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~*~*~History~*~*~

People always look at my son, whenever he passes through the halls of the Seireitei, wondering how it is a man like him could get into Soul Society...

But to be honest...he's there because he has a gift.

What I am about to read to you, is a re-counting of my son's life...before he came to the Seireitei-Before he came to be one of us...

These are pages from a Journal he kept when he was merely a boy. Do not ask me how I obtained these-For I will never tell you. If he knew that I was recounting his personal history, he would be very angry...and never speak to me again. But I, like every mother, know that his story deserves to be told...even it is to someone who won't understand. Very well...shall we get started, then?

~*~*~

I woke up one day when I was a kid-And that...that's where my life all started. It was in the dingy, dirt-filled streets of District 79 West...one of the worst area's for a kid to grow up in.

I was about 5 when I started out here...very young, and grew up without a name-Not even I knew my name. I was homeless for the first few years of my life...if you can call them 'years'. Time here...passes differently than it does in the Human World. Years probably go by like minute's there...I wouldn't know. I've never been there.

I wandered through the streets as a kid-My snowy white hair being my only defining feature. Other than that...I was just like the rest of the orphans-I had no mother, no father, no brothers or sisters...at least, not blood-wise. My mother was the Wind, my Father the Sky-My brothers and sisters were those I spent my time with, in that hell-filled district...I would scavenge for food, steal things from merchants in order to make quick pay.

I was like a little rat-I knew my way around that district so well, I could've walked through all of it in my sleep, and been back to my bunk in the shelter house on the edge of the district without even waking up once.

But that wasn't quite how things really went...Being one in a million, it's interesting. When I say that, I don't mean because of the way I look. It's...because of the way I was. Let me explain-Ever since I came here, things were...different for me, than they were for other kids. One of the ways...is that whenever I listened to the wind, I could hear...music. Not voices or anything crazy...just Music. Symphonies, orchestrated by the sounds of the world, and the wind itself, that carried to my ears-Sometimes there were words to go along with the songs, but most often...it was just simple, instrumental music...I have no idea how I got this gift, or where it came from...But to be honest...it was the only thing that kept me from doing something completely insane. It would fill my ears; whenever I was lonely, it would comfort me...whenever I was tired, it would help me drift off to sleep...whenever I was happy, it would always fit my mood to keep it going...and whenever I was sad, it would comfort me, and when I cried...it would cry with me. Some said I was crazy...others thought I was merely making it up...but me-I knew what it was...I was given a gift from God-Something no one could ever take away from me...

~*~*~

As I grew up, you could say those I grew up with, while still not believing me fully, had started to take me more seriously. I was what they considered a leader, merely because I was behind most of the scores we had a hand in-From stealing items and food, to pick-pocketing, to knocking over a building or shop, I was usually the one behind it. I was a hero to those who surrounded me-I was the guy even the older among us looked up to.

I never got into a fight that I couldn't win-But in where I grew up, a fight you couldn't win almost didn't exist. But that doesn't mean I was rough, or that I hurt people for fun-No, what I did...was for survival.

What I learned from fighting was that, for me, close range fighting was a challenge, but it was doable. Hand to Hand was tough, but an object that could be used like a sword I could do fairly well with-A piece of wood; a piece of rebar; anything simple, but combat effective. Ranged to Long Ranged weapons were what I excelled at-Stalves; A long metal pole I could wield with two hands; A slingshot; things that your opponent expected you to wield with deadly accuracy-And while I wasn't deadly accurate, I was good enough to get a point across. I was all about making a statement back then-But I wouldn't make that statement unless I had to-And most often when I did, it was against rival groups. People told me I fought like a Dragon against those who had incurred my hellish wrath-Personally, I never cared what I fought like, as long as I accomplished whatever it was I set out to do in the first place. As long as I was victorious, people could say what they wanted...I had Nakama to protect.

You can think what you want-But we did it because we had to survive. We had our own territories; places that we called our own, defending them with our all. They were all we had, and so we protected them like our lives depended on it-Because they did.

I would practice to the tune of the wind; whirling; dodging; dancing about in ways that would make people look at me funny-But it was all part of my training. It was around the human equivalent of age 11 that I would gain a name, based upon my gift...and you could say that when that day came, things changed for me forever.

~*~*~

I was dodging about, moving through the crowds of people...when I spotted a woman-But...this wasn't just any woman. This wore a black Kimono with a white belt tied to keep it shut-And she had a Katana sheath at her side. I couldn't really remember what she looked like-but from the rumors, I knew exactly what she was...

A Shinigami.

~*~*~

I knew that Shinigami's were rare, especially in the poor districts-But this one was wandering through. Gang activity had gotten a little heavier here-wars were starting to rage between the local populace, and the Gangs in the territory. But, what this lady didn't know was...I was one of those Gang Members. As I watched this woman, I became aware that her surroundings were...different. I was older now, and I had come to understand my gift a little better-So I knew from the moment I looked at her, the wind...didn't seem to affect her. It seemed to...shift around her, and that usually meant was that this person was unpredictable, and dangerous to fight against...But this was very...different-It was a deeper, more controlled kind of feeling than an uncharted, unknown enemy possessed.

But as she walked by, she didn't really seem to notice me-Or the stare I was giving her-and the small purse she carried on her belt-as she walked by calmly. I then noticed there were a few others, trailing behind her-And I knew then that if trouble started, I would be down for the count immediately; So I knew I had to do this carefully.

I informed one of the nearby members of my gang that I had a prime target-And that if I needed back up, I'd give a shout. He nodded to me, telling me to be careful-But I knew then that I didn't need to be careful; I always was. I was the group runner-I would head out, find sources of income or food, and scope them out. Once I was given a chance, I would run at my objective, and do one of two things-Have someone make a distraction, grab what I could, and bolt-Or I would just run in and take what I wanted. The second choice was more brash, but it was good if backup was short and you had a plan...and I had a plan for this.

I slipped into an alleyway between two shacks, and waited for the opportunity...and, predictably, the Shinigami walked by, down the middle of the street-Perfect. I had my chance-And I took it. As she walked down the middle of the street, I shot like a bat out of hell across the length of the alleyway and into the street: And in a quick, simple move, I snatched the purse she carried on her belt, and continued to run, not stopping once with everything I had...I didn't stop for anyone, or anything, until the breath in my lungs caught, making them ache as if they were on fire. Finally, after running for what seemed to be an eternity of houses and shacks that all looked the same, I looked back-And was pleased to find I hadn't been followed. I knew then that even if I had, they couldn't have caught me-I was used to being chased. Little did I know then that the Shinigami I stole that purse from had simply stood there, watching me in awe as I ran like the wind.

~*~*~

Of course, I found out as soon as I returned, that others had seen my little stunt-And everybody was in awe of me. One of those who witnessed my feat, un-known to me then, said that when I ran, I almost disappeared. I had run with such speed that even people on the streets I went through took notice of me-Or at least, the blur of vision that I had appeared as. That, I learned, was my second gift from God...speed of wind. That was also the name they came to give me...Kaze. After so many years...I finally had a name...I felt alive-More alive than even a human could claim to be. Humans are given names from the moment they are born...but for those of us who are dead, and cannot remember what name we were given at birth...we must earn it. And I earned it...I finally earned my name...Kaze.

~*~*~

That is merely a fraction of his story...there is more to recount-But it's getting late, and he shall be coming home soon. I will have to ask you to leave for today-Come back tomorrow, and I shall continue. Remember-Speak of this to no-one, for if you do, I shall be forced to see to it...you are no longer worthy of being a Shinigami. If you do not believe me-Then please, speak to the Captain Commander. He will make sure you understand...completely.

Now then-Be off with you...my son is coming, I can see him...speak not a word to him-He is very moody these days...And for good reason. You shall find out that reason when you return-And have kept your word. Until then-I will not speak any more of this. The next time you return-IF you return-I shall have tea made. Until then...remember what it is you have promised me-Or I will make sure you never forget...

~*~*~History (Cont.)~*~*~

So you've returned, I see? You don't seem to be the type who would be all that interested to me. But perhaps...that is just a facade you put on to conceal your fascination. Either way-You've done well in speaking to no one of this-And I expect that to continue, to the end of your days...I do not care what rank it is you hold-As I said before, the only reason I tell this story is because I believe someone deserves to be told. I made the tea, just as I promised. Very well then...let us continue.

~*~*~

So, where was I? Oh yeah...

So I never really kept track of the years as they passed-they went quick, that's for sure. Around 16 in the human equivalent, I was already the leader of one of Rokungai West's largest gang-The 'Celestial Wind'. I was a legend-There was nobody who really messed with me. But then again, that was because I'd had my generals.

Let me see...There weren't alot of people who stuck with me - At least, not those that I trusted, anyway. But those that did...they were my trusted friends and allies. We became a group of un-rivaled power in the West. Of course, I think the Shinigami started to take note of this...but there wasn't much they could do. See-By this time, we'd re-established ourselves-We were no longer out for just knocking over places...you could say we learned from our mistakes. I'm not gonna say we were the good guys-But we were probably the most respected of the Gangs out there. Sure, it didn't count for a ton, but it was enough for us to get by. We mostly just wound up protecting our territory-And that included the people in it. It wasn't the most honorable business at times-But we watched everyone's backs-including each-other's.

Of course, I mentioned my Generals earlier, right? And I'm sure you're curious about them...see, there's 8 directions the wind can travel-Four Main, and Four Sub. North, East, South, and West are the main directions the wind travels - Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest being the sub directions. So, I had 8 generals - Four Main, and Four Sub - of which had their own skill...thus, making them a General of a certain direction. Each one of them...a trusted friend.

North was Cho's position-He was a master of combat - One of the first I'd been acquainted with, always on the frontlines of defense or offense...never a more trustworthy fighter had I ever met before.

West was Rei-She was our Ranged specialist. This girl could handle a slingshot and throwing-stars like nobody's business. She could pin you to a wall-Or kill you without even batting an eyelash from half a mile away.

South was Kai's district-Kai was a kind man, but a shrewd businessman-This guy could talk you out of the shirt off your back, or sell you a rock as if it were a Diamond in disguise. He was in charge of the business aspect of our group.

East was Shiro-He was the Spy of the group. This man blended into the surroundings like a shadow in forest-He could sneak into, and out of places at will. I've never met anyone who could top Shiro's ability to disappear-Not even here in the walls of the Seireitei. He was a valuable ally...and a deadly enemy.

Of course, now we get into the Sub-Generals. These people held a lesser, but equally important kind of position-Without them, we would've fallen into dis-array, and eventual defeat.

Now then, there was North-West, Ken's position. Ken was a brilliant strategist-he saw battle like a game of Shogi. He could plan 20 moves ahead-He's the guy that kept our stronghold, and the surrounding territory, from falling down around our ears.

Now, there's North-East, Hiei, our Information Specialist. He was in charge of all of the information that Shiro would collect would be written down and stored by Hiei-He kept the records of our recruits, of our Generals, hell, even of the local populace around our kingdom. He was the guy you could trust to get information from at any time-Merely from asking. He also handled our finances-He was a wiz with numbers.

Now I move onto the South-Western General, Miyo-She was a clown and a goof, but truly, her beauty was one that could make a man fall to his knee's and beg to be her slave. She was Kai's assisstant-You could say that half the deal's Kai made with the Merchants, Miyo was there for damage control. She and Kai were a successful team-And also had a relationship on the side...but I digress.

And finally, we come to the South-Eastern General, Miya-Miyo's older sister. While she didn't the same level of beauty that Miyo had, Miya was a medical expert. Give her some gauze and a piece of plywood, and she could make you a Tourniquet. She was a gifted woman who, I dare say, could rival 4th squad's medical knowledge and practice, even with the use of their Reiatsu.

And then, of course...there was me-The Wind Emperor. I ran the entire thing with the help of my generals-All of us working together, not as many-but as one. We were a single body, and our only purpose...was survival. Without them-I would have been nothing...and that was the truth of the matter. They were my companions-my colleagues...my brothers in arms - My brothers in blood.

Our Motto...was 'Howl to the Skies!' Because whenever we were happy, or sad, or angry...we would look up at the sky, whatever form it took on-And we would throw back our heads, and howl in unison-Like wolves, howling at the moon, many would later say.

I ruled over our dynasty with them, keeping those who allied themselves with us safe. It was our Limitless Fortress...our solitary kingdom. Of course, that doesn't mean there weren't challengers-those who wished to knock me off my throne, and take the territory...but I wasn't about to let that happen. "What kind of man," I would say to myself, "Would let down all those that trusted their lives to him?" And it was that thought that kept me driving forward, helping me to defeat those that would challenge us for our territory.

Alot of people looked up to me...depended on me. And I tried my best not to let them down, not just as a defender-But as a leader. By now, we had had half of the 79th district rallied to our cause-The rest of them scattered amongst smaller territories, with gangs that were far crueler and merciless...One of those gangs being named the 'Fangs of Mibu'. It was organized by a bunch of cut-throat pissants whose tempers often got ahead of them-Leaving alot of bodies in their wake.

They were lead by a man named Kyoji Minami-A guy who'd seen a few more years than me, tho not many. His motto-'Everything in this world belongs to you-So go ahead and take what you desire.' Of course, what could be considered a noble saying applied not only to the basic necessities, but to snatching women off the streets and raping them for sheer pleasure, and killing people just for fun.

While my gang may have been composed of a bunch of good-for-nothings, we had honor...We had started out taking what we could merely for survival, and had moved up in the world by learning from our mistakes-We never killed, or raped, or maimed those who defied us-We simply just found a way to outsmart them. But the Fangs-they would never learn from anything they did...Nothing was sacred to them. Of course, I couldn't just go out and destroy them-Because no matter how bad it got, I knew that if I scattered their gang, it would just re-form later, and the area would be worse off than it had been. I was more concerned with my territory, and how to keep those monsters from entering it.

Of course, that didn't stop them from trying...I counted 12 attempts in one day. But of course, we held them off pretty well-Our numbers were greater than theirs, and our skill went un-matched in the district. We didn't worry too much about spies-The Fang were too dumb to have anything that could even remotely pass for spies, and Shiro could weed out the spies of other clans easily. The only real danger we had to face...were the Hollow attacks.

Most often, the Hollows never really got close enough to our area, as we were in the center of the district-There were a few times where we had close calls, but the Shinigami showed up just in time. As good as we were, fighting against Humans...we were no match for the Hollows that entered our domain. The worst of our worries were those from the 80th district...they weren't so much gangs as they were monsters. Not to say that every one of them was that way-But most of those that we encountered would have rather slit our throats than to talk to us. They passed through our area now and again, thirsty for blood...

They were heathens-Though we were a poor district, we didn't fight and kill eachother as much as they did...Fighting was just a game to them, and to win the game, you often had to sever the opponent's head from his shoulder's...that way of thinking sickens me. Of course, I was forced to kill one of them more often than not-I saw to it myself that the body was returned to the 80th district...an honorable burial was a wasted effort with their kind...just returning the body was an honorable act in itself. I doubted any of those monsters would have done the same for us...

~*~*~

Well now-You seem to be fascinated by this. You've never heard of such a group, you say? Well, how often do Shinigami un-assigned to the Seireitei ever truly care about what happens there after many of them leave? Not many...but my son...my son is different. My son is a compassionate man-Do not let the barrier around his heart fool you. He is a kind, and caring person-He always has been...but certain events have lead him to no longer show it...at least not to those who move toward him blindly.

You must wonder what it is that I took interest in, isn't it? A woman such as I, of a noble family, seeing a filthy young boy from the streets, and into a life of luxury such as this? It was not merely because he was gifted-Tho I realized that the moment I saw him...No, from the moment I saw him...I fell in love.

What? Do not look at me so strangely-Love is not merely a term to be used for sexual feelings...The love I felt for him was that of a woman who saw her child for the first time-Though I did not know it then...it was when I would speak to him later that I would realize just how hurt, and dejected he truly felt within the Rokungai..

Of course, he was such a spirited young boy...and he grew up into a fine adult...though it was forced on him. The Rokungai can force those to change...especially the district that he came from. Every day was a fight for survival-And each time I returned, I feared the worst for him...only to find that he better adapted himself to his surroundings each time. By the second to last time I would return to check in on him, he was at his peak-And fully in control of what surrounded him. I was amazed by this progress...To be his age, and to be forced to lead others...not only for your sake, but for theirs...is a tough thing to ask a child to bare. Anyone else would have folded under the pressure-But my son took it in stride. He may not be mine by birth...but I still love him as such.

Would you like to move to the garden? It's very beautiful at this time of day, what with the birds singing and the butterflies dancing across the flower buds. I will continue the story there.

Hmm...it's much better outside, wouldn't you agree? Out here, you may feel the sun shining down upon you-the wind upon your skin. You may smell the fragarance of the flowers in bloom, while listening to the birds sing their songs of love in the distance. I feel that this is the perfect way to tell you the next part of this story...

You see, when you have everything it is you wish for, you begin to realise...perhaps you don't have all that you wanted-For there are things your heart never told you of until just that moment. You could say that's the way it was with my husband...I fell in love the moment I saw him. Of course, he and I were young back then-We studied at the academy together. I always had someone's eye back then...but it was his eye I was trying to catch.

Of course, my husband is as stubborn now as he was then-If not more so. But, I have my ways of making him take notice of me when I wish to. Back then, I would leave him a note in his seat, before he arrived to class...I had him looking all around the room-Until one day, he caught me. Of course, I had hoped he would-He wasn't one to take to such things as love without a hint...but, once he knew it was me...we became entangled in a love affair with eachother that has lasted to this day...

But of course, forgive me for my rambling-But I believed it was necessary to introduce those facts for the next part of this tale...for this was where my son discovered love.

~*~*~

It was a cloudy day...raining lightly. Some time had passed since we had formed the gang, and everyone seemed to be happy-Including me. It was rough, fending for your life most of the time-but when you had someone to always watch your back, the burden was that much easier to bare. Then, the relationships came.

Yeah yeah, I know what you're saying-But I was a guy who wanted his peace and quiet-No female breathing down my neck. I was content to rule alone, with my Generals beside me...Though they would often ask, 'When is there going to be an Empress, and a little Prince or Princess to carry on the name?' It was a joke they used to tease me with-I wasn't bothered by it. Whenever they would bring it up, I would always reply, "Psh, who needs that kind of thing? I'm content ruling alone." It went on and on like that...until I met her.

~*~*~

It was a cloudy day. Rain poured gently onto the ground, the wind whipping here and there, singing for me soft tunes accompanied by the beats of the rain hitting the ground. I was walking through district 74-Looking over my shoulder here and there. I wasn't worried about my influence there-I had little, to none. The 79th was my home, my district. Of course, that made it dangerous for me-For a leader to be alone, in someone else's district, often resulted in trouble. And the lack of backup often meant the leader either wound up dead, or severely beaten and dis-honored. But I wasn't worrying about that at the time...I worried about the Fang of Mibu.

The Mibu, it seemed, has disappeared. They had just been there one day, and gone the next. I started to wonder if they had been wiped out by Insurgents of the other gangs-I know I sure didn't plan to have them wiped out-Because if I had, I would've seen to it the members had either joined us, or moved off elsewhere...but that didn't seem to be the case. They had just up and disappeared...Nobody really knowing where they had gone. I had been looking for information, or maybe a former member, being within the district-It wasn't unusual for a disbanded gang member's to seek other districts to live in. I had thought their territory would be taken over by now...but it hadn't. There was a rumor going around that a curse had been placed on the soil, and the ground had slowly, one-by-one, began eating those that set foot on it. I, of course, didn't believe such tripe. I wasn't a believer in curses-I believed that it could be explained.

The main thing I was worried about was that they were rallying with other gangs, and were going to start an attack upon us...we had always been their enemy, after all. I didn't want to know there was an attack coming until it was too late. So, I, and a few other Generals, set out alone-So as not to attract attention. They were against the idea of me going at first, up until I told them, "These are my friends, too-I have just as much a reason to protect them as you." And so, I headed off to the other districts, skipping the 80th, and starting at the 78th, working my way down slowly.

It was as I made my way into the 74th district. The rain began to pick up, and I pulled out an umbrella to shield myself from it. I was moving forward, looking up and down the streets that slowly started to become less and less crowded as the rain poured down, when I saw...

Red, firey hair, like that of a Phoenix's tail, flowed down the shoulders of a slender, lightly-toned body. Eye's as gold as the sun surveyed the surroundings before them, as the perfectly shaped mouth gave a smile that caused the well-rounded nose crinkle slightly. A beautiful, black Yukata covered the well-endowed frame, as the body slowly turned in my direction...and I froze. I was enchanted. I asked my legs to move, and when they didn't respond, I tried to force them to, but to no avail...all I could do was stare at the enchantress, as she moved so slowly towards me, causing my heart to beat faster and faster as I watched, unable to tear my gaze off of her. Her face, like a porcelain statue...a Goddess. But of course, I keep cool as I look at her, one hand in my pocket...

What I hadn't noticed before was that part of her hair was put up into a twist, keeping half of it bound, and the rest flowing freely down her back...there were no words to describe her beauty. I had passed by many women before-Many of which both attractive, and un-attractive, and never felt a thing...But this woman-Her beauty amazed me to the point of wanting to break down and cry in the middle of the street, begging for her to be mine. But I kept myself in check, walking slowly towards her-and as she passed me, for a fraction of a second, her eye's met mine...and in them, I saw curiosity, mixed with a little bit of distaste...and yet, there was something more there. But of course, I could have been mistaken.

As she walked past me, I suddenly found myself turning, facing the red-haired vixen's back. She walked like a true female...her hips swaying gently, side to side...and I found myself that much more attracted. I hadn't planned on saying anything, but of course, surprises never ceased as I found myself saying, "Excuse me, miss?"

At my words, she stopped, as if suddenly becoming frozen in ice...and slowly began to turn around after a few moments. She faced me, and her beautiful eye's gazed upon me once again, looking into mine, and I felt as if my heart could stop beating at any moment. If looks could kill...she would have had me dead in an instant. After a moment of staring at me, seeing I wasn't about to respond, she asked me in a gentle, yet slightly annoyed tone-"Yes?"

"O-Oh, I'm sorry, I just..." My tongue got ahead of me again, as I slowly began to gain my bearings again, feeling a sense of Vertigo that I'd never felt before-It was staggering. "I, well...It's raining. Would you...like me to walk you to your destination?"

She seemed to stop for a moment, taking my words thoughtfully for a moment, and then smiled-God...I would have given anything to have a picture of that, at that very moment. "I see...so, the shy boy asks me the question at last. I was wondering when you would, cowboy." And as she said that, she winked at me, and my heart began to feel like it could burst from my chest. I walked towards her, holding my umbrella over her.

As we walked together, slowly, I found myself looking away. I was too nervous-I needed to settle down, find my calm spot-be cool again. After a few minutes of walking along silently, I found myself slowly starting to cool down, and get back to neutral-And that was the time that she thought would be best to ask me...

"So, Cowboy...what's your name?" I had no idea what a Cowboy was-I still have a hard time understanding, but of course, I found it to be kind of...dashing.

"My name? Kaze." And at that point, things got really quiet, and for a moment, I saw her stare down at the ground. Perhaps she'd heard of me, perhaps it was just a familiar name-It got passed around for a while, I'm sure. Finally, upon raising her head, and nodded, "Nice name." Wait, I said to myself, She hasn't heard of me? I could have sworn that there was recognition there for a moment-but then again...my name wasn't exactly un-common. "Thanks," I told her, "I'm from the 79th District. I take it you're from around here?" We walked again for a moment, silence filling the ever-expanding gap as we continued to walk. "Yes," She finally answered, "I suppose you could say that."

"I see," I said to her...the 79th and the 74th weren't that different, really. The only thing different is that the 74th was a slight bit richer-The 79th...was poor as they came. What money I and the others made was obtained through trade-Medical Supplies, weapons, makeshift armor-We had to do something to survive, because the stores weren't getting any richer...and we couldn't have been any poorer than when we started out. "So...what's your name," I finally found myself asking her-And about time, too, as we had un-knowingly been rapidly approaching her destination.

"Why is it you want to know my name, Cowboy," She teased with a smile, "Are you suddenly falling in love with me?" I threw back my head, and laughed at the inside of the umbrella-She would make any guy a fine catch...but I was almost certain I wasn't her type. "Well, even if I said yes, I highly doubt I'm suitable for a woman such as yourself." To that reply, I found her smile...what I would have given to be able to keep making her smile like that, at that very moment. "Maybe-Maybe not...You never know unless you try." And with that, she stopped-causing me to stop, and almost trip. "Well," She said, standing at the opening of a rather large building...a Shop, I realised as she began to speak again, "I suppose this is where we part ways. Thanks for the protection from the rain...if we wind up meeting again under the same conditions, I hope you'd continue to extend your gentlemanly courtesy." She smiled at me again, and this time, I could almost feel my heart stop-Such beauty...

"Yeah," I finally replied to her over the silence that seemed to last forever, but in reality, it was merely several seconds, "It would be my pleasure..." I smiled at her, and as she bowed to me, and began to turn to walk inside, I wanted to ask her name again...but I wasn't about to inquire again. If I wasn't able to gain it the first time, I was sure that the second would be fruitless. As I sighed, and began walking back in the direction of the 79th...I think I'd had enough excitement for today. But as I was just about to walk past the Shop, I suddenly heard her shout to me, "Hey Cowboy!" I turned on my heel so fast I just about fell over, and faced her again-"It's Saiyuri-My name's Saiyuri." And at that moment, I could have died...shouting back to her, "Alright, Saiyuri...perhaps I'll met you again sometime." At that, her lips curled into a smile...and she nodded. I didn't know it then...but I was beginning to fall in love.

~*~*~

Of course, our search for the Fang had become fruitless-There was no trace anywhere of them. We tried to ask around, but it seemed like nobody knew just where the Fang had gone. It was as if they had just vanished into thin air-But how could that have been possible? No Gang that size could have just up and gone without SOMEBODY hearing something. Of course, I wasn't all too worried...one less gang, I supposed, couldn't be a bad thing...Even if they were to be replaced later, we would handle future situations in stride. There was only one thing strong enough to make me never care about anything important, it seemed...because it was the one thing most important to my thoughts. A woman I had met, while strolling out in the 74th. Saiyuri.

Of course, everyone else started to take note of my behavior. I guess it was rather odd, me spacing out instead of paying any particular attention to anything going on. Of course, my Generals covered for me-I think they had it figured out, but most of them were too un-willing to say anything...except for Miya. 'Kaze's in loooooooooooooove,' she would shout at random intervals. I could have heard her from miles away...but I didn't care. Of course, what troubled me is the fact that they realised it-But then again, they were probably just guessing. I hadn't told anyone about my meeting with Saiyuri-I guess it was just aparent...something about me had changed. And whatever it was that had, I didn't mind.

I was out one evening, doing the rounds...that's right-Doing the rounds. I didn't get to be emporer by just sitting on my a**, you know. I shared an equal responsibility with my Generals-It's why I was the leader. I shouldered the responsibility of Leading men, and doing my fare share of the work. We weren't a government, so the paperwork I had to do was Minimal. Besides...I always liked to walk around, alone, just me and my thoughts...But it was on that very night things would change.

I had walked out into the field surrounding the Rokungai-I wasn't quite in the 79th district, but of course, I doubt anyone would mind. I liked to walk out here, alone-And besides, I figured Shiro was somewhere behind me-Keeping watch. As I continued to walk through the field, I stopped as I reached a river, filled with sparkling water illuminated by fireflies, and serenaded by crickets. Kneeling down, I splashing my face with water-It was cool, and refreshing-And I cherished it as I drank it by the handful. Cool, clean water was hard to come by in the 79th...I would have to make a note of this place. Of course...I wasn't alone out there. Little did I know, someone else was there. Of course, I had my suspicions...And found myself jumping at a faint noise. It came from across the other side of the river-And as I kneeled down to try to conceal myself on the bank, it was there that I would see beauty unfold before me...

As I watched, a woman came forward towards the creek. She looked around-I guessed she hadn't seen me, as she made no motion or signal-and stopped at the edge. Her foot bent down, and tested the water-And, much to my surprise, found it to her liking. I couldn't see her face, but as I watched, she began to disrobe-and as my face began to flush red with embarassment, I had a realisation-The body was familiar. Of course, I hadn't seen many women naked before-but this body...it felt so familiar. It was as the woman began to walk into the river that I saw who it was...

"Saiyuri..."

At the mention of her name, she whirled around, brandishing a dagger that I hadn't seen before-Where she could have pulled that from, I have no idea-But I'm sure she had plenty of hiding places. "Who's there," she shouted, and as I remained hunkered down, I was afraid to show myself. I didn't want her to think I was some kind of pervert, but if I didn't reveal myslef, she would leave-And that was the last thing I wanted. So, I came to a compromise-I stood up, and turned around, my back facing towards her-"Uh...Sorry...I didn't mean to scare you." Of course, I couldn't see her...but I heard the water splash a little-and then there was silence for a moment...

"Cowboy-is that you?" The silence was broken by the beautiful voice of an angel-No, a Goddess, and for a moment, I felt the troubles of the world melt away, and her sweet voice wash over me-But what she said next ended those feelings, and replaced them with embarrassment. I was about to say something-Anything I could think of to try and explain, but as I was about to speak, I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder.

"You're quite the little pervert, aren't you?"

My face had went from pink, to cherry red-I hadn't meant to come here and find her, but now that I was here, and she was here-I was too embarrassed to speak. I tried to form words, but all I could do was stutter-and I heard a gentle, sweet laugh from behind me, as the hand removed itself from my shoulder, and I could hear the water sloshing behind me as I assumed she was making her way back to the other side of the shore. I just stood there, still as stone for the longest time-I didn't say, or do anything...facing away from her, leaving myself to my thoughts-which were going completely crazy at the moment. Finally, after what seemed like forever, I heard her call to me from the distance of the other shore-"You can turn around now, cowboy-I'm decent."

I wasn't too sure what to do-What if she was joking, and just wanted me to turn around to poke fun again? I decided to take the chance, slowly turning on my heel-And there she was, standing on the opposite shore, in that same Kimono I saw her wearing earlier. She waved to me gently, and shouted, "Come on over, Cowboy-I won't bite!" I had no idea why she wanted me to come to her-I had just seen her naked, and yet, she acted as if it was nothing-I at first started to wonder if she had no shame, but then I figured what the hell, why not?

I found a line of stepping stones (placed almost rather conveniently) to cross the river with. As I reached the other side, Saiyuri came running up to me, and before I knew what was happening, she had grabbed my hand, and was dragging me with her. "Come on," she practically shouted in at me, "You gotta see this!" And as I began to run with her, i started to see what it was she was looking at. At first, it wasn't much to see-just continuing darkness barely illuminated by the crescent moon wanning in the sky. But then, as we got closer...there was no longer any need to try to strain my vision-It was perfectly clear. There, in the center of an enormous field, swarmed hundreds of what could have been THOUSANDS of fireflies...dancing through the night air, filling it with light. As on set of fireflies would dim, another set would light the sky, making the light continuos. I wondered how it was that there could be so many fireflies gathered in the same area, but as Saiyuri drew me into their constantly-moving mass, I saw exactly what it was...and found myself amazed.

There, in the center of the field, lay a stone-But it was no ordinary stone. This stone was of medium size, and it was egg-shaped, almost seeming to be planted in the ground not by nature, but by man's will. It was truly a strange sight to see...but what was even stranger was that upon the egg, there was carved a symbol of a Jeweled Egg. It was indeed very strange...but at the same time, amazingly beautiful and fascinating beyond compare.

Saiyuri noticed my look, and she smiled to me, pointing to the stone and commenting, "This stone has been here for as long as I can remember. There was once a legend about it-Saying that inside the stone lay power able to provoke the sounds of the world into music for all to hear. Ever since I was a child, I would come out here and sit, looking at the stone. I wanted to be the one to discover the power inside the stone, so that I could bring comfort and peace to the Rokungai, and all those who are suffering within it." At that point, I found myself looking at her...looking into her golden eyes as they stared off somewhere else...god, how beautiful she was.

As I stood there, looking at the stone, I couldn't help but wonder...just what was it about this that had me drawn in from the first moment I saw it? Of course, it was very unusual-but there was something else about it...like it resonated with some...inner voice, something that nobody else could hear but me. Why had I never heard of this stone before? How come I never saw it whenever I would wander through these fields? Was it because...I wasn't meant to see it-Or...was it because it was waiting until the right time? I shook the thought from my head, sighing and sticking my hands into my pockets. Who knows, I had thought-Perhaps later, I'll find out.

Of course, at that very moment, something caught out of the corner of my eye-It wasn't the fireflies, nor the stone...it was Saiyuri. She was moving slowly, as if almost hypnotized, her body in rhythm to a tune I couldn't hear. Her body swayed too and fro in a calm, practiced manner-And that's when I knew what she was doing. She was dancing.

As I stood there, and watched her, I was enticed...many people can say that young love is a fleeting thing, but I had lived long enough to know that nothing was truly fleeting. But I asked myself-'Am I in love with her?' I had never known Love before. I had just believed it to be a feeling that felt like anything else, that it was nothing really special-But as I started to feel different, watching her, I started to wonder what was happening to me.

After a few moments, she suddenly turned to me, breaking herself from her trance, and looking right at me. He hair, which seemed to naturally stay in place, began to sway gently in the night wind-And as she smiled at me, her fiery hair parted by the wind as she gently reached her hand towards me...whispering three words that would change my life forever..."Dance with me."

At first, I didn't know what to do-I wanted to take her hand, but at the same time...I was unsure of what I was feeling at that very moment. I wondered, for a moment, how I could get so lucky-But the thought passed, as suddenly, I felt my hand once again move of it's own accord...and take hers. And we began to dance...slowly, with the fireflies surrounding us, whirling around us, leaving luminescence in their wake...any onlooker would have told you it was a beautiful sight to behold. I would tell you...it was a dream to live through. As we began to get closer, I felt like I was on fire...and at that moment, as we finally looked eachother in the face, and our lips met...I never wanted to come down off my cloud."

~*~*~

Hm, I can tell you enjoyed that-It was one of the things I believe my son enjoyed writing the most about. You see...while he had a troubled past and upbringing, alone for much of his life, he was surrounded by idea's, by a world that he understood, and yet, chose not to understand. It's simple, really-Would you want to try to know anything beyond what it is you already knew-Knowledge that could complicate things for you? Of course not...but that is what my son had to deal with...but, we will get to that part soon enough.

As for the reading, I believe today's insight has been full well...soon we shall begin to cover the horrors my son had to face-The kind of horrors a young man shouldn't have to face until he's ready...and while my husband insists that he was ready...but then, my husband and my son have never truly gotten along...he still regrets the day that Kenshiro died...

I'm sorry, forgive me...I spoke out of topic. That is a family matter...and as such, I shall not go any further. While Kaze may not be my son by birth, he is still my son. But you know this, of course...

Well, as I said, today's reading is concluded. I hope you enjoyed it...please, come back tomorrow, and I read for you more.

~*~*~History (Cont.)~*~*~