Slowly Kitaru moved, wrapping an arm around one of Raven's legs as he leaned against the avian. He pressed the side of his face against the other's thigh. "I don't care about her. I only care about the Maboroshi and she is the key to it." He said the words so very defensively. His tail still twitched, though the motion seemed to have calmed some when Raven leaned down to caress it. He was frowning deeply. His chest ached and he was confused, he wasn't sure what he was feeling, but being so close to Raven seemed to help.

Slowly the trembling of his body had stopped, and he seemed to relax against the other. "I don't care about her at all." He repeated the words, more firmly, less defensively this time. Kitaru let out a long, low sigh. It wasn't true, he did care about her, though he didn't really want to admit it. He didn't want to admit to very many things. Kitaru also cared about Raven, though they'd known each other only a short amount of time, Kitaru felt closer to the other to. Probably because of their deep conversation, and he had shared his bed with the avian.

"She is coming back, isn't she?" Perhaps that was the whole root of the current problem. Not that Chi might be hurting her, but that she might be willingly abandoning him, them. "She's supposed to be a kind human, but kind humans don't abandon people." He had growled the words out, growing angry again at the very thought.

"If you say so" he said slightly playfully to the other saying he cared nothing for the female. When he asked him if she would be coming back however, he looked down to the man holding onto his legs. "She will return, just because people go away for awhile does not mean they are abandoning anyone...if it is ment to be and in their hearts...they will return.. She would not leave you or her friends. You made a plan to go together yes? Then she will come back" he said, slowly pulling his legs away for a moment. He sat down by the other, looking at him for a moment. "It will be alright.." he smiled, he believed this was true. The boy would not harm the woman, the two would return fine and together. He looked up at the sky, before laying back on the ground.

"Mmm....I do wonder though, what lies in store for this little group" he mused, perhaps getting the other's mind off of this would help calm him down enough until they returned. Perhaps this would help him see not all was as bad as he thought. In time they would see, though the first lesson would be patience and sitting still. He moved one arm behind his head, while the other continued to tease and play with the other's tail. "You seem to care for yourself well though dispite being so prone to violence" he smiles, "your ears and tail are quite shining and soft in coat...you should take care of your healt...we would not want something like this being the thing to do you in after all your hard work." He was making light conversation and a bit of playful banter. The other needed to relax, to enjoy the moment of peace and to simply have fun..though he doubted it would happen, it was worth an effort.

Kitaru was silent as Raven spoke. Words that were meant to reassure him, and truthfully it didn't make sense for her to just up and leave them after making plans to travel together. Though were they her friends? Of course Suzume saw the others as friends, which would only make it easier for them to get close to her and harm her. He sighed softly, almost protesting when Raven moved his legs away, though moments later the avian was sitting down next to him. It would be alright. Kitaru took comfort in those words.

"Battles, and hard won shards...and in the end, the Maboroshi. That's what lies in store for us." Kitaru wasn't sure that was entirely what Raven had meant by such words, but that was what Kitaru saw when he thought of what awaited them further off from this castle. Raven continued to play with his tail, and that seemed to help keep Kitaru calm, though when Raven complimented how soft and shiny the fur of his ears and tail were his whole body became still. Uncertain, at the feeling such compliments sent through his body.

It made him shiver slightly, made him want to almost blush. He felt vulnerable again. After a few moments, he moved, his body twisting slightly so he could half lean over Raven. One arm extending to keep him propped up in such a position, that hand resting on the ground on the other side of Raven's torso. Kitaru's ears twitched. "I have no heart." It was the worst lie he had ever told, he felt it, beating and fluttering in his chest. Right now it fluttered wildly, spurred on by Raven's compliment.

He leaned in close, his face not far from Raven's. His tail twitched lightly against Raven's hand. It seemed the avian was doing a fine job of distracting Kitaru. "Do you really like my ears and tail?" The question seemed so innocent, the way he asked. No one had ever really complimented such things before, his human masters had enjoyed pulling on those furry appendages to cause pain. No one had ever admired those assets of his before.

Raven kept his eyes on the others with each move. He reached up with his other hand, to place his hand upon the other's chest and heart. "You need a heart to be alive, to feel all that you do also proves you have one dispite this little lie of yours" he smiled. When the other asked if he did like his ears and tail he nods.

"They are cute...but a part of you as well...I like all of you, even this dark side you cling to so well...there is a fierce hunter within you,,,but it also makes you who you are" he lightly shifted his eyes to the other's tail. "Every hair...every cell within your body is special..it is you and that is precious..life..." he smiles.

"They suit you well" his eyes moved back to his. They then closed a bit, "I am a tad surprised you would be so bold as to...be so close with others in our presence. Wasn't it you who decided to keep confrentation to a minnimum?" he opened one eye with a slight smirk. He leaned up before he could stop him or the others could see, placing a light kiss on his ear.

"Forgive me about earlier...I did not mean to frighten you or to anger you...But I do not apologize for what I did" he says, his eyes on his. He would not apologize directly for the kiss. He had liked it and it had been ment as a sign of good faith and of perhaps something more. If the other followed his heart to the female he would support them both.

He was not the type to be angry nor to hold a grudge, following ones heart was a good thing. "I wish you happiness you know....whatever you do and decide in the end...with the crystal and more. I want you to be happy and at peace" he gently stroked his cheek, before letting his hands lower so the other would not have to worry about being seen.

Kitaru didn't move as Raven put that hand on his chest, over his heart. It fluttered almost frantically, fluttering with excitement and other emotions. Some of which Kitaru couldn't begin to name. Once again, Kitaru's entire body stopped, for a few moments at least when Raven said he liked all of Kitaru. Even the darkness he held to. His tail had just begun to twitch again when the word 'precious' left Raven's lips, and once more Kitaru just stopped for a few moments as he processed such a word being used for him.

Finally he shook his head, inhaling deeply. It was nice, having nice things said about him, to him. Though he didn't really know how to respond to such things. When Raven mentioned the others, Kitaru blinked and looked around for a moment, looking towards where the others were in the courtyard. He huffed lightly. "They aren't important. I shouldn't care what they think at all, if they think I'm weak, then fine. They'll be all the more surprised to find I'm not, if they try something." There he was again, being suspicious of everyone.

The ear Raven kissed had twitched slightly, and Kitaru very nearly smiled. It had tickled a little bit, and sent a nice shiver down his spine. Again, Kitaru became completely still, that tail no longer twitching, as Raven mentioned earlier. It had slipped his mind, though it probably shouldn't have. What had it meant? Raven was still speaking, talking of happiness.

Happy and at peace.

For some reason, those words made him feel so very sad and he wasn't even sure why. When Raven began to lower his hand, Kitaru caught it with his own, bringing it back to his face so he could lean his cheek against Raven's palm. His eyes slipping closed for a few moments. The others be damned. Kitaru could cuddle up to whoever he wanted, it was none of their business. Even if it made the others see him as weak.

He didn't really want the others to see how vulnerable he had become, but if they did, they would underestimate him. Maybe. It could work to his advantage. He pushed those kinds of thoughts away, focusing on the avian. Kitaru's heart seemed to freeze in his chest, froze with fear, anticipating his next action. The tiger leaned towards Raven, and touched his lips to the other's. He tried to be gentle, though he pulled away almost immediately.

Turning his head and not meeting Raven's eyes. His lips pressed together in a tight line. His heart beating wildly, and a shiver had slipped it's way down his spine when their lips touched. Still, Kitaru didn't know what he was doing. He knew why he had done it. To get a reaction, maybe an answer and to grasp that feeling. It was a nice feeling, the way it felt to touch his lips to Raven's lips.

He chuckled lightly when the other said that he did not care if the others saw. That it was none of their buisiness and that he would do as he pleased. "Now your getting it" he said slightly playfully. "Showing such emotions...being you with who you desire does not make you weak...it should not matter weather others like it or not...what matters is how you feel, unless you believe how someone feels is important...then you compromise."

He took a breath, his hand on the other's cheek. It was when he leaned down to kiss him ever so lightly, that he paused. He had not been expecting it at all, not from him at least. He smiled warmly, an arm wrapping around his waist for a moment, as the other turned his face back. "You are a stron and good man....a little rough around the edges as to be expected...but if you are willing to learn and grow such as now...you will surpass many and become quite a man to be proud of" he placed another kiss on his lips, before laying back once more

. A breeze moved through the area and he closed his eyes. He smiled, slowly begining to whistle an old song he remembered from his people. His whistle was more bird like, due to the DNA within him. Soft but crisp, holding the melody of the song slightly similar to how a flute might. His mind drifted through a few memories, as his hand moved back under his head. His other went back to playing with the other's tail. Peace....happines...he wanted this for all, no matter race or history.

Evil and good...there was no clear cut black and white. Not everyone could be saved, though the other close to him could he hoped. If for her then that was alright...if for someone else...that was alright as well. A light smile on his lips as he whistled, a few birds upon the trees adding their voices to the mixture. The entire earth was alive around him, he could feel it. Their songs and their voices, reaching his ears as clear as day. If only he could share this feeling with the other as he had with his flying, though he did not think he was ready to open his mind like that just quite yet. He continues the song, light and cheerful, lifting the mood of the courtyard and the area.

She'd stopped walking when Chi started talking about his mother. It made her angry, and as she pictured him there crying and all alone, and probably wondering why his mother didn't love him or something, Suzume's eyes started to water. Her heart ached for Chi. She frowned and sniffled and tugged Chi off of the path and into the grass and into the trees to find a shaded place to sit.

A moment later they came to the edge of a cliff. It didn't lead to the bottom of the mountain, just more jagged parts of the mountain. The view here was nice. It wasn't too bright since the sun was rising behind them and to their left was another mountain. To their right was valley.

Suzume sat down at the edge, pulling Chi down with her. She released his hand to pull her pack off and set it beside her before digging into it to find a canteen of water. She knew crying could be dehydrating, and she offered it to Chi. She hadn't said anything, not wanting to interrupt his story to be emotional, which is what his story was making her.

Those ears twitched. "Of course I'm strong. I have to be. Being weak gets you killed." He had that sour look on his face again, but it was only there for a few moments. There was nothing good about him though, nothing at all. Kitaru was almost pouting, when Raven's lips touched his own again. A soft purr left the tiger's body for a moment, then Raven was laying back again and Kitaru was once again pouting. He definitely, definitely liked kissing Raven. Already he was certain kissing someone else, even Suzume wouldn't be near half as sweet or feel near half as exhilarating and confusing as kissing Raven.

That pout left his face quickly enough though, as Raven began to whistle, his head tilted to the side slightly and he watched the other's face until other birds joined in. Then he looked up and around them, ears twitching as if to pinpoint the location of the other sounds. It was a nice melody, one he was sure he couldn't reproduce, but that was fine. It was Raven's song anyway and it was beautiful, though Kitaru probably wouldn't admit that aloud to anyone.

Kitaru moved, changing position so that he could lay back beside Raven. For now it seemed as if Kitaru had forgotten about Suzume and Chi leaving, he hadn't. It was still on his mind, but Raven had reassured him, and if he got up to go after them he would miss this lovely song. It surprised him to realize that though he wanted to protect Suzume, he also wanted to stay at Raven's side, and protect the avian as well. His tail twitched gently, almost as if trying to keep time to Raven's song, and he let his eyes close.

Was this what the other had mean by peace? This was very nice, and Kitaru was feeling so very calm now. Though for him being calm was an odd feeling, and it probably always would be.

Chi looked at the water, slowly taking it and staring within its depths. She had pulled him aside to a place off the path. They sat and for a moment he wondered what they were doing her. It was probrably a foolish though, though he could not help but wonder where it was they had even ment to be going in the first place. He looked back at her a moment, she looked sad because of what he had said. He sits the water against her, before pulling his knees up to his chest and staring out over the cliff before them. He fell silent, not wanting to upset her anymore. The story would only get worse, if that made her upset, the rest wouldn't be good at all. He burried his face within his arms, letting silence fall between them once more. He felt odd not having Hex talking within the back of his mind, part of him felt a bit lonely. He closed himself up a bit tighter, closing his eyes from within his arms. Why was life so horrible.

When Chi set the water down and closed himself off, Suzume watched him for a moment. She didn't know what to say. He didn't finish his story. Was it so bad that he didn't want to talk about it anymore? Suzume put an arm around Chi and rested her head against his. She sat there for a long time, just holding him.

She wasn't sure what else to do. When words failed, actions that showed someone you were there for them and that you cared about them she assumed were best. Suzume wouldn't really know. She'd never had a mother, and her father wasn't overly loving, though he was a good and respectable man.

But things like this came natural to Suzume. She cared for all, loved all. She wanted to hold and comfort Chi. She hoped it was working. She stared off into the distance for a while before she frowned. She sat up and looked to the left, then the right, then behind her. She didn't see anything. But she heard something.

"Chi?" she said quietly. "Do you hear that?" It was the sound of something jingling. The sound was so faint. She wondered if the sound had been there all along. She stood up and moved away from the cliff back towards the path, slowly, not leaving Chi behind, especially since she hadn't grabbed her pack.

Finally, she pinpointed the source of the jingling. There in the tree above her, was a woman. She appeared to be sleeping and she was wearing an anklet on the leg that dangled over the tree branch, kicking lightly. "Hello?" Suzume called.

Hikari's ear twitched slightly as the male sat down next to her once more. He apologized, and she nodded. "Not your fault." She answered quietly. She closed her hand so that the scar wasn't showing anymore. "So..." She sighed, bit her lip, and decided to just go for it. "How come you never smile, like, for real? And why is it I always sense a fox demon presence when you're around?" She asked, clearly having trouble even saying the words. She turned red, and covered her mouth. "S-sorry! You don't have to...I didn't mean...sorry!"

Raven continued to whistle the song, his body relaxed against the earth under him. He was glad to see the other was relaxing more now, not as tense as he was before. He still had much to learn, though that was alright. He smiled, the birds singing along. The fish within the pond swimming around happily as well, things were peaceful and calm for the moment. He could hear the other two speaking, though he said nothing. So, the fox girl suspected the other of having a demon within him?

Seems this was getting more interesting. He kept an ear on them, though he was not to worried about any of this really. Right now there was no need for that, they could wait until they were on the rhoad or when times demanded it. He opened an eye, glancing over at the tiger, as another smile formed on his lips. He looked up towards the sky then, it was a nice and quite a beautiful day. So far it looked like it would not be raining, though here in the mountains, that could change. He sighed a bit, though it did not seem to affect his song, as he focused once more on it.


Chi lifted his head, looking at her as she asked him if he had heard that. He listened, the scent of another's blood was here. He hadn't noticed it before due to being so upset, though now that he had, he glanced up at her. He swallowed a bit, Hex would have yelled and smacked him for not noticing sooner, though the other was silent. What if he got in a fight? What if the other did not show up, leaving Chi all on his own. He couldn't handle that, being alone and fighting.

He could do it, though he didn't want to. He closed his eyes, his hands clenching at his head. "Go away!" he said to the jinggling sleeping woman. He didn't care if it was rude right now, his mind felt like it was going to expload with so many things he did not want to take on right now. Why could they not all go away and things go back to how they were. Why. Why. Why. He hated these questions, having few answers for them as well he sighed, hiding his head in his arms once more, as his legs pulled tighter against his chest.


Haru felt the slightest tense within his body, as the other spoke. He did not show it on the outside however, so it wasn't possible to see. He sighed a bit, from the whistling the others had not really given any hint that they had noticed though that could mean nothing at all. He looked up at the female for a moment, his ink black eyes on her. He needed to choose his words carefully. He closed his eyes after a moment. "It is fine. I smile as I do because of things others do not need to know of for now. As for the fox, this is a part of me and my past that should not be divulged at the moment either" it was not much, if anything at all, though it would have to do for now.

He opened his eyes, standing slowly from the earth once more. He looked in the direction of the gates, seeing through Hebi as he lifted his head to the odd person within the tree. So, they were not alone out there. He would have to see if they were dangerous or not before he made a move to tell the others. If he did and the tiger went rushing off, it would only confirm his fears of something possibly going wrong if she was out of his sight. On top of it, if he did that and the female was harmless, it would cause more trouble. For now he would be silent, the other had made no harmful move to them so it was alright.

Suzume was staring up into the tree when she heard Chi tell the woman to go away. Suzume looked at Chi, blinking owlishy. He seemed upset, maybe frightened. "It's okay Chi," Suzume said, "It's just a woman." She looked back into the tree. "I think she's asleep."

Though Suzume didn't know the woman or what she was or what she was capable of, of course she assumed the best things. "You can stand behind me, Chi," she said. "If you'd feel better. I'm sure everything is fine." She gave him a reassuring smile as she wondered what was going on in his head, not realizing that Hex was silent in there for now.

((I don't want to do too much until perfect replies. :)))

Hikari's expression had closed off, shutters going down behind her eyes. She should have known better than to get so attached to any of these people. It was her own fault for being an open book, and expecting everyone else to be the same. She nodded. "Right, I understand. A person's past is their own. I didn't mean to pry." She said. She sounded apologetic, though her face showed nothing but polite indifference. Now she wanted to go and see where Chi was, and if he was okay. But of course he was fine, Suzume was with him. But what if something happened that Suzume couldn't handle? Hikari started to worry.

((Sorry for the wait! I'm kind of brain dead at the moment cuz I had done overtime at work, so I do apologize for the lateness and shortness of my post @[email protected]))

Sayuri

There were voices coming from below her as she started to awaken from her slumber. Opening her eyes, Sayuri looked at the ground below to find a group of people looking up at her. One of they had yelled at her to go way, slightly taken aback Sayuri sat a little straighter up in the tree and tucked her feet underneath her. "I'm sorry, my presence seems to have upset you. I am no one to fear, just a meager traveler passing by." She was unsure whether or not it was okay for her to climb down the tree and talk to them on ground level. She was very weary of the presence that was coming to her in her wakefulness. 'I've never encountered anything like their presences, who are this people?' She saw the girl comforting the one who had said go away and Sayuri fidgeted in her spot as a silence settled over them. Deciding it was better to try and talk to them face to face she asked, "Is it alright for me to come down? I wouldn't want to upset you further. I promise I am no threat."

He sighed a bit, at the change within her demenior as he told her basically that he could say nothing. He stood, turning to her. "It is not that I wish to upset you...it is things within my past...me....it is better that is is kept to few..it merely causes pain and harm to those close to me" he says, "If that upsets you then..I am sorry." He passes her, he walked along the pathway, further away from the woman who seemed to be upset of his not saying anything. His past was his own yes, most of it to painful to repeat as he was sure it was with her. She would not give away every detail to a stranger simply on a whim. Part of him was attempting to escape it, being one of the reasons he had left his home in the first place. Part of him was trying to protect himself, another, those around him. He sighed slightly, looking up at the sky, "kuro kitsune wa katei o motte imasen" he whispered to the air. Closing his eyes, he allowed silence to wash over him, other than the song coming from the avian.

Chi didn't move for a moment, staying curled up as he was. Slowly he turned his head a bit, to peek through his hair up at the woman on the branch above them. She said she was no threat, she said she wanted to come down. Was it ok? He looked at Suzume, she seemed to think it was. He nodded slowly, though he looked back over at her. "If you hurt her" he says "I'll kill you." With that he hid his face again, his tone had been low but carrying a cold serious tone. He would not let the stranger hurt his friend...if she even was his friend....as long as the other didn't hurt her, they would not have any trouble. Hex would be happy with his colder side slipping out, if the two were talking at the moment. He sighed a bit, he missed Hex.

Suzume glanced at Chi when he spoke. Would he kill someone like that? For her? Suzume had a lot of things going through her mind now. She didn't think Chi was a killer, though she'd never thought about it before really. Sure Hex had said some things that would make one wonder, but Suzume really wasn't sure what to think of Hex so far. Chi on the other hand, she didn't think would kill.

Perhaps like others, Chi would do anything to protect his friends? Suzume brushed it off. That must be it. Well she wouldn't allow him to kill someone for her sake. She really didn't want to put any of her new friends in danger at all. Anyway, the woman in the tree didn't look like a threat at all. When she came down, Suzume smiled her typical friendly smile. "Hi," she said, "I'm Suzume and this is my friend Chi." She motioned to Chi with another warm gesture.

"What were you doing up there? Were you asleep? Isn't that really uncomfortable?" As usual, Suzume was overly curious and was spouting off questions without allowing the other to respond in between each of them. When she was done questioning the woman, she continued smiling, waiting patiently for the others response.

Hikari seemed to deflate a little. She was being a jerk. Why was she acting that way? She stood up. "I am sorry. I...understand, more than you might think. Maybe I just thought..." She shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just a big mouth, and too curious for my own good. But maybe...if you want, I'd like to be friends." She said, then fell silent and sat back down..She heard Haru say something, but she couldn't make out what it was. Where were Suzume and Chi? It seemed like they were taking a long time. Hikari hoped fervently that they weren't in any trouble. Part of her wanted to go searching for them, but a bigger part didn't want to do what the tiger demon had tried.

((Hey Kiyo, what's that your character says in Japanese? Wolfie tried to translate it but it didn't make sense. All she could get was "Black fox"))

As she felt her feet touch the ground, Sayuri heard the girl girl introduce herself and her companion. She opened her mouth to introduce herself but she was dealt three questions. Blinking Sayuri took a moment to take in the questions that the girl, Suzume if she remembered correctly, had asked her. After a long pause Sayuri giggled at the girl's very up-beat personality. She cleared her throat and gave the girl a smile of her own as she replied her questions. "Well for starters my name is Sayuri. I chose to sleep up in the tree because I would be less prone to a dangerous situation as I slept last night. It may sound unusual but I have a very comfortable night sleep, my parents always told me I could sleep through anything." She liked the girl right of the bat, her aura was a very light compared to her companion. Her attention shifted for a moment to the boy, his aura was very heavy she assume he was trouble in someway or another.

She shifted on her feet slightly as she was trying to figure out what else to say to her new acquaintances. The jingle of her bell was comforting to her as she guessed that asking them why they were so deep into the forest or where they came from. "If you guys don't mind me asking why were you guys so deep into the forest? In fairness I'll tell you guess the reason I'm here. I am currently traveling to find something very important to this world. I haven't seen much of the world so I thought going the more 'scenic' route would be nice." Her fingers fidgeted at her side and she just ended up lacing her fingers together to look less awkward.

(It was just a little quote for himself. I really didn't want so much about him getting out so early but now that your character knows about his apparent ink creations and his inner demon...gonna find a new idea to go with him. Hmm...ideas ideas.)

Haru raised an eyebrow at the female before sighing. He stepped away, putting some distance between himself and the other three. He sat against one of the trees, pulling out a sketchbook which he kept with him at all times. It was small and old, it had been given to him by his sensei when he was young. Some of the pages full, others still blank. He turned to a drawing he had been working on, pulling out a piece of lead that had been thined like a needle, sketching away at the book. He remained silent from where he was, his mind within itself, focusing at the task at hands. Each stroke was made with presicion and skill, not one out of place. He did not tollerate much from himself when it came to neat and crisp drawings of this kind.

Chi kept silent, though that did not mean he was not listening, He heard every word that was said between the two from where he was. He peeked out of his arms out over the cliff. Maybe if he pushed the girl off, she would go away... He shook his head quickly. "No" he said out loud to himself, his hands on his head, "that was not nice at all, you can't think like that!" He felt for a moment like he was chiding Hex once more, though he could imagine what the other would say to him. He stood from the ground in a swift move, turning to face the girl who was now standing by them. "You shouldn't sleep in trees, you could fall off and break your neck. Sleeping outdoors all alone is cold and sad you shouldn't do it" he passed her with that, not sure why he had said it, though it was easier to say it then keep it inside. With Hex silent, he had no one else to say these things to.

Kitaru's ears twitched, but his eyes were closed. For all appearances he seemed to have fallen asleep, but he wasn't asleep. The tiger had relaxed, he had let himself meld into Raven's song. Letting the sound of it wash over him and carry him away, in a manner of speaking. Though the slightest thing could bring him out of that relaxed state. It was a relaxed state, but one that could be so very easily shattered. So far his ears didn't catch any words or noises that sounded particularly interesting or any that meant danger. For now he believed Suzume would come back, and that she was safe, even with Chi. Perhaps even the boy would do something to protect Suzume if something did happen? Kitaru wouldn't get his hopes up by expecting something like that, but he didn't think such an action would surprise him either. His tail continued to twitch lightly. It almost felt good, letting his mind free, to flow with the ups and downs of the song. It felt odd, but almost good, as if some weights had been lifted from his body.

Noticing as to how nearly everyone in the group had been busy with their own subjects of speaking to one another. Niya had only taken his attention back upon his surroundings once more as he stood back up to his feet. Listening to the several different voices of the others around the entire nearby area, from the sounds of it, it didn't seem that they were intending on continuing on for another little while. This didn't really bother the blind male, but it was kind of a bore to him that he would have to sit there and wait for the rest of them to chat when the time wasn't planning on stopping soon. To get to the other side of the mountain to meet this other monk that Suzume spoke about from the old woman healer, it was no telling how long of a travel that was going to be.

Taking several steps away from the courtyard entrance gates, the only time he had stopped was to turn his head over his shoulders to double check of any of them were going to start moving yet. Nope, they were still chatting with one another this was going to be a while of a wait after-all. So without much further hesitation, the blind male had continued on the dirt path that seemed to separate the large castle and forest area from one another.

While he had continued to become much further apart from the castle and the others, the voices of the dead that had been either killed or simply died of lost or blood or whatever reason for their deaths had come up once again, just as they did when Niya had traveled with the group to reach the castle. The voices this time however, sounded much more peaceful and he was able to make out what kinds of people had died around the area. The sounds of children laughing, adults speaking, and thanks were heard throughout both sides of the path. With the man within the castle taken care of, the people were able to finally rest in peace where they had been killed. Niya hadn't bothered to speak a single word to any of the dead as he kept his focus upon the path he took.

He had been quite sure even though he had left the group, Niya was going to end up meeting them once again later on somewhere. From the female human's words, it seemed as though they were heading to the other monk on the other side of the mountain. So even Niya had been heading there, if anything he was most likely going to meet them there, unless by some chance they had caught up with him on the way there.

Still enjoying the shining sun, Kyra sat in a serene state next to the lake. Her feet hanging freely in the cool, clear water she had vowed to protect some time ago. Her eyes were closed as she absorbed the beauty of the day. Birds were chirping, a few deer were grazing nearby, and fish were attempting to catch the dragon flies that were flickering over the water. Taking a deep breath, she inhaled the smell of the nature around her she loved. This was her paradise, the perfect place. Leaving this place had become out of the question long ago. She only ventured to the closest village when she absolutely had to refuel her body.

A rabbit suddenly darted out of the woods on the opposite side of the small lake and fled to some underbrush nearby. At this, the deer became startled, their ears pointed fiercly on top of their heads as they listened intently for whatever had frightened the rabbit. A strange smell began to fill Kyra's senses and when the deer became even more uneasy and headed towards the trees behind her, her suspicion was confirmed. A new smell. A stranger was closing in on her land.

Kyra stood immediaitely, her ice blue eyes scanning the area across the lake. Who dared to enter her home? Poachers? Hired thugs? Thieves? Whoever it was, she would not let them disturb the nature around her. Inhaling deeply, Kyra took in this strange scent and realized it was not a human, but a sort of spirit. Kyra moved swiftly to her small temple hidden in the ancient willow and watched intensely. Awaiting the soon arrival of the strange scent, the strange spirit to enter her domain.

It was really of no surprise that after walking upon the dirt path that the blind male would begin going off the current path only to begin making his way throughout the dense forest area. If he were to had gone on his own without any direction of where to go, he would indeed get himself lost to try and make his way to the other side of the mountain. Thankfully though, he was not alone through all of this. Even if he didn't have the rest of the group following along with him, he still had the spirits of the dead around the area to guide him in the right direction of where to go. True, the way could be filled with creatures that were all different sorts of sizes and violent as well but Niya was well aware of this and prepared to fend for himself when needed. As he continued on his way throughout the more dense parts of the forest, the sounds of other things had caught his attention.

Immediately coming to a halt on the grassy ground, the spirits had began to wonder why the blind male had come to a stop. Telling him to come along, he refused to speak up only to listen to the sounds of what was moving around him. The rustling sounds of what seemed to be a small creature but as well as a slightly larger creature was heard to the sides of the area. Unaware if the creatures he had heard were just mindless demons preying on Niya for his shard of the Maboroshi or if it was just an wild animal trying to find some food or something.

Whatever it was, the blind male had reached back for the hilt of his blade only as a precaution that he was being threatened by something or someone. Dragging his feet across the ground only slightly with each movement now to keep his sounds of movement down low to a near silence, Niya had kept his focus upon where he had heard the moving come from. The spirits that roamed around him, had now dropped to a complete silence as well only to wander off around the forest just as they normally did.

Soon enough, when he had come ever closer to his destination, Niya had finally come across what had made the sounds. It was none other then a small rabbit as it seemed and a deer, just from the tension he could feel upon their stance and movements they had been scared away from him. It was to be expected, animals always tended to be afraid of strangers around them, especially those that weren't anything like them. However, this was not the only thing that seemed to had caught the attention of Niya. There was also a large lake before him as well, raising a brow on how he had not noticed the presence of this lake earlier the blind male had only shrugged the thought off before making his way over to the edge of the ground. Releasing the grip he had upon the hilt of his blade, by the time the blind male had kneeled down to cup his hands into the water he had taken a slight drink of the cleansed lake before him. Even if the lake may had been dirty due to mud or dirt that mixed into it, Niya knew all too well that it wasn't going to be enough to kill him and put him at ease for his curse.

Taking several cupped handfuls of water to drink at a time, the blind male was completely unaware of the female that hid within her temple nearby. All he had known for a fact was that while he had drank the water of the lake, he was indeed being watched by something or someone more then simply the animals of the area. Whatever or whoever else was watching him was indeed powerful, strangely enough he wasn't able to make out what or who it was exactly.

As the sounds of nature died around her, Kyra silently observed the stranger that was now drinking from her lake. Her blue eyes studied him, waiting for some ill behavior that would cause his death, but none came. Her senses were running wild within her and something inside her seemed to stir. What exactly or why she did not know. The strange feeling nearly begged for the shadow side of her to take over and consume this man, but what stopped her was knowing that this man was in fact not a man. She sensed that he was more of a type of spirit, he was similar to her. Yet his powers were much different than her own though she couldn't tell exactly what they were.

Behind the leafy willow wall, Kyra silently paced, wondering what to make of this stranger. Yes, there had been other types of beings that passed through other than humans from time to time, but it was rare and usually a form of lesser demon or a skin walker of sorts. But knowing this stranger was almost like her, Kyra couldn't help the odd stirring that was causing her stomach to flip.

"Who are you, stranger?" Kyra's voice echoed over the lake making it difficult for anyone to pinpoint her location. "Why have you come here and what are your intentions?" Her voice was firm, yet soft. Demanding, yet gentle. At her voice some of the animals began to stir in the forest and peer out it curiosity. She protected these animals, this place and they all would protect her back if possible. It would be obvious to anyone that only to her these animals were unafraid and tame.

The eyes of rabbits, squirells, raccoons, deer, birds, skunks, and other smaller creatures were now staring at the stranger from their hiding places. They watched uneasily and awaited for the stranger's answer. Other than the occasioal sap of a stick or rustle of the leaves, all was quiet.