Siska's blog: "Contract"

Chapter 6 Luke and Chris reached the Halem resturant and went in to find a table. As they waited for the waiter, Chris began to tell him what happened after they left the inn. Luke had listened to her with great interest. He knew she still carried the markings on her body but not so much as when he knew her three years ago. The markings on her had disappeared all except for her upper arms now. 3 years ago..... After Siska left Van and went back to check up on Chris, she received a shock when she arrived in the room. Chris was no longer there but the doctor was. The doctor layed against the wall with his skin pealing off and the back of his head cracked open. Blood lined the walls around him but no sword marks appeared on his body. "Christina, what have you done?" Siska walked into the bathroom to notice the swords were still intact and still clean. "Where did you go?" Siska grabbed the swords and ran out of the inn leaving some money on the front desk before running out the door. "Sorry for the mess!" she yelled back at the person behind the desk. The lady only watched with a shocked look as Siska ran out the door. Siska had walked the town for about two hours until she found where Chris had ran too. A boy about sixteen said he saw a girl in a red long coat run to the river. As soon as Siska reached the river east of town, she stopped in her tracks and called out to the girl in the water "CHRISTINA GABRIEL!!? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!?!" "They won't come off. I want them off." Chris cried as her arms were bleeding and so was her body. To Siska, it looked like Chris had tried to peel the markings off her body but with no results. Pieces of skin layed below Siskas' feet as she began her walk into the water and over to Chris. "Why Christina? Why did you do this to yourself? Do you really want to die so badly?" "I want the marks gone!" she cried. "I regret it. I regret it all." She turned to face Siska and lay her head against Siska's chest. "He's dead. I didn't mean for it to happen." "I know you didn't. Shhh, it will be ok." Siska wrapped her arms around Chris and pulled her naked body even closer. "We must not stay in this water long with your body bleeding like it is. How are you moving anyway? Are your ribs not hurting?" Siska started to guide Chris out of the water. "I am fine." Both women got out of the water and sat on the bank to talk while Siska put the coat over Chris' shoulder to cover her body. Both did not know that they were being watched by the people who had been after Chris from the very start. "Tell the men to stand down." The man sitting among various monitors ordered. He gazed at the monitor that showed birds eye view of the two women among the river. "Sir?" "I've contacted the Religion Military on the matter. It seems the man aiding the subject is more interesting than we thought. They're willing will to apprehend the woman for us, in return we keep them informed and share the intel we attain about that man. They've flown a retrieval team yesterday and they'll arrive in the area within an hour. No need to get our own hands dirty while there's someone else willing to do it for us." "That seems very gracious of them, sir. May I ask why that is?" "The Religion Military uses the state-of-the-art weaponry. However, none of them are anywhere duplicating the power of the elves. Once we attain the swords and the women, they'll be our first clients." "I see. But what of the man?" "They indicated he was a priority criminal. But considering how supportive they turned after we had mentioned him, I can tell they fear him for some reason." "Fear him?" "As we support the RM, find all you can about that man. And make sure the RM isn't aware of it." "Yes sir." Van sat on a cliff, overlooking the town. Ever since he left church that night he had been standing there gazing at it for nearly two hours, ambivalent of sleep. It was 7 a.m. now and the sky was beginning to get brighter. Kuro awoke next to him. He yawned and sat next to him upright, surprised that that he didn't seem to sleep at all. "Meow." "Oh… Morning." "Meooow?" "I'm okay." "Meow?" "Oh yeah… I didn't tell you what that priest said did I?" Kuro nodded his head. Van sighed depressingly. "You may wanna brace yourself… It's not good--" He stopped, and gazed at something at in the distance. He noticed eight white bikes and a white hummer in the middle of them entering the town from the main road. Van's eyes widened as he recognized them. The RM!?! What the hell are they doing all the way over here!? "Meow!" "Damn right. Let's get the Hell outta here!" Van ran up to the bike and started to rev it up. Though Kuro didn't hop up at his shoulder as usual, but only gave him a concerning look from the grown. "What?" "Meow…!" "Oh Shit! Right!" Van quickly grabbed the radio in the bag of bike, placed it on his ear and turned it on. "Chris! Siska! You there?!" No one answered. Nothing but static. Chris! Siska! Come in!!" As he was yelling he waved Kuro to hop on. He did as he told and Van immediately started driving down the hill. "Chris, are you there!! Come in dammit!" Back at the lake, Siska helped walk Chris to the bike when she stopped, sniffing the air. "What is it" Chris asked noticing, but dazed. Siska smiled at her. "Wait one moment for a second, okay?" The two men behind the bushes watching her paused and wondered why the two had stopped… Then suddenly Siska appeared a foot in front of them and grabbed their heads, smashing them into the ground, knocking them both out. "I hate peeping toms…" She squinted. Wiping off the mess she went to Chris and hurried her to the bike. "C'mon, let's get out of here." As they neared the bike, Siska heard a voice mixed with static from the head-set radio in the bag. "…ska! …there?!" Siska adjusted the frequency. The voice got clear. "Chris, are you there!! Come in dammit!!" Siska put on the radio. "Van? Is that you?' "SISKA!!" Siska squinted. "HEY! Stop yelling. You almost blew my ear of--" "GET OUT OF THE TOWN NOW!!" Chris looked confused as Siska talked annoyingly in the mic, "What the hell are you talking about? We can't do that right now. Chris is in bad shape, I need to take her to a--" It was at that moment that Chris also heard the loud sound of cycles. She looked down the road and saw white bikes ae, Siska heard a voice mixed with static from the head-set radio in the bag. "…ska! …there?!" Siska adjusted the frequency. The voice got clear. "Chris, are you there!! Come in dammit!!" Siska put on the radio. "Van? Is that you?' "SISKA!!" Siska squinted. "HEY! Stop yelling. You almost blew my ear of--" "GET OUT OF THE TOWN NOW!!" Chris looked confused as Siska talked annoyingly in the mic, "What the hell are you talking about? We can't do that right now. Chris is in bad shape, I need to take her to a--" It was at that moment that Chris also heard the loud sound of cycles. She looked down the road and saw white bikes and a large vehicle heading toward them. "THE RM IS IN THE TOWN!! GET OUT!!" Siska gritted her teeth. "…Too late." She answered him. She hurried Chris on the bike and revved up the motor and jetted down the road. "SHIT!" Van slid down sideways down the rest of the cliff, arriving down at the main road below and sped on. "Where you guys at?" "We're near the river, at the bridge. We're going to take the southern exit out of town." "Dammit! You guys are too far. Try to hold off, I'll get to you guys as fast as I can." Van twisted the throttle and sped off at top speed. Easier said than done. Siska sweated. She looked behind her, all the white bikes were now in front of the Hummer. They spread out orderly and quickly in an even line. Chris was hugging on to her back. Her eyes were closed and looked pale. "Christina, are you okay?" "Yeah… What's going on?" Siska grunted. Chris was no where in shape for fighting and they were outnumbered. "Hold on Christina!" She accelerated the bike. "Secondary target in site sir. Your orders ma'am?" "The target is to be apprehended." Ordered the Female officer in the lead bike. "Wide formation. Primary usage are Guardian Angels. No one is to use fire-arms without my order. Vehicle team, cover our rear. Understood?" All seven bikers and the two men in the vehicle responded in unison. "Yes, ma'am!" All eight bikers then drew white, silver swords similar to Van's and sped toward the bike. Siska looked behind her as the bikes began to catch up fast. Those are some fast bikes… Nitrous fueled… Our only chance is to out-manuever them. She looked forward and gunned the motor. "HOLD ON!" She steered the bike right onto the main highway, exiting the town. As soon as she did she steered left, crossing to the other street and onto the other 1-way road… Against traffic. Siska weeved left and right, avoiding all the oncoming vehicles that skidded and honked her way by. "Shit! That bitch is crazy!" One of privates shouted. "Bike team Alpha, proceed onto the road as the target. Vehicle team and Bike team Zulu, remain on the current road and attempt to block off the target ahead before she reaches the tunnel system." "Yes, ma'am!" Four of the bikes then crossed over the bare road and onto the other street, while the remaining four bikes and the white hummer continued down the road. Behind them, a short distance away, another bike was catching up with them. Van looked ahead as four of the bikes broke off and headed onto the other road against traffic, while the remaining vehicles stayed on ahead. The four remaining bikes rode on along all sides of the vehicle. "Hey, Siska!" "I'm kinda busy right now!!" Siska said annoyed. Though Van didn't blame her since he witnessed her dodging traffic like some crazy fool on 'Wildest Police Chases." "Wait a bit longer. I'm gonna try to lighten the load." "Well whatever your doing, hurry the hell up. You're the only one who can fight at the moment!" "What the hell you talkin about? Can't Chris blow them away or something?! And how bout you?" "She's too weak at the moment and I can't use her swords or fight on a bike." Van's face tensed. "Great…" He sped forward reaching the bike behind the hummer. Cautiously, he slowly crept behind the bike, drew his sword, and stabbed the bike in the rear tire. The rider lost control and he and his bike toppled over, rolling. "Man down! Man down!" "What happened?" "The Primary target here! He's taken out one member of Zulu." "What's the soldier's status?" "Only disabled ma'am. He's okay." "…" "Your order's ma'am?" "Attempt to apprehend the primary target. Be advised, do NOT use lethal force. Alpha team and I will continue our pursuit on the secondary target." "Roger!" The female officer smiled. Play nice Van… Van weeved left and right as the three remaining bikers slashed their blades at him. As he was parrying from one from on his left, one on his right managed to quickly sneak up to his blind spot, slashing his rear tire. Van struggled to regain control, however his bike was already beginning slow due to the lose of traction. He was starting to drift behind. Van gritted his teeth. "Dammit!" "Sargent-Major!" Van looked beside him and saw one of the bikers driving alongside him. "I'll say this only once. Stop now!" Van smiled at his luck. "Hey private! Didn't they teach you slash now, talk later?" Van then rear fisted the man, knocking him off his bike. He then quickly jumped off his own and climbed onto the unmanned one now riding along side him. As his old one fell and crumpled to the ground next to him, he gunned the shiny, new, white one and was rewarded with a burst of speed that whipped his face. "MUCH BETTER!" Kuro held on to dear life. "Meow…!!" With the new one, van quickly caught up to the rear of the hummer. He quickly used his sword and broke open the rear window. He yelled to Kuro. "You're up!" The two soldiers in Hummer, hearing the broken glass, looked behind them to see what had happened… Then out of now where a black cat appeared in the middle of them. They just stared at it as it meowed… "Vehicle team. This is Zulu. We're lagging behind. Speed up." There was no response. "Vehicle team. Respond---" The Hummer suddenly began to zig-zag left and right. It knocked down both the bikers on each of its side. The biker in front quickly accelerated avoiding it. "Vehicle team!! What the hell are you doing!?" The radio responded with frightened screams and what seemed to be loud roars of a mountain lion… Then as the man saw the Hummer drive off the road, a white bike emerged from view behind it and accelerated toward him. The soldier quickly unsheathed his blade. "Ma'am! We've lost contact with Zulu and the Vehicle." The officer smiled under her helm. "Go back and aid them. See if they're okay. I'll stay with the target." "And the priority target?" "Check the others first. Ignore him till then." "What?! But the orders were to--" "GO NOW!" "Y-Yes, ma'am!" The three bikers quickly turned about and headed toward the opposite direction. The officer on the bike continued her chase on Siska and Chris. Dodging the oncoming traffic. Siska looked behind her, now seeing one lone biker on her tail. She frowned as she wondered what had happened to the others. "Van! Three of the bikers behind us just disappeared. What's going on?" Van parried another slash from the lead soldier's blade. "Call later! Me busy!" Van slashed with his own sword, and the two blades pushed on each other as they sped alongside, going over ninety miles per hour. "You damn traitor!" He soldier grunted. He pushed away and swiped at him again. "HEY! I didn't betray anyone!" Van yelled, parrying the slash. He punched the biker in face with the hilt, making a crack in the soldier helmet shield. It caused the soldier to back off for a moment, but then in an angry rage, he steered toward Van again, as if in an attempt to ram him. Though Van quickly assumed it and hit his brakes. He shifted back, avoiding the blow. As he did, he slashed the soldiers rear tire. By the sudden instability, the man steered too much to the left and went offroad, crashing to the ground. "Sorry, private…" Van looked to his right. Kuro had caught up and was now running alongside him. "Oh hey! Welcome back!" Kuro jumped up, reverted back to his smaller form, and latched on to his shoulder. "Have fun?" "Meow!" Van looked forward, and saw three bikes heading right toward him. "OH CRAP!!" Van quickly held up his blade, preparing for the attack… However, the three bikes just sped on, passing right over him. "…Heh?" o_o "…Nyah?" o_o "Ma'am! We've passed the priority target, he's headed in your direction." "Good," Complied the Female officer. "Be advised I'll be in radio black-out once I'm within the tunnel." "Ma'am, we won't be able to follow you through out the tunnel network!" "Just help the others. Leave these bastards to--!" Static began to develop. "Ma'am, your breaking up!" There was no reply, only static. Inside the tunnel, Siska looked behind her as the lone biker approached. She steered to right and back onto the ongoing traffic road which were separated by large pillars. She sneaked through quickly, avoiding a pillar just barely that shattered the mirror on her left handle bar. The officer smirked an amusement. Not bad. A little too slow though… Siska looked behind her, the pursuer easily weaved in, and accelerated quickly. Already closing the gap. "Damn!" Siska couldn't afford a fight. Not with Christina weak behind her. She just twisted the throttle and accelerated. However, after a few seconds, the Paladin already caught up beside her. "Pull over!" She commanded. Siska didn't say anything, but only gave her a nasty look and steered left, ramming her. The Paladin yelled out annoyingly, "HEY!" Siska continued to speed up. "Fine, have it your way." The officer than grabbed a pistol-like device from the side of her bike and took aim at Siska's rear wheel. A white, glowing mass shot out and a white, gummy mass stuck onto Siska's bike and hardened. The rear tire locked instantly. Unable to move and skidding out of control, Siska steered onto a wide area of the road, between traffic. She eventually lost balance and both Siska and Christina fell onto the ground. They lied there, unmoving for awhile till Siska managed to push herself out. She shook her head to shake off the shock and looked up to see Christina unconscious, the coat was still covering her barely. She looked fiercely at the paladin who stopped beside them. "So…" The female Paladin began. "Are you going to play nice?" Siska gave a ferocious roar as the hair on her body began to get longer and her body began to rise and change, turning into her werewolf form. On her bike, the Paladin just tilted her head amused. "I see…. So your going to play rough, eh?" Siska sprinted forward, attempting to tackle the Paladin on her bike. However, she quickly back-flipped out of the way causing Siska to simply fly over the edge of the bike. As Siska hit the ground, she immediately dashed and attempted another tackle at her. The Paladin countered again by leaping on her shoulder and kicking her behind the head. Siska hit the ground hard on her head as the Paladin landed harmlessly down on her feet. "Any more?" The female paladin asked politely. Siska shook the dirt off her head irritated and sprinted at the Paladin. She swiped viciously at her with her long arms and claws. The Paladin began dodging each and every one of them, bobbing and sidestepping causing Siska to slash nothing but air. Eventually the female paladin found an opening, making a few kicks to Siska's torso and ending with a round kick to her head, knocking her to the ground. "Okay, that's enough girl." She aimed the pistol at her and fired, covering Siska with white gummy material. "Stay." Siska growled and struggled, but the gum kept her down. "Well that was fun…" She walked toward Siska. "Now tell me. How is it that you know--?" "HEY!" The Paladin looked behind and as Van suddenly appeared, heading right forward her with his bike. She quickly jumped out of the way as Van skidded sideways to stop. "Leave the Bitch alone." Van ordered, looking seriously at her. Kuro hopped off his shoulder and transformed into his larger self, snarling at her. "Wow!! Look at you! I was just talking about you." She looked over and shrugged at the glued werewolf. "She a friend of yours?" "What of it?" "Hey, it's just my job to look out who you hang with and all." She said brining her arms up. Van raised an eyebrow at her. There was something about her speech that sounded so familiar. "Who are you…?" Van asked. "What!? You don't recognize me by my voice? How cruel!" The female paladin removed the bikers helmet from her head. Long red, fiery hair fell out. Van jaw dropped as he instantly recognized her face. "….Oh crap." The women smiled at him as she put a hand on her hip. "Damn right, Van-van…"

CONTRACT Chapter 5 Chris and Brownie kept walking down the street admiring the scenery that were before them when a familiar face showed up behind a gate of a two story house. "Hi Luke." "HI Christana. How are you feeling today?" Brownie growled at him and he looked down. "Oh, I'm sorry. Good afternoon to you too. May I join you two?" "Sure." Chris smiled at him as they walked off in silence. After they reached the end of the street and took a left, Luke spoke up. "Christana, ummmm......I have never umm stopped having feelings for ya. You have to know this right? I just....I know I'm stupid for even saying that." He laughed at himself. "I don't even know why I am telling you this." He sighed as he thought that Chris might find this funny but was surprised when she stopped and put a chaste kiss on his lips. Luke stopped in mid-stride and was shocked. "Luke, I've known how you felt about me since back at the inn but I can't return the feelings. I like you, but not in that way and plus you know I'm taken. I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you." "I understand but we're friends right?" "Of course." "Well, can I treat my friend to something to eat?" "That would be nice Luke, thank you." Chris smiled at him as they continued their walk to the Halem resturant. "It's a beautiful day isn't it Christana?" Chris shook her head. Luke never called her by Chris like everyone else did. He told her that her full name was just as beautiful as she was and the shortened version took that beauty away. She sighed as she listened to him chatter on about his day and what's been going on. This reminded her of back at the inn. 3 years ago.... Chris heard a noise and sat up in bed noticing Van wasn't in his. "Van?" She called out but received no answer and noticed the bathroom light was on. Getting out of bed, she walked over to the bathroom and knocked on the door. "Hey, you in there? Are you ok?" Van looked up from his spot to the door. "Yeah....yeah I'm fine. Just ate something bad." "Well, do you need anything? I'm going downstairs." Chris tried the knob but found it locked and was unconvinced he was ok but she left it alone thinking he had his own thing to do. "No, I'm fine. Really, I'm fine." "I'll bring you something back anyway." Before Van could answer back she had already left the bathroom door and went out the bedroom door. Going down the stairs, she noticed someone behind the counter. "Excuse me," Chris asked. "But have you seen a girl with long deep red hair or a dog that was brown or black?" The man behind the counter looked up at her. "I'm sorry, I haven't." "Oh ok. I wonder where she went off too." "Hey, are you not the girl who was fighting with that man earlier? My sister passed by and saw you two, so she closed the door." "Oh, I am so sorry. I hope we did not disturb anyone else?" "No, no. I understand how lovers get in fight sometimes. Hell, my sister and her boyfriend get into it all the time." "He's not my lover." She came out saying that in a snap and embarrassed. "I'm traveling with him to Harlem but there is nothing going on between us." She waved her hands back and forth in front of her as if trying to ward the thought away. "Well then, can I treat you to a cup of coffee and something to eat? The donuts just came out of the oven and I just brewed some coffee. I usually work the grave shift so I have no one to talk to hardly. Oh, by the way, my name is Luke." "Mine is Christiana but I am called Chris for short." "Christiana is more beautiful. May I ask why you cover your ears? Your ears bring out your beauty. I take it your an elf or half breed at best. Oh and don't worry, you're safe here." Chris blushed hard for the second time today or first considering it was past midnight and almost five in the morning. "Do you always compliment girls so?" "Only the ones I find interesting." Luke went to fetch both of them some coffee as Chris sat down. As they sat and drank their coffee, they talked about different things. An hour in a half went by before Chris noticed the time. "Wow, I really need to go look for my friend. I didn't notice the time go by so quickly." "Well, when your in good company. I get off in an hour. I could help look for her if you want?" "No. That's ok. I thank you for the coffee and donuts and the chat. It was nice." As she stood up so did Luke and his words just spilled out as he stood up. "Maybe we can....do this again?" "Maybe." She smiled back at him as she began to walk to the front door. "Well, see you around." Luke's sister walked up behind him. "Stop trying to hit on the customers." "Why? She's beautiful creature and also the sweetest. I like her and plus she is single. She's not with that guy at all." "She's an elf." "So?" Lukes sister shrugged and walked off. Outside of the inn, Chris looked down the street and started walking, calling out Brownies name. After a few minutes, someone was seen under a lamp post holding a dog in hand. "Looking for something?" The person holding the dog, threw it to the ground. The guy under the lamp post had an evil look to him but when Chris looked closer, she noticed the white hair. The silver strands were shining under the light. "What is a dark elf doing out here?" He didn't answer but disappeared leaving someone behind. "Tidus......." "Are you not happy to see me?" He walked over and picked up the moaning dog while Chris ran over to both of them and quickly took Brownie out of his arms. "Why am I going to Halem with him? What do they want from him?" He let the dog go without fuss. "You are to just follow him and get as close as possible. Once he starts trusting you, he'll depend on you and that is what they are hoping for. Oh, if your worried about Siska, she's fine. She's a demon after all. Besides, her punishment was half mine. Mind yourself.." He walked closer to her as she backed up. "...and follow what you're told and this will never happen again. You were given power. Don't forget what I have done for you. You owe me a lot more than you think." He grabbed her by the neck with his left hand and brought her closer to him, putting his forehand on hers. His long hair fell down on her shoulders as he breathed in her scent. "You smell of roses and gardenia's. You smell like your mother." Chris began to cry as Tidus disappeared. "…Chris?" Chris looked up, seeing Van approaching her. "What's wrong?" he asked concerned. "Uhhh.. Nothing." She wiped off her tears. "What are you doing out here?" "I should be asking you that." Van replied. "You've been gone for nearly an hour, I was getting worried. …Hey what happened to Brownie?" he noticed the worn out dog in her hands. "I-It's nothing… She just… She…" She tried to think of an excuse but couldn't. "Forget it, you don't need to tell me." Van interjected. "Just come back inside." Van then helped her up and started walking back to the room. As they did, he took off his leather jacket and wrapped it around her and Brownie. The sudden action surprised Chris. "OH! …Um, Thanks." "No problem." "But aren't you cold?" She noticed he just wore a simple shirt. "It's freezing out here." "No worries… Besides, I could really use the cold at the moment." "What do you mean?" "Uh… Nothing, it just I was feeling a little too warm in the room. Couldn't sleep…" Once they got to the room, the Chris sat at the end of her bed, cradling Brownie at her lap. "Are you okay now…?" she asked her softly. Brownie replied with a soft whine. Chris gently patted her head. Van just looked at her. Of course it made him very curious on what happened, but he figured to just let it go since it seemed to be a very sensitive at the moment. Instead, he just changed the subject. "Hey… I got this downstairs." Offered her a mug of warm milk. "It'll help you sleep." "Thank you." Chris took it. Van was about to take a sip of his own mug when he Kuro suddenly meowed loudly at him at the ground. He was looking up at him bright-eyed and cute. Van sighed. "Oh alright." He set the mug down the ground. Kuro immediately started sipping it. "But you owe me a fish." "Meow~!" Chris looked curiously at Van. She noticed there was something different about him… Then it finally hit her. "Hey… Is that a new shirt?" "Huh… Oh this?" he pulled the black t-shift at the abdomen. "Yeah, I also got it from downstairs." "Why'd you change?" "Well, uh, my old one seemed kinda worn.. So I thought I'd replace it." "Well you sure did." She replied. Van frowned at her. "What does that mean?" "It looks almost exactly like your last one." Kuro meowed. "Oh shut up." Van said to him. "What do you know about fashion? You don't wear clothes." "Kukukukukuuu….!" >3 Chris laughed. The next morning Van awoke with a yawn , bright shade of blue gleaming through the shades. He looked at the other bed, seeing it empty and Brownie still sleeping at the foot. Checking the time he looked at the clock on the desk next to him, it read 8 a.m. THAT'S a first. He grinned to himself. He then went over to the bathroom door and gave it a knock. "Hey Chris! You in there?" There was no answer. He then opened the door… And was greeted with a shriek. "OH SHI~!!" "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!?" Covered only by a loose towel, she threw a bar of soap at him. The sound immediately awoke the two animals with a shock. "I'M SORRY!!" Van was covering his eyes. "I THOUGHT IT WAS EMPTY!" "WELL WHY DIDN'T YOU KNOCK?!" "I CALLED YOU, YOU DIDN'T ANSWER!" "WELL YOU SHOULD'VE CALLED OUT LOUDER!! GET OUT!!" She grabbed and threw anything in the room beside the towel that covered her. She even snatched the waste basket on the ground and prepared to heave it. "OK OK! I'M OUTTA HERE!!" Van then left the room, and closed the door behind him. Chris shook her in disgust. IDIOT!! She thought ferociously. She set the waste basket back down… Then she noticed what was in it. She reached in and pulled it out. It was Van's old, black shirt. She held it up. Though it did look worn out, she frowned at the large hole that seemed to be ripped open at the torso. Mirroring the placement on her shirt, she laid a hand over her own chest… "Hey Chris!" Van called out the door. "UH! Yes!" She immediately began to stuff the shirt back in the trash. "Hey, uh, I'll be downstairs getting some breakfast. But do you mind if we set out in an hour? The sooner we leave, the better chances that those guys chasing you won't figure out where we are." "Uh. Sure! I'll be down in a moment!" "Gotcha!" Kuro looked at Brownie as if asking a question and Brownie answered with a bark. "It's like a getting a tattoo but by unseen hands. It itches after and i'm just taking away the pain." "Ok you two, I'm going downstairs. You two behave. I will bring ya'll something to eat." With that, she walked out the door and went downstairs but as she decended the stairs, Van wasn't the first she saw. "Oh, hi Luke. Have you seen Van, the guy I am staying with?" "Yeah, he came down here eariler. He sure is a big guy." Chris laughed. "Not that big. Oh, Luke where are the stores around here? I need to buy new clothes." "Ah, well, there is a shopping center about thirty minutes away from here and the bank is right next to it. Ummm, I have a car. I could take you." At that moment, Van came in. From where, Chris didn't know. "She has a bike she can ride and we can do it on our way out." "I thought you were going to Halem, its the other way of the store." "We are Luke and you can take me." Chris turned around and glared at Van. "Hey, what about me? I need clothes too." "I have room in my car. I can take you both." Luke looked over to his sister and saw her smiling. "What?" Cindy just looked at him and shook her head. "Nothing, just admiring from afar." She had to laugh as she walked off. "He has no clue." she whispered to herself. Van and Chris met Luke outside in the parking lot and both got in the back as Luke drove. They arrived at the store in less then thrity minutes and went browsing for clothes. Chris bought two shirts, two pair of blue jeans, one new red bra, and two pair of panties with Luke walking with her all the way and chatting. He had left her alone when she went into the lingera though. Van had kept a few feet behind them the whole way. "Hey Van?" Chris held up a shirt that was dark with a blue dragon design on it. "What size do you wear?" "Mainly large, why?" "Just wondering." She decided to buy the shirt for him and give it to him later. "Did you get anything?" She saw his arms were empty. "Oh, I'm good." Chris gave him a questioning look but shrugged and walked up to the register with Luke following like a puppy. Van walked with them with hands in his pockets and balled up in fists. After Chris was done paying for her items, they walked out the store and back into the car, this time Chris got into the front passenger seat next to Luke. During the whole trip, Van remained quiet as the two in the front started to talk. Chris began to get to close to Luke for Van's taste and Chris noticed Van watching them both in the mirror and noticed his expression. She couldn't understand why he was acting the way he was. The car pulled into the parking lot and all had retreated from the car, Van was carrying the bags. "Thanks for taking us shopping. I really appriciate it. We will come say good-bye before we leave. Van just took one last look at Luke before following Chris up the stairs and to their room. "So, ummm, I take it you like him?" "Who?" "The guy downstairs, that's who." "Oh you mean Luke?" She began looking through her clothes for the new stuff she bought. She laid out her clothes on the bed only picking up one pair of panties, bra, pants, and a long black t-shirt. "He is nice and I do like him." "Oh...." Van went to sit on his bed. "Here it is!!" She picked up the shirt laying the other items down and walked over to Van. "Here, I liked it. Thought it might look good on you since you ruined your other one." She held the shirt up to Vans chest and looked at it. "I hope it fits. You did say large." After a moment of admiring the shirt against Van, she brought one hand down to the spot of his chest where the shirt had burned. She just left her gloved hand there wondering what could of made such a burn in his other shirt. Without realizing it, she started to draw out a design with two fingers as her eyes watched. "Chris......" "Yeah?" She didn't even lift her eyes to him when she suddenly felt him pull her to him. This surprised her so much she stopped what she was doing and placed both hands on his chest while her head rested there. "Ummm, Fenrir?" "Shhh." Both animals gazed at them with mouths open. "What is it?" Chris whispered. "Someones at the door." "I didn't hear anything." "Stay here." He cautioned. Van let her go, cautioning her to stay down, and crept to the door. He looked into the peek hole. He didn't see anybody, but he assumed he was below it. With that idea, he quickly unlockedd the door and kicked it open…. BAM!! The door bounced off something and a painful cry was heard. As Van looked down at the intruder, his eyes widened in shock. Luke laid on his back, groaning in pain as blood began to flow profusely from his nose. Van quickly looked back at Chris, "HEY CHRIS! CALL THE---" But unfortunately, he was greeted with her fist to his face. This was now why, ten minutes later, both guys were now sitting on a bench of the lobby with bandages over their faces. Though Van had a simple cross-shaped bandage over his nose bridge, Luke had a taped gauze and face shield to stop his profuse bleeding. "Sorry about that." Van said holding his nose. "OH! Don't worry about it." Luke replied, his voice slightly heightened by his tight bandage. "Didn't know Christina could be so scary though." "You don't need to tell me…" Chris then came over to Van and yelled at his face. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!? YOU COULD'VE KILLED HIM!!" " WELL WHAT WAS I TO THINK ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WAS HIDING BEHIND THE DOOR!?" Luke's sister, Maria, was just watching from behind the counter. "…Hiding behind the door?" Luke.. What were you doing?" she asked, smiling evilly. Even she already knew the answer… "Uhh.. What was I doing…? Well, I was.. Uh…" "QUIET LUKE! YOU DON'T NEED TO SAY ANYTHING!!" Terrorized, Luke went silent as Chris turned her attention back at Van. "WHY THE HELL DID YOU HAVE TO GO AND KICK THE DOOR?" "WELL WHY THE HELL DID YOU HAVE TO GO AND BREAK MY NOSE!?" "CAUSE YOU'RE A JERK!!" "WELL YOU'RE FUCKING CRAZY!!" "SCREW YOU!!" "KISS MY ASS!!" Luke's sister only smiled in glee. Later on in their room, Van began stuffing things into a sack and Chris did the same. "Let's just get the hell outta here." Van grunted. "Fine by me, who knows how many more innocent people you might hurt here." Van didn't say anything, but growled. The two animals just looked to the ground pitifully. "Oh here." She threw him the shirt he got him. "Keep it. Maybe, you can use it to bandage up your nose when I hit you again." Van eyeballed her fiercely for a second and then stuffed the shirt in his sack. Once outside, the two got on their bikes. Brownie jumped into the bag on Chris' while Kuro latched on Van's shoulder. Luke, still in his face mask, came over to them. "OH hey! You two leaving?" As if a change in emotion, Chris smiled at him. "Yeah, we are." "Hmm…" Luke looked disappointed. "Where you both headed?" "We're heading to Halem." Luke's eyes lit up. "REALLY! No way, I live nearby there!" "Oh really? Well, then I guess I might see you again." "That'd be great.!" He looked at Van. "I'll see you around too, yeah?" Van answered short. "…Yeah." Chris raised an eyebrow at him. Why the heck was he acting like that when he was around!? "Later Luke." Luke nodded at her. Chris then looked back at Van. "Follow me, Idiot." She drove in a load roar. "YOU…! AHHH!!" he roared out as well, following her. Luke smiled at Chris as she road off, and sighed happily. "Smile all you want bro, but she's not going to be with you." Luke turned around to see his sister smiling at him with crossed arms. "What are you talking about? She clearly has no interest in the guy. And they always fight." "But they get through it every time," she countered. "And if they can keep a bond that intact with all that stress, there's no way you can ever break it.". As they rode ,they both drove in silence. Of course, Chris had turned off her headset so she wouldn't have to hear anything that Van had to say. She didn't want to in fact because of what happened to Luke. He could of just opened the door instead of busting it open. She wondered why he acted that way. To tell the truth, Van was the first male she had been around besides her father. She sighed as she thought about her father and about everything he tought her. About thirty minutes down the road, Chris figured she had given Van enough of the silence treatment and turned the headset back on. "You finally decided to talk to me?" "No, I finally decided to turn it back on just in case something important needed to be said." "I told him I was sorry." "You didn't have to do that. You could of just opened the damn door. What possessed you to do that?" "Well, you are being chased." Chris didn't say anything to that. She stayed silent. It was true, she was being chased and someone could of been at that door just ready with a gun. "So, you were trying to protect me?" "Well, yeah." "I don't need a big brother. I can handle myself." Again they both rode in silence until a big green sign read, now entering Halem. They kept driving until they hit the first city. As they entered the town, Chris stopped her bike, the tire almost touching the rock Tidus was sitting on. "Welcome to Halem you two. I hope your trip was a pleasent one?" He slid off the rock and walked over to Chris and draped his arm around her shoulder. Leaning down to her ear, he gave the outside edge of it a lick. "And how is my little angel? Being a good girl I hope." Brownie just growled at Tidus as he turned to look at Van. "Ahhh, good. You have made it. So everything went smoothly?" Van was watching the two. Chris had gotten off her bike and turned to face Van with Tidus hanging off of her. He couldn't help but feel like ramming the elf into the rock he was once sitting on. "Yes, we had a nice trip other then some guys in black following us." "Oh dear. Well, we will have to have that taken care of won't we my little angel." Tidus did something at that moment that shocked him. He planted a kiss on Chris' lips and it was no short kiss either. He noticed that she did nothing but her eyes told everything. "So sweet like cherries. So sweet like your mothers." He whispered and then disapeared. "A room is waiting for you two at the Halem inn and Van, don't get any ideas. "She's mine." Van leapt when he felt the air on his ear. Tidus was right behind him and whispered the words in his ear and then disappeared once Van turned around. Chris got back on her bike while the words rolled over in her mind, "Like your mother." Van pulled up beside her. "Hey, you ok?" Chris only sighed as she pulled up her eyes to see his. "Yeah, I'm fine. Lets get to the inn. I'm getting tired and my ass is sore from all this riding. Van only smiled at the last comment as his mind took a direction it didn't need to go and then he started thinking of Tidus and Chris and the kiss and then his mind went back in the direction it was susspose to go. They arrived at the inn and settled into their large, two bedroom room. Night had come quickly as neither had said much to the other. Chris' mind still ran on what Tidus said and his actions toward her as Van was preoccupied in his own little world. Chris went into the bathroom to change her clothes and came out only in her long, black t-shirt that touched mid-thigh. Van just stared at her. "What?" "No shorts or pants?" "Does this bother you?" He looked away. "No." his answer came to quickly. "Good." She crawled into bed and started to fall asleep when she heard the cracking of bones and ripping of skin. "Siska, stay in doors tonight." Chris whined as the sound annoyed her to death. "No!" Chris opened her eyes to Siskas voice and watched her walk out the door as she sat up in bed. 'Why did she sound pissed.' She looked over at Van who was looking at her and shrugged. "Kuro, do me a favor and watch her please?" Chris begged. Kuro just meowed as he slowly jumped off the bed and headed out the opened window. "Thanks." "Meow!" "Be nice Kuro." Kuro only gave Van a glare before he was fully out the window. "Hey Chris....." "No." "But I...." "No." "I just wanted...." "I said No and if it's about Tidus, I'm going to break your nose again. Now goodnight!" Van immediately shut up and laid down in bed thinking. 'Why is she pissed? Shouldn't I be the one that is pissed? Wait a minute, her arms and hands didn't have all those markings when I first met her.' He looked over at her. Her back was turned to him and he could see the movements of her body. Whether her breathing was off or she was just crying sliently, he didn't know but he did know that her lower arms and her hands were not covered in those markings before. He finally dropped off to sleep after his mind couldn't handle anymore thinking over the subjects prancing around. When Chris heard him start to snore, she turned around to look at him then she checked the clock. 'Midnight.' Her neck started to itch at that moment and she knew why. "I'm sorry." She rose out of bed and walked into the bathroom where her swords layed. She grabbed one and walked back into the bedroom and over to Vans bed. She held the sword above his heart. "Van...." she whispered as she plunged the sword down in one swift movement but instead of hitting her target, the sword landed beside the out of his arm cutting it a bit. Van immediately sat up knocking Chris on the ground while her sword slid under her bed. "What the hell are you doing?!" He looked down at Chris. Her shirt had risen up to her waist. He stood up from the bed. "What the hell did you do that for?!" Chris said nothing as she quickly rose and sprinted for the bathroom to fetch her other sword. However, she wasn't able to get one inch in as Van was able to grab her behind her shirt. Then in a swift but fierce movement, as if he was trained to, he spun her around and grabbed her neck, pushing her against the wall. "WHY'D YOU DO THAT CHRIS!?" His grip began to tighten and she was having trouble breath. "I-I am sorry~!" "I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE SORRY! WHY'D YOU TRY TO KILL ME!?" Chris looked at his eyes. They looked cold and full of hate. It was like he was a different person. "T-Tidus.. Ordered me… I'm sorr-- AH!" His grip had tightened. "And you followed it just like that!? Never once did I try to hurt you! I helped and protected you. And you try to stab me in the chest!?! I WAS YOU'RE FRIEND CHRIS!!! I TRUSTED YOU!! HOW CAN YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT?!?" His grip had tightened to the point that she could breath. She began to give small whines as she began to see the room around her began to black out… Then suddenly she fell to the floor, and she was able to breath again. She coughed and breathed loudly. After a moment, she looked up at Van. He was looking down at her, his eyes and faced had changed from anger to fear, as if he couldn't believe himself what he had done. He was breathing hard as well, holding his slit arm with his other hand… Then suddenly, he grunted in pain and grabbed his chest, kneeling down. Chris crawled up toward him, placing her hand over his head but not touching it. "A-Are you ok? What's wrong--?" "LEAVE ME ALONE!!" He snapped, though still crouched over. His sudden outburst caused her to back away. "Just… Leave me alone…!" With a hand still to his chest, he went to the sack next to his bed, grabbed it and started to walk to the door. "Where are you going?" Chris asked. "Away from you…" He said grunting in agony. He then went out the door, closing it behind him. As soon he did, he knelt down again and ripped over the torso area of his shirt. The black symbol on his chest grew a bright red, brighter then before… When are you going to stop being a gullible fool? The glow finally ceased and Van fell forward once again, breathing hard and sweating profusely. He got up slowly and coughed. What the HELL was that…? Though Van's thoughts now got more annoyed when he looked at his chest. "God dammit… I'm losing too many shirts…" At that moment, Van noticed the Kuro and Brownie coming toward him, looking at him. Kuro looked questioningly at him, but the dog seemed surprised. Though Van made sure to cover his chest so she didn't see the mark. "You knew she would do that, didn't you…?" He glared at her. "Is that why you left?" Brownie looked down at the ground pitifully as if to say: I'm sorry… Van just made a disgusted grunt and got up. "Let's go, Kuro." he said coldly. Kuro gave him a questionable 'meow.' "NOW!" he snapped. He then walked off. Kuro twitched at his sudden outburst.. He gave Brownie a disappointed look at her then followed off after Van. As Brownie began walking to the room, she heard a scream. She changed quickly into her human form and burst into the room. It wasn't Tidus like she expected but one of the dark elves that were after Van. "Let her go!" The dark elf looked at her and hissed. "You demon! You are her watcher. Why do you allow her to do stupid things. Did you know she tried to kill the Paladin?" Siska looked down at Chris who was now leaning against the wall on the floor bleeding from both her mouth and nose after being back handed hard from the dark elf. She looked at Chris in surprise. "So you didn't know...." He almost looked surprised when he saw that Chris had done this on her own. "It would not have mattered, you would not have been able to kill him." "Leave him alone!" Chris yelled. "Take me but leave him alone!" The dark elf glared at her and spoke before he went out the window. "We will have both of you." After he was gone, Siska ran over to Chris checking to see if anything was broken. Chris' nose was still bleeding and her breathing was labored. "He cracked my ribs." Siska put both hands under Chris' shirt and ran her fingers along the ribs till she found the cracked ones. "You have two cracked on your left side and three on your right. Oh Christana, you know better then to piss one of those things off." "Better then pissing a demon off." She tried to laugh but it hurt when she did. "You're going to look so beautiful tomorrow. You fool." Siska took her hands from under Chris' shirt and picked her up bridal style and brought her over to the bed laying her down. "I have fixed what I can on your ribs but you should really have a doctor look at you. Your nature powers are not as strong anymore which means your healing abalities are slowing down also while those runes are taking over your body. "I'm sorry. I had too to save him." "Killing him was not the answer. I see that you care for him and he is the first you have trusted in for a long time." "I don't care about him and I will never trust him." Siska grabbed at Chris' chin before she could turn her head. "Don't lie to me little girl. I know you to well to hear you say such things. Don't worry, he will be back. In the meantime, I want you to rest. Just because I took care of your ribs don't mean they have been fully repaired. I will send a doctor to fully check you out. "What for? I will just have the shit beaten out of me again." Siska put her hand to Chris' forhead and brought her hand down past Chris' eyes. "Sleep." Siska bent over and kissed her on the forhead after she closed her eyes. " I will be back with the person you don't trust. Stupid girl." Siska stood and walked out the door to find Van but instead, she found Tidus outside the inn waiting. "Tidus, this has to stop. The markings are appearing faster now then before. It took a total of 8 years for the was on her upper arm to develop. Now that Van is around, they are showing faster. In a few day, both her hands and lower arm have been covered not to mention last night her neck developed them to." "Soon the contract on her will be complete and then all she will need is her revenge. That's when I fully come into play." Siska growled at him. "You are a heartless beast and a most perverted one!" "Your kind indulges in the evil in this world and would do anything to drag the last of a remaining race down. Isn't that true?" "Human, elves, gnomes, trolls, it doesn't matter. I would do anything for Christana just to keep her sane." "That's your mistake! You care! Just remember who you belong to! I gave you to her to watch over her and make sure she was prepared for the day to come! Not to become her friend!" He came up close to Siska. "The only reason you agreed to be put with her was because of her lost hope and that she was dying! Has things changed? Is it that human male that has brought life back into her?! I am getting tired of taking on the pain and the attacks everytime she gets hurt!!" He paused for a moment to relax. "The plan still goes. The dark elves who want that human, "he dragged the word human out in dislike. " will not continue the punishment on Christana. I have taken that on myself. Oh don't look surprised, I do have a heart." "A perverted heart." She smiled at her true master. "Tidus, it will destroy her if you tell her the truth." He sighed. "That is what they want." "I know enough of you to know that's not what you want." Tidus didn't say anything. He just smirked and walked away. "He'll be at the church." It was the middle of the night, but light within small, stone church still glowed bright. The light and loud sound of the bike went dead silent as Van set it to park. "Finally," Van sighed looking at the church. He looked at Kuro who hung at his shoulder. "Let's hope that asshole elf wasn't just playing with us or else I'll be seriously pissed coming all the way here for nothing." "Meow…!" He sounded compliant. Soon later Van opened the large door of the church and looked all around. Despite the small area, it looked very spacious and pleasant. A bright chandelier, polished benches, white candles all around, and a large wooden crucifix over-looking the alter. Van called into the room. "Hello?" A echo seemed to fill up the room. Hello hello hello…? Van tried again. "Hello?" "Hello… Hello… Hello…" "MEOW!" "Meow… Meow… Meow…!" Van looked at Kuro… Then he smiled and looked back at room. Both of them had a happy look in their face. "Hi dee hi dee hi dee ho~!" :D Hi dee hi dee hi dee ho~! "Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyaaaa~!" :3 Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyahaaaa~! "Hi dee hi dee hi dee hi~!" :D Hi dee hi dee hi dee hi~!" "Meow meow meow meow meow~!" :3 Meow meow meow meow meow~! "Hi dee hi dee hi dee--!" WHAT IN GOD'S NAME ARE YOU DOING!?!" Van and Kuro jumped. "OH SHI--!!" "MEOWR!!" "THIS IS A HOUSE OF GOD!! The women in robes, who appeared outta nowhere, barked at them. "I wont have you desecrate it with your foolish actions!" Van held his palms in defense. "I-Im sorry! Forgive me, I called and no one was answering so I was er… Uh, anyway, is the priest around?" The women looked at him blankly a moment before bowing her head. "I am her. What is it that you've come here for in the middle of the night?" Van raised an eyebrow at priestess. "You're the priest? "Yes." "Really?" "Yes. Is something wrong…?" "Uh no it's just…" he scratched his head, looking at her. "I've never met a female priest before. Say, do I call you Mother or Sister?" The priestess squinted at him. "Sister…" "Ah thanks." Kuro shook his head in disgrace. The priest looked at the cat on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, but we do not allow animals within the church…" "Oh really? Sorry." He looked at Kuro. "Hey, think you can wait outside for awhile?" Kuro meowed at him. "Don't worry," he assured. "I'll give you all the details when I come back out." Kuro looked at him blankly for awhile. Then he growled, hopped down and went out the door. "Thanks pal." Van smiled meekly at the priestess. "There.. Sorry again." The priestess looked just stared at the young man. Peculiar at his simple command with the cat. "What is it that you seek here, child?" "I came here for some answers." "Oh… Well!" She smiled. "Aren't we all? Life is full of questions and one can get lost. Are you--?" "Uh no.." Van interrupted, quickly assuming what she was thinking. "Not those kinda answers." "Oh… Well then… What troubles you?" Van walked up to her, while surveying the room if anyone else was there. He came a few inches before her face and whispered. "I…. Have this.. Thing…" "Thing…?" She looked confused. "It's.. on my chest." He looked down while placing his hand over it. "Some kind of mark… Some elf told me you knew what it was. An elf named Tidus." The priestess shook her head. "I'm sorry, I do know some elves, but not one named Tidus. May I see that mark you speak of?" Van immediately turned red and sweated. "Uhhh.. Well… I, er, uh… Umm…" The priestess smiled at him. "You have nothing to fear. Come, show me." Van sighed. "Ah… Okay… But if you don't know the guy, you probably wont know what it is…" He then lifted up his shirt…. And then priestess' eyes went wide. "OH MY GOD…!" "…huh?" Immediately she began to chant some kind of prayer to herself. Van didn't what the heck was going on. "Umm… Do you know what this is…?" "Come with me!" She grabbed his arm and started to take him to the door at the wall near the alter." "HEY! Sister, what you doing!?" She took him into a smaller room. In it was a bed, desk, and a cabinet full of books. She then closed the door and locked the door behind her. Van immediately didn't feel right. "Uhhhh…. What are we doing in your bedroom?" The priestess looked seriously at him. "In God's name! You should never show anyone that mark so carelessly! Have you any knowledge on what that is?" "No I don't. That's why I came to you." Van answered bluntly. The priestess shook her head. "That is the mark of the Convert. The ancestors of this town, long ago, used to burn those who held that mark." "WHOA!" Van held his hands up in defense. "Back up. What the hell is this Convert mark stuff? And why the hel-- er, heck were people burnt for it?" The priestess went to a book on her cabinet and brought it to the table. "Come. Look at this." Van came over, he was greeted by the book depicting an old drawing of a man being burned on the stake. "Lovely…" Van commented. "People who held the mark were burnt alive who held the mark. It was believed that the ones who held it knew the dark arts." "Dark arts, huh? Hehe…" He laughed nervously. The priestess looked at him. "Do you happen to know and do things you suddenly had no experience in learning?" Van only looked at her. She read his face. "I see…" She closed her eyes. "But you see originally, it was the people who had the mark themselves that chose the flame" Van went silent for a moment. "Chose the flame… You mean they burnt themselves!?" "It was to save themselves, and those around them that they cared for." "I don't get it. What do you mean?" "The main reason why these people were burnt upon the stake, whether it be by there own hads or not, was not simply the reason of what they knew. But what they could do… And eventually, what they would become." Van sweated before he asked his next question. "Become what…?" Kuro had laid about an hour outside the door of the church. It was still late at night and he couldn't feel anything but feel very sleepy. He was about to drift into a long slumber when suddenly the door of the church opened. "Meow!" Kuro looked up at him brightly, hoping he would seemed satisfied. However, his face looked very pale. His eyes looked like he had seen a ghost. "Meow?" Van looked at him dimly, "I'm fine." He replied. Kuro meowed again. "Umm, I'll have to share with you that in the morning… Sorry, but I feel kinda tired at the moment." Kuro tilted his head at him, wondering why he suddenly looked sick. Though, honoring his decision, he simply did as he wanted and just hoped on his shoulder. "Thanks. Let's go get some rest now." He said to him. Though as Van was about to walk to the bike, a female figure suddenly appeared before him. "Finally found you." She said. "Siska? What are you doing here?" "I'm here to talk with you. I am sorry for Christina's actions. I do not understand why she did what she did but....she acted on her own. Neither I nor Tidus knew of this and because of what she did......Look, you just can not leave her." "She tried to kill me." he said, looking annoyed. "That doesn't exactly make me happy." "She said it was to save you from the dark elves." "Why from them?" "I do not know all the truth but I do know you are the first male other then her father to ever be around her and you are the first she trusts' in which is a good thing because then maybe she can have someone save her." "Save her from what? Why can't Tidus save her?" "Because once Christana learns the truth about him, she will want to kill him." "And what is the truth?" "He was the first to cast the first blade in her. Christana's markings are there for a reason. The demon race has always wanted to corrupt the pure and innocent. She is no different. Once the runes written on her body is done with, she will be lost to me, to you, and to everyone who has ever cared about her. Once the runes reach a certain point, all she needs is her revenge to make it complete. The blood of her mothers' killer." "Can't you stop this? You are her watcher after all." Siska shook her head. "I am not hers', I belong to Tidus. He is my orginal. I was given to Christana to guide her to her fate but now.....I wish to keep her alive. The years' I have been with her, I have grown to care for her which a demon is never supposed to do. Never get attached to the one you watch." She looked down at Kuro then back at Van. "But what puzzles me are her runes. They are beginning to appear faster on her. I have noticed that after you became part of her life, they have been appearing more often. Her blades are now fully filled with them also." "Why exactly and who wants her soul?" "I told you. Demons love to corrupt the innocent. The dark elves want her because half breeds are usually more powerful then the parents who bare them. Not all mind you. She just happened to be one of the more powerful. She has the ageless body of an elf and the healing power. She has all the best of an elf but a heart of a human. Her heart and mind are human. Elves do not just carelessly make decisions or actions. The dark elves are the ones who do that but they can not heal and there bodies do not heal like the light elves can. The dark elves want her because of this reason and because of this reason, they are hoping her powers will not cease once her soul is taken. But, for some reason, she is not healing as fast as she once did. I have already repaired what I could to her ribs and have called a doctor." "Why a doctor? Did I hurt her that badly?" "No. A dark elf attacked her but Tidus took over her punishment from the dark elves who have a plan for you which I do not know of so do not ask." Van sighed. "Well, there goes my question. You look like your in pain." "I am taking from Tidus right now. What a master feels also will its demon right Kuro?" He only meowed at Siska. "You know… I am surprised Kuro does not have another form besides the giant cat. Most of our kind can turn to human form. So how did Kuro become yours anyway?" Back at the inn, Chris laid in bed while the doctor checked her out. The bleeding had stopped and her body resumed its natural healing just as the pain from another hit. The runes on her body began to glow. "You need to leave." She didn't look at the doctor but turned her head away from him and spoke louder to the doctor. "You need to leave now." The doctor looked confused as his hand layed over her arm. He noticed the brightness of the runes on her body begin to glow brighter as a heat began to enter his body. "What the hell.....…!" Chris shut her eyes as tears ran down her face. Kuro looked at Siska annoyed. "MEOW!!" "Aw C'mon. Don't be like that." Van said to him. "Maybe you just don't know how yet. Your still just ten years old right?" Kuro went big-eyed on him as if to inform he just blurted out something stupid. "HE'S ONLY TEN!?" She looked Kuro in disbelief. "Yeah. Well… In cat years. He's actually three." "MEOWR!!" Van didn't seem to pay attention to him. "I found him about a year ago. His mother and him were living around a forest somewhere in Washington. It had malice in the area due to a previous battle from the third world war that happened there, so they were able to live off. Unfortunately the malice began dying off, and he his mother were beginning to suffocate. I conducted a soul contract with him to keep him alive, but his mother didn't make it. I find it pretty convenient that he can go in a cat form, otherwise I wouldn't be able to keep an eye on him while I was with the RM." Van shrugged. "It's kind of ironic that happened, I was sent in that area to hunt down his mother and him." "Why didn't you?" Siska asked. "What you mean? Look at him. He's just a kid." Siska looked at him surprised and Kuro looked up to her and meowed as to say, "See what I meant?" Siska eyeballed the other way. "Siska, look, I don't think I'm the one who should be protecting her. I'm not the one for the job." "What do you mean?" Siska looked surprised. "Screwed up that you are, but I can now tell you can hold up your own. And I thought you said she was your friend?" "Okay first off," Van raised his finger. "I'm not screwed up. And second, friends don't try to stab each other in the chest at night to save them. How am I supposed to help her if she acts like that? Plus.. I have my own problems. And I think it can make her situation worst." "Van…" "Just give me some space for awhile, I'll have to think about it. Let's go Kuro." He and cat began to walked away. "Oh, and thanks for calling me by my name this time." A look of shock developed on Siska's face. Realizing she just said his name.

Chapter 4 After putting on her blue dress and leather boots Christina leashed her dog and went outside. Immediately her next door neighbor who was working on his yard gave her a wave. "Hey John." She waved back. "Hey Neighbor. You working on your book?" John asked. "Yes I am." She replied. "Great! I can't wait to read it when it's done. Especially my kids, you and your husband are their heroes." Christina laughed. "I don't know if you would call it 'heroic.' Or at least I would." She answered. "What happened and what we did, we did for ourselves, you know." "I know." John said. "That's that's exactly what my kids admire about you both." Chris didn't reply, but only smiled. "Well, I'll just be taking a walk. See you later John." John then waved her bye as she walked down the street heading into town. It was the middle of summer, yet the gentle air and clear sky made it a pleasant day. As both Christina and Brownie were enjoying it a load, crackling motor suddenly filled their ears shattering their moment of harmony. Then two fast dirt bikes passed them by from behind, causing Chris' dress to ruffle a bit and Brownie growl in irritation. However, despite the invited noise and rush, Christina only smiled at the young couple that rode on… 3 years ago… It was early morning when Chris rose from bed. The light from the window was shining on the spot where Van last rested. Chris stressed and yawned as she rose from the bed and walked into the bathroom. As she was entering the door, she heard a " Good morning." She yelped and shut her eyes as she saw him standing by the toilet. "I'm sorry." She leaned against the wall and waited for him to finish. "You were up really late last night. What was with all the noise?" "Oh, did I wake you? I'm sorry. I was working on me and my dad's bikes." "Is that how you got those bruises?" "Huh?" "I saw one on your neck and I noticed your wrist was kinda black." "OH? oh yeah, from the bikes. I was fixing them up so we could ride them to that town." She had almost forgotten about Tidus last night. She had closed her eyes for a minute and when they reopened, Van stood right in front of her. Chris all but hit the wall with her back the moment she saw him. "You have issues with close personal space, don't you?" Van studied her neck. He knew the bruise was not from the bikes because it almost resemabled a hand. After studying her neck, he grabbed her wrist and looked at it. " You know, you can trust me." He sighed as he let her wrist go. "Well, the bathroom is all yours." He backed up so she could have room to move. As she moved herself into the bathroom, she stopped mid-way in the door, "Don't be so trusting Van, especially with me." "And why is that?" Chris only looked down at the floor as she closed the door to the bathroom. Van looked at the closed door. "Maybe you need someone who will trust in you." He whispered to the door. Kuro stood beside him and Meowed up at Van. "I know Kuro. But who is to say she's not in the same trouble as we are? Let's go get something to eat, huh...." After a while, Chris had gotten freshened up and walked out of the bathroom, her clothes now dry and her hair fixed. She looked around the room, finding Brownie lying on the bed but Van and the Kuro nowhere. "Where did they go, Brownie?" The dog lifted her head and looked to the direction of the door in response. "Thanks," Chris replied. She then walked over do the door, opening it. Van was sitting at a stone-bordered, campfire, holding frying pan. In it were two eggs and a fish sizzling loudly. Around the fire place also were small branches of berries and a canteen. Chris was amazed at all the food as she came closer. "How did you get all this?" she asked. "If there's one thing Kuro is good at doing, its getting food. Right?" Kuro looked up at her in agreement. "MEOW!" "Wow." Chris smiled. "Wish Brownie was that handy when I needed to get food." A growling sound was then heard. Chris looked behind her and found Brownie squinting at her. "Oh, don't act like that." Chris smiled meekly. "I guess there are just some things a cat can do a dog can't." Chris' statement didn't seem at all to lighten Brownie's mood. It did for Kuro, however. "Kukukukukukuku…!" >3 "Kuro and Me already ate. So this is all for you." Van said, sliding the food into a metal pan. Chris went wide-eyed. There was more than this!? "Um, I don't think I'll be able to finish all that." "Oh really? Well, gimme the rest when you're done then." After Chris had finished her meal, she stood up and walked off in silence to the garage where the bikes waited. "Hey? Where you going?" "We really need to be going." Van got up from his spot and walked to the garage. "These are some beautiful bikes. Where did yall buy them?" "My dad created them. You do know how to ride right?" "Of course." He gave her a wide smile. Chris grabbed her long red coat and put it on then she grabbed the sword holders and strapped them onto her back. "Harlem is going to be a couple days of hard riding. Oh and.....I hope Kuro can out run Siska!" Van looked at her from the bike. "Siska?" "Who is...." Van was about to ask when he heard the sound of bones popping and skin tearing. Chris told Van to follow her outside. When they arrived outside, what Van saw surprised him. Standing a few feet away from him was a eight foot werewolf hunched over. "Can Kuro do this?" She patted the beast's head and nuzzled her cheek against the beast's cheek. "That's Brownie?" "Well in this form I call her Siska." Chris flung a few things onto Siska's back and tied them down to the harness Siska was wearing on her back. "So…" Van said skeptic. "When were you going to tell me about YOUR demon?" "I'm not hiding anything Fenrir, unlike you. You want to know about Siska or my runes, ask." Chris walked back into the garage and to the bench table where two headsets laid. "Here is one for you and one for me. So we can talk to each other while we are riding." After Van caught the headset Chris threw to him, he spoke. "Hey, I did want to ask you something. Don't know how straight an answer I will get though." Chris began strapping the headset to her head. "Yeah, what is it?" "Where'd you learn how to make a contract with your dog?" Chris frowned at him. "Contract?" "Yeah." Chris took a moment to look at Brownie then she looked back at him. "What's a contract? She basically just came to me." "Really?" Van looked like he was thinking about something. "What?" "Ahh never mind, Forget it. Let's get going. Kuro!" Kuro then came over and leaped up on his shoulder, bracing himself tight with his claws. "EEE! Dammit, not so tight." Van squirmed. Then He saw a dark leather jacket hanging near the wall. "Hey. Is it okay if I can borrow that?" he pointed. "Ummm… Well, sure." "Thanks." Van then shooed Kuro off, took the jacket and put it on. Kuro once again lept on. "Oooo much better." he relieved. He rubbed the sleeves and pulled on the bottom to straighten the jacket out. He noticed Chris was staring at him. "Does it look okay?" he asked. She didn't answer, only stared at him. "Hey Chris!" She stuttered, shaking her head. "OH! Uh.. Yeah. It looks fine." She started to get on her bike. "You okay?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Your sorta.. Spaced there. "Sorry, it's just that, that was my father's jacket and…" "And?" "And… You sort of look like him with that on." She then revved up the bike and rolled out. Van lightly grinned as she watched her pass by him. "Heh, whatever." He then went over to the other bike. "Sir." "Report." Said a man sitting on a control chair, looking among various screens. "The insurgent team has failed sir. The target had escaped. In addition, the blades. We're prepping another team to--" "May I ask how exactly a full-prepped team couldn't handle one elf? She may posses the blades, but she hasn't neither the knowledge nor experience to fully handle them yet." The man interrupted. "My apologize sir." he said, bowing his head. "But according to the two survivors, it appears a Paladin was seen aiding the target." "…A Paladin?" "And…" The man in the suit took a moment to look at clipboard in his hand. "'A big black cat…" he read. The man on the chair was silent for moment before ordering, "Call the Religion Military. I want a full explanation on this matter immediately." "Yes, sir." "And when will we get our next Satellite feed?" "The Sat has is coming over the region within an hour sir, however the clouds in that region haven't cleared up as we hoped. It will probably be another cycle before we can get another feed." "I see. " The man took a moment to think. "In any case, send one of our best agents in each of the nearby towns in the region." "Yes, sir." "Orders are to claim the target and the blades. For now, we can do without the Paladin. Till we get an explanation from the Religion Military, he is expendable." "WAAAAHH!!" Once again the bike had ran too fast. It hit a nearby high, rising rock, locking the bike and causing van to fly forward. He hit the ground with painful thud. "I thought you said you knew how to ride a bike…" Chris said. Looking at him pitifully. "I do." Van said getting up. "I just haven't done it for awhile. Gimme a minute to get the feeling back." "We don't have a minute…"Chris looked down the road and then back to Van. "We need to go now! Siska, the bike." Van heard popping of bones and tearing of skin again as someone grabbed the back of the jacket he was wearing and brought him over to Chris's bike. "Ok human, you get to ride with Christina while I take the other bike. Like she said, we don't have time for you to learn again." "HOLY--!!" Van turned to look at a human female-sized demon staring at him. "Okay! Any more forms you failed to mention!?" "Not that I feel like sharing with you, Human. Ride hard Christana, they are close. If they're bothering you, I can take the pain." "No, I'm fine. Get on Fenrir, we need to hurry." "Hey Kuro, get over here!" Kuro then leaped up and latched himself to his shoulder. "Claw in all you like, buddy." "Meooow…!" o_o The bikes began to rev up and speed down the street. "Hold on tight!" Chris yelled back at Van. After a little while down the dirt road, Van looked back noticed some other motorcycles coming down the road. "Who the hell are they?" "The same people who burned my house I'm assuming…. Hang on!" The chase continued for about quite awhile till the dirt road lead to the main asphalt road. The two bikes were now winding downhill, Siska slightly in the lead. Van looked behind, seeing the two bikes still on their tail. "These guys don't let up, eh?" Van tightened his grip around Chris's waist as she suddenly made a sharp turn and skidded to a halt as her bike turned to face the others coming after them. "I hope you have a thick head because we're going to play chicken." Chris began to mutter some words as the wind picked up. Her runes and swords glowed bright. As she revved it up as high as it would go, she let go of the brake and the bike went up on one wheel and came down hard on the on coming bikers. Before any of them hit, the bike went through the rail on the road and both Van and Chris went over the road. The wind became stronger and seamed to carry the bike to the ground. "Nice trick…!" Van whined, his eyes tearing after landing on the ground. "Meeeeoooow…" ;o; Siska was already waiting for them on the ground as she looked at Chris with concern. "Your heart rate is up." "I'm fine!" She snapped. "Let's go, we don't have time to waste. Once we get to the tunnel, we should be able to lose them." Siska then nodded and the two bikes then headed off. "Why the tunnel?" Van asked. "Because there are various forks within the whole system. As long as they don't follow us to that point they won't know where we've gone." For awhile, the two sped downhill, no one behind them. Soon Chris could see the end of the road, leading into the dark tunnel into the mountain. "There it is! We should be fine n--!" "STOP!" Van suddenly yelled. Both Chris and Siska screeched the bikes to a halt. They looked at him annoyed. "What is it!?" "Look." Van nodded in direction of the tunnel. Chris and Siska squinted to see what he was talking about. As they looked harder, they noticed that the entrance of the tunnel had been blocked off by dark SUV's. A few armored men, similar to the ones that attacked her home, were position behind them, readying similar launchers that had weakened her before. "We'll have to turn back." Chris said. "I know a different route." "I don't think that's a good idea." Van implied. "The bikes you ditched would catch up to you if you did. Think you can do that trick again and fly us out of here?" Chris looked over the edge. There was no winding road beneath them this time, and they were at least a few hundred feet high. Damn. It was too high. And her heart was still beating fast from the last time. She figured they'd float for maybe at least a 100 feet, but she'd run out and they'd fall to their death. "Well?" Van asked, still waiting. "It's too high," Chris answered. "We'll just have to take our chances and turn back." Chris was about to rev up the bike and turn around, however Van suddenly griped her on the waist and yanked her off the bike, throwing her to the ground. "What are you doing!?" She yelled furiously. "Your too damn soft," Van smiled. "This is when a guy's 'direct approach' is needed. Right Kuro?" In response, Kuro leapt off his shoulder and crackled into his larger, cougar-like form. Chris looked at Kuro in amazement for this was the first time she saw him like this. Though soon she shook off her stare and paid attention back to Van. "What are you talking about?" Ignoring her, Van looked at Siska on the bike. "We'll clear the way. You carry Chris." Siska glared and snarled at him. "I don't take orders from YOU, Human!" Van seemed to ignore that as well. "Oh! And try to keep up, but stay at least 30 feet behind us. It's gonna be a pretty big boom…!" With that he revved up the engine and sped away, Kuro dashing behind him. "What in the world is he--!? Siska C'mon!" Siska then reached down to help up her. She got behind her and grabbed onto her waist as they sped down the hill, keeping up behind Van and Kuro. The armored men behind the vehicles aimed their weapons as the lead bike began to approach. "Sir? I don't remember that man and that animal being on priority list. What do we do?" The leader still kept his weapon aimed on the on coming bike and cat. "That man and the animal are not a priority. Use live ammo on them, but don't harm the woman behind." Van continued to speed faster toward the blockaded tunnel. Chris was literally screaming into his headset. "What are you doing!? Turn back, you'll be killed!" "Hope YOU got a thick head, cause we're gonna play chicken!" Van simply replied. He looked at Kuro was keeping up beside him. "Light it up, Kuro!" Kuro than gave a load mountain-lion like roar and suddenly, as if he had a pair of after-burners, his body blurred as suddenly sprinted even faster. Soon he was ahead of Van's bike, increasing in speed as well. His horns glowed hot-red as a wall of fire was starting to grow ahead of him… Chris went wide-eyed as she saw what was happening. To think he could keep up with the bike. And to go even faster…. My God he's fast! The men behind the SUV's began to get hesistant as they saw the burning piece of mass ahead of the bike rocket toward them. "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?" One of the yelped. The leader wasn't going to take any chances. "FIRE!!" As Van saw the men behind the vehicles pull the triggers, he only smiled as he pulled his sword from behind him, twirled it around, and pointed it straight outward. "NOT TODAY~!" Immediately, a curved wall of light formed ahead of Van and Kuro, the blasts setting off its surface but leaving the two unharmed. After all had detonated, Van lowered his sword. The wall of light disappeared. "Sick'im Kuro!" Again Kuro made his mountain-lion roar and he sprinted even faster. A curved wall of fire now fully formed ahead of him, his horns burning red-hot as he lowered his head forward, preparing for the ram. The men behind the vehicles began to panic. Some were already running for their lives as the burning mass headed in their direction. "HOLY~!!!" "OH SHI~!!!" "-OUT OF THE WAY!!! BOOM!!!! The burning mass had blown through the middle vehicle, literally eradicating it to flaming pieces on impact in a roaring ball of fire. The armored men leaped to the side of the road, saving their lives from the certain burning death. Even after the impact, the burning mass continued and the two bikes sped forward through the now open, burning blockade. Once inside the tunnel, Kuro slowed down and ran along side Van's bike and lept forward. In a red flash he reverted back to his smaller, cute self and latched himself on to Van's shoulder. "Hey Chris!" he yelled into his radio. "Uhhh.." She was still stunned at what just happened. "What?" "Can Siska do that?" he asked with a mischievous voice. Chris didn't answer. Siska only growled. Soon later they heard sound in the radio that went, "Kukukukukukuku…!" Show offs, Chris squinted. Then she began to hear more bikes. She looked behind her, seeing the four bikes that they had ditched long ago suddenly tailing behind them and closing fast. Damn, they caught up already? "Fenrir!" She called. "Yeah, I see them." Van replied. "How much farther till the tunnel forks?" "About one more mile, then there's an additional fork every two to three miles. If they follow us through all three forks, they'll be chasing us all the way Halem." "Can't have that," he replied. He slowed down and drove along side her. "You go ahead, I'll get rid of them." "All by yourself!? You don't even know how to ride that bike!" Van looked at her annoyed. "HEY! I said I just needed to get my touch back, and this'll do just that. We'll split up, just give me directions to go by." he then unsheathed and sword and held it hanging to his right. "Now hurry and get going. And you owe me a date after this~!" "WHAT!?!" With that Van suddenly hit the breaks, causing his speed to suddenly decrease. This then caught one of the pursuers behind them off-guard as he Van cloth-lined him with the sword. The sudden impulse caused the man to fly back off his bike, rolling painfully to the ground. Immediately Van revved up the engine and regained his speed. Van was now surrounded: One on his rear and two others on each side. The one on his left held a pistol and aimed it at him. He quickly veered right, but the biker there already had his pistol out, waiting for him. However, Van quickly parried the pistol away with his sword. It deflected with a shot that struck his rear fender. The man didn't let up though, and raised up his pistol soon after for another shot… "Here comes the first fork." Chris informed Van. "Go left!" "I see it," Van said. The biker with the raised pistol, however, was still looking at him, taking aim…. Then he crashed straight into the wall that separated the two roads of the fork. "But he didn't!" Van smiled. "Hey, take a right then take another right… OH SHOOT!" Chris yelled into her headset before it started crackling and a crash was heard." "Hey, you ok?! Chris? What happened!?" "I'm fine, just keep going." "Where you at?" "She said keep going human!" After Siska took the headset from Chris and yelled into it, she turned it off. "Chris....." "No, I'm fine. I break the rules all the time, you know that. You been with me snice I was a child." Siska looked up at the three cyclists that had been heading their way that were now laying on stone spikes from the earth. "He shouldn't be with us." "I know Siska. He will be pissed when he finds out or maybe he already knows. I could of sworn that it was him at the garage that night Tidus had come. I don't know why they are so interested in him. The two races of elves hardly ever bargain with each other." "Something dark is coming up and you two are set right in the middle of it. Van may act and seem stupid but he's not and....he does seem to be hiding something. A demon just doesn't come around for nothing." "You called him by his name?" "Doesn't mean I like him and don't tell him I actually said his name." Siska veered around the rubble, blanketing the crushed bike and bodies. "We need to head out. I'm sure that human is yelling into his headset wondering where we are." "He's close." Chris leaned her head onto Siska's back. "My right arm hurts." Siska looked behind her at Chris. Blood had been dripping down her arm snice she used the earth spell. Siska then revved the bike up and took off down the road. Chris turned on the headset to a yelling Van. "Owww, damn you! Stop screaming!" "I wouldn't be screaming if you would fucking answer me damnit.!!" "I was busy and what is with the tone? You worried or something?" "I'd like some directions!" Van growled annoyed. "I'm on the second right you told me to take." "Take a left then take two rights and you should come to the end of the tunnel. We'll meet you on the outside." "Where the hell are you guys?!" "I said we will meet you outside!" "Chris, we have a problem." Siska informed. Chris looked ahead and saw the last person she wanted to see. "Tidus." She whispered. Siska slowed the bike down to a halt as Tidus began walking towards them. As soon as he was close enough, he just looked at her and touched her right arm. "Don't damage yourself up to much. I would like you all in one peace once this is over with." He grabbed her arm harder making her scream out in pain. Siska growled at him and revved up the bike and took off while throwing him into the tunnel wall. Chris eyes grew wide. "Siska....." "I know I will be punished for this but I can not stand what he does to you." "Thank you my friend." Chris layed her head back onto Siska's back. "You think Van heard all that?" "I'm pretty sure he did." Unfortunately Van was too busy to hear any conversation. He will still tangling with the two bikers still in pursuit. "You two are persistent mother-fuckers aren't you?" One of the bikers responded by firing a shot at his bike, blowing off his main headlight. Van knew he had to take them out before the next fork. If he didn't they could round out which direction they would head. Again one of the men began to take aim at him. Van quickly veered in his direction and grabbed the gun in his hand. The guy on the bike, however, wasn't letting go without a fight. The gun went off a few rounds as the two struggled for the pistol. Kuro, who was still on Van's shoulder, went around and slashed the man's hand with his claw. The man yelped and released the gun. "Thanks!" "Meow!" Van then aimed at the man's front tire and pulled the trigger. Immediately the tire burst and the man lost control, rolling forward and falling painfully to the ground. The man on his right was all that was left. However he saw him suddenly switch from a pistol to a sawed-off shotgun from the sack on his bike. Van went wide-eyed. "Shit!" The man took a shot at, but Van steered more to the left than he predicted. Up along the wall… The pellets of the ammo struck the concrete tunnel wall below Van who quickly steered back down smoothly from the wall to the road. Van quickly took aim with his own pistol. He took a few shot, and was able to blow out the man's rear tire. The man veered wildly for awhile, but quickly recovered. He began to reload. Van took another aim, this time for his front tire. He pulled the trigger. Nothing came out. Only a click. Van looked at the gun in his hand annoyed. "Dammit…!" The man with the shotgun had reloaded and now took aim at him. Van knew he wouldn't have time to bring up his sword or steer again. "Go away." He threw the emptied gun at him instead. It spun and hit the man right smack in the face shield of his helmet. The shock made him lose concentration of his blown our rear tire and he spun out of control, hitting the far right wall hard. Van smiled as he looked back at him. "Bye, bye." he said. He looked in front of him, seeing the fork in the tunnel. "Home-stretch." "Meow!" The two rode along, took the necessary lane and headed toward the end of the tunnel. Siska and Chris waited patiently at the exit of the tunnel. "Christina, your arm." "I'm fine." She said, enduring the pain. They then heard a loud bike sound coming through the tunnel. They reved up their own bike, just in case in was another pursuer… However, they only frowned as the light in the tunnel was able to catch the familiar bike and face of the fool that rode it. He came and stopped in front of them. "Miss me?" He smiled. No, we didn't. We need to go. We will stop and rest at the next town." Van looked over at Chris. "What's wrong with your arm?" "Nothing. Can we go?" "It really does look like nothing just hanging there." "FUCK YOU!!" "Whoa, all I asked.." "I know what you asked!! Siska, please." Siska's and Chris's bike took off before Van could say anything. Van looked over at Kuro. "Issues?" Kuro shrugged as he hung tight onto Van's shoulder. All four rode until night fall and into a nearby town called Kenta . Siska walked into an inn while Chris stayed outside with Van and Kuro. Soon later Siska walked out and looked at Chris. "Only one room was available. Seems this town gets busy around this time." "That's fine. I'm ready to fall over anyway and I'm sure Fenrir is tired too." "Heh… You have no idea." All four entered their room and fell into which ever spot they were at. Chris pulled off her coat and Siska walked over to the bed with soap and a washcloth. The runes on Chris's right arm had blood lining each mark etched into her skin. "Damn! That looks serious." Van Cringed. "Hey Fenrir, why don't you go make yourself useful and go get Christina some bandages instead of standing there?" Siska ordered. Van looked offended. "HEY! Don't gimme that crap! I did my part in that tunnel mind you. And besides, I got a better idea." He unsheathed his sword and went toward Chris. Siska immediately freaked. "What are you doing, Human?!" "Just hold her arm up." Van said, unphased by her snapping. "Like hell I will!" "Don't worry, I'm not gonna chop her arm off or whatever." he said assured and slightly annoyed. "I can stop her bleeding. So.. Do you mind?" Siska just stared at him for a moment, then at Chris who gave her a nod of approval. Reluctantly she helped Chris lift her bleeding arm up in front of Van. "Okay…" Van twirled his sword and it ended up pointing down. He then gripped lightly on the blade and on the pommel, holding it up so that the hilt was right over Chris' arm. "This'll feel kinda weird… And good at the same time." "Huh? What are you--?" The sword's hilt suddenly opened up mechanically, revealing small moving and glowing parts. The large jewel in the middle of the hilt was extended out by a small, metal arm and then small beam of light illuminated from the jewel to the bleeding area. The light seemed to shift in many spectrum of colors. Chris stuttered as she felt a tingly, hot, yet soothing feeling crawl over her wounds. Though she was more astonished as she saw with her own eyes that the wounds on her arm were closing. The bleeding was ceased and the left over blood dried and fell off like dust. "Ok. That should do it." Van then twisted the pommel and the jewel ceased back in and the hilt closed locked it in place mechanically like some alien device. "How you feel?" Chris rubbed her arm. There was no pain and it felt smooth. " Wow. There's no pain at all." Siska looked at him. "What kind of healing magic was that?" Van laughed. "HAHA! Who ever said I used magic? See, that light you saw is what is called 'redemption light.' Not really designed to help really deep, life-threatening wounds, but it patches up scars and burns really well. It's a light that alternates in specific wave-lengths from infared to ultraviolet, and it stimulates the skin cells in the body to--" "Wait a minute." Chris interrupted. "Are you telling me you don't know any magic at all?" "Uhh.. Yeah. Why you asking, I thought you knew that?" "But that protection spell you cast in the forest…" Siska added in. "And when you used it before entering the tunnel. Wasn't that magic?" Van stared at them. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Before I answer, lemme ask you one thing: Do you think all the world's phenomena is the work of 'magic'? Chris and Siska looked at each other. Then they looked at Van and shrugged. Van squinted at them and looked at Kuro. "See what happens to people who live in the forest alone for eight years?" "Meow." Siska and Chris growled. "What that was," Van explained, extending his sword outward, "Was another type of light called 'Guardian.'" The blade on van's sword quickly split down the center and widened out, revealing a round mirror-like object inside. It shined brightly and the familiar curved wall of light appeared at the end of the blade. Water-like glows of white light filled the room. Chris and Siska only stared in amazement. "It's a type of force field. It can withstand a force of roughly ten-thousand newtons. Also, it can cancel out any type of hot or cold molecules touching it by distributing the kinetic energy by-- Ah!" Van shook his head. He then closed off the blade and the shield was gone. "Uh sorry. That parts boring. Anyway, that's what all that was about. As you can see, I don't use any type of magic what-so-ever." Chris was at a lost of words for his sudden burst of lecture. "You.. Seemed to be really into explaining everything there for a moment." she commented. Van smiled meekly. "Uh yeah. Sorry. It's a bad reflex." "Huh?" "Well when I was training to be a Paladin, I had to sort of memorize the manual for this sword and repeat it to the instructor… To tell the truth," He smiled big. "I really don't know half of what I just said to you all..!" "…." "…." Kuro made a pitied look. "Wait. Are you saying that the Paladin's don't use any type of magic at all?" "Nope." "Really?" "Really. Why you look surprised, it's not uncommon to people in the cities or even towns. Hell, the entire Religion Military uses things similar to this sword. Guns, vehicles, shields, blades… Just state-of-the-art weaponry. Though… I heard rumors a few people in the RM do know magic. But I never saw any while I was there…" Siska interruptd. "Hey, this is all interesting, but I'm going to go run the town and see what's out there." "No! What about Ti....." After Chris caught herself she started speaking in elven. "What about Tidus, he will probably be out there expecting you to be running." Siska spoke back to her in elven. "I will be fine, I can't die that easily…" She winked at Chris as she began to change back to a dog. "Or is it Van you do not wish to be left alone with?" Siska laughed (barked) as she ran out the door. Chris had looked over at Van then quickly looked away. She rubbed her arm that Van healed and silenced seemed to ensure around the three until Kuro meowed. Chris looked down at Kuro as Van spoke. "Why? You don't need to go out also. That dog is already going out to search the grounds." "Meow!" "Well, fine then. Go!" Kuro ran out the door leaving the two alone. "What were you talking to Siska about? The part I couldn't understand?" "Oh, it was nothing. Just telling her to be careful." "You were about to say a person's name when you stopped. You know, I've noticed you speak elven when you don't want me to know about something." "Not my fault you don't know other languages." "What if I did know how to speak some elven?" "Then why the hell are you asking me what I talked to Siska about? Why are you trying to butt into my life?" "I'm not, I'm helping you. No one asked for you two to come along with us to Halem!" "Are you dumb or something? You DID ask us. Besides, you two wouldn't be able to find your way. You are the one who past it and came all the way here. How the hell does a Paladin not know how to use a map?!" The yelling between the two started to heighten as both were standing up and in each others face. Someone had walked by and saw this as the person was shutting the door to their room. "Lover's fight." The woman smiled as she walked away. Maria had walked downstairs with a smile on her face. "You know the couple is room B-12?" "Yeah what about them?" "When I walked by, they were so close together it seemed like they were going to kiss. They were fighting though, I don't know what about but you could tell they were in love. They didn't even noticed that I was shutting their door." Luke just looked at her. "Whatever." And went back to his paperwork. Back in the room Chris shoved Van on his chest. "I MAY HAVE BEEN ALONE FOR EIGHT YEARS BUT I'M NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO TRUST THE WRONG PERSON!!!! "WHAT THE HELL YOU TALKIN ABOUT!? YOU ARE STUPID ENOUGH!! "WHAT?!?" "YOU HAVEN'T SEEN OTHER PEOPLE FOR EIGHT YEARS! HOW THE HELL COULD YOU LEARN WHO TO TRUST!?" "SHUT UP! I'VE SEEN YOU ENOUGH TO SEE YOU'RE TOO TRUSTFUL FOR YOUR OWN GOOD! "SO YOUR SAYING I SHOULDN'T TRUST YOU? WHY EVEN GIVE ME A DAMN REASON CHRISTANA? OR IS IT BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME ABOUT THAT OTHER ELF THAT LEFT THE BRUISES?" Chris stopped on what she was about to say and instantly just stared at him. "What did you say?" "I don't sleep as soundly as he thought. Who is he?" Chris turned around and walked over to the bed and sat down. "It's really late......we...we should go to bed. I'm sure Kuro and Brownie will be back soon. "WHO IS HE CHRIS?!" "LEAVE IT ALONE!!!" Outside, the cat and the dog were walking around the building, being very vigilant. Brownie barked at Kuro as they strolled. So… He conducted a contract with you didn't he? Kuro meowed, but didn't look at her. So you know, huh? Well what else? You and I know that we can't live in this world. It'd be like a Human trying to breath underwater. Well duh. Kuro purred. But tell me something… How was it that he was able to perform one? A Human has neither the blood nor the knowledge to do it. Ancient Chinese secret. Kuro responded. Brownie growled. Hey why are you being rude to me? I've never talked badly to you! No… but He gave Brownie a dark stare. You and your Girl have been rude to him. And I don't respect anyone who doesn't respect him. Brownie barked at him. Hey I know your supposed to be loyal to your Master, but you could at least give ones of your own race some slack, you know." Kuro stopped and just stared at her. Oh shut up with that heritage devil-shit. I'll speak crap to whoever I like. And… He interrupted, before Brownie could protest. :"He's not my master. He's my friend." ..Friend? Brownie eyed him unconvinced. Yes, Friend! Kuro hissed, assuring. And unlike you, which I'm assuming, he didn't summon me or conduct a contract so he could gain any type of power. He's not like that. So why'd he conduct one with you then? You said it yourself: Like a Human trying to breath in water. You figure that out and then you'll see why I respect him. I'm heading back. Kuro than prance forward and started sprinting back to the room. Van wouldn't give up on finding out who the guy was who put the bruises on Chris and Chris was getting tired of his forcefulness in finding out who Tidus was. No matter what she said, the yelling match kept going. Finally it got back to face to face again, invading each others space but this time when Chris was getting to close to him, she tripped and fell onto him. When she fell onto him, both fell onto the floor right as Kuro was walking into the room. Kuro stopped in his stop and looked on the two with surprise. Chris was straddling Vans waist with her head on his chest. Kuro just meowed at the two and that's when Chris immediately pulled herself onto all four. "Oh....I....I'm sorry." Chris's mind went blank on what she was yelling at him for. She could feel the heat rising up into her face. Her mind kept on racing on what to do, either kiss him or back off and she finally decided after three minutes of the third option. "His name is Tidus, an elf of full blood. You need to stay away from him. He wanted some information from me, that's all, and I didn't have any to give or wanted to give. I can deal with him but I can't deal with the ones behind him. I do this to keep Brownie.....Siska safe." Chris backed up finally and sat on her hindend allowing Van to sit up. "She was given to me when I was young. She was susspose to betray me on my sixteenth birthday but she never did. And for that, she had gotten in trouble with her orginal owner but a deal was made." Chris looked away for a moment and saw Kuro just standing there with his mouth open. Chris smiled at the cat. "Was I the deal?" Van asked. "What?" Chris looked back at Van in surprise. "How......?" "Just a guess. It wasn't the first time I saw that guy." Chris' eyes widened. "You met him before?! ..Then why were you so bent on asking me about--?" "I didn't know exactly who he was," Van interrupted. "He just came outta the blue all of the sudden a week ago and recommended that I go to Halem. Didn't give me a name or whatever. Found it strange an elf would come and give me advice, considering that I was in the RM. Plus, he knew who I was." Chris stared at him. "…Why is he interested in you? And why Halem?" "Chris. I'd tell you, but I can't." "Why?!" Van closed his eyes. "All I can tell is that my reason makes A LOT of people uneasy and curious. And if I shared it with you, you'd probably have more than a few bikes chasing you… I need answers on it, and according to him, they're at Halem." Chris studied him and asked, "This reason… Is this why your no longer a Paladin?" "Not really. But when I said that my reason made a lot of people of uneasy, that included the RM. So to be honest… I didn't really resign, I was discharged." "Discharged!?" "Don't worry. I was thinking of quitting long ago." Van assured her. "No that's not it. I mean what made it so bad that you were discharged?" Van smiled. "I told you. If you know you might be in bigger trouble. I need to keep this to myself. At least for the moment…" Later that night all four had gone asleep, Van and Chris on the two beds and Kuro and Brownie at the foot of the beds. In a stir, Van awoken. He got out, waking up Kuro "I'm okay. Just go back to sleep." Van whispered. Kuro just stared at him as he walked into the bathroom and close the door softly behind him before laying his head down again and falling heavily asleep. Van turned on the faucet, and splashed water in his face. He looked in the mirror, stared at his drowsy face and scruffy hair. Wow… he thought, surprising himself. I look terrible. No wonder she doesn't seem to trust me. I look like a complete-- THUMP! "UGH!" He fell to the ground. Grabbing his chest as it suddenly felt like it was being burnt. Van reached up to the sink and helped himself up… But then he fell again, as another shot of burning pain hit him again. THUMP! "AGH…!" In desperation, Van ripped open the shirt covering his chest, in hope to release the pain. He kneeled down as a glowing mark on his chest began to glow bright red. In time the glowing slowly died down and Van upper body fell forward, breathing in all the air that he missed. On weak knees, he slowly stood him self up, using the sink as leverage and looked at the mirror to see a very pale face looking back at him. As he was finally able to stand up straight, he looked at the black mark on his chest. One week ago… Van and Kuro sat at a campfire, a piece of meat cooking over the fire. Kuro looked up at Van and meowed. "Good question." he replied to him. "I'm thinking about it. But I think it's best we don't hang around any cities for awhile. Or at least anywhere with high security…" Kuro then responded with a purr. "Thanks. That means a lot." Van patted his head. "Pity… Cast away by the people that you had such faith in... How is it that that never gets you down I wonder?" Van immediately got up and looked around, his blade already unsheathed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I startle you?" The unfamiliar voice laughed. "Stop Fuckin playin with me! Who and where the hell are you!?" Kuro pranced up, turning into his larger form. "I see you were able to conduct a Contract as well. So it is true…" Kuro sniffed the air, then looked up at a certain tree. He snarled for Van's response. "There you are!!" Van threw his sword at a branch of the tree… Immediately a dark figure appeared and back-flipped, avoiding the thrown blade. As the sword lodged itself on the truck of another tree, the figure landed softly on the blade, standing straight with his hands in his pockets. "Hahaha! Well done! A normal Paladin wouldn't be able to see through that without having Infrareds ." Van stared fiercely at the man in the trees, he noticed his ears. "An Elf…? Who are you? What the hell you want?" "Just a friend." He smiled. "And I there's nothing I want." "Well if you want nothing, then get the Hell outta my face. Quit annoying me…. But then again." He crossed his arms. "If you're my friend, why don't you go and get me some ketchup for my dinner? And Mountain Dew." The elf laughed. "Haha! Funny. But as a friend, I'm just here to give you advice. And that is that you should get yourself to Europe and to a town called Halem. "Bsh, why should I listen to you?" "Well don't you want to know what that thing on your chest is all about?" Van's eyes widened. "How do you know about that?" The man didn't answer. Only smiled mischiefly. "Well if YOU know about it so much, why don't you go and tell me then? Save me the long ass trip?" "Well what would the fun of that be?" The elf said gleefully, bringing his arms up. "Fine! If you won't tell me, then I'll beat it outta you!" With that, he kicked up a cindered log from a fire and, caught it, and threw it at him. The elf immediately laid his feet against the trunk of the tree and yanked the sword he was just standing on right out. It flew out, shattering the thrown cinder. Van had to roll away as the sword flew right past him. It hit the campfire, putting it out immediately by the explosive impact on the dirt ground. The area around him went dark. "That would be fun." The voice of the elf amused. "But that'll have to wait for now…" "Why the hell should I trust you?" Van said in the dark. "Fine. Don't trust me. But what else can you go by, I wonder?" Van was silent. "Talk with the priest at Halem… We'll meet again… Van." Van laid a hand over the mark and swallowed hard. What the hell is this thing…?

Christina continued typing on her laptop. Then she stretched her arms and yawned. Brownie beside her barked. "What say we get a little exercise, hmm?" Immediately brownie stood up and barked in agreement, waging her tail. "Alright, give me a minute okay? Ill need to change clothes." Chris then got up and walked up stairs to her bedroom. She then began ruffling through hangers and clothes, choosing what should would wear. Then she stopped. Hiding all the way at the end of the closet, hung a particular outfit covered in a white, plastic protector. Astonished to find it, she took it out and laid it on her bed, removing the plastic. She was speechless as she saw the set of clothing laid before her. My God She thought as she put her hand across it. It was so long ago.. But it hasnt changed one bit. " Chris sighed as she looked down and placed her hand over her stomach. "Too bad I won't be able to wear this in a couple of months" 3 years ago Van had been gone for twenty minutes till he came though the door once again. In his arms, held a large, slightly burnt chest. He went over and immediately set it beside Chris bed. "Your house was pretty burnt to a crisp." Van informed. "But luckily it rained in time and this seemed to be the only thing that was saved." Chris stood up from the bed and looked at him. She was still contemplating on what Van was all about. But seeing that it may have been a touchy subject, she figured shed ignore it for now and just focus on another. "Thank you." She said. "By the way How did you know where to find my home?" Chris had been wondering that since she found herself awoken at her own shelter shack some distance behind her home. "Oh, your dog kinda showed me the way." Van said, shrugging to Brownie who barked in confirmation. "When we got you down from that tree it was beginning to rain and me and Kuro were wondering what we could do for shelter. Luckily, your dog led us to this place." "Oh I see." She turned to Brownie. "Thank you my pet." Brownie barked. Van raised his eyebrow. You thank the mutt? But I had to carry you And with a bruised arm! Chris noticed his stare. "What?" She asked. "Er nothing. Anyways, this is what I found." He opened the chest for her. "Will these do?" Chris kneeled beside the chest. "Yes this will do and thank you." She said. "This was my mothers. I haven't opened it since her death." She brushed her hand over the carvings of the chest as she spoke the language on the front. Brownie had chimed in as she started speaking the elven tongue also. "Do you trust them?" "Who else do we have?" Chris asked. "We have each other. Have always had each other. You know I was given to you as protection. Besides, the cat is a demon and heaven only knows why this human has a demon as a pet." "I think I know why. Same as your reason." "The ruins on your arms are my reason." Chris giggled and then remembered about Van. She looked up at him noticing he had a confused look on his face. "Elven tongue is hardly spoken anymore." Chris said, speaking in human tongue again. "My mother taught me when I was young." "What were you saying?" "Nothing important." She grabbed the clothes from the trunk and started limping her way to the bathroom with the dog behind her. After the door shut, Van turned to Kuro and spoke. "What do you think Kuro?" "Meow?" "Well they both were talking in another tongue. Well, ok the dog was barking but still, don't you think its odd?" Kuro only gave Van a stare as if saying, "You don't think we are?" Van shrugged his shoulders. After a couple of minutes the bathroom door opened. Chris stepped out wearing coal gunner boots with tight blue jeans and a short purple skirt over the pants. A white tie top was worn under the red gunner coat she wore which covered her arms and neck but was slit down from chest to the bottom. The swords holder was strapped to her back. Chris unbuttoned the top of the coat and let it fall open revealing more of her mid-section and the chocker around her neck. Chris looked down at brownie who wore a harness around her then looked back at Van with hands on her hips. "It's not polite to stare you two." "Meeeoooowwww...." When Van didn't say anything, Kuro nipped him on the side of the leg. "OW! What?" Kuro grinned at him. "So what if Im staring? Its nice outfit." He claimed. Then he looked at Chris again. YoW!! HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT!!!! He kinda wished he had a camera at the moment Chris just gave him smirk, seeing he couldnt hide his thoughts at all, and sat back down on the bed "So Can I ask you guys a question?" "Sure." Van replied, smiling. "What is a ex-Paladin and a Demon cat like yourselves doing all the way out here? Hardly any people, or even elves, come out here any reason at all." Van gazed upward, as if trying to think of what to say. "Umm well" He looked at Kuro for a sec who just meowed at him. "Were just traveling." Chris squinted scrupulously, "Thats it?" "Well more specifically we came from the Alberta docks and were trying to find the our way to some town named, Halem. You know where it is?" Chris raised an eyebrow at him. "Halem?" "Yah." "And you say you two came all the way from the Alberta docks in the west?" "Yeah, thats right. Something wrong?" Van asked. "Umm well, you see, Halem is a little South-East from Alberta docks, but the forest your in here is WAY to the east. What are you doing all the way here?" Kuro immediatly gave Van a death glare and hiss that told him: I TOLD YOU YOU WERE LOST!! Van just laughed meekly at him, "Eh he heh." Seeing that, Chris immediately could read their situation by the look in their faces. She eyeballed Brownie who just exchanged looks. "But Why are you traveling in the first place?" Van returned his attention on her. "Well um Ya know, Im a retired Paladin, so I figured that place would be a nice place for me to settle down. Right Kuro?" Kuro meowed. (Though it didnt sound right) "I dont mean to be mean. But you seem a little too young to be retired," Chris pointed out. "I was under the impression you quit for some reason." Still Van smiled. "Oh I did But I retired as well.. You see I just.. Er.. Well, its complicated. Heh heh!!" Chris just frowned at him. She figured she could go asking him all day and hed still be answering like a complete retard. There was something he was hiding, and it was easily noticeable. She still wasnt fully trustful in him still, especially since he is or was an Paladin. He could very well have been planning something. Perhaps he WAS here to capture her and was just waiting for the right time. But then again, what kind of idiot would go around faking something like this that was already so devious and predictable in the first place? If he was trying to trick her into trusting him or whatever, no WAY someone would act this stupid to do so. Itd be like telling a secret-agent to behave like psycho killer at his targets dinner party "So Can I ask what youre going to do now?" Van asked. "Hmm?" "I mean your house is torched. The people after you, seeing that you werent captured and all, Im pretty sure theyll be back. You got anywhere to go?" Chris unsheathed one of her swords and pointed it at Van. The runes on the blade began to glow as the ones on her arms began to glow, sending a burning sensation throughout her body. 'Take back your sword child. He means us no harm at this point.' Brownie looked up as she noticed Chris flinch. "I still don't trust you human. Whatever plan you have, I'm not falling for it." ' Stop it. You know why those runes are starting to cause you pain. LOWER THE DAMN SWORD CHRISTANA....NOW.' The dog began to growl at Chris. Van looked on in caution as he brought his hand up to the sword and pressed his hand against the blade pushing it away from his face. "Hey, I'm sorry about your mom but you can't go and not trust EVERYONE. Dammit, I saved your life!!" Chris sheathed her sword after a few seconds and sighed. "I don't trust anyone because of who I am and what I am. You really are stupid if you don't understand the danger your putting yourself into. Or is it your plan to get close to me then use me for your own gain? "What the hell is with you?! I mean, I saved you from other people who might want to cause you harm and you're treating me like an Asshole? Plus, I've seen much prettier woman than you." Kuro just backed away as he saw Christina's hand attempt to connect with Van's face. Van grabbed her wrist just before it did. "If you have nowhere to go, then you can travel with us. I promise, no one will hurt you with me around. But if you keep this up, I WILL do something to you." He spoke the last part through clenched teeth as he opened his eyes and looked up at Chris. "You...you're hurting my wrist." Van let go of her wrist and as soon as he did, she turned on her heels and ran out the door of the bedroom and outside of the house. She jerked off her coat as she kneeled on the ground. 'Why now? Why him? Van stood in the doorway as he watched Chris. The markings on her arms were not glowing as before, but some of the design was giving off a shine in the rain. Chris sat in the wet grass as she put her arms around herself. 'Because of what I did to my mom's killer, I am bound to these runes and bound to one soul. But it's not to much of a punishment. I have my friend and pet.' She turned to see Van watching her as the dog and cat both stood on their hind legs and pushed on Van. Van looked down at the animals. They gave him a concerning stare. With that, Van sighed and rolled his eyes and walked over to Chris. "Hey You okay? Look Im sorry if I scared you. It just that Geez. Can you get inside? Youre gonna catch a freakin cold." He bent over, picked up her coat of the ground and covered it around her. Chris just stared at him as he did. Though his voice sounded as if she was just annoying him, she saw in his eyes deep concern. Such gentle eyes She thought. He then helped her up and moved her inside the shelter, letting her sit on the bed. The dog and the cat jumped upon the bed. The Brownie huddling near her. "Look you dont have to come with us if you dont want to. Thats all Im going to say. Me and Kuro will just camp outside till tomorrow morning. We can make it to Halem on our own thanks to your directions. Though your still welcome to come with us, but its still your decision. Alright?" He then tilted his head at Kuro. "Cmon Kuro. Lets go." Kuro then jumped off the bed and followed Van to the door. After Van was out of view, Kuro took a last moment to look at the two at the room, meowed, and left. "You really think those two are it? They don't seem like much but having a demon traveling around with you is strange." Brownie barked at her. "Ok, ok. Not that strange. I guess I shouldn't leave those two out in the weather huh..." Chris stood up from the bed and walked towards where Van and Kuro walked too. "Hey, Van!" She opened the door that lead to the outside world. "Hey, come back inside. The weather won't let up till early morn. I have a high tolerance to getting sick anyway and I doubt you do." Van just sat on the porch. "We are ok." Chris kneeled down beside him, her wet shirt starting to soak his arm. "Look, whether I trust you are not....I've been alone for so long I've forgotten about others. Besides, if Brownie and I let you go to Halem alone, you two might get lost again. Come back inside." Chris stood up and held her hand out to him. Van looked up at her and took in her sight. 'A drenched elf' he had to giggle inside at her sight. Her hair was plastered to her face while the shirt and pants were dripping while sticking to her skin. 'Her shirt' He had to mentally slap himself as he noticed the black bra showing through. "Are you sure we can stay inside with you? Me and Kuro are used to the outdoors." He took her hand. "I'm sure, besides...I would like to hear some of your stories about you being an ex-Paladin and about Kuro of course." Kuro suddenly jumped in her arms. "Oh!" Brownie barked at Kuro and Kuro hissed back. "Ok you two, behave. Brownie, he's not replacing you." Chris reached down to pat her pet on the head as Kuro got onto her shoulders. "I think your cat wants to go inside. Come on." All three walked inside as Van looked on at their retreating backsides. "Hey, so what's your story anyway Chris?" "What do you mean?" She asked, sitting upon the bed once again. Van sat upon the chair. "Well, how long have you been alone?" "About eight years." Chris answered. "Really?" he said. He eyes peered the other way. That explains a lot Chris noticed his look. "What?" Uh, nothing. But seriously, you havent seen another person in eight years? Must have been lonely" Brownie growled at him. "Uh, no offense." "Its really not so bad. When this all began, my father kept me company . Since he died Brownie helped me put a smile on my face ever since then." She patted her pet on the head. "I dont know what Id do without her." Brownie barked. "But Dont you still get feel like.. Ya know. Like your missing out a lot?" Chris frowned. "Missing out of what?" Van looked surprised. "What you mean What? I mean everything!" Chris jerked a little at his sudden outburst. "Its a whole large world out there, its always changing. Cities, new inventions, music, Playstation 9, people~!" "I dont trust Humans." Chris suddenly spoke. "Not after what they did to my--" "I didnt say Humans, Chris." Van interjected. "I mean people. Humans, Elves, white people, black people, and everyone in between. The world is too big for everyone to be a complete asshole, good people MUST exist somewhere. You just gotta have Hope. Cause if you dont, and just bottle yourself up, then youve never lived." Chris was silent. "And besides," he added. "Youre pretty hot. You should have gotten yourself a boyfriend by now." Immediately Chris turned red and looked like she was about to yell at him. Van waved his hand at her and smiled. "HA! HA! Im just playin with ya." Chris and the dog growled at him. "Dont push yourself Paladin." She said kind of annoyed. "AND" Van said, his smile turning into a ugly frown. "You really gotta work with your peoples skills. Your not supposed to call friends by their occupation. At least by their previous ones." "Since when were we friends?" Chris asked, looking confused. "UGH! That hurt! What you mean when? We were friends a long time ago." "We were? But when?" Van sighed. "See? This is what I mean. You dont need to do something to Ah, what the hell. Here." He put his hand up. "Ill make it simple." His hand just stood there in the air waiting for Chris. Unfortunately, sit seems she was taking her time, as she thinking he was planning something. Frustrated, Van suddenly got up from the chair grabbed her right hand saying, "You take your hand like this. Then you do this." He stuck her left palm to his right. Creating another handshake. "There. Were friends." As she held his hand she looked at him blankly for a moment, then she said. "I still dont trust you completely." She answered. "Well I dont give a Shit." Van said smiling. "If you dont consider me your friend. Fine. But Ill still consider you as mine, and theres nothing you can do about it." She continued to stare at him for awhile. She was rather amazed on at his character. So unlike her in his attitude to trust people. After a what seemed like a long time, he let go and sat back on the chair, staring at her. "But if you could do at least one thing that I ask," Van said. "You could call me by my name, not cause by accepting me as your friend, but making it easier on yourself. Van sounds a lot easier than Paladin, dont you think?" She took a moment to think about it. "Okay, fine" Chris answered. Van grinned. ".Fenrir," She finished, grinning evilly. Van frowned and grunted. "Ah, what the hell. Better than nothing" In her lap, Kuro meowed at him. "Easier for you to say," Van said looking at him. "You dont have a last name." Kuro grinned. >3 Kukukukukukuu~! "So then" Chris began. "Whats YOUR story about?" Van moved his attention back to her. "Hmm?" "Why did you stop being a Paladin? And how was it that you met Kuro here?" Silence flooded the room as Van just stared at her Then he suddenly grinned and said. "Heh, I dont feel like telling you." "WHAT!? Well Then where were you from before here?" Still he grinned. "Hee hee, I dont feel like telling you that either!" "Arent you going to tell me anything!?" "Nope!" Chris immediately got angry. "HEY! Thats not fair. I told you things about me, but you wont say one thing about yourself?" "YUP!" "Why!? I thought we were friends!" "Yeah, but you see." He brought his forefingers up and twirled them. "Friends move in different circles." he grinned. Chris quickly grabbed the pillow off the bed and threw it at his face, hoping to erase that annoying smile. Unfortunately, his hands caught it easily. "And besides. Im little tired right now, so I think Ill go to sleep now. Thank for the pillow~!" He then got of the chair, and quickly fell on the floor, back turned, and the side of his head against the pillow. "HEY! Dont ignore me, tell me what you--" She was then immediately interrupted by a meow by Kuro. She looked down at him and he shook his head as if he was saying, Dont bother. "What?" she asked. Kuro then hopped from her lap and onto the floor. There he nudged the back of Vans shoulder, almost immediately, his entire upper body fell forward. Chris went wide-eyed. "Hes already fast asleep!?" She then noticed Kuro started to yawn as well and stretched his forward legs. "HEY! Dont you fall asleep as wel--" But it was too late. He had curled up comfortably on a space on the pillow and fell asleep. Chris threw up her hands as she got up off the bed. Brownie was already falling asleep as she walked out the door. It was midnight when she looked up to the sky. "This is a joke right?" She said as she walked behind the little house to a garage. She took one last look at her burnt house and sighed as she disappeared behind the building. Flipping a switch inside the garage, two pair of bikes shined in the light. "I guess you two will be getting some use." She went over to the bikes after grabbing a rag and started to work on them." "Hello little one." "Please, not tonight. He's in hearing range and I don't know how sound a sleeper he is." "Oh, don't worry. I doubt he will wake up anytime soon." Chris was grabbed by her wrist and thrown to the floor. The man that had grabbed her wrist now straddled her waist. "What has he told you?" "Nothing, he has said nothing of what he is. I will find out. I promise." "You will get close to him, do you understand?" A hand slid down her face. "So much alike but so different." He bent down to her face. His hot breath hitting her ear. "If I didn't need you, I would take you for myself but.....I need you to get information from Van. I need him to trust you completly." A noise outside brought the mans head up. "We need to go sir." The man straddling Chris gave a nod and stood up. "We will see each other again. Next time, with something more I hope." After the man disappeared, Chris layed there and started to cry sliently. She heard a rustle of leaves outside and went to investigate. "Hello?" When she saw nothing, she went back into the house to check on the three sleeping. They were all in the same spots. She watched Van for awhile as she brought her wrist up to eye level. 'I guess we are both the same in some regard. Both being chased for something.' She sighed as she saw the red mark on her wrist turning into a bruise. 'Keep your secrets Fenrir, it would be best for both of us.' Chris pushed off the frame of the door and went over to the bed. She sat down on the edge and took off her shoes while Brownie moved to the end of the bed. " Goodnight." She whispered to all as she laid down on her bed and went to sleep. "Goodnight." Van whispered back as he shut his eyes.

Chapter 2 As Christina continued to type on her computer with the headphone still on, a small brown dog suddenly lept onto her lap and peeked at monitor between her hands. Christina smiled. "Oh? What am I writing?" The dog barked, wagging its small tail. "Well take a look." Chris gestured. The dog took a moment too look at the monitor. It immediately growled and sorta slumped, as if recognizing something discomforting. "Yeah yeah." Chris laughed. "It wasnt exactly one of the most comfortable moments of my life either." 3 years ago As Van looked at girl beneath him he only managed a small, "Yo." Chris immediately freaked, screaming loudly and backing up. Van jerked in surprised and covered his ears. "GEEEZ! Whats your~!" "WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY BROWNIE!" Chris suddenly demanded. "Uh, Brownie?" "Wheres my Brownie!!?" "I-I-I dont know!" Van said confused and panicky. " I never took any cooking classes." Chris looked at him weirdly. "NO!" She shook her head. "Not Brownie! Brownie, my dog! WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY DOG!?" "Dog? OH! You mean this thing?" Van turned, revealing to her the bound up dog at the end of the stick he had over his shoulder. Brownie whined and twitched as she hung helpless by his bound legs and mouth. Chris freaked. "BROWNIE!! GIVE HER TO ME, NOW!!" "Okay! Geez." To her surprise he actually held up the dog to her. Not taking any chances, she quickly snatched her wrapped dog at the end of the stick and immediately untied her pet. "Oh my poor thing. Are you okay?" Brownie whined. Hrrrrrmmmmmmm! ;_; Chris looked fiercely at the Paladin. "You monster!" "Eh?" "How could you that to my Dog!?" "Cause she bit my Brownie," Van answered. Pointing to his rear. Chris didnt understand. Kuro made a pitied look, shaking his head Chris then saw the blade Van was holding. Her eyes widened. "Thats my sword! Give it to me!" This time the Paladin rejected. "No way!" he said, a little to defensively and childish. "Gimme mine first." He nodded at the sword in her left hand. "No way! You first!" "But you have two already!" "So would you! Look, just lay mine on the ground and I'll lay yours on the ground..seperated from each other." Chris pulled her robe tighter around her as she eyed Van while he put her sword down and she did the same...slowly. After laying his sword on the ground, she grabbed hers and backed away. Holding the sword at arms length and pointed at him, ask "Why are you here? Are you one of those men back there, the ones that tried to take me? "I have no idea what your talking about, I'm just wanting my sword back that your mangy mutt took from me!" He watched as she continued to back away. "She made a mistake. And about your butt, i'm sorry. She was only protecting me from you Paladin." Brownie stood in front of her master as she growled and barked at the man and his cat. Chris looked up to the sky as she felt one tiny drop hit her ear. Her hand went up to her ear almost instantly and she forgot she wasn't wearing her usual bandanna on her head to cover her ears. She had almost forgotten that she was only wrapped in a towel with her robe covering her and the towel. She looked down at Brownie and Brownie nodded in understanding as Chris turned and started running. "Hey, wait!!" Van yelled as he tried to take a step forward but the dog only barked and snapped her teeth at his advancing warning that she would bite elsewhere if he followed her. Then the dog ran off. Grunting at the dogs delay, Van grunted and went on running after Chris. "HEY! Hold up!! Kuro, cmon!" The two then followed after her across the clearing, back into woods. Even though Chris was a good distance away from them, she could tell that the Paladin was still on her trail, closing in fast. After about ten minutes of running, and being in the thickest part of the woods, she finally stopped and turned to face him. Brownie was in front of her, growling and barking. "Why are you following me, Paladin?!" As Van caught up he leaned on his sword , panted, looked down at Kuro and said, "Damn How did I get so outta shape?" Kuro meowed. "I asked you a question!" Chris snapped. "Why do you follow me?" "Cause I cant let you go this way." Van answered, still outta breath. Chris face tensed. "OH, So you ARE after me?" Van looked at her stunned, seeing that she was suddenly getting violent. "WAH? NO! I--" "You will not take me!" The blades glowed in her hands. "IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" She then swung the blades in front on her in one, downward swipe creating two waves of energy, one blue one red. They tore the ground as they headed straight for Van. "HOLY CRAP!" Van held his own blade in front on him as to shield himself. One hand gripping the pommel and the palm of his other behind the broad side of the blade, the narrow blade laid before him vertically as the waves came. As they finally struck target, the waves suddenly spread away as a curved barrier of white from the sword protected its user from harm. A shocking wave of sound and air rushed as the waves were deflected, disturbing the nearby ground except where Van and Kuro stood. When the dust cleared. Van looked down and Kuro, smiling nervously. "Piss your pants?" Kuro meowed. "I know I did," Van replied. Chris clenched her teeth in exhaustion as she saw the man and his pet unharmed. Paladin indeed She put her hand to her chest. It was then that she noticed her breathing became harder and she was beginning to get faint. Damn! Im still havent recovered fully yet, and that spell already took most out of me. Seeing that she was at a bad standing, she only backed away from him. Her dog did was doing her best to bark and guard, but she knew her dog wouldnt stand one chance. "Stay away Or Ill.. Kill" She was so entirely out of breath she couldnt even finish her sentence. Even Van could notice she was at the point of collapsing. "Hey You okay? You really dont look so good," he said concerned. "Keep away!" She continued to back away. "No really! You REALLY dont look so good. Listen I can help, you just need to-" He stopped. His eyes widened as if he just realized something. "WAIT! DONT MOVE!" "Im not Going anywhere" She said delirious. Van was practically begging, his hands in front of him in prayer. "Pretty please? Please dont move?" "People like you. Killed my Mother I wont ever--" SNAP! Chris suddenly felt something clasp her ankle Then before she knew it, her entire body went upside down and she lifted into the air. The shock cause her to drop her blades. They fell, piercing the ground and standing upright. Van looked up at her in depression. "Sigh I told you not to move" Chris moaned in exhaustion as she hung upside down, twenty-feet above the ground. This was just too much. Brownie below her barked at her in panic Then she turned to Van and Kuro, and growled at them as to blame them for this. Van raised an eyebrow at her. "Hey, dont look at me mutt." Van said annoyed. "I was chasing you guys to try to warn you that this place is full of hunter traps. But you wouldnt listen." Browning just sorta stared at him for awhile in silence She went to barking up in panic at Chris. Van just shook his head and looked up at Chris. "HEY! You awake?!" Chris just moaned. "Try to reach up and grab the rope! You gotta pull yourself up!" Delirious, Chris tried to do so but she was just too exhausted. She only managed to stretch her arm out, her upper body didnt bend one bit. Seeing this, Van closed his eyes in defeat. "Okay, never mind," He called. "Ill just get you down." He looked down at Kuro. "Kuro, get her down." Kuro looked at him wide-eyed. "MEOW!?!" "Whats with that look? Cats climb trees, right?" "MEOW~!" Van looked at him in disbelief. "You got nothing to worry about. All cats land on their feet." He said assured. This time Kuro just stared at him, like a frightened kitten. With that Van dropped his head and sighed. "You little black pussy Fine Ill go." With that he went to the trunk of the tree and started to climb. She hung up there swinging back and forth while the towel slowly started slipping away with her robe. Her eyes began to flutter shut as she uttered one word. "Mother...." After that one word, the whole world with it's sounds, went blank. Where she was it was dark and cold and up ahead she could see light and a fuzzy form. Chris kept walking and then out of thin air, children and adults of human and elves were gathered together. Has she looked on, she saw six cloaked people walking her direction. The children and grown-ups started to run from them while a number of human males and elves stood ground against the intruders. "You are not welcome here!" One of the males said. One of the hooded people took a huge bag off his shoulder and threw it on the ground while another kneeled and unzipped the bag showing a woman still alive in there. "Where is the child who belongs to this slut?" No one answered as a ten year old child looked on out of a darkened window of a house nearby the scene. She wanted to scream out but a hand was put over her mouth. " Please, Christina. There is nothing we can do for your mother now. You would get yourself killed along with the people protecting you. Please be still for everyones sake." The child struggled while streams of tears ran down her face. She tried to struggle more and scream as she saw a blade came down on her mother. Chris screamed as she rose from her laying spot. Her breathing was labored as she focused in on her surrondings. Brownie laid at her feet and rose her head to look at her master. The dog only whined a little as she got up and walked over to nudge Chris's hand. "Where am I?" Over in a chair slept the Paladin while the cat slept on the floor. Chris decided that she would take this change to escape. When she moved her legs over to the side of the bed and tried to stand up, she fell with a cry. A piercing pain went through her left thigh. The sudden sound cause Van to stir and awaken, seeing her on the ground. "Oh. Hey, your awake." He said, getting up and rubbing his eye. "Umm, you may not wanna move a lot. You kinda dislocated your leg while you hung there." He yawned. Chris looked up at him suspiciously, still not trusting him. Then she noticed that his left arm was in a sling. "Umm." "Yeah?" Van asked. "What happened to your arm?" Van looked at his slung arm unnoticing. "Oh this? Well uh" Van lied above the branch that held the rope binding to Chris leg. His eyes were also closed due to the fact that the towel and robe had suddenly slipped from Chris body. Though it WAS tempting too look, Kuro had informed him the dog would take a viewing fee outta his own body if he had so much as taken a peek. "Okay Kuro." Van called, eyes closed. "Im gonna crawl to the end of the branch. As she lowers to you, slash the rope, alright?" Kuro meowed. Van crawled forward along the branch, keeping balance. As he reached the tip, the entire branch bent forward due to the added weight. Chris body lowered to ground level. "Okay Kuro. That should be low enough. Go ahead." Kuro then took a stance, pranced up, and slash the rope with his claws. Chris unconscious body then fell to the ground. However. What Van failed to predict was that once Chris added weight was detached from the branch, Van was now lying on a naturally made catapult from the unstressed branch. After the branch recoiled in unforeseen speed, Van found himself flying across the forest, screaming in a high-pitched voice. The two animals flinched as he fell with a loud crunching sound. "Not exactly one of the most comfortable moments of my life." Van said squinting. "But Hell, it couldve been worse. A boulder broke my fall." Chris tried to stand up and get back on the bed. "A boulder? Your an idiot....." She sighed as she turned around and looked at him as she got into the bed. "A boulder would of killed you." Chris looked throughout the room and then back at Van. "Why would a Paladin be all the way out here anyway. Hunting elves like all the others maybe or trying to get the biggest price of all? Is that why you helped me down the tree." "Why would I want to hunt an elf? There is no gain in it anymore right Kuro?" Kuro looked up at Van and shook his head as if to tell Van he just said the wrong thing. "So you did hunt elves? Who sent you to get me huh? Someone who wants to make me a slave I bet. Where are my swords?" Christina looked around for her weapons as Brownie went over to stand next to Van and Kuro. "What are you doing Brownie?" She asked as the dog looked up to Van. "Are these the swords youre asking for." Raising the swords to show her, he threw them her way. "How about I go fix us something to eat. I bet your hungry after using all that energy of yours." After grabbing her swords, she looked over to Brownie which whimpered a little and then looked up at Van who was walking off. "Why are you being nice to me Paladin? You are human, a hunter." "Rest," is all he said as he walked out the room while Kuro and Brownie stayed near the bed. Van looked back to see his cat leap up onto the bed as he closed the door behind him. Chris was silent and confused. This wasnt the way a Paladin acted (Especially the way he talked). She knew Paladins were known to hunt Elves and nonhumans due to their system and Faith. Why was this one so undisturbed? There must be something going-- She stopped as she noticed the cat was staring at her. "Meow." It sounded like a hello. Chris didnt really know how to act to the Paladins pet. Nevertheless she simply replied, "Uh, Hi." "Meow." It went again. This time Chris could help but smile a little. "Youre cute. Whats your name, hmm?" To her surprise, the cat went over to the wall up against the bed and started to make quick, short scratches on it. It spelled out four letters in striped lines. "Kuro?" Kuro meowed. It sounded like a yup. Chris couldnt help but laugh impressed. "Well arent you the smart! Not even Brownie could do that." Brownie barked and whimpered. "Awww, dont say that my pet. I still you love." The dog just squinted and growled. As Chris laughed again, she went and pet Kuros cute little head Then her eyes widened. As soon as she touched him, she felt a sudden burst of dark power enter her mind that made her whole body shiver. She quickly pulled her hand back in shock as though she just burnt it. Kuro looked at her in wonder. "W-What are you?!" Kuro went over to the wall once more. This time he made five letters (and the word written in this fashion made it more horrifying than cute). D E M O N Chris jaw dropped. "Y-youre a--?!" Kuro meowed. It sounded like a yup. Chris face twitched in disbelief. She had heard of Demons existing, but she had never seen one with her own eyes. Though, there was something puzzling. How could he live and exist so easily in this world? Demons could only live in areas in with high malice such as their own world or certain places on the Earth. On top of that, what was a Paladin doing with a Demon as a pet?! Compared to the Elves, Demons were not even allowed to be slaved by Paladins. Theyd be killed on spot! Chris was back in confusion. "Whats going on?" She said to herself. Kuro meowed. It sounded like a Huh?" Chris stared at Kuro for a minute to think about the whole thing when all three lifted their heads upon Van's entrance to the room. "What?" was his only comment to all three as he walked in the room with a tray of food and set it down on a table beside the bed. He did the most unexpected thing. He shooed the animals off the bed and pulled the covers straight off. "Hey!!" Chris yelled in surprise. He grabbed her right leg and told her to be still. "I need to pop your leg in place." Chris turned her head and stared at the animals as a pop was heard throughout the room. She shut her eyes tight as the pain shot straight through her as tears started to roll down her face. Even the animals had to cringe at the sound. Van put the covers back on her and walked over to his chair with some food in his hands. "You should really eat, you know." She grabbed an apple from the tray and threw it straight at the Palidin. "Why haven't you used me yet or taken me away to the slave traders?! She almost screamed. Van caught the apple without looking causing him to drop the rest of his food. The animals both swamped in where the food was dropped and started to eat causing a small smile to grow on Chris's face. "Your not a normal Paladin are you?" She looked up at him as she picked up another apple. "Don't throw that. I'm holding in my temper as it is." he said in a warning tone as he stood up and crossed over to her bed. Putting one hand on either side of her bed, he leaned down where their noses almost touched. Chris could only watch him as she leaned farther back in her bed. "Who said I would use you for myself?" he said as he reached up and pushed some of her hair behind her ear. 'Such beautiful eyes' she thought before she kicked herself. "And stop calling me Paladin. My name is Van. Van Fenrir. And thats Kuro." Kuro only meowed as Van tilted his head in the cat's direction. "You have nothing to fear from us or me for that matter." "Yo...you..you're to close." all she could do was stutter. Van realized she was right. "Oh. Er.. Sorry." He backed off. "I'm Christ... Christina Gabriel. And my dog's name is Brownie." Brownie barked. "Ya I know," he said taking a piece of meat off the table. "You told me your dogs name already remember?" He threw it to Brownie who caught and ate it which really surprised Chris who knew her dog didnt take food from anyone but her. "But still. Pleased to meet you Christina." He held up her hand to her. Timidly, Chris slowly brought her hand up and grasped Vans softly. As soon as she did, Van shook. He shook it gently, not quickly or too strong at all, as if he wanted her to know him at her own pace. They just shook for ten seconds, her looking at his eyes. Strangely, she didnt feel scared or threatened at all. Just unusually calm "Gee.. You really arent a people person arent you?" Van asked, realizing the long shake. Kuro meowed at him. "Ah shut up." he said to him. Chris frowned. "What did he say?" she pointed. "He said Neither are y- Er. Forget it." He shook his head, realizing he was an idiot. "Its not important." he said embarrassed. Chris suddenly found herself laughing at him. Idiot as he was, it was still funny. "Are you really a Paladin? You really dont act like one." She giggled. "No." Van answered. "At least not anymore." "What do you mean?" she asked. "Ahh Ill explain it to you later. Its a long story," he shrugged. "For now, what do you say we eat?" He smiled. "I'm not really hungry....just tired. Using nature to kill someone really takes a toll on me but I have enough to heal you." "Heal me?" "Your arm is badly bruised and I thought broken but seeing that you had it down on the bed straight, I guess it wasn't hurt as bad as I thought. Sit on the side of the bed." Van set down on the side of her bed and watched what she was doing. "What are you doing?" She put both hands cupped on the upper round part of his arm as blue light shined in her hands and the ruins down her arms began to give off a light glow. "I'm helping the healing process in your arm." Immediately Van felt the pain in his arm subside. "Ohhhh! Wow, thanks! Its not a bother is it?" "I have time besides, Brownie doesn't usually take kindly to people especially humans. So I take it she considers you special. Could I have some clothes or something other then this robe and towel?" She took away her hands and the glow of her hands and ruins died down. "Sure.. Ill go look around." Van then got up and headed for the door, but before he went outside he asked, "You called for your mother earlier. Where is she now.?" Chris looked down at her hands. "Dead by the hands of humans....hunters actually. There are people in this world who believe different species shouldn't mate together and when they hear that they had, well......you get the picture. I saw my mother die." Chris paused for a second before continuing. "After that, me and my father lived together, alone, up in these woods. He's gone now also. Now I have nothing since those hunters burned down my house." Van just stared at her silently for a moment. Then he smiled, "Youre lucky." Offended, Chris yelled angrily, "Lucky!? What do you mean Paladin? Parents of a half-breed are better dead and never to see their own child!? That their deaths were--" "To have parents that accepted and loved you despite what was in your blood," Van interjected. "And to protect and stay by you just because you were their child. Ive hardly seen any parents willing to give up a price for that, especially for a half-breed as yourself. Wish I had a Mom and Dad that were willing to do that for me Or even have ones to begin with." Chris was speechless, surprised by the words by a person who was affiliated with a same people that murdered her mother. Before she could even reply, Van had already left and closed the door behind him.

CONTRACT Chapter 1 It was 3pm on a Thursday afternoon. Christina sat at her computer desk listening to some of Gorillaz music and thinking of how her and her husband had met. She thought about it as she wrote things down in her laptop computer. Was it really only three years ago when she first saw him? Christina remembered the clearing where she first saw him. Both had noticed each other at the same time but only she ran from him. "Why did I fall in love with him?" She sighed as she put the head phones on and turned up the music so everything else was drowned out. 3 years ago Another bead of sweat dropped as Chris dropped the final bundle of twigs into the shed at the side of her home. Winter was coming soon and she was going to need a lot more to keep her settled up for the coming season. Time like these really made her miss her father, it was usually him who did all the backbreaking chores while she did all the simple chores of cooking and cleaning while he was around. Now that he was gone, she was forced to do both sides of the work from now one, making her body more physically active than before. It had been atleast 4 years, and despite her now leaner, active body her back still ached the same. "I miss you Dad..." she murmered.... and bent backwards creating a low cracking sound. "Ugh..." As she was preparing to go in the house, she turned to see her dog sitting still at the edge of the fence just looking off into the distance. When Chris called her, Brownie didn't come. "What is it girl? What do you see out there?" She walked over to where her dog sat and looked out into the trees. "There is nothing out there. Just a bunch of trees. Come on it's getting cold out here." Chris bent down to pick up the meduim sized dog and scratched the back of the dogs head. Chris looked up at the sky as she reached the edge of her house. "Bad weather is coming." she whispered to no one in particular. The clouds ranged in shades from the evening sun saying it's farewell's for the day and also ranged in the shades of gray to dark blue. Christina sighed as she walked up the creaking steps to the porch. She took one final look out onto her land before opening and closing the door behind her with her dog snuggled in her arms. Some distance away... A young man wearing slightly torn, dark clothing was trudging through the uneven ground and high-roots of the forest, carrying a large brown sack over his right shoulder. He then slightly hopped onto a small summit of roots and took a moment to survey his surroundings. "Okay Van..." he whispered to himself. "Which way now...?" Before Van could make that decision however, a small black cat suddenly leaped onto his left shouler and looked him square in the face. "What?" he asked. The cat answered a blunt, "Meow." Van immediantly frowned. "I'm not lost Kuro..." "Meow." "No I'm not." "Meow." "No I'm not." "Meow." "NO I'M NOT! Now get the hell off me!!" He then jerked his shoulder, causing Kuro to tumble off rather violently with a loud, "WAWR~!" Van rubbed his shoulder where he was on. "Your nails dig into my skin..." He murmered. As Van rubbed he noticed the area suddenly got darker. He looked up into the cracks of sky concealed by the tall, wide trees and saw that the sun appeared to have been covered by dark, blue clouds. Hmm, seems it's gonna rain heavy today. Better make camp for now... Back at the house.. Christina set down the dog while walking through the hallway. Lights began to flicker on as she passed each one. "This is why we live alone my friend. If anyone knew of my abilites, I would surly be captured and you would be out of a home." The dog followed her into the bathroom and then sat in the door frame while watching her master strip from the soiled clothes she had on. Brownie watched as the water was turned on to feel the tube. Finally she laid down as to guard her master from anyone beyond the bathroom door. Chris stepped into the tube and sat down, inching herself into the warm/hot tube. "This feels good on my sore body. Sure you don't want to join me my pet?" She looked at her dog in amuzement as the dog turned its back on her. "Awwww...are you still mad at me for throwing you into the pond?" She laughed as the dog growled her disapporval on the matter. "But where would I be if you were not around Brownie? Probably lost in despair and boredom? You make my life more enjoyable." The dog only grunted as it laid its head down on it's paws. Christina laid her head back on the rim of her tub, hair starting to plaster to the rim of the tub and her face giving, everyone who could see, a visual of her ears and who she was. Being any part of an elf was dangerous....even if she was only a half-breed. She knew the dangers of it and especially snice she could weild magic. That is why her father kept her hidden away from the rest of the human world even though she could pass as a human with her reddish-brown hair and her eyes which were different colors. One eye was blue while the other was a sea green. From a distance, the same but close up, the difference could be told. She sighed as she remembered why she remained in solitude. Christina had gone to grab the soap until it slipped out of her hands and onto the floor. When she opened her eyes and bent over the tub to grab the soap, she noticed Brownie was no longer in the door way. "Guess she had to go outside." She shrugged and went back to cleaning her dirty body. Some distance away... "So..." Van asked, bringing out his arms out to what seemed to be a ill-attempt of a simple tent. "What you think?" Kuro just sat upright, staring blankly at the small, collapsed shelter. ...What the hell is this crap? Then he heard a strange sound and twisted his head behind him, staring out into deep forest. Van immediatly noticed his change of attention. "Hmm? What's up?" Without a even a meow, Kuro dashed away toward the area he was looking at leaving Van stunned. "HEY! Where you going!?" He ran to follow him. Then, as if forgetting something, he ran back to small tent, getting out a long slender object wrapped in white cloth and belt and continued after him. "Damned Cat..." Back at the house.... Chris set up in the tub as she heard her dog barking at something. She grabbed a towel off the chair beside the tub and wrapped herself in it as she stood up. "Brownie?" She called as she started to walk out of the bathroom and down the hall. Halfway down the hall, she opened the closet door and pulled out two ancient looking blades that had dragons wrapped around the handle with a single jewel as the eye for both. The blade itself had runes on it. After grabbing the blades, she walked to the front to see the dog barking at the door or what was beyond it "Hold on, let me get my robe and then we will go out." But too late. The dog rushed out the dog door before she could grab anything to cover herself and the towel she was in. "Dammit dog." After she robed herself, she rushed out the door too see what her dog was so anxious about. Standing on her porch, she saw six people stand beyond her fence. "What do you want?!" All six of them turned their heads towards her and held up weapons as they came closer to the house. Chris raised her blades in front of her. "Stay back!" She ordered. They didn' t listen."I said stay back!" Her blades began to glow red and blue. "Or I'll~!" "Seal her." One of them said. Two more people suddenly emerged from the side of her home aiming grenade launchers. They fired simutanously. Chris immediatly crossed the blades in front of her, preparing a proctective spell. However, the grenades didn't explode on impact, instead they stuck into the ground a few feet from her. Before Chris could begin to wonder what happened, small antenna-like devices emerged from the top of the grenades and a pillar of white light roared between them, right where Chris stood. An immeasurable amount of pain suddenly flooded her body, causing her to scream uncontrolably. Every muscle in her body tightened, she felt she would shatter her own spine. As the current continued to circulate through her, the blades in her hands slipped from her hands, dropping to the ground. The red and blue glow faded. When the pillar of the light finally ended, Chris dropped to her knees, gasping for breath. But before she could either do that, the two armed men used two long poles, each holding half of a collar, and clamped it around her neck. Then, like shoving a restaint dog, they threw her back, hitting and stunning her head against her own house door. "Get the blades." The man ordered. "NO!" Chris tried to resist, but as she did, she felt a surge of electricity flow through her every time she did. It wasn't as intense as before, but it was enough to keep her weakened and dazed. "Shut up," the man said uncaring. "Or do you want the Bitch to die first?" He held up a small battered dog by its collar and let it fall to the ground. "Brownie!" "I said shut up." He turned to his men. "Hurry and pick them up and place them in the cases." Chris hurt all over but she couldn't allow them to take her or her dog to wherever they planned to take her. "You will not take us anywhere!" She shouted as the clouds became even darker then before. Loud clasps of thunder began to sound as lightening began to dance arcoss the clouds. The men started walking towards Chris when a bolt of lightening hit both of them. "What the hell is going on?! Hurry up and grab her you idoits!!" The leader shouted as he looked at the two men that were cooked to a crisp. Chris focused on her dog and muttered something under her breath. Bringing the dog to her by a spell,she cuddled the dog close to her as she watched the lightening dance with each man. Chris could no longer take the pressure on her body or the pain that coursed through her body. Her vision began to become hazy and her mind foggy as the power she was using slipped from her. The two men who were left standing watched her as she collasped to the porch beside her dog. They began to inch their way toward her as the lightening backed off. Seeing that she still had the collars around her neck, they hurried up and grabbed the poles and pulled her off the porch. One of the man walked up to her body and examined her from head to toe. "Too bad we can't have any fun with her first. She looks like she would be a great lay. I wonder if she is a virgin." He bent down and ran a hand from her neck to her chest opening her robe slightly enough to show the top of her breast's. "Dude, are you nut's? She's dangerous. Let's get her in the van before she can do anything else to us." "Just one sec." The guy over Chris smirked like the devil. "This is no time to be Fucking around." The leader said. "The orders were to take her to HQ unharmed." "The hell i care what the top brass--" "It wasn't just from the top-brass, you dumb-ass," the leader added. "It came from the head honcho himself." The man suddenly went dead silent. "But Hell. Go ahead, have your fun, see if I care if it'll be the last thing you be 'ABLE' to do if he ever found out she was ripped." Immedietly the man began to drag Chris' unconcious to the van, while uttering shallow, "Shit..." As he did, the leader removed a red grenade from his belt, flicked off the pin, and threw it into the house. As the man picked up the blades with each hand walked toward the van, a roaring red flame engulfed the inside of the home, emmitting a fiery orange glow protruding from every window of the old home. Van had been chasing Kuro for atleast a half-hour till he finally caught site of him siting in the middle of a small trail. He dropped to his knees right in exhaustion while Kuro just sat upright, looking at him. He didn't look tired one bit. "Where.. The.. Hell you going?" Van panted. Kuro took a secound to look around... Then he looked at Van again and made a short purr and meow. Van immediatly went wide-eyed. "WHAT YOU MEAN 'NEVERMIND'!?!" He purred again. "I don't care what you thought you heard! " He meowed. "Oh, ho ho ho... Damn right you gonna be sorry ..." With that, he quickly grabbed his tail and held him up. As Kuro hung like possum he made meows very similiar to crying... "I save your life and this is the thanks I get!?" "Meeeoooooowwww...." ToT "Just for this, I'm gonna carry your black-ass like this all the way back to-- OH SHIT!!" Van quickly jumped to the side as a van suddenly appeared before them. As he did, the truck immediatly steered into the other direction off road and slamming into a large tree. Van laid on his stomach, the item wrapped in cloth suprisingly still in this right hand and Kuro... Hey, where was Kuro? "Kuro... Where are you?" Van squinted, trying to recover. A shallow meow replied and Van looked under himself, finding Kuro flatted like a road-killed cat under him. "Oh, sorry about that." "Meow...." "Hey, look at the bright side. Atleast you didn't get crushed by the van." Kuro squinted. Speak for yourself.... As Van slowly got up, two angry men from within the van emerged from the crushed vehicle. Van smiled meekly and was about to ask if they were alright before one of them said, "What fuck you doing on the road you dumb-ass mother-fucker?!" Van was immediately stunned with his mouth wide open. Usually Van wouldn't bother making senseless fights and he tried to avoid them when all possible. But what was this bullshit about? Pedestrians had right-of-way and he would've gotten more injured than they would. Son of a... No way he was taking this bullshit! "What the hell you call me you damn monkey-fucker!?" "What!?" Kuro meowed loadly at Van. "Quiet Kuro, let me handle this." "Oh so this bum talks to cats too eh? Hey CAT!" Kuro looked at him. "Why don't you and your gay lover go and get your asses out of here? Go fuck off in the woods." Kuro pranced up, his hairs standing out straight as he hissed at him. WHAT THE HELL DID YOU SAY TO ME?!? "OH yeah?" Van countered. "Well what the hell was up with that driving? You suckin on his knob?" The argument was just to its critical point when suddenly the back door of the van broke open. Silence broke between two sides as a hand of a lifeless body seemed to fall out and fall to the dirt road. Both sides just stared silently at the hand.... then they looked at each other. After what seemed like a 20 seconds of silence, one of the men said to the other, "Kill him." As one of the men pointed a gun at him. "This is all your fault Kuro..." "Meow?" Chris moaned as her hand hit the dirt. She heard noises close by. A fight? In her mind she saw three men battleing each other. As she rolled over to her side, she tried to sit up but found she couldn't. She moved her other hand to her side to feel for her dog. "Brownie?" she whispered as she brought the dog to her. Somehow, she manged to pick up the dog and crawl out of the truck while all three men were occupied. She slowley got to her feet with the dog in her arms and walked off into the patches of trees that would hide her from the men who had taken her. "Hey c'mon guys." Van smiled. "You don't wanna do that." "Yes we do." The man with the gun answered. "No you don't." "Yes we do." "No you don't." "Yes we do." "No you don't." "Yes we do." As the two bickered on, the other man stared peculiarly at the kid. There something familiar about his clothes. Though they were worn and torn to an extent, he knew he'd seen something like them before. And what was it that that cloth covered thing he was holding in his hand...? Better not take any chances. "Will you shut the hell up and shoot him already?" And with that the man fired his gun. Kuro, as in some insane action, suddenly jumped in front of Van, the bullet penetrating his midtorso. He fell dead to the ground. "KURO!" The man with the gun grinned. However, to his surprise, the kids face suddenly turned to annoyance. "Dammit, that couldve hit me! You couldnt have jumped any earlier?" At first they thought that the kid was insane. However, it wasn't until they saw the cat suddenly got right back up to its feet and shake its head from all the dirt he fell in. Despite the large bloody hole in its torso, it acted as if he just got out of a bath. Kuro gave Van an annoyed meow. "No, you shut up," Van answered. "C'mon, you take the left one, I got the right one." The gun shook in the right man's hand. "I-I shot him!" "Yup. And now you've pissed him off.... Sickim Kuro." Immediatly, Kuro's body tensed and the hairs of his body pointed outward. His snarling meow slowly began to get louder and lower. His body suddenly muscled and his claws and teeth began to grow. In loud, crackling bursts, Kuro body began to get larger in size and suddenly, in less than a few seconds he was about the equal size and shape as a black couger. As the bullet wound in his torso healed with a fiery flame, is eyes glowed red and his horns, claws, and teeth shined bright white as he laid eyes on his target (or prey as it would). "What the HELL is that!?" The man shrieked. "Something thats gonna kick you ass right about Now." In blurring speed, the changed Kuro dashed forward and pranced onto the armed man. The man next to him immediately went for his gun. "No you dont." Van smiled as he dashed toward him. "Its ME you gotta worry about." The belt of the cloth in Vans hand had unbuckled and the white cloth flew off, revealing a shining, silver, engraved sword. The man recognized it immediately. A Paladin!? Off in the woods, clashing of swords and guns fireing could be heard through the trees that bothered the ears of a certain dog and a bruised up woman. The dog stirred while her master still laid on the ground. Brownie stood up and looked over at her master, walked over to her and nudged her face a little. Chris only moaned signalling to the dog that she would be alright. After staying with her a few moments ,while the ground covered her in leaves and vines, she ran off towards the noise that was emitting through the trees. The wind ran past the dog while a few branches tried to reach out and grab her but she was too fast for anything to stop her. Light began to penatrate through the opening of the woods. Once Brownie came upon the exit of the woods, she lept onto the truck to sniff around for the swords that were left behind. "Stupid humans." she thought as she jumped off the top of the truck and went to look in the back of it. "Found yall." Brownie turned towards the men and barked. "Hey isn't that the girl's mutt?" "What the hell, that thing was half dead with her. What is it with these animals? " One of the men said while he laid underneath the large cat. The other man ran off after the dog. " Sorry Mike, but the girl is important." The man called Mike looked at his friend with wide eyes. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!!" he shouted but was shut up by the huge cat. The dog jumped into the truck as the man came closer. As he peered in the back of the truck, he saw nothing. Not even the blades that laid back there. The dog suddenly appeared ontop of the truck and growled at the man below her with her masters blades in her mouth. Brownie turned her head to Van and Kuro and just stared at them. "Come here you stupid mutt!!!" He shouted as he jumped for the top of the truck forgetting all about Van and Kuro. The runes on the blade started to glow. Brownie growled at him. The blades made it too heavy for her to run so she would have to-- "HEY!" Van yelled as he suddenly dashed up and grabbed the guy by the back of his shirt. "Dont you Fuckin ignore me asshole!" He brought the guy to the ground and started wailing on his face. "This! Is What! You get! For trying! To fuck! With me!!" As both animals watched, they couldnt help but flinch as the Van continued to pound the poor guy with hilt of the sword. "Get up here!!" he brought the guys bloodied head up and POW! Head butted him into submission. Brownie and Kuro turned their heads. "Rest in peace monkey-fucker" Van got up and took a look at the dog. It just stared at him, the blades still glowing in its mouth. "Uh Yo." Van answered. The dog then growled and barked at him. Dropping one of the swords to the ground. Wide-eyed, Brownie looked at the dropped sword beneath her. "BROWNIE, YOU IDIOT!" "Hmm? Whats this?" Van bent over and picked up the glowing blade. "OH CRAP! CRAP! CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!" In a panic, Brownie jumped off the truck and ran into the forest with the remaining blade in her mouth." "HEY WHERE YOU GOING!?" he ran after her. "Cmon Kuro, help me out!" In a red flash, Kuro reverted back to his smaller self, and followed after van Then he went back over back to his unconscious prey, made long and quick scratches on his face, and went back on his way. He giggled evilly, "Kukukukukukuku~!" >3 The blade still in her mouth, Brownie ran as fast as she could making zig and zags to lose the human and cat behind her. She needed to return the blade to her master and go after the other one. If the blade remained in the humans hand, it would lead him straight to her masters spot and the dog couldn't have that. Finally reaching the resting spot of her master, she laid the sword down beside her and bounded off again to get the other blade back. Sniffing the air twice she had caught the scent of them and they were close. Running back into the direction she came from she saw them standing still and looking around, the cat sniffing the air. Brownie growled and ran right for them knocking Van down in surprise. "Hey dog, what was that for!!?" Van yelled as the dog came back for him but aimed for his arm and the hand that held the sword. Brownie knocked the sword out of his grip on her second run as Van watched her. "Oh, I get it. Something special about that thing huh?" Van stood up and waited till Brownie was close enough to grab her but when the dog got close to his hands, she disappeared and reappeared with the sword in her mouth. Kuro started laughing as Van gave the cat a nasty look. "Stay away human or I'll kill you!" The dog got into a fighting stance and kept growling and barking at the two while she backed off into the shadows of the trees. Van scratched his head in wonder as the dog disappeared. Ah What the hell.. He thought. Why the heck was he following the dog anyway? This had nothing to do with him. Screw it, the mutt can go ahead and have the blade for all he cared. "Lets go Kuro." He began to walk away and Kuro followed. "Meow?" "Im not giving up." Van answered. "I just dont see the point of all this crap anymore. And besides, I got my own blade." He held it up in front of him. "I dont anoth--" He stopped short. He squinted at the sword he held. ".Oh hell no." Brownie dashed a few more feet till she was right back at her masters side. She dropped the blade next to her. Immediately, Chris held her up and rubbed her head. "Good Girl! I can always count on you!" Brownie barked. Chris then picked up the blade and looked at it with a smile. Which immediately turned into a frown. "Umm Brownie What is this?" Brownie looked at the blade. The blade was glowing Glowing a bright white color. And the blade looked a little more broader The hilt a little longer Brownie went wide-eyed. Youve gotta be kidding me! "Nyahhhh~!" Van barked at him. "Shut up! Quit makin fun of me! "Meow, meow~!" "I said shut up! Cmon we gotta find that mutt. That thing could be burying it in the ground for all we know." Chris looked at the blade closely taking in the design and the make of it. Her eyes widen as she figures it out. "This is a paladin's sword. They hardly come out here." Chris set Brownie down on the ground and used both swords to help her off the ground. "I'm still weak even after this tree gave me it's strength. I can't fight a Palladian right now." The dog barked while Chris sighed. "No, he might kill you Brownie and I can't have that." The dog barked again. "Fine, but you will meet me in the clearing understand? You don't get close to him or his pet for any reason....you just try and lead him as far away from me as possible. DO NOT TRY AND GET MY SWORD BACK!! Not now anyway. Go and be careful. The dog ran off towards the human male and his cat while Chris watched in concern. After a few minutes, she turned around and headed in the opposite of her dog, making her way to the destination as fast as she could. She coughed and went down on one knee. "Father...." she whispered. "I need help." Standing up again, she used both swords as walking staves to keep her steady and kept walking. Brownie bound her way to the human. They were too close to her master for comfort. Thinking of a way to distract them, she came upon them barking and growling and ran past them in hopes they would follow. She would take them back to the van and then leave them there while she returned to her master. That was her plan anyway. "What the fuck dog? What the hell did we do to you?" Brownie kept barking and would walk backwards a little just to show she wanted them to follow her. "What you think Kuro?" he asked when he noticed the dog didn't have his sword. "Hey, the mutt doesn't have my sword. WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO WITH MY BLADE MUTT?" the dog ran off. Van went steaming red. "THAT LITTLE~!" He began to run after him when Kuro suddenly meowed loudly at him. "What is it?" Kuro turned his body the other direction, pointing the other way. "You sure?" Van asked. Kuro meowed. "Hmmm. Well I dont know. The mutt went this way, so--HUH?" He stopped. He looked at the blade in his hand, it began to glow a brighter blue than before. Experimenting, he pointed the sword in both directions. It glowed brighter in the direction Kuro was facing. Within the darkness of some bushes, Brownie stared at what the human was doing. Damn, hes figured it out! Van scratched his head. If the two blades that dog was carrying were connected somehow, perhaps where it hid the other one, his own was nearby "Well, by this thing I guess our best bet would be that way, huh? Alright then, lead on." Kuro lead on and Van followed. Brownie was not pleased. Crap crap crap crap!! Gotta stop that cat! In desperation she flashed out of the bushes, ran up, and CHOMP! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! Van ran around frantically. The small mutt clamped on rear tail like an anchor. Kuro couldnt do anything but watch. .And laugh. Van was practically in tears. "WWAAAHHHHHHH! LET ME GOOOO~!!" After a few desperate shakes of his hips, the mutt managed to lose its grip and tear a piece of clothing off, releasing Van from its torture. Van immediately did a small dance, to shake away the pain. "Ooooo ya ya ya ya ya!! Oooooh my butt!" With the small piece of black cloth in its mouth, Brownie repeated her stance and growled at him. Surprisingly however, as soon as the Van was done "recuperating," he suddenly gave her a death glare stronger than her own. "YOU DAMN MUTT! Thats it!! Your ass is MINE! KURO!!!" Without her notice, the cat, now transformed in its larger form, was suddenly behind Brownie with its teeth glaring at her. It gave it mountain-lion-like roar at her. There wouldnt be any time for her to run. Crap! Kuro leaped forward. Chris remained waiting at the clearing, sitting among the tall grass. She continued to wait patiently for Brownie but to no avail. She felt a little better however, the pain nearly subsided and she walked more easily, but she wasnt at all battle ready if that Paladin ever did get to her. Sitting on the ground, she tightened her grip on the swords as she was the sun beginning to set. Then runes on her arms began to glow Chris immediately got up, still a rather weak she looked around. Her sword was nearing. Could the Paladin have reached her? She feared the worse for her dear dog. Still she didnt see anything tall and human amongst the tall grass. She took a chance and called out. "Brownie??" Almost immediately she saw a small ruffle in the tall-grass nearby. The ruffling then began to move toward her, as if a small animal was running to her. In relief, Chris smiled and knelt down to great the dog in open arms However her smile was replaced with frown as the dog was replaced with a black cat instead. "Meow?" Chris heart skipped a beat when she assumed what would happened next. "HEY, slow down!" The Paladin yelled as he entered her area from within the wall of tall grass, carrying a stick over his shoulder and a annoyed look on his face. "I cant see you with all this--!" He went silent. As he noticed her on the ground, and him abover her, they both went silent. Both not knowing what would happen next.