A/N: Dude I've been so lazy lately. I've had this written out for like ever and I can't find the time or the energy to type it out. I even have two alternate paths to choose from for the remainder of the story. I hope you guys like it. It took a lot of effort to have it up for you guys.

Disclaimer: I don't own HYD or any of its character… yaaaaaaawwwwnnnnnn!
Chapter 10 - Who??? What??? Where??? When??? Why???

The little black cat had a thin golden ribbon around her neck. She sat staring at the young man who lay before her struggling through the pain to breath.

"This will be over soon, Tsukasa." She lowered her head and sighed. "I'm so sorry you had to be dragged into this."

"Uuugh." She heard him groan signaling his return to consciousness.

"Is our little pet waking again?" The dark haired imposter walked into the room crouching down to hold Doumyouji's chin in her hand. He cringed, a shot of pain shooting down his back.

"I thought you would be more fun." The cold hearted brunette let his head fall to the floor with a thud.

"You said you wouldn't hurt him." The kitty called up to her.

"I also said I would change you back, but if you keep PISSING ME OFF," she calmed herself by smoothing the imaginary wrinkles on her dress. "I might change my mind."

Her four legged servant was used to her temper. Suppressing the urge to claw her master's leg she calmly got up and walked out of the room. She stopped at the door and looked back at the usually monstrously willed young man struggling for his life against the evil witch who was once again punishing him. 'I'll bring you help Tsukasa. Don't worry."

Tsukushi was on the grass of the backyard painfully grabbing her gut.

"You'll never save him like that." Her grandmother exchanged a glance with her sister as they laughed.

"Is beating the crap out of me your idea of training?"

"Actually," she watched her granddaughter return to a vertical base before attacking again. "There are two ways to gain control of the oracle. This is the cliff's notes version." Her knee connected with Makino's abdomen sending the novice witch back to the ground.

"Block baka." She instructed. "Use your arms to protect yourself."

"Stop…aiming…for my …stomach!" Makino choked out between gasps as she tried to get back up.

Kimiko rolled her eyes. "Stop complaining and defend yourself." She sent a volley of punches, which Tsukushi had been able to block. Sick of constantly getting hit Makino tried to return a punch but was surprised at how fast the seasoned witch moved. With amazing speed Kimiko had pushed the teenager's arm out of the way with one hand and pulled the younger witch to her knees, her arm straddled behind her back, a fist of hair in the other hand. "What are you going to tell Doumyouji's captor. 'I'm here to get my boyfriend, but don't hit my stomach."

Makino elbowed her grandmother freeing her hair from her deathly grip.

"Nice shot." Himiko clapped from the lawn chair she sat lounging on.

"I'm sorry." Tsukushi tried to see if her grandmother, who was currently doubled over, was fine and was rewarded for her compassion with an uppercut that almost dislocated her jaw.

"Don't let your guard down for anyone." She walked over to the fallen youth and kicked her to get her up faster. "Do you think that whoever has the Doumyouji boy wouldn't use him against you?"

"I can't think straight fighting you?" Tsukushi yelled holding her cheek.

"Why? Don't tell me… you don't want to hurt me."

Without looking at the wise teacher, she nodded.

"Pansy." Was Kimiko's only reply.

Ever since Sojiro got back from New Orleans he and Yuuki were finding themselves inseparable. Even the little blonde, who had always wished the object of her affection would pay a little more attention to her, was getting sick of his constant company.

Sojiro and Akira would spend all day at the dango shop, unknowingly drawing in large amounts of customers, mostly of the female variety, by just being there. He would want to walk her home, talk to her all night and pick her up for school. There wasn't a break in his constant affection. Makino had once said that Doumyouji was bad, but Yuuki feared that Sojiro was much worse.

As far as she knew, Sojiro had only been in love once before, and he had turned his back on that love. She wondered if he was trying to compensate for that lost time.

She sat at the counter of the dango shop looking out the window to the street. It was a quiet Monday afternoon and she was glad Sojiro had had a tea ceremony to attend. Looking at her watch she sighed. 'Only five.' She still had three hours left in her shift.

Without really noticing her head started to dip softly as she nodded off. The silence that gently enveloped her reminded her that she hadn't gotten off the phone with her boyfriend until early that morning.

"I don't think they pay you to sleep." Rui stood snacking on a cracker.

"I'm sorry." She jumped up blushing brightly.

"I walked around you, got a cracker, and put the money in the register without you noticing. What are you, narcoleptic?" He shrugged.

"Pot calling the kettle black, ne?"

He thought about the comment and shrugged again.

"Do you know where Tsukushi is? She was supposed to be back today." Yuuki asked rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Actually, that's why I'm here. I dropped her off at school this morning, but when I went to pick her up for work she wasn't around." He ran his fingers through his hair, half out of frustration and half out of sleepiness. "Even Kazuya said he hadn't seen her all day."

Yuuki ran into the back and rushed back with her phone to her ear. "It's not like her to skip school."

"If you're calling her, I tried that. She didn't answer."

The little blonde put her finger up to shush him. "I'm not calling her." She smiled at the voice that answered. "Grandfather!" She beamed. "Do you have great grandmother's telephone number?" Rui could here the mumbling on the other end. "Yes it's important." She cocked her head to the side agitatedly. "We can't find Fuji's daughter and I think she might still be there."

The other line was silent for a few minutes before the booming voice returned with four different numbers she could try.

Himiko rolled her eyes at the phone that incessantly rang next to her. "Moshi moshi." She didn't recognize the voice on the other line, but she perked up when the female asked for Makino. "Yes dear. Tsukushi is here. She's training with my little sister now." She could hear the relieved sigh from the other line.

"Oi, Makino." Himiko yelled over to the battle ground trying to distract the younger woman fighting for her survival against her older adversary, but Tsukushi had gotten more focused in the last eight hours of physical training.

"Busy." She called over blocking a roundhouse kick and returning her own.

"Dear she can't talk right now." Himiko informed. "Anything I can do?"

"No, thank you though." Yuuki gave her goodbyes and closed her phone.

The eldest witch shrugged and put the phone back on the lounge table beside her. "So interesting." She looked at the little black cat with the golden ribbon around her neck. "And who might you be?" She smirked, quite intrigued.

Even Kimiko, who was preoccupied fighting Tsukushi, noticed the miniature feline. "Who's that?"

"I'll tell you when I know." Her big sister called over, petting the little kitty.

"I wish I could tell you I'm a friend, but I wouldn't lie to you." The cat lowered her head pondering how much was too much to say.

"Okay, so if you're not a friend, you must be a very confident foe to come and show yourself before attacking."

"Well, actually…" She noticed that the battle had ebbed and the two warriors were making their way over. "I came to speak to Tsukushi."

The declaration shocked the teenager. "You know me?"

"All too well." The kitty shook her head sorrowfully. "I'm so ashamed to say this." If possible they women thought they say the cat roll her eyes. "I've never been ashamed of anything…ever." She sighed deeply. "It's me Tsukushi… Tsubaki."

Whaaaaat? Tsubaki???? The world has gone mad.

Please tell me what you think because I've got two different ways I can take this. Of course I like one more than the other, but everyone I talk to likes the other way better.

I'll let those who care choose. Random selection. A: the one I like or B: the one other people's not me…I should say insignificant people's choice.