Day Five: Morning

[Bra]

Great. Sleep. That was just great for Bra. Sleep, a welcoming, warm embrace of willing unconsciousness that made everyone feel better once it was time for the slumber to end, and for the new day to break. Too bad it was all horseshit.

?Welcome ba-?

?Shove it, bitch.? was the princess? ever-so-tactful response. Exosus was actually taken aback for a moment as Bra trudged through the eerie citadel which had formed inside of her own subconscious. To think, she was being tortured in her own mind. What kind of cruel joke could it have been to give a creature enough intelligence to create an imagination actually able to harm itself?

?How rude. Did somebody fall asleep on the wrong side of the bed?? wondered the cloaked imposter.

?Yeah, I?m rude. Heaven forbid I could sleep one fucking night without you harassing me for the entire time,? Bra retorted, her voice dripping with venom. ?But obviously I?m in the wrong here.?

?I?m glad you see it my way.? Exosus smirked, bemused at the heiress? predictable, angered reaction. A blast of ki thundered past the robed sorceress, who simply sidestepped the mighty wave of energy, allowing it to crash into the wall behind her with a raucous explosion.

The wall was completely fine, not even singed by the incredible surge of ki. Bra hissed through clenched teeth, and finally locked eyes with the augurer. ?So, what the hell am I here for now? No bullshit, just get to the point.?

?The point? Honey, there is no point. In fact, I didn?t even call you here this time,? Exosus playfully cocked her head to one side. ?You would have had to be aware that you ordered this meeting. Evidently, you want something from me.?

?Just shut up. Let me sleep in peace, okay?!? the cyan haired girl growled.

?Have it your way. But I won?t just come running every time you decide you need help. I mean, you expect do win DA and defeat the changelings, but you won?t even accept the help you yourself have been asking for? Please,? Exosus rolled her eyes. ?Wakey wakey.?

?Hm?!? she shuddered, swiftly hauling herself to her feet. Reijin, who had apparently awakened before her, simply stared at her with a raised eyebrow. ?Uh... hi.? Bra sheepishly greeted, throwing her backpack over her shoulder.

?Another nightmare, I?m guessing?? the raven haired warrior inquired as he thoughtfully sipped at his water canteen. He?d been wise enough to fill that whilst filling all the water balloons earlier.

?Uh... no, it was nothing,? the halfling giggled, toying with her hair. ?I was just getting chilly, I guess.?

?Uh huh,? Reijin nodded, knowing full well the girl was lying through her teeth. Still, he didn?t feel like causing any conflict so early in the morning. ?So, I suggest we go this way,? he pointed down a rocky trail. ?I?ve been getting sort of antsy for a fight. You know, so late in Dante?s Abyss and everything... I think we ought to find someone, and kill someone.?

A soft, blue hue flashed over Bra?s eyes, though Reijin couldn?t see it, as the empress had been looking away. ?Yes,? she replied, in a tone much colder, and softer than usual. ?That would be a great way to start off the day.?

?Good. We?ll have to stay on our guard; if we?re the ones traveling, it means that they might be waiting for us.? the Gaean trainee warned.

?I know how these things work,? Bra cooly replied, hefting her shotgun over her shoulder. ?Besides, I?m a super saiyan dark magician with a very, very fun little weapon, here. I think I would enjoy an ambush,? the girl threw her head over her shoulder, giving Reijin a glimpse of her eerie, ice-blue irises. Her voice grew dark and her mouth twisted into a sneer. ?It might give us a chance to practice target shooting.?

?Bra, I...? Reijin took a deep breath. ?I?ve been meaning to tell you for a while now. There was an announcement. I can?t remember if you were asleep or just not able to hear it...?

?What? People died? Hopefully somebody strong,? Bra smirked. ?It just means we have to do less work, Rei.?

?No. It doesn?t!? insisted the pure-blood. He paused, mulling things over in his head. ?Your father died, Bra. Karl Jak announced it a while earlier.?

The chilling glow over the girl?s eyes seemed to snap, fading away into nothingness. The demi saiyan merely stared at Reijin for a long while, and mist started forming over her eyes. The older warrior bit his lip; Bra was far more sensitive than she portrayed herself.

The icy glow returned to her eyes, however, and the misty sheen seemed to vanish. ?That?s a shame,? the cyan haired girl said with a frown. A slight twitch manifested beneath the girl?s right eye as she tried to stifle a scowl. ?But I?ll hunt and kill whoever did it to him. They will suffer for what feels like a hundred eternities, Reijin. I will flay the skin from their flesh and the flesh from their bones, and I will scrape their bones dry. And still, they won?t have suffered enough.? her comrade blinked. The girl had spoken with absolutely no emotion whatsoever.

?Bra, you okay?? Reijin questioned.

?Absolutely, why?? the girl paused. ?...I?m fine, really. Let?s go, didn?t you want to??

"I did,? Reijin replied, shrugging it off. ?Let's go.?