That night, Josh carried back all of the eight fishes he had caught during the day. Apart from the apparent 'gangland' war that Renne had just found out about, and a argument which lasted nearly an hour over a fisher who said that the spot they were using to fish was his, everything went well.

"- So.. will you or will you not let me see the coin?"

Josh looked up at her from across the long table they used to dine, apart from them and a butler, the whole hall was empty. And 'dine' wasn't such a correct word either, Renne reflected as Josh placed his half eaten fish carefully down from his hands back onto the plate.

"Well, for one my hands are all greasy and i don't want to get that into my pockets. Do you know what grease in your pockets feel like? Urgh. Anyway, for two, i told you its mine. And its something i am not likely to share with anyone soon." He said, however catching the disappointed look on Renne's face he added, "But if i would show it, you would be the first one."

She smiled a little, then frowned. "But why was that man so scared?"

"Not scared, hmm.. what wound be the right word.. fearful respect i think."

"Why?"

"Woo.. Now what is that?" He looked at the next course, some new meatball the chef had conjured up.

"Don't change the subject Jo... Hey careful, it might be - "

"Ow!" Josh dropped the meatball and started to frantically fan his swollen, or were now starting to swell and redden.

"Oh come on," She said in exasperation and pushed over a glass of water. "Put your fingers in."

As instructed, he placed his fingers in and immediately felt a cool sharp relief in contrast to the trobbing pain he had felt moments before.

"There? Better?"

He laughed and shook his head, "I don't know what i will do without you Renne."

"Yeah, you do well to remember that. Now can you show - "

"Uh, no." Josh said, now swirling the water within the glass with his fingers.

"You.."

-Alson

Re: Straits Times 29 oct 2008 "Its time we did the right thing"

George Lim Heng Chye. The one who posted the letter. Guys, or anyone who is passing by, should really check this guy out Google.

"But what does it mean to do the right thing? It simply means not doing the wrong thing."

Gasp.. *sobs happily*.. Remarkable wisdom, isn't it?

Check him up on his articles that Straits Times have published before.
-Alson



One word. A true idiot.

"Excuse me?"

"Ya heard me, clear off now or te next tin ya know, will be this arrow here sticking outta your girlfriend's face."

"What? Repeat that one more time and i'll.."said Renne, stepping forwards but was blocked by an arm thrust out by Josh.

"I've heard that the Maless gang just took over this area. Is it true?" He asked of the stranger.

"Yes."

"Then would you recognise this?" asked Josh, fishing out a coin from within his pockets.

The stranger peered closer then, to Renne's surprise he spluttered and nearly knocked himself out by giving a hasty salute.

"I.. I didn't know. Sorry for the interruption. I.. really must be going to.. er.. check up on other places." The man practically stumbled over his speech and disappeared back into the forest.

"Wow. What was that about?" Renne looked at Josh, who grinned back.

"Oh, you know, some favours here and there.." Josh replied as he pocketed the coin. "You might want to travel around more."

Renne's face fell and she sat back down onto the riverbed. "You know my father has never allowed me to. Never did. Never will."

Josh bit his lip and slapped himself on the forehead. How could he have forgotten? "I'm sorry Renne."

"You don't have to be. Can i see that coin?"

"Ah ah. No." He wagged a finger at her outstretched hand and slapped it down. "That is something i would keep to myself." He finished, then turned back to the river and the setting sun in the distance. All of it casting a red, fiery glow onto the trees.

Riverbed

"Ok, so you swing your rod, like this.." Josh glanced at Renne, who mimicked his action. Although, not exactly so. "No, no. Twist your hand back, then flick the rod out. That way, the line will fly out further."

"Arghh.." She tried valiently, but still, her line flew feebly and landed mere feet away.

"Ah well, one doesn't get it the first time, but you'll get it soon enough." Josh grinned as he pulled up yet another fish from the river.

"This sucks." She pouted and sat down. "I'm never going to get it."

Josh laughed as he detached his fish from the hook, "You will, if you practise enough."

"You think so?"

"Of course. By the way, how is your training coming along? I heard you learnt some new moves." He replied, keeping his attention on his rod which he had, again, flicked back into the river with practised ease.

Renne pulled out her wand, this was something that she knew. "Watch this, see that overhanging branch there?" She said, pointing to the specified branch. "Fle Monte!"

Josh thought he saw a single slice of turbulence parting the air before it sped forwards and cleanly cut through the offending branch, which fell and floated off in the river.

"Wow. Now thats something. Whatcha call it?"

"I don't know, directly translated, its called Wind Slice. Which it probably is."

"Man, some of the - " Josh didn't manage to finish his sentence as a portion of his rod was sliced off nearly like the same way as Renne chopped off the branch. Except, this time, it was a physical arrow which thudded into a tree trunk nearby.

"And what do you think you are doing fishin' on mah turf?" A shadow said, wielding a bow.

-Alson

Review : Avatar: The Last Airbender

Rating: 4/5

Length: 24min+ for each episode, 20 episodes per season, currently three seasons.

Review:

Amazing piece of work by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, this show is based on an Asian influenced world of the four elements. Earth, Water, Air and Fire. It follows the main character, a twelve year old boy named Aang, or the Avatar, as he tries to save the world with his friends.

What I like about this show is its characterisation in the characters, mainly Aang, Katara and Sokka. To me, in the main area of the show, it slightly follows Pokemon's style of storytelling, like from one scene, save people, yay! Next scene, save more people, more yay!.. However, this show's strong storyline enables it to stand out from the crowd of standard shows. I feel that in each episode, the creators focus on each character, developing each's personalities, differences. Also, what i extremely admire about this show is that each character has believable characteristics and make believable choices. (Ohh, Ash can make pikachu dodge! Anytime he wants! Wow! That means pikachu can dodge any attack! Eh? Why did it get hit?..) And those choices could and sometimes would, go wrong.

This is a hellivanjia piece of work. I recommend this to anyone who wants to have a casual show to watch yet with a decent amount of action and a little bit of passion. (Remember, this was created for kiddos in mind).

-Alson

"-And there was this time, when-" He paused, arms in mid animation, looking at where the sound was admitted. Jeryl stood at the door respectfully, head bowed.

"Miss, you did not tell me that you had a visitor." He looked up quizzically, "But i do not remember anyone coming through the doors."

"That is because he came in through one of the side doors Jeryl." Renne said quickly, smiling as she ended.

"Hmm. Ok, yes. Did you lock the door behind you after you left?" He asked, placing the tray he held onto one of the nearby tables.

"Yes."

"Very well, enjoy." He said, before bowing and leaving the room.

"Who's that?" Josh asked, striding over and picking up the tray after Jeryl had left.

"Oh, its Jeryl, father hired him just after you left. Sort of like my personal servant i guess. Why?"

Josh shook his head and jumped back onto his seat on Renne's writing table. She herself was sitting on its chair, and was listening to Josh relating his stories of his trip.

"You know, I could really teach you fishing now that I'm back."

"Really?"

"Sure why not? After I finish these. Man. Compared to what I've been eating, these things taste heavenly." He said, stuffing his face. "Wanf one?" He asked, holding out the tray.

"Uh no. I'll pass."

-Alson

It was a silhouette, as his back was against the many windows that threw light into the room.

However, by that familiar shape and voice, as well as him moving to let the light fall on his face, did she break into a wide smile.

"Josh! How did you get up.." She started then saw at least one window was slightly ajar. "You climbed up?" She ended in surprise.

He looked down, shuffling his foot, slightly embarrassed. "Sorry."

"That is amazing!" He looked up in surprise, he had expected her to chide him or something to that extent. But she did not leave him any time to wonder as she grabbed his arm and practically dragged him over to that particular window.

"When are you going to teach me how to do that?" She asked, pointing down towards the ground floor of the building. 

"Hey, aren't you going to ask me if i did get the item you wanted? Instead of me teaching you how to climb up walls?"

"Oh yes. Nearly forgot. Do you have it?" Renne asked.

"Wait. Let me get this straight." He said slowly, as if trying to compehend something rather diffcult. "YOU NEARLY FORGOT?" He yelled, making her cringe, "I went through two regions, two seas, one of which i spent nearly the whole trip vomiting, another as a stowaway, nearly got my throat slit and got robbed. And you nearly forgot? What do you take me as?"

"I'm sorry." She looked at Josh, but he just turned away. " Come on Josh, please?"

"Huh." His voice sounded muffled, but he held out a hand, within its palm a bag which she knew, contained the precious Sha powder that Josh had gone a long way to get for her.

She continued to climb the stairs even as Jeryl bode her teacher farewell as he went, although she had already done it.

The mansion was grand even by most rich standards, with various art pieces collected from different regions dotting the interior of the vast building, windows overlooking the greater grounds, exquisite furniture in each and every room, it was one structure that was the envy of many, and the people living within it even more so.

Her walkway towards her room was lined with carpets and tapestries that she did not take particular notice of since they were changed ever so frequently by her father, although now that he was off away to another business trip that it changed lesser, but still, under his orders, the servants continued to change them.

She laid her hand on the doorknob to her room, which was, sparkling clean, and pushed the door inwards.

A dark shape.

"Thinking of me?" it asked.

"Ready?"

Renne looked wearily at her instructor, his arms spread out in a standard combat position, body crouched low. Standing on the well kept grass of the mansion.

She nodded slowly, keeping her eyes on him all the time.

"On my count of three.. one.."

She readied herself, gripping her wand tighter.

"Three."

He flashed, and disappeared. Renne was stunned for a moment, Did he say two? Or -

A staff gripped around her throat and forced her back onto a chest. A hand held her arm, restricting the movement of her master hand while she struggled, pinned against him and slowly but surely being choked. Pinpricks of light started to appear within her eyes as she was suffocated.

Suddenly, she fell forwards, gasping. Released.

"Don't ever trust your opponent. Didn't I teach you that in your first lesson?"

"You cheated." Renne said, massaging her throat.

He peered at her over his spectacles, "All's fair in love and war Renne."

"Oh so - Fle Monte!"

He deflected her Wind Slice, or as directly translated, with a casual flick of his hand, it disspated into the trimmed trees, not so much as cutting off a single leaf.

"See? One must be prepared for all circumstances." He said, walking over to his dejected student. "However, i would like to comment on today's performance.."

She shut her eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

"You did well today. Good job."

Those words rang on in her ears even as she looked up, he offering a hand.

-Alson

Please be patient. I have to set the setting first.

______________________________

Water in the field, they walked in the rain. Jeryl, silent by her side, held up an umbrella to keep off the rain over himself and his ward.

"Miss, sir is going to wonder what his daughter is doing out in the rain. Moreover, i sense he is getting a wind of what you are doing."

"So if you say so, then is it wrong to meet a good friend of mine?" Her voice, carrying a slight tone of indignation, made Jeyrl look towards her direction.

Her hazel eyes looked back into the greys of his, she stopped walking, keeping her gaze on him.

Jeryl sighed, a deep sound, "It is not wrong mademoiselle, but your father might not want it."

"Why does he have to interfere in everything i do?" She looked away, but Jeryl thought he saw some moisture in her eyes.

___________________________

The Nightwalker stepped onto gravel, one that of a human laid one.

It had been sometime since he had visited a town, and a well guarded one at that. Before they let him in, he was to surrender his weapons, he knew that these guards were well armored and had numbers that alone, was impossible to defeat.

His side was lighter, but near his chest it was heavier with a concealed dagger.

He kept to the darkness and away from the lighted oil lamps that lit the street, adbit not brightly so. Light from the houses too, lighted the street, with all this light, it was not hard to see why he generally kept away from human settlements.

But tonight, it was a different case.

His informant had said it was the Red Mallet. So far, he had passed two taverns bearing names not similar to that.

Another building up front on the street threw more light onto the street than the surrounding buildings and by the shape of the sign, he knew that he had found the place he was looking for.

-Alson 

He stood, by the edge of the cliff. Weapon sheaved. Arms hanging by his side, and as usual, with the cowl worn on his head.

The mild wind pressed his cloak outwards, giving an impression of a ghost. A dark being. Despite the slight rain falling onto his face, not did he once flinch or give any indication that it affected him in any way.

The Nightwalker's mouth curled upwards as he thought of past events, like those three men he had destroyed before. They were good, but not enough.

He flexed his fingers, they were coarse, rough from their many years of usage. But still, they were well trained. As were himself.

He felt the stones beneath his well worn sandals, both round and sharp, but that footwear that he wore, was just for sentimental value. He could, he knew, be lighter, faster, without them hindering. 

Pausing to take his breath, he took a single step backwards, concentrating his both his body and his mind, willing them to be one.

Three steps forward.

And the wind was rushing past his ears.

-Alson

Renne ran her fingers across the panel of her oak bow. It was beautiful, sanded down and with much rubbing from her hands, it had a glossy feel and look.

Her quiver lay nearby, it was made of leather, of which animal she did not know though, for it was bought from a market two towns away. The arrows, however, was fetched by herself from chicken feathers and sharpened pieces of firewood. It could, however, despite the simple materials, hit quite painfully and accurately, to the pain of some local boys.

Her jet black hair cascaded past her left shoulder as she continued to look out of the window at the forest idly, wondering among her thoughts by staring at the rain. The sound of slight pattering rain on the rooftop of the small hut also served to calm her nerves.

"Miss."

She jerked from her reverie at the word, Jeryl had been extremely quiet for the past half hour, thus so being driven out of her mind by more 'important' thoughts.

"Your father will be wondering where you have gone." Jeryl continued, seeing that Renne did not reply.

"Sure." She sighed and got up. Allowing the old man to drape a water proof cloak over her shoulders.

Rain started to fall harder.

The nightwalker stepped out of the confines of the forest undergrowth and into one of the many shafts of moonlight filtering down from the canopy.

He flicked his weapon, a medium, light kantana made of refined obsidian gave the sword a dark sheen, one that many people would avoid.

Himself, he wore a grey cloak, the colour of the mists hereabouts with a crux immissa or a Greek cross was painted across its back, also, it reflected a dark sheen, although it was hard to tell whether it was of a painted black or something else.

Something tickled his ear.

Three men charged out, weapons leveled, judging by the battle scars and the grim expressions, he guessed that they were more than your everyday thieves.

One man rose his weapon.

From the cloak's cowl where the moonlight revealed the shaved lower bottom of the nightwalker's face, a smirk emerged.

And the weapon came down upon thin air.

The mercenary looked confused to as where might his target might have gone when a gleaming red line drew itself across his throat. He dropped his weapon as he sank to the forest floor, trying in vain to stem the flow of his life.

The other two backed towards each other as their comrade died, they could not help him and he too, knew it. Their eyes scanned the surrounding landscape, searching for the target, weapons at the ready.

A sword, thrown like a dagger, flew out of the darkened forest. One mercenary saw it too late and tried to block it.

It stabbed and punctured into his skull, cracking it. Fluid started to flow out even as he collapsed, weapon falling out of his hand.

"Trust." 

The word, barely, a whisper, was uttered, but not by the last man, who heard it, and shivered. It carried, that one word, indescribable coldness.

Something blurred smashed into the man's chest, and he flew backwards. Weapon flung out of his hand.

"No one."

He was getting up when a grip, harder than iron, wound itself around his throat.

"Believe."

He kicked valiantly, being lifted up from the ground.

"Nothing."

Something cracked, and his legs fell limp.

-Alson

 

Ahh played for 3+ hours today... Ouch me eyes!!

"For all that we fight for, we will all return to one place. That is death."

Hey, ive been thinking, do we look forward to a event or do we look forward to looking forward to the event? Cause for me, i only like the part on getting there, as well as coming back. Guess that the moving scenery allows me to relax, gives me the impression that i'm moving although im not physically so.

My two cents.

-Greg

Long time no post. Well, i think KBO Asia is one darned fool. Read the papers? Well, in short, they shortchanged the people who when to their concert, furthermore, they even replied rudely using foul words in their emails! Thats what i call bad marketing.

-Greg