Wow, it's been a while. OK, this time shout out to leavingyouforme for some really constructive criticism. I tried to work on the stuff mentioned, like being more descriptive and grammar and stuff. But yeah, this one was one of those plot heavy ones so I had a hard time making it funny. Hope it's alright, as always criticisms and reviews are welcome, I don't own Shadow Hearts, work of Fan Fiction. And finally did some monster descriptions :D see you guys soon.

Shadow Hearts: Resurrection

Chapter 5: True Friends

The constant drizzle of rain did nothing to mend the team's spirit. Kaede still refused to speak to Charlie, Jack seemed to have gone from manic to depressed with the shifting weather and Dawn was reaching the limits of her endurance. Charlie was starting to worry that they wouldn't even reach Yokohama at this rate.

Jack was walking near the back of the cart, Kaede at the front and Dawn was resting inside with the alarmingly unphased farmer. His entire reaction to the Kappa invasion when asked had been "I was surprised". It was actually pretty worrying, he must have a higher SP count than Charlie himself.

The flooded rice paddies to either side of the road were all full of dark water, occasionally splattered by the rain-fall creating a dappled sheen of water. The muddy brown of the path was now threatening to completely cover Charlie's shoes and the unrelenting grey of the sky just made it feel oppressive to look up.

Realising that he was genuinely starting to feel down just from thinking about the location, he resolved to try and raise everyone's spirits. Especially Kaede's, he was pretty anxious to make up with her. He'd annoyed her in the past. Quite frequently in fact. But she'd never been this angry with him.

Drifting towards the front of their convoy, he looked to see Kaede almost marching to keep pace, completely ignoring her surroundings. Trying to look as casual as possible, Charlie increased his pace to try and walk alongside her. He managed to match her just in time for her to turn and look at him, her eyes still glaring and fierce.

"Go away" she said. Her voice gave no room for argument as Charlie's pace slowed until he was standing still, the caravan rumbling past him as he tried to make sense of how he was feeling. Kaede was still angry at him, even after a few days of sleep. Had he messed up that bad? By not telling her had he broken some secret integral ingredient to their friendship.

Shaking it off, he started walking again, this time pulling up level with Jack. The pumpkin headed man also seemed to be down in the dumps, while it wasn't like he was in a good condition himself, Charlie tried to start a conversation to see if he could cheer up the poor guy

"How's it going Jack? Not feeling very potato-ey?"

"When it rains, I feel the madness lessening." Jack murmured "I remember my old life, all those years ago. It won't last. While I can, I thank you for allowing me to travel with you, they seem interested in you and the girl so I wish to help. You're truly a carrot"

At the last few words, the rain seemed to cease and an unhinged tone returned to Jack's voice. His eyes widened once more and he looked curiously at Charlie once more as if viewing him again for the first time

"What ails you my green friend?" He asked, long fingers pointing at him curiously. Charlie opened his mouth briefly to reply before he realised that Jack was back to his usual self. What had he been saying? Was he telling the truth or was he just as crazy as he always thought?

Awkwardly, and with an uncertain heart, Charlie walked faster to get past Jack and leaned into the wagon to check on Dawn. Fast asleep. He sighed, slightly relieved. He didn't know how he felt about her, to be honest. He thought she was pretty, maybe even beautiful, but with all the danger she was facing... would it be right for a monster to try and romance her?

And despite how he acted, he wasa monster now wasn't he?

Even as the sun emerged from the clouds and Yokohama came into view, he felt concern deep in his chest. Kaede was still angry at him, Jack was clearly insane and Dawn was getting exhausted. What was he going to do?

-\ -o- /-

"You don't look well, Heart"
"More than one, he has more than one!"
"What is he babbling about?"
"THE BOY HAS MORE THAN ONE ELEMENT!"
"Oh, well, that is impossible. You must be mistaken"
"I know what I saw, you green fool!"
"Look, even if he has more than one element to fuse into, it doesn't mean he's like him, you know where he is now"
"No... no, you're right. I should have stayed longer"
"Don't worry. We'll handle this. But just in case... contact him"
"Who?"
"You know who, our brother. I'm sure he'll want to know if this is who you believe it to be"
"But why not just ask him to deal with it?"
"If you want to ask him, be my guest. Come Club."

-\ -o- /-

The setting sun cast a flaming glare across the calm sea of Japan and glinted off the steel monoliths that were the American boats in the harbour. The farmer bid the party his farewells before trundling along the road towards his destination.

Kaede sniffed the scent of sea-air, closing her eyes momentarily to enjoy the salty breeze, before opening them and announcing
"I am leaving"

"What?" Charlie squeaked "Kaede, you can't! I'm sorry-" but even as he spoke she was starting to walk, Dawn and Jack looking anxiously on as Charlie ran up to catch her shoulder

"Kaede, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I didn't know it was important! I thought Harmonixers could all turn into different monsters"

"Get off me" Kaede growled "As if I'd believe you just forgot? You're changing, Charles." Charlie winced at being called his full name but said nothing as Kaede turned to look at him, her eyes glistening "I can't stay here and watch you turn into a monster. How long until we wake up and find some monster attacking us?"

"Kaede, I'd never-" Charlie was cut off as Kaede broke free of his hand and started walking again. Charlie could only stand and watch as her robes vanished in the sea of kimonos and army fatigues.

It felt like a piece of his heart had been ripped out.

In his mind, he felt a blue light intensify and buckled over, clutching at his stomach. Dawn was by his side immediately and holding onto his arm

"Charlie! What's happening, what's wrong?"

"A spirit" Charlie spat into the ground "It's stronger, I can't hold it..."

Light began emanating from his body in flashing bursts as whisps of energy were sucked into his body. Charlie felt his body changing, just like the first time, he wasn't in control and it felt like every cell in his body was freezing. He screamed into the road when suddenly everything went black as he lost consciousness.

Dawn looked up sharply and saw a blond man with loosely cut hair holding a fencing foil which seemed to be how he'd knocked Charlie out. His clothes seemed to be a strange blend of violet trousers tucked into thigh high black boots and a white shirt sliced into a vest with excessive frills at the sleeves. Tied to his neck was a red ribbon with a cartoon bat design embossed on it.

"Well, that was surely a surprise" he stated blandly "I haven't seen that in a long time." Laying Charlie down, he sheathed his sword and bowed politely before turning to leave.

"Ummm, if you don't mind me asking, who are you?" Dawn was surprised at her own courage for being able to start the question. It may have helped that she was squeezing Charlie's unconscious hand for all it was worth.

"Me? I am Keith Valentine, noted World Explorer! My grandfather sold the castle so my siblings and I are wandering the globe." Keith sighed and rubbed his nose as he remembered his grandfather ranting and squeaking about how the series was over and it was pointless keeping the castle. Utterly mad, of course, but he still owned the deeds.

Rising from his memory, Keith bowed once more
"Anyway, must dash. Take care of the Harmonixer, little lady." Keith smiled charmingly, revealing his fangs and causing Dawn to squeak in surprise. Immediately shutting his mouth, he started jogging away from them with Jack watching after him.

"What a strange fellow..." Jack said, prompting a nod from Dawn

"He had those teeth" Dawn shivered

"He was wearing purple trousers!" Jack shouted, prompting an agonised pause of discomfort and confusion. Breathing in deeply, Dawn decided now was no time to get swamped by the severity of the situation.

"Jack? Could you help me? I need to get Charlie somewhere safe until he wakes up"

-\ -o- /-

He was running. He knew there was a creature pursuing him. Frost tickled the back of his neck as the creature lunged close and he could feel the icicles of it's claws missing him by inches. There was a voice, he could hear it but not identify the words.

He should stand and fight, but he couldn't find the courage. She'd gone, he needed her and she'd left. All because he'd been stupid enough to not tell her the truth. But was that really fair? It's not like he had a manual for all this, it was hisbody and soul in danger after all!

Suddenly the chill was receding and instead and unbearable heat started to rise up. Shielding his eyes, he could hear the voice from before talking to him but he could hear her words

"Big brother! You have to calm down! You're only making them stronger!"

He was turning to reply when he saw the lunge of ice and fire storm towards him. He could hear Kirsten screaming to him as the attacks were seconds from striking him

"BIG BROTHER!"

Charlie woke up thrashing, kicking the sheets off him and yelling as he fell off the bed and onto the floor. Groaning, he rolled himself fully off the bed and onto the creaking floor-boards. It took him a second to realise he was still in Japan, the room was western looking with drawn curtains and simple cream coloured walls.

A vase full of flowers stood on the bedside cabinet and had somehow miraculously avoided being hit by his flailing. Getting up stiffly, Charlie found he was still wearing his jeans but that his T-shirt and jacket had been left strewn haphazardly across a chair. Tugging them on quickly he tried to remember what had happened.

Kaede had left. He'd felt something in his heart and he began to lose control of his Fusion and then... blackness. Someone must have stopped him by knocking him out. He felt grateful for it, if he'd hurt Dawn while he was berserk he wasn't sure he could live with himself.

But maybe she'd been right. He paused, glancing out the window at the midday sun glinting off the pale brown rooftops of the houses nearby. What if Kaede was right, that he was a danger to everyone. That one day he'd become a monster and he'd need to be stopped. He'd only had these powers a few days and already they'd dealt with so much.

But that wasn't the part that he was worried about. He had to protect Dawn.

He wasn't about to dwell on his feelings, all that mattered was that he kept her safe. Wincing slightly, he made a mental note to buy a new weapon from Delinquents'R'we before they tried to get on that flight. He wasn't sure how exactly they were meant to flyfrom Yokohama.

Though he doubted Dawn would want to get a boat.

Growling in exasperation, he decided to just head out and find Dawn and Jack. Kaede was gone, he had to get over that. No matter how much it hurt.

-\ -o- /-

Dawn was sitting on the steps outside the hotel, her knees drawn up to her chest and her face perched on top so she could keep an eye on Jack. He seemed to be whittling a face onto a radish he had proclaimed to be his new head. Only for battles though.

She'd wanted to cry about half an hour ago but she'd kept it in check. She was actually pretty proud of that. Kaede had left them. The only girl she could talk to, even if they didn't talk much. But it'd hurt Charlie worse, so she had to be strong. Even if all she could think about was her Grandma and those last awful moments on the ship.

Hugging her knees tightly she tried to stop remembering that noise her grandma had made or the threats from that magician. She wished with all her heart that she wasn't special. That there'd been some mistake, that the 'Key' was someone else and that they'd leave her alone. She missed her Grandma.

Her thoughts were interupted by Charlie sitting down besides her, he looked exhausted, a faint gleam of sweat on his brow showed he'd not slept well but he still smiled at her with that same slightly crooked grin

"Hey, I'm better now. Ready to get you back to the states?"

"But where do we start?" Dawn sniffed, "Kaede was the one who organised the flight, how are we going to find it without her"

Charlie looked down for a moment, before lifting his arm and awkwardly wrapping it round her shoulders. Half-hugging her he smiled as best he could and gently shook her
"We'll find a way, don't worry. I'll protect you"
They waited a while as Jack crowed in victory and donned his new Radish helm. This one had a slightly cross face. It would've been funny in any other scenario.

The humour didn't last as a faint rumbling rolled up the street towards them, a figure shrouded in green mist emerged from in between the street-lamps, the glass bulbs exploding as he walked forward.

The man was shirtless and muscular, a series of tribal tattoos embossed over his skin in a dark navy ink, over one eye he had an ornate eyepatch but the other shined with a jade hue. On his legs he wore a series of tight white bandages and a blue and gold loin-cloth wrapped around his mid-section. He glowered at the trio standing on the hotel's doorstep and snorted.

"I am Diamond. You are dead."

"I am not dead! I am the Pumpkin King!"

"Way to miss a threat, Jack" Charlie sighed, shielding Dawn behind his arm. This would be difficult with only the two of them against another magician. "I take it you're friends with Heart? What makes you think you'll fare any better?"

"Insolent whelp" Diamond growled as sparks of green fire began to roll along his shoulders "I will teach you the true meaning of fear!"

-\ -o- /-

Kaede was waiting besides the SS Halberd with her arms folded and a listless feeling beginning to stir in her heart. She'd had to leave, of course. Even as she watched the sailors moving cargo around and the few rushing around to find the man she was asking after she dwelled on what had just happened.

He was going to become a monster, and she couldn't just stand there and watch. He wasn't even concernedabout his condition. All he cared about was that girl. And she understood, protect the pretty girl, it was how all men operated. But he didn't want to be helped, so that was that. She wasn't going to watch one of her oldest friends become a monster. It was inconsiderate of him to expect it.

His face as she'd left

Why had that thought popped up? She leant forward at the approach of the man she'd come to see. Nodding her head curtly she started speaking

"General Stevens, do you remember me?"

"Miss Abe, ah distinctly remember you requesting passage for four" the general's southern accent was somewhat lost on the Japanese girl who simply folded her arms.

"I am afraid it shall be three, I am no longer travelling with the group in question"

"Well, ain't that a shame. Ah'll just inform the crew of the change" Stevens smiled pleasently but suddenly froze. He seemed to stay rooted to the spot, eyes shut and mouth raised at the corners before he slowly fell backwards and collapsed. Kaede drew her brush as she heard the screams of men dying and saw a man come dancing towards her.

His bare-feet bounced and rolled off the ground as he danced his way towards her, stopping with a quick twirl he let her get a good look. His dark skin and loose clothing reminded her of Africa and the beads around his wrists were from a very old school of magic. Raising his head, his eyes glinting with a strange madness he began to speak

"Well, aren't you a pretty little bird. My name's Club, what's yours sweet thing?"

"Kaede Abe, Exorcist" Kaede replied, charms flicking into place between her fingers, "What business do you have here?"

"I wasn't looking for you, but that boy of yours. Little did I realise how severe our problems were to have traitors in our midsts"

"What? Traitors?" Kaede tensed herself, angry at the attack and the insinuation far more worrying than she cared to admit "Stop there before I have to use force!"

Club giggled at the interjection, stamping a few times he threw a hand forward and a wave of force propelled Kaede backwards. Slamming into the hull of the battleship, she bounced off with tremendous force and landed in a heap. Spluttering through the blood in her mouth, she tried to raise her charms

"I can't let him get Charlie... He's my friend, I will protect him!"

Club seemed to find this attempt laughable but stopped when he heard an inhuman snarl. His face suddenly showing stark fear, he vanished in an explosion of crimson feathers as a huge creature landed in front of her. She couldn't see well as she teetered on the brink of passing out but she saw it glow suddenly and stand tall, brown hair flowing the breeze

"Charlie? No, someone else... is it?" Kaede's last thought was lost as she tumbled into unconsciousness in front of the mysterious man. He looked down at her, red eyes seeming conflicted

"Well, this is a fine mess we're all in" he sighed as he scooped her up. Looked like there was only more trouble coming.

The Party so Far

(active party)

Charlie Anjou
Role: Harmonixer
Element: Dark
Weapon: Broken Aluminum Bat

Jack O'Connagh
Role: Pumpkin King
Element: Fire
Weapon: Frowny face Radish

Dawn Tyler
Role: Unknown
Element: Neutral
Weapon: BB Beretta

(Seperated)

Kaede Abe
Role: Taoist
Element: Water
Weapon: Holy Ink (Navy)

?
Role: Harmonixer
Element: ?
Weapon: ?

Monster Encyclopedia

Drowned Soldier
:Water:
The lost soul of a man who drowned at sea. While unquiet, they rarely rise up unless provoked.

Elmo's Fire
:Water:
Fireballs summoned by the spirits of men who died of disease while at sea. Despite being made of fire, they're water element.

Markus
:Dark:
A two-bit mage who became entangled in the larger plots of an evil cult. The last loyal member, he was killed by Charlie in his Gallas form.

Esquilax
:Light:
From the 6th circle of Hell, this Rabbit was used to torture heretics before it was called to this plane. It's charming appearance belies it's true monstrosity.