She

by Tyria

Chapter 2: Tobia

Hey! I'm listening to the stupidest song in the world!! It's called
Malcolm, and it's hilarious.... (Nothing to do with Malcolm in the
Middle...., although I'd love that song!!) But, I could sit here all day,
writing about the songs I'm listening to, and i'm sure you'd rather read my
fic, ne? All right then, be big meanies. j/k. Also, a little reminder: words
writen like ~this~ are being used in psychic communication! Ok, 'nuff said,
Enjoy!

WhiteBlaze stops in a spin and ends up facing back the way we came.

"WhiteBlaze, what are you doing?! We have to go get Tyria!"

WhiteBlaze snarls and then races forward into the woods. As the trees brush
by us, we hear a loud scream. I exclaim, "That's Tyria!"

"Good boy, WhiteBlaze! Let's go!!!"

The last comment wasn't really necessary, we are all ready on our way. We
break through one last line of trees and into a little clearing.

Tyria is lying face down on the ground wrapped up in some sticky white
substance, almost like an over-sized spider from on old horrer flick had
done it. A faint, feminen laughter fades as WhiteBlaze slides to a halt.

"Humans, leave this place and forget you've seen this or you may find
yourselves in over your heads."

"Not likely. Ronin Warriors, to arms!" We get off WhiteBlaze. Ryo
transforms into his yoroi. I feel the symbol of wisdom appear on my forehead
as I do the same.

The other guys now know we're in trouble, and where we are.

"You're just like the other fools I met earlier!" The voice exclaims, with
a hint of curiosity.

"You met others? Like us?"

"Yes, where do you think I learnt that attack?" The woman is still hidden
from view.

"Show yourself!!" Ryo yells out, not about to be taunted be a mystery
assailant.

"If you so wish. You have not heeded my warning, I fear you shall not live
long enough to regret this..."

A blur appears next to Tyria, like the fabric of the woods were tearing
apart. The Illusion fades and the woman can be seen.

She has light pastel-blue hair down to her waist, held back by a pastel
purple headress made of scales. Her eyes are blue and slited like a cat's.
She has a necklace addorned by large, pointed teeth. Her outfit is tight
fitting and the same colour as her hair. She has gauntlets the same colour
and make as her headress.

Her feet are bare and the legs of her outfit stretched below and through
the arches of her feet. She has a scaled purple belt with many black
pouches.

She has no weapon out and no scabbards of any sort. If it wern't for what
she did to Tyria, I'd say she was defenseless.

"WhiteBlaze, get Tyria. Listen lady, we don't wanna hurt ya, but...."

I feel anger growing within me. I interrupt, "Yes. We do want to hurt her.
Very much."

WhiteBlaze, under Ryo's order, begins gnawing through the cords entangling
the Dark Lady of the Dynasty. I'm starting to get really worried, Tyria
isn't even trying to force through the cords, and she hasn't acknoledged
anything that's happened yet.

"That woman is not who you know her to be. She has been taken over..."

"...By a symbiot. We know the story."

"You think that will save you? You were warned, and now you perish."

"Were not so easy to pick off, you'll find."

WhiteBlaze finally finishes chewing through the strands. Tyria seems to
snap out of a trance or something. She stands up and looks around. Her gaze
rests on the stranger. Death hisses, "Tobia..."

"You fools! You've allowed the symbiot to escape!!!" She pulls a tiny,
palm-sized rod out of one of her pouches. "Poison claw strike!"

The staff extends to full length and she moves it so fast that there appear
to be six. She charges towards Tyria.

"I don't think so!" Kento tries to use his naginata to knock Tobia's staff
away but it shrinks back down to palm-sized before he can hit it.

"Love the hair." Cye jumps down between Tobia and the not-transformed
Tyria.

"Wasn't that Sekhmet's attack?" Rowen asks.

"Yesss, and beforrre she did Diasss'." Sendo replies.

"You were affected by the illusion..." So that's why she was so docile....

"You might be able to take us on one-by-one, Tobia, but not all at once!"
Ryo yells bravely.

"An excellent idea boy, let us test it out." Tobia jumps into the air so as
to be able to attack Tyria without hitting Cye. "Dark thunder clash!!!"

Kale's attack! I run over to Tyria as Tobia's staff extends again... I have
to block Tyria from the attack, she doesn't have her armor on... This means,
I'm about to take the brunt of Kale's sure-kill...

The blast of black lightning knocks Tyria and I flying up into the air and
I fall into blackness...

I open my eyes, slowly. An action I imediatly regret... I keep them open.
All I can see are tree-tops.

~Mortal-Tyria?~

~Hit twice in one day, I think we're slipping Sendo.~

~I think we're not alone.~

~Can you tell who it is?~

~No, I'm still too messed up by Dais' attack. For all my senses are worth
right now, it could be a bug!~

I sit up warily, causing my head to spin once more...need to take things a
bit slower. My back really hurts from my rude meeting with the ground.

Sage is lying, unconcious a few feet away. Poor thing, he's really banged
up... he took the brunt of that attack, didn't even get a hand up to
block...

~It's just Sage.~

~Duh. I see exactly what you see, Mortal-Tyria.~

~Shut up. Is he ok?~

~How'm I s'posed to know? I'm in your body, not his!~ Sendo replies
indignantly.

~Well find out!!~ I 'yell' angrily. Wait, why am I so worried? Tobia,
that's why. She must be chasing after us, now! I need Sage's help!

Sendo sighs mentally, then states tentativly, ~There is a way I could heal
him, but he won't like it.~

~I think I'd rather he wee unhappy than all _three_ of us being dead!~

~Ya, but I bet he won't see it that way. You don't know _how_ unhappy he'll
be!!~

~_I'll_ deal with that when the time comes! I can handle Sage. What do you
need me to do?~

~I'll just take control, It'll be easier.~

~'Kay.~

Death takes over the body and walks over to Sage. She puts our right hand
gently on Sage's fore-head. ~He's gonna be ma-ad....~

~Just get the fuck on with it!~

I can feel her 'self' oozing through the poors in the palm of my hand and
into the Ronin of Halo. Once she's half in, half out

She must be healing him now. I look around nervously. ~Hurry up!~
A few moments later, she says, ~There, finished. Now all I have to do
is...~

Sage opens his eyes and yells. He hits us. We fall back, a little and I
fall back onto my back. My very, unhappy back. Pain races thourgh us. "Ow."

"What does Death think she's doing!!" He yells as he sits up.

"Sage, clam down, it's ok..." I crawl closer and try to put my right hand
back on his forehead.

He knocks my hand away. "What are you doing? Stop!"

"Sage, it's all right, she was just..."

"How can you let that _thing_ into me?!" He exclaims. He sounds hurt. I
didn't mean to hurt him...

~Told you he doesn't like me.~

~Sendo!~ I say harshly. "Sage, we aren't trying to hurt you, we're trying
to help!!"

~She is!~ Death states suddenly.

~What are you talking about?~

~Um, Mortal-Tyria, and can talk to Mortal-Sage now. That's the main reasone
I figured he wouldn't like it.~

"Trying to help how?" Sage exclaims, "By letting her take us _both_ over?"

"Sage, you bastard, listen! She's trying to help!"

~Mortal-Sage, I know you hate me, but please, listen to Mortal-Tyria. Keep
your cool.~

Sage takes a deep breath. "How was she trying to help?"

"She was trying to heal you so that we can get out of here, death and I
are..., welll, we're.."

~Just god dman tell him!~

I hang my head. I can't say this while looking Sage in the eye. "We're afraid of Tobia." I look back up, "And she's supposed to have minions, too!

Almost as much as a threat as her!"

"We should go back to the others..." He suggests.

I shake my head. "No, she's only after me. I don't want everyone in danger
because of me. You and I together can beat her, but I'll understand if you
Don't want to. Now will you let me get Death out of you?"

This time he stays in place as I put my hand on his forehead and let Sendo
flow back into me.

"Tyria, don't worry, I'll help you."

There. That's all I'm writing today.... So , if you want to know what
happens next, you'll have to wait a wee bit, or come to my house... like
that'd happen!! C&C always appreciated. Ta!
Tyria