Thanks to all of wonderful reviewers! It means a lot to me :D

Akira looked out of the window of the jet plane headed to Sendai, Japan and thought it had been almost too easy to steal Kid's credit card. She had pretty much just lied to Liz and told her she needed new nail polish and would get her some as well if only she had money. She knew Liz was addicted to nail polish and true to her addiction she brought Akira the credit card before leaving and told her she wanted metallic blue if she found it. She did feel bad for lying, but it was for a good reason even if she couldn't tell them the reason when she got back.

"Something to drink miss?" A tall flight attendant asked her with a wide smile.

"No thanks" Akira said 'The upfront ticket to Sendai cost $3112 I had better not buy anything more than I need, though it probably will not matter much.' The attendant just nodded and continued on her way through the other seats. She had about another 8 hours of flying left before they arrived in the Sendai airport. '8 hours, huh?' Akira thought with a slight grin 'That's Kid's favorite symmetrical number although you'd think it would 8888 so he could divide it in half and get eight perfect pieces. Maybe I should take a nap so I can straight to my father's house. I hope he is not at the college teaching when I get there.' She leaned back into her seat and closed her eyes trying to fall asleep.

```````````````````````` 8 and a half hours later```````````````````````````````

Akira stood up and stretched before grabbing the only bag she had brought with her. It was just a small carry on and when she had first bought the plane ticket the clerk had questioned why she had only a small bag and why she was going along until she showed him the credit card. He was quite cooperative after that and luckily for her the next flight had only been about an hour's wait. She walked out of the tunnel leading out into Sendai's main airport area. She quickly walked outside and hailed a taxi. She stopped in surprise and wondered how she had understood everyone in America because they spoke English and she just spoke Japanese. She made a mental note to ask about that when she got back, gave the taxi driver Kid's credit card and gave him direction's to her house. She stopped a few blocks away and decided to walk around until she came up with a plan.

'Come to me child for you are in need.' A voice sounded in Akira's head. She jumped in surprise and it spoke again 'Come to me child. Follow the shadow and I shall aid you.'

Akira looked around realizing that a voice really had sounded in her head. She was even more surprised as a shadow seemed to detach itself from the wall and slowly shift into a humanoid shape and walk slowly forward. 'Lucky for it that it's nighttime.' Akira thought beginning to follow it ignoring her danger sense. The shadow entered into an abandoned building and Akira hesitated for a moment before entering. A cold blast of wind rushed past and Akira walked slowly forward until she reached a set of dangerous looking stairs. 'Well I hope it doesn't collapse.' Akira thought apprehensively before climbing up the stairs.

"My dear child you came." said the voice and Akira started in surprise to see an old looking women in a tattered dress step forward. Akira tried to not gag as she looked at her. The woman was quite hideous with wrinkly skin with most of her hair missing and several teeth gone to. She spoke again "I am not all I once was."

"I'm sorry..." She started, but the woman interrupted with a wave of her hand.

"I was once one of the most powerful witches in the world, but I was locked inside this building by Lord Death when he did not want to take my soul!" The witch spat angrily.

"You're a witch! Why didn't Lord Death take your soul?" Akira said tensing up. The witch gave her a measured glance and spoke with hatred.

"I am an example of what happens to witches. He left me alive to show other witch's his power!"

"Then why would you bring me here?" Akira asked losing all sense of precaution to curiosity.

"Oh that." The witch said losing all hatred and malice in a blink of the eye "I could not help, but notice your predicament with your father. We could help other."

"I wouldn't help you! You're evil" Akira said scathingly.

"My name is Lelura." the witch said "And your father might depend on it. You see my dear I could fake his death in exchange for your freeing me."

Akira still looked angry and said "But you are a witch. For all I know, you might kill him afterwards! It would be something a witch would do!" The witch just yawned and said "We would make a blood pact and then I could not physically kill him. I know you have more reason than most to hate witches since you and mother were both murdered by one, but I would happily help you for freedom. You have nothing to fear from me"

Akira considered what the witch said. She figured that whatever a blood pact was could not be broken. Lord Death would never find out about it anyway and would assume the witch had just escaped on her own. 'Maybe the witch would take her father with him and protect him also. It does make sense. I will make the blood pact and see if she will do the second deal as well. What will she want for protecting him as well? I guess I will find out'

Akira cleared her throat and asked "Could you take my father with you and protect him afterwards for something else to?" The witch gave a disgusting grin and nodded. "Very well, I shall accept the, uh, blood pact thing." Akira said.

"Excellent" Lelura produced a ceremonial knife and conjured up a fire and slit her arm and as her blood hit, the fire turned blood-red. "I promise to help this young angel's father pretend death and protect him in exchange for freedom and a favor to use as I so choose."

Akira took the knife and at the witch's urging sliced her own arm and spoke similar to the witch, but the fire flared pure white before turning black.

"It is finished." Lelura sounded positively gleeful and starting chanting some words. Long thick black hair grew and she seemed to turn younger and all her teeth filled in. She was now quite beautiful, but had a malicious look about her. "Let's go fake a murder." She said turning to Akira with a terrifying look on her face. Akira immediately wondered if this had been a mistake. 'I can't go back now. I might as well make the most of it.'