Hiya everyone! Thanks for all the reviews! They really helped inspire me to continue writing...But, it STILL won't stop me from using THIS! pulls out the Flamthrower Delax YES THE FLAMETHROWER HAS RETURNED! MWAHAHAHAHA! ...Anyway, in this chapter, we find out why Muffy lives with Griffin and...something happens to a certain someone and Tai falls deeper in depression! R&R!

P.S: I STILL HAVE THE FLAMETHROWER PEOPLE!

Chapter 7: Another Thing Lost

Tai didn't know how long he had sat there and cried. It seemed like forever. All he could think about was Celia and Jason. He kept telling himself how horrible he was...how it was all his fault.

When Tai finally looked up from his hands, the darkness had disappeared. Light was now seeping through the trees. The animals of the forest were calling to one another happily, but Tai didn't seem to notice.

The only thing he noticed was the figure in a cloak walking torward him.

As the figure got closer, Tai finally stood up and grabbed the sickle next to him. He held it in fighting position.

But suddenly the figure stopped. It looked at Tai with unseen eyes. Tai could feel its eyes scanning him.

"...Tai?"

Tai dropped the sickle and his mouth. He couldn't believe who he was seeing.

"...Muffy?"

"What are you doing out here?" the blond girl asked, removing the cloaks hood from her head. It was Muffy all right.

"I ask the same question," Tai answered, matter of factly. Muffy was taken aback.

"I...uh...I..." She sighed. "Look, I always come here for a walk. It helps...clear my head."

"Oh," Tai muttered, feeling bashful.

"Now why are YOU here?" she asked suddenly.

Tai looked at his feet, tears threatening to fall.

"Celia and Jason...were kidnapped..." Tai answered, holding back the urge to cry again. He seemed to be doing that alot lately.

Muffy was silent. "...Tai...I'm so sorry...I had...no idea," she stammered, looking embarrased and ashamed.

"Hey, it's all right...it's not your fault..." Tai answered, forcing a smile.

"Let me help you," Muffy insists, looking hard at Tai.

"Muffy," he mummers. "It's too dangerous. I can't let you!"

"No, Tai," Muffy shouted. She lowers her head and stairs at her feet. "I'm not gonna let someone else die..."

"Wha-what are you talking about?" Tai asks, confused.

"My...my parents went on a search for a lost little girl when I was young...They found the girl...but my parents..." Muffy stopped and Tai saw a tear fall from he eye.

"Oh," Tai says amazed. "I'm...I'm sorry. I had no idea..."

"It's...alright..." She looks up at Tai and smiles sadly.

"Let me help," she says grabbing his hands. "I don't wanna lose anyone close to me ever again."

Tai was silent. He already risked Celia's life and it proved chaos. Should he risk another friends life on this dangerous journey? He sighed.

"Yes," he muttered. "But, you must be careful. These people don't care to kill anyone that gets in there way...And thats what I'm afraid of."

"Thank you, Tai," Muffy cried, hugging Tai tighly. "I won't let them hurt Celia or Jason."

Tai smiled and then, something hit him.

"Hey, where's Takakura?" he wondered aloud. He broke the embrace hastly and walked torward the cabin. "Takakura! Taka, where are you!"

Suddenly, there was a cough from inside the cabin. Tai gasped and, holding his sickle close, walked slowly through the door.

"Taka?" he whispered, just barely audiable.

"Tai," came a weak whisper from the cornor of the room. "Over here."

Tai rushed torward the wall and gasp when he saw Takakura laying against the wall, mortally injuried. He had a gash on the side of his head, which was bleeding. He had cuts and bruises. And a stab wound was visable through his shirt.

"Oh my goddess," he muttered, dropping to his knees in front of Takakura. "Taka, what happened!" He reached into his knapsack, trying his best not to panic.

"They...they attacked me..." Takakura whezzed. "They...attacked me while some other...guys went for Celia...Tai, she's gone..." He coughed and blood came with it. Tai pushed the horrible thought out of his mind and pushed on Takakura's head wound. He cringed.

"Just - just hang on, Taka," Tai choked. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't push the terrible thought of Takakura dying out of his thoughts. Please...please hang on...don't let him die on me!

"No, Tai," Takakura whezzed weakly. "I won't be able to help you anymore...but listen...they were talking...to one another...they said something about Jason...something about revenge...they're hiding...out in another cabin...it's a...a trap...Tai...save your...family...they're plaining...something horrible..." Takakura coughed up more blood.

"No, Taka!" Tai shouted. The thought lingered in his mind. You can't, you won't save him... "Please, don't die on me! Please..."

"Save your family..." Takakura answered weakly. He was slipping in and out of consiusness.

"No, Takakura, please...your my friend...please...your the only memory of Dad I have..." Tears were now streaming down Tai's face as he tried desperatly to get Takakura to hold on.

With what energy he had left, Takakura raised his hand and grabed Tai's. He smiled weakly. "Your a great farmer and a wonderful dad...just like your own. You...take care of what you have...goodbye..."

Tai gripped Takakura's hand tightly as if it would keep him there...with him. "No, Takakura... please.." Takakura smiled on last time...and closed his eyes.

Tai saw all of the memories of Takakura flash through his head.

"Uncle Taka!"

"Hiya, Squirt!"

A black haired man bent down to catch a little boy who was running torward him. He picked him up and layed him on his shoulder.

Takakura's breathing was coming in short wheezy gasps.

"Takakura, my brother...your the only person Tai has left. Take care of him for me..."

"I'll...I'll take care of him..."

A black haired man stands with his head in his hands, sobbing, stairing down at the brown haired man laying on the hospital bed.

Takakura's hand falls from Tai's.

"Taka, Dad...is dead, isn't he?"

"...I'm so sorry, Tai,"

A black haired man sits with a brown haired teen in a hospital waiting room. Tears fall down there face as they try to comfort each other.

His breathing stops.

"I'm...so proud of you, Tai,"

"I couldn't have done this without you, Taka."

"Your father would have been proud."

A black haired man and a brown haired man stand gazing upon the farm in front of them. Crops grow everywhere and everything is beautiful. The brown haired man hugs the black haired man.

"Thanks...for bringing me here, Taka. This is for all the years you've helped me and been friends with me.

Takakura..." he sobbed, holding his head in his hands.

His best friend, Takakura, had died.

MAN am I evil! sniff Poor Tai...poor Takakura...well anyway stay tuned for the next chappie! holds up flamethrower Oh, and review please:)

Oh and I have a special shoutout to chicks-rule05! Love ya, Auntie! (lol)

Until Next Time!

SoL