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RPC Background Stories Part Two: Second Encounter (sec. 5) |
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Yes, I'm finally updating. The reason I took so long was because I had a horrible case of writer's block.
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Someone pounding furiously on the door of her hotel room awoke Rei in the middle of the night. Kuro, could you go get that for me? Rei asked Kuro telepathically. People who had guardians were able to speak to them through their thoughts.
Grumbling, Kuro uncurled himself from around Rei’s neck and jumped onto the floor. He turned into his demon form and opened the door. “What do you want, Somai?” he snarled.
“I just thought that you might want to know that the fire demons have been spotted in the forest on the outskirts of town,” Daichi said coolly. He was already dressed and he appeared as though he hadn’t even tried to get any sleep.
Rei jumped out of bed, stuffed Kuro’s jacket and shoes into his arms as she pushed him out of the room and shut the door. A few minutes later, she came out dressed in her usual outfit with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. “Alright, let’s go!” she said as she ran down the hall.
“Rei, you forgot your shoes!” Kuro pointed out as he pulled on his shoes and jacket.
“I knew that!” Rei exclaimed as she ran back into the room and put on her sandals.
“A bit absent-minded, are we?” Daichi said as Rei dashed past him.
“Shut up.”
The trio ran outside and Daichi led them to near where the demons had been spotted. People were fleeing from their homes and Bakar was shouting instructions to a group of people carrying weapons. By the time Rei, Kuro, and Daichi reached him, the group had dispersed.
“They’re going to try and protect the villagers,” Bakar explained to Rei who nodded approvingly.
“So, what’s the plan, Nerio?” Daichi asked.
“We try talking to them.”
“That isn’t a good idea!” someone shouted.
Rei turned around and saw Ichiro and Stella Mare running up to them. “Ichiro?”
“You know him?” Bakar asked.
Rei nodded. “He’s my little brother.”
Ichiro reached them completely out of breath, but he was still trying to talk. “Just…realized…not good…should’ve said…didn’t know,” he managed to say between gasps for air.
Rei turned to Stella Mare and asked for a translation.
“He’s trying to say that about two hours after you left we realized that this particular group of fire demons have an extreme aversion for humans and are the ones responsible for the destruction of an entire village six months ago. I believe you know the one,” Stella Mare said, speaking in a strangely clear and melodic tone. “We would have gotten more people to come with us, but there was no time.” Stella Mare looked at Bakar and Daichi and added, “But it seems you have found allies on your own. And demon slayers at that! Very good. They will be quite useful.”
“Does this mean we get to do things our way?” Daichi asked, grinning broadly and tapping his halberd on his shoulder.
“Unfortunately,” Rei sighed. She turned to her brother and his guardian and asked, “Are you going to help?”
“Yes,” Ichiro said when he finally caught his breath. He still sounded winded, however.
“So, I guess we’re calling the shots now, huh?” Daichi said.
“No!” Rei shouted.
“As long as the job get done it doesn’t matter who calls the shots,” Stella Mare sighed.
“Do we even need someone calling the shots? The job is simple enough: kill the demons before they kill the villagers, or us” Kuro said.
“We need someone to organize everyone’s movements or else we’ll be all over the place,” Bakar explained. “How about this; everyone pick a number one through one hundred. If no one picks a number within five of that number on either side then I lead.”
“That sounds fair,” Stella Mare said, nodding in approval.
“Whatever,” Kuro and Daichi grumbled.
Rei and Ichiro acquiesced by nodding.
Bakar was quiet for a minute as he picked his number. “Okay, pick a number.”
“Seven,” Daichi said quickly.
“Ninety,” Stella Mare yawned.
“Twelve,” Ichiro said decisively.
“Sixty-five,” Kuro said.
“Thirty-seven?” Rei guessed.
“Well, Nerio-dono* was close with her guess, but the number was forty-seven,” Bakar said.
“At least you’re the most tolerable out of the two of you,” Kuro grumbled.
“Thanks, I guess,” Bakar said, sounding slightly confused.
“That’s the closest thing you’ll get to a compliment Kuro will give you,” Rei informed him.
“In that case, thank you very much, Kuro.”
“So, what’s the plan, demon slayer?” Ichiro asked.
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*-dono is a Japanese honourific meaning "lord" or "lady". It can also be used to convey great respect. In Bakar's case, he was basically calling Rei "Lady Nerio".
 Kyokiri · Sat Oct 27, 2007 @ 01:46am · 2 Comments |
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