The Gravekeeper

[randomguy]

"Hello!" says an amazon coming from her cabin. "We don't get many vistors in here. People always complain that the atmosphere is so dead" The woman laughs at her joke. "Anyway, what can I do for you? You want a tour of the place? Maybe you want to meet our lovely local priestess? You need our services? What is it?

[paladinchambers]

Kanna is calling all the shock stricken people of Noma to order. The elderly gravekeeper is getting ready to address the royal guard as soon as Lindsey, their general arrives. In the mean time, she is claiming thier nerves and waiting until the rest of the guard show up and when Ayane can lend her mending hands.

[Paul Grimm]

At the back of the mob Zaku walks-up and leans against a statue, silently observing.

[hibryd]

[/I]"So, I was told to come to the graveyard. . .Why am I here, Zaku?" [I]hibryd says as he walks up to the graveyard from behind with Palin. "What happened to Chambers and Grimm?"

"Paul has business he needs to attend to and so has left. I don't know where he is. As for Chambers, I have no clue what happened to him."

"Thank the gods Grimm isn't dead. . .But the King. . . ." Palin stared at the ground.

"Palin. . .There's nothing that can be done."

-inside hibryd-

"Actually, human, you may be interested to hear that Chambers isn't dead after all." Delrith says, glancing at hibryd's soul in the lush valley that hibryd surrounded himself with when speaking to Delrith within him.

"What are you talking about? You've already told me they were both dead!'

"Ah, but I said that Grimm was dead! I told you that Chambers was dying. It appears he is an oversoul, someone with enough spiritual power to not pass on after they die. Chambers has some unfinished business."

"Thank you, Delrith. I promise you that you'll be let out of my body as soon as this battle for Noma is over."

"Fine. Human, if you don't hold this to your word, I swear I will tae your body and cast it from the highest cliff in the world. I will not be lied too!"

With that, hibryd woke up.

"Chambers isn't dead Palin."

"Hmph." Zaku said. "I guess that's good to hear."

[paladinchambers]

Lindsey Dobson, General of Noma calls the meeting to order. People of Noma, we are in the gravest of plights. I know that you all are scared and are very tired, but there are matters we need to take care of before we can take it easy." Much chattering is heard. Some voices hint anger, some frusttration, some worry. "To start off, I regret to inform you that Paul Grimm and our king Danny Chambers have left Noma." Cries of surprise and anger start to arise. "WHAT?! THE KING JUST LEFT US HERE?!" complains a teenage amazon. She rises up and walks to where Lindsey and Kanna are standing. "You see what I have been trying to tell you guys all along. Why are we relying on a king, a man... to protect and lead us. We used to be so strong, so proud. What has happened to us that we have become so weak?" "That's enough" said Kanna sternly. "We know you're angry and scared. But remember, I used to be the chief of the amzons before Danny came. I abicated my power to Danny because I knew that it would be best for us." "How is this best Kanna?" the girl continued. "In the past, we may have lost this battle, but we would have least put up a better fight. Where were Paul and Danny when we were fighting for our lives? I didn't even see them. They ran off." "Danny and Paul were fighting the commanders of these attackers. They were trying to stop the fighting early and nearly killed themselves to protect this village. Back off of Danny you ungrateful bitch!" "Ayane!" yelled Lindsey. "You are a priestess. You need to be a better example. She is not worth getting yourself in trouble for." "I don't know why I'm wasting my time with you three anyway. You are part of Danny's harem anyway. He's a man for goodness sake. You all know what we really mean to men. I see how you are all over him. He makes himself seem so noble, so respectful of us. I bet he sleeps around with those harpies over there every night." The girl immediatley was punched by Lindsey. "Don't you ever question or insult my king's honor. "Danny loves us all so much that he even came back for us from the dead, just so he can protect Noma!" informed Ayane. The amazon spit out blood and glared at Lindsey but retreated back to the back of the crowd without further conflict. "Ayane, what did that mean?" asked Kanna. Lindsey also looked at Ayane with a serious look. "Danny Chambers is dead. The man who was walking and talking with us since he came back was not Danny in the flesh, but his very soul. The amazons gave chants of confusion and anger. "Now's not the time to quarrel amongest ourselves." said Lindsey. We need to figure out how to fortify Noma now that Danny and Paul are gone. We need to figure out a plan. Zaku thought for a minute. He remembered her. that girl who could stop time. "Lindsey, there is a woman in Flur named Sakura. I fought her. She is strong and she was trying to find Danny before this fight stated. she was ranting about that we needed to make preperations for her husband or something." Lindsey thought for a moment. "Maybe she knows something we don't. Alirght, someone needs to go to Flur and find this Sakura woman. Who shall go find Sakura?"

[hibryd]

hibryd stood straighter and spoke out. "If Chambers and Grimm are gone, then I have nothing better to do. I will take my Disciple Palin to Flur and we will seek out Sakura. Is there anyone willing to go with me, aside from Zaku?"

-back in hibryd-

"This was not in our agreement, human! You talked of the battle for Noma, and said nothing of Flur!"

"Delrith, I said that as soon as the battle was done, you would go free. To end the battle, we are going to need to find this woman."

"Wrong again, human! This woman talked of Danny her husband going to Flur, nothing of the battle!"

"Delrith, think of it this way. I take Palin and leave for Flur. Noma is attacked again while we're away. In this scenario, I stay alive regardless. In another, I stay, and I am shot by an arrow or run through with a blade, or ripped apart by Kosor. In this scenario, I die, and you stay trapped in a rotting corpse while I move on. Which would you rather choose?"

"You have once again made your point, human. I will have my revenge yet. You will release me before you die, though."

"Not if an arrow runs through my brains first, Delrith Alahathrazzar, Demon of the Black Cloud."

"I shall remember that. And I will force you to as well."

- - - - - - -

"So that settles it! The warrior there will travel to Flur and seek out Sakura. This is the last chance for anyone to volunteer to go with them!"

[paladinchambers]

"It might actually be a good idea to go yourself" suggested Kanna. "By himself? No way! That woman can stop time for crying out loud!" protested Zaku. "This woman doesn't seem billigerent. If I had to say, I would think you most likeyl provoked her Zaku. Zaku holds his tounge, knowing that she was right. "Sakura came with a warning. Vulkin is in Flur. He won't let her pull any stunts" said Lindsey. *At least I hope not. I felt Vulkin unleash alot of power. Hopefully that's not her* she thought in her head. At that moment a woman leaped into the graveyard sunddenly. all the amazons fell back and the royal guard armed themselves for battle. "Don't even try it" the woman giggled. "You pansies couldn't beat me on your best day." She looked up and smiled. "RUKIA!!" everyone shouted. "RUKIA'S BACK!!" The woman was nearly bulldozed by joyous amazons, leaving Lindsey, Hybrid, Zaku, and Ayane a little confused. "My she's gotten so much bigger. When we last saw Rukia, she was only your age Ayane." said Kanna. "who is she?" asked Lindsey. "Rukia was a very gifted warrior that was with us even before Noma was built. She is proably the biggest manhater in this entire village. I guess she'll have a problem with Zaku, Paul, Madalgo and Danny having such pull here. I better go talk to her" Kanna walked toward Rukia and Rukia returned the gaze. No one said anything for a while and the other amazons retreated from the confortation. "It's been a long time...mother" said Rukia with some sourness in her voice. "I see you hold a grudge againest me still." "You're damn right!" shouted Rukia. "I heard about you giving your title to a man and letting him build this city. What the hell were you thinking? Didn't you learn last time?" "This man is different Rukia. He's a paladin" "I don't care! You thought the same with the last group of guys and they were knights. You let a pack of hungry and injured knights stay at our village. We gave them everything and took great care of them. And how did they repay us. They molested and pillaged us!" Kanna looked down in shame. "And you must have forgot that when I tried to step in and help, I got beat nearly to a pulp and was almost raped by three men! That's why I left. I left so that I would be so strong... so that would never happen to my people." Zaku puts a hand on Hybrid's shoulder. "She quite the firecracker. she's actually kinda cute. Maybe you should bring her along Hybrid. Hybrid looks at Zaku in disgust, but perhaps she has a point. If this amazon is as strong as she claims to be, maybe she could help out in Flur. Or should you just let her burn in her hate for men and her mom?

[hibryd]

As much as he hates to do it, hibryd steps forward to talk with Rukia.

"Look. I know you may hate men for what that group of treacherous knights did to you and our people, but I assure you that no one in this city who's fighting with us is like that. At least if they are, they won't be for long after I'm through with them."

Rukia looks at hibryd in contempt. "And just who the hell are you? All I see is another man."

"I knew this was a bad idea. I was going to ask you to come with me to Flur, but I can see that you're not interested. And you may think of men as you like, as long as you do not group me among them." hibryd said, turning away from Rukia to walk back to Palin and Zaku.

"Wait. I never gave you my answer, warrior."

[Paul Grimm]

Zaku steps forward.
"You do realize, miss Rukia, that the way you are acting could persuade every "dirty man" into leaving. It is obvious that you are not aware of the situation. Currently this city is involved in a war with a neiboring country that apparently has far more numbers than even this city with the men. Also, there is apparently another person who is even stronger that is waiting to flaten this whole place, men and women alike. You may not like it, but at the moment both parties need eachother. Also, maybe we can make a deal concerning those knights."
Zaku waits for her to answer.

[paladinchambers]

Rukia gives a mean look to Zaku "Go fu..."
Before she can answer, Zaku grabs her throat, but is held back by Hybrid. "Zaku that wont help. She's an amazon. You think it's in our best interest to do anything to a fellow amazon in front of her people. "The woman is a freakin idiot! We are trying to help her!" protested Zaku. Rukia chops Zaku's wrist pretty hard. Watch it with those arms, girl." growled Zaku. Rukia shoves Zaku. "Oops, looks like I slipped" she challanged. "Rukia, stop!" commaned Kanna. "Please Rukia, we mean well" said Hybrid as he put her hand on her shoulder. Rukia punched him and it hurt alot!" Zaku went in to put her in a submission hold, but Rukia ducked and punched Zaku with both her fists. A flash of bluish-white light was seen. Zaku fell back and was out of breath. You know how to harness chi huh? Fine, all the more better. Zaku walked toward Rukia while she went into battle stance. Hybrid rose up, rubbing his jaw. It felt like he got hit with a club. He better do something before things get out of hand.

[Paul Grimm]

Zaku suddenly stops and smirks.
"rukia, i envoke Crowth apon you. I'm sure you know what that means, right. A friendly battle between two warriors. On your pride do you accept or do you run? In addition, I'll make a bet with you. If I win, you come with us to Flur and help us with our mission. If I lose, I'll leave Noma!"

[paladinchambers]

Rukia smiles. "You got alot of guts, but no brains. Typical of a man. You have any idea who you are dealing with? I am Rukia Kuwiska. I was trained by amazons, samurais and ninjas. I'm just not some helpless woman. You can't intimidate me!" "You talk to much" said Zaku as he charged Rukia She held her ground and as soon as Zaku approached, She gave him three quick punches with the back of her hand, elbowed him, gave him two kicks to the torso and then roundhoused him, all in the matter of a few seconds. Her speed and technique seemed too speedy and smooth for a human. That actually knocked Zaku down and drew blood. "Oh darn, now she's done it" said Hybrid nerviously. "Rukia, I'm not joking. Back off!!" Hybrid sees Zaku laughing hysterically. He starts to get up and spits out blood. "You stupid bitch! You have no idea!!" Hybrid needs to jump in somehow. Rukia's strong, but she's still no match for Zaku.

[randomguy]

Zaku stands up. He looks up at Rukia, with an almost crazy look in his eyes.
"Rukia, have you ever heard of Shadow Melders? I take it you have not, judging by the look on your face. Shadow Melders can turn Shadows into weapons."
Zaku makes his hand into a chop position and shadows from the ground jump to form a blade on his hand. he raises his hand so Rukia can see it, then allows it to dissolve.
"Were I'm from, I am hated for this power. I'll now show you my anger. For some reason you remind me of those people, the ones that persacuted me and made my life hell!"
Zaku was suddenly infront of Rukia. His fist slammed into he stomach. Two more into her sternum and face, followed by a roundhouse kick to the head. His eyes were wide with rage and his teeth were bared.

[paladinchambers]

Rukia is beweildered from Zaku's micliousness. Fear crept into her mind, but she stomped it out out of definace. She charged Zaku and he charged back. The other amazons looked on in nerviousness, not knowing who to root for. "This is pointless." said Lindsey. "Hybrid, help me restrian Rukia, I'll take Zaku. Kanna held her back though. "Stay out of it Lindsey. Rukia accepted the challange. It is dishonorable to interfere. This is about Amazonian pride."Kanna, Zaku will destroy her!!" protested Ayane. "If she harbors such feelings, she deserves it" said Kanna coldly. Lindsey and Ayane looked at Kanna, shocked at her words. Back at the fight, Rukia leaped foward and gave a hard elbow to Zaku. While he stumbled back, she grabbed him, jumped high in the air, still holding him, flipped and put Zaku beneath her knees while in mid air. Zaku landed hard and took all of Rukia's weight to his body. He coughed up more blood. Rukia jumped off of him and walked away. "I win" she said with indignation.

[Paul Grimm]

Suddenly a large amount of energy is released. As Rukia looks back she see's Shadows spinning around Zaku. A second later they have pushed Zaku upright. His eyes are Blood Shot and he is Staring at her.
"You seem to underestimate me. You haven't won yet!"
He is in front of her again, this time in the air. he spins around and catches her full in the face with a ariel spining kick.