[Kanji_The_Wanderer]

**Amazing as always Shino-san. Your usage of the English language is amazing as ever. Such incredible writing talent!**


TATSU

The storm rolled away, and the rain subsided. Slowly, the moon climbed to it's place in the sky. The sun had passed into slumber, and the night was filled with a thousand dancing lights. The Prison was filled with darkness. Only candle flickers illuminated the gloomy hallways. I proceeded inside. I could feel the souls of Ichirin and Nozomi somewhere in the basement level.

Water dripped from my clothing. With each step my boots made a monotonous squishing sound. I found the nearest spiraling staircase and proceeded down into the bowels of this maddening place.

Within a few moments I was in the executioner's sector of the Prison. This corridor rang with reminiscence. I was here before, this is where I was captive. My cell of torment was located off to the left. I turned to clarify my coming thoughts. Suddenly, my heart stopped and my blood ran cold. I gulped as I looked down at a motionless figure. I knew what it was that I saw. The candles on the walls only passed a glow on what I was staring at.

I swallowed deep, and my throat burned. It was me. Or at least it used to be, lying there, dead and frozen. My hair was over my eye, and my skin had already changed into a gray tint.

I quivered with fear. I stopped. Listened. Everything was silent. Not the faintest sound could be heard. A pool of blood was escaping from my body. As if it longed to be free from my vessel.

I couched to one knee. Sora and Inferno were still equipped upon my old self. I removed the sword attached to my belt, and placed it upon myself, along with my brown cape. It was drenched in blood, but I hadn't cared. I had that cape for as long as I could remember. The bloodstains would merely add to it's history and character.

Carefully, I removed Inferno from the dead cold grasp of my former self, and placed it upon me once again. Moving it over my left middle knuckle, down the shaft of my finger, and placing it there.

"Tatsu? Is that you?" Inferno's frail voice filled me. "Yes it is me. I have returned. From the depths of Hell, I have somehow crawled my way back to humanity, back to the realm of the living, and back to those I love."

"So you desire to re-instate the pact do you?" I smile cooly. "Indeed. Please lend me your power once again, I can use all the aid I can muster.....

I'm so weak and pathetic on my own, I need others to go on. Without other's power, I am nothing...."

"As you wish." whispers Inferno. I leave the glittering ruby ring upon my finger and rise to my feet...

Ichirin and Nozomi are here waiting for me.... I back away from my body, and round the next corner. With a quick action, I steal one final look at my first life. "Farewell."

I move on.

With ease I found Nozomi's Cell. The main gate had been destroyed. Ichirin and Nozomi were holding each other in a corner. Nozomi was crying. Her sobs filled me with happiness. Not because I found enjoyment in her tears, but for the simple fact that I am seeing them again after what felt like an eternity.

Why hadn't they escaped by now? Why were they still here? Had she given up all hope that she had stayed here to die? I wanted to approach them. What would they say to me? Well, it didn't really matter at this point. We had to leave, and run far away. To our escape!

After intense contemplation, I brisk into the room. The coming footsteps startle the two. Ichirin clambers to his feet. "TATSU?! Tatsu! How is it possible?!!" For one of the first times I see Ichirin cry, and he cries for me. I should be honored that I had received such note-worthy affection, but I feel just downright awful.

"Yes it is me Ichirin. But I have no time to explain. We must escape!" Nozomi comes and throws all her weight into me. Her eyes twinkle in mine. She buries her face into the muscles of my chest. I clasp my arms tight around her, and pull her into me.

"Tatsu, I don't know how you are here, but I must leave. I left Myzura alone, and must re-join her." I nod at Ichirin, and he vanishes in a light.

Nozomi looks up at me. Still in awe. I rub a tear from her face, and brush back her hair. "Tatsu...I'm just.....so glad" She hugs me tight. This is the first contact with another living thing I am having in this body. Her warmth proves to me that I am alive.

"Come on Nozomi, we must not waste any time." I look around. Guard's bodies litter the ground, as well as the Knight with who had wielded a flaming claymore, the one who killed Ichirin. He was dead as well. " I heard the guards earlier." says Nozomi. "There is an exit one floor above here. It brings us out to the grasslands. If we head south from here, we can run to Asgard."

"That's my girl." I smile at Nozomi. I grab her hand and we run up a flight of stairs. As we reach the next landing, a small unit of guards head towards us. "STOP RIGHT THERE! PRISONERS HAVE ESCAPED! SECURITY HAS BEEN BREACHED!" I draw Sora from it's resting place.

The guards line up before us.

"Lay down your arms!!" I shout at them... My eyes narrow.

"Or die....."