of offense. The shadow unsheathed his own sword for the first time that day and used it to knock his adversary's weapon out of his hands with a single, carefully aimed swing. As the soldier's weapon clattered to the ground, the man immediately began to panic. Unarmed and faced with a very threatening-looking opponent, he fell to his knees, praying for his life.

The shadow faced away from the man, glaring into the darkness. Wetness stung at his eyes. Had Hao tricked him? Had he really come here for nothing?

He closed his eyes and turned his head toward his left arm as he reached up to wipe away his own tears. For a long moment, he stood motionless, his mind reeling. And then, finally accepting that fate may just be far crueler than he could have ever imagined, his eyes opened.

And his breath fled from his chest. He had miscalculated, his information had been wrong. The cells weren't all empty. One, a single cell, was occupied.

At the very end of the lane, on the left side, a twenty-nine year old woman with filthy blond hair and a pair of scorching golden eyes watched him from the back of her cell. Her blank face held no expression, no comprehension, no fear. And yet, while she gave no immediate outward hint that she recognized him, she very clearly did. Her eyes glistened ever so slightly, and the shadow loosed a happy, relieved sigh.

"Anna."

-XXXXXXXXXXXXXX-

Hana

"You could have been killed."

Men rolled his eyes at me. "And?"

Anna snorted. "You were honestly expecting him to admit to doing something wrong?"

I had to sigh. "Well, no, but I couldn't help but wonder what the hell he was thinking."

Men sneered. "I was thinking that you stunk worse than that sewer and I couldn't wait to get away from you."

"Oh bullshit. You stunk of it, too. You were just being a pigheaded moron."

"This pigheaded moron just saved your life, thank you."

"Only after that inugami monster...thing beat the living shit out of you."

He shook his head in disgust. "You were having a great time of it as well."

Anna stood in the back snickering.

I turned around to glare her. "And you shut up, you didn't do a damn thing."

She shrugged. "Including get my ass kicked?"

"Bitch."

She winked.

"Anyway, anyone know where we are?" I asked, dismissing them both.

"Nope."

"Not a clue."

I sighed. "Do we at least know which way we were going? We can retrace our tracks. Our footprints should still be visible."

Anna turned around and pointed to our tracks. "If we follow our prints back to where they suddenly turn or where it's obvious the stride increased, we should be able to find our original direction. In other words, the way we were going before we saw Men half-dead on the ground."

"WHY ARE WE BACK TO THIS?!"

"Hey, not our fault you suck at life."

Men gritted his teeth. "How the hell did you become such an asshole when your father is Asakura Yoh?"

Anna grinned. "Because his mother is Asakura Anna."

I shrugged. "All the same."

"Well anyway," Anna began, "Hao's fortress is in the Northeast. We're...nowhere near there."

Men snorted. "Oh yeah, think positive."

I hit him in the shoulder. "Don't be a jerk."

"I'm not being a jerk. I'm just bored. Incredibly bored, and this is incredibly boring." His tone abruptly turned sarcastic. "I mean, not that arguing isn't my favorite thing in the entirety of this expansive world, but don't we have a job that we're supposed to be doing?"

"That's what we were just talking about."

"Yeah, well, talking and doing are two totally different things, aren't they?" He smirked, and I could barely keep myself from impaling him on my easily oversouled sword.

"Come, come, children," He snickered, marching off in the direction of our footprints, as full of himself as he always was.

Grudgingly, I cracked my knuckles and headed off after him.

-XXXXXXXXXXXXXX-

Omniscient

Beads of terrified sweat dripped down the lone soldier's face as he entered the throne room of his overlord and master. He made his way across the room with deliberate care and caution. His master was a truly ruthless man and would not take kindly to this news. This only made the soldier travel even more slowly. Unfortunately, despite his sluggish trek, he did eventually reach his master's throne. Shaking, and with fear bright and apparent in his eyes, he bowed his head.

"Master, prisoner 0253 has disappeared," He relayed, horribly afraid for his life and everyone else's who had been working in that general section. He was not expecting his overlord's answer.

"I know."

The guard glanced up, frightened. His master was smiling and staring out over the soldier's head, as if he didn't even see him there. He chuckled lightly, and the guard knew that this could mean absolutely nothing good.

"Well, this is about to get very interesting, isn't it?" He asked with a malicious grin.

The soldier could only stare in apparent horror as Hao's twisted laughter echoed throughout the entire kingdom.


Besarki: Welllll, whaddaya think? Love it? Hate it? Think Besarki needs to get off her ass and update more? Hehe. Okay, some things to address:
1) If you're wondering why The Shadow, as he's temporarily called (though his identity is pretty obvious) suddenly has both telepathy and empathy when he never did before, well, I figure that he's older so he got some new abilities. Plus, the rescue mission is just so much more powerful with that power added. Okay...so honestly, I totally didn't even realize I was writing that until Grazere pointed it out. I've been reading too many comic books. Just go with it.
2) I had to edit some of our original draft for the trio's conversation. The one Grazere and I wrote out was hilarious, but it was borderline explicit (okay, so it wasn't really that bad, but it just didn't fit the situation). I don't write things above teen level, and I doubt I ever will. That's my rule! And Grazere will follow it whether he likes it or not! *Chases him around with a crowbar*

Grazere: *Uses ninja skills to disarm her*

Besarki: *Gapes* THAT'S NOT FAIR! YOU CAN'T DO THAT! *Steals crowbar back and whacks Grazere over the head*

Grazere: *Is whacked* (Besarki: Hahaha. I agree. Grazere is quite whacked. XD(I gotta tell ya: Writing author's notes through text messages is way hard, don't you agree 'Zere?)) . Thank you all for reading. Hope to be back soon.

Besarki: WAIT! Before we go, I have to tell you all to go see Avatar! I went to go see it recently with Grazere and two other people, thinking it was going to be totally lame. IT. KICKED. ASS. GO SEE IT NOW! IT'S FANTASTIC! GO SEE IT! Read the chapter, review, and then go see Avatar and PM me to tell me how much you loved it along with your answer to the next challenge if you're playing that game. DO IT NOW! GO! Okay, now that that's out of the way--GO SEE AVATAR--I think it'll be okay to close. Talk to you all soon! :D