As we cross over a hill to see the next village, the size is slightly larger than the one we left four nights ago. I have changed my garb to look more like a mercenary, it's a dark over coat used over my casual clothing, with my long sword in its sheath behind my back as its belt comes over the coat. The front is open to show the shirt underneath, and the length is all the way down to just before the top of my black and worn boots, a bit of steal is sewn into the shoulder on my right, my dominant hand. As the wind blows past us we all stare at it with dulled faces. After the raid on the last one... we wish the stay to be as quick and short as possible.

"Looks like this one has guards posted..." Kiara calls pointing to the gates.

Indeed, this village has set up large wooden walls with whittled points to make sure no one has any ideas of climbing over. And there on the road were gates leading in. The guards had pikes and small amounts of armor. Each with a crest on the cloth covering their breast plates, a skull with a crown, with swords forming a circle around them.

I let out an exhausted sigh, which makes Tora turn to me.

"Are you okay, Akio?" She asks.

I point to them and shake my head, "I know that crest.... we are moving towards the area controlled by a baron... and he's not really a fan of the Shinigami. Has a reward for my head, a quarter of a thousands coins."

Looking to me, they all say at once, "a quarter of a thousand?!"

Nodding, "yes. yes. He is a firm believer in the rumor about killing me."

"What, the one for eternal life?" Kiara asks.

"He's gotten another idea though," I reply. "The reward is nearly tripled if you could bring me to him alive."

"Wait, why does he want you alive?" Hisoka inquires.

"Because he thinks that if you feast on the current Shinigami's heart you will gain immortality for yourself. As well as the Shinigami's power."

Tora hisses, "greedy bastard..."

"Yes," I smile. "He is. He has the title of the greed eater master."

Hisoka and Tora both stare at me concerned. "Wait you don't mean."

I nod. "He is the only other one in the world to collect and breed greed eaters."

"But how is that possible? Tora asks.

"No one knows how he learned the secrets of the greed eaters. It used to be that the old Shinigami's were allowed to breed them since they were allowed to be the divine punishment of the accused, or the soon to be dead." I explain. "But that practice ended when one Shinigami let the secret die with him."

"But you know how to make them." Tora says.

"Yes, but I do not know how to breed or keep them. The ones I make die out because I made them. They were not bred to be in this world." I continue.

"So what does he do with them?" Tora asks.

"Charities." I reply with a doomed tone. "He will give them away as charities to those who say taxes are too much, or their not getting their fair share."

"That's horrible!" Tora growls.

"It's effective," Hisoka crosses her arms.

I nod, "that it is. Everyone under his rule is demanded to tribute to him. For no reason, save the fact he is baron."

"Do we have to go down there?" Tora asks.

"Sadly yes. But we can collect supplies, and start to move out of the barons territory toward another village I know of." I nod.

"Good," She huffs. "I don't want to stay here a moment longer than I have to."

We start to take steps closer to the town, when I hear Kiara mutter something. It's not understandable but she seems worried about something.

Looking back to her, she seems lost in thought. Her eyes are almost glazed over, I slow my pace to allow myself to fall back to her, letting Hisoka and Tora pass me to take the lead.

"Something the matter?" I ask her.

Kiara looks up from her thoughts, and then sighs, "maybe, maybe not. This town has a familiar presence... I know I felt it before, but I cant' put a name on it."

"Should any of us be concerned?" I ask.

"I don't know," she replies, her glare staring straight ahead, "but I wouldn't let your guard down."

"I didn't intend to." I smile.

Picking my pace back up so I can take lead again, we approach the guards.

One of them, looking as if he enjoyed the food and drink here a little too much, steps forward raising his arm up.

"Halt!" He barks.

We stop and he comes over.

"What be your purpose here?" he speaks. His demeanor screams arrogant. Holding his nose slightly higher to us, and looking downward almost as if we are beneath him. He holds a smug look on his face, as if he could get away with just about anything. The other... not looking any better than him, smiles mischievously, as if a prank were about to happen and he knew who the culprit was. Both of them smell of bile and alcohol. I stay my hand, but I would love nothing more than to put these two in their proper place.

"We're here to rest for a night." I answer, my composure hiding my disgust.

"Mercenaries, traders, or commoners." He inquires.

"Mercenaries," I reply.

"Just come back from a war have you?" He grins.

Glaring at him, I hide my annoyance behind an emotionless face. "Yes, actually."

"Good, that means you got paid." He chuckles, "the baron asks for an entrance fee to gain access to the village, and there's a guard tax on top of that."

"Oh really?" I reply. It's my turn to smirk, as I think to myself. 'If you only knew who you were speaking to... you would be paying me to stay my hand from ending your pathetic life!'

"Akio, none of that!" Tora calls to me in my mind.

My smirk fades as I respond, 'and I take it this is Hisoka's doing! Ha ha.... great...'

"It's to help us stay in contact with each other." Hisoka calls quickly in my thoughts. "If you want to slay these wretches, then do it. I'm not going to complain... I'd rather watch the blood sacks die."

"Are you listening?!" The guard speaks loudly, obviously getting annoyed.

"Sorry, lost in thought. What were you saying?" I ask.

"I said, that will be a hundred coins." He seethes.

"You said fifty just a second ago!" Kiara speaks up.

The guard get's red in the face, "how dare you address me like that! A hundred gold is the price! If you cannot afford it, then you are obviously cowards not fit to be mercenaries."

My sword is already out of it's sheath and raised to the guards neck pressing against his skin enough that it makes a small cut, blood slowly trickles out of the wound. He looks to me, my eyes bright red, with a murderous smile across my face.

"Now, you wouldn't be saying that to the Shinigami.... would you?" I hiss softly.

Kuroki hi slowly starts to burn up from the ground, forming the coat and hood, finally attaching together at the top of my head, finishing the outfit. My sword's hilt becomes longer and jagged as the blade slowly grows into the scythes curved, gleaming blade.

HIs face, during this transition of visual proof of who I am, goes from boiling outrage, to horrible fear. His twisted red face, slowly uncurls and sinks to a pale, sweating, scared child.

He starts to stammer his words, his tongue tripping over itself in terror.

"N-n-n-no, please, y-your d-d-d-darkness," he pleads.

His stuttering annoys me, "out with it!"

"Spare, me! I did not know it was you," he flinches cutting into his neck a little more. He kneels to the ground, and starts to whimper. "Tell me what you desire... I will heed, I will heed!"

Smirking, I look to his partner and then use my boot to tilt his face to him, "you will allow free access into this town. Every person will be greeting with a smile, or you will end up like him."

I walk over to the other, and he starts to get worried as well. His eyes widen with the epiphany of his sudden demise. A quick bout of protest calls to me as I raise my scythe and impale him with the blade through his chest. The screams are silenced in an instant as I remove my scythe from his torso, and watch his body fall. My nose cringes as I catch the sent of his blood, revolting. I raise my hand, pointing it to the ground near the corpse to summon some skeletal dogs from the ground. Before they start to feast, I catch sight of a small movement in the corpses hand. Leaning down, I tilt his head up to see his eyes looking straight at me with horror, and almost a slight glimpse of hope. This amuses me.

"Still alive?" I smile pleasantly.

He nods, the gaps of his breath say he still has some air left in his lungs.

"Well congratulations." I coo to him. Then my eyes widen with murder raging like a fire in their gaze, my smile returning to the chaotic, and sadistic grin it was before, "you have doomed yourself to being eaten alive!"

"Wh-wh-what?!" He chokes.

Raising my hands, I watch with glee as he starts to cry. Tears streaming from his face, his poor pleading eyes are an absolute amazement to watch. Snapping my fingers, the dogs rush on top of him and start to rip and tear into his flesh, his horrific shrieks and cries are mixed with the gargling of blood. I watch as he slowly dies, for good this time, and then turn back to the first guard.

"Have I made myself perfectly clear?" I sneer as I take a couple steps towards him.

"Horrifically clear!" he shrieks scurrying back a couple feet.

I stop and smile innocently at him, "what's the matter? It's almost like your afraid of death?"

Chuckling, I turn and walk into the village, my friends right behind me. My smile widens when I look to see villagers come out, some horrified at the scene they just witnessed, but those are the closer ones. Some more amazed to witness the Shinigami has come to their town, and the last few are glaring at me with mixed feelings of determination, and terror.

We start to get closer to an inn, as we do Kiara looks quite... worried about something. She tries to hide it, but her eyes are darting about, as if looking for something, or someone. After walking in, we see the place is completely empty. We move to a table and sit down.

"Was that really necessary, Akio?" Tora hisses to me quietly.

"No, but it was amazing." Hisoka smirks.

"That's not the point, now everyone knows that the Shinigami is here." Tora snaps to her.

"Including the baron," Kiara points out.

Sighing, I let them speak as I notice someone walk in and move to a table not too far away from us, his long black hair looks very well kept. His dark, maroon eyes looks around the inn as he steps with grace. He sits down with his back to us. His clothing is highly elegant. Not something normally you'd see on a traveler. Black coat, almost like some sort of suits over coat, his black pants are smooth and well pressed. He looks over his shoulder and spots me and a slight smiles comes across his face... it's almost creepy.

After a moment of silence he looks over and walks up to us. The way the table is set, there are six chairs, the girls face me with their backs to him and I face them and him. As he approaches he bows and places his hand on his chest smiling.

"Pardon my intrusion. But are you the Shinigami, the real Shinigami?" He asks in a smooth, light tone.

Nodding, I wait to see what he'll do. "Yes."

"I am a huge fan of yours," he smiles as he stands straight. Then he spots the girls and then bows to them, "I take it the Shinigami is your fan."

They look to one another, and look back to him. "What do you mean?"

"You all look lovely. It's a not a wonder why the Shinigami would travel with you wonderful ladies."

Hisoka smirks enjoying the comment, Tora looks away blushing, Kiara just stares at him with the same emotionless stare as usual.

Looking back towards me, he smiles. "Sorry, I know they are companions. I couldn't help myself. They look lovely. Pardon me for being so forward."

"Think nothing of it," Tora smiles. "Are you a traveler?"

"Why yes I am." He nods and then stops, "erm... may I please sit with you?"

"That'd be fine." Hisoka nods.

Glaring to them swiftly, I look to them each as if this was a very bad idea.

He sits down next to me and smiles, "I thank you, but as I was saying. Yes I am a traveler."

"Where did you come from?" Kiara asks.

"Good question, my little one." He chirps, "but I'm afraid I can not say. It brings up some bad memories."

"That's fine," Tora quickly comforts, "she didn't mean it."

Kiara looks to her stunned, then to me. I return her gaze with a concerned stare of my own.

"If it may not be too much trouble." He smiles to them, "I'd like to travel with you."

"Uh, I don't think that'd be a good," I start to speak up.

"That would be fine!" Tora and Hisoka chime in at the same time glaring at me.

I get annoyed by this and stand up. "You three with me, outside now."

They try to protest, but see my glare, and immediately dash the thought of trying. Standing up, they then start to move outside and I look to man, "excuse us. We need to have a slight discussion."

"Oh that's quite alright," He smiles, "I should have known you'd be the person to ask, I apologies."

Looking to him, I don't respond, and turn away walking out the door. I spot the others at the side of the inn and walk to them points at the inn.

"What the hell was that?" I ask.

"What do you mean, 'what the hell was that'?" Hisoka scoffs.

"Akio, what's the matter, he seems like a good guy." Tora tries to explain.

"He seems like a snake," We hear Kiara's emotionless voice call to us.

We look to see her glaring ahead, her hand covering her chin as she's pondering this stranger.

"He was so nice!" Tora calls to her.

"Not to mention, he seems like way more of a gentleman than Akio." Hisoka chuckles.

"Yes... almost too much of one." She groans. "He didn't want to say where he was from... that's not good. It tells me he has something to hide."

"Oh come on," Hisoka throws her hands in the air looking away in disbelief.

"Yeah, Kiara." Tora shakes her head. "He said it brought up unpleasant memories. It's understand able that he doesn't want to talk about it."

"It seems like way too much of a convenient answer." She looks to us. "Akio has had the worst history so far, and he's been fairly open about it. So what can't he speak his mind on it. At least name the location he was from."

"Just because Akio is an open book" Hisoka starts.

"Hey!" I snap to her.

"You are," she brushes me off and turns back to Kiara, "that doesn't mean that everyone is."

"I'm still with Akio on this," Kiara returns. "I don't think that we should let him come with us. He was especially flirtatious with you Tora. Aren't you concerned even a little bit?"

"If you think I won't be loyal to Momaru," Tora growls, "then just go ahead and be out with it."\

"She means what if he tries to do something to you," I interject. My tone hardened, but full of concern. "We don't know what he's capable of."

"He's coming with us, Akio" Tora says, her tone shows her frustration. "If you don't approve then feel free to leave us behind."

Trying to hide the pain she inflicted to me with her words, I don't respond and then turn away and start to move onward.

'If that is truly how you feel then, I hope you have a good life.'

As I continue to walk away, my heart sinks lower. My face grows darker as I move on, with Kiara calling to me.

"What have you done?" She turns to Tora, disappointment hitting her like it was a slap to the face.

Turning to run so she can catch up, Kiara screams to me as I walk past the gate. My eyes devoid of emotion, do not even turn to see the guard from earlier jump back in fear.

"Akio, come back! What about the plan? The rogues?" She calls to me.

"What about them?" I reply.

"Are you seriously going to leave?" She asks incredulously. "What about Tora, and Hisoka? The twins?"

"The twins are already moving to the next village." I answer her.

"What about Tora and Hisoka?" She throws her arm back pointing to the inn. "Are you seriously leaving them back there with him?"

"They made their choice. They can live with it." I look back to her, my words bitter and cold.

"Akio..." Kiara calls to me.

Turning around I stop my pace and let the wind blow my coat back towards the village, the air is dry, dead, with a slight moan. I look to Kiara, her face shows sorrow, concern, and even a small amount of fear.d

"It's your turn." I choke out. "Stay with them, or come with me."

A tear rolls quickly down her cheek, and her face shows devastation. "Akio... please."

Waiting for her response, I see more tears roll down her cheek. It would hurt, if I didn't already feel numb.

"Just..." She starts and then she cries out. "Just give me a couple days. Please... I will try to fix this."

"And if they do not want to come with me?" I ask.

"Then you can leave," she mummers as her head tilts to the ground. "And I won't try to stop you."

She shakes her head, and immediately jerks it back up, yelling to me with hope. "I don't want to see my friends rip away from each other. Nor would Minako! So please... please wait."

Smiling, I walk over to her and place my hand on her head, my eyes show the caring hope that she succeeds.

"Okay, Kiara," I speak softly, "I will wait for two days. I will be leaving on the second night."

Her eyes light up with excitement and happiness, accompanied by hope. She nods and turns around running back to the village.

Moving closer to a clearing, just off the path, I sit down and rest.

'Maybe this time will be a good time to... maybe?' I think to myself. Then I quickly shake my head. 'No... moving on means forgetting, and I'm not ready to forget her.'

I open my eyes after a while of meditating... and then eventually falling to sleep. Looking around, drowsy, I rub the sleep from my eyes. Letting outa silent yawn, I rise from my resting spot and look around. The cool, refreshing air, is blown around but a gently breeze. The leaves on the trees rustle and I watch some get scattered in wind, almost like being cradled by a mother. The stares stare down at the world with sparkling wonder. Held in by the dark blue blanket we call a sky. Smiling, I look around, but soon my smile fades as I look back up to the stars longing sparkling in my eyes akin with sorrow.

'Are you up there, Minako? Can I come with you?'

My thoughts turn back to her smile... and I raise my hand pointing towards the sky. I watch as an empty patch of space begins to shine. A bright star is born in it. Brighter then all the others.

'And soon, maybe, maybe I'll be with you.... where your star was just made. Do you like it?' I think to myself. 'I miss you. It's a struggle to survive,... but I do it because you told me to. While all I want is to surrender myself so I can see you again.'

Tears roll down my cheeks, as my eyes continue to pour them.

'I'm so sorry, my love. I didn't try hard enough. I wasn't fast enough, and I failed you.'

My tears turn to silent sobbing as I jerk my head down to hide my sorrow. I dare not look at her stare like this. I refuse to.

After having stopped my tears. I look to the sky in a trance. Her addicting laugher, her beautiful smile, and her calming voice... all replay in my memories.

Still staring up at the star, the wind blows against my face, gently pressing against my cheek. Closing my eyes, I can almost feel a hand on it. A familiar touch is what I immediately think of, specifically hers.

My trance like state is broken when I hear very quiet footsteps dash quickly behind me. Heightening my senses, I can feel the presence of four beings. Standing up, I look to the sky, and then turn around to see the four figures walking to me. Cloaked, each hides their face.

In unison, they march closer to me, only a couple of paces. Three brandish a sword, one stays back to watch as the others take a couple more steps closer to me. My scythe appears in my hand, as I await the first strike. It does not take long before they rush me.

Taking a step back to dodge a horizontal slash, I raise my scythe and flip it upside down, with it's blade still at shoulder height to block a downward cut. The last rushes me trying to thrust, but I raise my free hand and blast him with the Kuroki Hi, he reals back as the flames engulf his cloak. Shoving the blocked blade back into the attacker, I step away to avoid another strike from the first one. He left himself open for another attack, spinning the scythe back to its up right position, I use the momentum to allow itself to slice an arm off on the first attacker. Quickly jumping back, allowing the blood to soak the ground below him, he looks to see I have gone from that position. As I look downward, after vaulting into the air above him, I lower my scythe and watch it embed into his chest. As I land I make him fall back onto the ground. The force of his impact sends blood spewing into the air, soaking the ground on which he lies, and myself. I rip the scythe out in, and raise the handle to block another strike, from another attack. I raise my leg to kick him away , but he jumps aside and charges again. As he tries for a thrust, I side step and raise my scythe blade and rest it on my shoulder. Seeing the blade of my scythe at neck height, he lowers himself and slides on his knees under the blade. Turning back to one an other, I notice the third one still on fire, is standing behind me. They both charge me at once, but before they strike I jump into the air once more and land behind the on who wasn't alight. Immediate, I swing my scythe and land it's blade into the left shoulder of the rogue, continuing to cut through him until my blade has left through his right lower side. As his body splits apart and falls to the ground, the blood that is pouring into the air is now raining on me and the last one. Now with my complete focus, I start to allow the fire to grow and burn. The screams of a female ring from the cloak. Immediately I cease the fire, completely stunned. The cloak is ripped off to see a slim figure, with black hair that goes to her mid back. Her skin red with burns in several places is mostly pale. Her eyes rage with wild murder, glowing in the dark red irises.

Smiling wildly as I let my guard down, she holds her blade and charges me slicing over and over constantly making me back pedal away as I block each attack. Jumping away, I land and look at her my scowl shows my anger. My guard is no longer lacking, and I'm ready to make my attack.

"Ready to fight me again?" She hisses.

"Oh I don't think I'm going to have any regrets saying yes," I sneer.

She looks behind me, and before I turn around. I feel a long thin dagger pierce my side, my horror only grows as I feel a liquid, leak into my body. Instantly I feel pain. Burning, stabbing, pain rushes through out my arms and legs, slowly seeping into my chest. I try to jump away, but my horror only grows when I realize that I cannot feel my limbs... I can't move. I try to open my mouth, but nothing comes out. My body is paralyzed, and fear strikes my mind as the other one comes over to her. I can see his frightening smile.

"Make him lay down on the ground, like he's relaxing." He says hissing softly.

She walks over and pushes me to the ground, then moving my arms behind my head and crossing my feet.

"Why not just kill him now?" She calls to her leader as she stroke my cheek mockingly.

"Because I want him to suffer." He turns away starting to walk. "And he will be dead by tomorrow night. No one will think to check on him if he looks like he's enjoying the sun."

"I like that plan." She grins as she too, gets up and walks away.

Left with the agonizing pain, and the slow feel of the thick fluids crawling through my veins. It's agonizing. As I prepare for the rest of the night to be long and sufferable. I give to slight hope that Kiara, Tora, or even Hisoka... comes soon.

Waking my eyes, the pain in my body has not subsided. I've not grown accustom to it, and my rage is beyond it's boiling point. All I've heard the entire night, were screams in my mind, and the racing of my heart.

While the screams have changed to the dark growl, my heart is what frightens me. It's slowing down, alarmingly quick.

As I try to stay calm and keep from panicking, I hear three sets of footsteps approaching me.

"Here he is!" Kiara shouts.

The level of relief I feel, blocks the pain for a moment as I hear them step next to me.

"Akio," Tora calls placing her hand on my shoulder, and shakes it slightly. They're on the opposite side of the wound. "Akio I know you can hear me."

'Hisoka if you are in my thoughts, and I really can't believe I'm praying that you are. Help!' I scream in my mind.

"Akio, we came to apologize for how we acted yesterday... the least you could do is acknowledge we're here, and that we mean something to you." Tora continues.

Still screaming for the chance Hisoka chose now to listen to my thoughts, I feel slightly crushed after Tora rises to a stand, and starts to walk away.

"If that's how you feel... then we'll leave you alone for your travels, Shinigami." She states as she walks away.

"Akio, what are you doing?" Kiara asks. "I know you are angry at them, but you have to give them a chance to apologize. You need them, and we need you."

I keep screaming and then finally I hear my saving grace.

"Akio, you son of a bitch..." Hisoka growls in my mind. "Kiara worked her butt off to convince us to come to you, and Tora felt guilty the entire night. She didn't sleep she didn't eat, she-"

'Would you shut the hell up and help me! I've been paralyzed!' I scream to her.

"What?" She says shocked, then disbelief, "Akio, if you expect me to believe that, you need to show me some proof."

'Other side, feel my opposite side and you'll feel blood, there's a wound there that someone attacked me last night with.' I instruct her. 'Please! The pain is killing me and my heart is slowing down!'

Hisoka walks over and immediately spots the blood.

"Holy hell he wasn't lying." She says out loud trying to take the coat off. "Kiara, he's been attacked and poisoned."

She comes over to my other side and her eyes stare into the blood soaked tear in my coat and shit. She then takes out a dagger, and starts to cut the coat and shirt away.

"Tora! Akio's been hurt!" Kiara shouts.

Tora comes back in a dead sprint, and drops to her knees besides me as Kiara starts sealing the wound.

"Hurt? Where?" She asks.

She spots the wound and her eyes widen.

"I need to know the type of toxin, what is Akio feeling." Kiara asks Hisoka.

"What are you," Hisoka starts.

Cutting her off, I answer, 'pain lot's of pain. My heart is slowing down.'

"He says his heart is slowing down, and he's in a lot of pain." She relays to Kiara.

"Tora I need to know his heart beat," Kiara demands.

Tora places her head on my chest, her eyes closed as she focuses on listening. Her head comes up, and she shakes it.

"It's faint." She informs. "We need to do something fast."

"Paralyzed, pain, and decreased heart rate..." Kiara sighs. "I don't know what the poison is, but I can heal him."

She then looks to me, "Akio I am not going to lie. This will probably hurt a lot."

Her orb goes over my heart, and my blood feels like it's boiling in my veins. The thick liquid of the toxin, is slowing starting to dilute, and dissipate. It takes naught but a few minutes, but to me it felt like time had stood still. As the poison begins to leave my blood, my body writhes in pain, the next part of my body to regain mobility, was my mouth. Gritting my teeth, I growl loudly as the pain migrates to every part of my body. Then the pain starts to subside and my body relaxes. Breathing heavily, I wipe the sweat from my forehead and look back up to them. Smiling, something akin to relief, I look to them.

As my eyes go from Kiara, to Hisoka, I start to smile, only getting wider when they approach Tora.

"You have no idea, how happy I am to see you all right now." I sigh.

"I would take it very happy." Tora smiles.

Looking toward Hisoka, "I never thought I'd be happier to be called a son of a bitch, than I was when you called me it in my head."

"You called him that, telepathically?" Kiara asks slightly upset.

"Well..." She responds quickly, turning her head away. "The important thing is that we found out what was wrong right?"

"Speaking of which..." Tora expresses, "what happened?"

After I relay what happened the night before, Tora shakes her head.

"I shouldn't have said those words last night." Tora exhales in guilt. "I'm sorry Akio."

Looking to my hands as I open and close them into fists, I smile, regaining the feeling .

"So what was it that you came up here for?" I ask, I know fully well they came to apologize, but I'm going to make them say it again.

"Really, Akio?" Hisoka scowls.

"I was to busy being tortured and slowly poisoned to death," I sneer. " I wasn't really concentrating on what you were saying."

Tora, smiling, as she shakes her head and look over to me. "I'm deeply sorry for the things I said last night. I should not have made you chose... and we should not have questioned you."

Looking toward Hisoka, I see that she has caught my gaze. Her face slightly puffs with frustration.

"Hey don't look at me, I didn't tell you to leave us behind." She snarls.

"Yes, but you stood by her words." I grin.

She growls in frustration, and then finally calms her self, and takes a breath.

"I'm sorry Akio," She submits.

"Your forgiven." I grin, "now was that so hard."

"I'm going to cut my tongue out with a hot knife now." She grumbles.

We sit on the grassy hill, looking around at the surroundings. The day is filled with the crisp air of the wind. Gusting slightly making the fields wave in its forceful grace.

"Did you notice that Dok wasn't at the inn last night?" Tora asks Hisoka.

"Yes I did actually..." Hisoka adds. "But from what he told me, he had someone to see."

Interested in this conversation, "That woman I described who was part of the attack last night... does that description seem familiar?"

"That's got to one of the assassins they recruit constantly." She nods, "The description matches her. But i never knew her by name. She would always follow one of the higher ups though."

I sit and stare off into the distance, contemplating the connection Dok might have to the woman.

"What are you thinking Akio?" She looks to me confused.

"I think that we might want to keep a very close eye on Dok," I reply.

"Does that mean he's coming with us?" Kiara reels back shocked.

"No, but we are going to see him again, he took way too much interest in us" I scowl.

Nodding, we take a look to Hisoka and Tora, both are conversing a lot about Dok. It makes me growl slightly and turn away.

"Akio, are you getting jealous?" Kiara asks.

"That's a stupid question," I look to Kiara. "Why would I be jealous?"

"Because they might be worried about someone else, other than our little circle." She teases.

"I'm worried about them." I sigh. "It doesn't make sense that when me and Momaru fought, she defended me. Against her own fiancé. But now she turned her back on me for someone that literally just introduced himself not a minute prior."

Pondering this fact for a moment, Kiara lets out a sigh, nodding, "I see your point. I think Dok has more to him than just... we'll call it charm."

"And the minute I was separated. The rogues took that exact opportunity to strike me. With two high ranking members..." Shaking my head, I gaze onward. "This can't be just a coincidence."

Tora comes up and sits next to us. "Are you talking about Dok?"

"Actually-"Kiara starts.

I place my hand over her mouth quickly and look to Tora, "No, we weren't."

"But it sounded like," She looks puzzled.

"You were mistaken." I nod.

She looks to me confused and then walks away, Kiara immediately complains when I release my hand from her mouth.

"What was that for?" She hisses.

"I do not think we should tell them about our discussions." I inform. "Who knows what they'd be willing to tell to someone we don't trust."

"Oh," she moans, "I see. Sorry, Akio."

Nodding, I slowly come to a stand, and stretch a little as I get used my body again. I look to the others, "Okay let's start to go. There's a path that will lead us to the next town."

"What about Dok?" Tora asks.

"Forget him, we need to keep moving." I reply shaking my head.

"What do you mean forget about him?!" She asks alarmed.

"Tora," Kiara calls to her.

Tora turns to her, and Kiara continues.

"Do you not see that this is playing out just like the night before." She frowns.

Tora ponders for a moment, then looks to us frustrated and defeated, "You're right. I'm sorry."

Her eyes avoid mine, looking both apologetic and spiteful. It leads me to ask myself if I've done the right thing.

We make our way to the road leading away from the village and onto the next one. Tora keeps looking back, and it has me worried about her state of mind. As if she was trying to send signals that we were leaving without him...

'Maybe Momaru leaving was a mistake...' I think to myself. 'There's not a chance that she'd act like this if he was around her.'

I can discern an energy up ahead, and after I glance ahead, I halt my pace immediately, baffled by what's in front of us.

"Hello Akio," Dok smirks, leaning against the post of a directional sign.

Scowling, I hear Tora call to him, amazement in her voice. As if her mental calls actually summoned him here. It's loathsome.

"And here I thought you were actually leaving me behind." His grin widens, as his eyes close, and his head shakes. "That's not very nice, Akio."

Malice fills me as I grip tighter on my scythe, "I don't think we owe any sort of kindness. And we are still leaving you behind."

"What?!" Tora asks incredulously .

"Akio, what the hell?" Hisoka scowls.

"Still believe that I'm up to no good, I see...." He stands straight and walks over towards me. Hisoka and Tora stand on either side of him. His glare changes to an expression of concern. "What can I do to prove, that you can trust me?"

"Akio." Kiara beckons me to convey with her.

Approaching her she whispers to me, "I think that he should come with us."

"What?!" I hiss quietly. "Not you too."

"Hear me out." She glares. "We're down four fighters. We need Tora and Hisoka on our side, and this conflict over Dok is not helping us keep our numbers. It's better to have a temporary addition. Than to loose permanent ones."

Moaning in defeat, I nod to her. "You have a point."

I glance back to Dok as I return to my march toward the destination. Noticing that they weren't following, I shout back to them. "Well let's go. The village is a few days away."

"Dok?" Tora inquires.

"If he doesn't hurry then he will be left behind." I sneer.

They start to laugh as they catch up to me, and we continue down the path. But I'm secretly cautious, Dok has not earned my trust. But for keeping Tora, and Hisoka happy. I assume I can allow their judgment to take it's course. For better or worse.

Late that evening, I sit, idly awake, at the fire. Everyone is asleep. And not even the wind is breaking the silence, with it's chilling touch against my face. It's very peaceful, but I do not allow that to convince me dangers are never far away.

"Do you always stay up in the nights?" I hear Dok call to me.

He sits across from me, staring into my eyes. They speak to my mind as if they care... but I'm far from assured of their sincerity.

"What do you want?" I scowl.

"To talk, if you'll indulge me." He smiles.

"What about?" I avert my eyes from his gaze.

"I'm sorry about the loss of your wife." He murmurs.

His words force my glare to face him, his apologetic tone sparking my ire. "How did you know about that?"

"Tora and Hisoka explained it to me." He smiles. "They really care about you it seems."

"What is it that you want, and be warned, your words tread on thin ice." I try to contain my rage.

"I can understand that." He looks to the fire. "Not even a weeks passing since she left this world... I do give my condolence. It can not be easy to lose some one you love, even more so the very night of your wedding day."

"They told you quite a lot..." I leer. "Seems nothing is sacred to the terms of privacy."

"You mustn't fault them," He sighs.

"Why?" I scoff.

"Because they told me after you had your argument with them." He speaks.

"I find it concerning how much they trust you, after only having just met you." I seethe.

"As I can understand your reasons for concern. But I mean no harm." He smiles.

"You will have to prove it," I growl. "But I grow tired of this conversation. Get some rest, we start our journey again before first light."

"I desire to prove that I mean no harm, Akio," He sighs, standing up and returning to his resting place.

After I watch him lie back down, I return my gaze to the fire. Waiting for dawns approach.

'Minako... I need your guidance, my love. Tell me where I should stand with this new companion...'

Hey guys and gals, sorry this chapter took so long. I don't really have a reason for it other than writers block most of the time. It's only 6000 words instead of the 10,000 this time. I'm interested in what you all should think. Should Akio trust Dok? Should he not? Tell me your opinion in the comments, also if you enjoyed this chapter please vote for it. If you are a ghost reader, please leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you all and I do respond. I again want to thank you all for reading this chapter and this book. I look forward to seeing what you type in the comments.