Seishurou's head spun, the world was spinning around him, only the sound was the wind and the sound of his own voice. Amid all the noise, through blurred eyes, Seishurou's thought he saw a wave snowy white rising from somewhere behind the stranger he saved. Or was it that he saved him? it didn't matter the crazy fool had just jumped off the train, and they'd die for sure.

Sei closed his eyes, and the wind was knocked out of him as the man's body below him impacted with the bottom of the deep valley. The boy felt the shock of freezing water and he realized that they landed in a river.... and then realized something else. They weren't floating away on a deep river; they had landed in a shallow stream! He pushed himself off the young man coughing to get air into his lungs. At his first gulp of air was to scram and rant at the still form laying the cold water beside him. "WHY DID YOU DO THAT YOU CRAZY BASTARD!?" He pounded his first on the man's chest.

The stranger's eyes where closed, no breath came from his lips. Sei's throat tightened, "Did you have to get yourself killed...Y-You IDOIT!" He hung his head, holding back the tears that threatened; he didn't even get to thank this man from saving his life.

"....Your concern is touching, Kinjyou-san"
Sei blinked and looked up. The man coughed, struggling to sit up and get out of the water, "Y-your alive!?" The exclamation was one part shock and one part relief.
"...Yes, luckily...."
The boy shook his head, "But didn't you...did you...?" Seishurou attempted to get his thoughts in order. "...you got shot!"
Sabyien gave the boy a wry smile. "More luck, I'm not dead yet...But I will be if we stay here, those guys will probly come back looking for us."
"I could take them on." Sei picked up the gun where he'd dropped it. And hefted it like he own it.

The young man was amused. "Heh, I bet you could, but not now...." He tried to stand, his legs where shaking as they tried to hold him up.
'Damn.... This is going to be difficult.' The Guardian was used to hardship, he limped up the bank of the stream. The boy watched his painful movements a moment before moving to his side, offering his arm the injured man. He nodded at the boy. "Thank you..." he leaned some of his weight on Sei, the boy was sturdy and took the added weight. Supported by the boy who he was assigned to protect, the guardian limped up the steep hill. "My name is Sabyien Lazender...And I thank you for saving my life up there."

"...No problem."
Hearing the helicopter. Sabyien took the gun from Sei and put it back into its holster. "Hurry, we must get far from here..." he pushed the boy ahead of him and started to at a fast walk despite his wounds.
Seishurou was almost running through the brush, brushing aside the branches to pass, He heard Sabyien behind him urging him to hurry through the dense trees.
'Too slow' The guardian thought, 'we are moving too slow.' Sabyien reached over and grabbed Sei's shoulder. "You're too slow, get on my back." Before Sei could open his mouth, Saby knelt. "No arguments just get on." His tone of voice was not one to question; Seishurou put his arms around the man's shoulders. He clung on tight as Sabyien began to sprint. The speed that he was running at was questionable considering that just a moment ago, Sei had seen the man limping.

Keeping his head down to avoid the stinging kiss of passing branches, the boy bounced on Sabyien's back, glancing up now and then before burying his face into the man's thick ebony hair. 'I swear, this man...is utterly insane! He doesn't stop soon, he'll faint from the amount of blood he lost!"
Sabyien's thoughts weren't too far from Sei's 'I need to put enough distance between the bridge...I don't think I'm going to make it to far at this speed." Already, his reserves were low, Sabyien tried to blink away spots before his eyes, to fight the dizziness that threatened to stop his head ward flight.

The boy felt the man stagger under him. "Mr.Lazander, Stop! just Stop!" He yelled. Seishurou was mildly surprised when Sabyien slowed to a stop and then leaned against a tree. Sei hopped off. "Now I know your crazy. Are you going to be alright?"

Sabyien nodded. "Just.... need to rest, I think we may be safe for now..."
He lowered his eyes and sat on the ground. The boy looked around, the thick forest rose around them; he could no longer hear the helicopter. Wherever they are he hoped to get back to civilization soon.

"Those Guys in the black, why do they want to take me for ransom?"
His head swam; he could barley keep it up. "Kinjyou-san, They want to stop our expansion into Japan, We are an private international security force...." He was falling over.
"...But that is not all what we are...."
"Sir?" Sei watched the young man finally succumb to his exhaustion. He pulled on the arm. "Lazander-san? Wake up! This is not a good place to pass out."
He groaned and opened his eyes "No. It's not.... take a look around...see you can find a cave or something."

The boy nodded. He stood up and headed to the base of a cliff, seeing a crooked hole in the rock, Seishurou went back and helped the man to standing. "I found one, not too far away. Do you think you can make it?"
"Yes...I should," He leaned heavily on the boy as he staggered to the cave.

Once in the protective darkness, Sabyien groped for a lighter and lit it. The small flame showed the boy's face worried. "Kinjyou-san, There is something that I must ask you to do..."
"I am not a doctor! Nor am I training to be one!" Sei protested and Sabyien took of the shirt he was wearing, both shirt and jacket where in bad condition. Three bullet holes and twin rips in the cloth. Sabyien crumpled them up, stopping Seishurou from inspecting them too closely. Saby withdrew a long thin blade from a compartment in his boot, he held this out to the boy.
"All you have to do is use this to dig out the bullets. I'll be next to useless unless you do. " Sei grimaced, taking the thin knife. "Ugh, Easier said then done...." The guardian lay flat on his front, "I think there's two in my back and one in my upper thigh."

Sabyien gritted his teeth as the child cut into his flesh to pick out the bullets. Seishurou frowned, Working in the low light. The bullets had hit the man's ribs, It was curious that the bone didn't shatter into pieces. Using his fingers to pick out the second bit of lead, the boy sat back.

"Where's the other one?"
"In my...upper thigh." Sabyien reached behind and pulled down the waistband of his pants and boxers.
"You got shot in the butt?" Sei put up his hands. "No way I'm..."
"Kinjyou-san, This one's the most painful, please do this."
The boy hesitated," Alright...but you owe me." He poked and prodded the firm flesh, blushing with embarrassment.
Sabyien was hard put to keep the cries of pain from his throat, the boy's fingers and the knife dug into him, seeking out the real source of pain.
"..ah?"
"Hold on, I've almost got it." Seishurou had to concentrate; he had the bullet on the tip of the knife, with his finger he carefully lifted it out.
"...There."
"...O-ok," Sabyien let out a painting breath. "In my jacket there is a vial full of red liquid, pour equal parts of it into my wounds, it will help heal them faster."

Sabyien's body shuddered as he felt the liquid pour into his wounds, then clamped his mouth closed as he felt the warmth flood his body. Groaning, the man pulled himself and pulled on his bloody shirt and jacket.
"Kinjyou-san I'm going to have to ask you to stay with me, it's dangerous out there right now..."
"I can handle myself, It's you that needs help."
He resisted the impulse to laugh. "No, I'm going to be fine. I just need to sleep for a bit to restore my strength. When I wake up, we'll continue to the nearest town and get you back to your father."
"Where is the nearest town?"
"A few miles...but in this terrain.... it could take...Awhile..." The guardian was being to fall asleep. "Here.... in my jacket.... take the gun, stand guard.... and also the paper.... put it near the entrance...it will...." He eyes were dropping. ".... Protect us."

A soft gentle snoring sounded as the man slept...the lighter dropped.
Seishurou cursed and picked up the lighter. He pulled out the gun and found the slip of paper it was a little damp but the writing on it was still legible. He frowned, wasn't this an ofuda? What would a paper-charm do to protect us?

He sighed. The more time he stayed with this man, the more questions arose. This man was a mystery.

The boy did as he was told, he resisted sticking out on his own sure that he'd find his own way back, but some part of his mind chided him, he couldn't leave a wounded, man in the wilderness. And besides.... Did he really know which way to go?

Sitting against the rock inside the cave entrance Sei sighed and fiddled with the gun. He had gotten used to putting a fresh clip of bullets in and holding it with one hand. Though he kept the safety on, his finger barely on the trigger. Maybe he could get one like this some day. Yeah. he thought. When I get back home.

He passed the last hour and a half sighting different object and insects that came into site and pretending to shoot them.

Growing bored of the game, Seishurou went back into the cave. Using the lighter to see by he inspected his rescuer.
The man's clothing was torn in places, Sei's mouth quirked, ‘He's dressed like an agent" he thought, which was very likely, Sei wanted to ask the man a few more questions mainly, had he had known that this was going to happen - Who had sent him? What agency did he work for? The F.B.I? Interpol?

Sei crept closer the sleeping man and lifted a hand to pull open the jacket hoping that Mr.Lazender would have some ID on him. He froze when the man stirred slightly, Sei waited a few more minutes before pulling back. No way. he couldn't disturb him. The boy silently crept back towards the other side of the cave. The small flame in his hand flickered.

How long is he gonna sleep?" he wondered.

Seishurou looked at his watch, the young man had been sleeping for about an hour. Sei had amused himself by pretending to shoot various targets right outside the cave's entrance. Focusing on a squirrel high in a tree Sei didn't hear Sabyien come up behind him.

"Keep both eyes open."

Startled by the voice Sei almost dropped the gun; he fumbled it for a moment before looking up to see Sabyien's smiling face.
"That rest revived me, now we can continue." The guardian plucked the gun from Sei's hand. "I hope that you got some rest to, because it's going to be a very long walk."
"I can handle it"

His feet were getting sore, since when they had been walking for? Hours? He looked up at the sun where it once been high in the sky it was getting nearer to the horizon. As Seishurou continued to walk, the same questions arose in his mind, he eyes the man leading him, Where was he from?

"Lazander-san?"
"Yes Kinjyou-san?"
"I would like some more information. Like… Who do you work for? It's obvious to me that you are some kind of agent."
Sabyien looked over his shoulder , he gestured the boy to walk beside him. "That's information, I cannot tell you. But I guess you could say that I am an agent."
"Who do you work for?" Sei insisted. He stopped where he was. "I'm not moving another foot until you tell me."
"Kinjyou-san, I'm sorry , But I can't tell you…You have to trust me on this." Sabyien stopped and turned to face the boy.
"Trust you?" Seishurou crossed his arms. "When you won't answer my questions? That doesn't give me a lot of confidence in you."
Sabyien sighed. It was true, "I can't really tell you too much, to most of the world…My "agency' doesn't exist."
"A secret agency then?"
"You could say that."
"But…what's your mandate? What doses your agency do?"
He couldn't help but smile, this kid's very intelligent. Sabyien thought.
"Our mandate to is to keep order…to protect those who are…" He paused, trying to find the right words, not to reveal, but to give the Kinjyou-boy a satisfactory answer."… Influential."
Sei's arms dropped to his side. "This is about my Father isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Then those men, they wanted to get my father through me."
Sabyien nodded, "To hold you hostage, is to control your family's holdings, estates and property"
"…"
"..I will get you back. You have my word on that"
"Lazander-san?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell me a bit about yourself. You can't talk much about who you work for I understand, but I want to know more about you. Why should I trust you?"
Saby crossed his arms. "I saved your life…"
"As I saved yours, if I remember correctly." The boy mimiced the guardian, crossing his arms.
Another sigh, "My name's Sabyien Lanzender, I've been working for my agency for many years, since I was young…younger then you even." Sabyien started to walk, Sei followed, intrigued. Saby continued." I have been trained in many forms of combat, including martial arts and fencing.."
"Cool! " Sei found this little nugget of information interesting. "I take fencing lessons. How good would you say you were?"
The young man blushed slightly "We are not encouraged to boast, but It's been said that I'm among the best in the world. How long have you been taking lessons?"
"Three years."
"Why, you've barely just started."

"Lazander-san?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure of where your going?"
The man gave a sigh. "Yes I do, and no... I don't have anymore M&M's left."
Sabyien walked along frowning, the boy was starting to get impatient to get to town he kept asking how far they had to go, what time they'd get there and if he had any more train-food on him. Need to stop to find something to eat he thought, If only to keep him from complaining.

Sei trudged along, he didn't mean to annoy this man but, his stomach was growling, he'd never gone on that long with out food before. He frowns and bit back another question instead concentrating on putting on weary foot in front of the other.

The sound of a river drew them, " I know of this river." Sabyien said. " If we follow this up stream, we should get to the town."
Yippee Sei thought. "Are we almost there?"
"No...I don't think we'll make before nightfall. It'll get too dark to walk farther. If we're lucky, a boat might come by and we can send for help."

Finding a place past the rapids Sabyien left Seishurou on the riverbank while he looped a worm on the end of a sting, he was kneeling over the water, waiting for one of the fish to bite. He got lucky when one swam close enough for the man to grabbed the fish and throw it over the boy standing on the bank. "Kinjyou-san! The fish, get it." The landing fish flopped about the ground, looking for a way back into the water, Sei didn't want to touch it but...He stomped it with one shoe and picked it up by two fingers back to dry land. He dropped the limp fish when Sabyien threw another in his direction. "Yuck!" He stomped that to stillness as well.

"What do you mean ‘yuck'?" Saby hopped from the rocks where he'd been fishing and picked them both up. "These fish are our supper for tonight." he carried them to a makeshift campsite.

The campfire was small; it only gave enough heat to cook the skewered fish. The boy hesitated at the first bite. He was used to eating cooked salmon, but usually with a sauce and a side dish and dessert.... but this...

"...It needs salt." was all he said.
One corner of Sabyien's mouth twitched up. "Sorry...fresh out." The kid was weathering this well, the guardian thought. From what I've been told about him, I had expected a more...spoiled child.
" Kinjyou-san, have you ever gone camping?"
The boy looked up from his fish, "Yes, all the time. My father would send me on camping trips" he shrugged, "Usually for weeks at a time. Why do you ask?"
"Just Small talk." Sabyien shrugged and got up to bank the small fire for the night. The smell of fire should keep animals away. " I know it's not really camping but try and get some sleep." he pulled up the corner of his jacket and settled down to take watch for the night.
Seishurou put his half eaten fish aside and pulled his legs in, the boy shivered, he was dressed in the shirt and shorts he had on, the shirt was torn in several places and his shoulder-length hair was full of brambles. He shivered again.
Seeing this, Sabyien sighed and pulled off his jacket "Here, Kinjyou-san."
He threw the jacket over to him.
Sei sighed in relief, the jacket was warm from the man's body heat. He wrapped himself in it preparing to sleep sure that Sabyien would wake him when the time came to move again.

---------

"Have you found them yet?"
"No Sir."
A sigh, The man took the cigarette from his lips. "The Kinjyou-boy is important, once you find them, Kill the guardian and bring him to me."
" Yes Sir." The hench-men bowed and departed to continue to search the forest.
The man threw the cig away, he frowned into the darkening night. He adjusted his gloves to cover the rotting flesh and stepped into the helicopter.

...to be continued...