Hello again, sorry for the long wait. Severe case of writers block. Anyway, a big thanks to those who sent reviews and Inuyasha still doesn't belong to me and on with with Chapter eight.

Chapter #8 Almost An Romantic Evening

Kumiko stood in front of the full length mirror in the closet door of her bedroom. She went through ten changes before she found the right dress to wear on her date. She picked out a red dress with long lace sleeves and a knee length skirt and embroidery in the top that made it look like light red vines were wrapped around her torso and red high heels to match. She wore light rose eyeshadow with black mascara and light pink lipstick and her hair was down held back with a red headband to match her outfit.

"Hey, Kumiko, what are you doing up there. Dinner's almost ready."

"I'm going out, Sen." Kumiko called as she went to her dresser and grabbed her purse. "I told you that remember?"

"Oh right."

Kumiko checked her reflection again to make sure anything to perfect before she left. Once she reached the ground floor, she saw her little sister, Sen carrying a pot from the kitchen. She just placed it on the table when she noticed Kumiko in the room.

"Whoa, Kumiko. You look great." she said.

"Thanks, Sen." Kumiko replied.

"Are you going to tell him tonight?" Sen asked. "Can he help us?"

"I'm sure both him and Takara can help us. But first I need them to trust me."

"Then why are you dating Denzo?"

"Because I like him."

Kumiko went to the door and stopped when she reached for the door knob.

"Don't wait up, Sen and do your homework ok?"

"Alright."

With that Kumiko left.

"So, big date tonight?" Takara asked as she leaned against the door frame of her brother's room. She watched in amusement as he struggled with his beads.

"Yeah." he answered.

"So, why did you call me in here? Didn't Dad loan you his car?"

"He did loan me the car, I just can't these beads off. Were you able to?"

"I didn't bother to try." Takara replied, fingering her beads. "Were does Kumiko live anyway?"

"She lives four blocks from college campus." Denzo said. "Damnit!"

"Just wear the beads under your clothes, she won't notice."

"Alright." Denzo said in defeat and stuff the red beads into his shirt. "I hope she won't notice."

Takara looked at her twin. He was wearing a dark red shirt under a black jacket, a pair of black pants and black shoes to match with his hair was still a little messy from this morning (He doesn't have a comb.)

"Maybe I should've bought a comb."

"Your hair is fine." Takara told him. "Kumiko said she likes it like that. You really like her don't you?"

"Well...yeah I do. Don't you?"

"As a friend, I do. She's cool." Takara answered the last part with uncertainty.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just go and have fun."

"Whatever, see ya."

Denzo grabbed his wallet and went out the door. Takara followed until they were in the hall. She leaned against the door behind her as she watched her brother disappear around the corner. She frowned as her heart became heavy with concern. She never said anything but ever since she met Kumiko, she can't help sense that there was something about her that she's not telling them. Why is she really hanging with them and now dating Denzo?

"What is that feeling?" she wondered as she went back to her dorm room.

Denzo just reached Kumiko's house in time to see her walking out the door. His jaw dropped as he saw her long hair blew in the breeze and the skirt of her red dress.

"Whoa." He thought as he watched her walked down the path to the car. He snapped out of it when she opened the door and got in.

"Good evening. " She said.

"Uh...Hello." Denzo said breathless.

Kumiko giggled at his response. "You look great tonight."

"You too." Denzo answered trying to keep his voice level. "Um let's go."

After a drive through town, Denzo and Kumiko had dinner and saw a movie. After the movies, Kumiko showed Denzo her favorite hang-out. A spot under a cherry tree at Shakujii Park.

"I come here when ever I want to get away from my responsiblies." Kumiko explained.

"What kind of responsibies?" Denzo asked.

"School work, job at the fast food place, watching my little sister, Sen."

"Little sister? How old is she?"

"Sixteen."

"Sixteen? Shouldn't she be in high school?"

"She's ahead of her peers. A genius, you might say. She just transfered to Tama College last year."

"Oh, I've seen her in computer class. That explains why she looks so young."

"Yeah, it does."

She smiled a little and leaned on Denzo's chest. Resting her head on his shoulder. Denzo blushed at this but did nothing. He hasn't felt like this since high school with his last girlfriend. He frowned as guilt flooded his mind. After his last girlfriend died from cancer three years, he never wanted to love another woman. But since he met Kumiko, he wanted to be with her. Even after he's spend days denying it.

He carefully wrapped an arm around Kumiko's waist and pulled her closer. She closed her eyes and smiled as he did, snuggling into his embrace. It was a perfect evening.

Then a loud shot broke the silence and something wheezed passed Denzo's head.

"What the Hell?!" He exclaimed and looked at the dent in the tree behind him.

"Someone's out here." Kumiko thought.

Another shot was heard and Denzo gasped when his wristband came loose and fell off. He caught it in time to see his hand turn into a claw. He was transforming.

"No, not now." he moaned as he felt his teeth grew into fangs.

"Denzo, are you ok?"

Denzo turned and his jaw dropped when he saw three bullets flying towards Kumiko. Completely surprised he was able to see well in the darkness.

"Kumiko, look out!" he yelled as he pushed her out of the way. They both landed on the ground as the bullets went into the forest.

"Thanks." she breathed.

"No problem."

"Uh, Denzo...how did we get here?"

"Huh?"

Denzo looked around to see he and Kumiko were laying in the bushes far from the meadow where they originally were. He looked in confusion until he realized what happened.

"If I remember right, demons are stronger and faster then humans. I'm half-demon now and I used demon speed to get us away from the clearing."

"Denzo?" Kumiko said as she crawled closer to him.

"No, Kumiko, don't come towards me."

"Why? Are you alright?"

"I...I'm sure."

He looked at the wristband to see nothing was broken or loose. He blinked in confusion. The band fell off yet the clasp was untouched. What happened? What made it fall off like that? He quickly put on and was about to fasten the clasp when he saw Kumiko coming towards him again.

"No, Kumiko! Stay back!" Denzo panicked as he backed away, trying to fasten the clasp in desparation. "Come on, I can't let her see me like this."

Once he finally snapped the clasp into place, he fell backwards as he felt himself transforming again. Right into the moonlight.

"Denzo, what's gotten into to you...oh."

Denzo's eyes widen. She saw his transformation. She'll dump him for sure and tell the whole school what a freak he is...

"You're hurt."

"What?"

Denzo looked down at his arm to see blood flowing out of a large gash on his upper arm, staining his sleeve.

"I didn't feel that." he said. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Kumiko replied. "What was that about?"

"I don't know." Denzo said as he stood up and up Kumiko to her feet. He was relieved when he saw his black colored bangs fall into his face.

"Come on, I'll take you home."

As he and Kumiko walked back to the car in silence, Denzo pondered about what happened back at the cherry tree.

"That sniper wasn't after me or both of us. He only after Kumiko."

he looked down at Kumiko as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Why is he after her? Is she hiding something?"

Well, there you have it. A sniper attacked the couple but is only after one of them. Why and what's going on? Stay tuned.