"Thanks for all your help."

"Don't worry about. Good Luck!" Matthew sighed as he walked out of the shop and headed back to the ship. The Trio had already left, saying something about going further up North. They had reached the port a couple of days ago, and were staying in order to repair the ship, stock up, and get information.

"Hey Matt!" Matthew turned to see Alfred running over. "Got any useful information?"

"Yes, I was headed back to the ship to tell Arthur. What about you?"

"I did too! Come on let's go before he gets more impatient than what he already is."

"Not our fault we have to repair the ship," Matthew sighed as they hurried to the ship. They spotted Arthur talking to Lydia (the ship's cook). They both waited until they finished talking and headed over to Arthur.

"Yo! Iggy! The hero has arrived with information!" Alfred exclaimed as he grinned at Arthur who looked at him, slightly startled.

"And here I thought you got out of the habit of saying that," Arthur said as he gave Alfred a bump on the head. "Did you two get any good information?"

"Yes, I managed to find out that the black ship is docked further up ahead. I even saw it myself," he added as Alfred and Arthur stared at him. "Someone told me that it arrived with a merchant ship. But that the merchant ship left already."

"They must be stocking up as well," Arthur said as he looked at Alfred. "And why are you so excited?"

"Because I found out that he does have your gun!" Now it was Matthew's turn to stare as he looked at his brother, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"How in the world did you find out that piece of information?" Arthur asked him.

"I was wandering around asking if anyone by any chance saw the captain or any of the crew of the ship. I found someone who did. Do you guys remember Vash?"

"Of course we do! He's the one that provides the guns and ammunition we don't take from others. What about him?"

"He told me that the captain of the… I think he said the ship's name is Tanchō… or something like that. Anyway he said the captain came to him and bought some ammunition for a gun that matches the description of the one father gave you! Plus he asked for a quick lesson on how to use it."

"Who does that bastard think he is!" Arthur growled as he looked at Matthew. "Did you find out when they plan to leave?"

"From what the person I found said they are leaving first thing tomorrow morning."

"Try to see if you can find anyone that knows where they are heading. We will leave two days after they do. I don't want him to notice we are following him until we are upon him."

"Yes, sir!" both twins said as they turned and headed back to continue their search.

APH

"Meimei! Kaoru! It's so good to have you back!" Yao exclaimed as he hugged his younger siblings after they had gotten of the Yù lóng.

"Nii-san, we missed you!" Meimei exclaimed as she hugged him back. "Why couldn't you have come with us?"

"I already told you. I was busy attending to very important matters. Honestly, you guys sometimes pick the worst timings to go on expeditions."

"Sorry, nii-san," Kaoru said with a sigh as he just stood there as Yao hugged him. "The others were leaving and we wanted to go as well."

"I understand. Now come, we have a lot of things to talk about."

Time Skip

"So how did the trip go?" Yao asked as they were all sitting on cushions around the small table in Yao's room.

"It was fantastic! Kiku-nii took us to up north so that we could see what it's like over there!"Meimei exclaimed. "The lands are so beautiful up north!"

"They are, but it's sad that they didn't take us to see what the Western lands look like," Kaoru calmly said as he sipped some of his tea.

"That part did suck," Meimei murmured as she ate one of the dumplings. "How's the little one doing Yao-nii?"

"He's doing fine. I have taken over some of his training as well."

"He hasn't slacked off?"

"No he hasn't. He's still determined to follow Kiku's footsteps," Yao replied with a smile as he looked at Meimei's expression. "Unlike the four of you, Im Yong Soo and Ha-Neul included, he actually attends all of his lessons."

"Kiku-nii really has a lot of influence over him," Meimei sighed as she munched on another dumpling.

"What do you expect? He raised him," Kaoru said as he got one as well. "And Meimei the food is for all of us not just you." Meimei shot him a look, but Kaoru just ignore her.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Meimei exclaimed as she got up. "Wait up; I need to get Yao-nii something." Yao and Kaoru just stared as she opened the sliding door and left. After a while they heard the running footsteps and she ran back in closing the door behind her.

"Here Yao-nii. Takashi made this for you," Meimei said as she sat back down and handed the blade to Yao. Yao took it and pulled the blade out of its sheath.

"It's a Jian," Yao murmured as he studied the blade. "Looks like he put a lot of effort into making this."

"I know, huh! Im Yong Soo-nii said that he was going to go visit him again before he returns. I think he said Takashi had some more weapons for us."

"Are you two planning to go out again?" Yao asked as he put the sword away.

"Not until Im Yong Soo-nii and Kiku-nii return," Kaoru replied as he put his tea cup down. "Why do you ask sensei?"

"Because if I am not busy when they return I will go with you guys on your next trip."

"Really! Yay! Thanks Yao-nii!" Meimei exclaimed as she got up and pounced on Yao. Kaoru just shook his head as Yao laughed and hugged Meimei back.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

The jian is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (17.7 to 31.5 inches) in length. The weight of an average sword of 70-centimeter (28-inch) blade-length would be in a range of approximately 700 to 900 grams (1.5 to 2 pounds). Taken from Wikipedia

Lydia: London