((I have to write the ending? Aw well ... I guess that's okay ^^;))

Then Hana's eyes noticed something else. Taoru, with his sword held high. "HITORI, LOOK OUT!" She screamed with a high-pitched voice.

But it was too late. Aiming for Hitori, Taoru was surprised by Shuhan as he shoved her aside and moved to intercept from where he stood. Unable to change stroke now, Taoru followed through and sliced through Shuhan's left shoulder just as Hitori hit the ground. Hitori yelped with the pain, but screamed when she saw Shuhan hit the ground beside her, wounded badly.

"SHUHAN!" she cried, inching her way over and covering the wound with her hands for pressure. Hana and her brother rushed over to assist after having noticed Taoru lay dead in a puddle of his own blood, Shuhan's sword sticking up from his ribcage. The sword had pierced his heart and killed him instantly.

The battle raged on, the commotion of the small group near the gate almost completely unheard. Soon enough, however, all the Sendo soldiers lay dead or injured and both Shuhan and Hitori were lifted carefully onto gerneys and brought into the Sendo's infirmary for medical attention. Only 50 Mikomi tribe members still stood after the battle, the two hundred injured being cared for while 75% of their tribe was buried outside.

Aiko had been captured alive and chained up. Everything seemed to be going their way as the first and second nights after battle went quietly and with no more deaths. That's when Kyen Koh went to visit Aiko.

"Sister?" Aiko gasped, rubbing her eyes in disbelief. "Yes ... I've come to take over your tribe sister, with a little help from the Mikomi. You should never have exiled your parents and siblings to gain power like you did. I may not even allow you to leave this place alive!" Kyen Koh hissed, smiling evily. "But what will you do? The Mikomi won't allow you to have this whole tribe to yourself! You're an idiot!" Aiko retorted, venom in her voice. "Who said I'd give them the chance to say no?" Kyen Koh said sweetly, quickly walking away afterwards with a wave.

Kyen koh walked into the infirmary and to Hana, who viligently sat at Hitori's bedside. "I think you and your injured should go back to your village tomorrow. We're running out of supplies here. Having someone travel the distance back and forth would be a waste of time and energy. My men will stay here and protect the village from any Sendo still hanging about." she said, crossing her arms as she waited for an answer.

"Shuhan's been asking to go back ... so that he could die in the village of his birth." Hana replied, lowering her eyes. "You're wise ... I'll ask everyone to get ready to leave. We'll send a messenger here in a few days to see if you're having any trouble, okay?" Kyen koh smiled to herself at Hana's ease at believing her. She lied, "Of course. Anyone sent from your tribe will be very much welcomed."

THREE DAYS LATER

Shuhan lay in the bed next to Hitori's, staring at the thatched roof of the infirmary. He felt weak and sighed heavily atfter accepting he would never get better. "Hitori?" he asked, not moving so as he wouldn't reopen his stitched up wounds. "Yes, my Lord?" was Hitori's answer. "You know I love you ... right?" he asked, still quiet and unmoving. "Yes ..." came the response after a period of silence. "I'm proud of you too. Do you know that as well?" Shuhan inquired. There was a sniffle before Hitori answered, "Yes, I know." There was a long silence.

"My Lord?" Hitori finally spoke up. "Yes?" he responded. Her voice was shaky as she continued, "Would you have ... will you ever ask me to marry you?" There was a weak laugh from Shuhan. "I was going to wait until you were a few years older. Can I ask now? Will you marry me?" he inquired, smiling as he stared at the ceiling, watching as his vision blurred slightly. "Of course." Hitori retorted sassily, "I was just waiting for you to ask, stupid." They both laughed lightly. "Good." Shuhan responded, closing his eyes. Another long silence ensued.

"My Lord ... Shuhan-sama? SHUHAN?" Hitori spoke his name numerous times, but there came no response. She weeped openly and rubbed her eyes with her hand as her quivering voice whispered, "Goodbye ... Shuhan."

SIX DAYS LATER

"Hana. The messenger we sent to the other village a six days ago hasen't returned. Don't you think something bad has happened?" Nagata asked that evening at the council meeting. Hana was sitting in for Hitori until she was well enough.

"No." Hana replied, lowering her eyes, then raising them to the councilmen again as she continued. "We expected this might happen. After returning from the Sendo village, I looked through the old books I brought with me. Shuhan helped me translate. We found that the woman who helped us ... her true name was not Kyen Koh. It was Mariko of the Sendo." The council gasped at the news. "It seems Aiko exiled her family and their loyal subjects, even her twin sister, to gain the throne." Hana said, Nagata quickly piping up, "What will we do now? We have to do something!"

Hana sighed with Nagata's words, looking off to the side as she conversed, "Sorry Nagata, but we're too weak. We'll just have to hope for now ... that history doesn't repeat itself."

((Kinda long and kinda anitclimatic, I know ... I hope I don't offend anyone by ending it this way. ^^;))