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    Hopefully, these series are mainstream enough that more people will
get this one. -_-

Mystery Fusion # 8

 Disclaimer: Moved to the footer to avoid spoiling the surprise.



 Blood. The scent of it filled his nostrils, both intoxicating and
nauseating, like the time he had imbibed too heavily of his father's
alcohol. He scowled, finding it easier to fight a sudden numbing
weariness, and the men surrounding him drew in their breath, backing
away while the raw tainted force of his curse writhed around him,
sheathing his arm with a glowing black nimbus.

 He shook his head once, stepping resolutely towards the gate, shifting
his stance to hike one shoulder higher and make bearing the unconscious
young woman he was bearing slightly more manageable.

 The gate was opened at a cost, the staring men continued to do only
that while the lambent nacreous aura around his hand grew, writhing like
some great living thing that intended to feast upon him, and then the
men when it was finished. He had no time to worry about that now. He had
to get the girl to safety, then try and sort things out.

 Her companions were waiting outside, he knew, though he wasn't certain
how he was able to ascertain such.

 One step forward, feet pounding the worn and muddy wooden slabs beneath
his feet as he exited the fortress of the men, moving one step closer to
the loamy area of devastation before the forest.

 "How," he muttered to himself, taking care not to jostle the young
woman as he walked forward, "do I get myself into these things?"

 But that answer was all-too-clear to him, even when he tried _not_ to
think of it.

 One mistake in the signal fire, using bursts of smoke to indicate how
long it would be until he was back. It was crude, but an effective
method of communication, and they put it to use as well as they could...

 But then he accidentally nicked his hand on his knife, and while
sterilizing the wound, managed to slosh bloody wine into the fire.
Apparently, that was all that it took. He was merely trying to signal
back that he would be home tomorrow, and was very hungry, but one thing
led to another, then the demon, this place, the girl... It was all too
much, sometimes.

 Shaking his head, he glanced around, already at the low copse of trees
marking the end of the 'civilized' area, and the beginning of the
Forest. No mere woods, these, they were Forest, full of rich variations
of life, and all that lurked beneath the trees was beyond mortal ken...
But he knew some of it.

 He set the girl on the ground, while her companions drew near, their
eyes glinting ominously in the moonlight. "Hey," he whispered, his eyes
tracing her facial markings. "Wake up, Belldandy."

 The two wild-women who had identified themselves as 'Skuld' and 'Urd',
nodded, seeming to approve of his aid to her.

 "What a strange day," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

 -----------------
 Author's notes:

 Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's Ah! My Mononoke.

 I should probably be ashamed.

 I'm not, but I should be. Probably.

 Disclaimer:
 Princess Mononoke belongs to: Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki.
 Ah! My Goddess belongs to: Studio Proteus and Dark Horse comics.


--
Haiku of my lament:

Forgive my spelling,
my U.S. education,
is the source of blame.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     desaix@sysnet.net
Sir Desaix, member # 116 of the Knights of the True Fiancee           
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