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Standard disclaimer: I don't own the series.
AN: Well, the party managed to get a Goddess Key. But before that, they had to fight another Destined... this one who may or may not be working for Gideon. With the key in hand, the party makes their way back to Rosethrone.
This is another chapter that I just didn’t like the flow of. I mean, it’s an okay chapter… but all well. I’ll let you guys tell me if its okay or not. (smiley) Well, I did kinda edit the chapter a little. I hope it’s okay.
Here are the reviews!
Anime Monkey: Hee, you get to find out this chapter what Rekks is doing. Hee… Ah, I was a little worried about the talk. Glad it came out okay. My very own sister loves to make me squirm with situtations like that. By the way, during THOSE conversations, I’m Nina… Anyway, just remember that at the end of this chapter, Momo is with the prof. Ether Drive… heh. That will be explained shortly.
Nina Windia: You ended up being my 100 reviewer after all!!!! It’s funny that my first reviewer ended up being my 100th! Hee, anyway, about Wyatt… he’s definitly not dead, but he’s not uh… human either. Dark Red means that they want Ryu to die. Black means demon. Dragon-tear.net has a color chart somewhere on their site. Rekks wanted to hurt them.
Hee, that’s what I was aiming for! The queen does have an odd name. Hehe! Um… okay, I will admit, I was using Word’s thesaurus when coming up with that name. Eh, shoulda just named her “river” or something. Right? Lol
Opps! Sorry about the confusion. Hee… about the robot and the professor… think he’s just another random crazy guy? Remember, old guys need a hobby… heheh…
Rogue Kaiser: Ello! Yup, at least they get to keep this key, though. Oh yes, Wyatt gets skewered. Yup, Jin does come in handy. Hee! I love Yuki and Nina’s conversations. And they just keep getting funner and funner.
Lord Kain: Hello!!! Glad you liked the sex talk. Heehee. Ah, really? That would be interesting… ehehe! I think I might have to do that!
Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
The trip back to Rosethrone was rather uneventful. Getting out of the trap-infested shrine was a whole other matter. Fortunately, Ryu, Jin, and Yuki were on the case and managed to bypass the entire setup. Nina found out that Ryu had trained with a thief named Karn during his ten-year absence. She also found out that Yuki had trained with Jin; that was how she knew how to disarm magical traps.
When she asked who taught Jin how to disarm traps, he merely grinned and told her that was a secret.
Wordlessly, the group made their way to the throne room and explained the situation to the queen. The queen was speechless. She told them she had no idea that Rekks would betray them like that. What was worse, he had managed to get away. The queen said that she would strengthen the palace security.
Jin did voice his opinion that Rekks probably would not come back to Rosethrone for a while. He was only interested in protecting Harmony after all.
They thanked the queen for allowing them to get the Earth Key and she thanked them for telling her about Rekks’ betrayal.
Before the party headed back to Crete, Wyatt explained that he wanted to make one, quick stop.
It was a few minutes later that he stood face to face with Harmony. Wyatt learned within the last few hours why Harmony sat in a wheel chair when her legs worked just fine. It was Rekks’ way of keeping her safe. She couldn’t see where to go, so he would guide her in where she wanted or needed to go.
When Wyatt went to see Harmony, however, she was standing in the middle of the room.
“I know about what happened to Rekks,” Harmony said sadly. “He was only trying to protect me. But… that desire was misplaced.”
“I have a question for you,” Wyatt asked the blind girl.
“Yes?” Harmony asked.
“Do… you know what I am?” Wyatt muttered.
“No,” Harmony said. “I just know that you do not radiate a lifeforce. I cannot understand why.”
Wyatt merely nodded. “I see.”
Wyatt turned to go, but Harmony walked over and grabbed his wrist. Wyatt turned around and looked down at the small girl.
“Just because I cannot sense you, does not mean you are any less real,” Harmony said as she let go of Wyatt’s arm.
Wyatt let out a small noise and nodded. “I’ll see you around…”
And with that, Wyatt walked out of the room.
Rekks knew that he had failed. He had failed to get the key. He failed to kill Ryu and his companions when he had the chance. He failed his master. But worse of all, he failed to protect Harmony.
The girl was like a child to the Shell clanner. He had taken care of her since she was a newborn baby. It had been his calling to protect the Avatar of Namanda, after all. He felt honored and like he had a reason for living when he found out he would protect Harmony.
All that changed when he received a threat from an unknown force that if he didn’t assist them, Harmony was as good as dead.
He met with the person who sent him the note. He explained to him that he had a higher calling than just being the pet dog of some little girl. Rekks was a Destined, a chosen of Ladon himself. He was meant to do wondrous things.
Then Rekks was shown was he was meant to do. Ryu and his companions would kill Harmony in order to get her powers as an Avatar. If he would assist this man, he would be given power beyond any mere mortal. He would be given the powers of a god.
And so, in order to protect Harmony, he joined this mysterious man. He was welcomed as a Holy Sword of the King of Dragnier. He would be one of Gideon’s personal knights. In return, Rekks was to get the Earth Key from Ryu when he came there to claim it for himself.
For the greater good, the man had said. Ryu would destroy the world when he fought with the Goddess Myria. Rekks would not allow that to happen.
But, he had failed to retrieve the Earth Key. And worse of all, he failed to protect Harmony.
Now what was he supposed to do?
In a flash of light, the group appeared on the outskirts of Crete. Jin turned around to his younger companions and gave them a small grin. He explained that he had to get back home. He told them to come by his house before they left. And with that, Jin walked off into the city.
The foursome headed back into the city. Ryu cringed. He felt that something was out of place, but was not able to say what. He looked at Nina and Yuki, who seemed to voice similar reactions. Wyatt just looked at the group like they had gone made.
Wyatt. Nina had noticed that he had seemed really quiet after the fight with Rekks. She didn’t know why, but he had only allowed Jin to approach him during the time he had been hurt. Nina knew there was something different about the boy, she just didn’t know what. Hopefully, whatever it was, she would be able to help him.
Yuki turned to her companions and smiled slightly. “Hey, I say we go somewhere and discuss our next move.”
Wyatt grinned. “What about a restaurant? I am starving!”
Ryu nodded in agreement. “Yeah, yeah! I am starving!”
“Is that all you men think about? Your stomachs?” Yuki asked. Her stomach growling cut her off. “Eh, that sounds like a good idea!”
Nina merely shook her head. “So, where are we going to eat…?”
Nina looked around in surprise. The air was starting to get very hot. Nina squirmed slightly. “Something’s not right…”
Yuki shook her head. “Yeah, I can feel it too…” Yuki suddenly twitched and grabbed her head. “Ah… something’s…. here… Wyatt!”
Wyatt looked at Yuki. Wyatt blinked and jerked around. He didn’t know what Yuki and Nina were so stressed about. He couldn’t see anything unusual around him. He turned back around and was about to say as much, when he saw Ryu jerk violently. Ryu grabbed his head in pain and fought back a scream.
“Ah…” Yuki muttered as she shook her head. “Nh…! Show yourself!” Yuki screamed as she withdrew her short swords.
Nina ran over to Ryu and helped him stand. She laced one arm around him for support and the other was held out and holding her staff.
Wyatt shrugged and withdrew his guns from their holster. He tried to focus on what Yuki and the others were looking at, but for the life of him, he just couldn’t. He didn’t have to wait long, however. Before he could even react, dark shadows raced towards them.
The shadows converged onto the foursome. Yuki and Nina tried to make the correct hand signs, but the shadows were just too fast. Wyatt closed his eyes, trying to brace himself for whatever would come, but nothing ever happened.
A bright, blinding light forced the shadows to vanish. The grateful party looked for their savior and nearly yelled in surprise.
Standing before them, holding a staff that had what appeared to be a trinity knot with a blue stone on top of it, was none other than a really annoyed looking Manna Sphere. The woman grimaced when she saw Ryu. Ryu grinned sheepishly as he wormed his way out of Nina’s hold and cautiously walked over to the mage.
“Um, thank you?” Ryu said.
Manna merely shook her head. “Why is it that where ever I go, you are there and are causing some kind of trouble for me?”
Ryu frowned. “Hey, what are you doing here anyways?”
Manna tapped her staff on the ground. “I was in the process of relocating, when I saw you guys in trouble,” Manna turned her attention to Yuki. “Why are shouzen after you?”
“Um… what?”
“Summoned shadows,” Manna explained. “Only one that is in league with the Underworld would be able to summon them…” Manna looked up. “The person that is controlling them is on the other side of town. They are looking for something…”
“Okay, then why attack us?” Wyatt grumbled.
“They go after anyone who is spiritually aware,” Manna explained. “I guess that those girls have some kind of special powers and that attracted the shadows to them.”
Yuki and Nina grimaced. “This isn’t the first time that I saw them,” Nina said. Yuki nodded in agreement.
“In any case, it appears like I am never going to get any peace as long as you people are running around. You seem to be following me, because where ever I go, you are there,” Manna shook her head. “Okay, what is your little mission?”
“Eh, we are collecting the Goddess Keys,” Ryu said.
“Oh, for the love of…” Manna muttered darkly. She looked up at the sky and growled. “Okay, who did I piss off this time?”
“Um… Manna?” Ryu asked.
Manna glared at Ryu. Ryu immediately shut his mouth. Manna sighed and looked at the party. “I am never going to get a moments peace as long as you are running around. Very well then, I will help you on your quest so I can finally get you out of my hair.”
“Uh… what?!” Ryu gulped.
“Cool beans!” Yuki giggled.
Manna merely raised her eyebrow at Yuki. “O-kay…”
Nina sighed and walked over to Manna. “Overlook her. She’s a few fries short of a Happy Meal.”
Manna only nodded. She then turned her attention back the to the group. “First of all, we need to find out who summoned those shadows and take them down. Or otherwise, they will just keep coming to those girls.”
“Um, we’re Yuki and Nina,” Yuki explained.
“Okay, sure. Whatever.”
Yuki placed her arms behind her back. “The question is, where is the person summoning from…?” Yuki closed her eyes. “What?! Oh no!”
“Yuki?” Wyatt asked.
“They’re at Jin’s house!” Yuki said as she opened her eyes. “They must be after Jin!”
“Jin…?” Manna asked. “As in Jin Uzuki?”
“Um, yeah?”
Manna shook her head. “Oh, now it makes perfect sense…” Manna muttered darkly.
“Um, huh?”
“Let’s go before that moron manages to get himself killed,” Manna said.
Jin frowned when he approached his house. Something just didn’t seem right. Jin’s eyes widened slightly when he noticed the shadows flickering wildly around his yard. A white-hot pain suddenly ripped through Jin’s mind. Jin bit back a yell and ran into the house.
Jin readied his sword and opened the door. He looked around, but he couldn’t sense Yui or Momo. He searched through each room, but he was unable to find his wife or daughter.
It was when he finally came to his and Yui’s bedroom, when he finally sensed Yui. He gritted his teeth. He also sensed something else in the room with Yui. Jin slowly walked up to the door and grabbed hold of the knob. He turned it and opened the door. He walked in and nearly bum rushed the man in the room.
Legence smiled as he turned around to face Jin. Kneeling beside of Legence was Yui, who appeared to be in some sort of trance. Jin started to take a step forward, but Legence held his hand out to stop Jin. He smiled when Jin froze in place, his sword down at his side.
“Imagine my surprise when I discovered that you were still alive,” Legence said. Jin merely glared at him. “Oh, no smart-ass remark about how you will vanquish me?”
“Leave Yui out of this…” Jin growled through gritted teeth. “This is between us.”
“Oh, but you see, I cannot simply leave her out of his,” Jin did not like how Legence’s smile just kept growing. “She is, after all, the one I am here to retrieve. You know how Gideon can be sometimes.”
“So, you really are working for Gideon…” Jin muttered. “Or is he working for you?”
Legence smiled as he knelt down and caressed Yui’s hair. Jin’s eye’s narrowed and his grip on his katana tightened. “Just think that if you had just been here, then I would have never been able to break the protection on your house and get this close. But you just had to play the hero again, didn’t you?”
Jin made a move, but Legence’s hand was around Yui’s throat in a matter of seconds. “One more move and I will crush her windpipe. I doubt that you would be able to heal that, especially after you gave all of your healing abilities to that whelp.”
“Where is the child?” Jin growled.
“Oh… oh! Yes, the little girl… I had a shadow dispose of her…”
Jin growled and lunged at Legence. Legence smiled and threw Yui to the side and blocked Jin’s attack. He twisted Jin’s wrist and then effortlessly sent the man flying. Jin yelled in pain as he fit the wall. He twitched slightly, but forced himself back onto his feet.
Legence made a move towards Jin, but was stopped in mid step when Yuki appeared in a plume of light and made a slash as Legence with her short swords. Legence growled and jumped back, but Yuki’s fist made contact with his forearm.
Yuki yelled. There were images that flashed through her mind a lightning speed, but she was not able to hold onto any of them. The only thing that stood out was a name.
“Nunnally…?” Yuki mumbled. “Who’s that…?”
Legence yelled and jerked back. The girl had read his mind?! His eyes narrowed. She was going to be trouble for him later. He jerked around and spotted Ryu and Wyatt. So the little boy was there too? His attention then turned to Nina. Legence smiled. SHE was there as well. He finally spotted Manna in the doorway and frowned. That mage was with them as well.
“It appears that I have overstayed my welcome!” Legence grinned. He grabbed Yui’s wrist and before anyone could react, he vanished with her in a plume of dark light.
Jin growled and stood up. Yuki ran over to Jin and tried to reach out for him, but he gently pushed her away. Manna cleared her throat, causing the others to turn their attention to her.
“Jin,” Manna finally said. “I see that you are still attracting trouble like a lightning rod. Now I know where Ryu gets it.”
Jin looked at Manna and nodded. “As good as it is to see you again Manna, I am not in the joking mood.”
Manna sighed. “I guess not. That woman is your wife, correct?”
Jin nodded as he shook slightly. He closed his eyes. “Yes… and now that bastard has her and…”
“So… Legence kidnapped Jin’s wife,” she turned her attention to Jin. “Any reason why?”
Jin shook his head no. “I do not know. If he wanted revenge… he could have just settled it with me… Why drag Yui into it?”
Yuki grimaced. “Who’s Nunnally? Anyone know that name?”
Ryu shook his head. “It sounds familiar, but I can’t place it. Anyway… we know that Legence is somehow connected with the demons and the ones that are collecting the Goddess Keys. If we keep collecting the Keys, then we are bound to find Legence eventually.”
Jin frowned. “I will go to Dragnier myself and drag his sorry…” Jin started to say, but was cut off by Manna.
“Storm Dragnier and you will be shuffling off the mortal coil sooner than you think,” Manna said. “Gideon will have you killed on sight. That’s what Legence’s wants. He’s baiting you with Yui.”
“Did we miss the memo or something?” Wyatt asked. “Because I am so totally confused.”
“I’ll explain later,” Jin said darkly. Jin closed his eyes. “In any case, we need to find the next Key. There are rumors of there being a Key in the Sea of Trees. If anything else, the Yggdrasil can help us make our next move.”
To be continued…