Akemi glanced out the window watching the rain hit the plane of glass while trying to block out Kurama's latest lecture. Ever since he agreed to allow her to join in on the missions he has been training and lecturing her nonstop. She was so tired that it was hard to just sit still and not fall asleep like her body begged her to.

In the last month alone her training had doubled to the point where she couldn't physically stand for long once it was over. However, she wasn't allowed much of a rest because she was soon required to study multiple locations, strategies, and techniques that could come in handy when stuck in a tight spot. After that she then had to answer Kurama's questions and if she was wrong, like she was now, he would then lecture her for at least an hour on the importance of comprehending and retaining what she had just read. Once that was over he would make her train again until she was ready to pass out. She was lucky if she was able to eat one full meal a day.

"Akemi!" Kurama snapped. "It's no wonder you're not absorbing anything you read. How can you expect me to let you go out on missions if you can't even listen to what I'm saying here."

Akemi shrank back listening to him scold her once again. "Sorry," she mumbled.

Kurama sighed irritably. "I can't even tell if you even care."

"It's not that I don't care," she paused unsure if she should tell him how she felt. "I'm just tired. I feel like you're working me to death. I just need a rest." Kurama gave her a questioning look. "Please listen to me. I know you're only trying to make me stronger, but I need more time where I'm not being forced to train and study. It's starting to take a toil on my physically and mentally."

Kurama took a closer look at her noticing the dark circles under her eyes and her pale skin now seemed to be stretched tighter across the planes or her face. She was beginning to look unhealthily thin. It was obvious that she wasn't getting enough nutrients or sleep. He took that into consideration while he thought everything over. "You may be right. It has become quite obvious that you need some more recovery periods. I need to rethink a few things. You can go now."

Akemi couldn't believe it. Did she really look that bad? She decided to leave before Kurama changed his mind. She was tired, but didn't want to sleep so she decided to walk around and grab something to eat. She was starving.

She was walking towards the kitchen when she saw Raku and some of the other females walking by. She waved to Raku.

Raku stopped and told the girls she was with to go ahead and that she would catch up. She gave Akemi a worried look. "Akemi what are you doing? Doesn't Master Kurama usually have you studying right now?"

"Usually, but he's given me the rest of the day off."

Raku's face light up. "So what are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure actually. I was thinking of eating but other than that I have no idea."

"Perfect!" She grabbed Akemi's arm. "You're going to go out with us. We're going into the city today for some fun and I think you more than anyone need to have some fun right now."

Akemi grew worried. "Am I even aloud to go out?" she questioned even though she knows that Raku wouldn't know the answer.

"Of course. Everyone can come and go as they please as long as they are careful not to reveal the location of the hideout."

"But, I don't have any money or anything."

"Don't worry about that. We'll stop and get some before we leave."

Akemi smiled slightly. "Alright. I guess if it's not that big of deal I could use some fun."

Raku grinned. "I promise that you will have a good time, but we need to hurry to catch up to the other."

With that said she dragged Akemi towards the entrance way stopping only to grab some money. Just as they were about to leave Akemi saw Kuronue snickering at her being dragged away by the hyper tiger demoness. Akemi stuck her tongue out at him as she passed him in a very childish act, but Akemi couldn't help herself. Raku saw the action out of the corner of her eye and laughed.

"What's so funny?" Akemi asked.

"It's just so funny watching the way you and Kuronue act."

"What does that mean?"

"It's just fun to watch the way you two interact. Sometimes it's friendly, sometimes it's childish, sometimes you two are mean and hateful to each other, and yet sometimes you flirt. It's so cute when you and him aren't fighting with each other."

Akemi was taken aback. "Flirt? I don't remember flirting with him."

"Not even when you kissed his cheek a while back?"

Akemi stopped and blushed furiously. "How did you know about that?" She was aghast. She didn't think that anyone had seen that.

"Oh you know how fast good gossip flies around. All of the women have been talking about it for weeks. I must say some of those girls are jealous about it. They want Kuronue for themselves. You should see how green with envy they turn whenever they see you two together. Well, that is when you two aren't fighting, because let's face it: they think that they have a shot with him then."

Akemi covered her face taking all of it in. She couldn't believe it. "Do they really talk about it that much?"

"Oh yes. Good gossip hardly ever happens around here, exceptionally when it involves the Masters. Of course Master Kurama is constantly around women and seducing them along with Master Kuronue, but it's rare for either one of them to show serious interest in a girl for long. It always causes an uproar."

"That's ridiculous. There is nothing going on between Kuronue and I. He's my cousin's partner. It would be completely inappropriate."

Raku waved it off. "Oh don't worry about it. Right now we are going to have fun. It's time to forget about everything going on at the hideout and just enjoy the moment. You need to live for the present and forget about the past and don't worry about the future."

Akemi took a deep breath to calm herself. "If you say so."

"I do. Come on." Raku lead Akemi through the forest and onto the main road leading towards the city. The other group of women were less than half a mile a head of them and with Raku's quick pace they caught up shortly.

At first Akemi was weary of everyone else because she wasn't sure how they would react to her joining them. A few of them were upset of the idea but most of them were very friendly. Apparently most of the females believed in sticking together since there were so few of them.

This was only Akemi's second time in a large city and she was overwhelmed again. She had forgotten about everything else and all she wanted to do was explore the city, and explore it she would.

Raku chuckled at Akemi's expression. "I take it you've never been to a large city before?"

Akemi shook her head. "Not really. I mean Kurama and I stopped in one for a night on my way to join, but I didn't get to see much of it. I grew up in a very small village where we weren't encouraged to go anywhere and most people never do. I always wanted to leave, but I wouldn't have been able to survive on my own if I ever left."

"Well you don't need to worry about anything because I was born in a city similar to this. I can show you all of the places to see. There's a wonderful marketplace this time of year that has lots of unique jewelry, clothes, and wonderful food."

"Oh wow that sounds amazing. I've never been to a marketplace before." Akemi was excited. This was beyond her wildest dream. Was this what life was like for a normal person? If it was she couldn't imagine anything better.

Raku chuckled at the excitement in Akemi's voice. "Well you'll never see one if you continue to stand there gawking at everything. Come on it's on the north-side of the city and if we don't hurry it will soon become overcrowded." She ushered Akemi towards the open-air market that was full of stalls of all kinds.

The area was crowed with sellers and buyers and Akemi was frightful of getting separated from Raku since she didn't know where she was or even how to get back. She has always had a bad sense of direction. There were bright colors everywhere which surprised her since she wasn't sure what to imagine. There were so many strange and ugly looking demons which made Akemi nervous although she tried her best to not let it show. She had no clue what anyone would do if she showed how fearful she truly was.

Everyone appeared to be yelling and it was starting to hurt Akemi's sensitive ears. The merchants were yelling trying to get customers to check out their goods and the customers were yelling to be heard above the crowd. Everywhere she looked there was jewelery or clothes something that most women would like, but none of it seemed to call out to Akemi. She had spent some money on food, but nothing else and they were getting close to the end of the market. All of the other women she came here with already had multiple bags full of wonderful clothes and all sorts of other stuff.

Just as she and Raku were about to turn back a stall caught her eyes. It wasn't a very impressive looking one, but what caught Akemi's eye was a small silver brush. To most people it would have been over looked but something about it called to Akemi. When it was looked at closely the silver was tarnished and scratched and some of the gems had either fallen out or had been taken out but Akemi could see past that to the beauty it once was when it was first created.

"I see you like the brush," the merchant commented when he saw the look on her face.

"Yes. I think it's wonderful." She had wondered towards the stall without realizing it.

"Well you're in luck because today it's going for one gold piece." He grinned showing broken yellow teeth.

Akemi thought about it for a moment weighing the pros and cons of buying it. Most people would think her foolish for buying that one when she could easily afford a much better one. She had never really cared about what people thought about her before and she wasn't about to start now. "Alright. I'll take it." She fished through her purse and pulled out a small piece of gold. She handed it to the merchant who then quickly wrapped up the brush in a piece of silk and handed it to her.

"Thank you very much Miss. Please come back anytime. I always have great deals for my regulars."

Akemi nodded and turned to leave when she noticed that she had lost Raku. Fear and panic instantly rose in her and she had to try very hard to push those feelings aside as she made her way back the way they had came. She was weary of everyone now that she was alone. She had no clue how she was going to make her way back to the hideout now that she had lost her guide.

She felt someone come up from behind her moments before she heard a male voice whisper in her ear. "Well, well, what have we here? Are you lost little girl?"

She froze as fear engulfed her now more than ever. After everything she'd been though was this the way she was going to die? She was about to scream the the man's hand covered her mouth.