That night, I sat on the lawn of the school, right underneath the tree that the red-haired boy had been sitting under. Though I knew that he wasn't Kurama, he would have made a good temporary replacement. This spot smelled faintly of roses, a very sweet fragrance, but it also brought back memories. It reminded me of the time when I had ravaged my own soul, leaving only the mere shreds for Yuki to rebuild. Rose petals had fallen then, turning into blood once they touched me, making a soft splashing noise as this deeper crimson blood mixed with my own, which was slowly draining. Covered in blood, I had managed to reconcile with Jakiri.

Now I had managed to leave my ever-faithful servant behind. She was probably sitting elsewhere, reminiscing of the times when she had had a purpose to her life. Back in the days, she had been part of my life, when we inhabited Hell's Grove and stayed there for a while. She would teach me those techniques that I could learn, those that were known only by the Iceshadow Order. Only the simplest of those were within my grasp. Obviously, since I had been born a wolf demon, I had not managed to change myself into a drake as Jakiri had done. Without Jakiri, though, it seemed as if I was missing my significant other.

The stars were beautiful, forming a myriad of light as they illuminated the darkness. Darkness was the one thing that soothed me in most cases, but it felt good to know that, when everyone else was gone, I would have at least the stars to keep me company. My race was an ancient one, and I knew that I was destined for a far longer life than those of my friends and acquaintances. Even Yuki, with her powerful magic, wouldn't be able to outlive me.

Gazing up, I saw a few stars clumped together, about nine or ten of them. After reconfiguring them a few times in my mind, and mentally drawing in the lines, I saw a very crude image of a fox there. How interesting. The first night in Ningenkai, I had seen his face because I was so lost, but now that fox really was there. It really was a small fragment of the endless sky. Nothing could have made me back down on that point. "Kurama," I whispered, inhaling the scent of roses. He had always had that same aroma, but it had been darker, more mystical. This scent was very pretty, but not beautiful like Kurama's.

Smiling at my own idiotic thoughts, I reclined against the tree, finding a notch where my head rested comfortably. It was so peaceful here, compared to sleeping at Kurama's mansion the first few nights. Back then, when I still considered him to be rather aggravating as opposed to amusing, I was afraid that he would come in the night and rape me, tying me down until he had his way with me. Then I learned that he really wasn't out to take my body after all, and he just wanted to love me like he thought I deserved to be loved.

What a shock it had been to see that love was possible among demons. It was a passion greater than that which any other creature could possibly feel. It burned like a furious, angry fire that demanded to be satisfied. Once such a fire is kindled, it cannot be suppressed. It raged within me, consumed me, until I was nothing without him. Without Kurama, I was so much less than I was with him. When he left, I felt a gaping hole in my heart that seemed to ache without rest. Even when I slept, only the dreams of him could stop it for a short while, until my restless sleep was disturbed.

Many guardians must have been with him, for I never thought that he would find a way back; I had hoped, but I had never known for sure. He was always so strong, though I just knew him for a little over two weeks. Maybe, after all this time, he would have forgotten me by now, moved on to a woman far more beautiful and far more deserving than I. With this thought in my mind, I slowly fell asleep, sincerely hoping that he would come to me in my dreams once more, kiss me tenderly, love me like he always had...

Looking around, I was in a very open valley. On the horizon was a gorgeous cathedral that had large stained-glass windows. They reflected the light in reds, blues, oranges, yellows, and many shades that I couldn't name if I tried. Any name I could have thought up for such hues would never have done their beauty justice. Its steeple rose high in the air, piercing the blue sky with its imposing blackness. There was no Kurama yet, but it felt as if his awe-inspiring person deserved to be in this scene of absolute beauty. So, having faith in the power of my will, I sat on the lush grass and waited for him to come and rescue me.

Minutes passed, and there was no sign of him. Rather disappointed, I got up and walked around, toward the cathedral. It was so attractive that I thought he might be there, waiting for me to come and let him love me. Yes, that was all I would have to do...I would just have to come to him this time. Things wouldn't be any different than they had been before. He just hadn't felt like finding me for the millionth time. Maybe he was growing bored with always having to take care of me. Admittedly, I was rather high maintenance.

The doors of the cathedral were wooden, carved with intricate vines that climbed up and down. Roses were etched in, entwined by the crimson flowers that I had come to associate with Kurama. Silence was the only thing I could hear when I pressed my ear to the door, but then again, the wood seemed incredibly thick. Slowly, tentatively, I opened one of those huge double doors and stepped into the main chamber. Somberly-colored tapestries were hung from the ceiling, and the entire place seemed to have a history of little more than bloodshed. Nothing else could have fit the place more perfectly.

Each pew was adorned with a wreath of thorns, and one rose hovered in the center, a deep shade of scarlet, apparently remaining there of its own accord. Fingering one of the roses, I was able to take it in my hand without getting pricked by the thorns. Laughingly, I though of how similar this was to my relationship with Kurama. He had so many thorns, but with a little gentle guidance, I had been able to avoid those thorns and wrap my fingers carefully around the moist, green part that felt soft and alive to the touch. Kurama had tried to look more lively for me, he had tried not to make me live in the rough conditions that were imposed upon him and his comrades.

Since there was nothing else here, I sat in the pew and looked up at the altar. A cross was hung behind it, but there was no corpse upon it. It was a simple, rather crude wooden cross. Wrapped around it and trailing to the ground were long vines with roses growing out of them. Staring in awe, I wondered what it could mean, but I was cut short by the sound of footsteps. "No one beside me has been here in a while," a light voice said. Each word it said was like a note on the harp, smooth and placid, but sharp and pronounced.

"It's a very attractive place," I replied absently. It didn't occur to me to look around and see who I was talking to. Instead, my eyes were focused on the rose in my hand, as if it were Kurama. "It's a shame more people haven't come here."

"There has been one other," the voice said, "but he hasn't been here in a while."

At the prospect of Kurama having been here recently, I perked up, and I knew the guest was smiling...or did that voice belong to the host? "It was cruel Fate," it replied, as if reading my mind. Even without the power to read minds, any being with eyes could have read my gestures of eagerness. "Every time a new person finds their way here, he comes to paint a picture that will foretell the future." Baffled by this statement, I closed my eyes and tried to think for a little bit. What was "Fate" trying to tell me?

Suddenly I remembered that I didn't even know this person whom I was talking to? Was she even trustworthy? Somehow, I knew that this grave image would become reality, that I would be involved in this grief, whatever was going to happen. I stood up and stared at the figure that had been standing right behind me. It was a slim figure, obviously a very slight girl, with white robes that were fringed in gold. Underneath the shadows of her hood, I could see a white light, and my eyes shot open immediately.

Kurama was there, and he looked at me lovingly. It didn't feel right though...I wasn't feeling the same way I usually did when he visited my dreams. "I'm sorry I can't tell you where I am," he said, gazing into my eyes. "At least you went and saw Yuki." His strong arm was wrapped firmly around my waist, and I didn't want to let go of his neck, which I had thrown my arms around.

"I left Jakiri behind," I confessed, as if he would care that I had abandoned the one who tried to tear us apart. "Yuki was eager to get on with it, and it didn't occur to me, and-" Kurama gently pressed a finger to my lips. Silenced, I leaned into him, breathing in his scent, the one thing that I had still been able to remember.

"It's not your fault," he said, stroking my hair. "It's better if you make this journey alone for the time being. You have to let your own feelings, your own instincts guide you, and not those of others." I knew who he meant when he referred to "others". There were no other possibilities, after all. I had known all along that a time would come when Jakiri's help would become a burden, hindering my own growth, especially after our stay at Kurama's mansion.

"I always knew it would come to this," I said softly, running a hand through a thick lock of his silver hair. "Can you at least tell me where to start?"

"Meio Private Academy," he said, smiling at me and letting go.

Once Kurama let go of me, I felt everything cave in. Darkness surrounded me and crowded out my being, until it was so black that I couldn't see my own two hands in front of my face. There was nothing left to do now except curl up into a ball and cry until my death came, such a welcome thing for one so grim. Nothing else could save me from the nightmare that I saw ahead, the light that shone in various hues that were so complex that I couldn't name a single one. Slowly, I looked around, saw what was there, and screamed...

More suddenly than ever before, I woke up to find that it was morning. Taking the uniform given to me by the school out of my pack, I put it on. Really, it wasn't that bad, but I wished the skirt could have been a little longer. It only came down to midthigh on me. My inky black hair was perfectly tamed, and I was ready to start the search. Meio Private Academy was the school that I had signed up for, and I realized that, from the information packet that the teacher had given me, I was late.

Quickly, I hurried into the building and found my classroom. They were doing some sort of problem in there, using long strands of numbers and letters that I couldn't understand. Every letter and number seemed to mean something, but I knew that everyone else would know exactly what each meant, while I knew nothing. It was the one of the more uncomfortable situations I had been in in a long time.

Walking into the classroom, I spotted the redheaded boy from yesterday. He smiled at me in welcome when my eyes drifted toward his area, but I quickly turned away, blushing slightly. "Class, this is Katie Arroya," the teacher said. "She's our new transfer student from America."

"Hi," I said, waving at the whole class. A few whistles came from the back of the room as I went to take my seat. Of course, I was seated next to him. He always made me feel nervous, and he had the silent compassion that Kurama had had for me.

"Shuiichi?" the teacher called.

"Yes, sir?" the redhead replied. So Shuiichi was his name, was it now? At least I could call him by name if we met in the hall, which was more than I could say for the rest of the class.

"You'll be showing Katie around the school." Shuiichi nodded and waved at me demurely. Even sitting down, he looked quite tall, six feet or even more. Kurama was still taller, and even more handsome than this pretty-boy.

After class, I picked up the books that the principal had given me and walked out the door, only to be followed by Shuiichi. "We have biology, math, and history together," he remarked, glancing at my schedule. Next is bio. If you'll follow me..." His voice was very smooth and quiet, the voice of a gentleman. Shrugging dismissively, I followed him down the hall, hoping that we wouldn't have to spend every day together like this. It made me feel as if I was cheating on Kurama.

That brought back so many good memories, especially of the night when we found each other in the hallway. It wasn't like we did anything really serious, but it had been so free, so...intimate. Before then, I had never experienced anything so satisfying, and I had never known my own lusts before then either. They were my downfall, and now I was searching desperately for Kurama. This was a huge school; he could be anywhere.

"Katie?" That subtle voice awakened me from my temporary daydreaming. "Are you...all right?" Realizing that I had been on the verge of tears, I slapped a hand over my mouth and blushed. Shoot, I thought. I have to watch what I do now. It's not just me and Jakiri anymore. Pretending to brush a loose strand of hair out of my face, I wiped away a tear that had almost fallen for my lost lover. "Look, if there's something you need to talk about, then we can go outside for a couple minutes." Glaring at him, I wanted to make him feel like the dumbest person on earth. Why would I want to talk to him when it was Kurama, or even Jakiri or Yuki who I needed? What was the point in talking to him when all he did was remind me of Kurama and how I couldn't have both? I couldn't move on, not after all the times he had held me in my dreams. I wanted it to be like that again, where we would both feel happy and safe.

Turning on my heel, I ran outside and swung myself up into the high branches of a tree that stood about fifteen feet tall. The branch supported my weight easy enough, and I leaned against the trunk, resting my chin between my knees, which were drawn up to my chest. Once more I wanted to disappear, to stop this feeling of desolation and return to the life that I had only begun to want.

Down below, Shuiichi had already caught up with me, a concerned look on his face. Incredibly agile for a ningen, he started to climb deftly up the tree, reaching a hand out toward the branch I was sitting on. When it shook, I was startled, and lost my balance. Falling down, I rolled and got up, running away until I knew there was no more Shuiichi to bother me. No, he couldn't make it all right! I had to make it on my own just this once, without breaking down or acting like a scared little girl! Wasn't that what I had just done, though? He wanted to help, but I had run away, frightened by his presence that seemed to stir up my feelings for Kurama.

"I can't be around him," I decided. "All he does is remind me of what I lost, what I had before..." With a heavy sigh, I sat down and hoped for the best. It hadn't taken long before I was in a forest on the outskirts of the city. Here was a cliff that overlooked a lake, so pure and shining and beautiful. My skirt fluttered slightly in the breeze, and I wished I had my old ningen clothes on, rather than these things that made me think of Shuiichi. At first sight I had been attracted, but at second sight, I had remembered my fidelity to Kurama. I couldn't cheat on Kurama even if I wanted to, after all he had done to show me the path to happiness.

"So you still want him to come back, do you?" said a voice from behind me. Frowning, I recognized that voice. It was the woman from my dream. She wore a black dress that swept around her ankles underneath a golden hooded cloak.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying in vain to see beyond the shadows that her hood cast. It was nigh on impossible to see anything aside from her full, crimson lips as she talked.

"I am a wanderer of sorts," she replied. "I visit those who come to the Plane of Luminescence. After all, few can find their way there so naturally. Usually it takes the death of a loved one in the least."

"Youko Kurama was my love," I replied. "In my dreams, or in your Plane, I was told that he had been resurrected. However, I can't find him."

"And he has been," the woman said. "You've been closer to him than you think."

"What do you mean?" I demanded. "Who is he hiding as?"

"That I can't tell you," she said. "He'll reveal himself in time. Or maybe you were trivial enough that he forgot. Sadly, it happens so often, I wouldn't be surprised." I stood up and stared at her angrily, wishing that she could have given me something more useful. "Farewell," she flourished, dissipating into thin air until I thrust a fist at the air.

She couldn't be right. It just couldn't be. How could he forget me after all of our nights together in those dreams. Taking off my shoes, I felt the grass brush gently against my bare feet. It sent a warm sensation up my spine, but I couldn't shake the thought that she was right. I didn't want her to be, but it was the only truth I had now, and she had been my only real companion since I met her in the dream. She wasn't conjured up by my mind, but she was real, an actual being. Somehow, though, I had a feeling that I didn't want to know what was behind that mask of shadows that she always wore.

Tired with the day, I lay down and gazed at the sky for a while. Now even the clouds seemed to form small foxes that danced amusingly across the sky, taunting me. Kurama was here, but I couldn't find. Apparently, I'd just have to look harder...

Author's Note-Yeah, I'm getting very used to writing these. I know it's been very slow, but it'll pick up soon enough. I just didn't want it to seem too sudden. Hope that all my loyal fans enjoy this chapter and I can't wait to see what all of you have to say about chapter 7!

Miari