[[lol omg, I don't think I've ever let my hair grow that long!]]

Ari counted himself that he had tried this move in a mock-fight: clearly the bow string would have suffered had this been in a real battle. Must make note to self to never do that again, he grunted as felt the smooth wood being pulled out of his grip. [[I'm having difficulty imagining this vertical side kick... so I'll just try to work with my mental image.]]

Twisting aside to avoid Ani's slashes, he moved aside as he felt the whoosh of her feet fly by his face. Grabbing her ankle quickly and firmly with his left hand, he gave it a powerful jerk in an attempt to pull Ani off balance. And if this wasn't enough, he turned slightly sideways and aimed a kick towards her other ankle. He then turned quickly, under the arch of Ani's leg to flip her entire body while it was still in the momentum of the fall, and let gravity do its work.

((My older sister has long hair, waist length. ^^ I hate long hair, mines up to my chin...an angular cut. But every time I see her and her long hair, it makes me want to grow mine, how lovely it is. *V*

Have fun!! ^^
Im going to DisneyLand during the 4th of july weekend...a couple days. Ill let you know when I wont be on and when I will be back on. ^^))

The fall came as a shock to her, Ani dropped the sword and as she fell backwards, she came to fall upon her hands, turning out a quick back flip. As she was back on her feet, she crouched low fast and swerved her feet, a low kick aimed at Ari's Achilles heel. As her feet came clear on the other side, she rolled the short distance picking up her sword once again, and leapt up on her feet like an animal.

[[lol yeah, I hate having long hair too!!! I just think it gets so heavy and hot in the summer and it takes FOREVER to wash and dry it... yeah... lol.

But then I have a Muslim friend who went without cutting her hair foooorever, and I was jealous when I'd be over and it was down and it'd be all wavy [not that mine could ever be wavy lol] and shiny and stuff. Long hair's more fun to play with, just not to have I guess.]]

"Ah!" Ari let out a soft cry of surprise as Ani's kick landed on the back of his leg. It definitely did, other than leave a sore spot, shift him off balance. He was lucky that his stumble took him near the bow, and he snatched it up just as he recovered his balance. He, like Ani, returned to his original stance in the blink of an eye with a small grin on his face.

"How are you faring?" He asked as he caught his breath, and then kicked out again, let his right foot fly towards Ani's ribcage. He let his leg's momentum carry him forward and first knocked forward the brunt force of the bow, and then shoved his right arm forward on a paralleling plan with his left hand to stab at Ani's shoulder.

(( Lolz...Alot of girls that are muslim, their parents shave their head when their small, so when they grow up the have really shiny and silky looking hair. ~.^
Only my mums muslim, my dads hindu, so we dont follow any customs from the two religion...only for weddings, deaths, ceremonial things like readings... ^^))

Ani had to drop her sword again, as she caught his ankle between her wrists, twisting it outwards in the process,she dropped it with a fling outwards. "Fine...you?" She asked between breaths as she kicked her sword up and took hold of the hilt. She slashed the sword at the bow in his hand the blade caught on the angle where the bow met string and she flung it in the air, grabbing it, she backed up a little taking a stance with the bow and her sword were crossed in front of her.

[[Hahaha, I didn't know that! I'm not sure if her parents did that... hmm, because her mum's a converted muslim, and then her dad's American-Indian... lol. Like originally from India, but born in the United States. Hmm.

Man, lol how are we going to end this ever and move the story on? Maybe Layla should just suddenly snatch Phineas without Shan paying attention lol or something...]]

Surprised by Ani's move, despite the fact that it was almost what he did exactly earlier to her, he let her momentum carry him and twisted in midair, letting his other foot go towards her face instead as he spun. He was sure to hold on to the bow a little bit longer before letting it go, letting the string snap back into place.

"Better than ever," he said breathlessly as he landed in a cloud of dust, leaving tracks in the ground as he slowed and came into a complete stop. A sheepish expression came across his face, however, as he looked at the bow in Ani's hand and said, "I must admit, though, this experiment with the bow isn't working out as well as I hoped it would."

Ani tossed him back the bow, "Bows are not my specialty...If we ever met Micheal again, I could ask him to give you pointers." She said half smiling. "Hes a good pro with using it for close contact, thats why his has two blades on the end of the bow." She said describing Micheal's bow. "How about we call it a night, its getting later and we really should sleep seeing as how we have a big day tomorrow resuming our destination." She said nodding. "Unless you want to continue, I have no problem with that." Ani said taking her fighting stance again.

[[hey guys~ I just popped in to read. I am way to brain dead to write anything at all, but I didn't want to fall behind, seeing as how I'm the one that has to pay attention the most XD; ]]

Ari caught the bow without difficultly, and then smiled thinly. "I'm not sure if I ever want to meet that man again. He seemed like he would be... a difficult man to please." Ari laughed. "Especially if he was teaching someone."

"Nah, I'm beat." The youth said as he yawned and stretched, hearing in satisfaction as joints popped and loosened up. "Woah, I just realized this... am I going to have a room all lto myself? I'm sure Shan would want to stay with the kids... and I'm the only guy after that..."

[[Haha, how was graduation!!!]]

[[It was hot! LOL

Even at 8 in the morning it was SO hot, and the ceremony was at 9.

I had pizza at Disneyland at 1 in the morning. And a really BIG cookie *_*
We ended up coming back when the sun rose, so I got home at about 7. I went to sleep shortly after I got here, and woke up at 1 in the afternoon to eat cereal XDDD

I'm still braindead, though, sorry! DX My circadian rhythms are completely off. Breakfast at 1 in the morning...

OH, and you guys can see my haircut! >w<

CLICK
Note: my skin is NOT that clear LOL ..Photoshop. ]]

((Lolz, you look very purdy!!
Congrats on Graduating and all that fun!! ^^))

Ani laughed as she rubbed the white jewel, it turning green with poison, the sword it self radiating green. She felt it and it was sharp. Sliding it back into her hip sheath, "Quite the opposite actually..." She said. "He is a very patient teacher." Ani said as she picked off dirt from her clothes and smooth her hair back. "When I first met him, I was very young...about 150..." She said looking to the sky as she thought.."No..I think it was 170..." She shook her head, "Anyways, the first time I met him I thought he was on the other side at war, and attacked him. I wasnt too good with this sword then, he taught me that same day and many days after that until I was wielding it perfectly." She said smiling at the memory before looking back at Ari. "I know you guys had a...bad ...very bad first impression of him. But hes really a great asset to any one." She said nodding.

Ari simply tapped the flat of his blade and saw the flicker of light that showed the release of the spell. He tossed it once in the air before returning the blade to its scabbard and felt the adrennaline beginning to fade away in his veins. "You must have been very lucky," he said with a small bark of laughter. "Hm... I don't think 'bad impression' even begins to describe it for some of us. I have to admit, patience did not look like it would've been one of his fortes... but I suppose you can never judge a book by its cover." He conceded that much to her, willing to give the man the benefit of doubt.

150... young? He thought with awe as he walked side-by-side with her, crossing into the threshold of the inn. "If you don't mind me asking," he began carefully after a brief moment of silence. "Just how old are you?"

Kira watched the battle in silence, noting each move in her mind. She observed their fighting style, comparing to how she had her own. Most of the time she tried to go for where the nerve endings were most sensitive, but that was more hand to hand combat. She snapped out of her thoughts, hearing that Ani and Ari had stopped sparring. She listened in on Ani, hearing her age in the process. 150 years old is young? Man, compared to everyone else I must be pretty young. Well maybe not to Yuki, but he doesn't count. She tapped her hands on her sheath idly, wondering herself about Ani's real age.

Ani said nothing as he replied to her Micheal comment. She had turned to go back into the inn, wanting to go to her shared room with the other girls. There were three, Ari had one to himself, Shan, Yuki and Phineas in another and the third was for the rest of the travelers. She had to smile to herself as she thought in his question. She actually had to calculate a little to figure out her exact age before saying, "Five Hundred and sixty six to be precise." She said casting a glance sideways to see his expression she laughed. "It sounds like a very long time to be alive right? But truth be told it has passed by with such quickness that sometimes I cant even believe it myself." She said looking at her a scar in her palm tracing its line before she looked back up. "It helps the time pass much quicker when you have more things to do each day, than the day itself has hours. But sometimes it get tiresome..." Ani said casting a glance at the sky. "I wait for the day when the spirit will release me. Then I would live life like a human,...have a family, die of old age." She said with a touch of dream in the edge of it all. That was her wish, her dream and fantasy that she lived upon. Her nightmare will never surface because she had conquered it a long time ago.

Shan had been so entertained that for a moment she had forgotten that she wanted to talk to Ani. She stood up and handed Yuki the keys to the rooms. "I will be up there with you shortly," she told the two boys, then stood up and walked towards Ani. She tapped Ani on the shoulder gently. Ani was younger, but also taller. It was almost discomforting.

Yuki took the keys carefully, picking out the one for their room. He gave the other two keys to Ari and Kira, seeing as how Ani would be occupied, and then he and Phineas headed towards the room. As he walked, Yuki listened to Phineas, who seemed to have fed on the energy of the fight alone.

Ari struggled to keep the surprise and alarm out of his face as Ani revealed his age. Compared to Shan, she was young, but nevertheless, she was over five hundred years old! I can't imagine to be alive for so long, he thought wistfully as he looked at Ani with awed eyes. I wonder if it gets lonely sometimes...

"And sometimes all we want to live is forever," Ari said with a sad smile. "The rest of us always think that there's not enough time. Is there a condition that must be met, for the spirit to release you? And have you ever met anyone that you wanted to grow old with, in all those years?" He spoke too quickly, before he had time to think the question through. It was then the young boy realized how personal the question might've been, and blushed. A faint red tint appeared in his pale cheeks as he looked away and mumbled, "I'm sorry for my thoughtlessness... you don't have to answer if it's too personal. Well, I guess I will speak with you later anyways." He saw Shan coming, and ducked his head. "Good night, Ani. 'Night, Shan."

He took the key from Yuki with a 'thanks' and bid the two boys good night before entering his own private chamber. He reveled in the thought of sleeping on a bed - especially since his restlessness the night before. He undressed quickly to take a shower, and as he soaked in the warm water, he thought of his own history. Was there anyone that he ever loved? I wish my head would just cooperate sometimes, he thought with frustration as he dried himself. How strange... the composition of our group - a dragon, an angel, a woman possessed by a spirit, a man without memories... I don't think I've ever met such a bizarre assemble. Ever. Climbing into bed, as out of habit, he stashed the long dagger under his pillow while keeping his bow close and his throwing knives in a neat stack inside his folded clothing; after all, in a place like this, it was best to never let one's guard down... anything could happen at any given moment.

Ani was surprised by the question, it was personal, but she would of answered it. Ani felt the tap on her shoulder and nodded her goodnight to Ari, "Later it is. Night." She said, waving to the other boys and girls as they left. She turned to Shan, "What is it that is plaguing your mind Shan?" She asked.

Shan waited until the other were far enough, and then said, "Micheal. I'm sure I've seen him before. However fleeting the image is, I know I've seen him before. And he definitely knows how I am." From there she moved on to what bothered her the most. "When I see him in my mind, I can also see Yume. When I try to remember him, where I've seen him, she's always near. He was close to her. Or, close enough to her where she didn't bother to push him away like she usually does. She doesn't like people at all."

Ani stared at her intently, "Im not sure what you want me to say... Micheal has never divulged much information about himself to me." She said in thought. She didnt know how Micheal knew Shan and what the DreamWeaver had to do with it all.
All she knew about Micheal was that he was a fallen angel, and not by choice at all. He is very bitter when ever he talks about himself and his personal life, that she had taken the hint a long time ago and avoided questions like that or anything that could trigger it.

Shan pondered for a moment. She hadn't really expected much information about Micheal's past as much as something else. "He never told you why he was fallen, did he?" Shan asked, both to herself and to Ani. She wasn't so sure Micheal himself knew why he had been banished. "And he really seems the type to put up a front, as if he is lying to keep himself from getting hurt. If only I could talk to him."

***
Back inside the inn, Yuki had fallen asleep along with Phineas. The beds were surprisingly comfortable, despite his initial paranoia that they might be stuffed with something rather unpleasant. Although he would have fallen asleep fairly quickly even if the beds were not up to standards. He was not used to traveling, especially with the thing's he'd seen so far. Nightmares were never very considerate, were they? His sleep was deep, his body and mind were both tired.

Ani looked from her attention to the sky back to Shan. "He is actually very open, and doesnt come off as the lying type." Ani said nodding, "Hes just told me that his fall is bittersweet. A curse and a blessing all at once to see what he needed to see. I believe he was also rather young when it happened." She said crossing her arms in front of her chest. "An emotional scar." She added softly. "We will probably meet him on the path to the Dreamweavers realm. I dont know how he will behave towards you wanting to talk him, with the outburst hatred he had shown towards you on the first encounter."

Shan sighed deeply. "I made an awful impression," she said. "I'd just like to talk to him about Yume. I would talk to her, but there are obvious barriers..." She thought about Micheal's banishment. "The Dreamweaver is constantly being watched by the Council of Elders. Maybe Micheal was close enough to her where he needed watching as well. They don't like it when anyone gets too close to the Dreamweaver."

((hello just checking in from spain. Hope you are all doing well!!! it is BLOODY HOT here, I am so happy, although I think of you allt he time and wonder what is up. I only have three minutes left at this internet bar....!!!! Eek! TTYLS!))

[[Glad you hear from you! I'll edit my post later tonight with a bit more story

And good luck with those keyboards XD]]

[[Well, since more than a day has passed, I can double-post now, so I guess I'll just do that.

I'll use green for Phineas so that he'll stand out from Layla ^^]]

Back inside the inn, Phineas woke up with a growling stomach. He could have sworn he was full when he had gone to sleep. Now he would have to go down to where that dreadful woman was in his underwear, as he had put his clothes under his pillow before going to sleep; ;he would have to hope that there would be something decent to eat. Silently, he slipped out of the room, being careful not to wake Yuki up. That boy seemed to be a light sleeper. At the sound of a creaking board, Phineas froze, waited, and then continued, going down the steps in his own unique fashion. He stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted Layla only a couple of feet away from him.

Layla looked down at the boy. "Ah, if it isn't my meat-loving friend," she said, smile still plastered on her face as if she was a semi-animated sculpture. "What brings you down at this time of day, or night? It's already dark outside."

Phineas evaluated the meaning of the word "friend" in his mind, just to make sure that he had not misunderstood. "I am not your friend," he replied, finally. "But I am hungry," he added, trying to keep his stomach quiet. It was such an uncooperative stomach.

"You have a mighty appetite, don't you? I'll go bring you another steak just for you, even though it's so late." She said this if she were going to do something glorious at an inconvenient time, but in reality, it was quite convenient for her. "You just wait here, dear," she said, and disappeared behind the closed doors.

Phineas did not need to be told to wait. He had absolutely no intentions of following that crazy woman. He stayed put until she came back with his food, which he ate at great speeds, just so he could leave as soon as possible. As soon as he was finished, though, he could not even move. His body refused to move, his eyes refused to stay open, and his mind refused to do anything at all. He slumped forward, unconscious.

Layla was no longer smiling. She took the drugged Phineas away through the door behind the counter, and back through another door, into a place hidden completely from view, where the Dream Catcher was waiting. She really wanted to take his blood, but she had to deliver him as he was, or there would be a deduction from her payment. She refused to hand him over until the bag of gold was already at her feet. "Here you go," she said, then took the money and walked back to the inn without once looking back. She heard the carriage of the Dream Catcher get further and further away, planning out what to do once the others in the group found out.

The creek outside of his door woke Ari with a start - hazily he realized that it must've been one of the other guests of the inn instead of an attacker as he slumped back into the embrace of his pillows. He listened with a smile to the distinct sounds of descend with the realization that it was Phineas - what a kid, he was probably hungry with that dragon-sized appetite of his. As he waited for sleep to reclaim him, he also unconsiously waited for the sounds of Phineas's steps to ascend.

And after what seemed like an hour had passed, he realized that he never did.

It seemed impossible that the small child would take so long to eat. Had he fallen asleep? It seemed impossible. Sending a small breeze through the opening under his door downstairs for investigation, he listened keenly for sounds that might've indicated the Dream's presence there - a slurp, knock of metal, the creeking of wood... but there was nothing.

"I'm just being paranoid, must've missed it..." he muttered to himself as he turned and looked out of the window where the eastern sky was finally turning light. Disgruntled at the fact that he had woken much earlier than he intended, the young man climbed out of bed and hastily dressed himself, donning his breeches, footwear, and a shirt before hastily sticking the long dagger through his belt. He descended the stairs quickly and quietly, eyes shifting abuot the room to look for signs that the dragon had been there. "Must have missed him..." He said softly to himself again before ruffling his messy hair and sitting down in one of the many chairs about the room with a sleepy sigh.