*RE-WRITTEN*

School is not the breath of fresh air I expected. If anything, having to sit around and do nothing is worsening my anxiety, but this is all to keep her happy. I'm sure she knows something is going on. Mother always knows when something's going on. She knows I'm different, she's seen many things, but restrains to ask questions because she doesn't want to hear the wrong answers. I hate having to lie to her.

Things at home are ok. She's happy with her new husband, and my new step-brother looks up to me. From the outside, we fit the description of a normal and happy family.

On Saturday, I count down the hours to return to Demon World. I wish I could freeze time for a while, and stay home instead. But my return is inevitable. I pass by the house to let my family know I'll be back until Sunday night, grab the essentials, and make my way to the portal which lands me a few miles north of Gandara.

Walking towards the city, once again I feel strange Demon energy lurking around. This one however, is much stronger that the ninja's Yomi sent the first day I returned, but I don't see a point of him sending people after me again.

A few more steps and the energy is surrounding me, coming from all directions, I can't tell where the main source is at. I concentrate on a noice, a heartbeat, or anything that can give me a sign of the demon's whereabouts, but there's nothing. Then, out of the bushes comes an attack, a fast and loud lash of a whip. I jump out of the way just in time to avoid any damage, and from the camouflage of the forest, the aggressor finally reveals himself.

He's wearing a black muscle shirt with a small black vest on top with two chest pockets, black pants secured with a black belt and black combat boots. His hair is still picked up in a ponytail, but this time he has a black bandana in his forehead. All his piercings are still there, only this time they appear to be real diamonds instead of the fakes from before, courtesy of Yomi, I suppose. He's also wearing a leather black glove on his right hand, and many bracelets and rings on every finger in his left one. It's easy to see he has a fascination with black, and with jewelry.

"Why did you come back? You should've just stayed away. It's the best thing for all of us," he says, not with malice in his voice. His voice is actually soft, sweet, and comforting, but that must just be its natural ring.

"Why did you attack me?"

"It's clear to see only one of us should be allowed to be here." He cleans the black whip with his glove and wraps it around his right arm.

"Doe's Yomi know you're here? He won't be pleased to know what you're doing? Don't be foolish, put your weapon down and let's pretend this never happened."

"Everything is so easy for you, isn't it? See, if I'm here risking everything I have, is because of the fact that I can't pretend this isn't happening."

"I know your heart is in pain-"

"You know nothing about pain. I've lived it! I'm the one that's always been here for him. I'm the one that picked up the pieces you broke. Yet you come back as if nothing happened."

"Look, no one is taking him away from you-"

"It's never been me, it's always been you. Your name and your shadow there every waking moment, it's like fighting a ghost. Fighting a memory is fighting perfection, you can't beat it, because in the mind it stands perfect. It's always Kurama!" He positions himself to attack.

"Don't do this, he won't forgive you."

"Well I rather beg for forgiveness than ask for permission," and he launches himself at me, unleashing his whip once again. It grows longer and twists at his will, exactly like my rose whip.

Before I can get my thoughts complete, he attacks again, and again. I just jump around avoiding his hits, one hit from that energy and it will be severe damage. I unleash my rose whip, and attack back. After a few seconds of direct combat, he slips, and I send my whip straight at him. It connects, but at the same time his whip comes out of nowhere and connects with my cheek.

We both stop our attacks, and stand face to face with each other. His left cheek took the damage, the cut is bleeding, though he was able to get out of the way to receive a direct blow. I feel blood dripping down my left cheek too, and we both smile realizing we inflicted the exact same damage.

We attack each other again, and I have to admit it's enjoyable to fight someone with good skills in the same weapon as me. But after a few minutes I grow tired, while he remains the same. My attacks are just a little bit slower than his, and in battle that makes a lot of difference, I have to resort to defense again.

His attacks become more and more fierce. He appears to dance in the wind, swinging his black whip left and right, dangerous but gracefully. I can almost say beautifully.

In less than a second of lack of concentration, he wraps the whip around my neck, lifts me off the ground and throws me against a tree. The tree collapses, and I'm left bleeding form my right arm. I look up at him, and instead of a victorious or mocking smile, I see his face tormented in a mix of sadness and hate.

"Just give up and surrender. You're tired, I know, and I haven't yet showed the peak of my power. I'll make you a deal, go back to your world and never return. Leave your blooded clothes, I'll present them to Yomi and take responsibility for your death. You can walk out of all of this as if nothing's happened. Isn't it a great offer?"

"I can't say it isn't appealing, but we both know if you do this, you will never reach happiness."

"What does it matter? No matter what i do, I never will."

He prepares to attack me again and this time I feel something shake inside of me, something I've felt before, but hard to recognize. The division between human and demon breaks and I feel my muscles and tendons bend and rebuilt themselves in a different form. I try to fight it off, knowing I'll lose control of myself again, but my will is overpowered, and Yoko Kurama emerges.

He stares at me in shock, and I can tell from the way his face twists, that he hates what he sees. He knows I'm in every way superior, and he loathes me for that.

"So this is your true self?"

"Come now Zein, let's stop this childish display of jealously. If you work with me I can make sure you have a spot next to Yomi, too. That's what you want, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'll convince him to make you his second partner."

"I don't want to be his second partner."

"Then your greed will be your down fall." Even in this body he's stronger than me, if I'm to do something, I need to do it fast. I'll aim straight for the heart. This is my perfect opportunity to get rid of him, if he isn't willing to help, them he is an obstacle. He's the one that attacked me, I'll never get another golden ticket to end his life without consequences.

We attack each other again. This time neither one of us playing around, we are both aiming at murder. A few minutes into the fight however, when both he and I are the fiercest, a bomb of energy explodes in between us destroying both of our weapons, and we turn in synchronization to face the sender.

"What are you two doing?" His demeanor is calm as always, but the anger is obvious in his voice.

"We were just playing around." Zein answers.

"For a second there, I thought you were trying to kill each other. But that is impossible between my two best men, right?" Yomi asks, but neither one of us answers.

I walk up to him and throw my arms around his waist, I may not be able to kill Zein now, but I'll hit him where it hurts him the most. "I want to go home," I whisper into Yomi's neck.

Before walking away I turn around and smile at Zein, making sure he knows, I know, that he is suffering. He lowers his eyes in sadness, and takes off into the forest. With Yomi holding me by the waist we walk towards the palace.

He opens the door to his room and invites me in, closing the door behind him. He reaches for my face but I shove his hands away, very displeased. "Don't think you can get away with everything." I almost yell, angrily. "We have a deal, and if you break your half I'll break mine. I'm not going stand here and be made a fool!"

"Last time Kurama left, and there was no time to explain-"

"I haven't finished speaking!" He falls quiet. "I am only going to tell you two things Yomi: one, I don't share unless I want too, and two, I'm no one's second. So you fix this now or you'll regret it. I don't care who he is, or what he was in your life, you want me don't you? Let me know right now if not, so I can leave."

"I do."

"Then get rid of him!"

"I won't" I'm shocked at his disobedience.

"What?"

"I won't touch him, I'll talk to him so he'll stop picking fights, but I won't send him off."

"And why not?"

"Because he is my friend."

I chuckle in annoyance, "Your Friend... Well fine!" I throw my hands in the air. "But make sure he respects me. I'm your partner, I'm your second in command! Make sure the servants, soldiers, civilians and even your precious friend, knows that."

"Of course."

I walk out and slam the door shut. Zein is a bigger foe than I expected, I have to take things slow. I'll find a way to get rid of him soon enough or make his life here so unbearable he'll have no choice but to leave on his own. I have to find a way to break his bond with Yomi, before he becomes a bigger threat.