Shadow of a Doubt

Description: It all started with a single fight; A battle staged by a party of six people to complete a quest. What was so difficult about that? However, just as the grasp of death lays waste to them, the last remaining member of the party makes a startling realization. Now she and her new ally draw closer and a startling bond forms between them. Chains of events link other individuals to the duo and a strange and unsettling plan comes to the forefront, forcing the group into a battle that could very well decide the fate of the lives of Vanadiel. As stated, this will be somewhat AU.

I DO NOT OWN FFXI AND I AM NOT MAKING PROFIT FROM THIS! THE CHARACTERS ASIDE FROM THE MONSTERS ARE MINE.

::Turn One::

The harsh glare of the sun barely registered against the thinly furred skin of a young woman that strode confidantly through the shifting sands. A thick cat tail swayed from side to side with each of her strides that were, despite the weight of her armor and supplies, strangely enticing and elegant. It was a gait that all of her kind inherited and it boasted a sort of powerful femininity that most could never attain. Two large ears swiveled about constantly atop her head, catching the muffled sounds of the desert as she crouched. Her armor made a soft creaking sound as she shifted her weight so that she leaned forward onto her hands, her sensitive nose inhaling the sand cautiously. The last thing she wanted was to end up with sand up her nose. Strange white eyes narrowed slightly and she rose to her feet as a feral growl forced its way from her throat. The wind tugged lightly at neatly bound brown tresses and her ears laid flat against her skull to keep out the airborne sand. She turned her striped face to a group of tall bird like creatures that stood patiantly nearby. They were of varying sizes and all were fully armored. Atop the backs of five of these beasts were warriors, all watching her intently. The mithra woman nodded sharply and grins broke out among the party. A large black bird trotted to her side and lowered itself neatly for her. With a smirk of her own she mounted the black chocobo and the creature rose to it's large feet with an excited call.

"Our Prrrey is verrry close! We must make haste for it knows that we are coming!" She called to them as her mount shifted restlessly beneath her. The mithra held the reigns of the bird in one hand, the other resting on the metal saddle horn. She felt at ease atop her faithful mount, knowing that none of the many beasts that roamed the dunes were of any worry to her for her chocobo could easily outpace them. However, she was not at ease with the party she was with. They were inexperiance and she could tell just from looking at them that they had not been this far into the dunes before. From the anxious movements that they made in their saddles she could also tell that their mounts were all fairly new, save one older blue that looked fairly experianced. The blue chocobo belonged to a small Taru-Taru that she had learned was named Dansiel. It was an unusual name for a Taru-Taru, but who was she to judge. He was fairly quiet for a Taru-Taru, not that she was complaining, and he seemed to know what he was doing. The guy was a bard from what she could tell and he also had white mage abilities. He would certainly come in handy soon. The bard brought his mount close to the mithra's, as she checked that her weapons were cleared. Apparently she was the only one that the small mage actually trusted. The other members of their party were hume. Every last one of them. Apparently they were from the same link shell as well for they knew each other quite well. Hopefully this would come in handy. Still, the mithra could not help but feel uneasy about this upcoming fight. There was another mage in the party, a White with a bit of black magic as well. The hume was female and one of the worst from what the mithra could tell. Every once in a while she would catch the young woman glaring away at her. How troublesome.

"Mithra, are you certain? How is it that you know the shadow is here?" One of the male humes asked. She turned her preditory gaze upon the thief with a soft growl, causing him to flinch slightly.

"I would preferrr that you call me by my rrrightful name, HUME." She hissed darkly, causing the other humes to shift their hands toward their weapons. " I know it is herrre because I was borrrn herrre, you fool. My senses tell me where the shadow has passed and the changes in his scent let me know what he is doing somewhat. Do not question me again orrr I shall leave you to find someone worrrthy of my time."

"Forgive me, Lady Daaha. We are unfamiliar to the ways of Mithra and that makes us uneasy." The theif replied with an apologentic smile.

" It is said..." Began the small Taru-Taru named Dansiel. " That the mithra are women beasts and because of their animalistic blood they think as a beast would. Is this true, Miss Daaha?" The mithra locked her slitted gaze on him and a rare smile spread across her lips, reveiling her fanged teeth.

" About as true as Taru-Taru that speak with the gods..." She chuckled, earning a small smile from him. The woman had been hearing rumors about a Taru-Taru who had been traveling the country and had been gifted with the ability to see into the future among other things. Daaha honestly thought it silly. "You lot had best be prrreparrred. I will not be dying this day!" The mithra snapped and she spurred her mount into a fast run, the others following close behind. She had been employed by these humes as had Dansiel. They were to assist in the killing of a notorious monster that was part of a white mage quest. Daaha had never faced the shadow beast before, despite living in the dunes for much of her life. The black chocobo that she rode upon let out a deep trembling sound that had the fur on the back of the cat woman's neck rasing on end. In an instant she had her bow draw, a gleaming arrow knocked and ready. She heard the bard at her side begin to play a haunting melody while his mount continued to run, both chocobo's used to their riders fighting atop them. The humes behind them forced their mounts ahead and they were the first to top the large hill. Before they could even feel the effects of the bard's song the mithra could hear the distinctive hum of black magic and she cursed beneath her breath. Those people were fools.

"It appears that we have our work cut out for us, Miss Daaha." Dansiel stated before beginning a second song. With a snarl she urged her mount faster, the bird bounding over the crest with a battle cry. In mid air, the mithra fired off several arrows that flew toward what appeared to be an elvaan mage that had been submerged entirely in darkness. When the arrows struck their target, the enraged shadow forcused his attention on the chocobo riding mithra who leapt from the black bird and landed in a crouch nearby. Her mount circled around and moved out of the way so that it would not be in the way during the battle. Daaha returned her bow to her back and pulled out two dagger like blades. A burst of dark energy roared toward her but she had no time to avoid it and so she covered her face quickly as the attack rolled around her, letting out a grunt of pain. The smell of burnt fur reached her senses and she shuddered once before the darkness disappated. She threw up a cover of shadows that burst from her body to protect herself and rushed toward the elvaan who was in the middle of casting yet another spell.

"Let me take the hits! Attack! You had best start using your black magics girl!" She warned as she attacked. The bard played several songs to increase their power and defense while the others continued to attack. The hume female went about casting her own black spells, fire screaming toward the black demon. Daaha felt excitement work through her as the shadow felt to the ground beneath the torrent of attacks that were flung its way and she winced slightly as another of her own shadows vanished. Then she spotted the knowing grin that lined the elvvan's features. She glanced back at the bard who also seemed to have sensed the danger. It was then that she heard the all too familiar twang of a bowstring being released and she turned just as a bolt shot next to her cheek. A line red line appeared in its wake and a trickle of blood rolled free from the cut. Her white eyes focused on a dark form that stood atop a large dune and a deep snarl escaped her gritted teeth.

" Quickly finish him off and get on your mounts!" The bard commanded while casting a healing spell on the mithra who had drawn her bow and was pulling the string back.

" Aw, no worries, little man! We can take that one too!" One of the humes exclaimed as the first elvaan's body disentigrated with the wind. The other humes cheered in response and started off after the newcommer. Daaha let out a sigh of annoyance. She never should have taken the money.

"Dansiel, I suggest that you get that blue chicken rrrunning in the other dirrrection beforrre you find yourrrself missing some blood and gaining a few more holes." The mithra stated before releasing an arrow. Even from this far away she could see the dark smile that barely curved her target's lips. " That drrrow bastarrrd is enjoying this."

"W-Whataru about you? This guy isn't one to play with, especially since he is far from his normal territory." The bard asked, his small chocobo sqawking in warning while shifting from side to side. Daaha could not prevent the feral grin that morphed her features as she knocked another arrow. Already one of the party members had fallen.

"Mmm, I don't know...I adorrre men that put up a fight beforrre they fall beneath me." She all but purred. " Now get going unless you wish to die, Prophet of Sandoria!" The mithra whistled sharply and her black mount ran to her side, the ninja ranger leaping onto the chocobo's back and unleashing volly after volly of arrows as they charged the drow. Dansiel bit his lower lip as he watched the battle and he muttered a prayer beneath his breath.

"Ifrit, my lord...watch over that girl, for she has saved me and deserves your strength." With that the small bard turned his chocobo and took off into the sands. Daaha continued to shoot at the shadow as she drew closer, her chocobo dodging the arrows that the drow fired at them. As they closed in the mithra threw up some shadows to take the attacks of the elf but she knew that they would do little good. With a growl she grabbed the white mage hume around the waist and threw her up onto the back of the black bird, earning a shriek from the girl.

" Gryvvor, take the hume to Selbina now! HAH!" Daaha commanded as she jumped down and with a call the chocobo sped off taking the yelling woman with him. "Boys take your fallen and fall back now! You will die if you do not." She dropped her bow and lunged at the drow and cutting him off from the injured men. They stumbled back hesitantly as the woman struck, the elf avoiding her daggers easily. Darkness radiated from the tall man reaching out for her quickly moving form violently.

" I SAID GET YOUR DUMB ASSES MOVING!" She roared angrily at the two men who quickly grabbed their fallen friend and began limping across the sand to their abandoned mounts. One of the mithra's shadows exploded beneath the black demon's attack and she flipped backward quickly, landing a yard or so away from him. She was panting hard from the effort that it had taken to distract the elf. It was apparent that he knew what she was doing and he had allowed it. If anything, the shadow seemed entertained. Daaha knew that on her own she would have no chance at all against the shadow of Secret Beach.

" So tell me, Marchulette...What are you doing so far from home? Did you and your little friend plan this all, hm?" She asked in a playful voice that was borderline seductive. The mithra chuckled at her own boldness, but hell! The crazy female was toying with a notorious monster for crying out loud! She was about to die anyway so she may as well have a laugh while she her throat. His crimson eyes flashed with something that she couldn't place and it was then that he fired again. Daaha moved into action immeadiately, avoiding the attack and lunging for him with one of her daggers. A black hand caught her's mere inches from his neck, the chilling darkness stinging her almost painfully. She hissed angrily and struggled against the shadow. Her large colorless eyes locked onto his blood stained orbs. Defiance burned within her strange eyes, eyes that gave the elf pause. His lips parted slightly and for an instant, his black coloration faltered.

"Kitty..." Was the roughly spoken word that came from the shadow's throat and a gasp freed itself from the startled cat. She shrank back from him, but his strong grasp kept her in place. Her heart thudded in her ears loudly and her ears laid flat against her skull. It was strange. That name was as familiar as her own. But why?

"L-let me go, damnit!" She hissed, pulled free finally and falling to the ground with a squeak. Her wide eyes were still locked on him as he moved toward her, his blades falling to the sand. He crouched before the fallen girl, one of his large hands extending to her. Once again, that strange darkness that acted as a skin to him flickered before vanishing entirely. In it's place was an extremely pale, beautiful, white haired elf. His features were contorted into a strange sort of painful longing that seemed wrong on his face. Intense red eyes stared at her as though she were a ghost, a spirit come from hell to visit him.

"Kitty." He murmured again and a shudder worked through her small form. She fled. Her hands and feet launched her back away from him and she leapt into a full out sprint, leaving the now calling elf behind. Daaha spotted a chocobo that one of her party had left behind and grasped the skittish animal's reigns before it could run. Uncontrollabley, she turned her gaze back to the strange elf who had his black shadow over his form again. He stared after her, not bothering to follow, but his left had was extended to her as though he was using all of his will power to keep from chasing her. If she didn't know better, the mithra would have thought that he looked sad. Before she could linger anymore, the cat leapt atop the yellow bird and spurred it forward toward Selbina. The notorious monster watched the rider depart until he could see her no longer and with a soft sigh, he bent and picked up his discarded weapons. Then his eyes landed on her fallen bow. A faint, almost non-existant smile curved his lips and he gently lifted the object from the sand. With one last look in the direction of the port town of Selbina, the shadow elf made his way to the north west. To Secret Beach.

A/N:: Yes I am altering alot of stuff. I can do this because..well...I am writing the damn thing. Rate and review please!