Akiko sat perched in a tree, high above the ground so that she could see without being seen. Lately she found herself being as moody as Miheala had been. She didn't get to see much of her over the past month and missed her comforting arms. She had Damon and Merrick to keep her bed warm, which sort of left Akiko feeling alone and somewhat unwanted as she had been regulated to babysitting the rest of the pard, while she and her new lovers went looking for Damon, and leaving there best tracker at home.

A twinge of jealousy rose within her. Jealousy, what a useless emotion. If Miha was happy with the two men in her bed, she should be happy for her. But Akiko wasn't, truth was lately, she had been alone for a long time. And looking back at her involvement in the pard, she really felt useless. With the exception of saving Victor's life, she wasn't able to find out who hurt Tycet. Perhaps she wasn't as good a tracker as she thought she was. With the new state of the art security system in place, and enhanced by elven magic, there really was no reason for her to be here.

She had been alone most of her life, and she had hoped to become a part of the family that was her pard. Perhaps it was her? She had had disagreements with Miha, misunderstandings really. But each time they have tiffs, it lessened their relationship somehow, and that was her fault. Miha was the leader and being an alpha female herself, perhaps that is why they had so much conflict between them. Damon was the enforcer so what was her role in the pard?

She wiped a tear from her eye and dropped silently to the ground. Moving within the shadows outside she made it to her room without being seen. There she packed her clothes, and the rest of her belongings and getting on her laptop sent an email off to her friend.

Miha,

I wanted to thank you for being a wonderful friend and allowing me to be apart of your family. But recent circumstances has led me to believe that it is time for me to move on. You have Damon and Merrick to look after things with you. Your home is secure, or as secure as I could make it. I believe that it too will keep you safe. I know you will be happy with Damon and Merrick, and that's what I want for you.

*hugs*

Aki

More tears came as she hit the send button, then shutting down her laptop, she stowed it. She took some tissues and dabbed her eyes, and calmed her breathing. She grabbed her bags, and made her way silently down the stairs with her bags in hand and took them to her vehicle.

Akiko was dressed in a soft white cotton shell, pleated skirt, nude hose and flats as she came upon the elf.

"Taking off, eh?"

She really wasn't ready to answer any questions about her departure, but it would be considered rude not to acknowledge the inquiry. "Hye Cherise-san. Please excuse the interuption of your quiet time." She replies as she bowed respectifully and then she passed by her on the porch.

Akiko stopped short and regarded the elven woman with a haunted look. "She has Merrick and his pack to assist her." She said ignorant of recent events. "This island is very secure short of laying land mines around the perimeter of the house. What powerful forces are you refering too?" She said with her head cocked in question.

"You do not owe me anything. Viktor was Miha's partner and I saved his life for her benefit as much as it was yours. I was honored to save his life." She said bowing slightly with respect to Cerise. What do you mean that the wolves are not around?"

She turned and put most of her clothes into the car, leaving her bag of weapons and needed clothing and essentials. If the pard was in danger, she would not dishonor herself by abandoning those that she had cared about and avowed to protect.

Akiko returned to the porch where Cerise stood. "Tell me more about what I am getting myself into."

Akiko's crystal blue eyes didn't flinch as she stared back at Cerise. "You're in love with Viktor aren't you." It was a question as much as it was a statement.

"What can I do against such powerful beings?" She said taking a seat on the nearby bench.

"When do you expect this foul storm to roll in?" She asked softly.

Akiko nodded and grabbing her bags headed back upstairs to put her essentials away and wait for the ass whooping that they were about to receive.

Once she returned her bags to her room she went down stairs and made herself some tea, then put on some soft music from Enya on the Bose Lifesounds stereo and went out on the back deck to relax and reflect.

She turned her head at the sound of Miha's voice. "You have Merrick and his pack, and Daemon to help keep you and the pack safe. " She replied softly. "You don't need me anymore." A tear, unbidden, fell down her cheek, causing her to turn her head back quickly and rub it from her eye.

The surprise was evident. "Wha-? Why?" She asked as she stood and opened her arms to her friend.

Akiko stroked Miha's hair. "You are forgiven. Tell me what happened Miha. You know you can tell me anything. You'll never lose me, at least not completely. I'll always be there for you when you need me."

"I don't know where I fall in with the pard anymore Miha." She admitted, a tear falling down her cheek. "I talked to Cerise. I will not abandon you in your time of need." She said softly rubbing her friend's back gently and kissing her forehead.

She too drew Tycet close. Time were changing faster than she liked, andn hard decisions had to be made.

"Aki, I still need you to help protect the Pard. The hunters have been increasing and growing bolder."

She shook her head, "Then there was an attack on Aret's boy.Too many cooincidences for them not to be connected."

She held both of them close to her. "I wish I could say things are going to get better, but I have been feeling that this is the calm before the storm."

There was something in her tone that was foreboding.

Nights later said golden eyed stranger was deep in thought as he surveyed the streets of the City from his rooftop perch. The drama below with the mugger momentarily drawing him from his thoughts.

Even as he hunted his prey, he could not stop thinking about the exotic features. He cursed himself the fool inwardly for falling for a mortal, but at the same time it appeared to be working for his Dark Muse.

He struck as the mugger was targeting an young woman. The woman had just left the bakery where she worked and was about to lose her wages to this cretin. Or would have had the mugger not been seemingly swallowed in shadows.

The golden eyed stranger had his fill of the vitae of the would be mugger and then left him in the gutter. The mugger would be dazed and confused, hopefully to have learned the error of his ways.

He could not shake the thought he was longing for an unattainable ideal. Of course, acting the fool did nothing to aid his cause.

He was drawn to the streets this night. He was feeling more restless than before. More out of place...

How many centuries has it been since his last breath of life? How many years of being the outcast amongst his clan, then amongst the people he chose to run with?

How many years before he had found people that accepted him?

He longed for her to be in his arms. He had thought himself beyond these feelings. Just like the loss of his reflection, it was like a piece of himself was ripped away.

His dark muse had given him back a piece with her paintings. Now Akiko was revealing to him the other piece he thought lost.

He was drawn to the streets from his perch. She was here and alone. That would never do. As she walked he emerged from a shadow to be near her. He couldn't explain the need, but he would be at her side.

"Akiko, beleza." The endearment was so natural to him. He waited a short distance away to see what the response would be. He longed to be with her, more than anything in his existence.

He smiled warmly to her, "I know, beleza. But I also trusted in your skill to recognize me."

His voice was warm and husky. He took a step towards her. "(vq) I still cannot stop thinking of you, beleza."

He, too, was tired of being alone and lonely. With her he had found a kindred soul. It was enough if she thought of him too. That one night in the little Tea Shop gave him a spark of hope and he wished to see more.


* Beleza - Portuguese for Beauty

His head tipped down to meet her in that kiss. For him, his awareness narrow to this single gesture. If he were still alive, his heart would be racing with the touch of her lips.

Strong arms encircled his cat and he made growly little sound that could be mistaken for a purr... were he a cat. A gentle hand moved up her back to cradle her head as he deepened the kiss. He wanted to drink her in and not stop.

She did not see Miha standing there in the distance. Nor did she care. She couldn't think as she kissed this handsome kindred. Her body molded to his as her right leg lifted itself off of the ground, her hands carressed his handsome face.

Although she did not speak portugese, she understood that he told her that he loved her. Love. She wasn't sure if that was what she truly felt for him; but what she did know was that she did not want to leave his side either, but she had the pards safety to think about. "I would like nothing more than to spend the night with you but I have the pard's safety to think about koishii. How can this work between us?" She said laying her head gently against his chest.

"That is not for us to decide but for your friend and Miha to come to terms to. Miha's first concern is to her pard." She spoke softly as she held him close. She found that she liked being in his arms.