"A Bittersweet Journey" ~Setsuna

[//Setsuna-Chan\\]

Setsuna: HEY GUYS! -waves- Alright, I finally got this story up and running. Forgive me the fact it isn’t that great…nee! I’m not really…good…at writing fics. I can’t think of words. XD But this came to me in a dream a while ago, and then it turned into an RP, and now it’s an idea.

‘Our planet has many dimensions, and many worlds. One of many is the underworld itself. When evil threatens an entire kingdom by destroying their young ruler, can one girl reach another dimension at the other end of the Underworld, and get there in one year? With evil demons, monsters, thieves, and so much more, the past will be found, a truth will be revealed, and can there really be love hidden within a black stone?’

…That was crap wasn’t it…?

Rated PG-13 for blood, violence, insanity, romance (nothing too bad XD), and of course, language…I SAID HELL! AHAHAHA!

Disclaimer: I own all of the characters, and this evil plot. And Andrew, Marcus, and Adriana are my friend’s creations we put into the RP. It wouldn’t really be good without them. Thankie Em Kay!

Remember the Three R’s! Read, review, and respect…okay that was lame…



“A Bittersweet Journey”
By Artamis Ryu
Chapter 1 “Prologue”
Scene: The Village of Trinity
Day: --


"SETSUNA!" came the high pitched shriek from the bedchambers in the palace.

Deep within the courtyard, she smiled, then turned and ran. Her skirt bounced against her legs, making her laugh with delight. Her plan had gone perfectly.

She rounded the corner, bounding into the dense, green forest. Mid day, and the air was warm, the wind was cold, and the sky was clear. The trees shuddered, whispering words none could understand. She fell to the ground, rays gleaming through the trees. The sun kissed her skin, gleaming flaxen against her silver locks. The grass tickled her face, and from the trees, a single leaf fell down beside her.

There were steps on the pavement coming her way. Very fast steps. The girl lifted her head, then sat up completely.

Before her stood Princess Adriana, her long hair and slip soaked. In her hand, held by the scruff, was an unusual creature, with a bushy, pointed tail, white fur, and enormous ears. “You…” she growled, as the creature began to squirm.

“Hey! Don’t treat Tsugimori like that!” she yelled, leaping to her feet and snatching the trembling creature from Adriana.

Adriana clenched her fists. “You sent that…that…” she paused, as if to think of the right words, “THING, into my room, had it dump water on me, and now you’re treating it like a little BABY!”

“Yeah…so?” She admitted, grinning.

Her eye twitched, and she resisted the urge to kill. “Dammit Setsuna! Why can’t you just grow up?!”

Setsuna smiled, cuddling Tsugimori in her arms. “Oh, I have. But your ‘Pranks & Sarcasm’ department went out of business recently I can tell. Same with looks!” With a laugh, she turned and dashed into the forest. Adriana screamed in a fury, and despite her high-heeled shoes, chased after her.

Twisting and turning through the forest paths, Setsuna believed it would be easy to lose Adriana, but it was the complete opposite. “Setsuna! Listen here! I know these trails better than you do, and you won’t be that hard to find!” She lunged forward, her hand inches from Setsuna’s back.

Tsugimori squealed, clinging to Setsuna’s shirt. She grinned, looking back at Adriana. “Yeah but I know the tricks of the trade!” She turned her head forward again, then with a leap, she grabbed hold of a small, bark-shaved branch. She bent her legs and lurched forward, swinging around the limp in a full 360-degree circle.

Adriana passed straight under, then attempted to skid to a stop. He heels caught onto an upturned root, flinging her forward, right into the muck that had formed over the years. She shrieked, her body now covered in oozing greenish-black mud.

Setsuna dangled, then dropped. She laughed and laughed, clutching her sides as the tears slid down her face. Beside her, Tsugimori squeaked, running in little excited circles around her. His bright blue eyes kept looking to Adriana, then his mistress. He turned sharply from them, facing the path, where there was a crackle of leaves and a twig snap. Setsuna turned her head, then went deathly silent.

Adriana continued to gripe, then looked up. “Lord Andrew! Thank god!”

Standing on the trail and looking down at them, was none other than the leader of their country, Lord Andrew Royama. His dark brunette hair was almost glowing in the sun, but it was not a pleasant glow. Red as blood, as were his eyes.

“Up.” he commanded sharply to Setsuna. The girl stood, shaken, Tsugimori once again in her grip. Adriana stormed past her, then stood behind Andrew. She began to tell him of all the little pranks Setsuna had pulled on her within a matter of 20 minutes of her waking up. The lord listened, then glared. He turned without saying anything, placing his cloak around Adriana’s shoulders, then walked towards the palace.

Adriana trailed behind him, dripping with the green-black sludge. Every so often, she would turn her head and glare at Setsuna with abhorrence (for those who don’t know, it’s another form of hatred).

Now Setsuna walked in silence, ignoring all of Tsugimori’s attempts to cheer her up. He would nip at her face playfully, and run across her shoulders. He would brush his tail against her cheek, and nibble on her dress’ sleeve. Nothing was working.

Soon they were in the palace courtyard again. Setsuna looked up to its white stoned walls, its wind-blown glass windows, it’s richly carved Mahogany doors. Vines crept up the sides, and some reached to the highest tower. The sky was turning grey with clouds, and it nearly blended with the palace itself.

There was a sharp tug on her sleeve. She yelped, Andrew’s hand gripping her wrist tightly. Adriana was whisked away by her chambermaids, all of them bickering about what to do for the ‘poor princess’. Now it was Setsuna and Andrew (and Tsugimori of course ^_^).

He dragged her into the palace, through the doors. Advisors ran everywhere, bustling with work and preparing for parties and events. Their shoes clacked against the freshly cleaned wooden floors. The walls were draped with embroideries and draperies and paintings of every sort. Red, velvet curtains that led to the floor covered every window. The ceiling was but an elaborate sculpture, showing symbols and gods and demons.

He took her into an elevator, roughly shoving her in, before pressing the button and watching the doors close. Setsuna shivered. She hated being anywhere NEAR Andrew, let alone stuck in a contained room with him. The elevator lurched upward, heading for floor ‘17’.

Prince Marcus’ chambers…

“Look, it isn’t my fault Adriana can’t take a joke—“ she tried to explain.

“Silence!” He cut her off sharply, glaring at her as if he would slap her face if she spoke again.

“Alright, alright. Geez…” she muttered, leaning against the far corner. The elevator slowed, then came to a stop. The doors opened, and they found themselves in a black and red room.

The walls were a lovely shade of black, as well as the ceilings. The furniture was all velvet, and all red. The floors were red as well, and there were no windows. Only a door, the only thing that was defiantly not painted black, stood there, waiting for them.

Andrew knocked furiously on the door. “Marcus! Open this door right now!” Setsuna waiting patiently behind him, looking to the wall over the couch. There hung a beautiful, lifelike family portrait. She didn’t have time to see anymore than the four figures, before the door was opened.

“It’s about time.” Andrew roughly grabbed Setsuna’s wrist again, then shoved her in front of him. “This monstrosity…has been causing major problems with Princess Adriana, and I want it seen by you that it is taken care of. Is that clear?” He glared at the man before him, then began to tell of all the things that had happened during the short morning.

“Yes father,” he said in a stern voice, turning his eyes to Setsuna, who shuddered, at his gaze.

“Good…” With that, Andrew stormed to the elevator, and was gone. The man turned to her, his hair dark brown like his father’s, only more tamed, and combed back. He stayed silent, his green eyes almost dull. As the elevator dinged, then went down, he smiled.

“So why did you do it this time?”

Setsuna grinned. Tsugimori leapt from her shoulder and to Marcus’. He laughed as the little creature rubbed against his cheek, then sat on his shoulder. She began to tell him everything that she had planned, how she had gotten Tsugimori to dump the ice water onto her bed, how she had hidden the snake (non-venomous) in her wardrobe, and how when she followed, she swung around and Adriana had fallen into the much.

Marcus chuckled. “You really are the mischievous one, aren’t you?” He sighed and shook his head. “Well I DO have to punish you, not sure how…”

She frowned. “Well, you said you needed a messenger right,” he nodded, “so I’ll do that for you.” She recalled a sign on the door she had read coming into the building. It had asked for a messenger, willing and able to do it’s job.

He sighed, then nodded. “Just to warn you, you’ll be doing a lot of running.”

She grinned again, then crouched in front of him. “Running is no problem, isn’t that right Tsugi?” The little animal squealed, then jumped to her arm and curled up against her cheek. “So when do I start?”

He shrugged. “Now I guess.” He reached into his pocket, then handed her a wax-sealed envelope. It was rather heavy, even for just a letter.

“How many pages do you have in here?!” She asked in wonder. He laughed.

“One to many.” He gave her a few directions, then watched her as she left.

-----------------------
Time: Later that afternoon, early evening
Scene: Edge of the Avaunted Forest
Setsuna’s P.O.V.
-----------------------

Just a blur. Everything is just a blur to me. The trees and light is going by so fast. I can almost see the palace, way in the distance. It’s not that far…I can get there…

I press my head to Tsugi’s fur. It’s soft. You can make it there can’t you? Right…? After all, you can transform into something the size of a large wolf. That’s what you are, my friend.

Soon we’ll be home, and then Marcus will come to greet us. He will thank us for going so far, and for running so fast. He will be unhappy though, that Karvert is completely leveled. What could have done it? Who would want to do such a thing? I had friends there, but there was no one in Karvert. Are they all dead?

You’re whining, and slowing down. Surely you’re not tired already. Oh, the palace…that’s right, we can’t be seen, or they’ll take you away. I lower myself to the ground, then watch as you turn into the small, companion who is always at my side when I need you.

The palace isn’t that far…it’s just over the hill. I can see the gleaming white tower, and the church in the town. The town…

Without realizing it, I’m already there, standing before the palace doors. The market was empty, and everyone was at that ‘Feast-of-Evil’ thing. What a joke, the only evil there is that guy who dresses like a girl each time we have that celebration.

I laugh quietly, then open the doors. There aren’t any advisors either…it feels deserted inside. Tsugimori is squealing and running at my feet. Why do you keep crying Tsugi? Is something wrong?

The elevator seems to take forever, and it’s so horribly slow. The 17th floor seems like ages away. Forever. Eternity. Infinity…

But hey, I’m there already. I’ve waited this long already; I can wait a bit longer right? Well, maybe not. The door is opening, and here I am, at the sitting room of Marcus’ chambers.

I raise my hand to the door. For some reason, it seems to hurt. Tsugi, you’re crying again. What is it? I wait, and then the door opens. Marcus starts to speak, then gasps. He’s saying something, but I can’t hear. Why can’t I hear anything anymore? What’s happening…?

My knees seem to give out, and I’m falling. You’re arms are there to catch me though. You’re panicking, and holding me close, and saying things I don’t understand. Tsugi is running in circles around me, panicking. I cast my eyes to the mirror on the wall, and grow silent.

I see myself staring back, but there is blood. My entire abdomen is covered in this red, crimson liquid. It hits me like a bucket of ice water. I’m going to die…

I open my mouth to speak, but I can’t talk. My cheek is scarred, and my lip is cut. I feel like everything suddenly hurts. I’ve heard about this. It’s called shock. I was able to get home without noticing anything. Then I get here, and I realize what’s happened.

But how did it happen…?

I lift my eyes to Marcus. You’re close to tears, and you’re still holding me. I smile, and I try to whisper, but I can’t move my mouth. You’re fading. Tsugi is fading. Everything…

Black…

-----------------------
Time: That evening…
Normal P.O.V.
-----------------------

“She’s awake Marcus. You can go see her if you want.”

The voices echoed back to her, slowly, painfully. She turns her head, then opened her amethyst eyes. Dr. Yuko was talking with Marcus about her condition. Marcus sighed with relief, then walked over. Yuko left, closing the door behind him.

“Setsuna, how are you feeling?” He asks, sitting beside her. She blinks very slowly, then smiles.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry. But, what happened?” She asks, looking around the room. When did she get there?

“You…” he stops, swallowing and wiping his eyes. They were red, and puffy, as if he were crying, “you passed out a few hours ago. I called Dr Yuko, and luckily he had no other appointments, not that he wouldn’t have come anyway.” He smiles. “After all, you two are friends.”

Suddenly she sits up, gasping. “Oh! The letter!” She reaches into her shirt, as if to find something, then pulls out of her shirt. It is a letter, the bottom stained in blood. “The town, Karvert…it’s gone!”

Marcus nods solemnly. “I know…” He takes the letter from her. “It’s alright that it wasn’t delivered. There was no one to take it, right?” She nods sadly. “Everything was wiped out. Apparently an attack. I’m…not sure from where though. I sent out a team to investigate. Some of them came back with evidence of ammunition and shells of some sort, arrows and such. But, nothing more than that. The others will be arriving soon.”

She nods, then touches her stomach. It is tightly wrapped in bandages, but she can still see the red through the cloth. Marcus is silent, and Tsugimori is nowhere in sight. “Where is Tsugi?”

“He’s with Keitaro. Don’t worry, there was nothing wrong with him. He was just a little stunned.” Without realizing it, he takes her hands, and holds them in his. “Did you see what attacked you?”

Setsuna pauses, lowering her eyes to the sheets. Nothing comes to mind. “I saw nothing, m’lord.” She looks to the side, then closes her eyes. Her mind is blank. All she can see if her standing among the remains of Karvert, the small town that couldn’t defend itself.

She stops. “Wait…” A flicker of a memory. The sky, red. Something’s coming. A snake? No, a demon. “It was almost like a giant serpent…” The flash of a man’s face, shadowed, eyes red as hell. He seemed so familiar, but she couldn’t tell him… “That was it…”

Marcus frowned, then reached out, pulling her close to him, into a hug. She went silent. Her face turned a light shade of red. She had never been this close to him, willingly at least. It felt…

Nice…

He pulled back, his face filled with regret. “I have to go now, but tomorrow morning I’ll return.” He stood, and turned to leave.

He stopped from the tug on his sleeve that forced him to turn. Setsuna clung to the cuff of his sleeve, her eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t go…” She couldn’t stop thinking of the man she had seen. How familiar he was.

He sighed, then sat beside her. “Don’t worry. I’m here.” Minutes passed, and she fell into the oblivion of sleep.

-----------------------
Time: Next morning
Day: --
-----------------------

There was a squeal. Setsuna rolled over, groaning. It came again, only louder. Something fuzzy brushed her face, and she turned sharply, opening her eyes. Tsugi crouched beside her, legs folded under his furry body. He squeaked again, then happily came to his feet, attacking her with love (aww).

Setsuna laughed.” Tsugi!” The little animal squealed with delight, running around her and leaping across the room. He dropped beside her face, and licked at her nose. “Oh Tsugi! How have you been?” She laughs as he just chatters in his own language to her.

“He was whining all night. He wanted to see you, and he didn’t get any sleep.” Setsuna turned her head, then saw the familiar face of Keitaro. He grinned, his fangs showing. “Neither did I.”

“Keitaro!” Setsuna sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, then goes over and embracing him. “How have you been?”

The demon shrugged, brushing his dark blue bangs from his face. “I’ve been alright I guess. I came back from my trip last night, and I heard you got hurt…and knowing Tsugimori, it would have been impossible to actually…help…y’know?” He smiled sheepishly.

Setsuna grinned. “Yeah, I know.” She pulled away, studying him. The demon seemed more slender since the last time she had seen him. His hair was longer, pulled back into a ponytail. His kimono top matched his hair, and his eyes. But the pants were new, black, and pleated. “You seem so different. How long has it been, two years?” When she looked to his waist, she saw the familiar sheath, and she knew inside, it held his father’s sword, which he had carried ever since his father’s passing.

He nods. “Yes. Now, you have to get back to resting, because I mean…you are still technically injured.” She waved her arms in frustration. “Well you are.”

“I’m fine. Now, I’ll be out in a minute. Shoo.” She gave him a light shove to the door, and he was gone. On the table, Marcus had laid out some clothes for her; a lovely green top, with a beige skirt. “d**n. For a guy, Marcus has fashion sense…”

She put them on, then left the room, Tsugi on her shoulder. Keitaro was waiting, staring at the waiting room he was in. It was all red, lined with gold. The hospital floor. She grinned. “Enjoy the changes made around here?”

He nodded. “Yeah, this place is more, well, complex…” Tsugi squeaked again, nipping at Keitaro’s feet. The demon looked down, blinking slowly as the small creature attempted to chew a hole in his shoe. “I liked it better before.” He blinked. “You sure that you’re going to be okay?”

Setsuna smiled, twirling. “I feel fine! See?” Keitaro rolled his eyes and shook his head, then moved away from the wall and towards the elevator.

“You coming?” She laughed as she raced up beside him, then nodding.

~To Be Continued

[//Setsuna-Chan\\]

“A Bittersweet Journey”
By Artamis Ryu
Chapter 1 “Part 2”
Scene: The Village of Trinity
Day: --

-----------------------
Time: That evening
-----------------------

The village was unusually quiet. Even the market was still. No birds or crickets chirped, and the horses whined, pacing in their stables. The air was thick with heat, thick enough to carve with a knife.

Setsuna sat in silence upon the village wall overlooking the fields of grain, corn, and other goods that they were to harvest. In the distance, the Avaunted Forest was shrouded with the familiar mist, as usual. The sun was setting, turning the sky as red as blood, and the clouds were turned pink.

The fields were golden, the trees were orange and yellow and red, the leaves dancing in the wind. It was almost like a festival, all the people who showed. She sighed sadly, tilting her head to the side.

“Hey.” Setsuna turned her head, just as Keitaro climbed up onto the wall beside her.

“Hello.” She said softly, eyes never leaving the horizon. He watched her for a few moments, then looked out ith her.

“Why are you always up here?” he asked quietly, glancing at their hands. His was but a few inches from hers now. “Every evening, you come to this exact spot, and just, stare out at the land.” What are you looking for, he wanted to ask, but bit his tongue.

She sighed. “I want to know what’s out there…I want to know about myself, and what happened in my past. I want to know what happened to Karvert, I want to know what happened to my parents, I want to know what it’s like to live without the safety of this palace…”

“Setsuna…”

“I am but a simple girl, Keitaro, with a simple life. That’s all I am,” she sighed, “and I dream for things that could never be possible.” Her eyes glazed over and she stared into space. “I long to know a life I could never know, a life I can’t remember.”

He looked at her, noticing how sad she appeared. “Hey…” he said quietly, reaching over and tilting her chin so she was looking towards him, “everything is going to be alright. Don’t worry about it. And stop being sad, because it doesn’t suit you.”

He tapped her nose, making her giggle. “Thanks. I always knew I could rely on a friend like you.” He nodded, smiling at her, before…

There was a shout, followed by a loud explosion. The ground shuddered, and the wall cracked, inches from where the two sat. Setsuna leapt to her feet, then gasped as she lost her balance. Beside her, Keitaro grabbed her arm, pulling her towards him.

“What’s going on?!” She cried, clinging to him, then looking out towards the Eastern Wall of their town. Smoke billowed from a crater where the wall once stood, people were screaming and running away. Guards from the palace were dashing to aid people, and see what had happened.

“Are we under attack?” Keitaro whispered under his breath, narrowing his eyes. With his vision, he could see to the wall, where the smoke poured. Guards were lined up just outside the crater, talking to each other casually, as if it were no big deal.

Something in the smoke moved. The hairs on his neck rose, and he could sense the chill in the air. Suddenly, there was another explosion, and instead of smoke, an enormous serpent-like creature emerged. Covering its face was a rusted metal mask, and its body was covered in jagged spikes.

The creature roared, its throat glowing, then looking at the guards. The men were in shock, yelling commands and panicking. The last thing they saw, was the yellow flicker between the creature’s teeth, then the flames that incinerated them to a pile of ashes.

“Oh!” The girl cried, clinging tighter to Keitaro. He looked to the palace, where more guards were pouring out. The villagers scrambled away from the site of the explosion, towards the Western Wall. It proved to be fatal. Just when they thought it to be safe, the door along the Western Wall was completely destroyed, and another enormous demon waltzed into the village.

They could see the clouds beginning to cover the sun, and it was getting dark. Tsugimori raced towards then, then paced at the bottom of the wall, squealing. He clawed at the wall, looking up at Keitaro, then Setsuna. The gem embedded into his forehead glimmered faintly, and he made an impatient gesture.

“Keitaro, c’mon!” She grabbed his arm, then jumped off the wall, bringing him with her. Tsugimori jumped back, then glowed a pale yellow. He hissed as a second tail emerged next to his original, and he grew. His hair became long, and his paws grew large claws. On his snout, his fangs could be seen, long and gleaming they were.

Setsuna hopped on and turned to her friend. “Get on!” Keitaro eagerly sprung onto the creature’s back, then nearly fell of when he lurched forward, dashing towards the palace.

They were headed straight into the battle, where the ‘monsters’ were attacking. Setsuna ignored the site, and looked straight ahead towards the palace. But Keitaro had other plans, sliding off Tsugi before they reached the palace. He drew his sword, and began to run towards the first demon that attacked the Eastern Wall.

“Keitaro!” Setsuna screamed, tugging on the creature’s scruff, but Tsugi refused to turn back. He ran straight into the palace door, knocking it open, then scrambling inside.

Advisors were all in a tizzy, screaming and panicking, sending out calls and writing out urgent letters. It was chaotic, worse than outside where the battle was actually happening.

Tsugimori easily hopped around the advisors then ran towards the stairs. Setsuna screamed as he broke through the metal doors, then clambered up the stairwell. It was cramped, and hard for him to stay in a straight line. Several times he nearly ran straight off the railing, but they never fell. Eventually, he figured it was easier to just leap from one railing to another, and the trip took half the time.

As soon as they had reached the roof of the palace, he broke through the door once again, and they both tumbled out onto the pavement that lay on the top of the palace. Setsuna winced, forcing herself to sit up, then gasped. Andrew, Marcus, and several advisors were staring at them, all their faces written with panic, and worry.

Marcus knelt near Setsuna, glancing at the big Tsugimori. “Are you alright?” She nodded quickly, then ran over to the edge of the building. The demons were still attacking, smashing buildings and engulfing people as they went.

“This is horrible!” She yelped, watching as innocent people were losing their lives.

A shadow cast over her. She turned to find Andrew standing directly behind her. He was too close for comfort, and it sent a chill down her spine. “Indeed, it is…”

Adriana fiddled with her hair, watching as Marcus paced. “We have to do something.” He looked down at his hand, holding a letter, ‘URGENT’ written on the front. Setsuna looked to him. “I have to go back down and get the messenger. This HAS to be delivered…”

“I’ll do it,” Setsuna said without thinking, running over to him and then snatching the letter from his hand. “Who does it go to? Where is this person I’m giving it to at? Will you be okay?”

Marcus shook his head, trying to take the letter back. “No! You can’t go deliver it! Last time you nearly got yourself killed!”

She glared. “I can do it!”

“No you can’t!” He argued. She stuffed the letter in her shirt where he knew he wouldn’t reach. “God Setsuna! The things you do!”

“Marcus! You know I can! You just don’t want me to!” He continued to give her a stern look, not ready to give in. “I know this is no place for me! But I’d rather be helping you, than just sitting around and doing nothing!”

“Get out before this gets any worse! Get out, before you get hurt again! I hate you when you act like this! So, stubborn!” He growled at her in frustration.

“I’ve got you worried! That shows you do like me!” She screamed in his face, tears brimming in her eyes. It went silent; the only sounds were from the destruction below. Marcus sighed sadly, knowing he couldn’t argue with her.

“…When you’ve made up your mind, you’ve made up your mind,” he said quietly, then looking at her square in the face. “Good luck. And come back safe.”

She smiled. “I always do.” She turned to Tsugimori, kissing his nose, before hopping onto his back, and preparing for the painful ride down the stairs.

-----------------------
Time: That night (about twenty minutes later)
Scene: Abandoned Fort of Karvert, outside the Avaunted Woods
-----------------------

Setsuna slipped off of Tsugi, then rushing into the old, rotted brick building. Time seemed to be passing painfully slow. Behind her, her companion growled, looking towards the village, then sitting beside the door. She ran down the stone stairs, deep into the damp hallways, dimly lit by her small torch she acquired.

There was nobody in sight. Almost as if the fort was abandoned, like it had been for so many years. So why was she there now? Setsuna growled, then sat. She held the letter firmly in her grip, then slipped the note from its envelope.

“Ahh,” she grinned, seeing that it was addressed to Adriana herself. “What letter could you be writing at a time like this?” She sighed, then began to read. It spoke of the war, and the tactics, and how much Marcus missed her…and how Andrew was getting impatient for her answer…At the very bottom of the letter, were words she had hoped not to see.

Love Marcus.

Setsuna swallowed the lump in her throat. Surly it was a friendly ‘love’. But, if that were the case, why did he never use ‘Love Marcus’ on her? She shrugged, slipping the note into the envelope, just as Adriana came along.

The hall was suddenly lit up with dozens of torches. She snatched the letter from Setsuna, read it, then handed Setsuna a letter back. Adriana just glared, placing her hands on her hips, and waiting for the girl to leave.

“Wish me luck?” Setsuna said as she walked towards the door.

Nobody said anything.

-----------------------
Time: Later that night
Scene: The Village/Palace
-----------------------

Tsugimori was beginning to pant, his long tongue hanging from his mouth. They were within the village, and the demons were still fighting, although blood now oozed from wounds along their necks and sides. The palace was still in tact, although fires licked at the walls (not that they would do anything. It’s brick…fire doesn’t really affect brick…does it…?).

Setsuna had read the letter before they came, and she had learned something. Adriana and Marcus may be more than just ‘friends’. It hurt her heart to think that something like that was possible.

How could he like someone like her? She’s rude and insensitive, and she hates everything, she thought to herself, besides, she’s ugly. Then she lowered her head. No, that’s a lie…she’s beautiful…more beautiful than I will ever be…

Marcus raced over to her, eager for some news. “Well? Did you get anything?”

Setsuna started to reach for the letter, then stopped. “No…” she lied, very convincing, “she only said that reinforcements would be here soon.”

He frowned. “She didn’t leave a letter, or anything? Or say she was?” He asked, watching sadly as she shook her head.

“Nope. Not a thing.” He sighed, muttering something, then turned away. Andrew was sitting calmly on the couch in the waiting room, while advisors buzzed around him. The lord was obviously frustrated, and he kept glaring at Setsuna, almost knowing that she was lying.

In a flash, there was an explosion by the door. One of the demons had ripped through the wall, flames bursting from its mouth. Tsugi hissed, arching his back, then running away in a panic. “TSUGI!” Setsuna called after him, but she knew it was impossible to chase after him.

The advisors all stood in shock, staring up at the creature, fearing their demise. It stood there, absolutely motionless, the only sounds coming from its breathing, and the flames cracking in its throat. And then it ended, with the arching of its head, and a roar.

A river of flames swept out, completely washing over the floor of the waiting room. The advisors all ran, avoiding the blaze, and headed for emergency exits. The only thing in the creature’s way now, was Marcus. He stood, alone, his own sword drawn,

“Get back!” He called out, watching the demon react by lurching its head. “Demon, whatever brings you here, must have made a mistake! Leave now!” He threatened, waving his sword. It seemed unaffected, arching its neck again.

“Marcus move!” Setsuna screamed, racing out, then throwing her arms around him, causing them both to fall. The wave of flames washed just above them, searing the tips of Marcus’ hair. He gasped, clinging tightly to the girl, then leaping to his feet.

His knees felt like rubber, and he wanted to fall again. The heat was overwhelming. He could see the creature walk towards him, its tail twitching with excitement. Things were beginning to blur, toxic air rising from the flames heating the waxed floor, and he stumbled back, the sword nearly falling from his hands.

“Marcus!” Andrew called out, reading to grab his son. But Setsuna was two steps ahead of him, standing from the spot she had fallen, grabbing Marcus’ sleeve, then throwing him out of the way, just as the monster’s long, spiked tail swung around.

She scrambled back, the front of her body getting torn by the tips of the tail. She winced, ignoring the blood that began to pour from her old wound. The bandages torn, her blood fell freely down her legs and onto the wood. The demon hissed, bringing its colossal arm down, and smashing her into the ground.

She cried out, its talons piercing straight through her stomach and into the floor. The pain was unbelievable. Its arm rose again, and it threw its head down, clamping its jaws against her sides, puncturing the skin there as well. Shaking its head, it whipped her across the room, throwing her straight into the wall. She gasped, falling, then landing hard, silent.

“Setsuna!” Marcus screamed, reaching for his sword. The demon prepared itself for another attack on the boy and was then was caught off guard. Running up its leg was Keitaro, hacking away mercilessly.

“BRING IT ON!” Keitaro screamed, driving the sword into the creature’s chest cavity. There was a shrill cry, just before it fell to the ground, dead. Blue blood oozed from the wounds and its mouth, washing over the floor. Keitaro yanked his word from the creature, then raced over to his friend.

He fell to his knees, reaching out to touch her torn body. “Oh god, oh d**n…this is bad, this is really bad…” he leaned down, gently touching her cheek. She trembled, then opened her eyes.

“Kei…”

He chewed his lip, Marcus coming up behind him to join. “Don’t worry, don’t…”

There was a sudden silence that drifted across the room. The other creature, just outside was slain as well, and the terror was coming to an end. Marcus carefully took Setsuna’s battered body into his arms, cringing at all the blood that was just weeping from her wounds.

Meanwhile, Andrew faced the wall, vomiting.

-----------------------
Time: Next afternoon
Setsuna’s P.O.V.
Day: --
-----------------------

It’s really, really cold…I feel like…I’m not really here…like my body isn’t really here now…

I try to open my eyes, but everything feels so far away. Everything hurts so badly, and my head is throbbing, and I can’t seem to get anything to work. Why does this always seem to happen to me?

“Yes…thank you, Dr Yuko…for coming…” I hear Marcus’ voice say. He sounds so sad. As I force my eyes open, I see that he is crying. What’s the matter? Why are you so sad? Is it something I did?

I try to whisper your name, and somehow, you hear me, and you come running. You are at my side in an instant. You are here, and I don’t want you to ever leave.

“Setsuna…” you say through your tears, smiling weakly. I know I’m smiling back, because I can feel it. The pain seems to become dull.

“What…happened…?” I ask softly. Or I think I ask. My voice sounds so strange to me…it’s almost like it isn’t really my voice at all. You suddenly can’t speak, and you’re crying again. The air is cold in here, and I shiver uncontrollably.

“You’re…” you say, chewing on your lip, as if it’s hard for you to say it, “you’re…dying…”

My world comes crashing down, and suddenly I remember everything. How the demon attacked, how the village was nearly destroyed. The toxic fumes from the floor, you almost passing out, the feeling when the demon pierced my stomach.

To hear these words from you is like hearing a voice from God. You know I’m dying, and I know I am too, because you would never admit it if I wasn’t…you would never say such a thing. I can feel my tears streaming down my face, and you quickly wipe them away.

Words spill out of your mouth, in another language I don’t even know. Then I remember the letter, and a wave of guilt comes over me. I make myself reach into my shirt, then pull out the letter for you. You sit in silence, staring at the letter as if it’s something evil.

I apologize for lying, the tears falling harder now. The pain grows numb, and I know something is happening to me. I know I’m going to die, so I admit everything to you. I admit how I’ve wanted to be with you for so long, and how I’ve had to watch from a distance as you gave all of your heart so someone else.

I wanted it to be you that would hold me whenever I wanted someone to hold me. I wanted you to be there to dry my tears when I would cry, but that’s never going to happen. I’m going to die, and there’s nothing that can change it.

And I know it hurts you, to sit there and listen to my rambling. I know you probably hate it, and want to leave. I want to say that it’s okay, and that you don’t have to sit around with me. I know you don’t want…

In a flash, you are there for me again. You are holding me close, drying my tears, listening to me ramble on and on. I feel so horrible, forcing you to endure something like this. I only…I only wanted…

You make me look at you, then you kiss me. I’ve never felt so wonderful in my life. But I know it’s not one of those kisses you read about in all the romance novels, where fireworks go off, and they end up marrying. I know it’s a pitiful kiss.

“My life is at your hands…” you whisper, then press your lips to my forehead, kissing it softly, then speaking in that language again. I can’t tell what you’re saying, but it scares me. I know you’re learning spells, and I’ve seen what you can do with them…

The pain goes completely numb, and suddenly, I feel as light as air. My eyes widen, and I can see myself, even though I am myself. I throw my hands to my head, and scream, “NO! I’M NOT DEAD! I CAN’T DIE!” The tears on my face dry, and I can see you crying over me. You’re still chanting, and I’m floating farther and father away.

“I EXIST!!!” I scream at the top of my lungs, although no one can hear me, and suddenly I’m overpowered by the burden of my natural body again. I open my eyes, and I can see perfectly fine. The pain is only a dull sting, and I see you…

You are slumped across the bed, absolutely motionless. I sit up, and shake you. Why won’t you answer? I scream and yell and hit you, and cry, but nothing is working.

Is this what happens? Is this how you’re going to do things? I saved your life, so you bring me back mine, and give yours away?! Dr Yuko runs in, and he goes over to us. He’s shocked I’m here, but he’s even more shocked that Marcus is…

“He’s dead!” He cries, and I see Lord Andrew run in.

Then I fainted…

-----------------------
Time: That evening
Normal P.O.V.
Day: --
-----------------------

Keitaro walked slowly to where the wall had been destroyed. Several people were already there, picking up the bits and pieces that they could salvage, and placing them where they belonged. Soon, the walls would be fixed, but the agony of losing loved ones was strong.

Not to mention losing their youngest Count-To-Be, Marcus.

The demon brushed past a few people, then walked to where the first demon had fell. No one had bothered to clean it up, and its body was now beginning to smell (not that it didn’t before). He sighed, shaking his head, then walking over to inspect the creature.

It was a colossal being, and a beautiful one at that. The scales that decorated its body were a gleaming maroon, and its back arch was phantom black. The sun that reflected upon the blood that covered its wounds made the creature almost glow.

He went closer to investigate the head. He had to cover his mouth to get close enough, the mouth reeking of blood and decay. It’s teeth were enormous, and dried out by now. Blood stained them, turning the probably whitened teeth into dark brown ones. Keitaro groaned from the smell almost irrepressible. Upon the creature’s head, was a mask, as he had seen earlier. But not like this.

The mask wrapped around the creature’s ears, and was embedded into its neck. As he went closer still to investigate, he saw the burn marks where it was melded to the poor creature’s skin. Keitaro chewed his sleeve, then went towards the snout.

The other end of the mask was burned in as well, right above the nostrils. The only openings were where the creature’s eyes were. The eyes were closed. Just as he was about to turn away, he saw on the creature’s forehead something he had not seen before.

A symbol engraved into the mask. A sword, a design, and another symbol he could not make out. “Holy Hell…” he muttered, looking at the symbol closely. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Biting his lip, Keitaro reached out to tough the engraving.

Suddenly, the creature’s eyes shot open, bright yellow and alert they were. It snarled and threw its head towards Keitaro. He yelped, rolling backwards, then drawing his sword. This monster was clawing at the ground, almost writhing in pain. As Keitaro backed up, he saw the creature’s mouth move, as if it were speaking.

“What…?” Keitaro asked, creeping a little closer. The creature hissed in pain, looking at him with those emotionless eyes. The hiss turned into a whisper, and the whisper contained words.

‘Kill me…’ it growled, snapping at Keitaro, then just laying still, panting.

But he wasn’t finished. “Who did this to you?!” Keitaro snapped. The creature did not answer, digging its claws into the ground. “I said, who did this to you!”

The creature whispered, ‘Lord Sameji,’ it’s head lolled to the side a little, then it looked at the demon, ‘I…am a Garoche, and he made me…his puppet…must…not…’ It growled again, then fell silent, and limp.

Keitaro ran these words over and over through his head, then narrowed his eyes. “Sameji? Who the Hell is that?” It was obvious the Garoche was not intending to kill him, when it could have so very easily done so. And the mask, that was made my Sameji probably…

“Who the Hell is Sameji?!” He asked himself again, then turning. Andrew stood behind him, absolutely silent, and still. "Whoa! M’lord, sorry,” he bowed quickly, “the creature was trying to tell us something.”

“I know that Keitaro,” Andrew said solemnly, “I heard it as well. Now I want you to tend to the villagers. I’ll take care of this one.”

Keitaro swallowed. “Sire, what about your son? How is he…aside from…?”

“Dr Yuko put him in an containment chamber, which will keep his body preserved, until we can bring his soul back to him. But that won’t last for long. Just a year, or so.” The tone of Andrew’s voice was so cold; Keitaro began to wonder if he even cared. “Be gone with you.”

As Keitaro left, Andrew turned to the creature himself. He muttered a few words, then pointed to its body. There was a flicker, and then the body was engulfed in flames. And the embers and smoke danced in the sky, and Andrew walked away, he whispered to himself, “You fool…”

~To Be Continued~

[//Setsuna-Chan\\]

“A Bittersweet Journey”
By Artamis Ryu
Chapter 1 “Part 3”
Scene: The Village of Trinity
Day: --

-----------------------
Time: That night
Scene: The Palace Courtyard
-----------------------

“Tsugi,” the demon hissed. Setsuna peered over, seeing her little friend impatiently pacing along the bench, becoming a distraction for everyone.

“Want me to bring him over here, Keitaro?” She asked quietly, her eyes still red from the tears she had shed earlier.

He shook his head, brushing the blue locks out of his face. “He’s fine over here. Besides, when Andrew speaks, he knows when to stop.”

The crowd grew quiet, as Andrew stepped up in front of them all. He waited a good three minutes for everyone to focus their attention on him, and when they did he nodded. “My villagers, I know we are all hurt from the attack we suffered yesterday. But we must not let it get to our heads. We are stronger than that.”

“We will find a way to bring back what we have lost, and we will recover. Our loved ones are in a happier place, but there is something else that is more important.” He turned and watched as Dr Yuko stepped out and took his place.

“Our young lord, he…” he cleared his throat nervously, “as some of you know, our young to-be lord Marcus, has fallen. But we have a solution. Since our lord Andrew cannot produce anymore offspring, and his dear younger brother is gone, we will have to bring the young lord back…” He glanced over to Andrew, who nodded. “So, we have found someone who has the technology to bring back the dead…”

The crowd broke into hushed voices, excited and unbelieving. Dr Yuko was unsure how to get their attention again, so he turned to Andrew. The lord growled, then yelled as loud as he could, “QUIET!”

The people went silent immediately. “Well, there is one thing…” he said, fidgeting, “this man whom we seek is at the other end of the earth, across all of the seas, and in a completely different dimension. He is not on Earth, nor is he in heaven. He is somewhere in this underworld here, but which part…” he stopped, looking at Setsuna, “is unknown…”

Andrew took over, roughly pushing Dr Yuko aside. “And so my friends, we are conducting a search! Who will be willing to save the life of our young Count?” Several people cheered. “Who will be willing to leave everything they love behind, and go find this man?” About half of the people from before cheered. Andrew chewed his lip gently. “And who, will be willing to go through danger, into a mission full of demons and enemies and traps, where you will surely die?” Nobody raised their hands.

Setsuna looked around, then frowned. Everyone was just looking at one another, unsure of what to do. They all wanted someone else to do it, but were unwilling to go themselves. “Well somebody do something!” She yelled, standing up on the bench.

All of the heads below turned, staring at her in disbelief. Andrew almost glared, but kept his apathetic side down. It was obvious he was angry, the way his eyes glimmered, full of hatred. “And what do you, a simple girl such as yourself, think you could do?”

“I’ll go to this guy, I’ll go through the danger, I’ll find a way there! I’m going to bring him back!” She looked so determined, that no one was willing to argue with her. “What? I will!”

Li Mei roughly tugged her skirt. “Are you crazy?! You’re going to get yourself killed!”

Setsuna said nothing, just looking to Andrew. “Well, I don’t see any other hands going up now do I? There’s no one else who’ willing!”

Andrew smirked. “Well since you do such a lovely job retrieving other letters and bringing them back unscratched,” several people snickered, “I suppose you’ll have to do.”

She sighed with relief, smiling. “Of course! She’ll do perfect won’t se everyone?” He chuckled. “After all, she is a ningen…” Setsuna’s smile faded, and she stared at Andrew. “We all know what humans are capable of. The crowd’s snickering turned into laughing. “Don’t worry, we’ll send you! Oh we’ll send you alright.” He couldn’t help but chuckle himself at this thought.

Keitaro growled, clinging tighter. Tsugi padded over to them, and just stared up at her. Setsuna narrowed her eyes. “What, you think you could do any better?” The laughing faded, and Andrew just glared. No more words were spoken, as he slowly left the courtyards. Dr Yuko took over, dismissing everyone, then walking over to Setsuna.

“I have to tell you everything you need to know, Setsuna-chan. This is really going to be dangerous. This isn’t like just bringing a letter somewhere. This is worse. Much worse.” She smiled at him and nodded.

“I know.”

“Are you sure you want to go through with this? I mean, I’m sure there’s someone else who’ll—“ She cut him off shortly.

“He gave his life for me. It’s my fault he’s dead in the first place. If I don’t do this, then my atonement will never be settled. I have to do this, okay?” There was an uneasy silence between then, before he sighed, and nodded in understanding.

“Come with me. I shall tell you everything you need to know, give you everything you’ll need to have.” He led her away from the bustling crowds, and towards his office.

-----------------------
Time: Later that night
Scene: Andrew’s chambers
-----------------------

The vase shattered easily upon contact with the wall. But it still wasn’t enough. Andrew stormed across the room, grabbing the lamp, and smashing it on the floor at his feet.

“DAMMIT!” He screamed, slamming his fist down on the desk. “I don’t want him back! I don’t want there to be even the slightest chance!” He looked out the window upon his kingdom. Suddenly the door to his room opened, and in stepped Keitaro.

“M-M’lord…? Are you,” he stopped, looking to the shattered glass at his feet, “alright?”

Andrew turned his head, glaring daggers at him. “I don’t want my son back.” He pointed to the door, and it slammed shut, and locked. Keitaro gulped, backing up.

“Why not, sire?”

Andrew sighed, folding his hands behind his back. “My wife’s parents, were very wealthy, wealthier than I will ever be. And so, when they died, their inheritance would pass to my wife, my Kaiya. And if anything were to happen to her, the money would go to my two sons, Marcus and Warren. And finally, if anything were to happen to them, the inheritance would pass to me…” he sighed, “they never liked me that much…”

“And so, in recent years, my wife was murdered, my youngest son Warren was kidnapped, and all that was left was Marcus and I,” he turned his gaze on Keitaro, who looked absolutely petrified, “and if he were to die, then all of that money would go to me.” His eyes glazed over. “All that money…”

“Sir…?” Keitaro whispered, started to feel the red flag going up.

Andrew stood in silence for a few moments. “You don’t want her to risk her life anymore, do you?” Keitaro shook his head. “Then make sure she can’t go. Do something, anything. Break her arm, break her leg, steal something.”

Keitaro glared. “Are you mad?! We have to find a way to bring your son back! I know you want that money, but—“

Andrew stormed over, then backhanded the demon. “SILENCE! Or I’ll have to have you beheaded as soon as possible!!” Keitaro shrunk back.

“Sir…”

“Go, as soon as the sun is about to rise, she will be leaving then, so stop her.” He turned away, and shooed the demon from the room.

-----------------------
Time: Sunrise, next morning
Day: 1
-----------------------

Setsuna sighed, slipping her bag over her shoulders. The light was beginning to show as the sun peered over the Avaunted Forest. It was cold that morning, and nothing she did could keep her warm. Dew collected on the leaves of all the plants and grass, and a thin mist settled over everything, including the village.

She had left Tsugimori in the hands of Dr Yuko, her best friend, and knew that he would take good care of him while she was gone. Dr Yuko and her had talked much that night, of old memories and of what was to come. He had given her a map, and charted out the location of where this ‘Northern Alchemist’ would be.

She only had one year, and it was already day one. Day one, and only 364 days to go. The thought was not pleasing to hear. She had gone through her pack a million times, but she had to go through it a million and one times just to be sure she had everything.

“Clothes, food, lots of hidden money, blah, blah…” she stopped, touching her neck, “oh! My necklace!” She quickly raced over to the drawer beside her bed, and pulled out a small, crystalline necklace. The chain was pure silver, and on its end, was a long, sharp crystal rock. Each of its edges were cut perfectly smooth, like glass it would shine in the morning sun.

On her wrist, was the final part of this tiny collection. Three different coloured crystals hung and each having their own special meaning. Her mother had given her these when she was just a child, and she was supposed to give them away. The little white crystal meant ‘I’ll never forget you,’ and the dark blue one meant ‘You’re my closest friend’, and the one that stood out most was black.

She sat down, touching it gently. “I love you…” she whispered, closing her eyes. It was suppose to change colours when it was given to the one she loved most, but for now, it was black as death.

The door opened, and she turned. Keitaro stood there, panting, his sword unsheathed. “C’mon, get up!” He yelled, then turned and began to run. She threw her backpack on and ran outside after him.

“Keitaro wait!” she cried, stumbling as she raced after him. Her legs were numb from the cold air, and her sweater wasn’t doing a good job keeping her arms warm either. “Please slow down!” He rounded a corner, and she darted after him.

She was at the gate leaving the town. She could see her road ahead of her, narrow and worn. The gate was open, and she stepped out. Leaving the safety of the town was frightening, but this was how it was going to be for the next year.

Suddenly Keitaro dropped down behind her, pulled her against the wall, and held his blade to her throat. She wanted to scream, but was in too much of a shock. “Listen to me Setsuna,” he snapped at her, “you…” he fell silent, looking to how he held her, so roughly digging his claws into her skin. This wasn’t like him at all.

He eased his grip, “Come back safe…” He let go of her, and sheathed his sword. “And, I promise I’ll protect you along the way. I can’t be there always, but I’ll help you…okay?”

“Keitaro,” she said quietly, then looking to her bracelet. For some reason, she felt this was appropriate. She gently tugged on the white crystal, pulling it from the chair. Keitaro watched, the wind blowing hair into his face.

“What are you doing?” He asked, watching as she pulled out a string from her bag, and laced it through the hole in the crystal where the string should go. “Setsuna?” He asked as she took the string and tied it around his neck.

He looked down, touching the crystal in silence. “What…what is this for?” He asked quietly, lifting it to the sun. Its rays shot through the crystal, and created a white rainbow on the wall. Setsuna smiled at him, folding her arms behind her back.

“I’ll never forget you, so don’t you forget me either.”

The demon held the crystal for a few moments, then let it drop against his chest. He stepped forward, throwing his arms around Setsuna, pulling her into a tight embrace. She held him back, tears threatening to spill. “I promise, no matter what, that I’ll be there when you need me okay? You’ll do fine. Besides,” he smiled, “you’re the coolest ningen I know.”

She laughed, then kissed his cheek. “And you’re the coolest demon I know too.” Hesitantly, she pulled away, then looked to the road out ahead of her. “I finally get my dream Keitaro.” She smiled, “I finally get my dream…”

-----------------------
Keitaro’s P.O.V.
-----------------------

I stood and I watched her leave. I didn’t care what Andrew threatened to do to me, all that mattered was that she was safe, and that nothing was going to harm her. She was getting her wish, to be free of the palace walls, free from the village.

But she was all alone now, and I couldn’t be there with her. She had grown up from when we were children, and I was so into protecting her from every little thing. But she’s not that little girl and she’ll be fine…

I wanted to chase after her, but I couldn’t move. My heart was hurting so much. There was someone else who needed her more than I did, someone whose life depended on her. Even as she vanished from my sight, I knew she would be…

Right here…

-----------------------
Time: Meanwhile
Normal P.O.V.
-----------------------

Andrew watched from his chambers, out into the fields where Setsuna would meet her fate. “So, Keitaro has failed, has he?” He said quietly to himself. There was no answer. “She will not get far…”

“I will not let her heart belong to someone else…”

And so, he sat at his desk. “And in case she does succeed…” he drew his pen, dipping it into the ink, and writing out his plan for betrothal, “she will be miserable when she returns…Then possibly she’ll wish she WAS dead.” He smirked, “or with me…”

END

-Next chapter…-

“Weah you from gurl?” They asked. Their accents were strong, and she had never heard anything like it before. In an instant, there were so many of them, all wearing tattered or no clothing. She had no idea such poverty existed outside of Trinity.

“I…I came from the kingdom of Trinity, and I’m on a mission…I have to pass!” She said, trembling as they surrounded her, their presence scaring her.

The man walked over, folding his arms across his chest. “You from over der?” he spat, “you one of dem riches? Cuz if you is, we gunna ‘afta kill you.” She immediately shook her head.

“No! I’m not rich at all! I’m just a traveller! Now let me through! Please!” She begged them.

Their leader studied her, then narrowed his eyes. Behind her, the bushes rustled, as if someone were coming. “You wid anybodeh? Cuz if you is, we gunna hafta kill you fo’ dat too.”

“Boz! Kill ‘er!” One of the women shouted.

“Shaddap!” He yelled, growling at them. Suddenly a fight broke out, and all Hell broke loose. The people began to argue with each other, yelling in languages she had never heard.

Cold metal jabbed into her neck, and she screamed, feeling shocks jolt through her entire body. It hurt so much, and she felt so numb. The fighting stopped all at once, and she started to speak, before she fell to the ground, limp.

[//Setsuna-Chan\\]

“A Bittersweet Journey”
By Artamis Ryu
Chapter 2 “The Black Peaches”
Scene: The palace in Trinity
Time: 4:57 PM
Day: 1

Adriana stood near the window, her hair blown back as the wind drifted into the room. She could see the horizon, and the far away lands of Karvert, or what was left of that now demolished village. She carefully folded her arms across her chest, pulling the folds of her dress closed.

Behind her, the heavy rosewood door opened and Lord Andrew stepped in. “Adriana?” he said quietly, shutting the door behind him. She began to turn to look at him, then stopped herself, and continued staring out the window.

“Yes, Lord Andrew?”

He stood beside her, folding his arms behind his back. “What’s troubling you?” She slowly turned to him, but her eyes searching the ground, almost in a trance, as if she were looking for the right answer.

“I can’t believe he’s…dead…” she said softly, the determined voice from before was soft with grief. Andrew felt a twinge of feeling go off through his body, but he ignored it and approached her.

“What if Setsuna fails to bring him back?” He asked, stepping towards her. She hid her look of disgust, and then walked to the window again.

“Then I don’t know what I’ll do…” Andrew paused, chewing his lower lip, then opening his mouth to speak, but she cut him off quickly. “But I know Setsuna will not fail. She is more than just some weak human girl, because she has belief…” she paused, glancing at him, “and that is something very few have.”

Andrew coughed. “Well, if she does fail, then I’ll have to reclaim my throne again. Of course there will be a ninety-day memorial of him. And of course a five day ceremony…” He began to speak of funeral preparations for his son, and more. Adriana scowled at him.

“Have you no faith?”

He stopped, looking at her. “I do, but I doubt one girl is going to go halfway across the world, into different dimensions, and find an alchemist that no one has met!

“Why can’t you ever look on the bright side of things?” Adriana scowled. “Setsuna is my rival, but I’m not just going to lose hope in bringing back the only man I ever loved.”

Andrew said nothing, glaring at her. He ripped open the door, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be on my way.” He stormed from the room, nearly slamming the door closed.

Adriana stood there, staring at the door in silence. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but they would not fall. Placing her hand up to her face, she closed her eyes, whispering softly to herself, “I never wished her good luck, but I know she’ll get there…she’ll save Marcus…”

////
Scene: The Avaunted Woods
Time: 6:25 PM
Day: 1
\\\\


The wind was howling, and in the past few hours the temperature had changed. It had grown cold yet the air was thick, and the wind blew the leaves across the ground. Setsuna shivered, carefully slipped down a steep part of the path. Roots began to stick up from the path, and it became darker as the trees drew closer, the path grew smaller.

“It’s only been a few hours since I left, and already I’m tired and want to go home…” she whimpered, but she snapped her head up, “but I won’t go back now. I’ve got to get use to this!”

She opened her mouth, and began to sing the lovely songs she had grown up with. The songs that kept her safe, and the songs people would sing to her when she was crying. The path was now just a few trampled leaves, and dried mud. It was obvious that rain didn’t fall here often; she sang a little louder.

Rounding a sharp corner, it was then that she noticed the uncanny pairs of eyes that were watching her. They were small, white, and looked like they were far away, but they still sent chills down her spine. The birds were no longer singing like they were at the edge of the forest.

Even she and Tsugimori hadn’t been down this path.

The eyes followed her, and then closed in on the path behind. She pressed her hand against the dagger at her waist, ready to draw it if the situation required so. The eyes soon appeared on the path ahead, and she stopped walking. They were most definitely closing in on her, surrounding her.

It was silent in the next few moments, and she couldn’t even hear the wind anymore. She paused, sniffing the air to find a familiar scent of…

Peaches?

Then, a dog bayed in the distance. From the shadows, a figure stepped out, the eyes right in front of her. Only these eyes were green. “Weah you from?”

Setsuna cowered a little. “W-what?”

“Weah you from gurl?” He asked. His accent was strong, and she had never heard anything like it before. In an instant, there were so many of them, all wearing tattered or no clothing. She had no idea such people existed outside of Trinity.

“I…I came from the kingdom of Trinity, and I’m on a mission!” She said, trembling as they surrounded her, their presence frightening her.

The man walked over, folding his arms across his chest. “You from over der?” he spat, “you one of dem riches? Cuz if you is, we gunna ‘afta kill you.” She immediately shook her head.

“No! Riches? I’m just a traveler! Now let me through! Please!” She begged them.

Their leader studied her, then narrowed his eyes. Behind her, the bushes rustled, as if someone were coming. “You wid anybodeh? Cuz if you is, we gunna hafta kill you fo’ dat too.”

“Boz! Kill ‘er!” One of the women shouted.

“Shaddap!” He yelled, growling at them. Suddenly, all Hell broke loose. The people began to argue with each other, yelling in languages she had never heard.

Cold metal jabbed into her neck, and she screamed, feeling shocks jolt through her entire body. It hurt so much, and she felt so numb. The fighting stopped all at once, and she started to speak, before she fell to the ground, limp.


-----------------------
Time: 10:48 PM
Scene: River Slum
-----------------------


Setsuna opened her eyes slowly, groaning as she rolled to her side. Her mind was blank, and all she could tell was that she was next to a warm, flickering fire. The ground was soft, like fur. She turned over once again, and found herself under a blanket, and in a small clearing. The sky could be seen, and all around little shacks dotted the area, all in horrid conditions.

“You fin’ly ‘wake eh?” came a familiar voice. She turned quickly to see the man from before. Only now she could actually see him. He was crouching beside her, his skin dark and his hair black and greasy. He had green eyes, and a well-built body.

She remembered what happened, and suddenly thrashed, flinging herself back upright, and pressing her back against a tree. “Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?!”

“Quiet, quiet now gurl.” He said calmly, rolling his eyes. “Mah friend ov’r der tazeh’d you. Out heah in da wood, we gotta be cayeful.” He smiled. “Sorreh.”

She blinked, then sank down a little. “Still, why am I here…and when did people start living in the Avaunted Forest?”

He smirked. “We been heah fo’ so long, you wouln’t believe it. Y’know how dis forest is ‘aunted?” She nodded. “It ain’t ‘aunted. It’s just us. We scaye people aways, y’know? Fo’ peace ‘n quiet.”

“Oh…” she whispered, swallowing heavily. The man stood, walking over to her, sitting right in front of her. She could see his face clearly now; he had green eyes and a scar across his nose.

“Mah name is Ajani,” he stated, then just sat there and stared at her, waiting for her to answer. It took a few seconds, but she finally got the words out.

“I’m Setsuna…”

He smiled, his bright teeth white as clouds but glimmering in the firelight. “Well ‘den Setsuna. Welcome to ‘da ‘Black Peaches’ tribe!” He stood, holding out his arm to the area behind him. It was a busy little clearing, small huts and little market stands. The few people living there were bustling around, trading and working. Mothers sat and comforted their babies, and men were chopping wood. Children were laughing and running around, giggling with glee.

As he started to walk away, she yelped and ran after him. He led her to a small hut on the edge of the clearing. There was a candle inside, dimly lighting the room. She saw her bag in the corner of the room, shut closed just as she had left it when she started off.

Ajani walked slowly to one corner of the room where a mat was laid down. On the mat was a girl, sound asleep with a wet rag on her forehead. Ajani knelt, taking the rag and dipping it in water, then placing it back on the girl’s head. Setsuna watched him, afraid to sit or to take advantage of their hospitality.

“Dis is Johari,” he stated, looking at her, “she mah kid.” He said, stroking the girl’s bangs. She groaned a little, wincing, then trying to pull the rag off. “No ‘hon. Don’ take it off. You nevah get bettah o’erwise.” Setsuna looked on with pity, then cleared her face.

“What happened?” She asked quickly. Ajani looked at her, his eyes glowing from the candle. He tuckled the girl in a little tighter, then turned to Setsuna, still crouching. His shirt was an off-white colour, and was horribly tattered. His pants were in a better condition, only three small tears.

“We was huntin. Out in da woods, yah?” She nodded, waiting for him to continue, “Well, we came upon dis part in da fo’est, and der was no trees. Dey was all burned and, da grass was all dead. Der was blood ev’rywheah too.” Setsuna could feel the hairs on her neck rising again, and the familiar feeling filled her from when she went to Javert. The blood, the burned buildings…

“Johari got all excited, yah? And so, she ran into da clearin. I chased afta’ her, but by da time she was in view, yah? She was screamin’. I don’ know wha’ it was fo’, but when I got der, ‘er face was white as snow, and her bodeh was cold. Real cold…” he said quietly, looking at her. “I don’ know what she saw, but it scared the life out of her…”

“How long has she been like this?” Setsuna asked quietly, approaching Johari a little bit.

“Fo’ about a week, yah.” He said quietly. “Evah since ‘er mod’er died, I been raisin’ her by myself. It’s hard, y’know? I don’ know what to do when things go wrong. I don’ know what to tell ‘er. An’ when dis happened, I dunno, I just felt…kinda useless, ‘cuz I can’t do anyt’ing about it.”

“Something scared her…?” she repeated quietly in a questioning tone. He nodded. “Geez…” rubbing the back of her head, she leaned against the wall again.

“You can si’ down, y’know.”

“Oh, okay.” She quickly dropped down, crossing her legs and folding her hands in her lap.

Ajani stood up, smiling again. “Well, le’ change da topic. C’mon, I getchu some clothes to weah here. If you wanna stay, you welcome to yah. You ju’ can’t wear dat. We got some roudeh boys heah. Don’t want problems now, do we?” Setsuna smiled, shaking her head. “Den c’mon.” He stood up quickly, followed by Setsuna.

She looked at Johari again. The poor girl… Whatever scared her, she thought, was the same thing that destroyed Kavert.

A flash. A recollection. It hit her like a bucket of ice water. She felt it overcome her. The vision of what she saw that day. The giant serpent, it’s fangs glistening, and it throwing itself towards her. She could see herself scream.

She threw her hands to her head, wincing, blocking the memory. Ajani stopped walking, turning swiftly and at her side in a second. “Hey, gurl, what’s wrong?”

She looked up slowly, forcing a smile. “Nothing. I just kind of got dizzy when I stood up.”

“A’ight.” He said wearily, beginning to walk again. She followed close behind, thinking about the giant serpent. And the shadow lingering upon its back...


-----------------------
Time: 10:37 AM
Day: 5
-----------------------


“’Ey gurl! Wake up!”

Setsuna groaned, turning over and pulling the blanket over her head. “G’way.” She muttered sleepily. Ajani laughed, kicking her lightly.

“C’mon gurl, y’can’t stay like dat forevah you know! Breakfast is cookin’ and it’s almost no-shadow time yah!” He watched as she slowly rose, her hair frizzled and her eyes clouded with sleep.

“I’m up, I’m up,” she said quietly, stretching. Ajani ran off again, and she began to get dressed. She slipped on the now familiar clothes of the Black Peaches, a lovely beige pair of pantaloons and an off-white peasant’s shirt. She walked outside, looking up at the sun.

There was no sun. It was all cloud cover today. She sighed, walking outside only to be greeted by the village pet, Björk. He was an old, friendly panther that would visit the village often, lazily walk around and eat food they had, and play with the children, sometimes even going out on the village hunts to assist them.

He growled in a purring manner (big kitties can’t purr unfortunately), rubbing his head against her hand. She scratched his ears, and he ‘purred’ louder, until finally he became bored, gently biting her arm, and then walking off slowly to the butcher’s hut.

Setsuna ran across the clearing, greeting the people she had met. She waved to Juji, the village mid-wife. She walked and talked alongside of Julisha, the town’s elder. Tavorian, the village butcher, was busy feeding Björk. The twins Zula and Zulu were running around Ajani, giggling and playing some strange version of tag.

She jumped when one of the young hunters, Kairo, put his hand on her shoulder. “Hey yah, gurl, just wake up?” He said in a chipper tone.

She nodded. “Yes. Why is everyone so excited today?” She asked, lifting a water basket that needed to be filled and walking towards the stream.

“Today, we all go out and hunt,” he said, “and we celebrate it tonight.” He smiled at her, winking. She nodded slowly, filling up the basket with water from the stream. “It’s a manly spor’t yah.” He gloated, putting his hand on his chest. “An’ soon I’ll be da greatest hunteh der ever was!”

Setsuna laughed quietly, picking up the basket and walking back towards the village. “I’m sure you will be.” She never put up much tolerance for men who gloated and bragged about themselves. It was vain, and vain people hardly looked out for others. He blinked slowly, then padded after her.

“’Ey, why do you a’ways run ‘way from me?” He asked, annoyed.

Setsuna looked at him. “I don’t run away. I’m trying to pay the village back for their hospitality.”

He scowled a little, then slowly walked off to prepare for the next hunt. As she rounded the corner to Ajani’s secluded little hut, she froze.

Standing outside the hut, and looking at her with dazed eyes, Johari stared. “Johari?” Setsuna said, stumbling forward to see her up close. “Johari, what are you—“

The girl looked up at Setsuna, and grabbed her hand. “You saw it too…”

“What?” she asked, kneeling in front of the small girl. “What do you—“

“The creature…you saw it…and…he saw you…” she said, starting to waver.

“Johari!” she gasped, catching the fragile girl before she fell. “Oh no…” she said, looking around quickly, then taking her back inside and laying her down, “Ajani…what will he say…?”

“Wha’ do you mean, wha’ will I sah?” Ajani said suddenly from the doorway. Setsuna jumped, turning quickly.

“She woke up!”

“What?”

“She was walking around! She woke up!!!” Setsuna said panicky.

Ajani frowned. “Dat’s impossible. She’s—“

“I know, but she just got up! She spoke to me!”

The man blinked, putting one hand on his hip and the other tapping his head. “Dat sun has fried yo’ brain gurl.” He joked.

“No…she…” She said quietly, looking down at the now sleeping Johari, “she was awake…”

He knelt beside her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I’ve spent all dis time waitin’ for her to wake up, but she don’ wanna do dat. I know you wanna help and try to make it bettah, but—“

“You don’t get it!” she huffed, standing quickly, “She—“

Their argument broke in two when someone started screaming. People began to flood towards the edge of the small village, and Setsuna jumped to the opportunity, running to see what happened, Ajani hot on her tail.

Plowing through the crowd, they saw Kairo, or what sort of looked like him, laying there. His body was torn and bloody, his back ripped open and his sides pulled apart, his ribs poking through him. It took all of what Setsuna could muster to not vomit right then and there.

Ajani and Tavorian knelt by him, afraid to touch him. “Kairo?” Tavorian asked, panic-stricken.

The young warrior stirred, and slowly opened one eye. The other was ripped apart, nearly gone. “You…do not…see…” he choked, blood pouring from his forehead to his good eye so he had to close it again.

“See what mon?” Ajani asked, desperate. Kairo said nothing, opening his eye one last time, then his mouth. His body spasmed and his eye rolled back into his head, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. Setsuna gagged, coughing on bile. Tavorian closed his eyes, taking a burlap bag, and covering the man

The villagers were silent. “Garoche…” Setsuna whispered to herself. The villagers looked at her.

“What now?” Tavorian asked.

“The serpent…” she said, looking out at the woods, “a Garoche…one of them attacked my home…my city…” With great detail, she described the beast, it’s colour, and it’s size. The villagers were facinated, and the twins huddled at her feet.

Ajani looked at them all with half masked eyes. “We gotta avenge our fallen brothahs. We can’t let this thin’ get away wid any more killin.” He said, looking at the ground.

“You cannot fight it…” someone said from the corner of the crowd. They all turned, and there, standing with a solemn look, was little Johari.

“Johari!” Ajani gasped.

“He will kill you all…” she said. It looked almost like her skin was melting, a strange sight indeed. Her flesh began to melt into her blood, and drip into a pile, grotesquely on the ground, “like he killed me…”

Soon, there was nothing left but a pile of bones surrounded by puddles of blood.

Ajani keeled over, vomiting rapidly. Someone ran over, and held him while he heaved up bile, sick, and bewildered. Setsuna stared at the remains of the girl. “She…was already dead…” she bit her tongue, the smell of rot and blood reaching her nose, “this entire time…”

“Johari…” Ajani sobbed, tears streaming down his face, “no, not Johari. Anybody but her…” he fell to his knees, and Tavorian caught him, “not my little sister…”

Setsuna looked at him. “Ajani…?” she said quietly. The man looked up through his reddened eyes. “I…” she sighed, “I will avenge her for you…I will not stay here, any longer.”

The twin girls walked over to her, sadly. “You’re leaving?” Zulu whimpered.

Zula tugged on her pants. “Why you leave?”

Setsuna smiled. “Because, I have another mission to finish anyway. I want to go after this creature, and it’s heading west…”

Ajani stood. “Den I will come wid you.”

She shook her head. “I will do this alone. Please, all of you…be safe…and thank you for your hospitality.” She stepped away from the twins, walking to Ajani’s hut, and gathering her things. The villagers prayed silently, and watched her leave.

As she was nearly out of sight from the village, Ajani showed up. “Heah,” he said, holding out a small, crystalline dagger.

“Ajani…”

“Good luck, gurl. You been a great help to us. I’ll miss ya.” He said, smiling a ilttle. “Please, kill dis beast thin.” He bowed a little, then hugged her. “Good luck.”

“Thank you…” she said, looking down at the dagger, away from where Ajani began to leave.

This was just one, of many places, that she would go on this adventure.

Nearly a week had passed.

(As many know, there were only 52 weeks a year approximately, and with one nearly gone…)

She shook her head quickly, racing away from the forest. The trees scraped at her body, and she fell a few times, ignoring the pain. Several winds and turns later, she saw daylight ahead. With her last ounce of breath, she flung herself from the darkness, and from the evil of the forest. There, she was blinded, and she covered her eyes.

A gentle breeze washed over her, and she could hear birds chirping. The sun was out now, which is why it hurt her eyes so much. Finally, she adjusted, and looked around.

Before her, were beautiful rolling meadows, and a small village was in the distance. She took a deep breath from the fresh air, and sighed heavily. “Oh…” she gasped, walking forward a little, “I forgot how beautiful it was…”

She walked forward, and already she could see that this town was unharmed, unlike Javert. It seemed to be bustling, and the people did not seem to notice her standing above their town. The image of Johari melting like that faded, and she could see nothing else but this new feeling of freedom.

She smiled a little. “This, might be a little more fun,” she said, walking down the hill with a new confidence in her head.


////
Scene: The Palace of Trinity
Time: 5:57 PM
\\\\


Adriana gazed longingly out into the distance from her window. The door opened again. Andrew didn’t even have to say anything. She knew who it was. “Andrew…”

He frowned. “Adriana, this is foolish. You’ve been here all day…” he scoffed, “you have to eat.”

“I’m not hungry…”

“Adriana—“

“Leave…”

He sighed heavily, rolling his eyes, and leaving quickly, slamming the door behind him. She waited until his footsteps vanished in the distance, then she snuck out. Several stairwells and hallways later, she was at the door to Dr. Yuko’s laboratory. Nervously, she opened the heavy steel door, and peered inside.

It was clear. She closed the door behind her, and walked inside. Her footsteps echoed off of the high walls, and she looked around eagerly. Already, she could feel the hum from the computers, and the machines that surrounded her.

Turning a corner, she saw him. Marcus. She stopped just before his tank, then reached out slowly. “Marcus…” she whispered, touching the thick crystal-glass. He did not move, his eyes closed, and his body healing. She tilted her head to see him better, then pressed herself against the crystal.

She could feel the pulsing of the crystal shoot through her body. Her eyes glazed over, and she clenched her fists tightly. “Marcus…” she whispered again. He did not move even though she was there.

“Wake up…soon…” she looked to the floor, and closed her eyes, “soon…we will be together…”

The crystal crackled a tiny bit at the bottom, involuntarily.

END

-Next Chapter-

The one woman sneered at the small girl in the corner. “See her? That’s Safiya.”

The other women scoffed and snickered, pointing at her. She seemed very normal, and yet she looked incredibly fragile, and uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong with her?” Setsuna asked the old woman.

She laughed. “That girl is cursed. Always has been since she started working here at the brothel.”

One of the women with bright, fake looking red hair, threw a bucket of dirty water at Safiya, covering her once blonde hair a dirty brown from the bucket water. She gasped, then looked away, tears brimming in her eyes.

The other woman, fat and really rather hideous, slung her arm around Setsuna’s shoulder. “That girl there, is cursed, because she let someone forbidden make love to her.”

“What?” Setsuna said, blinking quickly.

“We’re all the same status quote here, but we all knew that this guy, was no good. Big, small, tall, short, anything in a guy, rich or poor (or as long as he has money), doesn’t matter. That’s our job. But…”

Setsuna gulped. “But what…?” The fat woman smirked.

“It is forbidden for a pure blooded demon to make love to a human girl.”

[//Setsuna-Chan\\]

“A Bittersweet Journey”
By Artamis Ryu
Chapter 3 “Darkness – My Lover”
Scene: The fields of
Time: 2:30 PM
Day: 9

All love shifts and changes. I don't know if you can be wholeheartedly in love all the time.
-Julie Andrews-

Setsuna walked for days on end, her mind in a blur. She had not eaten in two days, and it seemed an eternity before the sun had shown.

When she first left the village, it was so nice and warm. Now it was cold and bleak. The sky was covered again in dark clouds, and she could’ve sworn there was a village ahead of her. But by the time she got there, it was too late, and everyone was ignoring her.

She passed through the town without thought, and found herself in nothing but rolling meadows of golden grain and crunchy grass. In the back of her mind, she asked herself continually the same question:

“Is Marcus okay?”

Guilt was still washing over her, and it tore at her something awful.

Her stomach growled loudly, and she looked down. “Not now…” She mumbled, beginning to climb up a steep hill. She neared the top, and began to breathe heavily. “Great…” she whispered to herself, and pushed onward.

On the final step, there was a snap, and she screamed as the ground shot back, flinging her a few feet, then feeling herself hit the ground hard, and start to roll back down the hill.

She clawed at the ground and stopped herself, panting. “Ow…” she whimpered.

The wind blew sharply, and she gasped, sensing someone was near, and for a split second, she saw Keitaro standing over her. She jumped up, her eyes wide, and found nothing. “Oh…?”

Instead of seeing Keitaro, there was a village ahead of her. The inhabitants walked by carelessly, and as she scooted closer, she noticed something odd.

They were all men.

Slowly, she entered the village, limping slightly on her right leg, and looking around. A few men turned to look at her, then continued on. She approached a stall where she saw the first females. Or at least that was what she THOUGHT they were.

They indeed were women, but they were fat and looked like men from behind. Setsuna cringed. “Excuse me…” she asked nervously.

One of them turned. “A girl eh?” they said in a similar accent to Ajani’s tribe, but better English. “Don’t get those much. You’ll be needing’ a job hon. There, go there,” she pointed to a small stone building. She thanked them, and walked over to the building.

It smelled strange, and she blinked a little, taking another step closer. She pressed her hand to the cold bronze handle, and pulled. The doors opened, and she was hit with a blast of hot air. She put her arm over her face to block out the smell and the heat.

Inside, there were women everywhere, and not more than half were attractive. Still, there was a man every so often with his head rested against one of them, while they fed him grapes or wine. Instantly, she knew where she was.

“Omigod…” she looked to the sign hanging over the door. ‘Brothel United’, it read, and she covered her mouth, gasping.

“I’m in a sleeperhouse!”

-----------------------
Time: 2:30 PM
Scene: Palace of Trinity
-----------------------

Adriana tapped her fingers on her desk, staring down at the empty sheet of paper before her. She reached over, dipping her quill pen into the ink again, then stopped, staring down again. She wanted to write, yet she did not know what to write.

There was gentle knocking on the door, and it opened, Andrew stepping in. He looked over, and stood behind her. “So what might you be writing?”

She looked up at him slowly. “Nothing that concerns you.”

Andrew tsked, waving his finger. “You shouldn’t talk like that to a Count.”

She glared. “But I am your princess. I have higher status than you do.”

“True, but still,” he coughed into his hand, and looked around, “you should get ready. I’m inviting you to dinner tonight.”

“What’s the occasion?” Adriana said.

“Nothing,” he smiled, and left slowly.

Adriana said nothing, turning her face away, and touching the glass of her window. She stared out into the countryside, into the Avaunted forest. “Setsuna,” she whispered, “you’d better bring Marcus back to life…” she said quietly, closing her eyes, then the curtains.

-----------------------
Time: 2:56 PM
Scene: The Brothel
-----------------------

Setsuna began to panic, starting to back away from all the people. Some guys looked at her, and grinned, approaching. She turned her head away and started to leave, when a rather fat woman walked in her way, grinning.

“Where do ya think you’re going toots?” She laughed.

Setsuna cowered. “Out of here!”

The woman laughed. “You’re a strange one! Here, I’ll get you an uniform and we’ll get you started up right away!”

Setsuna flailed. “But I don’t work here!”

“That’s okay.” The woman shoved her into a dressing room and began to look for some outfits for her. “Let’s see…” she held up one of them, “too small,” she said, shifting through them again. Setsuna was shivering and staring outside where a guy was making out with someone.

The lady grinned, throwing a uniform at her. “Get started as soon as possible. You get the most money,” she said, walking off.

Setsuna’s eyes were wide, and she looked around slowly “Omigod…this is not really happening to me…” she walked out into the brothel, her eyes wide.

She was approached, and she backed up, eyes wide. The guy grinned and took off his trousers. Setsuna went bug-eyed, and covered her face. “No, no, no what are you doing? Put that away!”

The man sneered at her. “What’s wrong woman? You work here don’t ya?”

Setsuna shook her head. “There’s been some mistake ack! Please sir put your pants back on!”

The guy rolled his eyes as another woman walked over, leading him away. Setsuna sighed with relief, and the fat woman from before came over followed by two other women. One of them was scrawny, and had her hair on top of her head. The other was jus really short, with bright blue hair in pigtails.

“You new?” the little one asked. Setsuna nodded slowly. “I’m Viveka.”

The fat one smiled. “I’m Gertrud.” She pointed to the skinny woman. “She’s Ingrid.”

“I’m Setsuna…”

“Eh?” Ingrid said, “that’s a strange name!”

“I’m not from here…I’m from Trinity…”

Gertrud blinked. “Where’s that?”

Setsuna began to tell them of her home, the place she missed more than anything else. She would pause every so often because she’d hear a thump or a moan, but she just continued on, not thinking of the horrible brothel.

“That’s interesting…” Viveka said, smiling up at Setsuna. “I think I’m going to like her!”

Setsuna laughed a little, and the other two laughed as well. “A lot better than the last one.” Gertrud cackled.

“Last one?”

An old woman walked over, and sneered at the small girl in the corner. “See her? That’s Safiya.”

The other women scoffed and snickered, pointing at her. She seemed very normal, and yet she looked incredibly fragile, and uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong with her?” Setsuna asked the old woman.

She laughed. “That girl is cursed. Always has been since she started working here at the brothel.”

One of the women with bright, fake looking red hair, threw a bucket of dirty water at Safiya, covering her once blonde hair a dirty brown from the bucket water. She gasped, then looked away, tears brimming in her eyes.

Gertrud slung her arm around Setsuna’s shoulder. “That girl there, is cursed, because she let someone forbidden make love to her.”

“What?” Setsuna said, blinking quickly.

“We’re all the same status quote here, but we all knew that this guy, was no good. Big, small, tall, short, anything in a guy, rich or poor (or as long as he has money), doesn’t matter. That’s our job. But…”

Setsuna gulped. “But what…?” Gertrud smirked.

“It is forbidden for a pure blooded demon to make love to a human girl.”

Setsuna looked over at the girl, and she could see the tears that ran down her face as she sat there, alone. She frowned as the other three women walked away, then saw Safiya stand, and walk away. Slowly she followed her down one of the halls.

For several minutes, Safiya didn’t seem to notice, then she began to pick up the pace, until she was running. “Wait!” Setsuna called out, chasing her.

Safiya ran into one of the bedrooms and threw herself on the bed, huddled, staring at Setsuna through wide blue eyes. “I’m not going to hurt you!” Setsuna said, approaching her slowly, “It’s okay, I’m a friend!”

The little girl sniffled, and wiped her eyes. Setsuna sat beside her. “What’s wrong?”

“I was only 13…” the girl whimpered, curled up on her bed, “when I came here…”

Setsuna looked at her gravely. “Tell me Safiya-san…”

“I had nowhere to go…my mama worked here, and my papa was one of the men she slept with. I was a mistake, or that’s what she told me…” she sniffled, wiping the tears in her eyes, “the ladies here were nice to me for a few days, then they got mean…”

“What…did they do?” she asked, touching Safiya’s shoulder.

“I-I…they hurt me…they would beat me and make me clean. I had no choice. The men would spit on me and laugh at me and I could do nothing to stop it…” she whimpered, “one man beat me until I bled…”

Setsuna looked down at the bed slowly. “Then…?”

“Then…he came…”

Setsuna could feel the darkness upon her as the room became colder. “What happened…?”

“He entered the brothel, and everyone went quiet. I remember being in the corner, and I was afraid, of everything,” she whimpered, “but he approached me, and I thought he was going to kill me…but he was so kind, so gentle…”

“He lifted me into his arms and took me into one of the rooms. He healed me, and fed me, made sure I was taken care of. I’d never felt like that before…”

“Every new moon, he would come back and take care of me…and I always looked forward to his visit. But, I couldn’t just not pay him back…

Safiya looked to Setsuna slowly. “Please, understand me now…he never laid a finger on me until I had asked him to…”

Setsuna closed her eyes. “So…what happened?”

“He made love to me after his sixth visit, and I do not regret any of it,” she looked away. “I love him so much, with all of my heart, but I fear now that I bear his child, and I have not seen him in so long.” She closed her eyes, “do you think he left me?”

Setsuna shook her head. “He didn’t…” she looked out the window. The moon was almost gone. “He will come back this month, a week from now. Just wait,” she smiled encouragingly.

“Do you think so…?”

“I know so.”

Safiya smiled, tears brimming in her eyes. “Thank you…what is your name?”

“I’m Setsuna,” she held out her hand, and Safiya stared at it, “how old are you?”

“Fourteen.”

Setsuna couldn’t help but jump. “Eh? That’s young to be working here!”

“I’m the youngest…”

She gagged. “I’d hope so!!!”

“Is something wrong?” Safiya asked, blinking slowly. Setsuna looked at her, then realized how different their customs were. This may just be normal.

“No…”

There was another moment of awkward silence. Setsuna felt very strange being alone with a girl who was a pet to a demon. For some reason she thought of Marcus, and her eyes widened. She shook her head quickly, gasping.

“Oro…?” Safiya said quietly.

“I have to go,” Setsuna said, running out of the room without a backward glance.

-----------------------
Time: 9:46 PM
Scene: The Brothel (hallway)
-----------------------

“Ungh…” she said quietly, touching her head. “What’s wrong with me? I know…I must save him yet…”

Her heart thudded slowly.

Water dripped quietly somewhere in the hallway.

She sighed.

“Tonight…”

Viveka approached her slowly, smiling a little. “Hello Setsuna. You look exhausted. Need somewhere to stay?” she asked, crouching beside her. Setsuna nodded. “Okay. Follow me,” she walked off.

Setsuna followed the short woman in silence, never speaking. Her mind drifted elsewhere and focused into a great void that existed nowhere else but her mind. Viveka glanced back at her. “You okay kid?”

“Hm?”

“I asked if you were okay.” The woman repeated as she rounded another one of the dank hallway corners.

“I’m fine. Tired, I suppose.”

“It has been a long day. You didn’t get one customer either. That’s how it is with me too.” She sighed sadly. “I’m too short, I guess.” She stretched, and brought her to a room at the end of the hallway. Inside, it smelled more of dust than it did of mold or that ‘other’ smell.

“Here we are.” She smiled, brushing off the dusty sheets. “This should do you good.” She laughed. “If you need anything, don’t ask anyone else but me personally.” She winked, and walked away.

Setsuna stood quietly, staring at the sheets, wondering if she felt safe sleeping on them. After all, this WAS a brothel. Never could be too careful.

She took the sheets off the bed, and saw stains on the mattress that made her want to gag. “God….” She thought to herself, then flipped the mattress over, smiling with satisfaction. “Much better. Now all I have to do is get rid of all dust and spider egg sacs.” She joked, dusting off her new living quarters.

The sky outside was dark as thunder rumbled. Clouds were coming in from the west, announcing a rainstorm. Great, just what she needed.

She closed the blinds, and glanced to the bed again. She had tossed the sheets in the corner. Who knows when the last time those retched things were washed. Smelled like crap, or something worse than that.

The room beside her was rather noisy as well. There were squeaks and moans, and she wished she could do something to block out the sound. “Meh…” she said quietly, then started to hum to herself, trying to keep herself preoccupied.

She heard that sound again. Ringing and water falling. She lifted her head slowly, listening, but heard only the sounds from the neighboring room, and worked again.

“Darkness…” she said aloud to herself.

“Demon…”

[//Setsuna-Chan\\]

“A Bittersweet Journey”
By Artamis Ryu
Chapter 3 “Darkness – My Lover”
Scene: The fields of
Time: 2:30 PM
Day: 9

All love shifts and changes. I don't know if you can be wholeheartedly in love all the time.
-Julie Andrews-

Setsuna walked for days on end, her mind in a blur. She had not eaten in two days, and it seemed an eternity before the sun had shown.

When she first left the village, it was so nice and warm. Now it was cold and bleak. The sky was covered again in dark clouds, and she could’ve sworn there was a village ahead of her. But by the time she got there, it was too late, and everyone was ignoring her.

She passed through the town without thought, and found herself in nothing but rolling meadows of golden grain and crunchy grass. In the back of her mind, she asked herself continually the same question:

“Is Marcus okay?”

Guilt was still washing over her, and it tore at her something awful.

Her stomach growled loudly, and she looked down. “Not now…” She mumbled, beginning to climb up a steep hill. She neared the top, and began to breathe heavily. “Great…” she whispered to herself, and pushed onward.

On the final step, there was a snap, and she screamed as the ground shot back, flinging her a few feet, then feeling herself hit the ground hard, and start to roll back down the hill.

She clawed at the ground and stopped herself, panting. “Ow…” she whimpered.

The wind blew sharply, and she gasped, sensing someone was near, and for a split second, she saw Keitaro standing over her. She jumped up, her eyes wide, and found nothing. “Oh…?”

Instead of seeing Keitaro, there was a village ahead of her. The inhabitants walked by carelessly, and as she scooted closer, she noticed something odd.

They were all men.

Slowly, she entered the village, limping slightly on her right leg, and looking around. A few men turned to look at her, then continued on. She approached a stall where she saw the first females. Or at least that was what she THOUGHT they were.

They indeed were women, but they were fat and looked like men from behind. Setsuna cringed. “Excuse me…” she asked nervously.

One of them turned. “A girl eh?” they said in a similar accent to Ajani’s tribe, but better English. “Don’t get those much. You’ll be needing’ a job hon. There, go there,” she pointed to a small stone building. She thanked them, and walked over to the building.

It smelled strange, and she blinked a little, taking another step closer. She pressed her hand to the cold bronze handle, and pulled. The doors opened, and she was hit with a blast of hot air. She put her arm over her face to block out the smell and the heat.

Inside, there were women everywhere, and not more than half were attractive. Still, there was a man every so often with his head rested against one of them, while they fed him grapes or wine. Instantly, she knew where she was.

“Omigod…” she looked to the sign hanging over the door. ‘Brothel United’, it read, and she covered her mouth, gasping.

“I’m in a sleeperhouse!”

-----------------------
Time: 2:30 PM
Scene: Palace of Trinity
-----------------------

Adriana tapped her fingers on her desk, staring down at the empty sheet of paper before her. She reached over, dipping her quill pen into the ink again, then stopped, staring down again. She wanted to write, yet she did not know what to write.

There was gentle knocking on the door, and it opened, Andrew stepping in. He looked over, and stood behind her. “So what might you be writing?”

She looked up at him slowly. “Nothing that concerns you.”

Andrew tsked, waving his finger. “You shouldn’t talk like that to a Count.”

She glared. “But I am your princess. I have higher status than you do.”

“True, but still,” he coughed into his hand, and looked around, “you should get ready. I’m inviting you to dinner tonight.”

“What’s the occasion?” Adriana said.

“Nothing,” he smiled, and left slowly.

Adriana said nothing, turning her face away, and touching the glass of her window. She stared out into the countryside, into the Avaunted forest. “Setsuna,” she whispered, “you’d better bring Marcus back to life…” she said quietly, closing her eyes, then the curtains.

-----------------------
Time: 2:56 PM
Scene: The Brothel
-----------------------

Setsuna began to panic, starting to back away from all the people. Some guys looked at her, and grinned, approaching. She turned her head away and started to leave, when a rather fat woman walked in her way, grinning.

“Where do ya think you’re going toots?” She laughed.

Setsuna cowered. “Out of here!”

The woman laughed. “You’re a strange one! Here, I’ll get you an uniform and we’ll get you started up right away!”

Setsuna flailed. “But I don’t work here!”

“That’s okay.” The woman shoved her into a dressing room and began to look for some outfits for her. “Let’s see…” she held up one of them, “too small,” she said, shifting through them again. Setsuna was shivering and staring outside where a guy was making out with someone.

The lady grinned, throwing a uniform at her. “Get started as soon as possible. You get the most money,” she said, walking off.

Setsuna’s eyes were wide, and she looked around slowly “Omigod…this is not really happening to me…” she walked out into the brothel, her eyes wide.

She was approached, and she backed up, eyes wide. The guy grinned and took off his trousers. Setsuna went bug-eyed, and covered her face. “No, no, no what are you doing? Put that away!”

The man sneered at her. “What’s wrong woman? You work here don’t ya?”

Setsuna shook her head. “There’s been some mistake ack! Please sir put your pants back on!”

The guy rolled his eyes as another woman walked over, leading him away. Setsuna sighed with relief, and the fat woman from before came over followed by two other women. One of them was scrawny, and had her hair on top of her head. The other was jus really short, with bright blue hair in pigtails.

“You new?” the little one asked. Setsuna nodded slowly. “I’m Viveka.”

The fat one smiled. “I’m Gertrud.” She pointed to the skinny woman. “She’s Ingrid.”

“I’m Setsuna…”

“Eh?” Ingrid said, “that’s a strange name!”

“I’m not from here…I’m from Trinity…”

Gertrud blinked. “Where’s that?”

Setsuna began to tell them of her home, the place she missed more than anything else. She would pause every so often because she’d hear a thump or a moan, but she just continued on, not thinking of the horrible brothel.

“That’s interesting…” Viveka said, smiling up at Setsuna. “I think I’m going to like her!”

Setsuna laughed a little, and the other two laughed as well. “A lot better than the last one.” Gertrud cackled.

“Last one?”

An old woman walked over, and sneered at the small girl in the corner. “See her? That’s Safiya.”

The other women scoffed and snickered, pointing at her. She seemed very normal, and yet she looked incredibly fragile, and uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong with her?” Setsuna asked the old woman.

She laughed. “That girl is cursed. Always has been since she started working here at the brothel.”

One of the women with bright, fake looking red hair, threw a bucket of dirty water at Safiya, covering her once blonde hair a dirty brown from the bucket water. She gasped, then looked away, tears brimming in her eyes.

Gertrud slung her arm around Setsuna’s shoulder. “That girl there, is cursed, because she let someone forbidden make love to her.”

“What?” Setsuna said, blinking quickly.

“We’re all the same status quote here, but we all knew that this guy, was no good. Big, small, tall, short, anything in a guy, rich or poor (or as long as he has money), doesn’t matter. That’s our job. But…”

Setsuna gulped. “But what…?” Gertrud smirked.

“It is forbidden for a pure blooded demon to make love to a human girl.”

Setsuna looked over at the girl, and she could see the tears that ran down her face as she sat there, alone. She frowned as the other three women walked away, then saw Safiya stand, and walk away. Slowly she followed her down one of the halls.

For several minutes, Safiya didn’t seem to notice, then she began to pick up the pace, until she was running. “Wait!” Setsuna called out, chasing her.

Safiya ran into one of the bedrooms and threw herself on the bed, huddled, staring at Setsuna through wide blue eyes. “I’m not going to hurt you!” Setsuna said, approaching her slowly, “It’s okay, I’m a friend!”

The little girl sniffled, and wiped her eyes. Setsuna sat beside her. “What’s wrong?”

“I was only 13…” the girl whimpered, curled up on her bed, “when I came here…”

Setsuna looked at her gravely. “Tell me Safiya-san…”

“I had nowhere to go…my mama worked here, and my papa was one of the men she slept with. I was a mistake, or that’s what she told me…” she sniffled, wiping the tears in her eyes, “the ladies here were nice to me for a few days, then they got mean…”

“What…did they do?” she asked, touching Safiya’s shoulder.

“I-I…they hurt me…they would beat me and make me clean. I had no choice. The men would spit on me and laugh at me and I could do nothing to stop it…” she whimpered, “one man beat me until I bled…”

Setsuna looked down at the bed slowly. “Then…?”

“Then…he came…”

Setsuna could feel the darkness upon her as the room became colder. “What happened…?”

“He entered the brothel, and everyone went quiet. I remember being in the corner, and I was afraid, of everything,” she whimpered, “but he approached me, and I thought he was going to kill me…but he was so kind, so gentle…”

“He lifted me into his arms and took me into one of the rooms. He healed me, and fed me, made sure I was taken care of. I’d never felt like that before…”

“Every new moon, he would come back and take care of me…and I always looked forward to his visit. But, I couldn’t just not pay him back…

Safiya looked to Setsuna slowly. “Please, understand me now…he never laid a finger on me until I had asked him to…”

Setsuna closed her eyes. “So…what happened?”

“He made love to me after his sixth visit, and I do not regret any of it,” she looked away. “I love him so much, with all of my heart, but I fear now that I bear his child, and I have not seen him in so long.” She closed her eyes, “do you think he left me?”

Setsuna shook her head. “He didn’t…” she looked out the window. The moon was almost gone. “He will come back this month, a week from now. Just wait,” she smiled encouragingly.

“Do you think so…?”

“I know so.”

Safiya smiled, tears brimming in her eyes. “Thank you…what is your name?”

“I’m Setsuna,” she held out her hand, and Safiya stared at it, “how old are you?”

“Fourteen.”

Setsuna couldn’t help but jump. “Eh? That’s young to be working here!”

“I’m the youngest…”

She gagged. “I’d hope so!!!”

“Is something wrong?” Safiya asked, blinking slowly. Setsuna looked at her, then realized how different their customs were. This may just be normal.

“No…”

There was another moment of awkward silence. Setsuna felt very strange being alone with a girl who was a pet to a demon. For some reason she thought of Marcus, and her eyes widened. She shook her head quickly, gasping.

“Oro…?” Safiya said quietly.

“I have to go,” Setsuna said, running out of the room without a backward glance.

-----------------------
Time: 9:46 PM
Scene: The Brothel (hallway)
-----------------------

“Ungh…” she said quietly, touching her head. “What’s wrong with me? I know…I must save him yet…”

Her heart thudded slowly.

Water dripped quietly somewhere in the hallway.

She sighed.

“Tonight…”

Viveka approached her slowly, smiling a little. “Hello Setsuna. You look exhausted. Need somewhere to stay?” she asked, crouching beside her. Setsuna nodded. “Okay. Follow me,” she walked off.

Setsuna followed the short woman in silence, never speaking. Her mind drifted elsewhere and focused into a great void that existed nowhere else but her mind. Viveka glanced back at her. “You okay kid?”

“Hm?”

“I asked if you were okay.” The woman repeated as she rounded another one of the dank hallway corners.

“I’m fine. Tired, I suppose.”

“It has been a long day. You didn’t get one customer either. That’s how it is with me too.” She sighed sadly. “I’m too short, I guess.” She stretched, and brought her to a room at the end of the hallway. Inside, it smelled more of dust than it did of mold or that ‘other’ smell.

“Here we are.” She smiled, brushing off the dusty sheets. “This should do you good.” She laughed. “If you need anything, don’t ask anyone else but me personally.” She winked, and walked away.

Setsuna stood quietly, staring at the sheets, wondering if she felt safe sleeping on them. After all, this WAS a brothel. Never could be too careful.

She took the sheets off the bed, and saw stains on the mattress that made her want to gag. “God….” She thought to herself, then flipped the mattress over, smiling with satisfaction. “Much better. Now all I have to do is get rid of all dust and spider egg sacs.” She joked, dusting off her new living quarters.

The sky outside was dark as thunder rumbled. Clouds were coming in from the west, announcing a rainstorm. Great, just what she needed.

She closed the blinds, and glanced to the bed again. She had tossed the sheets in the corner. Who knows when the last time those retched things were washed. Smelled like crap, or something worse than that.

The room beside her was rather noisy as well. There were squeaks and moans, and she wished she could do something to block out the sound. “Meh…” she said quietly, then started to hum to herself, trying to keep herself preoccupied.

She heard that sound again. Ringing and water falling. She lifted her head slowly, listening, but heard only the sounds from the neighboring room, and worked again.

“Darkness…” she said aloud to herself.

“Demon…”