Rider: (pokes his head out from behind a stone barricade, swallows as he sees and army of pissed of readers and a very large dragon, waves a white flag) Ohaiyo Minna-san. (screams and ducks as various objects are hurled at him) Wait! Pleas here me out before you kill me! (screams again as he's tackled from behind)

Starfire72: (holding a katana to rider's throat) Where the hell have you been?

Wraiths: Give me one reason I shouldn't kill you for your delay."

Rider: I have gifts for you?

Star and Wraiths: (blink and then smile): What'd ya bring me?

Rider: (pulls out a gift bag for each) Here you go.

Wraiths: (begins to drool) Fudge! Fresh from the shore!

Star: (pulls out a stuffed animal) Kawaii!

Rider: (takes the opportunity to run to safe ground) Major apologies for taking so long to update. I'm sure you can understand that with school just around the corner (cries) I wanted to enjoy the last of summer with friends before we all have to head our separate ways until winter break. Also, my creative well seemed to run dry, and this chapter took forever to write. But here it is, so please enjoy. But first lets address some mail.

To Watanuki: First, yes Kanako's powers did grow quickly. That will be explained later. Second, Motoko is…well keep reading. (yes I know I suck ;-) ) Third, Tama-chan being an angel, how else can you explain a turtle flying? As for the bonding, hints were given before, but there is more later. As for Kei and Kanako getting together…

To HinaGuy749, I've never played Gauntlet, but I'll trust your word on the similarity with demon spawnings. Next, you don't want wraiths in charge of this story. While wraiths is good at proof reading, his writing leaves something to be desired. An example of wraiths writing skills:

See Kanako.

See Kanako bitch slap Naru.

See Kanako get with Keitaro.

The end.

Wraiths: Hey!

Rider: Shut up and eat your fudge.

To Hinaguy749: You may want to hold your dragon back a bit longer. That's all I'm going to say for now.

To KylaranAeldin, your questions about the use of quotes for thoughts as opposed to speech. My understanding of writing is that any time a character conveys an idea, be it speech or thought, quotation marks are supposed to be used. While I realized that this is far from a professional piece of work, I want to try to keep this as close to the way it should be as I can. I'll try to make transitions clearer in the future though.

To ShadowDragon-Zero: Kitsune's moment hasn't come yet, but maybe soon.

To Kyo Korhal, uh, confused by your review. I hope you enjoyed the story, but what gave you the idea this was a Kei/Motoko?

Rider: Ok, done now. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina! Though negotiations for the purchase of the rights are in the works…

Special Thanks to walkswithwraiths for the beta reading, and gamma reading, and delta reading, and theta reading, and sigma reading…yeah, it took that many tries to get this right…

In Search Of Her Place

Chapter Nine: Clues

"Why are you here?"

Ice didn't turn as Lillith suddenly appeared behind him. "Really don't have the energy for twenty questions right now."

Lillith rolled her eyes. "Yeah, cause you're so busy smoking yourself into an early grave."

Ice didn't turn from his watching the city. "I think we can both agree that there are far more dangerous things than my cigarettes." He sighed. "And far worse things than death."

Lillith frowned a moment before her expression softened. "You really have changed. We used to be able to talk without a problem, even after…"

"After you betrayed us?" Ice finished.

"I didn't…"

Ice took a puff of his smoke. "Yeah well, shit happens…right?"

Lillith nodded, even though the words stung. Ice's voice wasn't angry, nor sad, nor bitter. In fact the words were devoid of emotion of any kind, and that hurt Lillith. "It wasn't your fault…"

"You really don't want to travel that path right now." Ice warned.

"She was my..." Lillith continued.

Ice stood, cutting Lillith off.

The demon paused, waiting for Ice to say something, anything. Nothing came. "You could at least answer my question then."

Ice flicked his finished cigarette over the edge of the roof. "Duty. My charges are one of the few distractions left to me." He turned and began to walk away.

Lillith smiled. "So Kanako and Motoko are your charges now?"

Ice stopped. "Motoko is a distraction, something to play with. Kanako has always been my charge via association."

Lillith blinked. "Association?"

Ice leaned back slightly to look over his shoulder. "I shouldn't have to remind you of the bonding."

Lillith shook her head. "Kanako shouldn't have a bonded as a half…" She paused. "You mean?"

Ice nodded. "Yeah, a half-ling for a half-ling. That's the one I'm really here for. Kanako dies, my charge dies. Kanako lives, my charge lives." He continued to walk away, and then stopped. "Not that I really care weather they live or die, but I some how know that the half-lings somehow hold the key I need to finish my oath."

Lillith looked down at the roof sadly. "You still intend to carry that out?"

Ice looked up at the sky and nodded ever so slightly. "For what it's worth, I'll make it quick when the time comes."

Lillith watched as Ice's wings sprouted from his back and he flew off. She nodded sadly. "I don't doubt that at all." She walked down the steps and into her room. She stopped at the closet and stared at the old crest. "So different…"

Kanako rose from her futon and made her way to the kitchen. The others weren't up yet so she had the run of the place. As a result, she hadn't bothered to change from her loose, black, sleeping kimono. She opened the fridge and pulled out a soda. She glanced out the window and into the grounds behind the Hinata-sou, and saw something move. Cursing she made her way to the backdoor and out to the yard.

She clung to the shadows and followed the small signs of movement. Kanako frowned. "Can't be demons…" She thought silently. "They don't care for stealth when they attack usually. An old fashioned peeping tom perhaps?" She glanced down at her watch. "At four a.m.? Not likely, then who?" She stopped as she came to the top of the waterfall at the back of the grounds, but found no one there. Then she saw the bubbles at the center of the small pool below.

"Aww crap." Kanako moaned. She stopped as something moved to the surface. "Huh?" She leaned over to try and get a better view of whatever, or rather whoever was below her. She cursed as she lost her balance and began to fall.

Keitaro looked up just in time to see Kanako falling toward him as he poked his head from the water. He rushed toward where she was falling to and caught her. He looked down at her as he held her cradled in his arms, surprised at how light she was in his arms. "You ok?"

Kanako opened her eyes and saw that she wasn't dead and was currently resting in the arms of her brother. "H-hai." She looked up and her eyes met Keitaro's. She blushed deeply and turned away, but not before catching a glimpse of his chest underneath his white, and very wet, gi.

Keitaro also blushed and turned his head. He walked to the edge of the pool and set Kanako onto the nearby stones. "So, uh, what brings you out here so early?"

Kanako turned a bit, but still focused her gaze on the ground. "You're talking to me again?"

Keitaro blinked. "I never stopped talking to you."

Kanako smiled weakly. "No, you've just been trying to avoid me for the past two months."

Keitaro sat next to his sister, his vision on the water. "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that to you. Just so much has happened so fast. You know?"

Kanako nodded, but didn't say anything.

Keitaro frowned, trying to think of anything to say to break the awkward silence. "I saw you and Lillith over the roof yesterday. What's it like to fly?"

Kanako smiled at Keitaro's attempts for small talk. "It's hard. Apparently, demons can't fly naturally, so it uses a lot of magic. All I can do is kind of hover and move in straight lines. Anything else and I loose my concentration and fall." She smiled. "Still, that little bit is fun."

Keitaro chuckled. "Well, you'll get the hang of it. You've never failed at anything you really wanted to do."

Kanako blushed at his complement, and stray thought it evoked. "Well, I can think of one thing I've still never managed to do."

Keitaro turned to her. "What's that?"

Kanako's blushed deepened. "Never mind."

Keitaro blinked, totally clueless.

Kanako turned away, and brought some of the clear pond water to her face. Hoping the cool liquid would help her overheated red face would return to its normal pale color. "So how come you're out here?"

Keitaro shrugged and wiped some water from his brow. "I've been having these weird dreams lately. I couldn't fall asleep afterwards, so I came out to meditate."

Kanako blinked. "You were meditating under the water?"

Keitaro turned away embarrassed. "I kind of leaned forward to much and the waterfall pushed me in."

Kanako giggled and turned to face Keitaro. "That is so like you. So, what kind of dreams were you having? Nightmares?"

Now it was Keitaro's turn to blush. "Well…they don't start that way…"

Kanako blinked. "Nani?"

"Uh, let's just say they're…explicit." Keitaro paused. He watched as Kanako continued to wash her face in the pond, and roughly shook his head.

Kanako saw this random movement and looked up. "Something wrong?"

"Not at all." Keitaro stammered. "Why would there be anything wrong?"

Kanako blinked. "Ok."

Keitaro looked away, up at the fading moon, but his eyes darted back toward Kanako. He chuckled and reached out toward her. "You have a leaf stuck on your cheek." He grasped the piece of plant and removed it from her face. "Just like when we swam here as kids."

Kanako smiled at the memory, and the fact that Keitaro also remembered it. "Yeah, we spent a lot of time here didn't we? Always goofing around."

Keitaro nodded. "Yeah, I remember. Playing hide and seek…"

"Racing around the pond." Kanako added.

"Seeing who could hold their breath underwater longer." Keitaro laughed.

Kanako smiled. "Our first kiss…"

Keitaro quieted. "Yeah…I remember that too…"

Kanako's smile faded, and she too quieted.

Keitaro looked up at the sky again. The first rays of sunlight were just beginning to shine through the clouds. "The other's will be getting up soon." He paused and glanced at Kanako. "Maybe we should head back?"

Kanako nodded, a bit sadly that the trip wouldn't end with laughter because of her comment. She began to stand and turn when her foot slipped on the rocks she had spilt water on. She felt Keitaro grab her to try and steady her, but it was too late and she began to pull him down as well. She landed with a splash into the pond. When Kanako opened her eyes again she saw that she was lying chest to chest with Keitaro.

Kanako could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She was so close to Keitaro that she could feel the warmth of his body despite the cold water around them. She pulled him closer and began to move her lips toward his. "Onii-chan…"

Keitaro had managed to turn as they had fallen and was now beneath Kanako. He looked up, their eyes met, and both turned crimson. Keitaro wondered if perhaps the fall had knocked the wind from him, as he was unable to speak more than a single word. "Kanako…"

Keitaro could feel the weight of the woman on top of him, just as he could feel the gentle curve of her body beneath the wet silk of her kimono in his hands. He could also feel her soft hands as they wrapped around him and pulled him closer. He could see the promise of an eternity of unconditional love in her eyes before they closed. But mostly, he felt her breath against his lips as she leaned down to kiss him. For a moment, Keitaro nearly let himself be caught in the moment. Then he remembered Kuro's words.

Kanako blinked her eyes open as she felt Keitaro pull away. "Onii-chan?"

Keitaro shook his head. "I can't. I'm sorry Kanako…I just can't."

Kanako grasped at Keitaro again. "But…"

"I won't send you to hell!" Keitaro yelled as he shook free of Kanako and ran from her. "I won't do that!"

Kanako sat in the pond, alone and confused. She didn't even realize she was crying as the silent tears fell down her face.

Naru looked across the kotatsu at the empty place where Keitaro should have been sitting. "I wonder where he went to?" She stood and headed downstairs. "Kitsune? Have you seen Keitaro?"

Kitsune looked up from her lounging position on the couch. "He said he had to take care of some stuff over at Todai and ran off early this morning."

Naru sighed. "Why didn't he tell me he was going? I would have liked to go too."

Kitsune shrugged.

Naru turned and headed upstairs. She passed the window and saw Motoko and Ice training on the roof. A bit further down she watched as Kaolla and Sarah played with one of the Mecha-Tamas.

"You look unhappy."

Naru turned as Kuro floated by. "What do you mean?"

Kuro flew lazily around Naru's head. "You look unhappy. Is it because Keitaro's gone?"

Naru scoffed. "Why would I be upset that that idiot isn't around?"

Kuro blinked. "Oh, ok." He began to fly on down the hallway. "By the way, have you seen Kanako-sama today?"

Naru shook her head. "No, I haven't."

Kuro's ears drooped dramatically. "Oh, thanks anyway."

Naru watched in wonder as the small cat flew off. "I wonder why he's so devoted to Kanako?" She turned and headed for her room, then stopped. "Hold it! Keitaro and Kanako are both missing?" She ground her teeth. "What is he up to now?" She stormed off to her room and grabbed her coat. She stopped as she came to the front door. "What am I doing?"

Shinobu poked her head out from the kitchen. "Naru? Is everything all right?"

Naru looked back and smiled, a bit guiltily. "Yeah, everything's fine." She turned and headed back up to her room. "It's not like Keitaro would do anything with Kanako anyway. I mean, she is his sister. Right?"

Keitaro looked out over the ocean as he sat in the sand. He sighed heavily and cursed his fate.

"What's the matter handsome?"

Keitaro jumped as Lillith landed beside him. "Nothing."

Lillith smiled and ruffled his hair. "I know I look younger than you, but I've been around a while. I know that look. Now what's got you all depressed?"

Keitaro looked out over the water. "It's complicated."

"I've seen the birth of the universe Keitaro." Lillith tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear as the wind kicked up. "I promise I won't get confused."

Keitaro paused and glanced sidelong at Lillith. "What's hell like?"

Lillith blinked. "Nani?"

"Just humor me, please?" Keitaro insisted.

Lillith shrugged, but nodded. "Hell is not underground as most believe. It is on an axis parallel to the one that this realm rests on." She paused and glanced at Keitaro. "Incidentally, heaven is the same way."

Keitaro shook his head. "I'm not interested in heaven right now."

Lillith raised an eyebrow. "Ok." She waited as Keitaro nodded for her to continue. "Well, hell is beautiful. The lava flows are magnificent and the sulfur pits are gorgeous."

Keitaro's eyes went wide as he listened. "You make it sound so homey. I can't believe that haven't seen it in better homes and gardens magazine."

Lillith stuck her tongue out playfully at Keitaro. "I wouldn't expect you to understand. You're not a hell born demon."

"And that maters?" Keitaro asked

Lillith shook her head. "Not really, but, to me hell is home. So I suppose I'm a bit biased."

Keitaro nodded absently. "So how would some one not born in hell find it?"

Lillith shook her head. "Hard to say. It would depend on the person's personality and what they had done to sent there."

Keitaro turned. "Funny, Kuro gave me a very different impression of how bad hell would be for a human."

Lillith turned. "Oh he did, did he? And what, pray tell, did he say?"

Keitaro turned away. "That hell would be most uncomfortable for a human such as…myself."

"What's with the pause?" Lillith asked. A moment later a big grin crossed her face. "This conversation didn't happen to take place after the annex incident two months ago would it?"

Keitaro blinked. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Lillith began to laugh. "You almost took Kanako up to the annex."

Keitaro blinked again. "And?"

"And Kuro has been crushing on Kanako for years." Lillith explained. "He saw your taking Kanako to the annex as a threat to his chances to tell her how he feels."

Keitaro rubbed his temples. "The cat has a crush on my sister? I think I'm losing my mind."

Lillith laughed. "Join the club buddy." She leaned over and gave Keitaro a small kiss.

Keitaro flailed and scooted away from Lillith. "What did you do that for?!"

Lillith smiled and stood. "Cause you're cute." She leaned down so she could whisper in Keitaro's ear. "Don't worry to much about what Kuro said."

Keitaro blinked. "Nani?"

Lillith smiled and started to float away into the sky. "I'll tell Shinobu to save you a plate in case you're late tonight!"

Keitaro waved as Lillith flew off. After she was out of sight he placed his finger in the sand and began drawing a picture. "I wonder what she meant?" He whispered.

"Kanako-sama!" Kuro flew around the house yet again. "Kanako-sama!"

Ice threw his empty cigarette packet at the flying black cat. "Would you shut up!?"

Kuro fell to the ground and smacked his face into the floor. He stood and growled at Ice. "What was that for!?"

"That was because you've been running around the city like a whiny little bitch for the entire day." Ice replied as he lit another cigarette. "Give it a rest already."

Kuro leapt at Ice and stopped as Ice grabbed his head. "Damn it! Let go!"

Ice shook his head. "You keep trying the same attack…" Ice trailed off as Kuro was surrounded with a pitch-black aura. "Well this is new." He tossed the cat across the room and watched as Kuro transformed in mid-flight. "Since when did you get the ability to go were-cat?"

Kuro landed on his feet and looked over his new body. Although still covered in black fur and his facial features were still markedly feline, his overall appearance was decidedly more human. "Not the look I was hoping for, but it's a start."

Ice raised an eyebrow. "Guess we're going to need a bigger litter box."

Kuro growled and flexed his hands, revealing his sharp claws. "I've had enough of your mouth feather brain!"

Ice grinned. "So what are you going to do? Cough up a hairball?"

"You're such an ass!" Kuro lunged. "I'm going to really enjoy beating you senseless!"

Ice grabbed Kuro's wrists as they came towards him, and smiled. "You've got to get to me first fuzz head." He spun and flipped Kuro over the couch.

Kuro crashed into the table, and after smashing that to pieces, fell to the floor. "Ow…" His head lolled back and his eyes swirled as he lost consciousness.

Ice stood and watched as Kuro shrank down to his normal cat form. "You've got quite a few more millennia before you can take me on." He turned and began to walk away. He rubbed his wrists. "You're time in hell as made you stronger though. I'll give you that much bro."

Shinobu exited the grocery store and started the walk home, but about halfway there she stopped and changed direction. In a few minutes she found herself at the Hinata City Public Park. She looked around wondering what would compel her to come here now. Then she saw a familiar face, and headed towards it. "Kanako?"

The elder girl turned as her name was called. She said nothing, but nodded to the younger girl, before turning back to gaze out at the ocean.

Shinobu place her grocery bags on the ground and leaned against the railing identical to Kanako. "We missed you at breakfast this morning. Is everything ok?"

Kanako smiled weakly. "Depends on your definition of ok." She chuckled at the confused look on Shinobu's face. "Life continues on as it always has, so technically, everything's ok." Her false smile fell away. "But when you want things to be different, I guess that means it's not ok."

Shinobu nodded. "So what is it you want to change?"

Kanako said nothing.

Shinobu nodded again. "Oh." She paused and studied Kanako from the corner of her eye. "Keitaro's really important to you, isn't he?"

Kanako turned, startled at Shinobu's words. "How'd you know what I was thinking?"

Shinobu smiled. "Keitaro's important to me too, so I guess I just kind of recognize that far away look." Her smile faded slightly. "Actually, Keitaro's important to everyone at the Hinata-sou, so it wasn't hard to guess."

Kanako nodded and turned back toward the water. "Well, if he's important to everyone, I guess we just have to wait until he chooses." For a moment, neither girl said anything.

"I think, he's already chosen." Shinobu stated.

Kanako's eyes widened. "Nani!?"

Shinobu backed away and waved her arms franticly. "I don't know for sure!" She calmed down and took her spot at the railing again. "It's just a feeling I have."

Kanako turned. "What makes you say that?"

Shinobu wiped at her eyes. "Because I have this feeling that no matter what I do, Sempai will never ever pick me." She paused. "I just know that means some one else has already won his heart."

Kanako watched as this young girl looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Maybe your feeling is wrong?"

Shinobu shook her head. "I'd like that, but when I get a feeling like this, it's almost never wrong."

Kanako nodded. "Well, if it makes you fell any better, it's not me either."

Shinobu took a deep breath and shook her head. "That's not something that should make anyone happy, to see someone else hurting." She paused. "Why do you say that?"

Kanako bent over and rested her head in her hands on the pole. "I couldn't sleep last night so I went for a walk. I met onii-chan by the back waterfall. We talked for a while, and then I tried to…"

Shinobu listened attentively, as any friend would. "To kiss him?"

Kanako glanced sidelong at Shinobu. "Are you reading my mind or something?"

Shinobu shook her head. "No. So what happened?"

Kanako straightened. "He freaked out and ran. Yelling something about 'sending me to hell'." She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "I'm half-demon, where the hell else am I going to end up." She looked down at the ground and smiled sadly. "Even if that wasn't the case, I'd still try to show onii-chan how much I care. An eternity of hellfire and brimstone is a small price to me to be able to live my life with him."

Shinobu smiled. "Maybe you should tell him that then." She glanced down at her watch. "Oh no! I didn't realize it was so late! I have to go make dinner!" She collected her grocery bags and started to run for the Hinata-sou. She turned and saw that Kanako wasn't following, so she headed back. "Aren't you coming?"

Kanako shook her head. "A little later perhaps. I have some thinking to do." She turned and started to walk away. She stopped as Shinobu grabbed her hand. "Huh?"

"Promise you won't do anything drastic."

Kanako looked down at the blue eyes of the Hinata-sou chef, surprised to see such concern in her gaze. At last Kanako nodded.

Shinobu smiled. "Ok. I'll save you a tray at home. In case you're hungry when you get home."

Kanako nodded. "Arigato." She watched as the young girl ran off, before heading in the opposite direction.

Kaolla looked up from her microscope as she heard someone walking past her room. Quickly she race to the door, threw it wide, and tackled the passerby. Or rather tried to as she slammed into the towering body and fell backwards. "Ow…"

Ice grabbed the tan girl by the collar of her shirt and stood her up on her feet. "And that was to accomplish?"

Kaolla rubbed her nose. "I thought you were Keitaro."

Ice rolled his eyes. "Yes, cause I look so much like Keitaro." He turned and started to walk away.

"Wait!" Kaolla doubled back to block Ice's path. "As long as you're here, can you help me?"

"What with?" Ice asked.

Kaolla, taking his response as willingness to help, grabbed Ice's hand and dragged him into the room.

Ice looked around the room. "If Sarah jumps out of a closet and throws another net on me, I'm going to be pissed."

Kaolla laughed. "No worries. Sarah and Haruka went to the mall, so they'll be gone for a while yet."

Ice raised an eyebrow, not convinced. "And why didn't you go to the mall?"

Kaolla shrugged. "Shopping is boring. Arcade is more my scene."

"Of course." Ice rolled his eyes. "So what did you need help with?"

Kaolla scampered over to one of her experiment tables. "What is this?"

Ice looked at what Kaolla pointed to, and gave and amused snort. "I'm surprised. I didn't think you'd find that."

Kaolla blinked. "What?"

"The evidence of the bonding." Ice explained.

"The whating?" Kaolla scratched her head. "Is that delicious?"

Ice rubbed his brow. "I'm firing who ever authorized your return to earth when I get back to the home office."

Kaolla blinked. "Nani?"

Ice shook his head. "Never mind. The bonding is an ancient pact created illegally between and angel and a demon."

"Angels and demons worked together?" Kaolla shook her head. "But…"

Ice shook his head. "It's a long story, and you don't need to know it." He turned and walked away.

"Hold it!" Kaolla blocked his path again. "There was one other question I had for you."

Ice turned. "What?"

Kaolla pulled a large amber crystal from behind her back. "How come you have a picture of Motoko in a nightie in this crystal?"

The room turned deathly quiet but for the sound of Ice's teeth grinding. "What are you doing with that?"

Kaolla laughed nervously and started to back away slowly. "Well, when I came to a dead end with the feather, I thought I might find clues in your room and I found this." She swallowed hard as she saw the veins on Ice's face began to throb. "Did I do something wrong?"

Ice held out his hand. "Give it here, now!"

Kaolla placed the crystal into Ice's palm. "Sorry…"

Ice turned and stormed from the room. "Do not! Ever! Touch this, or go in my room again!"

Motoko looked into Kaolla's room as Ice stormed out. "Kaolla? Is…" She was startled when Kaolla ran to her started crying about how scared she was. Motoko looked down the hall as Ice slammed the door to his room, and frowned.

Kanako removed her shoes and waded ankle deep into the ocean. She shivered as the waves lapped against her. She continued to walk down the beach, not really watching where she was headed. "I wonder what the others are doing?" She whispered. She paused as a shadow passed over her. She looked up, but saw nothing there. She shrugged and wadded on. "Onii-chan…where are you?" Another shadow passed over Kanako quickly, but again Kanako saw nothing.

Kanako looked back down at the water and stared at her reflection. She reached down and touched her face in the water. "I wonder, if I wasn't his sister, would he choose me then?" She stood up, but stopped in her tracks as she saw someone approaching her.

Keitaro stopped as he saw his sister. "Imouto? What are you doing here?"

Kanako waded the short distance to her brother. "I went for a walk after…"

Keitaro nodded as she trailed off. "Yeah, me too." Both looked down at the ground as the image came to mind. Keitaro looked up and smiled at Kanako. "I guess we should head home."

Kanako nodded. "I suppose." She turned around and walked next to Keitaro. Both looked up as a shadow passed over them.

Keitaro laughed nervously. "Big birds around here."

Kanako focused on one of the clouds, and gasped as a black figure darted to another cloud. "Don't act concerned, but start heading for the street."

"Huh?" Keitaro looked up toward the clouds. "I don't see…" He stopped as another dark figure darted out and hid again. "What was that?"

Kanako exited the water and put her shoes back on before grabbing Keitaro's arm and leading away. "They're keres."

"Whoese?" Keitaro asked.

Kanako speed up her pace as she saw more figures begin darting to and fro. "They're bad news, so just keep moving."

Keitaro glanced back. "Ano, Kanako-chan?"

Kanako looked back and her eyes went wide as she saw an army of keres fall from the sky. "Run!"

Motoko threw the door to Ice's room open. "Just what the hell were you thinking!? You made poor Kaolla cry!"

Ice glared at Motoko. "Get out."

Motoko took a slash at Ice with her sword. "Not until you go apologize to her!"

Ice caught the blade in one hand. "I will do no such thing." He tossed Motoko back easily. "She's the one who came into my room and started messing with my stuff."

Scrambling to her feet Motoko glared at Ice. "So you scared the crap out of her?"

"She's lucky I didn't kill her." Ice replied.

Motoko's eyes narrowed to slits. "I don't care if you are an angel, if you threaten my friend again." She tightened her grip on the Hina Blade, and it flared out white light in response. "I will kill you myself."

Ice smirked. "Better than you have tried, and failed." The two fighters faced off against each other silently. Ice blinked and Motoko was gone. He gasped as Motoko slammed the hilt of her sword into his throat.

Motoko gaped at her accomplishment, but her accomplishment was short lived as Ice stood back up.

"Seems you have been paying attention in my lessons." Ice struck out with his left hand and stopped just before he struck Motoko in the face.

Motoko flinched back as she realized just how close she just came to dieing. With an angry yell, she struck again.

Ice easily dodged the attack, but realized to late that her strike would hit something else as a result. "No!"

Motoko watched as her silver blade pierced the amber crystal. Light seemed to leak through the crack for a moment and then the crystal exploded. Motoko shielded her eyes from the light. She blinked as she saw no shards of stone anywhere in the room, nor evidence that the crystal had every existed. She turned as she heard something fall to the ground. She gasped as she saw Ice on his knees, looking as though someone had ripped his soul from his very body. "Ice…"

"Get out." He stated weekly.

Motoko sheathed her sword and tried to move closer to apologize. "Ice, I'm…"

Ice slumped and fought against the tears. "Get out."

Motoko sadly walked out of the room. She paused as she closed the door, and heard Ice break down. She turned and nearly went back inside, but a hand on her shoulder prevented her. "Kitsune?"

The fox lady shook her head. Her eyes, normally silted, were wide open and sad. "I've never heard an angel cry before. And for it to be that hard ass…" She shook her head again. "Leave him be for now." She turned and began to walk away taking Motoko with her. "We have other things to deal with."

Motoko, feeling slightly numb, followed. "What do we have to deal with?"

"Kanako and Keitaro stepped into it deep this time." Kitsune answered as she began to head for the street. "I can't find Lillith, and Ice is in no shape to fight right now. So it's just you and me."

Motoko shook her head. "But how do you know?"

Kitsune turned her nose to the sky and sniffed deeply before breaking into an all out sprint. "Because, I can smell death in the air."

Rider: So? What'd you all think? As always, please let me know what you think, be it good, bad, or otherwise. (turns to start walking away) 'Till the next…(trips over a body) Huh? Wraiths?

Wraiths: (twitching on the floor) …

Star: (still playing with her Amy Rose plushie) What's wrong with him?

Rider: (picks up an empty box) Dude! Did you eat all that fudge already! That was a four-pound box!

Star: Is he going to be ok?

Rider: (shrugs) It should be about the same as when he all those M&M's during the first semester. He's in sugar shock. (grabs wraiths and throws him over his shoulder) He'll sleep it off.

Star: If you say so. (starts dancing with her plushie) You know, you have to get me the rest of the Sonic X plushies now.

Rider: (sweat drops) Righty then. (turns to the readers before walking off) 'Till the next, live well all.