I'm so sorry for the last chapter, that the proper formatting was lost I mean. I don't know where it went wrong. I've uploaded so many times but kept on losing the formatting. Sigh. Anyways, thanks so much for everyone's kind words! ^__^

And to those who haven't become acquainted to "Fruits Basket", I strongly suggest you do so! You're missing out on a great story! It's about a family called the Souma who have been cursed with the spirits of the Jyuunishi. The Jyuunishi are the 12 animal spirits of the Chinese zodiac. Any member with that curse will transform into their spirit's animal form if hugged by a member of the opposite sex. A girl, Honda Tohru found out their secret by accident but goes on to become the family's source of comfort and hope.

Now, that may sound quite serious and in some parts, it is. But there's so much wacky humour in there that it's guaranteed to brighten up your day! So get the OVAs now! There's around 27 episodes I think. If you like Cardcaptor Sakura, you'll love Fruits Basket! Eh, enough blabbing. ^__^

Warning: Shh. . .not telling. . .

Disclamier: Double gah

* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *

Chapter 18

Déjà vu

* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *

Kyo woke up around 12. He was rather surprised by that. He assumed that the earliest he would be waking up was around 3. Still, he thought distractedly, not that it makes much difference. Though you would have thought with the punch his new medicine packed, he'd be out until midnight.

Kyo's stomach growled in answer. Ah, hunger calls. Swinging his legs out of the bed, Kyo snatched a yukata and padded out to the kitchen. He opened the fridge to be faced with the sight of bare shelves.

"Ah hell," Kyo announced to the world at large. "I forgot to do the grocery shopping."

He frowned and closed the fridge door with a bump of his hip. It wouldn't do to not have lunch ready for Aki-chan when she came back. She had this notorious habit of being ravenously hungry after an exam. Something to do with overworked brain cells, she had declared once.

After a quick shower, he threw on a pair of faded jeans, a thick sweater and a jacket. He locked the door behind him and pocketed the keys, whistling a low tune. He sniffed the clear air appreciatively. Autumn was quickly approaching, you can tell.

. . .They say that there's nothing as beautiful as the time between seasons. . .

Kyo stopped suddenly in his tracks and stared around. He was sure he had heard someone talking to him. . .he was all alone on the street except for a few kids playing on their tricycles. One of them was his neighbour's son and the boy lifted a grubby hand waving hello.

Waving back, Kyo resumed his walk, shrugging off the odd moment as nothing more than a flight of fancy. After all, who would want to admit that they've been hearing voices in their head?

* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *

Takashi gave their surroundings a bemused look.

"Watari," he sighed. "You do realize it's nearly autumn right?"

The blond only gave him a thumbs up and a big grin. "You got that right you walking storm cloud you! It is near autumn and that's why we're having a picnic!" Watari then proceeded to jump enthusiastically around with a bouncing Tsuzuki and between them, actually had a checkered, red and white cloth spread out on the ground complete with the requisite picnic basket.

Takashi gave the others a helpless glance. "Does anyone else beside me detect the total non-logic in his statement just now?"

4 heads nodded in commiserating agreement. Including Tatsumi.

"Ne, Tatsumi-san," Terazuma removed the ever-present cigarette from his mouth to stick it behind his pointed ear. "He's your lover. Can't you keep a leash on him?" he complained half-heartedly.

Tatsumi adjusted his glasses and stared rather benignly at his co-worker. Who surreptitiously meeped and edged behind his partner for protection.

"Everyone! Sit! Sit! Tatsumi has to sit beside me!" Watari called out from his spot on the ground.

"Yeah! And Hisoka gets to sit on my lap! Ow! Okay, beside me!"

In short order, Takashi found himself unceremoniously plopped down beside a giggling Wakaba and a paper plate piled high with sandwiches was shoved into his hands. He stared down at his plate. Then at his giggling co-workers and partner (okay, Tatsumi, Hisoka and Terazuma weren't giggling. Just Wakaba, Tsuzuki and Watari). Then at the cherry trees that dotted the park which had definitely lost all of their flowers, then at the maple trees that were already turning a deep, fiery red.

"It's not spring," he announced.

Watari rolled his eyes. "Of course it's not! That's why we're having a picnic! We have to enjoy the good days before it's all lost. Besides, this is a really nice town. Very low supernatural activities! Very peaceful!"

"Why can't we just have a picnic at Meifu then? It's always springtime there," he pointed out.

"Baka! Of course it is! That's why it's more fun on Chijou! Coz it doesn't last for eternity!"

Because of the total hyperness Watari was exhibiting, Takashi was mildly surprised when the blond leaned over, a serious mien on his face and whispered in his ear.

"Besides, I wanted to cheer you up."

Takashi glanced sharply at him. Watari only smiled in answer. After a while, Takashi sighed and picked up a sandwich.

"Thank you," he said softly.

"You're welcome!" Watari beamed. "Ah! Tatsumi-san! You have some mayonnaise on your cheek! Let me get that for you!"

"Watari! Not in-mmph!"

They sat there for nearly an hour, enjoying the food, the last bit of warm sunshine, and each other's company. As the lemonade and hot tea flowed freely, even Terazuma cracked a smile or two. Takashi surveyed the group silently, not joining in the general teasing but a willing observer all the same. He was a lucky man, he knew that. Extremely lucky. He was blessed to have friends that cared for him in their own subtle ways. It didn't really banish the loneliness he felt inside but it helped to take away the edge a bit.

"Taaaaakaaaaashiiii!!!!!" Tsuzuki wailed. "Hisoka is so meaaaannnn! He pinched me!"

"That's what you get for trying to feel me up in public! Baka!"

For the first time in months, Takashi smiled a real smile.

* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *

He had gotten the pasta, tomatoes, meat, cheese. . . .what else? Oh yeah, milk too. Damn, he forgot the potatoes. Kyo sighed and hefted the paper bags in his hands to a more comfortable position. Not for the last time he wished that he had a car. Ayame had one which she used for work. He meanwhile, could not drive. He wasn't allowed to get a license for one thing. The doctors had been afraid that he might get an attack during driving and really kick the bucket then.

Turning around, he dutifully trudged back to the small grocery store he frequented and threw Eriko a smile.

"I forgot the potatoes," he explained and the twenty-something woman laughed.

"I'll get them for you sensei," she offered cheerfully and waved for him to stay. It took her only a couple of minutes to get the potatoes; she knew, by diligent observation, the kind of potatoes he preferred. "Here you go," and dropped them in his bag.

"Thanks a lot, Eriko-san," he smiled gratefully. "How much?"

Eriko shook her head. "It's on the house. You're a loyal customer after all."

He grinned and was rewarded with a slight blush from Eriko. "Thanks, Eriko-san. See you around."

"Bye sensei!"

Right, grocery done. He was planning on making lasagna tonight. Besides her propensity for kendo, Aki also inherited his love for lasagna and the both of them tended to indulge themselves whenever Aya was out of town. Mostly because when she was around, Aya would glare daggers at them whenever they suggested the pasta for dinner. She said something along the lines of too much cheese is not good for the heart.

He passed by a bakery and was arrested by the delicious smell wafting through the cold air. A delicate sniff told him that chocolate parfait was definitely on the menu today. Maybe Aki would like some for desert. . . .

His wandering attention was caught by a couple walking down the street opposite. He was pretty sure, from what he saw, that the couple was gay. Mainly due to the fact that the both of them were guys and were holding hands in a fashion that was more than just being friendly. One of them was quite young, probably in his early twenties with dark hair. His partner was just a bit taller than him, looking in his late twenties with dark brown hair. Sunlight struck the happy couple and painted reddish highlights on the dark brown hair.

Kyo blinked, wondering at the sense of déjà vu that overwhelmed him suddenly.

He was quite liberal actually, not minding homosexuality. After all, to each his own right? In school even, some of his male students had come up to him, professing their crush. He had let them down gently but nonetheless, had felt an odd pang of regret. He had assumed it was due to having disappointed his students, he never did like doing that, but this time, it was different.

Almost as if he could picture himself in the young man's shoes and instead of dark brown, it would be auburn colored hair (he liked that color), maybe green eyes. . . .

You know, I really think Ayame wouldn't be pleased to find that you've been entertaining thoughts of turning gay, that dry voice in his head pointed out wryly.

He blinked, rousing himself from the slight stupor he had fallen in. Maybe he should get some parfaits. A few minutes later, besides the paper bags, he also juggled a small pastry box in his hands. Looking at his watch, he noted with dismay that it was nearing 2 pm. Aki would be home soon and he needed to get lunch ready.

Hurrying his pace, he dodged the other pedestrians neatly, barely paying any heed to the random chatter until a particular talk caught him short.

"Seriously, Hana-chan! It's nearly autumn! Why on earth are you eating ice cream now?"

So please, pray tell me, why, when it is abundantly clear, absolutely cocksure that winter is coming, you, of all people, are eating an ice cream cone when walking in a brilliantly blustering autumn day?

"Ah, lighten up, Miki! It's good to do inane things once in a while because you want to. Breaks the monotony you know."

Because I want to?

They walked past him, parting and flowing smoothly like a river, leaving him an island of static in the midst. He could no longer see this Hana or Miki but he didn't need to. His mind was reeling with the tidal wave of déjà vu that swamped him. Instead of just mild recognition, he was practically thrumming with awareness that somehow, somewhere, he had been through this before. . . .with someone else. . . .

Cocking his head to the side, Kyo noted that there was a faint buzzing in his ears. Like a voice calling, but not quite. His home was just a few blocks away down the street. But instead of turning left, he turned right. Dreamily, in a near hypnotic daze, he followed the voice.

* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *

"Hah! You have to do better than that, Watari!" Tsuzuki crowed triumphantly.

In response, Watari stuck out his tongue. "Oh yeah? Why don't you try Mr. Know-It-All?"

"Just wait! Here we go!" With a wild jump, aided surreptitiously by a little levitation, Tsuzuki had the yellow Frisbee spinning crazily through the air.

"No fair!" Watari yelled. "You cheated!" And he too somehow stayed in the air longer than was possible for a human to be and caught the plastic disc with an acrobatic leap. "Hah!"

Takashi laughed softly at their antics. The food was long gone and it had not taken long for Watari to produce the Frisbee, saying that they needed to work off the cholesterol. Tsuzuki and Wakaba had joined in enthusiastically, and surprisingly enough, so did Hisoka and Tatsumi. The boy had shrugged sheepishly at his teasing look, saying that he was still a teenager and besides, Tsuzuki's enthusiasm was catching. Tatsumi had long ago lost his jacket and had even taken off his customary tie and vest. With his sleeves rolled up and his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, Takashi had to admit, Tatsumi looked damn attractive. He noted that Watari also noticed. He smirked slightly.

"Not joining in sensei?" Terazuma drawled.

He gave the pointed eared man a humoring smile. "I don't really feel up to it. I'm getting too old for Frisbees."

Terazuma snorted and chewed on the end of his cigarette. "You talk like you're the one who's over a hundred years old sensei," he remarked casually. "Not like some people who are over a hundred but act like their ten years old instead."

"I heard that, Terazuma-chan!"

"Oh yeah?!" Terazuma yelled back. "What are you going to do about it, Tsuzuki-chan!"

"How about this one for starters!" Terazuma had to duck as the yellow plastic whirred dangerously through the space his head had occupied earlier.

"You asked for it!" Terazuma yelled back and picked up the Frisbee. "This is how you use the damn thing!"

Takashi sat back and watched with some amusement as the others tried to stop the two from killing each other with the Frisbee. Sighing, he leant back against the trunk of the cherry tree they had picnicked under. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the brisk wind that played with his air. It was getting a bit too cold, he noted absently. They should be going back soon; otherwise, they'd all get the flu.

Still, it was quite nice and peaceful here. Well, relatively peaceful, he amended as the fight reached new heights of violence. Apparently, they had been divided into two teams, with Terazuma and Tsuzuki captaining each side and were engaged in a Frisbee War.

Maybe he could take a quick nap while he waited for them to finish up. Despite Hisoka's help, he still had trouble falling asleep at nights and the fatigue was really creeping up on him, especially lately. He knew that if it worsened, Tatsumi would forbade him from coming in to work and he didn't want that.

Taka.

His eyes snapped open and without even being aware of it, he had shot straight to his feet and was staring around wildly. Unnoticed by him, the Frisbee War stopped abruptly as his friends threw him worried looks.

"Takashi? Are you okay?" Hisoka called out.

There was nothing in his head besides the voice that chanted his name over and over again. It was low, almost too soft to be heard but he heard it all the same. It called to him, beckoned him. Without even sparing his friends a glance, Takashi broke into a run, heading out of the park and straight into town.

"Hey Takashi! Wait up!"

* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *

Enma pulled his fingers out of the golden bowl, the waters inside rippling slightly but in an instant returned to its quiescent state once again. The image the waters showed was split down the middle. Two different figures, different but so very much the same. Both heading for one purpose only.

One of them ran heedlessly, plunging through the stream of humanity that parted and closed back behind him like an indifferent stream. The other walked in a daze, lost to the call as the other was but not able to feel or hear it as clearly.

But they would meet again. After all this time. 15 years was too long a separation after all when you're human.

Enma reclined back, setting the golden bowl on the tatami in front of him. With a bare gesture, the ceiling of the Hall lightened, showing the secrets they held. Swirling black, a void that was deeper than the human mind could conceive covered the ceiling from one end to the other yet somehow, seemed to flow even beyond that. Amidst the eternity of the void, glimmers of gaseous light punched through. A million of them, though when compared to the complete number of the lights that shown it was a small number, glowed a deep, burning orange and twinkling citrus. Stars being born. Others still were a faded white, pulsating weakly with life. Stars dying.

As the whole of Creation came to view, the waters in the golden bowl flashed a sympathetic white and a resonance that went beyond music rang softly in the air.

"Hurry," Enma whispered to them both and the images showed one running faster and the other hurrying his steps. "Hurry before it's too late."

* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *

Feet pounding on the pavement, Takashi dodged pedestrians left and right as he ran as fast as he could through the crowd. His eyes stared straight ahead as he followed that voice blindly. He was aware of having to run for quite a few minutes now but the longer he ran, the louder the voice was.

"Ta. . .ka. . .shi! Where the. . .hell. . . are you. . going?!" Hisoka panted.

All of them had come running after him and they were causing quite a stir as they forced their way through. Irritated looks were passed their way as more than one unlucky individual was shoved aside. Takashi though, just kept running. He didn't even bother answering Hisoka.

"Takashi! What are you doing?" Tatsumi was doing better than any of them. He kept up beside Takashi easily, eyeing him with a worried air.

Still not bothering to answer, Takashi took an abrupt turn, leaving the others scrambling to keep up. There was nothing in his head but the voice now. Still running, he dodged an old woman staring at them with her mouth open and made another turn—

--and was brought to a halt as he crashed spectacularly into somebody.

Grocery bags flew in the air, spilling their contents as the owner of the bags yelped in surprise. An astonished pastry box also flew, in danger of splatting on the hard ground when with amazing dexterity and a flip or two, it was saved from immediate death by the said owner. The result of such nimble acrobatics found Takashi falling back with a surprised whoosh and he quickly grabbed hold of the nearest support. Which was the person he had run into in the first place.

"I'm so sorry!" Takashi gasped out. He was dimly aware that the voice had stopped. He could think again.

"No, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going. Are you okay?"

The first syllable uttered had him speechless. By the end of it, Takashi was gaping. Watari and the others had managed to catch up and were trying to catch their breath, crowding in behind him. Tatsumi stepped up to his side, ready to apologize for his co-worker's behaviour and perhaps, replace the spoiled grocery? and immediately froze, stuttering in graceless shock.

"I'm-sor-not-I mean. . .uh."

Takashi, for a brief and crazy moment, felt regret that no one had a videocam to record this historical moment. Tatsumi stuttering.

But he himself meanwhile, could only say one thing.

"Kyo?"

Kyo, or someone who looks remarkably like Kyo except that he looks quite a few years older, his hair longer and tied up but he still looks so fine and is very gorgeous so it has to be Kyo right I mean he looks different but he still looks like Kyo so it has to be Kyo and if it isn't I'm going to cry and cry and cry—

"I'm sorry," the guy who looks like Kyo and must be Kyo except a very older looking Kyo said. "Do I know you?"

Those few words, spoken with complete honesty and genuine confusion, killed him in a way those endless nights spent alone never did.

The world went white.

* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *

Tatsumi quickly grabbed hold of Takashi as he swayed alarmingly on his feet. The sensei was a dead weight in his arms as his mouth worked soundlessly. He's in shock, Tatsumi thought clinically. Tatsumi was pretty sure he was too, though somewhat milder than what Takashi must be going through. The others had crowded close and were gaping as well.

"Kyo?"

"Is that really Kyo?"

"It has to be! Kyo?"

The Kyo-lookalike threw them a nervous grin. "O~kay. . ." he drawled. "This is getting a bit weird. . .I am Kyo but do I know any of you? And is your friend okay?" saying so, he stepped closer and shouldered some of Takashi's weight. Takashi was still staring.

"He's in a bit of a shock actually." Tatsumi was mildly surprised to find that his voice was still working, though a bit strained. "I'm sorry, this is a bit presumptuous of me but may I know your full name?"

Kyo blinked at him. "Tanaka Kyo."

"Ah." Tatsumi threw Hisoka a surreptitious glance. Hisoka, catching it, nodded his head grimly. He looked around, trying to think of an excuse to keep talking to this Tanaka Kyo. "Do you know where we can sit down so my friend can catch his breath? My name is Tatsumi Seiichiro by the way."

At this, Kyo shook his head, and smiled apologetically. "Of course, I'm so sorry. My house is not far from here. It'll be more private."

"Thank you." Tatsumi risked a warning glare at the others and they quickly agreed. Wakaba and Watari quickly gathered up the spilled grocery amidst Kyo's thanks and in short order, had Takashi walking supported by himself and Terazuma.

Around ten minutes later, they found themselves in a secluded neighbourhood, each house screened by thick walls and hedges for privacy. The house Kyo led them to was one of the few decorated in the traditional way still. He ushered them to a spacious sitting room and cracked the shoji open to let in a freshening breeze.

They sat themselves around a low table, Tatsumi sitting beside Takashi and soon after, Kyo had served them cups of hot green tea. Takashi was still staring fixedly at Kyo.

"So," Kyo said brightly. "You know, this is the first time I actually met a bunch of people who happen to know me but I don't know them."

Watari spoke up quickly. "You. . .look a lot like an old friend of ours who went. . ."he threw Takashi a quick look, "missing a few years ago."

"I'm so sorry," Kyo replied sympathetically. "How long ago was it?"

"Give or take 15 years."

"Ah." Kyo coughed and glanced sideways at Takashi. "I take it your friend here was close to him?"

"Er. . . .extremely. So it was quite a shock to us, him especially, when you showed up just like that. . ." Watari explained hesitantly.

Kyo tapped a finger against the side of his cup thoughtfully. "15 years ago," he mused. "You guys must have been friends quite young."

Tatsumi blinked. "Why's that?"

"Well. . ." Kyo gestured vaguely around. "You guys don't look a day over thirty. And I don't think I caught your names yet, except for Tatsumi-san here."

Tatsumi quickly made the necessary introductions, leaving Takashi for last and when he mentioned the sensei's full name, he thought he detected a brief flicker in those light blue eyes.

"Tanaka-san—" Watari began and was quickly cut off by Kyo.

"Call me Kyo, please," he smiled.

"Ah, Kyo-san. . .I was wondering. . .how old are you?"

"Thirty-eight," he said promptly. "And I know, I don't look it."

Watari thought furiously to himself. If this Kyo really was 38 years old, it would fit in nicely to the length of his disappearance, if you counted his age since the day he died. Plus, he looked too much like Kyo to not be Kyo. The same deep black hair, the extraordinarily light blue eyes, the way he talked, his movements. . .no, this was Kyo. Ayame must have done something to him to make him age naturally. Being a Shinigami, even your hair wouldn't grown longer as your body was preserved in the state it was in before you died. But Kyo's had grown longer. Briefly, he wondered how much Ayame had tampered with Kyo.

"Bon?"

Hisoka frowned thoughtfully at him for a few moments and nodded briefly. "Kyo-san?"

"Yes?"

"Can you give me your hand?"

Kyo gave him a bewildered look. "What do you want with my hand?"

"Well. . .uh. . ." Hisoka looked flustered, unsure where to begin when Tatsumi bailed him out.

"Kyo-san, this may sound ludicrous to you but please believe us when we say we are positive that you are our missing friend. Please," he held out a hand to forestall Kyo. "Just hear us out for a few minutes," he said softly.

Biting his lip, Kyo nodded reluctantly.

Tatsumi quickly sketched in the events that led to 'their' Kyo's disappearance, leaving out some vital facts like the whole Shinigami thing, magic, demons and all that. As he finished, Kyo gave him a skeptical smile.

"I'm sorry, I sympathize but. . ." he shrugged helplessly. "I don't know any of you nor do I remember meeting anyone of you. And do you really expect me to believe that my Ayame kidnapped me in the first place? We've known each other since high school."

"Josui High," A voice cut in abruptly.

They turned around sharply. Takashi had roused himself from his stupor and was looking at Kyo intently.

"Wha-?" Kyo asked, bewildered.

Takashi went on relentlessly. "Josui High. You were in the soccer team. That's the only official club you played in but you helped the basketball team, the drama club and the debate team occasionally. Hikaru and Kenji were your best friends and the year before you. . .graduated, you scored the last goal that won Josui the Cup against Ratetsu Industries. You were hurt badly in that game."

Kyo stared at him, incredulous. "How on earth did you know that?"

Takashi just kept silent and instead, he took out his wallet, pulling out a picture and sliding it across the table to Kyo.

With slightly trembling fingers, Kyo picked up the picture delicately, as though afraid it would burn him and stared at it in silence. The glossy paper was battered and nearly torn in one corner. It was obvious that the picture had been handled a lot. It was a picture of himself, around 18 he figured. He was dressed in his school uniform and surrounding him were Hikaru, Kenji and apparently, the same guy who now sat beside him in his living room and had been called Matsumada Takashi.

All of them looked happy in that picture; Hikaru grinning wide and Ken had his arm slung around Hikaru. He was, he noted with a faint blush, sitting in Matsumada's lap and the man had his arms around him tight, smiling wide. He also noted, with some surprise, that the picture was taken in Josui's infirmary. He recognized the place. And Matsumada was wearing a lab coat.

"This. . ." he said faintly.

"I was the school doctor in your junior year," Takashi said quietly. "I was just transferred, taking Maki-sensei's place."

Kyo shook his head numbly. "It can't be. Maki sensei was never transferred. And you can't be our school doctor. You're too young! You look exactly the same in the picture! Wait--," his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Is this picture a fake?"

Something like pain flickered in Matsumada's eyes at his words and for no reason, Kyo felt something inside him twist sharply for causing it.

"It's not a fake," Matsumada answered him, his voice a near whisper. "I'm older than I look. As you are."

Kyo stared at him, not sure what to say when he was saved by the sound of the front door opening and a cheery voice calling out.

"Tadaima! Dad? You have visitors?"

Kyo smiled in relief and addressed them. "That's my daughter, Aki." He noticed that a few of them had looked disturbed at his casual announcement. Matsumada had paled.

"Dad?" Aki's voice floated closer. "You in here? Oro?" She blinked bemusedly at the large group that even now stared back at her.

"Aki-chan," Kyo couldn't help the note of relief that showed through. All in all it was turning out to be a very weird day and a gut feeling told him that this was just the tip of the iceberg. "Come in, sit." He patted the tatami next to him.

Aki obligingly sat down and smiled. "Hi! Are you dad's friends? I've never seen any of you before."

Tatsumi answered for them. "We just met in town. Our friend wasn't feeling so well and Tanaka-san has kindly offered us a place to rest for a while. We're very sorry for intruding," he finished politely.

"Typical Dad," Aki chuckled.

Kyo rolled his eyes at that and quickly made the necessary introductions. He then excused himself to make another pot of tea and told Aki to restrain herself in front of their guests.

"I'll be on my best behaviour Dad," she solemnly swore and crossed her heart.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Kyo said wryly but left for the kitchen anyway. As his steps receded down the hallway, silence fell among the group as they tried to assimilate the shock of finding out that Kyo now had a daughter.

"I love meeting new people!" Aki said brightly.

"So do we, Aki-san," Watari began and smiled tentatively back.

"That's good," Aki nodded. "But as much as I love meeting new people, I have to draw the line somewhere, ne?"

They stared at her, confused.

Aki smiled wider and it wasn't a pretty smile. It was a sharp smile. A predator's smile. "What are you doing here, Shinigami?"

* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *

to be continued

* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *

Has anyone read Inami's "Playing in the rain" and "Midnight" fic? They're one-shots about the Shikigamis and it's awesome. I highly recommend it to everyone and I highly recommend everyone to go and pester her to do a proper, full-length Yami epic coz she's good and it's a bloody waste if she doesn't do it! Pester people, pester! Oh, and review me. XD