Chapter 9

Hatori, Rin and Momiji still kept their vigil on Natsuko as it neared midnight. Momiji yawned with fatigue, but braced up and tried his hardest not to fall asleep. He knew it was his duty to the Sohmas not to let any of his fellow zodiac members. Rin sat on the floor and napped, not seeming to care what her friends said. Momiji shrugged his shoulders and walked over to Hatori, who had kept to himself for the past five hours, not saying anything without provocation, and even then, it was concise and to the point. The rabbit spoke to the dragon, trying to help him any way that he could.

"Anything wrong, Hatori?"

Hatori looked up and shook his head. He then turned his head to the side, looking out into space as he replied, "… It's just…Kana's divorced with her husband…"

Happiness flooded through Momiji like a wellspring as he clapped Hatori on the shoulder, "So that means…you can get her back!"

Shaking his head again, Hatori closed his eyes and remembered the times with Kana. The love…the acceptance…the innocence of it all… The happiest moments of his life were gone forever… And yet…in the back of his mind…he desired that happiness again…

Walking to the door, Hatori spoke again, "I won't dwell on the past… And neither should you… I'll be back shortly…"

Momiji nodded and sat on the floor, still awake and aware, still keeping his promise to the Sohmas…

Saki blinked twice and her eyes glowed the same eerie shade of violet that Megumi's had when he fought Kazuma. Denpa waves seemed to course through her body and a motion of the hand sent a bolt of energy towards Shigure, who took it and smirked. He replied with a giggle and began his witty banter, honed from years of writing.

"Yes…it seems that the battle has begun… And now…let's see your power… Aya, go!"

Ayame nodded and again controlled Megumi, but stopped at a pain in his mind, which then permeated to his body. Megumi's curse was again active and this time, already at full power from the start. The snake smirked and focused even more power into his power, overtaking Megumi's mind. Saki gasped as Megumi's hand clasped around her neck and she was in shock as she realized her powers couldn't affect fellow family members. Ayame stood up, stumbling as he did so, and spoke, his eyes glowing brighter than ever.

"This is the strength of the Sohma clan and it will crush all resistance. And with I and Gure-san together, our power is doubled, no tripled. So…prepare to lose…"

Illusions assaulted Saki's mind all at once, ranging from minor memories that she could push aside, to her deepest secrets that Shigure then brought to the surface. Her eyes lost their glow and she fell to the ground, defeated, as did Megumi, after the strain of Ayame's mind control took its toll on his body.

Shigure and Ayame observed the fallen bodies and turned to one another, giving each other the thumbs up sign, saying "Yes!" as they did so. Turning away, they left the scene, Saki and Megumi in peaceful slumber.

But only a minute or two had passed and both demons were awakened, even greater strength flowing through them now. The scent of the outsiders was in their minds and they began to stalk the dog and snake, pursuing them with a new drive, nothing standing in their way.

Shigure and Ayame were nearly at Sohma House, when they met Hatori, who waved and stopped to chat, still pensive, but more open around his closest friends.

"…I see you've defeated Saki and Megumi…"

Ayame nodded, "It wasn't that hard actually…"

Shigure chimed in next, full of vigor, "Yes…we're ready to face any obstacle now…"

Hatori then clapped a hand to his head and spoke, "You know, you really have to tone down that overconfidence a bit… Otherwise…"

"You'll be defeated when you least expect it," A dark voice chimed in behind them. Saki and Megumi glared at Shigure and Ayame, Saki glaring at Shigure, Megumi towards Ayame. Hatori simply stood in shock at the new power the two had gained, but focused himself and prepared to end this, even if it cost him his own life. He would save his friends…

Shigure began to convulse as electro poison waves permeated his flesh and began affecting his strong mind as slowly, but as diligently as possible. Ayame grimaced as Megumi's curse activated again, now seemingly stronger than ever. Stronger because Ayame was visibly in pain, and his eyes were pale and listless, a deeper pain affecting him now. Megumi seemed to enjoy this and grinned maliciously as he spoke.

"You see…this is human weakness…you are closer to humanity than most… But you still possess what we have abandoned… You still have guilt… You still have blind loyalty… You are still pathetic and insignificant… And now…you will die…just as Kazuma did."

Ayame collapsed on the ground, twitching more than ever, as Megumi's curse reached level 3. Shigure was growing closer to Saki, still speaking in a novelist's voice, even in this perilous battle.

"See…I thought you were still alive… I just didn't want to frighten Ayame…"

Saki spoke, cold and humorless as she stared at Shigure, "That's a lie… You were just afraid that you would be wrong… That fear is what makes you weak… And now…it will destroy you…" The denpa powers enhanced themselves in an instant, Shigure now unable to even think straight, the realization that he was losing sinking in quickly, but too late, as both he and Ayame fell to the ground, unconscious, nearly expired.

Preparing to finish this, Saki and Megumi stopped at the pressure of a hand on each of their heads. A flash of memories assaulted them and they collapsed as well, leaving Hatori to pick up the mess; namely, Shigure and Ayame, nearly dead from two excruciating battles. He knew no words need be said to his friends, as they fought more valiantly than he ever did. They were true warriors… He was the ninja…hiding in the shadows, attacking without warning, without remorse… But…that was the purpose of the dragon…

It was around sunrise as Yuki and Kyo still searched for Ruri and Saito, no sign of them anywhere. Yet again, the two rivals didn't seem to want to argue, contrary to their usual demeanor. Kyo was as pensive and tough natured as ever, while Yuki was simply reticent and cool headed. The two cancelled each other out, and yet conflicted on many things. It was amazing how Kyo simply let Tohru go, though Yuki knew of his feelings for Tohru… Their relationship, that is, Tohru and Yuki's, was strained due to the resurgence of the curse, while Kyo and Kagura could keep their intimacy; as little as Kyo enjoyed it at times… The fact was… Kyo…felt something he had never felt before, especially towards Yuki. What it was was still unknown, but a rustling in the leaves left that feeling in the back of his mind.

Blue and red appeared in the cat and rat's vision, Saito and Ruri just as eccentric a team as they were. Saito flung out a hand, knocking Kyo and Yuki back. But this time, the two were prepared. The second Saito attacked again, they unleashed their powers, striking the two from behind. Saito knocked them back again, only Kyo affected this time, Yuki standing behind Saito, his arms crossed. He spoke, his eyes glowing an eerie indigo.

"This is the strength of the cat and rat… I use the cunning style, while he uses the ambition style, balancing each other out, a perfect strategy against you."

Saito grinned and pointed to Ruri, who was only inches from Yuki's face, her eyes seeming to call to Yuki as she spoke.

"I see…you feel jealousy towards the cat…hatred…negativity… And yet…you still wish to be his friend… A paradox. The cat is guilty…sorrowful…but not for the reasons I expected… he can still embrace his love…while you are restricted by the curse… Very intricate, this plot the Sohmas weave…"

Yuki gasped, looking towards Kyo, who was also stunned at Ruri's mental warfare. But Kyo grinned and spoke.

"Yeah, I feel sorry for Yuki, but I'm even more sorry for myself. For being such a wimp, that is… Yuki's strong…and I know that better than anybody… What you're saying may be true, blue eyes, but it doesn't matter!" Kyo said this as he struck Saito in the face, sending her crashing into a tree, not unconscious, but still in shock.

Yuki nodded as well, "Since we've been rivals our entire lives, we know each other better than anyone… So…try to make us feel bad…angry…resentful even… But it won't work as long as we work together and keep no secrets…" Yuki then disappeared into the air, leaving Ruri alone with Kyo, who simply stood across from her, his arms crossed, apparently waiting for Yuki to end this battle…

Ruri then gasped as a finger interrupted her bloodflow and she collapsed, leaving the battle won. Saito levitated Ruri off the ground and held the innocent twin towards her face.

"Ruri…why…why didn't you tell me? …I guess…we keep secrets…too many secrets… We…we can…start over again…"

The crimson and azure duo was gone in a flash, Yuki and Kyo simply staring at each other, sparks flying as they spoke.

"Stupid cat…"

"Damn rat…"