CHAPTER 5:

In a gloomy looking castle, 2 youkai's are running about trying to find their young taicho.

"We have to find her! If the prince finds out that taicho has been missing since yesterday, who knows what he'll do to us!"

They scramble about trying to find their young taicho. And when they finally take a break, a youkai with crimson red hair suddenly walked up to them.

"What are you two up to?"

"Ahhhh…Kougaiji-sama…Uhm…nothing! Were just doing laps…right?"

"H-hai! That's right!"

Kougaiji eyed them both and then out of fear one of the youkai's suddenly blurted out "please forgive us Kougaiji-sama!"

They fell on their knees and trembled before him.

"Eiko-taicho has been missing since yesterday!"

"Say what?"

"Taicho just said she'd go out for a walk…then she never came back…"

"We've been trying to find her but she's really gone!"

"Forgive us!"

"Oi, oi…what's all this commotion?" said a familiar voice

They all turned and saw Eiko standing in the corridor.

"Eiko-chan…"

"Taicho!"

The 2 youkai's rushed to Eiko and fell on their knees.

"Taicho we were so worried about you! We thought you've gotten into trouble!"

"Please…I told you I was just going out for a walk…" Eiko told them

"Where have you been?" Kougaiji asked

"Oh…koniichiwa Kougaiji-niichan…just around…this place is getting pretty boring…so I thought I'd go out and find something to do…"

The 2 youkai's were still sniveling in front of Eiko.

"Stand up you two…"

They stood up and wiped their tears.

"Gomenasai for making you two worry…now then…go back to your posts…"

"H-Hai…"

Then both youkai's dashed out of sight. A long silence followed as Eiko made her way past Kougaiji and went back to her room. In her room, Eiko was greeted by her pet panther cub, Flare. She pats the panther lightly on the head and she lay down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Her pet panther climbs on her bed and gives her a lick on the cheek. She giggles a little and pets the panther.

"Oh Flare…what will I do? I can't kill my brother…but I was made to kill them…"

Then a soft knock was heard.

"Come in…"

Kougaiji entered the room and closed the door.

"Oniichan…"

"I can sense you have a problem Eiko…mind telling me?" Kougaiji said as he sat on Eiko's bed

Flare jumped down from the bed and turned to amuse herself with a ball of yarn. Eiko sat up and looked at Flare.

"I'm fine oniichan…"

"Are you sure?" Kougaiji asked her again

"Hai…I'm ok…don't worry…" Eiko said as she forced a smile

Kougaiji just stared at her. As much as he trusts Eiko, he is still very protective. After a few minutes of silence between the two, Kougaiji stands up, gives Eiko a kiss on the forehead, smiles at her then turns his back and goes for the door. Before he leaves however, he looked back at Eiko and said, "We will always be here for you, Eiko-chan…" then closes the door behind him.

These words linger for sometime in Eiko's head. "Kamisama…taskette…" Eiko said softly

A/N: hey guys…terribly sorry for not being able to update this story for such a long time. Been very busy lately and I do have a lot of things on my mind. Again, I'm very sorry. Sorry for the short chapter as well. I do hope you all still read and review this fic. It'll mean a lot to me. thank you.

R&R PLEASE!