A/N: hey! I hope that chapter 12 isn't a big disappointment to all of you (scratching head) I kind of had the so-called-mental-block thing; hopefully, I have recovered and went back to my usual inspired self. I guess thirteen is just an unlucky number, but I guess it wont work on me grins. I'm so darn lucky, especially with all the reviews I've been getting from all of you out there. It's like it was only yesterday when I opened my mail and found only twelve or nineteen but now I got (teary eyed) forty plus, thank god! I'm very much grateful to all, and yes even those who had been pretty rough, scary and just the I-think-you-should-do-these kind of people. I guess I do owe everything to you. So I hope that chapter 13 would be a blast for you. ENJOY!

Disclaimer: (sigh) what do you think?

Chapter 13: the escape

"Shin... Misao" he whispered.

Meanwhile somewhere just about twelve blocks away from the restaurant...

Inside me were the feelings of wanting and the urge of seeing him. He was always there whenever I was in danger such as now, but now he was gone and I had left him to his own self, I had left him to his own happiness, which is his own free will. I had left him to be alone by him self. But now the more it took time for me to think of it, the more I longed for him, the more I am urged to follow those steps that I had left once. I am trapped in this emptiness inside me, the feeling that I had no one to turn to, that I'm all by myself in these depths of burden that I had to carry as long as I live. I am to be blamed, and I know that I will never be able to take it all back. It was my choice and I have decided it all to happen and now I had to face it all by myself with no one beside me but my own shadow.

"Misao!" Misao shook.

What is this voice I hear? Is it a mere imagination that I had created myself to feel happy or is it an angel whispering my name and that god had sent it to me for comfort?

"Sister!" Misao felt a small warm hand touch her face then she smiled.

Maybe it is an angel, and that god had heard my sorrowful cries and had brought me a companion to share my burden with.

"Sister Misao!!!" Misao's eyes fluttered as she slowly open them.

"Are you okay?" Shin looked at Misao with such concern.

"Shin" Misao whispered to herself.

"Yes I'm okay" Misao forced a smile.

"How about you? Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" Misao asked as she carefully lifts Shin onto her arms.

"Yes Sister Misao, they kind of slapped me on the face but it's okay." Shin whispered as she buried her face onto Misao's shoulders.

"I'm scared sister" Shin said in between sobs.

"Don't worry I'll find a way out of here, and maybe the next day we'll come back to beat them up for slapping you on the face" Misao said grinning from ear to ear as she brushed a lock of hair in Shin's face.

"I'm a ninja." Misao said standing proud as she carried Shin on her arms.

"You are!" Shin's face brightened into a warm faint smile.

"Don't worry were going to get out of her in a snap" Misao grinned while snapping her finger.

Back at the restaurant...

Soujiro slowly pulled his sword out of its sheath, staring onto its blade that was once filled with bloodstains. He slowly laid it onto his palms remembering the once cold-blooded killer he used to be. Pictures of his battles had started to flash once again on his eyes. Then he slowly slid it back to its sheath, covering the blade of the mighty sword.

This sword has been the root of my entire burden; this sword is where I had begun my life as a bloodthirsty killer, it is my curse and I know that this curse will always be in me. It flows inside me; it is in my blood, crawling in my veins eating me alive. It is what brought me to be a merciless killer I used to be, but I have set it aside and had started a journey of discovery, a journey of finding the answers I've been seeking for my entire life. Even from the beginning.

But today was the end of it all. For I will have to use it once again, the very curse that had turned me into a devil, the other side of me that I had kept inside me for so many years. I will have to let it out once again.

"Soujiro kun" Akami appeared with a tray of noodles and a cup of warm tea.

"I have to go Akami." Soujiro said as he carefully placed the sheath of sword on the side of his Hakama, tucking it in onto the left side of his waist.

"But Ryujin's house is surrounded by guards!" Akami shouted.

"It is my problem and I don't want you to be butting on my own business!" Akami was furious.

"It's the only way, and it's not your own business anymore since they took Misao as well" Soujiro spoke, almost as if he had turned back onto his serious cold self, no longer the cheerful wanderer he had been.

"I'm going to get her back and Misao as well" Soujiro turned to Akami smiling warmly at her.

"I'm sorry" Akami whispered as tears slid down her cheeks.

"Don't blame it on yourself Akami-san" He said in his softest tone as he walked passed Akami.

Then without another word he turned to the door and left, Leaving Akami in tears.

Back to the stupid rat face Ryujins house...

"Argh..."

"What are you doing sister?" Shin asked looking up at Misao who was pulling herself up onto the window.

"I'm getting us out of here" she whispered as she pulled herself higher onto the stony wall.

After 15 minutes, as Misao kept a strong hold onto the wall...

"I think I can hear someone coming sister" Shin whispered looking up once again on the wall where Misao was dangling on.

"Just a li-tt-le mo-rr-e" Misao spoked as she tries to reach the tip of the window.

"Sister please be careful with the broken glass." Shin whispered.

But Misao wasn't able to hear this and as she reached the window and was able to cling her whole body onto the window...

"Ouch!!!" Misao shouted in pain as she fell flat on her face onto the ground.

Shin quickly ran towards Misao and helped her up. but then out of nowhere they heard a voice.

"Hey! What's going on there?"

Misao and Shin could hear the doorknob turn and the door slowly creaked as it open...

"Were in trouble now" Misao thought to herself as she quickly squeezed Shin onto her arms.

Tsuzukere (am i right?)

A/N: hope you liked the story and that I hope that you'll be hanging around for the next chapter to come. R&R okay (winks)

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What will happen to Misao and Shin? (drums)

Will they be slapped on the face by the stupid rat brain Ryujin? (ten-ten- ten)

Read chapter 4 to know (grins)

Ciao!!!