Vanora reached the saw mill. She went round the back and found an open window. The inside was dusty and deserted. She looked round for Giriko, she couldn't see him anywhere. She cautiously walked around, looking over her shoulder all the time. She decided he wasn't on the ground floor and found some stairs. She stepped very lightly on the stairs. They creaked underfoot. She silently cursed as one step decided to break. A loud crack echoed round the building. She froze listening for any movement. A small chuckle was heard. She spun round trying to find the source of the noise. Unable to work out where it came from she continued up the stairs. As she reached the top something hit her. She had given Justin time to get here before her and begin to fight Giriko. But there was silence. She couldn't see Justin anywhere. She felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Where was Justin? She quickly moved to one of the walls, flattening herself against it so she could see the whole room. She edged along it to a window. Maybe they were fighting outside. Taking a quick look around the room she took a moment to look out of the window. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Justin was outside fighting an army of Golems. He had already departed some of them as she noticed some cut in half lying on the ground. Vanora looked around for Giriko but couldn't spot him anywhere. She looked again. It didn't take her too long to work out where he was. She felt an arm wrap around her waist pinning her arms to her side and another over her mouth.
"Long time no see." Giriko growled in her ear. Vanora immediately struggled. Giriko just laughed at her. He was a lot stronger than her, there was no way she was getting free in a hurry. "I have a question for you?" Giriko asked her. Vanora could smell the alcohol on his breath. "What's a girl like you doing with a guy like him?" He turned her head to look at Justin. Vanora looked at Justin, she stopped struggling. Surly Giriko wanted to kill her and Justin, why was he acting in this way?
"What?" Vanora asked genuinely confused. Giriko moved his hand away from her mouth and started to play with her hair. He loosed his grip around her waist.
"A girl like you needs to get a real man." Giriko whispered lustfully. He toyed with her hair, wrapping it round his fingers. Vanora could believe what was going on. Giriko had her and he was going to try and seduce her? "Justin's going to be busy for a while. We are alone here." His hand started to creep down her side to her waist. Vanora began to struggle again. Giriko tightened his grip.
"I'll never give in to you." Vanora said coldly. Giriko's manners disappeared.
"I've tried the nice approach. Looks like I need to apply a little force." Giriko pushed Vanora against the wall, he then pinned her to it. She came face to face with him. She realised this was the first time she had a proper look at him. This was also the first time Giriko had a good look at her. Giriko's mouth twisted into a grin. "Time for some fun."She tried to move but he forced her against the wall. Vanora suddenly stamped down on Giriko's foot with all her might. Giriko shouted in pain and threw Vanora to the floor. She let out a cry as she landed on her arm. Luckily nothing was damaged. Before she was able to get to her feet Giriko was on top of her. He bore down at her grinning wildly. "Looks like you got the first hit but I'm getting first blood." Giriko bit down on her neck. Vanora let out a scream as his sharp teeth sunk into her skin. She could feel his tongue move over her skin. She could hear him chuckling under his breath. How messed up was he? Vanora wasn't letting Giriko get any form of satisfaction. She changed her arm to weapon form. The chain of the weapon snaked round her arm like before. This time the sharp point at the end was held tightly in her hand. She quickly stabbed it into Giriko's stomach. He let out a roar from the sudden pain and reared up like a horse. Quickly pulling the small blade out of his stomach she quickly moved her legs and kicked Giriko off of her. Giriko went flying but managed to land on his feet. Vanora pushed off the ground and prepared for battle.
"Don't think this fight will be easy Giriko." Vanora said, glaring at him.
"I like a feisty girl. More fun when I win." Giriko snarled back. The injury hardly did any damage to him Vanora extended her chain so she was able to swing it round above her head. Giriko jumped up in the air. "SAW FOOT!" The chainsaw blade appeared around the lower part of his leg. He then twisted and swung down. Vanora held the chain above her as Giriko came down hard. The chain held and she was able to stop his attack. She pushed away, Giriko snarled and jumped back. He looked at Vanora, fire in his eyes.
"You're so predictable." Vanora sneered.
"Justin doesn't deserve you. You will be mine!" He roared, unleashing another string of attacks. Vanora did well at countering or blocking all of them. She then struck back cleanly cutting Giriko's cheek.
"Why are you obsessed with getting me?" Vanora asked. Giriko face darkened.
"800 years I've been waiting for that witch. She finally comes back and what happens?" He sent another kick at her this one stronger. "She doesn't even give me a second look!" Vanora defended again. "Do you know how hard it's been? 800 years!"
"That must be hard on you." She said. Giriko glared at her.
"You have no idea!" He shouted. Giriko shot towards her chainsaws grinding. Giriko set off another combination of kicks. Vanora quickly used the chain as a staff to block them, but the kicks were becoming harder. Giriko paused for a second and set a very strong kick aimed at Vanora's side. This time the she wasn't able to repel the kick and she was sent flying. Vanora luckily hit a pile of bags filled with sawdust. Giriko walked towards her, she was barely conscious. "I want you, because I can't stand a body like yours going to waste. I will make sure you scream until your throat burns." He stopped just in front of her. "I'm taking you home right now."
"Vanora!" A shout came out from behind them. Justin ran up the stairs of saw mill. "Vanora are you alright?" He saw Giriko. Giriko glared back at him.
"I will be back Father. I promise you that." He said coldly. Giriko then bolted towards Justin. Justin braced himself but Giriko went straight past him. Giriko started his saw blades and fled out the door. Justin watched Giriko disappear into the forest. He turned to Vanora. Justin ran up to her, Vanora just looked dazed. He dropped down to his knees.
"Are you okay?" He asked in a panic.
"I'm fine stop worrying." Vanora replied, Justin's eyes trailed down from her face to her neck. His heart skipped a beat as he spotted blood running from a bite mark on her neck. Justin moved towards her. "What happened?" He asked concerned. Vanora looked at him.
"Oh..." She moved her hand to cover her neck. Justin held her hand and moved it away from her neck. "Nothing just a battle scar." Justin pulled out a tissue from his pocket, he gently moved it to her neck.
"Well, I guess we better get back. He's escaped." Justin said. He looked back at Vanora. Vanora looked at him, tears forming in her eyes. She threw her arms around Justin. Justin gently wrapped his arms around her. They both hugged each other. Vanora clung onto him, she didn't want to let go. Justin held onto her. Tears fell down her face. Justin looked down at her. He smiled softly at her, he noticed the bite on her neck. He felt a slight anger at the mark, Giriko's threat ran through his head. Justin tightened his grip on her. He wasn't letting Giriko take her away from him.
"Can we go home now?" Vanora asked. Justin looked down at her.
"Sure." Justin smiled. Taking her hand. "Come on, let's go home." The two of them walked back to the woods. They walked back to the car and motorbike. They both got ready and drove off. Both of them heading home.
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"Come on we're going to be late!" Justin shouted sorting out his tie. He checked his reflection. The new suit he bought had to looked perfect. Stein walked down the stairs. He was wearing his white stitched suit. As he reached the bottom he sighed.
"We're not running late." He spotted Justin messing about with his tie. "You look fine Justin." Stein said appearing behind him.
"Well I've never been to one before." Justin said going red. Stein patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't be nervous, just relax. It's easier than you think." Stein said. "You two have been a pair for a while, nothing will go wrong."
"But what about...him." Justin never forgot about Giriko. They hadn't heard about him since the mission. But Justin knew he was out there somewhere. Just waiting for them. He shook his head.
"Don't worry about it Justin. He won't turn up tonight." Justin didn't find much comfort in Stein's words. The two of them went to the door. Justin pulled out a key and opened it. They both went to the car. Justin climbed in, Stein next to him. Justin started the car.
"I have a feeling tonight's going to be the best one of my life." Justin drove off.
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"I'm glad to welcome you all to the DWMA Anniversary dance!" Lord Death announced to the mass of students, staff and friends. "Everyone have a good time and make sure you tell that special someone how you feel as we change to slow dances around on our run up to midnight." The crowd all clapped and dispersed. The students all went off into pairs, probably meister and weapon pairs. Vanora went off and stood by Marie.
"Thanks for helping me get ready for this." She told Marie as they stood to the side.
"Don't mention it." Marie smiled. "But that dress does really suit you."
"Thanks." Vanora blushed. She was wearing a sleek long dress. It was a deep blue colour and showed off her figure well. Marie was wearing a black dress that reached her knees. Stein and Justin entered the hall. Stein guiding Justin who was wearing a blindfold. Marie quickly covered Vanora's eyes. Stein and Marie knew they liked each other and decided to help them out for this dance. They had both gone shopping with them and made sure neither knew what the other would look like. Stein and Marie walked the pair together.
"You two ready?" Stein asked.
"Yeah." Vanora replied.
"Yes." Justin replied. Marie and Stein took of the blindfolds. Justin opened his eyes and looked at Vanora. He went bright red. She looked beautiful. Her blue dress showed off her curves beautifully. Her long hair rested on her shoulders in loose curls. Her brown eyes glistened back at him. He was wearing a smart black suit with a blue tie. Vanora hugged him, Justin hugged back. "You look beautiful." He whispered to her.
"So do you." She whispered back. Stein and Marie went off to leave the couple alone. The party went into full swing and everyone fully enjoyed themselves. Justin and Vanora spent most of the time talking to other members of staff and catching up with some of Justin's old friends. Vanora and Spirit finally met. He was as gob smacked as Justin when he saw Vanora all dressed up. Luckily for her Stein quickly reminded Spirit she was with Justin. Spirit jumped to the corner and sulked. As time went on some of the students started to go back to their apartments. Only a few people were left dancing on the run up to midnight.
"Vanora, can you come outside for a moment." Justin asked. Vanora looked at him. She gave him a sweet smile.
"Sure." The pair of them walked out to the balcony. The moon laughed in the sky, apart from that the sky was full of stars. Justin and Vanora looked over Death City.
"The stars are beautiful tonight." Justin commented,
"They sure are."
"Erm...Vanora." Justin put his hand in his pocket, his fingers tightening round a small box.
"Yeah?" She looked at him.
"I have a present for you." He pulled the box out of his pocket. Vanora went red.
"Here." He handed the box over to her. She took it off him and opened it. She looked back at him almost crying. She threw herself at Justin hugging him tightly. Justin hugged her back.
"My very own D-Pod! And it's the latest model! Thank you so much!" Justin spun Vanora round. Marie and Stein watched the two from the doorway. They were both happy to see Justin finally with someone. Justin and Vanora heard Lord Death announce it was the last dance. Vanora went to go inside but Justin stopped her.
"Why don't we dance out here? It's a lovely night." Justin asked. Vanora smiled.
"Of course." She went back to Justin. Justin placed his arm around her waist, taking her other hand in his. She rested her hand on his shoulder. Justin blushed.
"We can't hear the music out here." Justin spotting a slight floor in his plan.
"Hang on." Vanora held up her new D-Pod. "I have some music." Justin smiled. She gave him one headphone. He took it and put it in his ear, she did the same with the other. She hit play on the D-Pod. Can you Feel the Love Tonight started to play. The two of them danced together on the balcony under the stars. Inside the countdown to midnight started. Justin and Vanora didn't hear the counts, they were lost in their own world. It had been around two years since she was assigned as Justin's apprentice. Two years they had been working together. She wasn't his apprentice any more. After all they had been through they were finally able to be together. As the count reached zero, some of the staff set off fireworks to celebrate the DWMA. But for Vanora and Justin the fireworks meant much more. Tonight she was his partner. As the fireworks glistened in the sky. Justin and Vanora shared a passionate kiss. It was clear to everyone now that Vanora and Justin were made to be together. Marie and Stein went off to join the party inside leaving Justin and Vanora to enjoy a spectacular evening.
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Until next time!