When they were clear of the shoku, they landed on the docks and called back their Shirei, not wanting to attract attention. They started towards town, as it was just waking from slumber.

Kids were heading to school in the brisk summer morning and the Kirin took to following them, for they were going to a mutual goal; The high school. As they approached, it brought back memories of Keiki's battle on the roof to protect Yuoko from Youma that had entered Horai to kill her. Smiling to himself, he pulled Enki along confidently as they entered the school.

As they walked through the doors they saw Yuka Sugimoto, a friend of Youko's, who had accompanied her on her trip to the Kingdoms. They caught up with her and she noticed them behind her, turning around open mouthed and completely surprised. She shrugged off the feeling deja vu, facing forward again and let them follow her to her classroom.

They entered the room and stood off to the side until the teacher addressed them. "Ah, you must be Yuka's relatives from Okinawa, ne?" He questioned as they saw Sugimoto sitting in her seat, holding a sad grin. Keiki nodded and told him their names. "Okay, You'll be with Yuka for the day then? Okay then, you may find a seat, class will begin shortly." He turned and wrote a few things on the board as the Kirin took seats. Keiki took Youko's old seat, it being ominously unoccupied, and Enki took a seat behind him.

Class lasted and hour then the noon bells rang for lunch, signaling the middle of the day. Sugimoto grabbed her lunch and took the Kirin out to the courtyard, to sit and eat. She shared a little with Enki, only because he asked first.

She asked them why they were in Horai. The Kirin exchanged glances and Keiki quietly answered her. "We have come to take someone back to the Kingdoms with us. I believe you may know him, his name is Takasato. He is the Kirin of Tai, the one that has been missing for a long time. We are taking him back so he can locate his ruler, King Tai, because he is missing."

Sugimoto blinked, taking a moment to take in what Keiki had said, taking a bite of her sandwich as she did so. She swallowed and answered, "Oh...so he has to leave..." Her eyes when to the ground as she thought of how lonely she would be without Kaname. She looked torn, but happy. "Well...I guess I could take you over to his place after school...You can talk to him there..." She quietly finished her food and they went back to the classroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When school was out, by 2:00, Sugimoto and the Kirin boarded the train to go to Kaname's district of town. She led them down side streets and across alleyways until reaching his house. She knocked on the door, and Kaname's younger brother, Suguru, answered. A powdery blush appeared on his face at the sight of Sugimoto. "Sugimoto...what're you doing here?" He asked, knowing she was most likely there to see Kaname.

She answered. "Hey there Suguru, do ya think you could get your brother down here please?" He nodded, mentally rolling his eyes.

He called upstairs, "Onii-sannn!!! Sugimoto is here!" As his brother came down, he rushed upstairs, wiping tears from his eyes. 'Damn, why is it always HIM!!?' He slammed his door upon reaching his room, sobbing could be herd from inside.

Suguru came down quietly, a complete opposite of his younger brother. He stood on the last step, looking curiously at the Kirin behind Sugimoto. Enki quietly gasped and tugged a little on Keiki's sleeve. He could see two shadowy figures surround Kaname, as if protecting him from the Kirin. Kaname was interested in the two, but also a bit scared...for fear of why they were there.

Keiki and Enki were gasping at Kaname in their minds, because his Kirin power was so strong, like he'd never been in Horai a day. He came all the way down the stairs, looking at Sugimoto. "Sugimoto? What are you doing here, and who are these people with you?" He asked, a little annoyed they were here, yet surprised by their visit.

Sugimoto and Kaname went into the kitchen, the Kirin close behind. They sat down at the low dinner table, and Kaname, being the nice person he was, asked if they wanted some tea. Enki nodded as did the other two and the small Kirin settled down in Keiki's lap, tired from the train ride.Kaname left immediately and came back 45 minutes later with the tea.

He sat down and passed out the tea, waiting to ask Sugimoto his question again. "Sugimoto," He asked again, a bit stern. "Why are you here?" Said girl looked at Keiki and the Kirin calmly responded, addressing Kaname formally.

"Takasato-san, we the Kirin of En and Kay, wish to take you with us back to your rightful home in the Kingdom of Tai. Also we need you to come with us to find King Tai, because he is missing." Keiki looked at the boy to see if he was okay, and found him staring back with stubborn intent, then his gaze softened into a wave of regretful sorrow as he thought of what had happened to himself 10 years ago....the place he came back from....a distant memory not wanting to be remembered....

Keiki's eyes widened as he saw the shadowy forms from before surround Kaname and appear to growl at the Kirin. Kaname looked down slightly whispering, "Hush now, it's okay..." He looked up to find Keiki staring at him, and a pink blush made its way to his face. He also looked towards Sugimoto who just blinked, as she didn't see what the Kirin had witnessed. 'Good, she didn't see.' He thought, and then looked back towards the Kirin across from him saying one word. "Yes."

Keiki stared at the boy for a moment then pulled some things from a bag at his side. A piece a parchment, a quill, and an ink bottle. Kaname took the stuff as Keiki sipped his tea. Enki shifted in his lap at the same time, causing Keiki to spill the hot liquid all over Enki's golden hair. He shot up instantly, tea streaming down his face and onto his clothes. The other pair in the room erupted with laughter and Enki looked as though he was about to slap the other Kirin, who had a sheepish and apologetic grin on his face. 'Oh no, what have I done!' Keiki thought as he looked at the others while avoiding Enki's swipe at his head. Keiki ducked, and Enki tripped falling flat on the floor, face connecting with the unforgiving wood.

Kaname got over laughing and crawled over to help Enki up. The small Kirin was a vibrant shade of red and angry. He jumped on the other Kirin, straddling him across the chest. He kissed Keiki, hard and forceful, tea and tears mixing in the kiss as the two were still laying on the floor, holding each other. "Be careful next time, idiot!" Enki bristled with anger at Keiki and at his clothes, that were growing sticky and cold from the tea.

"Then maybe you shouldn't lie in my lap anymore." The tall Kirin countered, smiling, and hugging his love, nuzzling his neck to calm him. He glance over at Kaname and Sugimoto, who had clung to each other, staring and had blush powder their faces.

Kaname shook himself out of his stupor and looked back, still holding the paper in his hands, the pen poised above the paper. "Oh...Sorry, Keiki, I'll get it done." He took about a half an hour to come up with the letter, and it went like this:

Dear family,

I am sorry, but I must leave. I don't belong here and I've caused enough trouble for everyone.
Mother, I am humbly sorry and beg of your forgiveness. I apologize for causing you so much pain...ever since I came back, when I had 'disappeared'.
Suguru...You'll have to take care of Mother in my stead. Trust me, she'll need it.
I love you all with all of my heart, nothing can change that. I hope you will never forget me...

Your son, and brother,
Takasato, Kaname.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Keiki picked up the letter and read it, tied it with a red string and laid it on the table. He stood, taking Enki's hand as he did so. 'It's a good letter,' He thought. 'It should be alright.' He started towards the door, the humans standing as well and following the Kirin outside.

They went into the back yard and Kaname was confused. 'Wait. Shouldn't they leave out the front door? ' He gazed over at the Kirin who were talking. 'I wonder what we're going to do?' he thought as he felt his wrist being pulled, and moved to the center of the enclosed yard. "What are you doing?" he asked Enki, who pointed over to Keiki as if to say, 'Complain to him.' with a raised brow.

Keiki went over and stood next to Sugimoto, who was looking skyward, as if waiting for something to happen. 'They're going to leave...' She thought glumly, looking at Keiki, who stared back, face void of emotion. "Keiki- Kei...I..." Her voice failed her as she averted her eyes to the grass below, watching it stir in the coming breeze. 'I'm too afraid to ask him...But I need to know what's going on.'

"If you wish to know how Youko is, now's the time to ask." He never looked her way while speaking, as if he read her mind.

Sugimoto bit her lip, hesitating to speak, but gathered her courage. "Um...So, is Youko okay?" She said it fast, the words coming out a bit jumbled, but Keiki understood what she said. She had wanted to ask about Youko the first moment she saw them that day. He nodded and she smiled, she was happy. 'She's okay...I'm glad...'

"Well, we'd better get moving if we wanna be back before Youko freaks out." Enki said, tugging on Keiki's sleeve. He sighed, turning around and summoning his Shirei, and Enki summoned his own Shirei. Keiki picked up Kaname and put him on his Shirei, before taking a seat behind him. Enki got on his wolf-like Shirei, then the Kirin then slowly took off and hovered for a moment. "Bye Sugimoto!" Kaname shouted, and they took off towards the ocean.

She waved till they could be seen no more, and headed inside to talk with Suguru. She turned at the last step up, looking up. 'Oh Nakajima...I hope you're alright...' She thought, and went inside, closing the screen door, and heading upstairs.