A/N: Finally. Kin.

Special Thanks: To reviewers, to loyal reviewers, and to my beta: Asami-chan! Thank you for your continued support.

Warnings: Vampirism, BL, some mentions of violence and implied neglect (in this chapter)

Pairings: Thrill, Imperial, Golden, Endurance/Emerald

Chapter 9

"The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,

For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:

So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,

And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly."

- "The Spider and the Fly" by Mary Howitt

The steady thrum of the motor was felt constantly in every part of his body but he gave it no heed. The sunlight that shined on and off his face at odd angles was irritating, but still he kept his eyes ahead of him, off other passengers and the world outside the motor vehicle. The air was slightly warm due to body heat but for some reason, he found himself chilled to the bone with every mile closer he was to his destination.

He stood as the bus rolled to a stop, emerging from the elongated vehicle as the driver boasted their reached destination:

"Welcome to Matsue Castle!"

Ryoma stared up at the multileveled building that stood among the acres of nature.

The structure was elegant, curving up towards the heavens with dark-paneled wood, the base made of gray rock. Glimpses of white walls peeked out from under dark roofs and, overall, the structure had a regal, if not intimidating, feel. A smooth pathway winded up to the entrance, lined by bushes, then grass, then the gardens themselves. People milled about here and there, some stationed at nearby picnic tables with their families.

Ryoma masked the feeling of loneliness with apathy; right now, such trivial emotions did not matter, right?

It was Saturday today; he had stayed up late last night, planning his route to this very place. A combination of subway and bus systems got him here, all paid for with his allowance, with his parents none the wiser. He had told his mother (his father doesn't bother asking him where he's going) that he would be hanging out with his freshmen fanboys for today and she had accepted it easily enough. He hadn't heard from any of the other Regulars, not even Syuusuke, and he figured it was for the best; he did not want to tell them where he was, and lying was tedious.

He quickly got in line to join the noon-time tour and leisurely followed the small group as the guide narrated out the castle's history. Matsue Castle, from what he had read, was built in the 1600's, and Ryoma was pretty sure that 'Kin' existed long before that. At least, he never remembered any such castles in his dream recollections; the only clue he was hanging onto was the flower. He just hoped he wouldn't have to do something drastic, like kill himself or something, just to remember; if he had to, then the dreams could go screw themselves - he wasn't suicidal.

Ryoma wasn't patient by nature so by the time they reached the garden part of their tour (around forty minutes later) he was in a bad mood. The guide allowed them to roam around the gardens, provided they stay on the pathways and not trample into the foliage. Ryoma easily maneuvered around families and couples, getting as far away from them as possible, golden eyes sweeping over the varieties of flora.

It didn't take long to find them; they stood out as shining patches, hundreds of them beaming white with sparkled gold, their faces upturned towards the sun. Ryoma crouched down by them, just looking at them; there was a familiarity there, one that extended past the bouquet of Nanako's. He lightly ran a finger over one of the petals, trailing it across each and down the stem.

Ichi...

Ryoma plucked off one petal.

Ni.

And another.

San.

And another.

A white flower sprinkled with gold lay alone on the ground as tiny flames burnt half the petals to ash, climbing to consume the rest.

There was the smell of fire.

Kin could only stare, horror encompassing his body and freezing his limbs. He sat huddled in the corner, watching the blood pool around his father's head and the flames lick at the corpse's clothes. The smoke choked his lungs and tears leaked from his eyes in response not only to the loss of his father but the ash. The fire had spread quickly and already it crowded him like some prowling demonic mass. The one exit was covered in flames and broken woodwork and he would surely catch on fire if he dared go through it.

Kin hacked out a cough, moving further back into the hot wall as the flames crept closer and closer. His father's blood began to thread around him like a river, a piece from the ceiling having come down and piercing the man through his skull before he could even react. Already the smell of burning flesh filled the hovel, causing Kin to cough more.

"KIN! HIKO!"

The scream was familiar and feminine and was all the warning he got before a figure came through the flames at the front. Kin couldn't move, couldn't respond even at the sight of his mother screaming for him. Left with no other choice, she made her way over to him, her feet cut with splinters with each step, ignoring the flames that burned at her garbs. She only had eyes for her child - her dear, sweet child - and she had to get him out of here.

Kin couldn't think, his vision had gone hazy and his lungs burned. Thin, strong hands grabbed hold of his wrists and he was pulled along on shaky legs. The doorway seemed so far away now...

She noticed it as she neared the one way out, could hear the structure of her home moan with despair that matched her's. She didn't have enough power- she had to- with the last heave of her strength, she threw her youngest child out of the way, catching sight of his intense golden eyes before the ceiling gave way and plunged her straight into the flames.

"Kin!"

One of the village women held a cup of water to his lips, forcing him to drink it. His eyes, however, were locked on the place that had been his home all his life as it crumbled to ash under the unrelenting fire.

Kano's face was reserved, his attention focused on the thin arm he was bandaging. Kin didn't make a sound, didn't even look up as the wound was tightly addressed. It was one of many and Kano's already dirty hands were splotched with Kin's blood - and they were anything but gentle. Kano never looked at him anymore, nor spoke much.

Do you hate me?

That question always hovered around Kin's lips, but he was always too afraid to ask. That he didn't know the answer, that he couldn't predict Kano's reply; wasn't that an answer in and of itself?

The older boy finished tying off the bandage and stood up to put away the extra fabric. His back was turned to Kin, his bony shoulders visible through the thin layers he wore. The both of them were so thin now, though Kano could claim a more muscular stature next to his brother. He was tanner, with broad shoulders and large, calloused hands.

Kin curled in on himself, hugging his knees to his chest. His body ached, as usual; he had gone out earlier to fetch some herbs but he had been caught by a few of the more brutal villagers. They had stopped shortly - it didn't take much to keep him down - so Kin had got away with a few cuts and bruises, as well as a split lip. He wasn't often attacked - most villagers left him alone, preferring to coldly ignore him more than anything else - but there would always be the few that delighted in his pain.

No one ever touched Kano; not because he would probably put up more of a fight than his brother but because it was widely believed he was under the 'demon's' control. All of the villagers left him alone, ignoring him as if he weren't even there. His former friends never looked at him and he had given up trying to talk to others shortly after the treatment started.

Kin didn't think he could ever get used to it. He wanted to leave this place, start anew, but he knew they had nowhere else to go. Kin would be nothing more than a burden to his brother; he wasn't exactly exceptional at fishing or hunting, and his fragile frame was useless in a fight. Kin owned a delicate beauty; his soft features would doubtlessly morph into something extraordinary once he had shed his childlooks.

"Kano-niisan," Kin spoke, but his brother made no acknowledgment, "I love you."

I love you.

"Demon! Demon!"

"Run away, or we'll be burned up too!"

"Only monsters have golden eyes!"

The screams and laughter of the other children were vicious to his ears, making his small heart beat unsteadily within his chest. His eyes refused to lift from the ground, not just because of the tears gathered on his lashes but also to hide the unusual orbs from condemning eyes. He was all too aware of the gazes of the older villagers upon him as he made his way briskly towards the forest, hoping to escape into the foliage before they decided to unleash their misdirected anger on him.

The shadows casting from overhead branches gave a sense of relief to him and he dared to lift his head to turn his bright golden eyes on the leaves dancing upon the slight breeze in the air. He knew this route by heart; it led to a small spring where he could wash the mud that had been flung on him by the other children.

The water was cool to the touch and it flowed lightly across his fingertips. His reflection in the water was hard to make out, disturbed by the fluid movement and ripples, but it could not disguise the golden eyes that stared back at him from the water-distorted face. He closed his eyes, dipping his cupped hands into the clear liquid to splash some on to his face.

Kano had abandoned him last summer and there were rumors among the villagers that someone similar to him was seen on his way over the mountains. Kin did not want to hear more about it, though, and usually ran home as fast as he could before his mind could dwell on the thought of his brother.

Wiping his face dry with the hem of his ragged clothes, he backed away from the spring and rested against the trunk of a tree. His feet were all carved up again because running as fast as he did caused his slippers to fall to pieces. There was a small, bloody gash from where one daring village child had thrown a rock at him, but he always hurt these days so what was one more pain?

Resting his head against the bark, Kin let the sunlight filter through the leaves and onto his face and closed his eyes.

Sometimes he was just too tired to care.

Kin blinked, stumbling after the older boy who held his forearm in a gentle yet unyielding grip. The recently-introduced Momoshiro seemed to have no knowledge of Kin's infamy, as he was actually touching him and dousing the startled boy in friendly chatter. Unused to such kind contact, Kin was struck mute and only stumbled along after the other lest he be dragged; it was like the other youth didn't know his own strength.

"-and look at you, you're completely filthy! I know boys like to tumble in the dirt but didn't your mother tell you to wash up before you went into the forest? Real men aren't only strong, you know; they try at least some semblance of clean!" Momoshiro chided, sounding so amused that Kin was hard-pressed to believe the other was supposedly admonishing him.

"It was Kin, right? Strange name, though it does suit you; I've never seen anything like your eyes, never." Kin couldn't stop the flinch and Momoshiro glanced back at him with a thoughtful look. "Don't like talking about your eyes? I can't blame you, I got some lashes out for mine, see? Weird color, though both you and I combined are nothing compared to Eiji - he's a friend of mine. No one can explain his hair and eye color, though he was lucky enough to be considered a symbol of good luck in our village." Here, Momoshiro shrugged.

There was the distant sound of people now and the tension in Kin's shoulders knotted up again. He didn't want to come across any villagers that he recognized, not when he had finally found someone that treated him so kindly. What would Momoshiro do when he learned of Kin's reputation? The other boy was strong, his kicks and punches would probably hurt more than the other burly villagers.

Even as his steps grew hesitant, Kin was pulled into a clearing. It was obviously a sort of camp ground; none of the shelters were permanent and appeared to be able to house only two at a time. The animal skins used were larger than Kin was used to but appeared very sturdy. There was a fire pit in the middle of the canvassed shelters, enclosed by rocks and a shallow pit, wherein logs were settled in a circle around it. Some furs were on the logs as well, but most were barren, having been stripped of their bark to make a more comfortable seat.

Kin would have appreciated the surroundings more, but it was the people who held his attention.

The only ones visible were five boys, all around Momoshiro's age, matching the violet-eyed boy's pale complexion. The first had hair as red as blood, with startling blue eyes that widened at the sight of him. His height was average and he was slim and lithe, dressed in a tunic composed of blues and violets. He was perched on one of the logs, both of his hands wrapped around the arm of another boy.

The one he clung to looked to be of similar height to the redhead, his hair the common black, two bangs hovering over his forehead, the rest tied back in a bushy ponytail. He was keeping himself balanced, being half bent-over to accommodate the boy clinging to him. He wore a tunic similar to Momoshiro's and his green eyes were soft and light.

The other three boys were standing together and appeared to have been discussing something before his and Momoshiro's arrival. The tallest had hair similar to Momoshiro's but had broader shoulders, and he wore a tunic of light grays and browns. The boy next to him reached his shoulders in height with evenly-cut bangs and a short pony. His face was narrow with high cheekbones and he gave out a low hiss that seemed natural to him. The one next to him was only a bit taller, with light brown hair and eyes, his hair placed in a common knot atop his head. The latter two wore brown tunics like Momoshiro's.

"Momo, who is that?" the green-eyed boy asked, giving Kin a warm smile. Kin stilled, eyes wide and unmoving. Momo lugged him forward like some sort of prize, pushing him ahead and holding him in place with a hand on each shoulder.

"This is Kin! He lives in the village near here and I found him stumbling around in the woods," Momoshiro introduced.

The redhead bounced up, releasing his hold on the other to peer closely at Kin. He settled back with a large, catlike grin, as if he was pleased with what he saw. "Unyaa, he's so cute, Momo! Is he your's? You're sharing, aren't you?"

"Well-"

"Momo's back?"

The voice was soft and lilting, the inquiry conformed into a verbal caress. A slender figure emerged from one of the shelters, shortest among the others but holding a dangerous aura. The pale face with the angelic features was smiling and the grace with which the male moved was ethereal. Clothed in garbs of dark blues, he seemed almost frail amongst the others but Kin could tell there was something powerful within that lithe form.

"Look what Momo brought, Syuusuke!" the redhead crowed, gesturing to Kin who remained frozen in Momoshiro's grasp. The fair-haired figure neared him and Kin was able to glimpse sapphire eyes before they were once again closed.

"Hello, little one. What's your name?" he asked, tone gentle.

Momoshiro looked ready to answer for him but he had a voice of his own:

"Kin."

The smile widened and eyes opened to pin Kin in place with the intensity.

"It's nice to meet you, Kin. I'm Syuusuke."

Kin didn't wince, not once; he merely kept his eyes locked on the expanse of skin with a slightly befuddled expression. Syuusuke was smiling - Kin had never seen him stop - as one hand gently massaged the salve onto the younger boy's bruised skin. Kin had run off into the forest after eating breakfast (one of the hardy roots), but not before one of the village farmers caught him crossing his vegetable paddy. He had escaped with only a few large bruises but luckily no gashes or cuts.

It had been nearly nine days since he first met Syuusuke and the others and each day he visited them. Not for long - he didn't want to impose on them but it just felt so good to talk to people again. This had been the first time he was attacked since he'd met them and when he reached their campsite limping, they were all a bit shocked. Kin had brushed it off, saying he had fallen, but he could tell by their eyes that they did not believe him. Still, he did not want them to know the truth; surely if they found out about what had happened in the past, they would leave him too, just like Kano-niisan had?

"There, all better now," Syuusuke murmured, placing the lid back on the small ceramic jar. Kin smiled at him, a little shyly; in truth, the boy had never seen someone so pretty as Syuusuke. The other boy always managed to catch his eyes and make his face heat up and Kin had no idea why.

"Does it still hurt?" Syuusuke asked, examining Kin's ragged shirt (it had to be taken off) with a criticizing look.

Kin shook his head, standing up. "No, it doesn't hurt at all. The medicine you have is wonderful," Kin replied shyly. He didn't want to grab his shirt back while the other was holding it, fearing to seem rude. Still, he didn't like the feel of his bruises exposed- signs of how weak he was - and being in Syuusuke's shelter didn't alleviate the sense of shame he felt.

"Sadaharu and Syuuichirou make them themselves. They've always been very good at those sorts of things," Syuusuke said complacently, before poking his head out, Kin's shirt still gripped in his hand, "Kaoru, the clothes, please."

Kin shifted nervously, fisting his worn pants in a subdued manner. It wasn't that he was scared - it was just that Kaoru struck him as a proud sort of guy who didn't look kindly on weakness. And wasn't that what Kin was- a weak, pathetic monster?

Kaoru entered with a bundle of clothes in his arms and his eyes moved to land on Kin. He hissed seemingly subconsciously, walking over to the smaller boy and looking him over, head to toe. Syuusuke stood off to the side with an amused smile but made no comment. Kin was blushing heavily, looking down at the ground but he could still feel the gaze on his thin shoulders.

"Oi," Kin looked up, just as something soft and brown obscured his vision. He squealed in surprise - eliciting a chuckle from the fair-haired boy - but didn't thrash as large, calloused hands righted the article of clothing. His head emerged at the top and Kin blinked down at the slightly large but overall comfortable tunic he now wore. It was similar to Kaidoh's own in both color and style, though the edges were hemmed with animal skin, likely to keep it from falling apart.

"You're clothes were coming apart, so Kaoru kindly offered to make a tunic for you. It fits you very well, Kin," Syuusuke graciously complimented, his smile widening as the other two boys blushed violent red.

Kin hurriedly bowed and couldn't stop the silly little smile that was forming on his lips. "Thank you very much, Kaoru-san!"

Kaoru tried to shrug it off but he was still beet-red and was now looking at everything but the boy in front of him. "We had some extra material is all," he grumbled, before abruptly pivoting and hurrying out. Syuusuke chuckled into his hand as Kin forcefully held back the tears of happiness.

"Kaoru is a sweet guy," Syuusuke murmured, coming up to Kin's side. "Wouldn't you say so, Kin?"

"Yes!" Kin agreed, fingering his new clothes. Despite his intimidating looks, Kaoru had to be one of the kindest people Kin knew. Who else would make clothes for a person like him?

They emerged from the shelter, finding only Takashi and Syuuichirou outside. Syuuichirou stood with a warm smile as Syuusuke guided Kin over to the logs to sit down. "Are you alright?" the green-eyed boy asked, coming to sit down next to him. Kin nodded frantically while Syuusuke tutted.

"I just applied the salves and he tells me it doesn't hurt anymore," Syuusuke said this as if he were recounting a particularly unbelievable tale, "He's as skinny as a twig. Did you eat anything before you came here?"

Kin looked back down at the ground, uncomfortable with so many gazes on him. "...I had mugroot," he admitted softly. Syuuichirou and Syuusuke just looked vaguely confused but Takashi seemed mortally offended.

"What's mugroot?" Syuuichirou asked.

"A bitter, hardy root that is commonly used in seasoning," Takashi explained, and started towards one of the shelters hurriedly. "To eat it plain - it must have tasted horrible - not to mention it isn't very filling- do you eat like that everyday?" Kin shrunk a little in on himself; Takashi had come across as a rather timid guy but now... it was like he was a whole different person! Did Kin insult him somehow?

Syuusuke patted him consolingly on the head. "Takashi likes to cook. I think he considers it a personal insult if someone is eating meals below par," Kin shrunk in a little more.

"TERRIBLE DIET, JUST TERRIBLE! I WILL FIX IT THIS INSTANT!"

Syuuichirou sighed, merely watching as Takashi pulled out ceramic cooking bowls and readied sticks; it looked like he was cooking a feast. "Sometimes I think he takes it a little too far, though..."

Syuusuke merely chuckled, running his fingers through Kin's hair softly. "You should just come here to eat, Kin. It's better than Takashi going over to your house..."

Kin hurriedly agreed.

"Wha-? No way, not possible!"

Kin laughed good-naturedly; he couldn't help it, Eiji's pouty face was just too amusing. The redhead was mock-sniffling while Momoshiro merely stared at his shiny pebbles with a forlorn look.

"Unyaa, I think you're cheating, ochibi!" Eiji declared, giving up three of his own pebbles to Kin's little pile. Kin shook his head in denial and was comforted by Syuusuke's demure chuckle.

"Don't be so angry, Eiji. Kin just has better luck, ne?" the fair-haired boy pointed out from where he was seated; not part of the game but close enough to see what was going on. Syuuichirou was also nearby - cleaning up his and Eiji's hut - so he wasn't paying any attention to the three boys playing a game on the ground.

"His luck is too good, just too good. I haven't won a round at all," Momoshiro remarked sulkily; he was down to eight pebbles in comparison to Eiji's fifteen and Kin's twenty-nine. "Though it's nice to see someone beat you, Eiji; you always win this game whenever we play."

Eiji stuck out his tongue at the other boy, giving Kin another 'pity-me' stare that the golden-eyed boy was quickly becoming used to. It wouldn't take long before Syuuichirou was, once again, the only one not immune to it.

"Alright, come on, let's at least take away all of Momo's pebbles!"

"Oi, no fair targeting me!"

Kin laughed and Syuusuke smiled.

"I see... so the Red Fern prefers to grow beneath fallen logs... good to know," Sadaharu murmured, running a finger along the reddish-lavender fern that covered the area beneath an old log.

Kin stood off to the side, merely giving a small nod. He had been asked by the tall boy to lead him to a patch of Red Fern - they seemed to make good adhesives for clothing. Next to Kin stood Kunimitsu, the apparent leader of the others; they followed his instructions down to the letter. Kin had met him after Syuusuke had introduced himself; he had emerged from one of the shelters, leveling a look at the others before greeting Kin himself.

From what Kin had gathered, Kunimitsu was quiet, regal, and patient; he had never seen the boy smile or laugh, but there was a commanding presence about him that had Kin automatically respecting him. He may not talk much but his guiding hands had been gentle and his eyes sharp; he exuded a charm of protection. It was a feeling that Kin had not felt in years- safe.

"Sadaharu." If you're done, we should leave.

Kunimitsu managed to say that with just speaking the other's name; a man of few words had been epitomized in Kunimitsu, it seemed. Kin found himself in awe.

"Aa, let's go. I've memorized the way here; I'll come back later to collect it," Sadaharu stood, and the three of them treaded back towards the camp.

"Kin, I suggest eating at least two servings tonight. You've been limiting yourself to one and you won't grow any of the necessary muscles if you continue to avoid proper nourishment," Sadaharu went on, sounding chiding despite the monotone voice it was delivered in. "We will not run out of supplies. You need not worry about imposing on us. We are very capable of taking care of you."

Kin stuttered out a mangled apology and thanks, blushing vividly.

Kunimitsu, in a rare moment of affection, ruffled his hair.

Kin grinned to himself as his fingers curled around the fruit, tugging it off its branch with a triumphant look. The sun had barely risen but Kin had always been a light sleeper. If he left early in the mornings, the chances of running into a fellow villager were slim, which he preferred; he didn't want anyone to know about his friends in the forest.

It was earlier than usual for him to visit them, however, and he didn't want to wake any of them up by accident. He decided to grab a bite to eat - even though Takashi would probably make him breakfast, like he had been for the past fourteen days. Still, he had some time to kill and the fruits of this tree were always particularly tasty, though they tasted best when Takashi mashed them up and added his own ingredients.

Kin wasn't a picky eater; when could he be picky when for years he had nothing to feed off of but the herbs in the forest and the few fish he managed to sneak off with? No, things were better now: people to talk to, hot meals to eat and new clothes. Just thinking about Syuusuke and the others made him smile and he bit happily into his fruit, knees drawn together, back against the trunk of the tree.

Kin winced when the shriek of a baboon resounded nearby. He pressed up closer against the trunk, practically unnoticeable amongst the vegetation brushed up against it. He had never forgotten his encounter with the bear of these woods and he knew it took a powerful animal to cause the baboons to panic. The primates were clever, quick creatures; whatever had caught that baboon had to be just as cunning.

There was another shriek - Kin wondered why any animal would want two - and one of the small creatures went jumping into the branches of the tree he was using as coverage. Kin crouched as low as possible, eyes strained on the baboon that was intending to make another flying leap towards a nearby tree.

Kin heard rather than saw the baboon get grabbed mid-leap; there was a sickening crunch of bones as its legs were mercilessly hoisted and yanked back to the earth. The branch of the tree used to propel the predator broke with the force of the impact but the predator didn't seem to care, landing on the ground gracefully, golden eyes locked on to the screeching, frantic baboon in its grip.

Takashi, teeth elongated, bit into his catch and drank.

Kin didn't move, just stared at the lithe male who didn't notice him to the side.

"Got it, Takashi?" Momoshiro's voice came out, and the youth stepped into the clearing, a limp baboon held in his grasp. "Kunimitsu said to bring the bodies back so we can use the meat for-"

Momoshiro stopped, golden eyes locked on the huddled figure at the base of the tree. Takashi stopped as well, pulling away from his meal to look behind him in confusion before his eyes also alighted on the boy.

"Kin," Momoshiro uttered, though it was unclear if he was finishing his previous statement or stating an obvious observation.

Kin stood up, face unusually blank. There was a strained moment of silence before a smile broke upon the young boy's lips.

"You know, in my village, we just eat the meat."

"Don't worry, Kin; we'll protect you from anyone who dares wish you harm."

Kin blushed heavily, ducking his head down so the others wouldn't see. Syuusuke grinned into the other's flesh, face lightly pressed against the back of Kin's neck. His arms remain wrapped around the thin shoulders and the intimacy of the position made goosebumps run along the boy's skin.

Kin reflected that they were all his friends, but Syuusuke- Syuusuke was different. The beautiful boy was always around him, comforting him; he was always so gentle and he never pushed anything. His eyes were enchanting and the pale, smooth skin that often run along Kin's own was cool to the touch yet left fire in its wake. Kin didn't know how to explain the strange feeling in his stomach, the heat that always burned at his skin when he was in the other's presence; everything about Syuusuke was exciting and pleasurable.

Eiji perched on the log, with Syuuichirou attempting to balance him by acting as a support beam. "You know, ochibi, most people wouldn't be so accepting of...us," the redhead pointed out, rocking back and forth.

Kin shrugged, looking a little embarrassed as the others agreed and turned their attentions to him. "Well, I mean...it's like you said, you just eat the animals in the woods; you just eat it differently from most people. Besides, you're still you, right?"

There was a moment's pause, before they all broke out laughing and Kin flushed, lowering his gaze to the ground. Syuusuke snickered into his skin, the sound vibrating against Kin's back.

"You're one-of-a-kind, chibi," Momoshiro gasped out, mussing up the already-untidy hair. "You're a good kid, such a good kid!"

Kin smiled, one hand curled over Syuusuke's clasped pair.

It felt nice...belonging somewhere.

END...Chapter 9.

A/N: Coming up with Kin's personality and character was surprisingly easy. He just had to be the opposite of Ryoma; sometimes, I feel like he's the male version of Sakuno. Except with a little less backbone and a little more needy. Though there are some similarities between Kin and his reincarnation, I'd like to think.

Anyway, the next chapter should be up pretty soon, so in the meantime, review! All it takes is a click and a few typed words.