"The difficulty in life is the choice." - George Moore

"The insurgency will rise

When the blood's been sacrificed

Don't be blinded by the lies in your eyes"

-Know Your Enemy- Green Day

Chapter 1

Rain poured down hard, as a group of four ran into the forest as fast as they could, not looking back even once. They were covered in cuts and bruises, some had broken bones but they ignored the pain. Ignored how their feet ached, how they were weak from hunger and dehydration. Behind them were shouts of anger as men armoured came out side.

"Where are they?"

"How the hell did they escape?"

"If you find them, shoot on sight! Those Demons are to be sent to Hell! Understood?"

"Sir , Yes Sir!"

Three of the four stopped.

"oh no…" A girl with short pink hair said fearfully.

"Shit, they know where gone," a girl with medium length light brown hair hissed.

"They want hell, let's show them," A short blonde haired girl held up beads and started the mutter something but a pale hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, making her let go.

"What-" The girl turned, shocked to stare at the fourth of their group, a girl with dark, almost black, green hair that reached her waist. "What are you doing? We have to stop-" but the girl shook her head, not saying anything. "Why not? Their going to kill us if we-" but, again, she shook her head. Slowly. She pointed to the Rosary, towards where the men were shouting, at the girl then a line across her neck. Understanding, the girl sighed.

Attack them, they attack back and we die.

"Let's go." The brown haired girl whispered.

Once again they ran.

Branches whipped around them, adding to the scratches they already had. They ran until-

"AH!" with a loud thud, the pink haired girl tripped.

"Tamao!" they stopped and ran back over to her.

"I-I'm sorry…" the girl whispered, tears running down her face.

"Shh, it's ok sweetie," The brown haired girl said.

"Yeah, just get up so we can go,"

"Yin-San, Anna-San," Tamao said, grateful that they weren't angry. Slowly she stood, making sure she didn't break something. But soon, was knocked back down on her feet along with the others.

"Ow!" Anna hissed, looking over her shoulder. "What the hell Nadeshiko?"

She held up a finger to her lips, indicating them to be quiet.

They listened, but heard nothing. It was like that for a minute and Anna was starting to wonder if she was mistaken when a bullet shot right above them.

"I know there's something over here."

"Animal?"

"No, too big to be one of those foxes."

"Then it's them."

The four got to their feet cautiously and slowly backed away, trying to blend into the darkness.

There was a light coming towards them, and by the sounds of it there were more then three.

"We're out numbered." Yin whispered.

"We-We'll be killed," Tamao stammered.

"Maybe not though…" Yin said, looking at Nadeshiko and Anna.

Anna and Nadeshiko didn't say anything. They were looking at each other, as though having a conversation of their own. Anna's green eyes were pleading and determined while Nadeshiko's were narrowed. Finally she nodded and grabbed Tamao's arm.

"Hime-Sama, what-"

She didn't say anything, just dragged her deeper into the forest.

Tamao looked down but stopped when she realised something. "Why aren't Yin-San and Anna-San coming?"

"We're staying T," Anna said.

"W-What?"

"We'll distract them, you and Hime-Sama get away." Yin said, for once she wasn't smiling.

"B-But…" Tears came to Tamao's eyes as she looked from them, to Nadeshiko who had a blank expression on her face. She didn't say anything.

"Don't worry," Yin hugged her gently, warmly. "We'll meet again someday. If not this life then the next."

"This is our choice." Anna said but she was looking at Nadeshiko. "Our choice and we'll deal with the consequences. That's what you taught us." with and quick bow of respect to Nadeshiko, she turned, running out to the enemy.

"Good-Bye Tamao-Chan, take care. Good-Bye Hime-Sama, I love you and always will." Yin let go of the sobbing girl and Bowed to Nadeshiko before following her friend to her Fate.

"No…" Tamao would have fell to her knees if Nadeshiko hadn't grabbed her arm.

Nadeshiko lead the girl down the narrow path, towards the sound of the river.

"Are we going to follow it?" Tamao asked her. No answer. Back to silence. Tamao followed her, trying to stop her tears but it was in vain. Two minutes later there were two screams of pain and suffering and laughter that made her freeze where she was.

'They did it…they killed them…' pictures of Yin's bright smile, her purple eyes glowing with laughter, and Anna's smirk with warm forest green eyes filled her mind. She looked up to see how far ahead Nadeshiko was, her steps never faltering for a second, confident like everything she did, her green hair swaying around her. 'She doesn't care…why doesn't she care? I thought she was nice but she doesn't care even though they were-'

Nadeshiko stopped where she was, as though she hit a wall. "Tamao, hurry up or stay and suffer the same fate as them." it was the first time she spoke in almost a week. As always her voice was cold and emotionless, nothing you would think a princess would be like.

Frightened, Tamao nodded.

Everything was dark, he couldn't see a thing in front of him. The only thing that could guide him was the sounds around him. He could hear the rustling of branches and fallen leaves, and a stream nearby. His feet were aching like he'd been walking for days non-stop. But nothing was compared to the pain he felt inside. As if the whole world just came crushing down on his shoulders, guilt and sorrow filling him until he felt like he would break down any moment-

"Yoh! Wake up, your grandfathers calling for us!"

"Huh?" Yoh's eyes flickered open and he found himself lying halfway off his bed in a tangle of sheets. He looked towards the door way to see his friend, Ren, standing in the door way glaring at him. "huh?" he repeated.

"Kisama, we're being called, Yohmei wants to show us something."

"Jii-San?" Yoh got a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had a feeling why he wanted them. He told Ren that he'll be out in a minute and got dressed. He took his time though, thinking about his dream. He's had ones similar to this one for the past month. They weren't scary just…confusing. And very realistic, like it was happening to him.

Ten minutes later he was standing outside a door with Ren and his blue haired Ainu friend HoroHoro. Yoh knocked.

"Come in."

A man whose face was covered with a bird like mask stood in the small room. "Yo!" he said when he saw the three boys.

"T-Tou-San?" Yoh said, taken back.

"Yup, Yohmei went on ahead and asked me to take you down stairs," Mikihisa said.

"Down stairs?" HoroHoro asked, going pale.

"You mean to the prison cells?" Asked Ren, lifting an eyebrow. "Why? Did you find someone?"

"Two actually."

Yoh didn't say anything as his father lead them to the second door in the room that revealed a stair case. He sighed. He hated this part. Ever since he was little he was being taught about this stuff and it was only in the last two years that Ren and HoroHoro came to live with him because their families sent them and he enjoyed their friendship. It helped him forget…this.

All but one cell was empty and his grandfather was standing in front of it.

"We got two, but only one is an Itako. Right now she's locked up."

"Then whose this girl here?" HoroHoro asked, looking into the Cell. A girl with short pink hair sat at the back, her down and her arms wrapped around her legs. She had on black sweats and a white t-shirt that was dirty.

"She's a soothsayer," Yohmei said. "She has visions of the future."

"Why is she locked in here if she isn't a Itako then?" Ren asked, frowning.

"It's because we found her with an Itako," Mikihisa explained. "Don't give me that look Ren," He added, seeing his expression. "We're going to release her and let Keiko look after her after a day or two." he turned as Yohmei started leading the way towards the back. The others followed.

"So why is the other girl in a different Cell Tou-San?" Yoh asked him but it was his grandfather who answered.

"Because of who she is." he said coldly. "We can't take her lightly until we're a hundred percent sure she won't be a danger to others."

Yoh frowned, not liking where this went. "What do you mean? Who is she?"

He didn't answer for the arrived to their destination. The door was made of a thick metal that had three locks on it. Yohmei took out a pair of keys and unlocked them all, one by one, the sound echoing. When the door opened three pairs of eyes widened at the site.

"What the…" HoroHoro started.

"That's torture," Ren muttered.

"Jii-Chan…Tou-San…what is this?" Yoh choked out.

"Like we said we cannot take her lightly. Her powers could be a danger to us." Mikihisa said.

A chain Over Soul that went from the ceiling hung down, the other end chaining her wrists together above her head, forcing her into a kneeling position. She wore a white yukata, her blonde hair falling over her face as her head was bent, looking down.

'Why is she chained up like this?' Yoh thought. 'Even if she's an Itako she's still human…'

Suddenly her head snapped up, her eyes narrowed. Yoh was shocked at how fierce they looked, and even in the darkness they seemed to glow a golden brown. Her glare rested on Yohmei. His eyes widened as he quickly summoned his Leaf Spirit Shikigami. They caught on fire and were destroyed in a second.

"whoa…What was…that?" HoroHoro asked.

"We should leave before she tries something else." Yohmei said, walking out. Everyone but Yoh followed. He stood there, starring at the girl. She was looking back down so he couldn't see her face. For some reason he felt sad, ashamed and angry all at the same time but still calm.

"Yoh!" Yoh jumped and said, "Coming,' casting one last glance at her, he turned and left the room.

"So why is she locked up like that? Who is she?" HoroHoro asked when they were back in the office.

"Well…"

Flashback

They were walking down the stairs, to see the two new inmates that the Knights had caught. According to them they had a hard time capturing them even though it was five against two. They also told them that they had escaped a Prison that was a few towns over almost six months ago.

When they got there they saw the pink haired girl in the corner, sobbing, while a girl with long dark green hair stood in a black dress, leaning against the back with her arms crossed across her chest, her golden eyes narrowed.

"Which one of you is Tamao," Yohmei asked. Neither said anything. He turned to looked at the green haired girl, noticing the blue Rosary.

"So you're the Itako." he said. She didn't say anything. "That means she's the Seer, and your that girl named Nadeshiko" 'She might be as dangerous as her, until we know her powers we should probably lock her up in the Confidential Cell'he thought.

Turning to Mikihisa, he failed to notice the angry look on Nadeshiko's face. "Go get the Seer. We'll observe her for a while and see what happens."

"Alright."

Tamao's eyes widened as the door opened. She looked up at Nadeshiko, her eyes full of fear.

As soon as Mikihisa neared, as he reached for the girl Nadeshiko grabbed his arm, twisted it and pushed him against the wall.

"You have no right to put her in that Cell," she hissed. Yohmei's eyes widened slightly. 'How did she-'

"Know? Easily. Now back off," she pushed Mikihisa without difficulty towards the door that he came through.

Tamao stood up and hide behind Nadeshiko and whispered something to her. She shook her head and Tamao looked down.

Yohmei gave Nadeshiko a searching look, thinking. "Those eyes of yours…who are you really?" he asked, for her golden brown eyes had a fire behind them, something he'd only seen once before.

She didn't say anything. The Cell started to fill with a fog that wasn't natural.

"What's going on?" Mikihisa whispered to Yohmei.

"She's putting up a shield around them," he muttered.

Mikihisa looked at the two girls, remembering what the Itako said. Deciding to calm down the situation he asked, "May I ask you something?" when she didn't say anything he continued, "You said we had no right, what do you mean by that?"

It was a while before she spoke. Her voice was cold and calm. "Itako's have a choice in what they are. She didn't. for you to lock her up because you don't understand it makes you as bad as the X-Prisons."

There was silence. Then Tamao said quietly, "A…Hime-Sama, your temper…"

Yohmei's eyes narrowed. "A Princess…and your eyes, who are you really Nadeshiko?"

Nadeshiko blinked slowly then stepped forward.

She grabbed piece of her hair and pulled, reviling short blonde hair underneath. A wig.

"Kyoyama Anna, the Itako Princess of Osorezan."

"A princess?" Yoh said in disbelief.

"She's not really a princess," Mikihisa said. "But she's one of few, maybe the only, Itako with sight and that makes her dangerous. And because of that, the Itako's of Japan named her the Princess of Osorezan, where she grew up and trained."

"So that's why you have her chained up like some criminal?" Ren sneered in disgust, making Yohmei sigh.

"Ren, you know it's our job to make sure the prisoners we take aren't dangerous. If they are, then we have to either execute them or send them to the X-Prisons, which we would rather not do."

"So, wait. If her names Anna, why did she say her name was Nadeshiko? And wearing a wig?" HoroHoro looked confused.

"Probably so she wouldn't be recognised." Mikihisa shrugged. "Lots of people would be after her. Anyway, if both are released I still want you boys to be cautious, even if you think their not dangerous. Understood?"

"Hai!"

This is the story that won in the poll, and I know I said I would post it after Snow Stained Red but I have writers block for that story right now and i already had the first couple chapters done on this one so.

One of the things different in this story is that the chapters will be longer and it might get kinds confusing so I'll answer any Questions you have.

R&R