Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Survivors: Shadow Warriors ❯ Magic Girl ( Chapter 5 )

Note: No more than an hour ago I saw the best damn movie…EVER! The Return of the King tops both of its prequels. Action! Excitement! Valor! AHAHAHAHAHA! It was beyond cool. If you haven't seen it already…stop what you're doing…that's right…don't read this fic…put the mouse down…get some means of transportation…flying carpet, etc… get your ass to the theatre…if you don't have money say "THE LORD OF DARKNESS HERSELF SENT ME!"…pull out your trusty sword, screwdriver, bat, monkey wrench, or whatever…kill the ticket guy and everyone else if need be…or for fun…steal some popcorn and enjoy an excellent movie…oh and don't forget to empty the cash register before you leave…you might need the money to bribe the cops, federal agents, military, and swat team that have accumulated outside…or hell…just shoot, cut, blundge, or beat yourself and die happy…knowing that you have finished the quest to Mordor and stood by Frodo, Aragorn, Legalos, Gimli, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, and everyone else to the very end. If you survived your trip then enjoy this chapter and know that just because you're not sparring with Islidur, Boromir, and Elindil in the great lands of your ancestors doesn't mean you are not just as honored for finishing your quest…even though we both know that we'd do it again in a heartbeat and die for Peter Jackson and Tolkien alike! Now servant of Mordor, or valiant elf, or Guard of the Citadel, or whatever you may be…READ MY FIC!

Magic Girl

For the rest of the night Naomi had had nothing to say. The information that had been given to her and the burdens that had been laid on her felt like tons of boulders on her shoulders. She had eaten meagerly and sat silently by the fire. Occasionally, she wondered to the door of the men's room and peered in. She'd watch Toran and Surui sleep then put herself back by the fire. Although neither of the girls understood what it was that Grandma had said, neither of them begged for any information.

It was just past dawn when Naomi opened her eyes. She was right where she had been when she had fallen asleep. Nested amidst blankets and pillows right by the fire. A look of disgust crossed her face as she removed the sleeping rat from its place of rest on her chest. Yawning, she stretched. Making sure her flimsy sheet didn't expose her to any unknown eyes. She wondered where everyone was. Alixis was not to be seen, nor Grandma. And Toran…TORAN!

She launched from her place on the floor and padded down the hallway. When she opened the door, she saw that Toran's bed was empty. She was just about to turn away when she looked back to discover Surui's was also vacant. Surprised, she stepped in and looked at the part of the room that she could not see from the door. And there he was….

At first Naomi was too startled to really say anything. All she could do was stare. Surui was on his feet, not only that, he was packing his bag. He was still shirtless and Naomi could clearly see his bandages and the bits of red color poking through. But he moved as if he wasn't hurt at all. After a moment he noticed her and looked up. She took a step back under his ice blue stare. He was incredibly handsome but something about him made her uneasy. Unlike Toran's welcoming face, Surui's was hard and emotionless. Their eyes differed the same way. Everything about him was unwelcoming and gave off a dangerous air. Naomi took another step back.

"You…you were dieing," she managed to stutter.

"I got better," his voice was cold and dissolute. It reminded her of the deep sexy voices of actors but the voices they used when acting in a scene where they were frightening another character. She smiled at herself for thinking like that. He was only talking, she thought, not trying to scare me. But his voice sent chills down her spine.

"But…" Naomi questioned, knowing what he said wasn't true. A hand clamped on her shoulder before she said more. She whirled around, shocked by the suddenness in which the person had appeared behind her. It was Grandma, who was smiling warmly.

"Leave him alone dear. Why don't you get a bath in the hot spring just outside?" she said through her smile.

"But…"

"Now. Now. It'll be good rest for you," Grandma led Naomi out by the shoulders and closed the door behind her. She led her all the way out into the yard, which Naomi found was not covered in snow. It was chilly enough to have a lit fire (and to wear more than a sheet) but not as cold as the rest of the area. Naomi guessed it was similar to the magic used in the Holy Lands. "Now dear, go right through those trees. You can't miss it."

And Grandma was right. A few yards in lay a simpler hot spring than the one she had bathed in before but still elegant. Naomi hung her sheet on a branch and jumped in. The warm water was refreshing and it seemed to wash away the burdens on her mind. She paddled around, and then stopped by a boulder on the edge of the water. She leaned her head against it and sighed.

"Oh…nothing could disturb me here," she muttered as she smiled, laying her arms over the rock.

"I see you beat me to It." Naomi wailed and flung her arms around her chest. Covering what little there was to see. When she got the courage to see who it was that had spoken she looked up and saw Alixis standing on the edge of the water. Undressing.

"You're getting in too?!" Naomi cried wanting to scurry somewhere where she couldn't seen.

"Of course. There is another spring but Toran's occupying that. I'm sure you'd rather stay here…or would you?" Alixis said, pausing in stripping her shirt off. Naomi shook her head furiously. "Ok then."

Naomi got one of those morbid urges to watch something she shouldn't. But she was curious and Alixis was right there. The red head pulled her shirt off, exposing just a cloth tied around her breasts. Naomi guessed it was a sort of bra. She undid that and the not so blessed blonde blushed and frowned. B? C? D?! She stripped the rest of the way and Naomi growled at Alixis's shapely legs and hourglass curves. She was competition. Not competition for any male here but competition in life as a female. Alixis was…

"Naomi." No, that's not right. She's not me, Naomi thought. "Naomi!" Naomi jumped out of her skin when she found that the whole time she had been staring at a very naked Alixis.

"Uh…Sorry! I mean I wasn't staring! I was just zoned out!" Naomi tried desperately to save herself as Alixis joined her in the water. She dipped her head in and came back up closer to Naomi.

"I don't care you know?" Alixis stated as a more or less question. Naomi plastered herself against the boulder.

"What…I…uh…" Naomi did her best to concentrate on the situation but Alixis sitting beside her in the bath made it impossible. Naomi wanted to go…now.

"Naomi, you're such a goof." Yes, yes I am, Naomi internally agreed. She still didn't get it. "I won't be bothered if you're…you know…." No, no I don't, Naomi cried silently. "That way."

Naomi shot out of the water. Her face was red with anger. She turned on Alixis and clenched her fists. "First…I'm a boy. Then…I'm fourteen!"

"You're not?"

"No! I'M NOT! Then you accuse you me of being gay!"

"Implied."

"FINE! Whatever! But I'm not. I'm a twenty year old female heterosexual!" Naomi turned on her heel but because of the slippery bottom she toppled forward. Arms flailing, butt in the air, Naomi fell rather ungracefully into the water. When she had gathered herself together again, she stomped from the bath, grabbed her sheet and began to trek back to the little cabin.

"Damn her. Damn Toran. Damn them all. I hope they all go to fucking hell! No…no `fucking' for them. They don't deserve it…unless it's with an STD infested goat!" Naomi stomped through what should have been a couple of yards of trees and turned into a good hundred feet. She stopped and looked around. "Ok…maybe I should of paid attention instead of damning my comrades."

She turned in circles and looked through the forest. It was very light outside but the forest was thick enough for her to be maybe a yard away from the cabin and be completely oblivious. The only thing she could think of to do was try to listen to the area and see if she heard one of the others. Faintly, she heard running water. THE HOT SPRING! She started to walk to the sound but rethought the idea. What would Alixis think if she had gotten so easily lost?

"I will not put myself into the position to be tormented by that bitch again!" Naomi declared. As soon as she fell silent she heard a branch crack from the direction leading away from the water. "But I won't be prideful. On to the water!"

After a minute of careful maneuvering through the trees, she could see the water ahead of her. Just as she was about to come into the clearing, she tripped. "Stupid branch!" But when she looked at the said branch it wasn't a branch. Instead it was a set of leather boots. On the bush nearby were men's clothes and a sword. She eyed the objects curiously `til she heard a splash.

Naomi peered over the bush. She had expected Alixis but boy was she wrong. There Toran was in all his naked brilliance. His fine body, she found was even better when he was wet. She didn't have the time to examine it last time. She would of fawned over it more if a line on his back had not caught her eyes. It was a thick scar running from one shoulder blade to the opposite hip. There were faint marks here and there on his arms and legs but nothing like the one on his back. She was surprised that she hadn't noticed. Looking at it she felt a sense of regret. Her eyes wandered away to the nape of his back where the Shadow Warrior crest was inlayed. Were all of these feelings really connected to that?

As she peered, a rather large hairy rat crept closer to her. When it got close enough to the bush that she was hands and knees behind, it attacked. Landing in front of Naomi, Nimhs growled furiously. She suppressed a scream. Toran, who had previously had his back turned, now faced the woods, trying to see what was going on. She frantically looked for a way to quiet the rat and then finnaly an ingenious plan presented itself to her…she stepped on it.

This made a funny sight. Naomi positioned as if ready to do the crab walk and stepping on a rat; Toran watching the trees trying to figure out what was going on; Nimhs…well…squealing. The rat continued to squeal underneath her toes, so she gave up and tried to scurry away on all fours.

It would of worked had her head not ran into something. She fell back rubbing her head, as Nimhs attacked her sheet. "Stupid tree." She looked at the tree to find it was actually two tanned skin color trees. "That doesn't seem right." She looked up the tree to find out that that in fact it was not a tree. "Eeep."

Surui stood above her undressing and Naomi saw a look of anger in his eyes. She opened her mouth to explain but was distracted by Surui kicking Nimhs. The rat sailed over the bush into the water. Unfortunately it had had a death grip on her sheet and the sheet went with it.

"Gees Nimhs," Toran said to the rat floating in the water, "What was the fuss about? If you wanted to swim you should of let me know. " He picked the sheet up from the water. "Have you been stealing things again?" The rat just angrily swam away. Toran looked once more at the bush, this time seeing Surui. "Oh. Hey! What's with you? Come on in."

"In a minute. I forgot something back at the cabin," Surui answered. Then looked down at Naomi who was curled in a ball at his feet. "Don't wait up." She gulped.

This…is great, Naomi thought, here I am absolutely naked in front of this creep and God only knows what he's going to do with me.

When Toran wasn't paying attention anymore, Surui clamped his hand over her arm and drug her into the trees. He set her on her feet in front of him and scowled at her. After a moment he looked over his shoulder toward Toran and then returned his gaze to her this time with a smirk.

"Listen. I have no idea what you're planning," Naomi whispered as she sunk down to the ground, drawing her knees to her chest. "But the answer is no!"

"What would I want to do with a scrawny thing like you?" Naomi sized him up. He probably was about a foot taller than her but compared to Toran that was short, plus his injured arm. Yeah, Naomi smirked privately, I can take him. Before she sprang he spoke again, "I figure you were peeking on lover boy over there. Here's the deal, if you don't bug me during this fanciful little quest of ours," Surui grabbed her arm and drew her up on her feet again. He lifted her so that his grinning face was a centimeter from hers. "I won't snap your little pen neck in half nor will I tell your knight in shinning armor that you like to watch him while he bathes."

"But it was a-"

"Are we clear?" He tightened his grip on her arm.

"Crystal."

Without another word, Surui dragged her through the woods to the clearing of the cabin. Alixis stopped packing her pack to take in the peculiar sight. Naomi plopped on the ground Indian style sulking and rubbing her bruising arm.. Alixis glared at Surui as he made his way back through the woods. When he was gone, she walked over to his victim.

"I see you've gotten acquainted with Surui."

"You could say that."

"Asshole huh?

"Evil bitchy narcissistic mother fucker is more like it."

Alixis thought a minute. "Yeah that seems right. I didn't mean what I said earlier."

"Sure you didn't."

"Would you rather argue or get some clothes?"

"The latter." Alixis went and got a blanket and came back. Naomi graciously wrapped it around her. "I'd rather have clothes though."

"Here they are!" Grandma came from around the side of the house with an arm full of linen. Naomi ran to her, happy to finally get dressed for the first time in a day. "Here you are." She handed a bundle to Naomi but when she looked at them she discovered they wouldn't fit a shapeless six year old.

"These aren't mine," Naomi protested holding them up. Alixis was laughing beside her.

"Oh dear," Grandma cooed. "They must have shrunk." Naomi wanted to cry. Would she have to wear a mixture of blankets, sheets, and shower curtains for the rest of her life? She was tired of being humiliated. She was so frustrated it hurt.

"You can borrow some of mine," Alixis said in an attempt to calm her down. Naomi looked at her with judging eyes.

"No…no I can't."

Before she could blink she was dressed from head to toe with Alixis's clothing. The waist wasn't to bad but the bust and hip area suffered from belittlement…if they could get smaller. After Grandma and Alixis had had there fun with her she sat at the edge of the clearing. She looked back at the cabin and remembered all the stuff that had happened there. Tears flooded her eyes and she turned her back on the cabin.

"I don't understand. Why me? I don't want to do this. I want to go home," she sobbed with her face resting on her drawn up knees.

"You're going to be cold," she heard Toran say as he set a cloak around her shoulders. He sat down beside her and sighed. Naomi looked at his handsome face and smiled. He could do that to her, she realized. "I don't want to do this either. I'm tired of fighting. All my life I've fought and look where it's got me…."

"You're going to stay with us?"

"Why not?"

"Well…" Naomi looked away. "It seemed to me that you had a serious grudge against Surui." He didn't answer at first then he looked at the ground.

"He ruined my life and took things from me that can never be replaced. He was the cause of the darkest time of my existence. Sure…I hated him. But I can' t keep that up, now can I?" He smiled. `I've forgiven him…but he hasn't forgiven himself. Besides, if I exacted revenge I'd be no better than him." She looked at him again and though he smiled she saw the terrible sadness that had come over him. Still she longed to know one more thing.

"Is that what happened to your back?" He looked surprised.

"When did you…!? Oh! When we met in the hot springs!" Naomi blushed.

"Uh…yeah."

"Well," he looked away again, "That is the result of long years of being a soldier in a dangerous time."

"It looks like it was painful."

"Having your back slit open normally is." He smiled.

"Sorry."

"TORAN! NAOMI! We're leaving!" LEAVING! Naomi wondered.

"Been nice talking to you." Toran got up and headed to where Alixis was now standing. Naomi jumped to her feet.

"We're leaving!?" she wailed as she ran up to Alixis. "But we just got here!"

"And we are now leaving," Alixis barked. She threw Naomi's pack to her and she stumbled when she caught it.

"But I-"

"But nothing. We have to get a move on! From here we go to the human country, Starathorne. The last thing we want to do is linger to long around there. We need to get going. We're on the border as we speak," Alixis spat. Naomi sighed exasperatedly and looked at Toran. He was fiddling with his sword. Nothing interesting there so she looked at Surui who had just arrived from nowhere. He was leaning up against the tree patiently with his eyes closed.

"Is he going with us?" She leaned towards Toran and whispered. He stopped his fiddling, glanced at Surui, and frowned.

"Look at his neck," he whispered back. Naomi squinted to see the lone man's neck and could just make out an identical mark to the one Alixis and Toran both had. She sighed taking that as a yes. This trip can't get any worse, she thought.

"Wait a minute. Where is your pack?" Toran looked at her again and then got a sheepish grin.

"Well," he scratched the back of his head and smiled, "We compiled them into one." Naomi glared.

"And this is the one," she muttered holding out the pack she was carrying. Toran nodded guiltily. She smiled acerbically and threw it at him. "In that case…it's all yours." Toran cursed and picked it up as Naomi began to storm off upset with them for trying to get her to carry the pack.

"Hey wait!" She turned around and glared at Toran. He was squatted on the ground digging in the sack. After a moment he pulled out a small pouch and beckoned for her to come. At first she cautiously approached then her curiosity got the best of her and she quickly scurried over to him. He handed the pouch over to her and she opened it. Inside was the medallion that Alixis had had, the one that Surui had been wearing until it was likely removed so it wouldn't be in the way of treating his wound. A bit surprised, Naomi looked at Toran. "Keep it with you. He'll want it back eventually but right now you're the best one to entrust it to."

She would of argued but Alixis called impatiently from the edge of the trees. Naomi looked around and was a little depressed when she didn't see grandma and even more when she noticed Surui walking towards them. Toran shouldered the pack and wrapped a cloak tight around his shoulders. Naomi took his example and wrapped herself in the cloak he had given her. Just as she figured, when they stepped into the forest onto a path it became bitterly cold again and snow was everywhere. She was still taken by surprise by the sudden change of weather and swearred she'd never get use to this place.

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After walking for hours in silence Naomi realized it wasn't quite as cold as it had been an hour or so before. Despite the fact it was still snowing she could tell it was slightly warmer. Nimhs had even appeared from wherever he had been. The rat apparently didn't like the cold all too much.

The tense atmosphere was almost as thick as the mountains surrounding them. They were evidently on a mountain pass that cut between two steep peaks. From where they were she could tell that they were about to emerge from the pass. Alixis walked ahead and Toran walked near Naomi. Surui on the other hand was a good few yards behind. He either couldn't keep up because of his injuries or refused to be near them. Naomi took a minute to think on the former.

Trying not to be noticed she glanced behind her. Luckily, Surui was preoccupied by watching his feet when she looked back. After a moment of sifting through her brain she remembered that it was his left shoulder that had been wounded. Fortunate for a swordsman, she thought then remembered it took two arms to wield a broadsword properly. She took note that he rested his left arm across the hilt of the sword fastened to his belt. So it was bothering him then, she realized. With that thought in mind she ran quickly to Toran's side, alarming him in the urgency that she had portrayed in her sprint.

"I was curious," she began. This annoyed Toran because he had thought something was wrong and come to find out she `was curious'. Rolling his eyes he looked down waiting to find out what it was that she was curious about. "Do Xorieans heal faster than humans?" At first he couldn't understand why she had asked that then he remembered Surui. Glancing back to him they locked eyes and Surui gave a stern death glare. Toran turned back around promptly.

"Hmm…yeah they do. Not much though. Say if you got a cut on your arm and it took a week to heal then it'd probably take five days for us," he said trying to answer the best he could.

"What about arrows in shoulders?" Toran grumbled to himself because he'd predicted that she was wondering about Surui. What about my head? He whined to himself.

"I'd say about a week. With infection…maybe a month."

"So he shouldn't be up and walking around should he?" By "he" she meant Surui.

"No…he shouldn't. But if you value your dignity or at least your life I suggest you don't bug him about it. He's always been this way. He won't let anyone help him nor will he help himself," Toran glanced with annoyance at Naomi. "Why are you so worried about him anyway?" Naomi blushed. She wasn't really sure. All she knew was that he was one of them and she'd need him in the long run.

"He's useful I suppose. When he was fighting you he showed some mad sword skills if you ask me," she responded. She left out the fact that she felt a bond between all of them. She figured it would sound stupid and sappy.

"No one did and I'll take what you said as an insult and leave. Thank you and have a nice day," Toran walked away in a huff. From what Naomi could tell Toran had a bit of an inferiority complex towards Surui. This made her wonder how long they had known each other. She was about to make inquiries on the matter before Alixis announced a village just over the hill.

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Sure enough, when they reached the skirt of the woods they all could see a quaint little village. It was compiled of wooden huts with straw roofs. Surrounding the little place was fields that were now snowed over but would be planted in the summer. Once all four of them had reached the hill Alixis turned to Toran.

"You notice any hunters?" she asked as she scanned the area around them.

"Notice, see, hear, sense, nothing. No hunters." Toran answered and Surui nodded in agreement. Naomi looked between the three and tried to figure out what all was the fuss was about.

"So…maybe they're taking a vacation," she blurted out. It was the best explanation she could come up with.

"There is no vacation for hunters in the winter. The food they store during the growing season doesn't last the winter. They rely on hunters to keep from famine," Alixis said matter of factly making Naomi feel dumb. "Alright Toran give me a reason other than `a vacation' that would explain the absence of hunters."

"Village meeting," Toran shrugged.

"Festival," Naomi was happy with the way her second guess had come out.

"Public execution," Surui muttered and Toran gave him a sour look.

"Leave it to you to point out the worst in a situation," he grumbled. At this point Naomi's curiosity was boiling over.

"Lets check it out!" she yelled and bolted down the hill.

"HEY!!" Toran yelped and sped after her leaving Surui and Alixis lingering behind.

"I know your shoulder is bothering you," she began, not even looking at him nor did he look at her. "Why don't you meet us on the other side of the village? This shouldn't take long." Without even a nod, a ripple of black energy engulfed him and he disappeared. "Show off," Alixis growled.

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"Where the hell did she go?" Toran grumbled as he reached the village.

"TORAN! TORAN!" Naomi screamed.

"Why did I ask?" He moaned just as Naomi tackled him. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"It's horrible!! There's this girl and a stick and fire!!" She screamed as she strangled Toran.

"Hmm…that seems to equal a Witch Burning," he gasped. This made her stop strangling him.

"There's no such thing as witches." Just as the words escaped her mouth a sharp cry escaped from the crowd in the center of the village.

"IF I GET DOWN…I'LL TURN YOU INTO A FROG! NOT A CUTE FROG EITHER! AN UGLY ONE!"

"Never mind. But we can't allow them to burn a little girl can we?" Naomi pleaded.

"Well…"

"I knew you'd see it my way!" Naomi hugged him and ran toward the crowd.

"Ah…Damnit."

Naomi worked herself through the crowd. When she reached the center she saw the girl tied to the stake. She was young, probably sixteen. She had bright yellow eyes and soft brown hair with a red tint. The mob of men waving torches and staffs had stripped all the clothes away from her except for a simple cloth rag of a gown. Naomi felt so bad for her. The girl must have been cold and her face was bruised from the beatings they had likely given her. She was crying uncontrollably as they prepared to light the straw at her feet. Naomi clenched her fists. There was no way she was going to allow this to happen.

Naomi took a deep breath and hurled herself in front of the girl. The crowd grew quiet for a moment, stunned by the sudden appearance of the blonde headed girl.

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" she screamed. "I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO HURT A YOUNG GIRL LIKE THAT!" At this the mob flourished with anger again and reached up to drag Naomi away. She batted the hands aside and was pretty successful until some of the torches got to close and began to burn her arms. Finally one of the mob was able to get beside her and grabbed her by the hair. She twisted in his grip but couldn't get free. Laughing, he put a knife to her neck and would of killed her had a blade not ran him through.

At first all Naomi could do was stare at the dead man with the blood gushing from the hole in his back. Finally, she tore her gaze from his fixed eyes and saw his death dealer. Toran was shoving villagers off the platform with one hand and holding a blood-drenched sword with the other. She was stunned to realize that he had killed the man. It hurt to think about it. Toran was a killer. His soft smile was a ploy. At this point Toran turned around and glared at Naomi.

"What are you doing? UNTIE HER AND GET AWAY!" Naomi nodded robotically. "Here. Just wave it at anyone who gets near you." Toran tossed a small-sheathed dagger to her. She caught it limply and turned around to face the girl who was still crying and struggling against the ropes.

"Help me!" She whimpered and Naomi ran behind her in response. She desperately picked at the ropes and finally cut them with the dagger. All the while she kept one eye on Toran who was now engaged in combat with some of the villagers with weapons. Once the supposed witch was free from her bonds Naomi grabbed her wrist and led her away from the crowd.

Toran was doing his best to keep the casualties at one. He hadn't intended to kill that individual! He had overestimated the skills of simple humans. After a few minutes and several irate villagers Toran came across one particular villager armed with a sword. The man, as he found out, knew how to use it too. The peasant was so skilled in fact that he kept Toran on his toes. It was bad enough that he was worried about Naomi and that tons of villagers were attacking him from all sides. When he was distracted by a villager swinging a club at him the peasant took the chance to slam the flat of his broadsword against Toran's rib cage. Dazed, Toran stumbled. Blindly he tried to fight off the mob of people. A second blow to his back brought him to his knees.

"TORAN!" He looked up in time to see Alixis slicing her way through peasants who were also armed with swords. Toran struggled to stand and once he got to his feet he cut down a couple of the skilled peasants with swift blows. When Alixis got to him he leaned his weight on his blood-drenched sword and panted. "You alright?"

"I'm alive aren't I?" he spat some blood from his mouth then looked her over.

"You?" He nodded toward a cut above her left hand. She laughed in answer. "This is madness. Since when did farmers fight that good?"

"Dunno. Militia?" She said running one through.

"Better," Toran replied spitting more of his blood on the ground. He looked at it in disgust. "If they're militia, bastards got some damn good training." One of them charged at Toran and neatly lifted his sword then let the man run on it. "Then again," he mused as he yanked the sword from the man's gut. A scream rang out from somewhere followed by another.

"Where's Naomi?"

"With that girl, I don't know exactly where."

"DAMN YOU TORAN!!" Alixis struck him in the back of the head and plowed through the crowd in the direction of the screams.

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The soft sound of the girl crying resounded through the ally way as the girl sat hunched against one of the building's walls. Naomi held the dagger Toran had given her up in front of her as the gruff villager with a hungry look in his eyes approached. In one of his hands he held a meat cleaver poised above his head. After a moment the man got to close for Naomi's comfort. She struck out with the dagger and a sharp yelp came from the man. A deep gash now ran on his arm. Angrier, he continued to advance. Now Naomi was crying. She couldn't stand this. The man's eyes averted to the girl. Once again loosing all sanity she lunged at the girl and hugged her tight. The girl held her in return. Both of them cried as they sat there.

"Just stay away…PLEASE STAY AWAY!!" Naomi screamed. Suddenly there was a sickening noise. It was the sound of bone and metal colliding. Since her eyes were closed she couldn't see what was going on but a thick liquid rained down on her. The girl screamed and Naomi grasped her tighter. The screams seemed to dare Naomi to open her eyes. When she did she saw the man's body collapse in a heap disconnected from its head. Naomi screamed too and pressed herself against the wall.

"Girl!" A voice called. Naomi pushed it aside. "Hey you!"

"Stay away," she protested between sobs.

"Open your eyes!" A firm hand tugged at her arm. Giving in, Naomi opened them again.

"Surui!" Naomi was so delighted to see a rescuer that she leaped at him and hugged him tight. He cringed as his shoulder bent awkwardly.

"Get off," he pried her off and she took a good look at him. His face was pale and left arm trembled, fresh blood stained his shirt on the left shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

"Get your priorities straight! First you and miss rag doll over there needs to run like hell that way!" He said pointing in the direction opposite from where they had came. "GO!!"

Naomi lifted the girl to her feet and dragged her in the direction he had pointed. She looked back momentarily but was unable to spot Surui, or Toran, or Alixis. Sighing, she knew she was on her own for now.

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Now that the two girls had left, Surui leaned his good shoulder into a wall and breathed heavily. He scowled at the blood coming from his shoulder. He may be hardheaded but he knew something had to be done before he collapsed. Before he could do anything however a peasant barreled down the ally brandishing a sword. Forced into action again, Surui swung his sword gutting the man with one go around. The commotion was dieing down so he headed for the center of the village.

Toran stood amongst a bunch of fallen peasants and stretched his arms. Alixis sat on the edge of the platform that the witch was supposed to burnt upon and cleaned blood from her blade. Surui staggered up and once he noticed the other two he quickly corrected his walk.

"Ah…swordsman of the year! Where'd you come from?" Toran sang. Ignoring him Alixis approached Surui.

"Did you see Naomi?"

"I did. I sent them out of the village in the direction that we're going."

"Good." Alixis began to walk away then looked back. "Are you going to be alright?" She asked Surui intently. "You look like shit."

"You don't look so great yourself," he growled in return.

Smiling, she motioned for Toran and they all started to head out when Surui stopped by one of the peasants fortified with a sword. He nudged at the dead mans head with his foot and glowered. Toran stopped and looked fiercely at him.

"Gees man! We've already slaughtered them; we gotta mutilate `em too?" Toran inquired as he nervously gazed at a window from which a villager was looking nervously out. "Come on. These people are seriously perturbed. All we did was kill the macho peasants, there is more left."

"I know this guy," Surui murmured. "He's a Dracon."

"A deserter?" Alixis pondered. Surui knelt and tore the man's shirt at the shoulder revealing a brownish scar in the shape of a pentagram with a D in its center.

"Then why is there still a brand on him?"

"Maybe he's a coward who couldn't bare the thought of scraping off his own skin," Toran stated.

"Maybe he's not a deserter. This one has one too." Alixis said as she poked around some of the bodies.

"And another. They all have one. But Diego wouldn't disguise his troops as simple peasants. I agree with Toran but this whole band can't be cowards. You can't be a coward and leave the Draconians for that matter," Surui was disturbed by this as was the other two.

"What the hell is going on?"

--------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------

Behind a tree, Naomi stood poised with her dagger ready waiting for someone to come after her. She had calmed down but her breathing was still uneven and she was worried about the trio in the village. After a few minutes of standing there she decided no one had pursued them and she drop to her knees, still clutching the dagger. Her thoughts went back to Toran, and how he had killed that man. She kept telling herself that if he hadn't she'd be dead. But it still didn't settle her nerves about the situation.

Once she was a bit more composed she crawled to the girl huddling in front of her. Pity, once again overcame Naomi as she watched the girl cry. The girl was obviously still getting over the trauma of the ordeal. She reached to touch her shoulder but the girl jerked away and stared at Naomi with frightened yellow eyes.

"I'm not gonna hurt you," Naomi consoled. The girl still looked terrified. "Please, don't be frightened. My name is Naomi. I'm here to help. Do you understand?" After a brief moment the girl nodded. Naomi smiled. "Good. Now…what's your name?"

"Mika," the girl managed in a trembling voice and then continued more confidently. "My name is Mika. I'm a witch…in training that is." She unballed herself and smiled. "Thank you…for saving me and all. I truly appreciate it."

"I have a thing against young girls getting burned at the stake," Naomi said cheeringly. Mika nodded quickly signifying that she shared the same disapproval. "It was an awful thing for those people to do. Why did they want to kill you?" Mika became solemn and shook her head.

"Honestly I have no idea. Things have become especially tense in the last few months. I think they're scared really. `Of me' you wonder? Well…I guess so. Witch's magic is different from white magic. It's to do with the earth. All kinds of things have souls and witches use that. White magic relies on holy incantations. Seems to me people are afraid of those who are different these days."

"Makes sense." A voice resounded behind the pair and Naomi swung her dagger at the person who had approached them. Persons.

"WHOAH! Take it easy! It's us Naomi," Toran yelped with his hands in the air. Alixis stood beside him staring at the girl and Surui was a little behind her.

"Sheesh! Are you all right!?" Naomi screamed, jumping up to meet him. "You're not hurt are you?"

"We faired pretty well. Discovered a few interesting things, at that," he answered.

"As of now, we need to get a little farther away then set up camp and recuperate," Alixis ordered. Mika attempted to stand but fell back rubbing her feet. When she took her hands away blood was smeared on them.

"Mika! Are you ok?" Naomi looked at the witch's feet. The soles of them were cut and blistered and needed medical attention. Seeing this, Alixis got a rag from the pack Surui had retrieved and ripped it in half.

"Once we gat away I'll pay closer attention to them but right now this will have to do," she explained as she wrapped each rag around the witch's feet. "Toran…you can carry her."

"Why me?!" he bellowed.

"Because…I have the pack, Naomi isn't going to and I am NOT going to even ask Surui" Alixis answered brutally. Toran winced then walked other to the girl.

"Name's Toran."

"Mika."

Toran smiled. "This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship."

At that he lifted her to his back and set out with the others. They walked for a good hour discussing what had gone on and familiarized their selves with their new companion. Surui, as expected, kept himself isolated, save for when he gave his name to Mika. Once they had gone far enough Toran became ill and they were forced to stop. Alixis examined the area and came back with a satisfactory report.

"Good a place as any. Judging by our brave warrior's green face I'd say we're close to the Capitol of White Magic, Massenguard," she announced cheerfully. "I think I hear the river Yown running not to far form here. It incases the capital as a sort of natural moat. We'll cross it tomorrow. Everyone should get a good nights sleep."

"How can I get a good nights sleep when my stomach is doing flips to impress my intestines?" Toran whined as he sat in a huff.

"That's the affect of the white magic eating at your dark magic. It's probably bothering Surui too because neither of you have been here before. I have, so therefore gained immunity." She eyed Surui who was slumped up against a tree, his head resting on the bark.

The next half hour was spent tediously finding firewood while Alixis fished. Once a blaze was going Toran curled up by the fire, refusing to eat and mumbling curses. Naomi washed off Mika's feet as Alixis had instructed. They began to talk and Naomi deduced that she was sixteen and her mother had passed away a few years ago leaving here as an orphan. Despite Naomi's solemn first impressions of her, Mika actually had a very bubbly, optimistic, and slightly naïve personality which made her adorable. In fact, Naomi couldn't stop smiling while she was around and she allowed Naomi to ignore Toran's mumbling and cursing and grunts in his sleep.

Once Alixis had returned with fish and fried them over the open blaze Mika and Naomi stuffed their faces as Alixis ate her share calmly. Smelling the fish Toran woke up refreshed and went for the last one. Before his hand could reach it Alixis slapped it and glared at him.

"HEY!" he wailed rubbing his hand.

"Snooze you loose Toran," Alixis growled. "You had your chance." Scoffing, Toran lay back down and pouted. Naomi thought that Alixis was being cruel and she frowned as she observed her to see what she would do to the remaining fish. After a moment her curiosity was relieved.

Alixis dug through the pack and removed some bandages from a pouch and the wineskin she kept. Once the three girls had their fill of the water within it, Alixis got up and walked over to Surui with the supplies and the controversial fish. Naomi watched closely, judging her every action.

She knelt by Surui and nudged him awake. He looked up at her groggily. Demanding that he take off his shirt, she removed a dagger from her belt. Once his shirt was off and the bloodied bandages were exposed, she cut them away. Grimacing, she poured some water on a rag cleaned some of the blood away.

"It looks pretty bad," she examined. He grunted in return and allowed her to bandage his shoulder with the fresh rags. After she helped him back into his shirt, she placed her hand on his forehead and narrowed her eyes. "You don't look good at all and I have the stinging suspicion that that fever is going to get worse." She handed him the fish and made him drink from the flask. He shook his head at the fish.

"My stomach feels like a stormy ocean. The last thing I need is a stormy ocean full of fish," he groaned.

"Don't argue with me. You know that by not taking care of that wound that you're making yourself sicker. You haven't eaten in days and you're only going to get weaker. So eat!" Surui glared at her. After a moment he began to pick some meat from the fish. She sat by him staring off into the woods and occasionally looking at him. He'd glance at her too and then quickly look away.

"It's been awhile," she finally whispered just out of Naomi and Mika's hearing. Her voice was grave…almost apologetic.

"I thought you might be dead. I could have sworn that if you were alive you'd communicate with me somehow," he spat although he did not look at her.

"I know you hate me but- "

"You don't know anything about me Alixis. I'm not the kid I was ten years ago. I've grown up…witnessed…participated in some awful things," his face grew dark with memory.

"I don't care what you do…or did. We're both not the bright eyed children we were. Neither is Toran. We've all done our share of bad things. The only difference is Toran and I have not let it ruin our lives. You Surui…you've let it consume you."

"You weren't there. Neither was Toran. I was alone…and that's how Syrith wanted it." He handed what was left of the fish to Alixis and stood. Still weak from blood loss, he had to use his good arm to help pull his self up. The pain made him nearly cry out as he rammed his fist into the bark, bloodying his knuckles. Naomi and Mika stared, wondering if they could help as Toran kept one eye open to watch. Alixis jumped to her feet and grabbed him. He struggled at first then became too weak to care. After a moment of intense silence his knees buckled and his body slumped onto Alixis's, head resting on her shoulder. With her free hand, she signaled for Naomi to bring her a blanket near the fire. Naomi jumped up, grabbed, it and ran to her.

"Is he all right?" Naomi questioned as Alixis instructed her to spread the blanket on the ground by the tree.

"He's fine. I drugged the fish." Naomi stared at her. "It was the only way that Surui was going to rest his shoulder. I know it may seem a bit extreme but you don't know just how stubborn he is." The women laid him down gently on the blanket and Alixis removed her coat. She spread it across his sleeping form then gathered her things.

They went back to the fire and sat down. It appeared Toran had fell asleep again and the group was preparing to do so as well when Mika piped up.

"You have a thing for that guy don't you?" Alixis shot her head up and gaped at Mika's naïve frankness. Naomi was, at first, surprised as well but then it sort of made since to her.

"You know what? She's right. It's like you and Surui have some sort of past or something," she added flashing a cat grin. Alixis turned her look of utter shock to a look of disgust.

"Guys…it is nothing like that. We-" Alixis tried to explain but was cut off by another wave of accusations.

"I think you two would be cute!" Mika wailed with Naomi not far behind.

"REALLY! Super Chick and the Bad Ass. What better couple can you find?"

"I'll tell you one…my fist and your face," Alixis growled. Mika and Naomi zipped it and looked at her sheepishly. "You don't know me and you certainly don't know Surui. Especially you Mika, you've spent only a few hours with us and you're already playing matchmaker. Back off. Now both of you shut up and get some sleep."

Toran sat up rubbing his eyes. All the commotion had woken him up and he wanted to know what was happening. He was about to ask but he looked at Mika a second first. She's hot, he thought to himself; I wonder if she'd be willing to-. Seeing Toran making googly eyes at Mika, Alixis reached up and struck him in the back of the head. He winced and glared at her.

"I was just thinking about what I…I MEAN…we are going to do with her. It'd be a bit dangerous for her if she tagged with us, neh?" he said quickly. Alixis looked at him for a moment and then nodded.

"You're right…for once," Alixis agreed then turned to the young witch. "It's far to dangerous for you to come with us. It'd be best if we found Mika safe haven in the capital."

"Wait!" She quickly interjected. "I can help you guys in whatever it is you're doing. I may be in training but I am a witch. Witches are helpful! Please! Let me come with you!" Alixis shook her head.

"I'm sorry. But this quest is for a designated group of people alone," Alixis said shaking her head. She held up her arm and pointed to the symbol beneath her palm on her wrist.

"No way! I have one of those too!" Mika yelped excitedly. The three looked at her in the disbelief. "I'll show you! See!" With that Mika took hold of her dress and lifted it up, showing off her panties and chest. Toran gaped at the sight of her breasts until Alixis slapped her hand over his eyes. Sure enough, just above Mika's left breast was the exact symbol the other three had. Naomi grabbed the dress and yanked it down, her face as red as a apple. "What's wrong? Do you feel sick?" Mika asked Naomi gently as Alixis released Toran.

"No…it's fine," Naomi stammered.

"She certainly is!" Toran exclaimed. Alixis smacked him.

"Not her! IT!" she bellowed.

"That was the Shadow Warrior symbol though," Naomi said and Alixis agreed.

"I'm not sure," Toran stated, rubbing his chin. A grin stretched across his face. "Another look couldn't hurt."

"Ok!" Mika said cheerfully and began to lift the dress again.

"NO!!"

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Long after the camp had quieted and everyone was asleep, a sinister person watched them from afar. As if knowing this, Surui twitched in his sleep despite the drugs he'd been given. The image of their sleeping figures hazed and swirled into nothingness as a hand touched the mirror where it had been. The feminine hand with long fingers and painted nail stroked the frame and a sultry voice sounded through the dark corridor.

"These are dangerous games you play," the woman shrouded in shadow hissed. The sound of pure contempt was in her voice as she spoke through a pearled tooth grin. A soldier entered from somewhere deep in the blackness and there was a slight clanking noise as he knelt. "Speak Grarris."

"The preparations have been made. Should we act?" he asked in a deep disheartened voice.

"No," the woman smiled again. It would have been a beautiful smile had all her intention been less traitorous and demented. But instead pure cruelty shined on her lips.

"We'll wait, but be sure to be ready at anytime. You may go."

The knelt figure bowed his head and arose. As he exited, the woman conjured another image on her mirror. She peered at the looking glass as Surui's sleeping face appeared. She ran a finger across the glass as if she was really touching his cheek. He twitched again and rolled to his side, covering his face with his arm. The woman sneered and threw the mirror down watching it as it shattered into thousands of pieces. She reached down and picked up a shard of glass and allowed it to draw blood from her fingers.

"I'll have you Damien Surui, body and soul. Even if it kills me."

Note: *thinks to self* That woman is creepy! And what is with her and Surui? Oh yeah!! She's- *realizes she's talking aloud and abruptly stops* Ha. Thought I was gonna tell ya, eh mate? WRONG! Anyway…sorry this chapter took so long. Maybe you can forgive me. I'm introducing two new MAIN characters in the next one and about three or four others. You like Mika? My magic man I mentioned in chaptero uno, Kenny, loves her. He thinks she's the shiz nit so to say…homie. To any of you that though, "hmmm…Aixis and Surui would be nice." You are gonna get the surprise of a life time next go around. NAHA! *

Yes…I'm aware that's a Japanese name. But it suits her and when I began writing this I didn't know that. I`m not about to change it so HA!

As in "Yoh-win". Just to let you know and what not.