Oaaoo~n… There's not one review on the 9th chapter of the story? It's the most important chapter! Disappointing. Very disappointing. Ah well, I must continue on! ^^ -sigh- Still disappointed though. ~Youkai)

(Ps: this time I'm only doing an AC so I can catch up! Don't read if you don't normally read my Acs)

"Ugh! This is DISGUSTING! How do you humans take it? BLEAAAAHHH!" I whined like the brat I was.

"Shut up and eat your brussel sprouts. Come on, Rumia, we had a deal!" The missionary stood in front of me rather arrogantly, folding his arms.

"Says YOU! You've had to handle it all your life and I have had 90 years never to eat this crap. So you're prepared," I complained.

"Your logic is impeccable, but we still had a deal." I scowled after he said that and he gave me a look of mock sympathy. "Poor widdle youkai, do I have to force feed you? Here comes the airplaaane!" He pushed the spoon full of the disgusting blobs at my face. I reacted by biting his hand.

"AH! DAMMIT, THAT HURT!" He was groaning and holding his bloody hand. He was about to raise his good hand to give me a hard pound on the head but he stopped and instead face palmed.

"I'm sorry… I'm not supposed to hit girls. Why didn't you stop me?" He asked.

"I'm used to it. I always slap them afterward, but I decided that since you're my friend, and that you were already hurt, I'd let it slide," I responded casually. It wasn't a big deal. Who knows how many knots and bruises I had? It wouldn't matter.

"Listen, people who are hurt tend to lash out at others. It's a natural thing you shouldn't hold against them. But that doesn't mean you have to let them beat the crap out of you. You should definitely put a stop to it, because you can't let people abuse you."

"Sadly, I have to agree. But those words are gonna bite you in the ass. Right now!" I grinned evilly.

"What?"

"Because if I'm not supposed to let people abuse me, then you can't make me eat this awful crap! Why can't we go get some good food?"

He closed his eyes and sighed. "You're right. I'll be right back."

"Wait!" I cried. I didn't want to be left alone. I had lived alone all my life, and after being with people, I couldn't go back to it. I couldn't.

"What is it?" He turned his face toward mine.

"Can I come too?" I asked. "I'll be good this time, I promise."

"Oh, alright, you can come. Just be more careful! You're supposed to be dead, you know." He drapes a black cloak over me and pushes my bangs over my eyes.

He grabs my hand again and leads me to the village. I never do so much as turn my face to another person, but it all went bad anyway.

Because that kid recognized me. And when he did, he snitched. He snitched HARD. Screaming and yelling. I had never wanted to strangle someone so badly as I was tied to the pole along with my friend. I had recognized part of the crowd. A tall slender woman was trying to see the commotion, her red hair flowing. Her yellow eyes pierced into mine. She screamed, "Rumia! No, you guys don't understand! Stop! Stop!" Someone pushed her to the ground. "Back off lady, this is man's business!"

She screamed, "That's my Rumia! Put her down! Put her down!"

I screamed the name of my mentor as I was dragged away, all hope fleeing from my bloodstained hands.

"Rumia."

My eyes flutter open. I'm inside some sort of carriage. "H-hey… Did you have the same dream I did? Because it was totally weird, we got captured by some guys and—"

"Rumia, It's not a dream. So this is why I'm going to tell you everything I've wanted to tell you from day one." The boy looks at me, his eyes coldly locked into mine.

"The reason I tried so hard to help you is because… I always liked you. We used to play together, and when my parents found out, they took me far away. I'm glad that we had some, even if little, time together. This is goodbye right here… because I refuse to let you die!"

He swiftly opened the carriage door and threw me out. I was outside of a sobbing person's house. As the sobs grew, my strength left..