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"It seems as though Sei and Akou have disappeared from our radar. I suppose Sei got bored following us and Akou flew up too high for us to follow," states Nimen to Night as she follows her. Nimen didn't seem worried in the least. "Perhaps we should rest here? I'm certain your friends are fine. And if they aren't then Akou can certainly patch them up." Nimen gestures to a bench paved in gold in the marketplace. Nimen then makes her way over to the bench and sits down.

"Given Akou's strength... they could be half way around the world by now," thinks Sai to Nimen and only Nimen. Sai didn't want to bother Night because he didn't know if it would be best he tell her that Ryuu and Makka were fine even though they could be splatter against a wall somewhere or tell her that he believed that they might be terribly injured. So he decided to not talk to her. But the warmth of his chakra in her hands would hopefully ease any worrying she might have.

Words = ?

What could Nimen say to possibly make Night feel better? Nimen was the sarcastic and uncaring type so she was the worst possible person to make someone feel better. Nimen watches Night a while before glancing at her hairpin. "I could use a listen help here," muses Nimen to herself as she fumbles her fingers. Nimen tugs her hood from her head and stands from the bench. She gazes at Night, her brown hues ablaze. She slaps her right hand over her chest and raises her head proudly. "Don't worry Night. I'm sure they'll turn up soon-" As soon as Nimen says that something comes crashing down into the ground behind the bench. Nimen's barrier expands in order to cover Night as the debris flies everywhere. People take note of this and run around screaming, the guards soon being notified.






"Ack," whimpers Akou from within the cloud of smoke. His wings struggle to flap and blow the dust away as Akou lays on his stomach on the ground. Ryuu lay unconscious on his back. Had Akou flown high to catch Ryuu? Was that how he disappeared from Night and Nimen's sight and Sai's telepathic range? One of Akou's wings falls limply to the ground while the other folds down over his back. Akou tilts his body in order for Ryuu to roll off and onto the ground. Akou pants hastily and irregularly as the smoke clears enough for Nimen to see.

"Not good. It seems as though those projectiles Crape used on Akou were poisonous and weakened Akou's defense. Ryuu seems injured but isn't poisoned," thinks Sai to Night and Nimen as Akou gets up and onto his knees. Slowly he crawls over to Ryuu and breaths Healing Vapors upon his body. Ryuu wounds heal slowly but heal completely just before a guard kicks Akou away from Ryuu.

"Young master. What has happened to our young master? Speak!" Cries out a muscular male angrily glaring at Nimen. Akou whimpers on the ground, his other wing lay limp on the ground too, as Nimen grabs at Night's arm to be sure she didn't try running over to Ryuu or Akou.

"I do not know."

"LIAR!" Bellows the man in response to Nimen. The man was furious but he made no attempt to draw near to Nimen. Instead he crouches down and examines Ryuu who was perfectly fine and just unconscious.

Words = ?

"Us? Help him? We don't help outsiders especially not Greeks." The man glares at Night before lifting up Ryuu. He glances over at Akou before snorting. "Besides, it is his fault that we were attacked a time ago by a Sannin. That brat might as well just up and die," mutters the man before wandering off. People disperse as Nimen releases Night.

"Stay there," states Nimen to night, making her way over to Akou. Nimen lifts Akou up a little only for him to wrestle free and fall back onto the ground.

"I'm f-fine," coughs Akou as Nimen stares at him.

"Stubborn," murmurs Nimen before looking over to Night. "We'll have to go after Ryuu later. We need to find someplace for Akou to be put so he can heal himself."

"I know place," whispers a very old woman from behind Nimen. When did that woman get there? Nimen whips around to stare at the smiling woman. "Let me take you there." For a moment Nimen was hesitant but then she nods. She was certain that she could handle any danger in this place if the woman were fooling her. Nimen lifts Akou up and into her arms before looking over at Night. "We're going to go with this woman. Perhaps she can tell us what in the world is going on." Nimen climbs to her feet, Akou's wings hanging limply over her arms, before following after the old woman who continued to smile cheerfully as she shuffled along.

Words = ?

"Is that you Makka?" A woman asks in a raspy voice as they all come to a small cottage in the forest. The old woman works on unlocking the door as Nimen gazes at the cottage.

"Who's inside there?" The old woman does not respond. Instead she finally unlocks the door and opens it.

"Wha-what are you doing?" Akou seemed to ask weakly as Nimen gazes inside the structure.

"I'm helping you," responds Nimen bluntly motioning inside.

"Turn that light on, please?" The same voice from before asks as Nimen looks behind her to she the old woman shuffling towards the light. She flicks it on as Nimen motions farther into the room.

"Hmn? Oh hey, that's Makka's mom? She looks better than Ryuu remembered," thinks Sai to Night absentmindedly.

"Please sit. Are you friends of Makka's?" Nimen motions inside and glances at the woman in blue and gold colors lying in bed.

"Yes we are. We're sorry for just barging in here but we needed a place to rest."

"Is that boy you carry all right?" Asks the woman smiling slightly, her eyes squinted closed, her flowing blue hair glimmering as she faces Nimen, awaiting her response.

"I'm fine," insists Akou as Nimen lays him onto the floor. "You shouldn't have moved me from where I was Nimen," snaps Akou lowly glaring down at the floor. Akou shifts his wings around as he sits upon the ground, blood dripping from them. Some feathers that fell from his wings snap in two upon hitting the ground, blood oozing from them as broken bird feathers usually did.

Words = ?

"I'm fine. Wh-where's Sai?"

"Oh," gasps Nimen realizing why Akou hadn't healed himself yet. "I know that must have hurt your pride a little, me carrying you. Sorry about that Akou."

"Doesn't matter now. I have to do this while my defenses are weakened." Akou looks over at Night as the old woman shuffles over to Night's side. She smiles at night before shuffling over to Akou and dropping the hairpin of Night's into a small pool of Akou's blood on the floor.

"That what yer looking for?" When did the old woman get the hairpin? When she was beside Night. She looked about ninety or so. How can she be that fast? And how did she know which hairpin to choose?

"Yeah," mutters Akou weakly, "How-"

"I've got good eyesight, deary," replies the old woman cutting Akou off. Her eyes gleam as she grins at Akou. Her teeth begin to slip out so she adjusts them which ruins the illusion and leads Akou to believe the woman had grabbed up the hairpin just being old and confused. But how... Akou shakes his head a little before flexing his muscles.

"Blood Regeneration plus... Wraithe's Visage will keep me fr-from losing too much blood... and passing out or feeling too much pain and passing out. I should be able... to push out enough blood in order to restore Sai to his normal form. Then I'm gonna go and get Ryuu." By the way Akou was saying things in one breath was showing how those two techniques were working.

"Ryuu's in danger?" Nimen and Akou had almost forgotten about Makka's mother in the bed.

"N-no. Not really," states Nimen unknowing of if Ryuu is in trouble or not. Makka's mother then looks to Night.

"She stutters as if unknowing. Is Ryuu in danger? Is Makka with you all or in danger?" The woman seemed concerned and looked at Night hoping she would know what was happening. Akou lowers his head in shame that he had been the one to cause all this AND had lost Ryuu. But at least Akou had dressed Ryuu's wounds. He was fine for the time being. But Makka's whereabouts and her condition along with her and Ryuu being in danger or not was uncertain to Akou. Perhaps Sai knew? He had gone with Ryuu to this village not too long ago. But Sai was quiet, lying in Akou's blood and reddening the hairpins color.

Words = ?

The old woman smiles at Night as the Makka's mother nods to Night. "Thank you dear. It's nice to have reassurance sometimes." Makka's mother smiles before laying back on the bed and closing her eyes. After a few minutes the hairpin of Night's lights up, filling the entire room with light; Makka's mother not waking. Sai's body finally forms, him smiling at the people all around him.

"Feels nice to be back in a body again. This is the second part of the Invocation: Art of Death technique I told you about Night. With enough of blood sacrifice I can return to my body from the item I'm sealed in. But if Sienna were here I wouldn't need a blood sacrifice." Sai then glances down at Akou. He crouches down as Akou's face twists into a frown. "It's easier to use this move on others other than yourself," states Sai forming a number of hand signs in order to use Healing Vapors. unlike Akou, Sai needed hand signs. Not having to use hand signs is one of many perks of being a Greek. Sai blows the vapors onto Akou until all of Akou's wounds are healed. Akou flings his wings up and flaps his wings a bit. He climbs to his feet before stretching. "Just as you'd expect from me huh Akou?" Akou snorts before walking towards the door. "Hold it. I don't think you should try going after Ryuu." Nimen and the others look at Sai as Makka's mother continues to slumber.

Before Sai can explain why he didn't think looking for Ryuu would be wise, Night shows strange signs. Sai turns to stare at Night before motioning over to Night. "Are you all right? What's the matter Night?"

"What's wrong with her?"

"I dunno Akou. Move back and give her some air." Akou had wound up inches from Night's face, odd for a five year old like himself. He leaps down from Sai's back, ah that explains things, before stepping back. Nimen stares at Night as does the old woman. Sai places a cool hand on Night's cheek and gazes into her eyes. He tries to read her mind but gets nothing. "Snap out of it Night. What's the matter?" They were all worried and hoped that Night was all right?