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“What the!” Neko wasn’t prepared for the golem to move at him so suddenly and was barely about to bring his arms up to block. Not that it did much good. Once contact was made, his forearms taking the majority of the blow, he went flying off the roof. His trip through the air was short, however, as he made contact with the ground below sliding to a halt on his back. When he finally came to a stop he was just feet away from Mable and her sheep. Groaning a little Neko tilted his head up and looked at the familiar face. Raising a hand Neko waved slightly, “Hey Gran.”

Pushing himself up off the ground Neko looked back toward the roof to see that the golem was gone, no doubt thanks to Yuki. “Great timing, could have been a few seconds sooner.” Neko mumbled to himself as he turned to find Kyo and found he was also gone. “Where did he go?” Brow furrowed as he searched the crowd for his enemy but he seemed to have retreated for the time being. Scratching his head in confusion Neko turned to find Mitsu looking up at him worriedly.

Once Neko had made contact with the ground Mitsu had edged her way closer and closer to him to make sure he was okay. He was standing well enough on his own but his chest was still cut open. “A..are you okay?” She mumbled.

Dusting himself off Neko pressed a hand gingerly to his wound, “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it.” His voice had been confident enough but that still didn’t seem to convince Mitsu in the slightest. Reaching out a hand he placed it on her head. “Really, I’ll be okay.” He smiled despite himself. Her pitiful look was actually kinda cute.

"What are you doing? What the hell's the matter with you? Hey, I'm talkin to you!" Suddenly X snapped into conciousness as he was grabbed by the neck and slammed into a wall. Upon opening his eyes he found he was staring at the very demon that gave him his powers. The grip tightened around his neck, "Answer me human, whats the matter with you, why are you acting so cowardly?" Filled with angst X spat back at the demon, "I'm not who I used to be! I can't do it anymore!" Disgusted the demon threw him to the floor. Grasping his neck X choked and spat on the ground. "What do you mean your not who you used to be. Your the same a*****e that came here, won my challenge, and refused to follow my orders." "No, I've gotten older, slower, weaker. I cant..." "Whoa! Stop right there. You can't? I dont think you realize human, that your physical attributes havnt changed at all. You in the same condition you where when you showed up here ten years ago." X shot a look to the demon, "Theres no way, that was years ago." "You forget human, your doomed to live until you carry out my plans, which by the way you havnt even attempted to do. How could I expect you to carry out my orders unless your in peak condition?" X looked back at the ground again in thought.

I cant die, what am I afraid of? But wait. "If I cant die then how come I still have to heal from wounds and why does it take so long?" "Because your not a regenerator human, Thats why you must use your powers to heal yourself." X looked up again with a puzzled look." My powers are the ability to summon the sword." "Wrong again human, you powers far surpass the ability to summon a sword, Your powers are born of the dark realm, therefore you have the ability to use dark magic." "WHAT?! Why wasnt I taught this along with the sword?" Now pacing, arms folded intelectually, the demon seemed much calmer now. "Because, you where given that for a purpose. Once you fullfilled your purpose you would have been cast into hell with all the others and the sword would have been reposessed. Why waste time showing you something that you didnt need to know?" X made his way to his feet. "Then show me how to use it." The demon began at a low chuckle and then worked his way up maniacal laughter. "Because meat bag, I like watching you suffer, as long as it doesnt cut into my entertainment. And besides why should I , you wont follow orders." "But you just told me my orders would have landed me in a fiery pit for eternity. So if I followed orders we wouldnt be having this conversation right now" "Exactly and thats why I dont even care about the orders anymore, I've already sent someone else to do that." Puzzled again X tried to wrap his head around it. "Then why?"

"Why are we here? Why are we talking my boy? The answer is quite simple. I love what your doing, but your feeble attempt at trying to remain a human are rediculous and are frankly upsetting us." "Us?" "You see boy, you are a real source of entertainment and insperation here. The man who slayed 1000 demons. And since then youve killed many more. Frankly my boy I'm quite proud, Your my greatest creation." Anger began to swell and burn in X's chest. "I am not a creation." "Oh I'm afraid you are, your body, your upgrades. I made you. I own you." X was boiling inside, " You are a monster, the greatest monster I have ever created, and you havnt even learned all of what you are capable of, when you do you will worship me for what I have given you." Fist now clenched X spoke up again."I will never worship you." "HA HA HA, and thats why I love you kid, you are so much like me, but you try to hide it behind that shell of humanity. Lying, deception, need for blood and violence, love of inflicting pain, torture, snazy dressing. We're practically the same. I think of myself as kind of like your dad." The demon spoke now with a smile and held out his arms. "Come here and give me a hug son." X pushed him away with one hand while holding his head with the other. "Dont f*cking touch me."

X realized that the demon was right, he was his creation, his property, his...son. "So whats next?" "Next?" The demon questioned. "Yea! Next! What happens now?" The demons grin became much more sinister now. "Thats simple my boy, You go back and make me proud. Become stronger, kill more, get over this weakness of yours, this feeling of inadiquacy, its not fitting. "The Messenger of Death" shouldnt be crying over his weaknesses, he should be fixing them." X was so confused, He wasnt sure what to feel.but there was one thing he needed to know. "Why are you helping me?" "Because you entertain me boy." The demon placed his hand on X's shoulder. "The boy is not you." X 's eyes shot up to meet the demons. "Because he doesn't sh*t his pants at the first sign of danger and run away." X reched up and grabbed the demon by the throught. "Theres my boy. Now make me proud." The demon smiled and faded away, as the demon faded so did the realm they where in. X shook his head and looked up again only to realize he had the bar tender by the neck. Immedietly letting go the bartender hit the floor, and began to shuffle away. X put his head in his hands and tried again to figure out his situation.

More powers? Son? Entertainment? One thing was for sure, the demon was no longer angry with X, but expected much more from him. He was no longer fighting against the demon, so maybe the demon wasnt acctually screwing him over this time. X was sure that there would be strings attatched, but for now X would embrace the darkness and see where it led him. In order to do that he had to find someone that dealt in black magic and could help him learn more about his powers. But where would he find such a person.

{since X's new adventures will not occur in the same time as the main thread Im starting another thread for his side story, anyone wanting to participate in the side story with him is more than welcome to post in that thread in fact its encouraged.}

[I apologize for the run-on sentences and fragments and whatnot in my previous post. I was half asleep and trying to watch a movie at the same time. Oh wells.... sweatdrop ]

The corridor was dimly lit with lamps that attatched to the ceiling by long cords. The slightest breeze set them to swaying, casting a forboding pallor on the hallway that the young man had to walk. The bearer of bad news was often shot, maimed, and tortured at this facility. The person that ran the place was a psychopath, and his immediate subordinate was only slightly less unstable. It almost wasn't worth the pay. Almost.

He reached the tall wooden door that marked the (hopefully metaphorical) end of his journey. He rapped his fingers against the solid surface, praying that the man was out on errands. Unfortunately, a voice responded. "You may enter, Isrik." The tone sounded icy, like it had never been capable of humor. Isrik knew otherwise. He was capable of humor, but it was only to amuse himself. In fact, when someone else took to laughing at something clever he had said, he always grew annoyed.

Isrik pushed open the door, and felt a blast of heat lick across his entire being. He had already began to sweat through his uniform on the way down, and this just intensified the moisture. He gasped in, pulling the hot air into his lungs. He felt like he was choking.

"Please, Isrik, I have no patience for your melodrama. You should know what to expect to find when I summon you." The voice said. Isrik didn't like it when he called him by his name. It meant that he was either in a foul mood, or he was gravely serious.

"I-I have g-good and bad news, sir." The young man said as he entered the room, "Which would you..."

"The good news." The figure in the chair interrupted. He was positioned near a fireplace. Well, calling it a fireplace is an understatement. It was more like a blast furnace. The flames flickered this way and that, making it hard for Isrik to make out exactly what the man was doing.

"Your stocks have gone up a total of twenty-three and a half points." Isrik said quite happily, hoping the fake joy would be infectious.

"The bad?" Was all the man said in a very flat tone.

"Well, U-uh, premium subjects have started to grow scarce among the local population, so uhm...." The next part he whispered. "We were ordered to take a few of your livestock for tests..." He felt his insides writhe as he uttered the words, and waited for punishment.

The man in the chair began to titter. Then he began to giggle. And then he broke into an outright roaring guffaw. The instant the laughter stopped there was a waivering darkness where the man sat, and then he was gone. Suddenly, Isrik felt a pressure on his back. Lord Markaine Lascivious was leaning on him. He stifled a cry.

"Ordered, eh?" Kaine said as he leaned a bit more weight onto the poor lab technician. "Why don't I replenish my reserves with......you?" He said, leaning harder.

"Wh-why me?" Isrik managed to squeak out as he began to shake violently.

"You called them livestock. Why? Does it help you feel better to call them that? To sleep at night? Humans, your own kind kept in cells and fed meals loaded with hormones to fatten them up." Isrik felt a movement, and heard a sound of steel being unsheathed.

"I-I-I didn't d-do anything wrong!!!" He shrieked.

"Yes you did, muffin. You dehumanized what I do to make yourself feel better about what you do. When the guilt becomes too oppressive, you might do something to jeopardize everything we have here." Suddenly, the weight at Isrik's back lifted. In terror, he wheeled around to face Kaine, the Carrion Crow. To his surprize, there was a gentle, almost sweet look on his face. "I am sorry," he said, "but it is better to exact the pound of flesh now while it has yet to turn." With a swift movement that Isrik didn't see in the dark, Kaine opened his juggular.

Isrik bled out onto the floor, choking and coughing. Only vaguely aware that he was dying. He hadn't felt a thing. When the body twitched its last, Kaine began to devour it. He sliced open the technician's belly and went after the liver first, tearing it apart with both rows of his shark-like teeth. It was one of his favorite parts.

[For the record, if it takes me several days to reply again... Skip me if it's not horribly important for Hitsu or Yuki to interact. XD; I promise, I will find a way to catch up some way or another.]

Hitsu had turned to Mable at mention of her name, and just barely reached out to catch the jar in time. She stood there and stared at the thing for several seconds, trying to determine what exactly it was, before Mable remembered to give her instruction. "O-okay." She responded, opening the container and moving to Yuki to do as she was told.

"Ugh, what the hell is that?" Yuki groaned, wrinkling his nose. It smelled horrible, and when Hitsu tried to approach him with some in hand he recoiled. "N-no... I think I'll pass." He waved a hand in a 'shoo' motion at her, looking disgusted. He'd probably regret it later, but right now all that ached were the injuries he knew that he had.

Hitsu frowned, but complied and replaced the salve in the jar before closing it. "I swear, you are such a baby."

"Who said anything about medicine. It is more like a supplement. Besides,..." she raised her lip almost like Elvis and gave Neko the stink eye," I just like to see your face turn inside out." She then stuck out her tongue at him. She had heard Yuki's disdain over the salve she had given to Hitsu. "Yeah, ya big baby!" she repeated after Hitsu scolded him. Mable turned to Hitsu and winked. "Men are such babies." She looked back at Neko with the same stink eye as before and snatched the bottle out of his hand. "I didn't wanna give it to you no way no how hmph." She stood and turned to go place the bottle in a pouch on Pompadourio's saddle.

Riyo glanced up at Poke and gave a little shrug, then looked back down at the bird who promptly stared back at her. To anyone else, it would most likely generate a creepy feeling. But to her, it was natural.

'What's the good news, captain?' A voice came out of nowhere, Riyo's eyes shot around for a second, though her head stayed tucked in her knees. There was no one but Poke around her. Well... Poke and...

'Good lady, you seem a little DOWN. Is it bothersome? These feelings, that is...' It was coming from the bird. Riyo's eyes widened. Her slitted pupils took focus upon the black-feathered beast.

Of course, anyone around her wouldn't understand. In reality, it was all in her head.

'Maestro, when will your next performance be? When, when, when...' The raven called. Riyo didn't understand. Maestro? Who was that? What was that? Performance? All of this made her headache worse. Her legs scooted in closer, trying to make the bird move. Yet, it didn't. It stayed and continued to stare.

Three ravens huddled together atop a roof of a building near the group arguing over the medicines began to squabble. They started cawing and picking the feathers off of each other until the defeated member of the party took wing. With a knowing glint in his eye, he began to make his way home.

________________


The blood from his wounds began to soak through his clothing before Kyo even remembered they were there. He began to heat up the shards until they became hot enough to sear the bleeding gashes shut. Kyo had to lean over and clench his fists to help cope with the pain. Now that he didn't have to worry about being so polite, he decided that he needed some rotgut in his system.

Given that he was no longer welcome at The Saunter On Inn, he walked around looking for another bar. He glanced into a few windows that were still alight until he found a place to get the much needed hooch. Unfortunately, it was a brothel. Although he wanted to hit the bottle, he was leery of the place.

Once inside, he saw X strangling the bartender. Kyo chuckled. If X let Daelik throw everybody out with only a stern lecture, he wondered with this guy did. Kyo walked in and sat in a stool. When the bartender had collected himself he noticed the newcomer and gave a nod.

"I'd like a glass of something strong." Kyo said.

The bartender obviously saw this as a cliche. "How strong?"

"Whatever you use to clean the floor. And I need a room. Alone." He replied.

The man chuckled for a brief space before responding. "Who comes into a brothel without partaking of the services?"

Kyo began to unbutton his shirt. "Whoa, buddy, Whoa. I don't swing..." The man started, before seeing the tatoo on Kyo's chest. "Oh, that'll be ten silver, then." He said before walking off to fetch his drink.

"What, no discounts for clergy?" He shouted after the man as he buttoned his shirt back up.

After placing the vial into the pouch, she took another look at group. " I gotta get back to the shop. Neko you know where to find me if you need anything. I MEAN IT! you get to me before you regret not coming to me. You always do and when you come in all achy, out of breath, looking like you got the crap kicked out of you, all I am going to do is laugh. Your regenerativeness can only get you so far, my dear friend." She then glances at Hitsu, "You think you can keep him in line?" With a shake of her head she patted Pompadourio on the head. The sheep kneeled and she mounted. "If any of the rest of you need any medicinal aids, come by the shop. Neko knows where it is or at least he better." She then grabbed the reigns and directed the sheep back down the road. Mable raised her right hand in farewell and she road off.