New chapta!!!!!!!!

Chapter 2: The Body Returns, But the Soul is Lost

"Kurando!" shouted a high sung voice in a ditzy attitude outside his door. He opened his tired eyes and saw that outside it was dark. For a moment he tried to remember the voice, it sounded familiar, but then he opened the door. Again the voice said, "Kurando!" A flood of light came upon the gently lit room and he saw Lucia. She was as she had been two years ago, except now she wore a tight, but more modest pink dress. Clinging to her tan platforms was a tiny little, mini-me of Lucia, probably Vivian. The only difference was she had blonder hair and a shyer complexion.

"Hi, Lucia," said Kurando smiling and waving at her, "How's it going?"

"Great! Vivian here can say ma. Oh, she's my daughter. And she can do a headstand and…wait…ANASTASIA where are you?" she shouted suddenly remembering the teen she was watching. A shuffling behind her caused her to turn around and Kurando looked past Lucia as Vivian went googoo.

"Anastasia?" asked Kurando surveying this new Anastasia quickly. She had grown! He, himself, had grown a few inches, but now she was just below his eyes and had grown two feet. Her long, red hair had been pushed up and into a bun like Lucia's, with her green eyes looking shadowed and down at the floor. Slowly she looked up, her pale fingers touching the long, blue gown she wore, its square bodice tightened by strong hands. This only accentuated the chest she had grown in his absence, along with the pouted mouth which seemed to frown a bit.

"Yes…" she said, as if day dreaming, or not really caring. Slowly she looked down at Vivian.

"Lucia, can I take Vivian with me to the fountains outside," she asked, a little smile splayed across her soft, porcelain face. Vivian eagerly jumped into Ana's arms as Lucia smiled, but wagged her finger.

"Now, do NOT hurt the little boys outside, hear me," warned Lucia, although deep down she felt a sly smile with sky high pride in her little daughter. Sure, everyone thought she was stupid and a true blonde, not brunette. The truth was she was the wisest person in their group; it's just that she wanted to cheer the others with her low IQ and sometimes what she meant came out wrong. Vivi smiled her innocent smile before running down the hall to be quickly followed by Ana who was slowed by holding her skirt firmly down. Once outside Ana sat on a bench, thinking about that day, two years ago right after the battle when…

"Kurando, what do you think will happen now?" asked Ana, looking around the Asuka Stone Platform where the others also awaited after the battle. No one had noticed the two monsters that had dropped down from the ship Kato had controlled. Sayori had h run to the platform when the villagers had told her what Kurando was doing, and in fear that she could never express her feelings.

That was when a chilling scream was heard nearby, perhaps only a few feet away from Karin. Kurando pushed Ana out of the way to the scream, running towards the almost never-ending noise. Shoving herself onto her elbows Ana looked up to see Kurando destroy the monster pursuing a shook Sayori. Sayori stumbled over a rock and fell to the ground as the monster disappeared underneath Kurando's blade. He gathered her shivering body into his arms, the soft kimono material rubbing against them. For a moment everyone watched them as Ana's heart began to break. Then the second monster appeared behind Ana, although no one knew. The claws clasped around her lips, and her breathing was held as the monster pulled her down a crevice. She tried to scream, when a claw on her knee sunk to deep, causing it to bleed. At that moment she knew she would die, alone.

"Ana," whispered Joachim, his vampire senses allowing him to smell the fresh blood. He looked down the crevice and went after the smell. Tears added to the smell and as he reached down a claw ripped at his bicep, ripping some muscle. Joe groaned in pain before using his crest to smash a layer of rock upon the beast. "Ana," he called out, looking around in the dark.

"Here," sniffled Ana running up to Joe, feeling his strong arms enclose around her. Together they made their way up, tears still in her eyes as Joe held her close, just as Kurando still was doing to Sayori…

Once more the memory made her heart ache as Vivi skipped around the dark trees. Where tears would have been the first snowflake of the first snowfall stroked down Ana's cheek, following the path along her features. When Vivi looked up she saw the white clouds falling from the sky, coming to her like falling blossoms and smiled. She ran over to Ana, splaying her fingers across the gown and looking expectantly at Ana. Smiling a sad, but happy smile she said, "Snow."

"S-no-w," pronounced Vivi twirling in the snowfall happily, giggling with all her innocence. Sneakily, Ana came from behind her and lifted a surprised Vivi into the air, doing the 'airplane spin'. In the beginning Vivi was worried and tense, but quickly relaxed to enjoy the moment. So, together, both spirits enjoyed a moment of pure happiness when a brush twig snapped.

Ana's breath came in sharp and she almost dropped Vivi, but drew her in a secure bear hug, gently smashing Vivi's face against her chest. Another twig snapped and Ana ceased breathing. Vivi sensed her tension and began to cry. Running quickly Ana shoved open the tall, white doors and ran into the palace.

"What's wrong?" asked Lucia, matronly worried about her daughter and Ana whom had run back into the halls. Her eyes were bright and fearful to match Vivi's eyes. Quickly she grabbed Vivi from Ana's trembling arms. "Ana, calm down, what is wrong?" asked Lucia again. Kurando had come back I into the hall when he heard running footsteps. For a moment Ana began to speak, but then went into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Lucia handed Vivi to Kurando saying, "Please, just watch her for a moment."

" Ana, hon, what's wrong?" asked Lucia, sinking into a side of the bed. Her right, tanned hand ran through Ana's red crown softly as she held Ana's hand with her left. After a moment, Ana raised her soul-less eyes and moaned softly, "Lucia, he's back."

Lucia clasped Ana's shoulders tightly and held onto her. No, not again.

That is all for now my pretties!HAHAHAHAhAHAhahA! hack coughAhem…hack..um…hack(coughs up a furrball)