by So its been forever? ^^;;;
The next few days seemed to drag on endlessly as Q and Yoyo fell into a repetitive cycle. Q would get up an hour before the sun and would ready himself for the day. He would then wake Yoyo just in time for the sun rise that she watched trying to wipe the sleep from her eyes. They would eat a small breakfast before setting out, stopping once when the sun hung right over head to eat a lunch that was not any more impressive than the breakfast. Then they would skip diner and set up a camp when the sun was starting its final descent in the sky. They would sleep on opposite sides of the fire all without saying much of anything to the each other.
This held up until they neared the border of Mist and they caught sight of six horses, four of which carried riders swiftly making their way to them.
“I didn't expect to run into anyone until we at least crossed fully into Mist.” Yoyo muttered. The two waited in silence for the riders to reach them. The horses slid to a stop, Q examined them for a brief moment as the rider in the lead demounted. A slim figure and tightened cloths noted that the rider was female and judging the way they now stood and rode in formation and on a smaller note, the lack of variation in clothing hinted at some forum of military power. The woman made to move for her sword attached to the side of her horse, but Q suspected other weapons hidden somewhere on her person. The lower half of her face along with the rest of her company was hidden by a fearsome looking mask, along with that a tight hood covered their hair. The only visible part of the riders was their forehead and eyes. As Q locked eyes with the woman he felt a bit intimidated by her look and the intensity of her stare.
“You're an easy one to track.” She said in an unfamiliar accent.
“We were not really trying to hide.” Yoyo pointed out.
“True enough.” The woman agreed removing her hood to show her black hair matted down as if the hood was still in place.
“I'm curious as to why you felt the need to track us, you haven't even told us your name.” Q asked.
“I'm here to collect you. Keya” Keya snapped her fingers and the man in the far back of the formation jumped from his set and grabbed the two unmanned horses. Q watched as the man dragged them around to the front and handed them off to Keya before returning to his own.
“Please allow us the honor of being your escort.”
“If it gets us there any faster then walking.” Q said mounting the horse that had been brought for him. Yoyo followed suit. “You're always so impatient.”
“Are you really going to complain about this?”
“Maybe.”
- - -
The land around them started to slowly show signs of decay as they drew closer to border. The sky began to darken more and more. In the back of his mind Q knew what to expect from the country of Mist. It still pained him to see. All of Mist had been destroyed during Jose's rule as Kage and had never even began to recover. A barren wasteland was all that awaited them along with a heavy remainder of what evils lurked inside the darkness.
- - -
Keya held up a hand calling for a full stop to the others. They had made it to the middle of an abandoned village, Keya sighed as she looked around. “It'll be dark soon, this is not the best place to stop, but it will have to do.” She ordered the three men under her command to gather up the horses and find a stable building that would not crash down on their heads in the night.
“You seem uneasy.” Q commented to Keya as Yoyo started to wander off on her own.
“I'm fine.”
Q nodded content with the lie. He crossed his arms and stood idle for a few moments watching the young girl gaze around every few seconds. A whistle made them both refocus and they both saw the men waving them over.
“Looks like they found something, ladies first.”
- - -
Yoyo heard the whistle from behind her but ignored it as she continued to explore the village. She passed in front of a door going into a very run down looking home. It was nothing strange about it until about ten steps past she heard a creaking noise behind her. She spun around ready for something to attack her but was only welcomed with a sight that sent chills down her back. The door to the home was now wide open. Yoyo cocked her head to one side to get a look inside only to fail. She bent down and picked a pebble from its resting place in the black dirt. She threw it up in the air and caught it a few times before throwing it at the door. The pebble bounced off the old wood and fall back to the ground. She waited a moment with nothing happening.
“Well that accomplished nothing.” Yoyo took a slow step trying to ease her way to the door. When she was close enough she peaked inside the house and saw nothing but dust and other normal things that any family would have, a table here a few chairs by a fire place, a stairway leading up to the next floor.
“Huh.” Yoyo said grabbing the door to shut it. “Eh?” The door was to heavy for her to move. She let go and backed away. “Oka-” The door slammed shut with the sound of a metal locking into place. Yoyo's eye twitched. “Creepy.” She said backing away slowly.
- - -
When Yoyo returned that night the only one still awake was Keya who sat on the first step of the stairs that would lead to where the others now slept. Keya held a sword in her right hand pointing it down to the wooden floor, it swung loosely back and fourth.
“You should head to bed.” Keya said tilting her head back toward the top of the stairs.
“And you?” Yoyo shrugged.
“Someone has to stand guard.”
Yoyo laughed. “From what?”
“You were out there for a long time by yourself, you seriously saw nothing?”
Yoyo's smile faded and she joined Keya on the step. “I don't believe in ghosts. If thats what you are about to tell me.”
“We consider them lost souls. Trapped in a state of limbo, much like the land itself.”
“Limbo?”
Keya nodded. “Everything heals with time right? Maybe so. We all know the stories of how the second ring of Kages came to power and the world healed from the loss of the first. All but the land of Mist. We're like the ugly scar on the face of the world.”
“You're old enough to be alive during those times, do you remember anything?”
Keya just shook her hood and stabbed at the floor.
“Be grateful of that.”
- - -
The very next day they came into a large encampment where all eyes seemed to flock to them.
“Kazekage.” Keya caught the attention of Q and nodded at a large tent ahead of them. “You can wait in there for Des. Unfortunately, it is Kage only, Yoyo you can come with me.”
Q split from the group and headed for the camp taking long steps up to the tent. He pulled back the flap and entered. In the center there was a throne made of stone, off to the side of that was a large table full of food. Its smell made the rest of the world mean nothing to Q as he rushed into a chair and started picking out random bits of food here and there to place on his plate.
“Well, I was going to ask if you wanted something to eat, but I'm a bit late.” Des said entering the tent.
Des joined Q at the table and reached for one of the bottles of wine and poured himself a glass. “Please, help yourself.” Des took up the set at the head of the table.
“You lack everything but meat.” Q pointed out.
“Its hard to grow things in barren dirt.”
“You just need a bit of rain, ever try the rain dance?”
“No. But I did yell at the clouds to rain or die.”
“Did it ever work?” Q asked nibbling on a bit of his food.
“Well, we never got any rain but the next morning the clouds were gone.” Des said rather smugly.
Q nodded impressed. Neither of them knew it, but on the other side of the encampment Yoyo sneezed and a part of her soul died at the stupidity they both shared.
“Now, I would like to enjoy a talk of politics.” Des said taking a drink of his glass. “Or lack there of.”
“What do you mean?” Q set his food aside and took a sip of water.
“Not once have I ever sat in a room with my fellow Kages. I never really cared until now. Would it not have saved you a ton of time if you had summoned us all at once to sign your war proposal?” Des took another drink of his glass before throwing the cup away.
“Honestly, it is the way it is because it was easy to deal with. None of the kages seemed to mind having to only deal with me when it came to problems so it stayed that way.”
“Then what happens when your gone?” Des asked. “Everything works so tightly around you, is all I'm saying. Maybe its time to allow us to solve our problems together. As the brothers and sisters that we regard each other as.” Des stood. “I met with Yoyo before coming in here and your proposal is signed and done with. You may eat as much as you want and stay the night then be on your way in the morning. Goodnight Kazekage.” Des left Q alone strangely without the hunger he once had.
- - -
Later that night Q was given his own tent almost the same size as Des's. It was unlit and a bit cold Q thought has the flap fell closed. He noticed he was not alone and an eerie darkness hung over his surroundings.
“Petty assassins.” Came a voice from the dark as Q saw a body drop to the floor. “Hmph.”
“Iago.”
“What gave it away?” A whisper of a laugh came as a reply.
“You leave a bad smell in the air.”
Iago's presence faded as five mist soldiers burst through the door of the tent, weapons ready. They saw the body on the floor of the tent and they eased up.
“Whats going on?” Q asked.
“Assassins sir-”
“Des?”
“They tired.” The man nodded. With that Q pushed passed them and made his way to Des's camp, a loud battle cry sounded before he could get there and the left side of Des's tent was tone away. Two figurers came dashing out. A cold laugh came from the one in front as he took off away from the encampment, Des gave case after him Axe in hand.
“Crap.” Q said gunning after them both.
- - -
“Wait, Des, stop!” Q's voice never reached Des as he rushed Iago fully consumed in his rage that drowned everything else out. With a blink of the eye the gap between Des and Iago became nonexistent. Des's mighty Axe went flying for Iago's neck but was forced to ricochet as it collided into Iago's arm.
“Your weakness is disgusting.” Iago brought the same arm that he had used to block the last attack up open palmed and facing Des. “Lay down and die!” a powerful shock wave of AMP energy poured from Iago's hand. Although before it connect with it's main target, Q appeared before Des, staff in hand and took up a defensive stance taking the full force of the attack.
“Hmph.” Iago's arm fell lazily back to his side.
Both parties stood very still as they scanned for any openings they could exploit.
“Even he thinks are a weakling, Des” Iago said smoothly. Both of the Kages remained quiet and still making sure not to drop their guard, a task Des would have failed to accomplish if it had not been for Q standing in front of him as a remainder that he could be severely hurt or even dead on the ground at this very moment.
“You wont bait me in.” Des said, and even though he stood strong, his voice gave way to hints of uncertainty.
“I speak only truth.” Iago shrugged then he placed a finger to the side of his head. “Even you can understand simple logic. A logic that dictates that I may not win this encounter. Why then would I wish to force your hand into attacking?” Iago tapped his finger on his head as he continued to talk. “Hmph! I'm obviously a threat and yet you have no idea who I am, on the other hand, the Kazekage does. Now now now...why is that-” Iago was cut off as he was forced to dodge an incoming attack from Q's staff.
“I'm sick of your mind games!” Q yelled as he came in again with another swift swing of his staff. Iago dodged again and grabbed the tip of the staff with one hand yanking Q in close.
“The reason is he thinks you are weak and would get in the way. It's as simple as that. He would rather throw you all into a pit of your own inexperience and have you fight each other then rally you against me.”
Q fought to pull away but Iago's hold was to tight on the staff.
“Hmph.” Iago let ago causing Q to stumble back a few steps, he fell back another two feet when he recovered a second later. Iago clapped his hands “Looking real impressive!” he mocked and what happened next was unexpected and none of the three had time to react to it.
“I'm beginning to think you never shut up!”
Yoyo's fist smacked dead in the center of Iago's mask, it cracked a bit as he was sent backward. Yoyo's next attack came a split second later, a strong kick into Iago's side, the sound of his ribs breaking was loud enough for everyone to hear. There was no letting up for her as she went in again as Iago fell to the ground. She stomped down on the same spot her last attack had hit. She pushed down on the spot with her foot as hard as she could.
Iago moaned in agony as blood poured form the mask's mouth.
“You talk a lot of crap about others being weak, you know that?” She stomped down again taking great pleasure from it. She looked over her shoulder back at Q and Des who stood stunned their eyes as wide as they could get them. Yoyo rolled her eyes and pulled her foot away from Iago to turn and fully face the two, she took a few steps closer to them before opening her mouth to say something. She stopped confused by the look that appeared on Q's face. It was one of complete horror. Just then she felt a sharp crippling pain in her gut and the taste of blood filled her mouth. Her eyes glanced down to find the cause of the pain, a sword impaled through her. Cold fingers slid around her neck and sat there loosely. In the distance Q took a step forward
“Don't do that.” Iago's voice came from right behind Yoyo's right ear. Q ignored him and took yet another step and in reply Iago twisted the sword around.
“I told you not to do that.” He said as Yoyo yelled out in pain.
“There is a difference between all of you and I.” Iago whispered in Yoyo's ear. “The pain you feel is very real, that you are a slave to your humanity. A thing I casted off so long ago. Compared to you, I'm a god that cannot die.” He pulled the sword out of Yoyo and kicked her away and then jumped away as both Q and Des rushed to her side.
“One last thing, Kazekage, those assassins were not mine. Seems like someone is taking this war a bit more seriously then you thought. I can't wait to see how this war unfolds. I'd take care of her fast, you wouldn't want her to be first blood.” Iago stepped backward and was engulfed in darkness.
“I've...never had an enemy toy with me.” Said Des unable to take his eyes away from the spot he last saw Iago. For a long moment his eyes lingered there until Q picked himself and Yoyo up off the ground.
“Lets get her back to the camp, shall we?” Des said flinging his Axe over his shoulder. As they began to head back the wind picked up and Des thought he heard a feminine laugh. He swore to himself he knew who it belonged to. Maybe to well he thought.
“Just my imagination...Never knew I had one.”
The next few days seemed to drag on endlessly as Q and Yoyo fell into a repetitive cycle. Q would get up an hour before the sun and would ready himself for the day. He would then wake Yoyo just in time for the sun rise that she watched trying to wipe the sleep from her eyes. They would eat a small breakfast before setting out, stopping once when the sun hung right over head to eat a lunch that was not any more impressive than the breakfast. Then they would skip diner and set up a camp when the sun was starting its final descent in the sky. They would sleep on opposite sides of the fire all without saying much of anything to the each other.
This held up until they neared the border of Mist and they caught sight of six horses, four of which carried riders swiftly making their way to them.
“I didn't expect to run into anyone until we at least crossed fully into Mist.” Yoyo muttered. The two waited in silence for the riders to reach them. The horses slid to a stop, Q examined them for a brief moment as the rider in the lead demounted. A slim figure and tightened cloths noted that the rider was female and judging the way they now stood and rode in formation and on a smaller note, the lack of variation in clothing hinted at some forum of military power. The woman made to move for her sword attached to the side of her horse, but Q suspected other weapons hidden somewhere on her person. The lower half of her face along with the rest of her company was hidden by a fearsome looking mask, along with that a tight hood covered their hair. The only visible part of the riders was their forehead and eyes. As Q locked eyes with the woman he felt a bit intimidated by her look and the intensity of her stare.
“You're an easy one to track.” She said in an unfamiliar accent.
“We were not really trying to hide.” Yoyo pointed out.
“True enough.” The woman agreed removing her hood to show her black hair matted down as if the hood was still in place.
“I'm curious as to why you felt the need to track us, you haven't even told us your name.” Q asked.
“I'm here to collect you. Keya” Keya snapped her fingers and the man in the far back of the formation jumped from his set and grabbed the two unmanned horses. Q watched as the man dragged them around to the front and handed them off to Keya before returning to his own.
“Please allow us the honor of being your escort.”
“If it gets us there any faster then walking.” Q said mounting the horse that had been brought for him. Yoyo followed suit. “You're always so impatient.”
“Are you really going to complain about this?”
“Maybe.”
- - -
The land around them started to slowly show signs of decay as they drew closer to border. The sky began to darken more and more. In the back of his mind Q knew what to expect from the country of Mist. It still pained him to see. All of Mist had been destroyed during Jose's rule as Kage and had never even began to recover. A barren wasteland was all that awaited them along with a heavy remainder of what evils lurked inside the darkness.
- - -
Keya held up a hand calling for a full stop to the others. They had made it to the middle of an abandoned village, Keya sighed as she looked around. “It'll be dark soon, this is not the best place to stop, but it will have to do.” She ordered the three men under her command to gather up the horses and find a stable building that would not crash down on their heads in the night.
“You seem uneasy.” Q commented to Keya as Yoyo started to wander off on her own.
“I'm fine.”
Q nodded content with the lie. He crossed his arms and stood idle for a few moments watching the young girl gaze around every few seconds. A whistle made them both refocus and they both saw the men waving them over.
“Looks like they found something, ladies first.”
- - -
Yoyo heard the whistle from behind her but ignored it as she continued to explore the village. She passed in front of a door going into a very run down looking home. It was nothing strange about it until about ten steps past she heard a creaking noise behind her. She spun around ready for something to attack her but was only welcomed with a sight that sent chills down her back. The door to the home was now wide open. Yoyo cocked her head to one side to get a look inside only to fail. She bent down and picked a pebble from its resting place in the black dirt. She threw it up in the air and caught it a few times before throwing it at the door. The pebble bounced off the old wood and fall back to the ground. She waited a moment with nothing happening.
“Well that accomplished nothing.” Yoyo took a slow step trying to ease her way to the door. When she was close enough she peaked inside the house and saw nothing but dust and other normal things that any family would have, a table here a few chairs by a fire place, a stairway leading up to the next floor.
“Huh.” Yoyo said grabbing the door to shut it. “Eh?” The door was to heavy for her to move. She let go and backed away. “Oka-” The door slammed shut with the sound of a metal locking into place. Yoyo's eye twitched. “Creepy.” She said backing away slowly.
- - -
When Yoyo returned that night the only one still awake was Keya who sat on the first step of the stairs that would lead to where the others now slept. Keya held a sword in her right hand pointing it down to the wooden floor, it swung loosely back and fourth.
“You should head to bed.” Keya said tilting her head back toward the top of the stairs.
“And you?” Yoyo shrugged.
“Someone has to stand guard.”
Yoyo laughed. “From what?”
“You were out there for a long time by yourself, you seriously saw nothing?”
Yoyo's smile faded and she joined Keya on the step. “I don't believe in ghosts. If thats what you are about to tell me.”
“We consider them lost souls. Trapped in a state of limbo, much like the land itself.”
“Limbo?”
Keya nodded. “Everything heals with time right? Maybe so. We all know the stories of how the second ring of Kages came to power and the world healed from the loss of the first. All but the land of Mist. We're like the ugly scar on the face of the world.”
“You're old enough to be alive during those times, do you remember anything?”
Keya just shook her hood and stabbed at the floor.
“Be grateful of that.”
- - -
The very next day they came into a large encampment where all eyes seemed to flock to them.
“Kazekage.” Keya caught the attention of Q and nodded at a large tent ahead of them. “You can wait in there for Des. Unfortunately, it is Kage only, Yoyo you can come with me.”
Q split from the group and headed for the camp taking long steps up to the tent. He pulled back the flap and entered. In the center there was a throne made of stone, off to the side of that was a large table full of food. Its smell made the rest of the world mean nothing to Q as he rushed into a chair and started picking out random bits of food here and there to place on his plate.
“Well, I was going to ask if you wanted something to eat, but I'm a bit late.” Des said entering the tent.
Des joined Q at the table and reached for one of the bottles of wine and poured himself a glass. “Please, help yourself.” Des took up the set at the head of the table.
“You lack everything but meat.” Q pointed out.
“Its hard to grow things in barren dirt.”
“You just need a bit of rain, ever try the rain dance?”
“No. But I did yell at the clouds to rain or die.”
“Did it ever work?” Q asked nibbling on a bit of his food.
“Well, we never got any rain but the next morning the clouds were gone.” Des said rather smugly.
Q nodded impressed. Neither of them knew it, but on the other side of the encampment Yoyo sneezed and a part of her soul died at the stupidity they both shared.
“Now, I would like to enjoy a talk of politics.” Des said taking a drink of his glass. “Or lack there of.”
“What do you mean?” Q set his food aside and took a sip of water.
“Not once have I ever sat in a room with my fellow Kages. I never really cared until now. Would it not have saved you a ton of time if you had summoned us all at once to sign your war proposal?” Des took another drink of his glass before throwing the cup away.
“Honestly, it is the way it is because it was easy to deal with. None of the kages seemed to mind having to only deal with me when it came to problems so it stayed that way.”
“Then what happens when your gone?” Des asked. “Everything works so tightly around you, is all I'm saying. Maybe its time to allow us to solve our problems together. As the brothers and sisters that we regard each other as.” Des stood. “I met with Yoyo before coming in here and your proposal is signed and done with. You may eat as much as you want and stay the night then be on your way in the morning. Goodnight Kazekage.” Des left Q alone strangely without the hunger he once had.
- - -
Later that night Q was given his own tent almost the same size as Des's. It was unlit and a bit cold Q thought has the flap fell closed. He noticed he was not alone and an eerie darkness hung over his surroundings.
“Petty assassins.” Came a voice from the dark as Q saw a body drop to the floor. “Hmph.”
“Iago.”
“What gave it away?” A whisper of a laugh came as a reply.
“You leave a bad smell in the air.”
Iago's presence faded as five mist soldiers burst through the door of the tent, weapons ready. They saw the body on the floor of the tent and they eased up.
“Whats going on?” Q asked.
“Assassins sir-”
“Des?”
“They tired.” The man nodded. With that Q pushed passed them and made his way to Des's camp, a loud battle cry sounded before he could get there and the left side of Des's tent was tone away. Two figurers came dashing out. A cold laugh came from the one in front as he took off away from the encampment, Des gave case after him Axe in hand.
“Crap.” Q said gunning after them both.
- - -
“Wait, Des, stop!” Q's voice never reached Des as he rushed Iago fully consumed in his rage that drowned everything else out. With a blink of the eye the gap between Des and Iago became nonexistent. Des's mighty Axe went flying for Iago's neck but was forced to ricochet as it collided into Iago's arm.
“Your weakness is disgusting.” Iago brought the same arm that he had used to block the last attack up open palmed and facing Des. “Lay down and die!” a powerful shock wave of AMP energy poured from Iago's hand. Although before it connect with it's main target, Q appeared before Des, staff in hand and took up a defensive stance taking the full force of the attack.
“Hmph.” Iago's arm fell lazily back to his side.
Both parties stood very still as they scanned for any openings they could exploit.
“Even he thinks are a weakling, Des” Iago said smoothly. Both of the Kages remained quiet and still making sure not to drop their guard, a task Des would have failed to accomplish if it had not been for Q standing in front of him as a remainder that he could be severely hurt or even dead on the ground at this very moment.
“You wont bait me in.” Des said, and even though he stood strong, his voice gave way to hints of uncertainty.
“I speak only truth.” Iago shrugged then he placed a finger to the side of his head. “Even you can understand simple logic. A logic that dictates that I may not win this encounter. Why then would I wish to force your hand into attacking?” Iago tapped his finger on his head as he continued to talk. “Hmph! I'm obviously a threat and yet you have no idea who I am, on the other hand, the Kazekage does. Now now now...why is that-” Iago was cut off as he was forced to dodge an incoming attack from Q's staff.
“I'm sick of your mind games!” Q yelled as he came in again with another swift swing of his staff. Iago dodged again and grabbed the tip of the staff with one hand yanking Q in close.
“The reason is he thinks you are weak and would get in the way. It's as simple as that. He would rather throw you all into a pit of your own inexperience and have you fight each other then rally you against me.”
Q fought to pull away but Iago's hold was to tight on the staff.
“Hmph.” Iago let ago causing Q to stumble back a few steps, he fell back another two feet when he recovered a second later. Iago clapped his hands “Looking real impressive!” he mocked and what happened next was unexpected and none of the three had time to react to it.
“I'm beginning to think you never shut up!”
Yoyo's fist smacked dead in the center of Iago's mask, it cracked a bit as he was sent backward. Yoyo's next attack came a split second later, a strong kick into Iago's side, the sound of his ribs breaking was loud enough for everyone to hear. There was no letting up for her as she went in again as Iago fell to the ground. She stomped down on the same spot her last attack had hit. She pushed down on the spot with her foot as hard as she could.
Iago moaned in agony as blood poured form the mask's mouth.
“You talk a lot of crap about others being weak, you know that?” She stomped down again taking great pleasure from it. She looked over her shoulder back at Q and Des who stood stunned their eyes as wide as they could get them. Yoyo rolled her eyes and pulled her foot away from Iago to turn and fully face the two, she took a few steps closer to them before opening her mouth to say something. She stopped confused by the look that appeared on Q's face. It was one of complete horror. Just then she felt a sharp crippling pain in her gut and the taste of blood filled her mouth. Her eyes glanced down to find the cause of the pain, a sword impaled through her. Cold fingers slid around her neck and sat there loosely. In the distance Q took a step forward
“Don't do that.” Iago's voice came from right behind Yoyo's right ear. Q ignored him and took yet another step and in reply Iago twisted the sword around.
“I told you not to do that.” He said as Yoyo yelled out in pain.
“There is a difference between all of you and I.” Iago whispered in Yoyo's ear. “The pain you feel is very real, that you are a slave to your humanity. A thing I casted off so long ago. Compared to you, I'm a god that cannot die.” He pulled the sword out of Yoyo and kicked her away and then jumped away as both Q and Des rushed to her side.
“One last thing, Kazekage, those assassins were not mine. Seems like someone is taking this war a bit more seriously then you thought. I can't wait to see how this war unfolds. I'd take care of her fast, you wouldn't want her to be first blood.” Iago stepped backward and was engulfed in darkness.
“I've...never had an enemy toy with me.” Said Des unable to take his eyes away from the spot he last saw Iago. For a long moment his eyes lingered there until Q picked himself and Yoyo up off the ground.
“Lets get her back to the camp, shall we?” Des said flinging his Axe over his shoulder. As they began to head back the wind picked up and Des thought he heard a feminine laugh. He swore to himself he knew who it belonged to. Maybe to well he thought.
“Just my imagination...Never knew I had one.”
Last edited by Banouin on Wed Dec 01 2010, 19:38; edited 1 time in total
