For a long moment Kunshin could do little more than stare at the bizarre creature before him. "What are you?" he finally asked.

Wiseman never moved from his seated position. A thought summoned the crystal ball back to between his hands. It glowed faintly and he worked his hands in an endless circling motion around it. His voice was rough, as if it was painful for him to resort to the coarseness of words.

"What am I?" there was grim amusement in the terrible voice. "I am you, Kunshin Tetsu. I am what you will be. I am the firstborn son of Chaos, his rightful heir. I am the Master of the final Silence, bringer of order to those who suffer the disorder that is life. I am the angel of destruction. I am Death Phantom." The eyes inside the enshrouding robe glowed as he spoke. The temporal winds of the fourth dimension ruffled the cloak and Kunshin caught a glimpse of the skeletal body inside.

"No, no…" Kunshin whispered in shock. "This can't be."

"Poor Tetsu," Wiseman laughed at him. "So attached to the flesh and the pleasures it brings you. I…we have gone far beyond that." A bony hand extended towards the horrified man on his knees. "The future cannot be denied, Kunshin Tetsu. Come to me and embrace your fate."

With a shout of protest Kunshin lurched to his feet and tried to run for the portal that would take him back to Earth. The hand stretched out in invitation undulated with the swiftness of a snake striking. It latched onto Kunshin's neck and pulled him back toward Wiseman. He ignored the terrified shrieks Kunshin gave as the mortal man screamed to his uncaring pagan gods for help and lifted him off the ground.

"It seems that you're not quite ready to accept your destiny," Wiseman sounded almost disappointed. "Knowing what you do, I cannot allow you to remain as you are, Tetsu. Perhaps I should take more of a direct hand in the final shaping my own future."

From inside the encompassing cloak of darkness, a murky glow started. It slowly grew, the emaciate form becoming a black, writhing fog. Tendrils of that energy snaked towards the man trapped between Wiseman's hands. It slithered into any opening it could find and Kunshin's mouth formed a silent scream, his face twisted into a mask of pain and fear. Kunshin Tetsu convulsed when the energy entered his mind and soul, carefully devouring the last vestiges of his humanity. The silence was finally broken by the wail of agony that at last was able to erupt from the mouth of the mortal man who tumbled to the ground.

His task complete, the robes around Wiseman billowed once more, showing the skeletal form before settling again. His hands continued the endless caressing of the glowing globe. It flared, an oily black light slithering around the surface for an instant.

"Tetsu, can you hear me?" he called softly.

The fleeting glow of the crystal ball was echoed in the vacant gaze of the man who lay still twitching. Kunshin blinked, consciousness coming back into the glassy eyes.

"What happened?" he mumbled with a moan, rubbing a spot on his chest that seemed to radiate a biting coldness.

"Don't you remember?" came Wiseman's voice. It was lilting, almost hypnotic in tone, "Chiba helped Usa to awaken and fight back."

"You told me she couldn't do that," Kunshin snarled at the demonic being that floated in the pool of shadows. "Why do I feel so strange?" He had the oddest sensation that he'd forgotten something very important.

It disgusted Wiseman sometimes to think he was ever the small mortal before him. "Usa tried to remove your power. I had to use the Black Poison Crystal on you to prevent that."

Lumbering gracelessly to his feet, Kunshin used the portal to move back into the library of his home. The transition, always jarring, was especially difficult this time as the full implications of what had just happened hit him. He went to a window and looked at the city spread out before him. It was dusk now and the streetlamps were starting to come on. The flickering lights transformed the dirty metropolis into a crystalline city of delicate beauty.

"The path I use to get at Usa is sealed now isn't it?" A grumbled curse escaped his lips.

Wiseman had followed him back into library and sat in a corner where no light fell. "You can still get into Usagi's mind, but without the element of surprise you'll have to spend time fighting and subduing her before you can start to channel off her energy."

"And both Usa and Chiba will be waiting for me to do just that so they can try to destroy me once and for all." Kunshin never looked at Wiseman, but instead stared at his mottled hands. "What the hell am I going to do now? I can feel the hunger starting again all ready."

The eyes within the black shroud Wiseman wore flashed for an instant. "You must push the plan ahead faster," he called in a singsong voice.

"I have to push my plan ahead faster," Kunshin repeated in tone almost devoid of emotion. He shook his head, as if to clear it before continuing. "This woman, this Mitsukai Megumi you found seems a little too perfect for my needs. She lost her husband and one of her children around the same time Chiba lost his parents. I don't believe in coincidences let alone miracles and that's what it would take for her to actually be Chiba's mother."

Although no face could be seen inside the cloak of darkness, Kunshin had the impression that Wiseman was smiling as he turned to face his dark mentor.

"Does it matter who she truly is? She'll serve the intended purpose." Wiseman said, "It doesn't even matter if Chiba truly believes she is his mother. All that's necessary is for him suspects that it could be possible. Hope and love are the most easily manipulated emotions humans possess. Use that weakness to get what you want, Tetsu." He paused to let his words take hold in the mind of the mortal man who was his past. "In the meantime, there is a city out there filled with what you need until you get a hold of Usa again."

His hands were shaking slightly as Kunshin Tetsu yanked on the white gloves he used to cover them. "Yes, people disappear everyday in Tokyo don't they? A few more shouldn't be noticed if I'm clever enough."

The shadows were starting to swallow up Wiseman as he returned to the dark, silent depths of the fourth dimension. "Very good Tetsu. Now you sound like a man ready to take the future in his hands and mold it." He began to fade away, but his voice lingered in the air, a note of satisfaction in it.

"A man ready to accept his destiny."

Rei's hand slid slowly onto Usagi's neck, eyes closing in concentration. Despite herself, Usagi gave a shiver at the touch. The movement caused the Priestess to crack open one eye and look at her best friend.

"Your hand is cold," Usagi said by way of explanation. "I hate cold hands."

"Tough," Rei retorted and let the eye close once more.

Usagi sighed and let Rei finish what she'd started. Her eyes wandered to Michiru, who was behind Rei, staring at her through her talisman, the Aqua Mirror. The look on Neptune's face was also one of intense concentration. Mamoru was in behind both Michiru, sitting on a low rock wall. He was brooding again, Usagi noted with displeasure, his closed fist slowly tapping his lips. Her attention was pulled back to Rei as her friend removed her hand.

"Well?" Usagi asked, although she knew what the answer would be.

"Nothing, zip, zero, nada," Rei replied shrugging her shoulders. "Not a trace of negative energy. Not that I can detect anyway."

Michiru stood a few feet away and continued to look into the Aqua Mirror. Neptune's eyes were bright as sunlight on the water as she considered the images that played out before her. Usagi glowed with a silver aura that was entrancingly beautiful to see. The light was vigorous and healthy with no trace of darkness anyway near it. If anything the aura was even more vivid today than it had been yesterday, a clear indication that Usagi was regaining her strength.

"You look clean to me also," Michiru said with satisfaction. "I suspect that whatever that creature was, you managed to destroy it."

"Or at least make it very wary," Mamoru said quietly, his eyes dark with unpleasant thoughts.

"I wish we knew more about it," Rei said. "If you'd called me right after you drove it out I might have been able to get a better idea of just what it was and where it came from."

"You were on your honeymoon, Rei-chan," Usagi replied in a reasonable tone, "We didn't want to bother you unless it was an emergency."

A hand snaked out to slap Usagi on the side of her head. "An emergency? Hello – I think discovering that some creepy psychic vampire has been sucking the life out you qualifies as an emergency! You are still such a baka at times, Usagi…"

Usagi threw up her hands in mock exasperation "Geez! Try to be nice to some people and see where it gets you. When you're in labor, I promise to come up with a crisis just so you can deal with it between contractions."

There was a smile on Rei's face that took the sting out the words she spoke, "I think I'll go back to the temple where people actually appreciate my help."

Michiru walked to join Rei and Usagi as they moved towards the door. "How are you feeling these days, Rei?"

"Pretty good," Rei replied, a hand going to her belly. According to Ami she'd just begun her second trimester and was beginning to show ever so slightly. "I've had a little morning sickness, but it's not too bad. Yuri's insisted that I give up the heavier of the daily chores around the temple, which is fine by me. You know, the only other good thing to come out this whole mess with Usagi is that my grandfather had to admit that just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean my gift has stopped working."

"And you just hate it when you're right, don't you Rei-chan?" Usagi asked slyly. "Are you ever going to let him forget it?"

"Eventually," Rei replied with a wicked smile.

Mamoru watched them leave, his mind still running in circles. He'd insisted that Usagi (who he suspected was only doing this because she thought it made him feel better) undergo the scans by both Rei and Michiru daily, unwilling to believe that the Dark Man was gone for good. An image flashed through his mind and he could see the creature cradling Usagi in his arms while he drained her life out of her. "No," he had shouted at Mamoru in a moment of shock at being discovered, "You can't have her back – not when I'm so close to my destiny!"

What that statement implied bothered Mamoru a great deal. The Dark Man needed Usagi's life energy for some special purpose. The creature had been very clever, managing to feed on Usagi's life in a way that attracted little attention and, except for the damnable rash, left almost no trace. The medical tests that Dr. Mizuno had run just before Usagi had driven the Dark Man out were chilling. The energy drain had reached a critical point. A few more days, maybe a week at the most and Usagi would have appeared to die in her sleep – with none of them the wiser as to what had really killed her.

Warned that they were aware of what he was trying to do, the Dark Man would be even more devious next time. With so many unknowns about this creature, that was the one thing Mamoru was very sure of. No matter how much Usagi wanted to believe that he was gone forever, Mamoru was dead sure there would be a next time. The Dark Man was everything the Prince of Earth dreaded in an enemy – ruthless, driven and frighteningly cunning.

Usagi's lips twisted in a silent expression of frustration as she watched Mamoru brood. It had been over two weeks since the afternoon she'd driven away the being Mamoru called "the Dark Man". In all that time there had been no sign of him and as far as Usagi was concerned, that strange, dark being was gone forever. Even the bizarre rash on her neck, which had been somehow connected to the creature, was finally starting to heal. But Mamoru couldn't seem to let the incident go and kept retreating into himself to go over details endlessly.

Sometimes Mamo-chan thinks too much, Usagi decided. A look of determination entered the eyes of Queen of the Silver Millennium. She walked over to where her handsome husband sat, deep in thought. She sat down beside him and let her hand creep slowly up his back. Her fingers tickled the back of his neck, playing with his dark hair. The movements seemed to startle Mamoru and he gave a quizzical look.

"Mamo-chan," she leaned over to whisper in his ear. "I was thinking of going inside to lay down for a while."

"Are you tired?"

"No, not all." She leaned up to kiss his earlobe while her hand snaked around to his chest. Her nimble fingers slipped inside the shirt he was wearing to caress his skin. She moved to sit on his lap as a knowing smile decorated her lovely face.

"Do you think I could persuade you to come with me?" she asked softly. Her free hand moved to undo the buttons of the shirt, one by one.

The smile that came to his lips was a sly one. It seemed Usagi really was feeling stronger. "Lay down?" he said, pretending to consider her request carefully, "Now why would I want to do that? I'm not at all tired."

The shirt now open, Usagi began to place light, teasing kisses on his skin. She purred with laughter as she felt goose bumps rising from her attentions. "Oh, but you will be when I'm through with you."

Mamoru's took her face between his hands and raised it to meet his lips. He looked deeply into her eyes, once again awed by the passion with which Usagi loved him. She melted into his arms as they kissed, giving herself over to the special magic they made together.

"Usako…" he whispered, moving to nuzzle her neck. The scent of her hair and skin filled him. The sweet balm of her love always soothed his fears and eased his troubled mind.

"Aishiteru, Mamo-chan," she said as he lifted her in his arms and headed to the bedroom.

The door to the courtyard was gently closed behind them as he whispered his reply, "Aishiteru, Usako. Let me show you just how much."

Kobushi kissed Minako gently, hesitantly. It was a tender kiss shared between two who are just discovering love. It lasted only a minute, but for them time stopped. There was only the sweetness of this moment and the promise of greater passion to come. One of Kobushi's hands ran up Mina's back, cupping the back of her neck.

"Mina," Kobushi whispered, "My Mina-ko…"

The use of her true name startled Minako and she almost pulled back. "What…what did you call me?"

He kissed the tip of her nose, "It means 'child of beauty' and you are that Mina and so much more. Stay with me, Mina, always."

"Kobu-chan…"

"I know that you're almost done with your research, but I don't want you to leave," he looked into her eyes, trying to show her what was in his heart. "From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were special. Part of me feels as if I've waited my whole life just to meet you. And I know you feel the same way, too."

To be honest, Minako was very conflicted. The plan had been to get close to Goruden Kobushi, but she'd gotten a little too close. "You're very special to me, too."

"Then stay with me. Don't go back to England." His expression grew serious for a moment, as if he was debating whether or not to tell her something vital. "There's a battle coming, Mina, between humans and those who'd enslave them. We have to cleanse this evil from the face of the earth. I want you safe when that happens. You're one of us - a true human, and when the war ends, we'll have a planet united and at peace forever. We can build a life together, a family that will help guide mankind on the path to its destiny."

"A battle?" His words chilled her. He spoke so passionately of destroying everyone and everything she held dear. "I need time to think, Kobu-chan."

"I have a rally in Kobe tomorrow. After that we could go to a house my family has in the countryside," he brought his fingers to Minako's lips to stop her from speaking. "We could go there and talk for as long as you want to about this. Just think about it, ne?"

Mina's eyes were tingled with a sadness she tried to hide. "I promise you that I'll do just that, Kobu-chan. I'm not sure I'll be able to think about much else."

How did he do it, Haruka wondered? He was a single being yet he had managed to attract the attention of half the women in the room. They sat around him, making much of his startling blue eyes and showering him with flattering praise – for just sitting there! Haruka folded her arms across her chest and watched Michiru fondle him with great care. Part of Haruka had always known this day would come and was resigned to it. Part of her wanted to shout at Michiru to stop and think about what she was doing – was this what she really wanted? Makoto seemed to sense Haruka's discomfort.

"This is hard for you to watch isn't it?" Makoto asked softly.

Haruka grunted and gave a curt nod. Unable to stand it anymore, she finally raised her voice in protest. "How can you let him paw you like that, Michiru?"

"She's right, you know" Makoto chimed in lending her support to Haruka, "You are never going to get all the rabbit fur off your sweater!"

Michiru continued to pet the lop-eared rabbit that had his head and front legs on her lap, stray bits of fur floating off him as she did so. Moochi's eyes, which had been half closed in bliss, opened and he looked at Haruka. The rabbit had a very smug expression on his face, Haruka noted, as if all this attention was only his due.

The normally reserved Hotaru was sitting beside Michiru. The dread Soldier of Destruction was making silly, little noises of affection at the rabbit. She leaned down to kiss his fuzzy head and was rewarded for her efforts with a flurry of kisses on the nose.

"Ohhh, who's the cutest little bunny-boo? Such a good and fuzzy little boy…"

Haruka sighed and made a gagging noise in her throat. "I am going to hurl," she mumbled.

Michiru clucked back at her lifemate with mild disapproval. Seeing Hotaru get to relax and act like any other teenager was worth getting gray and white Moochi fur all over her best cashmere sweater. "You know Hotaru-chan, you have a birthday coming up. Maybe you'd like to get a rabbit of your own."

"Oh, joy," came Haruka's sardonic retort. "I'll make sure to put it on my list of things to do tomorrow."

Mamoru tried not to laugh too loudly at the look on Haruka's face. "That's okay. I think you'll have more than enough to do to keep you busy."

Usagi and Mamoru had called the impromptu meeting to discuss the upcoming "State Visit" to the United Nations headquarters in New York City. The formal invitation had been received and voted on the by the Advisory Council. The vote had been unanimously in favor of them going.

Luna and Artemis sat entwined on an overstuffed chair. "Yes, much more than enough! Once the UN makes the announcement that The King and Queen of the Silver Millennium are coming for a state visit next month all hell is going to break loose."

"Minako can't be on Earth when that happens," Artemis put in quietly. He missed her a great deal and wasn't going to be at all sad to see her "assignment" with the Sons end. "Once the official announcement is made, it's only a matter of time before interest in the rest of the Senshi is renewed and the media feeding frenzy will start all over again."

Usagi was half asleep in Mamoru's arms on the couch. "That's why we have to let all our friends know what's going to happen. We owe it to them to give them the option of leaving Earth before it all starts again." She snuggled closer to her nice, warm husband and yawned. "I wish I could talk my folks into coming to live here with us."

Mamoru had to admit that the thought of having Kenji living under the same roof (even if it was a palace the size of a football stadium) was not a pleasant one for him. "Your father is a proud man, Usako. He needs his work and the feeling that he's taking care of his family. Besides, the new identity worked out for your family is so good no one has ever suspected who they really are."

Usagi merely grunted in a tone that indicated that she knew all too well just how stubborn her father could be.

"And once we show up in New York, the whole world is going to figure out just who the mysterious monarchs really are." Rei was also having trouble keeping her eyes open. Being pregnant made her tire very easily these days. "Let's just hope that this visit does more than supply a rating bonanza for the cable news networks."

"It will," Usagi mumbled. "I know it will. The world eventually reconciles its differences with the Moon Kingdom – Crystal Tokyo showed us that much. Maybe this is the first step towards that peace."

Ami looked thoughtful, almost grave as she voiced a question that had been nagging at her for a while now. "If Crystal Tokyo still happens. I have to wonder if the future we saw was really our future. Our knowledge of what is going to happen may end up changing the very events necessary for it to come about.

Setsuna appeared somewhat preoccupied and sat by herself in a chair by the fireplace. Ami's comment seemed to rouse her. "Crystal Tokyo will still rise," she said softly.

"You sound so certain, Setsuna," Mamoru looked at the enigmatic Senshi of Time. The statement was almost an accusation that she'd been withholding information from them. "How can you know that?"

"If the proper timeline had been warped or changed, I'd have felt it. So far, nothing has happened to do that." She looked out into the darkness, her eyes remote for a moment, as if she was seeing something no one else could. "But remember that the future isn't set in stone. It's shaped by our actions every day. All we can do is live our lives the best way we can and let the future come as it must."

Haruka came to sit with Michiru and Hotaru. Moochi glanced at her, but since Hotaru never stopped petting him, he ignored the Senshi of the Sky. "And I, for one, intend to do just that. Michiru, Hotaru and I were never seen by any of you in that future. Are we dead, missing in action…who knows? But I won't live my life in fear of that."

"I won't let that happen," Usagi vowed in a distant voice. She was losing the battle to stay awake. "I won't lose any of you again, not ever again. I'll protect all of you."

Mamoru stroked her head in a soothing matter. "It's okay Usako, we're not going anywhere."

Rei gave a huge yawn, "I think you've got it backwards, oh Queen of the Moon. Aren't we supposed to protect you?"

While watching Rei and Usagi, on opposite ends of the couch, each fighting to stay awake had a certain comic value, Mamoru knew it was time to call an end to the meeting for the night. He caught Makoto's eye and she nodded, all ready ahead of him.

"Rei-chan," Makoto said putting a gentle hand on her shoulder, "let's get you home before you fall asleep here, ne?"

"Sorry, sorry," Rei yawned in reply.

Ami gave a soft chuckle, "That's okay Rei. It's just because of the baby." She moved to help Mako steer Rei towards the door.

"No one said anything about having to sleep for two," Rei muttered crossly.

"Say Goodnight, Rei," Makoto said as they left.

The sound of the Senshi of Mar's voice saying, "Goodnight Rei," was the last they heard as the door was shut. Mamoru could tell without looking that Usagi was asleep against him.

"I think it's time we were going, also," Haruka put in softly with a glance at Usagi. "Makoto and I are will be off at first light."

"Is Usagi, all right?" Luna asked hopping onto the couch to get a better look at her Usagi was starting to snore lightly.

Mamoru nodded, "She still tires easily. Don't worry too much, Luna. Usagi is definitely getting better every day."

"I never thought that her ability to fall asleep just about anywhere would be a good thing." Luna said. "Oh well, it seems every talent has its place."

Setsuna hung back as the others left, taking one last look at Usagi and Mamoru together on the couch. The queen was dozing in her husband's arms. He was idly stroking her hair, deep in thought. For some reason, Setsuna couldn't shake the feeling that things still weren't right. At first she'd been willing to put it down as a delayed reaction to what had been happening to Usagi (and her own feelings of guilt for not recognizing that her Queen was being attacked inside her own palace!). But the Senshi of Pluto was beginning to see her own disquiet echoing in the eyes of the other Outer Senshi. She almost said something to Mamoru, then decided against it. There was no sense in worrying people until she had something more concrete to go on.

Mamoru enjoyed the feeling of Usagi, so warm and relaxed in his arms. He could almost feel her heart beating against his chest and closed his eyes, savoring the peace of this moment. She started to snore lightly before snorting and coming awake again with a jerk.

"Hey, where did everyone go?" she said in a sleepy voice.

Mamoru laughed, kissing the top of her head. "Home to go to bed.

"Oooh, that sounds like a wonderful idea," she purred decadently. A hand reached out to gently slap her husband when he laughed at her. "Be nice to me or you could find yourself sleeping in the garden, Mamo-chan."

Mamoru helped Usagi to her feet and slipped an arm around her as they walked. "Well, at least then I wouldn't have to listen to your snoring." Setsuna was right, Mamoru thought as he teased Usagi. The future was made by their actions every day.

"Chiba Mamoru! I do not snore!"

"Yes you do…" And knew he held his future in his arms at this moment.

"No, I don't!"

"Yes, you do…"

Life had not been kind to Mitsukai Megumi. She'd endured more than her share of loss and learned to live with heartache. Time had taken it's toll on her, the raven hair now liberally streaked with gray, but her chocolate brown eyes still held the spark of mischief that her late husband had so loved in her. Those eyes were clouded some days as what she'd lost came back to haunt her and the fine lines etched into her elegant face told of the cost she'd paid to live with the crushing grief. Her faith promised her that she'd be reunited with her beloved and the son she'd lost. That hope and the two daughters still left to her gave Megumi the strength to on through the bad times.

Today was one of those bad times.

The very well dressed man who sat in her living room and drank the tea she'd offered him brought the pain of the past back to her. Originally the man had told her that he as interested in obtaining her services as a music teacher for a young niece of his. But after he sat down, other words came from his mouth. Those words caused all of the sorrow of the past to erupt from the place in her soul where Megumi had tried to so hard to bury it.

"Did you ever consider the possibility that your son might be alive?" Kunshin Tetsu asked her almost casually.

"What did you say?" Megumi heard herself ask him as she placed the cup and saucer on the table. Her hands were shaking and she was afraid she'd drop the delicate cup.

He took another sip of the drink and looked at the woman over the rim of the cup. "You are Mitsukai Megumi, aren't you? You used to be known as Chiba Megumi, but you went back to your maiden name a year ago."

Grief opened up inside her again and threatened to swallow her whole. The sorrow quickly fell before the wave of rage that rose in her. "Get out of my home." Megumi said flatly. She stood and went to the small closet at the other end of the living room.

"I don't know who you are, or what media outlet you're with" she told him in a voice that shook with contained rage, " and frankly I don't care. I buried my son and husband over twenty years ago. They're dead and you're going to leave me in peace - now!" She tossed his coat at him.

The coat landed next to Kunshin who didn't even glance at it. "I need to find a way to meet with Chiba Mamoru and you're in a position to assist me with that." He put down the tea and reached for his wallet. "I imagine you don't make all that much as a music teacher. I'm prepared to pay you handsomely for your time. It won't involve much effort on your part and you can easily make more in a day or two than you do in entire year."

Megumi drew herself up, looking at Kunshin with contempt. "I am not for sale. Get out my home before I call the police."

"Everyone has a price, Megumi. It's just that some people can't be bought with money," Kunshin continued. "You have two other children. Your eldest is a policewoman expecting her first child in a few months. Your youngest," he paused to give Megumi a smile that made her blood run cold. "Is named Sakura, I believe. A sweet child, very pretty."

In a leisurely manner Kunshin reached into his pocket. He took out a small, plastic figurine of a ballerina. "Have you heard that young women have been disappearing as of late? So sad really, their families will never know what became of them. Most assume that they're dead."

The figurine was placed on the table in front of him and Megumi got a good look at it. She recognized it at once. It was from a musical jewelry box given to Sakura as a child – the last gift her father had given her before he died. Sakura always kept it in a place of honor on her dresser in her bedroom. Megumi's eyes darted to the closed door that led to her daughter's room as Kunshin continued to speak. The thought that this man had been able to get into her daughter's room so easily made her heart almost stops with fear.

"I can only imagine the pain their mothers must be going through. Always wondering how much their daughter suffered before she died. If, perhaps, their little girl was calling for her mother in those last, terrifying moments of their life. I'd hate to see Sakura end up 'missing' like those others."

Megumi allowed a shiver to go down her spine. The man before her could have said he was the Devil himself and she wouldn't have been surprised. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Who I am doesn't matter," Kunshin replied with a false smile. "I require the presence of Chiba Mamoru and you are going to help me. One of the few things that would convince him to come back to Earth would be to meet with the mother he lost all those years ago."

"I'm not the woman you want," Megumi said, almost desperately, "Chiba is a very common name and so is Mamoru. I'm not that man's mother."

Kunshin took out a piece of paper and put it on the table in front of him. "You'll go to this address tomorrow and speak with a Dr. Furuhata. Tell him that you think you may be Chiba Mamoru's mother and you want to meet with him. I'll be in touch with you after that."

Megumi threw up her hands, "Didn't you hear me? I am not the woman you're looking for! My son and husband are dead! I saw them buried!"

Maddeningly Kunshin ignored her outburst and put on his coat. "Madame, I don't care who you really are or aren't. All I require is that you perform this service for me." He leaned over to pick up the plastic ballerina off the table, stopping to consider it before putting it in his coat pocket. "It's a very small thing to do to ensure the safety of your daughters, ne?"

Megumi looked at the man before her. She may not have known just who he was, but she knew that he was very dangerous. Her intention was to call the police as soon as he was out the door. Kunshin slowly buttoned up the coat and gave her a cold smile. He knew what she planned to do and decided to use a small display to dissuade her. A hole in the fabric of reality, as black as death, opened up in back of Kunshin Tetsu. The breeze that blew from it was colder than the deepest pit of hell. He nearly laughed at the look on the woman's face.

"God have mercy," she whispered, making the sign of the cross, "What are you?"

"I don't believe in your God," he laughed callously, turning to walk into the darkness. "I believe in power. And make no mistake about it, Mitsukai Megumi – I am power. You'll do just as you're instructed and tell no one about this conversation."

Kunshin's eyes flashed with an inhuman greenish black light as he reveled in the dark power inside him. "Because if you do, I promise you that you'll have to bury more of your children."