Saint Joseph School

This is Yuki's story. It has been collected from other posts and stories as well as new additions to make a fluid and concise story.
*************************Warning*************************
Some parts of this story are very graphic and violent. Please be aware of this fact before reading.
I'm not kidding. Some parts are rated "R" and should never be read by those that are too young or have a week constitution.













Some times you chose to live a life and sometimes life chooses you to live a life you did not want. As ones life grows and changes the changes in a gifted child can be more then they can handle at one time. This can cause a ripple effect in their life for years to come. The beginning will always come to an end but the end may just be the beginning.

Stray chips of stone and dirt nearly gave her away as Francis held her breath, praying no one was about at this unholy hour. She shifted in the windowsill of the chapel, pushing the worn metal clasp away from the damp wood. She checked her watch. Almost 3 a.m.

For the eighth time that night she thanked Sister Salvation for showing her one of the few ways to escape the St. Joseph School campus in the middle of the night. Then again, she really should be thanking the blue-haired guy she had caught the librarian with….but that aside…

The battered stained-glass creaked open and Francis tilted to the side, poking her fuchsia-colored head out from the stone window ledge. The worm-eaten book in her hands was clutched a little tighter, her breath picking up. With a quick hop, she dropped from the window on the cold grass below with a soft thud. Nearly losing her balance, the young witch managed to juggle the book and her own footing in a comical dance before nearly knocking her head onto the wall to steady herself.

The quad was clear to the left and to the right. Slivers of moonlight dappled the path from the chapel to the Wingra tree and beyond. Yuki should be showing up soon just past that patch of shadows.

Francis checked her watch again; 3:05, she would have to hurry.

The message left in her locker had been vague, but the frightened tone had been unmistakable.

“Fighting demons”, “called me a traitor”, “my father’s race”, all these phrases struck chords within her that she wanted to wish away. Demons were bad news, any way you cut it.

Briefly, she recalled something Jasmine had once told her. “Demons, Franks.” She had said, the cigarette dangling from her lip, “Don’t mean evil…but I guarantee you it means ‘up to no good’.”

Francis paused near the Wingra tree and peeled the yellowed pages of the battered tome apart. The embossed cover of the book read Jacturae Horrifera Dies Imminet, Ineluctabile Damnum. A strange script covered the binding, the leather scraped and cut with the letters, I I I H.
She snorted slightly, her senses assailed by the dust of over two hundred years. She scanned the illuminated page.

“Cineri gloria sera est.” Francis took a breath. “Well, it’s now or never I guess. I just hope she got my message.”

She settled near the far wall of the old chapel building and waited.

Blues and purples fading together, the sun’s last gasp of light flashes across the sky. Yuki has the perfect vantage point on top a steeple over looking the ocean.

She sighs to herself, “It’s not the same”.

She repositions her feet and stares into the coming night.
“Why?” she asks, her mind racing through thoughts of her youth.

“油木! そのコンピュータを離れて得、ダイナーに来なさい.” She hears her mother’s voice. “Coming mother” She cries. Reaching over and clicking her mouse she logs off her computer and ties her long black hair back with a velvet ribbon. Yuki races down to meet her mother in the dining room. “Is Daddy going to be coming home for dinner tonight?” Her mother looks at Yuki but says nothing as she places the hot rolls on the table. “Your Father is very busy…”Her mother’s eye catches a photo on the wall. A beautiful photo of Yuki’s mother and father on their honeymoon. Gazing lovingly into each others eyes. This was Yuki’s favorite photo of her parents. They look so in love. But something in their expressions made Yuki often wonder why they looked so sad. She continued, “…he will be home when he can.” “Come now, you must be starving.” Not many words were said during dinner. This was normal now. Just the clanking noises of bowls and plates. Yuki starts to ask with out looking up, “Do you think…”Her mother puts her bowl down and looks at her daughter. So proper and elegant, her mother always charming and polite no matter what the situation. Gracious may not be the right word but the only one that came to mind as she looked up. “Do you think Daddy will be ok this time?” Her mothers eyes softened and a slight grin formed. “Your father has always come home to us. He will be home soon Yuki.” Yuki nods in acceptance and stands up to clear the table. Filling a tray with empty plates she stops abruptly. He mother eyes wipe stares intently at the front door. “What is it Mother?” She doesn’t move. Silence fills the house. Yuki’s eyes quiver trapped in time. Her mother stands and reaches for Yuki. “Yuk...”Glass shatters into the room. The windows explode as a defining noise streaks across the house. Yuki drops the tray of dishes. They break on the floor slowly and in silence. Above the frightful noise she hears her mother scream, “YUKI!”

Yuki screams out loud as she clutches the steeple roof making deep claw marks in the stone. Her breathing frantic and strong. Her face is soaked with tears.

She looks out into the sky. “Night time.” “Very night time!” She looks at her cell phone. 3:01, “Oh, 愚かな女の子!”
She unwraps her large skin like wings from around her and extends them. She releases her grip on the stone and the slightest of winds lift her demon shaped body into the air. While clutching a note in her hand she gasps “I hope I’m not too late”.

She flies fast and reckless over the city racing to make it back to the school in time. After a good five minuets she makes it to campus. “Aww, please still be here.” She pleads with her self. Making out the small old chapel building from the sky she drops down next to a large tree. In her haste to get to the very cloak and dagger type meeting she fails to judge the landing right and crashes through a large branch. Yuki releases a loud “Umph” as she plummets the last eight feet to the ground. Yuki’s eye focus on the glistening leaves falling through the moon light on top her. She remains on her back for a few moments struck by the beauty of the scene.

It was a giant bat. No. It was a....a....it was something alright.

The twirl of drifting leaves, glistening in the cool dew gave way to a strange face framed in moonlight. Yuki's vision showed a face lined in black, haloed with strands of fuschia and violet.

The small, upturned nose wrinkled slightly and the soot-black lips pursed into a tilted angle. Franky leaned over the strange creature slowly, the uneven book still clutched tighly in her hands.

"Yuki?"

Watching as a single leaf trying desperately to defy the forces pulling it to the earth she stares wondrously upwards. Down and up, twisting and turning Yuki seems hypnotized by the action of the colored leaf as it finally comes to rest on her cheek.
Distracted and transfixed on the falling foliage Yuki did not notice the shadowy figure slowly approaching her. Her eyes focus closer on a dark face looking down strangely. She awkwardly tilts her head as she hears her name in a questioning tone.

"Hi, Franky."

Her cheeks blush in embarrassment. Yuki sits up with out moving her legs. Leafs stream off her chest and shoulders, some making a small pile in her lap. Still holding the piece of now dirty paper she turns her head to Franky. Yuki grins and in a sheepish tone announces,

"I got your note."

Franky shook her head and muffled a sigh. Looking over the creature that sat before her carefully, she would almost have had to admit to being surprised.

Oh, she'd seen demons before but this was...well...different.

The leathery wings seemed obvious enough, the oddly shaped body fit as well, but put together, Yuki's misshapen features and burnt coloring made a strange image. Like the imago to a very poorly thought-out butterfly.

The young goth leaned over carefully and pulled the creased and worn witch hat from her bag. For a second, the memories of a night long ago battling the Cabal invaded her thoughts. Mary Macomber had had things like this thing now sitting on the campus lawn. They had been defeated in a howling mass of confusion, but defeated none-the-less. The Cabal hat Francis had claimed from the very head of their leader was proof of that. Surely for Yuki, she could muster something from its magic.

Seating the hat firmly on her head Francis crossed her arms, balancing the book in the crook of her elbow. In the depths of night, the entire scene; demon sitting on the ground, a witch with a worn book standing over, begged for a cliche.

"Well, I'd say that's something alright. How in the world did you do this again?"

Yuki looks down at her hands. The dark grey skin and talon like claws just didn’t feel right. "This isn't me", she thought. She peers up at Franky and stutters as she tries to speak.

"I...I...
…I don't know any more." She takes a beep breath and tries to begin again.

"You know I'm a half demon right?"

Yuki grins at her obvious question. She ponders to herself, “Of course she does dummy.”, as she looks down at her body then back up.

“Well my Father was the demon…my mother was normal…you know, just human.” Yuki continued. ”My father said one day I would become as powerful as him if not more. So I knew that I would have powers like him one day.” She remises a bit, “When I was twelve I started showing signs of my heritage.”

“Anyway”, she snaps back to topic. “A while ago I went on an adventure with a classmate….no wait, before that.” Yuki begins to ramble.

I was normal. I looked normal and I did normal things. I had to. It’s the only way I’ve lives this long.” She sighs. “Being normal was my cover. I hid in plain sight. When ever used my…humm, gifts I would transform into, well, what you see. So, I never really used my powers. At least never where people could see me. But after that mission.” Yuki’s words fade in and out of Japanese and English as her tempo quickens. “It was those demons! I never should have gone after them! I wasn’t strong enough. I can’t beat them!” Tears roll off her cheeks. “They knew I was coming. They wanted me to come. If it wasn’t for Lightfall they would have…” Yuki gasps at the thought of her possible fate.

“I don’t know if they cursed me or if this is by my own making. But I haven’t been able to change back to...” she makes the quotation symbols with her elongated fingers, “…normal since.”

Her shoulders slump forward as she rests her arms to her sides.

“The worse part is now because of my stupid ambition…after all this time of running and hiding they now know where I am.”

Yuki fixates on a broken twig on the ground and stares beyond the ground into the void of thought.

With a strange air of confidence, Francis nodded her head.

"Well. I have a few things in mind, but before we try anything, I need you to know something."

With a deep breath she pushed a stray strand of hair out of her face.

"I don't know much about...well...your kind of demons. Maybe they work differently than some of the stuff I've bandied about with before, maybe not. Magic isn't an exact science, I guess is what I'm getting at."

The young goth girl sat down carefully in the damp grass next to the oddly shaped Yuki, smoothing her plaid skirt.

"I think first we need to get you to change forms, that's pretty straight forward, magically speaking. As for hiding you again, that's going to be trickier."

Franky tilted her head to attempt eye contact.

"Understand?"

Yuki wrinkles her noise at the idea of demon hunters or the demons that hunt "unpure" demons knowing her whereabouts. She swivels her head from side to side looking to make sure she safe. Then looks back at the fashinable gothic girl, noddling her head in aproval and respect she murmurs.

"Ah huh."

"Ok, ummm....hmmmm....well....let's see...."

The little wrinkle that signaled concentration began to form over her nose as Franky peeled open the obstinately worn book.

"Hmmm....Limbo, no. Lucifer, no. Loki, no. Ah ha! here. The Magic Lantern. This will take care of your form shifting problem!" the goth said with a smile.

"Well, I mean. It should." She paused, looking down at Yuki. "Anyway..."

Tossing the book to the ground, Franky summarily tore open the zipper to her backpack, producing a small metal lamp that held two paper disks fastened to either side. On one disk, there was a strange yellow and orange flame pattern and on the other, the images of two people in black charcoal. It looked as though the disks could spin around the light of the lamp via a small hinge on the bottom of the fastener.

Carefully, Franky set the lamp on the ground near Yuki's feet. "This is, uhh....gonna look really weird ok?"

Reseating the witch hat on her head and lifting the book once again from the grass, she dug out a battered, plastic cigarette lighter. Leaning over and flicking the lighter into flame, Franky paused.

"It's going to be ok, Yuki. I promise. You ready?"

"What ever you think is best."

Yuki looks down at her feet at the strange object. She fidgets a bit. Looking nervous she sits up and comes to rest on her knees. She stares intently on the magic user. Studying her every move.

"ah.....I mean...hmm..."

She pauses for a moment not sure if she should say anything.

"...are you sure this will work?"

Francis looked up from the book with an oddly cheerful smile, "Nope!"

With a deft wrist she lit the lamp; the paper disks causing a strange play of light and color against the brick buildings. Carefully balancing the lamp on the grass Franky stood tall, the book clutched in her fingers. She used her toe to nudge the first disk, causing the whole strange apparatus to spin.

In the darkness, the lamp caused a bizarre world to unfold. The entire area was bathed in flickering orange and red light. With sound and heat, it would be as though an inferno raged across the quad.

The witch hat bowed over the crinkled pages and the confident voice of practice began the old words.

"Par in parem imperium non habet. Pharmaceutria sum. Par oneri rhombus!"

She took another deep breath, the colors and shapes continuing to play across her face. For a moment, Francis seemed to have become a devil herself, complete with red skin and glowing eyes.

"Latet anguis in herba. Et sceleratis sol oritur!"

The change was sudden. No longer were the colors of the lamp merely light played against stone. They were suddenly very real, filling the air with a hissing and popping. The strange crimson, chaotic, shapes slid through the air, away from the lantern, away from the mage....and straight toward Yuki.

Yuki stared intently at the lights as the moved. She seemed transfixed on the

colors as they changed. The word spoke aloud seemed to resonate in her

ear’s like finger nails on a chalk board. As the lights moved independently

from the lantern Yuki became very nervous. Instinctually she scotched back

a bit fearing they would touch her. Yuki looked away from the flaming lights

just long enough to look at Franky. Her eyes pleading asking what do I do?

Franky's eyes shot up from the book. "Hang on, Yuki. This might feel a little weird."

Taking a deep breath, she finished the spell. "Frons est animi janua!"

The strange, drifting, lights froze in the air; crackling with energy. A sudden flare, a burst of color, and the lights flashed across the short space vanishing into Yuki's small form.

There was a strange tingle of heat and the odd sensation of static electricity across Yuki's skin.

Franky wasn staring at her intently. "Ok." She said. "Now try."

Yuki stares at the light as it caresses her skin. She shakes nervously anticipating the unexpected. She looks up to Franky, her eyes twitch as the tingling sensation envelops her body.

Yuki nods with a nevus sigh to Franky's command.

She closes her eyes and strains to will her body to change forms. Her face wrinkles around the eyes and nose. Yuki focuses on an image in her mind of the way she looked before all this. Her mind wonders thinking about an adorable sun dress and matching shoes that she use to think she looked so cute in. She remains eyes closed wanting and willing to transform back to normal.

Franky nodded absently as she watched the magic do its work. Tendrils of the lantern fire-light still drifted around Yuki, occasionally crackling and popping through the damp grass.

She didn't figure the transformation would take long. With those who could already shape-shift to some degree, it rarely did.

At the preappointed time she scrawled the circular symbols in charcoal on the page in front of her, calling the energy back. When the charcoal cracked, she looked up.

Yuki sat huddled on the ground, her eyes squeezed shut. She looked normal. A little damp and dirty, but normal. That was great! It meant the spell had been the right one for once. She almost cheered.

But what she couldn't figure out, was the sundress.

Magic was weird somedays.

Yuki opens her eyes slowly. She had held them closed so hard that colors and spots dance in her blurred vision. She sees Franky and sees Franky look intently at her grinning slightly. She looks down toward her lap and notices a change in colors, and fabric,.....and outfits.

"Hey...I was just thinking about...."

She stops as she sees her hands. She tuns them over. Then back around.

"Oh my god.....I'm back!"

She look back up to Franky. Her excitement unable to be contained.

"Thank you soooo much."

She stands up to move around and cheer. Her sun dress floats on the self created breeze as she moves around. Why she's wearing the same dress that creped into her thoughts makes her pause but only for a brief moment. As she continues dancing.

"This is fantastic. I thought I would never...I mean I almost forgot how it felt.....Thank you so much! Your the best."

She stops jumping as a dark thought crosses her mind.

"Franky....um how long will this last? i mean......When the clock strikes midnight will I turn back?"

Franky gave a snort, "Into what? A pumpkin?"

She shook her head. "No, that should last. It's not a polymorph kind of thing, it's really more of a self-image in reposte kind of thing. Although I gotta admit, the sundress has me a little stumped. Not sure I planned for that one."

"Anyway, that should keep your physical form in check, well, at least until you have another freak-out anyway. But what about these things that are after you? Demon things you said? What are they supposed to be?"

Folding the book carefully back together, Franky took a moment to douse the lantern and pack the book away in her backpack.

Yuki stands there stunned and excited all in one. “I can’t believe this. I’m back!” she shouts. She turn to Frankie now all packed up. “I own you big time.” Yuki says with a sincere grin. “If you nrrf anything EVER…I mean anything…”
Franky nods.
“I have to show everyone. They won’t belive it. I can’t thank you enough.” She continues. “I’m going to go now.” Yuki runs over and gives the amazing goth and big hug and runs off almost tripping over her own feet. “I love you franky!!” Yuki shouts as she stumbles threw around a tree.

Franky shakes her head as Yuki runs out of sight.

It is thought that in this universe there is the possibility of many worlds just as our own. Multiple dimensions with friends and loved ones living lives similar to our own or very different then the life we currently lead. No one knows just how many of these worlds exists or how many dimensions there could be. If there are so many other worlds with so many other people just like us then it may be possible to have these worlds collide. A collation like this may cause a fracture in time, space, and matter. But what would happen if this collation happens in ones physic? Multiple yous living in the same body. Could the fracture be sealed? Could the mind handle so many voices, wants, desires, and dream? What if it was a child? The human mind is so complex and yet so fragile. When you add super powers into the mix some ones going to get hurt and someone may even die.

The night before the now infamous invasion Yuki celebrated.
"I'm me again!" she kept on shouting. Standing in front of her mirror wearing her Hello Kitty pajamas and fluffy slippers she danced and laughed. She couldn't wait to surprise all her close friends with the great news of her new found freedom. It was like a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders for the first time in so very long.
With her Ipod in tow she settled down to write in her frayed well used diary. Yuki wanted to capture the moment in all its details. While bobbing her head to the music in her ears she wrote feverishly, smiling more at every word she writes. Before long she falls asleep while 'The Pillows' plays on repeat on her earphones.

She slept in the next morning. Resting comfortably and sleeping soundly. She slept through her alarm. She slept through her cell phone ringing. She slept all morning with a slight grin on her face. It had been a very long time since she slept so well and she needed it.

Yuki's dreams suddenly turn dark. Her head shook with gruesome images flashing through her dream now nightmare. Screams fill her mind and her closed eyes filled with tears. Her soft pale skin turned callused and grey while internally her veins turn back and spread across her body. Yuki's face sinks in as darkness seeps out of every pour. He mouth opens in a muted scream of terror. Absorbing all the pain, all the horror, all the death from a huge radius from her dorm room. Finally overwhelmed, Hell takes over her mind. Her body lunges forward out of bed so violently the mp3 player and book that was resting gently next to her flies across the room crashing into the wall. With out movement her eyes open wide. Black glass, her eyes have no detail and no emotion.
Its 12:53 pm the invasion has begun. She fleas the room as her phone rings.

"Hello, Yuki's not here at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep…"





You can be surrounded by people in a crowd and be utterly alone. This can be maddening for an outgoing teenager. Living two lives living two lies. If you were haunted by a past that is not yours who could you go to? Who could you trust? Living in a dreamscape with only moments of clarity can make close friendships difficult to say the least. What if you were to fall asleep only to wake to destruction all around you? Never knowing if this time you may never wake from the nightmare. Knowing you are the cause, the reason for the destruction and no hope to stop the madness. When you can’t trust even yourself who do you turn to?


Three months after the first wave of the invasion. Many heroes lose their lives even more civilians die in the first few days of the attack. The City is in morning and life at the school attempts to get back to some sense of normalcy.

Yuki sits in a metal chair. Stiff, regal, and completely uncomfortable to sit on. She moves awkwardly from side to side every few moments. She slouches and takes a deep sigh.

"Ms. Ookami, you can go in now." a voice from behind the obscenely tall counter barks at her.
Yuki stands up, take a second to stretch out the stiffness of the unbearable torture device they call a waiting room chair. Then takes up her satchel and opens the door. The thin framed door closes quickly behind her with a wobbly clash.

"Good after noon Ms. Ookami." A soft toned man greets her. "comin' comin'. Take a seat." The man waves his hand towards her pointing to the chair front and center of her over sized desk. Yuki moves shyly to the chair. Not knowing what to expect and nervous Yuki sits with her back straight, knees together, and her hands flat on her thighs. The plush chair much more comfortable then the last. Yuki looks over the man behind the desk glancing away trying not to appear that she's staring. A narrow looking man wearing a very worn corduroy suit. Brown, with a little gold cross pendent attached to his lapel. It catches the florescent light with a shimmer. His face sharp and slightly lined from years of smiling. Yuki looks past and through the man, looking deeper. 'No darkness. He's a pure soul.' Yuki eases a little but still nervous.
"Hello....You-key is it?" The man pronounces. Yuki nods in conformation but says nothing. The man lifts a smile and says "My name is David Conrads. I am the guidance counselor here at Saint Josephs. I wanted to have a meeting with you to go over a few things since you have come to us." Yuki sits motionless. She thinks to her self the worst. 'They're going to send me back. They know what I did...' her mind races. Mr. Conrads continues, "I see here you have been here now for almost six months." He casually flips the pages in the thin files. "How have you gotten along so far?" Yuki thinks for a moment. With a quiet voice she replies, "Ah, ok." Mr. Conrads pauses for a moment then says, "That's good." He turns over a page, scans it, and places the folder down. He turns his swivel seat to face Yuki, leaning forward a bit he states, "I know since you started here we have had some....well, interesting events happen. Normally we interview all our students the first week or so they begin. However, some how yours was delayed. Then with the alien attack many thing were postponed. Now since that ghastly event seems to be behind us I want to meet with you while I’m meeting with all the new students."

Yuki releases her tension and sits back into the stuffed chair. "I see." Yuki chirps up.
"There are a few things I want to go over and a few questions I have for you Yuki." He picks the file back up. “You moved here from Tokyo, Japan, is that right?" Yuki hesitates, "Um, Yes.” Conrads takes no time and responds, " I see, now for some reason there doesn’t seem to be a school listed that you attended there." Yuki shrinks. "I called over to the Tokyo department of education and they couldn't seem to find any records of you attending any schools." He lowers the file and observes Yuki's reactions. "I decided to contact your guardians a...." He flips a few pages, "...Mr. and Mrs. Takahashi and it would seem the phone number on file is to a pay phone. The home address listed terns out to be a business called..." He looks over at his notes. "...Designers International." Mr. Conrads grins at Yuki. "You can imagine they're surprise when I informed them a fifteen year old girl is suppose to reside there." Yuki's mouth drops slightly and her eyes widen. With out knowing what to say or to do she just make a guttural noise, "Ahhhhhhh..." The counselor places the file on his desk open and in view of Yuki. "Yuki!" He snaps Yuki's attention. "I am thinking this file might have been lost in the first wave of the alien attack.” He pulls out a new file. "Let's start again Yuki and this time let's not miss anything, ok Yuki?" Yuki still mouth gaping sits straight up again, knees together, palms flat, "Yes Sir!"
Mr. Conrads clicks his pen a couple of times, "Ol' right, let's begin."
"Name?"
"Yuki Ookami, sir."
"Age?"
"Fifteen, sir."
He looks up, "It's ok Yuki. You don't have to call me sir after every question." He gives a soft smile.
"Parent's or Guardian’s name or names?"
Yuki hesitates.
"It's ok Yuki. You don't have to hide anything from me. It's safe here."
Yuki sits staring for a moment. "My fathers name was Lord Kentaro Ookami and my mothers name was Akiko Ookami.", Yuki states with firm pride. Her eyes water.
"I know it's hard Yuki but you can trust me."
Yuki looks down and stares at the floor.
"How long were you alone Yuki?"
Yuki stared at the floor for what seemed like an hour before she found the words to say.” I was thirteen when they joined my ancestors." She continues to stare blankly.
Her mother's deafening screams fill her mind and she jolts in her seat. She looks up, stronger now. "I hid and have been hiding ever since. I moved from place to place, street to street. I found food where I could and money however I could get it. I ended up in Tokyo when a man found me behind that Designers International office building. He told me he had been looking for me and that the people I was hiding from would find me and he could help me. I cleaned up in his hotel room and was sent off to America. He paid for my plane trip, my food, and my clothes. I was to come here and he would take care of the paper work and finances."
Mr. Conrads asks, "Do you know what this mans name is?"
"He never said....and I never asked." Yuki sighs.
The Counselor takes a moment to think. "You are a very lucky and special girl. God's really has been looking out for you, guiding your steps."
Yuki scoffs at the statement. "I think God wants me about as much as the underworld wants me....."
Conrads looks softly at Yuki, "Your faith has been tested. I understand. You'll learn God has a plan for you even if you can’t see it now. He does." Yuki's eyes darken with shadow. After a moment or two of awkward silence he looks over some paper work. "Let's talk about something else. Will that be ok?" Yuki looks back at the counselor, "Yes, please."

"I see here your GPA has lowered some since your first report when you started. Is there any reason for this?" Yuki stretches out her arms and pretends to yawn. "I use to think school and my marks were so important. I know now marks don't matter for freaks."
Mr. Conrads leans over his desk. "That is not true!"
Yuki leans back further into the chair. "What part?" Yuki pretends to clean her nails.
"Ms. Ookami! I have no tolerance for that kind of thinking!" Mr. Conrads grabs Yuki's attention again. "All children are important. You are certainly NOT a freak and school is very important. No matter what happens in your life with an education you will be able to take on any task." The counselor settles, "You may have extra gifts and powers but you have quite allot to learn still."
Mr. Conrads starts again, "When you started here you had a 4.1 GPA. Now of course I'm not sure how accurate those scores were since your transcript was a forgery. Nevertheless, since starting your grades have dropped, you have made no attempt at joining any extra curricular activities, clubs or participate in any events. You haven't searched out tutors or counselors for assistance. You have missed classes for nearly a quarter of the school year so far. Even though your test score were outstanding." He takes a breath. "What am I missing here? What has happen? Are you not adjusting or is there something else?"
Yuki scotches in her seat. The plush chair has suddenly become very uncomfortable. "I don't know."
Conrads raises his eye brow. "Really? You don't know?”
"Well....” Yuki pauses to think. "...It's allot of reasons."
"Like...?" asks Mr. Conrads.
"Like, you really don't want to know!" Yuki blurts out.
Conrads thinks for a moment. He shuffles some papers and writes a note. "Yuki, what can I do to help you?"
Yuki's voice faints, "I don't know."
"Yuki, I’m here for you. Anything you want to talk about I can listen."
Yuki thinks over the offer. "I really appreciate you willing to listen to my problems and I might need to talk to you soon, but I don't think I can right now."
Mr. Conrads frowns a bit. "It's ok Yuki, you don't have to talk right now. But we need to do something about your grades."
He refers back to the old file, "I see on your transcript you use to be on the cheer squad in you old school. Is this true?"
"Yes, I was." responds Yuki.
"That's great. Were you a member of anything else?" Conrads says encouraging.
"hmmm, I was a member of the American English club, the 'Dead Poets Society' a poetry club, the computer club, and the Daughters of Okinawa club....and my GPA was 4.2 not 4.1." Yuki settles back into her seat and crosses her arms.
Taking notes Conrads asks, "So why haven’t you joined any of the club we have to offer? We have a wonderful computer club, the cheerleading squad tryouts are open, and the students just started a brand new poetry club. I know it may not be the same as your old school in Japan but they're really good clubs with a great bunch of students leading them."
Yuki frowns and then sighs.
"That was the before....."
"I see." The councilor relies. "Before you started showing your powers?"
"No." Yuki looks away, "Before I killed......." She whispers.
"Oh" Mr. Conrads reacts. "You were only a child, what ever happened I'm sure was not your fault."
Yuki's eyes darken as she lets the subject go.
"If it would help I could try to join a club." Yuki quickly adds, "But, I'm not making any promises."
"Well that's a start. Do you think you could get your grades up too?" Mr. Conrads asks.
Yuki sighs, "I guess I could."
"Do you promise?" Conrads demands.
"Yes. I promise.” reluctantly Yuky replies.
"Ok then. Ill hold you to it and Yuki, I want you to come to me if you need someone to talk to. That's what I’m here for, all right?"
"Yes sir." Yuki confirms as she stands up.
"Your next class starts in about fifteen minuets, why don't you go get some fresh air and clear your head." Mr. Conrads offers.
Yuki turns with a quick slight bow and shuffles to the door. "Ok, I will. Thank you sir." Yuki races out the door.

Mr. Conrads finishes up his notes on Yuki's file. He places a yellow sticky note next to Yuki's photo. It reads 'Locate Parents (Ookami) follow the money'.

Mr. Conrads sits down at his desk. He swivels his chair around to face his over sized desk. Reaching over to look through his mail. Underneath a small stack of letters he notices a yellow eight by ten envelope. He picks it up and tears the top seal. He reaches in and pulls out a folder. Inside the folder he looks over photos and certificates. On top the fold a folded letter. He opens it and read.

To: Mr. Conrads

Subject: “Snow Wolf”

Mr. Conrads,
As per your request I have investigated this subject. I have gone as far as I safely can to get some of what you requested. This is what I have found. I hope it helps.

~M



Birth Certificate - Yuki Ookami
Born: 1992
Location: Okinawa, Japan
Parents;
Father: Kentaro Ookami
Age: unknown
Mother: Akiko Ookami
Age: 28 (deceased)
Father Kentaro Ookami, I was not able to ascertain birth certificate. Located copy of passport first printed 1992.
Profession: Unknown. Neighbors presumed him to be a businessman of some kind ever though he never spoke of his work. He traveled extensively however records show his passport was only stamped twice in the last sixteen years. Once to Ireland in 1993, records show that was part of a honeymoon travel package. Akiko Ookami passport confirms trip. Second stamp was to America in 2004. Looks like we have a Paragon City connection. Other then those two trips there are no records of any other travel. This would indicate Dimensional travel. All known contact stopped 2005.
Whereabouts currently under investigation.
Mother Akiko Ookami, Birth record shows she born Akiko Shimizu in Tokyo, Japan in 1966. Graduated top ten in high school and post secondary schools indicates a higher then normal intelligence with a degree in physics and genetics. Interesting mix there.
Profession: No known work history. This is a big red flag she was on a secrete payroll. I’ll try to find out more, but it looks like who ever she worked for after college wanted to keep it on the “down low”.

They where married in 1991. Records show they rented a flat in Okinawa until 2005. This is where it gets ugly. News paper reports of a massacre at that apartment on June 18, 05. Here's a copy of one report I found on microfiche. It says police where shocked to find the body of Akiko Ookami stabbed to death in her home. Police found the front of the house demolished in what they described as carnage with out equal. Blood was located covering the entire floor as well as all the walls in the front of part of the house and even splattering of blood on the ceiling. Listen Conrads, you know I have a weak stomach for this kind of stuff. What ever happen there was brutality I haven’t seen since...well, you know. Anyways, they couldn't figure out whose blood it all belonged to. Since Akiko Ookami's body was, except for the multiple punctures, still fully intact. The DNA show over nine distinct blood types or owners but no other bodies were ever recovered. That means there's eight other people out there minus most of there blood. What ever happen to them in that house was pretty gruesome.

So, here's the thing. The police never found the father or the daughter (Yuki) then thirteen years old. There was a search for them for over a year. They followed up on every lead but all ended cold very quickly. Something tells me some one didn’t want them found.
That’s were things ended for most investigations. Locals remember the night of the blood bath and described seeing strange lights and as they called "demonic" screams. Sound failure? I’m thinking the Circle of Thorns were very much apart of this. I wasn’t sure what they intended to gain out of this massacre until after I met with a Circle contact I have. Now this guy's crazy, I mean whacked out. I’m sure I would be to If I witnesses half of what he has. But the info he gave me seems solid. It would seem that the Circle were in the area looking for someone about that time. I checked further and found the father Kentaro Ookami was into something deep with the Circle. Which is strange because the Circle did not have much in the way of influence in this part of the world then. But I guess every one branches out eventually.
Anyways, they were looking for something they called ‘Nephalim’. Best I can figure out that’s some sort of powerful relic or spirit. It gets kind of hazy after that. Some reports say they were in Japan looking to steal that relic thing and in another reports that I found shows they were there not to steal it but to destroy it. I’m not sure which ones true but one thing's for sure it didn't not go as planed. I would suspect the father was into something big and was hiding the object in his home. Which doesn’t make sense if he was working for them.

Now I looked for that guy you told me about. I followed the money back to a bank in Ireland. Who ever this guy is he is good a covering his tracks. I couldn’t find any records or photos that would help in finding him or even know who he is. I’m really sorry I couldn’t find you more about him. The name on the bank account is Designers International. Does that name mean anything to you?

I attached some photos and certificates I was able to locate for you. I hope they help.

I am sorry I couldn’t dig up more for you. I went as deep as I could with out getting turned into a Hot Pocked extra crispy. I'll send you more if I come across any.

~M

Some people are born to be heroes while others have to work at it, and still others walk the fine line of good and evil. If you are one that walks that very thin line, even though it maybe a shorter fall, with out any one to help you evil may never let you go. The road to salvation is long. Once the darkness enters your soul could you fine your way back to the light?

Three months ago.

The City is turn upside down. The war walls are failing as enemy ships have penetrated the heart of Paragon. Super heroes and super villains fight side by side in a desperate struggle to push back the alien’s offensive. Many have fallen, but out of adversity the true heroes emerge. Yuki now known as Night Spirit is lost. Neither hero nor villain she fights with pure rage. Her true demon nature has taken over.

Alice was finally sleeping 'Good' he thought. Watching over her was a tall ghostly figure. He gave her one last look and passed through the wall into the hallway and started down to the chapel.

Ashen Lunaskia, or as Alice called him 'Guzol' after her favorite doll in her home dimension, floated softly through the doors into the chapel getting ready for the small and few prayers he asks for Alice's safety.

As he wafted over the floor he saw something strange...blood. Dark red, almost black blood. He followed it to the body of a young girl he recognized as Yuki Alice's roommate. 'Oh my...this does not look good'

Her body was bruised and broken. Blood pooled around her half naked form. Her clothing was burned and tattered, soaking the sweat and blood from her body. 'This poor child...' silent angry resonated from him as he wished there was something he could do.

Be bound to Alice he couldn't speak to other living people and have them understand him. However he did hear a rumor about ghosts being able to communicate in dreams. Thinking Alice would not be up for several hours he thought it best to let her slumber and knelt down beside Yuki and placed his hands on her head. He felt a cold evil spirit inside her but pushed on and with a sudden flash vanished into the dreamscape of Yuki unconscious form. He enters her dreams.

No ground, no walls, no, ceiling, Ashen steps forward into the dark void. He can hear his foot steps on the unknown surface. Tap, tap, tap, regardless of pressure each step makes the same generic tapping sound on every step he makes. Walking forward the void goes on and on. He hears laughter in the distance. Tingles go up his spine as he recognizes a child's laugh of delight in this absent place. Tap, Tap, Tap, he continues forward. The laughter fades. He stops his momentum and stands still listening for the fading sound. Tap, tap, tap, the sounds of foot steps continue with out his moment. The sound stops a little ways ahead of him. Jingling of change and keys in a pocket. A metal key is inserted into a metal lock. The sounds stop. Ashen stares into the void looking for life, looking for anything. A creaking sound hides in the darkness. The door knob turns and light seeps in. The void devourers the light in small sips. Only a little at first. The door opens wider. Light floods his eyes.

“Shhhhhhhhhh blurp shhhhhhhhh.” The Static white noise of the antic television left on after all the shows have gone off. Yuki sits at a table in her panda shaped pajamas. Her hands rest flat palms facing down on top the small square table. Yuki sits across from her. Staring into Yuki’s eyes unwilling to look away. Smoldering from the brimstone burning off her wings. Her hands flat palms facing down. The television atop a long dresser changes channels to another station of static noise. No movement. Ashen steps forward into the room. One step, then two. His movements make no sound. No tap no creek. The air is heavy and filled with tears. The salt rests on his lips. Studying the scene Ashen realizes he is standing in a motel room. The curtains open showing a bright afternoon outside. He notes the beds are missing and in there place is a flimsy fold out table with two chars. Small and round with red seats. Yuki sitting in one and demon Yuki in the other. Eternally stuck in a staring contest. Neither of them blinks. The television changes channels again.

“…in other news…(the professional voices fades in and out)…are you happy now?”

Ashen spins his head toward the television to acknowledge the question. A static face forms in the white noise and pauses. “Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”, the static returns.
Yuki’s mouth opens and remains open. Yuki continues to stare at her from across the table with out motion.

“.noos emoh eb lliw rehtaf yM” Yuki announces with out moving her lips.

Yuki lowers her eye brows and slowly shakes her head side to side with a slight twitch. The motion indicated the physical response (no) while she continues to stare at her from across the small green Formica table.

(Flush)

Water runs through pipes exiting, and then filling as the door to the bathroom opens inward. Ashen looks over to see a short purplish demon imp washing his hands. Stretching to reach the faucet he turns the water off. Ashen studies the creature. Only standing maybe three feet in height and morbidly over weight the little devil scratches his butt as he enters the room. Looking up at Ashen he walks up and stands toe to toe with the visitor.

The words spew out in slow motion. “I think you got the wrong room buddy.” The little demon says in a deep quivering voice.

The fat purple demon walks over and comes to rest in a lounge chair in the corner. Yuki stands up. Her over sized panda shaped pajamas droop on her small frame. She turns her back to Ashen and begins to walk toward him. Yuki stares at her intently and with out emotion. Slowly each step toward him a struggle and clumsy. Her back facing Ashen she slowly spins around and faces his side. Leaning in to him with out touching she whispers softly in to his ear.

Ashen’s skin loses a shade of color as his eyes widen and shake at Yuki’s words. She retreats to his side and sighs with a frown as she turns her back to him again. Tap, Tap, Tap, the sound of her foot steps make it to the wall before she does. Awkwardly she reaches for the edge of the heavy curtain covering the wall and pulls it back. The curtain swings back into place as she steps behind it out of the room.

The small imp giggles to him self then laughs out loud. The sound of child like laughter he heard in the void. Yuki’s head snaps to her side staring at Ashen. Her still motionless hands flat on the table palms down. The smoldering fire still burning on her wings.

“The puppet controls the puppet master.” Sharp and cruel Yuki’s voice cuts to the heart.

Slowly her head returns to her original position and stares at the now missing Yuki in the metal framed red seat chair across from her. The Dumpy little demon stands to attention in lightning speed. Staring at Yuki in disgust and hate he throws his arms in the air yells, “LIES!” He storms toward Ashen pushing past him as he returns to the bathroom. A loud (slam) fills the room and then the bathroom door closes. Yuki’s eyes fill with tears as she screams in searing pain. The shriek fills Ashen’s head as he has never heard such a loud and penetrating cry of agony.

Ashen opens his eyes. The void extends infinitely in every direction. A soft airy whisper pierces the veil and passes through him.

“It’s so dark.”

Ashen looked around at the dreamscape he had entered.
'What is going on' He asked in a voice disembodied and echoed. 'Why does this form have multiple souls?' Sounds and voices could be heard all around him but it seemed as if they are too far way for him to understand what they were saying.

Suddenly a door flew open from nowhere. A small demon came running at him carrying the more human looking Yuki.

"You will serve my master!!" he screams and stops in front of them. He throws Yuki at Ashen who swoops to catch her. The demon opens his mouth and suddenly vomits a dark gray fluid on them both. Yuki's Panda Pajama's were drenched; the puke covered both her and Ashen's spectral form. The smell almost over whelmed him. At first he was confused but remembered his ghostly body here allowed to experience things as if he were alive.

He looked at the Demon as it laughed cruelly "My Master will be pleased!! I have covered you with my essence!! It would corrupt your soul and there nothing you can do to-"

'Stop it.' The light around Ashen’s form blared burning the filth away from him and the shivering girl at his side. 'Your Master has no power over her or me. Leave this place or suffer demon’ the imp cowered and ran from them into yet another door in fright squealing shrilly "Impossible! Impossible!"

Ashen turns and bows to the started Yuki as the darker one merely stares from her seat above them, eyes burning with an evil flame.

'Why are there two of you and who is this Master?' His voice echoed in her mind she looked at him with fear in her eyes wondering if he was another demon 'I am the brother of Alice please do not be alarmed. I am sorry for my intrusion to your mind and, by extension your dreams, but you are badly hurt in the real world and I feared for your life.'

He helped her walk to a bed that seems to have been there all along and sat down on his knees in front of her holding her shaking hand. The Dark Yuki finally seems to have taken an interest for the first time and walked over to them.
”You don’t belong in this realm.”

Her voice hovers on the still air. Yuki looks at him with her eyebrows narrowed. Darkness whips around her devilish body.
Human Yuki looks up capturing Ashen’s gaze. Motionless and busy her eyes fog as she moves her lips to speak. No sound at first then the words catches up to present time.

“Retsim ereh niap tub gnihton s’ereht.”

A saxophone plays in the distance. Discombobulated jazz fills the void. “What is this?” he wonders. Ashen turns to look. The sax hits a high pitch squeak and abruptly stops as it had began. He turns back to face the Yuki's.

“Go back……go back….go b….” The deep disembodied voice fades.

Light floods his eyes. As the sun shines down illuminating the small area he stands in. A new door now stands fixed in front of him. He looks to his side and accepts the girls are gone. The door textured and grained. Stickers decorate the wood. A flower, and music bands name, another one in Japanese. This was a child’s door. Ashen steps to the side and investigates the area of light. The sun shines only in a small round area encompassing him and the door. Ashen takes a step out of the light. Darkness. He looks back, the door and the light are now gone. The void takes over. His equilibrium starts to sway. He quickly takes a step back. The light returns and the door is back again. With a shrug and a sigh he slowly reaches for the door knob. Cool to the touch. The metal knob turns with ease. He takes a breath and opens the door.

Soft carpeted floor cushions his step as Ashen stands in the well lit room. The large window allows all of the suns warmth and light into the room. A small bed sits to his left with a saxophone resting against its footboard. The door closes behind him. He turns to see he had come from within the closet. Young Yuki sits in her brightly colored and over stuffed chair wearing her over sized panda shaped pajamas. Her back to him facing her computer monitor. Typing feverishly and laughing. “She looks so happy.” Ashen says to him self. She appears a few years younger then he knew her as. The room filled with stuffed animals, randomly discarded clothes, and cheerful boy band posters on the walls. Here innocent laughter fills his heart.

“油木! そのコンピュータを離れて得、ダイナーに来なさい.” Yuki hears her mother’s voice come from down stares.

“Coming mother!” Yuki yells back.

Reaching over and clicking her mouse she logs off her computer and ties her long black hair back with a pink velvet ribbon. She stands and turns to race past Ashen to the door. She kicks her ill placed satchel out of her way as she opens her bedroom door and exits.
Ashen turns to follow the care free child when he his pushed to the ground.
“No!” The demon Yuki cries. “This is my pain! You can’t have it!” Her voice quivers with fear. Ashen stands and asks. “What is this?” He looks past her to the door. “What happen here?”

The smiling Hello Kitty clocks ticks. The metronome tail swings back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Then stops. The second hand freezes. Silence interrupts. Demon Yuki stands motionless and stares at Ashen with fire in her eyes. The computer monitor turns from the dancing screen saver to fuzzy static.

“Shhhhhhhhhhhhh” Distant and monotone white noise crackles out of the speakers.

“It has to happen” the voice sneaks past the static. The saxophone plays again. Through the static and through the white noise the sax plays on shrill and off key. The monitor goes back to the screen saver of fish dancing in an under water playground. Silence returns. The Tail of the cat shape clock moves again.

Suddenly the room trembles as glass and wood shatters. The terrifying screams of women rake against Ashen’s soul. Destruction and chaos consume the house below. Ashen moves to the door to help. His mind races with panic from the screams of Yuki and her mother. The dark Yuki still motionless her eyes lower as she lifts her hand to impede Ashen’s advance. She shakes her head. He can see in her expression he is powerless to help. The screaming continues. Demonic shrieks of pain and the sound of furniture and walls being destroyed fill his ears.
Quietness, stillness, no one moves, no one breaths. A pause in the slaughter.
A single tear streams down the demon Yuki’s cheek. Ashen feels she has seen this event too many times. The stillness is broken as a voice rings out.

“Mommy!”

“Mommy!”

‘No!” The scream lingers.

Young Yuki’s cries cut Ashen to the quick and his knees buckle with empathy.

The closet door opens with a creek. The midget demon stumbles into the room. With not a glance to the somber pair he announces “When in Rome…” and laughs.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a knife and begins slashing at the nearest stuffed animal. Fiber stuffing flies in all directions and falls to the floor. He laughs at himself and mocks the cries of the child as he continues the mindless murdering of plush toys.
“Mommy! Mommy! What have I done? Mommy!” His fat belly giggles in his laughter.

Ashen’s mood flames with disgust matching the fire in Yuki’s eyes. She turns wiping the tears from her face and storms out of the room.
The over weight imp turns to see Yuki leave in haste. He looks at Ashen and shrugs.
“What?” He says in a sarcastic manor. Ashen begin to say something when the short demon cuts him off. “Master likes you.” The demon smiles with a toothy smile. Ashen pauses to digest the odd statement for a moment then walks across the room following Yuki out the door.

A dim lit room. The floor checkered and laminate. The walls draped in heavy curtains. Only a wooded chair occupies the space. Ashen take a step forward. His movements jagged and in slow motion. “Does time exist here” he wonders.

A soft and airy voice whispers, “It's so dark.”


As Yuki’s battered and bleeding body lay on the chapel floor tears drip off her swollen cheek and nose mixing with the pool of blood that has forms beneath her.

Ashen walks to the chair in the next room and after looking around feels he should sit in it for some reason.

"Ah hah! You made it good..." a dark voice calls from behind "I was getting bored waiting for you"

Ashen turns to see the fat imp walking to him and as he turns back there is a chair and a table where there wasn't before. The Imp climbs into the tall backed chair and smiles at Ashen "So...enjoying your stay here Mr. Trespasser glowing pants?"

'She was wounded in the outside world...I came to see if I could assist her." he stated

"Oh please...she has been wounded to bring of death before and lived. This is nothing you twit." he sneered "who do you, think you are and what did you think you could do?"

'I did not know...I simply wanted to help. So much has happened...I am not sure of what to make of It." he looks around seeing walls and curtains vanish into nothingness.

"Well it seems you are not only nosy but stupid too. Look there's nothing here you can help with so just pick your butt up and get lost!" the Imp looks at Ashen with sick arrogance.

'No, this young girl is the friend of my charge and I will help if I can. What has happened to have shattered her soul so terribly?' he looks fiercely at the imp.

'Well if MUST know...she’s half demon. The dark half is the demon and light is she, the girl. Years ago her father had some issues...big fight...blah blah blah, before she knows it her mother is dead and she’s shipped off to that school of hers." the Imp looks at him with a bored expression "in the end her silly little mind couldn’t take the tragedies in her life and the demon half takes over to keep her in the dark."

'I can understand that...but why does she not face them?' he asked becoming annoyed with the imps attitude

"How the hell should I know? I do what my Master says and nothing more or less." the imp began cleaning his nails

'I must know more...' Ashen rises from his chair

The music coming from the computer grows in volume. 'Curious...why has everything else left but the computer and desk?' he walks over to it feeling not only the Imps eyes but also others watching him. Leaning down he listens to the music but doesn't recognize it 'Strange...'

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you..." he says flicking something from his clawed finger

'What do you me-' Ashen is cut off as a black smoking hand lashes out from the screen and swipes him across the face leaving 4 bloody gashes 'Aaarrg!' he cries falling back 'What is that?' he asks clutching his wounds.

"Told ya..." the imp no longer has the air of arrogance he once did "Even if I could I wouldn’t tell ya...something’s are best left alone." he climbs down and walks over to the spirit and with surprising strength helps a shocked Ashen to his feet "look why don’t you just leave and forget this happened eh?"

'That...hurt...' Ashen touches his cheek dipping his fingers in crimson red blood. Suddenly the room swirls and a door appears on the far side. A loud knocking rings out from it.

"Ah crap..." the Imp looks over at it and watches Ashen cross over to open it.

Ashen walk threw the door and it closes behind him. His eyes adjust to the light. Out of the light a man walks towards him. Ashen prepares himself for the worst.
A well dressed man of Japanese dissent greets him. “Hello Ashen.” The man hold says plainly. Ashen pulls back a bit confused. “H-H-Hello?” Ashen hesitates. “Are you…” The man interrupts. “I am many things her.” He continues, “I bring order to chaos, I make the darkness fade. I keep the walls from falling.”
Ashen looks over the man. “I don’t understand…you’re the master?”
The man laughs. “No.” He looks up at Ashen. “You’ve been talking to the imp I see.”
Ashen opens his mouth to speak but realizes he has nothing to say. This is very confusing to him. The man nods and offers a little clarity. “I am what Yuki remembers as her father. The great Lord Ookami. Now, you must understand I am but an image of what she believes me to be. I hold her when she scared like I once did and tell her it will be okay. I keep the light and dark separate so she doesn’t hurt.”
Ashen pipes up. “But…She hurts all the time out there. Out in the REAL world. That’s where she needs to be.”
The man frowns a bit then smiles softly. “I’m not going to get rid of you am I?”
“Not a chance Mr. Ookami…or who ever you are.”
The man looks around and sighs. “You have to understand…In this world everything has a reason. A purpose. We all work with or against each other for one purpose and one purpose only. To protect Yuki. Her mind is shattered and she is in pain. One protects the other.”
“What ever it is she needs to know the truth. This is killing her!” Ashen shouts.
The man nods his head and ponders Ashen’s out burst. After a while he begins again. “I am order. The monster in the void…” He points to the cut on Ashen’s face. “..The one that poked at you in the noise, He is the chaos. The Young Yuki…the one you know out there…” He points upwards. “She is the Yuki before that night. The innocent Yuki. With hopes and dream. Still so child like. The demon liking Yuki…” He pauses. The man turns his head as though looking at someone that not in the room and grins. “Well, she’s Yuki after that night.”
Ashen can’t take it any more. “What night?! What are you talking about? That demon took possession of Yuki’s body and is killing her! Why can’t you people make any sense?”
The man stares at Ashen with out saying anything.
Ashen looks around. “What am I missing here?”
The man takes a step forward and say, “The only demon here is the demon with in.”
Ashen just looks at the man hoping for more.
“Before that night Yuki was a young girl with no powers and full of life. That is the night she first showed her powers. The powers came from both her father as he was born demon and her mother…well she was something else.” The man gets back on topic. “Yuki’s powers were forced. Her mind was never equip to handle the stain of the powers let alone what she did with them at such a young age. Her mind fractured and the demon Yuki was born. So was I and so was that annoying imp.” The man snickers, “Don’t ask me what his purpose is. I still haven’t figured that one out yet.”
“So, Yuki is not possessed?” Ashen starts to understand. His mind wonders what could have happen to make Yuki’s mind fracture in this way. What happen to her ‘that night’ to do this to an innocent child?
“I have answered you quandaries it is now time for you to leave.” The man takes another step forward.
Ashen looks at the man. “No! I am not leaving.”
The man sighs. “What do you want? What will it take to make you leave this place? You presence her is upsetting the fragile balance.”
“I want to know….what happen that night. What made Yuki this way? What could have possible happen to cause this kind of insanity?” Ashen demands.
The man looks away. He nods his head to a person not standing to his side. He shrugs his shoulders and with a sigh says, “Fine”. He steps one more step towards Ashen and puts his hand on his shoulder. “If this is what it will take…” The man hold out his other are and hold his hand up as to indicate look over there.

The light is blotted out. Blackness swirls and out of the blur the room appears. Ashen looks around. He and the man to his side now are in a living room. A small couch and love seat on one side and short table and chairs on the other. An entrance to another room off to the left and pictures of a family hand on the walls. “This is Yuki’s house” Ashen thinks to him self.
A woman in her thirties walks in from the other room holding plates. She finishes setting the table and shouts up towards the stairs to the right.
“油木! そのコンピュータを離れて得、ダイナーに来なさい.”
“Coming mother” Ashen hears a young Yuki yell back from up stairs. The woman places the last bowl of food on the table and stands waiting. After a moment Yuki come hurrying down the stairs. She’s wearing a panda outfit complete with a hood with black ears. She races to the table bows to the woman and sits.
“Is Daddy going to be coming home for dinner tonight?” the woman looks at Yuki but says nothing as she places the hot rolls on the table. “Your Father is very busy…”Her mother’s eye catches a photo on the wall. A beautiful photo of Yuki’s mother and father on their honeymoon. Gazing lovingly into each others eyes. This was Yuki’s favorite photo of her parents. They look so in love. But something in their expressions made Yuki often wonder why they looked so sad. She continued, “…he will be home when he can.” “Come now, you must be starving.” Not many words were said during dinner. This was normal now. Just the clanking noises of bowls and plates. Yuki starts to ask with out looking up, “Do you think…”Her mother puts her bowl down and looks at her daughter. So proper and elegant, her mother always charming and polite no matter what the situation. Gracious may not be the right word but the only one that came to mind as she looked up. “Do you think Daddy will be ok this time?” Her mothers eyes softened and a slight grin formed. “Your father has always come home to us. He will be home soon Yuki.” Yuki nods in acceptance and stands up to clear the table. Filling a tray with empty plates she stops abruptly. He mother eyes wipe stares intently at the front door. “What is it Mother?” She doesn’t move. Silence fills the house. Yuki’s eyes quiver trapped in time. Her mother stands and reaches for Yuki. “Yuk...”Glass shatters into the room. The windows explode as a defining noise streaks across the house. Yuki drops the tray of dishes. They break on the floor slowly and in silence. Above the frightful noise Ashen hears Yuki’s mother scream, “YUKI!”
Ashen lunges forward as the man holds him firm. He looks back at the man. The man shakes his head and holds Ashen’s should tightly.
Dressed all in black and hoods men burst into the home. The front door is ripped off its hinges and glasses from the windows explode. They are armed with guns of various size and caliber. They move swiftly with out hesitation and begin shooting at Yuki and her mother. The mother pulls Yuki down and covers her. Glass and debris fry in all directions as bullets find their marks. One man grabs the edge of the splintered table and throws it to the side. The mother and child cower in the open now. More men join the one standing over the two women. The mother flings Yuki around forcing her against the wall covering Yuki’s small body with her own. The men take aim and fire. Bullets riddle the wall all around them. Yuki feels something wet dripping down her cheek. She pulls her hands away from her eyes and sees blood covering her hands. Her eye’s quiver and water. She wiggles her head around to look at her mother’s face. She looks at Yuki with eyes full of love and gives Yuki a smile. The same smile she would always give Yuki when ever she was afraid of sad. It would always make her feel better just seeing it. Yuki’s eyes start to focus on one of the men shooting at them. He comes into focus as he steps towards them. He raises his pistol to the back of her mothers head. Time slows and silence fills Yuki’s ears as the assailant pulls the trigger. The flash of the muzzle makes her blink. Her mother continues to smile warmly at her daughter.
Time stops. Debris and smoke hang in the air motionless. The assassin’s bodies are frozen and bullets hang in the air. Yuki eyes open. Darkness fills her pupils. Darkness and shadows slide toward Yuki like she’s absorbing evil itself. She opens her mouth and screams.
Ashen chokes back the tears as he’s helpless to prevent this tragedy.

Time begins again. From with it her small body razor sharp spike burst outward in all direction. They pierce everything around her. Bone spikes force their way through her mother’s body penetrating the assassin behind her. Her mother’s mouth gapes open as the multiple spines leave large holes in her chest and back. Blood sprays Yuki’s face as her mother falls to the floor. Yuki’s body takes on a demonic form as she lunges over her mother’s body. She stabs the gunmen through the neck and spins around avoiding the volley of bullets. The mans head flies off as his body drops. She jumps to her side as she throws spines at two other assassins. The men scream in horror and one by one Yuki dismembers and kills each one. She moves with unnatural speed efficiently killing everyone in the house. Ashen ducks as a piece of flesh and blood flies past him. With in seconds the room is silent again. Body parts and blood coat the floor, walls, and ceiling. Yuki stand in the middle of the room pose to attack anything that moves. A body of a once assassin lies at her feet. She breaths heavy and surveys the room.
Silence.
Ashen covers his mouth in utter disbelief. The man at his side looks at him with a sad look.
Yuki looks around as she slowly comes to her senses. Her shredded panda pajamas stained in red. She covers her mouth as she looks at what she has done. She sees her mother lying next to the wall. Tears gush from her eyes. “Mother!” she screams. She jumps over bodies and falls to her knees next to her fallen mother. “Oh my God, what have I done?” She turns her mother’s body over and holds her head. “Mommy!” She chokes and the pain sets in. She sits there crying holding her mother.

The room turns dark. A light shines over Ashen’s head. The man releases his shoulder and faces him once more.
“Some things you can’t take back. This is the sorrow that we must live with.” The man looks at Ashen with such sorrow and despair. “This is where Yuki came from. This is why she must be protected. She can never know what she did…” The man stops in mid sentence. Ashen turns to look at what has made the man stop talking so abruptly.
Standing in the corner of the room. Yuki stares at them. Her body trembling and sobbing.
“Oh no, Yuki...” the man gasps.
Ashen lunges towards Yuki. “Yuki! Oh god Yuki.”
Yuki steps backwards and with tears runs away. Into the darkness she runs until she disappears.
The man screams, “No!” He grabs Ashen by the arm. “Look what you have done!” The man reaches back and with a forceful push of his hands yells. “Leave this place NOW!” Ashen is thrown back by the force of the blow. The pitch black room swells and warps as he is forced out of Yuki’s mind.

It takes a moment for Ashen to steady him self. He looks down. Yuki’s body still lying on the floor of the church still unconscious and very hurt. “You poor soul.” He whispers. The wounds on her seem to be healing. “I hope I didn’t do too much harm. I just wanted to help you” he thinks. A student walks into the church. At first they don’t see anyone on the chapel, but them sees Yuki laying there. She races out of the room to get help. Ashen looks down at Yuki. “You should be okay now….At least physically.” He says to her as he leans down next to her.

Yuki lies in the Medical Centers bed. The sun shines in the window illuminating the room. An I.V. wraps around her arm. Yuki sleeps and her body heals as a tear falls from her cheek.

There was once a story of a little girl too curious for her own good that followed a well dressed rabbit down a hole. The lessons in that story are subtle. However, what if you were born in that strange world that only existed down that hole. What if coming to this world was your journey, your adventure? Would you, could you, return to the chaos of which you were born? What if that world came looking for you if you decided not to return? What if that world only existed in your mind. Could you find the key to unlock your own prison? When given no options out of fear some strike out while other withdraw inward protecting themselves from the pain. What if you did both, could you come to terms with the results of your actions and inactions?


"I just can't do this." Yuki drops her pen onto her text books. Studying is the last thing on her mind lately. She thinks to her self. "How can I do this?" Her mind wonders as she puts her face into her hands. She thinks about everything that has happen in the last few weeks.
Since leaning the truth about what happen the night of the attack on her family she has not been the same. The epic battle with her self has been a losing fight. She just doesn’t have the strength to fight 'her' anymore. The demon in her is winning the rights to her mind and body. She's so tired anymore. Sleeping for upwards of fifteen hours a day only to go back to bed a few hours after getting up. "If I don't start going to classes I'm going to get kicked out." She says to her self in a long sigh. The fact that she's the real demon has caused her downward spiral into despair. The words run through her mind over and over, "I - I killed her...” She can't even say it out loud. Tears roll down her cheeks. The fact she still has tears left after crying for so many days come to a strange surprise. "She was right..... I am the evil one.....and she's the good one..." Yuki curls up in a small ball on her bed. Her pillow still moist from the tears she shed only hours ago. She stares into the void of nothingness trying to comprehend the truth of what has happen. "All this time...” She thinks, "She...I mean, me. god...I’m so confused any more....." The images from her time unconscious with the ghost in her mind flood her minds eye. The demon was born that day. The day Yuki killed her own mother. The day her mind broke in half. She was born that day to protect her...to put her back together again. She slumps further into her bed. Holding her knees she lies to her side and buries her face into her legs. The images won’t go away they repeat over and over. All the times the 'demon' took over she wasn't intending to hurt kill or destroy.....she was trying to stop ME from doing those things. Her mind spins as she falls asleep again. Tears still running down her face. She mumbles the word, "mommy". (In Japanese)
While asleep again the demon awakes. She opens her eyes and looks around. She feels Yuki's pain in her heart. She closes her eyes and says to her self. "Rest sweetie, you need rest." She sits up and wipes the tires from her face. "I never wanted you to find out what happen that night. I would have gladly giving my life for you not to find out." she says as she looks in the mirror. "As always dear. I will take care of you. Just rest now. You need to get stronger for the task ahead." She sits down at the desk and logs onto her computer. Scanning articles in the news and checking her email. She moves at amazing speeds scrolling through articles and reports on the CoT. "Where, oh where are you hiding...?" The door opens.
Yuki minimizes the web page as Jessie walk into the room. Yuki spins around in the chair looking suspicious,
"Hey Jessie!”
"Hi Yuki" Jessie greets Yuki as she puts her backpack on her bed.
"I just need to grab a book and I have to meet up at the library." Yuki trying to act natural and response,
"Oh that sounds fun." Jessie grabs up her books and notes.
"Yeah it’s just going to be a few of us from class. You should come with. I don't think I've seen you leave this room in days."
Yuki looks down and sighs. "I know. I’m sorry. I've just been...sick." She pretends to cough. "I don't want to give it to anyone."
Jessie covers her mouth, "Oh, well don't give it to me." Jessie smiles warmly. She starts to exit the room and turns back.
"If you change your mind you know where I'll be." Jessie looks at Yuki and nods. Knowing Yuki's lying to her but will not push the matter. "Ok, see you later then."
Yuki waves as Jessie closes the door behind her.
She turns back and brings up the web pages again. Continuing where she left off she scans the pages steadying scrolling faster and faster. She pauses on an article. Yuki leans in reading. "Bingo!" She shouts. She studies the photo of a man next to the article. "Gotcha." She flicks the screen with her finger. With a quick few key strokes she prints a copy of the page and gets up. "Time to go Yuki." She looks at her self in the mirror. "You sleep now, I'll fix this for us." Yuki grabs up her coat and a book bag and races out the door.

Sometimes the lines between a good person and a bad person can be blurred. Life has a way of turning right and wrong into shades of grey. How far is too far? Even if it for all the right reasons. At what point have you crossed the line? Do the means always justify the ends? How far would you go to find or save a loved one?


Night time in Founders Falls. A car passes the small brownstone and turns the corner. The light from in side the home moves with shadows. "Clearly He's home." Yuki crouches on the roof top of the building across from the target house. She studies the widows and watches the movement from inside. A man walks in front of the window. Yuki leans in to see his face. "Hello Mr. White" Yuki whispers. She leans back and settles. "Show time!” she announces as she slips into the darkness of the building's shadows.
A comfortable home with an old time feel to it. Yuki sneaks into the main room. She hears a voice from the other side of the wall. She darts down the hall and turns into the kitchen. Holding flat against the wall a woman passes by the door. Yuki looks down at the shadows moving on the floor. She quickly scans the room. A knife rests on the table. Yuki's eye rises as she grins a bit and looks back down. Silently a spine spike pushes through her skin and extends down her arm forming a short sword of bone. Her lip twitches once as the skin heals itself. The shadow of the woman passes as the voices form together in the next room. Yuki slowly slides against the wall turning the corner around the door and down the hall toward the voices. Darkness erupts from her legs upward enveloping her body in a shroud. She moves closer. She can hear the voices clearly now.
"John what do you mean? I'm not going any where!" The woman rebuttals.
"You need to go! You don't understand. The Magi are coming! Just go to your sister, please. Just for the week." The man explains. "I can't believe you did this to us!" The woman cries and storms out. "I'm calling the police."
The man runs after her. "No, what do you think they can do to stop them? I have to handle this myself. They'll listen to me. They need me after all." The man yells as he holds the woman’s arms. Yuki has heard enough. "This scumbag has cause innocent people to be kidnaps and tortured by the Circle. He's seen them kill and did nothing. He helped them and he knows where my father is! It's time to pay the price of your betrayal Mr. White!" Her mind swirls in seething anger. Yuki races into the living room. The man and woman stand there shouting ignorant of Yuki's sudden entrance. She moves swiftly toward the two. Her eyes begin to flare the darkness fills the room. The man looks up and over as the woman gasps. Yuki lifts her arms as her skin transforms and wings expand filling the room with her dark presence. The darkness is blinding, the glare of Yuki’s burning eyes pierces the black and the smell of Hell fills the air. She comes down on the man with a bone shattering punch. The man collapses to the floor as Yuki shoves the women through the wall. The woman’s body falls limb on the floor covered in debris. Yuki leans down and puts her claw like hands around the man's throat. She lifts him up off the floor as his legs lay half bent on the floor. She pulls his face close to her face. "She looks into his eyes and sees the darkness in is soul. “I see your sins John." Yuki growls. "Do you know who I am?" Yuki asks while forming a toothy smile. The man stumbles over his words as he chokes. "N -No..." "That’s right!" Yuki cuts him off. "I am Ookami!" The man's eyes widen. "...and you are the one that's going to tell me where my father is." Yuki says as a matter of fact. The man squirms in her clutches as blood flows from the claws digging into his neck. Her wings pull back then thrust down as her body rises. The man fighting against the demons grip on his neck kicks the end table as his body lifts off the floor. The winds from the wings blow lose paper and small nick-knacks across the room.
The woman’s body stirs as she groans. Small parts of the shattered wall slide off the woman’s body as she tries to get up. The woman screams as she she's the demon holding her husband in the air. Yuki looks over at the noise of the woman getting up. Spines of bone and flesh burst through her skin and darkness seeps from the opens wounds. She throws her arm forward and spikes of bone hurdle toward the woman on the floor. One spike catches the woman’s hair and slams her head against the wooden floor as the spikes imbed them selves, pinning her head to the floor. Another spike pierces the floor inches from the woman’s face. Blood seeps from her ears. Her eyes roll back from the concussion as she passes out. Yuki's attention turns back to the man. "I will turn your skin inside out and hang you by your own entrails if you do not tell me....Where's Is My Father?!" Yuki screams. The man's face turns white as the last of the blood leaves his face. Yuki releases him and he falls to the floor as a heavy sack. The man holds his neck and tries to get to his feet but fails. He kicks his legs franticly trying to scrabble away from the demon as he slips in his own sweat blood. " Kentaro Ookami!" Yuki screams at him. "Location!" The man trembles. "I - I can't. They will..." Yuki interrupts the man by shoving her sword like spine through his shoulder. Blood bursts out of his chest soaking his button down shirt. The man cries our in pain. Yuki leans in close, "I know your talking, but all I hear is 'Ms. Ookami please kick my ass'." she says while wiggling the spike. The man bears down with his teeth trying not to scream. Yuki takes her other arm and holds it to his ear. A spike slowly comes out of her hand and slices through his ear. "If I have to take each appendage one at a time I will.”
“I don't know anything!" the man cries. "I'm nobody!" The man pleads. Yuki wings stop flapping as she drops onto his waist digging her claws into his pelvis. The man falls back with a gargle of pain. She supports her weight with one arm next to his head as she places her cheek to his cheek now smeared with blood. She whispers softly, "shhhhhhh." She rubs her cheek against his. "Your name is John White. You are a middle man for the Circle of Thorns. You have worked for them for over five years. You set up humans with minor gifts to be kidnaps and killed by the Magi. In 2004 you were in Japan seeking a contact for new territory for the CoT. You got orders to set up an assassination on an opposing Demon Lord standing in the way of the take over. Your assassins were dismembered when they attacked. Killing the wife of the Demon Lord." Yuki's heart races. "Is this starting to sound failure?!" Yuki shouts. The man stutters. "T-T-They were suppose to kill the w-w-whole family." He continues, "They were spies f-f-for the Par..." Yuki lifts her head from his cheek and slaps him in the face while keeping balance with the blade still in his shoulder. "You failed!" She boasts. "You know were my father is...Tell me!” she demands. The man starts to smiles through his pain at Yuki. His teeth dark red from the blood in his mouth. ”You stupid half breed. The Circle gutted him years ago only weeks after that worthless squad was to kill that noisy lil' bitch and her impure spawn of a child....you!" The man spits his words like venom. "They keep Lord Ookani's horns as a trophy at the Circles Paragon headquarters." Yuki pulls back and screams, "LIER!!" "I will kill you!” Yuki starts to lose control. She pulls the spike out of his shoulder and punches him. Blood splatters as his head hits the floor and bounces. She stands up and leans down to grab the him. He tries to fight back and swings his arm in a punch. Yuki Stabs his fist with a bone shiver protruding from her wrist. The man screams as Yuki twist his hand around causing the puncture to slice though cutting his hand in half. Yuki picks up the man's body as he holds his gushing hand with his other. She throws him across the room. He crashes into the entertainment center and falls motionless. He raises his eyes unable to move his head. He gasps for air as he fights to say, "They will find you and rip every last demon DNA from your body. You half breed little bitch!” The man sneers. Yuki pulls her spines back in. "They don't have to look for me any more. I’m coming to them." She reaches her hand up into the air. Dark mass forms around her hands and moves up her arm. In a quick precise movement she suddenly opens her hand and the man's body convulses. Dark energy and most of his soul shoots out from his chest and flies into Yuki's awaiting hand. The energy surrounds Yuki's form giving off a soft glow of strength as the man falls unconscious.
She transforms back to human and steps over the woman’s body and rubble on her way towards the front door. She slowly opens the heavy door and looks back at the chaos she has caused. Her eye brows narrow in anger as she looks down to see blood dripping from her hands. She reaches up standing on her tip toes and smears blood in the form of characters on the door. (Wolf) the Japanese symbol says. She steps over the threshold and out the door to the street. She puts her bloody hands in her pockets and walks away.

Revenge can turn even the kindest person dark and bitter. When you have lost everything important in your life it is then you are free to do anything. Sometimes that means coming to terms with your life, accepting who you are, and some times that means going after the people that have destroyed the love in your heart. While becoming whole again the healing process is long. Many questions and very few answers. Heartache and heart break the desire for justice sometimes overpowers the common sense to take the time to mend those mental wounds. In the end you are left more empty then you were. Sometimes, if you go too far revenge can lead to your own destruction.

Yuki sits on the side of her bed. She stares down blankly. She is in shock and disbelief. The blood on her hands dried and stained. Fight bites cover her fists. The gashes have taken longer to heal because her mind is not focused. She looks up to the ceiling. "I’m sorry Daddy." She cries, "I failed you?"
After leaving the house of the Circle of Thorn contact she wondered the streets. She spent all night walking oblivious to the world and the happenings around her. A man jumped out of the shadows of a corner to mug her. Yuki just kept walking. Even after the man screamed after her she paid no attention to him and just continued to walk. Lost in her own world. It was only hours before the day break that she walked into her room and sat down on the side of her bed.
Her mind races over the resent events, rethinking every possibility. Was the man lying? Worse, was he telling the truth? Is this why her father never tried to contact her? Never came looking for her to see if she was safe? Is he really dead?
Rage fills her nostrils once more. She stands and looks out the window. "I will kill every last one of them for you Daddy!" She says under her breath as she watches the sun rise.
Classes begin in an hour. She hasn't been to a class in a few days. "One more and I need a doctor’s note." She thinks to her self. "I have no need for classes now. However, I need time to prepare. I guess I can go to a few classes." She turns and grabs her school uniforn from its hanger. She puts it in a bag and scans the room for anything she may need. Her roommates still sleeping in the now dim room. She spots her stuffed toy. “We’re all grown up now I guess.” She whispers to her self. She puts the bags strap over her shoulder and slips out the door.

She walks down the hall still dressed in her tight cat burglar outfit. Blood stains still wet cover the black tweed. No ones up yet. "Thank god.” she thinks. She opens the door to the shower room and looks back before she goes in. Sliding the strap of the gym bag off her shoulder she hurries to check if anyone is in any stalls. All alone. This is good. "I don’t need any questions right now.” she thinks. Yuki disrobes and steps into the shower. Watered down blood splashes against the wall and shower curtain. She washes her face and looks up. She stares at the tiles on the ceiling. Her tears mix with the water. "Stay strong", she demands to her self. "She can be strong if I’m not strong." tears rush down her face. The emotions swell inside her. She breaks down and fights breathing as she resists crying. Tears stream from her blood shot eyes. Yuki wakes from her slumber. The emotions of Yuki has weekend the defenses and lowered the walls in her head. Images and memories flood Yuki's mind. Sights and sounds fill her thoughts. Every emotion, every action one side took races in her thoughts. The pain, the anger, the truth. Everything the demon side knew Yuki now knows. She collapses onto the floor. Steam billows up as water rains down on her. The bloody water swirls around her shaking body flowing to the drain.
"It's okay", a small voice tells her. She lifts her head and looks around. "I understand now. It's not your fault." The voice reassures her. Yuki sobs, "I failed to save him!" Yuki blurts out. "I failed to protect you!” she fights the tears.
"It's okay Yuki....I'm stronger then you think. I know the truth." The small voice says.
"I'm so sorry...."Yuki huddles herself into a ball.
"I'm better now. You don't need to be afraid. I know now. When those men came to kill me and my mother it was I who killed my mother by mistake. I didn’t understand my powers back then. It was an accident. I have to face the truth and accept it. It was 'ME' that killed her. I wasn't able to comprehend that before and that's why you came to me. Out of my own shattered childhood you came to protect me. You took the blame and lead me to safety. I couldn’t handle that fact that it was I who turned into a monster and killed all those solders and in doing so kill my mother...” the small voice continues. "...You’re not the evil in me. I was that evil. You came to cheer me up when I was sad, take me dancing when I was lonely. You would take the hurt away and make it yours."
Yuki stops crying and wipes her eyes.
"You are me. Only when I was young I couldn't deal with the gore of what had happen and so you were born. You are strong. You and tough. But you can't take on everything. Let me be strong for you now. Let me be tough. We can do it together now."
Yuki stands and looks down. The water starting to run lukewarm. She says aloud, "...but if you know everything and are okay..."she pauses.”...then you no longer need me."
"Of course I need you. You are my rock. Only now we will speak with one voice...not two.” the small voice now bigger.
"I have only wanted to be the best for you. I loved you even when you didn't love your self.” her voice echoes less in the stall as her voice become softer.
"I know and that's why I will always love you. We are one and will always be one for now on." The inside voice now coming out of Yuki's mouth.
Yuki nods and steps out of the shower. Wrapping a towel around her soaked body she looks into the steamed mirrors. "We can grieve when the job is done. You and I will bring honor back to the Ookami name.” she explains to her self. "This curse ends tonight!"
She finishes getting dressed, hides the blood soaked clothes in the gym bag and heads to class. Before she leaves she looks at her self one more time in the mirror. Wearing her school uniform she ties her hair back with a satin ribbon and smiles.

Many believe everyone has an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other giving advise on day to day decisions. Others call this just ones conscience and nothing more. If you really do hear voices helpful or not your just crazy.

What are you waiting for?"
"I'm not waiting."
"So why haven't we gone after them"
"I don't know if I want to kill any more"
"What? Don't tell me that boy got to you?"
"Well...."
"Yuki! Our ancestors call us. They scream to us to bring back honor. We need justice."
"But... Do I have to kill them all?"
"Yes. They all must pay! No one is innocent. If they claim to be CoT then they will be hunted by the Ookami."
"No. That's not right. That would be murder. I won't do it"
"Murder? Murder?! Like the murder of your family?"
"Yes, they came after us to kill all of us, but they failed. It was my powers that killed mother and it was his involvement in the circle that got father killed. Father may have been a great man but he was not a good man."
"How dare you! Father was a great man and that’s all that needs to be said. Do not disgrace is name."
"But... He was an agent for the circle. He worked for them. How is that great or honorable? He brought the CoT to our home and was not there to protect it."
"You were there to protect the home and mother."
"What? No that’s not right. You don't send a twelve year old kid to fight a war. I didn't even have my powers back then. No, it was fathers fault for leaving us there knowing they would come after us. He was the one in the circle. He should have been there."
"Stop whining! You know if he could have been there to protect us he would have. He was in battle with them. He couldn't get to us in time. They banished him to the underworld relm. Remember?"
"I remember alot now... I also remember that you told me that he was banished. It was you that told me alot of things but I cant seem to remember now where you found that out..."
"That's not fair Yuki. I did more for you and sacrificed more then you know . More then you can imagine"
"I know. I am sorry. I did not intend to insult you. I am and will always be grateful for all you hard work for me."
"I wanted to be the lead singer of a rock band you know. I had people interested. I could have taken' your body and become famous"
"Ha-ha, that's great. You would totally rock out."
"You know I would. Ha-ha." "So, are we going to go?"
"You don't like to give up do you?"
"What do you think?"
"Ok, fine. The offices that the headquarters or in will be closed and mostly empty tonight. So that's when I'll go in. BUT, I'm not going to kill all of them."
"Why?! They need to pay!"
"I know they do and they will. But some my not have anything to do with us or know what happen years ago. If we find the ones that hunted us then and only then will I think about going after them. But I not going to go in and start killing people. It's not what a hero would do."
"Your no hero. Your a killer. Your a demon. Don't forget who you are."
"I know who I am. I also know that mother was not a killer. She was not a demon, she was human, and we are her daughter too. She was kind and humble. I want to be like her and not a mindless killer you think I am. If I must kill I will but only if there are no other options. I don't want any more blood on my hands. The blood stains already on me are too much to handle. I don't want any more."
"You know I'm starting to think you were more fun when you didn't know what was going on."
"......"
"I'm kidding." "This is so much better. Really."
"Just remember why we are going there. To find father's remains and bring him home. Not to kill"
"Yeah yeah yeah. I know. But I swear If I see one that..."
"You distracted me. I think I missed the spot."
"Oh, wait no you didn't. There he is."
"Yup, I see him."
"I have no idea why you like him. You know he's more my type then yours."
"Your joking right? Your Type IS my type silly."
"I’m just saying..."
"Behave your self this time...please."
Yuki moves her body gently down so that she descends toward the ground. She floats down and lands gracefully in a clearing near the waterfall. She looks over and announces her self, "Heya, hope you didn’t wait too long."

When you have lost everything it is then you are free to do anything. Some things will remain constant, others will change. New friends, new enemies, the sun will rise tomorrow. Will you be there to see it? Death is just the beginning.


"This is it." Yuki says to her self trying to prepare herself for what may be coming. She crouches next to a air conditioning unit atop the roof of a twenty story office building. She almost vanishes in to the shadows as she slides a black gym bag in front of her. Unzipping it she reaches in to find the right equipment. "Let's see here...", she pulls out a few tools. "Going to need to get in quietly." She looks around. "You know your probably small enough to fit in the AC ducts" the voice in her head suggests. Yuki turns and pears into one of the slotted grates. "Umm, It wouldn't set off any alarms." She reaches down and finds the electric screw driver and starts working off the rusted screws on the metal grate.
The grate slides down like a pendulum as she pulls out the second to last screw from it's hole. It swings freely with a loud calamity of metallic noises. She grabs the grate and holds it from moving again. Yuki freezes in place as she looks around.
The inside voice laughs with a snort. "That wasn't funny!" Yuki says under her breath. She finishes unscrewing the last screw and gently leans the grate against the side of the unit. She reaches down and picks up a few tools. She places two in her pocket and kicks the rest in the bag. "Don't forget the rope." she thinks to her self. "Why do I need rope?" Yuki asks aloud. "Every movie I’ve seen that's about robbing a place they use rope. You might need it." The inner voice explains. "But.....I can fly." Yuki rebuttals. The inside voice has nothing to say to that. Yuki pushes the bag out of sight and starts to crawl into the small tunnel. As she leans in she reaches the edge of the tube. A straight drop welcomes her with a hollow sound. "I still think you should have brought the rope" The silence is broken. Yuki makes a dirty look as she positions her self in the narrow tube. "Ok.." Yuki thinks out loud, "...so what floor are the CoT on?" A long pause of silence. Yuki repeats her self "What floor are they on?" while rolling her eyes.
"I don't know"
"What do you mean you don't know?" Yuki snaps. "We were both looking over the information when you told me to get some sleep and you would finish studying the building blue prints. How can you not know?"
Inner Yuki thinks for a moment. "Cause I went dancing."
"Excuse me?" Yuki's mouth gapes open a bit. "What do you mean you went dancing?"
"What?" she shrugs in an innocent tone. "You were totally in need of a good time. That building stuff was boring."
Yuki shakes her head in frustration. "How is it I don't remember that?"
"I didn't mention that before?" the second voice asks coyly.
"Mention what?"
"When your asleep you won't remember things I do unless you wake up and visa versa."
"No, you failed to mention that before." Yuki think for a moment. "So, when your asleep you have no idea what I’m doing?"
"Yes, but once you start to remember thing I can see those memories."
"That’s so messed up. You know there's a padded room with my name on it don't you." Yuki jokes.
Yuki starts to wiggle a bit scooching closer over the edge. She just can't let it go "Why don't I have any memories of that night?"
"Ha-ha humm cause I kinda have no memory of that night either."
Yuki puts her hands over her face and hits her head against the smooth metal walls. "Oh my god! Why me?"

Some time later...

Yuki looks at her clock. "We've been in here for over three hours." Yuki sits back against the short boxy wall. Her hands black with dusty filth. Even her black stealthy outfit shows the dirt she covered in. "I can't believe I'm lost."
"I'm sorry.." the inner voice admits, "I just figured we were going to walk in the front door and start handing bad guys they're butts on a platter."
Yuki nods her head. "Yeah I know that’s what you wanted to do...can't blame you. That’s what I wanted to do too but this seemed allot easier" Yuki pulls out a little snack out of you pouch like front pocket and starts to unwrap it.
"Oh yeah, this is so much easier. Do you know how much rat crap I've seen so far? It's more then I want to admit ok. This sucks."
"Your the one that decided to go dancing and not memorize the plans." Yuki smirks.
"What ever. It was worth it." Yuki chews her food while the inner voice gets fidgety "Come on, lets just bust out of this sardine can and kick their asses till we find dad."
"No"
"Come on."
"No"
"You suck!"
"......"
Yuki tries to finish her snack in peace while thinking of where to go next.

"...I know what your saying, but I just think there could be a better way. You know?"
"What can be better the tradition? It's worked all these years, why change things now. Yeah, there's been times that seem..."
Two guards chat with each other as they pass the air conditioning vent. They turn the corner and disappear from view. They're voices fade with distance.

"I think we have a winner." Yuki's inside voice announces with excitement. She moves her head side to side straining to see as far down the hall as the small vent will allow her. "I think your right." She whispers to her self. She puts her hands on the vent and gives a little push. The vent doesn't move.
"Hummph."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. The vent must be screwed in." Yuki whispers as she reaches in her pocket pulling out a small tool.
"So... Where are the screws?"
Yuki gets a puzzled look on her face. She moves to readjust her position looking closer to see any screws.
"It's hard to see." She reaches back with out looking feeling for her flashlight. She puts her hand on the small torch and pulls it close and turns it on. The light sharp from the LCD bulbs in it give a soft circle radius as she moves it quickly from on corner of the vent to the next.
"There's no screws."
"There has to be a screw" Yuki blurts out flustered. "How else is it stuck in there?"
The inner voice laughs harshly. "Wow, you just left your self open for so many jokes."
"Stop that! This is serious."
The inner voice can not stop giggling.
"So how is this thing attached?" Yuki tries shaking the vent.
"Beats me. Maybe its glued in." The inner voice shrugs.
Yuki starts to punch the slotted vent. "This thing has to open up some how!?"
"It's screwed in from the out side." A deep voice explains. "You have to unscrew it from the outside."
Yuki whispers to herself "Oh, well that makes sense..." She freezes just realizing that wasn't one of her voices.
The inner voice shrinks. "Rut Row Shoobee"
A portly built man in a CoT guards uniform leans down peering into the vent. The left corner of his mouth curls up in a slight smile.
"So, any thing I can help you with?"
His shadow blocks out the light inside the duct. Yuki's mind races in a desperate panic. She thinks of many clever responses. She thinks up a few excuses that would seem rational and would explain why a fifteen year old asian girl in a cat burglar outfit covered in dirt would be trapped in an air conditioning duct. It would work. He would totally buy it. She thinks of the best way to start her words. She scooches around and puts a sheepish smile on her face. She opens her mouth to begin as her leg lifts up and kicks the vent as had as she can. The vent and drywall explode open forcing the man to rock back on his heals and fly back into the wall opposite the vent. He falls down against the wall in a slouch unconscious.

"Holy crap!" Yuki's eye wide in confusion. "What did you do that for?"
The inner voice shrugs off the question. "I didn't think your excuse would work. It was a knee-jerk reaction."
Yuki slides out of the hole into the hall. She looks around for anyone that may have heard the noise.
"Get it? Knee-jerk reaction?" The inner voice asks proud of her pun.
"Oh yeah your a riot." Yuki says in a sarcastic tone looking around the corner of the hall. "We need to hide this guy. Those other guards will be back this way." She picks up one of the unconscious mans legs and struggles to pull his body.
"What do you think they were talking about?"
Yuki grunts as she gets the body to move a few inches. "What who was talking about?"
"Those other guards. It sounded like a interesting conversation."
Yuki drops the leg and throws her hands in the air. "Why would I care about what two CoT guards where talking about? Do you know how heavy this guy is?" She points down at the large man sleeping on the floor. "Your not making this any easier." She reaches down and grabs the leg again.
"Your doing it wrong."
Yuki winkles her face as she pulls the man another inch or two.
"Your doing it wrong" The inner voice hums the words.
Yuki leans back almost level with the floor pulling the leg. Her grip slides down his leg as she tugs on his pants. She repositions her grip as she yanks hard on his foot. The boot slips off. She slams the boot into her face as she flies back falling to the floor. Her head finds the open hole in the wall and dust falls on her face.
"Damn it!"
"I told you where doing it wrong."
"Shut up!" She snaps as she stands up "I swear if you say one more thing I'm going to choke you!"
"I'm just saying." The inner voice injects.
"This guy is freaking heavy. I don't think I'm going to be able to hide him." She rubs her upper cheek where she hit herself with the boot.
"That's because you were doing..."
"Don't you dare say it!"
"You were."
"Ok gothy, how would you do it?"
"Oh! That's cold Yuki. That's really cold. You know I hate it when she calls me that."
"I know." Yuki grins with a sense of satisfaction.
"I see how it is now. It's ok. Step back let me show you how it's done."
Yuki closes her eyes as the inner voice takes over. Yuki opens her eyes as shadowy darkness swells around her. "Oh how I have missed this." She breaths it all in. She then walks over to the man now minus one boot and stands over him. She looks over at the hole in the wall. "Watch and learn." She says with attitude as she cracks her knuckles. She positions her body in perfect line with the hole. She reaches up and take a measurement of the wind and temperature.
"Get on with it!" Yuki yells from inside her mind.
"Ok Ok, here we go." She rubs her hands together. Darkness forms around her hands almost dripping off her palms. She rubs them together harder and faster as the darkness completely surrounds her arms. She releases her grip and make a motion in the air while saying. "Wax on. Wax off." Then shoves her arms forward pushing the air in front of her. The force picks up the mans plumply form and hurdles him toward the hole in the wall. The man smacks into the wall back first. His back side slams into the hole making it bigger. His lags, head, and arms dangle out unable to fit. Yuki smiles in arrogance and brushes off her hands. "And that is that."
"Oh yeah no one will ever suspect anything if they walk by."
"What do you want? I got him in the hole for you." She says as she pokes the mans limbs with her foot trying to stuff then into the hole.
"Yes you did. When did you learn that little trick?"
"Wha cha' talkin' 'bout? I gots skills. Just representin'...Demon in the his-ouse!" She tries to say with a straight face but just ends up laughing. She slides over a large chair with a high back and tries to cover the man stuffed in the lower part of the wall.
"We need to get going." Yuki says while she takes back possession of her body. "So, were you planing on showing me that trick?"
"Well, yeah. There's a couple others I've been wanting to try out too."
Yuki stops to concentrate. Her body begins pulling dark energy from the air as she vanishes into the shadows. She thinks to her self as she sneaks down the hall. "More powers? Cool. I'd like to see that."
"Well, now things are working out for us I think we will be able to really focus on learning all the cool powers that's in our genes."
"That would rock." Yuki thinks with a smile.
"So, I was thinking."
"Oh that would be a first." Yuki snickers.
"Oo that's so clever. Good job. I'm so proud of you. You come up with that all by your self?"
"What ever. You know it was good."
"Mm kay. If you say so. Anyways, I was thinking. How are we going to get back out?"
"Out of where? Here? The same way we got in. Just with out all the wrong ways."
"How are we going to do that? There's a well large dressed unconscious man blocking our way out."
Yuki wrinkles her noise in frustration. "I'll think of something. Don't worry."
She slowly walks down the hall turning Corners and looking in rooms. "Everything here looks like a temp agency owns it. What the hell is this?" Pointing to a poster above a desk. "I don't DO Mondays? What kind of sick twisted Circle of Thorns member would put that above his desk? What kind of CoT member would have a desk? What is going on here?" Yuki stares at the computer screen on one of the desks as a ball bounces from corner to corner on the screen saver. The inner voice chimes in. "I think this place terrifies me more then any Hell I have seen." Yuki shivers at the thought of dressed button down employees walking the halls like zombies. Making chit-chat at the water cooler. All the while planning the destruction of human kind...or at least middle management. Yuki pokes around a few other rooms. "There has to be more to this place then just cubicles and bad office decorations."
"You know those two guards that were talking before?"
"No I have no idea what they were talking about."
"No no. I mean we should find out were they went. Maybe there's a main room they practice they're magic stuff."
"Well, that's as good an idea as any at this point."
Yuki turns and heads back to where she came in. Slipping through the halls she gets back to the hall with the knocked out guy stuffed in it. Only the portly man is not there any more.
"Oh crap!" They both think in unison.
She frantically looks around. "Where the hell did he go?"
"I don't know but I do know we are completely frelled."
Yuki stops for a moment. "Frelled? What does that mean?"
"They say it on a show I watch. They say that instead of fu..."
Yuki interrupts "I don't want to know any more. Jesus, you need to stop watch so much TV. Your killing my brain cells." Yuki thinks with annoyance. The man is no where to be found. Yuki looks up and down the immediate hall.
"Do you think they know we're here?"
Yuki nods her head. "I would say that's a good guess."
"What now?"
Yuki thinks for a moment. Then states with conviction "We do what we came here for."
The inner voice nervously smiles. "Lead the way champ. Let tag 'em and bag 'em"
"That sound gross"
"Thank you." The inner voice says with light hearted pride.
She follows the hall way as it opens into a great hall. Two floors open up with stairs on either side. She continues forward. Sneaking around corners sticking to the shadows. The is no one around. Empty offices every where. Not a soul that can be seen or felt. She come to a large wooden door. The plaque on the oak door reads 'Edward Kachinski Director of Personal'.
"Well this looks promising."
"Only one way to find out."
She slowly opens the door. Readying herself for anything that might attack her. The door gentle opens with out so much as a squeak or creek. She looks in. The lights are off. There's a large desk directly facing the door. So wall hangings and an indoor golf pad a clubs leaning against the wall. Complete with fake neon green grass. Some trophies and knick-knacks decorate a shelf.
"Oh my God! Can these people be any lamer?" The inner voice can't take it any more. "I swear if these people are villains they should just kill them selves and safe time." Yuki snoops around the office. "Worlds best boss?" She reads off an empty coffee mug. "Oh God shoot me now! I'm not kidding. We have to get out of here. I cant take any more."
"Wait!" Yuki pipes up.
"No. We need to find the nearest exit and get the hell out of this place. I mean this is torture."
"No I mean wait. I see something."
"oh."
Yuki opens the vertical blinds revealing not a window but a large stone circle with symbols all along the edge of the ring. It stands at over seven foot in height. Yuki leans back to see the top of it.
"When did we end up on the set of Stargate?" The inner voice always quick with the inappropriate commentary.
"I think this is what we're looking for. It's a portal to the headquarters."
"Well, yeah. I knew that."
"The dull office building is just a front. This is where we find Dad."
Yuki reaches up and touches the ring. The demon powers with in her make a connection with the enchanted stone and draws energy. A slight hum at first then the ring begins to glow as the center begins to become translucent. Yuki lets go and stands in front of the portal.
"I guess this is it."
"Yup"
"No turning back after we walk through."
"Yup. No wait. Yes there is. These things go both ways. We can always run like a bat out of Hell if we need to."
"Oh yeah."
"I don't really see that happening do you?"
"No I don't."
"Lets do this."
"Here we come Father."
Yuki steps through the portal. In an instant she is gone.

The scent of flowers glide on the breeze slowing down so that they can be enjoyed for just a moment before they are wisped away upward on the wind. Yuki opens her eyes with a smile. Her sight adjust to the natural light filling the room. White walls. Her hearing comes into focus on the sounds of waves crashing on the shore. She turns her head to the side on the pillow. A large square window with no glass opens to the outside. Long baby blue shear curtains float on the breeze. Beautiful clear blue and jade water with white caps of foam beckon to her. She slips her feet out from under the silk sheet and places them softly on the bamboo floor. Her slim shear night gown just brushes the floor as she stands. Her legs unsure of the weight and balance soon adjust and she steps slowly to the window. Smooth and cool the floor feels to her bares feet, she looks up. Clear blue sky. Only two small and slender clouds oppose the blue. No voices, no noise, no planes, no traffic, no where is where this feels. She leans against the windows edge and almost hugs the wall as she takes in the beauty.
"It is so beautiful here" she thinks to her self.
"Is this my home?" her soft voice echos in her mind as she tries to remember.
Every thing is calm, serene in her mind. She touches her face.
"who...who am I?" her mind draws on the void in her mind.
Wooden wind chimes send soft sound waves through the air. The peacefulness of this place calm her worries as she stares out to the beach. No time exists in this heavenly place. All of eternity could have passed as she breathed it all in.
A sudden flash of darkness screams across her minds eye. She shutters and gasps. A demonic vision of destruction fills all her senses. Another flash binds her. She steadies herself against the wall. She sees a claw like hand entering her chest. Her sternum snaps and breaks as the claw continues tearing at her flesh and ripping at her organs. The pain reaches her mind in waves. Her arms fail her and she's powerless to stop it. She tries to scream. Her mouth opens wide. Only the sound of the waves crashing on the beech. She stands next to the large open window clutching her chest as a cool afternoon breeze blows her hair from her face. The soft calm tones of the wooden wind chimes float on the wind.
She stares out to the ocean in confusion. She looks down and has a frightful thought. She jerks to attention and begins franticly pulling at the buttons on her night gown. Desperately undoing each button she rips her top open and holds her bare chest. No open gash. No blood. No claw. Her heart beats through her hand. Her breathing slows and her arms drop to her sides. She gasps as images races through her mind.
"I remember now" she announces to the room.
"I'm dead."
She stutters, "They killed me".

Bitter sweet. The only emotion Yuki can feel as she enters her room. She studies the room for a moment almost reminiscing good memories before setting her bag down. Her side of the room looks untouched. Nothing moved nothing missing. No one has gone through her things looking for clues as to where she has been. She frowns a bit as she moves to her bed. She sits down and looks over at her wall of toys and books. She grins with a bit of sadness. It almost feels like years ago that she was here. It's not that so much time has passed while she was away, away at that beach cabin, away from the nightmare of what happened, it's that it just seemed like it had been so long. Much has happen in such a short time. Yuki stands up and walks over to her small desk. Her laptop sits unused and covered in stickers. Stuffed toys surround the table giving a sense of cheer and childlike innocence. She shakes her head with her eyes closed tight. In a fit of anger she shoves the desk over on to the floor. The laptop crashes to the floor and the toys fly across the room. Yuki sits down on the floor among the toys and holds her knees. She didn't think coming back would be so hard.

After sitting in silence for some time she stands up. Her legs half asleep and tingling from sitting in one place for so long. She looks down at the floor and then over to the walls. She remembered hanging the posters on the wall the first day she moved in. She smiled as she remember the first time she got to know her roommates. She thought about Jess's and Alice's first meeting and how they help move her things in and make it her space. They were so nice and friendly. She thinks about the times they spent talking about boys and teachers. Laughing over silly things.

Yuki walks over to her small desk now on the floor and opens a drawer. She pulls out a box of trash bags and unfolds one. One by one she fills the bag with brightly colored toys and symbols of her childhood. She takes the posters off from the wall. She fills the bag till it is unable to fit any more. Then neatly ties it up and places it in her closet. She moves some thing around to fit the bag in the small space. As she forces the bag into the cramped spot she notices a photo book resting on top of some shoes. She gives the bag a final shove while looking at the photo book. She sits down again on the floor and reaches over and takes the book. She gently opens it to the first page. She remembers starting this photo album a few months after she first arrived here at St Joes. She grins as she flips from one photo to the next. Each one holding a special memory, a special place in her heart. She stops on a photo. A frown slowly spreads across her face as she releases a sigh. Yuki stares at the photo of close friend before the war for some time before abruptly closing the book and putting it back in the closet.

"It's good to be home" Yuki states to her self in a long sigh.
No response.

She walks to the window and looks out into the yard. She sees some of her class mates walking to their destinations and some hanging about. She looks upward and sees the sun almost setting. Night time is fastly approaching as the last flicker of blues and oranges fill the sky. She can almost make out an adult super hero flying across where the sun once was. Yuki looks down and checks the lock on the window and closes the curtains. She slips her shoes off and crawls into bed. She pulls the covers over her and holds her pillow tight. She tries to fall asleep but can't seem to turn off her brain. She just keeps seeing the images of what happen over and over. She curls up into a ball and finally nods off.

A flash of bright energy makes a low humming noise. Yuki opens her eyes. With a surge of power the portal quickly closes behind her.
"That-was-freakin'-awesome!" the inner voice yells in delight.
"We have got to do that again. That was so cool." The voice inside continues to boast.
Yuki looks around. The light is so dim she can barely make out the walls to her side.
"I'm sure we will get that opportunity again when we leave." She says to her self in a hushed tone.
She moves forward a few steps and stops. It's too dark to see where she's going as she feels for anything in front of her. She stops and concentrates for a moment. The air is cool and damp. The dark room begins to move as shadows are drawn from the room. She pulls the shadows until she blends in with them. The shadow go back to their positions and the room is still again. Yuki is able to see better now and moves silently forward.
"We're in a cave some where" she whispers.
The inner voice agrees with nervousness. The room opens into a long hall. Sconces decorate the walls every few yards. She moves slowly down the half cave half hallway. The rooms still and quiet.
"Want to light one of those sconces?" the inner voice suggests.
"No, I can see just fine." Yuki relies.
"But what if there's traps?" the inner voice whispers.
"If there is a trap I will not see it just the same with out light. Now hush. Please."
A few seconds pass and the inner Yuki grows restless and more nervous. She starts to hum the music from The Temple of Doom.
"Please!" Yuki quietly snaps. "I'm trying to concentrate."
"Sorry" the inner voice quiets.
Yuki makes it to the end of the hall with out running into a single traps. The room looks more like a building now and less like a cave. Some stone pieces poke through the walls but for the most part it looks like a traditional western hallway. She stops and looks up. A large wooden door stands in front of her.
"Looks like we made it to the front door." Yuki whispers.
"You want to run is screening like a crazy person?" the inner voice jokingly asks.
"Firstly, no and secondly, has anyone every explained irony to you?" Yuki jokes back.
She pushes on the door as it slowly opens. It opens a quarter way reviling a sliver of light before she stopped pushing. Light starts to fill the darkened hall behind her. She squints as her eyes adjust to the light. Not knowing what to expect she clenches her fists and slips into the light.

She stands in a lit room. A very large lit room. Yuki looks around at the shear size of the room. A few levels and pillars hold the room together. Walls separate sections of the space with tones of steal grey and burgundy. She puts her back to the door as it closes behind her. Before she can take a step forward she hears a noise. She pauses and looks around. Not a lot of shadows to hide in she notes.
"I don't see anyone." the inner voice says.
Her ear perks up as she hears foots steps. She stands still and looks around. She sees someone. Then another. All at once dozens of what look like men most in dark robes appear. Almost as though out of thin air. They seem not to see her. She slowly exhales.
"Oh, I stand corrected." the inner voice whispers.
More come out of no where and seem to be busy in they're own work. Non of them seem to talk to each other. Yuki tries to count how many she may have to fight. She loses count as more walk in to view.
"Wow, that's a lot." She thinks.
She starts to move along the wall slowly. Sliding her back against the smooth wall. Always looking for what she came for, this trophy of her fathers remains.
"We just need to sneak pass these jokers, find Dad's horns, and get out. I don't want to get into a fight here." Yuki says to herself.
"You know me, I'll always be the first the throw down but this looks bad. I mean insane crazy here. I'm not going to do anything to get into a fight with this many mages." the inside voice continues nervously. "Can we just find Dad and get the hell out of here?"
She notices a man in robes looking over towards her. The inside voice starts freaking out.
"He can see us. He can see us!"
"No he can't." Yuki thinks. "He's just looking at this direction, not at us."

She continues to move slowly along the wall keeping an eye on the mage looking in her direction. She gets to the edge of a corner and stops. She looks all around before making her next move. She scouts the walls and corners looking for a sign of the remains. She spots a room that looks promising and begins to creep towards it. She suddenly stops. Her heart skips a beat as she hears laughter. Soft and low at first then loud and close. The laughter echoes through the room. She holds her breath and stands motionless.
"Why are you hiding Nephilim?" the laughing voice asks loudly.
Yuki remains motionless.
"I wondering if he's speaking to us." the inside voice asks.
Yuki rolls her eyes ignoring the question and ponders the meaning of that word, that name. She had heard it used before. "Nephilim?" the word falls off her lips.
"Yes Ms. Ookami..."
"Ms. Wolf..."
" Ms. Half breed. I'm talking to you little one."
The voice begins to laugh again.
Yuki spins around looking franticly for the source of the voice.
"Why oh why little girl do you look so shocked?" His mocking tone turns to anger. "You come here to my lair, the realm of the Circle of Thorns and think you can walk in unnoticed?" He pauses. "I knew you where young but I had no idea that you could be so stupid child!" his deep voice echoes the words.
Yuki's eyes glisten with fear as she hugs the wall behind her unable to back way any farther. She notices a man of short stature walks around a pillar. His face is covered by the decorative robes he is wearing. Black and deep red with lines of gold and silver draping off the cuffs and seems of his cape and cow. Everyone in the room turns at once and faces Yuki. Giving a dramatic pause he waits a moment before lifting an arm and motioning to his side. The floor trembles and dust shakes lose from the ceiling as two very large fire demons walk in. Fire swirls above their shoulders and heads. Their horns large and powerful. Base on their stature they must be well respected in the underworld Yuki thinks. Scares on their chest and arms reveal their status of seasoned warriors. She looks around sizing the situation up. Some of the minions have blank looks in they're eyes almost as though they are in a daze.
The man in the decorative hood motions to the crowd. Sweeping his arms forward he point to Yuki then clenches his fists in a sign of total destruction. The crowd of robed villains, mages and demons start to file in and slowly approach her.

Yuki gets a strange glare in her eyes. "Oh shit!"
"You can say that again." the inner voice gulps.

Time heals all wounds. That’s what they say. That’s only a half truth. The full truth is the pain and wounds never heal. The heart ache and despair remain prudent in the mind and flesh for ever. Some pain is so powerful it lingers long after the person has shed their mortal coil echoing through time. With most time allows you to forget. Not at first but as time passes little bits of memory fade. For those who have lost loved ones, in time, thy will no longer be able to see their loved ones face in their minds eye. This can cause a greater grief. Other pain of traumatic events can last for ever and never fade. The images remain vivid in their mind. These memories can reoccur at any time. A sound, a smell, a glimpse of a reminder out of the corner of the eye can trigger the flash back. Some push through never talking about it to anyone. Like all emotions they have a way of coming out no matter how hard you push them down.

Yuki leaves the fire pit as Alex looks at her sadly. Yuki knows Alex feels bad that her two friends get so depressed and nothing she does seems to help. Yuki feels a strange connection with Kierin. She can almost feel her pain as she knows it too well.

She walks to her room. It’s late. Yuki sneaks in as quietly as she can so not to wake anyone. Scarlett’s bed is empty but as the light forces its way through the opening door she sees Jessie fast asleep. Her covers pulled tight over her shoulders.

“We all have our crosses to bare don’t we?” She thinks to her self as she looks at Jessie sleeping.

The door closes with a soft clank. The moon illuminates half the room through the window. Yuki takes off her clothes and crawls into her bed. Sleep has not come easy since coming back. It’s been months since losing her powers and she has yet to adjust to her new life. It angers her that she feels so depressed all the time.

“Just keeps smiling.” She tells her self. “No one likes a downer. Keep busy and sign up for as many activities as you can.” She convinces her self that filling her time with things to do will cause the memories of what happen to her will disappear. With her eyes moist from the somber ending of her evening she closes her eyes to fall asleep.

“It’s ok Yuki, I’m here.” Her mother’s sweet voice.
“But I don’t know what to do Mommy. I’m scared.”
“You should duck.”
“What?”
“DUCK!” Her inner voice screams.
One of the fire demons punches through the low ceiling and rock debris flies towards her crashing into the wall that her back is hugging. She cowards to the floor covering her head as rock crumble on her. The demons roar showing off their scars. The minions file in and stop just behind the demons. The man in ropes steps away from the pillar. His face still shadowed by his hood.

“Come now child, if you’re just going to huddle on the floor this wont be as much fun.” The man has a mocking tone.

Yuki stands up. It is obvious that he can see through her power of shadows. So she drops the cloak revealing her self to all.

“There you go. That’s better.” He says.
“Are you ready for your punishment?” The man asks earnestly.
Yuki looks around then at him. “What punishment?”
“Tsk Tsk Tsk,” The man waves his finger.
“Where do I start? Let’s see…”

Yuki feels the darkness of his soul. It feels familiar but distant. She pulls on her power to feel more.
“It’s no good” the inner voice whispers. “I can’t get past the horde. They seem to be overwhelming the power. I can’t lock onto him.”

“…We can start with the fact that you are an abomination, but we’ll get to that later. Your father betrayed his kind. He betrayed the Circle. Not only did he breed with that human slut but he was a traitor and worked for those Heroes. To do what? To banish his own brethren from this realm. Now we like it here and they like it here.” He points to the fire demons.

The large demons laugh with and evil grin.

“Now we couldn’t have that could we?” He takes a step forward.

“Next, he found out about our little attack on his home and wasn’t there when we showed up. Do you know how annoying that is?! Here we spend all that time planning and money getting proper mercenaries together and your father has the nerve to not be there.” He laughs. “Very disappointing. The only positive thing to come out of that entire cluster fuck was we didn’t have to pay the solders. You took care of that didn’t you? You killed them all like lambs to the slaughter.” He puts his hand to his face. “Now, that was a surprise. Who could have known the little half breed brat would choose that moment to go all killing machine? But you did didn’t you.” His finger wiggles at her. “But what is done is done. We can’t change what happen and it just so happens it worked out for the best.” He steps closer. “You see, we never expected you could have the powers of the lords. With that knowledge that gave us new ideas.” He crosses his arms. “What else.” He thinks for a moment. “Oh yeah. The other reason…” He starts to lift his hood to reveal his face. “The sins of the father are passed to the children and…” He shows his face.

Yuki’s mouth drops in shock as she recognizes him as the contact she almost killed getting information from. John White.

“…revenge!”

Yuki has a befuddled look in her eyes.

“That’s right.” He smiles. “You had me by the throat and thought you left me for dead.” He rubs his shoulder. You know you caused me some discomfort.” He moves a little closer. “It was so hard pretending to be John White a week bodied and weak minded middle man. I really wanted to kill you and just be done with it…” He reaches his arms out and spins. “…but we couldn’t waist all this. I needed you here. So I gave you just enough to get you to come.” He laughs a maniacal laugh. “You really are a stupid little bitch.”

Yuki feels her anger swelling. Her inner voice seething, “That is a dead man talking.” The inner voice states as a matter of fact. “He sent those assassins to kill us. He killed mom. He destroyed our lives. We must kill him!” Yuki nods with her jaw clinched.

Yuki speaks up. “You know what?”
The mastermind turns his head, “What?”
“You talk a lot for a dead guy.” Her eyes flare with fire. Darkness swells around her. She trusts her hand forward in a punch and slings a spike straight at his face. He lifts his hand in an unexpected haste to stop the bone spike. He’s too late as the spike penetrates his mental shield and slices through his cheek. He spins around and grabs his face.
“You bitch!”
“Get her!” He screams the command to the minions.

Yuki stands ready her anger overwhelming any fear that might be in her mind. The darkness covers her as she merges the two minds. Her body contorts as her bones shift to form her demon. Her wings burst forth ripping away her black shirt. Her knees pop and break back as talons tear through her boots. She screams in hate as bones burst through her skin. Rage takes over.

The first of the two fire demons swing at her. She spins around as his claws tear a chunk out of the stone wall missing her. Dark energy fills her cupped hands and she pushes her arms out expelling the energy. The fire demon flies back into the crowd as they fall back from the power. The other fire demon hits her from behind. She rolls back to her feet and jumps to meet the demon. He swells with fire. He wealds the flames engulfing her body. She punches through the fire and shoves a bone spire into his head. He move and swats her off him breaking the bone off in his head. Yuki falls to her knee and leaps into to crowd. She shoots spikes from all over her body while stabbing at anything in front of her. A line of minion fall around her as the spikes finds their marks. She jumps into the air again throwing spikes wildly. The mob pulls her back down punching her and hitting her with dark magic. She dodges and blocks as many hits as she can. She stabs a minion through the chest and lifts him up into the air. The minion doesn’t make a sound and still reaches for her, punching her. She swings his body into the crowd using it as a shield and as a weapon. The mob tear at the human shield ripping it’s lifeless body away from Yuki. They cage her in and smother her with there powerful punches and kicks. The dark magic saps her strength and blinds her for a moment. They force her to the ground. She head butts one with her horns as blood spatters onto her face. Darkness pushes out into the crowd then inward. Yuki drains everyone around her and those holding on to her of there life force. Few falls dead others continue to attack. She gets to her feet and waves her hand using her power to make as many as she can fear her. Many tremble in fear. Those effected get trampled as the relentless mob pushes forward at her. She feels a sharp pain to her back. One has stabbed her with a kris dagger. She lets out a scream and spins around. Her eyes flare with black flames. She's losing control. With a full swing she decapitates the minion with her blade like bone spine piercing through her wrist. A large chunk of rock smashes down on her head as the fire demon reaches down for another bolder. Her knees buckle as blood fills her mouth. Her claws rip through the skin of the nearest minion as she tries to steady her self. The ringing in her ears is disorienting. Her inner voice and her voice scream as one. Blurry rings form around her vision. She feels another sharp pain in her stomach and another in her chest. Fire and blood erupts from her wounds. With all of her strength she flaps her wings lifting her off the ground. She throws spines in rapid succession with out aiming. She can see bodies piling on the floor. She starts to fall back down as darts and bolts tear through her wings. She curls her legs and stomps on a minion as she lands. Her talons rip open its chest. She thrusts her self up over the endless crowd as they grab and stab at her. She comes down with a sword like spike cleaving all the way through the muscular shoulder of one of the fire demons. Her spine slices down though his chest. As it falls back the other demon grabs her by her bloodied wings and hurls her into a pillar shattering it. She feels her bones breaking. She gets up slowly spitting out blood. The minions keep coming. She looks around. Her vision still blurred. She can’t see John White. She gathers up her powers and shoots a beam of dark energy at the standing demon. It hits him with everything she has knocking him back through the stone wall. The mob starts to crush her. They pile on her forcing her arms and legs to separate. Then they start pulling her body like a rack. She kicks and claws. She expels spins and darkness in all directions. Minions fall releasing her. Her body soaked in blood slips out of their grasps. She wipes blood from her eyes so she can see as she get to her feet again. She feels dizzy as she tries to draw energy from all around her. The darkness pushes out like it did before then it pulls back in draining the life from those around.

Silence. Nothing. She can’t move. The mob stops. Yuki feels warmth and coolness at the same time. She looks down to see a pike coming out of her chest. The world slows. She gasps for air. The ringing in her ears makes everything looks fuzzy. She grabs the pike. Blood spills over her hands. A sharp spine slides through the skin of her wrist and lifts her arm to cut off the metal point. The last remaining and damaged fire demon hurls another bolder. She watches it fly in the air towards her. She lifts her hand to stop it but the bolder crashes into her head with bone crushing force.

Yuki wakes up screaming. Her bed soaked with sweat. She doesn’t realize she’s awake and continues screaming. Her chest heaves as she hyperventilates in terror. She looks around clutching her chest. A light is on. Jessie’s sitting up in her bed staring at her.