Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Kunoichi," Yukiko said with a hint of relief in her voice.

"Have there been any major disturbances as of late? And my daughter - how is Sey?" She stopped pacing and shook her head slightly, loose strands of black hair falling out infront of her face.

"More importantly, how go the preparations for the extra guard details for this week? The festival is starting soon and the Avalanian Royals will be arriving. I don't want to take any chances with Takiyagami comming."

(( runs off to bed :: YES this is yukiko! ahhh !_!__!))

arrow Light Temple, East Tower

((everything went so fast so...to get me back up to speed.... sweatdrop ))

Hoshimi may have slumped to the cold temple floor in exhaustion as she had watched the High Priestess come out to deal with the intruder, but she didn't stay that way for long. The eastern water mage was close enough to the 'action' and the spells were powerful enough that she was pushed from her semi healing sleep wether she liked it or not.

Warm pain filled silver blue eyes opened after squinching shut as the palms of her hands rubbed against her temple. She saw first, not the Light temple but her own scrying chamber at the Water Temple. Then it flicked past to the large building she had seen earlier in her walk about Laburnum. Then a girl she had never seen before. Eastern in appearance but she didn't know who she was so she pushed aside that picture for a moment to focus on other, less pleasant things. She would not fall prey to another vision, not now.

Her hands went back to her sides and pushed against the cold ground to lift her small body from the ground. With small steps, she made her way back to the room to look in on Tsai, even knowing what she would find. Her soft hand pressed to his neck as she bent down to kneel beside him, not even bothering with the ruins of her yukata. A deep racking sob came out before she could stop it, tears falling and pooling on his robes. She remained like this for several moments ignoring the urgency she felt elsewhere in the courtyard.

Finally she stood up, her eyes closing over the now unshed tears as she had known she would have to do for a long time now, even tho neither had ever spoken of it. Her hands lifted to touch the seemingly frozen water bound within her staff for a second and a chill filled the room as the swirling energies of the spirits she had summoned surrounded her. A small smile of gratitude answered them before directing them silently with her tears to the man on the bed before them, watching as the spirits gave their own energy to cast the spell she desired as she did not have the energy herself.



Once sastified that nothing would happen to him, tho she wasn't quite sure what the fear was exactly except the fire at the Water Temple kept coming to her mind, she straightened herself up and let down her hair to give a mocrum of respectibility to her appearance before leaving the room. Her tears were now dry as she wandered down the hall trying to find the mage who had assisted them before.

She didn't however find him but several initiates who were still cowering in the tower still. This was sad to see that they feared even now, when it was evident even to one of another power that the woman who had weilded the Light power was more than capable of handling the creature of darkness. Finally she recieved directions that the Light mage she sought was in the courtyard with the woman who had brought down the disturber.

Hoshimi gave the slightest inclination of her head, an acknowledgement of the students bare assistance before turning and heading out into the courtyard herself. The eastern woman-child waited respectivefully in the distance until their business was done and she could politely ask for his assistance once more. Her gaze was on her hands crossed in front of her, with her head once more bowed respectifully but this more for the dead, injured and the work done by the actual mages than any simple empty courtesy.

(( now promises to work on her Water spells instead of trying to remember them on the spot gonk stressed sweatdrop ))

arrow Hefter's Haven

"Rigel, eh? Sounds intimidating enough, though I'm sure most of your targets never get to quiver at the sound of your name, since they probably never live long enough to hear it." Mick stretched a little before he continued. "And like the fearless leader says, keep in step. This bath house retains no sound, so an echo here would be as obvious as, say, a giant creature of darkness flying over the Temple of Light. The difference here is that we don't have to worry about any paladins springing into action to quickly detain us."

The trio, er, duo... whatever, walked down the hall, as if nothing at all had happened. There wasn't a fat man murdered no less than thirty feet from them. And no, there wasn't an expert killing machine shadowing the footsteps of two regular customers, who were aiding his escape.



Mick cast quick glances behind him, but knew full well that Rigel was not about to try anything. He knew now that Espa was a psychic, and knew not the extent of her powers. For that matter, Mick didn't know either. Then he remembered his gifts.



The corridor seemed to stretch on to forever, but it was the only non-conspicuous way out now. Espa and Mick passed by several of Hefter's nieces, sisters, etc., and everytime Mick waved and said hello, and then did a subtle look back to see Rigel.

All seemed to be going well, but there's always something tha-

"We-hell, we-hell! Two of my most valued customers!" A booming voice called in the foyer of Hefter's Haven. It was a tall, round man in his late fifties. He was very vobust, and very tan, almost to the point of being mistaken for middle-eastern, though he was very much Eastern (and he would go into a long tale of his geneology if you weren't careful). His fingers were covered in gold and jewels, and around his neck he wore a saphire the size of a large baby's hand. This was Hefter Gansumoto, the brain behind Hefter's Haven.



"Hefter! Our favorite... money taker...." Mick said, running up to Hefter and jumping into his open arms. Awkward, yes, but it was Hefter's custom with old friends, meaning people who give the man lots and lots of money.

"What's this? Leaving so soon? You just got here!" Hefter hated seeing mone- valued guests leaving.

"Well, you see... something came up. Saruo contacted Espa and said he needed help with something having to do with the market, so-"

"Nonsense! You know as well as I know that Saruo never goes shopping in these markets. He hates them too much."

s**t, that's right. I should've said Rym. Quick, think! Think! Going to run out of time here...

"Now why aren't you really staying?" Hefter walked over to Espa, leaning in very close.

Dangerously close to Rigel, as Mick could see it. If Hefter leaned forward another inch...

Hefter shifted his eyes to the left and right before whispering, "Is it about the whole murder thing? Not to worry. I'm sure the authorities have caught the brute by now. I hope the festering pile of mucus that is the perpetraitor rots in a cell somewhere. I've always said that low-life, good-for-nothings should-"

Mick could see it perfectly now. Enough insults by Hefter, and Rigel was going to have another notch for his arm. What can I say to make a man like Hefter shut the hell up and let us go?? Surprisingly loud, Mick quickly blurted out the first thing that popped into his head: "ESPA'S HAVING MESTRUATION PROBLEMS!"

Hefter stopped midsentence, gave Espa an odd look, said, "Oh, I see..." and stepped back quickly. If there was one thing Hefter did not mess with, it was feminine problems, since he saw plently of them from his employess. "Well then, best not leave you waiting, all impatient and not-so-fresh feeling and all. Off you go, and come back soon!" Hefter took his cue to quickly exit the room.

Mick didn't even look to see Espa's reaction, knowing he'd be getting a mindful later. "Well then... Espa my dear, let's get... going now..." Mick checked once again to be sure Rigel was still with them (he was) and exited Hefter's Haven, after what had seemed like an eternity.

I've got to stop having days like today...

Sey observed herself in the full length mirror of her room, twirling once to see the beautiful designs on the kimono before looking at Irihi with thankful eyes. Not knowing what else to say, the young heiress bowed deeply and spoke words of thanks. She was so, so lucky - there was always someone there for her to take away the darkness.

"Thank you very much Irihi-san," Sey said again as she raised from her bow. "The kindness that your clan has shown my family is something that I can never forget."

Turning around to bow deeply again at Kouji, Sey looked at him in question.

"May I please visit my mother now?"

Viken watched the chaos around him as he finally decided to stand up. Taking his mostly-ruined sword with him, he headed back out into the city to find himself a blacksmith.

He's gonna pay... As soon as this sword is fixed, he's gonna pay.

"I do indeed seek aid" the voice replied. He could sense darkness behind the voice. A darkness stronger than his own. He needed help, among other things from this being "Do you have the ability to teleport?" he asked quietly, trying to concentrate on where the being was coming from. He couldn't find the source, so just groaned. "Help me, and i promise to bring and end to that wench Yukiko" he said angrily. He was lucky the magic had only hit his wings, very lucky indeed.

Sacros felt the darkness, he let his heart absorb it, becoming one with the darkness. He fell into the pool, his body being consumed by darkness. He smiled as he was completly enveloped. Darkness, true darkness, night eternal. He loved it.