Aillas: Hello to anybody crazy enough to read this.

Tren: It is greatly appreciated.

Aillas: But considering that you are most like insane too… you probably don't care.

Tren: (glare) Stop being rude.

Aillas: Well, once again, Tren has brought me in as her muse.

Tren: Because all my other muses are busy.

Aillas: Sure. You're just saying that.

Tren: No! Really! Between that and working on the script for my comic, I'm totally screwed.

Aillas: Oh yes. The comic. She's obsessed.

Tren: Can I really help it?

Aillas: Yes. Yes you can.

Tren: AUGH! Doesn't matter, let's get onto the story.

Aillas: Yes, lets!

-Satan; so call him now, his former name is heard no more in heaven- John Milton

Smoking has been said, often, to be dangerous for one's health. Considering that it has been proven using White Mice that they do, indeed cause lung cancer and other side affects like coughing, bad smell and death. Of course, this never worried Lucas, as he knew one thing that had been kept secret by the medical community for years. Everything gives white mice cancer. Even though he knew this, Lucas had decided to give up smoking. Three days so far. Good progress. Longest he'd gone so far though he was beginning to feel that nagging at the back of his mind.

"Got a cigarette?" the voice asked. Where was his luck?

"Yeah," Lucas muttered, shoving his hand into his empty pocket to pull out a fresh pack, materialized out of nothing. Casually flicking out one out, he handed it over to the speaker, who took it quickly, sliding it out between his fingers. There was the sound of rummaging before a sigh was issued and it spoke again.

"Got a light?"

"Yeah," again he shoved his hand into his pocket, made a lighter and handed it over once more as the person flicked it open and lit it up.

"Y'know, you didn't have to do that," the voice drawled as Lucas tapped his forehead against the wall once more.

"Well, those things tend to work better when they're lit," he replied, closing his eyes as he tried it resist wanting a smoke of his own. Who was this person? They ask for a light and then say "You didn't need to do that"? Had common decency gotten so low since he had last visited?

"Nah, I mean you didn't have to make that lighter."

"It's really noth….. ing….?" It had suddenly struck Lucas just what exactly the speaker had said. Considering he was staring down at the concrete walkway, he knew very little about her. All he really knew was this place was probably a favorite hang out for people to smoke, as what could only have been the results of three years of chain-smoking between breaks had accumulated in the gutter below. Closing his eyes to focus, he got a picture of the speaker in his mind.

It came rather like an old T.V coming into focus. A young woman, not entirely an adult yet, though her face had the rather world weary expression that usually only came with age. Mousy, long brown hair fell softly around her face, her bangs hanging just past her eyebrows and bored, tawny eyes. The freshly lit cigarette was held casually between her fingers with the expertise of years of practice. Hanging down from her neck and tied firmly behind her waist was an apron proclaiming to any who happened to read Japanese (and in Japan that is pretty much everybody) that she worked at a hair salon. She was probably on break right now, wasting her time with ruining her lungs, a preferred pastime of many humans. Softly, the name drifted to the top of Lucas' mind.

"What are you implying?" he asked, looking up at her, eye narrowed dangerously into the slits, trying to give her the benefit of the doubt be realizing he'd never been good at that to begin with.

"I'm just sayin', you didn't have to make that lighter," she restated as though it was obvious and he really shouldn't waste his breath with questions like that. Though… it's not like he really had breath to begin with…

"And how were you supposed to smoke you cigarette?" Lucas rolled his eyes, straightening up his back and running one hand self consciously through his hair.

"Dunno… pretty sure you could've thought of something," she replied, her demeanor perfectly cool, as though she seemed to say "I've seen more than you ever will be punk, just try and surprise me".

"Are you implying that I have magic powers? This is not a comic, nor am I a street performer," Lucas shot back, straightening his clothing to get some of the more undignified wrinkles out before cross his arms over his chest.

"It's not… but you do," she replied cryptically as she looked calmly up at the man. He was tall, she'd give him that, and his clothing looked expensive and depressing. Currently he was looking down at her with an imperious expression that probably wasn't his fault it was just his nature, but it still made her want to smile.

"Obscure. I hate people who are obscure," he muttered, running a hand through his hair again, letting it trail down his neck and linger on one shoulder for just a second longer than anything else before deciding it was better to tuck his hands into his pockets though he was longing to take a cigarette from the pack he made and light up.

"Go ahead," she held said pack out to him and he realized the longing must have been evident on his face.

"I've been trying to quit."

"So?"

There was a bit of a standoff for a second before Lucas sighed and grabbed the pack, flicking one out before tossing the rest back at her. Not even bothering to ask for the lighter, he guessed she already guessed he wasn't human, oh how he hated psychics. Therefore, he had not qualms in having it light itself on his way to his mouth and relished in the long, impossibly deep drag.

"See."

Glaring at her, he decided it would just be better to give in. Leaning his shoulder casually against the alley wall, he sighed, letting the smoke loose from his lips with a sort of grace that the young woman had never seen before.

"At least you didn't say 'told you so'," Lucas reasoned, then gave her a warning look as if to say, "and don't get any ideas."

"So then, what are you? You certainly aren't human and I get the feelin' that you won't take to kindly to being called a demon."

True to her 'feelin' upon being even compared to a demon, Lucas nearly choked on his own smoke before settling himself, his appearance seemed a little messier and definitely miffed. Giving a throaty laugh he smoothed out his clothing once more, finishing it off with the rather trademark once-over on his hair.

"Yes, yes I would," he was still chuckling a bit to himself before he once again took a soothing draw from the cigarette, letting the smoke leak out slowly this time from between pursed lips. "You're a bit blunt, aren't you?"

"I've been told so."

The answer was so matter-of-fact, Lucas guessed that the had, indeed, been informed of this trait often, probably by someone close… her… brother? He focused a little hard absentmindedly and sure enough, his hunch was right. But then again, when had they been wrong?

"Well, nothing wrong with being blunt, though it's an odd mix considering how cryptic you were a moment ago, it's rather amusing," he looked off, feeling the beginning of a presence. It felt… orange, as if that was anyway to describe it. Looking up suddenly, he immediately stood and heard her speak.

"My idiot little brother's coming," she noted, looking over her shoulder even though nobody was in sight yet.

"I know, have a lovely day, Chizuru," Lucas did a quick little bow before doing a off handed little salute and darting off, calling over his shoulder, "Nice meeting you!" With that he was gone.

"Sister! Have you been smoking?" came the familiar, rough voice of her brother as he gave her an exasperated look while she gave him that bored expression and replied, nonchalantly with, "So?"

While the lecture came to a standstill, pretty much like always, Lucas was currently darting away, unaware of where exactly he was leaving to when he found himself pretty much in the middle of a thick forest with no clue where on the earth he was. Of course, it wasn't as though he thought he had wandered off he face of the earth and he was pretty sure he was still somewhere in Japan. As if to add to the mood, the skies began to darken and a sudden summer rain fell from the sky, surprising anybody unlucky enough to be outside.

"Oh God bless," Lucas moaned, looking up at the roiling grey clouds. Where was the ambiance when he needed it? Now it came and he was lost and unimpressive, his clothes hanging rather heavily from rain water. Unlike everybody else hit with the rain, Lucas did not run. There was no shelter nearby, why exert oneself?

Then, like out of some old samurai movie a wall loomed in the distance, with a large gate. Impressive, if he knew who it was guarding… or was it designed to keep people out? Never mind that, Lucas could feel the water dripping down his back, face… well… it was uncomfortable to say the least. Taking a few steps back he took a vaulting leap over the wall and landed lightly on the ground to the other side to see a… house? Could one even consider it a house?

It didn't matter. He was cold, wet and praying that it was empty and there was that nagging feeling of a demon… But nothing else. One lone demon he could handle easily enough, though if it decided to bring friends he might just have some trouble.

Spying the door, Lucas moved over quickly to slid it open, amused at the rather traditional style of the house before getting a fleeting touch of the residual aura that slowly oozed off and made Lucas grow rather pale. HER. It wasn't as though he was afraid, more like wary, but he found himself to be grateful that the only person left was a demon. Poking his head in before entering completely from the rough weather outside, Lucas sighed happily, just happy to be out of the weather outside. That's when he heard a small voice.

"Genkai? Is that you?" it was a sweet voice, rather melodic with an almost breathless quality. Oddly, it reminded Lucas of the damsel in distress kind of character in a bad RPG. Dismissing it as his own rather rambunctious imagination he turned to face the speaker, surprised to see what appeared to be a young girl.

"OH!" she put her hands gently to her bottom lip, her eyes widening in surprise before settling back to their normal size, still rather large and startlingly innocent. "You're not Genkai!"

"No, that is not my name," Lucas replied calmly, trying vaguely to appear at least somewhat cool, though knowing the limp, wet hair and soaked clothes ruined any chance he may of ever had.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was wandering and got lost in the forest. I just so happened to stumble by here… I didn't know it was inhabited. I'll leave to you, miss," he bowed his head ever so slightly, turning to the door with a resigned sigh before he heard her speak up again.

"No! I mean, it's raining outside and…" she trailed off and Lucas smirked. Got her where he wanted her.

It wasn't as though he wanted anything out of her, just a place to stay out of the rain. With this prospect now hanging in the air, Lucas turned around slowly, pivoting on his left foot to smile at her warmly and rubbing his hands together, the subconscious way people hinted that they were cold, though Lucas had never thought of it as a problem and often wondered what this "cold" felt like.

"Well, miss, if you insist, I wouldn't complain. The rain should stop soon, I hope," Lucas bowed his head, letting his blond hair, now lank, fall past his shoulders and face, hiding his eyes like curtain.

"Are you cold?" she ventured, taking a few steps closer to him before she stopped herself, as though reminding herself to keep her distance from a stranger.

"Not entirely, though this wind is getting nasty," he replied graciously as she motioned for him to follow her into what appeared to be a kitchen, though rather "old world".

"I was making tea, just in case," she motioned to, sure enough, a tea kettle poised to whistle.

"Just in case of what? A stranger dropped by out of the rain that had yet to begun?" Lucas asked, cocking an eyebrow as he sat down on one of the small mats placed around the rather low table. The girl blushed before looking off and shaking her head.

"Well… I thought my friend Kazuma might like some, and he said he'd stop by," she replied in that sweet, innocent voice that, despite himself, Lucas found rather… irritating.

As she walked over to close the door, he got a good look at her. She was pretty, in the little girl sort of way, with an honest, open face that seemed incapable of holding lies or even the slightest deceitful thought. Large eyes, of a rather ruddy color, seemed to peer out from under thick lashes in a perpetual state of surprise. Rather unique teal hair was pulled away demurely from her face and her small form was covered in a rather plain Kimono. Plain… but elegant in its simplicity.

Oh, what a gem she'd be for his collection… Shaking his head to clear the thought out, Lucas sighed, getting up as his long legs were always prone to cramping when sitting lotus style. Walking over, he could tell the kettle was going to whistle, waited for barely a second before the beginnings of the shrill cry began to echo when the girl rushed over to remove it.

"I got it," Lucas replied calmly, more eager to stop the noise than anything else as he gently plucked it off and rested the bottom neatly on the palm of his hand. It sat there for a few seconds before he became aware that the girl (he suddenly realized he didn't know her name) was staring at him, almost as though expecting something.

"Are you alright?" she asked, timidly, looking at the hand the kettle rested on.

"Yes, of course... oh… blessed be," Lucas muttered, suddenly realizing just what he had done with the rather hot holder of boiling water, commonly referred to as a tea pot. "I'm fine, let me put this down first and I'll show you."

Spying a small, metal dais to place the pot upon, he let it rest gently, careful to make sure it wouldn't tip before holding up his long, pale hands, free of any burn mark. Wiggling his fingers quickly to make his point he smiled kindly at her.

"See? No burns."

"Oh…" the girl nodded her head, like this made total sense, which confused Lucas before he sat down and sighed.

"What exactly is your name?"

True, he could just think about it and know, but oddly… this felt more personal. It was a dubious feeling to begin with, this "personal" but considering his bad luck with conversations in that one day alone, Lucas decided that, perhaps, it wouldn't be too bad to try it out for once.

"Yukina."

"Hm… pretty name. Who exactly did you say you were waiting for?" he asked absentmindedly as he noticed that various woodland creatures seemed to have taken a liking to her, such as birds and, on the odd occasion, cats. Though he had no clue how they had arrived in the room, he could guess through the only still open window, he didn't care. Idly scratching one curious kitten that had clamored for his attention under the chin, he looked off, waiting for her reply.

"Kazuma, he's a friend of mine and he often stops by… though usually waits until Genkai is gone," Yukina mused the last part, smiling as though it was endearing and not an act of fear of a rather tough old psychic.

"Kazuma… Kuwabara?"

That would be just his luck.

"Hm? Yes, do you know him?"

Yup. Just his luck. Sighing, Lucas looked down at the grey tabby that was contentedly purring against his gentle fingers.

"You could say so," he replied calmly, letting his slender fingers rub against the cat's chin as it clamored for his attention.

"Are you friends?"

"Hardly," Lucas laughed as he felt the tabby's wet nose push against his chin.

"Oh… I'm sorry."

"Don't, it's not your fault…" Lucas trailed off as he felt that damnable ningen's energy. Kazuma had broken up two fine conversations in one day. That must be a record. "The rain has ceased, and so must I. Have a lovely day," as he got up he placed the kitten gently on the seat he had occupied and mimed tipping a hat to her before heading off once more just in time to miss Kazuma.

"What a perfectly miserable day…" he muttered, and oddly this fact did not help his mood as he stalked off into the forest to stumble across a young woman with baby blue hair and pink eyes dressed in a Kimono and holding an oar.

"Ah, Botan, darling, what are you doing here?" he cried out, causing the young woman to start and turn around to see Lucas step out from behind a few trees, a pastime that many a bad guy seemed to enjoy.

"LUCI-" she managed to cry out before Lucas held up his hand and shook his head.

"That idiot of a boss of yours told them my name was Lucas. It's stuck," he jutted in, shaking his head, "I tell you, he has half a brain… now if you came and worked for me…. What is wrong with you now?"

Sure enough, Botan was staring at him; her head cocked to one side as she looked him over and wrinkled her nose.

"Lucas? That's not exactly imposing, is it?" she wondered out loud as Lucas twitched.

"No. It's not. Can we move past this?"

"Weeellll…. I mean, it's just that you've ALWAYS been imposing…. And now you're… actually… funny!"

"Funny?" cocking an eyebrow at her he shook his head and sighed. "Alright, that would be my cue to leave…"

"Awwww…" Botan whined, making a distressed face, "Don't go! I wanted to ask you something! Have you seen a few Yakuza souls?"

"Oh…" Lucas looked off, remembering those idiots in the alley. "I… took care of them. Nothing to retrieve."

"Wow, did they upset your or something?" she asked, cocking her head cutely at him before making a face, "Or did they find out your name's Lucas and laugh?"

Twitching, Lucas simply growled and walked off, "Take care, Botan."

There was another disappointed whine as he walked off; decided he needed to pay a certain short demon a visit…

Tren: Sabs is evil.

Aillas: She's still upset her friend had abandoned her in her hour of need.

Tren: PRE-cisely.

Aillas: You TOLD me to say that.

Tren: Feels better though to hear someone else agree with your views.

Aillas: Are you going to rant about her in EVERY story you write?

Tren: Yes. You should have known the answer to that.

Aillas: Yes… I suppose I should have…

Tren: Gr…..

Aillas: (uncomfortable) How about we respond to those reviews?

Tren: Sure… fine… whatever…

-sugar high water uma: Where do I find all the big words? Uh… I just love words and I read the dictionary two years back… (no joke) See, he's met up with Yukina! Just as you guessed! Good job, you get a Lucas plushie (hands you plushie)

-Niana Kuonji: Yes… Lucas needs Kohl… maybe with his next outfit! Oooh! Now I wanna give him earrings! (laughs) see the monster you've created!

-psyco anime luver: Uh… thanks?

-hottytottie90: Yeah, these chapter seem to be getting fluffier, and it's all about developing Lucas' character! (snickers) yeah… you really can't call "Lucas" diabolic!

Aillas: Right… until next chapter

Tren: Cheerio!