Author's note:

Whenever I don't feel like writing or continuing the story, I read your reviews and get to work. Thank you so much for those of you who took the time to write a quick review. And thank you 14Phantom for taking the time to be my beta-reader. I hope you all enjoy the next chapter and continue to review and follow the story.

Also the image displayed around the time this chapter was posted is my own artwork of Kaori, my OC character in this story (obviously you can tell since she's wearing Kazama's neck thing). I drew it by hand but admit I did look off an image on my lap top as an anchor to position her face. I'm not much of an artist but I figured I'd give her a turn to be displayed, and drew her because there is no other image out there the same way as I envision her. I also used Microsoft word to edit the image giving it that paint-like look and added the title. Anyway I hope my readers appreciate it. I don't think I'm going to post original artwork of Kazama since we all already know what he looks like, and this may be the only original artwork of mine that I post, but we'll see on that note. (External link has been posted to my profile page for when the image is not displayed)

Alright time to get to the story!

We traveled for a while until we reached the docks. I was very excited and anxious to get aboard one of the massive ships. When we approached a ship to board it I backed away, intimidated at first. Then glanced at Kazama and somehow I just knew that everything was going to be okay, because he was there and I wasn't alone. Even though to him I was just a burden, that he couldn't seem to break free from, he was to me, my solace and comfort. I had no idea what to expect from our travels through the vast ocean but we embarked on this new adventure, together.

~Kingdom of Stars~

Chapter Seven: The Setting Sun

Kazama guided me onto a towering ship loaded with civilians. I observed its monumental structure. It had enormous sails, equipped with life boats on the side. I was in awe and accidentally lost my footing while staggering on deck. My body flung forward and Kazama caught me just before my face hit the floor.

"Uh, thank you!" I called out, catching my breath. Kazama lifted me up and my hand grazed over his. I blushed, staring up at him and he scoffed with an annoyed glare in his crimson eyes.

"Don't allow yourself to get distracted, mindless woman." He chided, turning away from me. Kazama was acting very cold towards me since the moment he let me stay with him. I desperately didn't want to be a burden. Though, deep down, I knew I was only deadweight. I resisted the urge to blurt out an apology and silenced myself.

We made our way over to the edge of the boat, isolated from the other passengers. Kazama leaned against the siding of the boat and gazed at the evening sky. We set sail a moment later. I stood beside him, facing the other direction.

"That's a really pretty ribbon!"

I heard a voice of a child and spun around to see a little girl smiling up at me. I touched the pink ribbon that held part of my hair back.

"Thank you," I questioned, not knowing where this child came from.

"Have you seen my grandpa, lady?" She chirped.

"No I haven't,"

"Mio! There you are!" Cheered a wise looking old man who approached us merrily.

"Grandpa!" The girl flung herself into his embrace.

"I told you not to wonder off by yourself." He lectured then faced me. "I'm so sorry. My granddaughter is a very curious girl." He patted her on the head and she giggled.

"Oh! No, it's alright." I remarked in a congenial tone.

Kazama glanced over his shoulder at us and I noticed the old man suddenly looked frightened. He gripped the girl's hand.

"Mio, come! We need to leave now!" He panicked, distressed, glaring at Kazama. "Let's not bother these two again."

Kazama grunted once at them. The old man dragged the young girl from my sight in a hurry as I stood there baffled. I wondered why one look at Kazama caused them to rush away from us. Kazama faced the dimly lit sky again and I sat down beside him. He was completely silent and as still as a statue. I tried to think of something to say to him that wouldn't make him angry.

"Um, it's a nice day, few clouds in the sky." I peeked up at the back of his head. He didn't even budge at the sound of my voice. "I wonder what that guy's problem was." I waited for a response from him, but he continued to ignore me. I sighed and glanced at all the lively people on deck, giving up. Then I saw a man selling dango to passengers. I searched through my wallet and realized I hardly had any money. I had accidentally left the bag I was carrying with me, that contained most of my money, in the woods. I had no idea when Kazama ate last and figured I'd buy him some of that dango to return the kindness he showed me earlier in the streets.

I sprang to my feet, trotted over to the sales man and purchased some of his dango.

"Kazama, here, I bought you some dango." I held the food out to him. "I haven't seen you eat anything, please eat some, it's my treat." I gave him a smile.

"I don't need anything from you." He grunted, annoyed.

"Aren't you hungry? Go ahead, try some." I gestured the dango to him again.

"I thought I just told you I didn't want any, will you quit pestering me?" He growled giving me a nasty look. I slumped down to the floor, sitting on my legs.

"Okay, I'll just leave it here then." I placed the dango on my lap. My stomach rumbled a little. I was starting to feel a bit hungry again. I refused to eat the dango on my lap though, since I got it for Kazama to eat, and I really wanted him to have it. I felt torn apart by his behavior toward me and sighed. I glanced up at the setting sun, remembering the last time I saw him, the man I was searching for in the Shinsengumi.

The sun looked just like this the last time I saw you…

Several long minutes passed and I peeked up at Kazama, wondering what he must be thinking. I noticed he rested his hand on his left cheek. My thoughts went back to that moment in the woods when Kazama spoke of the Shinsengumi and I felt a disturbing feeling of anguish ache in my heart as I recalled his words.

"Hmph, maybe they didn't make it to Edo and are all being slaughtered." He taunted cruelly. "Such foolish fake warriors, I bet they're all already dead, good riddance."

I grew angry with every word that sputtered out of his mouth. I clenched my fist, holding back the impulse to scream at him. He glared over at me, noticed my struggle, and smirked ruthlessly.

"You should have listened to me before and gave up on them."

"No! Please stop saying that!" I shook worried about the fate of the Shinsengumi. "I have to find them, I have to help them. Please, I beg of you, don't say that they all died, I still have to find him." I pleaded.

"So that's it, you're looking for someone in their group, in other words you're with the Shinsengumi." He paused and faced me. "I'm looking for someone with them as well, to fight. I will kill that man, who insulted the oni." He growled.

I was afraid of what I might find in Edo. I feared the man I was searching for this whole time, had already perished. My eyes met the dreary light of the sun as it set beneath the waters of the endless ocean.

"I will find him…" I muttered softly to myself.

"I will kill him."

My head popped up at the sound of Kazama's irritated voice. I feared he was referring to that man in the Shinsengumi. He was still staring at the darkish sky, lost in thought; like I was. I shook the worry out of my head.

He's still alive I know he is and I'm never going to give up! I'll find you, I swear it!

I encouraged myself to stay strong. I had no reason to worry about finding him with Kazama traveling with me.

"Um, Kazama, I know this doesn't mean much coming from a clumsy girl like me, but I am grateful for all you've done for my sake, and I won't ever forget the kindness you've shown me, thank you." I stuttered. He tilted his head slightly but didn't respond. I wanted nothing more at that moment than to express my appreciation towards him, though he didn't care to hear any of it.

My stomach grumbled again. I glanced down at Kazama's dango on my lap and decided to just go ahead and eat it myself; not wanting it to go to waste. I had spent what little money I had on it. I felt bad after eating all the dango since I really wanted Kazama to have it. After some time, I noticed some crew members were giving away soup to the passengers. I thought that maybe Kazama just didn't like the taste of dango and that was the real reason why he didn't want any. I left his side and stumbled across the deck to get him some soup. When I made my way back to him, he was sitting down, leaning against the side of the boat. I scurried over to his side and plopped down next to him. I noticed he was resting his eyes and felt too intimidated to disturb him. I waited for several minutes for him to acknowledge me so I could offer him the soup. After a while the soup began to feel cold.

"Hey!" I blurted out, impulsively. I blushed and turned away from him, regretting what I just said. When I glanced back at him his eyes had opened into a glare. He looked at me, disgusted. I gestured the soup to him.

"Please eat." I mumbled, in a low shy voice.

"Hn? You don't think I can take care of myself?" Kazama growled.

"No! That's not it at all. I just," I turned from him, unable to stare into those nauseating garnet eyes in the lightless night. I heard him sigh and felt the bowl of soup swiftly taken out of my hands. I gasped and glanced at Kazama, watching him eat. My dazzled face lit up into a joyful expression. Suddenly Kazama paused.

"Water." He demanded then continued eating.

"Okay!" I sprang to my feet and bolted across the deck searching for water. I returned to him with a jug of it and he drank from it. I sat down next to him with glee and hugged my knees to my chest. Kazama rested beside me for a little while then stood up and gazed at the vast star-lit sky.

"It won't be too much longer now." He grumbled.

"Really!?" I stumbled to my feet with excitement and smiled at him. He continued to gaze into the distance.

"Kazama, I have a question…I know you told me not to concern myself with demons but-"

"Then don't bother asking it." He interrupted me.

"But, it's not a very specific question."

"Then go ahead and ask, but whether I listen or not, is a different story."

"Well, why do the oni hate humans so much? What makes them so different that they have to live their lives separately?"

"Throughout history, humans have always used the oni for their own selfish desires. The furies are an example of this." He glanced over at me. "Do you understand?" He questioned and I shook my head. "Humans created them using the blood of demons in order to gain their power." He growled.

"Wait, you remember when that fury attacked me back in that ally way?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Why did he turn into sand?"

"It happens to them when their lifespan is up, it's repulsive. They're nothing more than false oni; such revolting fraudulent creatures." Kazama snickered.

"But why would humans want the powers of the oni?" I questioned.

"Simply, for money, war and power; it's all an excuse for gold digging. Humans are endlessly nefarious creatures."

"That's horrible to use the oni in that way." I mumbled, stunned.

"Humans have always used the oni." Kazama remarked, bitterly.

"They were wrong to use them for power. Especially to create those monsters, that's just evil." I uttered. Kazama glared down at me.

"What are you talking about? You're no different."

"Huh?" I gazed into his garnet eyes, shocked.

"Haven't you been using me to get to Edo?" He questioned.

"Well that's, uh…different," I stuttered. Kazama stared at me, waiting for a better response.

"Foolishness, you humans are all the same."

"But-"

"Enough, I've grown tired of this conversation."

"No! You're wrong." I raised my voice. Kazama gave me a disgusted look. "I don't see how Humans and oni are that different from each other, I believe that they can get along and work together." I began, he stared at me unimpressed. "Besides, I don't think of you as my enemy at all. I think of you as my friend,"

"Hn," Kazama scoffed. "Well none of that actually matters now, we'll separate once we reach Edo." Kazama said as he turned and walked away from me. I had no clue where he was headed in the ship but I chose not to follow him. I reflected on what he told me about the oni. I wanted Kazama to think of me as his ally and not just any ordinary human.

"We'll soon be in Edo," I mumbled to myself, gazing into the stygian night. In the distance I saw a faint figure floating in the water. I treaded along the side of the ship to get a better look. The figure appeared to be an outline of a ship. I watched as it began to circle around the boat I was on. It didn't carry any flags and mysteriously lurked closer with each turn. Suddenly several crew members started pacing the deck lighting candles. I heard the men call out to the unknown ship, artfully drifting toward us.

BAM!

The ship rocked violently at the sound of a boisterous cannon. I screeched and feel hard on the floor. The civilians aboard the ship started to panic and raced across the deck gathering loved ones and seeking shelter. I stumbled to my feet.

"Kazama!" I shouted. My eyes scanned the area for a glimpse of him. "Kazama! Where are you?" I could barely hear myself shout under the clamorous sounds of naval battle and panicked people. I felt someone latch onto my leg and I glanced down to see that little girl from before hugging me.

"Grandpa!" She cried.

"Oh no, did you get separated again!?"

"Uh huh." She nodded with tears streaming down her face.

"It's okay. I'll help you find him, alright?" I spoke as kindly as I could to her in the mist of the great chaos. Her arms were fastened to my leg and I had to pry her off of me to grab ahold of her hand. I guided the child through the crowd. Then I noticed Kazama advancing toward the side of the ship where he had left me then he searched around the area.

"Kaza-"

BAM!

I saw the waves rise up from the blast of the cannon and engulfed the deck with salty sea water. I kept the girl close to me and lost sight of Kazama. I wondered if he was worried about me. I had to hurry and find the girls grandfather so I could focus on being reunited with Kazama. I franticly scurried through the crowd and ear-piercing sounds of the attack.

"Grandpa!" The girl cried as she thrashed her hand forcefully out of mine and sprinted toward her grandfather. I scampered after her to make sure they were reunited safely. She hugged him tightly. The elderly man recognized me.

"You're that young lady from before." He said with a shaky voice. "The one with that 'man', don't travel with him. He's dangerous!"

"Grandpa! I'm scared!" The girl bawled. The old man comforted her then glanced up at me. "I know what he is, get away from him while you still can, or things will not end well for you." He warned.

"What do you mean? I have to go, take her to a safe place." I pleaded then dashed away from them in search of Kazama.

"You mustn't follow him!" The old man called out after me.

I stumbled into a crowd of people shielding themselves with barrels, poles, and all sorts of items on the ship. Then I felt something grab me and screamed.

"Hey." Kazama grunted, pulling me toward him.

"Kazama!" I cheered, relieved. He dragged me behind some sturdy barrels that were restrained to the deck with ropes and nails. Then he lowered me to the floor. "What are you-"

"Shut up and stay put." Kazama ordered then stood up and drew his sword swiftly from its sheath.

"Wait! What's going on? Who is attacking us!?" I panicked. Kazama glanced down at me.

"Pirates." He grunted then ventured hastily toward the perilous sounds of battle.

To Be Continued…