Muse

Sakura rose to her feet.

�It is nice to see you again,� she said. Spike looked between the two women.

�Uh� who�s this?� he asked.

�She�s maid of my mother�s,� Sakura replied. The woman looked over at Spike.

�It is good to see you again my lord,� she said.

�Right�� the cowboy said. Sakura shook her head at the woman.

�Who are you?� Spike asked. The woman pressed her hands together.

�Do forgive me,� she said. �I am called Pancha.� Small sparks rose their heads in Spike�s head. Sounded vaguely familiar. Yet, he couldn�t exactly trace where.

�And what do you want?� he asked.

�Come with me,� Pancha said. �I will explain everything.� Spike opened his mouth to speak when a beach ball landed in the space between them. Cherry jogged over to them, soaking wet.

�Hey! Could you throw that ba�� she began to ask. The cupid-in-training paused when she saw Pancha.

�Oh�� she said. �And who is this?�

�Apparently, a friend of Sakura�s,� Spike replied. Cherry blinked at Pancha�s long sea green heart.

�Okay�� she mumbled. Spike turned back to the woman.

�Look,� he said. �Just spit it out already! If you have something to say, than say it already!� The woman�s face didn�t change.

�Very well,� she said. �I have information about Sakura�s shin heart.� All three of them looked up with stunned eyes.

�What?!?� they asked. Spike sat up on the towel.

�What about it?� he asked.

�You can say it is her fail safe,� Pancha said.

�Fail safe?� Sakura asked.

�That�s right,� the woman said. �I can�t fully explain it to you, but there is someone that can do a better than I.�

�Who?� Spike asked.

�You will need to come with me,� Pancha said. She held out her hand and closed her eyes. In flash, a soft, hazy light swallowed them up. Spike looked around. He had become used to this by now, but still�

Pancha stood before them in her robes. The red sash drew attention to her waist. She gave them a quick bow.

�My mistress will see you now,� she said. Spike just looked at her with no emotion on his face.

�Right�� he mumbled. Sakura reached out for his hand. He grabbed on just to humor her. Pancha looked behind her when she heard the footsteps. She turned her body completely to see Kaze-san standing before her. The maid bowed to her.

�My lady,� she said. Shock washed over Sakura�s face.

�Mother?� she asked. The deceased angel walked over to her.

�My child,� she said as she took Sakura�s face into her hands. �You still have a long way with your development.�

�What do you mean?� the tenshi-chi asked. Kaze-san didn�t answer and turned her attention to Spike. The cowboy only gave her an apathetic way. The ghost bowed her head at him.

�There isn�t much time,� she said. �So I will be brief with you. Sakura�s shin heart is like a time bomb.�

�I know that!� Spike cut in. �I�ve been told this many times.�

�Well do you know that Hell is aiming to awaken the shin heart?� Kaze-san asked. The couple stared at her on that question.

�Say what?� Spike asked. �Now why would they want to do that?� Kaze-san shook her head.

�We do not know at this time,� Pancha replied. Sakura turned to Spike with a worried look in her eye. Spike finished up his cigarette and threw the butt to the ground.

�Damn,� he mumbled.

Meanwhile, Hell�s new catalyst had just woken up.

Watch Out, Cowboy and Angel