DISCLAIMER: Same as before. It's the same story so whats the point in repeating myself?

Hey, it's me Blade42 again, I finally got CH3 finished, (well duh your reading it.)

Anyway, thanks to all of you who reviewed, the 4 of you. You were all a big help in writing this chapter, and to Reiz ( I think I spelled that right), thank you for pointing out that character flaw, I think I got it some-what fixed in this chapter.

This is to all readers, I just realized I never gave a time frame for this story. This is based on the Anime up to the spring movie, because I have not seen past that point in the story. The year in this tale is 2002-2004 haven't decided on a exact date yet. This would place Su and Shinobu in 10th grade and all the other characters respectably a few years older. Sorry I should have pointed this out earlier, the intended story line probably wouldn't work with a 13 year old girl.

For the record I'm going to include a BY line from now on because I just realized I wasn't giving credit to my friend & editor.

BY: Bryant Nykiel

Editor: David Riley

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BLADE

CH3 FAVORS

Gunfire raged as Blade charged across a foggy field with no beginning and no end. His soldiers, the Reapers, were running alongside because of his orders, his actions. He stopped to urge them on, but they were all dead, every last one. Blade stood there shocked, unable to comprehend. As he watched the bodies torn and mangled sunk beneath the ground and tombstones took their place. All of them having the same thing carved on their faces, "You killed me."

"NO!" Blade screamed denying it. "They did!" he yelled pointing at the unseen enemy. The tombs didn't change or comment. Blade's pointing hand faltered, odd, they felt wet. Blade looked at his hands. They were covered in blood , the blood of his dead. His hands itched they burned, the blood ran off his hands reveling hands that were not his own, they were a demon's hands. They were covered in pointed claws and armored making every inch into a weapon. They were hands from the plains of war.

Blade bolted straight up in his futon, pulling his pistol from under his pillow and firing a single round into the depths of the night. He realized what he held, dropping it. He scurried away from it across the room he shared with Kitsune on all fours until he hit a wall, knocking over a coffee table and several empty bottles of sake in the process. He curled up against the wall shaking and breathing so heavily a deaf man could have found him.

"Blade?" called Kitsune,

"Blade." she called once more into the darkness more concerned after not getting an answer. She took a guess and put a hand where she guessed Blade to be. Kitsune put her hand on Blade's neck which was batted away. Kitsune slid her back down the wall, sitting next to the cowering child. Kitsune wrapped her arms around Blade pulling him in against her body. Blade tensed up until he caught Kitsune's scent. It reminded Blade of a cross between an apple blossom, ink, and sake in varying degrees depending on what she's been doing.
"Shhh, it was only a dream Jason." Kitsune said using Blade's real name.

"It is no dream, it is true." Blade said, resting his head on Kristine's shoulder. He cried silently into it, the tears soaking her bare shoulder. Kitsune was lost on this one, these nightmares, though normally not this bad were a nightly occurrence. She thought about while rocking Blade slowly. Her mind settled on a song that seemed ironically appropriate at the moment, she softly sang to him as best she could.

Go stop your crying it will be alright

Just take my hand hold it tight

I will protect you from all around you

I will be hear don't you cry

For one so small

You seem so strong

My arms will hold you keep you safe and warm

This bond between use can't be broken

I will be here don't you cry…

Kitsune stopped singing as their was no point, Blade had dosed off and was breathing evenly. Kitsune laid her head on top of Blade's and closed her eyes.

" poor boy." she whispered into the dark as she fell asleep.

Blade pressed himself against the wall, rolling his head to see into the dinning room that contained Shinobu and one very red Keitaro.

"Ummm, thanks Shinobu but what's the occasion." Keitaro asked looking around on edge, he rejected this kind attention, because if, no when this got out he was Dead with a capital D.

"Just for cleaning the hot springs." she answered placing a specially prepared meal in front of Keitaro.

"Blade does help you know." Keitaro said trying to find a covert way out of this situation.

" Thank you, it's nice to get some recognition around here." Blade muttered under his breath. He squinted his eyes to better view the pair, saying aloud. " it's a wonder that Naru doesn't smack him around more often."

"For what?" said a very agitated voice to his left.

"Crap." Blade said turning his head to face Naru, his hand caught in the proverbial cookie jar. Unable to explain himself Blade whistled as innocently as possible and edged away from the door. Naru stormed past Blade into the dining room. Blade leaned over to look into the room, just in time to see Naru scream

"You perv, she's barely in 10th grade!", and wind up to send Keitaro in Blade's general direction.

"Fire in the hole!" Blade yelped leaping out of the way of the KLVN ( Keitaro launched via Naru) missile and covering his head as soon as he reached the floor. Keitaro came flying though the wall, ricochet off of the stair's banister, sending him into Motoko's room, who in turn smacked him downward through the floor, and finally (for some reason still not understood) bounced off the hardwood floor and then skyward making a new skylight on his way out.

"Okay." Blade said to himself looking at the decent sized hole in the roof as he brushed debris out of his hair. As Blade debated if the hole in the roof needed immediate attention or if it could wait, one very distrait Shinobu came out of the dining room.

" Hey umm… Shinobu?" Blade stammered.

"Yes?" Shinobu answered in a distantly polite tone. Which coming from Shinobu was as good as "what the hell do you want."

"N-n-ne-never mind." Blade stuttered walking towards the door, disheartened. Why the hell do I get lock jaw every time I try to speak to her? Blade asked himself. Blade glanced down at his watch. 11, time to go, he had people to meet. Blade nearly got to the door before Kistune, coming down the stairs, spoke up.

"Where are you going." she called after him.

" I got places to go and people to meet." he said, stopping to straighten the collar of his navy blue polo and smoothing a few wrinkles in his matching colored jeans.

"People as in Reapers and places as in bars." Kitsune countered.

"Maybe." Blade said rolling his eyes skyward. Kistune sighed and worked her face into a disapproving frown. Very few of Blade's former unit were in the area, they were basically the only people who could really understand him, most of them did go drinking though when they gathered though various legal and illegal means. Kitsune really didn't like Blade drinking this young but who was she to call the kettle black.

"You need money for a cab home?" she asked finally giving up on stopping the kid.

"No, I'm set Kitsune." he answered.

"When are you getting back?" Kitsune continued

"Sometime between 10 minutes from now and next week." Blade answered sarcastically. Finishing his walk out the door.

"See ya!" he called over his shoulder.

"That kid's changed you Kitsune." Naru said walking up to her friend. " you've become much more motherly and responsible." She finished watching Blade disappear.

Kitsune shrugged in response.

"It happens." she said. " I just want the kid to have a chance at leading a normal life, it might be to late thought." Kitsune placed her hand over her mouth in thought, " if he grows…"

"Grows?" Naru cut her off.

"Stays scared of himself." Kitsune finished grimly.

"Scared of himself, how on earth can do that?" Naru asked

"Not scared per-say but,…. How do I say this?" Kitsune asked herself.

"Have seen Ruroni Kenshin?" Kitsune asked thinking she found a parallel.

"No, and what does an anime have to do with this?" Naru said puzzled.

" well Keitaro pointed this out, in the movie there's a man that "would be worthless if weren't for his consort. She serves as his sheath, shielding him from his inner-self and the demons it houses." Kitsune explained.

" I think he needs a little bit more than a sheath." Shinobu said entering the room after cleaning up her impromptu brunch.

" you're right, he needs a leash and a hand to hold as well." Kitsune said, quickly stopping Naru's retort, watching Shinobu leave the room, heading towards the hot spring. Kitsune and Naru waited till Shinobu was safely out of the room before continuing.

"You think she could serve those proposes Kitsune?" Naru asked.

"Maybe, but right now I'm just trying to get her to accept him as a human being not some heartless murder. It hurts him more that his memories."

" She always did seem kind cold to Blade." Naru thought-spoke raking her brain for examples.

"Wait." Naru said dawning on a revelation. "This sounds like something I've seen before Mitsune." remembering the numerous times Kistune had thrown some hairball schemes to trying to get her a Keitaro together. They worked in the end but that was beside the point.

" I'm not trying to get Blade a girlfriend Naru." Kitsune snorted pointing out the subtle difference in the situations. "I'm just trying to make his life a little easier."

Naru nodded in silent agreement, deciding there was nothing below her words but their face value.

"Blade is a wizard on the battlefield, but beyond these walls, he barely functions in general society. The less grief he gets from us the better. Actually," Kitsune said looking up at the newly acquired skylight. "Keitaro's been a big help, just being there to talk to on a guy to guy level."

" yeah." Naru said kind of regretting sending Keitaro into the stratosphere. "Well if there is anything I can do." Naru said moving up the stairs

"Umm, actually Naru I need to ask a favor."

Blade stood in a military parade rest as he watched a group of kids (from the nun run daycare) run and play around some playground equipment. He had volunteered his time to help when they needed it, as a thank you for being so hospitable when he first came to Hinata hot springs. As usual, he lent a hand on the occasional trips to the big playground towards the center of town. When the nuns asked him to "help keep an eye on the kids" Blade's brain for some reason couldn't get around the idea of an escort mission. Which lead to very aqward moment when he showed up for his first trip, decked out in riot armor with a 6 gallon tank of pepper spray strapped to his back. He had been talked out of most of his equipment but, his combat knife and berretta 92F were nonnegotiable. The day had been easy so far, all he had to do was settle a few turn issues, and rescue a boy that ran out of gas half way across the monkey bars, who then tried to go over them. Being a sort of hands off kind of person Blade was more than content to leave the energetic little bundles to their own devices. That was until he felt a small hand grab his middle and trigger finger and tug gently.

" Bwade will you pway with me?" Ami asked looking up a Blade with those big questing eyes every young child posses.

" Sure Ami." Blade said allowing himself to be dragged towards the sandbox by an 7 year old. Blade spent about 40 minutes playing in the sand with the youngster before deciding he'd had enough for now and brushed his hands off.

" well well well." said a male voice behind Blade, " I never thought I'd ever see the day a child brought Blade the terror of the Reapers to his knees." Blade calmly stood up saying

" I wouldn't say terror…" He brushed himself off turning to face the young man before him. If not for the dirty blond hair with spiky bangs and the slight height difference people would have mistaken the pair for twins. They were dressed nearly identically, in matching navy blue shirt and pants. He had the same general build as Blade. Besides the hair the only other major differences between the to men was that the blond had a scar cutting his left eye brow in half and most importantly, a kind smile in place of Blade's permanent frown.

"Hey Rossy." Blade said hugging his friend in a manly fashion. ( I know how that sounds but I couldn't get it to sound any better)

"How's the arm?" Blade asked.

"It's healing." Rossy answered rotating his right shoulder in a circle causing a series of audible cracks. Blade began to say "It happens", but was cut by a loud

" JAYJAY!" and was knocked off balance by a young woman a little older than him jumping into him wrapping her arms and legs around him and squeezing tightly.

" Nice to see you too, Jennifer." Blade said trying to regain his balance with his one available arm, his other being pinned under Jenn's torso. Jenn released Blade and turned on Ross with similar affects. Jenn was in a sleeveless red dress with beaded flowers on the front and side slits that went up to her knees. She was wearing black sandals that complimented the dress and matched her hair. Jenn was relatively unscarred compared to her companions. The only evidence of injury she bore was a miss toe on her left foot from a "toepopper" land mine, and shiny skin on her right palm from trying to change out a hot barrel on a mounted machinegun.

"How's the arm?" Jenn asked Rossy

"Alright." Rossy responded.

"You never did explain how you broke it." Jenn said factually.

"Well…" Rossy said " lets just say it wasn't one of our brightest ideas."

"Wellll." Jenn said questioning.

"We tried to shoot skeet with an M-60." Rossy admitted.

"And this idiot," Blade said jabbing a thumb at Ross "Tried to do it one handed!" Blade laughed out.

"You dumbass!" she said lightly punching Rossy in the chest. "And how have you been Jayjay?"

"First off, call me Blade, and second I've been fine."

"Fine?" Jenn said ignoring Blades first complaint. "The last time you said that was when you broke your arm." Jenn finished flatly.

"It was a minor fracture." Blade responded.

"Minor fracture my ass, you broke your arm in 4 places!" Jenn exclaimed.

"And dislocated your elbow." Rossy added.

"But I'm fine now." Blade said stretching the arm in question to prove it, winching in pain when he hyperextend it.

"Yes. Sure you are Jayjay." Jenn said sarcastically.

"Will you stop calling me that!" Blade yelled in mock anger.

"Would you prefer your self styled Blade?" Jenn mocked.

"First of all the name stuck, and second of all, YES!" Blade retorted.

Several hours later, although this is probably an understatement due to the fact that it was approaching 1AM. Blade staggered up the stairs to Hinatasou completely drunk, and still wondering where the hell Jenn had gotten fake ID's for the three of them. He wanted to ask, but he decided this was one gift horse he wasn't gonna look in the mouth.

After hanging around for a few more minutes to make sure all the daycare kids were policed up, the trio had spent a pleasant afternoon including all the usual that friends do when friends gather, shopping lunch,…exetera. Plus the other things that normally happened with these three, including a few looks over Jenn's near Su-like energy levels, Blade nearly pulling a gun on some poor drunk, he was walking funny, and Rossy in his typical form tried to pick up a pretty young lady, only to have her mother come and beat the poor Canadian over the head with her purse.

They then spent the rest of the afternoon in a tavern style bar, using the provided Id's. They talked of things normal teenagers talk of, mixed with conversation that drew from their shared tragic past. They left about 8pm or so, rather depressed and debating weather or not to call it a night, but then Jenn, being the party girl she is took the pair of adolescent boys club hopping. Which went on till midnight, because at that point Ross and Blade both knowing they were thoroughly smashed decided to quit while they where ahead, and had to drag Jenn out of a fight with another drunk woman over who's identical red dress was prettier to do it.

Which is why Blade was coming home at 1 in the morning walking like there was a magnitude 6 earthquake happening under his feet. Blade kept moving towards the door stumbling occasionally. He wasn't looking forward to the hangover he was gonna get in the morning. Blade stopped blinking, he heard something, it sounded like some screaming really far away. He looked around for a moment before glancing up, their was a small speck heading towards him a incredible speed. Blade blinking, watching the UFO, before realizing what it was and drew a X on the ground with his foot. He watched the object's approach for a few more seconds, erased the X, stepped a few feet to the right and drew a second. He then put a reasonable amount of distance between him and the X and watched a Keitaro fall from the sky and hit Blade's X dead on at terminal velocity. Blade walked up to the Keitaro shaped crater in the ground, flinching a the 4 ft depth. He chuckled drunkenly and bent down with some difficultly and pulled a dazed Keitaro out of the hole.

"How da hel dyu surive dose?" he asked, slurring his words.

Getting nothing out of Keitaro, Blade threw his arm over his shoulder and lead Keitaro towards the door.

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Hey guys, for all of you reading this please review I don't care if it's signed or not.

Thanks.