Noctoos

Darting into the door with lighting speed (Just really good sprint) Ainurauco smacks the edge of the counter after the msit blocked her vision. Her black and gold tunic, with matching black and gold thigh boots, and gold head wings, did little to soften the harsh punch of the counters edge.

"Dang it, some hero I am" she said half whispered.

Stepping back to get her bearigns she sees the zombies, the other heros and the double patty, double cheese, with everything hamburger sitting on the counter.

Ok, I can do this, I can handle myself" she thought.

Glancing around and see all that is going on, placing a well aimed roundhouse to a zombies head. She might not be able to take one down, but she could keep it busy for a while.

A quick dart of the head and Ainu knew something was not right. The sound of a hits, misses, loud radio playing killer music, didn't seem unusual to her. The citizens running by with their arms in the air Screaming "ZOMBIES" right before they smacked a wall, although common, was her first clue.

Lucky for her, she still hadn't found her car. Running in the direction of the food court, as fast as she could.

"slides to a stop in front of a window store front"

"Adjust..." "adjust..."

"I really hate my hair today" AinuRauco said, than took off runnign again.

Running up to the door of the City of Gyros, she slammed hard into the door.

"push....push...Push...PUSH"

"Dang it, some type of force lock....Have to kick it in" she said aloud.

Drawing back her leg and planting a hard Crane kick, she shattered the glass in the door. Lowering her leg, she frowned, above the door.

"PULL"

"Opps" she thought as she started to open the door.

"Welcome to Badio Hack, your home for all electronics!" the Little guy said as Ainu walked in.

Oh how Ainu hated shopping, everyone wanted to help and she know it was just her looks. Once she would like to walk into a store and have the people go "What the heck you want and leave her alone.

"How can I help you? What are you looking for? Looking for anything in particular?" the little guy just went on and on.

"Look pal, your not going to get a date out of me so back off" is what she wanted to say, instead however...

"I am looking for a new tv." Ainu said

"Ah yes, let me show you the ones we ahve that mgiht fit you" he said nicely

"Fit me? What am I supposed to wear them not watch them?" Ainu thought to herself

"Now here is one that has pretty colors and is simple to operate" the man said.

"uh oh, he thinks I'm dumb, how I ahve went people think jsut because you walk into an electronic store and you don't "look" smart, they automaticly think your dumb.

"Just use the up and down arrows on the remote to change channels Miss" the man said

"Just take the remote and beat him senseless till he pees his pants Ainu" the littel in my head said.

"sssssssssss"

click

"sssssssssss"

click

"And in todays News, Tone of Lark was seen single handedly take down a stray cricket at local city park. Kids were glad that the insect was arrest.

Mango Spawn was arrested today by Ping Larther after a hour long starign contest, Ping's is listed in critical condition however after he can no longer blink.

Purr Mance-a-bot is missing. She was last seen being chased through Atlas park by 12 stray cats.

And now for the weather.....Sloan

Thank you Snotty

The weather today is jsu tlike yesterday, sunny...unless a heroe uses their powers to alter this during a fight."

CLICK

AinuRauco sighed,"Nope not this tv, picture is all wrong"

The little guy helping her nodded, and pointed to the next one.

"Nope, to little"

Point

"Nope"

Point

"nope"

"Well..ehhe... Miss..hehe.. we have some fancier ones in the showcase area. They are a bit...heheh... technical" the little guy said.

Ainu knew than that the guy thought she was dumb, he had judged her by her looks when she walked in, typicall.

"well do you have a 42" plasma tv with a contrast ratio of 10000:1, display aspect ratio of 16:9, input signal of NTSC and ATSC, HDMI, composite, component and S-Video inputs, and less than 345w power consumption. Also I need it in a wall mount frame less than 4" wide. " Ainu asked half faking the I don't know what I'm talking about act.

The little Badio Hack guy just looked dumb struck and started to stutter.

"Well...hehe....um....ahhem...Yes we do have one like that!" he said

"Good...got anthing bigger?" Ainu said smiling

"Right this way Miss" he said.

Ainu foudn the one she wanted and paid for it and gave directions for it to be delivered. Walking out of the store, Ainu smiled, another battle won, small but still as important, Heroes know how to shop and are smart.

Looking around Ainu frowns, to bad I forgot where I parked.

Chapter 5: The Small Thing

I couldn't bear the thought of it. As the doctor had told me the news that night, I had averted my gaze to the floor, so that he couldn't see the horror in my eyes. I had learned that ladies must never show undue emotion, but by casting my eyes down, I also hid my rage. I had cried for what seemed like hours on Noctoos' shoulder. I ahd walked out of the ICU waiting room to think, Noctoos having told me to think aobut the little things. I had fould a quiet spot on a the hospital roof and started thinking, remebering all the past years. It was then that I noticed my shoes.

Now, the shoes of a stylish up-to-dolady are made of fien leather or animal skins usually adorned with gems or made by a fancy designer. My current shoes were made of fake leather, a simple pair of ankel boots.

I had never seen the sense for fancy shoes; certainly, these shoes were beautiful, and added my otufit, but they were silly, impractical things no way I could work at a factory in these. All it took was an unnoticed pebble in the street,a slight drop off unnoticed and my ankel would so be spranged. True they were comfortable, but after a year of most cautious walking in these, they needed to be replaced anyway, as the soles would completely wear away.

~~~~~~
Now you're probably wondering why I'm spending what is likely my last hour on earth ranting on about a pair of shoes that I owned and wore. Bear with me, there is a point to this tale. You see, I knew; I knew in my heart, with every fiber of my being, that at that moment, if I became those fancy ankle boots that I was wearing, I would 'become' those shoes: a dainty, delicate thing, something that the slightest pebble thrown by life would ruin beyond repair. But my mother had taught me that I didn't have to became that pair of shoes, often calling me a "little thing" just to stir me up and get me back to training. My mother had spent her entire life helping me to learn to not let the world ruin my life, even when it had just ended hers. No it wasn't the ankel boots that changed my life that night, it finally being able to make the connection between life and all that my mother had tried to teach me about it.
~~~~~~~

The hours seemed to roll by for the rest of the night, and I found myself back at the apartment, jsut sitting and thinking more. Noctoos had let me cry, patting my shoulders, and swabbing away my tears with the sleeve of her cloak. The comforting touch and the feel of fine velvet on my face had calmed me down, and my sobs had dwindled away to hiccups. The soft rapping at my door broke me form my daze.

"Tis Noctoos, may I come in" the voice at the door said before I even stood.

"Of coruse, come on in" I said motioning my hand as if she could see me.

The door slowly opened and Noctoos walked slightly smiling.

"I thought I was use the door for once" she said

I couldn't help but laugh slightly, I think that is the first tiem she ever walked through the door and not in through the window. Taking a seat in the chair beside the couch, she looked at me. I knew what was on her mind, for many people think the same things when a friend ha slost a lvoed one to the rising wars.

"Before you ask it, yes I am thinking of doing something about this" I said catching her before she asked.

"And how do you intended to go about this" Noctoos asked leanign forward slightly

I pointed at my shoes and smiled

"you intended to oder eat them to death?" She asked laughing.

I smirked slightly and proceeded to tell her about the thought I had about my shoes, in which she laughed again.

"I have never heard it explained that way, but I do catch the meaning. You do not want to let the world dictate what path you life chooses, nor those that live in it" Noctoos said.

I nodded slowly, "I do not want revenge, I want justice to be serve. Not jsut to those that killed my mom, but to all that have done similair acts to everyone."

"Finally", she said, almost awkwardly, "You have become the lady your mother set to make you, a fine fighter and proper lady, both at the same time. There is nothing more yoru mother could have asked for, the rest you must learn on your own."

So it was than I knew that Noctoos had been helping my mother all these years, for that I would be forever grateful. The rest of the ngiht was spent discussign what I could do, and several times things I couldn't do. Unlike Noctoos, I had hugh restrictions on what I could and couldn't do. I was a human, a mortal after all. Noctoos made me promsie to not learn dark arts type stuff, to keep myself pure so to speak, out of repsect for my mtoher. That was an easy promise to make. My mother had taught me, if you can't do it with hard hard, you shouldn't be doing it.

Somewhere during the course of this talk, my mind became more determined. This was something I could do to make a difference, not jsut in my life, but the life of others. Noctoos helped me plan things out and gave me the name and number of a man that could make me a good durable outift to wear.

"Seirgo is very good at his work, and can even make outfits that will work with heroes with "special" powers. He is the best there is" Noctoos said.

I nodded and tucked the number into my address book, " I will look him up tomorrow than, but won't I need a name, I can't go around saying "Fear me for I am Jennifer" now can I?"

Noctoos bust out laughing "Oh that is so true, THE AWESOME POWERFUL jennifer, doesn't realy case a bad case of the shakes.."

We sat for a moment and thought, tossing out silly names here and there, trign to play on my martial art skills.

"Bangle Boxer?" I said
"Your not a tiger, nor a boxer" Noc said

"Slap Stick?" I said
"This is not a comedy show" Noc said

"hmmm.." I said, "Well my mother always called me Ainu, it means angel in elvish"

Noctoos thought for a moment, "I like that but it needs more to it"

"Well I am going to become the skulls worset nightmare so how about "Angel Nighmare?"

Noctoos said it a few times and shook her head, "It does fit together, it doesn't roll off the tongue gently."

A grin corssed Noctoos' face, I could tell she had soemthing good,"We will play reverse with your name"

"Play what?" I asked

"you were an angel to your mother?" Noctoos half asked

"Yes and?" I asked

"you will be a demon to those that are injust" Noctoos said

"So?" I asked

"How about "AinuRauco - AngelDemon - An angel to some, a demon to others" Noctoos asked

I smiled, I liked it, it made sense and covered both sides of my life, "I like it" I said.

Noctoos nodded, "Than it is settled, from this day forward you are AinuRauco, the angel and the demon!"

As the birds started there first chirps outside, Noctoos quickly stood and hugged me.

"Take care Ainu, I must leave, twill see you again as the sun sets" Noctoos said.

"Yes you shall," I smiled and I saw the hint of happiness in her eyes. "Until than."

As she left the apartment, a bright smile crossed my face. "I will not let you down mother"

As I stood there my mothers words still rang in my ears, spinning tales of duty, honor, and justice. Duty. At first I hated that word when I was little, forced to do mother's bidding, clean the house, do your homework. Yet this duty was not like childhood duties, it was an honor to do this duty and she had taught me to want to work for. As I looked down at the my tunic on dresser, duty didn't seem all that bad now.

~~~~~
At any rate, as I lie here, cold, aching, and so utterly alone, I want to weep. I'm sorry mother. I'm so, so sorry, I fear I have failed you.

I'm sorry I lost, I'm sorry that I didn't protect more people. I'm sorry I came ill prepared thinking I would be able to full fill my duty. I'm sorry that I never got to say goodbye. My mother, the friend I needed to have. May the fates protect you on your path under the sky.

I'm sorry for so much, but I'm not sorry for, is for tring. So many never try, I tried, and for that brief moment I soared.

Chapter 4: The greatest Loss

It was late one night, and I was burning the midnight oil so to speak, practicing my kata. It was now my 25th birthday tomorrow; I had developed my woman's body, my mother still called me her little angel.

I knew my mother would be home soon from work and I always liked to wait up for her. I didn't like the fact she worked the later shift, but tring to talk her out of it was a bad idea. She was a determined woman, and I learned from that to never depand on someone else for soemthign you can do yourself. The streets below our apartment were relitively quiet except for a car backfiring ever so often.

Everynight she would walk home the few blocks, and ever ngiht I would wait up for her. Most nights I was practicing, but a few ngihts I would sit out on the balchony and watch for her. it was than I heard the familiar tapping on my window of Noctoos.

"Come on in" I said, but there was no need, Noctoos came in through the window faster than I could speak.

"You must come quickly" she said, her voice quick and to the point.

The obviuos urgentcy in her voice made me react and follow her without a second thought. From the window, I turned to jump down the stairs and instead found myself lifted and flying. Whatever was on Noctoos' mind must be ubber important, taking flight in plan view and taking me with her.

Noctoos didn't say a word to me, the expression on her face let me know she was puttign everything she had into the speed of this flight, her hand squeezing mine hard to not lose me. To be honest I couldn't keep up with my eyes what we were passing and where we were.

Than suddenly everything stopped, jsut as if you had slammed on the brakes on a car and didn't slide. We were in front of the King's Garment Factory, Police cars and ambulances everywhere. Noctoos landed us, and nto letting go of my hand, we ran. It was than I saw her,layign on the ground, surronded by paremedics. I ran as fast and hard as I could to her side, grabbing her free hand, the other already be given an IV.

"Mom?? MOM??" was all I could get out, between the fear and the tears.

Her eyes never opened, she jsut laid there bleeding. The car backfiring wasn't a car, it was the distant sounds fo gun fire that had made there way to our apartment.

"Miss, do you know the lady?" a pramedic asked.

"She's my mom.." I managed to choke out.

A paramedic placed a hand on my shoulder and pulled me back, as the others lifted her up and quick place d her in the ambulance. The paremdeic that had touched me quickly moved me into the ambulance, the doors slamming shut. The trip to the hospital was a fast one, I heard one of the drivers state tha tit was odd no traffic was in the way, everyone was pulled over like they know an ambulance was coming.

"Thank you noctoos" I whispered under my breath as I held the almsot lifeless hand of my mother.

The minutes turned to hours as I sat in the ICU waiting room, Noctoos there holding my hand for support.

Niether one of us spoke, it was one of those moments that nothing could be said to ease what was going on. The doctor had already spoken to us about the severity of the gun shot wounds. It didn't look good.

She had been coming out of work with the rest of the ngiht shift, when the Skulls and Hellions had a gun fight, everyone had been caught in the crossfire of the pety turf war, which had slowly gotten worse over the years.

The sun had already risen and fell again by the time the doctor came to the ICU, Noctoos had went several times to ask and check, keeping her hood pulled slightly over the edge of her face. She know how to keep from raising peoples suspentions about her true nature, and now was not the time for a descusion like that. A couple hours after sunset, around seven as I recall. The doctor came to the doctor exhausted and not smiling. I already knew what he was going to say, I ahd seen that same look on a doctors face when my father died.

Noctoos took my hand softly as the doctor sat down in a chair across from us, you could see he was tring to think of how to say it.

Shaking his head slightly, "Your mother suffered several gun shot wonds to several vital organs"

The lines in his face slowly seemed to grow in contrast, "We did everything possible to stop the bleeding but her blood loss was very to extensive Jennifer"

My hand started to shake, causing Noctoos to squeeze a little tighter for support, I know what he is going to say.

All those years of her being there, all those times she was there when I needed her.

"I'm sorry Jennifer, she didn't make it" The doctor said as soft and gentle as he knew how to.

Almsot instantly my head was buried in Noctoos' shoulder, it was more reaction than anything. Even when you know what your about to hear, you've already thought the whole thing out in your mind in the flash of a second. YOu will still, at some time, have to react to it, and mine was that instant.

For how long I sat there, cring on the shoulder of a vampire, I honestly don't know. I do know that Noctoos never moved, never tried to stop me, just sat there, her arms around me, her cheek against the top of my head, and waited. She waited not for me to stop, but for me to have had a chance to let it all flow out, to have my time to grieve without worry or rush.

As the tears slowly stop, and I stopped making that can't-catch-my breath sound, I slowly looked up. To my surprise I didn't see the face fo someone whishing I would stop. I saw the face of a caring, loving person. For the first time I saw who noctoos really was, not this blood lusting killer that I had phanthomed she was, but a lonely lady cursed by her afliction.

"This world is not a cruel place, yet the people that here can be at times. I grieve for your lose, for I too grieve for the lose of one that was a sister to me." Noctoos said softly.

I was not going to ask why, or when, or how, I knew these answers already. The question in my mind was "what". What am I going to do about this.

Noctoos could tell I was thinking about something, exactly what she wasn't sure.

"Even in your lose Jennifer, know that I am still here if you need me." Noctoos sat there tring to figure out what I was thinking.

"I jsut need time to think, to sort it all out and move past it" I said, standing up to walk out.

"Think about the smallest things as well as the big, little one" Noctoos said. I knew she was hungry, but she had set that aside to be here with me.

Think about the small things she said.

Chapter 3: Growing up

There was a war brewing; even I, a self-absorbed twelve-year old, saw the signs. Skull-raids on King's Row were becoming more and more frequent, and the news often reported home shaken, spinning tales of a group of nameless thugs. The atmosphere in Paragon City grew tenser, as the shadow of crime grew darker.

But what did a possible war matter to me? I was still a child, and now I had a friend to distract me from the world. Noctoos was pretty, kind, and the darkest I had ever known, with the possible exception of the creatures from childhood stories. She so innocent, no one ever suspected her of anything; I learned well from this. Between the two of us, we learned to get along, even though my mother liked her being around alot. She still welcomed Noctoos every time she came to the house to eescort me around.

Well, technically, my mother was a very kind person but she expected the best for me. She always kept a close eye of me. My mother taught me more about a lady's behavior than any finishing school ever could. She taught me how to walk demurely, keep my mouth shut, and smile politely, then when the moment was right to set my actions into motion. She taught me politics, finacial planning, and how to lay tactical plans with the best of them. My mother wanted me to be prepared for anything, having to do the role of both father and mother after my father's death at the King Steel works several years ago. My mother taught me everything about life and even helped me when I praticed my Martial Arts. My life was a tough one, and I wanted to soar high.

She taught me how to fly.

One night, long after I had been in bed, I woke to hear a soft rapping at my window. The curtains of my bed had been drawn, so I didn't know what it was. I stole out of bed, my hands in little fists, and crept to the window. I was utterly floored when I saw Noctoos on my balcony, grinning like a mad cat. She was dressed in a rather not so covering outfit, but she wore a dark cloak over it. As she stood there, I was in awe of this, this vampire. To be the dark creature she was, I noticed at times, that there was someone else underneath. A person she never let anyone see.

"What are you doing here? How did you get up here?" I asked, stepping out onto the Balcony with her.

"'Noctoos?" I asked.

She grinned at me again, and answered, "My time with you is at a turning point, it is time to start training harder for you."

"What?" I had to admit, I was dumbfounded. I had been friends with Noctoos for several years now, and not once did she ever hint at something like this. She just watched over me. Every hour of every day was spent focusing on my martial arts studies.

Still, I wondered why my friend was standing on my balcony in the dead of night. "Planning to fight something?" She joked.
"You're ill-prepared, miss, if you intend to fight off the thugs in your nightdress!"

"If that's what it takes, than so be it, my training kicked in as I took a stance and tried to look menacing.

Oh how I wished I had a real black belt, but those take time and hard work. But there I stood my little fists balled up, in my nightdress

"I can fight them off with this just fine," I said with conviction.

"No," she smiled, "Not yet, but soon you will I know"

Noctoos had stepped into my bedroom and started doing a kata. I stopped, and watched her going through the motions; she had obviously studied some martial arts before, for she had the practiced ease of someone that knew exactly what they were doing.

"What are you doing?" I asked, when I could trust my voice again. I had no fear of being overheard; the walls were thick, and my mother was long asleep.

"Just follow along little one" She replied smiling, the first time I had ever seen her smile in a long time I think.

As I watched her move, I started to mimic her. We practiced the same motions all night long; slowly I started to match the slow rhythmic motions. It was during this time, I saw the look on her face, not the stern look she usually wore, but one that made me think she was having fun.

Noctoos didn't always appear, but every night, I lay awake as long as I could, waiting for her. Every few nights, I'd sit bolt upright when I heard her voice on the balcony. She would walk in, and I would light candles as we would talk and giggle a while, talking about what had happened in the city that day. Then, we would take our stances, and fight.

Through the long nights, Noctoos taught me everything she knew about martial arts, which far outstripped my pitiful knowledge, even if she was vampire. However, I remembered the boys I had watched in my childhood, and I ended up teaching Noctoos quite a lot of what she called 'gutter fighting'. She'd toss her hair in mock scorn, and call me a street-rat. I'd laugh, and then we'd fight again.

Eventually, we'd hear the birds singing on the power lines, and Noctoos would have to slip out while the sky was still dark.

I would carefully fold my tunic and lay it on the dresser against the wall, and snuggle up under the covers, hoping to catch an hour or two of sleep before I had to return to the real world.

And so the nights became months, the months turned to years, and suddenly, I wasn't a girl anymore, my mother was watching me grow up and I had college to start preparing for.

Dang it, why can't things just stay simple after you grow up.

Chapter Two: The Greatest Accident

Thanks for staying. Dying alone isn't really high on my to-do list. Well, here follows the Life and Exploits of AinuRauco, The AngelDemon. I hope you brought a pen and paper to write it all down or maybe even your laptop...

I was born Jennifer Garrison, about twenty-five years ago, the first and only daughter of the family.

And right out of the womb, my family knew I was going to be of great things. My mother swore that the day I was born and the sunlight first touched my head, she saw an angel kissing me. From that day forward my mother alwasy called me Ainu, meaning Angel in elvish language. She always loved to read fantasy stories.

I was a very happy baby, the kind who never got sick, who never squalled all night long, and waited till my mother said it was ok to move. When my teeth began to come in, I never cried nor acted up. But I always wanted to sit be the tapestry of our family tree. My parents were very proud that we could trace our lineage back to the earliest days, with a forefather who'd help build some of the original buildings of Paragon City.

Anyways, after I'd grown up a little, and stopped drooling on the names of my honored ancestors, I discovered the *ahem* Great Outdoors. My friends Abigail and Bethany, five and seven years my elders, were appalled at the worms, beetles, and leaves that I'd cart in day after day, proudly displaying my treasures as though they were worth more than my mother's saphire bracelet.

My parents were, shall we say, less than enthusiastic about my habits of tramping about outside in the city, following the packs of boys who would set up archery targets, dummies for fighting practice, and other war games. I must have been quite the sight, a scrawny, grubby little girl, my black hair in tangles, pattering as I ran to keep up with boys. My mother would huff and puff behind me, wailing about wild little ladies who'd meet foul ends if they didn't come home and finish their housework.

The boys tolerated my presence, occasionally, when I brought cream tarts that I'd stolen from the kitchen. Other times, they'd yell at me until I stormed off to sulk in the livingroom of my parents' home. They were fascinating creatures, taller and stronger than me, for one was twelve years old at least, with short, silky hair, and eyes that flashed in the sun. I'd sit and watch him, for he and his brother would spar while the other boys shouted encouragement.

I was only five at the time, so I never quite understood the guarded look in his eyes as he fought his smaller brother. The other was shorter, yes, but he was quick and agile; I had seen him fight larger boys to exhaustion. Now I know that the younger brother would never win. And I think, somewhere in the depths of ones soul, he was waiting for his brother to lose.

But I'd watch these two titans clash, and I'd wonder about those guarded looks, the half-concealed flinches.

One day, in early spring, I was following the boys as per my custom. I must have been chattering even more than usual, for they had had quite enough. Only yesterday, I'd trodden on, and broken his favorite wooden sword. Now, he swung around, towered over me, and growled. "Go home, little angel, before the Skulls come for you. Do you know what they do to little lost girls? Your too much of a little thing to be out here" He smirked, purposely making it look menacing.

I was scared, but I was five years old, a strong girl despite my size, and I could take care of myself. I planted my fists on my hips, stood on my tiptoes, and stared him in the eye. "If the Skulls are going to come for me, I'll need a belt to prove I can fight them!" I pointed at his belt, a black belt at that. "Give me yours!"

The older brother's mouth dropped open; I must have looked a comical little figure, balanced on my tiptoes, hands on my hips, using my best threatening glare. The other boys burst out laughing, which made him round on them. Most of them had the sense to shut up as fast as they could.

Except the younger brother. He strode forward, and crouched to look me in the eyes. "Truly, little Jennifer, you'll need to defend yourself. I hereby appoint you the keeper of the Black Belt of the Hooligins." He untied his belt, and ceremoniously handed it to me,helping me to learn to tie it myself. The hooligins is what they called their little group of friends.

I was ecstatic. What was a belt to him was a grand treasure to me. I stood there tring to look tough in front fo the younger brother, mimicking the kicking and dodging movements that I'd watched the boys practicing daily. They whistled and cheered, as we circled, mock sparring. He fell to the ground, clutching his heart as though I'd struck a mortal blow, laughing all the while. I blew him a kiss, like my friend Bethany once had to one of her admirers. The older brother just scowled. Oh how I wish I could remember their names, but time has a way of remove such things from ones mind I guess.

From that day on, I was no longer shunned by the group of boys. I wasn't universally accepted, for the older brother and several others maintained a healthy dislike of me, but they would let me tag along wherever they went. Sometimes, they would pause and watch me thoughtfully, as I stood a little ways away, and practiced my moves. I'd close my eyes, purse my lips in concentration, and copy the movements that I'd seen so many times. Sometimes, I'd try todo some of the harder moves, which usually resulted in a sore rear from hitting the ground.

Martial Arts was the only thing that could occupy my interest for long. I hated sewing and crossstich, and I scorned the flute and the clarinet. Any efforts to make a little lady of me failed. So, in total exasperation, my parents gave up, and let me run free. After all, they thought I would grow out of it, which I never did. Now, I realize they probably meant to sucker some poor soul into a marriage with me. I would have pitied whoever he was.

So, this is how my childhood progressed. I believe they were, without a doubt, the happiest days of my life.

I know you must be utterly bored with me prattling on and on about my oh-so-happy childhood. So I'll wrap it up soon, but there is one more event that greatly affected my later life.

One fine summer day (I'm quite certain I was eight), I'd wandered away from the company of the boys, heading south down the westward Road. I wondered if I wandered far enough, I'd find the river, where the tadpoles played and the frogs crocked. Atlas Park is always so pretty during the summer.

At any rate, I was walking north along the waters edge, just enjoying the sunshine on my bare skin, for I'd rolled up my sleeves and hiked up my jean legs. I had a cheese pastry and a bottle of soda that my mother had given me, stuck away in my backpack. The Hellions hadn't taken over Atals Park yet, so it was still safe to go out. Life was good.

I took to skipping and running along the waters edge, carefree and happy. My bare feet being tickled by the grass, as I scared little crickets into hopping frenzies. I, like all my days thus far, was happy. My foot came down again as I skip, but this time I guess I should have looked. The surface of the rock was wet from the river and slick from the moss, my foot slipped almost immediately nothing their to catch my weight as I flow backwards. But the rock wasn't alone for its friend was waiting to harshly catch my head. With a hard hit, the world turned white before my eyes a second before it turned black.

I dont know how long I lay there, the day having turned to dusk. The soft voices just at the edge of my hearing, kept calling me to come to them. I was scared, all around me was darkness, nothing visible to my eyes. I started to shake from the fear. Why was I alone, where was I.

Than I heard a voice, close and gently. It was a lady's voice and she spoke soft kind words to me. I could feel her hands laid on me, a warm sensation sweeping over me. I didn't know she was helping me for I had never been healed before. Slowly the blackness begins to fade and I opened my eyes. But what I saw was not what I had thought. I had thought it was my mother, but this woman, was no one I knew.

She was not like anything I had ever seen, well nothing real anyway. I thought I was still dreaming when I saw her. Her skin was a pale pale white, her eyes were coal black dots on white cavases. Her ears came to points and her long black hair fell gently down her back. This was soem dream I was having, dreaming about elves or soemthign like them.

She smiled gently, her sharp points of fangs glimmering in the fading light.

"Are you alright little one" the strange lady asked.

It was than I realized, I was awake and this lady was real, so I did what any normal 8 year old would do, I screamed. The lady just smiled, standing up and taking a step back. Her way of showing she wan't a treat to me. I sat there for a few moments looking at her, taking in what she might be, she must have seen the look in my eyes or on my face, for she smiled gently, kneeling down where she stood and glancing to her side. Their stood my mother smiling, slowly she stepped beside me and sat down.

"She came with em to help you Jennifer, she is a friend." My mother said gently to me to help calm me down.

"Do not be afriad of me little one, I mean you no harm this eve. I am Noctoos, a creature of the night." Noctoos spoke gently.

I sat there staring, hey I was only eight, staring is normal. She was beautiful, well for an odd looking person I guess. She was tall, about six foot I would say. Long black hair almost to her waist, milk pale skin that seemed to glow in the fading light, oh and fangs, long pointy sharp fangs, little pearls of pointy teeth...did I mention she had fangs.

Slowly I began to not fear her as much, she did not make quick movements, no sudden jerks, just sat very still and spoke softly to me. Her and my mother explained a little of what she was and through our talk I learned she was a vampire, a creature cursed of the day. She, like myself, had been at the wrong place. But lucky for me, she did not desire to feed tonight, not from an eight year old anyway.

As the light finsihed fading from the sky, the sun having already disappeared while I was out cold. Noctoos suggested that we should get home before anyone started to worry. Jumping to my feet as my mother rose, I nodded and instinctly I hugged and thanked her for helping me. It seems that an ounce of kindness is returned 3 fold, for she did not expect me to do so. She hesitated and than hugged back gently and thanked me for the hug. Glancing at my mother they exchange a friendly smile. I giggled and smiled, I think thats when I made a friendship with her. As we strolled home, I keept catching glimpses of her overhead along the roof edges, she was watching over my mtoher and me as we walked home. A few times I had seen a thug or two on a corner here and there. Than strangely they woudl just vanish into the darkness of the night.

Looking back, I now realize that Noctoos fed good that night following us home.

AinuRauco, AngelDemon
By Noctoos

What is to follow is the epic story I have started about AinuRauco. Half based on game, other half just created. I decided it was time to create her life and personality. Hope you like it and please review and post on it. But everything has a way of just writing itself into a person's mind, flowing to the pen and upon the paper.

Chapter One: From the End to the Beginning

We were in the Hollows, and I was fighting my very first full-scale battle.

Rolling gray clouds billow through the sky, every so often illuminating the grass with a flash of lightning. Rain is falling, blending with the blood and the mud, sometimes hiding the chaotic battle behind a silvery mist.

A cacophony of sound blows past my ears; death-screams of my fellow heroes, of Hellions, and the occasional keening cry of a Troll. Anytime I pick up a trace of this sound, I pray in my heart that it isn't a hero who has fallen.

The tunic I wear is slashed and bloody; my own blood, and that of the thugs that I've beaten has stained it in places.. Beneath it, my thin leather shirt, is unbroken, thank the fates. My legs are brown with mud, and my boots can barely grip the slippery ground. I'm desperately trying to keep my balance as I swing my legs, aiming for a throat, an arm, a heart...
Between the screaming, the laughter, the rain and the lightning, the entire battle has taken on an air of unreality, like a nightmare so vivid that you can't wake up. I swing and jab, and block and dodge, fighting the urge to lose control, to start screaming like the thugs, to tear and kill like a wild animal. 'Cause if I lose control, I know that I will die. kick, block, jab, the cycle continues.

A lone thug lunges at me; a Hellion, one of the small, stupid, Hollows variety. Blood and mucus stream from his smashed nose, and his small, beady eyes gleam with pain and madness. He draws back his lips and hissed, almost overwhelming me catching me off my guard. He's lost his club, so he grabs for my neck with his hands. He's ducked inside the reach of my kick, so I punch his eyes as hard as I can with my free hand, twisting my fist so the studs on my wrist guards catch him in the forehead. The blow paralyses my arm, right to the shoulder, but I hear bone smashing, and the thug drops with a screech. I frantically flex my arm, trying to restore feeling before I am attacked again. I wish Noctoos were here to watch my back, like in all our other battles. But I lost track of my dark friend almost immediately after the fighting started, and now I know not whether she lives or if she has fallen.

And many have fallen. Scattered about me are the bodies of humans, elves, robots, and Hellions who lie wherever they fell, battered and cold, their eyes glazed. Against my will, my mind begins to wander, to the family and friends and spouses who will wait on the gates of Atlas Park, and weep for the ones who will never come home. And what of my life? Will people ask the Winds for tidings of me, when they see a lone woman walking to the gate of Atlas Park?

Hissst. I hear the hiss of an arrow an instant too late, and suddenly, a black shaft is embedded in my ribs, an inch below my heart. Sweet fates preserve us...I bite back a screech as I fall to the ground, rolling up next to the foul, reeking body of a huge thug, who performs the kindest act by shielding me from view. I hear a hoot of triumph from my enemy, and I grit my teeth, waiting for him to come and finish me off.
Nothing happens. He doesn't come. And I'm left with hot, embarrassing tears leaking from my eyes, mingling with the blood that's soaking my undershirt, beneath my tunic. The arrow burns me, the worst pain I've ever felt, a fire in my chest that spreads through my arms and my legs, and behind my eyes. The rain and the mud are icy cold, but the blood is warm, and the thug's body is still warm. A stone digs in between my shoulder blades, but it can't distract me from the ugly wound below my left breast, obscured by my clothing. I resist the urge to rip the arrow out, 'cause I know that it'll only bleed worse; my only hope is to leave it where it is, and hope someone finds me.

"Ainu, you know no one's going to find you." A cold, nasty voice, the one that's always there to remind you of the worst possible outcome. "You'll lie here, and you'll bleed, and you'll die, and no one will ever dig you a grave, or shed a tear for your worm-ridden carcass."

Shut up.

"Don't scream, lady. You'll attract their attention, and you know what they do to little lost girls..."

And so here I lie, blood, rain, and tears mingling, and I wonder what the world I was fighting for. Oh how a mind wanders at time like this.


*"Midway along the journey of our life
I woke to find myself in a dark wood,
For I had wandered from the straight path.

How hard it was to tell what it was like,
This wood of wilderness, savage and stubborn
(The thought of it brings back all my old fears),

a bitter place! Death could scarce be bitterer.
But if I must show the good that came of it
I must talk of things other than the good."*

So, since I'm going to die, won't you stay with me a while? My name is AinuRauco, by the way, and I'm a Hero. I was traveling with three others, Proton Knight, Palmar and Vordin. We hooked up with this mass who were headed off to clean the Hollows, but we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. I wish I hadn't talked my friends into this, I hope they're still alive...

Are you a hero too? Stay, please!

I could tell you, if you'd stay but a minute. I could tell you exactly when and where I wandered from the straight path, for now I'm in a dark warrior indeed. Please, stay with me, and I'll tell you the tale of AinuRauco, the AngelDemon, and how I found myself here.