Hitomi and Ren ran to the dorrway as a woman with long

white hair rode in fastly on a horse.

"IT'S AN AMBUSH!!"' she yelled as she rode through the

small village. Hitomi watched as all the women went into

action, grabing weapons and getting into defense pasitions.

"Whats going on?" Hitomi asked as she ran after Ren.

"We are going to be under attack, do you know how to use a

weapon?" Hitomi nodded. She had taken up fencing becaues it

made her fill closer to Van during college. Ren handed her

a plain sword saying,

"Use this to defend your self. Stay close to me and I'll

watch your back." Hitomi had no time to answer as the first

wave of attakers hit the village.


~~~~~@ @~~~~~


Merle walked through the village, she would have to go back

home soon.

"I really will miss it here, but it's time to go home." She

said to herself as she leaned against a tree and watched

some children play.

"When did you star talking to your self Lady?" came the all

to know voice fromt he other side of the tree.

"What are you doing here, Jako?" Merle's voice had lost

it's softness and become cold.

"It's my village, remeber?" Jako raised one eyebrow,

knowing how mad that made her. Lady merle was so cute when

she was angry. He wasn't expecting to hear the bitterness

in her voice.

"Yes, Jako, Youdon't have to remind me that I don't belong.

I'm an out cast...I know that. Why, I can't even speak my

native languge." Angry tears weld up in her eyes.

"But, you know, I can't help it. I can't help that they

died in that fire. And I'm very thankful Van's family took

me in. I-I-I..." She couldn't go on as angry sobs tore

through her throat. She turned and began beating her fist

into somthing hard. She didn't notice Jako wrap his arms

around her. He whispered soothing words into her ears as

she wept. Jako was surprised, he had had no idea Merle

carried such pain in her soul. Anger burned insid of him at

whoever had hurt this gental girl. Then he realized that he

had done so much to cause her pain, his anger deflated a

bnit, being replaced by helplessness.

"Merls, Shhhh, listen to me, why don't you stay here? The

people would exept you soon...." Before he could continue,

Merle jerked out of his arms, leaving him feeling strangly

alone.

"You don't get it do you?" she asked as she pulled away

more, turning to leave.

"I just don't belong here."

Jako felt desperation raise up inside him as he saw her

leaving. All of a suden he couldn't let her leave. He

couldn't let her walk out of his life. With out much

thought he swung her around, to face him. Quickly he kissed

her, marvaling at her soft lips. Merle was to surprised at

first to fight the kiss at first, but she soon pulled away

as much as she could. Jako pressed his forhead close to

hers.

"Please stay." he whispered. Suddenly the sound of palm

against flesh sounded loudly in the small glen. Even the

children stoped their play to look up. Merel stood there,

shaking with rage, her hand still out strsched.

"Dont you ever treat me like a common hore again. Don't eer

touch me." she whispered in a broked voice as she turned

and ran away. Jako placed his hand on his stinging face as

he watched the woman he had just found out he loved, ran

out of his life.



~~~~~@ @~~~~~



Ren and Hitomi stood back to back, in a battle for their

lives. Hitomi reached up quickly to whip some sweat out of

her eyes. She had never fought any where but in tornaments,

where there were rules. Her opponent didn't play by the

rules though. Hitomi was doing her best not to kill anyone,

but she knew her partner wasn't being so gental. Hitomi

managed to hit her attaker with the hilt of her sword,

knocking him out.

Two more, from her right and left took his place and Hitomi

wa beganing to feel over whelmed. Ren turned and slashed

the one closest to her in one quik movment. Hitomi watched,

in fasination as the blood bubbled out of his chest and

driped dlowly on the ground. Ren saw Hitomi Balnce and

watch helplessly as the other man ran toward Hitomi with

sword drawn. Ren knew it was impossible to get to Hitomi in

time, because the man she was fighting would surly take

adavantge of that. So all ahe could do was yell.

"Hitomi! LOOK OUT."

Hitomi stayed transfixed for a moment watching as this

strangers life forse driped out. Ren yelled again and

Hitomi jerked around, instinks making her swing her sword

out. It caught him square in his unprotected mid-drift. Ahe

watched as her attackers eyes glazed over, and time seemed

to stop as he slid off her sword. Ren saw Hitomi frezze,

and knew by the look in her eyes and the way she through

down her sword and started rubing her hands up and down

her sides that she was going into shock.

She quickly triped her attacker and stabed him as he was

going down. Running over to Hitomi, she watched the girl

wrap her arms around herself and chant

"I killed him, I killed him, I killed him." over and over

again to herself. Ren could see no more men in the area so

she through down her sword and tryed to comfort Hitomi.

The horse woman rode up then, trying to keep the nervous

beast in check. Ren looked up from her position, kneeling

over Hitomi's terembaling form.

"Lady Asago." was all she said as a silent understanding

passed between them.

"The attackers are gone for now, but they'll be back soon.

With reinforements." Ren turned to Hitomi and pulled at

her, trying to stand her up. She wouldn't move. Ren looked

at Lady Asago for help. With a sigh of impatients Lady

Asaog sliped off her hourse to help Ren, kneeling in front

of the girl, she pulled up her face so she sould speak

directily to her. What she saw shocked her. This trembling

girl was the great Lady Hitomi. She looked at Ren sharply.

Explaintions would have to wait, for now. Lady Asago pulled

out a small boot knife and Ren curringed as she struck

Hitomi behimd the head. Hitomi slumped over at the blow,

and Asago handed her to Ren. Mounting her horse she called

out instrutions for her women to follow.

"Hurry, but don't panic. We need to get over the border to

Freid. We can get lost in the forest there. All of you who

are able, help the wounded. Remeber, Do Not Panic." Lady

Asago moved on, trying to get the message to all. Ren stood

watching her leader for a minute, then she turned her cat-

like eyes on Hitomi, and with gental movments she lifted

Hitomi onto her back. Ren followed the mass exidou out of

what was letf of her home.


The End of chaper


A.N
I know I suck at writing battle scenes...but deal with it minna-san!!!(~_*) This is the longest chapter yet. It took me a LONG time to type.