fallen angels chapter 1.4

Ohno went back to his black car, he was tired but he knew that he needed to at least know how to find the Child.  It was almost three am but he had to get to Nagano-ken.  Fast.  He had no choice but to will himself to a place he was familiar with in the the small town.   It was a clearing near the foot of the mountain.  He left the car in the driveway of the Temple and simply concentrated.  He summoned his strength, what was left of it,  to will himself to the small town.  He closed his eyes, letting himself feel that familiar pull of time and space.  The pull of gravity on his body intensified for a few moments, waned and came back again.  He felt the cool wind on his face as he opened his eyes, rising from his crouch on the thick snow that covered the ground.  Brushing off the precipitate from his trench coat's shoulder.  The clearing was surrounded by the birch trees, dead in the winter.  Barren as the place was, he knew where to go.  He remembered it from a distant memory, Riida didn't really want to bother how he knew.  It must have been before he came to the jimoushi or maybe not.  He barely took notice as the moon and stars shone in a waning darkness, getting  his bearings, inhaling deeply.  His eyes blazed amber, almost golden. The sound if crackling fire was not far away, at least a kilometer away, he gathered.  He followed the sound, breaking the packed snow beneath his high suede boots.  A few more moments and he broke into a run.  Then he felt it.  That unmistakable aura.  A shriek came from beyond the wood, followed by a growl.  A Mundane.  His pace was quicker now, his every step barely touching the ground.  Ohno was but a blur against the backdrop of the shadowy trees, then he was them.  The childe face him as he approached, a young Kyuketsuki.  An angelic face yet had no emotion.  He must be a Noumen, the childe.  One who shows no emotion whatsoever as if wearing a mask.  The childe was bleeding from a deep gash on his side, rendering his white hakama drenched.  The young one's hand gripped the wakizashi, ready to strike.  The Mundane was a big one, almost seven feet at the least, a Kimon.  Its skin was thick, bony and stooped as the Kyuketsuki Samurai only saw him from behind and it was about to attack the younger one.  Thinking quickly, he scanned the area and saw a small rock rutting nearby.  He reared himself against it, gathering strength from the recoil and braced himself.  Riida shot up from the rock, his projectile letting him fly over the Kimon and flipping over before landing gracefully in front of the little Noumen kyuketsuki.  Legs still bent, Ohno looked up into the younger one's eyes and smirked.  He heard the Kimon's growl resounding in the deathly peace of the night.

"I'll just borrow this for a moment ne" the Kyuketsuki Samurai whispered before launching himself in the air yet again, grabbing the short katana from the childe and gripping it with both hands.  The Mundane was surprised at his new opponent but lashed out with his huge, spiked Flail and missed.  Ohno, in turn, wielded the wakizashi.  It struck the Kimon's arm.  Slicing through the thick skin, muscle and bone.  The arm fell beside the beast, making it howl in agony.  It lashed again with with the Flail and caught Ohno's arm, sending the kyuketsuki a few steps back.  Or so the young one thought.  Riida, made a face, slightly irritated as his favorite winter coat was now damaged.
"I knew I shouldn't have worn this today." the Ohno murmured to himself.  He still held the wakizashi in his right hand.  He then turned to the Mundane again, who by now was bleeding a sticky black substance.  Its stench was enough to deter any mortal but Ohno has had his share of such things.  The Kimon now rushed at him with the flail.  Ohno stood still with hands now gripping the short sword, waiting for the right moment.  Another growl and  the Kimon was only a foot away, about to smother him with its weight.  The Kyuketsuki Samurai closed his eyes then knelt and as the creature loomed closer, thrust the wakizashi into his chest, piercing it heart.  Suddenly, it became nothing but ashes, blown away.  Riida stood up, catching his breath and turned back towards the childe.  Handing him the katana, the moonlight catching something dangling from a silver chain around his neck. A sigil the shape of a cross with the kaji for strength with an opal, signifying rank and from which Jimousho he came from, was what the Childe saw.
"Hontouni gomenasa" the young one said, falling to the gorund on his knees and bowed.  Riida noticed his sigil exposed.
"Onamae wa?" the Samurai asked, tucking the pendant back into his shirt.
"His name is Juri" a clear yet soft voice sadi from the doorway of the traditional cottage.  Ohno looked at the woman.  She was young, her eyes silver like those of the Great Lady,  She was dressed in a pure white hakama, similar to the childe's yet for some reason, more pure.  The dark waves of her hair hung around her down the small of her back.  Ohno was somewhat surprised.
"He is very brave.  Ah~ sumimasen.  I'm looking for-" he started sto explain but stopped when the woman turned away.
"You have found what you have sought, Kyuketsuki Samurai.  Do come inside my home" the woman smiled as she went in.  She wore no slippers wo warm her feet as she let the way into the low abode.  Ohno looked back seeing the childe following him.  He wanted to ask if he was from another jimousho but kept quiet instead.  He found himself kneeling on one of the softest pillows in front of an altar.
He does not remember, She thought.  It is for the best.  Ohno noticed that she nodded solemnly then kneeled in front of the altar, pouring the water into the small cup, letting the tea leaves swirl before murmuring something under her breath.  After a few moments, she then turned towards the kyuketsuki and smiled.
~~~

Hitomi
She woke up with a start.  Her breathing was ragged, her brow damp with sweat and her heart was beating so fast as if she had been running.  She turned in her bed, still hugging the big plush bunny under her blue sheets.  Looking at the clock in her beside table, nine a.m.  Late again.  She let out a sigh of disgust, yawned and stretched.  Why did she have to do this everyday?  torture herself with working at the magazine that doesn't even write decent articles,  Nothing but the entertainment business and its glittering stars to talk about.  It was irritating and very nauseating at best.  Just looking at those prettily clad boys and girls with nothing in their heads, was enough to make her throw up.  She hated working for CAM.  She sat up,  running her fingers through her wavy black hair and yawned again.  She wanted to go back to sleep rather than interview stupid airheads.  She had always wanted to interview important people, not people who think they're important.  She grumpily got out of bed and wlked into the bathroom,  She was late so she had rather be late and be beautiful at it.  Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft mewling and something warm and fuzzy brushing up against her leg.  Hitomi looked dowm.  A fuzzy black cat with amber eyes was looking up at her.  She bent down and scratched behind its ear.
"Ohayou, Shiori" the reporter smoothed the cat's fur before standing up to go to the bathroom for her shower.  After that, she squickly dressed in her tight jeans and tank top.  Rushing to grab her bag and motorcycle helmet when she heard Shiori making pleading sounds.
"Oh! I'm so sorry my baby~" she went back to the cupboard and reached for the cat kibbles, giving the neko enough for the day.  The girl put her helmet on the kitchen counter and leaned over to pet the cat.  Another sigh and she smiled.
"You're my only family now, Shiori.  Be good ok?  I'll bring you a treat later" she said to the cat before straightening her self up, grabbing the helmet, her bag and the keys from the hook beside the entrance and locking the door behind her.  Almost everyday was like this.  hitomi, always rushing to and from places.  Its like the world was after her.  Mah! I'm delusional again, she thought as she wound her way around the mailman, Kaito-san.  He was early today.  That meant she still had time.  Once outsidem she swung one leg over the seat and setteled herself into the leather.  Turning on the inition, she put the helmet on before turning the handlebars, creating a puff of smoke.  Hitomi kicked up the sidestand and eased off the hand brakes, letting the Harley V-Rod roar off into the morning traffic.  It took her only twenty-five minutes to get to her office in the middle of Shibuya-ku.  She hurriedly got off the bike after turning off the engine and parking it.  She tapped the old parking attendant, Tarou-san, on his shoulder and smiled.  The reporter then proceeded to make a run for the news office.
~~~

Sho knew he had an intervieew that morning and hadn't noticed the message on his keitai.  It was about his being part of News Zero and the new drama he was filming.  He dressed carefully as always.  The woman entered the  room he was waiting in,  her eyes smiled up at him as she approached