Chapter 1:

Two weeks after Jack's disappearance, a large group of strange foreigners came to Radiata through the Lupus Gate Entrance. There were around forty of them, some riding horses, others just walking. However, the most noticeable of this parade was the foreign carriage that was shaped like a small house, but was covered by curtain-liked material instead of walls.

Suddenly, Kira, the daughter of the weapon shop known as The Survivor, came running into the street, chasing after a ball her friend Nick had kicked. As she stopped to pick it up, a horse and its rider were spooked from her sudden appearance. Kira was frozen with fear as the horse suddenly reared, causing its rider to fall, and just before it could stomp her with it's hooves, she felt herself being pushed to the side of the street, out of harms way. When the dust finally settled, Kira looked to see a boy her age that she had never seen before holding her. For a moment, she thought that her eyes were playing tricks on her. The boy had the ears and tail of a wolf!

"You okay?" the strange boy asked. Kira blinked as her thoughts returned. Taking a closer look, Kira found that the boy was wearing a cloth over his head, holding his hair back, and his sash was long enough to trail behind him. She gave a slight nod, blushing with embarrassment and confusion.

The commotion caused quite a scene as people began to gather. Her father came out of his shop and, after taking his daughter out of the boy's hands and kneeling down to check for injuries, with Nick right beside her, demanded an explanation from the crowd about what happened, but before anyone could utter a word, a strong voice answered.

"It is my fault, good sir. Please forgive my inattention."

The stun crowd turned to the fallen rider as he walked up and stood next to the young boy. Getting a good look at them, everybody knew that they were nobles. Although the young boy's clothes were casual, nearly half of it was made from expensive materials and sewn with great skill while the rider's armor shone brightly in the sun. Both of them had a weapon tucked in their belts, although the boy had a small knife while the rider had a broadsword. The biggest difference between the two of them was that the rider had white streaks in his hair, unlike the boy's silvery hair. Either way, most nobles that the crowd knew would never take the blame in a situation, much less apologize for what had happened! In fact, most nobles blamed those around them for the trouble and demanded large retribution for over the simplest things.

"I was not paying close attention to my surroundings, sir." The rider continued. "I did not see the child come running into the street. Had I been more cautious, this entire incident would not have happened and for that, you have my deepest apologizes." He bowed his head deeply when he finished.

For a moment, nobody said anything. Then Kira's father gave a sigh and, standing up, said, "It's okay. It wasn't just your fault. Thank you for your apology." He turned to his daughter. "Kira, you know better than to run out into the street without looking both ways."

"I know, Papa, but the ball…"

"She ran out into the street to get her ball." The young boy piped up. He hadn't spoken a word until now. "Her ball got kicked into the street and she didn't see Nezumi come riding up." He gave a small wink to Kira, who blushed in reply, much to Nick's annoyance.

Her father looked at the strange boy and let out another sigh. "I suppose you're right. This entire thing was all just an accident."

"Be lucky that there were no injured." The rider called Nezumi said. "Most encounters like this end badly more often than not."

"Too true." The father agreed. The crowd, finding the situation had come under control, dispersed to the sides of the streets in order for the rest of foreigners to pass. Although they made backwards glances at the strange boy and rider, it was without disdain and mostly curiosity.

The father thanked the young boy and returned to his shop while Nick stayed beside Kira, never taking his eyes off of the boy. Nezumi walked back to his horse and just as the boy was about to leave, Kira turned to the boy. "Um…thanks for helping me."

He grinned. "No problem. Be lucky I was here."

"And yet, you shouldn't be." Nezumi said when he returned with his horse in tow. The boy stiffened and didn't say anything. Nezumi continued with a smirk, "You should be back at the palace, Master Niju."

"Niju?" Nick asked, still not taking his eyes off of them.

"My name." the boy called Niju said.

"Um…are you nobles or something?" Kira asked.

"Yup! Well, Nezumi here is at least. I don't have an official title, yet."

"Wow, so cool!" Kira exclaimed.

"Yeah, I know. But I can do some other stuff, like…"

"Alright, Master Niju, that's enough." Nezumi intervened, placing his hand on Niju's shoulder. "It is time to go."

Niju made a face and slipped out of the rider grip. "Awe…but I never seen this place before! I want to go exploring!"

Kira wanted Niju to stay as well. He was interesting and fun and she wanted to play with him, but even more than that, Kira just couldn't shake the feeling that there is something more to this boy.

"Be that as it may, we have business at the castle and you are keeping us from…" Nezumi slowed to a stop as the sound of wheels came.

The fancy carriage had come to a stop in front of them with the curtain nearest to them drawn back to reveal a cloaked figure in the middle of what appeared to be a giant bed, covered with silk pillows and soft furs. The figure turned to them, revealing that he was wearing a mask. Kira and Nick thought they were in trouble when he appeared to be looking at them. They were stun when he didn't say a word, but instead smiled brightly at them. Although they couldn't see the stranger's eyes, it felt as if the figure was glowing with sincerity. The figure then began tapping on one of the beams, without saying a word. Though Kira and Nick didn't know what was going on, Niju was smiling greatly and looking pleased while Nezumi gave a look of surprise, which then slowly turned to amusement.

"What? What's going on?" Nick asked Nezumi with worried tone.

"He is asking if you two can show Niju around the city. He knows that Niju is going to sneak away to explore anyway and my lord thought it would be a better idea that someone keep an eye on him and keep him out of trouble."

"Hey! I don't get into trouble that much!" Niju answered.

Kira's and Nick's eyes widened with surprise at the request, then earnestly nodded their heads. The lord's eyes smiled again and nodded as he began to tap out a new message.

Nezumi translated again, with a look of great annoyance. ": And Niju, you can bring those other stowaways that you brought with you!?: Just how many people did you bring with you, Niju!?"

"Not much. Just my friends from the court."

"You have tons of friends from the court! Wait you didn't bring…" Nezumi gave a look of horror.

"Yes, I brought your little sister with me too." Niju answered, dodging a mock punch from Nezumi, and then shouted as he ran off, "Come on, everybody! We're going to see the rest of the city! Kira, Nick, let's go!" He said to them as a group of at least a dozen of Niju's friends came out of their hiding places and with them, strangely, came the sounds of fur, scales, and feathers. As they all ran after him, with Kira and Nick following close behind, the sound of true laughter filled the air.

Nezumi shook his head with a smile and turned back to his lord. "Your cousin seems to be happy. He hasn't been in this city for less than five minutes and he already made new friends. Trouble, however, always has a habit of following you two, though."

The lord gave him a perplexed look and tapped a new message.

"Yes, my lord, we all know that you two don't intentionally look for trouble, it usually finds you. However, I and the other Clan Leaders are thankful that your kindness and understanding has not faded. Though…we all still worry."

Another tapped message.

"We worry for your well-being, my lord, and…we worry of the extent that you will take to ensure the safety and prosperity of others. That has always been a great fault of yours."

A long pause came, followed by a short tapped message. Nezumi's eyes widened with surprise, but before he could reply, the lord's attendant approached them and said that we must move on to the castle to greet with the King of Radiata. The lord nodded to the both of them and went on his way, his attendant close behind.

Nezumi sighed, knowing that he'll never truly understand his lord, unsure if that was a good thing or not. He followed after them, truly grateful for being by his lord's side. For Nezumi had complete understanding of his lord's words.

:That is not a fault, it is a dedication for others wellbeing.: