And here's yet another chapter of a progressing story. Hope you guys haven't lost interest cause I've got a lot planned for this book.
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         "Ara," he said but she already knew what he was going to say. "No. There's no way I'm letting that happen," Ara growled. "He's offering us our lives and if you haven't noticed, there's a high possibility that we might be losing them," Add said. "I am not parting with this shard," Ara stated. "Your argument is amuzing but I don't have all day. Negotiations are deteriorating rather quickly so I suggest one of you make a decision before I do so myself," Shadow Master said.

         He'd gotten a little closer to them, making both Add and Ara go on edge. "Hey! You big ugly thing, I'm talking to you!!" someone shouted from behind Shadow Master. It was none other than Ryu Jin Haan and he was giving them a chance to escape that Ara didn't hesitate to take. The very moment that Shadow Master's gaze shifted to Ryu Jin, Ara lashed out on the nearest enemy.

        Add did the same but with whatever weapon he was using, he was able to take out three more than the one that Ara took down. They both took off into a dead sprint back towards the village, Ara still holding on tightly to the Light El shard. "Ara, restore the barrier!" Ryu Jin called as he dodged Shadow Master's attack and ran after them. Add suddenly started going faster than her and got to the village before she did, already locating the place that Ara was supposed to place the shard.

        Shadow Master could be heard behind them, roaring orders at his minions and throwing insults. Ara could have cared less. The moment the Light El shard was returned, the bamboo barrier would reactivate even with so many missing patches of bamboo. The true barrier lied within the power of the shard anyway so the bamboo was just a little bit of an extra precaution. Since Add had cleared the way and located the temple where the Light El shard had previously been, Ara only needed to place the shard back where it belonged and she did just that.

        As soon as she did, a ring of light reverberated across the entire village and the barrier was active once again. With her mission now completed, Ara no longer felt the rush of adrenaline and she no longer had the mental strength to keep going for she had once again remembered the loss of her brother, Aren. "Ara!" Add called out as she fell forward. He didn't catch her completely but he did keep her from hitting the stone floor. Just as he did so, Ryu Jin entered the temple.

        "We need to take her to the village healer now or else she won't make it," he instructed. Ara didn't really hear much of what they said afterwards. Her senses had began to fail her and her thoughts became cloudy. "Will I die like this? Really...it wouldn't be that bad. I could see Aren and my real father again...but mother, she's still here...and I can't leave my friends behind," Ara thought. "It's best that you stay outside," Ara heard someone say.

        Perhaps if was Ryu Jin or maybe it was the village healer. Ara couldn't quite tell since she could barely hear them anyway. "Ara, I need you to calm down. You're hyperventilating," someone different said. "Crap. She's losing consciousness. We need to heal her now!" Ara attempted to open her eyes but she couldn't find the energy to do so. "Get it. The hairpin. It can save her. The shard's power hasn't reached here yet. It's still being put into the barrier!" a voice, unrecognizable to Ara said.

         She heard protest but then the same voice shouted something like, "It's the only way we have right now!" After that, all went quiet and for a moment, Ara believed that she had died. "Wake up child," a clearly feminine voice said. Ara woke up with a start and found herself surrounded in darkness. The only light present was the glow that radiated from the woman in front of her. Ara said nothing for she still considered the possibility that she could be dead.

         "It surprises me that after so many years of forcing me to fight their wars and defend their villages, they'd use me for the simple task of saving your life," the woman said as she sat next to Ara who was already somewhat seated on the nonexistent ground. "I assume you are a warrior," the woman said as her nine tails swayed around her. Ara nodded in response causing the woman to grin rather slyly. "It's always been that way. The Haan family has always exposed its youth to the ways of war whether it be to fight one or not. And then they expect me to fix everything with my sacred power. It really disgusts me," the woman said as she eyed Ara with curiosity.

         "You aren't going to attack me are you?" Ara asked, finally saying something. "Oh no, of course not! I think you have the potential to be a great warrior and an even better leader. I can sense it within you, the persistence in your goals, the sorrow in your soul, the adventure burning in your heart. I will save you under one condition," the woman said. Ara nodded for her to continue.

        "You must promise me that you will take me along with you on your adventure and rely on my power and ability to guide you. I want to see how different you fare compared to my previous partners," the lady said with the same sly smile. "Is that really all there is to it?" Ara asked with doubt. "For now, yes. Until I think of something else that is," the lady confirmed. Ara thought about it for a moment before making her decision.

         "I will accept your agreement. My restored life in order to grant your wish to see my future unfold," Ara said. The woman gave a quick nod. "Then it is done. My name is Eun and I am the millennium fox that has been in the Haan family for years. I asist only the greatest of warriors and have conquered many lands in my earlier years. You have my trust, respect, and reputation at your service," Eun said with a bow.

         She then disappeared, leaving Ara in darkness. The lack of light was hurting Ara's eyes so she closed them and moved her hand up to rub the pain away. As she did this, she began to hear those around her speak. "Thank goodness, it worked," someone stated with a sigh of relief. "She's waking up. Take her back outside and have Add escort her home," Ryu Jin said. Ara recognized his voice this time.

        She slowly sat up and opened her eyes, adjusting them to the abundance of light. She then realized that she was holding a hairpin in her other hand that was in the shape of a multi-tailed fox. "Eun?" she whispered. "Yes, this is the hairpin that holds Eun. I am quite glad that she decided to save you. I will let you hold on to that until the barrier has reached its max level and then I will return Eun to her slumber. For now, keep that hairpin out of your reach. It is best that you don't touch it directly or put it in your hair," the village healer said.

        "What? Why? Eun seemed like she wanted to help me," Ara said. "That cursed vixen actually spoke to you?!" the village healer said. "Ara you must not associate with her. She only brings war and destruction wherever she goes," Ryu Jin said to her. Ara didn't believe it though. The village healer had been known to make things up somtimes and Eun seemed legitimate to Ara. "Shouldn't I keep the hairpin until she finishes her healing process. She told me that she could only take care of my outer injuries for now. I'm still a little sore too," Ara lied.

        The village healer gave her a skeptical look but nodded. "I suppose so but as soon as the sun rises tomorrow, you are to have that hairpin back here," the village healer said. After Ryu Jin wrapped the hairpin in a spare cloth, he guided her outside where she found Add waiting for her. "They're still trying to get in," he said as soon as they walked out of the building. "Don't worry about it. The barrier's up now. We'll have to wait until they leave before we go...collect everyone," Ryu Jin said.

"You should head home Ryu. Your family will want to see you alive and well. Ara, you too. I'll walk you home," Add said without looking at them. It was then that Ara knew something was wrong. Add must have sensed something off about whatever was going on. "Yeah, Add's right. We need to at least let our families know that we're okay. They'll need some comfort," Ara said to Ryu Jin as she headed towards home.

Add followed after her, leaving Ryu Jin alone. Once they were out of his earshot, Ara asked her question. "You noticed something, didn't you. What is it?" she asked. Add kept walking with his hands in his pockets and nasod invention circling him. He looked up to the sky and then back at Ara. "Did you know that it's about to snow?"
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I might have just confused you guys so let me make this clear: everything you know about Add and Ara's individual pasts or backstories or whatever, forget it. This is an alternate reality and I'm about to mess some stuff up! Until next time you epic readers!