Yo! sorry for the long wait, I've had a bit of writers block. It took ages to finish typing this up, so I apologise if it's not that well done.

I've nothing else to say, so, please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own K in any way, shape or form.

-I-AM-A-LINE-IGNORE-ME-

Coming here was a bad idea. Misaki glanced around in paranoia. She knew that Shizume was a pretty big city, but she still hadn't expected there to be so many people, so many different species. Having been raised in relative isolation, a place like this was stifling. It didn't help that she was certain she was being watched. The only reason she wasn't panicking was that, unlike her usual chasers, these presences weren't hostile. Instead, they almost seemed… curious, or even protective.

'What a stupid thought,' Misaki chided herself. She tugged the beanie lower over her face. The cat demons had surprised her by giving her some old clothes they had tucked away. Now dressed in a long sleeved white shirt over an open backed tank-top, knee-length green shorts and an old pair of sneakers with a glamour covering her demonic features, she looked just like a typical rebellious teenager – not that she was aware of that.

Despite her misgivings of the crowded city, she was sure her pursuers had temporarily stopped chasing her, most likely wary of entering the overlapping territory of three different Kings. If there had only been the Red and Gold King, they probably would have decided to risk it, but obviously, like her, they had heard of the Blue King awakening and taking over the organisation previously lead by the former Blue King, SCEPTER 4. She didn't know what his name was, though she did know he was around the same age as the Red King.

Currently, she was searching for a place to hide. Her sixteenth birthday was coming up soon, she could feel it. Misaki's brows furrowed as she ducked into an ally, a hand rising to grip at her shirt over her aching heart.

That was another thing. Ever since she set foot in this city, a strange longing and empty feeling in her chest had been bothering her. The woman who raised her had said she was taken from someone – who she always says loved her, but never said who it was - in order to keep her safe. Was it possible that the place she spoke of was Shizume?

"No way," the Crow Demon spoke aloud. "What are the chances of that…?"

She couldn't shake the suspicion that she was right. Misaki bit her lip. Should she search for them?

'No,' she sighed. 'Too dangerous. What if they catch up to that person? If that person really does love me, then I can't do that to them.'

Hardening her resolve, she exited the ally and headed in the direction opposite the way her instincts were trying to lead her.

There was a park nearby. Maybe there was a tall enough tree she could sleep on until she found another place to stay?

Well, after she shook off whoever was still following her first. A smirk crossed her face. They may have the home advantage – assuming they were residents of Shizume – but Misaki was an expert escape artist.

Using her small size, she sped up and easily slipped through the crowd.

-LINE-BREAK-

"She's here," Mikoto muttered the second his little crow entered the city. Izumo and Tatara exchanged glances behind him.

"Shall we go for a walk, then, King?" Tatara pipped up with her signature gentle smile on her face.

"Hn," Mikoto headed out the door, hearing the two follow in his footsteps after Izumo finished locking up. The others were all out searching and keeping an eye out for the Crow Demon. He wondered what she looks like now, whether she was still small for her age, or if she had long hair or short hair.

He had found her abandoned and on the verge of death from starvation, and when he had first picked her up, Mikoto never would have guessed she was the age she was. She had been so small, her tiny wings and hair a filthy and ruffled mess. Her wide hazel eyes, so innocent and trusting as she reached for him…

Mikoto had fallen in love with her immediately.

And then, only a few days later, she was gone, with him powerless to stop her from being taken. If he hadn't been friends with Izumo by the time it had happened, Mikoto probably would've gone on a rampage. As it was, it took years and a lot of persuasion to get him to stop skipping school to go prowling throughout the city. By then, he had already built up quite a reputation of his violent nature. The only good thing that came from that was him catching Tatara's attention, which resulted in her stalking him and Izumo finding his Mate in the cheerful human girl.

Mikoto had made sure to track down the people who put her in the hospital on Izumo's behalf, and though the blond never said anything, he knew his friend was aware of the reason he did so.

Sometime after meeting Tatara, on one of the days he decided to skip school, the girl had gotten distracted and separated from both him and Izumo. By the time they tracked her down, she had managed to get into quite a bit of trouble with the local gang.

It was then, when someone pointed a gun at Tatara and seeing the open fear on Izumo's face when he realised they wouldn't make it in time to stop the girl from being killed, that caused him to awaken as a King. He knew the pain of losing a Mate. He didn't want Izumo to go through that, and he wasn't sure when it happened, but Tatara had become his friend too.

He had snapped. The next thing he'd been aware of was being surrounded in fire, ashes and a sword hanging over his head as his friends stared at him in shock.

Tatara had been rather smug once getting over her surprise.

"I told you so," she had said.

Izumo's phone ringing brought him back to reality.

"Hello? Yes, are you sure? Where? Ok, keep watching. We're on our way."

Mikoto could only hear one side of the conversation, but he got the gist. One of his Clansmen had found her. As if hearing his thoughts, the pull on his chest got stronger.

"Where is she?" Mikoto demanded as soon as the blond hung up.

"Not too far, but she seems to know she's being followed. If she can manage to keep ahead of a King, then it won't be long before she loses them." Izumo stated seriously. "On top of that, the sun's setting. She'll be able to use that to her advantage if you don't catch her before dark," he warned.

The King grunted and turned away. "I know."

Following Izumo's directions, they meet up with an apologetic Kamamoto.

"I'm sorry, Mikoto-san. After I called, she bolted. I couldn't keep track of her."

Tatara's hopeful expression fell. "Ah, it's not your fault. What does she look like?"

"I didn't get a good look at her face but she's short. Is she really nearly sixteen? I've seen twelve year olds taller than her." Kamamoto shook his head. "A white shirt, green shorts, a dark beanie and worn sneakers was what she was wearing. I don't think they belong to her; they were a bit too big."

"Good job," Izumo patted his shoulder. "We can use this information to keep a better look out for her. Let the others know for me."

The other blond nodded, and, bowing goodbye, headed off again.

"She's avoiding me," Mikoto said, his voice sullen.

His two friends blinked in unison.

"Mikoto… are you sulking?" Izumo sounded disbelieving. "Never mind. Maybe she doesn't know it's you she's avoiding."

"No… she knew I was coming." He rubbed his chest, the pull getting fainter as his little crow moved further away. Why was she running away from him?

"King?" Tatara placed a hand on his arm.

"It's getting dark," he muttered in return. She was too far away now; by the time he caught up, she would blend into the darkness too well to be caught, even with their connection guiding him to her.

'Tomorrow,' Mikoto promised. 'I'll catch you, my Little Crow, and never let you out of my sight again.'

-I-AM-A-LINE-IGNORE-ME-

So, genderbend Tatara ended up winning in my decision on who would be Kusanagi's mate, as you can tell. This chapter ended up being more about Mikoto than Yata then I planned, but I'm not too bothered.

Reviews make me happy. You want me to be happy, right? *puppy dog eyes*

Thanks for reading!

By-by baby!

Shikikaze09~