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Tao gave Hamani a strong look, somthing was on her mind. He paid no attention to it at the time however, a quick concentration of ki and his katar blades were back in their sheath strapped to his forearms. He looked to where she pointed and walked off in that direction, his suit drenched and his hair spattered in red, liked little red rain-drops in a field of snow.

"Good, lets go, I have a feeling the others aren't getting on so well."

She watched as Yul went to help Shinobu.

More attention for her then. Oh well.

"Sorry for such a graceless show out there, Haru-nii. I guess I'm just a little irritable that Izumo took all the credit for saving Shinobu-onee-sama. I guess it's a bit about wanting to actually be something other than a troublesome sister in her eyes."

She simple waited for Yul to come back, hoping he could take care of the older thief.

[Yus, it's all Shin-chan's fault.]

((I know, but Aoki wants to impress her sister, and giving her a new boyfriend isn't going to help her chances much... Though it makes Shinobu happy. XD ))

Still moving up the stairs, Izumo's head and shoulders over he own, she was deeply brewing in thought, unhappy and not to say humiliated by her own sister's behaviour. And expecially the fact that she'd mis-used their mind-link. But her sister was a child, perhaps not mentall,y but in the flesh, she was still young and couldn't held entirely responsible for acting childish. Those who are are the way they are because of how others treat tehm, and almsot everyone treated Aoki as a lesser, as a child. What could be expected.

Then, Shinobu sensed somebody was speaking, so she quickly snapped out of this and turned her head slightly, still moving up the staircase, but she could see Taketo down at the bottom.

"I'm alright. Much better actually..."

She could remember earlier that day, Was it that day?, when shed gone so far as to physically attacks and threaten Nia and Taketo. Looking back, Shinobu hadn't a clue why she'd done it, but, at the time, there seemed to be no way to control her anger. The dool had become crucial, and she was willing to use force.

There is nothing mroe frightening than one's own capability.

[What? New boyfriend?? Since when does Aoki have a boyfriend. Other than Suki... heheh. Puppy-lovers.]

((No you Fishy retard. I was talking about Izumo and Shinobu. Like, seriously. Gawd... *Sarcasm* GOD DEBBIE!))

[Oh.]

(( Well, I can guarantee I'll still be unconcsious at the end of this post, but just to ensure I actually do something, prepare to be kicked / hit everyone carrying me. Sorry in advance. ))

Everything was pitch, but he could feel the rhythmic movements hauling him away. Each step, bobbing up, then down. Where was he, he wondered. More importantly, where was he going?

His eyes fluttered. It was dark, but wherever they were, or were headed, there was a faint glint of torchlight. His arms and legs, he could feel, were not bound, but hung from linen straps at either end of the oaken pole he could see above himself. Had he been injured? And for that matter, who were these people.

Slowly, his vision began to come into focus. The man he could see, hoisting the pole at his feet, seemed to be in his mid-life, not old, but not young. He face was grizzled, and stubble on his unshaven face seemed to be salt-and-pepper coloured, indicative of his age. His stern face and cold gaze seemed to elude Izumo, he looked only forward, never once checking the person whom he was carrying. There was no indication, as far as Izumo could tell, or whether or not this man was friend or foe. He wasn't too concerned, either, he'd no recollection of what had happened recently, and he felt tired and weak. He simply tried to put his mind to rest, and drift into sleep.

Those carrying him stopped abruptly. The person at his head, by the sounds of the voice, was female. There was no indication of this, however, besides her distinctly feminine voice, which also seemed somewhat aged. He couldn't make out what had been said, but then another voice, from a distance, rang out quite clearly.

"I assume this is the last one, Jericho?" The words seemed to roll off his tongue in a devious way. Izumo began to become nervous.

"Yes, Master Azumhan," the man, whom Izumo could see, was now speaking. "We found him out in the streets, rooting through some trash, probably looking for something to eat. Looks a little scraggly. Besides, he'll probably last just as long out there as he will as one of your test subjects."

Out where? Test subjects? The situation was become dire. His life was in danger, and it was obvious.

"Good, good, Jericho. Put him with the rest of the clean captives, not near any of the other... experiments. And make sure all the gates and locks are sealed and closed, I'd rather this set of supplies not get contaminated." He spoke matter-of-factly. "We lost nearly 40 the last time you slipped up," he hissed, "I'd rather not have you out roaming for more. We'll start to draw suspicion."

"Yes, my Master, it will be done." The man, named Jericho, nodded his had down and closed his eyes; a reverant bow. It was a big mistake, then, that he'd not bound Izumo's feet when he'd had the chance. This was no place where he wanted to be.

Slowly, he pulled his right leg back, and began to slide an arm free. When he was certain it was safe to do so, he drove his foot into the man's shoulder, knocking him back. Of course, one end of the hoist was now falling. The end his head was at, too, suddenly dropped; the woman had likely not expected such a sudden burden of weight. He tried to free his hands, to brace his fall, before he landed, but was unsuccessful. He felt his right hand rake across the woman's back, trying to grab something, as he fell. His skull cracked loudly when it hit the cold, hard floor beneath him; he'd timed it all wrong.

Everything was once more swirling darkness.

((Please note this is somewhat a "Flashback" to Izumo's past, though what happens next, you may not see. However, since he was in a state of semi-conciousness, the actions taken in this dream-like state are actually carried out. Sorry, Yul, you got kicked. And Shinobu likely had he hair, or shirt, tugged at. Then, of course, he actually hits his head again, tossing him back into unconcsiousness, like I promised. Just making sure you know what's happenin'. ))

Shinobu could feel the suhddering breaths of Izumo, and began to worry slightly. All of this was unsettling, and she was beginning to wish that... maybe things could've gone differently. She didn't want to see what she had seen. Both Izumo and Haru lying there, in pain, in , defeated, unconcious, like ragdolls in that horrendous pile of bodies, she just couldn't take it. It was like a nightmare, perhaps even worse than those she'd been treated to by Hamani, she'd never know now.

She took in a deep sigh as both her and Yul finally reached the top of the staircase.

Shinobu turned her head around, her stength gaining with her courage, she felt it was important to burden people as little as possible from now on.

"Please, Yul, I am grateful for your gracious help, but I think that could ought to hurry on and go to help Aoki with Haru."

Yul c*cked his head, interested at Shinobu's sudden feeling for independance in her task, but he could understand. Yet again, people had their problems and wishes, and he could only respect that. Besides, he had offered Aoki help first, he shouldn't push it.

"Yes, alright. Here, I'm going to lower the rest of him unto you." He said, doing as he'd stated.

Shinobu dragged downwards a bit with the added weight, but she did not waver and nodded politely to Yul as he left the hallway, down the stairs presumably to where Aoki was taking care of Haru.

At twinge of jealously ran through her mind, but was quickly shoved away as she made it to Izumo's room.

Shinobu laid him slowly down on the same bed he had done for her not many nights past, and took in a few gasps, catching her breath and she sat there, on her knees, looking at him. He was sleeping, which was god, he'd need the rest after... whatever had happened to him, but it obviously wasn't the most peaceful sleep. She dared not to wonder what he was dreaming of, as the beads of sweat rolling down Izumo's forhead were enough to know that it wasn't pleasant.

"I'm so sorry..." she whispered, rocking slightly back and forth. "This all started with me, everything. I saved Melora... and I wasn't thinking. I mean... our immortality, it's a curse isn't it? We only burden others with this curse, the bearer... and each other, we're just more problems for everyone to deal with. To top it off, everytime Melora comes after me... the lot of you come to help me, to stand in her way. And have to suffer more because of it."

Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"You all disconvenience yourselves to help me, and the only way I repay it is to become more of a burden. I pulled Melora into something she didn't want, got my sister angry at me, and even physically attacked melora for that wretched doll! I'm not worthy to be immortal!"

Shinobu choked a few breaths.

"And... I just wanted to help people... but I'm... too weak..." She whimpered in a voice squeaking with her tears.

His body writhed and drew deep breaths constantly. In his mind's eye, Izumo saw nothing but what had been done earlier. The slaughter. The blood. The death. All of it... by his hands. What had happened; how had he been driven into such an uncontrollable, irrational frenzy? Never before, had he experienced the utter animosity he had felt, and been controlled by, then.

He could see himself, maddened, psychotic, attacking everything in sight. It made him long for days gone by, when he'd never relied on such brutality, when stealth was his most potent weapon. Looking at his actions, was like looking into his soul; immortality truly was a curse. Not only had he seen days go by, and never aged, but it had corrupted the very depths of his soul. He thought he had changed, he swore to himself... and now this. Truly, he hadn't changed at all. Beneath it all, his spirit was still corrupted, violent... completely altered.

This revelation seemed to shake him to the base of his foundation. He was no more than any common murderer or thug. Who was he?

Everything, once again, seemed to overwhelm him. The overwhelming mental load... he couldn't take it. What, who, would he hurt next, before he would return to normal... before he would find himself.

Eyelids twitching, Izumo slowly began to regain concsciousness. Without warning, his eyes opened and he rose to a seated position, gasping for air, in a cold sweat.