If you want to see the disclaimer, go back to the first chapter!

Chapter 12: Pairing of the Young

            "Hm…" Tora sighed as she woke up and yawned right into the face of a boy! "Where's Lord Shippo?" Tora looked frightened at the boy.

            "My father? He went to take a walk sometime last night," Aoi-Metsuki looked shyly at the girl.

            "I'm Tora," she blushed.

            "I'm Aoi-Metsuki," his face reddened.

            "Wow! Long name! Mind if I call you Aoi?" Tora asked.

            "No, but my parent's stuck me with a silly name, just like my father's name," Aoi blushed.

            "What does your name mean?" Tora asked.

            "Blue-eyes, and my father's means tail," he scowled.

            "Oh, mine means tiger," Tora smiled at him. "And you don't have a funny name, I like it, and I bet Mikomi would too!"

            "My brother Rekka says that he has a silly name as well, but at least his name sounds strong," Aoi sighed.

            "But your name fits you," Tora grinned up at him, "You have the bluest eyes I've ever seen!"

            "Hey, why are you still in my lap?" Aoi asked.

            "It's comfy here, I think… yawn… I'll take a nap now," Tora smiled.

            "But we're out in the opened and a strange Youkai could attack us…" Aoi went pale.

            "I trust you Aoi," Tora sighed and went back to sleep in his little lap.

            "She… trusts me?" Aoi blinked in surprise; "She just met me…"

            "Aoi-Metsuki, she has a power within her, she can sense who her friend is, and who is not," Shippo walked up to his son and smiled at him. "She needs to be protected, and she has chosen you."

            "Why me, father?"

            "She follows her instincts, and she's a sort of truth seer," Shippo smiled at his son. "She'll need you as much as you will grow to depend on her."

            "I don't understand, father," Aoi sighed.

            "You will in time. She has an important mission ahead of her, and only those she deems as worthy may help her."