~stares blankley in the air~ You see my tale all begins when i was about 13. I lived in a wonderous kingdom until the king became corrupt, he taxed all the people to poverty. When my father went to beg for a repeal on the taxes, he scoffed and threw my father in the dungeon for charges of treason and Assasination. Well i went out into the forest and cried but came upon what looked to be a sword lodged into a tree. Being 13 and foolish i thought if i brought this to the king he would release my father. Well when i pulled the sword out i became infused with the power of a demonic dragon, so i ran back but when i did the king laughed at me and was going to have me beaten for insolence well at that point i was infuriated at the king and the power of the sword was to much for me I killed the King, freed my father, and narrowly escaped. About 3 days after this incident teh loyalist to the King came to kill me but i was out in the forest with my sister trying to figure the sword out. So they killed my father, mother, grandparents, and other siblings. When we returned home i saw the my parents dead bodies laying before the burning house with the people spitting on them and kicking them. That is what pushed me to my demonic form. I slaughtered the whole kingdowm in my anger, not one except my sister came out alive. From there we got seperated how i do not remember but that is what brings me here i hear tales of my sister helping people, and that she is heading towards the Emerald forest. So that is why i am here ive come looking for my sister but also to try and help save the Emerald forest, it is exactly as Venn described beuatiful beyond words. But do you see those massive dark clouds? ~points to the distance~ That is the first sign of the upcomming darkness, so that is why i need you and venns help. Some how we each play a role it this tragedy, Im going to setting out for the emerald forest tonite if you wish to join me say so, so we may prepare. ~tears form in eyes~ I will find her no matter what, please excuse my tears, shall we head inside?

Kina listened quietly as Dimitri told his tale. She looked at him as the emotions came over his face chased away by fierce determination. "Shall we head inside?" He asked. She looked up and smiled. "I do hope we find her." she said honestly and before he could realize she put her floral wreath on Dimitri's head. It hung there lopsided. She laughed out loud and rose from the ground. It was the first time she had laughed in quite some time and it felt wonderful. She spun around in a circle. "Let's go inside!"

~saw Kina laughing and smiled~ Lets head in to wake Venn up hes slept for too long dont you think? Wait do you say we? Does that mean your comming with me to the Emerald Forest?

Kina looked back at Dimitri still with the floral wreath on his head and smiled once more. "Why of course! I'd love to see the Emerald Forest and if I can go with you I shant be lonely. Maybe we can get Venn and the other man to go with us to. Come on lets see if Venn is awake yet!" Kina was in a good mood today and she didn't know why. But if felt great to smile and to laugh.

But when they went in the room, Venn was nowhere to be found. The window was slightly open, letting a faint breeze flow through the room. On the roof of the inn was where Venn sat, crouched. He had feigned sleep until Kina awoke and left the room, trying to be quiet. As soon as she left, so did he. He had become alarmed at the faint sound of the same sorrowed music that emenated from the strange fellows musical instrument the night before. Not a very good sign if he can afford to give his position away, he thought to himself. He looked off in the distance, where dark clouds hung. Every day, they crept closer and closer to home. It wouldn't have bothered him if it was the rainy season, but that had come and passed three weeks ago. Several things clouded his mind. He pulled a strand of rogue hair behind his ear. The breeze shifted again, and his hair flowed to the right. He stood up and dove off the roof, his coat flowing behind him. He hit the ground without a sound, and walked back into the inn.

Kina looked at Venn after Dimitri had left them alone to gather some supplies. "First off thank you for being there for me last night." Kina said blushing a little as she remembered how he had held her. She looked into Venn's eyes. "And..well Dimitri is headed for the Emerald Forest and he wants us to go too." She looked down at the floor and shuffled her feet a little. "So you want to go, Venn?" She asked hopeful.

Sorry to keep you kids waiting... ******************** He mulled over the question with increasing concern. What had driven him from the land was long forgotten to him. But whatever it was made him queasy to think. He considered several options and lines to use, and quickely went for the obvious tactic. Procrastination. Besides, Kina was starting to look at him in anticipation of an answer. Any longer, and he'd risk arising suspicion. "Of course. The more the merrier, I say. I was about to head on back down that road soon, anyways." He took Kina by the arm and led her back into the inn. Procrastination was the best method in this moment. Whatever was bothering him may not even be much cause for concern. And if he could remember what cast him away in the first place; or if the going got rough; it would be easy enough to ditch out later and leave these 'aquaintances' as a buffer. And it only bacame easier with time.

Kina let Venn lead her into the inn shaking his hold off her arm which had grown slightly uncomfortable and took his hand instead. On the way to their room she mentioned to the inn keeper to send some food to the room. Kina walked with Venn back to their room where she took the chair that Venn had sat in the night before. "I'm so happy you're going to go with us to the Emerald Forest. Ever since you told me about it I've wondered what it was like." Kina said looking over at Venn still standing. Presently a knock sounded on the wooden door and Kina opened it to let the short man carrying a tray of food. Scrambled Eggs with toast and syrup. Small sausages and a bowl of fruit. Two empty glasses and a pitcher of orange juice stood in the center of the tray. "Thank you." she said and closed the door behind the man when he left. Kina sat down laying the tray on Venn's bed and scooted her chair so she was now sitting across from the tray. She motioned for Venn to take a seat and poured orange juice for both of them. "Such a lovely day today, Venn did you see?" She asked briefly looking out the window at the gentle breeze blowing through the trees.

~Feint sounds became louder, birds and trees. Darkness became light... and more trees. Nagiken was awake, and the morning was beautiful, but for how long? He purched himself up on his elbows, and the brightest light gleamed into his eyes. The sun was on his position, and he had forgotten to conceal his blade in his hagiku. Quickly, doing so, he crammed it back into the compartment and covered it with the wood sliver. He sat with his legs crossed and tuned his intrument. "Hm..." Naigken was very hungry, though, he wanted to play. He played a slow, happy tune that fit the morning. "I wonder if they can hear me from up here...?" He continued to play until his fingers bled through, even though they were calised. Remembering that he was hungry, he ended the song with a very slow ending, strapped his hagiku to his back, and went through the window, and back into the locked room. Walking around, stretching for a while, he regained his sense of balance. Nagiken took the pin out of the lock and peered down the hallway. He immediately saw Kina, and turned away, going back into the room. 'If I'm caught, I'll have to pay for staying the night...' Nagiken though, clibming out the window instead, 'If I don't come downstairs, then they won't know.' He reached the bottom, and went over to the river where he had thrown in his tengu sandles. He picked them up, and pulled the fish out. "I can't eat this." Instead he put on his sandles, and headed for the front door of the inn. Walking in, he wasn't really greeted, and there weren't very many people, atleast none that Nagiken could recognize from last night. He caught a maid on her way through the inn, and asked if breakfast could be delivered to him at one of these tables. The maid smiled, shook her head nervously, and scurried away. Nagiken took a seat, and waited. He thought about the memory he had, and that the girl was in it, and always had been. Nagiken had stood by while his father had resumed murder, and Kina had stood by while her father had resumed death. Nagiken's father kept the Ichiya family name, as did Nagiken, but for how long? He asked himself this question again, but on a different subject. He had been having his doubts. Maybe it was because... Instead, Nagiken forgot what he was thinking about when the food came around to him. Eggs, toast, milk, orange juice, and those little sausage rolls. "Well, I can't escape life on an empty somtach..."~ -=}N{=-

Venn thought breifly back to the clouds he had seen. He rotated the memory a bit to the clearer skies. It truly was a nice day around these parts. He considered taking a walk. But then shrugged the idea off, preferring to stay close to others. "It truly is a nice day, isn't it? But it doesn't reach nearly the same caliber of days in the Emerald Forest. When we get there, I shall surely show you around. My flat is far greater a home than this inn" Venn stacked a couple of poached egs on some toast. Topped it with bacon and a tomato. He put another slice of toast on top and crunched down on it, hungrily. He looked over at Kina, curious about the sandwich. "Care for a taste?"

Kina was getting more and more excited the longer she thought and the more she heard about the Emerald Forest. Though the dark clouds looked forboding she really wanted to go. She found herself wondering what it would be like and Venn had said that his flat was a greater home than this inn and Kina couldn't wait to see it. She liked Venn and hoped that he liked her in turn. He was so nice and kind. He was there for her when she had a bad dream and when she needed to let go he was filling a void she hadn't known had existed. Venn was asking her something and broke her from her thoughts. She looked at Venn's hand and some kind of food put between two pieces of toast. "Care for a taste?" He asked. Kina looked down for a moment unsure whether she wanted to try that or not but in the end looking at the sincerity on Venn's face she decided. "Yes, I'd like that very much." she said with a smile and a blush.

~walks into the room~ Ahh see you have gotten breakfast, and the supplies are ready we may leave whenever you are ready. That is an interesting looking sandwich but ive seen much more interesting but i will wait outside for you. ~walks out of room thinking to self~ Venn's looks troubled he must have seen the clouds, their getting darker and darker every hour. This is starting to worry even me, but we have to meet this menace head on its not going to be an easy task but im sure well be fine. ~says aloud~ I wonder what ever happened to that wierd sneaky guy, o well sure hes long gone by now. ~walks over and sits under the shade of a tree~

~Looks up and smirks~ So you wish to see the Emerald Forest do you well we are heading out as soon as Venn and Kina are done. We shouldnt encounter much on the way their but when we do reach their it will be hell the oracles told me. What is your name though I dont remember it quite.