Hi! I'll talk more at the end of the chapter! Back to the story…

Ralina rolled over again on her uncomfortable metal cot. She had been caught and returned to the state about three hours after her run in with Dawn's Venus and that boy, Mitsuru. At least she had never heard from him again. It would be worse than this if they ever found out about her. About her powers. That she was a demon. Now, three months and five foster homes later, she was back in the dorm for a night. The next morning, Johanna, her caseworker, would come and fetch her and she'd be off to the next home. She was almost through with this district. Angrily she rolled again and finally settled into an uneasy sleep.

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Johanna shook Ralina's shoulder firmly, rousing the moody girl.

"Come on, Ralina. Time to go. We've got a long way to drive."

Ralina's eyes flew open. "No," she said, "No more. I won't. Let me go. I don't want another home. Not again."

Johanna sighed. "Ralina you know the rules. I can't. Please."

"No."

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Oboro glanced at the clock. The girl would be arriving soon. After hearing Mitsuru's tale and a very informative trip to the Moon Palace, he had worked progressively with the state. They knew precious little about her, only that she was a tengu, and that her name was Ralina. Mitsuru swung into the kitchen as a car door slammed and there was a sharp knock at the door. Rising quickly, Oboro went to answer it.

A middle-aged woman stood on the doorstep, carrying a few thick folders.

"I'm Johanna," she said, shaking his hand, "Ralina's caseworker. You're Oboro Kurosaki?"

"Yes, I am. Is the girl here?"

"Of course," Johanna said, "She's having issues with getting out of the car. We'll give her a minute. Now, you're absolutely certain about this? No second thoughts? With Ralina, no one will blame you."

"I'm sure," he said, thinking of their first day with Mitsuru.

"I have a few papers for you to sign now. If you want, you can wait a week before finalizing the adoption."

"I can finalize it now, thank you."

"You're certain?"

"Yes."

And for a minute all that was heard were the soft sound of pen on paper and a brief shuffling of documents. Finally Johanna rose.

"I'll get Ralina," she said, standing up, "If you'll just fill out these…"

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She indicated another few forms and as Oboro began to write, she went to talk to her charge.

Ralina glared as Johanna approached the car. Why couldn't they just leave her alone for even a day? It wasn't like she had asked for this life. The door opened.

"Alright Ralina. Out."

"No."

"Please Ralina. Just get out of the car without a fight. Just this once. For me?"

"Why the hell would I do that?"

"Ralina get out of the car!"

"I told you NO!"

Johanna looked skyward. She had had a very frustrating day the day before and she hadn't gotten much sleep. Today Ralina was being difficult and though she was trying, her temper was getting the better of her.

"Get…out…of…the…car…right…now."

"No."

"Ralina, I've watched you grow up ever since you were five years old. These people are willing to take you in. They are thinking about adopting you. Please!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You say the same thing every time. And what happens every time? They get rid of me."

Johanna lost it. "YOU ARE THE MOST SENSELESS, PIG-HEADED TEENAGER I KNOW! CAN'T YOU DO ANYTHING SOMEONE TELLS YOU TO DO! I WORK DAY AND NIGHT JUST TO FIND YOU ANOTHER FOSTER HOME, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER CHILDREN I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR! AND I HAVE MY OWN FAMILY TO THINK ABOUT TOO! BUT WHAT DO I GET! THIS! EVERY TIME WE GO THROUGH THE SAME DAMN THINGS! SOMETIMES I DON'T BLAME YOUR MOTHER FOR ABANDONING YOU! MAYBE SHE HAD THE RIGHT IDEA!"

Johanna clapped her hand over her mouth, realizing what she had just said. Ralina was out of the car, bag over her shoulder, eyes brimming with tears that would never fall.

"Are you happy! Is this good enough! I'm out of the damn car so just shut up!"

Ralina turned away and Johanna knew that the best thing for her to do right now was to introduce Ralina to Oboro and leave. She guided the girl through the door into the room where she had left Oboro. Six other people now lounged on the surrounding furniture. She released Ralina and Oboro showed her to the door.

"Just a warning, Oboro? She's very good at running away."

And then Johanna was gone.

Ralina eyed each person in the room warily, eyes guarded, hiding her surprise as she recognized Mitsuru. They all met her gaze. Oboro returned.

"I'm Oboro and this is Katsura. This is Misoka, Nozomu, Akira, Mitsuru and Mahiru," he said, pointing each person out as he spoke their names.

Tada! Chapter Two! Oh yeah! Okay…one note about this chapter:

I've based the whole 'ward of the state deal' on an American foster care system.

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pendragoness