Okay everyone, time for another update. I know I have been lacking in updates recently, but fear not, for I have not abandoned this idea. So here is the next chapter.

Theme: Light

Characters: Mio Amakura, Itsuki Tachibana

Pairings: Itsuki/Mio

Exhaustion. She was tired to the point where she could barely walk any longer. It had felt like an eternity since she and her twin sister Mayu had placed foot in this accursed village. Cautious, she slowly walked down the dirt road, keeping her eyes peeled for any hostile spirits. This wasn't good, she was bruised, her clothes covered in dirt, and she felt like she could pass out at any given moment.

'I…need to find Mayu,' she thought as she sluggishly moved her legs down the deserted streets.

Her sister had disappeared once again and it was Mio's responsibility to find her, a duty that she had given to herself long ago. But how could she find her sister when the darkness was slowly starting to take her as well? Placing her flashlight in her pocket, she slowly opened the door, finally reaching her destination. She leaned against the wooden wall of the shed for support, darkness beginning to cloud her vision. No, she needed to keep going; she had to, for her sister's sake…as well as her own.

"Yae?"

A deep voice sounded from the window above as Mio slowly slid herself down the wood until her body made contact with the ground.

"Yae, what's the matter?" The boy's voice sounded worried, but she could barely hear him.

The darkness was slowly consuming her…she was so exhausted that she would allow it to take over.

'Forgive me Mayu…Itsuki.'

She felt guilty of course, for being so weak, for losing faith in the fact that there might not be a way out of this village. Mio rested her head against her knees, that very thought plagued her mind throughout this little adventure, casting away what little faith she had left. Everything was getting darker, her vision was fading.

"I'm sorry…Itsuki," she spoke softly, allowing her eyes to close, "I can't go on…any longer."

Mio heard her white haired companion call her name again…well the name of the woman that she resembled anyway, and there was a shuffling sound coming from inside the shed.

'I'm never going to get out of this village. I'm never going to find Mayu; we're both going to die here.'

A tear slid down her eye, where did this line of thinking come from? Mio never thought like this. But…maybe the darkness and evil of the village slowly started to eat at her heart, tearing apart the hope she had held onto for so long. Her heart felt heavy in her chest, feeling like she had let her older sister down, she had always wanted to be strong for her and yet…she had never realized that it was a front to cover of the weakness and guilt that consumed her very being. Mio let out a sigh; it's amazing what near death experiences could make a person think about. Mio was broken from her thoughts as two hands wrapped around her shoulders. She slowly opened her chocolate brown eyes, only to see a head of white hair in her line of vision.

"It…suki?" she whispered, the shock evident in her tired voice.

How did he get out of his prison? She felt his hold tighten on her small frame.

"Don't give up Yae. Don't let the curse of this village dwindle your hope. Where there is darkness…there is also light," he stated in reassurance.

Mio felt her breath catch in her throat, he was consoling her. She unconsciously leaned her head into his shoulder, enjoying the warm embrace. His words had struck a something within her, something that made her fears slowly begin to slip away. A smile fell onto her lips as she closed her eyes once again.

"Thank you," she whispered, "I'm sorry for worrying you," she continued as he pulled away.

Itsuki nodded, accepting the apology, extending an arm out to her, "You will get out of this village Yae, and Sae will as well. Just don't lose hope. I will help you in any way I can."

Mio smiled again as he helped her to her feet, for some reason she wasn't tired any longer; a new strength had caused her to continue onward. She would not die here; she would escape this village with Mayu by her side. It was all thanks to Itsuki's words, he had rekindled her spirit in a sense. It was time for her to go, she had to escape before the ritual began.

"I'll be going now," she said, pulling her flashlight out of her pocket.

"Take care of yourself," his voice spoke.

She turned around to acknowledge him and was surprised when he was no longer standing there. So he too was a victim of this curse, a spirit who was trapped here as well. Mio nodded, closing her eyes, saying a silent prayer for the white haired boy.

"Where there is darkness…there is also light," she repeated his words.

'Itsuki was right,' Mio thought as she opened the door, placing herself in danger once again.

She continued onward, stronger than before, keeping Itsuki's words in mind. No matter how hard it would get, no matter how weak she would become, she always knew that he would always be there guiding her. That brought a warm feeling to her chest. For he was her light in this immense darkness, one that would guide her back to the world of the living.

'A light that would never fade, no matter how immense the darkness has become.'

Yes I know, they may seem a little OOC, but I hope it was enjoyable nonetheless. I have always like this pairing, I just wasn't sure of how to make a story for them. So let me know what you think. Reviews always make my day. Next chapter is Reika!!