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Somewhat hurt by Runa's reaction, I stood up from the bench and said, "Sorry for bothering you with all this, I really don't know what is going on in my mind...and if you say that is want is happening then...it must of been something tragic." looking down at the ground for she was indeed hurt and the tears were about to fill her eyes, "Runa go find Chan and I'll meet with you guys back at the Inn, I just want some time alone and to search within myself of what is missing in my life." I said without even looking up at her.

"Takara you don't have time to be sad...we need to get going! We don't have time to be seperated again...", I said and turned around looking at her. I looked at her sadly desperation in my eyes. "If we take much more time, Parth may die and I still don't know about Kang...please....come with me", I said softly. We had been serperated so much lately....I just wanted to spend some more time with her before we got back....before she found out about Raven and became sad again...I wanted to see her smile and laugh with her like back at the lake at the shrine. I looked away, I realized I had no right to ask her to stay or come with me. I then nodded my head softly, "....If thats what you want....", I said and turned towards my horse.

After his dragon landed Chan jumped on it, Lets go to Parth lets make his last hours one with a friend. The dragon then flew into the sky toward the desert.

((posting in the desert))

I nodded but as we walked out onto the path, I saw Chan life up into the air on his dragon and take off. "Well it seems Chan has already left, we should too....Are you ready", I siad and mounted my horse and then waited fr her. I gasped and began looking around....it felt as if....as if Kang was nearby....but it couldn't be!? Could it!? He was injured....he could barely move when I left him. He was still back at the oasis, but what if. I looked to Takara and waited to see if she was ready to go, I would make sure he was not here before I left.

I helped her up onto ther horse and then went back to the inn, "I have to go get Chan's bird, its in the room still, I'll go up and get it....be right back", I said and ran into the hotel.

"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Poor, poor, Kang...You've come so far, and yet you have nothing to show for it...what do you have to say for yourself?" A voice echoed throughout the abandoned foundry.

Familiar in sound and tone, I breathed heavily in anguish. "Ji...an...Where is...Runa...? You promised...she'd be...alright...Where...is...she...!?"

Leaping from a smoldering smokestack, Jian jumped down to me, standing next to my head. His face was cold and stern. Unreadable even to me. "I saved her...she's going to be alright...I left her in the care of your other female friend..."

Exhaling deeply in a sign of relief, I slowly pried myself to a sitting position, reaching over into Jian's satchel and pulling out a cigarette. Lighting it, I took a deep breath and blew a cloud of smoke away from him. "Thank you...old friend..."

Hearing those words, he quickly grew furious. Though he said nothing, his eyes said it all. Then, with a quick strike, he took my spear and stabbed at me. "I...am no friend...You best remember it next time...for there will be no more favors..."

My spear stabbed between my legs, Jian silently began to head off; never looking back. Vanishing into the distance, I sat there, laughing...for it was all I could really do.

As soon as I finished laughing, I then fell back; my spear falling before my feet. "My goodness...Jian...you S.O.B...You'll...never change...will you...?"

Laying on the ground still, I suddenly heard a question arise. Slowly sitting back up once more, I saw someone who looked vaguely familiar, yet still was unsure of who he was.

Hearing his question, I withdrew the half-burnt away cigarette and exhaled a puff of smoke. "I...walked here...How else...do you think...I got here...?"