Hello, hello, hello to all of you out there! First off I would like to thank all of you that wrote me, your encouragement really means a lot to me and I enjoy talking to you all so much! My cat Cookie is here helping me write this chapter, for you see, she is my inspiration. Wave 'Hi' Cookie! *Cookie looks at the screen and goes back to cleaning herself* right-e-o then. Now without further ado I present . . .

*Umi gives her dearest apologies she couldn't be here to do the disclaimer, but she's a little, how you say . . . tied up at the moment? (Screen flashes to a broom closet where Umi is, tied up for the moment . . .) (Screen back to Peach) Well, things are just beginning to heat up for you, Mr. Bond! Muh-ha-ha-ha-ha! (I'm sorry, I've *ALWAYS* wanted to do that . . .*

The Only Battle Worth Fighting For - part *6*
(Wow, six parts . . . go me :0D )

Rated: PG-13

By Peach Goddess

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I deserve to die. I don't want to live, I don't deserve to live. I am a wretched person. I killed her. I killed her. I killed her. I killed her. Hikaru and Umi, it wasn't their fault, I'm the one who thinks things through, I should take all the blame. I should have realized what was happening, I had suspected Zagato had other motives, the clues, they all pointed to the answer. They were in love. Love! The most wonderful yet most horrible thing ever. I had it once. I understand. I understand but, but . . . It doesn't make it any better . . . I killed her. No matter how many times I say it, that isn't nearly as bad as what I did to him, him . . . my Ferio. I broke my promise.

Fuu laughed bitterly. She felt worse about breaking a promise than about killing two innocent people! That was why she was a bad person. Fuu stared blankly down at the drink in front of her, not recalling the ordering of it but deciding to sip it anyhow. That was how things went on for many minutes, finally, the waitress arrived and Fuu paid for her drink and left a large tip, receiving a very large grin and thank you from the girl.

Fuu gently smiled back and picked up her school briefcase, not noticing that her index finger was playing with the small key chain that hung from the handle of the bag, making the small rabbit sway and clank against the ring she now wore. She gently swung her bag back and fourth at her side, sadly smiling up at soft blue sky. Fuu turned her attention back to the sidewalk in time to stop at the crosswalk. She saw two of her classmates out of the corner of her eye, but she didn't bother talking to them. She never had before, and frankly Fuu didn't see much of a reason to start now.

The blond glared impatiently at the bright red hand on the sigh, willing it to turn to the nice green man who indicated it was safe to walk. Fuu tried this for many minutes, finally realizing that she wasn't in Cephiro and she couldn't will things to happen, not that she had been marvelous at it in the first place, that was most defiantly Hikaru's field.

Behind her she heard the mindless giggles of Yuki and Sashi, Fuu didn't realize it was them she was waiting with. Sakai Yuki and Masahara Sashi were the two worst students in her class, mostly because of their constant chattering and disregard for authority. Fuu on the other hand maintained a 4.0 average and was already doing many high school classes, she knew they were jealous but Fuu also knew they wouldn't admit it for all the Yen in Kyoto. So, they get back at her in the most immature way. They tease. Fuu had never had any negative feelings towards anyone she knew, that was until she met the Chatterbox Duo behind her. They spread the most wretched rumor about her in the sixth grade, Fuu was happy just sitting down in a nice shady spot, alone, with her lunch and a good book, Fuu thought this to be perfectly normal because, well, that's what she always did.

But Sakai-baka-san and Masahara-baka-san made up this elaborate story about how she thought she was better than everyone else because her Father, Houiji Morimoto, was a well know and highly regarded scientist. For months all Fuu got from her Pier's were looks of contempt and disregard. She still received hatful glares for that one.


Fuu looked up at the sign again and sighed. The violent red light still glared back at her.

'How long is this light? I'll be stuck here for ages if it doesn't turn soon.' Fuu was wrenched from that train of thought by her name being called. She turned her head back slightly and craned her neck almost unnoticeably, so she could hear better.

"Say, Isn't that Houiji Fuu? The nerd from our class?"

"Hey, your right! It's the first time I've seen her out of the Library and into direct sunlight. I thought her kind only came out at night, and aren't they suppose to turn to dust if they get caught in the sun's rays?"

"Oh Yuki, your so cruel sometimes, that's what I love about you."

"Yes, praise me later but look at her . . ."

"Who?"

"Fuu you Baka-atama! Geeze . . . She looks horrible, what do you think happened?"

"I dunno' but it was something bad . . ."

"How come I always miss the Kodak moments?" The last sentence was followed by gales of laughter, all directed towards her. Fuu blinked back tears. She wouldn't let it get to her, she had to be strong, but if she had her magic she would have shown them a thing or two . . .

She was pushed into movement by the large crowd behind her, they herded her across the crosswalk and onto the next street. Fuu's eyes glanced upon a clock in a store window, 4:57 . . . she was usually home by then. She shrugged mentally, she would tell her parents she was in the Library, which was plausible considering that "She never left there".

Fuu stopped on the corner of the block and looked up the grand staircase and turned towards it slowly. A spark of hope flashed across her face as Fuu darted up the stairs hurriedly. Out of breath and exhausted she reached the top and smiled to the Temple attendant who gave her a look of understanding. The woman did have to climb that mountain of stairs every day after all. The Temple was a grand one with many pews to pray on, she counted five, and that was only what she could see now, she was sure they were many more. Fuu walked around the booths of pews, reading the signs indicating what prayers were to be prayed where. It was said it helped the Gods help you, the Gods liked their children happy so they wanted to answer all the prayers they could, so a group of Monks in Nagano began to sort their prayers and the prayers of all who came to their Temple. Over the past few years most of the Temples in Japan, Korea, Hong-Kong, and China used this system.


Fuu passed by the signs thinking to herself all the while, she didn't know what she wanted to pray for, but she would know when she found it.

'Hmm . . . let's see here . . . fertility, no thank you, money, nope, luck, not right now . . .'

She stopped dead in her tracks and unknowingly dropped her bag as she stared up at the bold, black, kanji.

Forgiveness