Author's Corner: Yeah, sorry for no update. I'm working on getting this beta-ed but I think I'll b publishing and then going back and replacing chapters with a beta-ed version. So here's two updates in one day.

So where were we? Heart pounding, sudden doubt of everything society thought of me (the possibility of it being true?), worry, dread, the driver leaving, the sound of glass… shattering? I blinked and glanced at Coral and Aimee.

"Guess we'll get along great, huh?"

I nodded and grinned. Yup, sounded just like the type of home I had become accustomed to in Izumo. Only there were no shouting threats about 'training'. AKA Jumping off a cliff because it's 'Training me for when the moment was right'. Makes me glad to know that my family has been convinced I'd be jumping off a cliff, to my death since I was five. But with no shouting or threats about training, it seemed like it was going to be a very long visit.

"YOH ASAKURA, IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR ASS OVER AT THE DOOR, AT ATTENTION, RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING LAPS UNTIL THEY MAKE YOH FLAVORED JELL-O!"

Wow... talk about ironic.

I laughed a bit and got odd glances from Aimee. "What?" She made it seem like the Asakura family wasn't one giant basket case.
Aimee sighed. "Never mind. It's just-" But she stopped and with wide eyes and pointed forward. So I looked in the direction she was pointing in (like I was going to look anywhere else).

Coral was already at the doorstep, about to ring the bell when a large man came through the door, rather distraught. He passed straight through Coral who was spazzing out to some song on her iPod with her eyes closed. When the guy went through her, she didn't even shiver. He had white hair, a black yukata that was opened-chest, two katanas in their sheaths at his side, what looked like a white robe with cross hatches and two shield-based pieces of armor at/on his shoulders. A samurai in every essence.

"Who- him?" I asked, pointing at the man who had so rudely gone through Coral. Ghosts and spirits seriously need to learn some respect for Shamans.
"YOU CAN SEE ME?" Shouted the ghost at the same time that Aimee whispered something barely hearable, I think it was the reverse of his question.
"You can see him?" Was her question.
I nodded, "Am I not supposed to?"
"But I'm a ghost!" Shouted the man. Man, was everyone trying to make me go deaf? "If you see me than that would mean you would have to a-"
"Shaman?" Piped in Coral with a grin.

I grinned back at her. Though I never once spoke of being a Shaman to either of my roommates, anyone in fact, I had a hunch about them. With good reason too!
Take Aimee for example, she had seen and heard her mother (may she rest in peace) die in a fire. I think that if you see enough death or that if death hits you hard enough, you might begin to see the ghosts and apparitions of the dearly departed. Besides, look at how many people claim to see their dead relatives at the funeral of said relative? A fair few. Case holds true with Aimee. Not to mention her just hanging around me was bound to open her sixth sense a bit.

As for Coral, I couldn't quite have been sure. She always did seem interested when I fooled around with my Tarot cards or gave readings to fellow inmates, excuse me, classmates. Not to mention during free periods or when we both happened to skip classes at the same time- me to deal and her to do whatever- I would sometimes find her nose buried in these weird looking books. I couldn't recognize the words on the papers or the cover but there was an etching of skeleton on it. I think those books were written in German because there were marks over the letters like in Fräulein or Führer. During I party we went into there were a bunch of kids who were rumored to be in some big black magic cult that stayed completely away from Coral. Like she had the plague. Truthfully I never exactly thought she was a Shaman as well, but I knew there was something up with that girl.

"So do you... stay with Yoh?" I asked the spirit. I couldn't exactly say 'live' because, well, he was dead. And I didn't want to insult him either.
He nodded slowly. "Yes... so you know Master Yoh?"
I smiled. "Yeah... you could definitely say that." Coral laughed a bit at this. "So how do you know my little cousin?"
"AH! So you're the one Master Yoh has been so excited about meeting!"

Excited? Yoh was excited about MEETING me? Hello? I'm his cousin! Didn't the brat remember me?

"My name is Amidamaru, I am his familiar," said the Samurai with a bow. "And who might you ladies be?" But his voice was not the only that asked that. A female voice joined his, the one who has shouting earlier.

She was standing in the doorway, glaring down at my trio. Her dark eyes glinted with a malice of sorts, Aimee inched behind quietly, I could already tell me and this new blonde chick would NOT get along. She was wearing a black mini dress and a red bandana held back the dirty blonde hair that came down to her back. What is it about blondes and long hair?!

"Well?" She asked. Her voice was dripping with venom and her glare intensified. She was the very image of the spawn of Satan, the exact image people took us Shamans for.

So what did I do you ask? I smiled sweetly, putting on my good girl act that I used to use on teachers, "We're looking for a friend."
"You'll find no friends here. I suggest you leave now."
"But Mistress Anna!" Shouted Amidamaru "These ladies are the ones Yohmei told us about." He then pointed at me. "She is an Asakura, Lord Yoh's very cousin! She told me so."
"And you believed her?" The bitchface girl, Anna, asked. She had issues already.

From my side I noticed Coral was losing her temper. "Why wouldn't he?" She ignored Anna's questioning glance to signify that we could see him. "Who are you to question him?! Amidamaru is a samurai, an honorable warrior! You're just a cold, heartless-"
"Coral." She halted her mouth to my calm, warning voice. Ah, the perks of dealing, your customers always listened. "Excuse her temper Anna-san," I said far too polite than she deserved. "My name is Raven. I am indeed an Asakura and a Shaman at that. My training includes that of a Miko and Soothsayer, from Keiko my aunt and Yohmei whom would be my grandfather. I believe he told you of my arrival?"

She nodded curtly."But not of theirs."
"I have relatives elsewhere," said Coral. A clear not-like-I-would-stay-with-you-even-if-I-did tone. "But don't worry; I'll be dropping in to see Raven."
"And what of her?" Anna asked glaring at Aimee.
"I-I-uh... well..."
"Speak up!" The devil child barked.
Aimee flinched. "OneoftheworkerslookupifIhadanylivingrealitives," she blurted out at once but caught herself. "And... the address I was given was this one..." She pulled out the slip Andrew had given her and warily walked over to the doorway where Anna snatched it from her. She read it over silently then crumbled it up.
"Impossible!" She roared. "You have no relatives here!"
"B-b-but the note..."
"Is a lie!"

During the shouting a boy with short, spikey brown hair and orange headphones walked out. He bent down and picked the note. "Kyōyama, Flame Inn #24 Funbari Hill, Tokyo, Japan," He read aloud. "Anna is this for you? It has your surname..."

Surname? So that would mean...

"No way..." Coral was grinning. That would make my little Aimee and evil Anna family, cousins most likely.

Well Konnichiwa bitch, where's our welcome to Japan?