[Sol's Pass, Dalimoor. Here you are, just like the letter said.]

Entering the village, you remark upon the modest clothing of the people, their weathered skin and strong arms. This is a traditional town of hard workers, much like Dalin. Taking a moment to gaze across the scenery, you get the impression that this is also a town that has fallen on hard times. The land is cracked and dusty, and the well has long since dried up. This is not really any concern of yours, however, so you advance towards the inn, a sight for sore eyes of a weary traveller. In your head you are going through the motions of a hot meal, a warm bath, a soft bed. You notice a few of the villagers are casting you glances and gossiping amongst themselves. It's hard to tell whether they are casually remarking upon your unusual appearance, or whether they don't take kindly to strangers.

But that is also of little consequence to you. The words of the letter are still fresh in your mind. Who sent it to you? There was no name. How did they know where to find you? That you couldn't answer, either. It was addressed to you, though. The letter was straightforward, polite even. It spoke of Sol's Pass and that you could 'find something you want there.' You could not find any animosity implied in its writing. It seemed as though it was sent by a friend. A friend...? Who? Mysterious as it was, your curiosity couldn't help being piqued by this letter's claim.

[The only thing that aroused your suspicions was the letter's only demand, that you 'come alone.']

The door of the inn creaks open slowly and you are greeted with the warm scent of a log fire. Seating yourself by it, you stare into the flickering flames, wondering where you should go from here. Other travellers are lining the room, some close to you, others hiding themselves away in dark corners. What is there reason for coming to this far-out town in the middle of nowhere? You get the feeling that they are watching you, perhaps wondering the same thing.

Urema Soumei is staring at the fire. He seems enchanted by it, as the dancing embers are reflected in his crimson eyes. Out of habit, he occasionally shakes his hair, the light from the fireplace making it seem even redder in places than usual, but doesn't brighten its overall ebony appearance. In his hand he holds his letter. He has been reading it and re-reading it since he arrived, trying to find some clue in the writing of who might of sent it. After much deliberation, he has resorted to merely looking into the fireplace, seemingly ignoring the others.

Matsuki Shiwazi sits up at the bar drinking a glass of milk, then notices a lone figure sat by the fire. He walks over to the lone figure slowly, curious as to what he might be doing there. He comes up behind him
'HIYA!' he says. 'I'M BOOOOORED, LET'S DO SOMETHING! NA NI DA!'
Urema jumps and looks up at Matsuki. He is slightly taken aback at this character, his appearance, and his greeting.
'I... um... I believe we are supposed to wait.' Urema stammers.
'Aww...' Matsuki stares down sulkily. 'But waiting is soooooo boooooring, don't you agree? So anyways, what's your name? Where are you from? Do you have a girlfriend? Boyfriend? Where did you buy your clothes from? Oooooh I like your hair. Do you like monkey bowling? Or maybe mongoose pinball? I like long walks in the beach and sitting in the park and swinging on swings...' Matsuki goes on for quite a while. Let's not bother with all the details, lets just say he is talking for quite a long time and always has this looks of immense joy on his face.

A while after Urema enters the inn, another young man enters. He is very attractive- his hair is purple but shines silver and he wears it with the longest parts tied back with a black ribbon and the rest hangs loose in soft bangs. His eyes are a dark, inky blue and are outlined with red eye makeup. Dark red, scratch-like markings cover his skin in places; a strange, blood-red trident like symbol adorns his forehead. He is short and very thin. He is dressed in pretty purple and pink mage's robes that are slightly revealing, but the gorgeous effect of this is spoilt slightly by the rough travelling cloak he also wears. This is Kuja Greyfare.

As soon as he enters, he looks about the place, almost in disgust. He takes of the rough cloak and carries it, but not after flicking his hair behind his shoulders in an arrogant way. He walks over to an empty table and sits down. Kuja takes the letter out his pocket and rereads it, then looks about the inn.

'Hmm... Yes, this is the place. Almost a pity that there wasn't some kind of mistake… The place is pretty rundown.' He says this mostly to himself, to avoid being overheard. He looks over at Urema and Matsuki with an air of extreme suspicion.
'I don't see what's so special about this dump. It had better be worth my time.' He mutters.

Kuja sighs and goes over to where Urema and Matsuki are. He looks at Matsuki with harsh, disapproving eyes; he folds his arms and attempts to make himself look taller.
'Alright, motor-mouth, what's with all the racket?'
'Motor mouth? Eh!?' Matsuki shouts. 'NO NI DA!' Matsuki looks far too happy, even around Kuja. Even though Kuja appears to be trying his hardest to look taller, Matsuki still towers over him casting a long shadow, which look like it's dancing with the light from the fire.
'Heheh, HI! I'M MATSUKI SHIWAZI, pleasure to meet you!' He holds out his hand to Kuja.
'Yes, I'm sure the whole of Sol's Pass are aware of who you are, thank you.' Kuja snaps. He looks at Matsuki's hand as if he's just been offered a dirty nappy.
'Hmm, yes… Nice to meet you too. Is there even the remotest chance you'll calm down for even a minute and become coherent? I mean, there isn't much to get excited about here, is there?'

Urema seems to be surveying Kuja. After a while, he nervously speaks.
'I understand your anger...' He flinches as the two look at him. 'I'm sorry, I just... It must be hard, coming where you come from. Kujata Alexander... the darkness... the fury. I... I'm sorry. Please, forgive me.' At this, Urema stands and flees to the other side of the room, where he places his face into his hands.

Matsuki is totally oblivious to Urema.
'Sure there is! Just look around!' He puts his hand back by his side, after shaking it about in front of Kuja.
"We can dance and sing and we could TALK! Oooooh how I loooove talking! It's so much fun, you look like you're sucking on a lemon...' He thinks for a moment. 'Are you okay? Are you ill!? OH NO! YOU'RE ILL!"
Matsuki somehow manages to pull a hospital bed from a place I'd rather not mention and throws Kuja onto it. He starts sticking thermometers in his mouth and checking his blood pressure.
'Hmmm.....it says you are fine....THEN WHY DO YOU LOOK SO ILL? Maybe you're just a sour puss who doesn't like to play? Maybe I can change that, eh?'
Matsuki gives Kuja a look very unlike all of Matsuki's other expressions that makes him look older and shows his true physical beauty. He winks at Kuja.
"Eh? Hehehehe." He then goes back to his normal happy, goofy expression and scratches his head. 'Who wants to dance in here?'

Bewildered, Kuja takes the thermometer from his mouth and puts it in a pocket.
'Well, that was strange. You think I'm sour? No, just a cynical and jaded yet beautiful person who would prefer not to be hanging around this lame little dump of a town for too long.'
He smiles slightly bitterly, then looks past Matsuki to Urema. He doesn't seem very interested; he's just being nosy.
To Matsuki, he says, 'Who's that guy? Is he with you?'
Matsuki shrugs.
'Meh mo mo, he seems quite broody if you ask me. I just started talking to him… uhh... I don't know how long ago, I get carried away, eh hehehehe.'
He stretches to his full 6'2", with his arms stretched above him and hits a chandelier which promptly falls on his head. 'Oww, stupid light thingy!" He starts crying very loudly then suddenly goes quiet.
'NO NI DA!' He starts dancing about the room. 'I'm a Faerie!'

Urema looks up from his darkened corner and glances towards Matsuki. There is a flash of light and Matsuki is frozen to the spot. Urema's voice then echoes throughout the room.
'You need to calm down.'
'Eh, how did you do that?!' Matsuki looks shocked, but somehow still obscenely happy, then suddenly begins to cry again. 'LET ME GO! I don't wanna be a statue!'
Urema continues to hold him to the spot.
'We have been summoned here by an unknown who only exists in writing. Anything could happen. It even could be some kind of trap, so we have to stay calm and be prepared for anything.' Urema waves his hand, allowing Matsuki to move again.
Matsuki stands up to his full height and flicks his hair away from his eyes
'I'm always prepared, but that doesn't mean I can't have fun!"
He jumps up and down on the spot
"You should try it sometime, it is good for your heart and your spirit. Both come very handy when you are in need of calling upon them, as I am sure you would know Urema....'
He looks directly into Urema's eyes and gives him a small, cocky smile.

Kuja's expression shifts from the mild resentment worn when talking to Matsuki to one of deep suspicion. He eyes Urema up with harsh, darkly angry eyes.
'You... who are you...? Don't think I was ignoring you... what are you, psychic? Soul-probing empath?'
Kuja goes over to him, pushing Matsuki roughly out of the way. He has air of almost utter hatred about him.
'Whatever you are, you stop right now. However much mind probing you've done on me is too much. However much you know is too much.' He goes closer to Urema. 'I won't tolerate being violated by a psychic like that'
Matsuki pops his head up.
'YOU HAVE BEEN VIOLATED, GIRLY PANTS.' He then just zooms away again.

Matsuki's glass begins to shake precariously. An ominous crashing noise is heard from outside, and many of the travellers spin their heads round to face the windows. At that moment, a huge ball of flame bursts through the windows, spraying splintered shards of glass everywhere. People scream and duck for cover under furniture, trying to protect themselves from the razor-sharp projectiles that are raining into the room. The glass topples over, spilling creamy milk all over the bar. A young man's scream and a great, booming roar echoes from outside.

Kuja glares briefly at Urema, as if this is his fault, too, before ducking behind an overturned table.
'Just what the hell is going on here?!'
Urema has also ducked for cover.
'I'm not doing it, I swear!'
Matsuki suddenly has wings grow out of his back and he enshrouds himself in them.
'Wings of light, protect me from any fight.' His wings begin to glow with a golden brilliance.
Kuja turns to Urema.
'Oh, so you don't do the whole destruction thing? Only mind probing? That's a pity, otherwise we might have actually gotten along.' He thinks about something for a while. 'Why don't you go and see if its safe, Matsuki?

The atmosphere inside the inn begins to calm down, but the noise outsides continues to rage. The bartender peers nervously over the top of the bar, milk trickling down his head. He examines Matsuki's shining wings.
'You seem to be able to look after yourself.' He squints at Kuja, then looks back to Mat. 'The young lady is right, you should see what all the ruckus was outside. I think someone is in trouble.' Obviously, the bartender is no brave man.

Kuja looks at the bartender, smiling almost pleasantly at him. But you can tell, in his eyes, that there is a viciousness to it. He laughs a little.
'I'm sorry, I think I misheard you. Did you just refer to ME as a young lady?. You better hope I misheard you.' He gets up and goes over to the bartender, his hands spread in front of him.
'Burning rage rooted in the fiery depths of my soul…' 'His hands fill with a fiery glow and a star-shaped flame forms between his hands and stays there. Kuja glares coldly at the bartender, but does not to anything else with the spell. 'I suppose I should be flattered that you think I am indeed beautiful enough to be a girl...' He pauses for dramatic effect. 'BUT I'M NOT! I'm a BLOKE, you short-sighted idiot!' Having scared the poor man enough, he dissipates the spell. 'Be glad I'm feeling even the slightest bit merciful.'

The noise from outside increases momentarily as the inn doors open and a rather short figure strides in confidently with a determined and slightly enraged look on his face. He is clothed in oriental fighting clothes all pure black with radiant white trimmings. He turns to look at what he believes to be a woman threatening the bartender, his long silver hair that flows to his waist spins with him. He stares for several seconds, but it is not what most could call a stare as his eyes are covered by a piece of black cloth, but ever person who meets his "gaze" can feel it. He is holding a black sword, a rapier, he lets go of the handle and the blade shatters, he then throws the remaining handle up one of his sleeves where it disappears
He turns to the barkeep and asks.
'Just give me something strong'
He produces several unmarked gold coins from the same sleeve the sword went up, places them on the table. While waiting for the bartender to find something unbroken to serve he turns to the eclectic bunch of misfits, with a hospital bed, and tells them.
'You might want to take care of things outside; I've got some business to attend to.
He returns to his drink whist muttering something about the strange local peoples.

Matsuki spreads his wings away from his body again and they seem to shrink a little as he walks towards the door. He looks over to the man who has just walked through the door with some suspicion, then carries on towards the door.
'Urema? Kuja? Are you coming, or are you too afraid? I don't think he meant you're too beautiful anyways Kuja... you just happen to dress like a girl...'
He then walks out the door.
'I hope you guys are following.'
The guy at the bar finishes his drink and turns around.
'I guess I should give you guys a hand out there, you look like you need it. I should be meeting someone, but there is only you lot and in the name of Vallhallen I hope one of you didn't send the letter.'
Kuja looks at I half with suspicion, half with some sort of shock.
'A letter...? You came here following a letter? You too, huh? I wonder just what the hell is going on here. Well, whatever, we'll solve this freakish mystery later.'
He follows Matsuki to the door and goes outside'
'Need his help? Pfft.'

The sun has almost completely set, staining the sky with inky blues. The grass around the inn has been scorched and is still burning in places. A gentle breeze fans the flames and chills the skin. Another rumbling roar is let out and the source of the sound is discovered. A huge pair of gleaming eyes stares down on them, aflame with the dancing sparks of blood lust. It appears to be some kind of large Demon with charcoal-grey scales, claws like razor blades and fiery breath. A young man is fighting with it, casting spells at random intervals. Dodging a burst of flame, he turns to the others, lowering his staff.
'Err... Hi there!'
He seems to be in his teens. He is wearing robes the colour of grass and has no shoes on. His feet are big and only have two toes. On his head are two blue antennae and he has small, red, skeletal wings. He shakes his long purple hair out of his emerald eyes.
'Can I have a bit of help... please?'
His voice shakes a bit, as if he's afraid.

Matsuki takes flight as soon as he sees the figure of the boy and flies towards the Demon. He gives the Demon a swift kick to the head to divert its attention away from the boy, and when it attacks, he moves so quickly behind it if you were to blink you would have missed it. He then gives it another swift kick to the back of the head, before driving his elbow into its spine, causing a satisfying cracking sound. The Demon comes crashing into the ground, hot blood gushing from its head.

The boy jumps sideways, to avoid being drenched. He smiles nervously at Matsuki, a smile that emphasises his boyish cuteness, and puts his hand behind his head.
'Thank you so much. I... I don't do well with Demons.' He looks down and fumbles with the fastenings of his robes. 'My name's Aruun... Aruun Ar'ciel. I'm a sorcerer-for-hire. Are you... by chance... the people with the letters?'
Kuja rolls his eyes, visibly unimpressed.
'Another person with a mysterious letter? How many bloody letters are there? What's going on here!? That makes five people with strange letters, all looking for something they want, in the same place. Sounds suspiciously like a cruel practical joke to me.'
He looks at Aruun.
'Not hurt, are you? I wouldn't want to see you die if I hadn't caused it.' He smirks a little. 'Oh yes, how rude of me. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Kuja Greyfare, pretty and talented Mage. That guy who killed the demon is Matsuki. He's quite annoying at times. There's two guys inside with letters too. Some blindfolded guy and some psychic bastard.'
Matsuki raises his hand into the air defiantly.
'ANNOYING?! Hmph, maybe to you, Kuja.'
He flies down to Aruun.
'Hmmm....Nice to meet ya!' He gives Aruun a big hug and then tickles him. 'Eh hehehehe, NO NI DA!"
He bounces up and down the climbs onto Aruun's shoulders.
'Wooooooo, I'm a cowboy! Giddy up horsey!'
'Yes, definitely to me.' Kuja replies. 'Notice I said 'only at times'. You should take that as a compliment. I probably won't give you any more. And get off the poor kid, you'll squish him.'

Aruun looks slightly uncomfortable about riding Matsuki like a horse. He holds his robes down so Mat doesn't get any unflattering views of him...
'Whatever you do, don't drop me, please!'
After allowing Mat to run with him for a few moments, he starts to look queasy.
'I... I get motion sick very easily. Please... put me down!'
'Aww.... ok then!' Matsuki lifts Aruun with one hand and places him on the ground.
"Hmm...You are very light, have you been eating well lately? Getting enough sleep? Too much naughty stuff eh? Eh hehehehe.' He nudges Aruun with his elbow.
'you look like you need something to eat, we should get back into the inn and get something to eat. I'll buy you a glass of milk if you want I LOOOOVE MILK! Don't you?!'
He looks very expecting and begins to escort Aruun to the inn.
'Soooooo... what's your favourite colour, hmmmm?'

Kuja looks relieved.
'Thank goodness. Noisy bastard.'
Kuja stands and looks up at the sky for a while, watching the last rays of the sun vanish below the horizon and the first stars of the night start to appear. He looks pensive.
[I wonder why all those letters were sent out and who sent them? Why have we been chosen? I wonder if this is a trap... this is so suspicious. And DAMN Matsuki is annoying. I wonder if there's some way I could tranquillise him.]
He shrugs lightly to himself and follows them back into the inn.

Back inside the inn, I looks offended.
'Blindfolded guy?!' He leans against the tavern wall, arms crossed. 'I do have a name you know. Well, it looks like you didn't need my help after all, but why do we all have the same letter, I thought it was more business but it seems much more dramatic than that.'
He rolls his eyes, well, you can tell he would if he had them.
'Anyway, I believe it is time for the formalities. I am I, legendary assassin, I'm sure you have heard of me even in such a backwater place as this.'
Aruun looks a bit taken aback by Matsuki's 'in your face' personality. He then smiles, glad of Mat's generosity as he is quite low on cash himself at the moment.
'That sounds great, thank you.' His brow furrows at Mat's next, puzzling question. 'My favourite colour... green.'
Matsuki looks at I.
"I, eh? Never heard of you! Eh hehehehe. So anyways, how's about that glass of milk, eh Aruun?'
He gets two glasses of milk from the bartender and drinks his in one gulp.
'YUMMMY, MIIIILLLLKK!' H starts dancing around and twirling.
'Well, if we're doing this formally, my name is Matsuki Shiwazi and I am quite renowned for my singing, eh hehehehe. Green, eh Aruun?'
Matsuki pulls out a green hat from someplace... and put it on Aruun's head.
'There ye go! Looks vewy pwetty, SHINY ARUUN, ARUUN IS SHINY!'

I looks up at the ceiling.
'Vallhallen, Naeyth you two are really pushing your luck.'
He continues muttering with another stiff drink.

Aruun winces as the hat bends his antennae, but manages an appreciative smile nonetheless.
'Thank you, Matsuki.'
He takes a swig of milk, leaving a humorous moustache on his top lip that he does not seem to notice. He speaks in a low, nervous voice.
'I've heard of you, I...' His voice trails off and he seems he does not want to press the topic further.
'Anyway, now that we're all here, I'd like to discuss the letters. You all got one, right?'
Kuja looks at I.
'I haven't heard of you, either. Not until now, at least. Well, if we're going to be introducing ourselves properly, I suppose I'm next.'
He shakes his hair out a little.
'I am Kuja Greyfare, the beautiful and dangerous Mage. I'm surprised you haven't heard of me.'
He laughs a little at his own arrogance then looks over at Aruun.
'Letters, eh? Yes, I think we all have one. I do. I reckon they're suspicious; it could be some kind of sick joke. I mean... we don't know who sent them, do we? Unless the psychic over there…' He gestures to Urema. '…Knows.'
'No, I haven't heard of you.' I replies. '…Any of you. But I am a busy man. I apologise for the hostilities earlier, it's just that I've come a long way, but if I'm going to be with you guys for a bit then I suppose I should make the most of it.'

'Hee hee hee, how cute!' Matsuki is staring at Aruun and gives him a big hug, lifting him off the ground. He then wipes Aruun's milk moustache off and licks the milk off his hand.
'Yum. Yeah, I got a letter too, but I drew on it. It wasn't pretty enough, so I made it look pwetty. Eh hehehehe.'

'But how I am going to make the most of this?' I asks himself as he looks at the strange couple with he milk.
Kuja goes over to I and whispers to him.
'I think tranquillisers will help.'

Aruun blushes madly, his round cheeks resembling two rosy apples.
'Matsuki... I'm sorry, you're making me feel uncomfortable.'
He moves away from him quite quickly.
'Some of you didn't see me earlier. I am Aruun Ar'ciel. I also received a letter, however, mine is slightly different to yours. Whoever sent us the letters has asked me to be your guide. He or she wants me to lead you all to a certain place...'
He feels all the eyes of the strange party burning on him. His shyness seems to steal away his voice, so he finishes his speech in barely more than a whisper.
'If that's ok with you...'
Matsuki's ear perks up.
'HEY! I have very good hearing! I'm no mere human, as I am sure you have noticed!'
He jumps up and down for a very long time.
'Meh.' He starts dancing again and gets himself another glass of milk from the bartender.
'Yummy yummy yummy, I've got milk in my tummy, and i feel like drinking you… Eh hehehehe, heee..."
He blushes.
'Hey, that's fine by me Aruun, and what do you mean by uncomfortable? Eh? WAAAHHHHHHH!' He starts to cry uncontrollably without stopping for breath.

I whispers to Kuja.
'So does beer, and lots of it, I've downed several already.'
He produces some more gold coins from his sleeve.
'Barkeep, another drink for my feminine friend here.'
I gets up and draws the sword handle from his sleeve, the blade is reconstructed from what appear to be black shards of glass, he points it at Matsuki's head.
'And can you sit still for one minute?'
Kuja looks at I.
'I'd prefer a cup of tea, to be honest. You know, the other kind of brew.'
He smiles a little to himself at the though of a cup of tea, then turns his attention back to Aruun.*
'A guide, eh? At least someone here knows where we're supposed to be.'

Aruun glances over at the crying Matsuki and a wave of guilt floods over him. He walks over to him and places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
'There, there. I'm sorry. I just...'
He looks like he doesn't know how to finish the sentence. Turning to the window, he takes account of the now ebony-black sky, illuminated with pinprick stars.
'It's late now. I don't think we should start the journey until morning.'
Matsuki looks up at Aruun, then suddenly stands up giving Aruun a hug.
'I FORGIVE YOU!'
He starts dancing around whilst hugging Aruun and humming a little tune.
'You're right though, it is getting quite late. It may be time to go off to our bedrooms soon, has everybody already paid? If not i shall pay for you, I'm guessing you will need a room Aruun?'
He hands Aruun some money.
'Well that should get you a room for the night, at least.'

I smiles.
'The one sensible thing I've heard from you guys all day. We should rest and decide our next actions in the morning.'
He turns to Aruun and says with a little sarcasm:
'If that's all right with our guide."
'Setting off now would be suicide.' Kuja agrees. 'Unless you like midnight walks in strange woods filled with goodness-knows-what. I don't know about anyone else, but I'll be grateful for a nice bed and a nice quiet room.'
Kuja half-glares at Matsuki.
'That means keep it down, okay?'
Matsuki completely blanks Kuja.
'Well, I'll be off to bed now... You all have a good night and pleasant dreams, eh hehehe.'
He rushes up the stairs of the inn to his newly acquired room.

'Kuja drinks some of his tea.
'It's suspicious. That's what I think. I want to know who sent it. Why us? Why not anyone else?'
He shudders a little as he remembers Matsuki.
'Why suddenly decide to throw five random, completely different people together? Five people who all want something and only one of them knows where they should be. It's either a trap or a nasty practical joke.'
He pauses briefly to reflect on the situation some more.
'But whatever, I intend to find out what's going on and see if this really will lead to something I want. Unfortunately, we'll have to put up with Mr I'm-too-hyper-for-my-own-good.'

Matsuki walks into his room and lays on his bed and looks up at the ceiling
'Hmmmm... Interesting bunch…'
Then there is a voice within Matsuki's mind that is not his own.
[Indeed, they most definitely are... Kuja seems to like you. Hahaha…]
'You know I don't appreciate sarcasm from you.
[Have I ever cared about what you like or not? Hahahahaha.]
'I guess not... I'm going to sleep.'
Matsuki closes his eyes and drifts off into a deep slumber.

Aruun smiles to himself, closing his fingers around the coins Matsuki placed in his hands. He glances out the window once more, reflecting on the interesting characters he had met that day. This journey will be a dangerous one, although it will be filled with laughter. He couldn't help being filled with prickling nerves, however, about this mysterious author who sent the letters.
'I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of this soon enough.'
He pays for a room and then turns back to the others.
'Well... goodnight.'

Kuja pays Aruun little attention.
'Yeah, see you.' To I he says:
'You know, I reckon those two have the right idea, actually. Sleep sounds like a blessing right now. See you, I.'
Like Aruun did, he pays for a room and vanishes off upstairs. Once there, he looks for any clues as to which room is Matsuki's, in the hope that he isn't in the room next to him. He gives up after a while, and decides he doesn't actually care enough to keep looking, and goes off into his own room.

I relaxes now that he is alone. He hands the barkeeper an unusual crystalline object.
'Could you keep this here for the night? I'll return for it in the morning.'
He hands the barkeeper yet more gold coins and leaves the bar. With one look back, he shakes his head.
'This is going to get weird.'