Yay! I've been waiting to write this one for so long! I meant to put it in the last chapter, but, it didn't feel right! You can only write what feels right! Anyway, enjoy!

I stuck one more soldier through the chest.

For the past three days since that first group showed up, they've been coming non-stop.

I suppose... I am glad for Bankotsu's training... I can slaughter them more easily... but, I wonder... where are they coming from, and why are they attacking me? Bankotsu, I understand. But, me?

I whirled around, slashing another soldier across his chest, and spotted the first golden rays of sunlight in the distance.

We'd been fighting all night. My body was sore, and my eyes were heavy.

I didn't want to fight anymore.

With a heavy sigh, I cut through two more soldiers, walked over to a tree, and flopped down against it.

"I'M SICK OF THIS!" I cried. "I WANT TO GO HOME AND GO TO SLEEP! I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT ANYMORE!"

Tears streamed down my face, and sobs escaped my aching chest.

"Oh, what wonderful timing!" I heard Bankotsu somewhere in the mess of soldiers.

I watched while he slaughtered the rest of them.

The whole time, I was crying, because I knew he was going to nag me.

I sniffled, and turned away, as his gaze came to rest upon me.

Bankotsu's POV:

Finally, I had all of them dead, and I could look at the brat.

She'd had my back these last three days, fighting with me, keeping up with her chores even better, and even sharpening Banryuu for me, once.

She was doing all this, and keeping up with her own training, and she chose to break down now.

I was growing to think she was tolerable these last three days. I guess I should've known it wouldn't last.

This brat was not going to accept that nothing in real life was easy. She was not going to give anything any real effort.

As she sat there, crying, and shaking, I felt... disappointed. I don't know why. I never expected much out of her. But... I did hope that... maybe...

I shook my head, and walked away, taking my place by our long stomped-out fire...

Mori's POV:

That expression in his eyes... I'd seen it before... so many times...

So many people looked at me this way... Bankotsu was disappointed in me.

As he settled back down into his place by the fire, I felt... strange.

I didn't... like myself. I was... hurt.

Despite my exhaustion, I found it impossible to sleep.

I crawled my way over to the nearby pond, and looked into the murky water, at my reflection.

My face was normal. But, in the darkness, my eyes appeared to be blackened, and evil.

I brought my hand up, and ran it across my cheek, leaving three streaks of mud on it.

I looked at my hand, and then at the mud.

With some hesitation, I took that mud, and used it to paint my face.

I had to get rid of my ugly face... I couldn't bear to look at it anymore.

As I finished, I looked up, and saw... the same face... just mud splattered.

More tears spilled over, washing some of the mud down my face.

Slowly, I lowered myself down to the ground, beginning to cry.

That memory was fighting with me again. Harder this time.

I was so weak this time... I remembered seeing another face in water... someone else's face.

I faded away to sleep before I could remember who it was.

I woke to a sudden rising sensation, and looked around, frantically trying to figure out what was going on.

I spotted bird-like talons over my shoulder, and looked up.

A woman with beady eyes and feathers on her arms was standing over me.

She wore sorceress' robes and a necklace of human bones.

She was flapping her arms, apparently preparing to take off.

I gasped, and let out a shriek of horror, looking around for some way to fight, or escape.

There was a stick in the water.

I reached for it.

Before I could get my fingers around it, I was dragged up into the air.

I screamed in terror.

"Oh, no you don't!"

I jerked my attention up slightly, and saw a blur of white and tan coming at me.

I closed my eyes.

I heard a slicing sound, followed by two screams, one of them was my terrified shriek.

All of a sudden, an arm wrapped around me, and I felt a light thudding, as my feet touched the ground once more.

I opened my eyes.

Without a word, Bankotsu let go of me, and ran at that bird woman.

She summoned a halberd of her own out of thin air, and they collided in a deadly battle.

Things moved so fast, they appeared to be a tornado of feathers, ripping up their surroundings.

I saw blood go flying, and got a bit anxious.

Before I could figure out who was hurt, they tore further into the forest.

I ran to follow them.

I found the path they'd torn into the forest. Lots of feathers and blood... no actual body yet.

I cast my eyes up, wondering if she'd carried him off.

The trees were shorter here. I could see much farther out.

In the distance, I spotted my castle on the mountain face.

My priorities rearranged, as I looked back at the path.

Home... it was so close!

I ran with every ounce of power I could summon.

To my dismay, I finally found Bankotsu.

He was leaning on Banryuu, which was stuck in the harpy.

His haori was half torn off, and blood was dripping from his mid-section.

I stopped; sure he wasn't going to let me pass.

Slowly, he released Banryuu, and stumbled backwards, slamming into a tree with a pained grunt.

There was a huge bloody spot in his belly.

He covered it with his hand.

I slowly made my way over to him, and knelt down to meet his eye.

He looked at me.

Carefully, I cast my eyes down to his injury, and reached up to it.

I dabbed some of the sticky red fluid seeping through his fingers, and looked at it.

I'd seen so much blood lately... but, not his.

"Baka... still don't understand blood, and injury, huh?" Bankotsu asked.

I looked at him.

He was injured... I could run!

I bounced up, and ran off into the forest; in the direction I'd seen my castle.

I was going home! I could relax there! Father would have the maids prepare a meal for me, and I could sleep in my own bed! And perhaps father had new... gifts... for me...

Does he give you gifts because he loves you?

My gaze lowered.

Or, is it to get your whiny ass out of his face?

The words echoed through my mind, and pierced my heart.

My foot caught on something.

I gasped as I fell forward, and my face slammed into the dirt.

I didn't get up. My shoulders shook violently, and tears streamed from my eyes.

Thinking about it now... I did... whine to my father... about gifts... about boredom... I don't quite remember how it started, but, he only gave me gifts when I asked. Never of his own accord.

My hands balled up into fists... Bankotsu was right... my father didn't... care... about me...

Now he's back there, injured from protecting me, and disappointed in me... I'd treated him so badly... when, all along, he was trying to tell me about the pitiful charade my father had me living...

I raised my face out of the dirt.

That injury... Keisuke's was just like that... and he died of it...

Suddenly, my heart was racing, and my stomach clenched.

I sat up, and looked back. I wasn't too far. If I hurried, I could probably get there in time...

As I brought my gaze back toward my knees, I spotted something.

There were purple flowers growing on the side of the road.

I'd seen them before... long ago... my father'd come home injured... I never saw the injuries... but, the maids took flowers like these into his room, and I saw the silhouette through the walls.

I could use these to help Bankotsu.

I jumped up, snatched a hand-full of those flowers, and ran back through to Bankotsu.

He was trying to stand up, still holding onto his injury.

Bankotsu looked at me, and surprise grew in his eyes.

I was... relieved... to find him still alive. My tears would not stop pouring.

I rubbed at them, only to have more pour down my face.

"You... you need to rest." I said. "Sit down, and let me... let me treat your wound."

I finally managed to look at him, and saw how distrusting he looked.

I was going to have to tell him, wasn't I?

My tears faded away into my pride, as I began trying to force the words up.

"You... were... r... r... r-right..." I gagged on these horrible words.

Yes, I was sorry for the injured man before me, but, not enough to just forget everything he'd ever done to me! Just enough to try to help...

Bankotsu cast his eyes down at the flowers.

"My father... he... doesn't care... about me..." I said. "But... I have learned things... from him... these flowers are what the maids used to treat his wounds... If you'll at least sit down..."

Bankotsu brought his eyes back up to meet mine.

"What's got you so concerned all of a sudden?" He asked.

Pride over-took me in that moment, and I scoffed.

"As though I'd be concerned for a being such as you!" I said. "No. I just... don't want to see someone else... that I know... die..."

His face changed. It looked a bit like surprise. I can't quite say what was on his face.

I watched him. He watched me.

My concern grew back a bit, as I watched more blood drip through his fingers.

I took a step toward him; feeling like my heart might leap out of my chest.

This was so new to me. I'd never felt such concern for anyone. And now... I would've been willing to give up all of my treasured belongings to help him... and I would be... glad...

Baka - Stupid.

Wow... still not done with this bit... But, I'm lovin' this! I haven't felt this good about a story in so long! Please, review!