A/N: This will be my last update for a bit. The rest that I have written needs to be updated to fit the plot changes. I’m going to be requesting the help of Shymk, my dear Sussie, to re-write the next few chapters. Hope you’ll say with me! Be blessed!

“Come on kid, back off already. The dog’s ours.” Both Chetayuu and Aarah stopped when they heard the dull cry of pain emitted by a child.

Scanning the crowd they saw a few men outside a bar, one standing over a boy who was now on his back. Another stood off to the side, a monster of a man, holding the dog up by the scruff of his neck as it whimpered. Taking a closer look they saw that it was the boy from that morning, the one whose dog had run Chetayuu over. Anger arose in Chetayuu’s chest when he saw that the men were wearing katanas strapped to their hips.

“Hey!” Just as he went to approach them, Aarah’s hand upon his shoulder made him stop. He really had no choice but to stay where he was, her grip was so fierce. The men had heard Chetayuu’s shout though, and were now leering at them.

“Hey doll. What’s a pretty thing like you doing near here? Shouldn’t you be at home cooking?” The one standing over the boy snickered while the other three simply sneered. Walking calmly up to them she stopped before the one holding the dog.

“Put the dog down.” Chetayuu heard the inflection of irritation in her voice and unconsciously took a step back. Crossing his arms he waited to see what would happen. Aarah placed her bag on the ground before turning to the men.

“Why should we?” It was obvious that they had been drinking. The two men just standing idly by surrounded her, one so daring as to touch her hair. It was pulled up into her traditional high ponytail to keep it out of her face.

“I said, put the dog down.” The same man that had touched her hair ran his hand under her chin. As he watched her, Chetayuu saw her eyes flicker with a golden light. It was the same change he’d seen the night they’d been in that cabin.

“I’d be willing to trade for it. What do you say to that?” Chetayuu almost felt like laughing when Aarah gripped the man’s hand and bent it around her shoulder, sending him flying down the steps of the bar and to the ground.

“You little…!” The other man went to pull his katana but was too slow. Aarah sent a swift punch to his gut before sending an uppercut to his nose. Like his fallen comrade the man fell onto his back, tumbling down the stairs as well. All this and she only seemed to be playing.

“I’ll say it one more time. Put the dog down.” By now a small crowd had gathered to watch the small woman fight off the four men. The boy was now sitting against the stairs to the bar, his eyes wide with shock.

When the dog was not released, Aarah sighed in exasperation. Suddenly, she was no longer standing before the remaining men. Looking around they were too late to catch sight of her. She had jumped high into the air only to land upon the large one’s head with a swift kick. Startled he had no choice but to drop the dog in an attempt to regain his balance. Landing in a crouched position, much like the cat she’d released outside the doctor’s building, she glared up at him as he rubbed his neck. The one who had pushed the boy charged up to her, about to draw his katana on her. Aarah simply jumped up and kicked him off the steps of the building to land beside his groupies. Kialra was next to the boy now, standing protectively over him with her teeth bared.

“Aarah, behind you!” To say the group around them were shocked by her next move would not do them justice. They seemed to cry out collectively as the large man brought down the blade of his katana upon her prone form.

Aarah reached down to the pile of fallen men and grabbed something before anyone could make out what it was. Returning to the crouched position she held the object up while reaching out her right hand. When their motions stopped Chetayuu had to forcefully shut his own mouth. The object that Aarah had stopped his blade with was a ninja star. One of the men had a loop of them around his belt. She’d taken the object off his belt and positioned it so that her fingers lay between the points, resting in the dull curves. The blade had struck the star and stopped, not able to cut through it. Aarah’s other hand had gone out to strike at his thick, vulnerable neck. She’d hit a nerve, making him stop dead in his tracks. After a moment or so the large man’s eyes rolled back into his head as he collapsed on the stairs. Getting to her feet Aarah glared at the small crowd, immediately dispersing them. A few people lingered for a minute or two, whispering amongst themselves.

“Are you hurt?” The young boy looked up at Aarah in awe and fear, unsure if either was correct. Taking the hand she offered he stood, burying his hand in Kialra’s fur to hide his shaking. Chetayuu picked up Aarah’s bag and stood next to her, gazing down at the boy.

“N-no. I’m fine. Thank you.” Aarah nodded her head as she always did, taking her bag from Chetayuu. “Please, what is your name?” Casting a glance over her shoulder she adjusted her package before slinging her sac over her shoulder once more.

“Songatsu Aarah.” Flitting to her side the boy eagerly caught her gaze. Aarah wasn’t quite used to having little kids follow her.

“My name is Katsuma, Geniota Katsuma. Thank you for saving me and Kialra.”

“You’re welcome.” Chetayuu watched as the dog ran back to the bar, grabbing a bag from beside the steps before returning to her master’s side.

“Katsuma, would you like us to take you home?” The boy shook his head.

“I have no home.” The nonchalant way in which he said it even gained Aarah’s concern.

“What do you mean? Where are your parents?” Chetayuu was slightly surprised that Aarah cared enough to ask. She’d always come across as the type of person that would rather wait for an answer rather than search for it. Maybe she just had a soft spot for kids.

“They were killed in the war.” Briefly he saw a flash of fear in her eyes. “The Imperial Army killed them for following the samurai. From what people say they were very brave. They sat me on Kialra’s back and told me to ride until the sun set and then arose in the morning. I did as they told me and I’ve been traveling ever since.” Chetayuu was troubled by how natural this all seemed to Katsuma. Locking onto Aarah he leaned over to stroke Kialra’s head while speaking to the boy.

“How would you like to stay with us for a while then? We’re heading over to Tokyo, taking a few pit stops along the way.” Katsuma eyed Chetayuu uncertainly before looking directly at Aarah.

“If you don’t mind Miss, I would like to join you.” Chetayuu smiled as her eyes widened and she looked at him, quite taken aback. He didn’t think she’d ever had someone ask her what she thought before.

“Um…Alright…But our pace is quite fast. We’re only staying here for two days or so until the Doctor says I can leave. Are you okay with sleeping in the woods on some nights?” Eagerly Katsuma nodded.

“Of course! I do it all the time. Thank you!” Reaching out he wrapped his arms around her, embracing her. Startled, Aarah looked up at Chetayuu for guidance on what to do next. Moving his arms in front of him, Chetayuu signaled her to hold him in return. Cautiously she placed her arms around the boy’s shoulders, lightly rubbing his back. When he pulled away, Aarah found herself struggling to regain her balance as Kialra stood on her hind legs and began to lick her face, placing her giant paws on Aarah’s shoulders.

“It’s settled then. Now, why don’t we go find a place to spend the night?” Katsuma ran ahead of them, playing some sort of game with Kialra as he went. Aarah walked in stride with Chetayuu, oblivious to the broad smile upon his face. She was too busy wiping the dog saliva off her face. Whether she knew it or not she was changing with each passing day. Maybe this is why God had told him to follow her.