Cyriel

OOC: callmegoddess, you're lucky you have a house. :p IC: Ingrid stayed back after the meeting was over, helping to disguise the building to look deserted. The other ops hung around for a bit, then one by one melding back into the rain and out of sight. She avoided Trea and the guy called Vincent, overhearing some of their words. [I]They don't even know each other, and already they're having a lover's spat.[/I] She smiled, but didn't let her sarcastic laughter escape her. She called to Burque, her voice easy and lazy, "Hey, can I take another look at that map? I mean, we [I]are[/I] leaving tomorrow, and I don't relish walking in blind to Pandora's tower." He gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes, and printed out a copy for her. "Oh, by the way -" But Burque had already turned away, and Ingrid didn't call him back. She felt her spirits sink...why was she feeling so depressed? [I]And again, I suppose it's right...after all, tomorrow we get to decide if we're all wiped off the face of the planet...[/I] Hearing Trea and Vincent leave, Ingrid deemed it safe to venture out the front door without interrupting the two. Trea was cute - it was hard to believe that she was only two years younger than Ingrid...it felt more like five. Vincent, on the other hand... [I]Wait a second...that guy still has my whisky![/I] She tore off in the rain, quickly scanning the grey scenes surrounding her, looking for Vincent. She saw Trea running off in the other direction, and quickly spotted Vincent also. Ingrid ran up to him, her hair soaking again. "Hey, you should use the umbrella. I could use it right now." He said nothing, merely glancing at her. "By the way, would you mind? I think I need a drink." She tapped his pocket, where she could see the outline of the flask barely weighing down the cloth. He looked down, remembering the whisky, "Oh, yeah..." Taking it out, he handed the silver flask to her, and she unscrewed the cap, taking a quick swig. She put it back into her own pockets, and then remembered something that Sheila had mentioned. "...another thing... Who's the other op that we're waiting for? Sheila mentioned someone else. As a matter of fact, what's your role in this? I don't recall ever seeing you before."

Name: Nari Kye Age: 30 Group: Yang-guibisok A.K.A. Yang Mafia Ethnicity: Korean/Japanese (East Asian) Description: 5'7" and a slender form, toned from her intense lifestyle. Straight black hair that has been cut to her chinline, and light-brown eyes that are intensified by her dusky skin. Her hair is usually pulled back in a simple ponytail, though a few strands continually escape. She wears clean-cut dress suits in a casual fashion, usually leaving the jacket open, and the collar of the blouse over the jacket and untucked. Comfortably low heels complete the ensemble, while still enabling her to move quickly and quietly. Bio: Nari Kye was born to a Korean mother, and a Japanese father. Raised in a middle-class family, Nari was always more interested in international policies and politics, rather than making a living. Her younger sister Yuri was born five years after, and they became quite close, Nari always protecting her. Nari as a child was always fierce and quick to anger, and other children learned to concede to her fiery will. Strong and stubborn, she always made an impression on everyone she met. Her ambitions led her to attend the best university in Seoul, South Korea, where she graduated with honors. However, at this time, her sister Yuri tested positive for leukemia, and died within the year, but not before she made her last dying wish: that Nari marry. Nari fulfilled her sister's wish, marrying a childhood friend of hers, Yang. Neither of them knew, however, the crowd that Yang ran with. He was already embroiled in the Korean mafia, leading a small gang that was fighting a turf war over control of a number of companies in the country. Nari became aware of this when Yang returned home one night with bullet wounds. Concerned, she forced Yang to reveal all, and was soon involved in their group as well. Nari proved invaluable, her political skills shining through as she quickly and artfully manipulated their group into power. Soon, she rose in the ranks, leaving Yang far behind. Even though they were married, they remained just simple friends, and soon they weren't even living together anymore. She had never loved him, and he hadn't loved her - they had just married to fulfill Yuri's dying wish. Soon after the attacks, Nari rose to power, a rebel and leader that people flocked to. As a female, she was the first of her kind, for none of her gender had ever been in the leading position. She was driven by her countrymen's needs, whose lives were slowly being overtaken by foreign companies and imports. She led one of the groups that was devoted to making Asia the major world market itself, and soon united the other groups under her vision. Firmly, she cut hard deals with the foreign companies, not above using underhand dealings and blackmail. Soon, even the government of Korea was filled with her people, as well as the rising political parties of Japan. Many people, even politicians, saw her like an Asian Joan of Arc, ready to lead the people to overthrow the oppressive power of foreign industries. However, fate dealt Nari another hard hand, killing Yang in a drug feud. For revenge, Nari overthrew the most powerful druglords of eastern Asia, and took over their business. She moved her base of operations to the U.S., becoming fluent in English in just six months, and making her connections everywhere. She still has many connections in Asia, and basically is able to run Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and some of China if she so wishes. Her mafia group became known as the Yang-guibisok, or the Yang Mafia for short, partly in memory of her husband, and partly just from the public outlook on the group. The name was well given, meaning "poppy," and in truth Nari controls the largest drug-trafficking of opium and other drugs in most of Asia. She is now extending her operations to the U.S. and the western world, threatening the very power of the heads of some of the other mafia families. Weapons: Two small modified semi-automatics, which have specially made armor-piercing explosive bullets. She keeps these only for self-defense, but rarely uses them, preferring hand-to-hand combat (of which she is very skilled), and small explosives. She also has two blades made of laser-cut obsidian, and are laced with liquid mercury, poisoning the blood on contact.

The Elders hummed in the temple, chanting magical sutras of healing and protection. The air was thick with the spiraling smoke of incense and herbs, and one of the Elders rang a small, delicate gong periodically. The candlelight was dim, adding to the shadows of the room. Veil and Sinahiro lay side by side on mats, surrounded by the smoldering herbs and chanting priests. Strips of linen covered Veil's body, hiding the purple and black bruises that had danced over her skin. She was deathly pale, and her veins still stuck out blue. She looked fragile on the mat, completely helpless. Suddenly a hiss emerged in the chanting, and a cloud of black smoke billowed again, but was quickly contained. The priests had just burned the hair that had unnaturally grown from Veil, cutting and leaving it at its normal length at her chinline. Hentaro, Mya, and Kilik sat outside, quietly listening to the chanting. It was comforting, but at the same time, deathly serious. Sinahiro also lay, breathing so shallowly that it seemed he would at any moment draw his last breath. The Elders watched his form in worry, and their hands wandered his form, skilled in the secret arts of healing. He stayed still, his condition unchanging. Suddenly, one of the priests murmured surprise. Veil's eyelids were fluttering weakly. Her mouth opened slightly in a silent murmur of pain, and she didn't try to move anymore. She was hazy, unsure of where the line was between reality and the unconscious state. She suddenly turned her head, looking at Sinahiro beside her. All she could see was his blurry form, surrounded by Elders. But...she saw that his mask was off...and tried to see his face, but everything was still blurry. Exhausted, she closed her eyes to welcome the deep sleep. Her finger twitched, her body too weak to follow her commands as she tried to reach for Sinahiro... and then sleep and exhaustion overtook her.

Ingrid watched as Alastor closed his jacket, hiding the angry scar beneath the folds of his clothing. His words were still in her mind. With the words came the memories, painful ones full of past love that tore at her heart. She closed her eyes, silently regaining her composure. There was no use in remembering the past, if you couldn't change it. [I]Shizu. Where are you? Why did you go?[/I] Familiar questions came rushing back, and Ingrid struggled to lock them back into her heart. When she opened her eyes, her expression was cool and controlled. Ingrid watched Alastor finish licking the last of his blood, and the wound slowly closed. Watching him closely, she followed his every move, looking for something hidden, secret. She was so focused on him that she could see the slight movement of his muscles that hinted to which way he would turn. [I]What did the Cleric teach you, I wonder...[/I] But she didn't voice her thoughts out loud. Her brother was as secretive as she, and her temper had flared enough already. Ingrid walked over the human, who was laying on the floor, pierced through the throat by Alastor's longsword. He was still faintly alive, at least alive enough to try to scream again as he caught sight of her. But she paid no attention to him, merely pulling out the sword with a lithe movement. The human gurgled a scream, drowning in his own blood. Ingrid looked at the human, wondering if it had suffered enough to deserve a helping hand to death. Finally, watching the air bubbles in the blood, she swiftly delivered the final blow, cutting the human's head off cleanly with the sword. Alastor watched in silence, uninterested by the minor death. Ingrid silently handed the sword back to him, and he wiped the blade on one of the table cloths, and sheathed it. When Alastor looked up, he saw Ingrid staring towards the castle. She started to walk. When she called back to him, her voice was hard and cold. "Are you coming? We might as well search for Yuki now, before those ******** do something to her." Alastor's head snapped up, and with a bound he was beside his sister, looking her full in the face. "Who said you were coming? This...is personal business..." His eyes looked haunted as he said this, and she could almost taste the hatred on his tongue. Ingrid looked away, her hair hiding her face. "You're right, it is personal. But not just for you. Besides, it's not like you could ever keep me away." She looked up, and smiled bitterly at him.

Smokey immediately froze, and he had a grimace on his face as he turned to face the other resident. He muttered under his breath, looking down at his feet. "Uh...yeah, a party." "Oh really? That's great! When is it?" The voice belonged to a girl. She came out into the hallway, revealing her slender figure. Her gray eyes were clear and bright, sparkling with mischief. She tucked a strand of her short black hair behind her ear, her smile sweet and alluring, but also with the same hint of wryness included. Smokey muttered something inaudible, and the girl smiled, a sarcastic look coming to her face. Whatever she was going to say, however, never came out, because at that moment, she spotted Manic in the hallway, behind Smokey. Completely ignoring Smokey, she came quickly towards Manic, her luminous eyes fixed on his face, and her mouth opening into another wondrous smile. "Oh, I haven't met you. Did you just move here? What's your name?" Manic swallowed, and then licked his dry lips. His first attempt to speak was unsuccessful, but he finally got enough spit in his mouth to utter, "Manic - I'm Manic." Her voice seemed to flower in the air, sweet with innocent nectar. "Oh, Manic, that's such an interesting name! Oh, I'm being rude, I haven't introduced myself." She held out her hand, shaking his gently. "I'm Valerian Pietrangelo, but please, call me Valerie. I just moved here recently myself, and Smokey is one of the only people I've met so far. I'm so glad to have met you." All Manic could manage to do was smile and nod. His knees felt weak, and he prayed that he didn't collapse onto the floor. Suddenly, he felt the air being pushed out his lungs as Valerie hugged him fiercely, saying in excitement, "Oh my gosh! You're so adorable! I can't believe I haven't noticed you before!!" [I]Adorable?[/I] Manic quickly tried to free himself, panic setting in at Valerie's loud display of emotion. "Wait - wait - what are you - I don't even -" Smokey was slinking away, and Manic shouted at him, still not free from Valerie's iron grasp. "Smokey! Smokey, help me!" Already he found her sparkling eyes uncomfortable, wilting under her merry gaze. She was brushing her hands over his face now, examining his every feature. "...oh my gosh, your mouth is so cute!! And your eyes are so ...deep! And your skin - how did you get such smooth skin?" She was running her fingers through strands of his hair now. "Gray hair already? Did you dye it? It's so original! I love it! You're so cute!" He found himself trying to push Valerie away, but nothing seemed to deter her. Linking arms with him forcefully, utterly ignoring the fact he was trying to escape, Valerie walked him down the hall. "You are so completely adorable, that I've decided you should take me to the party! We're going to have so much fun!" Manic was getting a migraine, when suddenly, he was free. He looked up, and Valerie stood there, smiling at him brightly. How could she look so innocent? He shuddered.

Inside, the others waited for the rest of the members to join the meeting. Tao, Trea, and Ingrid had gotten a quiet lecture about being on time...but they had shrugged and brushed it off. No big deal. Some of the other ops had glared, irritated at waiting for them, but again, they payed no attention. Ingrid now leaned against the wall, picking at her cuticles. She brushed back her still-damp hair, and looked up at the others, who were gathered around a table, seated in wooden chairs and crates. Tao she had no idea where he was, but she never did. Trea was also seated at the table, cheerfully smiling and talking quietly to some others. Ingrid made her way over to Burque, and leaned over his shoulders. She dropped a kiss on the man's cheek, drawing a sigh from the figure whom she had looked up to as a father. "So...are we going to start anytime soon?" Sheila glared at her; she didn't quite like the easy way in which Ingrid treated her superiors. Her manner was a bit too languid. Ingrid just smiled, the expression hinting at a wry, mocking tone, but Sheila merely looked away. Burque put his hand on Ingrid's and patted it. "Go back to your wall Ingrid, and don't cause trouble." Ingrid smiled again, this time with legitimate fondness, and walked back over the wall where she had been standing. She again took her nonchalant pose, and watched the others. Suddenly, the door slammed, and they turned to see the final comers. Vincent entered, wet and dripping, the umbrella folded neatly under his arm. The flask was no where in sight, which was probably a good idea. Sheila didn't really agree with drinking on the job... Leo followed, a sodden figure, but still with a slight, unsure smile on his face. Sheila stood up. "Now that we're all here, let's get started."

[B]Name:[/B] Tarique Chadwick [B]Willing to become a vampire?[/B] sigh...yes, I suppose [B]Age:[/B] 26 [B]Gender:[/B] Female [B]Description:[/B] [url]http://www.animeshrine.com/gallery.php?series=angelsanctuary&image=26[/url] [B]Weapons:[/B] Baseball bat, hunting knife, anything else that is close at hand, like random pieces of pipe, tree branches...etc... She likes golf clubs too, and also uses on regular occassion her paintball gun. [B]Biography:[/B] Intelligent and witty, Tarique is in hopes of becoming a crime scene reporter. She handles blood and "messes" quite well, keeping her cool even when some cops lose their lunches. She's noted for looking at the world with a detached tone, keeping her emotions down low on the job. Completely a fact-hunter, she loves to scout the evidential terrain, and interrupt any important proceedings so that her questions might be answered. Working on an internship in the police force, Tarique is like the assistant crime reporter, releasing only what the department wants her too, in return for her being able to wander about the scene noting down her facts and having her questions answered. Her high hopes are actually to go to D.C. and write pieces on politics, but for the moment, bloody mutilations have spurred her curiosity and interest. She looks at everything from a factual point of view, which can sometimes get irritating in emotional situations. However, the police and the force got used to her prodding and poking, and in general she's accepted, or merely tolerated by some. She's a familiar face by now. However, a little twist came up. Nina Cartwright was a friend of hers. Tarique went along with the other detectives, and Logan, when the call came in. She didn't even flinch when she saw the body, but instead went looking and examining the blood spattered on the glass of the windows, the state of the body... Until one of the detectives declared that it was Nina. Tarique almost didn't register the name, but then froze. Nina had been one of her best friends, but they had grown a little apart in recent years. However, they had still written occassionally to one another, updating each other on life. Tarique quickly left the scene, much to the surprise of some, and went directly to the head of the department. She asked to be the head reporter on this case, and the head, a little curious, agreed. Thus, Tarique is on her own hunt, determined to find the killer and bring him/her to justice. She, however, has no idea what kind of thing the killer is...but she's about to find out. She hangs out around Logan Channing alot, as he is the lead detective on the case, and seems to have a nose for these kinds of things...

Alastor watched as one of the heads of the vampires seemed to float through the air and fall at his feet. Ingrid slashed at another one of the vampires with quick flicks of her wrists; it received a deep cut in its arm, lucky that it had responded lightning fast because of the death of its fellow. Ingrid leaped back, lithely dogding the vampire's own attacks. The other remaining vampire turned its attention to Alastor, who had moved into action as soon as he had recognized Ingrid's blades. His claws slashed out, cutting deeply into the undead flesh, and shearing bone and marrow. His hand came out the other side, and when he pulled out his arm, a gaping hole was left in the vampire's chest. A surprised expression was on its blood-spattered face, and it fell to the ground. Alastor turned his attention back to the last vampire and his sister. Ingrid was still in human form. She tried to remain human as much as possible, due to a certain condition that only immediate family knew about: Ingrid could not fully transform into a wolf. Instead, she could only turn into one partially, looking like a mutated crossbreed between a wolf and a human. The wolves in the pack that had actually seen this were under the false impression that she could control her transformation, which added to their respect for her. She had done nothing to correct them. Now, she seemed to dance through the air, leaping and twisting gracefully out of reach, her hair following her movements like a shadow. Silver blades disappeared and reappeared constantly in her hands, quick movements that the eye could barely follow, drawn instead to the quick reflections of light on the moving blades. The vampire had no chance. Lines of blood were forming in patterns all over its pale, milky skin. Its face was contorted in twisted expressions of pain and fury. Alastor was about to leap in and end the disgusting dance, when Ingrid finally delivered the fatal blow, cutting off its head as she had did with the first one she had dispatched. "Why do you do that?" Ingrid asked quietly, her face expressionless as she wiped blades on a tablecloth. A total of ten knives were laid out on the table, and she cleaned them in an organized fashion. Alastor knew that many more were hidden under her clothing, rows sheathed in soft leather. He transformed back into his human form, and shrugged. "Do what?" She rolled up one of her pant legs, slipping the silver blades back into their places without a sound. "Why do you always go off like that on your own, without even a thought? It's definitely not something that you used to do, not even using your head. Have you turned into an idiot, after you left the pack?" Her tone was faintly mocking, but he was too tired to grow angry at her insult. Before he could answer her, a cluttering sound was heard in the corner of the tavern. One of the chairs was knocked over as the human that had been there came hurtling out of their hiding spot, screaming bloody murder, eyes wide in shock and terror. Ingrid sighed, and went back to putting away her knives. "You catch it."

As the procession made their way deeper towards the sewers, the air became stagnant and musty. Water dripped from the stone, and the echoes ran down the tunnels. Their own steps seemed muffled by the earth surrounding them, and sometimes odd, random whisperings fluttered around their ears...something not quite human.. They were obviously nearing the Soulflow. Suddenly, Logan's torch was extinguished, and the group was plunged into darkness. "****! Just a sec!" Beatricia whimpered while Logan struggled to relight the torch. His efforts were rewarded as the flame billowed again, revealing all of their strained, but relieved faces. Suddenly... Something moved in the shadows. A quick swish, the billow of a dark cloak, an ominous silence... Logan was not the only one who noticed the strange presence. The hair on the back of Gale's neck was standing up, and he felt the soft breath of moving air flow across his arms. He scanned the darkness where the light of the torch didn't reach. Aster was fingering his weapon, and Cortez's eyes shifted from side to side, trying to pinpoint the disturbance. Beatricia was still, nervously glancing at the others. Biggs was also eyeing the dark suspiciously, his hand on Wedge beside him. Another quick movement, and the flame of the torch wavered, confirming the suspicions of the unwelcome guest. They were definitely not alone. Suddenly, a figure stood directly in front of them, blocking their way in the tunnel. The light illuminated the dark cloak and the sparkling eyes. [I]*Engaged in battle with assassin*[/I] [U]Party:[/U] Gale ? Level: 5, HP: 250, MP: 25 ? Commands: Attack, Sword Art, Paysword, Item Cortez - Lv. 5, HP: 245, MP: 10 - Commands: Attack, Distract, Steal, Item Aster - Level 5, HP: 295, MP: 10 - Commands: Attack, Jump, Dragon Soul, Item Biggs Clankheart - Level: 4 HP: 220 MP: 0 - Commands: Attack, Item, Blitz, Wedge, Go! Wedge - Level: 4, HP: 278, MP: 5 - Commands: Attack, Rocket Fist, Blitz, Recharge Gale hissed and drew his sword, but the menacing figure was quicker. The assassin's light steps barely raised the dust, but in milliseconds Gale was pushed up against the wall of the tunnel, his blade locked with the enemy's. The gold-flecked eyes glinted with malice, and he heard a quiet, arrogant laugh whisper from her throat. Suddenly he fell forward, the assassin spinning away to meet the combined attacks of Aster and Logan. Quickly dogding both of them, she tripped Cortez, and was suddenly in front of Beatricia. Beatricia's eyes were wide in shock and fear, and the group drew in collected breath as the assassin's blade snaked out to strike the fatal blow. *SSHHIING!* The sound of the sword striking metal rang in everyone's ears. Wedge seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, fully blocking the assassin's attack. Wedge stood defensively in front of Beatricia, blocking her from sight. Biggs was right beside him, his eyes narrowed in determination. The assassin rebounded back, hissing through her teeth in anger. An odd clinking sound was heard - it had been heard off and on throughout the entire battle. Spinning as she blocked the combined weapons of Aster, Gale, and Logan, part of the cloak covering her head slid off, revealing the source of the delicate clinking. They caught a glimpse of the sparkle of gold, which seemed to be threaded throughout the attacker's hair. It clinked together, creating the delicate chiming sound that followed her movements. The cloak was quickly put back into place by one of the assassin's lithe hands, but not before a feeling of recognition passed over Gale... This figure felt oddly familiar.. But no time to think on it - the assassin's blade danced in the air, quickly swiping all of theirs. Leaping out of reach of their weapons, she glanced quickly at where Beatricia was hidden behind Wedge, and then disappeared, her dark cloak flowing after her. Although they ran after her in pursuit, it was evident that they would never catch her. [I]*End of battle! No exp. gained. No gil gained. No items gained.* [/I] Walking back to the group, Gale wiped his finger over his blade, cleaning off the dust that had risen during the fight. Beatricia was being cared for and reassured, although she still looked a bit shaken. However, it was evident that she would be fine, as her domineering nature was coming back. Cortez muttered, "The quicker we get out of here, the better. Even with the odd visitors and assassins, we don't want to stay down here more than we have to." Gale nodded in agreement, and they continued to follow the thief, while keeping their eyes on the shadows, looking for the swift movement of the dark cloak, or the faint jingle of the golden trinkets.

[B]Characters Name:[/B] Valerie Newman [B]Age:[/B] 16 [B]Physical description:[/B] 5'3", with a typical slender Asian build. Pale skin, black hair, and misty-green eyes, her features are more of her mother's than her father's, much to his relief. [B]Personality:[/B] She is extremely bright and intelligent. She has the poise of her father, and the grace of her mother, but has a sinister air about her. While not obvious, people in her company seem to shift in their seats uncomfortably. Her odd smile is hinted on her face, and her eyes seem to focus entirely on you. This may seem pleasant, but in fact, the strange force that seems to shine from her eyes makes one's hands start to become sticky with sweat, and their lips will become dry. In short, she's an odd child, who can have the charm and grace of an adolescent starting to bloom, which she can turn into a trap in a split second, so quickly that her guest will not even notice that they have walked into the net of her words. If you are going to visit her, be cautious, and make sure you're intelligent enough for the pitfalls that she prepares. The few visitors she has are always unnerved afterwards, and she will periodically send the servants from her room in tears. Valerie loves basically to study and manipulate human emotions, while still getting interesting bits of information and gossip. She has somewhat of a twisted sense of humor, and one can never tell if she's being serious, sarcastic, or spurious. In other words, she's caustic to one's soul, but in a way that one can never tell. She also has random bouts of depression, in which she will lock herself in her room and receive no one. The servants have grown wise enough to let her be, as she can very easily make their life living hell and terror. She has the habit of being able to discover secret bits of information that others would like to keep hidden, and is very talented at it. [B]Biography:[/B] Valerie is the teenage daughter of Jack Newman and Sayuri. All her life, she has been very hidden from the public, and thus has been very isolated and sheltered. As a child she lived with her mother Sayuri, with her father secretly providing for her financially. However, at the age of 12, Valerie finally became thoroughly sick of living with her mother, tired of her mother's line of work, which Valerie thought was disgusting and demeaning. It wasn't as if they had a close relationship anyway; Valerie had been raised mainly by nannies and private tutors. Bodyguards were also another normal constant in her life. Sayuri, on the other hand, was not. Valerie finally refused to live with her mother, and contacted her father, Jack Newman. Her father, who had had very minimal contact with Valerie, agreed to provide for her separate household, which is kept in an isolated part of his estate. Disguising her as a geisha, he moved her in, and she has lived in the grounds ever since, very rarely being allowed to go out in public. As it is, she must be satisfied to watching her father's guests secretly, or getting info from computers. From a result of her childhood, Valerie detests men, mostly businessmen, and is fascinated in a disgusted way by their greed and manipulating, dishonest ways. She also hates her father, but has a grudging respect for him, and won't do anything against him. Her mother she refuses to see. Valerie has an odd hobby of revealing gossip. She is especially interested in adultery, and many times has made the odd phonecall to newspapers and revealing the affairs of an important person. She remains anonymous behind the political falls of several people, again mostly important businessmen, and loves watching the quiet chaos that ensues. And while Jack Newman suspects his daughter's antics, he says nothing, letting her do what she will. [B]Education and Training:[/B] Tutored privately from early childhood, Valerie has already earned the equivalent of a high school diploma. She is now continuing in university studies, especially interested in history, medicines, and politics. Her tutors are skilled professors paid highly by Jack Newman, and she is basically receiving the best of educations. Valerie devours books, and Jack Newman has recently had additions to his vast library due to his daughter's hunger for all areas of literature and science. She is wellread in almost every material and genre, and is fluent in Japanese, German, Russian, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and is currently studying Chinese. Although she would rather forget her mother's heritage, Jack Newman has also employed several geisha to educate Valerie in their skills, in an effort to reunite mother and daughter. She is exceptional, and her father will sometimes allow her to entertain his guests as another one of the geisha, as she is completely unrecognizable in the disguise. That is the only reason why she puts up with the training. She welcomes the martial arts training much more than the arts of the geisha. Her father, very realistic about his enemies, has had Valerie training in several martial art forms since the day that she was moved to his estate. She is quite accomplished in kenjutsu, wushu, tae kwon do, karate, and several others, but has never experienced real combat. She also has some training in fire arms, but just enough so that she can effectively use one if in dire need. However, she is still quite knowledgeable in the area, and can identify, take apart, and reassemble almost any weapon if she has the correct tools. She seems to be able to just immediately absorb information, and never has to be told anything twice. Valerie also plays the cello with mastery, and it's one of the few things she enjoys doing for no reason. However, she often plays it when in one of her depressive moods, and so it's like a warning of a hurricane. [B]Driving Emotion:[/B] Hatred/Sadness - Valerie has alot of hate in her heart, mostly at her mother, some towards her father, and much towards the corruption of the world. She directs it in the only way she can - towards the shameful downfall of people of importance by turning their lives and pasts against them. However, her hatred disguises something deeper - the sadness of a lost childhood, and the absence of loving parents. So in reality, Valerie is just another teenager wishing for a happy family, who has quickly turned into a sadistic but extremely talented person.

[I]What the h***???[/I] Veil jumped awake, her ears ringing with echoes. Running out of the library, she peeked through one of the front windows of her camoflauged home. People were running, and there was screaming. Complete chaos in the underground tunnels. Luckily, there weren't all that many people around, and no horrifying stampede. She slipped out, and it was now evident what was making all the echoes in the subway tunnels. Gunfire reverberated around the stone underground, making Veil's head ring. She glanced up and down the tunnels, which were dimly lit from the light outside. Quickly she followed the sound of gunfire, and the screaming. Running in the opposite direction of everyone else, she skirted the edges of the wide tunnels, until she was almost to one of the openings. She could now clearly hear bullets hitting flesh, and winced, but didn't leave. [I]What the heck is happening?[/I] But Veil knew the area, and then remembered that a large colony of Stiffs usually inhabited the area. She bit her lip. [I]Those poor Stiffs, getting slaughtered by those bounty hunters.[/I] But she did nothing. After all, they were only Stiffs, and it was the bounty hunters' jobs to kill them. Still, she felt a little pang in her conscience. Gunfire still rang, and she could hear bones snapping, more screams ringing out amongst the horrible moaning. Sunlight was streaming into the tunnel, and she thought its glare evil, and stood in the shadows. Looking down, she saw blood running down into the tunnel in a little, snaking brook. Veil held her hand to her mouth, almost heaving. But she didn't - that would alert the bounty hunters to her presence, and she knew they wouldn't hesitate killing her too, along with the Stiffs. Suddenly, she heard a panting, along with quick shuffling sounds as someone came down into the subway tunnel. Turning quickly, her heart beating double-time, Veil found herself face to face with a Stiff. She was absolutely astonished, and his eyes were also wide. There was blood smeared on his clothes, and small cuts were on his face. His left arm dangled at his side at an odd angle. Veil stood absolutely still, shocked at his sudden appearance. She had never seen a Stiff up close before, especially not like this. Syft also stared, and his pulse was racing along with his mind. His mind was in panic, and then he glanced down at his feet and saw some of the blood trickling down, and suddenly there was more gunfire, and he couldn't take it anymore. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, and then closed, and he started to fall. Veil found herself reflexively moving, and caught him before he cracked his head against the stone floor. He was quaking oddly, and she realized he was in a seizure. Suddenly, her head was up, listening to the voices overhead, but she couldn't make out what they said. It was quieter now, with only moaning, and random gunfire spun out. Veil looked down at the Stiff in her arms. She stared at him, and the details of his face seemed to jump out at her. [I]This is still...a human being..[/I] As soon as the thought crossed her head, she knew that she couldn't leave him here. She picked him up, surprised at how light he was, and worry crossed her mind. The sounds of the hunters grew louder, and she could hear them getting closer to the entrance of the tunnel. Veil hurried away, Syft in her arms, quickly disappearing into the dark that she knew so well. Away from the hunters, with a boy so light that she worried he wouldn't live. Veil kept her mind on the Stiff she was carrying, blocking out the memories of the gunfire, the screams, the color of the blood in the bright sunlight... She followed the shadows and the twisting tunnels that she had lived in for so long.

As Vincent started pacing again, a dark figure became visible in the heavy downpour. He watched in silence, as the figure got closer and became more evident... Ingrid watched him through the rain as she walked closer. She suppressed the urge to smile at his constant pacing. Her pace stayed constant throughout the whole time until she reached the building. She stopped in front of him, waiting for him to let her pass. Silently, she calculated him, running her eyes up his form until they rested on his face. Vincent also studied her. She was carrying something over her head that he hadn't seen in a very long time... [I]Is that an umbrella? Where the heck did she manage to find one of those things?[/I] Her face was not strange to him - almost everyone knew Ingrid's appearance. Tendrils of her dark hair hung down, twisting around her neck and shoulders. She flicked water out of her eyes, and then handed the umbrella to him. "Here, it seems you'll need it more than I do, waiting for the others. Unless, of course, I'm the last one, which I positively doubt. Tao always seems to be more fashionably late than I am." But as she scanned the area around her, her expression turned to surprise. "Tao's already here? Amazing. I can't believe he beat me. Guess he's not so slow anymore." Vincent watched her, not taking the umbrella. A wry smile flicked across Ingrid's face, "Oh, ok then, I guess I'll just put it in your hand for you." Quick as a snake, her hand snapped out and grabbed his, and the umbrella was in his hand before he knew it. She smiled, and walked past, about to go inside the building. Then, she turned back, searching in some of her pockets for something. Victorious, she smiled, holding up a small flask. Ingrid opened it, sniffed, and took a quick swig. She then offered it to Vincent, who stayed still under the umbrella. She sighed, "Jeez, it'll warm you up. Whiskey's good in cold weather. Come on, even silent men need a drink sometimes." Finally, he took it, his reluctance evident. But it still made Ingrid flash a smile across her face. Satisfied, she went inside, leaving Vincent outside with an umbrella and some whiskey. Vincent looked at the flask, and then shrugged. [I]I could use a drink, I suppose. What the heck.[/I]

Hmm...I would love to go into the world of Demon Diary...although it'd be totally annoying and chaotic. Also, Suki would be interesting too.

Min-ah stood up from her seat, almost being one of the last ones off the bus. Stretching, she looked out the window and watched as the other girls greeted the special guy. Her thoughts were kind of cynical, and she smiled wryly to herself as she thought about the last two hours on the bus. [I]I'm certainly not in the best of moods right now... What an excellent start to meeting a bachelor. Blech.[/I] She combed through her heavy black hair with her fingers, making herself a little more presentable. Buses always made her a little nauseated, and this trip hadn't really helped her appearance at all. She was a little paler than usual, and her throat was dry. [I]Water...need water[/I], she thought to herself. [I]Oh jeez, stop being such a coward. Get off the stupid bus.[/I] Irritated with her nervous state, Min-ah slowly got off the bus, stretching out her tired muscles, and regaining her balance. She felt like she had just watched a long, boring movie, and she had a headache coming. Walking on the red carpet, she tried to smile, but only succeeded in a wry grin as she walked up to Dragon Warrior. He held out his hand, "Hi, I'm Gavynn. And you are?" She shook it, testing his grip, "I'm Min-ah." His hand was warm, and she liked the confidence that his handshake exuded. Suddenly, she pulled away, almost violently, and ran towards the backyard. Dragon Warrior looked after her in surprise. What the heck? However, Min-ah didn't look back, and when she reached the backyard, she barreled through the girls that were already there, heading straight for one of the large trashcans. And unceremoniously puked the contents of her stomach out into the trashcan. Luckily, there wasn't too much of it, since she hadn't eaten out of pure nervousness in the past six hours. [I]Ugh, I really need a drink of water.[/I]

[B]Name:[/B] Minthe (mint in Greek) [B]Age:[/B] 16 [B]Hair:[/B] Light gray [B]Eyes:[/B] Light gray [B]Race:[/B] Puppet [B]Job:[/B] Lady Knight of East Heaven [B]Occupation:[/B] None [B]Weapon:[/B] [I]Machetes[/I] - twin blades made out of a dark, pearly metal, they have a delicate curve and are razor sharp. Minthe uses them with absolute mastery of skill, and has her own personalized technique and fighting style. The blades are also lined with mercury, which poisons the blood on contact. [B]Abilities:[/B] [I]Quicksilver[/I] - Minthe has an ability to increase her speed amazingly, until she is no longer visible. Only her shadow on the ground is visible, and sometimes she uses this ability to confuse her enemies, or distract them with her shadow. [I]Breath[/I] - Almost like a refresher, this is like a spell that revitalizes strength and spirit in dark circumstances, when both are waning. When this is used, there also seems to be the tangy scent of mint in the air, borne on a gentle wind. [B]Appearance:[/B] [url]http://www.animeshrine.com/gallery.php?series=warofgenesis&image=2[/url] This is how Minthe looks, although her eyes are a very light gray to match her hair color. Also, instead of the pants and shoes, she wears a tunic, leggings, and slender boots that match the same style and design. [B]Personality:[/B] Calm and very solemn, Minthe holds to her code of honor rigidly. She has been brought up strictly, and she holds honor, loyalty, and duty above all else. When she is given a mission, she will fulfill it to the extent of her abilities. Although only 16, she acts older beyond her years, like an experienced veteran who has lived beyond their lifetime. Clearheaded and calculating, Minthe knows exactly where the extent of her abilities lay, but is never afraid of challenging them. In fact, she holds fear or cowardice to be worthy of death, and is harsh towards those who seem to waver in the light of battle. Despite all of this, Minthe is trusted and liked by many, although her personality causes others to admire her from a distance. Her wisdom is sought out by many, and she is revered by the general public. However, when it comes to her feelings and emotions underneath, Minthe is utterly unsure of herself. She herself is afraid of her emotions, although she never admits it, and seeks to cover her uncertainty at these feelings. As a result, she acts very coldly towards men, and brushes off any potential suitors. She, in reality, is afraid of exposing weaknesses. [B]Biography:[/B] As the only child of Mint, one of the Queens of East Heaven, Minthe took on a form of her mother's name. She was raised by nannies, as her mother had little time to spare. However, Mint was very regretful of not raising her own daughter, and whatever time she had, she absolutely lavished on Minthe. However, this did not substitute for real parenting, and Minthe slowly drifted away from her mother's affections. She just wasn't interested in playing a sweet princess and daughter. Instead, she would constantly watch the training grounds, going there on her own from the age of 7. Her mother, although saddened by her daughter's choice, allowed for Minthe to be trained in the ways of a Knight of East Heaven, and watched as Minthe joined the ranks of the most revered swordsmen and women in the land. Minthe was remarkable in her training, mastering all sorts of weapons, but in the end, choosing the machetes as her weapon of choice. Her mother gave her two dark blades, laced with mercury, on her 16th birthday. The fact that Minthe is a puppet has also not been discovered by others, not even her own mother. Since her Lifestone seems to hide itself from eyes, no one is aware that she is a puppet. Minthe, on the other hand, has been aware of it all her life. She can't even remember when she first knew; she just knew that she had a Lifestone, and just naturally grew up with it, but never revealed it to others. It was not a thing that she learned, but just a thing that seemed to exist with her. It just was. When the Lifestone is visible, which is not very often, it is also a the same dark, pearly color as the metal of her machetes. Having absolutely no fear of battle, Minthe was a welcome addition to the Knights, and now serves the two Queens of East Heaven faithfully, making no acknowledgement that she herself is a princess of East Heaven. Instead, she lives the life of a knight, traveling and serving errands, or performing whatever mission is needed. As for now, Minthe has been one of several Knights assigned to go and guard the tomb of Valen, to make sure that he cannot rise from his dimension.

[B]Name[/B]: Valerian Pietrangelo a.k.a [B]Valerie[/B] [B]Gender:[/B] Female [B]Age:[/B] Barely sweet 16 [B]Description:[/B] Average height, gray eyes, and straight black hair to her shoulders. She often brushes it behind her ears, and she has a bright smile. At first glance, she's charming and sweet...but that facade doesn't last too long. [B]Life Story:[/B] The only child of doting parents, Valerie grew up with it all. Her mother was Japanese, and her father Italian. She grew up in a little villa in the countryside of Italy, but has been all over the world because of her father's rich lifestyle. Her hobbies include reading, coloring on walls with crayons and pastels, eating bread (she adores bread and pastries), and anything else that flits across her whimsical mind. Her personality is just that - whimsical. Always having an air of levity around her, she seems to float through life with an almost irritating style. Valerie is quite bright, and her tongue is quick to match. She loves to lead other people in merry little dances of words, in which she twists and pulls their arguments from under them. Because of this, she is a wonder at debate. Recently she moved to The City on her own, with no trouble from her parents, as they give her everything that her heart desires. She lives in the same apartment complex as Manic, but has just recently moved there. As they haven't met, he blissfully has no idea of the complete hell that Valerie is going to make of his life.:) Charmingly bright and innocent in front of adults and other persons of importance, Valerie has a mischievous side which she doesn't reveal in front of them. But in fact, she is quite the little troublemaker, and if you get on her bad side, she can hold a grudge [I]forever.[/I] And not only that, but she will do as much as she can to make your life miserable. However, Manic is lucky. She's not going to hate him. In fact, when she meets Manic, she will adore him, and in the same sense, drive him crazy. Did I mention that she is excellent in school? And already a popular addition, as well as an elite member of the debate team. Valerie will haunt you everywhere.:D Can't wait to meet you all.:D

Ingrid's grip was strong, despite her delicate looks. Alastor could barely move, but twisted and freed himself quickly enough. He snarled at her, losing his patience with his younger sister. "What do you want??" Ingrid's expression matched her brother's, and her eyes were cold with contempt. "I want the Alpha to start thinking! You're going in there by yourself?? Don't you know how crazy that is?" "Well, if you would keep your pretty voice down, then I wouldn't have to worry about anything. Leave. Now." Alastor turned, and started to walk again, but was once again stopped by Ingrid's hand on his shoulder. He was really getting irritated. "And what about the pack? Are you just leaving them again? It's been so long since you went! Why won't you come back?" He shook his head, and glared at her. "Can't you see? Are you blind? You're asking me to go back to being the Alpha of the pack, when [I]my daughter[/I] is still alive out there? Besides, they don't need me. You've been doing a fine job on your own." Ingrid stood with her hands on her hips. Her voice came through gritted teeth. "Yes, I'm quite capable of leading the damn pack, but it's your responsibility! I didn't ask to have that position dumped on me!" Alastor sighed, looking up at the sky. "...I...I won't go back. Not until..." "Fine! Have your damn revenge! God, you would rip the entire world apart, if it was up to you. Can't you just let it go?" He turned to her in disbelief. Was this Ingrid talking? "...Let it go...? Let it go??" His hands curled into fists, but then he saw her face. She looked so...tired. He had almost forgotten how much she had loved Shizu and Yuki. He could see glimpses of Shizu in her form...and he mentally blocked the painful memories. No time for them right now. "Ingrid...I have to find Yuki. I thought you would understand. But I guess not... You should leave. Go back." Her voice stopped him, cutting through the night air. He turned back to her, to see her smiling sadly. "Do you think I'm letting you go alone? I miss Yuki too." She walked towards him, and he saw blades in her hands. "What? No, I'm not letting you come. I said [I]go back[/I]." The sad smile was gone from her face, replaced by a wry one. "I'm sorry, Alastor, but you relinquished the position of Alpha. Therefore, there's no way that I'm going to follow your orders on this. Besides, didn't you ever learn any manners? Always let the lady go first." She walked past him breezily, her hair fanning out behind her. He followed quickly, swearing under his breath.

[B]Name:[/B] Inge Reuben [B]Age:[/B] 21 [B]Occupation:[/B] Survivor [B]Personality:[/B] She's brave and stubborn. Inge will act in a heartbeat, especially if someone needs her help. Strong and courageous, she hates to depend on others, instead trying to bear most of the load. However, this is kind of one of her flaws; she never knows when she is taking on too much. She's always determined to get the job done, and is true to her word. [B]Appearance:[/B] see attachment (different clothes though :)) [B]Bio:[/B] Inge grew up in Racoon City, witnessing the dire changes when Umbrella came. She was in training to be an officer of the RCPD. She was recently engaged to be married, to someone she met during training. However, when the zombies started to appear, they put their marriage on hold, concentrating more on defending the city, although they were still engaged. The rest of Inge's family moved out of Racoon City on her suggestion, and she was soon to follow. However, she didn't want to leave the already waning police force, and stayed to help. Inge was just hunting a group of the zombies, when her fiancee was killed in front of her eyes. She was also ambushed, but ran to a small radio tower in one of the deserted airports. She had almost gotten the steel doors shut, when suddenly one of the zombies' hands sneaked in and grabbed her arm. Twisting, she tried to free herself, but it locked it's hand on hers. She struggled until it was only holding two of her fingers, but then more were coming and the door was being forced open. Inge had no choice, if she wanted to live. She took out one of her blades, and cut off her fingers in a quick swipe, slamming and locking the door at the same time. Now, she's stuck in the radio tower with the zombies surrounding her outside. She's bleeding and hurt, and going into shock. Rescue her quick. :) [B]Weapon:[/B] Two eight-inch hunting blades, and other random pieces of metal lying around the radio tower. She dropped her gun outside when she was grappling with the zombies.

OOC: Hmm..Sirus is dead, eh? well, lets see what I can do. ;) IC: Veil faded back into the unconsciousness that held her body. Her mind wandered in the inky blackness that surrounded her... It felt like she was trudging through mud. [I]I'm so tired...why can't I get out..? What is this place?[/I] Strange shadows distorted the dark, making wave patterns with light. Unconsciously, she knew that she was being carried. The arms around her emitted a warmth, a life, and was like a sanctuary. But the rest of her... was so cold, so lonely. [I]Why can't I leave? I want to leave...I think..[/I] Dreams took shape, kept changing and transforming into new things. She watched, entranced, and then... Shadows! Surrounding her!!! The sludge took hold of her feet - she couldn't move - she... [I]Sinahiro...someone...help me..[/I] Dark things seemed to cover her soul. She heard a familiar laugh before she withdrew into the dark depths of her heart. ________________________________ The temple grounds were quiet in the night. Kilik, Mya, Hentaro, and Sinahiro had returned two nights before. Sinahiro had carried Veil straight to the Elders, who examined her body. They said that she should have awakened by now...but she still lay in sleep, her eyes closed, not even her lashes fluttering. It was a dead sleep. Veil's comatose form was kept in a quiet room in one of the large buildings. Sinahiro and Hentaro were outside on one of the shingled rooftops, sitting in silence. They let the night air surround them, carrying sounds of the odd things in the dark. It was peaceful, the wind gently rustling the trees, stars peppering the clear sky. A beautiful night. Hentaro broke the silence, "She's...still not awoken, sensai?" Sinahiro sighed and shook his head. "No...and the Elders don't know what's wrong with her." He looked at the sky, and then down again. Kilik and Mya were slowly walking around the outer stone walls of the temple, taking a round in the watch. He could hear their quiet murmuring blending in with the breeze. He sighed again, and traced the protective designs on the shingles with his hand. Inside, the dark seemed to invade, rather than welcome peace. The room that held Veil was swathed in shadows, which seemed to swim across the walls and floor. Suddenly, her eyes opened, wide in panic. She reached up towards the ceiling, opening her mouth to call for help - but stopped. Her pupils dilated, and her body twisted, contorted in a sickening fashion. Her eyes showed that the pain was excrucciating, and one of her ribs snapped. The small snap alerted both Sinahiro and Hentaro. They gazed slowly around, scanning their surroundings. Then, suddenly they could sense the presence. They immediately leaped down, and sped to the room Veil was in. Sinahiro slid open the door with a snap, and then stepped back as the black cloud surged out. The stench of death reeked everywhere, and the smell of rotting flesh was overpowering. He stepped into the room, Hentaro guarding his back. "Veil? Veil! Where are you???" A low, hissing voice answered through the dark, gurgling a laugh. "...Sssinahiro...Veil isss gone... Only I am here now..." Even though it was unbelievable, Sinahiro recognized the tone of voice. "Sirus?" he whispered. "How...what are you doing here??? Where's Veil?" The cold laugh came again, and the dark seemed to part, allowing Sinahiro to see where Veil had been lying. Veil was standing, no, floating on a dark cloud. Her body was laced with dark bruises, and her light-blue veins were clear through her skin, like a spider-web. Her hair had grown out, and was writhing like snakes... And her eyes were yellow-green, with an otherwordly glow. She was smiling, and Sinahiro felt chilled to the bone. He took a step back. Veil spoke, revealing pointed teeth. "Greetingsss again, old friend. You...did not expect to ssseeee me again?" She chuckled. "Yesss, you are correct. I am Sssiruss now. You wouldn't believe what I had to do to get here. The Roxossski...kept my sssoul...banished me...but I escaped. I freed mysself, and overpowered hersss...and now she no longer exisstsss... Ssinahiro...I have come to take what isss mine: your life!" With that, Veil shot out towards Sinahiro like a snake, slashing with her hands. Sinahiro dodged, lightning fast, as did Hentaro. He turned, and saw a trickle of blood running down Veil's arm. Sinahiro's eyes narrowed. "What...what are you doing?" Sirus's hissing voice came from Veil. "Everytime you dodge my attack, Veil will sssuffer. If you do not fight willingly, the girl will die. You don't want that, do you?" "You won't kill her. You want me." Veil nodded, closing her eyes briefly. "Yess...it isss you I want... But I will take what I can get. It's true, you will sstill be alive...but then I will have [I]her[/I]." She smiled, and her eyes glowed in the darkness.

Boba Fett, this is entirely my terrain. As for hardtack and salted pork? I can't believe you even dared to utter those words in my kitchen!! galley...place... Leave the cooking to the experts. ;) hahahaha:D

This manwha is hilarious!!! :D Loved it as soon as I read it! Well, actually, not quite as soon as I read it. The beginning I thought dragged, since I already knew they were going to switch places. Also, they looked so much alike, at first I couldn't tell the difference, and then there were all the little squares, and it looked like chaos, and really annoyed me. But, after the first couple pages were turned, it was awesome! Wow, I loved all the action! Talk about a tough girl! I'm glad that she's so strong, and I'm kinda glad that she kinda turned her affections... Gangsters are awesome!! :D As for Kun...I don't know if he's gay, but he might be. But I'm kinda seeing a possibility for an interesting love triangle instead. I can't wait for the second book! Jung-woo (male cousin) is supposed to fall for someone! :D

Les Bijoux is very impressive. I've recently read the first one, and I think the artwork is astounding!!! As for the relationship between Diamond and Lapis Lazuli, I think it's one of the most interesting out there. I can't wait to find out how it turns out! But I also want Diamond to die, so I can't wait for that either. Did I mention that those are some of the most beautiful characters I have ever seen? Yeah, I was drooling while I read it at Barnes & Noble. ;) Talk about plot!!! This is not lacking at all, like some manwhas do. This one is completely submerged in plot twists and spellbinding undertones!!! Can't wait for the second one!!

Korean pride!!! woot woot! :D I would agree - manwha is much more...fluid? The lines seem to be more graceful to me...but I dunno. The characters are always so pretty. But yeah, the only problem with manwha is the plots are sometimes kind of...disappointing. The other thing is that I think they insert too many little images. Like all the chibis and everything...sometimes it gets really annoying, and I like to skim it, but that's just me. However, both manga and manwha are fun to read, and there are some awesome mangas out there!

Love manga!! Series finished: Wish Chobits Rayearth Kodocha Currently reading: Demon Diary Snow Drop Confidential Confessions X-Day Suki Petshop of Horrors Kare Kano Forbidden Dance Alice the 19th And I'm going through some others, and finished some too, but they're not coming to mind at the moment. Has anyone else seen Suki? It's a new series from CLAMP, and it's so cute. I mean that in a way that it really touches my heart. As for Petshop of Horrors, it's surprisingly interesting...kinda creepy, but it's fun. I know it looks horribly corny, but it's actually pretty good, and very witty. How do you people own all your own books??? Where do you get the money? I just have to go to Barnes & Noble and read them there.

Demon Diary is hilarious! Although, since I have major shortages of funds, I can't buy them like all you lucky folks. But I'm content reading them all at the local Barnes & Noble. :D Yes, the art is absolutely amazing. Raenef is so adorable and innocent, and I'm very happy with the portrayal of Erutis. Finally, a girl that can fight her own battles! Yeah! :D Not only that, but Demon Lord Raenef IV is very interesting too. I can't wait for #7!!! So many twists...:D