Reino:

From the moment he was born, they had spoken to him, taught him and assisted in his survival. By the time his parents had been murdered, in his second year of life, the ancestors hid him and guided him to a temple of others like him. For many years they trained him, cared for him and taught him their ways. He learned to appease the ancestors, drive out malicious spirits and charm what others considered demons.

On the day that Grand High Mistress decided to expand into the Outer realms, the temple that he had called home had been invaded and smashed to rubble. Those bitches didn't care that his kind could aid in their conquest, they wanted the land and the men as slaves. Reino had barely escaped. They had thought that he was too wounded and frail to survive the journey back. Had it not been for his own parents possession of a pair of large tigers, he would have never made it to the little cottage near the lake of his female savior while her strange little friend was visiting.

Are you the one they call Dark One? The large, striped female cat asked.

Kyoko nodded sharply. "I am and who are you?"

We are the kin of this boy. We were told you can protect him. The male tiger told her as he lay his son in front of the pair of young women.

Kyoko sighed. She really wanted to help, but if he didn't have any abilities, her hands would be tied. "I... I'm not sure what I can do."

He can talk to the ancestors... Um... She looked up at her. I'm not sure if this means anything, but he's always been able to control the demons of others and his own. He learned very young. He can also cleanse away evil. Is there anything you can do to help us protect him?

Kyoko looked at Chiori and then at the male tiger. "Take him in. He looks injured."

The female sighed in relief. Thank you. Thank you Dark One. It means a lot to us.

Kyoko smiled softly. "If I cannot find a place for him, we will make a place for him. It seems as though what he is able to do is very similar to what Mistress Summoner Chiori can do."

We must go Dark One. Our time with our son has come to an end sooner than we would have liked. Please tell him that we'll watch over him from afar. They told her and almost immediately the eyes of the pair of tigers regained their natural look.

"Thank you for helping them Great Ones. It was very noble of you." Kyoko told the tigers.

The male smiled at her. I was the least we could do. They sheltered us as cubs. If not for his family, we would have died long ago.

Please care for him. He is very precious to us and he has been injured in many ways. Others like you... no... Similar, but not like... took everything and everyone from him. They destroyed his home and slaughtered his protectors. They left him behind to die. The tigress told Kyoko with sadness in her eyes and heart.

Kyoko nodded to her. "I will care for him and find him a home where he will be safe. The female caring for him at the moment, is very rare... like him." Kyoko explained about Chiori.

The tigress smirked a little and nodded. A potential mate, perhaps? She glanced at her mate. We must go now.

Kyoko waved as the pair left their human charge in her hands.

"Ugh! I can't stand this!" Chiori stormed into Kyoko's little cottage in a huff after sunset.

Kyoko looked up in curiosity. It was one of the many nights that Sho and Aki decided to sneak away and Kyoko just couldn't bring herself to care anymore. It was actually quite relaxing, as long as they kept it away from her. However, if her suspicions were correct and they ever chose to betray her, that would be a different story. "What brings you here Chiori?" She asked as she pulled out some tea to prepare.

"He has full control of my demons... and... and he keeps watching me! It's creeping me out. He's always so quiet and following me as if her were a stray house cat! I don't know what to do!" She sat roughly at the table.

"Hmm, perhaps talk to him? Ask him why? From what I was told, he spent almost his entire life around men. He grew up in a temple located in the Outer Realms. Perhaps a female that's similar to him is something of a novelty." Kyoko sat and nodded her head. "Ah yes... You should talk to him, learn more about him. You two may have much in common..." Kyoko advised.

"B-But I don't need a servant!" Chiori protested.

Kyoko shook her head. "Chiori! He's not a servant and he never was. He was a man that has lived with freedom all of his known life. At least more freedom than the men that we have encountered. The women that he has know, tried to kill him and enslaved and murdered those close to them. Perhaps he is wondering when you will do the same..." Kyoko patted her hand from across the table and slid her tea to her. "You can be the one that shows him that we are not like them. You can teach him we don't all see men as disposable assets."

Chiori stared at her over her mug as she sipped in thought. "I suppose you're right. I never thought of it that way." She sighed deeply. "Sometimes I forget the way things are outside of the tribe. I hate it so much that I even avoid the marketplace. It's repulsive. Mother and I have started to grow more of our own food and trap our own meat because of it and she hasn't hunted since Father died, years ago." She chuckled at the memories. "You know why we came here."

Kyoko nodded. "I know... I know your mother doesn't possess the gifts you do, but I'm not sure why she chose to stay. My own mother couldn't train me properly and didn't have the connections or assets to do so. So, she gave me to someone else to worry about. Most mothers in that situation usually do it that way."

Chiori sighed. "My parents came here because they actually loved each other. He was banished from his original tribe because of her and his tribal markings were removed. We discovered, after he died, that the members of his tribe were slaughtered just after I was born. It was when there were no laws protecting magic users yet and a summoner tribe was very rare. Rare and I suppose, dangerous to the Grand High Mistress at the time... I doubt they would have ever done her bidding." She pondered absently then sighed again. "I suppose I could get to know him a little better... at least try to be friends. It would be nice to have someone around that I can talk to about things."

Kyoko nodded in agreement. "That would be nice." I can talk to Spirit and Nightfang, but it's just not the same... She allowed a lonely smile to cross her lips. "Well, enough of that." She stood cheerily and plastered on her best smile. "I have a few things for your mother." She grabbed a spare basket and began filling it with fresh loaves of bread, dried fruits and haunch of venison she had tied and wrapped in burlap. "This one is well seasoned and still a little frozen from the cellar. It should be ready to roast by morning and for the three of you, it should last a few days."

Chiori gasped. "Kyoko! You really don't need to do that." She exclaimed as Kyoko shoved the basket into her hands.

Kyoko shook her head. "If I don't, it will just go to waste." She giggled. "It's not like my two useless helpers spend any time here anyway."

Chiori winced a little. She glanced at her. "You do know they've been seen at the tavern together, right?"

Kyoko waved it off. "I know... I'm just waiting until they return next to have a discussion. I have a few suspicions and I would like an explanation concerning some very hard to get, missing, potion ingredients. I'm just hoping that they were misplaced." She sighed defeatedly. "But... I'm not going to get my hopes up too far."

Chiori glanced up at her from the basket. "Would you like for me to let them know you're looking for them?"

Kyoko smirked. "No... I'm sure they will end up back here in a couple of days. They aren't the type to sleep in the woods. Spirit and Nightfang scare the hell out of them." She laughed a little.

Chiori patted her arm to comfort her. "Let me know if you need my assistance."

Kyoko shook her head. "You worry about Reino and take care of yourself."

Chiori nodded and bid her goodbye.

"Besides, I really won't need to worry much about those two if I'm right." Kyoko groused a little.

"Why do you keep following me like that?" Chiori tried to be understanding and not snap at the violet-eyed young man.

He smiled softly. "You're different... hmm, I guess like me. You don't have the training, but you do have the raw power." He told her in a thought filled tone. "You see the dead... Do you not?"

She nodded, curiously wondering where this conversation was going to go. "I see those that have passed on."

He shook his head. "No... they have not yet passed on. Most are discontent and would like to leave a message, others would like to cause trouble and others still, are not like anything that the non-gifted can possibly imagine. You've seen them hiding just out of sight, correct?"

Chiori gave him a shiver and a stiff nod. "I have."

He nodded. "The monks trained me to cleanse them. I also learned to summon them and dismiss them. If you like, I could pass on that knowledge." He offered.

"I-I'm not sure. They do scare me a little." She confessed. "Sometimes they try to reach me."

"All the more reason you should learn. They should never be allowed to touch you without permission. It makes them bold and gives them the power they need over you... If you learn, then you control them, not the other way." He smiled and nodded to her. "Tomorrow I shall begin your training." He gently stroked her cheek and smiled again, then left to sleep in his room.

"Hey! I never said yes!" She protested.

"You have no choice. It will keep you safe and give me peace of mind." He called back to her just before shutting his door to prevent a protest or argument from her.

She groaned and her mother giggled. "I think he likes you." Her mother teased. "Your father was once like that to me when he was worried about my safety." She told her remembering her fondest memories.

Chiori sighed. "First Kyoko and now you. I would have hoped you would have put up a little resistance, Mother." She groused.

"I have no idea what you're speaking of Darling Daughter." She winked at her and left for bed.