Chapter 13: Stand Still, Look Pretty

Kitty stared silent at the translucent figure. 

She rubbed her eyes once, almost expecting the woman to vanish.

"Please do not fear me."

Kitty shook her head, taking a step back from the woman as her figure became more solid.

"You said son... That would make you Spikes's mom, wouldn't it?"

"That is correct. You've been an excellent friend to Carissa, and I must thank you for that as well." The woman smiled kindly her amethyst eyes shining brightly.

"I don't understand." Kitty muttered under her breath.

"How are you here?"

The woman tilted her head to the side, identical to Spikes when she was confused.

"She looks so much like you."

"Yes, I've seen. My name is Demonia Rovain." She responded, bowing her head slightly.

"You've seen? So you've been watching over her?" Kitty asked, a small smile spreading across her lips.

"Yes. As has my son since his passing."

Kitty's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushed.

"Does that please you to hear?" She asked softly, taking a step closer to Kitty.

"N-not necessarily. It just surprised me a bit." She kept her eyes off of Demonia as she continued to step closer.

"You didn't answer my question. How are you here?"

"In my lifetime I was a powerful demon, the afterlife has not been much different for me. Thus I am able to give myself a slightly tangible form for brief periods of time." Demonia explained. She smiled at Kitty as if to reassure her.

Kitty frowned as she stared at Demonia.

"So why are you here?"

Demonia shook her head and smiled.

"I'm here to give you a gift. You've been so kind to my children, and I would like to repay your kindness."

"And what gift is that?" Kitty asked as she took a step back from Demonia.

"The ability to resurrect a life. It is something I can only give once, and can only be used once. Do you understand?"

"Resurrect... Bring someone back from the dead?" Kitty's face contorted with mistrust for the woman before her.

"Like a zombie?"

Demonia smiled at Kitty's skepticism, her confidence with entrusting the cat with this gift growing.

"Not like a zombie, Dear. It harnesses the soul and takes some of your life force to reconstruct the body and life is restored to the individual of your choosing."

Kitty's eyes darted to Takado's grave briefly before she met Demonia's gaze once again.

"Why are you giving this to me?" Kitty took another step back.

"Is it because you want me to bring Takado back?"

"I never said it was my intent for my son to live once more. Nor did I say he was unhappy in his afterlife." Demonia responded. Her voice was low, each word picked carefully.

"You are the one within your heart that wishes to give him life."

"What if that's not what I want?" Kitty shouted at her, fists clenched at her sides.

"What if I take this gift and run to Starlight Shores to bring my father back?"

"I don't. However that is your choice Katherine." Demonia leaned closer smiling as she whispered.

"That is the point of a gift. You get to choose what to do with it."

"I don't understand why... Why me?"

"As I said. You have been kind to both my children and I wish to repay you for that kindness." Demonia rest her hand lightly against Kitty's arm.

"However, I must warn you. This gift is for you alone and I must request that you make this decision on your own."

Kitty nodded hesitantly, unsure of how she truly felt with the enormous responsibility she was being gifted.

Demonia leaned over and lightly kissed Kitty's forehead before vanishing.

Kitty gingerly touched her forehead, flinch at the momentary heat the radiated from it before cooling to the rest of her skin.

...

"I don't understand, why are you going alone?" Spikes paced anxiously on the other side of the cat's bed.

"I'm not going alone Spikes. David is coming with me." Kitty smiled eagerly at Spikes as she continued to pack away clothes.

"He's going to go see his family. How do you know you'll be safe?"

"I don't but... I have someone I have to go see." Kitty zipped her bag closed and stood to face Spikes.

"And I need to see him alone."

"Why though? What if David's parents try something?" Spikes rushed to Kitty's side taking her hand in her own.

"At least let me come with you."

"Spikes I promise you I'll be perfectly safe. I'm going to visit my dad's best friend." There was some truth laced into her words.

She did plan on stopping by to visit the man she called uncle.

He wasn't the reason why she was going though.

"You had better keep in touch, alright?" Spikes sighed, finally relenting.

"It's only a four hour train ride away." Kitty grinned, pulling Spikes into a brief hug.

"I promise I'll text you."

The ride to the train station was a long one and silent one.

Spikes still wanted to convince Kitty to stay.

And Kitty would insist that she needed to go.

Spikes frowned at David as he stepped around the corner, smiling and friendly as always.

Nothing about the situation felt right.

Kitty and David soon boarded the train and Spikes stayed put and waved to Kitty in the window until the train had pulled her out of sight.

"Do you buy any of what she's saying Damon?"

Damon barked and shook his head.

Spikes sighed as her took a seat next to her.

"Ya me neither."

Damon barked again, nudging Spikes's leg.

Spikes rolled her eyes and glared down at the dog.

"I don't really have much of a choice other than to trust her now do I?"

Damon barked happily, his tail wagging furiously behind him.

"Alright let's go get some food boy. We'll figure out what she's up to when she gets home."

...

The train ride and adjacent cab drive after were both silent and awkward as Kitty and David made their way to the hotel. 

Kitty quickly checked into her suite and began unpacking, David tailing close behind her.

"Are you gonna at least tell me the real reason you're here?" David asked as she rummaged through her suitcase.

"No, David. I appreciate your help with this, but I have to do it alone."

"Why do you have to do it alone though?" David sighed impatiently, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

"Because this is an important decision I have to make for myself." Kitty said before entering the bathroom, cutting David off from asking anymore questions.

"I just hope you're not doing something stupid."

"Have we met? I'm always doing stupid things." Kitty giggled as she emerged from the bathroom fully dressed to go.

"Anyways let's go."

David nodded. He stood and followed her out of the room and out of the hotel.

They climbed into another cab and stayed silent throughout the ride.

Kitty's heart raced as the taxi grew closer to David's home, where he would be getting dropped off.

It grew harder to breath and the small cab felt as if it were shrinking around her.

She bent over, resting her head against her knees in a futile attempt to center yourself.

"I'll see you later Kitty." David stroked her hair before stepping out of the cab.

She didn't look up. She quickly gave the driver directions for the next stop and waited until the cab stopped again before she lifted her head.

Kitty quietly paid the driver and stepped out of the cab.

She stood at the entrance of Starlight Shores local Cemetery.

Kitty shivered and forced herself to step into the cemetery. She had only ever seen his grave from pictures sent to her but she still found it easily.

The final resting place of her father, Curtis Caine.

"Hi Daddy..." Kitty whispered softly. She stepped onto the small platform, filled with fresh flowers.

Kitty chuckled lightly at the thought of people still sending him flowers even two years after his death.

"I've really missed you." Kitty's voice shook.

She sat down in front of her father's headstone, running her fingers across the petals of a nearby flower.

"I'm living in Bridgeport now, I live under Uncle Nick's last name so that they aren't likely to find me." Kitty sighed heavily. She reached out, gingerly laying her fingers against the stone in which his name was carved.

"I made a friend Daddy. Her name is Carissa, but I call her Spikes. She's fun and sweet, but she's kind of crazy. I think you'd like her a lot."

Kitty glanced up at the sky, smiling as a star shot across the sky.

"You always taught me to be kind and generous to those who had less than me, but I don't know if I can this time." Kitty stared at her hands, thinking of the gift Demonia had claimed to give her.

"I miss you so much Daddy. Every single day that passes only makes me miss you more. I wish you'd never died and I have the power to do something about it."

Kitty wiped away the tears from her eyes.

"I'm not just a helpless little girl anymore." Kitty bit down on her lip, her fists curled around the hem of her dress.

"Spikes still is though deep under that rough exterior."

Kitty nodded, wiping away the tears from her eyes once more.

"I love you Daddy, so much. I miss you more than I can bear." Kitty inhaled deeply.

"But I'm not going to bring you back."

Chapter 12: Angel

"Spikes it is just a birthday party. Don't you think you're being unreasonable?" Kitty groaned, lightly hitting her head against the wood counter.

"I don't want a birthday party Kitty. Just drop it." Spikes barked at the cat.

It had to be the fourth time they'd argued over Spikes's birthday that week though it was still a month away.

"But a birthday party would be fun. We could have our few friends over and eat cake and-"

"And I'm not interested." Spikes muttered under her breath. She ignored the rest of Kitty's speech as she continued to make breakfast for the two.

"Jinx!" Kitty squeaked with surprise as her cat jumped onto her lap.

"You know Damon wouldn't chase you so much if you left him alone right?"

Kitty laughed at the disgruntled mewing she received.

She glanced at Spikes in the corner of her eye, wondering for a moment if she should take her own advice.

"You like waffles right?" Spikes asked though she'd already started cooking.

Kitty nodded as she stroked Jinx's head.

"Would you at least tell me what you might want as a gift?"

"Money for Tattoos I guess?" Spikes shrugged her shoulders.

"I really don't want anything."

"Why are you so difficult?" Kitty whined, sticking out her tongue at the dog.

"Oh no." Spikes gasped dramatically.

"I'm so difficult with my not wanting you to spend money on something stupid, or frivolous gifts. How dare I."

Kitty glared at Spikes, sighing heavily.

"Don't be like that Spikes." Kitty traced circles in Jinx's fur as she thought over what she'd say.

"What if we just did something really small. Just close friends?"

"I don't know if you noticed, but our close friends are our only friends."

"Even better." Kitty smiled.

"Just you, me, Xander, Nadine, and maybe David. It'd be fun."

"Why is this such a big damn deal?" Spikes growled.

"It's just a stupid day, no reason to make such a big deal out of it."

"It's not stupid, it's your birthday." Kitty protested.

"Come on Spikes, how can you not want even a small celebration?"

"Try because I'm not a spoiled little bitch that's grown up her entire life with every frivolous thing imaginable?" Spikes snapped, slamming the pan on the table.

"What the fuck is your problem, Spikes?" Kitty hissed at the dog.

Spikes stared incredulously at the cat. She wondered if the cat truly didn't understand or was just trying to piss her off.

"My problem is that you won't shut up about this birthday crap, Kitty." Spikes shouted.

Kitty flinched away from Spikes before getting to her feet.

"Oh I'm sorry. Was I being too much of a pest trying to do something nice for you?"

"You're not being nice." Spikes screamed. She stepped in front of Kitty, blocking her path to the living room.

"You're pushing your views, what you want, on me without any consideration for what I want even though you swear it's for me."

"Well I'm sorry that I think my best friend's birth is something that should be celebrated." Kitty spat at her, taking a step back.

"Parties are so fucking childish, and honestly I thought you were more mature than this." Spikes rolled her eyes, stepping aside to continue.

"No, what's childish is being so fucking obsessed with the illusion of what it means to be an adult." Kitty hissed. She pushed past Spikes and ran out of the house.

Spikes sighed at the sound of rubber and pavement as Kitty drove away from the house.

She'd wanted the cat to shut up, not chase her off.

Damon whimpered and sat down beside her. He quietly leaned his head against her leg as her fingertips stroked the top of his head.

Spikes definitely hadn't meant to cause this of all things.

Jinx hissing at her before stalking out of the room only added to her guilt.

...

Kitty groaned loudly as she stared up at the setting sun.

It was going to be dark soon, and she'd forgotten a jacket as she always did.

She watched parents round up their children to take them home. She pulled her knees up to her chest.

She'd been thinking it over for hours and she still couldn't quite figure out why Spikes had gotten so angry.

Kitty knew she'd been pushy, but she'd done the same so many times before and had never received a reaction from Spikes like she had this time.

Kitty stood from the park bench and began walking down the street.

It was late, she was cold, but she wasn't ready to go home yet.

She wasn't ready to deal with Spikes yet.

For a moment she considered walking back to the park, getting in her car and driving to Nadine's house.

She shook her head, deciding it best to leave their old teacher out of their spat.

So Kitty just walked, letting her feet go where they may.

Her heart stopped when her feet did as she stood outside the cemetery.

Chills ran down her arms, and she took a step back. 

She wondered how she'd ended up here. She didn't even know how to get to the cemetery from the park.

She turned around quickly, taking five steps before turning to glance at the cemetery.

She hated cemeteries. She's hated them her entire life, and yet she stood before this one feeling inexplicably drawn inside.

She tried to ignore it.

Tried to walk away.

Instead she marched inside and straight to his tombstone.

"Do you know about how much of a pain in the ass your sister is?" Kitty shouted at Takado's grave.

"Was she always this infuriating, or is this a recent development?"

Kitty clenched her fists at her sides, once again holding back the sting of unshed tears.

She took a deep breath before crouching beside his grave as she'd seen Spikes do before.

"Hey Takado... Why does she hate her birthday so much?" Kitty sighed softly.

Kitty reached over, gingerly stroking the cold stone.

"I'm sorry for disturbing your rest."

Kitty's eyes widened as warm breeze brushed against her arm for a brief moment.

She stared at her arm, and then at the grave.

Kitty stood up, shivering from the cold and pushed the thought away.

There was no way a dead man was responding.

...

To Kitty's surprise she found herself at Takado's grave frequently after that night.

She was still afraid of the cemetery, and yet she felt the strangest sense of peace whenever she was by Takado's grave.

She'd sit beside his grave and just talk. About Spikes, her day, anything really. She told the stone slab everything.

For a while it helped. She felt calmer, more at peace with herself whenever she talked to it.

Then she thought of how Spikes might react if she knew Kitty would visit the grave.

Would Spikes be okay with someone who never knew him in his life visiting him so frequently.

Kitty couldn't imagine that ending well.

And yet, her heart ached at the thought of never coming to speak to this unknown man's grave.

...

"Kitty are you okay?" David chuckled at Kitty's eyes wide with surprise as the fell on him.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Kitty spoke quickly,

"Because you zone out when something's on your mind." David smiled at her as he leaned back in his seat.

"You always have."

Kitty stuck out her bottom lip, glancing away from David.

He was right though. She hadn't stopped thinking about her visits to Takado's grave.

"You can always talk to me, you know that." David offered and smiled sweetly at her.

"It's nothing just." Kitty inhaled deeply, turning in her seat. 

"I've been going to visit Spikes's brother's grave a lot lately and I just feel like maybe I shouldn't be there."

"Why shouldn't you be there? It's not as if you're vandalizing it right?"

"I would never." Kitty hissed defensively.

"Isn't it weird though? Me visiting and talking to the grave of someone I never knew?"

"You're going to fall if you sit like that."

"Will you shut up, and help me figure this out?"

"Okay your funeral." David chuckled. "Anyways, I really don't think it's weird. It think it's sweet you care about Spikes so much that you'd go visit her later brother so often."

"That's not it though." Kitty sighed, moving her elbow slightly.

She squeaked as her body turned and she hit her head on the tough wooden floor.

Kitty groaned as David laughed.

He reached out to help her, and laughed harder as she struggled to swat his hand away.

"So what do you mean by that isn't it?" David continued to chuckle slightly.

Kitty glared at him, straightening herself slightly.

"I mean I don't go there out of respect for Spikes. I go there because... I know it's just a piece of stone, but talking to it somehow helps me."

"Well that isn't that weird. You talk to Jinx the same way even though she's a cat, and can't understand, right?"

"Jinx understand me just fine, David. I am a cat myself you know." Kitty commented as if it were obvious.

"It is weird that Damon and I can understand each other though, considering he's a dog."

"Oh." David's cheeks flushed and he glanced at the ground.

"David what should I do about this grave thing?"

"I don't see it as a problem, but if it's bothering you so much I think you should stop going."

David reached over, resting his hand on her knee and smiled up at her.

"But I think you should go one more time. 

To explain.

And to say goodbye."

...

Kitty stood over his grave for a lone time. She didn't know what she should say or how she should say it. She didn't know what she should do.

She inhaled deeply twisting her fingers together and closed her eyes.

"Hey Takado," She finally spoke though her voice quivered.

"I guess I wanted to stop by to say... I won't be stopping by anymore."

Kitty sighed, tears filled her eyes as she struggled to speak.

She struggled to understand why her chest ached as she stood before the grave of a man she had never known.

"I've just... started to think that I'm overstepping my boundaries by coming to see you." Kitty forced herself to continue.

"I never knew you, so I'm just worried that Spikes wouldn't like me being here."

Lie.

Spikes wasn't the reason Kitty wanted to stop coming, and she knew it.

She turned to walk away, but instead sat down in front of his grave as she had so many times before now. 

It was just a slab of stone. That's what she told herself.

But just in case.

She owed him honesty.

"Takado... If you are there you deserve the truth." Kitty paused, twirling her hair in her hands.

"The truth is I'm scared... I don't understand why I feel so safe here, so at peace. I never knew you, I hate cemeteries, so why am I different here?"

A tear slipped from her eye and she quickly brushed it away.

"More than anything I don't understand why it's killing me to say good bye."

"You have a gentle soul, Katherine Caine." A woman spokes quietly from behind her. 

Kitty stood up and turned to face the stranger that knew her name.

Her eyes widened when she caught sight of her translucent form.

"Thank you for the kindness you've shown to my son."

Chapter 11: Am I Wrong

Kitty grimaced at Spikes as she sat across from the cat, the scent of her coffee filling the air.

"I have no idea how you can drink that bitter crap." Kitty shook her head, shoving another spoonful of ice-cream into her mouth.

Spikes rolled her eyes and smiled weakly. She took a small sip of her coffee, missing the days when the caffeine would actually effect her.

Her eyes drifted from Kitty to the trees behind her as he entered her mind.

She hadn't heard from Xander at all since graduation, and she didn't know what to make of it anymore.

She took another sip of her coffee, ignoring the quiet ache in her chest.

"Spikes are you even listening to me?" Kitty whined. She leaned over and flicked Spikes's nose, finally capturing the dog's attention.

"I'm sorry Kitty, what's up?" Spikes asked, her cheeks flushed.

"I was trying to ask if you'd talked to Xander at all."

"Oh." Spikes frowned.

"I just think it's weird that you two have hardly spoken since valentines." Kitty reached up and began twisting stray strands of her hair into small braids.

"Are you two even still together?"

Spikes's eyes widened.

Were they still a couple?

Their argument had made it seem so, and yet neither had actually said it was over.

"I don't know... I really don't after the fight we had." Spikes admitted. 

She sighed heavily, bending over to rest her head against the table's surface.

"Well what happened?" Kitty asked, pausing her ice-cream consumption.

"You never told me what you fought about."

Spikes groaned loudly.

Kitty was the last person that Spikes wanted to talk to about that particular topic.

"Well Xander and I... We slept together."

"... You guys fought over taking a nap together?"

Spikes groaned even louder.

"No Kitty we fucked. I had sex with my boyfriend." Spikes burst out.

Kitty's cheeks flushed bright crimson as she stared down at her lap.

"Oh."

Spikes grinned, almost laughing at her best friend's innocence.

Kitty inhaled deeply before lifting her eyes to meet Spikes's.

"Okay, so why did you two fight about that? Did you not... enjoy it?"

Spikes laughed at Kitty's face contorted with discomfort over the topic as she struggled with her choice of words.

"Honestly it was amazing." Spikes drifted off, reflecting briefly on the night that had taken place so long ago now.

"But?"

"But I guess it wasn't enough for him." Spikes sighed.

"He wants to be with me, but I guess he wants to sleep with other people before he settles for me? I don't understand?"

Kitty frowned sympathetically, reaching her hand out and resting it on Spikes's.

"I hope you know that you deserve so much better than him."

Spikes briefly met her best friend's sapphire gaze before turning away.

"I think I'm just not meant to have people stay in my life."

"Don't you dare start that, Spikes." Kitty hissed. She swatted Spikes's hand before continuing.

"Look, I don't want you with him, but you clearly do want to be with him. So why aren't you doing anything about it?"

"There's nothing I can do Kitty. I'm at a loss." Spikes nearly whined.

"That's bullshit." Kitty continued.

"You can stand up for yourself and demand answers. You're so much stronger than this, and if you want something you need to fight for it."

Spikes's eyes widened as she met the cat's gaze. 

She inhaled deeply.

"You're right." Spikes stood from her seat, tossing her cup into a trash can.

"I am stronger than this."

"Yeah you are." Kitty smiled and jumped up from her seat.

"Thank you." Spikes briefly hugged Kitty before turning and running to her jeep.

"Give him hell, Spikes!" Kitty exclaimed, waving to her best friend as she drove away.

Spikes nodded briefly in acknowledgement and pointed her car towards Xander's apartment.

She was done rolling over and accepting things as they were.

...

Spikes stood infront of Xander's door.

Her stomach was in knots, and she was almost certain she would hurl if it continued.

She'd been so confident and determined after leaving Kitty, but the reality of speaking to him grew more difficult the closer she got to him.

She contemplated turning around.

Leaving things as they were and call it close enough.

Consider herself single from this day forward.

Her chest ached at the thought.

From anger, or sadness she didn't know but it was enough to make her punch the door repeatedly.

Xander opened the door, his eyes wide with shock as they landed on her.

Spikes slapped him, sending him back a few feet.

She stepped inside, pushing him back as her struggled to straighten himself.

"You said you loved me!" Spikes screamed, pushing him again.

"We've been together for so long now, and I thought that meant something."

"Spikes calm down."

"Don't you fucking tell me to calm down." Spikes stomped on the ground, point a finger at Xander.

"Aren't you the man that promised me a better life? Wasn't it you that promised me that you would never let me suffer like I did in the past?"

"Yes, but Spikes-"

"There are no buts here Xander." Spikes sighed, finally lowering the volume of her voice.

"What we have here is you hurting me after you swore you never would."

Spikes collapsed as her legs gave out beneath her. She screamed, punching the ground beneath her eyes burned from the tears she forced back.

"I trusted you. I trusted that I could be safe with you. That I could let down my guard for once in my life."

Xander stared down at her in silence, watching her as she struggled to control the trembling throughout her body.

"I can't handle being the only person putting effort into our relationship, Xander." Spikes lifted her head.

She sighed as she stared into his cold silver eyes.

"I just want someone who cares as much as I do."

Xander nodded briefly before crouching down and pulling her against his chest.

"I'm sorry." His voice was cold, his arms stiff as he held her close. For a moment Spikes swore she could smell women's perfume.

"I thought I was doing what was right by giving you space."

"You didn't even try though." Spikes sighed, backing away from him.

"I tried to talk to you, but you didn't try once."

"I thought I was doing the right thing." Xander repeated.

"I can get better though. I promise I'll try harder not to hurt you. You know I love you."

Spikes sighed.

The words were sweet, but his voice carried no sincerity. 

This was what she wanted.

Wasn't it?

"You're a moron." Spikes whispered, resting her head against his shoulder.

"Though I suppose you wouldn't be a guy if you weren't."

Xander rolled his eyes, almost pushing her off of him as he stood from the floor.

"Do you want some coffee?"

Spikes nodded quietly as she moved to sit at his small table.

"Your apartment looks nice. Did you finally get that promotion at work?"

"Yeah, but it's barely enough to get by." Xander handed her the coffee as he sat down across from her.

"Not all of us are fortunate enough to be taken in by billionaires."

Spikes frowned, staring at the ripples in her coffee.

"Speaking of which, how is the spoiled cat?"

"Don't talk about her like that, Xander." Spikes growled lowly under her breath.

"Why? Because I'm wrong?" Xander chuckled humorlessly.

"No matter how 'nice' she is, or all the hardship you swear she has gone through, she's still just a spoiled kid."

"Can we just talk about what we're going to do, and leave my best friend out of this?" Spikes barked, failing to keep her temper in check.

"Okay. So what do you think we should do?" Xander groaned, leaning back in his seat.

"I want to be with you. I do love you, but I need to know where you stand." Spikes inhaled deeply, trying to slowly her racing heart.

"I love you. I already told you that."

"But you want to have sex with other women."

"I would like to, but if it's this big of a fucking issue I don't have to." Spikes cringed. His tone didn't change, though Spikes swore she could feel hostility in his words.

"I just want to be enough for you." Spikes whispered.

Xander's eyes softened for a moment.

"You're more than enough Spikes. That's why even though I'd like to be with other women, I'm willing to give it up for you."

Spikes smiled weakly, relieved.

"Thank you."

Xander nodded briefly before taking out his phone to glance at it.

"It's coming up soon, isn't it?" Xander spoke up suddenly.

"It's why you snapped today."

Spikes blinked, tilting her head as she stared at him.

"The anniversary of his death is at the end of this week."

"Do you need me to go with you?" Xander asked, reaching out for her hand.

Spikes shook her head, a soft smile on her lips as she stood up.

"No." Spikes sighed.

"No, I think it's about time I introduced him and Kitty."

"I thought you said your brother hated cats?" Xander asked, standing up and following her towards the door.

"He did, but she's my best friend. He can make an exception." Spikes smiled. "Anyways it's getting late and I should be getting home before I worry Kitty."

"You sure you don't want to stay the night?" Xander asked, a smirk almost forming on his lips.

"You're dreaming if you think I'll jump into bed with you so quickly after everything that happened." Spikes stuck her tongue out at him.

"Alright." His voice was cold again as he turned away.

Spikes grabbed his hand, kissing his cheek before making her way towards the door once again.

"I'll see you soon."

...

Kitty trailed behind Spikes anxiously.

Spikes had suddenly entered her room dressed much darker than usual and asked Kitty to go into town with her.

Kitty hadn't thought much of it when she agreed but the sun was setting, temperature dropping and Kitty wanted nothing more than to go home.

Unlike Spikes in her leather jackets the drooped from her shoulders and hung down to her mid thigh, Kitty hadn't thought to bring a jacket.

But she followed Spikes regardless.

"Are you ever going to tell me where we're going?" Kitty finally asked, pausing for a moment.

Spikes continued walked without turning back to Kitty.

"We're almost there. You'll understand then."

Kitty frowned and ran to catch up.

She remained silent until Spikes crossed into a cemetery.

Kitty shook her head and took a few steps back.

"I'm not going in there Spikes. I don't want to."

"Kitty please?" Spikes finally turned to face her best friend.

"This is really important to me. I know you're afraid of cemeteries, but please. I'll never ask you to do this again."

Kitty swallowed and stepped into the cemetery, confused by the almost elated grin on Spikes's face.

Spikes turned back around and walked through the cemetery.

Kitty's stomach turned with each step she took as she trailed slowly behind the dog.

Kitty nearly tripped over Spikes when she suddenly stopped and crouched in front of one of the graves.

Kitty stared at Spikes who remained silent before looking up to read the name on the tombstone.

Takado Rovain

Kitty's heart stopped, as she took a step back.

She struggled to breathe as she stared at the letters carved into stone that made his name.

"Hey Big Brother." Spikes spoke softly, refocusing Kitty's attention and allowing her to catch her breath.

"I'm sorry it's been a while since my last visit, but I wanted to introduce you to someone."

Spikes smiled up at Kitty, gesturing for the cat to sit beside her.

Kitty hesitated, pacing briefly before sitting beside Spikes.

"This is Kitty. She's my best friend in the whole world, and she has helped me through so much, Brother." Spikes spoke to the grave before turning and smiling at Kitty with expectation. 

Kitty grimaced before she too was speaking to the stone slab.

"Hi, Takado?" Kitty suppressed a low laugh. 

"That almost sounds like taco."

Spikes chuckled briefly, waiting for Kitty to continue.

"Well I'm Kitty, and..." Kitty hesitated, glancing at Spikes as she smiled fondly over her brother's grave.

"Your sister is the greatest friend I've ever had. So I hope you don't worry about her because she will never be alone as long as I'm around."

Spikes turned to look at Kitty, tears filled her eyes as she rested her hand over Kitty's before turning back to face the grave.

"See, I told you she was incredible."

"You really miss him don't you?" Kitty whispered, inching closer to Spikes's side.

"Everyday." Spikes shivered as she breathed in the cold air.

"He was so much more than just my big brother. He was like a father to me. My protector and my best friend. No words describe how much I miss him."

Kitty sighed softly and wrapped an arm around Spikes's shoulder.

"You were nine when he passed right? How old was he?"

"Twenty One."

"So he's twelve years older than you?" Kitty chuckled in awe. 

"That's one hell of a difference."

"Yeah, mom figured with how long we demons live it was better to space out how often she had children." Spikes explained.

"At least that's what Takado always told me."

"That makes sense." Kitty nodded in agreement.

"It's still really weird, ya know? Having a friend who's a demon too?"

"Except that you're a cat demon and I'm a dog." Spikes added in.

"Takado would have hated that, but you're amazing so he can get over it."

Kitty laughed, choosing to ignore Spikes's comment about her brother.

"Well we'd better get going." Spikes commented as she stood up.

"I'll come visit again soon Takado. I doubt Kitty will because she hates cemeteries though."

Kitty rolled her eyes before she stood as well.

"I could surprise you."

"Doubtful." Spikes laughed. "I love you, Kado. Bye."

Kitty leaned against Spikes as they walked out of the cemetery.

"Are you going to be alright?"

Spikes nodded briefly.

"I miss him, but life moves on doesn't it?"

Kitty nodded as she let go of Spikes.

"Why don't we calla cab home. It's pretty late to be out at night, even for demons."

"Yeah..." Kitty hesitated as she turned around to face the cemetery. Her eyes found the top of Takado grave quickly, and once again Kitty could feel her heart stop.

"Kitty?" Spikes's voice distracted the cat as she was about to take a step back into the cemetery.

"Sorry, I'm coming." Kitty called out as she turned back to Spikes and ran to catch up with the dog.

"Let's go home."

Kitty smiled brightly at Spikes, hiding the weight in her heart that she couldn't explain.