Days of the End

Akito sighed and grabbed his hand, pulling herself up. "Akito." she muttered. "And, thank you." she brushed herself off and sighed. "Sorry for intruding like that. You ended up helping me out instead of the other way around." she smiled a little. "Anyways...who are you?"

Ivy curtsied:
"I'm Ivy; it's a pleasure to meet you."

Akito's eyes widened. "U-uh. N-No!! It's a pleasure to meet you!!" she also curtised, really awkwardly.

"I am Lazareth" he answered... "So... where is it you hail from Akito?"

Akito looked at him, then down at the ground. "Uh...well...you see..." she winced. What are they going to think if I tell them I don't even live anywhere?

Ivy placed her hand gently on her shoulder...
"Don't be ashamed if you've lost your home--I've lost mine too."

"I too have no true home, nothing but a land I have forsaken." Now Lazareth turned away. He looked to the afternoon sky and sighed. And now I have no heading either, what is this weird land I walk, and how did I come here? This was the question going through his head. But he had no time for these questions.. "Anyways... I am off now." He bowed and began to walk away

Ivy saw that Lazereth was leaving, so she ran after him. She stood in front of him; blocking his way as she stated boldly:
"Oh NO you don't! I'm coming with you, and nothing you do or say will stop me."
Her voice cracked a little, because she was a little afraid, but her face didn't show it.

Lazareth cracked a small slight smile. "One would actualy walk this path with me? Share in the pain and toil I'd face?" He didn't believe it, ever since he lost his love he hadn't trusted another human. For they all just showed the bitterness in their hearts. Now to see actuall kindness surprised him. He had thought all kindness was lost to the human condition. "Very well. I see there is no objecting... And what of you Akito?" He looked over to her still standing there holding her arm.

Akito sighed and looked at him. "Uh...well I..." she sighed. I can't believe I'm actually saying this...I don't even know these two people...Akito stepped forward. "If...you two don't mind, that is...could I also come?" 

Lazareth sensed a sad spirit in her, something he understood and knew. "Such is fine with me."

Akito smiled a little and nodded. She attempted to curtsy again and looked at them. "I'll be of good service to you two. Anything you need, just ask and I'll get it." 

"Thank you, I'm sure you will" So now three of them, some how brought together by a strange fate, begin a journy together. God is one great writer Lazareth thought to himself. "So.. Ivy, you know this land alot better than I... Where shall be our heading?"

Ivy swallowed; wondering if the terrortity was the same as she remembered.
"Well there WAS a city about 5 miles from here...but due to the demons, I don't know if it still stands," Ivy looked eastward: "It's a day's journey--we'd better start now if we want to make it there before dark."

Akito sighed and nodded. She did NOT want to be out in the open after dark. She looked around. "Shall we go then?"

"Yes... it would be good for us to head off now." So together they trecked till night fall. The journey through the desert was much harder for Lazareth after the earlier fight. And so as the sun set they made camp for the night.

Ivy noticed Lazereth looked a little tired, as well as sad, so she asked:
"Are you alright?"

Caught in a daze he didnt' respond at first, but then after realizing her question he responded "Yeah... I'm fine...thanks." Lazareth was not used to people showing any type of concern. The soldiers of Drestrilan which whom he spent most his life with never showed any true emotions. He noticed Akito siting alone there is something about her...but I can't say what exactly... He thought to hisself.

Ivy was a little discrouaged as she thought:
"Men--why don't they open up more easily?!"
Ivy beamed, trying to cheer him up:
"You and Akito were very brave today! I was impressed at how well you two worked together to bring down the beast," She laughed a little: "You both handled him so well, I wondered if I got in the way. If I did, I'm sorry--I was only trying to help."

"Thank you..." He looked over at her, "You weren't in the way, infact I should be thanking you.. thanking you for your help." He bowed his head in thanks.

Ivy grinned: "You are most welcome!"
After that, she looked ahead, stood up, and called to Akito:
"Akito! Come here before you freeze to death!"
Lazereth suddenly chuckled.
Ivy looked at him as she demanded cutely:
"What?!"
"You sound like a mother," Lazereth chuckled: "You've barely known this girl a day, and you've already taken her under your wing."
Ivy suddenly looked away, as she acknowledged quietly:
"There aren't that many to take care of anymore. I should do the best I can to look well to those who ARE still here."
Lazereth didn't answer, and looked back to the fire. Ivy watched the fire's shadows dance off of his handsome, but downcast face...
She couldn't help thinking:
"Why do you always look so sad? Is there anything that'll make you happy? Is there anything I can do to help you, and Akito become joyful?"
Lazereth suddenly shifted his eyes to her; making Ivy realize that she was staring at him as she thought. She looked straight ahead, deeply embarrassed as she watched Akito run back to them...
Ivy's mind sighed once more:
"Please tell me what I can do to help you and Akito smile, and I will do it...please tell me very soon."

Akito got back to the campsite. "Sorry." she muttered. "Just thinking." she sat down next to the fire and sighed, rubbing her arms a little and glancing around. She felt watched. Akito sighed. She always felt watched these days.

Ivy watched Akito, as she asked:
"What were you thinking about dear?"

Akito looked up and her eyes widened. "I...uh...well..." she looked down and shrugged. "J-just stuff..." she let her sentence trail off. She ran her finger through the sand and tried to avoid eye contact. But...she's so...nice... Akito closed her eyes for a moment. But even so...its...so hard to trust...