Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tolly grunted slightly; we are going to celebrate, and I'm not going anywhere so quit worrying about it. Auren isn't staying long, so i'll speak to you in a minute, Master Hamlin is responsible for saving Yumiru's life. If you ask me I think she is devloping a crush on him, but i'm uncertain. You could go see if my suspicions are correct, Yumiru would never tell me something like that, she might tell you though, but then again she could not tell either of us. I'll see you in a bit dear heart, so please don't fret over me leaving.

Tolly watched Iris walk out the door, and he turned his attention back to the pondering Auren.

The guard bowed to hamlin slightly; "I've had the royal suite prepared, and the kitchen staff had been alerted to expect an order no matter what time of day or night." Hamlin nodded; "I'm not very familar with this castle, this is perhaps the thrid time i've been here, I know the dungeons well enough having stayed there once, and i know the courtyard. i'll be dammned if i don't know where the royal suite is."

The guard laughed a bit; "This way master hamlin..." The guard moved down the hall with hamlin following beside him. The second guard at the door was joined by another who took the place of the one leading hamlin to his room.

Auren examined a talon on a clawed hand "Mmyes, about that. You have human troops. I do not. Besides, my prescence has not been, shown. I've other matters to attend to. Such as our guests who have started this merry little war. I must see what they're up to." Auren said before gesturing to a Guard, who opened that same hole in Reality.

Auren stepped through it, followed by the two Wyvern Guard.

Iris looked over at her sister nervously, and then glanced at Hamlin and the two clearly began talking through telepathy, Iris blocking Hamlin out to the best of her ability.

IRIS YOU CAN'T!
She didn't answer right away thinking over her response long and hard.But I do Daisy...I really honestly and truly do.
But Lady Yumiru might....
That's why sis that this is a secret. Besides he doesn't even notice me, not outside of a friend...a servant...whatever you want to call us.
You never know....
She could bring him whatever he wanted...I would tie him down to this horrible life that I'm sure he hates.
Funny...you usually seem to like this life.
OH SHUT UP!
It's just cause he's here isn't it?
Iris sighed out loud and looked over at Hamlin, her eyes obviously in deep thought.
Daisy settled onto a bed and smiled at Hamlin "You Master...are you going to help them out with this battle? You know we're always here to help. I'm sure Iris would rather enjoy being of service." The was a tone in her voice, just barely detectable, but she was definitely teasing her sister.

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Yami smiled at her daughter and sighed "I never could keep anything from you. Your brother is so much less observant than you. That or he lies to me and knows more than he'll ever say. I happen to know about that nice boy. Hamlin is his name in case you didn't know, and the two girls Iris and Daisy...." Yami wrapped her arms around her daughter "I suppose I should just spell it out honestly...your father thinks you may like this boy, and he asked me to find out. I understand if you don't want to tell me though. And I suppose I guess I'm worried about you liking him....but am I jumping to conclusions?"

Hamlin looked at Daisy with a smile; "I might, but then again considering the look i just saw on Iris's face i'm about to get an earful when you are not paying attention." Hamlin set his overcoat down with a giant metalic thud, and walked towards the door. "Oh next time girls, if you wish to conspire without me noticing, try letting me go to sleep first, because Iris you gave it away and not your sister. I won't tell you how i figured out just yet, but then again the fun of me telling you is how you will try to cover up next time."
Hamlin pulled the large door closed the sly grin still on his face and made his way into the throne room with a small bounce in his step. the guard opened the door and Hamlin walked in as Tolly was reviewing the details of what the guard wrote down.

"Redecorating so soon Lord toleranth?" Tolly looked up from the notes; "Very funny master hamlin, but it's much more serious then that." Hamlin's smile faded, and the very serious nature he took shot right down the link to the girls. "What is it you are asking of me Lord Toleranth?" "A rescue mission into the captial of Esperanza." Hamlin looked at Toleranth as if he went mad; "You know what happened to your daughter and she was not even close to that place, and your asking me to go right in there and pick up someone who is probably declared and enemy of the commonwealth. So even if I was able to locate this person, getting them out will be hard as hell." Toleranth held out the notes; "If you want the job, then you can name your own price, because it comes with a favor from perhaps a very nearly invincible warrior." Hamlin narrowed his eyes; "Just who exactly is this for?" Tolly smirked; "General Auren Shiro, heard of him, because I haven't come across a mercenary or assassin who hasn't yet."

"Of course I know Auren Shiro, at least enough of him to not cross him, and if this is going to cross him forget it." Tolly laughed; "I was asked by the good general to preform this mission, because I have the luxury of human aquantances." Hamlin looked at the notes again; "My price will be your daughter's hand in marriage." Toleranth eyes went wide in shock, and hamlin's intent was hopefully working, but he was going to ride it a bit longer.

"You're insane Master Hamlin, do you have any idea how mad my queen would be at me, and let's not mention Yumiru's fury." Hamlin couldn't keep it contained and started to laugh a at Toleranth's discomfort; "Relax, my price is much more managalbe, and it basically is a request. If for some reason I don't make it back, i want you to set my girls free, Plain and simple, and I'll do it but you seem to have someone else in mind to go with me."

Toleranth nodded; "Someone you're perhaps familar with..." "Oh I know who he is, and I'm sure he's noticed me." Hamlin's temper rose up and he bit his lip picking the voice out of a memory. "Lady Sorrow, you asked that worthless excuse to accompany me, and I won't do..." The craftly voice spoke; "Now now Hammy, you are not one to go back on your word, because what kind of example would that set for dear ole Iris?" Hamlin looked ready to throw daggers, but he made the mistake of leaving them back in the room. Toleranth spoke between the two of them; "I take it you two know each other?" "Hamlin is perhaps one of those people who holds a grudge." Hamlin was shaking with fury; "That stupid wench choose to make the attempt to kill me for a small fortune." "You had the nerve to sweet talk me out of doing it, and right as I thought I could trust you you leave four daggers in my chest and walk away."

Toleranth rolled his eyes; "Well I suggest you two put the issues aside, because Lady Sorrow knows a few places you can use if needed. Not to mention she knows a few of the lower level leaders of this organization. So her presence is required, and your skills of killing quietly and discretly not to mention your girls are perhaps a very strong asset to this mission." Hamlin exploded; "I will not bring them around this beast of a woman Lord Toleranth, I would rather break my word then put them within a foot fot his vile waste of flesh, because I would be no better then what they had if I did." Hamlin spun on his heels and pushed the doors open forecfully.

Toleranth heard the woman's laughter coming from the shaddowed corner; "He hasn't changed one bit in all these years, but i'm interested to know lord Toleranth. Who are these girls you speak of, because the Hamlin i know didn't dare have a steady woman long enough to have legit children. He has only fathered b*****d children who he would never claim in a million lifetimes." Toleranth sighed; "you want to know that you ask him yourself, but I'm too tired to deal with this anymore. I'll speak with him tomorrow." The lady humphed; "You better get up early then, because he is one to slip away in the dark of morning to evade such a thing."

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He usually lies mother, Hiyru is one of those who doesn't tread on toes, and he is male so understanding woman emotions would be a chore for him. I however, take the risk, and besides if you didn't love me you would have fed me to the dragons a long time ago." Yumiru manuvered her mother over to be pushed softly into a chair. Yumiru consented to remaining kneeled in front of the chair so as not to break the lock of arms between them. "Now as to my attraction to hamlin, tell me everything you know of him, because you seem to know allot about him." Yumiru's eyes seemed to bore into Yami's as if by looking into them strongly enough she could pry out the knowledge in her mother's memories.

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Hamlin threw open the doors to the room with such force they rattled loudly as they hit the stops. "I can't believe it, such deception i never thought possible, and that person of all the men and women he could have found. If I go with her I will be dead for sure, because she will be trying to get me killed..." hamlin was stomping around rather angrily and pacing trying quite clearly from tearing the place to smithrens since it wasn't his.

Hamlin jerked his hand free and swung it back to prepare a strong backhand, but he bit his lip to the point of bleeding, and he put his hand down realizing Iris was not just any woman to beat around. She was someone he had to take care of not drive away. "I will not expose you two to such a vile and tempting woman, because I promised to never be like any of your former masters. That is something I intend to keep, you deserve so much better." Hamlin didn't finish the thought, he was mad not only at Tolly and Sorrow, but himself for raising a hand at Iris.

Hamlin just growled and walked back to the door, his hand smartly picking up the coat this time, it fanning out as he put it on, and he stopped cold in the hallway. "So this is where they got you stay Hammy." Hamlin's anger swelled towards dangerous levels, but the girls got the first glimpse of Sorrow.

She was perhaps a very attractive woman, but her personality could try the patience of a rock. her hands rest on the hilts of her twin swords, and she circled hamlin at a distance. "I have a wonderful idea; why don't we go outside and settle what we started before you go and got soft." Hamlin scoffed; "Soft, i am nothing like that, and if you wish to test that why don't we do this right here?" Sorrow's alluring giggle made hamlin grit his teeth; "You know the rules hamlin, you of all people should know, spent some time in the dungeon for killing a mark right here in Domachi palace. Such saving grace was that you managed to hide the evidence in time. I'm guessing you are still carrying it aren't you, damn ballsy if you ask me, an assassin who carries prizes of their victims. Not to mention evidence in a murder of a court offical."

Hamlin collected himself a bit and spoke rather coolly; "You would need to know who gave the contract in order to justify murder, but then again word of mouth doesn't tell you that does it Sorrow. All you have is the words of the women in your bed chamber before you slit their throats. Still couldn't give it up could you Sorrow, despite our master's training you found prosituting your body was a more enjoyable way to kill someone. Perhaps your never going to see beyond that of which you were before this, a prostitute, and not of men either."

Sorrow hissed and drew her blades, and hamlin pulled three daggers. Sorrow caught a glimpse of the two children in the room. "So are these the b*****d children you have come to call your own. Shocking behavior coming from someone who wouldn't claim the other seven or more you fathered, you know the last one is about to turn of age, and will you go and kill her too like all the others? Will you kill these two when they no longer suit your needs?"

Hamlin impulse got the better of him and he threw the blades to which Sorrow evaded with a smooth motion of dodging and the ring of her left blade deflecting the thrid. Hamlin drew his sword and charged at Sorrow who only smiled as their blades met. "Touched a nerve didn't i hammy?"

"How dare you insult them, they are more special to me then any woman or child on this earth, and you are going to die for insulting them!" Sorrow pushed him back freeing their swords; "Why don't you just try it Hamlin, you failed to kill me three years ago, what has changed hamlin, because I don't think you have it in you to kill me." Sorrow put one of her swords away, and began to block the onsluaght of attacks from Hamlin. "Was it love, regret, sorrow that you couldn't push the daggers into my heart hamlin, because your legendary for not making mistakes. I have waited these years wanting to know why, and I swear i will know before i kill you."

Hamlin ducked as the pewter tea set went flying overhead to crash all over the floor; "Do you really want to know so badly, fine then let me tell you." Hamlin knocked the coat rack over to force Sorrow to go around or jump over it. "You killed the one woman i could have given my heart to, but as I got close to you my feelings changed. However the night I found out you were trying to kill me, i realized no amount of love would put our blades aside. In time you would have killed me, or I you and the betrayal of love would destroy the other. I had no intention of crawling into a bottle to die, but I couldn't kill you because there was some small part of me that loved you then. I saw what little part of your heart you didn't freeze solid with hatred and malice, and i couldn't destory it for the chance you might have found someone else you could truly love."

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Yumiru shook; "That woman, how dare she..." She stood up and with a snap of her fingers her clothes appeared. she began to get dressed in a hurry. Yumiru was getting jealous feeling the emotions pouring from the two fighting a level down, and her own thoughts spinning her into a anger borne of jealousy to ignore her mother's latest words of warning. that perhaps would have deterred her to a degree. "Stay here mother, i don't want to see you get hurt down there." Yumiru was talking to the wind, but it made her feel good and gave her an excuse should her father attempt to punish her for allowing it. Yumiru knew her mother hated fighting, and would throw herself into the middle of danger to stop it, perhaps that is why she was so vocal when squabbles would start in offical court hearings.

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Hamlin and Sorrow were perhaps evenly matched; the room was suffering more damage then the two fighting. "How dare you you hamlin, how dare you act noble when you are far from it, and if these two are a problem i will erase them for you. I will cut out your heart by killing them. Then kill you and take this job on alone, i don't need you to save this person, i don't need you to stab me in back again." Hamlin felt the throbbing power pounding in the back of his head, and the fight clearly shifted to Sorrow's favor as he was fighting two things at once. The uncontrolabe power he feared and Sorrow at the other end of his sword. However, all it took was the dagger thrown by Sorrow to puncuate her intent, she missed intentionally the knife sticking into the bedpost of where Daisy was laying.

Hamlin felt their safety threatened, that Sorrow would kill them in order to get him, and it didn't matter to hamlin that they couldn't die. It didn't matter to him Sorrow was merely bluffing, her intent pushed the final button, he would destroy this woman before him at all costs before she took away what mattered to him most. However, hamlin couldn't help but remember what he once had for Sorrow, but all that was fading. Fading as that rage and focus to kill swallowed up judgement and restraint, the curse of being a master to two entities who walked both planes was harsh. Hamlin never cared for magic, and that is why he feared this curse. He couldn't control it, and allot of innocent people could die.

"Hamlin threw his sword aside; "Get out fo her Sorrow..." Sorrow paused she had noticed something different, but she couldn't place it, and her anger was debating on wehether to take this chance and run her sword through him, or simply berrate him with the fact he actually gave up. Iris and Daisy had no choice but to feel the rising lust in Hamlin, a lust for fighting and death, the curse they gave to any master or mistress that possessed them. like so many before hamlin, it was the cause of their mistress or master's death from the people. the cycle would start all over again, someone new, and only a few years before their master's demise at the hands of the people. At least once word got out, and this wasn't exactly the time for such things to be spoke about, this could really threaten domachi's stance against the rebels of Esperanza. Harboring such a beast that could only be deemed a demon of Loas's former regime, and subject to eradication at all costs.

Sorrow noticed Hamlin was getting bigger, his fingernails lengthing, and She turned her attention to the doorway as Yumiru showed up. "What in the hell is going on in here, Lady Sorrow i demand to know, because if it wasn't plainly clear it is now. You are not to be around hamlin, that is why you were put on the other side of the castle, now explain yourself for being here?" Sorrow blew off Yumiru; "Little chidlren should keep their snouts out of business, me and Hamlin were only catching up on old times, and now he is showing his true colors. What a freak, to think i actually loved someone like this even a little bit."

Yumiru took big offense to Sorrow's response; "I am first princess Yumiru bebus, and I will not be talked down on by no human assassin in my house. Hamlin saved my life earlier and I owe him a great favor for doing so." Sorrow laughed; "Oh i forgot that little future queens need protecting, what's wrong Yumiru, your magic fading, or the fact you were dead and it hasn't come back yet. You have no claim to this man, so why don't you run along and let adults settle this mess."

yumiru drew her sword and threw it's scabbard aside. She charged at Sorrow with every intent to cut that look off her face. She managed to twist her body to the blur she caught in her side vision. Hamlin had grabbed her and with the spped of his body slammed her hard into the wall. he drew back a hand the claws several inches long pointed at yumiru's chest. Yumiru was knocked windless, her eyes going wide at the talons and the pure mindless look of enjoyment on hamlins changing face.

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Sorrow merely watched these events; "All dogs should be put down if they can't be handled correctly. If you two cannot achiveve this control I will kill him." Sorrow's true intent became obvious if it wasn't clear before. Hamlin's ears turned to the words, and then laid back as he felt threatened by such words, this was his power not hers, she would not take it from him, he would destory her, and any who would get in his way of achieving that goal."

Yumiru was trying to get her breath and looked at Daisy; "What happened to him, why is he so out of control, and such a thing is too dangerous. If he cannot be stopped my father will destroy him, and that is the writing on the wall Daisy, Tolly holds the needs of the many above that of the few or one. I try my best to that regard to keep my father from killing him, but you have mere minutes. My mother is a worry wart, and will undoublty be draggin him here as we speak." Yumiru pushed Daisy back aways; "So go see to your master, I'll try to slow my father's arrival, and we call our debt even alright." Yumiru got to her feet slowly, and began to pull the giant doors closed as guards showed up outside. "Let us pass Princess Yumiru, we need to control the situation, this disturbance we sense cannot be allowed to breach any further then it has." Yumiru looked at the guards; "You can go in once my father gets here." "Yumiru we can go in without your permission, it's a courtsey that we ask you step aside, and this is one time we wish you wouldn't interfere."

Yumiru lifted her sword up despite that every joint in her body ached from being pile drived into a wall. "I suggest you refrain from that or my father will be three guards down." The guards merely sighed but they were relieved to see Tolly coming down the hall. Tolly was very displeased looking; "YUMIRU GET THE HELL OUT OF THEIR WAY THIS INSTANT, OR SO HELP ME I WILL HAVE THEM THROW YOU IN THE DUNGEON FOR A WEEK!" Yumiru stayed firmly in place not looking at her mother or the guards anymore. "i can't father, if you go in they will be sad, because you will be forced to..." Yumiru didn't finish as Tolly knocked her aside with a spell. He wasn't in the mood for this, and the guards threw the large doors open.

Hamlin was stuck dealing with two girls buzzing about his feet. Sorrow was picking herself up out of a pile of wood that was once a bed. Tolly surveyed the destoryed room, and he picked up his large forearm and slammed it down shaking the enitre room. "This will end right now!" Hamlin stopped staring at the new threats, and Sorrow groaned as she rubbed sore spots. Tolly looked at the three guards; "You will take Yumiru to her room, she will stay there until i say so, if she sneaks out when she is caught take her straight to the dungeons. She gets no visitors, not even her mother will be allowed to see her until i feel she has earned that right."

Tolly pointed at Sorrow; "I don't care about your past with hamlin, but it will not disrupt my peace here. Consider this your first and last warning, and i suggest you get to your room before I change my mind about moving it to the dungeons as well." Sorrow merely brushed herself off and left going past Tolly and biting back the desire to insult Hamlin one last time. She would have many more chances now, but then again it all hinged on if the freak would decide to go with her now. She saw for herself now, and the ease at which they could be hers. She would wait and only hope he would be foolish enough to go with her to Esperanza. There she would get him killed, and her reign over such power would begin.

With the guards, yumiru, Sorrow gone it left only Yami, the twins, hamlin and Tolly. Tolly spoke to Iris and Daisy; "I'll give you and hour to get him under wraps, and if he steps foot out of this door as he is he will die before six steps. Tolly backed out of the room and the doors closed as he took up vigil on the far side of the hall looking at the closed doors. He was now in a very foul mood, and really loathing Auren right now for making this attempt. He looked at Yami; "Right now i'm in the mood to just go and do it myself, but I know there would be hell to pay when i got back. However, this is not what I wanted to happen by outsourcing this work." Tolly was trying to start a conversation to calm his anger, and take his mind off what was going on.

((I hope you don't mind, but Mitsuko is joining in...Well, as a bystander...))

Mitsuko had been wandering for not too long, but still getting far. She was doing her job still. Of course, that was required of her, but she was still looking for an interesting event to drop in on. Things easily got boring for her, and so now she has ended up in the Domachi palace (please correct me if that's not where they are). Drifting through the halls, she soon heard the commotion of a fight. Smiling, she thought, I knew palaces always had something interesting going on. She sped up her pace, going through rooms until she reached where Hamlin and Sorrow were fighting. As she came in through the wall, she heard "Little children should keep their snouts out of business..." Of course, she listened to the rest, and started to laugh. "I like this girl. Time to settle in." Sitting in the air above the growing group of people, she had one leg folded over the other, and her back was touching the wall. The ceiling was a few feet away from her head. She looked down at them as people tried to stop the two from fighting, lightly smirking. As Hamlin turned against Yumiru, Mitsuko looked surprised, then smiled. My, my. Turning against the first princess. How bold. Then, as Iris was talking to Hamlin, trying to get him to calm down, she turned her head slightly to the side. "Awww," she spoke, though it was unlikely for anyone to hear her. She sounded like she was talking about a small animal, for example a kitten, "Isn't that just so adorable..."

Yami giggled slightly "This is true, going to her would require me to leave you now wouldn't it. I suppose that makes this a little more difficult." Yami shook her head and smiled at him again "Oh my dear my dear. I hope you know what your doing, I'd hate Yumiru to react in the same manner I would have." Yami tickled his side slightly "And calm down, the only feeling coming from that room now is sadness....so I think they got Hamlin to calm down."

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Iris sat on the floor next to him, watching over him diligently. "Sister would you be jealous eventually?"

Daisy almost laughed "Iris..." she walked over to her sister and took her hands in her own and smiled "He couldn't get in the middle of our bond if he wanted too. What you and I have is something they do not. We have a pure love, having someone like him taints it yes, but never ruins it fully. I do not believe we're meant to be alone forever sister. I mean...if we were really meant to suffer for all eternity do you think a man as nice as Master Hamlin would be allowed into our lives."

Iris thought it over looking at Hamlin "No...he'd be like the rest. The ones who used the curse to hurt those around them...used...us....for all their horrible deeds. But he's right. He's just going to die like the rest of them. I don't think I could say goodbye."

"Sister....we need to cross that bridge when we come to it. Tis better to have loved and lost...."

"Yumiru." Iris pointed out

"Probably has lost interest since our master was not exactly gentle with her."

Iris sighed looking back at Hamlin "It's hopeless though sister...he probably doesn't even honestly feel the same way. He'd just indulge my wishes to keep me happy, and to keep me from tearing off anyone's head. No...I think I'd rather not know how he honestly felt about me. He said..."

"Love is for fools. Well then Iris I proclaim proudly that we are both fools. I will find someone...the someone just for me one day, and you will want me to be happy as well. Perhaps I will find him in this lifetime. I hope that I do. And perhaps Master Hamlin will allow him to stay with us, and we will continue our servitude to Master Hamlin, it makes me happy to be with him; because he's so good to us. So please, do not worry so my dear sister. Perhaps we may even be free from our own curse one day."

"Or we'll just drag those we love into the middle of it..."

Daisy's eyes flitted over to where the newcomer was and sighed "You should not be here, you could get hurt. But who are you? I think the danger has passed."

Iris returned her attention to Hamlin, absentmindedly stroking his hair thinking about what she ought to do and what her sister had said.