!PRIVATE! Marchen: The Journey

[SilverDragonetsu]

~
Maybe he'd just give the ring to Kiba and not trade it for the other. Just to be safe. He'd seen in Kiba's expression before how important the ring had been to him. He wouldn't take chances incidentally giving Kiba a fake and Daniel the real one. T'was uncanny, though, that he hadn't seen the difference...I made him feel like he was loosing his touch.

He was about to go when Daniel had to go and make his commentary about Aki being jealous over him. He held a hand over Daniels mouth,halting him from saying any more than that. "Whoa.Hold on there, buddy. I don't know where you're getting this 'jealous' stuff from, but there is no way that girl will ever look at me in anything but spite and loathing, Nor do I hope she ever does..." He gave Usagi a little pat to the head, causing her to smile a little in her sleep, before he slipped away to make his delivery.

[Bones McCoy]

Smiling behind the hand because he seemed to notice it when the other did not. He had to roll his eyes at least once at those words. When his mouth wasn’t covered, he couldn’t help but grin, “Darling, you really are blind to people. Trust me, you get connected with someone…don’t care what you may think now…you’ll see it mate, and trust me…its going to be quite a spell.”

HE just had to get his few cents in there before Ryuu headed out to make his quick delivery, “and sides, Little Usa would love to have a female in her life…”

“and you call me annoying,” Vent said over his shoulder towards Daniel, “pssh, he doesn’t want anyone not with how things are turning out…so shoo away from such perverted thoughts…”

Daniel appeared amused, “I didn’t think you cared.”
“I don’t….just pointing it out.”
“You sure?”
“…..cram it….” Vent snipped out as he snuggled against the pillow.

~

Kirie kicked at the covers slightly. It wasn’t easy to relax when she knew what was going on out there in this world. She knew Kiba was not ready for war or what laid before him. The poor boy had been settled for so long and then to have him thrust out into this life was cruel.

Though it was customary for men his age to be set out and fend for themselves until they learn the art of survival. And then, and only then would he be allowed into his clan again. Kirie cursed lightly, sitting up in bed and letting the covers fall off her. She didn’t care to cover up since she was alone. “…three….two….? how many hours remain..?” the female glanced skyward at the ceiling, as if it held the answer which it didn’t.

“…and I have to wait before I can find that man again…he knew about me…and was only a perv, nothing more….I should have broken his pipes when I had the chance.” Of course pipes meant many things.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki's pace slowed, but now tears ran down her face. If what the Anasazi woman had said was true, (and Aki couldn't see how it wasn't) then that meant that the gift she now held in her hand was an effort comprised of all of the woman's life, and it had been just for she, Aki. Aki had heard of some prophecies like this occurring among the elven race, but she never thought anything like this would happen to her. It was, indeed, a bit much to swallow.

As she walked, Aki tried to recall exactly what the woman had said about the fang. '...If each drinks from the Hellhounds fang, it will cloak your spirits and hide you, if even for a while, from the shadows...' Did that mean that the potion inside the fang would make her invisible? Such a feat would be difficult for Aki to master by herself, but as she thought about the possibility, she longed for it, desired it. But such power scared her and she tried to erase it from her mind.

But what of the other things the woman had said? '...Dark things follow you. Dangerous things. They know you and your party too well...' Aki shivered. Which things did the woman mean? There was one threat that Aki was well aware of, the threat that had brought her away from her home in the first place. Another obvious threat seemed the outsiders, but they seemed to be after Ryuu more than she. What has that idiot gotten himself into, anyway? Aki thought irritably. But was there something else? Something much larger, much deeper, than anything she had ever imagined? Aki couldn't see how that could be, but then again, if it was beyond her imagination, then it was beyond her imagination.

Aki shook her head, disgusted with herself. I should be greatful for this gift. She thought. But I didn't thank her properly. I didn't even ask for her name!

Just then, Aki felt something that alarmed her. She turned quickly around, but saw no one there. Her fear mounting, she looked around some more, up on the rooftops even, for what she could swear were others around, but saw nothing. I thought Ryuu said this city was safe...? Her fear growing, Aki quickened her pace.

[SilverDragonetsu]

((Aw! Aki did do a big post. Cheers! X3))

When Aki stopped, the stalkers seemed to go away. Or hide, more or less. Above her, a voice seemed to whisper to something below. A pair of voices behind Aki quietly bickered, thinking they were unheard. It almost got louder until they managed to hush each other, falling silent again. They came from a dark alley way not far off.

(Agh! short post fraction... @xo...it'll get bigger here shortly. ^_^;; )

((And now a word from Aster, to make this unbelievably small post look bigger and better.))

"Did you hear?" "Hear what?" "There was an attack in a village not far from here." "Which one? I heard of two." "Two attacks? This close? Ya think their linked, somehow?" "Of course they are! Don't you know nu'thin?" "Not from what I hear, mates. The attack on Elypse was made by some unknown army. And resulted in a single fatality." "What was the other, then? Tell us, tell us already." "There other was a massive slaughter on an attack from Outsid---"

"That's enough boys. I'll not have any of that none sense..." Aster quieted the busy tongues of the group of men, heated in talks of battle. He'd been watching them for some time now, as they prattled away. He was earnestly interested himself, but once the mention of Outsiders nearly slipped the tongue, he'd stopped their conversing then and there. It was all he wanted to hear, even if they might have more important things for him to hear on the topic.


"Sorry, Aster. I know don't like talk of that sort of thing, much. Just thought I ought to inform the lads about news from the country."

Aster gave a nod at the scruffy looking man, then side glanced apologetically to a small family dining at his inn. A young couple with two small children. The last thing folks like them needed to hear was news about Demons from the other side wreaking havoc so close to home.

[Aki Ameko]

More voices. Aki was sure of them this time. It was then that Aki grew frustrated, and stopped. "I can hear you, you know!" She called bravely into the not-so-empty darkness. "What do you want??!!" She drew one hand away from her chest, and a short spark emitted from it.

((One short post meets another. = P ))

[SilverDragonetsu]

All went very still in that narrow little ally way. They'd been found out. She knew they were there! From the dark enclosure, the two could see the spark Aki had created. A spark that was meant for them if they did anything stupid. More or less, entice the woman to defend her self.

There was another brief argument as the two scrambled. There was a shove, a clatter of metal and something grassy, almost wooden, and a cry of surprise. A woven trash bin clattered out of the ally way, and into the rather empty street, followed by Iroe, an Anasazi Aki had met earlier.
After a moment, Feiht came out after the other, scowling and laughing at Iroe for being such a clutz.
Iroe glared at Feiht. It was the others fault he'd made a fool of himself. Feiht had pushed him out of the ally way.

((And I'm going to bed, I think. T _ T niiiight.))

[Aki Ameko]

Aki relaxed a bit, but scowled at the Anasazi men. "What do you want?" She asked angrily. She moved the hand holding the fang potion from her chest, and casually placed her hand at her side so that it was hidden beneath her cloak.

[SilverDragonetsu]

~
Iroe stood stark still, fumbling for an excuse, as it were, although Aki wouldn't understand him. Feiht stepped out of the ally way, snickering at Iroe and clapping him on the back. They straightened, though, when from above, two more shadows loomed over the young witch. Yekop, the calico colored anasazi and T'nelis the white one.

Yekop cast a goofy looking apologetic look, then glowered disapprovingly at Feiht and Iroe. It seemed Aki would never get a straight explanation from the felines. Let alone an explanation at all seeing as they were too busy getting scolded or bickering to explain themselves.

T'nelis suddenly jumped down from roof top behind Aki, approaching her and pulling softly at her sleeve. He had a very wise and straight face. eyes that were aged, but a face not so much.
Looking towards the group, he seemed to frown, but looked away. Crouching to the dirt ground, he scratched a sketchy looking picture. A tall pointy eared stick figure with wavy hair, and four shorter stick figures around it holding circles meant to be shields. The Anasazi tugged at Aki's skirt and pointed at the picture, then pointed at himself and the others over his shoulder with a thumb. With a smirk a smirk, he drew another picture, the same as before but the four short figures behind the big one, like stalkers.
Again, T'nelis jabbed a thumb at the three behind him, then circled a finger at his temple.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki watched in confusion as the four Anasazi men stumbled around and bickered with one another. Then watched incredulously as one of them began drawing in the dirt. They want to play ball?? She thought, seeing the circular objects in the stick-figures 'hands'.

"I don't have time for this..." Aki muttered, scowling again. She turned abruptly to her left and continued heading down the street.

[SilverDragonetsu]

T'nelis simply laughed at Aki's portrayal of his drawings. He never was very good at it, although it was sometimes all he had for communication. As the elf woman began to walk off, he side glanced back at the other three. Then turned and followed Aki quietly. Not like he could say anything if he wanted to.

Eventually as they walked, the others began following again.though some reason in the shadows once more. T'nelis ignored them. Along the way, He reached out and grasped Aki's sleeve again, tugging her down a different street than she wanted, pointing down the street like he wanted to take her somewhere. Or to someone.

~

Ryuu knocked on Kirie's door. She wasn't that far from where Usagi, Daniel and Vent were, but it seemed like it took forever to reach. every where he passed, someone was trying to give him offerings of food or drink, asking him for prayers and blessings. He groaned mentally, hoping Aki was not close. Denying food with his graces, and taking blessings with brief touches to hands or foreheads, he hurried on.
(btw, it's probably 3-4 am ish. Just for the sake on time span and stuff.)

[Aki Ameko]

((Can Anasazi read minds? They weren't supposed to hear that...))

It was in the next few steps that Aki realized she felt tired. So it was with unusual tolerance that she let the Anasazi continue following her. Whatever they were up to, she didn't seem to be in any danger, so the more the merrier, really.

The lead one tugged at her sleeve and pointed down another street. Aki yawned. Perhaps there's a bed in that direction... She thought, and obeyed the creature's prompting without argument.

[SilverDragonetsu]

((Uuhm...uh....Just T'nelis? Okay, no, not unless their magic wielders or something.My bad. ^_^;; I'll fix it in a bit.))

He was great full that the elf didn't fight against his lead. though he could see why. She looked awfully tired. And no wonder, either. She'd been up and about since she arrived. Though with all the merriment of 'Sanctuary' due to her arrival, she'd probably mistaken the time of day and night and kept herself up with the flow of the city.

He intended to take her straight to the Infirmary, where he knew a half of her party was resting. And try to get them to put her down for some sleep. Though along the way...

"T'nelis? Aki?" Ryuu was just up the road, knocking at the second story door of a building close to the infirmary. Abandoning his Prior mission, He hopped over a rail to the stair well, a bit concerned for Aki's groggy state. He eyed her disapprovingly.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki trudged on groggily. I sure hope they find me a bed soon... She thought.

A voice startled her. "Hm?" She looked up to politely greet whoever had spoken, but then she realized it was Ryuu. "Oh." She said curtly. "What do you want? I didn't realize I was invading jerk-space..." She looked idly behind her at the four creatures who still flanked her. "I presume they were trying to find me a bed. What with being underground...I guess I didn't realize how late it'd gotten...hahm..." With the steady drowsiness, her voice lost it's usual edge that she used for Ryuu. She really didn't seem to be aware of much anymore.

[SilverDragonetsu]

He scowled at Aki's brooding after him, after realizing whom she was confronting. His scowl lost it's menace, though, as the female in front of him began to look more like a child ready to take a nap, than a fledgling elf-witch.
Disregarding her persistence, Ryuu Carefully approached Aki and took her by the shoulders, afraid she might just topple over.

"Have you been keeping an eye on her, T'nelis?" The Anasazi nodded, then grinned with an unimpressed look in his one good eye as he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. Ryuu noted the other hidden scouts. He couldn't see them but he knew they were there and nodded in thanks.

"Thank you for watching after her. I'll take it from here." Ryuu scooped Aki up off her feet, not trusting her enough to let her walk on her own. Her tone gave way to her present situation. "Come on, princess," he stated sardonically. Lets get you put to bed.Honestly, can't let you out of my sight for long, can I?", he questioned more to himself. Even though he didn''t like the Idea of babysitting Aki, He couldn't rightly let her be on her merry way after getting her mixed up with Outsiders. He was obliged to keep her at close quarters, for the sake of her safety, as a Marchen citizen.

[Aki Ameko]

"Mmff... No...you don't need to..." Aki wasn't really aware of what was happening, nor did she care. All she knew was that it was comfortable not to be on her feet anymore. ...Is that Papa? It sounded like something her father would have said to her, years ago when she was much smaller and had stayed up too late... But how could that be? She was far away from home now...

Gratefully she fell asleep right then. The arm that held the fang potion was limp now, and the fang itself slipped out and dangled lazily on a rope from the tips of her fingers.