I claim no ownership over the Shamanic Princess characters.

Priestess Tokiko - There are only six episodes? Huh. Graham's appearance must have been in an OVA or something. I just watched my friend's DVD with everything (I guess it really WAS everything!) from the series on it. In that case, I saw the OVA before the actual series! ;; Thanks for the FYI!

Chapter 4 – The Razor

What have I done…

I find my voice with difficulty.

"Graham…"

The open eye seems to shake, although from fear or shocked recognition I do not know. Maybe both. He cannot possibly miss the resemblance I bear from Mother. I see his gaze shift rapidly over my face, hair, and strong yet feminine frame. Attributes I inherited from a girl he devoted his life to. Died for.

A thousand emotions flash across his face.

"You have passed," the crimson robed figure announces, almost vaguely. As though the odd phenomenon had never occurred.

As if partners long dead reappearing was perfectly ordinary.

They leave us, disappearing in a shimmery flash.

We are alone in the tiny glowing arena.

Our breathing is the only sound.

I attempt to utter a sentence, a word, anything! But I can't. What do you say to a person who has been dead for nearly twenty years, then suddenly brought back to life? By his previous partner's daughter, no less. And fate tosses cruel dice, as I am practically Mother's replica. It is like the past repeating itself for him. What have I done…

What have I done?

My breath shakes, coming in gasps. The tears burn at my eyes. He looks uneasy, then apprehensive, when I drop his arm and slowly stumble back. I stare at him as I move, not finding reason or strength to look away. Coming to the center of the ring my knees buckle, and I drop. He doesn't move, returning my steady gaze with an uncertainty and sorrow that breaks me.

A bead of water trickles down my cheek, followed by an ocean of tears. I throw my face into my trembling palms. "What have I done!" my voice pleads softly. Desperately. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to… how did I… I'm sorry!" My mind won't be calm, and my weeping is unrestrained. It is more sadness than horror. More regret than rage. I cry not for me.

For him… This is all my fault.

My hands fall to the ground, drained, and my sobs weaken into a quiet whisper. Yet I continue to cry. I don't think I can stop.

And yet I am shocked into doing so.

Shocked by the light touch on my chin, a beckoning pull upward. Upward to find his face. The face I had been curious to see for so long.

Not this way… I didn't want it this way…

But there is nothing I can do.

His lips move, and an inquiry issues forth. "Not… Tiara?"

My lip trembles, but somehow his voice is soothing me. Giving me confidence enough to answer him. "No… her daughter…" I feel less and less sad, but my tension will not leave.

His fingers drop from my skin. Now he is merely kneeling before me, watching. Studying.

He has a right to judge me, the one who yanked his soul back to life.

But I do not have the right to judge him. I haven't even the right to face him.

My eyes lower to the ground.

"They're waiting for me…" I whisper. On the edge of my peripheral vision I see him slightly cock his head. Who?

"My mother, Tiara, and my- father." Please do not let him ask.

But he will.

And he does.

"Your father?"

I nod, still not facing him.

"Kagetsu."

He says nothing, but he does not need to. From both of my parents, I know that this partner and my father had never been on good terms.

"You don't… have to come with me. All this is because of me. I'll… try to send you back, if you want me to. And if I can't, you don't have to stay. I won't make you be my partner if you don't… want… to… be…" I stutter the rest as his mangled hand lightly touches mine. My fingers are gathered up and lifted to him, stopping inches from his lips.

"I… stay."

And he kisses my hand.