~*~*~*~*~ Sequel Chapter four *~*~*~*~

Silently walking back to wards the inn, the temple boy felt a cut down his thigh, as they appeared to belong to the beast... with a chuckling frown, in human form, the boy reached the inn by night fall all by him self... the ancient beast and the other all have gone back home to rest for the night... spear propped on his shoulder, the boy saw the inn keeper waiting for him at the entrance with a blanked and a smile...

"You missed lunch and supper!" she softly stated handling him the blanket...
"Sorry! I think I'll just take a quick snack and sleep! I'm exhausted..." the boy wrapped him self in the blanket as he slumped his way to the dining room then to his bed room...

Sprawling in his warm comfy bed, Ushio rested down and it was merely seconds before he quickly started snoring... the innkeeper smiled softly as she walked away to rest for the night... the temple boy was the only guest around keeping her busy...

"Hmm... maybe I should ask that merchant to do me another favor! I could use a few more humans to keep me busy..." she smiled, then faded in the darkness of the place...

~*~*~*~*~

Limbs stretching out wards as the famous shark teeth showed, the ancient beast had just finished nursing him self and was warn out and in need of sleep... craning to one side, the ancient orange beast eyed the light brown female nuzzling her mate as they chatted about their future child trailing into their den, their daughter followed after saying good night to the light brown male...

'Some times... I feel them so damn lucky...' the beast thought to him self, tail flicking once, he rested his head down and drew in a deep breath as he slowly went to sleep... or sleep got to him or... well heck! What ever came up first!

"Hmm... I guess choosing a name wont be that easy then!"
"I guess so!" murmured the dark brown male with a smile "say Kage, how sure are you that it's gonna be a boy?"
"Oh-I have a mothers hunch!" she smiled...
"Well... how about Kanji?"
"Nah..."
"Umm... Jin?"
"No, too strong!"
"Kazuya?"
"Too creepy!"
"I know! How about Ushio??" Ann snickered...
"Very funny! I don't need a hot-head for a son!"
"Okay... Shigure?"
"Ann! Can't you think of some thing better?"
"Gimmy a minute so I can think!"
"Um, how about lee?" asked the dark brown male...
"No!"
"Uhh... I dunno... Tofu?"
"Muma! (Glaring with a smile) get a life!"
"Well, what do you have in mind then?" the male lightly growled...
"Well... I was thinking of... Yuji!" the light brown female sighed...
"...Oh... sorry..."
"Uhh... that's... grandfathers name... isn't it?" the golden female asked...
"Yes... it is!" the mother smiled feeling her belly... a tear formed in her ivy green eyes...
"Kage..." softly stated the dark brown male hugging his lonesome feeling mate, kissing her softly on the forehead...
"I'm okay..." she breathed hugging him back...
"..." Silent... the golden female said nothing eyeing her parents...

~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~

We always name things in memories of the ones we knew... the ones we loved, cared about, treasured, or did some thing for us that changed our lives... some times it's not easy to give up to the sudden changes, but in the end, you just end up finding your self flowing with it no matter where it goes... you want to let go, but then you fear leaving some thing behind you truly want... that is the point of no return, where we find our selves forced on letting go of things we know would never change no matter what we try... we should always believe in God then our selves, and we'll always find the right path to walk through... no matter how rough and hard it looks...

~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~

"Man-I don't know what you did to that salad, but I gotta admit one thing... it tastes GRAND!" smiled the temple boy finishing his breakfast, then slowly shifted a bit closer to the innkeeper on the opposite side of the table "are you willing to share the recipe secret?"
"I don't think so boy!" she smiled frowning, then took a sip of her morning tea...
"Um, Ms, or Mrs. Siren, mined if I ask you some thing?"
"The title would be 'Lady Siren' boy!" she softly stated...
"Um, of-course!" the boy sheepishly smiled "I just wanted to ask, about... about..." lightly blushing...
"You can say it my boy! No need to be so shy!"
"Well... when To-err... Lord, Nagatobimaru said that... you were a spirit builder... I couldn't quiet get the idea! I mean, what do you do exactly?"
"Well... we treat any one that comes here with much care, help his senses relax and improve if possible, we give training courses, but right at the moment, the master trainer is not here! He would be back from his travel some time after two or three weeks from now!"
"Master trainer?"
"He is my husband!" she stated, "while he's away, I ask a merchant to send out tickets for drawing in quests to keep my self busy till he returns!"
"Well, don't you have any kids?"
"No! I give no children!"
"Oh! Sorry!"
"That's all right my boy! I have a few 'young' helping hands here... and the beasts up the mountain keep me feeling safe, and they are good company! Kage and Yami both come to help me out every now and then..."
"Talking about Kage, have you gotten the news?"
"Of Yami and Kyofu's mating? Yes I have!"
"Oh-no! About Kage her self!"
"Um, no!" a bit confused "is some thing the matter with her?"
"She's pregnant!" the boy smirked... then lightly chuckled at the innkeeper's surprised face...
"Really?" she smiled, he gave a nod "why that's wonderful! I should drop her a visit today and congratulate her!"
"I was attending to go give her a visit after breakfast! Wanna join?"
"Oh-I'm sorry! I can't just go and leave inn empty!"
"Oh... are you sure?" she gave a nod "well... I'll tell her you knew and your happy for her then?"
"I'd appreciate that!"

~*~*~*~*~

It was a cool freshening breeze that blew against the golden females face as she walked down the forests path... eyeing the morning sun rising from the position of the light brown male, the thinking spot was perfect the watch sunrise/sunset from... silver tail flickering... the young golden female began feeling a few things changing in her life... fist knowing her real past, finding a person to hold so dear, a person to train her well, and a mother who loves and holds a new member just waiting to set eyes on the sun...

"Hey Ann! You're here early!" exclaimed the young male walking to her...
"Morning Jiaaku!" She smiled, but then lightly felt started as he nuzzled her softly...
"Err! Sorry!" he shyly mumbled drawing back "I have no idea why I did that!" head between his shoulders...
"Um, never mind!" she shyly stated feeling her face "where is uncle Tora?"
"Oh-he said he was gonna irritate your mother as a daily chore before starting to train us! He's considering the thought of making it a hobby!"
"Uncle Tora sure does like bothering mom! Now that she's pregnant, she gets mad faster than normal, so he'd better not come crying if she kicked him down the family jewel!"
"Tell me about it! I think accidentally hitting it hurts! So what if hardly cored-kicked on purpose!!"
"I have no idea!"
"SH**!!!" a voice cured echoing across the forest...
"Or... maybe not!" the golden female softly murmured...

"Aw-F***-F***F***!!!" a wobbly ancient orange walking beast cursed as he walked "damn! That crouch kicking bit**!! She kicks 'hard'!!!" he whined, eyeing the two beasts glaring him with sleepy eyes and wicked smirks, tails flickering "what are you two smirking at?" he growled in embarrassment...
"I don't believe this guy..." the light brown male mumbled...
"Nether do I..."
"F***... any way! Let's start training!" the beast trailed down a path only to hear soft muffled up held back giggling "ALL-RIGHT!!!" he hollered lightly crackling thunder "I'm gonna whip your sorry puny little asses and make mitts-meat outta you if you make me lose face!" his dark orange tail lashed, eyeing them facing the sky, lips hardly keeping in the smiles "I don't wanna end up training wimps, got that!?" the beast growled hissing...
"Yes Uncle Tora!" the golden couldn't help but giggle those words out...
"Yes sir!" the light brown male was just the same...
"THAT'S IT!!! You two get your butts over here ON THE DOUBLE!!!" he hollered like a major in the army...
"Yes Uncle Tora!" the golden female, startled, skipped down the path... toying with the ancient beast's nerves now wouldn't be considered a pretty good idea...
"All right all right! Sheez!" exclaimed the light brown male pacing after the female "what a grouch!" Jiaaku stated softly only to get a thwack down his rear "Ouch!"
"MOVE IT!!!!" Tora hollered growling...

Lightly crackling thunder, the ancient beast growled cursing as he walked after the two beasts ready for their first day of training... feeling anger and head building up his soul, the ancient beast couldn't help but wish if the boy was there so he could slaughter him... looking at the two young ones walking in front of him, they were whispering and chuckling softly to each other, he didn't know what they were saying, but he knew it was about him cause he heard a mention of the 'temple boy' and 'the spear down his ass' and some other things... annoyed, the beast chuckled nastily and wickedly before shooting a bolt to both their tender rears making them jilt and yelp in pain and startle... figuring out that he caught them red-handed, they silenced in shame as they now all three of them walked side by side, with the ancient beast in the middle parting them... eyeing them in the corner of his silver slitted sleepy looking eyes, the beast gave a faint chuckling grin, as it was obvious they both wanted to be side by side, but trying that on the orange beast would only take bad chances of getting almost slaughtered...

~*~*~*~*~
Somewhere else...
~*~*~*~*~

"So... Lady Siren was really hoping to come here and congratulate you personally Kage, she just couldn't leave the inn empty and all!"
"I know, and I understand! When you go back, tell her I'll drop in for a visit as soon as I slip my way out of Muma's sight! Staying around him while being pregnant is worse that a prison cell!!" she growled stating in irritation, side ways glaring her mate eyeing her with a cool calm gaze from their dens entrance...
"..." The boy simply smiled... craning back to the light brown female feeling her pregnancy; he lightly blushed before gathering his guts to ask, "Um, Kage, I just wanted to ask... do you have any idea in what month you are?"
"I think I'm some where between the third and fifth month Ushio!" the stated, "But, it still hasn't started kicking yet, so I'm really not sure..."
"Oh..."
"The baby kicks by the end of the fourth month and the beginning of the fifth... a pregnant female usually feels sick for two or three weeks in the second and third month so... it's all been so fast..."
"What do you mean Kage?"
"Well... I remember when I was pregnant with Ann, it seemed like if it was more than nine months!"
"Would you like me to call Yami then?"
"Oh-no! Let her and Kyofu have a little more time together!" the female smiled "she earned it!"
"I guess..."

"Ushio!" the dark brown male called softly walking into the den...
"Yeah?"
"Ann, Jiaaku and Tora went out this morning for training and I was wondering... when you and Tora were together, how was Tora's training? Not too harsh was it?"
"Spearing with the devil him-self was less painful!" smirked the boy lightly chuckling, holding the spear with one hand, propping it on one shoulder...
"Oh!" with a sweat drop, the male was worried "he'd better not harm a hair on her head..." the dark brown male growled eyeing the dens entrance, milky tanned tail lashed a few times...
"Muma! Honey, relax! I gave old fuzz ball a fair kick down where the sun don't shine!" the temple boy blinked lightly blushing "he wouldn't dare do any thing to them as long as I have some thing to do with it!"
"Kage!" the boy softly said, "you... kicked Tora?? Why?"
"Well, that's what he gets for touching a female where he 'knows' he shouldn't!" she mocked chuckling...
"Ow!" the boy exclaimed with a pained face "that must've hurt!"
"Not really! But to say the truth! He's got a rough crouch! My toes hurt!" she smiled nursing her toes...
"He must've gotten kicked a lot then, eh?" mocked the dark brown beast...

=~*~=~*~=

"H-hey Tora! Where are you going?"
"No where..."
"Some thing the matter Uncle Tora?" =O.o=?
"Nah! Just need to make a pit-stop!" -^.^- () 'F*** my crouch is killing me!' the orange beast whispered jerking his head back dwelling into the forest...

=~*~=~*~=

"Well any way, I gotta be heading back, I'd better give dad and the girls a call to tell them things are going just fine here!" stated the boy standing up and brushing him self "and!!" he sung "not forgetting the good news of the future coming delivery!" the boy smirked at the dark brown started and embarrassed male...
"..." Glaring with a smile, the male only flickered his milky tanned tail...
"Muma!" giggled the female "don't even think about it!"
"What ever..." the male murmured...
"Uhh-huh?" shaking his head the boy gave a wave goodbye, before departure of the den, going back towards the inn...

~*~*~*~*~

Walking down that snow covered path, the temple boy couldn't help but to smile to the happy thought of having a pouncing-baby-beast playing around here and there... he remembered the time when he asked the ancient orange beast 'do you like kids, Tora?' and the answer was nothing but cursing, swearing and promises of massive destruction... 'Just like the kitten!' the boy thought chuckling to him self... just because the beast said he hated kids, never meant he was absolutely heartless... Tora loved kids; he just didn't want to look nice and soft... Ushio knew that, and he wished if he had a brother or a sister... 'I wonder how Ann would be like?' jealous? It could happen if some one felt out of attention!

"I hope the new kid won't make them change!" the boy whispered to him self, then shifting up his side eyeing the inn a distant down in front of his sight, with a smile, the boy walked down the path, feeling the need for a hot bath... maybe a Massage even! "I hope I don't have to do it naked!" the boy blushed, reaching his destination...

=====================================================

"DAMMIT!!! Cant you do it right dimwit!" hissed the orange beast, orange fur shimmering under the afternoons sunlight, silver slitted eyes glared a beaten-up young light brown beast panting and lightly bleeding "you'll never last less than a second in a real battle!"
"Uncle Tora! We're only training!" the young golden female scolded, "there was no need for you to be so harsh!" the concluded nursing her friend...
"I-am as-serious-as a real battle female!" Tora hissed at her, making her shrink back a bit "if you cant take it, then find your self another trainer!" the beast attended to crane around...
"W-wh-wait!" the young male growled panting, standing on his four feet...
"...?" With a sneer, Tora craned his head back...
"Jiaaku!" softly breathed the golden female...
"I!!!" he hissed "demand a re-match!" he concluded, red tail flickering and lashing like an angry cat's...
"B-but Jiaaku!"
"Ann! stays out of this! This is between him and me!"
"..."
"T-heh!" chuckled the orange ancient beast licking his chops, sneering, hissing and cursing each other, dark orange tail lashing, claws extended, silver eyes glaring in a fine silver glow...
"All right..." pacing back, the female cleared her throat, then frowned "but... don't you dare hurt your self Jiaaku, or I'm gonna give you such a beating, Uncle Tora's hits would be as if like he hit you with a feather!"
"I'll keep that in mind!" the young male chuckled, then craned around to the ancient beast who gave no pause and sprung to a sudden attack...
"...!" Silver slitted eyes froze right next to the young males face, with nothing but merely millimeters parting them...
"Oomph!" suddenly, a cold-hearted fist punched the young males abdominal...
"Jiaaku!" called Ann hurrying towards her friend, blanked out cold, he just sprawled there motionless, lightly panting...
"T-heh..." the beast sneered, "he would never survive a real battle..."

SLAP!!!!!

"...!!!" feeling his face with a flat hand, heat was eating it's way through the flesh of his furry cheek, the ancient orange beast snapped in surprise eyeing those pitch blue eyes glaring him with nothing but hatred, hissing and growled yet with tears streaming down her face, the golden female seemed so angry, she looked just like her mother... maybe even worse! A cold block of ice slid its way down Tora's back giving a sudden chill reaching his bottom, while his tail went POOF!
"How-could-you?" she hardly spoke, hissing, tears seeping down her face, shark teeth showing as she jerked her head around nursing her friend...
"Ann..." the beast tried to clear his reasons...
"YOU HAD NO RIGHT!!!" she growled scolding, heartbeats slamming against her ribs, heat reaching out enveloping the orange beast "we we're suppose to be training Uncle Tora... simply-just-TRAINING!!!"
"Ann... I ..."
"You made it like a battle of life and death! You're skilled in this! We're not! We're nothing but beginners! Do you expect us to learn every thing you showing from the first try?" she growled quickly jerking her head back to him... silver long lock struck her face over here eyes, she didn't even bother shifting them back...
"..." The beast was frozen, he couldn't do any thing... gathering up his gut's Tora just wanted to look like his old self, tough and harsh "well HEY! It's more your problem than mine! I told you I'm a rough player! You were ready to take the consequences, so here they are!!"
"But you didn't have to be so vile!" she sobbed over her fainted friend...

Anger building up, heat still burning his face, that slap was from the bottom of her heart, and he could feet it eating his flesh still... feeling his face again, giving a few curses and swearing, the beast turned away to cool down a bit, he needed to leave them to rest and for the golden female to nurse her friend, after all, Tora made a mess out of Jiaaku, but truly he knew Ann cared a bit 'too' personally for the young male, which drew a slight chuckle on his face, Jiaaku, as a young male, had a good body, he just wasn't that bright! A slow one yet all he needed was a bit more time training...

"Kids!" hissed the beast, he had a place in mind that he could calm him self down in, so he trailed there in need of maintaining him self...

=====================================================

"Oh!! Hi Ushio!!!" greeted Mayuko on the phone with a few giggles... she was home in the living room...
"Hey!" the boy smiled, wrapped up in a warm towel around his waist, lying on his stomach, with a lovely young lady-spirit rubbing his tensed up muscles to relax... Ushio was lightly blushing, arms folded under his chin, as a phone handle rested in his hand... "Just wanted to know how every thing was going!"
"Oh-every thing is just fine!" Mayuko smiled "you sound happy! Are you enjoying your stay?"
"Um, yeah (blushing a bit harder) you can say that!"
"I'm glad to hear that!" she giggled, "Have you called your father?"
"Oh-yeah! Dad was just fine! Asako was home when I called and she seemed really steamed about some thing... its not 'it' is it?" the boy worriedly asked...
"Well (Blush) Asako told me that Tora gave her a quick surprise visit last night and..."
"Aw-Sh**!!!" groaned the boy "he spilled the beans, right!"
"Um, yeah... big time! But he said that 'you' were the one who told him, and you were actually sorry for not having it the other way around!"
"WHAT!! That's a lie Mayuko and you know that!" the boy cried in embarrassment "how could he say that?"
"Well... after all he 'is' still Tora!"
"Well, he'll be a dead one when I'm through with him! I'm gonna pound him like a pulp so hard he'll wish I never got him out of that damn hell hole!"
"Calm down Ushio!" softly stated Mayuko "um, it's kind of early but... I just wanted to ask, about... Kage!"
"Huh?"
"You know! Ann's problem!"
"Oh-that!!! (Grinning) well, first of all, Ann and Muma are doing just fine, Ann accepted Muma as her father. Second, Jiaaku and Ann are getting closer, I got a pretty good hunch they might become mates! third, Tora ain't happy and that's all I care about... and last but not least, yet the most important thing..."
"... is?"
"Kage... is... pregnant! The baby should be delivered soon!"
"!!!!!" Eyes wide open, jaws lightly opened a crack, blushing and in start, Mayuko placed a hand on her lips...
"Mayuko? Are you still there?" pause "if you are, please don't scream! Asako's reaction made my ears pop out!"
"Oh-I... you mean Oji-san was right?"
"Yup!!" the boy smiled "Relax! She's doing fine!" the boy smiled "I'll let you get over the news, I forgot to till dad... would you tell him for me? The telephone isn't free-on-use you know!"
"I'll see what I can do... depends if Asako hadn't told him!"
"Yeah... well, gotta be going now, see you when I come back! Bye!"
"Bye!"

Telephone handle hung up...

"Sigh... God!" was all what the girl breathed before slipping on some clothing and heading out side... towards the temple...

~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~

Life is always floating like a circle... around and around... people die, then others are born... and it kept on going from now till the end of time... every time some one dies, God gives birth to another soul... merciful God... creator of life and death, beholder of light and dark... one and only...

~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~

"Umhhh..." the boy mumbled "a bit to the left!"
"..." Rubbing still, the boy was half asleep...
"Oh-yeah... God, this feels so good!" closing his eyes in relaxation... the boy dwelled into sleep...

Every thing was black with that warm tender feeling against his stiffed muscles... but then, some how, things went cold and silent... a sound of dripping water and sobbing was heard... some thing lightly glowed... the sound of droplets was merely teardrops on the surface of water... light currents waves atop the surface... peaceful currents waved through the blackness of the place... looking up... some the with green eyes was crying... it was a human, and it was a woman... long red hair, naked milky tanned skin... the hair was long enough to cover most of her bare hurt skin... it had cuts, scares, and black and blue spots all over... but then... some thing small near her was covered in blood shimmering with that strong sour sent every where... attending to walk to her, as she seemed so familiar, some thing pulled him back with a harsh quick jerk...

"Ushio!" a sudden voice called...
"Uh-h-h-huh??" startled from the dream and the sudden shove against his head, the boy eyed the tanned female eyeing him with a mocking face "Y-Yami?"
"Nice butt!"
"Huh?" craning back, the towel was a bit pulled down, the young woman-spirit wasn't there any more...
"(Giggling)" Yami couldn't help it as she watched the temple boy quickly yelp, face gone red, and wrapped the thing around his waist, then threw on a bath robe that was near him...
"Yami!" he lightly growled, "what are you doing here??"
"Sorry... but I heard some news from Tora about you and that young human female... and I just hope I'm not interfering into your business!"
"Tora had the nerve to tell you about me and Asako?" the boy blushed "OW-I-AM-GOING-TO-KILL-THAT-F***ing-MERE-SH**-HEADED-A**-H***!!"
"I guess Tora likes embarrassing you, doesn't he?"
"Big time!" the boy hissed "but that canon is gonna back fire the next time I see him!"
"I see..." the female smiled, and then eyed the boy blinking her with a questioning looks "Yes?"
"Where is Kyofu?"
"...!" The female lightly smiled almost embarrassed "near by!" the shyly stated "but he's not why I'm here! I just wanted to tell you a few tips in case you attend to make a move towards that female!"
"W-WHAT!!!" the boy hollered, leaping up to his two bare feet, "from where the 'hell' did you get 'that' idea??"
"Huh? Aren't you attending to make her your mate?"
"Well--tch--I-err..."
"Tora told me you want her, but you're just too 'chicken' to ask!" the female stated mocking...
"Well... he'd better keep that ugly face of his out of my personal things! Besides! Why should I try to make Asako my mate... err, I mean my 'wife' any way?" the boy blushed...
"Oh? So you're saying Tora added a little too much spice to mix then?"
"WAY Too much! Too much for his own good!" the boy grinned wickedly hissing with a smile...
"I see..." the tanned female lightly smiled "so I guess there is nothing for me to do here then! Sorry for bothering!"
"Y-Yami!" called the boy eyeing her attending to walk out "where are you going?"
"Back home! Why?"
"I'm sorry if you're disappointed! What was it that you wanted to say to me?"
"It wouldn't matter!"
"No honest! You can talk to me if you'd like!"
"No-it's nothing! I was just thinking of giving you some health tips if you ever attend to make love with your friend any time in the future!"
"(Face burned in red)"
"But I guess you're a bit too young for it any way! Bye!" smiled the female, leaping over the stonewalls...

Pause...

"..." Stomping his way through the hall way after being properly dressed, the boy headed for lunch in the dining room as he cursed the beast with any thing vile under his slurred up angry and irritated breathe...

~*~*~*~*~

"...ugh..."
"Kage?"
"M-h... Muma... I don't... feel so good!"
"Huh?" walking to his mate with much worry, the female had her hands on her pregnancy, softly feeling it...
"Some thing is wrong... there is some thing terribly wrong Muma!" hardly breathed the light brown female feeling pain down her body...
"Wait here! I'll go get Yami!"
"Muma!" the female reached out her hand, but too late to get her mate's attention... hand shifting down as sudden doses of pain stabbed her, it was unbearable... soft tears formed in her eyes slowly seeping down her face, ivy green eyes shooting wide open every now and then after shutting closed trying to hold the pain as back as possible, mouth exposed as she gasped and held in breath...

~*~*~*~*~
The heavens are under our mothers' feet...
~*~*~*~*~

"Is some thing the matter my boy?" the inn keeper asked softly...
"No!" the boy growled, sneering like an angry beast every now and then, eating fast and in irritation... until he chocked that is!
"Oh!!" startled, the innkeeper gave him water, then carefully hit her flat hand against his back until the thing was drawn down his throat "eating too fast while angry is not healthy my boy!" the innkeeper lightly scolded, giving him some more water...
"Uhh..." throat hurting, a single droplet of pain in his eyes, the boy drank a little moistening his throat "ahem... thanks!"
"..." Concerned, the innkeeper just had to ask, "what seems to be the problem?"
"Nothing..."
"You know..." Siren softly stated, "I don't usually like bothering my guests with such thing but... are you sure? I feel you having nothing but problems ever since you came here? Is the inn uncomfortable? Is there some thing here you don't like?"
"Oh-no!" the boy quickly exclaimed after a quick drink "it's not the inn! It's absolutely wonderful! I like it here a lot!"
"Why are you so troubled then?"
"Well..."
"...?" Eyeing the boy lightly blushing, as he thought of some thing wroth answering her with, the old lady smiled "is it personal?"
"...?" Eyeing her, a bit feeling stupid "um, yeah... personal!"
"Would you like to talk about it?" she suggested...
"Not really..."
"I see..." Siren smiled eyeing the young boy's face splashing in crimson...
"..." Silent, Ushio raised an eyebrow blinking her as she softly smiled...
"Might as well attend to the rest of the inn... five new customers are attending tomorrow... please be nice with them won't you? And no spearing please!"
"Um, can I ask, what are they?"
"One male human, two male samurai skeletons and two female Oni's!"
"Oh!!" O___O ()
"Might as well get the rooms ready, they would be here either tonight or tomorrow morning!"
"Okay!" watching the innkeeper walk away, Ushio gave a confused sigh... pause "Lady Siren!"
"Yes?"
"Was it wax in my ears, or did I hear you say... human??"
"Yes!" taking a paper out from her sleeve "oh-mistake!" she stated "two humans, two male samurais' and one female Oni!" she corrected...
"Two humans?"
"Yes!" eyeing the paper "they seem like a new couple that just got married!!"
"..."
"Did I tell you that the Inn gives a free week for new couples on their honey moon?" the lady smirked "I'd like it if you spent 'your' honey moon here, beast barrier!!" she smiled exclaiming...
"Uhh-I'll... (Face turned red, eyeing his knees) keep that in mind..."
"..." With a faint giggle, the spirit lady walked away...
"..." Craning around, the boy eyed the mountains "I wonder how Tora's doing!"

~*~*~*~*~

"Ouch!"
"Sorry Jiaaku!"
"It's okay!"
"Um, do you think Uncle Tora is ever gonna forgive me?"
"I can't tell the future Ann! The only thing I know is that Tora is an Enigma!!!"
"He is not! He's just... rapid!"
"Yeah! And that's even worse!"
"Jiaaku!" scolded the golden female playfully hitting her friend on the shoulder...
"Ow!"
"Oops! Sorry!" -^.^- ()
"Man!" whined the young male feeling his crackling bones "I never knew Tora could hurt so badly! I wonder how Ushio ever survived this long!"
"It gives to be careful!"
"I guess..." the young male exclaimed as he and his friend walked down a snowy path, snow lightly falling...
"Jiaaku..." softly the golden female breathed...
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you some thing!"
"Sure! Fire away!"
"About... the new baby!"
"It's not born yet Ann! Don't worry about it!"
"It's not that, it's just..."
"...?"
"I don't know if I'll be able to like him/her!"
"Uhh-huh? Why would you say that?"
"Well... mom and dad are probably gonna be so busy with it, they'll forget all about me!"
"I'm here!!"
"..." Eyeing her friend who was smiling to her passionately, the young female couldn't help but feel silly and embarrassed "I'm acting silly, aren't I?"
"Cant blame you!" the young male stated "I mean when we were still kids, the time when Kage took me in and counted me as a part of the family... there was nothing I hated more than being near 'you'!"
"...!!"
"But now I regret that!"
"...?"
"I just... can't keep my mind off you Ann!"
"(Eyes slightly widening, tail tucked)"
"... Ann!"
"Y-yes?"
"I don't... I don't know if this is the right time, or place but... I need to ask you some thing that really means a lot to me!"
"(Heartbeats thumping hard, Ann knew some thing was coming)"
"Ann..."
"..."
"Would... you... would you be..."
"...?"
"Would you be my mate?"
"!!!!!"

Silence... absolute silence... it crept over every thing... blinking once, thinking about that given question... a mate? Just him and her? No parents telling them what to do, how to act, to have the freedom they wanted... yet, to leave the place where they grew up in, the ones the new... her parents?? Ann didn't know...

"Ann?"
"I ... I need some time to think about it Jiaaku..." softly whispered the female, her long silver bangs shaded over her eyes...
"Ann?" the young male saw her walking off...
"We gotta go find Uncle Tora first... C'mon!"
"H-hey! Wait for me!" stated the male running after his friend... Jiaaku started to have the pained feeling that he never should've asked that question... the female probably hated him, yet she couldn't give the answer...
"..." Feeling heat burning up her face, the female felt the need to cry... was she happy or sad, she couldn't maintain her self, simply clearing that subject out of her mind and concentrated on running, only to find her self bumping into some thing huge wrapping it's self around her...
"Ann!" called the young male, eyeing her slamming into the huge ancient orange body...

"Why is it that you kids NEVER watch where your going?" softly scolded the beast sprawling on his back, the golden female flat on his chest, snow on his head, ears and shoulders, pouting with a childish face...
"Oh! Sorry Uncle Tora! I didn't see you!"
"Like duh!!" mocked the orange beast "what you kids need are glasses!"
"Where were you Tora?"
"I gave a visit to mercury!!" the beast mumbled mocking, "I was right here dummies!" he concluded scolding, and then glared the female "by the way female, would you like it the other way around?"
"Huh?" eyeing her self still flat on his chest, she yelped squealing in embarrassment and hid behind her friend...
" O___O ' " Jiaaku blinked startled at the chuckling beast who suddenly snapped and felt his face...
"..." Seeing that, the female bit her lips "sorry!" Ann breathed...
"...?" Eyeing them, the heat in his face, Tora still felt that slap burning his flesh, but then he drew back his hand and gave a lazy glare "what ever... C'mon! We'd better be heading back! It's getting late!"
"Yeah... let's!" the light brown young male slurred...

Walking after the elder orange beast, the two young beasts felt some thing odd about their orange friend... Tora seemed busy thinking or some thing like that... they just couldn't help it at all...

"Uncle Tora, what's wrong?"
"..."
"Tora! Some thing wrong buddy?"
"Nothing that concerns me..."
"...?"
"Huh?"
"But it might concerns you!" the beast hissed not craning to them...
"What do you mean Uncle Tora?"
"Depends on how your mother is going to tell you!"
"Mom?"
"Kage?"
"What's wrong with mom??"
"Ask 'her'..."
"Uncle Tora!" in worries the young female skipped standing in front of the elder beasts face "what-is-wrong-with-mother?"
"..." With what seemed a sad face, Tora said nothing... walking around her, the beast carried on his path... tail down, not flickering once, prints on the soft snow that lightly fell like fluffed cotton from the sky...

"Tora!!" called the young female, but he gave no answer... worried till the tip of her senses, the female darted a run towards her home not giving a damn care to her young light brown friends calling...
"..." The young female passed Tora with a frightened look on her face...
"Ann!" called the young male running after her...
"..." The orange beast gave a sigh... eyeing where they went, he drew in a breath "God-why dose it have to hurt?" opening his eyes, the beast eyed the sky as it seemed to be sunset "a life rises and falls like the sun... but the child hadn't lived more than an hour!" the beast lightly protested scolding thin air... "Let's hope things end up well..." Tora murmured as he slowly trailed off towards the dens... but then paused, craning to another destination "better brake the ice before the spear dose..." Tora mumbled, he hated being the one to carry bad news to the temple boy; sadly he was the only one available!

~*~*~*~*~

"Ummh..." hummed the boy soaking him self in hot water till the tip of his nose, eyes lightly opened a crack... drawing in a deep breath, the boy tried relaxing, closing his eyes and feeling the warm tender feeling going into his body helping him rest...

Silent... Ushio heard nothing... but then, some thing in the black view started forming, a gray shadow was walking on it's four feet... it was afar distant from him, but it was walking towards him... it's colors were gray and gloomy... it was furry and huge... long silky hair flickering with the faint whooshing breeze... but then it stopped in it's tracks as it gave no sound... the boy saw him self standing in front of it, he was pale and with the long black cloud of hair over his eyes... the thing in front of him eyed him calmly, as nothing startled him but that droplet in crimson glowed as it dripped from it's forelock drawing to it's chin... every thing was in gray scale but their eyes... the temple boy's eyes glowed in greenish-purple as the beast that he never saw in his life eyed him back with one green eye in ivy, the other in crimson red like fresh blood...

The beast had a mane with silky hair, a forelock kind of like the ancient beast but with no whiteness in the middle, and the ears were different, more like Jiaaku's ears... 'Help me...' the beast suddenly whispered in a frightened child's voice... its eyes wide and blood flowed up its mouth... then it started chocking with blood gapping it's mouth... in start, fright and disgust the boy walked back protecting him self from the splattering blood... Ushio felt hast and worry... a beast was dieing in front of him!! A beast that he never saw before yet feels so familiar!!

"Who are you?" Ushio asked, his voice echoed through the darkness of that cold silent world...
"Please... help me..." the beast pleaded again... trying to take a step towards the boy, Ushio huddled back almost tripping on his own feet...
"Uhh!!!" hesitating, Ushio was scared... heart thumping against his chest, ribs almost ripping open, the temple boy gave a frightened moan...
"Help me!" frightened, the beast pleaded again reaching out a clawed hand clutching the beasts barriers forearm...

"AH!!!" cried the temple boy as he snapped his eyes wide open...
"AHHH!!!!!" the ancient orange beast cried, hand clutching his heart gasping and breathing "F***!!! DON'T-you dare do that again brat!!!" startled and surprised, Tora placed a hand on his head and heart claming him self...
"T-Tora?" the boy stated puzzled...
"No the tooth fairy!" Tora mocked, brushing back a few dark orange locks...
"What are you doing here??"
"..." The beast eyed the boy, and then drew in a deep breath "are you ready to take the news brat? I don't want to be the carrier of bad news you know!" the beast stated reasoning...
"Um, what news?"
"I'll tell you as soon as you dress up first! I don't want you to go fainting on me in the waters! If you sink, you can dream of me doing and getting my self wet!"
"Fine!" growled the boy...

After Ushio was dry and dressed properly...

"So what's the gig Tora?"
"..."
"...?"
"Um..."
"Tora would you just spit it out?"
"Brat!" the beast firmly stated eyeing the boy with silver slitted eyes, full with nothing but pain...
"Y-yes Tora?"
"Kage..."
"...??"
"She..."
"........."
"Lost the baby!"
"HUH???"
"..."
"..." Pause, frowning "T-Tora!" the boy growled hissing, bonking the beast one on the noggin "NOT FUNNY!!!"
"I'M NOT KIDDING DAMMIT!" the beast hissed... some thing shimmered in the wide open glaring silver plates as if were tears...
"...?" Cold heartless wind took the boy's breath away...
"Why-the-mere-Sh**ing-F***-would I kid around some thing like that, brat?" the beasts voice was chocked, clearing his throat, the beast craned around and out side where the snow was still falling...
"... the baby..." the boy stated, tears wheeling down his face "Tora pleases tell me your just kidding!"
"... I'm sorry..." the beast hissed, yet not showing his face... orange fists clutched the snow as the sound of some thing dripping was heard...

Pause... a cold wind blew harshly against both of them...

Dashing a run through the forest towards the mountains, the boy gave no damn care to the thorns and cuts the trees gave him... running and running, swatting away any thing that stood in his path, the boy kept on running... that dream, the child, all the thoughts have fit together! He was dreaming of the child! The naked woman, it was Kage, the thing covered in crimson, it was the child... but whom was the other beast... snapping... it must've been the child but... why was he so frightened? Why was he asking Ushio's help if he met him in the shape of an adult?

"...?" Craning to one side as he ran, the boy eyed the orange fur flickering next to him...
"..." Tora had a few red lines cracking the fine silver glow of his eyes... jerking her head back, the ancient beast gave the boy the sign to get on his back...
"..." With no hesitation, the boy leaped and they ran across the land towards the beasts' home...

~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~

I believe in god... life and death... and fate... I know that this was written for me before I was even created... before the land and sky were created... I am not protesting... I am not complaining... I would just want to know... if I have to let go of him so soon... why was the joy of having him stolen from me??

~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~

"Kage!" whispered the dark brown male, brushing back a bang from his mate's half dead face...
"..." Like a half dead creature, the light brown exhausted female panted lightly as she blinked once... a teardrop wheeled down her face...
"I'm sorry... I guess... it was never written for us to have another child..." the male stated, chocking, a tear rolled down his face...
"Muma..." the female breathed "I have lost three hearts... what's still keeping me alive... is you... Jiaaku... Ann... and the rest of the friends!" the female smiled cupping her sad mats face, "I'm sure Taifuu, YuKai and father would be happy to just have Ann!"
"..." Holding her hand with a tight squeeze "dose it still hurt?"
"The pain of the body would never match the pain of the soul dear! I believe in God! If it was ever written for us to have a child, then I'm sure we will! Never loose faith!"
"I know... I know!" the male sobbed... it was his first blood related child... and it died... for Kage, she knew how it felt to lose a child... Taifuu and Ann were her only children... she had lost Taifuu, but gained Fuusetsu instead... Ann and Jiaaku might leave together soon, and she can't stop that...
"Muma..." calmly whispered the female, kissing her mate on the forehead as he leaned his head on her chest lightly nuzzling her...
"..." Silent, the male said nothing...

"Mom?" the young golden female called "can I come in?"
"Kage!" the young male called as well "is every thing okay in there??"
"Muma!" breathed the female "keep them out!" Kage frowned almost hissing, the craned lightly towards a small pink thing and carried it in her arms dwelling into the darkness of her den...
"All right..." said the male beast clearing his throat, walking out side...

"Dad!" startled, the female exclaimed, eyeing her fathers sad crying face...
"M-Muma!" scared, the young male breathed, "what happened?"
"Nothing! Why are you two back early?"
"Well...Uncle Tora said there was some thing wrong with mom, so I wanted to see if she was Okay!"
"She's... it doesn't matter!" with a cold voice, the male glared "you two go and do some thing useful..." the male hissed craning around...
"Aw-but dad I-" the golden female stated walking after her father...

"OUT!!!" eyes glowing in yellowing gray, hissing and crackling thunder, a teardrop drew down the dark brown face...
"..." Frozen silent, a tear of fright drew on the females face; hand on her heart, her father just shouted in her face...
"Muma are you-"
"I'm fine!!!" Muma growled, "You two stay out of the den!"
"B-but dad!"
"OUT!!!"

"Muma!" called Yami, crimson salty sweet liquid covered her hands and chest as she walked out of the deepest point of her friend den, towards her friend, panting, the crimson color stained the soft snow...
"..."
"There is no need to be so cold!" the female stated...
"Y-Y-Y-Yami! Your covered in blood!"
"It's labors blood Ann!"
"L-labor?"
"Had Kage given birth?" Jiaaku asked...
"Yes, I'm afraid she had..."
"Afraid?" Ann whispered "what do you mean?" tears streamed down her face... the young golden female couldn't handle the news as she quickly craned to her father "Dad!!!"
"..." Muma craned around into the den... vanishing into the darkness...

"Ann..." calmly said the tanned, crimson stained female...
"..." Tears dripping uncontrollably, the female craned with a stiff neck to the female...
"We lost the baby!" said Yami as calm as possible...

"Ann!!" cried the young light brown male as his friend suddenly lost balance and fainted over him... holding her in an embrace; the young male had tears streaming down his face...
"I'm sorry... but he was dead and Kage had to give birth to him although it wasn't yet time!" the tanned female said calmly...
"H-him?"
"It was a male!"
"..." Eyeing his knocked out friend, Jiaaku hugged her sobbing... "Just like Kage said!" the light brown female knew what the child would be... feeling lonely and scared, the young male hugged his female friend slightly nuzzling her till she awakened...

"JIAAKU! YAMI!" shouted the temple boy, while riding over the orange beasts back...
"..." Slowly stopping, Tora was panting as the boy leaped off his back...
"Yami! Your covered in blood!" the boy pointed out...
"Has Tora told you the news?"
"Yami!" the boy lightly pleaded, "please, tell me he's not dead!"
"I'm afraid so Ushio! He was dead, that's why Kage gave birth before time! And that was the reason it hurt a while ago!"
"But..." tears streaming on his face, hands into fists, eyes shut tight streaming a few more wet lines, drawing in a deep breath... the spear hummed softly... eyeing the young male with the fainted female in his embrace, Ushio eyed Ann's face as shook was clear although she was out conscious... the boy craned to the den, attending to walk there, he was yanked back rashly...

"Don't go there now stupid!" the orange beast hissed scolding...
"But Tora!!" the boy jerked around, only to freeze, eyeing the crystal formed thing on his friend's eyes, the face and emotions were the same, but the tears drop drew down slowly, the boy followed it with his eyes till it dripped down the chin, only to land softly on the fisted ancient clawed orange hands...
"..." Silent, the beast shifted a finger to flick it off "Brat! This is not the time! You can comfort them later!" the beast calmly said...

"Now..." breathed Yami, "how about if you all go back home??"
"But Yami!" the light brown male protested "what about Muma and Kage?"
"They'll be fine Jiaaku!" the female replied...
"Yami!" the temple boy breathed, "when things get better, please do tell me!"
"I will!" she smiled... craning to the two young ones "you two will spend the night with me tonight!"
"But... what about Kyofu?"
"Kyofu left a while a go to see a friend! He'll be back tomorrow!"
"Dose he know about this?"
"Yes! He had his reasons to go Jiaaku!"
"..." Tora eyed the temple boy slowly falling on his knees "brat... get a grip of your self!" the beast hissed...
"I know..." Ushio whispered, then with his shirts sleeve the boy whipped away the wetness from his face, drew in a deep breath then eyed the beast "better head back to the inn... I'll see you all tomorrow!"

"Brat!"
"...?"
"Need a ride?" dark orange tail flicked once...
"..."
"...?"
"I wouldn't mind!" Ushio smiled lightly...

The tanned female watched the two friends walk away towards the boys place... Yami smiled and hoped things would end up well... craning around, the tanned female eyed the light brown male with the knocked out golden female in his arms, waiting for her at the entrance of the den...

"I need to clean up first! You two go ahead!" stated the tanned female leaping away...
"Okay..." breathed the light brown male eyeing the female in his arms...
"..." Silent, Ann was breathing normally...
"You look more beautiful up close!" Jiaaku couldn't help but whisper those words out for her, although he knew she'd never hear them... craning into the den, the male said nothing...

~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~

You never know how much some thing is worth until you lose it... sadly, the more you loose some thing, the more you get used to it... it makes our hearts grow silent and cold... and that is full of the world... it's not easy to find pure souls any more, and even if we found one, what proves it would never change??

~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Kage is gonna kill me after this! T__T ()
R&R please... and no flames!