Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Survivors: Shadow Warriors ❯ Forget The Formalities ( Chapter 2 )

Note: I'm a silly person with a silly brain and a silly obsession that involves using a stick to attack a tree with a Gotatsu (I think that's how you spell it O_O)! Weird huh? Yeah…I thought so too. *Yawn* I have finals this week and I haven't lifted a finger to study but I am gearing to play the review games tomorrow. This kind of competition gets me into a maniac type mood. Really…it does. <Insert awkward silence here> I know…I know…GEEK! You don't have to remind me. Well this chapter is funnier and notice the warning…as my mom would say my mind is in the gutter. ENJOY! Thanks for the views.

Forget The Formalities

The sound of feet padding on the hard floors resonated in the hall. Naomi couldn't sleep. The more she thought, the more the idea of saving people and a world she knew barely anything about started to way down her. She was a heavy sleeper and judging by the look of things she had gotten up far before anyone even literally dreamed of waking. She let out a loud humph startling a sleeping guard.

"Lot of good you are." She murmured as she hurried past him.

"Where are you going miss?" His voice had a funny tone to it and she guessed he'd been part of Toran's little story telling fiasco that night. Naomi spun on her heels to meet the man face to face. Instead of answering his question, she asked her own.

"Where is Toran's room?"

"That where you going miss. Well miss, don't wish him any harm do you miss?" It seemed to Naomi that everyone here had a speech impediment to repeat a person's title. Except for Toran, his rich voice still resounded in her ears. More peculiar was what he just said and how he just said it.

"What do you mean?"

The guard laughed nervously. He rubbed the back of his head. A sure sign he was thinking of a way to lie away the suspicion. She glared. He gulped.

"Well miss, he has a lot of lady friends. I wanted to make sure that you miss…wasn't one of his angry ones…miss."

Lady friends? Angry lady friends? Naomi's eyebrow twitched.

"Another player huh?"

"Excuse me miss?"

"Nothing. Nothing. Where is his room?"

The guard quickly gave directions with a few misses inserted here and there. Naomi once again padded down the hall. She came to his supposed door and stopped to gain a bit of composure.

The plan was she would find the watch by moonlight. Retrieve the stolen object, then high tail it out of there. Slowly she opened the door. A ray of light crept in a sliver across the floor. The light already embraced the bed just enough where she could see…HER! Naomi stopped…dumfounded as she stared at the naked breasts and pleased face of a sleeping girl. Had that idiot guard directed her to the wrong room?

She began to close the door when the clouds shifted and more light poured into the room. It illuminated the stunning figure of Toran. The sheet just covered his lower figure while his upper half stretched out into the open for the entire world to admire. His body was truly a work of art. Not too muscular but not too lanky. His face was pleasant and angelic. A bit to pleasant, Naomi thought.

Seeing him in bed with that girl had curved her interest from the watch. She suddenly missed Nathan and suddenly wanted to be home. Her second day here had not even begun and she had almost lost touch with all thoughtful reasoning.

Light reflecting from Naomi's soft blonde hair caught Toran's eye. He watched as she left. That girl was proving to be an interest. He turned his head to face his bedmate, and then looked away. He had a lot of deciding to do. About that girl and what was ahead of him

Naomi had been up for quite a while and as the morning grew brighter her spirits did not. The night before had been a disaster and she still hadn't gotten over the shock she had received from wandering into Toran's bedroom. To make matters worse she had failed to get her precious watch. At that point ritual suicide looked like a good way to handle things but the girl with the strangely colored hair interrupted her contemplations.

"Milady will see you, but first you will have a bath." The girl paused, looking Naomi over. She scrunched her nose. "Milady's request."

Milady's request? Naomi thought a bit. "HEY!"

The girl smiled as she gathered Naomi's clothes. "We have a beautiful spring. You will quite enjoy it. Milady says it's one of a kind. By the way, my name is Erian."

"Naomi."

Erian? Toran? The names were strange.

"Now if you will undress, you may bathe as Milady requested."

Naomi thought. "Don't want to."

The girl looked shocked. "But Miss Naomi, Milady said-"

"Don't Care."

Erian had had enough. "You will do as Milady commanded!"

Naomi's jaw dropped. She didn't think the girl had it in her. "I suppose the hot springs do sound nice."

Erian gained her composure back. The smile once again came to her face. "Good. Milady is sure you will enjoy it."

She had been given a towel and directions and was sent on her way. She saw the steam from the heavenly place flowing through the trees before she could even see the spring itself. Crystal clear water flowed there. It bubbled and seeped from the ground, gurgling and popping. Erian had been right. It was a wonderful place.

Clothes were shed in an instant and the towel was flung aside. Naomi lowered herself into the gentle pool. The surging water played with the contours of her body. This was definitely a win on Naomi's part. She giggled as the water flowed over the soft curves of her body like the gentle hand of a man. Like the gentle hand of-

"AHH! WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING?!" Naomi knew what she was thinking. Her own mind teased her.

Whose hand Naomi?

"Not his!"

Yeah right.

"That's sick! I wouldn't let him touch me!"

"Who?" Naomi was startled by the voice and when she found the source she could of died. A group of girls…correction…a group of naked girls were entering the spring!

"Wha…WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Naomi squealed as she curled into a ball.

"Bathing…what else?"

"All together?!" Naomi bobbed up and down like a floating cannon ball.

"Of course. The ladies' bathe at a certain time. As do the men."

"That's nuts! Aren't you embarrassed!?"

"Not at all. I'm not ashamed."

Naomi couldn't believe it. This was crazy. She wasn't bathing with a bunch of girls!

"Listen if you have such a problem with it on the other side of that rock wall is a smaller private spring. Just go through that fall there."

Naomi hadn't noticed there was a fall there. "Uh…thanks. Sorry bout this."

"Oh it's fine. Just go."

Naomi went through the fall and came out the other side into an equally beautiful spring only smaller AND PRIVATE!

When she was out of ear shot the girls struck up at a conversation.

"Oh she's going to surprised." Laughter broke out.

"Private…HA!" More laughter.

"Can't wait to here her scream." Even more laughter.

"You didn't tell her Master Toran was bathing over there did you?" Lots and lots of laughter.

"Wonder what they're laughing about?" Naomi sunk into the water. The thought that maybe they were laughing at her short stature, barely curved hips, and little breasts made her more self conscience than she ever had been. They all were just so perfect. Even that girl that looked ten had bigger boobs than me, Naomi thought.

Then…there was a splash. As if something was rising from the water. Or someone. Naomi's face went blue as she turned to look behind. Se was face to face with…

"TORAN!"

More laughter than ever before erupted from the other side of the rocks.

Naomi brought a head-cracking blow down on Toran who had been a little TOO delighted to see her.

"Shit Toran! What are you doing?"

Toran rubbed his head. "Bathing. What are you doing? Lurking waiting to knock the hell out of some innocent guy?"

"INNOCENT! You saw me naked!"

"You saw me."

Naomi thought a minute. He was right.

Naomi whacked him again.

"What was that for!?"

"Indecently exposing yourself to me."

"WHAT! You are one screwy girl. First this watch then you wind up in my bath."

"Watch? HEY! That thing is water resistant, not water proof!"

"You still want this thing." Toran pointed to the contraption. Naomi nodded angrily. Toran grinned.

"First you got to do something for me."

Naomi contemplated. A proposition from Toran sounded frightening. She didn't trust him. Not at all.

"Sure."

Toran lowered his eyes from her face to her breasts and grinned. Naomi stood for a minute then slapped him with full force. "OH! FUCK NO!"

"Damn! No watch then." Toran laughed and went to swimming about. Naomi couldn't get the impression out of her head that he was a shark and she was a seal.

She clambered onto the shore and looked around. There hanging off a tree was Toran's clothes. She scooped them up and planted herself onto the shore.

"Hey…YOU!" Toran emerged from the water. That same annoying grin spread across his face. Naomi looked down and she realized that she was giving him a much better view. Dodging behind a tree she through his white short on. Which wasn't exactly effective considering that she was sopping wet. "I'll make a trade. You give me the watch, I'll give you your clothes."

Sitting in the water Toran thought. He needed those clothes back. His armor was kind of valuable. He looked at the watch.

"Hmmm…How about…NO!"

"Wha…" Naomi was shocked. What was he thinking? "Fine." She took off running through the trees. Toran's clothes and all.

"Good move Toran," he said to himself as he stepped from the spring. He scurried around till he found a towel then wrapped it around his waist. He growled under his breath. "…that girl…"

Naomi leaped through the bushes and the undergrowth o the wooded are. The more she ran the more she came to realize that she was wearing nothing but a wet shirt. Look on the bright side, she thought to herself. There's no way he'll be able to chase her in his condition. She stopped to catch her breath. She looked behind her and laughed.

"Nope he definitely won't catch me." She laughed again

"Who won't catch you?" Naomi went blue as she turned back around to face the voice. Toran stood in front of her with nothing but a towel on, his hands on his hips. Naomi screamed as loud as her lungs would allow. He clamped his hand over her mouth. "This already embarrassing enough, don't have to bring all of he Holy Lands down to see us."

Naomi uttered a muffled let go of me. He let her go.

"Give me that!" He said yanking the bundle of clothes from her. "You are one crazy girl."

"I prefer the term lively."

"Whatever. You should be heading back. Erian will be worried and Milady is probably tired of waiting for you."

"Does she even have a name?"

"Moridia."

"Huh?"

"That's her name. Moridia"

Moridia. Toran. Erian. Gees.

Naomi began to walk away.

"What about my shirt?" Naomi stopped. She was still wearing his shirt. It was rightfully his but that watch was hers. She smiled and kept walking. "I warned you." Toran whispered something under his breath then suddenly the sleeve caught fire. Naomi squealed and ripped it off. She spun to look at Toran. Somehow…she wasn't sure how…but somehow he was responsible. She turned to say something but all that was left was his laughter on the air.

"Bastard."

Naomi was having a bad day. She had had to navigate all the way back to the hot springs which was by then deserted. Her towel as well as her clothes had been stolen. It had been hell to get back to the village naked without anyone seeing her and by the time she had arrived Erian sent her right back to wash again. Saying that she had failed and Milady would be upset. This bath went off without a hitch. She came back clean and ready for her meeting with the mysterious Moridia.

The room was large and rather dark. It was deserted all but a single table with a single chair in which a woman of her late sixties sat. This was Moridia. From what Naomi could gather she was the leader of this cheery little place. Her thoughtful gray eyes accented her silver hair. She must have been lovely in her youth. She glared at Naomi.

"So you were the one they sent."

Naomi was confused. "Whose they?"

"The higher beings of this world. Those who control our fate, our destinies, our- "

"Sorry to interrupt but…where am I?"

"You are in the Holy Lands. A neutral land between two warring countries, Oraca the land of the dark lords and Starathorne the land of the men."

To Naomi this sounded like something from the Lord Of The Rings.

"Listen lady. This is crazy. This place can't exist. I've been all over the world and I've studied a map more than anyone. I'd know if this Oraca and Starathorne existed."

"That's because where you come from is the True World and where you are now is the Enigma World."

"Enigma World and True World. That's crazy."

"Right now you are safe but soon you will have to travel away to try and find your path."

"My path leads home."

"But first you must past the obstacles on that path."

"I just wan to go home."

"Milady." Erian poked her head through the door in the room.

"Yes my dear." The seriousness that had been in Moridia's voice as

she addressed the young girl.

"Master Toran is here Milady. May I send him in?"

Moridia nodded then turned to Naomi "This will only take a moment dear." Naomi was steaming. What was he doing here? She didn't want to see him. The click of boots woke her from her angry trance.

She looked to see Erian closing the door behind Toran. But the man standing there…it just didn't seem like him. He was in full armor with a cloak draped from his shoulders to his ankles. He even had a sword sheathed at his side. He looked like something from a fantasy novel, but she felt like she was apart of one. He bowed to one knee and rose to stand again.

"Milady…you called?" All humor, all kindness, all feeling had left his voice.

"Yes. Will you be leaving today?"

"Yes Milady."

"Where will you go?"

"To the capital I suppose."

"You will not."

"But Milady-"

"No buts. It is far too dangerous. You will not wonder into the lion's den."

"I have business to attend."

"You have no business there. Besides I have something I need you to do."

Naomi watched uncomfortably, the tension in the room was unbearable. She could see the anger boiling behind Toran's black eyes.

"You are to take this girl with you."

"WHAT!?" Naomi and Toran both yelped angrily.

"There is no way I'm going with a creep like him!" She screamed pointing viciously at Toran.

"You have no choice," Moridia said calmly. Naomi was about to stammer out more protest but Toran stormed out of the room. It had obviously upset him just as much.

"That asshole." Naomi growled crossing her arms.

Moridia sighed. "Go easy on him. He's had a hard life. Though he's barely twenty-three he's been through more trials then most of us could imagine. All youngsters seem to have had it hard these days. Please, go with him. Your path will illuminate before you soon and I'm sure you and him will get along…" She paused to look at Naomi "…eventually."

Later that day Naomi was carrying a pack on her back. It was not large but it was heavy. She still wasn't sure why Toran couldn't carry it. He said he had to be free to move. She had been given a lot of thick clothing, leather boots, and a cloak. She had no idea why she had to dress so warm, it was to hot for that. The village had wished them a fond farewell and Erian had actually cried. Naomi hadn't noticed that they had gotten that close.

She and Toran crossed a grassy hill. It was lunchtime Naomi knew because they had been fed before they left. He was sour then and he was still sour now.

"Toran?"

"How did you get here?" Naomi was startled. It was his first words to her since their meeting with Moridia.

"Uh…you see. I was at a museum and there was a strange box. I opened then accidentally dropped it and the bell inside rang and there was this flash of light and BANG I was here."

"A bell? Like this?" He held up a little bell that was on a ribbon that hung from his neck. Naomi squealed and jumped away. He smiled. "Don't worry. It has no magical value. Its just jewelry."

Magic? Now she'd heard it all.

"Jewelry. Who gave it to you?"

The anger had left his voice. "My wife."

"YOU HAVE A WIFE!?" This floored Naomi because for the life of her she couldn't figure out why anyone would marry him.

"I had one." Now this makes sense, she thought, the girl wised up and left him. "She gave this to me before died."

Naomi went pale as she saw the painful look enter his eyes. "Oh…I'm sorry."

Toran's face lightened and a smile stretched across his face. "Huh…hadn't worried about that in a couple of years. She wouldn't be too happy if she looked down and saw me sulking. AH HA! The gate."

"Gate?" Naomi wasn't aware there was a fence. She looked up, there wasn't one? There was just a gate. A large wooden gate with a guard on each side. No wall, no nothing…just a gate. She was dumfounded. Toran walked ahead of her and held a friendly conversation with one of the guards.

"It's cold out there. You prepared?"

Cold?

"Yep, we'll be fine."

At that the gate opened and he led her through it, all the while explaining how a magic barrier kept the holy lands at a good climate compared to Oraca, where they had just crossed the border to. Naomi didn't believe it.

She stepped through the gate which was closed behind her. Everything was white with snow. Shivers started at her toes then ran up to her hair. She squeaked then jumped backwards knocking Toran down and landing on his lap.

"IT'S COLD!" She screamed clutching to him.

"I tried to tell you! Now get off!" He put his hand on her back to shove her off. What he thought was her back was not her back at all. She scurried off of him and kicked him as hard as she could.

"YOU BASTARD!"

"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"

"I'M SURE!"

"STOP HITTING ME!"

"DON'T EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN!"

"I DON'T PLAN TO!"

"GOOD!"

Note: Wow! O_O! 13 pages. I didn't want to leave anything out. Shoot I even have footnotes. Thanks all of you. I seriously am enjoying this. You can tell because I've been typing this since 9am and it's 12:20 pm now. Woo. Adios.

By full armor I don't mean one of those crazy tin suits like that dude from Wizard of Oz. I mean the necessary. Like breast plate, knee plates, etc. No helmet and it's all hard leather, none of that shiny crap.

In this little insane world I've created bells are magical items. Kind of like talismans or magic wands.

See! Footnotes!! ^-^