******************************************************* Kyuuketsuki Miyu (c) 1992 Narumi Kakinouchi TV series characters (c) AIC The characters and concepts of Narumi Kakinouchi/AIC are used without permission. Other original characters are copyright of no one and nothing. This story maybe freely distributed as long as this section is also referenced and the author is quoted. ******************************************************* Deceptions ---------- A five part story by IronOak. With grateful thanks to contributions by Alex Gray and Sharon Wall. Pre-readers - Alex Gray and Sharon Wall. <-- -- -- -- --> <-- -- -- -- --> Episode One - Friends The rush of flames lit the darkness of the small alleyway as the enraged scream of the banished Daemon filled the stillness of the night air. A few meters away, three figures stood dispassionately watching as the flames slowly died and then flickered away. One of these figures slowly dropped her hand and turned to look at the corpse of the Shinma's host that was already growing cold on the ground. "It is over," the girl said quietly as she turned and began to walk away. "Over?" the second figure queried in an amused voice as the young high school girl walked past her. "It is never over Guardian - you of all people should know that." The figure's statement caused the girl to break her step and she turned to cast an annoyed look at the ashen doll like face of the individual who had spoken. "Why are you here Reiha? This business had nothing at all to do with you so why the sudden interest?" "Interest?" the oriental snow demon laughed softly to herself. "And how would you know what is of interest to me Miyu? I come and go as I please, not at your behest." "Is that so?" Miyu replied in a bored tone as she shifted her position slightly. "Is that a threat I hear Miyu?" a second and deeper voice issued from the object held tightly in the demon's arms. "Well, well, that would be amusing..." "I do not threaten," Miyu said coldly as she turned and resumed her walk down the alley. "I only do. Come Larva - our task here is finished." Reiha smiled faintly to herself as she watched the Vampire and her servant return from whence they had come. The Guardian was becoming even easier to bait and the calm detachment that the girl liked to use as a mask was slowly beginning to erode away. Miyu had almost been ready to offer violence and that made Reiha pleased. The more flustered the Vampire became the more careless she was and that suited Reiha's purpose perfectly. "It will soon be time you know," the deeper voice commented from the wooden figure she clutched to her breast. "Already the flaws in her character have begun to reveal themselves to me. We should have no difficulties in exploiting them." "Perhaps," Reiha commented as she looked down at the foul smelling corpse on the ground. "But I prefer to wait and see until we know for sure. The Master has no great tolerance for failure as you well know. We have the time, let us be sure we use it properly." The figure sighed and said nothing more. Reiha took this lack of comment for an agreement. They both knew what failure meant. <-- -- -- -- --> "Hey Miyu!" Chisato waved as she saw her friend standing on the small terrace just outside their homeroom. "Didn't you get my message yesterday about meeting me outside the library? I waited for you for over an hour." "Sorry," the girl said as she stood and stared out over the school grounds below. "Something came up at the last moment." "Well, you could have rung me," Chisato complained as she crossed over to stand by her friend. "I was worried about you." Miyu smiled and brushing her hair from her face looked over at the girl who had been the first to befriend her. "Forgive me..." she started to say when Chisato surged forward and grabbed her arm. "Are you hungry?" the lively girl brushed Miyu's attempted apology aside as if it did not exist. "Here, I have something for you," Chisato said as she grabbed a small box from her desk and presented it to the bewildered Miyu. "You never seem to bring any lunch along to school so I made some for you." She gave a small smile and then putting her hands behind her back looked anxiously at her confused friend. "Go on, open it and tell me what you think." Miyu looked down at the box and then up at the grinning form of her friend. "Thank you Chisato," she said genuinely touched by the concern the teenager had shown for her. "Well, don't just look at it," Chisato urged her shy companion. "Open it, I want to know what you think of my masterful culinary talents." "I wouldn't touch that if I were you Miyu," a soft voice advised as another girl came over to join them. "Chisato's cooking is rather, um, unique in its flavour. The last time I..." "Yukari!" Chisato exclaimed angrily turning to face the older girl as she came over to join them. "Stop picking on me! You only tried my lunch that one time..." "...and I have been haunted by it every since," the taller girl said with a laugh as she sat down next to the other two. "Bleee!" Chisato stuck out her tongue and glared at the amused Yukari. "I think it tastes wonderful," Miyu's soft voice interrupted the two as she daintily chewed on the small white sandwiches that her friend had made for her. "Really?" Chisato's face burst into a wide smile and she leaned forward with her eyes shining. "Do you mean that? Really?" "Of course I do," Miyu nodded as she looked into those wide brown eyes staring down at her. "I never lie." "Haha!" Chisato clapped her hands together and glared back at Yukari. "You see? I told you!" Yukari shrugged, "Miyu's too polite to tell you the truth." "Humph!" Chisato said as she sat down and looked back at her pale skinned companion. "Miyu is a lady," she declared. "Not at all like you." "Oh, will you two give it a rest," Hisaye growled as she walked up to the three girls. "I'd like a peaceful lunch just for once." Yukari nodded in welcome at her late arriving friend. "So," she said. "Are the two of us still on for the study class tonight? The mid-term exams are only three weeks away now and I still haven't got any clue about those algebra problems that came up in the pop quiz we sat on Monday." Hisaye rolled her eyes and nodded, "yes," was her only comment but her expression said it all. Miyu smiled as the interplay between the three old friends washed over her. It was strange being part of a group of friends again. She was so used to being on the outside looking in that she was slightly uncertain how to act. It felt good to know that there were people who worried about her, who looked forward to meeting her first thing in the morning. It was so different from her usual life that... "Hey Miyu, wake up," Chisato said tapping the vacant faced girl on her arm. "What do you think?" Miyu swallowed, "it's delicious," she said. "Not the food!" Chisato shook her head. "What about my suggestion? Would it be okay?" "Suggestion?" Miyu queried slightly confused. "About tonight," Chisato replied. "How about it?" "Of course," Miyu said without thinking. "I'd love to." "Excellent!" Chisato exclaimed excitedly. "My mother has been looking forward to meeting you so much!" "Oh," Miyu said wondering what it was she had just agreed to. "And we can talk all night," the girl bubbled on happily. "I really do want to get to know all about you Miyu and a sleep over would be great!" Sleep over? Yukari looked at Hisaye and Hisaye looked at Yukari. Miyu had walked right into that one. Yamano might be bright but sometimes she was too naive for her own good. Chisato was an only child, so when she managed to get a friend over to stay the night the girl was usually talking excitedly the whole time. The poor reserved girl that Miyu was would be kept awake all night by Chisato interrogating into every aspect of her life. Yukari hoped that Miyu had the stamina for it - the poor thing would need it. <-- -- -- -- --> The young girl looked nervously down at her watch and wondered for the umpteenth time where the bus had got to. It was already beginning to get dark overhead and if she had to wait much longer then she would miss her piano lessons altogether. Her mother would have already been waiting for her at the conservatory for well over 20 minutes now and the girl shuddered slightly at the thought of how angry the woman would be when her daughter finally turned up. "Just my day," the girl commented as she looked around. As per usual her eyes were drawn to the old shrine that stood half derelict across the street, and as per usual something about it made her shudder. She drew a sharp breath and forced herself to look down at her watch. She had always hated having to wait for the bus here. Usually, it was just for five or so minutes but today she had been standing here for well over 35 minutes and it was now fast approaching 8pm. She did not exactly know what it was about this street that made her feel so scared but in the two months since she had started this routine the feeling had been steadily getting worst. It was almost as if she was being, well, watched. Perhaps it had something to do with the gaping empty windows of the shrine opposite or perhaps it was just the general ominous feeling that seemed to prevail the whole atmosphere of this street. The girl did not know, all she knew was that something about this place made her feel scared. "Come on," she repeated as she began to move nervously about. Somehow the feeling today was even worst than it was usually. In the gathering gloom of twilight the shadowed darkness that filled the shrine almost seemed to be reaching out across the street towards her. And although the girl continuously reassured herself that she was just being silly the impression of the shrine reaching out for her stuck in her mind. She just wanted to get home, to be out of this horrible place before the fast approaching dark of night consumed her and the street completely. "...in the cherry tree..." The girl stopped dead as the first strains of the faint voices reached her. "...by the blossom so white..." The girl looked up startled. "...creeping up to the top of the tree the cat tried to surprise it..." The girl's head spun around as she tried desperately to identify the direction from which the children's singing was coming. What was going on here? "...Wise little bird sings a fresh new song..." Her head was slowly drawn around to stare once more at the old gaping shrine and a feeling of unnatural dread filled her. "...who is standing there behind me..." The girl shuddered as the faint singing voices abruptly stopped. What was happening? Why did she suddenly feel so afraid? "...Wise little bird sings a fresh new song, Who is standing there behind me..." With a scream the girl spun around as the voices of the children were now singing right next to her. Her eyes widened impossibly with terror at what she saw standing behind her. She opened her mouth to scream, to release the impossible horror that was now bubbling up inside her throat, but the scream did not even have a chance to be born as it, like the girl, were torn to shreds. Silence filled the street. It was getting dark when the bus finally pulled up and the doors hissed open. The bus driver looked at the two teenagers waiting to get off and coughed. "Pardon me Miss..." "Yes?" one of the two girls adjusted her glasses and turned to look at the man. "Can I do something for you?" "Are you really sure the two of you want to get off here Miss?" the man said as he looked over at the two smartly dressed girls. "This place, well, is not..." "Hmm?" the second girl flashed him the kind of smile that made him wish he was 40 years younger. "And just what might be so - 'well is not' - about this place?" "This street has an evil reputation," the man smiled pleased at the attention the attractive girl was giving him. "There have been disappearances here, among other..." "Yeah, right," the first girl said with a dismissive gesture as she grabbed her gaijin companion's arm and dragged her towards the door. "Come on Loren, stop mucking about and let's get going. We're already over an hour late thanks to that crash. My parents are going to kill me." "Wait up Mayumi," the gaijin said as she fought to recover her balance. "You don't need to pull my arm out of its socket." "My parents have been looking forward to meeting you for over seven months now Loren," the girl who was called Mayumi snapped as she pulled the gaijin onto the street. "I do not intend to let them down now, not when I have finally been able to get you out here." "Alright, alright, I..." The rest of the burgeoning argument was lost to the driver as the two girls walked off down the darkened street. He sighed and shook his head. "Girls these days," he muttered as he closed the door and looking in his mirror turned on the right flicker. He was just turning back to the road when a flash of sickly yellow light in the rear view mirror caught his eye. He frowned and looked back - there was nothing there, just an old derelict building. He shuddered slightly as he remembered the rumors he had been trying to warn the two college students about. This was no place to be hanging about any longer than he needed too. He looked at the mirror once more and put his foot down on the accelerator - those girls could look out for themselves. Loren pulled her hand free of Mayumi and watched as the bus pulled hurriedly away. She sighed, it was a shame that she did not get the chance for the driver to tell her that ghost story he had seemed to be hinting at. She always liked a good scare and this street certainly had the right atmosphere for it. "Will you please hurry up Loren?" Mayumi complained as her friend once more began to pull back. "We still have a good twenty minute walk ahead of us you know." Loren rolled her eyes. Mayumi could be impossible at times. "Coming," she said as she quickened her pace to catch up with her friend. "...in the cherry tree..." Loren stopped and frowned slightly as the strange refrain of children's voices sounded faintly on the wind. Her eyes narrowed and she turned to look at the old deserted building across the street. "...by the blossoms so white..." "Oh wonderful," she hissed in annoyance. "Why do I always run into these twits?" She flashed a quick look back over her shoulder and saw that Mayumi had halted yet again and was not looking very amused. "Oh, this is just perfect." "...creeping up to the top..." "Go play with someone else," Loren whispered harshly to the shifting darkness that inhabited the cursed building opposite. "I am not in the mood." "Loren..." Mayumi's voice growled warningly. Loren's eyes narrowed and she spoke a very soft alien word under her breath. The street suddenly went silent and Loren's mouth twitched in a faintly malicious grin. "Scared are..." "Loren!" Mayumi's voice snapped loudly just next to her nearly causing the girl to have a heart attack. "Ya!" she yipped as she spun around to face the angry woman. "My God Mayumi!" she said as she clutched at her chest. "Don't do that! Are you trying to..." "Come!" Mayumi commanded as she grabbed her friend's arm and dragged her off balance. "I've had enough of your nonsense. You are going to meet my parents even if I have to drag you there personally. Now, move it!" "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Loren cried out as Mayumi manhandled her down the street like a sack of potatoes. "Ouch! Hey! Stop that!" The two girls vanished around the corner and the street went silent again. The wind began to pick up and the broken shutters banged against the windows of the ruined shrine. The dust and fallen leaves picked up by the wind were thrown through the gaping wounds of the building's outside structure but still the street remained silent. It had felt the power of the being who had threatened it and knew that in this case discretion was the better part of valor. It liked its pseudo half life and challenging THAT one would have been tantamount to committing suicide. It only hoped that the being who had disguised itself in that mortal shell had not taken any offence to the street's activities. The Old Ones like her could be viscous with those that annoyed them. And that, was not something the street wished to experience - ever. <-- -- -- -- --> Miyu nodded her head politely to Chisato's mother as the older woman welcomed her in. "Thank you for inviting me," she said as she took off her shoes. The woman smiled, "I'm so glad to be able to finally met you Yamano-san," she said as she gestured Miyu into the living room. "My daughter has mentioned you quite a number of times and I understand she is very fond of you." "Mother, please, you're embarrassing me," Chisato flushed as she walked into the living room from the kitchen with two large glasses of lemonade. She handed one to Miyu and then with a loud slurp sat down heavily onto the sofa. The woman shook her head and gave a barely audible sigh as once more she despaired at her daughter's complete lack of manners. She slowly sat down and took a moment to quickly measure up the girl that Chisato had taken such a shine to. Yamano-san sat quietly on the sofa sipping from her glass as her eyes seemed to be looking everywhere at once. The woman noticed with interest that the girl had unconsciously adopted the same sort of formal posture that her own mother had instructed her in when she herself was a child. That, and the way the girl held herself spoke of breeding. This girl, unlike her own daughter, knew what it was to be a lady. The woman smiled slightly at the thought. Perhaps, something of those good manners would rub off on her own uncouth daughter - Chisato could certainly use some. Miyu was well aware of the older woman's attention and found the thoughts about Chisato quite amusing. She had not thought of herself as an etiquette teacher before and the very idea of her trying to teach Chisato the same sort of manners that she had been taught almost bought a smile to her face. However, it also reminded her just how out of touch she really was with the modern day world. The rules of polite society that she had been bought up on were no longer valid and the fact that Chisato's mother had picked up on it meant that Miyu really needed to bring herself up to date with the social conventions of "her" generation. "So Miyu," Chisato began. "Did your parents give you any grief about staying the night, or is everything alright?" Miyu was silent for a moment and then said quietly, "my parents are not at home." "Oh," Chisato said surprised. "Where are they then?" Miyu replied quietly to herself. "I really don't know at the moment. They are both in China working for the next week or so." "You mean you have your whole house to yourself?" Chisato's mother asked in surprise and then frowned as Miyu nodded in response to her question. "That's not right. A girl like you should not be left alone for days on end. Pardon the words Yamano-san, but what do your parents think they are doing? Anything could happen to you." Miyu made no comment but simply continued to sip at her lemonade. She supposed it was only natural that the woman would react like that. These humans always seemed to think that anyone in a small body was totally unable to take care of themselves. While at times such emotions were useful, there were periods, such as now, that her ageless physical form was definitely an inconvenience. "I know!" Chisato suddenly exclaimed in a way that made her mother groan. "Miyu could stay with us for a few days until her parents are back!" She flashed a wide smile at her mother as she congratulated herself on her brilliant solution. Miyu drew breath to object but then thought better of it. She liked Chisato and it had been a long time since she had been surrounded by the warmth of a family environment - too long. She knew that Larva had warned her about becoming too attached to these humans but... she was lonely. The long years of wandering the twilight realms had grown heavy on her soul and the chance to live a "normal" life even for just a few days lit a strange desire in her heart. Perhaps, this was why Larva had warned her about becoming involved. She liked Chisato, liked Yukari and Hisaye, and yet no matter how she might try to pretend otherwise these girls were still human. Miyu knew that while they might be able to share a brief time together as friends these girls, like her own magical flames, would burn brightly but then ultimately fade away. The closer that Miyu came to them the greater her pain would become. Her fate was always a double edged sword - immortality had its price. Chisato's mother saw the bright hopeful look on her daughter's face and chewed her lip. She was not sure what she should do. The thought of a girl Miyu's age left alone galled her, but still it was not her place to order the girl to stay. She looked over at Miyu and tried to determine what her reaction to Chisato's statement had been. The long haired girl was still sipping her lemonade as if Chisato had not even spoken but there was the faint trace of a smile on her face and as the woman looked at her the girl seemed to nod almost imperceptibly. "Very well," the woman said as she stood up. "If Yamano-san has no objections then she is of course more than welcome to stay until..." "Yaahoo!" Chisato's voice drowned out the rest of her mother's statement as the girl leapt to her feet and rushed over to grab Miyu and pull her to her feet. "Come on! Let me show you my bedroom!" Miyu just about managed to save her glass of lemonade from spilling all over the floor as Chisato dragged her towards the stairs. She smiled as the girl started to talk excitedly about all the things that they would do together while Miyu was staying over. About how Chisato would personally give Miyu a "make over" that would bring her up to date with... Larva's gravelly voice ran through her mind. Miyu sent back. Larva's worried voice queried. Miyu sent back angrily. However, the mention of her hunger made her eyes move almost unconsciously to stare at the throat of the bubbly girl standing just in front of her. Her tongue scrapped over her sharp teeth as she could hear the faint thump thump of the girl's heart beat as the blood pulsed in time just beneath the translucent white skin. Thump. Thump. Thump. Miyu could almost imagine the taste of the hot sweet blood that was pumping so vigorously through Chisato's youthful body. The hand of the human on hers was so warm and filled with such vital energy that Miyu felt her hunger begin to stir against the restraints that had served so long to hold it at bay. She smiled as the sweet scent of Chisato filled her senses and she... "Well," Chisato said pulling Miyu into her rather messy room. "Here we are, what do you think?" She looked back at Miyu and noticed that the shy girl was staring intensely at her and that Miyu's normally pallid complexion was now almost unnaturally white. "Miyu?" Chisato took a step forward towards her friend and put her own hand up against the girl's ashen forehead. "Are you alright? You look a bit flushed." Miyu smiled and gently pushed Chisato's hand away. "I'm fine, really. Just a little hungry. I haven't eaten as well as I should have in the last few weeks that's all." She looked at the worried expression on the young girl's face and took a step back. "I'll be fine - really." "Hungry?" Chisato clapped her hands together. "Well, why didn't you just say so? I can feed you no problem!" Miyu blinked. "Here, sit down and I'll go and rustle you up something right now," Chisato flashed a smile at her friend and then rushed out just pausing at the door long enough to put her head back in and say. "I'm really glad your staying here Miyu. I, well, get lonely sometimes..." She looked down at the floor and then slightly embarrassed looked back at her friend's pale face. "Thanks for being there Miyu, thanks for being my friend," and before Miyu could answer the girl hurried away. Miyu stopped still for a moment as she felt the surge of joy that Chisato's simple statement had bought her. She closed her eyes and fought to hold back the single tear that she could feel threatening to leak from her right eye. It had been a long time since someone had said such honest words to her - a long time indeed. <-- -- -- -- --> Loren was struggling to keep up with the many greetings and welcomes that Mayumi's rather, ah, large family was heaping on her. She bowed her head in thanks yet again as Mayumi's mother passed her a another cup of hot sake. She saw Mayumi struggling to keep a straight face as Loren was getting buried by the attentions of her four younger sisters and two elder brothers, not to mention her parents and grandparents, who had all turned out to greet Mayumi's best friend. "Domo, domo," Loren said as Mayumi's mother piled yet more rice onto her plate. To say that she was startled at the hospitality she had been shown was something of an understatement. She felt like she was some kind of divine honored guest at a banquet and that was something she had not experienced since the eighteenth century. She wondered what it was that Mayumi had told her family that made them act like this. She flashed her friend a _look_ and then turned her attention back to one of Mayumi's younger sisters who was wanting to know what life was like in Loren's own country. "So, this is the infamous Lorennia," Toru whispered to his sister as the two of them sat and watched the flustered gaijin trying to cope with the enthusiasm of their family's attention. Mayumi shot him an angry glance. "Don't say that!" she hissed back under her breath. "It's solely thanks to her help that I have been able to get to the second year at all. I would have failed the first year exams completely if she had not taken all that time to help me." "I didn't mean it quite like that," Toru whispered back. "I just meant that after all the letters you have written us about her I expected some sort of godlike woman with lightning dancing around her..." "Stop it!" Mayumi suddenly exclaimed loudly in a voice that made everyone stare at her. "Leave her alone!" "Mayumi?" Loren got up and walked over to stand by her friend. "What's the matter?" Mayumi stared angrily at her eldest brother and then turning smiled in apology at Loren. "I'm sorry everyone," she said. "Something just went down my throat the wrong way that's all." "Oh," Loren said as she knelt down to pat her friend on the back. "You'd better have something to drink then." "Yeah," Mayumi grinned. "Suppose so." "Yungsia-san," Mayumi's mother got to her feet and went over to Loren. "Yes? Yukata-san?" "The journey from Kyoto must have been long and tiring. I am sure that my daughter has told you of the hot springs that are near by. Perhaps you and Mayumi would like to go down there and relax for an hour or so." Mayumi nodded, "that's not such a bad idea. I must admit that I feel more than a little stiff after sitting on that train for over 4 hours, not to mention the extra 2 hours on the bus to get here. How about it Loren, shall we indulge?" Loren tilted her head. "If that's what you want Mayumi then I will more than happily go with you." "Good idea Mayumi," Toru said standing up. "And if you don't mind I would like to join you. I need a wash anyway." "May I come as well?" the girl who had asked Loren so many questions about her home in Canada queried. Mayumi gave her brother a glare but simply shrugged. "I can't stop you." "Well, I for one will need to get changed first," Loren said. "But other than that it sounds like a great idea. How about we go in 20 minutes?" "Sounds fine to me," Toru said walking towards the door. "It will take you about 10 minutes to get there," Mayumi's father commented. "Would you like me to drive you?" Mayumi shook her head. "No thanks, it will give me the opportunity to show Loren something of the place where I grew up. But would you be able to come and pick us up? I for one do not feel like walking back in the dark." "The baths close at 11pm," the man said. "I'll come and get you all at about 10:45 - that okay?" "Thanks," Mayumi said flashing her father a smile. She knew that he was being extra nice due to Loren and was grateful to him for making the effort. "Come on Loren," she said taking her friend's hand. "I'll show you where we can change." After the two young women had left the room the grandfather raised his bowl of sake and drained it. "Mayumi has selected well," he said in passing. "Yes, she has," the father replied. "This Loren is quite a catch, but somehow I doubt that Mayumi has told her the truth yet." "No, you're probably right," the old man sighed. "And that was one reason why I suggested you invite the two of them. Hopefully here Mayumi will find the courage to tell the girl the truth." "How do you think Loren will react?" the man asked. "I wouldn't like to see Mayumi lose her now. The girl seems so perfect." The old man shrugged. "I am not a seer," he said. "The gaijin appears to be strong and if Mayumi is patient I think it may well work. Mayumi has done the best that she can, the rest will be up to Loren." "I like her," one of the younger girls spoke up. "When I grow up I hope I am as lucky as Mayumi." "Perhaps you will be cabbit," the old man said with a smile before commenting on one final issue - "Toru." The man grimaced and nodded. "I noticed that as well and it gives me cause for concern. Toru was an idiot in the one he selected and the fact that he ended up killing her was only a testament to that fact. He seems to be trying for Loren now as well." "It is his right," the wife suddenly commented. "Mayumi will just have to defend the girl." "I know the Law," the man said. "I just don't like it." "It is the Law," the woman replied simply. "Mayumi has no choice." Loren opened up her small case and scrambled around for her swimming costume. One thing she had learnt as a result of her long life was that one should never make yourself too vulnerable. Bathing naked, even in the safe confines of a sheltered room, was something that went just too much against her instincts. And instinct was something that had helped her survive to the age that she currently was - it was not something she intended to ignore. "Ah ha!" she said as she pulled the navy blue, and yes, unfashionable swimsuit out of her bag. Laying it out on the bed she began to slowly undress. She mulled over her impressions so far of Mayumi's family. They seemed to be nice enough people, but the way they were treating her made her slightly worried. It had been almost, well, too friendly. Like she was some long lost daughter or something. She was used to the social rules of Japanese families with sotto and naka, but this behavior was just plain weird. She finished folding up her clothes and reaching down to the bed picked up her swimsuit. "Loren?" Mayumi's voice called out as her friend knocked at the door. "Can I come in?" "Yeah sure," Loren replied as she started to pull on her swimsuit. "It's not locked or anything." "Oh, sorry," Mayumi said in a terse voice as she walked in and saw that Loren was half naked. "I didn't know you were still in the middle of changing." "No big deal," Loren said pulling the swimsuit up over her smallish breasts. "We're both roommates remember so it's not like I have anything to worry about is it?" "No," Mayumi replied with a nervous smile watching as Loren dressed. "Suppose not." Loren smiled with amusement at Mayumi's odd ways and finished putting on the rest of her clothes over her swimsuit. "So, what did you want anyway?" "Oh right, I just wanted to see if you were ready yet, and check if the room was alright." "The room's fine thanks," Loren replied as she picked up her brush and gave her short black hair a quick once over. "Alright," she finally announced giving a small twirl to Mayumi. "I'm ready - shall we go?" Mayumi nodded and opened the door. "After you," she said with a half smile as her friend walked passed her. Mayumi took a moment to watch the graceful way that Loren walked and the way her shapely bottom moved in time under the tight fabric of the girl's jeans. She sighed, she wished she had a figure like Loren's - the girl was gorgeous. "Loren?" Mayumi asked as she hurried to catch up with her friend. "Hmmm..." "What... what do you really think of me?" Mayumi queried uncertainly. "Do you like me?" Loren frowned, "that's a bit of an odd question. You're my friend, of course I like you." "Of course, silly question," Mayumi said avoiding Loren's deep blue eyes. "Mayumi? What's the matter?" Loren said coming over to stand by her friend. "You've been acting a bit freaked out ever since we got here." "Nothing, nothing," Mayumi shook her head and then held out her hand. "Come on Lore-chan, let's go swimming." Loren gave her an odd look and then with a small shrug reached over and took the offered hand. "Don't worry Lore-chan," Mayumi reassured her with a smile. "I'll look after you - always." Loren did not know quite what to say to that so she just followed Mayumi out of the house and put the behavior down to the stress of today's journey. The sound of the girls crunching footsteps as they crossed the gravelled yard made Toru and his sister look up. Toru's face twitched in a mocking half smile as he stared intensely at Loren for far longer than would be considered polite. Loren shifted uneasily under his appraising stare. She did not like to be treated like meat and especially did not like the smile that had now settled on the older boy's face. Mayumi's eyes narrowed as she felt Loren's hand tighten on hers and she glared angrily at her brother. "Toru," she said warningly. The boy simply smiled in reply and continued to stare at Loren. "Well Mayumi, are you ready to go?" "Of course, dearest brother," she replied placing a special emphasis on the word as tightening her grip protectively on Loren she pulled her friend along. "Anytime you are ready." "Ah, Mayumi," Loren asked uncertain what was going on. "Do you think I can have my hand back now?" "What?" Mayumi turned on her sharply. "My hand," Loren said pulling it back back with a sharp jerk. "I prefer it in one piece if possible." "Ah, right," Mayumi smiled nervously as she realised what she must be coming across like. "Sorry 'bout that Lore-chan." "You're acting weird again Mayumi," Loren said as she rubbed her sore hand. "Are you really sure you are feeling okay?" Toru laughed, "Mayumi has always been like this Loren, even since we were little children so..." "My name is Yungsia-san," Loren cut in rudely not wanting to get on familiar terms with this jerk. "Only my close friends can call me Loren." At her words the man's smile turned slightly predatory and Loren felt her own power twitch in response to the perceived threat. She quashed the reaction without thinking. This man was a human. He was of no threat to her. "Pardon me, Yungsia-san," Toru bowed slightly with that same mocking grin on his face. "I was simply assuming you wished to follow the customs of your country. Forgive me, I did not mean any offence." Loren did not even bother answering that. "Are we going to these bathes then Mayumi?" she asked sticking her hands in her coat pockets. She was almost regretting that she had come here now. "Yeah, this way," Mayumi replied adjusting her glasses as she did when she was nervous. This was not going well. Loren was getting over defensive and Toru's come ons were just making things worst. Well, perhaps after a long relaxing bath Loren would feel more at ease and Mayumi would be able to speak to the girl. She shot an angry look at her brother and then walked off. <-- -- -- -- --> "What do you mean you've never played a console game before Miyu?" Chisato demanded as if the very idea was even impossible for her to comprehend. "You must have played before." "No," Miyu replied simply and calmly rolled onto her back. "I have never played a game like this before and I have no real desire to either." "Oh," Chisato looked slightly lost for a moment and then with a sigh turned the machine off. "Well, what would you like to do then?" she queried rolling over so that she faced Miyu. "You're an odd girl Miyu." Miyu smiled and took the comment for a complement. "I would just like to talk," she responded to Chisato's request. "I would like to learn about you, your life, your hopes and fears. About how you met Yukari and Hisaye, you know, things like that." Chisato looked at her for a moment and then blinked. This was the first time anyone had asked her directly about herself. "You _are_ a strange girl," she repeated as she complied to Miyu's odd request. The friendly golden brown eyes of Miyu made her feel almost like she could trust this strange girl with anything - even with secrets she had never told her other friends and so she began to talk. Miyu rolled onto her side and listened with quiet attentiveness as Chisato slowly began to talk about her life. Miyu did not listen so much to the actual words but more to the feelings behind the words. She wanted to gain a connection with her human friend. She wanted something that she could look back on, something that would shine to her in the long years ahead. She wanted to know that for a time at least she had been special to someone and not just the executioner that she feared she was becoming. Since she had become Guardian she had seen sights, experienced things that would have sent any normal human mad by now. And then again, maybe she was mad. To have experienced what she had and yet to simply treat it as yet another symptom of the sickness for which she was the cure did not exactly qualify as sanity according to human standards. Larva whispered quietly in her mind. Miyu sent back. Larva replied with tender concern at the distress in his Mistress's voice. Miyu send back. Larva replied. His voice faded out and Miyu was left with her own troubled thoughts. Chisato noticed that Miyu had her usual vague look on her face and that her eyes had closed. She stopped talking and wondered if her friend had drifted off to sleep. "Miyu?" she said quietly. "Are you awake?" "Don't stop Chisato," Miyu said opening one eye. "I'm still awake." "Sorry, I thought you had gone to sleep on me," Chisato replied. "Now why would I do that?" Miyu said with a little grin. "I was just enjoying listening to the sound of your voice." Chisato smiled and then sat up. "Well," she began. "My voice has just about exhausted itself out for now. I've been talking straight for well over an hour now." Miyu sat up as well slightly surprised. "Has it been that long?" Chisato pointed at her bedside clock, "look." Miyu did so and saw that the time read 9:05pm. "Oh," she said and then sleepily stretched herself. "Well, it is Sunday tomorrow so it should not matter the time we go to bed tonight should it?" Chisato grinned, "not really I suppose. And to be honest, I don't feel like going to bed now anyway." A knock came at the door and it was pushed open to reveal the face of a middle aged man. "Father," Chisato laughed and got to her feet. "Ouch," the man complained as his daughter gave him a bruising hug. "Chisato-chan, I've only been gone for a few days..." "But I missed you!" the girl stated from within her father's embrace. "And me you," the man said returning his daughter's hug and nodding in welcome at Miyu. "So ChiChi-chan, are you going to introduce me to your new friend?" "Don't call me that," Chisato ordered giving her father a look as she pulled back and turned to Miyu. "Father, let me introduce to you my very best friend in the whole wide world - Yamano Miyu." Miyu got gracefully to her feet and briefly straightening herself out bowed her head in welcome to the man. "Good evening sir." The man bowed slightly in reply. "I understand that you will be staying with us for a couple of days Yamano-san," he said as he slowly measured the girl up. Miyu did not answer but simply nodded in reply. "So, what are you two girls doing tonight anyway? The only reason I ask is that your mother and I are heading down to the bathes for a hour or so and she wondered if you two would like to come as well." "You bet!" Chisato exclaimed clapping her hands together. "We would love to go wouldn't we Miyu?" Miyu wondered for a moment why Chisato would get so excited at just a trip to the bathes but she just smiled politely and nodded her head. "Of course." "Alright, we'll be leaving in about 10 minutes. Will that be long enough for you to get ready?" "Hai!" Chisato stated pushing her father towards the door. "Just let us get changed and we'll be right down." The man smiled to himself and left the two of them alone. <-- -- -- -- --> "_This_ is the place?" Loren asked with a frown as she gave the well lit building a good stare. "Looks more like a stupid cross over between a nightclub and a gym rather than a bathhouse." "Well, it is in a way," Mayumi stated. "The owner dabbled in expansion and diversification a while back and this was the result." Toru moved up behind Loren and said in a throaty whisper, "it's a mecca for forbidden delights Lori-chan. A place in which to indulge your darkest fantasies with whomever you desire. A place in which to let yourself truly go free, to do what you never imagined yourself capable of." He pressed even closer to her so that his warm breath caressed her ear. "A place of seduction," he whispered in a tone that left her with no doubt as to his meaning. Loren shuddered at the suggestion in his voice and hurriedly pulled away. She walked over to stand by Mayumi. "Your brother's creepy," she said in a voice meant for her friend alone. "He makes me feel really nervous." "Don't let him get to you Loren," Mayumi hurriedly said. "He's just envious that's all. He doesn't really mean anything by it." Loren shook her head. "No, it's more than that. It's..." She took a deep breath. Her instincts were telling her that there was something very wrong with this man, and if she stayed here she would regret it. Loren did not want to leave her friend in the lurch but when her instincts warned her of danger, she listened. "I'm sorry Mayumi, but I think I'm going back to Kyoto the day after tomorrow. This was not a good idea. I just don't..." "No Loren! You can't!" Mayumi cried out in a way that completely took Loren by surprise. "You have to stay! You just have to! I can't lose you now - not after so long! You are mine! MINE!" "Mayumi..." Loren gasped pulling back as Mayumi grabbed desperately at her arm. "Let me go!" "You MUST stay! You MUST!" Mayumi held her arm tightly in an almost pleading way. "Please Loren! Please!" "What has gotten into you?" Loren tried to back off, completely startled by the sudden change in her friend. "You must stay Loren! You must! Mayumi NEEDS you!" the younger sister suddenly exclaimed making Loren feel even more confused. What was this family about? What did they want of her? "Yes Lori-can," Toru said with a mocking laugh. "You must stay. Mayumi would be lost without you." "Shut up!" the younger sister turned angrily on her brother. "Shut up now! Loren belongs to Mayumi - not you! You had your chance and destroyed it!" The humor on Toru's face slowly drained away and was replaced by anger. "You little..." "Shut up!" Loren abruptly yelled making everyone look at her. "Just leave me alone!" she spun around and ran smack straight into another bunch of people knocking one of them to the ground. "Ouch!" the girl under her exclaimed as Loren scrambled quickly to her feet. "I'm so sorry," she said as she reached down to help the girl up. "Miyu!" another of the figures, a young girl, exclaimed rushing forward. "Are you alright?" Loren asked the girl. "Miyu?" Chisato queried. "Loren!" two more figures came rushing over. "Are you alright?" Miyu slowly looked up and took a moment to straighten herself out. She smiled, "I'm fine," she replied to the various worried faces looking down at her. "I'm really sorry about that," Loren apologized to the small girl she had mistakenly bowled over. "Are you really alright?" Miyu was just about to reply when her attention was caught by the other two figures that were hanging around the college girl who had knocked her over. Shinma! They were Shinma! "Loren?" Mayumi pushed forward. "Are you really..." "Yes, I'm fine," Loren pushed Mayumi's hands away. "I'm fine." "Thank heavens," Mayumi breathed with a sigh of such relief that Loren was touched. "Loren," Mayumi continued. "Look, I know that things, well, may seem a bit odd to you just at the moment, but please will you stay with me. I swear my brother will not annoy you anymore and that I will give you space if you need it. Please, I bought you here to meet my family for us to get closer not to drive us apart. I like you too much to want to hurt you." Miyu's eyes narrowed as she tried to gauge just who and what these Shinma were. They were obviously interested in this student but Miyu could detect nothing about their intentions towards the human. And this was the first time she had ever encountered two Shinma working together like this. she sent. came the quiet reply. Miyu smiled at Chisato. she sent back. Larva advised. Miyu exclaimed. "Miyu!" Chisato shook her friend. "What's the matter with you?" Miyu let go of her connection to Larva and concentrated back on the situation around her. "Sorry Chisato," she said. "I was just checking I was alright." "You are okay aren't you?" Loren asked her again. "I'm really sorry for being such a klutz. I don't often do things like this." "Please don't worry," Miyu smiled back. "I'm fine really." Loren bowed and then taking a deep breath turned back to Mayumi. The girl was still looking at her with a concerned expression and Loren slowly caved in as her resolve melted before Mayumi's brown eyes. "Okay, okay," she finally said thinking she may have overreacted before. "I will stay, but just make sure your sick brother stays off my back." Mayumi sighed with relief and nodded her head wildly. "Yes, yes, anything you want. I'm sorry Loren... I just, well, need you as a... friend." "Alright, alright," Loren felt slightly embarrassed at the expression on Mayumi's face. "Just don't start getting all weepy on me now. Come on, let's go and get that bath together shall we?" "Hai!" Mayumi laughed and Loren bowed once more in apology to the family she had run over before she followed Mayumi and her sister towards the bright lights of the bathes come disco. "Well, Miyu," Chisato grabbed her friend's hand. "Now that that's all over shall we go to?" Miyu watched as the two Shinma and their victim walked off. "Yes," she said turning back to smile at Chisato. "Of course, let's go." <-- -- -- -- --> "So Reiha," the figure said as the two of them looked down on the scene that had just played out below. "Now do you see why I asked you to get involved with her?" "I do not need a reason Master," the snow demon carefully replied. "Your command is reason enough." "Reiha," the figure said in a disapproving tone. "I thought I have told you before about things like that. I am not like your creator, I require my servants to think for themselves. If they do not, then they are of no use to me. Now, do you understand why I asked you to get involved?" Reiha nodded, "the girl." "Correct," the figure said. "The battle between such creatures as the Vampire and her stupid Shinma mean nothing to me, but that girl does. The Guardian is a useful tool but that is all. She can work in the open and not arouse any suspicions - for the moment that serves my purpose." "So you wish me to continue to aid her?" Reiha queried. "For the moment yes," the figure replied. "When the girl is safely mine you may do as you wish with the Vampire. I have no interest in her." Reiha turned back and looked at Miyu. "She is getting to be more and more amusing. I think I will enjoying playing with her before the end." "As you wish," the figure said dismissively. "Now go, your presence bores me." Reiha bowed and then vanished leaving the figure standing alone. The wind swept through the cowl of the protective cloak and it fluttered back to reveal something of the figure's face sheltered in its darkness. The rosebud lips smiled and the eyes watched as the life of the humans carried on below. "Ahhh, Loren my dear," the figure said with a faint grin. "I have a very special role for you my child, very special indeed." And with that comment the figure turned and passed from mortal sight to deal with other more pressing issues. <-- -- -- -- --> <-- -- -- -- -->