Rider: (on Ginryuu's back as they fly lazily above a crowd of Kanako haters) Damn…I thought Kyo Korhal was kidding.

Star: (also on Ginryuu's back) You're not kidding. At least they can't reach us up here. (looks around) Where's wraiths? (glares at rider) You didn't leave him down there did you?

Rider: (Sweat drop) Hold it! For once I did right by the guy and offered him a fast exit, but…

Wraiths: Take that! (hits a random Kanako hater in the mouth) And you! Take that!

Rider: He said he had to defend Kanako's honor.

Star: (staring in wonder) He's going to fight them all for Kanako's sake? (sighs) How chivalrous, in a strange sort of way.

Rider: Yeah, anyway, on to mail.

To KylaranAeldin, yeah sorry for the abrupt change. There was supposed to be a signal there to indicate a break. (STUPID QUICK EDIT! ARHHHH!) Sorry. Hopefully this will run better.

To kanako lover, (rider scratches his head) I thought I was doing pretty good on the details, but I'll work on it just to be safe. Thanks for the suggestion, and glad you like the story so far.

To HinaGuy749, glad you liked. You asked some good questions, no answers in this chap, (maybe next ;-p), but you missed one that is answered here. Sorry. And thank you for your concern with Star trying to kill me. (waves a blood stump) I'm happy to report she only took one hand.

To Kenshin Myashima, Um? What are you laughing at? There wasn't anything terribly funny that I can remember. Still, glad you enjoyed it. As for your feeling bad for Naru…

To ShadowDragon-Zero, You will probably be the happiest reader here. Kitsune finally gets some real screen time.

To watanuki, good questions. Some of your will get answered here. As for the title, many people died, more than you realize actually. And let's not forget there are many different ways to die. For examples the deaths of bad habits and old mindsets that form a person's character. The main three people who died that night were Keitaro, Kanako, and Naru. Old personalities died, and new ones took their place. But more on that later.

To Kyo Korhal, if you're still reading, sorry you didn't like the turn last time. But just one thing, it's not Rider of Dragons. It's riderofdragons, one word. Thanks.

Star: (still watching wraiths) Did you know he could do that?

Rider: Nope. (passes Star the popcorn he was holding) But I'll say this much, I'll thing twice before I cross him again. (turns to readers) We're going to stick around and watch the epic battle unfolding here, you guys go enjoy the story.

(break)

Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina. Or a left hand anymore. Please let me know if you know a good surgeon.

In Search Of Her Place

Chapter 11: Tears and Death, Part Two: Repercussions

Naru saw Keitaro heading for the roof, and decided to follow him. She stopped as she reached the final step and saw Keitaro and Kanako standing side by side. "Kanako seems really upset." She murmured. "I'd probably feel that way too if I just blew up a city though."

"But I did!" Kanako yelled at Keitaro.

Naru watched as the two continued to talk, but was to far away to hear what they said. "Maybe I should come back later…" The words died away as Naru watched Kanako began to cry, and Keitaro embraced her. Naru's eyes went wide and she swallowed hard. "That's not a brotherly hug…" She calmed as she saw they were just talking. She shook her head and started to head downstairs. "I'm being foolish, I'll Keitaro calm her down and talk to him later." She took one last glance at the siblings on the roof, and gasped. "Keitaro…no…" She felt tears begin to collect at the corners of her eyes. "Why would you kiss her?" She shook her head. "No, Kanako kissed him. That must be it. That has to be it." She saw that Kanako and Keitaro were heading for the stairs where she hid.

"I've waited for this moment for a long time Keitaro." Kanako's voice carried over the shorter distance. "Please? Can we?"

Naru couldn't listen to anymore and ran down the stairs to her room. "This is a lie." She whispered to herself franticly. "Keitaro and I are supposed to be together. Kanako must be using some kind of demon power to control Keitaro." She searched her room for her diary with the photo of her and Keitaro. She stopped cold as she heard the door to Keitaro's room open and made her way over to the hole in her floor. She slid the board over just an inch so she could see into the landlord's room, but not be seen. She gasped as she watched as Keitaro kissed every inch of Kanako's body, and the tears began to fall.

"Keitaro…please…" Kanako moaned.

Naru crawled away from the hole in the floor to her futon. She buried her face into her pillow and pulled her covers up over her head in an attempt to drown out the sounds of Keitaro's and Kanako's lovemaking.

"Keitaro!"

"Kanako!"

Naru's body convulsed as she sobbed into her pillow. "Why?" She racked her brain for answers as she cried. After a time, Naru's crying and emotional exhaustion put her into a fitful and restless sleep.

(break)

Kanako's eyes slowly opened and she smiled. "What a wonderful dream." She whispered. Just remembering the dream made her tingly all over. In her mind, she could still feel Keitaro's warm embrace as her body was pressed against his. She started to leave the futon, but stopped as she realized that someone was still holding her down. She turned and looked on in wonder at Keitaro's sleeping face. "It wasn't a dream…"

Keitaro woke as he felt Kanako shift in his arms. He grinned at her playfully, but also lovingly. "Morning." He greeted sleepily.

Kanako rolled over so that she could face him. She regretted moving for a moment as she lost the body heat at her back, but Keitaro shifted the blanket to cover her and placed his arms around her to make up for it. "That's hardly a good enough good morning." She teased.

Keitaro leaned in and kissed her lightly.

Kanako smiled as he pulled away. "Better." She shifted her position again so she could lay her head on Keitaro's chest. She sighed as she listened to the gentle beating of Keitaro's heart.

Keitaro gently ran his fingers through Kanako's hair. "What's wrong?"

Still resting her head on his chest, Kanako looked up. "What do we tell the others? I mean, to them, we're still brother and sister."

Keitaro nodded. "We will need to talk with them, but, it's really not their place to judge. Is it?"

Kanako smiled and gave Keitaro a gentle squeeze. "I suppose you're right, but…"

"But?"

Kanako bit her lip nervously. "What about mom and dad?"

Keitaro paused, he hadn't thought about that. He rubbed his hand across Kanako's shoulders and down her back. "Either they'll accept us…or they won't. We'll just have to wait and see."

Kanako sat up, not bothering to pull the covers up to cover herself. "Aren't you scared of what they'll say?"

Keitaro nodded. "Terrified." He sat up and readjusted his glasses. "But, as long as you're there with me, I'll manage."

Kanako blushed deeply.

Keitaro laughed lightly at her red face. "You get flustered so easily."

Kanako pushed him down playfully. "Now you're just being mean." She mock pouted.

Keitaro grinned as he sat back up. "Gomen."

"Its ok." Kanako gave him a quick kiss and then stood up. "I'll forgive you, this time."

Keitaro watched as Kanako dressed. "Where are you going now?"

Kanako turned and stuck her tongue at Keitaro. "I'm going to go take a bath."

Keitaro made a face of mock insult. "And I'm not allowed?"

"Not yet." Kanako shook her head. "I think we should at least give the others a little warning before we start bathing together."

"All right." Keitaro agreed as he too stood and dressed. "I guess I should wash up too."

Kanako nodded and turned for the door. She turned back at the last minute to give Keitaro one last kiss and then rushed from the room.

Keitaro grinned as she left.

Kanako made her way to her room to get her change of clothes. On her way she passed Kitsune in the hall. Trying to act as calm as possible, she nodded to the fox in greeting. "Ohaiyo."

"Morning." Kitsune passed Kanako and stopped. The fox craned her neck back. "Kanako?"

Kanako turned to face Kitsune. She saw Kitsune's sensitive vulpine nose twitching as she sniffed the air. "Hai?" She asked nervously.

"So?" Kitsune grinned as she saw Kanako sweat. "Was he good?"

Kanako blushed deeply and ran the rest of the way to her room.

Kitsune chuckled and continued on to the kitchen. "If that was the reaction I got from Kanako, I can't wait to see what Keitaro will react like." She laughed a bit louder as the image of Keitaro stammering like an idiot passed through her mind. She stopped as she came to the refrigerator and attempted to paw it open. She sweat dropped as she realized that she couldn't open the door. "This is why I liked my human form, I had opposable thumbs." She backed away as someone else grasped the handle and opened the door.

Ice pulled out a bottle of sake and then took a shallow bowl from one of the kitchen cabinets. He held up the sake toward Kitsune. "Join me for a morning jolt?"

Kitsune, shocked by the angel's offer, raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Yeah, sure." She followed Ice into the remains of the dinning room. Ice set the bowl down on the table and poured some of the sake into it. Kitsune hopped up onto one of the chairs and lapped at some of the sake.

Ice turned his chair around so that the backrest was between his legs. He leaned on the backrest and sipped his sake straight from the bottle. He turned as he heard Kitsune giggle. "Nani?"

Kitsune quieted. "Sorry, it's just that when you're in that form, everything else looks so tiny." She laughed again. "You look like a giant among doll house furniture." Kitsune did a double take as she saw Ice smile.

Ice turned and looked back out at the city. "Yeah, I guess I would look kind of ridiculous."

The fire in Kitsune's eyes shifted into shapes that looked vaguely like question marks. "Ok…who are you and where's the real Ice?"

Ice nodded. "I suppose I deserve that." He took another sip of his sake. "You know, I've dreamt of this sight for so long."

Kitsune shifted nervously. "To see Hinata City destroyed?"

Ice shook his head. "You should be able to smell it on the wind. You are a tracker."

Kitsune swallowed hard. "I had hoped that the smoke was just messing with my nose. It's not, is it?"

Ice shook his head. "This destruction, it's nothing like I imagined." He laughed bitterly. "I've seen the birth of the universe. Seen the births and deaths of countless worlds." He voice became very soft. "The fall of the Great Kingdoms and Shangri-La." He took another great gulp of his sake. "All more wondrous than this mud ball could ever hope to be. Yet…I wish that this had never come to pass."

"You mean, you can't restore the Earth?" Kitsune asked.

Ice rocked back in his seat. "Kanako's fire razed the whole planet, even damaging the spiritual mooring." He chuckled again. "We're to close to the null-plane now, that's why our powers are as fuck up as they are." He finished the rest of his sake and placed the bottle on the table. He sat with Kitsune in silence for a few minutes. "I owe you an apology Kitsune."

The fox nearly slipped off her chair. "You're really starting to freak me out now Ice."

Ice laughed lightly and walked back to the kitchen. When he returned he held another bottle of sake. "Gomen nasai Kitsune. For the way I treated you when I first came here, and for what I did to you in the past."

Kitsune said nothing for a moment, her blue green eyes fixed on Ice. "What's gotten into you?"

Ice chuckled and looked into his sake bottle.

"You're totally smashed aren't you?" Kitsune demanded.

Ice nodded. "It's a distinct possibility. But, on the bright side, I finally understand what the hell's wrong with me."

Kitsune blinked. "I could have given you a list eons ago."

Ice chuckled. "Ok, I walked into that one."

Kitsune lapped at her sake again. "So?"

Ice turned to face the fox. "I blamed everyone for her death, but you…" He tipped his bottle toward Kitsune. "You I blamed more than anyone, because you were the tracker who revealed the hidden passage to the stronghold to the demons."

Kitsune nodded as the memory returned to her. "The final angel safe house of Shangri-La. I was still a newbie myself then, red and only one tail." She drank the last of her sake.

Ice reached over and filled the bowl again from his bottle.

Kitsune nodded in thanks. "I didn't know anything about the war then. I just wanted to prove my powers and get paid. I didn't know anyone on any side."

Ice nodded. "I realize that now."

"She was there when I lead the demons in?" Kitsune asked. She already knew the answer as she watched Ice nod. "What was her name? What was she like?"

"Fria was a virtue, of ice actually." Ice smiled as he remembered her. "She was grace and beauty in and of itself." He raised his sake to the sky in a toast. "She was quite possibly the most angelic angel in all of heaven."

Kitsune raised one of her hind legs to scratch her ear. "A virtue? That's way under your rank though."

"Not then." Ice clarified. "When the war began I was a power."

Kitsune shook her head as though hearing a bad joke. "You were a power? The great Ice? King of the Angels?"

Ice smiled and nodded as he took another drink. "Like you, I changed my name too. I wasn't always the seraphim know and feared as Ice. Once upon a time, I was the plain old foot soldier Metatron."

"Metatron?!" Kitsune fell from her chair in a fit of laughter. "Who the hell names their kid that?!"

"It's not that funny…" Ice frowned and took another drink. "I was of an even lower status than Fria was. I was ridiculed daily for my status, even though I was the one who risked my neck at every call to keep my fellow angels safe. But she was different, Fria treated me with respect. We became good friends, eventually lovers." He trailed off slightly. "After she died…"

"You took her station as your name." Kitsune finished for him.

Ice nodded. "Yeah, trained myself and went back into battle to avenge her. Became a hero in the process of driving the demons back, worked my way through the ranks and eventually…" He stretched out his arms out and looked at himself. "Here I am."

"So why did you want to see Earth destroyed?" Kitsune asked. "You still haven't gotten to that part."

Ice chuckled. "I was so fucking stupid. I thought that if a simple power could become a seraphim, let alone the leader, I could remake the realms completely." He trailed off again. "And bring Fria back." The room was silent for a long time. "God I was a moron…"

"Kind of noble though." Kitsune admitted. "You always here guys say how they'd change the world for the one they love. You actually tried." She finished her drink and jumped down from her chair. She walked around the table and nudged Ice with her nose. "Hey, I still remember the scent of the woman who fought with ice at the stronghold. I can still smell it."

Ice nodded. "Probably just the remains of the spirit crystal that Motoko shattered the other day."

Kitsune shrugged and turned to leave the room. "Maybe, but I've smelled this scent even before you came to the Hinata-sou."

Ice picked his head up as the fox left the room. "Nani?"

Kitsune looked over her shoulder as she continued to walk. "The scent has been here for years." She stopped as she passed through the door.

Ice looked on in confusion as Kitsune nipped at something. He smirked as he heard Motoko yelp in protest. "I must be wasted." Ice stated as he finished his sake. "I didn't sense her at all."

Kitsune shook her head as she left. "I see what Naru meant before about you. You are the strangest angel there is." She paused a moment. "Speaking of Naru, I'd better go check on her."

Ice nodded as Kitsune left the room and Motoko entered. "Might be a good idea."

Motoko entered the room, a bit nervously as she had been caught spying by the fox. "Check on Naru for what?"

Ice shook his head. "You'll find out soon enough." He tried to take another drink, but was disappointed to remember that the bottle was empty.

Motoko sat opposite Ice. "You didn't come to the roof for the morning practice."

Ice placed his empty bottle on the table. "I didn't? What time is it?"

"Almost eight." Motoko replied. She watched Ice intently. He was so much different than the other times she had seen him. "Is it because of the alcohol?" She wondered silently.

Ice leaned back in his seat. "Something wrong?"

"You are…different." Motoko was careful in choosing her words, she didn't want to make him angry.

Ice smiled. "You mean drunk?" He stood and began to make his way to the door. "Come on, you wanted a spar right?" He stumbled and crashed through the wall.

Motoko rushed to his side and helped him sit up. She recoiled slightly as she heard him laughing. "What is wrong with you?" She asked angrily. "You were never like this?"

Ice smiled. "I had purpose before, there is nothing now."

"So you will wallow in booze and self-pity now?" Motoko demanded. "The Ice I know would not allow himself to do that."

Ice nodded. "Yeah, you're right. But," He stood and looked Motoko right in the eye. "If you were listening while you were spying, which I know you were, you'd remember that that Ice was a big old fake."

Motoko shook her head. "What I heard is that you changed, but you are no different now than you were yesterday." She turned away in anger. "You're just a coward afraid to move forward."

The words hung in the air for a long time. Eventually Ice stood up without trouble. "Perhaps, you are right."

Motoko turned. "You are…" His eyes no longer held a drunken, care free spirit of a moment ago. Nor did they hold the pent up anger and frustration she had come to recognize over the past two months. She could still see pain and conflict, but now she also saw compassion. Motoko's mind flashed back to the day the demons came through the bath and Lillith's words later.

He wasn't always the bastard you guys know him as. Once upon a time he was quite kind and gentle but…

Ice nodded, not realizing Motoko's distracted attention. "I'm sober. This close to the null-plane magic comes and goes without warning. A wave just passed us, purging my system in the process." He started to walk off toward his room. "I'm going to clean myself up a bit. I'll meet you on the roof in ten to practice."

Motoko nodded and headed for the roof. She began her warm up exercises as she waited and pulled her sword. She gasped as she saw the Hina Blade. It had undergone another transformation. In addition to glowing silver, it now also gave off an amber glow.

(break)

Keitaro exited the small men's bath and began to walk slowly down the hallway. He couldn't smell Shinobu cooking and wondered about it for a moment. It dawned on him a moment later that the power was most likely out as a result of the explosion yesterday. He stretched his arms and he tried to reach his back. "Must have slept on it funny or something. I feel like I'm full of knots. And that cold bath didn't help either." He stopped as he saw a large fox sitting outside of Naru's room. "Ohiyo Kitsune." He managed to stop himself before he reached out to scratch her fur-covered ears. "She's not a dog." He chastised himself silently.

Kitsune turned toward the landlord, and smiled sadly. "Good morning Keitaro."

Keitaro felt his stomach drop into his feet. "Kami-sama…" He whispered. "She was in her room when…"

Kitsune nodded. "She won't even open the door for me." She pawed the door again and called to her friend. "Naru? It's me. Can I come in?"

"Go away." Naru replied weakly through the door. "I want to be alone."

Keitaro shivered at the lifeless tone of her voice.

Kitsune turned toward Keitaro, her face belied her concern. "Well?"

Keitaro swallowed and took a step forward. He knew what he had to do, but not how too. He grasped the handle of Naru's bedroom door and took a deep breath. "Naru? It's Keitaro. I'm coming in."

"No!"

Keitaro heard scrambling at the other side of the door as he tried to open the door. He had only managed to open the door an inch when it was slammed shut and held there. Keitaro tried again to open the door, but Naru held it firm. "Naru, please, I just want to talk."

"I don't want to talk to you Keitaro." Naru's voice cracked as the sobs came again. "I don't want to see your face ever again."

Keitaro felt his heart stop for a moment as Naru's words cut into him. Before he could reply, he felt something pulling at his pant leg. He looked down as Kitsune released the mouthful of fabric. She motioned him to follow her quietly, and he complied. Seconds later they stood in Keitaro's room and stared at the hole in his ceiling. "But she'll hear me trying to get up there and block me again."

Kitsune grinned and grabbed Keitaro's belt in her teeth.

Keitaro looked on in confusion. "What are you…" He let out a startled yell as Kitsune lifted him off the ground and threw him into the air and through the hole.

Kitsune turned and walked out of the room. "Just this once, I'll let you two have some privacy."

Naru didn't even scream as Keitaro exploded through her floor, she just turned away and faced the wall. "Go away Keitaro."

The young landlord picked himself up off the floor enough to crawl toward Naru.

"Stay away from me." Naru warned.

Keitaro stopped and knelt a few feet away from Naru. "Naru…"

"How could you do that?" Naru asked as she faced the wall. "I thought we were in love."

Keitaro nodded. "I thought so too."

"Then why did you have sex with Kanako?!" Naru demanded as spun to face Keitaro.

He swallowed hard as Naru turned. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face was puffy with all the crying she had done the night before. Her makeup, never washed away before bed as she always did, ran down her face tracing the paths of her tears. Her lips trembled as she fought to maintain an appearance of being in control. Her throat twitched as it threatened to break her voice again. Her hair, always well kept, was tangled and wild. Her entire body shivered as she fought against the sobs that tried to reduce her to full out crying once again. "I'm so sorry Naru."

Naru turned away in disgust and hurt. "That's the best you can offer?"

"I don't know what else I can say." Keitaro slowly inched forward.

"Tell me why."

Keitaro continued to inch forward. "I won't lie, I love her."

"You loved me." Naru turned away more.

"I still love you Naru, but…it's different than how I love Kanako." Keitaro moved closer still. "I'm sorry Naru. You deserved better than what I did to you."

"Different?" Naru tried to comprehend his meaning. "Love is love. Isn't it?"

Keitaro shook his head. "I don't think so, not to me anyway." He reached out and placed a hand on Naru's shoulder. "I'm sorry I hurt you Naru. You're my best friend, I never wanted to do that to you."

Naru turned and looked Keitaro in the eyes. "Best friend?" Her gaze fell to the floor. "Do you know, that's what most people call their lover after they're married? I can't be your best friend." She closed her eyes as the tears began to fall, and she leaned into Keitaro for support.

Keitaro held her as she cried. "But you are my best friend Naru. Without you I never would have continued to try for Todai. I wouldn't have made it through my first week in the Hinata-sou or became friends with the others. I would still be the same nobody I was before without you help." You've always been there for me." He trailed off. "I wanted to always be there for you too, and I will be if you want me to, just not in the way we first thought."

"If I'm so wonderful…" Naru sobbed. "Why did you pick Kanako instead of me?"

"I can't explain my feelings." Keitaro admitted. "Kanako's always been there for me too."

"You never mentioned her before she arrived here." Naru pointed out. "Not once."

Keitaro nodded. "I thought I was a freak." He chuckled as Naru looked at him questioningly. "I didn't choose to leave my home to study for Todai. My mother forced me to leave after she found Kanako and I kissing by the waterfall when she was eight." He sighed. "She yelled that brothers and sisters couldn't do that kind of thing, and that I was going to be in big trouble. So I tried to bury my feelings for her." He smiled. "Then I met you, and fell for you." His smile faded. "But when Kanako came back, everything went weird again."

Naru sat back and fought her tears with more success. "So you've loved her since you were kids?"

Keitaro nodded. "Yeah, I guess so."

Naru leaned forward. "I'm going to do something Keitaro, and I don't want you to interrupt." She continued forward and kissed Keitaro.

Keitaro sat in shook for a moment, and then pulled away. "Naru?"

"I love you Keitaro." Naru finally admitted to him. "I want you to be happy, even if it's not with me."

Keitaro wanted to do, to say, anything to try to comfort Naru. Even though she had said the words, he could still hear the pain in her heart.

Naru force a smile as she saw Keitaro wracking his brain for something to say. She opened the door she leaned against. "I think… you should go now. Before anything else ruins this beautiful good bye."

Keitaro nodded sadly and stood. He turned at the door one last time to look at Naru as she sat on the floor.

Naru smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be right here when you get back."

Keitaro smiled a small smile and nodded before walking away.

Naru closed the door and the tears fell once again.

(break)

"Ice-dono?"

The large angel turned. "Ah, Tama-chan. What can I do for you?"

The little turtle landed on the dresser across the room. "We didn't have a chance to talk at the ware house. We confirmed your suspicions before the Hellfire was released. Kanako is capable of creating pure darkness."

Ice nodded as he looked through the closet in hope of finding something other than his robes to where in his larger body. He sighed as he found nothing. "I see, so her counterpart can create pure light." He nodded. "It's good to know, but it really doesn't matter now."

"It doesn't matter?" Tama cocked her head to the side. "Then why have you been so set on finding the pure elements for so many eons?"

Ice chuckled. "I was going to over throw God so I could find a way to bring Fria back." He grabbed his long sleeves and ripped them from the main body of the shirt, he then repeated his impromptu tailoring with the extra fabric at his legs. "I know now that I was fooling myself." He headed for the door. "All I can do now is protect my charge, and the worlds that Fria loved so much."

Tama stared at the sad, yet hopeful smile on Ice's face. For the first time in countless millennia, Tama could see Ice as he had been before the war. "I think Fria would like that, but…"

"But?"

"I think Fria would want you to find happiness for yourself as well." Tama flew from the dresser to Ice and landed on his shoulder.

Ice smiled. "Maybe…"

"But…" Tama continued with a disapproving tone.

Ice groaned. "Now what?"

"This new look with the torn robes?" Tama motioned to the clothing Ice wore. "You look like an extra from a bad Greece-themed movie."

Ice continued to walk forward to the roof. "Oh shut up." He bopped the turtle lightly on the head. "You should know me well enough by now that I hate those frilly shit robes. I'll get some real clothes in town later today." He took the steps up to the roof and stopped in his tracks as he saw Motoko holding her silver and amber sword. "That blade…"

Tama-chan also stared. "Fria?"

(break)

"Kanako-sama?"

Kanako jumped slightly from where she sat daydreaming in the bath. "Oh, Kuro!" She stood and grasped the little cat by the paws and swung him around in a circle.

Kuro dizzily floated to the ground and lost his breakfast all over the stone walk. He spit the foul taste from his mouth, and turned his blurry gaze on Kanako. "You are unusually cheerful this morning. Are you affected by the magic shifts?" He blushed red as he saw Kanako's body.

Kanako missed the cat demon's expression. "No. I had the most wonderful thing happen to me last night Kuro." She sank back to the water and released a bit more fire into the bath. She sighed as the heat returned once again. "Onii-chan…No, Kei-kun, confessed his love for me last night."

Kuro's jaw dropped to the floor. "He what!" He scrambled across the wet stone floor and hopped onto Kanako's shoulder. "You refused his advances didn't you?"

"Baka." Kanako teased with a smile. "You should know that Keitaro is to gentle to make an advance."

Kuro breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Dodged that bullet…"

"I made the advance on him."

Kuro fell into the water in shock.

Kanako quickly fished the cat up from the bottom of the shallow pool. "Kuro-kun? What's wrong with you?"

Kuro shook his head violently. "Nothing!" He cast his eyes down. "Just another wave of magic passed."

Kanako blinked. "It did? I didn't feel it." She shrugged it off and went back to washing.

Kuro watched her bath. He gasped to himself as he saw small spots of blood on her washcloth. "So, you two?"

Kanako nodded and smiled. "He was so caring. It was even more magical that I could have ever imagined." She paused as she saw something falling from Kuro's face. "Kuro-kun?"

Kuro plunged his head under the water again. When he came back up he pawed at his eyes. "I think I got some soap in my eyes." He placed his paws back on the ground and smiled at Kanako as the water dripped down his face. "I'm very happy for you, Kanako-sama."

Kanako smiled, but did not get the chance to reply. She and Kuro both ran into the house as they heard the scream.

(break)

Shinobu flipped the fish on the grill and then went back to her miso so it would not boil over its pot. "Thank you again for your help Kitsune."

The fox nodded as she maintained the careful control on the fox-fire that Shinobu was using to make breakfast. "Of course. With the power still out, my fire is really the only heat source we have left." She blinked at one of the flames and it lessened slightly. "Just be careful not to burn yourself or the food. Fox-fire burns a lot hotter than Earth fire."

Shinobu nodded. "Yes, I noticed. The fish is nearly done already." She continued to cook, but stole glances at the fox at her side periodically.

The ever-observant Kitsune noticed these movements. "Something on your mind Shinobu?"

Shinobu nodded slowly. "At the warehouse, Ice called you a tracker. What did he mean?"

"That's my profession." She paused and nudged one of Shinobu's pans with her nose. "Watch your eggs, they're starting to burn."

"Gomen!" Shinobu quickly removed the food from the flame. "What do you mean profession?"

Kitsune grinned. "Even fox-spirits have to work from time to time. I work, worked, as a guide and a tracker between the realms. Finding lost people, or people that didn't want to be found was my job."

"Oh." Shinobu turned back to her meal preparations. She stopped and turned to face Kitsune again. "What did Ice mean that you got tailed by a newbie?"

The fox shut down her fire at the fish grill. "You seem to be a tracker too Shinobu. But you're in a completely different class than I am."

Shinobu blinked in surprise. "I am? But, I don't have any powers."

"Actually, you do." Kitsune corrected. "You have an incredibly big heart."

"Nani?"

Kitsune nodded and grasped a panhandle in her teeth. "Hu ave ha git og impaty."

Shinobu sweat dropped. "Ano?"

Kitsune set the pan down again. "Sorry. You always seem to know how to relate to others because you're an empath."

"An empath?" Shinobu repeated. "Don't people with empathy read minds?"

Kitsune shook her head. "Nah, it's more like they feel the emotions people leave behind. My guess is that the Hellfire and Ice's feather barrier some how jump-started your powers. With some training, you could be a really great tracker." She turned and began to leave the room. "I'll go get the others for breakfast."

Shinobu began to put out the place settings on the dinning room table. One of her plates dropped to the floor and shattered as she heard the scream.

(break)

Kaolla sat alone in her room. In the excitement of searching for their otherworldly friends yesterday, they hadn't gone to search for the remaining residents of the Hinata-sou. She wondered where Sarah and Haruka were now. She hoped that they were ok, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were very far away from her right now. She missed her friend from America. She looked over at her computers to see if her scanners had found anything. They still read blank.

She stood and made her way to her experiment tables, thinking that if she could drown herself in her work it would distract her from her bad feelings. She gazed into the microscope and whistled. "Icy-chan will want to know about this I bet." Her declaration died away as she heard the scream.

(break)

"Fria?" Ice stared at the warrior in the shrine maiden outfit. "It can't be…"

Motoko turned. "Ice? Why is the Hina Blade glowing like this?"

Ice said nothing, merely stared.

"Ice?" Motoko stepped forward toward the angel who seemed to be in shock.

Tama-chan lightly tapped Ice on the cheek. "It's not her Ice-dono. It's Motoko."

Ice blinked and it seemed to clear his head. "What Kitsune said before…that first day here…could it be?"

Motoko grasped Ice's arm and shook him gently. "Ice? Are you ok?" She turned as she heard the scream.

Ice turned as well, his sword flashing into existence as a precaution before he ran toward the source of the sound.

(break)

Kitsune neared the landlord and nipped at his hand playfully. "Breakfast is almost ready."

Keitaro turned and patted Kitsune on the head out of habit. He grinned sheepishly as he realized what he had done. "After everything that's happened, and Shinobu still thinks to make breakfast for us." He shook his head in amazement. "She one hell of a kid."

"You have no idea." Kitsune said with a chuckle. "And don't worry about petting me, it actually feels kind of good."

"It's kind of weird though." Keitaro admitted. "If you were still human I wouldn't just walk up and pat your head."

"That's your choice stud. If you'd picked me instead of Kanako you could have and I wouldn't have minded at all." Kitsune teased with a grin. Her smile faded. "Speaking of weirdness though, I can't get Naru to come out of her room. Maybe you could give me a hand?"

Keitaro nodded. "As long as you promise not to throw me by the seat of my pants again."

Kitsune nodded and began to walk to Naru's room. "Deal."

"Naru?" Keitaro called through the door. "Shinobu made breakfast, do you want anything?" He frowned as he got no response and turned to Kitsune. "Think she cried herself to sleep again?"

Kitsune shrugged. "Only one way to find out."

Keitaro opened the door. "Kami-sama!"

"Naru!" Kitsune screamed as she rushed toward her friend.

Within seconds, the rest of the household stood at Naru's door. For a moment, no one moved. Then they all rushed in to try and help the kanrinin and the fox-spirit bring Naru's lifeless body down from where is swung from the rafter.

(break)

Rider: (still watching the fight) Down to the last two. (Turns to star) Should we help?

Star: Wraiths will get pissed if we interfere. (pauses) Want to bet on who'll win?

Rider: (nods) I'll put a hundred on wraiths.

Star: (pulls out her money) I'll match you on Kyo Korhal.

Rider: (turning back to readers) So? Good? Bad? Other? I think you guys all know the routine by now, so please tell me what you think. 'Till the next, live well all.

Star: BYE! (waves like an idiot)

Rider: (cups his hands around his mouth) You better not blow this wraiths!

Star: Come on Kyo!

Wraiths: (glares at the two some) You are such bad friends!