Remember Me

I have always wondered about his 'iron reaver' and his 'blades of blood
attack. Where did he learn them? Did someone teach them to him? Since
this is an AU story. This is where inuyasha learned his two famous
attacks.


// indicates inner thoughts

Chapter 11

The fight between Kumo and Ngbaka had turned bloody. Kumo was badly
wounded. Although the wounds weren't serious. They did bleed
heavily. The little dog demon growled angrily as he lunged at the lion
demon. His spear had caught Ngbaka in the shoulder. The elder demon
leaped away from the younger one. Clutching his wounded shoulder, he
smirked at the child. Ngbaka had to admit. The kid was good but not
good enough. Their cheers and jeers coming from the spectators. The
only cheers Kumo heard that was for him was coming from Zaine and
Ashanta. He heard Ashanta yelling to him to rip her elder brother’s
throat out. Although he knows she doesn’t mean it it was nice that
someone wanted him to win.

"I must admit that you haven't made a complete fool of yourself." Blood poured
over his hand. "But you are still in training runt. So pay close attention
because I am only going to show this to you once." He smiled. "Lesson number
one." Ngbaka took to the air. "Blades of Blood!" He swung his arm in an arch
sending bloody blades at the small child.

Kumo stood there staring in wide eyed shock as the blood that came from Ngbaka's
hand turned into razor sharp blades that sliced him all over. At the last minute
Kumo threw up his arms protecting his face from the attack. /What kind of an
attack was that? / the child thought amazed.

Kumo lowered his hands just in time to see Ngbaka charge at him with one claw
raised high. "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" Was this particular battle cry. Bringing
his claws down, he sliced Kumo across his chest. He stumbled backwards
tripping over his own foot. Kumo watched as the world
moved in slow motion. It felt like he was falling forever until he finally
hit the ground. He stared up at the elder lion demon. "That was lesson
number two, runt. You do best to learn your place." Then he turned and
walked away.

Somewhere in the distance he could hear Ashanta and Zaine calling him. It does
not matter. /I don't know why I thought I would be accepted. I’m just a filthy
canine like the hyenas and jackals. / With a shuttering sigh, he let the cool
comfort of oblivion engulf his consciousness.
======================================================== =

When Kumo awakened it was night. Ashanta and Zaine sat around his bed
watching him.

"Have you been here the whole time?" asked Kumo groaning as he sat
up. Zaine sat on the bed beside him.

"Of course," the lion cub said smiling. "You are our brother now."

"Zaine is right," said Ashanta smiling and kneeling at his bedside.

"But . . . I’m a canine demon just like the hyenas and jackals." He began to twist
the sheets into a ball. "Don't you hate me? Your brother, Ngbaka, hates me."

"Ngbaka is an idiot," said Zaine smiling. "We don't listen to what he says
anyway. We listen to father. If he says that you are now his son. Then no one
will question him."

"He's right. It doesn't matter to us if you are a canine. You are our brother
and friend. And nothing anyone can say to us will change that." Ashanta threw
her arms around the half-demon's neck and hugged him tight. "So don't you
ever think that we don't care about you."

"Thanks." Kumo hugged her back.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. It opened and Ngbaka stood in the
doorway. Zaine and Ashanta growled at their older brother. "What do you
want," growled Ashanta. "Haven't you caused enough trouble for one day."

The elder demon said nothing to his younger siblings. He just stared at Kumo
with his icy gaze. Then the iciness in his eyes disappeared. "I just came
to see how the runt is doing?"

"As if you care," growled Zaine.

"Believe it or not, I do care. I was impressed when he was able to withstand
both my attacks. I came to apologize."

All three children stared at their older brother in shock. Ashanta and Zaine
couldn't believe that Ngbaka was apologizing.

"Apologize for what?" asked Kumo.

"For my behavior. For thinking you were beneath me because you are a
canine demon. For thinking you were weak and didn't belong here." He
sighed. "I'm just plain sorry."

"Yes, you are." Ashanta mumbled under her breath.

Ngbaka heard the snide remark and growled at her. Then he straightened up. "But
don't think I’m going to go easy on you or any of you. You're still just a
couple of squirts."

"JERK!!" yelled Ashanta fuming. Ngbaka bust out laughing and left the three
children alone.

"Wow!" said Zaine turning to Kumo, his eyes wide with disbelief. "I can't
believe Ngbaka apologized."

"I was kind of surprised myself," said Kumo staring down at his small hands
smiling.

"Hey, you want something to eat," said Ashanta.

He stared up at his two new brother and sister and smiled. He was so happy
that the two were his friends. "Yeah, I’m starving." The three left Kumo's
room and raided the kitchen.

The next day everything returned to normal. Xhosa would continue to teach
Kumo their language and ways. An elder dragon would come to teach
Kumo dragon magic as well as other things. Sometimes his two dragon
friends, Tago and Sano would visit. The five would get into no ends of
trouble and they made sure Ngbaka would be at the receiving end.

Their training was getting more and more difficult with each lesson. What
surprised them even more was when Ashanta demanded to be trained along
with her brothers. Her father and mother tried to dissuade her by telling her
that she was already loaded down with her magic studies but the
girl was not hearing it. She screamed for two days until her parents finally
relented and let her train with her brothers.

What surprised everyone even more was the fact that the girl was very
good. Even the instructor was surprised at how well the girl did. Within
two weeks time, Ashanta had caught up with her brothers. The three
were definitely a force to be feared. So, the day came for the three siblings
to learn the Pride's attacks. They were overjoyed. Finally, they would be
able to do some real damage.
=============================================================== ====

Three months had passed since the day of the challenge and every thing
was going well for Kumo. The young demon was on his way to his room to turn
in for the night when Ashanta and Zaine stopped him.

"Where are you going?" asked Zaine.

"To bed," said Kumo.

"Why? It's still early out," said Ashanta picking lint off the shoulder
of his red dashiki.

"I don't know. My mother always told me to go to bed before the sun set
on the nights of the new moon."

"Why would she tell you that?" Zaine leaned against the wall. Kumo shrugged
his shoulders.

"You know. I just realized that every since he came here Kumo has been going
to bed early on the nights of the new moon." Ashanta scratched her head.
Putting it out of her mind as quickly as it popped in, she turned to her two
brothers. "Want to go into the village. I'm sure nothing will happen if you
miss going to bed early for one day."

Kumo smiled. "Okay."

The three made their way to the sweets section of the city. They walked
into Stellara's store. The Fairie turned and smiled at the three children. "And
what brings the little princess and princes of Pride Castle out this late in the
evening?"

"Nothing in particular, it was just boring," said Zaine. "Father and mother
are entertaining some demons from Egypt."

"House cats," scoffed Ashanta. "They are Abyssinians. Grandmother Xhosa said
the demons are representatives from the royal family."

"I see. Amen-Ra and Thema," said Stellara.

"Who are they?" asked Kumo.

"They are the rulers of Egypt," said Zaine. "The people their worship them as
gods. I’ve heard that they build great structures and sculptures in honor of their
gods."

"It's true," said Stellara. "I have seen them. Huge pyramids that are boggling
to the mind. Great statues that touches the sky. It is truly a sight to
behold."

"I wonder why they sent a representative instead of coming themselves." Kumo
stared at all the colorful delicious candy Stellara had in her shop. The
Fairie saw the directions the children eyes was staring and sighed. She
reached up and took down three suckers. She handed one to each child.

"Well, the only reason I can think of why the royal family didn't come
was because the queen was pregnant," said Stellara answering Kumo's
question. "She has had two miscarriages. The Pharaoh doesn't want to take
any chance on her having another miscarriage."

"Do they have any children?" asked Zaine licking his sucker.

"I've heard that they have a son."

"Is something wrong, Kumo?" asked Ashanta.

Kumo stared up at her. His face was pale. "I don't know. All of a sudden
I just felt weak." He looked at them smiling. "I'm fine now." Kumo
frowned at the looks of shock on the others faces. "What . . . Is something
hanging from my nose." Kumo wiped his nose on his sleeve. He started to
get agitated. "Why are you guys staring at me?"

"Kumo . . . Kumo," Zaine repeated shocked. "Your hair . . ."

"My hair? What about . . ." Kumo raised a lock of his hair to his
eyes and stared in open mouth horror. He turned to his friends with
fear in his eyes.

"That's not all," said Ashanta. "Your ears are gone and your eyes are no
longer gold."

Kumo reached up to touch his ears but they were gone. Stellara went behind the
counter and reached a hand mirror to the little demon now human child. Kumo
looked at his reflection. He couldn't believe his eyes. He had black hair,
lavender colored eyes and human ears. He stared at his hands and his claws
were replaced with human fingernails. "What . . . What has happened to me?" He
lowered the mirror to stare at his friends in shock. "I'm human."

"He's a half demon," said Stellara. "Although I have never seen the
transformation of a half demon. I've heard this happens to all half
demons . . . At least to the ones that are half human." The Fairie took a close
look at Kumo. "It's amazing how different you look as a human."

"Well I hate it," said Kumo putting the mirror down.

"Don't worry. You will change back with the rising of the sun." Stellara patted
him on the head. "Now, you three should be getting back home. I have to close
up my shop."


The three made their way through the castle hiding whenever they heard
someone coming. They were almost to Kumo's room when an annoying
voice stopped them.

"Hey squirts," said Ngbaka. His eyes widened a fraction as he stared at the dark
hair human. Although there were human servants in the palace. They
were not allowed near the sleeping quarters unless given permission. "What's
this human doing here, and where is the other runt." He
sniffed the air trailing Kumo's scent to the human. Ngbaka stepped closer and
peered down at the human. His eyes widened in shock at the human. "Kumo!"
Then the elder demon bust out laughing. "You're a . . .a human." He continued
to laugh.

Kumo became angry and turned on his heels. He stormed into his room slamming
the door behind him. He jumped into the bed and covered his head with the
sheets.

Kumo awakened the next morning stretching his arms over his head and
yawned. Suddenly the event of last night flooded his sleepy mind. His eyes
widened as he clutched a handful of his silver mane looking at it. The
little demon sighed in relief. Stellara was right. His hair did change
back the next day. He got out of bed and went into the wash room to
clean up. Once he was finished, he went to the wardrobe and took out a
a stripe ankle length dashiki. He sighed and stared at the only pair of
clothes his mother had given him resting snugly at the bottom of the chest.
He picked up the shirt and held it to his cheeks. He remembered when his
dragon mother presented the clothes to him. She told him that they were
a copy of the clothes he wore when she found him. He had outgrown the
clothes and wore what the lions wore. Either the shirt-like dashiki or
the ankle length dashiki or just the loin cloth which Zaine seems to favor.
Anyway, the clothes were small, old and tattered around the cuffs and
seams. Folding the clothes, he placed them back in the chest. Just
then, Ashanta and Zaine burst into his room. The
two stopped and smiled at him.

"So, you did change back," said Zaine smiling.

"Yeah."

Ashanta began to tweak his ears. Kumo growled and slapped her hands
away. “Will you stop doing that. It’s bad enough that every female that I
come across does this. Must you keep doing it also?”

“I’m sorry but your ears are so . . .”

“Don’t say it.” Kumo glared.

“Adorable.” Ashanta giggled at the defeated expression on his face. “Anyway,
I guess that was why Lady Nefra always told you to go to bed early on
the nights of the new moon.” Ashanta sat on the bed. "She probably
thought you weren't ready to know about this yet."

"I guess so,” said Kumo shrugging his shoulders. "Come on, let's go get
something to eat."

After breakfast the day began as it always does with their studies.
=============================================================< br> When the three children turned 11 Nala and Xhosa decided that it was time
to teach the kids how to hunt. The two demoness took them out to track
a herd of Wildebeest. Then they taught them how to stalk their
prey. The two waited until the time was right and they struck. Grandmother
Xhosa may have been old but the old lioness could still help bring
down her prey. All three children were impressed by her skills,
stealthfulness and strength.

As instructed, the three tracked a herd of zebra's. Ashanta sent the
boys up further while she would isolate a zebra from the herd. The girl
crouched in the tall grass and crept her way forward making sure to stay
downwind of the herd. She stopped as a couple of zebras looked in her
direction. She waited until the animals went back to grazing. Then
Ashanta crept closer and closer until she was in striking distance. Then
she attacked.

The herd seeing the threat bolted. Ashanta found her target and slashed
it across the rear with her claws marking it for her brothers. "NOW!"
she yelled. Suddenly Kumo and Zaine joined her. The two boys sunk their
claws into the hips of the zebra while Ashanta buried her claws into its
throat. All three piled on top of the animal dragging it to the ground.
Ashanta dug her claws deep into its neck and ripped its throat out. The
zebra whined and ceased all struggles. The three children howled and
roared in victory.

That night they feasted upon their first kill.
=============================================================

Kumo, Zaine and Ashanta had turned sixteen and there was a huge
celebration welcoming the Pharaoh, Queen and prince of Egypt to their
kingdom. The three was outside playing near the pond when Ngbaka
walked up to them.

"Hey squirts, what are you doing out here?"

"What does it look like," said Ashanta scowling.

"You do know the royal family from Egypt will be here." The elder demon scowled
at the three teens. "You are expected to give the princess a present."

"Princess?" All three stared at him in puzzlement.

"What do you mean, princess," said Zaine frowning at their brother. "They have a
son."

"Where did you get that?" the elder demon scowled at the teenagers. "Queen Thema
had a daughter."

"But Stellara said they had a son," said Kumo scratching his head puzzled.

Ngbaka shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe, she made a mistake. But I went there
three months ago and I saw a female." He smiled. "She was quite beautiful with
long red hair and gorgeous purple eyes."

"That's weird," said Ashanta. She shrugged her shoulders. "I guess we should
go get her a present."

"But what do you get for a female that is older than you?" asked Zaine.

"When I was at their home. She had an assortment of dolls from all over the
world. You should get her a doll for her collection," suggested Ngbaka.

"Wow, that's very helpful of you," Kumo stared at the elder demon suspiciously.
"What are you up to?"

"Nothing. I just don't want you spores making father look bad."

"Forget about him, Kumo," said Ashanta. She grabbed her brother by the hand
and the three of them left.

That night at the celebration Kumo, Zaine and Ashanta sat on the other side
of their mother watching the entertainment. "So kids, do you have the
presentation gift?" asked their father.

"Yes father, we have it. We will go get it when they arrive," said Ashanta
rolling her eyes.

"Exactly what is . .. " Before he could question his daughter . His advisor
Kariba walked into the banquet hall and bowed to his rulers. Then the three
got up and hurried out of the hall to get the gift.

"My lords and ladies, King Mugabe and queen Nala. I introduce to you
Pharaoh Amen-Ra and Queen . . ." The door had closed behind them so they
didn't hear the introduction of the princess.

When they returned, the royal family from Egypt were bowing in respect to
the lions. They quickly took their places and looked at the cat demons.
Ashanta scoffed and leaned over to her brothers.

"Wow, Ngbaka was right," whispered Zaine. "She is beautiful."

"Yeah," agreed Kumo.

Ashanta snorted. "Hmph, house cat. She's probably never been outside
a day in her useless life."

In the center of the room stood the Abyssinia cat demons. They were not
as tall or as muscular as the lions but the Egyptian cats were pretty to
the eyes. With their triangular faces, lean bodies and pointed ears. The
pharaoh and his queen had long black hair that flowed down their backs. Their
pointed cat ears were dark at the tips. Pharaoh Amen-Ra was dressed in a white
double kilt. The cotton kilt stopped above his knees while the transparent
top kilt reached down to his shin. He wore a headdress of a falcon with a
sun disk upon its head. The pharaoh also carried a staff with the ankh on
top of it. He wore gold arm bracelets and wrist bracelets on each arm. Queen
Thema was dressed in a long white gown that reached to her ankles. She
wore silver arm bracelets and wrists bracelets also that had gilded
sculptures of cats on it. She wore a ring on each finger. Around her neck
was a beaded collar that was made of feldspar, green faience, and
carnelian. Upon her head she wore a vulture headdress with the moon
between two cow horns and all three wore sandals. But it was the princess
that caught everyone's attention.

She was very beautiful with long red hair that reach down to her ankles. And
when she opened her eyes, they were the prettiest violet color they had
ever seen. She wore a short cloak on her shoulders. Ashanta had to
admit that the princess was an angelic sight to behold. Then she snickered
to herself.

"What's with you?" asked Kumo.

"Nothing, I was just thinking the princess is very attractive," she said
smiling. "Too bad she's a she and not a he." All three laughed.

"Wait a minute, why is she dressed like a man?" asked Zaine.

"Who knows, maybe they didn't want any ungodly demons to lay eyes upon
their precious goddess." Ashanta said snidely. "Like I said before, they're
nothing but pampered house cats."

"Wow, you really hate them," said Kumo.

"Not at all, I just hate the fact that they are taking advantage of the
simple minded humans." She turned to the royal family. "Letting them think they
are gods and can answer their prayers."

"Now, Ashanta I believe you have a gift to present," said Mugabe looking at his
daughter.

Ashanta stood up with the wrapped package in her hands. She bowed to the Pharaoh
and queen. Then she bowed to the princess. "Welcome to Africa, I hope your
stay here will be pleasant. Please accept this gift as a gesture of good will between
our people." She placed the gift into her delicate but somewhat large hands. The
princess opened the gift and stared at the porcelain doll that was dressed in Egyptian
clothing. "I hope you like it."

The Egyptian princess stared at the lioness.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to show you disrespect but I don't even know your
name, princess," said Ashanta.

Everyone in the hall gasped in either shock or horror. Ashanta, Kumo and Zaine
stared at the shocked faces of everyone in the room. There mother seemed about
ready to faint and there father looked as though he would beat her within an
inch of her life. The only one that didn't look shocked or struck with horror
was Ngbaka. In fact, the jerk looked as though he would erupt with laughter.

Ashanta looked to her two brothers. They shrugged their shoulders not knowing
what was wrong either and turned back to the princess. An angry scowl had marred
that soft, tanned face.

And when she spoke, all three stared at the woman in shock. "The name is
Prince Sethos."

"You're?" Zaine.

"A?" Kumo.

"Guy?!" Ashanta.

The three stared at each other and then turned to the smirking Ngbaka. He
placed the doll back in her hand. “Thank you for the gift princess, but I have
never played with dolls,” said Prince Sethos looking at the shell shocked girl
amused. Ashanta bowed to him and went back to her seat beside her two
brothers.

"That bastard," said Zaine pissed. "He tricked us."

"Not us, me," said Ashanta clenching her hands into fists. "I was the one that
looked like a fool giving the prince a doll." She glared at the glass eyes of
the doll staring up at her. "I'm going to strangle that dick."

"Prince Sethos, please forgive my daughter," said Mugabe glaring at the girl. "I
hope her . . .gift did not offend you."

"No sire, there is nothing to forgive. After all, she is my betrothed."

Upon hearing that all three looked up at the cat demon and shouted in
unison, "WHAT!"

"This was settled years ago, little sister," said Ngbaka smiling.

Both Zaine and Kumo edged away from their sister as her youkai began to
flare up in rage. /Here it comes/ thought Kumo closing his eyes and cringing
in fear. If there's one thing he knows for sure about his sister is that she
does not like to be forced into a situation.

"LIKE HELL I'M GOING TO MARRY THIS . . .THIS . . .HOUSE CAT!" She
exploded. "I REFUSE TO MARRY SOME PAMPER PUSS THAT SITS
AROUND ALL DAY AND LET HUMANS WORSHIP HIM LIKE HE'S
SOME KIND OF A GOD! THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THIS
GIRLY WIMP HAS PROBABLY SET FOOT OUTSIDE!"

Kumo looked at the Egyptian prince and saw the demon was livid with rage. He
guessed that this must be a new experience for the prince. There’s someone in the
world that doesn't worship him like a god. The look on the cat demon's face
was priceless. If it wasn't for the fact that Ashanta would strangle him. He
would fall to the floor laughing.

Mugabe slammed his fist against the table silencing his daughter's ranting. "You
will do as you are told. I will not have you embarrass our Pride with your
disrespectful manner. And you should be thankful to your brother."

The three teens stared at Mugabe in shock. "Why would she be thankful to
him?" asked Zaine.

"It was Ngbaka who suggested the alliance between our two tribes by betrothing
Ashanta to Prince Sethos."

The snake in question sat on the other side of Mugabe smiling and waving at
them.

"Ashanta . . ." Mugabe was about to rip into her when Sethos decided to speak
up.

"Your majesty," said the Egyptian prince. "There is no need to argue. I
understand what she is going through. She just needs time to adjust . . ."

"No I don't," the girl said snappishly.

Ignoring her comment, he went on. "I suggest that the wedding take place on
her seventeenth birthday. I will stay here until then. It will give the
princess as well as her siblings chance to get to know me better. To let them
see that I am not a . . . pampered house cat."

"What a wonderful idea," said Ngbaka smiling. "Those three has been together
for years. It's about time to add another member to their little group."

The three teens growled at him.

"Now that all of this has been settled." Ngbaka stood up. "Please your
majesties sit and we can continue with the festivities of our new alliance
and the betrothal of my darling sister to your son."

"He is so dead," snarled Ashanta.

Sethos sat beside Ashanta and rested a hand on top of her's. Kumo watched as
his sister at first stiffened in apprehension and then relaxed. He nudged
Zaine in the side and hinted that he look at their sister. Both boys began
to snicker at the bright red spot that crept into her cheeks.

"Well, she did say too bad she wasn't a guy," whispered Zaine.

"Yeah, I guess now we're going to have to be buying baby clothes after while,"
whispered Kumo.

"I can hear you pricks," she said through clenched teeth. "And you two
traitors will suffer the same fate as that bastard."

"What troubles you my sweet," said Sethos raising her hand to his lips kissing
it. The blush on her cheeks became darker and the two boys bust out laughing.
Everyone stared at the two laughing boys for a second and then continued on
what they were doing.


====================================================== ===

It has been nine years since Kumo came to live with the lions. He was a strong
warrior in the Pride. And he had finally completed his studies with the dragons.
The Dragon Father himself came by two weeks ago to inform him of this. He was
finally an adult in the eyes of the dragons and as such it was time for him
to be on his own. His friends had come by to see him also. They had came
by to say goodbye since they had to find their own cave and soon they
would have to find themselves a mate. The seventeen year old dog
demon sat up in one of the cotton-silk trees resting in the shade. He was just
about to drift off to sleep when the annoying voice of his elder adoptive brother
called up to him.

"Hey squirt!"

Kumo growled and glared down at the lion. "I am not a squirt," yelled the
young demon. Then Ngbaka jumped into the tree and settled on the branch beside
the silver hair demon. "What do you want anyways?" He sat up and leaned his
back against the tree to glare at the one that interrupted his nap.

"Well, I have been thinking a lot about the future and I have decided that
you shall be my mate," the lion demon said crossing his arms across his chest
and daring the dog demon to challenge his decision.

Kumo stared in shocked at the other and then burst out laughing. He stared
at the elder demon and stopped laughing. "You're serious?"

"I do not jest in matters such as this."

Kumo swallowed a lump in his throat. "But I thought you didn't like me?"

"You were a kid. It was my job as an older brother to make my younger
siblings’ lives miserable." He smirked at the shell shocked expression on the
young demon's face. "Now that you are of age to mate." Ngbaka leaned close
to the shocked teenager. "I can claim you as mine. As the eldest it is my
right to claim whomever I deem is worthy to be my mate. I can think of no
other more worthy than you." He brushed a
feather light kiss against Kumo's lips.

At first, Kumo stiffened from the contact and then he melted against the
other. Closing his eyes, Kumo opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. Suddenly
an imagine of a handsome demon with long silver hair and golden eyes much
like his flashed in his mind. The demon was sad and was calling for
someone. His eyes snapped opened and he pulled away from the other. Kumo
quickly jumped down and hurried to his room.

Once behind closed doors, Kumo leaned against the door and slid down to sit on
the floor. Resting his head in his hand he began to wonder who that person
was. For the past four years he had been having dreams about this
demon he felt he should know. The truth be known, he has been dreaming
about this same person every since he awoken in Nefra's cave. In the
beginning he was just a dark, shadowy
silhouette with no face. But as he grew older the face began to appear
out of the dark until after he turned sixteen. The face of the stranger
was finally visible to him. He was the handsomest demon he had ever
seen. Or in this case, every dreamt up. He looked to be the same age as
Kumo with lavender marks on each cheek and a blue crescent moon on his
forehead. He was sad. He kept calling to someone named Inuyasha. From the
look in the demon's eyes, this Inuyasha must be someone very important to him.
/If he’s calling for someone name Inuyasha then why am I dreaming about
him? Do I know him?/ Kumo rubbed his eyes tiredly. /Who are you? And
why do you haunt my dreams as well as my every waking hour?/ Kumo
sighed and stared
up at the ceiling. /And why are you so sad?/ He didn't know why but every time
he saw the beautiful face with such a sad expression. It broke Kumo's heart. He
felt as though he was the cause of the stranger's pain.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. He scooted over and opened it. Ashanta
and Zaine walked in. "Hey, what are you doing sitting on the floor?" asked
Ashanta kneeling beside him.

Kumo didn't answer.

"Is something wrong, Kumo?" asked Zaine sitting on the other side of his adoptive
brother.

"It's Ngbaka," the dog demon sighed.

"What has that idiot done now?" Ashanta scowled at the tense expression on the
silver hair demon's face.

"He . . . He wants me to become his mate."

"Really?" Zaine raised a dark brow interested in what his brother said. "And
what did you tell him?"

"I didn't say anything. I ran."

"Hmm, I thought you would have said yes," said Ashanta glancing at the other
from the corner of her eyes. "I sense you seem to have some feelings for that
jerk."

"I do. I don't know why but . . ." Kumo hesitated and then sighed. "Can you
keep a secret?"

"You don't even have to ask," said Zaine.

"Well, I do care for Ngbaka very much . . ." He trailed off.

"But . . ." Ashanta urged him to finish.

"But, as of late I have been having this strange feeling in the pit of my
heart." He leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling. "I love you guys
so very much and I am grateful that you took me in as part of your family." He
hesitated again. "It's just . . . I have this emptiness in soul. It's as
though it calls for some thing or some one to fill it. Although I have come
to love Ngbaka. My soul is still empty and it is not him it is calling for."

"So, you're going to decline his offer," said Ashanta smiling sadly. Kumo
stared at his sister and smiled. She had become very pretty now that she
was seventeen. He remembered that before the announcement of her
betrothal. Mugabe had received several proposal for his daughter's
hand in mating. But for some odd reason, he always told them no. Now
they knew why. She was already promised to Sethos.

"I don't know. I just feel like the answer to some questions are out
there somewhere."

"What kind of questions?" asked Zaine.

"Who am I, really? Where did I come from? Do I have any family out there
looking for me? Stuff like that," said Kumo.

"Then maybe you should go in search of those answers." Zaine stared up at the
ceiling also.

Kumo stared at the boy, and then smiled. "You two are the greatest. And I want
you to know." He put his arms around Ashanta and Zaine pulling them close
to him. "No matter what I find. Even if I do have a family waiting and looking
for me. I will always love you and you will always be my brother and sister.