Meanwhile at Hanzo Academy…

Opening Song: "Wait and Bleed" by: Slipknot

A line of red mixed with black leaks out of Ikaruga's drooping eyes as she lays in bed. I reach over and take a hold of her hand. Her breathing is heavy and strained with the weight of sticky fluid. Every time she inhales and breathes out, it sounds as if her lungs are full of liquid.

Nothing has changed. Alan, and the queen have been gone for nearly five hours, and Ikaruga's condition has only worsened. She's shivering constantly, her body is burning up, and she cries nonstop about how something is trying to burst from her back. It's got to the point Jonathan told me that if I am to stay in here, I have to remain sterile and wear gloves, and a face mask.

They've tried elixirs, vaccines, medicine, cures, remedies, everything, and she still remains sick. Astoreth pulls the empty I.V. bag off the medical stand and replaces it with a new one. Right now, Ikaruga has went through three bags of blood stabilizer and saline solution in an hour.

I grab a hold of a tissue and wipe the side of Ikaruga's stained face. Despite all the grim pain she's enduring, Ikaruga has tried to keep a smile on her face just for me. Deep down, my soul is completely filled with guilt and regret.

Ever since father adopted this girl, I had said terrible things and done unsavory things to her. I'd even go as far as saying I actually hated Ikaruga at once. The only reason father even considered adopting this girl was because I was falling behind in my training. It wasn't because I couldn't do it, but because I wasn't learning at a rate he was satisfied with.

When he first brought her in, I found it strange, but it didn't raise too much concern. One day though, I happen to see dad giving the family sword to Ikaruga. The moment she touched that sword, I was filled with jealousy.

The things I said to this girl were atrocious. Not to mention all the misfortunes I wished upon her as well as all the cruel pranks I did. At the time, she could have killed me, and maybe, that's what I really wanted. All that ever mattered to me was making my family proud. Seeing dad so disappointed drove me to the point I was willing to do anything to become a shinobi.

Father told me that if I could kill one hunter, and one evil shinobi, then he'd consider giving me the sword back. He got me a contract that consisted of a hunter, and a shinobi traveling together and stealing from store fronts certain council members used to house their jewels and precious metal. It didn't occur to me that most of those possessions were illegally obtained from the streets through extortion. Nor did I consider that my targets consisted of a veteran outlaw from the wasteland, and an elite from Hebijo.

There were stories going around that both the shinobi and hunter were working together because they shared the common goal of revenge. They were already criminals for simply existing, so why would knocking over a couple of illicit jewelry stores and killing good shinobi mean anything to them? They had no reason to obey any standards, and they certainly had no reason for letting me live that night.

Months later, I learned that the couple I was supposed to kill turned out to be the same people taking up for me against those who ridiculed and harassed me for that failure. With their help, they made me realize that maybe upholding the tradition wasn't the end of the world. As Hikage put it, "It's just a piece of metal no different than my knife or Alan's scythe." After that, Alan teased, "Although ours is better."

The inside of my pocket starts to vibrate. As much as I don't want to leave Ikaruga's side, it could possibly be Alan.

"Hey sis, I'm going to step outside and take a phone call. I'll be back." I say as I run my hand down the side of her face.

She doesn't say anything or react to my statement. I lay her hand down on the bed and scoot away. Please let it be Alan, or the queen that's calling from a phone booth. I remove the gloves from my hands, throw them away in the biohazard bin and open the door.

"Murasame…" Ikaruga whimpers.

"Yes Ikaruga?"

"I love you…" She wheezes with a smile.

"I love you too." I say as I bite my lip. The urge to go back and hold her is overwhelming, and I am currently wrestling with myself on whether I should take the phone call, or go back. The thought that it might be Alan or the queen gets the better of me, and I exit the room. My heart snaps as I step out.

Why did you have to say that? It's bad enough you're in this state. Did you really have to go out and make me even more emotional than I already was? I peel the mask off my face and toss it in the can outside before sanitizing my hands with some alcohol and holy water.

I reach into my pocket and pull the phone out. The call has been missed, and it's from a 2784. A number I've never seen. So maybe it's the queen calling from a business phone since the booth would have put an unknown number into my log.

I redial and sit down in the living room. As the tone rings, an anonymous feeling of joy comes over me as I say "please be the queen" repeatedly. The other end finally clicks and I'm connected.

"Hello?"

"Is this the queen?" I ask.

"Queen? No. It's…" There's a huge sigh of frustration and the other end goes quite for a moment, "Oliveria."

"Oh…What do you want?" I scowl as I debate on hanging up. Although if it came to doing that, I don't know if I could bring myself to do it.

"Look Murasame, I'm sorry about your sister. The girls told me things got out of control, and I'm sorry I deceived you by using another phone other than mine, but please hear me out."

"Why should I do anything for you? None of this would have happened if you would have just stopped!"

"I know! That's why I want to make it up!"

"And how are you going to do that!?"

"I have something for your sister. It won't cure her condition, but it should buy a couple days and ease the pain.."

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because I wouldn't be calling if I didn't care!"

"Fine…where?"

"Meet me at the park. It's between Hanzo Academy, and where I am staying."

"Alright. I'll see you soon."

The lines disconnect, and I let out a sigh. As much as I want to be mad, I can't bring myself to feel any kind of resentment. Although I'm disappointed in Oliveria when she didn't listen.

"Is something troubling you?" The tabby cat sitting in Alan's chair asks as he swirls his striped tail around.

"Yes." I reply.

"What is it?"

"Mojo, you're a prophet, right?"

"A mythical one? Indeed!"

"If I do this, will there be consequences?"

"Accepting Oliveria's gift will protect your sister until Gehrman returns with the cure!"

"That's not what I'm talking about."

Mojo stands up on his legs and stretches, "Well everything has consequences Murasame. Just as every bird must leave its nest sometime. The question is, when will you?" Mojo asks as he jumps into my lap.

"I don't know, but will you go with me?"

"Of course! Things tend to get crazier after the sun goes down!" Mojo replies.

"Thank you."

I grab his cage, put him inside and activate the passageway that takes me out the back of the school. Mojo circles the cage a couple times and curls up. Since Mojo has infinite knowledge, maybe he can tell me more about Oliveria's guardian Alice. When she abducted me, I seen things I didn't even think were imaginable.

A talking teddy bear with her brother's soul trapped inside, a huge sheathe forged out of the bone from two queens, one heaven, one hell. Then making me, Oliveria and the Hebijo girls dress up for her parties, and that doesn't include her insatiable taste for blood.

Despite her madness though, Alice wasn't really a bad person. In fact, she was actually kind of fun. Almost like a girl that didn't have a childhood. Alice even told me that after this was over, she would still seek to protect me. It was obvious that Alice suffered from some severe problems, but she was one of the sweetest people I'd ever met.

"Hey Mojo, what can you tell me about Alice?"

"You mean The Maiden in White?"

"Yes. Why is she so…different from other gods?"

"Believe it or not, Alice was not a god from the start." Mojo says as I open the hatch at the end of the hallway. The wind rips it out of my hand and throws it open. A wave of white flies up from the sudden impact.

The weather hasn't changed since Alan left, and according to my weather update, there was a severe blizzard warning advised to the entire country, but it was especially bad around the west side. Five-degree (Fahrenheit) weather, whiteout storms, and that's within the city walls. There isn't any telling what it's like outside in the wasteland. Wherever they are, I hope Alan and the queen are okay.

"Sorry about that Mojo. As you were saying?" I ask as I slam the hatch shut.

"Eons ago, even before Kagura or the mirror queen came into existence, there was a girl created by the ones before. These yoma lords grew bored of their godhood and decided to see what would happen if something that wasn't a god absorbed god like power, so they made one male, and one female out of snow and ash. Neither were granted freedom of any kind, and they served one purpose."

"As experiments and tools of war?" I state.

"I'm sure dear Alice told you about the teddy bear?"

"Yes."

"There is only so much one can take, and one day, Alice finally snapped. In a blind rage, she killed her creators and took over the world."

"Were you there?"

"It was I who took her in, and it was I who kept her safe. Despite my best attempts, Alice never could regain those features that made her human because her creators molded her mind to cause anarchy and chaos." Mojo states.

"Is that why Alice seems…somewhat disturbed?" I ask.

"Alice seeks a way to escape her broke mentality due to past circumstances. When Oliveria, and the Hebijo girls found her, Alice was talking to the skulls of all the gods she had killed. When Alice cast her gaze upon Oliveria and the Hebijo girls, she was spellbound by people so kind and beautiful. Oliveria held out her hand and offered to take her in as a sister just as she did to the Hebijo girls. Alice was shocked by their bravery because nor humanity, nor yoma, nor gods wanted anything to do with her."

It's easy to see why Alice loves Oliveria, and the Hebijo girls so much. They weren't wanted by society either. When I was in captivity, they kept me in their house. I wasn't allowed to leave. Nor could I smoke unless I was escorted outside by Ryobi or Imu, but I was never in chains or shackles, and they didn't starve me either.

I'd heard all the horror stories about how Oliveria, but something tells me that might have be exaggerated to an extent. Yes, Oliveria told me that evil hunters have their spines and skull removed while still alive, but the shinobi get somewhat of a pass.

Miyabi told me that in the time she was working for Oliveria, they only executed the shinobi that were trying to kill Oliveria, a citizen of Ursania or one of the Hebijo girls. Oliveria doesn't like good shinobi in her city, but she doesn't seek them out as long as they don't draw attention.

Whenever they weren't telling stories about jobs and listening to Ryobi and Ryona argue, they spent time training, playing games or relaxing while Oliveria kept watch. One interesting event was watching Alice and Murasaki.

Murasaki's got some kind of purple toy she calls Bebeby, I think. Alice had this old teddy bear, and they would sit them down next to one another. At first, I thought I was just insane, but no. Those two toys moved on their own and started playing with one another while Alice and Murasaki would play video games, or relax in the hot tub together.

When Alan came by, I cracked my room door open and spied on them. At the time, he had no idea Oliveria was planning to use me as leverage to prevent Hanzo Academy from backing out if there were to be a confrontation, but Miyabi told me to be quiet if I wanted to live.

My heart dropped into my stomach when it wasn't the real stone because I knew I was about to become an asset for Hebijo. After Alan left, Murasaki rushed out after him. She had told me that when they were kids, Alan was her little boyfriend, and they made the commitment of getting married when they grew up. When she came back, Murasaki was heartbroken that this was going to happen. While everyone else was preparing for the fight mentally, Murasaki spent the entire night crying.

When it came time to leave that morning, Oliveria is the one who put me in chains and told me not to be afraid. That she had no intentions of killing me. Oliveria then told me that after this was over, she wanted me to come with her and the girls back to Ursania because Miyabi and the others had grown fond of me.

Right at the park's entrance sits Oliveria. Her left foot is rapidly tapping the exposed concrete as she rolls a vial within her hands. Right behind her are a pair of feet that have dug their way into the white layer.

I suddenly stop and hold up the cat cage to show that I'm unarmed. Although Alice likes me, it doesn't hurt to show them that I come in peace. Especially since Alice probably thinks I am mad at her master, and the Hebijo girls.

"Milady, Murasame has arrived." A puff of white breath emerges from behind Oliviera.

Oliveria looks up and let's out a huge sigh of relief, "I was starting to think you wouldn't come."

"You would have sent Alice and Miyabi to abduct me again if I wouldn't have." I reply as I sit Mojo's cage down on top of my lap.

"Only because I am in debt to you." Oliveria states as she grabs my hand and presses the vial into my palm. Before I can let go, she grabs a hold of my hand and locks her fingers into mine. My heart skips a beat and I gasp.

"This is pure blood from a nameless one. It will prevent the girl's cells, and Alan's from agulating. There should be enough there to keep your sister comfortable for a few days until Jonathan figures something out." Oliveria says as she lets go.

I take it and roll the glass around. The thick, black syrup slowly trickles down the vial as I flip it upside down. As the stuff stretches, the blood cells look like they are chained together by some kind of maroon wall, and in the middle of each cell looks like there is a star shaped object that resembles the nucleus.

She places her left hand on my shoulder and grabs my face with the other, "Listen Murasame, you do not stop for anything. Don't open it, and don't show anyone. You get that blood to your sister. Alice?"

"Yes Milady?"

"See that Murasame makes it back to Hanzo Academy."

"But Oliveria, your injury?"

"I'll be fine. Soji and Miyabi are watching from the distance." Oliveria replies. She lets out a pain ridden gasp as she tries to stand. Oliveria works herself up to her feet but sits back down when she's halfway up.

I sit Mojo's cage down and stand, "Come on Oliveria." I wrap her arm around my neck and help her. She barely has any strength in her legs. I don't know what happened, but Oliveria is hurt. My guess is Alice carried her here. I attempt to pick her up, but Oliveria tries to brush me off.

"Put me down Murasame!"

"Stop fighting and let me help!" I yell as I finally overpower Oliveria and scoop her up in my arms.

She's so weak right now, that she can't even fight me off. If anyone were to see Oliveria in this state, then they would attack on sight. There is no telling who could be watching right now, but if someone is, then that also means I'm going to be a target for simply helping.

Two shadows are scaling down the side of a nearby building. They both drop down into an alley and completely disappear into the cloud of darkness. Alice quickly rushes over and backs me up as I reach into Oliveria's holster and pull out the pistol that has the bulb on the back.

"Who's there!?" I state as I take aim into the alleyway.

"Easy there Murasame. It's just us." I hear Soji's voice come from the darkness.

"I'll believe it when I see it."

Two girls, one with a white hair and one with blonde step out and uncover their faces. I'm still not buying it though.

"Alice, is that Miyabi and Soji?"

"Yes Murasame. It is." She states.

Although Alice says it's them, I can't help but feel paranoid for this woman. Dad would talk non stop about how much he hated Oliveria, and how he would do anything to get rid of her, and the Hebijo girls. Not to mention how dad, and the council would harass me over how if I killed Oliveria, he'd make me the leader of all the shinobi clans in the country.

I stick Oliveria's gun back into the holster and hand her to Alice, "I want you to go with them. Oliveria can't fight, and if Miyabi and Soji were to get overwhelmed in some way, Oliveria is as good as dead."

"Murasame…"

"Please Oliveria, Listen to me just this one time." I plea.

"Don't make me send Miyabi and Alice after you again." Oliveria says as she hands me a piece of stamped paper.

"When Ikaruga is back to health, you won't have to."

A huge smile splits Oliveria's face in half as Alice leaps up onto the top of a building and takes off. Miyabi and Soji wave bye and disappear over the rooftop's edge. I run back to the bench, pick Mojo's cage up and take a deep breath. Hanzo Academy is about two miles away. Can I make that in ten minutes? Probably not, but it's not going to stop me from trying.

The quickest way back would be the rooftops, but shinobi love rooftops and alleys while hunters prefer abandoned streets and subways. Neither I want to encounter since I'm unarmed. Not to mention, I don't know if Mojo can even fight since he's more of a vessel for knowledge than strength.

"Come on Murasame, your sister needs you." I state as I warm up by doing a couple hops and leg stretches.

"Mojo, countdown!"

"Three, two, one…"

The moment I hear "go," I bust off into a dead sprint. "Don't let the environment hinder you. Jump, slide and use anything to boost yourself forward." Old Man Hanzo's voice echoes throughout my mind. I leap over a parked car and shoot down an alleyway.

"You're doing a fine job, if I do say so myself." Mojo states as I run up the side of a brick wall and hop over a razor wire fence.

His small praise spikes me right in the heart, and it feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, but there's no need to let it go to my head. It's not over yet.

I round the alley corner and use a street light to catapult myself across the street and on top of a nearby building. My legs are trying to give out from all the strain I am putting on them. Despite all the training, and all the physical exercise, it fails in comparison to the real thing, but the hope of seeing Ikaruga in a better state, and eventually getting the medicine from Alan causes my spirits to skyrocket.

Mojo suddenly hisses and growls under his closed mouth as I run across the rooftop and slide into another alleyway.

"What is it Mojo?" I ask as I burst onto the street.

My feet scuffle under one another, and I nearly slam into a man standing in front of me. He's wearing a dark blue blazer that's got a white-collar shirt. His brown hair is slicked off to the side, and he's got some kind of rapier, like sword on his hip.

"Hello…Murasame."

Mojo hisses again and his yowling gets louder as I slowly back away. The man holds up his hands and acts like he isn't going to do anything. I know who this man is, and I know what he's really after.

"What do you want Sebastian?" I reply as I move the cage in front of me so I can push the vial Oliveria gave me deeper into my pocket without him seeing.

"Me? I was just wanting to know why you're out so late! You and Alan causing problems again?"

"That's none of your concern."

"Always angry, aren't you Murasame? You know, there's a lot of evil shinobi running around since Oliveria showed up. It's dangerous out here."

Sebastian straightens the silver gamma emblem on his blazer and makes his way over to me, "Speaking of evil shinobi, you look like the man that matches the description of the missing person's case your dad issued a couple days ago. That wouldn't have been you, would it?"

"Nope. I just needed some time away from that stiff-necked cheapskate, so Alan and I went on an expedition into the wasteland."

"Interesting."

I know for a fact that he isn't buying the lie. Something must have happened while I was with Oliveria. Not to mention father actually reported me as missing, and naturally, the worst people possible had to take the case. Although we'd never really had any problems with one another, Sebastian always had to know what I was doing and when. Mainly because him and father didn't want me around people like Hikage.

"If you think I'm going to tell you…"

"I don't want Alan or Hikage."

"Then why are you here?" I ask.

"I just wanted to check up on that sister of yours. How is she doing by the way?"

"Sick. I went out to get her some medicine."

"Sick you say? Flu? Stomach Virus?"

"She's been contaminated by yoma blood."

"So who gave you that nameless one blood? Because I know for a fact you didn't kill it."

"You and that Gallowglass group are smart, go figure it out." I reply as I turn around and walk away.

I'm through with this conversation. The longer we argue, the longer Ikaruga has to suffer. Sebastian runs up by my side, "Come on Murasame, let me help you. For Ikaruga's sake."

"If you think Alan, or Oliveria or the Hebijo girls are hiding out at Hanzo academy, you're wrong." I reply as I avoid looking at him.

"No, you don't understand." Sebastian replies as he holds up a vial identical to the one Oliveria gave me.

"I always carry one just in case someone in our group gets infected, but now that everyone has immunity, I have no need for it. Just as long as I'm the one that delivers it to Ikaruga." Sebastian states.

I let out a sigh and stop. Although this sounds more like an excuse to infiltrate Hanzo Academy and collect information, is there really a choice? There's no telling when Alan, and the queen will be back. It could be three hours, it could be three days, or worse, they may never return. A horrible thought comes to my mind. Will Jonathan… I shake my head no and push that thought all the way to the back of my head. No, I believe in Alan, and the queen. They will be back.

"Fine…I'll take you to see her."

"Excellent!" Sebastian states as we enter Hanzo Academy's courtyard.

The fact Sebastian is so eager to help makes me uneasy. Does he really know that I was the missing person, and that Oliveria was the one that kidnapped me? And does he possibly know about me and Oliveria, and how she's the one that gave me this blood since Alan isn't here? However, he always seemed to like Ikaruga a lot, so maybe that's where his mind truly is. Hopefully.

We enter the abandoned building where the hideout is. I flip the switch underneath the table and the painting that conceals the hidden way reveals itself. I waste no time in hopping down the slide.

My feet touch the ground, and I quickly move to avoid getting hit by Sebastian. Octavian is laying on his rollaway bed. Everyone else must either be asleep, or in their rooms. I sit the cage down and open the gate. Mojo let's out another yowling hiss as he shoots off down the hall and to Ayame's room. Sebastian lands right behind me and follows. I sterilize my hands, and put on a pair of gloves.

"Whatever you do, I suggest you do it quick. It would be best no one seen you here." I state as I cinch up a face mask.

"I won't take long." Sebastian whispers as I creak the door open and check.

There's no one inside the room. Although Astoreth has been monitoring and changing out Ikaruga's I.V bags. We both enter the room and make our way over to Ikaruga. She's struggling to draw breath effectively and those black tears keep leaking out of her eyelids. As much as I want to give this to her, it would be best if I waited for someone with medical knowledge since I don't know how to modify I.V bags.

Sebastian walks over to Ikaruga and crouches down. Her eyes are open, but she is in a state of unawareness. "What happened?"

"You know, she got into a fight, the thing ended up getting blood inside her, and she's been sick ever since." I reply.

The truth is, I don't know what really happened. Asuka was saying Alice stabbed Alan, and Ikaruga tried to save him. Out of reflex, Alice stabbed Ikaruga with the knife that still had Alan's blood on it.

Jonathan believes that if Ikaruga survives, she will turn into something called a vileblood since she absorbed blood from a yoma/human hybrid rather than an actual yoma like Alan and most hunters did.

Although we aren't related, I grew up with Sebastian. We'd been friends since preschool, and he was like the brother I always wanted. Then one day, he just left. He didn't say why or where he was going, but it left me devastated. Then when dad adopted Ikaruga to carry on the family name, he decided to show back up.

Sebastian was a changed man, and in my opinion, not for the better once he got involved with those Gallowglass people. I don't know what happened during those years he was gone, but he seemed to grow a lot more hateful. Especially towards evil shinobi and people associated with them.

Maybe it's because Sebastian saw too much horror in the wasteland, and he's never been the same since. Even my father would refuse to tell me and Ikaruga stories about the wasteland because it's something people don't want to talk about.

The closet I'd ever been to the wasteland was the tree line, and that's because Alan took me there. He let me take one step into what would be considered the wasteland before pulling me back. Alan then told me why he wouldn't let me go further, and after hearing what he had to say, no amount of curiosity could ever drive me past those trees.

Hunters eating their own children, good shinobi killing innocent people and making slaves of those they capture, evil shinobi cults sacrificing their victims to yoma, churches and temples turning into mass graveyards overnight, the list of atrocities goes on and on and on. I still remember Alan's words vividly, "The only real code in the wasteland is; surviving means more than living."

Sebastian picks Ikaruga's hand up and lifts slightly. There is no response. Nor does she make a sound as he lightly drops it onto the bed. Sebastian picks her hand back up, "Murasame and I brought you something. It won't make it go away completely, but it will make you more comfortable." Sebastian says as he lays his head on hers.

"You have our word, you'll pull through. Promise."

Cli..Click.

The sound of gears spinning and hammers being charged grabs my attention as well as Sebastian's. Standing at the door is the queen, Octavian, and that doll. My heart jumps as I unconsciously put my hands up. The queen and Octavian have their guns pointed at Sebastian while the doll keeps her flintlock aimed at me. The sight of the demon bone ball and wading stuffed down the barrel causes my mouth to swell and dry up as my body goes cold.

"Easy there. Murasame asked for some medicine so I helped him get some for Ikaruga. It's lying on that desk." Sebastian replies as he slowly backs away from her.

"GET… OUT… NOW." The queen growls in a feminine, yet intimidating tone.

"Alright. Alright." Sebastian replies as he leaves the room. The queen, and the doll escort him out while Octavian puts his revolvers into half cock.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? You can't just let anyone in!" Octavian states as he spins his guns around and puts them back into his holsters.

"It's okay. He's my friend."

"Well you're lucky M didn't kill either of you. Why did you let him in anyway?"

"I ran into him when I went to see Oliveria. She gave me some blood that would ease Ikaruga's suffering. Then Sebastian had another spare vial, and he offered to give it to me if I brought him to see Ikaruga."

"Well, I guess it really wasn't your fault. There's no telling when Alan will be back. At least your friend was willing to help." Octavian replies as he picks up the vial and looks it over. He takes a closer look and shakes his head, "And help he did. With Oliveria's vial of nameless one blood and his, there's enough here to keep Ikaruga comfortable for a couple weeks."

Octavian washes his hands, puts on a pair of gloves and checks a new I.V bag for leaks. He mixes some standard saline solution into the bag and adds five drops of the nameless one blood into it. The clear liquid bursts with vibrant color, and the black droplets turn into a bright violet that flashes. Octavian takes the glowing bag over and hangs it. He pulls out a, new sterile tube and hooks it up.

"Volume over time, multiply the constant, fifteen drops per milliliter, fifty milliliter bag for twenty minutes. That gives me 37.5 drops per minute. 4 fifteen second periods to a minute, that is 9.375, so round that to nine drops every fifteen seconds." Octavian states as he squeezes the primary bag a couple times and sets a drip rate. "Seven, eight, nine, ten." He adjusts the clamp and starts over, "Seven…eight…nine… There! Finished!"

Ikaruga's breathing clears up almost instantly and her sniffling stops. She let's out a wet cough, and a huge wad of snot and corruption leaves her mouth and sprays all over her chest. Octavian grabs a sterile towel and wipes it off her body. That bag Octavian used certainly did the trick. Her chest isn't making that rattling sound, and she looks a lot more comfortable now.

Octavian takes his gloves off and disposes of them. I ease over to Ikaruga and pat her on top of the head. Her eyes open, and she looks over at me. They are still black, but it looks like she's stopped crying. Ikaruga smiles at me and grabs a hold of my shoulder.

"Do you feel better?" I ask.

"A little. My lungs don't feel like they're flooded, my heart doesn't feel like it's going to pop, and the aching in my back has stopped."

"I just want you to know, your friend Sebastian came by. He helped me get some medicine to make you feel better." I say.

"You didn't…"
"No. I did." I cut her off.

"I guess I'll have to thank him when I get better. Is Alan back?"

"No, but the queen returned. So that means he shouldn't be too far off."

"When he gets back, I should introduce him to Sebastian." Ikaruga states.

"Yeah…" I sheepishly smile underneath my mask.

Although I don't think he would try anything, I can't take any chances. When Sebastian wises up and realizes Alan wasn't the one I got the blood from, there's a possibility he will come after me because of my relationship with Oliveria, and the Hebijo girls. Now that him, and eventually Gallowglass knows the whereabouts of Hanzo Academy's hideout, nowhere in this town will be safe for me.

"Hey Murasame?"

"Yes?" I reply.

"There should be enough in that bag to last until dad and Astoreth get back. Until then, can you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

Octavian reaches into his pocket and pulls out a picture of him and Shiki when they first got together.

A smile comes across my face, "I know just the man…"

Ending song: "Heaven and Hell" by: Dio