Sorry for the wait you guys...I've been a bit busy...but I have great news...I know where I'm going with this story...kinda....lol...here's the next chapter enjoy!

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On The Way Down

Chapter Three: Rooftops and Battles

"You shouldn't be out her on a night like this...you could get sick if you're out here long enough..." he said. Mine's mouth dropped, the scream she held back coming out a small squeak. After he'd taken a seat beside her, she turned to him, blinking in shock and a light tinge of pink on her cheeks. He didn't notice the blush, however, his gaze was already on the stars.

"Thank you for what you did earlier..." he said after a while, still looking at the stars.

"Huh?" she looked over at him.

"At dinner...the rice..." she nodded, "Thank you..." she smiled and looked back up at the stars.

"You're welcome..." she said. The wind blew, and she shivered slightly, "it feels so strange being out here with you again...it's been a few years..." Amidamaru nodded in agreement.

"Yes...the last time I saw you was when your brother..." he trailed off. Her face saddened, and he regretted his words. He began to apologize, but she spoke before he could,

"It's okay, I'm over it now...he died four years ago...and even then he still hung around..." she smiled at him.

"I see..." Amidamaru looked down, and she got confused. Then he turned to her, a painful expression on his face, "Why didn't you come back?" he asked, happy to finally get to the question that had been on his mind all day. She too now looked sad, and as she turned back to the stars her expression didn't change,

"I'm sorry...but when my brother died, I couldn't stay there anymore. I moved around a lot...I tried to go back, Amidamaru-sama...I really did!" Amidamaru shook his head and smiled.

"It doesn't really matter..." he told her, "What matters is that we've run into each other again..." she nodded,

"Yeah..." she smiled as she fell backwards, her hands behind her head. She was lying with one knee bent, the other leg stretched out as she closed her eyes.

-Dream-

"Now where are you going?" a young man's spirit asked. Mine sighed,

"Oh, Shimbo...why must you continue worrying about me even when you've pushed up daisies?" she asked as she pulled an umbrella out of the closet. Her brother frowned,

"Just because I'm dead doesn't mean I'm going to stop worrying about my baby sister..." he raised an eyebrow as she pulled out a second umbrella, "What is that for?" he asked. Mine turned to him and smiled,

"I haven't seen Amidamaru-sama in two years...and now that I'm back here I think I'll pay him a visit."

"On a day like this?!" Shimbo pointed out the window. Mine turned to see the rain was now coming down harder than before.

"So?" she began walking over to the door. "I've been up there before in the rain, why not today?" he brother once again frowned,

"Because it's dangerous! The road is slick – and you may catch a cold!" Mine rolled her eyes,

"Oh please! You're always warning me about getting sick!"

"Maybe it's because I died of sickness?!" he glared at her.

"Yes, I know that...but I'm not gonna get sick, ok? I'm just going up there for an hour or so to talk to him..." she opened the door.

"You know...sometimes I feel like you love that Amidamaru more than me..." he pouted. She turned around and stuck her tongue out,

"Bye, love you..." she said as she shut the door.

"Love you, be back soon!" he called as she walked off the porch. Shimbo sighed, "Crazy kid...I'll have to yell at her later..." he said to himself, not knowing that he'd never get the chance.

Outside in the rain Mine was making her way down the sidewalk, an umbrella in each hand, when something caught her eye. In the middle of street, there was a large white animal. After looking both ways, she ran over to it. Dropping the one umbrella, she knelt down beside it. It took her a moment to realize that it was a large dog.

'Poor thing...' she thought as she reached out and touched it's fur. She jumped slightly when it growled. "You're alive!" she exclaimed, "And you're a wolf..." she said slowly as she noticed the large ears and paws. The animal below her grunted, and she stood up. "I'm going to get some help for you..." she stared at it, her face full of worry. 'But...what am I going to do?' she thought, 'I don't think Shimbo would let me keep him in the house...the vet is too far away, especially with all the roads closed because of the flooding....' She was snapped out of her train of thoughts as the wolf's head flew up and looked in her direction,

"MOVE!" he eyes widened as it's voice filled her head. It took her a moment to realize what it had said, but by the time she did it was to late.

With the rain coming down so hard...she couldn't hear it. She turned her head just in time to see the headlights a few yards away from her. By the time it registered what it was, it was too late. She didn't even have time to finish the gasp that escaped her lips before the car hit her head on.

-End Dream-

"AH!" Mine bolted forward, making Amidamaru jump.

"Are you alright?" he asked with concern. She was now sitting with her hand on her chest. He began to worry more when he noticed that she was breathing hard, and she had also broken out into a cold sweat. Just before Amidamaru could ask her a second time, she nodded,

"I'm fine..."

"You're sure?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah...I think I'm going to go to bed...see you in the morning..."she said, then stood up and made her way over to attic window.

"Goodnight!" Amidamaru called as she disappeared into the darkness of the attic. After a thump and a rustle, her head popped out of the window,

"Goodnight, Amidamaru- sama!" she said, then disappeared again with a smile on her face.

Mine woke to a loud crash outside. Tossing off her hoodie, she jumped out the window and ran down the roof. Peering down, she saw Yoh with a wooded sword, Amidamaru's spirit behind him. Next to him stood Manta, Horo Horo, and Ryu. They were all glaring at someone.

Whoever she was, Mine had never seen her before. Her waist long black hair was tied up into a high ponytail, only allowing two long strands to fall on each side of her face. She was returning the glare with dark gold eyes.

"I'll say it once more...hand over the samurai!" she yelled. At that, Mine ran and took a leap off the roof, landing on front of Yoh.

"Who's this?" She asked, a serious expression on her face, and her voice a little lower than normal.

"I dunno, she just came out of nowhere talking about taking Amidamaru away forever!" Yoh explained.

"I see..." Mine turned to the new comer. "My name is Mine Makesero, now tell me your name and your reason for being here!"

"She's this protective, after staying for one night?!" Horo Horo thought aloud. Yoh shook his head,

"No...I think that it has something to do with Amidamaru..." he explained, making Amidamaru raise an eyebrow. He was going to ask Yoh as to what he had meant by that comment, but the new girl spoke before he could.

"My name is Zera Infernal...I am a Reaper Of Souls...and I have come for that samurai." She said, pointing at Amidamaru.

"Reaper Of Souls?" Amidamaru repeated in confusion, Mine nodded,

"They are an organization that is in charge of destroying spirits who shouldn't be on this world anymore..."she explained. "I'm trying to figure out why you are on their list, Amidamaru-sama...you've done nothing against their rules..." Zera laughed,

"You're right...he's not on my list! I just thought that he'd be a good enough opponent to send to Hell!" at that she pulled out a long metal pole. She muttered something, and energy filled the pole, slowly making it from her hands to the top. Mine's eyes widened as the energy suddenly flew out at the tip, shaping in to a large blade. "my blade of energy may not be able to slice through humans, but to a ghost it's beyond fatal." She took a step forward.

"Manta!" Mine called out, not turning her gaze .

"Y-yes?" Manta was at her side in a second.

"Run up to the attic and grab my scythe from beside my bed...hurry!" Manta nodded and ran towards the door. Mine clenched her fists as Zera drew closer.

"If you stay out of my way it will make it easier on the both of us, Mine" she said as she raised her weapon and ran towards her.

'I have to keep her away from Amidamaru...no matter what' Mine though, watching Zera jump in the air, preparing to swing.

At the last moment, Yoh appeared in front of Mine, blocking Zera with the wooden sword he had in his hand. The hit pole to sword, and Zera used the force to fly back a few feet.

"Thanks." Mine said, "Now go protect Amidamaru..." Yoh nodded an took his place behind her.

"Mine!" Manta called as he made his way out of the house, literally dragging the scythe over to her. She walked over and picked it up with one hand. "That's heavy..." Manta pointed out.

"I know...thanks for grabbing it for me..." she turned back to Zera, who had just made Yoh drop his sword. "I don't think so..." she muttered and began running in their direction, leaving a pink Manta behind. As she ran, Zera swung her blade at Yoh, the energy part going right through him , just missing Amidamaru that was behind him. She would have hit him, hadn't the pole part of the weapon hit him in the head. "Back off!" Mine growled and swung her blade. Zera had must just in time, jumping back a few feet from where Mine and the others stood.

"I thought I was a goner!" Yoh said, looking rather pale. "That blade of hers is so creepy!"

"Don't worry, she won't have it for much longer!" she said as she ran over to where Zera stood. She was about to swing her blade when Zera disappeared, making her stop dead in her tracks. She turned just in time for Zera to swing her blade. The energy part went through her, and the pole part just missed her. "Tch!" Mine jumped back, her left hand on her right shoulder.

"Oh? What's this?" Zera asked. She watched as the scythe dropped out of her hand. "I cut you?" she watched as Mine's shirt began to darken on the right side. "Why are you bleeding?" Zera ordered. Mine did not answer.

"Something isn't right about this..." Manta thought aloud. Next to him, Yoh nodded,

"You're right, Manta...there is defiantly something wrong here..." he said as he watched Mine wince in pain as she tried to move her arm.

'Dammit!' Mine thought, 'My right arm is shot...I won't be able to block her next blow...' she watched a glare form on Zera's features. 'If she goes for my head I'm done for...'

"Interesting..." Zera began, making Mine look in her direction. "If you were a ghost, your arm would be gone. If you were a human, you're arm would be fine..." Mine returned the glare. "I'm curious to see what would happen if I tried to cut your head off...'

'Dammit...' Mine thought, bracing herself, 'This is it...' Zera raised her blade and began to run. Mine took a step back as she tried to think of a way to get out of her reach when suddenly...

Zera tripped over a rock...and landed flat on her face.

"Ow!" Zera screamed as she hit the ground. She stood up and lifted her foot, hissing in pain. "I hate it when I do that!" she began jumping around on one foot. "Owwww owww owww!" her eyes were no longer gold, but light brown. As she continued hopping around, Mine noticed that her voice had changed as well.

"What...the...HELL?!" Mine shouted, making Zera stopped. She put her foot down, turn to Mine and pointed at her, eye wide and head tilted to the side,

"Um...who are you?"

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Koushirou: there! All done. I have the next chapter ready..I just need to get it typed and posted. It may be a while. Its hard for me to get to a computer...but I will update as soon as I can!

Ren: Review!