Chapter 8.


"Totsu…ka…san…?" Yata Misaki couldn't quite believe his eyes.

"Eh? Ah! Yata! You're here too?" Totsuka Tatara exclaimed, a surprised grin on his face as he slowly stood up, rubbing his butt from when he fell. "I don't remember telling anyone else about this place though… Eh? Y-Yata…?"

Yata remained speechless. Why? He didn't know, but for some reason, he couldn't stop his tears from flowing. "To-tsu…ka…san…." was all he could say as he trembled from emotion, not even caring that he was crying in front of his superiors anymore as he clung to the other's shirt. Relief, gratitude, disbelief… there were too many to count passing through his system that he could barely keep himself standing. And he had absolutely no idea where they all came from.

…except… that… dream…?

Huh…?

Completely baffled by the situation, all Tatara could do was give their Vanguard a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You did well holding it in this long, Yata. You must've been really scared" he stated softly; a confused, but open smile decorating his face, this time rubbing the younger brunette's head.

"…Totsuka-san…"

"WAIT A MINUTE?" Yata exclaimed, jumping up and forgetting all about his earlier sentiments. "THE FUCK? I AIN'T A FUCKIN' BRAT TOTSUKA-SAN!" he roared, face turning seven shades of red in embarrassment as he resisted the urge to shake his superior senseless. "A-ND I WASN'T…S-S-Sc-ARED!"

Tatara chickled at this reaction, completely ignoring his aching neck from when the vanguard grabbed his collar. "Hai, hai. I'm sorry" he apologized once his laughter died down. "I swear I won't do it again"

"Y-You better!" the shorter of the two mumbled indignantly.

"Okay okay, I have no idea what's goin' on but I think we should all calm down fer now, right?" a different voice called, and the brunettes turned around.

"Kusanagi-san! So this was where you were!" Totsuka exclaimed, rushing towards the seated blond. He immediately regretted it. "A-AAh K-Kusanag-i –saan! OUCH!"

Kusanagi Izumo sighed, letting the brunette's head go as he breathed in, cracking his knuckles from a squeeze. "The heck've you been? I was worried freakin' sick ya know!" he growled out. "And I lost my lighter cause o'you"

Rubbing his newly aching head in addition to his aching neck and his aching back, Totsuka could only mumble a 'sorry' before he got himself a nagging. "I got lost… Oh! But I experienced the most awesome thing Kusanagi-san! It was like one of those medieval traps with the candle-lights and the moving walls. It was soooo cool!" he began, eyes glittering now that the danger was behind him. "And there was a trap door too!"

Yata Misaki, having completely calmed down from his outbursts, stood still in the background as he watched his superiors converse –his expression oddly serene despite the comical quality of the scene.

He still couldn't quite get over it; seeing Totsuka-san here, lively as always, amazed him; but at the same time left a particularly heavy weight in his heart, making it hard to breathe...

Lively as always…

Lively…

Alive…

His eyes widened, feeling tears flowing from his eyes again as that word crossed his mind, a sudden dull pounding beginning at the back of his head as he tried to think…

Totsuka-san is… alive…?

But… he's always been… it's not like he…

Clutching his head as the pounding grew stronger, images he couldn't quite place flashing before his eyes…

The dead of night on an empty rooftop, overlooking downtown Shizume City.

A Green Monotone.

The frosty air of December biting at his skin; his breath coming out in puffs of misty smoke.

The School Island.

A Clash of Red and Blue.

That… dream….

A happy tune being hummed

A boy on the railing, preventing a clear view

Who… huh…?

"Yata-chan?" he vaguely heard Kusanagi-san call, probably worried that he wasn't responding…

From within the haze, he opened his mouth to reassure his superiors, but all that came out was a pained hiss as he collapsed to his knees. The pain in his head reaching the point of near unbearable as images he could barely comprehend flashed before his eyes.

"Nice night you say?"

A voice filled with malice, if not a tint of insanity.

The Red Sword of Damocles, decaying under the clear blue sky.

"UGHA!"

"Oy! Y-a!"

"-y! Wh-t's wr-ng!"

"Y—cha—!"

Blood

On his hands, his clothes, his face.

Four Swords vanishing in a flash of White Light…

A broken video tape recorder

Blank eyes

Fox Mask…

"Yes… it is a very nice night"


~.-BANG!-.~


"FOX-FACED BASTARD!"

"Shiro?" Yatogami Kuroh asked cautiously, taking note of the deep look in his friend's eyes.

The albino started, snapping out of whatever reverie he was in just as they entered the room last, hurriedly locking the door behind him. "Sorry… I guess I spaced out…" he flashed the raven a grin.

The Black Dog returned it with a suspicious glance, to which was ignored.

"Where is he?!" Fushimi Saruhiko demanded once all had settled down around the table, eyes frantic and posture tense. "What happened to him?"

From his seat, directly opposite the Scepter 4 officer, Kuroh could clearly see the blood-stained beanie clutched in the older raven's trembling right hand, so tightly that he was surprised it was still in one piece. As he had just learned, 'he' refers to the Red Clansman they were with until about an hour ago.

Kuroh's eyes softened. I see… he's worried sick… "First and foremost, I would like to apologize for my neglectfulness" he began with a sincere bow.

Shiro immediately stood up beside him, eyes wide. "What are you saying Kuroh? I was the one awake at the time, so it wasn't your fault" he argued.

"That may be true, but he was initially injured in my presence; making me partly responsible for his well-being"

"Injured?" Saruhiko's grip tightened –if that was even possible— eyes screaming murder.

Remembering about the Monster's 'demise' earlier, Kuroh couldn't help but feel intimidated. Still, he faced it head-on. "It was only a flesh-wound from when we were attacked, but he lost a lot of blood so we had him rest here" he began explaining. "But I myself was rather exhausted and Shiro offered to keep watch for the night…" he paused, glancing sideways at his white-haired friend who was becoming rather restless. "I don't know the details, but when I woke up, Yata was attacking Shiro"

"He looked like he was having a Nightmare so I went to wake him up. I guess I just caught him off guard" the albino supplied, eyes guarded. "He… was crying…"

"And? What did you do?" the blue clansman seethed.

From behind the albino, the oddly quiet cat-girl whimpered, grip so tight it might've worn the fabric of Shiro's shirt. "It wasn't Neko's fault" she whimpered, barely audible.

Still Fushimi heard it, and his dark glare was immediately on her.

Neko flinched. "It wasn't Neko's Fault!" she screamed, beginning to panic. Kuroh immediately rose to her side in order to calm her down, but she immediately dashed towards one of the beds. "It wasn't Neko's fault! The door went 'Knock Knock!' and the Monster came and Neko just wanted it to disappear!" she cried, shivering under the blankets.

"Neko…" Shiro trailed off as he approached her, patting her head through the cloth. "It's alright. It's not your fault ok? You didn't know" he reassured, smiling.

"What…"

"You see, before we could calm Yata down, someone knocked on the door" Kuroh began to explain. "He was closest and he suddenly opened it without warning"

"And the Monster came?" everyone paused, looking towards the Red King who seemed half-asleep, surprised that he was the one who spoke…

"No" Kuroh was the least affected, having been at the receiving end for a time earlier. "It was another Red Clansman"

"Heh?" This caught the Red King's attention, and Kuroh found himself stiffening underneath the inquisitive gaze.

He swallowed. "The air was tense because we thought it was the Monster again, but instead a blond man Yata knew appeared… your right-hand man, if I'm not mistaken"

"Hmm…" the Red King hummed. "Was there a brunette with him?"

Kuroh shook his head. "No, he was alone… at least from what I could see"

"Totsuka-san is missing….?" Fushimi mumbled, scowling. Beside him, Suoh Mikoto's expression darkened, just a bit.

"And?"

"Yata rushed out to meet him before we can do anything, but then a loud noise rang from outside and—"

"IT WASN'T NEKO'S FAULT!" the cat girl cried, catching everyone's attention; this time curling up in Shiro's arms as the albino tried to calm her down again. "It wasn't Neko's fault…" she whimpered.

"It wasn't Neko's fault" Kuroh repeated with a sigh, giving her a disarming look. "She got surprised and the first thing she thought to do was shut the door"

"But when I opened it again they were gone" Shiro offered nect, running a hand through his cat's hair, eyes distant. Neko shifted in his arms, shivering as she hid her head further in his chest. "And Kuroh went after them"

"And you know what happens next" Kuroh finalized, flashing an exasperated glance two friends' way. "Neko! No one's blaming you so stop hiding! And Shiro! Don't spoil her too much!"

The albino merely laughed. "Shut up Kurosuke!" the strain retorted, sticking a tongue out at him behind Shiro's jacket.

This comical sight at least managed to reduce the growing tension in the room.

The raven twitched, returning his gaze to the silent newcomers, brooding over the information.

"Worry clouds the mind
Always keep a clear head
In order to see the right path"

Again all eyes were on him as Kuroh re-pocketed his beloved recorder. "Miwa Ichigen-sama's words are most wise" he stated. "They are strong –you should know that best. We'll find them"

At his words, Suoh Mikoto smirked while Fushimi clicked his tongue, signalling that everything has calmed down.

"And? What do you expect us to do? Split up and search?" Fushimi offered, expression returning to its default bored quality.

Kuroh frowned. "I don't think that will do much good, but as of now we have no other choice…"

"Neko stays with Shiro!" the strain-girl announced, never letting go of the albino's clothes as she practically straddled him.

Kuroh frowned at the sight, but he –more than anyone— could tell just how frightened the cat-girl was. "I don't plan on leaving you with anyone else so you don't need to worry. But can't you at least turn into a cat when you do that" he stated, also taking note of his white-haired friend's anxious smile, once again thankful the girl never once took off her clothes. He sighed, rubbing his throbbing temples.

Neko grew silent, hiding her face behind her bangs as her grip slackened. Shiro looked at her worriedly. "Neko can't…" she mumbled. "Neko can't… turn back into a cat…"

This caught Kuroh's attention, and he stood up to face her properly, copying Shiro's expression. "Neko?"

But before any clarity could come to the situation, the lights flickered from above, and a sudden cold spell engulfed the room. The Black Dog cursed under his breath as he immediately scanned their surroundings. "So it found us…"

"Was this room even safe to begin with?" Fushimi remarked sarcastically, facing the now rattling door, sword drawn.

Suoh Mikoto stood behind him, cracking his knuckles. "So? What do we do?" he grumbled.

"No choice. This place isn't safe anymore so we have to move" With a quick analysis of the situation, Kuroh formulated a plan. "Shiro, take Neko and go; find somewhere to hide. We'll come find you later" he ordered, heart throbbing as the door began pounding.

"But what about—"

"Fushimi, can you go with them? I'll stay here" Mikoto asked, making the blue clansman stiffen.

"…" with a click of the tongue, the older raven gave a resigned nod. "Might as well…" he trailed off.

"Eh? But wouldn't the fight end faster if Fushimi-san fought?" Shiro piped up. "You defeated it all by yourself earlier right?"

The older raven twitched, sending a dark glare over his shoulder at the albino. "…It's not that simple..." he mumbled. "I don't know if I can do it again…." He admitted through gritted teeth.

Shiro merely sighed. "Alright, we're going! If possible, there's a showroom at the end of the third floor, I found the key when I went out earlier so can we meet there?"

Kuroh nodded. "Alright" finally, the lights went out completely and the door became silent. Kuroh was the first to approach it, cautiously gripping the knob. "I'll distract it. Take that chance and run. We'll be right behind you" he whispered.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly turned it.

Creeeeeak

"Go!"


Wow! Talk about obvious! I suppose you all know where this is headed now huh? =w= XDD

THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT EVERYONE! XDD

This chapter actually took quite a lot to write… again Saru-kun refused to cooperate and Mikoto is just… awkward…, but still I hope you liked it XDD

Well, I'm reeeeeally sorry but this pace will have to continue for a while (school = writer's block most of the time for me TTwTT and school…. *dies*) But I'll still update as regularly as I can! XDD

viviane1993: Thank you XDD Hai, but that's more or less because Kuroh can't make use of his full potential in this situation just yet ^^ (or just me being horrible at fight scenes even though I'm writing it a lot zomfg th?) But I'm getting there…. Somehow….

Guest-san: ^^; Misa-chi gets in trouble a lot

Black Chains of the Abyss: XDD Thanks! I'm glad you like it :3 And K people are all superpowered awesomeness anyways so there's no room for being scared X3

Atomic Crayon: Atomic-san! Sorry! Right here! XDD (Uwaah hisashiburi?!)

I hope to hear what you guys think of this chapter too XDD

Ok! Again for some countdown timer thingy to keep me from slacking…

NEXT CHAPTER: 50 reviews! (or something…? ^^;)