Chouka is going to work in the inn with Yuri's family. Yuri was her neighbor while she lived in the town and only friend, her family is owner of an inn and so far she works from time to time to get some money that helps her gather some supplies that need for the month. Since her father health is declining each year she worries that is continue she will have to help mother full care of the house and this "frequent" visit to the town and hanging with her only friend will stop.

"Chouka, can you please help in the kitchen."

"Gladly Mrs. Shito." Chouka skip as she goes to the kitchen. She like to live with her parents and never would reproach their decision of moving far from the town, they must have their reason. But these moment that she can interact with others is so exciting. She gets to talk to Yuri and hear from any news that goes into town.

"Yuri!"

"Hey, Chouka."

"Your mother sent me here to help you." Chouka help gather the utensil that will help her cut the meat.

"Hahaha, better now we can talk." Yuri is chopping the vegetable.

"So what's new?"

"Well," Yuri starts to blush.

"What?" Chouka see that and now got close to her friend. "yuri, what happened? Why are you blushing?"

"Subaru . . ."

"Subaru? What did he do? Come on Yuri tell!"

"He confesses his feeling for me and asks me to be his girlfriend."

"Oh. My. God! Congratulation Yuri, I knew that you were attracted to him since school."

The girls start to make a racket and loud screams at the news of the friend. Chouka is happy to see Yuri happy. The noise is too much that Yuri's father had to come to ask them to quiet down.

After that small scolding the girls continue to make the food. That the hour of opening is approaching.

Chikage POV's

Chikage is disappointed by the outcome of the search, start walking forward and notice a small town in the other side of the mountain. He can hang out there and see if anyone has any information of the incident. He hopes at least to get a date.

The town's inn normally is the best place to gather information and listen even the insidious gossip that he hate so much, but some information even from a wife's tales can be of value to him, if he can achieve his goal.

"Welcome! What can we be of service today sir?" The woman attending the inn greets him with a huge smile. Obviously they don't get that many guest. So his action must be most cautious not to call the attention of unwanted individuals.

"I require just one room for at least two days." Chikage tells the innkeeper while looking his surroundings.

"Certainly, right this way sir. I'll give you the best room in the inn."

"Also I want complete privacy and no one must disturb me or get in my room unless I let you know what I need." Chikage let the woman know. He is sick of these horrible smells and these people bothering him, he wants to deal as little as possible. Come to a moment that regrets not bringing Amagiri with him.

"Yes, it will be done." The woman replies as she direct him to the room.

"For now I want the bath ready and a bottle of sake in the room."

"Yes, sir if you excuse me." The woman leaves.

Inn's Kitchen

Finally the things start to die down after the first rush of customers. Chouka is cleaning part of the kitchen, for later to make preparation for the next wave of customer that could arrive.

"Can one of the girl get a bottle of sake a bring it to the #1 room, and be very wary of him, look like a noble, try not to insult him, okay." Yuri's mother tells them at the frame of the door and quickly leaves.

"Who's going to be?" Yuri asked.

"Well, I was cleaning the kitchen and you are the most presentable to do that."

"Please Chouka, you are more beautiful than me and many could tell you that, just do to the back room, change to a clean set and do that."

"But. . ."

"Please if we argue more is going to take more time and the guest could get angry. Hurry!" Yuri made a point, beside is just to take sake and leave, right?

"Okay, but you'll own me one."

Chouka ran to the back and change. Got back to the kitchen and gather the tray that Yuri already set and walk to the room.

"Sir, your sake." Chouka is nervous, if Mrs. Shito said was right, this guy could be of great importance and she have to do what she can not to cause trouble.

"Get in." Chikage short reply.

"Thank you sir, here you are sir." Chouka place the sake next to the mat that Chikage, he have on a yukata and is loose that can see most of his bare chest. Chouka blush and get more nervous. "Do you want me to pour it?" She honestly hopes he says no and she can leave.

Chikage POV's

This girl doesn't smell like the nauseating people in here, quite rare and call my attention. See that the girl is waiting for his response and her check are pink. Maybe he can have her for the night since she doesn't make him sick with her presence.

"Yes, please." Keeping his eyes of her slender and porcelain hand as she serve him sake. For being a human, sure have some grace. See that she's making her move to leave. "I want you to stay."

"Okay" she says without looking up at him.

The sake is not of the best quality, but at least passable to drink it, and gulp it down and make the gesture for her to fill it up again. Which she does, this sake can't make him inebriated even if that could be what he was looking for.

"Name?"

"Huh?"

"What is your name?"

"Tsuki Chouka." The girl shyly tells me.

Chouka POV

This guy aura is so strong that make me shiver. He's handsome, no wonders that Mrs. Shito considered him a noble, must be. He makes me stay in the room and pour him sake, scare me and the same time relieve me, as long that's the only thing he ask from me.

I continue to serve him the sake until it was empty.

"Do you want so more?"

"No, you can leave." The man tells me, what a relief. I gathers the tray in such a hurry that getting up, without realized that my legs fall asleep, fall back down and the bottle of sake and cup broke under me.

"I'm so sorry, sir." I'm trying to control my pain. "I can let him see my hand, its healing fast.

"Are you okay?" he asked

"Yes, yes I just broke the bottle and cup; I'll clean it up right away." Place a cloth over the mess with my other hand.

"Let me see." Oh snap! He wants to see it, he can see the blood, and I can't let him see it.

Chikage POV's

The foolish girl got injured and is trying not to make it obvious. I smell the blood as I move fast beside her and see a cloth covering her injured hand.

"Let me see" I grab her by the shoulder to turn her to my direction.

"Please, sir, it's nothing."

"Then let me see." I grab her hand and removed the bloodstain cloth.

WHAT! No injuries, I see the cloth there's blood and the floor have the broken shard and blood. Her hands have blood but no opening. It can be, she's a demon!

"Please sir, don't tell anyone about this!" The girl dropped to the flood and vow, her head touching the floor.

"You're a demon."

"No sir, I'm not a monster, it is something that happened to me every time I get injuries, but is not a curse and I'm not a monster, please. . ." I can hear that she's cry. She's begging me not to tell that she's like me, a demon.

"Foolish woman, you're not a monster, you're a demon." I grab her by the shoulder again and see her tear filled eyes looking at me pleading.

"Are you from the Suzumori clan?"