The Past and the Present

(TIME-LINE) - Late October / 7:39pm

In the process of life, we are led to believe that there is no real adventure to our lives. Some are already in it, while others are tagged along. Where there are a lot of battles, there are a lot of losses. We look at this as a game of chance, but how far would go to create a world of peace and serenity? How would you protect the ones that you love and cherish? You shape story, you tell how it is, let it burn, or control the outcome. Let your words decide the fate.

After some time had passed. We find ourselves at an old village. A village that seemed uncharted to the eyes of most marked capitals around it. Our members of the surviving side against the Xias Corp. had relaxed and rested for a bit. All meet one after the other in a cozy, warm room. A fire place crackling in the background. The outside air seemed to reach into even a colder climate.
With the advantage of being in an unknown location to the Xias Corp. We can finally see deeper into the lives of our survivors of the story.

This is our story, and we'll finish the way we want it.
Take us into a dream-like state and let us know what has given you the strength to get this far!

(Waking up to the sound of conversation down below. Taking a foot out of the bed and then following with the other. Now in a sitting-up position, looking around the room)

"This is a very nice room, I haven't slept so well for awhile. I could rest a bit longer, but I need to know what is going on down stairs."

(Removing the rest of the covers off and heading towards the door to a short hallway. The scent of a sweet aroma comes flowing through the place. Following the scent all the way down stairs to a warm room with a large size fireplace. Seeing Madame Leslie and Nessa sitting next to each other, while the nameless man had been standing right next to the fireplace, so close that it would seemed that he would get a small burning blister from it. A middle-age woman had brought out some cookies and set it on the table placed in the middle of the room)

(Middle-age woman) "Well I see that another person is awake, did you rest well young man?"

"Yes'mam"

(Looks around) "Where is Lenn?"

(The nameless man) "She is still resting."

"Oh, I see. You know, we haven't really gotten to know each other through our engagement this whole time. I would like to know how we stand and came to be, as individuals."

(Walking to get a couple of cookies and heads towards the direction of Madame Leslie and Nessa. Staring at the fireplace as silence roams the room. Only the sound of the crackling fire and the pushing cold wind against the windows is all that is heard)

"I really don't have much to share of myelf, plus I do wish to be selfish. Madame Leslie, would you like to go first? Please tell us how your life was, how did you survive the war with the Xias against the people all this time. Where do you come from?"

(Nessa looked towards Kai, then watched as Leslie sipped on his cup of cocoa. He crossed his leg, then gave her the ok. When Nessa felt everyone was at attention she began speaking softly)

"Well...back when I was a little girl...maybe...4 or 5yrs old, I lived in Harrisole, OT .I was told I had lost my father to a bad plow accident....um...He was riding on the back of a plow pulled by a mule. The mule had suddenly stopped moving, when my father went up to check out the harness, the mule became spooked when it was stung by a bee, although some say it was bitten by a snake I'm really not too sure....anyway..uh...

*she looks up at the ceiling to catch her thought*
...so the mule got stung by the bee, became spookd and pushed my father down, trampled over him with its hooves and then the plow...

*sighs*
.. Well a few days after his death, my mother became so depressed that she committed suicide by hanging off the railing of our balcony, ...And because of this there was a big dispute over who would care for me. Since my father wasn't on good terms with his family, and Mom was an only child with no living relatives...it was finally decided that I be taken to the Malany Orphanage in Weilder Village. That's where I met Leslie!"

*she smiles wrinkling her nose*
It took 3days to reach it, but it had such "good" reviews the court figured it was well worth the trip....It wasn't...

(Nessa reaches over to Leslie and motions for a cigarette. After searching through his clutch he pulls out the dwindling pack of Black Scorpia cigarettes, hands her one and lights it)

*She exhales*
When I finally arrived at the orphanage, the people who escorted me noted that the condition of the building was hardly a place fit for an animal, much less a human, but they left me there anyway.....

*She takes a long drag and holds it while she talks*
The lady who took me in...I think her name was Eidea or something like that...um....Well she took me from the front room and took me towards the back where all the orphans played, ate and slept....Eidea walked in the room with me in her arms and said "Now...everyone this is Nessa Ecliatch...I want you to show her how things are run around here...."

*she exhales*
Well at first I couldn't figure out what that meant... I mean...I was quite young ...Anyway..she put me down and walked away, while all the other children..sort of stared at me, except one...Which happened to be Leslie...He looked over at me with sad eyes and at the time I was a little afraid and decided to just stay where I was....which was a baaaad idea...One of the girls came up to me and spit on my face, then one of the elder boys , hmm...maybe he was 10 or 12, came up to me and kicked me in the stomach and threatened me..."You follow our rules, and you won't end up like that ugly monster in the corner" That's when he pointed to Leslie and I was so scared that I just went along with it. After....I say 3 weeks I became familiar with cleaning, which did no good because the building was just so run down, folding clothes, and watching Leslie get beat up...

(Leslie's head turned away from Kai, and the others with his gaze on the floor, and a frown on his face. Tears would form in his eyes but you couldn't see them behind his tinted glasses)

*Nessa looked towards Leslie to see him turned away. She reaches over to the coffee table in front of her, taps her ash before continuing, with her gaze now on the shine of her boots*

*big long sigh*
Now.......the elder boy I mentioned earlier....He was always up to no good when Eidea wasn't present *Leslie mumbles "not like she gave a damn"* ........One day when I came from cleaning the stalls of the bathroom, I had boldly decided to introduce myself to Leslie. I walked over to where he sat, and....to be honest I couldn't tell what gender he was...his hair was long, brown and curly like mine, his face was smooth and rounded and he wore a tattered white shirt with suspenders holding up shorts with a huge hole on the side...I thought he was a girl... In fact he was playing with an old raggedy Kolita doll. I sat down next to him, with my own doll which was a big grungy looking bunny with a missing eye I found on our monthly trash dive, and we started playing pretend. The elder boy hadn't liked this much at all. So he came over to us and picked me up and slammed me against the wall...........*her voice cracks*..Well he started beating on me, and well...... I honestly thought I was going die right there...He carried me off outside the building into the back and tried to harm me...I...*starts crying*

(Leslie turns his head towards Nessa, then gets up to sit next to her, and holds her close)

(Leslie strokes Nessa's hair)- "If..you don't mind I'll take over from here"

I watched as that bitch hit on her and when he left out of the room...something told me to follow him, and I did...He took her behind the building and tried to have his way with her, and I wasn't going to stand for it! I ran over and bit him on the calf and would not let go, Nessa got loose and picked up the nearest object, which was a brick, and when he bent over to hit me, that's when she slapped him on the temple with the brick and he collapsed on the ground… We never told any of the kids. And that slore Eidea didn't even notice he was gone....*scoffs* Either way things sort of looked up for awhile for her, but for me......things only got worse...Now at that time I was 7 So.........about 3yrs later...Because of the unlivable conditions of this hellhole orphanage....I came down with something very nasty..

*he reached for the pack of cigarettes*

(Nessa stops leaning on him, and looks at everyone with her face red, and her eyes reddish/blue from the tears. She then takes over control)

He did indeed come down with something bad..I'm not too sure to this day what it was but anything in that place was possible.....*sniff*....I had...*clears throat* noticed that he developed a cough which over the course of 3 days got worse and worse to the point of him coughing up blood....He stopped getting up to play, and got constantly yelled at by Eidea when he fell too ill to clean....I finally had had enough and packed up a few things in a cloth bag, grabbed him, and we both left the orphanage the next time that Eidea left for the day...which was maybe the week after on a Tuesday or so...Now when we left we found a corner alley 5 blocks away from Malany and I unpacked our stuff.... over the next 2 days I tried to take care of Leslie...by keeping him warm, and making him eat even though nothing stayed down. One day he just didn't.....*chokes*...he didn't want to move, or anything his coughing was worse, and he didn't eat..even when forced......*she looks up to the ceiling to stop the rush of tears then continues*...I...I knew at that point that if I didn't get help...that I’d lose him...So I went out and tried to get someone to help us, but no one wanted to bother with an orphan kid, so I headed back to the alley...On the way there this woman stopped me, when I looked up at her I noticed her golden brown hair, and soft blue eyes and..she..asked me why I was crying, I told her what happened and she followed me back to the alley. The woman took Leslie, and I to her home.

(Leslie slips in)

If it wasn't for that woman *he now chokes back tears* I'd be good as dead right now.....

(Nessa continues on, with a freshly lit cigarette in her hand and a tissue in the other)

At the woman's house she had me go wash up and change into some bed clothes she had picked out. While I did that I'd say 15mins later....I heard Leslie screaming loudly....I ran out of the bathroom naked and peered over the railing of the stairs. I saw the woman struggling with him, trying to give him a prick him with something.... I run down the stairs and try to hit her, but she stopped me. "Don't worry" she said..."I'm giving him a shot to help his body fight off his sickness...Maybe you can help me?" She showed me how to use antiseptic on his arm, and watching me do this Leslie became less afraid and got the shot he needed. She took us both upstairs, put him to bed, and helped me finish washing then soon I went to bed.....Now.....I don't know how.....but the next morning when I woke up...I saw him standing over me giggling....I hadn't given it a second thought after that, but we ran off downstairs and began playing as if he were never sick at all. 7yrs passed by and that woman became our mother, and we were by then official brother and sister by order of the town judge.

*Nessa and Leslie smiled at each other for a moment*

(Leslie sneezed, blew his nose, and then finally spoke next)

When I turned 18 that next year I had....discovered....that I had a certain power from within me.....It happened by accident that I noticed that I could sort of....could teleport short distances at will, and the rare few occasion that happened subconsciously......and Both me and Nessa...discovered that we could create a barrier around ourselves and when we work together..that barrier was even more indestructible....Our mother found out a few months later about this from a neighbor who spotted us in the backyard doing strange things. A week later she felt it was time to let us go out to a place called Ti'ana. That following Friday, she came to me and gave me a necklace that she told me belonged to her own mother. She told me she felt that it wasn't a mistake that she found us both that day...She discussed with me that her mother in her younger days had been a great healer. She had healed so many people after the Great Warrutine battles for some...mountain, that her healing powers became barren. When she visited a temple to pray that her power would return, a man had given her a necklace with that medallion, Mr. Nameless is holding *points to the nameless man* , in exchange for her hand in marriage. She accepted and wore the necklace that was given to her. Her power had not returned to its full potential but only enough to heal minor wounds..her real power was forever lost. When mother was born...I'm sorry..our mother's name was Adell...When Adell was born her mother had hoped that she would be a great healer as she was...unfortunately she didn't have the gift of healing. Grandmother had then given Adell the necklace she wore and taught her how to use it. When mother grew up..she became a hospital nurse, and had studied to be a surgeon but then we came along. She devoted her time to be a nurse and care for us. When mother finished telling me, she asked that I hold on to the necklace and use it whenever I needed to heal, or be healed....Because you see...it wasn't the needle that healed me....it was that medallion...What she gave me in my arm was nothing more then a vaccine for any future colds, flus, etc that I may get....*shakes head* No it was the power within that medallion.

(Leslie crosses his leg, let's it sway up and down, and starts smoking another cigarette, while Nessa tried to hold back more tears that started to well up. Leslie finishes up)

Now when she sent us off ...we had lunches that would last a week, new clothing, and study materials.....Now she had set up that her husband's old home in Ti'ana would be where we stayed when we were inside. *clears throat* But when Nessa and I reached this house...it was owned by the Xias Corp...it was a damn beautiful house I might add..Nessa had wanted to continue study in school, and well...I couldn't give too shits about finishing my education. So I looked for work and I found work at the Tavern that all of you ended up at....At the time that tavern was called Ailken Duranis after the man who owned it. I bartended there for awhile then, I started...other "endeavors" on the side to make extra money. This went on for about 2yrs, then the owner passed away and left me in charge. I took it upon myself to change the name, and harbor battered, or homeless women who needed money..They chose what things they wanted to do to get money..Most stripped, other whored, and only one helped out with Liquor shipments. Her name was Laura..that's the one with the two kids. She has a beau who owns a wine, and beer import at the opposite end of Ti'ana and he was more than willing to get us the finest wines, and he would steal us the occasional fresh batch of seafood. *Leslie chuckles softly* When Nessa finally finished her schooling, she came a worked the tavern in evenings while I slept...If I got a chance to sleep...After a certain ordeal with one of my girls...I decided it's high time to get some men to guard for us..Oiji was the first...he was a layed off cop who was never called back, then Di...*starts crying again* Dimiri....he...he was only 17 when he first started out...No one wanted him around, because he was a beggars son, and he had a very bad stutter…I took him in and made sure he was well cared for as with all that work for me...*he smiles through tears* He may have had a stutter, but he still knew how to throw out a few smartass comments....Poor Dimiri..............Um...But anyway...that's basically...our story..."

(Leslie rests his head on the back of the sofa, and Nessa looks into the distance with a slight smile)

(Looking with a heavy heart-felt expression, nibbling on a cookie and staying quiet for awhile. A tear courses down from the left cheek, quickly to notice and wipes it)

"What an amazing and hardship past you both had. I knew there had to be something with both of you. You two seemed very close, more than just employer and employee."

(Walking to the fireplace and placing a fresh log wood into it. looks back at Madame Leslie and Nessa as they seemed to be in a standstill moment with a dazed look upon both their faces. Understanding how much they both have gone through)

"...And all this time I thought you two were just people caught in the middle of this."

(The nameless man standing close to the fireplace clutches both the medallion and the cross tighter in his grip)

"Mr. Nameless? Are you alright to share your past, what adventures or secrets may be held in your past? I don't mean to intrude rudely."

(Speaking to the rest of the room of how much he knew alone. The village that he was born at, his mother protecting him, the other village that had saved him, his known healing gift. There was more to it, Madame Leslie knew deep within this nameless man that there was something hidden, more than he himself knew of the nameless man already)

"We know that much already, but is there more? I'm sorry, you do not have to answer if you wish not to."

(Walking back to his seat, but not before picking up another cookie from the middle table. His staff braced against his seat had slipped away and fell to the floor making a loud clang)

"Ooops, I'm terribly sorry."

*The loud clanging sound of the staff falling to the floor flashed a quick vision, a memory. A memory vision of a village. A festival, men and women dancing in circles, the sounds of the village gong clanging in the distance. Fading back to the scene of the fireplace. The intense heat of the flames pushes against the face, but still no sensation of the flame's burn*

"I was 3 years old when my father left to the war. He was going for honor of our family and village. When I found out that he was coming back after 2 years of the war, we received a carrier from the outpost of Warrutine. He never even made it to the war. He was ambushed by a spy. My mother said that he wasn't dead, just free. He was already home and taking care of us in spirit."

*The grip on the medallion was loosened up*

"When I was 10, A soldier had came to our village, speaking of deals and picking out children of the village. He kept on mentioning that his capital, a capital of a place called Tiana was going to help the children live better lives. My mother and chief both casted away the soldier. All I remember was a picture, a patch on his right arm of his uniform. It was a snake and a bird."

*Moving from the left side of the large fireplace to the right side*

"I had just turned 11. A woman of the elders had come to visit. She would teach the village stronger medicine. She would always pull out a medallion, as if it contained the medicine inside it. Our village was always growing with prosperity, but then... they came. They slaughter everyone in the village. Uniforms with the same patch. The men were first to be executed, then the women and children. They sent out beasts that would crave the flesh of the village. I remember my mother taking me by the hand and running through the woods. Something was behind us, my mother said not to look back, so I didn't know what it was. I ran and ran, until my mother had stopped me. She let go of me and screamed for me to run, run and don't look back. I was terrified and ran. I wanted her, so I looked back and there she was. Facing the demon himself. Not human, nor beast... he was something else. I tried to run back to her, but had slipped down the steep hill behind me. Falling through the rocks and mud, hitting the bottom near a river. I had to keep moving since I heard the sound of the creature give out a loud cry. I grabbed a floating dead tree and just drifted down river."

*The medallion opened up and inside was an inscription. staring closely at it before closing it again*

"I woke up to a girl's face, I thought I was already dead. She said her name was Tanya. I never saw beauty like that in my life. She had a warm glow to her. Another woman had came in and given me water and food. For some time the days changed into months. I had fully recovered, but something seemed out of place. There were no scars on me, as if all of it was a dream. Come to find out that the woman that had taken me in and care for me was the young girl's aunt. She looked familiar, as if I've met her before. It hit me after quite some time. I was helping with the year's harvesting and the aunt had accidentally dropped the golden medallion. She knew right there that I knew." The months had changed into years. I was on the brink of turning 16. Both the aunt and the young girl, had taken me to a clear secluded place in the forest. They had shared to me that the village I was born from had been free. The spirits of it were at peace. One was still there, right next to me. I looked over and did not see anything. The elder woman wanted to let me know that this one spirit was happy. It was happy that I was safe. I knew right there whom she was talking about. Tanya and I had been trained on how to use the powers of healing. It took some time for me, but Tanya had it in herself already to create such fields of healing. I soon followed afterwords, but the elder woman knew I had something else. She knew I had a strong entity of light and darkness, laying dormant inside of me."

*Stopping for a moment to think*

"I never knew anything else, besides what she had taught me. I had a lot to think about. I was 18 when I finally got the courage to find my path and destiny. I was trying to sneak out, not letting anyone know of my departure. At the riverbank where the boats were anchored and tied to the small trees, a small figure standing in the morning mist was waiting for me. It was Tanya. She tried to beg me not to leave, afraid I would not returned. I gave her my necklace that my mother had given me when I was very young. She held me tightly, trying to hold the moment forever, or as long as she could. I told her that I would returned after my quest was finished. Drifting down river, I came to another bank where lay a bridge. It led to a path towards the mountains. The elder woman had shared that there were five holy monks that took refuge up into the mountains. I must have been too young to remember, but the elder woman had told me that they had blessed me when I was born. They were from my village. When I walked to the top, a huge temple inside a cave with monks were awaiting for my arrival. As to the knowledge that Kai has shared, I really don't need to explain this part."

*Walking to the middle of everyone, standing next to the table with cookies*

"I traveled back down to the boat at the river, knowing what I had to do. I now knew what both Tanya's village and mine were. They were villages that held a great treasure. Treasures of fortune, treasures of gods, and even treasures of great destruction. To have the golden medallion from a pure elder, the cross of a holy temple, and the sacrifice of one that is willing. All of these create Validia, but in the wrong hands can also create Pandora's box. The monks had told me that the medallion was in a city, Tiana. For weeks it took me to travel from where I was. I reached a small town called Fenrith, just on the outskirts of Tiana. After I made a short living and a suitable profit working there, I moved into Tiana. I picked up a message after settling down as a normal civilian of Tiana. The message had been from Fenrith. I was not just on a quest for the medallion and the cross, but as an assassin."

*Placing both the medallion and the cross on the table, looking at them as to knowing how much blood had been shed over them*

"I moved from district to district all over Tiana, I was found by a city guard, he took me in and tried to charge me for not having proper ID on me at the time. A man in a uniform step up and gave me a deal. I could face my punishment, or I can join the Xias. The choice at that time was simple. I could get freedom and... my client's target was in the Xias Corp. Few days in there seemed like luxury compared to the outside. A man was found poisoned in the kitchen days later. No one knew what exactly happened, just filed and closed as a suicide. I was proposed an idea by the Xias. They asked me if I wanted to make the world a better place. I should have known better. When I willingly volunteered, I thought that I was actually freeing lives, but in fact I was really destroying and taking away them. I was the perfect killer. My memory was at a loss, but I regained little by little of it and found a way out. I continued moving from district to district, taking clients that were only targeting the Xias. Some were out for revenge, others were just to kill. Profit came in, but I still kept it as low profile as I could. Years had passed, but something was wrong. Over the past 4 years I couldn't feel, my sense of pain was gone"

*Taking out the silver double-edge blade and cutting across the palm of the hand, watching the open wound close up, but not showing a sign of pain*

"A new message had found me, but this one had not contained a returned address. In it just shared that I needed to find a monk of a temple near me. It had just occurred to me that I was on a quest. My memories were returning to me and I was on my way to find the monk, named Master Gon at Kai's temple. I couldn't wait too long there, but after I was placed to find the medallion and the cross, I was happy to be pointed in the direction where not one, but both were at."

*Walking to pick up the medallion and laying it gently on top of the cross. The two illuminated brightly, A yellow light emerged from both of the items and slowly became one. After the illuminating bright light had diminished, The two had finished becoming one, melting and forming into a triangular black and golden dagger, with a red jewel on top*

"This is what I was on a quest for, this is what the Xias are after. We still need to get this to Mount Fusha, but it will not be easy. They say that the mountain itself is alive. It moves from place to place. This is to insure that the even if you had the key, it was not going to be easy. This is where I stand, I should be grateful for Madame Leslie for cooperating with me and helping me get this far."

*Taking the triangular black and golden dagger off the table and placing it in a secure place within his jacket. Walking back to the fireplace and standing on the left side*

"So it seems that there is a connection deeper to yours after all Mr. Namless. You were part of Xias for awhile. Brainwashed and under their control."

(Looking to the middle table, only to find the empty tray where the cookies had been. Watching the huge grandfather clock's pendulum sway back and forth. A sound from upstairs, sounds of footsteps making it's way down to the large room with the fireplace. All watched and awaited. A face is revealed by the flame's light. It was Lenn)

"Miss Lenn, you're up. I hope that you have rested well and recovered fully."

(A nod is received back from the silent young girl. She stares at the fireplace and holds out her hands to feel the warmth. She looks to Madame Leslie and Nessa, turns to see the Nameless man standing on the left side of the fireplace)

"We were all just learning more about each other and figuring out what to do next. Lenn, are you well enough to speak of your past, let us know what you have been through."

(Walking to a vacant sofa, near the right side of the fireplace, staff at hand and sits down. The middle-age woman returns with more cookies and hot beverages)

"Thank you so much ma'am."

[she looks to the nameless man with an expression of gratitude. a single tear streaks down one side of the face and she looks down to the floor]
"i thankyou mr. nameless, for helping me and healing me. there isn't even a scar from where i was struck."

[moving closer to the nameless man, looking into the eyes of a man that has seen so much blood, so much pain. she looks to everyone else and crouches down on the right side of the fireplace]
"i had heard everyone's story, i am sorry for what all of you have been through. i would have never known."

[tilting her head upwards to the ceiling]
"when i was a young girl, my mother would always take me to a sweet shop. they would have so much sweets and delicious tea there. i moved around place to place as i was growing up. at the age of 4, my father would take me to places that i have never imagined. from Corvinus to Hujuin, Kitia to Tiana. that all stopped when i turned 9. my father had died in a plane crash on one of his business trips. i was crushed and my mother had taken in a horrible sickness of the lungs. she died when i was 12. i had no one to take care of me at that time, so i was taken into a home for children without parents. pretty much a foster home. i had a fake family and as much as they took really good care of me, it didn't feel the same. a knock came to the door one day as i was playing in the backyard swing set. a man claiming to be my brother came to talk to my foster parents. he wanted to give me a home and cherish me like a true little sister. i never knew i had a brother, my real parents never told me about him."

[walking to the tray of cookies and hot beverages, grabbing just a hot beverage and sipping it]
"he was a tall man, about the age of 18. he had long, black hair with a deep red blended into it. he was scary at first, but was very charming and he did take really good care of me. we traveled together after he had signed the adoption papers. our first place was High-wutai, a place filled with sweet shops and villages. my brother would take me to a village that had taken care of him. he told me that he was taken from my mother by a Xias man just when he was born. a member of the Kabu-da-sai clan there in the village had found him on the streets after he was just tossed out from the Xias. he was taken to a high business man that use to be in the Xias corporation. my brother had a very busy life as a anti-Xias employee."

[seeing a look on everyone's face in the room. the look of confusion, but at the same time, understandings to her story]
"My brother is a good man, i know it. i just want him to come back home, back to the village with sweets and happy people. he never came back one day and the villagers had told me that he was lost to the Xias. i didn't want to believe a word, i waited for him every single day. 5 years had passed and still no word and no letters. i started to accept that he was really gone. i had been living in the nice village by myself, the neighbors and friends had taken care of me. i joined up as part as the clan and found out that they were a group of people that served and protected the innocent. in deep, harsh times i was trained to be an assassin for the clan. i made a fill in money over time, but the fact that i was killing was a heavy burden to my heart. at the age of 21, i was to eliminate members of the Xias, but every time i tried, someone was beating me to each one. maybe i was getting slow, maybe something else. the money was still ours even though i didnt make the kill.

[looking to the nameless man]
"i soon had orders to impersonate a law officer and hunt mr. nameless down and bring him back to the village. the clan had informed me of how powerful he was and what he carried. i traveled and traveled, finally making it to here. i read the news papers that alot of Xias members were being hit in Tiana, so i started there.

[taking a seat back at the fireplace, bringing her knees to her chest]
"the rest is history of how we all came together."

(Walking to Lenn, bringing one's self to comfort her, turning around and speaking to himself, she needs time to think to herself)

"All of you have lost loved ones, been through so much in your life. I feel as if I should not share anything of mine. I was just a boy set in the world to be, well just a boy. My folks just wanted me to grow up and be a monk of the temple, but I was young, I wanted to adventure out and see the world. Getting out of Tiana was the first thing!"

(Walking in a circle)

"I was to assist Mr. nameless here to the end. My mother and Father are pretty busy with their lives as it is, so my master had hopefully told them of my disappearance and journey I was to take."

(Stopping mid-way in the circular walk)

"So now we have to think of our path ahead!"

*seeing the fire die down, looking at the time. morning had come to arrive*

"Since we slept through the end of the last day, we should be rested correct?"

*Moving away from the fireplace and walking up to Kai*

"Kai. We need to find a great philosopher, a man that can help with the surroundings. One that has traveled great distances."

*Kai* "There might be a man east from here. He never liked Tiana, but he came to visit Master Gon."

"Good, we head east and talk to this man. Only a great traveling philosopher can predict or record the next position of Fusha. The time is still too early, so everyone either get some extra rest, or prepare to leave at noon. The Xias will be expecting us to take off to the outer hills in the early morning, so we wait just before noon. We take roads that are not on the maps."

*Lenn* "I see how no one could track you for awhile Mr. Nameless."

*Looking to Lenn and then the others*

"I was known as the man with no name to the entire Tiana city, for which it carried death to anyone around me if the Xias knew. Since we're in it together..."

*Looking at the luxurious Madame Leslie with a bite bigger than his bark, Nessa the "caught in the middle" bar-mistress and close family relationship member to Leslie. Kai the young boy that is to tagged along and assist in anyway possible. Finally Lenn, the persistent girl and assassin of a clan, here to take him to a village*

"... I am known as Dokuno Okami."

(TIME-LINE) - Start of December / 9:16am

(Leslie scratches the right side if his scalp with one finger while holding the hot cocoa in the other hand. He then starts to drink the cocoa with both hands wrapped around the cup. As his lips touch the rim, he begins to drink, until something hits him. Leslie casts his gaze up from his cup of cocoa, through the tint of his glasses, at Lenn. )-

*he thinks in his head*
"......Wait a minute...Black hair.....Red blend..tall.."


[[FlashBack]]

(Madame Leslie and Nessa stand in the doorway of the Inn and watch as the nameless man is suspended by the neck in the tall man's grasp. Madame Leslie watches as Dimitri pushes past him towards the dark haired man and attacks)

(Madame Leslie)- "Excuse y....Dimitri?....Where are you going?! NOOOO!!!"

(Dimitri)- "RAAAAAA!!!!! *tackles the man*

(Dimitri is flipped over and his hand is snapped)- "AHGGHHHH!!!...You ....won't..ge!!!!"

(Dimitri thows another punch which is caught and a moment later he is decapitated)

(Madame Leslie tries to struggle forward but is held back by Nessa)- "YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!!!"

[[Back to reality]]

(Leslie slams his cup down, startling everyone, stands up quickly, and snatches off his sunglasses which fly into the fireplace and burn with a whoosh)- "You bitch!! Your brother killed my DIMITRI!!!!!"

(Lenn's face grows horribly confused)- "Wha..What?"

(Nessa shoots up and grabs him tightly by the waist holding him back as he struggles)- Now wait!! We don't know that for sure!...Wait!!"

(Leslie yells with tears streaming down his face)- "I know it's true!...I watched that....beast..made him suffer.. He's a heartless cur! HEARTLESS!!!!!"

(He squirms free of Nessa's grip, and charges at Lenn. Dokuno runs and intervenes with his sword cutting Leslie off from Lenn)- "Calm down dammit!...We're not going to get to the bottom of this if we all start fighting! Just....calm down..!"

(Leslie glares at him coldly)- "You dare put your sword in my face?!"

(Ted speed walks out of the kitchen with a gun in his hand) - "What's going on here? Get away from Madame!)

(Arguing ensues in the living room amongst everyone. The middle-aged woman comes from out in the garden with shock on her face at the noise. She makes her way to the living room and frowns at the sight she sees)- "What in Tora's name is going on in here?! *She walks in and looks around* This place is a mess, You should all know better! Especially you Leslie..of all people! *Looks towards Ted* Put that thing away! I will not be having any of this in my home. If you all don't clean this mess up....*she fumes* And if you don't start behaving I'll kick you all out! Do you understand?"

(Everyone speaks in unison)- "Yes..."

[staring with a bit of fright from madame Leslie's actions. seeing the sword of Dokuno between both of us. it is lowered as the middle age woman stormed in and gave a even more frightful statement. as things settled down a bit, Dokuno went back to his position next to the fireplace]
"yes... that man was my brother. i also came here to try and take him home. that time before he struck me down, i wanted to get word to him, but his eyes seemed to show no care in the world. i know that i can reach..."

[madame Leslie] "you sad little girl, if you were to see what he did to my Dimitri, you would not have seen your brother, but a monster!"

"yes, i see. i am really sorry for what happened to him. i will make sure that he did not..."

[madame Leslie] "you will what!? no you will not do anything, i will make sure that Dimitri's death was not in vain!"

[moving closer to madame Leslie, looking him in the eyes, eyes that could possibly kill if any closer]
"my brother is a good person madame Leslie, he really is."

[madame Leslie] "yes, your brother is a good man, from what you have shared from your past. THIS person i saw, Lenn... that is not your brother, that monster... that terrible bastard is NOT your brother!"

[echos of madame Leslie's last words before the room is quiet once again. looking down to the ground and turning around to face the fireplace]

"my brother can still be saved, i know it."

(Nessa came to stand behind Leslie and she put a firm grip on his shoulder)- "Let it be..."

(Ted had already put his gun back in its holster, but kept his right hand close by it incase he needed to act fast)- "Is...everything alright now? ...Leslie?"

(Leslie turned his head towards Ted, then walked over to him)- "Yes...everything is ok Ted, everything...is just fine"

(There came a knock at the front door, and once the middle-aged woman opened it there stood Oiji and the 3 other guards. Oiji bowed to the woman, and kicked one of the guards behind him to follow suit)- "Good morning Ma'am. We are here with Madame Leslie"

(The middle-aged woman)- "Is that what he's calling himself these days? ..Ha ha...You can come in...BUT..you have to come round the back.. I don't want mud being tracked in the house *she looked at their grungy boots* "


(Oiji nodded, and motioned to others)- "Yes Ma'am understood"

(Leslie leaned on Ted's shoulder and whispered in his ear)- "I need some fresh air...Let's leave for a bit"

(Ted nodded very slightly, then wrapped his left hand around Leslie's waist)- "If you all..would escuse us. We're going for a walk"

(Leslie with his right hand under his chin)- "Yes..we'll be back in time to leave....Hmm..In fact I better get some food to take along on the..journey,"

(Everyone looked at each other then nodded in agreement. Kai rose his hand for whatever reason)

(Leslie smirked)- "No need to raise your hand sweetie, We're not in school..."

(Kai looked at his hand for a moment slightly confused as to why he did such a thing)- "Sorry Madame!..Could you please get some herbs...For healing...Please?"

(Leslie nodded)- "Yes...I will do that...Anything else?"

(Silence)

(Leslie nods, and Ted urges him forward with his hand still on Leslie's waist. Nessa would start to trot behind, and Leslie would turn his head slightly)- "No...not this time Nessa...You'll have to stay here. I promise I won't be long"

(Nessa nodded, and walked back towards the others. Leslie frees himself from Ted, walks into the kitchen to grabs the small key to the door, and they were both on their way)

(Outside, Leslie and Ted walk arm in arm, with Leslie's heels clicking, and grinding along the cobblestone sidewalk. Ted looked down at said boots and laughed softly. Leslie looks at him with with a quirked brow, and a smirk of his own)- "Now.....What's so funny? *looks at his boots* What's wrong with my boots?...*Ted continues to laugh* ....Come ooon...What's the joke?"

(Ted tries to hold back his laugh, then finally speaks)- "Ha..ha....They remind me of our first date, Hah...hah....When we were on the dance floor at the shoddy Terra-Star Ballroom, and you wore a similar outfit.. HAHA!! ..*Leslie tilts his head* And...and.. I tried to dip you, and your heel skidded when I tried to pick you up and when ended up on the floor!"

(They both begin laughing hysterically)

(Leslie snorts holding back a laugh)- "Everyone talked about that for weeks at Duranis. I pour one drink and I get a "Hey aren't you that Fell'r who dun fell at tha Star?" I felt so embarassed..Hah ha..."

(As they near the market, an alleyway next door to a now floral shop stirred up a memory to which Leslie motioned, with a hand on his chin, with a finger) "That's the alley Nessa and I slept in for a little bit. *Ted looks over at it* Weilder wasn't this clean when I grew up at that time. This place has come a very long way."

(Ted looked back to Leslie)- "You and her both are lucky to be alive...All things considering...You've made quite a name for yourself so far."

(Leslie nods, and they finaly arrive at a building with a sign that read - Azelus Shoppe - . Ted opens the door for Leslie, and they both enter the building)

*Watching Madame Leslie and Ted walk out the door. Walks to one of the guest rooms that was chosen to place Lenn in. Picking up the sword that was found at Madame Leslie's mansion, placed right behind the room's door*

"The writing on this weapon seems so familiar, but why?"

*Lenn* "That's the sword that you found, wasn't it?"

*Just noticing Lenn walking into the room*

"It is."

*Lenn* "Do you know the writing?"

"No, It seems like I should. I need to find someone that might be able to read it."

*Lenn* "Well lets see."

*Handing the sword gently to Lenn*

*Lenn* "Wow, this is pretty heavy for how it looks. Hey, wait a minute! The writing on here is Kosmic, just scrambled."

"You can read it?"

*Lenn* "The people at the clan taught me how to read certain languages. They said that out of most, Kosmic was one of the oldest."

"What does it say?"

*Lenn* "The writing is a bit illegible, but it's ~To...find...an open..path.... ..join a different world of steel...to .... the.. world.... of... this.... ... ..sacred one~. It also mentions some words after them, just by itself. ~Del-krus mil-di-vi~.

"Gift by price."

*Looking away from Lenn, staring at the nearby window*

"I need to think on this for a bit. I'm heading out for just awhile."

*Lenn* "Yes, we need to think on this!"

"Is that mean you're going to be tagging along? Watching me and everything?"

*Lenn* "No...I mean... well you have something on your mind and about to reveal something more about that sword."

*Sigh*

"I need to find a place that sells scrolls and knowledge of ancient text."

*Lenn* "I thought you were ancient yourself, guess you and I aren't so different after all."

"Believe me, farther then you can ever imagine."

*Leaving the room, Lenn following close behind, making way back to the fireplace room. Finding Kai and Nessa talking to each other*

*Lenn* "Well you two seemed to be getting friendly and talkative all of a sudden."

*Both Kai and Nessa* "No!"

*Lenn with a grin* "Alright, alright."

*Kai* "Are you going somewhere Mr. N..... I mean Mr. Dokuno Okami?"

"Yes, I need to figure out some things, and you are to stay here! Don't move and wait for everyone to return....and please, just Dokuno."

*Kai* "Yes, I understand."

*Lenn placing her dark-brown jacket on and following behind out the front door*

(Leslie enters the store, with Ted close behind. A tall male with slicked brown hair, glasses and the shop uniform on greeted them warmly)

(Slicked Male smiles big, and cups his hands together)- "Welcome to Azelus Shoppe! We have a special on fruit, and cold cut meats! Only 99d (dekus)...How may I help you two gentlemen today?"

(Ted held his breath as Leslie fumes)

(Leslie smacks the male with his right hand, and grabs hm by the colar with his left)- "I...want YOU..to tell..All your staff....for future reference that I...am... MADAME LESLIE!! ..Clear?"

(Slicked Male nods while sweating)- "Yes Madame Leslie!"

(Leslie let's the man drop to the floor, then returns to smiling as he and Ted move on. Once they grab a cart they move on to the fruits section. While sorting through bananas, Ted picks up two oranges. Leslie turns to see his antics and turns red)- "Now stop that...You don't want to make a scene...*takes the banana away and peels it* Besides we need this for our trip...Speaking of which will you be joining us?"

(Ted looks at the orange in his palm and tosses it up and down a moment)- "No..I have to go back and take care of some things at home)

(Leslie bites the banana, chews it, then speaks)- "...At home...You finally have that security job then?"

(Ted shakes his head)- "No....I work in janitorial now....I clean schools, and office buildings..."

(Leslie quirks a brow, and turns slightly)- "Office buildings...You mean the..."

(Ted lowers his gaze to place the oranges in a bag)- "No heh...not the Xias Corp...Although I tried to apply there.....But a male secretary said I was 'over' qualified for the job. So I mostly do schools..and the odd post office or two."

(They both walk over to the Deli area where Leslie orders 10lbs of various meats and cheeses. The counter woman stares in dismay but is promptly corrected by the Slicked Male)

(Leslie takes another bite of the banana)- "This trip is going to make me fat...I just know it...We'll have to keep in touch....I might need you to save our asses again you know..."

(Ted smiles)- "Yea..I'm really glad I could be of service...eh....But..how are you going to contact me? I'm supposing your next move has wava towers to carry a signal?"

(Leslie retrieves the meat and cheese and places them in the basket next to the fruits and bread. They both walk over to the cash register and Ted places the items on the counter)

(Leslie looks at him wth both eyebrows low)- "You know.....I hadn't thought of that...If i turn my phone on satelite mode there's not even a slightest guarantee that an interference won't be present....I won't have a way to keep in touch...."

(Ted reaches into his inner shirt pocket and pulls out a small box. He opens it and inside is a silver gun charm connected to a chain. Ted walks behind Leslie, and, when the hair is moved to the side, places the necklace around Leslie's neck)- "I meant to give you this..this morning, but saw you were sleeping and decided not to disturb you.... I got it last night at a shop just before it closed...Something to remind you of me..Also..the gun...I implanted a beacon. Pull the little trigger and I can find you anywhere...It can be used a lifetime..In life's...little bumps in the road,..*he smiles*...Enjoy it"

(Leslie remained speechless as he knew not what to think of such a gift. The cashier rung up the total, Leslie paid, and both he and Ted left the shop)

(STORY CUT SCENE- PAST

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Darkness all around)

(Voice to the left) -"You will never go back home."

(Voice to the right) -"We will take care of you."

(Voice in the far distance) -"Victor, come home please."

(Voice close near by) -"He is our very best of the best."

(Waking up in an empty bedroom, one window, and bathroom. Getting up to look at himself in the mirror)

-"all these dreams are starting to reoccur more frequently now, why are they haunting me!"

(Breaking the mirror and looking down at the shattered pieces laying around him. He turns to face the closet. Puts his clothes on and walks to his weapon. As he touches his weapon, a knock comes to the door)

-"Come in!"

(A young girl comes in with a melancholy face)

-"Tatiana, what are you doing here?"

(Tatiana) -"You were dreaming again, weren't you?"

-"That's none of your.."

(Tatiana) -"You once had a life that you turned away from. A family of people that were your guidance to life. An order to find and carry out a bloodshed was initiated."

(Walking towards Tatiana, slapping her to the ground)

-"That is enough!"

(She holds her hand up to her face as if she was harmed in the process)

(Tatiana) -"I am sorry master."

-"We need to find Mr. Nameless out there and his companions. Find all of them and get that key. Then, yes then we can create our own world. A world without fear and war to it. We shall create our own Validia!"

(Tatiana walks behind and reaches high for the left shoulder. A pause in Victor, a flash of pain comes to his heart)

-"What are you doing, Tatiana?"

(His vision is gone, dark and blurry. He couldn't see what was going on. The room was filling with screams of agony, his hands felt wet. His vision was coming to him. Blood covered the ground, his hands soaked in it. A sweet, sickly smell hovered around. People were burning all around and children were crying. Voices were screaming in his ear as though they were right next to him. He tried to filter out the sounds by covering his ears, but it did no good)

-"STOP IT!"

(The visions came in stronger and stronger. Then a halt. Blank and silence. Heavy breathing was all that was heard from himself. Sweating and trying to stay at ease. A vision of a village of people playing around. The village was the one that he was ordered to obliterate stood in front of him. He saw himself in the distance playing with some young children and dancing with a beautiful woman)

-"This is my village, the village I was raised in and destroyed, but what is this time? I don't remember this time."

(Tatiana) -"That is because you had this erased, not by Xias, but yourself. You were pulled to close to power that you had forgotten your real place. The children you see are yours, and that woman, is your wife. You were going to visit your little sister on this day."

-"Little Lennie? I did have a sister. NO!"

(Trying to break out of the power of her vision, he grabs her by her arm and shakes her roughly. The vision starts to distort and vanish. Returned to the room and throwing the girl to the floor with anger in his eyes)

-"You will stop putting these visions in my head!"

(Leaving the room and heading out to the white hallways of the complex. Running to the locker room to find silent confinement. His eyes slowly close)

(Voices all around him fill his head) -"He will be perfect. He will be our greatest gift, even after we are gone."

-"Lennie, I'm sorry."

[reaching an old bridge on the south side of town. following Dokuno and trying to keep to her own business, but her curiosity got the best of her]
"the last place was really helpful, not! heheh, sorry. i guess this place wont be too much help will it?"

[Dokuno]"................"

[looking for a reply from Dokuno, but silence was only there]
"this place seems really... quiet. i wonder why its really cold, i mean colder than Tiana."

[Dokuno]"the people here keep to themselves and the climate is at a global kata."

"global kata?"

[Dokuno]"its when the cold merges with the mist in the air and then moves to the mountains. after the river moves downwards from the top, it creates the mist to combine with the air and flow down with the upper cold climate of the ice peaks."

"hey, you do know some stuff! i had you as just a great mysterious fighter and healer."

[both moving to the center of the small town, finding a tall clock tower there where a small building with a sign >Howser scrolls< imprinted on it]

"i dont remember this place, at least i didnt see it earlier. this what we are looking for?"

[Dokuno]"we didnt see this place, because the place wasnt here earlier."

"what? then this place..."

[Dokuno]"was to show up if we never gave up. it has its terms."

[walking into the small building, finding trinkets and scrolls all over the walls. a little old man with a goatee worked the counter]

[little old man]"aaahhh welcome, welcome to shop. i have what you need."

"yeah, i bet."

[Dokuno]"Del-krus mil-di-vi."

[little old man]"................"

[a last customer leaves the shop and shuts the door behind him]

[little old man]"you seek the weapon of Odin."

"so you know of it."

[little old man]"a weapon that could aid you in your journey."

"our journey huh, and how would you know?"

[Dokuno]"we will not ask questions that are deeper than our own, do you have the scroll?"

[the little old man hands the scroll over for about 300 dekus. Dokuno hands it over to pay. amazed by the amount of payment he had in the first place. knowing he was being paid a large amount in the past, he had it off credit >meaning a credit chip was on credit, while off meant just cash<]

[Dokuno] "lets go."

[leaving the small building, turning around to show appreciation, only to see that it had vanished. spending some time to walk in its place, Dokuno walks over to drag her away from the place]

"hey, you know what? we should get something to eat!"

(Leslie and Ted exit the store with their arms full of bags. They chat a ways down the side walk, and after 20mins They spot Okami, and Lenn in the distance. Leslie looks down at his tired arms and smiles)

(Leslie)- "Hmm...These bags are quite heavy Ted...and I see a bit of relief heading our way.. *he smirks* "

(Ted looks at Leslie with a tilted head, then they continue forward until they meet up with the other two)

(Lenn and Okami see Leslie with Ted in the distance, and Lenn speed walks towards them. Okami smiles as he has a slight idea as to what may happen, and walks behind Lenn slowly)

(Lenn smiles once close to the two)- "Hello you guys...Is this the food? *Lenn peeks into one of the bags* ...Ooh this will do well..Hmm..maybe we can use some to make lunch?"

(Leslie smiles like the Cheshire cat and motions for Lenn to hold out her arms)- "Sure you can sweetie!...In fact here *places his bags in her arms* Take these with you...Oh... *grabs Ted's bags and piles them on top of the others* There...take these on the way back to my house. And don't you dare drop a crumb! I don't eat off the sidewalk..*he twiddles his fingers in a wave and walks off* Ta Ta!"

(Lenn stands there with her eyes nearly bulging at the weight of the bags with her knees shaking below her)- "Why....that....little....*looks to Okami* ....Um...Here *piles them into his arms* Try and keep up! He he... *she walks quickly forward* "

(Okami stands there with irritation on his face and a giant bead of sweat hanging above his head)- "Ehh..." *walks down the sidewalk teetering and tottering from the weight of the bags*


(Ted looks at Leslie and chuckles)- "I can't believe you did that...She's going to kick your ass one day..."

(Leslie shakes his head blushing)- "I doubt it....Besides it'll give her a little arm strength...*flexes his own small muscles*..Now..where is this shop...I believe it's just a few more walks..."

(Ted returns his hand around Leslie's waist and gives a light squeeze. Leslie turns and looks him in the eyes)- "
What is it?"

(Ted gaze grows soft, and eyes Leslie over)- "You know....I still didn't get my...pay for my services..."

(Leslie returns a sweet smile, holds out his hand and motions for money)

(Ted frowns)- "I save your sweet little ass and I still have to pay you?!"

(Leslie folds his arms, and his brow furrows)- "Sweetie I thank you for that..Believe me I'm grateful...But I am still a business man...My services are never free..You should know that by now...*holds out hand again* Pay..or leave unsatisfied...Your choice"

(Ted groans, and folds his arms in defiance. Leslie sees this and promptly continues walking towards the herbal shop. Ted waits 4mins, his eyebrows raise, he looks around, then runs after Leslie who is now near the herbal shop)- "Waiiiit!!!"

(Leslie hears Ted behind him but continues walking on as if he hadn't. Ted finally catches up to him, and grabs his shoulders firmly)- "No wait!...Alright..Alright..here..*fumbles through his wallet* 1,000 dekus...Satisfied?"

(Leslie looks at the money, counts it with a suspicious eye, then looks at him)- "Tip?"

(Ted)- "After..ok..After? Pleease..."

(Leslie smiles, and drags him into the doorway of the shop. Inside, the shop was a light green with soft burgundy carpeting. The walls were lined with different items, which some were live herbs, and spices, others organic incense, and candles. Leslie continued towards a standing female clerk with short curly red hair, and spoke)- "Hello Miss *reads her name tag* Miss Eloise Could you find me some Merrison stems, Orkota powder, Berle root, and I also need a restroom...Please?"

(The female clerk looked confused a moment at the last request)- "Rest..room? Uh...well never mind I'm sorry. The bathroom is on the other side of the beads *she points left* And to your..left or maybe you want right....Heh um it's just..that way *she smiles nervously"

(Leslie nods, tugs on Ted's arm, and waltz' through the beads with a *kt kt kt (beads noise)* and into the Ladie's bathroom. The clerk searches here and there, then begins gathering the needed items, and stops occasionally when she hears the odd noises and a random scream. Highly disturbed the clerk bags the items, and totals them up while she waits for the two to return. After 30mins Ted walks out with the widest grin, and Leslie stumbles through the door towards the counter. The clerk stares with wide eyes and recites the summed total)- "Um....that...will..be 40 dekus..Sii.*she stops to think*..Madame...."

(Ted pays for the items, grabs the bags, and walks out the door, with Leslie silently stumbling behind him. The clerk utters her last words)- "H..h..have a Nice..Daay..."

*Carrying the bags of groceries, stops and spots a boy with a little flag. The flag had a symbol of a snake and a bird on it. Moving towards the boy and seeing him run in a direction*

*Lenn* "What's up? Is there something wrong?"

*Without a heads up, hands his bags over to Lenn and runs after the boy*

*Lenn* "Hey! Wait!... Damn it these are heavy. Where is he going?"

*Coming to a fork at the end of the road, he tries to see where the boy might have ran to. A small house on one of the divided roads appear to be the only one. The other direction just reveals a cemetery*

"Well, he had to of gone this way, since there is nothing in the other direction."

*Upon arriving at the small house, a curtain to one of the windows revealed peeking eyes towards him. Walking to the door step, seeing that the door knob has not been touched. A slowly welcoming swing of the door opens automatically. A few steps in and the door closes behind*

"It takes time to accept what you don't have."

*A shallow voice whispers through the dank and dusty hallway of the house* "How....would....you....know?"

"Lets just say that I've been there and back. Show yourself so that we may be properly introduced."

*A shadow creeps along the walls and to a nearby mirror. The dust-covered mirror shakes and then a heavy wind rushes past the hallways and clears the dust away*

*The shadow figure within the mirror* "Come....come....let....me....see....your....face."

*Walking just around the open arch of the hallway to the small dinning room, and sees the mirror with a man in it. The man's soul seemed to be trapped in the mirror, never to step out. Only when the light of day, or a shining light of a lamp was to reveal his shadow. This soul could not even step out of this house*

*The shadow figure within the mirror* "I am Velic, once a great and powerful warlock.

"Pleasure.... The name is..."

*Velic* "Dokuno Okami, or would you prefer Mr. Nameless?"

"I see you know me, so your powers just go at the length of sending illusions."

*Velic* "I knew you would follow. I have brought here for a deep request."

"Sorry... not interested."

*Velic* "You will not even hear my request and proposal? In return, I will..."

"I said not interes..."

*Velic* "Grant you redemption and information."

".............................."

*Silence revolves around both*

"My redemption is far from me, what of the info?"

*Velic* "A long time ago, I was part of the Xias. I was not an experiment or anything like that. No, I was a normal man, seeking a life with a family of my own. Alot of others have been corrupted by power and greed. Mine...was greed. Only to insure that my family was to be supported."

"Should I be crying, is this sad story leading to a point?"

*An expression of grief and disgust from the dark figure in the mirror as he continues on*

*Velic* "My apprentice was to follow the ways of the witchcraft and sorcery, but was pulled in by power. He banished me to this mirrored world and I have been moved for years. I wish to sleep, to be else where. My request is that you release me from this torment and to promise me... as much as it should be easy for you and hard on me, I need you to kill my apprentice. Stop him from his misdeeds. Everyday I feel his anger. I employ you, please kill my apprentice, kill my son, Grim."

*Pulling out the silver double-edge sword, looking with an expression of something he has not shown since he was young. The expression of one that was actually doing good in this world. With a quick nod he swings the blade at a straight vertical upward direction and returns the blade to its rightful position*

*Velic* "My greatest wishes to you and your companions, may you receive redemption and payment upon your successful mission."

*The mirror slowly divides and part ways to the floor, shattering. Knowing that this trapped soul could only be released by one with the will to release a soul. Others would just torment it more, breaking it without compassion*

"I hear a bell with eleven chimes to it. Damn, is it already that time?"

*Removing himself from the house and running back to the orphanage, he looks back and sees the house break down, as if the house was being held up by the trapped soul*

"Be free."

(Removing himself from the sofa, looking back to Nessa)

"Hey, you should keep your hair down."

(Nessa) "Really?"

"Yeah, it suits you really well."

(Looking away and staring at the ceiling. pacing back and forward)

(Nessa) "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, of course. I was just wondering where they could be."

(Nessa) "They should be back pretty soon."

(Pacing back and forth, tripping over his own foot, falling towards Nessa. After a quick get up he is face to face with her)

"I am terribly sorry for that, I'm really clumsy and I swear that I..."

(Nessa chuckles and falls back into the sofa)

"What..what's so funny?"

(Nessa) "It's alright. I'm pretty clumsy myself."

(Nessa stares for a minute, Kai not knowing why as he blushes harder than before)

"What are you staring at?"

(Nessa) "I never realized that you have ko-ju eyes." (Eyes that are star-shaped)

"Yeah. From my mother."

(The two seemed at a distance that was closer than needed. Just then, the door flies open and in walks Lenn with a load of bags. Each one pile on top of both Nessa and Kai)

(Lenn) "Wheeeeew. Made it! Now where's the bag with meat in it? Where are those two, they could at least help with these."

(Lenn grabs one of the bags on the top of the pile and heads to the kitchen)

"mmhmmm mmmm. C..a..n..t.. b...re..a.t..h."

(The door flies open once again and Ted walks in with a huge smile on his face. Close by following was Madame Leslie with a silent face, but a face that seemed like it could share the most happiest day of his life. Both Ted and Madame Leslie throw the medicine bags at the pile of groceries right when Nessa had found a way out, only to be smacked in the face by one of the medicine bags and falling back into the pile. They head upstairs)

(Nessa) "OW!"

(After a bit of time had passed, everything was being organized. The food and medicine supplies were loaded into a carriage)

"I think that is all of it. Dokuno said that the carriage was the best way than car. The roads will be harsh on vehicle tires. We should hurry."

(Madame Leslie holds in thought while holding his finger to his mouth) "Where is Dokuno?"

(Everyone looks and just notices the same)

"Knowing him, he'll be here. Lets just load up and Madame Leslie, make sure your guards are well prepared. Dokuno sensed something before he left into town."

(Lenn) "I noticed that too, he never shared it to me, but something seemed bothersome to him."

(All quickened their paste and loaded what they needed)

*With such speed, racing past the walking people of the town. Seeing the orphanage up ahead and everyone hopping into the carriage*

*Kai* "Dokuno, are you alright? What happened to you, I thought you were with Lenn."

"I had to see to a special client, but never mind about that. Are we ready?"

*Madame Leslie nods and gets lifted into the carriage. A bit of stumbling and smiles from him*

*Lenn* "Is he okay?"

*Ted* "yes, yes. Perfectly fine, just a bit fatigued from the shopping is all."

*Kai with his staff enters the carriage, but not before Nessa. Kai helps Nessa into the carriage while Lenn and Ted stare with confused looks on their faces*

*Lenn* "What did we miss?"

"Nevermind it, get in."

*Madame Leslie looks out of one of the carriage's windows and just waves with excitement. Ted waves back and hands something over to Dokuno*

"What's this?"

*Ted* "You best keep Madame Leslie out of harm's way and make sure he receives as much rest as possible. I know you aren't into them, but please take this. It was a gift to Madame Leslie, but he has a strict policy in using his own."

*A special single-shot custom, gold and silver pistol was handed over. It had a sturdy velcro strap that could be placed around the wrist of one's arm*

"No promises there, but I'll keep in mind."

*As the last one to step up into the larger than the last carriage, right after Lenn. We all looked back and saw Ted get into the limo with six other men and take off in the opposite direction*

"We head to the small town of Kiyoto, East of the riverbanks. The roads are unknown to the maps. It's an old trading route. A bit of caution at night since creatures and fiends come out to feed. We won't need to worry as much. The road will be a carriage to foot-hike since the philosopher and other townsfolk like their peace. Gardens of beauty, forest of the damned, bandits to the west, and finally Kiyoto, the town of the great Wasp."

*Lenn* "You gathered that much info?"

"The people of this place know when to help others that are worth it. We don't want to overstay our welcome."

*All nodded and passed around the food that Lenn had prepared*

(TIME-LINE) - December / 11:21am

(Traveling through a countryside road. An old orchid and small villages over yonder. Hours seemed to have passed on and on. Passing through a deep sleep and waking up to the sound of the door opening)

(Grim)- "And we are here!"

- "Grim, you tire me so much to the brink of self-destruction."

(Grim)- "Well hell, I guess that means that I'm doing my job. This place seems to be a very nice place to start! It seems very eerie though, as if I know someone here. Oh well, lets get to work!"

(stepping out from the black vehicle, a young girl follows close behind)

- "Do you sense him?"

(Tatiana)- "I'm sorry, I can not. It seems that he is blinding my senses from him with an unknown device."

(Grim)- "Now Tatiana, you wouldn't be trying to lie to us would you?"

- "Shut up Grim, I feel it too. I can not smell his trail either. I can not detect his pain."

(Tatiana)- "The source of the device seems to be coming from that building."

(Raising her angelic-like hand up and pointing with her finger to the direction of an old stone house with the sign sharing orphanage on it. Grim makes his way to it, until a young man walks up to him)

(Young town man)- "What business do you have here?"

(Grim)- "You shall back away from me if you don't want to get hurt little man."

(Young town man)- "Now you see here, I am mayor of this here town, and you will have to leave!"

(Grim raises his right hand up into the air and before the young town mayor could ever get a glimpse of warning, Grim had swiftly lowered his hand upon the young mayor's head and from the sleeve of Grim's right arm, a short blade shoots out and impales through the left eye. A thin string follows from behind and wraps around the neck. With so much tension of the string, the head is removed from the body. Tatiana closes her eyes and clings herself to Victor)

(Grim)- "Now, where was I? Ah, yes!"

(Grim continues onward to the inside of the orphanage and a few minutes later drags a middle-age woman out to Victor. The middle-age woman terrified to the depths of her still-beating heart)

- "Tell us where they are."

(Middle-age woman)- "Please mister, I am but a nanny of the children here."

- "We know that they were here. We can sense pain and not just any pain. A certain pain and anger that flows from deep within this building of yours."

(Middle-age woman)- "I beg you, please leave us in peace. Our town is just a humble one."

(Grim)- "Humble my ass, I say we kill this bitch. She's lying to us!"

- "Grim, go back to the car."

(Grim)- "What? Why? I'm just having fun!"

- "Now Grim!"

(Grim leaves back to the black vehicle with frustration)

- "They are not here, we know this already. We want to know where they went."

(Middle-age woman)- "I do not know mister! I don't even know who you are talking about!"

(Turning to face Tatiana and nodding to her)

(Tatiana)- "No please Victor, I can't."

(Pulling a small capsule from his left pants pocket, unscrewing the top to it and shaking the contents into his hand. A smaller and thinner capsule with black liquid lay there)

(Tatiana)- "I don't want to! please!"

(The black liquid is placed within a syringe-like device and injected past the long hair and into the back of Tatiana's neck. She lets out a scream and then nothing but silence. Victor notifies Grim and the others to evacuate)

(Middle-age woman)- "What is this? what is going on?"

(Tatiana's eyes soon go pure black, changes to a deep purple, and than a glow from within them. Like fire in her eyes, she shows anger and nothing else. She slowly levitates off the ground as Victor watches. The middle-age woman starts to cry in agony as her flesh begins to peel away and then vanishes into the air. The surrounding buildings and houses seem to burn and melt away. People running out of their homes, running for their lives fade away in agony before even stepping past the welcoming sign. An intense heat fills everywhere. An orb of fire and wind just large enough to hold both Victor and Tatiana inside, while the outside is helpless to survive. The screams have stopped. The burning anger from Tatiana has stopped. Everything around that was once filled with such beauty and life has stopped)

- "It is done."

(Tatiana falls slowly back to the ground, filled with ashes and broken stones. Crying to the pain that she had just inflicted upon this town)

(Tatiana)- "I'm sorry...I am so sorry. Oh to the gods, I am Sorry!"

- "Tatiana, it was to be done. We leave now."

(Tatiana tries so hard to pick herself up. She looks to Victor as he shows not a drop of sympathy to this once beautiful town. She knows that it has been done. She feels as if she had control of what just happened, but why. Why would she still go along with it?)