I hope you guys like this chapter! A special thanks to SK-fan7 for being my first reviewer! Another special thanks to everyone who favorited and put this story on story alerts!

SK-fan7: Sorry I took so long to update. Thanks for the compliment as well ^^ I hope this chapter is to your liking.


Human life is such a fragile thing. It takes only a second for it to be formed yet the same could be said for death. The worst thing about it is that it could be said that we only live to die. Our memories, our hard work, everything we've done is all for nothing. It will all be gone in an instant after all.

"Please help him!" She sobbed grabbing onto my tank top. Tears fell from her eyes rapidly, for a moment I even wondered if her tear ducts were endless. "I'll pay anything, just save my little boy!"

Yet for some strange reason, we still grasp onto with a death grip, that when the time comes we try to claw our way back up just for a more moments to live. Why? Why? Why fight for something when the end result is the same?

"Merith, stop there's nothing we can do." Her husband whispered to her brokenly, grabbing onto her shoulder.

I looked away from her and to the little boy laying on the bed lifelessly. His pale body contrasted greatly against his pure black hair stuck to his face, the stench of his death entrapping me. Above his body floated his soul, sad broken eyes staring at his parents. The eyes met with mine and for a moment it looked like a tear was shed.

"No, no!" She pushed him away from her, her hands grabbing my scarf now for me to look at her. The despair in her eyes reminded me so much of the others who I had met with before. The pain in them was no more and no less than the ones who I've seen break down when their most precious has left them.

"I'm begging you, bring back my little boy!" He voice croaked; a pair of pale seen through arms tried to hug her only for his body to fall through hers. His face showed a certain amount of pain and confusion before he tried to do it again.

"Johnny…"

"Momma? I'm still here!" He cried out waving his arms, unaware that he was floating. "Daddy why can't Momma hear me?"

"It's too late," I said gravely grabbing her trembling hands from my scarf, "I can't do anything but ensure his safe passage to the other side."

"Why didn't you do anything when you came here earlier?" She screamed as if I had just murdered him in front of her eyes. She pulled her hands back, weakly hitting me with her fists. "Bring him back to me!"

"B-But Momma I'm still here, see?" He made a face, but it fell when he realized she wasn't looking at him. Then a wail left his mouth. "Momma why aren't looking at me? Why are you telling that lady to bring me back when I'm here?"

"Please stop," I said softly grabbing her hands once more, "you're upsetting him."

"J-Johnny?"

I nodded in confirmation, looking over to her side. She followed my gaze, but where I saw a wailing boy trying to get his mother's attentions, she saw nothing but an empty room holding her son's dead body. Suddenly, she stood up straight, her hands falling out of my loose grip as she walked weakly over to where I was looking.

"J-Johnny sweetie?" She whispered, her husband looking over at here, before doing the same as she did. At the call of his name, Johnny stopped wailing and stared at his parents, his mouth ready to let out another cry.

"He's right in front of you." I supplied quietly trying carefully not to ruin their moment together.

Merith spread her arms open, and I knew that even though I couldn't see her face she was smiling through her tears. "Come give me a hug."

For a second his eyes and mine met mine and I nodded at him, which was all he needed before he flew at his mom. As if sensing he was there, her arms enclosed around his unseen spirit, her husband wrapping his arms around her. Together they cried as a family, knowing that their time together was finally gone from hands like water held in their hands.

Human life was indeed very fragile and it could be seen that we live only to die, but that isn't it. Rather we live to imprint ourselves into other's hearts so that way even though when we die our memories will be given back to the earth, they would be passed on by those who lived. We live for those times we had the greatest moments with everyone, and it's easy to see why one would want keep holding on. When we go, we realize everything we've done would disappear but to those we've imprinted ourselves in we'll still live on. It's not wrong to try to make the imprint deeper, we're just scared to be forgotten…at least that's how others may view it after all.

Human life, in my eyes, is rather fleeting in a way. Why not try to make the best of it after all. Well at least that's an opinion I don't act upon. After all when you know you're going to die, you hold it in and bare a strong face so as to not bother those who care about you. That way the burden wouldn't be as troubling to them, but it would be more on you. Such a thing, is a double-edged sword, hiding away your pain to lesson everyone else's burden, yet when you go you inflict more pain than what you had wanted from the beginning.

"Please take care of him." Merith whispered standing up alongside her husband. Johnny floated in between, his face showing that he didn't understand what was going on.

I looked over to my silent companion, nodding at him to show that I was ready. He pushed himself of the wall, his eyes showing no emotions. A small smile formed on my face, before I turned to look back at the family.

"Any last words Johnny?" I asked him sincerely. He looked up at me, at his parents and then at me.

"Why can't they see me and you can?"

"I possess a special gift."

"Like a hero?" His eyes sparkled with a large that made my smile become a bit bigger. He was too young to die. He was such a young naïve boy; to die at such a young age pains me.

"Something like that."

"T-Then do I have a gift too because momma and papa can't see me?"

The eagerness made me freeze for a moment. He still didn't understand his situation. He was just a child; of course he wouldn't realize what was going on.

"Johnny, will you come with me?" I asked carefully. His grin faltered. "I have to take you somewhere special."

"Can't momma and papa come too?"

A hand on my shoulder tore my attention off of the spirit, my eyes captured by my companions. His eyes bore into mine, telling me that I needed to hurry. His patience was already at its wits end. He hated what I did especially if it was for mere humans. I only smiled at him, turning my attention back to the boy.

"Not now Johnny. Where I'm taking you, you need a special invitation. But don't worry, your momma and papa will be invited later on."

"Do I have to go?" His lower jaw began to tremble and I knew he was going to cry again. My right hand gripped my knee as I bent down to pat his head. He stared up, tears that couldn't be shed in his eyes, but only he was unaware of that fact. I grinned at him.

"If you stay here your momma and papa will be very sad. They love you so much that they're letting you go. Don't worry, because before you know it, your momma and papa will be with you."

"Do I have to?"

"Johnny it's okay." His dad said strongly, with a slight waver in his voice. "Go and have fun. Your mom and I will be with you soon."

Johnny's jaw still trembled, threatening to let out a loud cry, but he nodded his head at his dad who could only stare at an empty place.

Merith turned to me and nodded, no longer trying to force a smile in the direction of where she hoped son was, but only showing a determination to not lose face again.

Without another word, I pulled the amulet, which hung on my skirt, off the loose strands of buckskin hanging onto it tickling my palm. I raised the blue green amulet to my face, sending mana to it. Soon it glowed, and I pressed a chaste kiss to it. The world then went black for a moment and then it was nothing. My eyes opened, my red hair sprayed around me as if it were in water. I let my body float for a moment, until I felt the intense killing intent I was used to feeling when I would dispatch my soul from my body.

"Another one? My dear child aren't you just becoming a great protégé for me."

"Hello Grim."

I stood upright, turning my body to face my spirit. His gray cloak floated aimlessly, his maniacal grin as always still formed on his face. His eyeless sockets bore into my eyes as let out a cackle.

"A child I see."

"Please let me go." I said already starting to float past him. He appeared in front of me, another cackle echoing in my ears.

"Not just yet. I need a taste you, you know. I need to see if my Rain has become even sweeter." Looking at his face, I knew I would never be able to tell what he was thinking. He did things that only benefited for him and him only. Letting him taste my soul would make things worse when I would return back to my body.

"Not this time, he's with me." I hissed, glaring at him. If anything his grin widened.

"Ah yes the shaman who hates humans. It would be bad if I were to taste you and everything would be worse than usual." He pause looking over to the passage I've been wanting to past. His head snapped over to me, his spirit engulfing me as he said, "All the more reason to do it."

"Grim don't –"

My plea was for nothing as his teeth dug into my soul. A soundless scream escaped my mouth, my eyes seeing black for a moment as an unlimited pain washed over me. In a second he let go of me, making a satisfied noise, the pain still holding onto me.

"Better than last time, but at this rate there'll be nothing to eat when you finally die, my dear Yoki." He turned away; leaving me floating in this nothingness will only pain to accompany me. Suddenly something flew straight at me, coming to a stop before it would pierce where my heart would be.

I was left only with his cackle echoing in my ears, and his scythe floating before me. I took a deep breath, burying the pain deep inside me as I grabbed the scythe and finally went through the passage I had targeted before.

A sigh escaped my lips. They say a near death experience increases your furyoko, yet it does nothing but only increase my pain and illness. What good is such a strong furyoko for me that the moment I would use it I would die. Exciting my body like that would kill me. It's a surprise that I have yet to die from ferrying souls. But the only reason for that is because of Grim, the true Angel of Death, who controls my life in his palm.

It was bright for a moment and then the room finally came into my view. I forced a smile when I heard Johnny gasp as he turned to me. I held out my free hand towards him saying, "Let's go home."

He looked back at me and then to his crying parents before shakily grabbing my hand. My smile became genuine as I patted his head and whispered, "Don't be scared."

I turned to look back at my companion who stared at me with an un-describing gaze, soon it became cold when he looked back at the parents.

"I'll be back, don't do anything please, Hao."

I knew he understood, and I knew he wasn't as foolish as to do anything stupid, but it was difficult for him when he watched as I wasted away my life to ferry the dead, especially when it came in regards to humans. One day, hopefully I could make him understand why I do the things I do, but until now his hatred will boil until it's ready to explode.

I brought down my scythe opening a rift between this world and the next. I looked down at Johnny who looked back up at me and nodded. His hand tightened around my own and together we went through the portal that would carry us to our destination.


"Thank you for everything." John said quietly to us, pressing a small bag into my hands. "I hope this covers all the trouble we given you."

I merely shook my head, turning to dig into my satchel that I carried with me when I went on missions like this. I pulled out some herbs, handing them to John.

"Ginseng to reduce any stress you may feel, Valerian to help with sleeping, and Lavender to be used as a fragrance to help with either if the other two don't work as well. Ginseng and Valerian can be both made into tea."

"I can't express my gratitude enough."

I shook my head and bid him good bye. I clutched onto Hao's cloak tightly making myself walk normal as we walked away from the grieving family. When we were finally away from the house's sight, I coughed up the blood I had been holding back. The copper taste coated my mouth as my legs gave out from under me.

"Stupid girl." Hao muttered catching me before I fell to the floor. He set me upright, before bending in front of me. I wrapped my hands tiredly around his neck, letting all my body weight fall on him. He gripped my knees, standing up effortlessly continuing our walk.

"Thank you for coming. I know how much you hate this." I whispered, my grip tightening when a wave of pain came over me.

"If I didn't come they would take advantage of you. They're humans; all they care about is themselves and who they have to step on for their own gain. You are no different; sacrificing yourself for such filthy creatures."

"You'll understand one day."

My eyes fluttered close as a gentle breeze passed by. I took a small breath, ignoring the stinging pain that vibrated all through my body. I wouldn't be like this if Grim hadn't tasted me. Usually I'm only feeling weak, but this is too much. He knew what would happen if he did it, and despite that he still tasted me. What a horrible spirit I have with me.

"You're too naïve when it comes to them."

"As you are too brutal."

"Just sleep. I know how much pain you are in right now. No need to overexert yourself anymore over our pointless fights."

I smiled, despite the pain, finally letting myself succumb to sleep.

When I would wake, I would as usual be in my bed, away from the other villagers. I would have the healers over me, once again letting them heal what could be healed and what couldn't. The village would more than likely be holding a feast like usual, the dancers dancing to a beat, making them seem like goddesses in the men's eyes. While I, I would stay here watching from a distance, envying them, wishing I could partake in such a thing, knowing better that if I were to, I would become even sicker.

Such a troublesome person I am. This is why I was left by my tribe, and yet this is this tribe keeps me. What is on Law to Meda is nothing in the eyes of Patch. I follow the Meda life, and yet I stick with Patch values. This could be why I try to strengthen up my stamina when no one is looking. Because when I was disregarded by one, I was accepted by another. The least I could do is be useful, though in the end I become a burden once more. Such a troublesome never ending vicious cycle, that has become my routine in my life with them.

Soon though it would end. Just like a pouring rain that sacrifices itself to give life to the world, I too sacrifice my own to help others, in the end however the rain would end and a beautiful rainbow. My death, rather wouldn't leave something as such, I'm afraid with the way things are going it would be nothing as pure as that.

Great Spirit, what am I to do?


Thanks guys for reading this chapter! Please review and tell me what you think! Ask any question and I'll try my best to answer it, and ask Yoki a question as well! See you guys next time!