I've finally overcome this writer block about Mara's past a few weeks ago. I already have the plot but I haven't type it down... yet. I will try to finish it before Wednesday. Thanks for reading


Chapter 8: Made Only To Be Broken

"I see you haven't finished torturing my cousin." Said Shiki to Mara as they walked towards the Great Hall, where Tentei was waiting for them. Mara could tell that Shiki was still upset over the death of Konzen Douiji.

"I'm sorry." Said Mara quietly, she was really sorry about Konzen's death. It wasn't any of those forced apology, she was truly sorry about it. She truly felt really bad about letting it happened to Konzen, she knew how much Shiki care about his cousin, thou Konzen never really gave a damn about Shiki. Mara could feel his questioning gaze towards her but she refused to look at him, she refused to look at those amethyst eyes. She knew if she took another glance at those eyes she would cry, the guilty feeling that was building inside her ever since she left the inn almost took control of her. It was the guilt that she held towards Konzen, Sanzo, and Shiki.

"Yeah right, like you mean it." Said Shiki with a snort, he wished to believe what Mara just said but he couldn't for some reason.

"I do mean it." Said Mara. "If I could save him back then, I would, if I should die in order to bring him back then I would."

"Then why are you putting him in danger?" Asked Shiki angrily, frustration was clear in his voice. Mara was near to tears, she knew that Shiki got a point, he was saying the right thing. "You put him in danger when he was Konzen Douiji, you guys were lucky enough that Tentei didn't found out about it and punished you both. Now you are putting him in danger. Again. As Genjo Sanzo."

Mara let out a heavy sigh. "I know. I was being selfish when I decided to let myself fall for him as Konzen, and I was selfish too when I decided to see him as his present self. Forgive me, I am a fool."

"If Tentei decided to kill him for this matter and let you live and suffer as a Toushin Taishi, I swear I will kill you myself." Said Shiki with gritted teeth. They have arrived on the door of the Great Hall. They both look at each other, Shiki had flaring anger in his eyes, while Mara was emotionless. Shiki couldn't read what was on her mind.

"If that happened, I will make you kill me." Said Mara with great confidence, she gave Shiki a smile, Shiki just sighed.

"You are weird." He said before he the door towards the Great Hall was opened for them, then Tentei's right hand man called their name and told them to come forth.

When they were walking towards Tentei, Mara could feel the cold stares from everyone in the room, it reminded her of the old days. When they got a few steps away from Tentei, both of them got to their knees and bow their heads.

"Mara, The Future Toushin Taishi," Called out Tentei.

"Yes, sir." Replied Mara obediently, she was laughing her head off in the back of her mind. She was always so obedient and polite in front of these shameful beings who gave her no respect. How ironic.

"Do you understand why you being summoned here today?"

"Yes, sir." And then Tentei started going about her heritage and how she had cause quite a commotion. Mara almost fell asleep when Tentei finally said his point.

"You will undergo a punishment to atone for your sin and then you will go to the west and stop the resurrection of Gyuu Mao. It will be your first duty as a Toushin Taishi."

"Yes, sir. And the ones that were assigned to journey there?"

"They will be dismissed. Kanzeon Bosatsu herself will bring the news to them."

Mara stole a quick glance to Kanzeon who was standing in the front row on her left side. Kanzeon looked frustrated and tired.

"Yes, sir."


"So, they went ruthless on your punishment I suppose?" Asked Kanzeon when she visited Mara's room later that day, Mara was sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, wearing a short sleeve and her usual pants, the bangs that usually covered her golden eye was cut up to the brow. She was full of bandages, everywhere but her head was bandaged.

"Mhm, have you talked to Sanzo and the others about the cancellation of their journey?" Asked Mara as she rested her head on the wall behind her, she closed her eyes when the pain shot up on her back.

"You seemed calm about it." Kanzeon took a seat on her bed, Mara opened her eyes and looked at Kanzeon emotionlessly.

"You aren't answering my question." The way Mara spoke right now, reminded Kanzeon of Sanzo. She raised a brow.

"You are beginning to sound a lot like Sanzo." Mara let out a sigh. She had very little patient that day and would be glad to beat the crap out of anyone who dare to work up her nerve.

"If you aren't going to answer my question, I suggest you get out from this room. I'm not in the mood to fool around." Said Mara as she opened her eyes and shot Kanzeon a cold stare.

"See, the way you speak, the words you chose, the way you looked at me. You act exactly like him." Mara threw Kanzeon a death glare, she was thinking about reaching her dagger and decorating Kanzeon's flawless skins with a few scratches and wounds, a few fatal wounds.

Kanzeon was going to push the matter further, but she changed her mind after she saw something flickering in her golden and grey eyes, pain and weariness broke thru that cold mask that Mara barricaded herself with ever since she arrived back on Tenkai. Kanzeon sighed and shot Mara a pitying look. After noticing the look that Kanzeon gave her just now, Mara gritted her teeth, she got up, ignoring the pain that was aching with her every move.

"They said that they are upset that Tentei pulled the plug on this journey just like that. I didn't get a chance to talk to Sanzo, he was asleep when I got there. They said that he was devastated that you left," Kanzeon gave a pause as Mara stood there unmoving, frozen on her way out. "they are all upset that you did left without saying goodbye to them, but he took it harder than the rest of the guys."

Mara felt a few tears slid down her face, she nodded and muttered a quiet thank you before she got out. Kanzeon sat still on Mara's bed, she was concerned on the well being of those two.

Broken hearts got mended when they got together in this relationship, mended hearts got broken again when one of them had to leave for the other's well being. Kanzeon wasn't thrilled when the thought that these two were made only to be broken entered her head, they were never meant to be by each other's side. Kanzeon sighed again and shook her head, she never felt so frustrated in her life before. She could only hope that she had enough mercy left for them, enough mercy to let them last a little longer. Just a little more mercy to let them enjoy their ending, the ending that was bound to be hard for the both of them. An ending where one of them was bound to face death.


Nee, I know that Toushin Taishi literary means prince of flame... or was it prince of war... either way, the title was meant for a male. So could you all forgive me for using that title on a female, please? Or you could just tell me the feminine version of the title... ;

Once again, thanks for reading.