A/N: I've no idea why I thought this would be longer... -head desk- Well, at any rate, thanks so much for the continuing support! I hope not to disappoint as the fic continues! 8B

This chapter's title means "Ivory Tower," inspired by a song by Blackmore's Night baring the same title. Give it a listen, if you would.

Enjoy, please! -bows profusely-

For sweetsweetsorrow43 on Youtube :)

III: Elfenbeinturm

Who the hell was that?

Souma stopped shaking him when he opened his eyes and gradually focused to her. She had a worried expression on her face as she crouched from her bent posture to level with him. "Kurogane-sama, I think you were having a nightmare," she said softly. Looking to the floor beside her, she added, "And you reacted...rather violently."

His senses weren't coming back to him as quickly as they normally did. He felt wiped out, like all the energy had been taken from him, even though he had been asleep the past few hours. The ninja registered his companion's words slowly, a few seconds passing until he finally understood them. He followed Souma's stare to the dresser he had previously slumbered next to, now on the floor at a crooked angle.

"It must have been really terrible," Souma began sympathetically, "but reacting this way...this isn't like you." She was frowning, her brown-eyed gaze glancing away as she murmured, "Was it about Tsukuyomi?"

Kurogane placed a hand on his forehead, trying to remember all that happened. There had been then dream with the graveyard...the lack of color...and yes, it had been about Tomoyo...but then... "I saw someone else," he said in clarity, voice low, as if he had murmured this to himself.

"What?" Souma prompted carefully.

"You really don't know? No one told you?"

Suddenly full of purpose, Kurogane tied Ginryuu to his hip once more and stood up, ignoring the weary feeling in his body. "I need to talk to Sakura," he declared. Souma had risen up beside him and was looking at the ninja confusedly.

"Why? Wait, Kurogane-sama, where are you going?" she asked to his retreating form.

He was already at the door, all but ignoring the kunoichi. He needn't had gotten up though, because when he opened the door, Sakura was already on the other side, her hand hovering where the knob had been seconds before.

She blinked in surprise, putting her hand down as she began to fervently speak. "We heard a crash while we were talking upstairs. Frau Souma – I mean, Souma-chan, went down to see what was the matter. What happened? I got worried, so I followed, even though..." Her voice drifted off, a trace of something in her jade eyes as she looked away.

Having experienced it himself, Kurogane was no stranger to guilt.

Inside the room, there was a loud creak of wood as Souma lifted the dresser effortlessly and righted against the wall. She dusted her hands off in accomplishment as she approached the conversation at the door with a light smile. "It's okay, Sakura-chan, Kurogane-sama knocked down the dresser, but it's not broken." In less than a second, the kunoichi was serious, turning to her master imploringly. "Kurogane-sama, what's all this about?"

"I hoping she can tell me the same thing," Kurogane accused. His red eyes glared dangerously down at the Seresu girl as he leaned toward her. "What's with this guy in my dream? What does he mean? Is this supposed to be funny, like some sort of trick?"

"It's no trick," Sakura said, her voice surprisingly calm and as strong as the ninja's, facing off unflinchingly against him. "It's very real, and it is perhaps the main reason no one visits this kingdom anymore."

Souma looked back and forth between the two, lost in the situation. Sakura turned around, beckoning the travelers to follow her.

"Please, come with me. I imagine you feel out of sorts. Come upstairs and revitalize and I'll tell you everything." She walked over to the other side of the room, where she began to go up the staircase.

Souma followed uncertainly after her master as Kurogane trailed Sakura. At the top of the wooden steps, she asked, "Are you going to tell me or do I have to go just blindly along? Who appeared in your dream? What guy?"

"It was a man," Kurogane explained gruffly, both to Souma and Sakura, who seemed to be listening as she went down a hallway and into an open room. Inside was another lounging room of sorts, this one windowless and small with a circular table taking up most of the space. There were several chairs around it, two of them close together and away from the table – the places the two women must have sat earlier. Above on the ceiling was a large, lit gas lamp that illuminated the room.

"I have just the thing for you," Sakura said, going to a shelf where a bottle half-full of a clear liquid was. She took it from the shelf and set it on the table, taking a squat glass jar with her. Uncorking the bottle and jar, Sakura put her hand in the shorter container, pulling out several seed-like objects the size of coins. She put them into the bottle, and they sank to the bottom before, slowly, red tendrils sprouted from the seeds like smoke, mixing with the liquid until the substance became a bright red.

Sakura handed the bottle to Kurogane. "Here you go. I hope you find it to your liking," she said, taking a seat across from the two travelers.

The ninja ignored the weird concoction and instead repeated firmly, "It was a man that appeared in my dream. At first, he was a raven, but then he transformed into a human in black clothing, with blond hair. I've never met him before, but he knew things. He was more aware than any figment of imagination. And," he looked over at Souma, "he knew that I wasn't from here." His gaze went back to Sakura. "How could he know that?"

"Because he already knows everyone in Seresu. At least, everyone who has slept in the past seven years," she explained placidly. She gestured to the bottle in front of him. "Drink, please. You'll only continue to feel worn out."

"Later," Kurogane snapped. "So are you telling me he goes into anyone's dream?"

"Just here in Seresu," Sakura added. She looked down, expression guilty once more. "Entschuldigung. But I thought that if you saw him, it would be easier for you to believe what we in Seresu already know. That man... He is our prince. The one who sleeps in the castle, cursed."

Souma started, widening her eyes. Kurogane didn't react any less. "Are you kidding?"

Sakura shook her head. "He really is der Prinz des Schlafenden Todes."

"But how could he do that, if he's in that castle?" Souma asked, joining in the conversation now that she was piecing together the facts. Her eyes settled uneasily around the room. "I mean, how can he go into dreams? Does he always watch you?"

"No, nothing like that; it's just in dreams – or rather, nightmares," Sakura said grimly. She straightened up, gathering herself before she continued. "That's what he does, is produce nightmares. He can see what the dreamer most fears, and he has them dream it. Over and over again. It's a bit funny, how some people take it. They say to themselves, 'I won't be afraid this time,' yet always awake screaming. The prinz makes it so that it feels absolutely real." She gave Kurogane a knowing look. "Things seemed more tangible than what you usually dreamed, didn't they?"

That the ninja couldn't deny. He remembered how real his voice sounded; he could even remember the warm breath of the prince against his ear. "Why does this happen? Can't you block him out at all?"

"It takes a great amount of will power to drive the unwanted form your dreams, especially since you are unconscious when you sleep," Sakura said. "As for why he does this, there are theories that the prinz was...vengeful after Valeria cursed him for killing his father. That he couldn't give up without a fight. So they say he now curses the kingdom that worships the very deity that put the spell on him."

Souma tilted her head to the side. "Valeria? Who is that?"

Sakura pointed somewhere upward. "Did either of you see the design on the flags of the castle per chance?" At their consenting nods, she proceeded, "That design of the shooting star is a symbol of our deity, the Sterne Göttin, or Star Goddess, Valeria. Kӧnig Ashura felt that the people should be free in their religion, so Seresu worships many gods, but Valeria remains our prominent one."

Goddesses, curses, a prince that brought nightmares... It all seemed so far-fetched to Kurogane still. He usually didn't believe in any such things that weren't tangible to him. But the nightmare proves at least that there is a prince and that he's the reason that everyone in the country looks so weary – at least those I've seen so far.

Souma, seeing the thoughtful expression on her master's countenance, touched his shoulder tentatively. "What do you make of all this, Kurogane-sama?"

The ninja's red eyes glanced up at Sakura, who was still sitting with a calm, if not serious, face. He put his elbows on the table, lacing his fingers together in front of his face. "So are you saying that every time someone falls asleep in this kingdom, he will always be there?"

"It matters not how many are asleep – he can be in multiple dreams at once, as is the freedom for one with power," Sakura elaborated. Her placid countenance wavered, appearing momentarily troubled. "I...hope you aren't mad at me. I just wanted you to believe what Touya, Yukito, and I were trying to tell you two."

"Why would you want us to believe that?" Souma asked softly.

"You have something that you are searching for," Sakura replied simply. "If you continue to search for it in this kingdom, it's better you know what happens here now, instead of finding out later."

"Well, this changes nothing," Kurogane snapped decisively, rising from his chair. "We came because it was rumored that this is where the mirror was. Our objective is the same, whether or not there is a cursed prince here."

Sakura nodded understandingly. She, too, rose from her seat and walked around the table to where the two travelers were. "Very well. If you are going to go out for information," she began, somewhat cordially, "then I recommend going to the cathedral to the west of the castle. Seresu's town goes around the castle rather than in front of it like most kingdoms. There at the cathedral, look for a man named Sorata Arisugawa. I think he may give you more information." She bowed slightly. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help Souma-chan, Kurogane-san."

The ninja looked from his companion, who also bowed, to Sakura. "Souma...chan?" he repeated uncertainly.

Sakura straightened up, blinking innocently. "I-I'm sorry! Do you want me to call you Kurogane-chan?"

"Definitely not!" the ninja bellowed in horror. "Do I look like a little kid!"

"Ah, my apologies. Souma-chan told me to call her this and you Kurogane-san."

The black-haired man turned to bop Souma on the head. "Don't teach people different languages in their own country!"

"But I wanted the two of us to be friends, since we're staying here," protested Souma, glaring slightly at her master. "Ne, right, Sakura-chan?"

"Right!" agreed the Seresu girl fervently, a smile on her face. Souma immediately went up to hug her tightly.

"Ah, Sakura-chan is so kawaii, no?" the kunoichi remarked happily.

Kurogane rolled his eyes and then looked back at the bottle on the table. He was feeling thirsty, but he couldn't possibly ask Souma for any blood when he had already bitten her earlier that day. Whatever was inside the glass wouldn't be able to fill him, but he figured it was better than nothing. He corked the bottle and went back to his companion, who was still gushing over Sakura.

He grabbed Souma and pulled her back. "Stop that! C'mon, we're going off to find this Sorata Arisugawa."

She pouted slightly, but immediately relented. "Yes, Kurogane-sama..."

The two left the room, Sakura close behind. A thought occurred to Kurogane suddenly as they were back on the first floor. As Souma went outside to get their horses ready, he turned to the jade-eyed girl and asked curiously, "Before we go, could you tell me the name of the prince?"

Sakura looked at him in surprise, obviously not expecting the question. She recovered quickly though, that strange guilty look back in her eyes, the emotion concealed with the serious furrow of her brows. "Ah, his name is Yuui."

"Yuui," Kurogane repeated with a nod. "Thanks," he added, gesturing to the bottle he was bringing with him.

Sakura nodded. "I hope you enjoy it. And that you and Souma-chan can uncover useful information."

When he was outside, the ninja found that the snow had stopped, leaving behind empty, and unsettling calm, air. Souma was already hopping on top of Shiro when he approached his horse. She smiled down at him as he got on Gurei, placing his bottle into the pouch at his steed's side.

"Ready, Kurogane-sama?"

"The sooner we get there," the red-eyed man said simply, not even needing to bother to finish his statement because he said it so often to Souma.

"Sakura and I fed Shiro and Gurei while you were asleep," the kunoichi said, petting her horse fondly as they began to tread the snowy path. "She's very nice, isn't she? What was that drink she gave you?"

"Dunno, I haven't tried it." Kurogane only brought it along to substitute for the blood. It helped that it was red as well. "Maybe it's just alcohol."

"I thought that made you pass out, something you don't need to be doing at the moment."

Kurogane pulled out the bottle, hanging fast to Gurei with his free hand. He uncorked it and took an experimental swing, gulping the strange liquid down. He almost choked at the familiar warmth spreading all over his body, at that taste mingling with his tongue once more.

"Are you alright?" Souma asked, seeing the alarm on her master's face.

The ninja put the glass down, giving the drink inside a wondrous and horrified stare. How had Sakura done this? It was only a few seeds, so how did it possibly taste the same and give him the same boost of strength that the original source always gave him?

"She...gave me blood..."

xXxOxXx

It was the middle of the afternoon by the time they made it to the church to the west of the castle. Through the thick gray clouds, it was hard to tell, but Kurogane learned to tell time without looking at the sun. There were a few more people out of their houses now. They even passed one or two stores that seemed to be in business. The sight of people outside in the snow, talking softly and having something that vaguely resembled a normal life, was a lot more comforting and welcome than the conditions of the morning Kurogane and Souma arrived.

The church was quite large, but still second to the magnificence of the castle near it. Tall spires stood at attention on either side of the wide facade like two iron guards, piercing the sky. On the facade was a circular window with tracery making a design akin to a flower – a rose window, like a welcoming face of a goddess. A crossing tower, much shorter than the spires, marked the intersection of the long nave and transept. Snow coated the roof, the white like a cloak on the dark structure, as worn down as most of the buildings of the kingdom. Some people were walking into the church, their faces solemn and movements paced. There was a small, simple stable outside the cathedral where a horse already was. Shiro and Gurei were left inside there and the two travelers were making their way into the sacred house.

The vaults inside were high and narrow, the clerestories overhead giving faint light inside. There were people seated on long wooden benches, rows and rows of them. In front of them was an altar where Kurogane assumed the priest spoke. Above that, hung on the wall, was a large tapestry depicting a woman. She was surrounded in white and blue light, so it was hard to distinguish her features at the distance the ninja was at, but he was pretty sure it was the Star Goddess that Sakura told them about. Candles were being lit at one corner, where several people were murmuring to one another. The air was completely different from that of outside the building, as if the cathedral was another world, where words were sung in low prayer, and the sun was the face of a goddess.

Kurogane looked around, taking the sight in. Next to him, Souma whispered in awe, "This place is beautiful, Kurogane-sama."

"Why thanks, we do try our best to keep the place in top shape," replied a male voice in slightly accented Japanese.

The two warriors turned to the source of the voice. A man with tan skin, though still lighter than them, and unkempt dark hair was smiling at them cordially. Though he was dressed in rather casual robes, Kurogane still knew.

"Are you Sorata Arisugawa?" he asked without hesitation.

The man looked surprised. He sized Kurogane up briefly before answering. "Yup, Sorata Arisugawa is me. I'm the priest of this place. And you are from Japan, correct?"

A priest. Sakura had sent them to a priest. Kurogane really should've expected no less when they came to a cathedral of all places. But what information could a priest possibly give us?

Souma took care of the introductions once more, extending her hand to Sorata and telling him about Sakura. He seemed to know her, nodding in understanding.

"Oh yeah!" he said, pointing to himself. "And you can just call me Sora, alright? No need for suffixes and be so formal."

"Fine," grumbled Kurogane, who really didn't care about names and customs at this point.

"So Sakura sent y'all, hmm? What can I do for you?"

Souma gave Sora a worried look. "Is it alright that we may borrow some of your time? I mean, if you have duties to attend to, we can wait," she said, ignoring the death glare that Kurogane sent her way.

Sora glanced at the handful of people praying over at the benches. "Ah, you mean them? Don't worry, service isn't until night. Valeria is the Sterne Göttin, after all," he explained lightly.

"The Star Goddess," Souma said in understanding. She bowed slightly in gratitude. "Then if we may, we should like to speak with you, Sora. About something that we are looking for."

"If Sakura couldn't help you, I don't see how I could know," Sora admitted, rubbing the back of his neck dubiously. The next second though, he had a reassuring and upbeat smile on his face. "But maybe I can help anyway. What're you on the lookout for?"

"It's a mirror," Souma explained. She looked behind at the people praying and leaned in to the priest's ear. "A magick mirror."

Kurogane stared intently at Sora, and caught the spark of recognition in his eyes. But before the ninja could call him out on it, the priest nodded in understanding. "I see. We shouldn't talk about this here, though." He gestured to where the praying people were. "Come this way. There's a door over here that leads to where I live."

The soft glow of candles caused the three of their shadows to dance as they walked down the length of the nave and towards the altar. No one seemed to especially notice them, but a few bowed their heads respectfully at Sora's presence. The door was at the wall adjacent to the Valeria tapestry, with a lock on it. Sora had already produced the key and was now opening the door. Kurogane and Souma walked into a small hallway as the priest locked the door once more. In the hallway, which was only about fifteen feet, there were four doors. One was slightly ajar, but Sora forewent it and opened the door at the far end.

"This is the living room, I guess you could say," Sora introduced with a shrug. "Go on in and make yourself at home."

The so-called living room was more spacious than Kurogane originally suspected it would be. There were three lounging chairs, and a fireplace, which was already lit, and a rectangular table that looked like it could fit six people. On the wall opposite the door were two long windows that almost stretched the entire height of the wall.

"You know, you've got some nerve there Kurogane, bringing a sword into a place like this." Sora flopped himself onto one of the chairs. His eyes were on Ginryuu, the weapon still secured at Kurogane's side.

"It's only used when the situation calls for it. We're just going to talk," Kurogane said, giving Sora an intense stare.

"Ooh, it sounds so threatening when you put those two sentences together." The priest laughed. He brought his legs up on the chair so that he was sitting cross-legged. "Now then, you were talking a magick mirror, Miss?"

"Yes," replied Souma tersely.

"If my guess is right, you're thinking of the Grimms' Scrying Mirror."

Kurogane's ears perked up and he leaned toward Sora. "Yes, that's it," he said, trying to keep his emotions in check as he spoke.

Sora nodded, pulling back the sleeves of his robes. "Should've known," he said with a small sigh. "You folks wouldn't be the first to ask that thing. And I know you won't be the last."

"So...you don't know anything else? Like where it could be?" Souma asked, tone bordering crestfallen.

Sora offered her a smile. "I know a thing or two, but here's the thing," he leaned over to them, a suddenly dead-serious expression in his eyes, "what makes you think you're worthy of such information? Why should I tell y'all anything?"

In one quick movement, Kurogane had drawn Ginryuu and had the sword's shining edge against the priest's exposed neck. At that very same moment, the ninja realized two things – one, that someone else had entered the room, and two, their very own blade was against his throat, pressing coldly on his skin.

Next to Sora was a woman with long black hair falling down her back, her ruby lips twisted in a taut scowl as she glared dangerously at him. In one of her hands she held fast on a long, thin sword.

Her voice was low and deadly, speaking concisely with her defensive stance never wavering. "How dare you point a weapon at a priest? In the name of Valeria, I command you to put your sword down, lest two blades be stained with blood this day."

Kurogane studied the woman briefly. She had just barely matched the agility of a vampire, and he hadn't even sensed her presence in the first place. Souma was the only person he knew who could be so quick. She can't be some ordinary woman... Where did she learn to become so fast?

"Who are you?"

"I am Arashi Kishu. I protect this church, its people, and its priest," she said, the strength in her voice still present and venomous. The side of her blade kissed his skin deeply, but not hard enough to draw blood just yet. "I do not wish to harm you, but if you force me..."

"Kurogane-sama, put Ginryuu down, please," Souma begged, tentatively approaching the cross-fire. "We don't want anyone hurt, okay? We can still work this out in a civil manner."

"Not to be smug, but I'd listen to the little miss there," Sora remarked seriously. "To be fair, we didn't even finish our discussion."

A few seconds passed, but with a growl, Kurogane reluctantly sheathed Ginryuu. Arashi wordlessly lowered her own sword, but the guarded look was still plain in her eyes. Kurogane's own red eyes stayed on Arashi, as though he'd miss something she's do if he didn't watch her.

"I will only act if I am provoked," she explained calmly, noticing the way the ninja looked at her.

One of Sora's arms slid over Arashi's shoulders in a familiar gesture. "Dangerous, isn't she? But my wife is a real sweetie deep down~!" He rubbed her shoulder affectionately, and Arashi's placid demeanor broke slightly as she blushed, her gaze flickering bashfully to the floor.

"Your wife?" Souma repeated. Her dark eyes glanced over at Kurogane, who showed no signs of caring about the information he was just given.

Sora nodded. Looking at Arashi, he said, "But I told you that you don't have to worry about me. I vowed that I would protect you." As if forgetting that Kurogane and Souma were there at all, he brushed his knuckles against her cheek softly.

Arashi was silent, her eyes the only indication that she had heard and felt what her husband had told her. Sora seemed to notice this and he pulled back, focusing back to the two travelers before him. "So then, where were we?"

Souma exchanged a patient look with Kurogane. "You asked us...why we thought we should possess the information you own...about the mirror," the kunoichi explained.

Sora made a noise of agreement. "So, you think of anything yet? Like I said, there are many who want the kind of power the mirror has. Do y'all yourselves even realize the magick in it?"

"Of course," Kurogane said, his voice an impatient growl. "We wouldn't journey for months without knowing what we were getting into."

"The journey with a destination often has more surprises than the one that doesn't," Sora pointed out lightly. "The Grimms' Scrying Mirror isn't an object to take lightly. What is it to you?"

There was a pause as Souma hesitated, looking to her master for guidance, but found his gaze wasn't on any of them anymore. Kurogane's red stare was captured by the windows behind them. Grey darkness and light was slipping through the room, casting sorrow in the now silent air. Finally, parting his lips, he said in a low voice,

"A way to the dead. A bridge that'll close the gap...between two people. An object," his piercing crimson pools locked onto Sora, "that can bring back a life that was unjustly taken."

Both Sora and Arashi started at that. The priest frowned deeply as soon as the shock wore away. "You want to bring someone back to life! Things like that...!"

"Surely you know that is a taboo which shouldn't be tested," Arashi finished, her voice etched with sincere warning.

Kurogane scowled. "What I do is my business," he snapped, rising to his full height. "Do you think I care what others' thoughts are about this? Someone...precious to me was killed! If there is a way for her to be saved, I'm taking that chance!"

"And bending all the rules along the way," Sora murmured.

Kurogane bellowed. "I don't give a fuck about goddamn rules! Rules are supposed to prevent bad things from happening!" Clenching his fists, he barked out a sardonic laugh. "So why is Tomoyo gone? Why didn't your rules protect her?" He pointed at Sora and Arashi, almost accusingly. "People can take lives to their content out there – now I'm going to do the reverse while you tell me its taboo? Sounds like fucking twisted principles to me!"

"Kurogane-sama," whispered Souma in worry.

Sora met the ninja's fiery glare and didn't pull away. "My sympathies, Kurogane," the priest said, bowing his head slightly. "I'm sorry that one you loved has passed-" The black-haired man tensed at that, "-but you can't pursue this. It'll only end badly. It is...an unfortunate fact that destroying is always easier than creating." He rose up, casually smoothing down his robes. "That said, are you sure in your decision in to use the Grimms' Scrying Mirror to heal your torment?"

"It's not for-!" But as soon as the words came tumbling out, Kurogane's voice left him. A lie. What a lie. "...She needs to be alive again."

"If that's what you believe." Sora shrugged. He took a deep breath, gathering himself. "Fine then. Arashi and I know where it can be found."

"Don't hold back now," Kurogane challenged with a deadly grin.

"Let me make this clear, I'm telling you not to encourage you. I just want you to realize what big a mistake you're making." Sora went behind the large chair he and Arashi had shared and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Arashi used to be a trusted adviser to our last ruler, Ashura."

When the ninja looked at her, Arashi continued to speak. "I once saw him with a strange mirror. It wasn't that it was odd in appearance. It was more that I sensed something from it. From that, I can say with utmost certainty that it was magickal, and that it is the mirror you two have sought for."

"So..." Souma looked behind over to the windows, outside.

Arashi nodded. "I was there when our lord died. In his chambers, I saw it. To this day, the mirror remains in the castle."

Kurogane smirked. "Really, I thought no less." Without another word, he began to walk over to the door. Ignoring his companion's exclamations, he walked out, a determined expression on his face.

Souma got up, bowing deeply to Sora and Arashi. "I apologize on behalf of my master. It's just..."

"He cared about someone," Arashi finished with a small, but understanding, smile.

The kunoichi rubbed the back of her neck. "I know it seems mundane, but..." She crossed her arms over her chest, loosely hugging herself. "Sometimes I think the same thing as you, and I wonder if he can really bring her back."

"Was she someone close to you both?"

"Oh, yes. Once, she was someone Kurogane-sama had sworn to protect, because..." She trailed off, looking away. After a few seconds, she bowed again. "Thank you again for helping us. Your information was most valuable to my master and me." And she walked to the door, about to sprint to catch up to Kurogane, when Sora's hand was suddenly on her shoulder.

"Please, Miss, be careful about this. That castle...I'm not sure if you know about the curse-"

"Yes, Sakura-chan told us about it. But…Sora, why is everyone so worried about what's inside the castle? Isn't it just Prince Yuui?" she asked, having learned the name from Kurogane. She looked down at his hand, which was still holding onto her. "What happens in there?"

At that, Sora's hand slipped. "I've no idea," he admitted quietly. "But please, just look after yourselves. And make sure that you're ready to face anything – your enemy isn't always going to be obvious."

"We have those called ninja where we're from," Souma informed with a reassuring smile, "who are trained for combat, and to have keen perception. Kurogane-sama may not look it, but he's one – the best in our country, as a matter of fact." She gave an upbeat nod. "We'll be fine. Thank you again, for everything." And with that, she turned and hurried out of the room.

Only when her footfalls had completely faded did Arashi rise, walking over to her husband. Sora spoke without looking at her, still gazing at the open door. "So that's him, then? The one Sakura told us about?"

Arashi nodded. "The one that she dreamed of."

"He seems a bit rough around the edges," Sora remarked with a raised brow. "Sakura's ability to dream the future doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's right." The priest sighed melodramatically. "You think he'll bring change?"

"Who knows," Arashi murmured. "She only foresaw this man coming to us, and that he would make great contact with him. It's not certain if that will turn out to be a good or bad thing."

"Then I suppose," began Sora as he slid his hand to his wife's, their fingers threading together, "the only thing we can do is pray for them, huh? Because I for one am tired of all this suffering."

xXxOxXx

"Kurogane-samaaaa, please wait!"

The black-haired man had already taken Gurei out of the stable and was mounting him by the time Souma came running out of the cathedral. Her face was fixed in a scowl as she went past him to get Shiro. Based on how lively he'd been a second ago, she was slightly surprised when she pulled out her pearly-white horse from the stable and still found him there.

"There, that's more like it," she muttered to him as she hopped onto Shiro's back. A black brow was raised as she glanced at her master. "Did you have to barge out so rudely?"

"You'd be surprised how little manners compare to a life," retorted the ninja as Gurei began to pace through the snow once more.

Souma slowly trailed Kurogane, watching him. Without thinking, she murmured, almost fondly, "Now how would Tsukuyomi punish you if she heard you say that?" Rocking soothingly with each step Shiro took, she looked up at the sky, searching beyond the gray heavens of the kingdom.

"Hey, it seems we're getting closer all the time," she said, so softly that no one else would be able to hear her. Uncertainty etched plainly across her face as she asked desperately, "Will ruin befall us, befall you...and consume Kurogane-sama should this fail?"

xXxOxXx

Seresu castle was surrounded by cold ivory fencing, almost blending in with the snow. At the front were large pearly gates, the bars separated by serpentine tendrils reminiscent of Hiberno-Saxon-styled curls. Crowning the top where the two gates met was a three-dimensional star that Kurogane suspected had once been as magnificent as the Northern Star. But the fact that the gates were twisted and gaping like the jaws of a fierce dragon stole any grandeur the ivory entrance may have had.

Kurogane paused before the gates, brows knit together in a frown. Souma rode up next to him, a gasp escaping her.

"It's…they're broken?" she said, appalled. Shiro snorted, reluctant to step closer – mirroring her rider's shock.

Red eyes surveyed the wreckage, his mind recalling what Touya and Yukito had said, and what it implied. "People broke in, trying to usurp the fallen monarchy," he concluded. His gaze caught a glimpse of a worn-out, snow-dusted flag that he knew, even through its weathered appearance, didn't belong to Seresu. "And not just citizens, either, but other countries."

"Yet they still think that Prince Yuui is the only one in the castle? I wonder if this explains the condition of some of the houses; maybe the siege affected the other people as well," Souma commented with a look behind her at the town. When her dark eyes flickered back to the castle, she asked, "So, are we really going in, Kurogane-sama?"

Her question was met with a smirk. "The gate is already open; we're practically being invited in," said the ninja, eyes shining in unbridled anticipation.

Tomoyo…I'm almost there!

With that thought, Kurogane tugged on Gurei's reigns, rousing his horse into action. Gurei had only taken a few steps however, before Kurogane heard Souma exclaim in surprise, Shiro emitting a neigh equal in shock.

"Hey, give that back!"

Kurogane came up to his companion, agitation clear in his expression. "What happened?" he demanded impatiently.

Souma struggled to calm Shiro down as she tried to turn her mount around. "Someone – with a cloak, a hood covering their face – I'm sorry, but they took the pouch I had tied to Shiro's saddle! It – it has our money in it, and the magick flower!"

As the dark-skinned kunoichi fervently explained, Kurogane looked out in the distance. Sure enough, a dark-blue cloak was billowing behind a running figure, heading towards the town where more people where. Quick to take action, the ninja had Gurei take off the second Souma stopped explaining. The storm-colored horse gradually began to run, kicking snow with each heated step. Kurogane made sure to keep an eye out for the cloaked thief, not breaking contact with their retreating form. It wasn't so much the money Kurogane was concerned about than the magick flower.

Castles aren't really known for their miniscule size, he thought as cold air tore at his face. We need that flower if we want the mirror!

The few people who were outside paused at the sight of a dark man racing down the snowy road. Denizens crossing the frozen path were quick to get out of the way for the storm-cloud horse and his black-clad rider.

The distance between the thief and Kurogane was quickly closing, but before he could get any closer, a streak of white intercepted his horse's course. Gurei neighed, tossing himself on his hind legs fearfully as he just narrowly avoided contact with the unexpected blockage.

"What the-?" Kurogane blinked in surprise, gripping Gurei's reigns tightly until his horse righted itself on the ground.

Standing in the snow was a large, wolf-like creature, the fur that stood on end the same color as moonlight. A tail resembling a pearly flame curled over its back like a scorpion's, and its snout was wrinkled in a scowl, salivated teeth bared as it growled.

The freaks just keep on coming… Instinctively, Kurogane placed a hand on Ginryuu's dragon-crafted hilt.

The wolf-creature snapped its jaws together in warning before turning to run away. Kurogane frowned, but his confusion was erased when the moonlight beast strode aside the thief in the distance. Not breaking their run, the cloaked figure hopped onto its back.

So that's how it is, eh?

"Go!" Kurogane barked to Gurei, who immediately charged at the two figures. Hoofs pounded into the snow, hot in pursuit of the target. Despite the sharp, unexpected turns and the people who exclaimed in fear as they dashed out of the way, Kurogane was soon mere feet away.

A hooded face peered hind itself and the thief gasped. Then, just as quick as the shock came, a bellow sounded in the pursuit. "Inuki, time to get serious!"

Kurogane couldn't even begin to ponder those words before he blinked and then, just like that, the two were gone.

"…Shit." The ninja tugged Gurei into a stop. It couldn't be helped, then. He jumped off his horse's back, giving Gurei a firm look that said stay here. Taking a deep breath, Kurogane opened up his vampire senses – if they had truly disappeared, his ninja skills weren't quite going to cut it. He soon felt it, their trail still lingering in the snow.

So they didn't disappear – just got faster. Kurogane smirked at the irony. If it's a game of speed, I think I may just have the advantage. With a small chuckle escaping his lips, Kurogane was also suddenly gone from the scene.

The wispy trail they left behind smelled faintly of fur and pine trees, and Kurogane had his nose lead his direction. Houses and people passed in a black-and-white blur, the wind not even able to touch him because he was going so fast. In what was but two blinks of a human's eye, the ninja was in front of the hidden criminal and their steed, steps away from a wintry wood.

A surprised scream escaped the thief's throat, one that was clearly female. The shriek upset the large wolf-beast and it stopped inches before Kurogane, eyes glittering in a glare as it growled.

"Are you done yet?" Kurogane asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "you've got something that belongs to me, now hand it over."

"A-as if!"

"Don't force me to get violent, because I won't hesitate," the ninja warned.

"Funny," began the thief, tilting her head. "I was about to say the same thing! Inuki!"

The wolf-beast howled in obedience and barreled toward Kurogane. The dark-haired man easily dodged the charge and, when he was beside them, kicked the girl off her steed. She cried out, falling to the snow. The creature turned and, seeing its mistress drop into the white frost, fervently searched for Kurogane. Its paws bared steel-like claws, lashing out whenever the ninja appeared. Kurogane gave the same kick that ad knocked out the girl, sending the beast hurdling towards a tress, which in slammed into with a whine in pain.

"You can't say I didn't give you the option!" the black-haired man shouted, ready to strike again.

"No, please!" The thief was on her feet once more and her arms were suddenly around Kurogane's middle, trying to stop him with her feeble strength. "Please, no, don't hurt him! Don't hurt my Inuki! I'll give it back, I swear I will!"

At first, the ninja saw no reason he should listen to her, but then her hold on him tightened. Kurogane sighed, then relaxed his fight-tensed muscles, signaling that he was done. Slowly and tentatively, the small arms left him.

"Inuki!" She was bent down to him, her hands running through silver fur softly. The wolf-beast rose, only slightly beat-up as he gave his mistress an assuring lick on her cheek.

In the middle of the fight, her hood had fallen back, her face revealed. Short black hair teased against her ears and cheeks, and she had wide, childlike eyes even though she seemed to be a teenager. The cloak had, for the most part, concealed the fact that she was skinnier than a pole and, mixed with her kind face, appeared completely innocent and breakable. In one of her hands was a brown pouch. Kurogane held his hand out for it when he noticed the bag.

"Alright, I spared you mutt, now give back what's mine," he ordered gruffly.

The girl hesitated, but nodded reluctantly. She kissed Inuki on the head, ruffling his fur before rising to toss the pouch to Kurogane. "Here."

He caught it effortlessly, opening it up to make sure that the flower – and at least some money – were still inside. Everything was exactly in place as when it was in Souma's possession. Speaking of which, I should be getting back to her.

A hand shot out and grabbed Kurogane's coat, stopping him from walking away. "H-hey, where you going?" the girl asked. Inuki had risen alongside her, tall enough that his snout could rub against her waist. "I mean, don't I warrant an apology or anything?"

"The hell you need a thing like that?" Kurogane asked, snatching back his coat.

"Hey, you almost killed Inuki!"

"You instigated the whole thing!" the dark-haired man pointed out hotly. He froze then, widening his eyes. "Wait, you're speaking Japanese!"

"Yes – and wouldn't you know it, so are you!" the thief remarked sardonically. "So are you-?"

"But…it's fluent!" the ninja pressed. "You don't have that accent that others have here."

Arms flailed out, embracing an obviousness Kurogane couldn't see. "That's because I'm from Japan, alright? From Nihon! Japanese is my native language, so are you happy?" she snapped, crossing her arms tightly to her chest. Her breath left in a smoke of silver as she sighed. Then she smiled, an upbeat one that made dimples appear at the corners of her lips, like a grin was something she had on her face often. Holding out a hand, she said, "Well, Mr. Almost-Murderer, I'm Yuzuriha Nekoi-!"

"Don't care."

"Eh!"

"You stole from me and, quite frankly," said Kurogane with a wave of his hand, "I don't care why. Therefore, I don't care who you are." He made a show of putting the pouch in his coat pocket.

Yuzuriha scowled, continuing to follow him even when he began to walk away. "Hey, you kicked me and my dog. If a bruise forms-"

"Then you've got something to brag about to your criminal friends."

A childlike pout formed on Yuzuriha's faintly pink lips. "Can't you at least ask if we're alright, since I gave your stuff back?" Inuki, who was walking beside her, looked up as she petted his head. "I mean, Inuki isn't hurt, right?"

With an agitated sigh, Kurogane asked, "Why do you care so much about your…that thing? Your dog," he quickly amended when Yuzuriha's pout turned into a glare.

"Inuki," she explained softly, "is my only friend. The only one I can talk to and be with. If I didn't have him, I'd…have no one."

Have no one…

"So, um…where are you headed?" Yuzuriha asked conversationally.

Kurogane rolled his eyes. "You're not coming with, alright? It's bad enough to have little begging puppies like you wandering around without a home, but this is two of 'em right here," he said, giving a look to each the girl and the beast. Before Yuzuriha could protest, he added, "And besides, after I get what I want, I'm not staying here any longer. So you might as well bark up someone else's tree – and I mean that as figuratively as possible."

Yuzuriha stopped walking, a scowl on her face once more. There was hurt in her eyes, but she turned around so that Kurogane couldn't see when he looked back. "Fine then, we don't need a pain in the ass like you, anyway!"

"Great," replied the ninja airily. The snow made soft wet sounds as he continued to walk back to where Gurei was. Just as he began wondering if he should use his vampire speed again, he heard soft panting and snow being kicked away by running feet – or rather, corrected Kurogane, running paws. He forced himself to put a lid on his frustration as Inuki walked up beside him, Yuzuriha on his back.

"Hey, but what can you possibly hope to find at that castle?" she asked, looking up at Kurogane. "It's all empty of people and I hear that you can't in too easy anyway. Something like, people go in but not out. You telling me that doesn't spook you?"

"I have a sword that I haven't used in awhile and next to a brat that's getting more and more on my nerves," growled Kurogane. He glared down at her with his intimidating red eyes. "You're telling me that doesn't spook you?"

"Just asking, is all," Yuzuriha said. She looked off past the town they were headed for, but it was impossible not to see the tall, thin towers of Seresu castle. "It'd just be a shame if you went in there and then couldn't get back in…trapped with ghosts…and who knows what!"

Kurogane almost chuckled. He looked down at his thief and saw that she was holding onto Inuki's fur tighter, and her already wide eyes were round in horror. He knocked the back of her head softly. "Ghosts, traps, monsters – it doesn't matter what I encounter in there." The castle loomed tall and menacing over him, and his crimson eyes stared it off challengingly.

"Because I'm getting what I need, no matter what."

xXxOxXx

"Hey, whatcha doin'?"

A little boy of about seven was standing next to a window, the thick curtains brushed aside so he could look out into the kingdom. This tower certainly wasn't as tall as the prince's was, but it still provided a good view of the town down below. He had been lost in thought when one of his brothers had come up the stairs and entered the room.

The boy shook his head, sunlit curls whipping against his cheeks. "Nothing. I just wanted to look outside."

"Really," replied his brother, who was at least a teenager and had slightly longer hair. He came up to stand next to the younger. "I never thought you'd be interested in all that out there, Memory." He gestured to the town. It was already the afternoon, but only a few people were actually outside. "It's pretty bleak – just boring people and snow."

"I'm waiting, Envy. Looking for someone," Memory explained simply, staring up at his brother with his wide blue eyes.

Envy looked from the younger to the frost-coated houses in the distance, then back to his brother. "And, who exactly are you hoping to find all the way up here? You know we can't go out there; we've got an all-important duty here," he reminded sardonically. He went over to a desk and brushed off the dust off a book – this tower used to be one of the late king's many studies.

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I know we've got to protect the prince. Tsubasa told us so." Memory, so short in height, was on his tip-toes trying to take glances out the window. "But he visited someone interesting just a while ago in the dreams."

"A while ago?" Envy repeated with a laugh, flipping through the pages of the book. It looked like it was about plants that grew in the country. "People are afraid to go to sleep at night, much less in the middle of the day."

"But he's different, the man that the prince visited," the small boy insisted.

"Did his energy go straight to you?" asked Envy, tilting his head to the side. When his brother nodded, the blond became a bit more attentive, moving away from the old desk. "That means he must've found out something bad."

"He has a past that's consuming him," agreed Memory. He got down from the window and sat down on the cold stone floor. Loosely, he wrapped his arms around his small frame. "And there's something he's missing. A part of him is messed up – so messed up it's like it isn't even there anymore."

The comments were met with silence. Envy tried to ponder his younger brother's words, but couldn't riddle them out. This was new to them after all – all of them, the seven brothers. They never viewed someone else's dream before and used it as a means for payment. When they had been summoned before to protect someone, they'd been paid in a number of ways – gold, spells, hospitality. Sustenance wasn't necessarily a first, but in this method it was.

This time around when they were summoned, it was for an enchanted prince. And the energy from others given off when they had nightmares was the payment they received. Of course, when someone's nightmare gave off a particularly strong energy surrounding it, one of the brothers would be able to catch a glimpse of that dream. Envy had seen the visions of those with nightmares full of wanton jealousy. Another brother like Betrayal could see the dreams of hurt caused by one who was once trusted.

Memory probably received some of the more complex nightmares.

Envy focused back on his brother when he noticed the thoughtful expression on his face. "Well, it's not like any of this is for you to figure out, Mem," he said, trying to lighten up the mood by using a nickname.

The younger boy's eyes remained pensive, giving an air of someone wiser than his years. "I know, but...something about that man really bothers me. I want to find out more about him."

"Do what you want, but you're not leaving this castle," the older blond stated tersely.

"Yes, Brother." Memory sighed and got up, the same frown creasing his brow. "It's a bit strange though, getting our pay this way - through other people's nightmares."

"It might have been different if Tsubasa had to pay the price instead of the prince. However, we're more bonded to him than her. That's what happened when Tsubasa sent us to be his guardians. But since he's asleep...this is the only way he can pay." Envy walked to his younger brother and held out a hand. "Now, c'mon then, Mem. I hear Wrath requests an audience with us."

xXxOxXx

Ending A/N: Here are the translations that weren't explained in this chapter: Entschuldigung - "I'm so sorry." And prinz should be obvious - it means "prince."

Summer is still here, yet updates are slow -gets shot- My laptop KO'd for two weeks, but it lives once more~ -cheers- If anyone noticed, I changed the summary...I seem to change alot of things... -sighs- Excuse my fails if you would; I tend to act without thinking... But hey, could you tell I was showing off my art history skills with that architecture? xD Eh, I knew it would do some good in the future.

I'd be pleased if you reviewed/critiqued~!