Oh my freakin' X-blade, I'm almost done. This one's even longer than the last one! Enjoy...the feels.

Depression

I never want to see any of your filthy faces ever again! In fact, I'm glad you all picked such an easy punishment! I was planning to carry this out myself!

…

Lucas stopped talking to Black Pit for a while after their incident with Link's group. The boy felt like everything was his fault. If only he had been a bit stronger, he might have stopped Black Pit from infecting and feeding off of everyone. Lucas knew that he was extremely close to preventing the Black Plague from doing so. However, it was clear that he still had little influence over the disease despite his immunity to him. Black Pit did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, wherever he wanted. And there was little Lucas could do to dissuade him otherwise. It tore his heart how weak he really was. If he was as strong as his brother…perhaps Link and the others would still be alive right now.

They quickly left the isolated, lifeless base to move to another place. Lucas noticed how Black Pit had regained some of his strength, allowing them to travel almost at the same speed as when the boy first started following him. Yet he sensed that within a day, they would be back to the snail speed he recently found themselves crawling to. Lucas recognized that although Black Pit wasn't human, he still had human-like properties. He gained his energy from eating, or in this case, infecting others. There were barely any signs of human life now, and Lucas shuddered at the truth that most people had already succumbed to the Black Plague. As a result, Black Pit had nothing to feed on. The boy wished that he could help the winged being in some way. However, his immunity preventing him from getting infected, putting Black Pit in a worse position as he saw food he couldn't touch traveling right next to him. Lucas once suggested for Black Pit to hunt some animals and perhaps infect a few trees. His suggestion was met with a curse and "I told you before, I refuse to infect those." Black Pit's comment puzzled Lucas for the longest time. He saw firsthand how the disease had no qualms infecting humans when necessary. Yet when met with an animal or plant, Black Pit steered clear of it. At first, he felt angry at the disease for discriminating plants and animals for humans. Then he thought back to how Black Pit was like when he infected Link's group and realized that there was a deeper reasoning to his actions. He shuddered when he remembered seeing Black Pit's mad eyes. It was almost as if he wasn't himself that day.

The boy wondered about the strange liquid that dripped from Black Pit post-mass infection. When they continued to walk, the liquid continued to trickle and splatter the pavements with its ink. Lucas tried to find the source of it, but he couldn't see any open wounds on the disease. He finally had to ask Black Pit about it. To his surprise, the disease didn't shun the question away. He actually answered immediately by rolling up a sleeve. Lucas held his breath at the disease's darkened skin. Just below the wrist was a dark hole, the liquid leaking from it. The boy had asked why the disease didn't patch it up.

"I already took out the bullet, but it wouldn't stop," Black Pit had revealed.

"Shouldn't you bandage it then? You might die from it."

At that statement, Black Pit gave a bark of laughter, "I don't die from gun wounds, Lucas. I die from hunger. And I don't need those stupid things you call bandages." He pulled his sleeve back up, "I just need to eat." And his wound constantly dripped.

Lucas saw Black Pit getting weaker with each passing day. Sometimes the boy had to support the Black Plague from falling over in exhaustion. They took multiple breaks, opposed to the rare rests they took in the past. Black Pit would pant for breath until he stood up again to continue forward. Lucas wanted to tell the disease to actually take a proper rest but couldn't find the courage to do so. However it got so bad to the point that Black Pit actually had to sleep to recover what little strength he had left. At night Lucas could hear him shuddering in pain and hunger. During those times, the boy felt sympathetic towards the disease. He regretted how he couldn't do more to help Black Pit, and the feeling got worse considering how the disease looked out for the boy as he always had.

Unfortunately for Black Pit, the duo did not find any other sentiments with humans to feed on. Every city, every town, every village they came upon were filled with fallen, black bodies. Even those who crawled around weakly for help eventually succumbed to the Black Plague. Lucas wondered whether the infected people died a long time ago or just died recently. It would make sense to the boy that they died recently considering that they didn't seem to be rotting. However, if they died recently, shouldn't Black Pit be able to draw nutrients from them, therefore regaining his strength? At that thought, Lucas was reminded of how little he knew of the Black Plague. He wished to know more, of course, but it was obvious that Black Pit loathed talking about himself. All the disease was worried about was finding some food, and he had every right to be anxious.

Black Pit instinctively knew that there were more people somewhere. He just had to find them. Yet considering his condition now, he wasn't sure whether he could make it. The disease didn't want to admit it, but without the kid, he probably would have died a long time ago. He grimaced slightly at the thought. Perhaps it would have been better that way. He remembered telling Link that he regretted allowing Lucas to follow him. Even now, he wished he never met the kid. Black Pit felt responsible for him, and it sickened him to know that he was the one that needed Lucas's help, not the other way around.

He knew that Lucas disapproved his feast of Link and his group. However Black Pit had no desire to tell him that he had no other options. Truth to be told, if he didn't slaughter them in the masses, he would have slowly drained all their lives away anyways. There was nothing worse than slow, torturous death, Black Pit knew. He wondered bitterly why he would grant humans a quick death when they clearly didn't deserve it and when he was slowly dying himself. He could feel his own disease sapping away his strength, his skin cells turning black right before his eyes. Black Pit knew it was only a matter of time before he collapsed and faded away.

But what about Lucas? What would he do then? The Black Plague cursed himself quietly when he realized he cared more about some random human than his own health. He didn't realize that he was actually glaring at the boy until Lucas flinched from the intensity of Black Pit's stare. The disease quickly looked away. Although he cursed himself, deep down he knew that he couldn't stand to see the kid alone. He had to find somebody to take care of Lucas before he died. However Black Pit wasn't sure if that somebody would survive long enough. He hated to admit it, but even he couldn't control his hunger sometimes. It already happened with Link's group. It was likely it would happen again. If there was only another person to provide him nutrients, Black Pit would do everything in his power to infect that person, even if it meant that he had to become mindless once again.

A small hand tugged on Black Pit's cloak, prompting him to look at Lucas. The boy pointed off to the distance over a grassy hill. They stopped in the middle of the street of the latest, empty town they traveled to.

"There's somebody over there," he whispered. At the mentioning of a possible meal, Black Pit perked up noticeably. He didn't even sense humans in that direction. Had he fallen this far to not know where his prey hid? The Black Plague shook away the sober thought. Without replying to Lucas's statement, he walked in the direction the boy pointed. Lucas started after the disease. Although he couldn't stand seeing another human being infected, the boy felt that he was responsible for his companion and had to keep watch.

As they neared the top of the hill, they heard the sounds of footsteps running away. Black Pit resisted the temptation to give chase. Instead, he continued his deliberate pace, Lucas following his side. When they reached the peak, the duo looked downwards. Black Pit was slightly surprised to see a rickety wooden shack. He saw a short flash of pink disappear inside. The Black Plague pursed his lips in thought. He felt Lucas's curious stare on him.

"There's somebody infected in there," Black Pit muttered. At least he could sense that much, he thought grimly. Lucas's head shot up in surprise.

"Why would that person run inside then?" When Black Pit looked a question, Lucas elaborated, "The person that just went inside wasn't infected." Indeed, the Black Plague sensed the truth in that. He guessed that only two people currently dwelled in that run-down building. Lucas paused, seeing Black Pit thinking. Another question floated in his mind, and he asked it before he could stop, "Are you going to infect them?"

That was the crux of it. If Black Pit wanted to continue living, he would have to infect the survivor as well. The infected already had no chance of survival, he knew. Black Pit already went on for too long without any food. And yet…

"I'll think about it," he grumbled. The answer surprised Lucas greatly, but he kept his mouth shut on that matter.

"Can…we go see them?" Lucas asked hesitantly. He, of course, didn't want a repeat of the military base incident. However when there were other survivors of an apocalyptical world, he couldn't help but be drawn to them. He looked at the masked disease fearfully. In what seemed like hours, Black Pit finally nodded.

"We can try," he muttered. The young boy blinked his eyes in surprise before a smile curved his lips. He turned to the shack and slowly descended the hill. Black Pit followed after his companion, a sinking feeling in his heart. Once they reached the end of the hill, Lucas walked towards the broken door. He saw how it barely hung on its hinges, the wind easily creaking it. The boy politely knocked on the door, though Black Pit saw it as quite pathetic. The duo heard some rustling before a pink figure appeared through the cracks of the leaning door. They saw the fear in her eyes.

"W-Who are you?" she questioned in a trembling voice. The evening sun lengthened the shadows, making it harder for Black Pit and Lucas to discern the girl's traits. However her dirty appearance was unmistakable. Dirt and grime stained her pink sweater while her brown, disheveled hair clung to her forehead like wet strands. Though her appearance differed from Lucas's own dirty appearance, it didn't change the fact that she had also faced the same hell as the boy.

"We're survivors like you," Lucas said in a placating tone. His quiet, unthreatening manner seemed to have the desired effect on the girl. "I'm Lucas, and this is my friend, Black Pit. Can we come inside?"

"Y-You're…not infected, right?" the girl asked. Lucas shook his head. However Black Pit found it curious as to why she would ask that when she had somebody infected inside with her. Lucas was thinking along similar lines but made no mentioning of their knowledge. A look of relief washed over the girl as she pulled the door inward to let them through. Black Pit felt her staring from his mask to his back, knowing that she was ogling at his wings, but he sealed his lips. If she wanted to ask, she could ask. But he wasn't going to give out freebies.

Besides the door, there was a window in the far back facing the sun. The only source of light as of now was the sun's last rays. The shack laid bare aside from a couple of weeds, a small backpack in a corner, a basin with water, and a lying figure in the middle covered with a blanket. Lucas and Black Pit stopped short of the figure. The girl moved past them and kneeled next to the figure. She reached into the basin and rinsed a dirty towel. She placed it on the head, crooning softly to it.

Black Pit felt his mouth salivating. His eyes fastened on the feverish boy, hungry for his flesh. He sensed that the boy's energy was draining quickly from his own disease. He didn't realized that he tried to get closer until he felt Lucas's hand on his cloak. The boy pleadingly shook his head at the disease. Lucas guessed as much that the person the girl was tending to was the infected. This was bad. Although Black Pit was showing some amazing restraint, Lucas knew it was only a matter of time before the infected succumbed to the disease.

"I'm sorry if you were expecting more," the girl apologized. "I couldn't get much after the spread. I'm Nana, by the way. This is my brother, Popo." She gestured to the sleeping figure. The duo nodded in acknowledgement.

"How long have you been here?" Lucas asked. Nana looked at him with tired eyes.

"I don't know…it's been too long."

A soft moan resonated from Popo. Nana quickly went back to tending him. The duo watched as she took away the towel to soak it again. The girl continued, "We ran away when the disease started infecting everybody else. This was the only place to hide at the time, so we stayed here. Afterwards, we started going out at times to look for food and water. We only went when we were sure nobody infected would be there." Nana's voice choked, as if she was about to cry any minute. "But…but then, Popo suddenly got sick. I didn't know why or how, but he just did. I can't leave very often now because I have to take care of him."

Lucas and Black Pit exchanged a quick look. So that was why she asked whether they were infected or not. Nana didn't even know that her own brother was infected. Lucas accompanied a question in his look. Black Pit returned it without a response before shrugging and sitting down to lean against the wall.

The boy looked back to the girl. She was about his age, yet already she was shouldering so much responsibilities and burdens. Lucas wondered whether she could bear the weight of her brother's true condition as well. He walked over to her to place a calming hand on her shoulder. When she looked at him, he smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry. We'll get through this, Nana."

The hope had long extinguished in the girl's eyes. She looked at Lucas in disbelief before asking one word, "How?"

But Lucas was unfazed, "We'll think of something." Although his answer was not coherent, the simple confidence in his voice seemed to lift up Nana's spirits. She smiled wanly in return before looking at her brother again. The silence stretched for a moment before she asked:

"What about you guys?"

Lucas looked over at Black Pit, who was still staring at them. Hearing no answer, Nana looked up. The boy then turned back to his new friend to reply, "My…mother and brother were taken by the Black Plague…after running away from my town, I met Black Pit and we started traveling together." Nana wrapped her arm around Lucas for a brief, comforting hug.

"I'm sorry about that."

"It's all right," Lucas muttered. Although he was sad that his mother and brother left him, he couldn't help but feel that they were still with him, protecting him. Maybe it was also because of them that he began to follow the disease. Nana shyly looked at Black Pit.

"What about you, Black Pit?"

"…" the disease turned away. Nana tilted her head in surprise and curiosity at the stranger's silence. She felt a hand on her arm and turned to see Lucas shaking his head.

"He…doesn't like to talk about it."

Nana frowned at that. She turned back to Black Pit, "You'll feel better if you talk about it, you know…"

"…"

"You shouldn't ask him anymore," Lucas warned. Nana hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. She switched her attention back to her sick brother, unaware that Black Pit was watching closely.

Lucas and Nana had a small meal afterwards. When the girl offered some to Black Pit, the disease shook his head. She tried to insist, but he kept refusing. As a result, she put the food back in her pack, a bit puzzled at Black Pit's reaction. The disease sensed her suppressed curiosity but did little to quell it. He also sensed that something bothered Lucas. He guessed it had something to do with his refusal of eating despite his hunger. Black Pit had told Lucas many times he didn't, couldn't, eat human food. Lucas probably feared that in the dead of night, the disease would finally take Nana's brother.

After another hour of chatting, Nana fell asleep right next to her brother, their foreheads almost touching. Lucas walked over and sat next to Black Pit, who didn't move from his spot at all. The two sat in a compatible silence, something all too familiar with both on their travels. Lucas twiddled his thumbs for a moment before looking at the winged disease. As usual, Black Pit stared straight ahead. Yet Lucas had an uncomfortable feeling that the disease was actually staring at Popo and was simply waiting for him to fall asleep so the Black Plague could finish the job. Perhaps he could distract the disease from his hunger.

"Um…Black Pit?"

"What?" his tone was neither welcoming nor dismissive.

Lucas rubbed his hands together. "Can…can you tell me why you started infecting everybody?" He berated himself mentally at that question that undoubtedly reminded Black Pit of his hunger.

"Why do you need to know?" Black Pit asked, his tone still neutral.

"Well…" something in the disease's voice gave the boy hope and he used that to continue, "it always helps if you tell somebody your problems. Whenever I had a problem, my mother always encouraged me to share it with her. That way, we could find some type of solution for it. It always made me feel better right after."

The disease snorted in derision at Lucas's advice. The boy continued to look at the Black Plague nervously, the silence settling around them once again. Only the sounds of wind and Nana's quiet breathing filled their consciousness. The boy was tired, that's true. But for some reason, sleep would not grace him. He mused ruefully that perhaps the fear of Black Pit taking Popo was keeping him up. That was where the young boy was torn. He dearly wished to help Black Pit regain his strength and continue to follow him. However, Lucas could only liken Nana's grief of finding Popo dead to his own sorrow of watching his family die before him. He never wanted to experience that again, and he certainly didn't want anybody else to experience that great distress.

"…if you tell me why you followed me, I'll tell you why I started infecting people," Black Pit finally muttered. Lucas's head snapped up at that. He couldn't believe that he was finally able to get something out of the disease. Despite his initial thoughts to scoot closer to the disease, Lucas nodded in answer. Black Pit's mouth twitched slightly at the unmistakable gleam of curiosity in the boy's eyes.

"Okay. I honestly don't know why I followed you, but you seemed so sad…I felt like I had to try and cheer you up," Lucas answered. Black Pit looked at his companion as if he suddenly grew another head.

"What? What kind of reason was that?" he asked, a hint of anger in his voice. Lucas's heart sank slightly when he heard that familiar tone. He shuffled his feet, taking a sudden interest in them. Black Pit felt the familiar irritation he usually felt when Lucas suddenly clammed up. He drew breath to ask again when the boy finally answered.

"You just…seemed sad when you were shooting the people. I couldn't understand why you would do something you don't like, but I felt like I should still try to help you out."

"I was never sad. I don't understand how you thought how I could be sad infecting all you humans. In fact, I'm happy that I'm able to do it. You humans make me sick. The things you do to each other and the things around you…you think this world is all yours, but it's not. It's my brother's," Black Pit spat bitterly.

Lucas flinched from the intensity of the disease's claims. However his ears still caught the note of sorrow in the Black Plague's voice, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. The boy heard it the moment he came into contact with Black Pit. No masks, no smirks, no pretense in the world was enough to hide Black Pit's depression from the boy. That's why he continued to follow the winged being, because he knew that Black Pit needed help.

The sunflower child then looked at the disease with surprise. "You had a brother too?"

Black Pit snorted, "I did. He's gone, no thanks to you guys."

"But…" Lucas's head spun at the sudden revelation, and he almost forgot to ask his next question, "what did we do?" But Black Pit shook his head:

"A kid like you wouldn't understand."

"I'll try to understand!" Lucas cried. He suddenly felt fearful at the possibility that Black Pit wouldn't open up to him again. He simply couldn't let this opportunity slip by. He shook the disease's shoulders, "You've been keeping this to yourself for too long, Black Pit! If you don't talk about it, it'll only get heavier and heavier! Then you won't be able to lift it by yourself anymore!"

"Enough!" Black Pit shouted, throwing the boy from him. Lucas fell back, a small gasp of pain slipping from his mouth. When he realized what happened, Lucas froze. He looked over at the siblings and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that they were still fast asleep. He then looked back at the disease. A wave of surprise washed over the boy when he saw how the hint of sadness in Black Pit's eyes suddenly overwhelm him. The disease turned away to avoid eye contact with the one person in the world who was trying his best to help him. "Sorry, Lucas…" Black Pit muttered. "I overreacted…" he held his head with his hand, a headache agonizing him. The boy hesitated for a moment. Then, gathering up his courage, he crawled over to the disease.

"It's all right," Lucas replied as he hugged Black Pit. Surprise hit the boy again when he felt Black Pit flinch at the sudden touch. Yet he didn't feel the disease move to liberate himself. Instead, the Black Plague actually turned around and embraced him back. Lucas felt the familiar pat of the head that Black Pit would sometimes give him on their travels. It made him feel closer to the disease, almost as if they were brothers surviving the apocalyptic world. The loving pats began to make him drowsy. The boy was already exhausted from their travels. Despite his best efforts to remain awake, Lucas's eyes drooped close.

If only Lucas didn't fall asleep first. Perhaps he would have heard Black Pit answering his question, just like the Black Plague promised:

"…Lucas, I'm infecting my brother's people because it's my punishment. I am forced to destroy the one thing my brother loved…and protected before his death since I've always…been jealous of him…it really is a fitting punishment for me…"

The disease began to pat the boy's head again when he stopped the motion quickly. Black Pit stared at his hand, uncertain of his true feelings right now. He looked at his other hand. It was almost the same as its opposite with its dead, black skin cells. He grimaced as he saw that his life source still leaking from his bullet wound. Initially, he had been extremely furious with Link for hurting him so. He was tempted to drag the man's body around and continually feed on it until nothing was left, bones and all. However the disease thought about Lucas and was glad that he decided not to. Besides, Black Pit thought ruefully, Link was just doing what he needed to do to protect the people he loved. If anything the disease was jealous that the man was able to gather the courage to head him face-on when Link knew that there was no hope of him surviving. If only he had that same courage…maybe Black Pit wouldn't be suffering as he was.

His thoughts scattered when he felt a strange sensation come over him. The disease's unseen pupils dilated, and he gently pushed Lucas away from him. Black Pit stood up with his mad eyes set on his victim.

…

"Lucas! Lucas! LUCAS!"

Said boy groggily opened his eyes as Nana shook his back and forth. His mind was a bit slow to catch up, but once it did, Lucas remembered how he and Black Pit stayed with Nana and her brother for the night. At the thought of the disease, Lucas's eyes widened. He quickly looked around for his companion but to no avail. His heart sank when he saw that Popo was also nowhere to be found.

"I can't find Popo anywhere!" Nana cried, eyes filled with tears. "He's not strong enough to move by himself!"

Lucas jumped to his feet. As he did, he felt his foot slip slightly on something. The boy quickly caught his balance before looking down to find the source of his slipup. Nana's eyes followed him as he kneeled down to examine the black liquid on the floor. Judging by the size of it, the boy knew that Black Pit had stayed in this spot for a long time before finally moving. When the disease left, his wound continued to drip its strange liquid. The boy searched the area around for more of the tall-tell signs of the Black Plague. His heart sank when he saw the drops circle around where Popo had last lay. The liquid then led towards the door, and Lucas was willing to bet his life that that was where they would be able to find Popo.

"L-Lucas, w-what's that?" Nana asked, pointing to the liquid.

"I don't know," Lucas said truthfully. "But if what I think is true, then we have to hurry. We might still be in time to save Popo." The lie choked more than the boy's throat. The blonde grabbed the brunette's wrist and pulled her towards the door with a sudden urgency that scared the girl even more.

"What are you talking about? What happened to my brother?!" she cried in fear. Yet she didn't resist Lucas's hold and followed willingly. She sensed that Lucas knew what was going on and perhaps this had happened before. As she continued to worry about her brother, Nana suddenly remembered, "Where's Black Pit?"

Lucas faltered a bit at the mentioning of the disease. He juggled with the idea of whether to tell Nana the truth. He thought back to when he withheld it from somebody. The results were almost too much for Lucas to remember. Perhaps, if he said something this time, he might be able to save a life. He stopped in the middle of the streets and turned to face Nana. "Nana, I have a confession to make…"

Worried, brown eyes looked over the blonde fearfully.

"B-Black Pit…he's the Black Plague. He's the one who's been infecting everybody."

Nana's eyes widened at the revelation. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing would come out.

"I'm really sorry for keeping this from you, Nana. And I'm really sorry for not telling you that your brother was already infected."

"What?" she whispered.

Lucas nodded at the question, "Black Pit sensed that Popo was infected with his disease. If I'm right…then he's feeding your brother right now."

"No…no, you're lying! You're lying!" Nana pushed Lucas away from her, tears running down her face. His arms whirl winding for balance, Lucas managed to regain it before falling on the ground. He looked at the girl, and angry eyes glared back, making him flinch. "It's not true! Popo was never infected! He was all right before you two showed up! He was fine. We were both fine…" a light dawned in her eyes. "It's probably your fault!"

"Nana-!"

"No! You two were probably infected and passed it onto him! Then he dragged Popo away to kill him so you guys would go away cured!"

"Nana, that's not how it works!"

"And how would you know that?! Why would you think that the infected would try to bite the non-infected? It's so they could transfer the disease so they wouldn't be infected anymore!"

"You're wrong! The disease doesn't transfer, Nana! It's distorting your mind! It's making you see things that aren't real!" That was one of the things Lucas had noticed about Black Pit's disease. It distorted reality for everybody, except for Lucas. Lucas saw the truth behind the infection, and it pained him that he had this knowledge.

"No! You're just trying to trick me! I won't let you infect me!" without waiting for Lucas's response, Nana turned and ran in a different direction. After a moment's hesitation, the boy gave chase. He had to stop her before Black Pit found her. Lucas knew he was immune, but Nana was another matter. It was only a matter of time before the Black Plague finished his meal and searched for the next one. Though he wanted to help Black Pit, Lucas knew in his heart that he couldn't let Nana succumb to the disease. Not seeing Black Pit feed on Popo made accepting his death a bit easier. But Nana? Even if Lucas didn't see her death, he still couldn't, wouldn't accept it.

Unfortunately for the boy, Nana knew the ins-and-outs of the city they were sprinting in. When Lucas turned a corner, she was nowhere to be found. He felt his chest tightening in fear and panic. His eyes dashed around for some signs of the girl. Seeing none, Lucas forced himself to calm down, feeling the familiar terror almost paralyze him again. He couldn't go into the same panic that numbed him when Black Pit first went crazy. The boy breathed deeply and walked towards the nearest building. It was logical, Lucas presumed that Nana would attempt to find a hiding spot in order to conceal herself from him and the Black Plague. Although the city was large, there were few hiding places.

As he opened the first door, a high-pitched scream echoed. Lucas turned in surprise in the direction of the scream. A few debris fell on the boy's head from the sound, causing him to briefly look up a moment before turning back. Another high-pitched scream resonated. Lucas sprinted into that direction, recognizing Nana's voice. He pleaded with himself that he would be able to make it in time and there wouldn't be a repeat of the military base incident. He willed his sore legs to sprint faster. Judging by the sounds of Nana's screams, Black Pit must have found her already.

Lucas jumped down from a pile of rubble. He cried out in pain as he landed with a dull thud. As he stood up, he felt something stinging in his leg. The boy looked at the gash in his leg. It wasn't very large, but it still hurt more than anything. As he limped to his feet, he saw how one of the protruding rocks trickled with red blood. The boy gritted his teeth in anger at his carelessness. Why was it now that he had to get hurt? His ears registered another terrified scream. Although it sounded close, Lucas still felt the fear of his lateness. He limped as fast as he could. Fortune watched over him this time when he found a large and strong enough stick that could be used as a crutch. He was able to limp a bit faster towards Nana. He prayed that he wouldn't be too late. He went through the hole of a skyscraper that once stood tall. When Nana screamed again, her voice bounced all over, stabbing Lucas with possible accusations. This only urged the blonde to limp on even faster. The light at the end of the tunnel was steadily getting brighter.

Finally bursting from the cover of a decimated building's shadows, Lucas quickly examined his surroundings. His eyes caught Nana cowering in a corner between two broken pieces of concrete. Standing a few feet away from the girl was Black Pit. A demonic aura emitted from the disease, his wings spread out dreadfully behind him.

"Nana!" Lucas shouted, limping his way towards the duo. At his concerned voice, both the prey and predator looked towards the boy. While Nana's tear-stained face showed the relief, Black Pit's expression were still concealed by his mask. Yet it was obvious that the disease didn't appreciate Lucas's intervention. He roared monstrously in Lucas's direction, his blackened arms spread out in a sign of aggression. Relief quickly changed to horror as Nana realized that Black Pit might attempt to infect Lucas.

"Stay away, Lucas!" she yelled in warning. Black Pit turned back to screech at his original target, causing her to shriek and cower even further. Disregarding Nana's warnings completely, Lucas edged closer to the duo. His brow glistened with sweat from his exertion, his breath heavy. He rested most of his weight on his crutch, his leg bleeding a map of his traverse. Yet Lucas was only focused on getting to Nana and convincing Black Pit not to infect her. In the back of his mind, he knew that Popo had already succumbed to the disease.

Once Lucas got closer, Black Pit turned towards him again. The boy started at the disease's sudden attention. Before, with the distance and sun against him, Lucas could only make out Black Pit's mask. Now, he saw how black patterns of dead skin etched around the disease's face. Black Pit's meal of Popo wasn't enough. He needed to eat more, even if he couldn't touch Lucas. The boy thought that he was immune to Black Pit's advances, but the winged being quickly proved him wrong.

Black Pit leapt for the boy, bleeding hands outstretched. He tackled Lucas to the ground, earning a grunt of pain. Thankfully Lucas didn't hit his head against a rock, or he would have lost consciousness. Before he had time to react, Black Pit screeched monstrously in his face. Lucas felt hands wrap around his throat and wring his neck. The mindless disease must have realized that he couldn't feed on this boy. So he did the next best thing that would enable him to have three meals today. Black Pit would kill him so he could disgustingly eat away Lucas's dead, but still fresh skin. His air pipe cut off, the boy gasped desperately for breath. His feeble fingers jerked against Black Pit's hold, doing more harm than good. He tried his best to keep his wits, but his brain was dying from the lack of oxygen. His mind hazed over. Tears streamed from Lucas's sorrowful eyes, as if Black Pit was squeezing those out of him as well.

Lucas was looking through a dark tunnel now. It was almost as if all his senses were numbed so his brain only registered the minutest stimulus. His ears heard Black Pit's screeches again, mixed with a surprisingly young voice. His eyes saw Nana hitting the disease with a rusty pipe. The Black Plague turned to scream at her, relinquishing one of his hands to knock the girl away. Nana fell backwards, skidding to a stop once she hit a cement block. It didn't knock her out cold, but it did knock the breath out of her. She coughed to regain the lost air.

At Black Pit's release, Lucas instinctively gasped for air. His hands held onto Black Pit's, attempting again to pull the choking grasp away. The disease felt his prey trying to escape and quickly turned back to him. Black Pit shrieked at the boy again. Instead of using his other hand to choke the boy, the Black Plague lifted Lucas high in the air and tightened his hold. The blonde gasped again as he felt his air getting cut off.

"B-Black Pit! S-Stop!" Lucas kicked his legs feebly before losing the strength to do even just that. He couldn't stop the tears from falling down his cheeks as Black Pit screamed in his face. Sorrowful eyes looked at mad ones, still pleading silently to stop. Although Lucas saw death coming for him, for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to hate Black Pit. Even after every horrible thing the disease had done, he still looked out for the boy. He never failed care for Lucas, even if he didn't show it. Now that he was facing his end, Lucas wished that he could have had the time to thank Black Pit for everything he did for him.

Just as he was about to fall in death's hug, Black Pit's hold lessened. Lucas gulped another lungful of fresh air before seeing the horror in the disease's eyes. The red eyes were mad no more as the pupils returned to their full size. Black Pit quickly dropped the boy, backing away from him. The Black Plague shook his head as if to convince himself that he didn't do what he was about to do. His mouth moved but no sounds came out. He inched away from both the boy and girl, still shaking his head. Black Pit stopped once he judged that he was a safe distance away from his prey. He continued to shake his head in repulsion.

Lucas rubbed his neck, feeling the heat from the disease's choke hold. Once he had enough air, the boy tried to push himself up. Nana hurried over to help him to his feet. "Are you all right?" she asked, eyes searching for any other signs of injury.

The boy shook his head in reply. He felt woozy from his near-death experience, but other than that he was as fine as he could be, with the exception of his throbbing leg. Lucas looked over at Black Pit, still shaking his head. He attempted to move towards him, but Nana stopped him.

"Don't go near him!" she pleaded. "He'll try to kill you again!"

"No, he won't," Lucas said firmly. Resisting Nana's efforts, Lucas limped over to the Black Plague. Black Pit had his head in his hands, shaking side to side. At the sound of Lucas's footsteps, Black Pit's head jerked up. Anger masked the shame in his eyes as he scowled at the boy. "Black Pit," Lucas started.

"LEAVE ME!" Black Pit roared. Lucas almost flinched at that, his heart in his throat. Yet he swallowed his young fear and bravely stepped forward. Black Pit stepped backward in response.

"Black Pit…"

"Are you deaf?! I said leave me! I don't want to see you again! Any of you! Just leave me ALONE!" the disease erupted. He whipped out his staff and knocked Lucas away. He cried out in pain as he fell to the floor. The sound tore at Black Pit's heart and he could only stare at the boy in front of him.

"Lucas!" Nana ran towards the boy's side. She helped him sit up before glaring at Black Pit, "What was that for?!"

Black Pit hardened his gaze at the girl. Before he could say anything, Lucas coughed a bit. The boy turned to Nana, "It's all right, Nana…" He looked back at the disease. Black Pit's broken heart ripped even more at the boy's innocent and honest eyes. "Black Pit…please…" Black Pit flinched at that. For a moment, the disease was tempted. He was tempted to throw away his idea and continue with Lucas. But recent events told him that if he cared for the boy, then that was the wrong path to take entirely. Knowing Lucas, he wouldn't take the first step. Black Pit had to. He turned away from the duo. He wondered briefly how much more he could take when Lucas's pleading cry tore his heart once more. He steeled and composed himself.

"…good-bye, Lucas," the disease finally muttered, almost without the choking tone. He walked away from the duo. He didn't even look back. To do so would have shown Lucas the tears streaming down the disease's cheeks. And to do so would have shown Black Pit the anguish on the boy's face.

...AI! Almost done! Yes! Now leave me so I can cry about college...