Puck hovered close by as he watched the fight between Ryuu, the vampire Zoey and Morrigan.
“I wish Ember was here,” Puck muttered to himself. “We could bet who would die first. I would defiantly bet the vampire she’s too reckless then again Demon Junior …” Puck looked back to watched the fight and saw the bloodlust in Morrigan’s black eyes. Puck gulped. “It probably won’t be long before she gets bored and may be she will leave.” He said the last part hopefully.
“Well this is fun.” A familiar male voice’s sighed. Puck’s tiny pointy ears twitched and his gray eyes scanned the area and he saw the Demon Lord Asa Yuki. “Ah oh,” Puck said and looked back at Ryuu wondering what to do. It looked like Ryuu was to busy fighting Morrigan to realize that his father was watching him.
Morrigan punched Zoey and the vampire was knocked back. Ryuu caught her and then slung shot her back towards Morrigan. Puck saw that Ryuu was bleeding. “Oh no blood plus vampire equals not good.” Puck said fearfully as he watched Zoey stopped for a moment and saw in the vampire’s eyes that she was fighting her kind’s thirst for blood. Then the vampire lunged at Morrigan and Puck relaxed but he knew it was only a matter of time before the vampire couldn’t take it anymore and she knew it too.
“Ryuu get out of here.” Zoey ordered him as she took deep breaths through her mouth.
Ryuu didn’t move from his position as he faced Morrigan. “No I’m not leaving.” Puck shook his head. “What an idiot,” Puck said to himself. “Doesn’t he know that his blood is distracting her?”
Puck stiffens as he felt the temperature in the air dropped and his flesh crawled. Ryuu’s body had stiffened as well and he was backing away. Puck thought he finally wised up and the little fairy saw that he was actually retreated and grabbed on to Ryuu’s as he ran.
“Finally took the wise road huh?” Puck said as Ryuu ran down several corridors.
“Huh?” Ryuu said stopped suddenly and Puck almost lost his grip and fell. “What the hell happened?”
“Uh…dunno got me Junior,” Puck clamped on to the slate colored hair and looked down at Ryuu’s forehead.
“Who’s junior?” Ryuu said looking up at Puck.
“You fool who else?” Puck said. “Anyway you need to do something about that…” Puck trailed off as he looked down at cut on Ryuu’s arm. The light from the moon that shined from the window next to them shone on Ryuu’s arm and Puck saw that it was healing itself already. “Ah never mind.”
“Okay fine I’m going back to help Zoey.” Ryuu said.
“Oh no your not!” Puck grabbed stands of hair in each hand and yanked them.
“Ouch! Stop that!”
“You are not going back your bleeding.” Puck said severely. Although his wound was already healing he still smelled like fresh blood. “Did you forget that girl Zoey is a vampire?”
Ryuu stopped and said, “Oh right.”
“Of course I’m right.” Puck huffed. “Now we should go back to M’ Lady.” He dug his tiny heel into the side of Ryuu’s head and flapped the stands of hair like they were reigns. “Hi ho Silver away!”
“Get the f*** off!” Ryuu snapped and Puck quickly got off and hovered a few feet away. Puck sensed a very strong spirit pressure that was quickly dissipating. Ryuu looked down the hall. He ran towards the direction of the extinguishing spirit pressure and Puck followed while flying behind him.
When they entered a new hall they saw Matsu lying on the floor his back resting against the lockers.
“Matsu!” Ryuu yelled he ran over to the white haired man. Puck hung back when he felt a familiar demonic presence again. He looked over and saw Asa looking over at Nino. Nino looked on the verge of death as blood had poured from the wound on his chest.
“Don’t touch him!” Puck heard Ryuu shouted at the Demon Lord. Asa Yuki merely smiled.
“I’m not going to hurt him.” Asa replied smoothly. I beg to differ, Puck thought as he watched quietly from the ceiling. Asa touched his index finger on Nino’s forehead. “You’re an interesting person.” Puck heard Asa muttered as a light shone from his finger and the light covered Nino’s motionless body. When the light faded away all signs of injury were gone there wasn’t even a spot of blood on him.
Asa stood up and looked over at Ryuu and Matsu, “Well good luck ghost hunting you two.” He said with a smirk and disappeared.
“What the heck?” Puck muttered staring at the place where the demon lord had disappeared. “What was that about?”
Matsu had jumped over to Nino and embraced him tightly “Thank God your alive!” The white haired man said breathed with relief as he held Nino.
Brokeback Mountain moment, Puck thought and coughed to hide his laugh.
“God fails,” Puck heard Nino breathed out as Matsu released him from the embrace. Nino stood up and looked over at Ryuu.
“We need to talk,” Matsu said quietly.
Puck felt the atmosphere became tense he kept quiet and watched from above.
“There are Seven Demon Lords,” Nino began his voice was sharp and he stared straight into Ryuu’s eyes. “That the shamans have known to be in existence. They reflect the sins of humanity and exist to cause torment and pain.”
“My father…” Ryuu said slowly. “Is one of them…”
Matsu took his turn in explaining, “Demons eat spirits,” He said smiling and Puck was starting to think that he mostly smiled from force of habit. “Which is why shamans send them on their way before they can be eaten… The strongest of the demons are known as the Seven Demon Lords. They are compared throughout time as devils as well as the original sins of man.”
I knew that, Puck thought dryly.
“And what exactly does that make me?” Ryuu demanded at the two men before him.
“Actually…” Matsu began but Nino stepped forward.
“Children of demons are demons themselves,” Nino glared causing Ryuu to glare as well. However, Nino’s eyes looked more somber. “A Moratorium* is a child born of a demon and a human. They are stuck between the spiritual world and the physical one much like shamans are.”
“Indeed,” Matsu sighed aloud.
Yeah I knew that already, Puck thought.
“You’re lying,” Ryuu said and Nino’s eyes narrowed sharply.
You kidding me he’s in denial? Puck thought shaking his head. After what he went through.
“It’s not a lie Ryuu,” Matsu sighed.
“And what about my sisters? Are you going to call them demons too?” Ryuu shouted. “They have shown any sign of having demon powers and they can’t even see ghost let alone hear them!”
“If Asa is their father then unfortunately yes.” Matsu replied.
Ryuu stared down at the floor and clenched his fists. “This isn’t happening.” He said through clench teeth. He looked up and shouted “My sisters are not demons!” For the first time Puck felt almost sorry for the seventeen year old.
“And what about you?” Nino demanded sharply. “Are you going to try and say that you’re not a demon?”
“No I’m…I’m just Ryuu,” Ryuu said gripping his hair and Nino stepped forward and grabbed at Ryuu’s arm.
“Nino…” Puck heard Matsu say and Puck watched the dark hair man and slate haired one glared at each other.
“Stop fooling yourself!” Nino glared at Ryuu. “You know what you are. You’ve used that power twice. I sensed it and the effects are on your arm.” He showed Ryuu his arm and that the cuts were beginning to heal.
“I know real humans cuts don’t heal as quickly. It normally takes a process of weeks to months.” Matsu said quietly as he stood next to Nino.
“Let go Nino. I don’t want to hear anymore.” Puck picked up that Ryuu was still in denial of the truth. The fairy shook his head crossed his arms behind his head and yawned. I feel like I’m in some morbid soap opera.
Nino seized Ryuu’s other arm and slammed him against the lockers. Puck jumped not expecting that. “You will hear it all,” Nino said sharply. “Or you will end up being used by your father and your grandparents!”
Puck unfolded his arms and watched what was happening intently.
“I said I don’t want to hear it from you!” Ryuu shouted back, and suddenly forced himself forwards and broke Nino’s grip. Nino stepped back sharply and moved his hands to his pockets. He stared at Ryuu darkly who stared back.
“Ryuu… please listen….” Matsu said quietly. “We’re trying to help you….”
Ryuu glared at them. “By calling my family demons and….”
“Shut up,” Nino punched Ryuu on his jaw. Ryuu flinched backwards and put a hand to his face. “Be glad you’re not a Vessel instead. It sucks a lot more than being a Moratorium,” Nino spat angrily. Puck tilted his head to the side. Where had he heard that word before?
Ryuu didn’t reply but glared back at Nino. Matsu sighed and sidestepped away to let Nino walked away.
“Get back here!” Ryuu shouted angrily as he brushed past Matsu and ran straight at Nino.
Nino stopped and turned around as Ryuu was about to punch him in the face like Nino did before. But Nino stopped by grabbing hold his hand and Ryuu grabbed Nino’s.
“Stop it!” Matsu shouted at the two men but they appeared to ignore him.
“Just what the heck is a Vessel?” Asked Ryuu as he glared at Nino.
“Someone whose heart, mind, and body is given up to try and make a trap for a Demon Lord,” Nino replied with a glare. “So that when the Demon Lord tries to take the ‘soul’ from within the body, it sets off a trap and seals the demon within the body itself. Then the body is slaughtered killing the demon completely.”
Oh now I remember, Puck thought as his face took on a somber expression.
“Nino…..” Matsu murmured he looked somehow hurt for some reason. Ryuu stared at Nino and let of his hand.
Matsu said and took his turn in explaining. “Vessels… were created by the shamistic community to try and defeat the Demon Lords…They take certain shaman children and…..” Matsu nodded and had a pained looked on his face.
“That’s enough, Matsu,” Nino said sharply and Matsu grew quiet. “Like I said, be glad you are a Moratorium. Don’t blind yourself to being one. You’re weak. ”
“I’m not weak,” Ryuu shot back.
“You’re acting like a cry baby,” Nino said sharply. “You won’t even accept the truth of matters.”
“Shut up!” Ryuu snapped.
“Accept it!” Nino shouted.
“SHUT UP!” Ryuu yelled punched Nino in the face. Matsu flinched somewhat and backed into a locker. Puck watched from his position near the ceiling and wondered how long this will continue.
Nino didn’t flinch but he didn’t make an attempt to dodge the punch. Puck wondered if that punch even hurt him. Wait was that a smile on the dark haired man’s face? An actual smile? Nino’s hand reached out and seized Ryuu’s arm and pulled it away from his face. Ryuu stared at Nino and stepped back.
“You’ll be fine,” Nino’s voice that resembled laughter. “If you don’t want to be weak, then don’t allow yourself to be blind to anything. See it as it is, and deal with it as it comes. Become stronger.”The smile that painted on Nino’s face disappeared within seconds and his regular dark somber look was back. Nino turned around and walked away.
Matsu looked from Ryuu to Nino and then back to Ryuu. “I…. haven’t seen him smile… in years….” Matsu said quietly.
Years? Puck thought blankly and shook his head.
“Matsu…. “Ryuu said as he stared after Nino. “Is Nino a vessel?”
“We both are,” Matsu answered lightly with a smile on his face. “I think…. Nino needs some alone time…. Let’s find the others, shall we?”
Matsu looked at Ryuu for a reply and Ryuu looked back at him looked like he wanted to ask something but decided against it. “Right,” Ryuu said instead.
Puck watch the two men walked away and he looked out the window that was over the row of lockers. He saw a gigantic crow flew by and he saw silver rings glittered around the bird’s legs. Morrigan! He looked over at Ryuu and Matsu wondering if he should warn them. This vision turned white and he saw a different scene.
~Morrigan standing behind Aisling with the knife at the girl’s throat~
No! Forgetting about Ryuu and Matsu Puck flew off.
~*~
A loud grumble echoed in the dark hallway. “Oh be quiet!” Aisling said to her stomach. “The kitchen’s not far now. Hopefully they didn’t lock it up. They weren’t supposed to lock up everything in the building.” Aisling had separated from the others. Emiko didn’t like that she was going on her own but Aisling assured her she would be find as long as Brant was with her. Aisling wanted to be on her own as the precognition she had still bothered her. She wondered where Morrigan was now as she sensed her presence had moved.
Brant was walking beside her like a faithful guard dog. Are you talking to me or to yourself? Aisling heard a male voice in her head and the sudden tight burning feeling in her chest. She chocked.
“Ah! Don’t do that! It hurts when you tele- communicate me.” Aisling said patting her chest. It was like getting a brain freeze only much worse.
Brant held up his hands in a gesture to say he was sorry. “It’s fine. Remind me to teach you ASL.”
The knight gave the thumps up and the usual spirit that seemed so fearsome at first looked funny at the moment. Aisling laughed out loud.
“Hello?” An uncertain voice said.
Aisling looked up and saw Ayame kneeling on the floor looking lost.
“Ayame!” Aisling ran over to her. “Are you alright? Why are you on the floor?” Aisling held her hand out towards the girl in order to help her up. Ayame looked at her uncertain and took her hand. Aisling helped her stand on her feet and she saw Ayame’s was clutching on photo in her other hand. “What’s that?”
“It’s nothing,” Ayame quickly and she put the photograph in her pocket. “What do you want?”
Aisling scratched her head and glanced at Brant. “Um doing my job as a ghost hunter and looking for the kitchen is it this way?” She had forgotten the directions Mari told her.
“How should I know?” Ayame said sharply and Aisling sensed the emotions of irritation and pain. Ayame shut her mouth and looked down at the floor. “…sorry.”
Aisling looked at her and smiled gently. “It’s fine.” She looked down at the hallway on their left. “Okay I think it’s that way. Do you want to come with me and Brant?”
Ayame looked at her surprised. Then she shrugged, “Sure whatever.”
They walked down the hall way and instead of going to the kitchen liked Aisling hoped they went to the hallway that had large windows on one side and a long row of lockers on the other. Aisling sighed and hung her head. “Are you alright?” Ayame asked her.
Aisling straighten up and said half heartedly. “I’m fine.”
Aisling walked down the hall with Brant walking next to her and Ayame trailing behind. Aisling turned her head a fraction to look at Ayame and was about to ask what was wrong when Brant suddenly seized her and pulled her away from the windows. “What are you…?” Aisling said and heard a loud crash and the shatter of glass. Brant shielded her from the shower of glass.
“There you are Ayame-chan.” Aisling heard a stranger’s voice said. She peered over Brant’s arm and saw a girl standing in front of the shock faced Ayame.
Ayame stared at the girl and breathed in surprise, “Midori?”
***
Sorry this was so long but I wanted to show Puck’s view of what happened in the previous posts. He’s a good comic relief :)
Chiyoko said she was having problems and didn’t know how to introduce her OC Midori. I hope this helps Chiyoko ^_^
