After finding out that their houseguest was the daughter of their enemy/ally, Kenbukyo, Nasuti and the Troopers had no choice but to explain their affiliation with the Demon swordsman.  In the following hours, each of the troopers took turns explaining the battle with Arago and the Youja-kai.  They talked about Kaosu and his nine armors, as well as Kayura and their battles with the 4 Masho. They told Kiyone about the semi-take over of the mortal world and the battle with Arago.  After they told her about the death of Sh'ten Doji, they backtracked and told Kiyone about their fight with Kenbukyo over the Swords of Fervor, Byauken's death, as well as Arago and Ryo's final showdown in Shinjuku. Kiyone didn't speak a word throughout the entire story.  She sat very still, listening carefully to all that they told her.
            "In the end, he really didn't leave us with a choice." Shin replied, finishing up the story.  "He fought bravely though, for a good cause.  I'm sure you and your mother would be proud of him."
            Kiyone smiled, looking down at her feet.  "She would be," she agreed softly.  "If she had known why he had left, she never would have done what she did."
            "Kiyone…" Seiji replied softly, resting a hand on her shoulder.  Touma involuntarily flinched at this.  "We're really sorry…"
            "It's all right, Seiji-kun." Kiyone replied. "Really.  I know you guys didn't mean to do it, you didn't know he was my father."  She looked around at the others. "Like you said, you didn't have a choice.  My father knew what he was doing from the very beginning.  He knew Arago wouldn't let him go, and he knew that he couldn't beat him – only you guys could."  She chuckled ruefully.  "I just wish I could have been there to help him."
            "I'm sure he knows that, Kiyone," Nasuti said softly. "Still, he wanted to protect you and your mom, even if it meant giving you up."
            "I know." Kiyone said with a nod.  "But that doesn't mean I won't be lonely."  She took a deep breath to recollect herself. "I'm all alone now."
Touma felt as if his heart would break.  He wanted to say something to reassure her, to make her feel better. He found that his brain wouldn't cooperate and remained silent, fearing anything he said would upset her. 
Fortunately, it was Shuu who cameto the rescue in his stead. "Alone?  Are you kidding?" he exclaimed.  Kiyone looked up at him in surprise, as did the others.  "With all of us here, you still feel alone?"
Kiyone looked flushed.  "Ne… I didn't mean it like that, Shuu…"
Instead of getting worked up as shehad expected, Shuu grinned impishly. "Don't sweat it!" he replied. "No matter what happens, you're a part of our family now.  Wherever you go, if you need a hand, just call on Shuu-niichan (Big brother Shuu) to help ya' out!"
Seiji blinked repeatedly. 
"Shuu-niichan?"  Shin snickered.
"What?" Shuu frowned defensively.  "I'm her big brother now!  Any one wants to mess with her and they'll have to go through me – eh?"
Kiyone stood up and hugged him tightly.  "Thank you, Shuu-niichan." she replied, smiling softly.  "That does make me feel a little better."  With that, she stood up.  "I'll be upstairs if anyone needs me."  Without waiting for a response, she rushed upstairs.
            "Kiyone!" Nasuti called after her, to no avail. She turned back to the others with a defeated sigh.  "I feel terrible… all this time I never knew what had happened."
            "I don't think she did either." Seiji replied. "I bet all this time she thought her dad just walked out on her.  But to find out what really happened like this…" He trailed off, closing his eyes. "Kami, why'd it have to happen this way?"
            "All things happen for a reason." Everyone looked up at Shuu, who had spoken, in surprise.  "It's just fate that makes things happen the way they do."
            "You're just full of words of wisdom today, aren't you," Shin said with a smirk.  "Shuu-niichan?"
            Shuu grinned impishly.
            "You're right, though." Nasuti agreed with a nod. "But that doesn't make me feel any better, either."
            "Do you think Kenbukyo knew?" Everyone turned to Ryo.
            "Knew what?" Seiji asked.
            "Do you think he knew that we'd someday run into Kiyone?" Ryo asked.  "It couldn't possibly be a coincidence."
            "There's no such thing as a coincidence." Seiji pointed out.  "Not in our line of work anyway."
            Nasuti rubbed her chin.  "How could he possibly know that we would meet then?" she asked, more to herself than to the other troopers.  "Granted, being that she is his daughter makes her half youja, but that doesn't explain how he knew – that is, if he knew at all."
            Seiji frowned and folded his arms over his chest, deep in thought.  "The puzzle pieces are starting to come together." He murmured.
            "What do you mean?"
            "I always figured there was something strange about her." He replied.  "I've always thought so ever since the first time she got here."
            "Thus explains your obsession?"
            Seiji ignored whoever made the comment.  "Just think about it.  Kiyone is the only guest who has come here and not been afraid of Byauken.  In fact, Byauken has spent more time with her than anyone else here."
            "Kiyone said that Kenbukyo appointed Kokuen-Oh as her guardian before he left," Ryo replied.  "And when Byauken died, Kokuen became a part of him."
            "Maybe that's how he knew then." Nasuti suggested. "Since Kokuen-Oh's duty was to protect Kiyone, Kenbukyo knew that Kokuen would find her again after his death."
            "That explains that," Shuu replied.  "But what about the voices Kiyone claimed she heard? She said that someone was after her."
            "If Kiyone is in fact the daughter of Kenbukyo, perhaps she's in-tuned with the Youja-kai or something." Shin suggested.  "She did take out a couple youjas herself.  Is it possible she's inherited some of Kenbukyo's abilities?"
            Ryo frowned.  "If that's the case, then maybe there is someone after her." he replied.
            Seiji looked at him worriedly.  "How do you figure?"
            "That night in the rain… before I went inside," Ryo replied softly.  "I could've sworn I saw something out there…watching us."
            Byauken looked up at him and snorted.
            Nasuti gasped.  "You don't suppose there's actually someone or something out there after her because she's Kenbukyo's daughter?" she asked.
            "It's apossibility." Ryo nodded. 
            "If that's the case," Seiji replied, standing up. "We've got a keep an eye on her protect her at all times."
            "We can't stifle her." Nasuti exclaimed.  "Kiyone would never take kindly to being cooped up in the house 24/7.  She's not like that.  It's a shock to see that she's stayed here this long."  Ryo smiled inwardly at this.  "Besides, if she knew for a fact that she were being stalked, how do you think she would take it?"
            "Well, given the fact that she was attacked in broad daylight, it's obvious that's she's being pursued." Shin replied.  "Who knows what will happen to her or what will be done to her if whatever's out there catches her.  We owe it to her to protect her."
            "That cinches it then." Seiji replied with a nod. "We don't let her out of our sight. We have to protect her at all costs."
            Ryo nodded slightly.  "Is everyone agreed?" he asked softly, still a little shook up.
Nasuti nodded, resting her hand on his.
            "Hai." Seiji answered.
"You've got my vote." Shuu replied.
"Mine as well." Shin added.
Ryo nodded again.  He blinked, glancing around the room.  "Ne… where's Touma?"

End of Chapter 13