I'm not entirely sure how this will turn out. Perhaps this will be the penultimate chapter? Guess I'd better hop to it!

"Oi! Brat!"

I stared off into the blurry distance, and spotted a white and purple figure running towards me.

"Bankotsu?" I whispered.

My vision became even more blurry as the figure got closer.

I rubbed at my eyes a little, and looked up again.

"Mori! Shikarishite! Mori!"

I was now staring at someone's feet.

Looking up, I saw my brother standing over me, looking worried.

"Onii... -sama..." I said, half-heartedly.

"Ah, youkata." Ryotarou said. "Are you alright? I hit you too hard, didn't I?"

I heaved myself up to sit on my legs.

"Daijoubu." I said. "Come on. One more round before lunch. I'll knock you down this time!"

I started to my feet.

Ryotarou took hold of my shoulder.

"What've you been thinking about?" He asked.

I met his eye.

He was curious. Deeply curious. Why? I wasn't in any form of distress.

"Our combat training, of course." I said. "Onii-sama, what's wrong?"

Ryotarou stood with me, removing his hand from my shoulder, now.

"Nothing, I suppose." He said. "Start from the top. Back turned to me."

I nodded, and turned away as he stepped back from me.

"I'm giving a warning this time." Ryotarou said. "Just in case."

I scoffed at him. I was better than that now! I could take this without a warning.

"It's just a precaution!" He said. "Now, I'm coming at you!"

I heard him start running at me. I crouched down a bit.

His footsteps closed in.

Wait... Wait... Wait... NOW!

I jumped up, swinging my legs forward to help me flip back over Ryotarou.

I landed on his back, and began tumbling back.

With a quick thrust of my legs, I shoved him forward, and flipped backwards to land on all-fours.

Ryotarou quickly recovered, and whipped out his sword as he whirled around toward me.

I blinked as I brought my hands up to catch the sword.

I clapped the blade between my hands, and felt a slight sense of release, as I looked past it.

Bankotsu was the one holding it now. For I willed myself to see him.

He gave me a wild grin. I glowered back at his arrogance, and jerked that blade to the side, snapping it.

He straightened, unfazed by the force I used to snap the blade, and simply stood there, tossing his half of the broken blade aside.

"Conceited fool!" I said, going at him with my piece of the blade.

He dodged as I swung at him.

"Somebody's angry today!" Bankotsu taunted. "What's yer problem, brat? Hate seein' someone besides you smile?"

"SILENCE!" I snapped.

I swung the blade again, and put a small cut on his neck.

His smile left him.

"Whoa, brat, chill! We're only sparring!" Bankotsu said.

"THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SPARRING!" I screamed.

I fought with him with everything I had, and soon got to the point of rolling along the ground while we fought.

We were being beaten by the ground, and I was still beating him... he made no move to fight me, though.

Arrogant filth... how dare he insult me like this. After all he'd done to me... couldn't he draw a line here, and fight back?

Finally, I landed a punch on his face, causing him to stop long enough for me to pin him, and press my blade to his neck.

"How could you leave me like this?" I cried. "How could you walk away so easily? After all we've been through... Doesn't it hurt to be away from me? Didn't you want me to stay with you?"

He stared up at me in what seemed to be surprise.

"Mori, what are you talking about?" He asked, in a voice that wasn't his. "I've never left you. Not unless you asked it of me."

The sweat pouring from my face blurred my vision of his.

I dried my face with a quick swipe of my sleeve, and looked down once more.

Ryotarou was the one I'd pinned.

Many emotions were running straight through my heart. All of them were painful. Even more so, now that I could no longer see Bankotsu's face.

"Onii-sama... gomen nasai." I said. "I didn't... I was..."

My throat ached, warning me of my potential tears.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

"I'm tired. I'm going to retire to my quarters, now." I said, getting to my feet.

I hurried off to my room, completely distraught, hoping I hid it well enough, at least until I got there.

Once in my room, I expected tears to come pouring. I expected to start sobbing.

But, at this point, it hurt too much.

It'd been three days, and I was doing rather well here, with my father gone.

Plenty of food, a warm bath, a bed to sleep in... it was all nice, I guess...

But, everyday, I bothered my brother, asking him to train me before he was even ready.

Once, I woke him in the dead of night to train me.

This was all because I missed living on the edge of death.

Maybe I didn't like risking my life, and doing all those chores... but, having known him for a while now... I would've gladly done it all again. And, now, I'd do anything to get back to him...

As I continued to lean against my door, I cast my eyes over to a certain corner in my room.

My armor sat there in a heap, still sparkling like the day I'd received it.

"Well then... Anything, I will do!" I said, standing up straight.

Before I could take a step, there was a knock at the door.

"Hime-sama?" came one of my maids' voice. "Are you in there?"

I turned, and opened the door a bit.

"Ah, dear Mori-hime, your father has returned." She said. "He has brought a suitor, ensuring him that he was going to get you back in time to meet him. May I suggest a more formal state of dress?"

Irritated with the news of another suitor, I looked down at myself, and then back up at her.

"There's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing." I said. "I'll be right-"

"Mori!"

I looked off down the hall, and saw my father running toward me.

He pushed the maid aside, and crushed me in his arms.

I let out a slight cry of shock as the wind was squeezed out of me.

My father almost immediately released me, and put his hands on my shoulders to get my attention.

"How did you escape?" He asked, looking absolutely shocked.

I frowned as I caught my breath, and cast my eyes over at the fallen maid.

She was one of the older women, my Bayaa I guess, and her back had been giving her trouble.

She was struggling to get up.

Now concerned for her, I pushed my father's hands off of me, and went to her.

"Are you alright?" I asked, helping her sit up.

"Oh, I'll be alright." The maid said, having already gotten used to my new behavior. "You needn't worry yourself, Hime-sama."

I helped her to her feet, and looked at my father.

He was staring at me in shock.

I folded my arms. "I was told you brought me another suitor?" I said.

My father looked me over.

"Mori, are you... dirty?" He asked.

I sighed, and started on down the hall.

My father followed right behind me.

"Mori, are you feeling alright? Has that mercenary hurt you?" He asked.

"Bankotsu has done nothing but help me." I said. "Otou-sama, please, stop pretending. I'll see about this one last suitor and then, whether I stay with him or not, I will leave the palace, and you won't have to worry about me any longer."

His hand caught mine, as he stopped walking, forcing me to stop with him.

I looked back at him.

"Mori... I'm not after the Shikon no Tama kakera." My father said. "I want nothing more than to make sure you keep it. I can't bear to lose you!"

I glowered at him.

"Lie to my face, will you?" I asked. "Never mind. It doesn't much matter anymore."

"I'M NOT LYING!" My father roared at me.

I leaned back, away from him, ready to get away, should the need arise.

My father took a deep breath, steadying himself, although I could see frustration in his eyes.

"Mori... why do you behave as though I do not care about you?" My father asked. "Is that what he told you? That I was only keeping you for the Shikon no kakera?"

I scoffed, and yanked my arm from his grip.

"Bankotsu said nothing of the sort. You said that one!" I said. "However... he has helped me realize... because all you do is give me things, and leave me to do what I will... you can't possibly care about me... I'm just a pretty face to show off to princes, and the like, so that they'll take me as a wife, therefore getting me out of your hair... Suppose I can't blame you for wanting to get rid of me. The way I've behaved, I'd get rid of me, too. I don't know why you kept me after Okaa-sama's death, but, you can be sure that you won't have to keep me for much longer!"

My father's eyes widened with a certain horror... one I'd known not too long ago...

This was the horror of losing someone precious to you.

But, how? If I was such an annoyance to him, why keep me? Unless he does want the shard...

My father put his hands on my shoulders.

"Your mother gave her life... the life I took for granted... to save you..." My father said. "Mori, I've made terrible mistakes... unforgivable mistakes... Once I got my title, and my heir, I began to take your mother for granted... she would come to me, holding you, and ask me to help her care for you... I hired more maids, and bought new toys for you, so that I could focus on my duties, as a war lord... that's when it started..."

My forehead was beginning to hurt, I was now glaring with such force.

I'd been trying to call a temporary peace, just until I got rid of the suitor.

But, if he kept on this path... I was sure to lose my sanity.

"I still trusted your mother... she was the greatest secret keeper I'd ever known..." My father said. "I trusted her with the Shikon no Tama kakera, knowing she would keep it a secret, and do something good with it, should she have the need... And she needed to save you... After her death, I was more hurt than you know."

My face began to loosen up, as I watched my father's eyes beginning to glitter.

He seemed to be fighting to keep his gaze on me, now. He was... about to cry. And he didn't want me to see him break.

"Mori... you have no idea... how you remind me of her... though you tried to testify against it." My father said. "You're very strong-willed, and clever... Of course you're beautiful, with your mother's face... You must understand... I couldn't tell you 'no', after what happened... for your mother treasured you, her only daughter, with her very life. And... I hope you will believe, someday, when I say... that I do treasure you, as well."

I stared up at my father.

Despite the tears running down his face... this was the strongest I'd ever seen him... My father did care about me. Through everything... he cared.

I lowered my head, leaning into him.

"It's like... Keisuke said... isn't it?" I asked.

"What?" My father asked.

I brought my gaze up to him once more.

"I spent time in a commoner's village while I was away." I said. "A man named Keisuke... he took care of me, despite my behavior... he told me that... a parent loves their child... no matter what... that's true... isn't it?"

My father stared down at me, looking just a bit surprised.

After a moment, he held me close to him.

There was warmth in his arms... a warmth I'd known... but never returned.

This was love. But, not the same love as I had for Bankotsu. This was very different... yet, it was the same.

"Otou-sama..." I said. "I will not marry the man you've brought for me."

My father squeezed me a little tighter.

"He can offer me all he likes..." I said. "However... one man has offered me his very life... I cannot turn him away... I must go to him."

My father let out a sigh that almost became a moan of grief, as he slowly released me.

"Mori... who is this man?" My father asked. "Who dares offer his mediocre life for you?"

I took a deep breath, steadying myself.

"Bankotsu... of the Shichinintai... a man I would gladly die for." I said. "I'm going to him."

My father's eyes went wide, and his face went pale. He looked like he might be sick.

"You can't stop me." I said. "I'm going to him no matter what... I won't live without him."

My father continued to stare at me, as the white in his face slowly turned to red.

My muscles clenched, as he began to move...

Onii-sama - Older brother.

Youkata - Thank goodness.

Daijoubu - I'm alright.

Gomen nasai - I'm sorry.

Hime(-sama) - Princess.

Bayaa - Nanny.

Otou-sama - Father.

Okaa-sama - Mother.

Geez, I thought I'd never finish this chapter! I didn't plan this scene out very well at all, but, I'm pleased with the way it turned out. Anyway, please, review!