I'm back XD! I took a little break, but recently I got down to business and worked on my fics! I still have quite a few that I'm working on, but I really wanted to finish and post this one. I was excited when I finished it, and hopefully you guys will like it. Before I get started, I'd like to explain something. This fic is based off of Linkin Park's song "My Dsmbr" and I used the lyrics for the title. However, the lyrics I found and used are slightly different than the real lyrics- the ones I found had slightly different words. "Dreams" was actually supposed to be "trees", but I really like "dreams" better. It works more with the story. I hope that makes sense XD Sorry if I confused anybody…Anyway, here it is! The long-awaited sequel to "Fear is How I Fall"…Snow-Covered Dreams

Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo, any of the characters, or the song that this fic is based loosely upon.

Chapter 1- Give it all away

I was a murderer. I had killed a countless number of ninja so that a criminal could escape and felt right doing so. I had caused this criminal to fall off the side of a cliff with little, if any, hope of surviving. I had killed the man who held my heart, my everything, all in one night.

I was a thief. I stole my father's trust in me. Trust that I would forget everything that had to do with him. I stole the opportunity from everyone in the city to live a peaceful life now that the most wanted man was dead; I never shut up about him in those pain-filled years that separated us. I stole the hope of my mother that I would be well and live a wonderful life as she lay dying.

I was free. My mind kept me awake at night for days on end, slowly killing me each minute. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. Without any thought of where I was going, I ran away. I carried the aikuchi he had given me a long time ago close to my heart and jogged out of the city's gates. Foreign warmth that hadn't heated my heart since I received the sunflower gave me strength. I smiled strangely as a thought floated into my dazed mind 'I have no idea where I'm going…'. I let my feet carry me onward.

When the mountains groaned with a cool breeze, the temperature dropping continuously, I was brought abruptly back to reality. I looked up to the dark sky, my breath coming out in steamy puffs, seeing nothing but the angry grayness that forewarned a large storm.

My first few minutes of freedom and it was about to storm…I prayed it wouldn't be too bad, but it was that time of year, and with the temperature dropping so much I knew my prayers would be hopeless.

I stopped and rubbed my arms to build up some heat, looking around for shelter. There was nothing. I sighed, a huge cloud of steam erupting from my mouth and pushed my feet towards the forest off to the side of the road. I knew where I was going in the back of my mind. I wasn't even sure it was still there, let alone standing, but I needed to see the temple desperately. I needed to know that world still existed. The world where I was me.

The treetops above sheltered me from the now-falling snow, and I began to recognize some of the scenery. The ground below my feet gave way to large boulders, little grass poking through, and began to slope upwards. I followed it for what seemed like forever, climbing up and over the boulders at what seemed like the end.

I panted and wiped away sweat, stopping to sit on a cold stone's surface. None of this looked familiar…Had I made a wrong turn somewhere?

I flicked snowflakes from my arm as they fell on my skin and shivered. I looked up to see the trees gone, left behind near the bottom of the slope. Fear crawled up my spine and I spun around in a panic, thought racing through my mind. Could there have been a landslide? Was I standing on top of the remains of the temple?

I jumped up and kicked some of the dirt away, thinking for some reason that there would be wood underneath my feet. There was only dirt. I rubbed my arms again and continued to climb up the rubble. There was a loud rumble from above and I cried out as the earth beneath me began to shift. I swayed and fell to one knee; something jagged jammed against it and sent a sharp pain up my leg. I slid down with the earth several feet and then stopped. I shakily stood up and shifted uncomfortably to my other leg.

I looked up to the sky again and snowflakes landed in my eyes. Things were turning out harder than I had thought. If I had a clear mind when I began, I wouldn't have come in the dead of night and during winter.

The wind blew again and I gasped at the blast of cold. My whole body trembled and my teeth chattered. The wind continued to blow, picking up and whisking my hair into my eyes to the point that it stung. Over the howl of the wind, I heard a faint creak of wood and looked up through my messy bangs.

I don't know how I saw it, but there it was. On a hill just ahead and off to the side of the landslide was the temple. The already-ruined eastern wing was now rubble in the landslide, but there was a solid path to the building.

I perked up some, my body still shivering, and stumbled up to my old home. Snow was beginning to stick to the ground and it made my footing even worse, but somehow my foot hit the earth of the old temple. As I neared, I frowned, stepping on dead vines and leaves, their crackles breaking the thick silence.

Sudden twinges of heartbreaking familiarity depressed me, but I forced myself to walk to the small piece of heaven. Hopefully the front doors were still intact. The building blocked the cold wind, but the snow had increased almost as though to replace it. I finally reached the front doors to find that one of them had collapsed as a result of the shifting earth.

I was thankful and yet disappointed. Most of the temple was still here, but it pained me to see it in this state. I forgot how numb my body was as I lay a hand on the old wood; I could feel all the memories warm my heart and I smiled. With a gentle push, I opened the door; dust and splinters rained down on me but I didn't care. Beyond me was almost complete darkness and the air was stale. The soft glow from outside cast little light, but as my eyes adjusted I could make out the Buddha Statue nearby.

Normally I would have come up with a safer solution, but the cold weather was beginning to take a toll and I was a little dazed at the moment. I entered and closed the door behind me. Everything was now overwhelmingly dark, but I knew my way around. Living here for so long was proving to be useful and I followed the left wall closely. Near the Buddha statue was the corner, and past that and down the hall was…

I reached the door to the room I had visited so many times before and held my breath as I lay a hand on the ricepaper. My numb fingers shook, though I wasn't sure why. Exhaling a heavy breath, I pulled back the door and gasped in surprise at what was inside.

It was as though the three years hadn't touched this place. From what I could see, the crates and boxes still piled to the ceiling and trash littered the corner to the far right under the window. Beneath the stale air I could make out his scent and I smiled.

I shivered as I closed the door and felt my way to the futon. On my way I tripped over something; I bent over to find a large cooking pot and an idea made my heart beat fast. I picked up and set the pot next to the futon and made my way to the crates. I felt for any loose boards and managed to pull up several jagged pieces and a regularly sized board. I examined the crates more for anything else to use to make a fire with and ended up finding a rock with my toe. It was in the trash pile- why, I still don't know.

I found old rags there as well, and gulped when I realized that they were the makeshift bandages that I had made from the kimonos he had given me.

I took my findings and placed them in the pot, except for the rock and the large board. I took out my aikuchi and began to strike the two together over the top of the mass of objects. Minutes passed before I got sparks and I blew on what landed on the rags. Smoke gently filled the room and a small blaze lit up my exhausted face. Once the fire hit the wood pieces, I had something to be proud of. I warmed my aching fingers and sheathed my aikuchi. Taking the big board in hand, I slammed it against the floor several times. There was a crack and it broke into several pieces of extra firewood.

I was tired beyond reason, but strangely happy. I lay down on the futon, not caring if it was dirty or not. How I had changed over the years…

I was so different from other women my age. I was almost 21, and yet I wasn't engaged, married, or even looking for a man. Technically I already had one, but things were difficult between us.

I sighed and pulled down my hair, placing my chopsticks and ties next to me on the other side of the futon along with my aikuchi and sandals. I checked on my fire to find it perfectly fine. I lie back down and shut my heavy lids.

For the first time in a long time, I felt peaceful.

A/N Well, there it is. We've taken our first step! Hope you guys liked it! I know it was kinda slow in some places, but I was trying to make it emotional and everything. On a lighter note, I'd like to personally thank everybody who presented all your wonderful ideas to me. I tried to work them into the story somehow, but if I didn't, I apologize. Some of them appear later on, so don't lose hope! XD Thank you all again- I can't say how much I appreciate all your reviews and ideas! (sniff) XD Okay, okay, I'm gonna get going before I make a fool of myself and/or make you guys sick. LOL Until next time! Review please!

And I'd give it all away

Just to have somewhere to go to

Give it all away

To have someone to come home to…