Taki couldn't say with any certainty exactly how her disease began. She battled countless enemies, and plenty of them were malfested. There was just no way to narrow it down.

Furthermore, as a direct result of the infection, she could not remember most of the events leading up to the end of her normal life, and the start of a new one. Nevertheless, she recounted as much detail as she could when she spoke to Natsu.

All she could remember was that she was on a quest that led her far from her homeland. She knew this only because it was Mitsurugi who was after her, and her lover had reminded her of everything.

"How could they have escaped?" Taki grumbled to Mitsurugi in an angry tone. Her fists curled up and she slammed the mattress beneath her. "After all the training I've done, how could this have happened? It's as if they could predict what I was about to do. Nobody can predict the future, Mitsurugi. How could that have happened? I feel so disgraceful. How can I ever return home?"

"Sometimes, the unexpected happens," Mitsurugi consoled his girlfriend.

"Don't try to make it acceptable," she warned.

"You need to quit being so emotional and regretful. Get over yourself," Mitsurugi rolled his eyes at Taki's pity. "Nobody cares. You're not going to win every battle."

"Why don't you be quiet and fight me?" Taki challenged, ignoring her scratches and bruises. Mitsurugi could tell she was out of it. He looked deep into her eyes, curious if she might have had a concussion from the battle. Her eyes appeared normal, only slightly pink but that was to be expected as she had exhausted herself. "What are you staring at?"

"Your soul," he answered.

"Haha. Fight me. Now," she demanded, standing up and looking down at him. She drew her blades and pointed one at Mitsurugi's face. "It's been a while, Mitsurugi."

"You're sure you're up for the challenge?" he accepted, drawing his own blade.

"Indeed," Taki confirmed before making new rules. She dropped her blades. "Let's go. Hand to hand this time."

He leaned over her built body, almost walking into her as he gained proximity. She seemed unbothered and only looked back up at him.

"Hand to hand?" he softly repeated as his hands met hers.

"I said fight me," she demanded as his lips approached hers, but he was rejected when she turned her head.

"You're in no condition to fight right now, Taki. That wouldn't be very honorable of me."

"Shut the Hell up. I'm fine," she argued as she shoved him away from her. When he approached her a second time, her arms extended outward to shove him away again. He returned with double the force as hers, but it still was not one hundred percent. Even so, she stumbled backward and went in for a full charge at Mitsurugi. He pretended not to even notice and stepped aside at the last moment. Taki went flying past him, and Mitsurugi captured her in his arms from behind. He threw her over his shoulder with ease, and she demanded, "Put me down right now!"

"And if I don't?" he teased as he began spinning her to make her dizzy.

Her hands rubbed down his back and latched on to his bottoms, pulling them up as high as she possibly could to get her way. Mitsurugi simply wouldn't have this; he leaned forward until her head was past his, and he roughly let her down on the floor. She laughed, and he knew she wasn't serious about fighting.

Even so, something seemed off. She seemed loopy. Like she didn't know where she was, or who she was with, despite making mention of the samurai's name and interacting in such a way that she would only act with him. She just seemed to have a lack of self-awareness. Or, maybe, she just gave herself up to him and abandoned reality.

She rose to her bottom and yanked on Mitsurugi's legs until he found the floor with her. When he landed on his back, she crawled on top of him but was quickly overpowered. She looked up at him helplessly but happily. Even though she had lost her wrestling match to Mitsurugi, she was not a disgrace. That was the effect he had on her.

That was how it always was between the two. Taki never beat herself up over her losses with Mitsurugi; this only served as motivation to train more. Every time the two had encountered, their battles were more intense than before. And whenever last time's loser became this battle's victor, the tables would turn. After so many battles, they had grown addicted to the rivalry. It was something to train for, and they always engaged in the hopes of winning two consecutive fights. They never gave up on each other. When there was nothing left to do, they would seek each other out for battle. It was a flawless strategy, but the results were the same nevertheless.

Little did they know then just how valuable they were to each other. It was a symbiotic relationship that the rivals had developed between each other. The fighting kept each other happy and well-trained for the sole purpose of fighting again. If one were to perish, most certainly so would the other. Both lived for these moments, and although it was not their intent, they grew to care deeply for one another as a result.

This went unnoticed until one day, victory almost fell into someone else's hands. A woman wielding a parasol sought revenge and engaged in battle with the samurai. It was a quick battle but most certainly would have ended in Mitsurugi's demise had it not been for a surprise savior, Taki. When he noticed the ninja, he knew he would die. Two against one were odds not in his favor. Setsuka, Taki quickly learned was the woman's name, was out for blood. Moreso than Taki ever wished from Mitsurugi, for the ninja personally had no grudge.

But Taki refused to let Setsuka have her way with Mitsurugi. The thought enraged her more than any battle she had endured against the samurai. He began to question their entire relationship when Taki actually fought to keep Setsuka away from the man. He soon dismissed this as simply Taki wanting the victory to herself. Mitsurugi would die by her blade, and her blade alone. His life was hers for the taking.

But when she defeated Setsuka, he realized this couldn't be true. She simply left.

"Where are you going? I'm not finished with you!" Mitsurugi called out to her. She said nothing, and he chased after her. He could have easily killed her on the spot, after turning weak from battling Setsuka. She had far more scars from her than he did. He told himself it would be unhonorable of him to do so, and he let her live in exchange. There was no way he would fight unfairly. If the two were to fight, it would be even and fair for the both of them. Neither would have an advantage over the other. Furthermore, she did just save his life. He couldn't possibly end hers now.

Taki only smiled at the samurai, which confused him greatly. She didn't know what to say, and he pressed for more details. It was obvious that Taki had experienced an epiphany upon defeating Setsuka, which resulted in a change of heart and attitude to her samurai nemesis.

"You could have killed me. Why didn't you kill me?" he seemed angry. "You didn't even try!"

"I don't want to kill you."

Mitsurugi was stumped. He was like a schoolboy being told by a girl that he is the object of her desire. It was strange to him. He was at a loss for words, but pulled her back by the hand and demanded to know the reasoning behind her actions.

"Why? You mean to tell me I've been trying to kill you for years, and you don't even have the decency to try to return the favor?"

She showed no fear in his restraint. Again, she only smiled sweetly.

"Why aren't you killing me right now?" Taki returned. Her question was laced with accusation. "It'd be a shame if you let me slip out of your grasp now, Mitsurugi. And, quite literally, I might add."

She could feel the sweat of his palm soak through her clothing, but he couldn't hold on to her for much longer. He let go of her by his own choice.

"It wouldn't be an even battle. I have a code to live by," he reminded her.

"You think that battle weakened me," she correctly accused, slightly offended.

"I owe you my life.."

"Mitsurugi ... if I choose to end your life, then it's over between us."

"What do you mean, it's over? Isn't that what we've been trying to do for ages?"

It was clear to Taki by his responses that he was on the same page, but stubborn as a man was, he would never admit to his feelings. He refused to kill her as well.

"I'm not weakened from that battle. And, you just let me go. So we're even. I still have my strength and you've already repaid your debt to me by not slaying me when you had the chance. If you battle me now, I promise you it will be a fair and even fight," she tempted him, but he did nothing and she smiled again. "It's clear to me that you aren't ready to end this, either. Do you want to know why I spared your life, Mitsurugi?"

"If I admit my curiosity, will you tell me?"

Taki approached Mitsurugi, unafraid. Her hand rested on his cheek and she spoke softly, as if the two had never battled each other to begin with. Her eyes met his, and it felt as if the two were deeply connected through this gaze. "If you die, I'll never get to fight you again."

She walked right on by and he simply allowed her the freedom to do so. He didn't try to stop her. When her back was turned, he didn't try to supress his own smile any longer. "I look forward to battling you again, Taki."

"I'll hurry back to you, Mitsurugi," she bid her farewell and couldn't contain her excitement. It was so embarassing that she smoke bombed her way out of the vicinity.

Mitsurugi anticipated his next battle with the ninja, but felt differently about it. Could he slay her after their encounter the day before? Did she really want to fight him? Or was that simply a plan to distract him from something more diabolical that she was prepared to do? He had to keep his guard up. She was a ninja, after all. He sat alone in silence with his thoughts uninterrupted until she appeared before him.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," the ninja greeted as she jumped in front of him with her blades ready. "Wanna go?"

The samurai simply stared her down, not knowing how to greet her. Could he truly fight her with the intentions of harming her? What took her so long?

Why did he focus so much on the time it took for her to get back to him?

His nemesis sure was beautiful when he could see her this closely.

"Before I fight you, tell me the truth," he said before even raising his sword to the ninja.

"Truth?" Taki seemed confused.

"Yes. Be honest. You said you didn't want to kill me because you enjoy fighting."

"I do enjoy it," she confessed. "Don't you?"

"That never stopped you from killing others," he pointed out without answering the question for himself.

"Nobody else was ever as good as you."

"Don't tell me you have a thing for me."

"The truth is, I admire you, Mitsurugi, and I am not ashamed to admit that. You truly are a worthy opponent."

"As are you," he accepted her confusing compliment and ignored the rest.

"But..." Taki went on as she paced around her nemesis, "... that's just the thing. I need you. If I had killed you, I wouldn't be as strong as I am today. I could have killed you years ago but if I had, who would have been my training partner?" She playfully shoved him as she made this comment. "It'd be such a waste to let go of good practice. Your life is quite valuable to me. If I let you die, I'd be hurting myself."

"So that's all I am to you? A training partner? Now I feel insulted," he complained.

"What are you going to do about it? Does it make you angry? Do you want to fight me?" she taunted.

"No, not today," he shot her down and smiled as the insult settled in on her face.

"Oh, I see. Because the reason I haven't killed you is the only thing stopping you from killing me," Taki realized. "I'm glad to know that the feeling is mutual. You've become stronger, too, Mitsurugi. Excellent work."

He finally caved. "You're right. We're a good team, Taki."

She sat next to him on the hillside and extended to her hand to him as she spoke. "I agree."

He shook her hand, which was a strange gesture for the two who have been at each other's throats for years. Electricity flowed through their veins, pumping them full of adrenaline at the other's touch. It was new and exciting. Before either one of them knew what was happening, Taki was on her back looking up at Mitsurugi, whose blade was pressed to her neck.

"Do it!" Taki challenged him, but instead he spoke.

"Get up and fight me."

She knocked the blade sideways with her own and jumped to her feet. She smiled sweetly at her opponent and walked past him, touching his shoulder with her hand as she walked by. "I thought you'd never ask."

Of course, they had their differences. What couple didn't? However with their nonstop, mutual feeding of competitive skill level combined with the confidence that neither would ever succeed in their own intentions, the rivalry between the two lost all meaning. It had become only a small trivial matter, shallow and insignificant. It became nothing more than an ongoing training session, and the two were dead even on every level.

The fighting became more intense between the two, and so did the tension during each encounter. It became harder to supress the growing affection that the samurai and ninja had for one another, and it seemed so did the possibility of easing this tension. If they could never be satisfied with their feelings toward each other, the best that either of them could receive from such a doomed situation was the satisfaction of battle.

They looked forward to each battle without letting on their feelings to the other. It pained them both tremendously, but in that pain they were able to achieve some sense of satisfaction.

Chaos broke out in a small village one evening. Taki heard someone declare the presence of Heishiro Mitsurugi, and she and the other Fuma clan ninjas raced out of the hideout for battle. How Taki's heart hummed with joy! Adrenaline swelled in her veins, choking her of this life's reality in exchange for a fantasy one. Her face was covered with a small mask, so nobody could detect her suspicious smile. She kept it to herself, and if given the chance, would only reveal it to Mitsurugi.

She didn't know what caused the chaos, so she didn't bother looking for a fight. She attacked only those who attacked her, and waited for someone special to play with. Not everyone else felt this way, though, and Taki was engaged in battle with someone of whom she knew nothing. This would serve only to stall her until he arrived. When he did, he swiftly rendered Taki's opponent unconsious with a blow to the head from the handle of his blade, then pointed the sharp end at Taki.

"I thought I'd never see you again," she greeted him after months without contact, and play fighting in public. Their previous rehearsals had paid off. Nobody suspected a thing, and they seemed out for each other's blood. Some was actually spilled, but as warriors, this was nothing to either of them. They both even had a bit of nerve damage and didn't notice some of the cuts.

"Did you miss me?"

"I'm mad at you," she told him in all honesty when her blood made contact with his skin.

"You can't stay mad at me, though," he figured.

"We'll see about that," she accepted his challenge as she nicked off a few strands of his perfect hair. "More strands for each time you blow me off."

"Hey, don't take it personally. We're not lovers," he reminded the ninja, who was speechless. "I'm not obligated to follow through with our plans if something else comes up."

"Would it kill you to keep your word with me?" she scolded as she grapple attacked the samurai and threw him to the ground.

"I never promised you anything. Also, that was a good throw. Keep up the good work."

"Thank you for practicing with me. And that doesn't change the fact that you've offended me."

Neither the samurai nor the ninja realized how they were drifting from the violence. They started out surrounded by everyone else, but ended up near the shadowy wall of an abandoned building barely within earshot of the others.

"Don't even act like you're mad," Mitsurugi commanded. "We're not even living up to the reason we're alive."

"Ooh, philosphophical. And what reason would that be?" Taki questioned, having been caught off guard by his remark, but staying true to their routine.

"Remember how we spared each other's lives for the sake of future battles? For the sake of self-improvement and honest practice? Look at us, Taki. We're not even fighting anymore."

"After all we've been through, Mitsurugi? You are no longer my enemy."

"After all we've been through?" he questioned her words, sidestepping her and cutting her arm with his sword. "What have we been through that has any meaning?"

"Quit being stubborn!" Taki demanded, paying no attention to the blood released from her body. She blocked and she sidestepped. She did everything she had rehearsed and suddenly realized that nobody else was in sight.

"Is that really what you want?" Mitsurugi questioned.

"I have no reason to lie to you. Don't you trust me?"

Mitsurugi wasn't following the routine anymore. Taki was thrown off. She charged when he should have parried, but instead he sidestepped, causing her to fall into the wall of the building. She spun around, cringing in pain from the small blow to her head, questioning why Mitsurugi would stray from the routine. Her question was answered when his body pressed to hers in a new, different way. He wasn't attacking her. He was expressing his emotions. His palms grabbed her face and he could see nothing on it but her eyes, which stared deeply into his own. His thumbs rubbed the top edge of the fabric before sliding up through the bottom. He unmasked her lips to introduce them to his. The battle cries from just down the street went completely ignored as Taki basked in the glory of the samurai's kiss.

They were certain the others could not see them. They were hidden in the shadows, much to Taki's liking. She reached out and wrapped her arms around the neck of Mitsurugi, whose hands tickled down her sides and eventually reached her bottom. He lifted her up onto a window ledge just a few inches to her left. The connection between them grew fiercer, sloppier, and more aggressive. It was almost possessive in their desires to have each other. He tasted her tongue for the first time, and when he did, her entire body squeezed him tightly. Her legs compressed his waist, supported by strong, masculine hands to the backs of her thighs. His lips wandered to her ear and her neck, and Taki looked up at the stars and smiled.

"This is by far the most enjoyable encounter I've had with you," Mitsurugi confessed, taking a moment to free his lips and breathe.

"Don't get used to it," Taki warned. "You know we can't be together like this."

"If we can't, then we'd better enjoy it now," Mitsurugi convinced her. She agreed not with words, but with an aggressive kiss, as if the embrace would be seized at any moment. If they suddenly found themselves in astral chaos, this would be the one thing she wanted to do before her world would fall apart.

She was at a loss for words. Tried as she might, she couldn't conjure up the words she wanted to say to him. From this point on, she would communicate only through her body, for she didn't know another way. There were only so many ways to describe emotion using words. Her hands slid down from Mitsurugi's neck and landed on the windowsill at her sides. She lifted herself up, supported by the samurai's hands, and pulled down on the fabric covering her most intimate areas.

"I'm ready," were the words her body spoke to the man, but were never heard from her voice. She felt his touch between her legs, and placed her hands back at her sides to allow him to assist in the removal of her clothing. She was exposed and soaked with excitement, begging for her former nemesis to take her. "Now. Before it's too late. I don't want to wait any longer."

Of course he was already stiff with anticipation. He fully agreed with Taki. Before it's too late.

He released himself into the chilly night air and pressed against her opening. She grabbed him and pulled her close, desperate for his cock to please her. The two maintained eye contact until he was completely sheathed inside her, and they shared light kisses as he backed out and went back in. Taki was already used to the sensation, but needed to be allowed more movement in order to get the full satisfaction out of it. Her legs tightly embraced Mitsurugi as she pulled herself up and away from the ledge. Using only her leg muscle, she lifted herself and let herself back down on to him. Her face rested on his shoulder, which she bit to muffle the sound of her own cries of pleasure.

"Ssshhh," Mitsurugi instructed her, slowing down to keep her interested and not draw attention. She would push herself and he would bring her back down, and he would lift her up and she would drop back down.

Are we really doing this? They both wondered. It seemed like only yesterday she had barely missed a vital organ, and he had fractured her bone with his blade. And only hours since she let on that she wished for him to remain alive. And only minutes since they considered themselves allies. And only seconds since they understood what the other really wanted - a romantic relationship. It was a daring move, indeed. It could only take a miracle to place one's life in the trust of someone who had attempted to take it on so many occasions. Even if that attempt was a great exaggeration.

But that was no longer the case, and neither had any regrets. Sweat poured from the both of them as he explored her body with continuous rhythms. Taki couldn't help herself anymore. She no longer tried to muffle her cries. In fact, she didn't care who heard, or who even saw for that matter. This was far too enjoyable to be taken down by an audience. Her high cries echoed in his ears, which only drove him to the same level of pleasure that she was experiencing.

He could tell she was close, and so was he. He held out for as long as he could, and the moment he felt her climax was the moment he let himself go. He shoved her back to the wall and continued thrusting into her, this time even faster than he had been doing. This surge of energy died out almost as quickly as it came, or as quickly as he came.

Moans and panting were the only sounds in the vicinity which the two could recognize. When he was sure it was over, he pulled out and set her back down, although she could barely stand. She seemed as though she had been drinking, she was so clumsy. He was the same. His arms wrapped around her body as the two stood against the wall, where they couldn't remain for much longer. Taki pulled her undergarments back up and she dropped to the ground, followed by Mitsurugi.

"We just did that..." Taki pointed out as if ecstatic from a drug high. She even giggled.

"Yeah. Wow. I didn't see that coming," Mitsurugi commented.

"Yes you did," Taki disagreed.

Mitsurugi didn't argue back, partially because he was too exhausted and partially because he had, in fact, thought about it before. Many times. He only rested his hand on her inner thigh as they caught their breaths.

"What now?" Taki asked after minutes had passed and the two were finally able to breathe regularly and speak clearly again. "We can't be together like this all the time, you know."

"I'll be with whoever I want to be with," Mitsurugi declared, invalidating any reason for Taki's repeated statement. She smiled.

It was the end of a rivalry, and the beginning of so much more. An alliance, a friendship, and eventually romance. She reflected on these events as she stared up at him from the floor, warming her heart with affection toward the man above her. She snapped back to reality, to the present time where she begged for a fight and got just that. Taki's legs fought to be free around Mitsurugi, but she found herself able to kick him away from her like a cat in danger. Somehow, to counter this brilliant move, he pushed her thighs to the floor and topped them with his own legs. When all she had left were her hands, he pinned them down as well. That was when she bit him. Her palms were restrained near her beautiful face, and she found his arm with ease.

"You fight dirty," Mitsurugi commented as he roughly forced her hands upon her own neck. "Give up?"

Her nails dug into his fingers and she let out a small, unrecognizable sound. Mitsurugi couldn't tell if it was a confession of defeat or if she was just grunting. "I..."

His skin burned with the excitement of her clawing, but he loved it. He raised his hands and hers just enough for her to be able to speak up, but it seemed she didn't want to once he let go. "Have something to say?"

"Yes." He stared at her as if hypnotizing her into spitting it out. "I love you."

He leaned toward her as if for a kiss, but instead only bit her lip. "I love you," he returned.

He was there for every victory, and every loss. He pushed her to better herself and gave her something to look forward to. He had looked out for the ninja unbeknownst to her, and despite the constant fighting, he was there to protect her.

There was only way to describe herself: his.

He began to convince himself that she wasn't out of it. She was only nervous. She had never spoken those words to him. She had never been more true in her entire life. She breathed in deeply, and he understood how worked up she was. He freed her, but she didn't escape his grasp or try to retaliate. She only nibbled on his skin, and as she did, his fingers started ripping away at the fishnet of her suit, exposing her skin more. His hands forced themselves underneath her thick body and lifted her as he stood up. Her legs wrapped around his as the two slammed against a wall. The ripped fishnet on Taki's suit pulled out of the seams that held the rest of it together, and soon there were countless rips on her clothing from the hands of Mitsurugi. This wasn't the first time. It also wasn't the first time Mitsurugi had bled from injuries Taki had caused. It wasn't much, but small drips of blood from Taki's scratches on his hand dripped to the floor. Some of it ended up on her clothing when his finger made itself at home between her legs.

Only Taki could support her weight in such an unusual manner. Her back was against the wooden wall, and she knew she'd get splinters but it wouldn't be the first time. It would only heighten her awareness. Her right leg lifted to Mitsurugi's shoulder, while her other remained on his hip. He pressed against her firmly enough that between holding her with his left hand and fingering her with his right, she wouldn't slip down. She yanked hard on his ponytail, and he smiled up at the ceiling when she did. She pulled him back to her face by the back of his neck. His forehead pressed against hers to even out the support as one of Taki's hands slid down to undo his pants. He was ready to go and didn't even wait.

Taki's eyes fiercely shut and her jaw dropped as he pushed into her. She was sandwiched tighter between the wall and her lover, and a moistened, masculine hand found its way to her cheek, where it stung.

"Look at me," he demanded, and rested his hand roughly on her neck. She obeyed him, and opened her eyes as he buried himself into her. After several repeated motions, he picked up the pace and began to steady himself within her. His spine shuddered as she sucked on his earlobe and started nibbling it. She could feel his goosebumps and she wanted more.

Her teeth grazed against his ear and she moaned into him. This pushed his lust to new limits and he slammed himself deeper into her, making her cry out in either pleasure or pain. He wasn't certain which one.

She was definitely winning this, though, if he was hurting her.

"Taki. Taki! Too far," he calmly told her as her teeth sunk into his cartilage. At first he enjoyed the playfulness. It was soft, like a kitten's nibble. It then progressed and she pulled away while attached. This was okay, too; his senses were heightened and the adrenaline served to build up his pain tolerance. Sometimes, he swore that she could stab him and he'd barely notice.

But this was different. Something was wrong. His ear stung, and he could feel blood dripping down his neck. The blood was not from direct penetration, but a result of her stretching his ear to the point where it cracked. She was literally ripping his ear from his face.

"Taki!" he shouted to her, "Ah, the Hell?!"

But still, she didn't stop.

It was obvious that he was in a lot of pain, more so than usual (especially considering the stabs and cut wounds from the ninja) as he pulled himself out of her and slapped her across the face again. But this time it wasn't for play. It was self-defense. They had gotten over trying to kill each other, or even bruises and cuts as battle scars. They had become more gentle with each other, so this was now unusual.

"Sorry I had to do that, but I wasn't playing around. Maybe ... we need a code?" he suggested, but she remained unresponsive. "Taki?"

She stood against the wall, slumped over and exposed through torn clothing. She seemed loopy still, and Mitsurugi's concerned thoughts resurfaced. He looked her in the eye, which was now completely red. It was no longer just a little pink from exhaustion. Each iris had lost its color and been replaced with a hue similar to that of blood. She rapidly approached him with arms extended, walking with an unusual gait.

"Taki! What are you- Taki!"

She jumped at his ear again, trying to pull him closer and nearly smothering him with her arms. Strange noises escaped her mouth as she tried to draw more blood, but he simply wouldn't allow it. He placed his already injured hand between his ear and Taki's mouth, and the other hand he used to grab on to her ponytail and force her to leave him alone.

She screamed, but it was unlike any scream of excitement, anger, pain, pleasure, or surprise that he had ever heard. He couldn't describe it. It just seemed wrong. It seemed beastly.

"Oh no," he realized. "I've heard of his before. Malfested... Taki, what happened to you?!"

She didn't hear him, only continued chasing after him. He managed to grab on to her ponytail again and slam her face-first toward the ground, where he remained above her the entire time she attempted to murder him.

She only learned of her malfestation after the episode had passed. She was confused, as if having awoken from a seizure. It was a gradual awakening, and the world around her still didn't feel real when she came to. Mitsurugi had claimed she was responsive, but she had no recollection. One thing was for sure, she was damn tired. In her awakening, it seemed as though she was underwater. Everything was blurry and out of touch with the real world that Taki knew, but she was breathing so she realized this couldn't have been the case. Mitsurugi's voice was the first thing she recognized.

"Uh," she sounded both disgusted and in pain as she gave away her first sign of awareness. It wasn't much, but the samurai heard in her tone the uncertainty about her situation. "What happened?"

She looked down at her torn clothing and questioned everything. She felt excessive drool on her chin and went to wipe it off with her bare hands. The limbs shook as they rose to her mouth, and she dried off. She cried when her hand caught something red - blood, when she finished.

"Hey, hey, you're okay, Taki," Mitsurugi's soothing voice told her.

"But I'm bleeding. Why am I bleeding?"

"That's mine. You're okay. Just a few scratches and bruises that were already there."

"You're ... talking ... too fast," the drowsy ninja got out eventually.

"You're not bleeding," he slowly told her. "That's mine. And you're going to be okay."

"What? Why are you bleeding?" her tone made it obvious that she was legitimately confused. She spoke in a higher pitch than usual, and with very little energy exerted from her lungs to make her voice resonate. She looked at him, noticing blood all over his face. the rest of him was fine, consisting of nothing more than bruises and a few old scratches, but these wounds were fresh. They shone and were still dripping.

"Taki, you're malfested."

"I'm what?"

"You're malfested!" he told her in a louder tone, anger resonating in his tone but not directed at Taki. He was angry at the person responsible for this, and if he ever could find this person's identity...

She pushed herself up off the ground, but only to quickly collapse the moment she stretched out her body in her stance. She clenched her stomach as it growled at her, and her eyes flinched shut momentarily. "Ow ... oh, my stomach. Mitsurugi! Help me! My stomach ... it's eating itself!"

"No it's not. You're just hungry."

"Ow!" she cried out again. "Help me..."