Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ichigo knew how Yusuke felt. Well...maybe he didn't know how he exactly felt, but he knew how confusing of a situation that was. Odds were that Urahara would know some way of fixing the mess Yusuke got himself in. Then again, hat 'n' clogs would probably end up saying something to piss Yusuke off, and that wouldn't end well. Perhaps leaving it to Genkai would be best.

Nevertheless, Ichigo was only going by what he heard. He couldn't see Yusuke's expression now that he was resting his eyes.

"Yeah...as soon as I'm patched up," he said weakly. "I gotta let Ukitake know it's been taken care of here."

Ichigo hated having to be an errand boy for the Soul Society, but someone had to do it. With all of the issues they had to settle, meddling in the world of the living wasn't in their best interest, as they saw it. But Ichigo could go where they couldn't. He was their ace-in-the-hole.

The attendant watched their exchange with a raised brow, then nodded to Yusuke when she announced her readiness to leave. On the way out, she quietly mused if Yusuke had been introduced to the change on that time of the month.

Only a couple of minutes later, the elder guard entered the tent, along with another person who was greatly adorned. Peeking past them to the outside would show a few more guards.

"I am Akshal, mayor of this town, if you will." His voice was nonthreatening, though it had as much depth and ingrained wisdom as someone would expect from one of his apparent age. White hair was dreadlocked down his back, with a few shell accessories at the ends.

"I wanted to personally thank our heroes. Ichigo and Yusuke, was it? How unfortunate that you won't stay for the feast, but we have prepared some things for your journey home."

A motion behind him through the opening ushered in some men who held rolled cloths. With two to a cloth, they found a way to stand side-by-side with their arms up in presentation.

"You won't stay, but we won't let you go hungry on your leave. It may be a load, but I've faith that your appetite will take this down." When unrolled, there was a bundle of fish, each about five feet long. Scaling was blue, with a slight hint of rainbow when the light hit it right.

"The beast you felled... Malboro, one of many, actually. They usually stick to their own places, abandoned sewers and mines. Their hide, as you likely know, is thick and durable. We offer it to you, that you may wear and show your triumph. You will need the help of a good tailor, seamstress, what have you... but it can be done. My own cloak hangs above my bed. " When unrolled, the next cloth had long strips and patches of the hide, already cleaned and treated for scent. Its coloration was dark, the texture would prove to be smoother than expected--but still notably rough, telling of the monster's environment.

A third one was opened, when Ashkal walked to the pair, hand out to present. "The bones of your foe have medicinal powers with the aid of an apothecary able to use them. Here we give you a few of them. It's fairly simple to use these to create Remedies that cure many of your basic illnesses. It's theoretically possible to reverse your change, Yusuke... so with the rest of the bones, we will do our own research and experimentation. A fishing village though we are, we at least know of many resources and renown doctors." He lowered his head slightly, his hand on the 1'x1' box housing the bones he was talking about. "If you lose contact with us, we will search you out, when we know more about your condition."

A slight pause was taken, time enough to nod to himself, before he went to the last person-- there was no need to have two people hold the small bag held in this man's hand. "And of course, actual money. You may or may not hold high value for the skin of a demon so foul, but surely the coin will see you well for weeks."

____Spoils of Battle____

• Hide of the Malboro
  
• Malboro Bone (x10)
  
• Rainbow Deep Catfish (x20)
  
• ???
  
• PROFIT!!!
  

The howling of a grey wolf pack echoed through the jagged Northern Spine. The sound of their baying was only a many haunting whispers by the time it reached Stryphe's ears. The fire dancing in his emerald eyes disappeared suddenly, replaced by a thousand tiny points of light as he looked up through the pines and into the sky. The grey ghosts of The Spine were Stryphe's favorite neighbors in this rugged, rocky land. The fisher-folk to his north he left to their own devices, same for the little mountain-men. Not even the crackling, snapping and hissing of his campfire could completely overpower the low hum of the Mitharim's constant excavation. He would have nothing to do with them.

"Mithral? Gems?" He'd encountered a small group of Mithramen prospectors one morning while hunting and had been very straightforward with them. "You bore deep into the backbone of the land harvest it's marrow. To what end? What gain?" The leader had puffed up and was ready to deliver a boisterous retort when Stryphe spoke again, "Money. So that you may dig even deeper. I think that if this land has a spine, then it should have a mouth somewhere. One day you'll find it, I'm sure, and that will be the last thing you'll be digging up."

After that they'd left him to his hunting with a huff and a puff and continued on their own way. It was the last time he'd spoken to any of the Mithramen.

The fire popped and made as if it were going to collapse, but it stayed, sending a small army of ash spiraling up through the trees, bringing his eyes back to the flames.

His long, black hair was entirely wild. Thick dreadlocks were dispersed randomly among the knots, tangles, curls and waviness, reaching down a little further than his shoulders and in any given direction. His eyes, deeply set and brooding, glowed a emerald-orange from behind the frayed tendrils. His mouth was tight in thought, but it was hidden beneath a full, bushy beard groomed just as well as his hair. The hair grew in along his jaw much in the same way Mother Gaia had shaped The Spine. His features were strong and rigid, as if carved of stone. He was harsh and devious looking before he was handsome, but handsome he was. He wore boiled leathers and wolf-skins, mostly items he'd procured from the fisher-folk and the wildlife during his stay in the foothills of the Mithral Mountains.

Again, the pack let loose a cry into the night.

Go! Go, they ssay! The Grey Ghostss sing to your ssoul, child, and it is a song I grow more and more tired of by the day. If you will not have theirss... have mine- strike out, or your coils will tire and you will ssettle where you ssit, with the Midget-men.

"Only an old snake could tire of the songs they sing. How many sheddings was it before you could no longer appreciate a beautiful voice?"

The skin would be ancient child, as ancient and old as the songs that would stir my cold, poisonous heart, long lost.

"And there were wolves then, eh?! The Grey Ghosts remember the songs, because their kind has never stopped singing them, Jormungandr."

It was quite a chilly afternoon, especially amongst the trees of the thick forest. Leaves of fall floating every which way as the wind shifted directions. It was a nice day, even though of the cool temperature that kept the forest uneasy.

There was one young man, who had no idea where he was. Seemingly lost in a labryinth of trees and bushes. He was cold, he was almost freezing, as you could see by the ashyness on his normally mocha coloured hands. The young man wasn't dressed for the feel of autumn, only dressed in a tight black t-shirt, and a pair of tight black pants. You couldn't see the tears from his eyes that were flying away with the wind, as they were covered with light blue aviators, which wasn't the best option for this weather.

He hugged himself, his arms latching to one another as he stumbled about in the forest. He was looking for shelter, or something to keep him warm. While walking, he'd stub his toe on a large root, falling, creating a very loud yell.

"GOD DAAAAAMN!"

A slight panic arose within Temn, demons? there were. . . demons? his face went pale in fear as he heard that. Somehow managing to grab the man's hand, he'd pull himself up. Quite dirty from his fall.

Temn weakly smiled at the man, the smile in thanks for the aid. He would then brush off the dirt on his black jeans, sighing heavily as he stood straight once more. His eyes darting left and right, as if he was scared.

" T-thanks. . . so, there are demons here? Oh my, I didn't realize that finding a place for meditation meant contact with. . . d-demons. . ."

Pushing up his glasses with his index finger, heavy breathing followed. Maybe he felt in danger, the man who had helped him shouldn't have said anything about demons. They were something that scared Temn to no ends. Demons were something that chased him in dreams, something he feared to the fullest.

He nodded, not having any doubt in what the man had said. He shivered as the win blew past, the chill running down his spine. He took a deep breath, following the man southward.

Temn was a strange fellow, he usually took no thought in his actions, whether or not this situation would prove something of any worth. He was pretty much like a lost puppy, afraid of the unknown. That's where the questioning of his own actions would happen. Why did he even come to the mountain? why did he just have to get lost in the thick forest? why was he just wearing jeans and a thin shirt? these were all questions that filled his head as he followed the man.

" So, clearing your head, eh?"

He asked politely, his hands moving into thier respective jean pockets.

The words this man said, it pissed Temn off to some degree. His temper seemed short, he was a hot blooded youth. His fist would fall in a quick fix of anger, and that anger would dissappear as soon as it appeared. Temn coughed, clearing his throat, and replying with a calm voice.

" My name? It's Temn, Temn Hirku. Yours? "

His hands still in his pockets, shrugging off the cold.

"You talk big for such a . . . barbarian looking person."

Temn would have muttered this under his breath. Playing it off with a deep exhale, his breath showing in the cold.

"Urm. . . nice to meet you."

Temn scratched his head, and nodded in a silent thanks, draping himself with the wolfskin. It was quite warm, and it gave Temn a sigh of relief. He nuzzled into it for a brief second before replying.

" Well, what most people would do. . . run?" he said that in a kidding manner, he wasn't serious, he wouldn't have run, he'd do the exact opposite.

" I'd fight, what else is there to do? run off afraid? so I can get lost even more?"

He raised his left hand up to his chest, clenching it into a fist. As that happen, indigo coloured sparks would spring to life, dancing up and down the curves of his knuckle. Though the sparks would soon cease to exist a few seconds after their appearance.