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As the Crow Flies

Chapter 2

Keoni looked up at the man before him.

"Everything's wrong Karasu, I finally made a friend at my new school and mom wants to erase her memory." Keoni sighed. "Just cause she's a girl, I told her I'd be careful. And even if Saki was a boy we would eventually have to move again and her memory would be erased anyway. I never keep my friends." Karasu sat down on the bed next to Keoni.

"But you have me Keoni, I'll never leave you." He said in a kind caring voice, a warm smile on his face. "I'll always be your friend."

"I know Karasu, but you're different. I'm the only one who can see you, and most of the time we only talk when I'm asleep."

"So you want a human friend, I guess I can understand that. Birds of a feather flock together and what not." He laughed slightly at his little joke. "So Keoni have you been practicing the tricks I've taught you?"

"Oh yes Karasu, I'm able to refine my ability to see into the hearts of others, I think I can almost hear what they're thinking."

"Good and anything else?"

"Well the crows that follow me I beginning to understand them and I think their listening to me better, I've also been working on changing into a crow at will, but I still can't get my clothes to change with me."

"Very good you're progressing nicely, it takes a long time to master reading hearts, there still some things that surprise even someone as ancient as me. But once you master willful transformation I'll teach you some new tricks."

"Yay!"



"But don't worry I'm sure your mother will come around and allow you to be friends with Saki Hanajima, I wouldn't mind seeing more of her myself as you said you cannot read her heart and neither can I, she intrigues me."

"Karasu can I ask you something?"

"What is it Keoni?"

"Why do you help me so much? Mom and Sensei both say your evil."

"Keoni, Keoni." Karasu sighed. "They simply fear me because I am unknown to them, humans fear and hate the unknown. I was always just misunderstood; I wanted to change the world. But people are often opposed to change and so I was slain reviled as a monster. I know my curse hurts you Keoni and it pains me to watch you suffer like this, but because of it you're future is grand Keoni, you will bring about change in the world, all peoples and nations will be united because of you." He smiled warmly. "You will change the world, Keoni that I know for sure." With the warm smile still plastered on his face he began to vanish and soon Keoni was alone, well as alone as he ever could be. There was a knock on the door.

"Keoni can I come in?" asked the concerned voice of Reiana.

"Yeah you can come in." the door opened and Reiana slipped inside and sat down on the bed next to him, in the same spot where Karasu just sat, a slight chill ran through her but she ignored it.

"Keoni I may have acted a little too rashly, you know how much I worry about you."

"I know mom."

"But if I don't allow you to be friends with a girl just because of the curse, then I only increase the power it holds over us. So maybe I can allow her to visit sometimes, but I still want Keiko to be nearby just in case something happens okay." She smiled sweetly.

"I guess that could work, besides I think Sensei might like her."

"Well she must be interesting then?"

"Oh she is, she has strange powers like me, and doesn't think I'm weird, and did I mention she liked my crows." Reiana gave a laugh.

"Yes you did."

"So she can really be my friend, no tricks."

"No tricks." She smiled



"Thank you!" Keoni leaped for joy and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug, which she gladly returned; happy that the curse allowed her at least this, while any direct skin on skin contact was bad she could at least hug him. Something that many mothers of cursed Sohmas couldn't do.

Later that night

After Keoni had fallen asleep Reiana sat in the den of their apartment, she thought for a moment before picking up the phone, and quickly dialed a number.

"Hello this is Izumi dojo, the one and only Keiko Izumi speaking." Answered a female voice on the other end. Reiana sighed.

"Keiko, one I know you have caller I.D and two I called your cell phone." She said slightly annoyed with Keiko's egotistical nature. "One of these days I'll have to introduce her to Shigure." She muttered up to her breath.

"What was that Rei-rei?"

"Nothing, and stop calling me that!"

"Alright so what do I owe this pleasure Rei?"

"Well it's about Keoni, something happened at school today."

"Oh no, did he blow his cover again, you know I'm getting tired of having to play MIB every semester."

"Keiko calm down, Keoni just made a new friend today."

"Oh so he made a friend that's good so what's the little guy's name?"

"Her name is Saki Hanajima. And she'll be coming over this weekend and we plan on going to the park." She said flatly. There was a long pause on the other end of the line.

"I understand." She said in serious tone for the first time. "I'll be there in case something goes wrong."

"Thank you Keiko."

"Anytime Rei-rei!" she said cheerfully before hanging up the phone giving Reiana no time to scold her. She placed the phone back on the hook. "I can't believe the woman is older than me sometimes." She stood up and began to get ready for bed; she had to get Keoni up in the morning, and a day at the restaurant she worked at.

Well it's been awhile hasn't it, but I finally got inspiration to write again.