Disclaimer: HI there!! =^.^= !! Okay... I don't own Ushio and Tora they are owned by 'Kazuhiro Fujita'... and I also did not see any of their episodes, nor Anime or Manga! So, this story might be outta character, if it is, please don't sue me [I'm a Tora-maniac!] but I have read enough fictions, not to mention hearing about them, and seeing fan art about them from some of my friends! [I thank them so dearly! =3] I have some fan art my self! [Hint: I'm better in Art than in Fiction Writing! XP] but another thing... I DO own some one here, figure it out...:P!

Oh! Hi Tora==> -O.O-!!

Uhh... okay... from what I've seen and heard, Ushio and Tora have been together for some time and it's a usual thing for them to fight... and from most of the pictures I see on the net, they seem to be in summer, so I started from the end of the season after it! I don't like strong language so I'll try not to use it... I think I made enough yapping by now! Please, don't sue me all right? ... On with the story...

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Chapter 1: between the lines.

Morning... it's a cold nearly blustery windy day, with dead Autumn leaves blowing dancing with the faintest blow... it's the end of the season and Winter will be coming soon any day now... it's been almost 6 months since Ushio set Tora free into this new world, and he feels responsible for the things that an ancient beast dose and obliterates if like he was only a five year old... as the light rays of the warm morning sun slipping it's visible lines into a window, keeping a room behind it's walls warm, and some thing hiding it's self under the cover of it's warm comfy bed trying to get some sleep.

"Hey Brat! How long do you attend to stay there??"
"Get lost Tora... * yawn *"

With a set of shark-like teeth, the huge beast gripped the warm cover with a single brunt orange clawed hand, yanking it hard throwing it behind him, the young boy yelps in surprise. Quickly gripping some thing behind him, he gave a hard blow on the Beasts head, forcing 'Him' on yelping, and then cursing... the beast just growled at the temple boy...

"Tora, I told you yesterday that 'today' is a 'holyday' so *Don't* wake me up!!" said the young boy showing his teethe to the huge orange lock of fur in front of him. As some thing about 7 feet tall hummed softly in a rather soft tone...
"Humph... humans..." and just walked away, well... he walked through the substance of the wall actually, to the back yard and sat sprawling under the light sun light catching a little warmth for him self...

Ushio blinked with sleepy eyes and yawned... he didn't feel so sleepy any more, still, he just felt lazy. Walking into the kitchen for breakfast, he saw his father on the sofa reading a newspaper sipping slightly on a hot mug of mint-tea.

"Morning dad..." and just plopped on the sofa next to him.
"Morning Ushio... I see you brought it with you again!" his father was looking at the spear with his calm gray eyes.
"Uhh......" paused for a moment, looking at it's long wooden haft, then the metal head, and tattered red silk... thinking, then drew a light breath "I guess I cant part with it any more!"

Slowly leaning it into his lap, a reflection of some thing orange appeared on its surface, Ushio raised his sight to see the ancient beast still sprawling in the back yard. He seemed somewhat sleeping? Napping? Maybe just keeping his eyes shut! He couldn't make it out... as far as he know, Tora hated cold places, then why is he out side in such a cold morning? Is it just for sunlight? * Urgh... stop thinking so deep stupid! You're supposed to be resting! * Looking back at the ancient beast * you still would've been sleeping right now, if a dumb orange fur ball didn't pull off the cover! *

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"Stupid Brat... all he dose is sleep his brains out..." growling softly "I'm tired of sleeping... I want to go hunt some thing, but not when he's so lazy." Turning slightly, he saw the temple boy looking at him from the living room with a slight smile, "I could go hunt if I want, but I have to stay by his side or he'll annoy me till he knew every movement I did when I was a way" Tora turned his face to the sky again taking in some of the morning's clear cool breeze...

Feeling a slight brush on his long thick mane on his back, the beast looked back at the temple boy standing, or should I say crouching slightly next to him. "Yes??" the beast growled with a bit of annoyance in his deep voice, teeth tips showing as his lips with drawled "what do you want this time Brat?"
"Hey chill! I just wanted to tell you I'm going down town for breakfast" the beasts face only frowned a bit "uhh... wanna join?"

The ancient beast shock his head in refuse... the temple boy drew a breath, with a slight smile he walked back into his home...

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"Well?" his father asked calmly putting down his mug.
"Doesn't feel like it I guess..." sigh... " I'm gonna go slip into some thing warm, then head down town for breakfast. Do you want any thing dad?"
"No, but be sure to bring some thing to eat back for Tora..."
"Sure" Ushio said with a grin "see ya'! "

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"It will rain" softly hissed the beast... "I wonder if the little half-byte took an umbrella!" then Tora had an image of a very wet Ushio standing under the rain. Laughing softly to him self, the ancient beast stood on his four legs and stretched outwards, jaws opened wide as an ocean. But then some thing snapped, he felt this cutting pain down his spine, "darn... cramps!!" sitting back on his hunches; he drew his hands backwards to ease the stinging pain... "Must've stayed out side too long" whispered to him self; padding soundlessly back into the temple, Tora sprawled him self on the warm carpet in the rather warm room, settling his head a bit to the side, arms folded and tucked under his chin, he closed his eyes, but some thing got his attention...

"Tora-Chan" softly Oji-san [ A/N: if I got his name right!] spoke in his usual calm human voice "you seem troubled. Some thing wrong?" the beast stayed silent... getting stuck living with a 15 year old brat was enough, but his father seemed even worse... * old geezer! Why isn't he at least scared of me? I could eat him, but he's too thin and scrawny, I bet he doesn't even have a taste! *

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The doorbell rung, and Oji-san went to see whom it was. Tora didn't care, so he just stayed where he was... till the sent of something like fried meet sandwiched in a warm tasty bread bun, his mouth began to water, but he gulped it in. tail twitching in joy, once, twice, as a rather nice sweet feminine sent caught his nose. Besides the burgers'. And then a sweet voice was heard ringing like a soft golden bell...

"Morning Tora-Chan" smiled Mayuko as she walked to him with the usual meal of a dozen of burgers!
"Hamburger girl!" a wide arced grin of sparkling teeth came to view "you're here early!"
"Well, yeah... I was kind of like in a hurry so... " She hesitated, she seemed to want to say some thing as her lips trembled for a moment then closed in silence. Tora began to worry, some thing was bothering the female, but he didn't know what it was, and asking her will without doubt make him look 'soft' so... he didn't!
"Some thing wrong Mayuko?" asked Oji-san, softly placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine..." she took in a breath, placing the bag of burgers in front of the ancient beast, she turned to her wrist looking at her watch "well... I must leave now, I have a lot of things to do and I'm a bit late" said the girl in a rather worried voice.
"Where are you going?" asked Tora with nothing but curiosity filling his voice, he felt some thing about her worry.
"Near by Tora-Chan..." turning slightly to the priest, she took out a small envelope from her sweater side pocket and gave it to him "would you... give this to Ushio, please?"

Taking it into his hand, he gave a nod. Mayuko just smiled then turned to Tora, who was looking at her quit oddly, her eyes were a bit... tearing? Was she going to cry? Is some thing bothering her that bad? Is... suddenly his thought were demolished by a tight hug. Mayuko had held his head in her arms resting it slightly on her chest 'I'll miss you all' she softly whispered as she kissed him on his forelock, then quickly stood up, said farewell to the very surprised puzzled priest next to her, and quickly walked out, leaving Tora and Oji-san totally puzzled behind.

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"Ahh... hell... what a time for rain!!" complained the temple boy shaking rain off his head, hair and shoulders.
"Next time, take an umbrella Ushio" said Asako handling him an umbrella "you can bring it back later, okay?"
"Sure!" opening the umbrella with one hand, propping the spear on his other shoulder, he glanced up at the rainy sky.
"By the way, Ushio, have you heard? Mayuko is leaving tomorrow!"
"Really?" absent minded Ushio was still looking at the sky, but then the thought snapped "WHAT??" yelling at the girl "where?? When?? Why?? How??"
">.< !! Ushio! Not so loud! Trying to turn me deaf over here?" shouted back the girl into his face, one forefinger cleaning up her-al-most-popped-out-ear-drums!!
"Uh, sorry Asako... did... Mayuko tell you this?" hoping for a refusing answer.
"Not really... but I understood it from what she told me this morning when she bought a dozen of burgers for Tora..." grinning with sharp teeth "come to think of it, how is the old guy? Has he tried to eat you again? I'll kick his butt for you if you'd like"
"Uhh... no thanks Asako! Tora's been awful quiet lately, and I kind' a like it that way!" the temple boy smile at his friends disappointment "but when ever he bothers me, I'll give you a call!"
"Good! I'm in a mood to kick some butt!" said the girl with a grin, cracking her knuckles, as the boy just laughed a bit then waved his free hand 'see ya' and walked back towards his home.

Blinking at some thing near her on the other side of the street, Asako saw Mayuko walking slowly, actually slumping, under the rain, with her clothing all wet. "<Gasp>", she walked to her ignoring the rain, holding the cold wet hand in her own, she guided her into the restaurant to dry her up.

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"You knew it was gonna rain and you didn't tell me??" yelled the young boy swatting the huge beast with the spear "dang it Tora!!". Yelping and managing to escape the blow, Tora growled and hissed at the boy "you were gone by the time I figured it out brat!!" sitting back on his hunches, a rumbling grew up in his old voice "Were you expecting me to run after you and tell you how the weather will be every now and then??"
"Ushio..." softly said his father. "What??" the boy yelled frowning "what is it??"
"Mayuko asked me to give this to you!" his voice only sounded worried. Which caught Ushio's attention that Tora's rumble died, also he was pretty much quiet. The ancient beast was eyeing the floor, soundlessly pacing to the window, and the beast just sat there looking at the rain, silently into nothing...

A little annoyed, but more like worried, Ushio took the envelope from his father's hand, settling the spear on his shoulder. Opening it slowly he took out a paper and slowly read it in his heart:

<Dear Ushio-kun:
I'm sorry I couldn't tell you this face to face, but I knew if I did you would probably try to stop me and... I want it to stop but I can't do any thing about it really... my parents have decided to move to America and it will be tomorrow... they have already hocked tickets and I have no reason not to go with them, still they don't want me to stay here by my self... I will miss you dearly and hope you would forgive me for letting this be so sudden...
Mayuko... >

The boy's jaws dislocated as he clutched the paper mashing it in his hand... Mayuko? Leaving to America? His thoughts were falling as hard as the rain out side his window. As silent as his fathers eyes. As thick as Tora's mane, or as silver as his cold eyes. As painful as one of Asako's punches!! [Defiantly like one of her punches!!]

"Well?" the ancient beast asked, still looking out side, silver eyes slitted, two silver lines on a dark orange striped face. Ushio was silent, what should he say... maybe nothing is better! Eyeing his father, he was sitting on the sofa quietly watching Tora...
"She's leaving to America Tora..." his fathers eyes widened a little, as the ancient beast cranes his head quickly, asking with a squeaking confused voice "what? Hell... goes where? What is that place like?"
"It's another continent Tora!" his voice was high and angry "if she left, she may not come back even if she wants too!"

Tora-Chan... Ushio-kun... and Oji-san... silently gazing at each other, as Ushio stumped his feet to the floor yelling and cursing, then running up to his room, slamming the door hard till it almost fell of it's hinges.

"No more burgers... eh?" his disappointed voice spoke to the priest, who only looked back at where his son was. "You humans worry too much" smiled the beast "you can always go visit her" getting doubts "cant you?"
"No Tora-Chan! America is a far country, it's not easy to go there with out a plane or ship!"
"Good thing I can fly then!" the beast smirked all full of him self! "But tell me human... how far is this ... America thing?"
'This is going to be a long explanation' thought the priest as he cocked an eyebrow at the puzzled faced beast in front of him.

Ushio is up in his room, sitting on the window curve, thinking looking out side at the roaring rain, which was watering his shirt and jeans. Sigh... he closed his eyes thinking and listening to the loud symphony playing on high volume out side his window... snapping his eyes wide open as a crackling of lightning struck and burned a near by tree in his back yard. "What the hell!" gripping the spear hard, running down stairs in a hurry, he saw Tora and his father just talking about some thing.

"Dad, a tree out side has been hit by lightning! We gotta turn it off quick!!" and huddled into the kitchen grabbing the nearest fire extinguisher he could find *- that was actually in the broom closet-*
"It's raining brat, why should you bother?" asked Tora stupidly enough to get on the boy's patients.
"No, we have to hurry Tora" said the priest walking to the door.
"What??" yelped the beast "and get my fur wet?? You humans have got to be kidding!" then a hard blow on his scalp gave him a ringing pain in his ears, turning to the reason, the temple boy was holding the spear so hard the ancient beast could feel the rush of changing happening in front of him. But it didn't, it just felt like it was gonna happen!
"Listen Beast" growled the young boy showing his teeth "I'm the beast-lance-user and what I saw goes! Now get your butt out there and help us turn the fire down before any other trees burn!"

Cursing under his breath, the beast had nothing to do about it but to obey... he hated being bossed around, specially by a human, who was nothing but a mere of a 15 year old, compared to his own age. Which happens to be over 1500 years old 'counting in' his 500 years of imprisonment!! * So... out in the cold wet rain I go to turn off one stupid tree!! * Thought the orange beast as he could feel the cold water running down his spine, as the temple boy and his father hurry out with a bucket of water, or a fire extinguisher doing their best to stop it from burning...

"What am I supposed to do now?" hissed the beast, the water was really cold, and he couldn't help backing off into the roof of the room shaking off cold rain off his thick-not-water-resisting-mane. "God it's cold!" hissed softly to him self. "Tora!! Come over here you over grown hairball of a cat and help us!! We can't turn this thing by our selves you know!" yelled the young boy at his partner still holding up his father who almost slipped into a puddle.
"I'm not going out in this weather for a stupid tree Brat!! You can forget about it!!" growled the ancient beast shaking water off his face and fur and a symphony of a roaring rain mixed with a growling rumble in his chest...
"Tora... listen you idiot... I- " and was disturbed by his fathers calm voice, and his gently placed hand on his shoulder "the fire is out Ushio... let's go back inside"

The priest walked in past Ushio and Tora with his calm voice and certainly cool eyes. Some thing about Ushio's father gave Tora a bit of a comforting feeling, is that why he didn't eat him till now either? Tora didn't want to think of him self going soft, so he just ignored the whole thing. Until a hard blow made him snarl yelping in pain, hissing cursing at the boy dripping wet in front of him "what was that for Brat?" placing a paw/hand on his forelock forking a few wet locks from his striped slit pupilless-silver eyed face. "No reason! Just felt like it" said the boy with a nasty grin "want to make some thing out of it?" he said growling leaning his chin a little outwards showing some nasty teeth, only to be paid back by sharper teeth snapping in front of his face "spear with me Brat, and I 'might' consider the idea of not eating you a live!" looking out side "uh... after the rain stops!" murmured the beast. Grinning wickedly "aw, is the big bad beast a fried of a little water? Heh, I thought you were tougher than that Tora!" frowning a bit, leaning his chin a bit to one side the beast hissed some thing, but no one could make it out... "Fine..." and annoyed enough, the ancient beast walked out, again, into the rain only to be rewarded by a cold feeling of water drawing it's lines down his spine... and out side they went as the priest only shrugged slightly with a cocked eye brow, then headed to his room to slip into some thing dry.

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At Asako's room... looking down at the floor, slightly looking up at her friend who seemed tiered of crying and finally stopped sobbing, then drew a deep breath "so..." whispered the girl more to her self that no any one else "you... may not <gulp> come back?" the ocean-gray eyed girl only shock her head in respond "I- " and silenced for a brief moment "I'm not sure, but... " Hesitating "if my parents like it there... I may not be able to come back... "
"H-have you told... Ushio?" asked Asako "no..." Mayuko whispered, "I don't think I can... but I left him a note" pause "we're leaving tomorrow at dawn so... I don't think I have time to even say... good bye to them"
"Oh..." sighed Asako... Mayuko tucked a few locks of her short hair behind her ear... silence drew it's dark shadows into the room, as the girls did nothing but listen to the rain...

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"Ha... now that defiantly will prove that humans are better in fighting than beasts!" smirked Ushio at Tora sprawling wet in front of him in a small muddy puddle "you only won because you know I cant think while I'm wet!" snarled Tora hissing as a growl grew deep in his throat "yeah right" but the temple boy's happy smile slowly drew back as Tora's rumbling stopped and he started sneezing hard * three in a row each time * "Oh grate! I got a cold!" Tora's deep voice sounded a bit muzzled and gone, and his sneezes were like a cat's. It sounded... small... compared to the huge beast it came from, forcing Ushio on cracking a grin. Tora actually sounded ridiculously funny when he spoke!
"What are you smirking at?" the beast 'tried' to hiss, but it seemed that his throat hurt...
"Are... you okay?" smirked by force asked the young boy, sounding concerned...
"HO-Sure, give me a cold then ask me how it feels!" frowned the beast as he tried to shake off mud from his thick mane, the rain was still falling, but not as hard as before...
"Tora..." said the boy with a questioning voice, the beast only turned to him with what seemed a cocked eyebrow and a face waiting for a the question. "hmm?"

The temple boy gazed at theses silver slit eyes eyeing him calmly, they were so silver, so cool, so confident when speaking, they had Ushio thinking, if Tora ever felt like voicing him self, would he talk about it to him? He really didn't think so... as a male, boys 'don't' voice their feelings to another male! Maybe to a female, but never a male... and 'THAT' gave an idea to the boy, of a female version of Tora walking around the house!! Either that or little Toras' males and females running around destroying every thing they get their little claws and fangs on...

"Hell..." whispered the temple boy, and then a rough pummeling on his forehead from a set of knuckles of an orange-clawed hand got his attention "Hello! From beast to human!!" the beast was standing on his hind legs right in front of the boy, with a smile on the side of his wet cool face, shark teeth tips showing, blinking at him with slit silver eyes no far than 4-6 inches from his face, the boy froze for a second "huh? What?"
"Heh... lost in thought again eh Brat! You humans think too much!" smiled the beast, as the boy only drew out a lip, chin leaning a bit outwards "well it's better than some one that doesn't have a brain at all" mocked the boy as the beasts hissed and cursed, then crackles of lightning began to spark from the whiteness of his forelock. Dodging a hand full of claws, the temple boy laughed as he ran in side into the dry house.
"Bah... humans... " Said the beast to absolutely nothing, as he was still in the rain, and then thunder from the sky began it's own symphony. The beast looked up sniffing the air, then the rain started falling harder, hating the cold weather, the beast drew back into the house, he really missed his favorite position on the top of the temple rooftop, but he couldn't go in this weather.

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"God, it feels good to be dry again!" whispered the boy to him self with a smile, looking out side, then holding the spear with a light grip, propping it on his shoulder again... looking around in his room, he saw that he had some pictures and art works un finished "hmm... I really should get that done soon!" walking to his table, he saw a picture he drew once of the back yard with a bit of the back ground missing, but on the top side corner the word (Forbeddan) was scratched on to it "Hell??" said the boy in a confused voice 'Forbeddan? What the hell dose that mean?' the temple boy whispered to him self; he knew that Tora wrote it, but why? Who knows?

Talking about the devil, he heard a hard sneezing of a huge cat from down stairs, three in a row "Tora's cold is getting worse!" the boy held the spear with it's butt on the floor. putting down the picture, the young boy went down stair again, only to be welcomed with a pillow smacking his face!! Moving it away, he saw the strangest thing!

"Asako?? What are you doing??" asked the boy in complete puzzlement as he saw his female friend folding the ancient beasts arms behind his back, like a police man/woman holding down a thief caught red handed. As for his father, he was sitting on the sofa calmly sipping on some thing warm, reading a book in his hands.
"Like I said before Ushio" he girl said struggling to keep the beast pinned under her "I'm in a mood to kick some butt... besides" she tucked her heels hard into Tora's waist, causing him to yelp and curse "he's gotta cold that needs to be taken care of!!" growling with a bit of a muzzled voice, thunder slightly crackling "get off me you b****!!! I'm no horse and I'm not a child either!!" doing his best to throw her off him, he couldn't, she was gripping his mane hard and it hurt! Not to forget her heels digging in his waist! "Dammit!! Get the f*** off me!!" growled the beast not standing it any more...

And with a single quick flick, Asako found her self thrown off right into Ushio's face, smacking into his chest, the temple boys "Oomph!!" gave the ancient beast a grin!!
"You stupid thing!!" yelled Asako "I was just trying to help!!" pulling her self off the boy.
"Help?? But you just said you wanted to kick his butt!" scolded the boy feeling his ribs; they felt like they were all rubbery like! And then he stood up offering her a helping hand.
"Well...<blush> that too"! Putting her hand into his, she just brushed dust off her clothing.
"Humans..."growled the beast, only to be cut-off with a triple sneeze!! "Oh great..." said annoyed enough pushing his nose with a back hand.
"Don't do that Tora!!" scolded Asako "you'll only make your nose bleed!" walking to him she pushed his orange hand down, then gently placed a hand under his chin examining his face...
"Uhh..."nervously moaned the beast, a bit startled having the 'sharp voiced girl' so close, he really didn't like Asako that much, still, he knew he had to be careful around her... for him, she 'could' bite! He sank his head slightly between his shoulder blades, as she just pulled a tissue from a near by tissue box, then carefully dried his wet nose... much to the temple boys joy, he couldn't hide his smirking grin "looking cute Tora!!" exclaimed the boy to his lighting on the forelock, almost blushing if he could, partner...
"You know, I think a hot drink could get rid of this cold Tora, would you like me to make some for you?" said the girl to the ancient beast after shooting the temple boy with a killing frown.

Silence filled the room as she waited for an answer... he didn't give it, but instead he went behind the sofa where the old man sat reading his book, and just sprawled with the springs squeaking under his weight, as usual, cursing under his breath rubbing his wet nose with a forehand.

Ushio eyed the beast, then his friend "don't mind him Asako, but tell me, why are you here any way? You don't come here in such a weather for no reason!" the girl paused... trying to give a comforting smile "well... um, Ushio..." she drew a deep breath "Mayuko..." the boy blinked "has asked me...to tell you... that she's leaving tomorrow at dawn and... she wants to meet you... and Tora, at the airport, tomorrow, if you have the time..." the young by froze... eyes slowly dropping to his feet, drawing a breath, his voice seems sad "is she ever coming back Asako?"
"I don't know..." said the girl in a whisper of a voice... silence again... only the loud symphony playing out side still.
"There are things... "Said the beast breaking the silence " in life that you just..." he shock his head, eyes slitted, teeth tips showing with a faint growl deep in his throat...
"Tora... "Whispered the boy, as the beast craned his head to him... "Have you... ever... lost some one... in your life?"

Lightning struck hard as only light and darkness fought, filling the silenced room... there was a strange silence this time, Tora's eyes widened is he thought deeply about the question giving to him... he knew the feeling of loosing some one in life, though he just couldn't remember who it was, but he know he lost some one he truly warmheartedly loved... still, cant remember whom...

"The ones in the past are dead... I'm in the present now... why should I think about things in the past I've been through, knowing I cant do a darn thing about it!?" tail twitched, a few quick flicks, as he shot the boy with cold silver slit eyes "ask any thing like that to me again Brat, and I'll rip your lungs out..." hissed the beast, but then gulped clearing his throat, his cold was beginning to get to him and his lungs hurt...
"Tora-Chan" said the priest calmly, finally taking his eyes off the book... "Maybe you should drink some thing, your cold could get worse" putting the book aside, he walked to the kitchen "I'll make some cinnamon tea... Asako, would you help me please?"
"Um, all right Oji-san" having one last look at the ancient beast and the temple boy glaring at each other, she walked after the priest. Times like these made her wonder 'what would it be like if 'she' was the one who became the lance user? Would she get stuck fighting with Tora all the time too?' shrugging to her self she just wished things would go well...

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Eye to eye... face-to-face... things were always like this to the young boy, and his partner... growling, hissing, lightning crackling on the forelock, they just glared at one another...

"Okay... " Whispered the temple boy "I have another question Tora" the ancient beast only hissed, tail lashing back and forth "on one of my drawings... you wrote 'Forbeddan' ... why?"
"Territory!!" growled the beast "it's not that I like your art Brat... but I just wanted to give you a reminder" then the beast sat back on his hunches, tail twitching "we may live in the same place, but we have property lines..." the boy frowned yelling "well, my art is my property so get your dirty claws off it" gripping the spear, propping it's sharp point right in the beasts face, making him flinch "or I'll be the one hunting you down!"
"Why you little... " Cursing and hissing, the beast only lashed his tail in anger... "I still don't know why I haven't eaten you till now!" exclaimed the beast "your nothing to me but food, and I can take you down if I want!!"
"Oh-really?" clutching the spear ready for a fight "you sure you wanna do that strip face?"

Only then were they alarmed to Asako who screamed in the kitchen. Craning his head around, Ushio, then followed with Tora, skipped into the kitchen to see her on the floor on her butt, with Oji-san holding a bloody hand...
"Dad!!" gasped the temple boy "wh-what happened??" he held his father from the shoulder "Tora..." called the temple boy, only to revel the fact that the ancient beast was looking at some thing behind a cabinet...
"There... some thing bit me!" said the priest, pointing to were the beast was glaring...
"What the hell is a little girl like you doing here?" softly said the best, he was talking to some thing behind the cabinet!
"T-Tora??" questioned the girl, after she stud up brushing her butt "do you know what that thing is??" feeling her heart, surprised of what was going around her.
"What is that thing?" asked the priest, as his son took out a first-aid kit from a drawer next to him, nursing his fathers-not-so-deep-cuts-that-looked-like-teeth-marks!!

The great-stripped face only gave an ear-to-ear grin as he softly whispered back to the creature hiding it's self behind the cabinet "relax child... you don't need to be scared!" eyes slightly slitted, smirking at the boy "they might be humans but their stupid!"

Slowly, more like shyly, a little beast slipped out from behind the cabinet, hiding it's shy face behind a huge smiling strip orange face, just like Tora, but smaller, and was actually a female, still, a child! When she sat back on her hunches she was as big as Tora's hand set flat when he sat next to her... silver silky hair/mane... crystal-blue slit pupilless eyes... yellowish-gold fur with white silver claws on her finger tips... still she was also wet and shivering... looking at the kitchen door, with a wet trail of water running from the door frame stopping behind the cabinet, then dripping wet slightly on Tora's back mane. Ushio figured out that she might've sneaked into the house a few minutes before his father and Asako went into the kitchen.

"So Cute!!!" exclaimed Asako, truly, the little beast amused even the temple boy and his father! "Hey there!" Asako crouched next to the huge orange beast trying to revel the little beasts face.
"Seems to me she's never seen a human before!" said the beast with more of an explaining voice... " She's probably lost" he concluded!
"Well..." the temple boy cut in "what's it doing here??" the beats only shrugged, then slightly turned and gently flicking the wet water off her head with his hand. Though she's only been with them for a few seconds, the beast seemed somewhat friendly with her! That gave the temple boy some worried thoughts
"Uhh... You don't attend to keep her..." he pause, stood up from next of his father, who stood up him self "do you Tora??"
"Hrrr....?" Questioned the beast... he really never thought of having a child of his own kind around, definitely 'not' a female! Turning to her, her blue crystal frightened eyes winked at him... obviously she was too young to be left by her self.
"What if I do? That simply wouldn't be any of your concern! She would be a part of my property, wouldn't she?" snarled the beast, then smirked at the folks in front of him as they widened their eyes and cocked their eye brows...

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'What the hell is he thinking? Taking care of a child is one thing <sweat drop> but a female child of a beast is another!!' thought Ushio, having doubts about the ancient beasts way of thinking...
"Well... what's her name then Tora??" questioned Asako, she tried to pat the little females head, but the little beast only hissed at her after hiding it self between Tora's hand set flat on the kitchen floor "hey relax!! I'm not gonna hurt you!" said the girl with a bit of a smile trying to comfort her "I'm Asako, and this is Ushio and his father" she introduced the folks to the little frightened, golden furred, silver haired, crystal blue-eyed ghost in Tora's shadow "and this..." placing a hand on Toras shoulder "...is Tora..."

The young female beast only glanced up at Tora who gave a little smile cocking his head a bit to one side, forking a few locks of mane from his face "well...?" said the beast, slightly pushing her gently out of his shadow to stand in front of the humans "introduce your self child!"
".........!!!" Her eyes went wide, fright? Surprise? Worry? No one could tell... Tora could sense the little one's fear, and actually hear her heart beats pounding in her ribs "hrr...hrrrrr!" laughed the beast with amusement as she turned to him. Ushio took one step towards her, and 'that' made her yelp and quickly squirm hiding behind Tora who only laughed out louder than before.
"Ho I'm so sorry!" said the young boy with a smile "I didn't mean to scare you!!" cocking his head trying to see her, she was blinking the young human boy, then the spear oddly, but with her body tucked into Tora's, the ancient beast felt her heart beats like a frightened rabbits!
"Yup! Defiantly never left her mother side!" suddenly the beast frowned *speaking of it's mother, she should be around where it's young is, shouldn't she?* the ancient beast craned his head looking out side... nothing?? Just rain and rain and stormy blustery rain!!
"I'm..." then silence filled the room as four sets of eyes, three human and one beast, fixed them selves on the golden furred child in front of them, who said of the words... that made her sink her head in between her shoulders, tucking her self even deeper in the ancient beast warm thick, thick orange mane, Asako could swear that she saw her blush... if a beast could that is!

"Don't be such a scaredy cat!!" scolded the beast softly with a grin, then pushed her again from behind him self to crouch only a few inches from in front of the temple boy crouching in front of her "uhhhh!!" she moaned with fright she froze like a statue, eyes shut tight, head sunk, shivering ...as Ushio softly placed a gentle hand patting her head, she slowly opened her eyes, slitted she looked up eye to eye with the human. With his soft tender, tender warm hand on her head...she could feel some comfort, slightly and carefully Ushio slipped his hand under her chin playfully rubbing it if like she was a house cat...

Now that he had a better look at her, her face was more like a house cats, than a grim rough striped face like Toras. Her face was golden yellow, no stripes or such, and her silver hair, with a few short locks coming into her view every now and then, and that gave her gaze a rather cute look... soundlessly, Asako crouched next to Ushio, and carefully touched the young females hair, the young one didn't feel Asako coming, so when she touched her, the little one skipped in surprise!
"Oh! Sorry!" said Asako; placing a finger on her chin "you're pretty sensitive for a little one!" looking up to where the beast was "right Tora?" the beast was standing on the side of the kitchen door looking out side, tail twitching, once twice... but then was disturbed by a triple sneeze!
"Heck!!" cursed the beast, now his cold was getting worse! "Um, you know, we already made some cinnamon tea Tora, shall we go to the living room? It's warmer there!" said Asako, much to her surprise, he turned quickly to the next room cursing under his breath "what's with him?" she asked "he gets awful clingy when he's sick I guess!" responded the temple boy, as his father slightly walked then crouched to the little beast, who only looked at Tora leaving her behind, frightened, as the priest walked to her, fixing her eyes on his injury, she seems to feel guilty, cocking her head a little down like a scolded dog, tail ticked under her.
"No need to worry child" calmly said the priest, laying a soft hand on her head "you were only scared!" then only walked away back into the living room "Asako, would you bring the drinks please?" he asked "sure!" responded the girl, as she saw the little beasts tail twitch, once, twice, then slightly walking to the living room after Tora much to the surprise of Asako and Ushio...

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Sneezing once... then twice... then cursing before the third sneeze cut in his words "sheez! This cold is really beginning to bug me!!" snorted the beast in anger... only then did he see the little female looking at him oddly, raising his head in a rather annoyed mood "what are 'you' looking at?" he growled.
"Um... I just... " She hesitated... looking down at the carpet, then with what seemed glassy eyes she just shut her mouth in silence... her voice was small, girlish and soft, it didn't have any thing like Tora's rumbling or roughness when he spoke.
"Go on!" said Asako, wanting her to continue on what she wanted to say...the human girl was crouching behind the little beast, and the little one only craned her head around staring at the human, but then Ushio walked in pass them with the hot drinks, put them on the table in front of his father sitting on the sofa, then craned around him self to widen his eyes at Asako who happened to actually tuck her hands under the beasts arms picking her up...
"Asako!!" cried Ushio "what are you doing?? Put her down!!" cried the boy concluding what he said.
"Relax Ushio!!" smiled the girl, then glanced down at the wide eyed cute thing in between her arms, slowly she slipped a hand, one under her to prevent her from slipping and falling, the other hand behind her feeling the silky silver hair, and to make sure she doesn't flinch on her back "what did you want to say honey?"
"I ... uhh... " Her little heart was thumping hard, even the human girl could feel the vibrations of her pounding bounce against her own ribs "hey, it's alright!" gently touching her nose with the little beasts "so? What's your name?"
"......" blinking, almost blushing, with a tiny smile, the little female placed her little hands on Asako's chest, feeling her normal heart beats, she glanced up at her again, with her tail tip nearly flicking "Ann..."
"What?" questioned Asako, the little beasts voice was shallow and soft, she didn't hear it right "say again?"

Tora shifted from his position, soundlessly walking to stand next to the temple boy, the human had his mouth a bit wide open, kind' a dislocated! XP!! "How long are you attending to keep it open Brat?" snickered the beast, only then did the young boy close his dry mouth, then taking a quick sip from the drinks "what ever..." the ancient beast laughed softly, turning to the females *now that there are two of them!* he could see that Asako actually began to like the little one...
"Well... um" said the young boy as he walked to the little one, placing a hand on her little head... "What did you say your name was?" he questioned softly.
"Hey Brat, have you gone deaf? Didn't you hear her?" said the beast with a questioning voice.
"No! Did you hear what she said?" said Asako; the little female craned her head to Tora, who blinked at her for a second.
"Ann...that's your name, right?" concluded the beast, mostly confident of his answer "a rather sweat name for a little beast!"

Thunder struck hard again, giving the little one a fright of her life, skipping out of Asako's grip she just ran to the ancient beast, as usual she hid her self in his thick orange mane breathing a little fast...
"God you'll be needing a lot of training girl!!" smiled the beast, then pushing her from under him again "you should learn how to protect your self better than to just running away all the time!" with one single flick, he flipped her around crashing her on her chin, with a few of her tiny silver locks in her face.
"That hurts!!" she cried a little loud, but then her eyes went wide, she knew she talked in high volume in front of humans, slowly fixing her gaze at the humans, they all seemed surprised... the rushing heat in her face made her sink her head in between her shoulders 'again' tail tucked, her chest hurt from her hearts hard pounding, and her head felt dizzy and heavy, so she just closed her eyes for a few minutes, only to be disturbed by the temple boys soft yet alarming voice calling...
"Ann?" she fixed her eyes wide at him "is that your name?" she didn't have a choice but to give him a nod. "Lovely name!" exclaimed the boy with a grin...

Taking one step towards her, she took one step back, only to be rewarded with a pinch down her but "YAW!!" she squeaked, skipping off behind the sofa feeling her injury, the ancient beast laughed nastily "you'd better get used on this girl!!" with shark teeth he smiled at her, flickering his guilty fingers, and man did his pinch hurt! Her tender skin had not been harmed till now, her butt kind 'a hurt too! "As long as you're here with me, I'll make sure you get a good training!!" he grinds with an ocean of teeth ready to bite!
"Well you didn't have to be so rough Tora!!" cried Asako "after all she's only a child!!"
"Oh-yeah?" he questioned "and what do you call your self then? Your nothing but a child your self... child!!" with a face making fun of the human girl in front of him, Asako cracked her knuckles ready to give the beast a knuckle sandwich, but he dodged her blow laughing... then he was bonked on the head with a spear-sandwich from the temple boy!
"Hell Brat!! What was that for??" he growled an fury... the temple boy only frowned at him, but then moved his gaze a little higher looking past the beast, craning his head around, the little female was sniffing the cinnamon tea suspiciously... the priest only poured a little of his cup in a little plate, then pushed it to her "want to try it? Go on child! But be careful, it's hot" she looked at it for a sec, then turned to the priest, his calm gray eyes told her it was alright to give it a try, so she took a sip, well, a lick actually!
"Ow! Snaps!!" she exclaimed in her own shallow voice! Looking at her reflection on the dark brown drink, she could almost see her self, gazing at it for some time, she looked at a near by cup, carefully she held it with both hands, it felt warm, and smelled strange to her sensitive little nose, cinnamon had it's own unique smell, strong and snapping, she thought of giving it a try, till she realized that the humans eyes were fixed on her again... obviously, she didn't like being stared at, so she just put down the cup quickly again, silent, head down, tail tucked...

"It's alright" said the temple boy "if you wanna try it go ahead!" he smiled. Asako walked to her held one of her hands, to the little beasts own surprise, placed the warm cup in it, then smiled passionately "go ahead!" her little eyes were fixed on the drink in her hands, then turned to the human girl, who gave a nod to her to try it. Slowly having it near her little lips, she took a sip, it bit! That taste was new to her, it bit her tong, and still it was quiet satisfying... she closed her eyes just to take in the satisfying new taste, then gave a relaxed exhale, eyes slightly slitted she grinned to her self, then took another sip, then another... till finally she drank the whole stuff up!

"Tasty..." she whispered to Asako, licking her lips and teeth..."would you like some more?" asked the human girl "can I??" the little child asked with a grin "really?" her little silver silky haired tail began to flick.
"Sure!" grinned Asako, then placed the empty cup on the table, picking up another full one "here!"
"Hey! But that's mine!" cried the temple boy... "Don't be rude Ushio! Let her have another!" grinned the girl "besides, there's a whole pot in the kitchen, you can drink as much as you want there!" she said watching the little female drink her cup with delight.
"And another thing, you and Tora always share your food, why not with her?"
"Share??" cried the temple boy "we don't SHARE our food, HE *STEALS* MY food!!" cried the boy, frowning at his smirking partner with a grin full of shark teeth. 'I'm having enough problems with one over grown fur ball, I simply wouldn't want to end up arguing with another one!' thought the boy as he hissed at his partner, who only hissed back...
"One is fun..." hissed the beast "...tow, you'd better run!" then grinned from ear-to-ear with shark teeth, that quickly vanished dodging a blow from the boy...

"Oh <white thing>! God that felt good!" exclaimed the little one, only to see the ancient orange beast and the human boy glaring, hissing and growling at each other, with only a few inched parting their faces...
"don't worry" calmly said Asako to the little confused girl "they always fight like this!" shrugging one shoulder "would you like another?"
"Oh-no thanks! I'm full!" shyly said the female much to the human girls delight of hearing her soft shy voice...

Thunder struck again, the little one only shut her eyes tight, then fixed them on the window out at the roaring rain...
"It's getting late..." said the beast "you should get some rest!" he was talking to the little one, she glanced up at him then just stared up at Asako... the temple boy smiled to his dad "what do you think dad?" his father just shrugged "might as well let her sleep in my room!" said the temple boy...
"why not just let her sleep here in the living room brat? It's better than your room! It smells!" the beast mocked, only to be gifted with a hard blow on the head... much to their surprise, the priest only picked her up tenderly...
"Neither... my room is MUCH safer than with either of you!" he said with a cocked eye brow..
"I'm with you Oji-san!" concluded Asako, as the priest simply walked to his room with the little one in his arms, leaving a grinning Asako, and a rather surprised Ushio and Tora behind...
"Might as well go home, se ya'!" said the girl then just left... just like that!! O__O!! No... not just like that! She did take back the umbrella she gave Ushio earlier!

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The next morning, at dawn, the rain stopped, but the sky was still a little cloudy, at the airport, Mayuko and her parents were checking their luggage before the planes take off, looking around, and seeing no sign of Ushio or Tora, or at least Asako, she gave a sigh... only to be brought up on this strange feeling of a cold wind in her chest... it's the way she usually feels when some thing wrong is about to happen, looking around her self, she felt some thing strange... looking, staring, gazing, scanning, or just searching around... nothing here but people, either coming or going... with their belongings, suit cases, bags, kits, cages... WOW!! Full stop! 'A cage?' thought Mayuko, gazing oddly at the huge cage 6 men were hardly trying to bush, it was covered with a thick huge cover of clothe, sounds of chains, cuffs and metals cracking or being beaten by a beast of some kind trying to escape it's prison... the beast sounded familiar... like Tora's, but some how different...

"Sheez, this things heavy, what's in there any way?" Asked a man in exhausted voice, only to be scolded by who seemed a very rich and bossy man in a big tuxedo "your job is to push, no questions buster, got it!" walking away with a cigarette in his fat fingers, his other hand's fingers feeling his thick shaggy mustache, then putting a hand on the cage covered by a long peace of cloth "this baby is gonna give my a fortune, too bad we lost it's child, but it will be found soon, and then..." in silly Anime style, he drooled 'yeach>_<' "I'll be ten times richer than I am right now mwahahaha!!!" noticing the annoyed strange gazes of the worker men "ahem... any way, keep on the good work! Gwahahaha!!" he laughed...

The girl wondered... only to hear a soft ringing "<Ding Dong> Dear ladies and gentle men, we would like to inform you that the flight to America has been delayed for a few minutes for some technical difficulties, flight will take place as soon as the repairs are done, thank you"

"Okay men, a half hour brake before flight!" said a man who seemed to be their boss... the men left the cage in a corner of the place as Mayuko slipped from her parents attention towards the cage, soundlessly walking to it, passing the men's attention. Some thing breathing was there... she could feel it, slowly lifting the cover with her hands shaking a little, she could feel her heart in her throat, but then under the darkness of the cover, in side the cage, she didn't see any thing, but she did smell some thing...

Some thing smelled like... like what? Ozone? Dust, oak trees and dirt, with a faint smell of some thing nice like roses or blossoms of some kind... suddenly a flash of two ivy green eyes fixed them selves on her... every thing froze... Mayuko felt like her heart stopped for a second, till she saw a figure slowly coming into view as the light slightly began to creep into the darkness eating it's way in... it was a beast like Tora except... female?? She was huge, slumped on her butt, legs stretched out, sitting as supported by her own hands flat on the cages floor... light brown with crimson red hair, silver claws on her hands and feet, a slight bright silver slash like thunder on her chest, from the top of her right shoulder going down between her breasts, and stopping at the end of the bottom corner of her left ribs, ivy green slitted pupilless eyes ... but she had cold metal cuffs on, pretty big ones! A huge metal cuff around her neck, another pair on her wrists, and another pair on her heals... and also there was a rope of cold metal chains wrapped around her body, heavy enough for her un-able to pluck off, and also too heavy to run with on her... they gazed at her, the human girl could hear her breathing hard, as her arms, legs and neck all cuffed in heavy cold, cold hard metal keeping her down, with cuts, bruises and gashes all over her tired worked out body... 'Oh my lord!' thought Mayuko at the sight... the beast only hissed at her with her teeth tips showing in anger...

Suddenly "HEY!!" a man cried, exhausted "what do you think your doing??" he scolded Mayuko "this is a privet position, what are you doing here?" he yelled at her with only anger filling his tiered voice...
"Um...sorry!" taking one last glance at the beast's eyes before the man re-covered the cage with the cloth, still he didn't even bother looking in side, to at least know what he was pushing all this time!! "Beat it kid!" he scolded her before walking away to the other side... the girl could hear a moan from the female beast in side the cage, it almost made her heart rip apart, but what could she do? If she released her, she would probably attack her thinking that she's with the men whom imprisoned her... 'Imprisoned?' thought Mayuko, remembering Ushio's words of how he met Tora in his home's basement...

"Tora!!" her face grind! Looking around her self, she saw a phone... 'I'll call them, they'll know what to do!' she thought, but was about to move when her mother gripped her from the arm "where have you been? The plane has been fixed, we have to hurry before it leaves!" her mother scolded...
"Mother, please, I need to make a call!" Mayuko tried to squirm out of her mother's grip, only to see the men pushing the cage out side, to be put in the plane is supposed to go on.
"Later dear! C'mon!" pulling her slightly, Mayuko's mother took her to the plane... watching the phone fading within the crowd, the cage fading in the planes door closing, and the plane ready to fly, she had nothing ales to do but think about this problem during flight... 'Ushio... Tora... Asako... where are you?' thoughts rushed through her heart ...finally giving up to the time she cant do a thing about... sigh...

Sitting on that puny chair, cool air conditioners all over, nice serves, and a nice lady bidding them a joyful flight... but how can Mayuko think about all this good stuff knowing that some thing hurt and tiered is suffering right under her in the same plane... she wanted to help the female but how can she?? Looking out side her window, the plane was getting ready to move... she could see nothing but the long grassy wet by last nights rain fields in her window... green wide arcs of grass, with Ushio and the 7 feet spear propped on his shoulder, Asako slightly standing right next to him 'they made such a cute couple' thought Mayuko, and Tora sitting back on his hunches looking up at her from where they stood in the grass standing tall till their knees... "HUH??!!" her eyes widened... 'Ushio?? Asako?! Tora!!' a smile wheeled up on her face 'they came!' blinking once she knew she had to tell them about the female beast, somehow, but it was too late, the plane already started moving and trying to stop it now might get her into a lot of trouble, trying to show them what she was thinking of, Ushio and Asako only smiled thinking that she was waving for them, the grate grim striped face only frowned a bit... then the plane flew high like a bird, vanishing into the grate blue sky...

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"And there she goes..." sadly whispered Asako "I dearly wish she comes back" she said of those words with a sad shallow voice...
"She'll be back..." whispered Ushio " I'm sure of it..." then gave an exhale...
"There was some thing wrong..." said the grate stripped face, catching Ushio and Asako's attention.
"What do you mean Tora?" asked Ushio, with the spear propped on his shoulder...
"I'm not sure... but there was some thing..." he almost shock his head "never mind..."
"What is it Tora??" the temple boy questioned "what was wrong?" he shouted.
"How the hell should I know?? It was just a feeling Dammit!!" he hissed at the boy "it doesn't have to mean any thing..." he hissed softly now...

"Um... do you think it was a good idea to leave Ann with your father Ushio? I mean the smell of blood could get her hungry!" asked Asako worriedly...
"Don't worry Asako" smiled the boy, then glanced at Tora "if she dose any thing like that she'll get a fitting punishment! Right Tora!" the beast only slightly turned away, chin slightly cocked... "What ever..." whispered the beast...
"??" The girl cocked an eye brow "you don't attend to hit her with the spear do you" she glared the boy "if you do, I'll be the one knocking your teeth in" her knuckles right under his nose tip "got it?" the young boy only blinked...
"Uhh <sweat drop> I never thought of doing that, honest!!" Asako took her knuckles back, as she heard the beast's little laugh, then bonked him one with her fist...yelping then cursing under his breath the ancient stripped faced beast only glared at her...
"Let's go back any way..." said the temple boy as he and his friend walked back... the beast only looked back at the sky, where the hamburger girl was... 'So much for the usual every day free meal! Nothing lasts forever' thought the beast, as he, also, walked behind the boy and his friend...

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Skip that! ... Back at the temple, the priest was sitting on the sofa, reading a book, as usual! Only this time, the little female was curled around her self next to him on the sofa, slightly sleeping. Her breath was in a single rhythm, as her fingers slightly twitched, and eyelids trembled...sinking in her dreams, the old man smiled then carefully moved a lock of hair from her face... then the sound of foot steps came near, looking up, he saw his son smiling at him, then the ancient beast walking behind...

"Hey!" whispered the temple boy "I see she's asleep!" propping the spear on the wall, he slipped his hand on her head, careful not to wake her up, and felt her little heart pounding in rest...
"hrrr..." rumbled the beast in a whispering tone... true she was cute and all, still he didn't like some one taking all the attention away from him like that all of the sudden!
"<yawn>" the little one woke up, lazy and still sleepy she glanced up at Ushio, he blinked then smiled "morning Ann!" softly he said it, keeping his hand on her head...
"Morning" she said it with a sleepy voice, the back of one hand rubbing her sleepy eyes, then hands stretched outwards, not paying attention to what she was doing, she found her self sharpening her claws on the sofa, shredding it into long tattered parts "Oops!!" her eyes widened, quickly turning to Ushio who had his eyes wide open, yelled "Hey!! It's no scratching post you idiot!!"
"Uhh!!" then hid behind the priest in fright...he only glanced at his son with calm eyes then gave a sigh...
"Err..." murmured the boy, and then tried to be nice to her "Sorry there! Didn't mean to yell at you!" his voice sounded guilty, the ancient beast glanced at him for a second... blinking once, he just walked away then walked through the substance of the wall.
"Huh?" the little female said in confusion, looking where Tora went, she jumped off the sofa, much to the temple boy, and his fathers surprise, skipped to the wall, carefully touched it with a flat hand "how...?" she was confused, the wall felt as hard and cold as she ever knew it so how did he...? Well... looking around, she saw a window, jumping once, twice, till she finally grabbed it's curve, she glanced out side, to see Tora sitting back on his hunches in the back yard cursing under his breath.

"Tora!" she shyly called out, catching the beast's attention "how'd you do that??" her voice sounded confused and curios. Ushio's jaws dislocated, she actually spoke a full sentence!
"Do what?" he didn't quiet know what she was asking about.
"That walking through the wall thing... how'd you do it??" then squirmed up and sat on the window curve.
"That?" asked the beast in a confused voice "you don't know how?" he was a bit startled of her question. She just shock her head, really, she didn't know how...
"Um... would you teach me how?" she asked, a bit shy like, head down a bit...
"Teach... you?" the ancient beast felt a slight shiver going down his spine; she wanted him to 'teach' her? He felt this... this, warm sensation deep inside... no one had asked him to teach any thing before, and he couldn't help but smile to the thought...
"Sure!" walking back to where she sat on the window curve "come down here and I'll show you!"

With a smile on her face, she carefully slipped down to him, slightly slipping then falling on her butt..."Ow!" feeling her butt, much to the beasts laughing, she just shyly grind a little, standing straight then sitting back on her hunches looking up at him...
"Well... it's simple" the beast said while he thought, he really never paid much attention on how he did things, as far as he could tell, what mattered is that he did it when he needed to... never did he think why or how!
"Uhh..." he concentrated his thought to one point... the little one was waiting, tail tucked watching Tora's face.
"Well?" questioned the temple boy with a smile, he was watching them from the window Ann was on before "what's the first thing for her to do?" Ushio wanted to know, things about Tora had him self wonder 'how the hell dose he do things like that any way?' kind of thought...
"Bah!!" scolded the ancient beast "come, we'll practice some where else?" he took a few steps away "some where <pause> where humans wont bother us!" she walked skipping after him... he jumped over the houses stone wall in a single leap.
"??" She looked up to where the beast disappeared above the wall 'I cant jump that high... I cant jump at any case any way!' thought Ann to her self... her silver haired tail flicked, after an exhale, she walked backwards, a few steps, looking ready to pounce she crouched down, running fast she jump and ... THWACK!! She hit the wall painfully... falling with a thud on her butt, she felt her hurt face, and she only got a few inches less than the wall! If she was taller, she may've made it there from the first jump!

"Hmm..." cocking an eye, stretching out a lip she thought about it, looking around she saw a bunch of un-organized crates on the side on the yard, she ran to them, climbed on the single top, looking at the wall, the ancient beast was watching her from a place she couldn't, with a smile on his face, his teeth were shown...
"Okay... one jump would do it!" she told her self, looking down at the ground "uhh <blinking> you'd better get it right or you'll be as flat as a boneless sea slug after this!" she told her self in worry, she was standing on a single crate, not much space for her to make a charging in but, it would just have to do the job!

Concentrating, she had her eyes fixed on the wall, the beast was still watching her, but his attention was drawn to the young boy standing where the little one was crouching ready to jump. Obviously, Ushio was standing there in case she fell, he'd be able to brake her fall, and he had the spear with him... 'Let her fall, it's not so high!' though the beast 'falling then trying it again till she gets it right will make her more confident of her self and would definitely make her grow strong" thinking to him self it would be best for the little one...

And in a single leap, she made it... almost! She slipped after landing on the walls edge, actually, her hind legs flinched, slipping then squirming up her hip hurt after the hit, but seeing Tora soundlessly landing in front of her with a pleased smile only made her forget the pain...
"Well done child" he exclaimed, and sounded pretty much pleased, giving back a smile she shyly smiled, looking down to where he was, he was waiting for her to climb down the wall... looking to one side she saw a tree, walking on the wall, and walking in a straight line was simply nothing she was used on! Flinching a few times, she finally got close enough and jumped, clutching it with her little claws, she slightly slipped, claws racking the trees bark, slowly and carefully she slid down, standing right near the ancient beast, whom only widened his smile in pleasure... then walked away, pointing for her with a single fore fingered talon to follow...

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The young boy only stood there 'a pretty good job from a little girl' he thought with a smile... turning around walking back inside, he saw his father sitting soundlessly on the sofa, looking at him with his calm gray eyes.
"We have a visitor!" he said calmly, turning to Asako who had her arms folded around a bag she was carrying in her arms, she was breathing a little fast, probably was running her way out here!
"Hi Ushio, listen, after we came back from the air port I remembered some thing..." fishing some thing outta the bag "... hmm... it was around here some <!!> Ha, found it!" she took out a little ball made of fabric like cloth with a sound of a tiny bell ringing in side "when I went back home I remembered I had it... I think Ann would love it, what do you think?"
"She already left with Tora, Asako!" he said it knowing she would explode in his face "What?" she cried frowning "where?" she asked him frowning right at his face to face...
"Uhh..." blushing a little for having her face so close to his, Ushio startled... "I dunno! They just leaped over the wall a few seconds before you got here!"
"Ann 'leaped' over the wall" she questioned "she's not even tall enough! How can she leap over that high stone wall?" she frowned still confused... "Well..." She murmured "I guess this stuff would have to wait then, eh?"
"What is this stuff any way?" asked Ushio, slightly pulling the bag open with one forefinger "what is this trash?" he simply cocked an eyebrow, only then did Asako pull away the bag.
"Trash?" she sounded hurt "for your information, I had these things ever since I've been little... their special, not trash!" she scolded in an upset voice...
"Well Sheez! Sorry!" apologized the temple boy... then the phone rung... he walked to it as Asako put down the bag near the foot of the sofa.
"Hello?" asked the temple boy... he really did not have a single idea what this call held behind it's impatient ringing...

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Water splashed in a wide sparkling arc of crystal specks of shimmering stars..."AH!!" the little female shrieked as she fell splashing in the river, quickly slipping out of the cold wet, wet streaming waters, the ancient beast was laughing his head off. She shock off water of her yellowish golden wet fur, sending it slightly tinkling on the ancient beasts face, he only slightly closed his eyes watching her frowning at him, dripping wet... "Not funny!" she said in a rather embarrassed voice... still there was a slight crackling of thunder in her hands... her failure in flying wasn't improving at all! She already mastered the leaping on/off high things, the walking through wall part, going unseen and the crackling thunder on the forelock part, not to forget how to pass it on a single object blasting it to smithereens! She just loved they way she blew'em up!! But... flying? She couldn't quiet get it in!

"Your getting close child!" he brushed off a little water of her head "you just need to focus your thoughts on it a little more!" he concluded... she was really a fast learner, much to his astonishment 'better and quicker than the Brat!' he thought to him self as he simply laughed... 'She's a lovely little peace of fur' in his way of thinking 'her mother must be one good looking female!' but his thought were cut off...
"HELLO!! Tora? Are you listening?" Ann was really getting upset about this wet-in-the-water thing, constantly falling in the river just to learn how to fly did not please her one bit! "You didn't tell me... why did you choose the river to practice on Tora?"
"Because its wet... it would give a stronger and better reason for you to try to get it right!" he explained...
"Oh!" she wasn't sure about that answer... "Tora..."
"Hmm?" he answered, she kept on asking him things about why's and how's, it was getting a little annoying, still, he was still in a good mood to answer her questions... "What is it?"

She paused... "I don't think I can get this one Tora! It's too... too..." she was fishing for the right word...
"Complicated?" he gave an option, she quickly grind "yeah! Complicated!" she lowered her head a little "besides... I don't like high places!"
"Learn!" he smiled wickedly, then quickly grabbed her from her back neck skin yanking her up sky-wards, she yelped in fright as he flew up high above he trees, softly standing on top of one tree, he was dangling her above the rivers bank... squirming around in fright, she widened her eyes at the land that seemed miles and miles away from her, her point of view was going blur, but fainting now would be counted a bad idea... "Uhh..." her body felt this cold splashing in her stomach, then a faint numbing feeling went down her body, her breath speeded up.
"Scared? You'd better fight it, or it will only take you down!" said the beast in a calm confident voice "fight your fears, be its master instead of it's slave" he scolded softly, whispering to the little frightened child in his clutch...
"But... I... I ...<gulp> ... I ... don't think... I can... Tora..." she was scared to the bone, tattering toke away her breath, she couldn't stop her self from whimpering... eyes going glassy, shivering in his brunt clutch...
"DON'T be a sissy!" he scolded firmly yelling at her... eyes flashing and burning in a fine silver blaze, not matching her glassy harmless crystal blue eyes... "Are you a beast or nothing but a weak 'thing'?" she was to scared to even try to fly from this height... all what the little child wanted at that moment was to have her shaking cold feet back on a solid floor...
" hrr... are you nothing but a failure?!" the beast growled questioning her, she was too scared to answer "DO IT!!" he yelled, then suddenly to her surprise, he threw her up towards the sky, shrieking she waved her little hands trying to grasp or clutch any thing around her... she failed...falling, falling fast, she could see him... Tora huge and fearless on top of the tree... their eyes met in a single second as she whooshed falling pass him ...silver eyes slitted... his figure was fading away in the dry tree tops of Autumn tree leaves in front of her ... still falling, cold wind pushing her silver hair into her face, her face looking at the sky... she was gonna crash on her back, still she didn't want to turn and face where she was gonna crash...her heart pounding... pounding... she was falling still... then... SPLASH!!

Cold... wet... that's all she felt... eyes fixed at the sky that was now seen from under the surface of the water...'weakling? A complete failure? A... thing?' she though as the cold waters of the river embraced her with it's cold wet hands... then a soft voice whispering rung in her little head...

[Ann... dear... listens to me... I may not be here for you all the time, I need to know that you'll know how to take care of your self when I'm not around... life is not guaranteed, and I cant stop death if it accrued... promise me this... keep your head up, never look back, defeat your fears and make me proud...]

Her eyes widened... 'Mother...' she thought in her pounding heart... 'Make you proud...' ...heat rose it's arms to envelope her, charging... charging... growing a little hot, more, and more, she could feel the heat pushing away the cold hands that were clutching her breath a few seconds ago...

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Worried, and a little guilty feeling, a huge orange beast crouched scanning the surface of the waters... eyes scanning... should he go after her? Or should he wait till she swam up her self? She was awful scared back then and... she might've got knocked out when she hit the waters but... thought rushed into his huge head... he simply couldn't go back to the temple with out her or the Brat would kill him for it, and besides, even if he did want to go and just leave her... he couldn't... 'What is this I'm feeling?' his heart moaned, he couldn't stop thinking about her fright up there, on top of the tree... sinking in his thoughts, he was brought up to a small water twirl being created on the surface... "Huh?" his eyes snapped open... "What-the-hell...?"

Standing up on his hind legs the water twirl grew wider, stronger, its arcs grew wide as it's hole went deep then... SPLASH!! A golden figure splashed it's self up high, soaring in the sky blinding it self in the suns rays, following it, Tora's eyes closed when meeting with the suns... slightly adjusting his hurt eyes, looking a little high with one hand stopping the sun from hitting him again, some thing in crystal blue hued in gold and silver swirled around it's self... the slit eyes in crystal blue fixed them selves on the huge stunned beast... standing in thin air she was... eyes slitted... fur dry from the heat of the burning sensation within her small structure... silver hair flickering around in her tornado as the water twirl stopped slowly spinning under her...

Small teeth showing smile wheeled up her face "I did it..." she whispered softly... "...I finally did it Tora!" her voice soft and shallow, finally she flew about 10-12 feet above water, and just stood there for a few seconds ... then eyes closed as her body swiftly fell in a single line...
"!!!!" Quickly he jumped soaring under her, grasping her with his embraced arms, Tora caught her before she fell in the waters again... landing on the other side of the river bank, he had her held tight into his chest, she looked tired... 'Probably worked too much' he thought as he held her in his arms, she fainted soundlessly, as she slept in his warm surrounding...with a careful finger he brushed away a few silver locks from her face... she had this faint smile on her face, satisfied by her own victory...
"Brave little child..." she really widened a smile on his cold brunt stripped face; silver eyes slitted, with a few locks of his orange mane coming into his view. Actually she made him feel proud! First 'student' he ever had and learned quiet so fast... like he thought before 'better and quicker that the Brat that's for sure!' and then found him self sitting back on his hunches, slightly nuzzling and cuddling her, when she gripped his shoulders short thick fur looking for warmth as she slept... he felt this rush of heat in his face 'thank god the Brat isn't here!' he thought to him self... there was nothing he hated more than looking, or sounding for that matter, soft!

And speaking of the Brat, Tora could hear a faint calling of his name... it was Ushio with the spear as usual propped on his shoulder, and Asako right behind him calling him out...
"Dang... what do they want?" he thought, feeling a little embarrassed, he didn't want them to se him with the little one on his arms! Quickly he saw a little bed of dead leaves under a hallow dead tree stump, and placed her there to sleep, then awaited them to arrive...

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A/N: Okay... my first chapter here... please be nice okay?? i'll upload the next chapter after 1 review at lest!! R&R!!