Back to ze past

Staring down at the girl situated below him, Zetsubou whined softly in the back of his throat.

"Hurt you. Sorry. So sorry. Kittens mad. Very mad." Whining more loudly now Zetsubou clutched his head in his hands.

"Zet's bad so very bad" The girl, Anei, stirred in her sleep and the whining. Waking up to see her brother in the tree she didn't move. Instead watched him silently for a second, judging how far gone he was today. Moving carefully from her sleeping possition she rose and moved to the nearby river.

Ever since they had awoken Zetsubou would follow her everywhere, yet he refused to come too close.

This was fine for the young Panther, since she didn't think she could handle having him too close.

Her own brother had killed her for gods sake.

A sharp yelp followed by a crash anounced the fact that Zetsubou had realise Anei had moved off without him.

Today was a bad day. Some days you could even call him sane, If not not depressed, but other days (like this one) he was just so far gone.

"Don't leave me" she heard her brother whimper as he scrambled after her. Occationally he would leave for a few hours where Anei assumed he went searching for food, since she hadn't actually seen him eat since they had arrived back in Japan.

It scared her how her brother was now, he scared her, but she always stayed put when he left so that he could always find her again.

He was getting better, and he was her brother. Whether or not she could bear to look at him.

Shade laughed in relief, his own voice little better. "Don't ever let me listen to your ideas again." he smiled through his parched lips.

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Taro moaned, one hand grasping at the sand as he awoke.

Elizabeth reached up and touched his hand with her own. She smiled softly.

---

Yuki sat by him, looking into the ocean.

"Are we there yet?" Taro asked weakly in half jest, eyes still closed.

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"I should try and find Yuki and the fool... See if they made it" He said, squeezing her hand.

Yuki gave a half smirk. "Yeah, we're there." He whispered.

---

Elizabeth licked her lips. "Yeah, we should." Though she made no action to move.

"I'll just go down the beach a bit," He stood up. "You'll be okay? I'll come back and get you if I find something."

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"That's good" Taro breathed. "I lost my biscuit" He added, mouth turned up in a smile momentarily. His eyes opened a fraction as a bolt of panic jolted his system. "The others?" He asked, voice wavering.

Elizabeth moved onto her elbows. "I'm fine. I'm going with you."

---

"I've been watching the waters." Yuki said. "No sign. I was waiting for you to wake before we moved."

Shade offered her his hand to help her up.

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"Ah. Move" He said and squeezed his eyes shut again. "In a second".

Elizabeth stood and stumbled into him.

---

Yuki just waited until he was ready.

"Yuki'd better know where we can sleep" he grumbled, steadying the both of them. Thhey started to trudge up the shore, Shade holding Elizabeth's arm over his shoulder to ensure she stayed upright.

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Taro took a breath and sat up, swaying slightly. His face paled and he moved to stand.

Elizabeth used her free hand to grab onto his chest, stedding herslef further.

---

Yuki moved forward and helped him stand.

Taro smiled his thanks but kept his mouth shut, wearily hanging onto Yuki.

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They were nearing a bend in the beach, the rest of the beach was around the small rocky outcrop. He doggedly moved on.

Yuki placed the fools arm over his shoulder. "Maybe you should rest awhile before we look."

Taro shook his head. "'I'm fine" he said quickly, clamping his mouth shut again.

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Once they rounded the corner, Shade's heart leapt. Yuki and the fool were making their way up the shore. they were alive. He pointed them out to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth smiled happily.

---

Yuki shook his head. "Don't be a fool."

"It's my job" He managed, cursing whatever part of him needed the last word.

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"Yuki! Fool!" Shade called out, rasing his free hand in a wave, hoping they could hear him.

"Not any more it aint." Yuki groaned out, he looked up when he heard his name. He smiled. "Looks like we found them."

Taro nodded, relieved.

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Shade increased their pace a little, making sure that Elizabeth could cope, keeping his arm tightly around her. A few more paces.

"Any other survivers?" Yuki asked once Shade had reached them.

"I saw a few bodies, but..." He shook his head. they had been beaten beyond recognition by the waves and parts on the ship, probably crashed against the rocks spotting the shore. It was a miracle they didn't get hit.

"You're both okay?" He asked after a pause, glaning over them both. Taro smiled, waving a hand at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth gave the fool a slight smile.
Yuki looked down to the boy he was surrporting. "I am, though this one here's a bit weak from being battered."
Elizabeths eyes widned. "Are you ok?"

Taro shot Yuki a reproachful glance. "Fine. nautious." He said and, seeing as they all seemed to be standing, decided to sit himself down.

"Do you know where we are?" Shade asked Yuki hopefully.

Elizabeth sat herself down to and reached out to the cut on the fools head. "Looks painful."

Yuki smirked. "On a beach of Japan. I used to live not so far from here..>"

He smiled and rose a hand to it. "It'll heal fine." he said, he sucked his cheeks in, nausea roiling through him again. Shade grimaced at the ffool, scowling suddenly when he realized he'd lost his bag of his herbs and poisons. "You know somewhere we can shelter then?" He asked.

Yuki gave a side smile. "I know of one place." Turning, he looked to the fool. "You right to walk? Or need some help?"