Darkness Rising: Blood Moon

Chapter Five: Secrets and Searching

By Mystoflare and Naoko

Alexandra

“You…you failed!?”

Alexandra bit back a yelp as one of the Fathers stuck her hard, a fist to the jaw. She could feel several of her teeth breaking, and part of her jawbone might well have cracked from the force.

“I…I’m sorry, Father,” she said, apologetically, “But the ruler of the heathens is presently…incapacitated, and we should take advantage of that.”

“Shut up!” Another brutal punch from the man’s fat fist, and more bruising. “You don’t think, you’re not capable of it, so shut up, Unman. Be grateful we haven’t yet gutted your filth-blooded offspring, yet.”

Alexandra waited until he turned and left, before she even dared to look up. Her son…her only halfway sane child, who wasn’t dead, rendered a vegetable from repeated beatings, or inbred, like her other few children. Deep down, she knew instinctively, she had to protect her child. He would have more of a chance at life than the parasite in my body right now…

Getting to her feet, she staggered to the room where she knew her son was kept, spitting out her broken teeth as she went.

The room was dark, what little light came from a tiny slit of a window landed in a beam near the door. In the darkest corner, there was a small figure, curled up, apparently asleep, judging by the quiet, yet regular breathing. The little boy's hair was silvery, visible even in the darkness, as was the chain tethering him to the wall like an animal.

“Elijah?” she whispered in the corner. It was best to not make any loud noise, there was no knowing if someone might be passing by to hear her.

The silver head lifted, and the little boy smiled, despite his predicament. "Mother."

“Elijah,” she knelt down next to him, touching his hair gently as she smiled, genuinely. “Remember that metal-thing in your doll? Mother needs it right now. Please?”

Elijah blinked, but didn't question her. He sat up, holding out a ragged cloth doll he had been hiding clutched to his chest.

Alexandra quickly undid the hidden clasp on the back of the doll, withdrawing from it a lock-pick she’d put in there for the right time, like now. She quickly undid the lock that held the chain around Elijah’s neck, grateful for the obscene amount of rust on the metal links that muffled any sound it made.

Elijah smiled at her and reached up. He may have been nine, but he was small for his age, a product of genetics, as well as malnourishment.

Alexandra picked up her son and held him to her, gently. “Elijah, remember that time when you fell through the window without breaking the glass? Remember when you did that?”

He nodded, still smiling; it was the only expression he seemed capable of anymore. "Yes, Mother."

“Can you do that through the walls? Tonight, when you see the moon outside the window? I want you to go to those places I told you, where the others are scared to go.”

Elijah blinked, and shook his head. "Uh-uh. Not without you."

“Please, Elijah? They can’t hurt you there. I…I’ll try to make it there to find you. If…If I’m not there when you reach it, I want you to go with the first six-fingered people you see. I can find you then, because I know they’ll protect you. Got it?”

"I won't leave without you, mother." Though that smile was frozen on his face, he was beginning to cry.

“Elijah!” she shook him, thought not harshly. “Listen, I can’t go with you right now. Then they’ll know you’re gone, too, and I don’t want them to hurt you any more.”

"I don't care if they hurt me, as long as I can see you!"

Alexandra sniffled, though she was unable to cry, as the ability to do so had long be bred out of her race. “Elijah, listen…You’ll see me again. Maybe not all the time, for a while, but you will. And then…then you’ll never have to worry about me disappearing or anything again, alright?”

"But Mother..."

“Promise me you’ll go tonight?” She was firm, there was no arguing with her.

Silently, tearfully, he nodded.

Alexandra hugged him. “I’m sorry, Elijah, but I want you to be safe. I don’t want you to have to hide from the big people anymore…”

"How will you find me?"

His mother smiled, a bit sadly, at him. “There’s no other child who could have both your beautiful silver hair, and your lovely, innocent ruby eyes.”

Elijah looked down. He knew it was because of his hair and eyes that he was so hated and feared, and that his mother was looked on so harshly despite having proven herself capable. "I won't go far, Mother."

“Just get away from the other people, alright? Run away from anyone with five fingers and round ears.” She set her son down.

"But, they're not all bad...Daddy wasn't, and Grandpa wasn't..."

“I know, Elijah,” Alexandra nodded. “But Daddy and Grandpa aren’t able to help us any more.”

He nodded and backed up against the wall, prepared to phase through it, not that he knew that's what it was called. "Goodbye, Mother..."

“Goodbye, Elijah. I’ll…I’ll see you again soon, alright?”

He disappeared through the wall, nodding as he went.

Alexandra turned from the wall, a hand over her face as her breath hitched. Damnit, why couldn’t True Humans cry like other people? Was it really a sign of weakness to show hurt, or was it a sign of weakness that they refused to acknowledge it existed at all?

Her mind wandered, back to relatively happier times. When Elijah’s father and grandfather, both adopted, granted, were still alive, when she was still relatively ignorant of the cruelty of her kind…

"Mommy!" Elijah, his hair brown, waved happily as he ran, grinning, his chubby toddler legs trying to catch up with his young uncle.

“Elijah, be careful!” Alexandra, young back then, called to her young son.

He giggled. "I'll be fine!"

"If he falls, he'll just get up and run after Caleb again." The speaker was a young man, several years older than Alexandra, leaned on the wall near the front door of their home as he watched them run by.

“Elijah’s funny,” Caleb giggled, running around Alexandra to ‘hide’ from his nephew.

"Gonna catch you!" Elijah called out as he dove for the older boy.

Caleb squealed and tried to get away, giggling the entire time. “Can’t catch me!” he taunted the other.

Elijah hit the ground, hard, but managed to pull his head up at the last minute, scraping the underside of his chin. He squealed loudly in pain. "MOMMY!"

Alexandra picked her son up, using a cloth she was using to check his chin. “It’s alright, Elijah.”

Elijah whined; dirt had gotten into the scrape, and it stung. The young man stepped towards Alexandra and the boy.

"It's not all that bad, Elijah. You'll live."

Elijah baby-scowled at him. "It hurts!" he protested.

“Jonathan, you have some medicines, don’t you? We can put some on him and bandage it.” Alexandra looked to her…husband, as it were.

Jonathan sighed. "Come on. Inside, with the kid." He nudged her in, gentle despite the bravado about not caring so much.

Alexandra carried Elijah in, with Caleb bouncing circles around her about wanting his playmate back soon.

"Caleb, go talk to Mina."

Caleb made a face, then grinned. “Alright!” He bounced off to see the unusual green-haired woman, whom he took to like a mother.

His older brother shook his head. "Come on, let's get Elijah patched up."

“Yes, let’s,:” Alexandra shifted her grip on Elijah, carrying him along.

"Mommy and Daddy are always gonna take care of me, right?"

Jonathan smiled faintly. "Of course."

“Of course, Elijah,” Alex smiled, “You’re our baby, after all. Right, Jonathan?”

"Always." Jonathan put a hand on his head and mussed his hair.

Alexandra missed him…ever since the Patriarchs chose to ‘make an example’ of him. That day, she tried to keep Elijah from seeing the bodiless head of his father. Since that day, the boy never showed any expression besides that smile, the face he was making when he saw Jonathan’s head, thinking that he would find his grandfather instead of that…that gruesome relic.

And now, Elijah, was gone, too. Not for good, God willing, but for the time being. He would find a place among his blood-father's people; they would take pity on a child, especially one so obviously a victim of the abuse of the Church.

Turning to the door, she carefully locked it behind her, so that no one would suspect Elijah was gone until they entered. Now, it was time to fight. Even a war couldn’t continue forever.

Lucifer

Morning dawned to a groggy Natsuko. The oukami queen rolled over in the large bed she, Janmei, and Lucifer (and Lucien, who wouldn't be separated from his mothers) had shared in the palace. "Someone close the window," she groaned. Her head throbbed horribly. She really hoped she hadn't done anything too stupid last night.

“You went wandering off in the palace, oukami-chan,” Lucifer chuckled. He was wide awake, sitting at a table by the window, where he was sipping a glass of bluish wine.

"Close the goddamn window," Natsuko replied, pulling the blanket up over her head. Next to her, Janmei shifted, resting her head on Natsuko's shoulder in her sleep.

“I’m going to get breakfast. I'll bring you some, you need food.”

"What, kissing up to your wife on what may be the last chance you have to do it?"

“Well,” Lucifer grinned impishly, “That, and taking care of my wife, as is my duty as a husband.”

"Carry on." Natsuko waved him along, settling back against the pillows. She knew she wouldn't get back to sleep, there was just no way.

“Oh, you went after the Emperor. I imagine the poor man’s scarred for life, now.”

Natsuko shot up. "I what?" Oh, gods, she'd never drink again. Poor Horitamo, what had she done to him...?

Lucifer was chuckling. “Don’t worry. I understand you left in a huff after the two-spirits chased you off.”

Natsuko made a face at him and flopped back down into the bed covers. "Go get me breakfast, before I have to chase you off."

“Hai!”

Natsuko shook her head when he was gone. Idiot. She turned on her side, sighing when she saw Janmei. Her neko wife, always so classically beautiful, looked even moreso when she was sleeping, like a wing-less angel lying there. She truly was sad to be leaving Janmei, and Lucien, more than she was to leave Lucifer. They'd only just gotten them back, and now they would be separated again so soon...

Janmei shifted in her sleep, rolling away from Natsuko, and Natsuko smiled faintly when she saw Lucien, curled up into a semi-furry ball; had his mother not been moved, he would have been curled against her stomach, hidden under one arm. Natsuko covered him with her arm instead, pulling him towards her, and gently kissed his soft golden curls.

The little neko stirred and stretched out, yawning as he did. “Mama-Natsu?” he mewed.

"Ohayou," she replied, stroking his hair.

“Hara-hetta…” he whined.

Natsuko smiled. "Papa's bringing breakfast," she assured him.

Lucien bounced off the bed and ran to the door, scratching at it to be let out.

Natsuko sighed and slipped out of the bed, crossing to the door. She opened it for him. "Here."

“Nyao!” Lucien bounded out the door and pounced the first living being he saw outside...who just happened to be a passing Mina and her son.

"Lucien!"

Back in bed, Janmei stirred, sitting up to take in Natsuko snatching the boy up and scolding him, and Mina trying to maintain her balance with Shel in her arms. "Ano..."

Lucien looked completely innocent. “Play!” he giggled.

“What’s Lucien doing now?” Lucifer asked, coming back with a tray of food for his wives. He bowed slightly on noticing Mina. “Ah, ohayou, Mina-san,” he said with a smile.

Mina bowed her head back in her own greeting, while Natsuko held out the misbehaving neko-boy. "The little brat pounced her," she explained. To Lucien she said, "It's too early to play, Lucien. You need to eat breakfast, first."

“Play!”

Lucifer chuckled. “For once, your mother’s right, Lucien.”

"We'll play outside later," Natsuko assured him.

The Lord of Hell smiled as he watched all this, especially knowing how Natsuko spoiled Lucien, her favorite of all the children, biological or adopted. It made him sad to know that they’d soon be separated again, for however short a time that may be.

Natsuko carried the boy back to the bed and set him next to Janmei, who patted his head affectionately, and waved Lucifer over with the food. In the hall, Mina went about her own business, having no interest in the clear family breakfast that was about to take place.

“Natsuko,” Lucifer started, “I want you to be especially careful out there.”

"I know what I'm doing."

“I understand. But I have a feeling it’ll be some time before you come home.”

"Then so it'll be. But I'll come home." She looked at him, her face earnest, with nothing hidden from him. "I will come home. I haven't lived over ten thousand years to drop dead all of a sudden."

Lucifer laughed. “Hai, hai. Now that’s the wolfy we all know and love, ne?”

"Call me that again and someone else might be dropping dead," Natsuko replied, teasing, and held out a croissant to Lucien.

Lucifer smiled, while Lucien took the lightly buttered pastry and started eating, loudly. “Hai, I’ll keep that in mind.” He certainly would.

Horitamo

He sighed again as he finished packing his few necessities, looking over things both in front of him and in his mind.

Despite Estella’s protests that it was servant’s work, he insisted firmly on packing his own belongings for the trip. It just wasn’t proper for a ruler to do absolutely nothing and not lift so much as a finger, in his mind.

If nothing else, he hoped, he might get some things in his own mind sorted out. Like Nariko.

He couldn’t say he was totally surprised by Nariko’s declaration of love, really. The two-spirits had been very forward since the day he arrived, and he had to admit, the half-Faerie did have his charms.

Still, he couldn’t tell Nariko the same if he didn’t know himself. It confused him a bit, and frustrated him to no end.

The fact that Nariko was, physically, male wasn’t a problem. After all, Horitamo remembered vaguely, his own mother had two wives, as well as three husbands. And she had children with each of her mates. Succession was hardly under threat.

But how could he expect Nariko to accept all of him, if he didn’t know all of himself in the first place? No, better to find out before saying anything, either way.

“Horitamo-sama! It’s time to load the packs!”

“Hai, I’m coming, Estella.” Steeling himself, he picked up his few packs and brought them to the door.

The serving girl was at least dressed in a reasonably practical manner for travel, he mused. Though Estella’s ancestors and kin had no normal need for footwear, she was sporting sandal wraps on her feet, made from the fibers of some tough wood for travel. Compared to the typical wraparound she wore, which he long suspected to have been held in place by bikini-like undergarments, she was wearing a pair of long loose pants, wider near the ankles for movement, and a sleeveless top fastened at the shoulders with copper buttons. Her only concessions to vanity, he noted, were half a dozen bracelets on her right arm, which she never had before, and a decorative ornament on her left arm, the strap some colored woven material laced with a shiny metal, and inset with pink and green jade.

Horitamo shook his head good-naturedly at his servant’s choice of dress, but said nothing of it as he followed her to the stables outside.

Natsuko was already waiting, dressed with surprising shame, for Natsuko; she had full-length pants, at least, even if they were a little inappropriately tight, and her cloak covered her torso. She held a hand up to wave a greeting to the emperor and his servant, and walked to meet them. "Arjin, Elizara and Nariko are already here." She grinned. "Nariko glared at me for ten full minutes before he and Arjin went to check on the stablehands."

“I imagine he’d still be a bit upset about last night,” Horitamo nodded, “He’ll be riding with me. And you?”

Natsuko covered her mouth, her face turning red with the effort of supressing any comment. She waved her free hand to assure him she would be all right, and managed a stiff, "Excuse me!" before scrambling around the side of the building and bursting into rolling laughter.

“Ebisu’s balls,” Estella muttered, “What got into her?”

“Ah, the woman’s a bit daft, most likely,” Elizara said, as she joined them. The healer’s Arenjian accent indicated her relaxed mood, compared to before. When the healer was serious, she worked at a passable imitation of an Ardhann accent to make herself easier to understand. “They say the wolves are all a wee bit touched in the ‘ead. In ‘er case, I ken that tae be real enough.”

“I’ll have to agree, Elizara. If she rides with you, please keep her under control?” Horitamo smiled at her. The healer laughed.

“Aye, if I can, I will, Majesty,” she said.

"Horitamo-sama!" Nariko came out of the stable, wearing leather pants and a purple velvet riding jacket; hardly appropriate for a long journey, but, then, that was Nariko's way. He waved happily, relieved, at the emperor, and flounced over without hesitation.

“Ohayou gozaimasu, Nariko,” Horitamo nodded with a smile to his friend, “Did Wintara insist on coming with you?” Wintara, as the entire palace knew, was Nariko’s favored servant, just as Estella was Horitamo’s, and similarly, also a good friend of his. Neither woman was likely to get their superiors go off without them to help out.

"Hai, she's loading my things now." Nariko nodded back inside the stable. "Ano..." He trailed off, his voice lowering. "Do you know what's do be done about....that woman?" Nariko looked suspisciously to the side, where Natsuko was still laughing.

“I imagine she’ll ride with either Elizara or Arjin. Elizara can handle anyone, and if Ceih’s planning on following his mate as I suspect he is…well, Natsuko-sama will be assured a very interesting time.” A slightly wicked smirk graced the Emperor’s face, as he was obviously going to be pleased, regardless of what happened.

"Hai..." Nariko didn't look convinced, and seemed increasingly displeased when Natsuko, apparently tired of laughing, walked slowly back over to join them.

“Natsuko-sama, who will you be riding with?” Horitamo asked her.

"What are you talking about? I'm riding on my own, of course."

“Safety in numbers,” Horitamo said, “And I’d rather you have at least one person with you, even if you are a Queen.”

"With Nariko, then." She had a wicked smirk as she said it.

“He’s riding with me.”

"Oh."

“You can ride with Wintara, or Elizara. And I’m sure that Arjin will have company on his…” Horitamo sighed with mild exasperation as he could see his prediction had clearly come true, judging from what Arjin and his mate were up to, “But then, he also has a larger horse, as befits a Knight.”

"Hn. With Arjin, then. It's hardly fitting for a Queen to ride with servants."

“All right,” Horitamo smiled, “Besides, you could hardly ask for better protection, if something happens.”

"That, too." Natsuko didn't look concerned.

“A’right, then, Natsuko-sama,” Elizara put a hand on her shoulder, “Let’s get ye settled in with the warriors, shall we?”

Horitamo was eternally grateful to whichever gods were listening when the healer led her away. The lupine Queen made him uneasy.

"Awful, isn't she?" Nariko whispered as soon as they were gone.

“And yet, she fits into her family perfectly.” Horitamo led Nariko over to his mount, one of those strange animals that seemed a cross of a horse, camel and elk. It was large enough to carry four people, easily, but the Emperor never had the heart to burden it with more than half that. At least he felt better that the steed had large, sharp horns to fend off attackers with, and as he had bonded with it as a child, it understood him well.

**Old friend,** he sent to the nameless beast, **I have a companion to keep company with. Will you allow him to travel on your back, as you do me?**

The steed looked at Nariko appraisingly.

Nariko just blinked, unaware of the communication going on between Horitamo and the creature, only aware of eyes suddenly staring at him.

“His name’s Raijinshi,” Horitamo smiled at his friend, “He won’t bite, I think.” Raijinshi sniffed lightly at Nariko’s hair, then proceeded to give him a rather wet cowlick. Horitamo laughed.

"Hn, well, I'm sure I'll like him, too," Nariko said, clearly not pleased by the change to his hair. He patted Raijinshi's nose, all the same.

When the beast lowered himself enough for them to mount, as at the shoulder, he was half again as tall as Horitamo, the Emperor climbed up quickly, and offered his hand to the two-spirits to help him. Nariko climbed up carefully, seating himself behind Horitamo, and paused, before wrapping his arms around Horitamo's torso to steady himself.

“All right?” Horitamo asked.

"Hai, you?"

“I’m alright,” Horitamo smiled back at him. He looked behind him to see the others mounting their own steeds. “We’re following Dai’inu-sama and the gypsies are following us.” Nariko nodded, gripping Horitamo's robe as they started off, Horitamo glancing behind to make sure everyone was ready. Natsuko and Arjin seemed to be having a disagreement.

**Natsuko-sama!** Horitamo sent to her, **Daijobu ka?**

"Fine!" She waved him off, and Nariko made a face.

"Just let them have at each other, Horitamo-sama. No big loss."

“I suppose you’re right. Arjin and Ceih can handle her,” Hori nodded. “We’re going to be stopping to make camp at sundown. If you see a safer place, let us know, Nariko?”

Nariko nodded. The Emperor had a feeling it was going to be a long, uncomfortable ride. 

Elijah

Elijah ran with tears running down his face. He was terrified, and sad beyond words. He was leaving Mother, the only family he had left, and going into what he had always been told was a heathen world, a craven home of evil monsters. But then, he was half the same as them, wasn't he? And he'd contacted one of them before...that man hadn't seemed so bad at the time, even if it was probably because Elijah was scared out of his mind, like he was now. Maybe...maybe that "sending" thing would work again.

Tears began anew. Would Elijah have to become closer to the six-fingered demon coursing through his veins just to live? Was he to abandon God to live to see Mother again? It was that thought that did it for him. Mother. He had to live for Mother, and his little brother. He had to protect them from the church, even if he risked God's wrath doing it. God couldn't want them to die, after all; Mother was doing His work!

Elijah sat against a tree and closed his eyes. He hadn't sent since "that" day. The one when the terrifying smile had been frozen on his pale face.

**Hello?**

The answer was spoken, sounding in his ears instead of his mind, as a return sending would have. "You alive, chibi?"

Elijah opened his eyes and looked up into the deepest golden eyes he had ever seen. He wasn't sure if he was lost, or saved, now.

Kokuen

That first day of traveling wasn’t especially eventful, which was good or bad, depending on who you asked. For Kokuen, that was a very good thing.

He pitched his usual tent not far from the center of the caravan, looking forward to spending the night alone as usual. He looked over to where that angel…Kamael, was it…sat with Houseki. As if sensing he was watching her, Houseki looked up to meet his eyes, her attention away from her brother.

The demon waved at her, trying to let her know he was all right.

Houseki smiled at Kamael, and patted his hand before getting up and walking to her demon friend. "Are you all right, Kokuen?"

“Hai, daijobu,” he nodded, smiling. “You should spend more time with your brother, it’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

"I've known him a long time. I hardly know anything about the man who saved me," she replied.

Kokuen turned a bit pink, but smiled. “What’s there to know about?”

"Why don't you tell me?"

“Saa…” Kokuen rubbed his arm before looking back up. “I had a brother…but I’ll never get to know him so well.”

Houseki blinked. "Why not?"

“Five-fingers.”

"I-I'm sorry..."

“Iie, don’t be,” Kokuen smiled, patting her hand, “At least they can’t be hurt, now. They’re safer than I’ll ever feel, I’m sure.”

"Hai...no place is sacred to them."

Kokuen looked at the angel. “Perhaps not now, but I’m sure there will be. Soon.” He smiled.

Houseki looked confused. "What?"

“The five-fingers can’t last forever,” Kokuen pointed out. “They’re not immortal, not like us. And they can’t use magic without it eventually killing them. They’re ugly, inbred and self-destructive. No race like that can last. Not for long.”

The angel nodded. "Hai, I suppose that's true."

He smiled at her. “And even if they did manage to last that long, and threatened any of us again…” He put his hand over hers, and gently squeezed it, “I wouldn’t let them hurt you, ever.”

Houseki blushed faintly. "Thank you, Kokuen."

The demon smiled. “Ano…so, where are you staying for the night?”

"Nowhere in particular." She shrugged, unconcerned.

“You can stay in my tent, if you don’t have anywhere else you want to be,” Kokuen offered.

"I-I appreciate that, Kokuen."

He nodded. “I’ll get us dinner, then, at least, ne, Houseki-chan?” he smiled as he got up.

Houseki nodded, and smiled at him. She waved to her brother over her shoulder, before following Kokuen to get food.

Natsuko

Natsuko's ride with Arjin had not been a pleasant one. They had argued, endlessly, about nothing in particular, until Natsuko got frustrated and demanded to ride with Elizara instead. Idiocy, she claimed, was better and easier to handle than argumentativeness.

As soon as they stopped, she had wandered off, and was now observing the gypsy camp as she wandered through it. It fascinated her, the ease with which they were able to set up and take down anything in the caravan, the speed with which they had set up the camp as soon as they stopped. She spotted a couple wandering away from a campfire, raising an eyebrow when she noticed that both had wings, albeit in opposite colors. And still sitting at the campfire was Kamael...alone.

Feeling sorry for him, she went to the fire and sat next to him. "Can I keep you company?"

“I don’t see why not, Natsuko-sama,” Kamael nodded. The fire was flickering, and with a wave of his hand, the flames grew back to their original height.

"I see you got left alone," the oukami queen commented.

The angel laughed faintly. “Iie, that was my sister. I don’t mind that she wanted to go with him. You might say they’re…old friends, of a sort.”

"They looked like they were about to go screw," Natsuko said, with no trace of tact, as usual. "Did you see his hand on her shoulder?"

“He’s protective of her, that’s not strange. He’s always been.”

"You talk like they've known each other forever."

“Like I said,” he smirked, “They have, in a way.”

Natsuko raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

The angel just smiled enigmatically.

"Odd, you." Natsuko smirked. "Just the way I like them."

“Not a believer in reincarnation, are we?” Kamael shrugged. “Just as well, it’s real whether you believe it or not.”

"I didn't say I didn't. But you didn't exactly say it was reincarnation, either. Being vague will get you nowhere." She leaned back, sniffing briefly and wondering if she should get something to eat soon. "My son is actually not my son, originally."

“Adopted through marriage?” Kamael asked, “That’s not unusual.”

Natsuko snorted. "No. Actually the original ruler of Hell, he was killed, then reborn as mine and Lucifer's first son."

“Sou ka?” Kamael face-faulted. “Well, he’s still your son by blood, in this life.”

She nodded. "True. Acts like an ass, though," she smirked.

Kamael smiled in faint understanding and some embarrassment. “Ah, shall we get something to eat? I feel I’d like some food, after so many years.”

"Years?" Natsuko raised an eyebrow, but stood up and offered a hand to help Kamael up.

The angel accepted the offered hand and got up. “Hai, years. They captured me after I escaped from Heaven. But I hear it’s better than what some other angels suffered until recently.”

"Hn. You're out of there now, anyhow." Natsuko looked around the camp. "Now, who shall we raid for dinner?"

“I don’t know…but it looks like the gypsies are getting ready to celebrate for tonight,” Kamael nodded towards the main fire, where his sister…brother…or whatever Houseki was, was being playfully pestered by her companion.

"Hn. We probably don't want to get caught up in that." Natsuko tossed her head in the direction of Horitamo's company's camp. "Come on."

Kamael smiled and bit his lip, not about to mention what everyone had heard regarding the previous night about Horitamo and Natsuko.

Natsuko gave him a look like she knew what he was thinking. "I was drunk. Very drunk."

“Hai, Natsuko-sama,” he waved it off, mustering a straight face, though the corner of his lips still twitched a bit.

"Besides, Nariko beat me to it." Natsuko managed a completely pompous look.

“No questions here.”

"Either way." She headed towards her tent, a flashy red and gold affair.

“I’ll get some food, then,” Kamael turned to go.

"Iie, iie, they'll bring it to us."

“Bring it to…us?” the angel looked at her, puzzled.

"The food."

“Who?”

"Probably Cliff. I'm sure Darrick has found some gypsy boy to flirt with."

“Servants?” Kamael asked, despite a sweatdrop going down his face, and slowly making his way to the door.

"Hai. They came this way after Kagewaki told them where we were. They met us around midday today." Natsuko sat down and motioned for Kamael to do the same.

Kamael had just gotten to the door of the tent when the flap was thrown open and he found himself face to face with a pair of silver youkai eyes, and neck to blade with a gold-handled dagger.

"Who are you?" growled the dark-haired young man as he stepped into the tent.

"Down, boy," Natsuko said as she picked up a bottle of wine from a table. "He's a friend."

The man, apparently one of Natsuko's attendants she had mentioned, lowered his dagger. "My apologies, Natsuko-sama." He bowed to the queen, promptly ignoring Kamael now that he was of no threat.

The angel gave up and took a seat, seeing no way out for now.

"Cliff, pour us some wine." Natsuko waved the bottle at him, and he took it, turning towards the back of the tent for glasses. He returned, after Natsuko sat down next to Kamael, with the bottle and two full glasses on a tray.

"Wine, Natsuko-sama," he said formally, offering her one of the glasses. She took it, waving him off. He held the tray out to Kamael, then went to the back of the tent, disappearing behind a curtain. He was still nearby, naturally, but at least out of sight to give the illusion of privacy.

"It's not poisoned," Natsuko assured Kamael as she sipped her wine.

“I refuse to answer that either way,” Kamael sipped his glass, “He seems to like you, Natsuko-sama.”

"Oh, I know." Natsuko shrugged. "Not much I can do about it. I thought it was just a teenage infatuation when I hired him, but I guess it never wore off."

The black wings were shaking as Kamael covered his mouth, apparently trying not to laugh at the whole thing. He coughed discreetly. “Gomen, Natsuko-sama.”

She made a face at him, winking and sticking her tongue out at the same time. "I've tried, but he refuses to be deterred." She grinned sheepishly. "Of course, I did encourage him a little at first, that was probably my mistake," she admitted.

“Perhaps…or it might have happened either way.”

Natsuko nodded. "That's true." She glanced back towards the curtain, obviously aware that she was being more than a little rude in discussing Cliff so openly with him right there.

"Either way." She turned back to Kamael. "Are you just travelling with the gypsies for now?"

“With my sister, hai,” Kamael nodded. “When I know for sure she’s found her mate again…I don’t know what I’ll do.”

"You could come to Hell." Natsuko paused and laughed a little. "Sounds a little odd, does't it, an Angel going to Hell?"

“No, not really. Before the takeover…there were quite a few demons and angels who came and went between the two.”

Natsuko sighed. "I didn't mean that literally."

“I know you didn’t,” Kamael smiled. “I was kidding.”

"Well, don't be so serious about it." She made a face at him, teasing. "Hungry?"

“A bit, hai.”

"Cliff!"

The man stepped out from behind the curtain. "What would you like, Natsuko-sama?"

"Any requests, Kamael?"

“It’s been too long for me to know, Natsuko-sama. I leave it to you.” Kamael smiled at the lupine queen.

"Some fresh meat, then, Cliff. And some curry rice."

"Right away, Natsuko-sama." Cliff bowed, and left through the front of the tent.

“He doesn’t smell much like you, Natsuko-sama,” the angel commented.

"Why would he? He's a kitsune."

“Ah, gomen, gomen, then, Natsuko-sama!” he smiled, before his expression became one of seriousness again. “It’s been centuries since I last ventured out of Heaven. Back then, kitsune, oukami and inu weren’t yet separate races, just various tribes of the same stock.”

Natsuko raised an eyebrow. "That so?" She didn't look particularly interested, as evidenced by her shortly changing the subject. "Tell me, are all angels as handsome as you?"

The blush on the angel’s face was priceless.

Natsuko grinned, showing shining fangs. "What a lovely expression, but no answer to my question."

“Well…I suppose you might say that. Or pretty like Houseki.”

The lupine queen chuckled. "Hai, very pretty. I doubt Houseki could match your beauty, though." She leaned over towards him, smiling.

“A-ano…”

"Hai?"

“Arrigatou, Natsuko-sama?” the angel said, despite some pink dusting his cheeks.

She smirked. "Iie, betsuni." She paused, before beginning. "You know...no one ever said I couldn't...play around, a little, during this whole...trip."

“And I’m sure no one would stop you, Natsuko-sama.”

She raised an eyebrow. "You wouldn't?"

“Why would I? It’s none of my business what you decide to do, after all,” Kamael shrugged, though with a twinkle in his eye.

"I mean, you wouldn't stop me, if it involved you?" She was leaning more towards him with each word, a predatory look on her face.

“Perhaps if I didn’t agree to it, I might…but at the moment…”

Natsuko dove for the chance; half-jumping out of her seat to press her lips to Kamael's without warning.

The angel’s blue eyes went wide with shock, but he didn’t fight back. **N-Natsuko-sama!**

She sat back, giving him a perfectly innocent look. "You protest?"

“Iie.”

She paused, studying him, gauging the truth behind his answer before she did anything else.

“Hai?” Kamael blinked up at her.

"Daijobu ka?" She seemed genuinely concerned.

“Daijobu.”

"You don't have to..."

“I wouldn’t mind…trying,” Kamael said, “Though I don’t know a lot of the details…”

Natsuko smirked. "I'm sure I can teach you just fine..." She leaned forward, and kissed him again, only for the flap at the front of the tent to come open violently.

"Natsuko-sama!" Cliff was red in the face. "I brought the food!"

Kamael scrambled away from Natsuko, hoping Cliff wouldn’t get the wrong sort of idea about what they were up to.

"CLIFF!" Natsuko snapped, scowling at him as her prey escaped. He gave her a perfectly innocent look, though his face was still flushed, and held out two bowls of food; curry rice with meat on the side. "That could WAIT!"

"Lucifer-sama wouldn't be very happy," Cliff replied reprovingly, holding out the bowls all the same.

"He has Janmei," Natsuko growled, still glaring at him.

“Natsuko-sama…you don’t have to be so upset,” Kamael spoke up, cautiously taking a bowl from Cliff before any food could go flying.

Her scowl deepened, but she apparently decided it wouldn't be best to throw a fit in front of Kamael, and sent Cliff one last glare before snatching the second bowl, sitting down, and giving a look that clearly said she was going to pretend he wasn't there.

Kamael sighed. This was going to be a long night.