Welcome to Gaia! ::

A head whose face was covered by the shadow of their hood popped out behind a roof and looked down upon the fight. As they looked down the rain began to come down even harder, making puddles that look like oceans. She fluttered onto the side of the roof that faced the fight and sat down with their feet in front of them. The legs belong to a girl and were bare expect for a pair of jean shorts and black, heavy boots. Her teal cape seemed to float around her as she sat and looked at the fight. But no matter how much it floated around her she seemed to look like a referee

The stranger stood up, never letting her hood falter or fail, it always hid her face in shadow. She stood straight and stared at Hotaru. "My mission is complete," she said cold and businesslike, like steal cutting through flesh. She turned and jumped off the roof. She headed for a puddle as she fell. First her feet landed, then her knees were sucked in, followed by her hips, then shoulders, until finally the puddle had eaten her whole and she simply disappeared.

Anna reappeared just after the incident. She walked over to Leon, ignoring everything else. She placed her hand on his shoulder lightly and asked "Are you okay, Leon?"

Anna walked over to Merlin and started to whisper something to him. He seemed annoyed and frazzled all at the same time. He gesticulated passionately as he talked to her. Anna had finally managed to clam him down and Merlin pulled something out of his robe. It was a glass of water that shimmered blue. She walked back over and placed the glass of water in front Leon as she kneeled next to him. "Drink," she ordered, "It will help your fatigue."

As Hotaru leaned against the wall and made the comment about the stranger, Anna scowled. She grunted at his last statement and then sarcastically muttered, "Way to prove yourself."

Anna listened very intently, but scowled at the ground as she did so. She shook his head at him. She stayed silent for a moment after his rampage and then said, very levelly, with her head still to the ground, "My problem is one that I prefer not to get into, and besides that it's one you probably wouldn't listen to. But it isn't my problem that bugging me, it's yours. And as for that barking comment," she said looking at him, "I'm not the one howling about a respect I haven't earned yet."

Anna stared at Hotaru with a dirty, pained look. But it didn't look pained for him or something that was happening to her. She shook her head and took the glass from Leon. She slid her glance to Merlin who was twiddling his thumbs and muttering to himself. "I do too," she whispered back, "More than you know."

"Anna!" Merlin blurted suddenly as he waved his arms around, "Dinner! You started it before you left! You wouldn't want to burn it!... Again." Anna sighed "Right," she said under her breath, "Dinner" She stood up and started to walk away. "Who wants some!" she called behind her.

As Hotaru wandered around looking for clues as to why the heartless had shown up again, and who the mystery woman was, he checked out various weapons. "Damn, this one just feels off too....sorry..." He sighed as he left the weapon shop. "Great...so just what am I supposed to do if more show up....." He punched the wall. "And what the hell is her problem....." He sighed. "Great, now I'm more concerned about some woman than a weapon...." He shook his head as he noticed some shadows moving. "Fantastic...." He glanced around, and not finding anything that would be suitable as a weapon. "And it just keeps getting better.....alright then, lets do this!" He cracked his knuckles and assumed a stance. "Lets just hope this doesn't kill me......"

Hotaru kept dodging the heartless. "Dammit...." "I should've known my fists wouldn't be enough to kill them..." He ducked under another swing, and countered knowing it was futile. "Just why the hell are you even bothering me you shadowy freaks?!" He lept back, dodging yet another attack. "Well, if physical attacks are useless....maybe magic...." He sighed as he started casting Firaga. "Now you're pissing me off....." As he finished casting, he lept into the air. "Burn away to nothingness." He whispered.

Leon just sighed. "Do you know why she took off, and why we need to find the kid?" He turned to Merlin, hands in his pockets, leaning on the building.

Merlin stared into the space Anna did. He looked frazzled and nervous, but most of all he looked grave, very grave. A look that hadn't tortured his face for years. "I do not know, Leon. She's an assistant, talks bamboozle. But she sounded worried, maybe we should check on the boy..." he said.

The stranger walked toward Hotaru with her cape flowing behind her. Her hood was up, blocking the sight of her face, as always. The Heartless were gathering around Hotaru limp body. She looked down at the body then at the Heartless. She rose her hand and the puddles reached up to strangle the Heartless. Some vanished within minutes, but others did not fall as easily. They tried to come after her but her puddles held them back enough for her to reach Hotaru. She lifted his face and breathed on it. Her breath was something magical. It smelled like life, it smelled like healing, it smelled like Yuffie's brunt cooking. She stared at him levelly, waiting for him to come around.