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" I dont know what he told you Shinja, the young child you saw that resembled Maki was a body born from the dark energy of the orb. It wants revenge on us and me es[ecially for ridding Maki's body of its dark blood. As the monks at the phoenix temple were curing her dark vines came out of her body and began to stab her. Her soul was sent to the life stream and as we were bringing her back one part of her soul was take by the orb and was put inside that body of darkness. The real Maki's body remains alive because of her soul, she has two souls living in the same body the other being that of your lost wife. When Andreas took her away out of the castle grounds the body began to weaken and fall apart, true I did use holy energy on her but that was to weaken her so I could transport her easily. She will be fine Shinja we just have to remain strong for her"

Zetsuei said as he jumped from roof top to roof top as he saw the temple in the distance which was slowly becoming larger.

"My...wife?"

A look of confusion spread across his face as Shinja sped up for a second and stopped in front of Zetsuei. "My wife's soul is within Maki?" The anger in Shinja's tone had obviously risen. "You will explain this to me before we advance any further, Zetsuei."

Shinja could feel his blood boiling with the darkness of the Orb, but he did nothing to stop it.

Aisis...i'd almost...i'd almost forgotten...

Though Zetsuei had continued on, Shinja could do nothing but stand in the same place, his head slightly bowed as he stared downward. My love...what has become of me? He lifted his hand, his gaze focused on it. When Shinja blinked, however, his eyes opened only to see the decaying claw of Darktail replacing his hands. This...this is not who I am...

Who...am I?

Fira soared over Shinja and raised an eye brow looking down at him as he only stood there. The phoenix didn't know what was going on between him and Zetsuei, but right now wasn't the time to worry as she swooped down in between the building. Lining up a her landing she touched down right in front of the temple doors.

Looking up at the door that loomed over them, Fira gazed at if for a few moments before she looked down at Zetsuei. "I guess so," The phoenix replied as she headed through the doors of the temple.

This has to end...

Shinja suddenly began to move in the direction of the temple, using his entire will to restrain the Orb's power. As he ran, the ghastly head of the decayed Darktail followed him, speaking to him over his shoulder. Although it yelled as loud as possible, taunting Shinja and telling him to use the Orb's power, Shinja heard nothing.

"Zetsuei, Fira...forgive me for my actions."

Shinja arrived in the temple, standing behind his two friends with his head down. "I...haven't been myself recently." After a few moments, Shinja lifted his head and drew the Kusanagi sword from the sheath on his back.

"Let's go."

As soon as the pod sensed Shinja within reach, vines shot out and weaved between Zetsuei and Fira and wrapped around Shinja's arms and legs to hold him still. Once he was unable to move another set of vines sprung forth and dug its tips deep into his veins and began sucking the dark blood through the veins to repair the child's body. It happened so fast no one knew the pod still had some life left in it. As it began drinking Shinja's dark blood the child's body began rebuilding, Maki's soul encased within. The pod sprang back to life and began glowing a deeper green as a strange pink flower blossomed on top. The darkness within began reacting to the power of the orb within Shinja.

'Master will be pleased ... your new body is already searching for you.' the strange vines whispered to the orb as it continued to absorb the dark blood from Shinja's veins. When it had enough to repair the child the flower opened and the young child laid in the center crying. Soon a dark green vine with a black tip poised above her like a scorpion's tail ready to inject a memory wipe serum seeping from the tip. 'This one has too much spirit and fights to keep her ancient memories. Memories of this life and the memories of an ancient queen. But as your body wished it we continued to try, what does the master wish?'