The Others

Reiko kept giving Geomana fervent looks. The police wouldn't believe him if he told them about the underground city. They never believed anything he said. But if he had someone to back him up....

"Geomana," he asked. "Is it alright if you walk me halfway to my place? My father...isn't there anymore, and it's reather lonely..."

Geomana gave him a sympathetic look. "I'd love to see your place, if that's okay."

"Thanks," Reiko said, smiling at her. then he let his grin fade, as if he forgot something. "But, do you live with someone who would get you in trouble if you were gone for that long? My father hated me staying out for more than a couple of hours..."

"Just my brother," Geomana replied almost bitterly. "But it doesn't matter. He can't monitor my life every single second, now, can he?"

"Of course not," Reiko agreed. he felt his hip for his weapon, but he remembered that they had taken it and swore silently. He'd have to do this manually.

"I don't think you'd like my place very much," he said worriedly.

"Oh, don't worry about it. I won't care."

"You sure?"

"Of course! It's not like I live in a mansion either."

"You really wouldn't mind?"

"No."

"Good." he swung his fist across the back of her head and slung her over his shoulder. Once he was out of the city, he slipped into an alley (after all, walking around the streets with a body would attract unwanted attention) and made his way back home.

Geomana woke up several hours later, feeling groogy. She had a concussion, she knew the feeling anywhere.

She swore, loudly when she tried to move and realized she couldn't. Where was she?

"Hello?!!!" she shouted.

Sano sighed as he put the dishes in the sink and began washing them. He said to himself, "Maybe i was too hard on him? His oppinion wont change if I act like that."

When he finished he walked out the door twords Geomana and Reiko.

Reiko leaned against the wall in his house, thinking. Was he insane?! Did he expect the police to come to his same conclusion about Underground? Was his captive just going to waltz in with him and tell them everything?

He sighed and rubbed his head. No, he'd have to worm something out of Geomana himself.

Reiko went into the kitchen and opened a drawer, flipping through random junk until he found a recorder at the bottom. he flipped it on, made sure it worked--just as a yell came from inside the closet. He smiled, pressed the red record button, and grabbed a flashlight. then he unlocked the closet and stepped in.

Geomana blinked at the bright light and tried to sheild her eyes, but her hands had been tied back with belts. Reiko had no loose rope around, and he didn't trust string or duct tape. He had her ankles tied, also, and just for safe measures, he had a belt around her neck. He didn't want her to escape simply by turning into whatever creature she was.

Rieko closed the door behind him and switched on the flashlight, shining it into her face. He slipped the recorder into the pocket of his coat, then sat crosslegged across from her, making sure that the recorder was able to pick up their conversation. "What are you trying to hide underground?" he demanded.

Sano was frantic, he had no idea where Geomana and that Rieko fella went. Finnaly he relized he must have taken her above ground. Swearing under his teath he went back to his cabin to gather supplies.

(I don't have that much at the moment.)

Geomana didn't say anything, the look in her eyes defiant.

She was rewarded by a kick in the ribs.

"Why are you hiding underground?" He repeated.

"Because of people like you," she spat, "we're safe down there. We leave the world to its own and continue with ours. So people like you, won't hurt us."

When Sano made it home he kicked open the door not even worrying about the lock. Take the sword off the wall he mounter it on his back. Walking outside he transformed into a dragon and said, "No matter what it take I will get her back, even if it costs me my life."

Taking off he flew faster than he ever had before. Taking the pass through the cave inside the waterfall Sano came out atop a cliff over looking the human city. "Geomana, I'm coming!"

Darting down he flew over the city till he found a police officer patroling the streets. Coming down on him in human form he drew his blade and placed it up to his throat. "Tell me where Rieko lives."

The officer reach for his weapon, but Sano kicked him in the face nocking him to the ground. "I wont ask again."

The frightened officer pointed down the street at a small brown house, "T- there, he lives there."

"Thank you." Sano used the hilt of the sword to bash the officers head nocking him out. "Hold on Geomana, hold on."

Geomana and Reiko heard the noise, Rieko paniked and kicked Geomana again. She shifted away at the last second so he wouldn't hit her neck, but he caught her shoulder and she screamed.

Sano burst through the door then, Rieko panicked and tried to run, but Sano had a better left hook. Rieko was out cold.

"Geomana!" Sano exclaimed as he undid the belt around her ankles, "Are you alright?"

Geomana could only nod as he undid the belt around her wrists. He helpped her stand, and threw his arms around her, she did her best to do the same.

"Are you really okay? I think your brother would maime me is you weren't."

Geomana nodded, "I'm fin-" the room swirled around her and everything went black.

"Geomana!" Sano let her down gently and turned toward Rieko. He drew his sword and brought it to his neck. "No, this won't make it right." He put his sword away and looked for a piece of paper and a pen.

I'm sorry for hitting you, but I don't think it could have ended any other way. In truth man fear us just because we're different, but the same is for us. We built the Underground as a safe haven so you wouldn't harm us anymore. I hate you and always will for what you did to Geomana, but think. It wasn't hard to tell you were a human, but even so she showed you kindness. Are we really as bad as you think. In the end you have to believe what you want, but my father tried to make a better world for us all, so i promise that I will do the same. ~Sano

He put the note in Rieko's hand. Then he picked up Geomana and brought her back to his place to tend to her wounds.

It must have been several hours later when Geomana next woke, and in a different place than she remembered. Last thing she remebered was being helpped up by Sano in Rieko's apartment.

Sano!

Geomana sat up straight, her head and abdomen protesting feircely. Black dots swirlled her vision and she laid herself back.

"Sano?" she practically whispered.

"I'm here Geomana." He grabed her hand softly.

"Where am I?"

"My home."

"And Rieko, is he,"

"No, He's alive."

"You didn't kill him? Why?"

"If I am to create a peacfull world, how can I take another's life."

Geomana smiled and squeezed Sano's hand, "Why did you come for me?"

"Because I care about you Geomana, more than anything in the world." He laid down next to her and gave her a kiss.

Geomana kissed back, both of them kept the kiss breif. Geomana's breathing was very labored.

"Are you alright?" he asked when she looked exausted.

She shrugged as best she could, "I think i'm going to live. If Kresko doesn't...Kresko! he's going to kill me."

"I doubt he's home yet."

"He's probably there or on his way here."

"Would you like me to take you home?"

"If you're going to stay for dinner."

Sano laughed a little, "You always put other people infront of yourself."

At that moment kresko burst in as a wolf, "What happened!?"

Sano began to tell the story the best he could.

Geomana sat up, holding a palm to her throbbing head, she didn't dare stand up yet, she knew as soon as she did she would faint again.

Kresko came and sat by her, "are you alright?"

"As far as recent kidnappies go, I think I'm fine." She reassured her brother. "I don't think I would be if Sano hadn't been there."

Geomana wasn't going to let Kresko blame Sano for this, there wasn't a chance.

"Thank you Sano, thank you for not letting me lose another sibling."

Rieko crumpled the note in his hand, lips pursed. We built the Underground as a safe haven so you wouldn't harm us anymore... The usual stereotypical hunted Herskon excuse. Almost in the past week, he had been attacked by a wolf, captued, and knocked out in his own house. He rubbed the bruise on his head tersely.

In truth men fear us just because we're different, but the same is for us... he snorted as the words came to mind. He had ligitament reasons for hating them, the same reasons he was stuck with no other family but his sister. He was only trying to make the world a more peaceful place.

...but my father tried to make a better world for us all, so i promise that I will do the same. Reiko grinned as he fingered the crumpled paper. "So do I, freak," he said quietly. He glanced at the clock at got up, knowing that his sister would be home and wondering why he hadn't gone to work yet.

He grabbed a coat and loaded another gun, then started out the door.

His hand froze on the doorknob.

but I don't think it could have ended any other way...I hate you and always will for what you did...even so she showed you kindness...safe haven so you wouldn't harm us...believe what you want...Are we really as bad as you think?...

He shook his thoughts out of his head, tossed the wadded note into hte wastebasket, and started down the street.