Mystery (Needs New Title ^ ^; )

Mystery

Soft music played through the slightly cold, breezy night, the moon having begun its ascension into the great black of sky. At Leander High School, a special event was going on; it was the annual cultural festival, a place with many different attractions and booths to draw in students, faculty, parents, and other neighborhood people as well. In one area, a miniature Japanese paper lantern fair, in another lay a haunted house, a hall of mirrors, various food booths, and the like lined the wide parking lot of the school. People laughed, hanging out with friends or escorting children for games and goods, faculty and some of the Blue Belles and Cheerleaders running the thing mostly along with a handful of volunteers. The night was cheery, calm...

A flash of light burst up into the air, unfurling its spectral tentacles of ghostly energy about the area, the ground shaking, when just as quickly it was gone and the sound of many thumps could be heard.

Nothing Changed, Yet They Did

A soul collector flew over head. He gazed at the sky watching as the creature slithered through the air much like water snakes.

"I wonder how they do that with no water up there," he though very intellectually. Before his brain could begin to ponder why he wasn't pondering the dragon creature being at his school, in Leander there was a bang. He heard people screaming and smiled, "I bet it was the riceballs. I would guess the Blue Belles but they wouldn't be able to make anything that beautiful." He ran off so as to not miss a chance to see the wondrous blaze. When he got to the site of the explosion depression overcame him. There was no fire... though the dead bodies were nice, wait, they weren't dead, not really. The "corpses" began to rise. "Shit, pink zombies... what has the world come to... oh wait. Nothing has really changed at all."


"Agh. Run, zombie preps," someone said apathetically.

He was about to laugh when he noticed the soul collectors disappearing around the corner. He ran after them. He saw something drop, metal clanked on the floor. He bent down and scooped it off the floor then straightened quickly to resume his game of demon chase with the flying apparitions. They were gone. He looked around, "Where could they have gone? All the doors were closed and they have no hands." He shrugged it off and looked at the thing in his hands. It was a silver cross with a ring around the middle. He looked at it for a few moments then put it on. "Maybe I should get away from the zombies now." Hair dryers and make up waved through the air in the zombie's hands as they stumbled through the hall like they all had hangovers.

"It's ironic really," he mumbles to himself, "How little has changed, it'd be like a normal day at school is it wasn't dark outside."

Poof

"Lillian?! Lillian, where are you?!?!" Gage shouted, running frantically in the opposite direction of the panicked crowds, weaving towards the mass of apathetically jogging people, some grimacing, some blank. "Lillian!!! -OOF!" Then the boy with soft dark brown hair collided with someone and fell to the ground with a grunt, before blinking and peering up to see another boy with low rim glasses and roughed hair, a beard starting on his chin. He wore mostly black and... "Hey, that's my necklace..." Gage commented then mentally slapped himself before rising. "Have you seen my little sister?! She's only eight, she dressed in a sort of lolita fashion... um... Her name is Lillian..."

"Even if I had I wouldn't know it," he responded, mentally thinking "I'm keeping the necklace."

"GAGE!!!" a small voice called out, a small girl running from the hordes of zombified but not dead preps when she tripped on a rise in the floor, having glanced behind her. "GAGE, HELP."

"HEY, BACK OFF!" a strong feminine voice growled, shoving aside some of her fellow Blue Belles to quickly scoop up Lillian. "Where's your parent?"

Lily shook her head, face creasing to watch the crowd behind them. "No, my brother, Gage... He's over there! Thank you um..."

"Julia, and don't mention it," the girl said, smiling down at the kid. "I wonder why I wasn't like them... seeing as how they mostly seem to be Blue Belles or cheerleaders or were formerly. They don't seem dangerous at least; just stupefied."

"Lillian!" came Gage's relieved sigh as Julia transferred the girl into his arms. "Great, now where do we go?!"

"EVERYONE, THIS WAY," came the sound of a teacher, who pulled them into the elevator just as another crowd of zombies turned the corner. "Phew, that was close huh?"

Hall of Mirrors

He looked at Julia, “Why aren’t you zombiefied?”

“I was wondering that myself.”

The elevator opened and Ms. Annette led them to a hall of mirrors. “I wonder why we are here,” he thought to himself, “it doesn’t seem any safer here then it did where we came from.”
He heard the hordes of zombies approaching and made a move as though to run away.

“Wait.” He looked at Ms. Annette then shrugged.

The zombies filed into the room and looked towards them. They seemed ready to charge when they noticed the mirrors. They froze, staring at themselves. “I see. The mirrors trap them.”


Gratitude

"Again, thank you for saving me," the little girl said softly, hands clasping each other in front of her ruffly skirt, her black dress frilled with lace and ribbons, her frilled head band keeping her long dark brown hair swept out of her face and eyes.

"I'm sorry, Lillian, I should have kept up with you better," Gage mumbled, scratching his head in shame while she merely shook her head.

Hidden

“Why didn’t I become a zombie?” Julia thought to herself as she shuffled past her former team mates.

“You don’t seem to be taking this too hard,” he stated flatly.

“Well hey,” Julia replied, “it’s quieter now.”

“Right.”

Julia looked at the little girl clinging to her brother’s hand, “Are you okay… Lillian, right?”

She nodded. Julia looked up at Lily’s brother, “I haven’t seen you around much, it’s nice to meet you.”

“You too, thanks for finding my sister, I don’t know how this could have happened.”

“Soul collectors.” Everyone looked towards the other guy.

“Soul collectors?”

“Someone had to have summoned them and would have to be controlling them.”

“Then what are we supposed to do about them… and who are you?”

“Do whatever you feel necessary. My name is my own, you have no need of it.” He turned and walked away leaving the rest of the people alone.

“So what happened? Did you see anything I mean you are a blue belle after all.”

“Yeah, ha… that’s what everyone thinks of me. My friends won’t even hang out with me anymore because I got onto the dance team. Ha, if you like dance you apparently can’t be gothic so these new ‘friends’ got forced onto me.”

“You don’t sound like you like them very much.”

“I don’t, they are so annoying, but I like dancing so…”

“Did you see anything before they became zombies?”

“There was a bright flash then everyone fell down like dead. Next thing I know I’m running away from them… then Lily and you… now here.”

Gage’s Gauge (flashback - Gage's POV)

“Ne, Brother, why don’t you have a girlfriend?” Lillian asked simply, her face blank and empty of any possible malice in the question, boasting only curiosity. We sat at the picnic tables, each of us trying to poke out perfect shapes from the soft cardboard foam material with toothpicks. “Oh…!” Lillian sighed suddenly and held up hers. “…It cracked…”

“You have to do it like this, see?” I showed her while she stared at me expectantly, waiting for an answer to her original question. “I don’t know… I usually end up getting turned down. Guess I’m just the friend at best, huh?” I smiled at her. “Don’t worry about your big brother! Its my job to worry about you.”

“…If you say so,” she agreed half-heartedly and then stared off into the distance at the marshmallow moon.

“How about we get some snow-cones?” I offered, grinning like a fool to cheer her up and sure enough she cracked a hidden smile.

“’Kay,” she said and took my hand to walk through the festival. Glancing around, I sighed, and let go.

“I don’t know where it is… Can you stay here? I’ll be right back when I find the stand,” I told her, kneeling down to peer at her with importance.

“Of course,” she scoffed lightly. “I’m eight. It’s fine.”

I grimaced a little and took a few steps away, glancing back but she was still there, watching the various festival goers. Assured, I jogged to find the stand and not even three seconds after I had paid for and gotten the strawberry snow-cone to share, a burst of light shot up into the sky and an immediate panic filled the area. “Lillian!” I dropped the snow-cones and ran back to where I had left her. “LILLIAN!! LILY!! LIIIIILLLLIAAAANN!! WHERE ARE YOU?!” I shouted, racing frantically around the area. In all the mass chaos, my little sister had been swept away by the stampeding crowd. Running I peered from person to person, only to shy away from the people… no, girls on the ground who soon rose to stagger about. I felt bad, but someone would help them, my responsibility was my sister.

"Lillian?! Lillian, where are you?!?!" I shouted, running frantically in the opposite direction of the panicked crowds, weaving towards the mass of apathetically jogging people, some grimacing, some blank. "Lillian!!! -OOF!" I collided with someone and peered up to see a guy in mostly black wearing… "Hey, that's my necklace..." I commented then mentally slapped myself before rising. "Have you seen my little sister?! She's only eight, she’s dressed in a sort of lolita fashion... um... Her name is Lillian..."

"Even if I had I wouldn't know it," he responded.

"GAGE!!!" a small voice called out, a small girl, my little sister! running from the hordes of zombified but not dead preps when she tripped on a rise in the floor, having glanced behind her. "GAGE, HELP." And everything seemed to unfold from there…

Lost Lily (flashback - Lillian's POV)

“How about we get some snow-cones?” Gage offered me, grinning like some strange kind of Cheshire cat and I stared blankly at him. He couldn’t be more obvious and despite effort, I could feel a tiny smile curl.

“’Kay,” I agreed, grabbing his hand since I was but a child so we could make our way into the crowds. He paused and made a strange face and I stared forward, rolling my eyes ever so slightly, uncaring. What was it now?

“I don’t know where it is… Can you stay here? I’ll be right back when I find the stand,” Gage said with some worry, kneeling down so we could be on the same eye level.

“Of course,” I scoffed. Honestly, he should know better by now… seriously… “I’m eight. It’s fine.” He left unsurely but I ignored him, still thinking of my question to him earlier as I peered up at the moon then trailed my gaze about the people. Gage deserved someone. He deserved someone good. Watching everyone, the picks were slim but somewhere among the hordes of too-high-maintenance girls, gangster wannabes, and utter and complete idiotic delinquents there had to be someone worthy of my caring and normal brother.

Nice guys don’t have to finish last…

Tendrils of light swirled to rupture and pierce the mourning-black sky and not too soon after, I was pushed along with the hysteria of the people here. When I could finally walk on my own, I felt a hand on my shoulder, and turned to give a gasp because it was not a familiar face. Rather, the blank eyes of a zombie girl stared back at me and I let out an ‘eep!’, dropping the thing in my hand I had been holding for reassurance.

I could hear Gage calling and then a good person connected their knee to the zombie’s face, scooping me up to run like a bat out of Hell and then I was swept along again.



Unveiled

Ms. Annette, Lily, Gage, and Julia ran across him again a few minutes later. They walked up to him. “What do you think; we were trying to figure out how this happened so we could reverse it. Gage thinks that one of the blue belles created a type of portal in the microwave by burning cookies,” Julia said with a smile.

“You guys are pathetic if you really want to know who did it why don’t you look at the little girl clinging to her brother’s hand.”

Gage glared at him, “Don’t even think about blaming my little sister for this.”

“If you don’t believe me why don’t you try asking her?”

“Can we by chance know your reasoning behind such a strong accusation?” Julia asked, holding her hand out so that Gage wouldn’t rip him to pieces.

“It’s simple really, the only people it can be are me, you,” he said pointing to Julia, “Ms. Annette, Gage or Lillian because we were the only people around the crime scene when it happened. It wouldn’t have been me because I came right after the explosion so I wasn’t at the site when it happened. That narrows it down to four. It could have been any of you. Ms. Annette because she says at the beginning of the year in her class that she doesn’t like cheerleaders or blue belles. Julia has plenty of reasons, she doesn’t like blue belles because they annoy her, she could be doing this to prove to her friends that she is still gothic and because she is associated with Goths she probably has easy access to books on the occult which would explain how to open a portal. But then we have the issue of the necklace next to the crime scene which points everything to Gage since he clearly stated it was his, but that doesn’t make sense. It couldn’t be Gage because he would never do anything to harm his sister as we can all clearly see. So that points the main suspects to Annette and Julia. Annette knew how to stop the zombies and Julia has a reason not to like them, but Julia didn’t know what soul collectors were which could have been a lie, but it didn’t seem like it and I know for a fact that Ms. Annette knows practically nothing about Japan other than it being a chain of islands, besides that she really has no reason to turn preps into zombies because she doesn’t really not like anyone. That eliminated both of them so I started thinking about who it could be since everyone had been eliminated. Then I thought about Lily. She doesn’t seem like she would be a likely candidate which is exactly why she would probably be the one most likely to get away with it. It made no sense to me why she would have been separated from her brother if she loves him so much then it dawned on me, maybe she was separated from him because she loved him. Then I remembered that I saw Gage earlier and he wasn’t wearing the necklace he claimed to be his. Lily is a child and children are more apt to believe in the supernatural which is why Lily was able to summon the soul collectors. So that brings us down to why she would do it. My guess is because her brother is single and she doesn’t want him to be made fun of, or he got rejected by one of them, either a blue belle or a cheerleader. So which is it?”

Lily peered at her feet, her hair sweeping into her eyes as Gage looked down at her. “Lillian… C’mon, say he’s wrong… I mean, I knew you were gifted, but there’s no way you’d pull off something like this…”

“…I’m sorry,” Lillian murmured and held up her hand to brush the chin of a blue snaking dragon-like soul collector that had crawled up her shoulder. “…I didn’t think it would hurt anyone… They’re not dead after all. I just needed time to sort through the souls and find one compatible with Gage’s, but with everyone here I could never get a chance… Please don’t hate me.”

“Lillian…” Gage sighed, and gave her a hug. “It’s okay, I’m not mad, but can you put them back now?”

“So a little girl did all this,” Ms. Annette mused and Julia smiled as they all watched the two.
“Of course,” Lily agreed and clasping a hand over her heart she drew out all the souls she had stolen and released them into the air.

“So I was right. Hm, interesting,” the guy said, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Listen… Gage, why don’t we go out…?” Julia suggested, smiling sheepishly and leaned in to kiss the surprised boy only for the other guy to slip between them and kiss him instead. “H-hey!”

“W-what just happened?” Gage asked confused, looking from the guy to Julia and back while Lillian and Ms. Annette giggled.

“I solved the case, I get the reward,” the guy smirked and Julia made a face at him, beating him playfully, while Gage stared in a lazy smile daze between the two, Ms. Annette chuckling behind her hand, and Lillian grinning happily at her brother's happiness.

Nothing Changed, Yet They Did

A soul collector flew over head. He gazed at the sky watching as the creature slithered through the air much like water snakes.

"I wonder how they do that with no water up there," he though very intellectually. Before his brain could begin to ponder why he wasn't pondering the dragon creature being at his school, in Leander there was a bang. He heard people screaming and smiled, "I bet it was the riceballs. I would guess the Blue Belles but they wouldn't be able to make anything that beautiful." He ran off so as to not miss a chance to see the wondrous blaze. When he got to the site of the explosion depression overcame him. There was no fire... though the dead bodies were nice, wait, they weren't dead, not really. The "corpses" began to rise. "Shit, pink zombies... what has the world come to... oh wait. Nothing has really changed at all."


"Agh. Run, zombie preps," someone said apathetically.

He was about to laugh when he noticed the soul collectors disappearing around the corner. He ran after them. He saw something drop, metal clanked on the floor. He bent down and scooped it off the floor then straightened quickly to resume his game of demon chase with the flying apparitions. They were gone. He looked around, "Where could they have gone? All the doors were closed and they have no hands." He shrugged it off and looked at the thing in his hands. It was a silver cross with a ring around the middle. He looked at it for a few moments then put it on. "Maybe I should get away from the zombies now." Hair dryers and make up waved through the air in the zombie's hands as they stumbled through the hall like they all had hangovers.

"It's ironic really," he mumbles to himself, "How little has changed, it'd be like a normal day at school is it wasn't dark outside."

Remix

By: The Jester aka Jaki (Elements and characters for this story were borrowed from works by Hakase, Mizuki and Togashi, Yoshihiro; I claim no (or very little) originality of this work whatsoever.) Notes: Niisan literally translates older brother. Akurei literally translates evil spirit or one born of an evil spirit roughly translates as what the european countries would think of as a deamon or dark elf. I was six when she first found us. I was scared and wanted to be released from the blood ring. They had forced me and my Niisan into a fight it was obvious we couldn’t win. My brother, at the time, was ten and was fighting with a fiery passion I had never previously fathomed; a passion I figured at the time I would never grasp. He fought not because he wanted to and not because he was clinging to life or had any instinct to continue to live so he could fulfill so unknown future goal. No, he fought because he saw an almost tangible fear in my eyes and felt compelled to protect me. I watched my brother horrified. His blood began to run down his arms, dripping into crimson puddles as they reached to ground. Memories flashed through my head and I watched my parents collapse into pools of their own bodily fluids. Again and again these images flashed. Tears streaked my face as reality struck me. Soon my brother, and my only friend would leave me too, leave me and go to a place I couldn’t follow, leave me alone again in this desolate, forsaken land. Tears blurred my vision. Though the cloudy view I saw my brother like the first time. My mind projected me back a few days to our first meeting. I was in a holding cell, a band of akurei’s new slave. Cold sweat dampened my skin as images of unforeseen horrors ran through my head, each one worse than the last. Every time I heard footsteps pass outside my cell. My chest tightened with anger and fear. The emotions swirled together like a demonic teacup of vividly colored poisons. I heard their dreaded approach, my heart tightened. I waited for the steps to pass but they did not. Instead they stopped in front of my cell’s door. The door opened and light flooded in. I looked up expecting to see hands reach towards me, I waited for the expected moment when the hands coated with the blood of my parents would reach in to drag me off. Instead I saw him, the person who would shortly become my closest companion: my brother and my best friend. The look on his face reminded me of a stray dog who no longer needed anyone. A lone wolf who had learned to survive on his own. His look said that death would bring only relief not the expected fear most feel. They threw him in. He crumpled on the floor, unable to catch himself. He looked up venomously at them. Slam! The shock from the door grating against the stonewall with a deafening bang caused vibrations to rumble the floor. Initially I withdrew into the corner of the dank cell to get as far away from him as possible. His scent flooded my nostrils, the scent of an akurei. He pulled himself to his feet and was cursing at the door. When the footsteps on the other side of the door had faded beyond an audible level he quieted. After a few minutes of staring blankly at the door he sniffed the air, apparently just recognizing a faint scent lingering in the room. He sniffed once more and then turned towards me. When he saw me, his previously fierce expression softened and became gentle. He made a move as though to approach me, but when I withdrew further into the corner, pressing hard against the wall in an attempt to get away from him, he seemed to think better of it. He walked to the other side of the cell and leaned against the wall, positioning himself so he could see me. He looked me over with a certain gentle intensity. "Why are you here?" he asked sincerely. A simple question, true, yet the warmth of his voice surprised me. How could an akurei sound so sweet? "I can’t leave," I replied softly. "Even if I could I have nowhere to go, they murdered my family." "Oh…" he said sadly, "So I guess you probably hate all of us now." He laughed sadly. "That explains why you look at me like I’m a monster… you are probably right to look at me like that. We really are a retched race." He paused, looking down at the cold grey floor beneath his feet. "I’m sorry…I bet your family were great people, happy people too probably." I looked up, shocked by his words. "Did they kill your family too?" With this he laughed harder. "No," he said still laughing, "My father sold he for some petty material gain that would increase his prestige." I didn’t know what to say. "Oh…" the only reply I could come up with. How could I possibly comfort him? I had already hurt him with my inconsiderate reactions to his race. I had judged him with a closed mind and he had just agreed with me offering no defense for himself. I looked up and found him watching me. When he saw me look up he smiled. He stood up and walked towards me like a person trying not to scare a timid cat. My heart tightened. He, who had not even been loved by his parents, was trying to comfort me, who had rejected him because of his heritage. He approached me and knelt down. He reached his hand to my cheek and wiped blood away from a cut. "How old are you?" "Six," I replied curious to the complete dropping of the previous subject. "You’re an elf right." "Yeah…how old are you?" "I’m ten." "Um…" I said, hesitating because I didn’t wish to offend him or worse hurt him with the question waiting on the tip of my tongue. "What is it?" "I just… never mind" "You can say what’s on your mind you know. I won’t get upset." He said it so calm and certain that it made me wonder what had been said to him all his life. "I was just wondering," I said after a short pause, "if there were a lot of akurei like you." He looked at me confused. "You are so nice and gentle, I was wondering if there were a lot of other akurei like you and maybe… maybe the ones who killed my family were…" His laugh cut me off. I looked up into pain filled eyes. "Sorry, but no, no you won’t find very many akurei like me. Let’s just say most akurei that are born with any ounce of kindness running through their blood don’t make it past their first birthday. I only survived because I could grasp enough of the akurei society to understand at a young age that showing compassion to others would bring about a quick end to my life." "But you…" "We are here to die so it doesn’t matter… besides, I felt like I could trust you… like maybe you could show me a little bit of true life before it ends." With that we both fell silent. He sat next to me on the wall staring blankly into the distance. I scooted closer to him and leaned my head on his arm. After a few moments I looked up at him, "What’s your name?" I asked. "Kissa." I tried to hold back a laugh, but a snicker escaped. Kissa heard my snicker and looked down at me. "What?! You think my name’s funny do you." He said in mock anger while his eyes danced wildly in joy. I caught my breath from laughing enough to spurt out, "It sounds like a girl’s name," before laughing again. He joined in with my laughing. After a few minutes he regained his composure enough to ask my name. "It’s Caorin," I said still smiling. "That’s cute," he said with a slightly evil smile. I frowned in mock anger. He laughed and wrapped his arm around me pulling me closer. In his warm embrace it felt like there was nothing to be scared of, like he would protect me from the cold world, like we had been brothers forever. The warmth of his body and the steady rhythm of his breathing soon lulled me to sleep. I looked at him standing in the middle of the ring fighting with everything he had to save me, an elf, an elf who had viewed him as a monster. I saw an akurei draw his sword. The light flickered off the blade in a morbid dance, in tune with the rhythm of spilt blood. The blade, raised for its plunge, sent light splatters across the ground. My body froze. ‘MOVE!!’ Every nerve in my body screamed in protest as my mind ignored the necessary actions. I saw him drop. Niisan clutched tightly at the hole in his side. Blood filled his lung. He coughed trying to get the blood up before it left no room for air. Crimson liquid poured from the corners of his mouth. My body, tired of my brain’s unresponsiveness, moved on its own. The terror I felt from facing the akurei fell away with the impending fear for my brother’s life. I ran to the akurei and in a quick motion jabbed the nerve in his wrist. He dropped the sword, surprised by the unexpected retaliation. I grabbed the sword, clinging tightly to it with both hands. The akurei, furious about the surprise, stalked towards me. His face glowed with rage and hunger, playing a gross game in his eyes. He growled and leapt at me. I closed my eyes and thrust forward with all the strength my small body could muster. The sword grated against the akurei’s sternum then the bone gave to the cold metal allowing it to slide home. The akurei gasped at the burning pain, grabbing at the hilt in an attempt to pull the blade from his chest. He coughed, showering me with a spray of blood; he fell, convulsing twice then stilling. I knew I had not strength enough to remove the heavy blade from its sheath of flesh so I knelt next to my brother preparing to shield him with my body. I was terrified both at the thought of dieing and at the thought of trudging on through this lonely world without Kissa by my side. My fear hazed my elfin vision. I saw the akurei slowly closing in around us. Our doom loomed in their saliva dripping jowls. The crowds cheered, shouting in turn, their vulgar wishes for our brutal and complete demise. Their words mixed in my head with the swirling images of the knot of akurei tightening around us. The hideous, vile noise arousing from them caused waves of nausea to ripple through my body. The sickness became so great that I scarcely noticed the putrid noise emitted from them begin lose volume. Suddenly, as if a monster so great that even the heavens dared not stand against it had approached, silence fell. A silence so immanent that it became almost a tangible thing. A silence so eerie I wished for the resumption for the akurei’s hideous chanting. A figure emerged from the shadows. The spectators glanced towards the stranger with fear and loathing. The dark creature had long black hair that entwined around him ankles as he walked like snakes trying to strangle breath from unexpectant prey. Bandages were wrapped around his head hiding his eyes from view. A thick black cloak hid his body though the wind occasionally blew it apart enough to reveal thickly bandaged arms. He halted upon his approach of us and turned his head towards of as though to look at us through the bandages blinding his eyes. A sigh escaped his lips and he turned towards our captor trying to suppress a yawn. My body became cold as I gazed upon his pale skin that him look like a living incarnate of death itself. Chills purged my soul and dread poured over me like icy water causing my slight form to quake and tremble. I wanted nothing more then to run and never look back. I wanted to flee to the ends of the earth and jump into a black hole so this… this creature would never be able to find me. Dread overcame me as this thing open its mouth to speak, I did not ever wish to hear the embodied voice of death and would do anything to prevent any stray words from escaping this creatures lips. He spoke. I gasped at the sound scarcely believing my ears. His voice was soft yet rang through my very being; soothing away my fears and worries. It sang out in a sweet symphony like that of the Elvin songs played in my dreams. "You seem to have grown defiant," he said flatly. "Wh… wha… what d… what do you m..mean?" the akurei said, his voice breaking in terror. "I was trying to rest. Yet you seem to think that the dark bowels of hell wish to hear your feeble minded ranting." His voice seemed to bring warmth to the biting air of the Wastelands. I found his voice lulling me into its grasp compelling me to listen with my soul not just my ears. "Don’t listen to him," Kissa gasped softly, "Cover your ears or you will be pulled into a trap." I opened my mouth to argue but saw blood running between Kissa’s fingers. I tore my shirt into strips and pressed them into Kissa’s wound to slow the flow of blood. He grunted in pain, his free hand clawing at the ground in attempt to relieve the agony. The stranger, finding no response to his statement, decided to try again. "So what is so important that you find it necessary to make my sleep a further elusive thing?" The akurei, realizing an answer was expected of him muttered quickly, "We… we was just havin’ a bit o’ fun… that ther’ akurei is Nekotentai’s boy, und the elf thing ‘s just slave trash… you wanna watch them die with us?" "How much?" "… ‘scuse me." "How Much Do You Want For The Kids?" the stranger said articulating slowly every word. ‘Geez, it’s like they don’t speak the common tongue,’ he muttered under his breath. "Uh, 50,000 yen for the akurei, but you wou’dn’t want the elf, ‘e’s worthless." "I don’t remember asking your opinion." "S… sorry. D… didn’t mean no offense. 500 yen for ‘im." The strange creature rummaged through his pouch eventually pulling out a handful of coins. "This should compensate," he said turning back towards us. "Uh…um you’re short." "Yes and they are bleeding to death, be thankful I gave you anything for them," he said without turning back. I heard his footsteps approach and turned towards him. Half of me longed for him to come closer while the other half clung desperately to Kissa’s warning. I could do nothing to stop his approach so I prayed for the best. He dropped to his knees when he reached us causing his cloak to blow back revealing a tight sleeveless shirt stretching tightly across her chest. She turned towards me as though the bandages had no effect on her vision. "Can you walk?" she asked softly. I nodded and glanced toward my brother who had collapsed behind me. "NIISAN!" I gasped shocked. The girl’s gaze drifted toward my brother’s prostrated form. She reached for him. I jumped in front of her, blocking her path. "Don’t touch him," I said firmly. She made no answer but instead pushed me aside and scooped Kissa up. She rose and began to move towards the ring’s exit. I jumped up and ran at her. I began punching her, tears streaking down my face. "No. No! You can’t have him, you can’t take him away from me." She reached a hand down and brushed my blows aside gently. I stood there crying. She walked a few steps then, noticing I wasn’t following turned around. She walked up to me and reached down for my hand. "Come," she said, leading me out of the ring. I looked up at her but before I could look at her face my eyes fell upon her arms. Blood was dripping down them and my brother didn’t appear to breathe anymore. I froze. She pulled my hand once again half dragging me forward. I stumbled grasping her hand to keep my balance then resumed my walk forward. "Haste is vital," she said flatly. What seemed like hours dragging on was in reality only a few before we arrived at a small hut on the edge of town. She opened the door and quickly ushered me inside before quickly closing it. The inside of the small run down building looked as bad if not worse than the outside. There was a coach in the front room but nothing else. She led us down a vacant hall to a relatively vacant room. She gently laid my brother on the bed. I watched her every move suspiciously. She snapped her cloak off and tossed it into a corner beside the door. My gaze fell to her arms and horror coursed through my body. The bandages on her arms were soaked with crimson blood, Niisan’s blood. Somehow noticing my shock she quickly turned her body away to conceal the bandages stained red with blood. She walked from the room. The millions of questions that should have been roaring through my head were suppressed by one singular overpowering thought. ‘He’s going to die.’ The thought rolled through my head, I fought it down with hope but as soon it sunk a bit it shot back to the surface with a renewed strength. I heard the door open and jumped. A chuckle spun my eyes towards the dark girl creature. She was carrying bundles of bandages and an assortment of various potions and mixtures. She set them next to my brother on the bed. She knelt beside the bed and pulled a knife from a sheath on her leg. I froze and ice seemed to replace the blood in my veins. She leaned towards my brother and images flashed of her plunging the knife into his chest. ‘Move,’ I told myself ‘MOVE!’ My body remained a statue. She slipped the knife under his shirt and yanked upwards. I sickening rip sounded through the still room. She set the knife down on the floor and began tearing the shirt away from Kissa’s injury. I breathed out. She finished removing his shirt and began to wipe the drying blood from Niisan’s chest. She dipped her fingers into a brownish tan mixture then smoothed it across his wounds. When she had finished she gently lifted Kissa’s torso off the bed before turning towards me. "Make yourself useful and hand me the salve." I snapped out of my hepnatismic gaze at Kissa and reached for the salve. I held it out to her without glancing up. She dipped her fingers into it and began smoothing it into the wounds on Niisan’s back. When she reached for the jar again I noticed she had removed to bandages on her arms revealing intricate tattoos wrapped around her wrists and upper arm. I continued to gaze at them as she worked. They seemed to coil and uncoil as the muscle in her arms flexed slightly while she rubbed the ointment onto his back. "Bandages," she said. I handed them to her still intrigued by her arms. She finished with my brother then moved to sit next to me. I looked at my feet as she began wiping blood off my face. I finally looked up at her with the question of my brother’s well being lingering on my tongue when our eyes met. I stared in shock unable to look away. "You’re staring," she said with a laugh. "They’re purple!" I said in surprise. At this she simply laughed harder. I blushed in embarrassment and returned my gaze to my feet. "Hey elf." My gaze shot upwards. "I don’t recall your name." "I haven’t given one," I replied. "May I have one?" "It’s Caorin." "You have a pretty name, it fits you well," she replied, grinning when I blushed from embarrassment. "Well, since you were kind enough to give me your name I’ll return the favor. My name is Akumu." With that she extended her hand towards me. After a moments hesitation I laided my hand in hers for a hand shake. "Um… Akumu," I said shyly. "Hm?" "Can I ask you a question?" "Sure." "Earlier, your eyes were covered and yet it seemed like you could see us… um… how is that possible?" "Your scent for one, along with other things." "Like what?" "I can sense peoples emotions and your emotions were strong enough to create a sort of visible image… it’s complicated." "But before you saw my expression…" "No I sensed your feelings." "But how did you know what the feeling was directed at?" "That was a guess, and I just so happened to be right." "So do you have trouble seeing?" "No, I have perfect eye sight." "Then why do you…" "You sure do have a lot of questions," Akumu said with a laugh. "Sorry, I’m bothering you, I’ll stop." "No it’s fine, I don’t mind answering your questions, I just think it’s funny," she said still laughing. "Though I do have a question of my own, if that’s okay." "Sure," I said with a hint of eagerness at what she might ask. "What’s your friend’s name?" "Oh, his name is Kissa." "Kissa… interesting… guess I don’t have to ask what type of akurei he is… though technically I wouldn’t have had to ask either way… sorry I’m making no sense correct." "Yeah kind of." She laughed then began gathering her things off the bed. I watched as she walked out of the room then went to sit on the edge of the bed where Niisan was laying. He looked so pale. I took a hold of his hand and looked down at his practically motionless body. Tears began to well in the eyes. I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder and spun around. I looked up into Akumu’s unique almond shaped purple eyes. "Let him sleep, he will make a complete recovery, he just needs to rest for awhile." I let her lead me out of the room into a basically empty kitchen. I sat on the floor, watching as she prepared a rich smelling soup. She filled up a bowl then handed it to me. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until the bowl was in front of me. I quickly began shoveling the food into my mouth. When I finished my first bowl Akumu replaced it with another. Then sat next to me on the floor, watching as I ate. I paused and glanced up from the food. "Aren’t you hungry?" I asked. "No, not really. Besides, I don’t need to eat physical food." "Are you an akurei?" "Not exactly." "Why did you make so much food if you weren’t going to eat any?" "I made extra for Kissa when he wakes up." "How did you…" "Shh… eat while it’s hot," she said with a laugh. I finished eating and began growing weary with exhaustion. I fell asleep on the floor where I had been sitting. Images began swarming through my head. The death of my parents. Blood dripping from my hands. I gazed down at my hands and saw the crude sword in their grasp. Kissa stood in front of me. The sword, as though of its own free will, plunged into his chest. He fell into a lake of blood. I jolted awake. "KISSA!!" I yelled and looked around the dark room in horror. Someone had taken him. My mind raced and desperation coursed through me. My gaze suddenly fell onto the form of a person resting against the wall a ways off. I ran towards the person. "Niisan," I cried, as I wrapped my arms around him. When I was in a close vicinity to the person I realized it wasn’t my brother, but Akumu. Memories resurfaced about the day before. Akumu wrapped her arms around me and lifted me off the ground. Tears streaked down my cheeks and I buried my face in her shoulder. She carried me into the bedroom. When I glanced up I saw Kissa sitting up with pillows propped behind his back and an empty bowl of food on his lap. He looked a bit weary but alive. Akumu moved the bowl from his lap and lowered me onto the bed. I wrapped my arms around him fiercely. He winced at the pain but returned my hug with an equal intensity. "Caorin we’re free," he said, still holding me tightly, "Akumu said we could live with her. We are finally safe." His relief seemed tangible. I knew what he was saying but my relief was more in seeing him alive than anything else. I looked up at Akumu. "Thank you, thank you for everything," I said, although I knew my words wouldn’t even begin to describe the gratitude I felt for everything Akumu had done for us. She just smiled as though she could understand exactly what I was trying to tell her; then left the room with out another word. Kissa’s injuries healed completely with Akumu’s help. When my brother and I were healthy enough for a journey we moved from The Wastelands. For years we traveled from one area to another never staying more than a year in any place. She took care of us from that day on and we lived together as a funky little family. When I was ten Akumu’s friend, Ryu, came to live with us. Less than a year later Xeroko started living with us. We might not have been a blood family yet we were one of the closest-knit families that could have ever been found. Until it happened. Shortly after my sixteenth birthday it happened. January 4th. The first snow of the year. The day everything changed. Chapter 1: All Fun & Games "Caorin. Caorin, come on get up. You are going to be late for school." "Ugh, too tired… go away… not going… need… sleep…" Caorin said wearily, pulling the covers over his head. "Get UP!" Kissa said yanking the pillow out from under his head and slamming it down on Caorin’s blanket covered head. "Oof… stop it Niisan," Caorin said feebly bringing his arm up to protect his head. "I’ll stop once you are out of the bed," Kissa said, laughing as he slammed the pillow down again. Kissa was raising the pillow for a third blow when Caorin rolled off the bed dropping onto the floor with cat like precision and ease. Caorin darted around the bed and snatched the second pillow off it. Kissa came in for a blow and Caorin used his pillow as a shield then raise it for a retaliating blow aimed at Kissa's head. Kissa pushed it away with ease and dropped his pillow. Caorin saw this as an advantage and came in close for a side blow. Kissa ducked under Caorin’s raised arms and started tickling him. Caorin fell backwards onto the bed gasping for air through his laughing. Caorin raised his leg hoping to be able to push Kissa off of himself, but Kissa just dodged to the side. Seeing an opportunity for escape, Caorin pushed Kissa's arms the same direction of his dodge. Overbalanced, Kissa fell over. Caorin raced out of the room before Kissa was able to regain his footing. Kissa scrambled to his feet and raced after his brother. Akumu was carrying breakfast to the table when Caorin came rushing. Akumu lifted the plate above his head and spun out of his way. Anticipating Kissa following close behind, Akumu pressed herself against the cabinets. Kissa rounded the corner too quickly and slammed into the corner of the table. The impact caused the pitcher of juice on the table to totter, threatening to spill its contents all over. Ryu walked into the kitchen and saw the pitcher wobbling dangerously. He rushed forward to catch it. A fraction of a second later he stood at the table with the pitcher in his hand. "Thanks Ryu," Akumu said as she set the plates on the table. "Can you guys keep it down?!" Xeroko said grumpily as he dropped into a chair, "Your putrid noise is causing my ears to bleed." "Well Xeroko, good morning to you too," Akumu said as she walked by and ruffled his spiky silver-white hair. Xeroko’s scowl deepened but he made no move to do anything to stop her. "Yes, we know. Why else do you think we go to so much effort to make this much noise in the morning?" Kissa said with an evil smirk dancing across his face. Xeroko glared at Kissa then, without so much as another word, the air around Xeroko grew cold. The cold air targeted his hand were he used his yoki to form throwing daggers from the solidified moisture in the air. He threw the daggers at Kissa who dodged them with a laugh. "Is that all the better you can do?" Kissa taunted. "Niisan, leave Xeroko alone," Caorin said. Kissa looked at Caorin and laughed, dropping into a spot next to him on the couch. " ‘kay, I’ll stop if you really want me to," Kissa said still smiling. Caorin looked up into Kissa's eyes, which held a shocking resemblance to the polished tiger’s eye crystal. The light caused them to flicker between shades and hues of golden browns and wheat colored yellows. Kissa’s smile faded only to be replaced by a compassionate loving demeanor. He reached up and ran his fingers through Caorin’s shoulder length pale-blond hair. He finger combed Caorin’s hair, twisting it slightly before letting it fall behind Caorin’s ear. Kissa traced the shape of Caorin’s pointed ear with his fingers before dropping his hand to his little brother’s shoulder. Kissa let his hand rest there for a moment before allowing it to slide down Caorin’s arm. When he had reach Caorin’s lower arm, just below his elbow, Kissa tightened his grip. He reached his other arm around Caorin and pulled him into a tight embrace. With a sigh, Caorin allowed himself to be pulled into his brother’s secure embrace. Caorin closed his eyes and leaned against Kissa’s chest, letting himself be cradled by the warmth of his brother’s touch. He had almost fallen asleep again when Akumu called them for breakfast. After everyone had settled around the table and started eating, Akumu walked over to the chair Xeroko was sitting in and dropped her arms around him. He stiffened under the unexpected contact, then relaxed when he realized it was Akumu. "Come eat something," she said softly. "I’m not hungry for any of that human crap," Xeroko replied. "Well I’ll save you some for later, okay," Akumu said as she walked away. Xeroko thought about replying but figured Akumu would just push his retort aside as usual so he decided to just save his breath. Caorin and Kissa downed their breakfast in a few minutes then looked expectantly to Akumu for seconds. Akumu smiled and slid two new plates of food in front of them. Ryu slowly ate his food in a polite mannered style that had been lost to society many years prior. Akumu took a seat at the table and watched them eat for a while before rising to put food in Eiki’s bowl. Eiki, who had previously been rubbing against Caorin’s leg in hopes of being petted, jumped onto the counter at the sound of food hitting his bowl. Kissa finished his breakfast and tossed his dishes into the sink. He headed to the laundry room to grab Caorin’s uniform when Ryu called to him from the table. "Kissa, get your cat off the counter." "He’s technically more Caorin’s cat then mine," Kissa said as he walked down the hall. "Caorin, please..." Ryu said gesturing towards Eiki who was still sitting on the counter. Caorin tossed his plate into the sink then spun around lifting Eiki and his food bowl off the counter and relocating them to the floor before rushing after Kissa. Kissa tossed the uniform to Caorin when he entered their room. While Caorin changed Kissa began rummaging through a chaotic pile of papers and books heaped on their floor, selecting random ones and tossing them into a school bag lying on the floor. Caorin finished dressing and grabbed his tennis equipment. As he headed out the door Kissa’s voice halted him. "Forgetting something aren’t you?" he called with a laugh. Caorin spun around with a sheepish grin on his face just in time to catch the bag launched at his head. Caorin gave everyone a quick last smile before opening the door. Kissa sighed as he watched Caorin leave. This would just be another long day spent waiting for Caorin to come home again. Kissa walked into the living room and plopped onto the coach next to Ryu, who had his head buried in a book. "I’m bored," Kissa said with over exaggerated drama. "Then get a job or help me clean the house," Akumu said with a grin, "Or do you plan to spend the next two years complaining about how bored you are every time Caorin goes to school." "That was my plan," Kissa said with a grin. Akumu laughed then resumed her dish washing. "So, when will you be departing for your job?" Ryu asked, finally looking up from his book. "In a few minutes. It’s great that they gave you off today," Akumu responded. "Yes, I appreciate the break," Ryu said. "I bet you will be missed greatly around the hospital," Akumu said as she finished putting the clean dishes in the cabinet. "Hmm… perhaps," Ryu said, his attention drifting back to his book. "So what do you boys plan on doing today?" Akumu said glancing towards Xeroko and Kissa. "Sleep," Xeroko said with apathy, "Seeing as there is nothing better to do in this damned human world." "I don’t know… maybe I’ll go watch Caorin’s tennis practice," Kissa said gazing off into the distance. "He doesn’t start practice for another couple hours," Akumu replied, "I hope you find some way to occupy your time till then." Kissa continued to gaze off into space for a few more seconds before snapping his attention to Xeroko who returned Kissa’s gaze with disinterest. "Spar me," Kissa said bluntly. "What?!" "Spar me," Kissa repeated firmly. "Sparring you would be like stealing toys from a sleeping baby: stupid, pointless, and a waste of my time." "Well if it’s as easy as you make it out to be then you shouldn’t mind sparring me," Kissa said. "Perhaps you didn’t hear the pointless part," Xeroko replied flatly. "Come on. Please. It’s not like you had anything planned for today… Please. Pretty, pretty please…" Kissa’s begging was cut short by Akumu dropping her arms over his shoulders and kissing him gently on the forehead as she headed towards the door. She grabbed her gun off the coffee table as she passed it and strapped the holster over her black pants. She picked up a variety of knives that were lying next to her gun and started sheathing them beneath her clothing. She grabbed her black jacket and quickly pulled it on causing the gun’s outline to become lost in the shadows, then turned towards the living room. "I should be back early since this case almost promises to be a short one. You two try not to kill each other while I’m gone," she said, glancing at Xeroko and Kissa when she mentioned murder. "Sparring isn’t a half bad idea, it will help keep your skills honed. Even if you are stronger than Kissa you can still use the practice, seeing as the last time you sparred me you lost Xero." Xeroko rolled his eyes at her as she turned back towards the door. "Oh, and Ryu, if you don’t mind, please keep an eye on those two delinquents for me," Akumu said shooting Xeroko a mischievous glare. Ryu glanced up from his book in time to catch Akumu sticking her tongue out at Xeroko, and smiled. "HEY!" Xeroko and Kissa replied together. Akumu just laughed and closed the door behind herself. Chapter 2: Honing Skills As Xeroko and Kissa proceeded to continue their verbal assaults on each other, Ryu sank back into the depths of his book. Eiki jumped on the sofa next to Ryu and started demanding to be pet. With her cries going unnoticed she complied to be happy with curling into a ball on his lap. Ryu dropped one hand and gently stroked her head. Eiki curled into a tighter ball purring with satisfaction. Xeroko finally gave in to Kissa’s begging. They went out to the back of the house to spar causing the noise level in the house to lessen greatly. Hours had gone by before Ryu looked up from his book again. A quick glance at the clock in the living room revealed the time to be only minutes before the start of Caorin’s tennis practice. The boys hadn’t come in from their sparring so Ryu figured he would have to go retrieve them. Regrettably, he set his book aside and pushed Eiki off his lap. As he opened the back door, Eiki pushed past him mewing with discontent at being awoken. Ryu found Xeroko and Kissa passed out next to each under the weeping willow behind the house. Cursing his lack of a camera, Ryu passed for a few moments letting the rare sight absorb into his memory. He walked over to the two sleeping boys and gently tapped Kissa on the shoulder. Kissa turned from Ryu’s touch but continued to doze. Ryu softly called his name. He stirred and turned towards Ryu, but still didn’t open his eyes. Ryu called his name again and Kissa half way opened one of his eyes. "Kissa, wake up. Caorin’s tennis practice is about to take place," Ryu said. Kissa turned his face upwards and blinked the sun out pf his eyes. "Where’s Xero?" Kissa asked sleepily. Ryu pointed beside him and Kissa turned his head towards a still sleeping Xeroko. Kissa grinned mischievously and Ryu, guessing what he was thinking, put his hand on Kissa’s shoulder. "Let him sleep," Ryu said, turning him away from Xeroko. "Killjoy," Kissa said with a frown as Ryu helped him to his feet. "Do you want a ride?" Ryu asked when he had Kissa on his feet. "Um… actually can I borrow your car?" "Are you going to do the same thing with my car that you did with yours?" "No." "Fine," Ryu replied, relinquishing ownership of his car keys, "But I expect it back in one piece."

to be continued...

I would love comments on how to improve or one any errors I haven't noticed yet. The rest of the story is written it just needs to be transfered onto the computer. Any questions you can comment or email me at okaminoshimurexiii@hotmail.com . Thanks.

Fallens' Lullaby

Murder, sings the child, is a group of black winged crows.
Feathers, dark as the soul, desend upon the earth.
Poison, poison
Running through veins so deep.
Poison, poison
Kill the humans so they sleep.
Tainting all that they touch, much like the humans far below.
Feathers, dark as the soul, flutter soft from the sky.
Poison, poison
Ink-colored vengeful snow
Poison, poison
Eraser rain to mortal foes.
Demons, philosophall, are a flock of fallen angels.
Feathers, dark as the soul, scatter sweet from black wings.
Poison, poison
Blood stains the ground still warm.
Poison, poison
Destruction spatters curved horns.
When cicadas cry, no one listens through the silent night.
Feathers, dark as the soul, float on the blood scented winds.
Poison, Poison
Nobody seems to hear.
Poison, poison
Deaf of screaming from their fears
Murder, sings the child, is a group of black-winged crows.
Feathers, dark as the soul, desend upon the earth.
Poison, poison
Running through veins so deep.
Poison, poison
Kill the humans so they sleep.
Wolves and demons sing a death lullaby!
by: Gaara

A Killer's Story

"Murderer" they call me,

"Homicidal freak"

But whan darkness surrounded me,

You were just too weak.

Blood that flows from blades that cut.

The poison drip. The burning touch.

Quickened heart beat; one last sigh.

Just like all the others,

You die!

Rose petals that surround thy grave.

A swirling touch like razor blades.

Darkened liquid stains the ground.

In bloody falls

You go down.

Death! Death! Death! Death!

Destructionous murder.

IT'S DEATH!!

(X4)

Fallen angel.

Blood stained wings.

Black feathers.

Hateful things.

(X4)