Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Chap. 17

Next day, School

"Hey guys."

Shin walked toward one of the tables where Kenji and Uriko were already seated. Uriko looked at him with wide eyes.

"Shin? Wow, you made it to lunch for once."

Shin took a seat across from them, "I have the time for it today, I guess."

"Really? Ms. Saori gave you a day off?" She then grinned, "I guess even she could see that you needed it."

"Actually, I asked for it." He continued uncertainly. "I...um…have kind of a date tonight."

"What?!" The girl nearly screeched, jumping out of her seat. "Are you serious?"

"Keep it down, Uriko." Shin warned. But knowing Uriko, she was just getting started.

"No way." She went on, seating herself down. "A miracle has just occurred. You are finally acting like a teenager." Her head leaned over toward him, "So, details, details. Who is she? Do I know her?"

"It's Nagi."

Uriko blinked, "Her? Really?"

"It's no big deal really." Shin replied, lowering his head shyly. "She actually asked me out."

But being Uriko, she would make a very big deal out of this, "Whoa. This is history in the making, right Kenji? Kenji?"

Kenji, who had been silent the entire time, snapped into his senses. "Huh?"

A frown soon came over Uriko's face, "What's up with you? You've been acting more…boorish than normal."

"Just some things on my mind, that's all." the youth quietly replied.

"So what else is new?" Despite her answer, she knew something was up. 'Could it still be those dreams he's been having?' That was her initial thought. Then she noticed a light red mark that nearly disappeared into his shirt. Nearly… She decided to get off the subject and refocus her attention on the slightly less quiet Shin.

"Where's Rei?"

"I don't know." he shrugged. He then added dully, "Probably with Reiji somewhere."

"I doubt it." She answered initially. But the tone in his voice made her think twice. Despite the way she acted, Uriko was much more insightful than she let on. And right now, she was seeing a slight change in Shin's aura, as it were. "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah. I'm just a little nervous." he admitted. "I've never been on a date before."

"Obviously." she pointed out. "But I wouldn't worry. She did ask you, remember?"

"Yeah. I guess you're right."

Uriko smiled and then looked over at Kenji, only to see that he was back in his own world again. A sad gaze flickered in her eyes and was soon replaced by determination. 'Something else is wrong and I'm going to find out.'

Unknown to her though, Shin noticed the same things she did and thought the same thing…

Later...

"What happened?"

Right after lunch, the three split off to their separate classes. But along the way, Shin trailed behind Kenji and caught up with him just before he could enter his classroom and asked the aforementioned question.

"What do you mean?" Kenji replied.

Shin narrowed his eyes, moving them toward the light mark on Kenji's neck and shoulder.

"You were attacked." he stated. Kenji held his surprise in, remembering whom he was talking to. A fellow ninja of the same art and also an eagle zoanthrope.

"Uriko noticed too. But she'll come to you another time, I assume." he said as a caution for him to look out for. Back to the subject, "So again, what happened?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why?"

"I…just can't." Kenji didn't want to tell Shin that Kohryu was still alive. The mechanical ninja was responsible for the death of Shin's older brother and there was no telling what Shin would do if he knew that Kohryu was still alive. Also, he had to find out why Kohryu had returned now. "Not yet anyway."

Shin became deathly silent, causing Kenji to worry a bit. But Kenji could match him in this.

"You have to trust me."

Shin seemed to consider this for a moment and he finally said, "Okay." His gaze became dark for a moment, "But you will tell me."

"I will." Kenji promised. "When the time is right, I will."

Shin nodded, "Okay. See you later."

Despite the fact that the sun was setting, Jenny felt a little uneasy in coming out on the street in the daylight. Darkness was her ally and the night her love. Because of that, she found herself clinging to the shadows of the buildings unconsciously. Her trip wasn't long and she soon reached her destination. She turned into the dark alley (gladly) and into what appeared to be an abandoned building. Despite her heels, she was virtually silent as she opened the door and walked up the stairs. Soon she reached a broken apartment room and entered inside. Her eyes search the room and soon she found the form she was looking for by the window.

"It's been awhile."

The insect zoanthrope turned his head a notch, "So it has." He then turned around fully, revealing his dark blue scales and beady yellow eyes. "I would tell you how lovely you look, but you already know that."

Jenny raised an eyebrow, "Flattery? That's a new one for you."

The strange jawline of Stun lifted in a peculiar smile, "So it is." The smile disappeared, "Anyway, I bet this isn't a social call."

"'fraid not." She stood by the wall and folded her arms, "I take it you already know about what's going on, but just to let you know, there's a lot of zoanthrope going berserk out there. The others are trying to figure a thing out, but while that's going on, someone needs to keep a watch and make sure things don't get too radical."

"That being me."

Jenny began to frown slightly, "I don't usually like asking for help…"

"And you're not." Stun replied, cutting her off. He turned back to the window "I have been seeing what's been going on out there and I've been thinking of trying to stop it." He looked over at her again and the smile returned, "At least until this madness stops."

"You sure know how to charm a woman." Jenny smiled back.

"Rei?"

There was no response as Shin entered the house. He came a little late due to the fact that he accidentally moved toward work in a force of habit. He was into thought about what he and Kenji talked about that he didn't realize where he was walking until he was almost there. Something was very wrong, possibly dangerous. But Kenji asked him to trust him and he will. The mole zoanthrope had saved his life. Twice. When he realized the direction he was going, he wound up dashing back home. Fortunately, he had set up his clothes ahead of time so getting dressed wouldn't be the problem.

"Rei. Are you here?"

Shin's eyes searched around and moved to look in the bathroom. She wasn't there. 'She must be out again.' Worry began to set into his mind automatically. He didn't expect her to be there, waiting on him hand and foot, but it would have been better for him to at least know the whereabouts of her presence. He slipped on his shirt and shoes. Still, she was her own person. He should have been glad that she was getting out more and for the most part, he was. It was why she was out that bothered him. Or should he say whom.

Reiji…

He had only met the guy twice, but for some reason, Shin felt negative to him. The fact that he ran out on them during the earthquake had only serve to deepen that feeling. From what Uriko says, he was an arrogant selfish person. Yet Rei seems to like him. Does she see something we don't? It's possible. Shin shook his head. Rei likes him and if they were dating, then there was no reason to stop them.

If that's the case, then why did it bother him so?

Frowning, Shin soon slipped on a jacket and checked himself in the mirror. It wasn't flashy or anything, but it looked just fine. He wore black jeans and turtleneck shirt. The jacket too was black as well. His eye flickered up and he saw a little piece of paper stuck to the upper corner of the mirror. Reaching up, he pulled it off and saw that it was a short note.

I'm out with Uriko. Be back at 8:00 – Rei

'So she's with Uriko.' That thought fill him with relief, but at the same time made him confused. Why was he relieved that Rei was with Uriko? Was it because she wasn't with Reiji? Lines of questions went on in his head with no straight answers. Shin shook it off and placed the letter down on the table. It didn't matter. He was probably relieved because he knew where she was. Or at least with whom. The previous questions began to resurface, but he dismissed them, fully this time as he walked out the door.

The moon began to come into full view as day sank into night. A figure stood on top of the rooftops gazing down on the scene. Silvery hair whipped in the wind and piercing eyes took in all that was in motion down there.

'I will find you. I just need to wait. I will find you and destroy you. And without you, Gaia will be defenseless.' A grin came over his handsome face.

'And the Unborn will reign.'

As he moved near the steps of the Ohgami household, nervousness began to set in. It had just occurred to him that he had never been out on a date before. He planned the evening, yes. A movie, dinner, and a walk on the beach. But he didn't really know how to go about in talking with her. He didn't know her all that well. Hell, she didn't even know herself all that well. Perhaps that would be a good start. Right? He took a deep breath and calmed himself. 'Just take it one step at a time.' With another breath, he moved to the door and knocked. Motion could be heard on the other side and it swung open, revealing…

"Hey, he's here."

Shin's eyes widened. "Uriko?"

The girl that stood at the door shrugged, "Hey. I was supposed to pick up my math homework from Kenji earlier the day, but forgot about it."

'Wait? If Uriko was here, then…'

"Where's Rei?"

Uriko indicated to the side where Rei was sitting, drinking a cup of tea across from Alice. Both of them looked over to the door and waved.

"Hey Shin. She'll be down in a moment."

Shin blinked and suddenly felt quite confused. Then just when it couldn't get stranger for him that was when his date, Nagi, came down from the stairs.

"Hey Shin. You ready?"

Nagi was wearing casual clothes; black jeans and a dark red shirt, giving her a cute/sexy appeal. Shin felt a slight relief that he wasn't underdressed. But now, for some very strange reason, he felt very nervous. And awkward. And it wasn't just because of Nagi's appearance. It was that Rei was there watching as well. Nagi didn't seem to notice though and she came down the stairs and held his arm with a smile.

"Y...yeah. I'm ready."

Very awkward…