Welcome to Gaia! ::

::Motoko suddenly got a cold chill down her spine.::

"Kotoro-sama.. I know that we are supposed to trust Shiko, and I trust her with more than my life, but that doesn't mean that we don't worry.. Kotoro, Shiko might die! She's about to try and lose the last of her energy, I just know it! How are we supposed to stay away and not want to help her?"

::She was close to tears now. Her new friend was hurt, because she wasn't there to help her, and now her best friend was in serious trouble. She tried to hold it in though, not wanting to show weakness to Kotoro.::

::Kotoro growled angrily and looked away.::

"Kairo and Shiko have become enemies, he always treated her poorly. I know she will transform, but that means she may die..Who knows, her other side might want her to live."

::Shiko bit her thumb and rubbed the blood against the seal. The seal started to glow a bright green. Shiko looked at Tomasu then at Kairo sadly.::

"Kairo, I once thought that perhaps you may be my first friend..But you lied to me! I was going to forgive you, but since you attacked Chiiro..I can no longer."

::Shiko yelled out in pain as she slowly started to transform.::

::Kairo eyes widen. *thinks* This is the black dragon?! I may not be able to defeat her for once..* Kairo remembered all the time he mocked Shiko and threw her face in the dirt. What surprised him even more, is that this very Shiko; is the child from six years ago.::

::Kairo reacted as quickly as possible and sand started to form into a barrier, he then side-stepped and jumped into the air.::

"This fight is between me and Shiko! Get out of here!"

::Shiko was now fully transformed, she looked down at Kairo angrily and grabbed him with her tail. She then lifted him up to her face. Shiko roared out in pain as her wound started to bleed even more.::

::Kairo struggled to get out of Shiko's grasp, but failed. He noticed the wound and smiled. *thinks* You may be a dragon Shiko, but you are still weak compare to me.* Kairo quickly did a few hand seals. A large body of sand lifted into the air and striked at Shiko's wound.::

::Shiko fell down weakly, the wound increased in size. Shiko dropped Kairo.::

::Kairo smiled happily, and looked up at Shiko. She slowly started to transform back.::

"Shiko, I know about the wound on your back...I came to kill you, but I guess I can let this side..Don't forget, I am stronger than you."

::Kairo bowed at Tomasu then disappeared.::

::Shiko completely went back to her normal form, her clothes was torn and covered with blood. Shiko looked at Tomasu and smiled slightly.::

"(gasp) You idiot...Go away...."

::Shiko closed her eyes, the pool of blood around Shiko darkened as more came.::

::Chiiro looked up and nearly flew, but fell down weakly.::

"(dragon tongue) S-S-Shiko San!! She is wounded!! Shiko, please don't die on me!!"

::Kotoro closed his eyes, and looked away. Please Shiko san, do not leave Chiiro alone!*::

((o.O? wasn't Chiiro with Kotoro?))

neh...Motoko-chan...the Mizu no Hebi is coming back towards us... either something's gone wrong, or Shiko's opponent is dead...I really hope it's the 2nd one...but i can't help but get this eerie feeling that something's happened...

::Shiko started to cough out blood.::

"(gasp) S...Sorry for being so weak Tomasu kun."

::Chiiro noticed the Mizu no Hebi and started to growl.::

"(dragon tongue) If he is coming here, that must mean Shiko is not well.."

::Kotoro looked up and growled angrily.::

"(dragon tongue) I suppose you are right, then it must be you he wants Chiiro."

::Kotoro landed in a valley surrounded by mountains. He looked at Motoko and Shunketsu.::

"This is very far away from the Town, it will take you a long time to get there...Normally, I would have stayed closer; but I dont take my chances. You may use my wings as a place to sleep for now, it will keep you warm."

::Before Kotoro landed Chiiro jumped up and flew over to meet the Mizu no Hebi.::

"(dragon tongue) What happened to Shiko?!"

::Motoko's eyes started to tear up in anger.::

"Kotoro! She's badly hurt, and you know it!"

::She had a special connection with Shiko that she could never really explain, and somehow, she just knew. She punched the ground in anger.::

"We have to go back. Kotoro-sama, we have to go back! Kaida needs help, and so does Shiko, and we can't help either of them if we're here!"

::Kotoro closed his eyes and looked away.::

"I know what exactly happened to Shiko, Chiiro explained to me. Shiko protected Chiiro using her own life. She ran in front of the attack and got striked through the torso. That wound is even worse than the one on her back, and the other wound almost killed Shiko. Shiko has many enemies, they follow in her wake. Kaida will be fine, as long as you watch her..Motoko, dont you have healing powers? And as for Shiko, its her fate in being a Shinuki."

::Shiko smiled slightly at Tomasu. She tried to stay awake, but her strength drained out rapidly.::

"Why don't you guys leave me alone? You know this will never change!"

::Shiko looked away she had no idea why they continue to protect her.::

"Eventually, one of my enemies will kill me for good..So, just let it happen.."

::Shiko fainted, the wound continue to increase in size.::

Tomasu watched Shiko fall asleep before washing her wound and wrapping it more thouroughly and whispering to her quietly, "Because we are are your friends, I know none of us are ever going to let you die...especially me"