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Standard disclaimer: I don’t own the series.
AN: yup. Heh, nothing worth noting here. I’m just putting in an AN because well… every chapter has one, so why leave this one out, yeah?
Oh, and Yuki’s not acting bitchy, she’s just not a morning person. I bet there are many people that can relate to that… heh, I being one of them. My boss actually asked me what was wrong one morning. I was just kinda sitting around before work started and I was kinda spaced out and she walked over and asked me if I was sick or something. My friend that works with me said that I was just not a morning person. That was all that had to be said. Now there’s this little joke with my coworkers asking me if I am still sleeping when we first come in… which is like 7 in the morning. Evil, evil time…
I think you guys will like this chapter. You get to see yet again what another character has been up to and a surprise reunion!
Well, here’s the next chapter. Enjoy!
The loud ringing was the first thing that she heard. She muttered something dark under her breath as she reached out from under the covers and slammed her fist on the alarm clock to silence the damn thing.
The ringing still continued.
Yuki growled as she bolted upright in bed and pushed the covers off her legs. She didn’t even bother to try to straighten out her hair and just stood up and stumbled over to her desk where her telephone was laying.
She picked up the cordless phone and checked to see who the caller was. She let loose a slight groan after she saw who it was and pressed the ‘talk’ button.
“Yeah…” Yuki muttered into the receiver.
“You sound pissed…” the man on the other end of the line said.
“Oh… just got to bed a few hours ago… I think…” Yuki blurted out almost incoherently.
“Hn, really? You do realize that it’s 8 o’clock in the morning, right?”
“Oh… well… right. I can live the rest of my life knowing that you called just to tell me that…” Yuki muttered as she rubbed the left side of he face. “Is that all you wanted or are you trying to annoy me again?”
“Geez, just calling to see how you are doing. I don’t need the third degree.”
“Eight a.m…. are you at work Jin?” Yuki asked. “Cuz seriously, if you are, I am going to kill you. I went to bed at 4 this morning and am very tired. Lot’s o’ work I had to do. Sleepy-sleep is very good. Very good…”
Jin snickered from his end of the line. “No, surprisingly enough, I am off today. Yui’s not, though. She had go to some meeting. So, yeah.”
“Oh… okay. So, um why are you up at eight? You’re usually not seen until the double digits.”
“Well, since I’m off, I…” There was a loud crash. “Hang on,” there was some muffled noise in the background.
“Jin?”
“Oh, right. Sorry about that. Momo was trying to get bread into the toaster. It… didn’t work out well.”
There was another loud crash. Yuki snickered.
“Gotta go?” Yuki asked.
“Yes. Momo just figured out how to project the bread from the toaster.”
“Okay. Bye,” and with that, Yuki hung the phone up.
She happily eyed her unmade bed and grinned. Sleepy time…
Yuki quickly dove back under the covers and pulled the sheets over her head once more. She curled up into a ball and just drifted off into twa-la land…
The phone rang again. Yuki growled and in irritation, threw the covers off once more and stalked over to the phone. She grabbed up the phone and hit the talk button.
“WHAT?!” Yuki growled.
“Something wrong?” the voice of Cyrus spoke from the other end of the line.
“Oh, sorry Cap. Nothing’s wrong. Anything I can do for you?”
“There is someone that wants to meet with you.”
“You know who?”
“Yes. His name is Leon Masters and he said that he would like to meet with you on behalf of Lady Saria la Crosse, Governess of Shevat.”
Yuki blinked. Sari? She hadn’t heard from her in ages. Yuki merely shrugged.
“Um… sure. Okay. Let me get into something presentable and I will be down to the station as soon as I can… wait… what? He wants to go out to dinner??? Okay… oh fine. Alright. I’ll meet him at… okay the Ruby’s. Got it.”
And with that, she hung up. She sighed and started to root through her closet. Ruby’s was one of the most ritzy and expensive places in Wyndia. That meant she actually had to dress decently. Something semi-formal.
Lovely. He had better be paying…
While she could have driven there, her red sports car was in a desperate need for a wash. And a wax. Hell, she needed to have the thing scrapped and get a whole new car. A nice shiny one that didn’t look like it was about to fall apart.
But that was beside the point. The point was, she took a taxi. Walking in high heels was just asking for trouble.
Since Cyrus had called her so freaking early in the morning, Yuki actually had time to get ready for this dinner meeting. She had actually done something with her hair. Her bangs were pushed to the sides of her face and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail that was held back by a couple of crystal clips. She was dressed in a nice, short red strapless dress and was wearing a thin, white jacket over her arms and back. Oh, and let’s not forget the black high heels.
She really hated those high heels.
Normally, she didn’t dress fancy. She didn’t dress fancy at all. It’s not like she had the money to go to fancy restaurant, after all. But this Leon guy wanted to specifically meet at Ruby’s. You just didn’t get any more fancy that that.
It was seven o’clock p.m. when she arrived at the elegant restaurant. She got out of the taxi and walked up to the front door. A young man in uniform smiled slightly at her as he held the door open for her.
She nodded and walked into the main lobby. The maitre'd smiled and walked over to Yuki. Ruby’s itself was famous for the sole fact that it was ran by a world famous Creeping clansman that was best known for his unique dishes that came straight from the Sima Sea.
The maitre’d herself was an elegant Creeping clansman with pale pinkish white skin that was dressed in elegant robes. The maitre'd bowed slightly and then straightened up.
“May I help you?” the woman asked.
“Yes. I am Miyuki Uzuki. I am supposed to be meeting someone here. His name is Leon Masters?”
“Ah, yes. Mr. Masters said that you would be coming shortly,” the maitre'd said as she gestured for Yuki to follow her. Yuki nodded and follower the maitre'd through the dining area to one of the back rooms.
The maitre'd stopped at one of the private rooms and drew back a curtain that was acting as a door to the room. Yuki walked in and stopped dead in her tracks. Her hands gripped her purse until her knuckles turned white. She was very good at keeping a straight face, but this was pushing it.
The man that was sitting at the table stood up and walked over to Yuki and the maitre'd. The man smiled and the maitre'd bowed and left after she told them to call when they were ready to order.
Yuki’s shoulders tensed as the man extended a hand to her. He looked to be in his late 20’s and was very good looking. He had a very regal looking face that was slightly tanned, with dark green eyes and long bluish-black hair that was pulled back in a long ponytail. He was dressed in a fine black three-piece suit. He stood a few feet taller than Yuki.
Yuki was standing face to face with a one Leon Masters, but Yuki knew him by another name.
Instead of taking his hand and shaking it, Yuki quickly snapped open her purse and pulled out one of her infamous daggers. She took a step back and extended her dagger arm at Leon.
“What in the name of all that is sacred and holy are YOU doing here?” Yuki growled.
Leon gave Yuki an amused grin and held out his hands. “Don’t you think that you are overreaching just a tad?” he asked in a smooth voice. Damn, even his voice was regal and elegant, but not without that almost taunting tone.
“Overreaching my ass! Don’t you DARE think that you can fool me! I know EXACTLY who the hell you are!”
Leon placed his hands behind his back. “Please put the knife away. I am not going to harm you, Ms. Uzuki. If I was, you would have already been escorted out of here in a body bag.”
“You, you are a very sick man…” Yuki grumbled as she placed her dagger back in her purse.
“I though that ladies carried pepper spray,” Leon mused as he waited for Yuki to sit down. She begrudgingly did and he soon after sat down himself.
“You can never be too careful,” Yuki said coolly.
“Of course,” Leon said. “So, I see that Mr. Johnston relayed my message.”
“If I had known it was you, I would have never come,” Yuki said. “So, why did you want to meet with me… and why did you say that it was Saria la Crosse that sent you?”
“Because,” Leon said as he picked up a menu and started scanning it. “It was indeed Lady Saria that sent me to find you. You see, she needs your help, but cannot alert Dragnier to what she is doing.”
Yuki tapped her pointer finger on the table. “Sure. But… WHY are you here in behalf of Sari?”
“I am one of her personal protectors,” Leon said like it was the simplest thing in the world.
“How the hell did that happen?” Yuki muttered. “Last time I saw you, you were trying to kill us… tell me Demus, how did that happen?”
Leon smiled slightly. “Demus is dead. He died the moment he killed Ryu. As for why I am in the service of Lady Saria, it is merely because she is a person of infinite mercy.”
“I can see that,” Yuki said. “Sari was always too nice for her own good.”
“Indeed,” Leon said. “But she is also a person of great power.”
“True.”
“Yes, I believe that an explanation is in order. You see, after the incident at Angel Tower, Salla tried to take me back to Dragnier. But the problem was Legence. I do not know how he convinced the king, but the king declared Salla and I traitors and tried to kill us. I was in no condition to fight, let alone move, so Salla had to flee once more. We eventually sought refuge in Shevat. At the time, it was ruled by Lord la Crosse, Lady Saria’s father. He granted us sanctuary and I do believe he might have been killed for it, too. I have never been sure.”
Yuki nodded. She wasn’t sure what to believe. Salla, she might have believed that story from, especially after what Jin had told her about the woman. But Demus… Leon? She wasn’t so sure. After all, he had no problem trying to kill them.
“After Saria came to Shevat, Salla and I decided to protect her with our lives. After all, they helped us when we needed it the most. During that time, I reflected back on a lot of things that I had done. I made terrible mistakes. It…” Leon paused. “It was because of me that Ryu and Queen Valerie became infected with Cymoison.”
Yuki gritted her teeth. “What?”
“That is to say, I know the one that infected them with the virus. I let him past the gates and right into the heart of the palace. And he infected them.”
“Who is it?” Yuki grumbled, eyeing her purse once more.
“You mean who WAS it. The man is no longer among the living. His name was Briet, but you knew him better as the Seeker.”
“What?!” Yuki almost yelled. She checked herself. “What?”
“I… don’t know what his aim was. I just wanted Ryu out of the way. I wanted him dead. I know that nothing can ever change what I did, and I do not expect forgiveness. Not from you, not from Ryu. But…”
“Get on with it,” Yuki snapped.
“Lady la Crosse has come upon something very interesting. She might have found a way to cure Cymoison.”
“What?” Yuki almost jumped out of her chair, but it was not from anger. “How?”
“A blood sample from Saria holds the key to create an antidote. There are some other ingredients, but with her, we have the main one. Well, at least that’s what Aaron the Wise’s notebook said.”
“Aaron’s research,” Yuki said. “What, how…?”
“I do not know. She did not tell me. What she did tell me was to find you… and ask you for your help.”
“In what?” Yuki asked.
“She asked that you help me find Ryu. We believe that he is still alive, but we do not know how to find him.”
“And… what makes you guys think that I can find him?”
“Your powers to locate people,” Leon said. Yuki gave Leon a surprised look. “Yes, Lady Saria knows about that power. Please, help us. If not for me, then for Lady Saria.”
“Jin…” Yuki said. “Jin could do that…”
Leon shook his head. “No, you were the one that had the bond with Ryu, not your brother. Only you can find him.”
Yuki numbly nodded. “I see… can you give me time to think about this? I don’t exactly trust you…”
Leon nodded. “I understand. So, what would you like to order?”
Yuki gave the man an evil smile. “Oh, you’re paying, right?”
Leon nodded. He didn’t like where this was heading.
The main idea was to try to head out of the Wyndian Region and to some place that didn’t want to kill him. Unfortunately, blue hair was kind of a dead giveaway to his identity.
So, Siegfreid was force to remain in Wyndia until the Rangers stopped looking for him. Or the Taobashi Thieves Guild. Whichever came first.
Also, there was that little problem about not having any money. Since he was unable to snag the bounty of Jaclyn’s head, he didn’t get paid. And since the Rangers were looking for him, he’s had to lay low.
Ladon must have it out for him.
He didn’t know what had estranged him from the Dragon God. Well, he kind of did. He was more or less bitter about what had happened in his life. He had never wanted anything to like the way it did, but life has a funny way of screwing with a person.
So, he learned to lie low, to become one with the shadows. No one was going to help him. His family tried to kill him and his god abandoned him. As for his friends…
He had meant what he said about not wanting to burden them or place them in danger anymore.
So, for the life of him he could not figure out why he was currently wandering the streets of Wyndia. He knew that if he was stopped, he was a dead man walking. So, he donned on a brownish red cloak that had a high collar and a hood that hid his face and semi-spiked hair.
He still kept his sword strapped to his back, though.
He looked like some kind of phantom wandering the streets of Wyndia at twilight. He didn’t pay any mind as he walked and pushed past various people who were in a hurry to get home or where ever they were heading.
He really didn’t care anymore.
He was so wrapped up in his musings, that he didn’t notice the shadows behind him. Jaclyn emerged from the shadows and with one quick thrust from her sword, impaled Siegfreid in the midsection.
The man howled in pain as Jaclyn quickly withdrew the blade. She smiled as her henchmen came from out of the shadows.
“Well, Mr. Griffith, I do believe this is where we part ways.”
Her two Builders grabbed him up by his arms and the Highlander took out his daggers and started to turn Siegfreid into a human pincushion. With every blow to his torso, he screamed out more.
Jaclyn laughed as she drew her sword once more and stabbed him in the heart. Siegfreid roared in pain and anger. His eyes flashed red. Jaclyn never saw it coming.
Dinner had been mildly entertaining. She hated to admit it, but Leon had actually been a pretty good date. She still wanted to castrate him for what he did, but then Sari might get on her for that.
And she didn’t want an international incident.
Heh…
Leon said that he no longer was Demus, prince of the Brood. So, she opted to call him Leon. Apparently, Salla kept her name. The world at large thought them both to be dead. In Leon’s case, Demus WAS dead. The name was associated with a lot of crappy memories. She never once thought that she would actually sit at a table and have a civil conversation with the man that tried to kill her and her friends.
But, if what he said was true, then they could cure Ryu. They just needed to find him. One thing that Leon had said that worried Yuki was what he thought Gideon was up to. Leon himself didn’t know why Gideon had ordered the destruction of Lahan, but he had a theory it had something to do with the Link Experiments.
The damned thing had cost her mother her life. If Jin hadn’t come, she would have been dead as well. She didn’t blame her brother for their mother’s death. On the contrary, that was why she hated Dragons so much. That red dragon had killed her mother.
Leon wanted to challenge Gideon for the throne, then give it over to Ryu. It would not make up for all the things he had done to the boy, but it was a start in the right direction…
Yuki grabbed her head as a sheering white-hot pain laced through her skull. She stumbled around and ended up near what appeared to be a deserted alleyway. She blinked when she thought she saw a small, transparent redheaded girl in a white dress.
“Mary…?” Yuki questioned. She blinked again, but the image was gone. She walked over to the alleyway and looked around.
Lying on the ground in pools of blood, were the dead bodies of a young woman with blonde hair, two adult male Builders, and a male Highlander. Staggering around them was a man with glowing red eyes, who was wearing a bloody cloak
The man’s head jerked up and he spotted Yuki. Yuki took a step back, almost wishing she had taken Leon up on his offer for a ride home. The young man staggered forward a little and the hood dropped off. The man’s eyes changed color.
Short, spiked blue hair that fell into the man’s eyes, tan skin, bright green eyes…
Yuki shook her head in amazement. “Ryu…?”
The man stopped in his tracks as his eyes glazed over. He stumbled forward and started to fall. Yuki dashed forward and caught the young man before he fell. Yuki fell to her knees, not used to supporting someone that was heavier than her. The man’s eyes were closed and his breathing was ragged. Yuki noticed the multiple stab marks all over his body.
Yuki’s head snapped up as she heard sirens. The Rangers would soon be there and they would be asking too many questions for her liking. She had no idea what exactly was going on, so she did the only thing she could.
She wrapped her arms around the young man and teleported with him back to her apartment.
After all, this was how her adventure with Ryu had started before, so why not again?
Siegfreid moaned as he slowly regained consciousness. He tried to remember what happened, but failed to do so. He must have Raged again. Whenever his life was threatened, his Brood powers would take over and force him to transform in order to defend himself.
He remembered Jaclyn and her goons attacking him… then nothing.
He groaned as he sat up and realized two things. One, he was just wearing his pants. Two, his upper torso was a patchwork of bandages and gauze. He turned around and tried to figure out where he was.
A picture on the desk in the room caught his eye. It was of a young girl with green hair smiling sweetly, another young girl with brown hair looking pissed off, and a young boy with blue hair looking surprised.
He blinked and looked down at the bed. That was the picture that…
He was pulled out of his musing by the bedroom door clicking open. He looked up as his apparent savior walked in. Dressed in a small bathrobe, tall, shoulder length brown hair, sharp green eyes, the Ranger’s badge hanging around her neck…
“Oh god…” Siegfreid muttered as he shook his head and placed his face in his hands.
“Nice way to thank the person that saved your life,” Yuki smirked. She placed her hands on her hips. “What? No thank you?”
“You…” Siegfreid said weakly. “You’re a Ranger…”
“Yup,” Yuki said. “Don’t worry, I won’t arrest you,” She eyed the scar on his face. “So, I take it you are Siegfreid Griffith, Mr. Notorious Bounty Hunter?”
Siegfreid nodded weakly. Yuki grinned and took out the Dragon’s Tear. “Care you explain how you had this on your person?”
Siegfreid could say nothing. No matter what he said, he was going to get fried.
Yuki smiled and walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge. She took his hand and placed the Tear in the palm of his hand. The stone flashed rainbow colors.
“Please, tell me the truth, okay?” Yuki said as she looked at Siegfreid. “Are you Ryu?”
Siegfreid stared back at Yuki for what felt like an eternity. Finally, he answered. “What will you do if I answer that question?”
Yuki blinked. “It depends on how you answer,” Yuki grinned in a way that made him feel slightly uncomfortable.
“It would appear that you haven’t changed all that much. Still as scary as ever,” Siegfreid chuckled. “Though for some reason, I thought you’d have a bigger rack on you than what you do. You’re what? A B cup?”
Yuki turned red slightly. She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. “What… what does that have to do with my question?”
Siegfreid shrugged. He winced in pain. “Nothing really. Just an observation.”
Yuki scowled, then chuckled. “I could say something about you, but I think I’ll be nice.”
With that comment, Siegfreid shifted uncomfortably. “Wait… you didn’t… did you?”
Yuki grinned all knowingly. “I’ll never tell.”
Siegfreid coughed. “Hum, right. Well… to answer your question…”
“Go on.”
“Heh… never thought you’d be the one to find me… fine. Yes, I am Ryu.”
Yuki nodded. She smiled, then smacked Siegfreid upside the head with the palm of her hand.
“What was that for?!”
“For being an asshole!” Yuki sniffed. She rubbed her eyes then smiled. “For the record, I am a C cup. So, just what HAVE you been up to the past ten years?”
Siegfreid… Ryu smiled. “Oh where, oh where to begin. Let’s see…”
To be continued…