Warmth 4

~*~*~*~*~* Sequel Chapter three *~*~*~*~*~*~

Walking silently, the ancient orange beast eyed the sky as he stood with his dark orange tail lashing a few times... gazing at the landscape, eyeing the tree tops, examining the view, he drew in a deep breath before craning around with a tiny smile faintly showing on his cold stripped face...

"Things just keep on going odder and odder!!" murmured the beast as he trailed though the forest towards the dens, yet oddly enough, no one was there... "Hello!!!" the beast called... he heard nothing but his own echo "funny, I wonder where they went!"
"Tora??" a voice called...
"Huh?" craning around, the beast saw the light brown female "K-Kage??" the beast asked... the female looked shabby, pale, and somewhat, exhausted... she kept on blinking, eyes half opened, and she kept on clearing her throat, if like some thing was stuck in it, not standing straight, she even kept on wobbling her body weight from one side to another...
"What are you doing here?" she asked... voice faint and weak...
"I was... (...!) ... Kage... you all right? You look awful!!" the beast couldn't help but ask...
"I'm... fine..." drawing in a breath, she tried to draw a smile "I just felt like clearing my stomach that's all!"
"You vomited?" he asked with disgust... she gave a nod "Yeach!! Are you that sick?"
"No... Yami said it was some thing like a bad infection in my stomach for having too much lemon, too many times, too many nights in a row!" stated the female, mostly shy...
"Oh..." was all what the beast said, "I've always thought that too much of some thing makes things go bad!"
"I know... I couldn't help Muma's sweetness!" she shy-fully stated, but then suddenly chocked and ran up a few feet away...
"Kage?" sound of some thing splattering "Eww!!" the beast exclaimed in disgust...
"Oy..." slurred the female coughing a few times "I'm okay, I just need to get back into the den *cough-cough* uhh... my chest hurts..." she stated shallowly as she walked into her den...
"Un-need any thing?" the beast asked...
"No... just Yami if you could find her!"
"Where 'can' I find her?"
"Probably *cough* ahem... probably at her study den..." with a shiver, the female huddled into her den looking for warmth...
"..." Feeling worried, the orange beast couldn't help it at all... why did he care? It's not like she meant any thing to him... why should he bother? It's not his problem... why was he feeling this? He never knew...

Taking one last look at the den, with the faint echoing voice of coughing, the beast leaped towards the tanned females den... he remembered the path pretty well... so it really wasn't that much of a problem... what worried him, was 'why' was he doing so? Trying to clear his mind... the beast kept on running...

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Aw-man! I'm 'never' gonna get this right!" complained the young male is he didn't get much improved in his shooting skills... Jiaaku wanted to impress Ann, and improving his talents would really make her like him better... well... that's what he thought... so back to practice he went...

~*~*~*~*~*~

"YAMI!!" the ancient beast called in panic as he reached the den, panting, blinking too many times... and feeling a rush of some thing cold and annoying...
"Wh-what is it??" the female walked out in start, her black mate walked out after her "what is it Tora?" she asked, heart pounding fast...
"It's... Kage... she just... I don't know what to call it!" the beast couldn't help him self but lose control of him-self "I don't know what's wrong with her, but what ever it is it killing her alive!"
"Are you sure?" the black beast questioned...
"Would I be beating the craps out of my self if it weren't you Sh** head?" the orange beats hissed...
"Kyofu, stay here until Muma comes back... Tora... maintain your self; take a shower or some thing you look like a mess... I'll go check on Kage..." softly stated the tanned female before leaping off and away...
"I believe you 'have' changed!" said Kyofu with a faint smile "except for the cursing that is!"
"Huh?" panting still, Tora just didn't have enough brain cells to think about it... "I think I'll just hit the hot springs, I don't feel my self!" hissed the beast as he walked away, lightly panting...
"..." Merely with a smile, the black beast crept back into the den...

~*~*~*~*~*~

"For three more days??"
"Yeah... I guess it's just you and me now!"
"Too bad... I really wanted the girls to be with us!"
"I'm afraid they cant! Only one ticket was left... so they all thought I'm the one who should use it... but to say the truth..."
"...?"
"I'm not so happy about it..."
"Why? (Pause) it's... not me is it??"
"Oh-no Ann! It's just..."
"...?"
"It's about Tora..."
"Uncle Tora? What about him?"
"Well... to say the truth... I'm not sure... I keep getting this feeling telling me that... he's not happy here!"
"What makes you say that?"
"I don't know... from the way I see it... Tora is doing just dandy..."
"So?"
"I don't know... I kind of... I still need him while doing battle! I mean he knows many kinds of beasts... with out him, I just wouldn't know what to do!!" the boy eyed the female as the thoughts ran quickly through her head...
"Why don't you tell him that you want him back then?"
"What? And make my self look pitiful? He loathes me enough already!"
"...I don't understand you Ushio... you want him back, yet you don't want him to know that? Why?"
"..."
"Ushio... I may not be a human, but I know what I really am... if you want Tora to go back with you just say it!!"
"..."
"Ushio..."
"Ann... do you want Tora to leave you?"
"No... to be honest, I want him to stay with us forever..."
"Why do you like Tora so much any way??"
"Well (shying) let's just say, I like Uncle Tora because he has always been my first crush!"
"!!!!!!"
"..."
"You gotta be kidding me!"
"No honest! Uncle Tora has always been there for me... so I guess I couldn't help it!"
"But... he's older than you are! And meaner!! He's nothing but a mangy tiger!" the boy stated... walking towards the door, sliding it open, eyeing the snow falling lightly, it was a bit cloudy though it was still morning...
"Yeah... that's what mom said..."
"...?"
"Ushio..."
"Yeah?!"
"Have you ever thought of having a future mate?"
"(Cheeks splashed in red)"
"I think you and Asako make nice mates!" the golden female snickered...
"..." Shying off, the boy merely walked out into the snow-covered back yard, spear gripped in hand, eyeing the near by tree tops...
"Well?"
"..."
"Aw-c'mon!! Do you like her or what?"
"Well... in a way... yeah... in another... no-way-ho-zay!!"
"Which is stronger?"
"I don't know... after what happened yesterday, I just can't think of any thing!"
"Huh? What happened yesterday?"
"!!! (Blushing) Nothing!!!" stated the temple boy, face glowing in red 'Ho-Sh**! I cant believe I almost blew my own cover!' the boy thought scolding him self...
"..." A bit confused, the only thing the golden female saw was the temple boy's burning cheeks from the side... "Ushio!" she softly sang "why are your cheeks red?" she meekly asked peeking her head over his shoulder...
"!!!" Startled, the boy took a few feet back "N-nothing!!!"
"Aw-c'mon! You can tell me right?"
"Honestly... no!"
"Really?"
"Defiantly! Totally privet!"
"Oh... in that case, sorry for the interference... I get to be a real 'pain in the ass' some times, but I just can't help it!"
"That's all right... we both wanna forget it ever happened any way!"
"..."
"..."
"It's not... about her seeing you naked, is it?"
"!!!! H-how'd... ???"
"Oh! Sorry... I over heard dad discussing a solution for it with mom!"
"You know ease-dropping isn't a good habit Ann!" the boy growled, face still red...
"Well sorry! How was I to know they were gonna talk about you!"

"Excuse me..." a chuckling voice stated "what did you just say?" an orange stripped hand paced softly on the snow as a wicked chuckle seeped through the shark like set of teeth, the famous dark ancient orange tail lashing with evilness in every flick...
"Uncle Tora?" the golden female stated in surprise...
"Uh-oh..." murmured the boy, face gone totally red... "How long?"
"Long enough..." slurred the beast, then craned to the golden female "please tell me... was it on a bed?"
"TORA!!!!" growled the boy, sending a hard-cored blow right on the noggin, but the beast escaped it in a blink of an eye...

"Tora! You missed getting swatted didn't you!" a familiar vice scolded softly... dark brown hands paced on the soft snow, milky tanned mane mixed in gray flickered with the faint breeze...
"Hey! Don't blame me! You were ease-dropping too!" scolded the orange ancient beast, pouting, tail still lashing... silence came, no one said nothing "some thing the matter?" the beast asked, scrolling his eyes among them...

The golden female locked her eyes on her father, he locked them back at her, while the temple boy craned his eyes, eyeing the beast then the golden female several times... silently, the temple boy craned to the orange beast, spear gripped in hand tight, face still red, but lighter than before, frowning... the beast could feel the heat of battle though they were merely feet away...

"Um... hello?" exclaimed the orange beast questioning...
"Um, Ann!" softly called the temple boy...
"Yeah?" answered the female, yet not parting her eyes from her father...
"Would you like some privacy?"
"I would really appreciate that... Ushio..."
"Huh?" the beast wondered...

Then eyeing the temple boy watching the two beasts pace away behind the stonewalls... heading towards the hot spring, Ushio sat down and simply stood with his back against the stone wall, arms folded hugging the spear, coldly eyeing the beast...

"What are you dong here Tora?"
"I go where I want brat!"
"I meant to say... why did you come 'here'?"
"Hey! I could use a hot bath too ya know!" slurred the beast, sitting back on his hunches, a slight smile seeped into the ancient stripped face...
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing..."
"..."
"About the harsh voiced girl!"
"(Blush, eyes wide open)"
"What 'did' happen? Exactly?"
"None of your business fuzz-face!"
"(Tail only flickered, smile widened)"
"Yes?" The boy growled...
"Have you reached puberty yet?"
"!!!" Grabbing the spear then dashing a run towards the beast, who ducked, the boy missed, tumbled over a speck of snow and landed right on the kisser...
"(Just laughed)"
"(Growling and cursing)" the temple boy shoved away the snow as he glared the beast... silence... both said nothing...
"..." Face gone cold and silent, the tail tucked as it stopped flickering, the smile faded, sitting back on his hunches, the orange beast said nothing, slightly and simply looking around...
"..." Startled, hands still holding the spear, the temple boy eyed the beast "some thing the matter fuzz-ball?"
"...where are they?" he simply, yet some what worriedly, asked the boy...
"Dad and the girls?" the beast gave a nod "oh-they went back home! No one left here but me!" stated the boy, then gave a wicked grin "I'm staying here for three more days, so you'll might as well bare with it!" the boy widened his smile as the beast lightly glared pouting...
"Well then..." stated the beast as he stood up and walked towards the waters "where you go or what you do is no more of my business..."
"Huh?" confused, the boy eyed the beast dipping his hands in the waters...
"Ow-hot!! No wonder the females enjoyed it so much!" the beast chuckled shaking water off his hand...
"WHAT?" the boy shouted "were you watching?" feeling anger building up the boy held the spear tight and focused...
"..." The beast was silent, merely with a sheepish grin! "The harsh voiced girl would make a 'fine' mate! Trust me! Go for her!"
"Why-I-Ought-To (many X's popped out as the boy's face turned from red, to blue, to purple!)!!"

"Ah-Lord Nagatobimaru!!" the innkeeper stated, "I see you have dropped in for a visit? Have you not!"
"Huh??" stunned and startled, the boy craned to the old lady, eyes almost going out of their sockets... "yh-you know him?"
"What's the matter stupid?" questioned the beast...
"She knows you?"
"Of-course she does! Brat-allow me to present to you Siren! One of the best spirit builders, not to forget massages professionals, that I have ever met!"
"Spirit builder?"
"She's a spirit stupid! Don't you dare think of her as a ghost!"
"..." O_O|||| "are you telling me... I have spent the last three days with a beast-of-a-spirit?"
"You could say that... in a way!" the beast shrugged...
"Well, at any case, I hope you enjoy your stay! Dinner would be served in half an hour! Please be there! I would be most grateful if you joined us Lord Nagatobimaru!"
"Oh-you bet I would!!" -^_____^-
"(Simply smiled)" with a bow of respect, the old lady vanished like a ghost...
" O___O () I-don't-believe-this..." the boy mumbled to him self, then craned to the beast with a chuckled seeping out... frowning "what's so funny a** h***?"
"You-should-see-the-look-on-your-face!!!" the beast couldn't help but thud on his back laughing his head off...
"O.o?" confused, the temple boy had never seen the beast so... clear!!! He was expressing him self like a normal person...
"Oh god-that was some laugh!!"
"Tora... are you... how do you feel?"
"Just dandy! Why?"
"Um... I don't know... you seem different!"
"Probably lost weight! They don't have TV, Coffee or burgers here!"
"No... I mean..."

Cut in his mid sentence, the temple boy eyeing a dashing golden female, tears falling on the snow like stars from the sky... and the dark brown beast calling her back as he ran after her in worry... in concern, both temple boy and beast followed the two other beasts...

"ANN!!! Please come back!!! ANN!!!"
"MUMA!" the boy cried as he ran as fast as he can after the dark brown beast, spear clutched in hand, and running side by side with the orange beast...
"Uhh...?" craning around, the dark brown beast stopped, still panting...
"Hey! What's wrong?"
"I-uh... I never meant to hurt her... I just wish if I could make her understand why I did so..."
"I don't understand Muma!" the boy exclaimed in confusion...
"I do!" the beast glared "Muma! Explain the problem to the brat! I'll go get Ann! Meet me back at the den!!" and with that the ancient beast ran after the young golden female...
"B-but Tora!!" called the temple boy... now things were really going odd...
"I guess..."
"...?"
"... I would might have to leave them soon..."
"Leave whom?"
"This land... the group... Ann and Kage..."
"Why?"
"Sigh... I think you already know I'm not her father... right?!"
"...yeah!"
"I don't think Ann would stand me being near her any more..."
"What about Kage?"
"I'll stay with her only till she gains back her strength..."
"What? What's wrong with her?"
"Oh... right, you didn't know!"
"Know what?"
"Kage is sick, she might have to stay in the den for the next week!"
"What's wrong wither?"
"Uhh... let Yami explain it for you!"
"Well... can I see her?"
"I guess! Get on!"
"...Muma..."
"Yeah?" walking softly with the boy on his back...
"Is it just me... or does Tora care too much for Ann?"
"Hey! Ann loves Tora! So I guess with all the company they had together, he began to like her too!"
"Well... is she gonna be alright?"
"I hope so... if not... I'll never forgive my self..."
"Muma..."
"Yeah?"
"Would you like to tell me what 'really' happened? Before she ran off!"
"..." Speeding in his pacing, the beast's speed increased from walking to dashing...
"..." Silent, holding tight to the beast's milky tanned mane...
"Ushio!"
"Yeah?"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Many ages ago in ancient China... after a family had been murdered in a coldhearted way... the master of the family with his son in law both died in protection of their home and family... although the child and the wife mysteriously vanished... the enemy whom attacked this family was unknown... yet their members still stalked the two missing members in effort of 'search and destroy'...

After the case has slightly clamed down... the two remaining family members crept their ways through China in effort to find a place to call home after their real home had been destroyed and taken over... the mother and the son, along with an unusual other member, spread their path from north to south in need to reach the sea, where they could escape to Japan where they could shelter...

Sadly the son vanished and so was the mother... driving mad in search of her child, the woman searched high and low... yet she had vanished as well... the remaining family member was a beast... the only one left whom remembers and is telling this tail right now... the son was found an started his new life with a woman he loved... as for the mother... she found a new life, one she could not change... after a while, the female had a child... thinking it still needed a father... the beast wanted to have the honor of being it's parent... though things didn't go easy... they managed... both promised to tell the child the truth once she is old enough or when about to start her own life... but now... things have stumbled upon us... and we have control of it no more...

~*~*~*~*~

"Was that... all you told her?"
"I told her every thing I know... from the start of me not being her father, till the fact that she's Fuusetsu's ancient Aunt!"
"..."
"Sigh... why is God testing me so?"
"As far as I know... God only tests some one when he wants to know how much faith you have in him..."
"...I guess your correct in that one my boy..."
"..." Silent, head laid against the dark brown beats milky tanned mane, listening to the heart beats, the temple boy stayed silent, spear still gripped in hand...

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

"You have to understand child!!!"
"I just... why didn't he tell me sooner?"
"He didn't want to hurt you..."
"I know... I just... I wish if... only..."
"Calm your self!" the orange beast softly held the golden female in an embrace, comforting her, brushing down her silver mane...
"(Sobbing)" tears streaming down her face, she shallowly stopped...
"Listen... you have to learn to hold your self together!"
"(Slightly sobbing)"
"Ann..." the beast softly stated, brushing back a silver lock from her face "had he told you about your mother?"
"M-mother? No! He didn't tell me any thing about mom!"
"Well, just to spare the problem, she's sick right now!"
"(Lightly gasped)"
"I think she might get better if she saw you!"
"..." Thinking, the female pushed back from the orange beasts arms and maintained her self "would you come with me? I don't want to go there alone!"
"I'm sorry child... to be stronger, you have to defeat your own fears!"
"But Uncle Tora!"
"Your parents both love you... understand that and be grateful for having a family child!!" the beast scolded...
"..."
"Sigh..."
"Uncle Tora..."
"Yes?"
"Thank you..."
"??"
"For (shying) for your company!"
"Err... forget about it!" pause, pouting and softly scolding "But don't you dare tell any one about what happened!"
"I wouldn't dream of it!" she said flicking away a tear drop...
"Shall we?" stated the beast as he craned around towards an open path...
"Yeah!" softly answered the female pacing after him...

Softly pacing side by side... the orange beast couldn't help but look after the golden female... he didn't know why, but the thought of having his own children had a soft humming sweet song playing in his mind... 'I wonder how it feels to be a parent!' the beast thought to him self... the golden female was still somewhat lost in her own little world, not knowing what is up ahead... thinking deeply about what she should do or say had her thinking to worriedly and feeling simply lost...

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

To have a family... a home... a person to love and hold so dear... that is some thing I have always thought of... I know my path, and I recognize my upcoming steps... I just don't know how I should act or do when some thing is in my path... I would have to leave my current home and move into another... I may not be allowed to go back to my old home... the ones I love... I want to start my new life, yet still keep my old life with me... I want nothing... all I want... is for every one I know... to remember me now... and if I ever changed... I want them to remember the way I was... for me... for my friends... and for the sake of good memories...

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

"God, Kage look at you! You look as like if Tora beat the F*** out of you... twice!!" softly stated the boy, brushing away a crimson lock from the females face...
"(Simply smiled softly)" sprawling on her side, comforted with her mate, the dark brown beast scrolled his hand on her shoulder keeping her warm...
"Are you gonna be okay dear?"
"I'll be fine..." she faintly answered, voice almost gone...
"Would you want me to get you any thing Kage? Food, drinks, a blanket maybe?"
"I'm fine dear... *cough* ahem... sorry... I'm just tired and a need to sleep that's all!" tail flicking once, ivy green eyes blinking constantly, she tried to fight back the need to sleep...
"Rest easy dear..." softly said the dark brown beast, kissing his mate softly on the forehead and leaving her to sleep...
"Muma..."
"??"
"Please... if you see Ann... tell her I'm sorry for keeping it a secret for so long..."
"I'll try..."
"..." The temple boy said nothing...

Leaving the female to rest, the dark drown beast and the temple boy walked out only to blink the tanned female and the black beast eyeing them worriedly... the light brown male paced towards them after leaping off a stone he was perching on...

"Muma!!! How is she?" the light brown male asked worriedly... Kage was as close as a mother to Jiaaku, having her sick was simply nothing he would ever think of...
"I think she just needs to rest Jiaaku!" softly said the dark brown beast, then craned to the tanned female "Yami! Would you check on her please? I'm feeling worried!"
"I will!" Yami paced into the den silently soundless...
"Muma..." the black beast stated firmly...
"???"
"May I have a talk with you?"
"Um, sure!"
"This way please!" said the black beast as the two of them went into the black beasts den...
"Ushio!" said the light brown male "how was Kage?"
"Looking awful as far as I can tell!"
"..." Worry enveloped the young male, heart pounding hard in his chest; a cold splash reached his senses...
"Oh-I'm sorry Jiaaku! I didn't mean to make you worry!"
"Sigh... it's okay... I just hope she gets better..."
"Yeah... me too..." both said nothing eyeing the den, waiting till the tanned female was out...

"Uhh..." breathed the golden female eyeing the temple boy and the light brown male standing at her parent's den "I can't go! Not with them standing there!" she stated craning to the orange beast...
"Leave it to me..." wickedly smiled the ancient beast soundlessly pacing towards them...
"Uncle Tora!! Don't!!!" she tried to stop him, but couldn't...
"..." Soundlessly walking towards the young two males...
"...?" Craning to one side, clutching the spear tight, the temple boy eyed the ancient beast, silver slitted pupilless eyes fixed on him as this odd look came on his ancient stripped face...
"Oh! Tora!" stated the young light brown male, then gazed around "um, I thought you were gonna get Ann!"
"Does it even matter to you?" harshly asked the orange beast...
"Uhh-huh?" confused and startled, Jiaaku craned to the temple boy...
"Tora!" the boy growled "where-is-Ann?" holding the spear as it lightly started humming...
"..." Head tilting to one side, the beast said nothing... drawing in a deep breath, the beast closed his eyes then blinking the young human "Jiaaku!" hissed the beast, still eyes fixed on the temple boy...
"Err, Yes Tora?"
"Would you be kind and go back to your den? The Brat and I need to have a little talk!" hissed the beast softly...
"...!!??" confused, the temple boy and the young light brown male eyed each other before the young beast gave a nod and walked into his den silently...

"..." Ann eyed her beast friend as he walked into his den, then noticed the orange beast walking a few steps away towards the borrow under the tree... but then blinked the beast slightly giving a jerk on his head as a sign for her to make a move... she knew cause Tora was smiling lightly blinking one eye while jerking his head...

"Some the matter fuzz-ball?"
"Just a stiff muscle brat!" the beast shook his head as he and the boy dwelled far enough for the female to make a run into the den towards her mother...

"So!" said the boy questioning, hugging the spear as he laid his back standing against the tree "What is it Tora?"
"..." Silent, the beast drew in a deep breath, and then blinked once "you know... I was just about to ask you the same question!"
"Huh?"
"Why... in all of god's creations... did you choose to spend your damn vacation here??"
"I didn't! I just felt like relaxing so I thought I'd spend it some where cool and warm in the same time!"
"The only way for it to be cool and warm is if it was humid stupid! And THAT is not a vacations climate!"
"What ever..."
"Brat!" the beast hissed softly...
"...?"
"..."
"Um, yes Tora?"
"Uhh... (Sigh with an odd chuckle) never mind!" the beast murmured more to him self that to the brat...
"..."

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

There are so many things in my mind, heart and soul that no matter what I do... I could never place them into the right words that I want to say... it's confusing... when you know what you want to say, and you just have a lack of words... some times, the wrong word would give the wrong effect to what you want to say... but never the less, they might be the only words a person could think of... thinking in the need of expressing my self makes me feel so... confused... why?

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

"Are you... gonna be okay mom" the golden female softly whispered as she held tight into her mothers embrace, tears seeping down her face...
"Kage is going to be just fine Ann! She just need to rest that's all!" the tanned female softly said...
"Ann, baby... I'm so sorry for never telling you..." the light brown female sobbed as she held her daughter tight...
"...I love you mom... and I love dad just the same..."
"I love you baby..."
"..." With a slight smile, the tanned female slipped her way out of the den leaving to two females to get to understand each other better...

"Yami!!" the dark brown beast called "hey! How is she?"
"..." Slightly thinking, the tanned female froze "um... Hey!"
"??" Startled "is... some thing the matter Yami?"
"No..."
"Can I see Kage then?"
"I don't know..."
"Huh?"
"Ann is in there with her!"
"!!!!"
"..."
"Oh... might as well come back later then..."
"Muma!"
"...?"
"You and I have been together for ages!! I know how much you love Ann and Kage!!"
"..."
"If you still want them, you have to get back your old self and face the truth!!"
"But Yami!"
"MUMA!"
"!!!"
"I have never seen you so weak!"
"...!"
"If you really want to leave them just because you're not really related then HEY no one is stopping you! I just want to say that if you think that you were a true male then you would get that lousy ass of yours 'right-back-in-there' and clear things up before you end up regretting it for the rest of your miserable life Muma!!" the tanned female scolded lightly growling as she hissed in her friends face...
"..." Eyes wide-open Muma simply cleared his throat...
"Uhh... sorry..." was all what the tanned female said before she quickly paced towards her den...
"..." Lost in thought, the male sat back on his hunches, then eyed his dens entrance...

"Muma?" the temple boy called as he walked into the picture, as he swung the spear over his shoulder...
"(Cursing)" the orange beast came in as well, but with a bump on his head...
"Uhh-Ushio!" breathed the male...
"That female sure is loud!" slurred the orange beast nursing his scull...
"Uh-yeah! Yami gets to be awful spooky when she's mad!" the dark brown beast lightly smiled...
"Tell me about it..." stated the temple boy, and then eyed the orange beast eyeing him oddly with shark like teeth and a sheepish grin "Yes?" Ushio growled, "if it's another pairing with me and Asako I'll split your brains out!"
"Well then..." the beast took a few steps away, tail flickering "she 'does' have a 'fine' body brat!" Tora smirked "too bad 'you' haven't seen it naked!!"
"TORA!!!!" the boy cried, morphing into beast-lance-user dashing an attack towards the yelping beasts hide "Come back here you Sh** head so I can kill you!!" the black cloud of silky hair danced with the wind, slitted cat like eyes in greenish-purple glared with what seemed embarrassment, cheek bones colored in crimson, fangs hissing as the boy cursed infinite destruction to the ancient beast body...spear humming as it lightly crackled thunder...
"You gotta get me first pip-squeak!!" the beast chuckled as he ran into the forest...

"Some kids never change!!" Muma chuckled... then craned towards the den "If I really want things to get back to the way it was, I'd better do it now than never..." the beast stated to him self before walking as careful, silent and as soundless as he can...

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All the battles in life that I have gone through could never mach the horror of the battle I am going for right now... before, I used to battle in cause of wining some thing in life... in protecting some thing a want... but now, I fight, but with no one but my self... I am my own enemy... I have to defeat my self and my fears to be able to keep and protect what I hold in my life... the ones I love... the ones I know... my friends... they remind me of who I am and what I used to be... what I really should be like and the things I used to do... they love and care... they want me to stay as my self... I understand that but... it's life! Who ever heard of some thing alive in life that never changed for a thousand years? Every thing, every one... even time changes! Never is any thing the same... today is never like tomorrow, never now that like a few minutes ago, never like who it would be the minute after... things change... and we have no hand in it but to live it the way it goes...

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~*~*~*~*~

"Tora!!! You come back here RIGHT NOW!!!" growled the boy as the beast darted a springing leap toward the sky...
"I'd like to see you follow me now!!"
"Oh-you bet your sorry ass I will!!"
"Huh?"
"..." Focusing, the temple boy gripped the spear tight before shooting his eyes wide as a huge ball on thunder was formed on its head...
"Uh-oh!!!" the beast whispered...
"AHHHH!!!" the boy cried shooting it at the beast...
"AH!!!!" yelped the beast trying to dodge it, but it managed to blow his soft rear "OUCH!!!" hurt and in pain, the beast fell from the sky into a huge place of soft snow breaking his fall, his tender part was burned lightly...
"..." Ushio smiled with victory as he walked towards the beast nursing his tushy...
"Damn you-you twany little goddamn Sh**-headed a** h***!!!" The beast slurred in pain, both hands on his rear "seems to me you've been practicing even with out me!"
"Yo! I never needed you screw-ball!" the boy chuckled...
"(Just cursed)" suddenly snapping, the beast eyed around in a few quick jerks...
"??" Startled "what's the matter Tora?"
"Didn't you feel it?"
"Feel what??"
"That??"
"That? What 'that' Tora?"

The earth under them suddenly shivered...

"WHOA!!! What was that??"
"I dunno!" the beast slurred as the earth shivered again... "Whoa!!!" the beast flinched and fell on his butt "Ow!!" reaching back, the earth kept on shaking... the boy was holding the spear horizontally for balance...
"H-Hey!!! What is going on here??"
"I don't know Dammit!!!"

Slowly the ground under them suddenly started rising... the ancient beast quickly leaped away as the boy found him self going up with it, but then slipping of it, the temple boy found him self falling down wards, then grabbed in the orange beasts ancient brunet stripped arms... eyeing the silver slitted eyes shot wide open, jaws slightly open as he eyed some thing, the beasts ears perked... craning to the side, the boy saw some thing huge, furry in grayish-white, not silver, with tanned fingers and toes, all with ugly claws/nails and a huge furry chest... looking up, it was almost a monkey like face with huge red bloody eyes and two long fangs peeking from under the top lips...

"Aheh... fancy seeing you here!!!" the beast worriedly murmured...
"Uhh-huh?" the boy was left to stand on his own feet slowly, spear still gripped in hand...
"Grrr..." the snow beast growled as a huge wooden club with spikes was in his clutch "you wake up Simon!! Simon mad!!!" the snow beast growled... slowly growling and sneering, he howled raising the club attending to give them both a blow...
"RAN!!" the beast hollered before clutching the boy, throwing him on his back and dashing a run for it a mere second before the club landed where he was standing...
"WHOA!!" the boy clutched the beast mane as the huge snow beast growled, bashed the trees in his back chasing them "TORA!!! We gotta stop that thing!!"
"Only way to stop a snow beast brat is to trap him some where cold and silent, and leave him there to sleep!!"
"What do you mean?"
"Beasts like that only wake up once every 1000 years! I think we disturbed his nap!!!" the beast stupidly chuckled "and it's all your fault he's awake!!"
"WHAT?? Is not! It was your fault!!!"
"No it wasn't! If you haven't chased me then you never would've made me fall on him and make him wake up!"
"Well it's not 'my' fault you're an idiot! If you would've minded your own business and haven't come between the relationship with me and Asako things never would've gone this far!!"
"!!!!!" The beast suddenly burst laughing... -O.O- !
"What's so funny?" the boy hissed T___T (Many X's popped up)
"Oh-nothing!!!" the beast laughed not able to hold it back...
"..." Pumping up one cheek, the boy pouted wanting to thwack the beast on the head... but then changed his mind as the snow beast startled gaining on them "Uh-oh!!! Move it Tora!!" the boy kicked the beast with his heals...
"Ouch! Dammit, watch it brat!!!" the beast hissed and growled... increasing his speed, but the snow beast was still after them...
"I guess we'll need a strategy for this one!"
"Like what? Sing him a lullaby?" the beast mocked, the boy gifted him with another kick with his heels... "Oy!! Knock it off Dammit! That hurts!!"
"Just shut up Tora! You do the running, I'll do the thinking!" the boy scolded, then shifted swinging the spear back spanking the beast one on the tender part with the flat side "Move-It!!" the black cloud of hair flickered as they ran...
"(YELP)" in pain down his tushy, the beast cursed as he sped up faster still cursing under his breath...

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Somewhere else...
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"So... I am here... to ask you to forgive me..." the dark brown beast softly whispered, eyeing his golden child in her mothers arms, both snuggling into each other... with a deep breath "I'm sorry Ann... I never meant to hurt you!" the dark brown beast almost sobbed, tears forming in his eyes...
"Muma..." breathed the light brown female eyeing her love, then craned to her daughter...
"... Daddy..." the golden female softly called...
"...?" Startled, the dark brown beast never thought she's keep calling him that name...
"You have always been my father... no matter what happens... no matter how things go... you are my father... Muma! You're my Dad!" after a pause the golden female crept near her stunned father and hugged him nuzzling "I love you daddy..."
"I love you too baby..." with a smile, the beast kissed his child tenderly both comforting each other...
"...Ugh..." the light brown female suddenly gagged...
"Mom?"
"Kage?"
"Uhh-I'm fine! I'm just..." ivy green eyes shot wide open, the female quickly sprung from her spot darting the out doors...
"Mother!!" the golden female went out after her...
"K-Kage!" the male followed...

"Muma!!!" the light brown male called, along with the tanned female paced towards them...
"Muma! What is it?" the tanned female asked...
"I don't know! Kage gave that sick sound again!"
"..." Lost in thought, the female was silent...
"Yami!"
"...?"
"What's wrong with Kage?"
"Yami..." the light brown male asked worriedly...
"Sigh... I'm not sure but..."
"What?" harshly asked the dark brown beast "what the goddamn F*** is wrong with her?"
"It might be so Muma!" the female tried to smile...
"Might be what Dammit?"
"Yami??" Jiaaku was a bit confused...
"Muma..."
"F***?" -T____T- (a huge red pounding X came out)
"I think she's pregnant!"
"F-!!!! -O___O- ???? ...(Jeopardy song)... -O.o- huh??"

"She said she thinks Kage might be pregnant Muma!" repeated the young male with a startled chuckle in his voice...
"..." With a thud, the big thug blanked out...
"Muma!!!" =O.O=
"Muma!!!" -OoO-

"Ugh... I never felt so sick since I figured out I was pregnant with Ann!" the light brown female shyly stated as she came back, leaning her side against a tree, comforted by her child, eyeing her blanked out mate "I guess Muma couldn't take the news eh?"
"Guess so!" softly said the tanned female, eyeing the young light brown male trying to wake the big guy up...
"How did you know Ann? I knew Yami was wrong so I was hoping to keep it a secret!" Kage stated asking...
"Um, lets just say... I friend told me!" Ann smiled "god I hope it's a girl!" the female squealed, "I've always wanted a little sister!!"
"Actually, I have a pretty strong hunch it might be a boy Ann!"
"How do you know mom??"
"You'll know once it's 'your' turn to go into labor!!" the mother snickered wickedly...
"..." =O_O= "very funny mom!" shy-fully scolded the golden female...

!!!!!CRACK-KA-BOOM!!!!!

"Whoa!!!" the dark brown male woke up when the earth suddenly shook under them all "what-who-where??" craning around, and then fixed his eyes on his mate eyeing him softly, crimson tail flickering...
"Yes?" the female softly giggled...
"..." Standing on his four feet quickly pacing towards her, slowly reaching out his hands, cupping her on the shoulders, the drawing them up on her face cupping her cheeks... slightly panting in daze "is it... true?"
"Your gonna be a daddy Muma!" cutely sung the light brown female "you might have a twany little baby boy!!"
"..." Suddenly shifted with a sudden hugging embrace, the dark brown beast couldn't help but to send his lips towards his mates...
"...!!!" Ann shot her eyes wide open, as she never saw her dad do 'that' before...
"..." Heart leaping in his throat, the light brown male eyed the golden female as that thought danced in his head, but then shifted it back shying off form even looking at her...
"..." Yami simply smiled...
"!!!" Shy and a bit startled, the female parted their lips scolding him softly "Muma please! Kids are watching!" she scolded nuzzling, arms around his neck, feeling her lips...
"Err... sorry!" he nuzzled her back...

!!!!!! CRACK-KA-BOOM!!!!!

"Whoa! There it goes again!!" the young golden female stated...
"What 'was' that?" Jiaaku asked...
"Beats me!" Yami shrugged...
"Hey!!" Jiaaku stated, "Where are Tora and Ushio??"
"..." All were silent for a few seconds, and then all snapped their eyes wide open, and gained 'huge' sweat drops...
"Uh-Oh!" Muma slurred...
"You can say that again!!" Kage slurred back...
"Double time!" Yami stated slurring...
"Better go stop them before they do any thing harmful!" Jiaaku stated...
"Yeah! Some one might get hurt! Like us!" Ann reasoned...

"Yeah, lets move!" said Kage...
"Oh-no-way!!" Muma hollered "your staying here little mama!!! I wouldn't want 'you' to get hurt!"
"Aw-Muma!!" the female whined...
"Not a word!" he scolded, and then chuckled lightly eyeing his mates pouting face, kissing her on the forehead, he brushed back a crimson lock "Yami! Take care of her!" the dark brown beast said as he leaped away along with the other young beasts...
"I will!"
"Nuts..." murmured the light brown female, "Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't have any fun!!!"
"Bare with it Kage!!"
"Oh-yeah? Well... I'd be more than glad to say it back to 'you' when 'you' go into labor!" Kage snickered...
"Err... =O_O= ;;; don't even think about it!!"
"Why not? I simply can't imagine you with a big belly!!"
"... =T___T= X not-funny!!!"
"=^____^= kidding!!" simply giggling as she walked back into her den, Kage flickered her tail...
"..." With a frowning smile, Yami walked into her den...

Pause...

"...?" Peeking her head, the light brown female smiled wickedly, then quickly sprung after her mate "you'll need more than a baby in my belly to keep me out of this one!!!" the stated running as quick as she can... although it did seem/feel that her tummy was bigger than before...

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~*~*~*~*~

I feel you there... you move, you live, and you softly tell me your secrets... you are in me, from me and with me always... I bow for the merciful god for blessing me with you... you are my soul, my heart, my body and mind... it's enough for me to know your there, to love you all over... I loved you even if you haven't been born yet! I count the minutes, hours, days, months, and every single time particle... just waiting for the time for you to come out and bless me with your beautiful face, soft childish voice, pure heart and mind... I missed that feeling for so long... for so-so long have I missed it so dearly...

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FLASH BACK...
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"Mommy!" a young little red headed boy in his early age -- some time between 5:8 years old-- with crystal blue eyes came running through a lobby of his mansions residents...
"Taifuu! I thought I told you 'no running' in the halls!" softly scolded a red headed woman in her late 20es, in traditional Chinese clothing, ivy green eyes softly shimmered with love to her young child "what is it sweet heart?"
"Daddy wanted me to tell you before he left that he was gonna go hunting now!" the boy childishly said...
"What?" disbelievingly breathed the woman "but YuKai said he was spending the whole day with us today!"
"I guess daddy forgot!"
"(Groan)" craning to one side, the woman saw an old man with silver silky hair and calm gray eyes "Father!" she softly called as she walked towards him, holding her sons hand in her own...
"Yes Serena?" the old man replied...
"Is it true that YuKai went out hunting?"
"I'm afraid so dear! He had a good deal with another bounty hunter... there was some thing about a man-eating beast terrorizing the northern side, he just wanted to check it out!"
"It's not that 'Nagatobimaru' thing, is it?" the man gave a nod "(Groan) father do you believe in such stupid stories?"
"A man like YuKai likes to go on adventured dear! I'm sorry!"
"Of course! Follow his own dreams and leave his wife and son behind worrying their heart on him weather he'll come back in one piece or not?"
"I know!" the child stated, "how about if I asked Muma to guard daddy?"

[A/N: in this part of the story, while Taifuu was still a child, every one thought that Muma was his imaginary friend! No one was able to see him but Taifuu!!]

"I wouldn't think 'Muma' would do any good dear!" softly said the female... then craned to her father as they walked into a near by room discussing the subject...
"..." Pouting the boy craned around "why is it that mommy and grandfather don't think you can help daddy Muma?" he asked the ghostly form of his dark brown beast friend...
"They don't believe I'm real Taifuu-kun! That is why they don't see me!"
"Why can't they see you?"
"I guess... they might see me some time in the future! But as for now, I'm going after your father in guard... be careful not to cause any trouble while I'm away to either your mother or grandfather, understand child?"
"Yes Muma!" smiled the little boy... after a pause, the beast vanished soaring into the sky, and the boy gave a sigh "I wish Muma was my dad, At least 'he' talks and listens to me!"
"Taifuu! Come in side dear, it's getting late!" the red headed woman called...
"Coming!!!"

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Flash back ends... somewhere else...
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"Aw-sh**-sh**-SH**!!!" cursed the boy as he got swatted by the snow beasts flat hand right on the tender part...
"Hah-that's a good one brat! Try another! Maybe he can get a better shot at your ugly fat behind!" snickered the beast hovering a few feet above them chuckling...
"Oh-shut up you a** h***!" the boy cried nursing his tushy...
"Ah (growling) you make Simon mad! Simon mash you like bugs!!!"
"Geez! Haven't this guy ever heard of grammar correction?"
"Shut up and move your ass dimwit!!!"
"Huh?" eyeing the club zooming at him "WOW!!!!" springing back, the club left a big hole in the ground O__O||| "Aw-F***! That was a close one!"
"Too bad it wasn't close enough..."
"I HEARD THAT!!!" T__T X
"(Snow beast kept on growling hovering the club up again)"
"AH!" the boy yelped leaping off...
"!!!" The orange beast eyed the boy tripping by his own feet, not quick enough to escape the blow "NO!"

Craning up, the boy covered his eyes in need of protections, only to sense the few soft warm droplets slightly splashing on his bare un-protected cheek... cracking one eyes open, the boy eyed the ancient beast, grabbing the club with both hands, their spikes dug into his orange stiff hands, slightly bleeding... crimson threads seeped down his arms as he tried to crackle thunder, but most of his effort was lost in pushing back the snow beast... merely pushing him downwards a few inches little by little... the snow beast was much stronger than the orange beast, so the snow beast swung his free hand up, and smacked the beast away like as if nothing from his face...

"Oomph!!!" slamming into a tree, the beast gave a pained moan...
"TORA!" the beast-lance user cried, heat building up in his soul, his partner had been defeated, he would never allow that to go by so easily, growling, hissing, swearing and cursing, the temple boy craned to the snow beast and focused eyeing the crimson eyes glaring him madly in anger...
"..." Raising his head a bit, the beast felt the old pain in the back of his head... he had always thought that it had healed; it seemed that it hadn't completely! Looking up, and eyeing that view, the ancient orange beast had missed it so much... that fine muscular body, spear in hand, strict eyes glaring with determination... it had him smiling, but then he felt oddly cold, for some reason he didn't know why... all he remembered, was that he felt this thing around his head slowly growing cold... his eyes slowly closed not able to keep them open...

"Ushio!!!" the golden female called as she ran towards the temple boy pocking, stabbing and scaring the furry white beast...
"Ushio!" called the dark brown beast before leaping above the beast and snatching a temple boy who got him self strangled in the white fur...
"...?" Craning to one side, the young light brown male, eyed the orange body sprawling on its side a few feet away, motionless "Tora?" the young beast whispered breathing with disbelieve, quickly skipping to the orange beast checking the pulse...
"(Growling out loud) you make Simon MAD!!!!"
"Simon?" breathed the young golden female, after seeing her father land softly near by with the temple boy on his back after escaping a blow on the noggin...
"(The snow beast simply growled)"
"That goddamn f***!!!" the boy cursed feeling a cut down his forearm...
"What on earth did you do to make him so angry?" asked Muma...
"Nothing..." sheepishly stated the boy with a silly smile...
"(Growling and sneering, the snow beast bashed a few trees near by)" bloody red eyes glared them all, but then fixed on the knocked out orange beast... ignoring the boys cursing and calling trying to get his attention, the snow beast shook the earth as he walked towards Tora, guarded by the light brown beast...
"Don't-you-dare!!!" hissed the young male...
"Get lost!" hissing, the beast swatted away the young male like a bug...
"..." Tora was knocked out cold, eyelids faintly trembling...
"..." With a wicked smile, the snow beast reached out a hand to grab the beast...
"Simon!! Don't!!!" cried the golden female, parting he ancient beasts body from the reached out hand...
"Huh??" sneered the snow beast growling... after a minute when their eyes locked, they were hissing and glaring each other... which formed into a rising eye brow and a smile forming on their faces "Kitty?" hopefully asked the snow beast, crouching down to the golden female...
"Hey Simon! How long has it been?" Ann smiled softly silver tail flickering...
"Kitty!!!" cheered the snow beast with a child happy voice, patting the young golden female on the head while hugging her "Oh-Simon missed Kitty!!!" cuddling her, Ann couldn't help but giggle...
"I missed you too Simon!!"
"Muma!!" Kage called as she walked in "I guess you finally met Simon eh?" the sheepishly stated walking in...
"Huh?" Muma stated "Kage I thought I told you to stay back home!!" he softly scolded...
"Just cause I'm gonna be a mommy again doesn't mean I cant have fun!!" stated the female sitting back on her hunches... but now, it was kind of clear that she had a little belly...

~*~*~*~*~
Some time later...
~*~*~*~*~

"What??" cried the dark brown beast confused eyeing his mate "since when??"
"Ages ago!! Remember when we first turned in to live with Yami and Kyofu?"
"Yeah!"
"Well, that was it!!"
"And you never told me??"
"Well... I never thought it would matter! Besides! Ann was merely a child! She wanted some one to play with her!!"
"I understand that but... a snow-beast???"
"..." Sheepish smile, she craned to her daughter cuddled and hugged by the snow beast... "Simon was a lost child as well, Ann met him when you and Kyofu when out battle practice! I never did meet his parents!!"
"Oh!" breathed the temple boy, no long hair attached, spear propped near him, and then craned to a dizzy looking orange beast "hey! How's your scull Tora?"
"Like F***!" moaned the beast "I hate that club!" the beast concluded glaring the snow beast...

"Well, it's good to know you two talk to each other again!" smiled the light brown female resting lightly on her mate who wrapped his arm around her waist...
"???" Eyeing each other, the temple boy and the orange beast blinked each other once before jerking their heads around with a 'humph!!'
"Oops!"
"Oh-you just had to say it didn't you Kage?"
"Oh (sticking out her tong childishly) sorry!"
"Um, how long is Simon staying here?" lightly growled the light brown male with what seemed jealousy over the golden female who seemed to be enjoying her time, the young beasts face almost turned green from jealousy...

"Kitty grow beautiful!!" smiled stupidly the snow beast...
"Thank you!" shy-fully replied the golden female...
"And so-soft!!" Simon smiled hugging her and nuzzling, as her molds brushed against his cheek rubbing from left to right, and from up to down...
"Eep! (She tried not to yelp loud) uhh-heh!" chuckling stupidly and in embarrassment, the female couldn't help but to draw her hands in, folded on her chest, protecting her sanity... "Um, Simon, would you be a dear and put me down?" she shyly asked...
"Sure Kitty!" feet on the ground, she craned around to him "shouldn't you be asleep now Simon! Winter had just begun!!"
"Simon knows!" smiled the beast "Simon go back home now!" standing up and walking a few feet away, the snow beast craned towards her "Bye-bye Kitty!"
"Goodnight Simon! Sweet dreams!!" replied the golden female, eyeing her childhood friend walking away towards the mountains...

"..." Eyeing the female sighing after the beast left, the dark brown male walked to his daughter "Ann..." Muma breathed...
"You don't have to say any thing Daddy!" she smiled craning to him "I'm doing just fine!"
"No, I have to say this!"
"...?"
"I'm dearly sorry for not being there for you when you were younger! I can't believe I've missed so much... of you!!" the beast softly said, a single brush of his fingers went on her cheek...
"...I love you daddy..." she whispered snuggling her self into his torso...
"I love you too baby..." he nuzzled her...
"..." With a smile, Kage just eyed the temple boy and the orange beast glaring each other cursing...

"What the f*** do you mean Tora?"
"You know what I mean stupid!"
"Don't you dare interfere or I'm shoving the spear up your ass!!!"
"Oh-I'd like to see you try!!!"
"Oh-yeah?"
"YEAH~!!!"
"All right then (shifting up the spear) heh!" the boy evilly chuckled...
"Err... h-hey! Why bring such things? Cant you take a taunt brat??" worriedly murmured the beast before leaping a run for it...
"Come back here you pervert!!!" hollered the boy dashing a run after the beast...
"Boys will be boys..." chuckled the light brown female...

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

Some times I cant help but wonder... life is so beautiful, but why is it that we always forget the good times and remember nothing but the bad times... the things we did wrong, the words we said wrong, the ones that hurt us even when they know, and so do we, know they didn't mean it... they love, care and treasure... so they try to protect so much, so hard, they don't know that they are somewhat hurting, not knowing how... some days... things go right, some other times they don't...

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A/N: chapter five is coming as soon as I finish it... please wait! I'm not so free any more and school tests are blocking my path!! R&R please!!!!!