So who thought i died? lol i wouldve thought i died. Seriously...i've been gone FOREVER!!!!! Stupid school and new job and extra homework and hard tests...lol. By the way have i mentioned yet that i am SOOOOOOOOO sorry about the EXTREMELY late update?! Well i am!! I really am sorry! But i tried to make this chapter extra good for you! Trust me...i stayed up until 2:30 this morning...well if youre reading this then probably 'last night' so that you guys could read this. yah i know im crazy... lol but i hope you like it!

I DONT OWN FY!!!

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The darkness encased us and I went to walk but Tasuki grabbed my shoulder, "Where the hell are we?!" He yelled shocked and obviously quite disheveled.

"We're in the realm of shadow…don't worry nothing will hurt you…unless that is you piss me off." I chuckled as I continued walking and Tasuki walked with me taking long strides and trying to look confident. I laughed again.

"What's so funny?!" Tasuki asked defensively.

"You're afraid!" I said smirking lightly and Tasuki's eyes widened and then softened as he saw that icy light in my eyes no longer present.

'Her eyes are so different right now…they're soft and compassionate…and she's even enjoying herself…' Tasuki thought slightly detached.

I had to look away. My eyes had begun to wander too much to my displeasure. I had gathered that he had a toned body perfectly tanned and shaped. His fiery hair was enchanting and was dazzling in the darkness like an independent flame while his hazel orbs were like honey…he looked so sweet. WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?! I was so not just checking him out. A rush of heat raced to my cheeks.

"Yo…Kura you okay?" Tasuki asked trying to move so he could get a better look at me.

"Yah fine…fine!" I said nervously trying to calm my heated cheeks and covering it all up by pretending to be angry. "You're too close!" I suddenly shouted from nowhere. It obviously took Tasuki back because he was shoved a few feet away with in seconds. "Good much better." I said coolly as I took a breath of cool, crisp air.

"Ya didn't need ta shove me!" Tasuki yelled bitterly.

"Nah…I think I did." I said tossing my hair over my shoulder. Oh yes…I definitely needed to shove him. How old was I again?

Tasuki settled for pouting and muttering incoherent swear words all with one particular name after them all. I just smirked and felt self satisfied the distance between us a few feet now and I felt much calmer. My heart race had slowed again and I felt my cool composure come back.

"Kura." Tasuki suddenly asked. When, where or how he popped up behind me I'll never know. I guess so much for my composure. I screamed, to my shock, and jumped but he grabbed me tightly and securely about the waist sending unwanted chills down my back. Oh yes…my composure…definitely gone. "It's just me, don't freak out." He chuckled softly just a little too close to my ear. I could feel his warm breath caress the back of my neck. I suddenly tore away.

That was WAY too close. I didn't like the things he made me think about or the way he made me feel. It was uncomfortable and made me seem and feel different and of course not the way I wanted to feel. "Don't do that!" I scolded after a moment of awkward silence. Yah that's it I'll pretend to be angry again. The little voice in my head rolled its eyes. 'Shut up.' I silently hissed at it.

"Sorry Kura." Tasuki said pouting but he was obviously enjoying the way that had riled me up.

That's it. I determined silently looking at those puppy dog eyes. He caught my slight hesitation and then he went to speak again but instead only a startled scream came out as some figure grabbed him and hoisted him above the ground. "KURA!!!!" He yelled.

"Oh hush…we're not that far away." I smirked now triumphantly as I turned on my heel and began to walk. Tasuki was screaming and cursing a storm up as he was carried after me by some horrific figure. It blended with the darkness but obviously had a very built shape and a pair of golden eyes shone in the darkness as it followed me. 'That'll teach him,' I told myself the smirk never leaving the grace of my lips in the darkness.

I covered my hands over my ears, great Suzaku how long could this man possible yell?! My eyes were narrowed and a million and four ways were racing in my mind on how to silence the noise…unfortunately none of them were realistic solutions. I huffed obviously aggravated and annoyed out of my mind. I snapped and one final yell was heard as Tasuki fell from my creature's grips and onto the hard ground below.

I didn't even look back at him until he began to yell at me again. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!!!" I screeched out at him and it echoed about us in the emptiness. "I'm tired!! And I don't want to listen to your infernal bickering anymore!! Complain to priestess or something!!!" I yelled at him as I waved a hand and moved away from him. He quickly followed me and I watched as he had to cover his eyes to adjust to the light again.

"Well next time don't have your minions attack me!" Tasuki replied hotly but I just growled warningly and that was enough to shut him up…finally.

Although, the silence was unfortunately short lived as shouting from the group rang out in our direction attempting to call our attention. "What are you doing all the way out here?!" Miaka asked although she was excited as ever. I rolled my eyes, why am I here again? Oh yeah…that little devil thing called fate.

"Well see…." Tasuki began rubbing the back of his head to stall time. I was beginning to think he was going to lie…so I elbowed him lightly to hint for him to get on with it. "I lied to ya before…" He admitted and I was surprised that he actually looked quite apologetic.

"You what?!" Hotohori exclaimed obviously not going to take an apology lightly. I glared at him and he only glared back at me challengingly. Oh he was asking for it! Just one more minute and….hold it…was that the ground shaking? Holy shit it was.

"Hey guys…" I muttered quietly nudging Tasuki who had just revealed his identity and was now being tackled by an over ecstatic…I suppose you could call her girl.

"Hm?" Came the mumbled reply from Tasuki.

"I think the ground-GYAAAAAA!!!!!!" I screamed as bones shot out from the ground. Okay I had seen my fair share of the supernatural but that was just….well creepy! I didn't need to explain myself anymore as we now had to defend ourselves from the undead.

I was pretty preoccupied with the whole bones reaching for me thing to realize that one had grabbed Miaka. I glanced in her direction but Tasuki had taken care of it and, rescued the damsel in distress. Tasuki smirked at me and I felt this odd sensation as I watched him hold her. What was he doing…tainting himself by holding onto her like that? Whatever…why would I care. I looked away bitterly and I felt myself angry…I took out on the eerie ivory bones reaching for me.

After about an hour I looked across at everyone who was beginning to tire. Not to mention Miaka had begun to shake for some odd reason. I just laughed about it, "Come on we were attacked by bones what little girl like her wouldn't be afraid?" I asked.

We all looked worried though when she replied, "Is that what it was?" How could she not know they were bones? Was she an idiot…wait I already knew the answer to that. I huffed and rolled my eyes, "Stop playing stupid." I growled at her. She looked around, "Kura you're here?!" She asked as she reached out but oddly enough I was standing on the other side of her.

I moved in front of her and knelt down so we were at eye level. "Now come on Miaka this isn't entertaining anymore…we need to get to this stupid village so I can get some sleep." I huffed covering my hesitant worry with annoyance.

She suddenly turned her eyes so that they locked with mine and her hand touched my skin and I immediately pulled back. Her skin was icy…it was…like the blood was ceasing to flow. I looked at her eyes and saw that there was a glaze hanging over them. "Pick her up." I whispered to Hotohori who was standing behind me looking perplexed.

"What?" He asked worried and obviously shocked that I was even addressing him.

"PICK HER UP DAMN IT!" I yelled as I stood and began to quickly walk towards the village that was already in sight. I was surprised when Hotohori followed my demands with out a second thought. Although, he obviously wasn't enjoying being ordered around that high horse emperor….oh well…he'll get used to it.

We were walking in a grave like silence…could I pick a better word then grave? After we entered the village Nuriko stepped up and seemed to take the lead beginning to ask for doctors and the like which was perfect for me. I slunk to the back and stayed silent watching as my black hair came cascading into my face. I was having mixed emotions which I hated. I wanted to remain one sided. Damn these stupid feelings kept interfering. Life was so much easier when I just hated everybody.

Suddenly I heard the same phrase again for about the hundredth time, "No we don't treat her kind here." I found my hand hit hard on the door preventing it from shutting all the way.

My next words were in a dark threatening voice and they sounded a little more ominous then I realized I felt. "You don't tread her kind? And who would then? What treats her kind? Hm…? Because if you're not careful I may just make you a kind they can't fix either…" I hissed warningly. He stared at me obviously frightened out of his mind and he was about to blurt out some excuse so added, "Watch your words carefully for they may be your last…."

"Their is only one doctor that can treat the plague. They say he lives in the hut!!! He's the only one skilled enough to heal such wounds in these parts." He said and I smirked as my hand fell from the door and it was slammed in my face.

"That's not fair! I ask a thousand times and don't get any answers and she asks once and they come pouring out!" Nuriko pouted frustrated.

"That's because you can't ask for the answers Nuriko….you have to demand them." I said casting him a smirk as I walked a steady pace towards the hut looming in the distance. As we got closer I slowed down. Pain was filling body…but it wasn't a physical pain. It was a deep running sorrow that encased my entire being. It was almost like a throbbing pain. It was nearly as bad as when Chichiri had gone through hell and back.

"Hey Kura?" Tasuki asked pausing to look back at me.

"What?!" I snapped suddenly angry with him although I personally didn't understand why. Him holding Miaka again for Hotohori may have had something to do with it though.

"You okay?" He asked still nicely even after I snapped at him.

"I'm fine. It's not like you need me to walk up to the door with you…" I said rudely at his politeness. I hung back though even after he walked off. My heart had sunk slightly that they had left me to wait there…but it was what I wanted…wasn't it?

I leaned against the wall closing my eyes and relaxing for a moment sighing content. I could feel the warmth of the sun escaping my grasps as it sunk beneath view and the illuminated orb floated its way into the sky with its numerous companions.

I heard foot steps coming back again, "Crazy old hermit…" Nuriko muttered causing me to chuckle lightly as I opened my silver orbs again.

"Do you need a place to stay for the night?" A girl's voice asked. I looked over at the unfamiliar tone and saw a blonde woman with piercing blue eyes. I had to admit she was pretty but she looked very pale and not too healthy herself. "You may stay in my abode for tonight…you know…if she was to die then I could resurrect her for you…" She added quietly.

My eyes narrowed at her now suspiciously. So this was the girl? She was the talk of the town, the girl who was their savior as they called her. Everyone seemed to have the same thoughts as me but in the end they chose the stupid decision to follow her to the hut. Reluctantly I followed and as I moved away from the house the sorrow filled pain left me but a foreboding took its place.

The house was small but it was adequate. We had laid Miaka on a bed and the girl had taken a seat by the bed along with Hotohori. I had a seat against the wall farther away and naturally it was half cast in shadows. My face was shrouded by them giving me an 'ever watchful' appeal. Tasuki kept glancing at me nervously. I think he actually believed I was going to vanish away any moment now. I didn't really have anywhere else to be at the moment so why not just chill out here. I could always sleep if I wanted to.

I shivered and watched slightly angry as Miaka shivered uncontrollably again. She was having these seizures where she would thrash violently for a few moments and then she would stop having to pant to catch her breath. It was really starting to get to me and I couldn't tell anymore which of the two bothered me more…the seizures or the caring. I yawned and stretched my hands over my head as I shifted in my chair. Hotohori suddenly jumped out of his seat though throwing his chair catapulting backwards.

"I've had enough. I'm returning to see that hermit and I will make him treat lady Miaka!" He said determined. Nuriko nodded his head in agreement. Hotohori paused though glancing at Miaka.

Tasuki voiced the emperor's thoughts, "So we're all just gonna leave her here?"

"I'll watch over her…she'll be fine until you get back." The woman said lightly. She had been talking previously and had even told us her name…but I hadn't really been paying attention and frankly wasn't interested in what her name was.

"I'll stay." I added in smoothly releasing the tension from the room dramatically. "I didn't want to get up anyway…call it laziness." I smirked. Surprisingly I got grateful glances from all my companions. I couldn't help feel repelled though by the seething sensation I could feel rolling off of our host.

I stood and walked outside the door with them. They thanked me in their own silent ways and began to walk off. Though Tasuki lacked behind for a moment looking at me with my arms folded. "You gonna be okay here?" He asked.

"Yah…why wouldn't I be?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Alright." He said holding up his hands in defeat. "See ya soon then." He added as he walked off. I got it then. He really thought I was going to disappear. I actually felt bad for him…I then felt a slight heat rush to my cheeks…he was worried something was gonna happen to me. I shook the thought from my head quickly. Nah he just doubts my capabilities. Yah I'll go with that.

I breathed in a strong scent of the nights cool, crisp air before returning the warm and what they called cozy home. I personally thought it lacked something but that was just me. I resumed my seat in the corner and suddenly I found myself watching the woman's every step.

"Miss Kura would you like anything?" She asked.

That snapped me to attention, "I didn't tell you my name." I said coldly and threateningly.

"Your companions were speaking of you…I'm sorry I suppose we weren't properly introduced." She said sweetly but I felt even more reluctant to reply. Something was amiss and I didn't like what was going on.

"It's fine." I stated coldly and glanced away for a moment feeling the tension rise increasingly in the room and I know it wasn't only on my part. The woman seemed to sigh aggravated catching me by surprise. I glanced back over at her intrigued at her expression.

"Why must you make things so difficult?!" She spat distastefully causing me to raise an eyebrow. "Never the matter…I'll just make you the attacker…we all know you hate her anyway…" The girl said a sadistic gleam in her eyes. I found myself slowly getting up pensive about what was going on. It was then that it caught my attention, the ever slight glimmering of a blade at her side.

"What are you?" I asked my silver eyes narrowed and piercing through her.

"That's a very good question dear….and I'm sure it will be answered soon enough…" She whispered but this time her voice was masculine and it sent a surreal like chill down my spine. I was ready to panic and run which was unlike me but something about this made me feel very insecure.

I found myself in a mad dash to the bed attempting to reach the girl that was in pain upon it. But I found myself struck down by some unseen force. I hit the ground hard and a slight moan escaped my lips from the pounding headache overtaking my body. I couldn't even see the dark liquid that was oozing about my head and sticking to my face let alone staining the floor.

"You've been eluding me for quite some time now, little shadow mistress." The voice repeated and I watched in a haze as the girl transformed to a man but already my vision was more of blurs. I could see no detail upon him which made it even more frightening. He got closer and suddenly I swung my leg to knock him over and pushed myself up off the ground.

"Stay away from me." I warned and glared at him with unforgettable eyes.

The man only laughed and I gasped as I watched him vanish. I found that I was suddenly hit from behind was greeted once again with his floor. I could hear his footsteps and I tried to move away but exhaustion was overpowering me. I felt a warm liquid falling down face slowly and came to the horrifying conclusion of what it was. He kicked me sending rolling across the floor and I landed this time on my back. Then he knelt down and I felt a wet cloth cover my mouth. I screamed and then darkness consumed me.

I awoke with a throbbing head ache. I didn't even try to move at first. I just laid there letting my senses return to me. First I opened my eyes and realized that it was all dark…this wasn't my shadow realm. This was an uncomfortable darkness and it was consuming me. Next thing I knew was that I could smell dirt…then I felt it. My hands shot up forward and I screamed. There was planks of wood above me and on the sides of me and there was no light anywhere…which also meant there was no shadow. I began to panic. He had buried me alive! No one knew where I was! Hell I didn't know where I was! I began to pound on the wood plank above me and I even felt fresh blood begin to pool from the numerous cuts I was creating and my heart was sinking faster with each silent reply that told me I was stuck here.

Tasuki dashed out of the house as he looked at elder doctor man, "Where did you say those gravesites were?!" He yelled.

"Go to the back of the house and you'll see them." The man replied as he helped Miaka to her feet. "Do you feel better?"

"I feel perfect! Thank you Mitsukake!" Miaka replied chipper but she then looked at Hotohori as he began to move out of the house as well. "What's going on?" She asked worried.

"After you passed out the demon told us of how he had taken Kura…He said if we didn't find her soon then we'd only be able to find her dead." Hotohori whispered as he wa;ked out of the house and began to scan the outside for any traces of struggle or clues that would lead to Kura's hiding place.

"Oh my god!" Miaka said covering her mouth worried. It was then that they all paused. They all felt it. A sensation of sheer panic. And then they heard it, "HELP ME!!! SUZAKU HELP ME!!!" Kura's recognizable voice was heard shouting in their heads. They even heard a faint hitting sound but they couldn't guess what it was. They then saw that Tasuki had bolted for the graveyard.

When Tasuki heard the shouts he knew for sure now that it had to do with the undead people the demon had risen to attack them. The only place they hadn't been was the graveyard. When he heard the hitting sounds the first thought was a coffin which frightened him more then he had thought. He paused in the graveyard and scanned it intensively his heart beat racing.

I pounded frantically on the wood and screamed knowing that no one could hear me. "Tasuki!!!" I finally screamed and I didn't even think of how that may have surprised me had I been thinking about it. "TASUKI!!!" I screamed and I wasn't even aware that salty tears were streaming down my face. The air in the tight compartment was stuffy and hot and I was too panicked to even consider what it could mean. Although suddenly I heard a muffled voice above me somewhere and I screamed his name again but this time I couldn't lift my fist to hit the wood or continue to scream as I felt myself loose the breath to fill my lungs and sleep slowly try to take me.

I remember that suddenly a crushing wave of cold air fell upon me and then strong arms pulled me faster then lightning. I rested my head against them and then the sleep took me as I heard his voice reach me, "Kura…" and then he held me.

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So how did you like it?! You should tell me!!! lol and yell at me for waiting so long to update. lol. but you should thank me. i was gonna be really really mean and cut this chapter off with her passing out in the coffin. hahahah would that have been mean or what?! lol so yes you should be happy i didnt do that to you. n-n

You should all go to Tayk's profile and look at her deviantart links. shes done some very nice pictures of kura on there. n-n

So to my lovely (and favorite pple on earth) reviewers,

Kristall: lol it's no problem. the fact that you read and review at all makes me very happy! thank you for all the dedication! i hope to hear from you soon!

Fiction 101: lol how could i forget you?! are you kidding me?! lol im glad to hear you like the story! i hope this chapter wasnt a let down! like i said before it was really late when i wrote this! lol

Solo's Orca: lol me too! It's only taken forever for her to make a friend! lol trust me i was like...why cant they just LIKE eachother already! lol and then i was like...thats not how friendships work lol

Daydreamermagby: I'm glad that you like the story! And yes i deff agree with you about her opening up. things are kind of going to be tricky here for a while but trust me itll all work out! n-n and i think you wont be disapointed. at least i hope so. lol

antyem13: lol yah so i updated in less then three days and then really really late haha sorry about that. lifes been a little hectic. but i hope the chan-npter was worth the wait! I also hope you continue to read and like the story!

Devo: lol well your welcome? lol guess thats just a 'tad' late huh? lol. yah srry about that...but im glad you like the um 'cough' 'hint' 'cough' friendship so far. lol\

Tayk: lol i love you tayk. your reviews always make me so happy. and trust me ill never get tired of long reviews. i think it may be impossible for a review to be 'too' long for me. lol. im glad you like the story so much it makes me very happy. lol and i saw your pictures of kura!!!! THEYRE SOOOOOO GOOD! Keep up the good work! I hope you keep drawing them! I'd be very happy! n-n

unitl next time, which wont be so far away...lol

-miracle