"Do you want me to drive you to the airport?" Rio asked his he stood outside the bathroom. He looked at his sister as she leaned on the counter with her head on her arms.

"Yeah, sure," she answered still groggy from just waking up. "Where's the aspirin? I couldn't find it. My head feels like something is buzzing inside it," she groaned. She got out of her brother's way as he came in to look through the medicine cabinet. He found the bottle of aspirin in front of all the other bottles of medicine and handed it to Aomi.

"Did you even look?" He asked a little irritated that she hadn't even bothered to look herself.

"I did," she growled, snatching the bottle from him. She fumbled with the lid but was unable to open it. She shoved it back to her brother. "Open it!" She commanded.

"Yes, your highness," he told her taking the bottle back from her to open it.

"Get out," she said as she took the opened bottle back and pushed him out of the bathroom so she could finally get ready.

"You shouldn't have been out so late when you knew you had an early flight to catch," Rio pointed out as Aomi pushed him. Aomi responded by slamming the door shut.

"You two still fight like you're kids," Dark commented.

"Shut up," Rio said without any feeling. "She's been acting weird lately."

"I'd like to think I wore her out with that hot and wild sex we had last night," Dark joked.

"Dark! I'm serious," Rio grumbled.

"So am I," Dark retorted.

"Aomi's usually a morning person no matter what, but she missed work the other day and now..."

"Hey, Rio! Will you be able to give me a ride to the airport?" Aomi asked poking her head out of the bathroom, cutting Rio off. Rio just stared at her disbelieving that she would be even asking when he had just told her he would.

"I just said I would a minute ago," he said finally able to talk.

"You did?" She asked looking at him in disbelief. "I don't remember that."

"Yeah," was all Rio was able to get out. See, I told you something's wrong, he told Dark.

"I hate agreeing with you, but I did notice something strange about her last night," Dark said whispering.

You don't have to whisper, she can't hear you, Rio told Dark exasperated.

"Hmm. That's strange. Well, I'll be ready in about an hour," Aomi said interrupting the conversation between Dark and Rio that she couldn't hear.

"Yeah, sure. No problem," Rio told her.

"Thanks," Aomi smiled and went back into the bathroom.

"I wouldn't worry about it," Dark decided. "She was probably still half asleep."

"Maybe," Rio agreed half-heartedly.


Eden set the book aside he had been flipping through in frustration. Removing his reading glasses he rubbed his eyes. He had been combing through his family's library looking for something that could tell him more about the Artist's Muse. It was beginning to seem like the piece did not exist. But he knew it had too. The artist, who had created it, wrote about it in his journal. But the journal had been badly damaged during the Cultural Reformation. All that could be found in the journal about the piece was that it was made for the artist's lover and that it was broken after a quarrel between the two. The artist considered the woman his muse who had inspired him to create his greatest works. The woman's name was, Vitoria. And that was the name Eden saw inscribed on Aomi's bracelet in Latin. He was sure the bracelet was the Artist's Muse. But the journal said it was broken and the bracelet looked fine. It could be that the bracelet was repaired or it has a piece missing, Eden thought.

As his thoughts drifted away from the Artist's Muse, he began to think of Aomi. He tried calling her after that night but she hadn't returned his calls. He sighed thinking how much he wanted to see her again. He had never felt this way about anyone before. No woman had ever sent his pulse racing or occupied his thoughts as Aomi did. It didn't even dawn on him that she was Aomi Niwa, Rio's sister, until he had left the gallery after their first meeting. The longer she ignored him, the more it made him want to see her again. It also made him worry too about the bracelet. He didn't what the bracelet could be capable of if it was worn if it was capable of anything. But Eden knew that anything made by a Hikari had to be treated with caution.

"So, Eden's in love," a voice from within interrupted into Eden's thoughts.

Eden stiffened at the all too familiar voice. He had been successful at keeping Krad subdued, but once in a while Krad would break through to throw an insult or two at Eden. Eden was used to the insults. He usually ignored them. But this time was different. Eden knew the only way to keep Krad in was to keep himself emotionally detached from people. And his feelings for Aomi had changed that along with his recent encounter with his mother. He could feel the wall he had built up around Krad grow weaker and he knew it wouldn't take Krad long to notice and take advantage of it.

"Krad, don't," Eden said in a strained voice.

"Don't be so afraid of me, Eden," Krad soothed. "I just want to help."

"Yeah, help put me in my grave," Eden shot back.

"I would never do that to my tamer," Krad said sounding hurt. "You know, I can get her for you."

"No!" Eden shouted pounding the table with his fist. He had to get control of his emotions. He could feel Krad feeding off of them. And Krad knew Eden would react this way. It was Krad's way of wearing Eden down.

"So how is my friend the Artist's Muse?" Krad asked switching focus suddenly.

"What do you know of it?" Eden asked suspiciously but yet curious if Krad could tell him something about it.

"You can't get something for nothing Eden," Krad answered laughing lightly. "Just remember, I'll be here when you need me. And you will when it comes to the Artist's Muse." And that was all from Krad as Eden felt his presence slowly fade away. Eden wanted to know what Krad knew about the Artist's Muse, but he was afraid to let Krad experience any more freedom. He tried calling Aomi again.

"Hello," he heard her answer and sighed in relief at finally able to get a hold of her.

"Aomi, it's me Eden."

"Oh, hi! How are you?" He noted she didn't sound excited or upset to hear from him. More like nervous and unsure. But he didn't worry about that. There was something else he had to find out.

"Aomi, I need to talk to you about something. Can we meet somewhere?" He asked, bypassing all pleasantries and getting to the point.

"I'm sorry I can't now. I'm at the airport and my flights getting ready to board."

"When do you get back?" Eden asked getting nervous that if he didn't find out about that bracelet that maybe something unpleasant might happen.

"I'll be back tomorrow morning."

"What time? I can pick you up from the airport." He grabbed a notepad and pen to write down the details.

"Uh, sure. Thanks. My return flight comes in at 1 pm."

After writing down a few more details she gave him, he asked, "Aomi, about that bracelet you got?"

"What? You're breaking up..."

"The bracelet," he said trying again. "Did you wear it yet?"

"I still can't..." And he lost her phone signal.

Eden tried calling again but all he got was her voice mail.