Zayla Eternal Devari's Immortality

Bodoku's Lost Heart... The Masked Warrior!

Bodoku leapt over a wall and landed in a low crouch. Tanjiro followed him over and fell with a thud, before he could groan, a hand slapped over his mouth. He glanced at Bodoku who put a finger to his lips so he nodded. They both peered through a small hole in the wall, "I know you're here swordsman", a woman said cutely. "Why does Marnie want you...?"Tanjiro said in a low whisper. Bodoku didn't reply, he watched as she walked back and forth huffing, then she finally gave up, "fine, I'll go play with your others friends! Don't think I won't find them!" She stormed off. Tanjiro slouched with a sigh, "that was too close..." Bodoku sat beside him thankful she had left, "she won't stop coming for us". "It's our own fault... we shouldn't have let her know that you were alive..." "I know it's just... if Zayla somehow found out it will give her hope, I don't want her to give up". Tanjiro patted his shoulder, "but putting yourself in danger won't help her at all, and it won't help us either, she almost had me with her power..." "I know... I'm sorry Jiro", Bodoku peered over the wall, "we've lost her, let's head back to the others", he stood giving Tanjiro a hand up then flinched as Seth appeared beside them, "OH my days man..." Tanjiro said trying to stay quiet in case Marnie was still around, "how many times... don't sneak up on us like that". Seth raised his brows above his glasses that Tonton had recently made for him, "I was unaware I could do such a feat", he said then he tapped Bodoku's shoulder, "they said you'd be out here". "You know me Seth, just giving Devari's goons the runaround as usual". "I know. That's what I was afraid of. Marnie? I thought you knew better". "I wasn't sure who she was, we met her down in Calba markets. They're getting closer to our hideout". "Which means we must move again-" "No", Bodoku clenched his hands into fists, "we've been moving further away from Zanaria, from Zayla, for three months. We need to make our stand, we have to push them back". Seth looked at him, "I understand your frustration, but it was your plan to gain the people we needed before taking them on. Marnie is the most difficult of them. We have people with powers, many that she can use against us. You are the only one that she can not control but-" "But?" Seth glanced at the ground as Tanjiro tensed, knowing what he was going to say, "you can not defeat her. You are too distracted Bodoku, deny it all you want but I know you can feel there's truth to what I'm saying". "N-not to mention we don't even know what her hand to hand skills could be", Tanjiro added to soften the blow, "she could be like some crazy ninja chick with better sword skills... or something". Bodoku seemed thoughtful for a moment, causing Tanjiro to feel uneased, "heeey I know that expression Bodoku and I don't like it..." Bodoku gave a small grin, "I know one way we can find out how she fights". Seth gave a small huff, "you are going to face her alone. I don't like it either". "You're doubting me?" "At the moment yes... you died and ever since then you seem different. Your sword skills seemed diminished and your head is not on straight". Bodoku lowered his head, "diminished huh..." he started to walk away from them. Tanjiro shook his head at Seth, "what did you say that for?" "Because it's the truth". "No it's not... geez Seth, maybe you need better glasses, anyone can tell he still has skill his just downhearted from losing Zayla and-and Tidus..." Tanjiro gave him one last look then jogged after Bodoku. Seth watched them, then took in a sharp breath and held his chest, "ah... that was unpleasant", he felt bad, "I might as well follow them, I don't have much time left anyway..." He quickly caught up.

Meanwhile in the Zanaria spire... Devari looked in on the room he was currently keeping Zayla in. She was tied to a metal bed her head slightly raised by a pillow. She had a mask on leading to an oxygen tank and many tubes leading from her arms and legs to large tanks. She was unconscious for the moment. "Master", someone said from beside him making him sigh. "What is it Rex?" "Marnie returned, she said Bodoku was spotted in Calba markets, she requested a team be sent with her to snuff him and his allies out for good". Devari massaged his chin, "so he is alive... I wonder how", he stared at Zayla's sleeping face, "maybe she had something to do with it". Rex focused on Zayla with his dark blue eyes, in the past three months he'd been monitoring her health to make sure her blood was regulating properly after losing so much to Devari's experiments, he had formed a connection with her just a little he thought. He felt bad for her situation and felt a sort of fondness for her bravery. "Rex". He blinked as Devari called him, "yes master". "I've seen that look before, do I have anything to be concerned about", he said more as a statement than a question. Rex looked at him with a plain expression, "no, nothing. Shall I assist Marnie with the swordsman situation?" Devari shook his head, "no, your place is here, monitoring the subject. Send Dash". Rex looked up at him, "are you sure his ready?" "His more than ready, but all I want for now is data, he is not to kill Bodoku", he stared through the glass noticing Zayla twitch slightly, "and hurry, you'll need to administer the sedative again". Rex bowed his head then walked down the stairs to a wide training area where the man named Dash was fighting with Torlan. "Dash", he called. Torlan straightened, "looks like you're wanted kid", he said then walked off to get water. Dash turned, his choice of mask always intimidated Rex. It had white eyes and a jagged shaped mouth. Dash's bright blue hair was sticking out of it. "What", he spoke, his voice slightly muffled. "Master Devari wants you to deal with someone". Dash wiped his neck with a towel then approached him, "finally some action, who is it?" "Bodoku". "That chump that Marnie keeps claiming is alive? It's just her head, she's losing it". "No, she wasn't the only one to spot him", Rex couldn't see his eyes but he could tell he was surprised, "for real? And Devari thinks I'm the one who should kill him?" "You are the best swordsman out of us, and no. Don't kill him, for now he needs you to push Bodoku and his allies back". "Ah bummer. Where's he at then?" "He was last spotted in Calba market". Dash snatched up his dual blades and scraped them off of each other before putting them in a sheath on his back, "I better hurry and make sure that crazy woman doesn't kill him then hadn't I?" He turned to Torlan, "catch ya later". Torlan gave a small wave as he left, he stood up and sighed walking to join Rex, "that guy ain't so bad. You sure his ready?" "Master says so..." Torlan's eyes narrowed, "and you better hope his right, it's been alright hanging out with him". "Are you friends?" "Pfft. Heck no, I've been betrayed by someone who was brainwashed before, you remember Suyung, oh sorry he or she goes by Yena now... Devari wants to screw with peoples minds I don't give a crap but... I guess I do care what happens to Dash. So if he gets hurt or worse, I'll vanish Devari's testicles to a far away place and be done with him". Rex tensed as he threw the wooden training sword at the wall, "I'm fed up with it", he stormed away. Rex sighed, "I never knew he could be so passionate about someone..." He walked back up to the lab floor and entered the room to approach Zayla, she stared at him with soft, hopeless eyes, a few tears formed and she whined slightly. He gently laid a palm on her forehead, "I'm sorry", he said then turned to prepare a needle to put her to sleep. She gave a muffled cry as he faced her with the needle, "I know you don't like it, but it's easier for you to be asleep. You don't want to be feeling constant pain and... I don't want you to either", he neared her arm, then paused, "listen...I've been hearing things. I know you won't say anything because you haven't spoken for nearly three months but... I heard that Bodoku is alive", he watched her eyes suddenly light up, "so he is something special to you then..." He continued almost sadly. He felt his heart lift as she suddenly gave a big smile under the oxygen mask. "Bo-Bo..do...ku" She muttered with a dry cough. He looked at her surprised, "y-you talked". "B-big smile", she said. Rex tensed as she looked to him, her smile fading and more tears, "h-help me...please", she said softly. Rex straightened with a gulp then shook his head, "I... I can't I'm sorry", he injected the sedative into her then watched as she feel back to sleep. He gave a large sigh and sat in the chair beside her bed watching the readings from the monitor, "I'm sorry..." he repeated.