Author's Note: Hey Guys! So i've been getting into a creative mood lately and i'm planning on uploading the chapters as soon as i get finished with them. I hope you guys enjoy cuz the plot begins to thicken and things are really gonna get started up now!

Chapter 10

They arrived at the park within fifteen minutes of leaving the house and quickly decided on a spot near a large oak tree that provided a nice amount of shade. Next to the tree was a small stream that probably connected to the one in their backyard. Jiro sat and leaned against the tree, exhausted from walking in the sun while Mimiko and Kotaro played in the field of grass, playing vampire tag and splashing each other in the stream. After breaking for lunch, Mimiko finally showed Kotaro and Jiro her new found power and even showed them how she was able to make ice and snow. Kotaro had tons of fun dodging balls of water that Mimiko tossed at him.

After a while Mimiko tired and settled back against the tree as Kotaro tried to catch minnows in the stream. She sighed wiping her brow as a soft breeze blew around them. It was such a nice day and she was glad that she could stand the sunlight, unlike Jiro who slumped like a dead man against the tree. She watched Jiro in silence and started thinking about the conversation they'd had earlier. Sure she knew somewhere in her heart that she would probably have to give her life like Jiro to bring back Alice, but she still hoped that she would have gotten the chance to have a relationship.

For being a young woman in her early twenties, she had been asked out on dates plenty of times, especially by coworkers, but never had she felt anything for them. She didn't care to move forward into a relationship after the first dinner or first outing and it was because of this, that she was still a virgin. She sighed heavily. Never had she felt any sexual attraction to anyone but Jiro and he was taken with his maker Alice, who he had to give his life AND hers to bring her back. It was like some sick cruel joke. Resigned to the fact that Jiro would love Alice forever and wouldn't even give her the time of day she had at least hopped she could try something with Zelman. He cared about her more than anyone but Jinnai had and she already knew he could please her greatly. But when she compared Zelman's kisses with Jiro's there was no comparison. Jiro's won hands down. They sent a fire burning through her body that couldn't be sated and the more he touched her, the hotter she burned until she was afraid she would combust.

I must be a masochist. She thought wryly. She decided right then and there that she was going to live only to protect Kotaro, no more trying to conjure up a relationship between her and Jiro and no more relying on anyone. She would become stronger and protect Kotaro without needing protection herself. And when the time came for she and Jiro to give up their lives, she would offer herself first. Just so she wouldn't have to see Jiro die slowly at the hands of the person he loved most.

"Mimiko?" Jiro mumbled from beside her.

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry I said those things to you, about Zelman not caring about you and you having to give up your life."

She glanced sideways at him and watched as he looked deeply into her eyes, his filled with regret and sadness. She sighed and turned back to look at Kotaro. "I forgive you." She breathed. "I knew I would have to give my life up to Kotaro, without him I would already be dead anyway so it's the only way I can return the favor." She chuckled softly.

They sat in silence for a while longer until Jiro spoke again.

"I'm also sorry for calling you Alice." He said huskily.

Startled she whipped her head towards him and found him looking down at his hands. His expression full of remorse as he clenched his hands. She took a deep breath. "I-" she coughed her heart aching at his apology, "I guess I forgive you for that too." She sighed and looked away as his gaze shot up to her.

"Really?" he asked incredulously.

She nodded and shifted to stand. "I think we should head home, it's getting late." She said looking at her watch, it was already five o'clock in the afternoon and the sun was beginning to set. "Kotaro! Time to go!" she called and began to gather up their lunch and the blankets. Suddenly Jiro placed a hand on her arm and she looked down at him questioningly.

"Thanks Mimiko, for forgiving me." He smiled and she felt her heart clench in pain again.

She gave a sad smile and nodded back before picking up the basket and starting towards their home, Kotaro and Jiro following slowly behind her.

That night they all decided to sleep in the same bed again and Kotaro sighed happily as he snuggled between the two adults. Mimiko was facing both Jiro and Kotaro and she brushed back the blonde bangs on Kotaro's head. "Mimi?" he asked quietly.

"Hmm?"

"Can you sing me something; I don't think I can sleep."

"Sure." She replied and kept brushing back his bangs as she hummed out a soft lullaby. Jiro watched her intently as she did this and smiled when Kotaro fell asleep, his mouth hanging open and a soft snore coming out. She looked up at him and their gazes met. She smiled slowly, love showing in her gaze before she whispered good night and turned away from him.

Jiro lay awake for a few hours thinking about his feelings for Mimiko and Alice. Yes he'd recognized he loved her but there was nothing he could do about it. They couldn't start a relationship, not when they would both have to die soon anyway. He sighed, his thoughts and heart heavy before closing his eyes and trying to get some rest.

Jiro gasped for breath as he ran through the streets of Hong Kong. He slashed right and left at every Kowloon child he could find, his hand clasped around the wrist of a blonde woman that he dragged behind him.

"Jiro, hold on, I can't run this fast!" Alice cried, desperately trying to keep up with his speed.

"We need to get you to the Lord Dragon's home where he can protect you!" he growled back, slashing again at another pair of infected vampires who turned to dust as soon as they met his blade.

"Where do you think you're going?" Came a menacing voice from the shadows.

Suddenly a man with long silver hair and blood red eyes surrounded with black stepped in front of them. He held a silver katana in his right hand and he was clothed with a black ripped cloak.

"Who are you?" Jiro growled, making sure Alice was behind him and that the only threat was the man in front of him.

"Me? Why I am the Kowloon King, and you are a destroyer for murdering my precious children." He growled back, raising his katana and lunging towards Jiro.

Acting fast Jiro pushed Alice back and told her to run and hide. He crossed swords with the creator of all this chaos. He ducked and dodged and thrust his sword, fighting the Kowloon King with every bit of skill that he had. But it wasn't enough, for he was growing weaker as the elder vampire seemed to grow stronger. Suddenly the katana nipped his arm and Jiro jumped back gasping at the acidic like pain the silver had inflicted upon him. He hissed as the Kowloon King chuckled.

"For the bodyguard of the Lady Sage, I had expected you to be a much better fighter than this. It seems Cassandra was wrong in her opinion of you." He grinned before setting up his stance.

"Cassandra?" Jiro questioned.

Suddenly a silver chain encased his body and Jiro began to writhe in agony as the silver burned into his skin. He cried out trying to break free as the woman they were talking about emerged out of thin air. "Hello Jiro." She said calmly in her sultry voice.

"Cassa!" Jiro growled and the chain pulled tighter.

"My Jiro, what a predicament you've gotten yourself into." She chuckled pulling it tight enough that he dropped his sword.

The Kowloon King stepped forward to retrieve the discarded weapon when suddenly Alice grabbed it and stood in front of Jiro. "Leave him alone!" she cried.

"ALICE GET OUT OF HERE!" Jiro cried thrashing against his silver bonds.

An evil chuckle ripped through the Kowloon King and Alice and Jiro shivered. "My, my, Alice, how you've grown." He chuckled again. "I'm going to take so much pleasure from hearing you scream as I kill you."

Jiro's sword began to clank as Alice began to shiver uncontrollably. She stood her ground as the Kowloon King began walking casually towards them and when he was about three feet away she gave a warrior cry and leapt towards him hoping to stab him in the heart. He dodged and the sword imbedded itself into his shoulder.

"NOOOOO!" Jiro cried, clawing desperately at the chains that had suddenly gone slack around him. He didn't notice how Cassa gasped and stared at the sword piercing through her former masters' stomach, her gaze full of such regret, anger, shock, and sadness. Jiro grasped his sword from Alice's slackening hand pulled it out of the Kowloon King.

The Kowloon King went to leap back but was stopped as Alice's hand grasped his wrist and pulled him closer to her, imbedding his sword deeper. "Go to hell you bastard!" she growled as Jiro severed his head from his shoulders. Blood splashed everywhere and he quickly caught Alice as she rocked forward.

"ALICE!" Jiro cried. Watching as her skin began to gray. He leaned down and held her close to him, burying his face into her neck. Suddenly her scent changed, before it had been a very icy scent filled with rose petals, now it was more warm and earthy, smelling like sugar cookies and honeysuckles. Jiro pulled back to look at her again.

Jiro gasped. No longer was Alice the Lady Sage dying in his arms. Instead it was Mimiko, her blood flowing crimson from beneath her as he gazed down upon her shocked. She opened her eyes and smiled at him, blood dribbling from the corner of her mouth as she lifted her hand to cup his cheek. "I love you, Jiro." She whispered, her blue eyes shifting to brown and glazing over as her body fell limp in his arms. Her arm fell from his face and he quickly tried to grab it, when it turned gray and slid between his fingers like fine sand.
"No," he whispered, "NO!" he screamed as her whole body fell to ash.

"MIMIKOOOO!"

Jiro jolted awake, his heart beating way too fast and aching as tears came to his eyes. Glancing over he sighed, grateful Mimiko was alive and safe lying next to him. Kotaro had already gotten out of bed and had moved to the edge, pushing Mimiko between them and into Jiro's arms. Jiro pulled her closer, hugging her to his chest and placing her head below his chin as he tried to settle his racing heart. He had never had such an intense nightmare and he couldn't believe how real it had seemed.

Suddenly there was a soft whimper from below him. He looked down to see Mimiko's brow furrowed as she slept and she began to whimper again, struggling against his arms. "No!" she murmured her voice fearful and her face flushed as she fought against whatever was happening in her dream.

"NO!" she cried again, her struggles getting more violent as she began punching at him in order to get away. "Let me go! I have to help him! Let me GO!" she screamed.

"Mimiko!" Jiro called trying to wake her up, calling her name over and over before shaking her and pinching her arms.

Kotaro had woken by this point and settled on the far end of the bed as they thrashed. Jiro pinned her arms and straddled her waist, preventing her from hurting herself or either of them as he tried to wake her. Suddenly, like a woman possessed, she arched up and screamed, throwing Jiro off her body as she whirled to stand on the bed. Her whole demeanor changed then, she no longer looked like the woman he loved; she now looked like a demon. Her scent changed turning sulfuric and smelling of blood and death. Her eyes flickered open and they were red surrounded in black. Jiro sucked in a breath. They were the same eyes from his nightmare and memory. The Kowloon Kings'.

She growled taking in her surroundings as her fangs elongated and her nails became claws. Kotaro stood behind his brother as Jiro watched Mimiko cautiously. "Mimiko?" Jiro said in a soothing voice.

Mimiko chuckled, her voice deep and dark as she shook her head. "I guess you could say that." She smiled her fang slicing her lip. She licked up the blood and hummed, eyes rolling back in bliss. "My I haven't tasted this in a while, not since Hong Kong."

Jiro tensed at the mention of Hong Kong. Why was Mimiko acting like this and what did she know about Hong Kong? In the blink of an eye Mimiko was in front of him her red eyes staring into his as she smirked. "Hello Jiro, it's been a while, almost ten years." She chuckled darkly her gaze flickering to Kotaro and eyes sharpening. "Ah, and the Lady Sage. You've become cuter since the last time I was in your presence."

"It suits me well." Kotaro replied in the Sage's voice and Jiro jumped glancing back at him and then back to Mimiko.

"I can see that." Mimiko chuckled again, this time it sounded slightly crazed. Just then she gasped dropping to her knees and clenching at her head. "Damn girl, doesn't know when to just stay asleep." She growled.

"Who are you?" Jiro growled staring down at the presence in front of him.

She chuckled as she looked up through her dark tresses. Jiro felt a shiver of fear go through his body and took a step back. "You don't remember me Jiro? You killed me ten years ago." She grinned, though it was more a baring of teeth.

Jiro growled and leaped forward pinning her to the wall. "Kowloon King." He stated.

"Well done Jiro. It took you long enough, though I can understand how you couldn't tell; you are inexplicably the most clueless person I've ever met. You didn't even know you'd fallen in love with Mimiko until she was bleeding in an ally." She chuckled.

"Why are you here? What have you done to Mimiko?" Jiro growled slamming her into the wall again.

She sucked in a breath and Jiro felt bad, knowing he was also doing damage to Mimiko. "All in good time Silverblade, all in good time." She smirked before closing her eyes and slumping forward. Once again she changed, going from dark and evil to the sweet and spicy woman he loved. Jiro caught her into his arms gazing upon her face with concern and worry.

"She'll be fine, Jiro." Kotaro sighed placing a hand on Jiro's shoulder. Jiro looked up at him and knew that Kotaro would be becoming the Sage more now than ever before. "We'll need to go to Sei's soon; I'll call him while you wait for her to wake." Kotaro shook his head as he walked out. "What a mess."

Jiro watched him leave and then glanced back down at the woman in his arms. He shuffled her around until he was sitting against the wall and she was propped up against him, one of his arms wrapped around her waist as the other held her hand. He breathed in her scent thinking about what had just happened. How was Mimiko connected with the Kowloon King and why, were his two main questions as he sat there nuzzling her neck. He couldn't believe this was happening to them. Ever since she had been killed and turned things had just gotten so complicated and he didn't know what to do. His feelings for her were bursting and he wanted to tell her but was afraid she wouldn't believe him after his slip ups.

After a few more minutes she finally came too, her breath ragged and her eyes full of tears as she glanced around her wildly, looking for the threat and for a possible escape.

"You're ok Mimiko, I've got you." Jiro murmured into her neck.

She shuddered in his arms still trying to comprehend where she was and what was reality. She took a deep breath and pushed against his chest needing some space. Jiro reluctantly let go and watched as she shuffled closer to the bed, putting a good two feet between them. She looked around and shivered. "What happened?"

"You had a nightmare." Jiro replied not wanting to bring up the issue of the possession until he had time to find answers and could explain them perfectly.

She nodded and looked around again. "Where's Kotaro?"

"I'm here Mimi." Kotaro said coming in the room and running up to her. "Are you ok? I brought you some water." He handed her the glass and Mimiko took a grateful sip, not realizing she was thirsty until she halfway drained the glass.

When she finished Jiro took the glass away and placed it on the bedside table as Kotaro stood. "Guess what Mimi! We get to go visit Sei right now!"

"Huh?"

"Yeah he called a meeting and he wants to talk to you about some stuff. I think he said he could understand why people have nightmares! Isn't that neat!" Kotaro cried pulling her up and dragging her to the closet, picking out her clothes and shoving her into the bathroom. "We'll get ready out here while you shower and change ok!"

"O-ok." She stuttered, not really understanding why Kotaro was in such a hurry.

Jiro and Kotaro stared at the door until the heard the shower going before quickly changing and moving into the hall. Kotaro leaned against the wall his arms folded across his chest as he looked down deep in thought. "What's going on Kotaro?"

"Mimiko seems to have some sort of connection to the Kowloon King. I need to ask Jinnai and Sei questions so I asked him to call a meeting. He'll look into her dreams while you and I question Jinnai about who she is since he's the one who was assigned as her guardian at the Company." Kotaro explained.

"Ok," Jiro nodded, "now what's going on with you?"

Kotaro sighed and rubbed his brow. "Jiro as you've noticed, I'm becoming more Sage-like in mannerism." He paused while Jiro nodded. "It's not just my manners that are becoming Sage-like, I'm starting to remember my past life and I know you aren't really my brother. But you've raised me like one and I can't really feel the way I did for you back when I was Alice." He blushed a little at some of the things that happened between them when he was a girl and Jiro too blushed. "You're my family and Mimiko is as well. I want you the both of you to be happy and to be together." Kotaro said looking into Jiro's eyes.

Jiro frowned and was about to speak when the door to the bedroom opened and Mimiko stood there in dark jeans, black 2-inch heels, and a light blue top with her dark coat over her shoulders. Her damp hair was pulled back into a braid again and she had strapped on her sword. On her head she wore her black hat with goggles. Suddenly Kotaro grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the stairs, "Let's go Mimi!" he laughed going down the stairs and leaving Jiro to follow.