Dark Daughter

Chapter Two

Welcome Home

"I always knew you were loaded pup but this is incredible!"

Kimiko tried not to display her pleasure at her friends awe-struck reactions and instead smiled sheepishly as she scuffed her trainers against the gravel. They weren't even inside yet and already her home was receiving bright compliments; from what her friends could view through the black iron gates was only a small fraction of the actual garden. The Murakami residence was situated in the wealthy Azabu district of Japan amongst similarly rich mansions. Right now Kimiko didn't know exactly how to feel, a part of her was proud and happy but another was slightly embarrassed not wanting her friends to get the wrong impression. Thus far they had only seen the apartment her father owned in Yokohama and it certainly wasn't as lavish as her main home; the house in which she had grown up.

"I am never taking you to my house again, it's tiny," Sighed Akiko. Kimiko felt a wrench of self-consciousness and quickly rushed in to correct her friend. She didn't like people thinking of her family as stuck up snobs or getting the wrong impression that she was showing off. She'd been to Akiko's house before to stay for a weekend and it was lovely. Maybe not as ostentatious or luxurious as her own but for a three bedroom house it had been cosy and nicely decorated.

"It's not like that. You're house is lovely," Kimiko blushed with a slight frown. Akiko shook her head while Izumi snorted ungraciously rolling her eyes while Chiyo attempted to climb up her shoulders to get a better look. Kimiko sighed feeling suddenly alienated as she moved towards the intercom buzzer located at the entrance to the gates. Akiko's parents were dentists in a small town near Takamatsu, Chiyo was the second youngest of eight children and lived with her parents and Grandparents in a large house Matsue while Izumi was the only daughter of a former singer who lived in Kyoto. None of them were as rich as she was although Izumi was used to wealth and glamour almost as much as she was accustomed to it. Most of the time Kimiko never really noticed how beautiful and astounding her mansion was - for her it was simply home. There was nothing sophisticated about the bench where Kichiroú had once thrown up or the spot where Kimiko slid off the tree and broke her arm.

"Gomen nasai but Murakami-sama is away on business, please feel free to leave him a message-"

"Auntie Sae! It's me Kimiko!" Kimiko called down the intercom recognising the cool soft voice of her old nanny. There was a startled noise of realisation down the other line before a crisp gentle voice came chided her swiftly. The iron gates groaned and Kimiko stood back knowing that they were being opened from the inside.

"It's about time, I was worried," Sae reprimanded, "I've had baths drawn and dinner will be served in an hour." Kimiko glanced around at the mutual looks of relief and cheer on everyone's face at the prospect of a hot bath and food after a long journey. Perhaps being rich had its advantages after all, she was quite looking forward to giving them the tour of the house and watching them reap the benefits. Did that make her selfish? She was a Buddhist after all but then she was sure that spreading wealth wasn't frowned upon. It wasn't like she was some dried up old prune stocking it all away for herself and counting coins in a factory like Ebenezer Scrooge. There was another round of gasps and wide-eyes as her friends took in the spectacular sight of the Murakami Manor and it's grounds. Even from this angle Kimiko could find herself respecting her fathers tastes in architecture and design. The mansion was elegant but very traditionally styled with sloping and curving bottle green roofs that shone basking in the rays of sunlight before drifting down to the immaculately kept green lawn with neat rows of various flowers. Sweet-smelling roses and sakura tree's lined the gravel path leading to the main entrance.

They walked as though ambling through a fairyland as showers of pink and white blossoms drifted on the breeze swirling and dancing for their amusement and pleasure. Enchanting visions were at every turn tantalizing and enticing the young ladies. Large trees of sturdy oak lined the perimeter like a guard of honour with half-assembled planks of rustic wood tangled in the branches marking the resting places of old tree houses. Green shoots of vines climbed up the side of the house while neat rows of small white spider-lily's and red tulips greeted them in front of the veranda which ran around the outline of the manor with sturdy deck chairs laid out invitingly. Grassy lawns stretched out infinitely; just within view peering from around the corner into the back garden was a delicate plum blossom tree with small white star-like petals showering in the breeze mingling ume into the scents of roses and sakuras.

"Wow…Kimi-chan how did you leave this place! It's like Eden!" Akiko said with soft wonderment as she spun around watching as showers of petals rained on her dark locks almost like a garment adorning her hair. Kimiko shrugged, her favourite part of the garden was around the back. Her father her been meticulous in designing this house for his family. They had no gardener, her father planted everything and each seed grew with the compassion shown to them. Kimiko wished she could persuade bursts of green to shoot through the dark soil but unfortunately she didn't possess her fathers gift.

"Papa wanted it perfect, he built it so that it would be finished for after he married my mother," Kimiko said honestly feeling very serene as the garden was basked in a golden glow illuminating every colour so it dazzled the eye while the heavy perfumes of flowers soothed the senses. It had been a romantic gesture, she knew he had loved her mother very much and she felt compelled to point out her favourite flowers knowing each of their symbolisms and meanings, "He planted Sakura tree's for joy and peace and also because my mother loved them. She always said it doesn't matter if their blooming or falling they still manage to look like amazing. Red and white roses to symbolise love and purity while the spider-lily's symbolise sweetness and the red tulips trust."

"Kawaii! That's so sweet! Aw! I hope I marry some guy who does all that for me, does everything have a meaning?" Chiyo cooed excitedly as she twirled, arms outstretched trying to catch the blossoms looking almost like a very fragile, delicate ballerina before almost tripping up over a stray root landing head first on the gravel had it not been for Izumi's quick reflexes catching her to prevent the fall.

"Yeah like the bundle of dead twigs over there?" Izumi asked gesturing over at the only blotch on the otherwise pristine landscape - a square of dirt with a few wilted weeds and twigs. Kimiko laughed awkwardly inwardly wondering why the patch was still there. It had been one of her fathers many attempts to brace her into gardening and it had not gone well since the attempted pansy's had suffered from neglect and drowning at the hands of the eleven year old Kimiko who had hated planting them since she had gotten extremely dirty with mud and encountered several spiders. Once they had been planted she frequently forgot or gave them too much hydration eventually drowning them.

"That was me. I can't believe Papa kept it like that…probably some sort of joke," Kimiko admitted rubbing the back of her neck thoughtfully, "I could never do it right. Papa loves it all but I can't stand the dirt and I can never pull the weeds good enough."

"So that's symbolism for a crap gardener?" Izumi said raising an eyebrow.

"Basically," Kimiko confessed as they continued the gravel, "Everything in the garden is special. The back garden is the best though, I have a flower for me in there and there's lots more stuff like the greenhouses and the pond." Kimiko explained mounting the steps up the veranda before hearing the wood creak under her feet as they walked towards the large stained glass door. Her hand went out to knock before abruptly it was flung open causing her to almost do a 'Chiyo' and make a crash landing on the doorstep. An older women sighed shaking her head. Tsukiko Sae was sixty years old with grey hair pinned back into a tight bun and held in place by ornate silver dragon engraved clasps. Her kimono was a fresh green colour with a lighter yellow obi wrapped around her ample middle. Upon seeing her 'niece' she frowned.

"All that time just to walk up a path?" Sae declared ruefully directed at Kimiko before bowing to the others and moving aside to allow them entrance, "Welcome, please make yourselves at home. I'm Tsukiko Sae the full time babysitter of the Murakami family." There was a furtive exchange of sniggers and glances from her three friends who slid off their respective shoes and shrugged off their rucksacks. The last to enter was Kimiko who smiled staring around the familiar hallway with its soft beige carpet reflecting small beams of rainbow light as the sun shone through the stained glass. The room was bare with only a few shoji screens and some tasteful natural landscape paintings of mountains and rice fields on the walls.

"Oh Kimi-chan; it's good to see you," The older woman said warmly wrapping Kimiko into a tight hug before pulling away to inspect her charge. Kimiko waited expectantly for the outburst as she did not have to wait long as a crease quickly appeared on Sae's face followed by a frown and falter as she blinked. Then, like a tsunami breaking barriers it happened; "Kami-sama! What have you done to your hair girl?" Hissed the nanny in shock and disgust.

"It's only the ends," Kimiko whined.

"Only the ends? Only the ends? What does your father have to say about-"

"That next time I should go for electric blue," Kimiko said brightly. Sae stared before rolling her eyes and cursing Murakami Satoshi to the heavens. The teenager caught a few brief words such as 'that man!' Before Sae was lost as she slid open a shoji screen and vanished probably towards the kitchens her angry rant following her like a shadow. Kimiko stared down at the tips of her black chest length hair, like most of her country her Asian genes were dominant providing her with raven colour hair that hung straight like a curtain; only nature did not dye the lower inch a vivid violet colour fading into pale lavender. Her favourite colour had always been purple and she couldn't regret the decision to dye a part of her hair that colour as well as piercing her ears a second time.

"She seems nice," Chiyo said staring after Sae, "Is she the only one here all alone?"

"You're kidding me. Place this size must have at least a dozen staff," Izumi said lounging leisurely against a wall. Kimiko nodded, as always Izumi had hit the nail on the head. There were exactly six members of staff on the grounds at all time to maintain the property. They never touched the garden though - only Sae had permission to tend to the flowers. It wasn't like they were servants in uniform or anything…most of them were teenagers looking for a part time job and they only stayed on the property for three hours each day just to do the cleaning and repair work. They didn't even have a uniform; just an ID card.

"I'll show you around," Kimiko said happily moving towards another shoji screen to slid it open for her friends, "I actually really want to see what the function room looks like but I'll show you the rest first. Um…okay here's the study." Pulling open a shoji she ushered them into a large room with full length bookcases covering each wall masking the scarlet paint. Taking centre stage was a polished oak desk with a slim, sophisticated laptop and comfortable blue arm chair. A single window allowed a small stream of light to illuminate the particles of dust swirling through the air.

After the study came the kitchen, the dining room, the lounge, the utility room, the meditation room. All of them seemed to follow a similar design to the rest being open airy rooms with spaced out furniture and shiny, sleek wooden floors with pastel colours on the walls creating a wide, calming effect, although the furniture was sparse it was all of the highest quality from stylish leather couches to intricately carved tables and slim wide screen televisions. Leading her friends upstairs to the second floor there was a collection of studies, games rooms and even a small but complete mini bar with excellently rich sake and wine from all over the world. Eventually when they reached the third and final door Kimiko pushed open a shoji screen with a purple sign attached to it with the silver sparkly writing of 'Kimi's room.'

The ceiling sloped slightly but there were many considerably sized windows allowing a great view of the sky above and causing the room to be in permanent perpetual light wither from the moon, stars or sun. The walls were lilac while the floor was cream with a thick shaggy purple rug to match the bedspread and cushions on the sofa opposite the wall-hanging flat screen television. An old children's chest was in the corner of the room painted in bright primary colours while atop the bed there were a collection of stuffed toys including a rather battered looking bear. A vanity table lay in the corner, there was a wardrobe and even an en-suite bathroom. Kimiko stepped into her room and felt her body relax at the familiar scent of plum blossom - her favourite fragrance. This bedroom could easily fight five of her small crammed shared student accommodation into it. Her friend wasted no time in exploring with Chiyo taking it upon herself to open the toy chest bringing out a collection of old dolls, papier-mâché mice and Lego bricks. Akiko glanced down the bookcase which seemed to go from Spot-the-dog books on the bottom shelf to more complex literacy works such as Jane Eyre, Romeo and Juliet and Northanger Abbey. An entire shelf was devoted to Manga novels such as Rurouni Kenshin, Sailor Moon and Fruits Basket. Izumi lingered near the vanity table picking up a photograph and examining it curiously.

"This your Okaasan?" Izumi asked holding aloft the photo which displayed two children with identical facial features; the only thing separating them was the length of the girls hair and her frilly green dress. The woman in the photograph was smiling with long dark extremely curly hair that wound to her chest while her brown eyes twinkled warmly. Her dark skin contrasted with the white blouse and silver cross around her neck. Kimiko nodded.

"Aa, that's Okaasan."

"You look a bit like her," Izumi said thoughtfully scrutinising the photo.

"Arigatoú. Sometimes it hurts to remember her but…well you know people have to move on. I did miss her but I was never short of people to turn to…like Sae, my Grandparents, my brother…even the nuns sometimes send letters," Kimiko shrugged glancing at her reflection in the mirror subconsciously trying to identify the aspects that made her akin to her mother. Her hair was nothing like her mothers since the Japanese gene had claimed dominancy and her azure eyes resembled her fathers more than her mothers. Still the shape of her body, her height and the curve of her mouth, the mould of her nose and form of her face were greatly alike. Even her skin was far more darker than a typical Asian's or Caucasians. Those little details filled her with a strange feeling of relief and regret…relief that she resembled her mother…relief that there was some physical proof in her appearance that proved that Katrina had existed.

"Nun's writing you letters," Sniggered Izumi setting down the photograph, "I thought you were Buddhist anyway."

"They were fond of Mama and they like to know that Kichiroú and I do well," Kimiko explained walking idly up to the bookcase. Akiko had long since picked up some book of poetry and began to read it on the couch while Chiyo tinkered with some small Lego pieces trying to construct a building of some sort. The Holy Sisters had raised her mother, although she rarely met them she appreciated the gesture all the same. Noticing one of her dependable volumes was missing she glanced at the bed feeling relief when she noticed it in Akiko's arms.

"Be careful with it!" Warned Kimiko, "It belonged to Okaasan and she used to read me stuff out of it. I think our favourite was The Stolen Child by William Yeats…she used to read it to me before bed to get me to shut up." Her mind drifted down fragmented memories of her sitting in a pair of warm arms being lulled by a soft voice whispering and enchanting her with faeries and myths. Akiko looked up and nodded.

"Calm down Kimi-chan, I wasn't going to throw it out the window or anything," Akiko assured. Kimiko nodded but couldn't help but feel uneasy with the book being away from its proper place. She eyed it cautiously until finally Akiko put it back after five slowly painful minutes of wandering through the pages. Once it was back on it's shelf Kimiko felt herself unwind and exhale a breath she didn't even know she was holding.

"Come on," Kimiko said strangely anxious to have her friends out of her bedroom in an almost protective way, "There's still the back garden and the function room…and then of course the guest rooms. I really want to see what's happened! I can't wait…oh I hope it's just like I wanted!" She beamed excitedly as she darted out of the room and back down the stairs.

Outside the shoji screen led onto a vast verdant overlooking a beautiful serene haven. Whereas the grass in the other garden was well manicured and trim the grass here was long and wild flowing in the breeze tickling ankles and caressing shins. A large Koi pond bubbled while fish with iridescent scales shimmered on the surface while lotus flowers bobbed lazily gliding across in fluid motions. A curved bridge crossed the pond while on it's banks there were gathered a great many Plum Blossom tree's painting the ground white in their tiny fragile blossoms. The sun morphed the glass of the greenhouse into a structure of fiery orange while flowers grew and climbed the high arced walls, honeysuckle and slender roses among them.

With bounds of enthusiasm Kimiko leaped across the bridge towards the Plum Blossom trees. This was her favourite place in the whole garden, under the shelter of a plum blossom tree one could read or slumber for ages at the banks of the river listening to the cicadas. Across from the flowered tree's there were more flower patches and along with a small vegetable plantation. The flowers that grew in those acres were each unique and special as each different variety represented a member of the family. Kimiko was quick to point this out to her friends as she showed them her own.

"Those Irises over there are for my Okaasan because they were her favourites," Kimiko informed her interested friends gesturing towards the patch of elegant refined white Irises, "The Lilies are for me. I used to love Lily's when I was little. Uh, the freesia's are for my brother and primroses are for Papa and of course the tulips are for Sae. Gomen, this must seem pretty dumb." Kimiko admitted feeling a little bit immature for dancing around like a five year old wanting to show off a new toy. She couldn't help it though, although she might not actually be able to grow anything she still loved her garden.

"The only dumb thing is that your father is represented by Primroses," Izumi snorted.

"I think it's sweet! I want one of these when I'm married…why doesn't your Otousan just do gardening full time?" Chiyo asked.

"He probably would if he could," Kimiko admitted amusedly, "Unfortunately this house costs money Chiyo-chan. This is only one of our houses too…not that the others are like this. Papa will never sell this house, he says it is my inheritance."

"I know you have that apartment in Yokohama and I think you have one in New York but where else? Mou, are you trying to buy the planet?" Akiko said jokingly as she bent over to smell one of the nearby Lily's.

"That's all. Just the three…although Otousan did go to Scotland once for a whole month about two years ago before one of his offices went on fire. A few of his colleagues died in it…he came back after his employer decided against expanding over there." Kimiko said thinking back on that incident. She'd known one of the neurologists Doctor Oliver Kent - not very well but it was still sad that he'd died. It had even made international headlines.

"Aa, I remember that," Izumi said thoughtfully, "Didn't some journalist get caught up in it? She survived though…what exactly happened? How'd an entire building catch fire?"

"I don't know," Kimiko said vaguely while doubts lingered in her mind, "It just did. Killed quite a few people but Papa said luckily the journalist got out. He didn't like talking about it though because she was only a few years older than me. Anastasia Montrose…something like that anyway. She lived anyhow so everything's okay. Come on, I want to see the function room!" Like an impatient puppy she bounded off towards the veranda pulling open the final shoji screen. Her eyes went wide and a delighted grin appeared on her face.

It was perfect.

Everything was not going perfect.

Satoshi settled back in his airliner seat gazing restlessly out of the window at the dark clouds below looming like thick wads of cotton wool. He drummed his fingers off the arm of his chair and directed his stare back to the small flat television screen displaying the latest news headlines. Even after years of commuting he still despised long flights such as this one. His impatience to land was only heightened by his acute awareness that it was now gone eight o'clock and he had still received no reports from his staff.

The Society had employed him for nearly fifteen years; during that time he had been in many severe and difficult situations being forced to make quick decisions and keep an outwardly calm appearance. Presenting a façade came almost as naturally to him as breathing but thousands of miles above the ground waiting on news didn't sit with him. His agitation merely continued to manifest, especially in light of the cargo his personal jet was carrying. Bringing one of those ungodly creatures back to Japan always irritated him, he liked to keep personal and business separate, contaminating his native soil with such vulgar filth always provoked uneasy feelings. He avoided it at all costs not wanting to lure them anywhere near Tokyo or his children.

Not for the first time was he sincerely glad Kimiko was safe many miles away at University, or at least he hoped she was. Lately his children had developed a habit of surprising him and considering the date tomorrow and how inventive his daughter happened to be nothing would shock him. Damn; he wished the thing would just talk but all he got was garble and pleads. Short of killing it - which would go against orders and make the who process utterly useless - he couldn't do anything except hope that he could find other ways of persuasion. It was a young one after all; weak and not at all very strong which suited him fine. Last time they'd caught one it had to be disposed of straight away.

"Drink sir?"

Satoshi looked up at his colleague and forced a smile as he accepted the glass of wine. He could use the distraction and Ash had unknowingly provided him with a very good one as the young man took a seat next to him. Taking a deep sip he mulled over his colleague; Ash was his protégée…a lucky and remarkable discovery made over ten years ago. The boy had been born in London, a gem among millions as his brilliant mind attracted attention placing him in celebrated schools for his academics until finally Satoshi had visited him personally when he was seventeen. Ash was orphaned, Ash wanted a challenge. The doctor had merely prescribed him one.

Of course his personal liking to Ash was set aside in recent light. Doctor Murakami was a expert at reading people, in his field you had to be quick with your wits and cunning. However one fatal flaw had overlooked his honed wits and that was his fatherly blindness. Who could blame him? Kimiko had met Ash when she was merely eight years old and the most she had done then was want him to get her skipping rope down from the tree. He'd thought their relationship was just friends, almost like a brother and sister…it was only at the New Years Eve party he noticed that Kimiko was looking at Ash like no sister looked at a brother. It was only then it had occurred to him that his baby daughter was actually eighteen.

She'd had a boyfriend before but he never really thought it was serious or at least he hoped not. It had ended in the manner that most teenage romances did - all drama and tears but then that was normal. A few hankies and comforting words later and she had been right as rain. But now she was eighteen, an adult…even thinking the notion was distasteful, his little Kimi an adult? Could she even operate the washing machine correctly yet?

There were worse people to have a crush on. Ash was handsome, clever, charismatic and funny. That's why it was so difficult. Murakami liked and respected Ash very much but he was twenty-eight and Kimiko would be nineteen in two months. He knew there was exactly ten years and two months between them. He also knew that in love age tended to be irrelevant - wasn't his own marriage an example of that? But then Katrina had been over twenty not in her teens.

"It's all secure sir. It's still unconscious in the back so no danger of another break-out. That would probably make a good hit at the box office, forget snakes on a plane and try Vampires at 10 000 feet," Ash joked clenching his jaw to suppress a yawn. That's another think Satoshi appreciated in Ash Cooper, the boy was laid back and easy going. Most of his colleagues were uptight fanatical insomniacs who wouldn't recognise a joke if it did the limbo wearing a circus tent. He gave a light chuckle considering a few of them.

"Indeed not, I never liked that film to begin with," Satoshi commented casually keeping his voice friendly and open, "You can laugh Ash, I like that about you. Most of us lost our sense of humour a while ago. Take Adams for example…his humour merely relates to pornographic images off the internet. He was asking questions yesterday." Ash looked mildly intrigued as he sipped his wine although his blue eyes scanned Satoshi's paler ones with a trace of suspicion.

"About what sir?"

"My daughter to begin with," Satoshi said eyeing Ash unblinkingly even when the young man looked perturbed for a moment with his dark blue eyes widening a fraction, "Oh yes. He thought she was quite pretty. Naturally I corrected him immediately….but still I suppose my Kimiko is just as radiant as her mother. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I suppose sir," Ash said careful to keep his tone devoid of any emotion. Murakami raised an eyebrow.

"Let us be honest with each other Ash, I've always liked and respected you, even looked to you as an Uncle would look to his favourite nephew. Do not attempt to lie to me, I would much prefer honesty. You turned twenty-eight last week and my daughter turns nineteen in precisely two months. That will even the gap up to nine years…I think she likes you and I know you already know this since you are obviously intelligent enough to notice," Satoshi said frankly not bothering to mince his words. Ash nodded betraying a slight edge of nervousness.

"Look, sir if we're going to be honest then obviously she is too young for me. I thought of her as nothing more than a friend…I mean she still is a friend but well, I always saw her as your daughter, your little girl…it wasn't until recently that I saw-"

"Saw the young lady she has grown to be. In that respect we are both incredibly short sighted. I blindly expected my children to remain eternally glued to being thirteen. Now one of them is in Vermont under the impression he is helping to save the world in a game more dangerous than he could imagine while the other is looking at men not spotty scruffy teenage boys." Satoshi said plainly, "When I met Katrina I was thirty-two and she was twenty-one. I denied her for a while thinking myself a fool but she was stubborn and hot headed. Two qualities I am sure you have noticed in somebody else too."

W-What are you suggesting sir?" Ash asked bewilderedly.

"Do you or do you not like my daughter?"

"I-"

"Ash, no excuses or I may be forced to through you off the plane."

"Fine, alright I like Kimiko but aren't you supposed to be threatening me with death and dismissal? What makes me so different from Adam? He's younger than I am for a start." Ash said exasperatedly.

"Adam is a creep, you are a good man. And who said I wouldn't threaten you? If you break her heart then most certainly it would be in my line of duty to ruin you and your name forever. However like I said, you are a good man. Better than most which means I will give you one chance. Don't take it lightly," Murakami said sternly. A part of him was unable to process what he had just said. Actually giving Ash consent to court Kimiko wasn't really something he had planned but he had thought about it a great deal. It had always been, maybe when she was a little older but then Kichiroú had proved to him how grown his children now were. If he was allowing one of them into this chaotic mess than he could at least allow the other a small shot at happiness with a good man who would look after her.

"Sir-"

"What?" Satoshi asked allowing his mask to slip temporarily as he bathed in nostalgia interrupted by the brisk voice of Ash.

"Look at the news," Ash said unusually gravely. Satoshi felt a shiver of dread as he raised the volume on the small flat screen watching as the female news reporter showed them a building oozing heavy thick black smoke. The Doctor felt his heart jolt and his pulse increase as he watched the report blank-faced with an eerie neutrality.

"The fire brigade are reported to have the blaze under control but as of yet there are no statements relating to the origin of the fire or in fact the survival of those inside. The Facility of Science and Technology was first noticed to be alight at five minutes past seven this evening when a nearby civilian spotted the blaze from the upper windows of his downtown apartment-"

The American accent faded as Satoshi switched the screen of and downed the rest of his wine in a single gulp. A grimace was upon his face as he stood up feeling adrenaline and determination surge as he seized control of the situation. "I want this plane in Tokyo by eleven o'clock sharp and I want you to contact Sandra to see if everyone was out of the building and why I wasn't informed sooner before the media began its parade. I want Morrison alerted and most of all I want our entire team assembled at the laboratory tonight."

"Yes sir," Ash said dashing toward the pilots cabin shouting to the other members of staff onboard including a surly looking man and a rather skinny brunette. Satoshi sighed running a hand through his hair as he stared out at the ominous black clouds below them as though already seeing evil cold glares staring back at him.

This day was not going perfectly at all.

Dominic of the Dragonseekers eyed the burning orange flames passionlessly as they flared higher and higher consuming all in their paths with hungry tongues of heated orange and melted yellow. The whole building would soon be reduced to rubble even with the humans trying to appease the blaze with spurts of water and other feeble methods. Nobody would be hurt, Gregori was absolute that no innocent humans or bystanders should fall victim which was why he had seen that the area was evacuated before starting the flames which would soon burn out. It was crucial that no evidence be left, none of the vile human equipment should survive.

Dust poured into the air along with ash and smoke. From the shadows the six Carpathians watched; Isabella had insisted upon coming for the benefit of her daughter leaving her son in the care of Aidan's life mate Alexandria while Savannah was obstinate about leaving Gregori's side. Dominic noticed how neither Gavril or Gregori could fully deny their life mates even though they would be in some length of danger. His emotions had long since fled, the flames before him shone in only colours of grey and molten silver, drab and lifeless. Even so he was aware of their foolishness but accepted it noncommittally - what they did with their life mates was no business of his. For present his piercing green eyes where only on the charred remains of the building.

"It appears we shall be in need of a quicker way of travelling to Tokyo if we are to attempt to catch up with this madman," Gregori said distastefully. Gavril was holding Isabella in his arms barely able to contain his fury, his muscles were clenched and his mouth set in a straight harsh line. They had all smelt it, the smell of Carpathian blood and possibly the parents were at their wits end imagining the kind of terrors their precious child had been put through. It was sickening, Dominic out of duty would quite contentedly wreck revenge for them if the female was lost. Such a loss would not only be devastating to the parents but to the whole Carpathian race. The loss of a fledgling, a female one at that would be a staggering blow to them all.

"I will have to remain behind," Aidan said almost apologetically bowing slightly.

"It's alright," Savannah said managing a small smile as she fitted neatly under Gregori's arm, "Please make sure the twins behave themselves." Dominic thought back to the Dark One's infant children, the twins Melody and Magdalena. He had hoped…but he knew the moment he laid eyes on them it was not so. Such energetic radiant children filled with innocence were not meant for him. Aidan nodded.

"We will protect them with our lives," Aidan assured, "For now farewell, may you find good luck in your goal, our blessings are with you," The blond haired hunter bowed sympathetically clasping the arm of Gavril before finally dissolving from view to be with his life mate to watch over the children. The birthmark of the dragon was silent, the only evil at work in New York was of human design and even now it was smouldering into dust scattered by the wind. Dominic knew the true purpose behind his presence on this venture; many more hunters would have willingly accepted the opportunity to lend their services in such a way but at the request of the Prince himself Dominic had been chosen to go. A desperate attempt to assuage the growing darkness inside him for a while longer. It was pointless, as it stood now Dominic no longer recognised if he had ever felt anything other than cold indifference or saw any colours other than fading greys and dark silvers let alone if he would ever see them again. Even his memories of Rhiannon were growing thinner and fewer until he was certain he sister may vanish eternally from his mind.

And even worse was the knowledge that this did not in any way disturb or upset him.

His green gaze moved from the dying flames towards the skyline. Huge man-made buildings of glass and stone reached towards the sky in gigantic columns while lights shining out of their windows almost like stars in the sky. The streets were hard and bare save for the fire engines which were busy at work with humans shouting and yelling to each other. Adjusting his glance from that sight it moved towards the other streets, towards the dust and ash blowing in the wind picking up stray pieces of paper and other useless items laying along the ground - even a few flowers from the florists were not spared as they wove and danced through the air trailing petals along the ground.

"Doctor Murakami Satoshi is said to be second only to Morrison himself, he works in Tokyo. That is most likely where they have taken Aurelia which means that for present they need her alive for something," Gregori stated grimly. Dominic half listened as his eyes followed the flowers caught by the wind. He blinked and for a brief second his heart ceased and his breath caught. A colour flared suddenly in the corner of his eyes. There was a shimmer of green followed by a fragile petal of white…it flared so suddenly and was abruptly lost. Dominic stared only seeing grey bland flowers, there was no colour on the lonely Lily as it soared along the ground.

"Dominic? Something puzzles you?" Gregori questioned.

"Nothing," Dominic said sharply feeling his heart once more throb, he was painfully aware of it's quickened beats and so sought to calm it as he turned his eyes away and towards the sky where the stars twinkled and the moon shone. For a moment he thought he had seen…but it must have been a trick. He thought he had smelled the scent, a sweet lulling scent he couldn't name but he must have been mistaken. He turned his gaze emptily towards Gregori to repeat and secure the statement if not for his benefit then for everyone else's.

"It was nothing."

Meanwhile many miles away curled up in her bed Murakami Kimiko huddled under the thick quilts with a satisfied smile as she set down her book of poetry. Whether by simple nostalgia or sudden sentimentality she had read a few chapters refreshing her memory. The fairy lights on her walls shone warmly while the wide windows on her sloping ceiling allowed her a flawless view of the night sky in all it's glory and silver moonlight bounced off the glass showering her room in a glossy transparent glow. She smiled hugging the stuffed toy to her body as her mind wandered and dreamed to the next evening. A plane flew overhead, she remembered hearing it vaguely before drifting finally into sleep.

Little did she know that was the last night of true peaceful sleep she would ever have for a long time.

Time is relative.

I find it impossible to consider that once we reach a certain age we are automatically expected to act differently. That at the age of eighteen one is abruptly no longer a child, as if some spell has been woven through the night and they transcend ages waking up the next morning suddenly full of unknown knowledge and decorum. It is ridiculous to suppose that such a thing occurs, age does not shape us or turn us into mature beings. The girl of eighteen can easily be as naïve as the girl of eight, the man of fifty can just as easily react as swiftly as the youth of fifteen while the ancient of thousands can be just as lonely as the number of one.

I knew that even then. I was caught between a limbo of childhood and adulthood neither fully in any world. I was not stupid; In many respects I did know the ways of the world very well but they were the ways of the world as I perceived them. I never perceived the world hidden from me so I could never claim to have intelligence of it. When you are caught between fire and water you chose water because you know how to swim.

They say the world ends in fire and water but it is a lie. For me my world ended in a pool of blood, perfume and ash. I never realised that if you knocked away the pillars than the building will surely fall, that if you do not cut away the weeds they will always grow back strangling the garden. That night I slept thinking only of tomorrow imagining so many things I could do. An anxious mixture of excitement, anticipation, nervousness and anxiety.

I never knew that the weeds were already growing.

Memoirs of Murakami Kimiko

After some serious consideration I had my spark for this story relit and decided to re-draft it to improve it. I might have gone a little overboard on all the flowery stuff but trust me if you know flowers you know they mean something. For example Primroses symbolise Desperation and disappointment. Also, yes I did slip a little mentioning of my other Carpathian character Anna in there. This is set two years after her but there won't be many more mentionings because I don't want to spoil it. I also recomend you read that poem by William Yeats because it is quite symbolic of Kimiko in her little world.

Please R&R. I'd like this to be as popular as Dark Chronicles because Kimiko is a character I've grown attatched too and this story is quite surprising with a few big twists.

Daydreamer!x