Rei and Shinji arrived at the inn shortly before dusk. Shinji carried a long object wrapped in cloth presumably to be Asuka's spear. When they entered the inn they were greeted by a panicky Hikari.

"Thank goodness you are ok." she said to Rei. "When I heard that explosion I was worried that something was going to happen. Then the mist came and I thought we were all doomed. Asuka tried to go out but I stopped her. Instead she calmed me down and told me that you would be fine. Even so, it's good to actually know that you are ok."

"Thank you for your concern." said Rei.

"Yes thank you for caring so much about us." said Shinji with a smile.

"Oh, Shinji, I didn't realize that you were out there. Did you fight too?"

"Yes I did."

"And your ok?"

"Of course."

"That's good. I probably wouldn't have had a reason to worry about you anyway."

"More than likely true."

"I don't mean to interrupt but how is Asuka?"

"Oh, she's awake. She's kind of weak, but she is doing well. She should be well enough to travel in three days."

"Great, can I see her?"

"Of course." Hikari lead them into Asuka's room and sat down next to her. "Hey Asuka, Rei is here to see you."

"Rei?" Asuka said weakly trying to look up. She saw her and smiled. "Hey, how are you?"

"I'm fine. How are you feeling Asuka?"

"Not bad. I'm the great Asuka after all, I'll be fine in no time."

"Of course. You make sure to get some rest. Can she eat?" Rei asked Hikari.

"Yes I think so."

"Well I'm hungry, Shinji probably is and Asuka was originally going to hurt me for stealing her food so, lets have some dinner shall we?"

"Ok, I'll go prepare some." Hikari said and she walked off to the kitchen.

"Hey Rei," said Asuka, "Hikari and I are friends. She is a really good person."

"Alright. If she is your friend then she's mine." Rei said with a smile.

"Who's that?" Asuka said pointing at Shinji.

"This is my new friend, his name is Shinji. He helped me save the town when the demons came."

"Demons came here?"

"Yeah, more people like Hachi showed up and destroyed the windmills. It's ok though, the mist wont come back."

Asuka looked up at Shinji and Shinji smiled back. "I don't like him." Asuka said turning her head away.

"What? Why not?"

"He likes you too much. He's trying to take you away from me."

"Asuka what are you talking about? I'm not going to leave you, ever."

"Really?"

"Of course not. Asuka you are my first friend. When are journey has ended and the mist is gone we'll settle in some peaceful town and live out our lives there, together."

"We'll live in the same town for the rest of our lives. That sounds nice."

"It will be, so don't be mean to Shinji ok."

"It doesn't matter what you say, what he wants is what he wants, you can't change that. So until he changes his mind I wont like him."

"You are stubborn." Rei said with a chuckle. "Here I'll talk with Shinji, you rest until dinner, then I have a gift for you."

"Ok."

Rei and Shinji walked into the next room. Shinji put the object he was carrying up against the wall. Shinji looked at Rei and was slightly surprised at the serious look on her face.

"Wow, either I did something bad or you think she was right."

"I'm sorry about what Asuka said, she's very protective of me. I'm the first person she's known for a long time. Her and I were the only friends each other had for the longest time."

"I understand. Do you think I want to take you away from Asuka?"

"No, but…" Rei paused, her eyes went downcast. "But I do think you have feelings for me."

"That may be true, but how could I not. Your nice, funny, fun to talk with, your strong willed and fight for what is right. Not liking you would be crazy." Shinji smiled.

"You have similarly good qualities, I like talking with you and your perpetual kindness, but, I'm not sure if it is anything beyond that. I've never had an attachment to someone like this before so.."

Shinji put his hand on Rei's shoulder. "It's fine. I didn't confess to you or anything. Take whatever time you need to work out you feelings for people. I'll let you know how I feel when I think I should."

Rei and Shinji smiled at each other. This connection, this warmth Rei felt when she talked to Shinji was like when she meet and befriended Asuka. Only, this time it was slightly different. Rei couldn't tell if it was because she was used to the feeling or if it was because she wasn't used to the feeling. The only thing she knew is that she couldn't let it progress, Asuka couldn't have any negative thoughts right now.

"Ok, lets go back in. I want to tell Asuka what happened today."

"Ok."

They went back into the room and Rei sat down next to Asuka. Rei put her hand on her shoulder and looked at her. Asuka looked up at Rei and smiled.

"So, do you want to hear about what happened today?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Ok." Rei told Asuka about Gendo's experiments, the two that attacked the town, the battle and the demon that offered itself to save the town. Asuka sat and listened quietly until the end of the story.

"That smaller guy that attacked today, he sounds really strong."

"Yeah, it was kind of frightening. I don't think I could beat him if I fought him now."

"You know, I find something interesting." said Shinji. "That first guy you fought, Hachi, you said he was completely covered in demons right?"

"Yes."

"The big guy was covered up to his neck and the small guy only had is arm covered."

"You point." Asuka said rudely, still not liking Shinji.

"The small guy was the strongest and he was covered the least, isn't that interesting to you two?"

"What do you think that means Shinji?"

"You said Hachi said he surrendered himself to demons. Maybe the amount covering the body has something to do with the original strength of the person."

"Even if it did what good would knowing that serve?" asked Rei.

"Absolutely none." Shinji said with a smile. "What?" Shinji said responding to the stares from both Asuka and Rei, who's was admittedly less evil looking. "I'm a scientist, things interest me and I want to know why. It wont help us fight them I just want to know it."

"I should have expected this from you Shinji." said Rei. She had a small smile that she tried to hide from Asuka.

"The food is ready." said Hikari who was standing in the door.

"Alright lets eat." said Shinji.

"Come on Asuka. Let's get you some food so you can recover faster."

Rei carried Asuka into the other room and sat her at the table. Asuka had enough strength to sit up and eat by herself so Rei let her go and sat in her spot. Hikari's meal was a good one. It consisted of rice, tea and a stew full of beef and vegetables. It was only when they smelled it did Rei and Shinji realize how hungry they were, their stomachs growled in unison. They looked at each other and blushed slightly. To relieve the tension Hikari started the meal and began to eat. The others followed suit and they ate their full.

After the meal Everyone sat around talking for a while. Rei motioned to Shinji to go get the item he put against the wall.

"Asuka, like I said earlier I have something for you." Rei waved her hand and Shinji unwrapped what he was holding, it was in fact a spear. It was perfectly forged with a long blade edged on both sides. It would stand slightly taller than Asuka and be a great weapon for her. "I got you that spear I promised you."

"Rei that's great, now I can fight better and not leave as much to you."

"Yeah, if you get good enough I can leave all the fighting to you."

"I give it a week after I can walk again." boasted Asuka, which was lost in her lack of energy.

"You should see Shinji fight, he is also quite skilled." Rei said trying to rid the tension between them.

"I could beat him." said Asuka. "And I will if he tries to take you away from me."

"Asuka."

"I'll remember your warning." Shinji said smiling.

"Why do you always smile?"

"Why not?"

"That's not a reason. Really, why do you?"

"Because I'm always happy."

"That's strange. How can someone always be happy?"

"When someone realizes that being sad does no good. When someone knows that things can always get worse and that getting sad does nothing. And when that someone knows someone else doesn't like it and that first someone happens not to like the second someone entirely."

"Huh?"

"Don't worry I'll be more clear when you have more energy."

Asuka turned her head away from Shinji. "Fine."

Rei smiled at the two of them. "I think Asuka likes Shinji now." she said to herself.

"I don't mean to stop you guys but Asuka should probably go and get some more rest." said Hikari.

"Good idea." said Rei. "You rest up and get better. We have more places to save."

"Right. I'll get better and then we can go kick some ass." Asuka stood up, with the help of Hikari, and went back to her room.

"She's great, really fun to talk with. Her personality is unlike anyone's I've ever dealt with."

"Yeah, she's something else."

"She still does not like the fact that I'm around you though."

"No, but I think just then she excepted you a little bit."

"Really? That's good. I don't want to travel with someone who doesn't like me."

"That would really suck."

In the evening two nights later Rei and Asuka were enjoying a bath in the inn's hot spring. Shinji also was but on the male side with a large wooden wall in between the two sections. He sat there quietly and relaxed with absolutely no intent of spying on the girls. Asuka hated him enough he didn't want to add any reason, and he wasn't a pervert. Asuka and Rei were talking about what the next day would hold.

"This is great we'll be able to leave tomorrow. I have felt like a useless lump just sitting here for so long." said Asuka.

"Yeah, I just hope that you don't get sick again."

"I wont not after this great hot spring treatment. I'll probably be good to go for another year before I could get sick."

"And if we actually eat some food this time it will be easier too."

"Yeah and we have to use that damn fire demon everyday."

"Ok I'll make sure I don't forget."

They both laughed. Asuka thought it was funny while Rei was just glad that her friend was well enough to make continuous jokes. They sat back against the edge of the hot spring and Rei looked up at the sky. Asuka looked at Rei and a look of love came across her face. When she realized how she must have looked she corrected it by talking.

"I still don't think we need to bring Shinji along. We both have weapons now so we'll be ok. He's annoying anyway."

"Asuka you know we can't do that. I said he could come with us and besides, I don't think just the two of us will be strong enough to stop these guys."

"Was that guy, what did they call him Shi, really that strong?"

"Yeah he was." Rei said lowering her head. Rei's eyes settled on Asuka and her chest. "Damn," Rei thought, "I definitely loose. At least mine are bigger than Hikari's."

"Hey Rei," said Asuka quietly, "do you like Shinji?"

"Well yeah. He's a good guy, has a pure heart and wants to help us. He is willing to leave everything he knows for that, so yeah I like him."

"That's not what I mean. I mean, do you like him?"

"Asuka."

"Please answer."

"I don't know. Talking with him was is as great as talking with you, but I wouldn't know if it was anything more than friendship. I feel the same thing about you both, you are my good friends."

"I…see." said Asuka quietly. "Well that's good then. You wont break your promise of staying with me then."

"Of course not. I never go back on my word." Rei smiled after finishing.

Asuka smiled back but felt slightly disappointed. She wanted Rei to feel something more for her, but she didn't want to admit it. It seemed odd for her to feel that way about her. Just then Rei got out of the water. "What is it Rei?"

"Nothing, it's just getting late and we have an early start tomorrow. I'm going to got to bed you should too. Did you hear that Shinji? We should bet some sleep!"

"If you had said that just a little different it could have sounded bad and yes I heard you. I'll get out now and head off to bed!"

"Alright!"

Rei and Asuka got out of the hot spring and went inside. There they dried off and changed into night robes. They were going to miss sleeping in something nice and clean. Their stay in Oshu had spoiled them a little. When they made their way up to their room Shinji was already there starting to get into bed. It was really strange, for some reason they were all in the same room. The inn had space, to traveling meant no visitors. No one could understand why Misato had put all three of them in one room just big enough for them to fit. As Rei and Asuka laid down to sleep Shinji spoke looking up at the ceiling.

"What's it like out there? I've never been outside of town."

"It's cold." said Rei. "Until you get to a town it's just wilderness. In our case once you get to a town it still isn't anything to cheer for until we free the town. We've been lucky so far in that no one has rejected us for me being a Shinpishugisha, but it might happen eventually."

"Well that all sounds like fun. Are there a lot of demons out there?"

"Sometimes yes."

"What are you scared Shinji?"

"Curious actually. There might be a little fear in there somewhere, but none I can feel. Is that bad?"

"If you still have sound judgment about things than no." responded Rei.

"Ok, well, see you two in the morning." Shinji said and fell asleep almost instantly.

Shinji had two strange abilities, he could sleep almost on cue and he could sleep as much as he wanted. The morning prior to this one Asuka was yelling at him to wake him up did he didn't move. When Rei stopped Asuka's yell and calmly asked Shinji to wake up his eyes instantly opened. Turns out he wasn't ignoring Asuka's yelling he did not hear it. He said that he can sleep during anything that's not important, and a girl yelling at him was not important, politeness was.

The next morning Rei awoke before dawn and readied her things. She got dressed into her warrior gear and tucked all her weapons where they were supposed to be. When she went to wake the others up Shinji was already up and awake. He was nearly dressed and facing the other side of the room.

"Just trying to avoid us seeing each other as we dressed is all." Shinji said before he was asked. "You should wake Asuka up, I don't want her to attack me."

Rei chuckled. "You really like Asuka don't you?"

"She's a good person who doesn't like me because she see's me as a threat to her friend. Its rational dislike. There is nothing wrong with her so, yeah, I have no reason not to like her."

"Is that you way of saying you like someone?" asked Asuka from her bed.

"If I have no reason not to like someone then I like them. I'm hopelessly positive remember."

"There is something wrong with you."

"Ok you two lets get moving. Finish getting ready and I'll get some food. Hikari said she would lay out something for us since no one else is up yet."

"So does that mean we're leaving without saying goodbye?" asked Asuka

"We said goodbye last night." Rei said.

"Yeah but, I'll miss Hikari."

"Don't worry, this town is safe and we can always come back. You'll see her again."

Asuka smiled. "Your right."

Rei walked down to the kitchen where Hikari said she would leave the food. There she saw several boxes of food, it looked like enough to last them for a few days. On the boxes of food was a piece of paper. Rei picked it up and noticed that it had something written on it, it was a note from Hikari.

Rei, you'll probably be the one to pick this up so I'll address this letter to you. First off I hope you enjoy the food I prepared for you, I made it with your health in mind. It should keep Asuka from getting sick any time soon. I don't know if it will be possible, but please try to keep Asuka safe. You need to be careful as well. I know you are stronger than most, but don't forget that you can die just like us. While your journey is important it doesn't matter if it means you will die. I don't want either of my new friends to die. Please be careful and look out for everyone.

"Wow, she must really be worried about us. It will be fine Hikari, no ones going to die."

Shinji and Asuka appeared in the doorway of the kitchen and looked at Rei.

"Hey come on, it's time to go." Asuka said.

"Right. Here, take this food first, it's too much for one person to carry." Re handed Shinji and Asuka each a few boxes of food.

"Well this should be good." said Shinji. "Hikari always did make good meals."

"I've been meaning to ask, you long have you known Hikari?" asked Rei.

"Why my whole life. We don't live that far from each other and the town is not very big. When we were kids she used to make things and she would ask me to try them. I liked it, a good excuse to be fed."

"Did you ever think that Hikari might have liked you?" Asuka asked with an annoyed tone.

"Yes, but she never said anything so I didn't either."

"Why?"

"I never had any feelings for her, she was and still is, just a friend."

"That's mean of you Shinji."

"Ok you two can we continue this while we walk?" interjected Rei.

"Sure." said Asuka.

"Of course." said Shinji.

Rei, Asuka and Shinji walked together out of the inn and toward the edge of town. When they left they walked by one of the destroyed windmills. All three of them looked at it as they passed. The symbol of Oshu was destroyed .

"Do you think they will rebuild the windmills?" Rei asked when the had made it out of the town.

"Hmm, maybe. They don't have much of a purpose anymore. At least not until the world if free of the mist. I guess if they were planning on the tourism after we succeeded than yes they will. I wonder if they remember how."

"You mean they don't know?" asked Asuka.

"Well it was a hundred years ago that we were shown how. I don't know if anyone wrote it down. If not then they can only hope that they can figure it out."

"Don't you care?"

"Not really. The town is safe from the mist, which is what they were doing. Since the windmills are no longer needed then it doesn't matter to me if they go back up or not."

"So if they serve no purpose they don't matter?" replied Rei.

"That's pretty much how it works. Windmills are just things, things don't care."

"I suppose your right."

"This is boring." said Asuka. "Lets just keep on going, we can talk about something else."

"Yes you highness." said Shinji sarcastically.

From Oshu Rei, Asuka and Shinji walked northeast toward their next destination. It was a small town and the name was not on the map. It was the closest place to Oshu, only about four days away. It was the preferred destination as the weather was the same as when Asuka and Rei arrived in Oshu, cold and snowing. It was slightly difficult to walk through the snow, it was piled up higher than their knees and took a lot to clear.

"Man this sucks!" complained Asuka. "Isn't there an easier way for us to walk through this?"

"I don't think so." said Shinji. "Better hope the next town we get to doesn't throw us out, we may be stuck there for a while."

"You may be right." replied Rei. "But still there must be someway to make this simpler."

"You have a fire demon don't you? Melt some snow."

"Shinji your brilliant."

"Are you serious? You didn't think of that at all?"

"I did I was just trying to get through without using them too much."

"And why were you doing that?"

"I didn't want to relay too much on their power."

"It's not their power it's yours. Sure it comes from them, but you control it. Not using every recourse one has is just plain dumb, unless it would be wasting them. But here its saving us some trouble and the cold."

"Good point." said Rei and then she summoned her fire demon. It charged forward glowing with heat and melted the snow as it went. They had a considerable path cleared for them.

"So it works just fine."

Rei, Asuka and Shinji walked for the rest of the day as such. Every once in a while Rei would clear the snow with the help of her demon. When it was approaching night they noticed that the amount of snow on the ground was lessening. It was only part way up their shins by then so it would be considerably easier to travel. They eventually found a spot where they agreed to set up for the night. They laid down a large piece of cloth to keep them dryer while they slept. Rei used her fire demon to start a fire and then the snake demon to form a wall to give them more cover. They sat by the fire and ate their evening meal.

"So this is what it's like to travel in the wilderness. It's very interesting." said Shinji.

"I think you are the only one who would describe this as interesting." replied Asuka.

"How would you describe it then Asuka?"

"I don't know, I bit of a pain I guess. Although you do get used to it eventually."

"So why is interesting so bad?"

"It's not, it's just weird."

"Really? It is an interest to me, I describe these things as interesting."

"Whatever."

"So Rei, What's it like being able to summon demons?"

"I'm not sure how to describe it. It feels so natural to me, like talking, you know."

"I kind of understand. Can you only summon one at a time?"

"I think so. I've thought about summoning two at once but it just feels odd."

"Like trying to say two words at once?"

"Kind of." Rei said with a small laugh.

Asuka was slightly upset by the joy an togetherness between Shinji and Rei, it was only enforcing her fear of him taking her away. "So Shinji, what are you going to do if we get attacked in the middle of the night?" she said to stop this.

"Wake up and fight them. I can't think of much else to do."

"You think you'll be able to? You slept so soundly at the inn."

"Well yeah, it was an inn, your supposed to sleep. I'll be on alert here."

"How well can you fight really?"

"Didn't you hear Rei, quite well."

"And what does that mean?"

"I am a master of the silent kill technique. I make no sound in my attacks and my enemies make no sound in their death. The dance of blades silences them before they can scream."

"Ooo. Sounds creepy." Asuka replied being condescending.

"Ok you two, no more fighting. God I feel like I'm Kenji."

"Yes mommy." replied Shinji.

"Who's Kenji?" Asuka asked.

"Oh, he's the one who taught me how to fight."

"Damn he must be really good then huh?"

"Yes. He was able to do this journey without special powers. He's much stronger than I am."

"I doubt that Rei." said Asuka. "He didn't have to those really strong guys like Hachi. You need this power."

"You right. And he didn't go through all of this. He only went for his temple to my village, a much shorter trip."

"Well this has been fun, but I'm going to sleep now. Does anyone mind?"

"No of course not." replied Asuka.

"Alright then, good night." Shinji said and went to sleep.

"Asuka, were you just civil with Shinji."

"I uh, well, no. I just didn't want to have to listen to him anymore."

"So you really don't hate him do you?" Rei said to herself knowing that Asuka would never admit that. "We should follow his lead and sleep."

"Yeah I guess so."

Asuka and Rei lay down to go to sleep. Early the next morning a noise startled Asuka awake. She jumped up and grabbed her spear. She stood on alert expecting demons to attach any second.

"Why are you awake?" asked Shinji still with his eyes closed.

"We're being attacked you twit you need to wake up."

"That wasn't a demon, it was a squirrel that broke a branch. Unless demons are that small than you are fine." Shinji opened his eyes. "But since I'm awake I might as well move."

"How do you know it's not a demon?"

"I said didn't I? It wasn't large enough to be anything to worry about."

"You can tell what something is by how much sound it makes?"

"I have mastered silence, you have to know sound to do that. Part of my training involved fighting with a blindfold on. I can hear and discern sounds with ease."

"That's incredible."

"We all have different skills, I can exist without making a sound, you can probably survive by you self with ease, unless you get a wicked bad illness, and Rei can fight in dozens of different ways better than any normal human. Isn't that right Rei?"

Rei rolled over to face Shinji and Asuka. "Yeah that sounds about right."

"You were awake the whole time?"

"Yeah, I noticed the sound too. I wasn't sure if it was anything to worry about so I decided not to react."

"See, three different reaction based on who we are. People are so much fun."

"Wow Shinji you are weird." Asuka said with a slight laugh.

"She really doesn't hate me." Shinji said to himself.

"Well since we are all awake lets pack up and get moving." said Rei as she stood up."

Asuka and Shinji packed up the cloth while Rei dismissed her demon. They made sure the fire was out, even thought with all the snow it wouldn't do any real damage, and continued on their way.

Elsewhere, several miles away, two people were discussing something sinister.

"What do you think Roku, when shall we attack them?"

"Don't care Go, I'm wondering what we should do to them."

"I can't believe that Shi and Nana were stopped."

"Now now it wasn't that bad. Nana is an idiot and tried to fight her. Shi did what he was ordered, destroyed the windmills. They acted as they were expected to."

"Your right. Let's attack tonight, that should be fun."

Rei, Asuka and Shinji walked quietly for a while until the silence started to feel awkward. Asuka started to look back and forth at Shinji and Rei wondering why no one was speaking. Asuka went to speak several times but could not find anything to talk about so she kept quiet.

"Damn." Asuka thought to herself. "What the hell is going on here? Why are we so quiet? And why the hell can't I bring myself to speak? Damn it!"

Asuka took a deep breath and was prepared to say anything to break the silence. As she opened her mouth she noticed something move off to her left.

"Huh?" she said completely lost in the act of trying to speak.

"You noticed it too?" said Shinji.

"Well of course, I'm not an idiot."

"Good news, it's not a squirrel this time."

"A demon then?"

"Most likely."

"Just be ready for it." said Rei. "I think there is more than one."

"There might be." said Shinji.

The demon appeared from behind a tree. It was about six feet tall, had large muscles and look human like. Its head was down as if it not interested in what was in front of it. When it lifted its head up its eyes glowed yellow. It lifted its arms to revile two more.

"Yikes." said Asuka. "Why would anything need four arms?"

"To grab four things." said Shinji.

Before Asuka could reply the demon ran towards them. It leaped into the air to attack from above. Asuka quickly drew her spear and thrust it into the demon as it came down. She held the demon, impaled on the spear, in the air for a moment and then threw it off. Blood from the wound mad a trail from her spear to where the demon landed and it slowly soaked into the snow.

"There, that wasn't hard. Let's keep moving."

"Nice shot Asuka." said Rei.

The team continued to walk and only a few minutes later they noticed another demon off in the woods.

"Damn another one." said Rei.

"Well there was more than one before." said Shinji. "But I don't think this will be the last."

"As long as we don't have to fight them all day." said Asuka.

The demon that emerged this time was the same as the last only it carried swords, one in each hand. When it attacked it did not jump into the air it ran straight at them. Rei calmly threw a knife and punctured its throat causing it to fall at their feet.

"Again, skillful." said Shinji.

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, many more of those demons emerged from the woods all carrying a sword in each hand. Rei, Asuka and Shinji were completely surrounded by demons.

"This could be bad." Rei said standing calmly.

"Will get 'em." said Asuka. "These guys are weaklings."

As the word weakling escaped Asuka lips the demons charged in simultaneously. Rei, Asuka and Shinji stood waiting for the attack, and when the demons were within striking distance the drew their weapons can began to cut them.

The battle went surprisingly easy considering the number of enemies. The attack was uncoordinated and the demons had no skill with their weapons. Despite them having four swords Rei had to do very little in the way of avoiding or blocking attacks. She mostly killed each demon with single strokes, severing vital areas like the throat and chest. Several demons she stabbed in the heart. Asuka was able to hit three or so demons at once due to the length and swing of her spear. The demons did not make it close enough to hit here. Shinji lazily dodged the attacks and then cut vital spots of the demons. He made no effort to be serious, dodging the attacks was like avoiding a person on the street. By the battles end the snow around them was drowned in blood.

"Damn that was annoying." said Shinji.

"I wonder where they all came from." said Asuka.

"I am more concerned about where demons got their hands on weapons."

"Oh your right that is interesting."

"Stop that Shinji. Lets just keep moving so more don't show up."

"Ok Asuka, I'll do as you say."

Later that day, around noon, when the team was about to rest and eat more of the same demons from earlier appeared. There were about as many as the first attack and again they all carried swords.

"Lunch is on hold you two." said Rei. "we have to take care of these guys again."

"What a drag." said Asuka.

"Yes, very much so."

This time the demons could actually fight. The demons attacks were more coordinated and they made use of their four arms. Normally this would have been bad, but Rei and Shinji were smart, they did not go into a battle thinking the fight would be easy, they approached it as if it would be challenging. Asuka on the other hand tried to deal with them as easily as last time and she was meet with difficultly. After being unable to kill the demons she finally became serious just in time to avoid a cut to the face by a demon. The battle raged much longer this time and when it ended the snow was again crimson in color. Neither Rei, Shinji or Asuka were hurt, but they were hungry at that point. Noon had past and they could not afford to stop and eat. They ate as they walked.

"What a pain this is." said Asuka quite annoyed. "Why do we have to eat and walk? Sure we don't want to loose much time but still. This is not easy."

"You whine too much." said Shinji. "Eating and walking isn't difficult it's just rude, but since we are in the forest I don't think anyone is going to care."

"I do not whine to much!"

"Enough you two." interrupted Rei. "It doesn't matter if it's hard or rude this is what he have to do. We can't loose all sorts of time fighting huge groups of demons."

"Yeah your right." said Asuka.

Just after Asuka finished eating(she took the longest) more demons appeared from behind the trees. The mob this time was about twice as large as the first. The demons looked much more vicious this time and it seemed as though that they were better able to fight.

"Are you kidding me with this!?" exclaimed Asuka. "How many time do we have to fight you stupid demons before you realize that your going to die? Your all a pain."

"I am starting to get sick of this as well." Shinji said with a sigh.

"We just have to end this quickly." said Rei. She held up here hand and summoned the bat demon. Its magic killed several demons before the had a chance to charge it. When they did she summoned other demons and destroyed the attackers with them. The ground was once again painted in blood.

"Wow those demons worked pretty well Rei, we barley had to do anything." said Asuka.

"Yeah well, lets get moving. I'm starting to get tired."

"Are you sure you want to walk then?" asked Shinji.

"Yeah of course, I'll feel better if I walk."

Rei, Asuka and Shinji walked away from the bloody scene hoping that there would be no more attacks that day. It was approaching night and they did not have to loose sleep because of these demons.

After a short while of walking the sun set on the horizon and night came. Rei, Asuka and Shinji finally stopped walking and began to settle down for the night. They laid down their cloth to sleep on and sat down to eat. Rei was just about to summon her demon to start a fire when they heard voices off in the distance.

"Well well," said a voice echoing through the trees, "I don't think you should be resting."

"I concur." said another voice. "That wouldn't be very fun."

"You have got to be kidding." said Shinji. "A whole day isn't enough now we need more."

"Damn." Rei thought to herself. "I'm too exhausted after summoning all those demons. I don' think I can fight anymore today."

"Well Roku, what shall we do to them."

"I think, Go, we should at least let them see us. That way they know who killed them."

"I'm surprised. That's very nice of you."

"Yes I've been trying to be nicer to my victims."

"Maybe we should just kill them. It will be more amusing."

"Show yourselves damn it!" yelled Asuka.

"Now now no reason to scream at us."

Two people appeared up in a tree in front of them. The team looked up at them standing on guard ready for them to attack. The two in the tree stepped off the branch and slowly descended as if they were being lowered down. They silently landed on the ground making no indentation in the snow, they stood on top of it as if they were weightless.

"Good evening." they said in unison. "We shall be the ones to kill you tonight."