AN: Well, I'm back! Sort of, I don't know how long I'll keep my activity up here anymore. I'm going off to college soon and I'm also in the middle of writing a book that I may turn into a graphic novel. Anyway, I figured it was time to take a break and revisit the world of fanfiction, so I decided to take a new look at "In Memoriam" and "An Assassin's Grace", the latter of which I have deleted. The first two chapters are similar to what was in "An Assassin's Grace", but the story goes a different direct afterward. Of course, since I do not have ESP and therefore no idea where the actual DGM plot will go, this story can be considered slightly AU. I also haven't decided whether or not this will be a KandaXOC or not (I have two different endings in mind), so we'll see what happens. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy. Reviews are always appreciated.

Chapter 1: Watchmen

Location: The crossing from Kii to Ise Province, Japan

Time: 10:39 PM

A resounding crash echoed through the forest as the metallic demon fell in a billow of smoke and fire. The youth who had cut down the monster stood for a moment to sheath his sword, no longer glowing as it had during the match, just an ordinary blade to the passing eye.

The young man surveyed his surroundings carefully as he returned to his comrades on the road. His blue-black hair swayed as he moved his head from side to side, up and down, his dark grey eyes scanning the surrounding trees for any trace of movement. Satisfied that there were no other threats at the moment, he nodded to the large man accompanying him, then spoke to the older of his comrades, who seemed to be in charge of the trio. In all the days they had been observing the group, he had never once seen either the youth or the large man give an order, or move without approval from the third traveler.

"My lord." He looked up as the doppelgangers joined him, crouching on a lower branch and kneeling as best they could to show him their respect. When he raised an eyebrow in question, they spoke again in unison. "We've been tracking them since they landed in Nagato, my lord, is it worthwhile to keep on now that we've reached our territory? They seem to have no sinister motive for coming here, and have even destroyed some of the monsters on their way."

"Indeed they have" he replied, not moving his eyes from the group as they stopped again. They were over the bridge now, officially in Kagesōsha territory, where he would have every right to apprehend them. It would be so easy to pick them off the trail and bring them in for interrogation. However, the clan head would never approve of that course of action. His father was tired of searching, and had made it quite clear to him that he wanted to hear nothing more relating to the Hoshimukimei, the Star Bearers. It frustrated him, and he wanted nothing more to drag these people to the main residence and prove once and for all that his sister had been taken by these strangers.

To see his own countryman conversing in flawless English with those two foreigners seemed so wrong, practically barbaric, even though he himself was fluent in the language. Moreover, the man moved with a speed and grace reminiscent of his own clansmen, making him wonder if he too had been spirited away by the Star Bearers. He may be the son of one the outpost leaders from another province. The Big man referred to him by his surname, Kanda, which could mark him as a native of the neighboring Owari province. Just as his sister had been so many years ago, this youth could have been abducted. Although there was no record in existence of such an occurrence, one could never completely rule out the possibility.

Then the youth's cloak shifted in a sudden gust of wind, and he swore under his breath, rage boiling in his veins. Emblazoned on his chest was none other than that accursed insignia, the mark of his sister's kidnappers. Had this man been involved in that attack, then? No, he was far too young, maybe even the same age as his little sister.

"How much farther do you think, Yū, my boy?" The leader of the group was clearly enjoying himself, his voice merry and wise in its sound. The youth, Yū, gave the man an annoyed look before responding, most likely having little to no respect for the man's authority. Once again, the thought occurred to him that the boy had been kidnapped as well.

"Marshall, I've asked you repeatedly not to call me that" Yū replied, a hard undertone in his voice, one that seemed to be a constant presence in his dialog. On the few occasions he had heard him speak, that same tone was prevalent in his words. Whether boy was simply arrogant or perpetually angry, he could not tell. What was clear to him, though, was that his more prevalent displays of short-temperedness, at least those he had borne witness to, had been brought on by the older man's teasing, nothing more.

"Ren." He flinched as his aide placed a hand on his shoulder, hating himself for such a reaction. He should have sensed Haru's approach no matter what the situation. Then again, his childhood friend was one of the best at remaining unseen and unheard in their clan.

"What is it?" he asked, turning back to watch the group. They were sitting down now, or at least the foreigners were. Yū seemed quite content with leaning against a tree with folded arms and his ever-present frown.

"They don't seem to mean us any harm, and I'm sure your father will be wondering where you are" Haru was saying. "We should return to the residence. Please, just give up on this chase. Whatever they want, it has nothing to do with us."

"You've seen them prowling the villages and cities" Ren replied. "they want something, and that something gives me the unpleasant feeling that they will do again what they did ten years ago."

"Ren, if she was still alive, don't you think she would have returned by now?" His friend's voice was gentle, but it was plain that he thought Ren was being too optimistic. For years, he'd been telling him to give up, just as everyone in the village had, but he still refused. His sister was out there, alive, he could feel it in his gut. Even someone from their clan could be confined, neither he nor his sister was any exception to that fact. They were probably making use of her powers in some way, taking advantage of their ancestral matriarch's bloodline.

The leader, Marshall, was chuckling. "I was just asking a question" he said playfully.

"One to which I couldn't possibly know the answer" Yū retorted with no lack of exasperation. "I hadn't set foot in Japan until we arrived in Nagato, you know that full well."

Well, there went his kidnapping theory. It seemed that this Yū person was a full-fledged member of the Star Bearers. He was probably the son of a refugee who had given birth to him overseas, but Ren couldn't bring himself to accept that logic. There was a distinct pallor to his skin and a certain refined aspect to his appearance that gave him the look of a noble. Maybe he had been kidnapped as an infant and never told his about true origins. Either way, he was a perplexing man, not least because he attacked his opponents without the slightest hesitance, as if he had no fear of death.

"They're going to Edo" he said to Haru. His father made it a requirement for all clan members to learn English, as many of their missions involved watching the smuggling activity in Nagasaki and other ports. British and American sailors were their prime suppliers, but sometimes they sought to cheat out the inhabitants to make a quick profit for inferior goods. It was always amusing to see the surprise on their faces when a clan member confronted them with perfect English.

"Are you Froi Tiedoll?" Ren jerked his head up as the distorted, metallic voice permeated the forest. There were none of these monsters here, there couldn't be, not with the barriers they had placed around the residence, especially the ones this close to the shrine. The spell was designed to keep out supernatural entities with less-than-favorable intentions. It was what had kept the province thriving for so long. And yet, here it was, a metal bumblebee sort of thing, speaking casually to Marshall, rather the Marshall, who rose to the strange name. Yū had drawn his sword again, but only a few inches out of its sheath.

The rest of the conversation was lost on him, as they were speaking too low and Ren was too far away. He was at a crossroads; he could continue on with his men and got to Edo, or he could return home and once again try to persuade his father that the Star Bearers existed. Both options would be rather arduous, and probably be more stagnant than progressive.

"My Lord." Ren turned as the messengers dropped down before him, both men bearing the crest of his father's personal guard. "Your most honorable father has called for your swift return. He says that your lordship has been gone from the residence for too long and demands to know what prompted you to leave without so much as a warning."

Ren grit his teeth. So he would be returning after all then. Ah, well, at least now he would have his proof. With a nod, he said, "I will obey my father's request, but first, I urge you to look to those men, the three sitting on the edge of the trail."

The messengers peered and looked in the direction he was pointing. "How did one of the demons get through our barrier?" one asked, the other nodding in agreement. "And how have those men managed to stay alive."

"I don't know" Ren admitted, slightly irritated that their attention had gone straight for the monster. "Look to the men, though."

"We see them, my lord" they replied. "One of them is a fellow countryman, it seems. Is he a guide for those foreigners, or something?"

"Hoshimukimei."

The first messenger stiffened. "My lord, the head has forbidden such talk, has he n… what is it?" He trailed off and glanced as his partner, who was gesturing at Yū's uniform. He had removed his cloak during the conversation to adjust the sheath handing on his hip, displaying the pointed star on his chest, causing the first messenger to stare in wonder.

"Impossible!" he gasped. "They do exist." He turned to his master's son. "they are your lordship's sister's kidnappers, you say?"

"Not them specifically" Ren told him. "The men I saw were dressed in black, but they were masked, and used spells similar to ours, not weapons like these men. However, the exact same crest adorned their cloaks. I don't know yet what these men seek in our land, but I have my suspicions."

"Then that boy is a traitor to our country" the second messenger growled. "He wears that stigmatic mark like a crown."

"Traitor or unwitting prisoner, I do not know." They looked at him then, confusion clear on their faces, urging him to explain, which he promptly did. "He said earlier he had never set foot on Japanese soil, which leads me to believe he was either born to a refugee or spirited away in his infancy."

"Sir, we must report this to the head" the first messenger said urgently. "We can verify your claim now."

Ren nodded. "Let us go, then."

They returned, and it was only a week after his report that Ren was summoned back to his father's chambers, this time with the order to report to Edo. The Star Bearers were going to get their just punishment, and the youth, Yū, was to be brought straight to interrogation. If Ren was right and he was just an unwitting pawn, it would be far easier to get information out of him than the others. Even if he was wrong, it would be far more satisfying to break a traitorous countryman than a foreign villain. The prospect of the mission excited him, all the more because his father would be coming as well.

Nothing ever came of it. Their journey to the capital was cut short when they were informed by a passing merchant that the city had been completely destroyed. He told them of there being three times as many Star Bearers there than the original group, but nothing had been seen of them since. It was if they'd disappeared off the face of the earth.

So that brought an end to their search, and Ren plunged into despair. This had been the closest they had ever come to finding even a clue to his sister's whereabouts. Now, because of whatever tragedy had befallen the capital, they had lost the trail, and even the excellent sense of smell of their four-legged comrades could not pick it up again.

It was one of these comrades that came and placed his head in his lap, letting out a small whine of sympathy. Kurogane was Ren's closest friend other than Haru and the twins, and the silent wolf was just what he needed now. He stretched out on the tatami mats, exposing his furry underside so Ren could use him as a makeshift pillow.

"You know me too well" he sighed, gently placing his head on the wolf's side. "I can't believe we failed. After all that, we failed, and those damn Star Bearers got away from us."

Kurogane let out a low growl in assent.

"Rest assured" he went on, a new determination welling up inside of him. "The instant those men see fit to enter our territory again, they will not escape a second time. We'll be waiting, and they will never see us coming."