"I'm sorry babysitting dhamphir," Darren exclaimed. "What in the world is a dhamphir?!"
"Half vampire," Nat stated. "My father was human. My mom, well, not so much." Darren simply stared at the woman slackjawed as the Harris siblings continued to hug her. Turning to Yuriko, he now found himself searching for answers. "Did you know about her?"
"Not really," Yuriko shrugged. "I remember the name vaguely. Kari, Aaron, and Haley had different babysitters than I did."
"Amd her being Akiras apprentice?"
Yuriko shrugged, this was news to her. It was now Akira who stood, offering an apology. "Natalia approached me when she was around your age Catalyst," he stated. "Her father was attacked by a rogue hunter and she wished to learn how to stop him."
"So you taught her?"
"He taught me everything he knows," Nat smiled. "And as far as babysitting, I watched these three while I was in high school and college. After that though I kept in touch."
"So how old are you," Darren asked.
"Ninety four," Nat said. "But dhamphirs age just a little bit slower than humans."
Darren nodded, still bewildered by Nat's appearance, especially since Yuriko had little knowledge of this woman. "I may have been the guardian of the next generation," Akira stated. "But even I could use some assistance from time to time." Darren simply nodded. Akira had no reason to lie about this and the Harris siblings seemed to trust her. "Okay but how did you end up on the lunar colony?"
"Friends of mine," Nat smirked. "Plus my own profession. I worked for the CIA for a time."
"Wait you were a spy?!"
"Analyst," Nat chuckled. "I was never a field agent Darren. My lovely wife Rei would have never allowed it."
"How is Rei Nat," Kari asked.
"Shes doing well," Nat said softly. "But she is getting old now, which is why she couldn't make the trip. Even magic has its limits you know."
Darren turned to Yuriko once more, watching as his teacher now rubbed her chin carefully. "Rei," she asked. "Do you mean Rei MacGregor? Is she your wife?"
"Wait Ms. Yuriko you know her?"
"Mrs. MacGregor was the secretary at my high school," Yuriko replied. "I never realized she was my cousins babysitters."
"Yeah she kept an eye on all of you when you went to high school," Nat said. "Unfortunately she couldn't put any pictures of us on her desk for security reasons." Darren now watched as Nat made her way towards Akira, a sad look forming on her face as she gazed at the kitsune. "I'm sorry I wasnt here," she said sadly. "I could have done something. But, I'll do as asked, it's the least I can do."
"And what is that," Aiko asked.
"Akira told me everything about what's been happening," Nat stated. "From the Catalyst to the Normal to Morgan. He asked me that if Morgan was captured he wanted me to take her before the kitsune for punishment. Not exact vengeance on his behalf."
Aiko and the other kitsune now grumbled, Darren noticing Aiko and her followers either in anger as Fukushu remained quiet. Darren couldn't be sure but, it appeared the nine rail may not agree with Akiras proposal but he would remain neutral in its execution. Aiko though did not seem to agree.
"Is that so," she growled. "And do you intend to stop us human?"
Darren now turned to Nat, his eyes growing wide as the womans face began to transform. Nats eyes began to glow, the whites of her eyes becoming a solid red. The womans face becoming feral and monstrous as a small pair of fangs emerged.
"In case you haven't noticed I'm not human," Nat growled. "And I'm not so old that I can't honor my masters wishes. If Akira wants this then I'll be damned if someone's going to stop me!"
Darren and Yuriko looked nervously at one another, neither really sure where this was heading. Aiko and her people had dug her heels in on this with Nat and the Harris children standing their ground. It seemed that in only moments a fight between the two factions would erupt. It wss now Fukushu who strode between the factions.
"Enough," Fukushu snarled. "For too long I have watched our people war with eachother, die needlessly. Our pride and anger blinding us to the point if near genocide." Fukushu sighed, furrowing his brow as he glared at Aiko.
"I understand vengeance better than any in this room," he said. "It has consumed me for centuries and burned everyone associated with me. I trust your brother more than any kitsune alive. If it his wish that Morgan go before our people for judgment than I shall honor that request." Fukushu now moved towards Nat and the Harris siblings, making his intentions known that he would take Morgan before the kitsune at any cost.
"So be it," Aiko scoffed. For a moment the Yakuza matron stared down the nine tailed kitsune before turning around and exiting the room. Darren and Yuriko breathing a sigh of relief. For now Morgan was safe yet she would still have to face the judgement of the kitsune kingdom.