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Post by Kyattsuai on Feb 11, 2007 5:48:25 GMT -5
What’s up?:
{The two OCs, God Nroc of Light and Goddess Li of Water (and yes, there are other gods, just not appearing in this story! ^^) come across the new remains of Mineral town, and decide to steal a few residents for postponed-to-the-limit task they need to fill on their way to becoming full-fledged gods. The story follows DIRECTLY after the tale of Red Moon, but you do not need to read it in order to understand the story at all. It will help to know what their injuries were before. =3 ... yeah, on with it already, Kyatt-chan!}
For those of you who didn't read Red Moon and won't, 5 assassins maimed the residents of Mineral Town and destroyed the area. The first assassin was immensely powerful, the second wore long hand-claws, the third was a super-skilled ninja, the fourth was a chainsaw-weilding shapeshiftress, and the fifth was a ghostly old man who looked like a kabuki demon with a giant sickle. There is no explanation behind their motives, and it seems they visited another island -after- their first slaughter...
Chapter 1: Tian Shi Warnings?:
• Mild Langauge (2 occurances, please notify me if I missed one)
• Very Mild Morbid Themes
sWEeT cOppER
Chapter 1 : Tian Shi (Angel)
How do five assassins decimate an entire village in a matter of a day and a half?
Once a bustling country town, the air hung heavily with the smell of blood. One could simply tread through the remains of the village and taste the terror that still lingered heart-wrenchingly above the bodies of innocent people. The wind howled viciously through the hollow streets and broken walls. Every place the assassins had struck, a gruesome 'X' was carved into the wall. A day ago, people would’ve been waking up to start their work for the day. Today, they slept in.
False hope that had let those that lasted the initial blow feel safe and secure at last had failed them. Their leader in hope turned out to be the viper in the grass. No one stood a chance.
--
“Dumb ass.” A light, airy feminine voice hissed in a very foreign accent, of what nationality one could not be sure,”I told you that we should have done this earlier. We are to be the next gods, and we wait 500 years to find hosts for our Zodiacs.” This voice had only one word to describe it; creepy. It's haunting sounds echoed from tree to tree scaring birds in every direction. It was calm and condescending, and conflicted drastically with the next voice.
“Shut up, you waited too. You could have gone on without me.” This voice was lazy and slow, higher in pitch than most male voices. It had a clear, crisp It seemed more persistent in finding ‘hosts’ to get it over with than to fulfill the task. This voice was always competing with the sound of felled foilage that its owner was clearing impatiently.
“I can’t go out searching alone. You’d let your little cousin go out all alone to find hosts?” The female voice inquired, pitch raising at the end to an almost pitiful height.
“Give it up. You’re only 3 weeks younger than me and your twice my size.”
“You better not be calling me fat. At least we got a few people from that other village.”
“And you transplanted the spirits and put them somewhere safe to recover?” Nroc raised an eyebrow. His cousin had a habit of putting important things in bad hiding places.
“Ugh, yes. I have them here.” She held up a tiny crystal ball that shone dimly and grinned crazily, “It’s amazing how well I can invent nifty little one-use gadgets! I can call them out whenever.” She proudly chirped, stuffing the orb away again. The orb was only the size of her fist, but it gave off an aura of quite a few people.
Slowly the pair emerged from the forest, trees ending abruptly as a beautiful pond came into sight. The man appeared young, and had blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He was wearing leather armor, much like that worn in various native tribes, and a headband with feathers protruding gracefully from the back. The woman was just as young, and had flowing grey-pink hair and slit purple eyes. She was clad in Asian robes, once again the specific nationality eluding guesses, and a headdress fit for an empress. “Look, the pond there. That’s where that lesser goddess lives. What’s her name?”
“The ‘Harvest Goddess’, you mean? Yes, this is her pond.” The woman leaned over the pond, “It smells like her.” She gave a slightly repulsed look and stared down into the pond, which was deceptively deep.
“It’s kind of stupid that your a cat and a water goddess.” The man noted at his cousin’s sense of smell, following her and dipping his fingers into the cool water.
“Doesn’t dragon seem more fire or wind worthy? I thought you’d have Unicorn near you.” She teased. Suddenly, she sniffed the air again. Her ears seemed to pick up an inaudible sound as they twitched a moment, and with that she drew back a few feet nervously, “Nroc.” She called to her companion.
“Shush, Li! Let’s see if she’s home.” Nroc reached down and found himself a heavy rock, “This’ll get the old lady to wake up.”
“Nroc.”
“Shush! If she hears us!” He ended his sentence short threateningly and tossed the rock into the reflective pool at his feet. It left a splash, and minutes after nothing came.
“Nroc. Nroc... Nrooooc.” Li spat, “Nroc!”
“Hm, I guess she’s not home.” He looked down, seeing nothing appear, “Or maybe your caterwauling is keeping her down there!” Nroc turned to his cousin, visibly irritated.
“Okay, fine. Look, I think she’s coming!” Li pointed with sarcastic enthusiasm. Nroc sprung to his feet and turned around, looking into the pond.
His face turned from expectant to wide-eyed and open mouthed, “What the hell!?” He fell backwards onto his rear, scooting back with his hands. Floating the pond was the newly dead body of a young girl, her black hair floating lifelessly in the water and broken rope around her waist. It was a pathetic sight, one that would have anyone's heart pooled in their heels.
“I warned you.”
“No, you didn’t!”
“Tried to.”
“You could hear that rope break down there!?” Nroc turned to her and barked, “I thought you said this town was ‘low risk’, ‘super peaceful’, and ‘near all the good schools’!”
“There are no schools here.”
“Geez, give me a heart-attack! Work your wonder-magic on her. I’m getting queasy.” Nroc stood up and darted behind a tree, clasping his hand to his mouth desperately. Even as a god, he never got used to the sight of dead people, making him happy to be the Light god, but not happy to have to revive dead people.
Li frowned and kneeled down and pulled the girl out of the water, placing her on her lap. She raised her hand and and tried to heal the girl, but to no avail, “You can revive better than I can. Healing part I’m good at.” She asked her travelling comapnion. Nroc gulped and walked over. He looked down at the empty shell and freed his left hand from its ornate leather gauntlet, placing it gingerly on the girl’s chest.
A dim white glow engulfed the body, and the cuts and scrapes, bruises and broken bones, all slowly mended themselves. The girl’s color changed from a waxen white to a warm, sun-kissed pink the simply breathed life around her. Her eyes, once bleak and empty now turned light brown and alert, moving slowly from the sky, to the trees, to the birds, and finally to the god whose hand was still over her heart, soaking in the environment around her, “Are you... are you an...?”
“He’s one promotion above, sweetie.” Li helped the girl sit up, “Can you see the sky and all the little birds? Can you hear everything alright?"
“Yes. Where am I?”
“You’re at the Harvest Goddess’ Lake.” Nroc smiled warmly, removing his hand, “And we got here just in time. I don’t get to you quick enough, it’s harder to revive you in one piece. You'd be blind or deaf or a zombie or something.” The girl squeaked and put her hands up to her mouth in fear.
“Nroc is only kidding, kitten.” Li nervously laughed and waved Nroc off, “You had your life taken from you wrongfully.” The goddess frowned and nodded once slowly, “But, he’s given you all your life back. Is... everyone else in the town okay?”
The girl’s eyes began to glisten with tears, and she found herself left without words. She began to cry, and reached up to hug Li’s neck. Li bowed her neck to make the situtation more comfortable. Nroc walked up quickly, “It’s okay! Geez, you don’t have to think about it. We’ll leave you here, take care of everyone in the village, and bring you back! Just don’t cry...” He petted the girl’s hair, and sent a telepathic thought to his cousin, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Li?"
"Two birds, one stone."
“What’s your name, anyhow?” Nroc smiled down at the girl.
The girl sniffed and held back her tear long enough to utter one word.
“May.”
{More coming! By the way, when the gods sometimes skip a word(s), i.e. "Healing part I'm good at", it's on purpose. They talk like that XD Especially Li with her accent.}
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Post by Kyattsuai on Feb 11, 2007 5:50:23 GMT -5
Chapter 2: Wàng Jì Warnings?
•No Warnings
sWEeT cOppER
Chapter 2 : Wàng Jì (Forget)
“I am not lying!” May shouted defensively, “Why won’t you believe me, Mr. Carter!?” She was telling the truth! She knew it was the truth! but no one would believe her, no matter what she said.
“I-I didn’t say I didn’t believe you.” Carter sat beside May on one of the church pews, “It’s simply a lot to swallow.”
“It’s the truth! It shouldn’t be so hard! I saw two angels! They saved everyone’s lives and fixed up all the buildings and made it all go away!” May cried out. If she heard ‘Now, May...’ one more time, she’s absolutely pummel something.
“Now, May, why don’t any of us remember this? I know some bad dreams can seem very real sometimes, but you can’t---”
“It wasn’t a dream!” May screamed hysterically, “Why don’t any of you believe me!?” She slumped against the back of the pew and started to cry. Carter could see that denying her was only upsetting her. Something had badly scared her, and he had no answer for it. May was very mature for her age, and she would know the difference between bad dreams and reality. She had on many occasions. His heart told him that she was sincere, but his brain told him it was impossible.
“All right,” Carter said calmly putting a comforting hand on her shoulder, “I believe you. If these angels made everything go away, then why do you still know everything?” Carter wasn’t sure whether he really did believe her or not. He didn’t know which was right. He had figments of this dream of hers in his head. But was it real memories or just his mind interpreting her dream?
“I don’t know. They left me out of it...” She sighed, “Do you really believe me?” She said, eyeing him hard.
“Yes. I do.”
“Check your back. Right on your shoulder.” She crossed her arms and watched him like a hawk, “Check or I won’t believe you.”
“Fine.” He smiled. He wasn’t really sure what May was getting at, but he reached up and slipped his hand under his shirt to feel his back. Suddenly, his expression went blank.
“That wasn’t there last night, was it?” May pouted, “Believe me now?”
--
Carter had removed his shirt and coat, and stood leaning against his sink in the basement of the church. What is this? He reached back again, feeling a pattern on his back. It was a scar. It felt enormous on his back. He was certain he would remember a wound that big. He was certain he’d at least have the foggiest idea of what caused it. He had never been injured badly, and the only injury he;d ever had to his back was a strain when he was moving in and carried in a box that was too heavy.
“Maybe Tim should see this.” His voice wavered a bit, putting his shirt and coat back on. Without warning, the mysterious scar sent a sharp, tearing pain up his back. Carter let out a pained yelp, but covered his mouth quickly. He hunched over and fell to his knees, sandy hair falling in his face. The wound wasn’t open, and, assuming it was scarred and old, it had never bothered him before. The pain was crippling, and it took all his strength to drag himseld up to a painful limp to the clinic.
Tim was slowly getting dressed before the clinic was set to open. Elli was a little late for work, but nothing else seemed strange about the day. Except that he felt somewhat... drugged. His head was a little light, and his room seemed unfamiliar, like he was seeing where everything was for the first time. Perhaps he had just stayed up to late last night. Last night's events were a little blurry, but he did remember getting into his work.
“Oops!” Elli dropped her tray of newly cleaned instruments and turned away immediately, “I didn’t know you were still up here, doctor.”
Tim dropped his shirt as the shrill sound of alarm from his nurse hit his ears, “Sorry Elli. It’s all right, I just have to put a shirt on.” He said turning away from her to grab his shirt. He saw her giggle a little behind his back, and raised an eyebrow, "You were a little late this morning... Not like you."
“Sorry. Alex was a little sick this morning. I hope Emajuu can take care of his son and the farm without getting too overworked.” She giggled, “You know, it’s odd.” Elli picked up her tray and its contents to clean them again, “I didn’t know you were the kind of guy to get a tattoo.”
“What tattoo?” Tim looked at her with a look that would’ve signed an order for mental hospitalization, “I don’t have a tattoo.”
“Why... yes, you do. It’s right here.” She trotted over and put her finger on his shoulder, “It’s a picture of a bull, I think. It’s awfully pretty. You don’t remember getting it?” She smiled and turned around again. Tim sent a forced smile her way as she left.
“I’ve never gotten a tattoo.” He furrowed his brow, and ran to the mirror on the wall. He turned his back towards the mirror and turned his head over his shoulder as far as he could. There it was. A tattoo of a bull. An ox to be more exact. Under it’s picture was the number 2, written in ink that seemed to glitter with a copper color. How hard was I working last night? He rubbed his head sorely.
“Tim! I hope you don’t mind me coming in early.” Carter’s voice echoed from downstairs, “I have something I really need you to look at.” Once again, the doctor dropped his shirt in surprise. Tim sensed the urgent worry in his friend’s voice, and finished dressing, quickly throwing everything else on. He would worry about his tattoo later. He needed to attend to his patients before worrying about himself. Despite how odd the circumstances were.
--
“Carter, what happened?” Tim said as he examined the pastor’s back, “This injury... it must’ve been horrible.” About seven hack-and-slash gashes made up the scar. It was scarred, so it obviously had healed a while ago. Yet, it still looked fresh. It was impossible.
“I don’t know. Is it really a scar? I’ve never been injured very badly. I think I would’ve remembered.” Carter’s voice trembled. He looked over his shoulder to Tim, “I-I really...”
“Yes. It’s a scar... but not like any I’ve seen. It looks like... it’s still a fresh wound.” He paused, “Are you sure you haven’t been injured recently?” Something caught his eye. The bottom of a tattoo?
“I’m sure.” He took a deep breath, “I have no idea how it happened. And now...” He winced, “It’s beginning to hurt.” He bit his lip.
“I can give you some pain medication, but frankly... I’m at a loss at what to do. Elli! Can you get me some mild anesthetic?” Elli nodded and ran to fetch the anesthetic. Tim nodded and looked back to the pastor, who sat still in a mix of confusion and fear, “Carter, this will sound odd, but could you remove your shirt completely?”
“Why? Is something wrong?” He lifted the shirt off, and revealed to Tim something familiar. A tattoo, similar in style to his own, of a slithering snake. Beneath it, in copper ink, was the number 6, “Tim? Tim? Do you see something?”
“When did you get this tattoo?”
---
“Nroc?” Li walked up to Nroc, who was sitting in a chair of tree branches he had bent down with his godly powers.
“Yes, Li? It better be good. I’m listening to my music.” He switched off his CD-player and tapped impatiently on the root he was using as an armrest.
“Seems everyone is healing fine, and they don’t remember anything. Except for that May. I can’t wipe her memory. She must be just a bit too young.”
“It worked on the boy.”
“Well perhaps he’s twenty minutes older.” She rose an eyebrow quizzically, “I’m only a trainee at the Mind Blanking technique.” Li sat beside him on the ground, “You should wait longer. Yours are still healing and recovering from the transplant.”
“We don’t have much time.”
“They’ll be ready soon. You should've taken yours while they were asleep, like mine, so they could've healed faster.” She motions behind her to a line of four men, who bow to the Light God respectfully.
“But---"
“No wonder your bonzai tree died of overwatering. P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E. Interrupting their healing process could kill them.”
“Wow, you’re a good speller.”
{More later. =3 Hope you enjoy the bumbling gods and shesxy shoulder tattoos until then!}
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Post by moko on Feb 11, 2007 10:44:05 GMT -5
i remember red moon! sadly, the only part i really remember is the end. ^-^'
anyways, this fic seems pretty good so far, so i think i'll keep reading it. if you continue it that is.
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Post by Kyattsuai on Feb 11, 2007 14:49:59 GMT -5
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Post by Pickle on Feb 13, 2007 13:40:31 GMT -5
I'll need to read that, too...
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Post by Kyattsuai on Feb 14, 2007 6:27:01 GMT -5
[[this happens the same day as Chapter 2. In essence, it's really Chapter 2B]]
Chapter 3: Jian Warnings?
• Small gore scene not worth mentioning
sWEeT cOppER
Chapter 3 : Jian (Note)
The day was normal. Sasha began to tidy up the store early that morning, just to ensure some extra time for herself. The sun glittered in the same way it always had, letting down a warm curtain. Sasha gently nudged the last bag of seeds into it’s perfect placement, and smiled at her fine work. The store was absolutely immaculate, and the only thing left was the--
“Hm?” She let her vision fall across the wooden boards that glowed a soft orange with the morning light, “I swear I could’ve seen something...” She tiptoed closer to the boards in question, each step feeling dizzyingly familiar. She bent down, pulling her dress to her knees to crouch. Just as her loose sand-blonde hair graced the floorboards, her heart bounced frighteningly inside her chest, sending her back onto the floor behind her. Had her eyes deceived her? The floors washed over with blood like bitter waves, the glass of the window shattered outwards and the smell of death, the scent of fresh raw meat and blood, filling the air that was previously heavy with air-freshener; what was it? Her mind was playing tricks on her, she knew it. What on earth was she thinking? She rested her head in her hand before standing up, brushing herself off with a somewhat uneasy laugh, “Sasha, you need more sleep at night, you do.” She reassured herself, knowign full well that what she had seen was no vision of insomnia. The sun continued to splash at the floor, the golden waves lapping at the delicate pleats on Sasha’s navy dress, but with the deceptive smile of a tiger feigning docility.
Creak.
Sasha spun about quickly to find the door opened all the way. Two young men stood at the doorway, sillouettes against the sunlight let free to roam the room, “Hello? We don’t mean to bother you.” One of the young men was clad in a striped shirt with leather vest and pants. His hair was pulled back under a handkerchief, patterned with stars and stripes. Upon his face was an all to charmin smile that could have conned a peasant out of his last gold coins. The other was clad in similar fashion, only all in camouflage print and with his handkerchief in the style of a headband. His face bore no real expression except one of timid boredom, one that seemed submissive. The stars-and-stripes youth walked closer, brown eyes curiously charming to married woman instantly, “Are you Sasha Dowell?”
Sasha gathered her words slowly, trying to figure why two young men would come unannounced to the village. At least Manna would've banged on the shop's front door at the crack of dawn to spill the news, “Yes, but... I’m so sorry. That door should’ve been locked. Our shop isn’t open until---”
“We aren’t here to shop. This is a more personal visit. Our boss is the owner of a jewelry company. We’re representatives, and we have a free gift for you. My name’s Joe, and my brother here is Kurt.” Joe held out his hand invitingly, smiling as bright as the sky. Kurt stayed back, silently holding a small box in his hands. The velvet box was lined with a most brilliant gold, decorated with stones that alone could serve as a retirement fund. The gold stared back at her. It was frightening, but it drew her in and she found herself almost immobile.
“I... I’m sorry. Did I win something? I haven’t signed up for anything...” Sasha took Joe’s hand and smiled in a somewhat confused manner. Her heart jumped, the same as before, the minute her hand touched his. It was like an electric shock, or a pang of familiarity.
“No, no. This is completely complimentary. Our boss is doing a big promotion, and has decided to give out free jewelry to people in small towns for publicity.” He gestured for Kurt to come up. The silent boy nodded and walked over, holding out the precious box to Sasha.
“Here is your gift.” He said quietly as Sasha took the box. All she had to do was crack it open to quickly shut it and thrust it back nervously into the hands of the presenter.
“Goddess! That ring must be worth three fortunes! I can’t accept that for free. I simply can’t.” She was still red in the cheeks from just seeing it. It was gorgeous. A gold ring with a silky smooth surface that curled into a delicate flame-like pattern that caressed a brilliant citrine stone. It’s image was imprinted in her mind. She knew she couldn’t accept something so beautiful for nothing. There must have been a mistake. But, she couldn’t keep her mind away from it. One peek is all it took for her to refuse it and desperately want to snatch it right back at the same time. It seemed like it was living, and it simply begged her to take it. It was wrong, but she almost felt like she could dispose of her wedding ring in exchange.
“Oh...” Kurt frowned and looked to his brother, troubled by the response. Joe looked sadly at her, almost pleadingly.
“Please! Our boss would be so disappointed if a gift was refused... It was specifically designed--- I mean, it suits you so well, it looks like was designed for you. Please, accept this.” Joe smiled hopefully, “The other women of this town have happily taken the rings.” Kurt offered out the ring again. The sun glistened enticingly on the soft gold embroidery. Sasha bit her lip, the sudden and incurable lust for the ring rising from her gut again. She carefully reached her hand out and took the tiny precious box.
---
“The rings I have made are specially designed for the women you have chosen.” Li bowed to Nroc as she entered, another man approaching from behind her carrying a similar box, “There are twelve in all, each with a different stone and design.”
“Good. Wait, won’t they be suspicious? How do you know they will accept it? A very expensive and intricate ring for free?” Nroc sat up in his throne of branches, the creaking wood shifting under him as he jumbled himself into a more comfortable position, resting his chin in his hand curiously.
“They won’t refuse. I have placed in each ring the Obsession spell. It makes the ring completely irresistible.” Li nodded to the man, who opened the box, a brilliant ring exposed, “This is a demonstration ring. It’s stone is fake, and it’s not entirely irresistible.” The young goddess took the ring and placed it in her cousin’s hand, “As you can see, alone it is quite beautiful. Every girl in town will be showing off their new toy. Much like my tattoos, it will brand them with the spirit of the Stones. The rings cannot be removed without your permission of course. I can’t say I agree with your methods of distracting them from everything else in their life, but they’re your spirits...”
“Good job, Li. Strong with magic and inventing, as always.” Nroc smirked, “And I see the Moon Pearl has healed our previous friends.” He gestured towards the young man beside her.
“Did you expect any less from me? Who do you think I have delivering the rings?” She took a deep bow, “The Moon Pearl helps people recover from having spirits transplanted in them while they are still alive.” She holds up the crystal ball, “But it hasn’t finished it’s job yet. It will awaken the spirits of the beasts when I say so, and the spirits of the gems when you say so. When you are done with your assassins, simply tell the Moon Pearl ‘Pearl, tell the spirits goodnight’," she stopped short and waited a moment, as if expecting an answer, "and the human spirits will reemerge. Clever, no?”
Nroc clapped, amused by the tricks of his cousin’s inventions, “Very, Lady Li. When will they be ready to be awakened?"
“Give them time. We only need to awake them when Gozuuro comes. You don’t want to tire them out playing with them, do you?” Li stashed the pearl back into her bag, “They still have time before Gozuuro comes. Besides, they should have plenty to deal with for now. No doubt they are already discovering their brands.”
“Fine. Keep watch over them, Li. Inform me of anything new.” He gestured for Li to leave as he picked up his headphones, sliding them on. He curiously fumbled with the demonstration ring, sliding it on his finger absent-mindedly. Li nodded to her assistant and left promptly, sending a knowing grin over her shoulder to her cousin.
---
“Isn’t it the most gorgeous diamond ring you’ve ever seen?” Karen chirped happily in the Town Square. Twelve ecstatic females had gathered there to show off their rings happily. The Town Square was practically glowing with the combined shine of the twelve rings.
“Not as gorgeous as mine! Mine’s so pretty!” Popuri thrust her hand into Karen and Mary’s faces, a lovely amethyst adorning her right ring finger, “How sweet of that jewelry person to give them out free!” She giggled and bounced up and down joyously.
“Why would someone do that? At a discount, I could understand, but free?” Mary frowned, “I just can’t help but feel something bad is going to happen.” Her ring finger glowed with a precious emerald, surrounded by small white gold flowers. She felt something odd in her, but she did covet the little gem already.
“Yeah, something doesn’t feel right. Have you ever seen those guys before?” Elli hid her opal ring nervously under her other hand. Her eyes darted around the square. Anna was showing off a dark garnet to Manna, who held out an equally dazzling pearl to Ann, who was already busy staring at her ruby ring, entranced. She wasn’t one for girlish stuff like jewelry, which was what had Elli and Mary suspicious of these pretty little gifts from strangers. Elli looked down at her own ring again, and immediately became hooked on the flickering little opal.
“I don’t know why, but I would be willing to sell every piece of jewelry I have to keep this one...” Karen said dreamily, “It’s... just so perfect... It’ll be impossible to top this ring.”
“What if you get married?” Popuri cocked her head, placing her hand on her jutted-out hip, “Won’t that be the most special ring you have?”
“Oh, yeah, sure. That, too.”
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Post by moko on Feb 18, 2007 10:15:29 GMT -5
still a really good story, but i gotta wonder........ what happened to the evil chick? is elli normal? eh, maybe it'll be answered in the story.
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Post by Kyattsuai on Feb 18, 2007 13:43:17 GMT -5
Elli's normal. Mimi took over Elli after she killed her, then she killed everyone else that had survived and the assassins all left, explaining why May was dead at the beginnning. She was alive at the end of RM. =3 Hope that clear it up for you, and thanks for reading! It's no use to write a story no one'll read.
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Post by moko on Feb 18, 2007 14:29:48 GMT -5
ah, okay. maybe i should re-read red moon. ^_^'
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Post by Kyattsuai on Feb 18, 2007 19:06:10 GMT -5
lol, no problem. I had to read through it, too.
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Post by Kyattsuai on Feb 20, 2007 3:58:38 GMT -5
[[chapters are going to start getting longer and longer, so be prepared]]
Chapter 4: Lóng yu Shu warnings?
• Mild Language
• Hinted Nudity
Chapter 4: Lóng yu Shu (roughly, the Dragon and the Rat)
An egg flew from one side of the kitchen to the other as the near explosive sound of three or four pots and pans clattering clumsily to the ground bounced from one end of the town house to the other. One of the residents of the house was quickly flying back and forth through the kitchen, their long hair trying to catch up with them.
The two other residents, however, were up in the one bedroom split between all three. The two other residents were not expecting to be jostled from their peaceful first waking moment by the loud noises, and proceeded to wake up with more violent movements. One, who had been sleeping rather peacefully, sprawled out on their stomach, tumbled to the floor abruptly. The other, who had just been waking up, shot upright and threw the covers off, in a surprisingly energetic manner for this particular person, “Rick! Rick, what’s going on?” Lillia sat up, pushing the loose strands of cotton-candy colored hair from her face and looking to her son, still collapsed half a room away, “Where’s your sister?”
With a slight groan, the only current male member of the household raised a hand to his bed pushing himself up fro his tangled position, “Probably causing the noise...” He muttered sleepily, other hand reaching back a bit to fumbled about on the end table for his pair of glasses.
Lillia wasted no time at all in springing from her bed and slipping her bathrobe over her nightgown. She was already heading down the stairs with a look of worry as she clipped her hair back loosely, “Popuri! What on earth are you---”
“Morning, mom!” The girl chirped. She was covered head to foot in various food products, ranging from flour to egg to chocolate sauce. Lillia stood blankly before carefully walking down the last few steps. That frantic dash was catching up to the ill woman.
“I didn’t know you got up this early...” She took a dining room chair, “Honey, I usually make breakfast. Is there a special occasion?”
“It’s the first day of Summer, mom! I told Kai a year ago that he had to come eat with us next year. This year.” She paused, figuring her statement made enough sense to pass.
“Really? I could’ve sworn that was yesterday... Oh well, my memory’s fading anyway.” She gave a warm chuckle, barely audible in her tired voice, “Rick, honey, hurry on down. Your sister’s making breakfast.” She could almost picture the joking cringe on her son’s face.
“I guess you did. The calendar page was all taped on funny, like someone put it back. Well, more like a drunk Karen put it back...”
“Oh, honey, don’t be mean. Your brother--” speaking of, he’s walking slowly down the stairs, pushing up his glasses.
“Popuri, you can cook?” He took a seat and rested an elbow on the table.
“Yes! Elbows!” She swatted his arm, causing him to pull it back quickly, “Kai’s coming over today, so I want to make everything perfect! There’s been lots of storms, so he must’ve been so tired when he came here yesterday. I want him to start off Summer with a good break!” She smiled, stirring her pancake batter ferociously. Popuri was always incredibly excited when Kai came, which balanced out how utterly depressed she was when he’d leave, and, occasionally how angry she’d get when he and Rick fought.
“That’s very nice of her, isn’t it, Rick?” Lillia smiled to him, hoping he wouldn’t get angry. Hopefully, breakfast would go smoothly and without argument. More likely, breakfast would be a complete--
“Hmph... fine.” It was a surprisingly calm answer from the young man who didn’t get along with Kai, and vice versa. Of course, his end of the argument was always a little more extreme.
“Good, then come help me in here before I make a bigger mess.” She smiled sheepishly, exposing the kitchen through the doorway behind her, “Pancakes are supposed to be messy, right?” Rick laughed a little and followed her in to help, leaving Lillia at the table.
“I wonder where Popuri got her ring.”
--
“Teehee, teehee hee...” Li laughed, hanging herself upside down from the tree above the Harvest Goddess’ pond, “Oh, good. I was taking a chance with that boy strewn about the beach. I’d never know which ones are first-timers to the town and which ones come often., and I want him to stay... How many pieces was he in now?“ She cocked her head and almost fell from her branch.
“Eighteen, my goddess.” Joe nodded to her, watching the pond as a vaguely annoyed Harvest Goddess floated above it.
“My, my, you have good vision from the Moon Pearl, but I suppose a sole finger does count as a ‘piece’.” Li nodded in agreement before shooting her attention to the Harvest Goddess.
“Are you and your little pack here intent on sitting around my pond all day?” The Harvest Goddess crossed her arms and loomed into the face of the young man who helped Li present the demonstration ring, “People come here to ask me for advice and give offerings, you know.”
“Does this pond have your name on it?”
“Yes.”
“... Now where was I? Yes, something about peas. Had their bloody damned song in my head all day...” the goddess babbled on almost incoherently to her group. The Harvest Goddess sighed and rested her hand against her head, trying to see if her sheer will power would get them to leave.
“Goddess, you were telling us beforehand about the zodiac?”
“Oh, yes, yes. Because there are now two souls instead of one solitary soul, the body changes ever so slightly to accommodate the other side. Most changes are barely noticeable, such as...”
A sly hand reached for her bag, flipping the buckle open and reaching inside. The glistening little orb shimmered with a glowing iridescence, and now, it was in the hands of a mysterious form who bounded off with the precious object.
--
Kai sat down at the table after planting light kisses on Popuri and Lillia’s cheeks and shaking Rick’s hand briskly. The spread was more than ample for four people. Pancakes with a selection of berries and syrup, fruit, orange juice, water, freshly scrambled eggs, and sausage.
“Wow, Popuri. I knew you were making breakfast, but this is awesome.” Kai gave her another kiss and placed a delicately crafted bouquet in her arms, “I hope it wasn’t a burden or anything.”
“Nope! Not at all. I just figured you’d be tired from traveling in bad weather, so a good breakfast sounded like the perfect way to get you settled.” She said, sitting down at her place, “Come sit! Tell us what you’ve been up to!” She leaned in to whisper to her boyfriend, “Kai, don’t worry I told Rick to be nice to you.”
“Hasn’t stopped him before.” Kai laughed quietly back, “Well,” he raised his voice to conversation level, “Just the usual. Hanging out in the city, working odds and ends jobs, missing everyone here.” He grinned, “Despite growing up in the city, this place feels more like home recently.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.” Lillia grinned.
“ Hm? What’s this? I hope this meal isn’t to prepare me for bad news.” He noted the glittering ring on Popuri’s finger, “Got a new guy already?” He joked.
“Oh? No, no. I got this in a free promotion. Isn’t it gorgeous? You know, I looked around yesterday after I got the ring, but I couldn’t find the boys who gave it too me so I could thank them. It’s strange. Never seen them before, didn’t see them again...”
“Well, I’m just glad you didn’t replace me.” He smiled playfully, a little relieved. He planned this to be the year. The year he’d propose to Popuri. They had known each other for years now, and he was ready, fingering the little blue feather in his pocket, “Speaking of it, I see you’re putting out extra effort for someone, Rick. I like your hair.”
Rick looked up from his food, swallowing his bite, “Uh, thanks, but it’s the same as always.”
“Except you haven’t cut it back to that dorky length. It looks better now. Is it redder than usual?” Kai said smiling. Step one to proposing is trying to make friends level with Rick. Indeed, though, his hair was longer, almost a few inches, and instead of a hazy orange, it was unnaturally fiery.
“... I guess, maybe. I don’t usually pay that much attention to my hair. Odd that you are.” He was a little on edge with Kai, but could see through his attempts. He was trying to make friends. He could guess why, and it wasn’t to his general liking. Wait... his eyes... last time I saw him, his eyes were dark brown... not light brown.
Kai leaned forward a bit, light brown eyes narrowing in observation. His eyes are blue-green now? That isn’t right... does his family even have that gene?
“Guys!” Popuri rolled her eyes and stuck her fork between the two boys who were slowly looking at each other more closely, leaning across the table to accommodate, “Stop ogling each other and sit down!” She leaned over to whisper to Rick, “You’re embarrassing me! Now, Kai, are you staying at the inn again?”
Kai looked down a moment, a look of worry dragging the corners of his mouth down sadly, “Well, actually... no. I tried to get reservations, but Ann said that they didn’t have any vacancies. I didn’t know you guys had such a high vacation spot rating.”
--
“... a minor change in eye or hair color, 3 more freckles on the left cheek, longer eyelashes, etceteras. It’s peculiar, isn’t it? Most people won’t notice at first, even if it’s a somewhat significant change. However, other souls can pick up on their presence, and they subtly make the difference more obvious. Isn’t it super cool?” Her purple cat-slit eyes wandered to her bag for a moment. Something had caught her attention. Probably a rabbit or a fox...
--
“Kai! Where are you going to stay?” Popuri leapt from her seat, almost spilling her plate of food. Her red eyes grew even larger with concern.
“I don’t know. I still haven’t figured that out.” He grinned sheepishly, “I was planning on maybe camping out somewhere. We don’t have a lot of big predators around here.”
“Mom, we can’t let him stay out there! Can Kai please stay with us? We have extra room!” Popuri bounced eagerly to her mother, “Please? Please?” She pulled the puppy-face and clasped her hands tightly together, begging her mother.
“Oh, no need to beg and plead, honey! Kai can always stay if he wishes. I’d rather have you safe, Kai, than out in the cold.” Lillia smiled, nodding her head as she motioned for her daughter to get up off her knees. There was no need, however. Popuri was about 3 feet in the air at the top of her joyous bounce,
“Really? Hey, thanks, Lillia! I owe you, man! I promise I’ll help out here when I’m not at the shop.” One could say Rick wasn’t ecstatic about the deal, and he grumbled to himself as to not alert the ladies of the household to his displeasure. In his huff, a strand of loose hair tumbled into his view. Fire red and inches too long for his hair.
“Don’t worry! We won’t expect more out of you than you can handle. Don’t feel pressured or anything.”
--
“And... you’re sure?” Harris sat at the clinic, where Carter and Tim had met again, “Tattoos? Actual tattoos?”
“We’ve shown you them. They’re real.” Tim said sitting back in his office chair and clasping his hands lazily. Carter sat in a waiting room chair that had been pulled up to the desk, green eyes looking off to the side.
“We didn’t feel them being made or see them until just yesterday.” The pastor watched as Harris scribbled something in his report. He could tell there was a little bit of doubt. There couldn’t even be a tattoo needle within miles.
“Well, I guess I’ll ask around for information. I’ll tell you if I find anything out. Is there anything else?” He turned to Carter, who was stuttering a slight reply.
“Well... there is... a scar on my back. I’ve never been injured like that. It just appeared. And... well, May knew about it. She was telling me this story that we had all been killed and then revived by these two ‘angels’. She told me to check my back, and there it was...” Carter said, leaning forward to rub his sore back.
“... This is... bizarre, to say the least. I’ll try and help you on that but frankly,” He took a deep breath, putting on his cap again and shaking his head, “I don’t even know where to start.”
--
It was almost time for bed, and Kai was damn ready for it. The young man had practically drenched every inch of his purple outfit in sweat as he worked on the beach and on the ranch in terribly hot weather. It was a battle for who got to bathe first. Lillia was first of course, as she hadn’t really done much outside. Popuri was next, and then Rick. Now it was finally his turn. Everyone else was in bed, spare Popuri, so he had stripped himself of all but a towel and bandana, and left his clothes to be washed by Popuri while she did the rest of the laundry.
He walked up to the door whistling, slowly untying his bandana, revealing short dark brown hair. He opened the door, stepping onto the floor that was already wet from the past bathers and stopped cold in his tracks. A glint of copper sandy-color glittered under a mess of bright red hair. Rick was turned around and couldn’t see as Kai as he walked into the room, and wasn’t particularly listening for intruders.
Kai thought he should just turn around and leave, but it was already too late, Rick was about ot turn and see him, “Hey, uhm, Rick. Sorry.” Rick spun around in the water completely, eyes widening in utter shock as he sunk into the water again.
“Kai, what are you doing!? I thought you already took a bath!” Rick was already red in the cheeks, although Kai figured more in embarrassment than anger.
“Sorry, I thought you had taken a bath!” He chuckled a little, “Well, uhm, nice tattoo, man.” He turned around to let Rick at least get a towel on, “It’s okay, I mean, we’re both guys, it’s no big deal.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not lowering the amount of awkard here. Tattoo? I have a tattoo?” Rick quickly put on a towel, “Sure all that sun hasn’t got to your eyes?”
“Your back. You have a tattoo. I wouldn’t lie about a stupid tattoo.”
“Doubt i--” Rick stopped short, “You have a tattoo? Doesn’t seem like one you’d have.” Rick said turning his back to the foggy mirror as it slowly cleared up.
“Huh? Move over, let me see.” Kai crowded over with Rick, pushing up against him to share the mirror. As the foggy image sharpened, neither could deny it. Those were tattoos. Rick’s was the Dragon, five, and Kai’s, the rat, number one.
The two let out a simultaneous, “Holy---!"
[[geez, had to make sure Kai, story-wise, arrives on Spring 30th in the game, or my timeline would’ve been F’d, man...]]
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Post by moko on Feb 21, 2007 22:48:02 GMT -5
neh, i don't know if the dragon and rat fit those two, considering dragons and rats are supposed to get along really well (awesomely enough, my parents are a dragon and a rat =D).
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Post by Kyattsuai on Feb 22, 2007 2:54:04 GMT -5
I was basing them more on personality, really. Dragon: passionate about everything, fiery-tempered, have a very good side and an equally bad side (as in, you either love him crazy like most Rick fangirls, or hate him like everyone else) and Rat: charming, ambitious, and crafty.
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Post by Pickle on Feb 22, 2007 6:55:16 GMT -5
*Reads Red Moon*
Soo...this is going to explain about the assasins?
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Post by Kyattsuai on Feb 22, 2007 14:09:00 GMT -5
Yes, but you'll have to keep reading to make sure I'm not lying.
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