I was running through a field, gasping for breath. Sharp sedges cut at my legs and feet as I charged through the thick underbrush.

The Spider was following slowly, his walking pace somehow keeping up with my adrenaline-charged escape. I could hear the rough edges of his clothing pulling against the underbrush like hand pulling me backwards.

Wouldn't you like to know who you are?

The sedges around me morphed into spider-silk; the strands stuck to me with gossamer weight, accumulating into a sticky, cumbersome mass around my legs. I swatted them away as much as I could, but the threads were everywhere.

I looked back at the Spider, and instantly regretted it. His black eyes were swallowing my soul, and his smile expanded further than anatomy should allow, revealing a mouth full of shark-like teeth. He morphed into a Lion – gargantuan, golden, and growling – and swiftly covered the distance between us. Just as I could feel his teeth closing around my throat-

I woke up.

This waking was violent.

This waking threw me out of bed, drenched in sweat, crying out. I didn't have far to fall, being a futon on the floor, but it was still jarring. The heavy blankets were wrapped tightly around my body, padding the fall slightly. I swore loudly, fighting off their hot embrace.

My chest heaved as I lay face-down on the floor trying to calm down. It had been a long time since I had a nightmare that intense, and it had never left me feeling personally assaulted. It felt like he was going to emerge from the shadows at any moment and drag me back into the darkness.

I kind of wanted to throw up. I wanted to remake myself in a shape that the Spider wouldn't recognize. I wanted to hide in the corner. I wanted to be invisible.

I sighed deeply, steadying the trembling of my hand, and pushed myself off of the floor.

I peeled my nightclothes off and threw them into the corner with the rest of my dirty clothes. I really needed to do laundry – I was down to a single shirt and a pair of shorts that weren't entirely decent. To be fair, I had owned them since I was barely a teenager, and while I had always been of sturdy stock my legs had lengthened considerably as I grew up.

I gathered up the pile of clothes as best I could – there's always a stray sock that gets forgotten – and wandered off in search of Genkai's laundry facilities. I clunk-clunk-clunked down the hallways in my boot until I found the correct room, tucked down the end of a small hallway. I dumped my laundry in the washer and poured detergent into the correct slot with very little review.

I punched the buttons with a sort of malice and leaned heavily against the far wall as the machine rumbled to life. I listened to the water pump kick in and another set of memories washed over me.

The crashing waves and salty spray made a deep, rumbling bass of energy followed by the high keen of accompanying retreat. I heard the high call of a bird in reply, and the ocean roared louder. It was a beautiful unintentional call and answer made into symphonic music.

"Have you remembered anymore about the Spider?" Genkai interrupted my relapse into the odd dream, and I started a little, slipping off of the wall.

I didn't have the willpower to be sassy that morning. "I don't remember anything new that I think will be particularly helpful. He was filthy – like he hadn't left the cave in a while." The vivid nature of my nightmare was threatening to rise against the walls of my Will. I had been having such vivid dreams since coming to the Temple.

"What did he know about you? Any of the others?" Genkai turned and walked out of the small room. I assumed I was meant to follow. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk, went the boot.

"He knew me as Tkadlec, which should be impossible." Something else dawned on me. "He – he spoke in Czech, for a minute."

Genkai stopped, turned, and raised an eyebrow. "That could be significant. Why didn't you mention that before?"

I flushed in embarrassment and barked back at Genkai. "A lot happened! You can't blame me for forgetting one tiny thing."

"It's not tiny. Are there any estranged family lines that you know of?"

I shook my head. "I got a quick look at the Line, before…" Before all Nine Hells broke loose. "It's been a while since I met with my cousins, but I think someone would have mentioned him."

Genkai frowned, humming thoughtfully to herself. "You need to look more carefully at the Line. And review the Tale as well – there may be clues there."

"There's no Spider in the Tale – I would have remembered that."

Genkai waved off my objection. "The Tale, as it is preserved in the Spirit World records, would be the original version. Yours has the misfortune of being passed down more than a handful of times. There's no telling how much has changed, even accidentally, over the years." She continued her advance down the hall and we entered her modest sitting room. She sat down easily at the low table, and gestured for me to do the same. It was almost – almost – like a real invitation.

I paled. "I'm not going back through that Portal," I declared. Clunk. Clunk-clunk. I grimaced; it was impossible to move silently in the damn boot, let alone ease one's self down onto the floor.

She glanced down at my boot, easily visible as it stuck out from the side of the low table. "No, I suppose you aren't." Genkai tapped a finger against the table, keeping time with an inner thought process. "I'll see what I can do about getting the documents transported here." She shot me an appraising look. "Maybe a translator as well. If your reading comprehension is as shitty as your verbal aptitude, there's no telling what you'll miss."

"Genkai," I asked with trepidation, "what do you know about the Totems?"

"Weavers are notoriously secretive, so I know less than you."

I nodded. "I just know the words – 'three things you will need to Weave the World', but…" I hesitated. "I think maybe it would be useful to know more what they are."

Genkai didn't speak. She stared at me with a passive expression.

I laughed spitefully at myself. "I know I've been… resistant. But I think that maybe it would be alright to just get a better understanding of what's going on." I glanced down at my boot. "Knowledge alone can't do any damage."

Genkai stayed silent – her body was tense and her lips tightly pressed together. The silence sang tightly in the air, interrupted staccato by birdsong filtering through the thin walls. The old master looked like she was forcing herself to be silent thought it caused her physical pain.

"Master Genkai?" I asked in an attempt to break her from her inner turmoil.

"Knowledge can be lethal," Genkai's tongue was sharp as knives. She sounded bitter, angry, and remorseful all at once.

"Do you think I shouldn't try to learn about the Totems…?" I tried to clarify, confused.

She all but growled under her breath, swearing. "I think you should know what you're starting. Don't get me wrong – I want you to learn it all and be a legendary Tkadlec, but I don't want you to be naïve about it."

I thought about it, and nodded. "I appreciate that – thank you for being honest with me."

Genkai grunted, and changed the subject. I suppose gratitude made her uncomfortable. "You won't be good for anything for a few weeks," she commented, glancing again at the boot. I tried not to take it personally - I was essentially a squatter at the Temple. "Call that fool Kuwabara – he forgot to bring my tea yesterday."

I loathed talking on the phone. "But I-" Genkai pointed forcefully at the phone as she left. No room for argument.

I glared at the phone.

It didn't seem to care.

It took a few tries to get up from the table and retrieve the ancient 1990's-era cordless phone from the accent table in the corner. I picked up the phone hesitantly, as thought it might bite me. It did not.

This is stupid, I chided myself. It's just a phone call.

Genkai kept a few important phone numbers on a little index card next to the phone, and Kuwabara's was third from the top. I punched in the numbers scribbled on the little card, and listened to the phone ring.

"Kuwabara household," His voice was a little cracklier over the phone, but it was recognizable.

"Ah, hello – it's Ju- ah, Novak." I really needed to get a handle on the name order situation. It was starting to become embarrassing that I couldn't properly introduce myself.

"Novak!" He sounded surprised that I was calling – not for no reason. "Is something wrong? Is Genkai okay? Did you hurt your foot more?"

I flapped my hand a little – couldn't help myself, even though he couldn't see it. "No, no – Genkai asked me to call. You forgot-"

Kazuma interrupted before I could finish. "Oh no! I totally forgot her tea!"

I laughed, I couldn't help it. "Ah, yes. When are you coming by again?"

I could hear a rustling of paper. "I have an interview tomorrow afternoon, but I can come by right after?"

"It should be okay – there is still a lot of food hiding around. We won't starve."

"Tell her I'm really sorry, okay?"

"I will," I promised.

"You should stay inside tomorrow – it's gonna rain and I don't think that boot is waterproof."

"I will," I repeated the promise, smiling a little. "Good luck with your interview!"

There was a pause on the line. "Thanks! I gotta go, ok?"

"Ok, see you." I couldn't resist the smile spreading wider on my face, as even after the goodbyes Kazuma didn't hang up. He seemed to be waiting, just in case. Several long moments later, I heard the 'click' as we were disconnected. Good old household phones – always a satisfying end to a line.

"Kuwabara's coming tomorrow," I announced, knowing that Genkai was probably still within earshot.

Genkai grunted – a confirmation that she had heard me, and that she was definitely a stereotypical nosy old broad.

I clunk-clunked in the direction her grunt had come from and found her in the kitchen. "Is there anything I can do today to help around the Temple?"

She grunted a no grunt. There's a distinct sound – just trust me. "Just keep out from underfoot."

I nodded. "Wouldn't want you to sprain an ankle stepping on me." She glared at me. I deserved it.

A/N: Hello, friends! My apologies that this chapter took so long (as always) and isn't very long. For one, it's basically ALL exposition, which I loathe. Second, I started working on yet another fanfiction… I'm so sorry. I had this great idea for a story and just had to start working on it! If you're a Captain America fan you'll be excited – I've been writing down some major plot points and I'm already at 4k words! Keep an eye out sometime in the near-ish future for my next new Fic – "Who is Alice Shaw?"

On another note – is there any interest in seeing my photo references? I have reference pictures for all of my major characters, Aria, Maggie, June, Mishka, Yasuo, and the Spider! If you are interested, hit me up and I'll see about making an Imgur or something.

Many thanks to my reviewers: SpiffyPixie1, Black Firelight, Guest, roseeyes, Sanguinary Tide, MoonFox940, and Sam!

PLEASE REVIEW!