Mayako just stood and stared at the cat spirit, her mouth was agape she was still in shock from what she had heard "What did you just say?" the cat spirit chuckled "I said, I give up" he held his hands up Mayako scoffed, "You really expect me to believe you?" Mayako stayed in her fighting stance, she would be ready if the cat spirit tried a surprise attack. The cat spirit sighed, "Your Dad did say I'd have trouble convincing you if a pulled a stunt like this" Mayako raised an eyebrow, "My Dad?" her face contorted with rage "Did you do something to him?" the cat spirit shook his head. "No, he asked me to find you" Mayako's rage contorted face turned to one of shock "What? Why would my Dad ask an operative of the Elder Council to find me?" Mayako started to fear the worst but the cat spirit laughed.

"Whats so funny?" the cat spirit smirked "Sorry, the thing about me being an operative of the Elder Council, that was a lie" a grin spread across the cat spirits face "What, a lie?" the cat spirit nodded, Mayako was confused if the cat spirit lied about being an operative of the Elder Council then, "Who are you?" the cat spirit smiled "I was hoping you'd ask" with that the cat spirit bowed his head. "My names Arita Shigeki, and I'm the son of a friend of your fathers" Mayako relaxed, "Your fathers friends with my father?" Arita looked up, "Yep,and your Dad asked mine to make sure you were kept safe while you were on your own" Mayako smiled.

Her father was still worried about her, "So, why are you here?"Arita chuckled "My Dad's kinda a busy man so he sent me in his place" Mayako nodded "I see" but then, Mayako's face filled with anger "Then why the hell did you attack me just now!" Arita smirked "Well, I kinda wanted to see just how strong you were since the Elder Council is after you" Mayako grumbled. "You could have just come clean instead" Arita scrathced his nose "Well, I also wanted to check to see how capable you were in a fight" Mayako grumbled "You could have died doing what you did" Arita chuckled "Your right about that" at that moment he winced in pain, he held his side. Mayako sighed and walked over, "Sorry, that must really hurt" Arita gave a pained grin "You could say that" Arita winced once more, a concerned look came to Mayako's face "Are you going to be okay?" Arita gave a smug smirk.

"Don't worry, I heal pretty fast" Arita patted his side which wasn't a bright idea, he held back a scream as the pain shot through his body "This just proves I won't have to always protect you" he smirked Mayako grumbled, "I don't need to be protected! I can take care of myself!" Mayako huffed "Look, you were just up against me, what's going to happen when it's you against two, or three, or four?" Mayako looked away. "How will you protect yourself then?" Mayako sighed, Arita was right, she could handle just one person but, what would she do with more then one, Mayako looked at Arita, "Your right, though, I hate to admit it" Arita smirked "See I told you tha-" Mayako cut him off, "But, if you help me the Elder Council will come after you and your Dad" Arita sighed.

"I know, you Dad told my Dad that, yet, my Dad still agreed" Mayako rasied an eyebrow "Why'd he accept when he knew the consiqunces?" Arita scrathced his head, "Well, it seems my Dad kinda owes yours and he felt this was the prefect way to pay him back" Mayako sighed "I see, but, what about you? What do you get out of this?" Mayako stared at Arita waiting for his answer. He smirked, "Well, I get to travel and fight alongside a really cute girl" Mayako's face flushed red, "Don't joke around!" Arita chuckled "I'm not joking, you are really cute" Mayako turned redder. "If that's your reason then just leave" Mayako said in a cold tone, Arita could see the seriousness in Mayako's eyes, he sighed and scratched the back of his head "Well, my Dad told me a girl was in trouble and that bad people were after her" Arita looked away "I just couldn't standby after hearing that" Mayako's face flushed a dark red.

"I, I see" Mayako coughed nervously, "Well, does that meet your standards?" Mayako nodded, she looked back as did Arita, "So, you know who is after me?" Arita nodded "And I guess you could see why?" Arita looked at the four black tails swirling behind Mayako. He nodded, he did see, greatly, why the Elder Council was after her, that power she had used while they were fighting, at that thought his body ached. "Do you, do you really want to protect a monster like me?" Mayako's face filled with sadness Arita sighed, "Every monster needs a gaurdian" Mayako's face lightened up a bit. Arita grinned, "Espcially, when the monster is a cutie like you" he winked Mayako turned the darkest red she could get. She turned around, putting her back to Arita, "Okay then, I guess it's okay you protect me" she heard Arita chuckle "Good, then I'm looking forward to traveling and protecting you, Mayako" Mayako's body shuddered.

Mayako coughed, "Yes, likewise, lets be on our way then shall we?" with that Mayako nervously walked over to her duffel bag and picked it up and slung it aross her back Arita chuckled "Sure" Mayako took in a breath and she started walking. She could hear Arita walking behind her, her face was still red, she sighed "Great idea Dad, ask a friend to protect me, and then he up and sends his son whos my age" Mayako took a quick peek back at Arita, it was then she noticed he was walking rather slowly and was holding his side all the way. She felt remorse, it was she that had caused him to be like this, Mayako then stopped in her tracks she waited for Arita to catch up with her when he did Mayako matched his steps, Arita looked over and smiled and looked forward.

Arita snickered, Mayako looked over, "What?" Arita looked over, "Oh nothing, it's just" he snickered again, "Just what?" Mayako cocked her head in confusion "Oh, it's just that I can kinda see your bra" Mayako at first gave a confused look, then she saw where Arita was looking,her ace went red, she let out a small shriek. Peeking out from a rip in her shirt, was her pink and blue polka dotted bra, Mayako quickly covered her chest "How'd this happen?" she then heard a nervous laugh come from Arita "Uhm, that's my fault" Arita extended his claws and waved his hand. Mayako grumbled "Asshole, I really like this shirt!" Mayako swiftly kicked Arita in the shin, he stopped dry and bent down and held his knee as it throbbed "I'm sorry!" Mayako huffed, she turned and walked away.

Arita groaned, "Wait for me!" Arita rose up and tried his best to fallow Mayako, limping, Mayako was walking in a fast and angry manner "Wait up!". [Ch. 16 END]