(Disclaimer: Ikigami manga belongs solely to Mase Motoro, but Sasuke Mura and the other unknown characters I am writing about belong to me. The story is just based on the plot line of the manga. If this disclaimer is wrong, then please do not sue me.)

KChanDreams: Sorry for disappearing for so long, but I just didn't feel like updating.

Angel: In other words, she was super lazy.

KChanDreams: Well I also had things to do.

Angel: You were reading manga, gambling, drinking virgin drinks, eating mochi sherbet, watching new anime...

KChanDreams: I also had work and school! You make me sound too lazy.

Angel: Well you are.

KChanDreams: Anyway, this is a four chapter update, so please enjoy and try to read the crossover later on, but you have to read a Legend Forgotten and Aftermath to get the idea of the story.

Angel : Leave many reviews, so she'll update faster.

Chapter 11: Animals

Sakuya looked through the many doctor files he received in his room with a naked Haruka under his bed covers. Haruka looked at him and asked, "Sakuya, what's the matter?"

"All these doctors don't have the kind of skills to do the miracle operation that the Moon Child has been pulling these past few weeks. Just knowing that someone is going against the Ikigami System and getting away with it is making me mad."

Haruka nuzzled Sakuya's cheek and said, "You'll find that meddlesome fellow sooner or later so just wait and play with me." Sakuya kissed Haruka, but still couldn't get his mind off the Moon Child.

On the other hand, Sasuke was walking in the market district on a Sunday Morning with her bag over her shoulder and a strawberry slush in her right hand. Sasuke sipped her drink with bliss in her face. She suddenly thought of Riri drinking his strawberry slush and smiled with a blush against his cheek.

"I should call him soon," Sasuke muttered to herself. Sasuke was about to cross the street, but paused when she heard someone crying for help. She looked at the source of the voice and saw an old man in tattered clothes being beaten to the ground by men in black suits.

Sasuke ran at them. She threw her drink at one of the men causing the drink to disperse on all the men. The men glared at her, but Sasuke didn't even flinch.

Sasuke pointed at them and ordered them to leave the poor man alone. One of the men smirked as he wiped the drink remnants off his face.

"What if we don't?"

"Then I will personally beat you to the ground," remarked Sasuke with seriousness in her voice. The men laughed with the tattered clothed man trembling on the ground.

"Do you know who you are talking too? We are part of the Megumi Mafia group. Anyone who goes against us will never have a peaceful life."

One of the men was about to step on the tattered clothed man, but Sasuke immediately ran at him and kicked him in the face. The man fell to the ground clenching his cheek.

"You bitch!"

One of the men swung his fist at Sasuke. Sasuke dodged his fist and then grabbed his arm. She flung him into the air and then slammed him into the ground causing him to gasp in pain. One of the men was ready to hit her from behind. Sasuke placed her hands firmly on the ground and forced her feet up kicking the man in the throat, before he could swing his fist at her. Sasuke jumped back to her feet and looked at the remaining man, who was staring at her in disbelief.

"Now will you leave this man alone?" asked Sasuke firmly. The man was speechless. Sasuke was about to repeat her words, until she heard someone say, "We can't leave him alone."

Sasuke looked at the source of the voice and saw a twenty-three-year-old man with long black hair in a ponytail staring at her from the side of a limo. Sasuke glared at him.

"Why not?"

The ponytailed man pointed at the man shaking on the ground and said, "He owes my family money, so according to our custom, he is supposed to pay it back or we will never leave his life." Sasuke stared down at the shaking man, who seemed close to tears, and then back at the ponytailed man.

"How much does he owe?" asked Sasuke. The ponytailed man held up his hand with all five fingers up.

"Fifty thousand dollars."

Sasuke wiped out her checkbook from her bag and wrote the said amount. She ripped it out and held it to the ponytailed man.

"Now will you leave him alone?" asked Sasuke firmly. The ponytailed man took the check and looked it over.

"Do you have this kind of money?" asked the man suspiciously. Sasuke nodded and added, "I have a whole lot more than that." The man smirked as he placed the check in his pocket.

"We'll leave Kawase-San alone now, but make sure he doesn't borrow anymore money," said the man. He then held his hand to Sasuke and added, "Nice doing business with you." Sasuke took his hand. Her Soul's Eye activated to her surprise allowing her to see the man's heart. Sasuke had an uneasy look when she saw a dormant pill in his heart. Sasuke pulled her hand away making the man confused.

"Something wrong?"

Sasuke shook her head and said, "You should go." The man nodded and looked at the other man, who was helping the others to their feet.

"We're leaving."

The other man nodded and jumped into the limo with the others. The ponytailed man looked back at Sasuke and said, "We'll ignore what you did to my men today, so rest easy miss." The ponytailed man did a small salute to her and then went into his limo.

Sasuke watched them drive off and then looked down at the tattered clothed man, who was staring at in confusion.

"Are you all right sir?" asked Sasuke. The man nodded and asked, "Why did you help me?" Sasuke smiled warmly at the man.

"Isn't helping others part of being human?"

The man smiled and held Sasuke's hand. He held her hand to his forehead and whispered, "You're like an angel." Sasuke giggled.

Sasuke helped the old man to his feet and wrote another check with an amount of five thousand dollars. She handed it to him and said, "Start a new life with this amount." He nodded. The old man was about to leave, but Sasuke stopped him and asked, "Do you know the name of the man, who I gave the money too?" The old man nodded.

"His name Ryoga Megumi. He's the only son of the current heir and future heir of the Megumi Mafia Group. Why do you ask?"

"No reason," said Sasuke. Sasuke wished the old man farewell and then looked in the direction the limo went. Sasuke remembered the Nano pill in his heart and clenched her fist.

Should I really save the life of a Mafia member?

Sasuke, the next day around the afternoon, went out of her school and headed toward the park. Sasuke leaned against a tree and sighed. Sasuke dialed Riri's number on her cell phone. She held the receiver hearing the ring tones.

"Hello."

Sasuke paused when she heard an echo of Riri's voice. Sasuke looked behind the tree she was on and saw Riri in a brown suit leaning against the tree too.

"Riri?"

Riri pulled his ear away from his cell phone and looked at Sasuke. Riri blushed as he exclaimed her name in surprise. Sasuke laughed and shut her cell phone.

"The first time I call you, I find you behind a tree. What a coincidence."

Riri laughed as he placed his cell phone in his pocket.

"It really is a surprise. I was hoping for your call, but seeing you face to face is even better," said Riri. Sasuke blushed and nodded in agreement.

Sasuke and Riri sat under the tree together. Sasuke looked at Riri and asked, "Are you working today?" Riri nodded.

"I was told to make my rounds here and you?"

"Just taking a small break from school."

Sasuke felt comfortable next to Riri. She remembered Momiji's words and felt the heat in her cheeks rise.

"Riri, do you have a girlfriend?" asked Sasuke in almost a whisper. Riri looked down at her and replied, "I'm currently single, but I did date a few times and I was married once, but divorced early."

Sasuke felt her heart drop, but tried not to show it.

"How many girls did you date?" asked Sasuke. Riri thought awhile and replied, "About twenty."

"Twenty?" exclaimed Sasuke in shock. Riri chuckled.

"I was a playboy back then, what are you jealous? I bet you dated a lot too," teased Riri. Sasuke shook her head.

"I never went on dates."

Riri smirked at Sasuke and asked, "Then what about the time we hanged out? Doesn't that count as a date?" Sasuke blushed.

"I guess it does then you are my first," said Sasuke uneasily. Riri chuckled and placed a firm hand on Sasuke's hand. He held her head to his shoulder and asked, "Does that make me your first love?" Sasuke blushed even deeper as the rate of her heart increased.

Sasuke pulled away controlling her rising blush.

"Please stop that," said Sasuke embarrassed. Riri nodded.

Sasuke suddenly remembered the reason why she wanted to call him and looked at him with troubled eyes.

"I have a question?"

"Ask away?"

"If you are able to save someone from death, even though the person is a bad person, would you do it?"

Riri thought a while and nodded.

"I would save him. Besides, isn't helping others part of being human?"

Sasuke smiled and nodded. Sasuke heard the chime of the bell and looked back at Riri.

"I have to go, see you next time," said Sasuke as she ran off toward her school. Riri waved goodbye to her. He then looked at his watch and whispered, "I still need to make my rounds before I make the delivery."

After class, Sasuke took a different route home. Sasuke looked at her surroundings with a smile.

"Such a nice atmosphere."

Sasuke stopped in her tracks when she spotted Ryoga walking in the path in front of her. Sasuke hid behind a fence wondering why Ryoga was there. Sasuke peeked behind the fence and saw Ryoga staring at something.

What is he looking at?

Sasuke took a closer look and saw Ryoga standing in front of a box of abandoned kittens. Sasuke wondered if Ryoga was going to hurt the kittens, but to her surprise, Ryoga petted one of the kittens causing it to purr.

"Were you little guys abandoned, do you need a home?" asked Ryoga in a cute like voice. Sasuke was shocked.

Is he really a mafia member?

Ryoga looked in both directions and picked up the box of kittens. He began to walk off, but stopped when one of the kittens leapt out of the box.

"Kitty?"

The escaped kitten strolled up to Sasuke and gave out an adorable meow. Sasuke looked at the kitten with admiration and scooped up the kitten. Sasuke held it gently and looked up only to see Ryoga standing in front of her. Sasuke and Ryoga stared at each other in shock. The shock was broken when the small kittens began to meow.

The kitten in Sasuke's hold meowed at Ryoga. Sasuke smiled at the small kitten and then looked at Ryoga.

"Do you need any help bringing the kittens to your home?" asked Sasuke. Ryoga was about to refuse, until he noticed the kittens meowing towards Sasuke happily.

"All right."

Sasuke nodded and began to follow Ryoga with the kitten still in her arms. The kitten kneaded on Sasuke's shirt causing her to giggle.

"Such cute little ones," said Sasuke as she petted the kitten. Ryoga looked back at her and asked, "Aren't you wary of me, I am part of the mafia?" Sasuke smiled.

"I rather not think about that since the kittens around," replied Sasuke. Ryoga sighed thinking that Sasuke was strange.

They soon reached a three story house that didn't look anything like a mafia base. Sasuke eyed Ryoga and asked, "Is this your home?" Ryoga nodded.

"I know it looks nothing like a mafia base and that's because it isn't. I live separate from my father and the others."

Sasuke nodded in understanding. Ryoga opened the front door. Sasuke and Ryoga were immediately greeted by a variety of animals. Sasuke's eyes lit up in excitement.

"How cute, there's so many. Cats, dogs, rabbits, and…oh my God there's a tiger."

Sasuke stared at the tiger purring in a corner. Ryoga petted the tiger's head.

"This little guy here broke its paw during a performance in a circus and was about to be taken down, but I stopped them and adopted him. His paw's fine now and gets along well with the other animals."

The tiger purred as Ryoga petted its head. Ryoga looked at Sasuke and said, "All the animals are tamed so don't worry." Sasuke nodded feeling a calm feeling from all the animals.

Sasuke placed the kitten down and asked, "Are you an animal collector?" Ryoga placed the kittens down.

"You could say that. I go to shelters and walk around the streets looking for abandoned animals and take them in. When it is decided that they will die, I take them in as my own."

The kittens rubbed against Ryoga's leg with Ryoga smiling down at them. Sasuke looked at Ryoga's smile and giggled.

"You don't act like a mafia member," said Sasuke. Ryoga pouted.

"Well I planned to leave the mafia, when I become a vet. I just hope my father understands," said Ryoga as he petted one of the kittens. Sasuke stared at Ryoga and noticed the happiness in his eyes as he looked at the kitten.

He's a good person.

Sasuke suddenly saw a parrot and smiled. She gestured toward the parrot causing it to call out and fly to Sasuke. It landed on Sasuke's extended hand. Sasuke looked back at Ryoga with the parrot upon her hand.

"Your father will understand if he sees your animal paradise."

The parrot squawked in agreement causing Sasuke to giggle. Ryoga stared at Sasuke with wide eyes and then smiled.

"You really are a strange girl."

Sasuke was ready to leave the mansion after one hour of playing with the animals. Before Sasuke could leave, the kittens meowed at her and the parrot squawked. Ryoga looked at the animals, who seemed to be calling to her.

Ryoga looked at Sasuke and said, "See if you can come again to see the animals." Sasuke nodded with a smile. She held her hand to him and said, "My name is Sasuke Mura and I hope to see you again, Megumi-San." Ryoga nodded and took her hand firmly.

Sasuke's Soul's Eye activated again allowing her to see the pill, which was beginning to shake. Sasuke pulled her hand away.

I shouldn't do the operation now. He needs to know the truth when he receives the Ikigami. He should get it tomorrow.

Sasuke waved goodbye to Ryoga and ran down the path ready to head home.

The next day after class, Sasuke headed toward Ryoga's mansion determined to do the operation. When she reached the mansion, she knocked on his door, but there was no answer. To Sasuke's shock the door was open. Sasuke pushed the door open only to see the animal's making a fuss. Sasuke looked into the mansion.

"Megumi-San?"

Sasuke was confused as she looked around.

"Where is he?"

Please help master.

Sasuke gasped in surprise trying to find the source of the voice.

Please help him, Moon Child.

Sasuke looked down at one of the kittens, which had a look of desperation.

"Did you say that?"

The kitten gave a small nod and placed its paws firmly on Sasuke's foot.

Please save master. He received an Ikigami. He only has about five hours left to live.

Sasuke was confused wondering how she could hear the kitten's voice.

Don't let him die.

Sasuke looked at all the others animals and realized that she was hearing all their voices.

Master wished us goodbye and ran off.

Something about a bridge.

Please hurry, Moon Child.

Sasuke nodded and was about to run out the door, but was suddenly blocked by the tiger. The tiger immediately bit the side of Sasuke's clothes and tossed her onto its back. The tiger grabbed her bag with its mouth and ran out the door with Sasuke upon its back. Sasuke held onto its back.

"Are you taking me to him?"

The tiger nodded.

Parrot will guide us.

Sasuke heard the parrot and looked up. The parrot was flying above them leading them the way. Sasuke smiled and whispered, "You guys really love your owner."

They soon reached a suspension bridge and saw Ryoga standing on the edge with a blank look.

"Megumi-San!" called Sasuke, but Ryoga didn't react. The tiger tossed Sasuke off its back telling her to hurry. Sasuke ran toward Ryoga. Ryoga jumped off the bridge, but Sasuke reached him and grabbed his hand before he could fall.

"Megumi-San!" called out Sasuke as she held his hand. Ryoga looked up at Sasuke dangling above the rushing water.

"Why are you here? There's no reason for me to live," muttered Ryoga. Sasuke shook her head.

"There is a reason for you to live!"

Sasuke pulled at his arm and said, "I thought I should let you die when I first met you, but after seeing those animals I realized. All the animals you saved need you. They need you to become a vet and save others like them. So please live…Ryoga!"

Ryoga seemed to snap out of his daze. Ryoga grabbed hold of Sasuke's hand and pulled himself up with Sasuke's assistance. They sat on the bridge gasping for air. The tiger and parrot went to them and cuddled them. Ryoga looked at the tiger and parrot confusingly.

"Why are you guys here?"

Sasuke smiled and said, "They helped me find you." Ryoga felt a tear escape from his eye and petted them.

"Thanks guys, but you know that I am going to die anyway according to law."

Sasuke shook her head as she pulled a syringe from her bag.

"I won't allow it."

Sasuke injected the liquid into Ryoga knocking him out. Sasuke opened the front of his shirt and looked at the tiger and parrot.

"I'll save him."

After a few hours, Ryoga awoke in his house surrounded by his animal friends. Ryoga smiled at them wondering how he got home. He suddenly spotted a note on his night stand. He read it over and smiled.

Ryoga Megumi,

I removed the Nano pill in your heart, so now you won't die. You will see that I speak the truth when the appointed time of death passes. You have a bright future ahead of yourself as long as you quit the mafia. Good luck with becoming a vet and thank your animal friends too for your life. If you are wondering why I did this, well let's just say that helping others is part of being human.

Sincerely yours,

Sasuke Mura

Ryoga held the note to his heart as he cried tears of joy. He smiled down at all his animal friends and asked, "So I was saved by the rumored Moon Child?" Ryoga wiped his tears away laughing.

"Thank you Moon Child."