V: Guide:

Spike opened his eyes to see someone standing over him. As his vision cleared, he noticed that it was a woman with a stoic look on her face.

“Huh? Who are you?” he asked. She didn’t answer with words.

I was sent here to assist you.

The first thing that Spike noticed was the arrows sticking out of her bun. She held a big black bow in her right hand.

“What’s with the arrows in your hair?” he asked. The woman didn’t answer. She stuck out her hand over him. He reached up and took it.

“Thanks,” the cowboy said when he got to his feet. She stared up at him with light violet eyes. Her plump cheeks made her look younger than she actually was. Spike looked her up and down.

“Who sent you?” he asked. The woman pointed upward. Spike didn’t have to look up.

“Oh,” he said. Was there any need to ask any more questions?

“Spike?” they heard behind them. They turned and saw Sakura in the doorway. She held her hand to her chest as her breath hitched in her throat. The woman with arrows in her bun bowed her head.

“I take it you know each other,” Spike said. His wife slowly nodded. The woman began walking over to the tenshi-chi without a word.

We don’t have time to stand around. We have to get going now.

“And where would that be?” Spike asked. The woman paused and looked over her shoulder.

Follow me. She pushed past Sakura and kept walking. The couple looked at each other. There was no need to say anything. If this was going to end the mess that was coming for them, what choice did they have but to follow? Sakura turned and followed the arrows sticking out of the woman’s hair. Her husband trailed behind.

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Miguel could rest knowing that his package made it to Sakura and Spike just in time. Now, he just had to focus on his end of the job. That wasn’t going to be as easy as he first thought it was. He looked down at the giant hole in his abdomen.

“You need to rest, dear.”

“I can’t. I have to end this.”

“Let me treat your wounds, at least. That looks really bad.”

“Alright.” He fought to keep still as a pair of ghostly hairs felt along the wound. There was no blood coming out. There hadn’t been blood in his body for a long time. That didn’t make much of a difference. He screamed aloud in and shut his eyes.

“Just hold on. I’m about done.” Her voice might as well be miles away. He sucked in a mouthful of air. The wound worked itself closed. Miguel’s body went limp as he breathed out. He heard her breathe out as well. She was done.

“I can’t keep doing this. My magic won’t be enough.”

“I know.”

“It might fail and that wound won’t heal properly.”

“I know.” He didn’t have to look down to know that she was speaking the truth. Lately, it had been getting worse. Right now, the hole had gotten smaller. There wasn’t supposed to be a hole at all. Miguel knew that he couldn’t keep this up. But he had to stop him from coming. If he quit now, there would be no one to stop the storm from coming.

“How many days do we have left?”

“Five days.”

He closed his eyes and took a breath. “Okay.” That was all that he would need. Right now, Miguel needed to rest before he could get back to work. He couldn’t start up again, lest he open that wound up again.

“Hey.”

“Hm?”

“Can you stay by me a little bit longer?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.” Miguel was asleep in minutes. This would have to do for now.