Hanabusa's only thought throughout the entire battle was to make it back to Yori. His mind was in a complete blur, not even taking in the horrified and death-staring expressions of his victims as he tore through the hoards of enemy soldiers, human and vampire alike. They were all the same to him, they stood between him and the one he had finally told he loved. The regret of not having told her sooner ripped at him just as painfully as it ripped through those surrounding others. It took a couple of warnings from his comrades to reign in his power lest he accidently harm their own forces. In the end, the battle was one of the shorter ones, lasting only half the day as opposed to two or three. This was perhaps testament to Hanabusa's determination mixed with the new-found power of his classmates.

It was all meaningless if she died. That was the only thing that ran through his mind and the only way that he could be by her side was by wiping out all of those who stood in his way, including the soldier who stood firmly outside of the medical tent, keeping all from entering and bringing in any bad air from the outside. Hanabusa ignored the man's imploring requests to remain outside as he sped his way into tent only seeking out the one person he had longed to see for months.

There she lay completely bandaged in the chest breathing in labored spouts. The blood had dried in horrible clumps on the torn uniform that had been hastily ripped aside to make it easier for the doctor to tend to her wounds. The gaping holes had been bandaged tightly, but it had barely stemmed the flow of blood. Her face was deathly pale as her lips were dried and cracked in a death grimace. Hanabusa shoved aside the restraining hands as he made his way hurriedly to her side, kneeling next to the cot that now held her fragile form. Everyone stood silently as he gripped her hand in his, a grip so strong that his hand was shaking, squeezing together the cold, pale fingers. They were so small in his own, gritty from the battle. Kaname stood silently from the entrance, staring on quietly, waiting as did the others. Hanabusa's shoulders shook convulsively for a long moment and then finally his sobs could audibly be heard within the tent. His head bent over Yori's, still not responding to his grief. His other hand rose shaking as well as he gently stroked her golden hair, finally let loose from the severe knot that had held it for so long. His emotions were overflowing as his eyes wandered frantically across her face, attempting to see some kind of response, but none came. He called her name gently, attempting to regain control. Still nothing. He slowly pressed his forehead against hers, still imploring her to open her eyes.

After a long moment of his attempts, finally the doctor stepped forward, clearing his throat uncomfortably, not wishing to be the first to interrupt.

"It was poisoned, the arrow. She still fights it, but she will not remain in this state for long." His announcement held clear meaning. Hanabusa acted as though he had not heard at first, then he spoke still without turning.

"Kaname-sama, may I speak with you alone for a moment." He did not have to turn to see that his lord granted him affirmation. Slowly he stood, still looking down at the woman laying within her death grips before him. With much reluctance he turned to follow his lord out of the tent. Then began the long and desperate pleas for his lord to give some of the pureblood to the human woman so that she would live, but Kaname kept referring to the fact that it could prove much more fatal than Hanabusa was willing to admit. Lost without any other options he verbally announced that he would give his own blood mixed with the pureblood to her, only then perhaps she would be saved.

"That is not what the Blood Share was intended for," said Kaname suddenly. It froze Hanabusa in his tracks to look at his sovereign straight in the eyes. It was a look of pleading; one that begged him not to force him to choose between Yori and his lord.

"Kaname-sama…"

"If I were to allow you to do this, what little control I have over the Blood Share would have no bounds. You know this and you know the intention in which I released the pureblood to everyone else. Allow fate to work its course, if she lives she was meant to do so, if not, then…" Hanabusa would not allow him to finish his sentence.

"She will live! Because I won't let her die!" Kaname stared at him intensely, assessing his lifetime friend's disposition and knew it was hopeless to argue with him in this state.

"Know one thing. If you do this, it will forever change everything." Hanabusa glared openly at Kaname and did not say a word as he flung aside the flap of the entrance to Yori's resting place. The pureblood let out an exasperated sigh, seeing there was little he could do to stop Hanabusa once he had an idea in his head, especially when it dealt with Sayori Wakabe. "My friend, you don't know what you are doing." In reality, neither did Kaname. On the exterior, he looked calm and collected, but in truth he was struggling to grasp what reason he could find. This war was driving him mad with the desire to protect those he loved and he saw now that it was taking its toll selfishly on those surrounding him. The testament to this truth was laying prone and near death on the other side of the thin fabric.

Should I continue a spin-off? I have a poll in my profile, let me know... it will determine how I end this story...