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| Ivy Dewshine: | Ryouko Hirosue |
| Adonis: | Ueda Yuuji |
| Randoruun: | Ryoutarou Okiayu |
| Quinn: | Ota Shinnichirou |
| Manasse: | Koyasu Takehito |
| Hiko: | Hekiru Siina |
| Jonothan: | Masami Kikuchi |
| Arlen: | Akira Kamiya |
| Gray: | Hikaru Midorikawa |
| Pilot: | Any Seiyuu |
| Pilot's Boss | Yumi Touma |
Ms. Quimby
loudly heaved sobs as she covered her face with a handkerchief.
"Mother…! Come now!" Jonothan nervously smiled.
"I can’t believe my baby is leaving me!!" Ms. Quimby cried.
The group consisting of a girl, dragon, elf, mage, giant, and a child now had a new member. Everyone was packed and ready—Hiko clung to Ivy as everyone said goodbye to Ms. Quimby. Quinn fastened his sword and magical items to his belt, and tossed his hair behind his shoulders.
"We’ll take good care of him, ma’am," Arlen assured Ms. Quimby.
Randoruun rolled up his map, "Thank you for your hospitality," he bowed to Jonothan’s mother.
"Be careful…" she dabbed her tear-filled eyes.
Her dress and shoes wrapped in a package under one arm, Ivy hugged Ms. Quimby, "We will. Thank you for everything."
"Hey, Ivy…"
Ivy straightened up from hugging Ms. Quimby and turned around to face Adonis holding the sword from the general store.
"You almost forgot this," he fastened it on her belt.
Ivy blushed furiously as she snatched the sword, "D-dummy! I can do it myself!" she fumbled with the buckle as she attached the sword.
"Well, excuse me!" Adonis snapped, "If you can do some many things, why not actually DO THEM FOR A CHANGE?!"
"What?!!" Ivy shrieked, "Listen pal, you have a fat lot of nerve talking like that after how you acted last night!"
"We better get going…" Arlen hurried everyone out of the inn.
"Goodbye, Mother," Jonothan kissed his mother on the cheek and picked up his bag of medical instruments, "Take care!"
Ms. Quimby sniffed and waved, "Goodbye, dear!!" she called, "I love you!"
"We need to get to the river about a mile from the town. That will be our only source of food and water," Randoruun led the group, "We’ll be in the middle of nowhere for two days."
"Two days?" Adonis moaned.
"Right," Randoruun affirmed.
Adonis folded his arms, "Great, two days with no way of getting away from the Queen of Grouches."
"I’ve had about enough from you!!" Ivy grabbed Adonis by his collar, "Keep your mouth shut!!"
As the two tempers faced off, Jonothan adjusted his glasses, and took a pencil from behind his ear. On his note tablet, he searched through the names of the men: Quinn…Randoruun….Hiko---he crossed his name out, "Too young…" he muttered under his breath, "Too old…" he continued as he crossed out Arlen’s name, Well…actually….he erased his scribbling over the giant’s name, and wrote it again, Sicker things have happened…Adonis…he watched the two bickering still, and quickly started scratching his name out.
Arlen took his eyes off of Adonis and Ivy, and lifted his head, "Do you smell rain?"
Randoruun looked up, "It is getting a bit dark."
"Hmm?" Ivy looked at the thunderhead clouds in the sky while stretching Adonis’s mouth to a whole new level of long, "Lookit the sky…"
"Mawee ee ood edd t’shettaaaa---" Ivy let go of Adonis.
"What?" Hiko asked from on top of Arlen’s shoulders.
Adonis rubbed the sides of his mouth, "I SAID--" he shot a glare at Ivy, who stuck her tongue out at him, "—maybe we should head to shelter."
"Easier said than done," Quinn looked around, "This place may be rocky, but it’s a one-in-a-hundred chance that we’ll find a cave."
"But couldn’t you make one with magic?" Hiko asked.
"That’s true, isn’t it?" Quinn nervously laughed as raindrops began to fall.
As the sprinkling grew heavier, Ivy held her dress tighter so that it wouldn’t get wet.
Jonothan opened up an umbrella and put it over Ivy.
Ivy’s eyes widened and she looked to his warm smiling face. She smiled back, and continued walking.
"Jonothan, you pansy! Bringin’ a stupid umbrella…" Adonis scoffed.
"He is not a pansy! He’s a gentleman!" Ivy snapped to Jonothan’s defense, "Unlike a certain someone!"
Adonis grinded his teeth, "There’s no need to be since there aren’t any ladies around!"
"ouch…." Arlen muttered.
"That’s enough, Adonis," Randoruun took his friend’s shoulder, "Let’s go ahead and find a suitable place to rest."
"Anything to get away from her…" Adonis muttered as he began to run ahead.
"Be careful, Randoruun!" Ivy called as the elf ran to catch up with his friend.
"We will!" he called back.
"I didn’t know you cared!" Adonis hollered.
The raindrops made splattering noises as they hit the stones lining the roadways.
Randoruun carefully stepped through stones, making sure not to slip, "The way you’re acting is not helping any…"
"Well, excuse me for breathing…" Adonis followed, "I’ve never been up close and personal with a girl before."
"You still never have," Randoruun said, "The way you’re acting, you probably never will be."
"I’m touched by your confidence in your best friend…" Adonis dryly said, "And while we’re on it, what’s with the ‘Mister Mysterious’ act going on here? You’re quiet, but you’ve been like a hermit lately."
"Do you find it odd for me to be talking to other people rather than you?" Randoruun caught himself from slipping, and let out a sigh.
"That’s not it…" Adonis followed right behind Randoruun, and slipped. Hissing between his teeth, he got back on his feet, "You’re so serious now…" he stopped walking, "You weren’t lying to Jonothan, were you?"
Randoruun stopped, and turned around, "Hmm?"
"About Ivy," Adonis’s eyes grew large, "You do like her, don’t you?!"
There was a silent moment where you could only hear the ‘pit-pat’ of the raindrops.
Ivy loudly sneezed and rubbed her nose, "Yow…bless me…"
"You must be getting cold in this rain," Jonothan softly said as he still held up the umbrella.
"I hope those two get the lead out," Ivy sniffed.
Adonis stood, not budging until he heard his best friend’s answer.
Randoruun’s poker face brightened to a smile, "Of course not. You know I’m not into that sort of thing…" he turned back around and continued walking.
Adonis shrugged and followed him. Before he could comment, Randoruun spoke.
"There! Look!" he pointed to a dark cave ahead of them.
"Ah! Lucky!" Ivy gasped happily as she ran into the cave, "How cool!"
"Ivy, wait! The cave--!" Adonis called into the cave, but was interrupted by a grunt and a thud.
Quinn sighed and generated a small flame in his hand. He walked into the cave and back out with Ivy hanging over his shoulder.
"The cave isn’t too deep, is it?" she feebly grunted.
"No," Randoruun stated.
Quinn dropped Ivy on the ground, and began to build a fire.
Ivy rubbed her head where she bumped it, and whined deeply in her throat.
Jonothan kneeled in front of her, "May I have a look at it?"
Ivy took her hand off of her head, and Jonothan felt her forehead for a bump.
"Oww!" Ivy instinctively slapped away Jonothan’s hand, "Sorry…." She sheepishly put her hands down.
"Hmph, lookit those two…" Adonis sat down and folded his arms. He looked to Quinn who was building the fire, chanting a fire spell.
"They’re not gonna get mushy, are they?" Hiko matched Adonis’s expression.
Jonothan couldn’t help but blush. Ivy turned pink and stood up.
"Of course not!" she picked up a stone and threw a stone at Adonis.
Adonis, without a flinch, caught the stone, "Listen, Ivy—I’m not pointing any fingers, but in case you didn’t realize this, you’re the only girl here. You’re a prime target. Fresh meat. Fair game."
"I get the picture," Ivy flatly groaned, walking to him. She knelt next to Adonis and leaned her head against Adonis’s arm, and traced her finger on his chest, "So is that what you’re protecting poor widdle innocent me from?"
Adonis blushed furiously as Jonothan’s eyes widened.
"Eyuuu! Cut that out!!" Hiko cringed.
"W-well…" Adonis began laughing nervously.
"YOU DIMWIT!" Ivy, as quick as lightning socked him upside the head repeatedly.
Jonothan sighed and stood. He adjusted his glasses and picked up his instruments, "Looks like I have my work cut out for me…" he headed over to Adonis once Ivy finished with him.
Ivy growled out loud, and threw her arms in the air, "Arrrgh!!! I’ve had ENOUGH! I would’ve been better off with the elf back at Ageis!" she secluded herself to a dimly lit corner of the cave.
"You don’t mean that…" Arlen sat next to her.
"Yes I do…" she pouted.
Arlen chuckled.
"What’s so funny?" Ivy looked to him.
"It’s so cute how your lower lip sticks out when you’re angry…" Arlen’s large index finger pointed to Ivy’s bottom lip.
Ivy touched her lips and blinked.
Arlen chuckled again, "If you were home, what would you be doing?"
Ivy thought, "Probably getting ready for work…Mom would remind me the typical courtesies due to a customer…" Ivy cracked a smile, "And not to gawk at any guys…" Ivy rubbed her nose as she sniffled, "I wonder how my dad would react to this…!" she laughed, and her eyes lowered, "They probably think I’m dead or something….they must be worried sick…"
Arlen put an arm around Ivy, "Think of how overjoyed they’ll be when you get back."
"If we get back…." Ivy’s voice wavered as she corrected him.
"Now, now…" Arlen squeezed Ivy’s shoulder, "We’ll get back."
Ivy buried her face in Arlen’s chest, "I miss them so much!"
Arlen stroked Ivy’s hair and sighed, "I know…"
The other men silently watched Ivy cry on Arlen’s shoulder.
Jonothan ached to go over and comfort her, but Randoruun put a hand on the doctor’s shoulder and shook his head.
The storms grew heavier, and the skies darker. Eventually, Ivy fell asleep on Arlen’s shoulder.
"How anyone could sleep in this storm beats me…" Adonis muttered.
As if on queue, thunder crashed. The four men and Hiko looked to Ivy.
She stirred a bit, and swallowed. But remained asleep.
The guys sighed, and went back to watching the fire.
"So what are we running from?" Jonothan asked, "I mean, why are you all protecting her?"
"We’re not positively sure ourselves…" Randoruun admitted.
"What?!" Jonothan’s eyes widened.
"Well, it started out at the general store where Ivy worked…" Adonis began, "This ugly, deformed---I dunno what it was, a troll or something…anyway, he tried to take Ivy when I was paying for some stuff…"
"He brought her home once they escaped. We offered her a room for awhile. But whoever was after her burnt us out of our home..." Randoruun’s eyes lowered.
"Wow…they mean business…" Jonothan’s voice was quiet and in awe.
"We got a room in town for the night, and left the next morning," Randoruun continued, "We knew that we couldn’t protect Ivy alone, so we offered to let Arlen join us in hopes he’d be able to build a restaurant later"
"Then came me!" Hiko raised his hand, "They stopped in a market to eat! Ivy dropped her money and I returned it to her!"
Adonis dug his knuckles into the child’s head, "Get the fact straight, kid! He actually stole Ivy’s money, and we chased him down."
"Ivy is taking care of me now!" Hiko pushed off Adonis’s hand.
Jonothan smiled, "Is that so?"
"Then than vampire attacked…" Hiko’s expression got serious.
Randoruun nodded, "He got me first…"
"He came totally by surprise…" Adonis rested his chin on the palm of his hand, "He was too strong for us. We told Ivy to take Hiko and run. I was hanging onto my consciousness by a thread when he ran after her.
"And that’s when I showed up…" Quinn spoke, "He agreed to fight me with a sword…" Quinn smiled, "But it seems that he was weakened by the white magic spells I had on it."
"Did you beat him?" Jonothan asked.
"He retreated before I could," Quinn answered, "But I took the unconscious Ivy and Hiko back--"
"Uh-uh!" Hiko interrupted, "I woke up and led you back!"
"Is that how it went?" Quinn smiled nervously, tossing his hair behind his shoulder.
"It is!" Hiko snapped.
"And then there was you," Randoruun finished, "We don’t know if the vampire is working with the ones who burnt our house down or destroyed the general store."
Jonothan stared into the fire, "What do they want?"
"Ivy, of course," Adonis switched hands.
"But why?" Jonothan wondered out loud.
"We don’t know…" Randoruun answered, "I sometimes wonder if there’s something she’s not telling us."
There was silence for a moment, until a piece of wood broke, and sparks flew into the air, and died out.
"What could she have possibly done?" Jonothan tried to say on a more cheerful note, "Adonis—you know she’s better than that, right?"
"I can’t say, really… I never met her before in my life…" Adonis admitted.
"Do any of you know her from someplace before?!" Jonothan gawked.
All of the men shook their heads.
"How positively awkward!" Jonothan adjusted his glasses.
"Look who’s talking!" Adonis pointed a finger at him.
"Just what do you think you’re doing, my friend?" Quinn leaned towards Jonothan.
"…uh…" Jonothan backed off a bit, "…right…" he looked to Ivy, asleep, But I wonder if any of them have a secret objective…he looked at Quinn, "Hey, Quinn…"
"Hmm?" Quinn looked to Jonothan.
"Why are you here? I’ve heard everyone’s reasons but yours," Jonothan asked.
Quinn rose an eyebrow and smiled, "Well, isn’t it obvious? An exotic girl…naïve…cute, decent body, helpless…totally trusting…"
"WHAT?!!" Jonothan put a fist up and clenched it.
"Calm down! It was a joke! A joke!" Quinn put up his hands defensively, and nervously smiled, "I need to defeat the vampire, of course. I always finish off my opponents. And, if that guy is after our good friend Ivy…"
"…he’s bound to show up again," Adonis finished.
"You should be grateful we’re not asking you why you tagged along…." Quinn folded his arms.
Jonothan felt his face turn red and he stared back into the fire.
Quinn smiled wider, and stared outside, "Looks like the rain is letting up."
"Should we get going?" Adonis stretched out his legs.
Randoruun looked to Ivy and smiled softly, "Let’s let her rest for a little longer."
Hiko heard a stone fall outside, "Hmm?" she turned around and cautiously looked around. After a moment, he returned to listening to their discussion.
A ray of sunlight peeked through the gray skies, and Arlen lightly nudged Ivy.
Ivy’s eyes groggily opened, and she sat up, "Did I fall asleep?"
"Duh," Adonis snorted.
Ivy sent him a glare and apologized to Arlen.
"We should get going. This storm has delayed our trip," Randoruun stood.
Ivy ran her fingers through her hair for a moment. She looked outside the cave and saw the bushes rustle a bit. Her heart sped up as she saw it, and she took a step back.
"Let’s go," Quinn stood and held the handle of his sword.
"Come on!" Adonis grabbed Ivy’s arm and drug her out.
"H-hey!" Ivy took her eyes off of the bushes, and snatched her arm away from Adonis.
Adonis glared at Ivy, "You’re awfully cold."
Ivy relaxed her arm, and looked to Adonis sheepishly, "Sorry."
Randoruun looked to the two, "We need to hurry. Before it starts raining again."
Ivy looked to Randoruun and smiled, "Right!" she ran ahead of everyone, "Which way, Rando?"
"Keep going straight," the elf answered, and they all followed her.
She’s being suddenly cheerful…Adonis watched Ivy hum happily to herself, What a sudden change…he sighed, Chicks and their moodswings. I don’t get it….he scratched his head in frustration.
Randoruun looked around at the breaking gray skies. The rocky caves soon changed into lush, green fields, with a hint of mountains in the horizon.
After about an hour passed, they all stopped to rest.
Ivy opened her bag and got out a few ripe peaches and pears. Tossing a pear to Adonis, she took a bit of a peach. The juice dripped down her face and she giggled sheepishly as she tried to wipe it off.
Quinn tossed a peach to Hiko, and a pear to Randoruun and sat down next to Ivy.
Ivy gave Arlen the last peach, and called out to Jonothan, "Hey, Doc!"
Jonothan looked up from a tablet he was writing on and gasped as he caught the pear Ivy tossed him. Taking a bite, he continued to write.
Nothing has happened….he wrote, I’m beginning to wonder if they’re just travelers. I don’t sense any sort of danger…
Ivy picked up a stick from the ground, and began to trace in the dirt, "Hey, Adonis…"
With a mouthful, Adonis looked up, "What?"
Ivy held the twig still, "…why do you wear a bow on your collar?"
Adonis stared back at Ivy, silently. Ivy stared straight back.
"…huh?" Adonis managed to reply.
Ivy pointed to the string on his collar, "There."
"To keep my collar up, of course," Adonis found it ridiculous to answer such a pointless question.
"But why don’t you tie it in a knot?" Ivy asked, "A bow is just…I dunno…kinda girly."
Adonis thought for a second, and turned to Randoruun, "Hey, Randoruun, why do I tie it like that?"
Randoruun took a bite off of his pear, and quite simply stated, "Because you’re girly."
Adonis angrily stood while everyone else laughed.
"I am NOT girly!" Adonis roared.
"It’s not that bad being girly, Adonis…" Ivy tugged on his pant leg teasingly, "If you like, I’ll do your hair tonight!"
"SHUT UP!" Adonis growled. The force of the shout knocked Ivy over on the piece of wood she was sitting on.
"Meanie!" Ivy whined, sitting up, "I was only teasing you!"
Adonis sat back down in a huff and untied his collar and re-did it in a knot. Randoruun was turning slightly pink in the face from laughing so hard. The other men were struggling to hold in their laughter.
"And what’s with the stripe in the hair?" Ivy went to her next question, "Is it natural?"
Adonis was getting aggravated, "I’m a dragon, remember?"
"Do all dragons have it?" she queried further.
Adonis heaved a sigh and stood.
"What?" Ivy blinked, "I’m just trying to get t’know you!"
Adonis walked over to Randoruun and sat next to him.
"Hm…" Ivy looked over to Arlen, "Arlen, why are you so big?"
"Why are you so tiny?" Arlen finished his peach and threw the pit.
"…you’re no fun," Ivy went back to tracing in the dirt.
Hiko bit off another piece of his peach, and looked over to Ivy’s dirt-drawing, "What’cha drawing?"
"Eh?" Ivy scratched out her drawing in the dirt, blushing, "Nothing at all!"
Hiko "hmm"-ed and looked away, "This area sure is ugly."
"Come now…" Arlen smiled, "Every climate has its charm!"
"It’ll be nice when we get to the mountains," Jonothan looked to the mountains in the horizon.
Ivy began to draw again, and listened to the men’s conversation.
"I never cared for the mountains much…" Adonis put his arms around his knees.
"You grew up there, right?" Randoruun stole glances of Ivy and her drawing.
"For a while…" Adonis looked to Randoruun’s pear, "Y’better hurry up and eat that thing."
Randoruun held it up, "Do you want it?"
"Wow! Sure!" Adonis took it and was smacked upside the head by Ivy as he was about to take a bite.
Ivy glared to Randoruun, "You’re supposed to offer me the pear!" her eyes got teary, "Do you like him better than me?!"
"I am his best friend…" Adonis muttered under his breath as he rubbed his head.
Ivy leapt onto Adonis and tried to pry the pear out of Adonis’s grip, "They were mine to begin with!"
Adonis fell back and Ivy pinned him to the ground.
Adonis began to laugh as Ivy began to pinch him all over the place. Ivy snatched the pear with one hand, and tickled with the other.
Ivy stood, "Yay!" she bit into the pear, and happily sat next to Randoruun, where Adonis previously was.
Quinn took a brush out of his bag, and began to brush his hair.
Ivy stared at Quinn, "A brush?"
Quinn smiled, "How do you think this fine man remains flawless?"
Ivy groaned, and Adonis set himself next to Quinn, and searched through his bag.
"…is that wise…?" Jonothan looked up from his notes.
"Let’s see Quinn’s so-called ‘magic items’…" Adonis dug into it. Before he could pull the first object out, it exploded in his hand. He opened his eyes, and everyone saw that his face was charred.
Randoruun, Ivy, and Hiko whooped with laughter. Jonothan dropped his pencil, Arlen had a smile creep across his face, and Quinn continued brushing his hair as though nothing had happened.
Adonis sighed, smoke blowing out of his mouth. Ivy and Randoruun held onto each other, laughing insanely.
Adonis rose his eyebrows, "Hm." He continued looking, ignoring Ivy’s annoying laugh. He pulled out a bra, "What’s this?"
Ivy immediately went silent.
Quinn answered calmly, "For disguise purposes. It’s a bust enhancer."
"That’s sick…" Adonis sneered, holding it up. He then looked to Ivy. He tossed her the bra, "Try it on. It could do you some good."
Ivy caught it, and turned red with anger, "EXCUSE ME?!" she stomped over to Adonis and wrapped the lingerie tightly around his neck, and began to choke him, through clenched teeth, she said, "You’re the girly one, remember?"
Watching, the other men stared on blankly.
"There’s that torture-mistress side again…" Randoruun quietly commented.
"Torture mistress?" Jonothan pictured a leather-clad Ivy laughing evilly with a whip. He blushed lightly, until both Ivy and Adonis hit him upside the head.
"Don’t go there, man…" Adonis threatened.
"Pervert," Ivy blushed, and turned to Randoruun, "And YOU!"
Randoruun flashed Ivy a dashing smile.
Ivy blushed, and her mouth gaped open. However, no scolding came out.
Arlen rose an eyebrow.
"…never-mind," Ivy peeped, and turned back around.
Randoruun watched her with his usual poker face, until Arlen spoke.
"You’re truly manipulative, you know that?" Arlen smiled.
"Oh?" Randoruun turned to his elder.
"C’mon! Try it on!" Adonis tried to get Ivy to put the bra on.
"No!" Ivy leapt out of Adonis’s reach, and leapt behind him. She took the took back-straps of the bra and fastened it on Adonis.
Adonis turned around to restrain Ivy, when everyone saw how well Adonis filled the brassiere.
Ivy screamed with laughter and pointed at Adonis’s new breasts, "Perfect fit!!"
Jonothan covered his mouth and laughed. Quinn cracked an evil smile.
"My, my…what an attractive woman you would be, my friend," Quinn smoothly said.
"SHUT UP!!!" Adonis screamed blushing. He tried to unfasten the bra, but failed, "These friggin’ things are in the way!" he was referring to his breasts.
By this time, everyone was cracking up.
"Adonis, you do it like this…" Ivy took Adonis’s right arm, and, trying to not to laugh, but failing miserably, she put his thumb and index finger on the clip, and, as she was about to finger on the clip, and, as she was about to tell him to pinch, she cracked up.
Adonis angrily blushed, "I get the picture!" he un-did the bra and took it off. His chest went back to normal, and he angrily looked at the bra. He tossed it into the fire.
Ivy caught it before it went it, "H-hey! Don’t’ burn it!"
Adonis rose his eyebrows and looked at Ivy flatly, "Oh?"
Ivy blushed, "I mean…it belongs to Quinn…"she put it back into Quinn’s bag and shut it.
Quinn put his brush back in the bag, "Don’t you wish to see what other goodies I have?"
"Goodies, my butt," Adonis scoffed, and pulled out a bottle, "Hmm?" he read the label, and gasped, "Th-this…!!!!"
"What?" Hiko looked over Adonis’s shoulder, and gasped, "A love potion!"
"WHAT?!" Ivy and Jonothan rushed over to look.
Quinn smiled, "Oh, that! I got a real deal for that!"
"I wonder if it works…" Jonothan muttered.
The mage, child, dragon, and Ivy all looked to Jonothan, "Hmm???"
Jonothan stuttered, and adjusted his glasses, "I-is that potion dangerous to the body?"
Quinn shook his head, "All natural ingredients and magic."
"Ah," Jonothan sat back down and went back to writing.
Shrugging him off, the others went back to the potion.
"Well," Adonis put it back in, "We can’t let Ivy get a hold of it, or she’ll fall in love with one of us."
All of the men nodded in agreement.
Ivy took offense, "No, we just CAN’T have Ivy, OF ALL PEOPLE, falling in love with someone! Heaven forbid!" she sat back down in a huff, "None of you would have the luck!"
"I think I’m gonna cry…" Adonis’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Especially you!" Ivy snapped.
Adonis clutched his chest, "You’re breaking my heart!" he cracked up.
Ivy was about to hit Adonis when Arlen lifted her by her waist and set her on the other side of him.
"Let’s head on. We’ve rested long enough," Arlen was being the usual peacemaker, "It’ll be dusk soon. We should gain some more mileage before winding down."
Ivy folded her arms, "Right…"
Quinn grinned, and took his bag, "I think that’ll be all for now, children."
Adonis shrugged, "Once is enough for me…"
Quinn rose his eyebrows at this, "You never know."
The skies were filled with warm colors of the sunset as the group dragged their feet on the dirt roads.
Hiko was asleep on Randoruun’s shoulders as he was being carried on the elf’s back.
Ivy yawned as her eyes got droopy.
Arlen stopped and looked around, "I think we should stop for the night."
"I second that notion," Ivy put a hand in the air groggily.
Once settling down, Hiko slept a few feet from the others. Ivy stared at the fire everyone sat around, struggling to keep her eyes open.
Randoruun and Arlen were discussing the best route to continue on the next morning, Jonothan was writing on that silly notepad of his…Quinn sat on the left side of Ivy, listening in on Randoruun and Arlen’s conversation, while Adonis sat on her opposite side, rummaging through Quinn’s bag of goodies once again.
Ivy blinked, trying to stay awake, when she felt a hand on her left shoulder. She turned to Quinn.
Quinn tilted his head and rose his eyebrows, "Why don’t you get some rest?"
Ivy opened to mouth to argue when Quinn put a finger to her lips to silence her.
"We won’t be up much longer. We’re tired, too," he suavely said.
Ivy nodded, and stood.
Adonis looked up from the bag, "Ivy?"
"I’m off to bed," Ivy walked over to Hiko and scrunched up next to him, closing her eyes.
"Hm," Adonis went back to the bag, pulling out the love potion. Turning it to the back o read the label, the jar went up in a puff of smoke, "What the--?!" he looked to Quinn, who held the jar, smiling.
"This would cause too much trouble, wouldn’t you agree?" Quinn rose an eyebrow.
Adonis smiled, "Tell me about it…"
Randoruun sat down next to Adonis, "We should get to sleep. We’re starting out earlier tomorrow."
Adonis looked back into the fire, "I know…" he glanced over to Jonothan, "Y’know…for someone that has no ulterior motive, he sure is clinging close to Ivy."
"Hmm…?" Randoruun rose his eyebrows, "Are you worrying about Ivy?" he smiled.
Adonis didn’t look away from the fire, and he was hesitant to answer, "…of course I’m worried. Who knows—he might be one of those jerks after her."
"Maybe he likes her?" Randoruun asked.
Adonis changed the subject, "Quinn’s junk should be destroyed. It’ll cause nothing but trouble."
Randoruun’s brow furrowed as he saw his friend’s cheeks turn a light pink, "Especially if Ivy got a hold of it."
Adonis stood up in a huff, "Can we stop talking about that bratty female for once?! There’re better things to talk about!"
Randoruun watched Adonis walk over to a tree and lean against it as he sat down.
Jonothan finished writing, and looked up. He got eye contact with Randoruun, and locked stares with him. He dropped his pencil, and he quickly picked up the pencil, jumping at the opportunity to look away at the elf’s eerie stare.
Arlen, to Jonothan’s relief, began a conversation with Randoruun, and took Randoruun’s eyes off of him.
Jonothan let out a quiet sigh of relief, and looked up to Quinn, who walked up to him.
Quinn bent down to Jonothan’s eye-level, and held up the bottle of love potion, "You’ve been to quiet today."
"Th-the love potion…." Jonothan clutched his notepad.
Quinn smiled, and the bottle disappeared into thin air, "What are you writing?"
Jonothan looked to his notebook, "Oh, just letters to my mom…"
Quinn rose his eyebrows, "Why aren’t you enjoying your freedom?"
Jonothan smiled, and laughed nervously, "Since you put it that way…"
Ivy pushed away a huge, lush, green leaf from in front of her, "Hmm?" she saw a tranquil waterfall, surrounded by fragrant flowers and fluttering butterflies, "A dream?"
"Beautiful, isn’t it?" a voice—the one from the marketplace—came out very clearly, "Your dreams are quite beautiful, Ivy."
"Who are you?!" Ivy called out, "What do you want from me?!"
"You know I can’t tell you that! That’ll ruin the mystery! Then what reason would those men have to stay with you?"
Ivy had no idea why, but she walked over to the stream the waterfall rushed into, and looked to her reflection. Horrified, she saw two monstrous hands holding onto her head—one under her jawbone, the other on her forehead.
"I was sloppy on my first few attempts at capturing you. But soon…I will pluck off every single one of those men….it won’t be long."
Ivy couldn’t look away from the horrific image in the stream. She felt a tightness in her throat, and tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air, grabbing her throat. She looked to her reflection, and the two monstrous hands were squeezing her throat, choking her. She looked up to see the five men and Hiko looking down on her crouched position, their clothes tattered, and bathed in blood.
Ivy opened her mouth to speak, but only blood came out. Trying to pry off the invisible hands that were choking her, she tried to scream.
"IVY! IVY!!!"
"Are you okay?!"
"Snap out of it!"
Ivy woke up, hacking and coughing. She sat up, and covered her mouth, and hacked up a handful of blood.
Adonis took Ivy’s shoulders, and squeezed them, "Doc! Get over here!!"
Jonothan rushed in front of Ivy, and took away her hand, "Lay her down!!"
Blood spilled out of her mouth and down her neck, as Ivy struggled to sit up.
Randoruun and Arlen restrained the panicking girl. Hiko watched in horror as Jonothan fumbled through his utensils, "I’ve gotta have a tube in here…!"
Quinn began chanting numerous spells, trying to break any curse put on her. Adonis took Ivy’s right hand in both of his, and started talking to Ivy.
Ivy’s coughing suddenly ceased for a moment and Jonothan looked up, horrified.
"She stopped coughing! Why did she stop coughing!?" he panicked, looking over everyone to check on Ivy.
Quinn sighed, "She had a spell on her in her subconscious. I finally managed to break it," he lightly shook Ivy.
Ivy’s closed eyes opened again, and she sat up, and hacked up a lesser amount of blood. She gasped for air as her bloodshot eyes began to water. Coughing didn’t keep her from crying. She leaned into Arlen’s arms, and cried, choking over her sobs.
Arlen silently smiled, and stroked Ivy’s hair.
Adonis entwined Ivy’s fingers with hers, and Randoruun squeezed Ivy’s shoulder, and in a soothing voice, he comforted her, "It’s alright, it’s alright…"
Hiko wrapped his arms around Ivy’s waist, and nuzzled his face in her skirt.
Jonothan put back his utensils silently, and walked closer to Ivy, and took both of her shoulders, "Are you alright?" he softly asked.
Tears streaming down her face, ivy nodded, and tried to restrain her tears. Failing, she put her arms around Jonothan and sobbed on his shirt. Jonothan looked away, and lowered his eyes.
"Someone must’ve been in her dreams…" Quinn’s brow furrowed.
"Ivy…" Adonis quietly mumbled, and took Ivy’s shoulders, "What was your dream about?!"
The rising sun began to add a red tint to Ivy’s face, as she finally spoke.
"The…it spoke to me…" Ivy’s voice quivered.
"The person behind the chase?" Randoruun’s eyes grew serious.
Ivy nodded, "It wouldn’t show itself of tell me what it wanted…it…it said that it would pluck you off one by one…" Ivy’s eyes glistened with tears again, "I…and I started to ch--" she burst into tears again.
Adonis watched Ivy sob, and he took his hands off of Ivy’s shoulders, and wrapped his arms around her, and held her shaking body tightly.
Quinn’s eyes lowered, "I almost didn’t make it in time. That was a simple spell, too…"
Randoruun sighed, "We may not be able to save her again…"
"Poor girl…she’s not even safe in her dreams anymore…" Arlen scattered the ashes of the fire, "Let’s start heading out. We won’t be getting anymore sleep this morning."
The travelers were quite sullen for the majority of the morning. Hiko studied all of the faces of the elders. He couldn’t help but frown.
Ivy’s bloodshot eyes were locked on the dirt road ahead of her. Every few moments, hot tears stung her eyes, Every time I think of one of them dying, my heart aches...she looked ahead to watch Randoruun, But, I’ve only known them for a few days…why do I feel so strongly? Ivy looked back to the ground, It’s so on-the-moment…
Adonis walked behind Ivy, watching her legs drag her feet, You poor thing…I’ve never seen you this quiet before…he clenched his fists, and grinded his teeth, It’s almost hopeless when such a cheerful girl is depressed…
Randoruun stared into the horizon. The blazing sunrise reminded him of the flames that engulfed his home, which he spent so much time to take care of. He recalled Ivy’s scoffing when he told her not to worry about Adonis’s temper. He softly smiled, and looked over his shoulder to see the depressed and frightened girl. His smile faded, and he looked beyond Ivy to see Adonis watching her. He turned back around, and stared to the ground for a second, but lifted his chin to gaze into the horizon again.
Ivy’s sobbing echoed through Arlen’s thoughts. He remembered how she longed for her parents…to make sure they were okay. Ivy was treating him like a substitute father…almost. But why am I here…? Arlen wondered, looking at the stones in the road ahead of him, That’s right…a restaurant….he smiled to himself, At least, that’s what I originally wanted…but now, they’re getting personal…
Quinn clenched his fists, Damn…why did it take so long to break such a simple spell?! His eyes shot up to Ivy, whose slender figure was slouching sadly, Next time she may never wake…his brow furrowed, There’s got to be some sort of protection spell…even something minor, to buy me more time…his eyes lowered, But what?
Jonothan gazed at Ivy from far behind, What will we do tonight? She’ll fall asleep sooner or later. What then?
"You must really love her…" Joy’s words echoed through his mind. He adjusted his glasses, and tried to push them out of his thoughts.
I do…Jonothan’s eyes burned through Ivy as he glanced to her again, I do love her…! But…he sighed, and lowered his eyes, …so soon after I got over Joy…it would seem like I’m trying to just replace Joy….
Hiko whined deeply in his throat, and folded his arms. He turned back around to watch Randoruun and Arlen, who were silently leading the group, "Ow!" he quietly yelped as he felt four knuckles dig into his head. He aggressively looked up to see Adonis looking down on him with a grim face.
"Cheer up, bud," Adonis kept his grim expression, and suddenly cracked a smile.
Hiko looked at the dragon with wide eyes, and smiled a small smile back, and looked ahead again. He smiled a bit wider, and turned around to talk to Ivy.
Adonis didn’t turn around, but smiled as he listened in on the youth’s pointless conversing. Ivy’s voice sounded a little rough from earlier, but it was still optimistic and cheerful.
"Your hands are cold, Ivy!" Hiko said as he gingerly took her hands.
"Really?" Ivy put her hands to her face, "You’re right."
Adonis heard nothing for a moment, until he felt a cold sting on the back of his neck, and his scream broke the silence.
Hiko and Ivy giggled as Adonis rubbed his neck.
"Are we slightly feverish, Adonis-dear?" Ivy giggled wickedly.
Adonis spun around, "YOU ARE SO CHILDISH!" she roared.
"Takes one to know one!" Ivy stuck out her tongue, and pulled down her left eye's lower eyelid.
"Get over yourself!" Adonis swiped at her.
Ivy dodged Adonis’s blow, laughed, "I think someone needs a diaper change!"
Jonothan watched Ivy run past him, Adonis grabbing her arm, tickling her sides. Screeching with laughter, Ivy cried out for Hiko’s assistance.
The child pounced Adonis, tickling him. Adonis began laughing hysterically, trying to pry Hiko off of him. Adonis fell to the ground as both Ivy and Hiko attacked him.
Arlen plucked Hiko off of victimized Adonis with one hand, and Ivy with the other, "It’s not fair if you don’t let him breathe."
Gasping for air, Adonis spread out his arms and legs, "Thanks, Arlen…." He said breathlessly.
Randoruun knelt next to Adonis, and looked down to him, "I won’t ask how this got started."
Between breaths, Adonis smiled, "You should try it sometime."
Randoruun’s eyes smiled, although his mouth didn’t match. He stood and helped his best friend up.
Arlen, who was holding the two children by the back of their collars, suspended them in the air, and looked at them, "Shame on you, ganging up on him like that."
Hiko stared up at Arlen with round eyes, and Ivy laughed sheepishly.
Arlen set them back on the ground, and Ivy began to run around the group, "Catch me if you
ca-aaan!!!" she chimed.
Hiko laughed, and tackled Ivy by her legs.
Adonis sighed, and smiled, "They’re children, that’s for sure," he commented as Quinn walked next to him.
"Hey, Randoruun, are ya ticklish?!!" Ivy tried to tickle the elf from behind. Ivy stopped tickling Randoruun as she realized he wasn’t ticklish, "You’re no fun…" she backed off.
Arlen looked to Randoruun, "You’re blushing.
Randoruun began laughing, "No, no! I was holding my breath!" his gentle laughter calmed down.
Ivy rose an eyebrow, "So…" she grinned, "You are ticklish!" she pounced him, and before she could attack, Randoruun took her wrists and held her off.
"Oh, no you don’t!" he cracked a smile, and quickly pinched her waist.
Ivy shrieked and defensively wrapped her arms around her waist as Randoruun turned around, "Score one for me…" he calmly said.
Ivy folded her arms, "Meanie."
Quinn smiled widely, "Now I’m sure you wouldn’t want us all to gang up on you, Young Lady."
Ivy grinned, and put up her fists, "Bring `em on!"
Jonothan took his eyes off of Ivy, and looked ahead, "Hmm?" his eyes brightened as he pointed ahead, "Look!"
The group looked up, and Ivy cheered, leaping in the air.
"Ya-hoo! We made it! Ya-hoo! Yahoo!!!" she danced around, "No more sore feet! No more heard rocks for beds! No more over-ripe fruit for meals!"
As Ivy babbled on pointlessly, Adonis leaned into the conversations between Arlen and Randoruun, "Are we supposed to be here yet? It’s awfully early."
Ivy twirled around with Hiko, still cheerfully babbling.
Randoruun studied the map, "This is Mullinston. No doubt about it."
Quinn walked up next to Adonis, "What makes you say that?"
Arlen pointed to a spot on the map, "There’s a huge arch in the front of the town."
As if on queue, they all looked up to see the large stone arch framing the main street of the bustling town.
Ivy and Hiko were still carrying on as the girl bumped into Quinn from behind.
Quinn stumbled forward, gripping the corner of the map he was holding.
Ivy and Hiko flinched as they heard a nerve-racking rip. Ivy instinctively covered her eyes. She heard Adonis gawk, and she uncovered one eye.
The four men each had a piece of the map. Jonothan’s mouth gaped.
"Oh, shoot!" Ivy gasped.
Adonis looked down on his piece of the map, and at the other three.
Ivy took a step behind Jonothan timidly.
Arlen looked at his piece of the map, and put it in his pocket, "Well, let’s go get situated. We could all use a good rest."
"Hell will freeze over before we get a good rest with her around," Adonis muttered.
"Ex-CUSE me?!" Ivy stepped out from behind Jonothan.
"Our hotel will probably blow up or something," Adonis said, a notch louder than before.
Jonothan tried to keep Ivy from losing her temper, "Ignore him." He quietly urged.
Ivy stomped over to Adonis, ignoring any of Jonothan’s attempts. She stood in front of him. The other men watched silently, anticipated her move. Ivy took a small breath, and lifted her right fist, and lightly tapped his forehead. She smiled, "Be good, okay?"
A quiet laughter came from the other men as Adonis’s face turned red with anger.
"Let’s get into town, before it gets dark, okay?" Randoruun suggested.
"IT’S NOON!" both Ivy and Adonis hollered.
Adonis stormed over to Ivy, "And this chica ain’t gonna see the next sunset!"
Ivy laughed evilly, "Such idle threats!"
Adonis continued over to Ivy, and the girl’s laughter began to waver, and melted to a scream.
Ivy scrambled into a nearby tree, and she sat on a higher branch, dangling her legs in the air. She laughed, and stuck out her tongue.
Jonothan found himself grinning ear to ear, when his eye caught something on the branch. He opened his mouth to speak, but it was too late.
"Hmm?" Ivy noticed Jonothan’s expression. She turned to the trunk just in time to see her branch break off, not even having time to shriek.
Adonis stood out from under Ivy to give her a clear fall. Ivy fell hard next to Adonis’s feet.
Hiko ran to Ivy’s side, "Ivy! Are you okay?"
Ivy sat up in a flash, "I’m gonna KILL him!!"
Adonis began to rush the men into the town before Ivy could get to her feet.
The men walked ahead of Ivy into town, and slowed down to mingle with the crowd.
"WAIT A SECOND!" Ivy shouted, finally catching up to the group.
She was quickly silenced by Adonis, "Don’t make a scene!"
"Easy for you to say," Ivy retorted.
"Let’s check into a hotel," Arlen said as he led the group, "I think some of us could use a rest."
"Tell me about it," Adonis flatly stated.
"He’s talking about YOU!" Ivy snapped as the group headed into a hotel.
"Whatever," Adonis shrugged her off.
Ivy growled deeply in her throat and began to punch Adonis.
"Ow! Hey!!" Adonis blocked Ivy’s blows, "Hey, what’s with my body and you hitting it?!"
"Will you can it?!" Jonothan hissed, "Arlen is trying to rent us rooms!"
Ivy "Hmph"-ed with content as she spun around, fwapping the dragon in the face with her hair.
Adonis gave her an icy glare and they waiting for Arlen to turn around.
"They have openings for our rooms this evening," Arlen spoke after he turned around.
"What do we do until then?" Jonothan sighed.
Quinn sighed as well as his eyes searched the room. A small flyer caught his eye on the table next to him, "Hmm?" he picked it up, and his eyes brightened, "Hey, check this out!"
The group turned to him, and Ivy came next to him to look at the flyer, "What?"
"There’s a really famous art museum here!" Quinn smiled, "Let’s go check it out!"
Adonis looked over Quinn’s shoulder, "We’ve got nothing better to do."
Ivy smiled as she looked at the flier, An art museum, huh? She giggled to herself quietly, Okay!
"…huh…?" Ivy and everyone stared blankly at the first gallery, which was full of impressionistic artwork.
"I though this was supposed to contain ancient art!" Quinn sighed, and walked up to a painting made with different shades of blue blotches.
Hiko stood between Quinn and a woman staring at the painting in awe.
Quinn squinted, and leaned towards it, "I wonder if it’s one of those magic-eye things…"
Adonis sighed, and sat down on a chair. After a minute, the chair collapsed, and he yelped as his backside hit the hard floor. He immediately stood, and began to look inconspicuous.
Ivy, who was sticking close to Adonis, picked up a small card on the floor, and read it. She gasped as her eyes darted across the card, "That was an art exhibit, you dingbat!" she hissed.
"That cheap piece of wood?" Adonis shrugged her off, "They probably got it at a market," he continued walking.
Ivy folded her arms, and followed the man, "By the way, where’s Arlen and Hiko?"
"Probably wandered off on their own, or something…" Adonis didn’t look to her.
They left us all alone, those evil twerps…Ivy thought, when a hand grabbed her arm from behind.
"Hey, Arlen! Lookit this one!" Hiko stood in front of a painting. It had green in the corners, and everything else was filled with a vibrant red, "It looks like an apple!"
Arlen leaned over to read the label, "That’s right! This one’s called ‘Apple’."
Hiko walked over to the next painting, "This is a tricky one…"
Arlen looked over at the armor room, and walked into the exhibit.
Hiko studied the painting, and his vision got blurry, "It’s making me dizzy…" Hiko’s body began to sway, "Arlen, this one’s weird…Arlen?" he looked away from the painting to see that he was alone in the exhibit, "Huh?"
Jonothan peeked into a room of foreign sculptures, "Ivy? Arlen?" he looked around the room, and heard footsteps to the right of him. He quickly turned and saw brunette tresses in the distance.
He sped up to reach the figure, "Ivy! What’re you doing by yourself?!" he walked in front of her and turned a bright red. A scarlet liquid ran down his nose, and his jaw dropped.
"Ivy" was actually a statue of a nude woman, who was much older and developed than the young fairy.
Jonothan’s eyes rolled back, and he passed out, blood running down his face.
Arlen, who was in the armor exhibit, kept his brow furrowed as he examined paintings and reproductions of armor. He stopped in front of a painting titled, "Inferno: Wrath of the Dark Knight". His eyes narrowed as he studied it. The silence ate away at his nerves, until he felt a sturdy hand on his shoulder. He jumped a bit, and turned around.
Randoruun stood behind him, "We’ve got trouble."
Arlen stared at Randoruun in confusion.
Ivy sat in a chair sheepishly, two guards standing on each side of her.
Jonothan sat across from her, two tissues stuck in his nostrils to stop their bleeding.
Adonis and Quinn walked into the office, and looked at Jonothan, and then Ivy.
Ivy looked up, and saw Adonis, "WHY, YOU--!!!" she stood up, but the two guards urged her back down. Ivy folded her arms and pouted.
Hiko sat next to Jonothan in silence and looked up when he heard Arlen and Randoruun come in. Hiko stood and ran to Arlen, "You big meanie!" he cried. "You left me all alone!"
Arlen tried to comfort Hiko, "Sorry, sorry!"
An older man in a business suit walked in behind Randoruun.
"It seems we have all the men you came in with, dear," the man stood in front of Ivy.
"What happened?" Arlen asked.
The older man took out a notepad, "Destroying priceless sculpture."
Ivy glared to Adonis.
"Leaving child unattended," the man continued, as Ivy glared at Randoruun, Arlen, and Hiko, "Disrupting other tourists," he adjusted his glasses, "adding up to a total fee of two-hundred gold pieces."
Ivy’s mouth gaped open, "T-two hundred?"
Ivy burst through the door of a hotel, her face red with fury. The men followed behind her, showing no signs of guilt.
Ivy threw a small bag of gold coins on the counter, "Here."
The woman at the counter looked to Ivy, confused.
Arlen sighed and walked up to the counter, "We would all like rooms, please."
"Sure…" the woman wrote down the number of rooms to be taken. She turned around and gave each of them a key, "Please turn these back in at two PM tomorrow."
"Thank you," Arlen politely said, as Ivy snatched her key and stormed off.
The men watched the girl stomp into her room, and lock the door behind her.
Adonis shrugged, "Honestly, there’s no way you can win with her."
The men went into their separate rooms, and made themselves comfortable.
Adonis leapt onto his bed, and stared at the ceiling. He blinked and stretched out his arms. He closed his eyes and sighed, smiling. In a moment, he fell asleep.
Randoruun and Hiko walked into a room. Hiko ran to the window and looked outside as the elf set out the four map pieces.
Arlen quickly made himself comfortable in his desk chair as he read the newspaper for today.
Quinn and Jonothan walked into a room.
Why did I have to share a room with him? Jonothan thought.
Quinn set down his bag and looked around, "How quaint."
Jonothan grudgingly sighed, "I plan to get to sleep pretty early tonight, so no goofing off."
Quinn sent Jonothan a halfway-disappointed look, but remained silent. A smile grew across his face, and he looked out the window.
"What’s so funny?" Jonothan asked.
Quinn shrugged and remained silent.
Weird guy…Jonothan felt a shiver run down his spine.
The sun began to set in the town, and Hiko rested his chin on his fists, "Ivy won’t be getting much sleep tonight…" he sighed.
"There’s nothing we can do about it," Randoruun carefully studied the four map pieces, "What now?"
"Hmm?" Hiko took his eyes away from the sunset and looked to Randoruun.
"We can’t do anything. We’re running from nothing. We’re getting nowhere…" Randoruun rested his head on an open palm, "We’re incapable of playing offense…we can’t defend Ivy if they’re not attacking."
"Randoruun…" Hiko stood, "Something will come up! That’s for sure!"
"We can’t run forever."
Hiko’s hopeful smile faded. His eyes lighted up, "Then let’s settle down!"
"We can’t. Ivy has more to live for," Randoruun sighed with hopelessness, "She’d be unhappy."
"Mmh…" Hiko looked to the floor.
The darkness and silence ate away at Ivy’s nerves. She lay in her bed, staring at the full moon outside. Afraid of falling asleep, she clenched her teeth. She can’t fall asleep! Not after that…that nightmare!
She shook her head, and curled up her body, bringing her knees to her chest. She felt her heart pounding rapidly. She could still taste the blood. Horrified, burning tears ran down her face, onto her pillow.
She froze as she heard the door creak open. She held her breath, and blinked her tears away. She heard moaning.
That’s…not…Hiko…! Ivy un-scrunched her body slowly. She freaked when she heard a hiccup, Omigod--!!! He’s drunk! Her thoughts raced. She slapped her hands over her mouth to prevent herself from screaming as the drunken man crawled into her bed. She didn’t dare turn around to see who it was.
It could be Quinn or Adonis….Ivy logically concluded, No way Randoruun or Jono would…
An ice-cold foot ran up her leg. She couldn’t hold in her blood-curdling scream any longer.
The drunken man woke up and shot out of bed. Ivy took the sheets and held them to herself defensively.
The men all stampeded into Ivy’s room, and turned on the light.
Ivy’s eyes focused on the now awake (and halfway sober) man who invaded her room.
His muscles seemed perfectly chiseled on his tall body. He was shirtless. Probably lost it gambling. Jerk. Ivy thought. Ash-brown hair swept over his eyes lightly, and reached the middle of his neck.
"Who the hell are you?!" Adonis hollered.
"Adonis, there are people sleeping!" Randoruun quietly scolded.
"What are you doing in my room?" the man asked.
"Your room?!" Jonothan gawked, "Isn’t it obvious that Ivy occupies this room?!"
"Are you okay, Ivy?" Hiko crawled into Ivy’s lap.
Ivy’s breathing began to slow back down.
The man looked at his key, and grimaced, "Oh, damn it all…" he looked to Ivy, "Listen, kid. I paid good money for this room."
"So did we, Mister!" Hiko shot back.
"Was I talking to you?" the man retorted.
"Mister Gray, sir!" a short man ran down the hallway into the room, "Sir, this is a big mistake!"
"You’re telling me," the man referred to as Gray spoke, and pointed to the others, "Get these intruders out of my room."
"Excuse me?!" Ivy stood out of her bed, "This is my room!"
The men all looked to Ivy, who was wearing just her panties and a tank top.
Ivy shrieked, and made a mad dash for her sheets.
Adonis looked at Gray, and then at Ivy, raising an eyebrow, "Oh, I see."
Jonothan’s eyes widened, his face pink, "What?"
"Nice try, Ivy…" Quinn winked.
Ivy felt a growl deep in her throat, "OUT!" she wrapped a sheet around herself, and shoved all of the men through the doorway, "GET OUT!" she slammed and locked the door behind them.
"Don’t you ever quit?" Randoruun sighed, looking to Quinn and Adonis.
"I think she’s had enough," Jonothan rose his eyebrows, and folded his arms.
"I’m terribly sorry, Mister Gray," the manager apologized, "There’s been some mix-up." He wrung his hands and continued, "We gave you the wrong key."
Randoruun muttered under his breath, "Just like an oni."
"Huh?" Adonis looked to his best friend.
"His aggressive nature is like that of an oni," Randoruun quietly whispered to him "His build is a bit smaller, but…" his voice trailed off.
"You really pick that stuff up well…" Adonis rose an eyebrow.
Randoruun ignored his friend’s comment, "Ah, well." He smiled sincerely, "Back to sleep!"
"For sure!" Hiko headed back into the room he shared with Randoruun.
Adonis and Jonothan locked glances before headed their separate ways.
Jonothan quickly looked away, Man, he gives me the creeps…he walked down the hallway, And Randoruun…he kept feeling as though he was being watched by him. He shuddered as he walked into his bedroom.
Randoruun sat on his bed, silently waiting for Hiko to fall asleep. He began to notice the child’s slow, steady breaths. He rolled onto his side, trying to fall asleep, Nothing we can do…he sighed, and closed his eyes.
Ivy’s eyes opened to see the bright sunlight outside, I’m still alive…she sat up, and covered her eyes with her open palm. She looked to the sunshine leaking through her curtains. Moaning, she laid back down.
Randoruun quietly walked into the room, "…Ivy…?" he saw Ivy snuggled in her sheets tightly.
Adonis snuck up behind Randoruun, and ripped off Ivy’s sheets, "WWWWAKE UP!!!!"
Ivy shrieked, reaching for the sheets. She grabbed her pillow, and hugged it, scrunching up her legs, "JERK!!!"
Randoruun sighed, smiling, "Time to get up."
Adonis laughed menacingly.
Ivy sent them both a deathly glare, and snatched her sheets.
"Sleep well?" Randoruun asked as Ivy went behind a screen to put on the rest of her clothes.
"Hunky-dory," Ivy replied.
"We gotta get out of here soon. We let you sleep late, it’s already noon." Randoruun took Ivy’s sword and belongings, "Come on."
"Right! Right!" Ivy put on her last boot as she hopped toward the door.
The group all met in the lobby, as Arlen returned the keys. Jonothan’s eyes were bloodshot, from lack of sleep, in opposition to Quinn’s bright and cheery face. Hiko was catching a few more minutes of sleep.
"Well, let’s go!" Arlen smiled to the rest of the group.
"Riiiiiight…" the tired group groaned.
Ivy moaned, "I’m soooo hungry…."
Hiko chimed in, "Me too…"
Arlen smiled, "What do you two want to eat?"
"I could go for some sweet rolls…" Jonothan adjusted his glasses.
"EGGS!!!" Ivy and Hiko chimed.
"Gross!" Adonis sneered, "Sweet rolls for me too…"
"EGGS!!!" Ivy and Hiko argued.
"Alright, alright…" Quinn sighed, "Let’s make a decision here…"
"I’ll go with Ivy and Hiko to get their breakfast…" Randoruun offered.
"Alright. We’ll head the other way. Let’s meet at the city hall in two hours, alright?" Arlen agreed.
"Hmph!" Ivy stuck out her tongue at Adonis.
Adonis returned the favor.
"Now, now…" Randoruun lead Ivy and Hiko away from the rest of the group, being sure to avoid any arguments.
Ivy felt her stomach twist in knots as Randoruun took her arm. I must be hungry…
….the three finished their breakfast in an hour, flat. Ivy stood up from the table.
"I’m going to go look at the store across the street. I’ll be back in a few minutes," she walked out of the restaurant.
"Alright. Be careful," Randoruun approved.
Ivy smiled as she walked into the specialty store across the street. She happily gasped as she saw the display of perfumes. She picked a bottle with flowers engraved in it, and smelled the perfume. She sprayed on a little bit, and smiled. She checked the price, and her eyes widened, Thirty-nine gold pieces?! She nervously set it down, No way…
She looked outside, and saw a huge crowd walking past the doorway, Shoot…and I need to get out…! She shoved her way through the crowd as she tried to reach the restaurant, but as the crowd broke, she saw herself in a completely unfamiliar area, Where..?! She frantically looked around for a familiar sign, but did so in vain. She tried to find her way back, but found herself on an abandoned street, Not a good sign…! She nervously looked around, when she saw a shadow ahead of her. Her heart jumped to her throat.
"Hey, little girl…" one of the shadows managed to speak.
Ivy stepped back, and bumped into another figure. She spun around, and gasped, Trolls!
Two other trolls emerged from behind her, surrounding her.
"You can’t scream," the speaking one grinned.
One of the other trolls reached for her.
"Let go!!!" Ivy yelled, and then screamed, "HELP!!!!"
Ivy heard faint footsteps rapidly moving closer, Randoruun!!! Oh, thank God!!!
One of the trolls screamed. Ivy felt blood splatter onto her face. She screamed.
The troll fell to the ground, decapitated.
Ivy’s hands went to her face. The stench of blood reeked on her hands. She screamed.
The figure that killed the troll skidded to a stop behind Ivy. The flying dirt settled, and the figure straightened up.
"Will you put a sock in it?!" the figure turned out to be Gray.
That’s the man from last night!!! Ivy grimaced, wiping off blood.
"She’s got to be here somewhere!" Hiko said, running behind Randoruun.
"I can’t believe this! I should’ve known better!" Randoruun sped up, and turned on an ally. He stopped, and heard screaming, "Down this way!"
Hiko followed his elder down the ally, "Are you sure this is a good idea?!"
Randoruun didn’t answer. He approached a fence. He stopped, and looked to Hiko. He boosted Hiko over, and followed in suit.
"I can’t believe this! What the heck are you doing here?!" Ivy’s unmistakable voice rung over Randoruun’s and Hiko’s heaving breaths.
Gray’s back faced Ivy, as he wiped off his knife.
"I’m sure you’re thinking the same thing, but I find it AWFULLY weird that we met again like this! Is there something that you want?" Ivy acted as though Gray was listening.
"Ivy…" Randoruun walked up behind her.
Ivy gasped, not noticing anyone else there.
Gray looked up, and threw the knife in Randoruun’s direction.
Randoruun’s eyes widened, and he quickly dodged the knife, as the blade sunk into the wooden fence.
Gray looked at Randoruun, and let out a quiet whistle, impressed.
Ivy ran over to Randoruun, and hugged him, "Oh, thank goodness! I thought I’d never see you again!!!"
Hiko walked up to Gray, "What’s he doing here?"
"I was about to ask the same," Gray walked over to get his knife.
Ivy grimaced, It’s about time he said something! "I got lost…and.." she tried to explain to Randoruun.
Randoruun rose an eyebrow, and folded his arms, as if to say, "Thank the man, for goodness’ sake."
Ivy stopped, and turned around. "Oh, yeah…thank you for getting those trolls off of my back and all…" she nervously rubbed the back of her head,"We really need to get back to the others now…"
"We really should," Randoruun turned to Gray, "Thank you. Sorry for any inconvenience we caused you."
"It was nothing, really…" Gray put away his knife, "Say, what is this thing with all of you guys traveling? Are you a show or something?"
Ivy took her hand off of her head, and gawked, Am I invisible, or what?!
"Actually--" Hiko began, but Randoruun cupped a hand over Hiko’s mouth, smiling.
"We’re just travelers, really." Randoruun nervously smiled, "Thanks again. We should be going."
The three started heading away from the scene.
"You don’t really expect me to believe that, do you?" Gray began to follow them.
Ivy grimaced again, "Listen, pal, leave us alone!"
"Shut your trap, sweetie. This is between me and the elf," Gray sourly replied.
Ivy clenched her teeth, and spun around. Her face ran across Gray’s right cheek as quick as lightning.
"Ivy--!" Randoruun scolded, halfway shocked.
"You don’t just go around talking like that, you got it?!" Ivy yelled, "My friends and I deserve better than that!"
Gray stared at Ivy blankly, not even bothering to touch his face.
"Now you leave us alone, or I’ll make you sorry!" Ivy threatened, "I may be small, but I could whoop your sorry butt all the way to Ageis!"
There was silence for a moment.
"…are you through?" Gray finished the conversation for her.
Ivy’s face melted into pure rage. The…the nerve of this guy…!!! She spun around, and walked ahead. That’s it! I’m getting too worked up over this! She clenched her fists.
"Sure…sure, come on and join us, ‘Mister Gray’…" she stopped, and quietly spoke.
"Hmm?" Randoruun, Hiko, and Gray all looked to her, confused.
"…but I won’t take responsibility for any of the things that happen…!" Ivy looked over her shoulder, a determined, but amused look on her face.
"Scary…" Hiko said, a horrified.
Randoruun’s face matched Hiko’s, "The word ‘torture-mistress’ comes back to mind…"
Gray rose his eyebrows, "Hmm…really…" he was obviously un-amused.
Ivy turned back around, and an evil smile crept across her face, Yes…! This is one time I won’t be out-witted! It’s his funeral…!
End Installment Five