AN: I really don't have much to say. Thanks for bearing with me thus far. You all have really gotten me to think out what I do and try and write my very best. So thank you. Bear with me as we bring up the last few chapters.
Props to Buffybot76, Who made this story possible, go glomp her and read her fan fiction, it's better than mine
Honorable mention for Hajimenokizu who surprises, and entertains me with random comments and e-mails. It's part of what got me typing this next chapter… (Oh the guilt: P ) go read her Saitou/Misao goodness!
Deadlydiva08- Praise be to the Muses above that I have her as one of my Beta's. She deserves all glory and honor because she gave my plot bunnies C.P.R. Go love on her and read her fan fiction because she's amazing and better than me and inspires me and even prods me every now and then when I get too lazy
Miburo kid: YAEEE! You came back from the dead! I was so worried/saddened/disheartened/…
Oh and forgive my spelling errors on the last chapter. Even I went through it and shuddered. Eventually that will be corrected.
Until then, I own nothing, don't sue me!
CSS- Oo' shocked
br br br-( these indicate where the bloody html should've show up YARGH!)
"We need to move" Saitou said urgently, clenching his teeth from the pain in his shoulder.
"We need to access the damage first. There's no point in moving on when we're all falling apart." Aoshi replied. "Let me see your shoulder."
"For someone who was so gungho about going after Misao you're doing a bang up job of rescuing her. Kanryuu is escaping-! he's got her- aHgg" Saitou bit back the pain as Aoshi touched his shoulder. He moved out of arms reach, glaring threateningly at the ex Okashira.
Aoshi said nothing, he didn't need to either, his point having been proven. Glass shards were stuck along his arm. Saitou had been sent flying from the explosion. He must've landed on the glass. His skin was in shreds, but Aoshi had seen worse in his time. He moved Saitou's shoulder a bit, expecting another hiss of pain. Only a grunt… It wasn't broken then, just bruised and tender. The glass shards would have to come out otherwise the wound would start getting infected. Saitou must've burned it a bit too because it wasn't bleeding as badly as he'd expected it would. Aoshi pulled out his kunai, and sat by one of the smaller fires, getting his blade hot.
Saitou cringed. "Shit." He muttered. "They have to come out?" Saitou asked, sullenly.
Aoshi merely nodded. Sano was still dancing around the flames.
"Sano, stop being an idiot and get over here. You're next AHgg-" Saitou bit off the strangled cry of pain as Aoshi started digging the kunai into his arm to fish out the pieces.
"Huh?" Sano said, stopping his victory dance. "Oh, yea…" He looked at his fist. It was starting to bleed through the bandages. Not good. He probably hadn't wrapped them tight enough for the blood to clot.
Aoshi finished the final touches by pulling out a small glass bottle.
"What's that?" Saitou asked.
"Alcohol…" Aoshi replied.
"Shit…" Saitou groaned, as Aoshi poured the bottle over the wound.
Even Saitou couldn't keep the hiss of pain from escaping his lips. Aoshi finished quickly, Saitou's blood started to pour down the arm. He pulled out the bandages he kept with him and applied poultice to the wound...wounds in this case. He wrapped it quickly and efficiently, making sure it was tight. Saitou had stood calm while he'd done all of this. Aoshi moved on to Sano's hand, applying the same poultice and bandages.
"You know for awful smelling stuff, my hand isn't throbbing anymore. Did you get that from Megumi?" Sano asked.
Aoshi made no reply. His azure eyed hardened.
Saitou flexed the arm. His arm no longer hurt as much as it was. None of the glass seemed to have penetrated beyond the first or second layer of skin. His muscles worked fine, bending and retracting with ease. He tried a few passes just to be sure. He could still use both arms dangerously well. Satisfied, he watched Aoshi with Sano's hand. Aoshi finished up quickly wrapping the bandages tight and knotting them. Aoshi undid the makeshift bandaging he'd done on his own hand and smeared the poultice on it. Saitou watched the ex Okashira wrap his hand as quickly as possible.
He is worried about her… Saitou thought with a scowl. Or maybe he just wants Kanryuu …
Either way Saitou's mood darkened. Kanryuu or Misao? Which was Aoshi thinking about? Worse off, what would he do if it came time to choose? Was that what it was going to come down to? His job was to make sure Kanryuu could no longer breathe. He had to focus on that. But Misao was his responsibility as well…technically speaking. She was alive….that was a good sign to start with….at least for now. Saitou didn't have enough time to brood on it.
Aoshi stood up and nodded, unsheathing his kodachi.
"Let's go" He said, eyes darkening as he took off through the fire. Saitou broke into a sprint after him. There was no way in hell he was going to allow Aoshi first dibs on Kanryuu.
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Misao once again found herself in the arms of the tenken. She had to shield her face, but this time it was because of the flames and ash that were rapidly spreading down the halls. She coughed loudly, trying to get the smoke out of her lungs. Her coughing increased as they neared the other small fires. Gods it felt like her lungs were on fire, burning, as the building was starting to burn around her.
Soujiro glanced down at his delicate burden. She was covered with ash, her clothes smelling deeply of the smoke and gun powder. She didn't seem to have been hit by the glass. That was good. She had no wounds that he knew on her, but her clothing was still stained with blood. He quickly withdrew his glance, not wanting to remember her in the pool of blood. Her coughing grew, and Soujiro worried. He sped up turning sharply, and sprinting. The flames hadn't caught up in this part of the fortress. He set her down delicately.
"Catch your breath quickly. We need to move" Soujiro told her, hand on his blade as he eyed the area wearily. She bent over coughing.
"Why are you doing this Soujiro?" Misao asked, voice hoarse as she continued to cough. She sunk to her knees.
"You needed a rest Misao san." Soujiro replied with a smile, bending down and offering her a handkerchief.
"I wasn't referring to that. You don't have to do this!" Misao wheezed, taking the handkerchief. She cleared her throat, trying to force her voice to work.
"What exactly is this Misao san?" Soujiro replied, mocking her.
"Don't tarnish your honor for Kanryuu! He's not worth it! Don't sell your sword in exchange for your soul!" Misao told him, taking a deep breath.
Soujiro's eyes widened. Sell his sword for his soul..?
"Kanryuu ruins people! I've witnessed it first hand" Misao said, heart clenching painfully as she thought of Aoshi.
"Don't let him do this to you!" Misao exclaimed and broke off into a fit of small coughs.
"Know this Misao san. I serve Kanryuu sama willingly. You would do well to refer to him as such." Soujiro warned, eyes narrowing.
"Why do you serve him? What's in it for you Soujiro?" Misao replied.
"I owe no explanation or apology to you for what I do. Besides what do you care?" Soujiro replied
"Because I've seen several good people hurt by Kanryuu. I don't want to see another one." Misao replied.
Soujiro's eyed widened. She thought…he was a good person? Surely she was just messing with him? She didn't know the things he'd done, or the things done to him.
"What makes you think I'm a good person?" Soujiro nearly laughed.
"You haven't killed me yet and you've had every opportunity to do so. You promised my safety earlier. You've carried me every time I slow down. You protected me when the guard wanted to hurt me. You juts gave me your handkerchief! You're a good person Soujiro because of the choices you've made!" Misao replied.
Soujiro glared at her angrily. "Get up. We're leaving." Soujiro replied, yanking her harshly to her feet. He was about to break into a run when she stopped.
"You only have one life Soujiro….what you do with it is your own choice. Don't choose the wrong path! And don't let Kanryuu choose that path for you!" Misao pleaded, green eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Tears? For him? He saw himself reflected in those ocean green depths. His face wore a look of confusion. Gods he looked so young in her eyes. Was that really him?
Misao hadn't thought her reasoning would get to him. She had hoped that she could buy some time. That's right…just write off your concern as an act Misao…you're becoming more like Saitou every day!
He seemed lost as he stared into her eyes. Misao had to get a hold of herself. Despite what she'd said, this boy was her enemy. He was going to take her to Kanryuu. Kanryuu was going to use her against Saitou and Aoshi. Panic set in. Misao couldn't let him do that. She wouldn't be used by the enemy. She was a Makimachi. She would rather die than be used against her comrades. She wasn't just about to curl over and die willingly just because Soujiro was having an epiphany. This was her chance. She barreled into him, knocking him over hard, as she sprinted down the hall. Soujiro hit the floor hard, feet getting tangled. His hand shot out and grabbed her ankle, and she nearly hit the floor. She kicked him hard in, the face. Soujiro, momentarily stunned, let go of her foot and she took off.
Soujiro cursed his naiveness and belief in the girl. She didn't actually care for him, she'd merely been trying to weasel her way from him all this time. And he'd allowed her to mess with his mind. Soujiro's eyes darkened. She was exactly like everyone else in his life….Soujiro took off down the hall after her. He was surprised when he reached the hallway. She wasn't there. Surely she wasn't that far ahead of him? He closed his eyes concentrating for her ki.
"Come out, Misao san. You cannot hide from ME" Soujiro cried, overturning a table. The flower pot crashed to the floor.
"I know you're close by…."Soujiro slashed through a shouji door, trying to sense her ki.
Misao watched as he slashed the shouji door nearby. She had hid her ki well apparently. She jumped out into the hallway, dashing down the hall. She couldn't hide her ki while moving, but maybe she could escaspe him. If she could just find a way out…
Soujiro felt her ki, and it was moving, rushing out the door. He watched her fly by the hall. Sprinting after her, he gained on her. Misao could hear him thundering behind her and gasped, pumping her arms, lengthening her stride as she fought to stay ahead of him. She felt his hand connect with her braid, yanking her backwards. She screamed, as his arms enfolded her. She fought kicking and screaming and clawing. She would not die like this.
Soujiro grabbed her wrists, lifting them above her head, pressing her hard into the wall with his body. She couldn't maneuver her legs around him. She couldn't break his hold. His breath came onto her face as she heard his panting. Her chest heaved, as she fought the sobs. Grey eyes leered dangerously at her, as a menacing grin slid across his face.
"You are a liar" He told her. "You try to tell me you care, and you want to make things better….but all you do is LIE" Soujiro screamed, throwing her wrists into the wall, as he held them pinned. Misao winced, trembling.
"I wasn't lying Soujiro! Please-I-" Misao bit back the pain as he slammed her head into the wall.
"LIES! All you speak are lies! You were never there! You've never lived through anything! You don't KNOW! You don't understand! You couldn't possibly understand what I went through!" Soujiro cried, releasing her wrists and slapping her in the face. Misao hit the floor, hands coming up to protect her face, expecting another attack.
"SOUJIRO!" Kanryuu's voice boomed. "I gave you an ORDER" Kanryuu stepped forward, hitting the boy hard with the back of his katana.
Soujiro hit the floor, scrambling backwards.
"Gomen nasai, Kanryuu sama, I-ahgg" Soujiro cried, as Kanryuu hit him across the face sending him sprawling.
Momentarily stunned, Misao turned to see Kanryuu there. He hit Soujiro again. Why wasn't he fighting back. The tenken was being bested by a sick opium dealer. Fight him Soujiro, she bid, bighting her lip to hold back the tears.
"Stop it! " Misao cried, as Kanryuu continued his assault kicking Soujiro in the face. Soujiro was getting pummeled by Kanryuu. His onslaught of punches and kicks were drawing blood. Why wasn't Soujiro fighting back? Or at least defending himself? Misao's eyes narrowed. She'd seen enough. She wouldn't sit back and let him do this!
"Leave him ALONE!" Misao cried, throwing herself in front of Soujiro.
Soujiro's face was bruising, and he blinked back tears. Kanryuu had stopped hitting him. Wearily, he looked up to see Misao san, standing in front of him. Kanryuu's black eyes widened and narrowed, as he glared at the girl.
"Move!" He ordered.
"NO!" Misao cried.
Kanryuu grinned, and hit her hard, knocking her into the wall. Her arms hadn't gone up to block in time and she cursed her weariness. For such a tall beady eyed, skinny man, he sure can hit hard…Misao thought wearily as she hit the wall. The wind was knocked out of her and she slid down to the floor. Her head throbbed, as well as her face. She felt something moist on the back of her neck. She reached her trembling fingers around. Blood trickled from the back of her head. Oh no….she'd opened her head wound again.
"You are released from her to go warn the three." Kanryuu said firmly, making it clear that Soujiro had been demoted.
"Hai, Kanryuu sama" Soujiro whimpered, crawling to the wall, to use it to pick himself up.
"As for the brave little wild cat here"Kanryuu said grabbing and yanking hard on Misao's braid.
"Ahggg.." Misao cried, struggling to her feet. He pulled hard, grabbing the start of her braid, causing tears to slide down Misao's cheeks. He released her braid.
"You'll be coming with me" Kanryuu told her grabbing her by the neck and pulling her disgustingly close. His breath was hot on Misao's face, and she winced, scowling at the tenderness of her face.
"And if you try anything on me, you'll be skinned slowly and painfully"
Kanryuu told her, throwing her to a guard.
He grabbed her harshly, tying her hands up tightly. Misao cried out, her wrists already bruised from Soujiro's onslaught. He gagged her, before she knew what was happening. And then she felt it against her neck. He'd wrapped it around her, holding onto the ends. Thin wire, that was as sharp as any blade, touched her neck. She gasped into her gag, the man's hard knuckles digging into her back to prod her forward. He loosened his choke hold just a bit, his point having been made. Misao bit back the tears. Tokio walked in front of her, next to Kanryuu, a guard having gagged her. Her wrists were tied together, and the guard had scratch marks along his face.
Misao fought the tears to no avail. They slid down her cheeks unwillingly. She would die here.
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Saitou tied the handkerchief around his face quickly. The smoke and flames were slowly but surely licking away at the building's support. It was dangerous just breathing this in, much less all the walking around he'd done. They had very little time before all of them would pass out and suffocate from the flames. He eyed the flaming hallway, flickers of the past reminding him harshly of how much was at stake here. Kanryuu couldn't be allowed to live. This hallway stood in his way. The fires flared, orange and yellow making the room glow, as if the gods themselves challenged him. Saitou glanced up to the heavens.
Saitou had come this far. He'd traveled all the way from Kyoto to finish this. gods or man defy him, he would see this through till the end. It was his job, his responsibility, and another life hung in the balance. Saitou grimaced, wondering if this was his own trial by fire. The flames were getting worse. He might not even make it through to the other side. Misao was on the other side of this having Kami sama knows what done to her. His eyes burned, hatred and fear for her safety searing him to action. He sprinted straight through the hallway leaving the other two behind.
Aoshi had watched Saitou, realizing that Saitou was internalizing something. Would he stop now at this hallway? What was going on in the cops mind? Was he thinking of Kanryuu or Misao? Azure eyes narrowed fist clenching. Misao…They had to rescue her quickly. Aoshi looked up as Saitou took off through the fire. The ex Okashira would not be bested, and shielded his face with his trench coat, as he followed after him
Sano walking lazily behind the two, had stopped when Saitou had stopped at the hallway. He turned around only to see Shinomori's trench coat flying as the ex Okashira sprinted and jumped through the flames.
"Oyee!" He cried, realizing that once again he was being left behind. "WAIT DAMN IT!" He called using his jacket to shield the flames from him.
The flames licked at him and he cried out sprinting to the end. Further down the hallway which wasn't in flames yet, was a stone wall. They had reached a dead end. Saitou and Aoshi stood looking at the wall. Sano ran a finger through his hair and to his utter dismay realized that it was singed in places.
"AUGHH!" He cried. Aoshi caste the ex street fighter a scathing glance, but said nothing, turning his attention to what Saitou was doing.
Saitou rolled his eyes, ignoring the ahou. There had to be a way through this. This hallway couldn't lead to a dead end. Not according to the floor plans. Not with a stone wall there in a very unobvious place. Kanryuu had never been very subtle. Saitou dared to glance behind him. They couldn't brave their way back through the hallway, the flames and smoke were starting to spread licking at their pathway. He ran his hands feeling along the wall touching each stone, trying to move each, or reach underneath the stone. Was there was some sort of crack that would open up to reveal a switch? Aoshi caught on and started working on the stones beneath him.
"What are you doing? This a dead end, we need to get out of here!" Sano complained, scowling at the flames. As they continued to inch forward
"I'm looking for a switch ahou, this isn't a dead end. Get off your ass and start looking!" Saitou replied vehemently.
Sano would've replied, but he started to cough. "The smoke's getting bad…" He informed them.
"Tell me something I don't know" Saitou snapped.
"There's no switch within this wall" Aoshi informed him.
"Then the switch has to be somewhere else…" Saitou told him, yellow eyes narrowed as he scanned the hallway and ran his fingers over the wall next to the stones.
Sano leaned against a painting. "We're going to die here." He informed them.
" SHIMATTA! Why'd I have to die with the cop?" Sano yelled, punching the wall. The painting smashed to splinters. Sano glanced at the painting and squinted. There was something behind the painting. He ripped off the picture, and smirked.
"Eureka!" He said pressing the switch. The two turned to see Sano press the switch. The stone wall shuddered, opening. By this time the smoke had reached them and Sano stepped forward to avoid the flames catching his pants.
"Can't it hurry!" Sano complained as the fire continued towards them.
Aoshi slipped through, followed by Saitou, and Sano who used every swear word he knew as he beat at the fire which had caught his pants. His left pant leg was significantly shorter and charred. The wall closed behind them, leaving them in darkness.
"I swear by every bone in my body Kanryuu is going to answer for this" Sano snarled angrily. At least his jacket wasn't ruined.
"Let's go" Saitou said.
"I agree. And this time Zanza….try not to do anything Stupid!" Aoshi said. Sano couldn't see the ex okashira's glare.
"Yea, no lighting torches, right. I got it" He replied sullenly, feeling his way along the walls in the dark. These walls weren't slimy, but Sano figured he wouldn't mention that detail to the ice block. Saitou and Aoshi took off into a run. Once he knew how far the walls were apart, and his eyes started adjusting to the dark, he felt confident enough to run as well following the sounds of their boots.
"I see light" Saitou said, his voice echoing down the halls. Sano charged after them. They entered into another cave. In front of them lay three doors. Sano grimaced.
"More riddles?" Sano said exasperated. He gasped for breath.
"No." Saitou replied. "This is it. This is the three hallways in the plans." His yellow eyes glittered eagerly as he stared at the doorways before him.
"That might not be true. I ran through a series of tunnels with three doors like this." Aoshi replied glaring at Saitou.
"Hey! I was there too!...but the iceblock has a point." Sano said, rubbing his chin and receiving a cold glare from Aoshi.
"How do we know if these are the real ones or not just more fakes Kanryuu has thrown in our way?" Sano asked, frowning.
Saitou smirked at the ex Okashira. "I've gone over every inch of the blueprints from his home. I've also been keeping track of where we've been heading and which direction. This is it. I would bet my sword on it" Saitou replied.
"Your sword isn't worth Misao's life, and I don't trust you" Aoshi snapped.
Saitou's eyes grew equally cold. "You're a fool if you think I would lead you this far just to betray you."
"Either that or you've played us right into Kanryuu's plans" Aoshi replied. Ki's flared as the tension between the two seemed to make the very air crackle in it's intensity.
"If you're feeling faint, or turning coward on me, Shinomori why don't you turn back? Please. Feel free to leave, you'll only be in my way." Saitou smirked, yellow eyes molten gold in their intensity.
Aoshi reached for his kodachi. "You smirking bastard…"
"Woaa.." Sano said, having had just about enough of this entire adventure. He stepped between the two. "If this is the way, then we don't really have a choice. Let's not waste our energy fighting each other" Sano said.
Aoshi clenched his jaw but released his hold on his kodachi. "If you've led us to a trap, then we walk into it with open eyes" He told Aoshi.
"As I said, If I wanted to kill you Shinomori, I would've done it earlier. As it is I might actually need both of your help so I can defeat Kanryuu and get out of here alive. Happy hunting" Saitou said taking the first tunnel. Aoshi choose the tunnel to the right. Sano took the middle. They each opened their door tunnels and entered.
Aoshi opened the door to his room, grabbing the metal ring and pulling. The lock clicked. The door opened, as the light hit the hallway. Aoshi stepped to the side expecting some sort of trick. Aoshi waited, and nothing happened. He cautiously approached the entrance examining for wires, or any other ninjitsu trap. He glanced scathingly down the hallway. There was nothing and no one. He entered through the door and walked a few paces down the tunnel. The door shut behind him with a slam that made him reach for his kodachi. He glanced balefully and carefully scanned the hallway. He couldn't sense anything living….It was too late to turn back. He'd have to see this fool's folly to the end.
He examined his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was the air. The air was…odd…like incense. The tunnels were lit with torches surprisingly. This made Aoshi tense. He unsheathed his Kodachi feeling better with the cold steel in his hands. Whoever was down this tunnel knew he was coming. It was that expectation that made the okashira's grip on his blades tighten. The tunnel was actually quite pleasant. Incense burners hung from the ceilings every few yards emitting the fragrant smoke. He walked on carefully taking note of everything. The architecture was made of brick, this tunnel must have taken a very long time to build. He passed an archway, examining the structure of the building. Something overlooked could easily become a weapon for the enemy, a favored proverb of the Oniwabanshuu of old.
The tunnel didn't seem to have an end, extending on. The walls were decorated with Buddhist murals, mostly of people praying to the god. Aoshi frowned. Kanryuu most certainly wasn't religious. Aoshi tried to remember if Kanryuu had kept an religious symbols with him and couldn't recall if he had. Kanryuu had always enjoyed art, but why lead him down this tunnel, if he wanted Aoshi to see the art? Was there some symbolic meaning behind this he was missing. Or perhaps some obscure reference to the past that the ex Okashira had forgotten. Aoshi cursed his memory, feeling the urgency to find Misao and Kanryuu rise. He broke out into a run, sprinting as far and as fast as his legs would carry him, passing incense burner by incense burner the smoke wafting into his eyes.
Aoshi stopped a while after that to catch his breath. Did this tunnel have no end? The only reason Aoshi could think of for these tunnels was to mess with their minds. Kanryuu wanted them broken before they finally found him. The only thing he'd passed this entire time was the incense burners and the murals. He coughed, the smoke from the incense particularly thick in this area. How long had he been walking through these tunnels? His vision blurred for a moment. He yawned, his eyelids drooping. What was wrong with him? Why was he so tired? Shaking off the tiredness, he forced himself onward. Misao was relying on him. The tunnel was widening. His vision seemed to blur around the edges. Then he heard her shriek.
"Aoshi sama!"
Her voice. She was in pain. Oh gods!
Misao… Aoshi broke into a sprint down the hall. She screamed again… it echoed off the walls, bouncing and emphasizing the fear and pain in her voice. The scream seemed to cry even in his mind as he ran on.
"MISAO!" Aoshi cried, franticly listening for an answer. The tunnel continued on and on before him, and yet he still heard her screams.
The tunnel didn't seem to have an end. There were no doors in front or behind him. Another ear splitting shriek pierced the tunnel walls. The echoes in the tunnel were confusing him. He stopped more than once wondering if she was behind him from the sounds. But that couldn't be….he hadn't passed anything. She screamed again, forcing him once again into a sprint. Where was the sound coming from? Gods he had to save her! The tunnel curved, and he found himself face to face with Misao. He fell to his knees. Her green eyes were filled with tears.
"Misao!" He cried, taking her into his arms. "Yokatta.." He whispered, feeling the tears run down his cheeks, relief coursing through him. She said nothing. She stood there.
Then he felt it. His shirt was wet, stained to be more precise. He drew her away from him.
"M-misao?" He asked, startled, uncomprehending.
"If you had only saved me…"Misao whispered hollowly, hands enfolding over her heart as blood dripped through her fingers.
"NO!" Aoshi cried, staring at his hands in horror.
"It's your fault Aoshi sama" Her green eyes filled with hatred. "If you had loved me this never would've happened!" She snarled, pulling out her kunai.
"NO!" Aoshi cried. "You don't understand…. I came here to save you!" He felt her kunai rip into his shoulder.
"Ahgg.." He cried, stumbling away from her. His blood was warm, trickling down his trench coat.
"You killed them Aoshi…You killed everyone I ever loved. Now it's your turn to DIE!" Misao cried, running towards him kunai in hand. The Logical part of him fought to regain control of the situation. She shouldn't have been able to do this…she should've been dead by now technically… but his mind was so fuzzy….
"No…." Aoshi cried, head in his hands. Why was she doing this? Something wasn't right! This wasn't Misao…not his Misao. He grabbed her hands, vision spinning. His blood was warm and running down his shoulder…She cut his head, as he struggled to keep her at bay. Blood ran freely from his forehead.
AN: short update, The ides of march have passed us! Finals are coming up with a vengeance, as well as every important piece of schoolwork I have to have turned in….why do they always cram pack all of the assignments in the last week. This semester was going along fine and then BAM, everything has hit me all at once