I do not own 'Travelin' Soldier' it is owned by the wonderful Dixie Chicks, who I wish I owned but sadly do not.

It wasn't until a few months later he finally told me his plan. I liked it, I don't know why. It gave me a chance to find my father, I'm not sure why I wanted to find him at that point, but if the redheaded boy was going, it was all the more reason for me to get out that place...

Kurama was walking down the street to meet Risty when he heard a guitar accompanied by a beautiful voice singing:

I cried, never gonna hold the hand of another guy.

Too young for him they told her,

Waiting for the love of a travelin' soldier.

Our love will never end, waiting for the soldier to come back again.

Never more to be alone, when the letter said:

A soldier's coming home.

Risty was sitting on a bench playing a guitar with the open case sitting at her feet, a crowd of people was standing around her and as she finished they threw money into the case and walked away. After bowing Risty waved at Kurama and began scooping money into the pockets of her baggy, black cargo pants.

"What are you doing here?" Kurama asked.

Risty showed him the yen in her hand. "Making my way the only way I can. Let's go."

-------------------

The two eight year olds walked to a ruined and abandoned playground in the woods. Risty sat on the only swing that wasn't broken and watched Kurama.

"So what's the big emergency?" she asked, popping of piece of gum into her mouth.

"I'm going to run away when I turn ten," he announced.

"Running away to where?"

"To the Makai, by the time I turn ten my demonic aura should be fully restored and I can go back."

"I'm going with." Kurama gave her his 'You're out of your mind' look. "Don't. Where else would a demon lord take his son?"

"I don't know, Dairy Queen?"

Risty raised an eyebrow at him and they both started laughing. Kurama looked at the slide and tried to climb it.

"You're gonna hurt yourself." Risty warned him.

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are, and I am going to laugh, and laugh." his foot slipped and he fell down the slide. Risty covered her mouth to keep from laughing.

"Not a word." he warned.

"Of course not." she stood up and ran up the slide in three quick steps.

"Show off," he muttered.

"Of course, someone has to keep you modest." she slid down and lightly punched his arm. "Besides, I have to go with you, who knows what might happen if you went alone. I'm not explaining to Shiori-san why her son was murdered by demons."

"I'm glad you care." he muttered, rubbing his arm.

"Imagine what would happen if I didn't care."

That was the day he saved my life. If he hadn't, I'm sure things would've been easier, none of this would've happened, of course I'm glad he saved me, being dead isn't much fun. And I never would've gotten to tell... Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. That was the day he saved my life. We left the park at the same time, each going our own way. When I was in the woods near the gate...

"Who are you?" Risty asked, stumbling backwards, away from the figure in front of her. She reached for a rock, a tree branch, a stick, anything she could use to defend herself. 'Damn, why did I leave my swords at home?'

"Don't you remember me? It's only been, gods, three years." the figure asked, his voice soft and soothing.

"Daddy?" Risty whispered. In one instant all of her hatred for her father vanished. She jumped to her feet and hugged the man tightly. She didn't care that he had left her, she didn't care that he had taken her brother, she didn't care that her mother had died from the grief of losing her husband and son, all that mattered was that she had her daddy back, everything would be okay...

But it wasn't okay...

When Kurama entered his house the phone was ringing. He took off his shoes and jacket and listened as his mother answered it.

"Hold on, he just walked in the door. Shuichi, someone on the phone wants to talk to you."

Kurama took the phone. "Hello?" "Kurama-san?" "Yes..." "This is Rin, Ryokin-chan's neighbor. Is she there?" "No." "Damn." "What's wrong?" "Ryokin-chan hasn't come home yet, and it's getting dark outside. This is unusual for her." "I'll look for her." "Thank you so much, Kurama-san." "Of course." Kurama hung up the phone.

"Kaasan? I have to go back out for a little while. I forgot something."

"Alright, but be careful, and don't be out to long, it's getting dark out."

'I know.'

Kurama ran through the woods towards the playground. 'What happened to you?' he asked silently when he reached the deserted playground. Praying to any god that was listening, he began to run towards the demon town on the other side of the woods.

Risty and her father stopped near the iron gate to the town.

"This is where I live," Risty announced. "Ikami."

"Interesting."

"Daddy? What are you...?" Tien Ryokin dragged four of his claws down his daughter's back, cutting deep into her skin. She silently fell to the ground as blood rushed from the wounds and pooled around her. He drew his sword to quickly finish her when he heard footsteps running towards him. "I'm sorry sweetheart. This was for your own good." He sheathed his sword and pulled off his cloak. Spreading his black-feathered wings he quickly flew away.

Kurama's legs were burning, but he couldn't stop running, not now, he was so close. He had seen the man fly away, and he had to get there soon. He stopped beside his friend. There wasn't much time; she'd already lost so much blood...

Gently, he picked her up, (she was so light!) and carried her quickly but carefully to her apartment. He laid her on a blanket on the floor and wrapped the blanket tightly around her to try to slow the bleeding while he ran next door to get Rin. He pounded on the door until she opened it, then, without saying anything, he dragged her to Risty's apartment. His lungs burned too much for him to speak.

Rin-chan managed to patch me up pretty well, I've carried those scars all my life, as a mark of my father's hatred. The redheaded boy said I slept for three days, and that they only knew I would live on the second day, Rin-chan says he stayed by my bed all three days, he hasn't admitted to it though. The day I woke up, I swore I would kill my father, even if I died in the process; it's amazing how things work out... Getting ahead of myself again...