"Yuki where are you?" Akahana sighed, completely exhausted. She decided to have a rest, and sat down on the stairs. Catching her breath and gathering her thoughts she started on her quest once again. As she climbed she noticed that it was getting colder by the minute. She shivered and pulled her jacket closer to her. It was not supposed to be this cold. She gazed up at the never-ending cluster of stairs. Could Yuki have possibly gone all the way to the top? She was wonder this when a strange flickering blue light caught her eye. She gasped, she was getting scared. The blue light, almost like a blue fire, seemed to be coming closer. "It's only your imagination. You're just paranoid. Yeah that's it, paranoid." She mumbled to herself, but despite her self-reassurances the blue fire did not disappear. But determined not to give up, Akahana kept going. A couple of hundred steps later she looked up again. This time she was positive. The blue fire was coming closer, and she hoped to god that it was just paranoia.

_-0-0-0-0-_

Rikuo casually moved down the steps, his only companion the two balls of blue fire, wondering what to do with the girl who lay unconscious in his arms. Maybe he could use her scent to track down where she lived. Or maybe he could leave her in the door step of a hotel? Maybe he should take her to Risa and ask her what to do?

As he moved down, he sensed a weak presence nearly overwhelmed with fear. A human. These adventure-seeking humans! How stupid could they get? Out in a yokai infested mountain in the middle of the night? Do they want to die?

He kept moving until his eyes spotted the human in question. A young girl, about the same age as him, with black hair and brown eyes. The same human from the loading docks. He smiled playfully.

He kept on moving until he was sure that the girl could see him. He saw her jaw drop with horror, but she didn't waver from her position. Hmm, a brave human?

-0-0-0

Akahana felt her heart stop when she saw the man with the double-colored gravity-defying hair. Her mouth fell open when she saw that he carried a limp body in his arms. The shade of brown in the body's head was unmistakable. She noticed the smile creep up the yokai's face. Was this her end? Despite the fear that engulfed her she kept standing where she was. He, as thought without any hesitation, kept coming closer. When only one stair separated them. He stopped.

"I warned you didn't, I? Stupid girl."

Akahana was totally taken by surprise, he was the yokai from the loading docks?

"Is she your friend?"
Akahana, too frightened to speak, nodded.

Just then a figure jumped between them.

-Aerial Inn-

(This is a bit of a time turn-back)

"What do we do? Oh what do we do?" Aika walked around in a frenzy. "It's been two hours since they've gone…"

"I don't know how the boys went to sleep so easily!" Harumi murmured, equally concerned.
"I think we should tell Yura-chan!"

"I don't know…"

"Yes! We should have told her in the first place! I mean she has all the yokai killing equipment!"
"Maybe, what would we do if she tells the elders?"
"We could ask her to keep it a secret?" She answered decisively.

So the two made their way to the bed on which Yura slept and shook her awake.

"Huh, what! Who's stealing my Maggi?" She said as she woke in a daze. Then realizing what she saw was a dream, blushed deeply. "Yura-chan we have something to tell you. You have to help us…"
Yura listened to the tale calmly, as if it was the most common thing in the world (which, by the way, to her is).

"Alright. I will go see what I can do. But I felt a distinctive fear coming from the mountains. It might already be too late." She answered in a grave voice.

The three girls arrived at the foot of the mountain. To their surprise Kimihiro was sitting on the steps with a worried expression. Apparently Akahana had not comeback yet.

Yura told the three to go home. They quietly complied.

Yura began to run up the stairs, her speed surprisingly fast. There was a yokai nearby, a strong one. It's aura was overwhelming. She kept on running, the years of hard training had increased her stamina incredibly. The yokai was getting closer, she could feel it.

Then she saw the figure of Akahana standing petrified, facing the source of the aura. The yokai could attack her any second. She jumped between the two and placed an exorcism paper on the yokai's face. Then she realized who it was.

"And what is your problem?" He asked cheekily.

Akahana finally managed a scream and hid behind Yura. She lowered the paper and asked "What are you doing here?"

"My business. Any way take your little friend here." He said handing the limp body to the exorcist. "I have other business to tend to."

"Whatever. But, I would like it if they could forget what happened today."

Rikuo took out a small bag with yellow powder and tossed it to Yura.

The contents of this bag would be sprinkled on the people who had witnessed today's event.

-In the Past-

Wakana felt so frustrated! It had been hours since the incident had taken place but she was still muttering curses at Rihan.

He knew everything there was to know about her life, she had relived the most horrible moments of her life when he had asked her about her past. And yet, he could not answer a single question that she muttered?

Ughhh! That *****.

Meanwhile, rather upset, Rihan had walked into a bar and ordered himself some alcohol.

Then he began to drink.

(Couple of hours later)

A constant knock on her door woke Wakana up from sleep. She went to the door and quite irritably shouted "What do you want?" at who ever was out side. She opened the door to see a very drunk Rihan standing on her door step.

"Hi." He murmured seductively, her heart started to beat.

"W-what are you doing here? Leave." She asked.

"No." He answered simply.

She knew something was wrong. He came inside, passed her, his clothes reeking with the smell of alcohol.

He kept coming close, until it was too close for comfort.

BANG! The flower pot came crashing onto his head and his unconscious body slumped onto the floor.

SOOOO what cha think? Did you like it? My best shot at a cliff hanger. So yeah.

I read the last chap of Nura mago (Finally!) and I can say I was disappointed…. Shibashi Hiroshi could have done sooooooooo much better.