*******************************************************
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 Alexander Gray
and Mike Ironoak respectively.

This story maybe freely distributed as long as this section is also
referenced and the author is quoted.

This story is probably best described as an ALT, as it is not
"strictly" following the story line of Kyuuketsuki Miyu. The main
difference is... well... read it and see.
*******************************************************

Deceptions
----------

A five part story by IronOak, although this episode is curtsy of Alex
Gray.

With grateful thanks to contributions by Sharon and Kell.

Pre-readers - Sharon Wall and Mike Ironoak.

WARNING: This episode gets particularly, well, unpleasant towards the
middle.

            <--      --      --      --      -->
            <--      --      --      --      -->

Episode Two - Mysteries


    Loren growled with disgust and threw the book on philosophy of
social research down onto the floor. She yawned and unfolding her legs
slowly got to her feet. Tackling Kant's essay on "transcendental
idealism" at 00:54 in the morning was downright silly. So what if she
had to get a critique of it written by the end of the week 1am in the
morning was not the time to be starting it.

    "Go to bed, Loren," she scolded herself as she slowly stretched
her tired limbs. "Kant ain't going anywhere before morning,
unfortunately." Grumbling to herself she reached down and retrieving
her study book placed it back on the small desk.

    Yawning she crossed over to her small travelling case and opened
it. She rummaged around for a few seconds and then pulled out the
oversized tee shirt that she usually slept in. She gave it a quick
shake and tossing it onto the bed began to get ready for some well
deserved sleep. She needed it, especially after today's events.

    Really! Loren thought to herself as she pulled her nightshift over
her head and yanked it down. Mayumi's behavior today had just been
completely impossible! The easy going friend that Loren had known for
the last year or so had suddenly mutated into the proverbial mother
hen with Loren as the chick. It was nuts! Even as she had been in the
process of trying to relax in those wonderfully hot springs Loren had
still felt Mayumi's intrusive presence hovering around, watching her
protectively.

    Loren made a dark comment under her breath and pulled back the
covers to the bed. The smell of the fresh linen and its cool softness
against her skin as she slid between the sheets made her feel slightly
better, but she was still going to give Mayumi a good piece of her
mind tomorrow morning, that was for certain!

    "Sleep, Loren," she told herself reaching up to switch off the
bedside light. "You can worry about the world tomorrow." She yawned,
and rolling onto her side settled down for some much deserved rest.

    A soft tapping came from the door and a young voice called out
hesitantly, "Loren-san? Loren-san, are you awake?"

    "I am now..." Loren growled to herself pulling back the covers and
clambering out of bed. Pausing a moment to turn on the light she
straightened her nightshirt and crossed over to the door. "Who is it?"
she said quietly as she pulled the door ajar slightly to peer into the
darkened hallway beyond.

    "It's me, Yukai," one of Mayumi's younger sisters smiled up at
her. "Do you mind if I come in briefly?"

    Loren blinked. "Do you know what time it is, Yukai-chan?" she
replied. "It's 1 am in the morning - long past both your bedtime and
mine. Can't it wait until the morning?"

    The girl grinned impishly up at her and pushed slightly against
the door. "Please Loren-san, I'll only be a moment. I just want to..."

    "Leave her alone, Yukai!" Mayumi exclaimed angrily suddenly
appearing as if from no where. "Loren is not one of your playthings.
She is _my_ guest and I expect you to treat her as such!"

    The girl completely ignored Mayumi's presence and continued to
smile up at Loren. "Please," she repeated pushing harder against the
door. "It will only be for a moment..."

    "Yukai..." Mayumi hissed warningly as she crossed over to stand
right next to her sister. "Go back to your room - now. Loren belongs
to _me_, _I_ will be the one with whom she..."

    "That's her decision to make, Mayumi," Yukai interrupted to her
sister brightly. "Not yours."

    Loren had had enough of this stupidity for one day. She was tired,
it was late, and she had the joys of a Kant essay to face in the
morning. "Look you two," she said addressing both of the crazy sisters
at once. "I'm tired, I've had a long day, and I really do want to get
some sleep. So, can you please can the comedy act until tomorrow
morning, eh? I might be able to stand it then."

    Mayumi's face widened in a strangely triumphant smile and she laid
a hand on Yukai's shoulder. "You heard her," she said pulling the
younger girl away from the door. "Loren is not interested - so leave
her alone."

    The younger girl resisted the pull for a moment and stared up at
Loren with a sad expression on her face. "Are you _really_ refusing
me?" she asked with a trembling lip.

    "Good night," Loren said shutting the door on the two idiots
before their comedy act got any weirder. She stared angrily at the
door and waited for the knock to happen again. Strangely, all was
silent. Loren frowned, she had not expected the two of them to give up
so easily. Taking a cautious step forward she pulled the door open a
crack and peered outside. The hallway was empty, empty and silent.
Loren pulled the door open wider, but no one was there. Shaking her
head Loren closed the door and locked it. By the looks of things,
Mayumi and her sister had taken the hint and gone. Loren muttered
darkly and returned to her soft bed.

    "Mayumi," she growled as she turned off the light and settled
down. "I'm going to get you for this."

    Closing her eyes Loren yawned and felt the warm lasso of sleep
begin to claim her. She smiled, and briefly imagined some of the
highly unpleasant things she was going to do to Mayumi when they
finally got back to Kyoto. Yes, very nice things...

    And with those pleasant thoughts running through her mind she
drifted off to sleep.

            <--      --      --      --      -->

    The faint breathing of Chisato and the quiet 'tick-tick' of the
large ornate clock in the hallway outside was the only noise that Miyu
could hear as she lay on her futon staring up at the dark ceiling
overhead. Occasionally, the light from a passing car would briefly
illuminate the room, but apart from those increasingly uncommon events
everything was peaceful and still.

    "And nothing was stirring, not even a mouse," Miyu muttered to
herself as she rolled over onto her side and pulled the blankets up to
her chin. The clock outside Chisato's room gave a faint whirling sound
and then quietly chimed three times before resuming its steady tick
tick. Miyu gave a heavy sigh and rolled onto her back. No matter how
hard she tried sleep tonight just seemed to completely elude her.
True, it was not like she exactly needed it, but sleep was infinitely
preferable to just staring up at the ceiling for hours on end. She
gave yet another heavy sigh and rolled over onto her side once more.

    "Can't you sleep, Miyu?" Chisato's voice said quietly and a faint
rustle of bedclothes sounded as the girl rolled over to peer down at
her friend.

    "Oh, Chisato, I'm sorry," Miyu apologized silently cursing herself
for not realizing how noisy she must have been. "I didn't mean to wake
you up, really I didn't."

    Chisato smiled her famous cute smile and shook her head. "Don't
worry Miyu, I was only dozing, I would have probably woken up soon
anyway."

    Miyu smiled back, "I guess I'm just not used to sleeping with
other people around," she said rolling onto her side so that she could
better speak to her friend.

    "It really doesn't matter, Miyu," Chisato said brushing the
apology
aside. "It's Sunday remember, we can sleep in as late as we like.
Besides, I'm the one who invited you over, you're my guest and my
responsibility."

    "Responsibility?" Miyu queried brushing her loose hair away from
her face.

    "Hmm," Chisato said nodding earnestly. "If you can't get to sleep
then it's only right that I keep you company until you can."

    "That's silly, Chisato," Miyu said genuinely surprised by the
girl's concern for her welfare. "Just because I can't sleep doesn't
mean that I have to keep you awake all night as well."

    "Yes, it does," Chisato corrected her with a wagging finger.
"We're friends forever remember," she declared reaching up to her neck
and pulling out a slim silver chain. The faint light played off the
small friendship charm that Chisato had bought for the two of them
when they had first met. The girl held it out and smiled, "Right?"

    Miyu did not know how to respond to that. Chisato really was one
girl in a million, so unlike any friend Miyu had ever had before.

    "Right, Miyu?" Chisato repeated as her deep earthy brown eyes
locked onto her companion's face.

    "Ah, right," Miyu replied with grin. "Friends forever."

    "So," Chisato said rolling perilously close to the edge of her
bed. "What shall we talk about? What subject above all others is going
to send you off to sleep? And don't you dare say it's me, Miyu, or
I'll spread it all over school that you wear white panties."

    Miyu pulled a face and then grinned. "They maybe white," she
remarked in passing, "But at least they don't have pictures of teddies
on them, eh, Chisato-chan?"

    Chisato's face reddened slightly and she looked embarrassed.
"Alright, alright," she said hurriedly. "Bad joke on both our parts.
So, how about a ghost story, Miyu? I always love going to sleep on a
good ghost story, makes me feel all giggly inside."

    Miyu grinned, "Scary stories make you go giggly, Chisato?" she
shook her head, "And you called me strange..."

    Chisato edged closer to the precipice of her bed and gave Miyu a
look. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked with a pout
threatening to break out on her face.

    Miyu brushed an annoying lock of hair from her eyes and replied.
"Well, most people get scared by ghost stories, that is usually the
reason for telling them. I don't think they were ever invented to make
people go 'giggly inside'."

    "Well they do me," Chisato sniffed. "I'm not scared of ghosts
anyway."

    "Really?" Miyu said with a raised eye brow. "Is that so?"

    Chisato nodded adamantly. "Even when I faced that Doppelganger of
you, I wasn't, well, terrified, just shocked a bit. I've always
believed that you have to face upto your fears and not let them
overwhelm you. Ghost stories are exactly the same."

    "But sometimes facing your fears maybe more dangerous than
avoiding them altogether," Miyu answered back quietly. "There are some
fears that such be avoided at all costs, least in facing them they
destroy you."

    Chisato looked at Miyu oddly for a second. "That almost sounds
like the voice of experience talking there, Miyu."

    "Perhaps," Miyu replied casually, aware that she was treading on
dangerous ground. "So," she said making an attempt to change the topic
of conversation, "What ghost story would you like to tell? I'm afraid
I'm not really much of a story teller myself, I prefer the quiet
life."

    "Hmm," Chisato looked thoughtful. "I know, how about a story I
once heard that speaks of a phantom circus train that used to appear
out in the deep wilds of the country side. A circus, that would first
seduce the innocent with promises of immortal delights, and then...
Yum! Eat them all up! Or how about the story of the demon Llothlen..."

    "The circus," Miyu broke in quietly and sat up. "Tell me the story
about the circus."

    "Okay," Chisato smiled and pulled back the covers on her bed. "Why
don't you join me and I'll tell you it."

    "Sorry?" Miyu asked surprised. "What do you mean?"

    "Daaa, Miyu," Chisato said rolling her eyes. "This ghost story is
quite long, and I for one do not feel like balancing on the side of my
bed all night while I tell it. Come on, I'm not going to bite you."

    "No, of course not," Miyu replied but still made no move. "It's
not that."

    "Then what?" Chisato asked confused.

    Miyu swallowed. It was not Chisato she was worried about, but
herself. Lying next to a sleeping girl with all that warm sweet blood
pulsing in a neck that was literally only a small bite away was not a
position she wanted to put herself in. She was not certain she could
stop herself from resisting the very obvious temptation.

    "Come on, Miyu," Chisato repeated lifting the covers. "I'm getting
cold here."

    Miyu shook her head. "Sorry, Chisato-chan," she said. "I, um,
don't..."

    "What?" Chisato's face looked hurt. "Don't you trust me?"

    "Of course I do," Miyu replied. "It's just, well..."

    "You don't trust me do you, Miyu?" Chisato sniffed and her large
brown eyes looked miserable. "That's it, isn't it?"

    "Of course I trust you, Chisato-chan," Miyu exclaimed looking
furiously for a way out of this argument. "I have always trusted..."

    "Then why won't you join me?" Chisato pressed bringing the full
power of her big brown eyes to bear on the girl opposite. "Friends
forever remember."

    Miyu squirmed. For a girl Chisato's age the human was surprisingly
well versed in the art of emotional blackmail. She was torn between
what she wanted to do, and what she knew was most sensible to do. And
Chisato's deep brown eyes were just making things worse.

    "Miyu?" Chisato's voice quivered and before Miyu's better
judgement stopped her she was sliding into the warmth of the offered
space next to the young human.

    As Miyu made herself comfortable Chisato looked back at her and
giggled. "It's good Yukari and the others aren't seeing us like this.
Who would know what they might say, eh?"

    Miyu gave her a blank confused stare and wondered what she was
implying. Chisato coughed and then pulled the blankets up around the
two of them.

    "There," she said as she rolled onto her back. "That's much
better, now I can start. I heard this story about two years ago while
I was on a trip with my parents up north. The man who told it to me
was..."

    Miyu forced herself to concentrate on Chisato's voice and _not_ on
the warm body that was only a few centimeters away from her. It was
extremely difficult to do, especially with the faint thump thumping
sound that was beating so temptingly just off her right ear. She
clenched her left fist and used the pain to focus her mind. Gods, if
Chisato had deliberately planned for a more excruciating torture she
could not have done any better than this. Miyu was struggling to keep
herself under control. The sound of the pulsing heartbeat and the warm
sweet scent of Chisato was combining to nearly drive her mad. Miyu
swallowed hard. Control, she told herself. You must control...

    Chisato shifted slightly and the young human's arm briefly brushed
against Miyu's side. It was too much. She was so hungry, so hungry...

    So hungry.

    So cold.

    "So, the story... Miyu? What's..." Chisato stopped and turned her
head in surprise as Miyu suddenly pulled closer towards her. Chisato
found herself looking straight into her friend's golden brown eyes.
"Miyu?" she asked again, confused at her friend's behavior.

    Miyu did not even hear the girl's words. She was just lost in the
sound of the warm blood that was pumping in the body right next to
her. She smiled as her mouth...

    - Warmmm... -

    - Soooo warmmm... -

    - Feeed usss... -

    - Hungry... Sooo Hungryy... -

    Miyu stopped dead as the filthy, alien sounding voices whispered
faintly through her mind. She shuddered with a combination of disgust
and horror as the mere presence of those voices seemed to leave a
trail of... sickness that somehow seemed to pollute her very essence.

    "No..." she moaned in pain and clutched at her head. The voices
seemed to pause as if they were somehow amused by the reaction that
their presence was causing. Miyu felt the sickening cold pain of their
touch begin to move throughout her entire being as the voices started
to focus themselves on this little morsel that had so foolishly gained
their attention.

    "Miyu?" Chisato raised herself up on one arm and her concerned
expression said it all. "Miyu? What's wrong? Are you alright?"

    "Soo hungry..." Miyu whispered in reply. "Feeed usss..."

    Chisato's eyes widened in surprise at the weird almost unnatural
tone of Miyu's voice and she flinched. "Miyu! What's wrong with you?
Please, tell me!"

    "Warmmm..." Miyu replied back as her hand reached over to grab
Chisato's arm. "Sooo warmmm..."

    Chisato's eyes narrowed and the concerned expression vanished from
her face like mist in front of the sun. "Who are you?" she hissed in a
cold voice as she tried to pull her arm away.

    "Warrmmm..." was the only reply and the black empty eyes of Miyu
staring at her were like an endless void leading into utter oblivion.
"Hungry..."

    Chisato shivered involuntarily at the complete lack of _anything_
that shone forth from those eyes, and with an abrupt jerk she wrenched
her arm free. "_What_ are you?" she exclaimed in a voice that was
quivering half between panic and rage.

    Miyu, or the thing that now seemed to be Miyu, giggled in response
and Chisato shuddered at the inhuman nature of the sound.

    "So..." she hissed as she backed towards the window. "That is the
way you want it is it? Very well..." She deliberately closed her eyes
and took a deep breath. Her face quivered slightly and her mouth
pulled back into a predatory smile. Her eyes opened, and this time
they were not their usual warm brown, but slitted and yellow - almost
like a crow's. "So," Chisato said in a voice that was almost as alien
as the one that had emerged from Miyu's throat. "Do you still wish to
play with me now?"

    "Pretty..." Miyu said with a mad giggle. "Sooo pretttyy..."

    Chisato's pretty face twisted at the mocking sound of the giggle
and she gestured. A sickly yellow light flared in her eyes and a bolt
of power blasted from her hand to strike out at the giggling form of
Miyu.

    "Pretttyyy Play with usss..." Miyu giggled as she paid the blast
of power less attention than a man to the air he breathes. "Little
Preetttyyy...."

    "What ARE you?!" Chisato yelled in mad disbelief as she blasted
the thing yet again, and then again. "WHAT ARE YOU?!"

    The thing only continued to giggle insanely, walking through her
attacks as if they did not even exist. Chisato cursed angrily and
yelling a word no human throat could utter she vanished in an
explosion of pus yellow light.

    "Goonneee..." Miyu said in a disappointed voice. "Prettyyy
gone..."

    "Chisato!" a voice suddenly yelled out as the bedroom door burst
open and two figures charged in. "What is going on... ARRRHHH..."

    SNAP!

    A hideous, unnatural screaming filled the room accompanied by
sounds of wet tearing and utterly insane giggling. The giggling and
the unholy shrieks of pain went on and on as the wet tearing sounds
rapidly began to build towards some form of insane conclusion...

    Building...

    Building...

    "YAAAA!!!" Miyu suddenly jerked awake out of her nightmare with a
scream of terror that was powerful enough to awaken the dead. Her
blank, wild staring eyes glared madly into the darkness of the room as
the screams and mad giggling still burned in her mind.

    "Miyu!" a voice exclaimed and a hand grabbed her shoulder.

    "YAAA!!" Miyu screamed again and tried to fight off the monster
that was currently attacking her. She twisted her body and with a
strength that was born of sheer terror threw herself on top of the
creature pinning the thing beneath her.

    "Miyu! Please! Wake up!!" a young voice cried out as Miyu's hands
closed on the soft throat of the deceiver and started to throttle the
life out of it.

    "MIYU! PLe..a..se..."

    Miyu suddenly gave a small whimper and with a shocked expression
on her face abruptly released her strangle hold on the struggling form
of Chisato. "Oh my God..." she whispered in horror as she realized
just what she had tried to do. "Chisato... No..."

    The pale faced girl coughed and was dragging large gulps of air
into her lungs. Her soft brown eyes were opened wide like saucers and
her complexion was as white as a sheet.

    "No..." Miyu moaned as she tried to curl up and die at the shock
that she could see radiating from those clear brown eyes. "Oh no...
please..." What had she just done? Oh Gods, what had she just done?

    "Miyu?" Chisato hesitantly raised a hand to touch Miyu's white
face. The shaking girl cringed at Chisato's soft touch. "Oh, Miyu..."
Chisato whispered and a look of such tenderness crossed her face that
Miyu almost cracked. "Please... Don't cry... Please... I'm alright,
see?" she smiled. "Please, Miyu, I know you would never want to hurt
me - we're the bestest friends in the whole wide world, right? You
would never hurt me, I know that. So, please don't cry. It was just a
horrible dream - that's all. Just a horrible dream."

    Miyu's face grew pale at the look of sweet trust and warmth that
was on Chisato's face and she almost broke down. No one had ever
looked at her with such simple faith before and Miyu was at a complete
loss on how to respond. She was still slightly freaked out by the
horrible nightmare she had just had. Gods! It had been so real!
Those... things had invaded her very soul... Brrr... She shuddered. It
had all seemed so real!

    "Miyu?"

    The soft voice of Chisato bought Miyu's attention back to the
situation in hand. She took a deep breath, "Are you really okay,
Chisato? I'm... I'm..."

    "Sorry?" Chisato prompted with a warm smile that made Miyu grin
automatically in reply despite what had just happened. "Don't worry,"
the girl laughed mischievously. "I can't let you kill me yet, I
still have a lot that I must do... Joke, Miyu, it was just a
joke," Chisato hurriedly put in as she saw the other girl's eyes cloud
over. "Really, please, everything is fine - I'm fine. You didn't hurt
me at all, just gave me a bit of a shock that's all." She suddenly
squirmed slightly. "Miyu, do you think you could move? Your position
is a bit, well, you know..."

    Miyu blushed as she realized what Chisato meant. "Sorry," she
squawked as she quickly moved from the rather awkward position she had
just been in.

    Chisato flashed her an appreciative grin, "Thanks..."

    The door was suddenly banged open and Miyu and Chisato abruptly
turned their heads to see what is was that had invaded their room. The
bedroom light snapped on and for a moment Miyu tensed as she thought
she saw two strangely crouched figures standing silhouetted in the
light. Without thinking she started to bring up her hand to unleash
her flame of...

    "Miyu-chan? Chisato-chan? Are you two alright? We heard
screaming..."

    Chisato hurriedly stood up from the floor where Miyu had dragged
her and flashing a winning Chisato-like smile at her parents she
nodded. "Of course we're alright, Mum. Why should we not be?"

    Miyu blinked a couple of times to adjust her eyes to the light as
Chisato's parents walked in. Gods, what is the matter with me tonight?
she thought to herself as she quickly pulled her hand back to her
side. Am I going completely mad?!

    "I think Miyu just had some sort of bad dream or something,"
Chisato explained looking down at the pale faced girl. "But
everything's alright now - isn't it, Miyu?"

    "Ahhh, yes, yes," Miyu replied quickly trying to get a grip on
herself. She hurriedly got to her feet and moved over to stand next to
Chisato. Flashing the adults a reassuring smile she bowed her head
slightly in apology for all the worry she had obviously caused them.
"I'm terribly sorry," she said looking a bit sheepish. "I, um, just
had a bit of a nightmare."

    Chisato's mother gave her a warm smile. "How are you feeling now?"
she asked coming over to stand just opposite Miyu. "Are you alright?"

    Miyu nodded her head. "I'm really sorry..." she started to
apologize but was stopped by the woman putting a reassuring hand on
her shoulder.

    "Don't let it worry you, Miyu," the woman said giving the white
faced girl a quick hug. "We all have bad dreams at times - it's part
of what makes us human, eh?"

    Miyu smiled and nodded in reply, but other than that she remained
silent. She had already embarrassed herself enough for one night.

    "Well, ChiChi-chan," Chisato's father said with a grin. "If that
is all the amusement over for one night then I am going back to bed.
Unlike you two, I do not have the luxury of being able to sleep in
until all hours. I have a golf game tomorrow, and I need to get off
early. So, I will bid you all a good night." And with that he turned
and headed for the door. Chisato's mother gave the girls a warm smile
and then followed after him.

     "Ahhh, Dad," Chisato said in that eternal hurt voice that only
teenager daughters could ever perfect. "You said you weren't going to
call me that anymore."

     The man stopped by the door and turning around he gave Miyu a
quick wink. "Did I?" he said. "Oh..." And with that he pulled the door
closed and left the two girls alone.

    Chisato gave a heavy sigh and muttered something under her breath
that Miyu was glad she did not hear.

     "Well, I don't know about you, Miyu," Chisato said as she gave a
big yawn and scratched her head, "But I for one need to get some
sleep."

     Miyu gave a slight nod. "You aren't the only one," she replied,
but then looked down. "Although, given that it was my fault..."

     "Stop right there, Miyu," Chisato held up her hand and pointed it
at her friend. "I told you not to start blaming yourself, didn't I?"
She glared at Miyu and the girl swallowed and quickly nodded her head
in agreement. "Good," Chisato's eyes softened. "Because I for one do
not want to spend the next twenty minutes telling you that everything
is alright." Her smile widened, "Come on," she said holding out her
hand. "Let's get some sleep shall we? We can argue about the rest
tomorrow, 'kay?"

    Miyu looked at the offered hand hesitantly. She was still not sure
about anything that had happened here tonight. It all seemed so...
weird. That nightmare had just seemed so impossibly real! She could
still almost feel the faint sickness of those cold voices. It was as
if she had been, well, polluted was the best way that she could put
it, and she...

    "Miyu?" Chisato repeated once more, concern on her face as the
other girl just seemed to be staring off at nothing. Chisato lifted
her hand and smiled reassuringly. "Come on, you can sleep with me if
you want. I won't let any bad old dream harm you."

    "Oh, Chisato..." Miyu's heart almost burst with the warmth that
she was beginning to feel for this young girl. The complete trust that
those deep brown eyes showed when the human looked at her said it all.
But Miyu knew that no matter how much the girl might trust her, Miyu
could not trust herself.

    "I'll be fine," she finally said giving the other girl's hand a
quick squeeze. "Just knowing that you are here is enough."

    "Oh," Chisato replied looking a little crest fallen. "Are you
sure?"

    Miyu nodded, "I'm sure. I'll be fine - really." She turned, and
crossing over to Chisato gave the girl a fond peck on the cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for caring so much." And with
that Miyu got back down onto the floor and climbed into her bed,
leaving a faintly blushing Chisato with a hand raised to her reddening
cheek.

    "Good night, ChiChi-chan," Miyu said as she snuggled down into her
still warm bed. Somehow, she knew that the nightmare would not be
back. She would be safe, her _friend_ was here. Her friend was...
here...

    Chisato looked down as Miyu started to gently breath in that deep
slow rhythmic way that was the precursor to sleep and she smiled.
However, unlike the warm friendly smile she had given the young girl
only a few moments before, this smile was very, very much different.

    "Sleep well, Miyu," Chisato whispered in a dead voice. "Your time
will come soon enough. And when it does, you will have much more to
worry about than simply nightmares." She turned, and switching off
the light settled down to sleep herself.

    Outside the window the light from the pale cold moon overhead
shone down brightly, bathing the small street in a silvery haze.
However, in one place just outside the entrance to the small house a
single patch of darkness seemed to refuse to give way to the pale
light that held everything less in its sway. It just sat there,
completely absorbing any light that fell upon it. It was a darkness
that seemed to be so much more richer and intenser than anything else
that surrounded it. A malevolent darkness, that pulsed and seethed
almost as if it were somehow alive - alive and sentient.

    A Darkness that served a Mistress whose name was as loathed as
much as the Darkness loved her. A Darkness that was ancient beyond
comprehension, and filled with a cold gnawing Hunger that could never,
ever be satisfied.

               <--      --      --      --      -->

    The soft touch of someone stroking her hair was the thing that
woke Loren up out of her pleasant sleep. She blinked, and tried to
focus her gaze on the person who was looming directly over her. Her
eyes were blurred with sleep and she had to blink several times before
she was in a position to recognize who it was who had disturbed her
slumber. When she had she was not exactly surprised.

    "Morning, sleepy head," Mayumi said with a playful grin on her
face as she looked down at the bleary eyed girl trying to focus on
her. "Are you planning on sleeping in all day or something?"

    Loren sniffed and scratching her head gave a yawn and sat up.
"Morning, Mayumi," she said giving her smug looking friend a black
look. "What time is it?"

    "Nearly lunch-time," Mayumi commented reaching over to pat Loren's
shoulder. "You have been asleep for nearly most of the morning."

    "What?" Loren exclaimed in surprise. "But that's impossible! I
never sleep that late..."

    "Well," Mayumi grinned getting to her feet. "You sure did today.
It's almost 11:55 am. Hey, maybe the atmosphere of my home agrees with
you more than you thought."

    Loren did not answer that but pulled back the bed covers and
hurriedly got to her feet. "I really wish you would have awakened me
sooner, Mayumi," she said rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "You know I
have a lot of studying to do this week."

    Mayumi frowned, "I brought you here for a holiday, Loren, not to
spent the whole time studying. Come on, even you need some time to
yourself once in a while, and I for one would really just like to
spend some quiet time with you alone. We never seem to get the chance
to just hang out and have fun these days, and I think the two of us
need a break. Loren, just for once, can't you let your hair down for a
bit and try and relax. That essay you're so hepped up about doesn't
even need to be in until the end of next week - no matter what old
Kendal says. The course notes state that the midterm has to be handed
in in two weeks, and that is that."

    Loren lifted her hands above her head and giving an almighty yawn
she stretched in an effort to wake herself up. "I know," she said as
she lowered her arms and crossed over to her bag to start to rummage
around looking for a pair of clean pants and socks. "I'm not
particularly worried about that. I just want to get the damned thing
done, so that I can start on the research for the second assignment.
I..."

    "Loren," Mayumi interrupted her and came over to grab her hand.
"For heavens sake, girl, give yourself a break. I really worry about
you sometimes. You push yourself far too hard and I'm sure it's not
good for you."

    Loren sighed and turned to look at Mayumi full on, a mild retort
on her lips. However, when she saw the worried expression on her
friend's face her annoyance faded away to be replaced by a tender
warmth. She could see that Mayumi was not joking - the girl really was
worried about her. Loren smiled, "I'm fine, really. You worry too
much, Mayumi. I..."

    "But I do worry about you, Loren," Mayumi repeated pulling Loren's
hand up to her chest. "Apart from me, you seem to have virtually no
social life or friends whatsoever. You are always..."

    A knock suddenly sounded at the door and without waiting for any
form of invitation it was pushed open and Toru walked in. He stood and
stared for a moment at the two girls before his face drew back in a
small smile. "Well now, did I interrupt at an inappropriate moment or
something?"

    Loren yanked her hand back from Mayumi. "What the hell are you
doing in here?!" she exclaimed furiously as she rushed over to the bed
and reaching down violently pulled the bed clothes up to cover
herself. "Get out!"

    Mayumi spun around to face her brother and the expression of
rage on her face almost made Loren fall down with shock. "TORU!"
Mayumi shrieked. "HOW DARE YOU INTERFERE WITH ME?! GET OUT!! LOREN
IS MINE! I WILL _KILL_ YOU BEFORE I..." Her voice suddenly stopped
dead as the door was pushed open again and her mother walked in. The
older woman had an angry look on her face and both Toru and
Mayumi suddenly seemed to be very frightened.

    "What, may I ask, do the two of you think you are doing?" she said
quietly giving both of her offspring a cold look one after the other.

    Mayumi raised her head and bravely attempted to speak. "Loren..."

    Loren saw the look of withering contempt that the older woman
flashed her daughter and shivered. Gods, what the heck was wrong with
this family? It was like her very presence had ignited some form of
inner conflict that had members of this family almost ready to kill
each other. It was absolutely insane!

    "Loren-chan," the woman suddenly said to her. "Are you listening
to me?"

    "Sorry?" Loren blushed as she realized that the older woman must
have said something to her while she had been lost in her own private
thoughts. "I'm sorry, I missed what you said."

    The woman gave her a warm smile. "That's alright, Loren-chan," she
said. "Oh, you don't mind if I call you Loren do you? It is such a
nice name, and so much easier to say than calling you Yungsia-san all
the time. I was just wondering if you would like some tea or
something. You must have been exhausted from the way you slept all
through the morning, and something hot inside will do you the world of
good."

    Loren gave the woman a grateful nod. "Thank you, I would be most
appreciative."

    "Wonderful," the woman said. "And in the meantime, the rest of us
will leave you alone to get dressed in peace." Her eyes swung around
and locked onto Mayumi and Toru. "Won't we?" she commented putting
additional stress on the words.

    "Yes, of course," Toru commented with a slight inclination of his
head towards Loren. He turned around and under the seething gaze of
Mayumi left the room.

    "Mayumi," the older woman said quietly. "You have been warned."

    Mayumi took a sharp breath as if she were about to say something,
but then she just gave a curt nod of her head. She turned back to look
at Loren. "I'm sorry about all this, Lori," she said looking downcast.
"All I really wanted was just for us to..."

    "Come on, Mayumi," the older woman said holding out her hand.
"Your little Lori-chan will still be here in twenty minutes time. Let
the poor child have some privacy, that's a good girl."

    For some reason Loren felt almost like she was the guilty party
for getting Mayumi into so much trouble with her mother. Taking a deep
breath she reached out and tapped her friend on the shoulder. "I'll
meet you after I've had something to eat, okay? And then we can spend
some time together like you want. How does that sound?"

    Mayumi's face widened into a bright smile. "I would love to," she
said happily. "You'll really like it around here. The..."

    "Mayumi," her mother said once more and the young woman flashed
Loren a wink before following her mother out.

    "Brother," Loren said to herself as she locked the door and
started to get changed. "This family is _out_ there, really _out_
there."

               <--      --      --      --      -->

    "Hey, Loren, stop being such a slow pock," Mayumi said with a
laugh as she put her hands on her hips and waited for her friend to
catch up.

    "Alright, alright," Loren replied with a giggle as she put on some
extra speed to catch up with her friend.

    "Really, Lore," Mayumi said catching hold of her friend's hand.
"Some times you are just impossible."

    Loren giggled and looked around her, "Oh, I just love it here!"
she exclaimed with a big smile on her face. The spring like fragrance
of the temple garden almost made her feel like running around like
some little kid. "Oh, Mayumi, this place is just incredible!" She
giggled again as the sheer spiritual _vitality_ of the garden filled
her in ways she had not been in centuries. It awoke parts of her
psyche that had been dormant ever since this "modern" age had begun.
It made her feel, well, so alive again.

    Mayumi did not reply, she was lost in the sea of joy that was
shining on Loren's face. She could never ever remember seeing her
friend letting herself go quite like this, and the sight of it made
her want to ask Loren _THE_ question here and now - damning the
consequences. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and forced
herself to remain quiet. Now was not the time for such a big step.
Loren was not ready, and in truth neither was she. While she had known
from the very first instance they had met that Loren was absolutely
perfect for her, still she dreaded how the young woman would react
when Mayumi finally spoke the words that so burned through her mind.
She could not stand the possibility that she might have to kill Loren,
as Toru had had to with his choice when she had gone insane. Indeed,
the very thought of the idea made her shiver and instinctively she
pulled the slender woman closer towards her.

    As for Loren, she was so immersed in the feelings that this
_incredible_ place aroused in her that she did not even notice. Not,
that was, until Mayumi came to a sudden halt and a wave of dark
emotions swept over her senses.

    "Well, well, well," a voice commented in an unpleasant tone.
"Looky what we have here."

    "Two little love birds out for a romantic stroll I believe,"
another voice said with a nasty laugh as Loren's good feelings slowly
drained away.

    Standing on the path just ahead of them were seven young men and
three woman roughly about the same physical age as herself and Mayumi.
They seemed to Loren to have the air of some sort of self professed
gang of budding adults, anxious to prove themselves to the world but
without the true strength of character to do it.

    "Oh, wonderful," Loren sighed almost to herself, today had been
going so nicely as well.

    "Don't worry, Loren," Mayumi said pulling her friend tightly to
her. "I promised that I would look after you and I meant it. You are
mine, and I will not allow anyone else to touch you."

    The possessive tone behind Mayumi's words made Loren's mouth curl
slightly. She took a moment to briefly consider who she should pound
into the earth first - Mayumi, or these unpleasant children.

    "Well, is that what you are?" one of the woman said stepping
forward. "Two little love birds with the hots for each other?"

    "Go and annoy someone else, little girl," Mayumi said in a bored
sounding voice that made Loren flash her a concerned look. "I'm not in
the mood for dealing with bimbos today."

    The woman flushed angrily at the bored contempt in Mayumi's voice
and she took a step forward raising her hands. "Why you..."

    "Go away," Mayumi said waving her hand dismissively. "Now."

    The woman halted as a look of confusion crossed her face, and then
she just suddenly turned and left.

    "Hey! Jarmie!" one of the young men spun around and grabbed the
woman's arm. "Where the hell do you think you are..."

    "Let me go!" the woman yelled violently pulling her hand away from
the young man's grasp. "I must go! I have to leave!"

    The young man gave her a strange look and his hand shot out and
slapped her face. "Jarmie! What the hell is up with you?"

    The young woman flushed and then with a sob turned and fled,
leaving the others looking completely confused about what was going
on. It was the sound of faint giggling that made them all slowly turn
around and look back at the two young girls who had only a moment
before seemed like such a source of easy amusement.

    "Well," Mayumi said with a grin as her eyes glittered dangerously.
"Anyone else feel like voicing an opinion about my friend or shall we
leave it at that?"

    As Mayumi spoke Loren felt the young woman's grip on her hand
tighten even harder and with a grimace she tried to pull away. In
response to her struggles Mayumi's arm circled itself around her waist
and pulled her closer. Loren was not exactly certain what she should
do. If it had just been her and Mayumi, then the young woman would
have been eating dirt by now - friend or no friend. However, the
presence of the other humans only complicated matters. She did not
want to have to use her own, ah, "gifts" unless she really had to,
especially not when Mayumi seemed to be doing so well by herself.
Loren's eyes narrowed slightly at that thought and she looked over at
the still unpleasantly grinning face right next to her. What was
Mayumi playing at? Why did the girl look so supremely confident with
the situation in hand? And most importantly, what the hell had Mayumi
just done to that other young woman. Loren could almost swear that
Mayumi had somehow manipulated the other woman's will, and yet Loren
knew that was impossible. Just what did it all mean?

    "Well?" Mayumi said still smiling that same predatory grin as she
stared at the now very uncertain looking humans. "Speak up."

    One of the other young women mumbled something under her breath
and then unilaterally turned and hurried away. Without another word
one of the young men spun around and quickly followed after her. Those
who were left flashed each other some nervous glances and looked once
more at that mocking grin. The fun that these two young lovebirds had
seemed to present had just suddenly gone sour. One of the young men
took a small step backwards. He was not exactly sure why, but
something about this giggling girl frightened him. His movement made
the others even more nervous and they unconsciously moved back as
well.

    Mayumi was almost disappointed when the rest of the humans just
abruptly turned and left without any further threats or additional
face saving behavior. It reminded her how contemptuously weak the
majority of humans were. It was no wonder they were simply prey for
her kind, they were fit for nothing more! Her grin turned savage as
she briefly toyed with the idea of pursuing after the gang of rapidly
disappearing humans and "teaching" them what the strengths of a true
hunter were. Her grin widened as she imagined the terror on their
faces just before she ripped them off and consumed them. Yes... That
would be so... nice.

    "Mayumi! Owww... Please! You're hurting me!"

    Loren's pained voice immediately bought Mayumi back to reality.
She suddenly realized that she was holding the slim figure of her
friend tightly against her, and that her hands were gripping at places
that were best described as inappropriate for hands to be.

    "Gods, Lori! I'm sorry!" she squawked out loud in shock and
hurriedly pulled her hands back to herself. She quickly backpedaled
and cringed as she waited for Loren to exploded.

    Nothing happened. Loren just stood there, watching her.

    Mayumi tensed at the uncharacteristic behavior of her friend. Had
her inappropriate behavior distressed the human much more than she had
thought? After a moment of awkward silence she took a small step
forward and opened her mouth to ask Loren what was wrong.

    "What did you just do to them, Mayumi?" Loren asked in a quiet
voice that made Mayumi stop dead as she remembered her less than
subtle use of power against those rude humans.

    "Ahh, what do you mean?" Mayumi said in a vain attempt to bluff it
out. She silently cursed herself. She knew what Loren was like. She
should have realized that the bright girl would pick up on the fact
that she had _done_ something. Shit! She should have been more flaming
subtle! The way she had handled the situation had been stupid. She had
just acted without thinking, and now she was paying the price.

    "Mayumi," Loren said in _that_ tone of voice that Mayumi knew so
well. "Don't treat me like a stupid child. You just did something to
that girl, I'm sure of it."

    "Like what, Loren?" Mayumi said putting her hands on her hips.
"What is it I'm supposed to have done? Waved my magic finger or
something?"

    "Don't be ridiculous, Mayumi," Loren huffed. "I'm being serious."

    "And so am I, Lori," Mayumi replied back. "All I did was show a
little backbone, that's all." The look on Loren's face told Mayumi
that the girl was not buying it, so she tried another tact.

    "Alright then, Loren," Mayumi said with a smile. "Tell me, what
exactly is it I'm supposed to have done?"

    "You made that girl afraid of you," Loren said carefully.
"Somehow, you made them all afraid of you. And then, you told that
girl to 'go away' and she, well, seemed to regard it as some kind of
command word or something."

    "And?" Mayumi said looking at her friend closely.

    "Come on, Mayumi," Loren said getting a bit flustered. "You know
what I mean..."

    Mayumi took a step forward. "So," she said raising a finger. "The
grand total of what I have done is one, shown some backbone towards
some bullies and then two, dared to frighten them off. Wow! I must
really be a powerful practitioner of the black arts!" She rubbed her
hands together and tried to look evil. "Hehehe, and you, Loren my
dear, will have to suffer the result of detecting my evil powers." She
mumbled some gibberish and pointed her finger at the girl in a
stabbing motion. "Poof!"

    Loren folded her arms and did not look amused.

    "Oh, come on, Lori," Mayumi said taking another step forward.
"Enoughs, enough. You can't expect me to give you a serious answer now
can you? Come on, let's just forget this stupid situation ever
happened and finish our walk, okay? I mean you were having such fun a
moment ago, I would hate to see it spoiled just due to some punks."

    Loren just continued to fold her arms and look annoyed in only the
way that Loren could. Mayumi sighed, this was going to call for
something stronger. An evil smile broke out on her face as she knew
perfectly what would do the trick. It would piss Loren off something
rotten, but at least it would change the topic of conversation.

    "Lori..." Mayumi said taking a few more steps forward to bring her
closer to her friend.

    Loren frowned. Mayumi was up to something. She knew that look.

    "Lori-chan..." Mayumi repeated sidling up to stand just in front
of the girl, an impish grin on her face that made Loren _just_ know
Mayumi was up to no good.

    "What?" Loren said sharply. "I'm not going to let you get awa...
Mmmm!!!" Her voice was suddenly cut off as Mayumi surged forward and
landed a big wet sloppy kiss directly on her lips. For a moment, she
was to startled to do anything else but stand there, shocked.

    Mayumi was in heaven. She had wanted to do this from the very
first moment she had decided that Loren would be the one, and now
finally it was happening. Her hands snaked up to wrap themselves
around Loren's neck and she pressed herself hard up against Loren's
lithe body. The smell of Loren and the feel of her body pressed
tightly against her own began to overwhelm Mayumi. As the warm form in
her grasp started to struggle something deep down within her began to
happen. A something she had not anticipated, something she had
forgotten all about. A something that was demanding beyond all
control.

    Her Need awoke.

    Loren felt Mayumi's tongue slip into her mouth and she began to
struggle even harder. Desperately, she tried to push Mayumi away, but
the other girl was holding onto her with a strength that belied her
feminine form. The perfumed scent of Mayumi filled her senses and once
more she tried to break the other's grip, but Mayumi was just too
damned strong.

    Mayumi was lost in her hunger for Loren. She _needed_ to feed and
the blazing furnace of Loren's abundant life force so near to her was
driving her mad with desire. She thrust her tongue forward into the
warm depths of Loren's mouth. Greedily she sucked, trying to coax some
of that copious life energy to come out so that she could feed on the
sweet essence that was _her_ Loren. She _had_ to feed, she just _had_
too.

    Swiftly her hands moved against the fabric that hindered her from
stimulating those secret places that would make her Loren more easily
release that ever so sweet vitality that called to her. Mayumi
_needed_ that vitality, oh, how she _needed_ it. She was so hungry, so
hungry...

    When Loren felt Mayumi's cold hands reach under her now loose tee
shirt and start to fumble with her bra strap she panicked. She called
upon her body's full strength and brutally threw Mayumi from her like
a rag doll. The desire to destroy, to burn this insolent human waif to
ash raged through her entire body. She closed her eyes and dragged
great gulps of air into her chest as she tried to control the raging
power that was surging through her mind. She had to control herself,
she just had to!

    Mayumi hit the ground with a heavy thump. The pain of her landing
sent a sharp knife through the veil of her red hunger and bought her
back to some rationality. Her eyes flew open and she gasped with
horror as she realized what she had just tried to do. She looked over
at Loren. The girl was standing a few meters away gulping great lungs
full of air and shaking like a leaf in the wind.

    "Oh, no..." Mayumi whispered in despair as she saw the state of
undress that the shaking Loren was now in. The girl's tee shirt had
been pulled lose from her faded black jeans, and what was even worst
was that those same jeans had been pushed down almost to the girl's
pale thighs.

    Mayumi shuddered as she realized what she had just tried to do.
She cursed herself for her own bloody stupidity. How the hell could
she had gotten so carried away?! She swallowed, and slowly, ever so
slowly got to her feet.

    "Lori... I..."

    At the sound of Mayumi's voice Loren's head bolted up and her eyes
focused wildly on the stuttering girl. The look on her face said it
all - betrayal, shame, disgust, anger, loathing, fear... The words
that Mayumi had been about to say died unborn in her throat, and she
could only watch as Loren turned and stumbled away.

    How long she stood like that staring dumbly at the place where
Loren had been was impossible for her to tell. Only one image was
playing repeatedly through her mind - the look of betrayal and
loathing that had been on Loren's face. A solitary tear ran down her
cheek as it slowly dawned on her that all the hopes that she had held,
had ever dreamed about, were now in ashes. A wave of self disgust and
anger washed over her as again and again Loren's face shone in her
mind's eye. The fact that she had failed, that she had become exactly
the same as Toru meant absolutely nothing to her. All of her attention
was focused on that one image - the one image that she, in her utter
stupidity, had just caused.

    Throwing her head back she let herself resume her natural form and
with a great howl gave vent to the insane emotions boiling in her
mind.

    "NOOOO!!!"

               <--      --      --      --      -->

    "Hey! Did you just hear something?" one of the two figures lying
dozing under one of the many fruit trees that were scattered
throughout this secluded template garden said sitting up.

    "Eh?" the second figure asked in a sleepy voice. "Sorry, did you
just say something?"

    "I thought I heard a scream," the first figure said turning
around to look up at the second figure's face.

    "Oh, is that all," the second figure replied in a 'I could not
careless' tone of voice.

    "What's that supposed to mean?" the first figure commented annoyed
at the second figure's utter lack of interest.

    "It means that I'm far too warm and comfortable to be worried
about some lovers little tiff," the second figure declared settling
back down against the fragrant grass.

    "Oh, you're impossible at times," the first figure snorted.

    "That's me," the second figure replied brightly pulling the first
back down to the ground. "Master of the impossible acts."

    "You can say that again," the first figure commented with a wicked
laugh from the comfortable pillow of the other's lap.

    The figure in question grinned impishly, "But you love me all the
same, eh?"

    "Oh, will you just shut up and go back to sleep," the first figure
replied with a faint blush.

    "Zzzzz..."

    "You know, sometimes, I wonder why I even bother," the youngster
commented with a small sigh and comforted by the slow sleeping sounds
of the other drifted off back to sleep as well.

               <--      --      --      --      -->

    Miyu wheeled her bicycle into the free slot next to Chisato's and
went over to join her friend at the ice cream cart where the girls had
gathered.

    "I hope you like chocolate chip," Chisato stated as she handed
over a large cone to Miyu.

    "Chisato will always eat it for you if you don't," Yukari
commented with a laugh. "She's already helped herself to some."

    "Eh?" Chisato said.

    "Your delicate brown lipstick," Hisaye replied reaching out to
give the girl a hanky.

    "Gimme that," Chisato exclaimed and snatched the hanky out of the
girl's hand.

    Miyu smiled and took a lick.

    <Something most interesting has just happened> Larva's quiet voice
whispered through mind.

    <And what might that be?> Miyu smiled as Hisaye tried in vain to
retrieve her mucky hanky.

    <That Shinma you asked me to watch over...>

    <Hmmmm...>

    <She just tried something very interesting with that little human
she had with her>

    Miyu giggled as Hisaye executed a fast maneuver and grabbed back
her hanky. <What?> she asked.

    <As best as I could observe, the Shinma just tried to absorb the
girl's energy>

    <But?>

    <It failed> Larva replied simply.

    <Unusual> Miyu  sent back. <I would not have expected that of a
Shinma>

    <The Shinma seemed to be genuinely concerned for the girl> Larva
added. <It could have very easily killed her, or even retried to take
the girl's life, but it did not - it simply let her go>

    <Really?> Miyu gave her cone another thoughtful lick. <Most
unusual indeed. Is the girl perhaps an accomplice? Or even some sort
of pet for this Shinma?>

    Larva recalled the almost sexual nature of the attack that the
Shinma had tried to force upon the girl, but made no comment. Miyu
was, well, still... inexperienced in some of the more... <Yes, a pet
is a possibility> he commented blandly.

    "Hey, Miyu!" Yukari tried once more giving the spaced out girl a
shake. "You're doing it again, freaking out on us."

    "Oh, sorry," Miyu flashed a quick grin up at the taller girl.
"Just getting lost in thought."

    "We'd noticed," Hisaye grumbled back. "You seem to do it most of
the time."

    "Ah, come on," Chisato spoke up in Miyu's defense. "Miyu's not
that bad. She's just a thoughtful girl, that's all."

    "Yeah," Yukari replied with a laugh. "Not a bit like you at all is
she, Chisato-chan?"

    "Humph!" Chisato turned and stalked off to get her bike.

    "So," Miyu said turning back to Hisaye. "Where exactly are we
supposed to be going today anyway?"

    Hisaye shrugged, "Don't ask me," she said. "I'm not the one
navigating."

    "It's here," Yukari answered Miyu's question by taking out a small
map from the pouch at her side and laying it out on the table where
they were sitting.

    "Where?" Miyu asked again, peering down at the small town plan.

    "Here," Yukari pointed at a small forest situated some distance
from the town boundaries.

    "There?" Miyu said with a frown. "But that's miles away! It will
take hours to get there!"

    "Two hours, to be precise," Yukari corrected the girl. "I've done
it with Hisaye before, and it took us precisely two hours."

    "And it was well worth the effort," Hisaye butted in giving Miyu
an intense look. "Well, worth it."

    "Oh," Miyu replied and then fell silent returning to her ice
cream.

    Yukari waited to see if the pale girl would have anything else to
contribute on the subject, but that was apparently the end of Miyu's
quota of words so she folded the map back up and put it away. She
caught the glance that Hisaye sent in her direction and smiled in
reply. Yes, her eyes answered the unspoken comment. Miyu was a bit of
a weird girl, nice but weird.

    "Alright, are we all ready to start off?" Chisato asked wheeling
her bike over and looking up at the other girls.

    "Roger," Yukari nodded putting her helmet back onto her head.

    "As ready as I will ever be," Hisaye commented clambering onto her
own bike.

    "Miyu?" Chisato asked looking over at her friend. She frowned, the
girl was still slowly consuming her ice cream. "Are you intending to
finish that off sometime soon, or just lick it to death?"

    "I'm just not a fast eater like you," Miyu replied back.

    "Well, we don't want to be hanging around here for too long, you
know," Chisato replied.

    "Here then," Miyu said passing the ice cream over to the walking
black hole in human form. "I'll let you finish it."

    "Really?" Chisato's eyes widened and Miyu almost swore she could
see stars glimmering within them.

    Miyu nodded and smiled, "Of course, you..."

    "Thanks, Miyu," Chisato said already consuming the soft flesh of
the poor, defenseless ice cream.

    "You're welcome," Miyu said as her ice cream quickly disappeared
into the vortex of Chisato's mouth. Miyu gave a small shake of her
head and left to retrieve her bike. However, as she pulled the bike
loose from its stand she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness accompanied
by a sharp pang of hunger wash over her. Miyu took a deep breath and
used the bike to steady herself. This was beginning to get serious. It
had been several weeks since she had last fed and now she was
beginning to suffer the consequences. She needed to feed, and soon.

    "Hey, Miyu! You coming?" Chisato called out looking back.

    Miyu took another deep breath and forced the hunger to the back of
her mind. She had to control it! She could _not_ feed now!

    "Miyu?" Chisato called out again. "Did you hear me?"

    Miyu forced a smile onto her face, "Coming."

    Yukari gave a small sigh and peddled off onto the road with the
other girls slowly following behind her.

               <--      --      --      --      -->

    "Damn her!" Loren hissed furiously as she ripped open her bag and
started to grab the clothes that she had only just unpacked last
night. "Damn her! I should have bloody well thumped her one right
there and then!"

    A soft knock came from the door to her room and a young voice
called out, "Loren-san? Are you in? It's me, Yukai. Do you mind if I
come in?"

    Loren swore softly again under her breath and with an effort she
carefully subdued her anger and turned towards the door. "Come in,"
she said.

    "Oh, thank you!" the girl said gratefully as she crossed the
threshold to the room and closed the door behind her.

    Loren gave the eleven year old girl a forced smile and leaned
down, "So, Yukai-chan, what is it I can do for you?"

    The girl smiled brightly and walked over towards her. "Are you
planning on leaving, Loren-san?" she asked looking passed Loren
towards her half packed bag.

    "Yip, 'fraid so," Loren replied turning back to the job of
packing.

    "Why?" Yukai asked curiously. "Did Mayumi do something to make you
mad at her?"

    "A bit," Loren replied as she brutally punched her poor
defenseless clothes into her bag.

    "Good, I'm glad," Yukai said brightly.

    "What do you mean - good?" Loren said with a frown turning to
stare at the girl.

    "Because I want you, of course," Yukai smiled innocently.

    "Sorry?" Loren asked with a confused look of her face. "What was
that?"

    "I said I want you, Loren-chan," Yukai nodded and sat on the bed.
"My old toys are beginning to bore me, and I want to play with you
instead."

    Loren stopped packing and her eyes narrowed. "What are you talking
about?" she demanded of the girl. Her manners, as well as her patience
had had enough for one day.

    "You invited me in," the girl replied simply and her smile slowly
began to subtly change. "So, now you are mi..."

    "Get out," Loren suddenly broke in and cut the girl off from
saying anything else. "Get out now before I do something you'll
regret."

    The girl's smile faded and her face turned slightly petulant.
"You're rude," she said in an accusing voice.

     "I know," Loren replied grabbing the girl's hand and pulling her
off the bed and towards the door. "Life's a bitch, isn't it? Now, get
the hell out... YA!" she was suddenly yanked backwards and with
an unceremonious thump hit the ground.

    "No, Loren-chan," the girl said quietly. "I _want_ to play. I..."

    Loren froze the girl where she stood and muttering angrily to
herself she got to her feet. "This whole damned family is mad." She
looked at the girl she had trapped liked a fly in amber and giving a
snort of contempt pushed the figure over - hard. The girl's body hit
the wooden floor with a bang and musically shattered like glass. Loren
smirked and deliberately ground some of the larger crystalline
fragments into powder. "Play with that, bitch," she said as she turned
and finished packing as fast as she could. She had had enough of this
place. Enough of Mayumi, her weird family and everything else. She
wanted to get back to the sanity of her normal college life, to her
studies.

    After a few minutes of furious activity Loren's packing was
complete and taking her bag in one hand she walked over to the door.
Pausing, she looked back at the annoying little girl she had just
killed and rolled her eyes. "Mad, they're all mad..." And with that
statement she left slamming the door behind her.

    The room was silent and except for the sound of bird song outside
everything was quite and still. A small mouse nervously popped its
head out from under the bed and scurried across the floor pausing only
to sniff curiously at the strange dust that seem to fill the center of
the room. It took a small bite at one of the larger pieces and
swallowed.

    "SHHHWWWW!!!"

    The mouse shrieked in pain and writhed about for a moment before
abruptly exploding in a rain of blood and gore. As the warm blood from
the small vermin covered the crystalline dust it began to sizzle,
almost as if the blood were slowly dissolving it. The sound of the
sizzling increased and very soon nearly all of the powdery dust had
melted into a wispy pale vapor that coalesced into the center of the
room. It thicken, and slowly, painfully slowly, the mist resolved
itself into the form of a young girl.

    The girl took a deep breath and stretched. "Well," Yukai said with
a pained expression on her face. "That was a novel experience. It
seems that Mayumi may have bitten off more..."

    - Feeedd ussss -

    Yukai gasped and spun around to try and determine the source of
the dead sounding voice that had abruptly spoken behind her.

    - Sooo Hungryy -

    Yukai's eyes widened incredulously and she drew a deep breath to
scream in terror.

    Silence.

    Outside the room the beautiful bird song continued and all was
right with the world. The sun was in the sky and it shone warmly down
on the children of this land. What a shame that it was all going to
end.

    Spring was just about to change to winter, forever.

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