Shin threw up her hands in defeat. "That's it! I'm going to merge with a TREE! and when you slice off each other's limbs you can POUND on it baceuse that's the ONLY way I'm coming out!" so saying she stepped into the tree beneath which Nick was resting and finally relaxed. No more running, no fighting, no screaming or moaning or complaining or doing she didn't even KNOW what. Only the rich soil into which she stretched her feet, the warm sun whose rays fell on her green leaves, on her arms above her stretching towards the sky, cooled by the wind that rustled through her hair. This was how her people died, and she understood. To be a part of this, it was like a golden moment that could stretch forver with only the calls of duty, love, and friendship being strong enough to pullthem away. And for those without any of them, it could stretch on and on and on... until time itself withered and died for all they would care.

"How would you like to join them." Hogarth taunted, looking at her. It was an empty threat, trying to help her on how to use the bade, instead of the junk katana Satoshi uses. "From the souls learn each one of the warriors capabilities, I want you to learn 2 of them and you will show me their moves. And yes there are Female warriors in there." Hogarth said, looking at his blade, not warning her of the physical movement her mind would be doing as she fought in a fake world against the souls. "By the time your done your wound's should heal correctly." Hogarth stated, dropping in the shade, under a tree.

((In other words, if you pick a soul to learn from the soul will take you into an arena show you the move, and then when you feel like you've learned it you fight the soul to pass, but the damage feels real, only thing is in the fake world your fully healed.))

kai watched dully as shin retreated she sighed and appologized, she knew the woman needed rest and was thankful that she did. "we'll be fine.. just rest.." she whispered.

"are you jealous of him" she asked flatly looking over at him "are you jealous of satoshi? you dont like him much.." that's when she was enveloped into a world with a strange woman, she blinked once and barely dodged an attack aimed at her ribs, she quickly smacked the woman on the back of the neck with the butt of the sword sending her into the ground quicker than she could talk. The woman growled and slowly pulled herself up struggling horribly while doing so. She came at kai again just to be stabbed through the chest this time, the woman looked down at her with the look of defeat. Kai knew she wouldnt give up nearly this easily but had no will to fight at all.

Hogarth snorted. "Jealous of him." Hogarth spat off to his side. "I've nothing to be jealous about." He knew he was lying, but he couldn't tell her the truth, it wasn't in his nature, he wasn't the type of guy to come out and share his feelings, let alone talk about them. Hogarth thought about it more, slowly it started eating at him from the inside, but refused to tell her anything, he closed his eyes to calm himself. "nothing." He said quietly.

kai was able to defeat the woman and pushed her way back into reality "you're lying to me" she sighed and sat across from him holding her ribs feeling as if she were punched though she did enjoy the activity "you need to tell me before i further this training" her voice had taken animation, she was happy and now barely able to show it. "why are you jealous of him?"

Hogarth opened his eyes slowly, looking at Kai. "I'm not jealous." He stated again, being stubborn, he hated the fact he was though. His mouth opened like he wanted to say something but he just turned it into a stretch, and a yawn.

Kai pinned him down and sat in his lap gently running her fingers over the blade examining all of the spirits that she could "yes you are and i'm not moving until you tell me why"

Hogarth sighed gently, looking around to see if anyone was around, never having done anything like this was new for him, leaning in, he whispered in her ear. "I care for you Kai, and by care for you, you know what I mean, I've never done this before." He said in a very very low tone so that no one else but her could hear him. His face turned red, but he stood still, confident almost, but he was really embarrassed, and shy, looking at Kai.

she giggled softly and looked up into his eyes "i.. i thought you didnt like me like that" she blushed, her smile suddenly loving far more caring then a sister's or friend's. She bit her lower lip trying to think of what came next "i.. i like you too" when she spoke her voice trembled with a nervous tone "no one has said anything like this to me.. no one has wanted anything but.. lust from me" she mumbled "i'm.. broken goods" she sighed "unpure, used and thrown away like an old tissue"

Hogarth looked at her, a little confused on the Like word. He felt like he only pushed people away and never tried to pull them close. "I don't think your broken." Hogarth said, his eyes shifting away from his stare on her. "I'm the one who is so messed up, I should be the broken good." He said, looking back at Kai.

Shin meanwhile, COULD hear them, but was trying her hardest not to. It's basically impossible to plug your ears and sing "LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!" while inside of a tree, but she was trying! Unfortunately she would have to either step OUT of the tree and move, breaking the mood and letting them know she was listening, or contiunue trying to block out the noise because really, they both needed this.

she shifted to face him, she was sitting sideways now looking into his eyes "you're not broken, i promise, please dont ever refer to yourself like that again" she gently kissed his cheek and rested her head on his shoulder "to me.. you're wonderful, you.." she lingered on the right word then smiled "are very comforting to be around.." she explained to him lightly pressing herself against him like she was sharing her views for him, as if it could be passed from body to body.

His hands shifted a little, not knowing what to do, looking around, he slowly wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him. "And I'm very comfortable with you." He said gently. Looking at her ribs, he was careful to stay away from them, not wanting to hurt her. "I'm...Sorry." He said gently, looking at her ribs. "For trying to make you train, and not being there for you when you got in that fight." Hogarth said, looking at his blade.

her smile softened "it's alright" she blushed "i was alright until nick was forced to attack.. i killed his master without breaking a sweat" when she spoke her voice trailed off, she leaned closer to him, tilted her head and lightly kissed his lips, her eyes closed and ears twitched every so often.

With fingers running over the smoothe metal kai pulled back from the kiss with enough time to look into his eyes, her ribs were feeling better, she lightly pressed her opposite hand to it and sighed when a small jolt of pain erupted through her "it's just a bruise now"

Hogarth looked down at her. "Well at least your feeling a little better." He said, his back leaning against the tree as his arms held her in his lap. "Cant believe someone like Nick was able to be controlled by a tamer." He said gently, looking at Nick resting.

"it's hard to believe.. that anyone can" she winced remembering all of the times she was forced to back down from fights with her own master, thanking the lord that he was gone and unable to hurt her any longer "sometimes.. you just have to look at someone and wonder what exactly they're going through" tears welled in her eyes while she watched her own brother's chest rise and fall in small, short breaths.

Hogarth looked down. "Hey be strong, he'll make it, besides hes sleeping he doesn't feel a thing." Hogarth said, trying to reassure her that Nick was fine. Hogarth gently rubbed Kai's back, comforting her with a hug, you'll see.

she nodded and pulled herself further into his arms, while they were locked in the embrace her heart fluttered a humming bird's wings. It felt right being folded into him in such a way, she now knew why he tried so hard to comfort her while she awoke screaming, and why he refused to kill her when half of the ownership to his sword was transfered to her.. she understood more and felt more than ever anticipated.

He smiled, trying to hide it, he turned his head slightly, his lips hiding behind his sleeves, for once he was happy, for once he didn't feel like a murder, he had someone that cared for him, someone willing to be there when he needed it and be there when she needed him, his hand gently slid into hers, tangling their fingers as he held her hand.

Satoshi was know running through the forest with three long gashes on his left arm after some beast attacked him. Every chance he got he attacked the beast with spells but they didn't do much.

she smiled widely lightly gripping his hand, she pulled pulled his other hand away wanting to see his smile, when she did it caused her lips to curl into a grin "why try and hide that?" soon after asking this Kai saw as satoshi streaked passed them, she froze the beast in his place, flicked her hand and he exploded, a gift from the many mages. She laughed to herself and lightly pressed her lips against his once again.

Satoshi cursed to himself

"I hate this forest."

He wandered back to the lake to bandage his wound.

His lips pushed back to hers, his hand holding hers, his free hand wrapping gently around her waist to be careful of her ribs, slowly pulling away, he looks down at her. "Quite dangerous, did that without prepping the sword." Hogarth said, smiling gently his eyes looking into hers.

she laughed to herself, with her free hand she was running two fingers up and down the blade able to keep it calm, to enjoy herself, and to finally bask in what love truly felt like. She blushed a deep shade of red before looking down at it "the spirits are happy.." she blinked "they're cheering but you can hear that.. right?"

"Why do you think they are cheering?" Hogarth asked, his hand stiffening out, trying to compare the size of his hand to hers. He knew why but he wanted to hear why she thought they where cheering.