Dear Diary and Mom and Dad

It's the day of your funerals. I can't say I'm happy, but I'm not exactly sad either. Your death came as a shock to me, purely because I never realised how old you were getting, I'm sorry, really! If I had known I would have tried to be a better daughter, or at least tried, maybe. I'm sorry, I never gave you guys any hugs or kisses. I'm sorry I never talked to you, dad especially. I know it's a little late for forgiveness, not that I want it anyways. The church bells are tolling, Marie is calling for me too. I guess this is goodbye, forever, lots of love mom and, nevermind, you don't deserve my love dad. ARRGH. You just had to be a mage didn't you, leave mom and I all alone, what were you thinking? You were always wrong, always.

Anja.

"Anja? Anja? Are you in there milady?"

"Gimme a sec Marie!" I cried out slamming my diary shut.

I strolled over to the doors picking up my dress as I walked.

"Anja? Anja? ANJA?"

I whipped open the doors "I'm fine geez!"

"I'm sorry milady, I thought something had befallen you!"

"Can't you guys just back off for once! I'm not a little girl anymore!" I hissed.

"Lady Anja, please, allow us to help you, in your parents' stead.."

"In my parents' stead? It's not like they ever cared about me anyways! I'm only going because it was my mums' last wish."

"I will escort you to the funeral miss." Mark sighed with a raised brow.

"FINALLY! Someone here has some common sense." I said, shoving past the servants crowding the hall.

Mark jogged to my side hurriedly. We walked silently the rest of the way out, down the long corridor, around the corner and out the door.
BREATH, just focus on breathing. The crowd outside will be tiny today, unlike every other day. Right? I wringed my hands together.

"Hey, Annie, Anja, relax." Mark whispered holding me by my shoulders from behind. Opened the door to be greeted by a smarm of press.

"Miss, when do you plan to get married?"

"Have you inherited the whole Grandine fortune?"

"Why aren't you shedding tears?"

Miss, what type of people were your parents?"

Eventually, all the questions simply became a noise in my ear, a drone in the background, worthy of being ignored, and ignore it I shall. I walked steadily holding my dress above the moist soil to keep it clean. I walked, walked till I no longer payed attention to where I was headed, only concentrated on Mark's arm gently guiding me down the path.

We arrived at the funeral, Mark, lead me straight down the middle aisle and popped on a front seat nearest to the caskets. I breathed in a sharp breath when he turned to leave.

"Mark!" I hissed desperately.

Oh, no, no, no, no, don't tell me Mark has to sit somewhere else, please no! I don't think I will make it through this public appearance without his help. I jumped when a gloved hand brushed my shoulder.

"You have I and my husbands condolences child." A woman said in hushed voice to me.

I tried to force a smile back, back my lips curled in a grimace instead.

I can't even smile straight at some strangers, where are you Mark? And…she called me a child. I dropped my head.

"Oh hey come on, cheer up Annie!" Mark sighed, plopping into the seat beside me with his signature smile.

"Thank god you're here Mark, I swear everyone is going to rip me apart with their condolences!"

Suddenly the chairs behind me flew away, with wind-like power ripping at my back. I shrieked. A figure stood in front of me, clad in a black cape and hood, billowing in the wind.

2: Bunny?

HEY HEY HEY, if you could spare the time, please review. And, as you may have noticed I'm really into this story! So enjoy, and by the way, if you haven'y figured it out already

This: HAHAHA VERY FUNNY

Means that it is in Anja's head, not spoken out loud, so enjoy kay? : D

W..who is that? EEK, it's looking at me!

The figures head turned towards me. I yelped bringing up my hands.

"P..please don't hurt me!" I stuttered.

"Could you…u..uhm…p..please stand up?" A masculine voice, STUTTERED?, from the caped figure who was now offering a white gloved hand towards me.

I took the hand as he lifted me off the chair and helped me aside.

"U..uhm…thanks.." He muttered.

Grabbing the chair he snapped a single leg in half and firmly held the broken piece of wooden. He looked at the chair and discarded it behind him. What the hell? What if someone was behind you, idiot! Suddenly the woman from before charged at me reaching out to her. I stepped towards her. I stumbled as a black blur zipped past me stepping between me and the woman.

"So it's you, surprised you look so normal!" He taunted at the woman. She growled back. WAIT, she growled, a feral growl. What the hell is going on here, whatever it is I wanna get away from this guy.

"Hey! She's my friend!" I snarled shoving past him. Suddenly his hand caught mine firmly. Wait….why is he holding my hand?

"I think n.n..not." He said, gently tugging on my hand.

"Come here honey, don't listen to that man, darling." The woman smiled at me.

"See?" I snapped at the young man.

I tore my wrist from his grasp easily, I strolled towards her. I looked behind me at the strange man and turned back to the womans outstretched arms. I stared. My mouth opening to make scream, I choked. Her arms…they're covered in scales..and blood. Her soft hands calloused and her claws reaching towards me. Her eyes.. I collapsed to me knees staring. Her eyes, t..they're glowing….red. Blood red. She charged at me, claws reading to rip me to shreds.

A blur dived over my fallen figure and dived into the demon, stabbing it in the chest. The demon collapses backwards, the man holding a sharp wooden chair-leg to it's chest.

"Vade Remitto tibi hoc mundo daemonia!" he cried.

It howled at him, whipping it's head back and forth. It glowed blindingly bright then seemingly disappeared. It..that…thing just disappeared after he spoke! What. On. Earth is going on here?

"W..what was that thing?" I managed to stutter through my teeth.

"Troubled spirit. That's all. Wait. Did you see 'it'?" the caped man asked, turning around.

"How the hell did I not see it?" I snapped back.

"That's weird." He said absentmindedly

"You know who's weird Mr? You!"

"Here, you want this bunny?" He said, turning with a small black rabbit in his arms.

"Wait…d..don't tell me the rabbit was that thing?" I stuttered and crawled away from the man.

"U..uhm…i..i…g…guess yes…kinda." He stuttered again.

"Then keep that thing away from me!" I shrieked.

"N..no, calm down it's just a bunny now." He said, sharply bringing his palm to his forehead, exposing some gold locks of hair. Gold hair? I guess that's rare. Wait why am I thinking about his hair colour?

Shaking his head, he walked over to me with quick strides and stuck out a hand.

"Sorry you had to see that, let me help you up." He said, and edge of kindness in his voice. His gloved hand again.. I reached out to his hand, only to be surprised as he gripped my hand firmly and pulled me to my feet without my help at all.

"E..er…Sorry about the funeral!" He stuttered again.

I looked around myself. Whatever he'd done, he had destroyed the whole field.

"D..don't worry about it!" I replied casually.

"So, who are you that a mad little bunny would come chasing for you?" He asked, still stroking the bunnies ears.

"Who I am is none of your business." I replied looking down my nose at him.

"Wow, you are really are extraordinarily kind to talk, to someone who had just saved your life, like that. Quite the young miss aren't you?" He chuckled.

"W..what's s..so funny?" I replied turning several shades red at his blunt comment.

IT'S GETTING BETTER! I hope you're enjoying this, and, please please please please please leave a review. If anything i need constructive advice and support! Hope to see and update real soon, like tomorrow morning! Have a good days guys and enjoy : D

3: Helping Hand

"Anyways, thanks, for saving my life!" I said, trying to smile.

"Thanks, but, you haven't answered my question." He chuckles. Persistent brat isn't he, and how can he not recognise me? My father was the richest man, in Etheria.

"Tell me who you might be then…as an exchange?" I asked, a smug grin reaching across my face. He turned away for a moment. I stared at the back of his cape. Wait, that symbol, a sword with two wings. The 'flying sword' it was called. That symbols belongs to…oh my god….the Rogue Protectors. A bunch of crazy lunatics who create trouble and pretend to protect people. The key words being lunatic, trouble and crazy.

"W..well?" I stuttered still comprehending what I had discovered.

"Sure I'll tell you who am I, if you can keep a secret or two?" He chortled as he turned around and stepped closer to her. Moving closer and closer till their faces were inches apart. We're breathing the same air, and what the hell is he doing? I can almost see his features clearly at this point and, he, was, cute.

"Hahaha, don't worry I'm just messing with you!" He snickered stepping back. Gently he held his hood and lifted it behind his head. I gasped. I stared. His blonde, chin length locks gently framed his face.

"Wait, you're…"

"Yea, E…Eli, nice to meet you." He grinned from ear to ear and held out a hand to shake hers. He isn't any normal Rogue Protector grunt, he was the youngest most highly esteemed captain among their ranks. Thrice voted 'most desirable boyfriend' by the Girls Times magazine. I thought he was a grown man, not a boy of 16?

"Oh umm..s..sorry." I stuttered taking his gloved hand and shaking it. His hands…are so warm. God! Snap out of it Anja! He's a Rogue Protector!

"You know, you still have to keep your side of the deal right, funeral girl." He snickered, that friendly grin still spread across his face.

"Funeral girl? Seriously? You have a vivid imagination." I scowled.

"W…well….aren't you going to tell me just who you are?" He said, a genuine look of curiousity

"M..my name is Anna, Anna Greenley." I said, struggling to keep with my lie. Hopefully I can still recognise it if someone says it, because my name is pretty similar, Anja Grandine. And why did I lie to him in the first place? Oh that's right because he's a rogue protector, and nobody trusts those guys around here.

"Anna eh? Well nice to know you Anna. You should head home, I'll walk you!" He smiled with another trademark grin.

"Oh no, no need! I'll be fine, I'm a grown woman of sixteen afterall." I replied curtly.

"Seriously? You want to walk home, alone, after seeing that thing?" Eli asked, raising a golden eyebrow.

"Sure."

"Well, be that way."

He turned and began walking away, DAMNIT, why did I say no? Now I have to walk home. Eli quickly flicked his hood back on. There it is again, the 'flying sword' on his back imprinted in a shimmering gold. Gold does look good on black doesn't it?

"A…actually…Eli! Could you please walk me home?" I stuttered. He stopped midway through a stride and turns his head to look at me.

"By the way…you're never going to get home on that ankle of yours, so I guess I have no choice anyways."

I looked down at my ankle and tried to move it. I screamed through my teeth, how could he tell I was injured without even seeing me walk, or when I didn't even know myself? My ankle looks just find, but it hurts like HELL. He stepped towards me in quick strides, and picked me up bridal style.

"E….Eli what are you doing? Put me down!"

"I have a horse, retard. So you don't need to walk."

"Put me down!"

"I don't think you want to be put down on that foot."

"You should listen to me you know?"

"Do you really think I'm going to let an injured girl, grovel home? Especially not on that foot."

I cursed under my breath as he walked out of the field to a small clearing. He gently lifted me onto the horse, he then took the reins and lead the horse out.

Hey i hope you enjoyed that, and please review please please please, and thanks for reading!

4: The Forest Cottage

Hello hello, enjoying everything so far? Hope so! I'll try to update as often as possible so please keep reading! Remember italics means either Anja's thoughts in her head or her diary! Enjoy! : D

"Wait, aren't you going to get on the horse too?" I asked, surprised.

"No? I'm just gonna lead it, so tell me where I should be headed." He chortled.

"Um..up the hill, that way!" I said, pointing in the vague direction of the Grandine Manor. Oh crap, I didn't tell him I was a Grandine, how am I supposed to get home then? He raised an eyebrow but didn't question her.

"I have a..a..cottage in the forest." I mumbled, stumbling over my words.

"You live close to the Grandine Manor?"

"Y..yea, I'm friends with their daughter." Seriously? Where did that come from? You are her, you can't even try to be two people at once!

"Well, I need to have a word with her, so could you perhaps show me in?" He asked, pouting.

"I don't think your presence would be welcomed, and what business do you have with 'me' the Grandines?"

"I have to apologise for stuffing up her parent's..err…funeral."

"Oh yea right, that would be great wouldn't it?" I grumbled.

"Take this path here, it goes up to the cottage." The cottage was meant for family outings to the nearby river as somewhere to put things or prepare. It has kitchens and bedrooms, exactly what I'll need.

"Do you live alone?" A hint of worry in Eli's voice.

"I guess yea."

The path wound up the hill gently, I held tightly to the saddle as the horse bumped around over the gravel. There's something wet touching my leg..

"EEEEK"

"Anna? What's wrong?" He whipped his head around.

"The bunny is licking my leg!" I shrieked scrambling forward on the horse.

"It's just a rabbit you know!" Eli chuckled, bringing a hand to his forehead while leading the horse on.

"I can't take that thing!" I grumbled, pouting.

"You're pout is cute." He replied in a teasing tone.

GRRR. This guy is so infuriating, and what on earth does he mean by that?

"We're here!" I cried out, falling off the horse.

"Oh dear, a..are you ok?" He asked, a worried look on his face as his hood fell back.

"Ouch..my butt hurts now!" I keened, pouting once again.

He extended a hand and helped me up. I immediately limped towards the cottage. I fumbled behind a small pot plant for the keys and entered.

"Hey, can you help me with talking to Anja Grandine or not?" he asked, stepping up to the door with a puppy face.

"No, sorry, I'm kinda injured as you can see. And, I'm really tired!" I said, trying to put on an apologetic face.

"That's ok then. Well I guess this is goodbye, so look after yourself!" Eli responded, adding a gentle smile.

"So you know, that path there, will take you to the front gate." I sighed.

"Thanks anyways!" Eli chuckled.

He walked away into the darkness flicking his hood back over his head. I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, slowly sliding down till I was sitting. Oh, thank god he's finally gone. I need to get to the manor through the back gate without being noticed. I'm sure Marie and the other servants are probably very worried about me. I'd better hurry. I opened the door a crack and slid out, limping. I knew there was a shortcut to the back of the house. Following it silently I limped towards the tall wall which backed the Grandine Manor. I hope I can still manage this with my stuffed up foot! Here goes nothing! I grabbed a few vines with my hands and began to scale the wall which loomed just a small distance over me. I tucked my feet into tangles in the fine, I sucked in a sharp breath as my injury came back to haunt me. I pulled myself onto and over the wall accidentally over balancing myself. EEEK, I falling onto the other side of the wall.

"EEP!" I whimpered as I fell onto the other side.

Few, looks like I fell without hurting myself further. I jogged to the open corridor that ran the back of the Grandine Manor. I leaned against a cold marble column and sucked in a breath. It has been a really long day hasn't it? Well it is all over now…I turned to see a black raven, looking directly at me, I shivered. There is something wrong with that bird, it feels…different.

HELLO, hope you enjoyed that fairly short chapter, well longer than the others but still pretty short i guess. Please take the time to review if you can! : D

5: The Black Raven

Hey hey, please spare me the time for a review, pretty please. and please note italics are Anja'a thoughts and her diary. So enjoy this new chapter.

It looks normal, I guess, wait…it's eyes. My blood went cold. The raven glared back with ravenous red eyes. Red, like the thing at the funeral. I gasped, it's another spirit out to get me isn't it? I fell backwards onto my bottom again, scrambling away.

"H..help…" I squealed, choking out a barely comprehensible word.

The raven opened it's wings, flapping, flying towards me, mouth open, screeching. I scratched at the floor with my fingers, trying to shuffle away. It's coming, I don't have anything to fight it back with, or to defend myself. I throw my arms out in front of me curling my head into my chest. I screamed. I squeaked when an arm grabbed me around the waist and started pulling me in a sprint, which suddenly stopped.

"Hey! Anna! Snap out of it, we need to run!" A familiar voice cried out, ripping my arms from their position. I was crying, frightened, sniffling. I wiped my face and looked up at my saviour, my prince in shining armor!

"Eli!?"

"Yea, hey, nice to see you too, now get up we gotta run! Now!" He hollered, yanking me up and away. I struggled to keep up, my ankle screaming in pain.

"Goddamnit, you can't run anyways!" He cried, shooting me a irksome glance.

"Stay behind me, okay?" He growled, shoving me behind him.

I looked up, the raven, it got, bigger, and badder!

Eli yanked the nearby torch, smothering the fire against the wall, while snapping it in half.

"Come get me, big bird!" Eli taunted.

I whimpered as the bird hovered closer. It's three times it's original size! Eli charged at the bird as it came swooping, he stabbed it with the small wooden stick. It kicked and screeched, attacking Eli as he tried to hold it down, with it's talons, eventually becoming still.

"Gee, that was difficult. You okay Anna?" He grumbled under his breath, stepping towards me.

"Y..yea." I stuttered in shock as he collapsed forwards onto me, knocking me to the ground.

"Eli? Eli?" I said worriedly.

When he didn't reply I grabbed his shoulders and turned him over. His shirt was stain with blood.

"Milady!?" Marie cried out running down the corridor.

"Annie! Who the hell is that? Are you okay?" Mark yelled as he ran beside Marie. Oh, firetrucks, I must look like an idiot right now, with Eli unconscious in my lap.

"Annie? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Mark said, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, his blonde locks brushing against me cheek.

"W…what? No! I know him! Marie you have to help him, he's hurt!" I cried out. I pointed to his blood soaked shirt.

"Yes, milady, he does need attention!" Marie said, a fierce expression overtaking her usual calm features.

"Mark carry him to the guest room around the corner, Lady Anja, settle him there and cut his shirt off, he won't be needing it!" Marie ordered. Mark went red at the comment. Marie ran off as Mark grabbed Eli by the hips, carelessly chucking him onto his shoulder.

"Mark! Be careful with him would you!" I scowled, shoving him.

"Why would you care?" He grumbled.

"Get in!" I growled, shoving him through the open doors.

Mark flopped Eli onto the bed. I walked over and shifted a pillow under his head. My fingers grazed his forehead as I realised how feverish he was. I turned to the bedside table, shuffling through drawers till I found a pair of blunt scissors. I cut away at his shirt, trying not to blush. Oh gee, what's wrong with me, I'm just cutting his shirt off so Marie will have better access. I removed the shirt quickly, crumbling it up and pelted it at Mark. He snickered. I sat down on the edge of the bed, holding my palm to his burning forehead. He had a grimace on his face, almost as if in pain. Why am I looking at him anyways? I remembered his cape, gently reaching forwards I unlatched the button holding the two sides of the neck together. I then gently pulled the cape from under him. Oops, I forgot Mark was here this whole time, I better roll this up so no one can see. If Mark knew he'd probably kill him right here and now. I rolled the cape tightly and held it to my chest.

"Hey, Anja? Don't you want me to throw that cape out too?" Mark asked, a hand outstretched. Oh, no, no, no, no, if I give it to him, he'll see it.

"U..umm..n..no don't worry about it!" I stuttered, clutching the cape even more tightly to my chest.

"W..why not? It's just a cape, probably with blood on it right?" He reached out, yanking it from my grip, unfurling it for his eyes to see the emblem

"Anja, this symbol. This symbol is…The Rogue Protectors!" His glare settled on me.

OOOOOOH, character tension, btw if you haven't noticed Mark has a romantic interest in Anja, and maybe Eli does too ;) Well please review pwizz pwizz pwizz, even if it's short some advice would be good. So yea, Enjoy!

6: The Cape

Hey guys, i'm a little busy but whatever, it's great to be writing i hope you enjoy this and please leave a review!

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, this so cannot be happening to me right now, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Anja gawked at him like a goldfish.

"I..I knew that." I said, trying to stop myself from stuttering under Mark's angry glare.

"Then why the hell was this idiot's face in your lap?!" He bellowed at me.

"Just g..give me back the cape!" I mumbled, clawing at the cape in his hands as he lifted it out of my reach.

"Not unless you tell me who he is, and why you were with him!" He glowered at me, treating me like a child that needed to be reprimanded.

I gnashed my teeth, jumping to grab the cape. I'm truly defeated, I could never get the cape back, I'm so short, wait…what if I, TRICK HIM! But, how could I do that to my best of best friends, for a stranger.

"Fine." I muttered putting a glum look on my face and lowering my arms.

"His name is," Mark slowly lowered his arms, YES, I yanked it violently from him,"HA, gotcha!" I goaded at him, sticking out a tongue. He scowled at me, opening his mouth to say something.

"I'm here!" Marie announced, she looked at us peculiarly, seeing us angry at eachother, Mark, hands balled up in fists eyes bluging, me, gripping onto a cape and glaring right back.

"Milady, could you please help me?" Marie asked, uncertain of what to make of our expressions.

"Y..yes." I nodded, stuffing the cape under my arm.

Mark glared at me, then walked out the room, slamming the door loudly behind him. Gee, what's up with him, always so nosy. I never thought he'd care so much about a cape.

"Could you use this disinfectant on the cuts?" Marie asked, pushing a small piece of fabric towards me.

"Oh yes sure." I gently wiped the wounds with the fabric.

"Milady, what's going on between you and Mark?" She asked, her face calm.

"He was just at angry at me!"

"I don't mean to be nosy, but why? He cares about you a lot, I'm sure that's all!"

"He realised this guy I was with was a 'rogue'. He got all pissed and took his cape from me and demanded answers!" I hissed, a scowl appearing on my face.

"I suspected as much, he wore their uniform after all." Marie observed.

"Yea, but Mark didn't have to get all aggressive about it!"

"Relax, he was just worried Anja, just worried! He cares about you a lot, you know that right?" She said asked nodding rapidly.

"Yea I know, but since I've known him as a child he's never acted like this before!" I whined, pressing the cloth into a slightly deeper wound. I eased up when I realised that Eli had been wincing in his sleep. Oops, guess I was pressing too hard. That is just like me isn't it? Forgetful as always. Mark probably would've teased me about it if he were here. I wonder what made him so angry. Was it perhaps, jealousy? No, no way.

"I'll be right back Anja, I mean milady, I just forgot something, and sorry I'll be quick!" I waved dismissedly at her as she left, flustered.

A grin spread across Eli's face as he opened his eyes, a cheeky look on his face.

"Y…you're supposed to be unconscious!" I squeaked, glaring at him as he propped himself up on his elbows.

"You're supposed to be Anna Greenley, not Anja Grandine! I admit I was a fool not to confront you about it earlier." A soft smile dancing on his face.

"Lay down." I grumbled, violently shoving the cloth into an untouched wound.

"Ouch! Geez okay, you could've just asked nicely, rather than torturing me. Ouch! Seriously? What's with you!" A pout on his face.

"Oh but I did ask nicely!" I mocked flippantly. Letting out an irresistible giggle.

"Oh, damn. I was supposed to meet up with my superior an hour ago!" He cried out suddenly, a foul mood settling over him.

"You aren't going anywhere till we're done!" I said assertively.

He looked at me perculiarly, propping himself on his elbows he looked at me again. I gently reached out to one of the blonde locks covering his face and pushed it aside, resting my hand on his cheek.

"I.." He started, turning red.

"I'm back!" Marie chimed as she stepped through the door.

CAUGHT RED FACED. not really. If you could please leave a review, constructive advice appreciated. I'll upload when i can for now, enjoy!

7: Talk to Me

I ripped my hand from his face, wringing them in my lap.

“I g..got those herbs for the fever you mentioned.” Marie looked at him, then me.

EEK, my face feels really warm, am I blushing, because it looks like he is too. I gently pressed my hand to his stomach and shoved him back down to the bed.

“Didn’t I tell you to lay down?” I asked, pouting, earing a soft chuckle from Eli.

“Here take these herbs milady and grind them, then place them in this bag and press it against the forehead. That should help with the fever.” Marie said, barely able to resist a small smile spreading across her face.

“Okay then.” I said, taking the herbs, mortar and pestle from her. I poured all the different herbs in and began grinding them together.

“Young sir, may I ask something?” Marie said, gently wiping down his wounds with the cloth.

“Um..yea. sure, go head.” He said, wincing.

“How did you receive these wounds?” She asked, tilting her head.

Both I and Eli went froze up at the question, great, what do I tell Marie. She’d never believe me if I said he got attacked by a demon thing.

“I u..uhm…fell over.” Eli chuckled awkwardly rubbing the back of his head with his hand.

“These are some pretty nasty wounds for a fall. Also, how did you get within the Grandine Manor grounds and why?” Marie muttered, a stern looking overtaking her features once again.

“You had a gap in security on the west corner, and I heard someone scream so, I figured something was wrong!” He replied, like a security gap was normal.

I had mashed the herbs into a paste and poured it into the bag Marie had provided. I grabbed a stool and shuffled closer to the bed.

“The west corner is one of the most heavily guarded sides.” Marie sighed.

“Obviously not guarded well enough.” Eli stated.

I shuffled on my stool till I was beside the bed, opposite Marie who sat on the other side still cleaning his wounds.

“How you feeling?” I asked, my tone tinged with worry.

“I’m alright, what about you?” He asked, shifting his head so he could look at me. I looked back into his blue eyes. He looked away, wincing.

“Oh, sorry was I pressing too hard?” Marie responded, a smug smile touched her lips.

“It’s nothing don’t worry.”

I gently held the little bag of herb paste to his forehead.  

“Is that okay?” I asked, worried I might be pressing too hard as well.

“Nah, it’s fine!” He said, a cheery smile returning to his face.

Eli tucked his arms under his neck in a fairly relaxed.

“For someone with such grievous wounds, you should be screaming with pain rather than laying back as if under an anaesthetic.” Marie observed with a raised eyebrow.

“I can deal.” He smiled, shooting an ear to ear grin at Marie.

She didn’t even smile back, just looked at him with her usual calm expression.

“What’s your rank as an R.P (Rogue Protector)?” Marie asked, raising an eyebrow to her wrinkled forehead.

“1st Captain of the 2nd brigade, Vice 1st Commander. Captain Commander-vice Eli, at your service.” He stated, almost as if out of practice. Chuckling after the last comment.

“What? And, how old are you?” She asked, a dumbfounded look on her face.

A smug smile crossed my face, I already knew what rank he was.

“1st captain and vice 1st commander of the 2nd Brigade. I turned sixteen a couple of months ago.” He stated again, he seemed to be enjoying her surprise.

“You’re only sixteen! But you hold some of the most important roles in their hierarchy! I’ve never heard of a captain or vice commander going to fight themselves!” Marie said, falling off her stool.

Eli had a smug grin on his face.

“The 2nd brigade is meant to protect Central Etheria, including Grandine City, which doesn’t appreciate your presence very much!” Marie almost snapped.

“Marie! If you can’t keep your calm you might as well leave!” I said sternly. She stood up abruptly and stormed out of the room.

Eli looked at me, confused “what did I do?” he asked.

“You know, the guy I was arguing with, Marie is his mum?” I said, picking up the bandages Marie had gathered.

“The blonde guy, Mark? Yea.”

“Well, Mark’s brother had a twin brother, Lyle. I was childhood friends with the twins. Lyle was killed by Rogue Protectors.” I said, my smile disappearing.

“K..killed?!”

8: The Choice

“Yea, well to be more specifc, we found his blood, on his clothes, where he had been seen last, near the site of a scuffle between Rogue Protectors and some ‘people’.” I said.

“Mark’s twin brother?” He asked, looking at me peculiarly.

“Yea. You see, he was obsessed with the Rogue Protectors. He believed that what they did was for the best, for the people. The only people who ever even slightly believed him were Mark and I. He pleaded with us, doing a cute puppy face with his grey eyes. One day, he begged me to come with him to a place where the 2nd Brigade was currently fighting someone. I lied to him, told him I was busy!” I began to cry, tears rolling down my face as I continued.

“He was sad, but went by himself nevertheless. He didn’t come home by the time he promised me he would be, so I told the adults. We looked for hours in the place where he was supposed to be. All we found were a bunch of R.P corpses, all of them young men. One held a scarf in his hand, which we quickly realised was his, covered in blood. When we checked, it was his blood. Everyone assumed that the Rogue Protectors had killed him, thrown him in Grandet River and ran off.” I wailed cupping my face in my hands.

“Maybe if I had gone with him he wouldn’t be dead! Maybe if I’d tried to convince him not to go then he wouldn’t be dead!” I continued wailing.

Suddenly I felt a pair of arms wrap around me.

“It, isn’t your fault Anja.” Eli whispered into my ear, wrapping his arms around me tighter. I sobbed gently into his shoulder.

“N..now…l..let me finish dressing your wounds.” I said, gently pushing him away.

I reached towards the roll of bandages wiping my tears with my sleeves. I gently wrapped the bandages around his body, over most of his chest and abdomen. He’s quite toned for is age isn’t he? Gee, that’s a creepy thing to think isn’t it Anja! As I finished he sat up.

“I can understand why they’d hate me.” He said, a sadness in his voice.

“It really isn’t your fault, of course.” I said waving his comment away absently.

“M..maybe it is. Probably not though.” He said, bringing his hand to the back of his head again, chuckling nervously.

“Of course not!” I replied. That’s weird, why would he say it was his fault, he would’ve been my age too back then it couldn’t have been his fault.

“Lay down, you need to rest.” I said, patting him on the shoulder.

“I really don’t want to bother you, my team is gonna be bothered that I've been gone so long, so I really better go!” He said quickly, preparing to get off the bed.

“No, you are my guest so I am going to make sure that you are okay to go before you go!” I said insistently.

“But..” He whined, pouting.

“No buts!” I replied, shoving him forcefully back down to the bed.

“Fine, I’ll stay as long as I get the chance to tell my team I need to rest!” He said, crossing his arms stubbornly.

“Fine, but you can do that tomorrow!” I replied, a small smile gracing my face.

“Hey Anja?” He asked.

“Yea? And just call me Annie.” I smiled warmly at the boy grinning from the bed.

“Could you see, those spirits real forms?” He asked, his grin replaced with a serious grave look on his face.

“You mean the big, red eyes, scaly, scary things?” I asked, surprised by my own description. Where did I get scaly, I guess the two I saw today were kinda scaly and clawy.

“Yea, those things.”

“Yes, am I not supposed to be able to see them?” Surprise filling my voice.

“No, you aren’t supposed to see them, to anyone else that woman that attacked us would’ve looked like a normal woman. Which is what you thought she was at first.” He said motioning with his arms.

“Then how did you know she was attacking me?” I am kinda getting this.

“Because I can do the same thing as you, see what they really are. It’s rare, so, the Rogue Protectors are forced into having to send me out. Not that I don’t like it. I love getting out, especially to Grandine City, for some reason!” He said, an adorable smile stretching across his face.

“How come you were alone? Don’t you have a team?” I asked, tilting my head to a side.

“Yea we got separated, because Akiri used wind blast against it. Blowing it way out of our reach, till it blew into your funeral!” He said, a scowl on his face.

“Wait, so how did you find it?” I asked, genuine curiosity now fuelling my questions.

“Well I got Akiri to blow me there, which was more destructive than it should’ve been! She’s an idiot!” He said, chortling.

“If my team was there Naru and Bart would’ve been able to knock it out then I could finish it off!” He growled.

“Oh by the way, I saved your cape from Mark!” I chirped turning around and picking up the bundled cape from where I left it on the floor.

“Thank god, these are expensive and in Etheria and other less friendly areas like Grandine so, it’s almost mandatory! Thanks for saving it for me!” He said gratefully accepting it back. He began searching through it, opening an inside pocket.

“What’s that?” I asked, staring at the little leather pouch he had just procured from his pocket.

“Daggers, good ones at that, my commander made them specially for me. I should only use them if I come across a spirit that is a little too hard to kill with a wooden stick.” He said, a passionate smile on his face as he took one from the bag and observed it.

“Why? Why not just use daggers everytime?” I asked, this is actually very interesting.

“Well, you saw me kill two different spirits, and you may have noticed that what I stab it with, will disappear and fade with the spirit.” He said, nodding. He held out a dagger to me, holding the handle towards.

“W..what?” I said, surprised. He held the dagger towards me.

“Take this, and I’ll make you one of us. We need people like you Anja, to protect those that can’t see what we can!” A fierce expression in his eyes.

9: Who, am I?

I stared at the dagger, we sat in silence, Eli propped up against the backboard of the bed, me sitting beside the bed on a stool. Silence engulfed us.

“Well? You know my arm is getting sore.” He jerked forwards and dropped the dagger into my hand.

“EHHHH, I didn’t say I wanted it!” I squealed.

“You didn’t say that you didn’t want it.” A smug grin on Eli’s face.

“Fine.”

“Really! You’ll seriously consider joining us?” He said, almost jumping up and down in his bed.

“Maybe, now go to sleep, or I’ll put you to sleep.” I said, giving him a dark smile.

“Fine, fine.”

I put out the candle on his bedside table and walked towards the door in the pitch black. I opened the door halfway, as the light flooded in, I looked back at Eli, laying in the bed. His blonde locks were all messed up, his blue-grey eyes looking back at me.

“Anja?” He asked, his voice muffled by the blanket.

“Yea?”

“Good night.” He said, smiling kindly before turning the other way.

“Good night.” I whispered back so only I would hear.

That was…nostalgic. * Flashback *

“EHHH, Anja! I don’t want to sleep yet!” A young Lyle whined.

“Lyle! You’re sick, you have to sleep, or else you’ll die!” I whined back, my arms cross.

“Fine, fine.” He replied, pouting.

I put out the candle and walked towards the door, as I was about to leave his voice called out.

“Anja?”

“Yes?”

“Good night!” He said cheerily, with sparkles in his blue eyes.

* End flashback *

I tear rolled down my cheek, as I braced myself against the wall. It’s too late for that, Lyle is long gone. Ten years gone. I wiped my tears and looked up. Mark stood there.

“Hey!” I sniffled. I remembered I was holding the dagger so I quickly hid it in my sleeve.

“You alright?” He asked, his face etched with worry.

“Y..yea, I just need some rest.” I mumbled, turning away from him and quickly striding away.

 

ELI’S POV

I really am not going to sleep tonight am I? I want to get more information on her missing friend Lyle. Maybe I can find some information about other missing people, but it would seem that Mark, who I have to admit, would look pretty similar to me, if I didn’t have this scar over my eye and if my hair were a little longer. Maybe, after all these years I’ve finally found the past that has been quite elusive for me. Lyle? Is that really who I am. There’s no evidence except for what Anja and Commander Luke has said. How I ended up as a Rogue Protector is simple. I was indebted to the commander who had saved my life. The story was something like this : one day the commander, who was still a captain then and a small troop of men were walking through some forested area where there had been reported signs of spiritual interference by some scouts. They searched the area carefully, eventually coming to rest at the edge of the forest, what they didn’t know was that the spirit was occupying the field beside the forest rather than the forest itself. When they were ambushed they fought back valiantly, but they didn’t stand a chance against the bird creature. When the dozen soldiers had been ripped to shreds, their blood dying the new winter’s snow. The bird turned it’s eyes to me. Who had been, quite stupidly watching from afar? The bird attacked me, ripping at my flesh, the captain, Luke saw me. So he tackled the bird, grabbed my limp body, leapt on his horse and rode to the nearest R.P outpost. Upon waking up, I had absolutely no memories of who I was, or why I was there. I was a stranger to my own memories. The captain said he had no idea who I was and was only sure that I was from  Grandine City, or at least partially sure. The captain became a father to me, he explained how not many people could see spirits, and that most of the Rogue Protectors like him and I could see them in their real form. The 2nd Brigade became my family, I saw many of them grow old and die, some of them just retired while other died in duty. When I turned ten, the captain, who had recently become the 1st commander, faked my age and gave me the chance to pay back the debt I owed them, I was going to join them in their fight to protect the people. Of course, I rose in the ranks quickly. Eventually, Commander Luke agreed with his fellow commanders that they had misjudged my age, for the most part, him. They had judged me to be three years older than I actually was! So they realised they’d let me join them three years early. Being as intelligent as he was, he’d waited till I was actually properly thirteen, the joining age, to tell them. That way I didn’t lose my rank or mission file. I have to say, it was cheating, and some skill. I was already a junior sergeant by then. By the time I was fifteen I was a the 1st captain! I was so excited, and grateful. Just earlier this year, I was chosen as vice to the 1st commander, Commander Luke! The old man has always been there, but that begs the question, who’s my real old man? My eyes fluttered as I tried not to fall asleep while in the middle of thinking. That’s too bad…because I'm just to sleepy..

“Yawn!”

 

“Hey! You! Wake the hell up!” He growled in my face. I absolutely love waking up to someone in my face.

“W..what? M…mark? W..where’s Anja?” I asked groggily.

“Don’t screw with me ‘coz that’s my line!” He spat in my face.

I opened my eyes properly, he was grabbing me by the collar, his also furious mother, standing in the arch of the door.

“If * yawn*, you’re asking ME where she is, I have no idea!”

“What? You must be joking!” He growled, grabbing my collar and shaking me even harder. I looked out the window, it was a bright and sunny day.

“Do I look like I'm joking? If I knew where Annie was I would have told you!” I snarled back at him, glowering. I shoved him off me, and off the bed.

“Don’t call her Annie like you know her!” He growled, his face sullen.

“Wait, if you don’t know, and she doesn’t know…Anja! Damnit! She’s going to get herself killed by the guys!” I cried out trying to get up, only to be pinned down by the shoulders.

“We have t…to…stop h..her!” I cried out. Suddenly a fist smacked across my jaw. That..punch…..was….so……hard….

“Did you really have to put him out cold Mark?” Marie asked.

“Why would you care, he’s one of them!”

10: The Team

He said, they were camping out in the forest right? The West Grandine forest was it I'm pretty sure. Maybe I should've woken him up and taken him with me. Nah, he wasn't in a good position to be moving around, would he?  I stepped quickly through the bush dodging dry raking trees.

"Retard! Some possession demon wouldn't have been able to take out Eli! Who do you think he is, he's the captain, have some faith!" A girl cried, she must be Akiri. I stepped into the opening where the group was camped out. I waved, I'm at least trying to be friendly, I put on a genial smile.

"Who the hell are you?" A stumpy white-haired man asked aggressively.

"Naru, put a cap on it!" A red headed girl hissed. Akiri?

"My name is Anja, Grandine." I held out the dagger that Eli had given me.

"T..that's Eli's dagger! What have you done to him? Where is he?" The other younger man said, he's probably Bart.

"Eli is healing at my house, he gave me this dagger. I've dressed his wounds and helped him to a bed and meal. Have I answered your questions?" I stated.

"Would you two stop acting like love sick puppies, I'm sure Eli can look after himself. Of course he can!" Akiri said, a look of idolization on her face.

"I'm just here to tell you, that he won't be going anywhere for several days. At a minimum that is." I murmured. I turned away and began to walk back through the bush.

"Hey? Where do you think you're going? We're going with you! I'm going to go get Eli, and support him." Akiri cried out, grabbing her bags fervently.

"Fine!" Naru and Bart whined simaltaneously.

The group picked up their bags, snuffed out the fire and trudged after me.

"Oh, sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet, I'm Akiri, Eli's most asteemed team mate!" She grinned, sticking out a hand. I shook her hand, I am unable to make a comment, how can she say something so…arrogant.

"I could say much the same thing about I, or my brother, you're quite unable to stop yourself from braggin' Akiri aren't you?" Bart smiled. Also, sticking out a hand, as well as his brother.

"Oh shut up, Bart!" Akiri hissed back.

I chuckled inwardly as I hesitantly shook the hands of the two brothers. Bart, the older, and Naru the younger. I'm surprised I didn't notice that they were siblings, identical brown curls and hazel eyes.

"Nice to meet you guys. Eli complained about getting blown away by Akiri, it was quite funny!" I giggled at Akiri as she turned red. Bart and Naru clenched their teeth, attempting not to laugh and failing miserably.

We walked through the forest eventually coming to the west end of town.

"C..could we not walk through town?" Akiri asked. I turned to see the three of them sharing the same look of dread.

"Alright, I just need to take a shortcut to the other side of the street. Don't worry guys, relax a little." I said, trying to be reassuring.

They all flicked their hoods on, and looked down. As we walked by a set of shops people began to walk out, drilling their eyes into our backs. I gulped. What is with these people, do they always do this to the R.P when they come into town. I can feel their eyes, burning into my back. Is this really right? The small group continued to walk down the street, now filling with people.

"Oi, you people!" A gruff man bellowed, standing in my way. I lowered my face.

"What do you think you're doing walking through town?!" the man roared in my face.

"Is there a problem?" I asked, turning my face to look at him.

"Wench!" He hissed. Suddenly he brought a fist across my face.

I grunted, oww…I couldn't imagine a punch would hurt that much, I think my nose is bleeding, and it's definitely going to leave a mark on my face. My eye is already swollen shut.

"Run! That way!" I screamed. Pointing my finger in the direction of the other side of the street. I stumbled on the path falling to my knees, I glanced behind me, an angry mob chasing after us.

"Anja! Anja! Get up, come on!" Naru and Bart screamed, grabbing my wrists dragging them behind me.

Everything is fading into a dull noise.

"J…jump the w…wire fence." I choked out, spitting out blood.

I stumbled back into a jog, my face burning with pain. We clambered over the high wired fence. Just a little further to the manor, b..bear the pain, almost there. We ran to the manor, Bart kicking down the back gate. Isn't this the wall where I climbed over to get in just last night?  Naru slung my arm around my shoulder, helping me through the broken-down gate.

"Anja! Anja? Dear god are you okay?" A familiar voice asked, warms arms wrapping around me. Holding me to their chest. I breathed in deeply, taking in the gentle scent. I looked up at the gentle soul who held me, soft golden wisps stirred in the wind.

"Lyle.." I whispered, cupping his face.

11: Leaving the Past

"Anja? What the hell happened you guys? Why is she so battered?" Eli shouted, his face etched with worry.

"S..sorry, she got punched by a villager, Captain." Akiri apologised in a whisper, saluting him. The other two saluted him as well.

"Goddamnit!" Eli roared, he clutched her to his bandaged, bare chest. He stood up abruptly, carrying her in his arms he hurried to his guest room, gently popping her down on the bed.

From afar Mark watched as the awkward group of four forced their way onto the property, Eli stumbling out towards them catching Anja in his arms, holding her. Mark's face was etched with bitterness, as Eli cried out at his grunts, the red haired girl stuttered an apology and saluted him, the other two copying her motion. Eli rushed her away to his room, Mark sighed.

"Open the door Kiri!" Eli ordered Akiri, she complied wilingly.

He gently laid her onto the bed, cupping her face with his hands. He reached over to the bucket of ice, wrapping it gently in cloth and placing it against her face. He grabbed the stool and shuffled closer to the bed, freeing his other hand and holding hers.

"Akiri, Naru, I need to speak with Bart privately, could you wait outside." Eli commanded his team.

"Yes, sir!" Akiri and Naru replied in unison. They walked out silently together, shutting the door gently.

"I think I remember." Eli muttered blankly.

"Really sir?" Bart barked, surprised.

"You're more than a decade my senior Bart, please, just call me Eli and stop being so stiff." Eli tittered.

"Yes, s..sir, I mean Eli!" Bart gulped, turning red.

"Nevermind, anyways, yes I remember. Something about this girl, and past connections, from a while ago. We were childhood friends, actually in a group of three you see. Me, my twin brother Mark and Anja. I've been staying here a couple days, I was supposed to have died, disappeared actually. I left behind a heart-broken girl, a lonely mother, and a spiteful brother. Can you believe it Bart? In the one place I've been avoiding all these years, this is the puzzle I fit into, the family where I belong, where I was born. My name, sounds so familiar, it echoes in my ear lightly. Could it really be possible, that I've finally found that place I've been dreaming of?" Eli sighed, peering at Anja, gently tracing her chin.

"That is good sir…I..I mean Eli! Have you considered staying then?"

"I can't." Eli muttered, holding his head in his face.

"W..why not? Is this not the happiness you longed for?"

"I'll leave tomorrow morning before Annie wakes up, I want her to forget me, she doesn't need to remember! If I stay it will destroy her family. My brother will never accept me, my mother has long gotten over her lost child." Eli began to sob into his palms "I will disappear just like I d..did ten years ago!" he wailed, collapsing against her chest. Hugging her close to him.

"Staying will do nothing, even if people bring grief, I'm sure they want you back, Eli. You've long repaid your debt to the Rogue Protectors. There is no need to continue hiding away." A consoling tone in Bart's voice.

"Hey! Get off me, I need to see Annie!" A muffled yell was heard through the door.

"Mark?" Eli sniffled quickly wiping away his tears and sitting up straight again.

"What the hell happened here, and why are you crying, milksop. And Annie, this is your bloody fault isn't it? Answer me, outsider!" Mark hissed, grabbing Eli's collar and bringing their faces close together.

"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING , CAN'T YOU GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK HAMPERED SKULL?" Eli growled back.

"H..hampered skull? Don't call me that, only my friends and family can!" Mark bellowed, turning and running from the room, slamming the door behind him.

"Where did I get hampered skull from? Anyways we're getting out of here tomorrow, at dawn." Eli said, running his hand through his blonde locks. Bart nods thoughtfully.

"There are free rooms for everyone down the hall. Tell Naru and Akiri to rest up. Now." Eli commanded.

As soon as Bart left the room, Eli reached to the roll of bandage, gently wrapping the wounded side of her face. He stood up, looking at her peaceful, yet injured face one last time.

"Good night, Annie." He whispered into the dark before shutting the door behind him.

Eli walked down the corridor, going to the door four down.

He opened the door, sat on the bed, curled in a ball and sobbed.

 

*The next morning*

"You guys all ready?" Eli questioned his team as the sun rose.

"Yea!" They all said, a somewhat sombre mood settling over the group as they walked out the front door, walking down the winding driveway towards the gate. They all looked at their feet, weighed down by heavy packs and capes. They walked slowly, with each step, Eli's sniffles could be heard clearer by his teammates. Naru opened his mouth to say something, Bart took his younger brother's shoulder and shook his head. Eli opened the gate, a gentle breeze billowing his cape around his legs. He breathed a shaky breath and stepped outside the gate, his tears falling to the ground.

"Wait!"A shrill voice called from the distance.

12: A New Chapter in Life

Her black hair glimmered in the distance, white bandages covering an eye. Eli smiled, his tears sparkling as the sun rose over the hill lighting her from behind. She cried, running towards him, arms outstretched. He dropped his pack, running towards her as they met in the middle, embracing.

"Y..you promised me you'd come back Lyle!" Anja wailed.

"I'm sorry I abandoned you guys, accidentally." He replied, trying to hold back sniffles.

They held each other in the newly rising sun. Her head against his chest, his arms around her waist and cheek against her forehead.

"Y..you, kept your promise to me! But what took you ever so long?" She giggled, drawing out of the embrace to look into his eyes.

"Anja, I'm was sorry, had an amnesia thing." He said grinning right back at her.

"Hey, u..uhmm.." Stuttered Mark, who had approached from the house, still in pyjamas.

"Mark?"  They said in unison, blushing as they pulled apart.

"Anja, please stay here! You'll be safe forever, I'll make sure! You can't rely on strangers to keep you safe!" Mark keened.

"I'm sorry, Mark, I'm tired of being a caged bird, I want to fly free, sing my song of freedom for all who can hear, and what do you mean rely on strangers? Can't you recognise, him?" I, replied, a softness in my voice, motioning towards Eli.

"Eli?" Mark stared at him, confused.

Eli stepped forward till he was face-face with Mark.

"You can’t pretend to be like them forever, I know you can see, no matter how much you want to fit in, your heart will always be against it. When you come to your senses, look for us, I love you, brother. My hamper skulled brother." Eli leaned forward gently, holding his brothers's shoulders bumped their foreheads together.

Anja gently tugged on Lyle's forearm, as they turned to walk away together. Lyle slowly slipped his hand down to hold hers tightly, she squeezed gently back. The two rubbed shoulders, shedding tears.

"Lyle! Don’t go dying on me again! You hear me?! You two stay safe!" Mark blubbered as he began to wail again.

As we walked away, our backs facing him, Lyle gave him one last message.

"We'll be in Ethena, find us brother! And goodbye, hopefully not for long!" He said, waving without turning around.

I'm finally leaving this cursed manor, where I was raised. Leaving with a person I have longed to see for many years. I never thought I'd really see Lyle again, after all these years, I too had given up. I'm a fool.

 

It is a new day, a new future, set by the light of a new sun.

13: We're Off, with Problems

"Please tell me we're not going through town, again, after what happened yesterday!" Akiri whined. Whine, whine, whine, that's all Akiri ever does, and plus she patronises Lyle! And they're like the same age! BOOHOO he probably doesn't even remember me!

"It's like the only road out! Do you have another way we can get on the road?!" I shrieked back.

"We'll take the mountain-way again! It's easier!" She hissed back.

"Easier? Easier? You must be joking! We have to climb the valley!" I screeched, grabbing a lock of her scarlet her, yanking it.

"ARRGH, you'll pay for that!"

Let me explain, how we got here! So after we left the Grandine Manor we'd already figured out we couldn't really walk through town, after what happened last time, when we crossed the street. I planned that we could avoid people in the early hours and go to the road to the capital, Ethena, but no, Akiri insisted we climb the Grandine Peak and go around the town. Well Grandine City has an interesting positon, it lies a little to the left of Ethena the captial. Grandine is positioned in the bottom of a valley, this makes Grandine City quite remote, and elegant, surrounded by high mountains it's a popular holiday destination. Going back to what I was talking about, it would be easier to avoid town if we climbed the peaks, the mountain road to Ethena was rough, harsh, the path less travelled. I proposed, that since we were leaving early we could simply walk through town and take the main road, which was more smooth, less rough and was more direct.

"We're going to get there either way, so stop complaining, we're taking the main road!" Lyle grumbled, patting us both on the heads.

"But Eli! I mean Lyle, I mean captain! Why? Why don't we just go the normal way!" Akiri whined, wrapping her hands around his arm.

"Anja's here so we can't, and let go of me." He said, brushing her off.

"Oh? So rich girl is the one person that matters on this team? Since when did she mean so much to you?" Akiri sighed, pouting inanely.

"U…uhm…s…sh…she was a childhood f..friend you see!" Lyle stuttered, looking away as he blushed.

"Friend? Eh?" Bart chuckled, elbowing the tomato-faced Lyle.

"Leave him alone you two!" Naru muttered, pointing at Akiri and Bart.

"S…someone has an old crrrrrrush!" Bart laughed, slurring his words.

"Bart! Are you drunk again?" Asked Lyle, seeming twitchy.

"Yes captain! C…couldn't help myself, but I'm not too drunk to see, h..how much yah like yah o..old gal, eh?" Bart snickered, slinging an arm around his shoulders.

"Let's just get out of here shall we?" He ordered, cringing.

The group of five started off down the Main Street of town, trying not to make a ruckus.  The empty street was filled with yet to open shops as the rising sun cast a shadow over the cobblestone street.

"Hey, Annie, you okay about leaving?" Lyle, whispered gently in her ear, running his hand down her arm till their fingers met. AAH, my face is going red! What is he doing? It's been ten years and he still wants to hold my hand?

"Y..yea…I…I'm okay! We'd better hurry up before people wake up!" She squeaked, turning red and yanking her hand from his, while hurrying ahead of the rest of the group.

"Rejected, eh man-captain?" Chortled Bart.

"I'm just embarrassed!" I  hissed, turning around and glaring Bart down, still red-faced.

"Hey, stop there!" A gruff man hollered at them.

"It's the man from yesterday!" I shrieked.

14: Reunion, Forgiveness

"EHHHHH? This can't be happening!" I squealed.

"Just run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!" Akiri shrieked, grabbing my wrist, bolting.

"Bart? You better not be so drunk you can't run!" Lyle screamed, his face hysterical.

"Run? Running is for little girls!" Bart guffawed.

"Naru! Grab his wrist!" Lyle commanded before Naru disappeared over the horizon, screaming.

He watched the group disappear.

"You're the one that hurt Anja yesterday right?" Lyle asked, motioning to the approaching man.

"Punching that wench, was every bit as enjoyable as punching you out will be!" He growled.

"Heh." Lyle smiled. He looked up, something had changed, his eyes ablaze with fury. His smile demonic as he glared at the man.

"What is that man?" A frightened woman asked.

"He's a demon, look at his smile!" Another whispered back.

"I don't forgive people who hurt, or even threaten my friends," he growled, slowly drawing his sword "ever, I'll make you pay. Double time." His voice becoming ever more dangerous.

The man, hesitated, taken aback by his fearsome demeanor.

"I'll slice, slice you in half, dye your blonde hair red, and remove your toes." A calm coldness settling over Lyle's stern eyes,

"You're going to do what you people did to my son, a decade ago!" He cried out, rage fueling his voice.

"Wait, would you happen to be, Norris Heathburn? Husband of Marie Heathburn? Father of Mark and Lyle Heathburn?" A slightly gentler smiling crossing his face.

"Yes! W…what have you done to my family?" He bellowed, striding confidently towards Lyle.

Lyle simply held his ground as the bulky man approached, stubbornly the man threw a punch. It smacked into Lyle's palm, stopping it dead in its tracks.

"Eh, old man, you're getting weaker. And, you've got a grey hair, papa." Lyle said, a tear rolling down his cheeks, closing his hand around his father's fist.

"Who are you?" He asked, almost knowing what the answer was.

"Who do you think. Papa?" Lyle, whispered, looking up, showing his tears to the people.

"The only person who ever spotted my grey hairs was Lyle! But how could you be alive son?" The man wailed, wrapping his bulky arms around the boy.

"I was n..never dead!" Lyle sniffled in reply.

"Oh! My boy! This whole time you were in and out of Grandine City, why didn't you tell us?" He wailed, gripping his son tighter.

"Because, I didn't remember, I got hit in the head!" Lyle chuckled as his father rubbed his head.

"Stay, Lyle, there's a simple life here! And we were all fools to judge you Rogues without enough information! Stay here, there are jobs to do and you're still a fine young man, stay here with your family!" His father begged, holding the boys face in his hands.

"Father, I cannot." He whispered, taking his fathers hands from his teary face.

"W..what? W..why ever not?" He replied, slightly shocked.

"I've got an amazing paying job in the capital. And, I'm the future 1st commander of the brigade, and I've got my own team waiting for me! And plus I get to rid the world of common nasties." He stated, as if commander was a trivial status.

"V…vice…C..commander? Of the whole brigade? But you're only sixteen!" His father said, gawking.

"Vice First Commander and First Captain of the 2nd Brigade!" He said with a cheeky grin after saluting.

"Well, if you've really gotten such a life, I suppose I'll have to let you go!" He sighed.

"Well, tell mom I said hi, she was kinda busy this morning!" Lyle laughed, turning to leave.

"You've grown into a fine young man!" His father sniffled. Ruffling Lyle's hair as he walked away.

"Yea, thanks old man!" Lyle cried out waving as he jogged away.

"Don't call me old man!" He yelled back irritably.

Lyle ran up the Main Street, staring ahead, with a single tear down his face, as he raced towards the new future!

 

15: Journey to the Capital

"Naru? Bart? Where's Lyle?" I asked, as the two came dashing down the dirt path. Where did that idiot go!

"I swear he was right behind me!" Naru whined, letting go of his older brothers wrist.

"EEEEP, I have to go back and get him!" I cried in frustration.

"You, rich girl? Oh please, you'll just cause a racket! I'll go!"Akiri teased.

"Don't call me rich girl, fire head!" I hissed, yanking her hair.

"You started it!" Akiri growled back, tackling me to the floor.

"OUCH!" I shrieked as she grabbed another lock of my hair.

"Take this, rich girl!" She roared, continuing to yank at my hair.

"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" I screeched in her ear, shoving her off of me. Before I could leap on the chance to rip her hair out, a pair of muscly arms wrapped around my waist and carried me away down the path.

"Hurry up everyone!" He called after.

"Where were you? Naru said you were right behind him, are you alright?!" I asked, worried.

"Yea, I'm fine I had some unfinished business, that's all."

"Unfinished? Business?" I asked, sounding oddly frightened.

"Yea, turns out that guy who beat you up yesterday is my dad! Never really was a friendly man." Lyle chuckled.

"I think everyone will eventually come to find out I wasn't murdered, interesting how they reacted!" A look of triumph on his face.

"Y..yea." I muttered.

"What?"

"Could you u..umm… put me down? It's not really comfortable being slung across your shoulder." I grumbled.

"Alright, alright!" He chuckled, grinning he let me down.

"Now let's go!" I said, in a cheery mood.

The group slowly traversed the valley, making their way towards the capital. It was time to camp for the night, as the trip would take about 3 days and 2 nights.

"Everyone, let's set up camp here!" Lyle ordered.

"Yes sir!" Replied Naru and Bart in unison.

"Yes captain!" Saluted Akiri.

"U..uhm…sure!" I muttered.

"Hey, come over here and help me would you?" Lyle said, motioning to me.

"Yea?" I said, walking over to him.

"Remember how we made fires as kids? Well try making one about this big!" He said, drawing a circle in the dirt.

"Okay!"

As the others bustled about to take their sleeping bags out and lay safety precautions, I crouched by a little pile of firewood and tried to make a fire. As night fell, I had the fire well lit as it warmed everyone and provided the light they needed.

"I'm going to sleep in the open, since you don't have a sleeping bag, take mine Annie."Lyle said with a smile, handing it to me.

"Thanks, Lyle." I muttered as I dragged it nearer to the fire, and slid in to sleep.

"Goodnight Lyle, Akiri." I whispered loud enough so they could hear me. Bart and Naru were already asleep!

"Goodnight Annie." Lyle replied! As I turned away from the fire to look at them both.

Akiri was in her sleeping bag, sitting on a log next to Lyle, cuddling against him. He cringed uncomfortably at the intimacy, looking seemingly annoyed at her clinginess. Eventually she'd fallen asleep on his shoulder.

"Oh dear god." He grumbled under his breath, just loud enough to hear. He gently sat up from the bench, letting her slide down till she was fully laying on her side. He quietly stepped over some rocks before sitting down beside me. He reached out and brushed a few blacks locks from my face.

"I'm awake you know!" I giggled, opening my eyes.

"Surprise, surprise!" He laughed, embarrassed.

He gentLy laid down next to me, I reached out and played with his golden locks. He wrapped an arm around my wait and brought me closer, muttering something about the cold, and holding me against his warm chest. I could hear his heart beating, a slightly fast, fluttery beat, just like I remembered it.

It felt like we'd never been separated at all, but in reality he was presumed dead for a little over a decade. We'd always been close, always. I mean we were pretty young but he promised to marry me when we got older, I know it's been like, ten years and it was just probably a childish game anyways. Of course Mark and Lyle were always fighting over me. Lyle was in all ways like Mark's younger brother, they never acted like twins, only like opposites.

*FLASHBACK*

"Anja! Annie! Come with me I want to show you something!" Lyle cried out,a trademark grin on his face, running up to me.

"Go away Lyle, I'm already taking Anja somewhere!" He hissed, shoving Lyle away and grabbing my wrist.

"Come on! You've been with her all day Mark, hog!" Lyle whined, grabbing my arm.

"Stop being such a baby Lyle!" Mark growled back as they used me in tug-of-war.

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" I shrieked as they yanked at me.

"S..sorry." They both muttered, scratching their heads.

"We'll all go to the places we want to go, together? Okay?" I said, reaching up on my tippy toes and patting them both on the heads.

*END FLASHBACK*

That, was a long time ago, when the three of us were still together. I nudged closer to Lyle, who still held me. Of course I hadn't figured they liked me till they both told me, at that one moment it had been impossible to differentiate between the two, blonde haired, grey eyed, tomato faced idiots. With the scar over his eye, even I'm not surprised that I didn’t recognize Lyle. Still, he hasn't changed at all, the same blonde locks and grey eyes. I think I'm just going to sleep now, it's so warm..

 

 

The morning sun shone gently on my eyes, my eyelids fluttering open.

"RAAWWWR!" Three things screamed at once.

"EEEP!" I shrieked, shielding my head. A blur dashed out of the corner of my eye, when I released my hands from in front of me, I was dumbfounded by everyone's position, Lyle, sat on my stomach, two daggers in his right hand, one in his left, each held to one of his teammates neck.

"What the hell did I tell you about waking me up?!" He bellowed at them.

"We're sorry sir!" They all replied in unison, dropping to their knees in shock.

"L..lyle." I stuttered, he was kneeling over my stomach in a protective stance.

"Yea?" He said, relaxing and putting his daggers away.

"You're, on me." I muttered, turning red.

"Oh, my god, I'm sorry." He said, jumping up.

"We're sorry sir, you guys just looked so peaceful, we couldn't help it, it was m.." Naru started as his big brother interrupted him.

"My plan!" Bart said cheerily, elbowing his little bro.

"Are you ok Eli? I mean Lyle. You've never attacked us with daggers when you wake up." Akiri asked, plainly concerned.

"It's nothing." Lyle muttered back, rubbing his forehead with his knuckles.

"Pack up!" Lyle commanded in his stern tone. The three immediately turned on their heels and began packing.

"They always do that to me!" Lyle muttered, shaking his head frustrated.

"W..why did you attack them?" I asked.

"I d..don't know." He said, sounding a little hesitant.

"I'm gonna help clean up!" I cheered, baking in the morning sun as it dripped between leaves.

"Yea, I've got stuff to do too." He whispered back, grazing his hand against mine as he walked away.

It was a beautiful morning, birds chirping and flying through the sky.

"Hey Akiri, do you need my help?" I asked, walking over to her casually.

"I don't need your help, rich girl!" She hissed, turning on her heel.

I stood, astonished.

"Hey, Naru? Do you need any help?" I asked, hoping for at least a more friendly welcoming.

"No, not really, but Bart said he needed help with something. He's that way!" Naru said, smiling to me.

"Oh, okay thanks!" I said, looking a little sad.

"Hey, Anja, don’t worry about Akiri!" Naru smiled, patting me gently on the shoulder.

"How d..did you know?"

"She makes the life of any girl who tries to be part of the team rough, other than the verbal abuse being obvious. Don't worry there's nothing wrong with you, she's just jealous! I really don't know why she follows Eli, I mean Lyle, around like a puppy, there's really no point! I wish she's at least look at the great guys around her." He chortled.

"Why would  she be jealous though?" I asked, I'm pretty sure I already know what Naru would say.

"Why do you think? She doesn't really want Lyle to remember how much he likes you!" A  bittersweet smile on his face.

"HEY! Naru, Anja!" Bart stumbled over, locking his brother into a head lock.

"BART! Cut it out!" Naru whined as they fell over, wrestling in the mud.

"Everything done?" Lyle aked the group as a whole.

"Yes sir!" Akiri saluted, strapping a large sword to her back.

"T..that's a big sword!" I stuttered, shocked at it's sheer size.

"It's called Kazaguruma, or windmill. I it's magically infused so I can strike up some big winds with it! Impressive eh, rich girl?" She sneered.

"Oh, that reminds me, we haven't exactly had proper introductions have we?" Naru said, nodding thoughtfully.

"Oh..yea." I murmured.

"I'm Akiri Rhode." She said, sticking out a hand, averting her gaze irritably, I shook her hand, feeling the hostility

"I'm Bart, Agnoria." He said, shaking my hand readily.

"Naru Agnoria." He too reached out and shook my hand, rather gently.

"Now that that's all done with! Off we go, if we travel quickly, we might just get there by tonight so we can rest early. Sound good?" The captain asked his team.

"Yea captain!" They all cheered in unison.

So we walked, I walked like I never walked in my life, plus my ankle was still slightly injured so I stumbled along at the back of the group, struggling to keep up.

"I..I can see the city captain!" Akiri squealed in excitement.

"Great, we've covered lots of ground today, more than expected! We're almost there, so WAKE UP BART!" Lyle hollered into Bart's ear, a smug smiling crossing his face.

After a very long day of walking, we arrived at the city gates just as the sun was setting. Walls surrounded the city, looming high above us.

"We're home!" Akiri shrieked, shaking Bart and Naru by the shoulders. The poor brothers looked like they were both on their last legs.

"We still have to get to the Hall." Naru moaned, a despairing air settling across the brothers.

As I stepped into town the first that caught my gaze was a large castle-like structure in the centre of the bustling city, it sat high above the other buildings, seemingly on the top of a hill.

"The hall?" I asked, curious.

"That thing, rich girl!" Akiri pointed to a large stone structure situated near the looming walls which surrounded the city. It had four tall towers around it and was large, and blocky.

We took our time making our way to 'the Hall' though everyone seemed to ignore us as we made our way through the busy street.

"I've never seen so many people, so many stalls, so many lights, in one place!" I giggled, clapping my hands together.

" Welcome to the Capital, Anja!" Lyle whispered with a smile, wrapping his hand around mine as we walked together.

Eventually we came to the front of 'the Hall'.

"EH? What's with this place?" I squeaked, gawking.