When Jakotsu woke in the morning, everything was quiet. For a while he lay on the ground, allowing his body to fully wake. Then, Jakotsu rose, and quietly slipped outside. The morning was cool and damp, but it had finally stopped raining. Bankotsu was already outside. He sat on the ground, staring into the distance, a dreamy look on his face. A short distance away, Kyoukotsu lay, his heavy breathing, swaying the branches of trees.

Bankotsu turned his head when he heard Jakotsu approaching.

"Oh…good morning Jakotsu." He said, smiling.

"Morning, Aniki-san…" Jakotsu yawned and dropped down beside Bankotsu. "What are we eating?"

"We still have some dried food. I was thinking we could eat it, and then set off on our way." Bankotsu frowned slightly. "I was actually planning on going out and finding some dry wood, so we could make soup."

Jakotsu grinned. "I'll go with you, and help, okay Ban-kun?"

They both rose to their feet and began walking towards the forest. They past Kyoukotsu, and as they were walking under the torri it suddenly occurred to Jakotsu that it was his birthday.

Inside the forest, the air was even cooler. Jakotsu shivered. His clothes were still not quite dry. Although Jakotsu felt uneasy being so close to the center of Muribito, it wasn't as bad as being at the old abandoned shrine. He has played at the shrine when he was younger, so being there brought a strong, chilling feeling of familiarity. However, he didn't recall ever being in this particular section of the forest. It was neutral ground. Still…Jakotsu would definitely rather be miles away. The sooner they left Muribito, the better.

"Aww…I doubt we're going to find any dry wood here…everything's all wet!" Bankotsu kicked at a damp log at his feet.

"Not everything" said Jakotsu. He leaned over and pulled away a few fern leaves from the ground. Underneath was a mostly dry piece of wood. He picked it up and handed it to Bankotsu.

Bankotsu chuckled. "What would I do without you, Jakotsu?"

Normally Jakotsu would have said something suggestive back, but for some reason a feeling of unease still clung to him. He could only smile weakly, back at Bankotsu.

He and Bankotsu continued to gather wood. It was hard word finding dry logs, but after a while, they managed to find a few pieces. They both worked in silence. The coldness made Jakotsu's breath into foggy clouds in front of his face. He began to quicken his working pace. Suddenly he stopped, alert. There was someone near them. Jakotsu could hear their footsteps, faintly crunching on the ground. Bankotsu continued to gather logs, unaware of the noise.

Jakotsu's heart stopped. His blood went cold. He had a strange feeling, as if his mind was no longer connected to his body. He in fact, could no longer feel his hands, or feet, or the coldness of the air on his skin. Every single sound disappeared except for the sound of the crunching twigs, under a person's walking feet.

Those footsteps filled Jakotsu with dread.

The wood that Jakotsu had been carrying tumbled to the ground. They landed with a wet thud. Wordlessly, Jakotsu began following the footsteps.

If Jakotsu could have heard anything other then those distant footsteps, he would have heard Bankotsu calling him.

"Jakotsu?" If Jakotsu could have heard, then he would have noticed Bankotsu's voice was alarmed, and full of apprehension.

If Jakotsu could have heard Bankotsu's voice, he might have stopped walking. Then again, he might have not. Because something about how those footsteps sounded, caused Jakotsu's stomach to drop.

Jakotsu kept walking. His footsteps were rapid, but soft, making sure not to alarm whoever he was following. He kept going, until he could see a man in front of him. The man was carrying logs. Jakotsu could not see his face. The man walked in a light and carefree way that was very familiar.

Jakotsu felt sick.

Jakotsu followed the man until he arrived in the small clearing. In the clearing, was a small house. Hiding in the trees, Jakotsu watched as the door of the house opened, and a small child ran out of it. The child had bright eyes, which were amber in the light. His face was round, and innocent, surrounded by messy black hair. Joyfully, the boy ran up to the familiar man, and hugged his legs.

"Daddy!" The boy looked so innocent. So happy.

"Ginta, get inside before you catch a cold!" A beautiful woman emerged at the door. Her face was stern, but her eyes were amused. She looked happy as well.

Jakotsu knew that woman. He had known her ever since he had been a young child. Jakotsu felt like he would die.

Laughing, the man handed his son a piece of wood. "You can help me carry it inside, okay?"

"Okay!"

There was so much love between them. They stepped into the house, and the door swung closed behind them.

As if in a dream, Jakotsu stepped out from the trees. He floated to the door of the house. His hand hovered in front of the door. Jakotsu could hear again. He felt attached to his body again. Blood pounded in his ears. His vision doubled for a moment. He felt faint.

His hand landed on the door, and he pushed it.

Jakotsu stepped inside the house. In the corner, he saw the father, placing the logs into a fire pit. His back was towards Jakotsu. The mother was chopping food. The delicious smell hung in the air, and Jakotsu remembered that the woman had always been a very good cook.

The little boy stood beside his mother. She let him try a piece of food, and he stood nibbling on it. Then he looked up and saw Jakotsu. The food dropped from his hands, and he backed away and screamed.

Jakotsu was quick. He lunged forwards and grabbed the man around his neck, and hurled him towards the wall. He crashed onto a table, which smashed apart under his weight. By now, the woman whose name was Sayo was screaming as well. Her son was bawling.

"Daddy!" He yelled, in anguish.

Jakotsu felt the Jakotsutou in his hands. Its weight was heavy, yet comforting. He strode forwards, and lifted the man by the neck again. The man's head hung limply forward. His hair was tangled and messy. The man lifted his head.

A wave of emotion washed over Jakotsu. For a moment he thought he would faint. Jakotsu found himself staring into dark eyes. The face had aged, but it was still definitely recognizable. Blood trickled softly from a cut on his forehead.

"Hikaru" Jakotsu's voice came out flat. His grip on his childhood friend, slackened.

"Jakotsu…" Hikaru's voice was shaky. His voice had gotten slightly deeper, yet it was still essentially the same.

"Don't hurt him! Please" Sayo pleaded. Her pretty face was red, and streaked with tears. She was sobbing.

"Daddy, Daddy!" Hikaru's son, Ginta ran towards Jakotsu. Jakotsu roughly pushed the boy away. He landed on the floor, with a thud.

"Please…don't hurt Sayo or Ginta…" Hikaru pleaded. He stared up at Jakotsu.

Jakotsu was seeing red. He was trembling all over.

"You seem happy now, Hikaru. You're happy now right? Right? Right!" The last word came out was a shout. He shook Hikaru roughly with his hand.

"Jakotsu, please…"

"Well that's great that you're happy. Its fucking great, that while I was suffering, and crying, and miserable, you were happy. That's really great, isn't it?" Jakotsu couldn't believe how much pain was pouring out of him. Years had past since he had last saw Hikaru. Why hadn't his pain healed? Why did this all hurt so much?

Hikaru's eyes were wet. "Jakotsu…"

"Stop saying my name!" Jakotsu was crying now. "You know my father died, right? Before I ran away, my father died…" Tears were running thickly from Jakotsu's eyes.

Someone was pounding on the door. "Jakotsu, are you in there? Jakotsu, open up!"

In the back of his mind, Jakotsu registered that it was Bankotsu banging on the door. However, at the moment, Jakotsu could only focus on Hikaru.

"Jakotsu, we have to get out of here! The daimyo tricked us! We have to go!" Bankotsu was shouting. The banging continued.

Hikaru spoke. "I'm sorry Jakotsu. I'm so sorry for everything that happened…I…I thought about you a lot after you disappeared. I always hoped that you would come back."

"Liar!" Jakotsu hissed.

"Its true! You were my best friend. I loved you like a brother!"

"Liar! You betrayed me!"

Bang! Bang! A giant sword split though the middle of the door.

"Don't hurt him!" Sayo cried. "I'll do anything, please…if its money you want…"

"Shut up, you woman filth!" Jakotsu snarled. He made a step towards her, and she cowered back, fearfully.

The memories rushed through Jakotsu's head. Laughing with Hikaru. Sitting beside Hikaru. Eating with Hikaru. The memories were stained with images of Sakura petals, all floating around, in the air.

They were kissing in the Sakura petals!

God, it hurt. How could it hurt so much? Jakotsu felt as if his heart was being torn from his chest.

The wooden door was torn apart by the sword.

"Jakotsu…I loved you. You were my friend. I'm sorry." Hikaru said.

Jakotsu clutched his head. Please…someone make the pain go away!

The door was being pulled from its frame.

I just want the pain to go away!

"You never loved me…" Jakotsu tightened his grip on the sword. "No one loves me…"

The sword flashed in the light.

Hikaru's eyes widened. His mouth parted, and blood trickled from his mouth. The Jakotsutou had pierced through his stomach.

"Jakotsu…" Hikaru's voice was weak. Blood blossomed against his shirt.

"Happy…birthday…Jakotsu. I really did love you." Hikaru's eyes closed, and his body sank to the floor.

Jakotsu's eyes widened with shock. Happy birthday Jakotsu…Something clattered to the ground. It was the blue butterfly hairpin that Hikaru had given him.

What have I done?

Jakotsu was in a shock. He bent over and picked up the hairpin from the ground.

"Jakotsu." A firm hand closed over Jakotsu's wrist. It was Bankotsu.

"We have to get out of here right now. Or we're going to die."

Hikaru was dead. His body lay crumpled on the ground.

"Daddy!" Ginta yelled. He ran over to his father, sobbing. Sayo seemed to also be in a shock. She was sitting on the ground, pale and trembling.

I loved you Hikaru. I loved you so much…

Turning, Jakotsu fled.