"Miu-san…exactly what are we doing here?" Tama whispered softly as he rested uncomfortably on the table. His tails were constantly flipping while I just sat idly on the tatami within this wide room.

"Didn't I say that I have a date with their commander?" I replied as I took a sip on the cup of tea I was given. "Yeah, but who is this commander? Miu-san's friend?" Tama asked as I noticed his ear twitching, indicating that he must have heard something.

"Friend?"

I whispered that unfamiliar word. A smirk made its way over my lips. A few seconds later, I caught the sound of rapid footsteps stomping down at the wooden hall. The sound grew louder and louder. It wasn't long before we both saw a shadow looming on the other side of the shoji*.

"He's more like…"

I turned my gaze up just as the shoji slid open. The darkness of the night was revealed to us. The first thing my eyes caught was that long white hair…fluttering within the gentle wind.

White hair, identical to mine.

"A lackey."

"A Doji?" Tama gasped in shock. His dilated eyes locked upon the white wings that sprout from the man's back. I stared at the man, our silver eyes locked together for seconds until I noticed his advances…

"Miu-ama!"

That voice I haven't heard for years echoed against my eardrums. I found him flying through the air within this suddenly tight space. He was coming right at me. I did nothing. I merely sat quietly and waited. Once he was close enough, I performed a forty degree lean to my right. Unable to stop, the moron flew right past me and crashed into the wall. I ignored him, not even bothering to give him another glance as I took another sip at my tea.

"Miu-san…This is that commander Miu-san was talking about?" Tama asked, gapping at the figure that was lying behind the two of us. "Kiyohime's Assassination Troop Commander, that's him." I replied softly, ignoring the look I was earning from the Nekotama at the mention of assassination. Thanks to the heavy impact, a couple of feathers had loosened themselves from the Doji's wing and were scattered all over the air.

"16 years and you haven't changed, Nobuyuki*." I finally greeted, waving my hand to brush a feather out of my view.

"And you've grown more beautiful in these 16 years." I heard Nobuyuki laughed before taking note at these arms that were coming around me. I sat still, doing absolutely nothing as I felt those pair of arms wrapping around me. A head then made its way into the nook of my neck, the chin finding its resting spot there.

"M-Miu-sa-ah!" Tama gasped, spoken too quickly that he bit his own tongue.

"Miu." Nobuyuki spoke softly beside my ear. I didn't move, nor did I show any response to his existent. I just sat, feeling the warmth of his body pressed against my broken back. After seconds, I heard a sigh heaved its way through Nobuyuki's lips.

His arms that were around me hesitated, but were unwrapped from me.

"You're so cold." Nobuyuki said; walking around me and settling down onto the other side of the table. "Hey! Don't ignore me!" Tama hissed, clawing at the table as Nobuyuki's gaze shifted.

"Oh, a Nekotama." Nobuyuki chuckled. "I didn't know you like cats." "I'm not a pet." Tama snapped at Nobuyuki before climbing onto my shoulder. "I don't remember giving you permission to tease my servant." I said coldly.

"S-Servant?" Tama gasped beside my ear, but I ignored him and continued on with my speech. "The next time you call me just by my name I will strangle you." "Yeah, I know. You never liked being called just by your name after all." Nobuyuki replied.

"I simply detest the idea of some stranger calling my name as though he has some connections with me."

"Stranger eh?"

He mumbled softly with a bitter expression pasted over his doll like face.

A moment of silence followed.

Within this pressuring air, neither of us spoke. Even Tama seemed to have taken note of the atmosphere and was keeping that loud jaw of his shut. The atmosphere grew heavier and heavier as time passes.

After what felt like hours later, Nobuyuki decided to break the silent. "You're alive." "What do you think?" I softly snapped. But my remark only made Nobuyuki chuckled.

"So Miu-sama, how did you know I was here? My existent shouldn't be known to many."

"The fact that those lesser youkai can tell that I am Doji simply by my hair and eye colour are enough prove that you are here." I said back.

"Miu-san, what do you mean?" Tama asked, completely confused and lost within our conversation.

"What, Miu-sama never told you anything, little Nekotama?" Nobuyuki said as my eyes narrowed directly at him. "Well, it's no surprise you don't know since our race is pretty rare. Even in ancient text, they believe that our white wings are the trademark of our race." "Nobuyuki…" I murmured, displeased at where this conversation was heading to. However, Nobuyuki ignored the warning glances I was signaling him and continued on.

"People and youkai alike believed they could identify us through our white wings. But that's not the case as you can see with Miu-sama here. We can always just clone ourselves and release our wings. So the real trademark of ours…" Nobuyuki raised his hand and held up a long strand of his snow white hair, "are our white hair and silver eyes."

"Nobuyuki." I snapped in a louder tone as Nobuyuki smiles.

"You know…I was doubtful when I saw this, Miu-sama." Nobuyuki spoke after a moment of pause as he placed my feather onto the table. It was the very same feather I had threw at the Ippon-datara's feet. "I didn't think I'd live again to see this. I'm glad to see you still alive and well." "Unfortunately, I can't find myself to agree with the latter part." I replied as I gently placed my cup onto the smooth surface of the wooden table.

"Guess that's right." Nobuyuki laughed bitterly, a deep frown engraved on his face. "I guess…you're right…" He whispered softly before the silence filled the air again.

"Is he–"

"He should be tearing Mt. Fuji apart trying to find me." I cut Nobuyuki off – already know what he was going to say and have absolutely no patience waiting for him to spill it. "I see…" Nobuyuki murmured. His eyes never left the piece of feather before him.

"Why don't you come back with me?" Nobuyuki suddenly asked, his eyes trailing from my feather and up to me.

"That woman has already died. The chief is missing you dearly, Miu-sama."

"That old man?" I snorted as though he made a joke, which may very well be. "So that weasel finally died and he has no one to turn to comfort aside from his mistress's child?" I said in utter disgust.

"Does he really misses me, or does he just miss a partner in bed?" The moment I spoke that line, Nobuyuki suddenly slammed his palm against the table. I secretly winced, not of surprise, but of Tama's nails that were suddenly digging into my hollow flesh.

"Who said anything of being that geezer's bed warmer?" Nobuyuki said with a serious gaze. "I'm not telling you to return on his behalf, Miu-sama." He told me, but I merely rolled my eyes and let my eyes drift across the room.

"I was merely informing you of our current situation. The woman who suggested to use you as trade is now gone."

"And the man who listened to that weasel's suggestion is still alive. What's the point of returning?"

"The villagers. They'd be overjoyed to hear that you're still alive, Miu-sama. After all, we naturally assumed that you've been digested already."

"Why don't you just say you're the one who wanted me back instead of making so many excuses?" I huffed, my face's expression unchanged.

"If I say that, you wouldn't return, would you?" Nobuyuki laughed as I clenched my fist. "…Miu-san?" Tama whispered softly by my ear, probably noticing my strange behavior. I placed my hand onto Tama's tiny head and ruffled up his well groomed fur.

"I can no longer return."

"Why?" Nobuyuki asked, starting to become persistent. "If it's about the chief we could–" "I could less about that geezer." I cut him off again, feeling almost as though this has become a strange pattern.

"I have been walking in clones for the past 16 years." I told him as I slowly removed my hand from Tama's head. "My real body…" A flash of image crossed my eyes for that split second. I could still see it…my legs that were wrapped around within the darkness…in that isolated coldness.

"My legs and wings have already become permanently paralyzed." I whispered, slightly hesitating as I told him all this. Upon the news, Nobuyuki's eyes widened in shock while a gasp erupted from Tama. "Wait Miu-san was that true?" Tama questioned.

"Sitting still for 16 years; did you think my real body would still be any good now?" I asked, staring into Nobuyuki's silver eyes with my own.

"He has eyes implanted everywhere. Even if I did agree on returning, we'll be discover the second you pull me into the light."

"Is that the reason why you're reluctant on returning?" Nobuyuki asked. I stared at him for a long while before my gaze slowly drifted to the scenery behind him through the open shojis. Coincidently, there was a sakura tree sitting just right outside. A sakura tree just like any other I came across to from the mountain.

A tree blessed with hundreds of pink buds.

"No." I replied simply before using my finger and tipping the cup of tea over. I watched with absolutely no interest at the liquid that began crawling over the beautifully craved wooden table.

Neither Nobuyuki nor Tama has anything to say. The two youkai just stared at the tea that was spilling over the table, then to me.

"You're the one who told him, right?" I spoke after empting half of my cup. "The secrets that our race has kept for centuries. You're the only one I can think of who would do such meaningless thing." I said, balancing my cup back onto the table as I stared into his reflection within the puddle of tea.

"Him?"

"Nura Rikuo. You were the one who told him the secrets of our clones, didn't you?"

"Miu-san knows of the Supreme Commander of the Nura clan?" Tama asked in shock as he nested himself onto my head with his paws nudging at the side of my cheek. "We have some histories." I replied with as less words as possible before looking from Nobuyuki's reflection to the real one.

"Who is he to you, Miu-sama?"

"Wha–" I quickly stopped myself midway when I noticed the strange expression that was on Nobuyuki's face.

"Is that man the real reason why you came tonight…and why you refuse to go back?"

"What nonsense are you–ugh!" I gasped as a blast of wind that suddenly slammed into me. "Reow!" Tama cried, blew off me just as my back slammed heavily against the tatami.

By the time I looked up, I found Nobuyuki hovering over me. His wings were spread around us almost as though acting as a cage to keep me in. "Get off." I demanded, about to push him away when he grabbed my wrists and pinned my hands above my head.

"I've been in love with you for 23 years. What do you see in a man you've only met for so little time?"

"I don't know what you mean." I snapped as I tried to struggle my hands free. However, I couldn't find myself to summon any strength within this broken up body of mine. His hand never even moved an inch when I struggled.

"Then shall I show you?"

Those hard words escaped his lips as I froze. I slowly look up only to meet Nobuyuki's face that was growing closer and closer to mine…

"Get off…" I murmured, but he didn't stop.

"I said get off." I demanded in a louder tone, but Nobuyuki just continued on. He completely ignored my words as his grip tightened over my struggling hands.

"Miu-san!" I suddenly caught Tama's scream, then followed by a cry of Nobuyuki's. Nobuyuki immediately pulled himself from me, his free hand pressed against the cut on his cheek that Tama had inflicted.

Taking my chance while he was distracted, a swirl of wind burst from my hand and tore Nobuyuki's tight grip off me. I quickly sat up and lifted my arms, attempting to elbow him while he was stunned.

However, he had recovered faster than I anticipated and successfully caught my arm. With a simple twist, Nobuyuki bounded my arm behind my back. Our chests glued against each other and I couldn't find myself anymore strength to fight him off.

"Let go of me." I demanded with an attempt to slap him with my free hand. Naturally…he caught my wrist before it could make contact. "Miu-san!" Tama shouted as I noticed him pouncing at Nobuyuki. "Nobuyuki…!" I growled, but I was too late. A burst of wind blasted out of Nobuyuki – slamming right against Tama and blasting him out of the room.

"Coming into my place to speak of another man…do you know how irritated I am?" Nobuyuki whispered as he buried his face into my hair.

"Women hate persistent men. Didn't your mother ever teach you that?"

"Excuse me. My mother only taught me that women are most happy being chased." Nobuyuki chuckled as I rolled my eyes at the remembrance of what type of woman this fool's mother was.

"Do I look like your mother?"

"You're more beautiful."

"What a horrible son." I remarked, softly wincing as the arm around me tightened. I could even hear a sickening crack emitting from the joints at my shoulder.

"Miu." My name escaped through Nobuyuki's pale lips as I found him leaning towards me again. My eyes narrowed into a glare, but I didn't struggle this time.

It wasn't that I didn't want to…but was because I was too tired.

I had completely used up the last bit of energy in the last attempt to escape. And because of that stupid cat being here, I couldn't release my clone either. I just stared with utter disgust at the pair of lips that were moving closer and closer to me.

I was helpless.

That was the only word I was able to describe myself. The word that never in my life did I thought I would use. Before the Doji I had known, I couldn't find myself to do anything. I felt so pathetic and weak, to the point where I could just hang myself.

When did I became so weak…I couldn't remember.

The air around us was silent aside from the whistles of wind and…

My eyes widened while Nobuyuki stopped his approach. The two of us sat, frozen in place. I could hear it…the strange melody drifting through my eardrums.

It was a song.

A beautiful song created through the friction of a well-crafted blade and a scabbard.

It was the song of a sword being drawn.

I, being the first to snap out of trance, quickly pulled my gaze from Nobuyuki. My eyes found their way to the shoji. Through the cloud filled night and the candle lit room, I discovered a shadow.

There was a shadow pasted on the other side of the shoji.

It was a shadow of a man.

A shadow I couldn't help but felt nostalgic in seeing.

That familiar long hair…that familiar silhouette of the face, that familiar posture that I had seen thousands of times…

The shadow moved, little by little…slowly itching towards the doorway. As the shadow moved down the hall, the hand of the man was slowly and steadily withdrawing a katana – the source of the beautiful melody that disturbed the silence.

Too concentrated at the man that was beginning to step into view, I had completely forgotten of my own situation; forgotten the Doji who was still holding me captive within his arm.

I felt my heart skipped a beat as I stared at the figure that was beginning to step out of the shadow. I didn't know if I had blinked, I didn't know if I was still remembering to breathe. I didn't know anything anymore…or feel anything for that matter.

Beneath the sea of clouds, a pair of eyes slowly began to open.

And...

The crimson irises dominated the abyss.

Shoji – a door, window or room divider consisting of translucent paper over a frame of wood which holds together a lattice of wood or bamboo

Nobuyuki - nobu (truth) and yuki (happiness).