Chapter 35:

Part 5:

She felt long fingers close like steel bands around her throat.

'Nice trick girl. Too bad I have seen them all.'

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The long calloused fingers tightened around the soft flesh of her neck cutting off her supply of air. Black spots danced in front of her as Keeah desperately clung to the consciousness that seemed to be slipping from her like a cloak; she realized that he was just short of snapping her neck like a dry twig. Slowly she felt herself being lifted off her feet, Shizimi's dark face swam before her eyes and try as she might she was unable to categorize what happened next.

And one instant it looked as if she was going to be strangled to death and the next moment that crushing hold around her neck was gone. For a spilt second she seemed to suspended over the ground just before a leg collided solidly with her abdomen, the sheer force of it knocking her across the room.

She collided heavily with a column, crumpling at its base all breath knocked out of her. She shook her head to clear it of the fog of pain that seemed to cloud her senses. A sharp pain shot through her body as she tried to sit up. A soft chuckle drew her attention. Looking up she saw that Shizimi was leaning on one of the frozen columns casually inspecting his nails.

"Princess you disappoint me."

She bared her teeth, carefully suppressing the wave of cold fury that passed through her. "Don't be sad. I have disappointed myself as well."

The end of his mouth twitched; there was a gleam of amusement in his eyes. "Its a pity. I could almost tolerate you."

Her aura spiked, the blue mist swirling around her. "I wish I could say the same about you."

The wind picked up, moving through the broken columns in a wild frenzy, converging in an arc around Keeah almost as if she were the eye of the storm. The debris circled her like the skirt of a dancing gypsy girl, the silence of the night torn asunder by the steady howl that slowly rose to a long vibrating crescendo.

Shizimi raised an eyebrow. "You two are more amusing than a pair of trained jokers."

Keeah smiled placidly, her eyes turning silver. "I am glad to see that we amuse you." Her smile took a steely edge. "I hope you like my little present."

The wind suddenly seemed to take a mind of its own, stretching out long claws towards the lone figure. She saw Shizimi's lips curve upwards in that bored indifferent smirk. The long windy talons seemed to be almost on him before they grappled at thin air.

' Just what I expected.'

She saw the scarlet blur race towards her, avoiding her attacks with an ease that she found equally irritating and perhaps more frustrating.

' I can't touch him. He is too fast. But...'

She bit her lips, concentrating. The wind the circled her howled as it seemed to sprout a thousand tentacles, grappling at the scarlet firefly that seemed to slip out of their grasp. At the same time they tore apart the ground and broke down the columns, almost as if to create a shield between Keeah and her adversary, their jagged teeth bared.

Beads of sweat had begun to form on Keeah's forehead and she knew that she would be unable to keep up the offensive much longer. She gritted her teeth forcing herself to continue even as she felt the strength ebb from her limbs, a slow drowsiness taking their place, coursing through her veins like a sleeping drug.

"You seem a little tired Princess. "

Shizimi's dark face swam before her eyes and even before his mocking voice penetrated her mind she realized that his sword had risen like lightning and instinctively put up her own to defend her. But the blow never came. She was aware of the sound of steel clashing with steel and of the body that came between them.

' Hotohori.'

Shizimi chuckled. "Just in time boy. I had almost given up hope that we would cross swords again."

Hotohori said nothing, a low growl rose from deep within his throat that was at once savage and threatening. Once again Keeah had the feeling that Hotohori was holding something back.

' Its almost as if there's a beast inside him that is yearning to break free.' She paled. ' Good grief! I had almost forgotten about Suraco and Menesku.' She saw that Hotohori and Shizimi were once again engaged in swordplay. ' Damn it. I must see to it that they are okay.'

Nearing them she felt a strange feeling grasp her heart and realized that it was guilt. ' I was so absorbed in my fight against Shizimi that I had nearly forgotten my original purpose of getting Menesku and Suraco to safety.' Looking up she saw that Hotohori and Shizimi was once again engaged in their duel of death and frowned. ' I don't blame Hotohori for becoming so absorbed. That guy is a genius when it comes to provoking people. Though I wish...' She shook her head. ' But now is not the time for that. I cannot waste much energy because I don't much ki to spare. So I guess its back to the basics.'

Down on her knees she concentrated. The tip of her finger glowed a dull blue as she began to inscribe the ancient runes outside the shield she had erected around the prone warriors. The runes vibrated with ancient magic as she completed the circle, glowing slightly before becoming etched on the ground.

' Okay now all I have to do is get Hotohori and myself in this circle and get the hell out of here.'

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Hotohori looked up. There was a salty taste in his mouth. Lifting his thumb he casually felt the dark liquid that flowed from his spilt lip.

' Damn you Shizimi. Damn you to hell.'

His eyes flickered red as he pulled himself up leaning a little on his sword. A sharp pain seemed to shoot sporadically through his body as he tried to straighten. His smoldering eyes searched through the ruins of the hall and finally zeroed in on his quarry.

Shizimi was leaning on a column, a wave of fury passed through him as he saw that Shizimi was unscathed. There was not a scratch on his body, not a hair out of place that same half mocking smile on his lips.

" Princess you disappoint me. "

The sarcasm in his voice was only too apparent when he mouthed the word Princess.

His eyes turned towards Keeah. Despite himself a grudging admiration was weaned from him as he watched Keeah's erect form and heard her calm voice.

"Don't be sad. I have disappointed myself as well. "

His felt a reluctant smile drawn to his lips at her answer and marveled at how she kept a rein on her temper. He saw the edge of Shizimi's lips twitch and the barest tinge of amusement in those cynical black orbs.

"Its a pity. I could almost tolerate you. "

He could feel Keeah's ki spike and instinctively knew that while her face betrayed nothing she was also furious and would give her all in this attack.

He felt the wind pick up around him, the ferocity stirring something within him. In the eye of the storm stood Keeah, erect and arrogant. There was something about her poise that struck him as very familiar.

' She uses the same sort of magic as the Black warrior. Could it be?'

In his minds eye he remembered the malevolent black shadow, but somehow he could not relate Keeah's form to the one he fought on the Holy Mountain. He shook his head.

' No. It can't be...'

But as the speed of the wind picked up he realized that Keeah was burning herself up. Her pale face betrayed her tiredness and it was clear that she would not be able to defend herself against Shizimi's attacks.

Even as Shizimi neared her he found himself moving, almost instinctively placing himself between her and Shizimi catching his sword mid-strike with his own.

Shizimi chuckled." Just in time boy. I had almost given up hope that we would cross swords again."

The low growl that emerged from his throat surprised even himself, but strangely enough ... he felt liberated. The thrill of battle danced in his veins as his sword clashed with Shizimi's. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Keeah retreat.

' Yes witch. Stay out of my battle.'

He felt Shizimi move quickly, his fisted hand colliding with his jaw with a solid thunk. He reeled back, desperately trying to recover his balance.

"Tsk ... tsk boy. You are not paying attention. "

Hotohori dug his feet into the ground stubbornly, determined not to fall down, receiving the downward arc of Shizimi's blade at the tip of his naked edge. The blow numbed his hands, jarring his muscles. Gritting his teeth he pushed the blade back, easing himself out of the deadlock. Yet somewhere at the back of his mind he understood that Shizimi had let him push his blade away, and that angered him more than anything.

The sign of the Oni on his forehead flickered as the scarlet stain in his eyes swirled into a deeper blood-red color. He bared his teeth quite unable to suppress the low vibrating growls that rose from within his throat.

Shizimi chuckled.

"Really boy, is that supposed to scare me?"

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Keeah looked up, a little startled. The air around her practically sizzled with power, but now she sensed something else in the air. She couldn't identify what it was exactly, neither could she stop the shiver of apprehension that raced down her spine.

Her eyes rested on Hotohori taking in the fresh cuts that anointed his flesh and the blood that flowed sluggishly from the open wounds. His normally glossy well-kept hair fell about his shoulders in a wild disarray, tangled with dust and blood. His aura swirled around his form like a scarlet flame, lifting his hair slightly in the invisible currents created by his own ki.

' By Seiryuu. I have never felt so much exude from Hotohori before. But then I fought him only once.' She frowned. ' But if this is the true power of Hotohori then on my return I am going to fire all of my spies.'

She heard Shizimi's voice.

"Really boy, is that supposed to scare me?"

To her surprise Hotohori started to chuckle, a low mocking sound and not quite ... like him.

' What the hell does he find so amusing?'

She saw Shizimi's lips curve upwards and for a instant she felt that tinge of genuine amusement passed in those cynical orbs.

For a while it appeared as if the night was holding her breath, cherishing this momentary silence ...

Then the curtain of silence was torn asunder as the two swords clashed again. Once again she wished she could follow their battle but all she could see were two comets dancing around each other and the thick drops of scarlet rain that fell like pearls whenever they collided.

For a moment they separated and Keeah saw Hotohori skid to a halt, digging his feet stubbornly into the ground. She could see long scarlet gashes all over his body and his tunic was wet with blood. His teeth were bared in a parody of a smile and his sign was visible through the strands of long dark hair that fell over his face.

She saw his lips curve upwards and in the blink of an eye he was gone and all she could hear was like dull clash of swords.

' Its almost as if he feels none of the pain from his wounds...' She paled. ' Is it ... '

She frowned, an old lesson floating back to her mind.

" Have you noticed that when pushed into a corner then even the most timid creature will turn around and fight like a lion using every weapon it has at its disposal? The same applies for a warrior. When pushed to a corner a warrior fights like mad beast knowing that eventually he may die, but at least he will have the satisfaction of taking a few of his assailants with him. "

" Good for him."

" I am not finished brat. "

" Heaven have mercy on my poor soul."

"Impertinent fool. This is a classic example of the many evils that beset the human race. Have you no respect for your sensei?"

" So ... Are you going to give me a lecture on etiquette because I think I just heard Suraco calling me."

" Not yet I am not. But when we are done I will read you a story that will clearly show what happens to little girls who do not respect their elders."

"Oh joy."

"Silence. As I know too well there is a little demon inside all of us. A demon molded out of our darkest feelings, our rage, our greed, our ambition."

"Are you trying to say that we are all a little evil?"

"Not evil ... dark."

"Huh?"

"Why are you training so hard Princess? "

"You know why Sensei."

"Will you not hesitate to kill another man?"

" ... "

"Answer me child. "

"No. I will not hesitate."

"But will you enjoy it?"

" ... It must be done..."

" Yes. It is a pity that so many lives will be so ... wasted. You will hesitate to kill another but you will do it nevertheless because your rage will drive your sword arm and your ambition to protect your country will quash your conscience."

" Are you trying to say that a warrior may not have a conscience?"

"Yes, he will. Just one that lapses on occasions."

"Sensei ... you unprincipled ... and aren't you supposed to be a holy man."

"I am a holy man. I have tolerated you and frankly my dear, you try the patience of a saint. But that is not the topic of our discussion. As I was saying before, we all have a little demon inside us. Its mankind's worst kept secret. Sometimes in the heat of the battle this demon can provide a warrior a certain extra kick. "

"Care to explain."

"Some ancient tribes called up their rage in the heat of a battle and became fighting machines. They called themselves Berserkers. In their berserked state these warriors felt no fear, no pain, nothing penetrated their mind. At that point they had but one aim. To kill or be killed."

"Cool."

"Needless to say the berserkers were very powerful and feared by all for their ferocity. They were highly valued in the armies around the world. However this sliver cloud has a dark lining. Berserkers released only a little of their inner demon, but even then they found that demon very difficult to control. In their berserked state they would often loose sight of their real objective, or the difference between friend and foes."

"Ouch."

"Yes. One can understand why berserkers went out of fashion. But even today warriors knowing the risks call up their inner demons in the most desperate hour of a battle. They call it bloodlust."

"Bloodlust ?"

"A berserker like state, in which a warrior's sole aim is to kill his adversary."

"Is there a difference ?"

"Of course there is. You see a berserker called out his demon on purpose, knowing that they might loose control. A desperate ploy, for desperate situations. However a warrior can invoke bloodlust almost subconsciously."

"That is bad ?"

" You know the most powerful warrior will be ? One who has a demon inside him, knows he has a demon inside him and can use that demon as per his own will. "

"And that is good ?"

"Yes, because then he will be the Demon."

Keeah frowned rubbing her head. ' What did he mean by that ? How the hell did I survive those years without my brain becoming addled is still a mystery to me.'

The dull clang of swords made her look up. The two blurs came together once more in an shattering impact before she saw Hotohori's body being thrown out of the circle of fire as if propelled backwards by a mighty kick in his abdomen.

Dark blood coursed down his forehead and his wounds were beginning to look nasty... more nasty than usual. Shizimi landed gracefully, not far from him and Keeah braced herself for an sardonic rejoinder from him. Hotohori had landed on his knees and no sooner than he saw he adversary alight he up in a flash once more engaged in their death match.

Keeah's fingers curled into a fist. The fact that Hotohori was able to hold his own against Shizimi was a testament to his skill with the sword. The crux of the matter, Keeah realized with a sinking feeling at the bottom of her stomach, was the fact that Shizimi was much ... much stronger than they. There was another factor, which attributed to that nauseous feeling ... Hotohori.

More than once Shizimi's attacks brought Hotohori to his knees, but at the next instant he was up again, uncaring of the fat scarlet droplets of his blood that anointed the ground around him. But instead of applauding such ... fortitude and stamina, Keeah found herself growing more and more anxious. She wished she could say that Hotohori's attacks were desperate, born of a blinding rage, but she realized that Hotohori was quite past that stage.

His attacks carried the full force of his arm behind it and his blows though shattering were not struck from desperation. His swordplay, she realized was quite implacable. The strange feeling that assailed her became more concentrated. She understood that if another man had stood against him by this time he would have been ... dead ... neatly shredded.

' Its just that Shizimi is a much better swordsman than him.'

That thought offered her no satisfaction. That and the fact that Hotohori never seemed to give up. She found his efforts less heroic and more ... more ... She couldn't find the word for it.

' Its ... just as sensei told me. He is fighting as he though he feels nothing. No pain, no fear, nothing. Its like everything has been wiped from his mind, everything but his ambition ... no, aim to kill Shizimi.' She frowned. ' Its like he is a fighting machine having no other thoughts but the thoughts of war. Its got to be bloodlust.'

The scarlet blurs collided once more before she saw Hotohori flung out of the orbit, colliding with a bone crunching sound with a column, dislodging the plaster as he sunk at its base.

Instinctively she moved to place herself between Hotohori and Shizimi. But she had hardly taken a step when she saw Hotohori had struggled to his feet. She could not see his face properly as the long strands of his now unbound hair obscured his profile.

She saw Shizimi raise an eyebrow disliking the look of unholy glee that shone in those ordinarily expressionless eyes. A soft chuckle drew her attention towards Hotohori. Through the curtain of his hair she could see his lips curve upwards into a smile that looked more like a snarl.

Keeah paled as the full implication of Hotohori's bloodlust began to dawn on her. ' True he feels no pain and will keep on attacking till his quarry is dead. But if my guess is correct then Hotohori has invoked his bloodlust quite unconsciously and is therefore unable to control it. It would serve very well if his opponent was somebody else. But Shizimi is much more skilful than he is, which is a pity, but there is nothing we can do about it at this stage. No matter what he does it will not make any difference. Therefore he will keep on fighting till he is no more.' She raised her defiant eyes towards the duo. ' That I cannot allow. I have got to stop him. '

Even as she moved forward she felt her legs freeze of their own accord. Hotohori's ki seem to darken around the edges, till flames of scarlet black fire danced around his form, their lolling tongues trying to reach the heavens. Nature suddenly seemed to have become absolutely still, holding her breath, almost as if she dreaded what was coming.

Keeah could not stop the shiver of apprehension that raced down her spine. ' What the hell ? Sensei never mentioned anything about this.'

She saw the sword in his hands pulsate, almost as if responding the fluxing ki around it. The shinning blade seems to become dull in front of her eyes engulfed by that darkening ki. The hair at the nape of her neck rose when Hotohori slowly raised his face and she understood that the last chains had fallen off.

His hair moved slightly in the waves that his ki created, the sign of the demon etched on his forehead with a black fire. There was a strange feeling inside her as she began to understand that he was like a true demon now, uncontrollable ... but unstoppable.

Yet when she turned her eyes towards Shizimi she felt her conviction waver. There was a look of unholy amusement in his eyes that she totally disliked. Nor did like the cynicism in soft voice when he spoke.

" You have potential boy. But you will see that a diamond in the rough just does not have that shine. Without that little advantage you will never defeat me !"

Hotohori moved as quickly as any predator, cutting through the air as softly and swiftly as an assassin's arrow and frankly the intensity of his attack brought a little hope in her heart.

' Well, Hotohori will surprise you, you cocky asshole.'

She instinctively took a step back as their swords clashed and in her heart she knew that this would be their last duel and the outcome of this duel would influence the future of this battle and she had to admit that she will not relish her position if Hotohori lost.

Oh yes, and she wished could follow their movements. She had to accept that anyone would think that the dance of scarlet and black fire she witnessed was a spectacular scene. But she wished that she could understand who had the upper hand for once, the constant clang of clashing swords making her sick with apprehension.

And then it was over ... almost as suddenly as it had began. Her eyes widened with horror as she saw Hotohori lifted clearly off the ground, held immobile in a whirlpool of scarlet fire and gold and then dropped unceremoniously on the ground.

' Oh my ...' She was beside him in an instant, blood draining from her face as she took stock of his injuries.

She saw that he was struggling to get up and knew that if she allowed him to go then this time he would not return.

' What an irony. At another time I would be glad to see Hotohori dead. But somehow I don't want that to happen. Not here at least.'

She turned him over, placing a restraining hand over his chest. "Lie still Demon."

There was no hint of recognition in his blood red iris and the fist that closed around her wrists was painfully tight. Yet she could feel that he was desperately trying to wrest the demon back into its cage but with little success. He was weak, but still strong enough to break free of her hold. She concentrated letting silver blue chains leap from the ground and held him.

He snarled, much like a caged animal trying to break free. Keeah found herself in a fix. She knew that she could not devote her time towards calming Hotohori down and in the back of her mind she wondered why Shizimi had not attacked while her attention was thus divided.

She put up a hand and delivered a stinging slap on Hotohori's cheeks. On second thought she should have punched him. "Oh for Seiryuu's sake, get a grip on yourself demon. You are no use to anybody dead, especially to Menesku." She felt his heartbeat slowly steadying under her palm. "You must understand that at this point we are no match for Shizimi. There is nothing wrong in retreating today while we are at such an disadvantage. If we do not retreat today, there will be no tomorrow."

"Keep your advice to yourself witch." His voice was weak but she was glad to hear it. It sounded much like himself.

"Glad to see you are back, fool." She could stop the small smile that formed on her lips.

The red tinge had not completely disappeared from his eyes but he appeared to be in control of himself.

"Now lie still."

"Like I have a choice. I don't think I can move."

Keeah bit her lips. "I'll see if I can get us out."

She got up, turning to face Shizimi. She heard Hotohori call out. "You were talking of retreating witch. You will see that it is not so easy. "

"Like you said." She half turned towards him. "Keep your advices to yourself demon."

She found Shizimi standing very still, his eyes fixed with morbid fascination on something on his long fingers. There was long thin gash that ran across his cheek bleeding sluggishly. He ran his fingers over the cut once more, expressionless eyes watching the red stain on his fingers.

He looked up, a strange expression in his eyes as they rested on the prostrate figure of Hotohori. She could identify it and it made her terribly uneasy. She saw his fists tighten over the hilt of sword and braced herself.

' Seiryuu ... This would a good time to lend me some of your power.'

The scarlet blur tore through the air charging at her like a canon ball. She concentrated, the faint blue ki swirling around her suddenly seemed to increase as the red comet collided with an invisible shield and violently bounced off it. Shizimi was thrown backwards and she saw that he dug his foot into the ground to reduce his speed as she richoted off the wall.

' I stopped him, but for how long ?'

She did not like the calculating gleam in his eyes, any more than the slow smile that curled around the corners of that cruel mouth. Behind her she heard Hotohori swear softly. Out of the corner of her eye she saw that he had dragged himself to where she had laid Menesku and Suraco. He had leaned against a wall and Keeah knew that he was washed out and was desperately trying to keep himself conscious.

The shield shuddered under a blow and she had to turn her full attention towards Shizimi once more. Shizimi was moving around the edge of the shield, a small predatory smile on his face.

' Damn it. Hotohori is right. There is no room for retreat.' Her eyes began to take on a silvery hue. 'Well, still I must make an effort to get us out or die trying ...' She shook her head, forcing back the nagging sense of fear in her heart. ' Death can take a hike. I am not ready to die yet.'

The sky above their heads seem to swirl almost as if being ladled by a gigantic spoon, lighting throwing out its forked tongue towards the center of this whirlpool. Keeah's hand curled into fists.

' Lets see if you are fast enough to avoid this.'

The whirlpool stopped before being revolved violently in the other direction, long whips of lightning emerging from the swirling clouds and enveloping the area in a mesh of fiery death. Slowly the clouds that had gathered overhead began to disperse and Keeah squinted her eyes to see through the dust.

She stiffened as she felt an enormous ki collide with her shield. She bit her lips till her teeth drew blood, but her shield shuddered and disintegrated.

' Ten guesses who that is.'

She saw Shizimi's outline through the dust and as it settled the grim intent on his face. She felt a little chill grip her heart.

' He means to end it ...' She felt a pounding in her head that almost rivaled the chill in her heart. ' Its just that I do not wish to oblige him by dying.'

She saw him move, with deliberate slow walk and the air of a man who knew that his win was assured, a posture, which grated her nerves.

' Damn it. I cannot die like this.'

All of a sudden she felt as if her body was on fire, all her energy concentrating on the palm of her hands. It was that same feeling she had when she had fought that creature in that small inn in Konon so many days ago ... Once again she felt her body move of its own accord, her eyes becoming an incandescent white and if there was another witnesses to this scene ( conscious ones ), then they would have noticed the sign that blazed a violent blue on her forehead. An enormous beam of energy that emerged from her open palm cutting through the darkness like a saber, vaporizing everything in its path.

And just like before she felt herself flung backwards in recoil, more forcefully this time colliding with a pillar. She crumpled at its base, feeling the intense pain shoot up her hands.

' I hate these neck or nothing blasts.'

A soft chuckle drew her attention and she forced herself to stand up, leaning heavily on the column.

' Man I really hate that guy.'

That feeling was reinforced when she saw Shizimi lightly shake the dust from his tunic. He did not appear hurt, though his tunics were a little singed.

' Yeah. I was expecting that ...'

He looked at her. "There is a lot of similarity between you and the boy. Both of you have such immense power and so little skill."

She could not stop the unladylike comment that jumped to her lips. "Up yours moron."

He raised an amused eyebrow. "Yes I will miss your sparkling wit." He ran a finger over the edge of his blade. "Or not."

' Oh shit.' Keeah braced herself, determined to go out fighting. ' Oh man I am going to die.'

She concentrated, letting the ki swirl in her hand slowly solidifying into blazing sword of fire. She took a stance, ignoring the sharp pain that shot up her body waiting for Shizimi's move.

' I guess this is my last stand. What a depressing thought.'

She saw Shizimi move, bracing herself for the inevitable. The hair at the nape of her neck rose as she felt a cold air rush past her. Her eyes widened a little as she saw a blue streak collide with the scarlet blur halting its onwards progress midway.

' What the hell ?'

She saw Shizimi was in a deadlock with another man whose twin blades held his iridescent lethal weapon in check. They stood toe-to-toe, locking horns like two magnificent temple bulls. She wished she could see the man's face. A dark tattered cloak covered his form, fluttering slightly in the cold wind behind him. His voice, soft and sensuous, though almost as cold as Shizimi's filled the room.

"It has been a long time ... Ryutoshiki."

Shizimi pushed him back, flipping backwards and landing softly on his feet. His mouth curved into a smirk.

"So it has ... So what brings you to these hallowed grounds ?"

The man chuckled, a bitter joyless sound. "Duty."

Strands of silver blue lightning leapt from within the folds of the man's cloak , slithering around Shizimi desperately trying to wrap him in their murderous arms. He avoided their grasp with ridiculous ease but it seemed that the cloaked man was expecting it. Shizimi's sword met his twin blades again in a shattering impact but was checked almost like a mighty wave crashing fruitlessly on the shore.

Keeah gasped. ' Who the hell is this guy ? Not even Hotohori was able to check him so effectively.'

He pushed back Shizimi once more, waving a hand as a shimmering shield of blue fire leapt up between them. With a quick leap he was by her side. Through the folds of the cloth that covered his face she saw a pair of startling blue eyes stare down at her.

"Don't just stand there fool. Go!"

Keeah instinctively took a step back. "And who are you ? "

He caught her upper arms in a painful grip. "Do as I say girl. Take your friends and leave. "

"You are trying to help us ? Why ?"

The shield shuddered and he turned an eye towards it. "Because I must. Now go!"

He was gone.

' Okay.' Keeah frowned. ' That was weird. But ... I must make good use of this situation.'

She turned and limped to Hotohori's side putting a palm of his shoulders. "Hotohori."

He did not answer.

' Damn it.' She swore loudly. ' He is out too. When it rains it pours.'

Gritting her teeth she dragged his body into the circle, stopping to wipe her sweaty forehead. ' Now, lets get the hell out of here.'

She began to chant slowly as the magical symbols slowly began to glow ... before dying out.

' No, no. Not now.' She felt tears of desperation sting at her eyes. ' I can't believe that I don't have the ki to carry out this simple spell ! Damn it !'

The thought of retreating left a bitter taste in her mouth, but right now it was best ... the only option left open for her to follow, but even that door seem to be closing upon her face.

A startled gasp caught her attention. Looking up she became aware of two other people who had just entered through the doorway. She recognized both of them in the light of the flickering torches. One was the sorceress Chulivey. She did not know her companion's name, but she seen this man imprisoned with Hotohori in the cellar of Nobu.

' Maybe we still have a chance to make it out of here.' She cast an eye towards the man who had stopped Shizimi. ' I wonder who that is and why he is helping us. But one thing is clear, he is much more successful than we were.' Strangely that offered her little satisfaction.

She stood erect, more out of habit, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through her body whenever she moved and as the figures neared she favored them with a gracious inclination of her head. "Chulivey. Sir."

She saw the blood recede from their faces as they took stock of the situation. Chulivey was the first to speak.

"My lady ... this ..."

"Looks like ice-block had all the fun. " The amber-eyed man broke in with a shrug. "Serve 'em right for being so selfish." There was just enough indifference in his voice that betrayed his true feelings. He turned towards Keeah. "Yo Princess, me hopes that that fucking stiff -necked doctor of yers is good as everyone says he is. "

Keeah let out a sigh that she had not known she had been holding in. ' Sotisku ... At least he is safe.'

"In case yer wondering that cat boy of yers is with us too." The amber-eyed man continued. "Now don't ya go thinking we're friends and go all mushy on me. "

"No." The ends of Keeah's lips twitched. "I don't do mushy." She looked at Chulivey. "We have to take them to safety. Can you ...?"

Chulivey seemed to have regained some of her composure and did not seem to be inclined to lose it again. " Yes. I can energize this portal."

"Wait 'ere. We ain't running away. Me self's gotta beat the living daylights outta ..."

"More like he will beat the living daylights out of you Fang boy." Keeah cut in dryly, before turning once again to Chulivey. " I take it that we have decided to work together in order to get off this accursed island. "

"Now look 'ere Princess. " The amber-eyed man cut in before Chulivey could answer. "Ya don't know me. I ain't no coward and I ain't taking no orders from ya. "

"Can it Fang boy." Keeah snapped totally out of patience. " They don't need to be avenged you Moron ! They need medical attention !'

"Yeah ... well. Meself knew that. Ya didn't have to shout. "

"Hmph. Do you have a name, or must I continue calling you Fang boy ?"

"Yo, don't make fun of me fangs. "

"Liang stop it !" Chulivey broke in. "My apologies Lady Keeah and yes, we have decided to call on a temporary truce until we get ... home and yes I can energize this portal to take us to the ship. "

"Good then pray do it. "

"Yes, my Lady. "

"Meself could've taken 'em on. " Liang said sullenly. "Rekka Shien and bam ! "

"Is that the only attack you know ? Then you will surely loose."

Liang favored Keeah with a look of extreme disdain. "What do ya know of war ?"

"When this ridiculous truce is over, I will be more than happy to oblige you. Now keep quiet and let Chulivey concentrate. "

Chulivey was on her knees, chanting the soft time tested words of the spell, slowly infusing the runes with a soft scarlet glow. Keeah turned a worried eye at the cloaked stranger who had saved her life. He was still engaged in a duel with Shizimi and as the mesh of scarlet light engulfed her she wondered for the last time about his identity and the reality of his motives, before the world frizzled out in front of her eyes in a violent rush of cold wind.

She heard Chulivey's voice. "We're off. "

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Shizimi could feel the ancient magic in the air as the chant neared completion and knew that the portal spell was almost complete. The corners of his mouth lifted in an unreadable smile as he pushed the cloaked man away, flipping backwards to land lightly on his feet. He turned just in time to see a scarlet glow envelop his erstwhile adversaries, melting away into nothingness.

The darkness around them had started to lighten as the golden fingers of dawn started their slow movement up the eastern sky. The darkness still remained, lingering in the shadows, unwilling to give up their dominance.

Shizimi stared at the empty spot, an strange expression in his cynical black orbs. His fists tightened once on the hilt of his sword before he returned it with a careless gesture to his scabbard.

"So, I take it that you have no wish to continue. " It was the cloaked man who spoke. He was leaning lightly on a broken column, the twin swords he had been using with such lethal grace hung innocently from his loose fist.

Shizimi did not answer.

The cloaked man held up one of his swords, inspecting its edge. "The finest swords that the forges of Kemit created. You cracked it. " He stood straight and shrugged. "You cracked it where you could have broken it. At another time you would not have hesitated thus. " He turned to go. "Goodbye Ryutoshiki. We will meet again. "

He was gone.

Shizimi put up a hand and flicked his hair. "A forger ? I thought that their kind had died out. "

With a nimble panther like jump he balanced himself on the broken columns propelling himself to the top. Though most of the roof had fallen apart leaving a yawning gap in its place, a narrow precipice like plaster still hung precariously over the ruin. It was there that he balanced himself. Placed at the highest point in Fa Sang, it gave a bird's eye view of the surroundings.

He raised a finger to the long gash on his cheek, eyes resting on the hazy outline of a ship that was slowly pulling away from the island, mast spread like the wings of a swan in full flight.

"And to think that Ryutoshiki would fail to kill so weak a prey. "

Shizimi turned towards the source of the sound, the look of indifferent mockery in his voice returning as he took in the man who had just arrived. The flowing folds of the long black cloak enveloped his form and the hood cast his face into shadows of obscurity.

"Interesting get up. But you must admit, terribly constricting. " He turned towards the sea once more.

"Be serious Shizimi. "

"Why are you so afraid of them ?" The first rays of dawn touched his black locks, caressing his face shyly with golden red fingers.

"Afraid ? "

"You should be. They think for themselves. After all with all your charisma you failed to influence them in any way. You are loosing your touch. "

" And your blade has dulled Ryutoshiki. You have failed as well. "

Shizimi chuckled, an unreadable emotion in his eyes. "Yes, but then again I am used to failure. "

A long warbling cry caught both their attention. Looking up they saw flock of migratory birds from the Great Beyond circling over their heads. Slowly they began to settle on the ruins, preening the snow white feathers.

Shizimi's lips curved upwards. "Oh I see. You are afraid because they herald change. "

The man did not answer.

"Good bye and I must say this. You bore me. " He leapt gently onto the floor. "So don't bother contacting me again."

"He will not like this Shizimi. "

Shizimi laughed. "I do not care. "

"You are forgetting that you owe him allegiance. "

"Time as dulled your memory friend. You forget that the only person I owe my allegiance to is myself. "

He was gone.

The cloaked man stood on the precipice watching the birds. He chuckled, a dark sinister sound as his eyes fell on a shuffling deformed shadow moving through the ruins.The dark shape seemed to be searching for something, and as the rays of the rising sun ate away the darkness that covered Fa Sang, it lifted its shadowy head in a anguished lonely cry before bounding off into the darkness.

The birds took fright, circling overhead before setelling on the ruins once more.

"No my friend. Time has dulled you, else you would have understood that this change is only skin deep."

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