"I love you," Kimiko Hikawa held electric cables in her rubber gloved hands. She had just spoken to her daughter; Kuri unsteadily ran and hid in the bushes.
Kimiko held out the cables, but the demon was upon her.
"Kimiko!" a shout rang out. Her angel had come for her.
Electricity rippled through her form. She was gone.
Kuri ran up the pier as the police zipped up her mother in a body bag. "Mommy? Mommy!"
Her eyes filled with tears.
Suddenly he was there. Jacob. Her friend, her confidant, her protector. He held her fiercely, planting a chaste kiss on her forehead.
Kuri could sense his frustration, his helplessness.
Jake's head was lowered, as if he couldn't bear looking at her.
Little Kuri reached up and touched his face. "I forgive you, sweet Jacob."
That was the first time she experienced Empathy.
Xxx
Alone in the Hikawa household, the young Mana cried for her mother.
A dark shadow crossed the room. Shocked and wary, Mana went to the window.
Outside was a large black wolf.
Mana opened the window and pet the large wolf.
Sam, for of course it was he, licked her face.
Mana started to laugh and the great wolf beamed and grasped her shirt in his teeth and settled her in his fur. Curling up, the two fell asleep in the cool evening air.
One final night of peace.
As morning broke, the human (and dressed) Sam knelt and kissed Mana on the forehead. Her eyelids fluttered.
Sam put her to bed. "I will return when you have need of me."