I apologize in advance, this chapter does tend to bounce about quite a bit. Regardless that fact, I hope you enjoy ((and can keep up -laughs-))!



'This is why I don't deal with brats...' The blond stood on the balcony overlooking the trees. Miharu had been missing for nearly a day, and Yukimi knew the dangers that could befall him now more than ever. He had used the Shinrabansho, awoken its' powers, and to all involved in the world of Nabari, he would be seen as a nothing but a valuable strength to collect. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the phone, eying it almost expectantly. "Why do you think I gave you a phone?" he grumbled moreso to himself than anything else.

Yukimi lifted a hand to run through his hair as he tried to think, watching the forming storm clouds in the distance. Sighing to himself, he turned to step back into the warmth of the room, settling down comfortably in his seat when his eyes fixed themselves onto something. A notebook, reasonably plain, nothing special. For reasons he couldn't say, he had chosen that of all things to take with him. He reached for it to run fingers lightly over the cover before they flipped it open.

Blank. All blank pages. So then why...?

Letting out a low sigh, his lips curled downward into a frown for a second before shoving the notebook away once more. So little made sense to him anymore, and it was beginning to dig at him. Just the day before, Miharu had explained his thoughts, and that he was positive he'd erased someone. Who was that someone? Why were they so important...? His head felt as if it were reeling with thousands of memories unseen to his eyes.

'I need more sleep...' he concluded to himself, though as he did so, his smile returned.

"Yoite!" He called for his small companion.

Nothing.

Quirking a brow, he leaned back in his chair in order to glance into the other room with curiosity written across his every feature. "Yoite?" He questioned this time. Still nothing.

"Damn it all" he muttered, snagging his coat from the nearby stand, throwing it over his shoulders and exiting.


The boy nuzzled his nose into the scarf as a chill threatened to work its' way through his bones. Although winter was ending, its' frost still bit the young traveler relentlessly. Pulling the hat he wore over his eyes a bit, his gaze lifted to watch the rain patter along the windows as the train made its' way through the evening.

Miharu could hear the wind whistling outside, and though some would find it eerie, for some reason the sound of the night winds calmed him, like a memory of the past he'd once held comfort in. Drawing fingers across his palm a bit, he pulled his attention from it long enough to reach over for his bag to unlatch it, jerking away suddenly in start as a small, black creature popped from it the moment he did so. For several seconds he took the time to watch the cat, blinking when it took his mind time to register.

"Yoite...? What are you doing in there...?"

The cat purred gently, small paws patting along his thigh as it crawled onto him, leaning up on hind legs now to rub its' forehead against his chin and cheek, causing a faint smile to meet his lips. "Yukimi-san will be worried." Not that he truly minded. In all honesty, he wasn't sure where he was going. Something within him, an undeniable voice perhaps, or a calling of somesort was dragging him toward it. It wasn't like him to allow his emotions to rule him this way. However, it wasn't often he'd had sensations such as these. It frightened him in a way, and it was nice to have some form of companion along for the journey.

His fingers moved to rub the cats back gently as it curled up to sleep in his lap.

He smiled more, feeling his own eyes drawing heavy now. "Sounds are getting muffled and I feel like i'm in the dark..." he murmured to himself as green orbs fell shut completely. "But it feels like i'm in a dream." he murmured, giving into the sensation that was sleep.

The whirring of the train and the warm comfort upon him caused his heart to be at ease for the first time in what felt like ages. The train raced through the night, through the fog and across the path it had traveled so many times in the past.

Memories repeated in the tracks.

'I can't seem to think clearly anymore. Dreams and reality are a blur, and all I can see anymore is an endless line tying me to a distant future...where are the pieces I lost?' he knew well where he was without having to question. He slept peacefully very little anymore. Memories, dreams, reality, the past, a possible future...they all meshed and blended so horrendously that he lost sight of what truly existed.

Unlike the previous, upsetting memories that flooded his mind when he tried to find rest, there was a type of soothing peace he found this time. Somehow he felt as if he were here, in the right place where he belonged. He couldn't hear the voice of the Shinrabanshou, nor the comforting woman's voice who had on occasion visited him. There was nothing here. Nothing but the warmth.

'Like i'm in a dream...' the words repeated in his mind, and he couldn't help but to smile at them.

Something was drawing nearer. Something worth reaching for.


Though the car had long since ceased in its' movement, the driver remained rooted to his spot. An unwelcomed emotion threatened to consume the gunner. Releasing the wheel finally, he stepped out, flinching as if the rain that fell were made of acid. Closing the door, he rushed toward the building he once called home. While he appreciated Kazuho's kindness of taking him momentarily in, he was also aware that he was intruding on her own family. Besides, if Miharu were to return on his own, something told him there was a possibility it would be here, to this place.

Sighing heavily, his fingers worked quickly to unlock the door, though as he grasped the handle, he froze. A heated chill, one left indescribable was felt through his entire frame. For the longest time he couldn't bring himself to enter, though by the time he finally did, his expression could only fall further. Since the long absence, the room had grown cold and dreary almost as if it were lonely. Somehow the place felt different. Something missing, or perhaps something that was there and unseen by the human eye. Yukimi shook off the feeling long enough to remove his shoes, shrugging his coat from his shoulders and simply dropping it onto the couch with little interest.

Wandering silently toward the kitchen, he reached into the refrigerator to take the lemons he kept there, taking a knife from the drawer and once more, hesitating. 'What's wrong with me?' he questioned to himself. 'The one who disappeared...was he concerned with this place too?'


Bag hitched over his shoulder, cat in his arms, Miharu stepped out into the fresh air of the afternoon. His legs were stiff from the ride, and he had to mentally convince them to support him just so that he wouldn't stumble. The sun was bright now and welcoming, blanketing him in its' radiance. Yet...

He turned his eyes to the ground as something within him ached. Whether it was good or bad, it was difficult to say. The moment he'd entered this place, something within him felt like it would snap.

The town didn't appear to be particularly large, or small to him. Nothing special. A church could be seen in the distance, lead to by several smaller buildings and stores along the way. Was this the place he was being lead to? Either way, he stepped forward, knowing answers would be scarce unless he chose to seek them. Since he'd woken the day before, he'd heard several times that the past had happened, and the best course would be to ignore the tugging at his heart. Perhaps it was for the best...perhaps seeking answers would only tear at him more. He knew he was setting everyone else back, however, he knew also that he would be ignoring a large part of him should he choose not to take action.

Yoite shifted in his arms just then, causing him to pause in his spot. It wasn't like the creature to struggle when someone was so willingly giving it time to snuggle, and it threw him off guard even more when it eagerly pushed itself from his hold, leaping down onto the ground to bolt ahead of him. Staring after it, he gripped his bag tighter before following with a faint expression of question in his features. It's tiny paws met time and time again with the pavement, and Miharu's step quickened when it turned a sharp corner and out of his view. While he cared for the cat dearly, the last thing he needed was to have to explain how he'd lost Yukimi's pet. He could see the expression the other would wear as he fought not to draw a gun on him...

The alleyway he was taken down lead into another clearing, surrounded by more buildings yet surrounded too by grass and trees as if it were a piece of the town forgotten by most. Luckily for him, Yoite's black fur stood out amongst all else, allowing him to watch it with ease.

"Yoite-" he began, nearly losing all balance when he was made to stop so suddenly as the cat came to a halt. He blinked down at the tiny beast, disbelieving to what he saw. It was humorous in a way, watching as it batted at the grounded baseball with interest. Miharu reached down to take the ball in one hand, the other hitching the feline onto his shoulder with care.

"Excuse me..." A voice caught his attention, causing his eyes to lift to its' owner. Gentle features, light skin, raven hair to contrast it...a boy of a similar age stood before him, baseball cap and uniform showing his reason for being there. He didn't have to utter another word for Miharu to offer back his possession, tossing it into his awaiting hands.

"Thanks..." He began, though the boy's own eyes drifted to what rest on his sholder. "Yoite?" He questioned, taking another step forward, face brightening the moment the cat seemed to recognize him as well, not bothering to hesitate as it hopping into his arms. "Hey boy..." he smiled, although the entire unfolding scene confused Miharu entirely. Yukimi had said he discovered the cat with someone else...could this have been...?

"Do you know Yukimi-san?" Miharu asked finally, adjusting his bag a bit to his shoulder.

The bright grin the other wore was welcoming and kind, and that strange sensation returned to him. He was in the right place. he knew there was no other explanation. "Oh, yeah, we met a while back, finding this little guy..." he nuzzled the feline affectionately before sliding a hand out for the other.

"Koudou. Tsukasa Koudou."