"Akito, please relax. I'm sure he'll be here." Kureno assured, his eyes moving with the restless pacing of his family head.

Still pacing, Akito said, "No. He should have been here." Akito stopped and looked at the ex-rooster with panic. "Do you think he got my letter?"

"I know he did, without a doubt." And he did. After all, he had been the one who sent it.

"You're right, he'll be here. Not even he can defy me. Not for long." Now assured, Akito knelt on the floor in front of Kureno.

For a few minutes it appeared as though Akito had calmed. This didn't last. Akito pounded the floor with a fist, scaring away a bird that had flown in the usually open door.

"He can't do this. He can't keep me waiting like this."

Kureno could tell from the tone Akito was fixing to boil over in anger. Luckily, Kureno had dealt with this situation more times then he could count.

"I know. But since he's not one of your junnishi he probably feels he can."

Akito scoffed at this. "Well if that is the case I'll have to teach him otherwise. If he wants to be a member of the zodiac, he's going to have to learn to obey me."