Seishu rolls his eyes when Enasi leans down to hug him, the little ripples of happy not bothering him very much despite his weakened state. His words sooth the fallen guardian and he lets out a sigh as he sits back. He simply stares at his counterpart for a long minute, his minions above shifting side to side in the air as they wait to be addressed. They have no problem waiting, because they know Master Seishu will not forget about them. The guardian himself slowly lifts his hand, the pain thrumming through his system but his will driving his actions. He manages to get his hand over Enasi's and with a little wiggling, slides his fingers between the other's. Their Yin and Yang symbols seem to react to the action of being brought so close together and Seishu lets out a sigh as his Yin begins turning slowly. It doesn't help the pain, but he notices as he looks at it that it's growing stronger. 'I didn't even notice it had faded so badly. It must have happened when Lillium hit me. . .'
Letting out another sigh he closes his eyes and lets a combination of the energy flowing off of Enasi and the cool mountain air sooth his throat. When at last he feels he can speak without croaking he open his eyes once more an directs his gaze to the airborne twin. “Filo, Feena, report.” His voice is soft but full of the authority they grew up with and with giggling sobs the both come to rest on their knees on the opposite side of him than Enasi. They both reach out and take up his other hand, kissing it gently before just holding it tight between them.
“The resistance is strong, and we've managed to hide well. A lot of our number are still in Gin's good graces so we have a free flow of information from our undercovers.” the girl Feena reports, her voice wavering only slightly. “All the underage minions have been evacuated, not that Gin even seems to care that they are gone. He says that all he needs right now are strong fighters, children can come later.” Nightmare Realm children are raised communally in the palace. The parents have no real parenting instincts so it's better that way.
“Gin is a fool. His arrogance makes him think that just because someone are loyal to you that there is no way that they would submit to following his orders.” Filo adds, swallowing hard. “But we are smarter than that. He knows we are not all completely loyal to him, but he blames it on the fact that he has as of yet to bare your symbol fully.” At this they both glance at the interlaced hands, then to one another, carefully avoiding looking into Enasi's eyes.
Seishu nods, the energy flowing into him on both sides suppressing his pain to the point that he feels ready to try and sit up. However he decides first to send the little ones home. He can not stand them seeing him like this, and he feels mortified at the thought of them seeing him whimper his way to his feet. Sliding his hand up he brushes his fingers first across Feena's cheek, then Filo's. They let out twin sighs, dropping their hands to their laps as their eyes slide close. “Stay strong little ones.” At his words their eyes snap back open to gaze into his steely gaze. “Keep the young ones safe, like you always have, and tell Kaila when you see him that if he doesn't survive this I'ma kick his ass, got it?”
Wide smiles break across their faces and even as new tears spring into their eyes they nod rapidly and stand. They both raise a single hand up and with a hum a portal appears a few feet both their heads. At last they look together to the Dream guardian, their tear streaked faces becoming very serious. They say not a word, but the message in their eyes is very clear. “Take care of him, or else.”
Jumping slightly they are soon airborne and with a dark flash they are gone, the portal closing behind them. As soon as the dark swirling mass vanished Seishu lets out a long groan of pain, but at this point it's more out of need to release some tension than actually expressing pain. Looking back to Enasi he huffs and raises an eyebrow. “I need a few more minutes flufflord, so could you take the time to fill me in on what happened after my ass was laid out?”
_+_+_+_+_+_+_
Casting one last glance at the lump beneath the covers Crios stands and walks out of the room to let him have some time to himself. He snags Harper's shirt as he passes, signaling that he should leave Rue be too. Harper hesitates, having a few choice words for the little minion, but the look in Crios's eye tells him that he should follow. Once out into the hall he pauses, bringing the rabbit man up short as well. Harper gives the doctor a questioning look and with a bit of hesitation Crios tells him what Rue had done. Harper blinks in shock, his head snapping around to look at the open doorway leading to the distraught minion. Crios crosses his arms and leans against the wall. “One could always argue that it's Seishu's influence that made him do it.” he comments, drawing the rabbit man's attention back to his thoughtful face.
Harper nods in agreement, a low level of anger starting up once more, but before he can say anything Crios continues. “But on the flip side I can not see it as a bad thing.” He looks up into Harper's dark eyes. “He's right, we have no discipline here. Most in the palace have a level of respect for Lord Enasi, but let's face it, those doctors were just the first of many who are ready to try for the life of Night at the slightest provocation. Even an direct order from Lord Enasi will not keep them at bay, because we've never had a reason to take such orders as law.” He holds up a hand to forestall any objections from the long eared male as he grows more and more agitated. “I'm not saying it as a bad thing. The way Lord Enasi runs things is perfect for this realm, but what we are dealing with here is not of this realm so I think it's time to face facts and do something about it.”
Harper tenses and relaxes over and over, trying hard to find an objection he can raise that would have an validity behind it. His fists come up, curling and uncurling as the conflict inside him battles the things he knows are true until at last they fall limply to his sides. He lets out a long sigh, looking over at Crios with droopy ears and a defeated look on his furry face. Crios gives him a sympathetic look, arms crossed over his chest as he lets out a sigh of his own as almost and echo if Harper's. “So what do you suggest? What do we need, to keep our realm from falling down around out ears? To keep out people from becoming murderers. . .”
Crios shakes his head, opening his mouth to say he has no idea, but at that precise moment a voice calls out from the open doorway causing them both to snap their heads around to the noise. “We need a team.” The voice is that of Rue, half his face sticking out from behind the door frame. They both seem stunned into silence, not comprehending what he means. He takes a breath, shoring up his courage to speak not only after what he did today, but to those who have never really taken his seriously. “Mister Seishu says that for special circumstances he would make special teams of those most suited to the special task. Since what's going on is something that most of us here have no experience with and for the most part has turned the realm on it's head to a degree, I'd say this is a special circumstance.” He pauses, knowing that a lot of people have issues when he talks to quickly. Taking a calming breath he hums slightly before continuing. “We need more like me, and you guys. We need those note automatically afraid of him and who are willing to, as Seishu puts it, “Put up with his bull crap”. You know what I mean? If we can get enough like that around him we can keep him safe, and keep incident to a minimum, making it so he can get out of the realm faster rather than using his energy to keep himself alive, y'know?”
Crios and Harper slowly seem to comprehend just what the boy is driving at as he speaks. Harper thinks back to when the two had returned from earth. 'Most of the search party stayed by the doorway but Cho rushed forward without hesitation beside Crios. He didn't even spare Seishu a glance, he just focused on Lord Enasi' He nods his head slowly, looking to Crios to see if he also agrees.
The doctor chews his bottom lip gently in thought, his pointed canine sticking out from beneath his top lip. After a few seconds however he nods. “I don't see a problem with the idea, but we should run it by Lord Enasi first before implementing it. I'll begin a subtle search for likely candidates for the team while I treat the injured. I'm sure some of those willing to fight side-by-side with the nightmare minions have some potential.” Harper nods in agreement and looks over at Rue while the fox man heads off down the hall to the rest of those who require his attention.
Rue still looks very fearful, but the corner of his mouth is turned up ever so slightly at the thought of them taking his idea seriously. Harper waves with a shooing motion mumbling, “Better get back to bed before Crios gives you another little reminder to do as your told.” Rue's eyelids droop a little and his smile widens slightly before he vanishes around the corner. Harper huffs and turns, following the path Crios took to the main hall which is slowly being cleared of the injured as they are all brought to the infirmary. Moving past a few of his men he hands out a few more pats on the back before settling himself in front of the portal to wait for his lord's return.
PopeAlessandros Member
- Last Seen: 3 mos ago
- Joined: 12 yrs ago
- Posts: 2643 (0.58 / day)
- VMs: 0
-
Username history
- PopeAlessandros 12 yrs ago
-
Latest 10 profile visitors:
-
Most recent →
tenebrae16,
Pascal
Status
User has no status, yet
Bio
User has no bio, yet
Most Recent Posts
Making short work of the hunk of meat Rei is soon licking his fingers clean, drying them on the clean parts of the cloth in his lap. Moments later he stiffens, feeling the prince moving to his door. Sliding off the bed and directly into the boots he's made ready earlier that morning he takes only a moment to adjust them on his feet before striding quickly over to the door. 'By his speed he does not plan on stopping' Without a thought he pulls the door open bare moments after the prince passes and almost as if it's the most natural thing in the world he begins trailing a fair distance behind the taller male, the door swinging closed with s small click behind him. His boots are uncomfortably loud to his ears but years of practice walking softly makes his steps nearly silent to the duller human sense of hearing. Despite the wig Rei finds the man before him very recognizable. Something about the way he moves and the way he holds himself screams that he is none other than a prince on the edge.
At the bottom of the stairs he spares a glance at the gathered lords and ladies at the other end of the hall. Most do not even seem to notice the prince's passing, but one girl looks to him with a sad expression on her face. Before he looks away he sees her gaze shift and for a brief moment their eyes meet. Rei can not read the expression behind her gaze as he passes along behind the young royal, but something about it causes him to make a note in his head to get to know more about her. 'I have the distinct impression she may be related to him' Unable to confirm his suspicion at the moment, the concentration and time it would take to send out his magic to check would have him falling too far behind his charge. As it is the prince seems intent on not being seen, moving through the area like a shadow behind the servants until at last he moves outside.
When he vanishes into the light Rei quickens his pace, the sound of his boots bothering him, but other than the servants already looking after the prince none seem to notice him passing by. Once outside he slows again, not sure how close his ward wants him to be. A few guards on the wall look down at him, but he pays them no mind. Even this early in the morning he can already feel the air warming with the sun, still not very high in the sky. 'This will most likely be the extent of my connection to nature for a while, plus the gardens on the grounds. I wonder if a part of me will crave the nature it's grown accustom to' As they move to the stables Rei takes the opportunity to once more stretch his boots a bit, curling and uncurling his toes with each step. The motion is unnoticeable, and the only difference it makes in his stride is a slightly slowed pace.
At the stable door he stops. Even at that distance, all the beasts inside seem to become a little edgy. He watches a large black horse shake off a stable boy trying to get his harness fixed properly. 'This may be a good time to tell the prince about how animals feel about me' Looking over to where the young man is he finds himself curious about his the animal at his hands is acting. The young filly doesn't seem bothered by Rei at all, nickering happily while the Alessandro feeds her an apple. Something like this has happened only a few times in his life. Some animals that are different from most. For some ineffable reason they don't seem to be bothered by him. 'If the prince is to ride, I would say that one would be best. There is no telling what would happen if he mounted a horse with me around. At a safe distance they are unaffected, but I would have to travel a little closer than that to do my job properly'
Risking setting off the entire barn Rei moves across the straw strewn floor to the young lord's side. The filly looks to him, shaking her head before reaching out to nibble at his shirt in an effort to find more treats. Around them the other horses begin snorting and stomping, a few kicking out at their stall walls. Raising his voice about the din he looks up at the prince. “Most animals do not like me, so if you are planning on riding today I would ask you use this one. She does not seem to mind me.” As if to further his point she headbutts his arm before chewing on his sleeve a little. He steps carefully back out of her reach before retreating to the stable door once more not wanting to start a stampede.
At the bottom of the stairs he spares a glance at the gathered lords and ladies at the other end of the hall. Most do not even seem to notice the prince's passing, but one girl looks to him with a sad expression on her face. Before he looks away he sees her gaze shift and for a brief moment their eyes meet. Rei can not read the expression behind her gaze as he passes along behind the young royal, but something about it causes him to make a note in his head to get to know more about her. 'I have the distinct impression she may be related to him' Unable to confirm his suspicion at the moment, the concentration and time it would take to send out his magic to check would have him falling too far behind his charge. As it is the prince seems intent on not being seen, moving through the area like a shadow behind the servants until at last he moves outside.
When he vanishes into the light Rei quickens his pace, the sound of his boots bothering him, but other than the servants already looking after the prince none seem to notice him passing by. Once outside he slows again, not sure how close his ward wants him to be. A few guards on the wall look down at him, but he pays them no mind. Even this early in the morning he can already feel the air warming with the sun, still not very high in the sky. 'This will most likely be the extent of my connection to nature for a while, plus the gardens on the grounds. I wonder if a part of me will crave the nature it's grown accustom to' As they move to the stables Rei takes the opportunity to once more stretch his boots a bit, curling and uncurling his toes with each step. The motion is unnoticeable, and the only difference it makes in his stride is a slightly slowed pace.
At the stable door he stops. Even at that distance, all the beasts inside seem to become a little edgy. He watches a large black horse shake off a stable boy trying to get his harness fixed properly. 'This may be a good time to tell the prince about how animals feel about me' Looking over to where the young man is he finds himself curious about his the animal at his hands is acting. The young filly doesn't seem bothered by Rei at all, nickering happily while the Alessandro feeds her an apple. Something like this has happened only a few times in his life. Some animals that are different from most. For some ineffable reason they don't seem to be bothered by him. 'If the prince is to ride, I would say that one would be best. There is no telling what would happen if he mounted a horse with me around. At a safe distance they are unaffected, but I would have to travel a little closer than that to do my job properly'
Risking setting off the entire barn Rei moves across the straw strewn floor to the young lord's side. The filly looks to him, shaking her head before reaching out to nibble at his shirt in an effort to find more treats. Around them the other horses begin snorting and stomping, a few kicking out at their stall walls. Raising his voice about the din he looks up at the prince. “Most animals do not like me, so if you are planning on riding today I would ask you use this one. She does not seem to mind me.” As if to further his point she headbutts his arm before chewing on his sleeve a little. He steps carefully back out of her reach before retreating to the stable door once more not wanting to start a stampede.
Oki day, here's the CS!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Name:
Race:
Age:
Height:
Weight:
Hair:
Eyes:
Skin:
Build:
Clothes:
Accessories:
Powers/Skills(If Applicable):
General Personality:
Background:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Name:
Race:
Age:
Height:
Weight:
Hair:
Eyes:
Skin:
Build:
Clothes:
Accessories:
Powers/Skills(If Applicable):
General Personality:
Background:
This is a one-on-one RP between AkiBlue and PopeAlessandros, if you're not us, don't post. Also, M/M, don't like, don't read!
Base: He'd become too complacent, and because of it, had been captured. Now, in heaven's prison, the demon lives his days dreading when they will next take him in for “Questioning” on hell's recent “Unusual activity”. He knows that there are no plans that threatens either heaven or earth, but who would believe the son of Satan himself? Perhaps the young prison medic who tends to his wounds after each session? The young angel eventually realizes he's in no danger around the demon and sends the guards away, who tend to hinder his work, and spends hours listening to the demon speak of his home, his adventures on earth, and his love of the written word. After becoming convinced of the demon's truthfulness, he can not stand to see him tortured so, and helps him escape. This makes him an exile, but rather than abandoning him on earth, the demon helps the angel adjust to living on earth, returning to hell occasionally to keep up appearances.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Base: He'd become too complacent, and because of it, had been captured. Now, in heaven's prison, the demon lives his days dreading when they will next take him in for “Questioning” on hell's recent “Unusual activity”. He knows that there are no plans that threatens either heaven or earth, but who would believe the son of Satan himself? Perhaps the young prison medic who tends to his wounds after each session? The young angel eventually realizes he's in no danger around the demon and sends the guards away, who tend to hinder his work, and spends hours listening to the demon speak of his home, his adventures on earth, and his love of the written word. After becoming convinced of the demon's truthfulness, he can not stand to see him tortured so, and helps him escape. This makes him an exile, but rather than abandoning him on earth, the demon helps the angel adjust to living on earth, returning to hell occasionally to keep up appearances.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hah! I got this great image in my head of how my post is gonna go. It's kinda funny :P
'He really seems interested in my assistants' Sylus notes, recalling how the young man's eyes lingered on Jully. Most people would just ignore them, seeing Sylus as the only important person in the room. The overly willing to please, or the ones only shooting to ride to the top are not what Marius needs. He needs someone who will be content at his station for as long as possible. And Sylus intends to find that person. Sylus doesn't respond outwardly to the other man's overtly sharp response, however inside he can feel a smile spreading. 'He's got some guts, that is encouraging, and despite saying he's shown no interest in other parts of the business, he seems to understand financial aspects to her little enterprise' Without looking at it he opens the ledger. 'And from the sound of the way he speaks about his family the chances of him asking for time off around holidays and such is lower than the others'
His eyes fall to the ledger when he talks about when he got rejected, looking over his notes for the other candidates swiftly before flipping to his page. It's already half filled with information that was gathered before he ever set foot in the building. All applicants had to apply online for the job, and once accepted Sylus sent out his investigators to pick up little tidbits of information on each candidate. 'None have shown such spirit. There was one other guy who talked back like this, but it was clear by then that he'd given up on getting the job and was just trying to end the interview as fast as possible' Glancing up at Will his inner smile widens again at the look in his eyes. Despite the obviously obstinate grin, there is a touch of confidence Sylus takes a liking to.
Sliding out his pen from the back of the leather ledger he begins scribbling done a few notes. He can almost feel, as he could from the moment he first made the man wait, that he has a level of impatience. Part of his collection of tools for his job includes a small monitor he keeps in his breast pocket which is directly connected to all the security cameras. He'd watched the young man from the entrance to when Sylus himself got on the elevator, and it was obvious the guy has spunk. 'Very key for dealing with Marius' “You are right, I could have indeed been more polite.” He snaps the ledger shut and hands it to Kesh behind him who had moved forward as soon as he closed it. As he steps back into place Sylus meet's Will's eye. “However, you too could have been more polite as well, but you chose not to.” He lets that hang in the air for only a few seconds before continuing.
Standing he turns towards the door. “This can be a very vicious business, as you know, and as a business it needs all the right parts to run.” Turning his head just far enough to look at Will a faint smirk appears on his lips, “If you are willing to take that tone with me and still expect to have a chance at this job. . . .” He looks back towards the door. His assistants move to his sides as he steps away from the chair. “You may just be the right piece to keep the wheels turning.” When he reaches the door he glances over his shoulder to the only man still in the room, the guard having left some time ago when no one was looking. “If you agree, be at your station tomorrow, five AM sharp.” He motions to the desk in the hallway with his thumb before dropping his head and once again the inane babble between him and his assistants starts up again and they vanish into the elevator.
His eyes fall to the ledger when he talks about when he got rejected, looking over his notes for the other candidates swiftly before flipping to his page. It's already half filled with information that was gathered before he ever set foot in the building. All applicants had to apply online for the job, and once accepted Sylus sent out his investigators to pick up little tidbits of information on each candidate. 'None have shown such spirit. There was one other guy who talked back like this, but it was clear by then that he'd given up on getting the job and was just trying to end the interview as fast as possible' Glancing up at Will his inner smile widens again at the look in his eyes. Despite the obviously obstinate grin, there is a touch of confidence Sylus takes a liking to.
Sliding out his pen from the back of the leather ledger he begins scribbling done a few notes. He can almost feel, as he could from the moment he first made the man wait, that he has a level of impatience. Part of his collection of tools for his job includes a small monitor he keeps in his breast pocket which is directly connected to all the security cameras. He'd watched the young man from the entrance to when Sylus himself got on the elevator, and it was obvious the guy has spunk. 'Very key for dealing with Marius' “You are right, I could have indeed been more polite.” He snaps the ledger shut and hands it to Kesh behind him who had moved forward as soon as he closed it. As he steps back into place Sylus meet's Will's eye. “However, you too could have been more polite as well, but you chose not to.” He lets that hang in the air for only a few seconds before continuing.
Standing he turns towards the door. “This can be a very vicious business, as you know, and as a business it needs all the right parts to run.” Turning his head just far enough to look at Will a faint smirk appears on his lips, “If you are willing to take that tone with me and still expect to have a chance at this job. . . .” He looks back towards the door. His assistants move to his sides as he steps away from the chair. “You may just be the right piece to keep the wheels turning.” When he reaches the door he glances over his shoulder to the only man still in the room, the guard having left some time ago when no one was looking. “If you agree, be at your station tomorrow, five AM sharp.” He motions to the desk in the hallway with his thumb before dropping his head and once again the inane babble between him and his assistants starts up again and they vanish into the elevator.
'It's odd. I haven't been hired by a human before. But meh, the pay is good and my bosses approved the hire' The early morning fog curls around his body, his dark blue suit slightly damp from it. In the distance a siren sounds as a police car races through the deserted streets tom some emergency or another. Vaanrasha suppresses a shiver as the cool morning air begins digging through his clothes to chill his flesh. He shrugs his shoulders, shaking off the cold best he can while keeping his eyes on his targets. It is unusual for most humans in this part of town to be awake at this hour, much less hanging decorations when there are no major holidays anywhere nearby. Vaan has little interest in their unusual behavior, however it does mean that his job will be a little more difficult. The job should have been over in a couple minutes. Had they been asleep when he arrived half an hour ago he would have slipped in and the deed would have been done without much of a mess.
However he had to change tactics when he spotted them up and about. Now he'll have to talk his way in and try and end it before they can call out for help. Not the biggest fan of killing beings that have absolutely not chance against him, Vaan shakes his head and huffs before walking slowly towards the large house. The street is filled with many lesser houses, but the neighborhood itself is full of very well-to-do families. The kinds of families that expect it quiet at six o'clock in the morning. The siren sound fades just as he reaches the door to the Christensen residence and he takes one last look up and down the street before knocking on the door firmly. 'There should be two targets, a husband and wife. I wonder if they have kids. The client wants a clean job, no witnesses, but killing kids leaves a bad taste in my mouth, no matter the race' He looks up as the door opens wide, the man inside looking very bright and relaxed.
“Oh, hello. May I help you?” he says rather quietly, glancing towards a set of stairs at the end of the hall.
“Yes sir. Sorry to disturb you at this hour but Mr. Jensen said I needed to get some paperwork to you right away.” he replies, sounding very much like an overworked gofer.
The name drop seems to work like a charm and Mr. Christensen steps back to allow him access to the hall. The name was that of the man who hired Vaan, and having noticed that he works in the same place this man does he took a chance that it would get him what he needs. 'And it paid off' he muses as the sandy haired man leads him into the living room. There what he can only assume is the wife, he long brown hair gleaming under the florescent as she turns to look at him with a quizzical expression. 'If I can just get them both within arm's reach. . .' His eyes dart around the room as the man makes for a door at the back of the room. He follows but stops a few feet short of the door. Inside he spots what looks to be a desk and some bookcases.
“Jack dear, what's going on?” the woman calls out softly, moving a little closer to Vaan. As she comes around the couch separating them he tenses.
“Nothing dear, it just seems Jensen forgot to give me some paperwork. It can only be about the Homenerg project so I'm trying to find the folder. . .” Rummaging can be heard through the doorway, but the wife's attention is now all on Vaan. At first she just has a polite smile on her lips as he moves in a little closer, and her mouth opens as if to ask him a question. However he strikes before a single sound can make it out. With a sickening squelching sound his now clawed hand sinks into her chest just below her ribs. Before she knows it he thrusts upwards and rends her lungs with a sharp twist of his wrist. A faint gurgling comes from her throat and he pulls his arm out with one sharp tug. His tongue snakes out as the clothes around him shimmer and vanish, leaving him in nothing but a brown loincloth.
His skin seems to almost fade, but truthfully it's just lightening to his natural color. The red of the blood coating his arm and speckling his skin where he final breath has sprayed it sticks out in stark contrast to his almost pure white skin. As the green fades from his eyes leaving only white orbs in his sockets he turns towards the study door where he can hear the husband calling out to his wife. His tail arches out, pulling her body across the floor so he won't trip on it when the husband emerges. 'With all the crap in that room if I kill him in there there’s a good chance of something making a nice loud crash. However out here I've got a nice open space to work with' Finally the man comes out and Vaan steps forward, His eyes find his wife first, her body laid out beside their plush white couch, but as Vaan takes another step forward his gaze finds the demon her slew her.
The swiftly cooling blood on his arm drops down, leaving a trail on the floor from where it drops off his darkened claws. Behind him his tail rises up and begins lashing back and forth, the movement draws the man's attention long enough for Vaan to take the final step he needs. He can hear a scream making it's way up the man's throat from his lungs, but before it can take shape and be released to the world he strikes. Like lightning his tail whips forward, slashing through the man's neck causing a vast spray of blood to cover the area. He staggers slightly to the side, his hands coming half way to his neck before falling limply at his sides. After another second he too falls to the ground, the blood from his mangled throat still pumping out strongly, creating a thick pool of blood on the dark hardwood floors.
Vaan stretches slightly, his body a little stiff from standing still for so long out in the cold. The blood now coating his front begins to cool like the stuff on his arm and he decides to wash it off a bit before heading out. Even if he can shift back into his human form, the blood would still be there, and make it harder to walk to the travel agency. Passing the stairs at the end of the front hall he finds the kitchen and begins cleaning up using the sink and a dishrag. He hums lightly to himself. His job now over he seems rather different. His usual stoic stare replaced with a light smile as he removes the proof of his latest target's demise from his flesh.
However he had to change tactics when he spotted them up and about. Now he'll have to talk his way in and try and end it before they can call out for help. Not the biggest fan of killing beings that have absolutely not chance against him, Vaan shakes his head and huffs before walking slowly towards the large house. The street is filled with many lesser houses, but the neighborhood itself is full of very well-to-do families. The kinds of families that expect it quiet at six o'clock in the morning. The siren sound fades just as he reaches the door to the Christensen residence and he takes one last look up and down the street before knocking on the door firmly. 'There should be two targets, a husband and wife. I wonder if they have kids. The client wants a clean job, no witnesses, but killing kids leaves a bad taste in my mouth, no matter the race' He looks up as the door opens wide, the man inside looking very bright and relaxed.
“Oh, hello. May I help you?” he says rather quietly, glancing towards a set of stairs at the end of the hall.
“Yes sir. Sorry to disturb you at this hour but Mr. Jensen said I needed to get some paperwork to you right away.” he replies, sounding very much like an overworked gofer.
The name drop seems to work like a charm and Mr. Christensen steps back to allow him access to the hall. The name was that of the man who hired Vaan, and having noticed that he works in the same place this man does he took a chance that it would get him what he needs. 'And it paid off' he muses as the sandy haired man leads him into the living room. There what he can only assume is the wife, he long brown hair gleaming under the florescent as she turns to look at him with a quizzical expression. 'If I can just get them both within arm's reach. . .' His eyes dart around the room as the man makes for a door at the back of the room. He follows but stops a few feet short of the door. Inside he spots what looks to be a desk and some bookcases.
“Jack dear, what's going on?” the woman calls out softly, moving a little closer to Vaan. As she comes around the couch separating them he tenses.
“Nothing dear, it just seems Jensen forgot to give me some paperwork. It can only be about the Homenerg project so I'm trying to find the folder. . .” Rummaging can be heard through the doorway, but the wife's attention is now all on Vaan. At first she just has a polite smile on her lips as he moves in a little closer, and her mouth opens as if to ask him a question. However he strikes before a single sound can make it out. With a sickening squelching sound his now clawed hand sinks into her chest just below her ribs. Before she knows it he thrusts upwards and rends her lungs with a sharp twist of his wrist. A faint gurgling comes from her throat and he pulls his arm out with one sharp tug. His tongue snakes out as the clothes around him shimmer and vanish, leaving him in nothing but a brown loincloth.
His skin seems to almost fade, but truthfully it's just lightening to his natural color. The red of the blood coating his arm and speckling his skin where he final breath has sprayed it sticks out in stark contrast to his almost pure white skin. As the green fades from his eyes leaving only white orbs in his sockets he turns towards the study door where he can hear the husband calling out to his wife. His tail arches out, pulling her body across the floor so he won't trip on it when the husband emerges. 'With all the crap in that room if I kill him in there there’s a good chance of something making a nice loud crash. However out here I've got a nice open space to work with' Finally the man comes out and Vaan steps forward, His eyes find his wife first, her body laid out beside their plush white couch, but as Vaan takes another step forward his gaze finds the demon her slew her.
The swiftly cooling blood on his arm drops down, leaving a trail on the floor from where it drops off his darkened claws. Behind him his tail rises up and begins lashing back and forth, the movement draws the man's attention long enough for Vaan to take the final step he needs. He can hear a scream making it's way up the man's throat from his lungs, but before it can take shape and be released to the world he strikes. Like lightning his tail whips forward, slashing through the man's neck causing a vast spray of blood to cover the area. He staggers slightly to the side, his hands coming half way to his neck before falling limply at his sides. After another second he too falls to the ground, the blood from his mangled throat still pumping out strongly, creating a thick pool of blood on the dark hardwood floors.
Vaan stretches slightly, his body a little stiff from standing still for so long out in the cold. The blood now coating his front begins to cool like the stuff on his arm and he decides to wash it off a bit before heading out. Even if he can shift back into his human form, the blood would still be there, and make it harder to walk to the travel agency. Passing the stairs at the end of the front hall he finds the kitchen and begins cleaning up using the sink and a dishrag. He hums lightly to himself. His job now over he seems rather different. His usual stoic stare replaced with a light smile as he removes the proof of his latest target's demise from his flesh.
Rue lets the guards take hold of him carefully, guiding him out of the dream and towards the nearest portal. High above the fighting seems to be coming to an end, the dream and nightmare minions pulling back and dispersing. The guard on his left mumbles something about Rue being in shock judging by the ay he just continues to stare forward as the move along. Rue however knows what's going on. He can hear the pain filled voices of his comrades who were injured during the clash. He can feel the torrent of energy still crackling in the sky as the positive and negative energys slowly calm down. He knows it's all his fault, and that knowledge crushes him inside. He's always been so innocent, so happy and caring about everything. But now one moment of selfish desire has ended in those he cares about a great amount of pain.
When at last they pass through the portal, the rush of bodies around him is almost blinding. The medical staff is out in full force. Despite the lack of any fatalities, the number and seriousness of the injuries to many of those who had run to back up the nightmare minions still loyal to Seishu keeps most of the staff on the run. However since it was a direct order from lord Enasi the guards take Rue strait to Crios and tell him that the lord demanded he's treated. Crios looks at the dazed expression on Rue's face and takes him to a side room for his treatment. He can not hold his tongue, and despite the already crushed visage of the little fairy he can not keep his opinions to himself. “That was beyond foolish Rue. I know you're forgetful, but you're not stupid. What were you thinking?!” His hands move over and over the injured arm, slowly knitting the fractured bone back together. Even though it hurts a lot Rue doesn't make a sound. The man's tails lash back and forth and he lets out a consternated sigh. “Too bad a wound like this won't scar. You seriously need a reminder after this stunt.”
The words finally seem to pull a reaction from the little minion. Tears begin to flow slowly down his cheeks and Crios pauses in his treatment, his heart finally breaking for the little guy. However what he does next send almost sends Crios himself into shock. Bringing his hands up he grips his sleeves at the shoulders and with a harsh tug he rips the sleeves completely off. Throwing the bits of cloth to the floor he reaches over to an instrument tray and picks up a blade. Before Crios can react the minion sings the tool around and sinks it into his arm, right where the fracture is. He doesn't react at all as he pulls the blade a few inches, creating a deep gash in his soft flesh. Finally he throws down the tool to join his sleeves on the floor. Turning to Crios he meets his gaze for the first time, his tears all dried up. “Now it will.” he says simply, and motions for Crios to continue. It takes a few seconds but at last the foxy doctor brings his hands back up to finish healing the fairy. In awe of the minion's commitment he leaves a very noticeable scar where he had injured himself, the bright pink flesh of it somehow not looking out of place on the otherwise unmarred arm.
_+_+_+_+_+_+_
~The nothing has never been so comforting. Seishu knows very well what happens to one of his kind when they die, and the nothing isn't it. He lets out a silent sigh, knowing he would just have to wait until he wakes to find out what happened.
I have no doubt Enasi did his part.
He is strong, if a little pathetic at times.
But Rue. . .
Lillium is fast.
She could drag him off to the nightmare realm before anyone could do anything.
Or she could just kill him out of spite.
It wouldn't take much'
If he was awake at this time he would be snarling and roaring at the thoughts passing through his head. How had he gone so wrong? He always teased Enasi about not being able to control his minions, but does he really have any place to speak? Why? Why did Lillium and the others turn from him, how could he allow it. . . The questions whirl through his head like a hurricane, and all he can be grateful for is that there is no pain in the nothing otherwise such a torrent would have him gripping his head with a pounding migraine.
Suddenly a noise snaps him out of his query storm. At first he can't figure out what it is, but as he quiets his mind to listen he realizes what it is. Words, softly spoken an unending. So gentle and full of such pain. They stream into him like a breath of fresh air and he even takes a long silent inhale as if he could absorb them better that way. However the stream remains constant until at last he feels a familiar falling sensation.~'
He doesn't even have a moment to brace himself before the pain of Lillium's attack pounds into his now conscious body. He lets out a short piercing scream as all the injuries seem to lace together, intent on knocking him out again. However the pain recedes quickly in the face of a steady stream of pure negative energy covers him like a salve. He lets out a long sigh, the sound of wing above him bringing a slow smile to his lips. “I know whose wings.” he croaks out, the sound of insect and bird wings beating together a very tell tale sign that the twins are near. Above the young minions cry out with joy and hug one another while Seishu works to open his eyes. When at last he manages to crack them open a bit he immediately spots Enasi, his smile doing it's best to mimic his arrogant one. “Good boy.” he murmurs softly, unable to say much else at the moment.
When at last they pass through the portal, the rush of bodies around him is almost blinding. The medical staff is out in full force. Despite the lack of any fatalities, the number and seriousness of the injuries to many of those who had run to back up the nightmare minions still loyal to Seishu keeps most of the staff on the run. However since it was a direct order from lord Enasi the guards take Rue strait to Crios and tell him that the lord demanded he's treated. Crios looks at the dazed expression on Rue's face and takes him to a side room for his treatment. He can not hold his tongue, and despite the already crushed visage of the little fairy he can not keep his opinions to himself. “That was beyond foolish Rue. I know you're forgetful, but you're not stupid. What were you thinking?!” His hands move over and over the injured arm, slowly knitting the fractured bone back together. Even though it hurts a lot Rue doesn't make a sound. The man's tails lash back and forth and he lets out a consternated sigh. “Too bad a wound like this won't scar. You seriously need a reminder after this stunt.”
The words finally seem to pull a reaction from the little minion. Tears begin to flow slowly down his cheeks and Crios pauses in his treatment, his heart finally breaking for the little guy. However what he does next send almost sends Crios himself into shock. Bringing his hands up he grips his sleeves at the shoulders and with a harsh tug he rips the sleeves completely off. Throwing the bits of cloth to the floor he reaches over to an instrument tray and picks up a blade. Before Crios can react the minion sings the tool around and sinks it into his arm, right where the fracture is. He doesn't react at all as he pulls the blade a few inches, creating a deep gash in his soft flesh. Finally he throws down the tool to join his sleeves on the floor. Turning to Crios he meets his gaze for the first time, his tears all dried up. “Now it will.” he says simply, and motions for Crios to continue. It takes a few seconds but at last the foxy doctor brings his hands back up to finish healing the fairy. In awe of the minion's commitment he leaves a very noticeable scar where he had injured himself, the bright pink flesh of it somehow not looking out of place on the otherwise unmarred arm.
_+_+_+_+_+_+_
~The nothing has never been so comforting. Seishu knows very well what happens to one of his kind when they die, and the nothing isn't it. He lets out a silent sigh, knowing he would just have to wait until he wakes to find out what happened.
I have no doubt Enasi did his part.
He is strong, if a little pathetic at times.
But Rue. . .
Lillium is fast.
She could drag him off to the nightmare realm before anyone could do anything.
Or she could just kill him out of spite.
It wouldn't take much'
If he was awake at this time he would be snarling and roaring at the thoughts passing through his head. How had he gone so wrong? He always teased Enasi about not being able to control his minions, but does he really have any place to speak? Why? Why did Lillium and the others turn from him, how could he allow it. . . The questions whirl through his head like a hurricane, and all he can be grateful for is that there is no pain in the nothing otherwise such a torrent would have him gripping his head with a pounding migraine.
Suddenly a noise snaps him out of his query storm. At first he can't figure out what it is, but as he quiets his mind to listen he realizes what it is. Words, softly spoken an unending. So gentle and full of such pain. They stream into him like a breath of fresh air and he even takes a long silent inhale as if he could absorb them better that way. However the stream remains constant until at last he feels a familiar falling sensation.~'
He doesn't even have a moment to brace himself before the pain of Lillium's attack pounds into his now conscious body. He lets out a short piercing scream as all the injuries seem to lace together, intent on knocking him out again. However the pain recedes quickly in the face of a steady stream of pure negative energy covers him like a salve. He lets out a long sigh, the sound of wing above him bringing a slow smile to his lips. “I know whose wings.” he croaks out, the sound of insect and bird wings beating together a very tell tale sign that the twins are near. Above the young minions cry out with joy and hug one another while Seishu works to open his eyes. When at last he manages to crack them open a bit he immediately spots Enasi, his smile doing it's best to mimic his arrogant one. “Good boy.” he murmurs softly, unable to say much else at the moment.
He expected to come home to peace. He expected everything to be fine. But the distress hit them both when they got out of the portal. "What's going on? Harper?!" Not just Harper, but Crios and a few others piled in. Before he knew what happened, his heart raced in panic. Harper spoke up and he immediately covered his mouth in horror. Panic, fear, and worry all raced at once. He was like a panicky mother. "How did he-! No, no, no..." He moved away from Seishu and paced around. "Are you sure you checked the building in its entirety?!"
Harper nodded. "I promise. I had the guards everywhere, and we have all been looking."
=_=_=_=_=_=
The waves of worry and stress coming off of the gathered dream beings feed Seishu, however ha takes no comfort in it. The thought of Rue on earth is bad enough, but when Harper glares at him and adds the last bit to his report, the Nightmare Guardian snaps inside. On the outside he remains very calm and cool, his body relaxed and his eyes at half mast. However inside his body begins preparing. He ignores Enasi as he begins pacing, his focus altogether In a different place for several seconds. The minions by the door draw back as small bits of red electricity dance around his body, shredding his robe and leaving in their wake his battle armor.
'I will not allow this. Such things are unforgivable. It is in our nature to tease and torment to a degree those of this realm, but to capture one. To actually hunt one down. . .It must be Gin's doing. He's the one behind this. The traitorous foul demented creature of spiteful bile!' He keeps his energy in check, but as Enasi passes him, just close enough, his hand darts out to turn the male around to face him. Both hands come up to grip the male's arms and he gazes deep into the other's eyes. Behind his own the fury sparks and crackles, but none of it is in danger of leaking out as he opens his mouth to speak. “Enasi, tell me how you feel.” The words are quiet, just above a hiss, but there is a note in there that he himself does not recognize. A kind of pleading he has never expressed in his entire life.
=_=_=_=_=_=
"Sir, you must calm down." Harper stepped forward, only to pause as Seishu's energy spiked within itself. He didn't dare to move forward this time, but he eyed the nightmare guardian carefully. It didn't last long because his attention turned to the panicky sounds of his guardian. Crios tried to take a shot at comforting him, but to no avail.
"We'll find him. He won't be able to travel too far." But that didn't seem to help either. The dream guardian still paced back and forth, trying to figure out what to do. These were Seishu's minions. But if they weren't following Seishu's orders, who knows what they would do to Rue.
Suddenly he felt his arms being tugged and he whirled around to face Seishu. His eyes were teary, but he frowned when he was stopped. Tell him how I feel?! The guardian pulled an arm away. "There's no time for how I feel! We- I have to find Rue! He could be hurt!" He yelled frantically. It was obvious how he felt just by his words. The other dreams silenced and watched their guardian and his counterpart.
He paused and pulled his other hand away to bring them up to his face for a brief moment. "What do you think. I'm upset. I'm panicking. I'm worried! Your- or whoever's nightmares out there kidnapped Rue. Who knows who else they'll try and take! I was only gone for- for a few hours... Not even that long... This is why I don't leave! Bad things start to happen!"
Each minion hesitated, wanting to help their guardian. But they stayed back, and stayed silent. Even Harper's ears bent slightly.
=_=_=_=_=
Even as Enasi pulls away, Seishu can feel it all begin to seeping off of him. He does not try to pull Enasi back right away, just lets what little bits running freely off of him slide over to him, charging him up like a Duracell. 'I need more, but I think he needs to calm down first' he thinks, knowing that the Guardian can obviously not think clearly at the moment. Understanding that he doesn't realize what the Nightmare Guardian is asking for. His last admission strikes a nerve but he decides to address it later.
Instead he steps up to the trembling guardian. Being as gentle as he can he wraps his arms around Enasi, pulling him tight against his chest despite any protest from either the gathered minions or Enasi himself. Instead he speaks loud enough for Enasi to hear over his own panic. “Rue is very dear to me, and on my life I will not let anything happen to him. He's kind, funny, and even if he is forgetful, he always remembers what's really important. He's learned a lot about my realm and those that dwell in it. He's not entirely unprepared for them.” He looks down, pulling Enasi's head up so he can look him in the eyes, “However, things will go much more smoothly if I can get a little help from my other half.”
His voice is soft, his eyes still alight with anger, but his positive expressions about Rue are enough to expel a stream of positive energy which coils lightly around Enasi's middle before sinking into him. The gathered minion watch the interaction in awe, Crios catching on rather quickly what Seishu is talking about after seeing the shimmering white energy leave Seishu's body. Harper, though ready the throw the Nightmare Guardian off his lord can not quite bring himself to move any closer to the two men.
=_=_=_=_=_=
Somewhere in between shock and his worried motherly panic, he found himself being pulled into an embrace by none other than his counterpart. Enasi tried to resist, but gave up the fight before he started. He leaned closer to the guardian, burying his face in his clothes. There were a few small sounds of protest, but they weren't followed by action. While Seishu spoke softly, Enasi somehow managed to focus his breathing again. It didn't stop his emotion, but it did guarantee that he wouldn't hyperventilate and pass out. Muffled because his head was down, Enasi spoke. "But he's not prepared for whatever that Gin person has in mind... you don't even know what's going on there."
His head was lifted and Enasi averted his eyes from Seishu's gaze. He noticed the positive energy and sighed. Instead of enjoying it he merely put his head back against Seishu. "Sorry..." He started and rubbed his cheeks. "I didn't mean to panic... that's not very appropriate for a guardian..." Harper was about to defend him, but Crios silenced him with a quick tug on his ear. The dream guardian closed his eyes and stood up straight, moving away from Seishu. He looked at the floor, holding his arm.
"I'm worried... He's a castle dweller, and is normally by my side most of the time. Rue is still just a child, he could get hurt. And now I'm worried because my minions are in danger of being kidnapped." At that, Harper's ears twitched and he motioned to the guards.
"Have them check the perimeters. Make sure everything is the same still." They nodded and hurried off.
Enasi continued to pour his emotions out, watching as the negative energy slipped off him and coiled onto Seishu. When he finally quieted down, Enasi only glanced up at him before looking away again.
=_=_=_=_=_=
Seishu lets his counterpart go when he's finally in at last a vague control of his faculties. His shy, almost pathetic stance only fueling his own anger. The sight of him looking so defeated and pitiable makes him grind his teeth, but he remains silent. The energy seeping across the floor over to him makes several of the minions recoil, looking at their guardian in horror. The thought of their lord having such things inside him making them shake and shy away. Seishu listens carefully, drawing everything in as fast as his can, and like a angry feline he seems to swell with it.
When at last Enasi is done pouring himself out Seishu lets out a sigh, the sound rattling the windows though it is a quite thing. His haughty smirk returns and he shakes his head. “He won't have to deal with whatever the hell that piece of crap has in mind for him. We'll get to the Little Bite first, and when we do, he's gonna wish that he'd been kidnapped with what I have planned for him for being so stupid.” He turns to look at the portal still open behind him. “He just needs to hide, and that little sucker is fast. I know only a few of my own who could even think to keep up with him. Any minion with half a brain would know not to strike him if Gin wants him back alive, so he should be safe until we get ahold of him.”
He can almost feel Harper as he opens his mouth to protest about the way he's talking about punishing Rue, but Seishu whips around to glare at him before he can speak. “Can it Hops, and sharpen that blade of yours. You're the fastest here no? We'll need you speed.” Turning to his counterpart Seishu seems to swell again. From behind him his energy lashes out like a mass of writhing tentacles until after a few seconds the blackness solidifies into the wings he'd had in the dream. He know what he's about to say is rather mean, but it's the only thing his fury filled heart can come up with to possibly get the result he needs.
“And you, oh master of worry and self loathing, grow a pair! We don't need you blubbering and loosing you backbone right now, we need that part of you that always longed to tear my head off when you saw me making sport with your precious sparkler's innards, spilling their blood like paint on the battlefield.” His wings snap out to the sides, making him look bigger than normal, his cape appearing in a dark shimmer. “Now pick yourself up and let's do something! We've got some minion hunting to do!” Seishu is careful not to waste any energy but his own speech riles him up, his wings thrashing in the air in their eagerness to get airborne.
=_=_=_=_=_=
Enasi listened as Seishu got more and more riled up. He spoke of punishing Rue, and yet Enasi said nothing. He even put his hand up to stop Harper from speaking out. Then, Seishu spoke out to Harper, and it was only a matter of time before Harper dared to speak out. "You have no-"
"Harper! Hush." The sudden command made even the rabbit flinch. His ears lowered, but he held his glare. Crios stayed silent and watched as Seishu perked up with energy. He hadn't been so energetic before. "Just listen." Enasi said softly. Harper crossed his arms and watched as Seishu continued.
Not expecting to be yelled at, Enasi turned and jumped a little in surprise.
Harper continued to glare as his guardian was yelled at, but Crios kept him at bay. "I'll definitely sharpen my blade...." Harper growled. Crios merely held him by his shirt like a leash.
"Down bunny..."
Enasi flinched away when he was yelled at, frowning. From being comforting to yelling at him, Enasi stared at the angry guardian in front of him. From being sad, he immediately frowned in irritation. There was nothing he could say, more due to the shock of being told to man up. He was so rude.... But for some reason, it helped. "...You're so mean..." He crossed his arms and looked off to the side. "If you're done yelling at me...can we go?"
Crios looked a little surprised that Seishu said what he did, and then even more shocked that Enasi stayed calm.
=_=_=_=_=
His smirk transforms into a wicked smile, feeling the shift in his other half's emotions. He lets out a chuckle at Harper and his looks of fury and loathing. 'Go ahead Hops, let the anger grow. Just stay focused. I'm not your enemy, and killing is not your goal. Rue is. And I will see him returned to us' That last thought, the word “us”, rings through his head making him feel a little off. He used the word us, as if he were lumping himself together with the sparklers. However he pushes that back, not willing to dive into the deeper meaning behind his own thoughts.
His eyelid lower ever so slightly when Enasi pouts about him being mean, but manages to have a comeback. Simple, not very creative, but it's the little spark that Seishu is looking for. His wings begin to beat slow and steady, taking his feet a few inches off the ground. “First you get what you need to get done here done Enasi.” The Dream Guardian's name rolling off his tongue naturally, the thought of using his nickname not even present as his tone changes from condescending to collaborative. Harper's whiskers twitch as negative energy behind lacing it's way around Seishu's body in preparation.
“I'll go on ahead. Unlike you, I don't have anyone here to confer with.” There is a light note of loneliness in his voice, but the anger is still firmly in control. His wings shift, and like a bullet he darts forward. His body is almost a blur to the minions as he does a u-turn, Enasi in the middle of it. However inside the U it almost seems like time is slowed down. He looks at Enasi, his usual arrogant smirk on his lips. “If I survive this,” he whispers just loud enough for the Dream Guardian to hear, “it'll be up to you once more to save my life. Up for it?” Time returns to normal speed and before another word can be said he slingshots through the portal to the human realm.
On the other side he blasts through the apartment building, rising high into the sky before his wings snap out to bring him to a stop. At last free to use his energy he lets small threads of it loose across the surface of the city. He knows that the energy he has shored up is not nearly enough to take on even a mid level minion, so he throws all his faith into his other half to rescue him should he use it all up. His wings bead sure and steady, the energy racing through the streets. Nightmare minions all over the area can feel this faint trickle of energy and their eyes turn heavenward, knowing it can only mean one thing. The energy jumps from person to person, sliding through their minds in search of his goal.
=_=_=_=_=
Enasi stares at Seishu's wings for a moment, before he nodded. "Alright." The guardian started to turn in order to talk to Crios and Harper, but before he could, wings surrounded him, and he was face to face with Seishu. Everything slowed around them and Enasi gave a pout to his arrogance. "That won't be a problem because you will survive." It was whispered as he once again was off like a blur. The interaction only took seconds, but to the others it seemed like the blink of an eye.
With a nod, Enasi turned to Harper and with a soft tug of his ear, he spoke. "I'm entrusting you to split the guards up. Some here to watch the realm, and a few to check the human realm. But you stay. Every time you encounter the nightmares you get upset. We aren't killing them, we just need to find Rue. That's our first priority." Harper nodded and without hesitation, darted off to do as he was told.
"Crios-"
"All the doctors will be ready for any injured dreams. We'll be ready. Rooms are being cleared now." Enasi smiled gently and nodded.
With that, he turned and hurried through the portal. With a slight skip, he stepped on that energy disk and flew low through the human realm. Enasi started by pinpointing any of the positive energy that he could find. But many were sleeping people, or his dream minions doing their jobs. He sticks low to the ground considering Seishu took the skies. "Rue... where are you?" He sighed and continued looking around. He also remembered Seishu's harsh words and refused to whine and complain. They were going to find him. They had no choice.
=_=_=_=_=
His breathing is hard and fast, but he does his best to stifle the sound. He can hear her, just around the corner. The rough gravel road crunches beneath her boost as she moves along it in the dark country atmosphere, Somewhere off in the night an old man sits on a porch, his pipe clutched between what teeth he has left, his old dog sleeping soundly at his feet. He can feel the cold breeze created by the nightmare minion, but his dream remains undisturbed for the most part.
“It's easy to spot if there's a dream minion in someone's head. All you gotta do is look for the changes they make. They feel different from what a human creates naturally. I swear, most of you little sparklers aren't content with just gathering energy, you need to make it 'the best dream, eva!' heh.”
Seishu's words ring in his head and he once again checks to make sure his energy is in check. As a minion Rue has the innate ability to influence people's dreams. 'But if I can keep my energy in check, it should make it very hard for her to find me. . .Why is she after me?! I didn't do anything wrong. . .Oh why did I break the rules. . . .Lord Enasi told me to stay put, told me I had an important job to do!' He holds back a sob as the sound of her boots move in closer. His hand snaps over his mouth as she suddenly speaks.
“I know you are out there you disgusting little thing. Just come out, I'm not here to hurt you. My master just wishes to speak with you. . .” His skin jumps at the sound of steel on stone, her blade scraping over the ground as she pinpoints his location by the fear he's giving off. 'There you are. . .' She is still several yards away and doesn't want to speak him so she slows down as she moves in closer to the cowering fairy.
High above Seishu twitches. More dreams and minions pour through the portal after their lord and begin searching the city. He does his best to keep his energy from the areas they are searching so that he does not impede them. However after less than a minute, he finds it. 'There you are Little Bite' A whip of dark energy lashes out and strikes Enasi gently to get his attention. A few nightmare minions have already risen into the air, to see if their eyes are deceiving them. But before any of them can get a good look at him he surrounds himself in red lightning and plummets from the sky. Almost as fast as a bolt of light he pelts into the home of an old man fallen asleep on an old recliner and without slowing he slams into his head. 'I can only pray Enasi noticed me. This is a Dread Slayer, I'm not match in my current state'
Red lightning streaks the sky as he crashes into the dream. He looks about frantically for the little minion Rue however spots him first and without thinking launches himself up towards the Nightmare Guardian. However Lillium's reaction speed is too quick for him to make a clean getaway. She jumps up and manages to snag his ankle with one gauntlet clad fist, the momentum bringing them crashing back to the ground with Rue crying out in pain. Seishu spots the little exchange and with a roar another bolt crashes through the sky in anger before he lowers himself slowly to the ground.
=_=_=_=_=
With the guards rushing in, pinpointing positive energy was a tad difficult. The energies would entwine with the ones in search of Rue. He was peeking into a home, only to feel negative energy lash out dangerously close to him. At first he thought he was being attacked, but by the red blur, something told him that Seishu was calling him. Immediately, he flew upwards, and followed after Seishu. Minions saw, pausing as the white flash went by soon after the red one.
"I think Lord Enasi found him!"
"We should follow, he may need us."
One of the guards, one higher in rank stopped them. "Only a few. We can't hurt Seishu too." So three of them went off to follow the guardians and the others continued searching for injured minions or Rue.
Enasi noticed Seishu dart into the mind of an old man, but he was still ways away. But he knew Rue was there, he could feel it. When Rue fell, he whimpered and once again tried to escape, but this time the girl grabbed him. "Heh, you should've listened. You wouldn't have gotten hurt as bad." There was a low growl when Seishu appeared. She hissed. "You should be dead."
=_=_=_=_=
As the guards rush to follow their lord a commotion in the sky catches their attention. The pause, looking up to see nightmare minions clashing with one another. The unholy screams and clashes of energy fill the night sky. The display would even be visible to human should the look up, but they would see very little. “C'mon, we have to get to Lord Enasi.” One guard says, tapping his fellows on the shoulder. However the one female of the group calls them to a halt moments later. Two nightmare minions seem to be rushing to the same place where their lord had vanished. The dream minions draw their weapons and take up positions between the house and the nightmare minions.
The two minions who had been racing head first towards their guardian's location come to a skidding halt several yards away from the guards, their arms crossed over their heads. The signal is a universal sign for peace among both dream and nightmare minions so after a few tense seconds the guard lower their weapons. Despite the peace signal the guards hesitate to let the nightmare minions follow them. They hesitate, looking to where Enasi and Seishu disappeared.
“Look, Master Seishu needs help! We can feel it! It hurts. . .We know you are taking care of him, let us through!” the blonde male calls out, his dark dragonfly wings beating so fast they are simply a blur. At his side a redheaded female nods her head rapidly, her own black feathers flashing in the light created by the clash above. The guards hesitate only another few seconds before they turn with a wave and rush to aid their lord. As they leap down from the roof into the building the nightmare minions rush in and they all enter the man's mind together.
Five minutes earlier. . . .
Seishu chuckles as his feet touch the ground. “Well, I can't please everybody. It's kind of obvious seeing as I upset you all enough for one of you to try and kill me after all.” He keeps his eyes from rue, far to angry to offer any kind of comfort to the distressed sparkler. Instead his hands crackle with energy as he begins walking slowly towards the woman.
Despite the obvious fact that he is not match for her at the moment, Lillium can feel herself hesitating. Her stomach drops several levels as she looks into the guardian's eyes and her grip around Rue's arm tightens even though he is not longer struggling. He whimpers in pain at the tightness around his arm and the sound sets Seishu off. A bolt flies from his hand and would have hit the mark if he was at the top of his game. However as it is she manages to dart to the side and throw back a strike of her own. The slam of the compacted air knocks Seishu back several feet but he manages to not fall over. Rue cries out fro him but he ignores the frightened sound. He needs to concentrate. He still has enough energy to hold his own, but there is no way for him to hold her here for long.
So he tries a different tactic. With a smile he nods approvingly. “Very good Lillium, you've been practicing.” She visibly flinches at the sound of her name. “I seem to recall that not a decade ago you were having trouble with keeping your energy concentrated. I suppose that you finally got up the courage to talk to that guy you liked? I haven't seen you in a while so one can only assume things went well. Indeed, you seem much more focused now.”
She growls. “Shut up!” she snaps, her body almost growing weak just from him addressing her so intimately. It is true, Seishu was very close with all of his minions, often visiting the barracks, and most minions were more than happy to talk to him about their problems. At the time, she was no exception. However she could not find it in her to stay by his side. Too much of what Gin says makes so much sense, and she believes more than anything that he is in the right. However she can not fight her upbringing. Seishu was a father to all of them, and to hear him talk like this. . . .
Seishu sees her hesitating, the conflict inside her turbulent and unpredictable. Behind him he feels Enasi enter the dream and he lets out a faint sigh. Big mistake. The sound seems to trigger something inside her and with a scream she lets out another blast. This one is far bigger than the last and he barely has enough time to bring up the rest of his energy to soften the blow. This time he does not just skid backwards, he flies into the air, his arms still crossed in front of him until his body goes limp. Rue screams, tears streaking down his face at the sight of Seishu getting hurt so bad.
=_=_=_=_=
Enasi entered the dream right as Lillium screamed and right as he Seishu was hit. Seeing him fall limp made him freeze for a second. His heart stopped, as did his breathing. What snaps him out of it is Rue's screams of terror and alert when Lillium started to aim another blast at the unconscious body. 'No...' He was still standing there, Rue's pleas to help Seishu not making it to his ears.
"Our new Guardian will be more than pleased." Just as Lillium took the shot, Enasi jumped to the ground, using the disk as a shield. "What is wrong with you!? He is your guardian! Can't you see he cares about his realm!?" Rue sobbed, wanting to go back Lord Enasi, regretting what he did. The little fairy just wanted to go home. He watched as Enasi stood in front of Seishu, his energy coiling down his right arm. "Release him. You're welcome to give in now. I don't want to hurt you." His fist tightened when she held Rue's arm tighter.
The sounds of minions, both his and Seishu's were heard and immediately Enasi spoke, without giving them a second glance. "You two. Nightmares. Help Seishu. Take him far, but not to your realm unless you want him killed." As he spoke, Lillium decided to try and blast him while he was distracted, but as soon as she raised her arm in attack, a rope of positive energy coiled around her arm. Enasi yanked downward, making her fall to a knee. "I can see the conflict in your eyes... Why are you fighting it? Even you, deep down still believe Seishu is fit to be a guardian." He tried talking reason into her, hoping she would come to her senses.
=_=_=_=_=
Upon seeing their fallen guardian the two nightmare minions fly full speed to the ground, landing hard on either side of him. Around them the guard materialize and move forward to form a wall behind their lord. The blond male nods and pulls Seishu in close to him. Both of them are about half Seishu's height so it takes both of them to lift him up. But as soon as they get airborne they take off like bullets, leaving a trail of energy behind them for Enasi to follow later. They stay low to the ground after emerging from the old man's dream and move at breakneck speed towards a row of mountains in the distance. They pass over the rocky crags, their wings working so hard the girl is sure that hers are about to tear off. However their concern over their wounded guardian is enough to keep them going for several miles. At last the find a place high in the mountains the Master Seishu use to go to just to wander around. The grassy shelf on the side of the mountain is rather large, the overhang above casting it in shadow with the current position of the moon.
Panting hard the boy says, “There's *Huff* no one around here. There should be none from either side in the area.” The girl nods in reply and they both lower Seishu carefully don on to the soft damp grass. Neither of them are medics, and healing is not in a nightmare minions nature. All they can do is direct their energy at him in hopes that it will help. Despite their different appearances the two are twins and use to sharing. As they try desperately to aid their guardian in his healing the boy reaches out to his sister and take her hand in his own, their soft sobs joining the gentle swish of the breeze.
Meanwhile. . .
She lets out a wicked laugh, ignoring the pain of having so much positive energy wrapped around her arm. Her armor was specially made, like all Dread Slayer's armor is, to repel positive energy to a degree. However Enasi is for more powerful a source of the energy than it was ever designed to handle. She can feel it almost burning right through the hard black material, but she keeps her eyes on Enasi. Her eyes are filled with such loathing as she watches the fallen guardian carried off out of the corner of her eye. She never takes her focus from the Dream Guardian.
This is not the first time she has felt the burn of Enasi's weapon. The last battle between realms was her first time on the killing fields. She had always heard about how easy and fun the battle is, and afterward how good it feels to be drenched in the blood of your enemies. However before the battle Seishu had made a speech. At that time she was still on the fence about joining Gin's cause. The speech was almost enough o drive her to Gin's side right then and there. Seishu, while inspiring, kept saying things about keeping the balance, and how they were not really enemies. They should kill what they can, but for the most part, just try to survive.
A lot of the combatants had been in the battles before and for the most part ignored Seishu's references to the balance, however Lillium was beyond confused by them. They disturbed her greatly and when the clash came she was unprepared for the chaos. Several of the minions she grew up with were slain before her eyes, and even a nightmare she herself had rescued from a dreadful human. All his words about the dream dwellers not being her enemies rang through her head, and she knew then and there that Seishu was far to weak and pitiful to be a proper Nightmare Guardian.
Her laugh dies down, her lips pulled back in a snarl as she glares up at Enasi with such loathing behind her eyes. “Stop fighting? Are you a fool? Only a truly pitiful being would give up just because the odds are against them. Only a weakling would let their confusion get in the way of their goal.” She manages to pull herself to her feet, the smile on her lips almost demented. Reaching up she grips her trapped arm just above the coiled energy. “Do not underestimate my will!” she screams, and with a loud cracking noise her arm snaps, almost looking like a mini explosion beneath her fingers, and before a breath passes she falls backward into a portal to the nightmare realm, her wicked laughter echoing through the night air. The portal is there only for a few more seconds before it vanishes. At his sides the guards move closer to their lord, asking if he's alright.
Harper nodded. "I promise. I had the guards everywhere, and we have all been looking."
=_=_=_=_=_=
The waves of worry and stress coming off of the gathered dream beings feed Seishu, however ha takes no comfort in it. The thought of Rue on earth is bad enough, but when Harper glares at him and adds the last bit to his report, the Nightmare Guardian snaps inside. On the outside he remains very calm and cool, his body relaxed and his eyes at half mast. However inside his body begins preparing. He ignores Enasi as he begins pacing, his focus altogether In a different place for several seconds. The minions by the door draw back as small bits of red electricity dance around his body, shredding his robe and leaving in their wake his battle armor.
'I will not allow this. Such things are unforgivable. It is in our nature to tease and torment to a degree those of this realm, but to capture one. To actually hunt one down. . .It must be Gin's doing. He's the one behind this. The traitorous foul demented creature of spiteful bile!' He keeps his energy in check, but as Enasi passes him, just close enough, his hand darts out to turn the male around to face him. Both hands come up to grip the male's arms and he gazes deep into the other's eyes. Behind his own the fury sparks and crackles, but none of it is in danger of leaking out as he opens his mouth to speak. “Enasi, tell me how you feel.” The words are quiet, just above a hiss, but there is a note in there that he himself does not recognize. A kind of pleading he has never expressed in his entire life.
=_=_=_=_=_=
"Sir, you must calm down." Harper stepped forward, only to pause as Seishu's energy spiked within itself. He didn't dare to move forward this time, but he eyed the nightmare guardian carefully. It didn't last long because his attention turned to the panicky sounds of his guardian. Crios tried to take a shot at comforting him, but to no avail.
"We'll find him. He won't be able to travel too far." But that didn't seem to help either. The dream guardian still paced back and forth, trying to figure out what to do. These were Seishu's minions. But if they weren't following Seishu's orders, who knows what they would do to Rue.
Suddenly he felt his arms being tugged and he whirled around to face Seishu. His eyes were teary, but he frowned when he was stopped. Tell him how I feel?! The guardian pulled an arm away. "There's no time for how I feel! We- I have to find Rue! He could be hurt!" He yelled frantically. It was obvious how he felt just by his words. The other dreams silenced and watched their guardian and his counterpart.
He paused and pulled his other hand away to bring them up to his face for a brief moment. "What do you think. I'm upset. I'm panicking. I'm worried! Your- or whoever's nightmares out there kidnapped Rue. Who knows who else they'll try and take! I was only gone for- for a few hours... Not even that long... This is why I don't leave! Bad things start to happen!"
Each minion hesitated, wanting to help their guardian. But they stayed back, and stayed silent. Even Harper's ears bent slightly.
=_=_=_=_=
Even as Enasi pulls away, Seishu can feel it all begin to seeping off of him. He does not try to pull Enasi back right away, just lets what little bits running freely off of him slide over to him, charging him up like a Duracell. 'I need more, but I think he needs to calm down first' he thinks, knowing that the Guardian can obviously not think clearly at the moment. Understanding that he doesn't realize what the Nightmare Guardian is asking for. His last admission strikes a nerve but he decides to address it later.
Instead he steps up to the trembling guardian. Being as gentle as he can he wraps his arms around Enasi, pulling him tight against his chest despite any protest from either the gathered minions or Enasi himself. Instead he speaks loud enough for Enasi to hear over his own panic. “Rue is very dear to me, and on my life I will not let anything happen to him. He's kind, funny, and even if he is forgetful, he always remembers what's really important. He's learned a lot about my realm and those that dwell in it. He's not entirely unprepared for them.” He looks down, pulling Enasi's head up so he can look him in the eyes, “However, things will go much more smoothly if I can get a little help from my other half.”
His voice is soft, his eyes still alight with anger, but his positive expressions about Rue are enough to expel a stream of positive energy which coils lightly around Enasi's middle before sinking into him. The gathered minion watch the interaction in awe, Crios catching on rather quickly what Seishu is talking about after seeing the shimmering white energy leave Seishu's body. Harper, though ready the throw the Nightmare Guardian off his lord can not quite bring himself to move any closer to the two men.
=_=_=_=_=_=
Somewhere in between shock and his worried motherly panic, he found himself being pulled into an embrace by none other than his counterpart. Enasi tried to resist, but gave up the fight before he started. He leaned closer to the guardian, burying his face in his clothes. There were a few small sounds of protest, but they weren't followed by action. While Seishu spoke softly, Enasi somehow managed to focus his breathing again. It didn't stop his emotion, but it did guarantee that he wouldn't hyperventilate and pass out. Muffled because his head was down, Enasi spoke. "But he's not prepared for whatever that Gin person has in mind... you don't even know what's going on there."
His head was lifted and Enasi averted his eyes from Seishu's gaze. He noticed the positive energy and sighed. Instead of enjoying it he merely put his head back against Seishu. "Sorry..." He started and rubbed his cheeks. "I didn't mean to panic... that's not very appropriate for a guardian..." Harper was about to defend him, but Crios silenced him with a quick tug on his ear. The dream guardian closed his eyes and stood up straight, moving away from Seishu. He looked at the floor, holding his arm.
"I'm worried... He's a castle dweller, and is normally by my side most of the time. Rue is still just a child, he could get hurt. And now I'm worried because my minions are in danger of being kidnapped." At that, Harper's ears twitched and he motioned to the guards.
"Have them check the perimeters. Make sure everything is the same still." They nodded and hurried off.
Enasi continued to pour his emotions out, watching as the negative energy slipped off him and coiled onto Seishu. When he finally quieted down, Enasi only glanced up at him before looking away again.
=_=_=_=_=_=
Seishu lets his counterpart go when he's finally in at last a vague control of his faculties. His shy, almost pathetic stance only fueling his own anger. The sight of him looking so defeated and pitiable makes him grind his teeth, but he remains silent. The energy seeping across the floor over to him makes several of the minions recoil, looking at their guardian in horror. The thought of their lord having such things inside him making them shake and shy away. Seishu listens carefully, drawing everything in as fast as his can, and like a angry feline he seems to swell with it.
When at last Enasi is done pouring himself out Seishu lets out a sigh, the sound rattling the windows though it is a quite thing. His haughty smirk returns and he shakes his head. “He won't have to deal with whatever the hell that piece of crap has in mind for him. We'll get to the Little Bite first, and when we do, he's gonna wish that he'd been kidnapped with what I have planned for him for being so stupid.” He turns to look at the portal still open behind him. “He just needs to hide, and that little sucker is fast. I know only a few of my own who could even think to keep up with him. Any minion with half a brain would know not to strike him if Gin wants him back alive, so he should be safe until we get ahold of him.”
He can almost feel Harper as he opens his mouth to protest about the way he's talking about punishing Rue, but Seishu whips around to glare at him before he can speak. “Can it Hops, and sharpen that blade of yours. You're the fastest here no? We'll need you speed.” Turning to his counterpart Seishu seems to swell again. From behind him his energy lashes out like a mass of writhing tentacles until after a few seconds the blackness solidifies into the wings he'd had in the dream. He know what he's about to say is rather mean, but it's the only thing his fury filled heart can come up with to possibly get the result he needs.
“And you, oh master of worry and self loathing, grow a pair! We don't need you blubbering and loosing you backbone right now, we need that part of you that always longed to tear my head off when you saw me making sport with your precious sparkler's innards, spilling their blood like paint on the battlefield.” His wings snap out to the sides, making him look bigger than normal, his cape appearing in a dark shimmer. “Now pick yourself up and let's do something! We've got some minion hunting to do!” Seishu is careful not to waste any energy but his own speech riles him up, his wings thrashing in the air in their eagerness to get airborne.
=_=_=_=_=_=
Enasi listened as Seishu got more and more riled up. He spoke of punishing Rue, and yet Enasi said nothing. He even put his hand up to stop Harper from speaking out. Then, Seishu spoke out to Harper, and it was only a matter of time before Harper dared to speak out. "You have no-"
"Harper! Hush." The sudden command made even the rabbit flinch. His ears lowered, but he held his glare. Crios stayed silent and watched as Seishu perked up with energy. He hadn't been so energetic before. "Just listen." Enasi said softly. Harper crossed his arms and watched as Seishu continued.
Not expecting to be yelled at, Enasi turned and jumped a little in surprise.
Harper continued to glare as his guardian was yelled at, but Crios kept him at bay. "I'll definitely sharpen my blade...." Harper growled. Crios merely held him by his shirt like a leash.
"Down bunny..."
Enasi flinched away when he was yelled at, frowning. From being comforting to yelling at him, Enasi stared at the angry guardian in front of him. From being sad, he immediately frowned in irritation. There was nothing he could say, more due to the shock of being told to man up. He was so rude.... But for some reason, it helped. "...You're so mean..." He crossed his arms and looked off to the side. "If you're done yelling at me...can we go?"
Crios looked a little surprised that Seishu said what he did, and then even more shocked that Enasi stayed calm.
=_=_=_=_=
His smirk transforms into a wicked smile, feeling the shift in his other half's emotions. He lets out a chuckle at Harper and his looks of fury and loathing. 'Go ahead Hops, let the anger grow. Just stay focused. I'm not your enemy, and killing is not your goal. Rue is. And I will see him returned to us' That last thought, the word “us”, rings through his head making him feel a little off. He used the word us, as if he were lumping himself together with the sparklers. However he pushes that back, not willing to dive into the deeper meaning behind his own thoughts.
His eyelid lower ever so slightly when Enasi pouts about him being mean, but manages to have a comeback. Simple, not very creative, but it's the little spark that Seishu is looking for. His wings begin to beat slow and steady, taking his feet a few inches off the ground. “First you get what you need to get done here done Enasi.” The Dream Guardian's name rolling off his tongue naturally, the thought of using his nickname not even present as his tone changes from condescending to collaborative. Harper's whiskers twitch as negative energy behind lacing it's way around Seishu's body in preparation.
“I'll go on ahead. Unlike you, I don't have anyone here to confer with.” There is a light note of loneliness in his voice, but the anger is still firmly in control. His wings shift, and like a bullet he darts forward. His body is almost a blur to the minions as he does a u-turn, Enasi in the middle of it. However inside the U it almost seems like time is slowed down. He looks at Enasi, his usual arrogant smirk on his lips. “If I survive this,” he whispers just loud enough for the Dream Guardian to hear, “it'll be up to you once more to save my life. Up for it?” Time returns to normal speed and before another word can be said he slingshots through the portal to the human realm.
On the other side he blasts through the apartment building, rising high into the sky before his wings snap out to bring him to a stop. At last free to use his energy he lets small threads of it loose across the surface of the city. He knows that the energy he has shored up is not nearly enough to take on even a mid level minion, so he throws all his faith into his other half to rescue him should he use it all up. His wings bead sure and steady, the energy racing through the streets. Nightmare minions all over the area can feel this faint trickle of energy and their eyes turn heavenward, knowing it can only mean one thing. The energy jumps from person to person, sliding through their minds in search of his goal.
=_=_=_=_=
Enasi stares at Seishu's wings for a moment, before he nodded. "Alright." The guardian started to turn in order to talk to Crios and Harper, but before he could, wings surrounded him, and he was face to face with Seishu. Everything slowed around them and Enasi gave a pout to his arrogance. "That won't be a problem because you will survive." It was whispered as he once again was off like a blur. The interaction only took seconds, but to the others it seemed like the blink of an eye.
With a nod, Enasi turned to Harper and with a soft tug of his ear, he spoke. "I'm entrusting you to split the guards up. Some here to watch the realm, and a few to check the human realm. But you stay. Every time you encounter the nightmares you get upset. We aren't killing them, we just need to find Rue. That's our first priority." Harper nodded and without hesitation, darted off to do as he was told.
"Crios-"
"All the doctors will be ready for any injured dreams. We'll be ready. Rooms are being cleared now." Enasi smiled gently and nodded.
With that, he turned and hurried through the portal. With a slight skip, he stepped on that energy disk and flew low through the human realm. Enasi started by pinpointing any of the positive energy that he could find. But many were sleeping people, or his dream minions doing their jobs. He sticks low to the ground considering Seishu took the skies. "Rue... where are you?" He sighed and continued looking around. He also remembered Seishu's harsh words and refused to whine and complain. They were going to find him. They had no choice.
=_=_=_=_=
His breathing is hard and fast, but he does his best to stifle the sound. He can hear her, just around the corner. The rough gravel road crunches beneath her boost as she moves along it in the dark country atmosphere, Somewhere off in the night an old man sits on a porch, his pipe clutched between what teeth he has left, his old dog sleeping soundly at his feet. He can feel the cold breeze created by the nightmare minion, but his dream remains undisturbed for the most part.
“It's easy to spot if there's a dream minion in someone's head. All you gotta do is look for the changes they make. They feel different from what a human creates naturally. I swear, most of you little sparklers aren't content with just gathering energy, you need to make it 'the best dream, eva!' heh.”
Seishu's words ring in his head and he once again checks to make sure his energy is in check. As a minion Rue has the innate ability to influence people's dreams. 'But if I can keep my energy in check, it should make it very hard for her to find me. . .Why is she after me?! I didn't do anything wrong. . .Oh why did I break the rules. . . .Lord Enasi told me to stay put, told me I had an important job to do!' He holds back a sob as the sound of her boots move in closer. His hand snaps over his mouth as she suddenly speaks.
“I know you are out there you disgusting little thing. Just come out, I'm not here to hurt you. My master just wishes to speak with you. . .” His skin jumps at the sound of steel on stone, her blade scraping over the ground as she pinpoints his location by the fear he's giving off. 'There you are. . .' She is still several yards away and doesn't want to speak him so she slows down as she moves in closer to the cowering fairy.
High above Seishu twitches. More dreams and minions pour through the portal after their lord and begin searching the city. He does his best to keep his energy from the areas they are searching so that he does not impede them. However after less than a minute, he finds it. 'There you are Little Bite' A whip of dark energy lashes out and strikes Enasi gently to get his attention. A few nightmare minions have already risen into the air, to see if their eyes are deceiving them. But before any of them can get a good look at him he surrounds himself in red lightning and plummets from the sky. Almost as fast as a bolt of light he pelts into the home of an old man fallen asleep on an old recliner and without slowing he slams into his head. 'I can only pray Enasi noticed me. This is a Dread Slayer, I'm not match in my current state'
Red lightning streaks the sky as he crashes into the dream. He looks about frantically for the little minion Rue however spots him first and without thinking launches himself up towards the Nightmare Guardian. However Lillium's reaction speed is too quick for him to make a clean getaway. She jumps up and manages to snag his ankle with one gauntlet clad fist, the momentum bringing them crashing back to the ground with Rue crying out in pain. Seishu spots the little exchange and with a roar another bolt crashes through the sky in anger before he lowers himself slowly to the ground.
=_=_=_=_=
With the guards rushing in, pinpointing positive energy was a tad difficult. The energies would entwine with the ones in search of Rue. He was peeking into a home, only to feel negative energy lash out dangerously close to him. At first he thought he was being attacked, but by the red blur, something told him that Seishu was calling him. Immediately, he flew upwards, and followed after Seishu. Minions saw, pausing as the white flash went by soon after the red one.
"I think Lord Enasi found him!"
"We should follow, he may need us."
One of the guards, one higher in rank stopped them. "Only a few. We can't hurt Seishu too." So three of them went off to follow the guardians and the others continued searching for injured minions or Rue.
Enasi noticed Seishu dart into the mind of an old man, but he was still ways away. But he knew Rue was there, he could feel it. When Rue fell, he whimpered and once again tried to escape, but this time the girl grabbed him. "Heh, you should've listened. You wouldn't have gotten hurt as bad." There was a low growl when Seishu appeared. She hissed. "You should be dead."
=_=_=_=_=
As the guards rush to follow their lord a commotion in the sky catches their attention. The pause, looking up to see nightmare minions clashing with one another. The unholy screams and clashes of energy fill the night sky. The display would even be visible to human should the look up, but they would see very little. “C'mon, we have to get to Lord Enasi.” One guard says, tapping his fellows on the shoulder. However the one female of the group calls them to a halt moments later. Two nightmare minions seem to be rushing to the same place where their lord had vanished. The dream minions draw their weapons and take up positions between the house and the nightmare minions.
The two minions who had been racing head first towards their guardian's location come to a skidding halt several yards away from the guards, their arms crossed over their heads. The signal is a universal sign for peace among both dream and nightmare minions so after a few tense seconds the guard lower their weapons. Despite the peace signal the guards hesitate to let the nightmare minions follow them. They hesitate, looking to where Enasi and Seishu disappeared.
“Look, Master Seishu needs help! We can feel it! It hurts. . .We know you are taking care of him, let us through!” the blonde male calls out, his dark dragonfly wings beating so fast they are simply a blur. At his side a redheaded female nods her head rapidly, her own black feathers flashing in the light created by the clash above. The guards hesitate only another few seconds before they turn with a wave and rush to aid their lord. As they leap down from the roof into the building the nightmare minions rush in and they all enter the man's mind together.
Five minutes earlier. . . .
Seishu chuckles as his feet touch the ground. “Well, I can't please everybody. It's kind of obvious seeing as I upset you all enough for one of you to try and kill me after all.” He keeps his eyes from rue, far to angry to offer any kind of comfort to the distressed sparkler. Instead his hands crackle with energy as he begins walking slowly towards the woman.
Despite the obvious fact that he is not match for her at the moment, Lillium can feel herself hesitating. Her stomach drops several levels as she looks into the guardian's eyes and her grip around Rue's arm tightens even though he is not longer struggling. He whimpers in pain at the tightness around his arm and the sound sets Seishu off. A bolt flies from his hand and would have hit the mark if he was at the top of his game. However as it is she manages to dart to the side and throw back a strike of her own. The slam of the compacted air knocks Seishu back several feet but he manages to not fall over. Rue cries out fro him but he ignores the frightened sound. He needs to concentrate. He still has enough energy to hold his own, but there is no way for him to hold her here for long.
So he tries a different tactic. With a smile he nods approvingly. “Very good Lillium, you've been practicing.” She visibly flinches at the sound of her name. “I seem to recall that not a decade ago you were having trouble with keeping your energy concentrated. I suppose that you finally got up the courage to talk to that guy you liked? I haven't seen you in a while so one can only assume things went well. Indeed, you seem much more focused now.”
She growls. “Shut up!” she snaps, her body almost growing weak just from him addressing her so intimately. It is true, Seishu was very close with all of his minions, often visiting the barracks, and most minions were more than happy to talk to him about their problems. At the time, she was no exception. However she could not find it in her to stay by his side. Too much of what Gin says makes so much sense, and she believes more than anything that he is in the right. However she can not fight her upbringing. Seishu was a father to all of them, and to hear him talk like this. . . .
Seishu sees her hesitating, the conflict inside her turbulent and unpredictable. Behind him he feels Enasi enter the dream and he lets out a faint sigh. Big mistake. The sound seems to trigger something inside her and with a scream she lets out another blast. This one is far bigger than the last and he barely has enough time to bring up the rest of his energy to soften the blow. This time he does not just skid backwards, he flies into the air, his arms still crossed in front of him until his body goes limp. Rue screams, tears streaking down his face at the sight of Seishu getting hurt so bad.
=_=_=_=_=
Enasi entered the dream right as Lillium screamed and right as he Seishu was hit. Seeing him fall limp made him freeze for a second. His heart stopped, as did his breathing. What snaps him out of it is Rue's screams of terror and alert when Lillium started to aim another blast at the unconscious body. 'No...' He was still standing there, Rue's pleas to help Seishu not making it to his ears.
"Our new Guardian will be more than pleased." Just as Lillium took the shot, Enasi jumped to the ground, using the disk as a shield. "What is wrong with you!? He is your guardian! Can't you see he cares about his realm!?" Rue sobbed, wanting to go back Lord Enasi, regretting what he did. The little fairy just wanted to go home. He watched as Enasi stood in front of Seishu, his energy coiling down his right arm. "Release him. You're welcome to give in now. I don't want to hurt you." His fist tightened when she held Rue's arm tighter.
The sounds of minions, both his and Seishu's were heard and immediately Enasi spoke, without giving them a second glance. "You two. Nightmares. Help Seishu. Take him far, but not to your realm unless you want him killed." As he spoke, Lillium decided to try and blast him while he was distracted, but as soon as she raised her arm in attack, a rope of positive energy coiled around her arm. Enasi yanked downward, making her fall to a knee. "I can see the conflict in your eyes... Why are you fighting it? Even you, deep down still believe Seishu is fit to be a guardian." He tried talking reason into her, hoping she would come to her senses.
=_=_=_=_=
Upon seeing their fallen guardian the two nightmare minions fly full speed to the ground, landing hard on either side of him. Around them the guard materialize and move forward to form a wall behind their lord. The blond male nods and pulls Seishu in close to him. Both of them are about half Seishu's height so it takes both of them to lift him up. But as soon as they get airborne they take off like bullets, leaving a trail of energy behind them for Enasi to follow later. They stay low to the ground after emerging from the old man's dream and move at breakneck speed towards a row of mountains in the distance. They pass over the rocky crags, their wings working so hard the girl is sure that hers are about to tear off. However their concern over their wounded guardian is enough to keep them going for several miles. At last the find a place high in the mountains the Master Seishu use to go to just to wander around. The grassy shelf on the side of the mountain is rather large, the overhang above casting it in shadow with the current position of the moon.
Panting hard the boy says, “There's *Huff* no one around here. There should be none from either side in the area.” The girl nods in reply and they both lower Seishu carefully don on to the soft damp grass. Neither of them are medics, and healing is not in a nightmare minions nature. All they can do is direct their energy at him in hopes that it will help. Despite their different appearances the two are twins and use to sharing. As they try desperately to aid their guardian in his healing the boy reaches out to his sister and take her hand in his own, their soft sobs joining the gentle swish of the breeze.
Meanwhile. . .
She lets out a wicked laugh, ignoring the pain of having so much positive energy wrapped around her arm. Her armor was specially made, like all Dread Slayer's armor is, to repel positive energy to a degree. However Enasi is for more powerful a source of the energy than it was ever designed to handle. She can feel it almost burning right through the hard black material, but she keeps her eyes on Enasi. Her eyes are filled with such loathing as she watches the fallen guardian carried off out of the corner of her eye. She never takes her focus from the Dream Guardian.
This is not the first time she has felt the burn of Enasi's weapon. The last battle between realms was her first time on the killing fields. She had always heard about how easy and fun the battle is, and afterward how good it feels to be drenched in the blood of your enemies. However before the battle Seishu had made a speech. At that time she was still on the fence about joining Gin's cause. The speech was almost enough o drive her to Gin's side right then and there. Seishu, while inspiring, kept saying things about keeping the balance, and how they were not really enemies. They should kill what they can, but for the most part, just try to survive.
A lot of the combatants had been in the battles before and for the most part ignored Seishu's references to the balance, however Lillium was beyond confused by them. They disturbed her greatly and when the clash came she was unprepared for the chaos. Several of the minions she grew up with were slain before her eyes, and even a nightmare she herself had rescued from a dreadful human. All his words about the dream dwellers not being her enemies rang through her head, and she knew then and there that Seishu was far to weak and pitiful to be a proper Nightmare Guardian.
Her laugh dies down, her lips pulled back in a snarl as she glares up at Enasi with such loathing behind her eyes. “Stop fighting? Are you a fool? Only a truly pitiful being would give up just because the odds are against them. Only a weakling would let their confusion get in the way of their goal.” She manages to pull herself to her feet, the smile on her lips almost demented. Reaching up she grips her trapped arm just above the coiled energy. “Do not underestimate my will!” she screams, and with a loud cracking noise her arm snaps, almost looking like a mini explosion beneath her fingers, and before a breath passes she falls backward into a portal to the nightmare realm, her wicked laughter echoing through the night air. The portal is there only for a few more seconds before it vanishes. At his sides the guards move closer to their lord, asking if he's alright.
'Well, he's recovered some. He's not bright red anymore' Seishu chuckles to himself quietly and motions that he is indeed ready to head back. He simply nods in reply to his question, the sight of the overly bright swirling energies making his stomach turn despite his recent “feeding”. 'So bright, so shiny. . .' With a sigh he rolls his eyes at Enasi and slides into the portal behind the other male. He keeps his eyes closed to lessen the effect on his system, but even without seeing it he still steps out the other side feeling dizzy. His hand darts out to where he can feel Enasi just ahead of him and ha manages not to tip over. 'I wonder if I'll be able to make my own portals from here eventually, or if it's dream power only. . .'
He doesn't have long to think about the discomfort of travel between the realms too long because moments later the tell tale sound of large feet bounding into the room draws his attention. He looks up to see Hops bounding into the room, skidding to a halt in front of the returned guardians. He looks a bit frantic as he glances wildly about them as if trying to find something. Before he can be asked what's wrong Crios and a pack of dreams and minions rush into the room. Most stop just inside the doorway to the hall, but Crios and Cho all run up beside Harper, looks of distress and the threat of tears evident on their faces. At last Harper speaks up. “My lord, Rue has gone missing. I have reports that he was last seen around this hall. I was hoping he'd return with you.” He glances towards Seishu, a clear glint of anger in his eyes. “I have just spoken to a minion who was chased down by a nightmare minion in the area you were just in. It seems the foul thing was trying to capture the minion. God only knows why. . .But Rue, alone, obviously green and unable to make his own portals. . .” His voice trails off at the implication.
He doesn't have long to think about the discomfort of travel between the realms too long because moments later the tell tale sound of large feet bounding into the room draws his attention. He looks up to see Hops bounding into the room, skidding to a halt in front of the returned guardians. He looks a bit frantic as he glances wildly about them as if trying to find something. Before he can be asked what's wrong Crios and a pack of dreams and minions rush into the room. Most stop just inside the doorway to the hall, but Crios and Cho all run up beside Harper, looks of distress and the threat of tears evident on their faces. At last Harper speaks up. “My lord, Rue has gone missing. I have reports that he was last seen around this hall. I was hoping he'd return with you.” He glances towards Seishu, a clear glint of anger in his eyes. “I have just spoken to a minion who was chased down by a nightmare minion in the area you were just in. It seems the foul thing was trying to capture the minion. God only knows why. . .But Rue, alone, obviously green and unable to make his own portals. . .” His voice trails off at the implication.
© 2007-2026