Chapter 29 Down in Flames

"Yoshimitsu-kun!"

Yoshimitsu turned to see Ekima coming towards him. With out hesitation she ran straight into his arms. Wrapping her arms around his torso tightly. He pulled her to him even tighter.

"I'm so glad you came!" Ekima sobbed into his shirt. "I was so scared!"

"What kind of scum would I be if I didn't come for you?" Yoshimitsu said, fondly pressing his lips to her hair. "I'm not heartless."

Yoshimitsu pushed her back slightly and took Ekima's face in his hands but…

"Ekima…" Yoshimitsu said slowly. "Why are you covered in blood?"

Ekima's relieved face quickly shifted to anguish.

"Yoshimitsu-kun…" She said in a voice that was almost a whisper. "I-I killed a man…me not Onee-san."

Yoshimitsu's eyes widened slightly. "W-what-"

Not to far off, something exploded. The couple turned alarmed.

"What was that?"

"I don't know but we better get out of here." Yoshimitsu said, turning.

He started to run forward and Ekima was about to follow but something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She turned and looked down a branch off hallway to her right. On the ground was the body of a boy not much older than her, eyes closed. With the exception of his still chest, he would have seemed to be peacefully sleeping. Ekima just stared.

"Ekima, we need to get moving." Yoshimitsu called back.

"H-hai!" Ekima responded after a moments hesitation.

Yoshimitsu lead Ekima down the hallways back to where he had left Mizuko and Hiko. Using the byakugan, he had scanned the area and learned a generator had exploded. Nearly half of the building was now aflame, which meant secrecy was no longer their top priority.

Ekima and Yoshimitsu slid to a stop as they entered the throne room. Mizuko turned.

"Oh? What took you so long?" She teased.

Hiko turned as well, tucking away something in her sleeve. Sara was hanging on the wall behind Mizuko, impaled through the stomach. On the far side on the room, about ten yards from Hiko, Osen was trapped in a pillar of pure ice. Ekima looked away.

"You both okay?" Yoshimitsu asked as he approached the girls.

They nodded.

"They weren't push-over's but we still managed to get by so-"

The wall to their right blew open with a loud boom, blasting chunks of wood and stone. The four were knocked to the ground, quickly covering their heads.

"What the hell was that?!" Mizuko said as they all stood.

"No time." Yoshimitsu said, making for the exit. "We've get out of here."

"Where are the other too?" Mizuko asked. "Where are Sasuke and Karasu?!"

"They'll be fine." Yoshimitsu answered quickly. "But we need to go!"

The other three nodded at followed the Hyuuga.

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We ran into a room completely submerged in flames. Bits of flaming debris were falling from the ceiling and crashing through the floor, creating a blaze of red and yellow. With barley a hint of hesitation, Sasuke charged through and me, having really no other choice, followed behind closely. The floor scorched my feet and slid up through my legs. Even the surrounding air was blazing and smoked filled, making it hard to breathe.

Using the sleeve of the nagajuban, I began to wipe the blood of my face and arms. Apparently trying my best to follow Sasuke while doing this wasn't enough, 'cause at some point I tripped over something. I hit the burning ground with a small yelp, which quickly alerted Sasuke.

"We don't have the time, Karasu." He said, impatiently coming to a stop.

I sat up and rubbed my elbow. "I'm sorry."

I stood, dusted off my clothes and pulled out a large splinter of wood that had made it's way into my sleeve. The hairs on the back of my neck rose

"Karasu! Behind you!!" Sasuke called out just a pair of arms grabbed me around the waist and pulled me back.

I looked up. Shinsuke's face was not far above mine, covered in dirt and sweat. I struggled.

"Let go of me, Shinsuke-san!!" I cried.

He didn't even blink. Shinsuke was completely focused on Sasuke, trying to glare him down. Sasuke returned the look with eyes that burned a deeper red that the surrounding flames.

"My grandfather built this place, all my subjects live here with my guarantee of safety and shelter." He said, his voice dark. "And now you try and take away the girl whose face has haunted me since childhood?!"

Sasuke was silent as Shinsuke channeled his anger into the grip he had on me. I couldn't even cry out in the suffocating grasp.

"Would you sacrifice the happiness of one for your own enjoyment?" Sasuke asked, his voice as still a glass.

I gasped for air.

"You bastard!" Shinsuke growled.

I plunged the wooden splinter into Shinsuke's leg. He cried out and released his hold on me. I stumbled forward a bit, coughing up blood. Something cracked above me. I looked up to see a wooden beam bathed in flames come roaring down towards me. Then Sasuke was there, tackling me to the ground. We landed pretty harshly but safe. I sat up quickly and saw Shinsuke standing where I had been, shuddering under the weight of the wooden beam.

"Shinsuke-san!"

I started to run towards him but Sasuke grabbed me wrist and held me back. Shinsuke turned a bleeding face towards me and smiled.

Sasuke pulled me towards the exit.

"We have to go!"

"But…Shinsuke-san is-"

"He's risking his life for you! Don't let it be in vain!" He said with urgency I had never heard before.

I looked back at Shinsuke, who nodded. I hesitated then turned and followed Sasuke. The room began to collapse and we picked up the pace. I didn't even have the time to glance back.

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From our perch on the ridge we watched as the once beautiful castle, with it's cream white walls and brown tiled roof, imploded into the belly of the monstrous fire. I observed as the beautiful garden outside of the maiden's barracks, was devoured by greedy tongues of flame. Had Budou and the others made it out alive? Had anyone? Why was it so hard to create something that was so easily destroyed? Blood, sweat and tears had been put into building such a place, I was sure of it. Yet it was so simple to just tear it down. And the lives of the all those who had been the inhabitants. Much effort was put into their creation and development, but, like the castle, all that had been undone in an instant. Yet, the six of us just stood and watched.

In the end, Shinsuke had proved me wrong. He was a good person, better than most. He just didn't know had to handle his emotions, what to do with them. And I just stood here and watched.

I turned away, walking back towards the meadow where it had started. I didn't even notice the others follow after me in silence. No one spoke. Who could?

It had taken the others three day to find this place, we made it back to the starting line in an hour. Again, something that had taken great effort but was easily reversed. Was everything like that? Yeah, I guess so.

The grass beneath me crackled and folded forward, making a soft pillow for my bare feet. The cherry blossom trees were dropping their petals, the silent breeze sending them fluttering in our direction. Life is like the cherry blossoms, eh? Maybe that saying wasn't gibberish after all. I turned back. Turned back to see the night sky lit up by the burning embers.

"It's beautiful." I whispered .

Author notes: *stands up to stretch* This arc is finished!!! Yay! Not a bad ending if I say so myself. Lol! I had a lot of fun with this chapter, especially at the end. I was listening to a lot of slow and sad music at time (Mad world, Pieces, Iris, etc.) so that probably contributed to a lot of this chapter. Also, my first semi-romance scene. Yep, there's somethin' between Yoshi-kun and Ekima-chan!