Because of me getting sick for at least a week…I didn't have time to think of the chapter for a while! Plus because of that I was being a bit lazy to be honest, but now I'm much better and chapter ten is here at last! I've finally reached ten chapters in this fanfic! *claps*

A-hem…anyway, enjoy the chapter.

More and more as Dororo, Koyuki, and Yukiko traveled uphill on the small mountain; the more close they seemed to the dark clouds that loomed over their heads and over the peaks of the mountain tops where you'll probably be in the highest point of the world.

After admiring the view for a few moments, Dororo looked ahead again, where he could see Koyuki and Yukiko not very far ahead of him and were exchanging conversation and…even laughing a few times in between.

It seemed to the blue frog that the two girls that were in fact look-alikes seemed to be getting along quite well, which made him happy to see that his friend was actually smiling and laughing despite all that has happened.

Yet…there was something deep down in the frog that was faint, though still noticeable enough for him to realize that…made him almost sad in a way.

If they in fact overthrow Kazu—the supposed leader of the land—that would mean that Yukiko would be the rightful heir to claim leadership…and since Koyuki might even be her twin…it would mean that she'll probably have to stay and help her govern the land.

And of course Dororo would have to leave as his duty is to defend Earth…again yet…it seemed like his place was by Koyuki's side. It was like to him that he was tore between two of the biggest choices he had…Earth or Koyuki.

She…still has time to make her decision… Dororo tried to calm himself as he tried to push away the thoughts, even if for a little while.

It was then a sudden scream filled the cold air.

Immediately alert, Dororo ran to the two girls, where Yukiko was on the ground, looking shaken as she stared ahead; a look of horror in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Dororo questioned as he and the kunochi bent by the girl's side.

"Yukiko-san—," Koyuki began.

"It-it-it's the Uzuzacs!!" Yukiko screamed as she pointed a shaking finger ahead.

Looking in the direction she had pointed out, both the ninja tensed as they saw what exactly was the danger—two dark creatures that they had never seen before stood on all four of their long legs, only feet away, as their red eyes seemed to pierce through the air, while their drooling fangs hung from their gaping mouths where it looked like it just led into a dark abyss.

Reaching for their katanas, Dororo and Koyuki kept on their guard as they watched as the two creatures approach slowly, until, to the duo's surprise, the beings known as the Uzuzacs stopped in their tracks as they looked over both Koyuki and Yukiko and could almost see the baffled looks in their eyes.

"Wait…there are two princesses." the first one hissed in uttered confusion. "How do we know whether or not one of them may not decoys?"

"Simple…we just take both of them back." the second one snapped at the other, before they retook their positions, focused only on the trio again.

Yukiko shrank back more, Koyuki kept her ground trying to hide the obvious signs of fear in her eyes, while Dororo felt his hand tightened on the hilt of his katana.

"Please…you can't let them take me back…" Yukiko whispered fearfully to the two ninja. "If I was to be back in Kazu's hands…"

"Don't worry, Yukiko-san," Koyuki assured with small smile as she looked back at her. "We're ninja—we can handle just about everything."

"It's not too assuring when you say 'just about everything'." Yukiko murmured to herself, still fearing.

"Koyuki-dono…I don't wish for you to be in any danger." The blue ninja stated as he and the kunochi stood side-by-side.

"We've been through much more danger than this, Dororo!" Koyuki reminded with a small teasing grin.

"It's not just that…it's—," He began, before suddenly one of the Uzuzacs leaped at them, almost catching them off-guard as the ninja quickly dodged the creature as it tried to swipe at them with it's claws, while Koyuki had grabbed Yukiko out of the way with them.

"Yukiko-san! Get to safety now!" Koyuki urged the girl, who slowly got to her feet.

"P-Please be careful!" They could see the fear reflected through her blue eyes as she ran to cover by some trees only few yards away.

"You will not escape!" the second Uzuzac hissed angrily as it readied to make chase after the girl.

"You forgot about us!" Koyuki darted in the path of the Uzuzac, with a determined look on her face.

"Back down now, unless you want to be taken with injuries." the creature warned as he couched a bit, waiting to see what her next move might be.

"I don't think so!" Koyuki shouted, narrowing her eyes a bit.

Hissing, the Uzuzac pounced towards Koyuki, nearly hitting the kunochi with its claws, who had narrowly dodged it and inflicted a blow to one of the legs with her katana, causing it to shriek with both pain and anger as it began to retaliate.

Hearing his partner's shriek, the other Uzuzac facing Dororo had it's eyes flicker a bit as it showed it's dripping fangs to the alien frog, who winced at the alerting number of razor sharp rows of fangs.

"We are going to enjoy feasting on your body once we kill you." It stated as it approached Dororo slowly like a predator advancing on its prey.

Never have I seen such a horrific being… Dororo thought as he planned quickly on how he would counter when it attacks.

Like a beast, it jumped at Dororo and unable to move out of its path, the creature pinned the Keronian to the ground with all four legs as the head loomed directly above his, where it prepared the final attack.

Struggling greatly, Dororo tried to kick the Uzuzac off, but it was as though it didn't even feel the wimpy attack as it prepared to strike like a serpent with its head…

Only an inch from the Keronian's sweating face, another shriek filled the air that caused the Uzuzac to lift its head and look towards the source of the noise where they could see the other Uzuzac trying to block off the attacks from Koyuki, while two of its legs moved limply.

"Get over here!" the injured Uzuzac exclaimed, "I need help! You can finish the frog after!"

Hesitating at first, the Uzuzac that had Dororo in its very grip, turned its attention briefly on him, before grabbing his head with one of its claws, "I'll be back in a few moments." It stated, before throwing the defenseless frog across the snow, near where Yukiko took cover and rushing to aid his companion.

"Are you alright?" Yukiko asked concerned as she hurried to Dororo, helping him to his feet.

"I'm fine," Dororo assured quickly. "But right now, I need to help Koyuki-dono!"

"Oh no! Look!" Yukiko exclaimed, fear in her voice as she pointed where the Uzuzacs both surrounded Koyuki, cornering her.

As Dororo saw the events beginning to unfold, something hit him…there was something awfully familiar about this…

Horror began to fill him as he realized what exactly it was! The…dream he had! No! The Nightmare!

Just as Koyuki became more occupied with one of the Uzuzacs, blocking off its attacks, she was unable to see the other one moving in on her from behind, preparing for a strike with its claws.

"Koyuki-dono!" Dororo began to warn, "Behind you!!"

Hearing the warning and sensing the presence of the other Uzuzac, the kunochi had spun around to face the Uzuzac…but it was too late as it struck the last blow with its claw, straight into the girl's chest.

It seemed as time had just slowed for Dororo…he felt like his heart had stopped abruptly and the world all around him had completely shattered like a mirror broken as Koyuki fell limply to the ground as the Uzuzac pulled its claw free from her body.

He could hear Yukiko screaming in pure terror near by him…otherwise…he was unaware of nothing else.

As time began to resume once more…it was then that anger took over as his focus moved on the Uzuzac that mixed with his sadness as he picked up his katana…he didn't care about anything else at the moment…besides making the creatures pay...making them pay for killing one of the people who was most dear to him!

Charging at the Uzuzac, they seemed to be caught by surprise as they saw the frog suddenly coming towards them and before even they could reaction after that, Dororo had knocked both the creatures back so hard that they were sent a few feet back.

Just as the Keronian again readied another blow to them; one of the Uzuzacs struggling to get up, suddenly splat something from their mouth that hit Dororo and knocking him back into the snow. It seemed to be some white, sticky substance to him as he struggled to get it off him, only to realize that it was stuck on him as it immobilized his arms!

"Damn frog! You will die here and now!" one of the Uzuzac shouted as they both approached the stuck frog, ready to attack.

However, the attack never came as the Uzuzac suddenly stopped in their tracks as a blue light shined in another direction that caught their focus, while Dororo struggled to move to see where exactly the source was coming from.

Only a short distance from them, Yukiko stood there with a strange blue orb attached to a chain in her hand, the source of the strange light radiating from it as she held it up towards the Uzuzac; determination seen clearly on her face that did not flicker away for even a moment.

"Back, Uzuzac! Back!" she shouted loudly as she pushed the orb closer in the direction of the creatures that radiated even more than ever, flooding the area with blue lights, and causing the Uzuzacs to recoil in alarm, hissing.

"Back!" she shouted again, taking a couple steps closer and the creatures to take more steps back continuing to hiss like felines, holding the orb threatening in front of her to them. "Leave! NOW!"

It was then two small beams of blue light shot out of the orb and at the Uzuzac, striking them like lightning. After beginning to recover from the attack, the creatures threw one last looks at them, before they turned and fled, disappearing over a hill and gone.

After several long moments, Yukiko began to relax just as the light from the orb died down back to its normal dull state as she took a few breathers.

Dororo just stared at her after the events that had just happened in shock. What is that orb exactly? Why did the Uzuzac fear it?

Looking like she was remembering the frog, Yukiko rushed over to him and kneeled down to help the frog untangle himself from the sticky substance that seemed to have been easier to remove now. "Dororo-san! I hope you're not injured…"

"I'm fine! But what about Koyuki-dono?!" Dororo asked, alarmed, before he and Yukiko rushed to where Koyuki lied on the ground.

"I-Is she…?" Dororo began to ask, watching as Yukiko bent over Koyuki checking her injury.

Yukiko looked at Dororo and shook her head. "She's still alive…but with that injury, she won't last much longer."

"What do we do then?!" Dororo exclaimed as he looked around frantically for anything that might help his friend. "How will we be able to help her out here in the middle of no where?!"

It was then that Yukiko took out the same necklace again and placed it around Koyuki's neck and as she did, it seemed like they could hear her breathing more steadily, but it did not assure the frog by much.

Showing incredible strength, Yukiko had hoisted Koyuki over her back in a piggy-back way and bent over a bit, to prevent the kunochi from sliding off. "The village is only over a few more hills up ahead." she explained. "The necklace I gave her will prevent her injury from taking a toll on her…but not for very long. So we must hurry."

Dororo nodded. To him, he felt useless that he was unable to do anything to help assist Koyuki, he was though going to make sure that Koyuki would live…that was all that mattered.

"Come!" Yukiko then took off as fast as she could, with Koyuki slowing her down because of the extra weight, but was able to make good speed.

And soon after the blue frog followed closely behind, keeping Koyuki in his sight.

Please don't get mad at me Koyuki fans! I'm as much as a Koyuki fan as you fans are, but that's what happened in my dream and I didn't want to leave it out, since it serves an important part at the moment.

What will happen now? Will they get to the village in time? Will Koyuki survive? And will they ever get home? Find out next time! Hope you enjoyed and review please!