A cold rain was falling gently on a grave yard and a stiff breeze rustled the grass. It was small for a cemetery, but too large to be for only one family. The stones were weathered looking, as if no one had been by to clean them in a few years. Long unkempt grass and weeds grew around the stones, overtaking and hiding the pathways that had once been visible. Winter dead ivies covered the words written on most of the gravestones and the tall grass hid whatever would be visible from view. The black iron gate enclosing the patch of land was rusted, and the squeaking gate doors swung back and forth noisily whenever a breeze blew through them.

A small, very old cat shambled wearily over the gravesite and sat down on a patch of grass that had been worn down. He was a grizzly site to behold. He was covered head to tail in dirt, hiding the true color of his matted long coat. Battle scars littered his body, one stretching along his rib cage that was so bad, hair refused to grow around it, exposing the spotted gray flesh underneath. His head showed the signs of many battles, both his eyes rendered useless and milky white, with identical scars slashed through them from brow to snout. His ears were nicked and furless on the backs with long tufts of fur sticking out from inside in a greasy mess. His bushy matted tail was bent and broken, dragging along the ground when he walked. With a painful grunt, he pushed his front legs under him and flopped heavily to the ground. He laid on his side for a few moments before lifting his head high and sniffing the air.

"Athena," he called out with a gravely unused voice. "What brings you to my neck of the woods?"

The wolfhound stepped out from behind the tree she had been hiding under to escape the cold rain. She dipped her head low as she approached the old feline, speaking in a strong but respectful tone. "I have come for your help, Master Daiki." She said somberly.

"Oh, have you now?" He asked in mock concern. "Tell me something I don't already know. I could smell your fear before you even came in the grave yard, and I could hear the hesitation in your step as you approached. So how about we make a deal old dog, you don't waste my time by telling me things I have already learned, and I might consider helping you, alright?"

"Very well," she said simply, weathering his scathing remarks. "I have come for the Book of Chi. I have reason to believe it's whereabouts have been discovered by the wrong person, and I must relocate it for the safety of my charges."

The old cat's head shot up at the mention of the book, surprise lighting in his unseeing eyes. "And by, the wrong person I assume you mean…" He trailed off.

"Kurai Kasumi."

"Kurai?" He said scrambling unsteadily to his feet. "Now what would that young hot head want with the Book of Chi? Where is the boy's father, and why is he not watching him like I told him to?"

"I'm afraid to say, his father has died, and that has left him to live with his mother, Myou. I cannot say for sure if he has taken to his mother's teachings or not, but I do not wish to find out the hard way. I believe it would also be wise to put the boy into hiding, to prevent any future incidents from occurring."

"Now slow down you crazy old mutt," Daiki hissed in frustration. "Why are you so eager to judge the boy when he has yet to cause any harm? It's his mother we have to keep watch of, but I see no need to banish the boy as well when he has yet to prove his standings."

"That is not a risk I am so eager to take. What if he does turn to his mother's ways? He is a very powerful young wizard, and yes, he has great potential to do good, but he also has the same potential to do evil."

"Yeah and so does that Meshiro child of yours. I don't see you punishing her for crimes she has never committed. Keeping the boy hidden away is a sure-fire way to turn him to the path of evil."

"Meshiro is a completely different case," Athena said angrily.

"And why is that?" He growled, tail lashing. "Why is she so special to you? Maybe we should lock her away too? She could cause a lot of harm to a lot of good people. You know, she may even be doing it right now, behind your back. You left her at that accursed guild you love so much I assume. She could be in there now, killing everyone there, laughing as she destroys her next victim. It's a good thing that girl's time is limited, because you never know what kind of harm she could cause to the innocent." He taunted.

"Enough!" Athena barked. "I understand your point cat."

"Good," He grunted, sitting back on his haunches and shifting his unseeing eyes to the wolfhound's. "I would see wisdom in relocating the boy as well as the book." He shifted to this topic so swiftly, it was a though the last had never occurred.

"And where would you have me take Kurai then? Not back to the guild I hope."

"Oh yes!" He said with a rusty purr in his throat. "That sounds like a splendid idea. Bring the boy to your beloved Guild. Let the members there show him what it feels like to be loved." The purr dropped away suddenly, and he now spoke in a low voice, "He will need it after the way his father treated him. He felt nothing but fear towards the boy. The old man was a fool and he cared nothing for him, only that he was never hurt by the child."

"I am not sure I can care for both Meshiro and Kurai."

"Don't you worry dog, I'll be joining you. I'm not so certain I can trust you with the boy, not after the way you spoke of him." He growled. "Now," He said, switching subjects yet again, "We must gather the book quickly and move it to some place safe before we find Kurai."

He lifted his crooked tail high and marched off on his tired old paws. Athena followed him out of the gates to the graveyard then stopped and turned around. Looking up at the arch way, she could just barely make out the name Kyuu written in the same rusty black iron. "Please watch over us." She pleaded quietly to the sign, dipping her head respectfully. She turned around and followed the path of the old cat, watching his tail bob up and down over the grass.