Fan Fiction ❯ Six Years ❯ Chapter 33

Helard gazed at his men for a moment then mounted his horse.

"Look at the lot of you. Half asleep with hangovers. It's pathetic. Are we going to look like this when we go after the prince?" he demanded and the group mumbled an apology.

"A fine way to show yourselves to a new recruit too."

"But sir that's only a human boy," one of the mercenaries said and Helard glared at him.

"This human boy wields a demon sword. I'd not take him lightly if I were you."

"So what's our first step?" Ranvern inquired and Helard looked at him.

"That I don't know. It seems that no one has a good idea of what he looks like. Those that have seen him are dead," he replied.

"Isn't he supposed to be a sadistic son of a bitch?" one of the half demons asked and Ryo shut his eyes. He would have to watch his temper, which was not going to easy in such company.

"Doesn't he have some sort of power?" another asked.

"They all do, Talfawn. You saw how that demon caught fire in the square. Every one of those bastards are evil," the first half demon said and Helard raised his hand.

"Enough. There will be no more talking. We must keep our eyes and ears open for any signs of the prince," he said and Ryo lowered his head in relief. "Besides, some of us have memories of the demons that we'd rather not remember."

Helard prodded his horse to start moving and Ryo patted the side of Nightwing's neck. He only had his horse that he could trust now and he would have to make sure that nothing ever happened to his steed.

"Where'd a kid like you get a horse like that?" Talfawn asked as he rode up alongside Ryo.

"It was given to me," Ryo replied.

"So what are you? Some lost little rich kid?"

Ryo turned away from him and tried to ignore him. He couldn't let his temper get the best of him.

"Hey are you ignoring me? I don't care if you were royalty. To me you're nothing but pond scum," Talfawn said and Ryo brought Nightwing to a halt. He laid a hand on his sword as Helard turned around and gazed at the two.

"Talfawn, what the hell are you doing?!" he demanded.

"Hey it ain't my fault if the kid can't handle some insults," Talfawn replied and the other men drew back from Ryo, who was struggling to keep his natural form hidden.

"You don't think I'm skilled enough," Ryo growled and Talfawn folded his arms.

"You're right. I don't think you're skilled enough."

"Want to try me or are you afraid of being beaten by a kid?"

"Look, I don't want to call my boss on a mistake but you're on. I'm going to teach you some manners, you little brat."

Ryo dismounted and drew out his sword as Talfawn withdrew his weapon.

"That sword's too big for the kid to hold," one of the half-demons said then watched as Ryo swung it with little difficulty and watched Talfawn with dark eyes.

"Now we'll all see what the kid can do," Helard said as the duel began.

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Lee folded his blanket and placed it across the bottom of his bed. He then picked up a shirt that lay on the floor and chided himself for being so careless. He shook out the shirt and placed it in a clothes hamper. He then looked around for anything else out of place. He quickly switched forms and straightened the curtains. He then moved to the other areas of the apartment and searched for anything out of the ordinary.

There was a knock at the door and Lee glanced at the clock. It was after three and D should be returning soon. He laid down his cleaning cloth and walked towards the door. He unlocked the door and opened it only to find not D, but a young woman with long blonde hair and greenish blue eyes.

"Hi. I just moved in down the hall and I was wondering if you had a can opener? I can't find mine," she said and Lee nodded his head.

"Let me find you one," he said and gestured towards a chair. "Please sit down."

"Thank you. Do you live by yourself?"

"For now," Lee replied as he walked into the kitchen. He opened a cabinet drawer and took out a hand held can opener. He carried it back to the living room and handed it to the woman.

"Thank you. Every other door I tried wouldn't answer. Not the doors, though. The people inside wouldn't answer."

"I understand," Lee said as he got up to answer the door again.

"I brought some food back. I hope you're not offended," D said as he stepped into the apartment. He glanced at the woman and then at Lee. "Who's that?"

"My name is Asa. I live down the hall. I'm still unpacking but I got hungry and needed a can opener. No one else was home. Or maybe they just didn't want to answer the door...Anyway, I hope I didn't make you jealous," she said and Lee blushed slightly.

"He uh....doesn't stay with me. He lost his apartment in a fire and I'm just letting him stay here until he finds another place," Lee said as he ushered Asa out the door.

"I hope you find a place soon," she said as Lee closed the door behind him.

"For a second there, I thought that you had taken up new prospects," D said and Lee stared at him.

"I would never think of replacing Ryo," Lee replied.

"Are there apartments on your way to work?"

"A few. You can come with me to work if you'd like. I won't be able to look at them with you but you can pick up some brochures."

"That's a good idea. Where are the plates again?"

Lee stepped into the kitchen and took out a couple of plates from a cabinet. He set them on the countertop as D unpacked his bag. Lee took out some forks from a drawer and laid them out beside the plates.

"What did you get?" Lee inquired as he took out a bottle from the refrigerator.

"Is that alcohol?" D asked as Lee took down two glasses from a cabinet shelf.

"Yes. I occasionally drink some with my meal."

"How do you get it? I can't buy any."

"From work."

"You steal it?"

"No. I buy it at a discount."

"How?"

"They just don't tell anyone I'm underage."

"I got some wild duck and rice along with a fresh salad. They wanted to give me some sort of stir-fry but I told them no. I wanted something to sink my real teeth into."

He grinned, showing off his natural fangs and Lee smiled. He set the plates and utensils on the table then went back into the kitchen for the seasoning and alcohol.

"Damn that smells good," D commented as he picked up a piece of duck with his claws.

"It's an interesting mixture of herbs," Lee agreed as he set out the tiny bottles of seasoning. He then poured the alcohol and handed a glass to D.

"Aren't you going to sit down?"

"In a second."

Lee took out a small bottle of salad dressing from the refrigerator door and carried it to the table. He then sat down and took a sip out of his glass. D watched him for a moment then sighed in impatience.

"You getting anything or not?" D asked as Lee gazed at the spread of food that lay before him.

"I'm just taking it all in before I get anything," Lee said as he picked up a piece of duck. "Do you think Ryo gets to eat like this?"

"Since he's always on the run, probably not. He'll be fifteen soon, won't he?"

"In a couple of weeks I believe. Why ask?"

"It's getting closer to the time of your reunion."

"If he shows up and if he wants me."

"Even you're starting to lose hope, huh?"

"I just wish I had some proof that he's still alive."

"Let's not dwell too much on it. You still have your job to do."

"You're right," Lee said and picked up his fork. He hoped that Ryo wouldn't let him down.