Rider: (knocks on door)

Woman's voice: One moment! I'll be right there!

Rider: (waves at the woman who opens the door) Yo! You said you wanted in on the openings and stuff.

Woman: (looks from rider, to wraiths, to readers, and finally her clothes) Kyahhh!

Wraiths: O.O (watches as rider is both verbally and physically beaten to a pulp)

Rider: (stands up covered in bandages) Konichiwa Minna-san. Thanks for coming back. You all know my faithful sidekick, Wraiths.

Wraiths: Hey! Since when am I your side kick!

Rider: Well, this is my story, and you're here with me. Therefore, you're a sidekick. (turns back to readers) Anyway the crazy that just jumped me is actually a friend of mine; we'll introduce her afterwards. (rubs a bump on his head as he walks away) Damn, who knew she'd be so touchy about being seen in her pajamas.

Wraiths: (sweat drops) I'd kick your ass too if you put me in front of an audience with bed hair. (turns to the readers) Enjoy the show everyone!

---

Disclaimer: Heh, seems I forgot this in the last couple chapters. So we'll make up for it here. I don't own Love Hina, is Ken Akamatsu's. I don't own Love Hina, is Ken Akamatsu's. I don't own Love Hina, is Ken Akamatsu's. There we go, twice for the missed chapters and once for this one. That's allowed, right?

In Search Of Her Place

Chapter Four: Revelations

Ice felt his head spin as he received a vicious slap to the face.  He blocked the second strike and punched his attacker in the jaw.

"Ow!" Lillith glared at Ice. "You can't you hit me back! I'm a girl!" She rubbed her jaw. "That really hurt!"

Ice glared back at her and made a rude sound. "You are not a girl, and lets not forget that you threw the first punch. Plus, as much as I hate to admit it, you are a bit stronger than me, so that really stung."

Lillith stuck her tongue out him. "Yeah, well, you're faster, you should have dodged." She relaxed her stance, as well as her stern expression. "What the hell were you thinking anyway? You could have blown everything to hell."

Ice turned away from her. "What I do is none of your concern."

Lillith tossed a small silver object. "Our coin is the same."

Ice caught the small coin, and gave a disapproving grunt. "Just stay out of my way."

"There's something about her that gets under your skin, isn't there?" Lillith smiled as she watched Ice's frown deepen.

"I don't know what…" He turned and stared at roof, yet seemed to look past it. He glanced toward Lillith, and saw that she was looking in the same direction. "Seems as though we have company."

Lillith nodded. "Yeah, its rather disappointing though that her guardian didn't get her out in time though." She glanced over toward Ice. "You want this batch, or should I take them?"

Ice sighed. "I suppose I should deal with them. After this morning, I need to earn some points back with the tenants here." He brushed his hair back. "I'll take this batch, you can have the next ones."

Lillith gave him a wry smile. "Sure, unless these guys beat you."

Ice glared at Lillith for a moment before he flickered and vanished.

---

Kanako struggled to remove the strange appendage that extended from the mirror to her throat. She hammered at the arm, but only succeeded in cutting her hands on the stone-like flesh. Her vision was beginning to go black around the edges, but she was able to see Kuro come to her aid. The tiny cat's jaws opened unnaturally wide, revealing row upon row of razor sharp teeth. Kanako fell to the ground as Kuro's jaws snapped shut and severed the stone arm.

Kuro spat a dark black ichor from his mouth. "Run Kanako!" He turned as the body, or rather bodies, continued to poor from the mirror. "We are in deep shit."

Kanako ripped the hand away from her throat, and stared at the mirror as her worst nightmares poured out. Her body seemed frozen in fight. She couldn't move, even as one of these creatures stood over her.

The creature was gray all over except for the red and black lines that seemed to run through the cracks of the stone flesh. "At last we have found you. It is time for you return with us to your true home." He reached out and picked up the severed arm off the floor and held it to the matching wound at his elbow. The muscles and tendons seemed to reach out to one another and in moments the arm was reattached seamlessly. With his newly reattached arm the creature reached toward Kanako. "Now, come!"

Kanako stared in terror as his hand moved closer, at least until a second hand grabbed the creature's hand at the wrist.

Ice grinned at the creature. "Sorry buddy, she's spoken for already." He brought back his other hand into an open palm strike. "Plus, you are just plain nasty looking." He brought his palm forward and cracked open the front of the creature's skull, and then dropped the lifeless body to the ground. He then turned his gaze on the mirror and let out a small yell.

Kuro looked on as the mirror suddenly shattered. "It can't be…" He turned to look at Ice, and was caught in the gaze of his ice-blue eyes.

Ice grinned at the small feline. "Long time no see. Love the new look…" He chuckled. "Fur ball."

Kuro growled at Ice. "Watch your tongue you…"

Ice sidestepped as another creature, which had come through the mirror, attacked him. "We'll have to catch up on insults later." He grabbed the creature by the head in both hands and squeezed, splattering innards everywhere. "Now you going to help or just watch?"

Kuro growled and leapt at the nearest creature. Again his jaws seemed to unhinge and reveal razor sharp teeth. He then sunk those teeth into the skull of his victim and tore at the flesh. He smiled, as much as a cat can, at Ice in triumph. "I may be stuck in this form, but I can still kick anyone's ass! Even yours hotshot!"

Ice cracked open the skull of the final creature and tossed the body aside. "And how you going to do that? Claw me to death?"

Kuro leapt at the big man, teeth bared.

Ice caught the tiny animal in one hand. He smiling as Kuro struggled to get free. Ice shook his head. "A couple thousand millennia, and you haven't changed a bit." He held out Kuro towards Kanako. "You'd rather fight me than tend to your charge."

Kuro stared at the young woman and felt his heart break.

Kanako was huddled on the floor, curled into the fetal position. She mumbled to herself unintelligibly in shock.

Ice dropped Kuro to the ground. "You see to her, while I tend to the mess. The others will be here in moments." He grabbed the first of the bodies and began to dispose of it. "Also, once the others take Kanako, make sure the other mirrors in this place are destroyed. We don't want to make their entry any easier."

Kuro glared at Ice. "Don't presume to give me orders."

"Fine, don't take my advice." Ice smiled. "See what happens."

---

Keitaro wiped the sweat from Kanako's brow. "What happened in there?" He knew that Kanako wouldn't answer him. She had done nothing other than stare at the ceiling and muttering to herself since he had found her in her room. He sighed and wet the cloth in the small bowl of water beside the futon and placed it back on her fore head. Keitaro went back over what had happened in his mind. "Nothing. Aside from the mirror being shattered, and Kanako's scream, there's no evidence that anything happened." He turned as the door to Kanako's room opened. "Hey Shinobu."

The younger girl nodded to Keitaro. She took the bowl of water and replaced it with the fresh bowl that she brought with her and then kneeled down next to Keitaro. "How she doing Sempai?"

Keitaro shook his head. "No change yet. The girls find anything that could help figure out what happened?"

Shinobu shook her head. "No, and Lillith says Ice was with her the entire time, so I don't think he's responsible for this."

Keitaro nodded. "I see." He shook his head. "That would be just to easy." He yawned loudly.

Shinobu looked on worriedly. "You should really go get some rest Sempai. You've been up with her all night."

Keitaro shook his head. "I'll be just fine, I'm staying right here."

"Please go rest for a little while Sempai, you look exhausted." Shinobu insisted.

Keitaro shock his head again. "I'll rest when she's able to rest." He turned as the door to Kanako's room opened again. "What are you doing here?"

Ice set down a tray next to Keitaro. "Naru was worried that you might be hungry, so she made you something to eat."

"So, what are you doing here? Keitaro asked again, not really trusting Ice to be around his sister.

Ice shrugged as he sat opposite Keitaro, next to Kanako. "Heard the scream before too, but you people wouldn't let me near her. Just wanted to see how she was doing." He glanced down at still trembling woman, and shook his head. "This won't do at all…" He whispered softly.

Keitaro's eyes narrowed. "What was that?"

"Nothing." Ice reached across Kanako's body and took the fresh cloth from the new bowl of water. He then removed the old cloth from Kanako's forehead.

Shinobu and Keitaro watched silently as Ice was uncharacteristically gentle with the ill woman. Ice took the new cloth and began to trace something across Kanako's forehead. Instantly, Kanako began to quiet down and drifted off into a peaceful sleep, and Ice laid the washcloth back onto Kanako's face.

Keitaro stared in wonder at Kanako's slumbering form. "How did you do that?" He turned to face Ice. "Why did you…"

Ice stood and began to leave the room. "What are you talking about? I all I did was change her wash cloth."

---

"Something is not right here." Naru stated with out warning.

The other girls all looked up from their books. Shinobu, Kaolla, and Motoko had joined Naru for a cram session and were diligently working on their own problems. Kitsune was in the room as well, but wasn't studying. In stead she and Sarah were playing cards.

Motoko placed her pencil into her book and rested her head into her hands. "What is it this time?"

Naru slammed her book shut. "That ass just goes in and touches her and she suddenly becomes better! He had to know something about what was wrong with her do have that kind of effect! Hell, he probably set the whole thing up!"

Shinobu glanced toward the hole a few feet away in Naru's floor. "Please keep your voice down Naru. Sempai just fell asleep a little while ago, I don't want to wake him."

Kaolla pulled out a laptop computer from under the table. "Data analysis says that Kanako's recovery was most likely just her body finally breaking the fever she had." She closed the computer and returned it to under the table. "No data to say that Ice is the cause or the cure."

Naru huffed in anger. "There has to be something!"

Kitsune looked up from her hand, but quickly looked back down.

Naru, however, caught this movement. "You know something Kitsune?"

The older woman shook her head, and discarded to cards from her hand. "No." Kitsune reached out and picked up two new cards, a king of hearts and a king of clubs. "Nothing at all."

---

Kuro jumped down from his hiding place in the tree, making sure to bury his claws into his landing point. "I took care of the mirrors."

Ice frowned and removed the cat from his shoulder. "Was that really necessary? You put holes in my shirt."

"Stop whining you prissy little…"

A third voice cut Kuro off. "Now boys, this is hardly the time for that."

Ice turned as Lillith came around the bend. "So?"

Lillith shook her head. "No word from the home office on the attack here, but I wasn't able to stay connected long." She turned an inquisitive gaze on Ice. "Did you tend to the unpleasant memories?"

Ice didn't move. "Yes, and no."

Lillith raised an eyebrow in question. "Well, which is it?"

"She sleeps at the moment, but that was all I could do." Ice dropped Kuro to the ground and tapped at his own head. "Her…uniqueness, prevents anything more."

"She will remember." Lillith paused and shook her head. "Seems I'll have to deal with the aftermath as soon as possible." She reasoned. "Seeing you may cause her to relapse, you'd better lay low for a while."

Ice nodded, grudgingly.

Kuro ginned. "Who'd have thought we'd be working together…"

Ice flicked the cat between the eyes. "Don't get any ideas. We're allies simply because of location, nothing more." He turned and started to walk away from the Hinata-sou. "I will find a way to destroy all of you for what you did."

Kuro blinked and turned to Lillith. "What's got his panties all in a wad?"

Lillith crossed her arms over her chest. "It's a long story, and we don't have time for it now. Come on Kuro." She turned and walked into the Hinata-sou.

---

Kanako awoke with a gasp and brought her hands up in self-defense. She looked around and found herself to be safe in her room. "What…"

"How are you feeling? Meow."

Kanako nearly screamed, but somehow managed to hold it in as she realized that it was only Kuro-chan. She stopped as the memory suddenly flashed before her. "The same Kuro-chan that bit through the arm of that thing…" She screamed, or rather tried to as a slender hand was placed gently, but securely, over her mouth.

"There is nothing to fear. We are not here to hurt you."

Kanako calmed as she recognized Lillith's voice.

Lillith continued to talk in a calm manner. "I'm going to remove my hand now. Will you promise not to scream?" She smiled as Kanako nodded. "Good." She slowly removed her hand.

Kanako spun and back handed Lillith across the face and made a break for the door.

"Leave this room and risk the lives of everyone here." Called Lillith. "Including Keitaro."

Kanako stopped in mid stride. "Onii-chan?" She turned and lunged at Lillith. Her hands wrapped about her guests throat, her nails cutting into the woman's flesh. "Don't you dare threaten onii-chan!" Kanako's grip tightened and she began to lift Lillith into the air. "Do you hear me?"

Lillith smiled as she looked down at Kanako. "Quite the strength boost you have there."

Kanako blinked as she realized she had suspended Lillith clear off the ground. In that moment of surprise, her strength fled and the two women fell into a heap on the futon. Kanako stared at her hands. "How did…" She looked up and stared at Lillith, silently demanding answers to her unvoiced questions.

Lillith sat up and smoothed her dress. "I know you have questions for me, but in order to really start at the beginning, you must first answer mine. Ok."

Kanako wanted to shake her head no. She wanted to scream to be told everything right now. She wanted to run to Keitaro and hide in his warm embrace as she had when she was a child whenever she became scared. But she couldn't seem to do any of those things. "All right."

Lillith nodded. "How much do you remember of your childhood?"

Kanako blinked. "Well, I…"

"Before you moved in with the Urashimas." Lillith amended.

"I stayed at the orphanage in Shinjuku for a few years." Kanako whispered softly. "Bounced around a few different foster care families for a little while, but no one ever wanted to keep me. Everyone thought I was a, how did they put it, an…odd girl. Yes, odd, that's what they called me." She smiled weakly. "Actually, the adults called me that. The other kids just called me a freak." She looked up, realizing that her head had drooped during her remembering. "I really hated those years. I think I must have blocked out most of the memories because everything else is kind of hazy." She smiled. "At least until my first memory of onii-chan."

Lillith smiled. "I see." Her smiled faded a bit. "Do you remember ever having dizzy spells as a child? Or memory lapses?"

Kanako shook her head, but then stopped. "Come to think of it, the caretakers at the orphanage did say that I would sometimes do or say strange things from time to time, but I don't remember ever doing such." She brought her hand to her chin in thought. "But that seemed to stop right about the time…" She trailed off as her gaze fell on Kuro.

"Right about the time the forever studly Kuro came into your life." The little cat finished with a smile. "Been with you ever since then too."

Kanako nodded. "I remember. I was crying in the bushes because the other kids had been teasing me that I'd never get to be a part of a real family because I was to strange." She smiled. "And then you just walked up to me and started talking." She laughed at the memory. "I thought for sure I really was a freak hearing a cat talk. You cheered me up, and we went back to the orphanage together. I was much happier after that."

Kuro nodded. "You smiled a lot more too. I think that was why the Urashima's picked you when they came to visit the next week, 'cause you smiled so much. You were very cute."

Kanako blushed and looked away.

Lillith laughed at the rosy color on the goth girl's cheeks, but then became serious again. "But that was the only time?"

Kanako nodded. "I think so."

Lillith shook her head. "It doesn't make sense. If that's the case, many more of the seals should be in place still."

Kanako blinked. "Seals?" She turned to Kuro. "You said the same thing last night. What are you talking about?"

Kuro sat deep in thought, and then turned to Lillith. "The seals first began to fall when Keitaro left to begin his formal education."

Lillith turned to Kanako. "Did you become depressed after your brother left for school?"

Kanako nodded. "I think it was about then I started to take an interest in the gothic lifestyle too."

Lillith nodded sagely. "And we have a winner."

Kanako blinked. "Ok, I think I've been more than patient enough. Now tell me what's going on."

Lillith nodded. "What would you say if I told you I could explain those loses in memory from your childhood, and the recent…changes, you've been going through? What would you say?"

"That you're full of shit." Kanako replied evenly. "You didn't know me then."

Lillith smiled again. "You'd be surprised what I know." She paused. "But before I tell you anything more, one more question. Do you know what those things were that attacked you last night?"

Kanako shook her head.

Kuro padded over to her and placed a paw on her knee. "They were demons Kanako-chan."

It took the better part of the next fifteen minutes for Kanako to fully grasp the ideas that Kuro and Lillith were sharing with her. "But, one said I had to return to my true home with him." She whispered.

Lillith nodded. "And there in lies the rub. You, Kanako, are also a demon."

---

Rider: (still waiting on the front stoop of the woman's house) Damn, she takes a long time to get ready.

Wraiths: (mumbles a response)

Rider: (blinks) You want to try that without the mouth full of egg McMuffin or what ever it is your eating?

Wraiths: (swallows) She's a chick. She needs that time to make sure she looks all…

(SMACK!)

Woman: (looks down at wraiths on the ground) You are such a pig some days.

Rider: (Grinning, turns to readers) I'd like to intro my friend, she's reviewed under the name your friend in bio. (Nods in agreement with the readers) We're going to work on her name. She's going to be hanging out with us a while so…

Bio: HI!

Rider: (sweat drops) She's very…energetic…at times. So, don't freak out if she does strange things. Anyway, I'd love to hear what you, the readers, have to say on my story so far. So, please leave something, good, bad, or otherwise. Until the next, live safe and be well people.

Wraiths: You done yet? I want to go to the beach since we all have the day off.

Bio and Rider together: (exchange glances) Sure. (all three walk off)