Chapter 10: Cries of Despair

"Takashiro-san! Is….is there really nothing we can do...?"

Takashiro said nothing and left without another word. Yuki sniffed, wiping a hand over his eyes as he sighed shakily. He had never been separated from Rin this long, not like this. He had always known where she was before, but know, she could be anywhere just like Shusei.

The others watched him, excluding Hotsuma who had been knocked out by Takashiro to prevent him from going out on his own. Luka was frowning, a deathly look in his eyes. He did not regard what the Giou clan head had ordered, he would find Rin at all costs. The Duras refused to lose her.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

"Quiet. Ashley-sama will be here shortly", one of the missing boys stated.

"Ashley", questioned Shusei from his tied up position.

"Heey! What's that supposed to mean, huh?" The door slammed open at the top of the stair case as a girl stepped into view," Why the hell can't the newcomer be hypnotized?"

A strange creature flew up from behind Ashley," Well I…I'm not really sure about that…"

Shusei's eyes widened as he realized that Ashley was in fact an Opast. Two of the missing boys pushed him down into a bow position as Ashley made her way down the staircase and towards him.

"Oh, my my. This human…is just my type! He's exactly what I was waiting for! He's not just a pretty face. He seems pretty smart, too."

The little winged creature from before sighed tiredly. Ashley raised a hand, ordering silence from it as she destroyed it.

She turned back to Shusei," Now it's time to add you to my doll collection…Or so I'd like to say, but…Unfortunately, it seems you really are too good to be true!"

Shusei was hit with a sudden extreme pain, making him fall to his side. Ashley grabbed his chin, forcing him up and to make eye contact with her.

"You're a Zweilt, aren't you? But if you're here, it means you must be someone's love interest."

Ahsley opened a small window, to show a girl asleep in her bed. Beside her on a tray was the ashes left from his handkerchief he had given Hotsuma at school, and a small cross melted. It took the Zwielt a moment to recognize where he had seen that cross from.

"What on earth are you planning", he demanded from the Opast.

Ashley giggled," All right. I guess handsome men deserve special treatment. I might as well tell you be-fo-re-I-kill-you~. Guess what? I save poor, poor girls from the unbearable pain of requited love. Wanting to be loved…Unwilling to give up…Insecure, jealous, possessive… It is a one-sided love filled with emotions, overflowing with defeat. I simply consume that power. In return, while dreaming of the men they so much desired, I granted them death."

"So…that is the truth behind the Sleeping Beauty syndrome."

"It's kind of romantic, don't you think? By the way, my puppets are the girls' romantic interests, whom all I've cast my spell upon! This situation simply works out the best for everyone. Although I never expected to catch a Zweilt or a half-Duras myself! I must be a genius!"

Shusei stiffened as the Opast broke out into laughter. He was right, Rin was dragged into this as well. He looked back up when Ashley commented on his expression.

"Oh, I know! I've got a great idea", she smiled sadistically.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

"Have you ever…wanted to stop being who you are", Hotsuma asked Yuki.

"I have."

"…I thought you'd say that. I had… I had tried to kill myself…Every day I had wanted… to finally be free of this… this damned power. So I burned myself. Within those burning flames, the one to reach out and bring me back… was Shusei. A stupid story, isn't it? I had finally realized something, only after I had given him that lasting wound. Even if the whole world turns its back on me, still Shusei would stay with me. Only because he was there, I had been able to choose life. If it's not him… it's all meaningless."

Yuki looked carefully at the blond boy," I'm sure Shusei-kun feels the same way."

"Shusei, too? But…ever since we've known each other, he was always the one supporting me…. Since when did he start wearing that expression?"

"Hotsuma-kun?"

"There are so many things I want to ask him. Where the hell are you, Shusei?"

Yuki frowned, clenching his fists against his thighs. Hotsuma had assumed that he could leave the mansion and get through the barrier, but he was wrong. If Yuki could get through, he would be searching for both Rin and Shusei.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

Takashiro looked at everyone who he had gathered in his office as he held up a pink flash drive," Just now we have received this video from the police department. It was found in the room of the newest victim of the Sleeping Beauty syndrome, high school student Yoshino Shiori."

Yuki gasped," Yoshino-san?"

Toko-chan turned to the boy in surprise," You know her?"

"She's in my class."

Takashiro handed the flash drive to his assistant," In any case, you should watch it."

The laptop was turned to everyone so they could view it. The video was static for a moment, before a girl should up on screen.

"Hi! Nice to meet you! Giou Clan band of half-wits. I am Ashley-sama, the haughty Opast. Let us quickly get to the point, shall we? It just so happens, I've got this handsome prince in my restraint!"

She turned the camera towards Shusei, who was hanging against the wall, blood staining his shirt.

"If you want him back, you'll have to trade for God's Light. I'm giving you two days. I've also sent everything you'll need to get here. Also…if you don't bring me God's Light, I'll kill this Zweilt on the spot…and this girl that accidently got dragged along, well, my master would be pleased to have her~"

Ashley pulls back the camera some, showing that under her arm was Rin. She was gagged with blood dripping from her forehead and hands bound behind her, knocked out.

The Opast giggled as she curled a strand of Rin's hair around her finger," It was so strange that I got a Zweilt and a half-Duras~ But, none the less I have given you my terms. So then, take care!"

Tachibana spoke first," It must be a trap…"

Luka nodded in thought.

Frantically, Yuki stood," But we still have to go! Shusei-kun and Rin-kun are…"

"Wait, Yuki", Takashiro ordered.

"What?"

Everyone stood silent. A dark gloom shadowing over them.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

"Aw come on, I have invited your friends, so don't you think it's time you tell me something, already", Ashley asked Shusei. "I really don't want to have to unnecessarily hurt you even more. You can tell me anything you want. Maybe something about the Zweilts' abilities…or perhaps weaknesses…"

"I refuse!"

"Oh my. How utterly stubborn…"

Ashley stuck another pin into the small doll of mini Shusei. The real Shusei screamed in pain. I pulled against my restraints in vein.

"Stop it! Leave him alone", I screamed.

Ashley ignored me," Why don't we stop this? If you hold out too long, I might just end up killing you."

"It doesn't matter…if you're going to kill me…go right ahead", Shusei stated hoarsely. "The Giou Clan needs only for God's Light to live. It means nothing to them if a single Zweilt dies. Besides…if I am to die in his stead…it's an honor-"

"STOP IT", I screamed louder. "Shusei-kun don't! Please! Dying isn't going to help anyone…! I…"

Ashley laughed," Oh my…I thought you seemed a little lifeless. Grown tired of living, Shu-sei-kun? Very well then…"

I snapped. Energy erupted from my hands, shattering the bindings holding my wrists. I moved in front of Shusei, taking his place as Ashley grabbed my face instead of his, pushing me against him.

"My my…this is a surprise…"

"Rin", Shusei gasped.

"I won't let you hurt Shusei-kun anymore! He's my friend and I don't want him to die!"

Ashley tightened her grasp," I see…you're tired of living as well, huh? Then sleep…a deep sleep…"

I tried to fight the dizziness that came over me, but it was futile. I felt myself grow weaker and weaker. Eventually my knees gave out; sending me falling to the ground. Everything slipped into darkness, one that wouldn't let me go no matter how hard I tried to fight it.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

"Something doesn't feel right, does it", Luka questioned as he glanced outside to the trees being thrashed by wind.

At the very moment Tsukumo was attacked by Ashley's little 'pets'. They were after a man that had been on a missing list. Tsukumo went to save him but accomplishes that worked with Ashley attacked him.

The blue haired Zweilt stood no chance against the twins alone.

Me: Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me, forgive me- *dies of exhaustion*

Hotsuma: ...ok, even I have to admit shes over doing it...

Yuki: Forgive Newt, shes been going through hard times lately like all of us...she owns nothing but Rin, so review please?