Konnichiwa, minna-san! I hope you've been following the story, because if you haven't, I have the definite feeling you're really lost right now. Well, I'll shut up now and start writing!

Windsong: -Doesn't realize she's still talking- Oh, come on Avirilli! Haven't I written enough for one night?!
Avirilli the writing spirit: I thought you liked writing fics! Now shut up and start writing! The faster you write, the sooner I can leave you alone!…By the way, did you know that you're audience is still watching you?
Windsong: -Looks around and sees hundreds of eyes watching her, waiting for her to start writing- -Squeaks and hides in a corner- Gomen nasai, minna-san…I'll start writing, Avirilli…

Stuff in ( ) are Author's Notes.

Fur and Field
By Windsong
Chapter Three: Conversations
Written January 2000

Ryo was outside playing soccer with Yuli. Mia was typing away at her computer. Rowen was busy doing his Astrology homework. Kento and Sai were doing acrobatics. (Remember what Kento and Sai were doing after they beat Talpa the first time, and Ryo looks out the window? That's what they're doing now.) Sage was watching Hilaris and Halicyon, who were walking through the garden.

The two foreign exchange students had been staying at Mia's for three weeks now, and Sage still hadn't been able to learn anything about them.

Well, that's not entirely true. He knew that they were quiet, respectful, courteous, unassuming, and very evasive. Whenever he would try to corner and question one of them, the other one would appear out of thin air and ask a question in that language of theirs. Then the one he had cornered would smile, excuse herself from Sage's company, and make good her escape. Sage was very irritated by now, and was sure that they were telepathic.

Sage got so fed up that he decided to have a conversation with Rowen. Leaning on the doorframe of his best friend's room, Sage sighed heavily and said, "Ro, I'm getting really worried about those two girls. I don't know anything about them. I try to corner them, and they slip away like shadows.

"Not only that," Sage continued, "But I also don't know whether they're trustworthy or not. The Dynasty won't take their defeat forever; they're bound to attack again, and the Ronin Warriors will have to be there when they do. If we keep leaving to protect the world, and keep coming home exhausted, like we always do, then they're sure to be suspicious. What are we going to say to them if they start asking questions?

"Add to that that I don't know whether Halicyon and Hilaris are really spies that were sent from the dynasty. Who knows if they're sent to watch us and tell Talpa when it's the right time to strike?" Sage shook his head worriedly. "I don't know Ro. I have a really bad feeling about those two…"

Rowen, caught in the middle of his Astrology homework, chewed a pen in thought. "Well, I don't know—I don't want to assume anything about them until I know more. You should never assume, you know…But I see what you mean. Unless we learn more about those two, we could be in serious trouble. Why don't we try to ask them together? That way, they won't be able to slip away. Either that, or we ask both of them at once."

"That's a good idea!"

------

Hilaris and Halicyon were walking and talking in the garden in their own language. "I'm glad we were able to find such comfortable quarters here." Halicyon said, smiling.

"Yes," Hilaris said thoughtfully, "But that Sage has been getting quite annoying. He's so interested in us—and he was so shocked when he saw me. I wonder why?"

"Well, I guess he's frustrated because we've been avoiding all of his questions. It isn't very nice of us."

"Yeah…" Hilaris laughed softly. "We have been annoying him, haven't we? Every time he tries to find out more about us, we just slip away from him. It's a pity we have to hide from him, but it's necessary." Hilaris frowned suddenly. "I wonder if the Dynasty's going to attack this world as well? I mean, Earth is a very tempting prize…there's so much ill-will here, and so many of us fled to Earth after they conquered that they might follow us." Hilaris sighed.

"Oh, I hope not," Halicyon said quickly. This planet is so beautiful—Earth is just like Serusin was…and the people here are so kind, like Mia. It's almost as good as home."

"But because it's so like Serusin, the Dynasty will be sure to try and conquer it. Then it'd be exactly like Serusin is now," Hilaris said bitterly. "Hali, can't you feel the menace here? Not everyone here has a kind and gentle heart like you do. I'm almost sure the Dynasty is going to try to conquer Earth—and I'm also sure that I'll do anything to stop them."

"I, Hil? It's more like we. We'll do anything to protect this world. But if we leave to protect Earth and confront the Dynasty, won't Mia and the others be suspicious?"

"Let them be suspicious," scoffed Hilaris. "Would you rather let the Dynasty have this world as well?"

I have the vaguest feeling that there are some extremely confused people out there. If you're wondering what the heck is going on, let me explain. (I should have explained this before.) This is set right after they beat Talpa the first time (around the time when Ryo learns about the armor of Inferno.) And no, I did not introduce two new characters at the end of this chapter. Hali is Halicyon's nickname and Hil is Hilaris' nickname. So that's what you need to know to understand my fanfic at the moment.

Hope you're enjoying it! Ja ne!

Windsong: -To Avirilli- There! I finished writing the chapter! Are you happy now?!
Avirilli: Yes, I think you're doing very well under my guidance.
Windsong: Well, I'm not writing any more fics for a while! That's it! I'm resting my poor fingers and brain cells for a week! -crosses arms-
Avirilli: Don't make me possess you again…

Windsong - windsong 137 at gmail dot com

"There's a good fish." -My dad, praising me at 1 AM