Back to ze past

(( *smiles and waves at mandeh*, I knew that would happen, I don't has your number, wanna come over on sat? ))

((lol sure thing! i'll run it past my dad and i'll e-mailk you my new number ))

(( KAY! ))

Scowling at her father Anei muttered angrilly under her breath, "Mentaro would you just stay put!"

"Well la di dah!" Sekkou snapped, "that's just great for you isn't it!"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean!?" Neither noticed the bright flash of light that signaled Kietsu transformation.

"It means that I've spent six fucking years looking for you thinking that some nasty demons made off with you and you simply can't remember!?"

This caused Saiyu to snap his mouth shut and just stare at his brother. He had no idea what he should say to that.

Huffing angrilly Sekkou glared angrilly at his bewildered brother, "You know what? Fuck this! Go be happy with your knew life, I don't need this shit!"

And with that he turned on his heel and marched right out of the clearing, causing Takai to sigh irritably and follow, closely in his heels, leaving the rest of the clearing in shocked silence.

Shade held his daughter securely, rage making his face darken as he gently held the sickly hirl closer to his chest. Evelyn's pale cheeks, pained breaths, it crushed him completely. This family was his life, and nothing could take them from him, he wasn't going to lose the perfect child in his arms. When he finally managed to make himself set her down, he did the best he could to not disturb her; she needed the rest.

Nothing was working, she just kept getting worse and he couldn't think of an illness that could so easily...

Illness.

That was it, that had to be it, half of the village was down but there were quite a few that had no problems at all. The elder that only ever drank tea, the few families that lived out by the stream...

It had flaws, but it was something to go by and - he glanced at Evelyn - anything was worth a try. He called for Elizabeth and moved to the small table in the room, tearing through his satchet of herbs.

Elizabeth looked into the room. "I'll be right back." She whispered before rushing into Evelyns room. "What happened? Is she ok?!"

"She's getting a lot worse." He said and turned to his wife. "But I don't think she's sick. I have tried remedies for every sickness I know, and none have worked. Even that priestess from another village isn't sure what it is. It just can't be that they're sick. I think that they've been poisoned." Shade said quickly. "I can't figure out why some people are and others arent, but I really think this might be it. It's a poison."

"Then we have a way to fix it don't we? An antidote?" Elizabeth said. "It could take some time and it would be alot easier if we had a sample of the poison itself but at least its something right?"

"It's definetely something." Shade said, reaching out to squeeze Elizabeth's hand. "I should be able to start trying out a few antidotes, there are some poisons that can be lethal if combined to certain ingredients, so it won't be easy." He brushed a hand over his daughter's cheek. "But it can be done."

---

Taro sat at the table in the main room, head bowed over his hands. He hated that little Evelyn was sick. The girl normally so full of life was terrifyingly quiet and weak, and it was so very wrong.

"You brilliant, brilliant man!" Elizabeth exclaimed, holding onto Shades face as she kissed him. "What would we do without you?"

"I haven't done it yet!" He chuckled, relieved now that there was a chance. "But you'd not last a second." He joked and traced a finger down her cheek. "Though without you I'd still be forced to live on my own cooking." he smiled.

"And we all know what a horrible life that would be." She rolled her eyes and stood up. "Need me to get you anything?"

"Hmm? No. I've got it all here." He said and guestured to the table - once neat - which now held all of his medical inventory. "I'll try and knock something up, shall I?"

"This is why I love you." Elizabeth kised his cheek. "Thank you, for findingout what was wrong."

"It's what I do." Shade mused, touching a lock of her hair and then turning to the table, returning to sorting through the herbs, muttering as he went and glancing at Evelyn. Now to figure out what would work and what would kill her. Hopefully without the latter appearing.

Elizabeth left the room.

"Evelyn sweetie, come on, wake up." Shade murmured a while later, brushing her hair out of her face and frowning at her temperature. "I got you a drink, this one should tast nice." He prompted, sitting her up ever so slightly.

"Daddy? I don't feel good..." Evelyn muttered.

"It's alright, you'll be fine. Here, drink this, should make you feel a little better. Alright?" He put an arm around her to help her sit up so she wouldn't choke on it, and held the mug to her lips.

Evelyn swallowed slowly, holding onto the cup softly.

When she'd had about half of it, Shade pulled it back, watching her carefully. "Is it okay? It's not making you feel worse?" He asked quietly, setting down the cup.

Evelyn shook her head. "Just sleepy."

"Good. Tell me if you start to feel bad, okay?" He passed the cup back, lines of worry starting to ease out of his face.

Evelyn nodded and lay back down into the covers of the bed.

Shade tucked her securely in and then sighed. Wouldn't be able to do anything until he figured out how this one worked, and that could take a while. He gave his daughter a kiss on the forehead and stepped from the room.