Nirako was in her cradle alone this time and sleeping soundly on the night of her first day home. She looked as if there was no other half at all. Sai and Tetsuko silently watched over her. Both their moods and minds were off in different directions, worlds apart. Although it was true that they would have only one baby from the start, it was embedded forever that they had two.

Over the course of four years, Nirako advanced miraculously, faster than other children. She started walking at 18 months and learned many things such as talking, eating and many expressions and emotions. Although there was no surprise to her many other abilities such as able to see what is to come in the future and able to sense something, such as ties to people she knew and even never met. In other words could detect them coming from at least up to seven blocks away in a guessed measurement. As she continued to grow up her senses grew stronger. It was as if she was a little super human by the age of 3. Except now, this was when something unsought of but yet again not strange at all formed. There was contact between Nirako and her little sister, Hokuto, except they weren't face to face; but by telepathy.

Nirako was in her dream, one that was constant every night. She was running down a stone brick path somewhere in the near forest, she didn't know why but she was anxious. The air was cool and comfortable, the sun was peeping through the leaves above her making rays on the path and on her. She then came to a temple which was one she recognized for sure. It was one that she visited with grandfather twice and also to her ignorance, the place where she got her scar. Although she looked, no one was around. She even called out to grandfather, Bo, and the other monks she knew, no answer. Then her ears perked to shock that spooked her something fierce and made her jump, she heard soft crying. She tried to call to it to find out who it was.

"Hello?" she called

No answer, the weeping continued. She gave a confused look and went to find the person calmly. She wasn't afraid at all but very curious. She came to one of the prayer rooms but this was one where she was not allowed to come into. But the crying was coming from it. She bit her lip in hesitation and looked around and still there was no one there. She looked at the door one last time and slowly slid it open by first peeking inside. She saw Buddha's statue and alter and another door that had charms all over it straight ahead. As she came in, the crying got closer as she cautiously entered. Her body got a charge of excitement and fear from being in the room. After looking around she sat near the door and put her ear up to it and the crying was right there. She found the mystery person.

"E-excuse me, but who is in there?" Nirako started in a gentle voice.

"H-huh?" another gentle voice responded.

"Um, I heard you crying and I was wondering who you were, and… where all the rest of the people went?" Nirako, looked down and back at the door.

"People… What do you mean? What are people?" the voice said after sniffling.

"Um… you don't know what people are?" Nirako asked. She was confused even more by this.

"Well, I've never been out of this room before…. never"

"You've never been outside?" Nirako looked at the door with a "what-the" look on her face.

"Uh-uh." The voice said slowly.

"I don't understand. Who are you? What's your name?" Nirako wanted to know about this person in a bit of ambition.

"I… I don't know. What is a name?"

Nirako did a face palm and shook her head.

"Huh? What was that? Are you okay?"

"I'm alright… But, do you mind if I come in there? I want see who you are..." Nirako stood up and looked at the door.

"N-no, don't come in! You'll get in trouble with Akuma." The voice said in fear.

"Akuma? You mean the creepy looking man with those horns on his forehead?" Nirako knew exactly who this person was talking about.

Akuma wasn't the nicest person in this town nor did he tolerate breaking of rules or honor. Some say that he's a half demon because of the two horns on either side of his forehead. And he did come in this room all the time as Nirako thought about it more and more. He even told grandfather that he was a guardian that resided in this room for purposes he could not tell in front of Nirako.

"I guess so, I don't know what he looks like…"

"Hmm, I don't like the fact that I don't know your name.. but how about I give you one?" Nirako asked.

"A name… For me?"

"Yes, a name for you. A name is what you call yourself." Nirako explained.

"Oh. Um, okay."

"How about…" Nirako thought for a second. "Ah! How about Neko?"

"Neko?"

"Yeah, you're kind of like the cat at my home, she barely makes an appearance and always stays in one spot every time I see her."

"Oh okay. Ne-ko. I have no idea what a cat is."

"It's okay" Nirako gives a sighing smile with a sweat drop.

"Oh and what's your name?"

"Nirako" she responded.

"Ni-ra-ko. Nice to meet you, I think"

"Nice to meet you too. Maybe I'll see you one of these days." Nirako said with a smerk.

"Yeah I wanna see you too."

Nirako woke up slowly to silver white hair in her face. She looked around to find herself in her room again. She went to her window and slid it open looking in the direction of the temple she was at in her dream. She went to get clean and got ready for the day then went to grandfather.

"Ah, Nirako there you are. Have a nice sleep?" he asked putting down a scroll.

"Yes!" she said smiling then in came to a look of question.

"What is it?" he asked her, he knew the look very well.

"Well, I met a friend in my dream."

"A friend? Tell me about it." He patted his leg for her to sit and she did.

"Well, she didn't have a name. Or actually I don't know who it is but I gave it a name which was neko." She started.

"Cat?" he said chuckling a bit.

"Yep, and we were in the temple, that one I went to two times with you. It was behind a door in the prayer room you told me not to go in. The door had a lot of charms on it and it was crying. Grandfather, is there really someone in there?" she asked.

He went silent for a moment.

"Erm, no, there is really no one in there little one." He said.

"Oh." She said. She knew he was lying, but she knew not to question him.

"Now run along I have studying to do, a priest must keep his mind sharp. And as a young priestess in training, keep that in mind, alright?" he winked.

"Right!" she smiled and ran out of the room after giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Grandfather called to Sai with a grim look.

"Father? What happened?" he said.

"It appears that my fear is commencing."

"But Hokuto is at the temple. How?"

"Nirako is a very special child, Sai. She can see and experience things on her own unlike other children. Her senses are high and high they will continue. She dreamed this meeting with Hokuto, only difference is, they actually and truly communicated. Yet, Hokuto doesn't know her own name which is why Nirako named her Ne-ko as a nickname. Sai, I know you have a firm hand on your family and I am proud, but just a warning, keep an extra firm grip on Nirako if you can help it. Watch her, and watch her strongly. She may be a child and this may be a dream… but, she is also intelligent and catches on quickly. She may even have caught on to my fib." He finished. Sai was startled.

"Father, I will take your words with respect, but are you sure about this? One way or another, Nirako will know who Hokuto truly is. You said it yourself; Nira is not ignorant to the world around her.

She knows how to search for the answers herself and will do it without fail. If she wants to know about her sister, she will try it one way or another." He said. They both looked out the room and saw Nirako playing with the cat by the name of Miki. A chubby bob tail with a pink nose and white paws. Nirako giggled and poked her tummy and saw the two men and waved. They waved back and looked at her with suspicion and at each other again.

At dinner, there was chatter about the day. Nirako was silent however and ate hesitantly. Tetsuko was worried and watched her the whole time. This was strange this for her to see out of her daughter since she was so cheerful today.

"Nira, are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm alright Mama." Nirako said.

"Um, okay. You just seem down honey. You were so happy earlier." Tetsuko said.

"No I'm okay, really. It's just that, Neko has been sad all day. It keeps saying that it wants to come out and have fun but it can't come out of the room." Nirako said playing with her one of her fish with her chop sticks.

"Neko? Who is-"

"Tetsuko, mind if we talk in the hall?" Sai said standing up.

"Ah, yeah…" She follows him out. Grandfather starts up a funny conversation with Nirako to keep her ears out of range.

"Sai? What's the matter?"

"Tetsuko hear me out okay. Nirako is developing a bond with Hokuto. Twin telepathy has formed and they know about each other's existence." He said in a low voice.

"Really… why not let them be, they're siblings." Tetsuko wasn't too upset by this fact.

"Tetsuko, you know what Hokuto is, everyone in this house knows. It's only important and better that she not know who we are or who Nirako is. She'll be miserable." He said looking down and away.

"But… isn't she that way now?" Sai shot up at Tetsuko. She had a blank expression on her face. "One of my babies is in pain. I can feel it in my heart." She said with a hand on her chest. "Sai, I love you and Nirako, but I also love Hokuto even though I held her briefly. It's a mother's feelings, something you'll never understand." She said.

"But Tetsuko-" She held a hand up.

"No more Sai. I've had enough of this. Almost four years is enough torture for one person, but I have to deal with this for the rest of my life. So do you and the rest of this household." She turned to the door. "Only I am dealing with this even harder than I have to." She said before entering the room like nothing happened.

Sai stood there with a sick feeling before he went in and joined into the conversation with his family.

That night, the couple went to bed and left grandfather to put Nirako to bed after she fell asleep at the dinner table. Sai looked to Tetsuko and kissed her.

"I'm sorry…" He said afterwards.

"None taken" She said smiling. "Sai, I'm also sorry too, I know you're taking it hard as well. I just couldn't hold my tongue anymore. You understand." She said.

"Of course. I've been holding mine since that day. I know it isn't healthy, but I have to, I can't go against my father's words. Normally he's right. Lived and learned from him all my life, and he hasn't failed me yet." He said.

"I know. What scares me more is that Nirako is almost like him." She said.

"Yeah… but our daughter is going to be a priestess one day. No getting around it." He said smirking.

"No… Good night my love." She said turning on her side.

"Night honey" He said falling asleep as well.

Meanwhile in Nirako's room, she was up. She was using telepathy again with her twin.

(("Right, when do you want to play?))

(("Soon, I can't wait to get out of this place. I don't like it in here Nirako.))

(("I know, but soon, we will meet. I also have some things to tell you.))

(("Really? What is it?"))

(("I'll tell you when I have devised a way to leave and get there"))

(("Okay, I hope it's soon. Also be careful please, I don't want you to leave me."))

(("I'll always be with you, Neko"))

(("Thank you."))

(("Yeah. Good night Neko."))

(("Good night Nirako"))