Chapter 2

I felt Onikiri tug at my skirt but I paid her no attention, instead I focused my attention on the strangers. They seem to be weak at the moment but my instincts were still up and alert for any sudden attack. I wonder if I should invite them to Uncle Kurama's condominium. They looked so… hurt.

"Kaede-sama," this time it was Kotetsu who tugged at my sleeve to catch my attention. "You shouldn't meddle with anymore demons," she warned me, as if reading my mind. I didn't respond at her, instead I kept my gaze on the two.

"I'm Momozono Kaede,"

"My name is Tsukinami Carla," the pale haired one replied to my earlier question. "This is my younger brother, Shin,"

My sensitive ears twitched. The weakness in his baritone voice did not escape my notice. Is he sick of something else aside from his present injuries? I didn't know what came to me. I wasn't usually meddler or a saint but looking at this two proud beings appearing so vulnerable suddenly had me asking a question I'd never expected to ask.

"Would you like to come to my house? I can help you," I saw the immediate annoyance on Shin's eyes. He curled his lip into a sneer.

"We don't need your help! Just tell us where the hell this place is," he snapped, scowling at me.

I raised a brow and opened my mouth for a retort when Carla suddenly started coughing. My lips pressed together in concern when I glimpsed blood on his gloved hand when he moved his hand from his lips.

"Ni-sama!" Shin rubbed Carla's back, distress evident on his voice.

"I'm fine, Shin," Carla regarded me moments later. I decided that I didn't care. I could hold out a staring game with Akura-ou so I could also hold out in front of those golden eyes. Huh, they're pretty… but I still hate that haughty you're-just-a-peasant look in those eyes.s

"You really are sick, aren't you?" I blurted out and like lightning, Shin turned back to me so fast I thought I'd break his pretty neck, with rage coloring his face.

"It's none of your business so scram, filth!" he hissed in anger. Kotetsu and Onikiri flinched and hid behind my legs but I only frowned at his actions. Really, my father or Akura-ou is much scarier than this.

I dropped my backpack on the ground and handed my umbrella to Kotetsu before plucking four strands of my hair and cautiously advanced to the two. I paused when Shin bared his fangs and claws. I felt my brow twitch in annoyance. Tch, fine. No offering to house them, especially this piece of work. I'll just do my part of helping them, that way my conscience won't bother me much.

"Shin," Carla calmed him down and stared at me curiously, his eyes quietly beckoning me to approach.

I continued to walk towards them in cautious but confident strides. I stopped when I was at arm's length away from them. "Your hand," I told them holding out my hand.

"Kaede-sama… my lady, you shouldn't do that!" Onikiri cried, realizing what I'm about to do.

"What is 'it' talking about?" Shin demanded dropping a glance at the fire children before suspiciously eying me.

I sighed impatiently. "I'm not going to kill you or anything. I'm trying to help so hold out your hand?" I said. I directed my gaze at White since he seemed the type that can listen to reason. He appeared suspicious and calculating, his gaze bore onto mine trying to pry into my thoughts. I kept my gaze on his eyes, wordlessly challenging him to start talking crap like his brother but he held out his hand. The action surprised me.

"Nii-sama!" Shin exclaimed in surprise that his brother was placing even a little of his trust to a complete stranger like me.

I pulled two of the strands of my hair that I plucked earlier and carefully wrapped them on his index finger. I saw him stiffen and widen his eyes then I suddenly found my collar roughly pulled forwards rendering me face-to-face with and angry Shin.

"What the fuck did you do?" he practically snarled at my face, ready to tear me to shreds. Luckily, Carla stopped him.

"Shin," Carla said, stopping the mongrel.

Shin immediately dropped me when he saw that Carla was now on his feet and the deep wounds on his body were steadily healing. His eyes were wide with an emotion akin to awe. He turned to me shortly, eyes (or eye) narrowed.

"What did you do?" he questioned, less aggressive than before.

I crossed my arms on my chest. "I helped," I retorted, vaguely answering him. He was still quiet. "Now, are you going to hold out your hand now?" I drawled as if talking to a kid, holding out my hand. He eyed my hand warily as if it was a deadly object then, "Hmph!" he hesitantly held out his hand.

Ah, this petty bastard. I sighed before carefully wrapping the remaining hair strands around his index finger. Seconds later, his wounds started healing in a steady pace. It was amusing looking at Shin's child-like expression, like as if he was learning something interesting. He was looking at his hand with a surprised face but he immediately scoffed and looked away when he realized what he was doing.

"The healing will take time. I just boosted your healing ability so you'll recover sooner but don't expect to be healed in a lightning speed," I explained.

I turned and picked up my things. Adjusting my backpack and taking my umbrella from Kotetsu, I started to take my leave.

"You…" I paused and turned my head. Shin had this confused expression on his face, as if he's trying to solve a puzzle with several missing pieces. "…you're no demon. But you're not human, are you?" he drawled, scowling at me.

I scoffed. "Excuse me, but I'm human," I snapped, a force of habit. Because of the extraordinary allure of my appearance that I inherited from my father and my almost-eccentric personality, I usually became a subject of bullying from my human classmates at school. Girls hate that I draw too much attention. Boys are attracted to me but they hate that I always get in their way when they're bullying another student. And thus, I always get accused of not being human a lot, it didn't help that someone witnessed me fight a violent group and won single-handedly. Well, those thugs were actually lesser demons under glamour.

"Humans do not usually have demons as servants these days, do they?" Carla's statement led me pursing my lips.

I turned to give them my full attention. I gave a small smile. "They are not my servants, but my father's. They are merely here to babysit me," I gave a small sigh. "Well, let's go, that is if you still want to come over. It's getting late,"

I half expected Shin to explode again but he seemed calmer now that they are steadily healing. I whistled and a phantom carriage appeared, instead of horses and drivers, Kotetsu and Onikiri supported the wheels with their flames. The brothers were apprehensive of the carriage but after I explained that it was my only way of transportation, they relented, albeit very reluctantly.

"Kaede, your father will skin you for this but…it's a good thing that he is still in the demon world for some time," I whispered to the wind.

Taking a glance at the woods, I prayed to the deities hoping I didn't make a stupid decision.