Fan Fiction ❯ The Goddess Sagas ❯ Dancing Snake Princess ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter nine: Dancing snake princess

" So this is Lemera huh? Not exactly what I call a vacation get away...It looks sort of...run down..." Ruto frowned, at the dirty

town ahead of them.

"No kidding!" Mara sniffed. " This place will so dirty my perfect little fur!"

"Your so vain..." Ruto uttered under her breath.

" I've been hear a few times with my family...it use to be such a nice place...I wonder what happened." Carrie frowned sadly.

"I hope Taromecika did not attack hear, I hate the though of anyone else getting hurt..." Mimi trailed off sadly, as she thought

about all the deaths they already witnessed.

"We won't let him harm anyone else, we only need to find three more orbs then we can defeat him, and one of the orbs is

hidden right hear in town!" Ryan said detrimentally.

Genki opened his mouth to say something but paused and began to strain his ears. "Hey, I hear music up ahead..."

"Sounds...like...gypsy music...ugh, don't tell me we're going to run into some filthy thieves..." Keith made a disgusted face.

" That's not nice to say..." Mimi scolded softly but was not heard.

"Come on everyone, let's see what's going on in this town." Ryan said leading the group into the heart of Lemera.

**********************************

They were all greeted by the sounds of drums and flutes and many other kinds of music interments, a large bond-fire burned in

the middle of the street, but the truly captivating thing was the girl that danced like a fiery imp, her dance so fierce and so

graceful it could bring a tear to even the most strongest man's eyes.

Ryan found himself studying her, it was kind of a hidden hobby he had, studying girls. But of course the day he let anyone find

out about that would be the day he decided to dress like Keith.

The dancing girl was Japanese one could tell by the darkness of her skin, and it was also easy to tell that she was an elf by her

huge pointed ears which had five huge gold looped earrings on each ear. She was wearing next to nothing Ryan realized and

blushed red, actually the only thing she was wearing over her chest was a tight and very small dark yellow bra that connected in

the back, covering only two inches of skin, were the cups came in to cover her breasts was even smaller, for they only covered

the nipples of her very large breast area. Her lower wear was almost just as bad, she was only wearing a small matching

colored cheese-string, around that though was a large white 'skirt' that was opened up in the middle revealing only the front of

the cheese-string, a large gold bow was on the back of that. The only other things she had on her was tons of golden eye and

lip makeup and two large and heavy looking golden snake bracelets, one circled around the middle of her arm and ended at her wrist while

the other circled from her knee to her ankle. Her dark green hair seemed to be plastered to her face with sweat, but still

remained beautiful as it hung limply reaching to her hips, her yellow eyes seemed to be in a trance as she danced to the lively

beat of the music. It was then that Ryan noticed something else about her, a live Python was around her neck, and from what

he knew about Python's, they were deadly snakes.

The music and dancing ended almost as soon as they arrived, and many of the people began staring in their direction.

"Get the feeling we're unwanted?" Ruto whispered to Ryan who gulped nervously.

The Japanese dancer approached them, a wide smile on her face.

" Konnichiwa minna-san! Atashi Kasumie Pai-Pai."

"What did she say?" Mara asked confused.

"Oh!" The elf exclaimed. " I said hello everyone, and that my name is Pai-Pai Kasumie. I take it you don't know Japanese too

well."

Genki blushed embarrassed. "We never really read too much on Japanese vocabulary."

"Daijoubu." Pai-Pai smiled.

Genki stared at her confused, the dancer laughed. " Daijoubu means It's all right."

"Oh."

"Well, welcome to Lemera! You must be from that tour boat, well if your looking for a vacation then you've come to the wrong

place! The rich side of Lemera has been taken over by Taromecika's demons, but we're not complaining, now us poor people

can do whatever we want and not be looked at like flit by those rich snobs!"

"Taromecika's demons are hear!?" Ryan exclaimed alarmed.

"Hai." Pai-Pai nodded. "They have totally corrupted all the rich people hear, they took all the riches and so all the merchants

has risen their prices sky high to be able to make more gold for themselves. I don't know what those demons are searching for

but everyday they take a villager and hold them captive inside the castle they have taken over. We never see the person they

take again....But oh well!! They aren't taking any of us poor people away!"

"...Uh....Isn't that a little...well,....uncaring of you....?" Carrie frowned.

"Yes...no one deserves to be held captive by Taromecika." Mimi added in.

"Yeah!" Genki exclaimed. "Don't you agree Squall?"

"....hn."

"Ack!" The hyper boy moaned. "You really don't talk much to you, Squall?"

"....hn."

The group sighs shaking their heads.

"Pai-Pai, can you show us to where the demons are, we are on a mission to destroy Taromecika." Ryan asked.

"Kakkoii!!" Pai-Pai exclaimed, eyes shining. " Wow! Dokyou! You have such courage! Your really battling Taromecika!?"

"Yes." Ryan smiled nervously.

"Well then, you should get some rest before you fight...uh...how do you say that in English now...un....Ashita....

um...to...to...tomorrow! Come over to my house, I'll let you all rest!"

"Arigato Gozaimasu!!" Ruto smiled brightly. "Your so kind!"

Pai-Pai smiled widely at the other girl, like how one would smile at a friend.

"Huh? Ruto, you know Japanese?" Ryan blinked surprised.

"Yeah, I know many languages."

"Show off." Mara sniffed.

" Well, Minna-san, fallow me, my house may not be the fanciest hear in Lemera but at least it's cozy." Pai-Pai smiled walking

off leaving them to follow her.

"Ryan, I don't trust her. Why would someone who does not even know us offer us into her home?" Keith frowned.

Ruto rolled her eyes. "Maybe she's just a NICE person unlike YOU, Keith. I like her, so I'm going to take her up on her kind

offer."

The rest of the group watched as Ruto followed after Pai-Pai.

"I think Ruto has a point, Pai-Pai could just be trying to be nice...We should not be so rude." Mimi said softly and shyly. Carrie

nodded in agreement.

"I agree with Mimi." Genki, Mimi and Carrie began to walk off.

Squall looked over at Keith hunched his shoulders "Hn." And followed after the others.

"Come on Rya! Rya!" Mara whined pulling on his arm.

"Mara, I'll be there in a second, go on ahead."

The cat-girl nodded and skipped ahead after the rest of the group. Ryan turned to Keith, his face sat in steal.

"Keith, I agree with you, there is something strange about Pai-Pai....We should not let our guard down around her."

"Understood. For once your using your brain Ryan."

Ryan gave him a dirty look but then smirked meanly. "And I see that the same goes for you."

*******************************

It did not take then long to find Pai-Pai's house, it was the only one with the big sign in the front reading 'Kasumie Pai-Pai ." it

was rather large but it looked horrible. The dirty white paint was peeling off the walls and the door was half broken down, all

the windows were broken and there were holes in the roof. Inside the house was not any better. Instantly they were greeted by

violent coughs and Pai-Pai looked alarmed, running into another room of the house. The group followed worriedly and looked

sadly as they saw Pai-Pai kneeling down next to a little elf boy, his cheeks were flushed and his dark green hair was plastered

to his face with sweat, his was breathing heavily and seemed to be asleep.

" Ryo...."

"Pai-Pai, your back." A deep voice asked and the group turned to see a tall man with black eyes and brown hair come down

the steps, he paused halfway when he spotted Ryan and his group.

"Who are they?" He asked suspiciously.

"They are people I met in the market place, they will fight Taromecika's demons tomorrow. I offered to let them stay hear

tonight."

"Hmmm."

"Oh, Quoin!" Pai-Pai laughed. "You worry about me to much, but anyway." The dancer's face grew more serious. "Did Ryo

show any signs of recovery?"

Quoin shock his head sadly. "No...didn't even open his eyes once...I'm sorry...He wont get better until we can get him that

operation."

Pai-Pai sighed but then turned towards Ryan and his group with a large but very fake smile plastered on her face.

" It's getting late, you should go to bed, I will show you your rooms."

"Thank you, Pai-Pai." Ryan smiled.

"This is very kind of you." Mimi thanked. Carrie said a simple thank you but had a very grateful look on her face.

"Yeah, thanks!" Genki grinned happily.

"Thanks." Keith answered dully.

"Arigato Gozaimasu." Ruto spoke in Japanese again. Pai-Pai smiled widely at her.

"It's nice to speak to someone else who knows Japanese."

"Yeah, it is a beautiful language to speak." Ruto replied.

Squall glanced over at Pai-Pai who waited for him to say something.

"............Thank you, for your hospitality."

" Squall no Goku..." Pai-Pai commented.

"Hai." Ruto agreed.

"....What?"

"She just said your quite Squall." Ruto informed.

".......hn...."

Pai-Pai and Ruto giggled slightly before Pai-Pai began to lead the group towards their rooms.

*******************

Rosella leaned back in the chair in the palace, she was sipping on some wine, lost in thoughts.

'I wonder why Lord Lounaru got so worked up over that song...hmmm, Is there something I don't know about him?

Impossible, I know everything about my love...Lounaru, my plan is working perfectly. All of these people are so greedy, they are

making their own hate from greed, all for the sake of money. But still, I'm still trying to find the orb holder, if we can fill his heart

with hate then...then, Lord Taromecika can grow stronger...'

" Lady Rosella." One of the lesser demons bowed as he walked into the room. "We have yet to find the villager with a orb. We

have searched almost every noble in this city."

"Hmmm, what is the meaning of this next orb that we are looking for, anyway?"

"It's the orb of love."

Rosella laughed. " Then why are we searching among nobles? The rich people of this town loves money and nothing more."

The lesser demon made a face. " So your saying that the orb may be hidden among the dirt?"

Rosella's face wrinkled bitterly. "How dare you question me!"

The lesser demon's eyes filled with horror and he dropped to his knees.

"I'm sorry, Lady Rosella! I will never do such a thing again!"

" I will make sure of that." Power crackled in her hands. "Dark crystal spear!"

"N--!!" The lesser slave did not have time to finish his scream before a large crystal spear shot forward from Rosella's hand,

sending him flying backwards and into a wall. He hung their for the crystal was impaled threw his chest and stuck into the wall

from where the point came from out of his back.

"Mistress...Rosella.....pl....ple....pleas...please...for....for ...forgiv..e...m....e..."

The poor lesser demon choked out, blood coming from his mouth. Those were his last words.

"Mindless fools, loyal to their last breath, even after all we do to them."

***************************

Pai-Pai had led them to two large rooms, there were no beds but thick blankets. In one room all the boys slept in the other the

girls.

"Ryan." Keith began. " It's kind of foolish to sleep hear, you know we can't trust her 100%"

"Yeah, I know, but she just doesn't strike me as to be the kind that works for Taromecika."

"She's a gypsy, and she's a Japanese Elf to top it all off." Keith said matter of fact.

Genki groaned rolling his eyes. "Your so raciest, Keith!

"Am not!" Keith defended. " I have nothing against cat people!"

"That is only because Mara is a cat person, and cat girls are sexy." Ryan reminded getting strange looks from the group. Ryan

blushed and corrected himself.

"If you like that sort of style for a girl."

"Ryan, do you even love Mara?" Keith grumbled.

"uh...she's my friend, I love her that way."

Keith made an annoyed noise. " I mean, do you love her, like you want to marry her or something?"

"Oh god no!" Ryan exclaimed bluntly, causing Genki to snicker slightly.

Keith's face hardened, but the expression behind it wasn't clear. " So your just toying with her? Keeping her away from me? Is that it?"

"No!" Ryan hissed. " She's my best friend, I can't help it if she has a crush on me, and if you care about her so very much, why

don't you just tell her how you feel!?"

Keith turned away from him in a flash. "Because, you're the one she loves, besides, she hates me, if you haven't noticed....she hated me ever since I...." He did not Finnish and turned away.

Ryan sighed putting his arms behind his head. ' Mara does love me...I know that, but I feel for her what I feel for Parfait...I

don't love her like that. How does love feel anyway? Will I know it when I feel it, was love the feeling I felt when I kissed

Ruto...? Ryan! What are you thinking, stop it. You don't love Ruto, she's...she's just...she just a friend.'

"Squall, do you think we can trust Pai?" Ryan asked quietly after Genki and Keith fell to sleep.

"......No."

"Hmmm...."

Both boys soon found themselves nodding off and allowed themselves to slip away into slumber.

*****************************

"WAHHHHHHHHH!!!?!?!?"

Ryan and the boys woke to the loud screams.

"What's going on!?" Genki exclaimed, looking around himself in panic.

" Sounds like the girls are screaming." Squall answered in his same uninterested tone.

"Mara!" Keith exclaimed dashing forward while Ryan did the same only shouting Ruto's name instead.

The boys swung the door to the girls room open and stopped and stared turning red in the face as they looked at the girl's all laying

or setting on the floor stripped down to their underwear.

"KEYAAAA!!!" Ruto screamed, throwing her hands over her chest, her face was bright red. " EXPLOSION!!!"

The boys were burnt from the explosion and fell to their knees moaning, smoke still rising from their now sticking up hair.

"Ruto." Mara snickered in a teasing voice. "Why go to the trouble of hiding your chest, there is nothing there."

Ruto shot a death glare at the cat girl.

The girls were all leaning up against the wall now, their legs were pushed up in front of them and there arms were wrapped up

around their knees. In this position they were able to hide almost all of their bodies. The boys were standing in front of them

waiting to hear the story of why the girls awoke them by screaming and why they had no clothes on, except for Genki though, who had ran out of the room

with a nose bleed after he had seen Mimi who was as pink as a peach in the face in nothing but her pink under clothes.

"Pai-Pai, stole all of our money! Not to mention our jewelry, and our clothes and our weapons!" Mara whimpered.

"My fairy-wand, it's been in the family for years." Mimi sniffed.

"And my Holy-whip was a holy relic!" Ruto brawled. "I thought for sure she was such a nice person!"

"My gold rings...my mother gave those to me! That is all I have left of my Mom's! I've got to get them back!" Carrie cried

desperately.

"I've told you we couldn't trust that gypsy!" Keith exclaimed.

"....Hn..."

"See, even Squall agrees with me! Come on Ryan, we gotta go find that little tramp!" Keith exclaimed.

"YEAH!" Ruto agreed. "I can't believe I actually started to like her! Well, Pai-Pai, I'm going to track you down!" Ruto stood to

her feet forgetting the fact she was in her underwear.

"Uh...Ruto?" Carrie reminded, blushing.

"Hm?" noticing the boys staring at her red in the face she looked down and realized she was still only dressed in her underwear.

"Ekk!!" She screeched falling back onto the floor in her huddle position.

Mara laughed poking her. "Well at least your wearing a clean pair."

For the second time that day Ruto shot her a irritated death glare. "Will you shut up?"

********************************

The boys walked into town, the girls had stayed at the house, since they really couldn't walk around in their under clothes. The

house had been completely empty, not to their surprise.

" Ok, people, lesson up!" Keith said in his best leader impersonation. "This town is spilt up into two sections. The poor side,

and the rich side. Each section is fairly large, so Genki, Squall you two spilt up and question the rats and look for the elf thieve

on this side while Ryan and I will question the snobs on the other side."

"Yeah, but how are we suppose to let the others know if we find something?" Ryan asked.

"No problem!" Genki grinned taking his capsule case from his pocket, taking out a capsule and pushing down on the top he

tossed it to the ground and in a puff of smoke four walkie talkies appeared.

"Huh, puberty-boy is actually helpful." Keith commented picking one of the walkie talkies up.

"H-HEY!!!" Genki whined. "THAT WAS MEAN!!"

" Well, DUH."

Ryan cut Genki off before he could say something. "Come on! There is no time for fights! Let's just begin searching For

Pai-Pai."

*************************

Genki had asked a few villagers about Pai-Pai, most of them ignored him or commented that she was a very sexy snake

dancer. He wasn't getting anywhere far, and he had yet to find any trace of Pai-Pai.

"Oh man! Where could she be!?"

"Pssst!"

Genki jumped surprised but turned towards the noise, a man stood in an ally his form being concealed by the shadows.

" Go to the front of Lemera Palace."

"Who?"

Genki approached the form but then in a puff of smoke it disappeared.

"Who on earth was that? Lemera Palace?"

************************

"........Can you tell me about Pai-Pai Kasumie?" Squall asked walking into the bar.

The balding bartender grinned at him. "Hey, there young man! Looking for Pai-Pai Kasumie, huh? She dances beautifully

doesn't she? Heck, she has a thing for gold boy, if you pay her enough." The dirty old man leaned forward grinning a yellow

nearly toothless grin. "You may even get some...fun."

"Uh...I don't go for girls...." Squall trailed off.

"Oh! So your one of those type of people. I never will understand what's so fun about touching other boys that way, perhaps if

your female, but---You must at least find Pai-Pai a total babe, I mean, look at those breasts!"

"......" Squall was beginning to get an irritated look on his face. "I don't care, can you just tell me if you know were she is? Or

maybe just something about her?"

"Why should you care, if your gay?"

Squall was really beginning to lose his temper. " She stole from my friends and I."

"Oh! She use to be such a nice girl, she came hear with her boyfriend from Angeles an year or so ok. She had a temper but she never stole from people before."The old man sighed, shaking his head. " But since her little brother Ryo got sick...*sigh*

she's been desperate for gold. She was always fond of money but now she is hungry for it. But enough of that, why not have a

drink."

".......No thanks.....I'll be going now." Squall left the house when his walkie talkie beeped.

"Hn?"

"Squall." Genki's voice crackled over the walkie-talkie. " This *hiss pop* Man told me to g--*pop hiss* to Lemera Palace."

"Got you." Squall replied. " I'll meet you there."

**************************************

Keith grabbed an apple from one of the merchants stands when the fat old man wasn't looking and started to munch on it. He

didn't find Pai-Pai anywhere, but then his walkie-talkie began to beep.

"Yes?"

"Keith." Genki's voice came on. "Found this man, told me to got to Lemera Palace. Pai-Pai might be there."

'Lemera Palace? Ryan's looking around over there.'

*************************

Ryan had searched everywhere but his search was fruitless, everyone refused to speak with him because he 'seemed ragged

and poor.' And he did not see a sign of the dancing beauty anywhere. He wondered around until he came to a large white

building with golden roofs, it was beautiful but what grabbed his eye and made him to a double take was a man who stood in

front of it.

"Hey, I saw you before at Pai-Pai's!"

The man stepped out of the shadows, now it could be seen that he was holding the small sick elf boy Ryo in his arms.

The other members of the group chose that moment to arrive and they stopped when they saw the man who looked at them

threw dark worried eyes.

"My name is Quinn." The dark man spoke. "If you are looking for Pai-Pai, I can tell you were she is."

"How do we know we can trust you?" Keith growled. " You could just be tricking us like that elf did."

"I assure you I'm not, I help you not out of kindness but for worry of Pai-Pai's safety. She has broke into the castle, but with

the creatures that are in there...she will die, you must save her."

Keith laughed bitterly. " And why do want to help that thieve!?"

Quinn's face darkened and her gazed bitterly at Keith. " She stole from you only to save her brothers life."

"What do you mean?" Ryan asked.

" Ryo, this young boy." Quinn looked at the elf child he held in his arms. " Has become ill with a very deadly sickness, if he

doesn't get an operation soon, he'll die."

The group gasped as realization dawned down on them.

"So the reason she stole from us was so she could get the money she needed for the operation!" Genki exclaimed.

"Yes, since the demons of Taromecika attacked the doctors and merchants, even the priests has risen their prices, the cost of

the operation is unimaginable. Even with everything she has stolen and earned by dancing she is still thousands short to get the

operation and medicine her brother needs." Quinn explained. "Which is why she broke into the palace. All the towns gold is in

there, if she can get to the treasure vaults then she can get the money she needs to save Ryo's life."

"I still don't see why we should help---" Keith began but was cut off but an angry Quinn.

"You must! You're the only ones who can save her! Please...I love her...but god knows, I'm to weak...and to much of an

coward to go in there myself. Please, if not for Pai-Pai or I then, for Ryo..."

Ryan frowned staring at the pleading look on the man's face and the sick child in his arms. Slowly a small smile came to his

face.

"I'll do what's right. Ok, I'll go help Pai-Pai, and try to get the money you need to save that boy."

"Thank you so much!" The man exclaimed, his eyes filling up with tears.

Ryan turned to the rest of the group members who looked back at him surprised.

"I don't know, but I just feel as if doing this is the right thing."

*****************************

Pai-Pai crept threw the halls of the big mansion, her yellow eyes darting back and forth trying to spot any monsters. Two ogres

were passing threw the hallway, and leaning his slim form against the wall she tried to hide herself from them.

'Hmmm...' the dancer sighed as she looked down at the pouches of money that hung on her side and remembered just where

she got the money from.

'I don't know why but I feel so bad for selling their things...I never felt bad for stealing things from other people but...There was

just something I about them....' Pai-Pai shock her head angrily at herself.

'Pai-Pai! Stop that, you know you need the money, you have to save Ryo!'

Eyes scanning the hall quickly she began to crawl forward when mighty hands gripped her shoulder. Slowly Pai-Pai turned

around...

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

******************************

Ruto's head shot up in alarm, her eyes wide in horror.

"Ruto? Ruto!?" Carrie gasped, noticing the shocked expression on her face.

She remained silent and continued to stare threw dull wide eyes.

"Ruto, what's wrong!?" Mimi asked in worried concern, gripping the girls shoulders.

Mara frowned confused. "She looks like she's in some kind of trance..."

Ruto began to tremble all over as an image flashed before her eyes. The image was far from a pleasant one, what she seen

before her eyes was the beaten and battered form of Pai-Pai, and from how it seemed, she was dead.

"Ruto..." Carrie bit her lip nervously, then suddenly a white glow surrounded Ruto's body, and she stood to her feet, her face

remaining expressionless.

"No...No, this isn't right, this is not what was suppose to happen...There must be a way to stop this event from taking place..."

Ruto spoke, but it was not to any of the others in the room, it was as if she was speaking to herself.

"...That, voice...That...That isn't Ruto, that's the girl from the temple!" Mimi suddenly exclaimed.

" Isn't the girl from the temple and Ruto the same?" Mara asked looking at the mentioned as if she was a retarded freak.

" Marie-Maya, Is Marie-Maya." Ruto spoke walking forward towards the exit of the room.

"Huh? What, Marie-Maya? Ruto?" Carrie called after her.

"Where are you going?" Mimi asked.

" To, the palace..."

The three other girls cry out in shock and stared at her like she was insane.

"I-IN YOUR UNDERWEAR!?!?" Mara gasped.

Ruto did not response but continued to walk forward, her friends followed her until she finally reached the exit.

"Ruto, your not serious are you?" Carrie asked still shocked and amazed.

"There are MEN out there..." Mimi reminded blushing.

"YOUR NOT PRANCING AROUND IN UNDERWEAR IN FRONT OF MY

RYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Mara screamed at the top of her lungs.

Ruto just walked out the door, right away the sounds of whistles and cat-calls echoed threw out the town.

Mimi and Carrie put a hand to there heads in shame.

"I can't believe she did that..."

"Me neither..." Carrie agreed.

"THAT'S IT!!!!" Mara screamed suddenly. " I AM NOT GOING TO LET HER BE ALONE WITH MY RYA IN HER

UNDERWEAR!!!!! I'M GOING TOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Carrie and Mimi collapse to the floor in shock as Mara ran out the door...also in her underwear....

**************************************

Ryan and the rest of the group stopped startled as a scream echoed threw the palace.

"That was!!" Genki gasped.

"Pai-Pai." Ryan finished. "It seems like the scream came from in front of us, and it sounds very close by, everyone, let's hurry!"

"Hn!" Squall agreed taking off after Ryan as they began to run towards the scream.

"I still don't see how you got me to agree to help that thieve of an elf..." Keith said bitterly with his hands on his hips.

"Keith...." Genki whined in a girlish voice. " Come on, remember our deal, you help us and I'll use my spy camera to get those

pictures of Mara you wanted."

" Now I remember...those pictures have better be good."

"They will be, now lets go before Ryan leaves us behind."

" I'm never behind Ryan, you hear me!? I'm always one step ahead of him! I'm the strongest, I will achieve victory over him

every time! He will never be ahead of me, for I will always be ahead of him in everything he does for I am the best of all! I'm

more stronger, handsome, charming, and more powerful then he will ever be! So you see, I'll never be left behind anyone, YOU

GOT THAT!"

Keith finished his speech and finally noticed that Genki had already left, and that no one else was around.

"Hey...come on....NOT FAIR!! I'M SUPPOSE TO BE IN THE LEAD!!!!"

*******************************88

Ryan and the group stopped as they spotted Pai-Pai desperately trying to fend off twenty ogres.

"SNAKE BITE!!" The dancer exclaimed, the snake around her neck lunched forward taking a bite into one of the ogres arms,

filling it with deadly poison which caused it to drop to the floor dying.

She was not so lucky against two of the other ogres arms though, as two of them rushed forward taking their to huge wooden

sticks with a large metal spiked ball into there hands smashing her full force in the side, sending her flying back, crashing into a

wall.

"GALLET GUN!!" Genki exclaimed shooting the energy attack, destroying three of the demons. Who looked angrily in their

direction and lunched forward ready for the kill.

"Well, finally some fun. Let's get this going!" Keith ran forward with his gun blade drawn.

"Ryan." He smirked as he slashed one of the beasts down. "Why not a contest? Whoever kills the most wins?"

" You and your contests." Ryan rolled his eyes.

"You scared to loose to me?"

Ryan smirked. "No, not at all. Let's do this." Taking his sword in his hands he jumped forward slashing threw the beasts.

Squall began to remove his clothes, causing Genki to give him a strange look. Squall notices this and replies rather matter of

fact.

"I'm going to be transforming and I don't want my clothes destroyed, so would you be so kind as to look away?"

Blushing the hyper boy looked away. "Uh....um...y...yeah, uh...s...sure..."

*******************************

Pai-Pai moaned as she opened her eyes, the golden orbs opened wide as she saw the battle taking place before her eyes.

Ryan was slashing ogres one after another into with his sword, Keith was doing the same with his gun-blade, but unlike Ryan a

smile was on his face the whole time. Genki was punching and kicking random beats causing blood to squirt from their mouths

and noses. A large white wolf tore threw the creatures skins, warm, sticky blood dripping from large teeth.

Pa-Pai watched amazed as the last demon fell to the floor dead. Ryan smirked at Keith.

"Seems like I won."

Keith growled clenching his fists. "No fair...I'm suppose to be the one that's one step ahead..."

"Pai-Pai!" Genki exclaimed looking over in her direction.

"KUSO!!" The dancer cursed out loud in Japanese. " You guys followed me!! How dare you, If you want your things back,

your noting getting it! I already sold them, so go away!"

"Excuse me!?" Keith said crossly. " We SAVED you, you ungrateful little ELF wrench!! But if I had things my way, I would

have just let those ogres eat the flesh off your bones!"

"Well, I didn't ASK for your help now DID I?" Pai-Pai retorted.

"No, but Quinn did." Ryan said seriously.

"Quinn?" Pai-Pai's voice softened a little but was still sharp. " Why in the hell would he do something stupid like that!?"

"Maybe because he was worried about you." Genki told her flatly.

Squall who had changed back nodded his head. "Hn."

"So?" Pai-Pai asked sourly. " That gives him no right in doubting my abilities to take care of myself!"

" Pai-Pai." Ryan began looking confused and hurt. " This is not how you acted before, why are you being so uncaring now?"

"Before!?" Pai-Pai chuckled. " Before I was just acting all sweet to get you to trust me!"

"An ACT? So you just toyed with us all that time!?" Genki growled angrily.

"Well, DUH!" Pai-Pai rolled her eyes. "Look, I'm going to go find the treasure, you best turn back before you get killed."

The group watched as the dancer disappeared down the hallway.

"I DON'T BELIEVE HER!!!" Genki exclaimed. "WHAT A....BITCH!!!"

"I told you guys that she was trouble from the beginning." Keith reminded coolly.

"IEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!"

"Huh!? Hey that's Pai-Pai again!" Ryan gasped as the surprised scream echoed off of the walls.

"So? We care, why?" Keith raised an eye brow.

"We can't let her die!" Ryan exclaimed.

"As much as I hate to do this...I agree with Keith, she clearly doesn't want our help...but I guess we can't let her die....but...."

Genki frowned.

"....Guys...." Ryan began, his face filled with confusion at how uncaring the two boys seemed to be. He was finding it more easier now to believe that the two boys were so closely related. He never seen this side of Genki before...he never really was close to the boy, but it seemed that he did have a few of Keith's bad ways afterall.

"Ryan is right." Squall spoke up. " If we let her die we will be no better then those demons, we would be just like Taromecika."

"Squall...." Ryan smiled. "Thanks."

Turning towards the other to boys his face hardened. "We're going to help her, leave if you truly wish."

The two boys took off in the direction of the scream leaving behind a guilty looking Genki and an unconcerned Keith.

" They are right. We can't allow ourselves to drop to this level... let's go help them." Genki smiled, but Keith turned away with a

frown.

" Save the wrench if you wish, fallow you precious leader Ryan, I don't care."

Genki stared at Keith frowning before turning around and taking after the other two boys.

"Go ahead." Keith muttered under his breath. " Be like everyone else, cousin and leave me alone....."

'You don't have to be alone...' a voice echoed from the darkness.

Keith looked around himself startled, drawing forth his sword.

"Whose there!?" He called, looking around himself for the source of the voice.

"No need to be afraid, come, come to me, and all your dreams, will come true."

Before his very eyes a dark portal opened up in front of him, an endless void of darkness...though as frightening as it appeared it seemed to draw him in.

**************************************

Ryan and the others gasped as they turned around the bend and spotted Pai-Pai being held by the throat by a tall woman with a

red dress, red hair, a red tail and even red skin.

"Who are you!? Let her go!!" Ryan demanded drawing his sword.

The woman laughed tossing her head back. "I'm Rosella, One of Lord Lounaru's three remaining warriors! I have the power to

read people's desires and using their own wishes I corrupt them, bringing more hate forward for Master Taromecika to feed

apon! The people of this town is like an endless buffet, and now, once the orb of love is corrupted, all the love contained within

the orb will change into hate, making Master Taromecika stronger then never before!"

"The orb of love?" Squall repeated surprised.

"She's not saying...Pai-Pai is an orb holder!?" Genki exclaimed, eyes wide.

"Who else could hold the orb? Her love to save her brother are so powerful, she is the only possible one in this city that can

hold it." Rosella smirked tightening her grip around the dancers neck.

"....Let.....Go....Of....me....you...bitch!" Pai-Pai wheezed, struggling to pry Rosella's fingers off from around her neck.

"DROP HER!" Ryan exclaimed jumping forward, slashing at Rosella, the blade came into contact with her arm, chopping off a

small part of it. With a sharp cry she let Pai-Pai fall to the ground.

"You all right!?" Ryan dropped next to the gasping dancer.

"Why did you save me?" Pai-Pai asked confused.

"Because...You're a good person inside, what you've done for your brother I can understand, I would also had done anything

to save my sister....if I still had the chance to save her....I would have done the same as you did if I had too."

".....You understand....Thank you. I know why I felt something special coming from your group." Standing to her feet, Pai-Pai

removed to razor fans from her sides and turned to face the still screaming Rosella.

"Now." The dancer grinned. "Let's finish her off!"

Rosella turned towards the group, fire burning within her eyes.

"You will all die....But not by my hand, by the power of your own desires you will die!!"

The group looked around themselves confused as an purple mist surrounded them, and slowly one by one they fell into a

trance.

******************************************

Genki Looked around himself, her was standing in the center of a flower field, the sun above him glowed with brilliants light,

and a soft breeze blew past him, the sweet scent of flowers carried threw it.

"Genki! Heh-heh!" Mimi laughed running up to him, the sun in her eyes and hair.

"I'm so glad to see you!"

Genki felt himself turning red in the face as Mimi wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You were away for so long, I missed you so much my love! Don't leave me alone again..."

"Mimi? But how? How can you be hear?"

Mimi grinned at him, but something about the grin wasn't right, it did not contain any of Mimi's sweetness, it just

contained....emptiness....and that was when Genki figured it out. Lifting up his knee he gave 'Mimi' and kick to the stomach

sending her falling back with a cry and that was when Genki spotted the long knife in her hand.

" You could never fool me into believing you, a soulless creature of darkness was Mimi...My Mimi....."

Genki gasped as the area around him began to disappear.

*********************************

Squall silently walked threw the woods the surrounded him, looking all around himself, waiting for someone to show up.

"Hey, Squall!" Angie's voice called as she stepped out the tress.

Squall eyes widened. "Angie....?"

"Hey silly! There you are, come on, supper is waiting, I've made your favorite again, Roast Beef!"

Squall in numb shock allowed Angie to pull him towards the house, when she opened the door he saw a greater shock.

Ganderdof was setting at the table, her turned to him, a smile on his face. Getting up from the table her embraced Squall, giving

him a kiss on the check.

"Squall, You've been out in that rain all night, come in and get warmed up."

"....This can't be....You and Angie...your....your dead."

"Now, Squall! It was just a bad dream, relax." Angie smiled as she began to set the table.

"....No....this is not real..."

"Squall!" Ganderdof laughed. "If this weren't real, could you feel this?"

Squall closed his eyes as his words were sealed by Ganderdof's kiss, he wanted nothing more to let himself fall into this illusion,

how he had thought he would never smell Angie's cooking again or feel the pressure of Ganderdof's moist lips against his....but

that was all it was...an Illusion...

Squall pulled away sadly. "I know this is not real...and that is all some trick by Rosella, and that you aren't really Angie or

Ganderdof...but thank you, even though I know your mission is probably to kill me. Thank you for giving me this one last

moment of happiness with them....even though it was not for real...I'll always pretend it was..."

Slowly the area around him began to disappear, that last images he saw were of Angie's and Ganderdof's faces.

********************************

Pai-Pai looked around herself, not knowing were she was, taking a step forward her eyes widened as she spotted figures threw

the mist.

"Mom? Dad? Ryo...Megumi, Nini?" She asked as she spotted the family standing in front of her.

"Pai!" Her mother smiled at her. " Come on, it's the dance festival, you and your sisters are suppose to perform."

Her father laughed. "Yes, My three dancing beauties, the men will go wild for you!"

" I hope you've been practicing Pai!" Her oldest sister Nini grinned.

" Yeah, your dancing is a little rusty, but someday you'll be as good as us!" The second older sister Megumi teased.

"Pai!" Ryo ran up to her, smiling. " Will you teach me how to dance someday?"

"Hey now Ryo!" their father said. " Dancing is for girls only, not for men."

"Awww...." Ryo sniffled sadly.

' This....I know what is going to happen....!' Pai-Pai's eyes widened as the memories flashed back into her mind.

FLASH

All around her was screaming, as she watched her mother and sisters die right before her eyes as they were attacked by some horrible thieves, using deadly magic.

Her and Ryo hid in the cellar of their home as the battle roared above.

Another scream echoed and they began to cry harder. "Daddy...."

When the battle was over and they climbed out of the cellar all around them were bodies, almost everyone in their village was

dead...except for one young girl with blonde hair and blue yes laying in the dirt, breathing heavily, it was her best friend.

"Lima!!"

"Pai-Pai....what happened? What happened to our home..." The girl squeaked out, before passing out.

FLASH

Pai-Pai could feel tears form in her eyes.

"It's not real...Why, why must I be mocked like this!? My family is dead! How dare you use their bodies to fool me! I swear!

I'll kill you for this! Taromecika!!!!"

Pai-Pai gasped opening her eyes, all around her the rest of the group members were coming out of their trances, everyone that

was except for Ryan who still stood in lost in a trance.

********************************

Ryan slowly opened his eyes, he was laying in a soft bed. He could feel something warm snuggled up to him and he looked

down to see the half asleep form of Ruto. He could feel his cheeks turn red as he noticed they were both undressed.

"R...R...Ru...to?" Ryan stuttered.

"Ryan..." Ruto smiled sweetly at him, snuggling up closer to his chest. " I'm so happy....to know that you feel the same way

about me as I do you."

Ryan was in absolute shock, he did not know what was happening but in a matter of moments Ruto had leaned forward and

was kissing his sweetly. Something in Ryan wanted to fall into her embrace but there was just something different this time then

the first time they had kissed. He did not feel Ruto's soul in this girl and he lacked the strange feeling in his chest he had

whenever he was around her.

' It's a fake...This is not Ruto...'

" What's the matter Ryan?" Ruto asked pulling away from him, her face concerned.

"I know your not real...this is just Rosella's magic making me see this...I...but I do...I do care about Ruto."

'Ruto' smiled sadly, closing her eyes. " Then why not tell that to her, instead of keeping all of your feelings bottled up inside? Or could it be you forget how to feel?"

**********************************

Ryan slowly opened his eyes, the others around him were already all awake, they turned to him, glad to see he was out of his

trance, they did not have time to exchange words though as they stood before the reddish imp.

"BLAST IT!!" Rosella cursed. " GUARDS GET THEM!!"

The group turned around and stared in horror. An whole army was coming at them, strong noble men from the village who had

been put into some kind of trance, ogres, Doppelgangers, Wolfos, and a bunch of other male body guards.

"How in the hell are we expected to beat all of them!?" Pai-Pai exclaimed.

"There is well over a hundred of them!" Genki gasped.

"....damn..."

"We have to try, even if it does seem hopeless." Ryan drew his sword and lunged forward but was stopped in mid-step as he

heard a very familiar voice call echo around him. Ruto(back to normal) was standing behind the army....In her underwear.

"Hey boys." She said in a sugary voice. "Look over there."

Everyone turned towards were she was pointing to see Mara standing near the doorway in her revealing yellow bar and

cheese-string yellow panties. She blew a sexy little kiss at the army.

"She's Hot!" Ruto began, a grin spreading over her face. " She's sexy! And she's going to get NAKED!!"

The army took one look at Mara's large breasts, and curvy body and turned beat red in the face. "NAKED!?" The turned

towards the door drooling.

The group saw their chance and jumped forward, taking the army on in their moment of distraction. The battle was an easy

one, being that more then half of them were still entranced with Mara's body up to the point that they were killed or wounded.

" Ruto, Mara! What are you doing hear!?" Ryan asked, approaching the two girls, red in the cheeks, looking away from their nearly bare bodies.

"Ruto began to get all creepy again, and began to walk towards the palace, I followed her of course, I couldn't let her be alone

with you in her underwear!"

Ruto rolled her eyes. " It is not like I walked out of the house of my own free will you know, something else seemed to be

controlling me..."

"Yeah right...."

"DAMN YOU!!!" Rosella screeched. " Lord Lounaru!! Help me!!!"

" I don't think so!" Pai-Pai said sourly. Throwing her fan, it embedded it's self into the imps chest. The woman fell to her knees,

blood flowing freely out of her wound.

Lounaru appeared beside her, grinning madly. " Seems like you failed, Rosella."

" Lord Lounaru....I'm so....*gag choke sorry." She reached her hand upward. "Please help me....I....I pro...miss, I wont....fail

next time..."

Lounaru's grin widened. " You think I would help a failure, die with honor, I wont waist my energy helping someone who can't

complete a simple little mission."

Lounaru disappeared, leaving a shocked Rosella behind. Tears began to fill her eyes and she cried out one single name.

"LORD LOUNARU!!!"

It was screamed with so much heart break that it could bring a tear to the eye of the soul. Blood was trickling down her chin

in a little trail. She looked at Pai-Pai threw hate filled eyes.

"Damn you..."

It all happened in a spilt second, but one moment Pai-Pai was standing there and the next an large blade had embedded it's self

threw her heart. The blade had been thrown by Rosella with her last once of life.

Pai-Pai's eye widened and she fell to the ground, a pool of blood spilling beneath her.

"PAI-PAI!!!" Ruto cried running forward, landing next to the girl, tears running down her cheeks. The rest of the group

gathered around them, shocked at what just transpired.

"...I'm sorry....I'm sorry for taking your things....I just wanted to get enough money to save my brothers life...but it seems like I

have....failed."

"Pai-Pai, your not going to die!"

" Ruto....I wish we had time to become friends...but before I die, I have one thing to ask of you..."

"What is it?"

"Rosella said something about me having the orb of love, I heard of the story of the orbs...I have this....friend....Lima...an elf

who lives in the woods not that far from hear...I want you to pass the rob onto her....as my final gift...she deserves to have the

honor of holding the orb of love..."

"Pai-Pai don't talk like that." Ruto begged. "Don' talk like your life is over!"

" You cry for the one who has stolen from you....your pure....pure and kind...please forgive me for what I have

done...goodbye..."

Pai-Pai's body fell limp and her breathing stopped.

"PAI-PAI!!!!!" Ruto screamed, tears falling from her face.

The group stood there sobbing, over the dancers dead form. Slowly a red light came out of her body and a red orb, the orb of

love floated in the sky. Ruto picked it up in her hands. Tears falling onto it's glowing red surface.

"We'll do as you asked...We'll pass this onto Lima..."

"Now two of your friends are dead." Taromecika's voice echoed around them.

The group jumped startled looking around themselves.

"Two of our friends?" Ryan repeated numbly.

"Who....who else, did you kill..." Genki asked nervously threw his tears for the one whom had just died.

"Keith."

Ryan was aware of the shocked gasps around him but he was lost in his own grief, shock and sadness to notice the others

expressions.

'Keith...no, it can't be....Keith can't be dead...he...I...we...How can I go on without him...As much as I hated to admit it he was

always the one the kept me going, the one that always drove me forward...I always tried to become a better fighter then him

and he would try to become better then me....we were rivals....we were....friends....'

"Keith..." Ryan sobbed, allowing tears to slide down his cheeks.

**********************

The group walked outside to see Quinn crying, holding the cold, pale and unmoving form of Ryo. Quinn looked up at them with

a tear stained face, and they knew what had just happened.

*************************

The group had gotten back all of their things Pai-Pai had taken and were now standing in front of four grave stones, tears

running down there cheeks.

" I can't believe it ended this way..." Genki choked threw tears, he had been crying since they heard the news about his cousin. The two had always acted like enemies, but when it came down to it, they did care deeply about each other, like everyone raised as brother's would.

"Such death....so terrible...Keith....everyone...." Mimi sobbed, allowing Genki to hold her close as they tried to comfort each

other.

Carrie was crying out control. "So much death....I don't want to see anymore of this!!"

Squall looked emotionlessly at the tomb stones ahead of them. " Ryo and Pai-Pai are with their family now...Quinn killed

himself because he could not stand being apart from them...They are together now..."

" But Keith..." Mara sniffled. " Keith has no one now...he....he is all alone..."

' Why....why did you have to die Keith...I feel as though part of me is gone....I know I acted like I hated you but really...you

were my friend...I just wish we had tried to look beyond competition and had gotten to know each other a little bit.' Ryan

thought, trying to hold his tears back.

Ruto looked up at him sadly, eyes wavering.

"We will avenge them....their sprits will always live on..."

"Yes..." Ryan turned to the group. "Let's get going to Ellen Woods....we'll grant Pai-Pai's last wish.

They turned walking away from the grave stones and followed their leader in a heart broken way. Ryan stopped turning around

a whispered a final goodbye to the friends they were leaving behind.