Here's a sweet scene obetween the three of them that explains a little more of the Renti. Enjoy. Any questions you have about the Renti, please review and tell me so I can male sure it's explained.

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Shaina slowly made her way down the lower hallway toward the sound of male voices. Somewhere in this Kami-forsaken mansion were those two baka bandits and she didn't have the energy to look for them any other way than the old fashioned one, with her eyes and feet. Unfortunately, her feet weren't responding to commands all that well and her eyes didn't want to focus completely. So she walked with sluggish steps. After an unknown length of time, her brain wasn't working so well either, she found herself standing in a doorway. The two figures in the room turned as soon as she paused and leapt to their feet. Both youkai reached her at the same time.

"Shaina, you look exhausted," Kuronue smiled gently as they each slid an arm around her waist and began to help her to the couch they had just come from. She gratefully leaned into them for a moment, forgetting the fact that she was Renti and therefore, didn't need anyone's help but, possibly, her fellow Sect members. Once she was sitting, Kuronue settled next to her and put an arm around her shoulder. She snuggled with him, resting her head on his chest, gazing at the fire that was happily burning in the fireplace in front of them.

"I'll go get those plans we need and perhaps something to drink for Shaina and be right back," Yoko said as he left the room. Kuronue waved at him in acknowledgement, then looked down at Shaina.

"You look tired," he commented. There was a long silence.

"Shaina?" he questioned, gently. There was another pause before she stirred slightly.

"Hmm?" she breathed, "Yes, Jayen?" Though she couldn't see it, Kuronue arched an eyebrow. This was a different side of Shaina. Was she sick or something? But youkai didn't get sick easily and she was fine this morning, fine enough to hunt him across the sky for over two hours.

"I said you looked tired," he repeated. "Are you alright?" Yoko returned during the end of this question, a servant following with drinks and papers. The kitsune looked at his partner, his curiosity clear on his face. Yoko slid onto the couch and pulled Shaina's feet onto his lap. He moved closer to Kuronue, so Shaina was carefully sandwiched between the two and they both awaited her answer.

"I'm a little tired," she replied, "You are so annoying, making me chase you halfway across the Makai." The complaint was slightly slurred as though the effort of speaking clearly was too much for her.

"I rather enjoyed it." Kuronue said smugly, glancing at Yoko.

"I enjoyed it as well." Yoko put in his two cents worth, "It was a very nice afternoon, a nice place to nap and two figures flying above me, both who were very pleasing to watch." He began to gently rub her feet to forestall the protests that normally came with those kinds of statements. Shaina opened her mouth to respond, shifting to glare at Yoko, but instead closed her eyes and sighed as she registered what the white haired bandit was doing.

"Baka no kitsune," she muttered weakly. The boys exchanged grins. There was another silence.

"You should have just let me punish you, instead of making me chase you." Shaina said, breaking the quiet suddenly.

"Really? Is that the Renti way? Or something you just decided?" the bat asked.

"Discipline is always worse if you run from it first," she responded, "Discipline is the way to true strength. It allows for proper correction and growth. To retreat from Discipline is to deny your potential and that is unacceptable." She informed them, in a flat tone that sounded like she was repeating something she had been told numerous times before. Neither bandit had a good answer to that, except a firm belief that they thought it was one of the stupidest things they had ever heard. So they changed the subject.

"Who's Jayen?" Kuronue asked. Yoko shot him a puzzled look.

"You don't remember? He's Shaina friend, the one who came with the Elders. A Cadre-mate, she called him." Yoko informed him. The other thief nodded.

"That's right. Cadre-mate…Shaina I never got a chance to ask, what is a Cadre-mate? Is that like a brother or something?" Kuronue asked, stroking her hair. Poor Shaina was in no mood to play Twenty Questions. She was comfortable and warm and utterly exhausted. She was used to short, intense bursts of her energy in a battle, not extended use like chasing someone across the sky for several hours. Any chance of choosing her words carefully or deciding how much to trust them with information about the Renti was almost gone.

"Renti grow up in Cadres, children the same age. They sleep, eat, train, and do cooperative play together. A Cadre-mate is a brother or sister, our closest friends." She replied, not opening her eyes.

"So they are all blood siblings? What about a mother or father?" Yoko asked, a little surprised that she was actually answering their questions without thinking, but he wasn't going to protest. She might not trust them completely, but he knew that neither of them would hurt her nor betray her. She shook her head.

"No, we are not connected by blood. We are all of the children born to Sect members within the same year. We have the same birthday, the first of the year, like all of the Cadres. No one knows their real birthday. We don't know who our parents are and whoever bore us has no idea which child is theirs. The Elders name us and place us together. The Jokyou are the ones who raise us and teach us." She lapsed into silence, staring at the flames. Both bandits were shocked into silence. That was horrible. No family, no parents.

"But did anyone care for you? Children should be protected and cared for." Yoko objected.

"I'm Renti, Yoko. I am an extension of the Elders' will. I do what I'm told, when I'm told. I was taught to survive anything and not complain." She paused, "But caring…what little of that there is, comes from our Cadre-mates. I watch over the others and they watch over me. I will always have their backs and they will give their lives for me. They are my brothers and sisters. All we have are each other." Her attempt to keep the pain of her statements out of her voice was only half successful.

"Alright, Shaina, we'll ask no more question tonight." Kuronue said, soothingly. "You can barely keep your eyes open. Sleep now, your Cadre-mates aren't here, but we'll watch over you and protect you. Don't be afraid." Another silence fell, this one comforting and pleasant. The partners were both awake much longer than Shaina, thinking through what she had said, and more worrisome, what she hadn't said.

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Kami- god

Baka- idiot or stupid

Youkai- demon

Baka no kitsune –stupid fox