Danny sighed softly as he stared down at his cell phone that he held in his hands. He hadn't gotten a single call or text from Kagome in days. Despite living right across the street from each other, he hadn't seen her in person since she'd kissed him on the cheek in her room. Was she avoiding him? She couldn't have been. They'd talked on the phone the next day. He'd already left her two voicemails and a few texts. He couldn't call her again. He didn't want to seem like a creepy stalker or something. But still... It was pretty strange for Kagome to just fall off the face of the planet like that. Something had to be up with her. Finally coming to a decision, Danny got off his bed before leaving his room.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when Danny walked across the street towards Kagome's house. He firmly knocked three times on the front door before slipping his hands into his front pockets. While he wanted answers to the ten million questions on his mind, Danny felt a nagging concern for Kagome's well-being. What if another ghost had attacked her, but she hadn't called him again? Suddenly feeling another bout of urgency, Danny raised his hand to knock again. He didn't get the chance though.

"Hello?" Kagome asked as she pulled the front door open. Danny nearly breathed a sigh of relief. She was alright. While he shot her a smile, Kagome looked sort of... nervous. She glanced behind her once before turning back to him with her lower lip between her teeth. "Danny, now's not a very good time."

"What's wrong? I hadn't heard from you in a while so I thought that-" Danny started to explain, but Kagome cut him off.

"I'm fine. I promise. It's just that my grandmother is visiting for a little while and I don't think you should be around here right now," Kagome said in a soft voice.

Did she sound scared? Had her grandmother done something to her? "Are you sure you're okay? You don't seem-" Danny started with a frown on his face.

"Danny, I promise I'm fine, but my grandmother isn't-" Kagome cut him off again.

"Kagome!"

Danny watched Kagome's eyes widen almost comically just before she slammed the door shut in his face. Danny blinked twice in shock. What just happened? Frowning deeply, Danny was about to let himself in with the help of his ghost powers, but the sight of the door opening again stopped him. "Honestly, Kagome. You mustn't be so rude to guests," Danny heard a new voice say. The one who had opened the door was a short, elderly woman with medium-length, greying hair and a soft smile. "Hello there, young man. I'm going to take a guess and say that you're Danny."

"Uh... Yes. That's me," Danny replied. Kagome had been acting so strangely. She couldn't really have been worried about this old woman! She looked so small and sweet.

"Wonderful! Come in, come in!" the woman said before practically yanking Danny into the house by the front of his tee. For a small thing, she was pretty strong. "I've only heard a little bit about you, Danny. But from what I've gathered, you must be pretty close to my granddaughter."

"I...uh... We're just good friends, ma'am," Danny replied. How do you respond to that!?

"You're so polite, but you can call me Nakoda. I don't have much place for formalities in my life," Nakoda said with a laugh. Danny could only nod dumbly. Kagome was standing next to her grandmother looking completely terrified and embarrassed. It seemed that only Nakoda was excited about this exchange.

"Grandma, Danny can't really stay. He's meeting with some friends. He just dropped by to ask me if I wanted to go, but I can't," Kagome said and attempted to direct Nakoda away from him. What? Danny raised a brow at Kagome. She really must not want him around if she's making up lies like this.

"Nonsense! I insist that you stay a little longer, Danny. I want to get to know you better," Nakoda said with a smile. "You kids take a seat. I'll go get some tea from the kitchen," Nakoda said and shuffled out of the room.

As soon as they were alone, Kagome turned to Danny with an urgent expression. "Danny, you have to leave. Fake a stomach ache or act like your mom just called you, but you need to leave," Kagome said.

"Why? Did I do something?" Danny asked with a confused expression.

"Danny, I know I haven't called you lately and I should have. But only to tell you not to come over. It's dangerous. You can't be around my grandmother. Mom doesn't even let Vlad come around anymore," Kagome said.

"Why? What's wrong with your grandmother?" Danny asked in a hushed tone.

"I'm not sure. She says that she doesn't hunt ghosts, but I'm not too sure. She's been teaching me these spells..." Kagome trailed off with a troubled expression.

Danny's eyes widened in dread. It couldn't be. Kagome wasn't learning how to hunt ghosts. Was she? Before Danny could say anything else, they heard the sound of China clattering and soft humming. Both teens turned to see Nakoda strolling into the living room with a smile on her face. "Don't drink anything she gives you," Danny heard Kagome whisper to him before taking a seat on the couch.

"I hope you like jasmine tea, Danny," Nakoda said with a smile as she poured three cups of tea.

"I... I don't think I've ever tried it before," Danny replied.

Nakoda sighed softly in bliss as she took a sip from her teacup. From over the rim of her cup, she observed the two teens sitting on the couch across from her. With a soft smile, she placed her teacup down onto the coffee table. "Well, I am very interested in learning more about you, Danny. What are your hobbies?" Nakoda asked.

"Uh. I like playing video games?" Danny replied as a question. 'And fight ghosts,' he kept to himself. He carefully held his still-full teacup in his hands. He was sitting stiffly next to Kagome, but he could see her sipping from her teacup with a relaxed posture.

"Oh, Danny. Relax. You seem so nervous. This isn't an interrogation. I'm just curious to find out who is this handsome young man that my granddaughter has taken an interest in," Nakoda soothed. Danny jumped when Kagome started to choke next to him. Quickly putting down his cup of tea to free his hands, Danny began to softly pat her back.

"T-thank you. But we're really just friends," Danny denied.

"Oh. Well, that's a shame. You seem like such a nice young man," Nakoda said with a pout. "Much better than that blonde boy who came knocking the other day..."

Who? Dash? Danny tried to stifle the smug amusement he felt at being declared "better" than Dash. When he spotted Kagome's unamused look, Danny quickly sobered up. He must not have been doing a very good job of hiding his glee. He shot Kagome a sheepish grin.

"Danny, you haven't even touched your tea."

The two froze. Danny glanced down at the still-steaming cup before looking at Nakoda. She was smiling softly and gesturing to the cup. Danny swallowed at the sight of the dark amber liquid. "Oh! Danny's not much of a tea drinker, grandma. He prefers soda. I'll get him one," Kagome said and quickly snatched up the cup. Danny watched her take the cup to the kitchen before looking at Nakoda nervously. However, the elder was watching her granddaughter with a curious gaze.

"What's gotten into her? I hope I haven't embarrassed her," Nakoda remarked.

"I don't think so," Danny replied. When he glanced back at the kitchen, Danny spotted Kagome urgently pointing at the front door. The message was more than clear: it was time to leave. "It was really nice meeting you, Nakoda. But I should really get going. I don't want to be late," Danny said while standing. His hopes were dashed when Nakoda stood up as well.

"Oh. I understand. It's very admirable that you take your commitments so seriously," Nakoda said while making the short walk to the door. Danny pulled the door open and was about to dash out when Nakoda spoke again. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Danny," Nakoda said while offering her hand. "We don't really shake hands in Japan, but I haven't been home in years," Nakoda whispered conspiringly before giggling.

Danny chuckled a bit while staring down at her. "It was...nice meeting you too," Danny said while taking her hand in his. Her hand was so much smaller than his. Where his was firm, hers was soft and a tad bony. Idly, Danny noticed the bright red polish on her fingernails. Just as he was pulling away his hand, Danny felt an all-consuming pain shoot up his arm and radiate throughout his body. A small gasp escaped him as he stumbled backward slightly. He glanced down at where their hands were joined. He was on fire! It was as though he'd suddenly decided to stand in a lit fireplace. He wanted to pull his hand away, but he couldn't move. Jaw stubbornly clenched, Danny let his eyes land on Nakoda's. Her brown eyes were narrowed at him in suspicion and accusation. The paralyzed feeling was creeping up his right arm now.

"Grandma! Mom forgot to take her lunch with her this morning. I'm going to take it to her," Kagome said as she suddenly appeared with a lunchbox in hand. "You're still here, Danny? I'll walk you out. Don't worry, grandma. I'll be back soon," Kagome said quickly while roughly pulling Danny out of the house and slamming the door shut. Ditching the empty lunchbox over the side of the steps, Kagome wrapped an arm around Danny's waist. "Danny?" she asked in concern.

"Can't...move," he managed to whisper in a strained voice.

"I'll help you home," Kagome said while reaching into his pocket for his house key. Once she had the bronze key in hand, Kagome quickly hobbled across the street with Danny's lifeless body pulled to her side. It took thirty seconds flat to get Danny into his home and lock the front door behind them. It took much longer to get Danny up the stairs and into his room, however. But once she'd made it, Kagome helped him lie down on his twin bed. "What did she do to you?"

"Don't know. She held my hand... and it hurt. It felt a hundred times worse than when you did it accidentally," Danny replied.

"Does it still hurt?" Kagome asked as she examined his hand. She couldn't see anything physically wrong with him.

"It's not as bad. What did she do?"

"I think it was just a minor pain-infliction spell. It doesn't look like a curse. The pain should fade in a few minutes," Kagome said. "You didn't transform though. I wonder why."

"It felt like she was burning me alive and ripping me in two at the same time," Danny said.

"I'm so sorry, Danny. I should have tried to stop her sooner," Kagome apologized.

"S'not your fault. But I don't think I'll be going back to your house for a while," Danny said with a strained smile. With a shake of her head and a small smile, Kagome brushed some stray strands of hair out of Danny's face.

~:~

Kimiko frowned down at the message on her cellphone. Kagome had texted her not too long ago with very urgent news.

Kagome: Grandma used magic on Danny and now he's not feeling too good. I borrowed some of your Indian pipe.

Kimiko tucked away her phone with a sigh. Honestly, she should have seen this coming. Nakoda wasn't actively hunting ghosts, but that didn't mean that she could be considered "ghost-friendly". Idly, Kimiko wondered just what must have been going through Nakoda's mind when she met Danny. She probably would have sensed his ghost powers within minutes, but been confused by the life energy he still had. Danny and Vlad both had unique energies that felt alive and dead at the same time. It would give any witch a headache to try to understand.

Pulling up behind her home, Kimiko got out of the car and quickly entered the house through the back door. When she looked around the kitchen, she saw Nakoda sitting at the table with a pensive frown on her face. Kimiko approached her slowly. "Nakoda?"

"Kimiko, maybe you can explain it to me," Nakoda started.

"Explain what?"

"I've noticed something strange about that boy Kagome associates with. The one with the black hair and pretty, blue eyes," Nakoda started. "It's the darnedest thing, too. He feels like a ghost, but I can tell that he's alive."

Kimiko pulled out a chair before taking a seat at the table. With an unreadable expression, she continued to give Nakoda her undivided attention.

"At first, I figured that he must be possessed by some troublemaking ghost. So, I attempted to expel the ghost from his body. But... It didn't work. A spell that I know to work and have seen work didn't work," Nakoda stressed in a level tone. "I didn't know what to make of it at first. While I was stunned speechless, Kagome practically dragged the boy out of the house! She said that she was going to bring you your lunch, but I watched her walk that boy across the street and go into a house with him. Now, why would my granddaughter think that it was necessary to lie to me like that?"

Kimiko stared evenly at Nakoda. The older woman returned the stare with a delicate brow raised. Kimiko pursed her lips before saying, "Something tells me that you've already developed your own theories."

"Kimiko, I care for you like a daughter and I love all my grandchildren dearly," Nakoda started.

"But..." Kimiko hinted.

"I do not think that you are raising them correctly," Nakoda said with her shoulders squared.

Immediately, Kimiko felt her hackles rise. She could take insults to her character or sense of style. Heck, she'd been taking them from her own mother for years. But she would never and could never tolerate criticism on her parenting skills. "I think that they are being raised the best that they can be considering that I am raising them alone. I appreciate your concern for them and I am grateful for all the care that you gave me while I was still a child, but I will not allow you to criticize my parenting decisions."

Nakoda smiled in a somewhat patronizing way like an adult would smile at a naive child. With a shake of her head, Nakoda said, "I know about that man that you are seeing now. I don't care that you are dating again. It's not my business. It is my concern, however, when you bring ghosts around my grandchildren."

"I'll have you know that-" Kimiko started angrily, but was quickly cut off.

"I never pursued a life of actively hunting ghosts, but I know as well as you do that ghosts are not to be trusted. Much less associated with so frequently!" Nakoda declared in a stern voice. "They are vile creatures and not only have you allowed one into your bed, but you've allowed another to get close to your daughter!"

Kimiko immediately shot up from her seat, the chair falling to the floor with a loud clatter. "That is too far, Nakoda!" Kimiko shouted with anger written all over her face. She'd never raised her voice at Nakoda before (first time for everything). Nakoda had always been kind and caring, but the woman now sitting before Kimiko was practically unrecognizable.

"Fine!" Nakoda shouted and stood. Slightly red in the face with an intense fire burning in her eyes, Nakoda pointed a bony finger at Kimiko and warned, "You're corrupting yourself by allowing that abomination to get close to you. Mark my words. You're letting the same thing happen to Kagome." Quickly turning on her heel, Nakoda walked out of the room and out of the house completely in a huff.

With a long, exhausted sigh, Kimiko moved to pick up the chair she had knocked over. Bonelessly, she plopped back down onto the seat and held her face in her hands. Nakoda had always been like a mother to her. But had she always been so close-minded and harsh? Her words kept replaying in Kimiko's head like a broken record player. "Corrupting myself..." Kimiko said with a roll of her eyes.

But this exchange did bring something to the forefront of Kimiko's mind. No matter what, she was a witch and Vlad was half-ghost. Nakoda wouldn't be the last person to disapprove of their relationship. She was just one of the only people who wouldn't try to kill Vlad on sight. Was it right to put themselves through more of this in the future?

~:~

Witches were residing in Amity Park.

Why did it take him so long to hear this news? Perhaps it was due to him spending his days holed up in Pariah's Keep? Most likely. No ghost with their sanity intact would dare to venture into Pariah Dark's domain (despite the Ghost King being inactive). Apparently, the mere mention of a witch's presence is enough to cause lesser ghosts to lose their sanity. Go figure.

"Please! Have a little mercy! I'll do anything if you let me stay here!" the green, blob-like ghost shouted with its shapeless hands clasped together.

"Witches are now residing in that town? Surely, the ghost child would not allow this?" Fright Knight pondered aloud.

"The ghost child is a traitor! He has allied himself with the witches. He even defended them. They must be giving him some sort of power..." the ghost mused with a sneer. "Please. I just need someplace to hide..."

Fright Knight raised a brow as he glowered down at the ghost. "This is King Pariah's domain. Not a hole for a cockroach to scurry into and hide. Be gone!" Fright Knight shouted and brandished his sword.

With a shriek, the ghost quickly took to the air and flew off. The Fright Knight scoffed once before sheathing his sword and turning to reenter the castle. "The ghost child has chosen witches for his allies? That is preposterous. What witch would ally with a ghost?" Fright Knight mused. Surely, the witches have fooled the child. It wouldn't be too hard to do so. The ghost child was still a little wet behind the ears. But, if they hadn't... Then the ghost child would be even more powerful than the last time they had fought! And if this ghost child was allying with witches and betraying his own kind, it at least deserved some reconnaissance.

Many ghosts heralded the ghost boy as the defeater of Pariah Dark and the savior of the ghost zone. Fright Knight never bothered with such notions, however. Pariah Dark was still the king, even in eternal sleep. While Fright Knight could be persuaded to fight for another's cause, he was still a loyal knight. His king came first. And as such, he had to ensure that this child wasn't a threat to his king!