Our Lost Souls

I. Sophie, You Intrigue Me:

"Ah, welcome Mr. Higurashi!" The old man welcomed Howl as he entered the conference room of Cybertronics, his old smile reaching his wrinkled eyes.

Howl smiled at the old man and bowed. "Mr. Fujihara, I told you, please, just call me Akio, there's no need for formalities."

The old man shook his head and laughed, motioning for Howl to sit at the head of the table. "Nonsense son, you are my best friend's fruit of his loins, the man I respect the most above all save my father and god."

Howl smiled broadly again and shook his at the old man. "Oh Mr. Fujihara...as kind and senile as always. I'm sorry for being late, a young lady needed assistance and I offered my services."

Fujihara raised a curious brow. "You services? You weren't being lecherous, were you Akio?"

Howl shook his head. "Of course not, I have more respect for people than that!"

He chuckled. "I just know your father always had a weakness for beautiful women when he was your age, got smacked so many times we lost count after the first few days of his womanizing ventures."

Howl laughed softly. "No, never. She hit me at the slightest notion that I was being fresh. It was...Refreshing for once, to have woman stand up to me like that, instead of fawning and clinging to my side." Sighing and clearing his throat, he changed his air to a more business like one. "Now, Mr. Fujihara, would you please send for our partners and get this meeting going?"

The old man nodded and pressed the button on the intercom. "You all may enter the conference room now."

20 minutes later...

'I wonder how Sophie is holding up in her classes right now... Damn, I should have kept a line to her thoughts instead of cutting her off when I did. I really need to stop dyeing my hair; the chemicals are really killing my brain...' Howl thought, twirling his pen between his fingers, pretending to pay attention to what's his name... oh yes, Mr. Ukitaka.

"This will suffice, right Mr. Higurashi?" He asked.

Howl silently observed the man for a moment, trying to remember what in the hell he was talking about, until his gaze fell on the projected chart for the following years income. His eyes grew large with excitement.

The poor man gulped, shrinking away from the projector as Howl jumped up and towered over him. "It's not enough, is it?" He squeaked.

This little human's reaction was killing him!!! He busted out with laughter and spun the man around. "Are you kidding?! This is more than enough! You are amazing Ukitaka! I knew you were a good accountant!"

The man let out a small yelp as Howl set him down again next to the projector once more. The rest of the men in the meeting burst out with laughter and their soon to be new Boss' childish glee.

"Just like your father my dear boy, just like your father." Mr. Fujihara chuckled, giving another wrinkled grin.

"Just like me you say?"

The whole conference room fell silent and all eyes turned on the shadowy figure that loomed in the open conference doors.

"Mr. Higurashi! Sir!" All the men stood up and bowed in respects to the man that practically owned the country.

Howl grinned as his father strolled in. "Father! Look at this! The following year's income projections, they're off the charts!"

He smiled down at his son and patted him on the back. "You did good hiring this man." He commented, leaning his head in the direction of Howl's accountant.

The little man bowed. "Th-thank you, it is an honor working for you and your family." He said quietly, bowing.

Mr. Higurashi belted out with a deep booming laughter that still left Howl feeling like he was a little boy to this day. "No need for the formalities, the bowing! We're not dead yet! We still have breath in our lungs and life in our bodies! Save the grim respects for those who have succumbed to the grave! Loosen up men!"

Mr. Fujihara gave a wrinkled toothy grin. "Ah, Kenji! I swear man, you don't age at all! Barely in body, but none in that spirit of yours!"

Howl's father gave a deep chuckle and patted Howl on the back. "I have to keep up with this young man, Fujihara. He's gonna own me someday!"

Howl shook his head. "I can only hope to be half the leader and man you are father."

Kenji smiled wearily down at his son. 120 yrsold and talking like he's 12. "This meeting is over. You men may go home, enjoy your families, celebrate; you will be under good wings with my son."

And with that, the men mumbled their last respects and bowed, exiting the room leaving only Kenji and Howl.

Motioning for his father to sit down, he pulled up a chair himself and looked silently at the mountain of a man.

Kenji sighed and waved a hand, closing the conference room doors. "Howl... summon Calcifer in here please."

He nodded. Within moments, Calcifer materialized in the corner of the room, bowing. "You called your highness?"

Kenji looked at him with a lazy eye. "Please inform Howl of what he has to do now that he has secured his human provinces."

Calcifer nodded, and produced a large scroll from the folds of his coat. "Master Howl, if I may." He said, nodding towards a chair.

Howl nodded. "Go on."

"Now that you have your human affairs under wing, you must now take care of yours in our world."

"This isn't going to be as easy as a few meetings here and there, is it?" Howl inquired furrowing his brow.

'I'm sorry Milord, but you're right, it is not." Clearing his throat, Calcifer started again. "For some reason, there have been increased darkling activities along your majesties' borders. There is someone instigating them, and my men in the Shadow Guard believe it may be one of us, within your castle."

"Father, what is this?" He growled. "What are darkling's doing in my territory?!"

Kenji sighed and massaged his temples. "Boy, I have been king for 1000 years, and that territory has been mine too, and still is. I'm just as angry as you are. I do not know what they are doing but I trust Calcifer is doing all in his power to find out."

Gritting his teeth, Howl relaxed back into his chair. "Calcifer?"

"Yes master Howl?"

"Gather all the information you can, any and all leads to the traitor also. And..." He added darkly, "If any of them step one filthy shadow into our territory, take their heads."

Calcifer bowed deeply. "Yes, your highness." And with that, he vanished from the room once more, leaving father and son to sit in silence once more. Howl sighed as his thoughts drifted back to Sophie.

His father raised an eyebrow. "A woman?"

Howl jumped out of his chair. "Father, how many times have I said not to read my mind?!"

He chuckled. "I couldnt help it, you had such a human expression on your face. So what's she like?" He inquired.

Howl smiled and leaned back. "She's wierd one. Knew I was a vampire, and still let me take her to school."

"Oh really? And how did this come about?"

"When I was on my way to this meeting, I sensed a massive mount of fear and distress waving over not to far from where I was. I acted on instinct and went to help her, she was being accosted by two thugs from that gang that the Shadow Guard has been keeping under wraps."

The older man nodded. "Well... from prying further into your thoughts I see she smacked you for being fresh. Feisty young thing."

He growled. "DAD! Stay out of my head!"

"Thats what she said."

"Bite me."

"Howl thats not funny."

"It wasn't supposed to be."

Kenji rolled his eyes at his son and chuckled. "You're going to go see her again, arent you?"

Howl thought deeply for a moment, then replied. "Yes, yes I will. She's rather interesting... She wasnt completely afraid of me, but she didnt fawn over me like the vampire women either."

"She doesnt know we're royalty."

He shook his head. "I dont think it would really matter to her. She just goes about her business, and what I gathered from her thoughts and memories..."

"And you told me to stay out of your head!"

"Father, please! I couldnt resist. I'm strongly attracted to this human, and I want to know why! She's just...so very different from the other women I have met. She's...refreshing to be around."

He looked up suddenly at the clock. "Father, you'll have to excuse me, but I do believe she gets out of school now!"

Kenji nodded. "Go on. Watch out for any signs of the dark shadows though."

"Yes, I will. See ya later!" And with a whirl of raven black feathers, he vanished out of the room. Kenji sighed and looked out the window. "Melya, if only you could see your son now..."

Back with Sophie...

Miss Sulliman looked up silently as Sophie rushed into her classroom. "And you are?"

Just before she could answer, the phone rang. "Hello Miss Sulliman's... Oh is that so? Higurashi? Right... Ok, thank you dear..."

"So, Sophie, is it?" She said hanging up.

She nodded. "Well... since you couldnt help your absence this morning I will run copies of the notes I gave out for you. Please take a seat over there, next to Sachi." She said, pointing to an empty desk next to a rather timid looking girl.

Sophie nodded and bowed. "Yes Ma'am." And with that, made her way to her desk. "Hello, I'm Sachi...welcome to Juuban."

She smiled. "Hi Sachi, thank you so much...so how exactly does this class go? I've been going to schools in America most of my life so I"m a tad lost."

The girls eyes widened. "Whats a well to do Japanese girl like you oding in America?"

"My mother died...and my father...I dont know, so I had to live with my grandmother." Sachi bowed her head. "I'm sorry for my rudeness Sophie."

She shrugged it off. "Oh, its alright I dont mind."

"Ahem."

The girls looked up to see Miss Sulliman standing over them. "Well Sophie now that you made friends with the smartest student I have would you mind paying attention?"

"Oh, I am so sorry Miss Sulliman!" Sachi and Sophie said together. Miss Sulliman smiled. "Its alright dear, I just recieved your files...you havent been in Japan for a long time, it might take you a while to adjust. Just be quiet in my class, pay attention and take good notes and you'll pass my dear."

Sophie nodded. "Yes Ma'am."

The rest of the day went by so fast for Sophie, for luck favored her for once, and she had Sachi in everyone of her classes, and the two were quickly becoming good friends.

"Sophie... do you think maybe you can come over sometime? Meet my family? I 'm sure they would love you!" Sachi asked as they were dismissed from school. Sophie smiled. "I'll see when I can... I'm staying with my sister and she's my transportation when I'm not headed to school."

"Oh okay... Oh who's that?" She asked, pointing to a young man at the crosswalks to student parking, waving and grinning at Sophie. Her eyes widened. "Howl... what's he doing here?" she breathed.

"Howl?" Sachi squeaked. "Did you say..."
"Yes Sachi, and dont worry, he doesnt eat hearts!"

Sachi jumped back as Howl magically appeared right infront of them. "Hello Sophie dear!" He chirped, bowing deeply and kissing her hand.

Whack!

"Ow, Sophie dearest thats the second time you have struck me today!" He moaned, rubbing his red cheek.

"Well, I had to make sure you weren't trying to be Lecherous!"

"Oh women... and you are Sachi, no?" He inquired, turning to the frightened girl. "Y-Yes..."

He chuckled. "Yet another I have to convince I wont hurt. Oh boy, I'm in a predicament." He joked, scratching his head. Sophie smiled at his boysihness.

'He's so cute...'

"Why thank you.'

'Howl...'

'Yes Sophie?'

"Get. Out. Before. I. Slap. You.'

'Yes Ma'am!'

Howl grinned at her. "You are quite violent, my dear."

Sachi looked at Howl, then Sophie, then Howl again.

'They actually look cute for each other. He definitely likes her.'

'Really, you think so?'

"AHH!!!" She shrieked as Howl's voice echoed through her mind.

"I am so sorry for that." He apologized, bowing.

"What...? Oh Howl, were you reading that poor girls mind?"

"Guilty."

"Oh Sachi." She gave the girl a hug. "It's ok, its a bad habit of his."

Sachi nodded. "I always thought the vampire mind reading thing was a myth. Holy crap that was so wierd! Don't do that again!"

Howl grinned and nodded. "Sophie, if you dont mind, I'll escort you home."

She shook her head no. "Oh no, nah-uh! I am NOT flying again! That was freaky!" He chuckled. No, I brought a car this time." He said, motioning to a silver Aston Martin parked near the school's gates.

"Oh."

"Do you need a ride too?" He asked, turning to Sachi. She quickly shook her head no, and pointed to a black 350Z. "No, it's alright, I drive."

She quickly scrawled out her number on a piece of paper from her purse and handed it to Sophie. "Call me when you get home, ok?" She sqeuaked out, giving her a quick hug and rushing to her car.

"I seem to have that affect on people..." Howl joked as she sped off. Sophie rolled her eyes and tucked the paper in her jacket pocket. "Well can you blame her? Everyone apparently thinks you're a savage womanizing, pretty girl heart eating demon. How did that come up anyway?" She inquired as they got in his car.

"Well..." He started as they pulled off of school property,"A while back, a woman wanted me, and I refused her, for she neither beautiful in personalitly or countenance. She was a spoiled little wench from...well..." He quickly covered up his slip, not quite ready to reveal to Sophie he's royalty. "Lets just put it this way, she was a witch, and when I refused her my affections and body she tried to take my heart when I was sleeping. Needless to say, before she could kill me I got her first and her heart as payment for attacking me. If I didnt, who knows she might have killed my family off next. She is a witch after all."

"Oh... you did kill a woman then?" Sophie said quietly, scooting closer to the passenger side door. Howl sighed. "I was defending my life, and quite possibly my family too. I didnt eat her heart, or anything like the rumors say. I havent killed at all since then. I dont kill needlessly. No one has the right to take another's life, we arent made to make that judgement."

He placed a gentle hand on hers. "I told you, you have nothing to fear from me, I wont hurt you."

"I hardly know you."

"You're in my car."

"I'm wierd like that."

"I like that."

"You're strange Howl."

"As are you, Sophie. But you are a breath of fresh air for me. You're not like the annoying women that pursue me for my looks and wealth. HEck, you have no attraction to me at all. And strangely, I like it."

"Like i said, you're wierd." She giggled. He smiled. "Oh look, we're here."

Sophie looked up to realize they were sitting in her sister's driveway. "Woah... wait how did you... were you reading my mind again?"

"Yes, but for a good reason, we were have an intelligent conversation between the races."

She laughed. "Thank you again, Howl." As she stepped out the door. "Woah!! Really, you have to stop doing that!" She squeaked out as he appeared in front of her in a flash. He grinned. "May I escort you to your door? I wont try anything, I cannot come into your house unless you invite me anyways."

Sophie shook her head and smiled. "Whatever." As he linked her arm with his and led her up the driveway and to the fromt door. Just as Howl was about to kiss her hand, the door flew open. "SOPHIE WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN! YOU ARE 10 MINUTES LATE LITTLE SISTER!! AND... oh... hello... who is this?"

Sophie and Howl blinked for a moment. "Who are you?"

"I'm Sophie's sister, Lettie. Who the heck are you?"
"I'm Ho-"

"This is Akio Higurashi." Sophie cut in quickly.

'She is DEATHLY afraid of vampires she'll try to kill us both and ramble off at the mouth for hours is she found out who you really were!"

'Oh... okay. Hey! Can i read your mind now?'

'No.'

'You're in mine! So it's only fair Sophie!'

'I was saving us both from my sister.'

'oh, bite me.'

'Thats your job.'

'Shut up.'

"Uhm hello, I'm still here." Her sister snipped, waving her hands at them. "Sophie how the heck did you manage to snag the richest man in Japan on your first day back?"

"I... uh.. well you see I didnt SNAG him, he's just-"

"I helped her out earlier today she got lost on the way to school and I only seen it fit to make sure she got back home okay too."

Sophie mouthed "Thank You" to him. He smiled and nodded. Lettie looked suspicously between them. "You're not trying to get in my sister's pants?"
"Goodness no! I"m not a man whore for the second time today!"

"Second? Oh whatever. So you're not the playboy the media makes you out to be?"

"No."

"Lettie, stop it!" Sophie squeaked at her.

"Hmph." She quickly plastered a smile on her face. "Well okay then! Sophie you get inside now, dinners getting cold. Thank you, Mr. Higurashi."

He bowed. "Welcome." He turned to Sophie. "See you later sweetheart." Sophie blushed. Wow, this man was just rally blunt and straight forward. Her blush turned a deeper shade as he kissed her hand and marched back to his car, grinning and waving at her as he drove off.

Lettie nudged her. "You go girl!"

"Oh shut up Lettie."

She laughed. "Now I can go to work tomorrow and brag I had the Hottest man in Japan at my doorstep."

Sophie smiled and shook her head as she went inside. Lord, my sister is a trip.