This is a quick chap before X-mas ppl, and I might try to get the other up Friday!

Also thanks to Daewen98, HitokiriTaijiya, Kageharu Kaco, for keeping on reading!

The Artist

Space! Oh, frozen Sea of Stars!

My spirit will continue to defy you!

The colder and stricter you become

the hotter my blood

will likely continue to burn

Anime) Arcadia of My Youth: Waga Seishun no Arcadia (Arcadia of My Youth)

Last time

All the man could do was smile kindly. Some of her walls where going down around the gumi. Yet they're so much to heal still, and that darkness in her eyes…he shook his head. One step at a time for now.

' Well, it stopped bleeding, you should get some sleep Wolf. This one is too!' he said, smiling

All the teen could do was nodded, heading for the door. Her scar no longer burning where Kenshin had touched it.

Wolf slowly stood up, stretching out her body from the sleep. Her red hair fell from its braid. " I need a hair cut!" she thought

Looking down at her watch, it read 8:33. Wolf opened the shiroe; the day was gray, rainy and cold. She singed, winter was coming very soon to the land. She hated being cold! Yahiko turned the corner, seeing a half wake teen, glaring at the sky.

" So what did the sky do now?" he asked, smirking

Wolf looked at young man, in his training cloths. " It's going to rain, and be cold." She looked at he sky, flipping it off.

Yahiko shook her head, going to the training hall. Wolf wore a pair of old sweat pants and a t-shirt saying " Look somewhere else" The teen headed for the kitchen, setting up to some boil some water for Coffee. Tea had given her some, thank kami! Wolf could not live without a cup of coffee. Kenshin was making briefest, seeing the teen looking half awake still. Waiting for her campfire coffee to be done. He smiled a little, she looked just Kauro when she first woke up!

"Ohayo Wolf!" he said

Wolf turned a little, wavering. A gentle laugh came from the man. Last night seemed to be lost on the two red heads. Kenshin went back to his soup, watching the girl get her drink. Slowly sipping the liquid, looking a little more human.

Wolf looked at the man asking, " So what's the day going to be Kenshin?"

"Karuo-dono is going to anther dojo to help train, and this one has to do some shopping and cleaning." He said, looked at the girl with a side-glance. The light planning on his own red hair.

She nodded, sleeping her coffee. " Kenshin…about last night…." Her voiced tailed off a little. " Look, I'm sorry about that shit I said!"

He looked at the girl, smiling " Its ok Wolf, this one knows how it feels a little, that I do. So, we will talk later."

" Well I better get dressed and head over to Kagome's she needs some help with her roof today, then its off to work!" Wolf slammer down her coffee, and walked for the door.

Slipping into her black shirt and black gi, and a pair of men's small pants. Wolf was ready to set out. Then her gaze fell to her sheathed kantana. A sorrowed filled her heart, picking it up and walking outside. It felt warm in her hands. Kenshin walked out, seeing the girl holding the blade in her hands. Her cerulean eyes held an unseen emotion. She slipped the blade into her belt. Wolf headed for the gate, her left hand gripping the handle of the blade.

Early morning Tokyo was a good time to travel, not many people where on the streets in storms. Walking to Kagome's let Wolf think, " Grandma…I will keep my promise t you, just gives me a little time right now! A lot of things are going on. The whole traveling back in time thing has thrown one hell of a hand to play, but that's strange thing about it. I feel…at home. Which scares the hell of me. Kenshin is a lot…. kinder then anyone I have meet. Kauro, she's cool. Yahiko, he like having a little brother, and Sano…its better now. Lets see how everything works out right now!"

Wolf knocked on the door; Kagome's skin frame opened the door. Smiling at the teen. " You where to much black child! Come in! I have some hot soup and tea for this kind of day. No roofing, too cold for these old bones!" she said.

Wolf shook her head, wandering how this woman could be so spire for her age. Taking off her shoes, Wolf sat on a pillow, sipping some sweet tea. Kagome talked on about life and news. Nodding was the thing the teen did, smiling and laughing lightly at a joke or comment now and then.

Soup filled the girl's warmth even more. A knock at the door made the old woman stopped and hurries to the door. Leavening Wolf blinking a little. Seeing Kagome walk back, in with a young man.

Hay brunette hair, with an under tone of dirty blonde fell to his shoulders, a green gi and western styled pants where a little mixed matched. He had a heart shape faced, and mysterious chocolate colored eyes. Yet the feelings from this young man made Wolf stare in almost child like Wander.

Wolf looked at the old woman, then two the strange young man. Never in her life had she felt someone so UN tainted. Pure…

"Kagome who is this?" A wonder falling on her face

" His name is Kazuya, and he is deaf' She said " But don't let that fool you, he is smart and writes his conventions in both kanji and English. Also, he's one of best artist around young lady!"

Kazuya studied this new teen, he had never in all his days seen such eyes and colored hair. " A sword, she's like a katna. Beautiful, with a deadly edge! Kagome does find the most inquire people!" he thought, clenching his drawing paper closer.

Kazuya sat down, his locked on the girl. Wolf shifted in her seat a little. Kagome smiled saying " Well I fetch more tea!"

The young teen took out his paper, writing something down in kanji. Wolf shook her head, sayings " I only read in English."

He nodded, writing something different " Hello Wolf, Miss Kagome has said much about you these past weeks. I am very glad to meet you now!" he smiled

Wolf nodded, reflecting the smile a little more. Tea was served, and Kagome went back to talking Wolf and Kazuya shared a look, smiling about the old woman.

Wolf stood up, saying " Time to head to work people, nice meeting ya Kazuya!"

Wolf waved, heading for the door and slipping her shoes on. Kagome waved back. Looking at the man she asked " So what do you see Kazuya?"

Kazuya looked up, writing down " She has had a harsh life, that scar is proof enough. Her eyes hold so much back, her own soul is weeping out. At the same, a kind heart bleeds for the anguish of the world and its state. Still…she holds darkness. A vertices fighting soul…"

Kagome nodded, knowing the same thing. Wolf needed time to heal; yet she worried what would happen if the seal on the girl's heart broke in battle…

Next Chap

The Broken Blade, Blood strikes!

Pure terror racked the teen, Kauro and Yahiko where in trouble, but the poison in their systems and that odd gas kept them in a dissolution state of fear. Wolf was able to break the hold with her foresight and street smarts. Yet body was weakening. These men watched, dead eyes locked on the older woman and child, the gleeful shine of steel reflected in the deadness

" I have to do something! Please Kami, help me to save them at any cost!" she screamed in her mind. Yet she felt that madness blooming in her soul. Wolf made the choice, letting go of her sanity. Falling into the darkness of her self.