Author: LOOK! LOOK! AN UPDATE! also, i need help. I've tried to find ways to distinguish paragraphs, but I've failed. be kind and assist in creating easier reading for you guys.

Kyuuzou spent the remainder of that day and far into the night learning the layout of the hideout inside-out. It was only when he saw dawn coming in through the window did he leave. He wanted to report all this to Kanbei first, before giving a more brief version to the man he claimed to be serving. He slipped inside a secret entrance and wound his way to Kanbei's quarters. He entered Kanbei's room silently, and the man he was looking for was in an exhuasted sleep, papers and reports scattered around him. Kyuuzou stood in the shadows, looking at him for a long moment, thinking. He'd come back later, to both claim a reward for doing as Kanbei had asked, and to tell him all he had learned. The door closed silently behind Kyuuzou, and Kanbei never stirred in his sleep.

Kyuuzou wrote sucintly what he had learned from his reconicance and handed it to his Lord when he relieved the other bodyguard from duty. He took up his usual position in the Lord's shadow and waited as his Lord read his report.

"You did very well, Kyuuzou. You amaze me."

"...it is nothing."

"Nothing! You've just helped me immensley. I am very glad that you are employed for me and not against me!"

His Lord called a meeting of his most trusted officers(Kanbei was not yet among these) and explained the situation as was discovered by Kyuuzou. Ideas were bounced around, much talking was done, and Kyuuzou listened with half an ear, while alert otherwise. He caught movement and stared at it, until he figured out what it was.

He moved faster than almost anyone could follow. The spy certainly did not know what hit him. Kyuuzou cleaned his swords on the dead man's clothing and walked back to his Lord,and took up his place in the shadows again, ignoring the looks from the officers and the servants who cleaned up the body. Kyuuzou had taken the tape recorder off the dead body, just in case one of the servants was turncoat. The meeting started again, haltingly at first, but then gaining steam. His Lord and the officers talked for hours, until a decision was finally reached. It would be they who attacked before Toshiyo's group. His Lord attended to smaller mattersafter that, dealing with rouges and taxes, theatre troops that wished to preform, trade routes, and other things that bored Kyuuzou. The sun set, and Kyuuzou was relieved.

He headed straight to Kanbei.

He was awake this time, and sharpening his blade. The order had come down to them earlier, and Kanbei wanted to be as ready as possible. He hated to admit it, but he was ready for this action. More than ready. The information about exactly who they were fighting was unclear, but Kanbei could understand why. Some soldiers might be going up against friends,and it was best to keep them in the dark until it was too late. Simply tell them that the ones they were fighting were enemies, and threats to the people and the peace that they were supposed to ensure. Kanbei barely felt Kyuuzou enter, and turned towards the secret passage. The blonde was standing there, and slowly stepped in, taking off his hood and cloak.

"I have much to tell you."

Kanbei nodded and settled down. Kyuuzou took a pen and paper from his desk and sat down next to Kanbei. From there, he began to draw a map. As he drew, he explained what he had heard,learned and found in his exploration of the hideout. It was the most Kanbei had ever heard him talk. True, the sentences were short and tothe point, but Kanbei expected no less. He was impressed by the depth of information Kyuuzou was able to glean in so short a time.

"and you are certain all this information is correct?"

"Yes."

Kanbei carefully folded the paper and put it in a pocket of his uniform. He turned to face the blonde and found that the careful distance between them was gone. Kyuuzou kissed Kanbei briefly,then pulled away,almost hurridely. He was certain now. There was no mistake.

"Shimada Kanbei."

Kanbei had rarely heard the silent warrior ever say his full name, least of all to his face.

"Yes, Kyuuzou?"

"I have a favor to ask."

This perked Kanbei's interest. "And that is?"

Kyuuzou looked a little uncomfortable, which madeKanbei even more interested.

"It takes explaining."

"I'm in no hurry."

Kyuuzou thought, trying to find the best way to explain the situation, and figured out a way after a brief moment of thought. He took off his gloves,cloak, and coat, before pulling off his chest brace and allowing his shirt to fall around his waist.

He then proceeded to unleash his frustration on the demon, calling him all sorts of insults that had built up inside Kyuuzou that he had left unsaid.

As Kanbei watched, puzzled, his eyes widened as glaring blood-red script bloomed on Kyuuzou's torso, arms, and neck. He saw the blonde's body vibrating in pain, and when he touched Kyuuzou's shoulder, he found that the contrast between cool skin and hot, burning script jarring.

"Kyuuzou..."

Kyuuzou was content after he had run out of insults for the demon, and even though the pain was intense, Kanbei's touch numbed the area where his fingers contacted, relieving him of a little of the agony. He looked slowly upand caught Kanbei's eyes. Kyuuzou took a deep, shuddering breath.

"This...is the price I pay. For being able to live, I serve. I do not want to serve this master. Kanbei..." Kyuuzou's voice became thick with pain, but with his hands, he managed to draw his swords. He flipped them so that they both faced one direction, and held them out to Kanbei.

"I...Want..." Kyuuzou's body shuddered, but his face betrayed none of the pain. "To...Se...serve..." He took a ragged breath, and his throat worked until he finally managed to speak again, "You."

Kanbei was stunned. He had expected many things out of the samurai before him, but not this. Kyuuzou wasn't simply pledging himself to a cause on a whim, for a limited time. This was utter, total,lifelong devotion to whatever cause Kanbei chose to support, to protecting him, to going where he went, to watching over and being with him until Kanbei's last breath. If Kanbei agreed, he'd never be able to get rid of the man before him. He thought for a long moment, and Kyuuzou waited, enduring the physical pain, which was much less than the emotional pain would be if Kanbei said no.

"Very well."

Kanbei placed his hands beneath Kyuuzou's, and Kyuuzou let him take his swords, and with them, his life. Kyuuzou felt his bond to the demon begin to fray, and so the pain he was experiencing lessened.

"Now,tell me who I bought you from."

Kyuuzou gave Kanbei a tiny, tired smile, and began his tale from the moments after he died.

It took an entire night to tell.

Author: Okay, here's my question. Do you guys want this next chapter to be a kind of remind-you-of-everything-that-happened-before-this chapter? or do you want it to simply continue the storyline. Because I'm up for doing either. It'll remind me,too, of where I've come from and what I've been meaning to do. It's up to you guys.