The kitten arrived irregularly from then on. Sometimes it would be every day and sometimes days would go by with no sign of her. Jin and Holly became inseparable and, inevitably, Jin's father began to take an interest in the little girl his youngest could not stop talking about. He decided that it was time he met the girl. And her rather infamous father.

There was a knock on the door of Youko's modest dwelling a short time later and Koko opened the door to reveal a slightly annoyed Touya. She invited him in and, as was proper, offered him tea. Touya declined and requested to speak with Youko, if he was available. There was a slight curl to his lip that said louder than words that he would rather be doing almost anything, but his tone was impeccably correct for one asking a favor. Koko led him to the den. Where Youko and Kurone were in the midst of a planning session. All speech ended as Koko knocked on the door.

"Youko-sama," she said after having received the command to enter and opening the door, "Touya-san is here to speak to you."

"Please, come in," Youko stepped between Touya and the desk as Kurone collected the assorted diagrams and sketches. "Koko will fetch us some tea."

"Thank you, but I cannot stay," Touya said, inclining his head slightly. "I have been sent by my father to convey an invitation for you and your daughter to dine with us this evening, if you do not already have other plans. He would be most interested in meeting the two of you."

"It would be our honor to join him for dinner," Youko replied. "What time should we arrive?"

"My father will send transportation for you in three hours time, if that is convenient."

"Thank your father for his consideration, but we can travel just as quickly on our own without inconveniencing him," Youko replied.

"Your pardon, sir, but my father has told me to inform you that he will insist on this. He does not have guests so often that he would show them any less than the maximum courtesy."

"In that case, please inform your father that we shall be ready and waiting in three hours time and he has our gratitude for both the invitation and the transportation." What else could he say? Youko and Touya bowed to each other and Touya took his leave, escorted to the door by Koko.

In the den, Youko waited for the sound of the front door closing behind Touya before turning back to Kurone, who was spreading the papers back over the desk again.

"Do you think they suspect something?" Kurone asked nervously.

Youko thought for a moment and then shook his head. "No, I think this is about Holly and Jin. After all, he did specifically ask for her to accompany me. If he had the slightest inkling of our plans, he would have sent a squad of soldiers, not his eldest son. Just in case, though, you, Hiei and Koko need to assemble the emergency escape kits and be ready to go two hours after we leave. Also, if you see anyone outside after we go, wait for us in the escape tunnels. Make sure there is nothing unusual here in the house before our ride gets here."

"Of course. Hiei, Koko and I will prepare everything."

"You'll have to make do with Hiei. Koko is going to need to get Holly ready for this momentous event," Youko started out the door as Kurone started up packing up the paperwork. "After all, it's not every day that a girl meets her future father-in-law."

Koko had her hands full, bathing, dressing and preparing Holly. Holly was so excited that she could not sit still for more than a second at a time until Koko pointed out that if Holly did not sit still she would not be ready and would have to be left at home while her father went to have dinner with Jin and his father alone. Not that she could, but the threat did force the child to settle down and allow her hair to be dried and brushed. She was ready mere seconds before the palanquin carried by six low level demons and escorted by a good dozen warriors arrived.

Youko was expressionless as if unimpressed by this display, but Holly kept peering out in awe. Upon arriving at the Storm King's palace, they were escorted by a series of obviously high-level servants to the dining room where their host and his sons waited. There were a few other guests, but Youko was seated to the right of his host, in the place of honor.

Also waiting, since the children would be dining in a separate area set aside for them, were a few other children including a little girl of about the same apparent age as Holly and Jin. She had curly golden hair and violet eyes set in a sweet little lavender face. Her name was Kiki. She was one of Jin's favorite playmates and his father had had hopes of a match with her until he met Holly.

The dinner went well and the children rejoined the adults after the meal. Holly and Jin sat between their fathers and Kiki shyly slid into the seat just to Youko's other side, looking up at him with a combination of terror and hero-worship. The conversation remained fairly casual with Jin's father asking a few questions about how long Youko would be staying in the area and if he really was retired.

Youko parried the questions with noncommital answers to the effect that he was not sure how long they would be there and he was looking into a new direction for work. Generally they managed to have a genial conversation without saying anything definitive beyond the fact that the children seemed to get along well and should probably be allowed to associate and play together. That decided, the dinner ended and Youko and Holly were sent home in the same manner in which they had arrived.

When they got home, it was to find Kurone, Hiei and Koko waiting anxiously. Youko took Kurone and Hiei into his den to discuss the changes in their situation while Koko took Holly up and put her to bed. Holly was so excited that she thought she would never get to sleep. She chattered excitedly to Koko as she went up the stairs and changed into her pajamas. She was still chattering as Koko tucked her into bed, but she dropped off to sleep as Koko crossed the room and put out the light.