Be Very Afraid of the Dark

Chapter 9

Kakuzu is determined more than usual to get Yang and return to the city as Yang was to get away and NOT lead him to J'onn.

"It would be very nice of you to leave me alone..." Yang snarled "I'll do whatever you want"

Kakuzu looked ticked off now "Nice...?" Before grabbing Yang and choking him in the air with one hand "I think you have me very confused for some friend of yours, no less...I don't have a nice bone in my body"

Yang kicks Kakuzu hard in the jaw and used his momentum to free himself then took off.

Kakuzu rose a bit later and rubbed his jaw with a crossed look on his face...then he thought about it, as he could still sense Yang and wasn't planning to let him get away with the things he's done as the only thing Kakuzu found as a bigger disrespect than trying to bribe or rob him out of a pay load is a student dishonoring their master and betrayal was a big no-no as well as he thought 'Kami, you're lucky I hold such high regards for you...from one master to another, I'll try my best to honor your wish to bring this scoundrel to you alive, as I need that heart of his alive and beating as well when I make it mine' he went after Yang and exited the forest.

That was when he sensed a powerful magic that could put Kami's to shame and it was dropping like a stone...someone was there that Yang seems willing to protect and that makes Kakuzu all the more curious...


With Yang, he was sensing the same magic as Kakuzu but knew the only person that knew of this place other than himself was J'onn, that was when he saw it...the former Ghoul Lord and his master's old master was in chains with a strange...entity whispering a dead language in his ear. It was an Angel of Death that came to take him back to the afterlife...basically it was death itself.

Yang could hear his breathing before he could even see J'onn, who was left in a horrendous state as he almost thought of betraying him and leaving him there to die...but they both still had something the other wanted, as Yang could get J'onn much closer to Kami without much killing than if he tried get to the Ghoul Lord himself and J'onn had the one thing Yang craves...power that he plans to make his before J'onn dies as he also smells charred which is weird with his immunity to Lightning and Fire...

'Anata wa tawagoto no yōnimieru' (You look like shit) was the first thing Yang could say once seeing J'onn as he chases the Angel of Death away from him and tried to lift him to his feet as J'onn's eyes open with a very visibly painful wince as he replied sharply "Late...as usual, jackass"

"Don't make me drop you, old man" Yang grumbled as he wasn't in the mood for an attitude "What the hell...happened here?"

"I've been keeping many places other than here hidden from my master...I didn't realized I was followed and my master...was more than a little upset" J'onn explained as Yang replied "by the looks of things...he was beyond pissed with you"

Just then, Yang remembered that he was being perused by Kakuzu, but he couldn't sense a trace of the Bounty Hunter's magic now...which was all the more unsettling

Kakuzu suddenly stepped in the way of the only door in or out of this place with his arms folded and Yang could feel the grin hidden under his mask "Well well, getting you was the only part of my contract, but I can only imagine the reward for Lord Kami's old master" the thrill was as evident as the feint sarcasm in Kakuzu's voice as Yang began shaking.

J'onn simply glared at him from the corner of his eye, he would live but his punishment from The One was only starting once Ryujin returns as he said "Yang...you're an idiot, forgetting that Kakuzu, of all people, was after you"

'Dakara, kyōryokuna mahō ga dete kita no wa anatadatta... Futari ga koko ni nokotte iru yuiitsu no hōhō wa, watashi o kaishite, rukario-sama' (So it was you that powerful magic was coming from... the only way you two are leaving here is through me, Lucario-sama) Kakuzu sounded both amused and annoyed and knew that he was testing Yang' s nerves by the look on Yang's face. Not that he cared in the slightest


A second later, Kakuzu is shot into the air by Yang and lands on his back with a painful thud and Yang sprinted to get away with J'onn on his back, his limbs were intact but due to being in chains, his wrists and ankles were burned as a painful reminder and he couldn't walk as Kakuzu wasn't far behind and probably even more pissed off. Back in the city, Bane was with Taeger as he prepared himself mentally to get his powers back, the process called re-enlightenment was harsh but not without it's rewards...once done, no matter what thoughts Taeger may later have, he can never lose his powers again by the procedure that took them in the first place, called de-enlightenment or any other means besides if he dies.

"So...how does one go about losing their powers?" Bane whispered knowing Taeger would hear him as he turned and regarded him with a cold stare "So young...so stupid, I won't tell you that... if it's painful enough that I survived only by the skin of my teeth, even with prior knowledge then you will surely die or kill yourself since your still too naïve"

"I am not that naïve" Bane said as Taeger smirked in a way Bane didn't trust "Bind my wrists then...we must leave soon" he presented his wrists to Bane, who glared "No, baka"

Kami, who'd been so quite that even Taeger forgot that he was there even finally for a while, spoke up "Do it, Asakura...at some point, Taeger will try to escape and this prevents this"

"Cuffs that stop magic doesn't necessarily work on someone without any, master" Bane argued as Kami glared at him "Quite knowledgeable of you, but don't argue and do it...you'll be glad you did later."

"Not yet..." Taeger said as they left "I don't want to leave your student unimpressed...Kami-san"

"You're trying to impress my student...?" Kami didn't know what to say or think "He has only one master, Alphonse and that's me...be careful to remember that"

"Keep up..." Taeger said to Bane as he nodded and both disappeared.

Once they were gone, Kami's smile disappeared fast...one of the presences he sensed when he was almost assassinated had reappeared in the city but disappeared very quickly...not quickly enough for him not to notice a drastic difference but eerie similarity to his own power

Taeger and Bane made it to the Binge Eater side of the city, to a large house...there they met Scar, who was less than pleased to not see Taeger in chains as two voices inside...the male trying to persuade the female and they weren't quiet about it, to the point where Taeger wanted to intervene...

"Ryuken..." Taeger said as Scar leaned against the stone wall with his arms folded and a scowl that got worse at the very sight of his former master "Go jump off a cliff, Taeger...I don't care what Kami says, I won't let you hurt her"

"What's going on in there?" Bane asks as he heard something big being thrown across the room "they sound like an old couple in there" he chuckled as the two adult shot him a silencing look.

Inside Scar's two story home, Yamamoto was trying to persuade Yukino Salazar that she had to go with the man who left her for dead and took her brother to get his banished powers...she didn't know or care to know how his magic was gone, but he was better off without it as far as she was concerned.

"Yuki...you know he's back in the city, right?" Yamamoto chose his words carefully, he knew her hatred for Taeger rivalled even Kami's and Yamamoto himself was neutral... he neither liked nor hated Taeger but didn't support what he did to the Salazar siblings "he bartered with Kami that he should be escorted to get his magic back...by you and Yang's son"

Yukino threw a vase at his head, which he caught and set down on the table...he hated when she got like this as he warned "drop that couch...I won't be paying for any of your brother's valuables"

Yukino hesitated and Yamamoto lunged, grabbing her wrists without hurting her "He has been made to promise not to touch you"

"Like the one he made to onee-san?!" The usually serene Yukino said venomously "Don't mock me...he'll never agree to that?"

"How do you know that?" Taeger interjected as his presence became known "I've been here long enough to hear everything...now come along before I really get pissed, girl!"

'Watashi wa sore o ichido itta, soshite watashi wa futatabi sore o iudarou...' (I said it once and I'll say it again...) Yukino was furious now as her glare pointed at Taeger, who was struggling not to beat them both to death 'Watashi wa sono meinu to issho ni dokoni mo ikimasen!' (I'm not going anywhere with that asshole!)

Taeger pinned her to the wall by the throat "I think that's enough swearing to save us all several friggin' lifetimes, you're coming with me unless you want me to break a promise to Kami not to kill you!" Taeger snarled at Yukino, pinned under his chokehold as both Yamamoto and Scar had a knife at his throat and forehead respectively

"No...you won't" Yamamoto snarled as Scar snapped, standing on the taller Ghoul's shoulders "I'll kill you, Taeger Alphonse...release her right now!"

Taeger didn't seem too bothered by the threats or weapons in his face as he said calmly "Do that and I'll crush her throat indefinitely...even if you kill me, my death grip will remain and she'll join us on the other side" Taeger smiled demonically at all of them and even chuckled a bit, they're crazy if they think Taeger was just going down alone or without a fight.

"Come on, let her go" Bane said "we have to leave, Taeger"

'Korekara mo, baka baka!' (Stay out of this, dumbass!) Taeger kicked Bane hard and although he blocked it at almost the last minute, he was still thrown back 'Watashi wa watashi no zaisan o mōichido miru no ni jūbun nagai ma matte imashita... Anata no chīsana ha o watashi kara tōzakeru koto wa dekimasen.' (I've waited long enough to see my property again...now get your little blades away from me before I show you just how insane I am)

"Exactly why I think you're better off without magic" Bane had gotten into his master's habit of speaking his mind no matter what others thought of it "you're strong enough and it is unnecessary."

Taeger lets go of Yukino and barely moves otherwise as he glares at Bane, he's going to punish him severely for those words in due time as he left without a single remark...this had everyone surprised and Scar on edge. He is planning something especially nasty for the young Asakura, which also had him on edge.

"Fine, I'll go just to get this over with" Yukino sighed as she glared at Taeger and massaged her throat before helping Bane to his feet "thanks...but you shouldn't have done that...he really seems to have high expectations of you"

'Kare o kōsoku shi nasai... Ima, kawarini watashi o kōsoku shinakereba naranai' (Restrain him...right now before you have to restrain me instead) Scar snarled, knowing Bane had Taeger's restraints as Bane followed Taeger outside, Yukino beside him "be careful..."

"We will, onee-san..." Yukino said with glee, she didn't know how very appropriate that would be for where they were going as they met Taeger outside staring at the sky then to them.

Yukino pouted and Taeger looked really sour as he muttered "If you think I'll do this without a fight, you've got another thing comin'...dumb brats" he presented his wrists to Bane and added "put those restraints on me and don't take them off, while you still can...we're leaving"

Bane did as he was told and put the cuffs on his wrists as they started walking. Yukino looked back at her brother and the man she secretly (to everyone but him) had eyes for, Yamamoto "You'll pay for this Hatake-san..." she muttered quietly as Yamamoto's ear perked.

He heard her as if she'd practically screamed it as no one else seemed to and nodded uncaring of the consequence of whatever she would have to say to him when she returned as she caught up to Bane and 'Mister Moody' Taeger.

"Where are we even heading?" Yukino asks as Taeger asked "Haven't you noticed a tower at the edge of the city?"

Bane and Yukino looked at each other then back to him replying "No..." Taeger rubbed his temple "Forget J'onn, you two are gonna be the end of me...we're burning daylight and won't make it there until lights out, keep up."

They move fast, avoiding any Binge Eater they could and if they couldn't...Taeger either threatened to beat them to death with their own limbs or the happened to see Bane...all-knowing of what Kami might do if he was harmed until they made it to a Temple that was guarded by Sages, Ghouls that were determined to keep the secrets of the city as just that...secrets, but the city still seemed to have enough secrets left to find still...none as dangerous as these secrets. They are also the ones that Taeger learned to get rid of his powers from.

"We're here..." Taeger said as Bane asked "Where's 'here' exactly?"

Taeger shrugged "You can't imagine how long I've been trying to learn the name of this place, but these guys are quite determined to die with that and whatever other secrets they're hiding"

The three approached the Temple, but when they got too close they were stopped...

"This place is forbidden!" One of the two guards at the door said as they barred the door, Taeger smirked "We mean you no harm...We're here on business for the Ghoul Lord" Taeger decided to use Kami's title as it usually got them into many forbidden places.

The giant guards looked at each other then to Taeger "We sense no magic in you..."

"Yeah, that's kinda the point of us being here..." Taeger rolled his eyes as they looked at each other again in silence...if they did that again, Taeger was going to attack one of them "Then you may enter..."

The three enter but only Taeger was allowed to pass "You alone shall enter" Taeger looked over his shoulder at the two teens

"Let us pass!" Bane snarled as they weren't allowed to pass "Taeger"

Taeger looked at them, then walked off without any emotion, this was what made most other people angry with him, including Bane and Scar...he was extremely masochist and had no care or value for anyone but himself unless you were useful to him, of course putting aside his past and personal vendetta with Kami and his disdain for other Ghouls paints the picture of a very cold sadist and he won't deny the sadism part either.

"Let me through!" Taeger was long gone but could still hear Bane outside despite no longer being there as he was laid on a incredibly solid stone slab on his back and they stood over his body...they were already aware of why Alphonse Taeger dared to come back here as one of the two men said "Are you ready, Master Taeger?"

"My reputation must precede me...either that or it's finally going to my head" Taeger said as the other snarled "Answer the damn question, goddamn it!"

Taeger leered at that repulsive man, they all repulsed him for that matter but decided to show respect...for now "What do ya think, dumb little dipshit?"

They began, Taeger could barely remember exactly how he managed to get rid of his powers but he knew it wasn't this...Lightning, a force of nature that no one could fully control but one of the purest and most lethal forms of Advanced Magic. Within the minute, Taeger's wails of mind and body numbing pain could be heard...it would be nightfall before this was finished.


Back outside, Bane wasn't going to give up until they made him...especially when he heard that the procedure had started and Taeger sounded like he was in a huge amount of pain, which wasn't far from the truth.

"Taeger!" Bane screamed as he made one final push past the guards who weilded staves but one kicked Bane in the chest, sending him back saying "Desist, at once" he clenched his fist as his knuckles cracked, these guys knew nothing of holding back and always fought to kill.

"Please, don't..." Yukino pleaded but Bane went into his wolf form and jumped high enough that he would make it past them...they were surprised by this but the same guard that kicked him met him in the air with equal and surprising speed with the heavy armor they wore

The proceedure ended faster than expected however and a bright blue flame shot out of the entrance at Bane, hitting and incinerating the guard instead as his body fell to the ground, dead.

Taeger walked out and pointed at Wolf-Bane 'Dare mo watashi no emono o nusunde shimai, sorekara hanaremasen' (Absolutely no one steals my prey and gets away with it)

He sends another blast at Bane as he landed on the ground and threw a large rock at the blue blaze which, to his surprise, froze. Taeger is a master of Fire Magic, his flames always naturally being as hot as Kami's Amaterasu and had pinpoint ain with his Advanced Fire (Black Lightning), he was also able to use Water/Ice Magic extremely well why even his flames were more malleable and had the ability to freeze while still very hot.

He combined his flame with Dark Magic to call forth Black Lightning, which he did and caused Bane to fly into Yukino, taking a large bolt through his body that would have likely killed her, sending close to a million volts through him instead as he managed to growl "Yuki...run" which she did without even needing to be asked...she wasn't as gifted as her brother with his natural affinity for magic...she could use it as well as fight but Taeger, especially a crazed Taeger with his magic and bloodlust returned tenfold was far out of her league. Taeger was holding back, as he wanted to savor Bane's pain, capable of passing two million volts before it started hurting him as well...more than enough to reduce a Ghoul to a pile of ash...evaporating all liquids in the body in an instant. This meant that Taeger knew four elemments of Magic while Kami mastered only two.


Taeger decides to come closer as Bane stayed out of sight that's when they sensed it as Ryujin walked out of the forest before them with applauds making Taeger smile evilly and Bane grimace, even Bane could feel his power had gone through the roof and he could probably sense in from the opposite end of the city. Kami was also sensing it and was on his way...

Kami sat on the roof of the Library meditating, when he sensed a power similar to his that almost knock him down...he knew it was strong but not this strong the last time he sensed it "Let's see who this Kuro lookalike really is..." Kami said to himself as he left to find his student and Taeger...


Kami made it in time to stop an attack from incinerating Wolf-Bane...then that was when he made his presence known...it was Bane's and Taeger's second time seeing him but Kami's first time actually seeing him.

Bane wasn't able to touch Taeger even once, if his Fire attacks missed...his fist wouldn't as he had him cornered "Bad...little mutt, I oughta castrate ya" he smiled as he raises his palms to him, glowing. He glanced at Yukino for a moment, he'd knocked her out cold with one blow that she was sure to feel for the rest of her life before looking back at Bane and shooting a large fireball at him that was still growing.

Suddenly a wall of black flames surrounded them when Taeger threw the fireball as Bane looked to the side, not seeing Kami move, let alone confront his old friend already adorned with his Demon Mask.

"Taeger..." he glanced back at Bane making eye contact for a split second "Stand down right NOW, what the hell do you think you're doing to my city, you blithering IDIOT?!" Kami snapped as he kept

Taeger literally flinched and frowned for a moment before smiling "I've got you what you've seeked...the man who was after you for J'onn's sake" he gestured to Ryujin who walked closer as he began applauding...it didn't do wonders for Taeger's nerves "Bravo... So you're the Ghoul Lord my master's so obsessed with...you will come with me"


Screen splits showing both Kami and Taeger's expression to that request as Bane quickly got between Ryujin and Kami and snarled.

"So you can still stand...?" Ryujin chuckled at Bane who glared at him "Not another...step...closer"

Ryujin stopped mid step and Bane could feel his montrous killing intent as staggered a bit due to it "Don't waste my time, apprentice...you're of no threat to me" he drew his two swords then charged.

Just then, Kami spins past Bane with a kick that parried the crossed swords "Sorry, but I'm your opponent"

"You both are..." Ryujin said raising one finger "Come, boy"

Bane tried to push past Kami but wondered why neither Kami nor Taeger had approached him yet until he saw a strange purple aura on Ryujin and The One floating over him as he avoided eye contact for good reason.

"Something's different about him..." Taeger acknowledged "...those eyes"

"Stay out of this, Bane!" Kami pushed Bane back as the three, without moving, suddenly disappeared.

Trees eventually began being set ablaze by blue or black flames if not minced as Bane felt a presence that no one but him seemed to be aware of as apair of crimson eyes bored into him from behind and black seemed to creep into his eyes.

"Why...Why do you hold back my power?" A voice said behind Bane as he turned to see his wolf for standing behind him glancing at Yukino then growling back at Bane who replied, closing his eyes "You're not real..."

"No?" The Wolf snapped "Only you can see, hear or sense me... I. Am. You and I'm very real...just wait until the next time you take my body for a joyride...Taeger dies and so does the cause of the very mess you're in, Yang"

"No...I'll stop you" Bane said as the wolf laughed "You can't...when you'll crave the very same thing!"


Time resumed it's normal course and Bane was going to be attacked by Ryujin, not if his master and Taeger had anything to say about it.

Ryujin alone appeared before Bane and pinned him with his sword to his throat 'This power...there's something upsetting about it' he decided to kill Bane by crushing him to death.

This, however, really got on Taeger's nerves "Ora, I haven't known this kid long but no one is allowed to kill him but me!" Taeger stood on the right, one eye closed and vapor rising from his body while Kami, on the left said "You thought that I was coming with you, but you were wrong, you're coming with me!"

"Preferably in pieces..." Taeger smirked as he said "Get ready, Kuro"

Kami nodded as both fired a large fire blast of Amaterasu and Taeger's Reien (Cold Flame) at Ryujin who flipped out of the way at the last minute but the flames followed him as he looked uncertain of his next move for a while before raising both hands and summoning two portals to whisk the flames elsewhere to some other dimension.

Taeger was shocked but decided to use his Black Loghtning in unison with Amaterasu for the first time "Damn cheat...I only like playing dirty when I'm the one doing it!" He raised one hand as Black Lightning struck his palm and Kami sent Amaterasu at him as a Shuriken he threw as he snarled "Amaterasu: Kagetsuchi" as Taeger's Black Lightning swirled around and joined Kami's Amaterasu, slicing Ryujin in two as he smiled evilly and his body disappeared

"It wasn't him..." Bane said "all of that and it was never the real him?"

Taeger clenched his fist as Black Lightning sparked around his body "Hopefully that sends a message to his master of just who he's messing with"

"We can't allow him to leave this city" Kami smirked at Taeger "...at least not without a proper warning"

A grin spread across Taeger's face as he nodded in agreement then looked at Bane "Can ya still walk, Bane?"

"Yeah, I think so" Bane got to his feet as Kami helped Yukino to her feet and allowed her to ride on his back "We meet back here...make sure he's alive for long enough to talk"

"No promises...his limbs aren't needed if that's all you need" Taeger scowled as the three nodded and disappeared to different parts of the city


Back with Yang and Kakuzu, Yang thought he'd given the heart stealing Bounty Hunter the slip, but drastically underestimated Kakuzu's abilities and overestimated his chances of coming out of this unscathed in his escape with J'onn who was silent the whole time. They were also less than a day's journey from the city and Kami

Yang had been running for at least a full 24 hours or more from Kakuzu now, he was on his way to one of J'onn's many hideouts that he kept from his master...who was probably aware of them and on his way to them now "I'm tired...both of this chase and running from this overly determined man"

Yang, even in his days as Kami's apprentice has never understood Kakuzu...he didin't know about his multiple hearts due to his ability to lower the sound of his various heartbeats to the point where even a Ghoul had a hard time hearing it or they'd hear it as just one heart...one heart a fraction louder than a human heart.

He eventually stopped to shelter rain in a cave, but could no longer hear Kakuzu behind him "he must've given up or you were too fast for him" J'onn said sitting a bit away from Yang, who was overlooking his surroundings

"I was too fast for him...but he hasn't given up, I can't sense him anymore either but we should hide our magic"

They did this in time as Kakuzu passed them then stopped with a snide grin on his face as both of them decided to calm down enough that it didn't affect their heartbeats, so he couldn't track them that way and never really cared for the conventional means other Ghouls had. This made Kakuzu frown and move on.

Little did they know, he'd locked on to the last place they were heard and set traps for them 'Kore wa anata ga kakurete ita bashodesu ka?' (So this is where you've been hiding?) A voice came from the shadows of the cave as Kakuzu walked out and grabbed J'onn who bit him...he showed no reaction "Hm, I'm not surprised..."

Yang became agressive as he jumped at him "Hands off!"

"You're agressive...I like that" Kakuzu said as he dodged every punch and kick as if he was predicting them as his speed surpassed Yang's for a few seconds until he came closer, their faces inches apart and Kakuzu's mask pulled down from his mouth and stared into his red eyes "Enjoy your last moments...that heart of yours will soon be mine"

Kakuzu then did both the unexpected and unthinkable as he pinned Yang by the throat and kissed him...his lips were very painful to the touch of the traitor as Yang biting him caused him to only deepen it intentionally. It was a skill known as the Kiss of Death which he stole from the Chinese Ghoul Mistress on a mission he was given by her some years back that he never told her. He was also interested in both males and females but not Yang as he has the bad habit of doing this when he won't get what he wanted by even beating them half to death and his lovers never last long...ever, as he dropped Yang and glanced at J'onn "We have business elsewhere...J'onny"

"Fair warning...I've been through enough today and try anything and you'll suffer far worst that your lips being slowly melted"

He disappeared quickly and gave Yang a huge way before he could be caught again "Worry not, neither of you are my type...you're quite the opposite but I still want your hearts"

Nightfall, Kakuzu makes it to the entrance of the city just as Ryujin/The One makes it there...if Kakuzu thinks he's getting past the swordsman with J'onn...he has another thing coming and that kiss move he used on Yang works differently on everyone, if it works at all but Kakuzu always has a trick or two up his sleeve with a different effects for different durations depending on the victim as it was slowly poisoning Yang with White Demonite...Demonite came in varying colours and effects as Black Demonite drives Ghouls insane in bloodthirsty rage while White Demonite is extremely dangerous and one of the few poisons that is most responsible for the death of Ghouls, Kakuzu's method in comparison to Lady Tsu Chen's has never killed anyone but was four times as painful that they might kill themselves anyway.

Kakuzu gave a sigh as he saw the entrance of the city, Kami had better have the rest of his money for all he's been through

Something just told Kakuzu to look ahead of him, just in time to see Ryujin appear as he took a 'strategic retreat' from the city

Kakuzu and Ryujin walk past each other as both their eyes met...they knew of each other's ruthlessness and zero tolerance for weakness but even without The One, Ryujin was stronger than Kakuzu who was still no easy foe to kill...or at least the strength he usually shows.

Ryujin simply raised his hand to Kakuzu, who knew what he wanted but turned and walked away "Once I have his heart and we're both paid generously for his crimes...I'll mail what's left to you"

Ryujin reached for his sword as Kakuzu's icy eyes glared at him "I didn't remember asking what your plans were...J'onn isn't entering that place with you"

"Is that so...?" Kakuzu smiled as the two made eye contact.

Ryujin charged, The One taking control of his body as he grabs Kakuzu by the throat and held him in the air "It seems...Master wants your body as well" he struggled out of The One's control but was pulled back under it quickly as Kakuzu felt a strange sensation as the Former King of Demons and literal blueprint for all Ghouls tried to enter his body.

Kakuzu didn't understand what was going on but didn't like it as he kicked Ryujin hard enough in the head that he let go...Ryujin then disappeared with the unconscious J'onn as Kakuzu dragged himself home, planning to see Kami tomorrow.


Back with Kami...they didn't find Ryujin before his escape, much to their displeasure as Bane was now in the Lowlands, a sort of underground place where both sides of the Ghoul's laws meet and home to many prominent names...former home of Raimundo and Tsujin and current long time home of Kakuzu, the powerful Bounty Hunter is known to keep to himself with good reason here and his personality made sure he had no friends...that was something he could do without, though Bane Asakura was the furthest thing from his mind when he made it to his home.

Bane made it to the Underground as he passed through the large crowds and many Ghouls greeted him with either a hand shake and a pat on the head or a fist that narrowly missed taking him out for daring to bump into them.

Bane eventually saw a head of white hair moving through the crowd and the smell of burning flesh mixed with some sort burning wood as Kakuzu made his way through the crowd and looked absolutely sad but more furious.

True, Bane had no reason to follow the man anywhere and his conscience knew better than to stop him in the streets as he didn't seem to love crowds or nosy Binge Eaters all up in his personal affairs but Bane seemed to notice that Kakuzu went on outings everyday that could kill him...sometimes multiple a day and no one cared, not that he was complaining about it.

He wasn't the nicest or best company but not the worst either...not to Bane as Kakuzu made it past a metal door that he slammed shut once inside.

Bane saw this and his curiosity about what Kakuzu actually does for a living, outside of being a Bounty Hunter...which wasn't as exciting as Bane assumes.

A few Ghouls seem to know what he was up to and seemed to want to warn him against bothering Kakuzu but he wasn't listening.

Bane touched the metal door before noticing that it wasn't locked, almost every Ghoul in the Lowlands were just about as dangerous as Kakuzu himself...so this was illadvised to newcomers like a law, more here than the rest of the city.

The house was small, only two bedrooms, Kakuzu's and the other looked like he never even bothered to unlock the door.

The living room was big enough, with a blue lit aquarium, a scarcely used flatscreen tv and a black couch that Kakuzu was laying on right now.

Bane stepped into the doorway and saw a door that lead to the kitchen, Kakuzu wasn't aware of him yet and he feared what would happen when he did. He also felt like he was being watched at all time no matter where Kakuzu was as Kakuzu rose from the couch he was in.

"Not...another step" Kakuzu warned as as he rose up and walked towards Bane "there's a concept I must teach you...one your master should have already taught you."

Bane was reluctant to get close to the Bounty Hunter, he was already closer than most were allowed by him.

Bane tried to run, but Kakuzu was several steps ahead of him, using Dark Magic to lock the door and every other exit to the house then the door glowed purple for a second, so that even if it was unlocked somehow by Bane or someone on the outside, it was sealed that the door still wouldn't budge or open.

"Nothing painful, just a trick I learned..." Kakuzu said simply as he grabbed Bane's ear and pulled "Did ya know that you're tresspassing...Kami can't stop me from any punishment I see fit"

"Let me out!" Bane snarled as Kakuzu snarled back "I just saw Yang before I got here...I want to see if it has the same effect on you as it did on him"

Kakuzu grabbed his jaw and used the Kiss of Death...the effect was that it allowed Bane to see into Kakuzu's mind and vice-versa.

Kakuzu was stunned...he saw everything Bane experienced since the death of Tsume to now as he let him go and he fell to his knees.

Bane felt Kakuzu's hand on his head "So...that's what happened" he said before growling "Get out...before I make you regret it"

'Anata wa shitte iru, anata wa chōdo tazuneta koto ga dekimasu...Watashi wa, seishinbyō o wasurete inai' (You know, you could've just asked...I haven't forgotten, psychopath) Bane argued as Kakuzu hissed in growing rage and shot a fire blast at him which he narrowly missed.

'Anata ga madade kite iru ma, watashitoisshoni sumāto ni natte wa ikemasen!' (Don't be a smartass with me and go while you still can!) Kakuzu said as he attacked and Bane landed behind him only to recieve an elbow to the back of his head 'Anata wa watashi no sukinahito-tachi to matchi shite iru to omouni wa amarini mo karu sugiru yo wolf - brat... Wolfsbane o dasa senaide' (You're a little too lightheaded to think you're a match for the likes of me, wolf-brat...don't make me get out the wolfsbane)

Bane got up and heard the remark about Wolfsbane and his name as well as his ability to become a Wolf and grumbled "Okay, I'm going..." he pouted as Kakuzu stared at him "If it's the swordsman you're looking for, don't waste your time...he passed me outside the city"

Bane clenched his fist but left the Bounty Hunter alone, returning to Kami. He was angry to the fact that this man almost killed him twice in the past two days and Kakuzu knew he wanted to become stronger as he mused to himself once Bane was gone "Even the strongest has it's weakness...it's Achilles Heel, yours...Bane Asakura...is too easy. Your lost mother, you master and sorry excuse for friends, if they follow your mother to their graves you'll be broken rather easily."


With Kami, he was extremely bothered by his fight with Ryujin and although he and Taeger had their differences, he couldn't get rid of Alphonse Taeger easily to be alone, neither could he hide.

"You've given up on hiding from me, I see, Kuro marimo" Taeger chuckled at his attempts at avoiding him "Hiding is futile...so, Bane became curious of where that hired hand lives, huh?"

"How'd you guess?" Kami asked as Taeger scowled "It's Kakuzu...he won't be particularly pleased with a visit from him"

"Would you prefer him interrogating us both about what we may or may not know about him instead?" Kami smirked as Taeger "No...but he is mine to kill, let your Bounty Hunter know that."

"You're not concerned that he might die...you're only concerned that it won't be by your hand..." Kami argued "No wonder he thinks you're a psychopath...he's not too pleased with what you did to the Salazar's either"

"What about this Ryujin character...you think he's a member of your clan, the thousands of people who just disappeared overnight?"

Kami sighed heavily "I don't know if I hope so...but there's a probability"

Taeger poked the side of Kami's head with a raised eyebrow "Probability?" He wondered "the guy looks like your twin, I've never seen anyone other than you and myself with that kind of ability so much in likeness to your Amaterasu and you weren't even able to touch him with it. That's more possibility than probability"

"I need more to know for sure, Al" Kami said "I need more proof that he is my father..."

'Kare wa anata no chichioyadearu koto ni tsuite nani ka itta nodesu ka?' (Who the hell said anything about him being your father?) Taeger looked at him with one eye closed 'Watashi wa kare ga anata no ani, anata no rōjinde wa nai to iimashita' (I said he could be your twin brother, not your old man)

"I already have an idea who my brothers are...this 'Ryujin' is older than you, me and J'onn combined and is more experienced than J'onn as a fighter" Kami looked sad for a moment "he can't be...I have three other brothers and none of them look like him"

That was when Bane entered, looking around to make sure Kakuzu hadn't followed him then to the two with confusion...

"Don't let that madman near me again..." Bane snarled as Kami narrowed his eyes on Taeger who was just as confused by Bane trying to spit something out replying "What?"

"Don't pester the young man, Taeger" Kami scolded before Bane said "Not Taeger, Kakuzu kissed me and something weird happened"

"You're acting like that over a kiss?" Taeger chuckled evilly as Bane explained "it let him see everything I saw when my mother died...I saw him paying last respect to her when he buried her. He wasn't happy...he said he wanted to see it's effect on me like he did with my father"

Taeger was alert by that "kiss him again them...better yet, follow him the next time he leaves the city"

"He's already tried to hurt you...he might try to do more than just kiss you if you go back there" Kami said "See him before he leaves exactly at sunrise to train"

'Watashi wa kare to issho ni kunren shite inai' (I am not training with him) Bane said with a shudder as Taeger said "No...we just have to watch him, I'll be with you"

'Kare wa jibun no ie ni hairu tame no batsu to shite anata ni kisu no shi o shiyō shita ni chigainai' (He must have used the Kiss of Death on you as punishment for entering his home) Kami as well as Taeger noticed as Taeger wasn't as amused by it as much as Kami "If he tries that on me, I'll kill him"

"He wanted to test it on me because he used it on my father..." Bane scowled as Taeger glared at him "Well, I'm not your father"


Elsewhere, Nic was still unconscious and due to him liking to be in danger so much, healing magic didn't do much.

"He should be alright now...but he won't wake up for a while" the healer said as Richie nodded his thanks to the female healers and dared not touch them unless he wanted an unforgettable beatdown

"Maybe I should try mouth-to-mouth..." Richie pondered as the ladies shrugged, they wanted to see his aggressive partner's reaction.

Richie drew closer to the unconscious but most likely still dangerous man to do it but at the last second, Nic woke up

Nic had a confused look when he opened his eyes to see Richie's lips coming to him, he knew he hated a lot of women but he was still straight and found other people in general repulsive and annoying as he clenched his fist to tightly, he nearly popped an artery and warned "Come no closer...Richard" Nic's warning went unheard and wanted to really hurt him as he drew back his fist and punched Richie right in the mouth, making his head almost go through the ceiling "Kiss me...and you're dead!" Nic warned angrily as his eye turned to the healers...he had a habit of hiding out to have sex with them by tricking them and found that his tricks were no longer needed

"Ghoul got in the way of me and target..." Nic said "some foolish kid...Ghoul Lord called him 'Bane'...looked like an Asakura Clansman's kid" Nic knew more about Clans than Richie and can sometimes tell someone's clan by just looking at them

"Or maybe his mother was from the clan..." Richie said as he presented two pictures "there was a death in the area a week ago...there wasn't a sign of forced entry"

"Not a Ghoul from the area...they're too peaceful since they're hiding from the GEC and us" Nic said "It was someone she knew...Ghoul husband?"

"You guessed it" Richie presented three pictures of Yang, Tsume and lastly Bane, who Nic recognised "The mother's body is missing but father and son are still at large"

[He stopped me from killing that Ghoul Lord!] Nic signed with a growl as Richie said "That Ghoul Lord must've saved his life...this changes my impression of these Ghouls"

[He's human in these pictures] Nic signed then pointed at Yang [That's our Ghoul...we need a plan] they needed a plan if they had any plan of finding this Ghoul, the nodded in agreement.


Ryujin had finally made it to the hideout and The One decided that he still needed J'onn as the former King of Demons phased out of Ryujin's body and went into J'onn's body, replacing his lost limbs and reviving him to some extent.

"It seems you're still of some use to me, J'onn...do not make me regret this" The One said as he moves from Ryujin's body back to J'onn's as his body is healed and his eyes open, sparks of energy in them as he looks at Ryujin.

J'onn and Ryujin may be on the same side, but Ryujin wants him dead as they don't like each other

"It seems the battle is over and the war has only just begun" J'onn says raising his hand for Ryujin to help him to his feet as the swordsman pulled him up harder than expected

Ryujin remains silent as he walks out of the newer house they now reside in.

Ryujin goes deep into the nearby forest to meditate before finally speaking "Kakuzu...finally, a worthy challenger" he smiled evilly, planning to kill the Bounty Hunter next time they meet.


A/N - Kakuzu plans to pay a visit to Kami concerning J'onn and Ryujin, what will Bane think of this after their last encounter and J'onn is back in the game thanks to the mysterious and very powerful Ryujin. Nic and Richie also now know about Yang and what happened to Bane's mother...what does that mean for their plan to kill Kami, with Nic now wanting to fight Bane as well? R&R!