A stream of crimson pooled in the mud as Kazune sloppily flailed his arms in an attempt to get back up. His body would not listen to him and the ringing in his ears would not stop. He was blind, deaf and numb. Kazune was vaguely aware that he was cold; he could feel vibrations in the air that felt like a scream. Who was screaming, he wondered? Kazune's thoughts drifted. He couldn't think of anything but how he felt so tired. Turning his head best he could to the left, he saw faint shadows. They moved strangely as if the being was dragging itself on the ground. He watched for a moment before turning back to face the sky. The air was still; there was no more rain, no more thunder, no more, no more... A soft but full breath left Kazune's lips. He felt as if he were deflating as the air left his lungs.

"I am just... so tired..." he mumbled as a growing sensation of warmth flowed from his side. Kazune felt relaxed. He started to slip into a deep sleep when a jolting pressure hit him in the ribcage.

Light came flooding back and the pain in his side stabbed him mercilessly.

"YOU CANNOT DIE YOU, ASSHOLE!" a distraught, sweet voice screamed.

A musky shadow loomed over him and hit him full force again. This time Kazune coughed and his eyes went wide. He could move his arms again. He looked up to see Karin's lovely face splattered with blood. He wasn't sure if it was his, hers or her mother's. It didn't matter. She was crying with an unsightly face that he had somehow never loved more. Kazune tried to speak but felt a lurch in his stomach as his leg throbbed and his side burned. With Karin's help, Kazune franticly turned on his good side and vomited up bloody bile.

Karin rubbed his back while he finished and went limp again from exhaustion.

"You'll be okay." Karin said.

"You don't have to talk, just listen. Your leg is broken pretty badly and your side is seared but still exposed."

Kazune awaited the dreaded sentence that would pass Karin's lips next.

"I have to set your leg."

Kazune felt tears start streaming down his face as he accepted how awfully painful it would be. He could see bone splintering out of his skin. Reaching up to grab his medallion, he placed it between his teeth. Karin's hands traveled down as vines grew up from the ashes and restrained Kazune's arms. As Karin pulled his lower leg downwards the vines pulled him the opposite direction. The bones disappeared bellow his skin again and a clicking sound signified that the leg bones were aligned again. Kazune's face was contorted in pain as a growl escaped his throat.

"Where is the governor?" Karin demanded.

Kazune looked at her like she was crazy to ask anything while he was in such pain.

"He...die... died..." Kazune managed.

"Then wait here..." Karin got up to leave. Panic washed over Kazune before he realized he still couldn't move. He watch Karin as she walked away, back to where her mother struggled to drag herself to what was left of her throne. She was a pitiable woman now, no longer the elegance Kazune had seen at first.

Karin's arm morphed into a long icicle with a razor sharp tip. She walked slowly and awkwardly but, she had an air of purpose and elegance. In a swift movement she stabbed her mother through her back, twisting and pulling away. The lifeless ice queen laid face down in the ashy snow.

Kazune could only look in awe as Karin turned around to face him. She had a strange but sad smile on her face as she let out a breathy forced laugh.

Kazune smiled lightly at her before darkness overtook him.

He was indeed, very tired.

~...~...~

Kazune felt the spreading warmth of sunlight across his face and the soft ruffle of sheets moving as he turned over. Cracking his eyes open, Kazune was greeted by white light. When his eyes glided over the room he saw simple but cheery flowers growing over the inside wall of the white room.

Struggling a bit, Kazune sat up and saw his form in an adjacent mirror. He had cuts and bruises that were bandaged up and his hair returned to his original blonde sheen. Moving the blankets aside, Kazune lifted up his shirt and saw his side wound had been stitched up and was well underway for recovery.

There was a knock at the door. The handle turned gently and Karin's face peeked through.

"You've woken up." came the voice he had missed.

"Karin... where am I?"

"After the battle, I commanded Jin's party to take you back to the kingdom. You're in Jin's personal hospital wing."

Kazune looked at her with admiration. "You told them to and they did it?"

"Well... I might have used threats to further my aspirations." Karin gave Kazune a side-smile.

"Now I have questions for you, when I found the Governor's body, it was not your usual scorching. It was practically mummified in ash. What did you do?"

"Oh..." Kazune tried to remember, "I remember bleeding out and using Jin's lightning to sear my wound shut since I must have been too drenched with rain to start my own fire. After that... I must have kicked up enough ash and produced enough heat to bond the ash to the nearest thing. A similar thing happened with a volcanic eruption in a country across the ocean."

"Is that so? Even being hurt this much, your memory and knowledge never ceases to be infallible."

"Yeah well... you managed to get out of that fight without a scratch...your mother was awful strong." Kazune sighed with a smile. "When I get better, I'll have to test your strength."

"Haaah? Not even awake for 5 minutes and you're already picking a fight with me?" Karin's face blushed with minor annoyance.

"Of course I am." Kazune reached up and held Karin's face. Tears started to stream down her cheeks as she pressed into his hand. Karin was so warm. It felt comfortable and soothing.

"What will you do with your new kingdom, Miss Governess?" Kazune teased.

"I am not sure yet. I do not want to rule over anything. That is why I ran away from home in the first place. I DID think about giving it to you since you like control, but I don't think you like people enough to give this kingdom the leader they deserve."

"Gee, thanks." Kazune snorted.

"I will stay here till you get better; in the meantime I will look for a new leader. When that is all said and done-"

"We'll go live in the forest beyond this kingdom." Kazune interrupted.

"Huh?"

Kazune grasped both of Karin's hands and pushed himself further into a sitting position.

"You, and me, are going to live together in the forest where I can continue practicing magic and you can get in touch with your wood sprite heritage."

Kazune leaned in and gave Karin's nose a kiss. Her face winced at his touch.

"You... wanna live with me?" Karin's voice trembled, ringing like a quivering bell.

"Of course I do." Kazune smirked and leaned to her ear to whisper. "I'm not done fucking with you yet"

Karin recoiled so fast she nearly fell off the stool she was sitting on. Her face was beet red and her mouth clamped shut. Her body had gone stiff and her hands were shoved between her thighs.

Kazune's eyes devoured the sight. He felt a blaze rising from his depths.

"You'd better rest up then!" Karin yelled at him before standing and stiffly walking out of the hospital room.