Arita slowly walked down the road still carrying the beaten Mayako in his arms, his face was red as having Mayako's body rubbing up on him all the while he held her was starting to get to him, having her so close to him, for some reason it felt right to him just then Mayako gasped in pain, Arita snapped his attention to her "Hey, you okay?" Mayako had a pained expression on her face "Yeah, my arm moved and it hurt like hell" Arita looked at Mayako's shaking arm. He gritted his teeth, this was because of what that bastard Yumito had done "That fucking phoenix..." his face turned soft "I'm sorry Mayako" Mayako gave a confused look "What do you have to be sorry for?" Arita sighed "If I would have rushed in to save you sooner you wouldn't be like this" Mayako stayed quiet "If only I didn't stand and watch" just then Mayako raised her head and conked Arita's. Mayako breathed in pain, Arita scowled "What was that for!?" Mayako grumbled "For you acting so pathetic!" Arita grumbled "What do you mean?" Mayako smiled "Even if you didn't rush in right away, you still came to my rescue" Arita blushed which caused her to blush, nervously she cleared her throat "What I'm saying is, you still saved me, that's all that matters" Arita smiled "Thanks" Mayako blushed harder.

  "D..Don't mention it!" she looked away nervously, "So.." Arita started "So what?" Mayako replied "So, what do you want to do now?" Mayako looked at Arita the blush gone from her face "What do you mean?" Arita sighed "You know the Elder Council won't let us get away now that they found us" Mayako grumbled, "And they could be fallowing us right now, and that Yumito guy will be there" Mayako frowned "And your in no condition to fight someone like him" Mayako chuckled. "You can say that again, legs and a arm broken, definitely not a match" Arita chuckled lightly "I'm glad you can still make jokes but, we have to figure something out" Mayako grumbled "Your right, but what do we do? there's no town for miles and I'm beaten to shit" Arita grumbled in thought it was then he saw something. What he saw was a small grass covered dirt path that lead into a wooded area at the side of the road seeing this he stopped, "Arita? What is it?" Arita didn't answer Mayako he just walked over to the path and fallowed it "Hey! Where are you going! Arita!?" Mayako received no response. Arita saw the path continued into the wooded area and proceeded to walk in, as he walked through the trees he could see a building that looked like a home come into view.

  As he got closer and closer he walked faster, after coming out of the line of trees a huge grin appeared on his face, 'I don't believe it!" Mayako had a look of surprise on her face as well "Is that?" Arita nodded, and both of them just stared at what stood before them how lucky were they, that they find an abandoned house in the woods. Arita chuckled, "This is perfect!" Mayako looked at him "What do you mean?" Arita looked down at her with a smile "We can hide here!" Mayako raised an eyebrow "Are you sure about that?" Arita frowned "What?" Mayako sighed "How far behind to you think the Elder Council is?" Arita grumbled "But.." Mayako sighed once more. "Think about it Arita, they'll be searching ever square inch from the town to here" Arita said nothing "They'll find us and their won't be any way we could fight them off" Arita sighed and nodded, "Your right, and I forgot about phoenix boy" Mayako frowned, "If only there was a way I could heal quicker" Arita grumbled "There is" came a familiar voice in Mayako's head. "Kurookami!" Mayako absentmindedly said out loud which caused Arita to look at her "Kurookami? What's that?" Mayako laughed nervously "Oh, nothing!" Mayako away and grumbled lowly.

  Arita sighed "Well, like it or not, we'll have to stay here" Mayako looked at Arita "Why?" Arita gave a nervous smile "Well, I don't think I'll be able to keep carrying you for much longer" Mayako's face contorted with anger "What do you mean you don't think you can keep carrying me?" Arita started to sweat "Well.." Mayako grumbled "What? Are you saying I'm to heavy for you?" Arita swallowed "No, it's just..." Mayako growled "Just what?" Arita sighed. "It's just, I don't think I'll be able to handle you being so close to me much longer" Arita blushed as did  Mayako "Okay, we can go in the house" Mayako looked away nervously "Ri...Right" with that Arita walked over to the house. He reached his hand out to grab the door knob while trying to hold up Mayako with his other "Please be unlocked" Arita mumbled as his hand held the door knob, he twisted it and heard the lock click a smirk came to his face he slowly pushed the door open, "Hello?" he called even though the house looked abandoned Arita still wanted to be sure. Arita inched the door wider, he looked all around for any sign of inhabitants after a through sweep of the inside he concluded there was no one inside, he sighed in relief and pulled the door open all the way and stepped inside.

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  Both Arita and Mayako were amazed, there was a bed by a window that had fresh sheets on it, there was a sink and a kitchen area and what looked like to be a small sized bathroom "Who built this place?" Mayako wondered as she looked around Arita was wondering the same thing but, there was something more pressing to attend to he eyed the bed and walked over to it. He then slowly laid Mayako down onto it, Mayako winced in pain Arita panicked "I'm sorry!" Mayako looked at Arita's concerned face and smiled and blushed "I'm fine" slowly and surely Arita placed Mayako on the bed "Thanks" Mayako smiled Arita blushed "Don't mention it" silence filled the home. "Uhm, I'm going to check around" Mayako nodded and Arita wandered off when Arita was gone Mayako sighed, "Alright Kurookami", "Sorry about that kid" came Kurookami's voice "It's alright, now, what did you mean by you knew a way for me to heal faster?" Kurookami grumbled "Well, it won't heal you all the way, but, it will allow you to walk" Mayako smirked "That's all I need" Kurookami sighed "I see, then I'll tell you".

  Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Mayako, Arita had come back from looking around the house and was now standing behind a wall and was hearing Mayako talk, "Who is she talking to?" Arita looked out from behind the wall and looked to where Mayako was her mouth was moving like she was talking with someone but Arita saw nobody. Arita tried to see if he could make out anything Mayako was saying but he couldn't it was then he heard one familiar word, 'Kurookami', "That's what she said outside" Arita started to wonder "What, or who, is this Kurookami?" Arita in intrigue decided to stay hidden and watch. "So, your saying with this technique I'll be able to heal my legs and arm?" Kurookami grunted in confirmation "Yes, you'll be able to move them but you won't be at full fighting strength" Mayako smiled "That's better then nothing" Kurookami sighed "So, what do I have to do?" Kurookami cleared his throat "First close your eyes" Mayako's eyes closed "Take in a deep breath" Kurookami continued. Mayako took in a deep breath "Now, focus on the Spiritual Energy flowing around you" Mayako focused "I got it" she mumbled Kurookami grunted "Now, slowly draw it into yourself" Mayako nodded, she slowly could feel the spiritual energy flowing into her "Now, direct it to where your bones are broken" Mayako did as she was told.

  As she did she could feel a burning tingling sensation spread throughout her body, then she felt a sharp pain in her legs which caused her face to contort in pain, "Bare it kid! The pain is a sign it's working!" Mayako nodded her face still showing great pain. The pain grew in intensity, Mayako was biting into her lip and causing it to bleed then as the burning sensation in her legs started to fade it went to her arm and did the same, "Almost done kid" Mayako was sweating bullets then all at one three loud clicks and snaps were heard, Mayako cried out in pain the burning sensation faded and the pain subsided slowly. Mayako was breathing raggedly, "That was intense.." Kurookami chuckled "You did it kid" Mayako gasped and sure enough she moved her legs and there was no pain in them as well as her arm, she kicked her legs a few times and waved her arm and felt they were no longer broken. Mayako giggled to herself, she sat up in the bed and edge to the side of the bed and placed her feet onto the floor, she slowly stood up and stood still "It worked.." she mumbled "It worked!" she shouted she jumped up and down in place but, she winced in pain "Oh yeah, I forgot I was still beaten pretty bad" she chuckled.

  Even though her body was still beaten Mayako was glad that her legs and arm where better, now she wouldn't be a burden to Arita anymore it was then she heard footsteps coming towards her she looked and saw Arita walking towards her with a surprised look on his face "Mayako, how did you do that?" Mayako face turned nervous, had Arita seen the whole thing? [Ch.27 END]