"Demon child!" A mad scream echoed throughout the room, a table was fling across the room, "Stealing food?"

"Momma..." A little boy cried out as he held a small loaf of bread tight, he was nothing but skin and bones, he took a few quick bites and just crawled under the table.

"Don't call me that! You demon child!" There was an instance of mad laughter as the woman grabbed a poker from the fireplace and...

Brick's eyes shot open, he was dripping in sweat, he was sleeping on the tatami mat. He was relieved...it was..just a horrible nightmare...memory. He wiped the sweat from forehead and sat up. The room was dark, lit by a green and red lantern, he noticed this instantly...no pink lantern.

He sat up and looked back, the futon was empty even the puppy was gone. He looked around and saw that the door was slightly crack.

"Damn it." He groaned and rushed out of the room without a second thought, "What the hell is she thinking? She's probably not...stupid fool." He rushed passed the shadow's red glare barely noticing it. He rushed down the hallway, looking around but he didn't know where to start. He just scrambled around the hallways and tried to see a pink lantern.

"What the hell is she thinking? There are tons of spirits around...in fact...I'm not safe either. That damn foo!" He grumbled as he pounded his fist on his head when he suddenly heard a small bark and whimper. It was tiny, but it was enough to follow. He ran down the stairs, even though his lantern was flashing, he moved with speed...following the small puppy barks until...

The sliding screen opens and his eyes widened to such a sight. It was like...looking at a goddess.

A smile that spread across her face.

He could barely feel the icy cold of Kyotoro's Winter, he breathe in the ice just once and hasn't been able exhale. Her medium peach skin clashed with the snow, her hair dangled to her feet and onto the snow, like a river of golden fiery sunsets. Parts of her kimono was draping off of her, revealing her right shoulder leaving it exposed and the sleeves covered her fingers as she picked up the puppy in the air and then placed him back down.

She chuckled loudly as she staggered and ran through the snow, the clouds rumbled with the promise of more snow. The puppy was jumping as he followed.

"Cherry...God damn it, Ah," Brick rushed out and into the snow but instantly jumped back out as it was freezing cold, but she was rushing even further.

"I'm walking on clouds...clouds...clouds...clouds..." Blossom chuckled wildly as she spun around, "The clouds will fall onto the earth."

"Cherry, stop! DAMN IT! You're gonna make yourself sicker!" He just took a deep breath and just rushed into the freezing snow barefoot and struggled as he ran after her. The snow felt heavy on his feet but the way she was moving, it was light on her feet, she moved like she was floating on the snow. Her hair glistening...

Brick finally caught her by the wrist.

"I wanna catch the ice, catch the ice." Blossom cried out feverishly as the snow began to fall again. She reached her free hand towards the sky, trying to grab a snow flake, "Mama! Mama! I'll catch you!" Blossom just laughed wildly. Brick let go of her hand and she caught her snowflake in her head with a bright smile. His chest...it was beating faster and his body felt red hot, but he snapped out of it as he felt the sudden cold wind blowing.

"Enough, get over here damn it!" He yelled. In one swift move, he picked her up in bridal position, "C'mon mutt." He yelled at the puppy, trying to hide his embarrassment as she looked up at him. Those pink eyes flashed, reflecting the snow fall and her face was a bright red color from her fever.

"Not without my baby." Blossom cried out, struggling to get out of his grip but Brick held her tightly.

"Damn you, the runt is coming! STOP IT! I'm trying to take-," Brick growled but his expression softened when he felt her hands on his chest, "Come here, runt." Brick whistle and the puppy rushed right towards them and he was low enough for the dog to jump into her lap and she just hugged him with a huge smile that could break away the clouds.

Brick's POV

I couldnt help but swallow hard, she laid her head on my shoulder. I have to hurry and get her back into her room. She's burning up and soaking wet, that's not a good combination.

"Just What the hell was she thinking?" I asked myself, I looked down as the puppy was whimpering and panting as he laid on her chest. I could see her shoulders...my mind flashed to those pictures and the way she stood in the snow. She looked like one of those Kyotoro Goddesses' from Uncle's walls. They stood with their long hair draped over their shoulders and onto the ground.

"Such Celestial Beings, I hear that they're just lovely. A picture of perfection against the beauty of nature, they win each time. For a nature is a reflection of that goddess. My favorite is Sakuya-hime, the goddess of Cherry blossoms, she was believe to be the most beautiful of all the goddesses-"

I shook my head, I didn't need to think of Uncle's nonsense.

She moaned and opened her eyes, even in the dim light of our lanterns, I could see them. Those warm pink eyes and when I see them...I feel this warmth and I think of spring.

"Bricky Bear..."She opened her eyes but then closed them, she started breathing heavily and shivering.

My heart felt tightened, "Damn it, that was too stupid, are you trying to die?"

"I...thought...I saw...Mama...and Papa and Kasey in the snow...Mama was calling me. I just..." Blossom coughed and grabbed my kimono with her small hand, "I just want Papa...to be happy...like he was with Mama...but he's not. I sacrificed my happiness...and Papa isn't happy still. I should have waited...I didn't know...I didn't know..." Her coughs were heavy and I could hear something, a gurgle, like she had water in her throat.

"Shut up you damn fool! God damn you, you're gonna be ok. Just stop talking nonsense." I rushed down the hall, I dare any spirits or monsters to get in my way. I think...by that time, I was running.

I basically bashed through the door. The room suddenly woke up.

"Help...she needs hot water!" I cried out as I laid her on her futon. I was ready to rip the clothes off of her but I pause, I moved aside and grabbed Bubbles, "Hurry up and get those clothes off of her, Time is important!" I cried as I felt my body moving without thought. Everything was rushing around me as I moved outside of the room with the puppy. As long as I had him, I should be ok. The spirits and monsters wouldn't dare come around with an Okuri mutt.

I just...don't want to lose anyone else.

"Hey, if it isn't my big brother." A voice echoed throughout the hallway and the spirits were gone in an instant. It was them, my half brothers, all three of them. The cold, sadist Xaldin, who was holding herbs and roots, The shy whining Ren Ling, who was holding a dead pheasant (somehow I think he hunted it himself, as he had feathers in his mouth) and the nice but evil Sebastian or Susanoo, holding a giant fish.

"Oh did not expect you here, Eldest Brother, it is quite an honor to see you again." Ren Ling or Beast (For his wild appearance and his Wolf Fauna blood) spoke with a bow.

"What are you three doing out so late?" I asked, I did find it a little suspicious but those three were loyal, no way they would hurt Cherry.

"For Auntie of course." Xaldin or Butch (nickname for his slaughter in the Battle of Blood red forest) explained, "That nut Chihiro wanted us to get a few things, said it would help."

"Please, do not call her that. Ms. Chihiro is very unique." Beast defended but blush when he saw that we all looked at him.

"C'mon, come to the Kitchen with us. She promise to reward us with Moon Cakes." Susanoo or Boomer (for his explosive cannonballs) wrapped his arm around my neck, I pulled it off, but he grabbed me and pulled me along, "Oh C'mon, we haven't spent time together in ages."

"Maybe it's because you nearly drowned me last time." I snapped.

Boomer gasped in horror but then mocked pout, "Oh...cmon I said I was sorry. I can't control it sometimes."

"You thrashed me with your tail."

"Oh I would never do it on purpose. Why would I hurt my big brother by only 8 minutes?" Boomer continued to pout.

"Eldest Brother, if I may, "Beast blushed as he spoke up, " Being with Ms. Chihiro and Little Brother will certainly give you a break...from..."Beast coughed several times. I knew what he was referring to and he was right.

"Plus, you're useless here."

Later on

I took a bite, I don't like sweets that much but this is moon cake isn't half bad. I forgot how Kyotoro's strange food actually tasted plus I would have to face the wrath of the cook. Chihiro or Belle was in the kitchen, scurrying about and the good spirits were around to help. The puppy was in my lap, sleeping. We were in the servants' room with tea and moon cakes or for Butch, plum wine. Blossom was out of the danger zone.

"So Uncle thinks she was poison?" Butch asked.

"Not a word either... to anyone." I warned, "Brothers' Code of Silence."

"I do not believe it is wise. Auntie Blossom should be told." Beast whimpered.

"No..."

"Why not, if she's the target-"Butch tried to talk but I cut him off.

"No...I doubt she would believe it. She's too good and trusting, she sees the good in everyone." I couldn't say the other reason, maybe it was selfish of me but I kinda don't want her to lose that...that...innocence. The way she stood on that snow, her smile and how she hugged the baby...

I felt as it was enchanting to me. If she did believe me, that innocence could fade and her goodness. I want that...to stay.

"Eldest Brother, I swear to the Brothers' code of Silence." Beast said, the way he blushed and looked at me, I think he saw through me. That's one of the things I can't stand about him, he can read people too easily.

"Whatever, but you're gonna have to talk to My Sweet Tiger, the girl ain't a genius but she's got institution like nobody I've ever seen, plus the fact that she brought the herbs. Then there's Belle, that girl is weird but she's smarter than most of us here." Itch explained.

"Okay, I'll talk to her...and Blossom is gonna need a 'human' taster." I suggested.

"You don't think they're gonna try again?" Boomer asked, "There's no way, I pity any one fool enough to come in Belle's Kitchen. I doubt they could get pass her."

"Look, we can't ask the girls: Brianna and Bubbles are immortals, I doubt poison is gonna effect them, Buttercup is an Earth Fairy, she's not gonna be affected-"

"I know, I know...but think of this Eldest Brother, if you hire a human food taster, first Auntie Blossom will think that is suspicious and what if we do, it could still be dangerous, that person might work for the traitor or worse, fall on his own sword as you might say." Beast said, "Someone who would gladly die if it means that she does too."

I sighed, rubbing my face, "Then alright, what should we do?"

"We don't need a 'human' taster, we just need the right protection. For the Food part, we trust the Good Spirits. Auntie Blossom has been very good to them, a particularly Tree spirit, Bushi is already loyal to her. She could stand guard on the meals when Belle is cooking and Kuro is the Princess of the Good Spirits, she can tell them to sort of spy on her when she's alone." Boomer said, "The girls can watch her when she's out of the palace."

"But we need extra muscle. Any of these samurai you trust, these guys are all about honor and loyalty right?" I asked.

"Well there is Robin, he seems genuine but he is quite difficult to read. Plus, Aunt Blossom would not mind him around." Beast said shyly.

I glared...wasn't this Robin in her letters...I don't like him.

I'm sorry, im so sorry if this chapter fell short. I was glad that I was finally able to write something. Sorry for such a long delay. I promise to do better in the up and coming chapters. Thank Ash141 for sending me inspirational stories to get me back on track.