So, anyone still alive after that big wait I gave you? I nearly choked when I saw how long it's been since I last updated. :D

Probably not, but if you are and haven't read the add-on to chapter ten, go read it. It's a fun one if you can guess what it is that she gave him. :3

I really don't like this one. The whole thing just reads like crap to me, but I suppose that's how one is to come out of a writer's block.

Oh, and have I mentioned I'm about only capable of writing emoKaito in depth? Any other form of him doesn't get nearly this much thought. xD

Anyway, Ilovereviewspleaseandthankyou! x3

Perfection. It's a word that is often said for beauty or a good fit. Like that one robe that fit perfectly, or the flowers that are just perfect in general. This, though, was too perfect. It seemed balance between perfection and actually being a part of him. The demon felt his eye brows sad a little, the corners of his lips attempt to stay up or even in a straight line, and his chest feel like there was a hole there. His mouth ran dry, the airy feeling of laughter no longer there.

He felt the painted paper underneath his fingers and tried to fathom how something could be so perfect for him. How she could possibly know that it would fit him like a second half.

"Do you like it?" her voice asked, wedging its way between his thoughts. His blue orbs moved to her face and saw her quickly fading expression. No, no, it wasn't fading. It was becoming a worried frown. The blue-haired demon knew that he should answer her and he knew exactly what to say, too.

He parted his dry lips, feeling them pull apart in protest. "It's perfect," he whispered, his voice threatening to crack. It, too, didn't want to be used. His lips did not want to form words and his voice did not want to say them.

Miku's smile returned, blinding the demon if only for a moment. That was perfect, too. "I'm glad," she said, probably not understanding what she really gave him. She opened her mouth to form words again, but nothing came out. As much as the atmosphere told them that there was more to say, no words came to mind. It became an awkward silence.

"Are you-" Kaito started, but stopped himself. Did he really want to ask that question? To discover the answer? "Are you sure you want me at the festival?" Yes, he asked it.

"Of course."

And she closed the door. She closed his one option for escape. The one way he might be able to convince himself to stay home and be safe. What was his excuse now? How would he be able to explain going back on his promise?

"Why? Is something wrong?" she asked. What was he to do? Lie to her? Tell her that everything was going to be okay? Well, if she was there then maybe it would be. Maybe everything would be all right. After all, he had a mask now. Something to hide his 0appearance with. Maybe not hide, but it did the job well enough.

"No, nothing's wrong," he answered, easily lying. Easily filling her mind with foolish hopes that everything was going to work perfectly, just like the mask. "I just didn't want to... intrude on your village's celebration."

Her face fell into a look of confusion. "But you're part of it too, aren't you?"

The demon took in a sharp breath of air. He wasn't one of them; he was exiled in a sense. Put out of sight to remain out of mind. But what now? Would he finally have to tell her what he was? Shatter the frail dreamlike peace between them? No, that would be cruel.

"Yeah. Don't worry, I'm only concerned," he said with a light laugh and smile added on the end. He was becoming such a great liar.

Miku gave him one of her "I'm glad and content" looks. He waited a moment before parting his lips to speak, trying to understand what she wasn't saying, but meant. "What is it?" he asked, his voice a tad skeptical.

Her smile broadened. "I knew you were a good person. No one else believed me but," she looked down as her voice became more quiet, "I knew to trust you, Kaito." As if her soft voice and soft blush wasn't bad enough, the demon had to hear those words. She trusted him. She trusted a monster. The monster was lying to her.

His eyes trailed to the mask in his hand.

Perfection.

The perfect torture for a perfectly innocent girl by the perfect monster.

But he was already in too deep. There was no turning back now unless he was to tear down this facade that built, and how was one to tear down a fortress? He looked to Miku, the girl who brightened every moment of his imprisonment. But, maybe it was time to let go. A wingless bird doesn't have the means to fly like the rest of them in the sky, and this was no different. It would be cruel to tell her, but he had to. He had to show the monster that he is. There was no other choice. It had to be now.

"Miku," he said, feeling like he overusing her name in his misleading voice. "I need to," he paused, feeling his palms start to grow cold as she turned her face to him. "I need to tell you something." Stop stalling. Get it over with. A demon deserves no extra time.

"Yes?" Oh, how he would miss that sweet melody. Nothing in the world would ever be able to replace that.

The blue-haired demon brought his right hand to hover just above her cheek. He had no right to touch her. No right to stain her image with his touch. His hand returned to his side more slowly than it had risen. "The truth is-"

"Miku!" a voice rang out, cutting him off. And then another, howling that name, "Miku!!" It didn't sound like it was hers when shouted like that. It was far too coarse. The third call was closer.

Escape. The demon hardly had to think as he ran up the bridge and halfway up the path back to his prison. Then he watched. He watched look confused, waiting for something. Then he heard her call his name. His human name. The demon felt his face take on a rather dejected look as he watched, wanting nothing more than to quickly bring her to his secluded home and have everything the way it was.

A man with long purple hair wearing white samurai clothes soon approached her. "Miku," he started, "I'm glad I finally found you."

She smiled at him. Kaito's look deepened. "What is it, Gakupo?" she asked.

"Nothing, really," he said with an honest smile and a happy laugh. "I was actually coming to see if you know where I could find the stored eggplants and a girl to go to the festival with."

Kaito glared at the fake-samurai before quickly running up the rest of the stone path. In no time was back in his secluded cage, the mask still in his hand. His chest ached as he replayed what he saw over and over in his mind. He should have seen it coming, though. It was only to be expected.

The demon laid on the polished wooden floor, like he had so many days before, and stared at the ceiling. Again, that scene replayed itself. Wouldn't that man be better for to be around? Wasn't it for her own good? No, it was for her own good that he wasn't telling her what he was! It was because of what is best for her that he has kept lying to her time and time again! He wasn't wrong to keep it from her!

...

The blue-haired demon lifted the mask to his face. He put it on to see what it was like, and it was an exact fit. He then sat in silence. The cruel, conniving demon tried to listen for the sound of her voice, only to be left in that cold quiet.

He couldn't help but laugh just then. Looking out from behind the blue ogre mask, he couldn't help but laugh a little.

"It's perfect. Nothing looks different."