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The Architect built the main fortress of Ico. He also built another important building: the Prison of Despair. He called it that because of the many dejected faces he saw entering the building. What came in never came out. He saw magi trudging towards the towering structure, restrained by magical gauntlets. He saw blacksmiths forced there on gunpoint. (Revolvers and rifles are the newest technology.) He regretted ever building such a monster...one that swallowed up the sanity of the noble.

He questioned to the Leader why there were so many mages and blacksmiths drawn there in particular. The next thing he knew, they attempted to eliminate him. Luckily he knew a few ancient combat techniques. He held the Leader's royal guards at bay and fled into a secret passageway. He didn't bother to tell anyone about this, just in case he would need to use it himself. Easily, he slipped out of the fortress and headed towards the Odah, hoping for refuge.

He passed by Azuchi and asked the Odah leader, Nobunaga, if he could stay awhile. Nobunaga, knowing his trade, had other plans for him. He tried to imprison him, but once again he was thwarted. The reason? He was stopped by a bright light in the sky that attacked him. He concentrated on defending against the thing, leaving him distracted. Fate had other things in mind.

Finally, the Architect settled in Yokohama. There he set up a fortress, stronger than the one the Ico had. Soon, more Ico fled to him. Some fled for sympathy and other fled because they too were expelled. Thus, the Ico Rebels were formed.

The Architect didn't understand why he was so suddenly booted from the Ico. He was one of their most loyal members. He thought it had something to do with questioning about the magi and the blacksmiths. Curiosity took the better of him, and he secretly constructed an underground path to the fortress: the Tunnel of Truth. He dug this tunnel, with the aid of his rebels, for three years before reaching the fortress. His calculations served him well. The exit was located at the weapons section of the building. His rebels reported no abnormalities in their schedule. Deciding to take action, he forged bonds with some of the Ico in there. The stories of betrayal and confusion struck their hearts. They sympathized with them and connections were developed.

He dug another tunnel branching off the original one that headed toward the Prison. He knew of a large, circular room in the center of the prison and decided that the location he would best start is in the corner of the prison where all the jail cells were located. The tunnel reached the ventilation system: the air ducts that zig-zagged their way around the infrastructure. The security, however, was tougher inside the prison than in the fortress. This added to the Architect's suspicion.

On one particular mission, a rebel was found missing. After hours of searching, they considered him dead. However, it was highly unlikely that the rebels' top spy would go missing. The Architect knew something truly devasating was brewing in the prison. He openly waged war on the Ico and the centuries-old rivalry had begun.

"Much....much better...just pain though..." Her hand brushed the side with stitches, causing her to shut her eyes tightly and clench onto his hand. Once the pain subsided, she loosened her grip and gave him a soft smile and softly stroked the side of his face. She managed to sit herself up, support herself by leaning on her elbows and she softly pressed her lips to his.

Kyo sat and enjoyd the kiss before pulling back for a second,and saying,"Rin let your stitches heal up..."he fell back onto the bed exhausted by his worrying. The camp outside was quite as the night ascended. Kyo looked up and Rin and siad,"Would you like something to eat or drink? IS there anything I can do for you?"

She lay down on her good side to face him and pulled the covers over the both of them. "You've done enough already...just rest with me...." She rested her head against his chest and purred into his neck, snuggling close against him. "I love you Kyo..."

((Hmm...need more people in the Ico story...it's going to be big like Nobunaga's....))

Arrode, the Shining heard the sounds of clashing metal and warcries of soldiers. She saw the sturdy catapult and the unforgiving moat. The beheaded and the helpless littered the ground. "Look at these mortals. They have no idea what they're doing. They harming themselves for what they believe is glory. Each day won't be different. It will remain the same. The war of attrition will tire them out." A man's head fell off its vessel. "And that's not fun," she added.

Kyo whispered into her ear as she fell asleep,"Our wedding is going to be the largest in the netherworld in years. Its gonna happen in the Grand Cathedral, thats kinda the tradition. What do you want to see at our wedding?"