AN: New chapter! I know it's been forever since I updated! I'm so sorry! BUT IMPORTANT NEWS IS THAT THIS STORY HAS BEEN REVAMPED WITH SOME PLOT CHANGES SO IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BENEFICIAL TO READ THIS STORY AGAIN FROM THE BEGINNING!

««« «««

Chapter 4

««« «««

"Miharu, I think we should just get this one," Raimei argued, pointing to a nice, albeit small tree. Miharu shook his head.

"No. This one is the better option." Miharu retorted, directing his own finger at a much larger tree. Raimei hesitantly stared at the price tag attached the tree; it was nearly triple the amount they were given.

"This one's way outside our budget Miharu," she replied.

"We can just put it on his tab." Raimei was getting nervous and began sweating despite the cold air. The tree lot owner was watching them with beady eyes in case they'd steal something. Which was ridiculous because there was nothing else to steal besides trees and who would be able to get away with stealing a tree?

"Miharu, please? I don't even think this will fit inside Hanabu-san's house," she pleaded. Not wanting to put any more effort into arguing, Miharu abided by Raimei's wishes and went with her pick. However, he was able to get the tree for half the original price after 'talking' to the tree lot owner. While Miharu was busy haggling prices, Raimei was setting the arrangements to have it sent to Thobari's house.

"What are we going to do with what's left of the money?" Raimei asked as they were leaving the tree lot. Raimei was walking several paces ahead, forcing Miharu to try and keep up but Raimei felt uneasy. She discretely scanned the area searching for any signs that someone was hiding from them.

Maybe I'm just getting paranoid, she thought.

"Come on Miharu! Let's hurry back!" She called.

"Wait Raimei!" He called back. He ran to catch up with her, which was difficult for him seeing as the run was uphill.

"I need to get something first. Come with me," he said between labored pants. Raimei was about to ask what he needed to get but Miharu had already grabbed her hand. He began pulling her in the opposite direction. Raimei had no idea what Miharu needed to get but as long as it made him happy she wouldn't say anything against it. So she walked beside him voluntarily, following him blindly with nothing but trust and loyalty. She didn't question where they were going but filled the silence with other trivial things. Raimei didn't even notice when Miharu pulled her on and off another bus and into a bustling city.

"We're here," he told her. Raimei looked around and was surprised to see and completely different scenery surrounding them.

"How far away are we?" She asked.

"Not too far. Come on, let's look around." Miharu pulled her into the shopping district. While he claimed to be searching for something for himself, he actually brought her here on a whim to see if anything would catch her eye. He watched her discretely as she browsed through the items set on display. Nothing, however, seemed to charm her into picking it up and examining it. Miharu, while keeping a watch for Raimei, busied himself with buying the others presents. By the end of an hour he had bought a new knitting kit for Hanabu, several Hawaiian shirts for Raikou, a book with foreign pastry recipes for Gau, and a CD with Irish choir music for Thobari. He still needed to get something for Yukimi. Raimei was sitting on one of the benches outside waiting for him as he stepped outside of the store. He looked around when his eyes saw a photography supply store down the street in between a bookstore and a toy store. He made his way over with Raimei following behind him. It was a small store but had large windows displaying framed photographs and some of the latest and greatest cameras and camera accessories.

"For Yukimi?" Asked Raimei as they stood in front of the store.

"Yup," was his reply as they entered the building. Inside, there was undeniable smell of new and never before used appliances. The works of some famous and local photographers were put up for sale while actual equipment were kept safe inside glass displays. Raimei looked over his shoulder as he examined the various cameras and lenses.

"They're so expensive." Miharu had to agree. Good photography equipment was never cheap wherever they looked. For a moment, he considered getting Yukimi something else when something sitting at the very corner of the display case caught his attention. Looking over it, he saw that there was no price tag attached to it.

"Excuse me," he called to the store clerk. "How much is this?" The store clerk, an elderly man who looked like he could play the part of a Victorian butler, came up to them.

"That is 9800 yen," he stated plainly. Raimei bit her bottom lip. Miharu couldn't be serious; it was so expensive and he had already spent a large amount of money buying other things.

"Raimei, could you wait for me outside?" Miharu asked.

"Yeah; sure. Why?"

"Just wait for me outside. I'll come out soon." So Raimei waited, leaning against one of the light poles that lit the way for those passing by. In the far corner of her eye she saw a sword specialty supply shop. She eyed it, wondering if maybe she should finally bring herself to get Kurogamon repaired. It would be a daunting and expensive task, as the blade was split completely in half. From one edge to the other; it was no chip, crack, or dent. It might actually be cheaper to buy a new sword for the time being instead of practicing with wooden or borrowed blades. But a part of her didn't want to get it fixed. A part of her felt that, with the broken sword, she was set free to do things that way she believes they should be done. And because of these conflicted feelings Kurogamon laid dormant and shattered in her room. The sword she had used in their final confrontation with Fuma and the Shinrabanshou already returned. So she remained unarmed in a world that demanded weapons.

"Raimei lets go." Miharu stood before her with another bag decorating the length of his arm.

"How much did you spend?" She asked him.

"Only 3900 yen. Are you ready to go?" He asked. Raimei nodded but as they walked to the bus station to take them home their pace gradually increased. Neither spoke a word and their walk eventually gave out to a full sprint. Raimei's paranoia had been correct if the sound of feet falling after them was anything to go by.

"Come one Miharu!" Raimei grabbed Miharu's hand, taking the lead and ran around a corner. Without anything to defend them, Raimei was trying her hardest to loose the people coming after them. She made sharp turned left and right until not even she knew where they were anymore.

"Who are these people Raimei?" Miharu asked in short bursts. He wasn't accustomed to running but considering where he started he faired pretty well.

"Probably diehard followers of Fuma and the Kairoushu." She answered, her voice harsh as they were still running. "Damn it! I have nothing to fight back with!" As those words left her mouth two ninjas, one clearly dressed as a Fuma ninja and another resembling a Kairoushu ninja, appeared in front of them.

"Finally," one started. "You won't be able get passed us now." Raimei took a defensive stance in front of Miharu as they both drew kunais.

"We'll ask only once; give us the Shinrabanshou."

"Are you guys idiots!?" Raimei shouted. "The Shinrabanshou doesn't exist here anymore! There's nothing to gain from stalking us!"

"You're wrong!" One argued. His fierce reply made Raimei take a step back. What's wrong with these guys? She thought. Why do they insist on fighting when everyone in Nabari knows that the Shinrabanshou no longer exists.

"How am I wrong?!" She cried back. The man sent a kunai flying their way. Raimei was skilled enough to catch it since there was nothing in her possession to deflect it.

"That brat is still connected with Hijutsu," the Kairoushu ninja claimed. "If he can send it away then he can call it back!" These guys are crazy, Raimei thought. Both ninjas dashed towards them, ready to attack. Raimei was about to charge and take them on with her fists when Miharu pulled on her arm.

"Hang on Raimei and stay behind me," he told her. He moved in front of her and as the two came towards them his hands fell into the standard ninja sign. He mumbled quietly under his breath and suddenly a powerful wind surrounded them and fog began forming. Miharu grabbed onto Raimei's hand and the next thing she knew they were in front of Thobari's house.

"Are you okay?" Miharu asked. Raimei nodded, still shocked to find themselves in the garden in their front yard. The distance from there to here isn't that great but for Miharu to be able to take us the whole way…even without the Shinrabanshou he's still powerful. She thought. Though she praised Miharu she was angry with herself for being so useless in the battle. I need to get a sword that should be my first priority.

"Let's get inside." Miharu made his way to the door but Raimei pulled him back.

"I'm sorry," she started. "I'm sorry for not being able to protect you. For not being fit to be your strength." Miharu was about to tell her that she shouldn't worry about it but Raimei had a burning fire of determination emanating through her.

"I'll get a new sword and I'll get stronger," she vowed. "I'll protect you no matter what!" Miharu looked her in the eyes and actually gave her a smile.

"I believe you, Raimei."