CHAPTER 2

The two Guardians stood, perched atop a clock tower in Nagasaki, "He's close, I can feel it." Morgan said and then shivered.

"Something wrong Morgan?" Watari asked. If he didn't know better he'd say she was uneasy.

"No, not really, but this Muraki is absolutely barking mad. His mind is not a pleasant place to be right now." Morgan answered, "What's this obsession with someone named Saki?"

"Hmm, his half brother. Tsuzuki told me that Saki had murdered both of Muraki's parents and then was killed by a family retainer. Muraki wants to bring him back so he can kill him with his own hands." Watari said, all trace of his usual humor gone. The blond scientist tucked a strand of hair behind his ear and watched the ground.

"Lovely." Morgan sniffed, "As I said barking mad. Did he really think he could use Tsuzuki's body to bring him back?" When her friend nodded she shook her head, then saw their quarry, his white suit reflecting the moonlight. "Is that him?"

"I believe it is." Watari affirmed.

"Shall we go say hello? I mean, I wouldn't want him to think we were rude, after all." Morgan grinned, blue eyes alight with the thrill of the chase.

"You know, I could almost feel sorry for Kazutaka Muraki right now. Almost." Watari observed to no one in particular. The two Guardians vanished only to reappear in front of the doctor.

"Well, well, what have we here?" Muraki said, his tone mocking, "A Guardian of Death and...someone I don't know. Didn't know you were into the ladies Mr Watari. I must compliment your choice though, she is exquisite." Muraki took a cigarette from the pack in his front pocket and lit it, "To what do I owe the pleasure of this covert meeting?" he asked after taking a long drag.

"Surely you must have known we'd come for you sooner or later Dr Muraki?" Morgan answered, flipping a lock of midnight hair over her shoulder.

"I was expecting it," Muraki agreed, " although I had hoped they would send Mr Tsuzuki. Oh dear, I hope Mr Tsuzuki is all right?" then seeming to remember his manners "How terribly rude of me my dear, I'm Kazutaka Muraki." the doctor extended his long fingered, white hand, "And you are?"

"Morgan Feyne, from the Ministry in London, pleased to meet you Dr Muraki." the black haired Guardian said with exquisite politness, giving the man's hand a brief shake after a mental aside to Watari, "I have a proposition for you."

"Oh? And what would that be?" the silver haired man asked, his tone inquisitive, but his smile mocking.

"I'm sure you understand that you have racked up a sizable account at the Ministry with your past affairs." Morgan answered, a slight smile on her lips as well. Watari knew that smile and it never boded well for the one she was smiling at. "I'm offering you a chance to assist us in tracking a killer who is running lose in Japan and using the old ways to kill his victims. If you agree then perhaps it will help in settling all your 'accounts'."

"And if I refuse?" Muraki asked, his tone mild, but his one visible eye was cold and serpent-like.

"Then I kill you right now and we let Lord Enma sort out what to do with you." Morgan answered sweetly. Muraki tried to move but found himself unable to as a flash of violet light lit the pentagram beneath him. "What? When did she do this?" The black haired woman continued to smile, but it had become a chilling smile, "Let me put it another way, doctor. I'm familiar with all of your tricks and I probably know a few you haven't thought of yet. You 're going to help us. The only question is, how much does this have to hurt before you bow to the inevitable? Your choice." Morgan tilted her head, "I'd think you would want to help. He is poaching in your territory after all. Honestly, a killer running loose using magic? I would think you'd be out for his blood, for copying your MO if nothing else!"

"I might be persuaded if you'll tell me how you conjured a spell like this so quickly." the doctor answered, seemingly undisturbed by the fact that he was being held by magic stronger than anything he could conjure.

"I've had a lot of practice." the British beauty answered.

"Your gift is stronger than any I've ever felt." Muraki said in a serious tone, his eyes narrowed in speculation, "Teach me and I'll do whatever you wish."

"I taught someone like you once and lived to regret it.' she answered flatly. "I should have strangled him in his cradle. I suspect some have said the same of you."

"Perhaps, but it's the only way I'll help you." the silver haired man purred, then amended, "Willingly anyway."

"Merlin's beard!" she muttered under her breath, "Why do I always get stuck with the crazy ones!" She considered the man before her for a long moment, before asking, "If I do this, will you agree to become my apprentice in every way? Before you answer doctor, I must warn you that my teachings are not easy and sometimes boarder on harsh and learning under me will color everything that you do in magic, perhaps in life for all your days. Also while apprenticed to me, your power will be subject to whatever controls I see fit to put upon it. Do you agree to these terms?"

"I agree madam." the doctor answered with a graveness that was somewhat out of character for him, "I had heard that people like you still walked the world, but I could never find you."

"We have ways to avoid people like you Muraki, although I doubt I or those like me could have ignored you for much longer. Untrained use of power such as you can command is more dangerous than teaching you. If worst comes to worst and you don't kill yourself with the power first, we either find you and teach you or we eliminate you. But know this, we will be watching you hereafter and you will be judged even more harshly for being taught by one of us. You will be expected to exert greater control over yourself once your apprenticeship ends and the protection extended to you as a student will be gone." Morgan looked at the doctor and to Watari, she seemed somehow inhuman, a creature of legend and not quite of this world. "You will learn many things Kazutaka Muraki, one of which will be about me, but that is for later. Right now we have a sorcerer to catch and we need to learn what he wants and why he's doing this."

"I don't suppose you'd care to share what you already know with me, would you?" the doctor asked, "Oh, and let me out of this spell too. It's really a little undignified and besides that," he grinned a little sheepishly, "my nose itches! I've been like that since I was a child, hold my hands and my nose will itch uncontrollably!"

Morgan chuckled and incanted the counterspell, quietly, though she saw Muraki trying to understand what she was saying, but unless he was a linguistics expert and had studied celtic spells then she wished him luck. In truth, words had little to do with the spell, as long as the intent was clear in the mind of the caster, in fact Morgan frequently spoke backwards when casting out loud to keep the less educated from learning things best left to trained sorcerers. "I suggest we all go back to the Ministry and I'll get you copies of what we have so far and get you up to speed on the case."

Muraki adjusted his immaculate, white overcoat and nodded, "Very good, after you Madam."

"Oh and leave Tsuzuki and Hisoka alone or you'll wish you had." Morgan said conversationally, "Once I've brought you abreast of what is happening, you and I are going to make a brief side-trip."

"Oh? And where will we be going?" the doctor asked, eyes narrowing.

"If I told you, you wouldn't believe me." the raven haired sorceress said honestly, "Where I'm taking you, only the chosen can walk now. The chosen or their apprentices. Whether you will ever walk there yourself, without me, remains to be seen.

Going where only the chosen walk now? Where would that be? We explore the mystery of Morgan's past and just why she's the best woman for the job. See ya soon!