Vincent P.O.V

I tightened the sash around my blue and white Kimono before lowering the mask on my face. If I was gonna be a doctor, I had to look the part. I stared down at kimiko, who layed underneath a thick, woven cotton blanket. Her wolf cub laying on her chest.

I honestly didn't think this would wrk. They're not gonna leave her side at a time like this.

Don't worry about that...

Sephiroth's voice spoke inside my mind.

Everything is falling into place. They'll leave. Wether they want to or not. Just let me handle it.

I wasn't one to argue with him. I placed my hand on my metal claw and said, "Maboroshi" and my metal claw became my hand one more. Although it was an illusion, I could actually feel my hand again. Like the curse had actually been lifted.

Time for action. I slid opened the door leading into a small waiting room. Bankotsu-that punk- sat next to his Friends with the purple yukata and lipstick. They both looked up immediantly, along with the rest of those idiots. I ca'nt wait long enough for Sephiroth to dispose of them. They sicken me so much I could vomit. now I had to be nice to THEM!

"Hello," I said, " I'm Tsukake. I'm the village doctor."

The doctor they called Suikotsu approached me with worry in his eyes." How is she?"

I cleared my throat and spoke as sincerely to them as I could," I need to see her Family."

Bankotsu flinched." We are her family."

"My mistake. I meant was..." I thought about what I should say," Does she have any blood-relatives."

Bankotsu eyed me with a suspicious look in his eye. He may be clueless at times but He's not stupid. My guess is he could sense something was amiss but without proof, he won't say anything."She doesn't have any.Not here anyway."

"Who is she closest to?"

That shut Bankotsu up. After what he did, he could kiss that title goodbye.

Suikotsu P.O.V

" I am." I told the doctor." And..Bankotsu."

Bankotsu glanced at me with a look of gratitude but one he didn't deserve. Tsukake scrunched up his face and said, " Follow me." Both me and Bankotsu followed him into the back room. Kimi was awake, but she looked like she was dead inside.Her eyes were hazy yet icy.

"Kimi, how are you?" I asked her.

She opened her mouth and closed it shut, wincing like she was in unbearable pain. The glow had gone from her sun-kissed skin. She was a pale as a ghost.

"She cannot speak." tsukake said." Not for a while. She's recovering from a fever."

Bankotsu sat indian-style on the floor, with his arms folded. He was silent. I couldn't even tell what he was thiking. He watched over kimi with a blank expression.

" Which one of you is her spouse." The doctor asked.

"Well she doesn't-"

"I am." Bankotsu interupted me."What's wrong with my wife?"

"You're a little young to be her husband, don't you think?" Tsukake was looking surly again.

" And you're a little too old to be playing doctor, don't ya think?"

Tsukake held his tongue." Fine. She's suffering from Severe Exhaustion."

"Exhaustion?"

"Yes. I gave her medicine. She'll heal physically but emotionally...that's another story. She lost her child."

Bankotsu P.O.V

" SCUSE ME!" My eyes almost popped outta my head. Suikotsu coughed like crazy." She was pregnant!"

"Oh..you mean you..didn't know?"Tsukake murmured." She had a miscarriage. I was able to save her but the baby..." Tsukake trailed off.

Great. As if I didn't look bad enough as it is. If I were her husband, I'd go to hell. How could I not notice it. The mood swings...her powers going crazy. It was my fault. She was pregnant with my child.

My child...

"I was gonna be a...father..."

Suikotsu P.O.V

My heart Sank. Part of me was Jealous of Aniki. Kimi was pregnant. Why Didn't I see it? I'm trained to notice things like this.

Another part of me felt Disapointed. I would've really looked forward to Having a child around. But it would cause to much issue with our job. not to mention Bankotsu was a little too young to be a father...right? He can barely take care of Himself(when it comes to food and whatnot) and Kimi. But a Baby?

And Kimiko," She must be so heartbroken." I sighed. I noticed tears falling from her eyes as she laid there.

"Bankotsu..." I turned to him. His face was lowered and his bangs hung over his eyes.

I knew then that he couldn't have felt worse.

"Suikotsu...Tsukake...please leave. I need to...talk to her."

Tsukake exited the room relunctantly, He seemed to resent Bankotsu. I exited after them. But before I did, Bankotsu said, " Tell the others to get ready."

Bankotsu P.O.V

Kimiko. She must hate me. I'd hurt her and killed our child. It was..me.

You're wrong for her and you know it.

Said a dark, sinister voice inside my mind

Leave her. She's better off without you.Only then can she recover

But I don't want to leave her. I want to stay by her side. I promised her.

You broke that promise When you broke her heart. If you really love her,you'll leave her.Listen to me...you can offer her nothing...

..."Kimi? Can you hear me?" she blinked." I'm so sorry. I know.." My voice faded. There's nothing I can say..." I-I know there's nothing I can do or say to take away you pain but I want you to know that..."

"Kotsu...Ban..Kotsu..."She said in a raspy voice.

"Don't speak. You need to rest." I reached down to stroke her face.

"Don't...touch me."She looked away from me, " Please just...go away."

"I know you hate me right now and there's nothing I can-"

"GO AWAY!" She yelled as she buried her face in her pillow,crying."Just...go away."

She doesn't love me anymore, does she?

Leave her. I know It feels wrong but it's for the best.

I tore a portion of my sash and folded it by her pillow." Goodbye."

Kimi wouldn't even look at me. Even as I left the room, she wouldn't even tell me goodbye. Did she really hate me now?

I stepped outside the doctors office. My comrades were waiting for me. They had a look of remorse on each of there faces. Obviously Suikotsu told them what Happened. They approached me. Jakotsu first.

"Bankotsu-oo-aniki." He sighed as he hugged me, " I'm sorry."

"Don't be." I forced a smile, "Looks like it's just the seven of us."

Suikotsu frowned, " You mean..."

I nodded." It's for the best."

"We'll follow you to the ends of the earth Aniki." Renkotsu tied his scarf around his head. The rain became a light drizzle.

I took my place in front of my band. I felt empty without Kimi walking next to me but...I'll have to get used to it. I took one last look at the village before I turned my back on what meant the most to me for the past year. All the memories...that's all they are now.

It's time to grow up. I walked away from that village but also from the women I loved.

I can still feel the pain.

End of Section 1, book 1. Stay tuned for Section2, book 1: Chronicles of the Shichinintai.