Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Survivors: Shadow Warriors ❯ A New Her ( Chapter 4 )

Note: Howdy Ho! I've been currently spazzing out like crazy over the appearance of Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children! Sephiroth is the shiz nit. Have you seen the previews for it? Its on X Play on Tech TV. That has been seriously causing me to spaz all night and all this morning. Sephiroth got a haircut but his bishounen status is still set in concrete, steel, and NASA grade titanium alloy. I'm a big FF7 fanatic. I even sort of like Cloud. Oh yeah baby! Next summer! Woo Hoo! Can't wait. Any ways…just to warn you this is going to be a LONG fic. Don't know how long. It's just kind of flowing but I'm guessing a LONG one. So enough blab lets move on. Read and Review! Love. Peace. All the good stuff to you.

The New Her

Alixis and Toran were far ahead of Naomi. They both could stand the cold and they didn't have a problem trudging through the snow. Even Nimhs seemed to be doing well at it. Naomi was the only one lagging behind. She wasn't use to the cold, she wasn't use to the snow, and she wasn't use to that damn rat. She sniffled and rubbed her nose. A nose that felt more like an ice cube. She shuddered and rubbed her arms but even the friction seemed cold. She didn't know how much more she could take of the trudging, the freezing. Her vision blurred. Was the ice getting to her eyes too? She began to sway a little as she walked, hugging herself for warmth. Alixis looked behind her.

"Only a mile left Naomi," she called back hoping to encourage her. But the words had no more left her mouth before Naomi collapsed to the ground. Toran was surprised by the sound and looked behind him. "Forget the human is warm blooded Toran?" Alixis asked sarcastically. He threw down the packs and ran to Naomi. Nimhs, happy to be free of the leash, made a dash to Alixis. Rethought it and followed Toran.

He kneeled beside Naomi and gently turned her over on her back. He took off his own cloak and wrapped it around her. Then he gently lifted her into his arms. Nimhs scurried up his leg and curled up on Naomi's stomach. Alixis sighed and picked up the packs.

"I suppose I will be carrying these," she hissed as Toran walked by.

"What would I do without you?" He snapped back.

When Naomi woke up she was in a bed. A bed with blue sheets and a velvety black comforter. Her pillow was the same material. She gasped and shot straight up. This was her room! She climbed out of bed and looked around. It was just as she had left it. Clothes scattered on the floor. CDs piled on top of her stereo. Posters plastered to her dark blue walls. She could even hear the faint pounding of Korn being played from Nathan's room across the hall.

She was home. But how? The last thing she remembered was being really cold and trying to keep up with Toran and Alixis. Toran and Alixis! What had happened to them? Was all of it a dream? Were the few days she had spent in the enigma world a dream? Just a dream?

She looked down to see herself wearing the normal t-shirt and panties that acted as pajamas. Nothing strange there, she thought. A piece of her hair fell in front of her eyes. Black hair. But she was blonde. She ran to her mirror and stared in. What met her was not her face, but the face of someone years older, with pitch black hair, and aberrant red tinted black eyes. The face in the mirror began to laugh while Naomi stood stark still. Then she screamed.

Waking from a dream like that made Naomi nauseous. She sat up and rubbed her head.

"Good to see you cognizant," the voice sounded from somewhere in the room.

"Cog what?" She mumbled and looked up to see Toran grinning above her bed.

"Have a nice nap?"

"Where are we?"

"At the inn. Yours truly carried you here."

"Thanks," Naomi looked at her clothes. Once again her outfit had changed without her knowledge. This was beginning to disturb her. She narrowed her eyes and growled. "You changed me?"

"Nope. Alixis took care of that. Your clothes were damp from the snow and she wouldn't let me touch you."

It still was starting to bother her.

"How long have I been out?" She began to climb out of bed. She stood and stretched waiting for his answer. It felt like she rested enough for a lifetime. In all truth, she was raring to get moving.

"All last night and most of the day. It's past lunch. Alixis is starting to get mad and I was getting bored."

Bored?

"So when are we going to those Western Shroud thingies?"

"West Vales? As soon as you're up for it."

"Well, lets hop to it!" She paraded to the door and began to walk out.

"What's got you so perky?" Toran asked as he followed.

"Sleep I guess. And I had this really weird dream that I think this wise women could maybe help me out with or something."

"Oh."

Toran crossed in front of her and went down the stairs. Naomi followed presuming he knew where he was going. The stairs led down into a lively restaurant/bar. The only other people she had seen were those from the Holy Lands. But here there were just tons of colorful characters. In the midst of the chaos of drunks, a few random brawls, and men whistling at waitresses, she saw the red head Alixis. She was sitting at a table sipping what looked like beer from a mug.

Toran waved, she ignored him and continued to sip the malt. He grumbled and pulled a chair out for Naomi, then seated himself. A plump waitress wandered over and asked what he wanted in a gruff voice.

"Two ales and the house special," the waitress waddled off and left Naomi to wonder over the order of two ales. "So what's got you so damn grumpy?"

"Nothing," Alixis growled then went back to drinking her beer. Toran raised his hands in submission.

"Right. Whatever," he hissed and went to playing with Nimhs that had been hiding in his cloak. Naomi figured you could cut the tension with a knife. She was getting the impression Alixis and Toran did not get along to well. She wondered if Alixis got along with anyone. Fiery red heads did tend to not be that sociable. But Alixis didn't seem too bad. Might as well start a conversation.

"So…how far is this place?" Naomi asked. Toran just grumbled and Alixis looked up from her drink. She sighed and pulled a map from the bag sitting beside her. She laid it out onto the table. In large calligraphic letters the word Oraca was written. It looked like it was kind of old and made Naomi think of treasure hunting. Alixis pointed to a small mark on the map. Beside it the word "Frenna" was written. She moved her finger from there to an inch or so to the edge of drawn trees that were labeled Evergreens.

"We are here." She said bluntly. Naomi remembered those mall maps. Once again her finger outlined a course. It went just a centimeter till it was over what looked like a crater drawn into the map between two mountain ranges. "That is the West Vales." After looking for a minute, Naomi's eyes wandered to a castle drawn by the border. It had been added on after the map was made. Naomi pointed to it.

"What's that?" she asked gently hoping not to provoke a nostalgia related argument.

"That is-" Alixis was abruptly cut off.

"That is Massenguard. The capital of the enemy country Starathorne. Alixis likes to visit there," Toran said in a condescending tone.

"Enemy?! How could you say that?! Diego has done nothing but harm to this place for ten years! Its time that he was brought down!" Alixis yelled as she threw her fist onto the table.

"Yes. But siding with the human race! Braska would rather wipe us all out then help us redo are governing system!" Toran countered angrily.

Naomi sunk into her chair. Human race? Diego? Braska? What were they talking about? What did he mean, "siding with the human race"? What did he mean by "us"? Aren't they human too?

"Keep it down would yah. We got other customers yah know," they're plump waitress had returned with some scrumptious looking food and two more ales. She sat the plate of food in front of Naomi along with one the ales and she handed the other to Toran. She waited for a thank you. Gave up and stomped away with a huff.

It took Naomi no time at all to dig into the food but the ale still puzzled her. She looked at Toran just in time to see him successfully down his in one breath and raised his hand to signal for more. Alixis glared at him through the bottom of her glass mug. She sat it down and glared some more.

"Don't kill yourself now," she spat as he began his second.

"When I'm with you…I need to be as buzzed as I possibly can." He snapped back and restarted his marathon. Buzzed? Naomi contemplated.

"So this stuff has liquor in it?" She said and pointed to the drink.

"Uh…yeah," Toran looked utterly shocked.

She pushed it away.

"Then I can't have this. It's not legal for me to drink and there are so many people."

Toran and Alixis gaped. After a moment they broke into fits of laughter.

"Legal!? What are you crazy? How old are you?" Toran asked swiftly. He was getting loud.

"Uh…twenty." Once again laughter.

"Naomi, you can have as much as you want," Alixis laughed and pushed the glass back Naomi's way.

"Yeah doll," Toran said in a giggly tone. Doll? Naomi twitched. "But seriously now…twenty?"

Naomi took at hefty swig of the amber liquid to counter Toran's last remark. It wasn't so bad. She had had beer before, but this was sweeter. She took another long swig.

WHACK!

"Ok…that's twelve. Naomi…you hear me? I said twelve. That is the twelfth time you have fallen since we struck out," Toran growled in a frustrated tone.

"So what!" Naomi laid face flat in the snow. "Nice to know you can count…LOOOOSSERR!" She was yelling into the snow because she didn't want to stand. Because standing meant swaying and dizziness, followed by nausea.

"Loser? Listen…all I'm saying is we really don't have time for this. If you don't mind, I would rather carry you then stop every ten minutes."

"Carry me!? You don't like to carry me! You said I was fat!"

"I did not."

"I'm sure I heard you say it when I blacked out!"

"How…? Whatever. Come on!" Then he quietly mumbled under his breath, "You had to much too much to drink."

"TOO MUCH! TOO MUCH!"

"Naomi…you're yelling."

"I KNOW! And do you know what you call what you just said?"

"What Naomi? What do you call it?" Toran rolled his eyes.

"DON'T ROLL YOUR EYES AT ME!" Naomi squealed as she stood and pointed her finger accusingly. "You made me mad. But I'll tell you anyway. That…is an understatement. Like `Whoops! I just launched a nuclear weapon on accident! Too bad' or `Damn! Did I kill that guy? My bad'." She attempted to stand and as soon as her feet were parallel to the ground she fell again.

"Thirteen."

"Is an unlucky number." Toran rolled his eyes and walked over to her. He lifted her up and got her positioned on his back. Alixis sneered and snatched the packs up. The girl was beginning to get on her nerves.

A man stood in front of the stone window glaring out at the land beneath him. His dark black hair and black eyes showed the wear of someone who had lived past his prime. With his stare, he seemed to be trying to burn holes into something that was causing him problems.

The click of boots resounded behind him but he didn't flinch. A timid soldier fell in behind him and knelt.

"Have you found him?" The man at the window asked. There was silence.

"No…no sir. We haven't. I'm afraid that our scouts have not been able to locate your son," the soldier winced awaiting his King's reply.

"You won't be able to, I'm sure. He may be a hardheaded brat but he's certainly capable of keeping himself hidden. He's foolish though…foolish. If any of your troops see him, they are to kill him on spot," the soldier looked up in horror.

"Kill…kill the prince sir?!"

"Yes moron. That is what I said. But he is no longer the prince or my son. Just a common bounty and worthless outlaw. The other troops have already been informed."

"But…sir. If I may be so bold-"

"You may not. It's not an easy decision but he has defied me for far too long and now I'm sure he's up to something. There is no bringing him back this time. I want his body in a family plot. Got that. You're a Draconian soldier meant to serve the royal Dracon family. I'm afraid here…your assignment is to take out the trash." The soldier shuddered at the thought of the death of his former commander being ordered.

"Yes sir! But what about Alixis or Toran?"

"The orders there are the same. They too, are a living defiance. Kill them…and if possible, with the same blade as my son. All three of their heads are to rest on a plate at my feet." His gauntlet-clad hand formed a fist. "Fools…go! Get to it. I want it done. I want this…no…THEM finished." The soldier stood and bowed his head then turned and went through the door.

"Yes King Diego. It will be done as you have asked."

Diego continued to gaze out the window with a jaded smile. "I suppose we no longer have children Marinna. They both have condemned their names."

The soldier was not two steps from the closed door before another soldier ran at him.

"CAPTAIN MIR! Captain Mir," The soldier panted. "You wouldn't believe it. We got him!"

Mir looked stunned and a little shaken from his subordinate's sudden outburst. "Got who?" he managed to ask.

"The prince sir! We got the devil!"

"What?"

"We got him. He was near Frenna. It was easy too sir…as if he'd given up." He was silent a minute. "One of our men caught him off guard and got an arrow into the devil's chest."

Mir quickened. "You have his body then."

"Well…no sir."

"WHAT?!" Mir took hold of the soldier's collar and lifted him off the ground a few inches.

"He's like a wounded animal, he'll never survive."

"You don't know the commander." Mir tried to seem angry from the lack of evidence, but he wanted to smile at the fact that maybe his commander had gotten away. He made quick arrangements to search for him but was hesitant as to when they would leave to look. If he stalled a bit the prince might be able to get to safety. He just hoped that his commander knew he had allies.

The next few days of traveling were nice. Naomi was beginning to get used to being sandwiched between Toran and Alixis at night. Ok so maybe that came out wrong. But the point was she was really enjoying the company she never really had had. Toran was a bit quirky but held his good sides and Alixis tended to veer off into a bitchy oblivion but she lightened up ever so often. Naomi had been cheerful (after she had gotten over the killer hangover). She had even learned to partially accept Nimhs. Now and then they would fill her in on stuff about their world. She was feeling more and more excited about who she would meet next. Where they would go. What they would see. Then it hit her. Toran has a sword.

"Can I see it?"

"No."

"Please."

Naomi had been begging since they stopped to rest that night with the intention of getting to the vale by noon the next day. It dawned on her that Alixis had one too. But Toran had refused to let her and Alixis was fast asleep. Waking her meant seeing her blade up REALLY close.

"I said no. Now go to sleep."

"I wanted to see if it was really shiny."

Silence.

"No."

"COME ON!" Toran sighed and looked at Naomi. Her big purple eyes stared longingly at him. Moments passed. Then minutes. And finally…

"Ok…ok. But be careful. It's kind of sharp."

She scoffed and took the sword as he handed it to her. It was heavier than expected. In fact it was really heavy. She could barely lift it. She hadn't seen him swing it around but he lifted it and carried as if it was aluminum.

When she finally got a grip on the sheath, she began to observe the carvings on the handle. It was crafted out of hard metal and rubbery black leather bindings. It had an eerie silver and black coloring. Its ornate designs reminded her of the craftwork on the box in the museum. The sheath was black leather to match and had a tie on it that reminded her of traditional katana sheaths but the sword was more similar to that of a broad sword, double edged. Finally she undid the tie and drew the blade from its hiding place. She slowly drew it inch by inch as if in ceremony. The silver blade was slowly revealed with highly wrought designs engraved with black on the fine steel. Her suspicions were right. Ridge in the center, double blades; very much like an English broad sword.

The last inch drew from the sheath. She studied the blade closely. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Toran tense and shift. She studied the blade again wondering what it was that was making him nervous. Then she saw it. The tip of the of the steel was slightly capped and dulled; on the edges there was slight wear. She looked closer. The silver steel had a red hue over most of the upper blade. All of these were sure signs of use in deadly combat. She looked up slowly to stare at Toran where he sat. He gazed at his feet, trying to avoid her look.

"You've…killed someone with this. Many people." He quickly got up and retrieved his weapon, sheathing it; sealing his past and possible present away.

"Swords are made for death Naomi," his voice had grown low and dark. His eyes seemed to have put up a barrier to his soul. Before Naomi could retaliate, Alixis stirred on her mat by the fire.

"I don't know what you two are squawking on about but you need to shut up and get some rest. If you pass out from exhaustion, I'm going to leave you to drown in the snow melted by your own body heat. Or freeze. Which ever comes first. I'm not picky."

The warning didn't affect her but Toran turned away and lay down on his mat. He fell asleep with one hand clutched to the sheath of the sword. Naomi however did not fall asleep. Instead she stared at him…wondering. Wondering who he really was.

"I honestly am beginning to think this is a bad...BAD idea," Naomi whined as they grew closer to the menacing cliff.

"Never rock climbed?" Alixis asked smugly. She jumped from the edge of the cliff to a ledge not far below but far enough to make any sane person nervous. "I prefer this to plain walking. There is a trail just over there that you can simply walk down to get to the vale. Toran can take you."

"WHAT!?" Toran, who had been quiet and closed off since the night before, now did his best to restrain himself. "Oh! I see how it is! I'm the babysitter! RIGHT?! Well not this time! I'm so not taking her anywhere!"

There was silence a moment, then the ever so sickening sound of knuckles hitting a jaw. Naomi was red to the face. She thought of hitting him again but decided to yell instead.

"BABYSITTING!? Alixis and I are the ones doing the babysitting you twerp! I seriously hate you Toran. I'll walk by myself!" She turned away from him and began to stomp away in a mock military fashion. Toran scoffed and crossed his arms. Moving toward the ledge, he noticed Alixis staring at him in a convicting way.

"WHAT?!" He yelled angrily as her black eyes bore into his.

"You can come with me...if you want every one of your vital organs ripped from your body and roasted for supper in front of your very eyes!" Alixis finished her violent threat. Toran started to stammer then backed away from the ledge. He turned on his heel and ran towards Naomi.

Once he had caught up to her Toran fell in pace a little ways ahead. Naomi noticed he was avoiding her. It was pretty damn obvious. She couldn't help but want to avoid him. After what she saw last night, she didn't want to piss him off or even be near him. It was blood that stained that sword and tearing through flesh serrated the edges. She shook her head. No…what if it was just an animal. Maybe it got that way from hunting. A sword though? No, that was impossible or at least highly unlikely. Naomi was pretty sure he had killed people. Maybe he just maimed them? Once again…highly unlikely. Thinking back to their meeting with Moridia, she remembered the stone face he had. So he was capable of being emotionless and hard but…kill? His gentle face seemed more like a lie now.

Just then she heard the crashing sound of metal on metal. She looked ahead and could barely comprehend what she saw.

Toran held his sword in front him parrying the blow from the other blade that was meant to cleave parts of him away. His arm trembled and sparks flew as the metal from the other sword forced down onto his. Her eyes traced up the arm that was attempting to bring the opposing sword down onto Toran. Was that a gauntlet? YES! She had always wanted to have one. She looked farther but before her eyes could focus, the sword let up and backed off.

Was it over? NO! Before Toran could make another move the sword swung down again. This time all he could do was dive away from its sharp edge. But inevitably it caught him by the shoulder, tearing this shirt and flesh just below the sleeve of his armor. Blood seeped from the wound and colored the off-white clothe red. Toran made a move to lift himself up with all ferociousness, wound or no. But before he could act to his decision a sword point came dangerously near to his neck.

This time Naomi had very little trouble seeing the swordsman. He wore something similar to Toran's armor, only more regal and of more affluence. The symbol of a dragon engraved on the breastplate. His face…he was by all means as beautiful as Toran if not more. But unlike Toran's his face showed no expression, no emotion. His head was adorned with the same rich black hair, as Toran's only it was not cut in front. Instead the black locks poured into his face covering his eyes. She squinted to see them but instead her eyes caught sight of a vibrant red liquid flowing from his mouth, down his chin. But that wasn't the only place where blood was present; it also emptied from a wound in his left shoulder. In fact from what she could tell, a shaft from an arrow protruded from his flesh. It was broken off but she was sure that was what it was. At that moment he turned and looked at her. His eyes were a cold blue and something about them made her shudder. She noticed a flicker of feeling shoot through his eyes. That flicker was fear.

"AHH!" Toran knocked the man's sword away from his neck but not from the stranger's hand and lunged at him. The man dodged Toran's blade and brought his toward him. As Naomi watched, she imagined each attack being Toran's last. The blood now covered his arm and she couldn't help but to feel sorry for the other guy. She could have sworn she saw fear in his eyes. Desperate fear. There was a sickening crash.

Naomi snapped back to reality as she saw Toran slamming into a tree on the trail, his skull colliding with the wood. The sword dropped from his hand and his body went limp. His eyes stared blankly at Naomi as he fell in a heap against the tree, the lids of his eyes slowly slid over their blank stare. Naomi panicked as she saw the man lift the blade above his head, preparing to finish off the unconscious Toran. In either a fit of insanity or selflessness she threw herself onto Toran.

It was probably the stupidest thing she had ever done. Curling up on top of a sleeping bishounen had always been her dream. Only her bishounen was unconscious and wounded and she was facing the sharp side of a very pointy object. But before the blade could make contact with her flesh he suddenly stopped, his eyes fixated on her but they grew cloudier by the moment. Before Naomi could even contemplate what was happening the swordsman collapsed on top of her. She squealed and clutched onto Toran. The stranger's head was resting on her hip. She squealed again and dragged Toran away with her.

But there was light. Light! But from where? She looked up and saw the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She had never judged any women before but this lady was glowing and gorgeous. But…glowing? Is that natural? The glowing lady was smiling. Naomi was smiling. She mentally reprimanded herself for her grin but she couldn't help but to smile. This woman made her smile. She also made her light headed. Maybe it was just the light. Yeah, the light. She blinked but unintentionally closed her eyes and slept deeply.

When Naomi awoke she was disoriented and her head spun in rapid circles. It was all she could do to look in one direction for even a minute amount time. After the world had stopped spinning, she decided to see where she was because it didn't feel or look like the cold snow she had fallen asleep in. Soon she had determined that yes there was ceiling above her, yes she was in a bed, and no she wasn't dead. The last one had taken a few tests to verify, tests which caused a few bruises.

The decision to sit up was a bold idea, considering she still felt a bit light headed. When she tried to push up with her hands, her left hit the bed while the other…. Naomi turned to see what her right hand had come in contact with. She wanted to prove that it was indeed not a person and that was her wild imagination at work. But…she was wrong.

Shrieking, she started to dive from the bed but stopped realizing whom she had been sleeping beside. It was Toran! He was shirtless with bandages winding around his chest. Another bandage was on his arm where she presumed he had been cut. There was also some white cloth wrapped around his forehead. She couldn't help but to smile. He was just SO cute asleep. Unconscious…whatever.

Naomi suddenly got the motherly urge to kiss him on the forehead but restrained herself when she noticed that the sheets were very soft. In fact, the sheets seemed like they were caressing her entire body of skin. She frowned and peered down at herself. Purple eyes grew wide and a shrill scream escaped her lips. Lunging off the bed she huddled on the floor clutching the sheets to her naked body. Toran better have some pants on or he's going to have some explaining to do. IF HE LIVES THAT LONG!!

"Now. Now. What's the fuss about, dear? Wake up from a bad dream?" Naomi was just about to check on those pants when the grandmotherly voice sounded from apparently nowhere. She gazed at the door where the form of a lady close to what seemed to be maybe seventy appeared. Naomi thought of yelling at her but the old woman's kind face would not allow her to.

"Who are you? Where…where am I? What? How? Why am I naked?" Naomi stammered out all her questions at once and eyed the tray the woman was carrying as the old lady sat it on a stand. She could smell the hot soup from where she sat on the floor and her eyes gazed curiously at the bandages, hot water, medicine, and cloth. She added a quick "Mam" when she realized the woman was taking care of them.

"Call me grandma dear. And I am the Lady of the Western Vale. Queen of the White Witches. Nymph of the Trees. The list goes on. It's quite boring really. After all you're here to find out who you are, correct?" Naomi blinked as "grandma" brought her the soup and a spoon. "To answer all the other mumbled questions: you are in the West Vale, I'm not sure by what you mean by `what', the feisty red head lady assisted me in bringing you here, and your clothes are drying by the fire." Naomi sipped her soup some, eyeing Toran suspiciously. "Trust me sweetheart, he's been asleep since you've been here. He's had no chance with you. I didn't want to put the two boys together. I was afraid that would be weird for them."

Before Naomi could argue with the fact that it was also very weird to stick a perfectly innocent young NAKED girl with a horn dog like Toran, grandma had disappeared to the other side of the room and Naomi was curious about the "two boys" comment. She tied the sheet tightly around herself and stood.

She hadn't noticed before but there was another bed by the one that Toran and she had been in. In it was the swordsman that had fought Toran. He too was shirt less and where she had thought she had seen an arrow was indeed wrapped tightly with bandages. As was his entire rib cage and multiple places on his arms. Grandma sat down in a chair pulled close to his bed and dipped the cloth she had brought in her bowl of water and began to mop his sweating brow.

"I'm afraid this one wasn't as lucky as your comrade there," Grandma said nodding toward Toran. "No. No. Unfortunate really…such a fine young creature like this being injured so but this is what this time brings." She continued to lovingly pat his forehead with the cool cloth. "Toran, I believe is his name, should be fine and will wake up anytime now. This one has an infected wound and has been bleeding for quite some time. I'm afraid the odds are against him." Naomi stiffened. Although she had a heart she did not easily have sympathy for the devil. HE TRIED TO KILL THEM! "He is no devil dear."

Naomi looked up in absolute shock. Grandma had obviously read her mind! But once again before Naomi could protest, there was an interruption. This time it came from the wounded mystery man. His face tightened and his chest heaved. Soon he coughed and sent blood onto the clean white pillows. A stream of the liquid flowed from his lips. Before Naomi could even comprehend her actions, she found herself absentmindedly using her sheet to wipe the blood away. Grandma looked at her with both amusement and gentleness. As if she understood everything that passed through Naomi's mind.

She would of continued to treat the man with all tenderness if a hand hadn't restrained her. In shock, she looked into Toran's face. He was now looming above her with anger smeared across his complexion.

"What are you doing?" he growled, his grip tightening on her wrist.

"I was just…I mean…he's sick," no matter how she tried she just couldn't think to explain herself.

"So. He tried to kill us!" Part of Naomi said `my sentiments exactly' another said `he has rights just like you and me'. The latter won her over. She snatched her wrist away and stared venomously at him. She had a respect for life and she wasn't about to let Toran intrude on it.

"If you want to pick a fight with him…FINE! Just do it when he's capable. If he even lives! I don't know what beef you have with this guy but it can wait!" A sad expression spread across his face, then immediately the anger rose again to his cheeks.

"HE MURDERER!" The outburst destroyed Naomi's arguments. Then she did as she always did when a situation like this rained down on her, she went into robot mode. With all emotions locked away, she stood from the side of the bed and placed her hands on Toran's shoulders. Gently she forced him to sit on his bed (which wasn't that hard considering his condition). "What's your defense now?" She answered with silence.

"I'm sorry." Before Toran could react to her lame excuse of an apology a hand fell on his brow. For a moment there was only a calm peace then, in a deep sleep, Toran fell into Naomi's arms. Once again, her body reacted without her mind and she laid him gently on the bed. She woke to herself and drew away from him.

What he had said had shocked her to the bone. What did he mean? Obviously he meant the guy kills people! But doesn't Toran? Is that what had happened to his wife? Naomi looked over at the mystery swordsman. His face was calmed…almost angelic.

"He won't be a mystery dear if you go speak with Alixis." Grandma had evidently read her mind again. Naomi was too distracted to care. She had also put Toran to sleep. Once again Naomi was too distracted to care. "Come dear, your red haired friend grows impatient."

Naomi had forgotten her scantly clad outfit in the presence of a woman and unconscious men. She proudly if not boldly stepped from the bedroom and wandered down a dimly lit hall. Finally she reached a lantern and fireplace lighted room. On a mat in front of the glowing fire was the clearly forgotten forest rat. Nimhs didn't seem to care. He looked well fed and was perfectly comfortable. Alixis was the mirror opposite.

She sat at a crude wooden table, there was a bowl of soup to one side that hadn't been touched and had grown cold. Also occupying the table was an empty bottle of liquor and an over turned glass with just a bit of the liquid pouring out. More curious was a pendant lying in front of her. It was silver, in the shape of a dragon curling into the shape of a pentagram. Red jewels made red eyes. It was on a nice silver chain, too. Quite pretty. But Alixis didn't seem too happy about it.

Her face was in her hands, her red hair askew. She seemed to be concentrating on the pendant and then without warning she knocked it off the table toward Naomi. She kneeled and picked it up. The cold silver felt nice in her shaking hands. Suddenly a wave of grief and regret of all things past hit her. Naomi felt strangely depressed…and pained. It was almost as if she could tune in on the very feelings Toran, that man, and Alixis possessed. Maybe it had something to do with them being the reincarnations of those warriors? But if she felt that connection with the man dying in the next room then he would have to be one of them. She would look into it later. Right now, this was more important.

"Alixis…who is that guy? The one in there. The one who owns this?" Naomi wasn't worried that she was accusing Alixis of lifting the pendant from him. She was more worried she was digging to deep. Alixis looked up after a long moment. Her black eyes showed no dimension as they stared into her purple ones. After a second Alixis looked away and shook her head. She didn't want to answer, although she knew she had too.

"An old…" Alixis stopped to look for a word "…`acquaintance'. We grew up together in the capital." She shook her head not wanting to reminisce. "His name is Surui. He was the commander of more than half of Oraca's army. Now it seems they have turned against him. He's a murderer and I doubt he has changed with this betrayal." She made a laughing noise. "I hope he dies."

"I'm sorry to hear you say something so awful." Alixis and Naomi looked at grandma who was sending a condescending glare to Alixis. "But enough of this now. The girl came to see who she was."

There was a long pause. Naomi fidgeted with anxiety and Alixis waited silently.

"Alixis is indeed very intelligent including Moridia. Toran and Alixis are indeed reincarnations of the Shadow Warriors," she said as she sat in a chair near the fire.

"But-" Naomi began to question this but grandma was quick.

"The Shadow Warriors were a group of male and female soldiers adorned with powers to fight for good in the war. The war was fought between the humans.

You see this continent use to be split into three. Barbarians to the north, demons to the south, and humans in the middle. Eventually the humans grew tired of themselves and split. Therefore the war began. The humans to the west were better prepared and were slaughtering those from the east. So the easterners became desperate and begged the demons for help. In exchange for their loyalty the demons agreed to give them power. This meant infusing their blood with the humans. It was done and so the east lands became overrun with Xorieans. This was the word used to describe the humans infused with the demon blood. In old context it meant Dragon Young. Basically meaning the children of demons.

Now the westerners grew desperate and prayed to their gods for help. A great sorceress agreed to take three humans and seven Xorieans and give them the power to stop the east. They were the Shadow Warriors. Unfortunately they were killed.

But a shaky peace returned when Oraca, the country of Xorieans, was created. It's capital Hastlet was created and a Xoriean with the purest demon bloodline was selected to be king. The royal family was from thereafter called the Dracons. The elite guardsmen were known as Draconians. The rise of government led to a certain social class coming in place.

There is the first class, which are mostly the Dracons and choice Draconians. The second contains mostly lower nobility, the Draconians, and some other soldiers. The third is the majority of the soldiers and the peasants.

Talent separates each Class. The first are noted for their strength and stamina. They can call on their demon power along with an uncanny ability to control dark magic. The second can call on their demon power but only to boost that of their dark magic. The third can pick up dark magic and that's about it.

The current king was once good but was corrupted by a powerful demonness. She preyed on his mind and twisted the kingdom to her liking even after her death the king acts as her puppet causing turmoil and unrest. That's why he must be stopped. He is purposefully allowing demons to leave their realm and prey on innocents. But what you really came here to know was who you are. And sadly my girl, you are the demonness. You are Syrith."

"WHAT!? But she died years ago!" Naomi had been too shell-shocked by the information that had been laid down on her to react. Alixis did it for her.

"That's all I can answer. That's all I know. You are a very powerful girl but you will need help. There are greater evils at work here than Diego. Find the Shadow Warriors. Find their weapons. Destroy the threat," Grandma reached down and put Naomi's hands in hers. "Dear, a warning to you, do not soil these hands. If blood should touch them an evil greater than the threats of the enigma world will be revealed."

Naomi stood petrified until Grandma dropped her hands and petted her gently. Their eyes met and they gazed at each other. Naomi didn't know what she had stumbled into. Alixis, Toran…Surui. None of them were human. Neither was she. Her life was ended at a ring of a bell. Her new life had begun but how was she going to cope with all the new things here. The new people. The new faces. She looked down at her hands. The new…her.

Note: Long chapter…long time no see. Ok Ok…it took forever I know but I'll do better next time…really! No more ninja assassins please! I have to surgically remove two shurikens from my ass.

Vale. Veil. Shroud. Oh come on people!

I hate those things. I'd rather kill all those people with my bare hands. Written by an un-medicated psycho bitch.

WARNING: I like swords. Scratch that. I love swords! So if this is a horribly long boring detail of a sharp pointy object to you then…BITES MY ASS! I LOVE SWORDS AND SO SHOULD YOU!

No not flying, just looming.

A note on pronunciation: I know I make some wild names up so I decided to help you along.

Toran= tor (as the o in four) - rÄn

Alixis= a-lІx-Is

Surui= sur-ree

Mir= meer

Moridia= more-rI-deea

I think that gets it. I know it's a bit vague so look in a dictionary if you have problems.