Thank you to all my lovely reviewers! On the plus side I got my two chapters edited this week. On the downside I have a lot of homework.

Voting on Feudal connection takes place from Jan 29-Feb 12. So please remember to drop by during that time and vote for the Disease :) Under BEST ANGST!

Rin-past

She breaths heavily. Her shoulder stings. The shaft of the arrow went completely through her left scapula. The feathered end of the arrow sticks out of her front, marring her usually smooth movements.

She's managed to stop the next volley by taking the monks out by their feet with the bright green whip that comes from her katana. The Miko is rushing her with a hand extended. The reiki is rising against the raised fingers and Rin can't help but wonder, what will she do when the power of her katana is sealed. There are too many of them for her to take in hand to hand combat. Hisato is running on all fours like a wild animal, it's as if his mind has become as rogue as his body has. He's bit into the neck of one of the monks, throwing his windpipe in the grass, bathing in the blood of his enemies.

The rabid dog-demon grabs her around the waist and attempts to lift her in the air but the purifying power in the arrows is holding him back. The priestess's katana clashes into Hisato's shoulder. Rin kicks free and engages. She raises her sword that is immediately vanquished by the reiki. Rin throws it aside and trips the Miko, sweeping her feet out from beneath her. She lands on top of the Miko and painfully, brings the woman to stand, despite the burn in her shoulder, she holds her neck firmly. "Back off, or I'll break her neck," she threatens the advancing monks.

"You are a defiler," one of the monks hums as he walks forward. "Let her go."

The Miko grasps the arrow in Rin's shoulder, yanking it down.

Rin cries in pain as her body is jarred by the pressure, but refuses to let go. "She will die." Black specks form in her vision. She shakes her her head to clear her vision. Loss of consciousness will not help now.

"Can you kill one of your own kind?" The Miko taunts her.

"We need to leave Rin-sama," Hisato stands back to back with Rin, as close as the arrows poking out of his back allow.

"Yuki?" She digs her nails into the chin of the Miko.

"Her scent is distant. She's safe," Hisato says coughing.

"Are you going to make it?"

"I can't fly. We need to break their ranks," Hisato whispers.

"Pathetic," the Miko laughs.

Rin twists the Miko's neck until the first bone pops making the dark haired Miko's eyes bulge as she gasps for air. "Let us go, or I'll kill this one."

"You're outnumbered, give us the yokai, let us purify your connection to the dog-demon and you will live," the head monk tells her.

"Rin-sama," Hisato coughs up blood. "Go."

"No," she shakes her head, "you are my friend Hisato. I am not leaving you behind." She snaps another bone. "One more and you are dead."

"Let them go," the Miko shakes in pain, part of her body is paralyzed now unable to move. Tears flee her eyes.

The bows drop as the head monk raises his hand. "You are a tough one."

"If you come back to these lands," Rin throws the half limp Miko onto the ground. "You will die."

"Now!" The head monk yells.

The Monks raise their arrows again.

"Run!" Rin grabs Hisato's shoulder, bearing his weight she attempts to flee to the tree line where the bark will take the majority of the barrage against them.

"Let me go!" Hisato pushes her away turning to face the oncoming monks.

"Hisato no!" She screams as he throws her like a ball into the forest, she lands on her side, the pain from her shoulder blackens her world. "Hisato!" She stares in terror as a dozen arrows come flying at her guard, her confidant, her friend.

PLEASE REVIEW! OH PLEASE? PLEASE? What's going to happen to Hisato?

I'm running out of story plugs because I haven't read anything new...but for anyone interested in taking Instinct and flipping it on it's head. Pinkdragonstrike wrote a story called Feudal Affair a long time ago. And it's amazing. Rin cheats on Kohaku with Sesshomaru and drama ensues. I love all her stories.

Next up! Interlude VI on January 16th! Confession when I first wrote this the interludes weren't in there so in order to get things where I want them they will come faster.

Angel's Wing 92: I actually don't know how many chapters there will be. The problem is I am not keeping a count because of the way this is split up. But to give you an idea of how I usually write, most of my chapters are an average of 7,000 words from Lost Memories and Instinct. These are shorter because they are POV's and I don't like that FFN doesn't give me a better way to separate them that shows up in app and on the website. So I don't know. You're just going to have to keep reading :)

Guesswho: So glad you are enjoying! Hurray! HAHA I think we're talking about the Monk yes? It will become clear soon. Taka and Nina are so cute. I was going to flip if at least one person didn't say how cute i was that she finger spells into Taka's paw and Taka knows what she is saying. They are an adorable duo now and yes, the end...such a cliff hanger.

Morality: You'll have to keep reading. I give no plot away and you'll find out later how she is getting Rin's memories :)...I'm so mean!

Kimmigirl: Thank you! I know it's adorable.