A/N from A.C.: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone.
Zane stretched his arms over his head, stretching, walking around the same forest that Wendigo lived in. Since it was mid-afternoon, he knew just where to find Jilaiya. The woman usually stuck to one part of the forest unless it was at night and she was out hunting. Looking up at the trees, the Incubus tried to see if anything was out of sorts, anything to clue him in to Jilaiya's location.
A rustle of leaves high up in one of the large oak trees caused the demon to look up. A thin pair of legs hung down from a low branch, and deep golden eyes stared down at him. The hawk-like eyes blinked once, then twice, registering the demon on the forest floor. Jilaiya jumped down from the branch and landed gracefully before Zane. Her brown hair that was streaked with red flowed elegantly around her shoulders, framing her thin, beautiful face.
"To what to I owe this... honor?" Jilaiya asked, tilting her head to the side ever so slightly.
Zane set his hands on his hips and smirked a little, "I need to ask you a question."
She gave a cluck of a laugh and crossed her arms over her chest, her natural birthmarkings being shown to Zane without any sense of distaste. The sun rays that made their way through the thick forest gleamed off of those feather-shaped markings. "What question?" As always, she was straight and to the point.
"Are you going hunting later tonight?" His golden eyes sparkling with mischief.
Jilaiya gave a brief nod before she looked over to the Wendigo's territory. "Though he won't like it much."
"Oh? Why not?"
"They spoke a name and I overheard." She said, "I heard the name 'Xigbar'. So, I have my prey and he has one less."
"Taking Wendigo's food? Not afraid of him, are you?" The Incubus smirked, "I was hoping you could take care of a couple little problems. He said he needed time before he could do it. I don't have time to wait. I want what's mine back. I don't care how it's done, I just want him back."
"So?" The woman huffed and looked at him, eyes boring deep into his being, "What do you want me to do? I work at night. I can't do the job now."
"I don't need it done now. But I do want it done today."
"Names." She ordered.
"Huh?" Zane blinked, obviously just a bit confused.
"Idiot. I need the name if you want me to hunt them down."
"Oh, right. Iggy called them 'Saix' and 'Axel'. So... I want them gone by tomorrow."
"And if they're not? What could you possibly do?" She stepped closer to him, causing him to stumble backwards. "You know that I'm stronger than you. So, what could you do to me? Nothing."
"I- I'll call Wen on you!" Zane shouted loud enough that he knew said creature would hear him.
"I'm not human, you stupid Incubus. Wendigo only eats human meat. You of all people should know this. You hang out with him enough."
The demon bit his lower lip and cursed the faint blush that appeared on his pale face. "I knew that! I'm not dumb like you think I am, Jil."
She rolled her eyes and turned away from him, "I'll think about this. Doesn't mean I'll do it though."
"Thanks... I guess."
As she began to climb back in her tree, Zane turned and ran for the main city. Igni would be expecting him by now, and he couldn't disappoint him.
. . . . . . .
With a disgusted frown, Axel shook his head, "I am not going to walk through that."
Igni had taken them quite a ways from his home so they had a chance of escaping the demons that could be on their tails. Down the road from his dwelling was a stinky swamp. He had told the two boys that they needed to cross through it if they wanted to get back to the human world.
"You have to." Igni replied, "It's the only way we can go."
Saix rolled his eyes and looked around the swamp, searching for some sort of way across. He stepped away from the two arguing and walked along the shore. The grounds of Hell were far hotter than he had expected and his bare feet were definitely burnt by now. But he was almost used to the temperature. As Igni had said, he could survive in it. A gurgled squeal of excitement passed his lips when he noticed a few large rocks and a log. He raced back to the others, letting loose a shrill cry as he fell face first to the ground between the two arguing men.
"Sai!" Axel yelped, quickly dropping to his knees and helping Saix sit up. "Are you alright?"
The blunette gave a sure nod and got to his feet, brushing off his raggy cotton pants. He tugged on the redhead's sleeve and pulled him to his feet as well. Letting out several low and guttural purrs, pointing over to the area he had come from.
"What is it?" Axel asked, arching an eyebrow in question.
"Mngh!" He tugged harder on the redhead's sleeve and grumbled a bit louder.
"I think he wants us to follow him, Axel." Igni spoke up, watching the blunette jump up and down, pointing at the swamp's shore.
"Yeah." The redhead moved forward, allowing the younger man to pull him in the direction that he was trying to go. "Alright, Sai. Just get us there."
Letting go of the redhead's sleeve, Saix ran over to the area of the rocks and log and skid to a stop. He pointed at the rock bridge and grunted loudly.
"Well done, Sai!" Axel said, a grin curving his lips, "Le's get going, yeah?"
"Axel, be careful..." Igni said softly.
"Shut up, demon, I can take carea myself. Told you that already."
The Incubus sighed and watched as the redhead leaped to the first rock the led across the swamp. His crimson eyes widened suddenly as he saw the flicker of something in the water. A splash of water to the side, a fin peeking from the water's surface, a long tail beating the water. The dark shape under the slimy liquid was getting closer to where the redhead was standing, moving gracefully under the water.
"Axel! Get back here right now!" Igni shouted.