6 Chapter Five An Enemy

"How long can you hold your breath?" He asked as black mist like smoke started to seep from his blade and swirl around him as well as flow out slowly towards the enemy that threatened them.

He could feel her confusion. "What?" she muttered so only he could hear.

"Just answer…" Rakuhoshi said before changing his mind. "You know what… just hold your breath." And with that the black misty smoke shot out and filled the area they were in except a very thin layer around Rini and her friend.

"Svabol wer uoinota…?" *1 There was a surround sound. It came from the men and her friend. Though it was only seconds before the men started coughing and choking.

Rini finally understood as the air around her and pervert man was less choking. It gave her a tickle in the back of her throat but not nearly as bad as what it sounded like from the other men just a few feet from her. Rakuhoshi felt Rini turn to pervert man, "Hold your breath and go…"

The two really didn't need to say much more before the two dashed forward and cut down their enemy. They didn't even see them coming until it was too late and they were too busy trying to catch their breath to really put up much of a fight.

Just as quickly as the mist came it vanished leaving not a trace that it was there. Only two remained standing when it was lifted and they could see more than three feet in front of them.

"Ti munth... Sva shio…" *2 Pervert man muttered as he gave Rakuhoshi a glance.

"What?" he asked as if Pervert man could suddenly hear and understand him. Though his attention was brought back to Rini who coughed as she stared down at the men. "Are you okay?" His words were calm as if it was such a simple question.

"Yes…" She whispered, getting a strange look from pervert man. Did pervert man think that she was responding to him? Or maybe she was and Rakuhoshi was wrong.

"We should go, Rini. Staying will only draw more, unless you want to play some more?" A glint flashed in his eyes as a slow smile appeared on Rakuhoshi's lips. He didn't mind staying to play longer, but with how hard Rini's heart was beating he didn't want to risk her for a chance to play when he knew he would get another chance later.

She sheathed him and turned away from the men. "Let's go…" Was all she said. Pervert man followed like a good little perverted puppy.

The walk was quiet, perhaps a little too quiet. Maybe he went a little overboard? Or perhaps he made it too easy for them to kill the men. Did they want a little bit more of a challenge? Perhaps they should have maimed them to find out what they wanted. Get some answers to the questions he had. Though, the way she was lost in thought, it appeared that she might already have those answers. They obviously knew who she was, he on the other hand didn't know who they were. Did they work underneath someone and maybe someone more powerful would be coming after them? "Good." he was ready for more of a challenge. Honestly those men were killed off way too quickly. Next time he would let the fun play out a little bit more. Or they were just too weak for him to really provide him with any fun at all. He sighed. Rakuhoshi was getting bored again. All they were doing was walking not saying anything, no other entertainment around for him to look at. Anything would be fine at this point. "Where are we going?"

She and pervert guy ignored him. Well that's just rude.

"Come on… I'm bored…" Rakuhoshi sighed heavily again before a thought came to him. "Hey… what language is it that you guys speak? I don't recognize it from anywhere."

Rini finally glanced down at him with a raised brow. 'Are you serious?'

He blinked. Did he just read her mind? It was clear as day but he was sure she didn't open her mouth. Her gaze moved away from him and back ahead. "Hmm…" He pondered his next move until movement ahead drew his attention. It sounded like a cart of some sort and about a mile away or so. Reinforcements? No, he didn't sense any ill intent from the two beings driving the cart. Either way they should probably get off the road and into the small forest until they pass.

"We have a cart coming up ahead. Just to be on the safe side you might want to move into the forest a bit. I don't sense anything dangerous from them. Probably just your average trading band wagon or whatever…"

"Trading you say?" Her eyes grew contemplative.

Of course, Pervert man had to put his two cent worth in. "Svabol? Tepoha wux gethrisja repaiup shafaer ve? Rinov li wux itrewica batobot caex... Wux tepoha ti coanwor wer diieson…" *3

"Hmm?" She looked over at Pervert man. He was starting to pick up a few words since he's heard them so often. And gauging from Rini's responses he was pretty sure what they meant. Svabol, he was pretty sure meant what. Ve, he was sure meant me. That was about it that he could distinguish. It was a work in progress. It wasn't like you could learn a whole new language overnight. Still it was hard to listen to a one sided conversation all the time when you couldn't really chime in.

"...they could have supplies." Rini was saying when he focused back into their conversation. He could see they weren't planning on moving off the road so instead of trying to comprehend what they were talking about he stretched out his senses to keep an eye on any enemies that might try and sneak up on them. Any tail that might appear from the inn they had stayed at. For whatever reason he expected a retaliation from what they did to those four men.

The cart was finally in sight and Pervert man had a look of being impressed. Rakuhoshi raised a brow at him. What was he so impressed by? What a creep. As the cart neared them it seemed to have slowed down until it came to a stop just shy of where the two of them stopped. Rini greeted them with a smile which they glanced at each other before nodding their heads to her.

"'morning there. A great day for traveling, eh?" One of the men on the cart spoke with a genuine looking smile on his face. His companion had other thoughts on the day as he gave him a sour look before rolling his eyes. Wait, he could understand them? Was there some sort of common language they spoke when speaking with different species or races? Rakuhoshi took a closer look at these two men. They appeared to be in shorter stature and kind of bulky. Like a midget but more agile.

"Yes. Just enough clouds in the sky and a nice breeze to keep it comfortable." Rini's pleasant voice spoke. He glanced up at her. This was a turn of personality. Maybe this was just how she acted with people she wanted something from. "Where is it you're heading?"

"Just to the town down the road. We got some wares we'd like to trade...unless you'd be interested in some?"

Rini leaned to glance back at the cart. It didn't look like much. A chest with some old looking swords and maybe some armor but, honestly to Rakuhoshi it just looked like scraps of metal. "What's in the chest?"

"The chest?" the man looked back to examine what she was referring to. "Oh right. Just some jewels, chains, rings. That sort of thing." His eyes ranked over Rini, "Though I don't think it'd be something you'd be interested in."

How callous was this man? Judging Rini like he actually knew her. He didn't know her, not that Rakuhoshi had room to say that. He didn't know her well either. Maybe she wasn't into jewelry. She seemed more like the swords, killing, and death sort of gal. An emotion rolled over him and he turned to look at Rini. What was that? Anger? It was there and gone in a blink of an eye that he didn't catch it.

"I think I'll have to pass… thank you for your time." She started to move but Pervert man seemed interested in whatever they were selling.

"I think I'll have a look, if you don't mind." Pervert man said before moving to look into the cart. Rini merely rose a brow at him before crossing her arms stiffly. He looked over at her. "I'll only be a minute. I'll catch up if you want to continue."

If her eyebrow could go any higher it just did. "Whatever…" She muttered before spinning on her heels.

"I still don't trust him...I don't care what you say." Rakuhoshi said as she turned to look down at him. He could feel that she had no reason not to trust her friend, but he couldn't help but get that feeling. Something just seemed off with him.

They didn't get far before Pervert man rejoined them. "So… did you get a ring for your girlfriend or something?"

Pervert man did something to surprise him. He actually blushed! His face looked like a tomato. Maybe the weird look she gave him she had actually seen right through him this entire time? Pervert man had a girlfriend, huh? Then why was he going through Rini's belongings before? That didn't seem like the actions a man who was taken would do.

"Th-thric! Batobot ui ti coi! Si tir ti tangis tepoha ir…" *4 Pervert man muttered the last part as if it was meant for himself than anyone else.

It appeared as Rini still heard him and gave him a playful slap on his arm. "I'm just playing with you, geez! No need to get all depressed." A trickle of a laugh spilled forth from her lips. It was music to his ears. He could listen to that sound all day. He could even just listen to her talk all day too. Rakuhoshi really enjoyed just being around her. It was as easy as breathing the air around him. It felt so natural. It was almost a shame that in the end he would only be using her. She flinched and looked down at him. Shit, did she just hear his thoughts just now?