Soko's POV
We had reached Yoko's den and were walking toward the living area of the tree house, when a boulder crashed through the wall. Mag had been in the way, but Xhi had saved her. Yoko and I go over to the two girls. Xhi's eyes are blank. {What's this?} I examine them both carefully. {It looks like some sort of energy was used and now her body is recovering from the effort. She should be all right.} Xhi's eyes return to normal. Mag thanks her. Xhi's expression is one of confusion. She asks, "Thank you…? For what?" {She doesn't remember it…} I look at Yoko. /What do you think of this?/, I ask. He smiles. /I'm gonna need a new wall./ I snort. /Always the witty one, aren't you?/, I say.
Yoko lifts the rock with his plants and pushes it out the hole it came through. "I wonder who threw it in here, anyway…", he ponders, looking down at the ground outside. I nod. "Yes, but at least we're all okay." Mag and Xhi stand up, brushing the dust and wood chips from their hair and clothes. "Well, that's something I never want to go through again.", Mag states. I nod and smile. Yoko uses the surrounding tree to repair the wall. He turns to us. "Shall we carry on then?" We all continue to the living area. We sit in a circle, Yoko sitting next to me, with Mag on his other Side. Xhi sat to my left. "So, where are you girls from?", the fox asked, sipping his tea that had been brewed not long before our arrival. "We're from a small village called Hollowdale. It's not too far from here.", Mag said. Yoko nodded and smiled. "Yes. I've been there.", he said, looking at me, golden eyes dancing. I smirk. "No, I wasn't caught, Fox.", I say. Xhi and Mag giggle. I try to glare, but a yawn prevents it. Yoko suppresses a laugh. "Well, it seems as though you've had a long trip. Why don't you all go to bed?", he suggests. I nod. Mag and Xhi yawn. Yoko smiles and leads us down a long hallway. We deposit Xhi and Mag into the guest room and head down to the den below the tree.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to come back.", I say, laying on the large bed. "I've missed you." Yoko smiles. "Likewise. It gets lonely here, you know… and I've always enjoyed your company.", he says, laying next to me on the mattress. I smirk. "Not always… not when we first met." The fox's eyes widen slightly. "I did too! I just hid it… didn't want you to get the wrong impression…", he says. I laugh, rolling closer to him as I do so. "I was joking, Love.", I mutter. He gives me a small smile and rubs noses with me. I curl up next to him, but the embrace isn't nearly long enough. Yoko stands. At my confused expression, he says, "I'll come back. I'm just going to check on your friends, okay?", he asks. I sigh and sit up. "Yeah.", I mumble, disappointment dripping from the word. He leans down and kisses my cheek. "You act as if I'm going away on a job. I'll be back in like three minutes.", he says, running a slender finger across my jaw. I smile. "True." He returns the smile and pushes me back onto the bed. "Go ahead and get in bed. You're tired.", he says. I pull the blankets out from under me and curl up beneath them. He turns to leave, but I catch his arm. "You promise you'll be back?" He gives me a warm, sincere smile. "Of course.", he says. "You're in my bed." I chuckle. Despite the jokes, I can tell that Yoko is being serious. I kiss his hand and let him go. Once his silver form disappears, I close my eyes to sleep.
Yoko's POV
I leave the den to go check on Mag and Xhi, Soko's friends. {Those two girls are going to be great. I can feel it.} I smile. Meeting new people who aren't going to kill me is always a good thing. {So is seeing Soko again…} I smile, my hand going to the gem at my throat. {Yes it is. Yes it is.}
~*~
Xhi's POV
Mag and I enter the guest room. "'Night.", I say to Soko and Yoko. Yoko nods in return and they both leave. "So, Mag, what happened earlier?", I ask. "I don't believe you don't remember!", she exclaims. "Remember what?!", I practically yell. "Well, you got this weird, glazed look in your eye and threw me into a wall. A second later, a big boulder fell down, right where I was standing. Then you just stood there. It was kind of freaky.", she said. "Who, me?", came a joking voice from the doorway. We turn quickly, just to see Yoko. "Who me, what?", I ask, puzzled. It probably is visible on my face because he laughs and says, "You said something about being freaky, so I asked if you meant me." We stare at him oddly. "Oh never mind. Xhi, is it?" "Yes", I say. "I have a question that might be rather rude but… are you related to an imp, brownie, sprite, elf or fairy in any way?" "No.", I say crossly. "Okay. Just thought I'd ask.", he said. "Well, 'night." He pretended to leave, but just turned the corner and stood against the wall. We thought he had left, though. "'Night Mag." "'Night Xhi." We both fell asleep, oblivious to the pair of eyes that watched us. A few minutes passed and the figure silently slipped back into his room to join Soko in the land of slumber.
I have the same dream I've been dreaming for years: I'm sitting in a lush forest, playing a flute, a wooden one, I note. A small furry creature comes and sits beside me. It yelps/barks. "Hush Briskay.", I say. I guess that's the creature's name. "Why, hello. What do we have here?", a figure comes up. I can't see his face. I panic. "No, no let me go!" I wake with a start, shooting up in bed. I look around and realize it's morning. Mag is gone. I get up and softly call for her or Soko. I haven't really liked being alone since what happened last month. I roam outside the room and see Yoko, Soko {I'm stupid. I just figured out those two names rhyme.}, and Mag sitting down to breakfast. "Hey… elf.", Soko says mischievously. I stick my tongue out at her and sit down between Mag and Soko, across from Yoko. "Have a good night?", Mag asked me. "I've had better. Why?" "Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you were humming in your sleep.", she answers, grinning at me. "I was?", I ask, pondering the thought. "Yep.", she replies. "Well this has been a very informative morning, but if you'll excuse me, I need to go pick something up.", Yoko says, standing. "Does it involve people?", Soko asks suspiciously. "Maybe.", he grins slyly and disappears. "If he comes back with who I think he'll come back with, I'll kill him.", Soko muttered. "Who could he bring back?", I ask. "You'll see." {Okay then. Now I'm curious. I wonder who it is. I doubt it's Mr. Freaky Scary Dude so it must be-} I was awakened from my musing by Yoko returning. With him were a short {Yah!} black-haired dude and a dude with reddish-orangish hair. "Hey. I'm Jin an' he's Hiei.", the red-head said. "Hn.", the black-haired one said. "Oh no…", Soko groaned.
~*~
Mag's POV
Dude! There is someone as short as Xhi! Who knew? My life has meaning! Well, not really. But hers might now! And what is up with Hiei's hair? Sure his hair is weird but there's a blotch of orange in the middle. It seems to be… moving. I suddenly realized that I was staring at him. But, honestly, does no one notice this orange blob on his head? My eyes are drawn away from this of midget's hairdo only by Soko's shocked voice. "Hiei.", she gulped back a laugh. "What is on your head?" Hiei looked less than amused. Feeling around on his head, he smirked, "You know, your hair isn't exactly –ouch!" As he said this, a claw, razor sharp, whipped out and sliced a thin red line on his probing hand.
For a split second, Hiei looked up and what I can only assume was Hippo looked down. Their eyes locked, red and crystal blue irises engaged in a death match. A moment of graceful humor and humanity… beautiful silence… and then, "AHHH!" Hiei batted his head harshly. I thought he was going to knock himself unconscious. With a lady-like squeal, he ran around the room, "CAT ON MY HEAD!" Hippo was hissing and scratching fiercely, angered that his comfy nest would not enjoy his company. Jin had now grabbed a spatula from a nearby drawer and was proceeding to whack Hiei in the head with it. One can only hope he was meaning to hit the cat. Soko and Xhi were in stitches with laughter, but Yoko seemed less than amused. When Hippocrates jumped from his nest of hair to my open arms, I got the distinct feeling that Yoko was not pleased with my association with it.
The laughing quieted down and Hiei sat down, rubbing his head and pulling ginger hairs from his black mop of tresses. Scowling, he muttered, "I'm sooo very glad you all found that amusing." Though amazingly jittery, Jin suppressed a laugh. I stroked Hippo, thankful for the laughs he had caused. Ah… things were good, better than they had been in a while.
My mind went blank. I was only aware of two things and two things only: my stroking of Hippo, and a small murmur of a voice. I could barely hear the voice but the faster I stroked Hippo, the louder and clearer the voice became until it was as if someone was painfully inside my mind with a megaphone.
"Yes… laugh… all of you. A perfect group you five make. Nine shall come but eight shall leave. When the Blood Moon rises and Nine mirror images join the realm of dust, shall I meet thee again. What's mine is gone, two are guilty… all shall pay. When the Blood Moon rises…" The voice trailed off.
I look around; surely that wasn't one of those guys' voices. I catch a glimpse of a shadowy, shrouded figure in the corner. A silver, vapor-like hand waves beckoningly, then the figure fades into the shadows. I frantically look around to see if anyone else noticed. Out of breath, I see that Xhi has gone catatonic.