A young Mitsu poked her head up over the fence and spotted a young brown haired boy getting yelled at by his father. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO PLAY BALL IN THE FRONT YARD!" The man jabbed his finger towards the broken window by the boy. "LOOK WHAT YOU DID!" The boy didn't look up and the father growled before storming into the house.

Mitsu watched as the boy rushed off and glanced at her own home before running after him. She found him chucking rocks into a small river. Mitsu hid behind a tree and watched him. He growled and leaned up against the tree close to him. "I'm sorry…." Mitsu called out nervously.

The boy spun around and Mitsu ducked back behind the tree. "Who's there?!" He called out angrily.

Mitsu slowly poked her head back around the tree and smiled slightly. "Hi…"

The boy stared at her angrily. "Are you spying on me?!"

Mitsu slowly came out from behind the tree. "My name's Mitsu… My family just moved in yesterday."

"Oh…" The boy shifted. "I'm Taisuke."

Mitsu smiled. "Hi!" She moved forward. "Do you want to come over and play at my house?"

Taisuke stared at her for a moment and then nodded. "O…Okay, I guess."

Mitsu smiled. "Yeah!" She grabbed his hand and started to drag him towards her house.

Mitsu laughed as she dragged Taisuke towards the mansion. He just grinned at her. "You haven't changed at all Mitsu."

She let go of his hand and shoved him playfully. "What does that mean?!"

He smirked and pulled her close, giving her a nuggie. "You're the same little Mitsu I remember!"

"HEY!" Mitsu laughed, playfully swatting at his hand. He laughed, but suddenly Mitsu gasped as she landed on the ground and found Yatsuaki standing in front of her and between Taisuke and her. "Ya-Ya-Yasuaki-Niisan?" She gasped.

"Hime, are you all right?" He asked calmly.

"Y-Yeah." She looked towards Taisuke to see him looking angry. "Wait!" She jumped up and grabbed Yatsuaki's arm. "Don't hurt him!"

Yatsuaki looked down at her. "Hime?"

"He's my friend! He wasn't hurting me." She hugged Yatsuaki's arm. "Please! Yatsuaki-Niisan!" She felt Yatsuaki relax slightly.

"Mitsu?" Taisuke frowned, still tensed up.

"Taisuke-Niisan." Mitsu smiled nervously. "I'd like to introduce you to Yatsuaki-Niisan. He's a good friend that Akane-Chan and I know."

"He's a little weird, but he's a good guy." Inori smiled walking up. He patted Taisuke on the back. "He's one of us." Taisuke frowned but relaxed. Mitsu relaxed. "Yatsuaki-Niisan I want to introduce you to my good childhood friend Taisuke-Niisan."

He nodded. "No problem." He said calmly and then walked off.

"I don't like him." Taisuke grumbled.

Mitsu chuckled and grabbed his arm. "Come on Taisuke-Niisan!"

"Ya wanna yank my arm off?!" He grumbled, but a little more playfully. "Now what is with this whole 'hime' stuff?"

"It's a long story." Mitsu chuckled. "I'll explain later." She dragged him into the mansion area. "Just wait till you meet the others!"

"Is this where ya live?!" Taisuke gasped.

"Yeah." Mitsu chuckled.

"Jezz, you hit the jackpot on living quarters." Taisuke smirked. "Come on." He laughed and gave her a small nuggie. "Food is on you."

"Of course." Mitsu chuckled and hugged him. "Come on in." She led him into the mansion.

It had been almost a year and a half since Mitsu had gotten to know Taisuke. She enjoyed spending time with him and had even started calling him her brother around other kids." Niisan!" Mitsu called, seeing him sitting on a rock by the river. "Niisan!"

He turned and looked, just in time for Mitsu to shove a small wrapped box in his face. "Happy birthday Taisuke-Niisan!"

"Huh?" He blinked.

"Happy! Birthday!" Mitsu smiled.

"Oh…Thanks…" Taisuke took the small box.

"I didn't know when your birthday party was so I decided to give it to you today."

"I…I'm not having a party." He frowned and looked down.

"What?" Mitsu blinked. "Why now?!"

"My dad says I'm too old." He growled.

"But you're still a kid!" Mitsu gasped. "You're only ten!"

"Double digits don't need parties." Taisuke grumbled.

Mitsu looked down. "I'm sorry…" She sniffled.

Taisuke flinched and started to hurriedly open the box. "But thanks for the-." He paused as he finished opening the box.

"I'm sorry." Mitsu sniffled. "I should have gotten you something bigger and better."

Taisuke pulled out a small green yo-yo. "Are you kidding? This is perfect!" He smiled at her. "Just you wait; I'm going to learn a hundred tricks by your birthday!"

Mitsu giggled. "I don't think you can learn THAT many."

Taisuke laughed. "I will! And I'll preform for your party."

Mitsu smiled and hugged him. "I love you Taisuke-Niisan! You're the best big brother ever!"

Taisuke yawned as he woke up and stretched. He walked out of the room he had been given and spotted Shimon talking with Inori. "Hey." Taisuke called and walked up. "Where is Mitsu?"

"She went out with Tenma-Sempai and Yorihisa-san to look for her stone." Shimon answered.

Taisuke had meet Tenma, Yorihisa, Fujihime, and Takamichi the night before. Fujihime seemed nice enough, he didn't care either way for Takamichi, Tenma was cool, but Yorihisa annoyed Taisuke. "Her stone, huh?... Know which direction she headed?"

"North, towards the forest." Shimon smiled.

"Thanks." Taisuke nodded and stared walking. He still didn't fully understand what the stone was, or even what the Ryuujin no Hime title meant. But he did enjoy being with Mitsu again.

Taisuke headed towards the forest and noticed a group of kids playing with a ball. One of the kids blocked it and it rolled to Taisuke's foot. He leaned down and picked it up. "Here." He held it out.

One of the kids looked at him and gasped. "DEMON!" He yelled. Taisuke frowned.

"Shut up brat!" He tightened his fist and paused as the ball popped. The kids started crying and Taisuke moved forwards angrily.

Suddenly Yatsuaki was in front of the children. "Move…"

Taisuke froze and frowned. "Get out of my way!"

"You are a demon." Yatsuaki said calmly.

Taisuke snapped. He gripped his yo-yo and channeled his energy into the small device. It sparked and Taisuke shot it forward, nailing Yatsuaki in the face.

The children that had been hiding behind him screamed and ran. Yatsuaki didn't look that affected. "You use the demon's power."

"SO WHAT!" Taisuke yelled angrily. He recharged his yo-yo and shot it towards Yatsuaki. The green haired man dodged, but Taisuke smirked as he directed the yo-yo to follow Yatsuaki. "You can't beat me!"

Yatsuaki continued to doge and pulled off the beads from around his neck. Taisuke frowned as the man blocked the yo-yo. Taisuke pulled it back quickly and started to recharge it. Yatsuaki started to chant again and Taisuke frowned.

"NO! YATSUAKI-NIISAN!" Taisuke froze as Mitsu came out of nowhere and wrapped her arms around Yatsuaki's arm. "STOP!"

"Mitsu…" Taisuke whispered.

"Stop fighting… Please…." Mitsu looked between the two men. "I don't know what's going on, but I care about both of you…"

"Mitsu-hime… He is a demon." Yatsuaki said calmly.

"What?" Mitsu slowly looked at Taisuke and he frowned.

"And you're just a freak!" Taisuke growled. "I can't see why Mitsu would ever call you her brother!"

"Taisuke-Niisan…" Mitsu took a step towards him weakly, horror in her eyes.

Taisuke snapped. "SO WHAT IF I'M A DEMON!" He was shaking in anger. "It's not going to change anything! You've already replaced me!"

"Taisuke… Niisan…" Mitsu whispered.

"Taisuke…" Taisuke glanced over to see the silver haired general in the demon army, Iktidaru.

"What do you want?" Taisuke growled.

"Master Akuram wants to speak with you." Iktidaru said calmly.

"Alright." Taisuke growled looking at Mitsu. She had tears in her eyes and looked scared. "I… I still love you little sister…. I know it's not your fault; these guys have messed with your head. I'll see you again." He turned back towards Iktidaru. "Alright let's go."

Iktidaru nodded and the two walked into the forest. "TAISUKE-NIISAN!" Mitsu yelled after him.

"Where are you going?" Mitsu whispered looking at her hands.

"I don't know." Taisuke looked off. "My dad just has a new job… so we have to move."

"But I don't want you to!" Mitsu frowned. "It's not fair!"

"I know…" Taisuke frowned.

"Maybe we can just adopt you!" Mitsu smiled. "You're already like my brother! You would be in a lot better situation!"

"….No… I can't…" Taisuke looked down. "My parents won't stand that." He looked off. "Mitsu… We'll see each other soon enough." He smiled.

Mitsu looked down. "I'll miss you…" She closed her eyes. "I don't want you to leave!" She hugged him. "Niisan!"

Taisuke patted her head. "Don't worry about it…. And next time I see you, I'll have some new trick mastered." He held up the small green yo-yo. "Just wait!"

Mitsu smiled. "Yes… We'll see each other soon enough." She laughed, whipping the tears away from her eyes. "And when we do, everything will be the same!"

"Yeah." Taisuke smiled and patted Mitsu's head. He laughed. "I've got to go…"

"Wait!" Mitsu hugged him. "I'll miss you Niisan!"

"I will too…. But I'll see you sooner or later." He started to walk.

"BYE! NIISAN!" Mitsu waved happily. He turned and looked back at her, waving his own hand in goodbye.

Mitsu sniffled as she sat on the steps leading into the mansion. She shivered. "Mitsu... Chan…" Akane whispered walking up.

"Why?" Mitsu looked up, tears in her eyes. "I finally got my Taisuke-Niisan back and now he's working for Akuram? Why is fate so cruel?!"

"I don't know." Akane sat down next to her. "But… I'm sure we'll figure it all out… Taisuke didn't seem like a bad guy… maybe just confused." She rested her hand on Akane's shoulder.

Mitsu whipped her eyes and sniffled. "Taisuke-Niisan…"

"Mitsu-Hime…" Yorihisa got down on his knee and bowed. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yorihisa-Kun…" Mitsu sniffled. She looked at him and then jumped forward and hugged him. "What do I do?! I can't fight Taisuke-Niisan!"

Yorihisa seemed a little nervous, but rested a hand gently on her shoulder. "Mitsu-Hime…"

She sobbed into his chest. "I love Taisuke-Niisan! But… He's working for Akuram…. What am I going to do?!"

Yorihisa cautiously held her. Mitsu just sobbed into his chest. She heard Akane leave, whispering to Yorihisa that Mitsu just needed a shoulder to cry on. Mitsu didn't care at the moment. She felt so conflicted and hurt. "Taisuke-Niisan…."