Back to ze past

((...RAWR!!!! ))

Smirking Anei didn't slow down at all as she bowled over the larger-than-her bear, clutching Mentaro in her arm she switched forms and sat there giggling, hugging the cat close to her chest.

"I win!"

Yuki sat back and bruied a hand in his hair. He shook his head, trying not to cry. "So, is this what it feels like to be alone?" He gave a small laugh.

Mentaro hissed and struggled in the girls arms. She tried biting her to see the reaction.

Yelping loudly, Anei dropped the cat only to pout and glare at him.

"No fair!" A slightly disgruntled grunt came from beneath her, and Anei realised she was still sitting on Kiestu, face aflame the young demon leapt of off the bear waving her hands infront of her.

"Sorry Kietsu!"

Mentaro shifted into his Human form and rubbed his now sore ass.

"You're not alone." Taro said quietly after a small pause, gaze resting on Yuki. "Not everyone is gone." Sadaharu gently lay his hand on Yuki's shoulder. It was meant to be a joyous thing, Yuki's awakening. Not like this. Instead, now he had torn Amaterasu from him too. If he had never fallen for the rat, none of this would ever have happened. If not for his stupidity, Amaterasu would be alive, and Yuki happy.

Yuki brought his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around hs legs, bruing his face into them. The sobs started then. He couldn' hold it in anymore. He felt broken, how could they say he wasn't alone?
Everyone he was closest too was gone. His mother, his sister, his grandfather... His first love.

It all hurt too much. He wasn't thinking about those who were there for him, he needed those who weren't.

Sighing softly, Zetsubou placed his now empty cup back onto the table, nodding his gratitude at his employer.

"Thanks for the lunch" He grinned, "I'll finish up that last field and be gone before you know it"

Ruffling around in his bag Chin pulled out a small bag, placing it on the table between them. "Here, I think you deserve it now, that way when your done, you can just leave instead of walking all the way back to the house."

Shaking his head bemusedly Zetsubou took the small purse of coins, "Sure I wont run off on you?" He grinned.

Laughing heartilly, Chin just shook his head, "It's only one field, so even if you do I'm sure I can get the village boys to finish up"

"Righteo" Zetsubou grinned, before standing and bowing humbly, "Thank you for your hospitality over the weeks, I hope you heal soon. Farewell."

Rising, Chin bowed just as deeply, "No thankyou, goodbye and safe travels young man."

Sadaharu loosely looped his arms around Yuki's shoulders, trying in vain to offer him some sort of comfort; he didn't know what else to do.

Yuki slowly stood, knocking Sadaharu's arm off without much thought. He looked to the sky, clear trains of tear stains could be seen running down his cheeks. he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, heading away from them all.

Sadaharu silently watched him go, wrapping his arms around himself. Taro stood up and dusted himself off. "I'll go see if Mori's around." He said, nodded at the demon and walked off towards Elizabeth's hut.

He walked inside andglanced around. "Has Mori been back today?" He asked, "Yuki's woken up."

Elizabeth looked up, her eyes wide. "Is he alright?" She asked softly. "Tell me he doesn't know about his family yet."

---

Yuki walked into the forest, bearly having the energy to lift his feet. His eyes were watching his feet and his hand remaine din his hair. He needed to think.

Think about what? About how his litle self ritious act had lead to his comatose state and in turn the death of his sister? Or about how everything was his fault. His, and what could be everyone elses.

Yuki broke into a run. the wind blew through his hair andd he could feel himself running from all the thoughts plaguing his mind. If he could keep running, no planned distination in mind then he could be free from everything.

He would run. Run and then stop. Stop and then sit. Sit and wonder where he was. Thats what he would do.

Running was better than breaking down.

"Sadaharu must have told him." He said wearily and sighed. "He ran. I just hope that he-" He shrugged his shoulders slightly and grimaced. "Mori's still at the tavern, isn't he? I should go and bring him back."

-----

Sadaharu ran after Yuki, leaving a fair distance between them so he wasn't noticed. He couldn't leave him alone, even if he was the last person Yuki wanted to see. He had to have someone close by.

Elizabeth gave a small smile. "I believe thaat would be a good Idea. Also, see where Shade got to would you?"

Taro nodded and was off. He found Shade talking to the village healer and wove him to Elizabeth's house before making for the tavern.

He paused outside the door for a moment and brushed his too long blonde hair out of his face before bringing up his smile and walking inside. The tavern was as usual a clamour of noise, villagers and travellers alike clustering around the bar. It took him a moment of looking to find Mori. He and Rin were sitting at a table by the far wall, instead of at the bar. Must be her break.

Mori grinned cheerfully and said something, to which Rin responded with a musical laugh. Mori's eyes were well and truly glued onto the woman, and he didn't notice Taro until he wass right beside him. "Yuki's awake. Thought you'd like to know." He said and smiled at them both. Mori blinked in disbelief for a moment before standing up and excusing himself.

Rin looked disapointed, but cheered up when Mori promised to meet with her tomorrow. Taro, in a sudden flash of irritability, didn't wait for them to finish their exchange, instead he just walked outside and headed back to the village.

-------------

Shade opened the door and stepped into the hut. "Elizabeth" He grinned and pulled her into a hug. "Something happen in the last couple of moments?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Yuki's awake." Elizabeth said. "Our young lord. He also ran off."

-----

Hours and hours and hours passed as Yuki ran and he could feel his lung giving out. He gripped a tree to his side and tried to breath as sweat covered his face and his breath came in pants.

He did feel a bit better.

Sitting on the edge of a forest, Zetsubou munched hapilly on the biscuits he had bought from a old woman and her son along the road.

Staring lazilly ahead of himself the demon yawned loudly before switching to his panther form to sleep, confortable was confortable and woods were much nicer when he had fur to keep the dirt and stick aways.

((sup))

Hotaru smiled at her children, the now 4 year old and 7 year old boy and girl. They were playing about outside.

She would have to buy her daughter, the 7 year old Sadaku a horse come her next birthday. The girl had taken a liking and knowing Sadaku, she would take her 4 year old brother Kenji out on the animal too.

A three year old Naoki ran outside to join them
His Father followed behind him at a more reasonable pace,
smiling at the boys enthusiasim

Naoki ran to Sadaku and jumped around her feet, trying to get the older girl to lift him into her arms.

Hotaru smiling lightly as she looked back down to her craft, creating a new shirt for the ever growing Kenji. She would start on a new Kimono for Sadaku next.

Kaoru sat beside Hotaru
" 'morning"

Hotaru smiled lightly and looked up at him, threading through her needle once more. "Good morning Koaru-dono."

Kaoru smiled at her and sat back in his chair enjoying the morning sun

Hotaru put her work down gently in her lap and smiled at the children. "Naoki fits right in, they care for him like he is their true brother."

Sadaku jumped back, her hand raised in the air as the two younger boys jumped about, trying to grab her hand. Sadaku laughed.