kyo-obsessedru2: thank you! i always thought it'd be cool int he show to bring hana and megumi in a little more...thank you!

Sin: it isn't over ; P

biawutnow: ack! they haven't released all of the series yet? wow, i'm suddenly very glad i didn't start buying them yet

kyo's little koneko: thank you!

'Will she be alright?...God, I really have no idea...'

Haru sat on the floor across the room from the bed where Kisa was sleeping. It was around 9:00 a.m. Everybody else was still asleep, and he appreciated the silence as he seriously took the time to consider the situation.

'So much...So much has happened to her. I have no idea...Can she be ok? Could any one be ok after going through what she's had to endure? I don't know. And now we've dragged Hana and Megumi into it...I wasn't thinking. Everything happened so fast last night, I didn't have time to think things through. I shouldn't have brought then into this. They could get hurt. Even with thier spells...Peace, of any kind, can't last. I can't let them get any further into this. It isn't thier fight.'

He sighed.

'Everything happened so fast...We weren't ready. Not at all. Not me, not Kisa. I don't if we would ever really have been ready. But still, it was too soon...'

He slowly got to his feet and walked silently to Kisa's bedside. She was breathing quietly, in a deep, tired sleep. He gently used his finger tips to brush the hair out of her face. She turned over, still sleeping soundly.

Haru moved to stand in front of the window. He watched a young girl walking down the sidewalk with a baby in her arms. He watched a little boy with a backpack almost fall, but catch his footing just in time. He watched a mother skipping down the street with her two children, singing and laughing with them.

He turned away, and returned to his original position against the wall on the other side of the room.

'What can we do? I don't know...I don't know where we can go from here...I can't ake care of her on my own like this. I just can't...But what other choice do we have? I don't know. God, I don't know!'

A single, frustrated tear ran down his face, and he wiped it away quickly.

"Haru?"

Kisa sleepy voice floated from from the other side of the room.

"I'm here Kisa."

He stood and went back to her side.

"Do you need something?"

She hesitated, then shook her head.

He smiled softly and gently scooped her up in his arms, blankets and all.

Snuggled against him, Kisa held onto his neck as he went back to his spot on the floor.

Sitting down, he kept his arms around her.

"You're awake?"

He kept his voice low.

She nodded.

He paused.

"It's been crazy, huh?"

"Yeah...But I think it'll get better..."

"Hmmmm..."

She was silent, and after a few more minutes, she fell back into sleep.

Haru smiled.

'I hope...I hope...She'll stay this strong. Forever. Forever...'

He leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and let himself fall asleep again as well.

yep, another chapter. just to give you the heads up, it's gonna be over pretty soon. let's say, a max of 3 more chapters. possibly 2. just to let you know. so reviewreviewreviewreviewreview! and my wonderful, steady reviewers: thank you! you guys are the best! seeya!