Authoress note: Well here's the next chappie! I hope you like this. I'm glad you didn't think the last one was to boring AceLeonor! (sniff) that made my day! R and R please!


They entered into the only inn in the village. Ed went up to talk to the woman who worked there while Al and Kageko stayed towards the front door. Kageko was doing her best to not be noticed and so far it was working. They soon had a room and went in to get some rest. There were two beds and Kageko immediately claimed one by dropping down on to it with a groan.

"Might as well get some rest..." Ed said as he flopped down on to the other bed. Al sat down and pulled out a book.

Kageko kicked her shoes off and drew her legs up against her and closed her eyes. She hoped she'd be able to get some sleep. But unfortunately that wasn't going to happen. She tossed and turned for hours but wasn't able to fall asleep. With a cry of frustration she sat up and looked around the room that was in semi darkness.

"Are you OK?" Al asked.

Sighing once more she said "Can't sleep." Then grabbed her bag and headed for the bathroom. Maybe a hot shower would help.

Ed meanwhile was dead to the world. Al couldn't understand how he could sleep so deeply. A while latter Kageko finally turned off the water and stepped out in to the steam filled bathroom. Wrapping a towel around her self she turned to the window and cracked it open to let the steam out.

The shower helped a little. She didn't feel as tense...well that is until someone began banging on the door to the bathroom. She jumped in surprise dropping her towel.

"Brother stop! I'm sure she'll be out in a few minutes!" Al said.

"No way Al I need in there!" Ed said in a frustrated voice.

Picking her towel up Kageko said "I'll be out in a second." She quickly threw on some clothes then opened the door. She had just barley gotten out of the bathroom before Ed ran in slamming the door shut behind him. Shaking her head Kageko went over to her bed and sat down.

"Sorry about that." Al said.

"It's OK I was in there for a while." She said as she pulled a brush out of her bag.

"Still brother shouldn't of been so rude."

Later the three went out for some breakfast. Nixie mewed and looked around the streets as they walked. She could sense how uneasy Kageko was feeling. It wasn't until they had gotten their food and started eating that the first sign of trouble reared it ugly head. Since Kageko had the ears of a cat this meant she had the hearing of a cat and was able to easily hear that people were whispering. About what you may wonder...well that's obvious isn't it? They were talking about her.

Then a man came up and said "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you three to leave now."

Ed looked up at him surprised. "Why?"

The man glared at Kageko and she shrank under his look. "Because we don't serve your kind here."

"What do you mean?" Al asked confused.

"Just leave."

Kageko stood and said "Come on guys lets just go." The boys looked at her then stood as well.

"You know your food isn't all that good." Ed said as they left. Once outside Ed turned to look at her. "What was that about?" She shrugged in response. "What ever...let's just get to searching."

They set out hoping to find the man who may hold the secret of curing Kageko. As they went through the village...er town...(UGH! I don't know what to call it! uh...how about either one. Just don't get confused! I may switch out one word for the other.) Kageko seemed to shrink in to herself.

After several hours Ed let out a frustrated sigh and said "Man what's with people in this village?" Kageko just shook her head. Then she saw something out of the corner of her eye that made her blood run cold. She stiffened in fear.

"Hey Kageko what's wrong?" Al asked. He looked in the direction she was looking but only saw a few people.

One person in particular was the reason Kageko was now even more fearful than earlier. That person turned and looked her straight in the eye. "Uh...come on guys lets go." Kageko said grabbing Ed and Al by an arm and trying to drag them off.

"Hey what's the rush?" Ed asked. Before she could answer someone grabbed her from behind. A small cry escaped her mouth as she felt herself jerked back away from the guys. Ed and Al turned to see a man had a strong grip on her upper arm.

"Well well who do we have hear." The man said glaring down at Kageko.

"Who the hell are you?" Ed demanded.

The man looked at him then at Al and said "That doesn't really matter. What matters is Kageko here and I have a few things to discuss."

"How do you know her?" Al asked.

The man smirked but didn't answer. Instead he looked down at Kageko and said "Come along Kageko. It's been so long since we last saw each other." He then began to drag her off.

"NO! Stop let me go!" She cried in fear. The mans grip tightened on her arm.

"Let her go right now." Ed said.

The man looked at him and said "Or what?" "

This!" Ed cried as he proceeded to kick the man in the head. The man fell to the ground letting go of Kageko as he did so. Al hurried to her side and asked if she was OK. Her eyes were wide with fear and she was shaking. Ed knelt down next to them and asked "Kageko what's going on?"

She shook her head and said "I'm sorry!" Then she jumped to her feet and ran off.

"Wait Kageko!" Al called after her. She didn't stop but kept running. Something hit her in the head but she kept going. That is until Al suddenly appeared in front of her and grabbed her before she could run off. "Kageko calm down!" Al said holding her tightly. Kageko struggled for a few minutes before giving up. She just hung limply in his arms.

"What the heck is going on!"

She lowered her head so they couldn't see her face. "Brother she's bleeding." Al said as he noticed blood oozing from a cut on her forehead.

"Come on Al." Once back at their room Al sat Kageko down on her bed while Ed went to get stuff to clean her cut. "Tell us what's going on Kageko." Ed said as he placed a bandage on her forehead. She refused to speak and just laid down on the bed. That's how she stayed and no amount of persuasion could get her to talk or move. Even when Ed threatened to turn her in to a tadpole she still stayed put.