[I made a profiel for the old lady just so you guys know. I plan on keeping her around through the story I think she'll be an asset.]

Asuka cracked an eye open as the demon began to move. "So you are alive after all." She opened both eyes. "Thanks to my superior healing skills," she added with a hint of being overly proud. Especially considering had he not been a demon ,her healing skills would not have helped enough to save him. She smiled smugly and poked at the fire. "The women should return soon with food, I am sure you are hungry." She poked at the fire a tad more while eyeing the demon.

"Why do you travel with a human companion?" she asked him. It was a very unusual thing to see, a human paired up with a demon. Of course she didn't realize that the two did not travel together that they were merely there now thanks to a series of strange events. Still Asuka assumed them companions by the way Suzume cared for the demon, unaware that it was just in the girls nature.

Haru kept the false smile on his face, his eyes moving from the male to the two females within the clearing. The snake on his arm hissed lightly as the slight breeze flowed over his form. So, the other was aware of him it seemed. It mattered little to him, for his demonic energy was odd since it was confined within his body, but it was no secret. He looked over at her for a moment, listening to her words. He was quite clear that the animals and such were hiding, it was only natural that they were. When faced with danger, natural instinct was to fight to run and hide. Many animals chose the latter. Meat was not the only thing to find and eat within the wilderness however, though it seemed this was what they were interested in. He looed down at the snake, giving a light nod. The snake hissed, and slid down his arm. Kneeling, he allowed it to slide off onto the ground. Being the now combination of the three, it was taking on the size of a python, before slythering off into the forest. He was aware of what it was taking in through its senses, and that it had located a potential food source.

As for what the male said about the shard, it caught his attention. So, they were indeed after the shards of that cursed thing. A memory fluttered across his mind, causing his body to tense for the slightest second, before relaxing once more. It was getting late, for now, it would be wise to move on, but he thought against it. Perhaps these beings would be of use to him if he remained close. He looked at the man who was interested in the healer. "If you don't mind, I would like to accompany you as well, my companion will take care of finding a source of food in the process if you care to eat after you see this..being" he fell silent after saying this, wondering if the healer would be sensitive to light arts. If they were, would they be able to sense what he was or what was inside of him? He was not afraid if they did or not, but it would be more of a hassel, if what he was stood in the way of everything. Since he had little intrest in the shards however, he saw little problem in it.



Blood dripped from the edge of the red blade in the male's hand. The wolves had not stood a chance against him, but their habit of protecting their territory, had caused them to attack him. He opened his hand on the hilt of the red blade, slowly the blade began to move, turning from a solid into a flexable state, and finally into a liquid. It absorbed through a cut across the palm of his hand, which slowly closed up once the red liquid was fully absorbed. Ah blood a voice inside of the male's head spoke up. His eyes ran over the bodies of the wolves "was it really necissary to kill them?" Are you questioning me?! Something shifted inside of his body, and he flinched. His arms wrap around his body "ah! No...sorry, I'm not." The pain subsided, as the thing inside of him stilled. Good he sighs a bit, looking up at the sky. "I guess no use in worrying about it now...what's done is done..." he turned at the sound of a slight growl. Seemed the pack was bigger, for behind him stood about several more wolves.

"What a pain..." he sighed. Lets not kill these ones...they may be of use to us. He blinked, "you think?" He looked over the wolves. They did know the land, and they were powerful beasts in packs, though powerles against him. They would not last long in a fight against more powerful people, but he supposed there could be some use in them. He raised a hand, a cut appearing across his palm once more. For a moment nothing happened, then the wolves lunged. Long thin needle like forms of blood crystalized from his cut, shooting out at the oncoming wolves. They yelped, as they were stabbed in various places on their bodies. He focused, turning the tips inside of the wolves back into liquid, in order to infect them with his blood. Their bodies began to writh a bit, shaking their heads as the cells within his blood began to multiply within them, and attack their own blood cells. For weaker lesser beings, the takeover was faster, but some were able to fight it off for awhile, making it take longer. The appendages of blood pull back from the wolves, being absorbed back into his body.

He rubbed his arm a bit, it was slightly sore from the rush of blood movement within it from his attacks. The wolves slowly stopped fighting, standing and staring at him. He blinked a bit, "now what...." The voice in his head sighed, have them scout the area! He nodded, and gave a wave of his hand. The wolves take off into the forest. With little else to do, the male began walking once more, leaving behind the bodies of the wolves he had done away with. Soon, a smell caught his attention. It was an natural tallent of blood benders, they could smell blood of people around them, it was usefull for sensing who would make a good meal, as well as in a fight or when on his own. From what he smelled, many of them were demonic baised, but nothing to bad to concern himself with. One was interesting though, similar to him. Human mixed with demon blood and energy. He tilts his head, maybe they would make a good snack. He was unsure about facing them all at once though, he did not do to well with people.

He was awkward and nervous around them, never sure how to act or approach people. Most thought he was scary or creepy or had herd of the rumors. Pay attention idiot! He stopped. He looked down to see he was standing on the edge of a small cliff. If he had kept going, he would have hurt himself. He had the tendancy to space out a lot. A warmth came from around his neck, and his hand moved to the shard that hung around his neck. Seemed there were others nearby. Did those people have them? The voice seemed to have the same idea, we have to get them. He sighs, rubbing his arm a bit. Moving forward once more, careful down the side of the little cliff. He would obtain the shards, if they had them, though he was not looking forward to the interactions.

Hikari glanced sharply at the man sitting against the tree.He wanted to meet the healer? Well,it was none of her concern,really.She shrugged."It is not for me to say weather she can help you or not,but I can't stop you from going to see her.Either of you." She added,addressing that the other man had expressed interest in going as well."We might as well get moving,if we are going to.My fire will die down soon if I do not stoke it personally." She said.

When the old woman spoke, Kitaru released Suzume's wrist and sat up quickly, eyes narrowed but instead of growling, he groaned. The jerking motion of his body causing pain to shoot through his left shoulder, his right hand moved to press at the bandages there, as if that could end the pain. His eyes were on the healer, and he eyed her with clear distrust. Strangers had been here. All around him. He could smell them now, their scents lingered and he had only been dimly aware of them earlier. The old woman had asked him a question, and his brow furrowed, lowering his hand from the injury he studied the healer carefully. Another human, yet she didn't seem hostile at all. This was very confusing. "It's none of your business what I do or why." His stomach growled and he licked his lips to try and moisten them. He was parched and felt as if he were starving, according to the healer, the other strangers would be returning. His body tensed. He couldn't fight like this. Those ears were flat, and he watched the old woman as if he were expecting an attack at any moment.

Asuka frowned and closed her eyes before giving the demon a swift whack on the head with the poker she'd been poking at the fire with. "Is that how you speak to an elder?" she asked finally opening her eyes again. Why on earth did this young girl travel with such a barbarian? "No respect. And where is the gratitude? I only saved your life." The healer spoke matter of factly with a hint of childish pouting in her voice. She pulled a small container of reserve water from her basket that had been sitting beside her. She opened it up and took a small sip. "Mmm," she said while eyeing the demon. "So cool and refreshing." She licked her old and decrepid looking lips. "I suppose I could share some of it with you if you had the manners to thank me for my service. But, I guess since you prefer to be rude I will drink it myself." She took another sip waiting for either a thank you or some kind of an explination of how the pair came to be or his injuries came to be.

Kitaru was flinching even before the poker made contact with his head. As if he were used to and expected such violent treatment. What he hadn't expected was how lightly she had whacked him. Sure it stung, but it was nothing close to the sort of abuse he had suffered at the hands of humans in the past. He glared at her, almost daring her to hit him again. That daring glare changed. To a look of confusion. He truly did not understand why the woman would use her healing abilities on him, then he was eyeing her water for a few moments but the look on his face clearly showed he didn't expect her to share it with him, even if he did express gratitude or whatever else the woman wanted. He watched her drink the water, he was certain she was human, and the girl too. Kitaru glanced at Suzume for a moment. "Why? I don't understand why I wasn't left to die." He frowned deeply, that mistrust was still clear in his eyes, and the need to know could be plainly heard in his voice. He glanced at Suzume again. "She took my Maboroshi piece, and it changed in her hands to that mirror, I tried to kill her to take it back so why is she still with me? Why didn't she leave me to die?" That confused, wary gaze shifted back to the healer. "And why did you help?"

Asuka heard the demons words and closed her eyes in thought. More importantly than his confusion over being cared for the girl was able to change the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou? Could it be true? She began thinking out loud. "It is rumored that there was a woman who had the ability to purify the Ginzu. The woman and her husband traveled together in search of the pieces so that she could purify them and bring the Ginzu back together once again so that they could use it to heal the world of it's evil. She was killed in a fierce battle but her husband lived on. He lives in the mountains near a shinto shrine where he protects the item his wife last created from their pieces of the Ginzu." She opened her eyes and looked at the sleeping girl. "It takes one of pure heart to purify the Ginzu. To be able to make it whole again is something I believe no one else can do. Perhaps this girl is descendant of the original purifier?" Asuka wondered if the girl could see the pieces the way the original woman could.

Her eyes flicked to the demon. "Perhaps it is her pure heart that decided it would not leave you to die as it was not the right thing to do. I helped you because it was clear that there were three people near you who did not want you to die. I hold no grudge on you for what your demon kin has done." In all of that time Asuka realized she had not shared her water. She laughed. "Here." She tossed the water to the demon. "So you two do not travel together then as I had originally thought? Yet you do seek the Ginzu." It was a funny thing to her really to see people collecting pieces of it when no one could bring the Ginzu back together. Her eyes flicked back to the sleeping girl. But now they could. What a danger that could bring upon the world.

Those ears twitched and flicked as he listened to the things the old woman said about the Maboroshi and it's first priestess, or perhaps not the first. It didn't matter. He watched Suzume for a moment. Humans with pure hearts? Humans that wanted to rid the world of evil? His brow furrowed his confusion only mounting when the woman spoke of his demon kin. What did she mean by that? It was humans who drove the demons to such violent outbursts. To protect themselves and their clans, their homes. When the water was tossed to him, he caught it quickly with his good arm, cat like reflexes at their best. He eyed her and sniffed at the container and it's contents suspiciously. "Humans are evil. My demon kin have suffered mercilessly at the hands of your human kin. So whatever we do in response is justifiable." He should just leave. Leave these two humans here, and go about his business. He couldn't though. The Maboroshi. He needed that. He was looking at it now, as he brought the container to his lips to take an experimental sip of the water therein.

A cool breeze blew through ruffling her raven black hair. Though it was still tied behind her back, some of the fly-aways tickled Suzume's nose. She stirred and reached up with her empty hand to wipe the hairs away. Dark grey eyes opened groggily and focused on the warm crackling fire. She yawned and stretched. "I didn't mean to fall asleep," she mumbled apologetically towards the healer. She'd meant to stay awake and help out.

She began to rub at some sleep in her eyes when the demon caught her attention. "Oh!" she exclaimed with a start. "You're awake!" The words weren't said with excitement, but more with a curious shock. "The black lines are all gone..." she added as another mumble while thinking aloud. What a strange man. Of course it was obvious he was part demon. But Suzume had never actually spent any time around any demons, or part demons, ever. Her only encounter had been recently in her village with a full demon who'd destroyed everything.

That's where she'd found that little enchanted trinket that merged itself with the demon's. Suzume realized she still held onto the handle of the mirror and she looked down at it. "I'm sorry about stealing your pendant," she said sincerely. That had of course never been her intention. It seemed she'd forgotten all about him attacking her. She thought about all the little enchanted pieces that it seemed everyone wanted to get their hands on, but why? And why couldn't the demon touch the mirror. On top of that, how had she been able to use it to protect herself? Her stomach grumbled loudly.

Suzume pulled her pack away from the demon who had been laying on it and placed the mirror gently inside along with a few of her other things that had been removed to make it more comfortable for him. She stood and stretched once again before pulling the pack onto her shoulders, not wanting to leave her mother's kimono out of her sight. Oh, or the mirror, she guessed.

She smiled a friendly smile at the demon. "I'm glad you're okay," she said, remembering how he'd gotten injured while standing in front of her in the cave. "I can't help but feel like it was my fault you were injured so horribly." She looked to the healer now. "Thank you for helping. Your talent is remarkable!" She slipped her feet into her sandals and bowed apologetically. "I'm sorry to run off on you now, but I needed to be in the village by sunrise."

Suzume sighed. To fulfill her father's wishes, of course. Not to mention, she was starving and the women had not yet returned. They could keep her fishing supplies, she wouldn't need them where she was headed. And maybe someone in the village could tell her what the mirror was, too. She gave the healer and the demon a big wave, "Good luck!" she said to them both, referring to whatever it was they had both been traveling in search of.

With that, Suzume headed off, eyes on the stars to gauge her direction and the time of the night. She'd fallen so far behind with all of the events from the day and though falling asleep was okay since she really needed it, that had only set her even farther behind schedule. Already she would be late and making a bad impression. Typical.

Asuka shook her head at the demon causing some of her flabby neck wrinkles to jiggle. "Just as you are not all the same, nor are we. My mother was a healer like myself. She is where I learned most of my talent. One day she came across a half demon much like yourself. He had been badly injured by demons who shunned and tried to kill him for having a human mother. Not something of his own doing or choice. She did not believe it to be fair or his fault or something he should have been so punished for and she cared for his wounds. She brought him to our home and cared for him for many days and many nights." Asuka stared into the flame as she spoke now deep in thought once again. "On the 5th night the demon man was fully healed. He did not thank my mother and looked at her only in disgust as he gathered his things to leave. Still she packed him a meal and placed it in his hands before he left. He became angry shouting things about humans like her making things hard on demons, causing them to have good feelings towards humans who did not deserve them because all humans were evil... you know the feeling I can tell."

"Moments later a large ogre-like demon came stomping through our village. He must have been 20 feet tall. He smashed everything in sight. Ripped apart women and children. As he neared our home eagerly my mother pushed me into his arms knowing he was my only chance of survival. She begged him to take me and run away and he did. The last I saw of my mother was our home caving in around her. You see demon. Not all humans are bad. And demons especially half demons like yourself who have many harships don't have to be bad either. We all make choices. My mother could have left that demon to die just as this young girl could have left you. And you could kill us both now but you clearly choose not to."

"You cannot condemn mankind for the actions of some men. Nor can we condemn all demons for the actions of some. We certainly cannot "justify" our evil actions towards someone because their neighbors mother's friend's cousin started it either. It's quite ridiculous if you ask me." Asuka's eyes were closed now as she spoke. She sat there like that for a while and finally began to snore again. It wasn't until the girl said something at her that she opened her eyes. The girl was thanking her and looked hurried. She needed to be on her way it was understandable. Asuka wasn't sure why the girl had stuck around this long honestly. She waved her off. "Be careful child", she said behind her. "And protect that mirror!" Asuka was worried. This girl of all people should not be traveling alone with such an item and she doubted the girls abilitly to protect it.

"Oh, so now he decides to talk." Ryn eyed the half-demon who had just spoke to the cursed human, and brushed her finger against her weapon before retracting her hand and pretending that she was scratching an itch on her back. The one who was sitting against the tree gave her an uneasy feeling. Also, this particular bunch of humans were so serious about everything. Perhaps it was just the awkward situation they were in. Four strangers who just met, relying on each other. A while back Ryn wouldn't have even gone near humans unless she was there to escort them on their journey to death. "But let's get moving." The two males were odd sorts, but then again, they were all a pretty unique bunch. A shinigami, cursed human, kitsune samurai, and a demon. Huh.

"Well, looks like we're all after the same thing. No need to be so uneasy around each other, right?" Ryn motioned for the two guys and Hikari to get moving. "It's already getting pretty dark." She thought she heard the padded footsteps of a pack of wolves and a person's voice, but ignored it. It was probably just the night getting to her head. But she kept a look out just in case there really was someone nearby.

Slipping the ring back onto his index finger after offering it toward the two female as an item for them to bring Niya toward the healer they spoke of. It wasn't long before the sound of the snakes from earlier had caught his attention once more, turning is gaze back over toward the other male as he allowed the strange creatures to slither themselves onto the grassy floor only for them to become one larger-like snake. Due to the creature being made of some different type of body-like skin and it not really having any types of organs or muscles on it's body, Niya wasn't really able to pick out it's exact size or shape. All that was truly known about the creature was that it was a snake, gazing at the new snake-like creature as it slithered off into the forest he had returned his attention back onto the other male as he spoke of joining the three of them while the creature was going to go in search of food. It wasn't any place for Niya to allow or not the other male to come along, so he hadn't spoken anything of it.

Slowly helping himself to his feet as the female with the demonic-like scent had spoken up that it was no place for her to deny either of them to come along or not. Dusting himself off from the floor, when the words of the female saying that they should get moving due to the fire needing to be stoked the right way or else it would go out, Niya could only return a nod. "Let us move on then." He stated before turning his gaze onto the other female which had the scent of death upon her. She also insisted that they should get moving as well and since they were all after the samething which were the shards of the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou there was going to be no need to be uneasy with one another, he nodded once again. Unaware of yet another presence watching them from a slight distance, Niya had awaited for the two females to lead the way.

Hikari looked to make sure that everyone was ready,and turned to lead the way back to the camp.She ignored the feeling that they were being watched,since it was a normal feeling for her.She did not talk as she led the way,and her footsteps were silent as a shadow.It was not purposeful,that was simply how she walked,but it was handy at night when she didn't want to draw any attention to herself.

Kitaru growled lightly at the old woman. Half demon? Why did she think he was that, because he wasn't as feral as other full demons? Or because his humanlike appearance? He did listen to the healer's words and only shook his head, part of him knew the woman was right. Others shouldn't be judged solely by the actions of a few, but when all he had seen was evil from humans it was hard to believe otherwise. "You know nothing, healer. Nothing about me, or the things I've endured. Nor do you seem to know what I am." Now Suzume was trying to leave. Take the mirror which was partly his by rights, because it was partly made of his pendant, and just leave. Certainly doing something like that did not improve his opinion of the girl, but she had stayed by his side while he was dying.

Kitaru dropped the healer's container of water and jumped to his feet. Immediately regretting that action, he swayed and fell to his butt as a wave of dizziness swept over him. He was healed of the poison more or less, but not of the blood loss or the pain. His right hand reached out, as if trying to grasp at Suzume or her pack or both as she walked away. His fingers closing on empty air, those ears of his drooping so very dejectedly. It wasn't fair. Humans were always taking things from him, as if his things belonged to them. It wasn't fair at all. "You can't." He spoke the words softly, almost as if afraid Suzume would turn around and hit him with something hard, or some similar reaction. He had grown strong, he had escaped his human masters, and yet he was too weak to take a mirror from a little girl. Truly he was a pathetic excuse for a demon.

(I sure do hope this makes sense! *yawn* I'm never up this early. Brandon is off to West, Texas to help the victims of the explosion and he had to leave super early. I'm going back to bed as soooonn as I get a snack.)

Suzume was already in his personal space once again as she bent over in a way that brought her eyes level with his. She was blinking owlishly. "Are you hurt? Did you fall? You know you really probably shouldn't be trying to get up yet. I mean, you just had that woman's nasty finger nail claws in your shoulder only an hour or so ago. You looked really bad. You had a fever and there was a lot of blood when the healer pulled them out..." her eyes watered a little, "I thought you were going to die and that it would be all my fault. I've never been responsible for someone's death before."

She was rambling really. Not really giving anyone any time for interjection. When she finished her little speech she started to frown. "Though I suppose it does serve you right since you tried to attack me." She crossed her arms again and frowned down at the demon. So she did remember.

"Anyway," she started as she relaxed and stood upright finally, "I really do have to go. I was supposed to be in the village already." She sighed again, thinking of all the reasons she was going, none of which were reasons she actually wanted to go. "Did you need something else before I go?" Suzume really didn't mind getting him something if it would help him to heal or feel more comfortable for the night before she left.

She was blinking those dark grey eyes owlishly at him again. What would he need from her though? He had a healer here and two more women nearby who would be bringing food. Health, food and women. Nope, she couldn't figure out what he needed and the mirror never crossed her mind. She'd already come to terms with the fact that he couldn't touch it. No demon, or anyone out to hurt Suzume would be able to. So it wasn't like she could let him have it, not that she wanted to anyway. And had the healer said something about protecting it? She wasn't sure...

[Its ok my posts don't always make sense >.<; and I am up early today to. I've been tossing and turning all night long. My insomnia gets the best of me a lot but I usually watch movies instead of rp.]

Asuka pushed herself to her feet when the demon fell but it took a little while since she was so old. When she finally made it to where the demon and the girl were she was a little bit out of breath and tired again. "Perhaps the demon would like to thank you for helping him." She prodded the demon verbally. "But I am glad you returned I would like to ask you a question that has been on my mind." Asuka fumbled around in a large pocket and brought out a small burlap sack. It was a protected sack so that the contents on the inside could not be sensed by anyone. She opened it up and dumped two artifacts of the Ginzu into her hand. One was a tiny bell and the other had formed itself into a fishing hook. "what do you see?" She asked Suzume still wondering if she had the gift of sight of the Ginzu.

((Nah they make sense Lovin'. I really am going to try to get back to sleep after this though! So... tired.... but needed.... food. And role-play! Lol Sorry the smileys look extra cute this morning.))

Suzume waited for the demon's reply, but it seemed that as she finished her question, the healer was there with a small sack. Immediately when she dumped the contents into her hand, they glowed. Both of them a deep red. Did the healer know something that she didn't? Did she know something about Suzume that Suzume didn't?

"I see a red glow around the bell, and around the hook. Do you see it, too?" She half assumed that the healer did. Why else would she have asked Suzume if she saw anything out of the ordinary? "Do you mind if I..." she was already reaching out to pick up the little bell. Immediately when she touched it, the deep red began to fade until, as the bell lay in the palm of her hand, it glowed white.

"Why does it start glowing white when I touch it? Did I break it? Do I have some awful effect on these enchanted items?" She was thinking out loud, but was hoping for answers from the healer. Suzume looked into the healer's hand again. "Oh!" she exclaimed while picking up the hook. Immediately it was purified of it's evil. "Maybe we could use this for fishing!" Suzume was awfully hungry.

Kitaru's whole body twitched when Suzume came so close to him and peering at him with those eyes. Eyes that were sincere, and clear. No, not clear but pure. He decided he hated those eyes, they were lies. Humans were not kind. Not pure. His ears twitched, catching every word but there was little room for him to reply at all, then the healer was approaching, and when she dumped the contents of her bag out, he could smell it. The odd smell that surrounded pieces of the Maboroshi. He eyed them greedily, almost hungrily. Kitaru rose to his feet slowly this time, once on his feet, he reached out to try and snatch the bell from Suzume's hand when she reached for the hook.

Asuka nearly fell over "Fishing!?" the old lady swatted the demon's hand away. "Like you could do anything with them if you had all of them anyway" she said brushing him off. "Child come and sit and let me explain these to you." Asuka made her way back to the fire and waited for Suzume to return and when she did Asuka made sure to speak clearly and simply so that the girl would understand. "You have the gift of seeing the peices of the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou a jewel of sorts that was destroyed long ago buy a monk who shattered the Ginzu in to a hundred pieces where they scattered over the land. His intentions were that none of evil could get their hands on it now and even if they did how would they put it together? The Ginzu is able to wield ultimate power and everlasting life to whomever calls on it even if they are evil do you understand? It is rumored that there are those out there who are evil who are searching for the pieces of the Ginzu who know the encantation to wield it's power. I myself saw no threat. Without a way to piece the Ginzu back together all the pieces and an encantation are useless." She watched the girl before her next part. "You seem to be the key as the demon here told me when you touched the peices they melted together into a new item. As long as you are alive the Ginzu can be repaired and used. Do you understand the danger that comes with being able to do something like that?" She waited for the girls response before adding "I believe that you see red when the piece has been filled with evil desires and when you touch it you are purifying the piece and ridding it entirely of it's evil. You alone have the power to purify the evil from the Ginzu." The healer thought for a second. "Perhaps you may be interested in searching out the pieces and repairing the Ginzu? No that would be a dangerous thing. Perhaps you should be on your way after all but first..." Would she ask? Yes. "Can I see you merge these pieces into the mirror? I need to see it for myself..."

She looked over her shoulder in the direction she'd been planning on going as if it would tell her whether to go or stay. Of course she would stay, even if just for a minute. Her curiosity always got the best of her. Suzume followed the old woman to the fire, sticking her tongue out at the demon who'd tried to get his hands on the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou once again, as she passed. She still held the small bell and hook in her hands as she sat near Asuka where she waited for the woman's explanation.

She nodded from time to time at the healer's words, not too shocked or weary of the story as she'd always believed in things like this anyway. In fact, she was rather excited by the whole story and her special gift. Suzume thought about a sort of stone, maybe jewel, or similar kind of magical thing that could either destroy or enslave her world or save it and she held the two pieces up in front of her as she imagined the scenarios.

It wasn't until the healer had asked her to merge the pieces into the mirror that she snapped out of her day dreams. Merge them? She didn't know how she'd even done it before... She also wasn't sure she even wanted to merge them. If repairing the crystal could be so dangerous, she wasn't sure she wanted any part of the thing.

Suzume thought of her father, out on the battlefield, possibly already dead. The Maboroshi no Ginzuishou could end the wars and bring peace to the lands, too. She would do it. She slipped her pack from her shoulders and pulled it into her lap. She reached inside and wrapped her fingers around the handle of the mirror, took a deep breath and pulled it out, placing all of the items within inches from each other.

There was no time wasted. Immediately, without Suzume having to do anything more than touch them at the same time, the items began to glow, dimly at first then brighter and brighter until it was too bright for anyone to see. The bright light could have probably been seen for miles. The wind whipped around them all for a moment almost blowing out the fire, and then it was done.

As the light faded away, Suzume was left holding a weapon, rather than the mirror, bell and hook. She blinked down at the Katana. Amazing. Though she didn't know how to use one, it would still prove a better weapon than the mirror, right? She blinked up at the healer as if awaiting some kind of instruction. "What now?" she asked. What was she supposed to do with it? Certainly she wouldn't be expected to travel with the thing or protect it.

Kitaru had instinctively flinched when the healer swatted his hand away. Of course it hadn't hurt, but he had expected it to. The scars on his shirtless body should be more than enough evidence of the kind of treatment he was far too used to. He had growled in response, those ears flatting menacingly against his head but they ignored him, he wrinkled his nose slightly for a moment and then moved when they had. Stepping closer to the fire to listen and watch. If what the healer said was true, then Kitaru would need this human girl so that he could get the whole Maboroshi no Ginzuishou. He frowned deeply, his tail twitching, his mouth dry and his stomach grumbled softly for food.

Experimentally he attempted to move his left arm, pain shot through his body from that shoulder and a bit of blood began to seep through the bandages. He couldn't hunt like this. Those thoughts were interrupted by the bright light, and he raised his right hand to shield his eyes even as he closed them. Hissing lightly like a cat, then the light was gone, and he blinked his eyes open. The objects had changed, to a weapon. He licked his lips, eyeing that weapon. A weapon made up of pieces of the Maboroshi, surely it would be a very powerful weapon. He moved, as if to reach for it, but stopped himself. Remembering how the mirror had hurt him when he had touched it, surely this weapon would do the same. Besides, he needed the girl, so why not let her hang on to it for a while longer?

Perhaps now with a weapon in her hands, Kitaru wouldn't have to do all of the fighting. "Demons and humans will come for you, because of what you can do. You'll never be safe as long as you're connected to the Maboroshi." He spoke the words softly, for a few moments it almost seemed as if Kitaru were a bit smarter than he looked. Though he still held to the belief that all humans were evil creatures, and that demons were not. Of course, it was easy to believe that when that was all you had seen from a young age up to now.

Asuka covered her wrinkly old eyes from the bright light. When the wind died and the light faded she opened her eyes in amazement. "So it is all true then." The demon spoke and it really was clear that he was smarter than he seemed in the beginning. She nodded in agreement. "You must protect the katana now. You brought it together and you purified it. It is up to you to keep it safe now. I assume you have decided to fix the Ginzu then?" The old woman would be really dissapointed if the girl said no but then her stomache groweled too. "Come, let us rest by the fire and eat. You have much to decide now." And Asuka closed her eyes again in deep thought.

[can't make my post red atm sorry!]

While walking,Hikari was surprised by a blinding light coming from the direction of the camp.She shielded her eyes with her arm and waited for the light to fade."I think that is worth looking into,don't you?" She said as the light dissipated,addressing the other three behind her.She blinked to clear her vision and started forward again,this time at a quicker pace.It wasn't long before they came upon the camp,and saw the tiger demon sitting up,and a girl holding a beautiful Katana."That blade! It is a masterful piece.Where did it come from?" She asked.

Suzume was afraid the healer would say that. Protect the sword. Sure. Easy. She could do that. Piece of cake. Suzume was panicking on the inside. By now she'd completely forgotten all about traveling to the village. She nodded at the healer and removed her shoes to make herself comfortable.

Honestly, she was kind of afraid to leave the pair now and be alone with the katana. She jumped at the sound of Hikari's voice. She'd not heard anyone approaching at all while in her own thoughts. "Huh?" Oh right, her katana. So it was hers then? What a strange feeling. Suzume certainly didn't feel like the thing belonged to her.

"I made it," she said, clearly unsure of her own words. She didn't know how else to explain it really. "All of these little trinkets melted together and then, this." She probably wasn't making any sense and that was probably for the best considering she probably shouldn't be telling anyone what it was or what she could do.

"What were your names again?" she asked, suddenly realizing she didn't actually know anyone there by name. "I'm sorry, I'd feel better if I knew everyone by name. I'm Suzume Hamasaki," she reminded the group, knowing not all had heard. "Were you able to find any food?"

Kitaru was on his feet, between the newcomer and Suzume. Eyes narrowed, the sharp fingernail like claws of his right hand ready to rip into the stranger's flesh should they prove to be a hostile creature, even a demon. They had been attacked earlier by a demon, and though Kitaru didn't really want to fight his kin for a human, he would if it meant he could have the whole Maboroshi, and for that, he needed this human girl. Those ears were flat, and he snarled lightly. A warning, but then Suzume was talking to the person as if she knew them. His nose twitched. No, of course, the scent was slightly familiar. This person had been here earlier, when he had been half conscious. He relaxed, but only slightly, keeping those wary eyes on the stranger. He had no intention of telling any of them his name, never mind the fact they had all been there to help him or try to help him. Kitaru didn't trust them, and he especially didn't trust the healer or Suzume.