Chapter Eleven: Kytares! Mysteries and such....

Unfortunately, Ninoa and Timothy had been slightly off as to just where on the featureless Plains of Gault the party was with respect to the mountain city of Kytares. The company had climbed aboard Filia, expecting a quick jaunt to the city. Instead, they flew almost an entire day without spotting anything. During this time, the party's optimism had dropped. So had the civility of the party. Fortunately, level heads had prevailed thus far and no massive damage spells had been cast at another party member while in midflight. Thanks to a small trick of Briar's, none of the sarcastic comments about slow dragons had reached the ears of Filia, which was a good thing, since Filia's temper was rather short. Nobody particularly wanted to be dumped off the dragon's back either. As darkness began to fall, they were hungry, so very hungry. Their tempers had grown short; the soreness of muscles from the fight began to kick in for most people, leaving them aching and even more cranky.

Fortunately, as the sun began to sink below the horizon, they spotted the outline of Kytares in the far off distance. Something more immediate caught the attention of the passengers, something far more important than the elusive shadow of the city in the distance. They flew over a building that had a sign, a great big sign proclaiming 'ALL YOU CAN EAT!' in bright, glowing letters....

Slowly Filia made her way down to the ground. Yes, food was needed, if she wished to reach her son. She needed her strength. Making a careful landing, she slid across the ground and finally stopped. She laid low, so the others could jump off. Her head was lowered; it hadn't risen from the ground since that day....

Sai jumped off, looked towards the town and then back at Filia. "Will you come on? We need a plan, and laying your head down like that will not get us one." Sai walked into town, towards the "All you can eat" restaurant. He was about to go in, when... "Darn. I forgot that Briar girl took my money." Sai looked around, then jumped up as he felt something. He smirked. "Alright! It should be nearby. I hope it brought everything I require, as well as some answers. It should give me a update on the boy, too." Sai sighed to himself. "Filia really loves that boy. He doesn't know how lucky he is." Sai sat and waited for both the group and for his contact to arrive.

Lina glanced around, then looked to the others. Then she saw the "All you can Eat" sign and it was all over.... "FOOD FOOD FOOD!"

Looking around cautiously, Filia quickly transformed back to her usual human form. Slowly she made her way into the restaurant, just behind the others. Without a word she took her seat, and continued to stay silent. She had nothing to say; it had all been her fault! Now she needed a plan. She needed Val-chan... as much as he needed her. Her job was to protect him, to give him a better life then before. And right now she was doing a pretty rotten job of that....

Tim stared at the town outskirts and unlike the others, he decided not to enter the restaurant. He had more than enough provisions and really didn't need a fancy meal. What he needed, though, was a little rest from the others, especially Rill. These days it was extremely wise to put the two as far apart as possible. Rill probably wanted him dead and Tim had to admit to himself that while he wouldn't actively plot or try to kill Rill, he wouldn't actually go and save him either. Plus, Tim was just plain used to going it alone, even with Briar and her comforts.

So Tim waited until the others began to enter the restaurant, then he left to set up camp as well as to relax and think. Too many mysteries; he mused. Best to take things one at a time.

Briar watched Tim walk off on his own and shrugged. Not that he was a bad sort, for one of them. It just made him easier to work with. If he wanted -- she chuckled -- the illusion of privacy, so be it. As it was, her hunger was the most pressing thing. She entered the restaurant.

"YOU!!" A man in a chef's hat pointed a large ladle at Lina, the moment she entered. "YOU!!" He pointed it at Gourry. He was a skinny man; skinny almost to the point of starvation, even. He was dressed in the white garb of a chef, and had a curly mustache that quivered with a life of its own as the man spoke. "I know YOU!!"

Lina and Gourry looked at the man, small sweatdrops forming. "R-really?" Lina asked with a look that might have been fear, might have been curiosity.

"YES!" the chef shouted. "YOU are the infamous chef breakers!

"Chef breakers?" Both looked puzzled.

"YES!" His mustache danced with a life of its own. "The RED-haired girl! The BLONDE-haired man! The infamous RED-BLONDE DUO OF THE BOTTOMLESS GULLETS!"

[Cut-scene: A super-deformed Lina and Gourry enter a restaurant. A generic SD-chef walks up to them, bows, and walks off.]

"The RBDOTBG! The terror of all chefs! They enter a INNOCENT resturant and order like any ORDINARY person would."

[The chef brings food out. The duo finish it instantly and gesture for more. The chef walks to the back and brings more food out. This occurs several times, speeding up each time.]

"They ORDER and ORDER! NOTHING can STOP them! They order until everything is ALL GONE!"

[The chef walks up to the pair and shakes his head, bowing regretfully. The pair don't look happy.]

"And THEY find out that there's NO FOOD!"

[Lina and Gourry walk away from a large flaming building while the poor chef weeps in front of his building]

"They become ENRAGED! They SLICE! They DICE! They even CHAR-BROIL!"

[The SD-chef is seen in a straight jacket in a padded room]

They turn GREAT chefs into SHADOWS of the MEN they once WERE! They make MOCKERIES of GREAT MEN! MOCKERIES, you HEAR!"

[End cut-scene]

The chef, face flushed with emotion, posed. "But I! I AM the GREATEST of the All-You-Can-Eat School of COOKING!" Behind him, a yellow and red sun flared as ocean waves crashed dramatically on the rocks behind him. "I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED!!"

He pointed his ladle at Lina and Gourry, eyes narrowed. They started at the violence of the gesture. "I shall PROVE my WORTH! I shall BECOME the FIRST man to survive the ONSLAUGHT of the GULLETS of DOOM!" He whirled around to face the swinging doors back into the kitchen. "I shall prepare a BOUNTY! A FEAST! ENOUGH to FILL even YOUR VORACIOUS APPETITES!" With that, he marched through the doors.

A serving wench with a large sweatdrop laughed nervously. "If you'll be seated, the food will be out in a few moments."

Lina's eyebrow raised. Was this a challenge? No matter. She would not lose. "YOSH! We'll eat, and that is the challenge!"

Gourry sweatdropped. "Didn't he insult us...?" he asked questioningly.

LIna ignored this, figuring it would come in handy AFTER they ate. "Alright! Bring it out!"

As Sai waited outside of the restaurant, he suddenly felt a jolt all over his body and smirked. "Good. He's here." About a minute or two later, a shadow-like creature with red eyes and mouth, about four feet tall with arms but no legs, arrived sliding across the ground like a wave. The people who saw this creature screamed and ran.

The shadow creature rose to about eye level with Sai, and began to speak. Its voice would sound like mumbling to anyone but him. "Did you bring what I asked for?" asked Sai. The creature held out one black hand, and a bag of money appeared. Sai grabbed the money. "What info did you get?" The creature again began mumbling, telling him odd tidbits about the other members of his group, including some things about the mysterious Metcliff and his intentions. Interesting, Sai thought to himself.

"Okay. You'd better do your inspection," he said finally. The creature nodded. It went straight to Tim first; of course Tim could see it. The creature circled around him quickly, then moved on to Rill and then Ninoa. It circled around her, then stopped and circled around her again. It seemed to be surprised. It already knew she was a monster; it was surprised for another reason.

The creature then proceeded to the restaurant. It circled quickly around each member of the group seated inside, stopping at Filia. At this point, Sai walked in. The shadow went up to him. "Is it to your liking?" he asked. It nodded, so Sai took a seat with the others. The shadow circled around the table as he sat.

From the kitchen, the group heard the battle cries of the chef as he strove to master the latest challenge against his mastery of cooking. Shortly after the group had taken their seats, several serving wenches brought forth large trays heaped high with steaming food. The starving party fell upon it like a pack of hyenas. Even as the food vanished, more trays were brought forth.

Briar watched the brawl from her table, nibbling daintily at her food. One of the waitresses had been kind enough to set an entire tray at her table. Somethimes, being an illusionist was just nice, since as far as everyone else was concerned, she was right there at the group's table, going fork-to-fork for the tastiest morsels. She would wait until the frenzy had died down; there would be plenty of time for her answers then.

Lina's mouth drooled as she jumped right into her food. "AHH!!" was all she exclaimed, as all kinds of food entered her mouth. Her cheeks were stuffed like a chipmunk and there was a chicken bone sticking out of her mouth.

Gourry, who was just as gross looking at the moment, decided they could worry later.

And they continued to eat. And the food supply soon shortened....

Tim sat outside and prepared his meal. It would not be nearly as fanciful nor in as large portions as the rest of the group's would be. The meal would suit him, however, and be delicious. In his travels, he had gleaned a few cooking tips from master chefs in several kingdoms, so although he was no master chef himself, he was still good in the cooking department.

Secretly he had hoped that Briar would have joined him, but wasn't too surprised whe she didn't. He really wanted to sample some of the Exalian Mead he'd gotten from Ashrid, and that was a drink best served with good company. Still, the peaceful atmosphere couldn't be beat. Briar, he had to admit, was one of the best (and prettiest) illusionists he had ever encountered. Trouble was with Briar, though, one was just never quite sure where the illusions stopped and reality began. It was one of the things that fascinated him. He loved a mystery.

It was just too bad that Filia was going through her own personal hell. Who and why the child was brought along was a question he asked quite a few times over the last day. As usual, when the questions counted, he got no replies.

No replies, but plenty of surprises. It seems that Sai has a link with one of the Shadow Tribes. Tim had dealt with them before when he was looking for the Seven Jewels of Tymonree. For the most part, they are neutral, although distrusting towards the human race. That was why Tim didn't react to the creature's inspection of him, even though he had been prepared to defend himself.

Tim smiled. The last time he faced the Mazoku was over the Seven Jewels of Tymonree. A trio of Mazoku had been intending to use them to reveal some piece that would have ultimately led them to the Staff of the Gods. Tim had managed to put the jewels together just in time, and used them against the Mazoku. The Mazoku were destroyed, but in the process Tim had discovered that the gems were actually eggs and that all seven needed to be formed together in order to hatch. It seemed that a Tymonree was a legendary bird, not unlike a Phoenix. The egg hatched, the tymonree absorbed the rest of the jewels, magic and all, then flew away. Further research on the legendary bird revealed that they live for centuries if not millenia, and that the jewels wouldn't be laid again for at least 100 years or so. But that time, who knows where they will be hidden.

That had been an example of an assignment gone well. This time around, his assignment would require at least one magical tome, five astral swords, and if he could believe his own magical book, an item no one had ever ran across yet, called The Power of Command.

But that would come in its own time. Right now, a good meal and pleasant surroundings were beckoning him.

During the past few hours, Rill had been converted into some sort of perpetual sloth. He had slept away most of the travelling time, falling to a slumber so deep that even if Ruby-Eye himself were to be resurrected before Rill, he would simply sleep right through the whole apocalypse.

Even now, Rill had stumbled into the restaurant, found an empty table and curled up on its surface. Along the way, Rill appeared to have picked up two small companions. A small yellow bird that seemed to have found himself quite at home in Rill's violet hair, ceaselessly singing and puffing out its brilliant gold breast. And a tiny red squirrel, that had attached itself onto Rill's forearm like some sort of bracelet accessory. It was proving to be just as noisy as the bird, constantly chattering away.

Ninoa pulled out an abacus as Lina and Gourry continued to eat at a disturbing rate. Flicking the beads around, her eyes grew wide. "Uh, Ms. Lina?" Ninoa spoke softly. "Do you actually know how much this entire meal is going to cost?"

"How much?" Lina spoke with her mouth full of food.

"Ummm, well, you see...," Ninoa spoke as she wrote the amount down on a piece of paper. A moment later, she handed the paper to Ms. Lina, who upon seeing it, facefaulted into her food. Lina then recited the ridiculously high number that was etched onto the piece of paper. "Oh, and that's before tax," Ninoa nervously laughed with her eyes closed and a sweatdrop running down the side of her head.

Lina then shrugged to Ninoa, stuffing the rest of the food in her mouth. Gourry seemed to be doing the same.... "Hey, Mister! Did you insult me?!" she asked the cook guy who had 'challenged' her. She crossed her arms over her chest, standing up.

"I -- Uh.... Wha?" the cook asked, confused.

"You insulted me, then you challenged me! I don't have to take that! And the food wasn't that good, anyway!" she said, making it sound like it was all his fault. "Come on, Gourry!"

Gourry followed, looking back at the group before walking out the door. They should've known better....

Sai continued to eat calmly without saying a word. The shadow-being slowly floated next to Ninoa. It looked at her very carefully, then started to circle around her again and again, thinking, This can't be possible. The shadow then looked at Sai. Better keep this to myself.

The creature next hovered nearby Filia, and in its mumbling voice, told her what was happening to Valgaarv. Sai simply continued eating.

Filia stared at the dark creature. Her eyes shook, and she wondered how and why this creature knew about her beloved son. The son who she should have protected. For some odd reason, Filia was not afraid. All she did was stare, feeling that that was all she could do. Well, that, and watch her life collapse before her eyes.

Ninoa finally noticed the shadow creature and almost lost control. She, however, composed herself and went back to her calculations. Oi. This meal alone would've taken a nice chunk out of her purse. These "All you can eat" restaurants have to make a profit somehow.... Luckily, she wasn't paying for all of it. Ninoa then started to drink some green tea.

Then she felt something. There was a presence, something not human. Something demonic.... Mazoku.

Ninoa turned and looked toward the doorway. Nothing there... not yet, anyhow. She then turned back to the table and continued drinking her tea. Then she felt it again. This time to the right of her. Then to the left. It was apparent to her that the being was circling her. Oh well, Ninoa thought to herself. Back to work.

Three fireballs suddenly shot out toward the table where the remnants of the group were sitting. Ninoa knew that this was coming and already had a spell prepared. "GIL VLAS!!!" she yelled. A force of black then formed and absorbed the fireballs. Ninoa then stood up as everyone else was still wondering what was going on as to why Ninoa had just cast a spell for no reason at all.

Then it dawned on her. "An invisibility spell. Tricky." Ninoa then apologized to the group and sat back down.

"What was that about?" Sai asked her.

"Oh, nothing too special," Ninoa spoke with a smile and closed eyes. "Just that there's a Mazoku over yonder, throwing invisible attacks at us." She then pointed across the room to a hooded dark figure with its face not clearly visible at the moment.

"Oh well," spoke the figure as it looked straight at Ninoa, "it appears that I've been found out.... Not that it'll matter to you after you're dead."

Ninoa smiled. "Looks like I have my responsibilities to take care of for this year."

Briar sighed. She had hoped that both watchers were going to do just that -- watch. Unfortunately, it seemed one of them just had to go and get violent. Oh well. She stood and walked out the door, passing the Mazoku. "You!" she snapped, pausing in front of the Mazoku. It tensed, glaring at her. "Pay for my meal." With that, she tossed him a bag and walked out the door.

Tim finished his meal and quickly packed up his things. Success! He'd managed to finish eating before Lina Inverse returned. One thing he definitely knew about Lina. Never stand between her and food. It's just a bad idea.

Once he finished, Tim looked around. "I really hope you enjoyed the show. Personally, I think it's boring to watch me eat, but whatever thrills ya, I suppose. Don't be so shocked. Your illusion / invisibility spell works fine. I was just expecting your presence is all. Now are you going to come out so we can discuss this peacefully, or do I cast some spells and force you to reveal your presence?"

Tim cast his spells, which ended up shooting out color sprays and a rain spell that would have revealed anything which might conceivably have been watching him. I said would have, because, nothing, in fact, was watching him. Satisifed, he sat down at the base of a nearby tree with his legs extended. He was half awake, and half asleep. Tim was definitely in tune with his surroundings and just waited for the others to join him.

For once, he was after a little bit of peace...and he got it.

Lina, who had walked out the door, made her way back towards where Tim was resting. Gourry followed close behind. "Geez... I hope everyone gets back soon. We need to get going and find Filia's son. I have a really bad feeling...." She grabbed her gut, feeling a bit weak. "Let's just find all the others, then get ready to enter the city." She just wanted sleep. And she wasn't feeling so good... Maybe how strong she felt on this was... women's intuition.

Gourry walked by Lina's side, helping her along. He suddenly realized that he was holding her, and that she was letting him. Could she be in pain somehow...?

Sai stood up and glanced at the mysterious Mazoku. "It is just one of those days." The shadow-being looked away from Filia and towards the Mazoku before turning invisible. Sai folded his arms and smirked. "This won't take long." He went back to eating his meal, the rest of the group looking at him weirdly.

Suddenly a ring of darkness appeared over the Mazoku, and black lightning bolts rained down upon him.

Briar stretched as she heard the sounds of combat erupt in the resturant. As far as she was concerned, those in there could rot. In fact, if she thought the Mazoku had a chance in hell, she might even fix one of her problems. But the Mazoku would die, and even if it didn't, it would provide some more information for her, which was a fair enough trade.

Absently, she wondered just what she was going to do with her new toy. It wasn't like she had any real use for such an artifact; it was more of an ego thing. Shrugging to herself, she followed behind Lina and Gourry.

Ninoa looked at the shadowy demonic presence before her. She knew a fight was about to break out. It was inevitable. "CATA VOSS!" she shouted out, crossing her arms and then spreading them to cause a disruption of sound to hit the Mazoku. No effect, but it did make for a nice diversion to get out of the restaurant, because of the dust cloud that arose after the spell was cast.

Once outside, she then scanned the area for the Mazoku. Interesting; the being was trying to hide in the Astral Plane before striking. She had a split second in which to react to the strike. Curving her body, she dodged the jab at her head. Apparently, this Mazoku didn't have much training in hunting its bounty. Oh well. "BRAM BLAZER!" Ninoa yelled out as she hit the Mazoku square in the abdomen. No effect, at least, not one that noticeable anyhow. "Well, maybe I should start whipping out the big stuff," she then decided as she readied her hands to cast a spell.

Sai, having followed Ninoa outside, looked at her very weirdly. "What is she doing?" The shadow-creature was surprised and sped away from Ninoa, back into the inn. Sai realized, "Whatever the spell she's casting, it's serious." He followed the shadow creature back, bracing himself, ready for the worst.

Briar walked down the path. Well, that mazoku DID mess up, right? I shouldn't make it easy. She yawned and stretched, arms over her head. "This feeling," she muttered sadly as the yawn began stretching, "should Be Not." She held her hands to her chest and looked mournfully ahead, at a campfire. "Why does it have to happen to me?" She sighed and began to walk towards the fire and the figure there.

Tim continued his half-awake watch on the outskirts of town when he felt a boot tap his boot. Tim looked up and saw three figures decked out in gold and black armor; they looked like the Imperial Guard (the red Stormtroopers) out of Star Wars.

Tim recognized the armor immediately. These guys were from Cerem and they NEVER smiled or joked around. Someone must have angered the government in Cerem majorly for these "people" to show up. Tim swallowed loudly and silently prayed that it wasn't him.

"You are Timothy Grey?" the lead figure asked.

"Uh, yes. I'm him. What can I do for you gentlemen?" was the hesisant reply.

"We are looking for Dacron Pierce. Have you heard from him lately?"

Whew, thought Tim. They were after Pierce. The druken idiot probably hadn't reported to the Council in a long time and these happy campers were sent out to retrieve his book. "I wish I could help you, but the last time I saw him was three months ago at a tavern in Seryuun. Sorry."

The guards nodded to themselves before the lead one spoke again. "You have given us a lead, at least, and we thank you, Citizen." With that, they headed back they way they came and proceeded to Seryuun.

There was no need to tell the rest of the party about this little encounter, Tim thought. Those warriors weren't concerned with Tim's problems. They wouldn't interefere with his business with Ashrid and that was quite fine with him. When those people were around, things had a tendency to get ugly for all concerned.

Lina and Gourry finally made it back to where they'd left Tim. Lina warily wandered up to him, then saw the others who were walking away. "Who were they?" she asked, glaring. Gourry walked beside Lina, waving in a friendly way, but still acting protective.

Tim looked up at Lina like he'd just been through a major scare. "They happen to be The Royal Knights of Talerod, although I use the word "knight" very loosely. The library sends these individuals when there is major trouble afoot that could threaten either Cerem City or the Library themselves. What they were looking for in question, was a compatriot of mine that I haven't heard from or seen in three months. Be glad that they aren't interested in what we are doing. I've never seen them in action and I hope I never do. Normally, the Mystic Council only sends one. I shudder to think why the council thought three was necessary. Something major has gone down in Cerem and I have no desire whatsoever to see what it is. If I were you, I just wouldn't worry, wouldn't do anything about it, and wouldn't mention it to anybody else. Having them interested in our affairs would be like having your sister join us in our quest. I don't want to think of the conseqences. Just let this one lie and let's concentrate on getting Filia's child back." As Tim spoke, he was becoming calmer and calmer until the very end when started to smile. In an attempt to change to the conversation, Tim simply asked "How was dinner?"

"The food was good, ano... quick." Lina nodded slowly. "From now on, we gotta focus on getting Filia's kid back. You took the words right out of my mouth." Not to mention she most certainly didn't want to see her sister.... Crossing her arms, she sat down, then sweatdropped. "I hope everyone gets back soon. We have to get to the city before the gates are closed for the night." She looked around, then made a decision, grinning. "Meanwhile, while we're waiting, why not set up our tents and catch some rest?" Behind her, a resigned Gourry began to set up their tent.

"So we're goin' to the big city, eh?" asked Briar as she entered the makeshift campsite. She stood by the fire Tim had built to cook his food. "Ah. That feels good." She stretched out her hands to warm them for a moment, before sitting down. "Think there's anything at Kytares? Ninoa mentioned somethin' important there, but she has yet to tell her story." She scowled slightly. "Not that knowin' the story has ever helped anyone before, not really."

Back in the restaurant, Sai looked curiously at Rill. He looked like he was in a trance, not reacting to anything. Sai, not wanting Rill to get hurt by whatever Ninoa was planning to unleash, picked him up and jumped out the window. The shadow creature followed Sai out.

He ran until he was sure it would be safe, quite a distance from the restaurant in a residential area. Putting Rill down, he sat next to him and rested. The shadow creature paused nearby, looking at Rill.

Whilst Rill slept, and the Shadow beast stood vigil over him, Rill's body glowed its purple light. Unlike the other times that the aura had shown itself, it was now terribly unstable and chaotic. Tendrils of power drifted off him, winding about the air. Growing and extending, the thickening fibres came to coil about the Shadow, coaxing the creature near. Soothing over it, the Shadow was quickly compelled to curl up around Rill.

Sai watched, utterly shocked, as Rill's energy overtook the shadow. He was even more shocked to see the shadow curl up with Rill. What is going on here? he thought, unable to speak, his jaw dropped. What happened? It must have been something important. I will have to try to figure it out... but later. Sai then shook Rill, trying to wake him up. "Wake up; we need to go."

After a few minutes of being shook, Rill mumbled incoherently in his sleep, but suddenly woke from his reverie with a vengeance. Violet eyes wide, he shrieked and spun away from Sai. He cast a wary look at the Shadow clung around him; it continued to do so even as he rose to his feet. He sighed dejectedly, succumbing to having the beast attached to him.

Rill waved his left arm frantically, grumbling as the squirrel passenger held fast, and the bird on his head broke out into song anew. "Of all the times for this to happen, why now?" he whined, gazing piteously to Sai.

Sai wondered why he was grumbling, and wondered even more why one of his Clan's Scouters was clinging to the purple boy. "What do you mean, why is this happening now? Rill, what is going on here?" Sai stood up. "Whatever you did to him, you have to stop it. I will get in big trouble if he doesn't report back soon." Sai ran his fingers though his hair nervously.

Rill grinned another of his patented toothy grins, but the usual playful and mischievous nature was greatly lacking and a large sweat drop fell along his brow. Where he stood, Rill began to shift uncomfortably and fidget. Casting his gaze downward, a slight blush came across his cheeks. Amazing, that a person such as Rill was even capable of blushing.

Tail swishing with nervousness, as well as trying to shoo the shadow away, Rill began to whine. He bit his lip, and suddenly wailed aloud, "I'm in heat!"

Sai looked at Rill oddly. "Yeah, it is hot out here." The young man stared at the shadow creature. "Come on, you need to stop that." It looked at Sai, but then clung even tighter to Rill. "This is not good... I don't know what you're doing, Rill, but please stop it. I will pay you if I have to." Sai said, taking out his money. "Okay, how much do you want? Never mind, it is too hot to talk out here. Let's get to some shade before continuing this discussion." Sai started walking, waiting for Rill to join him. He sighed. "This is going to be one long journey."

Rill's brow knitted up with worry and anxiety. Though he smiled uneasily, he did so either way. "Sai, you're one of three things. Too naive and innocent. An idiot. Or a fool who thinks that he can ignore this little problem of mine. Which, by-the-way, is going to get worse over the next few days. Shade and money are not going to help... well, unless you want to make some money. In which case you can sell me off for the duration. But I got out of that business a while ago." As Rill prattled on rather meaninglessly, he came to walk alongside Sai. The shadow still draped over him, now quite lovingly, and several new birds kept trying to alight upon his twitching ears.

Sai raised an eyebrow. "Great. Just great." He sighed. "I hope this will be over soon." The forest was just up ahead; as he and Rill walked towards it, he then started thinking. "This is going to get worse, huh? What is it; an imbalance or something? What causes it?" Sai stared once again at the shadow so incongruously draped over Rill. "I have never seen anything like this in my life. How long will this last?"

With talking, Rill's distress and worry fell away like silken sheets. Now he smiled with great ease, and with the carefree impishness he so very adamantly possessed. To answer a question of Sai's, he held up two fingers. "Two weeks. At least." He grinned. "It's never been any less than that.

"You know how girls have their "Time of the Month"? And how animals go into season, looking for mates? Well in a nutshell that's what I go through once every so often. But this time round, with a broken Binding and my energies going pretty much rampant, I wouldn't be surprised if it lasted much longer, maybe even two months."

Rill abruptly glomped Sai. "I've never been this bad before, you know. I've never attracted anything larger than a couple rabbits, but now I've got your shady friend. It makes me wonder what else might seek my company before this is over."

Unfortunately for Ninoa, the Mazoku had been playing dumb. It was strong enough that lower level spells didn't affect it, but it now knew that Ninoa was equally strong. It needed a chance, a chance provided by the longer casting time of the high level spells. Ninoa charged blithely into its trap.

She made it four words into the spell, when the Mazoku popped out of the Astral plane, right behind Ninoa, who was expecting the Mazoku to appear in front of her. It struck, a vicious thrust that impaled the girl through the shoulder. It raised her high by its claws; dark flame struck down from the heavens and crashed into her body. It slung her blackened form off to the side like so much chaff.

Briar yawned. As she stretched, she gazed over at the city in the distance. "I wonder--" The sentence was cut short as Ninoa's bloody body came crashing down into the campfire. Seconds later, the Mazoku appeared. It raised a bloodstained claw over the girl....

"Damn," Ninoa spoke as she started to get up. So she'd underestimated the little Mazoku turd. Shouldn't have. Well, that which does not kill you, makes you stronger... hopefully. "Time to put you to bed," she said, "and fast."

Ninoa clapped her hands twice. What seemed like a small gesture, actually was quite a bit more. For when she showed the palms of her hands, mouths could be seen there. "A technique taught to me by my father," Ninoa told the Mazoku while she held back the pain. She then spoke the words to a spell quickly. With the help of the two additional mouths, the spell went faster. Her Mazoku opponent tried to attack, but a gleaming white pillar of light shot from her hands as she wielded it with might. The Mazoku only had a moment to reflect on this as the light column tore through it like a hot knife through butter.

Ninoa stood in after-slash position as the glow of the light disappeared. Her breathing was heavy. "Put too much into it... this time...," she spoke to herself as she knelt on the ground. "Still, that one was harder to beat than I suspected." The mouths disappeared from her hands as she felt tired. She didn't fall, though; falling might mean the difference between life and death.

Sai was speechless for a moment. "I don't believe it. Two weeks? Oh man, and he is due back tomorrow! When the Clan realizes he is gone they are going to tear me limb from limb." Sai folded his arms. "I've heard about the "time of the month" and going though seasons but I never thought it could be something like this." Sai sighed. "Well, I had better start thinking of something."

Rill merely shrugged nonchalantly. �You could always tell them it wasn�t your fault. How were you to know that a devilishly beautiful being such as I would soon become a travelling companion and unexpectedly start sending out energies to let every manner of beast know that I was ready to mate?� He grinned widely, and sidled up to Sai. Whispering into the other�s ear teasingly, Rill remarked, �There is one way that might shorten this plight, and still another way after to tone it down to practically nonexistence. Do you want to know them? Or will you let your dark friend become my little courtier for the next two to whenever weeks?�

Sai looked at Rill evenly. He knew he had to stop whatever was happening to the shadow creature, but he had no idea what to do about it. He then looked once more at the shadow, still clinging onto Rill, and started to sweat. No harm in hearing about the cure, Sai thought to himself. "Okay, tell me what has to be done in order to get the shadow back to normal." Sai then looked at Rill, waiting for the answer.

Ninoa collected herself, then realized something. Where's Sai? She hoped he hadn't been hurt or anything, then got up and walked off, intending to find him.

Briar watched Ninoa get up and leave, seemingly oblivious to the gaping hole in her shoulder. She glanced around at the others, who were doing similiar stares. "Umm...." She shook her head and made a few mental notes. "Guys... Maybe we should try makin' it to Kytares real soon. If they're after us an' all, keeping moving is the way to go."

Ninoa walked around for a time, eventually noticing Sai, engaging in conversation with Rill. Sai's shadow creature was plastered around Rill, but it didn't appear to be threatening. "That's odd," Ninoa spoke to herself as she streched out her shoulder. "Maybe I should eavesdrop."

Rill licked his lips, his eyes lidded seductively, as he came in close to Sai. Rill looked to the Shadow still around him; he caressed its darkness and, eyes narrowing, he suddenly snapped at the thing in some guttural voice not like his own, barking a single archaic word to it. Apparently it was a command, and one that the Shadow obeyed reluctantly for it soon slid off of Rill's person and merely hovered to the side of him.

An arm came up over Sai's shoulder, curling behind him and pulling him close. Fingers lightly brushed his cheek and chin, and Rill's violet eyes filled Sai's vision. "Become my Third," he whispered against Sai's lips, his tone wonderfully sultry. "Tap into these energies that flow about me even now. Allow me to Bind you. In doing this the passions deriving from me shall be weakened, and I'll be back to rabbits and rodents. Your Shadow beast will return to wherever you wish it, and I shall be but a pleasant memory to it. What say you? Will you allow this Bond to be made?"

Sai couldn't believe what his ears had just heard. "Y..Y...Your Third?" Sai took a step back. "I am going to have to think about this." So many thoughts were racing through Sai's head that he couldn't think at all. He looked up, then looked back down at Rill. "I need time to think. I will give you my answer tonight." Sai stood up and ran off into town.

Ninoa was disturbed and angered by Rill's actions. The wound on her shoulder didn't bother her, at least not too badly. The flames of anger welled up inside of her like hot water in a kettle. She then advanced behind Rill quickly. "Riiiiiiiilllllllllllll..." Ninoa said from behind Rill, with a disturbing voice and a glowing blue aura surrounding her. "What do you think you're going to do?"

Ninoa didn't give Rill much chance to reply as she proceeded to beat Rill with Moshi repeatedly. This wouldn't normally hurt TOO much, but Moshi seemed to be enhanced by Ninoa's fury as the blows felt like one ton weights being slammed into Rill's body and skull. The individual was then left on the ground in a heap as Ninoa dusted her hands off. "You won't mess with Sai-sama," Ninoa said to Rill as she cast a healing spell on herself. "GOT THAT!?" Without waiting for an answer, she left Rill in pursuit of Sai.

Sitting on the ground after extracting himself from it, Rill growled. Arms crossed angrily, and his tail thumping upon the land behind him, he narrowed his eyes to the horizon. It was not the horizon towards which Ninoa and Sai had departed. All around him, the forest life had thrown away its timidity, coming out and cuddling up to him. Birds sung in the trees only for him, and a few had taken to nestling in his hair or perching on his bowed ears. "This is actually starting to get to me," he snarled, and for a moment his eyes flashed from blue to purple to red. Then he closed them, falling back star-fish style upon the grass, and sighing. "I'm hungry."

Reaching the outskirts of the town, Sai jumped up onto a building, grabbing the edge of the roof. He pulled himself up and laid there. "I fear I have no choice. The Clan's rules say do what has to be done, no matter the cost." Sai sat up and rolled himself into a ball, rocking back and forth.

A young girl of, say, 15 years or so, obviously not human, blipped out of oblivion right next to the rocking Sai. "What plagues ye t' make ye rock like a little babe does after scarin' itself with a bad dream?" Her voice was pleasant... and unfamiliar... and altogether far too chipper.

When Sai heard the voice, he was shocked. Flipping himself upright, he turned around to look at the girl, standing on the edge of the roof. "Who are you? Where did you come from?" Sai's fear of girls was trying to take him over, but it wasn't quite strong enough to take effect. "This can't be good."

The young girl tilted her head to one side, curious rather than dangerous. "I'm sorry, Mister... did I frighten ye?" The smile curving her lips was an honest and warm one. "My name is Lyssa. Who're ye? I hope you don't mind me much... I was just passing by and ye looked kinda upset. Thought I might hop up here and see if there was much I could do for ye... if not, I'll go away...." At that, the smile turned into a sulk. Lyssa didn't like being alone.

Ninoa looked around for a while among the houses outside the city before she found Sai standing on the edge of a building. "That's odd," she thought. "What's he doing up there?" Ninoa then decided to investigate, hiding herself nearby.

Lyssa looked straight at the newcomer, her smile returning. "Hallo!" Her voice was bright and chipper, full of the laughter that leaves so many after passing from childhood into adulthood.

Ninoa looked at the girl and decided to go on up. She did two to three flips in midair before she landed on the rooftop... sort of. Landing on her face, she then recovered and got up to face the girl. An elf... strange, if anything. She reminded Ninoa of... well, it would be better to not think of her....

Sai watched in amazement as Ninoa came from out of nowhere and stood face to face with the girl, Lyssa. "Man, this is interesting. Hey, Ninoa, where did you come from?" Sai got down on one knee, lowered his head, then started to think. Then he remembered something, and turned to face the new girl. "Oh yeah. My name is Sai. Nice to meet you."

The girl, Lyssa, looked from Sai to the other woman. "Um.... Are you two traveling together?"

Sai was getting edgy. He looked up and muttered, "Time is almost up...." He then stood up. "Let's get back to the rest of the group." Sai faced the strange girl. "If you want, you can follow us and meet the rest of the party." He then jumped to the next rooftop, then stopped and turned around, waiting for the two girls to follow.

Lyssa hesitated a moment, looking in the direction opposite that in which Sai was headed. Sadness passed through her clear eyes, then faded away to childlike happiness again. She shrugged and followed. "Since ye invited."

Ninoa looked the girl in the eyes. She saw the happy girlish appearance and wanted to accept her, but something told her otherwise. "Excuse me if I seem rude," Ninoa spoke to the girl, "but I seem to be drawing a blank when assessing your motives. In short, I'm not sure how much I trust you." She then walked away after Sai and began to follow him.

Blinking, Lyssa looked to Ninoa, sadness once again forcing the youthful joy out of her eyes. "I-I'm sorry...." Voice quiet and eyes lowered, she followed Sai, wondering if she'd be accepted by the group Sai was talking about.

Rill sighed and ran fingers over the draping shadow smoothly. "So what do you think, my darkened lovely?" he cooed to the shadow. "Does Sai think so little of me that he would rather face consequences with his people or whatever, and not have you returned, than be Bound to me? How sad that is. I should feel insulted," Rill grinned, "but I don't. Perhaps I should move on; he doesn't have the time I do, and I can't wait all his life to get over a grudge.

"So what say you, lovely? Pick someone else?" Rill gave a quick look over at the assembled and cringed. "I-I don't think this time round." And he hissed at a chipmunk clinging to his leg, kicking it off, and making a few rabbits around his feet become furry projectiles.

Eager to pick up the pace, Sai said, "Time's up," and jumped from rooftop to rooftop, becoming faster and faster with each jump. Reaching the edge of the small settlement, Sai jumped off the last rooftop and onto a nearby treebranch. He continued travelling from branch to branch until he finally came across Rill once again. He perched on a branch just above Rill, and looked down at the strange boy, who was stroking the shadow creature. "Well, here I am," Sai said, and jumped down, sitting in front of Rill.

Looking at Sai, Lyssa found herself wondering if he had wood elf in him anywhere, or sprite mayhaps.... Shaking her head, she kept up with his rapid movement, finally landing just a few feet behind him as he met up with a strange boy with a tail. She cocked her head to the right in a thoughtful manner only she could manage. "Um... pardon my ignorance... but who's that guy?" She even TALKED like a child....

Ninoa found that the two had sped away faster than she could manage to follow. Crap. Well, there was always the Ray Wing spell... okay, that would do. Ninoa then shouted out "Ray Wing" and flew towards the location of Sai and Lyssa. I think I'll keep an eye on that girl, she thought to herself as she flew. Her mind was distracted and she flew into a tree, knocking herself silly and landing on top of... Rill. Oops. "Itai!" Ninoa cried out.

Once again blinking, Lyssa moved instantly to check on Ninoa. "Are ye 'kay?"

There was a rather indignant squawk from Rill, and his feathered friends flew about in a panicked frenzy. In fact, all of Rill's little followers seemed to be rather excited at the sudden turn of events. They even appeared angry, quickly surrounding Ninoa and their beloved Rill. "You, my dear," Rill began sternly, frowning and wagging a finger at her face, "are starting to get on my nerves." His violet aura flared up about him and his eyes turned from blue to purple to red, then back to their normal shade. "Please don't," he said, with a most cheerful smile, and he forcibly removed her person from atop his.

The instant he did so, the assembled Animalia assailed her defensively, with shrill cries and none-too-light nips and scratches. Spending a moment to brush himself off, and grumbling mildly, Rill diverted all attention to Sai, though not before flashing the newcomer, Lyssa, a quick fanged smile and courteous nod.

Rill clapped his hands together happily. "So here you are, darling Sai. Have you made a decision?" His slit eyes sparkled with exaggerated hope. "Will you Bond with me? Or will you allow this to continue?" Thus he motioned nonchalantly to the Shadow still coiled around him, and the overprotective wildlife that had taken it upon themselves to teach Ninoa a lesson for potentially hurting, and even upsetting, their fancied.

Sai looked at the assaulted Ninoa and then back to Rill, with the shadow still coiled around him. Sai was edgy. Well, this is it. I cannot dishonor myself.... Sai stared Rill evenly in the eye. "Yes, I will be bound to you. I have to get rid of the energies that plague the Shadow." Sai got ready, still not absolutely sure what he was getting himself into.

Rill's brow knitted into a frown, and upon nearing Sai, stood on the tips of his toes to promptly bash Sai on the side of the head. "You don't have to make this out to be a death sentence!" he yelled. "Mou! Trying to make me out as some sort of evil plight. How rude!" Then he waved a hand. "It doesn't matter. Hopefully I can convince you that I am not something heinous."

Rill then placed his hands upon Sai's shoulders, stepping distressingly close. Staring into Sai's eyes, Rill began to initiate his powers, the already unbridled aura erupting around him. The tendrils it sent out briefly blind in a search, but soon folded back around Sai's form. "Remember Sai, you said yes. Regardless of the circumstances that this occurred under, you have no right to hold a grudge. Now be Bound to me." Thus Rill's lips found Sai's, and in locking together sweetly, he sent the rampant energies unto Sai, forming the link that would tie them and empower both. As well, no longer uncontrolled, Rill's previous Bonds with Sarino (wherever the hell he was) and Filia were now restored fully and resumed activation.

Filia felt... a little weird at that very moment, to say the least. She shook her head, trying to clear it. She couldn't help but feel a little lonely right now... Rill's presence did help a bit. But he still reminded her of that freak, Xelloss. And Val-chan was still lost... what was she to do now? She sighed, louder than expected. Oh well.

Her eyes travelled around the restaurant... Hold it, where was everybody? Sarino was still sitting at the table, looking out of it, but the others were long gone. And there was a bill sitting in front of her... quite a hefty one, too. Grumbling, she slapped down a few coins, then grabbed Sarino and dragged him out, hoping to find the others before the darkness outside became too great.

Lyssa looked from Sai to Rill, then to the wildlife 'teaching Ninoa a lesson'. She came to the conclusion that Rill was a bad person and made a point of letting him know this before going to assist Ninoa with her animal problem.

Ninoa wasn't fond of being attacked by woodland creatures, nor did she really want to hurt them. So she opted for the next best thing, a sleeping spell. As she cast it, she noticed that Lyssa was coming to help. Whoops, she was put to sleep too. Well, she'll be okay. Ninoa then turned her attention to Rill and Sai kissing, and became sorely confused. "Wha?" She tried piecing things together but they did not seem to mesh well with her. "Uh... Sai... likes... um...."

"YAOI!" cried a voice behind Ninoa, taking her by surprise. Looking back, she noticed that 1) Lyssa was awake, 2) a kawaii blue-haired teenage girl was flying down toward her. "Uh oh," Ninoa thought to herself. "If she's here, then that means trouble...."

A million thoughts came to Sai as he felt the energies swirling around him. After the kiss ended, Sai stood up, then flipped back. Sai gladly watched the shadow creature return to normal. The shadow nodded at him. "The Clan will record this sacrifice, Sai," it said. "Thank you. You did the right thing." Sai rested on one knee, head bowed.

Suddenly, the shadow showed a projection of Sai's father. "You are a FOOL!" the image shouted.

"But... Dad, I... I only did what the Clan..." Sai tried to explain.

Sai's father stopped him. "You have EMBARASSED me. Lucky for you I can't punish you directly. I WILL TEACH YOU TO MAKE SUCH STUPID DECISIONS! I DON'T CARE WHAT THE LAWS SAY!" Sai's eyes widened. The projection of Sai's father turned to the shadow creature. "Teach my son a lesson."

An evil smile came over the face of the shadow creature. It wasted no time in carrying out its orders. It grabbed Sai and flung him into the ground, then picked him up again and slammed him back into the dirt. Sai spit out blood as the shadow prepared to unleash the big stuff. The projection of Sai's father was seen from above, laughing at his son being beaten down.

This was a displeasing turn of events; very displeasing. Rill watched the shadow turn, as Sai's own father set the once doting creature on his own son. His lips curling upward into a snarl, Rill growled menacingly. Through his newly made Bond, he felt the turmoil of Sai's mind and pain now inflicted upon him. "I shall not forgive this. A father turning so cruel against their offspring. Even with my background, my Fathers never, ever laid harsh powers upon me!" Rill tossed back his head in a savage scream of a howl. "And I shall never forgive those who bring harm unto my Bonded!" A hand was raised, curved into a cruel talon. So too had the elegant body, curving unto cruelty. An incantation voiced deep and guttural flew from Rill's quickly chanting lips, and runes etched in crimson surfaced upon his skin like spilled ink on paper. The spell shot quick, thin beams of red that enwrapped themselves about the shadow, pulling it from Sai. "My turn to coil about you, pretty dark." Rill laughed viciously, "Now send this to whosoever should command you to bring harm to that which is mine." The beams thickened with beads flowing over their length. Using the shadow as a conductor, the powers sought out Sai's father, intent upon delivering a serious blow.

The projection of Sai's father showed the red beams about to hit him, but suddenly they were blocked by a shield. The image laughed at them. "You all are weak." Sai's father looked at Ninoa, the projection approaching her. "You stay away from my son. YOU WILL MAKE HIM WEAK. YOUR FEELINGS FOR HIM WILL GET HIM KILLED." Sai's father then glared at Rill. "Don't worry. Your day of death will come. I, Shinok, so proclaim." Shinok glowered at his son, Sai. "Look at you. How stupid can a person be."

Sai looked at his father, blood running from his mouth. "Father... please listen...."

Shinok raised a hand to stop him. "You are going to pay for your decision. You are going to watch your friends suffer one... by... one. Starting with Ninoa. I know what the rules say, but I don't care. I have been waiting for this for years!" Shinok laughed at his son and disappeared.

Tears fell from Sai's eyes as he slowly stood up, holding his aching midriff. "F... F... Father...." Sai fell back to the ground.

Lina sighed, looking at her feet. Yep, things were kinda getting boring. "Oi... Tim? What are you up to?" she asked, tilting her head in a kawaii fashion. She stretched a bit, yawning. "We really should wait for the others before moving on to Kytares, even if we take shifts...."

Gourry glanced in Lina's direction. "I can take first shift," he told her, smiling. And as she nodded and stood up, intending to catch some winks in the tent, he slowly nodded his head, falling into slumber.

Tim rubbed the bridge of his nose before turning to Lina to speak. Lina noticed immediately that Tim almost looked like a ghost. His tone was serious too. "Sorry for my silence. I was battling one of my ever-present on and off headaches. During the battle with Metcliff, I was attacked pyschically through my book, and periodically have been ever since. Sometimes I'm able to drive it back. I'm just glad that Filia has my book. It makes my fight much easier. Kytares, I fear, may not be so easy on me. It's where the attacks are coming from. I also think they won't go away until I face the one responsible for this." Tim then sheepishly smiled. "Oh well, if it wasn't this, it'd be something else...."

Filia sneezed. Could she be catching something...? No, of course not. Now, where had the others gone? They couldn't have gone THIS far away from the restaurant, could they? Annoyed, she sat down at the base of a tree, Sarino dazedly following her example.

Suddenly she remembered the book Tim had handed to her. She pulled it out and opened it. What good could something like this possibly do her? Silly scribbles on blank pages... only bringing her to her end.... "I feel as though I am not worth this trouble," she whimpered to her shadowy self. If only Val-chan had not been taken! What a fool she had been! Again, she turned to another blank page. Why was she looking through this dirty old book? Was she simply looking for an answer? Had she become so... so... desperate? Yes.. I suppose I have, she answered in her own mind, slightly closing her eyes, hoping to thereby close away her pain and suffering. To lose her only child, one whom she'd promised to protect with her own life... Oh dear beloved child, come back to Mother's arms! her mind cried again and again to no avail... that's when her head slumped forward.

Then she caught herself. "I can't fall asleep now! We have to find the others!" Getting up and tucking the book back into a fold of her clothes, she caught Sarino's hand again and once again dragged him off.

Lina sighed, now in her tent. Poor Tim. She had to think, even if she would never admit it. She peeked her head out the opening, to see him staring into the fire and Gourry sitting next to him... SLEEPING?! Throwing a rock, it hit the blond square in the head.

"I... Itai!" Gourry cried, waking up and rubbing his head.

"What a protector I have!" Lina exclaimed at him, pushing herself back into the tent. Gourry only grinned sheepishly.

Briar shrugged. "Might as well get some rest myself, then." She looked over to Tim and smiled winsomely. "That blanket looks mighty warm. Would you mind sharin'?" She glanced over at the fire and rubbed her arms. "The fire's already going down. If you'll share, I'll be more than happy to keep warm with you in exchange."

"Not at all," Tim smiled. At least SOME good is coming out of this, Tim thought. The more he thought about it, the more he really did enjoy Briar's company. Kytares and its troubles could wait.

Confused and unsure if she could really do anything to help, Lyssa made the assumption that since everyone referred to this thing as a shadow, and shadows are made by a combination of light and darkness, if she made more light than darkness then the shadow would have to go away. Reciting the incantation as quickly as possible, she raised her hands and made an attempt to help Sai. The light was blinding, even to her, and she was forced to close her eyes.

After it was all over, Lyssa walked over to where Rill was holding the unconscious Sai, eyes filled with a sadness and sorrow beyond her apparent years. "Is he goin' ta be alright?" She knelt slowly, wishing she could make up for not being able to help him now. Little red droplets formed a steady path from her eyes and down her cheeks. "Maybe I shouldn't have followed." She looked down, remembering her stunning record in the past of 30/0. Thirty friends murdered, zero surviving. After taking time to convince herself it was NOT her fault that all that happened, she looked to Rill. "Maybe... we should go find those friends he was talkin' about when I first met up with him? Could they help with that... that... well, whatever?"

Cradling Sai within his lithe arms, the smaller Rill scoffed. "My death?" he laughed bitterly, then gazed down to Sai, feeling a deep remorse. "Again, I could not help," he whispered dejectedly. The red runes decorating his skin had since vanished, and now a new set of etchings, coloured blue, appeared. Rill held Sai close and protectively. The marks glowed and he muttered a new series of chants. Striving through the Bond, and with his own powers, Rill cast a healing spell. Looking up, he sighed at those who had stayed around.

Soothing a hand over Sai's hair in a completely tender and almost absentminded action, Rill looked up to Lyssa and cast her a cordial and cheerful smile. "Although the arts of healing are not at all my specialty -- nor is fighting, as you have seen -- via my Binding, I am able to heal as best as any Adept White Mage." He beamed proudly, then suddenly blinked. His expression turning to one of confusion, and he seemed embarrassed, throwing a hand up to scratch the back of his head. "Oh my. Forgive me, lovely miss. We have not exactly met before this time, now have we? I apologize for my rudeness in not introducing myself earlier and upon better circumstance." Rill removed the hand from back of his head and held it out to her. "Those around you call me by the name of Rill Tane."

Sai stood up, awake and healed at last. He looked at everyone and lowered his head. "I am ashamed. You have met my father. I... I... uh.... Let's find the others." Tears ran from Sai's eyes and he abruptly left, walking though the woods looking for the others. He couldn't hold back the tears; they overflowed even as he jumped up from tree branch to tree branch looking for the others. "Oh father.... Please don't harm Ninoa or any of my friends," Sai said to himself, hoping no one else could hear.

Once more watching Sai walk away, and weighing the pros and cons of following, Lyssa shook her head, freeing thick hair from a loose tie. "It's all right that you didn't introduce yourself... I don't know how long I'll be travelin with ye and yer friend. If the others take to me as well as Mr. Sai's friends...." A sorrow-filled expression escaped her control, and was quickly hidden. "I'm Lyssa... we should go after him."

Oh now this was getting ridiculous. Wretchedly so. No sooner than he Bound them, than they'd be wandering off. How absolutely rude. Rill took the moment to sulk childishly, then quickly snapped himself back to cheerful vigour and stood up. "Well, I am pleased to meet your acquaintance, Lyssa. Ala! You're an elf too." He grinned, clapping his hands in excitement. "How wonderful, my first Bonded is an Elf as well. You must meet him sometime soon." Rill then glanced over his shoulder, to the direction in which Sai had gone. "Forgive me, I stray. Indeed, we should go after Sai. I do not wish him to be harmed whilst on his lonesome." Rill's brow furrowed, a finger rubbing his chin; staring at the ground, he began to contemplate. His ears drooped and the tip of his tail twitched. "However, I can understand some of his turmoil at this time. I honestly didn't think it would be like twisting his arm to get him Bonded; now I feel bad... just a bit, of course." Rill held up his arm, the one with the enchanted bracelet. "Perhaps when he accepts this event a little more, I'll try to show him I'm not such a terrible person." Sighing, he looked back to Lyssa. "I ask forgiveness again. My rudeness is appalling, even to myself." He flashed her a toothy grin. "But I must track down another one precious to me. I fear that in my plight, I pulled away from her and ignored her needs. Now that I am well, I can no longer do so. Care to come with me, sweet mistress?" He winked a violet eye playfully.

Lyssa looked at Rill funny. "Um...." She shook her head, confused into silence (everyone can gasp and be amazed) as she took off after Sai, springing from one tree trunk to another like a rubber ball. A faint hint of transparent wings flickered in the light for a brief moment, raising the question. What kind of elf IS Lyssa?

Rill watched the blue-haired one sprint off. A grin came to his lips; how interesting she was quickly turning out to be. He swore that if he looked closely he could... or perhaps not. Still, she was definitely someone to keep in mind, for later aspirations.

Quickly, Rill spun around, dropping to all fours. He then burst off with a speed rivalling that of a demon's, out on the search for his precious Golden Beauty.

Briar was quiet, pondering exactly how she could use the information Tim had just given her. Too bad Tim didn't have any really cool items or lots of money. Oh well, she thought, filing the information away.

Her contemplation was interrupted as Sai (blue flame of depression included) wandered back into the camp. Ninoa and another girl entered the camp seconds later, one landing from her spell, and the other dropping nimbly out of a tree. Ninoa looked none too happy; a startling contrast to the bubbly curiosity evident in the other girl's face.

"Sai?" Briar asked. The boy didn't respond; instead, he walked listlessly to the campfire and curled himself up in his cloak without a word.

"Sai-sama....," Ninoa whispered.

"Ooohh!" Briar said in a falsetto. "Ninoa! Don't tell me you're in love with Sai!"

Ninoa turned red and found her feet the most interesting thing to look at. "Umm... I... Uh..."

"Ohhh! Ninoa and Sai sittin' in a tree K I S S I N G! First come love, then comes marriage, then comes Ninoa with a..." At that point, a bright red Ninoa whapped Briar with Moshi. "Anyway," continued Briar, perfectly aware that she had woken everyone in the camp up. "Who's your cute new friend?"

At that moment the conversation was interrupted by Rill, who came bounding in and flying neck tackled Filia, who'd arrived in camp just a few minutes ago with Sarino. The camp was momentarily obsured by a large, roiling cloud of dust as Filia began chasing Rill with her mace, yelling "Hentai!" When that had finished, with Filia breathing hard and Rill on the ground, eyes spiraled in unconsciousness, the priestess turned and said, "Gomen," to the party, most of whom were sporting shiny new sweatdrops.

"Ooooh! An elf!" Briar picked up where she left off. "What's your name, elfie?"

Lyssa glared at Briar. Under her breath, she muttered, "It's not 'elfie'." In her normal voice, she smiled and 'V'd the party. "Hi! I'm Lyssa!"

"Lyssa, hmmm?" Tim asked sleepily. "What can we do for you?"

The elf blinked for a second. "Oh! I'm travelling. Sai said I could travel with ye for a while."

"Who's Sai?" Gourry got whapped for his effort, which put him back to sleep.

Lina studied Lyssa for a moment. "If Sai trusts you, then I guess you're okay." She made a motion with her hand, yawning. "Now everybody shut up so I can finish my nap." With that, she popped back into her tent, lay back, and pulled her blanket over her. The others glanced at each other and sweatdropped in perfect synchronization.

Sighing, Filia brushed back her golden strands, and took her spot again at the campfire. She grumbled, still wiping away all the dirt that now stained her clothes.... "Rill no baka," she muttered under her breath. "Do you KNOW how LONG this will take to wash?!"

"Forgive me, lovely gold," Rill said, chagrined. This action of removing himself from six feet under was becoming a bad habit, but, grinning, he simply brushed himself off and strove on. Ruffling the dirt out of places unwanted for soil to be, Rill actually skipped over to Filia's unoccupied side, and sat there. His thin arms wrapped around one of hers securely, and he rested a head upon her shoulder. Purring with content, he secretly hoped that this action would be allowed him.