Toshi almost smiled. "She's the human Shigeki's in love with. Now, Kirira, I suggest you leave. You've caused Saphael enough pain with your idiotic demon ways."
Kirira stalked over to Toshi and put her face right up to his. "Saph will take me back. He loves me!"
Toshi pushed Kirira away from him. "He used to love you. Before you dumped him for a demon! Before you got him forever banished from the heavens!" Toshi's anger grew steadily. He raised his hand to his head. "Now get out of my sight, you wretched creature."
Kirira stood, her mouth open in disbelief. "How dare you decide things for Saph! I—" Kirira stopped when she saw Toshi's face.
"How dare I?" Toshi quivered in anger. "Kirira, if you don't leave right now I'll be forced to use my power on you."
Kirira clamped her jaw shut. She turned on her heel and stalked out the door. I'll come back later when that stupid wolf-boy is gone, she thought angrily.

*******

Inugami pressed himself against the bars of his and Zenki's prison cell. "Where is Kokutei?" he asked the prison guard. "Where is Kokutei?"
Zenki slumped his body against the wall of the prison. Chiaki... what was he going to do...?
"WHERE IS KOKUTEI?!!!" Inugami roared, frantically trying to squeeze himself through the bars.
"Hey, shut up!" The prison guard came over and hit the metal bars of their cell. "Who the hell is this 'Kokutei'?"
"Kokutei is my companion, a large wolf whose coat is the color of—"
"Your dog? Oh, they took him to the pound."
"The... pound?" Inugami's eyes widened. "WHAT'S THAT?!!" Inugami turned around and madly threw himself at Zenki. "This is all your fault, oni!!" he screamed, shaking Zenki wildly. "If it wasn't for you and your stupid search for your little blood thirsty shrine maiden, none of this would have happened!! For all I know, Kokutei may be pounded flat!"
Zenki was in shock for a second, his thoughts being broken. On impulse, he kicked, making Inugami wince and pause his stream of chatter, but he didn't let go of Zenki.
"Hey, you FUCK! Stop!" Zenki started punching Inugami.
"Don't you try and attack me! For in this human body, you are weak!" Inugami grinned at the true realization of it.
The prison guard yelled at Inugami and Zenki, but they paid no heed.
"Weak?" Zenki growled, reaching for Inugami's neck.
Inugami grabbed Zenki's hands. "WAIT!"
Zenki grinned. "No, you started this, Inugami ..." Zenki struggled to free his hands from Inugami's grip.
"Listen to me, Zenki," Inugami said, his voice calm and quiet, "we are both missing ones whom we care about. We both have to get out of here."
Zenki opened his mouth to say he didn't care about that stupid shrine girl, but then closed it.
Inugami nodded, then let go of Zenki's arms. The Lord of the Dead rose, and closed his eyes, focusing. He then charged the stone wall Zenki was leaning against, and there was a huge cracking sound.
Zenki looked up, expecting to see Inugami writhing in pain. Instead, there was a lack of wall. A pile of rubble and lots of dust was on the floor of the prison. And beyond that ... the streets of Tokyo! Inugami grinned at Zenki, and ran through the opening. Zenki took a glance behind him, to see the prison guard frantically trying to unlock the door, and then ran after Inugami.

*******

Inugami and Zenki both stopped, panting in an alley. Inugami straightened, and watched Zenki, who was still panting heavily. "I have to find Kokutei," he said, looking out at the streets reluctantly. "You must find your shrine girl."
"So you're going off on your own, then?" Zenki asked, his breathing still a little labored.
Inugami nodded. "You'll find her, Zenki." The Wolf Lord gently put his hand on Zenki's shoulder for a second, then pulled it back. He took one last look at Zenki, and ran out of the alley and down the street.

*******

Toshi snapped his fingers again, and Shigeki blinked. "Where's Kirira? She just ... vanished ..."
Toshi looked at Shigeki, acting confused. "Kirira? Who's that?"
"This... girl ..." Shigeki stopped. "Maybe I'm just hallucinating."
Toshi smiled. "Yeah, you're probably just really hungry. When did you last eat? Did you have breakfast?" Toshi put his hands on his hips, acting like a worrying mother. "Oh dear little Shigeki, you're so malnourished!" he cried in a high pitched voice.
Shigeki raised an eyebrow. Well, Toshi didn't seem any different. "Don't worry about me," Shigeki said, walking over to his desk to collect the music sheets he was going to give to Toshi. "I'll order a pizza or something." Shigeki handed Toshi the music sheets and let a small smile appear on his face.
"Well, take care of yourself anyway, Shigi. See you tomorrow!" With that, Toshi left Shigeki's apartment. As soon as the door shut, Shigeki sat down on his couch. How long has it been since I've seen Kirira? he wondered. Shigeki stared out his window, beginning to feel forlorn. He decided he would stretch his wings tonight, for there was no moon, and it would be pitch black.

*******

Yume wandered the streets of Tokyo, her eyes peeled for any sign of Chiaki. She walked past the window of an electronics store. TVs were on in the display window.
"... This just in, another vicious attack has been reported, this one in Tokyo's Ueno Park. A man was found, dead, with a fatal wound on his neck. Police hope to catch the criminal responsible for the murders as soon as possible. Citizens are warned to be on the lookout for suspicious figures. More on this story as it develops."
Yume snapped her fingers. That must be Chiaki. "Can you direct me to Ueno Park?" she asked a passer-by, bowing.
The woman turned around and pointed down the street. "It's just at the end of this street, Miss," she said, then went on her way.
"Arigato!" Yume called after her, then took off.

*******

Inugami's eyes travelled over the signs labelling the many shops, complexes, and restaurants on the streets of Tokyo. Which one was the pound? Inugami raised his hand to his head. Would any of these people know? They all seemed to be in such a hurry... but what for? Inugami had no time to ponder these things. He winced when he realized he would be using Zenki logic, but he did it anyway. "KOKUTEI! KOKUTEI!!" A few people walking by him gave him strange looks. A young woman walking by stopped. "Hey, are you looking for someone?" she asked.
Inugami looked over at the woman. "My companion, my wolf, Kokutei, has been taken to a place called The Pound. I do not know where that is ..."
The woman smiled. "I'm Misao," she said. "I'll help you find your dog." Misao took Inugami's hand and pulled him through the streets.
Inugami stumbled after Misao. "I am assuming you know the location of The Pound?" Inugami asked.
"Well, there are several animal pounds in Tokyo," Misao said, without looking back at Inugami. "We should check all of them."

Misao smiled as she dragged Inugami along. This guy was really cute. Hopefully after we find his dog I can get to know him a little better… a lot better.

*******

Yume walked carefully and silently through Ueno park, having avoided the police officers restraining crowds of people. She entered a thick cluster of trees. At least there was earth here — she would be able to summon the Immovable Dragon Staff. The sound of a twig cracking made Yume's senses become alert. "Immovable Dragon Staff," she said quietly. She held up her weapon. Suddenly something was rushing at her. Yume stopped the figure with her staff. It was Chiaki, struggling against the staff, reaching for Yume's neck. She yelled out, and blood from her face splattered against Yume's. Yume forced Chiaki back with her staff, and managed to pin her up against a tree.
"Master, you must... get a hold of yourself," Yume said between clenched teeth.
Chiaki opened and closed her mouth, her arms pinned at her sides, but struggling with all her might. "You don't understand," she said in a raspy voice. "I need blood. Blood."
Yume continued to restrain Chiaki, then heard running feet behind her.
"Chiaki!!" It was Zenki. He stopped beside Yume. "Goki — she's..."
Yume gritted her teeth. "I know, Zenki-san... is there anything you can do to help me?"
Zenki pushed against Yume's staff.
"Yes, Zenki-san, that helps immensely," Yume said sarcastically.
Zenki looked over at Yume. Her hair hung about her face, and she was straining hard, a painful glare cast upon her face.
"What can we do... for Master?" Yume panted.
With a swift movement, Zenki grabbed Chiaki's arms and held them behind her back.
Yume lifted her staff. "Well, if we just keep Master's mouth shut, she can't bite anything."
"But then she might die," Zenki said painfully. Fuck, Inugami seemed to know a hell of a lot about this. If only that stupid fucking blond was here instead of diddling around, looking for his stupid fucking dog.
Chiaki turned her head around to look at Zenki. "Zenki ... I need blood. Let me go. I have to drink, or I'll die..."
Zenki's grip on Chiaki weakened a little. But he still held on. "No!" he yelled.
"What should we do, Zenki-san?" Yume asked.
"Well let's get her out of the fucking light!" Zenki cried, his voice sounding upset.
Yume quickly assisted Zenki in moving Chiaki.

*******

"Aww man, Uta... why do I gotta do it?"
"Shigeki won't answer the phone, and I feel too weak right now," Uta said. His voice didn't sound all that weak.
"So why can't Chiaki do it?"
"She's really busy. She has no time. You know how hard she's been studying."
Toshi sighed. "Yeah... So how long's Chocolate been missing?"
"Only since a couple days ago. Chiaki told me about it when she came to visit me. He might be in one of the pounds now."
Toshi idly picked at a half-eaten peanut butter sandwich he had fished from under the couch before Uta called.
"Okay, I guess I can look for him. But you owe me an ice cream, Uta!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Three scoops! No, four! No wait, five!"
"Toshi..."
"Okay, okay. I'll settle on six."
"Toshi, just go look for Chocolate."
"Okay, I'm going. Hang in there, Uta, ol' buddy!"
Uta laughed. "Yeah. Ja ne, Toshi."
"Ja!" Toshi hung up the phone. He'd look for Chocolate in a minute. First he'd call Yume. Maybe she would help him.

*******

"What's that?"
"Oh, it's my cel phone." Yume looked up from cleaning the carpet of Chiaki's apartment.
"Answer it!" Zenki wiped Chiaki's face with a damp cloth. Chiaki struggled against her bonds, but they stayed tight.
Yume picked up her cel. "Hello?"
"Yume! Hey, beautiful!"
"Toshi! Hey..." Yume grimaced and mouthed, "It's Toshi," to Zenki.
Zenki gestured to Chiaki. "Hang up," he growled quietly.
"Hey, you know what, you never did try out for our band, what with Uta being sick and everything. But he's well on the road to recovery. When he's better you can try out."
Yume leaned against the wall of Chiaki's apartment. "Okay."
"Well, I was calling cause I was wondering if you wanna help me look for Chocolate."
"Chocolate?"
"Chiaki's cat."
"Oh. Well, actually, Toshi, I'm a little busy right now ..."
"Oh, well that's okay. Anyway, as long as Ut'a feeling okay, why don't you try out on keyboard on, say... Saturday?"
"Sound's great!"
"Okay, then. Well, see ya!"
Yume hung up her cel.
Zenki glared at Yume, as he had been during her whole phone conversation. He turned back to look at Chiaki. "Oh fuck—" he uttered, before he saw her run for her balcony and leap off.

*******

Kirira knocked on Shigeki's door.
"Who's there?" came a call from inside.
"Saphael?"
In another moment Shigeki opened the door. "Kirira... I — I had a vision like this ..."
"Verbyn and I broke up, Saph. I... I love you."
Shigeki's eyes were wide in disbelief. "But..."
Kirira took Shigeki's hands. "Please, Saphael, I'm so sorry! You're not in love with another girl... are you?"
Shigeki paused. "Well..."
Had that stupid wolf-boy Tokyaya-zoshi actually been telling the truth... for once? Kirira hoped with all her heart he hadn't been.

*******

Toshi finally got up off his couch and headed for the door of his apartment. He decided to first look in Tokyo pound, the one closest to where Chiaki lived. Before going out, Toshi laid down a chunk of meat for his large black female wolf, Kakou.
"Don't get into any trouble while I'm gone, girl," Toshi said softly. He patted Kakou's head.

*******

Toshi walked up to the front desk. "Did anyone bring in a brown cat recently?" he asked the woman at the desk.
"Why yes, two brown cats were brought in," she replied. She turned her head and yelled, "KAZUHISA!" A young man came running.
"Yes?"
"Can you please show this guy the two brown cats that were brought in this week?"
"Oh, sure. Come this way, sir." Kazuhisa led Toshi down the hall. They stopped in front of a door. Another young man was being helped, right across the hall.
"What's your name, sir?" he heard the woman ask the young man.
"Inugami."
"Your full name."
"Inugami Rou."
Toshi's ears perked up. He turned around to take another look at the man. He had long blond hair and wore strange clothes. And a necklace... the necklace around his neck... He tapped the man on the shoulder.
"Hm?" The man turned to face Toshi.
"Who was your mother?"
"What right do you have to ask me—"
"Was it Hazuki?"
Toshi saw the man's eyes go big. "How did you..."
Toshi put his hand on the blond's shoulder. "My baby brother... Rou?"
 

To Be Continued...