Darkness. Everything was covered by darkness. It enveloped me slowly as my eyes slowly closed, my body falling to the ground. I felt blood (How revolting) dripping down my abdomen. I wanted to grasp the wound, but instead I felt a blade, a sharp sword, sticking out of me. And I can hear the triumphant laugh of my arrogant opponent. Then, it became pitch dark...

"Tachibana..."
All of a sudden that voice broke the silence. The voice...it was very...strange and eiree...It was metalic, if I may say so...yet...so gentle...like a sweet bell whispering to my ears. It echoed everywhere.
"Tachibana..."
The voice...it was a man's voice. It was so sweet and mellow, as if it was attracting me to live. Yet...it felt cold... My conciousness was returning to me. I tried to move my hand. It obeyed. I slowly got up. I shook my head to get a clear vision of...what the?!
"Mr. Tachibana, are you alright?"
I looked around and thought I was dreaming. The battle field-a road leading to that evil castle-was gone. Instead I was in this...What is this place?! I couldn't really say what it is. It was a dark abyss, and I was on a lonely wooden platform. What looked like a face of a huge statue that fell and broke was lying on the floor along with some fallen pillars. Broken pieces of stone everywhere. A chair, a tumbled down table, books, a shelf...all was strange. A window hanging on the black abyss poured down what seem to be the sun's light. I don't know where the light came from though. I looked to my left and saw a huge wooden door with stone pillars covered with growing branches. And on top right of the door sat a...what is it? What it was I have yet to know, but it had a man's figure. A VERY thin one, I might say. He wore all black. His top, a little lighter in color from his pants, was tight, his sleeves covering his whole arm. His pants were like the ones I saw the Ninja brothers wore, only it reached just below his knees, and it wasn't ballooned as theirs. His boots were tight too and followed the thin figure of his feet. A black sash was wrapped around his thin waist. His strange clothes were enough to make me wonder, but it was his features that really surprised me up!
      He was pale, his skin was bone white. He had black slick hair with only a few strands hanging down to his forehead. His ear, the left one, had a stange metal-bronze perhaps-attatched to it. His thin lips grinned at me. But of all these what scared me the most was his eyes. They were big and malicious. Like a demon's it was red, Blood (how revolting) red. A thin slit of orange were at the cnter, like a cat's. Only a white reflection flickered from them.
      I got up as soon as I saw him. I posed for what I thought would come. He chuckled at me and in that mysterious voice he spoke. "Please, Mr. Tachibana. Calm down. I'm not here to fight you. Besides, my body would tire before I can even strike at you. I'm very weak, you know. My fragile body can only do small tasks. How I envy your strength."
       He smiled at me again, chuckling a bit. "Where-where am I?!" I asked. I wasn't sure if I was afraid or not, but if I'm going to die, Or if I'm DEAD already, what's to lose? "Am I...am I in hell?!"
      His eyes danced, rolling from left to right, his head swinging with it.
       "I think you have misunderstood, Mr. Tachibana."
"Call me by my firts name. You have no right to utter my last name...demon!"
       "My, my, such gratitude you show me after what I have done and what I intend to offer you. Very well then, Ukyo, please calm down. You're NOT in hell and I am not a demon, nor in heaven, though it's very true that you are DEAD so I suggest you slow down a bit."
      I was startled at what he said. I felt my body shake as it absorbed the shock. Why I was so surprised when I know I am, I do not know. But it was like my body just finally realized it."
"D-Dead?! DEAD?!"
       "Yes, very dead indeed...but only for I while. I have saved you a few minutes before your whole body accepted it. Please, seat down."
      I was so shocked that obeyed him. I sat down and thought of the evens that took place. I was at an inn, eating my breakfast before I head up to the castle. A heroic quest? Sort of. I was interested for the cure of my disease. They say I will find it there. I was to take the left route, but I a man who had just arrived and sat at the table behind me changed my mind. He grumbled with some men who about how rocky and uncomfortable the trip was. He kept yacking loudly that more heads turned to him. I continued to eat, not letting him know how "helpful" he was. And so I left.
      It was either Haohmaru knew about the left route's status (Then again he never cared for knowledge) or it was simply his choice that I met him on my way. And of course the inevitable happened. We fought. It was one of his most famous fight, mind you. I certainly gave him a hard time but...my disease...I was killed...I died..."I died..." I whispered softly, yet, HE heard it, making me glance at him.
      "Well, yes, you did as I have said. And that is where I come in."
"What? What do you mean?"
      He flipped his hanging legs a bit and swung his head again, his eyes directed at me.
      "I see that you are a strong individual, wise and lucrative if you may say. I deem you worthy of my gift, so I give you this...a chance not only to live, but to change your destiny."
"What?! Change my destiny? Are you serious? Who ARE you?"
      "It is irrelevant, but if you must know...I am a Homunculus, not that there's anything in the name. I saved your life because I know fate has something better for you than death. So if you accept, I will lend my power to you. How about it? It's not an offer I can give to everyone you know."
"Change my destiny...is it even possible?"
      "Yes, hard as it will be, yes. If you are weak and timid, fate shall surely curse you for even trying. But I believe you are strong, that you can stand against destiny. That is why I think you are worthy of my powers."
"But changing my fate...I really shouldn't."
      "Oh? Then you'd rather die on the hands of some nuissance without any honor at all? And what about your beloved Kei? What will become of her?"
I stopped to think. Kei...I really wouldn't have agreed if it wasn't for her.
      "Would you like me to tell you her fate if you die? You might not be able to take it well."
I gulped. I really didn't even want to think about it.
"No...I-I don't think it's necessary..."
      He chuckled as he continued. "Good. And besides, what if I told you you'll also save the WHOLE world if you only wish to stay alive?"
"What?! Wh-what do you mean? How-"
      "Time will tell my dear boy. You don't know how important you are to everyone who lives and WILL live...even myself..."
"What's in this for you?"
      "It doesn't matter what my fate will be. What matters is yours. Now...I give you one last chance...will you accept my offer or accept death so freely?"
      He smiled again, looking at me as if knowing I was going to say agree...and I did...I tried to utter "Yes" but the words never came out. I managed to nod. It was enough for him, his playful eyes darting at me as he let go of something. It toppled right next to me. It looked strange.
      "This is what's called a Digipad. It enables its users to travel through time, but only at certain events. It will activate when something relevant occurs. Please use it wisely."
      He contiued to sway hs feet and look at me with those deep red eyes, he was still grinning.
      "Now, Ukyo, I will send you back to the inn. Once you have done so, think of your decisions wisely. Don't worry, I will try and save you should the inevetibale occur. Now, pass through the door."
      As he said this, the doors slowly swung open. I stoo up and walked slowly towards it...
      "Oh and by the way, try not to stop one death alone, but find out the root cause of everything. Find out who's out to kill you."
I stopped at his words.
"Someone's trying to kill me?"
      "Yes, they want you dead."
"THEY?! You mean-"
      "Please just go on."
"Why can't you just tell me so all will be over?"
      "Hm? If I did that, you wouldn't do what you're suppose to do to prevent your death. My efforts will be in vain."
I looked back at the path. Whatever. I must do what I must do, I should depend only on myself. I make my own fate.
      "Good luck...Please try not to die. I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't fail me." He said, still smiling.Darkness. Everything was covered by darkness. It enveloped me slowly as my eyes slowly closed, my body falling to the ground. I felt blood (How revolting) dripping down my abdomen. I wanted to grasp the wound, but instead I felt a blade, a sharp sword, sticking out of me. And I can hear the triumphant laugh of my arrogant opponent. Then, it became pitch dark...

"Tachibana..."
All of a sudden that voice broke the silence. The voice...it was very...strange and eiree...It was metalic, if I may say so...yet...so gentle...like a sweet bell whispering to my ears. It echoed everywhere.
"Tachibana..."
The voice...it was a man's voice. It was so sweet and mellow, as if it was attracting me to live. Yet...it felt cold...
My conciousness was returning to me. I tried to move my hand. It obeyed. I slowly got up. I shook my head to get a clear vision of...what the?!
"Mr. Tachibana, are you alright?"
I looked around and thought I was dreaming. The battle field-a road leading to that evil castle-was gone. Instead I was in this...What is this place?! I couldn't really say what it is. It was a dark abyss, and I was on a lonely wooden platform. What looked like a face of a huge statue that fell and broke was lying on the floor along with some fallen pillars. Broken pieces of stone everywhere. A chair, a tumbled down table, books, a shelf...all was strange. A window hanging on the black abyss poured down what seem to be the sun's light. I don't know where the light came from though. I looked to my left and saw a huge wooden door with stone pillars covered with growing branches. And on top right of the door sat a...what is it? What it was I have yet to know, but it had a man's figure. A VERY thin one, I might say. He wore all black. His top, a little lighter in color from his pants, was tight, his sleeves covering his whole arm. His pants were like the ones I saw the Ninja brothers wore, only it reached just below his knees, and it wasn't ballooned as theirs. His boots were tight too and followed the thin figure of his feet. A black sash was wrapped around his thin waist. His strange clothes were enough to make me wonder, but it was his features that really surprised me up!
      He was pale, his skin was bone white. He had black slick hair with only a few strands hanging down to his forehead. His ear, the left one, had a stange metal-bronze perhaps-attatched to it. His thin lips grinned at me. But of all these what scared me the most was his eyes. They were big and malicious. Like a demon's it was red, Blood (how revolting) red. A thin slit of orange were at the cnter, like a cat's. Only a white reflection flickered from them.
       I got up as soon as I saw him. I posed for what I thought would come. He chuckled at me and in that mysterious voice he spoke.
"Please, Mr. Tachibana. Calm down. I'm not here to fight you. Besides, my body would tire before I can even strike at you. I'm very weak, you know. My fragile body can only do small tasks. How I envy your strength."
       He smiled at me again, chuckling a bit. "Where-where am I?!" I asked. I wasn't sure if I was afraid or not, but if I'm going to die, Or if I'm DEAD already, what's to lose? "Am I...am I in hell?!"
       His eyes danced, rolling from left to right, his head swinging with it.
       "I think you have misunderstood, Mr. Tachibana."
"Call me by my firts name. You have no right to utter my last name...demon!"
       "My, my, such gratitude you show me after what I have done and what I intend to offer you. Very well then, Ukyo, please calm down. You're NOT in hell and I am not a demon, nor in heaven, though it's very true that you are DEAD so I suggest you slow down a bit."
       I was startled at what he said. I felt my body shake as it absorbed the shock. Why I was so surprised when I know I am, I do not know. But it was like my body just finally realized it."
"D-Dead?! DEAD?!"
       "Yes, very dead indeed...but only for I while. I have saved you a few minutes before your whole body accepted it. Please, seat down."
       I was so shocked that obeyed him. I sat down and thought of the evens that took place. I was at an inn, eating my breakfast before I head up to the castle. A heroic quest? Sort of. I was interested for the cure of my disease. They say I will find it there. I was to take the left route, but I a man who had just arrived and sat at the table behind me changed my mind. He grumbled with some men who about how rocky and uncomfortable the trip was. He kept yacking loudly that more heads turned to him. I continued to eat, not letting him know how "helpful" he was. And so I left.
       It was either Haohmaru knew about the left route's status (Then again he never cared for knowledge) or it was simply his choice that I met him on my way. And of course the inevitable happened. We fought. It was one of his most famous fight, mind you. I certainly gave him a hard time but...my disease...I was killed...I died..."I died..." I whispered softly, yet, HE heard it, making me glance at him.
       "Well, yes, you did as I have said. And that is where I come in."
"What? What do you mean?"
       He flipped his hanging legs a bit and swung his head again, his eyes directed at me.
       "I see that you are a strong individual, wise and lucrative if you may say. I deem you worthy of my gift, so I give you this...a chance not only to live, but to change your destiny."
"What?! Change my destiny? Are you serious? Who ARE you?"
       "It is irrelevant, but if you must know...I am a Homunculus, not that there's anything in the name. I saved your life because I know fate has something better for you than death. So if you accept, I will lend my power to you. How about it? It's not an offer I can give to everyone you know."
"Change my destiny...is it even possible?"
       "Yes, hard as it will be, yes. If you are weak and timid, fate shall surely curse you for even trying. But I believe you are strong, that you can stand against destiny. That is why I think you are worthy of my powers."
"But changing my fate...I really shouldn't."
       "Oh? Then you'd rather die on the hands of some nuissance without any honor at all? And what about your beloved Kei? What will become of her?"
I stopped to think. Kei...I really wouldn't have agreed if it wasn't for her.
       "Would you like me to tell you her fate if you die? You might not be able to take it well."
I gulped. I really didn't even want to think about it.
"No...I-I don't think it's necessary..."
       He chuckled as he continued. "Good. And besides, what if I told you you'll also save the WHOLE world if you only wish to stay alive?"
"What?! Wh-what do you mean? How-"
       "Time will tell my dear boy. You don't know how important you are to everyone who lives and WILL live...even myself..."
"What's in this for you?"
       "It doesn't matter what my fate will be. What matters is yours. Now...I give you one last chance...will you accept my offer or accept death so freely?"
       He smiled again, looking at me as if knowing I was going to say agree...and I did...I tried to utter "Yes" but the words never came out. I managed to nod. It was enough for him, his playful eyes darting at me as he let go of something. It toppled right next to me. It looked strange.
       "This is what's called a Digipad. It enables its users to travel through time, but only at certain events. It will activate when something relevant occurs. Please use it wisely."
       He contiued to sway hs feet and look at me with those deep red eyes, he was still grinning.
       "Now, Ukyo, I will send you back to the inn. Once you have done so, think of your decisions wisely. Don't worry, I will try and save you should the inevetibale occur. Now, pass through the door."
       As he said this, the doors slowly swung open. I stoo up and walked slowly towards it...
       "Oh and by the way, try not to stop one death alone, but find out the root cause of everything. Find out who's out to kill you."
I stopped at his words.
"Someone's trying to kill me?"
       "Yes, they want you dead."
"THEY?! You mean-"
       "Please just go on."
"Why can't you just tell me so all will be over?"
       "Hm? If I did that, you wouldn't do what you're suppose to do to prevent your death. My efforts will be in vain."
I looked back at the path. Whatever. I must do what I must do, I should depend only on myself. I make my own fate.
       "Good luck...Please try not to die. I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't fail me." He said, still smiling.


Chapter 1