Mhahahaha! 3 Since Silver has decided not to write an author's note I have you readers ALL TO MYSELF! evil cackling ensues… Ahem! Yes…well…this chapter should be pretty fun…I think you'll enjoy it anyway! I mean with my genius and Silver's genius combined…? The world as we know could have new rulers. 3 But so that you may now continue to read our story and not listen to me talk…I'm sorry I have no time to do reviewer's stuff…it's like 1:30 in the morning…perhaps Silver will do I before she posts this…shrugs

Chapter 2

Ryou and Koukaku soon found themselves too busy to ponder further about these strange voices. The festival wasn't going to stop just because they might be going mad! They were busy going back and forth from their house to the market putting out the wares their families planned to sell. They hardly even saw each other all week. A hasty hello before customers arrived was their only contact the entire week. Customers were constantly crowded around both stands so that the boys felt they would never again have a chance to sit quietly without someone asking the price.

Finally, after days of back-breaking work, the customers headed home and everything settled down. With the idea of rest, they headed to the same hill once more to talk.

"How did your stand do?" Ryou asked with a sigh as he eased his aching body to the grassy hillside. They had chosen a spot very few villagers frequented because of its proximity to the forest.

Koukaku sighed as well, "Better than even mother expected! I thought those people would never go away! And you?"

"Much the same!" Ryou laughed.

"So…what do you think is going on?" Koukaku asked, "I've been hearing that voice all week!"

"Me too," Ryou nodded, "I can't understand what's happening."

"What does your voice say?" Koukaku asked suddenly curious.

Ryou thought for a moment, "It keeps staying stuff like: 'Why Suzaku? Why him? Stupid, violent…'"

He suppressed a laugh. Koukaku joined in after only a moment's try at keeping it in, "Describes you perfectly!"

"Hey!" Ryou protested.

Koukaku grinned, "Well, mine…is weird…keeps calling me 'aniki'…"

"Heh heh," Ryou chuckled.

Koukaku opened his mouth to answer when a yell from the woods pierced through the tranquility.

"What was that!" he asked.

Ryou shrugged, "What kind of idiot would go into the dark woods?" he asked, "Everyone knows that it's dangerous in there."

"We should go see who it is," Koukaku urged, his good nature once again showing through. Ryou groaned but stood up.

They entered the forest with trepidation, trying not to make any noise. The trees that looked so comforting from the safety of the village suddenly took on a frightening appearance. The creatures that lived here were not the playful creatures found in the fields surrounding the village. They were vicious and prone to attack without warning. The shadows that cloaked everything in sight did nothing to ease the boys' fears.

"Where do you think they are?" Koukaku whispered, almost scared to speak aloud. Ryou shrugged and opened his mouth to answer, when a blur of black appeared from nowhere to land on him. Koukaku gaped in surprise. What was this?

"Ow…" Ryou groaned, wondering if he had been hit by a tree or something. But no, when he opened his eyes, it was a girl dressed all in black with black hair and looking very confused and disorientated. Her silver eyes looked unfocused for a moment.

"Um…excuse me?" Koukaku asked, poking her shoulder. With a start, the girl jumped up, "Oh, god! I'm so sorry!" she said, "But I thought that tree branch was strong enough to hold me…"

"Why were you in a tree?" Ryou asked, rubbing his head.

"I was looking for a friend of mine!" she explained happily, "I thought I could spot her from a high place!"

Koukaku suppressed a laugh, "Ryou used to think that too…"

"Quiet you," Ryou said, shooting a mock glare at Koukaku.

The girl laughed, "Anyways; I'm so sorry for that! I hope I didn't hurt you too much!"

"It's okay…I'm fine…" Ryou said. He started to stand but didn't get halfway up before a shooting pain caused him to hurriedly sit back down. He stared quizzically at his shoulder. He hadn't even realized that he was injured.

"Oh my god! You're hurt; I'm so sorry!" the girl said, "Come; I'll help you" she and Koukaku helped Ryou to his feet and led him to the edge of the lake. She ripped off a piece of her sleeve and ― dipping it into the water ― started bandaging his wound.

"Why were you in the forest?" Koukaku asked.

"Huh?"

"Don't you know that it's dangerous in there?"

"Is it? Oh well; I've never been hurt," the girl continued wrapping his shoulder in a type of sling.

Ryou rolled his eyes, "You can still get hurt you know."

"I don't think so…" she answered. She tightened the cloth and then sat back, "There! All done!" she flashed the two a stunning smile.

"Thanks" Ryou said appreciatively, "You really should keep out of the forest though."

"But how else will I get home?" the girl laughed.

Koukaku looked concerned, "You have to go through this creepy place to get home?"

The girl nodded, "Yep!"

'Crazy girl…' Ryou thought to himself. Out loud he said, "Well, you can't go through now! It's getting dark; you should come with us to our village, and we'll take you back in the morning."

The girl thought about it, "Hm…well…okay!"

Koukaku smiled, "By the way, I'm Wu Koukaku and this is Chang Ryou"

"I'm Lai Shiriko!" she said, "Nice to meet you"

Ryou suppressed another laugh at the carefree attitude of this girl, "C'mon; I bet Ling's gonna be worried about us."

They walked back to the village. Sure enough, Ling was running straight for them, "Aniki! Koukaku-kun!"

She was breathless when she reached them, "Oh…who are you?" she asked, her eyes revealing her curiosity.

"I'm Shiriko; these two said it was dangerous to go through the forest back to my own town, so they invited me to stay."

"Oh! Really! Does that mean she's gonna be staying with us tonight, aniki!"

Ryou nodded, "If mother allows it."

"It's gonna be like a party then!" Ling exclaimed, "Oh, and, Koukaku? Your mother left for Eiyou to go visit a sick friend, so you're staying with us too!"

Koukaku nodded, "It will be like a party," he smiled.

Chang Mei bolted up from her sound sleep when she heard someone pounding on her door. She glanced outside and let out a small groan. It was still dark out; the sun wasn't even up yet! Who in the world would come at this hour?

She carefully opened the door. On her doorstep stood a cloaked figure.

"What do you want?" she asked irritably.

"Your son and his friend…" the figure said, reaching up to remove the hood.

Mei found herself trembling; and before she could even catch a glimpse of the face beneath the hood, she fell in a heap on the ground.

Dun Dun DUN! (big scary opera music)(sigh) That was a really bad cliffie! We apologize! . I also apologize for being hyper. Happy Valentines Day! X3 I had lots of chocolate! Some from people I didn't even know! o.O Yes…scary…So if you find any mistakes don't blame poor Silver! Of course don't blame me either! Blame all that chocolate and my cat Eclipse. Why my cat? BECAUSE HE'S INSISTING ON LAYING RIGHT ON TOP OF MY HANDS AND THE KEYBOARD WHILE I'M TRYING TO TYPE! (kiity cat runs frantically away from crazed owner) But it's cool…Till next time-