Warning: Please note that the last part of this story when it gets to Ren/Kuon is can be very touchy subject as it is a major case of sexual child abuse. In short, this is the warning ahead of time.

-Beginnings: Part 2-

Kyoko sighed her fingers were sore, but she had to admit she was improving. In fact, her teachers were very surprised by how quickly she seemed to pick up not only the flute but the koto as well. Not that it mattered much when all you had to do in this place was to cook, read or watch romance… lots of romance books and movies. She was starting to believe that Lory did not own any books unless there was a romance within it. The same could be said about his movie collection and games. While once a genre she delighted in, she had discovered that now it was something she no longer enjoyed. It just made her bitter inside.

Maria had some other books, more about the dark arts than anything else. Kyoko had found that interesting but she had quickly read through all those books a few times before her lessons had even begun. It seemed that Lory wasn't a big fan of his granddaughter's hobby where Kyoko was a fan, to a point anyway. There were a few things that she had informed Maria she was never to try no matter what. The girl had quickly agreed to listen to her on that matter.

"Kyoko are you ready?" she lifted her head up to see Keiji standing there.

"More or less… what are we doing today?" she was rubbing her fingertips.

Keiji stared at her defeated look, he knew she was dreading ballet, which she was supposed to be doing. Each time the lesson ended she would have this look of relief. It was when they were to pick up with ballet again that he noted the depression entering her eyes. It wasn't hard for Keiji to understand that she was only doing this because that's what Lory wanted her to learn. He was happy to teach her what she desired but it was her responsibility to tell Lory she did not want to learn ballet. However, Kyoko felt that she couldn't, when she was in Lory's care.

"At least it's not really the ballet," he said kneeling down to look at her.

"True…." she spoke softly. While Keiji had slipped in some other types of dance styles with her lessons in ballet she was having a hard time, "but some of those dances" she started to fidget and he sighed heavily as she rose from her kneeling position and took care of the koto.

"Perhaps you can work with Cody today? I don't actually enjoy tap dancing."

"But…" she bit her lower lip and sighed heavily "Tomorrow I'm supposed to practice with him. Today…" He patted her on the head. He would never admit it but he was growing to actually care about this girl.

"It's okay. I know you actually like to do dancesport, that's enough for me. Cody and I can just switch days today. I will think of something to help you get over some of the uneasiness between us okay?" She lifted her head to look at him. "I just need to talk to someone first." He stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Otherwise we will do ballet. After all, Lory wanted you to learn that, nothing else." Kyoko flinched, just as he figured she had not told Lory yet. Chances were high she never would either. Not that he could blame her, when Lory wanted something if you denied him... well he could get a bit crazy in trying to make it happen. He smirked, "What's your choice?"

Sighing heavily she bowed at the waist, "I'm sorry Keiji-sensei for troubling you. I shall see if Cody-sensei will watch over me today." She raised her head bowed once more, "Please excuse me" and left the room.

Keiji pulled out his phone making a call to the man in charge. Speaking in English, "Hey Lory. I need to talk to you about something, in private." He looked out the window "Yeah I can be there in 30. See you then."

Kyoko smiled softly as she slipped on the tap shoes, before looking up towards Cody who had unbuttoned his vest, to let it flare around him as he tapped. Carefully watching his feet she took note as he shuffled, double tapped, turned on his left heel, double pull back, shuffle, wing on the left, then on the right, shuffle, flap heel turning until he stopped right in front of her, holding out his hand.

Taking his hand he pulled her up to her feet, "Alright do your warm-ups" he said lifting his leg and shaking it "remember don't want stiff ankles. We're going to try tapping to music this time." Kyoko lifted her head. "I think you are ready. Dancing to music is a bit harder because you don't want the music to beat the tap and you don't want the tap to overpower the music. You also need to work with the music when it comes to the tapping so it also flows. Right now, I just want you to follow me." he said grinning as he walked off to the corner with the radio and turned on some Jazz.

Turning towards her on the back of heels he began a flap heel towards her, snapping his fingers to the beat, holding out his hand. Kyoko took Cody's hand and he spun her to him, before spinning her out and releasing her hand. He shuffled and she followed, right back to the double tap and so on. Bit by bit they sped up as they repeated the same steps over and over until she was at proper tempo.

Lory sat wearing an ancient Persian king outfit in deep shades of purple on his dark pink couch. Keiji was sitting in front of him on a rich chocolate brown color couch. The two couches were visually connected only due to the fact that Lory or perhaps Ruto had switched the throw pillows, the one he sat on had the pink throw pillows, while Lory's had the rich chocolate brown ones on his. Keiji held a cup of tea in his hand that Ruto had just poured for him. "How are things?" ask Lory in English, a hint of worry in his voice as he spoke.

Keiji, "Fine. I assume you know why I wanted to talk to you?"

"Not hard to figure out. However how about you tell me" No Keiji supposed it wouldn't be hard to figure out. Seeing as he was brought here along with Cody for one reason and one reason alone.

"Very well, Kyoko has no desire to learn ballet." True he had planned to make Kyoko tell Lory herself but the best way to get information was to have something in return. Give and take. He would give him details on the girl that she clearly refused to tell him, and he would get what he wanted from Lory much easier that way.

"Every young girl should know how to dance. Dancing is a way to express love through one's body. It can sway a man's heart." Just as he thought, Lory was going to try to push her to learn to dance if not ballet then something else.

"Please keep your love ideas to yourself." Keiji sighed heavily "Besides she doesn't like ballet. This doesn't mean she's not interested in other forms of dance. For example tap dancing."

"That's not a great way to express love," Lory said with a pout.

"Lory…. I think love is the last thing on that girl's mind." Keiji said sitting his teacup on the tray. He knew now was the time to get the information he needed from Lory. "Besides I am teaching her dancesport… however, there is a problem."

Lory, "A problem?"

"She freaks out over how close our bodies need to be. Though she is fine with the steps. I also believe she actually enjoys it, but well the older we get in the world of dancesport; things change from innocent to more mature." He looked the older man in the eye "I need to know why she has such issues. It isn't that she can't do them… but that she becomes… emotionless like fear has completely locked up her mind."

"I see…" Lory looked towards Ruto who moved towards his desk. "I can't give you all the details but I believe a small bit will help you," he said as Ruto came back with two pieces of paper. With a bow, he handed them to Keiji.

"20 Million Yen to Fuwa Shoutaro… for Mogami Kyoko… I thought she didn't have a name." At least that's what she told Cody. 'Just Kyoko.'

"That person disappeared at around the age of seven. They never saw their eighth birthday… at least outside of the file I have, completely removed it would seem. Not even dead, just disappeared into nothing. They did a clean job too. I don't know who the boy got to do it but very clean. No friends, no family… well, she has a mother but that woman seemed to walk out on her when Kyoko was seven, though exactly how true that is I don't know. I'm still looking into her mother. The father is not in the picture at all either."

Keiji, "I see… and what exactly is Bakkin Hana?"

Lory, "Not a flower shop… they sell a good time."

"She was sold… for a good time?" Keiji couldn't believe such a practice could still be found here in Japan. Then again, the underworld had a way and battling them was not easy. Each side had a way and sometimes they did mingle sadly.

"What they call Rare Flowers, she wasn't suited for their Fine Flowers." Lory frowned not sure exactly what the difference would have been other than Rare Flowers in most cases were virgins but he doubted all or even most of them were. The fact she refused to say bothered him as well, "Still she would have likely been trained to the breaking point, to please her master." No there would have been no love in it. It would have been how to perform tasks.

Keiji looked at the second piece of paper before sighing heavily, "I see… she's marked as a virgin. Her name is Blue Rose…" he handed the papers back to Ruto, "Let me guess these people aren't easy to take down either?" He didn't really need to ask he already knew the answer but sometimes that wasn't the case, sometimes they weren't connected to someone larger.

"No. However I won't say more. I don't like it. I can only do so much." Lory sighed, "I honestly try to stay out of the underworld as much as possible. It makes it clear exactly how powerless I am to put an end to all this."

There was a nod, Keiji understood the feeling of powerlessness. He was raised to understand such matters, it was expected of him to one day be following his father's footsteps. Thus he and his brother had grown up in the adult world. Childhoods were often ended quickly for families in high social standings, him being Japanese put a different sort of pressure upon him. "Yes, we have such things where I live now too. It's everywhere… and sometimes their power is more than even the government's it seems. Small battles that's all that can be done. Laws to try and change things…but regardless one less person is good and it's not like you can buy them either Lory." His hands balled into fists. "If you did… it would not end well. Not for you, your family or those who you can protect right now." The words weren't so much his but his fathers. Given a small bow. "Thank you. I believe I know what I can do to help her become more comfortable with me… not that I am looking forward to it… seeing as it's frowned upon here." The bitterness entered his voice as he relaxed his hands.

"Oh going to tell her then?" Lory didn't hide the surprise in his voice. It was rare for the boy to speak or share this information.

"I cannot think of any other way to make her more comfortable with me, can you?"

Lory closed his eyes taking a deep breath, "No… not off the top of my head."

"It will help. I also think it's time to call the Witch so that Kyoko can begin her new life." He looked at the man "I am guessing you are likely to go through your plans… at least I hope you do. I do like her and Cody would be heartbroken if you don't."

Lory grinned, "I'm still thinking about it."

"The Lord of Love thinking about giving a little girl a chance at happiness and a loving family, don't kid yourself you been thinking about it since you called my father." He said standing up. "You just want to make sure it's the best choice. We both know that you, Lory, are able to see into the heart of someone and help heal those hearts." He moved towards the door. He paused smirking slightly, "Besides if she can melt my cold heart. Then you never stood a chance."

Reino stared at the phone that was ringing. He made no motion to pick it up as his bandmates stared at him. Each one trying to puzzle out exactly why he was not picking up. Dasuku leaned over his left shoulder, trying to see who was demanding his attention. "Aren't you going to answer that Reino?"

Reino leaned back further into his chair, tossing the phone on the table. "He'll give up soon enough." He knew exactly who it was, knew it was going to happen the moment he saw dear Uncle Boris.

Miroku picked up the phone, looking at the number noting the miss calls "31 one miss calls, 14 voicemails, and 53 text messages." The number was unknown, "are you sure he'll give up?"

"He gets bored easily enough" Reino stared at the little spirit orb that floated above his head.

"And who is he?" Dasuku asked taking the phone from Miroku to stare at it. He grunted as he scrolled down the miss alerts.

"The son of a shinigami" Miroku had heard him speak of the shinigami before but the rest of them were rather surprised to hear him say it. Though they knew of his strange gift.

"Reino, shinigamis are real?" Kiyora looked the most surprised by this statement "and they can have kids?"

Miroku sighed taking the phone from Dasuku before putting it down on the table. "I'm getting the feeling that these shinigami in your life aren't the kind you would find to your taste. Otherwise, you would be talking to them. We wouldn't have seen that one and they for damn sure wouldn't be calling you nonstop. Correct?" Reino made no indication that he heard him but Miroku nodded "So why don't you tell us why you don't want to talk to this guy?"

"..." he held out his hand and Shizuru stepped forward placing his phone in Reino's outstretched hand. Reino looked down seeing the notepad already open and began to type before handing it to Miroku. No one blinked so used to Reino's peculiar habits.

Looking down, he read Reino's text. "He's annoying." Miroku sighed heavily before handing the phone back to him. "Well, how long before he gets bored?" Reino typed again before handing it back to him "A couple of hours…" he looked at him before casting his eyes towards the phone still going off, "and we can't turn your phone off?" Reino held out his hand and Miroku gave him the phone again, a few moments later he looked back down at the screen "It'll just make him more annoying if we do that."

Shizuru stared at Reino before shoving a hand into his back pocket, "Then I take it we will not be practicing tonight." He said turning and giving a wave as he walked out the door, not bothering to collect his instrument.

"Yo wait up man!" Kiyora said grabbing his coat before looking at the two men who shared a unique bond "See ya Reino, Miroku." he turned towards Dasuku "You coming to Dasuku?" Dasuku gave a nod of his head before saying his farewells and heading off for the night.

Miroku leaned back staring at the phone that Kiyora had left behind, making a note to return it later tonight before looking at Reino. "You still cool with us starting this band right?"

Reino picked at his nails "I got nothing better to do right now… besides, it'll come in handy soon enough." His eyes trailing back up toward the orb that was still dancing above his head.

Miroku could tell something was off with his friend, yet he was interested in exactly what Reino had seen while staring into space. His eyes not following anything unseen. It was rare for him to see images of the future, the fact the way Reino explained it they were set paths in a person's life. You can't go against fate or maybe he just never bothered to go against it, Miroku wasn't exactly sure which was the correct answer when it came to fate. "Want to tell me more?"

Reino smiled "Only that as long as I don't grow bored, something good will happen." That was the truth though, he didn't know the details all he knew was that as long as he stayed, something good was to happen. Yet he didn't have an idea just what it was... only that it was a path that would lead to happiness for himself and his friend.

Miroku looked up at the ceiling before grinning unable to see whatever Reino was seeing but knowing it was there, somewhere. "Guess I'll have to make sure you don't get bored," he said looking back down at his friend. "Tell me one thing though." He motioned towards the phone "He's not going to be a problem is he?"

Reino, "Ask again later."

Kyoko sat in her bay window, trying to get through one of Lory's romance books but all she could do was groan at it. The girl was so lovesick over the guy that she was willing to give up her name and riches for him. This guy didn't want to give up anything. In fact, he seemed to be happy with the idea of the girl fawning over him while he had his fill of women at the bars he hung out at. Oh, but she thought she could change him, make him see her.

'Stupid' she said tossing the book to the side and staring out the window. A small grudge came out of her heart swirling around her as she ran her fingers through the darkness of the creature. She couldn't see them, not yet but she knew they were there. 'Don't worry I don't plan to ever become that stupid again.' The soft knock on her door brought out of her own bitterness, "yes?"

"It's Lory can I come in?"

Kyoko twitched slightly, before schooling her face, "Yes…" she watched the door open 'please don't let me regret this' as the man came in her eyes trailed over his outfit of purple robes 'A Sultan? No that's not right, he wouldn't just pick a random thing like that.' Her eyes looked at the crown, the weapons, the rings. She chewed her lower lip as Lory grinned.

"Trying to figure out who I am Kyoko-chan?"

Her head snapped up at him finally seeing him again, "Ah… yes. I've come to realize a lot of the time you take people from throughout history." She looked out the window 'Not that you actually take on their manners which makes it harder to figure out' she mentally sighed to herself.

"So what's your guess?"

"Well, you're clearly dressed as a Persian King." Her eyes turned back towards him "I'm just not sure which one."

Lory, "How about a hint then?" he sat down next to her. "I was born to Darius I." He leaned back as he watched her expressions. 'You can tell a lot about her by reading her expressions when she lets her guard down.' He watched as she seemed to be turning the little wheels in her head and the look where it clicked on her face. Her eyes widen and then a smile played across her lips before she seemed to see him once again.

"Xerxes…" she nodded her head "Yes the one called the fourth king of kings." she smiled a true smile as she looked up at him. Proud that she was able to recall such a thing.

"Correct!" he said patting her head "You are indeed brilliant"

Kyoko eyes darken as she lowered her eyes, "No... I'm not." Kyoko returned to looking out the window. "If you asked her you would know." Lory sighed heavily causing her to look back him, guilt starting to wash over her for upsetting him. "Forgive me, you came in for a reason."

Lory wanted to ask but he was pretty sure he knew it had to do with her mother. That woman still held a powerful hold on her heart. He shook his head mentally and smiled "Yes. I want you to fill these all out. They're bubbled but you must do them all." He said putting a stack of papers in her lap.

Kyoko looked at the top of them, questions from preschool before looking back at him. "I know I'm not brilliant but I am smarter than a preschooler" she muttered.

Lory laughed "Yes I know you are. Yet we need to build a record for you. I know you will know all the answers up to a certain point and don't worry about getting anything wrong. Just fill them out. They are mostly in English, but we can switch them to Japanese for anything you have trouble with."

"It's alright. I can speak, read, and write in English… though I must admit it's not an American accent and the conversational aspect isn't that great" No she was much better at reading and writing in English.

"Oh, what else do you know?"

"I can speak Russian…some anyway" she looked down. "To... I mean… I was taught there. I was told they wouldn't know what was being said between us. Otherwise They…" she held the papers to her chest tightly trying not to shake. Lory reached over pulling her gently into his arms hugging her. She froze for a moment before slowly allowing herself to relax in the embrace.

Lory, "It's okay… you don't have to say anything more."

Kyoko smiled sadly "It's okay… I don't mind remembering him… he… was different." she said getting up and setting the papers down she moved to the dresser and opened the top drawer. She moved back holding out the piece of paper to him. "See…" Lory took the piece of paper unfolding it to read.

Friendship is friendship and service is service but not this time. Please remember that the sun will shine into our yard too. I can only hope that you will forgive me. Remember you ate the dog just don't choke on the tail!

Neither fluff, nor feather - to devil Kyoko!

Lory lifted his head looking at the girl in front of him. 'It's along the lines that Kuon said' he smiled even if the note was a bit confusing he could understand that the young man had chosen friendship over all else this time. "Seems you can understand this letter very well"

Kyoko smiled brightly "Yes! He really liked Russian saying and proverbs." She said taking the note back before placing a finger to her lips "It was a very strange habit honestly." Her eyes trailed towards Lory for a moment 'then again…' she mentally shook her head. "It was the only good thing about being there… to be honest. I think… I would have ended it all if not for him." The words were spoken so quietly that Lory for a moment thought he was hearing things he rose from his seat and hugged her tightly.

"You won't have to ever go back to that life," he said kissing the top of her head. She seemed so frozen in surprise that she didn't know what to do at that moment.

Ren stared out the third story window of LME. He had been bothered by the fact that Tomi had come to see him, it was out of character for the man. 'I need to ask Boss' he leaned his head against the window in thought. 'It's odd for Tomi to care about anything. What exactly is that girl to you Tomi?' He couldn't see Tomi being in love with her. No Tomi didn't love at all, care maybe but only until he grew bored and he found people in general boring. Ren tried to push back the memories that dared to flood his mind all but one seemed to refuse to disappear.

Kuon sat on the edge of the bed staring up at the ceiling, a rather busty woman between his legs giving him a blow job that he actually wasn't enjoying at all. It was just something to do. At just 13 he had already become so bitter inside that only one person seemed to bring any light into his world. Yet he wasn't around all the time. When he wasn't Kuon found himself doing things like this with women like her. She thought that by giving herself to him that she would get some great reward.

He grinned at the thought, how many women and even men if he had wanted to swing that way threw themselves at him? How many people sucked up to him in hope of favors in showbiz. Praying that he would drop a good word for them to his mother or father. They weren't worth it. These sucks-ups had no respect for them because they had no respect for themselves. They were different than the people who treated him like shit, who beat him down until he found himself hitting back. After all isn't that what Rick told him to do? Hit back… he like hitting them back but his father's words played over and over in his head. They help hold him back, it kept him from killing them.

'Kuon you should only use your martial arts knowledge if your life is in danger or someone else's life is. Otherwise, it is for acting only.'

He could say at those times his life truly was endangered and that made it okay. He never went looking for trouble; he never went looking for fights. They just didn't like his mixed blood. Something he couldn't change, something that as he got older more and more people seemed to take issues with. His family name, his mixed blood, he couldn't escape from them. He realized he was trapped years ago. Father's hands were just too big.

"Kuon~" the woman leaned over him wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Yeah… protection first" he could only mutter, he didn't really care. Still, he was bored and bitter and wasn't this expected of him in a way. People using him, shouldn't he just use them first? He had no real friends anyway, other than Rick. He didn't even really notice when she was positioning herself in his lap.

"Kuon~" She leaned in and kissed him. He felt empty inside when it came to her but when she pulled away he smiled. It wasn't a real smile but one that seemed to please people. That was all she needed, she pushed him down onto his back. Kuon tuned her out for the most part. His body would react as it always did but he could say without a doubt that it didn't touch his soul.

Suddenly she was gone, thrown to the floor and he felt a hand around his neck. 'Great her guy is mad.' He opened his eyes expecting to see the anger, the hate, the rage but instead, there was a white-haired man with eyes that almost seemed to glow red.

"Hello!" the man said cheerfully in Russian.

The woman turned and grabbed the white-haired man's arm. "Get off him you jerk!" She snapped at him in English."Can't you tell we were busy!"

"Oh?" The white-haired man leaned forward looking at her, his hands tracing her face, running down her body in such a quick motion. She was speechless as he began to speak English, "… I'd say you are 17 years old birthday sometime in the summer so you will be 18 very soon. Correct? Yes, of course, I am correct, I'm rarely wrong." He ran a hand through her hair "Bottle blond maybe a Cream Soda… no no you are definitely a Cream Soda Blond… hair has been far too overprocessed. European likely from the French but I'm also seeing a bit of Polish in there. Might be why you want to look more like a French American." He pinched her sides and when she opened her mouth to protest he wrinkled his nose "It's not healthy to throw up you know, it rots the teeth, acid and all. Meth, no maybe heroin. I would need a blood test to know for sure." He turned her face so she was looking him right in his red eyes. "Now I know exactly what you look like and while I'm sure this child had no problem with you, I do. So… you are going to march yourself into the corner there" he looked towards the edge "and I'm going to call a friend of mine. You will wait right there otherwise you will regret it." The woman opened her mouth to protest but something in his eyes caused her to shut it again and she quietly moved to the corner and sat.

Kuon glared "Who the fuck are you and why the hell are you getting into my business?" Clearly, the man knew how to speak English so there was no way he needed to speak back to him in Russian.

"Tomi," he said simply. Much to his annoyance the man turned to him and spoke in Russian. "You have two choices, I can wrap you in that blanket or you can get dressed. You have 5 minutes."

"Do you know who I am!" a small ball of fury was building up in the young man chest. Kuon refused to speak back to Tomi in Russian. Why the hell was he even speaking in Russian anyway? All it was doing was pissing Kuon off more.

"I know who you are, who your mother is and who your father is. I know that in about eight minutes you are going to become a missing child with no chance of ever seeing your mommy and daddy again." he smiled softly "Now… make your choice."

Kuon stared at him in shock. He didn't move from the bed, "And how the hell do you figure that?" So this was why Tomi, was speaking in Russian. He didn't want this woman to know what they were saying, no correction, what he was saying. Why would it matter if she knew or didn't know at this point?

Tomi stared at his watch for a moment before looking back at the woman "I'm sure she could give you the details if you rather wait for them. Means she's in on it." he went on in Russian. "I don't personally recommend waiting around… and to be honest you are running out of time to make that decision." he tilted his head slightly.

Kuon turned his head towards the woman before looking back at the man. He got up to put on his clothes quickly. He didn't need to ask, people had attempted to kidnap him before but they'd never gotten this close; he was normally smarter than them. Yet, here was this man, and he felt this urge to trust this guy at this moment. He was going to trust a completely creepy stranger.

"Good choice kid." He said leading him not to the door but the lone window. Kuon's eyes widened for a moment as Tomi opened the window and leaned out. "Yep, this will do." He held out his hand and Kuon took it and used his free hand to brace himself. Tomi leaned out the window backward with Kuon close to his chest and pointed towards the limb "You can make it from here based on your build and training I've gathered" Tomi leaned back inside, letting go of Kuon's hand at that point. Kuon noticed that this Tomi showed no emotions as he turned his head again. "You should go now, seems I was off on the time. That boy you like, he should be home soon" he said simply before looking at the woman. He pulled something out of his pocket flipped the cap off. Tapping the needle a few times he grabbed her arm. Running his fingers across it before the needle went in. Kuon gaped at him before quickly jumping out the window.

"Ren" his head turned towards Yashiro and his fake smile lit up his face while his eyes still held distraction.

"Time already?" he said pushing off the window and walking towards his manager. Yashiro looked worried, normally Ren had this clock built inside of him, he knew the time without ever having to look at a watch. Yashiro found it uncomfortable when his charge seemed so lost in his own thoughts that he couldn't even tell the time.

"Yes, but are you okay Ren?"

"Yes."

"You looked like you might have had a headache," Yashiro said following the man as they walked to their next appointment.

"Not at all. I was just thinking." Ren shrugged, it was just something he hadn't wanted to think about.

Yashiro, "Care to share?"

Ren smiled at him, "Nothing to worry about."

"Very well, just know I'm here if you need someone to talk to." Yashiro was sure this young man would never fully open up to him. Sometimes Yashiro could see hints of what must have been a painful past reflected behind his mask. It was most likely why he didn't talk about family or his past, at least that's what Yashiro had begun to believe some years ago after meeting him.

"Thank you Yukihito." Yashiro lifted his head and smiled warmly at his charge.

A/N: Russian Proverbs/Sayings:

The sun will shine into our yard too - basically means that nothing can remain disturbed for long the calm will follow soon.

To eat the dog - is to go through a bitter experience. When you add "but choked on the tail" means that they tripped up in the end.

Neither fluff, nor feather to devil - It just means Good Luck.