Chapter 6

Mariah, and Eric were eating their breakfast. Eric had his usual eight to ten plates infront of him the empty ones stacked as he started into the next. Mariah was calmly  and quietly  eating her's with propper manners while she ran the events of the night prior through her head. The waitress and Tony the Inn's keeper and chef had came back while they were sleeping and gladly was bringing food out as they came out to thank the hero's. Mariah's thoughts were shattered by a childish yet familiar voice comming from upstairs and Eric's soone to be former room. "Big Brother where are you!" The voice called out.

Eric felt a piercing glare from across the table that chilled and sent shivers down his soul. He had the plate he was currently working on tilted up blocking his view from Mariah as he was shoveling the food into his mouth. The moment he felt the glare he froze. Mariah was about to put a peice of food into her mouth when she heard the voice. Jealousy and anger rushed through her veins instantly as she couldn't place from her memories exactly where that voice was from, but she knew it was from a female the night before. Mariah silently while glareing at Eric lowered the food on her fork down to the plate as her grip on the knife she was using tightened. Ice crawled up the utensil putting a sharper edge to the blade as it covered the blade as well as extending it. "Eric?" Mariah's voice sounded flat and cold while filled with the searing daggers her eyes were shooting at him.

Afraid to lower the plate to look Mariah in the eyes his hand had clearely stopped shoveling food. "Yes Mariah?" he asked innocently

"Do, pray tell me who the hell that might be?" Her voice was just as sharp and harsh as she spoke.

Eric sighed and lowered the plate, which was perhaps his mistake. The moment the plate hit the table the ice blade of what was once the knife was thrusted forward with the point now softly pressing against his throat. Feeling the sharp prick against his throat Eric swallowed hard. "Th...That... I...I'm sure you remember..."

At that time footsteps could be heard comming down the stairs then Masumi's voice go from a confused calling to excitement "Big Brother! There you are!" Her foot steps hurried the rest of the way down the stairs as she rushed down then ran to them. Not seeing the knife she dove the moment she was beside Mariah and wrapping one arm under the knife her momentum pulled Eric away from the knife that was pointing into his throat, However the momentum caused the chair to lean back on it back two legs then fall back. Eric was now laying on the ground with his eyes closed. He felt a weight on his head. His vision was consumed in darkness however because of the mass that was over his face. The mass was soft and plush however. Masumi giggled and lifted herself up just as light filled his eyes Eric realized what, actually what part of Masumi was over his face. Panic then consumed Eric as his sence for danger shot through the roof. Eric quickly struggled to get out from under Masumi who sat up onto her legs that were now folded under her as she smiled brightly.

"Look Mariah you remember the girl we saved right?" Eric asked as he got to his hands and knees. He lifted the chair up to its upright position being that he was out of it he slowly poked his head over the edge of the table. Mariah was glareing down at him with a glare that was even more intence then before. "Well you see, She thinks I'm her older brother apparently. So she is rather attatched to me."

Mariah's voice was filled with the same amount of rage and sharpness as before "What! Was she doing in your room."

The waitress came over at that moment with a smile on her face as she calmly lowered Mariah's hand which was still out streatched with the knife encased in ice. "My, my I wonder how that happened." She said refering to the knife. "In any case when Tony and I returned we checked your rooms to see if you survived and so we could plan for when you two woke up, Thats when we saw Eric on the floor and Masumi fast a sleep in his bed. So if you are worried about them sleeping together you don't have to."

Both Eric and Mariah looked at the waitress the rage and death that was in Mariah's eyes before were momentarily gone as she looked at the Waitress. "How do you know her?" They both asked at the same time.

"Oh she is the Mayor's daughter, she was always defient to her parents for some reason and always on about how they did something to her big brother and how she would never forgive them. She always came here as she grew up couple weeks ago she stopped comming, we assumed her parents finally grounded her. She always kept saying how she missed her older brother and she would find a way to get him back." The waitress went into some sort of thought "Huh, I guess the way she described him he looks a lot like you Eric." She smiled sweetly "Well then Masumi the usual?"

Masumi who stood up nodded eagerly "Yesh please! Oh and I'm going to be following big brother so don't worry about me if i don't show up for a while because I know big brother will protect me!"

The waitress nodded with a smile and walked away as the ice shattered around the knife. Mariah's gaze shot over to Masumi now filled with shock as she rose her voice to Masumi. "And who said you could come you little brat!" she screamed

Masumi grabbed Eric's arm and hid her face on the otherside of Eric's shoulder "Big Brother she's scary! Can't we just leave her here!"

Mariah growled at her "No your staying here! Eric and I have a quest to go on and you will just get in the way you little twerp! Get your hand's off Eric he's my servant not your brother!"

Eric sighed as Masumi's grip tightened "Lets all just calm down before I get killed for something I haven't done. Masumi, you can come but you have to listen to what Mariah and I say okay? Which means if we tell you to stay in an area you have to stay there okay?" Masumi nodded against Eric's shoulder "And Mariah, Until we find her older brother I don't think we will shake her even if we tried. So please calm down and let's finish eating so we can get out while we the window of oportunity is still open."

Mariah scowled "Fine, But she better not get in the way!" she forceably stabbed the food on her plate with her knife before bringing up the fork that had food on it to her mouth and while glaring at Masumi who was still cowering behind Eric's shoulder. "Your just adding to your punishment Eric." She added before forceably took bit the food off the fork.

The waitress soon returned with a plate of food for Masumi who's eyes lit up just before she started Eating like Eric did. Eric watched for a couple moments before smiling and starting to eat again. "Pigs!" Mariah scoffed as they devoured their food. Once the three were finished they said their goodbyes to the waitress and the inn keeper before walking out.

As the three walked through the town towards the North gate Mariah finally asked "How do you know Mikado is going to follow through with his word?" She asked feeling like they were being set up

Eric smiled "A couple reasons, The first of which I saw that he wasn't lieing. Skilled guards and fighters are taught a technique called Soul Search. It allows the person to look into another's mind to view their past, and present as well as their current thoughts. This however can only be used through direct eye contact that is held and mantained for a short period of time. The second reason I know he won't go back on his word is because he swore on his blood. When a Demon hunter, More or less the people with the abilities that Demon Hunters have swear on their blood. They have to follow through with it. If they don't then they will recieve a really unpleasant death that, well lets just say is rather messy and painful."

Both the girls winced "Eww" they both said at the same time as they arrived at the North Gate.

Eric pushed open one of the gates wide enough for the three to slip through and closed it behind them, Then started walking ahead of the two. "I heard that in Veronica there is has been a rash of floods when it rains so it's worth checking out."

"What's wrong with that? Floods are natural disasters, especially if it rain's a lot" Mariah asked. She cursed herself, kicking herself for not paying attention to the teacher who attempted to teach her they way the new kingdom was laid out and the major towns and cities.

"Well you see Veronica is high up on a mountain on the other side of the ocean, there is a cliff and a way down to the beach and the Docks that is like a second part of the town. When it rains there is no collection point of water to flood, especially bad enough to cause concern. The docks are unaffect as well as the path down to it. Not to mention the rumors about these recent flooding says that the water is going up hill instead of down." Eric explained with a smile.

"Ya, I knew that. Well at least the part about Veronica being up high with no way of it flooding." Masumi chimed in with a big smile on her face like she was proud of herself.

Mariah growled and punched Masumi in the back of the head "Nobody asked you brat!"

"Waaaaahhhhh!" Masumi cried as she ran forward holding the back of her head where Mariah hit her "Big Brother! Mariah hit me!" Masumi wrapped her arms around Eric burrying her face into his back as she made sobbing noises

"Get off of him you brat!" Mariah yelled jealousy and anger quickly rising with in her "If you don't let go of him right now I'll really hit you! I'm going to tear you limb from limb!" Mariah screamed running up and hitting her again in the back of the head.

"Waaaaaahhhhh! She did it again tell her to stop!" Masumi cried into Eric's back taking one arm off and swinging it blindly behind her "leave me a lone you big bully!"

Eric sighed. "and there goes my nice quiet journey... the gods must really be enjoying this punishment right now." he murmured under his breath as the two girls continued to yell and scream at each other.

******************************************

The sun was starting to go down and all Eric continued to hear was the two girls fighting with eachother. Masumi had been clinging to him all day with every once in a while Mariah hitting him and her. At this point the screaming had turned into senceless noise that Eric faild to comprehend. Some time during the day Eric guessed Masumi decided to fight back because while clinging to Eric she would scream out insults. "I need to get away from this before i slit both of their throats." Eric thought to himself his patience growing really then.

The three of them was walking through a forest on the main road. They came to a clearing in the forest where caravans and travelers would pull off to the side and rest for the night after a long days trip. Eric quietly walked over to the cutaway from the road then once in the center then Pried Masumi's arms from around his waist and pulled her aside so she wouldn't reattatch. "I need to get away from you two. So since we are staying here for the night I want you two to set up and start a fire while I go hunt for dinner. Before either one of you say your comming with me, Your not! if you don't learn to work together then I will end up hurting both of you. So get to it!" Eric demanded. His voice was harsh as he spoke to the two women. Shock was over their faces and remained there until Eric dissapeared in the forest. At which point both the girls looked at each other.

"Well you heard him twerp chop chop." Mariah said clapping her hands finding a log to sit on.

"What are you going to be doing! I'm not going to be doing all the work!" Masumi yelled swinging one of her fists like a child throwing a tantrum

"Well you can't expect a princess to do hard work like this now can you?" Mariah said with a smirk. truth be told she didn't mind doing it, and she had done it a couple several times before meeting Eric. However, it was her chance to show dominance over Masumi and force her to realize on some level that she was better. Mariah smiled inwardly at her devilish plan. "I win little brat, You can't deny a..." her thoughts were interupted by a sharp pain in her forehead. The pain had some force behind it. The force pushed her over the log and onto the otherside. At that moment she saw a pebble bouncing away. After a couple moments to take in and realize what happened anger flooded Mariah. She pulled herself up and started yelling. "How dare you throw a rock at me!"

"Big Brother said we both start a fire not only me while you be a dumb lazy b***h!" Masumi screamed "I don't care who you are! Big Brother said help so you help!"

"He isn't your brother! Not only that but you know I can have you arrested and killed for hitting me like that!" Mariah tried playing the princess card again. Her anger was at a boiling point. "And how dare you call me a dumb lazy b***h! The only dumb lazy b***h around here I see is you!"

"Please I've heard better insults from an insect! I guess thats what you are, because your so pathetic even Eric can stand to be around you!" Masumi knew she was getting under Mariah's skin and she would be damned if she was going to let Mariah just sit there watching her do all the work. As far as she was concerned on this journey nobody was better than Eric, and she wasn't about to let some snot nosed girl who thinks she is better then her. "How can Big Brother stand to be around such a b***h!" Masumi thought to herself "I won't allow this I'll drive her away!" As soon as Masumi finished her thoughts she spoke "Now get your lazyness over here and help! or better yet go start finding wood we can burn and get lost and never come back!"

Mariah growled Ice shards forming around her, Glistening in the sun spots that made it through the trees she pointed her finger at Masumi "Why don't you just runaway or die! I never wanted you to tag along in the first place! I only reluctantly agreed to make my servant happy because I'm generous like that. However! if there was an accident and you were to die! I wouldn't have any issues at all!" with that the Ice shards flew forward through the air.

Dust flew up where Masumi was once standing. Mariah couldn't help but smile a wiked smile. "Finally I'm rid of her" she sighed. When the dust settled however, Masumi's body wasn't there like she thought instead it was a small pit "What the hell where did she go!"

"Up here you missed Princess!" Masumi put extra emphasis on the word "Princess having seen Eric call her that a couple times and her rage she was going to play it to her advantage while having fun herself. Masumi herself was sitting on a branch above the pit with a childish smile on her face.

"Damn you!" Mariah snarled "Don't you ever dare call me that!" A long well crafted spear of ice formed and launched through the air.

Masumi waited til the last second then lept to another branch and giggled "Missed again Princess!"

"Gah! I told you don't ever call me that! Especially when I'm trying to kill you!" Another spear formed and was launched at Masumi who again dodged at the last second, landing on another branch Mariah shot another spear then another. Finally Masumi landed on a large pile of rocks that were stacked. Each rock being about the size of a fist. "I got you now!" Mariah screamed launching another ice spear at her.

The rocks flew in the air as the spears force caused something to the effect of a small explosion. Masumi lept into the air well ahead of time as she came down she kicked the rocks seemingly at Mariah. Mariah seeing this jumped out of the rocks which hit the ground with a thud for each one. Masumi then ended up landing by Mariah with a grin "Well done Mariah" she said grinning ear to ear at the work the two had done. Mariah was confused at first then she noticed it.

Mariah's anger rose even higher realizing she had been out smarted and tricked into playing Masumi's game. Standing infront of the two girls was a fire pit with glistening frozen rocks surrounding the pit. Then just out from the stones far enough where the warmth of a fire could hit the person but not to close to catch fire was four branches forming a square for them to sit on perfectly laid out. "I'm going to kill you!" Mariah screamed swinging at Masumi who quickly dodged it with a giggle.

  "Time to find some wood!" Masumi cheered in a sing-song voice as she dodged the next few attacks from Mariah. Suddenly Masumi's leg's became bound while she was in the middle of dodging one of Mariah's attacks. The sudden loss of movement and constriction caused her to fall. "What did you do?" Masumi yelled looking back to where Mariah was only to see rope wrapped around Mariah's arms and legs.

Mariah fell to the ground as Masumi sat up and started reaching for the rope at her feet when another bolas came from the darkness of the forest wrapping around her pinning her arms to her sides. "Well done men! now we can get ransom from the princess and have our own little slave as a bonus." A man walked out of the forest. He had long black hair that came to a large spike in the front of his head. On he had a long sheath resting on his shoulder he grinned from ear to ear walking out a group of fifteen to twenty min phazed into the moonlight as well. The other men had an assortment of weapons, a couple with bolases of their own twirling one. a couple of the men were snickering.

"Move them together by that log over there and start a fire in that pit! I want five men to be on watch around them and the rest on the forest edge. We leave at first light!" As the men promptly started doing what the man with the spike told them to do first by moving the girls on the other side of the branches Masumi had tricked Mariah into cutting down leaving them on the side away from the fire the man sat on another that was perpendicular to them. Once the fire was started the girls could see more detail on the man who was the leader of the bandits. He had brown cold eyes and a scar that went from just above his brow down to his chin crossing over his left eye which seemed to have a gap while his eyes were open but when closed clearly continued in a continous line. "It's been a while Princess Mariah." The man said with a smirk.

Memories suddenly flooded Mariah's mind "You! You were exiled right after the war! Because of you we lost so many of our soldiers! You b*****d!"

The man laughed "Oh, I'm sorry did your guard friend die as well. My bad I meant to warn him on the kingdom's counter attack and not to take my place at the front of the line. Must of slipped my mind." He sneered at her

Mariah growled "You'll pay for this!" she declaired starting to struggle in her binds.

The man laughed "No princess you will pay... I'm going to have fun with you before we turn you over. No other kingdom would want a princess who is used goods." He laughed again "Now shut up while I start planning on how we will approach your parents.

Mariah growled, she doubted he knew of her elemental gem, but she had to wait for the perfect time to strike in order to kill this jerk and take out the rest before Eric got back. The rememberance of Eric brought a smile to her face. "I'll just let him rescue you, he will kill this jerk and I can use it when as an excuse to have permission for him to guard me from my parents. This is perfect! Now then when he shows up I can..." 

"Why are you smiling stupid head! this is no time to be smiling like that!" Masumi shouted breaking Mariah's train of thought and planning. Mariah decided to ignore her and try to continue planning when suddenly there was a sharp pain in her ribs. Mariah looked over to see Masumi glaring at her.

"What did you call me you filfthy greep!" Mariah yelled refering to a livestock animal that closely resembled a pig. "And how dare you kick me!" Mariah leaned over the same way Masumi had and issued her own kick.

"Ow you big Rom!" Masumi screamed in refrence to an animal that closely resembled a cow, however was much fatter and provided the main source of meat for steaks and other meats, much like cows meat. Masumi winced a little from Mariah's kick to her own ribs baring through the sharp pain she kicked again

"Oh! Ugly Pavian!" Mariah yelled kicking again as she refrenced a baboon like creature that was common in the forests. Masumi was strong each kick hurt but her anger towards the girl dulled the pain

Masumi growled her anger towards Mariah was dulling the pain she felt, not to mention she was use to abuse from her father while she was locked up so she gritted through the pain and continued their Her insults. The girls continued their insults to each other each time they took their turn in name calling they would deliver one single kick as well. "Fat lard!"

"Dongbag!" (Mariah)

"Fucktard!" (Masumi)

"Ding Bat!" (Mariah)

"PeePee cheeks!" (Masumi)

"Nimrod!" (Mariah)

"Fargin Eyeshole!" (Masumi)

"Liver Licker!" (Mariah)

"Butt Nugget!" (Masumi)

"Fart Licker" (Mariah)

"Over bearing snortty pin prick!" (Masumi)

"Low grade daddy doesn't want you clingy pain in the a*s!" (Mariah)

Masumi glared at the last one "Useless runaway, weak because you don't want to deal with your obligations no good trash!" Masumi's kick was much harder this time

Mariah's mouth dropped as anger flashed through both of their eyes towards each other. "Thats it!" The man said standing up his grin had turned into an angry scowl. He pointed to the two men "You two put them on oppisite sides of the the fire pit. Hopefully that will shut them up so I can think and stop them from kicking each other, Its really annoying and we can't afford to have the princess hurt before we get our ransom!"

Both men walked over picking up Masumi and carried the squirming girl to the other side of the fire on the out side of the branch laying opposite of Mariah. "Good riddons finally you guys do something useful and removed that scum eating demon reject away from me!" Mariah yelled as they dropped Masumi by the log.

Masumi rolled on her side then popped up in a sitting position facing Mariah who had turned to watch them. "Jingle bell door hopper!" Masumi screamed continueing the name calling.

"How dare you continue to insult me! Disgraceful... " Mariah paused for a bit realizing how inmature she had been to get dragged into this name calling contest but her anger soon took over again the moment she saw Masumi smirk at her like she won. "Doh! Disgraceful leech!" she screamed refusing to lose to this child minded girl.

"Arrogant spoon in mouth baby!" Masumi continued her smirk fading as she leaned forward starting to really get into the banter the two had

" Annoying pigtailed squacking brat!" Mariah found herself leaning foward towards Masumi getting into the banter as well. Her vision focusing on Masumi

"Prissy no class drizzle nut!" (Masumi)

"Big boobed prebuecent wank stain!" (Mariah)

Masumi gasped "Princess! such foul language from a Royally flat chested out casted reject!"

It was Mariah's turn to gasp "I'm hurt such a puny insignificant attention grabbing harllot would say such a thing!"

"Piehole!" (Masumi)

"Chowder head!" (Mariah)

"Squid squirt!" (Masumi)

"Low grade sea louse" (Mariah)

Masumi growled "No good never wanted female breeding mooglle!" Masumi screamed refrencing a dog like creature that people normally kept as pets but have been known to have for strict breeding purposes for money.

Mariah growled "stop slithering in the grass you low down kanes!"

Masumi smirked "Is that the best you can do you stuffed face, greep headed, roll in the mud, worthless, bow to me because im princess, pain in my back, dominatrix want to be, low brow, big brother stealing, mass murdering, kingdom stealing, scum of the earth beneath the remenants of Mooglle s**t i stepped in thedays ago on the bottom of my shoes!"

"Doh! Thats it!" Mariah hissed as she felt something in the back of her head snap. Mariah wanted to shock the little girl into defeat and took in a deep breath " Cheap lying no good rotten, four-flushing, low life, kanes-licking, dirt eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, mooglle kissing, brainless, hopeless, heartless, fat-a*s, bug-eyed, stifflegged, spotty lipped, worm-headed sack of Pavian s**t!"

A gunshot vibrated the air, birds of all shorts flew from the trees into the night sky as the girls attention was brought back to reality abruptly both of them instinctivly ducked. Silence followed the gunshot "Thank god!" The man said with a sigh "Finally some silence! You two are very annoying! That and you're usefulness far out weighs me just killing you both."

"I couldn't agree more Kane." A familiar voice sounded from behind the man that both Masumi and Mariah reconized instantly. The man's eyes widened as he froze with his hand still in the air holding a pistol. Heavy footsteps stepped around the man as Eric stepped around carrying a large animal that looked like a deer on his shoulders. He set the animal down on the branch that the man was just sitting on and stretched. "Only, I could never kill these two companions of mine. So anyway then, Kane what brings you to this part of the woods out of the s**t hole you dug somewhere to slither through our beautiful grass like your name suggests?

The man turned to look at Eric and growled bringing his pistol down to point at Eric who seemed unphazed by this movement as he continued to streatch "You! You gave me this scar that ruined my wonderful face! You turned me into your enemy, You are the reason why I am exiled and forced to hide in the shittiest places of the earth for any shelter I could find. I am nothing because of you! I was nothing... now... now that I found these men, my bandit brotheren We are unstoppable and will become as rich as kings! Especially with the help of this defenceless weak girl of a princess and the loud mouth brat!" Both the girls looked at each other then glared at Kane. 

Eric made a grunting noise as he deepened his stretch for a second then relaxed "You see kane that's where I'm going to have to step in. You already know my rep as a Elite Guardian Force member and leader. However after the kingdom's take over I've learned several other things that make's me more dangerous as a theif. Plus I have way more connections then I did before. We both lost everything but the diffrence between you and me Kane. I can adapt, Now then I suggest you and what's left of your goon's leave us and never bother anybody in this area again."

Kane smirked "Never going to happen. Men! Fire!" Bullets and gunfire filled the night sky as Eric stood in one place clutching his chest as both Mariah and Masumi looked away. When the gunfire stopped Eric fell back onto his back clutching his chest still. Kane walked over to Eric's head and pointed his pistol at Eric's head. "See, I'm more resourceful than you." Kane reached up with his thumb and pulled the hammer back. Silence continued to fill the air. "What the..."

"Eric!" Mariah screamed, "Big Brother!" Masumi screamed at the same time. As Kane's hand froze over in black Ice covering the pistol as well as his hand. Their voices then synced up and the spoke in Unison as they stood. "Stay away from him!" a pillar of ice comming up behind Mariah, a pillar of darkness comming up behind Masumi  cutting their binds around their bodies and legs. the two looked at each other then nodded. Masumi's eyes turned from purple to glowing red as Ice gauntlets formed around Mariah's hands. They both lunged forward and punched Kane in the face at the same time sending Kane flying into a tree at the edge of the clearing. The two then darted to each of the men that remained standing having seen the edges of Eric's handy work at knocking half the men out already starting from the end points they worked their way into the middle, quickly making quick work of the men with their speed and power they were able to knock out each one with a single punch. Once meeting up in the middle they turned their focus on Kane who was starting to stand recovering from the hit.

"This is for Eric! How dare you hurt my servant!" Mariah screamed as the ice gauntlets shattered. She lifted her hand closest to Masumi in the air as a large Ice spike started to form.

"You hurt my big brother! You will now die!" Masumi said her voice growing harsh and dark as she lifted her hand closest to Mariah in the air. The spike turned jet black. The men that Eric had knocked out were starting to come to when they saw the Large ice spike they ran into the woods hopeing that they wouldn't be noticed by the girls in fear of their lives. 

Both girls yelled at the same time as they threw their arms forward pointing to Kane who leaned against a tree in shock. "Black Ice Spike!" The spike ripped through the air at fast speed and hit it's mark into kane. The force however broke the tree Kane was leaning against and sent Kane impaled by the spike deeper into the forest. The girls looked at eachother then Masumi nodded. 

"I'll bind them you start making sure Big Brother is ok." She said as she turned to face the forest and outstretched her hands. Black tendrils shot out from her fingers and started wrapping around each of the knocked out men and pulled them together to a tree near by leaning them against it then after all were aquired wrapped them as a hole to the tree binding them to the tree.

In the mean time Mariah rushed over to Eric who was still laying on the ground with his hand over his chest. Mariah started looking him up and down her breath heavy from panic. "Eric are you ok!" she asked not seeing any bullet holes in his body she started to get suspicious of him, but moved his hand that was clutching his chest as it looked to have blood on it. 

The moment Mariah saw there was no bullet hole in his chest Eric opened one eye "I don't remember ever agreeing to be your servent." Eric said looking at her with the one eye.

Anger flashed through Mariah's eyes and Eric opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out as Mariah slammed a fist into his stomach while yelling "Jerk!"  Ice then quickly spread over his entire body encasing him in a block of ice.

Masumi having finished turned to the sound of Mariah screaming Jerk, and saw Eric in a block of ice. "Big Brother!" She yelled running over to the block. "What did you do!"

Mariah stood up and sat on a log "He'll be fine... I just cooled him off since he is on a hot streak of royally pissing me off here lately. Plus in that block of ice he will have time to think about what he's done faking being shot and making us worry about him. Just move him by the fire and he'll defrost by the time the sun comes up. 

Anger crossed Masumi's face as soon as Mariah said that he was faking "But I'm hungry and I dont know how to cook Veal."

Mariah sighed "You do have a point. I don't know the first think about cooking veal, much less getting the meat out of a dead vear." Mariah stared into the fire as Masumi sat across from her

"Well what are you going to do... You froze him and if you dont break the ice we won't eat tonight." Masumi said kicking her feet staring at the fire as well

"Ugh! Fine! I'll find another way to punish him!" She sighed frustrated but she knew Masumi had a good point and she was feeling hungry herself. Mariah snapped her fingers the Ice cracked all over the place "Are you sure we can't just leave him there a little longer?" Mariah asked still wishing she could just leave him this way at the very least till they could get to this Veronica, Eric was talking about.

Masumi nodded "We as women can team up on him later." she childishly started kicking her feet having extended them so they were hovering over the ground infront of her."

Mariah nodded and the Ice shattered the peices instantly vanishing into the air. "We are still pissed that you played such an aweful joke on us!" Mariah said not even looking over her shoulder towards the Eric who laid on the ground shivering

"I...It w...wasn't a j..j..joke." Eric stammered his teeth chammering from the cold as his body started to glow. He felt a warm sensation corse through his body warming him up. He then sat up. "I heard you two arguing the hole time as well as all the name calling. Also with all the crashing around earlier It's a wonder how I managed to catch this vear. He said refering to the corps still laying on the branch. So I did what I did to force you two to work together as instead of fighting each other."

"But how did you not get hit by a single bullet?" Masumi asked  dropping her feet and scratching her head in confusion. 

"Easy, My elemental gem." he stated with a smile as he picked the dear like creature up. It's eyes were jet black its antlers curved around it's head like a ram's did. The hooves were three toed and jet black like its eyes. The underbelly was white, The fur was course but soft. "I willed it to stop the bullets and turn the metals into liquid  so it looked like they hit. It took a lot of will power to hit every one of them though. I was concerned they would of finished me off if i didn't focus strictly on them. That's why I sat down the vear in the first place." Eric sat put the dead animal on its back and closed his eyes "Let's see if I can do this again." He said more to himself as he started on focusing on making a knife made of fire in the palm of his hand.

A small fireball formed in his hand then started spinning around and and around becomming oblong then a point formed and expanded forming a knife with the handle resting in his hand. "Wow!" Masumi said watching with amazement. She stood up and walked to the otherside of the dead animal and squatted down "I want to watch and learn!" She said with a giggle.

Mariah stared into the fire "He can be such a jerk, but he is so much more diffrent then any other man I've met. He infuriates me, but I can't stand to be with out him. He has that demon side to him, but He also has so much good and light around him. Plus the gods must trust him in order for him to use the elemental gem." she thought to herself diving deeper into her own little world trying to put the most recent events that had just happened in perspective and comprehend it all.

Eric showed Masumi how to cut open and gut the deer like animal. He reached in and pulled out the animals heart "It is a tradition amongst hunters the person who makes the kill eat's the heart. This is said to believe to give you the energy the animal had, as well as the powers, love and a little bit of knowledge from the animal. With this practice and belief it is also believed that it ties the animal to you so that it may protect you and help guide you a long your journeys through life and the ones your life takes  you on. So we will set this on the side of the other organs that we will pull  out that way we don't lose it." He set down the heart to the side then reached back in "The rest of these organs you send as an offering to the gods, for thanks in allowing you to have food and so they will bless you more." He smiled to Masumi as he pulled them out and put them in a pile. "I think you may be the first Tainted to give an offering to them If you want to do the honors. He said after pulling out the last of the organs.

Masumi looked at Eric with a touch of fear and uncertainty on her face "Are you sure that is a good idea? I mean My people have demon blood in our own, We are just that tainted, A black spot on this world that many think needs to be wiped out. Obviously it has come from the Gods to hate us. Why would they accept my offering?" 

Eric looked her in the eyes his smile turning into a straight face as he spoke to her. "I'm positive they will accept your offering. The reason being is us as human's we sin all the time, Thus we put black spots on our souls. In those terms our souls become tainted with our sins. We as living being however can go to a temple with offerings, and even pray directly to the gods for forgiveness and to re-purify our souls so we may be accepted into a heavenly kingdom that they believe we belong to based on our life's story. Which the current state of the world believes All human's  present to the gods once a year in the after life. They leave out everything about the Tainted." He held up a finger to keep Masumi from talking. "Now if you look into the history of our world. All the way back to the begining, Both the Gods and the Demonking created one race to own this world. Then they each devided the population and world in half. Starting on opposite sides of the world they ruled over their people how they deemed fit. Thus the Tainted was born from humans drenched in the darkness of the Demonking. This comming to be wouldn't It make sence that the Tainted be amongst the humans attempting to get into a kingdom of the gods based on the purity of their souls. I'll buy it majority being so drenched in darkness probably would be sent to the void for following the demon king in the first place. It isn't up for me to judge on this its just a theory, So with you already turning your back on the Tainted, don't you think you mind as well fully commit by making offerings to the Gods and showing them how pure your soul is."

Masumi blushed "I..." she opened her mouth to say something then sighed "You're right I'll do it." She said A smile broke across both of their faces "But you have to show me how to do it."

Eric nodded "Right after I finish showing you how to get the meat off bones as well as the pelt in which we can sell in Veronica for a little extra snioc. I'll have you practice on future hunting expiditions so you can become as skilled as I am."

Masumi nodded "I can be a big help to you guys after all!" She smiled brightly "I was taught as a kid to creat a void back pack. It can hold so many things of diffrent sizes, Infact I think it has an infinit amount of space Big Brother. Isn't that great! I can carry it for you!"

Eric smiled and nodded "I would pat your head but I'm sure a cute girl like you wouldn't want blood in her hair." Masumi nodded. Eric then showed her how to propperly skin an animal and  remove it's meat from the bones to get the most of it. After having the three diffrent piles the heart was moved from the ground to on the underside of the pelt with the meat Eric stood up and stretched. "Normally at this point you would wash your hands to remove the blood. However thanks to my fire i can just cause it to dry out and rub it off really easy." As he said that steam rose from his hands. He then rubbed off the dried blood from his hands. "The reason you do this before messing with the organs, is because here on out the blod from the organs are suppose to belong with the god. In a pinch and you can't wash your hands it's okay. However, It is prefered you have clean hands. Something to do with cleanlyness and godliness." He shrugged, then picked up the pile of organ. "What you do to make an offer to the god's is you take the Organs and put them in the rib cage of the animal you hunted. "You then get a flammible source and spread it over the bones. So since this is your offering go get enough bark, leaves or anything else that catches fire and put it over the bones while I move the meat closer to the fire so we can make tonights dinner."

Masumi nodded and got up running to get anything she could fine that would burn and started covering the bones with the organs inside of them. While Masumi did this task Eric sat beside Mariah. The sudden weight leaning against Mariah brought her back out of her mind. She opened her mouth to scream at him, but then noticed Eric with his head hanging as he leaned against her. "Are you ok Eric?" She asked softly finding her cheeks heating up as they turned a light pink. Eric only nodded quietly in responce. Mariah stared at him with a touch of concern. Shadows covered his face making it hard for her to examine Eric.

"I just need a little bit of rest." Eric said quietly, "I really used a lot of energy against the bandits." Even though Mariah couldn't see it he smiled softly "I'm glad you're safe." he said even more quietly, to the point Mariah wasn't even a hundred precent sure she heard it right.

several Minutes passed of the two sitting in quiet while Masumi ran around gathering things to put on the bones, covering it completly. Mariah watched as Eric had dosed off against her and found herself actually enjoying the feeling forgeting about the bandits tied to the tree, Masumi running around and found herself drifting into her own world where it was just the two of them. The moment Masumi's voice hit her ears she was brought back to reliaty and started screaming at herself for fantasizing the way she did, Teling herself that it was bad of her and that she was stupid. Eric's head popped up as well at the first syllable from Masumi. "I'm Done! What's next?" she screamed before nudging Eric.

"Damn you!" Mariah thought as both Eric and her turned to face Masumi. "No! That is a good thing I was making a mistake letting him lean on me like that. It is wrong of me as a princess and some one who is of hire social level be thinking of such things about a low down criminal like him, Much less a demonic one. After this quest he was going to be arrested and tried for theivery and treason, being that he was a guard for our enemies!" she thought to herself she nodded inwardly as she agreed with these thoughts.

Eric smiled "Alright Masumi lets check this out then." He said pulling away from Mariah and standing up. he walked over to the offering Masumi had made and looked really closely at it then smiled turning to her "You did well I couldn't of done it better myself." He pulled out a stick and set the tip of it on fire. "Now you say a prayer thanking the gods for whatever your thankful for, and asking for whatever you wish them to do for you. Don't demand but ask them. Then you walk around the offering starting it on fire as you do then throw the stick on top and let it burn itself out. while it burns I'll teach you how to cook veal."

Masumi nodded with a smile then took in a deep breath "Here it goes." she closed her eyes and started praying out loud nervousness in her voice. "Well gods, this is my first time praying to you. I've been forced to pray to the Demonking all my life but started refusing when my actual big brother actually dissapeared. I don't know what actually happened to him even though I can assume a few things. I think that was when I opened my eyes to how everybody I was around treated other people that weren't Tainted and realized how wrong it was. Of course your people aren't to much better, hunting my people down and killing us for being born Tainted with out evaluating whats in our hearts. I think that is just as wrong. However there are people such as Eric and Mariah, who don't look at us that way..." Mariah rolled her eyes at that comment, she still viewed all the Tainted as evil, however she realized that she was right. Not all Tainted was bad and she was one of the few good ones. she couldn't help but smile as she continued listening to Masumi staring into the fire infront of her. Eric stood next to Masumi smiling as she prayed. "... So I guess what I'm trying to say is this. Thank you for bringing Eric and Mariah into my life. Thank you for having Eric look so much like my big brother so I don't feel like I'm a lone in this world, and I feel like my big brother is still with me. Please allow me to be strong like Eric to fight for the ones I care about. Please let us all be happy as we travel. Please never let me forget all the happiness I've had since Eric and Mariah rescued me." She opened her eyes with a smile and walked around the offering pyre she made setting on fire like Eric told her and put the stick in the center.

Eric smiled and patted Masumi on the head "Well done. One of the best prayers I've heard, I'm sure you've deffiantly caught their attention" he ruffled her hair with a smile as Masumi blushed and smiled as well.

"You think?" She asked looking up to him

"I know." he responded turning towards the pelt and meat. "So Masumi, your void back pack you can put in and retrieve anything with accuracy right?" Masumi nodded "Excellent I'll let you carry the pelt and extra food we have then, That also makes stocking up for journeys Much easier. I don't think were going to have to worry about going hungry much if that is the case. Now let me show you how to cook veal." Masumi nodded. Eric broke off several large sticks off the end of the branches that sat on the ground and stuck them in the ground on either side of the fire pit. "these are a crudely made holders for the stick the meat will be on." Masumi nodded as he grabbed a long stick he had broken off. Having let the previous fire knife dissapeared he made another and scraped off the bark, the hole time focusing on not catching the stick on fire. Once that was done he let out a sigh. "Phew, You want to make sure the bark is off the stick your putting the meat on other wise you'll have it in your food. Trust me wood doesn't taste too good." Masumi and Mariah giggled Mariah starting to pay attention out of curiosity. Eric then explained about how high the stick should be from the fire how to put the meat on the stick and put it over the fire and what to look for as it cooked. how to check the meat, and how to tell how well cooked it was. Both the girls paid close attention as he taught them ocasionally putting in a joke or two to make them laugh or giggle. Once the meat was done the three of them ate it and enjoyed the food. Mariah tried to eat with as much manners as she could, however being she didn't have any silverware she ended up having to eat with her hands.

After they ate Masumi closed her eyes and focused on what she was doing. she held one hand out and with her other hand mimed opening an invisible zipper on the palm of her hand which seemed to open up to a consuming darkness that seemened to even take in the fire light and not let it escape. She then showed Eric and Mariah how she could open it as big as she wanted to encompass whatever she was wanting to put in. "Then whenever I want to bring something out." She said as she closed the hole to the void in her hand "I just invision what I want to bring out and I can open the hole to the void anywhere and reach in to pull it out."

"That will be very useful." Mariah said with a smile as she looked at Eric who nodded.

"Yes it can and probably will come into really great use." Eric smiled to Masumi then yawned and streatched. "Well I guess it's time to get some rest." The girls nodded in responce agree with Eric. Eric laid back onto the branch he ended up sitting on to cook and eat. "I'll sleep here." The girls giggled and found their own place to sleep most comfortably and soon all of them was fast asleep.

*************************************

The sun was setting again. The three traveled up the road on their journey to Veronica. "I'm Hungry! Why can't we stop to eat!" Masumi cried as she shuffled her feet behind the other two.

"Oh shut up brat! And hurry up! If we don't get to Veronica by nightfall were going to have to sleep outside again. I want a nice bed to sleep in you know." Mariah scolded Masumi as they walked she was talking over her shoulder, then she turned to Eric. "Hey Eric, do you think it's alright we left the bandits tied to the tree way back there?" 

Eric smiled "Yeah, They will be fine. If their bandit brotheren doesn't get them then some other traveler will and if they don't get rescued in a couple of days then, well it's their punishment." Eric smile had some what of a mischevious look to it. "Sadly however we are going to have to stop at the next opening. Tomorrow morning we will reach Veronica, But it will be a couple hours from where we will stop for the night. Reason why we are stopping so close is because the sun is about to go down. With the seal weakening demon's have become more and more common, not to mention the nocturnal preditors that stalk these forests, ontop of the bandits. So I think it wise to stop at the next clearing."

Mariah groaned as Masumi cheered "Yay! We get to stop soon La, La, La!" she sung as she started skipping to take the head of the group twirling around  in a pirouetting as she skipped ahead of Eric. humming happily."

"I thought you were out of energy." Mariah glared at Masumi as she spoke.

"But I'm so excited! Big Brother said we get to sleep under the stars again tonight and we are going to stop soon, That means we get all comfy then we can eat! Then we eat and sleep and we wake up and eat again YAY!"

"Geeze it's like you like food more then Eric does." Mariah grumbled

"That she might." Eric said with his same smile. "Only tonight we should be careful. Kane and some more of his goonies might come back."

Masumi was doing a piouette and stopped facing Eric and Mariah. "It's ok cuz in that case I will destroy them all by myself this time." Masumi smirked "I got a plan to punish them if they try anything again, because that would be soooooooooo annoying!"

"Oh just like you." Mariah mumbled under her breath.

"What was that you Rom!"  Masumi growled getting in Mariah's face

"I said you were really an annoying, ill mannered brat!" Mariah growled back forcing her forhead against Masumi's as she pushed her back glaring into Masumi's eyes. The two growled at each other as if they were ready to fight. 

"Later!" Eric said waving behind him to the girls as he continued to walk.

Both girls turned to look at Eric still pressing their heads together however instead of anger at each other a look of confusion first crossed their faces as they watched Eric continue to walk away. Anger soon followed as both lept from their place screaming the same thing at Eric. "How dare you!" In an instant they closed in the gap and both brought a fist down ontop of Eric's head. The force knocked Eric face first into the ground making a small trail of turned up dirt as he slid forward in the ground.

"Serves him right!" Masumi said as she stepped on his back forcing a cry of pain out as she walked across him and continued walking straight as if nothing happened.

"Agreed! That Jerk!" Mariah agreed doing the same. The two continued walking a head leaving Eric to lay on the ground twitching in pain as he recovered.

Several moments later the trail Opened up to a well prepared camping ground, Large logs and a fire pit was already in place as well as a pump to pull up water from an underground well and  poles with lanterns all around the opening. A washing bucket was beside the hand pump as well as an old well used washing grate. Two poles with wires attatched for hanging closed was off to the side however close to the fire.

As the three entered the clearing Eric looked around "hmm Interesting." He mumbled quietly as he stepped into the oppening. He then turned to face the road just as the two girls walked in to inspect the pump and wire strung between the two poles, as well as each of the lanterns. Eric knelt beside the road and rubbed his hand along the ground before picking up a handful of dirt and shifting it through his hand. He then clenched the dirt and held his fist infront of his face  allowing the dirt pour out from the bottom. The pebbles on the road was smooth however the rocks in the opening were rugged. Eric noted this and stood up walking to the pump. He grabbed the washing bucket and started pumping water into it.

The girls then noticed Eric's strange behavior and wondered closer to him "What are you doing Eric?" Mariah asked as Masui peered into the bucket of water Eric had just poured.

"Yeah what's wrong?" Masumi asked poking a finger into the water. "Is the water poisioned or soething?"

Eric shook his head picking the bucket up taking the washing grate and setting it against the pump so it wouldn't get dirty he quietly walked over the road "I think we are close enough to debunk one of the rumors about Veronica." He said then paused a little and looked over his shoulder "Arn't you excited, Princess?" 

Anger crossed Mariah's face as she lept from her spot flying across the camping ground in one leap an ice gauntlet formed around the fist she had cocked back for a punch. "Stop calling me Princess!" she screamed as she flew. She brought her fist down on the back of Eric's head who flew into the middle of the road, The water from the bucket flying out as he went then spilled ont the ground as both Eric and the bucket landed.

Eric watched as he and the water that was flying through the air hovered for a few moments till the water spilled out of the bucket on the ground. The water formed globs in the air then darted up the road as the water on the road instead of flowing down hill went across a little ways from the force then up the hill. Eric stood up and dusted himself off "Just as I expected." He said with a large smile across his face.

"And what pray tell was that!" Mariah screamed still seething mad from being called princess. 

Masumi who was watching in amusement clapped "The rumors are true!" she cheered!

"Not only that, But the water Gem is at Veronica." Eric then smiled at Mariah who instantly felt the heat in her cheeks from the night before. she Placed a hand up to her cheek as she started questioning why she was doing that, Eric then spoke up again. "Alright Masumi before you start playing with the water I need you to get us wood and stuff for a fire."

Masumi nodded "Aye, aye Big Brother!" she shouted saluting before running into the forest. 

"Mariah, I need you to help her please." Eric said softly.

Mariah being snapped out of her thoughts started shouting to hide the feelings she was just feeling "Shut up! Aren't you the Servant, You go help Masumi with the fire!"

"First Pr-in-cess I'm not your servant, I never agreed to that so if you would be so kind as to drop it!" Eric started quietly and putting heavy emphasis on each syllable of "princess" he  then yelled the last two words. "Secondly if you feel so strongly about me helping Masumi, I guess I will. That means she gets to spend more time with me, alone, off in the forest, and who knows what things we might end up doing." Eric made sure to let each thing he named off sing into Mariah's head as he saw her face grow first with anger, then with fluster and frustration as he walked closer to her to pass her as if he was going to help Masumi in the forest. 

Out of seemingly no where Mariah's ice gauntlet covered fist hit Eric in the back of the head "Don't ever call me Princess and I forbid you from helping Masumi in the forest gathering fire material! I will do it!" She dissapeared in the forest after Masumi before Eric could utter another word.

Eric smiled as he picked himself off the ground. "She really is one worth protecting." He thought to himself. He shook his head "Where did that thought come from?" he asked himself quietly. "Then again she does have a lot of... her qualities" Eric sighed again shook his head once more "I should light these lanterns." He finally said sidetracking himself. As he went from lantern to lantern the pile of lumbar for the fire grew and grew, by the time he finished the pile was bigger then they needed. Eric then put a bit of it in the fire pit and started a small fire. "Alright Thank you my two beauties. Masumi! Dinner time."

Masumi giggled as Mariah looked away and blushed "On it!" she cheered and mimed grabbing a zipper infront of her. She then pulled it down low enough for her to reach into. Her arm dissapeared into the darkness beyond the unzipped void. Eric walked closer taking a closer look at both sides as she reached in humming. Eric then waved a hand where Masumi's arm would of been if it wasn't in the void then looked at Masumi. When Masumi looked at him she looked confused. "Ummm, what are you doing?" she asked

"Oh nothing just inspecting the void pocket you made... Is it ok if I put my head in there or would it be a waste of time?" he asked curiosity taken over him.

Masumi pulled her arm out with three slabs of veal stacked ontop of each other. "Umm, Go a head. Only Tainted, Demons, and Demon hunters can see what is in there. All other human's and holy creatures can't see anything but darkness."

Eric nodded his head "Okay, then I want to experience it anyway." Eric then stuck his head in up to his shoulders into the void. His eyes grew wide "Wow! Look at everything she has in this void pocket! So much gold, and snoics, A few swords, what's that over there? Wow it's a full arsenal in here!" 

As Eric was looking in the void and his excitement grew he started pointing at things and waving his arms around even though his body wasn't in there. This translated to on the outside as a silent body waving around and pointing at non-existant things while stomping it's feet like a child. "Is he okay in there?" Mariah finally asked

Masumi stepped away with her eyes widened at the excitement "Can he see? Was what happened in Omigasha really a demon deep inside of thim that I senced?" Masumi thought to herself not daring to say it infront of Mariah, after seeing the state Mariah was in at the time Masumi was actually surprised when she first saw Mariah back at the inn. Masumi walked over and grabbed Eric's shoulder and pulled his head out. "Okay, okay That's enough gawking. A woman needs some secrets ya know."

Mariah started laughing "You? A woman?" she continued laughing loudly "I don't think so missy. Your still just a child!"

Masumi closed up the zipper to the void and glared at Mariah. "What did you say!" she snarled having let go of the zipper she clinched her free fist.

"I'll just take these." Eric said innocently as he lifted the slabs of veal from Masumi's hands. After getting several paces away Eric rose his voice to bring the girls back from the brink of fighting. "Hey Masumi? What was with all the treasure in there?" He asked.

Masumi who had been butting heads litterally with Mariah. Her eyes widened and looked at Eric as she pulled away allowing Mariah to fall from the equivillent force pushing back against her suddenly vanishing sending Mariah off balance. "So it is true you could see in the void huh?"

Eric nodded "Ya, I guess I can. Don't ask me how, I don't really know how myself. You however haven't answered my question."

Masumi giggled sheepishley "Well you see, The people that followed my father constantly gave offerings to him, Not to mention my father was dipping into the Taxes for his own gain and storing it away. So while they were sleeping I manipulated their shadows to open up the void pockets he stashed everything in, and transfered it over to mine." She smiled "It would of been a great last middle finger to him if he had succeeded after I was gone. Being that I was dead the void pocket would of closed in on itself, condencing every thing inside of it into a pin point in which only demon's and the Demonking could restore. Theory states that if one was to go inside their own void backpack and close it behind them. If they attempted to open it from inside the location it opens up could be anywhere even way high in the sky. In order for a controlled opening of that very void backpack can be obtained by a demon, Demonking, or a really high ranking Tainted who has some sort of the person inside the void's DNA. As long as that person inside the void is a live it can be opened by the high ranking Tainted can open it otherwise, Only a demon or the Demonking." Masumi explained.

Eric listened intently "Interesting." he said quietly stroking the bottom of his jaw. "Well in Veronica your paying for everything! To include bedding for us to use on the road. That way I don't have to steal... Unless somebody pisses me off, But then We can just add it to your stash. That will be my contribution." Eric bowed

"Oh please," Mariah snorted rolling her eyes after picking herself off the ground. "A real scholar, and still a theif at heart!" Mariah swung at him with her bare hand, However was surprised when she didn't find any contact.

Eric had dodged her swing by rising himself upstraight he then with his free hand grabbed Mariah's and spun her around a couple times "Oh my dear Princess, you have no faith in me! Your guardian and teacher to fine tune your already elegant fighting!" Eric almost song partly mocking and mostly over dramatizing his pretended hurt feelings.

The moment Eric dipped Mariah and started staring into her eyes softly; Mariah found herself blushing a deeper red then what had grown on her face as Eric twirled her. Eric's hand that held the food was out stretched in which Masumi quietly retreived them from his hand. Which case he brought his hand in and gently stroke Mariah's cheek. "I can get lost in his eyes... I want to stay like this forever..." She thought to herself as she gazed into his eyes. His face seemed to grow closer to hers ever so slowly. Her blush deepened as she closed her eyes slowly and softly. "Is this going to be my first kiss?" was the thought crossed her mind She felt her heart and mind slip away as her body took control and she started to press her lips together to kiss.

"Wait what am I doing!" She thought as the part of her mind that was caught off guard that controlled her sanity and rational thinking forced it's self back into the front part of her mind. Her lips turned into pursed lips of anger as she brought her fist up to punch Eric in his temple. On their way up ice gauntlet's formed with little studs on the knuckles for extra punishment. The gauntlet shattered like they normally do from the force as it connected with Eric's head. A little bit of Eric's blood spurted out of his head from the contact of Mariah as he was sent flying into a near by tree. Mariah quickly caught herself and pulled herself up. "Pervert! You were going to kiss me wern't you!" she screamed "Ugh the nerve of men! Come on Masumi lets heat our food up and burn his!" Mariah said grabbing Masumi's wrist.

"Yay they didn't kiss!" Masumi cheered "I was about to throw up! BLEH!" Masumi made a sour face as she pretended to throw up being dragged along by Mariah.

"What's that suppose to mean! That's it I'm burning your's to!" Mariah screamed.

"Nooo! Don't burn my food! I meant it as Big Brother putting the moves on you was disgusting to watch!"

Mariah smiled "Your not as hopeless as I thought, I can still teach you to be a decent young lady after all." She said with a smile "You get Eric's share tonight!"

"As long as it's not burnt!" Masumi added holding up a finger.

"Deal!" Mariah said pulling Masumi over to the fire as Eric layed at the base of the tree he hit dazed.

True to their word Eric didn't get a scrap of Veal for dinner. Even though he faught, complained and begged Masumi and Mariah ate his share of the meat. Masumi refused to open the void pocket of hers again to get him some food. Defeated Eric wandered into the forest as the two finished off the last of the meat. He ventured out to look for food for himself. As the girls were getting ready to go to sleep he finally returned with an arm full of berries. He wore a silly smile on his face as he would pop a couple into his mouth and hummed as he chewed.

"I want some!" Masumi cried as she saw him returning. "I haven't had any berries in a long time!" 

"Sorry! you stole my meat so I won't let you have any these are all mine!" Eric teased as he shoved a handful in his mouth.

Masumi got up from the bed she had made on the ground to reach for some berries that was in Eric's arms. "Give me!"

"I said no!" Eric said in a playful yet stubborn voice before taking the bunch he had in his arm and stuffing all of them in his mouth. He forced him self to chew them all and swallow them as Masumi dropped to her knees crying.

"Your a big meany Big Brother!" she screamed lunging forward to punch him. Eric side stepped to dodge. She swung again and again, each time she missed.

Eric's voice grew serious. "If you want to become as strong as me Masumi, I will teach you the way that I fight. Only you have to vow to me that you will only use the skills I teach you for guarding people, and do what I say with out question."

Masumi looked at Eric "But I already can fight." Masumi said quietly.

Eric shook his head "Not well enough. If you want to use the excuse that you were just playing then come at me with all you got. I will show you that if you really want to be useful you need to learn how to fight better. Anybody can throw a punch or use a power if they have it. It is only those who master it that can have power. Those that have power their true side shows, weather they are evil or good. Human or Tainted this saying doesn't discriminate. After we attain this next gem, I have a feeling our fights will get much harder really fast." Eric seemed as if he was looking into space. More or less he was looking into his past.

Masumi growled "I'll show you!" the shadows that danced around the night from the flickering of the fire started to wave and bend as they grew. The stretched themselves to grow under Masumi who's eyes had started to glow red. "I'll show you! I know how to fight! I'm useful as well!" she screamed. The shadows that rose off the ground behind her grew sharp points that pointed towards Eric who stood there with his hand on his Gunblade's handle.

"Eric stop this right now!" Mariah screamed, however her screams fell on deaf ears as Eric held up his other hand to Mariah.

"Stay out of this Mariah, You are already well trained and just need to refine your skills and learn new techniques. Masumi still doesn't know how to fight properly and will be lousy at fighting. Even if it is self defence. Provided she makes that vow I told her to make I will teach her they way that I fight. I never intended to pass down my techniques and skills. She however reminds me of somebody I once was. Not only that but she will need to learn to defend herself against persecution while defending the innocent to prove not all Tainted are evil. So this world will beable to start the propper steps towards world peace once again. So nothing like what happened when your kingdom took over the kingdom I swore my life to, and the events that transpired will never happen again!" Eric's voice was stern, serious, and heart felt. Mariah took a step back in shock as she could only watch as the enraged Masumi finished preparing her attack.

"Don't talk down to me! I'm not useless! I will show you!" The shadows that were behind Masumi lurched forward points aiming at Eric who at the last second seemed to vanish. "Where did..." Her words of shock were cut off as a sharp pain entered her stomach and threatened to force up the food she just ate. Another sharp pain shot through the back of her head as the back of Eric's gun blade struck her twice. Once in the stomack then pulled around and again into the back of her head. Masumi dropped to the ground. Her vision grew blurry as she heard the sound of the gunblade being sheathed. She then saw Eric's feet step into her view.

"You see Masumi, I saw your attack from a mile away. I also knew if that didn't work and I didn't do what i did your next plan was to have the shadows entangle me and pin me to something, Most likely the tree next to the pile of wood. That however wouldn't of happened either even if I let it because the moment I was bound I would of used a flash of light from a fireball to quite litterally evaporate the shadows that held me bound. And as long as you used the shadows that way, You would of lost. There are many ways you could of won by using shadows, and faster ways to attack that would of been less visible. But untill you make your vows and become my pupil I won't teach you anything. Now get some rest ok kiddo" Eric had knelt beside her as he lectured her. He then picked her up and laid her onto her bed.

Masumi grunted as Eric got halfway from her bed to where he was going to be sleeping. She forced herself to sit up dispite the pain that was still in the back of her head and stomach. "Wait... Big Brother!" Eric stopped in his tracks with out saying a word. Mariah continued to watch the events transpire unsure what to think, say or do. "Teach me. I vow to use what you teach me only for protection of the innocent and self defence."

Eric smiled softly with out looking over his shoulder. Only Mariah could see the smile, He looked as if he was happy and thankful of her words even though what he said next along with his voice which remained the same betrayed that notion. "Swear it..." He paused long enough for Masumi to think and open her mouth to speak before he cut her off. "... Swear it on the love you have for your real big brother, and on the life he gave to protect you."

Masumi's eyes welled up with tears at Eric's last words. She knew by him having her swear it on what he was asking her to swear it on he had to have been serious about it. Her voice chocked up with emotions and confusion. Tears escaped from Masumi's eyes and rolled down her cheeks as Eric started walking again. His smile faded during the moments of silence. Mariah sat on her crudely made bedding of leaves shocked. "That's what I thought, Just words and gestures, My fighting style was once used to kill many people at the whim of a king. To stain my hands with people's lives at the drop of a hat. Once the fall of my kingdom crashed around me and the one I swore to protect was violated and killed I realized the monster I was. I understood my nickname on the battlefield. The weight of my soul from all it's sins was at that point easily seen. I vowed never to let my fighting style be used for greed again. I vowed that I will fight to protect the innocent. I vowed to kill only to protect the lives of the ones I care for. My fighting style will never be used for evil again. Instead my fighting style will be used to bring peace to the world and make it a better place. I can't...."

Finally Masumi was able to force her words out. Her voice was filled with emotion as she shouted out all her words. "I swear it! I swear it on my love for my real older brother! I swear it on the life that he gave to protect me. I swear it on my honor, and the honor that you would give me to teach me. I swear it on my happiness, and I swear it on my life that I will up hold the vows I've made. The gods, Mariah, and you as my witnesses I will up hold your morals and your honor! I won't use the skills and techniques you teach me for personal gain, or for any evil intentions! I don't want to belong to the demons or the Demonking! I don't want to have people keep thinking I'm evil! I want to show the purity of my soul! I want to be in one of the gods' kingdoms with you and Mariah! The only two people who's given me a chance to actually live and be happy other than my brother. I swear it! I want to protect you and Mariah! I also want to protect any friends I make in the future!"

Eric's smile returned "We will start tomorrow, get some rest Masumi." Eric waved a hand this time looking over his shoulder to show his thankful smile to Masumi "You should get some rest as well Princess." Eric said as he turned his head back to focus on where he was going.

"How many times do I have to tell you! Never ever! Call me that!" Mariah's fist covered in her usual Ice gauntly went flying through the air as she launched off her bedding. It connected in the back of Eric's head sending him flying through the air to where he was going to be sleeping causing him to land face first with his butt in the air. "Pervert!" Mariah called after. Eric dropped his but out of the air as he laid there dazed. 

Masumi giggled "I'm happy things can remain the same even if our relationship has turned into Master and student. I know he let's her hit him, and if he really wanted he could dodge her attacks with ease." she thought to herself before giving her second prayer "Gods, I hope you give me the ability to make it through Eric's training so I can be as strong, or stronger than him. I swear I'll do him proud. Even when he passes on before I do." she sighed at the thought of Eric passing away, She knew the dark fact that If a tainted was to die naturally which was rarely the case, their life spand thanks to the diluted demon blood and aura would keep her looking young and healthy for at least three hundred years once she finishes puberty, ontop of another three hundred years at the least till she dies from natural causes. She had taken that into consideration before swearing her vows to Eric. For what he had already done for her it was the least she could do. "I also vow Big Brother to keep your honor A live and burning brightly for as long as I live! I won't let your memories be stained any more than you think they are." she vowed to herself as she laid back down with a smile on her face, another tear rolling down the side of her face onto her own leaf bedding. This tear being one of shear happiness. As she, Mariah and Eric went to sleep.

A couple hours go by and Masumi stirred from her sleep. She groaned as she pulled herself to her feet, a few leaves falling from her hair. "I got to pee." She groaned as she looked over her shoulder towards her companions. She noticed Eric sitting up a serious look on his face. Masumi yawned "It's nothing, I'm either dreaming or he is just standing guard. Silly Eric I swear some times he is to serious." she grumbled to herself as she dissapeared into the forest.

Eric had woken up to the inclination something bad was about to happen. He sat up and looked around. He yawned then decided to sit on guard for a couple minutes. He noticed Masumi stir and get up from her sleep, mumbling to herself she stumbled into the forest to use the restroom. As expected however right after she vanished he felt a cold blade press against his neck. A quick glance over his shoulder showed that another blade was against Mariah's neck who was still fast asleep. The man with the blade to her neck was croutched over her head with a sinsiter grin. "Well, well, well If it isn't Eric and Mariah." Kane's voice came from the darkness just before he stepped into the light of the dieing fire. His hand that had been frozen was jet black from frost bite and rendered useless. "Any last words Eric?" Kane said grinning "I'm not going to let you escape or win this time. You see I have the upper hand here and for once I will kill you."

Eric smiled and raised one hand slowly with his fingers out streatched to show he wasn't trying anything. "Your forgetting one person, Oh and I think you've done pissed her off Kane. Shame you of all people would be killed by a seventeen year old girl who hardly knows how to fight. Shameful death, really I guess I'll be seeing you in the void. Oh and please do say hi to the Demonking for me when you get there." As he spoke he brought one finger down at a time to show a count down. He brought down his last finger as he finished speaking.

Kane having heard what Eric said nervously looked over his shoulder to see glowing red eyes from the darkness of the forest. "How dare you!" Masumi's voice echoed from the trees as the flames from the fire grew as they turned black. The lanterns emitted a black light that casted shadows reaching out from everything the light touched. "Get away from my Friends!" the shadows of the men detatched themselves and stood up, to enclude Eric's shadow with his gunblade sitting across his lap. The shadows then opened their eyes to show the same red glow. Eric's shadow twirlled it's blade. The bandits that heavily out numbered the bandits from the first attack started to panic in fear. However they were frozen with the very same fear.

"That's not going to work on me!" Kane shouted he propped a torch up and quickly pulled out two flint stones and struck them together causing sparks that landed on the torch. Bright light filled the area causing the shadows to vanish. This however was in vane as the fire quickly turned to the same black as the fire. Three of Kane's shadows came up around him each with a gun and sword to their side.

"You had your chance, Now I am in rights of my vows to slay you." Masumi said with a cold angry tone of voice. The shadows attacked the men they belong to, All but Eric's who stood still while the shadows started their attacks. It only moved when bandits attempted to flee. As one would step close to the ring of now black light emitting lanterns Eric's shadow would phaze out to appear infront of that bandit then with one slice of it's sword the bandit's blood would spray out of his neck before the shadow phaze to its previous position beside Eric. Blood was spraying in every direction painting the ground red as body fell to the ground one after the other. The bandits that tried to fight back, their attacks went straight through the shadows who would then laugh a dark sinsiter laugh before counter attacking. Soon only Kane was left. His body was riddled with cuts however Masumi purposly left him a live. "The nerve of this guy. Causing such pain and agony to Big Brother and Mariah. I don't know what he did in their past but Eric said that he would die by my hands. Even though I don't know how to fight. So I will kill him with the little I know." she thought as she stepped up to him. The shadows that were tormenting Kane vanished as Masumi stepped up to Kane.

"You brat!" Kane hissed as he stared into Masumi's red eyes "You are a monster, A creature of evil! Unlike Eric who is human with the nickname of a demon you are truely evil through and through as a Tainted" Kane raised his good hand in a fist and threw it at Masumi.

A large black shadow stopped his punch reaching over Masumi's shoulder to reveal Eric's shadow standing behind her. "You are the real monster, Mr. Kane. I don't know the past between you three. However, I can see that you've already hurt them really badly with your actions. Then infront of me you persist on slaying Eric, my Big Brother and now teacher. As well as Mariah, Princess of the kingdom and my dear friend. You seek to harm my friends. You will pay for this!" All the shadows that were still standing around after killing their former owners flew into the air as whisps of shadows. They circled around above forming a funnel above them. "Prepare, for your punishment!" Masumi screamed as all the shadows flew into the back of Eric's shadow. 

The shadow grew larger and larger as it asorbed all the the shadows. The now twenty foot tall Shadow of Eric loomed over them. Kane trembled in fear taking a step back, then another before turning to run away. Just as he got to the edge of the clearing towards the road Masumi spoke in a cold whisper that chilled Eric to the bone. "Devour the bodies as you pass by then drag Kane down through hell and into the void a live. So he can spend the rest of his life in the emptyness of the void to think about all the wrongs he has done." The large version of Eric's shadow nodded before Erupting into an explosion of darkness sending tendrils in every direction. Each tendril picked up a dead body making it and the blood that the body sprayed out dissapear before the tendrils lurched towards kane at lightning speed. The tendrils first wrapped around Kane's feet stopping him from moving then slowly the darkness ate away at his image dragging him down into the dark portal that started swirling below him as more and more of the shadow tendrils wrapped around him. Kane let out one last scream of fear before silence fell upon the forest again.

All light returned to normal and the torch Kane had lit extinguished itse'f from Masumi's darkness to remove all trace of Kane or his men. Masumi smiled and started to sway "Did I do good Big Brother?" She asked weakly as a smile crossed her face before her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her body weight started causing her to fall forward.

Eric in an instant was by Masumi's side to catch her as she fell. "Yes, Masumi you did wonderful. I can't wait to start training you." He said as he laid her back down in her bed of leaves. Eric then walked over and sat by the fire picking up Kane's tourch and throwing it on top to burn it.

Mariah moaned and streatched with a yawn and sat up "Did I miss something?" she asked looking over to Eric who was sitting by the fire.

Eric stood up with a smile "Nothing at all Princess go back to sleep." He said softly walking over to her and gently pushing on her forhead to force her to lay back down as he passed.

Mariah growned groggily and with a voice with partial anger but mostly sleep growled "Don't call me Princess you big jerk!" she then yawned and was fast back asleep. Leaving Eric to lay down in his own dirt matted down bed to sleep himself.

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Author's Note

please ignore grammar and misspellings these will be corrected at a later date.

as always please share your thoughts and comments about your readings.