Akane left the temple and walked back inside the large manor. Without her realizing it Eskimo had snuck past and ran into the house long before. Now as she stared at the large staircase in front of her she heard a soft meow from the top of the steps, and glanced up.

“Eskimo!” she exclaimed as she began to climb them, “Come back here.”

Eskimo ran down the hall till he stopped at the door with the rose carved in the top of it.

“Eskimo!” Akane called as he slid inside, “Where are you going? Come back. Here kitty, kitty” she opened the door a crack and peered in, “Whoa” she said to herself as she entered in, “Big room.”

She looked around and was amazed by the expanse of the room. The large window in the center allowed the sunlight to come seeping through. Eskimo meowed once more as she looked around.

“There you are” she replied, “You naughty kitty” she walked towards him.

“Meow! Meow!” Eskimo continued to speak as he sat in front of a large painting.

“What is it boy?” she asked as she knelt down, “What’s wrong?” she said as she looked up and gasped when she saw the figure in the portrait.

She picked up the kitten and stared at the portrait with a bit of confusion.

“It can’t be,” she thought.

From behind her a pair of black boots appeared. He stared at the back of her head while she gazed at the portrait. He sighed and then tapped his foot with a frown on his face.

“Ahem” he cleared his throat loud enough for her to hear.

“Huh?” she spun around, “Oh. You startled me.”

“I should say so” he said rudely, “What are you doing here?”

Akane took a few moments to gaze at his appearance. He was about medium height, a little taller than her, and his hair was mahogany, tied back in a ponytail, in several black ties that went all down his hair. His hair was surprising enough being the same as her mother’s had been had his eyes not also been the same color as well, which was light brown. He was wearing a golden yellow top that looked like a shirt and jacket all in one piece. He had on black pants, which matched his gloves. On the sleeves of the shirt were two plum stripes on each arm. The cuffs of the shirt were a pale blue. Across his waist was a black belt, which supported a magnificent sword, which hung in a sheath, which hung at his side. Around his neck was a red orb, which symbolized Jenkon.

“Well?” he asked impatiently.

“I’m sorry” she replied, “I came in here to fetch my kitten. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“Your what?” he raised his eyebrows angrily.

“My kitten” she showed him, “He ran in here, so I came to get him. Again I am very sorry I bothered you” she bowed her head.

“Do you always come barging into someone’s home without so much as a knock on the door?” he asked.

“I” she said quite stunned, “Look” she became angry as well, “I already apologized for entering your room without permission. I think that should have been enough.”

“You didn’t hear me correctly” he replied with a sigh, “Just who do you think the master of this house is anyway?”

“I. I don’t understand. I thought that Mr. Dairou was the master here.”

“Not exactly.”

“Well even if he isn’t, he was kind enough to allow us to stay here.”

“Wait a second, who’s us?” the boy asked grabbing her arm but Akane threw him to the side and was already out the door, “Hey wait! Come back! I’m not through talking to you!” he ran after her.

(Next Scene)

Akane ran down the hall and was stopped by Eriya and Min who came out a nearby room.

“Akane there you are?” Eriya replied, “We were wondering what happened to you.”

“Yea where have you been?” Min added.

“I uh” Akane started to say but the boy had already caught up to her.

“Oh” he frowned again when he stopped, “This is what you meant by we. What in the world is going on here?”

“I should think” Akane started to speak again but was interrupted once more.

“Is there a problem up here?” Dairou appeared at the top of the stairs.

“Cousin Dairou what is the meaning of this?” the boy replied with his arms crossed.

“Oh Kinnosuke. I’m sorry” Dairou said, “I didn’t have time to introduce you to them did I?”

“Kinnosuke?” Akane thought, “So the jerk has a name.”

“I’m terribly sorry about all this” Dairou said to the girls, “Allow me to introduce them sir,” he replied to the startled boy, “This is Min, Eriya, and Akane. Eriya and Akane are Tora and Sari Kamagchi’s daughters.”

Kinnosuke removed his arms and stared at the two girls.

“Of course” he thought as he looked at Akane’s face, “That’s why she looks so much like” then he turned back to Dairou, “Oh I see. They are daughters of the Three.”

“That’s right” Eriya grinned, “I am Sari and Ryo’s daughter. And Akane here” she placed a hand on her cousin’s shoulder, “Is Tora and Kage’s daughter.”

“And her?” Kinnosuke indicated to Min.

“This is Min” Eriya replied, “She just happened to come along with us. And you are?” she asked interested and quite forward.

“Oh well he’s” Dairou started to say.

“Allow me Cousin Dairou,” the boy said with a bow of his head, “I am Kinnosuke Valor, heir to the throne of Romenetori and son of Pharaoh Aiku Valor.”

“Really?” Eriya’s face lit up as Akane could only stare, “I mean are you really?”

“Of course. And with that said” Kinnosuke said straightening his back once more, “I am the master of this house. But since you are the daughters of the three I guess you can stay here until you discover why you have come here.”

“We were actually talking about that Kinnosuke” Dairou spoke up, “In fact I suggested to the girls that the boys could take them by the hanger to see Saitarou and the others.”

“I suppose that is an idea. He can take them to Shira where they can talk to Empress Parie” Kinnosuke said scratching the back of his head with his right hand.

“Excuse me” Eriya interrupted, “But who is Saitarou anyway.”

“Oh forgive me” Dairou grinned sheepishly, “Saitarou is one of Captain Sadao and Lady Maieko’s sons.”

“You mean he is our cousin?” Akane asked.

“That’s right” Dairou nodded, “The boys can take you to the hanger to meet him at the Bronze Eagle. That is the name of the ship he flies.”

“Wow!” Eriya exclaimed, “We got to go Akane” she leaned on her shoulder.

“You can go Eriya” Akane replied, “I’m really not in the mood” she stared angrily at Kinnosuke who had walked down the stairs, “I’m just gonna go lie down for awhile. Min you should go with her.”

“Okay” Min nodded noticing her frown, “Are you sure that you’re okay Akane?”

“Yea” Akane agreed with a smile, “You two go right ahead.”

(Next Scene)

As Eriya and Min departed with Daisetsu and Nakamaro, Akane laid down on one of the beds in the guestroom. Eskimo was sound asleep but Akane couldn’t shake the guilt off of her heart. So she slowly got up careful to not wake Eskimo and walked out of the room quietly. She walked down the large staircase and back outside, heading once more for the small temple. She walked down the vine-covered steps and entered into the building. Once more she walked over to the altar and stared at it. From where he stood Kinnosuke watched as she entered in. He could feel the guilt in his own heart as he saw her sigh heavily, so he decided to make his presence known. As he stepped behind her, his boots scraped the ground. So she spun around and stared at him.

“Well” he asked once more with the same air to his voice, “What are you doing here?”

Akane frowned but sighed once more and cleared her throat.

“I came looking for you” she replied.

“Huh?” his eyes became wide.

“That’s right” she nodded, “After all it was probably all my fault because I barged into your room anyway. So I came here to apologize.”

At first Kinnosuke didn’t say anything. He just fidgeted nervously and then glanced up.

“Where did you learn to do that?” he said.

“What?”

“You removed yourself from my grasp so quickly” he replied.

“Oh that” she smiled, “I learned it from my mom. My mom taught me everything I know on how to defend myself.”

“So your mother taught you? I had heard that your mother was a gifted for a girl, that is.”

“Hey” Akane retorted, “My mom was even better than a guy could be. A lot of people said so. Mom was the best.”

“Was?” his eyebrows rose once more as she sat down with a frown.

She sighed heavily and stared at the ground.

“Yea. My mom passed away about a month ago” she replied as he sat down next to her, “And ever since then, my father has been distant. In fact I haven’t seem him for nearly two weeks now. Without so much as word to where he is. I’m really worried about him too.”

“Kage is missing?” Kinnosuke said.

“Uh huh” she nodded.

“Well” Kinnosuke stood up, “ I don’t know what to tell you about that. I haven’t seen him since a month ago.”

“Wait a minute” she stopped him, “Are you saying my father was here a month ago?”

“That’s correct. He came for a visit to see my father in Romenetori.”

“That’s weird. He did have a business trip last month shortly after my mom’s death. And if he came here instead, then maybe” her face lit up, “This is where he is right now” she stood up, “He could be on Sola even as we speak.”

Kinnosuke stared at her enthusiasm and thought about his earlier conversation with Dairou.

(Flashback)

“You should accompany them Kinnosuke” Dairou replied.

“What? Get serious.”

“I am serious. You should go with them to Shira. Maybe talk to Empress Parie.”

“I know exactly what she is going to say” Kinnosuke said, “She’ll send us right to Romenetori.”

“And is that such a bad thing?”

“Cousin Dairou I just got here a few weeks ago. I haven’t been here that long. And I don’t intend to leave so soon” Kinnosuke stood up preparing to leave the room.

“You know you can’t avoid him forever” Dairou smiled.

(Return)

Kinnosuke’s shoulders tightened as he thought about what Dairou had said. But he stood up with a sigh and leaned against one of the walls.

“Well if it is Shira you need to go to, would you please allow me to accompany you there?”

“Really?” Akane asked.

“Yes” Kinnosuke nodded, “The fact that the three of you are here is an interesting thing. I don’t think that you are here by accident. And if Uncle Kage is here, I will do all I can to help you” he smiled as he looked at her.

“Thank you” she smiled back, “Kinnosuke is it?”

“Uh huh” he nodded his head.

She walked over to him.

“Nice to meet you Kinnosuke” she bowed, “My name is Akane.”

(To be continued..)

Authors Note: Unfortunately this story will not be updated as much since I have other stories I’m working on, so it will take me awhile to finish it! Hope you like it!

Next Chapter: A Cousin and His Crew

Meet Saitarou and Tai! Not to mention Mikado and Bakin! Who are they? Find out next time!!