Disclaimer: I do not own Shinzo. If I did, it would be a lot different from what it is on tv.

Author's Note: Sorry I've taken so long to update but I got so busy and then had to get ready for school. I'm still getting ready but I'm finally getting a chance to work on my story. Once again, there might be some OOC- ness but please forgive me. Thoughts will be in bold print.

Could he really love me?

Replay

Kokomai tried to find her voice. She was shaking with fear. "That's...that's..."

Tomatu glared at the person and spoke through gritted teeth. "Dark Lord Mushrambo."

Mushra gripped his staff tighter. "Why are you here?"

Mushrambo smirked. "I've come to retrieve my new wife. I've been watching Kokomai and I think she'll make a lovely wife. Hand her over and no one will get hurt." Mushrambo held out his hand, waiting for his bride to come to him.

Mushra and the others all narrowed their eyes. "We're not handing Kokomai over to anyone!" Tomatu yelled. He looked over his left shoulder and saw Kokomai and Kisa very close. He looked back at Mushrambo and his heart was filled with hatred. No one was taking his dear Kokomai away from him without a fight. Wait, My Kokomai? When did I start to call her mine? Tomatu shook the thought from his head and focused back on Mushrambo.

Mushrambo chuckled and took a few steps forward. Everyone behind the guys took four steps backward. Daisy and Yakumo pulled the girls closer and moved infront of them. No one was going to hurt anyone here. He looked at Kokomai and caught her gaze. He could see the fear in her eyes and this caused him to chuckle more. He held out his hand. "Come on Kokomai. I'm trying to be nice about this. If you don't want these people to be hurt, you should come over here now."

Kokomai gasped and moved a little closer. "What do you mean? Do you intend to hurt these people?"

Mushrambo made a fist with his outstretched hand and after a few moments, he opened his hand and a small purple orb floated above his palm. It began to grow and grow. Mushrambo looked at the people around him then at Kokomai. "Only if you don't come with me."

Kokomia turned and looked at the people around her. Many of them were very close and she loved each one of them. She looked at her father and her mother. Then she looked at Kisa, Daimeru, and Tomatu. Her heart was filled with fear for his loved one's lives. She broke away from Kisa and moved away from the group, standing just behind the line of protectors. She bowed her head and spoke loud enough for Mushrambo to hear her. "I'll go with you. Just don't harm these people."

Mushrambo smiled while everyone turned to face her. Mushra and Tomatu walked over to her to stop her. Mushra looked at her. "You are not going with him. I refuse to let you do this."

"I also won't let you do this. It's crazy!" Tomatu exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air.

Kokomai sighed and looked back and forth from her father to Tomatu. "I have to! I can't let him hurt these people because of me. I refuse to let that happen." Kokomai gave them both a stern look and moved between them. She pulled her arm away from Tomatu when he grabbed it, trying to stop her. She looked back at him once again then walked a little closer to Mushrambo. She saw his hand lower and the energy disappeared.

Sago suddenly appeared infront of her. "I'm sorry but I can't let you do this." Before Kokomai could object, he reached out and applied pressure on a small part of her neck. Kokomai eyes rolled back and she became limp. Sago quickly caught her. He picked her up and quickly carried the unconcious girl back towards the group. He handed her to Mushra, who scooted back and held his daughter in his arms.

Mushrambo became enraged. The girl was almost in his grasp but that stupid Enterran had to stop her. He held up his hand again but then decided against it. He wanted Kokomai to be awake when she came with him. He wanted to see her loved ones mourn as he took her away. He looked at Kokomai's sleeping form. He snickered a bit and looked at Mushra. "I will return for your daughter in the period of one day. I hope she'll be ready by then. Farewell."

With that, Mushrambo stepped back into the shadows of the tree and vanished. Everyone was silent. The silence was broken by a small groan. All eyes turned towards Kokomai's stirring figure. Mushra slowly set her on a nearby chair. Kokomai's eyes slowly opened and she shaded her eyes from the bright sun. After a moment, she looked around. She tried to remember what happened. Suddenly, she remembered Mushrambo. She scanned the area for him but when he was nowhere to be found, she relaxed. "Where did Mushrambo go?"

Yakumo let out a deep breath. She kneeled infront of her daughter and put her hand over Kokomai's. "He's gone. Thank goodness. I was so scared you were really going to leave us."

Mushra stormed up. "So was I. Why did you agree to go with him? Are you crazy! We might not have ever seen you again!"

Kokomai narrowed her eyes and leaned forward. "He was going to harm all of you! I wasn't going to let you all kill yourselves to save me."

Everyone was quiet for a moment then Kokomai got to her feet. Yakumo also rose to her feet. Yakumo moved closer to Mushra and waited for her daughter to speak. Kokomai looked at those around her and thought of how they risked their lives to help her. At first, she was angry but then she grew extremely overcome with love and sadness. She saw how they loved her so much and they would sacrifice their lives for her safety. Tears fell from her eyes and she let out a yelp as she hugged Kisa, Daimeru, and Tomatu. "I'm sorry you guys. I love you all. Thank you for sticking up for me. I couldn't ask for better friends." She continued to cry as she clung to her closest friends.

Tomatu, Kisa, and Daimeru all hugged back. Kisa was crying as well. "We'd never let you go without a fight Koko." Kisa cried, calling Kokomai by her special nickname. The girls clung to eachother and cried while the other's watched quietly. After a while, people began to depart, wishing Kokomai and her family the best of luck. Sago, Tomatu, Kutal, Daisy, Kisa, and Daimeru stayed. The children were in the backyard while the Yakumo, Mushra, Kutal, Daisy, and Sago spoke inside.

Outside, Tomatu and Daimeru sparred against one another, hoping to forget about everything that happened earlier. Kisa and Kokomai sat on the porch and watched. Kisa was laughing as her brother got his butt beat. Kokomai sat quietly. She held her legs to her chest and was resting her chin on her knees. She was lost deep in thought about Mushrambo. She was frightened but also curious. Why does he want me? When there are so many girls more beautiful than me, why did he choose me? Unknown to everyone, even her parents, Kokomai found Mushrambo strangely attractive. Something about him just seemed to spark something deep inside her. She looked at Kisa with a frantic look, hoping that her friend wasn't looking and couldn't read her expression. Kisa wasn't looking at her at all. Kokomai let out a sigh of relief.

Sago walked out and called their attention. The boys stopped fighting and the girls looked over their shoulder. He asked them all to come inside for some important news. They exchanged looks and nodded. Kokomai and Kisa rose from their seats and walked inside, quickly followed by Tomatu and Daimeru. When they went inside, they saw Yakumo sitting on a chair with Mushra behind her. Kutal and Daisy were standing together by the fireplace. Sago sighed and took a seat in a small chair. The four stood before their parent's with worried faces. Kokomai finally spoke. "You said you wanted to see us?"

Mushra nodded and Yakumo turned her glance from the floor to her daughter. "We've been talking. We don't want you to go with Mushrambo but we can't fight them. I know you have the never- give- up spirit like your dad and never want to look cowardly but this is for your own safety." Yakumo tried to speak but her words were lost. She closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands.

Mushra rubbed her back and looked at Kokomai. "We want you to run."