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* Hideki saw Rina talking with Kimara and walked up to them, but Kimara ran away before he got there. He stood next to Rina watching her run away. *

Hideki: What a day, indeed...

*Rina sigh,she finally made a decision*

Rina: I don't feel like going into class....*she walks away to end up in the roof,she lie on the ground and watch the sky*

Rina:wonder how mum and dad is doing?

* Hideki had followed Rina to the roof and was sitting besides her. *

Hideki: I take it you haven't talked with them about it?

Rina:ive got no say in that matter....

*she closed her eyes before hitting him in the face*

Rina:when did you get here??/

* Hideki falls on his back holding his face. He turns at Rina and stares at her for a while. *

Hideki: What? You didn't notice me? I have been next to you since Kimara left you in the hall.

Rina:really??hmm i didnt notice....thought you were some student talking to himself

*Rina suppressed her laughter,she watch the clouds with sparkle eyes*

Rina:the sky is beautiful isnt it?

Hideki: Yeah...

* Hideki takes Rina's hand and looks at the sky as well. *

* Kelly walked into the police station and the officer in the reception desk jumps up when he notices the NPSC badge on her belt. *

Kelly: I'm looking for detective Myuka... I'm Eiko Carol from the NPSC.

Officer: Y, yes, right away.

* The officer picks up the phone and calls Myuka's extension. After a short conversation the officer hangs up. *

Officer: Detective Myuka is waiting for you, ma'am. Her desk it's on--

Kelly: Third floor, second door to the right, I know.

* A few minutes later, Kelly walks up to Myuka's desk. *

Kelly: Detective Myuka, I'm Eiko Carol from the NPSC. I've been sent to check on the incident that happened this morning, the attacked student?

Myuka: Oh, right. Are you here to take over, then?

Kelly: No, nothing of the sort. The powers that be are interested because, well... you know what that school means, right?

Myuka: Yes, of course. So what can I do for you.

Kelly: Just keep me informed. Here's my card.

* Kelly gave her the card and started to walk away. Turning around towards her after a few steps. *

Kelly: Oh, one last thing. Let me know if anyone tries to affect your opinion. Remember it's the duty of the police to act as a neutral party.

Myuka: Of course.

Kelly: Good. Talk to you later.

* Kelly smiled and walked away. *

*The Doctor was checking Mike's blood pressure, when he woke up.*

Mike, quietly: I feel like crap....

Doctor: Well, you should, you've had a pretty rough day, but it looks like you're going to be fine in a few days.

Mike: That's good, I have to take Aki to the dance tomorrow night, she told me she bought a new dress. *Coughs*

Doctor: Easy boy, I think you'll have to sit this one out. She'll have to save that dress, you won't be making this dance.

Mike shut his eyes: Yes I will.


*Myuka is working late, how was she going to word this report. Things were just not going her way. Her junior partner, Tan, came in to her office.*

Tan: You're working late. I figured you'd be out at the bar looking for tonight's bed warmer. (Tan enjoyed giving Myuka a hard time, he might be her junior, but he was the same age as her.)

Myuka gave him a withering look: Just trying to finish the paperwork. What are you doing around? I thought you'd be out singing karaoke for your adoring fans.

*Tan turned red, remembering when He got drunk at the office party and sang Karaoke.*

Tan: I got some more info..... I just had dinner with an old friend, he just got in from Osaka, he's in the military. Ah, I was telling him about today, and.... That Mike kid is from the military, my friend has seen him there, with the research people.

Myuka, head in her hands: Oh gawd, that to yet...... the military planted him....... what's going on here? Here we thought it might be school boys fighting over a girl, but he's gotta be..... how old? Messing with a first year girl? That's just.....

Tan: No, it isn't like that. My friend said the rumor is he's like sixteen or seventeen. They say he was raised by the military research, that's why we can't find any school records....... some kind of project or something. He's supposed to be really strong and fast, My friend said he knew some guys who saw things the kid did. He told me he heard that it was project sparta..... or spartan or something like that. I can't find anything about it.

Myuka: Sh-- military, what the ---- do they want here? Maybe we shouldn't even be messing with this. No this isn't military, this is something we have to do, not them........ Should I tell that NPSC about this....... Hmmm, maybe I better wait with this. Just keep this quiet, got that. If it doesn't involve the military, we don't want their people crawling around here too. Hmmmm Spartan,,,,, weren't they some kind of ancient Greek warrior, some kind of supermen or something?

*As Mike closed his eyes to fall back to sleep, he thought about the coming dance, he had to take Aki, he'd promised......... and she told him she had a new dress. Mike just couldn't wait to see her in it. And Mike was going to surprise Aki, he had been studying all about dance, on the internet.... Mike had memorized the steps to many of the dances, the waltz, the tango, even one called polka. He had found videos and studied, he was sure he would be able to dance tomorrow night.*

*Ai looked at her daughter. Aki had called home and told her mother she was in the hospital, fearing the worst Ai called Kyo and frantically rushed to the hospital, almost getting a ticket for it too. She found her daughter outside the room of one Michael Tanaka. Ai remembered the boy, it was quite impossible to forget someone who stood out so. Aki looked at her and Ai almost flinched at the gray eyes that met hers. It was so dark and dull, like the sky when a thunderstorm was approaching.*

Ai: Sweetheart?

AKi: Mama... *And nothing else was said, Ai took her daughter into her arms and Aki gripped at her as if she were her lifeline. And Aki trembled. Ai knew she was crying, even if Aki didn't make a sound.*

Ai: Shhh...sweetheart...*Ai stroked Aki's hair gently.* It'll be okay.

*Somehow both woman found themselves sitting on a metal bench attached to the wall. Ai let Aki cry it all out and when the little kitsune looked up, flecks of red were mixed with the still dull gray eyes. Ai asked what happened and Aki told her, pausing at some parts and choking back a sob. Ai wasn't surprised to know that Daiki was here but she was surprised that he was studying at Aki's school. After at least half an hour of talking Ai suggested that Aki go home and freshen up, she would come back tomorrow. Aki was a reluctant but after a while she sighed and nodded.*

*Presently they were at home. Aki was still where Ai had left her, just after a quiet dinner. Kyo rushed off after the meal since he left a stack of work when he left to go to the hospital. Aki was on the sofa, her knees drawn up and her chin resting on it. Her eyes were shifting from light crimson to gray.*

*Ai strolled in and sat beside the quiet kitsune.*

Ai: Are you going to sleep?

*Aki didn't answer.*

Ai: Tomorrow's the dance, you know.

Aki, muttering: I'm not going...

*Ai sighed as she pushed the strands of green hair away from her daugther's face.*

Ai: But you bought a new dress and all.

Aki: I'm not going...

Ai: You planned for it and your friends put a great deal of work into it.

*Crimson eyes flashed and Ai did flinch. Never had she seen such raw frustration in those eyes.*

AKi: I said I'm not going! *Aki stood up and loomed over her sitting mother.* How can you even think I would go? I don't care if I worked hard for it or if anyone else did. I don't care if it cost a lot to plan. I don't care if my friends would be upset if I didn't go! I don't want to go...I can't- I can't go. *And all the bravado left Aki, she crumpled to the floor.* Mike was--Mike...Mike IS my escort, my date for the da-dance. *Tears rolled down her face.* I can't go without him. The doctors said t-that he w-was really l-lucky to have survived something l-like t-that. *She hiccupped.* But he...he needed to r-rest. If I g-go to the d-dance...he'll b-be all alone.

*Ai ignored the fact that her daughter disrespected her or that she call the boy without an honorific. Ai just wanted her baby to let it all out. She slid down next to Aki and she did what she had done at the hospital and AKi cried and cried.*

Aki: I...I don't know, why...Daiki c-couldn't h-have d-done it...b-but someone is f-framing him and that p-person w-wants Mike h-hurt too. I w-want to--to k-know who did it...I want to do so many b-bad things to that person.

Ai: Shhh... *Ai brushed away Aki's hair and her blue eyes widened. On her daughter's pulse point was a small marking of a blue flame with a little fox intricately weaved in it. Ai pushe Aki away slowly and looked into the gray eyes.* What's this? *She lifted a mass of green hair. Aki's eyes widened and they turned a bit more red.*

Aki: I--ah...that's a...ummm...that's a marking?

*Ai fixed her a leveled stare.*

Ai: Yes, I can see that. Who is it? And how? No wonder you've been having your hair down this past week.

*Aki sighed as she took her hair off her mother's hands and it tumbled down, covering the mark.*

Aki: It's...it's...*Aki bit her lip, took a big breathe in and exhaled.* it's Daiki's mark.

Ai: What?!

Aki: It's Daiki's mark.

Ai: How?

Aki: You remember the time that I made that presence spell, *Ai nodded.* That time I went to meet Daiki. We sort of got into a discussion about a w- *Aki stopped, she hadn't told anyone yet of the war.* about something. And he turned a little upset that I didn't want to bend into his will...so he marked me. I hadn't even realized it until he told me what he was doing.

Ai: Tomorrow...I'll talk to him.

Aki: You won't tell Papa?

Ai: Not yet. I want to know what that boy's intentions are marking you. Even if it is temporary, a kitsune marking isn't something you should treat as a joke.

*Ai had sent Aki up to go to sleep. She'd wake her up tomorrow so Aki could go to the hospital. If she didn't want to go to the dance Ai surely can't force her. Aki would just be miserable.*