A few short (terribly long and super painful according to Natsu) hours later, we arrived at Nanohana. Natsu was barely able to get off the train without collapsing. As we stepped off the platform, Lucy Dragged Natsu to a bench so he could gain his balance back while Gray and Erza went off to ask around for directions and information on the whispering forest.

Making sure to be in Lucy's sight, I read the flyers on a bulletin board as I held Rose close to me. Many different kinds of information was being displayed on the flyers: The town's festival information, hottest places in town, construction notices, lost pets, Missing children... Wait, Missing children? I looked at the flyer a little closer:

'Name: Katie Shibazaki

Gender: female

Age: six years old

Description: Dark brown hair, a couple freckles, and carries around a stuffed teddy bear.'

'Name: Kyle fujimoto

Gender: Male

Age: six years old

Description: black hair, small scar on left cheek, and always sings when scared.'

Another flyer caught my eye, It read:

'The whispering forest claims more missing children. Most are presumed dead. Mischievous fairies will lure you into their trap...DO NOT FALL FOR IT! STAY AWAY FROM THE FOREST AT ALL COSTS!'

Whoever wrote this flyer is dead serious and I think the missing child flyers were probably some of the kids that got lost in the forest.

I noticed Rose's ears perk up as something caught her attention. As her ears kept twitching, her curiosity got the better of her. She quickly squirmed out of my arms and scurried into the massive sea of people.

"Rose!" I yelled in hopes of stopping her, but the chatter of many people drowned out my soft, panicking little voice.

I quickly ripped the flyers off the board, stuffed them into my pocket of my shorts, and dashed off to find her. I swiftly weaved my way through the energetic crowd as I kept my sight on Rose. Trying to keep a steady pace while pushing your way through a crowd is not easy, and not to mention while wearing sandals too.

My focused mind left my eyes following Rose's little green and white waving tail. Somehow, while dodging massive cargo and wandering children, my full range vision dangerously turned tunnel visioned. I was so focused on Rose that everything else didn't seem to matter. She was the only thing in the world that keeps me alive. I absolutely can't lose her.

Suddenly, I tripped over a dropped toy and bump into something that came from my right side. I looked over to see a busy man with messy black hair and an exhausted face. He wore a tattered dark blue suit and carried a overstuffed black suitcase that was basically falling apart. I looked up to his tired face as I gave him a quick "sorry". He answered in a slow groan and continued on his way. I weaved around him and looked around to continue my chase...but Rose was gone.

My heart started pounding at the thought of loosing her. I frantically looked around for any sign of her, but the colorful crowd puzzled my panicky tunneled vision.

"Rose! Rose!" I called as I weaved my way through the sea of people again

The more I ran, the more the people surrounded me to hurry to their train. The loud "Whoooooo!" of the closest train halted my chase as a wave of people pushed me to the right. The fight against the current was rough and I was almost forced onto another train. But I somehow managed to find the calm current in the sea as I caught a glimpse of cat's green tail.

"Rose!" I perked as my speed started to accelerate.

As I gained more confidence, my vision returned back to normal as my clothes and shoes changed again. My ninja shoes were now on my feet and my kimono was back on my body while my katana accompanied my side. My body was on autopilot as Rose's scent grew stronger.

I could hear terrified screams as I drew near the scene of a crime in action. I finally came upon a robbery, a masked man dressed all in black was trying to rob a slender brunet-haired woman's expensive purse as a small child clinged to the woman's leg, crying at the event.

Rose was flying around the man trying everything she could to distract him in hopes of releasing his grip on the purse. The woman kicked at the man and did her best to hold on, but it was all for naught. The woman lost her grip and the robber dashed off with her purse.

I subconsciously chased after him in a desperate sprint. People started to step aside as they caught the gist of what was happening. This man was fast but I could tell he wasn't experienced because he was really clumsy. My body acted on its own as I leaned forward to let my arms flow behind me. I was gaining on him and my heart was pounding like crazy.

As we reached the end of the station, the rush of people subdued enough to use my magic without harming the innocent people. I concentrated my power into my closed hands and yelled:

Sleepy spores!

I opened my hands and blew into them to let the sleeping status spores fly to effect him. I waited patiently for the culprit to fall over fast asleep, but faster than I could blink, the man whipped around to bring out a large sword from his now appeared, black as night, kimono. With one slash, he made my sleepy spores blow away calmly in the sudden wind.

Then, he threw the purse up in the air and miraculously, the purse stayed there drifting in place. His mask was now gone as a familiar sign appeared on his face. With no warning, he approached me at a steady pace, the urge of battle was screaming on his crazy face. I brought out my katana and was ready to fight.

Our swords clashed and sparks flew everywhere with the tension in the air. He was far stronger than me in pure strength as I was pushed back by his brute force. I caught my footing and protected myself just as he swung his sword in an attempt to cut me in half from the left. He licked his lips in a way to show that he was eager to see my bloodshed. He pushed me back again and started swinging in anxious attempts to pierce my skin. I could only imagine him breaking through my defense only to bask in the sight of my overflowing blood. I can't let that happen.

His attacks were not only fast, but precise. He had me on the edge with every move he made, continuously making me step back, never giving me an opening to strike back. Our swords met once again and time was at a stand still as he slowly said these words in his low low voice:

Hurricane Jail

A beam of wind forced me back several feet. When I gained my groundings, I found myself in a huge whirlwind of raging circling air. My hands were squeezing my katana's hilt to keep it from blowing away in the wind. Standing was seriously tough and I thought I was going to get blown away. Every move I made threw me off balance, I was only able to have balance when I stood somewhat still.

Slowly, the man started to walk towards me, and that's when I realized it. I'm in a cyclone...a personal cyclone. That's why nothing around me is flying everywhere. I can't think of anything useful to stop this! My katana will be blown away if I let it go and Earth Dragon's Roar would propel me too far in this wild wind...I have lost.

"It's been fun...Satoshi" The man said as he stood before me.

His large sword was alinged at the middle of my throat, ready to pierce right through it. I held my Katana steady in front of me as his sword came closer and closer to the raging winds I was in. Miraculously, the sword slowly pierced through the cyclone as if there was nothing there at all. My hands were shaking, my body froze, but my resolve stayed. I would not let my wandering blood shed.

Inches from my throat, His sword somehow shot a blast of air, just enough to send me flying, only to land on my back on the hard brick-like floor. With my katana still in hand, I tried to get back on my feet...but I was stuck. I couldn't move a muscle, let alone the strength to use any magic, which was very strange. I tried all I could to move as he walked closer and closer with a disturbing smile on his face. But the more I struggled, the harder it was to move.

What magic is this? Wind magic doesn't make you stick to floors!

unless...

I could move my head just enough to turn it to my right as I stuck out my tongue. As my theory concluded, I felt mass amounts of air blowing downward. My tongue returned inside my mouth before I was forced to lick the floor.

I wasn't sticking to the floor, The force is so powerful that I can't even see the air pushing me down!

But my celebration was cut short as I caught a glimpse of his beaming sword. It was just screaming 'Blood...BLOOD...BLOOD!!' As It's tip rested on top of my soft, unscathed throat.

"I like the position you're in Satoshi, with your arms wide open...in a very venerable position..." He said in creepy voice with his head cocked to the side.

His disturbing smile returned, only to be accompanied by a drooling mouth and a sexually desired tongue.

"Your friends and the authorities will be coming soon, but let me have some fun before they get here..." He creepily requested as his sword's tip slowly moved down to the crack in between my breast.

"Oh! But I would enjoy seeing you scream first! My dogs love to feed on the young's blood. Oh what should I do!"

While he was contemplating his next action, I heard engaging footsteps and desperate cries nearby. Natsu and the others were getting close to me, but they might be too late...

"Oh well! A blood splattering death it is!"

Time seamed to stop as his blade made it's way to my awaiting body.

"SATOSHIIIII!!!" everyone screamed.

I braced for the impact as the blade pierced--

"Ugh! you're damn lucky Haru-kun wants you alive!" He spoke with a menacing glare.

He lifted his sword as he looked into my eyes and spoke these words in his low low voice:

Winds of plague

Before my eyes, he vanished into thin air as the woman's purse fell from it's drifting place. I thought this was over, this should have been over...but it wasn't. My ears were ringing intensely, my vision was decreasing, my hearing was escaping me, and my body felt hot. The others rushed over to me to aid me, but I couldn't see them clearly.

"...sato...stay with..."

I could hear broken up sentences, but not the voices they belonged to.

"......we're gonna.........oh god..."

There they were again. The voices made my head feel like it was splitting open. I couldn't take it anymore.

"Don't worr......we're gonna get...hospit..."

I felt a sudden upward movement as someone carefully picked me up. I felt my Katana slip from my weak hand as I fell deeper and deeper into unconsciousness. They started to run quickly in some direction to some destination, most likely to a hospital.

"Hang in there Satoshi..." I heard a familiar voice say.

My eyes opened just enough to see a teenaged boy with spiky pink hair and a smoky scent. His voice calmed me as I felt blood seeping from my mouth like a broken river dam. I did everything I could to keep from getting blood on his white and black checkered scarf. He cradled me as if I were a small child, and because of this, I had a feeling that I would end up alright.

"You're gonna be just fine Satoshi, so stay with us 'kay?" Natsu said as he looked down to me.

"Unn..." I answered as I slowly nodded my head.

I wasn't even scared even though I could die of blood loss, even though I could die and leave everyone behind, even though I could go into a coma only to never wake up. I was too happy to know that I could be cradled like this at my age. Natsu reminded me so much of my Father, with these strong, caring arms. These arms that can make me forget everything, these arms that can make everything turn out okay, these arms that I longed for so much since that day I lost them. I couldn't care less that I was dying... I just wanted to stay like this...

•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-

(Hanako: I kinda feel bad for barging on a moment like this but...Satoshi is so lonely...)

(Kaito: Too bad we don't have human forms, I would give her hug.)

(Hanako: Sorry for change of topic but, why did that weird guy grab that woman's purse if he was just gonna drop it?)

(Kaito: Really sis? He was luring her so he could fight her...)

(Hanako: Kaito! What did I say about spoilers?!)

(Kaito: I'm not spoiling anything! Besides, How would he know that Rose would run off to find him and that Satoshi would follow by herself? And before that, how would he know that Satoshi would be going to Nanohana?)

(Hanako:...guess you've got a point there...anyways, Answers in the next chapter!)

(Kaito: Hopefully, This story has too many questions and not enough answers...)

(Hanako: Good things come to those who wait. See you soon!)

(Kaito: Bye! ^o^)