Disclaimer: Hasn't changed really

Chapter 6

Something was buzzing… It was…like a hum in the back of his head that was just trying to pull him out of the soothing cocoon of darkness that he was currently wrapped comfortably within. Feeling slightly disgruntled, he tried to push the sound away, but it didn't want to go.

Growling to himself, he turned over, trying to find a more comfortable position, only to discover that he was lying on what felt like bare earth and there was a harsh light burning through his eyelids. Frowning slightly as he reached up to try and block the unpleasant light, he found that his hands weren't responding.

That caught his attention, and with a muffled yelp he sat bolt upright—only to fall again as he lost his balance due to the fact that his arms and legs had been tied behind him in a most uncomfortable position. Thankfully for him, he had always been on the flexible side and after shifting around a bit he managed to find a sitting posture that didn't result in his immediate re-acquaintance with the ground.

It was only after he had solved that problem that he realized the weird buzzing that had pulled him into consciousness was actually the sound of people talking—that and someone, it sounded like Oishi, was calling his name.

Turning first in the direction of said beckoning voice, he found that it was indeed the healer—and he too had been tied up and was looking most uncomfortable. On the other hand, he was all in one piece, which was a really good thing seeing as they had apparently been caught.

"Are you all right?" Oishi asked anxiously, seeing that he had finally gotten the redhead's attention. He could see a rather ugly bruise starting to develop on the left side of the other's face, but he couldn't really do anything about it from where he was…

"Nyah…" Eiji wrinkled his nose, "if you count being tied up fine, then yeah, I'm just peachy! What happened nyah?"

"We—"

"You are an absolute fool," a clearly displeased voice cut through the air like a hot knife through butter, leaving its words ringing in the air and drawing the eyes of the two startled prisoners in the direction of a clustered group of three. The speaker was a man with silvery gray hair and sharp eyes that were currently pricing holes through the two people whom Eiji recognized as their attackers the night before. He tensed immediately at the thought, but found himself overcome with curiosity as he continued to listen to the conversation.

"—you have been so foolish? Look at them!" the annoyed voice was saying. "They are obviously not the ones we are searching for."

"That may be true," the dark haired man with the glasses replied calmly, "but if I remember correctly these two would certainly match the description of the accomplices."

"Who are hardly the ones we want, Oshitari."

"Ah, but we can use them for bait. Their companions are bound to come looking for them—that's just the way such people are. And anyways, Atobe, they're still outlaws."

Ooh…that's not good nyah, Eiji thought to himself as he shifted a bit, trading worried glances with his fellow prisoner.

"Hey, look!" the redhead standing beside Oshitari said suddenly, face splitting in a wide grin as he jabbed a finger in Eiji and Oishi's direction. "They're awake!"

"Indeed," Oshitari mused, casting a bemused eye in the same direction. "Why don't you take them to their tent then, Gakuto? If the captain allows, that is."

Atobe shrugged, looking bored, "You do that. And make sure you leave a guard this time."

"Yeah, yeah," the redhead waved him away nonchalantly, "I know."

Bounding over to where the two prisoners were sitting, he gave them a wicked grin before bending down and yanking hard on the ropes binding Eiji's wrists. Yelping slightly, the redhead was jerked to his feet as a flash of orange light symbolized the sudden disappearance of the ropes binding his feet.

"Hey, watch it nyah!" he shouted angrily. "That hurt!"

"Good," Gakuto smirked at him, "that was kinda the point. Yoh! Hiyoshi!"

A somewhat grim looking youth with orange brown hair appeared from behind a nearby tent, frowning, "What is it Mukahi?"

"Grab the healer would you? We need to get them to their quarters."

Eyeing the redhead suspiciously, the one addressed as Hiyoshi approached slowly to stare down disdainfully at where Oishi was still sitting on the ground, "Who are these people?"

Gakuto rolled his eyes, "Our prisoners, duh. Anyways, hurry up, would ya?"

"Don't give me orders," the other snapped, but he complied anyway.

A few minutes later the prisoners found themselves being marched towards what had to be the most unwelcoming looking tent either had ever seen. It was small—though that was probably the best thing about it—and covered in a dirty tarp that looked like it had gone through a couple stampedes before ending up as tent material. The edges of the structure were stained black by some unidentifiable substance, and black runes had been painted on its sides like ghastly, twisted serpents forever trapped on the splotchy brown surface.

Eiji balked as he realized the unattractive thing that didn't deserve to be called a tent was unmistakably their destination, "You're expecting us to stay in there?"

"Well, where else would you stay?" Gakuto snickered. "We set it up just for you. You should be honored!"

"That's ridiculous!" Eiji snapped furiously, jerking his hands to try and free them. But the other redhead grabbed the rope tying his hands and twisted it, hard, eliciting a gasp of pain from Eiji as the rough bindings bit harshly into his wrists.

"Leave him alone," Oishi demanded, green eyes stern. "You've already caught us. There's no point in unnecessary violence."

"And what're you going to do about it? Healer?" Gakuto smirked, leaning over to give Oishi a mocking grin. "Really, Hiyoshi, shouldn't you be keeping your charge quiet?"

His companion just rolled his eyes, "Stop dawdling. I have better things to do with my time than haul these creatures around."

"Creatures?" Eiji repeated incredulously. "What do you mean creatures nyah? You can't talk about people like that! It's rude! And we're human!"

Hiyoshi snorted, lip twitching slightly in a sneer, "As far as I am concerned, that makes you inferior."

"Now shut up and get inside," Gakuto ordered, yanking open the tend flap and giving the redhead a hard push so that he went sprawling into the dark, musty interior. "And don't even think about trying to escape. This tent's warded—and so is this entire camp. Of course, personally, I wouldn't mind if you two tried to run. I could use some target practice."

"Why you—" Eiji growled, turning over to glare, but the tent flap had already been dropped back into place, and he could feel a tingle go through the air—probably the aforementioned wards.

Outside they could hear their captors talking for a few minutes before they called to someone—it sounded like Akutagawa—to come play sentry. Then all went quiet, and all that could be heard was their breathing in the dark, musky tent interior that smelled like many things that no one would ever be idiot enough to try and identify.

x-X-x

"They were here."

"Yes…"

Letting his eyes scan the trampled grass of the clearing, Tezuka frowned. It looked as though Syuichiroh and the redhead had built a camp—if the scattered ashes and pieces of blackened wood were any indication—but aside from that there was no sign where the two might have gone from there. Knowing the healer, he probably would have insisted on staying here to wait for Tezuka to return, which meant he wouldn't have just walked away willingly, so then…where were they? Unless Fuji's friend had wanted to go…but that seemed just as unlikely.

Then there was the power surge. Neither the healer nor the redhead had had the ability to be the cause of the eruption. That left only two options: other sorcerers—which was rather unlikely—or the Elite. Either way, the crushed grass and scattered remains of the campfire all testified to a struggle.

"They went this way," Fuji announced, standing up and gesturing into the forest. "There are four sets of human tracks, so there must of have been two of them. They took the horses too."

Tezuka nodded his ascent.

Watching him curiously, Fuji arched an eyebrow, "Shouldn't we be following them? The longer we wait the farther away they are liable to be."

"Wait."

Closing his eyes, Tezuka concentrated on the area around him. A circle of pale light appeared around his feet before expanding slowly to wash over the clearing. And as it passed traces of light began to shimmer into existence, hanging in the air like still, colored mist.

Fuji's eyes opened and he blinked—twice. If he was reading this right, those tracks of light were the residues of magic…only what could normally only be sensed was know clear to be seen before his eyes. Then Tezuka raised his hand and the wisps of glowing mist swirled slowly around the clearing before gathering to his hand and vanishing altogether. It didn't leave behind any of the tiny marks the usual concealment or trail wiping type spells did, no…it was complete and utterly gone.

In seconds there was nothing at all that might have indicated that anything with supernatural powers had ever set foot in the clearing at the top of the cliffs.

"Now," Tezuka said, adjusting his glasses, "we can go."

x-X-x

It was dark and slightly damp inside the small tent, but to make things worse the temperature was starting to drop rapidly. Shifting around a bit in a vain attempt to find a more comfortable position, Oishi glanced at his companion anxiously.

"Are you all right?" he asked quietly, eyeing the dark bruise marring the side of Eiji's face.

Shifting slightly, the redhead winced but nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine…"

They fell silent again, listening to the sound of cool silence that was all they could hear of the outside world. It was slightly disconcerting just how silent it was, but the healer was feeling inclined to take the peace as a good sign.

"How long do you think we've been here nyah?" Eiji asked finally, hushed voice still shockingly loud inside the tent.

"I don't know," Oishi sighed, pulling halfheartedly at his bonds. "It's night now though."

"Yeah…" Eiji turned large, dark blue eyes towards the tent flap, searching for any hint of the sky beyond before giving up and looking back at the ground. "Do you think they're going to come get us?"

"Of course!" the healer replied, sounding rather surprised. "Would your friend leave you behind?"

The redhead grinned, laughing quietly, "No, Fuji wouldn't leave anyone behind."

"It…might be better if they didn't come for us though. At least we're not the one's the Elite are after."

Eiji snorted, "Yeah, nyah, and they're just going to let us waltz out of camp in a few days if they don't get what they want."

"You're right… Still, we should have been more careful…"

"Can't change that now," Eiji shrugged, then hissed in pain as the rough rope bit into his already raw wrists, having seeming to have shrunk since that annoying, red haired thing had tampered with it.

"Here," Oishi offered, shifting around where he was sitting, "you shouldn't leave it like that, it could get infected if it starts bleeding. See if you can turn around.

Wrinkling his nose, Eiji complied, bouncing up and down where he was sitting until he was facing the tent wall and his fingertips were brushing Oishi's. The healer inched back a little so he could clasp his hands around Eiji's feeling the way the skin around the rope bindings was chapped and scratched. Wincing inwardly, he concentrated hard on the ill-treated wrists.

Eiji blinked as he felt an odd warmth settle over his hands, almost as though he was sitting by a fire. The pain in his wrists slowly faded away. The ropes were still tight, but it no longer hurt to move his hands.

Scooting around after the healer relaxed, Eiji awarded him with a broad grin, "Hey, thanks nyah! It's all better now!"

Oishi smiled, "No problem. It's what I do."

"Hmm…sounds interesting," the redhead chuckled. "You know, a couple years ago all I wanted was to do anything I wanted any time I wanted. I just knew that I had to keep a low profile because I people like me aren't welcomed by the Empire—but I always did like animals more than I did people, so it didn't matter much. They were the ones I grew up with, not humans. But now…things just aren't that simple anymore nyah."

"I think a lot of people feel that way," Oishi sighed quietly. "It's just the way life is."

x-X-x

"Man, it's so boring just waiting here!" Gakuto complained loudly as he stretched and looked around the camp. The sky had only just started to turn a pale shade of yellow, but he was feeling restless. Really, waiting had to be the worse activity in the world to be trapped doing!

"Don't worry," his dark haired companion assured him, glasses glinting slightly, "we should be getting out of here soon."

"Eh? And how do you know that?" the redhead prodded. "Come on, Yuushi, face it, we don't even know for certain if these renegades are going to come looking for those two."

"Ah, but most people have more loyalty to their friends than that."

Jumping at the sound of the unfamiliar voice, the redhead spun around to stare in astonishment at the slim figure smiling cheerfully at them from no more than a few yards away, honey brown hair stirring slightly in the breeze. Beside him he could feel Oshitari tense.

"Of course," the brunette continued amiably, "you probably wouldn't know that."

"You're that—" the redhead started, leveling an accusing finger at the stranger, but he was cut off as his companion elbowed him sharply in the ribs. Turning, he shot a glare at Oshitari, but the other didn't seem to notice.

"And what," the dark haired man asked calmly, "might you be doing here for?"

Understanding dawning, Gakuto started to edge to the side slowly—so as not to attract attention. He caught a glimpse of Hiyoshi stepping quietly out of his own tent and they locked gazes briefly to exchange barely visible nods of ascent.

"You have something I want," Fuji replied casually, still smiling. Really, these people were too amusing. It was obvious what they were trying. "A friend of mine, actually."

"Friend of yours?" the one with the glasses repeated, arching an eyebrow. "You must be mistaken."

"No, I don't believe I am," Fuji mused absently. Three, two, one, now!

Whirling around he caught a jumping redhead in the stomach with a blast of pure force and deflected a lance of what looked like darkness that had been launched by someone he hadn't seen earlier. It spun through the air before shooting back towards its startled caster.

Catching sight of a streak of silver out of the corner of his eye, he turned and sliced one hand through the air. A solid slash of pale blue light flashed through the air, almost too fast to follow. But the dark haired member of the Elite was quick on his feet, leaping out of the way just as the ground where he had been standing a moment ago exploded in a shower of blue sparks.

X

Striding briskly through the camp, Atobe paused suddenly as he spotted the prisoners' tent. He had only just gotten up and here he had run across yet another problem. There, sitting outside of the prisoners' tent, was a familiar figure with a shock of orange gold hair—fast asleep and snoring softly. Could he find no decent help around here?

Letting out an irritated sigh, he turned to approach the sleeping sentry—granted, whose idea it had been to put Jiroh Akutagawa here as a guard was beyond him. Probably Mukahi. He'd have to talk to the redhead about this—again. Wards or no wards, sentries should be both present and awake, not either.

But he halted in mid stride when he caught a glimpse of movement in the trees near where the two horses had been tethered.

All senses immediately alert, he changed course once more, careful to walk quietly this time. Padding over the packed earth, he ducked quickly behind one of the trees that had decided to grow farther into the clearing than its brethren. Peering around the trunk, he discovered that there was a stranger standing by the horses. He was tall, with somewhat windswept hair and a long coat—and he was untying the horses.

Stepping smoothly around the tree, Atobe whispered a short chant under his breath. Yet even as the last syllable left his mouth he caught a glimpse of light glinting off of oval glasses before the lightning he had released was caught and rebounded back towards him. Cursing slightly, he deflected the attack with a hasty shield before yanking his sword out of its scabbard and lunging forward. His opponent didn't have a weapon, but the matter didn't seem to faze the stranger in the slightest—the stranger whom he was pretty sure now was one of the renegades, presumably the one the fool guards in the city had been too fearful of to follow.

X

Eiji jerked out of a light doze when a resounding explosion rocked the ground beneath him and the sound of fighting filled the air. Squirming around, he stared wildly this way and that, trying to see something other than darkness.

"What's going on nyah?" he exclaimed. "What blew up?"

"I don't know," Oishi replied, sounding worried as he wriggled around, trying to get his feet under him. "I think they're fighting out there."

"Do tell! But what can we—"

The tent flap was pulled back suddenly and they both blinked in surprise as a boy with orange gold curls crawled inside. They had never seen him before.

"Who—" Eiji started, but he cut himself off to gape as the youth pulled a dagger out of his belt and cut their bindings. "What the…"

"You guys better go," their rescuer remarked, giving them an odd looking smile. "I cleared the wards, but someone's going to notice soon."

Then he was gone as abruptly as he had come in.

Trading confused glances, the two now freed prisoners could only blink.

"What do you think…" Oishi started, but he trailed off, unable to find the right words to phrase his question.

Eiji shook his head finally, "Oh well, doesn't really matter nyah, let's get outta here!"

Bolting out of the tent with Oishi on his heels, only to nearly fall backwards as something when flying by just inches away from hitting him. Turning to stare, the two of them found Gakuto sprawled amidst the demolished remains of a tent, looking dazed.

Eiji blinked before his face split into a grin and bounded towards the downed redhead, fully intending to make fun of him. But Oishi grabbed the back of his cloak and pulled him back urgently.

"Come on," he said hurriedly, scanning their surroundings. He could see Eiji's friend in the midst of a duel with the dark haired Oshitari, but neither the Elite captain nor Hiyoshi were anywhere in sight—and that worried him. And where was Tezuka? "We can't stay he—"

"Watch out!" Eiji shouted suddenly as he caught a glimpse of orange brown hair. Leaping forward, he tackled the healer to the ground just as a long, single-edged sword whistled through the air just over their heads. Bouncing back to his feet, the redhead jumped nimbly over yet another vicious slash before landing a solid kick to Hiyoshi's ribcage. The other youth let out an 'oof' as the air in his lungs was forcibly removed, but that didn't stop him from swinging his now glowing blade in a powerful uppercut.

Backpedaling quickly, Eiji let out a startled 'nyah' as he tripped over Oishi—who was still trying to negotiate with limbs numb from being stationary for so long, sending them both back onto the dried, hard earth. Looking up, he was introduced to the unpleasant view of an upraised sword about to come plunging down—just as a flash of pale blue light lanced overhead to catch Hiyoshi full in the chest where Eiji had kicked him earlier. He stumbled backward, doubling over and gasping in pain.

Scrambling to his feet, Eiji helped a gasping Oishi to his feet just as Fuji appeared beside them. His eyes were open and sharp to an almost frightening degree.

"Head for the horses," he instructed rapidly, casting a glance back over his shoulder to where his previous opponent was pulling himself out of the wreckage of another tent, looking murderous. "Go, now!"

Oishi opened his mouth to protest against the wisdom of leaving the brunette alone to fight, but Eiji grabbed his arm and started towing him in the other direction past a still paralyzed Hiyoshi.

"Don't argue with Fuji when he talks like that," the redhead advised as he started to run.

Rounding the next corner they were nearly incinerated by a blast of white gold flames. Luckily, it missed them as Oishi yanked Eiji back towards him. Then they could see Tezuka standing in front of the nervously stamping horses, facing the leader of the Elite camp, who had a gleaming blade held surely in practiced hands.

Then the two flashed back into action and Oishi found himself forced to look away lest the quick, blinding flashes of light and almost indiscernible movements send his head spinning. Then the terrified whinnies of the horses filled the air, and he found himself being hauled forward by Eiji, who was emitting odd, whickering sounds he couldn't make heads or tails out of until he recalled that the redhead was a Speaker and it probably wasn't human he was speaking—it sounded like horse.

Tezuka had cut the horses free, and incited by the flames exploding around them, they bolted just as the sorcerer swung onto the chestnut's back. Bounding forward, Eiji vaulted onto Finiko's back and reached out to help Oishi on as well.

"Hold on and don't let go!" he told the healer with a quick grin before both horses headed for the tree line. The bespectacled sorcerer swerved Triad away just before they reached the forest fringe, but he shook his head when Eiji was about to follow and gestured back at the trees.

Waiting a split second to make sure they did as he instructed, Tezuka bent low over the stallion's neck and urged it back towards the burning camp.

X

Deflecting a disk of silver light, Fuji glanced up at the sound of hoof beats to see Triad charging through the camp. Flicking the dark haired sorcerer he had been battling a cheery wink, he reached out and caught the hand that Tezuka was holding out towards him. Swinging himself up smoothly, he settled himself in place comfortably as the wind whistled by.

Behind them, the Elite camp was a demolished mess.

"Fuji!" Eiji exclaimed in delight as the horses slowed their pace after entering the forest. "You're okay nyah!"

The brunette laughed, eyes closing in a smile, "Of course I'm all right. And you?"

"We have to get as far away from that camp as possible before nightfall," Tezuka interrupted them after exchanging greetings with a greatly relieved Oishi. The horses couldn't move as fast through trees, but if they didn't get away quickly they would have another fight on their hands by the morrow if not sooner.

x-X-x

It was dark—dark and suffocating. He couldn't see anything—couldn't hear anything. He couldn't even feel his feet beneath him or his arms by his sides…or at least he assumed they were by his sides.

What he could feel was the darkness.

It was wrapped around him like a thick, heavy cloak, pressing down on him from all sides. He felt like was was standing in the middle of the earth with all the forces of the world squeezing in on him—trying to crush him.

He struggled vainly, pushing at it with his mind because he couldn't find his body.

Then he was fighting for his life, trying to find at least a little air to pull into his desperate lungs. But he couldn't, and—

"Ryoma! Ryoma! Wake up!"

Jerking upright at the sound of his friend's urgent whispers, the young sorcerer stared wide-eyed into the dark, gasping for breath like a drowning man.

Pulling back, Momo put a finger to his lips, violet eyes bright with worry, "There's someone coming—we hear horses. I think it might be the city guards coming after us again."

"Are you all right?" he added anxiously. "You're looking kind of pale…"

Shaking his head, Ryoma calmed his breathing, "No, I'm fine…just a dream. So what are we going to do?"

Giving his friend a not quite believing look, the swordsman proceeded to outline their plan, gesturing to where the Observer and Kaidoh—who had finally divulged his name after being dubbed Viper by Momoshiro—were making themselves scarce in the thick undergrowth.

Nodding his understanding, the sorcerer stood up, dusted off his cloak, and moved into position beside his friend. The seconds drew by as the sounds of hooves grew gradually louder and louder…closer and closer… Counting slowly in his head, Ryoma lifted his hands and cupped them, a tiny spark of orange red light flaring into life in the cage of his fingers.

Then the horses appeared and Momo let out a shout. Leaping to his feet, the violet eyed warrior yanked his sword out of its sheath and lunged forward just as Ryoma released his spell.

There was a blaze of orange light and several yells of surprise. Then a strangled scream, frantic neighing, startled hissing, and another blinding flash of light. Throughout it all Ryoma found himself unable to make heads or tails out of anything that was going on until there was a surprised exclamation of "Oishi?" that sounded like Inui—only he wasn't sure because the Observer never sounded surprised.

Then all movement ceased to reveal Inui facing a bewildered looking young man with green eyes and the healer's moons embroidered on his cloak standing beside a tall stranger with oval glasses and sharp eyes that Ryoma realized with a start was the same one he had seen in the city some days ago. Then there was a redheaded youth who was attempting to strangle Momo while Kaidoh hissed a bit nervously at a smiling youth with honey colored hair who was holding a ball of blue light in one hand. Nearby the two now rider-less horses stood, amiably swishing their long tails through the air.

The green eyed healer blinked, "I—Inui? What are you doing here?"

TBC

A.N. Okay…I know this is a bit strange so far, but I think it's because I'm not used to writing non-humor-based fanfiction, only original fiction, and writing that is just different. Anyways, I hope you guys liked it… Suggestions are always welcome.