The Land of the Dead (Vash/'Guo/Rin)

[Akira Satou]

At this point, Akira had already grabbed Kelcia and hidden behind a nearby boulder. She knew that red-coated guy was shady, but this... what the hell was he?!

Kelcia only giggles and pats Akira's shoulder. "Relax. That's just what Vashy does. He's super cool. Just watch. He's kinda scary like this, but just look! See her? That girl?"

Akira gives a skeptical glance. "Yeah, he just grabbed that chick. She's probably de--"

Kelcia interrupts her with a giggle. "No, no~ She's just sleeping. Trust me. Vashy doesn't kill. He said so himself, you know!"

Akira really didn't care for this guy. Even his voice changed. He was probably some kind of possessed freak. But... well, Kelcia was usually right about things. It was strange for a little girl, but she nods her head and sighs in defeat. "Fine. But I don't trust him completely. He's got some serious explaining to do... As do you, young lady. I want to know how you even know this man."

And Kelcia just giggles and shrugs. She had no intentions on releasing Vash's identity without his permission.

[Zhen Anguo]

'Guo was... Awestruck. It was the only word to describe how he felt, nothing else would accurately place just how he felt right now. A moment ago his teacher had been pushed into a well of pure mana that should have killed him... And yet... Here he was, before him, every bit the divine being that 'Guo remembered from the first time he had seen him. Speaking of power; the raw mana in the air was overwhelming, it drilled into his skull like a hammer and chisel.

"Kerrian! Make it stop!" He hissed through gritted teeth as he dropped onto his knees. He brought his hands up to his head and shut his eyes against the pain.

One moment... Done...

The pain faded and 'Guo slowly lowered his hands. Looking up at Vash, he squinted slightly. "What... What has he become... Who is he..?" He heard a small sigh in his head, was it... Pride?

That's... You'll find out...

That sounded far too ominous for 'Guo's liking... 

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I knelt beside the woman, shaking my head. With most of the mana I had absorbed finished processing, released into the air to return to its normal state, my wings had shrunk to normal size. I folded them, not releasing them, as they were an outlet for all the excess mana I'd collected. I was also still glowing, I realized, slightly distressed.

I made my way over to my student's position - I hoped that burst of raw mana hadn't damaged him too badly.

"'Guo," I said, kneeling next to him, trying to keep as much of my influence out of my voice as I possibly could. "Are you alright? Can you stand? I wasn't prepared for being thrown in the Well... I hope the mana burst didn't hurt too badly." I offered him my hand.

[Zhen Anguo]

'Guo reached up and took Vash's hand, using it to pull himself up to his feet, he swayed slightly, before regaining his balance and simply spending a moment to stare at his teacher. He went to take a step back, his eyes narrowed... Before they closed completely and he swayed some more before containing himself. He let out a deep breath, opening his eyes. "I-I'm fine... Kerrian cut off the mana before it did any real damage, but... Forget that..." He placed a steadying hand on Vash's shoulder and looked at him...

"Mr Vash... What's happening..? You're glowing and... You've got wings again... Your voice is all... And you... Well..." He glanced at the unconscious Bast and Monthu. "You... Did that..."

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, let it out.

"Good... I didn't want you to be hurt because of me." I placed my hands on his shoulders. "I told you, 'Guo. I'm more connected to the mana of this land than any Knight has ever been, or will ever be..." I struggled to find the right words. The right way to tell him the truth; he'd never truly believe any lies any more.

"I'm sure... you're already beginning to guess that something's fishy with my story; you felt that power. You saw what happened. You're seeing what's happening now, and... and I didn't want you to have to see it." I shook my head, looking away. "'Guo... you've probably already guessed, but..."

I turned away, gently dislodging his hand. "I'm not a Lunar Knight..."

[Zhen Anguo]

'Guo raised an eyebrow as he looked across at Vash's glowing appearance before looking ahead, smiling softly as he did so.

"Really..?" He asked with a small chuckle. "I can't say that I'd noticed!" The sarcasm was evident in his voice as he looked at the space around them, it suddenly seemed so quiet... Like there was no-one in the world save their little group...

"So... What are you instead of a Lunar Knight..?"

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I laughed softly in return.

"You should ask my brother,"[/i] I told him, allowing my full power into my voice once more. "He's a bit overly fond of explaining my 'foolishness', so he's much better at it than I am." I looked back over my shoulder at 'Guo, allowing a smile to cross my face. "Isn't that right, Kerrian?"[/i]

[Zhen Anguo]

Yes. I am. And I've told you time and again that this whole charade is completely pointless and stupid. 'Guo could hear a small huff in his head before Kerrian continued. But he's right. Vash is simply no Lunar Knight, not at all, but that doesn't mean that he has nothing to do with Guasto and it's moon... You see, far from being a Lunar Knight... Vash is in fact it's Lunar Spirit. Hence why he refers to me as his brother.

'Guo's eyes widened as he looked across at Vash. "Wait, so you're... One of... You're like... Kerrian? He's like Kerrian, Kerrian?" He heard another audible sigh, the kind that you were supposed to hear.

Yes. He's like me.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

"Not quite,"[/b] I responded. "Unlike Kerrian, or Valerian or Zephyr or Tarran or Kelcia," I looked in the blonde Knight's direction, "for that matter, what you see right now is all there is to me." I raised my hands to the sky, feeling Mothers' light in my bones. "They all live up there, souls housed by cold vessels. That, you know. But myself..."[/b] I put my hand on my chest. "This body is as human as yours. Ketulunan, true, but human. Only the soul within is different."

[Zhen Anguo]

Don't be so Pedantic.

'Guo's eyes widened even further as he brought a hand up to his forehead for a moment as he rubbed the bridge of his nose, his head was clearly hurting just trying to even comprehend how all of this worked. Still, it wasn't exactly the time for him to start getting confused by it, he had more important things to be thinking about.

"Okay... So, those guys... Are they taken care of..?" He turned to look at Bast and Monthu who had been laid unconscious nearby, but...

"They're gone!"

[Kodoku Itami]

Not all too far away, Itami laid Bast down against the trunk of a near-dead tree next to Monthu, before taking a few steps back and crossing his arms. He looked at the two whom he had apparently kidnapped and allowed himself a small smirk, they would be perfect, he had watched them during that last fight. The womans invisibility would be invaluable no doubt and the mans archery skills would be just as useful, it seems that Yami was ready.

'Guo and Vash were talking, the boys ability to sense mana was dangerous, but Itami was perfectly capable of completely masking himself. He slipped in behind them whilst they were talking, and picked up the archer whom had been fighting, within a split second he had carried the man away from the scene, before returning and doing the same with the woman. She had received a wound which would probably need some treatment...

[Akira Satou]

Akira takes a few steps next to 'Guo, standing beside him with crossed arms. She eyed Vash skeptically. She was feeling rather angry, and she didn't know why. "Alright, Vash. Speak up. I want answers and I want them now." Reaching into a pocket on her thighs, she pulls out a cigarette and places it between her lips. She doesn't light it yet. "What do you know about Kelcia, huh? Who are these 'Valerian' or 'Tarran' people. And more importantly, how do you know my little sister? I'm the only one who can see her. Or feel her. Or hear her. You're lookin' pretty damn suspicious right now, and I'm not happy about it."

She sighs heavily, resting both her eyes for a moment, shifting her weight to her other side, closer to 'Guo. Reaching to the same pocket, she realized she didn't have anything to light her cigarette with. Now an annoyed groan escapes the soft lips of the woman. "Hey, got a light, Greeny?"

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I raised an eyebrow, looking up towards the sky.

"You've certainly been droppng the ball a bit, little sister,"[/b] I said with a smile. "But, I suppose I could explain it this once."

I nodded to Akira. "I apologize for the confusion. Kelcia is, indeed, my sister; both of us are kindred souls, Lunar beings each with powers over one element of the thirteen. Kelcia's element is Ice, and she's chosen you as her Knight, a human chosen to share a Lunar's power in order to reduce our effects on the world around us. I've been pretending to be human for a long time, now; because of my human body, I don't require a Knight, only limiting influences to bind back my power. It appears my sister has failed to inform you, despite your obviously excellent communication, of these facts."[/b]

Admittedly, my glare would've been more effective if I'd had a physical person to glare at again. And if I'd been able to be mad at my second-littlest, second-favorite sister for more than two seconds at a time.

[Zhen Anguo]

'Guo patted his shirt with a small 'hum' sound as he tried to remember if he had anything that could start a fire before he shook scratched the back of his head with a small chuckle.

"Sorry, Sir!" He said, oblivious to Akira's true gender as he scratched his head again. "I've not got anything I'm afraid!" He looked across to Vash and frowned. "And don't think I've forgiven you, mister!" He said with a scowl and a pout as he crossed his arms against his chest. "You lied to me!"

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I shrugged. There was always the chance that this would happen, if 'Guo ever found out.

"I lie to a lot of people," I told him quietly, turning away. "I'm dangerous, 'Guo. You saw what happened to Shin, and all I did was touch him. And that was with my power completely bound. As I am now?"[/i] I raised a hand to let one of the myriad wisps settle lightly on it, before it dissipated into fragmnets of colored light. "I hide my power for a reason. I don't ask that you forgive me. I just ask that you... understand me."