Yashamaru stood there stunned for a moment. Had his two best friend's lost their minds over Iako women? This was turning into a nightmare. Yashamaru just wanted to turn and kill the Iako leader's daughter, but then again, it looked like he would be ripping out Kuroda's heart if he did so. Should he heal the Iako for the sake of his leader's son? For a moment, Yashamaru stood there battling inwardly what he should do. If he helped the Iako he would be turning his back on his leader, but if he killed her, he would be turning his back on his friend. Friend or leader. Which would make him suffer more for turning? Which would reward him more for not turning?

Yashamar sighed, he had made up his mind. He would help his friend. He picked up the herbs that had not been used yet before Mariko was able to use any more for Cora. He closed his eyes and cupped them in one hand, and covered it with the other. A gentle light shown brightly through his fingers for a moment. When he uncovered the herbs again, it seemed more vibrant and gave off it's natural smell more pudently.

Kneeling, he rubbed the partially healed wounds with the herbs he had altered. When he took his hand away, you could almost watch the wound healing slowly; yet faster than normal.

(A little later I'll use this power again... and we'll see if you can guess exactly what his new power is... *grins*)

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Zutao bowed his head and looked away. He was ashamed. He'd attacked an unarmed women, thier prisoner, he'd lost control. Now he was scared of the woman he'd tried to seduce; and he knew he would help her escape. He'd attacked his best freind, his superior. He had a life debt to the enemy. He was still adamant he was not in love with Aiko, but he knew he was still helping them.

He had betrayed the Koga, though not in the way Kuroda had. He thought it was his duty to punish Kuroda. But now he saw he was just as wrong. There was only one option, help the Iako escape; then tell the entire story to Koga-sama, his and Kuroda's part included. That was the only way to in part pay back the life debt, punish Kuroda and himself and stop himself incuring any more dishouner.

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Made by Lembas

Mariko looked at Yashamaru in surpise, never before had she witnessed a Koga help an Iako out of his own free will. Moving back slightly she gave Yashamaru the space to work. Her powers had helped to speed the healing of some of the wounds, but not all and she knew at this point that Yashamaru was in better condition to heal than she. If more assistance was needed she would aid again, but as of the moment, she did not want to hinder any one-whether Koga or Iako-who could save her lord's daughter.
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Aiko sat back in silence, her gaze adverted. She had committed the gravest of sins-to bring harm upon her lord's daughter. Too add to her shame she had kissed the agent of an enemy in battle-a thing unheard of for a ninja. If I remained true to the code, this would never have happened, she thought bitterly. Even if Cora lived, there could be little atonement for her. All she sought for now was an honorable death-whether by her hand or another-it made little difference.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Yashamaru finnished, and stood. He remained still for a moment, eyes closed, bangs covering his face. His head bowed. Why did he do this again? He looked up, hair going back to the sides of his face. Was it really for Kuroda? So that he didn't have to feel what true loss meant?

Yashamaru stepped back, and looked out the window, his eyes suddenly sad. He was thinking of her, his love whom had been killed two years ago. He glanced at Mariko, then walked over to the door. Now Yashamaru understood why he had not killed Mariko when he first senced her. She looked just like his deceased love.
"Kuroda-kun, I dissobey the orders from your father, so you don't have to feel the pain of a broken heart. But, other Koga have seen me with Mariko as a captive, and will ask what became of her. What should I say?"

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Cora had long fallen asleep when she had felt Kuroda put her head in his lap. She had loned to be with him as they were, two who were in love.

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Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Aiko tensed slightly and studied Kuroda intently awaiting his response. Cora suffered because of her, she would not allow Mariko to be imprisoned or perhaps executed for simply coming after them.

Mariko's gaze shifted from Yashamaru to Kuroda before finally coming to rest on Aiko. Although she was exhausted, she could still sense the other woman's unease. Placing a hand on her shoulder she looked her superior in the eyes. "Don't worry, whatever my fate, I am not afraid." she whispered.

"I have already let our lord's daughter come to harm. I can will not risk losing another friend as well. Whatever is ordered, I shall share your fate" she replied in an equally hushed tone.

Mariko shook her head gently. "No, should the worst be ordered for me, your duty will be to carry on to protect the lord's daughter. My fate is not your concern. You can not be held accountable for my sin."

"Nani? [What?]" Aiko asked her, confusion in her eyes.

"I willingly surrendered to our enemy-a disgrace against the honor of any shinobi. Whatever punishment that may be in store for me, I will gladly accept."

Aiko stared at Mariko in surprise. She had witnessed the younger woman's abilities on more than one occasion and could not understand why she would just yield in a battle. Yet who am I to judge the actions of another? Aiko reminded herself. She who had been so tainted with developing feelings for a enemy warrior and then causing harm to the lord's daughter. Adverting her gaze, she fell silent for a brief moment unable to say anything. "There are far worse crimes," she finally whispered to the younger girl before letting the matter drop. Both then waited in silence to hear Kuroda's reply.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Kuroda looked up, tears of releaf staining his face. "Tell them... Tell them that we have put all prisoners in a place that they cannot be harmed. If further questions are asked, say something of a ransom that will end the war, but nothing else." He paused for a moment, then spoke as if to himself. "There is an old cave behind the waterfall on the border, we can put them there until all things are straightened out."

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Married Artemis Fowl on July 16, 2007
[!+^$%=#?&]
The Seemingly Nice But Actually Really Nasty Nazgul
School ate my life. *sigh*

"I'l come with you. People will be suspiciouse if only one shinobi acompanies three prisoners. Especially ones of such importance" Zutao added softly, looking up at them all suddenly. His eyes glowed with a sinister light and they focused breifly on Mariko "There is no dishouner in surrendering to those without houner." His smiled bitterly.

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Made by Lembas

"Ee?" Mariko turned to look at Zutao, surprised by the statement he directed at her. Had she not been a ninja, she might have recoiled at the sinister light that shone in his eyes that spoke volumes. From his speech alone, she guessed that their was strife-strife that she guessed to be caused mainly by the love between Kuroda and Cora. Turning a questioningly glance toward Aiko, she studied her friend for a moment. There was something different about her, she could feel the tension that dominated the older ninja's usually calm presence. Yet, the female ninja seemed loathe to speak, so Mariko held back her questions. Turning her gaze away, Mariko fell silent again, having no desire to pry into Koga affairs at the moment. Whatever had happened, was bound to be revealed and she silently vowed to question Aiko once they were alone.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

He stood up and looked down at Kuroda with Cora in his lap "Kurdoa-sama, what you said earlier about my heart; you were right. I promise by what houner i have left that i will not harm any of them." He turned towards the door. "Well are you comeing?" he asked the Iako's. "Oh would you prefere to wait untill one of the others informs Koga-sama your here." All this was said without any emotion, it was all hiddedn deep within him. He needed them to co-operate with him.

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Made by Lembas

Mariko hesitated and remained where she was for a brief moment. Yet at Zutao's words, Aiko rose and walked toward him.

"Aiko-san." Mariko breathed in a shocked whisper. Never before had she seen her friend obey a request from an adversary-she knew that the other would rather die than surrender, so why was she complying now?

Aiko turned at her friend's voice, her eyes devoid of any emotion. "Daijoubu yo. [It's okay]" she replied to her with a wan smile, letting her friend know in a few words the trust she put in the man-despite what had happened. As she walk toward him, Aiko glanced at the Koga shinobi for a brief moment before adverting her gaze. Zutao-kun. Aisumimasen. [a very formal term for 'forgive me'] she thought to herself, not daring to look him in the eyes. Mariko watched her superior for a moment before slowly rising and following her. Aiko was behaving strangely, it was unlike her to just give in. I must talk with her later, she decided as she came to stand next to her.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

EDIT:
Zutao blushed bright red as Aiko glanced at him and looked away quickly, his gaze falling on Cora. "You too" he added coldly, then seeing she was asleep he looked at Kuroda for permission before picking her up in his arms and carried her towards the door. "Kuroda I..." he trailed off and walked out, knowing there was nothing he could say to make what he was about to do any better.

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Made by Lembas

((Um, Cora is asleep.))

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Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

((ohhhh, okay will change my post))

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Made by Lembas

Yashamaru had exited at Kuroda's answer. He made his way down the halls. They seemed supprisingly emptied. He found himself in a garden courtyard where he usually spent his free time. In the corner a group of (nameless) ninja huddled in the corner talking to themselves. Yashamaru frowned, and looked down solmly into the small man-made pond full of coy fish.

One of the ninja came up to Yashamaru with a vial of poison.
"Hey, Yasha-kun, could you work your magic on this poison? Me and some other shinobi are going to raid one of the smaller Iako villages," he said, "and we know your power increases the effect of anything you magic."
Yashamaru sighed.
"Sorry, I'm still a little worn-out of last night's raid. I don't have the strength now," he said, and walked away. He needed to think...

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Mariko walked silently at Aiko's side as they followed Zutao. She had glanced briefly at Yashamaru as he departed, studying the shinobi for a minute before staring straight ahead. There was something intriguing about that ninja, a feeling that she could not quite place. She understood the power of his weapon, he could have slain her if he had wanted to, but he didn't. Yet, even more surprising he had aided their lord's daughter. Sighing inwardly she shook her head to clear her thoughts. It was their duty to make sure that no harm should befall Cora in her weakened state, and while she did not think that Zutao or Kuroda would harm her, who knew what would happen if they should be seen by enemy agents.
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Aiko walked silently, brooding over the past events. With every fiber of her being, she loathed the damage she had done. What a traitorous fool you are, she told herself silently as they followed Zutao.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!