Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks so much for all the reviews, i appreciate them all even if i don't get a chance to respond to them. I have a busy week this week, its the week before finals and i'm a bit frazzled. I won't be able to post anything this coming weekend of the 28th but i'll try to the first weekend of May. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 8

Mimiko glanced over at Zelman as they walked through the streets. He looked so different from his normal appearance. He wore black pants and a black jacket with a red silk shirt underneath. His red hair was brushed back into a ponytail with a few tendrils sticking out around his face. He caught her gaze and smirked. "Hmm, Mimiko, our practice session is going to be hard for you if you don't stop staring at me." He chuckled and she blushed, looking away quickly.

"Although…" he said his voice deepening. Suddenly he took her arm and pushed her back against a brick wall, pining her in with his arms and leaning in close to her ear, "I don't mind so much, if I'm allowed to stare back." He whispered into her ear and she shivered. He chuckled and stepped back before starting to walk again towards his mansion. She stood there, panting slightly at the heat his body had projected onto hers before shaking her head and quickly running up to him. They finally made it and she sighed in relief.

"If you'll come this way, I've had my personal chef prepare a dinner before our training session." Zelman said offering his arm.

She took it and was led into a large, ornate dining room, filled with candles and decked out in dark reds and gold's. In the middle was a small dining table that seated four and two wing-backed chairs. She gazed around in wonder as he led her to her seat, before dropping her arm and pulling it back for her to sit. Once she was seated he snapped his fingers and a vampire walked in carrying two plates, he placed them in front of them as Zelman sat across from her. She was served a meat platter and a cheese platter that included some fruits. They drank champagne and made small talk as they ate. When they were satisfied they sat and rested their full bellies.

She looked around again in amazement at the glow from the candles and could feel Zelman's eyes on her. Suddenly the candle she was looking at flared up and set the wall on fire. "ZELMAN!" Mimiko cried. "STOP THE FIRE!"

"I wish I could Mimiko but I can only increase the flame." He shrugged.

"But…"

"Maybe you should try to stop it." He said looking pointedly at her water glass. She almost took it in hand but he tsked at her. She gave him and unsure look and took a deep breath. Concentrating she imagined the water arcing over to the fire and putting it out. Nothing happened. She furrowed her brow concentrating harder and still nothing happened.

"Zelman I can't!"

"You can."

"NO I CAN'T!" She screamed and the water jumped out of the glass and sped over to the blazing fire, putting it out with a hiss. She sat shocked and Zelman chuckled. "I guess I can." She mumbled.

"You need to learn how to do these things in emergencies, Mimiko. I think it's time you learned. Follow me." He said standing and walking out the double doors. She glanced back at the ruined wallpaper before standing and chasing after him.

It took only an hour for her to realize how she could control her powers. She no longer needed her emotions to use the water but her belief that it could happen. Soon she was making the ceiling rain but not getting anything wet. She was quickly putting out little wildfires Zelman created and creating defensive water walls that she could turn into blocks of ice. Zelman was a little shocked when they found out she could make ice and snow. He thinks this power might actually have been part of hers when she was human. He explained that some humans have these powers as well but they only manifest when they are turned. So she now had two powers, the power over water and over ice. She didn't really understand how the two were different but Zelman went into this long explanation that she partially tuned out on.

Now, after another three hours of practice, she and Zelman were practicing in a mock battle. He was very quick with his eye-ignite and she, more often than not, had to use her water to put out the fire on her clothes, which were burned almost to shreds. The only good thing she had on her side was her agility and the way she could spin away on a dime. She was getting closer and closer to him as his eyes tried to follow her. Suddenly she ducked down and zoomed in coming up right in front of him and blowing frosty breath into his face. She grinned in triumph and he smirked at her before his arms wrapped around her waist and pinned her to the wall. His eyes glowed red and Mimiko felt the danger in his gaze as he leaned closer to her. At the same time she felt the thrill of being so close to that danger.

Her breath was still frozen as he leaned in and sealed his lips with hers. There was a sizzling sensation as his lips melted hers and her eyes rolled back as his hot tongue licked the seam of her lips, begging for entrance. She parted her lips and he surged in, his tongue tangling with hers immediately and melting her whole body. Her legs trembled and her hands shook as she raised her hands to his chest. He slowly pulled away his lips pressing soft kisses to hers as he drew back, her breath was panting out between her lips and her sexual needs were starting to rise.

"Mimiko," he stated, his forehead settled against hers. She looked up, gazing into his red eyes as a serious expression came over his face, "I want you more than I've ever wanted another woman in my whole existence. You're beautiful, sassy, and everything I ever imagined in my perfect woman. Please, will you stay here, with me? Forever?" he asked, his voice pleading. She stared at him wide-eyed, feeling trapped by his arms and confession. He noticed her wide-eyes, and increased heart-rate and stepped back.

"Um, Zelman, not that I don't appreciate you or anything, I just…don't feel that way about you." She tried to explain. Sure she loved him, but it was more a friendly love than the love she had for Jiro.

"It's Jiro isn't it?" He asked his voice husky and saddened.

She nodded and he cursed, stepping back from her and beginning to pace. He turned on her and she felt her heart ache at the look on his face. "You know he will never love you." He said and she nodded her eyes watering. He stepped up to her, "Just give me a chance Mimiko, I can love you the way you need to be loved. Worship you the way a women should be." He said wiping her tears away.

"I don't know Zelman, just give me some time to sort out my feelings, maybe it's the Sages blood or something." She said her thoughts confused.

"Okay. Come on, I'll take you home." He said pecking her on the cheek before taking her hand and leading her out the door.

Jiro paced in the living room, walking to the window to look outside every ten steps before turning. Kotaro watched him pace but after a while he got bored and started to watch cartoons, something about a mouse and a cat. Jiro growled as it came upon the midnight hour, she still wasn't back yet and he was getting angrier as the minutes progressed. Suddenly he could make out their silhouettes in the distance. He stood staring out the window through the curtains as they came up to the door. He saw Zelman tell her something and she nodded before he leaned down and kissed her forehead. He looked over her head and pierced him with a red glare and Jiro growled in annoyance and anger.

Was Zelman staking his claim on Mimiko? The bastard. He thought as Mimiko turned towards the house. He quickly walked over to the couch and leaned against it arms crossed in the universal body language of "I'm angry and you better do what I say right now!"

He heard the door open and watched as Mimiko came in and leaned against the shut door, her head back and eyes closed. She sighed heavily.

"You're late." He said and she slumped a little before looking at him.

"I said I would be back whenever I wanted to."

"What did he tell you outside?" he demanded.

"It's none of your business Jiro." She said as she began walking towards the stairs and climbing them. He walked towards her, following her up.

"It is my business, as a child of the Sage; we should never keep secrets from each other."

"HA!" she laughed turning at the top step, "You need to start taking your own advice Jiro." She said loftily before making her way towards their room.

"Did he say he loved you? That he would be with you forever?" he bit out.

"Like I said before, Jiro, it's none of your business." she said her voice becoming louder as she made it into the room.

"I asked you a question and expect an answer Mimiko." He said his voice becoming gruffer in his anger.

"So what if he did? What if he did say he loved me, and that he would love me forever?" she cried throwing her arms wide. "Why can't someone be in love with me Jiro? Why?"

"He will never love you Mimiko, the moment you're in his hands he will drop you for the next bit of ass that comes along."

"WELL AT LEAST I KNOW WHERE I STAND WITH HIM!" She cried out throwing her purse on the bed, "And at least he knows what he wants." She said in a low voice before brushing past him out the door. She quickly stomped downstairs.

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?" he yelled.

"OUT!" She screamed before slamming the door on their conversation.

He growled and felt eyes on him, turning towards them he saw Kotaro sitting on the couch his eyes watching him again with the wisdom from before. Sage mode, Jiro had decided to call it. Kotaro gazed at him unblinkingly, not uttering a word. He sighed and hung his head in shame. "I know, I messed up again." He said. "I'll give her time to cool off before trying to talk again." He looked back at Kotaro and he nodded before turning back to his cartoons. Jiro shivered, these little Sage episodes were getting closer and closer together in appearance and were starting to bother him. He had hoped the same changes had been occurring in Lord Dragon but he seemed well and unchanged. Even talking to Cain about the problem hadn't given him any clues of what could be happening. Sighing he hoped Mimiko would get home soon so he could tell her what was happening and so he could apologize for what a jerk he had been.

Mimiko huffed in frustration as she began walking around the neighborhood, hoping to walk off her steam before going back and freezing Jiro into a glacier of ice. Who the hell does he think he is, demanding answers about my personal life? She growled and stopped to punch at the wall. Wincing as her knuckles cracked. Suddenly she heard laughter and looked to her right. The silhouette of a woman with long black hair stood there and she grinned in embarrassment.

"Sorry, I'm a little angry at a friend of mine right now, didn't mean to make a scene." She said shakily, partially from embarrassment and partially from the pain in her hand.

"Poor Mimiko, another fight with Jiro I presume?" said a silkily dark voice.

Mimiko stiffened. "C-Cassa?" she stammered.

"Oh so you do remember me?" she chuckled stepping into the light. "That's good. I must say Mimiko, you've turned very well. I just wonder how good you'll look as a Kowloon." She grinned, her smile evil.

"What do you want Cassa? How are you still alive?" Mimiko crouched into her fighting pose.

"Did you forget I'm part of the Warlock clan, we can transform into anything, even the mist." She said as she did just that, before reappearing seconds later right in front of her. "I hear you have a gift too." She smiled. "Come Mimiko, I showed you mine, why don't you show me yours?"

"I'd rather not, gotta have some kind of trump card to use against you later on." Mimiko ginned back before lunging towards her, dagger pulled from the belt at her waist.

"Ooh, you're fast!" Cassa said as she dodged away from Mimiko, "But not fast enough!"

Mimiko felt a kick in her side and she was thrown back into the wall. Crumpling, she slid down the wall landing in a heap. Trying to shake off the pain in her back she stood, griping her dagger tighter as she watched Cassa pull a length of chain from her waist. They lunged at each other and Mimiko felt her body get wrapped by the chain, some of it wrapping around her throat and constricting. Cassa kicked her dagger from her hand and stood over her as Mimiko dropped to her knees, trying to breathe.

Cassa chuckled liking Mimiko's dagger, "Let's leave Jiro a little present shall we?" she leaned down and nicked Mimiko's cheek. Mimiko flinched and began looking around wildly for something to help her. She zoomed in on a drain leading to the sewers. She imagined a great wave of water rising up out of the drain and hitting Cassa and suddenly with a great roar the water rose up and swarmed towards them. Cassa stepped back and leaped over the wave of water and Mimiko quickly directed the water away from her and back towards Cassa. She disappeared again and she felt a prick at her neck.

"So you have the Sages' powers, Mimiko. You're a very lucky girl if you master it." She chuckled, "But that's if you live. Goodbye Mimiko, I wish you hadn't been so stubborn, like I said before, we could have been friends." And then she stabbed her in the back.

Mimiko cried out as she pulled the dagger out and dropped it next to her body. "My regards to Jiro. Tootles!" she grinned before disappearing into mist. She panted as the pain consumed her body, flaring out from her wound. She could feel her blood pouring out of her as her vision began to darken around the edges. Thankfully Cassa had removed the silver chain, but sadly she couldn't move, she felt paralyzed and suddenly she was afraid. If she couldn't move she couldn't make her way home. She would die out here. Her vision was swarmed with black dots and her head felt fuzzy as her body began to numb. Before she lost consciousness she did the only thing she could think of. Hoping there was some kind of connection between them because of the Sages' blood she screamed just as her world darkened and she was left to nightmares.

JIRO!

Sorry for leaving you on a cliff-hanger! ok not really but you'll get over it :D