AN: Ok since nobody has mentioned anything yet I'm assuming I got my facts right. I had meant to double check on my dates before I posted the last chapter but forgot.

It's been 4 years since high school so I'm a little rusty on the little facts like when Columbus found American. I thought it was 1442…I still haven't double checked but that sounds right. (shrug) Probably doesn't matter and nobody probably cares. I don't:)

Umm I think that's all I wanted to say.

Enjoy

Renjiro sighed and sat back in his computer chair annoyed.

Not one goddamn lead. I've searched everywhere. I've searched the Internet, the clubs, the underground…me and Yasashiku both.

Yet no one knows whom the power is.

The power…that's what all the demons were calling him. Calling the source of the worldwide panic. It fit the guy whoever it was. The power just sounded good. Renjiro wouldn't mind it one bit if everyone called him 'the power'.

"I've got the power…lalala."

Renjiro bobbed his head; dancing to the music only he could hear.

Hmmm surely someone knows this guy. The habit of people with power is they tend to brag a little. Brag about their deeds…or if not brag at least talk to a friend about it. Secrets always get out. No one can keep anything from me…I am the master!

Renjiro frowned as Yasashiku opened the door to 'their' office. He was carrying a tray of donut's and coffee. He noticed that the little toad had yet to change his human disguise. He wondered if he was. 'Hojo' certainly wasn't a bad disguise. It was actually well thought out and built. The shields were nice as were all of Kiyoshi and Tekeshi's employee's were. That was one of the secrets of the brothers; it was the reason that the hunters knew almost nothing about them. They could never find a demon that worked for them to torture for info.

Renjiro snatched a donut and returned to his Internet searching. On the 'demon' only sites, sites with spells that hide most of the words and pictures, he was hoping to find rumors. Rumors of the power…rumors of anything, a strange Miko or priest, hell a strange acting human would work for Renjiro.

Yet no one seemed to know anything.

"This is ridiculous. Its like this guy has just disappeared from the earth!"

Yasashiku was startled by Renjiro's outburst. He nodded as he took a bit of his jelly donut. He knew all to well Renjiro's feelings.

"That power surge happened Monday…its Thursday already and there's fucking nothing."

"Well…"

Started Yasashiku.

"Well the Power has been hiding this long…and we all felt how he just disappeared. Perhaps he doesn't want to be found?"

Renjiro sighed running a hand through his red hair. Man this job was turning out to be more difficult that he thought.

Of course he had anticipated problems…one being Yasashiku himself.

Renjiro had never had a partner before, neither had Yasashiku…unless you counted Lord Kiyoshi back in the old days. The two of them on top of that hadn't been exactly close. The only times they met was when Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru fought. Which of course had made them enemies.

Yasashiku had thus been surprising him left and right. He over the years wasn't nearly as annoying anymore. He was clever and sly, a perfect actor for any occasion, and very quick of the mind. Renjiro wondered when this had happened; Jaken had certainly not been like that in the past.

Of course just to survive Sesshoumaru had to be a talent in itself. Maybe now since he doesn't have to worry about his master killing him at any given moment, it freed him up to become what he is?

"I don't know Yasashiku. I do know one thing. I don't like how all the Hunters are coming  En Masse to this territory."

"What did you expect, they want The Power as well."

"Ya I know…but it makes our job all the more difficult."

Renjiro fell back in his chair making a noise of pure frustration. He was flat out of ideas.

Yasashiku tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"Well, we know the power went through all our shields. Maybe…just maybe if we talked to Umeko she might know something."

Renjiro sat up and surprised look on his face.

"Umeko? Does she work for the Brothers?"

"Yes she does. Haven't you ever wondered Renjiro where all the power comes from for our shields? Unlike Kiyoshi-sama and Tekeshi we are not strong enough to make them ourselves."

Renjiro nodded, he already knew this. His shield spell given to him by Tekeshi did have more power than he personally could create. But he never thought about where the energy came from.

"Umeko's special talent is she can create powerful shields with little effort. She's the one that makes our shield spells and holds them."

"Weird man. I didn't know that."

Yasashiku smiled proudly. It did pay off to pay attention whenever Kiyoshi-sama and Tekeshi talked. He had overheard them in a meeting once talking about the girl. Of course he had been found out…and Tekeshi had almost beaten him into a bloody pulp for eavesdropping. But Kiyoshi had stopped his brother telling him that Jaken was trustworthy and his years of service allowed him to know things others did not.

"Anyway Renjiro. I was thinking…wouldn't it make sense that she might have felt something we couldn't when the power went though all of our shields."

Renjiro smiled a wide and slightly crazed look.

"Umeko…ya its worth a try man. Nothing else is working…hmmm I wonder if she's cute."

Yasashiku rolled his eyes.  

3 hours later Renjiro and Yasashiku found themselves at an old rundown building outside the city of Tokyo. A quick call to Kiyoshi's office had yielded them the address and directions to Umeko's home.

Renjiro looked around slightly put out. This place didn't look fit for a human. Much less a demon as important as Umeko.

Shields are our life man. True I can cast one but it would be weak. Even those see goggles the hunters sometimes wear would see through it. I would probably be dead if it wasn't for the shield this demon's apparently providing.

The yard was a mess. Very unkempt and rundown with weeds growing wild. Renjiro's sensitive nose could smell several different kinds of vermin and other…treats living in that grass.

The house itself looked like something that someone should have torn down a long time ago. Its windows were broken and boarded up. The walls were mostly just plain weather cracked wood. At one point it looked like it had been painted but that was long ago, hardly any paint remained to protect the wood from the weather and bugs.

The front porch looked like it was falling over with pieces of the ceiling lying destroyed on the floor. A porch swing, old and rusted lay half broken, hanging by only one chain.

This place was a dump!

"Are you sure this is the place Yasashiku?"

"Yes…this is the home of Umeko."

Renjiro looked doubtfully at the house again before shrugging and starting forward.

Yasashiku didn't look particular happy about the place either, he stayed by the car.

"Hello?"

Renjiro knocked loudly on the door. When no one answered he looked through a broken window. He could see nothing but darkness inside.

"Renjiro…tell her who you are."

Yasashiku yelled from the car. Renjiro thought this was strange and wondered if the little toad had forgotten to mention something about the safely of this demon.

There seemed to be something he didn't like about the place.

"Hello? Umeko?"

He pounded on the door again.

"My names Renjiro, I work for Tekeshi and Kiyoshi. Hello? I need to speak with you."

Suddenly like something out of a horror film the door suddenly unlatched and opened slowly. It creaked and squeaked the entire way.

Renjiro, eye wide open looked inside unsure. The house was so dark inside he couldn't see anything. He sniffed…all he could smell was dust and age.

"Uh Yasashiku…you first man."

Renjiro stepped back to allow the toad demon inside. When no toad came forward he looked up at the car. Yasashiku was inside with the door locked. His young human face looked white and his eyes looked huge.

Renjiro blinked.

"Is there something you forgot to tell me about this chick?"

Yasashiku rolled the window down a little so that Renjiro could hear him.

"I'm to old for this shit. Its all yours Renjiro!"

Renjiro mumbled and looked into the darkness again.

"To old my ass…*mumble mumble*"

Slowly and very carefully Shippou made his way into the darkness.

Man oh man I don't like this. This looks too much like a trap to me. Man oh man…shit, I shouldn't be in here.

He couldn't stand it no more. No matter what Yasashiku said…shit he didn't care what the bosses said, there was something funny going on. This had to be a trap!

Totally loosing his nerve Renjiro whirled around to run out.

He nearly screamed when nothing but darkness met his hungry eyes.

Oh MY GOD! Where's the door! Where's the fucking door!

 Looking around half crazed he was sorely disappointed that nothing…not even a small ray of light met his eager eyes.

Renjiro reached inside his coat and took out both of his guns. They were a matching pair of C275BD 9MM with a beautiful silver titanium chrome barrels, state of the art laser sighting, and custom hands grips to fit his slightly smaller than normal hands. And special made custom bullets with hollow points and a very potent poison on the tips.

They were more than just his pride and joy. They were his babies.

"Who are you?"

Renjiro screamed at the hollow and surprisingly young sounding voice.

He whirled around guns ready to fire…but in the blackness surrounding him he couldn't make anything out.

"Who are you?"

Renjiro decided to play along for now.

"Renjiro!"

"Liar."

The voice was soft and literally sent a chill down his spine. Never before had he felt anything like it. Not even in the presence of Kiyoshi…and that guy was creepy.

"I am no Liar! That is my name."

"Not your birth name."

Renjiro stiffened, there was no way in the gods green earth was he going to state his demon name for all to hear.

"We are shielded, you have nothing to worry about in this place."

Renjiro was torn. If this was a Hunter he would be dead already. Hunters did not play mind games. But Demons did…was this Umeko? Yasashiku's attitude did suggest she wasn't quite all there. Or was this another demon trying to trick him and get him killed?

"First tell me, are you Umeko?"

"No, my name is Shiori."

SHIORI. I know that name!

Shippou's mouth dropped open as a beautiful young woman appeared before him. She was dressed in a sparkling white gown, which hung very low over her full breasts.

Renjiro's eyes appraised those two items happily.

She was a bat demon of some sort.

No not demon…she's a Hanyou. I know her.

He did know her although it had been centuries since he had met her.

It was when I was a kid, before Kagome disappeared and never came back. It was when Naraku was still alive. Inuyasha needed to defeat a powerful barrier with the fang and to do that he had to make Tetsusaiga stronger. The only way to do that was by killing a demon that could set up and hold strong barriers so the sword could absorb their evil powers.

She was that demons. A Hanyou child not much older than I was at the time. Her father had been killed by his own father because of his love for the human mother.

Suddenly a light went off in Renjiro's head.

Shit man, she's Umeko. She's the demon that created and holds the shields that protect Kiyoshi and Tekeshi's people.

"You are Umeko."

The beautiful hanyou in front of him smiled her fanged teeth bare for all to see.

Renjiro took another second to appraise her beauty.

She had long…very long silky lavender hair. A very light shade of purple that matched her violet eyes perfectly. Her skin was a dark tan, but not a tan from the sun, the color and shade was to perfect. This color was very nature.

Her face while plump was well proportioned and very beautiful.

My god this woman is a BABE!

"My name is Shiori. As I've said this place is shielded, you have no fear here."

"Umm my name is Shippou."

It felt weird voicing out his birth name. It had many many years since he had voiced it aloud. For there were very few places he would dare.

"I know Shippou. I remember you…you and Inuyasha."

Shippou felt a shudder run up his spine. Man this was just weird. It seemed to almost be tempting fate. What if the shield failed…or what if there was a crack in it. So many factors could weaken such a thing. And just that one instance…something could go wrong right when you said a demon's name. It would mean death to them…or at the very least a life of the hunted.

Shiori smiled again.

"Do not fear for my shields Shippou. If you trust your personal shield then you trust me. For I made that shield and help you hold it. I do the same for Jaken who declined to come and join us.

I'm glad to. Hehehe.

Shippou smiled his best, his face consorting to something that looked suspiciously like Miroku's had in the old days.

"What about Tekeshi and Kiyoshi? Do you hold their shield?"

Shiori shook her head no.

"They do not need it. They have enough power on their own."

So they don't use her? Weird Kiyoshi and Tekeshi's shields are the strongest I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot. Man that says a lot about their power.

Suddenly the darkness around the two demons suddenly lifted.

And Shippou gasped.

Surrounding him head to foot was the most beautiful and expensive living quarters he had ever seen. It looked like he was in a living room/work area. It was absolutely gorgeous. Leather chairs, crystal chandeliers, oak floors and tasteful and 'expensive' artwork on the walls.

He had never seen such a place.

"But…"

He started his mouth still hanging open in surprise.

"But outside this place looked so…so…"

"Shippou that was an illusion. As was the darkness that surrounded us a moment ago. I have to be careful whom I speak with. If I get killed or captured…well that's not good for our Lords."

"Ya I can imagine why?"

Shippou took a slow step closer to Shiori smiling widely.

"Why are you here Shippou?"

"You don't know? You knew who I was easily enough."

Shiori shook her head a soft smile touching her perfect lips.

"You forget friend. I made your shield; your human disguise is nothing to me. I see the real you."

"Really? Like what you see?"

Shippou slipped up beside the outrageously beautiful demon and took her hand in his. She seemed genuinely surprised at his actions.

"Yasashiku and I are on the trail of that huge power source that surged Monday morning. Yasashiku suggested that maybe you might know something about it."

Shiori's eyes closed a moment as if to gather her mind.

"It was a huge shock to me. Not even the shields of this place were able to keep that power out."

"Did you sense anything? Anything at all…we are grabbing at straws here. And I know I don't have to tell you how important it is for our Lords to find him first."

"Her…not him."

"Huh?"

"The power as you so named it is a woman. A young woman, that much I know. She is young but not stupid or rash. The fact she could hide herself so quickly only suggests so much. It also suggests she had used her powers before…although that raises more questions that answers. If she had used these powers before why hadn't we sensed it?"

Shippou was stunned. The power was a woman?

Whoa…that never even crossed my mind. I just assumed it would be a guy. There ain't many woman…even the Miko woman that are strong nowadays. It was more common in the old days but no one trains like they did in the past.

This is GREAT! How much you wanna bet Shippou old boy that no one else even suspects it a girl! Everything you read and heard all refer to the power as a he…never once as a she. This means we have a better chance at finding her.

"Shippou!"

Shiori voice was firm if not a little angry.

"Yes?"

:Slap:

"Remove that hand or have your shields removed…permanently!"

Shippou quickly removed his offending hand, which had somehow found itself on her rather nice and round bottom. His face now held a hand shaped red spot on it.

Damn Miroku's curse.

"hehe."

He laughed just as Miroku had. That nervous yet 'I not one bit sorry I did that and will do it again if you let me' laugh.

"Shippou that's all I know. Please leave."

"Yes Shiori. Thank you."

"Grrrr…"

That growl was more than enough to get Renjiro out of the house as quickly as possible. He really didn't want his shields destroyed.

As he walked back out to the car his mind went back to what he had been thinking. Now since the allure of female flesh was out of sight although never out of mind Shippou was able to better concentrate.

Well should put together a profile of what we learned.

A young, somewhat experienced woman. Experience means that she must have had some involvement with either Hunters or demons at some point.

However all the sources say the hunters are looking for her just like we are. So that suggests that she hasn't chosen a side, or if she has then she doesn't want to fight.

The power surge had been a searching one…she was looking for someone. Most like a demon by the way it felt.

Man this is getting confusing. There are millions of woman in the western lands. How in the hell are we going to find one?

Renjiro opened the door to the car after knocking on the window so Yasashiku would let him in.

"Thank's for the back up man!"

Yasashiku had the nerve to look a little sheepish.

"I'm sorry Renjiro. I just freaked out. I felt something I didn't like. So…?"

Renjiro sighed. The little toad was trying to get info out of him when he had been to scared to take the risk and get it himself. This was why he worked alone.

"The powers not a him…it's a her."

Yasashiku's eyes widened just as Renjiro's had.

"We should report this."

"That's why we're going to Kiyoshi and Tekeshi's office now."

Kagome smiled happily as she dipped her hands into the clean and fresh water of a small creek. No matter how many times she did this she still could never get over how fresh everything seemed to be. It was almost like the world was new and clean. Although she knew it wasn't.

My science teacher says the world is about 5.4 billions years old or something like that.

Strange how humans have spoiled the earth so quickly. Well humans and demons I guess, demons do live in my time so I guess they might have had as much an impact on the environment. Don't really know anything about them.

Kagome stiffened and blushed furiously as Inuyasha came and knelt down beside her to drink from the water.

Shyly she looked over to him. She could see his cheeks were pink as well.

So I'm not the only one unsure what to do next. Why is this happening? I've known Inuyasha forever now. Why am I getting so tongue-tied now?

"Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha jerked like she had shot him. Kagome smiled as the blush on his cheeks deepened into a fire. Her own blush she knew must be making her face glow…it certainly felt like it.

"Ya?"

His voice sounded funny, and Kagome couldn't help but smile at that. He was so sweet and innocent.

"Ummm thank you…uh for the flowers I mean. They were beautiful."

"They were?"

He sounded so shocked at this that Kagome laughed outright. Ok…so they weren't exactly the ideal flowers to give a girl. They also have been less than fresh, evidence that he had carried them around for a while in his rat fire.

"Well…ok not really but…"

His face fell and Kagome's heart went out to him. If she hadn't loved him to begin with that look right there would have made her fall.

"But I love them just the same."

Inuyasha's big Amber eyes looked up searching no doubt to see if she really meant that or was just trying to make him feel better. After a moment he guardedly asked.

"Why?"

"Why? Because silly."

Kagome laughed and shyly put her hand on his clawed on. His eyes widened so much they looked like they were taking up his entire face. He gulped nervously although he didn't take his hand away.

"Because you gave them to me Inuyasha."

She said this so softly with such feeling that Inuyasha didn't even think to doubt her.

He nodded softly still looking down at their touching hands.

"I'm glad…Kagome. I didn't understand at first. But then…then I remembered once with my mother. I remembered she always liked it when father gave her flowers."

Kagome's smiled could have brightened a world that had never seen a sun. It fairly sparkled with joy. So much so that Inuyasha was speechless. It felt like she had just punched him in the gut and taken the breath right out of him…just by smiling. And the thing was it didn't hurt, this was a good feeling.

Tears threatened to overcome her making Inuyasha a little nervous. He could never stand to see her cry. Except this time…they didn't seem sad. In fact they seemed to him to be happy. Like Kagome was suddenly so happy she couldn't contain it, and those tears were the happiness that brimmed over.

But that was silly why would that happen?

"Kagome?"

"Oh Inuyasha."
A tear fell down her cheek. Urged by some impulse Inuyasha reached up to wipe it away. Surprisingly neither was shy or surprised by this gesture.

"I'm so happy."

Inuyasha remembered why she had said the same thing a long time ago. He had told her something along the lines that he had searched for a place he could belong through power, and had ended up alone. She had said she was happy because he had shared that bad memory with her.

So sharing good memories also make her happy? Miroku didn't mention this? Why would talking about my past make her happy?

A little voice suddenly popped into is head answering his question.

Because dummy, telling her these things make you closer. Sharing ones life and memories make people feel like they know each other's souls. And perhaps that is right. You certainly never shared anything with anyone before…not even Kikyou knew anything about you. She never wanted to know.

Telling her what you never told anyone before, makes her feel you trust her and makes her feel that she's special because you would never tell anyone else these things.

Inuyasha's face lit up with the sudden insight. He would never have guessed this to be true. It seemed so…so strange to him yet right. So right in fact he suspected the same applied to Youkai kind as well.

He smiled at her one of his fangs resting pleasantly on his bottom lip.

He didn't feel so clueless and lost now. Knowing something that could make her happy gave him a little confidence.

Kagome licked her lips and Inuyasha found himself just staring at them.

He…felt like doing something he had never really felt before. He wanted to kiss her.

Kissing was something he knew. Kikyou had kissed him a few times although he had never kissed her back.

Still that experience gave him some self-confidence to go about doing…

Inuyasha's face inched slowly toward hers. He gave her plenty time to say no, or sit. He really didn't care right now. She just looked at him her eyes wide…and as the distance between them closed she closed her eyes.

Something in the hanyou, some instinct told him that meant she wanted him to kiss her.

Inuyasha closed his eyes as well.

"What are you doing?"

Shippou's innocent voice literally slammed into the two lovebirds like a ton of bricks.

Kagome fairly flew backward a fiery shade of red taking over her face.

Inuyasha was just as embarrassed as he also jerked back…but thanks to his current position unlike Kagome who landed in the dirt…Inuyasha landed in the water.

Inuyasha sputtered and cursed as his rat fire soaked up the water like a sponge. The creek wasn't very deep so most of him remained dry. However a lot of him was wet to.

It was awkward …but not nearly as embarrassing as Shippou catching them about to kiss

Hell they were still shy of each other…so this was like the ultimate terrible thing to happen…getting caught.

Even if it was only a kiss they still weren't entirely comfortable with their new relationship. This was simply too much for them.

"Nothi…(cough) nothing Shippou."

Kagome picked up the still curious kit and after casting Inuyasha a shy glance headed back to the rest of the group.

Inuyasha watched her go, slightly jealous that the little twip was getting attention that he should get.

Still cursing he climbed out of the creek and went about trying to dry his rat fur.

I almost kissed her, and Kagome looked like she wanted to kiss me.

Despite the fact that the hanyou had hoped with all his being that were true, he still found it hard to believe.

Does this mean she likes me after all? Even though I've been nothing but mean to her since we first met? I even tried to kill her before Kaede put this necklace on me.

Inuyasha shook his head at his own stupidity. Of course then he hadn't know Kagome and thus could never like her.

Does this mean she likes me even though I'm a hanyou? Of course Kagome never seemed to care about my bi-racial blood. She even tries to prove to me that it's just as good as pure blood. I wonder why?

Inuyasha stopped suddenly aware of what he had just thought.

Kagome doesn't care that I'm half demon? She's never cared…she's always treated me like a person, never an animal or something worse.

Does that mean she…likes me as a hanyou?

This thought was too much for Inuyasha. He shoved it aside painfully. All his life he had hated his half demon blood. Not good enough for the humans, to weak for the demons. He was never just Inuyasha…always the disgusting Hanyou.

To think someone liked him despite what he was…and accepted it wholeheartedly was just too much.

I like her now that's all that matters. And it looks like she even might like me. Maybe I should try that kissing thing later. I really had wanted to kiss her.

Next time I'll make sure we are somewhere where the twip won't interrupt either.

Inuyasha nodded to himself. He wasn't nearly as awkward about it as before. The kissing had become something like a challenge in his mind. He could become very stubborn in a challenge.

However he knew this would be difficult.

Kagome had spoke to him before about the 'mood'. It was a concept he had pretended he didn't understand. Why should he understand he was a rough tough guy…well ok…he had pretended because he had found it awkward to talk about those things with Kagome. Him not understanding…nothing could be farther from the truth. He was a demon dog. Thus he already had a natural feel for these things, maybe more so that even Kagome.

After all it was a matter of life and death to a demon.

With demons if a male makes the wrong move, the larger and usually stronger female was likely to rip the offending male to shreds. Thus it was a life preserving instinct to understand the 'mood' on a basic level.

Like before when his instincts told him it was time to kiss her, and then told him that she wanted to be kiss. This instinct would help him along later.

The real challenge was to do this without everyone else knowing. Being in such a tight little traveling group made privacy hard.

And as Shippou's intrusion proved it would be difficult to find the time to get the 'mood' and then seal the deal with a kiss.

He could wait until they reached the village, but they wouldn't get there until tomorrow midday at least…or as Kagome called it, Friday.

He didn't want to wait that long.

They wouldn't most likely stop for dinner today…and then later make camp. He would have a chance to do this mood thing at both times. He just hoped that Kagome still wanted to kiss him…and that his instincts weren't just playing hopeful with him.

"Kiyoshi sir? There's someone here to see you."

Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow at his secretary's voice as it came from the phone on his desk.

"I'm busy Akasuki, send them away."

Kiyoshi was slightly annoyed that Akasuki had interrupted him. He had pointedly told her not to bother him. Without another thought he went back to the report that Yasashiku and Renjiro had just given him.

To say it was an eye opener was an understatement.

It was good thinking to go to Umeko. I wouldn't have thought of it.

"But sir…um you might want see this one."

Kiyoshi put down the paper that was so fascinating to him to glare at the phone. He knew that even though Akasuki couldn't see him, she would know he was glaring at her.

She had been working for him for over 50 years…she knew his mood.

But then…on that same thought she knew better than to disobey an order unless necessary.

Kiyoshi became suspicious. Who could possible be here to see him that would be so important.

"Fine, send him in if you think its that important."

Kiyoshi stuffed the papers away and locked them in his desk. He then stood up with a pleasant if annoyed look on his face. There was no reason to be rude to whom ever had come calling. 

The door opened slowly and for a moment Kiyoshi couldn't tell who the demon was because the light from the outside back lighted his figure. But then…Kiyoshi caught a whiff of his scent and his body went rigid.

His calculated pleasant look disappeared as he stared in shock at the figure that stood in his newly fixed door.

"Noriyuku!"

The young demon walked further in allowing Kiyoshi to make out his familiar features. He looked no more happy to see Kiyoshi than Kiyoshi was to see him. He looked around carelessly, taking everything in the room. Keeping his eyes anywhere but on Kiyoshi.

"Noriyuku…this is unexpected."

Unexpected was too light a word. He was stunned, so much that it actually showed on his face. Slowly he sat down and grudgingly gestured for the demon to sit down. Noriyuku sat down just as grudgingly as the offer was given.

For a moment they just stared at each other…the tension was so that a knife could cut the air.

Finally Kiyoshi spoke…after he got his emotions under control. His voice was deep and smooth once again. However his golden eyes gave him away. They had an intensity about them that even Noriyuku found unnerving. Instead of meeting them he looked down at the desk.

"I haven't seen you in over a hundred years Noriyuku. You haven't even called to say you were still alive. I half expected that hunters had killed you."

Noriyuku's eyes flickered up then back down. However Kiyoshi had seen the anger in them.

Kiyoshi felt the old familiar hate start to build again. It was true, what humans said, that absence makes the heart fonder. However he hadn't liked Noriyuku when he was in American…he disliked him even more here.

When the young demon didn't speak Kiyoshi became impatient. He was a busy demon; he had no time to waste on the likes of Noriyuku.

"What are you doing here Noriyuku?"

Noriyuku shifted in his chair uncomfortable in Kiyoshi's presence. They didn't have a good history together. Long ago when Noriyuku had been barely more than a boy they had gotten into a fight about…someone. He had taken off to the United States and stayed there. He had never returned…or sent word to Kiyoshi since…until now.

"I had a vision."

Now Kiyoshi was stunned again. Noriyuku had never…ever willingly told him of a vision. He always kept them to himself and never did anything to help along or stop that vision from happening. It was these visions that had caused the fight so long ago.

To have such as power as his yet live as if he didn't. Noriyuku could become the very definition of power. Yet he does nothing! Not even when his own are threatened.

Kiyoshi clinched his teeth in anger.

No even when Rei was threatened.

"I…I saw a girl."

Kiyoshi forced himself to hear what Noriyuku was saying. He could let the past get in the way of what he might say.

Maybe the Americans grew some balls on him. Maybe he's ready to face his destiny and accept his power.

"Was it the power?"

"Yes."

Kiyoshi closed his eyes to get control over his emotions. They always seemed to get out of control whenever Noriyuku was involved.

Yet even as he wrestled with himself, the screams of the past haunted his ears. The smell of fire and death clung to his nose.

And the knowledge that it could have been prevented…that lives could have been saved…sickened him even now. Even after a hundred years the pain was raw and fresh.

Kiyoshi waited for Noriyuku to continue. No matter how he felt inside, he wouldn't push this; Noriyuku was usually very closed mouthed when it came to his visions. Kiyoshi knew if he tried to force him to talk that nothing would get done.

"Kiyoshi I saw the girl. I don't know her name, but I could point her out if I saw her. I can't…tell you what I saw."

Noriyuku continued to looked down at the desk, however he could still feel Kiyoshi's eyes burning through his body.

"You and Tekeshi must find her before anyone else!"

Kiyoshi remained silent. This didn't tell him much. He already knew what could happen if the girl fell into the wrong hands, human or demon. It would be a disaster.

"Anything else Noriyuku?"

Kiyoshi's tone was harsh…Noriyuku looked up anger literally seeping through every pore.

"Isn't that enough? You were always begging me to tell you about my visions when I was a kid! Yet when I tell you, you look down your nose at me!"

Kiyoshi stood up abruptly and slammed his fist into the desk. His eyes flashed as he bared his teeth at the boy in front of him. Noriyuku jumped at Kiyoshi's uncharacteristic show of violence.

When Kiyoshi had gained enough control to talk without screaming, he spat out a harsh whisper.

"If you had anything useful to say then I would be grateful!"

Two sets of golden eyes stared at each other with hate and anger.

Kiyoshi straightened and let his fists fall to his side. Noriyuku stood as well. He tried to keep his face neutral like Kiyoshi's. He didn't want Kiyoshi to see how much he hurt. Or how much the visions terrified him.

"I CAN'T tell you everything! Why can't you understand that! It could change things…!"
Kiyoshi cut off Noriyuku's angry but calm voice. He had heard enough of Noriyuku's excuses. He exploded!

"WHAT IF I WANTED THINGS TO CHANGE!"

They were no longer talking about Noriyuku's visions of the power…and both knew it.

"Kiyoshi. Who am I…to say who should die and live? I don't want that power. I never wanted it! I HATE this power!"

Kiyoshi snarled…as he violently backhanded Noriyuku without so much as a warning.

The boy unprepared was slammed roughly back knocking over the chair he had been sitting in. Before he could even blink Kiyoshi had his claws at his throat.

Noriyuku went still as he stared at Kiyoshi's red eyes.

"IF YOU HAD TOLD ME…THEN REI YOUR MOTHER WOULD HAVE LIVED. YOU LET YOUR MOTHER DIE! AND ALL BECAUSE YOU'RE TO MUCH OF A FUCKING COWARD TO BE WHAT FATE HAS MADE YOU!"

Noriyuku face twisted in anger and pain. He knew very well what had happened to his mother. He was still haunted by it. He opened his mouth…but closed it again without a sound. He had nothing to say about that. He didn't have an excuse for that.

For a moment Kiyoshi flexed his claws against Noriyuku's neck.

Gods how he wanted to end this. To end the nightmare that had been plaguing him since Rei's death.

Noriyuku was the last link to that nightmare.

I can't kill him. I can't kill Rei's son. It would have broken her to see me like this.

With a labored sighed Kiyoshi stood up and backed away from Noriyuku. He would do anything for Rei's memory…even curl his bloodlust.

"Get out Noriyuku. Go back to the States."

He turned away from the boy as he stood up. Noriyuku opened his mouth again and finally found his voice.

"Father…I…"

"Don't call me that. Get out, before I kill the last thing Rei left me!"

Noriyuku glared at his father hard before abruptly turning. He made it to the door before stopping. A part of him screamed at him to tell his father about the other vision.

Father would hate me more. I can't be partial. I either tell him everything or nothing at all.

He closed his eyes.

Gods it feels like my soul is dieing. Perhaps I should have told father about mother's death. But I was just a child then. I…I was frightened. The visions clearly showed me the paths. I was a coward.

Noriyuku was still frightened. He hated the visions…didn't want anything to do with them. Every second of his life he wished he hadn't been given the gift.

It was nothing but pain and suffering.

What right do I have of changing the future? What right do I have choosing who is to die and who is to live?

Noriyuku shook his head and walked out of his father's office.

He should have never come here. He should have known his father hadn't changed in the last hundred years. Should have known…he still blamed his son for Rei's death.

He doesn't understand…he's never understood. Why should I expect it to be any different?

Kiyoshi watched as his son left his office. The boy was clearly in pain and suffering. It surprisingly wrenched his heart to see his only son in such torment.

But he could not offer consolment. Could not help in any way. His anger and hate toward the boy was to strong…to ingrained in his soul.

The boy had caused his fathers soul to be destroyed. Had actually been the cause of his own mother's death. What he got after his cowardly act was no worse than he deserved.

It wasn't enough was it…to just see your mother die of old age. You had to kill her while she was still young and healthy. You had to allow her to die so painfully…and alone.