Dragomir Omake

[Kwokinator]

Kei smirked.

"I know what you're trying to do," he said he waved with a flick of his wrist, taunting. "So hit me... if you dare."

"And I knew full well that you could've escaped that attack if you wanted to when I made it," he growled.

[Danax]

"What the hell is going on here?" Mike asked, drawn tot he area by the sounds of trees falling.

He paused and looked from Kei to Wraith and back to
Kei. "Kei, whats up man?"

[Kwokinator]

Kei continued taunting Wraith, ignoring Mike's greeting.

"I guess you can't fight now," he smirked. "Or Mike might tell your pretty little 'employer' about you fighting."

Without waiting for a reply, Kei turned away from Wraith and Mike to walk deeper into the forest.

"Leave me the hell alone."

OOC:  And now I'm packing up my computer to move.  See you in a few days after I unpack everything ^_^;;

[Bean Bandit]

There was a slight whisper next to Kei's ear,  followed by a loud thunk on a tree nearby.

A single lock of hair fell to the ground from Kei's head. A little further on, a small throwing knife was buried deeply in a tree trunk.

Wraith's expression was still mocking, but his eyes were cold.

"The point isn't that I could have avoided it. The point is...you made the attack. For no reason whatsoever, you tried to assualt me while my back was turned, metaphorically speaking."

"Add that to the fact you're running away without starting the fight you were asking for...You sniveling coward." He snarled.

[Danax]

"What the fuck is going on?!?!?" Mike almost screamed, annoyed at being ignored.

Mike was about to run after Kei when he heard Wraith's insult. "Now wait just a second. You may think Kei's an asshole, but the last thing I would call him is a coward!  Kei, without a single thought of his own safety, attacked a powerful demon. How do I know you would do the same?" Mike pulled in a breath, calming himself. "Sorry about that, but from what I've seen Kei may be a complete asshole to you, but he's no coward."

Mike paused and scratched the back of his head. "Come to think of it, no one has yet to give me an explanation as to why you two seem to know eachother, where did all that bad blood come from?"

[Bean Bandit]

Wraith glanced over at Mike.

"Your loyalty does you credit," he commented. "But it's misplaced here. I have my reasons for calling him a coward. He's done nothing to prove otherwise in my presence."

He returned his gaze to Kei. "All I came to do was to express my displeasure that he's upset Asrana-dono. It was his posturing that started this."

[Danax]

"I see, well you two have both said your piece, and hopefully you'll both be able to put this aside in the morning." Mike glanced back towards where kei had gone.

"Maybe I can get his reasons out of him..later though, he's a little to angry right now." Mike looked back at Wraith and walked up to him, extending his hand for a shake.

"We got off a little on the wrong foot, so I guess nows as good a time as any for formal introductions. I'm Mike Martial Artist, with a decent psionic backing. I assume your here to guard Asrana as well?" A friendly, disarming grin spreading over his face.

[Bean Bandit]

"I don't think I'll be ready to forgive him until he apologizes to Asrana."

Wraith cautiously took the proffered hand.

"I'm called Wraith." He said simply, a guarded expression on his face. "Yeah...I was hired by her parents to watch out for her."

[Danax]

Mike shook Wraith's hand while bowing slightly. "Well it'll be great to have you as one of the team. So tell me, what are your specialties?" Mike asked while absent mindedly tapping his right foot on the ground.

[Bean Bandit]

Wraith gave Mike a cagey look, and relaxed marginally.

"My preference is a sword," he said finally, gesturing to the katana Asrana had given him. "But I'm comfortable with other weapons as well. I'm sort of a generalist."

[Danax]

"Cool! It'll be handy to have another martial artist around...handy get it?" Mike grined as he struck a cheesy pose and pointed at Wraith in a comedic type way.

After a slight pause he dropped his hand and stood straight again, chuckling lightly. "Ok that was cheesy and stupid...so you and Asrana-dono seem to know eachother very well, when and where did you meet?"

[Asrana]

OOC: Alright...this started at 5:24 AM (central time) when I was bored...it is now two chapter of Hearts of Healing later and 6:48...and I'm plain disgusted with myself for actually doing this...

Anyway, for those of you that have been wondering what Asrana's been doing...here's a small bit of it...

IC: Asrana materialized miles to the north, just outside Cebos.

She gazed at the capital of her mother's clan, so many years...

She quietly walked to the gate, the guards straightening automatically as the royal family crest emblazoned on her chest became visible. She smiled and nodded to them as she passed through the quickly opened gates. Inside she opened her senses to the realxing sights and smells of the Jade Market.

"It's good to be back..." She thought as she walked down the street, pulling her cloak a little tighter around her to hide the emblem of her family and the hood up to conceal her distinctive hair.

She stepped into a familiar jeweler's shop, a bell over the door ringing. Her soft boots made not a noise as she slipped over to a display case to examine a row of necklaces. An elderly man stepped out from the doorway behind the case.

"And what may I do for you, my Lady?" His voice was worn but gentle.

Asrana glanced up to see the plain but high quality brown pants, the white shirt and the thin leather apron. An amused ring to her voice, "Hello, Farenal. Asrana will do." Her eyes peeked from under her hood, the green flecked sapphires sparkling like the gems Farnal wrought.

A wide grin cracked his face as he bowed formally, "Forgive me, Princess. I did not recognize you."

Asrana smiled, "No need for titles, kinsman. Asrana will do." She lowered the hood of her cloak, the revealed silver and brown hair glinting in the sunlight that streamed throught the fron windows. "I'm guessing you know why I'm here?"

Farenal nodded, "Your letters indicated your bodyguards may at some point create a schism amongst themselves. And you indicated you would come back to your mothers home. So here you are." His voice had lost amusement, now held in a neutral tone.

Asrana nodded a bit sadly, "Yes...I have come back. I'll be rejoining the Assassins' Guild..."

Farenal nodded, "I understand, but what caused you to stop by an old uncle's shop? Certainly you have more important business in the rest of the city." His grin was wry, a slight chuckle barely contained.

Asrana's smile brightened, "Cause who can stay away from their favorite uncle?! That and I have a business proposition..."

Farenal chuckled lightly, "Ever the business woman, just like your mother. But come into the back, you are family and my daughter will be happy to finally meet her great and royal cousin."

Asrana's chuckle was a tad subdued, "That's right, I have yet to meet Arial. How are her studies coming?"

Her uncle smiled in paternal pride, "Quite well, she's already passed the initial exams for the Factors' Guild."

Asrana raised an eyebrow, "Expanding the family business, are we?"

He grinned back, "Might as well with five daughters and one already to take over the shop. This way I won't have to deal with any of those Demonian gem merchants...except Dernam for old times sake. Yep, all I'll need then is a gem merchant grandchild..."

Asrana smiled as she quietly walked behind him past a work table.

Her life was getting better already.

[Bean Bandit]

Wraith blinked, and frowned marginally. "I'm not exactly a martial artist...Mike." He said quietly.

"We met shortly after her parents hired me," Wraith said, looking away.

"And, with that in mind, You should know that I'll be leaving the group for a bit. Our charge has run off by herself, because of that idiot." Wraith said disgustedly, gesturing in the direction Kei had gone.

"I'm going to track her down. I'll send word when I've found her."

[Asrana]

OOC: Here's chapter 2 of Asrana's vacation...

IC: Asrana sighed as she looked inside the old workshop, she'd spent many days as a child playing here. Under the watchful eye of her uncle...

The workrooms of the shop were neat, partially finished pieces set in neat stands. Her eyes drifted over each of them, settling on a pair of gold and black sapphire earrings, ones that matched the pair she now wore.

Farenal followed her gaze, "I was making a set...in case you ever settled down."

Asrana smiled, "Preparation...how Jadanian. Not that I'm innocent. But I am only twenty five. I wasn't born for centuries."

His smile matched hers, "One can always hope for a great niece in faster time then it took to get her mother."

Asrana's giggles were like silvery chimes, "Uncle...you always were more hopeful then the rest of us...but I do like one of my guards..." She stepped up to the stand holding the earrings, "Same set of gems?"

Farenal nodded, "Yep...almost no orders for black sapphires, so it's the from the same two dozen Dernam sold me two score years back. Can't wait for Arial and his daughter to meet...hopefully they can be as good friends as their parents..." He chuckled, "Then Dernam and I could retire down near West Gate without a care in the world."

Asrana nodded as she straightened, her gloved finger hovering mere centimeters from the jewelry. "I'd like to commission a ring, the measurements are here..." A folded piece of parchment flipped fron her sleeve to her hand, Farenal quickly took it. "Single deep blue sapphire in a rose cut, white gold band. It's for a friend."

Farenal's eyes widened as his knowledge of Dragon etiquette came to mind, then he smiled, "Maybe my great niece isn't so far off..."

Asrana smiled mysteriously, "That will have to wait for an answer."

OOC: Until next time....

[Bean Bandit]

Wraith turned away from Mike, nodding. "I'll be in touch when I find her."

He disappeared into the trees.

*********

Wraith sighed. He hoped she was feeling better, but he was a little annoyed that she hadn't taken him along. Watching out for her was supposed to be his job.

"Hunting Bounty heads was so much less complicated..." He muttered aloud. As he headed off to where she'd said she could be reached, he admitted to, himself, at least, that this job was more interesting, by far.