Chapter 6: Starting to Like the Sun

Uotoni Arisa-

Arisa woke up to a cold, empty bed.

It wasn't a surprise. She should have known better, but somehow she'd thought Kureno would at least stay the night with her. She stretched her arms and wiggled her toes, reveling in the warmth of her bed and the memories of what they'd done just hours before. It wasn't entirely pleasant. Kureno was practically a stranger. One meeting at the store and a few times talking hardly amounted to a lasting relationship, as much as Arisa might have wanted one. Even her hasty decision…to give herself up to him…seemed entirely out of character.

Any other girl and I'd have told them what an idiot they were. No guy is worth doing something so stupid. Risking disease and…Hurt more than I thought it would.

It had been stupid and impulsive and Arisa had never thought herself stupid. During her days with the old gang, Arisa had seen enough girls in the shelters and the free clinics with problems all due to sleeping around that she knew the dangers. Kyoko would have scolded her for doing something so reckless.

"Girl!"

Arisa groaned at her old man's voice and shouted, "What?"

"Get out here!"

"Go to Hell!"

Theirs had never been a good relationship and after Arisa's mother had left them, it had only gotten worse. Despite what she said, Arisa did get out of bed and got dressed. When she did she found a note on her dresser that made her heart fly a little higher.

Arisa, Forgive me for leaving so early. I had something to discuss with the head of my family. Shigure has told that it is impolite to leave a partner so quickly after sex, but the head of my family gets impatient if I stay away too long. Please, come to the Souma estate when you have free time. I would like to see you again. Kureno.

He wanted to see her again. He didn't think she was some two bit slut. Arisa held the note with great care and knew that she had a chance with him. The first decent guy to ever show an interest in her…Arisa wasn't about to give that chance up. Someday, maybe, he might even fall in love with her. Arisa had no fanciful illusions like other teenage girls. She knew love wasn't some magical thing that just appeared. It was something you had to work at and Arisa was nothing if not hard working. She wanted Kureno, so by God, she would get him!

Arisa let out a laugh as she finished dressing them fished her wallet out from under her pillow. When she'd first started working, the old man would steal her money if she just left it laying around. She'd get home from school to find all the rent money used up on beer and cheap women then have to beg to the landlord for an extension. It had been an experience she never wanted to repeat, so she'd taken to carrying all her money with her. There was less risk of having thugs rob her than having the old man pillaging her room while she was gone.

He was on the couch when Arisa left her bedroom, staring out a window at the rising sun. "Your 'john' gone?"

Arisa felt her face flush at the implication. "He's not a 'john' and I'm not a prostitute, bastard." He's a gentleman. A real, honest-to-God gentleman and he likes me!"I'm off to school."

"Why?" He turned his head slowly to grimace at her. "You'll never make anything of yourself."

"Fuck off."

"Got a mouth like your mother. Always cursing. End up no better than her."

"Better than ending up like you, sucking up beer like water and never movingyour fat butt from the couch. Lettingyour kid pay the rent and buy the food. Gee, I wonder why ma didn't hang around."

Arisa's old man lashed around and three the beer bottle in his hand at her so fast that she couldn't quite dodge and it hit her in the leg. The bottle broke and sliced into her leg, but not enough to cause any real worry. The alcohol that splashed onto the wound did make her growl and spit another swear before she marched out of the apartment with as much dignity as she could manage. Just a few more years and she could move out and let the old man rot in any way he saw fit.

She went to school like that and stopped at the nurse first thing for a bandage for her leg. When asked what had happened, Arisa just shrugged and said that she'd fallen and happened to land on a broken bottle on the sidewalk. The excuse was good enough for the nurse but not for Tohru who fussed over the injury and hugged Arisa just to make her feel better. It certainly wasn't a good enough excuse for Hanajima whose normally dark demeanor turned positively black when she and Tohru met up with Arisa between classes. In fact, Hanajima was so angry that she stood up with a determined look in her eyes.

"Please, excuse us, Tohru." She bowed her head to Tohru then looked at Arisa who hadn't even had time to sit at her desk. "Uo and I need to have a talk. This way." Hanajima, when she got into a mood, was not someone to argue with. It was easy to forget that just because Hanajima was fond of her friends she was still dangerous. While Arisa couldn't quite understand the nature of Hanajima's power, there was no doubting that she could - if she wanted - kill people with a thought. To irritate Hanajima was to risk one's life and Arisa had only ever heard Hanajima use that tone on people she planned to fry.

Wisely, Arisa followed Hanajima out of class and kept silent while Hanajima led them through the school. They would miss the next class at that rate, but what was one more missed class?

"Here." Hanajima stopped walking abruptly just next to a janitor's closet and whirled around to face Arisa with something that wasn't quite anger on her face. "We need privacy for this." She took Arisa's arm and pulled her into the janitor's closet. She closed the door tightly behind them and Arisa suddenly found herself in complete darkness with nothing but Hanajima's breathing and her own heartbeat to break the silence.

Arisa blushed and was glad that it was dark enough that they couldn't actually see each other. While Arisa was firmly straight, she knew Hanajima wasn't the slightest bit interested in men. The whole situation was suddenly unnerving. "Hana, what's going on? What did you want to talk about?"

Hanajima's terrible silence felt angry. Arisa knew that Hanajima's power was real, she'd seen enough people stupid enough to risk Hanajima's wrath to believe in the mysterious denpa waves, but she'd never experienced them. Just at that moment, standing so close to Hanajima with her back pressed up against mops and brooms, Arisa was certain she could feel Hanajima's denpa waves. A soft tickling of power that ran over her skin like feathers.

"You're pregnant."

Arisa blinked then let out a bark of a laugh. "No. Don't be stupid, Hana. I'm not…I'm not!"

"I can feel it. As soon as I saw you, I knew."

"Stop it!" Arisa yelled, putting up her hands to shove Hanajima away. She heard a soft crash and Hanajima's grunt. "I'm not pregnant. It was only once! It was my first…I'm not. I'm on the pill, I have been for months. Just in case. I'm not stupid." But her hand went to her stomach and she felt the feather touch of Hanajima's denpa waves increase. Hanajima was very confident in her talent. "Hana? Tell me you're joking."

There was a touch on Arisa's stomach, Hanajima's hand on Arisa's. "Who is the father?"

"Kureno…he's a Souma."

"I see. I had no idea you were so involved with that family. Does Tohru know him?"

Arisa felt like the blood left her head to sink into her feet. She was light headed and dizzy, but Hanajima held her up straight. "This can't be happening." Arisa moaned, letting Hanajima hold her. Though she was smaller, Hanajima was very strong. "This just can't happen." She didn't have time for a baby! She could barely feed herself and the old man, she couldn't pay for diapers and formula and all the other things a baby would need. "I can't have a baby. I don't know how to take care of a baby. I don't know how to hold a baby!"

"Hush!" Hanajima's hand slid over Arisa's mouth and she whispered, "You don't want everyone hearing, do you? You aren't alone. You must remember that no matter what happens, you aren't alone. You have Tohru and myself and we won't allow you to be hurt. You're frightened. That's alright. Be as scared as you need to be. I'll be brave for you."

Arisa started to shake and was glad when Hanajima hugged her. She didn't feel nearly so strong or courageous as she always had before. "What am I going to do?"

"First," Hanajima said in that no-nonsense tone of hers. "You must speak with this Souma Kureno. I will go with you."

Arisa felt sick just thinking about it.

In the City, somewhere-
Shigure-

The blaring of a car horn woke Shigure, but it quickly wished that it hadn't. Just one night sleeping out of doors and he felt like he'd been living in a garbage heap for a month.

Almost as bad. Shigure brushed his hands over the front of his gray kimono in a vain attempt to clean away some of the filth. Then again, maybe I'm just spoiled. He rolled his head to get out the aches that sleeping sitting up had given him. He'd known when he'd chosen where he would sleep that he'd ache in the morning, but he wasn't about to lay down in a back alley where people had undoubtedly been doing who-knows-what. It was a filthy place, but Shigure was certain no one would think to look for him there.

After he'd left the family the day before, Shigure had wandered across the city, just thinking. Sometime late that night he'd finally tired himself to the point of exhaustion and decided that he needed a place to stay. It wasn't hard. Shgiure's pride didn't make him choosy. He found an empty alley littered with old beer bottles, newspapers, and other bits of garbage. There was an unpleasant smell of urine and the feeling of being watched. The smell, Shigure could deal with - he'd lived through worse - but the feeling of being watched was unbearable.

Looking for the source of eyes, Shigure prowled around the alley cautiously looking here and there until he found who was watching him. He smiled, but made no move to reach out. "So…did our dear Tohru send you?" The pigeons were silent, but kept their bead-like eyes on Shigure. "Of course not. Nightingale or not, she can't have learned to do much, yet. I supposes she's safe at home sleeping." Now there was a worrying thought. "I hope Hatori had sense enough not to let the children go back to my house. Too dangerous out there for them to be alone. Shouldn't worry. Hatori's very sensible. He'll do what's best for them."

The two pigeons watched Shigure warily until he put his back against the brick wall of a building and let himself slide to the ground. It was ideal. Quiet hidden from view by three large garbage cans, Shigure felt relatively safe. Besides, even if some petty thug did want to start trouble what chance would they have against Shigure?

"I wonder if Tohru will be able to talk to other birds? It would make sense." That made Shigure laugh. "As if sense and logic have anything to do with our lives. Look at me. I'm talking to pigeons."

At that, the pigeons flew away and Shigure imagined that somehow they'd understood him and been insulted.

He slept sitting up with his knees pulled up to his chest and his head bent slightly forward. Listening to the traffic, Shigure slowly fell asleep in that garbage laden alley.

Waking up had made him appreciate his nice, warm bed like he never had before. Souma's are a soft lot, I suppose. We're all spoiled rotten. One night without a bed and I feel like an old man. Imagine Ayame sleeping outside! It was an amusing thought, but Shigure tucked it away in the back of his mind. There were more important things he had to think about, things he should have thought about before sneaking away from the family.

Staring at the graffiti decorated wall across from him, Shigure let the problems roll around in his mind.

Have to call the school, they'll be wondering about the children these past two weeks. Then there's Kureno's foundlings. Should have told Hatori more…maybe Kazuma will have found out where they belong by now. Should have reminded Ayame to be careful about that friend of his. Any friend of Count D's can't be too safe. I'll have to mail that last manuscript to Mit-chan. Tohru…she'll be put back with that horrid family of hers if I don't do something. Can't have that. There are bills to pay for the house this month, I should have turned off the gas. Tohru knows where I keep the grocery money, but I didn't tell her the combination to the safe for other expenses. Will Hatori remember? I told him once, I'm sure. That wasn't even counting all the legal matters that Akito had entrusted to Shigure. The deeds, wills, wedding certificates, birth certificates, and all other manner of legal documents were hidden and only Shigure knew where. Of all the times to give into my dog urge to bury things. They'll never find those silly things!

He pulled himself up and strode out of the alley, trying to decide how to best go about things. If he went back to the estate, then it would be even harder for him to vanish. If he saw Akito, again…

Telephone. Shigure decided, quickening his pace. It can all be done on the phone.

A short while later-

Shigure was greeted in the immaculate lobby of the Souma Financial Group building. It was only one of the many businesses owned by the Souma family, but it was the closest and, therefore, the most useful. Shigure smiled charmingly when the elevator opened and a tall, well-dressed man hurried out with a somewhat strained smile.

"Shigure-san, is anything the matter? It's not Momiji, is it? Only…I have my wife and daughter upstairs."

Shigure blinked, his smile loosing some warmth. "No. Momiji's fine. He and Hatori have turned into quite the loving family. What I need is use of your phone. It's for family business so some privacy would be appreciated."

Takano let out a sigh of relief and Shigure disliked the man even more for it. He wasn't really worried about Momiji, he was worried about what he would tell his beloved wife should she find that he had to abandon her to take care of Momiji. Coward.

"Of course, Shigure-san. Please, you can use one in my office." He extended an arm, gesturing to Shigure that he should go to the elevator. "I'm honored to have one of the Inner Circle here. Your folk don't often visit…except Momiji."

"Yes, well," Shigure smiled sweetly. "I understand he likes to come here to cry for his family." The look of horror and fear that crossed Takano's face was a reward for Shigure's cruelty. For all the years of pain he'd given Momiji, the man deserved a little fear. It wasn't hard to figure out what he was afraid of. The wrath of the Inner Circle was no small thing and Takano was terrified that one day they would seek revenge for Momiji's pain. Akito could, on a whim, take away Takano's business, good reputation, and even his wife. Momo, Momiji's little sister, would never be taken away from the family but Takano's wife, as an outsider, could easily have her memories erased and be sent away.

Takano had the good sense to wait until the elevator doors closed and they were alone before he started babbling. "Shigure-san, if this is family business…if Akito-sama sent you to speak with me about Momiji, I swear I haven't forgotten my responsibility to him! I send him monthly allowances and I make sure Hatori-sensei has everything he might need for Momiji."

"Takano-san, I'm not here about Momiji-kun." As much fun as it would be to make the man sweat a little longer. Honestly! Did he really think throwing money at Momiji would make the child feel better? If Momiji wanted something, all he had to do was ask and it would be given to him. Money meant almost nothing to him. Having a father's praise for a good report card or having his father attend parent-teacher night would have meant so much more. Well…at least Momiji had Hatori and Hatori had proven he was more than up to the task of being a parent.

Shigure congratulated himself on that successful match. One of the best things he'd ever done in his life was putting Momiji and Hatori together. It was even better now as it looked like Ayame would become a part of that family unit.

"I'm here on my own business." Shigure gave his most charming smile when Takano. The elevator doors slid open and Shigure stepped out, knowing that Takano would offer to follow him. It was etiquette in the Souma family. "I just need to contact a few people and I'm far too busy to get back to the estate. Give me just a few minutes in your office, then I'll be out of your hair." He laughed easily.

Momiji's mother was in Takano's office, just as he'd said she was. Little Momo-chan, as she frequently did, hid behind her mother when Shigure walked in, peeking at him with her big blue eyes. She looked remarkably like Momiji, but for her timid nature. Shigure walked past them, giving Momiji's mother a smile and polite nod, and went right to Takano's desk. He picked up the phone's receiver, but gave Takano a significant look before dialing.

Takano took the hint. "Come on, honey." He took his wife's arm and his daughter's hand. "Let's go get something to eat." They left quickly, leaving Shigure alone.

"Took them long enough." Shigure muttered, dialing. His first call was to the school for the children. He used the excuse of a family emergency to excuse them for the past two weeks and told them that as she'd been living with them, Tohru had gone with them during the emergency. That was the easy part. The more important phone call was to the one person Shigure could trust with what he needed to get done - Hatori.

"Moshi, moshi. How are you today?" Momiji's cheerful chirp made Shigure smile. Momiji had a way of getting almost anyone to smile.

"I'm fine, Momiji. Is Ha-san at home?"

"Ah!" Momiji cried out, excitedly. "Shigure! Everyone's wondering where you are! Are you alright? Yuki spent the night with us because Kyou was mean to him and hit him too hard. Tohru's staying at Aya's shop and I think Kyou's at the Hot Springs with Ritsu. Where are you? Kureno spent the night with that friend of Tohru's. You know. That tall girl with long bleached hair? I think he really likes her. Do you think that's alright? Is Akito going to hurt her? I like Uotoni-san."

Now that was a surprise. "I'm sure it will all work out. Uotoni-san is strong and clever. I'm sure she'll be able to handle anything the Souma family can throw at her." Or he hoped so. Hurting her would be the same as hurting Tohru and Shigure couldn't stand that. "May I speak with Ha-san?"

"Sure, let me get him. Oh! Do me a favor, Shigure?"

"If I can."

"Ha'ri been taking those pills again - the caffeine pills. He only took a couple, but I think he needs to sleep. He says he's too busy, but will you talk to him. Maybe he'll listen to you more than to me."

"I'll do my best." But it wasn't likely to work. When it came to his responsibilities Hatori knew his own mind.

"Thanks!" There was a moment of silence then a faint, "Ha'ri! Shigure's on the phone!"

Hatori must have run because he picked up the phone very quickly. "Shigure? Where are you?"

"Ah," Shigure made himself sound as cheerful as possible. "That would be telling. Now, there are a few details I wanted to talk to you about, Ha-san. I've already called the school for the children. There's nothing to worry about there. My home, the house….well, I don't need it anymore."

Hatori didn't speak for a moment. "Don't need it?"

"I'm not going back there. I know it technically belongs to the family, but it would be a shame to let it just sit there and get all dusty. My poor house would get lonely. Well, I've been thinking about it for a long time…"

"How long?"

"Ten minutes, now. I've been thinking about it for a long time and I'd like you to make sure the house gets into the right hands. Kyou won't need it as Kazuma intends to leave him everything. It's pretty well-known that Kyou won't have anything to worry about, financially speaking. Now that he's 'cured' he won't be isolated, either. It's Yuki and Tohru I worry for. I'd like the house to be put in Yuki's name. Either I've been misreading the glaringly obvious signs all this time or he'll make sure that Tohru's not put out on the street."

"I haven't got the foggiest idea what you're on about. Everyone's waiting for you to come home. Akito's waiting."

"It's going to be a long wait."

"Stop this!" Hatori said in an uncharacteristically harsh tone. "What's happened? You just disappeared after we all left the Petshop and now, when everything's starting to get back together, you won't even tell me where you are. What am I supposed to tell Akito?"

"Anything you like. I'm not going to get into some kind of heat-to-heart with you Ha-san. I know what I'm doing."

"I don't think you do, not this time. What are you thinking?"

Shigure ignored the question. It was obvious, wasn't it? "There's money for the bills in my sock drawer. Unoriginal, I know, but it was the only place I had to hide things at the time. There's also a place in the back yard, under that large rock Kyou likes to sit on, where I have some money buried. It's in a metal box, about two feet down. Just have Haru dig it up for you. It should be enough to cover any debts I may be forgetting about. As for my contracts with Mit-chan, I've told her that I'm transferring them all to you. The money is to go to the children, for emergencies. Ha-san? You're being very quiet, even for you."

"What do you expect me to say." Hatori sounded as if he were having a hard time breathing. "You sound like your dictating your last will and testament."

Shigure laughed, but supposed that maybe it wasn't all that funny. "Close. No, this is just details. Alright, that takes care of Yuki and Tohru, for the most part. You'll have to keep an eye on her. Tohru just doesn't know how to take care of herself. There are still the other children." Shigure paused and frowned. "Wait a minute. There are a lot of sirens around here." He looked out to the street and saw several police cars as well as fire trucks scream by. "Must be a fire somewhere. The children Kureno brought back to the estate. Have you seen them?"

"Not yet. I was going there today. I need to give Kyou a physical after everything that's happened to him, so it seemed convenient to check after those children at the same time. Do I get the whole story about them? I've already had a few unpleasant guesses from the rumors I've heard."

Shigure opened his mouth to say something, but realized he really didn't know anything, either. "I suggest you ask Kureno. Get a paper and pen, I'll tell you what the story's going to be."

"Give me a minute. Are you even going to tell me where you are? I have the pencil and paper. Start talking."

"First off, no. Now, as for the children. Contact the police immediately."

"Police?" Hatori sounded surprised and it was no wonder considering how much trouble the Souma's went to keep the police out of their affairs. "Where did the children come from? Are the police really necessary?"

"Yes they are necessary. As for where they came from, ask Kureno. The Souma's are going public with this one. It can't be kept under wraps, not like the other things have been. Think about it, there's too much risk. If it ever comes to light that our family had kept children hidden away at the estate it would look very bad and we would have to keep them hidden unless you plan to keep them entirely isolated for their entire lives…like Kyou would have been."

"Of course not. It just seems odd to deliberately let outsiders have information about the family."

"That's where you'll have to be careful." Shigure looked at the door to make sure it was still closed. The last thing he needed was Takano coming back before he was ready. "There are Souma's on the police force, arrange for them to handle the matter. When you call, ask for Souma Hoshi and Joben. Make sure they know to record everything - do it all legally - but don't make a big deal out of it. You don't want the newspapers getting hold of the story. Our family doesn't need that kind of publicity. Don't let Akito speak with anyone, at least not alone. You'll have to be with him. Preferably, just do the interview yourself. Nothing intimate about the family, of course. Just give them the bare facts."

"And what lies would those be?"

"Don't be sarcastic. It doesn't suit you. Here's the story: It was on the news, all that stuff about the slaughter at that warehouse place. You ask Kureno, but I think you'll find that that's where the children came from. Kureno rescued them. The story is that Kureno was chasing after a run away from the family, that'll be Kyou if anyone asks. While chasing him, Kureno thought Kyou went into the warehouse and went after him. He found the children there and shot to protect them from those guards that were found. I think the report said that four men and a woman were shot."

"There will be issues about his gun."

"He has a license, I bought it myself. There won't be any charges brought against him as he was protecting children. The family can spin a good light on that. As for why we didn't contact police before now, we were afraid for the safety of the children and our family. I don't want any press, Ha-san. It's too much of a risk. Whoever was after the children will be very eager to get them back and I have the feeling that they'll go right through our family to get at them. We tell the police to keep out of legal trouble down the road, but keep the press away from the story. Do anything you have to do to keep this quiet."

"I don't like this."

"That's because you're sensible. You'll have to tell Kureno and Kyou what to say when the police want to interview them. Make sure he keeps to the story about chasing after a runaway. It's basically the truth, anyway. Don't make up anything too elaborate, the best lies are mostly truth."

"This would be a lot easier if you'd just come home and tell me face-to-face."

Shigure leaned his head on his hand with his elbow on the desk. "I'm not coming home. I'm afraid I just don't deserve to. Remember, you must keep to the same story."

"What do you mean, you're not coming home?"

"There's nothing to worry about. Everything will work out fine."

"Shigure…!"

"How is Akito?"

There was a tired, resigned sigh from Hatori. "He insists that he's getting better. It will take days to see how well this all works out. He did allow Kureno to spend the night with a young lady. One of Honda-san's friends, I believe. I suppose that's a good sign, but he still seems confused."

"Yes. Momiji said something about all that. Good luck to him."

"Akito's waiting for you."

"He's just wasting his time.Good-bye." Shigure hung up the phone and hoped that Hatori would take his advice about what to do with the children. It wasn't until after he'd left the building and started wandering aimlessly down the street that he realized he'd forgotten to tell Hatori to get some sleep instead of using the caffeine pills.

Yuki's Secret Base-
Michael-

It was not well-known to humans, but plants were just as capable of thought as any other creature.

Michael, one of Yuki's beloved strawberry plants, had seen it all. He was the one who'd led Count D to the Souma family when the young Kami had appeared in the forest.

"They need help." Count D had told the hesitant plants. "A good deal of help if they're to survive. I know where they are, it wasn't hard to find. I just want some information about them."

Michael had been more than happy to give Count D what he wanted and even happier when Count D had invited him to go along to see what would happen to the Souma's - Yuki in particular.

It was Michael who'd shown Count D that Kyou would not be found at the Souma estate, but at the lonely house in the forest. He had watched from behind a half-closed door at the Petshop when Kyou took off the hated black and white bracelet and let himself turn into the beast he feared. He'd watched when Count D's grandfather had brought gentle Tohru back and placed her, still sleeping, in the room used by the kitsune, Ten-chan. He'd watched while Yuki and Tohru sat with Kyou while the cocoon formed around his immature body and he'd watched when Kyou had broken free. He'd watched when the Zodiac family awed at their reborn cat and when Kyou had kissed Akito, dragging Akito back to life with his new power.

Michael was honest enough with himself to admit he really didn't understand much of what was happening except that Count D had promised him it would make Yuki happier in the end. Anything that made Yuki happy was alright with Michael, that was why he'd asked to help. He wanted to see Yuki smile. It was too common to see Yuki cry, too often did Yuki spend hours at the garden moodily yanking weeds away from his precious vegetables and the few flowers he kept. Yuki deserved happiness and it was only in this past year that he had seen even a few traces of happiness in Yuki's face.

He knew this because he was one of the few privileged to know Yuki for more than just a single season. Strawberries came back year after year and so Michael had known Yuki since Yuki had started the garden. How shocked he, and everyone else at the garden, had been when Yuki had brought Tohru to them in the middle of that storm. Sweet Tohru who'd helped hold the tarp over the garden to save them all from the downpour and the wind. Yuki had started to improve after that and now, this could only make things better.

With his hand clenched tightly on the doorway and carefully quiet, Michael smiled. He could sleep for the winter happily, now.

Michael had heard much about Akito from Yuki in the past few years. He couldn't say that it pleased him to have one healed who had done such harm to Yuki. More than once, Yuki had run stumbling through the forest in tears only to let himself fall once he'd reached the garden. Yuki would lay in the grass and weep, moaning out his troubles and the latest cruelty of the head of his family to the patient, silent plants in his garden.

"It's not fair." Yuki would sob with his face buried in his hands as if he were ashamed to show such emotion even to his plants. "It's not fair. I wish I hadn't been born a Souma! Stupid brother! Stupid cat! Stupid pervert dog! Stupid…everyone. Stupid me."

They'd all watched Yuki, unable to help or comfort in anyway, until his cries had eased and he pushed himself up with puffy, red eyes and little spots of red decorating his normally pale face. He rubbed his swollen eyes with the backs of his hands and sniffed loudly before straining to smile and set about weeding the garden. Even if they'd been able to express their concerns for him, what could they say that he didn't already know? His family was eating his alive…they were no good for a sweet soul like Yuki…he had to get away…No. Yuki knew all that already.

Was the infamous Akito even worth saving? He should have been left to die, surely. No. That was an unkind thought. Yuki needed Akito and that was enough of a reason to save him.

Michael watched from where he sat in the garden, waiting. Count D promised Yuki would leave the petshop unharmed so everyone expected him back with their eyes on the path that Yuki habitually took to reach the garden.

"When's he coming?" One of Yuki's daisies asked. "He will come, won't he? Two weeks! He's never been gone so long!"

"He'll come." The sensible beans said without a bit of worry in her voice. "He always comes. He needs us."

They all heard the sound at the same time, a subtle step, slow and at ease. The plants of Yuki's garden all focused on the sound. It was rather like Yuki's slow pace, but not the same. There was some little difference in the steps that told them all it was not Yuki who was coming down the path.

Instead, there was a woman with a harsh expression and a body draped over one shoulder. The dead man - all creatures instinctively know what is alive and what is dead - had been dead for quite some time, but the woman carried him as though he was precious. It wasn't an easy burden to bear, that much was obvious. Her back was bent with his weight and her breathing was labored. Her skin shone with sweat and her eyes had a particular tightness that came from weariness. Most amazing of all, she was a stranger.

Though the old trees told stories of strangers, the plants knew only Yuki and a very few of his companions. To see such a creature frightened them. It frightened them even more when she stopped near them. She looked around and stepped off the path, going closer and closer to where Yuki had secreted his garden. Weaving her way around the trees and through low brush, she found the clearing and set down her burden.

Everyone was silent while the woman inspected the dead man.

"Too many secrets, Yasha." It was the first thing they'd heard her say, though none of them could understand why she would speak to the dead. "Too much…can't just leave you." Her hands went to his shirt and she began to unbuttoned it carefully, almost recently, until his pale chest was bared. "I have to get rid of it. I'm sorry."

From where he sat Michael couldn't see what it was about the man's chest that fascinated the woman, but whatever it was, it must have been important. She put the palm of her hand on his chest and froze. It seemed that she didn't breathe for a moment. Then, with a little shake, the woman blinked and her face hardened. From a pocket she drew a small knife and unfolded the blade. It was quick work to slice at the dead man's chest. She cut a simple square of skin and lifted it away from his chest with tender fingers and only when she held it up to observe it herself did Michael see what she'd cut from his skin.

A black scorpion tattoo.

"Can't leave it behind." The woman muttered, repeating herself a strange mantra. "No evidence. No evidence." But her hands were shaking as she held the square of skin. The knife dropped from her fingers to lay forgotten on the ground between her knees.

She carefully folded the skin into half, then in half again until she had a tidy square and she set it on the ground. A match was enough to set fire to the skin and the woman watched while it smoked and slowly turned black. She used seven matches to burn the entire bundle of skin to ash, but when it was finished, she didn't move to stand. Instead, she began to speak to the body, again.

"I'll finish it for us. Missions must always be completed. Sir expects it. Must find the subjects. You were always more thoughtful than I. Your investigates were invaluable. The store was owned by a family called Souma. The woman was not a Souma. I know whom she came to Japan with and I will find them. But they're newcomers to Japan. It's unlikely that they have a place to hide the subjects. The Souma family is an old family. They've lived on the same land for many generations - easy to find. I'll start there." She buttoned his shirt again and smoothed it down. "I'll come back to you, Yasha. After the mission is completed, I'll come back to you." It seemed to take a lot of effort for her to rise to her feet again, but she did it and walked away from the garden without a backwards glance.

"She isn't going to leave that thing here, is she?" One of the daisies demanded in disgust. "Ugg! At least the animals will be around soon to clean it up."

"Hush!" Michael told her, straining to see where the woman started walking on the path. "Yuki lives down that way, right where she's going. If she's getting involved with the Souma's, Yuki might be in danger."

"Oh, what do you know?" The daisy gestured to the body the woman had left behind. "Maybe that's how all humans act. It might be the way they treat their dead."

"No. I don't think so. I don't think this is normal at all." But he could be wrong. "What was that about subjects?"

"There's nothing we can do about it, no matter what it means."

Michael scowled. "I will NOT just sit here if I think something bad will happen to Yuki!"

"You're old!" Daisy protested. "You can't leave again. It's the end of summer. You'll never survive away from the garden."

Did she think he was a fool? Of course he knew that. In truth, he risked a lot simply by helping Count D to find the Souma's in the first place. Why Count D had singled him out of all the living creatures escaped Michael, but it did give him a good idea. Count D had seemed terribly interested in the Souma family. It was possible that if there was trouble, he would help.

Umi-

She felt like she should have just laid down and fallen asleep. Missions were always hard, it was expected. If just anyone could do it, Sir wouldn't need his Black Scorpions. More importantly than Sir, was Yasha. Yasha had died in the execution of this mission so what right did Umi have to simply give up? No. She had to keep going and as she made her way down the meandering, peaceful path she knew that it would take her right to where she needed to be - the Souma's.

There were other, more desirable leads, but this was the one she had. For instance, Jill-san - the woman Umi had shot - was reported to have come to Japan with a friend and then met up with other friends. Research on Jill-san and surveillance cameras from the airport had proven as much. If Umi could find those friends then she was certain she'd have better prospects. But she didn't. For whatever reason the person she'd traveled with, Leon Orcot, couldn't be found. He was staying somewhere, he had to be, but wherever it was that he was staying, Umi couldn't find.

The forest pathway let out at the yard of a large house that seemed out of place. It was grand looking, but surely such a house didn't belong out in the middle of nowhere. There was no road leading to or from the house, just another small path that was big enough for perhaps one car to use at a time. There weren't even any ruts in the path so if a car had ever been to the house, it surely must have been a long while ago.

Umi examined the inside and outside of the house before she pulled her cell phone from her pocket and dialed the only phone number she knew. Indihar answered on the first ring. "Report."

"I've found a house, but it does not seem like anything you described to me. I think I may be in the wrong area." Yasha had always been better at that sort of thing. "I've found a house without any other houses in sight. Didn't you say the Souma estate was like a small town?"

"Yes, but that's only the main estate. The main estate is surrounded by a high wall to, presumably, keep out intruders. You are in part of the forest that surrounds the main estate. Keep heading West."

"Nothing found at the mystery house." Umi made certain to keep Indihar informed about what was going on during the mission. She was a great source of information. "Why it didn't show up on your computer search, I don't know. It's very big."

"That's unimportant. Move onto the main estate. My research says that they are a reclusive, quiet people. It is unlikely that you'll be able to get in through the main gates. It seems that someone tried to murder the head of the family a short while ago and they've stepped up security. Only family are allowed in. The estate seems big enough to hold the subjects. Just find the subjects, then report back."

"Yes, Indihar."

Later-

The wall was easily found. Not only was there no effort made to hide it, but it looked as if they kept the area around the outside of the wall trimmed back. There were no overly large trees - which would have been useful for climbing - and no small bushes that people could hide in. As Umi inspected the wall, walking down a fair distance of it on a well-worn path and that the Souma's must have guards who regularly patrolled. They valued their privacy which most likely meant that they had something to hide.

Umi managed to get over the wall and into the main estate and once she'd done that she realized what Indihar had been talking about. It did look like a small town. Umi kept a low profile, but it was inevitable that some people saw her. The ones who did didn't seem to take any notice, though. There were some children, but none of them appeared to be acting the way Umi thought the subjects should act. They were too carefree.

"You look lost."

What Umi hadn't been expecting was to be approached by one of the Souma's so directly. She would have expected it from an adult, but not the little girl with impossible amber eyes who looked shyly up at Umi. "Who are you?" It was possible that the little girl was one of the subjects, but if she were she should have been more cautious about whom she spoke to.

The little girl blinked and looked surprised. "You…you don't know me? Are you new around here?"

"Fairly."

"Can I help you find someone?"

It was an interesting offer. "Other children. Have there been strange children brought to this place?"

If the question alarmed the girl she didn't show it at all. "I don't think so. I heard that…" She stopped suddenly and bit on her bottom lip. "Are you a Souma? I haven't seen you around before. I'm sure I haven't."

"I'm just visiting. Is there someone in charge I can speak to?" Perhaps speaking to the head of the family would bring more results. A few delicate questions and she would know whether or not the subjects were at the estate or if she should start hunting out the friends Jill-san had traveled with. Though no trace of them could be found at the moment, it was clear from the airport's surveillance videos that the visitors were also connected with the Souma family. The two Souma's who'd met Jill-san and her friends had already been identified by Indihar's computers as Souma Hatori and Souma Ayame. It couldn't be coincidence.

The question only made the little girl more nervous and she stepped back a bit from Umi. "Ah…I'm not…sure. You don't know who's in charge? I suppose…I suppose Hatori-ojisan. He's busy right now. You should come back later."

"Thank you." She was certain that Indihar had said that the head of the family was named Akito. She walked away from the nervous little girl and was satisfied. Hatori-san was one of the friends Jill-san had met at the airport, according to Indihar.Umi knew she'd done or said something to arouse the little girl's suspicions. She'd hate to have to kill the girl. As she was walking away, a boy passed Umi and called out,

"Kisa! Where have you been? Your mother's looking for you and you know how nervous she gets."

"Sorry, Hiro. There was this woman…"

"Never mind that. Come on. Have you decided about…you know?"

After that, their voices faded away, but Umi didn't care. They weren't important. Obviously Soumas and not the missing subjects. She wandered the estate for a while until she saw a prominent house near the center of the estate. It seemed that the estate was divided into three parts. There was the forest that surrounded most of it, then the main estate that was surrounded by the high wall, and then another wall at the center of the estate that contained only a dozen or so houses. That area, too, was guarded but it was simple enough to get in.

"State your business." One of the guards said, lazily. It was clear that she didn't care much for her job.

"I'm here to see Hatori-san." If Hatori-san was in a position of power, as the young girl had insinuated, then he would be the one to see.

It was apparently the right name to drop. The guard looked Umi up and down with a little frown. "You don't look ill. Well, you'd best go in, anyway."

Again, as Umi walked past the guards, she overheard the two of them talking just as she had the children.

"Are you sure you should have let her in so easily? Things are still kind of sensitive."

"Oh! That's over by now. Kureno-san took care of the whole thing. We're only still doing this because Akito-sama is paranoid." She paused. "Don't repeat that. Akito-sama doesn't take criticism well, I've heard. Besides all that, I won't have the ice-man-sensei reaming me out because I wouldn't let a patient in to see him."

"She might not have been a patient."

The woman laughed. "Who else would go see Hatori-san? A lover? If so, she's in for a surprise. Ayame-san spent the whole night there. What do YOU think they were doing? Playing shogi?"

"You're kidding!"

"You're out of date on the gossip."

Their voices faded and Umi kept walking until she found a house marked clearly with a sign :HATORI SENSEI

Of course she didn't go straight in. That would have been a mistake. Obviously, the man was a doctor and while he was respected by the family he was not the head. She crept close to the house and began a slow, seemingly casual walk around it. There was nothing unusual except a window that let Umi see a kitchen where two teenage boys were eating. It would have been a perfectly normal scene except one of them was completely naked. A little further along there was another window with far more interesting information was provided.

"Not yet. I was going there today. I need to give Kyou a physical after everything that's happened to him, so it seemed convenient to check after those children at the same time. Do I get the whole story about them? I've already had a few unpleasant guesses from the rumors I've heard." The speaker was likely Hatori-sensei as he spoke of examinations. The mention of children caught Umi's interest so she squatted down under the window and listened. "Give me a minute. Are you even going to tell me where you are? I have it. Start talking. Police? Where did the children come from? Are the police really necessary? Of course not. It just seems odd to deliberately let outsiders have information about the family. And what lies would those be? There will be issues about his gun. I don't like this."

Umi listened, filing all the information away. Hatori-sensei didn't sound at all happy. He left the house with a word to the teenagers to keep out of trouble and, "For goodness sakes, Haru, at least put a towel on. Momiji, don't look at me like that. I'll sleep when I'm done working. If Akito needs anything call me at the Souma Hot Springs." He walked out of the front door wearing a traditional doctor's white coat and black bag in hand.

Umi followed at a discrete distance but had to stop when he got into a car and drove away. No matter. She knew where he was headed and it was only a matter of time before she found a cab that knew the way to the Souma Hot Springs.

The Souma Hot Springs-

The Souma Hot Springs was, if anything, more lavish than the estate. There were bright gardens and idyllic scenery everywhere. The resort building was old, but immaculately maintained, and everywhere that Umi looked there were children. They weren't dressed in utilitarian gray uniforms given out in the pits, but in blue jeans, bright t-shirts, and sneakers. She had no doubts that they were the subjects she was looking for. They kept in small groups, just as they would have done in the Pits. It was likely that they were the same social groups they'd had in the Pits. There were little hints, too. The dead expressions worn by the older children; the lingering fear in the eyes of the little ones; and…Umi's suspicions were confirmed when one boy walked out of the resort carrying his shirt in one hand. Before he pulled the shirt back on the black scorpion on his chest was clearly visible.

The cell phone was in her hand and ringing before she could think. "I've found them."

Indihar's voice was cool on the other end. "Location?"

"Souma Hot Springs. It's on their property, but separated from the main estate."

"Give me an exact location. Address. Description of security arrangements."

Umi felt something inside herself painfully clench as she watched the children. The sun on their pale faces…dressed in real clothes…there was one laughing at something another child said before clamping a hand over her mouth to stifle the laughter. What if…what if long ago it had been Umi and Yasha who'd been taken away from the Pit? If her life had been more than walking out onto the bare sands of the arena to kill for the pleasure of cigar smoking old men and hard faced women what would she be like? Yasha would be alive. Maybe she would have gotten married and had children of her own.

"Umi? Answer me."

"I'm here. Just…thinking."

"Thinking?"

"I saw one of them laughing. I can't remember laughing until I was teamed up with Yasha - never laughed in the Pit. Never once." There was a sharp pain at the back of her neck then…nothing.

Omi-

Omi had seen the woman skulking around the edges of the garden. It wasn't hard to figure out that she was a threat. No one who was a friend of Kureno-Sir or Kazuma-Sir would have to sneak around. If she wasn't a friend, then she was an enemy.

Omi, as well as the other's marked by the Black Scorpion, had stolen the long carving knives from the kitchen pantry on their first night at the resort. It was using that knife, carried closely at his side except for the times when he knew the disapproving Kazuma-Sir or the frantic woman who ran the resort might be around, that he killed the enemy.

She was watching while the stern man who arrived in his black car went into the resort to speak with Kazuma-Sir then as Kazuma-Sir had called the children in one-by-one to see the man. Omi hadn't been called yet and decided to take care of the minor problem before she caused difficulties.

She was speaking into a phone when Omi managed to sneak up behind her. He knew that she must have been distracted by something she saw as she watched the children or she should have heard him. One quick thrust of the knife was all that was need to kill her. He rammed the knife into the back of her neck, where the neck met the base of the skull, and then up into her brain. There was a spurt of blood, but no cry of pain, before she fell lifelessly to the ground.

Causing pain was unnecessary torture and Omi didn't like cruelty. He always killed as quickly and efficiently as possible. She was old, he thought. Gray hairs threaded through her hair and tiny wrinkles were spreading out from the corners of her eyes and mouth. Too old for work. She lived a long time. In fact, Omi had never dreamed to live to be as old as the woman he'd just killed.

Pulling the bloody knife from her skull, Omi gave it a quick wipe on the grass then finished the job on the woman's blouse. Why upset anyone by carrying a bloody knife around? As he cleaned the knife, he saw that the woman had dropped a cell phone and picked it up. He heard a faint voice on the other end,

"Do you hear me? Respond? Tell me the location of the Souma Hot Springs?"

With a sinking feeling, Omi pressed a button to disconnect the phone. They're looking for us. It's all over now. Just a matter of time. Pity…I was starting to like the sun.

"Omi? Omi!" It was Kazuma-Sir who called. Kazuma-Sir stood in the middle of the large yard he'd asked the children to play in and was looking around while he called out. Omi stood up straight to let the man see him. "Ah, there you are." He smiled kindly and beckoned. "Come here a moment, won't you? Our doctor wants to take a look at you. Don't look so grim. I know you've been through this already with the other doctor, but Hatori-sensei is the best and he really is very kind."

"Yes, sir." Omi put the cell phone in the pocket of his jeans and dropped the carving knife on the ground where he could retrieve it when Kazuma-Sir wasn't watching. There was no point in upsetting someone who had been so kind to them. He walked out of the bushes debating with himself whether or not he should tell Kazuma-Sir about the corpse he'd left there.

To be continued…