A/N: Hi! You can call me Tetra, and I'm also the writer of this story, Hired Hands! I am the Mirae character in the story, and she is my character that i use a lot in my stories as well as my Role Plays with my friends. I also have an account on FF.net and it is: FiNaLfAnTaSy8FaN. i have about 5 fics up and running, a great deal of them absolutely suck, but the good ones would have to be: Bloodied Rose Pedals. Do check that out and review! Thanks! Enjoy the fics, Folks! This is Tetra, out.

II
Maybe it's best to let Sleeping Demons Lie

The girls approached cautiously but calmly. A wise move seeing how they knew nothing of this demon. As soon as they got close enough to the tree and stopped, the demon opened one eye and looked at them. Not moving from his comfortable position. He didn't seem the least bit concerned by their presence, of that he had been found. He looked human enough. But they knew better. Mirae's current opinion of him was that he was probably a low class demon.
"Hey, we're trying to find some one. We're wondering if you could help us out." Mirae said. Her tone remained as serious as her face. The demon however, was not intimidated in any way. His position never changed. He just continued to look at them in silence. He looked like he was bored.
What do you think Shadow?
I don't know what to think really.
He's probably just a low class demon.
He does look harmless enough, but appearances can be deceiving.
True, but I think we can take him if necessary.
Hn. Is that so?
Shadow almost jumped at the demon's sudden intrusion into their telepathic conversation. She looked up at him. He still only had the one eye open, but he was smirking a bit. Mirae smiled a bit herself.
"So, you're not the low class demon I thought you where." She said. Impressed by his telepathic abilities.
"Hn." was his only reply as he closed his eye. His amused expression gone. He probably had the intention of going back to sleep. If he even was sleeping in the first place.
Shadow frowned and looked at Mirae.
"Should I just show him the photo? There might a chance he could recognize something about the guy."
Mirae shrugged.
"Go right ahead."
Shadow got closer to the tree and removed the Photo from the bag she carried with her.
"We're trying to find this individual. He stole something of great value and we've been hired to track him down and get it back."
The demon's eye opened and he looked only slightly more annoyed then when they first started talking to him. But he leaned over and reached out and took the photo. Then returned to his previous position and began to examine the photo.
'I didn't notice how short he was.' thought Shadow.
It was almost weird the way he was looking at the photo. The way he was studding it, almost as if he was bringing it in to focus. His eye then widened a bit in recognition. The girls saw this.
"Recognize him?" asked Mirae.
The demon ignored her.
"Why would he…" he murmured quietly.
"You know who it is don't you?" said Shadow.
"Hn, Maybe." The demon threw the picture back at Shadow. It got caught in a breeze so she had to go running after it. Mirae however, never took her eyes off the demon.
"Well?"
The demon sat up.
"What would you do if you caught him?" he asked.
"We'll find out when we do, won't we?"
"Not good enough."
"Listen pal, we know you know something, and you Are going to tell us."
"Oh really?"
By this time Shadow had caught the photo and returned to Mirae's side.
"Yes. Now, who is it?" Mirae demanded.
"Hn, the only thing I'm going to tell you is that he has his reasons."
"And those reasons are…?"
"That's none of your concern." he practically snapped. Then got up to leave, his back to the girls.
"Not so fast!" Said Mirae, as she took out her staff. The demon turned his head to look at her.
"You know far more than your telling, and you're going to tell us or fight."
He grinned.
"You honestly think you stand a chance against me?"
Shadow now had her staff weapon out.
"As a matter of fact, we do." she said.
"I think you underestimate us. But you're not leaving until we get answers." said Mirae.
The demon now had fully turned around to face them.
"Hn, Fine. If that's how you want it."
The demon drew a hidden Katana sword. The next thing any one knew, Shadow went flying in to a building wall and the demon was standing on the ground smirking.
"Shadow!" Mirae quickly turned her attention back to the demon. She had confidence that her companion would be ok. She stood battle ready, she would let the demon make the first move. He was definitely a powerful one.
"Now, who has done the underestimating?"

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ShadowFox777: Oh look what we did. We left you with a cliff hanger. Review and maybe we'll update fast.