Yoru Oni

The wind blew her hair in many an odd direction. It caused the grass to shudder, as if the earth it's self felt the same chill as she did.

It was moving into late autumn, so the wind held the first freezing breath of winter. And here she was, standing with nothing but her thin gray jacket and slacks to keep her warm. Looking for something that was about the size of a pebble.

A flock of birds flew over head in a last minute voyage south. Twittering wildly to each other as they fought against the chilling wind.

"Any luck Darielle?" called a masculine voice.

The girl snapped out of her wind-induced trance. "Other than in catching a cold, no."

"You won’t get sick," the dark haired man replied. The most notable thing about him was the three earrings he sported in his left ear. "Your numbers are activated now. It’s impossible for you to get a common cold."

Darielle rolled her eyes. Her numbers. Supposedly they were some invisible numbers on the side of her neck. They were ‘activated’ when some vampire thing tried to bite her after attacking her brother and killing her parents. Another shiver rocketed through her, but this time it wasn’t caused by the icy wind. "Sure Darius," she said disbelievingly, "but I’m still cold."

Darius chuckled "Well, the more you look, the faster we’ll find it, and the sooner you’ll be warm again."

"Nag, nag, nag." she retorted, but began looking with a sigh. "Where would this pod be anyway?"

"Not sure, I just know it’s in this general area."

"That is SO helpful."

They were looking for a pod that would transform into a living, breathing, person. It turns out that Darielle wasn’t quite as human as she had grown up believing. She didn’t really understand it herself, but she was apparently created some how by Darius back in the middle ages. The ‘pod people’ they were looking for were a group that were created, along with her, to fight off the vampire like things called the Yoru Oni. How on earth it all worked was beyond her.

"Darielle, over here, I think I found it."

"The pod?" She asked hopefully, running over to the dark clad man.

"Mm." Darius nodded. He pointed at the low, stone wall. "Looks like someone thought it would make for a good decoration."

She squatted down to get a better look. It did indeed look like a pebble, squished in with all the other rocks that made up the ancient wall. The pod was perfectly round and had nothing on it, save for a line of numbers. "Didn’t they wonder what the numbers were?"

Darius chuckled "I told you, normal people can’t see the numbers. That’s why your brother can’t see the numbers on your neck."

She only rolled her eyes again. "So how do we get it out?"

"We don’t have to. We can activate it there."

"Fine, how do we activate it then?"

"You just have to touch it."

"That’s it?"

"Mmhm."

Darielle sighed and touched the pod with her finger.

The pod began to glow brightly. A giant iris bud of light formed above the wall. It bloomed before their eyes, reveling a white haired girl curled into the fetal position.

"Wow," Darielle breathed.

The wind blew again, and the girl’s eyes opened. She gracefully uncurled, feet lightly landing on the wall. The iris disappeared with the next gust of icy wind.

"Darie!" The girl suddenly squealed, jumping on Darielle

"ACK!" Darielle exclaimed as she fell to the ground, the other girl straddling her as she hugged her.

"Oh Darie! I’ve missed you sooo much! It’s been sooo long!"

"Malu,"

White eyes looked up "Oh, hi Master Darius."

"How about you calm down and get up." Darius said with a soft smile.

Malu pouted, but climbed to her feet.

"Er, nice to meet you?" Darielle said, getting to her own feet.

White eyes filled with tears and her lower lip quivered "D-darie?" she sniffled.

"Malu, she was reborn." Darius said gently.

She blinked "Ooooooooooh! I remember now!" Malu smiled brightly "She doesn’t remember, right? So she doesn’t remember Kiyoshi either then, right?" She turned back to Darielle "Hi! I’m Malu! We’re going to become really good friends!"

"Um, k?" Darielle said, still utterly confused, but she gave the girl a small smile.

Malu giggled "Oh Darie! You’re as pretty as I remember!"

"Right." Darielle said, turning to Darius "Should we head back? Kevin is still at the lab."

"Kevin?" Malu asked, tilting her head.

"My little brother." Darielle answered.

"Aw! You have a little brother now!" Malu squealed, clapping her hands together. "Now both you and Naida have brothers!"

"Naida?" she raised a confused eyebrow.

White eye’s rolled. "Water, duh!"

Darielle bit her lip, brown eyes lowering.

Malu didn’t notice as she looked around. "Hey, am I the first one activated?"

"Yes, Malu. You are." Darius answered.

"Really? Wow!" She exclaimed, jumping excitedly. "Who’s next? Naida? Keegan? Zion?"

"The next closest is matter."

Malu’s excitement visibly deflated "Kiyoshi? What do you need him for? He’s part of the higher five! You’re not supposed to activate them unless they’re really, really needed!"

Darius chuckled dryly, scratching the back of his neck. "Yes, well, He’s the only one of the five we’re activating for now."

"How come!" Malu pouted, stamping her foot.

"Heh, heh, because he’d kill me if I didn’t have him activated." He said, smiling sheepishly.

"No fair! No fair, no fair, no fair!" Malu said stamping her feet angrily. "I refuse to help find him!"

"Why?" Darielle asked, finally looking up.

"Cause," Malu pouted, crossing her arms. "He’s not even supposed to be activated!"

"Why isn’t he?" she asked, confused.

"Because," Darius stepped in, "He’s part of the ‘higher five’. You see, each of the nine people we’re looking for controls an element. Fire, water, air, earth, matter, sound, electricity, ice, and life. The first four, earth, air, fire, and water, are a bit more stable and easier to control. The last five, matter, sound, electricity, ice, and life, are a bit less stable and harder to control. This makes their personalities a bit harder to work with. Where as the first four are easy going and friendly for the most part. But I think Kiyoshi, matter, will be much better then the other five."

"Bout time you explained something to me." Darielle crossed her arms.

"I still don’t want him activated!" Malu shouted, stomping her foot again.

"Well it’s not up to you Malu." Darius said firmly. "Come on, let’s get back." He said, turning and walking back the way they had come.

The two girls followed. The next blast of icy wind made Darielle shiver again.

"Is the wind bugging you Darie?" Malu asked with a tilted head.

Darielle’s brown eyes looked the other over. She was only wearing a short skirt with a somewhat skimpy top and high heels. "It’s not you?"

"Nope!" Malu said cheerily "Remember, I’m air! Here," A white wand appeared in her hand and she held it up. A bubble of air formed around the three, blocking the wind. "There! Now you won’t be cold!"

"Thanks," Darielle said, blinking "That’s... really nice of you."

Malu giggled "Anything for you Darie!"

"Here we are," Darius said, bending over and touching a rock. It again had the special numbers on it.

A glowing circle appeared above the rock. Already used to this form of transportation, Darielle stepped threw the circle followed by Malu then Darius.

"Home again, home again, jiggity jig," Darius said.

"Ooo! It’s been so long! I get my old room, right?" Malu asked, clapping her hands together.

"Yes. Kevin is currently staying in Vito’s room."

Malu giggled "I’m sure Vito’ll love that!"

"So which one is Vito?"

"Electricity, Darie." Malu answered, rolling her eyes.

Darielle sighed "Kevin! We’re back!"

"Finally!" The thirteen year old came into the room. "I’m starving! Your stupid food making thing doesn’t have anything. I managed to get a glass of milk out of the piece of junk but it tasted gross."

"Sorry," Darius chuckled dryly "I haven’t gotten a chance to upgrade it from Medieval times."

"Aw! He’s so cute!" Malu squealed, running over and hugging Kevin.

"Ack! Get off me!" he shouted, struggling to get away.

"You’re such a cutie!" Malu continued, ignoring his protests. "Aw!" She sounded before kissing his cheek.

"Um, Malu? I think that’s enough," Darielle said, hurrying over.

"Oh fine," she sighed, letting go of the boy.

"Freak," Kevin said, rubbing at his cheek as if it were contaminated.

"Sorry Kevin. This is Malu. How bout we go to Burger King or something, ok?" Darielle said gently.

"Whatever. As long as I get something to eat." He said grumpily.

"Alright, and then perhaps to a library so I can upgrade the food replicater." Darius agreed. "Ladies, would you like to change?"

"Can’t I wear what I’m wearing now?" Malu pouted.

"You’d really stand out Malu. Come on, I might have something you can wear." Darielle said with a friendly smile.

"Really?" she exclaimed, starry eyed. "You’d let me wear your clothes?"

"Sure," Darie shrugged. "Come on." She lead Malu to her room to find some clothes that would fit her.

"Ready!" Darielle announced as the two met back with the boys.

"Finally," Kevin grumbled before stepping through the circle portal.

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