Writing The Enchanted Dream....

[Kei]

[color=royalblue]This is my first story, and I'm looking for some feedback. ^^;
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[center]Enchanted Dream- Episode 1

It Starts With?. A Homework Assignment?!?[/center]

A beautiful girl runs through a big field full of flowers. She wasn?t very tall, but not short either. Fair of skin, her white gown swished behind her as she ran. Her big, brown eyes dazzled as she gazed at the beauty that surrounded her. She suddenly stopped, and sat among them, smelling their heavenly scent. She then fell back gracefully, her long brown hair floating slowly behind her.

"This is perfect...It?s so peaceful..." she said dreamily. She sighed. "I wish I could stay here forever..."

She started to doze, when she thought she heard something in the distance.

"Mikia...Mikia..."

Mikia rose abruptly.

"Yes?" Mikia said, getting up to check her surroundings. "Who?s calling?"

Then she saw him. The most gorgeous guy she had ever seen in her entire life. Her jaw dropped and little hearts came into her eyes.

"Cutie!" Mikia cried, starting towards the guy. "Don?t go anywhere! I?m coming!"

"Mikia...Mikia..."

"Yes, yes! I?m coming!"

"Mikia..."

She finally got to him. She was immediately dumbstruck. He was quite handsome. He reached six feet, and was fair of skin. Long brown hair draped over his shoulders, growing down to the middle of his back. He wore a light blue shirt edged in what seemed to be gold at the wrists, collar and curling designs that decorated it. With it, he wore black pants that were tied in a square knot on the side with a navy blue sash. His shoes were of the same color as the pants, and slipper-like. But what had caught Mikia?s attention were his eyes. He had the palest blue eyes. They shimmered like turquoise pools in the sunlight?.

"Mikia..."

"Yes..."

"Mikia..." He moved in to kiss her.

"Yes..." She leaned in, lips pursed.

"Mikia..."

"Yes..."

"MIKIA!!"

Mikia woke from her beautiful daydream and opened her eyes only to see the agitated face of her teacher, the infamous Ms. Marahashi.

"Mikia Tsunari! Were you sleeping in class again?!" Ms Marahashi yelled no more than five inches away from Mikia?s startled face.

"Uhh..No, Ms. Marahashi! Of course not!" Mikia said with a sheepish look on her face, waving her hands back and forth. Mikia?s best friend Saisari, who sat next to her, bowed and shook her head.

"Not again, Mikia..." she mumbled.

"Good!" Ms. Marahashi said curtly, returning to the front of the classroom. "Then you can tell me what the assignment is for your winter vacation."

A sweatdrop appeared on Mikia?s brow.

"Uhh... Sure I can! Haha! It was...Uhh..."

"I haven?t given it yet!" Ms. Marahashi yelled. "If you?d have been awake, you would have known that!"

"Sorry, Ms. Marahashi..." Mikia said with head bowed.

"Now that everyone is awake and paying attention," Ms. Marahashi started, glancing in Mikia?s direction, "I can give you all your assignment. Over the break, you are to read a book of your choosing and write a five-page report on it."

Everyone in the class groaned at this, Mikia being one of the louder ones, while others sucked their teeth and a few swore.

"Don?t be so glum." Ms. Marahashi told then in that sarcastic cheery tone that teachers often use. "I could have chosen books for you. These reports are due as soon as you come in on the Monday after winter break. No exceptions. I?m especially looking forward to reading yours, Ms. Tsunari."

A loud gulp came from Mikia?s general direction. Luckily. The bell signaling the end of the school day sounded a few seconds later. Mikia quickly gathered her books, grabbed Saisari and raced out of the classroom as fast as her legs would carry her, with Saisari being dragged behind like a child?s doll.

"Mikia! Slow down!!" she shrilled.

Mikia only stopped when they had gotten to their lockers, where they quickly gathered the rest of things, put on their coats, and quickly walked out of school.

It was a nippy winter day outside. Snow was thick on the grassy parts on the sidewalk from the previous night?s snowfall. Snow shoveled and plowed from the street bordered them, making it seem as if one were walking down a snowy path in the mountains rather than a snowy sidewalk in the middle of a busy city. As Mikia and Saisari walked down the street, it began to flurry, but that didn?t stop Mikia from complaining about Ms. Marahashi.

"Why does she always pick on me?! I mean, there?s tons of other kids who sleep in her class!"

"Yeah, but you snore the loudest. And you talk in your sleep."

"I do not! And is it my fault she?s so boring? She could put a hyperactive seven-year-old in a coma, the way she talks!"

"That?s a bit of an exaggeration, don?t you think?"

"No!"

Saisari just shook her head and sighed, making her long black bangs fall into her eyes. Saisari was a bit shorter than Mikia. She had a slightly darker complexion, as she lived near the ocean a while before moving to her current home, which happened to be right next to Mikia. She has green eyes that sparkled behind her glasses, that Mikia often messed with her about, calling them ?Mimet glasses?, due to the make of the frames. She pulled her bangs back and turned to Mikia.

"So what are you going to do about her report?"

"I don?t know!" came Mikia?s shrill reply. "She?s the only teacher who ever gives homework during a vacation. Doesn?t she know that vacations are to get away from work?"

"She probably does, but you know how strict she is."

"Yeah..." Mikia said submissively. Then she angrily kicked an empty soda can down the street. "I don?t even know where to start looking for a book to read...Never could get into reading..."

"We could try that new little bookstore that opened up that?s nearby. Or the library."

"Eeeh! No way! Libraries really creep me out! Evil librarians always watching you like a hawk on a dormouse..."

"You?re too paranoid. Libraries are perfectly safe, and the librarians are not out to get you Mikia."

"Says you. You should see that way they look at me with those eyes...like doll?s eyes..."

Saisari groaned and rolled her eyes skyward.

"You said something about a bookstore. Let?s go there!" Mikia said enthusiastically.

"Fine. We won?t have to go far." Saisari replied, and then looked to her left. "In fact, it?s right here."

Both Mikia and Saisari stopped in front of a small storefront with two big glass display windows full of books. Mikia looked up and read the old wooden sign above the door.

"Odd that a new shop would have an old sign. ?Fantastic Fantasies. Where Your Wildest Dreams Come True.? Interesting. Let?s go in, Sai!" Mikia said grabbing Saisari by the arm and dragging her along.

"You?re gonna get tired of doing this to me sooner or later..." She mumbled darkly. Mikia didn?t heat her friend?s idle threat and pushed open the door, ringing the little bell at the top.

"Wow. This place is pretty empty to be a new store..." Mikia said glancing around.

"Yes, it is. People just don?t appreciate books like they used to anymore..." said a tiny voice from somewhere nearby. Both Mikia and Saisari looked around for the source, a bit startled by it. Mikia cautiously glanced over the checkout counter, and was shocked when a tiny old woman popped up. Mikia gave a strange-sounding yip and fell backward, crashing into Saisari and taking her down with her.

"Oh, my! I didn?t mean to frighten you, dear!" the kindly old woman said.

"It?s okay....Saisari broke my fall...? Mikia said dazed.

"Ho riffing! Geroffh!" came Saisari?s muffled yell.

"Here, girls. Let me help you up."

The woman helped Mikia to her feet, who was still a bit dazed, and then Saisari, who was mumbling something about Mikia needing to lay off candy bars. The woman brushed them off a bit and then smiled at them.

"There now! I?m Mrs. Tari, the shopkeeper here at Fantastic Fantasies. I hope you two aren?t hurt."

"We?re fine. My name is Saisari and this is my clutzy friend Mikia. It?s a pleasure."

Mikia glared evily at Saisari.

"Note to self:" she thought. "Put rubber spider on Saisari?s desk after winter break."

"How might I help you two today?"

"We?re looking for some good books to write reports on." Mikia responded.

"Well! You?ve come to the right place! I have a very vast collection of fantasy novels here. All very good reads!" Mrs. Tari said, waving her hand towards the books. Mikia had glanced around before, but now she took a good look.

The store was very old-looking, sort of like an antique store in a small town. It was dim too, including where she, Saisari and Mrs. Tari were standing, which struck Mikia as odd, because it was pretty bright outside. Books filled every shelf along the walls in the back and on the sides of the room, reaching all the way to the high ceiling. Rolling ladders sat against the to allow one to reach them. There were five tall bookcases that were double-sided sitting in the middle of the room, creating six rows to walk along and look at the titles stored in the many shelves of the store. The shelves of the bookcases were also crammed full of books of every size and thickness. On the top of the shelves stood small statues and busts. There were also globes and other oddities on the shelves. All in all, it looked pretty cozy.

"Feel free to look around, girls." Mrs. Tari said, interrupting Mikia?s observations. "I don?t close up for another two hours."

Mikia and Saisari thanked Mrs. Tari respectfully and split up to look at titles, each taking different directions. Mikia took the left side of the room, while Saisari took the right. It wasn?t long before Mikia started to complain.

"Aww, man..." Mikia moaned. "How am I supposed to find a book I?ll actually sit down and read?"

She looked over all the titles on either side of her, some catching her eye, until she read the summary on the flap, then she promptly put it back where she found it. It kept going like this for a time.

"Geez, how big is this place? I feel like I?ve been walking forever. Huh?"

On a shelf to her right, a book with gold gilted writing on it suddenly caught Mikia?s eye. It seemed to shine. That?s silly of course, given the darkness of the room, but it seemed in Mikia?s eyes, to glow mysteriously?

"Wow..." Mikia said dreamily, reaching for the book. She pulled it from the shelf and read the ttitle almost trance-like. "The Legend of Bynara..."

She looked over the cover of the medium-sized book. On the front, a handsome young man wielding a sword with his right arm was depicted fighting with another slightly older man. The latter was about five or ten years the former?s senior. They both looked determined to win their bout. In the background, five others watched, but Mikia couldn?t make out their details, just their silhouettes. They varied in height and two seemed to be reptilian, one a dragon, the other a snake. Above all, there was a figure that had large, feathery wings watching over all. Light seemed to emanate from it. Mikia stoked the figure and her eyes seemed to glow slightly for the briefest of moments. She then mumbled something incoherent to even her, and opened the book to read the flap. She quietly read it aloud.

"Imagine that you?re in a place where beauty surrounds you. Tall green grasses that flow and ebb at the slightest breeze of fresh, clean air and deep blue lakes that look like perfect mirrors surrounded by beautiful, densely wooded forests are everywhere. Mountains with caps as white as clouds line the horizon, and birds of every kind fly the skies. This is the land of Bynara, an enchanted land where beats of myth and legend roam freely. Along with these, all sorts of other beings live; Elves, Falcors, Humans, and others?They all live in this beautiful land, but not always in peace. Especially in this dark time. A dark cloud has settled over this beautiful world. An evil emperor has taken over, sending Bynara spiraling into chaos. He sends his minions to keep the population under his rule. Those who oppose him are slain. This makes his, Dairaiko?s minions, the most feared beasts in the land, even more so than mad dragons. But there is one who vows to end Dairaiko?s reign of terror. One who vows to take the life of the man that slew his family. He is Chirimi, the son of a true warrior who was slain by Dairaiko?s sword as he watched helplessly. He has sworn to fulfill the ancient prophecy of his people, the Legend of Bynara. It says that a great warrior who together with the other Sacred Warriors, under the leadership of the Great Protector, banish a great evil that overtakes the land and make it peaceful once more...This is his story..."

Suddenly Mikia was plunging into a bottomless pit. Darkness surrounded her, encasing her vision. Her screams were lost in the vastness of the dark abyss. Faster and faster she fell, not knowing what was happening or where she was going. Then, with a sudden jolt, she stopped. She groaned aloud, writhing slightly in pain.

"Where am I...?" she asked, a hint of both pain and dazedness in her voice.

"You?re in Bynara, of course. Are you okay?" a voice asked. It had a masculine tone to it.

"Huh?" Mikia tried to open her eyes, but the brightness of the midday sun made her shut them quickly. "I?m where?" she asked the voice.

"Bynara. Here. Allow me to help you."

Mikia felt herself being lifted by strong, yet gentle arms into a sitting position. She lifted her head and tried opening her eyes again. She managed it this time around and was greeted by the sight of the most handsome guy she?d ever seen?He looked just like?

"My dream guy..." Mikia said dazed.

"Huh?" the guy asked quizzically, but didn?t get a response because Mikia had passed out again from the headache she had. Before she had done so however, it dawned on her that she wasn?t in Japan anymore, and while she lay there unconscious, in her dreams she wondered how she would get home?.and if that guy had a girlfriend?

Next Episode:
"When Personalities Clash..."

Dream On, Beautiful Dreamer...[/color]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]Hm. Sorry to bring this back, but I really enjoyed reading this. ^_^

I think others would too. I love your stories, Kei.

I like the ol 'book sucks in person' type of thing, its the perfect fantasy, heh. Jolly Good, write more. ^^[/color]

[Mitch]

[color=red] Pretty dang good. This is one of your first works I've read. The only things I noticed were a few grammatical errors which don't really change anything, and also, you were a tiny bit too descriptive in parts. With a story, you want to keep it rolling and rolling. You want the tension to build up and keep going up as long as you can. The description kind of weighted it down a bit, making it in some points, boring.

Basically what I'm saying is you need to find a happy medium when it comes to decription. Not too much, not too little. You didn't overbear it certainly in this story with meticulous descriptioon, but in some points it did. Especially when you were describing the library. I somewhat just wanted to skip ahead from that part. This is mainly because the look and things of the library really aren't all that important to the story. You devoted almost an entire paragraph to the description of it.

With a story you want to grab the reader's attention and hold it there in an iron grip. You want to constantly have action, something going on. So I do see where a little bit of description of the libray would be necessary, but I think what you had was a little too much. Just tell very broadly what the library looks like, not down to how the books stack and other things. That doesn't matter to the story at all.

I don't know, I might be overanalyzing this a bit. But I as a reader of this story found I lost interest and somewhat wanted to stop reading at those descriptive parts. But it isn't that bad, I just found that I wanted to story to go on. And it did.

So, that's what I got mostly from it. Otherwise your writing is pretty varied and interesting and I'm up to seeing more of it so I can see and grow more of an understanding and liking of it.[/color]

[Sky Moonflow]

That pretty great I wold love to read more of your stories.

[DKsAngel]

that is great, I too would love to read more of it, I wanna find out what happens ^^

[Kei]

[color=royalblue]I appreciate your feedback, Mitch. I've taken it to heart, as it happens. The book I'm writing has some of the points you mentioned. But, anyways, so everyone who wants to read it, I'll put up the next ep. ^^
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[center]Enchanted Dream- Episode 2

When Personalities Clash?[/center]

It was some time later when Mikia awoke again. In fact, night had fallen. She flitted her eyes open to see a clear, starry sky above her. She then lifted herself into a sitting position and let her eyes adjust to the darkness. She sat there looking at the trees that were in front of her, and then noticed that light and heat were coming from behind her. She turned around to see a crackling fire.

"Hey! Great!" she said happily. She edged closer and put her hands up to the fire. She then felt a slight, dull throbbing at the back of her head, and she reached back to rub it. "Oh, geez?That was some drop..." Mikia said, then something came to her. "Wait. I remember someone helping me. A guy...a really cute guy...I wonder where...?"

Mikia looked quickly all around her in the clearing where she was sitting, but didn?t see anyone anywhere.

"Darn. I must have imagined him...again. But if that?s the case, who built this fire?"

Rustling in some nearby bushes brought Mikia away from her thoughts of the mystery man.

"Who?s there?" Mikia asked fearfully.

The guy she had seen earlier through the bushes, much to Mikia?s delight. He was carrying some fresh caught fish and a jug of water.

"Oh. So you?re awake." he said, setting the fish and water down near the fire. He then took a seat himself.

"Uh...yeah." Mikia replied dumbly.

"Good. You had me worried for a bit." he said cheerfully. "By the way, do you realize that you snore and talk in your sleep?"

An angry look flashed across Mikia?s face, taking the guy by surprise.

"I do not!" Mikia yelled at him. "That?s so rude to tell someone you don?t even know that they snore and talk in their sleep. Especially when they don?t!"

"Actually, you do." he said, having recovered from his bit of shock. "And I do know your name. It?s Mikia, right?"

"Huh? How?d you know my name? Are you psychic or something?"

"No," he started, "I read this hard card." He then held up Mikia?s school I.D. card to show her what he was talking about. "Luckily, I can read the writing on it, just barely. This is a very bad portrait of you, you know..." he said glancing at it again.

"Hey! That?s my I.D.!" Mikia said hotly. "The only way you could have found that is if you went through my purse! And I had to sneeze when they took that stupid picture..." she mumbled.

"You must mean this bag." he said holding up Mikia?s purse. "Yeah, I looked in it. I found some weird things in there too." He then dumped put the contents, some of them being more? personal in nature. Mikia?s face turned an interesting shade of red.

"Gimme that!" Mikia fairly leaped over the flames, gathered her things, and retreated back to her original spot, all in a brief amount of time. Who do you think you are?!"

"My name?s Chirimi. You don?t have to be so defensive, you know. I was just trying to find out what you were. Still kinda trying, actually. I?ve never seen some of the stuff in that bag. Like the soft white thing that when you pull of the paper is sticky on the bottom..."

Mikia?s face turned that peculiar shade of red again.

"That?s extremely personal! And what do you mean 'Still trying to figure out what I am??!?! The n--Wait. Did you say your name was Chirimi?"

"Yeah, I did. What is that thing?"

"Chirimi...Chirimi...Where have I heard that name before?"

A light bulb then went off in Mikia?s head.

"Oh, yeah! You?re the guy from that book!"

Chirimi stared blankly at Mikia.

"Book?" he asked quizzically. "What book?"

"The book I was looking at! It said a guy named Chirimi was the hero! You?re him!"

"I?m confused..." Chirimi said, shaking his head. "You say that I?m the hero of some book?" he said, eyeing her warily.

"Yes! Exactly ! It?s a book! And I?m here. With you...meaning.....I got sucked into a book!!" Mikia screamed.

"This girl must be mad...What the hell have I gotten myself into?" Chirimi thought.

"This can?t be happening!" Mikia said, rapidly becoming hysterical. "It?s like Fushigi Yuugi or something!"

"?Fushigi Yuugi?? What?s that?"

"Would you shut up and let me think?!?" Mikia screamed at Chirimi.

"Hey, you don?t have to be so rude!"

"Look." Mikia started, as calm as she possibly could. "You don?t know what I?m going through!" She then grabbed Chirimi by the shoulders and shook him to emphasize her words. "I?ve...been...sucked...into...a freakin? BOOK!! I HAVE GOOD REASON TO BE RUDE!!!"

Chirimi shook his head to try to stop seeing spots.

"You know, this isn?t a very good way to treat someone who saved you!"

"Saved me?!" Mikia shrilled. "Saved me from what?! The wind?! A tan?!"

With that, Chirimi completely lost his temper.

"Demons, you numbskull! They were about to pounce on you and eat you alive if I hadn?t come along when I did!"

"Demons?" Mikia asked in a both dumbstruck and meek voice. "There are demons around here?"

"There are demons everywhere! By the Gods, you are dense, aren?t you?! Well, you?re so fearless and strong, you can face them yourself!"

With that remark, he picked up a sheathed sword that Mikia hadn?t noticed before, swung it onto his back, and stormed off through the bushes he had come from earlier.

"Hey, wait! You can?t leave me here!!" Mikia yelled pleadingly after him.

"Watch me!" came his snippy reply.

Mikia slowly sank to the ground, thinking about how she might have just lost her only chance to survive in this place. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she began to bawl.

"I?m too young to die!!" she wailed, and unfortunately happened to awake a sleeping demon nearby...

[center]***[/center]

Chirimi was walking huffily through the forest to the stream he?d been at earlier, all the while muttering about how inconsiderate that Mikia girl was.

"Didn?t even thank me. Huh. And getting all angry because I looked through her bag...geez...Well, maybe, I shouldn?t have...I mean, it was her bag...and she didn?t even know about the demons, so maybe I shouldn?t have left her alone...?

Chirimi shook himself.

"No! She wants to be all tough and brave and take them on herself, so be it!"

That?s when Mikia?s scream came tearing through the forest. Chirimi turned quickly, a look of panic and worry on his face.

"Mikia!" he cried. He then raced off back the campsite. He only hoped that he wasn?t too late...

Next Episode:
Chirimi! Save Mikia!.

Dream On, Beautiful Dreamer...[/color]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]Lovely. I liked that chapter better than the first, heh. You have a good style of writing, and I think you should keep posting the chapters.[/color]

[Cyriel]

Keep going! It's very interesting to read, although it did sound like Fushigi Yugi in the first chapter, but you addressed that in the second chapter, so it sounds very original. However...how worried could Chimiri be about Mikia? After all, he's only just met her...

[Biida]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cyriel [/i]
[B]However...how worried could Chimiri be about Mikia? After all, he's only just met her... [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=skyblue] He's the hero. He [i]has[/i] to be considerate, overly affectional, and so on. ^_~

Hehe, j/k.

I love it, Lady K. ^_^ As with Ken, one of my favorite types of fantasy is the 'person being sucked into book' plot. And I guess I've got a thing for slightly mushy stuff. So... yea. ( :bluesweat ) It's good. Write more!!! :D

*Gives you a lollypop and skips off* [/color]

[Kei]

[color=royalblue]Ooooo Lolly. *eats it* ^____^
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[center]Enchanted Dream- Episode 3
Chirimi! Save Mikia![/center]


Mikia screamed again at the sight that faced her. A giant snake reared up at her, spitting venom. It was fierce-looking. Longer than any snake Mikia had ever seen, it had fangs to match. They glinted in the firelight from the venom seeping from them. It was dirt brown in color and had green markings all along its body to help it blend in with its surroundings. It?s eyes were blood red and glowing, staring down Mikia with an intense hunger.

?Fresh meat?? the snake said darkly, its long fangs dripping.

?I-I-I-It talks?!!?? Mikia stammered. ?This i-i-i-isn?t ha-ha-happening!!?

?Oh, but it isss, my dear,? the snake hissed. ?You sssee, I haven?t eaten for a while, and even though both Massster Dairaiko and General Nagari sssay not to eat anyone unless they are a rebel, I believe I can make an excception in your cassse.? The snake crept towards Mikia, swaying ever so slightly from side to side, attempting to mesmerize her. ?Come, child?.Death awaitsss you??

Mikia?s eyes began to fog from the effects of the mesmer.

?Yes?.Death?awaits...? she said in a voice laden with trance. She slowly began walking towards the serpent?s waiting fangs?.

[center]***[/center]

Chirimi was still running through the forest back to the campsite where he?d left Mikia, cursing himself for doing so. He had come farther than he thought when he left before, and it was taking him a bit longer to get back. He finally reached the bushes where the campsite lay just behind and came crashing through them just as the demon was about to strike.

?Mikia!? he cried, looking at the scene before him. His face contorted into one of hatred and fury at what he saw. ?Dark Basilisk?one of Dairaiko?s minions?? He quickly reached to his back and unsheathed his katana. It?s blade brilliantly reflected both the moon and firelight.

?Ssss?Chirimi!? the Basilisk spat, looking away from Mikia, who was still in a trance, and focused on Chirimi. It?s eyes turned a deeper hue of red and seemed to smile a bit as it advanced on Chirimi. ?Massster Dairaiko hasss put a high bounty on your head, little Chirimi??

?No doubt he has?? Chirimi growled through gritted teeth, tightening his grip on the hitl of his sword and shifting into an offensive stance.

The Dark Basilisk lunged at Chirimi, mouth gaping and fangs flashing, looking to bite deep into Chirimi?s flesh. Chirimi dodged with amazing speed, making the demon lodge its teeth partially in the soft soil. It bit down and lifted its head, spitting out the earth it had eaten. Chirimi rushed the serpent, sword glinting, aiming to pierce the heart of the beast. The Basilisk curned around the blade with great agility and draped itself around Chirimi, tightening its coils and squeezing the breath from him He choked for air and dropped his sword. It happened to strike a rock and the resulting ring it made was loud enough to wake Mikia from her trance, which it did. She looked around a bit dazed, and then saw Chirimi and the Dark Basilisk.

?Chirimi!?

Mikia looked about frantically, trying to find something that would detour the demon from its goal of killing Chirimi. She finally looked towards the fire, and an idea came to her. She lunged toward it and grabbed a piece of kindling that was still ablaze at the opposite end, and hurled it as hard as she could at the demon?s coils. Fortunately, it didn?t hit Chirimi in the process. The Dark Basilisk hissed and spat in pain, and in doing so, loosened its coils and freed Chirimi. He quickly ducked underneath the coils, retrieved his dropped sword, and sent it straight through the serpent?s head from the bottom. He withdrew it quickly and then cut its head off completely. It hit the ground with a sickening thud and rolled under the bushes. The lifeless corpse went limp and fell at Chirimi?s feet. He glared down at it and then sighed, his face returning to the calmness he once displayed. He looked up at Mikia, a look of gratitude in his eyes, then they fogged slightly and he slumped to the ground and lie there. Mikia raced over to him, gently lifting his head.

?Chirimi! Chirimi, can you hear me??

Mikia lowered her face down to his mouth to check his breathing. It was slow, and labored but he was breathing sure as day.

?Oh, Chirimi?. Thank you.? She breathed. She hugged him closer to her and closed her eyes. She didn't? notice the glow her hands gave off, and when Chirimi?s breathing suddenly returned to normal. She gently set his head down n her lap and looked at him. ?He looks so peaceful?.Oh, please be okay?.? She closed her eyes again and sighed, then began to weep silently She sat there for the longest time, wishing and praying that he would be all right, until eventually, her weariness overcame her, and she fell asleep in the grass near Chirimi using her arm as a pillow. Unbeknownst to her, a pair of ebony eyes were watching her. Those of a raven?one that had been watching ever since the Dark Basilisk had first attacked Mikia. It seemed to scowl at her as if it were angry at her for interfering in the conflict. It flew off sloundlessly back to its Master?back to Dairaiko?.to report what it had seen and to witness what wrath the Dark Basilisk General Nagari would face from Dairaiko for having one of his underlings fail to kill Chirimi once again?

[center]***[/center]

Morning came and brought with it the bright rays that woke Mikia from her sleep. Well, that, and her nose was being pinched shut by Chirimi?

?Gonna sleep all day?? he asked playfully.

Mikia flailed around and smacked his hand away.

?You trying to kill me?!? Mikia asked hotly.

?Of course not.? Came his cheery reply. ?Just trying to get you up and stop you from snoring. You?ll go around and wake and bring another demon around here.? he teased.

?I don?t- Hey, wait! You?re okay!? Mikia got up and hugged Chirimi as hard as she could.

[i]?She almost as bad as the Basilisk??[/i] Chirimi thought. Further comparison was cut short when Mikia smacked Chirimi in the back of his head.

?You scared me half to death, you jerk!? she yelled at him, her face boring an uncanny likeness to an angry Ryoko from Tenchi. Chirimi was still rubbing the back of his head and trying to see if she?d drawn blood.

?Well, I?m sorry!? he said wincing. ?I felt fine when I woke up this morning. It?s kind of odd though, because I know I?d at least have a broken rib or something from that attack last night. The pain I had was the reason I passed out. But when I got up today, nothing hurt. I was completely fine.?

?Maybe you?re like Wolverine, and can heal yourself.? Mikia thought out loud.

?No, I can assure you I?m not self-healing. Wait a second. Who?s ?Wolverine???

?Never mind. Too long a story.? she said, waving him off. ?I keep forgetting where I am?.?

?Huh?Whatever?.? he said shrugging. ?You hungry? I caught some more fish,? he said, handing her a cooked fish impaled in a stick.

?Yeah, I?m famished!? Mikia said gratefully accepting the fish he offered. She promptly sat down and practically inhaled it in one bite. It amazed Chirimi that she didn?t choke. ?Thish ish wewry good, Chihimi.? Mikia said with her mouth still full of fish. A sweatdrop appeared on Chirimi?s brow.

?Thanks, I guess?? he said, trying hard not to laugh. ?Say, I, uh?wanted to thank you?for helping me last night.?

Mikia?s face turned a bit serious them. But only a little. She was still trying to get the fish down. She quickly swallowed it and began her reasoning.

?You were in trouble,? Mikia started, ?and I helped you. Plus, you saved me from being eaten by that giant, talking snake, so it was the least I could do!? She?d swallowed the fish by now, and gave Chirimi a gentle and thankful look, much like the one he?d given her the night before. Chirimi was a bit taken by it. The soft morning sunlight reflecting off her face made her look quite lovely?

?Still. I owe you one.? He said thankfully. ?So, uh, you don?t have anywhere to go, do you??

?Nope. Sure don?t.? Mikia replied. ?This is a pretty strange place to me, and I?d get lost in no time? She decided not to bring up the fact that this was a book and she wasn?t supposed to be there.

?Well, would you like to come along with me?? Chirimi asked hopefully.

?Of course! I mean, with the demons and all, I?d be crazy not to!? Mikia accepted enthusiastically.

?Great! If you?re finished eating, we can get going.? Chirimi said, rising.

?Where to?? Mikia asked, also getting to her feet.

?A town just up the road. We need to get some things.? Chirimi told her, stooping to pick up his sword. ?You ready??

?Yeah, just let me get my purse.? Mikia walked over to where she had dropped her purse last night, and walked back over to Chirimi. Together, they went trough some trees and came out at a well-traveled dirt road. Chirimi turned to the right and started walking, so Mikia followed and trotted up beside Chirimi, matching his gait as they walked to the nearby town.

?You know,? Chirimi began, ?you never told me what that white thing was.?

?CHIRIMI!!!?

Next Episode:
Mikia?s History Lesson
Or
Chirimi?s Vow

Dream on, Beautiful Dreamer?
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