"It doesn't matter how a person acts. What matters is the choice as to why they act the way the do" - anonyms

"How does it feel, to be different from me?

Are we the same?

How does it feel?"

-How Does It Feel-Avril Lavigne

Chapter 2

It was dark and cold in the cell. Tamao rubbed her hands over her arms to try to keep warm but it didn't work very well. She has been in there for four days and she was scared and worried. She didn't know what happened to Anna after they took her away. She didn't know what will happen to them. She just hoped that whatever it was, it wouldn't be as bad the X-Prisons or at least, not as painful.

She jumped when she heard the door open and looked to see who it was, her heart pounding.

"It's ok, it's just me," A girl with long blue hair and eyes came in, holding a tray. Her name Pirika, she was that one bringing food for Tamao each day. She was the same age as her, Fourteen.

She set the tray down beside Tamao, who was watching her timidly which bugged the girl.

"Relax, I won't attack you," She huffed. "You do this every time. Anyway," she lifted the lid off of the plate, revealing that it was soup. "Mikihisa-San told me that you'll be released later today. Isn't that great?"

"No," Tamao said quietly, hugging her knees. "I…I have to stay…and make sure Hime-Sama is okay…"

Pirika gave her look that said she thought she was crazy. "Why would you want to help an Itako?"

"Because she's…She's my friend," Tamao answered.

Pirika shook her head before leaving. She didn't what to make of this girl. Besides that she thought she was a bit crazy.

Tamao sighed and started on the soup. It was good. Really good and though it warmed her, there was still a cold feeling inside her. She would be released in a few days but what about Anna? Again Tamao started to worry.

"Man, I'm so hungry," HoroHoro complained as him, Ren, and Yoh went to the kitchens.

"What else is new?" Ren rolled his eyes.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me!"

"Ah, Ryu," Yoh called to the chef before a fight could break out. He sat at the table closet to counter. "What's for lunch?"

"Today is a recipe I found in a cook book Keiko-San got me." A man with Elvis style hair and an apron came out with three plates. "It is called Poutine," He placed a plate down in front Yoh. It was fries covered in cheese and gravy.

"Looks good," HoroHoro exclaimed. "LET'S EAT!"

It didn't take long for them to finish; HoroHoro was on his thirds while the other two were still on their first helping.

"That was good," HoroHoro sighed, patting his belly.

"Yeah," Yoh agreed, stretching. That's when he noticed a bowl of cold soup on the counter. "Hey Ryu, whose that for?"

"Huh?" Ryu turned and saw it, then frowned. "That Pirika, I told her to take it to that Itako in the Confidential Cell ten minutes ago."

As if summoned, they heard familiar laughter as Pirika herself came through the doors laughing with a dark skinned boy with an afro.

"That…that was hilarious Chocolove," Pirika wiped tears away from her eyes.

"Pirika, none of his jokes are funny," HoroHoro told her.

"No, No, this one was!" Pirika assured him. "Tell them Chocolove."

"Alright," Chocolove grinned. "So, a bear goes into a bar right? And-"

"Why's there a bear in a bar?" Ryu asked.

"Doesn't matter. Anyway-"

"If your going to tell a joke at least make it realistic," Ren interrupted.

"LET ME TELL MY JOKE!" Chocolove yelled, making them laugh.

"Gomen, Gomen," Yoh said.

"Like I was saying, so a bear goes into a bar and sits down. The bartender says, 'So, what can I get you?' and the bear goes, 'I'll have a gin and a…" he paused for ten seconds. "Toxic. The bartender says, 'Why the long paws?' get it? Paws, Pause?"

Everyone groaned while Pirika burst out laughing again.

"Isn't…isn't it funny?" she cried.

"This coming from a girl with an IQ that's almost as bad as her brothers," Ren's eye twitched.

"HEY!"

"Anyway, shouldn't you be taking food down to that Anna girl?" Pirika stopped laughing immediately and glared at him.

"There's no way I'm going anywhere near an Itako. Even if she's chained up," she said coldly.

"Pirika-" HoroHoro walked over to her but she shook her head.

"No! I hate them! And you should to!" she yelled at her brother.

"Pirika, I know but still, you have to-"

"NO!"

Ren rolled his eyes before taking a drink of his milk. Yoh sighed, playing with his second helping while Ryu started picking up dirty dishes that were left on the tables. They were used to this by now. Every Itako they had come Pirika would refuse to go near them. If it weren't or Yoh's mother they would probably starve.

"I'll just ask Keiko-San to give food to her," Pirika huffed, sitting down.

"You shouldn't let your emotions get in the way. You were ordered to take food to the prisoners no matter who they are," Ren told her. She glared at him.

"I don't care, I hate them. Besides, even if she's all chained up she can still do spells." Pirika picked at her food and muttered, "I don't get why they don't just kill her…"

"Because she's too important."

"AH!" Everyone jumped as Mikihisa appeared.

"Tou-San!"

"Mikihisa-San!" Pirika exclaimed.

"Important huh?" HoroHoro looked thoughtful. "You know, I did some thinking last night-" he stopped as Pirika and Chocolove choked on their food, Yoh dropped his fork, Ren spit out his milk and Ryu dropped a pile of dishes he was carrying.

"What?" he asked.

"Uh…"

"You…thinking?" Pirika said, clearly insulting her brother.

"It's a miracle," Ryu said in disbelief.

"For once I agree with them."

"Haha, you guys are funny," HoroHoro looked annoyed before turning to Yohmei. "Anyway, how do you if she's really that princess you mention?"

"That's…actually a good question," Chocolove said.

Mikihisa scratched the chin of his mask. He took his time answering then said, "Her eyes."

"Huh?" Yoh looked confused.

"What do you mean her eyes?" Pirika asked.

"Ren, HoroHoro, Yoh, you noticed them right?" he asked the two boys. "How they were a strange shade of brown? Almost like gold?" they two nodded. "It is said that the Itako Princess has the golden eyes fit for a Goddess of Vengeance and Hate."

A woman with long, chocolate coloured hair that went past her wait walked into a room where her father stood, looking out the window. She could smell incense that almost brought a long forgotten memory to the surface of her mind. But when she tried to grasp it, it would slip away.

"Otou-San," Keiko called softly.

He turned his head and nodded at her, then looked back out the window. "What is it, Keiko."

"I was thinking that we should release the princess along with her companion."

Yohmei frowned, turning around to face her. His daughter had a serious look in her eyes, different from the usual kind gaze she always wore.

"She's little more then a servant to her. Itako's don't get attached to things like we do. The do not have emotions. You know that."

"Yes, but-"

"Also, I have a feeling that that Anna has more power then the others we've brought here." he turned his back to her. "Maybe we should bring her back to the X-Prisons."

"No!" Keiko's voice became sharp. "You know what they do there. It's inhumane, even if she's an Itako she doesn't deserve that."

Yohmei closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose if frustration.

"You can go release the Soothsayer. But not the Itako."

"Fine," Keiko turned around. She paused in the door and asked, "What was my mother like?"

Yohmei's eyes snapped open and had gone rigid. "Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering if you were this cold to her. Or if it was after she died that you started believing in the X-Law ways."

She left, not giving him time to answer.

Tamao was just starting to fall asleep when she heard footsteps approaching. Two people standing outside her Cell. One was a boy with blue hair that she recognised from yesterday. The other was a woman that looked like a familiar stranger. Like she'd seen her somewhere before and forgotten.

She cringed when the woman opened in the Cell door and started shaking.

'Their going to kill me…I know it…' was all she could think. That's how it was at the X-Prisons. The only time someone came other then to feed them was to give them a cruel death.

"It's ok," the woman said gently. She kneeled down in front of Tamao, and lightly touched her arm. "We're just going to release you."

"R-Release me?" Tamao stammered.

The woman nodded. "My name is Keiko. I'm going to be taking care of you for awhile," she turned slightly and gestured for the boy to come in. he hesitated but obeyed. "This is HoroHoro. He'll be your Escort. He'll tell you the rules of this place, and protect you if someone tries to take you away."

Tamao looked up nervously at HoroHoro. He didn't look mean but by now she knew looks were deceiving. Look at what happen with Anna and-

"W-wait," She suddenly remembered. "What about Anna-San?"

Keiko sighed and instead of answering, stood up, carefully lifting the girl to her feet.

"HoroHoro, take her to the room near Pirika's." Keiko told him. He nodded but looked confused.

"Aren't you comin back up?" he asked.

"In a minute. I want to check on Anna," HoroHoro frowned but didn't say anything. He did respect her. But he didn't like how she treated the Itako's as if they were…well, were like them.

Keiko watched as HoroHoro carefully helped Tamao up the stairs since her legs were shaking so much. Then she went to the Confidential Cell.

It was the first time the ever used this one. So it was the first time she saw someone in that Over Soul. 'And she's just a child' Keiko thought sadly. Probably the same age as her son.

Keiko kneeled in front of her and saw that she was asleep. Keiko thought about the first time she saw this girl. How her eyes held defiance and hatred. How it looked like she seeing through her, into her depths.

But now, she seemed at peace, even a little.

Anna whispered something Keiko couldn't hear. Curious, Keiko leaned forward to hear more clear.

Her eyes widened and she had to cover her mouth so she wouldn't gasp or sob.

She had to tell her father and husband right away.

I know I said the chapters would be long, but it's harder then I thought. I envy you Authors that can write long chapters, to me it takes talent to be able to do that. And I know, there wasn't any YxA moment, sorry about that. There will be soon thought…I think.

Some rambling, started High School on Monday, Gr.9. And I'm already being interrogated as to why haven't joined any clubs. Not fun. I was forced to try out for the Musical by my friends so we'll see how that goes. They'll tell us what it's about sometime next week, I did You Were Mine by the Dixie Chicks and My Immortal by Evanescence.

Now onto questions you had:

zaza98able: don't worry about being confused, I kinda planned that. And I'm glad you like my story, I wanted to try something different. But you are right, Anna was impersonating Nadeshiko and vice versa so Yin and the Real Nadeshiko were the ones caught. As too why they did that, it will be explained later in the story.

Helen Wang: You know, I'll be honest with you. When I first read your comment I was like, "How the hell can I write a fic about those two? It's impossible to think of a plot!" then I thought about it for a day it I kinda got an idea for a one-shot so maybe I will, not sure when though. It's a challenge that I'm going to try to defeat!

nina2895: Like I said to zaza, don't worry. It's supposed to be confusing cause everything gets cleared up in later chapters.

R&R