So, yeah. Hi. Update.i just typed up quite a bit of the writtenstuffi had for ToD. Maybe i'll finish the next chapter soon, maybe not. shrug College work sux, so we'll see.

Anyway, remember Riho's just had "breakfast" before this scene.U might want to go back and re-read if u're not new to this fic. i'm not really impressed with it anymore myself (i started writing this before CainxShido became one of my ultimate passions), so i forgive u if u hate it. . ...i DID try to accurately portray Riho here tho.

Please tell me what u think!

I rejoined Cain in the sitting room after dressing. Taku had returned just as I was tying the cape about my shoulders and offered to do my hair. So I entered the blonde's presence looking regal, hair swept back in braids to a wedding crown from which the majority of the bright red fell smoothly.

He looked up from where he'd been gazing out a pair of open French doors next to a baby grand piano. "Ahhh. Lovely." His eyes shone; and I couldn't help blushing. He came forward and took my fingertips in his, bowing to kiss them and winking. I giggled at his show of charm and allowed him to lead me to the doors. They led to a spacious balcony that overlooked the surrounding forest. He drew me out to the rail and stood close behind me.

"Now. To remedy the appalling lack of basic training." I was unsure what he meant and was about to mention this, but he cut me off, wrapping long, slender fingers around my upper arms. "Look into the night. Tell me what you see."

I shrugged. "The trees, the stars….there's a bird circling over there." I nodded in the direction of the distant drifting creature.

Cain growled low, and reprimanded, "Look farther. You state that which a human could see." He spit the word "human" as if it were an evil charm.

I obeyed, taking a deep breath and extending my vision within the shadows of the forest. I gasped. "They're feeding!" At least three breeds were tearing something to shreds with their claws and fangs.

Cain's grip tightened around my arms. I could feel his satisfaction through the hold. "Yes. What else?"

"The sky is lighter in that direction." I nodded towards the horizon before us.

"Good. It is the closest human city, forty miles away. And what of your 'bird'?" he sneered.

I looked back to the circling creature, and gasped again, drawing back into Cain. "It's a breed!" The huge bat like wings suddenly folded against the beast's human-like body as it sped into a descent towards the trees, claws glinting against its dark flesh.

Cain laughed at my fear and wrapped his arms around me. "Yes. And which direction is 'over there'?"

I frowned. "I don't know."

"Yes! You do," he hissed in my ear. "Let yourself feel the sun's pull," he purred, leaning closer. I closed my eyes and did as instructed. At first, I felt nothing. Then, as I tried to remember the feel of the daylight beyond protective walls, I felt a tightening and a pull in my chest.

My eyes flew open. "The sun just set a few hours ago, so that must be west." I pointed toward the pull. "Which would mean….that's northeast." I pointed toward where the breed had been flying. "And that's northwest." I nodded toward the dimly lit patch on the horizon.

"Very good," Cain purred in my ear, dipping his head to drift lips across my neck. I shuddered and relaxed into his grasp.

He turned me in his arms so that he was holding me flush against him, and I could look up into his haunting golden eyes. "These are your natural senses. You should see and feel this way all the time." He paused a moment, considering me. Abruptly, he asked, "Do you know how to dance?"

I blinked up at him, stuttering for a moment. "… N-no. I never had a reason to learn."

He tisked. "One does not need reason to learn the finer things in life." He suddenly took up my hand lightly in his, and pressed his other against my back beneath the cape, guiding me to follow his sudden steps. "As I was saying, these are your true senses. It is foolish to ignore them, as it is to ignore a fine lady in a fine dress." He smiled charmingly, and I couldn't help but blush and smile back. "Your hearing is as finely tuned, but I will show you that later, as those mongrels are not very pleasant to listen to." Suddenly, I was pushed into a turn, and I realized that, as I'd been trying to focus on what the beautiful blonde had been saying, I hadn't noticed myself being gracefully led across the room in a waltz. I grinned and laughed, allowing Cain to guide me through the rest of the night in style and finery.

ok. hope u liked. REVIEW! >. keep in mind i was trying to make Riho as vapidly mentally numb as realisticly possible