After having left the mountain, I'd searched once more through the town before working my way back towards the town I had come from, tracing an old path of blood and death. I almost despaired that I had caused so much death.

I hope I hadn't scared my poor Shina, I am sure she was just as delicate as my vague memories of her showed her to be.Even if she had seemed to enjoy it when we played a little rough at times.

I couldn't wait to play with her again.

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I'd celebrated Christmas in the middle of a forest, carving her name in careful letters on my chest over my heart with the help of a small mirror, tears of loneliness falling from my eyes. Shina, my Shina, how much longer would I have to live off the memories of you before we could start making new ones together?

After finishing her name, I carved a heart around it, licking the blood from the blade afterwards.

I wonder if Shina's blood would be as sweet as I recall it?

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I couldn't believe that the biggest clue to her loss had been so close to home. I stood there, standing outside of the abandoned house that hid deep in the forest near the town I had awoken in so many months ago. I had been so close without even knowing it.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly pushed the broken door open, walking inside to begin searching for anything that might lead to a clue of where I could find Shina. Even a hint of where to look next would be enough.

I wasn't quite ready for what I saw in the bedroom. The tattered remains of rope attached to the corners of the headboard, a shattered mirror hanging from the wall nearby, the bed a mess of ripped blankets and torn pillows. What had happened here? Had I done this? Why would I have done this?

What if I had hurt her? But I loved her! Why would I have done anything that could hurt her?

Or had it been the one who had stolen her away? Yes... They had done this. They had hurt her! Tried to keep her from coming back to me! Oh, they would pay for her suffering, her pain. Tears began trailing down my cheeks as a few broken sobs escaped me.

Lifting my shirt off, I looked into the shattered mirror at the gentle, delicate curves of her name on my skin. Taking out my knife, I began trying to copy the careful lines of her handwriting onto one of the few bare spots I'd had left on my stomach.

"Shina. Shina. ShInA. My ShInA! MY SHINA! I WILL FIND YOU!!!" I laughed softly as I thought of what I would do to punish the one who stole her.

And smiled darkly as I thought of how My Shina would reward me for saving her from him.