The+Black+Wolf

Kurona slowly walked into the library, her demons, Rin, Yuri, and Hiroyuki, filing in after her. As the girl quickened her steps, the demons fell behind, letting Kurona wander off.

"Cho-dono?" She always came to visit in this way. She was much more relaxed then she was 5 years ago, but still slightly stiff.

"I'm in here, Kurona!" Cho called from a side cavern. Kurona knew that cavern contained the history of the Southern quadrant. Kurona walked in and saw Cho perched on the highest level of books, in human form. She was clad in a sleeveless blue gown. On her arms, Kurona saw shining silver letters, like a tattoo. That was a new addition, Kurona thought.

"Konnichiwa. I just had to grab some papers from Bandium, and I came for a visit before I drop them off." Kurona paused, her eyes dragging to the silver letters on Madame Cho's arms. "Um, Cho-dono, this might seem rude, but..." She trailed off as she tried to get her curiosity back under control.

"Ah, my arms? Yes, the letters are a new addition from a quest I recently completed." Cho's smile seemed brighter and she was happier than Kurona had ever seen her before, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Really? That's... good. You seem lively. Excited. It's hard to put it into words. But I like this new change in you. I hope you can continue to be this happy for a long time. And for you... I imagine that 'a long time' will be the equivalent of 'forever.'" Kurona smiled, absent-mindedly running her hand over a book cover. "On a different subject, I'm thinking of trying a different genre. Maybe history or something. Do you think you can recommend a good book? Preferably something that won't put me to sleep. Wait, is that possible...?" She trailed off, lost in her own thoughts, as usual. Kurona didn't usually think about things, but in the library she was always left with her thoughts, so she couldn't help but be focused.

"Hmmm," mused Cho, "What about a mystery? I have one in mind. A story of a great black wolf who roams the high reaches of the mountains, howling out a warning to all who hear it. No one knows where it comes from or what its warning means. Sound intriguing?"

"Oh yes!" Kurona paused, the story ringing a small bell. "I think I heard that somewhere. Where was it?" Looking up, Kurona tried to remember. In exasperation, Kurona threw up her hands, then slapped them against her thighs. "I give up. Well, forget about where I've heard it. Sounds good." Kurona lifted her hand in the air and pointed to the heavens. "To the Mysteries!"

Kurona dashed past Madame Cho and turned a random corner. A few seconds later, she popped back into Madame Cho's view. "Eh, I-um... don't know where to go." Kurona blushed, ashamed.

Cho lightly leapt down from her perch. "You won't find it here, or in any of the books in my library, and I have every volume that was ever written. No, this mystery awaits us outside the library, in the mountains surrounding my home. Still interested?" Kurona stared at Madame Cho for a few minutes, before her expression suddenly brightened.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! By the Tama, yes!" Jumping up and down, Kurona explained why she was so excited. "Those papers that I have to drop off is the only job that I have been given in months! I know that the East is peaceful, but this has been just ridiculous! I finally get a letter from Daisuke, and all I get is a freaking regular! I'm always picking up and dropping off papers, packages and the like. What am I, a mailman?!" Kurona gasped, her rant cut off by a realization, and she started firing off apologies. To get back on track, Kurona forced a straight face. "Yes. My answer is a very calm and non-rambling yes. I'd be glad to be able to move around and actually **do** something. Thank you for your offer."

Cho bowed. "No, Kurona, thank //you// for agreeing to help me. I assume your elementals will be joining us as well? Oh, I do hope Rean has forgiven me! You should dress warmly and I will speak to Dorje about getting some supplies. Meet me at the park by the tea garden when you have gathered your things. I assume you will not mind a ride on dragonback? I promise that I will not let you or your companions fall."

"Oh, please, it really should be me thanking you. You're doing me a great favor." Kurona bowed several times, but stopped when she continued the conversation. "For everything else you mentioned is either a "yes," or "okay," but what have you done that //Rean// needs to forgive you for?"

Cho laughed lightly. "I think he still holds a grudge against me for sending you to find that book all those years ago," she whispered, still smiling. After a second of silence from Kurona, the contractor burst out laughing.

"I-I'm sorry. I know that it doesn't seem that funny, but I just thought that he hasn't mentioned that incident in over 4 years. Also, I don't think that it was so life threatening a job that Rean would hold even the slightest of grudges. Besides, it's nothing compared to my uncle. Did ever I tell you how I met my demons, and what caused me to leave my home, Cho-dono?"

Cho shook her head. "No, little falcon, you haven't and I didn't want to pry. But I always did wonder. Would you care to tell me over a cup of tea?"

"Of course." Kurona replied, and the two walked off to have Kurona finally confiding with Madame Cho.

"The Himeko's are a very influential noble family. I know, the title of noble doesn't suit me the way I am now. But from the moment I was born, I was raised to be obedient and refined. The only time that my tom-boyish attitude showed was when I was with my Grandmother, or my cousins, Misaki and Aoi. My Grandmother was a warm person, gentle and kind. Similar to you, Cho-dono. My cousin Aoi was mischievous and teasing. Misaki-the last time I saw him, was quieter, but still had qualities most 9 year old boys would have. Aoi and Misaki were identical twins, and two years older than myself. My uncle is Misaki and Aoi's father, and he had similar attributes to my father, being his brother. My mother had married into the family, so she had not had even the slightest of influence from my Grandmother. My father and my mother refrained from associating with me, unless I did something to shame the family."

"But enough about my family, we should probably get to the assassination of my cousin. The three of us were playing our own version of a game a lot of children in Ringence play, called 'Kagome, Kagome.' Or 'Circle You,' in english. Just your run-of-the-mill assassin had killed Aoi with an arrow from behind. I suppose the arrow was true, if not that, it at least hit it's target in the heart. It was so sudden that he died with his eyes open."

"I'm not clear on what or how it happened, but I some how opened a entrance to this thing that Rin calls the Void. All I recall is the pain, sorrow, and most of all-grief." Kurona looks at her open palm, sorrow etched into her features. "My uncle blamed me for Aoi's death. As he made that very clear in his attempts to kill me, and he sure worked fast. As soon as the funeral was done, I experienced three attempts to kill me in one night. One was an attempt at poisoning that I was not even aware of, using the food that Aoi had liked best. The second was a booby trap using the arrow that had killed Aoi. It still had his blood on it. The third was an assassin. Do you remember the demons that were raised by the person that had stolen that book we mentioned earlier? That demon had the same form as the assassin that was hired to kill me that night. I was sure Hiroyuki had killed that man. That was why I was so terrified."

"Either way, that was the last straw for my demons. I'd had enough as well. We left on Hiroyuki's winds, and I've never gone near the mansion nor the village ever again. I worry what has happened to Misaki, but I'm too much of a coward to go back. I'm not even sure if my Grandmother's alive." Kurona took a sip of her tea. "Well, that's about it. Drama, drama, drama, straight out of a really bad tragedy play. The story of my life. So on and so forth. Any questions, Cho-dono?"

Cho slowly shook her head, her white hair hiding her face for a moment. "You poor child. I am so sorry that you had to go through those things. But look what they did! They were a crucible to make you stronger and braver and smarter than you might have been otherwise. I admire your resilience, little falcon." Cho picked up her delicate cup and took a sip of the steaming tea. "We have more in common than you might realize, Kurona-chan," she said softly. "Many years ago, my family was slaughtered by an assassin, too." Kurona smiled at Cho cheering her up, but frowned when she heard the new tid-bit of information on Madame Cho.

"I'm sorry. For me, while being a tragedy, my cousin's murder was almost expected. I'd had a few relatives on both sides of the family die in a similar manner. But families in Ringence normally only include immediate relatives. The group of family members that I most often associated with was considered large. But with you... what you just confided in me... that's far more deserving of sympathy. While I lost my family that was already falling apart at the seams, I gained a better, more caring and loving family that lets me be myself, and do what I need to do to be happy. You, I've learned that you lost your brother, and now a whole family? I'm aware that both instances occurred a long time ago, but for someone that is 'timeless' the pain must run deep. I feel ashamed going on about my insignificant troubles when yours are much more important. I'm sorry, Cho-dono."

"No one's troubles are insignificant, child. Do not apologize for confiding in me. I have often said that friendship doubles joy and halves grief. You are right, though, my pain does run deep. Losing someone is a hard, bitter thing, no matter how the loss occurs. But it is something that I had to come to terms with long ago, or I would have remained forever isolated from the world and the people in it, and look what joy that has brought me! Every ending is balanced by delight. That is the way of the world, little falcon. All things are impermanent. We must understand and accept that." She leaned back in her chair, her teal eyes showing infinite sadness. "But it is a...difficult lesson." Kurona was silent for a few moments, mulling things over.

"I agree entirely Cho-dono." With that, Kurona gulped down the rest of her tea and heaved up out of her seat. "Well, I guess the others and I should start gathering up our things. We always travel so all we have to do is grab our bags. Wait, we left them at the inn all the way... down... the mountain... oh! Silly me! I sometimes forget that Hiroyuki has his own version of flying! We'll be back in a bit!" Kurona and Cho said their temporary good-byes, and Kurona set off with her demons to grab their bags- oh, and Rean.

Cho sighed slightly as Kurona left. The poor child. She was so very young to be exposed to such evil in the world. But what a mass of contradicting emotions she was! It would do her good to be in the child's company, Cho mused. She drained the last of her tea and set off to find Dorje.

As expected, he was in his office which was a spacious room, with large, wide windows opening onto the snowy vista. His desk was neat and orderly, just like the man himself and he was busily writing a letter. He stood up and bowed as soon as she entered the room.

"Most Holy!" he exclaimed. "How may I serve you?"

"I am leaving again for a little while, Dorje. Kurona and I are investigating this black wolf that has been seen. Norbu should stay here and continue caring for Priestess Anala. Please dispatch Isiriel to Ringence. I want her to find out if any of Kurona's family is still alive, especially her Grandmother and her cousin Misaki. Please tell the Captain to be circumspect. I do not wish Kurona's parents to know, nor do I wish to expose her to any danger."

"Of course, Most Holy. It shall be done. May the Creatorix protect you on your travels."

Cho crossed to Dorje and kissed him on the cheek. "Take care of the library for me, old friend."

Dorje returned the embrace. "I will, as always. Be safe, Your Holiness."

After packing provisions and clothing, Cho went to meet Kurona and her demons in the park near her tea garden.

When Kurona, Yuri, Hiroyuki, and Rin strode in, they acted the same, walking straight towards Cho with their minimal luggage. Rean was walking around with a confused expression, seeing as how he still thought they were walking in snow. After all, he was a fire demon and could not see the library.

"Stop dragging your feet with that dazed look in your eyes, Ikkoku." Kurona didn't even bother to look back at the fire demon, who tried to spout out incoherent retorts. Using her nickname for Rean was the way Kurona showed she cared. Plus, Rean was simply fun to tease in his simplicity of mind. When the girl's eyes found Madame Cho, she exclaimed, "Cho-dono! We're ready!" she singsonged, waving her hand high into the air and being as quiet as she could, which could be described by a normal person's standards as 'shouting.' Of course, no one in Kurona's traveling group was 'normal,' as Madame Cho had found out during the various years.

Cho shimmered into her dragon form, swiveling her head toward Kurona's group. "Who is riding with me?" she asked.

"Hiroyuki can travel by air by himself... so he can take someone. How many people can you carry, Cho-dono?" Kurona replied, adding on a question of her own.

"I can carry the rest, easily," Cho said. "We will apply the harnesses and get on our way. The monks will show you how to attach yourselves. And you may store your things here," she said, indicating a net slung under her belly. The group complied, and Rean was left in Hiroyuki's care. After some teasing about how the air demon could feel free to drop his passenger at the greatest height, Kurona, Rin, and Yuri strapped themselves in with the monks help, and they took off.

"This is amazing! I've gotten used to how Hiroyuki flies, but this is far more thrilling! Hiroyuki is always careful to make the ride so smooth that I fall asleep!" Kurona spoke above the wind, enjoying the ride. She was not afraid of heights, and she loved how fast they were going. "I wish I could do things like this. It just seems so fun!" She laughed, tempted to raise her arms and close her eyes.

Kurona could feel Cho's deep rumbling laughter. "I'm glad you are enjoying yourself, little falcon. Hold fast!" Cho dove, wings pulled in to her sides, wind screaming by, plunging toward a teal blue lake that lay like a jewel in the heart of the mountains. At the last moment, she snapped her wings wide open and skimmed across the surface of the water. "I hope you brought a bathing suit! This is Lake Dawa. We will meet up with a few other friends of mine here to get some information." Through the whole trick, Kurona was thoroughly enjoying herself, Rin was looking a little frightened, and Yuri of course remained stoic. When they landed and jumped off, Hiroyuki was dragging a hysterical Rean across to them.

"When he saw that little move that Cho-sama accomplished, he started trying to copy it. Honestly, he's such an overprotective idiot." He dropped the fire demon and slung his arm around Kurona. "He wasn't the only one that was worried though. You alright?"

"I'm fine," she replied. Hiroyuki leaned down and whispered in Kurona's ear.

"You know, I heard you the whole ride here. I thought you liked my flying. I'm hurt, crushed..." As Hiroyuki continued to describe with his dry humor how insulted he was, Kurona laughed and joked back with him.

"Cho-sama," Rin approached Cho cautiously, "you mentioned some friends of yours were going to help out. May I ask who we are expecting?"

"Of course, Rin," Cho replied. In fact, here comes one now." Cho's draconic head swiveled and she gazed out at green field that surrounded the water. The geo-thermal waters of Lake Dawa caused the snow to melt away as soon as it fell, leaving only lush grasses dotted with small starflowers here and there. Running across the field toward them was a large fox, its fur shining golden in the sun and nine tails held jauntily behind it. "This is my friend Haruko, a //kitsune//. He often has information for me. He may know something of this wolf we seek." Everyone but Yuri and Rean stared as the fox drew ever nearer.

"Cool!" Kurona suddenly exclaimed, and grabbed Rean's arm. "Have you met one of these before, Rean?!"

"H-huh? What makes you think that?" Kurona pouted at Rean's too obvious attempt at dodging the subject. Ignoring him, the girl turned her attention back on Haruko, and she waited to be spoken to first.

The fox and Cho both shimmered into their human forms and bowed respectfully to each other. Haruko appeared to be a lean, compact young man, with golden hair and amber eyes. He had sharp pointed features, but his smile was genuine. Kurona could see the tips of his tails peeking out behind his //yukata//. "Greetings, Cho," he said, and then turned his attention to Kurona. "And who is this?"

"Haruko, I'd like you to meet Kurona Himeko of Ringence and her...companions, Rin, Rean, Hiroyuki and Yuri."

Haruko bowed again. "It is a pleasure to meet you all," he said.

"N-no, the pleasure is all mine, Haruko-dono." Kurona hastily bowed, her demons following suit. Without knowing what else to do, Kurona remained silent, desperately waiting for someone else to talk. Unfortunately, none of the demons were sure of what to do either.

Meanwhile, Cho was rummaging through her packs and pulled out a large teapot and eight delicate cups, all with cherry blossoms decorating the exteriors. She handed the teapot to Rin. "Here Rin, fill this with water if you please. And Rean? When she is done could you heat that to a boil?" After that, she pulled out a blanket and asked Hiroyuki and Yuri to spread it out near the shore of the lake. The group complied, confused, but obedient. Kurona insisted on helping Hiroyuki and Yuri smooth out any wrinkles.

"It's done, Cho-dono!" Kurona and her demons stood around the blanket, waiting for further orders.

"Excellent," Cho said, as she pulled a metal stand for the teapot out of the bag. She placed the pot on the stand and then added tea leaves, letting them steep. She extracted a few pillows from the seemingly bottomless knapsack and scattered them around. "Have a seat, my dears," she called as she went to the carryalls again and brought out some shortbread cookies. When they were all seated, Cho served them tea and passed the cookies around. The tea was green and tasted subtly of pineapples and summer.

Haruko had watched this all with great interest and when they sat he turned his attention to Kurona. "Your companions are elementals?" he asked.

"Hm?" Kurona's mouth was slightly filled with a cookie, and she calmly swallowed before opening her mouth to speak. "Oh, yes. One for each element. Rin's water, Rean's fire, Hiroyuki is wind, and Yuri is earth. Though, I have to warn you. Each of them has really weird quirks. Especially Rean."

"Wha?!" The fire demon tried to talk, but his mouth was full. Kurona's eyes narrowed, and she gestured to Yuri. The earth demon didn't even look up from his sweets when he sent a hard packed ball of earth flying at Rean's head. "Ow! That hurt-!" Another hit his stomach, cutting off what ever profanities Rean was going to spout out.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, Ikkoku." Kurona calmly warned as she took a sip of the tea. She spoke to Haruko to try to clear any misunderstandings. "Don't worry about Rean. He's suffered far worse in fights, and his body is practically indestructible. After all, he **is** a demon." Kurona assumed that Haruko was able to figure out that fact, and that is the only reason why Kurona let the secret slip.

Haruko's eyes narrowed. "Well," he said, "not precisely." Kurona blinked a few times, fear rising up. Still kneeling, Kurona swiveled around to face Haruko directly. She bowed so low that her forehead touched the fabric of the blanket.

"I'm sorry! I must have offended you, and for that I'm sorry!" Kurona spoke to the ground, being completely sincere.

Cho and Haruko were at her side in an instant, raising her up and soothing her fears. "No, Kurona-chan," Cho murmured. "You gave no offense."

"Certainly not!" Haruko exclaimed. "I merely meant that your companions are not precisely demons, just as I am not precisely a demon. No offense was taken, I assure you." Kurona sagged, relieved.

"Good... I didn't know what to do if... well, you know." She looked Haruko straight in the eyes as she explained herself. "I'm well aware that they-nor you-are positively 'demons,' but I first met Rean, Yuri, Rin, and Hiroyuki when I was very young. Seven, actually. The grownups that I was around at the time were very superstitious people, and quick to jump to conclusions. I just started calling them demons because the grownups did, and I was never corrected." She laughed nervously, starting to sit up. "It became a habit I suppose."

"Have a care, Haruko," Cho warned while still stroking Kurona's long hair. "She is still very young and not as aware of the...complexities as we are."

Haruko nodded. "Forgive me, Cho," he said. "You are correct, as usual." He returned to his seat and took up his cup of tea again. "So, I suppose that you have come looking for the black wolf?"

"Yes." Rin spoke up for the first time, she had wanted Kurona to talk to the //kitsune// first. "I must admit, I'm curious to learn more myself. It sounds rather... interesting."

"We all are, Rin. I myself have been feeling a bit out of the loop." Hiroyuki added, turning to Haruko. "Any information that you have will be most appreciated, Haruko-sama."

Haruko sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I will be glad to tell you what I know. First, I sense that this black wolf is more than it seems at first glance. It roams the high reaches of the mountains and howls in the night. I tried to approach it but it refused to talk to me. It would not speak to the //tengu// either. I think it is waiting for the right person, Cho. But there is more than that. It is black, but its fur glows with an unearthly light. It leaves no footprints when it walks, and it appears and disappears at will and without warning. It poses no threat, has done no harm and it has eaten nothing that I can see. But it clearly is here for something, some purpose. And I do not know what that purpose is. Have you any specific questions that I can answer?" As Haruko described what he knew, Kurona seemed to become more and more distressed. It got to the point that when he was finished, Kurona was in a cold sweat.

"Kurona?! Are you alright?!" The demons all jumped to her side. Rin started dabbing on the girl's forehead with the sleeve of her yukata.

"Aoi..."

"What? Your cousin?" Hiroyuki exclaimed, confused and frightened for Kurona's current state.

"A black wolf... was Aoi's symbol. Misaki's was a white wolf. In the village they grew up in, there's a tradition for 6 year old children to find their deity, spirit, whatever the heck you call it. They're usually animals. Aoi's was a giant black wolf. It's said that when that child dies, whether they are old or young, they will take the form of that symbol. If there ever is a time where the spirit is restless, they call for the person they were closest to in their death. The spirit will refuse to speak to anyone else. Their locations vary. It's supposed to be the person's most cherished place. Aoi used to tell me stories of the view from his house. He always would talk about a snowy mountain that he could just make out from his room window in the family's branch mansion. He said he couldn't go see it up close because it was in another country. Which if I'm not mistaken, the branch home was... by the Tama... in view from the mountain where the wolf appears." Kurona looked up at Cho."If what is roaming the mountain is Aoi... and if the legends are true... then he must be waiting for either Misaki... or me."

"It may be a mistake." Yuri cautioned.

"That might be true. But if by some miracle my assumptions are correct... then I might be scared out of my mind when I meet him. It... it must be my fault that Aoi died, right? I just..." Kurona trailed off. Her head was starting to hurt. "I'm sorry. I just need to rest. I'm getting a little ahead of myself." Kurona lurched up, and started staggering off. Hiroyuki and Rean followed her, but Yuri and Rin stayed where they were, not sure what to do.

"I've only seen her like that when she woke up from one of her nightmares. But she hasn't had those in years. She used to wake up screaming every night about arrows and that she was sorry." Rin shared the memory, picking at a patch of grass. As Rin continued mumbling, Yuri turned to Haruko.

"I'm sorry, Haruko-sama. You probably don't understand what is going on. Long story short, Aoi is Kurona's dead cousin, and we suspect that this wolf is the murdered relative of Kurona." He focused his attention on Madame Cho next. "However, we are not sure, and think Cho-sama should decide on what you want us to do. I'm sure Kurona would feel the same, seeing as how you and Haruko-sama are the only ones with a level head at the moment. Even I am rather incensed at the mere memory of what occurred during that short period of time." Anyone that wasn't aware of Yuri's personality would think he was completely calm, but if you looked closely, a person could tell that he was at least upset.

Cho steepled her hands in front of her, placing her fingers on her lips as she thought. "It seems to me," she said eventually, "that we need to go see if this wolf truly is the spirit of Aoi. Perhaps it will talk to Kurona or to me. And, with all of us there, I would daresay that Kurona will come to no harm. Perhaps this will give her some closure." Cho sighed. She knew what it was like to not have closure. "After that, I believe that I shall go pay a little visit to Kurona's uncle. He and I need to have a talk, I think." The fury in Cho's eyes belied the calmness of her voice. Somehow, Yuri and Rin thought that the "talk" was going to be a bit one-sided. However, the pair smiled, each version of the expression seeming to be demonic.

"You wouldn't mind if Yuri and I joined you, would you Cho-sama?" Rin's grin widened, and her seemingly ethereal blue eye's glow getting stronger as she spoke. Yuri's odd pink eyes glowed in the same way. As their pupils grew brighter still, the pair turned to where Kurona had staggered off to.

"Kurona's calling us," Yuri stated for the benefit of Madame Cho and Haruko.

"I'm sorry, Cho-sama. Do you mind if we talk about that visit with Kurona's uncle after we find out what is wrong? It was nice to meet you, Haruko-sama." Before Cho or the //kitsune// could answer, Rin and Yuri had already run off so fast that no one could see them move.

Haruko arched an eyebrow at Cho. "You've acquired some interesting traveling companions," he said.

"Indeed," she agreed pleasantly.

The earth shook a little, and a large amount of fallen snow rose up in the air off in the distance. As soon as the small earthquake came, it calmed, and the "interesting traveling companions" could be seen flying back over to the makeshift picnic area.

"Honestly, Rean. We thought that Kurona was in trouble. Don't tell her to call over the whole group when Hiroyuki has the situation under control." Rin seemed to be scolding the fire demon as everyone landed.

"He always looks so weak that I think he's not gonna be able to help any! It's not my fault!" As Rean tried to make excuses for causing an unnecessary ruckus, Kurona wandered from the group and heavily sat down. The girl put her head in her hands and let her shoulders sag. Kurona was obviously too tired to care about posture at the moment.

"Can all of you be quiet?" she mumbled, and all fell silent within seconds. "Cho-dono, do you have any knowledge of fish being in the lake?" Kurona asked, pointing in the direction of Lake Dawa. "Or is there some river or something around? Anything that might have fish in it?"

Cho's brows furrowed for a moment. "Are you hungry? I could easily get you a fish, if you like." Kurona let out a tired chuckle, but it soon faded as her frown deepened.

"No, Cho-dono. I'm not hungry. You really don't have to worry about me. But," Kurona lifted her head a bit, and her eyes were hard, "a yokai pair called //Ashinagatenaga// tried to attack me. Which is extremely odd in of itself. They usually only fish, working together to get a catch. One has long arms, while the other has long legs. The only time they cause harm is when someone sees them. But they usually bring bad weather when a sighting occurs. They don't attack or anything like that. Plus, they only appear in Ringence, at least to my knowledge." Kurona's hands rose, gripping her head. "Why would they be here?! What made them try to kill me?! What the heck is going **on?!**"

Haruko's brows rose. "Excuse me, but did you say that they tried to kill you?"

Cho growled deep in her throat. "This is getting out of hand. Where are they?" Her eyes glinted dangerously and the others saw the dragon in her at that moment. She might seem serene and peaceful, but she was not called the swift right hand of Vengeance and the arbiter of Justice for nothing.

"Oh, Hiroyuki forced them between a rock and a hard place. They took too long deciding what to do, so they got slammed into the rock. There was a literal rock and Hiroyuki was the hard place. They should still be around there. Hiroyuki can guide you to where they should be." Kurona waved a hand to the air demon, who nodded and turned, speaking over his shoulder.

"Come this way, Cho-sama, if you wish to interrogate them." He started to lift himself in the air, but hovered there, waiting for Cho's reply.

Cho glanced at Haruko. "Keep an eye on things here for me, old friend. I shall return soon, I hope." With that, she walked a few paces away from the blanket, shimmered into dragon form and launched herself in the air. "Lead on," she growled at Hiroyuki. "I have a mind to find out what, exactly, is going on here."

"All right." The air demon replied, and flew higher himself. The two soon took off.

"I'm sorry, Haruko-sama. I'm rather tired. Do you mind if I take a short nap?" Kurona stifled a yawn, and flopped out onto a side of the blanket. "It really is pretty here. I like to think that this country is the definition of peace to everyone on this planet. In Ringence, there is only a relative peace. Underneath the calm there is a great tension and it's sometimes hard to trust strangers." The girl's eyelids started fluttering closed, but she managed to say her thoughts out loud. "I sometimes wish I had the courage to ask Cho-dono if I could live in the library with her. But I'm too much of a coward to do so. I'm always like that, too afraid of rejection. Seeing hatred and contempt in people's eyes scares me the most. I don't... want Cho-dono... to look at me... like that." She finally fell asleep, and Rin knelt down next to the //kitsune//.

"She was talking to you, Haruko-sama." The water demon smiled and laughed a little. "Kurona has a habit of talking to the people she last spoke to before she sleeps. Whether they're there with her or not. I hope you can take it in stride. Kurona tends to get slightly attached to anyone that's friends with the people she cares about."

Haruko nodded and returned the water demon's smile. "I think I understand," he said, hesitating briefly before continuing. "You know, I've seen how Cho regards Kurona. I have seen that same look of old, when Cho would gaze on members of her family. Kurona could ask and would be welcomed with open arms at the Library." He paused again. "In fact, I think it would be good for Cho to have a young guest there. She gets lonely in the mountain and, without mortals near her, grows detached from the world. That is not good for her nor is it good for Tetravier. We, all of us, need her to be //present// in the world."

"Yes, I agree. Many troubles in the world were made right by Cho-sama. Unfortunately, the problem between Kurona and her family can never be fixed. Not even by Cho-sama. It's... hard to explain. But the damage is done, and I fear that Kurona will never have enough courage or confidence to make such a request as to be accepted into a family." Rin sighed as she watched Yuri provide some shade over the resting human. "The only people she calls family are us, her- for lack of a better term- demons. The people she called her true family were only ever her grandmother, and her cousins, Aoi and Misaki. And as I'm sure you've figured out by now, she blames herself for Aoi's death." The water demon sighed again, and rose up from her crouch. "I hope Cho-sama is right. I hope this job will provide closure for Kurona. Tama knows she needs it."

Haruko settled back against his pillows, stretched his legs out in front of him and clasped his hands behind his head. "I have heard it said that friends are the family you choose for yourself. This may be true for Kurona and for all of you, as well. In any case, I would be surprised if Cho did not already know the wishes of Kurona's heart. She is very observant and seldom misses anything." He closed his eyes. "Perhaps a small nap is a good idea," he said and soon began snoring softly.

Meanwhile, Cho followed Hiroyuki and landed near the creatures who had threatened Kurona. She did not bother to transform. "I trust that you know exactly //who// and //what// I am," she hissed. "I command you to tell me why you attacked that girl and who ordered you to do so." Her teal eyes were full of fury and her teeth looked very sharp and very close to the two //yokai//.

"P-Please... we were... f-forced to. A white wolf... told us to attack a human girl that had demons as companions. We were told to bring her to i-it. Then w-we could be free of whatever holds us. The white wolf wants the g-girl, and he's going to send others after her." The one with the long legs stammered, and the two started to run away. But Hiroyuki sent his winds to block their way, and the two flew backwards, landing right in front of Cho.

"A white wolf..." Hiroyuki tilted his head to the side and studied the //yokai// pair with a frown. "Cho-sama, do you remember what Kurona mentioned about Misaki's spirit?"

"I do," Cho returned, not taking her eyes off the //yokai//, "but I thought her cousin was still alive? Well, that point can be cleared up later. Where can I find this white wolf and what others is he sending after the girl? I will have you know that she is under //my// protection. You have chosen a very dangerous enemy."

"I-it is not us that you should warn. The white wolf spoke to us on the other side of this mountain. The two of use were on our way to the coast of Ringence when he spoke to us. You will have to warn //him// of the dangers he has faced. He said he wanted to see the girl in person and gave us specific orders to capture, but not injure anymore than necessary." They squirmed away, and this time, Hiroyuki let them. When the //Ashinagatenaga// were gone, Hiroyuki spoke to Madame Cho.

"Cho-sama, what would you like to do? Shall we go and talk to Kurona? I think she needs to know what is looking for her. She may want to go to him herself, though everyone else will be against it."

Cho nodded. "Yes, we should tell her. Kurona should be able to make her own decisions, although I am sure that we all will support her in any way we can. Let us return and tell the others what we know."

With that, Hiroyuki and Cho sprang into the air and returned to the group. After waking them, Cho and Hiroyuki explained what they had learned from the //yokai//.

"Kurona, the decision is yours. What would you like to do?" Cho asked. "Be assured, we will support you, no matter what you choose." Kurona was silent for a long while, but her features took on a determined stance, and she stood up with the same confidence.

"I want to go. It's too coincidental to be anything but what I suspect. I want to see Misaki. Whether it's just a servant or if he's dead. I want to talk to him." Kurona noticed Rean's confused state at the servant part, and the girl explained. "Some people can gain their spirits as familiars. Misaki was one such people, even at the age of 9. But there always is the possibility that my cousin died in the years I haven't seen him."

"Please keep in mind not to get your hopes up." Yuri warned a second time, worried that she would only meet disappointment.

"I know. But..." Kurona's hands clenched into fists as she spoke, "I want to meet this white wolf. Who knows, he might be connected to the black wolf." She attempted a smile, but bowed low to Cho. "I'm sorry to ask such a favor of you, but do you think you could take me, Cho-dono? I want to arrive in as little time as possible."

"No need for formalities, little falcon. I would be happy to take you. Haruko, there is nothing more you can tell us?"

Haruko looked up from where he had been rummaging in one of the packs. "Hmm? What? Oh, no, nothing more to tell you."

Cho raised one scaly eyebrow and swiveled her head closer to the //kitsune//. "Put it back," she said evenly.

Haruko attempted to look confused, but failed miserably. "Put what back?" he asked innocently.

"Whatever you just took, little thief," Cho said affectionately and Haruko, laughing, returned a tin of cookies and some dried yak jerky to the pack.

"Goodbye, old friend," Cho said, as she prepared to load up her passengers and take flight. "I will see you again soon, I trust."

"Call on me whenever you have need, Cho," Haruko said before he bowed, transformed into a fox and scampered off into the fields.

"If you are ready, Kurona, let us go. I am almost as anxious as you to get some answers." Cho held out her foot to help Kurona and the others mount. As Hiroyuki followed the rest, he whispered under Kurona's hearing, but well within Cho's.

"Thank you, Cho-sama. You're helping her a great deal by coming."

Cho winked at Hiroyuki and then spread her massive wings, pumping them mightily as she sprang into the air. The cold wind rushed past them and, even with the worries that they all felt, the flight was still exhilarating. They followed the curve of the mountain in the direction that the //yokai// had given them. "Keep a sharp eye out," Cho called back, "for it will be decidedly difficult to spot a white wolf against all this snow." Everyone nodded their agreement, and started looking down, searching for what Kurona believed to be Misaki. After a while, Rin shouted over the wind.

"Over there! I think that's him!" The water demon pointed down to a rock on the ground over to the group's left. Only a small portion of the gray tones could be seen, but it was enough to differentiate a dark nose and pair of eyes.

"Let's go down," Kurona stated, neither ordering, nor begging.

"Be wary, all of you," Cho said as she descended, landing near the rock. She addressed the wolf from a cautious distance. "I am Chomolungma, Guardian of the East. Kurona Himeko is under my protection. What business do you have with her and why did you send a pair of //yokai// to abduct her?"

"The wolf you're speaking to now is my familiar, Chomolungma-sama," the white wolf replied. "I assume that Kurona knows who I am?"

"Of course I know who you are!" Kurona started to run to the wolf's side, but he growled at her. "Misaki?"

"Obviously it's me, Kurona. The cousin you abandoned after killing my brother."

"W-what are you talking about? Misaki? Why-"

"Do **not** come any closer!" The wolf leaned down, like it was getting ready to run, whether to attack or retreat Kurona didn't know. "Did you think I'd let you get away with killing Aoi?!"

"Aoi..." Kurona turned to Cho. "I changed my mind. I don't want to hear what either of them have to say, Cho-dono. I'm sorry, but I can't take it."

"Kurona." All that was said from the wolf was her name, but Kurona knew that she was ordered to go through with it. The wolf looked at Cho, and spoke again. "I would like to talk to Kurona alone."

Cho swiveled her head around to regard the white wolf with skepticism. "I'm sure you would," Cho replied mildly. "//I'd// like my brother to be returned, a lovely vacation in the Numidian Steppes and for the moons to be made of yak cheese. None of those things are going to happen either. I will not leave Kurona here, alone with you, when I have no idea what your intentions are. You will speak to both of us, or not at all. And, if you choose //not// to speak with us, you will have made a very dangerous enemy this day." The wolf snorted-or perhaps he sneezed- and he ignored Cho almost completely except for one sentence.

"Very well." He stepped towards Kurona. "Don't get me wrong, cousin. I despise you. I hate you, actually. But I want to hear your side of the story."

"My side?"

"Yes. For all my life after Aoi died, I've only ever heard my father's point of view. And over the years, I've noticed that it gets more and more impossible. Lately, he's even gone so far to say that you had hired the assassin two years before it occurred, and that you lured us out there to kill the two of us off. He's never even given a plausible reason that you would kill Aoi. So, I want to hear what you have to say to counter that."

"I-I didn't... I'm not sure. I blame myself, but... I know for a fact that I didn't hire any assassin." Kurona and the wolf stared at each other for a long while, each trying to figure out what the other was thinking. "That still doesn't explain why you tried to kidnap me. Why with //Ashinagatenaga// of all things?"

"Well, those two useless idiots were the closest in location to you, and I didn't want to risk my familiar to danger. What with your... bodyguards. As for why I tried to kidnap you, I don't know myself. Just got fed up with the stories, I suppose. I acted rashly."

"That sounds like something Aoi would do."

"We'll never know what Aoi would do. He's dead." Kurona looked to the side, exchanging glances with Rin.

"Well, yes. Aoi's dead, there's no doubt about that. But... there's a way to talk to him even now." A question in the form of a glare was directed at the girl, and she hesitantly continued. "You know about Aoi's spirit being a black wolf? He-um... there's a black wolf that's been appearing recently."

"Oh, really?"

"I'm serious, Misaki!"

"Well, I'll beat you to him." Kurona barked out a laugh, and put her hands on her hips.

"You don't even know where he is."

"I'll follow you." Misaki calmly shot back, and Kurona twirled around to face Cho with a bright smile on her face. Misaki was starting up a game! At least for now, he was acting like nothing had ever caused a rift between them, and Kurona intended to take full advantage of that fact.

"Do you think you can take him up on that challenge, Cho-dono?"

Cho sighed. She was far too old for childish games. But, still, she had promised Kurona. She paused thoughtfully before she spoke. "Honestly, my instincts are against this, Kurona-chan. However, I promised you that we would do this together, and so we shall." She turned her gaze on the white wolf. "Do not vex me," she warned.

"Can't promise anything," the wolf muttered under his breath. Not having heard Misaki's reply, Kurona leaned down to be face to face with her cousin's familiar.

"Misaki, I'm only going to say this once." A slight smirk took over her happy smile. "Disrespect Cho-dono, and I personally will never let anything that you want to happen... well, happen."

"As usual, you are very confusing, Kurona."

"Consider it a miracle." Kurona's smile appeared again as she walked over to Cho.

"More like an unfortunate curse that hasn't been lifted yet." The wolf again murmured just low enough for Kurona not to hear. "Don't keep me waiting, Cho-sama."

Cho snorted. "Try to keep up with me, pup," she said as she lifted her passengers into place and launched herself into the sky. As they were flying, Cho began trying to piece together the parts of the mystery. //What if,// she mused, //what if Aoi had not been the intended target all those years ago? What if the target had been Kurona? When the assassin killed Aoi, the uncle felt like he could move against Kurona...and he did. When he had been unable to kill her, he turned to discrediting her; blaming her for the murder and filling the ears of an impressionable nine year old with hatred and enmity. But why? What did Kurona have that this uncle of hers wanted? It was a mystery, no// //doubt//.

"Cho-dono. There's something I just realized I forgot to mention when I told you my story." Kurona was looking down at the ground, her eyes tracing Misaki's familiar.

"And what is that, little falcon?" Cho asked, as she adjusted her wings and slipped into a tailwind.

"Well, it's actually two things I need to tell you. One I'm sure you already figured out, I was the intended target when Aoi was killed. I think. The second is that I was supposed to have more power than even Misaki. It was lying dormant, but I'm sure that now the power is gone. It was used up when I summoned Yuri, Rean, Hiroyuki, and Rin. The person that has the most power from our ancestor becomes the head of the family. This might be the reason that my uncle tried to kill me. Also, Cho-dono?" Kurona turned forward to look at one of Cho's scales. "Did you know that the Himeko family is said to be descended from a demon? There's even a myth and song made for the tale. Maybe that's how I was able to summon my new family."

//And there was the last piece of the puzzle,// Cho thought. //Power.// //Humans often did horrible things for power, and this was one of the worst.// Inwardly, Cho sighed but she responded steadily, "I should have remembered that legend, Kurona, but my mind has recently been elsewhere. Forgive me. However, if your uncle continues to be so fearful of you that he sends threats and ambushes and assassins, I would wager that you still have that power. It would be a simple enough thing to check when we have time to do so. Perhaps after this investigation is done."

Cho modified the angle of her wings again, her airspeed slowing as she approached a bowl like valley, filled with snow and surrounded by large pines. She set down near the trees, next to an outcropping of rock. "This is where the black wolf has been seen. We shall camp here for the night, and wait for him to come."

"Of course. Wait, Misaki?" Kurona looked of into the distance, and a human shaped figure was approaching. When he neared enough, he stopped in his tracks.

"Huh. I suppose that I was too confident. I was closer, but the dragon still beat me." An astounded expression on a narrow face and mind. Misaki's features were sharp, and he stood with an arrogance that suited his upbringing. A confidence that led him to believe that he could easily defeat a dragon in a race. With black hair and brown eyes, anybody could tell he was a blood relative of Kurona's. His hair framed his face, and was left down. The Himeko young lord was dressed in causual black Western clothes that fought off the cold. Tilting his head to one side, he glared at Cho. "Guess you're not too old."

"Misaki!" Kurona stomped through the snow, but even on her toes, her cousin still towered over her. "How can you show such disrespect?!"

"Easy enough, Kurona. I was only telling the truth." Kurona growled in frustration, but anyone that knew her would know that she was happy to be able to talk to her cousin. And although no one around could tell, Misaki was feeling the same. "Cho-sama, even if you didn't want me to be here, I would still come. There's a large possibility that Aoi is waiting for me."

"There's also the fact that we are not sure that the wolf is your brother, Misaki-sama," Yuri spoke up for the first time.

"Shut up, monster."

"Misaki! Why-"

"Just because, cousin. Mind if I help set up camp, Cho-sama?"

Cho craned her neck down so that her eyes was level with Misaki, her massive head dwarfing his tall figure. Fury radiated from her teal eyes. Braver men than Misaki had been reduced to fear by the sight of Chomolungma when her ire was roused. Not for nothing did legends state that it was wise not to wake a sleeping dragon. "You may feel that you can be disrespectful to your cousin and her companions, but I will not tolerate that behavior," she hissed, enunciating each syllable. "You //will// act in a more gracious manner toward //all// of us or I will endeavor to teach you some manners. Have I made myself crystal clear?" Misaki tried to recover, but it was clear that he was still shaken when he replied.

"Very. Kurona, why don't we get started." He pulled out supplies, and handed some to Kurona.

"Eh, right." She bent down to help him set up what he was doing.

"Your dragon friend can be quiet //kowai// when she wants to be."

"Cho-dono? Scary?" Kurona glanced to Madame Cho, and smiled. "I suppose, but it takes a lot to make her mad. At least that's what I've seen. Misaki, why... never mind."

"What, why am I so bitter? Well I don't know. Maybe it's the fact that my twin brother died when I was nine. Maybe it's because my father is insane and overbearing. Maybe it's because I'm the heir to the Himeko family."

"Eh?!" Casting a side long glare, Misaki scoffed at Kurona.

"You really sound like a commoner. Has running away from your responsibilities really made you lose your refined manners? You've really changed."

"I could say the same about you." Kurona sulked, and Misaki turned to her with a startled expression.

"I haven't changed. I'm the same."

"No, you're not. You may have been a boy, but you were quieter than Aoi. Sometimes you didn't have any confidence. Now you're more like what Aoi might have been. Has any of the Misaki I knew prevailed over the new one?"

"You know that Aoi had more powers than I did."

"Did you hate him for that?"

"No more than you did." Misaki started fiddling with a piece of metal, and calmly asked another question. "I've always wondered, what made you summon those... things?"

"Grief." Kurona immediately answered without a second thought.

"Really. We're done here Cho-sama." Misaki didn't bother to raise his voice, and Kurona realized that Cho would have been able to hear the entire conversation. The girl turned to look at Cho with an apprehensive and slightly embarrassed demeanor.

"Cho-dono...?" Kurona let the question fade off as all eyes turned to Madame Cho. Hiroyuki was unsuccessful in hiding his smirk, he and the rest of the demons had been purposefully eavesdropping. The demons had gathered around Cho. Hiroyuki and Yuri had removed the flying harnesses while Rin and, somewhat surprisingly, Rean, scratched her eye ridges. Cho seemed to be enjoying their ministrations, for her eyes were closed and she made rumbling noises much like a cat's purr, but louder.

When she realized that all eyes were on her, she glanced at Kurona and Misaki before closing her eyes again. She had a hunch that she wanted to follow up on. She had sent Isiriel to find Misaki. Since Misaki was now here...perhaps Isiriel was also. She sent out searching tendrils of magic, looking for the medallions that her few chosen friends wore. Kurona's was the closest and brightest, and she dimly felt Acasius' far away as he made his slow progress to Soulavas. Simeon's was completely missing. But there, in the trees, concealed as only an elf could hide, was Isiriel. //Excellent//, Cho thought. //It was always good to have a hidden resource, as it were.//

She opened her eyes again, and morphed into her human form. Kurona and the demons were used to this, of course, but Misaki had never seen it before. Cho's human form was beautiful, not young nor old, but somehow both ...or possibly neither. She was like a painting or sculpture: ageless, timeless. She had the same teal eyes, still somewhat draconic, in a heart-shaped face. Her skin shone slightly golden and her hair drifted past her shoulders like new fallen snow. She wore a blue robe, embroidered with silver and white dragons. She seemed unaware of the cold, or perhaps just immune to it. She asked Rean to start a fire near the rock outcropping and then went to her pack and pulled out the teapot, some cheese and dried fruits, jerky and journey bread. Then, with a little help from Rin and Rean, she prepared a simple meal for them all.

After they had eaten, Cho spoke. "Although it may be a little more dangerous, I will remain in human form until the Black Wolf arrives. He may be unwilling to speak to a dragon, who knows. However, I would expect that he will arrive very late tonight, as wolves are mostly active during the nocturnal hours. For now, you may want to get some rest. I will keep watch."

"In that case, I'll retire. Cousin, please wake me up when Aoi comes." Misaki walked to his own shelter. Kurona stared after him for a few moments then tried to go inside after her cousin.

"Kurona! This might be a good time to take advantage of your upbringing to act at least a little proper." Rin lept up and grabbed Kurona by the scruff of her neck, dragging the girl over to the other shelter.

"I'm a commoner now."

"Even commoner ladies are conscious of themselves!"

"Oh, but Misaki's a relative. I sleep with Hiroyuki, Rean, and Yuri all the time."

"That is when we are outside!"

"This is outside." Looking down at Kurona, Rin sighed and turned to Madame Cho.

"I'm sorry, Cho-sama. Would you like to give it a shot? Getting sense into her head, I mean."

Cho smiled kindly at Kurona, but her voice was firm. "Whether he is a relative or not is irrelevant, as is what is proper or improper. I do not trust him and nor should you. Do you not remember that he tried to have you kidnapped? That he has threatened you, told you that he hates you? Please, Kurona, for my sake as well as yours, take the other tent and sleep with Rin. I will wake you when the Black Wolf arrives."

Kurona stared at Cho, then looked back at the tent that Misaki resided in. Then, like a child being ordered to her room for a bedtime that she did not want to keep, she walked to the approved tent and stepped inside. But not without one last sulking glance towards Cho.

"Honestly, that girl really respects you, Cho-sama. I'd think she'd jump off a cliff without a single doubt in her mind if you told her to do so."

"She listens to you, Rin." Hiroyuki snickered at his spot seated next to the fire. "Just not with the same blind admiration that she has for Cho-sama."

"Yes, yes. I'm an over-protective mother bear of a sister, and that is why she doesn't listen to me." Rin tipped her head to the side and spoke as an after thought. "Cho-sama, do you think Kurona could be going through a rebellious phase? Oh, by the Tama, I hope she isn't." Rin became increasingly worried, and started to fret as she paced through the snow.

"Sit down, Rin," Cho soothed. "I have been alive for tens of thousands of years and I have seen innumerable teenagers. The one thing I can tell you for certain is that they //all// go through a rebellious stage. If Kurona is not going through such a stage at the moment...she will eventually. But I think it far more likely that she just is happy to see her cousin once more and does not like us thinking ill of him...not that he has done much to alter that perception."

"Yes, I suppose you're right. But if you meet her uncle, you'll know why I'm suspicious of //that man's// son. Any one who grew up with him as a role model is surely as wrong in the head, perhaps even more so."

"I realize that what you just said is perfectly logical, but you're wrong." Misaki had snuck out of the tent and stood behind Rin, who had sat down. Rin jumped, but did not make a sound. Misaki seemed to share Kurona's habit of sneaking up on people sometimes. "Yes, my father is unstable. But I hardly share the gene." He sat down next to the fire, a good distance away from the others.

"I thought you went to sleep." Rean spoke up, slightly on edge from the fact that this kid could surprise Rin of all people. He had only seen Kurona do that.

"I couldn't. Too frustrated." He bluntly stated and stared at the fire for a while. When he spoke again, his voice was soft. Like he was afraid of waking up his younger cousin. "She better have been happy." After that, he quietly got up again, and trudged back to his tent. After a while, Rean spoke again in an awed tone.

"How the heck did that little kid become like //that//? He's not honest. If he cared about Kurona, then he should show it, not snap at her and lie. What d' you think, Cho-sama?"

Cho shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't know how. Maybe he never learned. He was very young when his brother was killed." Cho's voice became soft and thoughtful, her eyes sad. "Losing a twin...it affects people in very different ways. It can totally devastate a person's soul. If you let it, the loss can eat at you like a cancer and destroy you. Perhaps..." she trailed off and all that could be heard was the crackling of the campfire. "Perhaps that is why Misaki is struggling," she finished eventually.

"Hm. Yeah, I think that's it. You're smart." Rean nodded slightly and stared at the fire, bringing it up a little to keep the flames going.

"I'm very old," Cho replied, winking at Rean. "They are often the same thing."

"Elders are often revered in most cultures. It seems to be important in Ringence to have the wisdom that comes with age. Means that you can survive or something along those lines," Hiroyuki offered.

"Anarchintia," Rean and Rin shot back at the same time.

"Except that their "elders" are a little older than Kurona," Yuri put his two cents in, and Rean suddenly pointed in the direction behind Cho.

"Uh, guys? I think Aoi's here now."

Cho stood, brushing the wrinkles out of her robes. "Please wake Kurona and Misaki. But tell them to make no sudden moves or loud sounds. The wolf is likely to be skittish." Giving nods to Cho, the demons all set out to complete their tasks. Rin and Yuri, the ones with the most patience, went to wake up Misaki. Who promptly came out as soon as he was able to to so quietly. Rean and Hiroyuki woke Kurona, who came out bleary eyed, but never-the-less awake and alert.

"Where is he? What does he look like right now?" Kurona blinked away her tiredness as she asked Cho her questions. Cho silently raised her arm and pointed.

In the light of the moons, the wolf paced toward them, an inky shadow against the pristine snow. He was larger than an ordinary wolf and his fur flickered with an unearthly radiance; green and blue and purple flames seeming to surround him. His eyes were a bright blue and they regarded the group steadily, without malice but with curiosity.

Cho approached and bowed low. "Wolf spirit," she said, "We have heard rumor of you and have come to hear and heed your warning. Will you speak to us?" The wolf said nothing to Cho, but his eyes seemed to tell her to be patient. He would answer her when he could. Instead, the wolf turned to Kurona, then Misaki.

"Brother. Cousin." The wolf finally spoke after studying the two. It was a child's voice, but had a sad wisdom to it.

"Aoi!" The two exclaimed as they rushed together to meet with the cousin and brother they had been separated from for so long. Although the snow proved difficult. For Misaki, the white snow reached up to his thighs when he tried to run from the shelter the forest provided the ground. Kurona was even worse off, the snow hit her waist. As Misaki tried to wade through, and Kurona started scrapping with her finger nails at the freezing barrier between them and their relative, Aoi spoke over from the top of the small hill of snow.

"Wait. Remember, I'm dead. I'm afraid we can't hug and cling to each other like we used to." The wolf smiled, and the two relatives stopped in their tracks. "Besides, do you think you can get over here without looking like fools?"

"Oh. Well, that's... disappointing." Kurona mumbled to the ground, giving the barricade one last scrape at the snow, causing a few flakes to fall to the ground.

"Then why don't you come down yourself, Aoi." Misaki backed out of the beginning of a path that he had made.

"Gladly." The wolf- Aoi- jumped down and turned back to Kurona and Misaki. "I need to tell you something."

"Well, can't it wait?" Misaki shifted his weight to his other foot. "We just saw you again. You don't have to leave so soon." Aoi's spirit shook his head, an action that was odd to see on an animal.

"You're wrong. I need to say what I need to, then leave. Besides, the sooner I talk to you two, the sooner I can stop being rude and ignoring Cho-sama." The wolf sat down on his haunches, not the least bit worried about the cold ground. "To start off, there will be more demons coming."

"More demons? Can't you explain in more detail?"

"Not right now. I want to explain only once. I just need to tell you the idea of what it is that will happen. Now, I can speak to Cho-sama as well." Aoi got back on his two- no, four- feet, and slowly made his way to where Cho was standing. His upper half lowered. Either he was stretching or he was bowing.

"Forgive me for being rude. I needed to tell them some things before I talked to anyone else. Consider it a type of curse. I would like you to hear this, Cho-sama. Kurona's demons as well."

"I understand," Cho replied, returning the bow. "No offense has been given, Wolf-brother. What other information do you have to impart to us?"

"Well, this might sound... inconceivable. But demons are going to attack. No one knows why, but they are going to attack the Himeko mansion. Of all things, the mansion and the village!"

"What?!" Misaki's voice raised, and he stared incredulously at his brother. The wolf/Aoi grimaced, but turned to Madame Cho's tent.

"I hope you don't mind, but I would like to talk siting down."

"Sure, but why the Himekos?" Kurona asked, putting aside the fact that before she was seven, Kurona herself was part of the noble family, as everyone sat down around the fire.

"Like I said, no one knows why. Some people think that it's because of the myth."

"The myth?" Kurona thought for a second, and soon realization dawned on her. "OH! That one!"

"Yes. Maybe the person that is in charge of these demons believes it to be true. Even the family themselves boast of the veracity that they are descendant from a demon." All fell silent in group. It reminded Kurona of the times where she traveled with a few more people. The pair had made a fire, and were telling ghost stories. They had noticed Kurona and Rean listening in, and invited the two to listen in. "Cho-sama, what do you think should happen? Are you willing to save my father?"

"Huh? You want to save Uncle?!"

"Of course. He's my father, after all. Even if he //did// hire an assassin to kill you. Anyway, Cho-sama, that is what I want to ask of you. But there is an additional message. Are you willing to help defend Kurona's... old home? I realize that it is a lot to ask, and that really you have no need to, but... I'm afraid very few people might be able to stop the mansion and village from going up in flames."

Cho was silent for a few moments. "I...I don't know," she finally replied. "I have no love for demons and I am duty bound to protect the East for any threat, but I cannot like what he did and what he tried to do to Kurona. I do not know if I can forgive him for that." Everything was quiet again, but Kurona looked up and straight at Cho.

"But I can." Determination was in her eyes, and she smiled timidly. "I need to stand up to my uncle one of these days, and after eight years, I think it's time. Plus, maybe I'll get lucky and he'll see the way things always were. I need to stop being a child and a coward. I want to save my relatives." Kurona was focused on Cho's answer, so she didn't see Aoi and Misaki exchange glances. A guilty expression took over Misaki's horrified one, and Aoi shook his head again. "D-... did that help you?"

Cho smiled somwhat sadly. "Your generosity of spirit shames me, little falcon," she said quietly. "Very well, I will help. But..." she paused, eyes blazing, "if he harms you in any way, I //will// tear him apart." Kurona laughed nervously as all the demons smiled to each other.

"Don't take all the fun. We've held grudges since we met him." Hiroyuki laughed, and put his chin on his hand. Sliding his eyes over to Aoi, he moved the conversation along. "So, now that that's settled, why don't you tell Cho-sama that message you mentioned. Would you like us to leave you in privacy, Cho-sama?"

"No need," Cho said absently. "What is your message, wolf-brother?"

There was silence for a moment, broken only by the crackling of the flames in the fire-pit. Then the wolf spoke. "Your brother, mountain-sister. He is dead."

Cho reacted as if she had been punched. She folded in on herself, not breathing for the grief that she felt, as all color drained from her. "No," she whispered. "No, it cannot be!"

The wolf gazed at her with compassion and sorrow. "But it is. He was lost in the Void and came out on a different world. Somehow, someone there named him. As he transformed, he was shot through the heart. And, as it was a weapon not of this world, it was fatal to him. He is gone."

Cho hid her face in her hands. "How do you know this?" she wailed. "How can you be sure?"

"There are wolves on all worlds, Cho-sama, and all wolves are connected to the pack. What one wolf knows, all wolves know."

Tears were streaming down Cho's cheeks. "Then...all is lost. Tetravier will fall into darkness and I cannot save it."

"No, spirit-sister," the wolf said gently. "No, all is //not// lost. The physical body may have died, but the spirit of the Phoenix cannot be killed. Yin cannot exist without yang. You are here so the spirit of the Phoenix is here too, reincarnated in a new host. Follow your heart and it will lead you to the Phoenix reborn."

Kurona had been watching this with three churning emotions. Worry, confusion, and anxiety.

"Look on the bright side." Rean suddenly spoke to Cho, but did not look directly at her. "At least you know that you'll be able to find him. Eventually. Like Aoi said, this Phoenix guy apparently can't die, not really anyway. You're bound to figure everything out. You're smart, remember?"

"Sometimes," Cho whispered, "being smart is not enough. Please excuse me. I must be alone for a while." She took a few steps away from the campfire and then transformed, launching herself into the sky. After a few moments of silence, the group huddled by the fire heard a keening cry echoing from one of the nearby peaks: Chomolungma, mourning her lost brother.

"Well, that idea failed." Hiroyuki tried at a smile, but it didn't quite fight off the silence.

"I'm sorry, Kurona. But someone had to tell her, and the job fell to me. I need to leave now. My message, warnings, and advice is given. I can not stay any longer."

"What?! No! You're not going!" Kurona tried to get up, forgetting Cho for the moment, but Misaki held onto her arm, stopping her from running after the retreating wolf. Aoi turned one last time, and called out to them. Despite the distance, the two could manage to hear him.

"Remember what I told you. Be safe, cousin, brother." The wolf was gone, and tears started forming in Kurona's eyes. Misaki silently got to his feet and hugged his cousin.

"Why? Why did uncle try to kill me? Why did he... why? Just... why for everything that happened."

"I know, I know, Kurona." Misaki didn't cry, and Kurona again wondered how quiet Misaki changed so much. Of course, she knew the answer, Kurona just didn't want to think about it. The girl forced a strangled chuckle out.

"Even Cho is in much worse grief than I am, I cry over my own problems, and ignore hers."

"Your grief is the same as others."

"You too. Your grief is for a twin. A brother, like Cho. But you aren't crying."

"I've cried enough over the years."

"Idiot." Misaki let Kurona go, and patted her head.

"You're still short. //Chibi//." Kurona yelled at the nickname, which was meant for a person that resembled a child, but was happy that Misaki was calling her as such. She hoped that they could be the way they might have been if Aoi hadn't died. Kurona laughed along with Misaki, and the two were clinging to each other's shoulders.

"But I really do feel awful. How can I be laughing?"

"It's part of grief. After the crying comes laughter. You just go through the process faster than Cho-sama."

"I see." Misaki chuckled again, and he stared at the spot Aoi had been. Kurona looked up at the cousin that towered above her. Maybe she **was** short, the girl thought. "Misaki, do you still hate me?" Kurona's questions kept on taking Misaki by surprise, but he smiled down at her.

"You know what... I don't think I do." Slowly a bright smile melted into her expression.

"Really? You don't hate me?"

"I just answered that question, chibi." Kurona's smile grew, then she jumped up and hugged her cousin.

While Kurona and Misaki were talking, the demons decided to give them some privacy. Hiroyuki and Rin went to look for Cho, and Yuri baby-sitted Rean.

Hiroyuki quickly found where Cho was, but decided to wait for her to be ready. They went out of hearing distance- at least for them- sat on a rock, then waited.

Cho's lamentations lasted for perhaps half an hour. Then, all was silent. The demons debated going to check on her but decided against it. After a few more moments, they heard Cho begin speaking. "Goodbye, Simeon. You were lost and then found and then lost again. May you be welcomed into the arms of the Creatorix and may you find the peace and purpose you were always missing in your life." She gave one last roar, seeming to contain all her grief and pain, and then took wing, flying back down to where the others waited by the fire.

In human form, she walked into the camp, still sad, but also resolute. "We shall camp here tonight and leave at first light. Also, I should introduce you to another member of our company." She whistled a few sharp notes which were returned and a lithe and beautiful elven warrior stepped into the light. She wore leather armor and a sky blue cloak, with a bastard sword in a scabbard at her hip. "This is Captain Isiriel Aldeman, of my militia. She was sent to find you, Misaki, and, since you came here...so did she. She will join us when we leave tomorrow. We may have use of her skills at the Himeko's mansion." Misaki smirked, hiding the fact that he was insulted at being followed, and not being aware of it himself.

"Nice to meet you." Kurona bowed to Isiriel, her voice polite and reserved. Misaki glanced down at his cousin, but turned his attention to Isiriel. He said nothing, just took his cousin by the shoulder and led her a bit closer to the fire, having been standing where they were, talking for the past half hour. He made a point of ignoring the Captain. Kurona lowered her voice and warned Misaki, but he brushed it off.

"Since I had no idea of her presence before, I see no need to acknowledge her now." Kurona made a comment on how Misaki was just sulking to Isiriel, and quietly apologized.

"No need for apologies," Isiriel said. "Come, we should get some rest. Cho will want an early start tomorrow." She turned and walked toward the tent that the females of the party were sleeping.

"Ah, yes." Kurona started walking away from Misaki to follow Rin Isiriel inside the tent, but heard Misaki's voice and stopped.

"Goodnight, cousin. We'll talk in the morning, alright?" Kurona looked back, and a smile appeared over a surprised expression.

"Hai." She answered yes as the girl stepped inside, and found Rin staring at her suspiciously.

"Cho-sama, what do you think happened? All of a sudden Misaki is buddy-buddy with Kurona. I don't like it."

"You're being prejudiced, Rin."

"Perhaps with good reason," Cho replied. "I know he is your cousin and that you love him. I am happy that you seem to have made a reconciliation with him. I am also pleased that he seems to have realized that he was being foolish. However, it is wise for us to be wary. As the old saying goes, 'a leopard does not change his spots.' That is not always true of humans. In fact, they seem to have an endless capacity for redemption." She trailed off, lost in thought.

"I have seen nothing to indicate that he is a threat," Isiriel put in. "He argued with his father and decided to try to find Kurona. He just has an //interesting// personality. But at least he is consistent. He acts like this toward everyone." Isiriel smiled as she drew her sword and began to inspect its edges.

Kurona got a little nervous at the sight of the blade, but kept her mouth shut. Well, at least she kept quiet about the sword.

"I swear, Misaki was not so dishonest when we were children. In fact, he was much more honest and gentle with words. I guess... I still have that image of him in my mind." Kurona was silent for a second, but her head shot up and she exclaimed, "Oh!"

"What is it?" Rin had jumped back a ways in surprise.

"The boys are all sleeping in the same tent, right?"

"Huh? What- oh dear." Rin's questioning look morphed into one of horror. "Hiroyuki and Misaki." Rin remembered Hiroyuki's true personality.

"**//Rean//** and Misaki." Kurona had no idea about Hiroyuki's bad habit of turning on any other male besides Yuri, Rean, and himself that dared to get within two meters of Kurona. As long as Kurona was not around to witness the threats. So naturally she was not particularly worried about that combination. But Rin's panic grew just as a loud howl of wind encased the girl's tent, and fire singed the fabric that was sheltering them from the cold. Then what felt like a large earthquake ensued, and Kurona and Rin looked to each other and screamed at the same time.

"**YURI!!!**"

Kurona dashed out of the tent before anyone inside could stop her.

Cho barreled out of the tent morphing into dragon form with Isiriel hot on her heels. "STOP THIS AT ONCE!" she roared surveying the four males fighting.

Yuri, who despite having joined in, was standing apart from the rest. The earth quake ceased immediately, and the damage done to the earth healed over. Hiroyuki was startled, and stopped going out of control. However, he still held a swirling bunch of winds in his hand, and held it threateningly towards Misaki. Rean was a split second too slow in stopping throwing flames at Kurona's cousin. He managed do redirect the attack, and it hit the snow a little ways away from Misaki's feet. Misaki simply looked at Cho, put a short sword he had been hiding under a long coat back in it's sheath. He promptly turned a little away from a furious Cho, and studied his now ruined tent.

"Well, that was a waste," he spoke up.

"What, in the name of the Creatorix, do you think you are doing?!" the clearly enraged dragon spat out the words. "We do not have time for this nonsense! We must work together or this world will fall apart. Would you want your petty squabbles to be the cause of that? I do not care what your reasons were or are. This will stop, //now//, and you will, //at the very least//, treat each other with respect. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, ma'am." Hiroyuki and Rean replied solemnly, but Yuri remained silent. The earth demon nodded his apology, and picked up the tattered remains of a once perfectly useful tent. Misaki didn't bother to acknowledge anything, and left the fabric and supplies behind as he quickly walked to Kurona and grabbed her arm.

"I just need to talk to you. It's important. I give up on getting you alone, anyone that wants to follow, go ahead. By the Tama, I don't care!" Misaki then continued to drag Kurona away.

"If you know that the others would follow, why are you bothering to drag me away in the first place?"

"I'm frustrated. Let me blow off steam." He headed deeper into the forest despite all the protestations from various people. After walking a short distance, Misaki let go of Kurona. "I guess my first impression on them wasn't all that good."

"Misaki... why are you so changed? You never would have provoked anyone."

"A lot can happen in 8 years, cousin. Especially if... you have your uncle as a father."

"Uncle?"

"Come on, he's a power freak. Who hates me and liked Aoi. Do you see where I'm headed?" Misaki sighed, and without facing anywhere in particular called out to the shadows. "Out of your hiding places. I'm not sure about the elf, but I know for a fact that you demons would follow. Maybe the dragon."

There was silence from the woods and then Misaki felt a whisper of a breeze brush past him. The next thing he knew, he was clutched in the talons of a dragon, soaring high in the air. //By the Tama, she was faster than he could have believed possible.// He was caught tightly, not able to move, but not causing any pain. "The dragon definitely did follow, little lording. It is well past time that you and I had a little chat." She set him down on a rock outcropping of a nearby peak and spoke a few sibilant words. He was caught fast, unable to move from the neck down. "Now, you and I will have a talk. You will provide me with information about what your purpose is, what you need to say to Kurona and what your intentions are. When I am satisfied, I will release you and return you and you may speak your peace. And in case you are thinking of refusing to say anything, I can command //mountains// to speak. I can do the same for the minor scion of a noble family, even if they are descended from a demon."

Misaki didn't bother trying to move, a few assassins had been able to cast similar spells, and he knew that struggling would be useless. He calmed himself, and stared Cho down for a few moments. When he spoke, it was calm and blunt.

"I wanted her to come back. I wanted her to come back to the mansion and see our grandmother. I wanted her to face my father. I wanted to find the truth to things. I wanted her to go to Aoi's grave and face her fears. I want my cousin back." Misaki looked away, slightly embarrassed to be saying this to an ancient dragon, whom he suspected didn't care one bit for what he wanted. No, he knew that Cho didn't care. When he next opened his mouth, the armor he had grown during his life in that mansion slipped a bit, but picked it's self up again. "That is all."

"I see," Cho replied and then was silent for a few moments. She sighed. "I believe you, which, I may add, is very lucky for you. But why did you not just say this to her and to us? Why did you tell her you hated her? Why the extremely irritating attitude? Why, in the name of the Creatorix, didn't you just tell her the truth?"

"It's my personality. I'm not honest." Blunt, as usual. He stared at Cho again, his eyes asking, "isn't it obvious?"

One of Cho's scaly eyebrows raised. "So that would call into question your original answer, would it not?"

"Eh. Oh, no! I mean... well, the translation is... when someone says that they aren't honest, they usually mean not honest with themselves or with other people. Of course, it can mean what you think... but, um..." Misaki trailed off as he started rambling in his explanation. The family resemblance seemed to go farther than just the looks. He looked lost and confused, then, like Kurona, he suddenly cut himself off. But while Kurona would start firing off apologies, then give a more concise answer, Misaki remained silent until it grew awkward. "Do you get it now?"

Cho snorted, almost a laugh. "Well, I certainly see the family resemblance," she said wryly. "Can you bring yourself to break that habit? Can you learn to be honest with yourself and her and me? Can you learn to work with her elementals, those who she considers family?" Again, Misaki was utterly silent as he stared at Cho, his expressions changing constantly. Anger, confusion, scorn, surprise, anger again, then confusion for the second time before he drew to a conclusion.

"Maybe." That was all that was said, but that one word meant that Misaki would try.

"Hmm," Cho mused. "It's a start, at least. I will release you now and then return you. You may have your time with Kurona, but be aware that we will all be there also, however we will give you some space. Misaki, I want you to understand that we all care for Kurona. I will protect her, from anyone who threatens her, and I will not be the only one doing so. So watch your step."

With that, she whispered a few more words and he was free. She caught him up in her talons again, a bit more gently this time and swiftly returned him to the others. "Kurona-chan, your cousin has some things that he would like to say to you. The rest of you need to come with me. We will wait over here." The demons complied, and Misaki was left to face a waiting, staring Kurona.

"Um, well... for starters..." Misaki told Kurona everything that he had meant to in the beginning. After they were finished talking, Kurona spoke some of her mind as well.

"I'm sorry. I don't wish that Aoi hadn't died. I was freed from my small life. The world is such a large place, Misaki." Misaki reached up and easily placed his hand on Kurona's own head. "However, I will visit you plenty from now on. I know that we will be able to win whatever waits for us. I want to be apart of the Himeko family again. Please, Misaki... let me come back."

"Idiot, didn't I just say that that's what I wanted? Cho-sama, we are ready to leave now. Kurona?"

"Yes. Cho-dono, we are ready to leave." Kurona turned to where she thought Cho was, and smiled, waiting for Cho to come and lead her out of the woods.

"Rean, light the way for them, please," Cho requested and Misaki and Kurona were able to follow the light to where Cho and the others were waiting. Isiriel had already attached the harnesses and had climbed aboard with the ease of long practice. "Up you go, children," Cho said and Isiriel helped them to fasten themselves in. As soon as all were settled, Cho took off, flying in the dark night by the light of Tetravier's two moons toward the Himeko mansion. The flight was swift and almost silent, Cho's great wings cleaving the air, and they arrived at Kurona's village just as dawn was staining the clouds coral, pink and gold.

The village was set at the foot of the mansion, and was an average size. People were still in their beds, but some of the farmers houses were coming to life. It was quiet, and Kurona shivered.

"Welcome to the village." Misaki waved his hand in an unenthusiastic gesture. "Don't worry cousin, I doubt anyone will recognize you. Even if you are the same height as when they last saw you."

"Hey!" Kurona protested.

"Yes, yes, chibi. Now, can we go and get this over with, Cho-sama?"

"By all means," Cho replied as she checked her weapons. She had already returned to her human form. "Lead the way. And be alert. Who knows what we shall find here."

"It's a normal village, I doubt anything will jump out at us." Misaki took the first step as he talked.

"We shall see," Cho replied. As they moved into the village, small bakeries and inns were opening up. Children ran out of houses to give Cho flowers, shopowners pressed gifts of food on her while others asked for her blessing on their enterprises. She stopped and talked with all of them, examined people who were sick, blessed those who asked for it, gave coins and small tokens to the children. Every once in a while, she would murmur things to Isiriel. The captain would nod and scribble quickly in a small notebook. Thus they made their way to the Himeko mansion, attracting quite a crowd as they did so.

"Have you ever been here before, Cho-dono?" Kurona asked, dumbfounded at the large mass of people that she barely recognized.

Cho smiled serenely as she accepted yet another bunch of flowers. "I've been here a time or two," she said. "The people of Ringence have a long memory, also."

"Yeah, no kidding." Kurona jumped when she heard whispering behind her. She could practically hear the //"Do you see that girl? Isn't she...? Yes, yes, the Black Child, and her monsters are here too. Scary."//

"You can attribute that trait to being so superstitious that they make up inconceivable myths and hold onto rumors for nearly a decade." Rin put her arm around Kurona, shielding her from the whispers that mingled with the happy expressions to Cho.

The whispers had not escaped Cho's keen hearing. She turned, frowning, and addressed the people. "Kurona is with me and under my protection. Insult her and her companions at your peril." The people looked at each other, then bowed and returned to their business. Slowly, the crowd dwindled as they went up the mountain.

"I'm really not used to such a reception. Normally the villagers shy away. Oh." Misaki's eyes widened as he remembered something. "This may prove to be difficult."

"Enlighten us, please, Misaki-kun." Cho's eyes narrowed as she looked about, trying to find any threat. Isiriel's hand went immediately to her weapons.

"Calm down, already. It's just going to be... well, I'll just say this. Please, I beg of all of you, don't lose your temper. No matter what my father implies."

"Huh? I don't get it." Rean spoke up for the most of them.

"My father has just as sharp of a tongue as I do. He just is much more sly with how he uses it. Not to mention that he's considered Cho-sama's visits a problem for a while now, and it's clear he hates Kurona. Just... don't attack, or retort, or... well, just keep that patience of yours intact. And by the Tama, don't transform. While I'm sure that you could overpower any threats, it will cause more trouble than necessary. Plus, I think we'll need soldiers."

Cho arched one delicate eyebrow at Misaki. "I will attempt to keep //my// patience," she flashed a warning glance at Rean and Hiroyuki, "and I shall not transform...after all, I would not want to destroy the mansion. Perhaps you should bring us in and introduce us."

"Eh... okay." He took the lead, and Kurona ran up to him. "Pray that my father doesn't figure the identity of Cho-sama, Kurona. Otherwise, we will have a lot more trouble piled on top of us than we need."

"Why-"

"You'll figure it out soon enough." Misaki called back to Cho. "We are reaching the front gates. Based on how much my father hates people in this group, can you guess what the elf will be met with?"

"Her name," Cho said patiently, "is Isiriel. And let us hope that she will be treated with the respect that she deserves. The Captain is, however, very tolerant. Misaki, there is no point in delaying. But understand this: if your father poses a threat to the East, I will remove him."

"Heh. He thinks he will save the East by... 'throwing you off of the throne.' Now that I think about it, that's even more of an idiotic concept than I first thought. I'll say this one last time before we see my father, don't let him know you're the Guardian of the East. You'll have scared, indecisive, puny human soldiers on you before you can move your eyes. Granted, none of them will be serious."

Cho nodded and pulled a hood up over her trademark white hair. "Let us hope he does not recognize me then. But I will say nothing about my position at this time. Come, let us face the would-be dragon in his den." Misaki laughed as the guards posted on the mansion gates yelled, and the large fortress opened up to admit them. All at once, several servants rushed up to meet their young heir.

One was obviously a warrior. With a big build and battle scars proudly shown. Misaki's battle tutor.

"Young Master, what have you been doing? Where... Young Mistress?" The large man had trailed off as Kurona peeked at him from behind Misaki. She had not even realized she had hid behind her cousin.

"Hello, Takashi-sensei. Your size is still intimidating."

"Oh, child!" A middle aged woman suddenly reached over and snatched Kurona up into a bear hug.

"O-onba?! Wha-"

"Don't call me nanny, young lady! You're old enough to break out of that habit."

"I-I know... but still." Kurona turned to a thin man who was in his mid-thirties. "It's good to see you again, Setsuko-sensei."

"I see you still remember how to at least greet someone, Young Mistress. Not that it's absolutely awful to see you again, but who are these extra companions of yours?"

Cho responded quickly, before any of the others could speak. "We are friends of Kurona and the Himeko family," then she bowed respectfully.

"Hm." Was all Setsuko said, but Takashi drew attention away from Cho and Isiriel as he easily lifted Kurona up like she was still seven.

"Well, I guess we'll have to let all of you go on back." Takashi's grin was wide, and showed plenty of teeth.

"No. We have plenty of things we need to do. I also need to talk to Father. Is he away on business?" Kurona asked, and Takashi's smile disappeared.

"Sadly, no. Your uncle is the Head of the Himeko's now."

"Huh? But I thought that... no."

"I'm afraid so, Young Mistress." Takashi set her down, and Kurona stood there, shock being the only emotion in her expression. "Your uncle... succeeded in his goal."

"What about Grandmother?" Shame covered all of the servants faces.

"Banished. No one knows where she is." Silence stayed in the air for what seemed like an eternity.

"Let's go everyone. Before I do something stupid." Kurona ignored the servants, and started a slow walk to where she knew her uncle was.

"Isiriel," Cho whispered, "did you find any trace of Kurona's grandmother?"

Isiriel shook her head. "Nothing. But I also did not do much searching. I heard she was banished and then I began watching Misaki who was here. Perhaps we can pick up her trail when this is over."

Cho nodded and then dropped back to walk near Rean. "You must keep your temper, my flame," she murmured. "It is essential, no matter the provocation. To do otherwise would be to expose Kurona to danger and we would not want that, would we?" Rean nodded, and his mouth turned stiff as he prepared himself.

"Good idea. Use Kurona as a means to make him actually think. You're smarter than-" Misaki had started speaking, but he cut himself off, and forced the mean comment to stay in his throat. He had promised that he would try to hold back on spiteful words, and Misaki intended on holding to that promise.

Cho flashed him a quick grin. "I have my moments, my young wolf," she said as she winked at him. He awkwardly smirked back, but quickly turned his attention to Kurona.

"Calm down. Don't be so tense." Misaki slowed his pace to walk next to his cousin.

"Where's the part where you say that there's nothing to be scared of?" Kurona's nervous smile was plastered on her as she tried to tease Misaki.

"I don't lie. Father is plenty to be scared of for you, at least. Cho-sama could easily over power him. He relies too much on numbers and his brains, not his own strength."

"Yes, that was true even when we were children."

Silence followed the rest of the trip. A maid showed the group to a narrow space that was obviously a type of throne room.

A man was seated on a cushion at the end of the room. It was clear that he had let himself be left out of shape. With black hair and brown eyes, he was obviously a part of the Himeko family. He had trouble with his nerves, and a glint remained permanently engrained in his eyes. That glint was the main sign that Kurona's uncle only had one brick left in his mental cart.

"Misaki- and who are you?" Misaki had entered first, then Kurona. When the uncle had seen his niece, he didn't recognize her. Dumfounded and hurt, Kurona was at a lost of words. Then the rest filed in. Kurona's uncle immediately recognized the demons, who had not aged a day since he last saw them. Shock was the first emotion that passed the Head of the Himeko's face, then he silently rose to his feet.

"Get out. Get OUT, you murderess!"

"Uncle, please. You have to listen to us-"

"I will not listen to a witch! Leave!"

"Will you just SHUT UP?!" Misaki expected that demon named Rean to have screamed that at the top of his lungs. Maybe the one with the split-personality, or the mother bear. Cho might have if she hadn't made it clear that she would hold herself in check. Kurona had yelled. At her //uncle//. "Now, I don't care if you're insane or just stubborn, but you **will** listen to what will happen, and you **will** obey the orders I'm about to give you to a T. I won't ask if you understand, because it doesn't matter. I'll explain your orders step by step if I have to. There will be an attack on this mansion. We will fight them off, and you will allow us the use of every single soldier available. No one will be left to guard you, because frankly, I don't care what happens to you after what you have done to this family. Honestly, I hope you get burned till your oh-so-expensive clothes are melted on your skin, then doused in salt water, next have freezing cold winds blast you to Tomorrow, lastly, you may fall down a very steep ravine till you hit the core of this planet, and if that doesn't happen during the battle, I'll personally see to it myself." Kurona wasn't even out of breath from the rapid fire speech. Must be all that practice with rambling. She straightened herself, and told everyone to follow.

Just as quickly as she had stepped inside, Kurona left and briskly stalked down the hallway. The girl suddenly sagged and leaned against the wall, sliding to the ground.

"What was //that?//" Rean once again summed up what the rest in the group was thinking.

"I-I was so... scared! I'm sorry, Cho-sama, but I used the time when you snapped at Misaki as a resource. I hope you don't mind."

Cho's eyes widened. "Mind?! My darling girl, why would I mind? I am incredibly proud of you!" She bent swiftly and enveloped Kurona in a hug before turning to Rean. "I am proud of you, also, my flame," she said before giving him a swift kiss on the cheek. Then she turned to the others, all business. "Now, let us see about the defenses. Isiriel, I want you to scout out the village. See who might be willing to fight, what weapons they might have. Contact any of the militia you can. The more soldiers we have here, the better. Misaki, get your family's guard organized. Tell them what they will be facing. You four, see what you can do to shore up the defenses around the mansion. Kurona, I need you with me. We will be devising a strategy for the coming battle." While everyone else went to complete the tasks they were given, Kurona forced her limbs to work, and she stood up.

"Well, I'll show you to a room that would be nice and quiet so we can focus. It also has plenty of maps of the mansion. Some of them might be out-dated, but if we use multiple maps, we should get a precise look at things. Of course, it could have been changed, I mean, what use is a child's room without a child..."

Cho's face was stern. "We do not need a child's room right now. We need a War Room." Kurona chuckled, and turned back to Cho.

"It was my room, and you forget, Cho-dono. I was going to be the head of the Himeko family. Even at the age of seven, I was being taught things that normally only a boy would be taught. That's how I know Takashi-sensei. He was my teacher in warfare. Since it's impossible for me to use a weapon correctly, he focused on battle strategy. My room was also my class room. I think it will prove useful if it was left untouched. If it has been cleared out, we will go to an 'adult' room." Kurona smiled, wistful and sad. "I must admit though, part of the decision is because I just want to see my old room again. It's not too far from here, and the other room is in the same hall way. Please, Cho-dono, a few seconds, that's all I ask."

"I am sure your room will be fine, Kurona, if it is as you describe. But why is it impossible for you to hold a weapon correctly? That makes no sense to me." Cho touched the pommel of her //katana.// "I certainly hope it is not because you are a female, because that is preposterous. When this is over, Isiriel and I shall help to train you. If you cannot use a weapon, I can train you in unarmed combat. It could be useful someday. You never know." Kurona laughed out right this time.

"Many have tried, Cho-dono. But you may do the same if you wish. The reason I say it is impossible for me to hold a weapon correctly is because Takashi-sensei, Hiroyuki, Rin, and many others have attempted to teach me how to use various weapons. Takashi-sensei gave up after I... actually, everything goes wrong when I touch a weapon. There were various cases. Rean and Yuri, -again- among others have also tried to teach me unarmed combat. Another series of disasters. So, I'd be careful if you want to teach me how to fight. I wouldn't be surprised if I managed to somehow destroy a whole room." Kurona kept on laughing as she guided Cho to her old room. "Oh, so they didn't wipe it off of the face of Tetravier. Must've been thanks to Misaki. The servants even kept it clean." Kurona and Cho stepped into the room.

The room was wide, with various furniture. A traditional bed, table, books, and a large closet that was left open. The bed, which looked more like a mattress, was in the corner to allow plenty of room left. The table had two plain cushions on either side around it. The books varied in genres, complicated ones that a scholar would have, history, and books on warfare and the like. Set apart from the rest, was one scroll that obviously had been treasured when the one who occupied the space still lived there. The closet was filled with beautiful kimonos fit for a small child.

After standing still for a moment to remember where everything was, Kurona opened another closed door. On one side of the narrow space, magic supplies and the like were organized neatly, and it clearly never had crossed the owner's mind to ever use the materials. Kurona went to the other wall, and opened a few compartments, taking various large sheets of paper. She quickly went to the table and sat down, then gestured for Cho to take to other cushion as she laid the maps down.

Cho wandered about the room, examining various objects. "This scroll," she said. "What is it? Some of these things you never touched, but this scroll is obviously important. Why is that? And these tools," she pointed at the magic supplies. "Why did you never use them?" Kurona looked up from the maps she had set to work on, surprise on her face as she directed her attention to the objects Cho had pointed out.

"The scroll is my collection of stories. On my 5th birthday, someone from a foreign country visited, and I befriended him. He told me all kinds of stories, and I told him the ones I knew. The stories I were told by him were mostly fairytales, and the only one that I thought would be of interest to him was the Himeko family myth. He found it interesting that I was supposedly descended from a demon, and I told him the story over and over again until he had memorized the words. In exchange, he would tell me one of his own. On the day he left, he handed me that scroll. He said at night he had been working on it. It's a collection of the stories that were shared." Kurona gestured to the narrow storage space.

"Remember how I told you that I was supposed to have immense magical powers, but they were lying dormant? Those were supplies the family had collected over the years. Since some of them are rare, and I wasn't able to use them properly, I never tried. They built up, waiting for my powers to come out." She sighed, feeling that they were wasted. "All for nothing, though. My powers are used up, and I have no use for them anymore. Maybe I could give them to someone that can make use of the supplies."

"I was hoping to wait until this was all over, but..." Cho began and then trailed off. "Who told you that you had "used up" your power? Your uncle? Or did you just assume that? And what, exactly, happens when you touch a weapon?" Cho's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Kurona. "You know, I believe that this, all of this, is //not// about your uncle. No, my child, I do believe that it is all about //you//. In human form, I cannot do magic and, were I to transform, everyone would know who I am. But I could unblock your //chi//. I think that is part of your problem. However, I do not know what would happen if I did that. I'm not sure if you would want to experiment with that or not." Kurona stared at Cho as her words sank in.

"Well, after I had summoned my demons, we left here, and I had told them everything... they tried something similar to that opening chi thing. A test that was supposed to see if I had magic... but there was no reaction. Yuri **had** said that even if I didn't have powers, something should still have happened... then they told me that my powers probably had been used up. I didn't doubt them, and we've never tried anything again. As for what happens when I touch a weapon..." Kurona got up, opened a chest, and told Cho to take out something wrapped tightly in a cloth. "This was with that man I told you about. The one who made the scroll. I was curious about what it was, so I unraveled it when I thought he wasn't looking, and... I don't remember what happened after that. Next thing I knew, the two of us were in the middle of our usual story telling ritual in a different room. That bundled up thing was no where to be seen. After that, I was tested to see if I had any magic, and found out that I was supposed to have more power than anyone in the history of the Himeko family. When my friend left, he also gave me that bundle, and told me to bring it and the scroll with me always. But every time I tried to see what was wrapped up, the same blackout would happen. Then I would come to, and all around me the ground would be... mutilated in various ways. Sometimes I would be sitting in burning coals, one time gigantic ice crystals had made a cage around me. I remember a couple of times where these humanoid shapes would be surrounding me. The maids who saw thought they were ghosts. When I was seven and left the mansion, I didn't have any time to grab the scroll, or the bundle. This is also the reason I wanted to come here. I believe in keeping promises, no matter how irrelevant they may seem. With any other weapon I don't black out, and something strange will happen, but not as intense as when I touch this one."

Cho regarded Kurona thoughtfully and then sighed. "It's a good thing I like riddles," she said softly, almost to herself. "And I thought Acasius was an enigma. Before I open this bundle, what more can you tell me about this man, the one who was so very interested in your story?"

"Do you mean Eyad? That was the owner of this bundle's name, if that's what you mean. He was smart. He was a master with what ever is inside that bundle, and a genius in lots of other categories. Liked myths, legend, and other things. He told me that his name meant 'possessor of power.' Um, what else... oh! He had these strange scars on his skin. I remember because I liked this one that looked like... huh. I forget what he looked like. Seems all I can remember of him is his name, and how smart he was." As an after thought, Kurona asked, "Acasius? Who's that?"

"Acasius is a dear friend of mine. I have no doubt that you will meet him soon. However..." there was a soft knock on the door interrupting what Cho was about to say. Isiriel entered and bowed.

"Your Holiness, the villagers are armed and organized, as requested. Those who cannot fight are being evacuated. We were lucky that your ship, the //Wave Dancer//, was in port. They have taken the refugees and are moving them to safety. I was able to contact a unit of your militia, they should be here shortly, and they are bringing a few of the local samurai with them. Misaki reports that the house guards are organized and the elementals have added rings of protection around the mansion. Now, all we can do is wait."

Cho paced about the room as Isiriel gave the report, nodding in satisfaction. "Kurona, is there a garden or some other open space here? I may need to transform, despite my promises to Misaki, and I need to have space to do that. For you see, I don't think that the demons are coming for the mansion or your uncle or cousin. No, indeed. I believe that they are coming for //you// and for this scroll and this item." She gestured to the wrapped package still on the table. "They want you for some purpose. I think that you yourself are a weapon that they mean to use."

"Um, okay. I don't get it but this..." Kurona lifted herself up, walked to the other side of the room where a screen was placed. She slid it open, revealing the remains of what once used to be a beautiful garden. It was incredibly large, being about the size of half the mansion. All that was left of the large courtyard was the shriveled carcasses of plants. Cho couldn't see Kuorna's expression, but her shoulders sagged and her voice was disappointed, "used to be my Grandmother's garden... she shared it with me." She sighed, and turned to face Madame Cho. "Well, guess you don't have to worry about crushing the plants. Is this big enough?"

"It will do very nicely, thank you," Cho said as she surveyed the ruined garden. "A shame that something this lovely has gone to waste. When this is over, we shall find your grandmother and we shall restore it to its former beauty." Kurona smiled and thanked Cho, she then went back inside to retrieve the scroll and bundle. Telling Cho that she had a few more loose ends to tie up, she bowed and left Cho to transform.

But when Kurona left, Cho did not assume her dragon shape. Instead she moved around the room, examining various objects, reading the titles of books and trying to get an idea of the little girl who had lived in this room. It was a place of prestige and honor, but very little fun. Of duty and responsibility, but very little love. Cho sighed and then sat down and began scrutinizing the maps.

The mansion was massive and incredibly complicated. It became painfully obvious why six separate maps were needed for the building it's self, with four extra ones for the surrounding area. Each one's details were different, but they all had the basic structure down pat. Whether the mansion was designed with the over use of hidden doors, passage ways, and plenty of useless hallways were for the purpose of keeping assassins out, or for some other purpose, Cho wasn't sure. All the complexities seemed to be centered around Kurona's room. Cho also noticed that there was one map of a much simpler mansion. It was the same shape, with the same amount of rooms, but the traps and tricks were absent. The date of the map was from just before Kurona should have been born.

The outside was just a strange. Again, an earlier map was in the pile, and had the correct numbers, but there were strange markings on all the others. The later the date, the more add-ons were created. Everything seemed to be centered around Kurona's room, yet another odd piece to the growing puzzle.

Cho flipped through the maps, laying the newer on top of the older ones, thinking hard. It seemed that the family had been trying to keep Kurona inside and contained. Once again, she cursed the fact that she could not do magic in her human form. However, even though she could not perform magic //herself//, that did not mean that she was unable to //use// magical items. She swiftly crossed to where her knapsack lay, and pulled out a delicate silver circlet, inlaid with sapphires and inscribed with runes. She placed it on her head and then sank to the ground, placing herself in a meditative trance. The tiara allowed her to sense the magic around her. When she reached out with her mind, she was almost blinded by the amount of power in and surrounding the room. Suddenly, the puzzle started falling into place.

Kurona was feared. She was indeed a weapon. She had summoned her elementals, but Cho surmised that she could summon other demons as well. The adults were worried about that. Worried that she might be corrupted, that she might bring destruction down on them all. Now she understood...they feared her. Poor child. She had her suspicions about who the man was who had visited her as well, but she would need the scroll and whatever was in the bundle to figure that out.

As Cho remained in the trance, Kurona returned. Carrying the scroll and bundle, she stepped into the room, and stopped to take in the sight of Cho, deep in a trance. The circlet glowed on her head, covering her with a silvery radiance. Cho gave a start as Kurona came into the room, and groaned slightly in pain. She opened her teal eyes. "By the Creatorix, that hurt!" Immediately Kurona went into a panic.

"EH?! Should I call a doctor, or maybe do you need to lay down?! Oh, but you're already doing that."

"No, no, I'm fine, child." Cho reached up and rubbed her temples. "However, that scroll and that bundle are more than they appear at first glance. Lay them down here and let me examine them, please."

Cho carefully examined the scroll, eyes flying over the writing. They were tales, no doubt, but they were also allegories, tales with a hidden meaing. Some were prophecies. a few of which looked very familiar to Cho. There was power bound up in the writing, too. In the bundle were two //sai//, which also pulsed with magical power. Cho sensed the elemental properties of Kurona's demons and other binding spells on them. And, as she supsected, the spells were demonic in nature. The kindly man who had visited Kurona and told her stories was a demon.

Sighing, she sat back and removed the circlet. "You have a difficult road ahead to you, little falcon."

"Huh? Um... why?" The girl truly believed that she had no power, and that she was absolutely insignificant. Cho would have to tread softly and slowly.

"Remember when I told you that you were a weapon? You think you have used up all your power. That is not true. It is, instead, bound up in these items," she gestured to the scroll and the //sai//. "There is also some of it tied to the mansion, and especially this room. The kindly man that came to visit you? The one who memorized your story? He was a demon and he helped bind your powers. Of course, you were very young at the time and you did not realize when he was doing. The demons that are coming here are coming for you. They would like to use your abilities. For what purpose, I don't know, but I would suspect that it would be to summon more demons. The good news is that they will likely want you unharmed. The bad news is that they won't be easy to stop...and even if we stop them this time, there will be other attempts to capture you." Kurona stared and Cho, in a daze.

"Okay. So... ignoring the fact that I seriously am confused, let's start with the most obvious question. What... do you suspect my power... entails? Not to sound rude or anything, but that seriously is the first question that comes to mind. Well, second. The first is mostly a bunch of //what//'s rapid fire."

Cho nodded. "I know that this is probably hard for you to process right now. I don't blame you for being confused. If we had more time....but we don't. You call yourself a "demon contractor." I believe that it would be more close to the truth to say that you are a "demon controller." Your elementals all have a great deal of autonomy, which is understandable. You called them when you were very young and they act more like your family and protectors. However, I suspect that, should you wish to, you could exert your will over them and control them and their actions. I think that Acasius might be able to explain some of your abilities to you but," she blew out a little sigh, "he is not here, more's the pity."

Cho gestured toward the //sai.// "These contain some of the elemental powers of your friends. That is why you wake up surrounded by hot coals or sheets of ice. I think that you could learn to control that too, but it would take practice, and you would have to be closely supervised during that time. I myself could not teach you. This is otherworldly magic and it comes from your demon ancestry, I would imagine. I have no experience in it and besides, we have no time for it now. But after..." she trailed off, "yes, we have much work to do after this." Again, Kurona blinked at Cho, in even more of a daze than before. She forced herself out of her shock, and asked Cho a question.

"Before we move on to the more immediate problems... can I say one thing, Cho-dono? I don't... would you find it silly... that I don't think I want any power that I had to... grow? Controlling the amount that I have now is fine... but I don't want it to grow. A human can't have too much power. That's why I think you and the other Guardians were created. Someone needs power... but human beings can't. We're the weakest race, so power easily corrupts us. I... don't want to be on that side of a fight. I don't want to turn into someone like my uncle."

"Just saying that assures me that you //won't// turn into someone like your uncle. But whether you want the power or not, it is yours. You must learn to control it so that it does not control you." Kurona nodded, and turned to the maps.

"So. Any ideas?"

Cho nodded. "Yes. I think..." she was cut off by a quick knock and Isiriel entered with the elementals in tow. "They are coming," she said. At that moment, the sounds of shock, surprise and fighting erupted from outside. Cho quickly kicked the table out of the way and drew her //katana//, while Isiriel unsheathed her sword. Without discussion, they all formed a circle, with Kurona at the center. The girl looked around her, confused that no one was going outside, and slightly insulted that she was being protected like this. //If I have so much power, why am I always being the freaking damsel in distress?// Kurona thought, and she moved to stand up.

"Be alert," Cho cautioned. As soon as the words had left her mouth, shadowy figures began to appear in the room, some coming for the very walls, others from the small niches and alcoves. To Cho's eyes, they all appeared to be on fire, the flames dancing around them. She concentrated on her breathing, noticing the fear but not allowing it to control her. Some took the form of animals, a few were vaguely human shaped and one towered above them all, his head brushing the roof.

"We have come for our prize, our princess, our Black Child. Give her to us or pay the price," the huge one hissed.

"Huh?" That was all that Kurona said, but it was enough to draw all the demon's eyes to her. The word has slipped out in her surprise and growing confusion, and by habit she clamped a hand over her mouth. A muffled apology to Madame Cho, and the girl stood there under the glares of demons she did not feel at ease with.

Cho, seemingly fearless, locked eyes with the speaker. "This girl is under my protection," she stated. "I will not let you have her."

The huge demon laughed, a low, smokey, rasping sound. "//You//," it sneered. "Pathetic guardian of an insignificant world. She is worth twenty of you. And we shall have her, one way or another."

"And if I refuse?" Cho asked.

"We shall destroy you. And do not doubt that we can, for we helped to kill your puny brother."

Cho pursed her lips, as if considering the demon's words. "No," she said simply, bringing up her //katana//. "You want her? //Try// to take her from us." When Kurona noticed the glint of metal, she snapped out of her surprise, and looked at the //sai// still laying on the table. As she stared at the weapons, she felt the familiar pull. She needed to hold them in her hands. Shaking her head and clenching her fists, Kurona tried to focus on what the demon and Cho were saying.

The demon lunged toward Cho, but she sidestepped and then brought her katana around to slash at its arm.

"You're fast," it muttered.

"Oh yes," Cho agreed, "And smart, too." She reversed her blade and drove it in to the demon's belly. It roared in pain and fury as it was pulled back into the void. Pushing her hair back from her face, Cho gave a feral smile. "Who's next?" Kurona glared again at the //sai// laying next to her, and their pull was getting stronger the more Cho killed the demons. She was well aware of her demons fighting as well, along with the Captain, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the weapons. She knew what would happen if she were to touch them, and even as her hand involuntarily reached for one of the hilts, Kurona's mind was in two places.

Cho surveyed the scene. The elementals were fighting well and, of course, Isiriel was a blur of motion and shining steel. Cho slipped her hand in a pocket of her robe and drew out several //shuriken// which she flung with deadly accuracy at a charging beast-like demon. It let out a high pitched squeal and blinked out of existence. Cho's eyes fell on Kurona, sidling toward the table. "NO!" she called. "We have this well in hand! Do not..." but her voice was cut off. Cho, while distracted, was hit from behind by a demon, the force flinging her like a rag doll at the nearest wall. Her body hit with a sickening crack and she slid to the floor, unmoving.

Kurona had control over her mind now, it was just the matter that her body was practically moving against her will. While her mind screamed in terror as Cho's body still did not move, her fingers were almost brushing against a hilt. Then faster than she had reached for them, her hands darted out and snatched both weapons.

However, unlike when she was a child, she didn't black out. She calmly stood there as ice and fire started to swirl around her, harsh winds guiding the frost and flames. The ground under her feet wavered, and hard packed soil rose to the ceiling, splitting the wood, creating four thick poles surrounding her where Kurona's demons had been. A tear, identical to the one that she had created when Aoi died, ripped open in front of her. As soon as it opened wide, all the elements turned inward. Wind whipped her hair, fire singed her clothes, hard ice pelted her skin, and soil collapsed on top of her. Only then did Kurona's consciousness fade. She could hear her demons frantically call her name, and dig at the mountain of dirt she supposed was suffocating her.

Hearing the commotion, Cho's eyes blinked open. //Stupid!// she thought to herself. //How could I have been so stupid?// She was still in pain, but knew that she had to move. Isiriel was busy with two demons, Kurona was nowhere to be seen but her elementals were clawing at a pile of dirt, piteously calling her name. A strange rip hovered in the air, seeming to lead only into darkness. Cho's sword arm was useless, likely broken. She swore under her breath. No flying until that healed. But as she surveyed the room, a strategy came to her. She pulled herself up, using her good arm, and limped toward the tear which she surmised led to the Void.

She placed herself directly in front of it and drew herself up to her full height. "Try me again, stupid creatures!" she taunted. The remaining demons in the room turned toward her. They saw Cho standing there, bruised and battered, unable to fight, and saw their opportunity. They charged at her, thinking to take her down. Cho bided her time, fearless in the face of the attack, until, at the last minute, she rolled out of the way. The momentum of the demons carried them into the rift, into the Void. As they passed through, the rip sealed behind them. Isiriel helped Cho up and together they crossed to the pile of dirt.

"Yuri!" Cho snapped. " Stop panicking! You have control of the earth. Remove this at once." Yuri, despite having no facial expression show, had forgotten the fact that he could easily slide the dirt away for a moment. He immediately cleared the soil off of the unconscious demon contractor. Or was she a demon //controller//? Her eyes began to flutter open, and her hazel eyes immediately came into focus.

"Urgh, I hope I didn't destroy the mansion." She mumbled as she began to sit up. "Ouch."

"It will need a few repairs but it appears to still be intact," Cho remarked as she hobbled toward the bed and sat down gingerly. Isiriel immediately went to Cho and began fashioning a make-shift sling for Cho's obviously broken arm. "Isiriel," Cho said. "We need one of them alive. We need to question it. Can you...?"

Isiriel finished placing the sling around Cho. "Of course, Most Holy. It shall be done." Then she turned and leapt lightly out the door and into the garden, racing toward the remains of the fighting.

"I couldn't care less about my uncle, but I hope everyone else is alright. I can still hear the fighting, but... how many do you think of ours died?"

"We won't know until it's over," Cho replied. Kurona thought her demeanor was different. Harder, sterner. Kurona realized that she was seeing a new side of Cho: the military commander.

"Cho-dono, what those demons said, about your brother, and what they said about me... 'our prize, our princess, our Black Child'..." Kurona trailed off thinking over various things. "Why would they care about someone like me? You and your brother are worth thousands to what I am. Much more important to this world. With this power, I think I'm more of a threat than insignificant now. I wonder if I really do belong with only demons. Or do I belong //to// them?"

Cho sighed. Her face was bruised, her once pristine white hair was caked with dirt and sweat and blood but she still smiled at Kurona, despite her pain. "No my dear. You belong only to yourself. We will know more when we question them further, but you are wrong about one thing. I am important to this world, yes. But there are so many other places than just Tetravier! Demons can go to those other planes. Therefore, you may well be more important than me in the grand scheme of things."

"It gets bigger...?" Kurona's vague question trailed off, but then she jumped out of her sitting position and ran outside. She came back in a few seconds later with a small pail full of clear water, and a handkerchief. She dipped the cloth in the water and stared dabbing at Cho's face. "Tama, I'm so sorry! At least your face needs to be clean before you see any captured demons. They'll make fun of you like those others! You don't deserve to be called pathetic again. Oh, but is this hurting you even more?!" Kurona was careful not to touch Cho's arm, and she tried to avoid any cuts she could see.

Cho pushed Kurona away, but not unkindly. "It's alright, little falcon. I've looked far worse than this, I assure you. I am not bothered by their words. Well," she amended, "by most of their words, anyway."

"Oh. Right. Sorry... guess the 'Himeko family pride' still shows. We always make sure to look better than our enemies... so says Setsuko-sensei, anyway." Kurona immediately pulled away, and despite the kind way Cho brushed her off, she still felt a small sting.

Cho was about to respond when Isiriel and Misaki entered the room, a struggling demon held between them. Cho rose from the bed and slowly crossed to face the creature. "Who sent you here?" she asked.

"Our Lady commands us and we obey," the demon answered.

"And does your Lady have a name?" Cho inquired.

"Of course. Her name is She Who Strides the Planes. Or, if you prefer, She Who Rules the World."

Cho's eyebrows raised at that. "Is that so. Well, you should tell her that this world and this girl are under my protection."

The demon laughed, a harsh and scornful sound. "Oh, she knows. Well she knows the supposed guardians of this realm. She knows of the Northern and Western Guardians and how they grow weary and unconcerned with their realms. She knows of your poor, //**dead**// brother. And she knows of you, Chomolungma, Guardian of the East." When the creature said Cho's name and title, it was more of an insult.

"I see," Cho responded. "Then she should know that I will oppose her."

"Of course she does. But she also knows that you are immortal in this world only. And she knows that because //she// killed your brother. And she can do the same to //you//. But I will bring her your message. I'm sure she will find it amusing." There was a flare of darkness and suddenly, the demon was gone and Isiriel and Misaki were holding only air.

"Um, I know it's a little late, but why attack here? Why apparently want me?" Kurona half-heartedly spoke to the space of air, not knowing what else to say.

Rean turned toward Kurona and spoke in a voice that was totally different from his own; a voice which sent chills down the spines of all the listeners. "We came here because our Lady wanted //you//, Princess. If you were not here, they might know where you were. And one of them at least might have made good bait. She possesses the same power that you do. She can teach you. Through her, you can learn to control your abilities and you can become greater than you could imagine!"

"Huh?" Kurona's eyebrow twitched, but then she stared at the demon, looking at him like he was an idiot. "I'm plenty interested in someone teaching me about this 'power,' but I really don't want more of it. Now, can you maybe get out of Rean's body and tell this //Lady// person that? Much appreciated. Go now." Kurona didn't realize it, but her voice took on an eerie tone, a commanding one that sounded as though she knew for sure that the demon would obey.

"As you wish, Princess," not-Rean said. "I shall tell our Lady that you are interested in her offer of training. Farewell...for now."

"I didn't-oh, never mind. Doesn't matter." Kurona sagged, giving up a retort. "Are we going to figure out the casualties now, Cho-dono?"

Cho nodded, "Yes, that would be good." She paused. "Kurona, a word of warning. Making bargains with demons is...risky. Please, be careful." Then she turned her attention to Isiriel and Misaki. "Isiriel, are there any healers among the troops? Or here in the village? We will need all that we can get. Herbalists, medics, whatever is available. Can you bring them here, please?"

"I just sent a few soldiers to the next village over to get some people that can help, because there are no healers in the mansion or in the village. Those doctors or whatever should be here any minute now." Misaki butted into the conversation, and after taking a quick glance to Kurona, he then left the room.

"Is that all he came to say?" Rean- who apparently was himself again- asked, shaking his head a little.

"Apparently," Isiriel answered. "There is one healer with the militia and we have sent to Xandi-lat for more. They should be here in a few days."

"Good. We shall handle the worse cases first and then go on from there. If I could transform...but I cannot, not with this." Cho indicated her arm. "Wings are harder to fix than arms. But, all of my militia have some training in first aid. It should be enough until the healers arrive."

Kurona remained silent the whole time, and as she slowly stood up. She walked to the door, and stepped outside, closing the door behind her. Normally, she would at least say something, and as Kurona walked past, Cho noticed her oddly blank expression.

"Isiriel, if you please!" Cho said. The elf nodded and sprinted out the door after Kurona.

Kurona turned around to Isiriel, surprised that someone was following her. The blank expression was gone, replaced with mild shock.

"Sorry, guess I must have scared people. Rin always says that when I'm thinking about something serious, I get creepy. I just figured that since the battle seems done... I'd face one more fear. You can come with me, if you want, Captain Isiriel-sama." Kurona smiled, and resumed her course, allowing the elf to do as she pleased. Despite the natural confidence that she walked with, she seemed wistful, but not the least bit scared.

"Going to pay a visit to your uncle? Or is it something else? Cho is worried about you, you know, but she will not leave the wounded at this time."

"I know. I kinda wanted Misaki to come with me, but I suppose there's plenty of time for that later." Without turning around this time, she let her destination slip. "I'm going to see my cousin, Aoi. It's a pretty depressing place, even for someone who doesn't have any connection to at all. You can do what ever you think is best. Whether it's coming with me, telling Cho what's going on, or something else is fine. I doubt I know what's right." Kurona laughed a little and continued walking. They were nearing the mansion gates.

Isiriel fell into step beside Kurona. "I shall accompany you, then. Cho would be vexed with me if I left you alone." Kurona smiled, mumbled a thank you, and was silent the rest of the way.

The gravesite was not the typical one. These graves were poles, some with flesh and bone strung up to them. Others just stood alone and bare, aged from the amount of time it took for the corpse to disappear completely. Each one set apart from the rest. There was no indication of who any of the deceased where. No names, no date of birth. Just the day the person had died and how. Each one, instead of wishing the person well in the afterlife, warned the living not to go near the corpses. 

Kurona stopped in front of one that was one of the more recent ones. Flesh was still visible on the body, but what was really shocking was that the corpse was that of a young boy. He only seemed to be 10 at least.

"My cousin. Aoi. I don't think you were told anything about him, were you?"

Isiriel shrugged. "Cho filled me in a bit. It's a shame about him. Odd that his body is so well preserved though." The elf did not seem fazed by the graveyard. Instead, she seemed fascinated. "Sky-burial, eh? I've read about it but never seen it. However, it's odd that there are no names. You would think that a culture which reveres it's ancestors would pay more attention to something like that." Isiriel wandered a bit, leaving Kurona alone with her cousin and her thoughts.

A huge raven was sitting on top of one of the poles and he fluttered down to land next to Kurona. He held out a leg and Kurona saw a note attached. Attached to his other leg was a small parcel. She quickly untied both and read the letter, the raven looking on curiously.

//To the dearest Kurona, and her band of traveling mercenaries,//

//My name is Aglæca, and I am looking for a job to be done. I need the parcel attached delivered to a home in the South, or more specifically, brought to Phirumsol. I am currently away on business, and it is urgent that it reaches its destination as quickly as possible. Usually I would have my ravens deliver, but the climate is too treacherous for the birds to cross on their own. The quickest way is across the sea, and through the Numidian Steppes. I have arranged a guide if one is needed, and he will be looking for you. There is also a guide set up for you once you reach Phirumsol.//

//I have heard of your skills, and I am laying my trust in you. Your payment it also attached, which I hope will be a sufficient amount. It should be enough to buy you the supplies you need, as well as extra for pleasure spending.//

//Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and I hope you are able to deliver the package in good health. If you are unable to accept the quest, simply put the letter back in the envelope, and tell the raven the word ‘Eres’, and it will leave you be. If you do in fact accept, please start moving whenever you can.// //Yours truly,//

//Lady Algæca Vindica//

Kurona blinked, trying to make sense of the random job offer. Normally, a person would have to bring their request through Daisuke. Daisuke served as a type of manager or agent. He decided on what jobs, and forwarded the letters to her at a specific place. The jobs also only ever were for around Ringence, and going to the south was... a high order. Not to mention that it was strange how this Vindica's crow knew exactly where she was. It was very confusing, and came out of no where.

"What the heck is going on, Aoi? Do you and your little wolf friends know? Should I even take this seriously?" She looked up at her cousin's corpse, sighed and looked back at the letter. "I had so much to say to you, but maybe I should save it for when I'm in less complicated of a situation."

Shaking her head to clear it, Kurona found Isiriel and told her that she was leaving. When she walked back to her old room, she sat down across from Cho, still silent. Without a word, she slid the letter and package onto the table. All she said was three words.

"I'm really confused."

Cho looked to Kurona for permission before reaching for the letter at Kurona's nod. She opened it awkwardly, one arm still in a sling. Her eyes raced across the page, her brows furrowed in thought. "Well," Cho said at last, "this certainly is ...unusual. I knew a Lady Algæca many years ago. I wonder if she is related." Cho shifted her arm to a more comfortable position. "What do you think you should do?" Again, Kurona remained silent, until she looked up with her usual determination in her eyes.

"I've decided to take the job. It's... everything about this is odd, and I suppose I'm curious. I'll be careful, and... well, what's the worst that could happen?" After thinking about what she just said, Kurona quickly put a hand up. "Wait, scratch that. The job is in the South. Lots of bad, bad things could happen."

Cho studied Kurona closely. "If you think that is best, then you must, of course, go. Remember my promise to you. Should you have need of me, touch the medallion and say my name. I will come to you. And, when you are done...perhaps you...well..." Cho hesitated a bit, "would you like to come and live at the library? I know that you might want to stay here, but...well, the offer is open, if you wish." Kurona stared at Cho unblinkingly for the longest yet, shock the only expression visible for what felt like forever. But slowly, happiness and excitement melted in.

"I-I... well, um... uh, yes! Yes! T-that would be the best... thing in the world!"

Cho smiled brightly. "Then it's settled! When you return, from the South, come directly to me. I will have your room prepared." There was a commotion outside and Isiriel entered the room. "Most Holy, General Angavin is here to see you."

"Um, Cho-dono, why's there so much noise outside?"

"That noise, little falcon, is the sound of reinforcements arriving! Thank the Creatorix. I'll be able to get this arm fixed." They headed outside, where an impressive sight awaited them. Several companies of militia were organizing the clean-up and healers and medics were helping the wounded. Overseeing it all was a dragon, some twenty feet long, its blue-green scales gleaming in the sun. Astride the dragon's back was a handsome man in armor. He removed his helmet and slid down from his mount as Cho approached. Both the man and the dragon bowed to Cho who responded in kind. The man, General Angavin Kurona assumed, had a good natured face. His ruddy blond hair was long, but held back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. His green eyes were clouded with concern as he took in Cho's appearance.

"Most Holy!" he exclaimed. "Please, allow one of my healers to fix your arm!"

"I will, General, when all the wounded have been attended to," Cho replied. "This is my companion, Kurona Himeko. Kurona, this is General Kellan Angavin, rider of Alaerth."

"Nice to meet you." Kurona bowed awkwardly, a habit from her old life showing a bit in her tone. //Ladies of the Himeko family are detached and polite. We do not...// Kurona couldn't remember the rest of what her mother had told her over and over again, but she at least recalled that quote. Her location must be partially to blame for the memories.

"And you as well," Kellan replied as he raised a hand, gesturing to a healer who hurried over. "Please tend to Her Holiness' arm," he instructed and the healer immediately complied. The mage breathed deeply, using her mental techniques to combat the inevitable pain, and then focused her energies on Cho's arm.

"I said I would wait for the others to be tended to," Cho said, as she breathed in relief as her arm was repaired.

"Oh, I heard you," Kellan said, smiling brightly, "I chose to ignore you."

Cho grinned as she removed the sling. "You naughty boy, Kellan," she winked at him and he threw her a cheeky smile.

Kurona was shocked. She had never seen anyone ignore Cho's commands before. She quickly shook the surprise off, an emotionless expression replacing it. Her being in the mansion was bringing back her upbringing. Adaptation to new situations, calm, quick thinking, and almost no emotions being shown. She really needed to get out of there and get back to normal.

"On an earlier topic of conversation, Cho-dono, do you think the fighting is over? Would I be able to start... packing?"

"By all means, my dear. Go right ahead. But do you have anything here you need to pack?"

"The scroll, um... whatever type of weapon those things in the bundle are, and a few other... precious things."

"Yes, little falcon. Go get your things. The ship you are taking sails on the tide. You must be ready when it departs." Cho paused. "Kurona-chan, be careful. And, in all things, remember that you are loved and valued."

"Ah..." Kurona paused for a minute, "I will remember that. Thank you, Cho-dono." She bowed and left Madame Cho to go and pack.

When Kurona got to her room, she was surprised to find Misaki laying on the floor. He was worse for wear, but obviously breathing. Nevertheless, Kurona ran to her cousin and tried to wake him up. She succeeded rather quickly.

"Ah, Chibi, what are you doing?"

"But-"

"Don't worry. You're leaving."

"Blunt as ever." Kurona went to her feet, walked to the table, and started folding the fabric over the weapons. She took her bag and gently placed the scroll snugly between two bottles of soda. "Yes, I'm leaving. I got an interesting job offer that I can't refuse."

"Where in Ringence are you going to, if you don't mind my asking?"

"The South."

"Wha-!?" Misaki sat up, and he felt incredibly dizzy from the suddenness he had moved. He slowly laid back down on Kurona's floor. "Who's the blunt one again?"

"Everyone in this family are blunt. I thought you knew that."

"Whatever. Just be careful, cousin." Kurona turned around from fixing the weapons in a secure place.

"Sure. Be back soon."

Kurona stepped onto the ship, and looked back at the dock. Yuri was the last to follow, a little hesitant to go completely out of his domain.

"You okay? I know we've never been on a ship before, but if you want, you can stay in Ringence." Hiroyuki asked the earth demon.

"It's to be expected. I was prepared when I decided to come aboard." Yuri groaned as the ship rocked. Kurona turned her attention to the oldest demon, and rubbed his back. Rin, however, was as lively as ever. She even went so far as to make the suggestion of taking a swim.

"This is going to be a heck of a ride." Kurona muttered, and went to find something to do.

On the dock, Misaki stood next to Cho as they watched the Kurona and her demons sail away.

"Do you think she is going to be OK?" Misaki asked.

"I hope so," Cho replied. I suppose only time will tell." She sighed, and then raised a hand in farewell. "Blessings of the Creatorix to you, little falcon," she whispered. "Come home soon."

THE END!