Thank you for reading and reviews are greatly appreciated. I hope you will enjoy the story as I continue writing it. -Swallowtail

I stared out the windshield, watching people, houses, restaurants, streetlights -everything go by in a blur. I knew Shuichi was sitting next to me, but I didn't want to look at him let alone speak to him. What the hell did I get myself in to? Not only was my mother captured, the Eye was still out of reach. And if my mom was telling the truth, my father might already be dead. Killed by some sort of… demon.

To make things even worse, this guy, this stranger, now knew a secret my family had hidden for years. The Vulpi family is a family of thieves. How could this have happened?

"Spirit World's enforcers are not likely to find you tonight. They will interrogate your partner. You'd better hope she doesn't talk easily." I frowned, giving him the once over. Dark jeans, a bright orange jacket over a black tee. His hair was as wild and free as always, cascading around my mother's driver seat.

I grumbled. "She won't tell them about me. She'd die first. Akiko's not weak, like me."

"I, too, am close with my mother."

My eyes flicked to him and back out the window. That was the only satisfaction I would give him for guessing that my "partner" was actually my mother.

"You mentioned your family dying tonight. I assume that your mother is not the one you were talking about. You did not know she was caught at that point. Explain."

The view out my window suddenly became more interesting. I sighed, knowing I had to trust Minamino. At least for right now: he had gotten me out of Spirit World safely. "You're going to think I'm crazy."

"You would be surprised at what I find crazy."

"My mother and I were trying to steal the Eye of Ketar."

"So, you're working with Nekotama, then."

"Who? No. The Vulpi don't partner with anyone. Blood runs thicker than water."

"I see. So why the interest in the jewel?"

I hesitated. He would never believe me. "Just the thrill of the next big catch."

"You're lying." I looked over at him. Shuichi had never taken his eyes off the road, yet his face was set in a grim line of determination.

"Where are you taking me?" The road did not look familiar.

"I am taking out to my home. Don't ruin my graciousness with lies."

"I'm not going to your house. Take me home."

"That is the first place Spirit World will come looking for you. You will stay in my home tonight."

He had a scary point. "Why are you helping me?"

"I told you, I, too am close to my mother." He glanced at me, and I caught the full force of his piercing glance. "Now tell me the real reason you are after the Eye."

"Mom said that Dad is possessed by a demon and needs the Eye to free him. Call me a liar. I dare you."

He pulled over and put the car in park. The tires screamed when he slammed on the breaks. I hardly had time to react before he grabbed my shoulders. My mom had taught me how to defend against a man with impure intentions, but I was afraid. My training went out the window. "What else did she say? Did she give you a name?"

"N-no. My dad's name is Ao Vulpi. She didn't say anything else, I swear."

"I'm sorry to frighten you." He gave my shoulders a gentle squeeze, let go, and signaled to merge into traffic. My heart was racing. The fear had melted when I had looked into his eyes. They held concern and compassion, not cruelty. "I want you to know I fully believe your story."

"You do?"

"Indeed. In fact, I have connections that could help restore your father. We may even be able to rescue your mother from this misunderstanding."

This was a surprise. I leaned forward, cradling my head in my hands. Now I could let myself start forming a plan. My adrenaline rush was cashing, but I couldn't rest until I found out more. "Why are you concerned for the Eye? Do you work as a security guard for that store?"

"Store?"

"Or museum or whatever it is. You know, Spirit World."

He turned to me and raised an eyebrow. His amused smirk made his eyes sparkle. "You truly do not know what Spirit World is, do you?"

I pouted. It seemed like everyone knew something I didn't today. "No, I don't. And it would be nice to have some information on the subject."

"We're here," Minamino commented, pulling up to a white suburban house. A tall cherry tree shaded the front yard. "Please be quiet when you enter. My step-brother, Kokota, is sleeping. His room is on the first floor, and I don't want to disturb him. Entrance exams are around the corner."

I suspected… not this. His house was a normal, lived in home. Pictures of a young Shuichi graced the stairwell. His hair was shorter, but still vibrant red. So it's not dyed.

He opened a door and ushered me into a room. The bed was well made and a desk had a few papers and knick-knacks on it. It made me embarrassed of my room, and he would never see that.

"Make yourself comfortable. I will make a brief phone call or two and then I can explain the more… mundane details of Spirit World."

…

My jacket rested on the computer chair, next to Shuichi's orange one. I was surprised to see his arms were well muscled. He seemed so slight and delicate because of his beautiful eyes and long hair. I didn't expect him to work out.

"Thank you Genkai. I'm glad to see you can get cell service up there."

"Shut it. I'll be there by dawn." I could hear the old woman's voice from across the room.

"Nice talking to you too, Master Genkai." Shuichi turned to me. "Just one more phone call."

"Can you make it quick, K-mama?" I couldn't make out what the man on the other line called him. "Keiko and I have the night off and we were hoping-"

"Yusuke, this is a matter of a demon possession," Shuichi interrupted. "I know you're not a detective any more, but this could throw off the balance between Human and Demon World."

"That serious? Can it wait until morning?"

Minamino rolled his eyes. "I hardly think the fate of worlds is less important than… procreation… but, yes. Please meet me at the D train station at dawn."

"Will do. And as for you, Mrs. Yurameshi-"

Shuichi hung up. He must have read the lack of confidence on my face. "He may sound like he doesn't have his priorities straight, but Yusuke is responsible for a peace the three worlds have never seen before."

I shrugged. "Whatever. I don't care if he has three eyes as long as he can help my mom and dad."

He laughed, a genuine happy chortle. "You don't know how happy I am to hear you say that."

"So are you going to tell me what the deal is with Spirit World or what?"

…

I leaned back on his bed and held my head in my hands. "So you're telling me my mother made me help her break in to the halls of the afterlife?"

"More or less. Spirit World is the gateway to the afterlife."

"I'm going to go to hell for sure now!" I groaned. "One thing I need to know. How do you know about these different worlds? Are you like, a spirit? Or a ghost?"

"Hardly."

I poked his arm. "Yeah, you feel alive enough." I looked at the clock, almost midnight. The entire ordeal took less than three hours. "So how do you know?"

"I am a demon. Well, truthfully, I am a half demon."

I snorted out a suppressed giggle. "Yeah, right. You don't have horns or hooves or blue skin."

"That's closer to the description of an ogre rather than a demon," he bristled.

"Minamino, you can't be a demon. I saw pictures of you as a kid. A human kid. You asked me not to lie to you, and I didn't. I can't believe you would lie to me." I wondered if the truth was even more frightening.

"Rin, I'm not lying." An image flashed into my mind: Shuichi flicking a rock at me and vines sprouting up. I could see the stone in my mind's eye, and it was no stone at all. A seed.

"Are you serious? Are you going to eat my soul or something? I would really prefer to not be eaten, thank you."

He shook his head, his long hair falling freely around his shoulders. "No. Just because I originally come from a different world doesn't mean I'm inherently evil."

I felt like an ass. "You're right. I'm sorry. This is all… new to me, you know?"

"Perhaps you should lie down and try to get some sleep."

"Where?"

"The bed, of course."

The thought of Shuichi sleeping next to me in his bed popped into my mind. His delicate face so close to mine. His bare arm resting around my shoulders. My hands running through that long red hair, seeing if it felt as soft as it looked. Nope. Not going to happen. "I'm not that kind of girl, Minamino."

"No, no. I will sleep on the floor."

My excitement balloon deflated. "Oh. You don't have to do that. I can sleep on the floor."

"Nonsense. You've had a difficult evening. And I too know the sting of a failed robbery."

What? I watched as he pulled a few spare blankets and pillows out of the closet and made a nest on the floor. I wriggled under the blanket and slipped off my jeans and my socks. He stripped off his shirt and fell into the blankets. He was pretty jacked.

I moved to the edge of the bed, reached down and tapped his shoulder. "Hey, Shuichi?"

"Yes?"

"Why did you really save me? And tell me all of this?"

He rolled over to look up at me. "What you said when I had you in my plant. I knew you were an innocent caught up in something. And I truly do know what it is like to fear for the life of a loved one."

"And to mess up stealing? You seem more of a straight arrow type of guy."

"There was a time when thieving was my passion. That ship has sailed."

"Why have you been so honest with me about Spirit World and Demon World?"

He sighed and locked eyes with me. "I think your family has its origins not only in Human World, but in one of those two as well."