Yay, I'm finally back! And uh yeah, I finally finished this, and I'm BARELY starting 22. ;;; I have a real bad case of writer's block, but you see how I push myself to give you guys what you want!

It was Taifu, but he looked different. Maybe it was those markings glowing red on his body, and the fact that his eyes were dull. His blue outfit had been traded for black, now he looked like what his profession was.

Someone suddenly stepped out of the shadows, and Taifu kneeled down before him. Kitty's eyes widened as she saw who it was.

Ch 21: The Knife of Betrayal

She couldn't believe it. She'd thought Taifu had been her friend, she'd trusted him. She had never really shown that she trusted him, but she had thought he had known.

The knife of betrayal always stabs deep.

Twisting and winding into your heart.

She felt something. In her heart. A feeling she'd felt once before…three years ago. Betrayal.

It sinks itself into the very core of your heart.

And continues to let the pain grow.

The pain will always be fresh,

And shall never smolder but always kindle a new.

She watched, feeling the stab in her chest only grow as she watched them converse. The pain only grew as she began to listen to what they said.

Can't you see you're hurting me?

The knife of betrayal always does.

I know I've felt this before…

That's why it seems so familiar…

"Did you get anything?" The former leader of the Kamisori no Ha asked Taifu, he was always covered in shadow, even when he was in the light. His face and body always enveloped by black.

Taifu shook his head. "Forgive me, I did not. I assure you master, I shall do all in my power to find out her weakness, so we can destroy her." He said, clenching his hand into a fist.

I can feel myself fading

As I watch you continue to hurt me.

It hurts…so much…

You would never know this pain.

Kitty couldn't bear to hear anymore, even though they had only begun to speak. She turned and ran off, even in her haste still being silent as her paws hit the dirt. Yoko hurriedly ran after her, his paws not making a sound as he pursued her.

Stop it!

It hurts!

Can't you see what you're doing to me?

…You want to kill me, don't you?

A tear trickled down from Kitty's eye, dripping down her fur and plopping onto a leaf as she passed it. The small droplet of water slithered down the leaf, to its pointy end, and dripped onto the earth.

You shouldn't bother to kill me…

You already are…

The knife in my back is making sure of that…

She burst through the bushes, and saw a cliff. She tried to stop, her paws skidding on the earth as she attempted to stop. She stopped right at the edge, her gaze down to the hundred feet drop below, into the raging river below.

Do I let myself die by your betrayal?

Or do I just let my feet take me to my doom?

Yoko jumped through the bushes and landed behind her, panting from having to run so hard in such a short time. "Kitty…Don't do it…It's not worth it." He said, taking a tentative step towards her.

I don't know what to do anymore.

Help me…

Save me from the knife of betrayal…

She closed her eyes, and allowed her body to go limp.

"No!" Yoko cried, and jumped forward, his teeth closing on thin air as her body fell. He looked over the edge of the cliff, and saw her body hit the water, before being swept under by the fast current.

Let the river of pain lead me to my sanctuary.

Let it take me to where I won't know pain.

To where I won't…be betrayed.

The rushing water pulled Kitty beneath the surface, and she shifted back to her humanoid form, tumbling in the fast current. The air in her lungs was quickly vanishing.

This is my fate…

Isn't it?

She opened her eyes beneath the water. If she hadn't already been in water, tears would be rolling down her cheeks.

Her life flashed before her eyes. That's when she realized something as she watched her life play over.

It's not? But then…

There's something more, you say?

What more can there be?

'Hiei…Evee…Yoko…What am I doing?' She asked herself. 'I'm throwing my life away for someone who barely knew me…and who I barely knew.'

She nearly laughed, if she could. 'Taifu…he may have been my friend…but…he never actually knew the real me…Hiei, Evee, and now even Yoko, they're my real…friends…Evee's my sister, and…Hiei…he's like the brother I never had. I can't believe I'm being so stupid. I don't need Taifu…All I really need…is them.'

Yes, so much more.

I won't let you take it…

I won't allow you to take my life from me.

My friends are still here,

I still have them.

I don't need you.

With a sudden burst of energy, she began to swim up to the surface, and broke through it, taking in air. She coughed, and looked around for a second, before she tried to make it towards the shore. She never saw it coming.

With a loud cracking sound, she was forcefully slammed against a rock, and lost consciousness.

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Yoko had tried to go after her, but he knew he'd be outdone by the speed of the current. He snarled and raced back to where Hiei and Evee were. It didn't take long to reach them.

Hiei stopped, seeing Yoko running up to them. "What's wrong?" He asked instantly. Evee peeked around from behind him.

'It's Kitty. She just jumped off the cliff into the river! We have to try to find her somewhere downstream!' Yoko said through the mind link Hiei had opened. Hiei's eyes went wide, and he instantly ran off to where Yoko had come from, Yoko at his heels. Evee looked bewildered for a moment, before she too ran after them, seeing this was urgent.

They stopped as they found Hiei at the cliff, staring down it with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Hiei…what's going on?" Evee asked gently, confusion written all over her face. Yoko looked down, his silver/white-ish fur shining in the sunlight.

"We have to go find her." Hiei looked up, and he suddenly vanished, reappearing down on one of the rocks in the river, before jumping onto the next, keeping pace with the current.

Evee and Yoko quickly followed, running down towards the cliff, and jumping down onto the forest beside the river. Evee looked towards Yoko, who had shifted back to his humanoid form. "Yoko…what's going on?" She asked. Yoko turned his head towards her.

"It's Kitty…" He said gently; her eyes widened and she quickly picked up her pace.

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With a groan, Kitty opened her eyes. Water splashed up onto her face, causing her to cough and spit it out. She moved her head up, and looked around. She was hooked on a log, the water rushing around her.

She tried to move her arms, but cried out at the searing pain caused in her back.

"Kitty!"

She opened her eyes, and looked up as Hiei flew over towards her, landing on the bank beside her. She tried to call out to him, but only managed a weak cry as searing pain shot throughout her back again.

Hiei waded towards her, using the log to keep him steady, and reached out a hand towards her. He expected her to take his hand, but she didn't move. He frowned a bit, looking into her eyes.

'Hiei…I can't move…My back…hurts…' She told him telepathically, wincing slightly as another wave hit her. His eyes widened slightly, before he came towards her, and picked her up gently. She cried out still, and bit her lip to keep from screaming as he waded back to shore.

Evee burst out from the bushes, followed by Yoko. "Kitty, are you ok?" She quickly asked, coming over to her and Hiei. She merely shook her head slightly, another wave of pain surging up her spine.

She winced, and her eyes flashed black for a second. Evee glanced up at Hiei, her eyes showing her worry, before they both nodded and ran off towards the nearest resting place, Yoko's home.

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"I can heal her, Hiei," Evee gingerly placed her hands on Kitty's chest. The moment they came into contact, her hands glowed a light blue. Several seconds passed, and no one said anything as they watched Evee.

The glow subsided, and Evee removed her hands. "There…She'll be all better now." She said, smiling weakly. Both Hiei and Yoko released the breath they hadn't known they'd been holding.

Hiei turned to look at Yoko. "Why…did she do that anyway?" He asked. Yoko looked at him for a second, before turning his gaze away. "Let's just say it was the knife of betrayal that made her do it." He said.

Next chapter: Ch 22: Training?

It was MURDER figuring out what to call chapter 22, and yet I'm still unsatisfied. GAAHHH! IDEAS are MUCH appreaciated (AND NEEDED)! But it's alright if none of you give me any, I can manage! Ja ne!