Ishigamin lifted his throbbing face from the ruins of his floor. The Charter Circle, partly broken, was still there along with what he suspected to be the girl, Aoi's, blood. As he remembered what had happened he felt his eyes widen in horror. What had he done? He climbed to his feet, grasping his overturned desk for support as the room spun around him. As soon as his vision steadied, he headed for the door, determined to attempt to right his mistake. Yukariko would have called it atoning for his sins. Yukariko. The door slammed shut on the ruined room.

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A lone shaft of light found its way into the cell Aoi was locked in. She'd come round in the cell about an hour ago and since then she'd seen no-one. The very thought of being left to die here terrified Aoi, and she found herself searching desperately for Chie's link. Tears welled up in Aoi's eyes, it still wasn't there. A sob escaped her as despair welled up inside her.

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Father Greer paced up and down, agitated. His master had postponed the meeting as Kannzaki was planning something. Nagi had to take the time to counter whatever Kannzaki had put into motion. He felt his fists clench as anger coursed through his body. That impudent charmer would in centuries of pain, that thought alone calmed Greer down enough to think. They could still make the deadline but the postponement would make it close. A smile, nasty and cruel, curved over his face.

"Tomoe, make the preparations," he ordered the green-haired demon. A door nearby flew open and Tomoe stalked out, looking angry.

"She wont stop," she muttered, disgusted. Miya had been sobbing ever since they'd thrown their target in a cell.

"Never mind in less than an hour, your contract will be broken and we will be gone," Father Greer assured the demon.

"To be bound to a human," She shook her head, scornfully.

"Even I, a human myself, agree that demons are our masters. Not those sequestered do-gooders or ourselves even," he agreed, looking anxiously at the pool which had been enchanted to allow communications. Tomoe chuckled, this fool would not see the revolution.

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Ishigamin took a few gulps of air, ignoring the increasing pain, and shoved open the door. The two figures inside broke from their conversation suddenly at his arrival. The first figure was Chie and the second Nina. Upon seeing his face they stepped forward but Ishigamin held up his hand.

"I'm sorry, Chie, I made a mistake. They've taken Aoi," he gasped. The fox demons eyes widened, and then her ears folded flat against her head and she snarled. The next instant she grabbed his shoulders and lifted him of the floor, still snarling.

"Who?" she demanded, shaking him slightly. Nina stepped forward, also waiting for his answer. Ishigamin didn't hesitate.

"Tomoe, Greer and that Miya girl, I'll take you to them,"

Chie dropped him in disgust and he quickly ran, aware of two figures on his tail. He wondered briefly why Nina was coming but dismissed it. What mattered was saving Aoi.

None of the noticed the third figure, who had begun to follow them.

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"Understood," acknowledged Greer as Nagi's youthful face disappeared from the pool. Greer turned to Tomoe and nodded. The earth demon smiled and marched off in Aoi's direction, whilst Greer pulled out his gun. It had been specially modified and he was rather pleased with how it had turned out.

Screams echoed from the distance and Greer rolled his eyes, the girl was resisting. He hoped Tomoe didn't kill her, he wanted that honour.

Finally the sobbing Aoi was brought before him. Upon seeing her back straightened and her blue eyes hardened with anger and hatred. Had the terror she had exhibited before been an act?

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Aoi glared at the old man, hating him for turning her into a mess, as Tomoe bound her hands behind her back. Greer studied her before lifting up his gun and aiming it at her face.

"Any last words?" he asked with a mocking smile. Aoi gritted her teeth, all the while her brain not believing what was happening. Someone would save her, right?

"Get lost, old man," she snarled. Greer sneered and took aim. His finger rested lightly on the trigger.

BANG!!

Aoi flinched in terror, convinced she was dead. After a moment she opened one eye she'd squeezed shut on instinct. Father Greer was on the floor, clutching his leg. His gun, forgotten, next to him as he groaned in pain. Tomoe was staring in a mixture of anger and fear behind Aoi. Aoi craned her neck around and felt her heart soar with relief. It was Chie, Nina and Ishigamin. Ishigamin was holding the gun whilst Chie held a sword and Nina wielded two deadly looking daggers. Tomoe hesitated, glancing at the fallen priest.

"Kill them," he panted, working his way into a sitting position. Tomoe leapt into the air, throwing out her hand. Vines shot from nowhere, flying towards her would-be rescuers. Ishigamin ran forwards, dodging them. Nina vanished into shadow, the vines encircling empty air and then dying as Tomoe's Magic withdrew from them. Chie remained still until the vines were close enough to touch her, then burst into flame. The vines were quickly consumed. Chie and Nina reappeared behind Tomoe, all three floating. Chie hurled a fireball, which Tomoe dodged. Nina dived with her daggers.

Aoi panicked slightly as she was grabbed from behind and hauled away. She looked around to see Ishigamin, he rolled them both behind a rock that gave the some cover from the fight above. Tomoe's whip missed Nina by inches, bringing down chunks of rock from the cave roof. Tomoe was then forced to throw herself back as Chie appeared in a burst of flame and aiming a kick to Tomoe's side. Nina vanished, only to reappear behind Tomoe, stabbing at her back. Tomoe turned and took the wound on her arm before moving away, only for Chie to appear and kick her side. Tomoe visibly winced and moved away considerably slower. Suddenly Aoi's view of the fight was blocked as Ishigamin threw himself in front of her. A second later he went limp, one of Father Greer's modified bullets through his chest. Aoi knew looking at the mess that had been made he didn't stand a chance. He was breathing unsteadily, and coughing up blood.

"I…I'm sorry… Tell Yu… Yukariko I… love…her…," he managed to choke as he gasped for the futile air. Aoi couldn't move, there was so much blood. It covered her, the floor, Ishigamin. She turned to look as his face and watched the light die in his eyes and, due a lull in the battle, heard his last breath.

Ishigamin: I'm dead?

Nao: Apparently so.

*Author runs past*

Author: Help meeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Natsuki: Die!

Author: Please don't kill me! I'll put you in the next chapter.

Natsuki: Really?

Haruka, Yukino, Erstin, Alyssa, Miyu, Mai, Mikoto and everyone else: WHAT ABOUT US?

Author: I'll put you all in the next chapter.

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