A large man stands over a nekoess, who's crying over an old neko. The man laughs, and raises his club, but a cold voice rings out, "Jeoff. This is my hit."

The man twists to the left, eying the newcomer. A girl in her mid-teens stands, glaring at him. Her eyes are a mixture of brown and green. Jeoff laughs again, "You, Reaper? You're still too soft." The girl raises her chin defiantly, "I've already proved--" "That you can only kill demons with no attachments. No one to leave behind. Don't worry; I won't let him die alone. His little brat will go with him."

Jeoff raises his club again, and a scythe goes flying through the air, cutting off his wrist. Jeoff cries out, and drops to his knees, clutching his wrist.

Reaper's eyes flash as she glares down at him, "I said this is my hit."

The old man pleads, "Please, do what you will with me, but do not harm my daughter! You can have all the riches of my kingdom, but please, don't harm my Grimmwilda!"

Reaper turns to the old neko, "Relax old man, your daughter won't be touched."

Jeoff stands up, pulling out a dagger, "You'll be leaving one more to seek revenge. Tempest won't be happy." He lunges for the young neko, who screams, and shrinks away.

Reaper leaps forward, and steps back as Jeoff slumps to the ground. She pulls her scythe out of the back of his neck, and kneels down next to the elderly neko. Examining the blows, she looks up at the quivering girl, "They're fatal. Jeoff may be an idiot, but he can aim."

The old man lifted his head, "Please... promise... not to harm, my Grimm...uhhhhhhhh"

Silently, Reaper closes his eyes, and stands slowly, turning to the neko next to her, "You, kid. Have a name?"

The pink neko's ears shook, "Y-You're not going to kill me?"

Reaper shook her head slowly, and looked down, "No. I think you've lost enough." She looked back up, "Do you have anyone to take care of you?"

The girl wiped her tears away, "Ye-Yes... he, the king, was my father. I guess- I guess the kingdom's mine now."
Reaper nods briskly, and walks away.

The girl looks down sadly at the body of her father, "I just don't have anyone left..."

A girl with long black hair leaned up against a wall, her eyes closed. A pink haired neko sits on the ground before her.

"Reaper?"
"Yeah."
"Tier called."
"Eh."
"He says Mads needs your help."
"..."
"So.."
"Come out with it Grimm."
"Mads got a package. He said it had a copper necklace in it..."

Reaper's eyes snap open.

"And... it had something inscribed on the back. The word Copper."

Reaper's eyes narrowed, "Go on."
"There was a note attached to It."
"And?"
"It said "Sparks always shine their brightest before they go out." So...?"

Reaper sighed, opening her eyes, "I wonder whoever would send such an ambiguous clue."

Grimm blinked, "Uhm, that was sarcasm, right? You do know...?"

"Not precisely. But have an idea."

"Hiei asked for your help."
Reaper stares at Grimm, then nods, "Tell them I'll think about it."
Grimm's lower lip trembles, "You know he asks because he cares for Mads, right?"

Reaper's eyes narrow, "Yes."

"Tempest sent another messenger."
Reaper sighed, "Who is it now?"

Grimm frowned, "You won't like it. She wants a youkai, Yukina."

"Tell her no.
"But..."
"Tell her I know who the youkai is. And I won't be pleased if I have to kill half of Spirit World to get to her."

"Tempest isn't going to be happy."

"She's never happy."

There is a moment of silence.

"Reaper?"
"Yeah."
"Your eyes... are getting lighter."
"I have as much of a chance of stopping that as I do at stopping the tide."
"I know."

"Reaper?"
"What now, Grimm?"
"Do you think Koenma--"
"Is an idiot? Yes."
"No, that's not what I was--"
"Grimm why don't you just go away?"
"Because you're all I've got..."

Reaper looks up sharply. The neko looks down at her feet, then back up, just as Reaper nods in acknowledgement.

Reaper stretches, "I have something to clear up."