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Ayame's hand rose as well, catching his and trying to keep it away from her face. Hers was also covered in her dark, electric like energy, crackling and shooting off small sparks at random. Her large sword rose awkwardly, placed in front of herself like a sheild. But she was breathing heavily now, the pain in her stomach searing every now and then. She was focused mostly upon keeping her hand from shaking as she gripped his tightly, her teeth clenched as a growl rumbled from her throat. Her eyes kept flicking between his hand and his sword.

Aya didn't say anything, just glaring defiantly at him, even as she felt herself starting to crumble. However, he suddenly broke away as two blasts directed them selves towards him. Ayame stumbled back, already in position again, sword held out and her legs bent and ready to move. However, Zetsumeisuddenly teleported away. As soon as she was sure he'd gone, she collapsed to her knees, sword hitting the ground in front of her with a loud thump.

Her hands clenched at the dirt, her head bowed angrily. "Damn it..." she muttered to herself, and repeated it a few more times, growing louder until she screamed the last one. Then she realized someone was approaching, and looked up, seeing a young male offering her his hand. "...don't bother," she snapped, obviously frustrated. She wasn't even aware of the tears running down her face. She picked up her sword again, jamming the tip into the ground and using it to shakily get back to her feet, then leaned heavily upon it, one hand covering her stomach. There was blood running down her right arm as well, and she was struggling to regani her breath.

Ayame fell silent, just gazily steadily at the ground. She suddenly realized she was crying when she saw a tear drip from her chin, landing on the dirt she was staring at, followed swiftly by several more. But she didn't react, just standing using only the sword to keep herself up. She ignored the boy for the most part, but finally spoke when he asked if she were crying. "I'm not," she responded coldly, though he'd set his hand upon her cheek, and could obviously tell that she was. She sighed heavily, hands clenching and unclenching as she closed her eyes, allowing him to wipe the tears away. She'd actually willed herself to stop crying so no more came as she studied his face, a dark frown upon her own. "...you called him your brother," she said suddenly. "Why are you doing this?"

Ayame regarded him carefully for a moment, as if trying to figure out if he were lying. For all she knew, he could be trying to gain her trust. But then why would he have bothered to stop Zetsumei? She sighed to herself, letting her eyes close for a second. This was so frustrating! She'd finally found him only to end up being saved by his little brother. Hey, calm down, the voice spoke up again, echoing through her head. Now you've fought him, so you can train, right? Aya hesitated, then gave a small nod of her head, glancing towards the boy who'd called himself Ito.

Reluctantly she sat down, though it was more like collapsing. She sat cross legged, her dress spread around her, left hand on her stomach and right arm hanging limp by her side. She didn't fully understood why he wanted to help, and part of her was screaming at her for trusting him. But, she guessed she'd give him a chance.. Besides, she did hurt. "..it's Ayame," she murmured quietly, watching the ground again.

Ayame just nodded her head, then looked back to the ground, closing her eyes again as she felt a sharp pain in her arm. But it began to dull, then faded entirely. She glanced at it, staring through half opened eyes at the healed skin. If she wasn't fighting, she always ended up looking kind of dazed. She wasn't sure when the habit had been formed, but here it was, acting up again right on cue. At least it showed she'd calmed down... She moved her hand from her stomach to make room for him, and then that pain vanished as well. A moment's silence, and then she spoke in a dull, out of it tone. "Better, thank you.." She lifted her arm, running her fingers across the armor plating that Zetsumei's sword had struck. It seemed to be fine still.

Ayame stared blankly at him for a few seconds, almost looking confused. "Ice.. cream?" she echoed after a while. She didn't understand how he'd shifted so quickly from fight to food. But, now that she thought about it, when was the last time she'd allowed herself to just take a break and eat something like ice cream? She'd been constantly training, then constantly traveling, until she'd finally ended up here, only to lose. Her hands clenched at the thought, then relaxed as she pushed herself a little shakily to her feet. She tugged the large sword from the ground, brushed it off, and then sheathed it before turning to face Ito. She was at first tempted to scold him. Maybe he never caught up with Zetsumei because he kept stopping to eat junk! But at the time time, she felt the urge to join him. So, looking almost defeated as she spoke, she agreed. "Ice cream would be.. fine."

"I know he will... He pretty much summoned me here..." Ito said quietly, listening to the eerie noises of the crater then hearing one noise that his mind focused upon. The very light sound of footsteps just on the lips of the crater.

Like a bat from hell Zetsu leapt straight over the crater and brought his katana down in an attempt to swas Ito in half from head to toe, but Ito's large sword was already up in defense. Zetsu was knocked back by the force of his own blow and ended up in the center of the crater, where Ito had already appeared like a flash, slashing for Zetsu's midsection. Zetsu had blocked and then, out of nowhere, his hand shot out, shooting an orb of darkness towards Ito, causing it to expand to the lip of the crater, causing a massive dome. The void had been created.

Three days.

For three days the void stayed, and when it finally was over, it disappeared into whisps of Shadow, leaving two forms at the bottom of the crater, one battered and bruised, the other in a stupor. Ito was the one who was bruised, his body bearing almost three years worth of scars more than it had last time. But upon his now unclothed back, were two white wings. He pushed himself into a kneeling position and looked at the other figure beside him. His true brother was free, and miraculously alive. He gazed upon his brother's now rosier flesh, his long silken black hair, and his body shape. Ito took his arm over his shoulder and climbed to the top of the crater, his eyes no longer blindfolded, for he could see. He could see the grey of the ash and the brown of the earth. It was such a dank place, but it was the first place he had ever seen, and was beautiful. Whence he reached the top, he looked upon Sam and found her more fair than any other thing he had seen. Her vibrant red eyes, her clothing was different than he had last seen, of course, but she was beautiful. Absolutely breathtaking. "I'm back..." He said quietly with a happy smile as he looked her straight in the eyes.

Ito was still admiring Sam's beauty as she spoke, his eyes drinking in every detail of her body. "Well... I tried my best, but some things can't alter destiny..." He replied to her comment on waiting. As his eyes continued to look her over, they returned to resting on her eyes as well. "Sam... You look so... Beautiful..." He told her quietly. He had and was going to withhold the fact that she had been on his mind for the three days that had been stretched to years in the void.

Zetsu rolled his eyes lightly, but a good natured smile was on his lips as Ito looked Sam over. He found his legs for the first time in years and tried to stand again, this time succeeding and shakilly walking. "Listen you two... I'm going to be on my way now... There's something I've been needing to do..." He said quietly. He was heading to the graveyard, where he could finally pay his respects to his and Ito's dead parents.