I AM BACK!!! After months of being tied up, I've finally managed to find some time to post the next chapter. I apologize for the long wait, and I hope to update more frequently as soon as college gets out (which is just three and a half weeks away). So, sorry for the wait and I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX, Rurouni Kenshin, or Way of the Samurai 2. They belong to the people who created them. I do, however, own my original characters.

Chapter 5: Amakaze

After walking around the town for hours, Michael finally arrived at Amakaze. 'Finally, I thought I'd never find this place.' He thought. During his trip to Amakaze, he lost sight of No Name and ended up wandering around the town, lost.

While he was wandering around, he had noticed a dead body in the middle of the road. What surprised him about this wasn't the fact that the body was there, though that was odd in and of itself, it was that the people just kept walking right by the body paying it no mind. Giving in to his curiosity, Michael stopped a passer-by to ask him about this.

"Excuse me sir, but why are these people ignoring that body?" he said, motioning to the body.

The man looked at the body, and lightly chuckled. "Hehe, you must not be from around here. You see, these days finding a body in the street is such a common occurrence that people aren't bothered by it anymore. Heck, even the children play by the bodies every now and then. It's all fun and games to them."

Michael was surprised by this and turned his eyes back to the body. A dog was now sniffing around the corpse and eventually, took a bit out of the corpse's ear. Disgusted at the site, Michael turned back to the man. "That's just..." He couldn't finish his sentence; the words to describe such an atrocity just didn't seem to come to his mind.

Noting the look of disgust, the man smiled sadly. "I agree, but there isn't much that can be done about it. Take my advice, though, stay off the streets at night unless you want to end up like him." He said, motioning to the body of which the dog was now starting on the corpse's nose.

Michael nodded. "I'll remember that." It was then that he realized he was still lost. "Hey, do you know where I can find Amakaze?"

The man smiled. "You're actually very close." He pointed over the roof tops. "You see that large red building?"

Michael turned to look where the man was pointing and noticed a tall red building in the distance. "Yeah, I see it."

"That's Amakaze."

Michael smiled and turned back to the man. "Ah, thanks. I've been wandering around for quite a while looking for it."

"You're welcome. I hope that you take my advice and enjoy your stay here."

Michael nodded. "I'll keep your advice in mind. Thanks, again." He said, and walked off in the direction of Amakaze.

That was just a few minutes ago. Now he had reached his destination. The place was very busy. People were moving around everywhere, talking in the streets, entering shops, exiting shops, selling wears, getting a drink; it was indeed a busy place. They had a store for almost everything from jewelry to groceries to masks. There were a few people though that, like himself, were foreigners. There were women dressed in big Victorian-style dresses carrying small umbrellas, or were they parasols, Michael could never tell, and men dressed in weird, yellow and black, French garb.

Turning his eyes away from the scene around him he looked straight ahead at the tall red building the man had pointed out to him earlier. Sure enough he spotted No Name right in front of the building. She was standing in front of a man and was drawing in the dirt. Michael decided to go see the two of them.

As soon as he got closer, No Name looked up from her drawing and noticed him. Dropping the stick she was using to draw in the dirt, she immediately ran over to Michael. The man who No Name was with turned to see who she was running to and saw Michael. He got up and approached Michael as well.

Now, Michael had a better look at the man. He wore a red and dark blue men's kimono with the top hanging from his waist and black pants. He also wore a red bandana that covered the top of his head. His hair was shoulder length, and stuck out from under the bandana. He also had a tattoo of some kind on his right shoulder. Michael also noticed that the man had two swords strapped to his left side.

After looking at Michael for a few seconds, realization crossed the man's face. "Ah, you're the one she was talking about. You gave her your rice balls after she collapsed from hunger, and then she fought off some thugs that were harassing you."

Michael was a bit taken aback by this and looked at No Name, who smiled innocently up at him. He couldn't help but chuckle. "Hehehe, I'm afraid you've got it backwards."

The man laughed. "Hahaha,Yeah, I thought that was a bit strange. Your version certainly makes more sense." He stopped for a moment to catch his breath, but he still had a dopy smile on his face. "You have to forgive me. There's only so much I can tell from this drawing."

"Yeah, I'd think so, but why didn't she just tell you what happened."

"I'm sure she would if she could. It's just that... well, she can't speak."

Michael was a bit surprised by this, but after thinking about it for a second he realized that it made sense. It explained why No Name didn't say anything to him after she helped him and after he helped her.

Michael spoke. "I see, so that's why you didn't say anything to me when we met." He said, looking at No name. She simply smiled and nodded.

Turning to look at No Name the man couldn't help but smile sadly. "Her drawings are the only way she can communicate with us. It's not too effective, but it's better than nothing." Turning away from No Name, he looked back at Michael. "Anyway, thank you for saving her." He said.

The man looked like he was thinking about what to say next when a surprised look crossed his face. "Oh right, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Danpachi. I work here at Amakaze." He said, extending his hand.

Michael smiled, and accepted his hand in a handshake. "Nice to meet you, Danpachi; I'm Michael Ornitier."

"Nice to meet you, Michael." After breaking off their physical contact Danpachi decided to probe Michael. "So, what brings you to Amahara? You don't seem to have anything in particular to do."

"I'm looking for my blood brother and my friend. I believe they're in the city somewhere."

"Ah, so that's why you're here. What do these friends of yours look like?"

"Well, Vivi, my blood brother, is about 5' 3" tall and wears a steepled hat and blue and white robes with green-stripped pants. He also carries a gold staff. As for Amarant, he's about 6' 2" tall and has red hair. Oh, and he also has blue skin."

Ann odd look crossed Danpachi's face. "Wait, did you just say blue skin?"

Michael couldn't stop himself from looking amuzed at the look on Danpachi's face. "Don't ask."

Danpachi wisely decided to leave it at that. "I won't. I haven't seen these people around town, but I'll keep a lookout for them."

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

"No problem, I only wish I could do a little more."

No Name's eyes suddenly let out and she let out a excited yelp as she pointed her finger at me, and then pointed at Amakaze.

Danpachi watched this with interest. "What's that… you want to have Michael stay here?" No name smiled and nodded. Danpachi looked uncertain. "Now just a minute; this isn't a stray dog or cat we're talking about."

"Danpachi, has she come back yet?" Said a feminine voice to Michael's left.

Michael turned, and saw a young woman with shoulder length black hair and brown eyes. She wore a red kimono with floral designs and a headdress. She also had white foundation on her face as well as red lipstick. Michael could tell by the way the woman held herself that she was a woman of authority and was not to be taken lightly.

Danpachi turned to the woman. "Yes, she's back, and with a stray samurai, no less."

The woman looked at No Name. "Have you finished your errands?"

No Name shook her head.

An annoyed look crossed the woman's face and she narrowed her eyes. "Then go and get them done! You're supposed to pick up some medicine from Dr. Genan, aren't you?"

No Name nodded.

"Then hurry up and do it! What are you doing just standing there?"

Michael decided to stay silent during this exchange as he had a feeling that jumping into this discussion probably wouldn't do anyone any good and decided to wisely see how things would play out.

It wasn't long before Danpachi interceded on No Name's behalf. "Wait, Maikaze, she's just hungry. She gave her lunch away again."

Maikaze turned her icy gaze on Danpachi. "What are you saying? Running errands is her job and she knows that. We don't have room for useless loafers around here!" she turned back to No Name and seeing that she still hadn't moved sighed in irritation. "Well, get going."

No Name looked down at the ground and ran off to do her errands.

Mikaze turned to Michael. "And don't think that you can stay here for free, either. That's not going to happen." Before Michael could respond, Maikaze turned and walked back into Amakaze.

Danpachi turned to Michael. "Sorry about her. She can be a bit harsh, but she is right. However, you did save the child's life, so I'll prepare a room for you. Though, I'll have to set you to work as a bodyguard. If you don't work, you don't eat. That's the rule around here."

Michael decided that this sounded fair. "That's fine with me, just as long as I can still have time to look for my friends."

"Sure, that can be arranged." He looked around him and then leaned in closer to Michael to whisper in his ear. "Listen, while I'm getting your room ready, why don't you go see how the girl is doing. Maikaze won't admit it, but she can't concentrate when No Name isn't around. Despite Maikaze's hard exterior, she's still a nice woman."

Michael nodded. "Sure, I'll go check on No Name. Where's Dr. Genan's place?"

"His clinic is at the edge of town. That's Northwest of here. I'll get you a map so that you can find your way around." He said, as he walked back into Amakaze to get a map.

While he was gone, Michael looked around at the bustling town knowing, or rather hoping, that Vivi and Amarant were somewhere in the city. 'I hope Vivi and Amarant are okay. Well, at least I know they can take care of themselves, so that's comforting. Besides, I'll find them eventually. Or maybe they'll find me. I guess only time will tell.' He thought, as he turned his eyes up to the sky. It was at that moment that a rave flew up into the sky. 'Black wings… an ill omen.' He thought, as he turned his eyes back to the shops.

After a few minutes, Danpachi walked out of Amakaze with a map in hand and handed it over to Michael. He opened the map and tried to find where he was at the moment. Seeing what Micahel was trying to find, Danpachi pointed out their current location and then he pointed to where Dr. Genan's place was.

Now knowing where he had to go, Michael rolled up the map. "Thanks, Danpachi. I'll be back with the girl."

"I don't doubt that." He said looking down at the two swords strapped to Michael's side. "So, you use two swords as well?"

Michael who had just turned to looked back at Danpachi. "What?"

Danpachi pointed at his swords. "Those swords, do you use two swords?"

"No, I only use one at a time."

Danpachi shook his head in mock annoyance. "Why are you limiting yourself? Never mind, that doesn't matter. Would you like me to show you how to use both of them at once?"

Michael thought about this for a moment. Well it wouldn't hurt to know how to use both of them at once. So I guess there's no harm in trying, but I'd better go see how No Name is doing before I do anything. "Sure, I'd love to learn how to use two swords at once, but I better get No Name first."

"Yeah, you better get going." Danpachi turned to go back into the inn when a last minute thought entered his mind. He quickly spun around and saw that Michael was just about to leave. Before he could get too far Danpachi yelled out "Oh, one more thing, Dr. Genan hates samurai! So don't expect him to greet you warmly!"

Michael looked back over his shoulder. Well that's a nice to know. "I'll be alright! I'll see you later, Danpachi!"

Michael finally departed from Amakaze and made his way to the edge of town.