"Sleep doesn't help if it is your soul that is tired."

-Arabian Proverb

                                                                                 ***

She was way too pretty, and Galloway was trying way too hard to not notice or care. It did help when she opened the door and gave Sirius a death glare impressive even by Galloway's standards, though. The woman's pupils shrank to vertical slits as she glared, her reddish-brown eyes uncanny in her otherwise human face.

"What are you doing here, dog boy?" the kitsune growled, and Galloway stifled a laugh.

Sirius put a hand dramatically over his heart and affected a wounded expression. "Now that hurts, Misa."

"Don't you 'Misa' me, you son of a bitch," she snarled, her claws growing rapidly. Galloway couldn't help but be impressed by the stunning amount of venom wrapped up in such a cute little package.

Sirius took half a step back, his hands raised. He cleared his throat and said, "Sorry, Misaki. Um, I was just in the neighborhood. Thought I'd stop by."

Misaki shook back her mane of shiny black hair and laughed mockingly, leaning against the door frame. Her fox eyes watched them both sharply. "What do you want, Sirius? You only come if you need something, so what is it this time?" Abruptly, she stood up straight. "I'm not stealing anything for you again. You know you got me kicked out of my shrine?"

"Only spiritually," Sirius defended. "You haven't physically been in Japan in over a thousand years! You don't even miss that shrine!"

The fox spirit shrugged, her full, pink lips still turned down in a frown. "Doesn't mean I have to like you anymore."

"Yeah well, if we're both being honest, darling, neither of us kept the other around for their personality. You didn't like me before either, so what does that matter?" Sirius said, and Galloway rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the miniature twinge of jealousy in her chest. 

She leaned back against the wall opposite the door, wondering if they were going to get any sleep tonight, or if they should just give it up as a lost cause. Looking at her watch, Galloway found it to be close to three in the morning and stifled a yawn. 

She looked up when Misaki asked, "Who's she?"

Sirius cleared his throat again. "Misaki, let me introduce Galloway. She's my Collector."

Misaki raised an elegant eyebrow. "What happened to the last one?"

"He killed him," Galloway said, her voice bored.

"Oh?" Misaki turned back to Sirius and he just shrugged. The kitsune turned a critical eye on Galloway, who just stared back at her blankly, trying not to pay attention to her slim, lovely figure or the pale flawlessness of her skin. Misaki shook her head sadly. "You have my condolences."

Galloway's mouth turned up into a reluctant half smile and Sirius growled, which made Misaki laugh. The sound was throaty and rough—surprising when compared to her delicate features.

Sirius, now looking thoroughly affronted, huffed. "We need a place to stay tonight if you don't mind, Misaki."

"I do mind!" she snapped before sighing and opening her door all the way.

He grinned but before he could say anything, Misaki pointed at Galloway and said, "She's the only reason I let you in, mutt."

"Sour grapes," Sirius muttered, edging just a little closer to Galloway when Misaki glared at him.

The kitsune shot daggers at Sirius for a moment longer before turning to Galloway. "Are you hungry?"

Taken aback by Misaki's seemingly multiple personalities, Galloway nodded mutely and was shocked when Misaki took her hand and led her to a table across the room. "Just give me a minute and I'll have something whipped up."

"Thank you," she finally managed, sitting in the offered chair, raising an eyebrow at Sirius when he sat next to her. He shook his head, looking wary and Galloway whispered, "I thought she was a friend."

"I think the operative word is was," Sirius muttered, slumping down in his chair and rubbing at his temples.

"What did you do to her?" Galloway asked, somewhere between entertained and irritated. 

Looking around, she found framed scrolls with Japanese characters in them. At the other end of the room was what appeared to be a meditation space. A thin mat was spread over the gleaming wooden floors, flanked by incense holders. On the wall directly in front of the mat was a low table. Upon it was a glass bowl of cherry blossoms.

Everything was light and airy, the simplicity somehow still warm and relaxing. 

"I possibly convinced her that the sacred sake really wasn't all that sacred," Sirius said, turning her attention back to him. He was watching Misaki from the corner of his eye as she bustled about the kitchen. "As a result, she may or may not have lost her position as a shrine familiar."

Galloway shook her head, bemused, and Sirius said, "I can't believe she's still mad. It was like four hundred years ago."

"Hell hath no fury," Galloway said absently, then frowned when she reminded herself of what had happened.

Thoughts obviously running in the same direction, he asked, "Do you really think they just made a mistake?"

"They never have before." Galloway's hands tightened into fists.

"But what would be the point?" Sirius pondered, still watching Misaki. His claws poked out randomly to tap against the table nervously.

"Um, let me think, Sirius." She rolled her eyes. "Because they want to make my life a living hell since I'm not actually there?"

He snorted, but didn't offer any other answer. The savory smell of chicken drifted from the kitchen. Misaki hummed quietly to herself as she whisked something in a large mixing bowl.

Galloway chewed on her lip, lost in thought and jumped when Sirius reached over to brush an errant strand of hair out of her face. She slapped his hand away. "Because Theron's a major asshole?" she said, voice hostile. "Because the paperwork gremlins needed a laugh and decided to screw with us? I don't know. All I know is I'm freaking done with all these games."

His eyes unreadable, he asked, "Then why'd you sign up to play?"

Galloway raised her eyes, meeting his heavy gaze and she opened her mouth. Any retort was stopped when Misaki arrived, somehow managing to carry a veritable feast. Her stomach growled as the savory smells drifted toward her and her mouth watered.

Barely waiting for Misaki to take her seat, Galloway reached for the nearest plate and started eating. Sirius had been right, Misaki really could cook. It was so good she couldn't even really think about what they had been talking about before.

When they finished, Misaki looked at Galloway apologetically. "I only have the one guest bedroom."

Galloway looked around, then sighed when she didn't see a couch. Reluctantly, she looked at Sirius to find him staring meditatively down into a glass of rice wine. Already exhausted, she just waved a hand. "That'll be fine. Thank you for your hospitality," she said

Misaki's eyes flicked back and forth between Galloway and Sirius before she yawned delicately and stood up. "Well, I'm going to bed. Please, make yourself at home."

She cast another evil eye over Sirius. "Don't touch anything you don't absolutely have to. My apartment's already going to smell like dog as it is." The kitsune smiled warmly again at Galloway before flouncing down the hall, leaving them alone.

"How can she tell?" Sirius asked, wrinkling his nose. "It smells like werewolf to me."

Galloway didn't comment and they sat in the dim room, silence filling the space steadily. Eventually though, she knew she couldn't avoid it and stood up with a sigh. She started down the hall when Sirius said, "I'll be just a minute."

She shrugged. "I wasn't wondering." 

He might have laughed, but she couldn't really tell.

They had gone back to the car before coming to Misaki's, so Galloway had something comfortable to change into. She lay on the bed, the events of the past days whirling through her head.

She stringently tried to avoid what had happened between her and Sirius but found it exceedingly difficult and, as a distraction, turned her thoughts to the Debtor fiasco from today. Her fury swept away any other inconvenient emotions. There was something comforting in embracing the anger.

Something told her that someone really was just screwing with her and had a pretty good idea about who it was.

After all, Theron had assigned Sirius to her and he had been the one to choose her to use for the transformation ritual and he should have checked the information before sending it to her.

The real question was why. Why was Theron suddenly doing this to her and why now? She had no doubt that he would love to see her knocked down a peg or two, and he would certainly love to see her in Hell, but had never tried to get her de-Souled before.

But, Galloway thought, rolling over to her side, he seemed to be trying to now. Why else would he keep setting these pitfalls for her?

Her eyes were shut, but she heard when Sirius came in and wiggled a little closer to the edge of the bed when he lay down. Frowning, she thought the most dangerous pitfall was at her back right now.

Then she had the thought that constantly being suspicious really was exhausting.

                                                                           ~~~

She woke up late, afternoon sunshine streaming into the room, to find her head resting on Sirius' chest. She closed her eyes then rolled them under the lids before tossing herself to the other side of the bed.

Galloway rubbed vigorously at her eyes then looked up at the ceiling, scowling. Her body really needed to get on board with her brain. That, or she really just needed to learn some self control.

She looked over, hoping that Sirius was asleep but knew she couldn't possibly be that lucky. She wasn't, and Galloway sighed at his amused smirk.

"Morning, sweetheart," he drawled, hair messy with sleep.

Galloway got out of bed and left the room, heading toward the bathroom she had seen the night before. She grabbed her bag and fished out a toothbrush, using her foot to kick the bathroom door shut behind her.

She glared reproachfully at herself as she got ready and jumped at the light tap-tap-tap of claws on the bathroom door. 

"Let me in, let me in," Sirius crooned and Galloway spit into the sink.

She made him wait until she had her hair brushed and was properly dressed before opening the door and looking up at him. She was only mildly surprised by the fact that he was right in front of her. Pouting a little, he said, "You're no fun."

"Neither are you," Galloway grumbled, groaning when she saw the folder in his hand.

"I'm oodles of fun," Sirius proclaimed, holding the folder out to her. "You just don't know how to play."

"I'm not having this conversation with you again, Sirius." Galloway sighed, flipping open the folder.

She got one look at the Debt and threw the folder down in disgust. "Now I know he's just screwing with me."

Sirius picked it back up. "I can go alone if you don't want to come."

Galloway was taken by surprise and couldn't find anything to say with the way he was looking at her. Finally, she just shook her head. "It's all just a test, Sirius. One massive, ulcer-inducing, pain in the ass, if-I-fail-I'll-be-killed test."

"So don't fail," he murmured, taking a step closer to her.

She wondered as she looked up at him if he realized he would probably be the reason she failed. Inhaling his perpetual mint smell, she started to wonder if maybe that wouldn't be the worst way to go.

At least she'd get some enjoyment out of it.

She was staring at his mouth when Misaki popped up behind him, making them both jump. Sounding exceptionally bubbly, she said, "It was really nice to meet you, Galloway. I wish you luck dealing with him. I've got to go to work so if I don't see you again before you leave, I wanted to say goodbye."

Galloway forced a smile. "It was really nice meeting you too, Misaki. See you around?"

"Sure!" Misaki laughed, the sound overwhelmingly cute before she leveled a glare on Sirius that could have melted glass. Menacing now, she said, "Don't do anything stupid and get her in trouble like you did to me."

"I didn't—" Sirius cut himself off, sighing in defeat. "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, Misaki."

The kitsune smiled sweetly at Galloway once more before she left and Galloway shook her head, clearing away her ridiculous thoughts.

"I'm not waiting for tomorrow," she said, sliding past Sirius into the main room of the apartment. At this point, she would almost take the year in Hell over these horrid mind games.

"You don't have to," he called, making her turn around.

Uncertain, she said, "Theron said it would be in the next two days."

Sirius gave her a disgusted look and tossed the folder at her again. "Theron's a liar and you're smarter than that, Galloway."

She rubbed at her eyes when she saw the date, glad she wouldn't have to stay in New York for much longer, but not looking forward to the collection today. Sirius put his jacket on, turning the collar up before he looked at her, his eyes dark. "You sure you want to come?"

"Why wouldn't I?" she answered, weary down to her bones.

"Because he sold his Soul to save himself and his sister from an abusive stepfather and he was only fifteen when he did it." Sirius listed out the facts of the collection brutally and Galloway tried not to flinch, failing miserably.

Softly now, he said, "I don't mind, Galloway."

"But I'm supposed to," she responded, throat tight.

"Says who?" Sirius asked stubbornly, apparently determined to play devil's advocate.

She sighed, already exhausted by today. "Says me."

"Since when?"

"Since I remembered that nothing is worth losing my Soul over!" she snapped, flinging the front door open.

She stopped when Sirius grabbed her wrist. His eyes midnight blue instead of sapphire, he said, "Are you sure that's not what's going to happen anyway?"

Her breath caught and it took her a minute before she could manage to pull away from him. Her facade cracking, she turned and said, "This is hard enough, Sirius. Please don't make it any worse."

Her voice came out heavy with double meaning.

Sirius looked at her for a long moment and Galloway thought that if he decided he wasn't going to stop, she didn't know if she had the willpower any more to stop him.

It was unnerving when he just nodded and led the way back down the hall, and Galloway wondered if maybe she was cracking up.

Because it was absolutely insane to be disappointed by that answer.