"A-and the p-plants aren't r-really sentient for the most p-p-part. Th-the the the only ones that can think for th-themselves are… are…"

Kay sponged Chloe's face with a cool cloth, keeping away from the bandage. Any attempt to check it had been met with scratching nails and garbled speech. Mom had sent Aji and Dulcie to Arexmart to pick up Theraflu, then posted herself on the front porch in case any further non-human entities took an interest in their visitor.

"How did no one notice you were burning up?" Kay muttered, lifting Chloe's head from the couch cushion and replacing the squishy ice pack with a firm, fresh one.

"Inter d-d-d-d-dimensional b-beings… make power…" Chloe shivered, licking her lips. "It hurts."

If the fragments of information she'd gotten were accurate, this girl had thought she was human until now. Kay mouthed a silent thanks to her parents. She couldn't imagine that kind of shock this late in life.

"It's ready. Warm milk and honey." Dad waited for her to move, then sat on the edge of the couch cushions, cupping a mug in his hands. "Lift her."

Kay slid an arm under Chloe's shoulders and neck, raising her up. Dad held the mug to Chloe's lips, tilting incrementally. At first it dribbled all over her face, but a few drops made it past her lips. Chloe opened her mouth wider and the milk drained away.

Kay laid her back down, wiping her face clean.

Dad cleared his throat. "So. Arthur."

Kay continued wiping Chloe's face.

"What now?"

"Now I never speak to him again. That way he's not a slave." Kay peered at Chloe's bandage. A red ring stained the middle of it. That couldn't be good.

"Is that what you think I am, too? A slave?"

Kay didn't answer. How could she? Mom took such pains to not phrase anything into a command when speaking with Dad, but she slipped sometimes. Dad never hesitated to obey, and he never contradicted her.

"It isn't like that, Kay. I don't think your Mom understands-"

"And you would?" Her tone came out sharper than she intended.

"P-Pretty sing." Kay glanced down at Chloe, who wound her fingers around Kay's wrist, peering up at her through smudged lenses. "Pretty s-sing. Please."

Kay tensed. "I can't, I'm sorry. It's not a good idea."

"Please." Long white fingers kneaded Kay's sleeve. "S-stops hurting. D-didn't hurt when you s-sang."

Kay pulled her arm away, focusing back on Dad. "You can't know and neither can Arthur. I'll never know what it's like to be loved and know for sure that I'm not forcing that person to love me. I'll always be wondering, and if that's the case it's better to never try at all."

"And why can't you believe that?" Dad took her by the shoulders, his fingers digging into her skin. "Why can't you believe you can be loved, even if someone is under sway?"

"This is why you can't understand!" Kay jerked out of his grip. "You think it's about what you feel, but I can't know if even what you feel was caused by our voices or not! Dad, I'm not human! Stop trying to explain it like I am!"

"Sing… please…"

Dad's fingers flexed and he looked aside. "I think your friend needs help," he said hoarsely. "If she's already heard you sing, she's probably fine. Give me three minutes and I'll have headphones on." He headed for the master bedroom, disappearing into it.

Kay sank back down to the edge of the couch, Chloe immediately clutching her sleeve again. "Are you sure, Chloe?"

"S-stopped hurting. Never s-stops. Even anime. I j-just forget it hurts. You s-sang, stopped hurting."

Kay counted off the seconds, biting her lip. "Just a little longer. Dad has to be safe." She waited until she heard him knock on the wall.

But what could she sing Chloe? Her flightsongs were raw vocalizations. Her song to Arthur had been his name, to remind him of who he was. What could she give Chloe, when she knew nothing about her?

Maybe she didn't need to know much. Chloe was scared, in pain, and had no idea what was happening to her. She remembered what that moment had been for her, and the music that had accompanied it.

Kay smoothed back Chloe's ringlets, a half-smile lifting her lips. "I've got one. It was one of Lewis' favorites. Made him want to be a musician when he grew up." It had been years since she'd heard it, but she could still recall the opening bars as if it was yesterday. Her lips parted, the first few strains of Pachelbel's Canon in D rising up and out of her.

The trembling in Chloe's fingers stilled, and her little gasps settled into steadier breathing. Chloe closed her eyes, her death grip on Kay's sleeve loosening. Kay's eyes stung as she looped around on the first minute or so of the song, all she'd ever heard of the piece. Maybe Mystery was right, and maybe there were a few spare situations where her voice was a good thing, and not something to be feared.

Just thinking about Mystery made her feel less alone. She wasn't the only one hiding in plain sight. And now there was Chloe as well. Perhaps they all could help each other, surely Mystery had some ideas that could help her and her sisters.

A crack resonated through her skull. Her song cut off. She was on the floor. How had she gotten there? Pain burst through her head. A pair of sharp black boots crossed her vision.

"Duet, you came," Chloe murmured. "Is it true? Am I magical plant girl?"

"Don't worry, Chloe." The intruder's voice was gentle. Tender, even. "I'll fix everything, I promise. Let's get you somewhere safe."

Something on the couch shifted. Kay struggled to move, to cry out and warn her mother. Not the front door, the back. No one had been watching the back!

The shiny black boot whipped around, slamming into the side of her head, and everything went dark.

…...

Vivi stirred. Something kneaded a tight spot on her neck, massaging it with gentle fingers. She stirred under the sheets, a smile playing along her lips. "Well, good morning to you too."

Good morning to who?

She jerked upright, grabbing at the sheets as she took stock of the tired red eyes assessing her. Doctor M sat on a chair pulled up to her side of the bed, his hand hanging mid-air where she'd been a moment ago.

"Good morning," he droned, retracting his hand.

No, not Doctor M. Mystery.

"Yeah. Well. Right." She winced, rubbing her neck. It hurt like a high strung halibut.

Duet.

"Mystery! We have to go!" She turned to swing herself over the other side of the bed, colliding with Arthur. "Squire, what are you doing in my bed?"

Arthur squawked, raising his right hand to shield his eyes from the light, blinking away sleep.

"Don't blame him. You both needed sleep. There was nothing else to be done." Mystery's voice was toneless.

"Sleep my foot! What time is it? We can still get to the Pepper house-"

"I already called. Chloe is gone."

"What do you mean, gone?"

Mystery's head sagged. "I mean Duet broke in and took her, according to Mr. Pepper. Assaulted Kay and ran with Chloe out the back. Kay is alright," Mystery added as Arthur tensed. "Nursing a headache and a bruise, but well."

Vivi's eyes narrowed. "Well we're getting her back. Duet's a danger to her, that much is obvious. Mystery, you're going to have to track them."

"They can go to hell for all I care." Mystery folded his arms across his knees, hunched over. "And I hope they do."

That's it.

Vivi climbed over Arthur, marching around to stand directly in front of Mystery, standing tall in her righteous fury. "Now you listen here, if you think for one minute I'm going to keep allowing this fishbrained attitude about my friend-"

Mystery's head whipped up and he snapped his teeth together just close enough to make Vivi leap back.

"Damn it all, Vivi!" he shouted, his hands balled into fists. "After all the times I watch you fall apart, can I not have this one time? What would youdo if someone ripped Arthur's heart out and wore it around every day? You tell me!"

Vivi's stomach bottomed out. She'd missed something. Worse, she'd steamrolled right over details the previous day. She'd been so focused on Chloe and Arthur that she'd failed to ask her dog-no, her caretaker-why he had reacted. Mystery was comparing Chloe and Duet's necklaces to Arthur's heart.

He couldn't mean that, could he?

Of course he did. Every aspect of his body from the shoulders curled toward his chest to the cords standing out in his neck and the sweat breaking out on his forehead screamed out to her.

Slow. No sudden movements. She took a step forward, kneeling in front of him and placing her hands over his. "I don't know, Mystery. I probably would have done what you did. So, since I skipped right over this part, how about you tell me why the necklaces are so important?"

Mystery's eyes flicked from Vivi to Arthur, who leaned against the wall, watching. His mouth opened, then closed, his eyes dropping down and to the side.

Arthur tapped Vivi on the shoulder, making a phone gesture with his hand. Vivi glanced around, catching sight of her purse in the corner and pointed at it. Arthur retrieved her phone and began typing.

Not sure you can trust.

Mystery dipped his head once.

Me or Vivi?

Mystery turned to inspect Vivi, and she shivered with the sudden sense that she was laid bare to something with a great deal more power than herself.

He turned his head back to Arthur. "You."

Why?

"A soul once possessed is an easier and more desirable target. Anything I tell you has the potential to leak far beyond you."

Arthur frowned, fidgeting with the phone as he thought for a moment. He lifted it again. Already know you're kitsune. New info kitsune super-secret, or known info?

Mystery paused. "It… it is known information, though not as much among humans."

Arthur's eye twitched. He typed deliberately. What human is going to possess me?

Mystery ducked his head. Vivi reached up, rubbing behind his ear. "Take it easy, Squire. I already read him the riot act without getting all the facts straight. Maybe there's something we don't get yet, give him a minute."

Shaking his head, Mystery sighed. "No, Vivi. He's right. And I know neither of you would take it." He retracted his hands from Vivi's and opened his mouth far wider than he should have been able to and reached into the back of his throat.

Vivi held herself very still as Mystery withdrew a small, golden orb, holding it between his fingertips.

"Hoshi no Tama," he whispered. "My soul."

Chills ran up Vivi's spine. Whorls of bright yellow mixed with deeper gold hues swirled across the surface, lines and curls of saffron chasing each other across the surface. "But, but they were red," she stammered.

"Whoever murdered the owners of the Hoshi no Tama corrupted the gems." Mystery replaced the orb at the back of his throat and swallowed, grimacing. His eyes dropped to his knees again. "I understand Chloe has no knowledge of who she is or what was done to her. But I have no way to know that she herself was not one who murdered one of my kind." His upper lip curled as he growled, "As for Duet, given his behavior, I would not put such murder past him at all. He seems fully aware of his actions."

Arthur passed Vivi, seating himself cross-legged on the floor by Mystery's chair. He stuck his head forward, looking up at Mystery expectantly.

Comprehension lit Mystery's face. "Are you sure?" he asked.

"Sure of what?" Vivi demanded. "Squire, what are you doing?"

Mystery hesitated. "I am capable of entering a human's thoughts. I have only done so once for Arthur, and he requested that I not do so again."

Arthur took Mystery's hand and placed it against his forehead. Mystery closed his eyes, and Arthur's eyes rolled back.

Vivi swallowed her questions. She trusted Mystery, she did. He wouldn't hurt Arthur. Her eyes drifted to Arthur's empty sleeve. Not unless he had to, anyway.

Mystery expelled a long breath, his eyes still closed. "Arthur mentioned flashes of the demon's memories to me, and that they might contain hints to Lewis and his childhood. It seems he had more while lost in his mind."

"What? Squire, you didn't say anything about this to me!"

"Vivi, calm yourself. Neither of you have sat down to plan properly for several days now, there have only been short meetings." Creases appeared in Mystery's forehead. "It seems those spirits that aided Duet have more to do with Lewis and the Shiker than we thought. Human souls completely drained of every memory and life experience. They are little more than commandable shells." Mystery's fingers twitched. "Arthur, you've started thinking in sign language. Better practice verbal speech in your mind so you don't forget. He wants to say to you that we're not ready to get Chloe back. Look what happened when we charged into the cave unprepared. Duet and Chloe are key to understanding more about Lewis and Shiker, but we need to prepare. I'm inclined to agree with him."

Vivi pursed her lips. She didn't want to wait, but he was right. "What do you suggest, Squire?"

Mystery tilted his head. "Arthur suggests spending a week preparing. He needs a new arm. He needs to study for information. You need to study to cast what we learn. We will be able to track Duet's movements and communication through his phone, so we won't have to search long. Also he asks why I reacted when Vivi mentioned the full name Meynung Shiker."Mystery pulled his hand back, inhaling slowly. "Because, Arthur, the state Vivi found me in was entirely owed to this creature. He was attempting to take my soul gem. No doubt he has found some vile use for them and is out collecting as many as he can." A growl underscored his words. "There are many Shikers, but I have only ever encountered one Meynung Shiker, the Mind Drinker."

Vivi rubbed her forehead trying to process all this information. "Mystery, you gonna catch me up on these visions of Squire's later?" At Mystery's nod, she turned to Arthur. "Squire, I'm gonna need you to go. I'm sorry, but I need to sort a lot of stuff that happened." She hesitated. "Mystery, is he gonna be safe? I mean, we found him burned to a crisp. That was the Shiker, right?"

Arthur bit his lip, shrugging one shoulder and nodding.

"Okay, your best guess is it was the Shiker. How do we keep him from attacking Squire again?"

"I don't know, Vivi. I barely escaped him myself. I lost a tail in that fight." Mystery shuddered. "Likely he's even stronger now. I'm no guarantee against him."

Arthur stood, putting a hand on Mystery's shoulder and squeezing. He turned to Vivi, shrugging and giving her a thumbs up.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.

He opened his mouth wide, mouthing words an exaggerated fashion. I'll be fine.

"You can't know that!"

Arthur shrugged again, jerking his thumb toward the door.

"But… but…"

He waved at her, walking toward the door. Vivi stared after him. "Do something, Mystery!"

"Like what? I thought I just established there's not a lot I can do." He crossed his arms. "Against the likes of the Shiker, I'm shocked I was able to save any of Arthur."

The front door opened and shut, and Vivi sighed, glancing back to Mystery. "So. I take it dog food sucks. How about some real food?"

Mystery blinked. "You're serious?"

"Well, there's not a lot in the fridge right now, but I'm sure it's better than whatever I've been feeding you."

"No, I mean, you're not throwing me out?"

Vivi raised an eyebrow. "Wow, you can be dense when you talk, you know that? Did you just hear yourself? Man, Mystery. Pull it together."

Mystery swallowed a grin, coughing. "I'll do my best."

Vivi's humor faltered and she cleared her throat. "Hey, Mystery. Do you. Um. Do you really think I should…" She glanced at her dresser drawer where she kept the little orange tube.

Mystery gathered her hands into his. "I'm sorry, Vivi. It's rare when I speak words I don't mean, but I did. The day I assigned myself to you, I said you didn't need medication and I meant it. Most would, but you have me. I've been doing what I can to stabilize you whenever possible. It was you who chose to take the medication, and I could hardly argue with you under cover."

Staring at his hands, Vivi mused, "Whenever you laid on me or nuzzled me I always felt a little better, like I was regaining control."

Mystery nodded. "Not all at once or you would have known. But in increments."

Vivi squeezed his hands. "I'm sorry about what I said too. I maintain you owe Chloe an apology, but who knows. Maybe even that will change. I'm sorry you lost… whoever you lost."

"I don't even know who they were," Mystery murmured. "I might know at the next gathering, but that is many decades away."

Vivi stood, pulling Mystery to his feet. "Well, for now let's get some real food in you. Then I need to look for a new job." Her phone blipped and she pulled it out, opening her email. Her shoulders sagged as she scrolled through the email. "And a new place to crash… better eat up, Mystery. I'll need your help packing. We just got evicted for last night's fiasco."