I walked around completely confused. I had always heard horrible things about the abyss, and while it was definitely creepy, I wasn't expecting this. The abyss was like a giant toy box. I knew it was dangerous but I found it hard to be scared. Simply put I was fascinated by this mystical world. But I didn't know how long I had been here and my stomach was beginning to feel empty. I wandered around until I came upon a random table. I didn't care that there was no logical explanation for the table to be there when I saw what was on it. On the surface of the table sat a pomegranate cut perfectly in half. The seeds gleamed a deep red that made my mouth water. I quickly grabbed a handful and was about to toss them into my mouth when I was thrown to the ground. I watched in dismay as the delicious seeds flew out of my hand. I whipped my head around and yelled, "What the hell was that for?" at the man who tackled me.

"You cannot eat the pomegranate seeds." He said calmly, standing and dusting himself off.

"And why not?" I retorted, getting up off the ground.

"Because if you do you will be stuck in the abyss and used by this chain." He said in his infuriatingly calm voice.

"What cha-" I began to ask but I was interrupted by the table shattering to reveal a large creature. Its skin was a ruby red, and on its heads were horns that dripped scarlet blood. A long tail on its back whipped back and forth and its mouth opened to reveal long shiny fangs. But the most terrifying feature was its large, glittering black eyes.

I was scared stiff. All I could do was look at this monster. When I tried to back away my body refused to cooperate. It was like my body was frozen in place. All I could do was stare in horror as the chain began to take lumbering steps toward me. I realized this would be the death of me. I would never see Amaya or Oz again.

I was surprised when an even larger thing stepped in front of me. Purple scales covered its body. Green spikes studded from the top of its head down to the very edge of its tail. Its claws were a glittering black that would show no mercy to any enemy it faced. Wings sprouted from its back in a swirl of purple and green. (Luna: In case you couldn't tell, Rain's favorite colors are green and purple *snickers* Rain: Shut up! At least I can choose a name for myself and stick to it! *glares at Luna*Luna: Humph :P) I couldn't see the front since it stood in front of me in a protective stance.

"Stand down, Blood Dragon, this is not your fight." The red chain demanded.

"I will not, seeing as this girl is mine and mine alone." Blood Dragon replied.

"And why is she yours?" The red one hissed.

"That is quite simple, Hades. It's because I'm stronger than you, and I desire to have her." Blood Dragon answered, rising to a greater height.

"Why you-!" Hades yelled as he charged Blood Dragon. Hades slammed into blood dragon with a resounding smack. Blood dragon hit Hades across the face with his deadly claws. Blood spurted from Hades face in a dramatic fashion. Hades roared in pain before charging Blood dragon. They slammed together as Hades attempted to bite into blood dragon's neck. But he saw it coming and flew to avoid the attack. He flew so fast my eyes could not follow him. Blood dragon descended to the ground with a loud thud. Before Hades could turn around to face his attacker, Blood dragon grabbed both sides of its large head. He moved his hands quickly in a sharp turn, and a sickening crack echoed through the Abyss.

"He's dead now." Blood dragon said before transforming back into the man I had talked to before.

"Wha-what was that?" I asked, my voice quaking as much as I was.

"That, was a true taste of what the Abyss is like. It deceivingly looks like a fun place, but it's horrid. There are many chains and people trapped here. The chains will do anything they can to leave. For example, that chain was planning to force you to sign a contract with him, and if you refused it would be the end of you, forever." He said, seemingly unaffected by the news he was delivering.

"Wow," I said, amazed, "What makes you different?"

"I am only different because I choose to be. While I am a chain, I choose not to embrace the attitude that most of them have. I try to be the best I can be even if I am a deadly weapon." He said, for the first time seeming sad at his lot in life.

"Well I respect that since because of who you are, you saved me from that horrible thing. Is there any way I can repay you, Blood Dragon?" I said with gratitude.

"You don't have to call me by my changeling name. You may call me Tatsuo, it is my true name."

"My name is Rowen, but you are avoiding the question."

"All I can think of is something too horrible to ask of you."

"Well ask, and I will tell you if it is too much."

He sighed, "I have always wanted to see the world outside the Abyss, but I have never had a contractor, in fear of becoming the horror that most chains are."

"I think that since you saved me it is the least I can do to repay you. But how do I do it?"

"All you have to do is say you will sign a contract with me and once I have made it happen, seal it all with a kiss."

I didn't give myself time to back out, and said, "Alright, let's do it."

Tatsuo gently took me by the wrist and pulled me towards him, and we stood there hands clasped together. Tatsuo nodded for me to speak and I took a deep breath and said, "I will sign a contract with you." The world began to spin as we were lifted into the air by an invisible force. He brought me into his arms and gave me an earth shattering kiss, my first kiss, to be exact.

I woke up on the floor of the mansion where I had been when I entered the Abyss. I was on the floor between Tatsuo and-

"Oz!" A manly voice screamed. I looked up to see a black haired man running towards us looking frantic. As he came closer I saw it was Gil, having aged about ten years. I had been in the Abyss for longer than I thought. "Rowen, what the hell?" Gil asked after making sure Oz was alright.

I snapped and glared openly at Gil and yelled, "What do you mean, what the hell? I saved myself from the Abyss, which is better than you ever did!" I was so angry I missed so much time while I was in the Abyss. I heard a cackle of laughter from behind me and I turned. It came from a woman with crazy black curls and mismatched green and brown eyes.

"I like her; she's got spunk." She told Gil, still laughing, turning to me as she said, "Ello, my name is Autumn and these are my babies," she said, indicating the animals at her side. "Pete the parakeet, Squishy the snail, and Fluffy my dog chain."

"I'm Rowen," I said, introducing myself. I glanced down at my still unconscious chain and said, "Oh, and this is Tatsuo, my chain."

"It is good to meet you both." Autumn said, bowing with a flourish.

"Today has been a weird day…" I muttered as I watched as Autumn crouched down and started poking Tatsuo in the forehead.

/:/ 3 days later \\:\\

Autumn and Gil had been arguing for a while about where we would eat. Finally we came to a bar where Autumn demanded we eat so she could get the 'juice'. (Remember from the last chapter?) I was at the back of the group so when Autumn and Gil suddenly stopped I couldn't tell what was going on. When Gil suddenly turned white and fainted I was able to see a giant cat, and next to it stood someone I never thought I would see again. "Lady Amaya?" I questioned, not believing my eyes. This woman looked just like Lady Amaya's mother had when she was young.

"Rowen?" she asked, calling off her cat almost instantly. We ran to each other and hugged like there was no tomorrow. I was reunited with my mistress, my best friend in the whole world. As much as we wanted to catch up all we could force out was a bunch of 'I missed you's . Time apart has always been difficult for us since we had grown up as close as sisters. Even though I was a servant in the household, Amaya's mother had raised me like I was her own flesh and blood.

As we caught up I saw Autumn out of the corner of my eye. She was quickly becoming quite intoxicated. Oz and I have tried to break her of the habit of drinking herself stupid, but it didn't seem to be working. Every time she got drunk it made me wonder what from her past could make her want to drink herself into oblivion. Everyone has something in their past that haunts them, and I really wanted to know what Autumn's past is.

I was thrown from my train of thought when said drunk ran from the bar screaming, "My babies!" The entire bar was laughing at her outburst, but none harder than Gil and I. Even though we were used to Autumn drunk, 'She is most of the time' I mentally sweat dropped, it was still funny as hell when she loses it.

"Life really has changed, hasn't it?" Amaya stated, taking a sip of her margarita, chuckling. (Luna: Mmmm, margaritas are good!)

I smiled and said, "It has, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

:) the end

so? you like?

and Gomenasai (go-men-ah-sai) means please forgive me ;)

i japanese :)