Disclaimer: I do not own Uraboku or any of the content therein. This is merely fanfic imagined and created by yours truly. Please enjoy but BEWARE! MATURE CONTENT INSIDE! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Now, please enjoy :)

Yuki sighed as she walked down the street back towards the mansion, staring at the stones passing by under her feet. She and Tsukumo had gone to run a few errands in town, allowing them fresh air and a little time away from the sheltered safety of the mansion. She looked up as a gentle hand came to rest on her shoulder, smiling tiredly up into soft golden eyes:
"I'm alright Tsukumo-kun, you don't need to worry."

He returned the small smile, shaking his head:
"I'll always worry about you Yuki. You're always putting yourself in danger for others and you refuse to say anything to anyone if you're hurting or need some help...It's not fair that you have to carry such a heavy burden yourself..." Yuki opened her mouth in protest as she was truly just a little tired, pausing as Tsukumo tensed. He quickly pushed her behind himself as he turned, pulling Knell from it's sheath: "Yuki...run." Four large Duras faced them, blood-red eyes focused on the small girl. Tsukumo blinked as the largest stepped forth, a vast difference between the three demons becoming apparent. He swallowed nervously as the largest snorted, power emanating from it in unbelievable waves. Someone had tampered with the lower leveled demon.

Yuki shook her head as he spoke, trying to step up beside him. He roughly pushed her away, his tone pleading: "Yuki, please go. I can't handle all of them and protect you. Go find the others!" Yuki froze, staring in disbelief. Tsukumo, one of the calmest and most capable people she knew was afraid? She glanced back at the demons uncertainly before sprinting off in the opposite direction.

Tsukumo stared down the beasts before him, raising his gun slowly. The smaller two stepped past the largest, growling menacingly at him. He quickly dodged as they leapt at him, firing two rounds into each before rolling back to his feet. They shattered into a million pieces, blinding him momentarily. He grunted as the third Duras appeared out of the remnants of it's comrades and slammed into him, losing his grip on Knell as he tumbled to the ground. He raised his arms defensively as the Duras clawed and bit at him, kicking up at it's sensitive underbelly. It howled in pain as he broke several of it's ribs, falling off of him as he lurched forward. He drew the small cutlass he had hidden in his coat, driving it into the demon's head. It jerked once before exploding into a mound of dust.

Tsukumo stood up, wiping blood from his face as he stared warily at the last and strongest Duras. It seemed to smile at him, it's features suddenly changing as it began to tremble. He took a step back in surprise as large black wings broke through the demon's hide, completing the transformation:
"Oh no..." black dragons were among the strongest of the lower class Duras, often controlling other demons. They were incredibly strong.

The Dragon hissed at him, stepping forward. Tsukumo caught a gleam out of the corner of his eye, glancing quickly to the side. Knell lay in the grass no more than 10 feet from him, ready and waiting. He glared back at the Dragon who had also noticed, his heart hammering in his chest as the dragon spoke:
"Go ahead little Zweilt, pick up your weapon...If you can." Tsukumo dove as the dragon roared, wrapping his fingers around the familiar handle as large talons slammed down on top of him. He gasped as they dug into his flesh, aiming up as the foot closed around him. He fired twice into the underbelly of the beast, struggling vainly as he was pulled off the ground. He fought to stay conscious as the dragon squeezed the life out of him, aiming beneath one of it's gleaming talons. He fired the gun, taking in a breath as the dragon screeched in pain and he was released. He flipped as he dropped more than 40 feet to the ground, preparing for a hard landing.

Tsukumo screamed as a wall of cold, bitter energy slammed into him, sending him careening into the side of a building. He fell limply to the ground, using the last of his energy to roll out of his fall. He lay motionless on the ground, his vision blurred as every part of his body began to hurt:
"Very good Tsukumo. You seem to have improved since our last meeting." Tsukumo felt his blood run cold at the sound of the familiar voice above him, his vision suddenly all too clear. Kanata- no, Reiga- stood above him, an amused smile playing around his lips. The dragon landed next to him, baring it's blackened teeth at him as it favored his wounded foot:
"Damn little brat! Does he even know how long it takes for talons to grow out?" Tsukumo grunted in pain as he struggled to his feet, holding Knell in his left hand as his right dangled uselessly at his side. Reiga chuckled as he looked him up and down, frowning slightly as his empty black eyes met Tsukumo's determined golden orbs:
"That same look as before...so fiery and fierce...It pisses me off." Tsukumo gasped as Reiga's hand was suddenly wrapped around his throat in an iron grip, dropping Knell as he tried to pry those merciless fingers from his air supply. Reiga smirked as the guardian struggled, raising him off the ground: "I'm going to break you...you and your pathetic heroism." Tsukumo cried out as he was flung away, nearly blacking out as went through a nearby tree and into a fountain, spitting out water as he tried to sit up. He looked up as there was a blood curdling screech, unable to flee as the dragon's foot descended upon him, wrapping around his torso. He was once again hauled up into the air, higher than before where he was released, falling horizontally towards the ground. Reiga suddenly appeared beside him, floating:
"See I you can roll out of this, Zweilt." Tsukumo had no time to react before Reiga's brought his leg down on him in a bone shattering kick, plummeting to the ground helplessly.

Yuki burst through the doors to the Twilight Mansion, breathing heavily as she looked around. Touko and Hotsuma looked up from where they sat on the couch playing poker, quickly rising as they noticed her panicked appearance:
"Yuki? What's wrong?" She ran around frantically, finally locating her katana:
"Tsukumo is fighting four Duras 10 minutes from here and I think he'd in trouble, one of the Duras didn't seem like a normal one-" Yuki froze as Tokou cried out, quickly going to her side as she fell to her knees: "Touko-chan whats wrong?" her friend breathed heavily, obviously in pain:
"Tsukumo...He's hurt." She got up, running to the door: "We have to hurry!" Hotsuma yelled for Shusei who immediately appeared, nodding as the tense atmosphere explained everything:
"Can you take us there Yuki?" she nodded, bolting back out the door to help their friend.

Yuki tried desperately to calm her raging nerves as she ran, her heart beating wildly. What if Tsukumo didn't make it through this alive? She hadn't even had a chance to tell him how she felt and now he was fighting for his life-no, hers- and she was helpless to do anything but run away.

Angry, worried tears stung her eyes as she ran. He had to be alright.

Tsukumo tried his best to relax his body before hitting the ground to minimize as much damage as possible. It wouldn't have helped.

Tsukumo screamed as he slammed into the ground, feeling his spine break as it met hard earth. His impact had created a large crater around him, his own blood quickly beginning to soak into the damaged road. He stared numbly up at the sky, his body beginning to shut down due to the damage it had suffered. Where was Yuki? Did she even make it to the house?

He smiled slightly as his sister's voice filled his head, scolding him for being so reckless:
"Damn it Tsukumo! Why can't you be more careful? I need you alive and the way you're acting is just asking for a death sentence. And stop eating all that sugar, it's bad for your health."

He almost laughed at the thought but his lungs didn't seem to be functioning properly. He winced as he tried to cough, nothing but bright red blood spurting from his mouth. He managed to take in a small breath, staring blankly at the dark figure approaching. This probably was the end for him. Tsukumo felt a small tear trickle down his cheek as another face filled his thoughts: Yuki. She'd always been so gentle and kind, never caring for herself in the least when it came to the battles they had fought. She was even more reckless than he was. He felt his fingers twitch as he tried to reach out and touch her smiling face, a sudden sadness filling him: he would never see the one who he secretly loved again. His whole existence in this life and past lives had been to protect her. Now it would end at the hands of the Demon King and he would never be reincarnated...and he would never have a chance to tell her how he felt.

Reiga laughed triumphantly as he approached the dying Zweilt, grabbing his torn shirt as he pulled him closer:
"That's it...That's the look I wanted..." Tsukumo barely felt more than an itch as Reiga scraped his nails over his face and throat, letting his eyes flutter closed in resignation:
"Tsukumo!" Tsukumo's eyes snapped open as a familiar, welcome voice called his name, a small kernel of hope blossoming within him. He tried to call out to his sister, tried to tell her to stay away but the only thing that came out was more blood. Reiga growled, rising to his feet, pulling the wounded man with him:
"You girls and a bad habit of getting in the way of unfinished business." Tsukumo choked on his own blood as he dangled limply from Reiga's grip, unable to move. He closed his eyes again, concentrating as he reached out to her with his God's Ears:
"Touko...can you hear me?"

"Tsukumo! Are you alright? Yuki told us you were in trouble!" He spit out the blood that had welled up in his mouth and throat, unable to resist as Reiga dragged him closer towards his comrades. A sudden panic filled him: they didn't stand a chance, and if he got Yuki...

He reached out to his sister again, prepared for his end:
"Touko...I don't think I'm going to be able to help you anymore..." He was met by silence, then a barrage of tears and angry outbursts:

"No! Tsukumo you can't die, I need you! How do you expect me to continue on if you're not here! Don't say things like that! We'll save you-"

"No Touko...My spine is broken, I have a collapsed lung, and I think I may have damaged my heart...It's too much for Yuki to heal and I don't want her to try, it will only kill her...I'm sorry but this is it. Will you do me one last favor?'" He could hear her sobs as he and Reiga approached, his heart breaking as those sobs echoed throughout his head:
"Anything...anything..."

"Good. I want you to get Yuki back to the mansion and behind the barrier...Can you do that? Once you get there you should be safe. Is Luka with you?"

"N-No...Tsukumo-"

"Shh...Find him as quickly as possible, have Yuki summon him. Please do as I ask...okay?" Another small whimper reverberated throughout him:

"Okay..."

"Touko?"
"Yes?"

"I love you." He broke off their connection as she screamed his name, tapping into the last source of energy he had left.