Hello everyone! Back again. Sorry for the very long hold up.

I moved to a new house and didn't have internet for a month and a half, but I do now!

This chapter will be split in two like "WinDei Sea Village".

Enjoy!

Via China Gallery

Nightmare/Tira's POV

For Nightmare, this was a very long travel. How he carried Tira in his arms while dragging their equipment without breaking a sweat remains a mystery. The most I can say is that it was Setsuka's energy blasting in his core.

Tira was sleeping in Nightmare's arms. She woke up and realized that she was still being carried by him."But...how?" her thought of how fascinating the monster really was.

*Clink! Clink! Clink!* His foot steps echoed on the mountain side.

Tira was feeling well rested from injuries and attempted to walk on her own.

"Nightmare."

"What?" He answered in that same dull voice when he wasn't in the mood to speak.

"I... I think I can walk by myself now."

He stopped and gently led the girl out of his arms, she limped a little bit, nothing too worrisome, though.

"Unh... Unh..." Tira moaned deep while holding her side, struggling to walk down the mountain's slope.

"Let me carry you. It's no use of hurting your body even more."

"No! I have to do this own my own! I'll never become a strong apprentice if I can't even pull my own weight!"

He gave the girl her right to walk next to him.

Nightmare and Tira, walking down a snowy hill of hell with no intention of where they were going. This didn't bother the Azure Knight one bit. He had someone on his mind... It stuck to him for hours upon hours. No matter what he thought of, the soul barged it's way back into his brain.

Hours Later

The mountain came to an end. Tira dropped to her knees on a brush of grass that entranced to a meadow.

"We'll rest here for a few days." And that, they did. Tira was stuck resting for those days, an order of Nightmare. He would rest by the girl's side, making sure no thieves or bandits would come and take advantage of her injuries.

A long 4 days later... A Beautiful Afternoon. A blissful sun lit the travelers' habitat.

Tira woke up to the beautiful sun. She checked the sides of her stomach where the scar from when Setsuka's blade stabbed her. She was healing very fast. Tira got up and began walking for the first time in days. She wobbled to the left while seeking balance, no more limping for her.

"Where's Nightma-" Before she finished her question, she spotted Nightmare from a long distance. He was toting something in his left arm. "What can that be?" She thought as he appeared closer and soon in front of her. He threw a man's shredded body in front of her.

"You're better, you need to eat."

She covered her nose. "I can't eat him!" She slid back a few feet.

"That's not for you!" He grabbed something out of the armor in his torso.

It was bread and some mysterious meat.

"Looks good." She took a savoring bite of the combination. "Soooo good! Yummy!"

"Enjoy it." He demanded. "We're heading through this meadow soon and we're not stopping until we find stronger souls." After their feast, they began through the uncut reen grass. They traveled for miles when they stopped upon a very small area. There were tipis, but no inhabitants.

"Search around and meet me back here." Tira nodded and began to do as told.

Nightmare ducked his head entering one of the tipis. "..." He saw a very old, torn journal lying on the dirt ground. Nightmare observed the book and flipped through the pages.

"A dynasty, a very old civilization, rests someplace in this world. Soul

Calibur has been known to rest in this region, no explorer has ever returned in

an attempt to retrieve the sword. May their souls rest... For great power and

possession of the sword, you first must explore the China Gallery... Let this be

a warning... -Unknown"

The last of the journal was ripped as if intentional. Wait! One page was still left untouched.

"A map to the land you will never succeed in crossing..."

Nightmare closed the book and returned outside. Tira was standing in the returning spot holding up something that caught Nightmare's eye. A glittering red piece of Soul Edge...

Kilik/Xianghua's POV

*Foot steps, walking along a corridor of fine Chinese royal decor with beautiful lanterns illuminating the walkway. The steps stop at a dragon carved double wooden door knock knock* So soft.

"Kilik?" Her voice was too. "Kilik, it's been seven days, the cooks have prepared dinner-"

"I'm not eating... I'm staying here..." She stepped into the torch illuminated room. Fumes of fruit swirled the air.

Kilik was in a meditating position, his eyes were closed with his physical composure and his mind battling for peace.

"Kilik, you're forgiven... Your sins are forgiven... You can't stay here forev-"

"I will sit here forever if it means replenishing my body with purity, Xianghua."

His stare jabbed her eyes. "I can never forgive myself for what I've done..." He hung his head, staring at the ground. His fists tightened while groaned at his own sins.

"Just-just leave Xianghua." His eyes closed as he went back to his meditating position. Xianghua was leaning her shoulder on the door when she stood there for a final moment. Out the room she went, tears soaring against her pale cheeks. Xianghua ate dinner with the rest of the royal guards and students. Her mind couldn't rid of the thought of Kilik.

Her sneaky feet guided to Kilik's praying room again. Kilik was meditating on top of Kali-Yuga. Xianghua tip-toed behind him and grabbed Kilik nearly making him fall!

"Xianghua!" Kilik was angry at her foolishness. "Xianghua, stop!"

Xianghua powered him along the corridor to the outside of the castle's entrance.

The moon was glowing with the stars. The combination flowed to the castle's black river beaming off a white neon.

Xianghua walked toward the edge of the castle's bridge. *Sigh* She was calm, Kilik appeared next to her. No emotion, no sound or thought escaped from his mouth. A silence of the night's appreciation took the two's thoughts over. Kilik felt a vibration on his sternum. The blue gem that rested on his breastbone glowed a light blue.

"What?" He was worried.

"Just a coincidence." Xianghua wanted a romantic moment with him, she had to force his mind to think of her.

The night steals my breath away as usual". She backed away from the edge of the pond smiling at him. The stars and the moon united with a bright white light that beamed off of the garden's pond. A hand dipped inside of the pond's water and splashed the young man's face. "Bleh! Come on! That was cheap!"

"If you wanna get me back you gotta catch me!" She ran toward the small castle. Her beautiful figure turned around, watching the young man chase her wildly.

All of a sudden hand shoots out of the water and grabs the girl's foot! She is forced into the pond struggling for air. *Cough Cough* "Help!" She paddled viciously trying to escape from being drowned, he grabbed her hand.

The young woman was pulled under the pond's layer of water, bubbles appearing to the surface... Kilik tossed Kali-Yuga to the side and dove into the pond. Xianghua was reaching for his hand, his fingers scraped the tip of her nails. She flows back up to the surface with the person that pulled her down. Kilik jumps out of the pond and helps Xianghua and the other body out.

*Pant! Pant!*All three of their hearts were racing. Xianghua angrily stared at the person. "Yun-Seong?" She was surprised, more than mad at the idiot.

"Why is he in China?" She thought to herself. "What are you doing here?" She demanded while catching her breath.

"Night..." *cough cough* "...mare is on the loose. He killed everyone at my dojo." He flipped to his back and panted heavily.

Xianghua noticed Mi-Na's absense. Her sudden realization forced her to whisper one simple question to him.

"He killed... Mi-Na?" Her whisper was nearly faint, she burried her face into her hands and sobbed.

Tears streamed down Yun-Seong's cheek. He couldn't bare to look in Xianghua's eyes and tell her "yes".

Rain drops began raiding the ground.

Xianghua wept and wept, tears squeezing through the cracks of her hands. She ran down the path back to the castle.

"Xianghua wait!" Kilik yelled after her.

She ran as fast ash she possibly could.

*Slip BAM!* Xianghua slipped on the pavement head first. Her body was idle. Kilik ran after her. Her head was bleeding severely leaving a pool of blodd on the ground.

"ROYALS!" He screamed.

The royal guards ran to the entrance and saw Kilik supporting her head on his lap. They began bringing supplies and wrapped her in a cover and took her into the castle for nursing.

Kilik ran back to Yun-Seong. "Why are you still lying there?" His tone was an angry one, this was You-Seong's fault. Xianghua's physical and mental pain.

Yun lyed there with no response to Kilik's question. The rain drops hit his face one by one. "My leg is partially broken. Nightmare nearly destroyed it." His heavy breathing stopped. Kilik helped him up and assisted him into the castle.

It's probably the cleanest chapter out of all, but still a fun read. The next chapter shouldn't take too long! And Remember to Review!

Preview to Chapter VIII:

"It's over for me, I'm done *Cough!*, he's killed me." His head was being held by the palms of the bloody hands.

"No... it's not over! Just hang on, promise me you'll make it." He pulled him into his arms, losing another close friend was the last thing on his mind.

"Please no..." His whisper barely left his mouth.

His eyes slid to the side, a view he's witnessed before. He layed him to the side of the pond's bridge.

It was his battle. Tears, sweat, and blood brought him here.

The wind blowing furiously. What did it mean? Nothing to him, but for Nightmare, he had to face a problem of the past.

-Via China Gallery II

Coming Soon.