Disclaimer: It has indeed been a long time since I have written another chapter to this fanfiction. I've been busy with the real world, and its nice to come back and finish a story I truly love. I own nothing.

Introduction

Broken: Talking to ourselves as we drink our morning tea. Afraid to feel no birds and bees. Voices in my mind, and a life no longer worthy. Doubt is my leader...a man without a map as he walks life's journey. In a strangers arms, sweaty palms, running far and wide only here for the ride. I woke up to the sound of a breaking heart. My pieces filled with questions.

Chapter 6 Nameless Malady

Finally being back in Hikaru's residence made me feel so happy, finally at ease with myself. That night I slept truly like a child enjoying good dream after the next. Many dreams were with Aoshi, my guardian, and others with Tai and Kip. My eyes would flutter open in the middle of the night, still wondering if Tai was even here at all, but my eyes would only fall upon Aoshi, who still sat up but slumped his head against his chest asleep. I could only smile, and return to my dreams.

Dawn came all too early, as I squirmed out of bed groggily. My arm still pulsated pain, but I was able to remove the sling from my shoulder, giving me at least more mobility. I strolled around the dojo silently, I had awoken earlier then I usually did. In a way the dojo seemed foreign, and I looked to see if anything had changed, but to my delicate it hadn't, it was just the same old dojo.

I arrived at the practicing grounds, and my hand gripped my new sword. The true test of Raijuta's work would be now, or at least soon, after I could use my arm to its maximum capacity. I drew my sword quickly, listening to the gliding sound as blade touched the inner sheath. I began my routine, slowly swinging and slicing the air, feeling the rhythm and moving with my feet. Midway through my exercise I feel to my knees, my arm could no longer endure the strains. The sword though, was remarkable, and it suited my like my own shadow.

"Sister, what are you doing training at this hour? The pheasants haven't even awoken yet"

I rose slowly dusting invisible dust from my kimono and sleeves. I turned and faced Tai with a smile.

"It is only in my natural routine, something I do each morning"

Tai rubbed his eyes sleepily and stretched while using his right hand to cover his mouth. Kip appeared soon after at Tai's feet sitting down swishing his tail

"You are indeed a rebel sister. You indeed insisted on learning to read and become educated just like the boys, and now you even use a sword. I swear, you are one of a kind An, you truly are."

I stuck my tongue out at him playfully as I walked over and stroked Kip's head.

"Better to be strange then a normality. It brings more excitement to a repetitious lifestyle does it not?"

"Oh An, again with your philosophy" He moaned, rolling his eyes as she stared at the sky proudly. I continued to stroke Kip's head while he licked at my face. It was so lifting to see that my canine had indeed watched over my brother. I felt someone's arms slide around my waist, and I turned my head to see it was Tai, slightly crying again as he held me. "I'm so glad you are back. I've missed you so much, I thought you had been hurt or worse..."

I turned around and placed my hands on his shoulders smiling reassuringly. I then gave him a quick embrace and kissed his cheek,

"You goof-ball, you know nothing could keep me away from you, not even the Red Sea. If you were in charge you'd surely mess things up like you always do!"

"I am only so happy that I'll let that slide for now." Tai rose slowly and smiled; he then turned and gave a wave. "I'm going back to bed, I'll see ya at breakfast sister." With that, Tai turned the corner and disappeared.

After tending to some of Hikaru's animals and doing the morning chores the sun soon had began to risen. The hallway grandfather clock chimed an early seven. Where had time surely gone? I stretched slightly, breathing in this fresh country air. I looked about, it was now deep into the fall season, and the cherry blossom trees would soon be blooming. The whole estate seemed to be alive with the whispering winds and willow trees. No matter what limit of distress I was feeling, I could on smile at this beautiful sight.

I pranced happily to the bathing quarters. It had nearly been three days since I had properly groomed myself and I felt smutty. I entered the quarters quietly and turned on the taps allowing them to run, the room was slowly becoming condensed with a blanket of steam.

I slowly unbuttoned my kimono and let it fall to the floor, then stripping myself of all my undergarments. I then slithered into the shower. The hot water felt good against my stiff skin as I laved myself slowly. The soapy texture felt good on my exterior and I could not help but let out a cheerful hum that drifted out the cracks of the doors. My soul and my body felt cleansed, but I still remained in the shower for a long time after. I was so entranced and peaceful I must not have heard the continuous thudding against the door. I peaked my head out from behind the shower curtain.

"Who is it?"

"Its Aoshi. Hurry up Anju you've been in there for ages!"

"It has only been a half an hour!"

I could hear him growl with anger, and I thought I heard him walk away. Soon after I heard the door slide open and I froze behind the curtain. I stared up at the showerhead, hoping he was just walking in to drop something off and then would leave. I watched his shadow move about outside the shower's thin curtain, I then realized that my towel was only within arm's reach. There was a small gap between the shower's walls and the curtains length, and I could just make out the white fabric. I slyly reached out to snatch it, and then found there was another hand attached to it at the other end. I looked out to find Aoshi standing naked.

"Aoshi what are you doing?" I stared at him in disbelief, my eyes staying far away from his lower seductive parts. I felt a thin line of blush growing on my face.

"Anju! I didn't realize you were actually in the shower, I thought you were just preparing in front of the mirror!" He stared at me for a moment, and seeing I was naked, for a moment gazed at me with a kinky look but I glared at him, throwing a bar of soap at his face. He ducked quickly, laughed, and then he jumped into the shower behind me, so I could not see him. I felt our hips touch and I turned an even deeper red. I tried to bend my head back to see him as I wrapped my arms in an X formation around my front. Aoshi bent over his face close to mine as he whispered in a hushed tone. "Stay here and wash off with me," he replied as he pressed himself harder against me.

"Aoshi, we should not be doing this, it is dishonorable, we aren't even married yet" I replied bashfully still trying to cover myself the best I could. Aoshi only gave a soft laugh and started to suds my hair with more shampoo. He weaved his hands through my hair so gracefully.

"As long as I'm with you, I do not care if I am dishonorable. I can't be away from you Anju-San; I want to be with you ever waking moment of my life. When we first met, we both did not believe in this idea of an arranged marriage, and I first wondered if I could ever truly love someone I did not know. Look at us now, it has been maybe two weeks now, and look how deeply in love I am with you. I know we are marrying, to honor our parents, but I want you to marry me because you really do love me. I want us to grow old together and be happily in love, I want you to bare my children, I just want to be with you Anju, just you"

I felt myself fluster another shade of red when he spoke of me wanting to bare his children. I was only now seventeen, and turning eighteen in a few more weeks. He wrapped his arms around my neck and rested his chin on my shoulder, his face seemed to be illuminated by the steam arising in the shower. He kissed my cheek this time and pressed himself against me further. Aoshi himself was trying very hard to control his desires towards me, but he could not help but try to seduce me.

I could not help myself as I tried to stifle my laughter. He kissed my neck and shoulder again and again entranced by me, as if he was lost in his own worldly desires that I could not give him at this time. I turned to face him, but as I did my vision suddenly went groggy, blurry, and with that I found myself falling again "ANJU-SAN" Was the last I heard, the screaming of Aoshi's voice.

Aoshi's Point Of View

I never was the man to believe in true or honest love. I believed what my father had ordered me to believe. I hated my father, for all the horrible sins he had committed. Ginta that disgusting excuse for a human, I couldn't stand him. I would walk around my manor, each day seeing new woman's faces while my mother went out to town.

Many of those faces were frightened, and so young as well, I could not help but wonder if they had been auctioned off, or what their reasons were for doing such dishonorable things. We were in times of war, and money was severely scarce to the common, but why would a girl go so far to do this? I could only scowl and walk by, and as the years went on, I felt myself shutting everything out.

I would walk around the manor, my hands in my pockets, never looking my father or mother in the eye. I found ease in my swordsmanship, but as Namura became my mentor, it only filled my heart with a deeper black darkness. I remember the whip marks and slashes upon my back, and I wished that Anju had never seen those. They only band me with the horrible truth of my past, and I wish the past were gone.

But when Anju came into my life, it was like a tiny sliver of light in a world of eternal unhappiness, maybe she could finally lift the haze in my eyes, and allow them to glimmer once more.

-Flashback-

I had been riding upon my stallion in the town, just scooping out anything worth watching. I had actually ridden straight through the town and entered the smaller community of homes. I had stopped to rest and allow my horse to drink at a local well when I first laid eyes upon her, this beautiful maiden with black hair. She still looked as though she were younger then I, but I found myself becharmed.

I sat back against a tree, making myself inconspicuous. She wore a silky white kimono embroidered with the lotus flower for a border. She was carrying a huge water bucket and was socializing with a group of people. There were a few other girls, but none of them allured me like she did. The girl and the group slowly started walking off, most likely returning to her home with the water. I took my horse by the reins, and at a distance I follow them.

To my surprise, it was not the girl's residence at all, but a friend. They all laughed as the girl took off to cook as they moaned of how selfless she was. The maiden only turned and smiled at them, her eyes shimmered as well. I tied the horse to a nearby tree in the fields, so he may enjoy his day while I followed the water maiden.

The bunch sat down and ate as the water maiden served out the meal. The girls giggled and complimented her; she only held her serving dish against her apron and rubbed the back of her head with embarrassment. I found myself chuckling as well; she seemed completely pure and innocent. The group of girls then lit a giant bonfire in their back yard as they all sat around it. I did not even realize I was probably trespassing, but I sat up in one of their rose of Sharon trees. Once again the water maiden was off making faces as they roasted marshmallows. Her threw her head back and laughed, her laugh so endearing and adorable. I did not even realize how hungry I was until I watched them eat their marshmallows.

Another hour slowly drew onward and the group had lulled to almost a silence as they whispered to one another. The water maiden lay down against the grass and stared up at the stars. Within moments, I heard a sound, a beautiful sound, it was her voice, her singing, the water maiden was singing. Her voice was soft, but so calming, she sang so casually like she had no care at all.

The greeting of a young man calling out to her stopped her magnificent singing. She sat up instantly smiling and waving as a group of boys entered the scene. The girls walked over slowly as the boys bowed to them and they returned their gesture. Many of them broke off into pairs, most likely couples. Three boys, one with green hair, another blue, and the final one orange surrounded the water maiden.

I growled with envy as they picked her up and carried her playfully over the shoulders as the laughed with humor. I wanted so much to be down there with her, and at the same time pummel those guys' faces into the ground. They spun her in the air and she laughed beckoning them to stop. Of course they did, as it seemed they were infatuated with her as well.

The three boys then began to talk to her in a whisper, which caused me to raise suspicions. I saw the water maidens eyes turn sorrowful and afraid as she slowly backed away from them. The lady shook her head and waved her hands away in front of them, but they slowly advanced. Much of their voice was that in pleading, but at the same time dangerous. The orange haired boy grabbed at her hand and she let out a scream as he pulled her in. I sat up on my feet about to jump from my tree but was stopped as the girl retaliated.

Only a quick eye could have seen her spirited moves that caused the boy to fall to the ground. As she was pulled in she quickly pushed off, forcing herself into him, causing him to lose his balance. As he stumbled back with her she quickly jabbed him in the nose, causing a small trickle of blood to appear. The two other boys were angry now, and began their charge. I sat there, immobilized, unsure of to make myself noticeable or allow the maiden to fight her own battles.

I could see the terror growing in the girl's eyes, but she did not fight, only pushed through them and ran as fast as her legs could take her. As she ran past my tree, for a moment I watched her flea but I then jumped from my tree and chased after her. I was wearing black, so I doubt she could have seen me follow after he. I made a detour fetching my horse, and then took off in a gallop after her.

The water maiden to my surprise, was extremely fast, it was indeed to keep up with her, even on the horse. She ran far into the depths of the murky forest, and eventually she sat under a willow tree and began to sob. I stayed mounted on my horse, and I wondered I should go to comfort her. And yet again, she began to sing, her voice a bit shuttered from her fear, but the words seemed to comfort her.

I found myself off my horse, slowly walking towards her, but I halted, upon hearing another voice ring out singing to her. The boy emerged from the shadows and the water maiden turned her head and stood up. The boy ran over to her and embraced her. The boy was indeed shorter then the girl, but that was all I could tell due to the lack of light from the cloud-covered moon.

The two were probably lovers, and I found my heart slowly crumbling. The two then walked off disappearing into the horizon, leaving me alone, wondering who that girl was. I walked over to the spot where the girl sat, staring out into the groves of trees as she had done to comfort herself. I could not shake the girl's image from my mind, and I rested my head on my knees stifling tears and anger. Was I not an idiot, to love a girl I did not know? Near midnight, I finally went home, my heart still longing for her.

I had found out the next day that I was to be married. I remembered being very deplorable. My mind was still filled with images of that beautiful water maiden, I wanted no one else, and no one else could fill her place. I sat up on my bedroom, while my parents down below congregated with the bride's parents. I refused to come out; I refused to have my freedom thrown away by being married to a woman I did not know. I heard a knock at my door, and I opened it to find a servant girl.

"Mr. Shinamori sir, please understand this ordeal, it is tradition, and that is that no matter how unjust you may think it be. Do understand, that downstairs there is a girl who is going through the same thing as you. She will have to listen to your every command, and lose her virginity to a boy who hardly is ready to marry for his head is in the clouds. Please, at least speak with the girl, do her some justice"

I growled at her slightly, but came to realize that she was indeed right. I then came down the stairs with the servant girl quietly. I kept my hands in my pockets and looked down as I entered the room. Abuuji placed his arm around my shoulder and I lifted my head embarrassed as he spoke of me. Abuuji (father) then pointed to me my new bride, and no containment in the world could capture all the emotions I was feeling.

It was truly her, the water maiden, she looked at me, with that same terror and fear in her eyes. I found myself hurt, that she would fear me, but at the same time, she had not known I had followed her. I could not have been happier...

-End Flashback-

Now that same water maiden lies before me venturing towards death. Anju had lost consciousness while we were together in the shower. It was like an angel falling ever rapidly to the earth below. I caught her promptly and shook at her shoulders

"Anju! Anju-san wake up!" I shook her hard, and found that there was sweat dripping down from her face. I had believed it was to be the shower water, but I now found it not to be so. In the heat of this fear, I dressed myself quickly, my shirt half on and my hair dripping wet. I wrapped Anju in a towel, to make her at least decent and I ran down the hallway.

"Hikaru! Hikaru come quick! Tai! Tai! Get over here!" I screamed beckoning her, I ran to our room kicking the door open. I dashed to the bed and quickly laid her upon. Tai and Hikaru both entered the room panting

"What's the matter Aoshi?" They both asked in unison

"Hikaru has fainted once more, she's burning up with fever"

Hikaru quickly ran to my side and placed her hand upon Anju's head.

"This is not good Aoshi, she is in a critical state" her gaze was then shot to Tai, who stood in the doorway ready to collapse into a flood of tears "Tai! Run to town now, I need you to find Sano, Miss Tae, and a doctor. Tell them this is an emergency!"

Tai nodded and moved his lips, but his words were inaudible.

"Hikaru, what is wrong with her?" I asked in a panicked tone. I stared down at Anju. She lay there in bed panting ever so and shook her head breathing out hard in a deep pain. Her movements were so restless and sweat poured from her.

Hikaru looked at me gravely. "I am unsure of the disease or illness, but it might be due to the change in environment and activities. She has been through so much in these two weeks; she has not given herself time to adjust because of her selfless behaviors. I do know, that if we do not get her medicine soon, she will surely die."

I gasped and my eyes widened as I stared at Hikaru in disbelief. No.... Anju cannot leave me; she is all I have left. She cannot leave Tai and everyone else. I took Anju's hand and squeezed it tight

"I will not let her die Hikaru!"

Hikaru could only run off to fetch a wet cloth and water. She quickly returned and placed the cloth upon Anju-San's head. We waited impatiently for the others to return, and that hour, seemed more like a century. Anju's fever was slowly raising, and I could hear her scream out in agony although she was lost in her coma.

Sano was the first to rush through the room, then Tai. Miss Tae ran in soon after, her apron still on pulling the hand of the doctor. The doctor sat down beside myself and Hikaru and pulled out her stethoscope from her medicine bag

"I'm Megumi, tell me, how long has she been unconscious now?"

"For a little over an hour" I replied quickly. She placed the stethoscope on Anju's chest and listened, we all were silenced waiting for her first reply. She listened so carefully, and would move around the scope to hear in different locations. Megumi removed her stethoscope and looked to me.

"Her breathing is very frail and rapid. What were you doing when she collapsed?" She did not fully wait for my answer, as she rusted through her bag pulling out a thermometer. She coarsely placed the thermometer into Anju's mouth as she stared at her watch counting the seconds that ticked by.

I myself was very embarrassed unsure of what to tell the doctor in front of the audience of friends around us. I was still half dressed and wet, and Anju was naked without her towel. I feared someone would put two and two together but I had no other choice.

"Miss Anju had been bathing in the shower when I heard a loud crashing sound. She crashed to the floor as I ran into the bathroom. Could she have fainted from overheating?"

Megumi shook her head as she pulled out the thermometer and stared at the reading "Heat would not have caused this illness." She stared at the reading again, in disbelief "How is that possible? Her temperature is abnormally cold, yet she shows all signs of fever. The reading on this dial is 89.9 and dropping that is nearly 9 degrees lower then normal. A normal persons heart would have shut down by now."

"Are you kidding me lady? Your thermometer must be busted!" Sano replied angrily, his fist clenched and dripped with blood. He must have squeezed them too hard from his lack of control. Miss Tae shook Sano gently trying to get him to calm down.

"I am a trained doctor, of course all my equipment is in tip top condition. I cannot afford mistakes when a life is on the line" Megumi looked at Anju again, her face perplexed "This girl is having an overloud of pressure. Her body is very weak and strained, and looks as though she had not eaten properly in days. Have you not fed this girl?"

Hikaru shot a glare back at Megumi "Anju herself does all the cooking for the family, she always eats after we do"

"But, we never actually see her eat, maybe she hasn't" I replied

"But she ate with us yesterday after she returned with me" Tai piped in.

"What is this girl's name?"

"Anju Akira. Why?"

"Akira, she is the heir to the Akira fortune then? Her estate was destroyed weeks ago. Tell me, what has she been doing?"

"She has been training herself nonstop. She is busy about the house cleaning and cooking, and also has a job at the Akabeko. A few days ago though she ran off and was lost, but Tai brought her back yesterday"

Megumi looked at everyone terribly angry "How could you let her hit this state? She is seventeen years old for Christ's sake! She is having an overloud of her emotions, and she can no longer control them, not only that, it rained two days ago, she was out in the rain for hours!"

"That's why we got you idiot! Now do something before I knock you to hell!" Sano screamed

"I am you Knuckle Head! If you wish for my assistance you will treat me with better respect" Megumi barked at Sano

"ENOUGH" I screamed, everyone stared at me as a tear fell from my eyes "You're bickering shall not save her! She's ill and dying right before us as we argue over nonsense. Will you not just all shut up and save her! I swear if she dies I will blame you all for this! Her temperature is cold and low what can we do to bring it up?"

Megumi shook her head, ending her mute like mood. From her bag she pulled out a jar of pills "Give her these tablets every hour, two an hour due to her extremely critical condition, to bring her temperature back up, give her many blankets to keep her warm, and continue dampening her forehead."

Sano, Tai, and Miss Tae all sprinted out of the room. Tai returned with many more buckets of water and rags, while Sano and Tae had many quilts. After we had all settled ourselves and finished our duties we all looked back to Megumi, who was checking Anju's pulse

"Her pulse is weak, and slowly fading. There is not much else you can all do but pray that she can break through the fever."

"What did you mean before, heir to the Akira fortune?" Sano asked quizzing

"Do you not know her father? Namura Akira? He is a retired general from the Japanese's elite army and a strong businessman. He himself was worth millions"

"Would that cause someone to want to assassin her?" Asked Miss Tae

I myself grew frightful, thinking back to the Batosi. He did not want her head for the money, he wanted her as revenge for knowing his secrets and easily startling his soul and beliefs.

"It is not possible and assassin could have done this. This is a very rare febricity, we as doctors have categorized in danger 6 mood. Danger six is the highest form of disease, along with cancers, leukemia, and tuberculosis. See, when she stopped eating, her body had no choice but to shut down. Strenuous activity with malnutrition is unhealthy enough, but being exposed to those flaming temperatures, and then introduce to chilling rain was a fatal thing indeed. To add to that, she has been under a lot of stress and is harboring many insalubrious emotions, and finally, her devotion to her swordsmanship has only pushed her too the breaking point."

Sano looked down in agonizing downcast. "If only I had not been so selfish...she would not have run off into the storm. Forcing her into a relationship she had no feelings for. She only had tried to protect me."

Tai looked regretful as well..."I should have left a note...or found her sooner instead of hiding in the forest"

Miss Tae was tearing as well "I made her work too many hours at the restaurant, especially during the fight and unhappiness she was going through"

Hikaru looked at Anju crying as well. "And I, one who was a mother, could not even begin to comprehend or see the warnings of her slow fall to this illness. She was so selfless, cooking and cleaning without a moment of hesitation. Her devotion to make other's happy is far too much a curse on her behalf"

I held Anju's hand now fully realizing how inconsiderate I have been to her. In her moments of morning, I fell for her and only burdened her with my love wishing and asking for her hand in marriage. I could only heave slowly, beginning to fall into deplumes.

Megumi looked at all of us sympathetically. "You can blame yourselves all you wish, but fate is indeed a crueler thing then self guilt. Little things only lead to a larger mountain, and her death is quickly approaching. There is nothing more I can do for her here, continue with the tablets and the cooled water. I shall return tomorrow in the evening, to see if she survives the night." With that she snapped her bag shut and left us alone in the room with Hikaru.

"If...she.... survives...the night?" I asked in disbelief. Was Anju really that far away that she could die in my arms without ever seeing another speck of life? "Anju...please come back Anju"

The day dragged on into the late hours and early morning. We would alternate hours of watching over Anju, changing her cloths and checking her pulses and temperatures. Her breathing was so scarce; we often had to press ourselves against her to hear if she was breathing.

When one was tending to Anju, the other's slept, but I never left her side.

Her body was so weak. Her face was pallid. Her eyes stayed firmly shut, and though I held her hand, she could not squeeze it back. She was stale, although she sweat by buckets, she felt as though she was sleeping upon ice. Anju's hair had eventually dried, and stayed planate up against the pillows. Hikaru had long ago disposed of the soggy towel, afraid that more dampness would cause her fever to never cease, so now she lay under many blankets, still securely covered. Anju had made no real movements in over 12 hours, and it was now 10 o'clock in the evening. Her pulse was so dense and slow, I had never been so deranged.

Miss Tae had bandaged Sano's hands, so his blood would clot and he would no longer harm himself because of his frustration. The two were asleep up against the wall their heads leaned up against each other. Hikaru was still tending to Anju's waters, and Tai sat next to me. Tai had not yet slept, and his eyes were black and baggy. He was indeed exhausted, but he did not dare to leave his sister's side. I could not help but feel sorry for the poor boy, for he had only just found Anju just to have her fade away into this illness.

"Aoshi sir?"

I looked up upon hearing someone call my name, I realized it had been Tai, but his head was still drooped.

"What is it Tai?"

"What did the doctor mean when she spoke about a fight?"

"It was nothing Tai, only a pointless quarrel that now has passed" I said monotone without looking at him.

"Then why would Anju be so upset about it?"

"Do not ask questions that require answers you could not understand" I replied fiercely

"I may only be 15 but I understand many things even for my age!"

"You may understand wisdom beyond your years, but fights between old friends are not for younger brothers to ask questions about. Things happen in our lives, and some questions are best left unanswered. You sister had a fight with a friend, and it shook her up pretty bad, but what's done is done and now over. The longer you dwell with memories, the longer you live in the past, and it is best now to press forward"

There was a silence between us, and Tai now knew that he would not get his answer but still had a great courage to speak to me once more.

"Do you only wish to have my sister for her inheritance money?"

'Of course not."

"Will you protect her with the Batosi returns?"

"I will die for her if I must"

Tai was a bit startled by my answer, but smiled somewhat pleased that I had so much endearment for Anju.

"Do you not miss your parents as gravely as Anju does?"

"I miss my mother more then imaginable, but at the same time I am not one to openly show my emotions when dealing with sorrow and regret. Mother and father are gone, and I cannot bring them back. Your sister keeps her heart open to everyone, and although she is loving it can sometimes be her weakness"

"Have you dishonored my sister in any way?" He asked defensively, he greatly cared for Anju, and I could not help but smile at his loyalty and devotion to her.

"Your sister still keeps her virginity, and I shall not jeopardize that until we are married. So do not worry your little head Tai, I respect Anju more then anyone, and I will always keep her safe."

"Anju may say she loves you, but I will still be watching you. I do not want to see you quickly drop her because you infatuation with her dies out. Many men fall for Anju at first sight because she looks desirable, and many times her heart has been broken. She has been through so much, and if you inflict upon her any more pain, I will kill you and watch you gasp your final breaths" Tai almost seemed angry with me, as if he knew of something I did not, something he was not speaking of.

"I shall not harm her" I replied one final time. Tai then rose, and walked over to Miss Tae and Sano. He draped a blanket over the two, and he curled up on the futon mattress, and within moments he too was lost in a sleep.

Aunt Hikaru had long since left to her sleeping corridors, I promising her I could handle the evening shift. Everyone else deserved a good rest, for I knew that I could never be able to sleep with Anju in such a fragile state.

I vellicated Anju's hand tenderly kissing it lightly, for the longest time I stroke her hand, and never once let go of it. It was as if our hands were the only link that kept Anju for slipping away into the shadows.

I could only stare at her softly, as small tears trickled down my cheeks. She was so ill, and I could do nothing to save her.

"Anju-San..."