A/N: Aaach, sorry you guys! I screwed up…thank you to Zephyr-wings for pointing out my mistake. Just to clarify, I meant to write in a little section where it was apparent that Haru had called Matt and told him what had happened (remember that Mai had seen everything up to the point where she was knocked unconscious and thus told her brother), and that was how Matt knew what went down. Sorry for my carelessness, hope that clears it up for y’all!

(And side note to Katie: you gotta remember that we’re talkin’ about Jill and Cliff here. They’re pretty much oblivious to everything except their own selfish needs, and besides, that’s the whole reason why make-up was invented. Cheers!)

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Over the next week Mai and I focused on healing. Haru had given her strict instructions not to tell Mom or Cliff anything that had happened—we weren’t worried about it, especially since Mai merely nodded cheerfully and returned to playing ball with Kumi.

On the day that our parents were due back, Mai had almost completely healed—her neck wound was virtually invisible with a touch of concealer from Jazz and the bruise on her face was easily disguised as well.

The palm of my hand was sore and healing slowly, but I was more concerned with hiding the fact that the whole right side of my neck was pretty much swollen and bruised purple, the cut raising up and a bright red color. I finally wrapped a scarf around my neck and left it at that, even though the woolen texture was scratchy and irritating to my sensitive skin.

I was inside making pizza for the girls when we heard the car roll into the driveway.

“You ready guys?” Haru called to us as he tumbled down the stairs. “It’s show time!”

I pushed my hair out of my face, butterflies in my stomach as I followed Akira and the twins outside where Jazz and Delan were already sitting, looking as nervous as I felt. Jazz motioned towards her neck and I hastily repositioned the scarf as Mom and Cliff got out of the station wagon, looking happily refreshed and tan. There were bright smiles on their faces, a twinkle in their eyes, and an extra little spring in their step.

They hugged the girls as they dashed out to see them, Jazz coming up close behind them. I moved closer to Haru and murmured, “Think we can get away with this?”

“Please,” Haru said, smirking. “They just got back from the Bahamas. They’re not gonna notice anything except for the fact that they’re gonna have to do it in the bedroom instead of the kitchen. And they might not even notice that unless the twins walk in on them.”

I heaved a sigh as Mom came towards me, a glorious smile on her face and arms outstretched. “Katie!” she cried happily. “Oh, darling, I’ve missed you so much!” She swept me into her arms and I was overwhelmed with the scent of roses and lavender. I barely managed to stifle a cry of pain as the wool scarf rubbed against my still-raw neck. She let me go in the next moment, beaming. “Don’t I just look so tan?” she asked me, twirling for inspection and looking every bit like an Old Navy spokeswoman. “It was such a wonderful trip, Katie darling, when you get married you simply must go on a honeymoon in the Bahamas…”

She chattered on as she pulled me inside, gripping me by my bad hand. I kept my other fist clenched and my teeth grit, pain shooting through my hand as Mom dug her fingernails into the wound. She was completely oblivious to my discomfort and the fact that my skin was distorted, instead going on and on about a butler named Archibald who had hit on her and then Cliff had punched him out and oh, Katie darling, isn’t Cliff just the most wonderful man you’ve ever met?

I cast a miserable glance at Jazz, who looked genuinely sorry for my pain as we all filed inside.

“Anyway,” Mom continued, “we ran into a couple of friends of yours at the airport. I’m not quite sure how they knew us as I’m sure I’ve never met them, but they gave me a message to give you.”

I nodded in assent, dizzy with pain. I nearly fell over with relief when she released my hand and handed me a piece of folded notebook paper. I tucked it into my jeans pocket, flexing my hand and surreptitiously blew on it when she wasn’t looking.

“I do hope you’ve got all your bags packed,” Mom said, pulling a bottle of wine out of her purse (!!) and popping the cork open with her nails alone. “Cliff and I booked you and Haru a flight in two days. Unfortunately it’s a layover flight, so you’ll be flying all the way out to Butte, Montana and then to Houston, Texas before you finally get to your school. You’ll be spending the night in Houston, so we booked you two a room at a hotel there. You must be sure you don’t forget to set the alarm clock so you don’t miss your flight because Cliff and I won’t drive all the way down to Texas to pick you up—“

Haru and I listened with open mouths as Mom continued to tell us about the plane trip from hell.

“Why couldn’t you just have gotten us a better flight?” Haru said when Mom paused for a breath of air.

“Or hired us a taxi driver?” I chimed.

“Oh, darlings,” Mom said, kissing Haru’s forehead as he squirmed with embarrassment. “The next flight available was in three days, and we thought for sure you would want to get to school on time.”

“Mom!” I said with exasperation. “School doesn’t start for another week!”

“Oh, really?” she said in a voice that made it clear that she knew this perfectly well. “Well, you’ll be able to get a head start on your studies, then! Haru, your grades were a bit lower than we would like, so I expect you’ll work harder this year, hmm?”

Cliff came into the kitchen, having taken all of their luggage to their bedroom. “How are you two doing?” he asked us with a wide grin. “Were you able to handle the kids okay?” He wrapped his arms around Mom, kissing her neck as she giggled, kissing him back.

In the next few seconds our parents were involved in a super-gross make-out session, causing us to flee the kitchen in order to save our eyesight.

“What was that note Jill gave you?” Haru asked as we headed outside again.

“Who cares?” I fumed. “We have to spend two days on a freaking plane ride! We have to go to Butte, Montana! What’s even in Montana? Do you think they even have airports?”

“Can I see the note?” Haru asked me.

I handed it to him as I continued on my rampage. “I don’t think Montana exists,” I said finally. “I think it’s a place of suspended reality, or like a time warp or something—I mean, all they have there is cows, right? Kind of like this ridiculous state we’re living in—“

“Read this,” Haru said, interrupting my speculations and shoving the note in my face.

I took the slip of paper and quieted instantly at seeing George’s handwriting on the paper. Your little red-headed sister is really cute. I’d watch out for her if I were you. See you at school.

The door swung open and Jazz walked out, her red hair swinging behind her as she ate an apple. “What’s up, guys?” she said cheerfully. “Mom and Cliff didn’t even notice—aren’t you glad you’ve got a sister who knows the basics of make-up? All those makeovers came in handy, I guess.”

We looked at her for a moment and then at each other.

“What’s wrong?” Jazz asked uncertainly.

“Nothing,” I answered, crumpling the note in my fist and sliding it back in my pocket. “Absolutely nothing. Did you hear the torturous plane ride that Mom got for us?”

That night, after our bags were all packed, Haru and I sat outside on the porch with George’s rumpled letter sitting between us. Haru finally drew a breath and said, “What a summer, huh?”

I shook my head. “Tell me about it. A step-dad, step-brother, step-sisters, a new house, a wedding, two honeymoons, demon attacks and last but certainly not least, the fact that George lives here and abducted Mai.”

“Don’t forget us winning 100,000,” Haru reminded me. “That’s the best part.”

I cast a sidelong glance his way. “What are we going to do about that?” I nodded at the paper.

Haru shrugged. “Nothing,” he said. “I mean, what can we do? It’s just a threat and we’re heading to school in two days anyway. George isn’t going to go after Jazz with only four days to plan it. There’s really nothing we can do.”

“I guess,” I muttered. Then I undid the golden chain that hung around my neck and folded it in my good hand. “But it’s Jazz’s turn to have the krynaih.”

“Fair enough,” Haru agreed.

We sat in a sort of contented silence for a moment, looking up at the midnight blue sky speckled with the pinpricks of silver light issuing from the stars. I could smell the scent of summer fading slightly as autumn made its way towards our farm and I could hear owls hooting softly in the distance and nickers coming from the barn.

“Hey,” Haru said. I looked over at him to see him smiling in an uncertain, affectionate kind of way. “You’re…you…I’m glad…” He sighed and looked at the fields with slight frustration before looking at me again. “You’re a good sister,” he finished lamely, his eyes slightly apologetic for his lack of articulation.

I smiled back at him. “Love you too, Haru.”

He put his arm around my shoulders and kissed my forehead in an older-brother sort of way as I wrapped my arm around his middle and leaned into his side. We continued to watch the night sky, resting in the calm of summer and the assurance that we had each other to depend on. The krynaih flashed suddenly and dimmed just as quickly, leaving behind the colors of twilight.

A/N: Tada!! End story. A little abrupt, I apologize. Kate, Matt and Haru’s junior year of high school will be coming up—I should be posting the first chapter within the next week or so, so keep your eyes open for it. Thanks so much for reviewing and reading, I appreciate your input so much!