A pair of unnaturally golden eyes surveyed the area carefully. They held both fear and anger in them until the owner shut her eyes tight. Even with her nerves shattered the way they were, she did her best to calm her now raging state. She couldn't allow anyone to see her this way. If she were at home it wouldn't be that much of a big deal, but she was outside among the humans, and if they found her in this state she would have destroyed her dreams of finally fitting in. She had no choice, but to force herself into a state of calmness. She erased everything from her mind and began focusing on one word. Yes, meditation was the only way she could go back. She had learned that the first time she had changed. Just as long as she stayed in this dark shadow, no one would see her and she could meditate till she changed back.

"One...one...one...one...one...one..." she spoke every 10 seconds. Upon each chant her demon features reverted back to normal. And when she said the last "one" she opened her now green eyes, and sighed in relief. She had to go back home now. She hadn't intended to do what she did tonight, so it was probably best to go back and pretend like none of this happened. The last thing she wanted to do now anyway was get caught.

----------

"Test #54 has failed," an emotionless voice said.

"Try it again. We are not stopping until I prove my theory correct...do you understand!" a voice boomed through out the labratory.

Those who were in the same room shivered in fear and continued working hard for their boss.

"I'm glad we have come to an understanding then..." he muttered before walking off.

Zabuza's head emerged from a nearby puddle. He had witnessed the young girl deal with her demon side. That girl is frightened of her demon side. It is such a shame that she wishes to remain a weak human. I must help her choose the right path... His head submerged into the puddle.

"I don't care!" A teenage girl yelled.

"Darling we are only doing whats best for you. We want you to be safe." A older woman's voice pleeded.

"You cant make me stay in here! They are not monsters!" The young girl spoke again this time with more force. "Let me go!" She pulled from her mother, now bumbing into her father.

"They should be considered that way Ren, they are destroying every we hold dear." He voice was loud and stern. He would not be easy to pursuade.

"But Papa it isnt fair! They are just people like us!"

"People?" He asked "Those things are monsters!"

"Dear calm down" The older woman pleaded with her husband.

"ARCH is just going to slaughter them all! That is sick!" Ren yelled back, totally ignoring her mother

"That is life Ren, the most powerfull species prevails in this situation, and guess who is most powerfull."

"Them" Ren muttered. She was about to say something else when her father's hand met her face... hard...

"Tarji!" The woman yelled. Ren just stood there, her hand to her own face. It stung.... Tears came to her eyes but she held them back, desprate not to cry in front of her parents.

"Perhaps that will teach her not to dissagree with her parents on matter she knows nothing about." Tarji stated.

"But-"

"No more, this converstation is over." Tarji said walking out " Sarah come on" He motioned to Rens mother who nodded and followed. Tarji made sure to slam the door and lock it for safe measure. His daughter wasnt getting out tonight. The moment they had left Ren collapsed on her bed, sobbing.

"Its not fair!" She yelled into her pillow. She didnt understand why the demons had to be slaughtered. Most were humans too! It was murder.... He parents wpuldnt even let her out at night in hopes to keep her from ever encountering one. She wanted to help them but she didnt know what to do, her family was powerfull and very avid supporters of ARCH. "Those sikkos" she muttered. She turned around in her bed and stared up. The blank wall met her eyes. There had to be a way to get out of this prison. Her vision next met her staff. she smiled. It was a gift from her grandfater before he passed away. Apparently he got in the way of a demon and was killled instantly but Ren for some reason did not believe that. She walked over to the spot where it lay and picked it up. The delicate wood ran accross her hands. she enjoyed that feeling, it was in a sense peacefull like her grandfather. He was her hero, he believed that you should follow whatever you believe in no matter how hard.

"Thats what im gonna do" Ren said snatching it up as well as a bag filled with clothes. She ran past her vanity and pulled out a small bank. She tossed it to the ground breaking it instantly revealing plenty of money. "Now one more thing. She pulled a large box from under her bed. Inside was a sword. Her pertection. Not from demons but from anyone who wanted to hurt her.

Now with everything she needed Ren headed to the window. "Drat, locked" she muttered "Oh well" she smashed the glass panes with her staff and headed out.

"Mama.... Papa.... please dont worry about me..."

The girl's steps were a bit wobbly. The energy needed to both change and revert back into a demon in the same night was hard on the body. She knew how far she was from her house, all she had to do was make it there. Just down the path and around the corner. It was the only place where she knew she was safe. She wouldn't have to worry about anyone seeing her. Even though she hated being alone, she needed to be at this moment. She couldn't predict her movements if she were to transform again.

All of these thoughts filled her head as she continued walking. And before she knew it, she was right infront of the gate that closed her house off. She openned the gate and walked toward the small house. It was her's ever since her parents had left her. It was in shammbles for a while. She was only 5 when they left her, so until she was maybe 8 she hadn't really made any efforts to clean anything up in the house. It was different now of course. She could take care of herself for the most part anyway.

Her hand rested on the nob of her house and she let herself in after inserting the key. She made sure to bolt herself in. She placed every lock on. It wasn't that she didn't trust anyone in the village. It was just that she didn't trust herself.

Jenna walked down the stairs of her small house. She looked at all the pictures of her once loving and caring family. There was one picture she treasured more than anything in the world. It was a picture of her when she was 8 with her older brother, Joel. She missed him so much. Joel was her best friend in the whole entire world, but he was killed just because he had a demon inside him.

He told Jenna that there is nothing wrong with having a demon in you. The only reason they tend to act up is because humans, or at least many humans, hate them. They hate them just because they fear them. "Oh.....Why can't there be peace?" she said. Jenna also had a demon, but the only time it came out was when anger, such enourmous anger-usually caused by her brother's loss-consumed her. "If only there was a way........"

The night had came as the blood of several demons illuminated the sky into a dark crimson. The sound of a sword being swung through leather like demon skin could be heard as it tore through the skin causing an oozing of blood from the body. The roars and shrieks of the attacking demons could be heard loud to villages miles away from Zerta as it all came to an untimely end as a male had sheathed his bloodless sword. He stood tall with a group of humans who had weapons they were holding themselves, it was once a much larger group until today when they were ambushed by the demons who slaughtered 3/4 of the men.

"Okay the battle is over, let us bury the dead and press on back to Zerta."

A stern voice pounded through the ears of the mourning soldiers who looked at their fallen comrades. Some were friends or family others were lovers of one another and some were new recruits who joined ARCH the same day. A tearing man had knelt down with his arms weak and body unable to hold itself up as he reached slowly to hold his dead fiance.

"No....No...t-this can't be real......wake up....WAKE GO**MN YOU!!!"

he spoke loudly with tears running down his face as he stood to walk over to the commander of the infantry. He stood infront of the commander as his bloodstained hands helped him talk with movements of their own.

"Sir I....I can't live on with out her....I can't sir so I am relieving myself from my duty..."

he spoke tearfully as he grabbed his knife as he stabbed himself in the chest and dropped like he was already dead.

"That's exactly going to help....."

The commander spoke vaguely as he commanded the rest of the burial to continue.

Drazhar leaned against a dark lamp post, the shadow cast by his body hid the ghastly color of his skin. Anyone out this late at night would merely mistake him for a drunk, dispite his tall stature. He gazed carefully down the block, eying the human girl called Jenna, who appeared to be heading out of her house. Drazhar had his suspicions that she wasn't entirely human, and the possibility was exciting. He knew that she was a supporter of demon rights, a dangerous position in this world. If she turned out to be aflicted by a demon, she would be the perfect target for corruption. Expose her, rescue her, befriend her, corrupt her. A process Drazhar had committed many times. He must keep his distance however, a body of his appearence almost always attracted unwanted attention. He would most likely slaughter a few humans tonight anyway, but it was best to remain totally un-noticed.

Kiju dropped the basket full of apples she had picked up from the shop she had gone to. That was why she had been out. She needed food, and everything was becoming a bit overpriced all of a sudden. Apples seemed to be the only thing she could afford at the moment, until she came up with a new job. There were just too many problems, and she didn't want to ruin her appetite by thinking of all of them at once.

She picked up one apple and walked over to her sink. She turned on the water and began washing it before bringing it to her mouth to eat. After getting a few bites she sat at the table, and remembering why she had to run. She usually only transformed when she was angry, but now it would just happen at anytime. When she least expected it. She was able to stop herself this time, but it was just getting harder and harder to deal with now.

Jenna walked out of her house. She senced something was wrong. Its not that there wasn't something wrong all the time, what with the ARCH's slaughterings among other things. But no, there was something wrong. She thought about her brother too much, and she started to cry. Whenever something like that happens, the demon inside of her usually came out. She knew she had to go into the woods, where you can barely see yourself, let alone other people.

She had barely reached the woods when all of a sudden, she transformed into a demon. Anger, hatred, and other negative emotions had burst out. She looked back out of the woods to see if anyone had seen her, but there was only one shady man out, and he looked drunk, so if he did see her, he wouldn't remember a thing. The human Jenna tried all she could to keep herself in the woods so she could revert back.

Lilac slowly made her way to her condo. She was exhausted and very hungry. She opened her door and saw a robber desperately trying to find a way out of her home before she saw him. But, it was too late so the robber reached for his gun.

"Lady, don't move or I swear that I'll shoot!"

He stared right through her, like she was a hollow shell. Lilac was not afraid, worried, or half a dozen other things she should be feeling right now. Instead her eyes became a dark mauve color and she sprouted large wings from her back. Storm clouds gathered into her room and the wind blew enormously. The robber clinged to her bedpost for dear life in order not to be thrown out the nearest window or door. She walked up to him and roughly grabbed his chin.

"Are you scared? Give me that lovely bag of jewelry you're holding and I promise that I won't kill you. But, you should be quick about it because I have a thin patience. You want to stay alive, don't you?" The man just stared back at her and slowly went to grab the bag at his feet. Lilac jerked his chin over to her again. " Too slow." And with one quick slice of her claws his head was rolling on the ground at her feet. The winds slowly died and she licked her fingers carefully, making sure to get every single drop of the scarlet liquid staining her fingers.




It was morning already and Lilac woke up on the couch. She felt like she was laying in pile of something. Probably laundry, she thought to herself. She went to fluff her pillow that was supposedly under arm, but it wasn't there. In it's place was a large, splintered backbone. It's marrow had been sucked dry. Lilac recoiled in disgust and felt around for her laundry, but found none. Only knawed on and half-eaten bones. She springed from the sofa and went to go vomit in the bathroom. The taste of bile was still in her mouth as she went to go dispose of the remains of her "late night meal". She threw all of it away in her neighbors trash can so conveniantly parked outside in their driveway. She ran back inside and slammed the door, breathing in uneven huffs. She sighed heavily and went to her bedroom. But, what she saw was even more horrific then the pile of bones. It was the head of the robber from the night before, a large gash in his skull revealed the half devoured contents inside. Lilac stifled a scream and threw the head in the trash outside. Then, she passed out on her bed with only one sentence drifting through her mind: How could I let this happen again?

Drazhar had followed the girl carefully, hugging shadows and staggering in the light. He could feel Jenna's confusion, and his suspicions were becoming all the most true each passing moment. She was heading to the woods, not a common place for a midnight stroll. Finally, as he suspected, she succumbed to her demon, and Drazhar witnessed the transformation. A ping of relief and excitment sounded inside him, and he calmly turned around walked down the alley away from the demon-girl, who was desperately hiding herself in the forest.

Drazhar comtemplated what to do, and after a few minutes, he had a rather cruel plan. He walked over to a nearby payphone, and dialed 911.

"Yes I'd like to report demonic activity at the following address..."

Jenna knew something bad was going to happen. She had a sort of sixth sence that way. She tried everything she could think of to change back. Her demon side was stronger, much stronger than she was. Well this is great, she thought. I've got a term paper due tommorow, I'm stuck in the woods in demon form, and something bad will happen! This just isn't my day! She concentrated on peace, quiet, peace, quiet.

The waiting game is quite possibly one of the most boring things in existance. Drazhar knew they would be here soon, but the idea of pending slaughter and corruption defiled his patience.

At long last the screaming of police sirens pierced the darkness, and Drazhar quickly but carefully positioned himself out of view of both the girl, and the police. A total of four patrol cars came racing into view around a corner, barreling towards the area of forest where the demon girl was hiding.

Drazhar realized they may have trouble finding her in the darkness, but was ready to assist them until Jenna was actually in trouble, and then a few quick shots would silence the lives of the police forever.

Jenna heard the sirens. Oh no! Someone must have seen me! What do I do now? C'mon. You're the top of your class. You can think of something! Change back! Change back! She tried to meditate again, but it wasn't working. She gathered up all the strength she had and ran as fast as she could.

Police spotlights shone into the forest just in time to illuminate the fleeing form of the demon girl. Her silhouette was caught in the light for just an instant, but long enough for the police to realize that they were indeed chasing a demon, and not once again mere victims of a prank call. A few frantic shots were fired, and at the very first concussion Drazhar was on his feet and sprinting into the forest. He ran after Jenna, slowing gaining on her. When he was sure they were out of range of the police guns, and close enough to hear eachother, he shouted.

"Miss! Miss! This way! You have to hide quickly!"

"Alright! Thank you!" normally Jenna wouldn't have gone with the strange demon man, but considering the situation, she didn't care. Also, her demon state impares her common sence.

"Follow me!" Drazhar ordered, "Those police will have no doubt notified ARCH of your condition by now."

They ran through the forest until the thick of trees and ferns would entirely shield them from the prying eyes of the spotlights. Finally Drazhar motioned for them to stop while he listened carefully to the sounds of the forest.

"I'm sure you are safe here for at least a while. You must hide however, Arch will most likely begin hunting for you." He could tell that the girl was rather shaken by the ordeal, even in her demon form. It was best not to worry her more.

"Miss, do you have a place to hide? If you are capable of taking a human form, it would be most wise."

"Well, I can try............Wait. Do they really know who I am? I mean, they must've seen me, but do they know me? I knew something bad would happen....I'll try to calm down. When I'm calm, I can usually change back." Jenna took a deep breathe, closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they had changed back from red to blue-green. She looked at her hands, and seeing that they were no longer pale, she said, "There. That's better......Have I met you before? You seem so familiar. But, whoever you are, I owe you one. My name is Jenna." she said and she put out her hand for a hand shake. "So....What to do now....."

Drazhar thought quickly, he knew his name was known by most anti-demon authorities. He was not sure however if the girl was aware of his existance. If she was however, knowing his identity could ruin his cover. He rapidly thought of an alias.

"My name is Asdrubael Vect, but you do not owe me anything." He extended his hand and shook hers, noticing that she was not at all put off by the disdain texture of his skin.

"Jenna, it is quite possible that they know who you are, but we are not sure if they've seen you in your human form. I would suggest you avoid your residence for a day at least, and return only when you are sure that they are not waiting for you there."

He paused, as Jenna was obviously not as confident in her human form. He changed the subject to calm her nerves.
"So, how long have you been afflicted by this demon?"

((well I'm headin off to the salt mines... be back around 11 or so? (it's about 1:45 my time) ))

Lilac stretched lazily and went to go throw up again. Lately her demon side had been coming out more often. It scared her to think that one day she might lose control. It was Saturday and she once again had nothing to do. By now she thought that she might be used to it, but she wasn't. There were no pictures of friends, parents, boyfriends, or even ex-boyfriends. Just blank walls and a few fake plants strewn across the hallway from the night before. A scream was emitted from outside and she ran to the window. Evidently the neighbors had discovered what really layed inside their trash can. Lilac sighed. This could only mean one thing. She would be forced to move again so as not to draw suspicion to herself. Who knows? Maybe the neighbors already count her as a suspect and if the Arch ever try checking her, there would be trouble. So much emotion has been locked in lately which prolly explains her frequent demon side. Lilac started quickly packing her things.

"For almost as long as I can remember.........three, probably. I've only really known one other demon......But, he was killed by-Never mind. I don't want to go back to being a demon again...." Jenna knew that this demon was a good demon, the kind that deserved their rights. The kind that she had to fight for.

Ren walked sround town swifty. Surely if anyone saw the 16 year old up and about they would tell her parents. She sighed. "Nowhere to go..... nothing to do..." Covering herself with a royal blue cloak she walked to a vendor she pointed to a loaf of bread. "How much?" she asked

"$6 dollars ma'm" She looked at him strangely

"6? That is quite alot!"

"Hey, you dont got the money it aint my problem! Now get outta here!" Ren slamed a $20 on the table.

"Here" The man looked at the money carefully then tossed her a loaf of bread.

"Enjoy" he said in a much kinder way then before. Ren smiled stuffing the change into her bag and taking a bite of the loaf. The warmth felt nice...

"Hey girly whats in the bag?" Ren turned to see a few guys alling towards her.The tallest spoke. "Well?"

"Nothing" she stated simply. He grabed at her but she backed up.

"Doesnt look like nothing" Another, fatter man said.

"you know little lady we're demons! Arent ya scared?"

"No...not really..." the man grumbled and grabbed her arm pulling her closer.

"Not even a bit?" he wispered. Okay so Ren was a bit scared but yelling demon would just send the people into panic.

"Not one bit" she stuttered

'Well we're just gonna have to change that.

"Time to kill some human scum... Kirigakure no Jutsu..." A mist flooded a small street in Zerta. Zabuza scanned the street with his eyes. Everyone was inside their homes, he could sense who was and who wasn't a demon. He shut his eyes and one by one, windows began to smash. Shortly people began to scream. Fear hung in the air.

Kiju stretched her arms over her head as she dropped the small apple core that remained into a small garbage pail. She could feel herself finally ready to head off to sleep, so she began walking over to her bedroom. Before she opened the door to her bedroom her ears perked up at a strange sound. It wasn't in her house, but she could definitely hear the sound of something shattering not to far off into the distance.

"Glass?" she thought as she walked over to her own window. She peered through and noticed that the houses across from her were covered in a thick mist. It wasn't long before she heard screams. She couldn't just ignore it, so she grabbed a light jacket and ran out of her house to look for answers.

(Sorry it took so long to join in -- you know I had comp problems, DDP)

Jack's eyes fluttered open.

His head was throbbing with a pounding, repetative pain that surged through his temples and sounded like someone was beating on an old congo drum. The stench of ash and cinder clung to his clothes, skin and hair, and the pugnet odor of death was wafting all about him. Even before he looked down at his body, he knew what he would see.

"Damn it."

Jack saw the blood and ash smeared on his clothes and he realized he'd lost it. There was no other explanation. He had no memory of how he'd gotten to his current location -- or even where his location was. His clothes were covered in ash and debries that looked like he'd been in a fire. Blood smears also stained his hands and feet.

"You can never just relax, can you?" Jack asked the evil inside of him. There was no answer -- there never was. He sighed and stood up, looking around. Apparently he was in the woods somewhere. The last thing he remembered was being at a bar, drinking heavily and laughing with some big fellows. Obviously someone had angered him, and his demon side had taken over. Jack's demon was a violent, ill-tempered flame beast who loved any excuse to emerge and kill everything around him with his heated fury.

"Well, time to move on."

Jack started walked back towards the town, dragging his feet a bit. He wondered how much damage he'd caused. It didn't matter. It never did.

Zabuza sensed the girl he was spying on before. He melted into a nearby puddle and jumped out of one behind the girl. He waited, silently for the girl to notice him standing behind her. Now we shall see the side of you that we only got a mere glimpse earlier...

((No problem GS, happy the computer problem stopped and you're back on. ^__^))

Kiju felt a cold feeling surrounder when she walked into the middle of the street. It was a bit hard to see, but she could make out structures through the mist.

"What happened? Did someone do this?"

Upon trying to figure out the cause for the chaos, the hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end. Someone was here, or rather someone was standing directly behind her. She felt her heart begin to beat rapidly as she tried to figure out how to approach this problem. Nothing came so she instantly turned around and faced a person she knew she had never met, but obviously wasn't here to be friendly either..

"W-W-Who are yoouu....?" she asked in fear.

"I require your presence for a time..." Zabuza said to the girl. "I know that there is a demon hidden within you. I won't harm you... As long as you show me the demon."

Kiju was more then surprised that someone she had never met before knew what was inside of her. She couldn't just reveal that side of her. If she was caught...she didn't want to think about that possibility.

"I-I-I can't..."

Cema was caught by the falling glass as he was making his way quietly down the street..he shards cut into the skin on his kneck and back..the cuts on his kneck and back stung greatly..he growls.."who..did..this.." his demon was raging to get out..to wet its hands with the blood of anyhting that stood in the way of its rage..his eyes began to glow as red mist coveerd him..the pain from the cuts and shards stuck in him was amplified..he drops to his knees and crys out.."no..I cant..not nooow.." his eyes flare as a stall bursts into flame.."I cant give in.."
the people were still confused by the attack earlier..seeing this Cema struggles to his feet and stumbles down the street bumping into many people as he runs down the street in the direction of Kiju and Zebuza

"I don't know who you are, but you better stay away..." she said in what she believed to be a threatening voice, "If you follow me..." she said before raising her head a bit higher. The moon light caught her blue eyes and for a brief moment they flashed a golden color, "...I'll kill you..."

Cema now at full tilt was pelting the ground with his feet..it felt like he was trying to escape from something yet nothing was pursuing him, nothing was stalking the night after him..the low moans and howls of pain that were sparse to begin with roared through his head disorientating him and confusing him..nothing frustrated him more than this feeling..he murmurs out.."no..I dont want to murder anymore..I just want to live.." the roar inside his head stopped..for a moment there was silence..in the moonlight he could see Kiju's sillouette and another more malevolent presence confronting her..for this moment he smiled as he looked at the stars and moon above Kijus figure.."thank god for my restraint.." he sighs as he slumps to the floor and rests himself against a building.."almost lost it there.." he looks around at this built up area.."man would this be a wrong place to lose it.." he looks at the shards of glass on his back and arm..he picks out some shards from his arm..the warm red liquid that ran from his arm glistened in the moonlight for a moment before his arm starts shaking as his eyes glow.."wha-?"

A deep mist covered the air sheilding her from the men. This was her chance. Ren pulled from the mans grasp and ran off dropping her loaf of bread. "Dang" she muttered. Ren continued on for a few minutes until she spotted an alley. Ducking into it Ren slid down the wall until she was sitting on the cold ground.

"So maybe running away wasnt so smart." the 16 year old shivered, sensing something....

Kiju felt something beat within her. She remembered that feeling. She held herself for a minute as she felt her teeth sharpening. She had to run. She couldn't let any one see her like this. Tears were already forming. She didn't want this. She ran from Zabuza, hurrying to find a place to hide.

Her senses were growing stronger by the minute. It was a 'side effect' as she liked to call it. The strong smell of blood was hanging in the air as she continued running. She turned her head in the direction of the smell and saw a masculine figure slumped on the floor. She caught a glimpse of his eyes. They were glowing, and she could feel her throat tighten at the sight. Why was this all happening now?

Drazhar knew that swaying Jenna's ideals would be more dificult than he anticipated. It was obvious that he had fooled her, and that she trusted him, but her faith in both demons and humanity was too strong. He had to destroy her human sympathy.

Her house would soon be destroyed by ARCH agents, Drazhar had already tipped the authorities off to where she lived. It would be best for her to see the aftermath of the raid.

"Tell me Jenna, do you have a place to stay for the night? I think it best that you avoid your own house for a while. Humans can be so unforgiving sometimes, especially to demons."

"You won't get away from me... Mizu bunshin no jutsu..." A water clone appeared just up ahead of the girl. It spoke "Good... Your demonic side is pushing through."

Jack walked down the street, his hands in his pockets and a cigarette in his mouth. There was something going on today. He could feel it in his bones. Somewhere around him, something was happening. There was a heavy demon presence clinging to the air. The demon inside him could feel it and it was acting up because of it. Jack sighed and continued to walk alone. He made his way out of the woods and into the town. He could feel the commotion in the air.

Well, as long as I stay out of it... maybe it's ARCH. Jack thoughtto himself. Then he heard something. He looked over and spotted a nearby alleyway and approached it cautiously. Inside he found a girl, younger than him, sitting against the wall.

"Hey, you okay?" Jack asked.

Kiju's eyes widened at the site.

"What are you?" she said as she stopped. She could feel something beat with in her. She instantly closed her eyes and fought against the force within her. When she opened her eyes they were normal again.

Two more water clones appeared on either side of the first clone. "I am like you..." The clones said, "Shut your weak side away... They will find out eventually."

"Well, they can be cruel at times.......but I don't think there's anywhere else I can stay......."