Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, or any of the characters.
Gosh, this was supposed to be up last weekend, but while I was typing my brother and I got into an argument and he turned the computer off so I couldn't work on it anymore. Then I couldn't get on at all during the week, at least not to work on writing this, so I had to wait forever… Ugh. And then I had to cut off where I was going to have it end because I don't want the same thing to happen this weekend, and for the update to be put off for another week… *sigh*
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Fate Gave Three
By Areine
Chapter 6: Family Reunion I: Bittersweet
Kaiya woke up from where she lay when she heard someone shuffling about around her. Opening her eyes sleepily the sudden fact that her muscles were very sore popped right into her senses. She grimaced especially when, forgetting about her damaged hand, she placed weight on it. She stretched her arms into the air to console her limbs, only to flinch when her back cracked loudly. From where she was Ami turned and smiled at her.
"I see you are awake." She chimed before continuing on to rustle about in the various baskets along the walls. Kaiya saw that she was packing some sort of sack with a variety of foods and herbs.
"What are you doing?" She inquired.
"I'm packing for you and Inuronin's journey today."
Kaiya sighed as she felt herself frowning. It wasn't that she didn't like Inuronin… but Yukio… how had things gone for him? And she was already missing her family… Were they worried?
"What is wrong?"
She focused her attention to see Ami standing right in front of her, the woman's stormy blue eyes looking up at her sharply.
"It's just that… I miss my home, and where I'm from…" she frowned as she continued, "and there's the fact that there's this Naraku guy out there just waiting to kill me… and I haven't even met him…"
Ami smiled reassuringly, "Dear, do not worry. If Inuronin is anything like Inuyasha, which he is, you will have great protection."
Kaiya shrugged dubiously. He sure had proven to be a great help with the spider youkai yesterday…
"And for your family, Kagome had the same problems. I do faintly remember some of the arguments she and Inuyasha had about her returning to visit her own world."
Kaiya blinked, before frowning, "You make it sound like I'm going to be here for a long time."
Her notice was met with silence.
"Which I'm not." She continued.
Ami began tying a string around the opening of the sack she was packing, focused intently on where her fingers moved.
Kaiya sighed and walked to the door of the small home, pushing aside the thin reed-like material to look outside. She leaned against the door frame as she watched the people of the village bustle about in, what was to them, their ordinary lives…
How could any of this be real? How long would she have to stay here? She kept wondering to herself if maybe she had been knocked out at some point and this whole thing was just some delusional dream…
She was broken from her thoughts by Ami, who was suddenly standing beside her again. The elderly woman had her hands folded behind her back as she watched Kaiya's face intently.
"You will be carrying bow and arrows with you."
Kaiya raised her eyebrows, "Does Inuronin know how to use them?"
"No, child, you will be using them."
Kaiya blanched, feeling panic stricken all of a sudden, "Listen, I don't know how to use a bow and arrow… I'll have horrible aim, I won't be much help-"
Ami smiled at the girl eerily, shaking her head, "The Kikyou and Kagome from the past were gifted with the bow, their miko powers flourishing with it. Trust in yourself, with time you will gain great experience."
Kaiya nodded as Ami went back inside of the house to retrieve the last items. Kaiya glanced back at her before looking off to the direction of the forest.
'Perhaps… If I go now, I might be able to make it back to the well…' She nervously tucked a piece of hair behind her ear before taking a quick pace forward, watching her feet with the shroud of guilt weighing on her. She knew this was like running away, but this wasn't her problem- why should she have to deal with it? As she got further along her pace quickened, only to find a shadow suddenly across her path.
Looking up her eyes widened in fright and surprise to see Inuronin, arms crossed and gaze forward, following right along with her.
"Where are you going?" He asked gruffly, his gaze sliding to the left to look at her.
Both of them continued walking for a few moments, Kaiya frantically searching her mind for some excuse.
"I just wanted to go for a walk…" She replied, her focus beginning to drift to the attention some of the villager's were giving them… Their eyes looking on Inuronin, then to her with disgust. 'What have I gotten myself into…? And how am I ever going to get home with Inuronin always popping up like this?'
"Kaiya! Inuronin!" The pair turned around to see Ami walking towards them, a horse at her side. On its back was slung a cloth, and resting on that was a length of rope holding up two equally sized packs on either side of the rib cage, balancing each other out. The horse itself was a dark bay. Its rich brown color accented with a raven black on its legs, muzzle and hair.
Kaiya smiled weakly, just happy for the distraction away from Inuronin. Approaching the horse she held out her hand, palm facing up, to the horse's muzzle. For a few moments the horse cautiously inhaled the scent around her before snorting and tossing its head. Its ears flickered towards her, and Kaiya was amused to find that the first thing to pop into her head was Inuronin's ears doing the same.
"I see you do well with horses." Ami commented, having watched the interaction between girl and equine.
Kaiya nodded her head, smiling to turn to her, "Back at home I used to take lessons on horseback riding."
Ami's eyes twinkled, "We call him Ken, meaning strong. He is one of this village's finest, he will carry you well." She remarked, patting the stallion's neck.
"Don't we need two?" Kaiya queried, confused on their thinking.
"Feh! Like I'd need a horse," Inuronin said vainly, "I can travel on my own feet, unlike humans."
The girl furrowed her brows, glancing back at him. 'He actually seemed to have lightened up last night… guess that was too good to last longer than a minute.'
Ami cleared her throat. "It would be best that you two leave as soon as possible, as the morning will be the best time. I have everything you will need packed, and Kaiya, your bow and arrows have been tied one this side," She explained, patting Ken's side nearest to her, "As well as the Tetsusaiga with them."
'We're leaving already then…' And Kaiya found her eyes drifting back to the forest. 'How long am I going to be gone? Will I… come back?' She bit her lip nervously, 'No! Don't think like that!' She pasted a soft smile on her face and thanked Ami for her help. Taking Ken's reins she walked to his side, intimidated a bit by the fact this was going to be done bareback for her.
He wasn't the tallest horse she had ever seen, and his breeding she couldn't sift through exactly on looks alone. Keeping the reins in her left hand she grabbed some mane, using her right hand to place on his back. With a firm push on her elbows (wincing as she forgot about the wound in her hand) she quickly brought her right leg up and over, thankful that Ami had given her a kimono with separate leg areas. She brushed some of her hair behind her ear, settling herself further up along his back until she was behind the shoulder blades. Had she not known how to do this she would have been bothered by the way Inuronin and Ami were watching her the whole time, but she had too many things on her mind anyhow.
The hanyou took a step forward, keeping in front of the horse, with his arms crossed against his chest. Ami took a step away from Ken and pointed out in the direction they were facing. "As I have told Inuronin, you will be heading out this way. Keep in this direction for a day or so, and you will find a village. You will be seeking out a flea youkai by the name of Myouga, he will know the secret to Tetsusaiga."
Kaiya nodded, "Thank you Ami very much for your help."
"Stop wasting time, let's go!" Inuronin spat before leaping into the air, already creating a distance between him and Kaiya. She frowned, only to have Ami walk behind Ken and give him a sharp slap on his haunches. Kaiya saw his neck extend, and after that she just gripped the reins with all her might. The ride felt awkward without stirrups of any kind, and Ken's backbone pressed into her for the sort of ride she was not used to… But she kept Inuronin's figure in sight as he leapt form tree to tree, her piece of the Shikon no Tama bouncing against her neck as it dangled from a thin chain.
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It must have been but half an hour when Kaiya began wondering yet again what was wrong with Inuronin. She understood he, naturally, did not have the most people-friendly personality… But he was outright ignoring her, his eyes always focused ahead. He had slowed down after some time, making it easier for Kaiya to follow after him, but besides that she had not received the slightest acknowledgment on his part. By now she was feeling frustrated, angry with him for making her come with him- and then to only ignore her! She wanted to know what was going on.
"Inuronin!" She called out, Ken's steady trot beneath her leaving her pronunciation slightly choppy. She received no response, but knew he had heard by the way his ears instantly turned back towards her. "What's wrong?"
Inuronin scowled before turning back to her, "Nothing," he retorted, with, "…wench," added softly as he faced forward once again.
Kaiya sighed, dropping her gaze to the forest in front of her. She wished he would talk to her, but she wasn't one to pry. Had Ami said something to Inuronin to put him in this mood? Had she done something without realizing it? She may be harboring some ill feelings towards him, but that was only because he had stopped her from returning home- she wanted to at least get along with him. 'And how am I supposed to do that if he doesn't pay any attention to me?'
Irritated, with her legs' muscles already cramping, she started humming a song. At first it was from habit, to just hum when there was an empty silence (beside the beat of Ken's hooves and his steady breathing). But then, she realized what she was doing and, smiling, strengthened the tone to fill out her wordless sonnet.
The hanyou, however, with his sharp hearing, could do anything but not hear her. At first he flinched his canine ears in annoyance, until he really listened. And he suddenly found himself curious.
Kaiya was patting Ken's neck with a free hand, when suddenly Inuronin was walking beside the horse, looking up at her. She blinked in surprise, instantly silencing her throat. Why was he looking at her like that?
When things returned to quiet, Inuronin turned to stare ahead as he spoke, trying to hide whatever curiousness he felt, "How did you do that?"
The girl watched him for a moment before catching on, "You mean, how did I hum?" 'How could he not know what humming is?'
Inuronin shrugged, his brilliant golden eyes turning to stare at her unnervingly, "You made a noise, like purring…" He paused and seemed to think twice about something before continuing. "Is that another one of your miko powers?" And, after another pause, he added, "Seems like a waste of power if you ask me."
Kaiya blushed, finding herself embarrassed as she took his comments for truth. She had begun her humming with the assumption he would not say anything of it. Clenching the reins even tighter in her grip she stared ahead. "Anyone can hum. It's… not a wasted power. It's not a power at all" She said softly, hurt by his statement.
Sensing her sadness, Inuronin glanced at her. What was wrong now? This human had a whole range of emotions, yet it was as if she only chose to use certain ones, and, even more annoying, he always seemed to be the one bringing out her sadness.
He clenched his teeth together tightly in his jaws before leaping ahead of her again, making good use of his inhuman strengths
Kaiya let loose a sigh of discouragement, choosing to just give up on him for a moment. Throwing aside her hurt feelings for the time being she took a minute to examine where she was. The forest they were traveling through was normal enough to her. The trees were tall, their leaves resting high up in their branches, and, where there were open gaps, rays of sunshine filled the emptiness. The ground was littered with leaves and the like, but it was actually rather pleasing to the eye- like a painting… but so natural.
She let her lips light up with a small quirk of a smile before closing her eyes as a breeze brushed by. A small tingle of refreshment lighted through her body, her dark tresses falling against her cheeks as the wind died back down. The next time she opened her eyes she caught Inuronin's gaze from ahead. He quickly turned around, bounding ahead once more, leaving Kaiya confused as usual. And, for the hundredth time, she sighed that day.
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The day was drawing near to an end. It must have been some number of hours ago that Kaiya had given Ken a break and took her own turn walking. She had kept a grip on his reins while she followed after Inuronin mechanically, her mind wandering far away on spur of the moment thoughts. How was she supposed to concentrate on where she was now when she had a whole other world - a whole other life - back through the well?
Leaning her head back she gazed up through the canopy of the trees, their highest points seemed so far away, while for Inuronin it had to be but a jump away. Noticing that is was becoming harder and harder by the minute to distinguish Inuronin from the foliage around him (especially with his black cloak) she decided to speak up about resting for the night. She had given up hope long ago that she would be back at Ami's village for the night, even thinking that she might be back at her home through the well was a distant memory to her.
"Inuronin!"
The hanyou halted in his movements, ears coming alive with movement before looking back at her quickly. His golden eyes searched all around her before finally resting on her with an irritated look.
"What is it, human?"
Kaiya rolled her eyes, believing he wouldn't understand what that physical exclamation meant. 'You'd think by now that he'd call me by my name, but nooo…' she thought to herself.
"Don't you think we should rest for the night? Ken's been worked all day, and it's getting harder to follow you when I can barely see you." She made of a point of, making sure not to complain about her own feet hurting since she was positive he'd make sure to sneer at her weaknesses. She also noted that with the warmth of the sun gone from her the temperature seemed to be dropping faster and faster, finding herself shivering every now and then.
The silver-haired boy made a soft growling noise before dropping from the branch he was on to stand some yards in front of her. "That horse can work harder than you think." He retorted, but Kaiya noted with gladness that he did not go back to traveling. The half-youkai simply slumped down on the base of a tree, one of his knees bent upward while the other leg lay out straight in front of him. His arms crossed over his chest while he just sat there, eyes closed but obviously awake
'Well he obviously has issues…' Ignoring him and whatever negative vibe she felt radiating from his body she looked around until she spotted a short tree, leading Ken over to it before taking hold of his bridle. She studied them a while before realizing that, on such an old form of one, there was no bit(*) for her to worry about. Turning her attention to the reins she took the end and began to make a loop. Once again she was thankful for her experience with horses as she made a crafty knot. If the horse pulled away from the tree it would remain in place, but by simply pulling on the bit of loose rein on the bottom the whole thing would come undone. The good part was that the horse rarely, if ever, figured this out. She was beginning to pat his neck as the stallion pulled some leaves from the tree before Inuronin spoke up.
"Why did you do that?"
The girl turned to find the hanyou watching her, his eyes visible even in the dark.
"Do what?" she asked irritably, expecting and used to a blunt comment.
"Tie the horse to the tree?"
Kaiya motioned to the knot she had made with the reins, "Because if I don't then Ken could just run away anytime he felt like it." Inuronin really was predictable because she could tell what was coming by the stare he was giving her. As usual she had done something wrong.
"I don't know what type of fool horses your people use, but I know that creature doesn't need to be tied up. I only know that if we are attacked he's going to have a hell of a time protecting himself, and I'm not wasting my time to help any horse."
Kaiya felt her face heat up, and she knew he was right. Biting her lip in bitter frustration she pulled the knot undone, and even with no grip on him he remained where he was. Focusing on her work she simply removed the items he was carrying and lay them on the ground. Sifting through the various cloth bags she found herbs (for who knows what), corn cakes, some currency of coins she had never seen before, the Tetsusaiga (which she cursed for being the cause of all her problems), cold meat, bow and arrows, and finally a sealed jug of water. Taking the latter she poured some on Ken's back and rubbed him down, receiving a grateful nudge and snort from the equine. She noted with dismay that there wasn't that much water left in the jug so she made a note to remind Inuronin in the morning they would need to find more.
Taking two of the corn cakes she walked over to where Inuronin sat and held one out to him.
"Here," she offered.
"Don't want it."
Miffed by his curtness she returned to the saddlebags without another word and returned the one she offered to its place with the others. Examining the one she had left she ripped it in half and allowed Ken to take the portion from her, her fingers glad for the warmth from his breathing against the chill of the night.
Looking around her she settled for laying against a tree not far from Inuronin and Ken, liking to keep both in sight. She nibbled on the half of corn cake, finding that its taste was very subdued, before remembering something from earlier she had wanted to ask about.
"Inuronin?"
"What."
"Yesterday, when Ami gave us those bowls of that soupy stuff… What was the matter with it?"
The silver-haired boy switched his gaze to some point to her left, seeming to just stare into space for a few moments.
"It had no scent."
Kaiya sat puzzled for a moment, but after thinking it over for a moment felt she understood. It was obvious he had a strong sense of smell, and for something to not have a scent period for him must be a very uncommon thing. She was actually feeling proud of herself for not having to question him over what he said, feeling that he would have patronized her for something like that.
The next few minutes that came passed in silence, although neither of them went even close to sleeping. The only noise that was heard was Ken as he tried to make himself more comfortable in a variety of ways, and Kaiya could also hear her own teeth chattering whenever a breeze came by. It was odd, she thought to herself, that such a sunny forest could be so cold. And, actually, for a moment, she felt like she saw something beyond the forest. This beyond she saw was a mountainous region with snow falling everywhere, but she did not question herself about it and instead tried to focus on something beside her discomfort. Shaking the thoughts and images from her mind she looked back to Inuronin in hopes of distracting herself from it.
"Inuronin… can you tell me more about the Shikon no Tama?"
The boy's golden eyes focused on her, his ears flickering as if to catch the syllables. He looked uncomfortable for a moment until he finally answered.
"The Shikon no Tama is a jewel. It was made by a human priestess called Midoriko. When there was a great battle between her and youkai, she sacrificed herself to contain the souls of her and the youkai in a stone form, which is the Shikon no Tama. Their souls are still fighting in the jewel, and that is what gives it its power."
Kaiya let that soak in, figuring that was a very much cut down version of the whole story. "How come you say I have to destroy it then? If it's a jewel, and can obviously be broken," she pointed out, fingering her own shard of the Shikon no Tama around her neck, "Why not get someone who at least knows what's going on…"
Inuronin's ears flinched and Kaiya felt surprised to find he was now avoiding her gaze, but always keeping a hard look on his face.
"What?" She asked, wondering why he was acting so strangely, but she received no answer.
"Well, I mean, as long as I don't have to lose an arm or leg to get rid of the thing I guess it won't hurt." She laughed to herself, but Inuronin only watched her. Controlling her laughter she lowered her head back down as her gaze met his, but he only looked away as soon as she did. He wasn't telling her something, she could feel it.
"Inuronin, why don't you talk to me? There's obviously something you're not telling me."
The half-human, half-youkai closed his eyes as he folded his hands into the long sleeves of his haori. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, Inuronin, I do! Please, if you're going to make me do this stupid trip with you- which is obviously risking my own life- I would at least like to know I'm able to get along with you!"
His ears flickered back from her voice, and he only dropped his chin lower to his chest, although his golden eyes did open to see her. "Go to sleep." That was a command, Kaiya could tell by the authority he put into his words. She frowned as he only closed his eyes to her again.
"I will not! Just talk to me, something's wrong more than what you've told me and I have a right to know!"
"I said, go to sleep!"
And there it was. Kaiya bit her lip. He sounded like Yukio… and suddenly her insides quivered and she obeyed him, wondering how she ever had even the thought to argue with him. Inuronin could actually kill her, and here she was trying to pry into his thoughts. Hadn't she learned anything from Yukio? What made Inuronin any different from him? She felt her eyes water up at the thought of Yukio… what trouble had he gotten himself into because she had not met up with him last night?
Turning on her side she lay her head down on a root of the tree she was in front of. She was about to shiver and curse the cold wind that had just blown through, but suddenly there was a flapping noise and her world went dark as some cloth landed on her. Propping herself slowly up on an elbow she grabbed the black cloth, finding it familiar but she couldn't place from where. Her gaze drifted up to find Inuronin watching her (and missing his cloak), with a slightly pink tint of color to his cheeks no matter how hard he tried to make himself sound indifferent.
"You've been cold. I can tell… and I didn't mean to yell. Just don't cry, I can't stand it when girls cry."
Kaiya watched him as he closed his eyes once again, the blush on his cheeks still there. And, somehow, she couldn't stay angry with him. Right in front of her as the difference between Inuronin and Yukio.
"Thank you, Inuronin…" She replied, laying back down, "Sorry for getting so angry. Good night."
She missed his lip quirking up into a small smile before hardening once more.
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Kaiya woke to a sense of foreboding, and something terribly different. She was freezing. Not like last night, but it felt as though she had stayed out in a snow storm all night with nothing on. On top of that she felt like she was being watched, yet she couldn't bring herself to open her eyes. She was frightened. Clutching Inuronin's cloak tighter around herself she made herself do it. 'Okay… I can't break a promise… So, on the count of three, I promise to open my eyes… One. Two…'
She opened her eyes to find three things. First of all, she wasn't in a forest- she was on a mountain. Next, it was snowing. Lastly, there was a pair of golden eyes watching her.
She sat up slowly, pulling the black cloth she was using tight around her shoulder.
Since when was she on a mountain? And why was it so like the one she had seen in beyond the forest? Her gaze met once more with the golden eyes. Inuronin was the only person she had ever seen with golden eyes, yet somehow she knew it wasn't him. The snow lightened and suddenly she could see more clearly. The person watching her looked much like Inuronin, long white hair, sleek golden eyes, but his ears were like a human's, just pointed, and he held an air of dignity while Inuronin felt more wild. His clothing was white and baggy, and across his shoulder was some sort of boa… And he looked completely out of sorts there on the mountain while at the same time looking like he ran the place.
She normally would have spoken to him, but she couldn't find her voice. The eyes watching her narrowed and the man turned from her. Kaiya looked for Inuronin, but she couldn't see him anywhere. She felt her heart fall, feeling like she had been abandoned once more.
"Inuronin."
Her eyes went back to the man who had turned from her. He was just standing there, wind billowing his hair out behind him as his eyes looked around slowly. His voice was low and smooth… 'And is filled with hatred…' Kaiya felt. She wasn't sure why, but back in this time with Inuronin it was like she could feel people's emotions much more clearly.
"You are still here, and it seems you have not changed much from Inuyasha to try an ambush like some wild animal."
There was a flash of red above in the trees before Kaiya saw Inuronin land lightly on his feet some feet in front of her. She stood up slowly, not sure why she felt so relieved that he was with her. Perhaps she just didn't want to be alone with whoever this other man was.
"Disgusting, how alike you are."
Inuronin's ears flinched before he cracked his knuckles at his sides, fingers flexing like that of a lion's paw preparing for a fight.
"Another human girl, no doubt the reincarnation of that other."
Kaiya saw the half-youkai in front of her visibly tense up, this was obviously striking a chord within him.
"Just like my dead younger brother you cannot wait for the fight. Strike me, so I may kill my mistake."
'What does he mean?' Before she could even think for an answer Inuronin was flying through the air straight for the man, arm outstretched with his wrist pulled back, ready to snap back down and pull his claws along with it. The man, however, simply moved out of the way. Inuronin landed behind him, turning around to find his opponent having drawn out a sword. It was pulsing red.
"The Toukijin."
That was all the tall warrior said before slashing it through the air in his direction. He was no where near being close enough to actually hit Inuronin, yet the hanyou was pushed back and an opened wound suddenly cut across his body. The boy's hand went up to hold near his shoulder as a dark liquid began to coat his fingers.
"You Bastard, what kind of cheap sword is that?!" Inuronin barked out.
The fight continued though. Inuronin leaping for the man but always being pushed away by the sword, and every time this happened another wound opened up on him, no matter whether the sword touched him or not.
As Kaiya watched in horrid fascination Inuronin drew back his bloodied hand.
"«Hijin Kessou!»" (**)
Sweeping his hand in a wide arc, blade shaped daggers of light shot at his opponent, sending him in a leap to avoid the hits. When they hit the ground dirt flew, leaving gorges like a knife stab in their wake. Inuronin was still bleeding badly though, and the fight was not going his way.
No words were spoken between the combatants, it was as if they understood each other, knew each other. Kaiya did not doubt that. There was obviously something going on in their heads.
Inuronin was suddenly crashing through a mound of snow, his blood smearing its purity to crimson. He didn't get back up.
'I have got to help. Even if I can't run as fast or jump as high…' She should have been scared, and she was - but she reminded herself what had happened to the spider youkai before and determination rose within her spirit, watering the lack of courage to sprout bravery.
The man was preparing another run through at Inuronin, and she felt like if she didn't do something he'd be killed. As she realized all the blood of his she had allowed to be shed without even bothering to help she felt tears rush to her eyes. She ran, stumbling over the cold terrain, Inuronin's cloak still clutched around her. Their attacker paused at seeing her stopping in front of his target, though no emotion spread across his face. His golden eyes pierced her own.
"Do not defend him."
Kaiya couldn't feel the cold anymore. She was only angry at this man in front of her, and at herself. Her body felt on fire, and it was going to be too late before she realized this as a warning sign. Her emotions were taking over.
"Stop fighting!" She erupted, her voice much more mature sounding than her usual one.
Her enemy simply drew back his sword, slashing it in a perfect half circle in her direction. It should have killed a normal human, but on Kaiya the pressure of air meant to slice her just as if the cold metal had actually touched her instead stopped in front of her. As if she had known all along what to do she raised her hands in front of her and looked at them. 'Just like with the spider youkai…' They were glowing with a pink light, the glare growing stronger every second. She didn't bother or even think about the bow and arrows Ami had provided her with. Her gaze drifted up to her opponent, and that was the last thing she saw. The power surrounding her hands grew like a giant bubble, pushing back every tainted spirit around her. As it surrounded her further, the edges of her vision blurred until she couldn't tell anything about her whereabouts anymore.
She blacked out.
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*bit : The metal mouthpiece of a bridle, serving to control, curb, and direct an animal. (from dictionary.com --- this does not hurt the horse as long as it is done in the proper way. A not proper way? = jerking the reins etc). On some forms of bridles, such as the one Kaiya was using on Ken, because there is no bit, when the rein is pulled the pressure is applied to the muzzle directly.
**words place in "«»" are going to be Japanese attack names- it's not part of a conversation (in the English dub Hijin Kessou is "Blades of Blood")
The chapter wasn't supposed to end there, but it'll have to do… I just wanted to get this update up before some other bad thing happens… =\ Reviews are welcome… but money is even better ;) ((j/k))