Hello my little nuggets! I bet you're happy to hear from me, mmmnyesss? Well I am happy to be here. I am so happy that you all have stuck with me for this long, and I want you to know that it will continue for (hopefully) quite a while yet. With no further ado, the next chappie!

CHAPTER 10 (finally)

Himeko could only gaze sightlessly into the dancing flame as her mind tried to process what she had just been told.

Daughter of the….Devil?

No…nononono. Not Chikane. Never Chikane. She was the nicest person Himeko had ever met! And Himeko couldn't…..couldn't love an evil being.

Could she?

"What do you mean, Chikane?" Himeko asked softly, not wanting to let Chikane know the turmoil that was brewing inside of her.

"….."

"Chikane…what do you mean?"

Taking a breath to fortify herself, she drew her legs in close and began the tale of her existence.

"It started about 2 years before I was born. My parents weren't rich, but they weren't destitute either. Then, Father lost his job…"

SLAM!

Midori Himamiya jumped as she heard the door slam.

"Keichi?"

All that answered her were muffled grunts and the banging of things on the furniture.

'Oh dear God. I have a robber in my house'.

Midori grabbed the nearest weapon she had, a large cutting knife, and held it close to her chest and slowly ventured into the living room.

As she drew closer and closer to the doorway, the sounds got louder and louder. She paused, trying to steel her trembling hands, before suddenly jumping through the open doorway to the room beyond, shrieking like a mad woman the entire way.

Slumped on the floor in front of the couch was her husband, Keichi.

And he was very, very drunk.

Midori could feel her lips pursing and her face screwing up in anger as she looked at the pitiful form before her.

"KEICHI! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" she screamed, setting the knife down as she got closer to him.

He only mumbled, his head lolling around on his neck as he tried to focus on her.

"Fuggin pricks, letten errone go. Bankrupt er sum shhhhit."

She paused and took a moment to process what he had. When she realized that the company her husband had worked for 5 loyal, long years had fired him, she felt the cold tingles of dread creep up her spine.

Even in the best of situations, Keichi was always tense. It was as if he was waiting for everything to go wrong so he could yell until it was fixed.

So lost was she in her pondering that she failed to notice him stagger to his feet.

She finally snapped out of her daze only to see his bloodshot, black eyes boring into hers.

She gagged at the smell of alcohol and vomit on his breath.

"Wh-why you just standin' there? GO GIT ME A DRINK!"

At the end of his outburst spittle flew from his mouth, hitting her on the cheek.

Midori recoiled, disgust evident in her eyes.

Keichi watched with bleary eyes as she hustled to the kitchen.

'Best she stays where she belongs.'

Here's a little taste of what's happening: 3