Chapter Twelve: Dreams

As the tremors of whatever had been going on outside subsided a bit, the two maids who were in charge of cleaning the fourth floor of the Four Seasons hotel glanced at each other in relief and sighed gratefully. Things in Tokyo the last few days had been getting
weirder and weirder.

For instance, the first maid; young, blond and new to the job of cleaning hotel rooms, could have sworn that as she was making her way to work she saw people on top of buildings, jumping from rooftop to rooftop with the ease of something learned from birth. She had stared at them for a few moments and then shaking her head in disbelief, had continued on her way, trying to convince herself that she was just seeing things.

The second maid; a bit rotund with gray hair apparent at her temples, had seen nothing out of the ordinary, but these mini 'earthquakes', she concluded, were definitely not normal. Coming from the ground now was a pleasant little buzz, and both the women decided to continue on with their rounds. It was a policy to have every room done dusk and sunset was fast approaching. Walking toward the next set of rooms on slightly wobbly legs, they both clutched the handles of their huge cleaning carts a bit harder then necessary, just in case another tremor struck. Stopping at the next set of doors, the blond suddenly had a momentary relapse and forgetting to check the door number, instead just rang the bell and began to slowly turn the knob.

Suddenly a hand entered her view and clamped down on top of hers, effectively stopping the motion of the handle. The blond maid gave the other a look of surprise as the gray haired one hissed, "Not that room."

Startled, the blond one looked up at the room number, and almost instantly her cheeks flamed a bright red. "Oh..oh. Gomen Nasai! I.. I.. forgot to check the room number." she whispered, cheeks going a shade redder then they already were. Her eyes fell to the ground with shame as she started to moved the knob back into its original position. The older maid nodded curtly and let her continue, didn't let go until the knob was firmly back in place. She then let go and gave the girl an encouraging smile. "It's alright. Nothing bad happened. We are both on edge and when that's true mistakes get made. Come along, the room across the hall isn't occupied." So saying the older woman walked over to her cart and began to push it toward the next set of doors a little way off.

The blond maid, took one more look at the numbered door, wondering for a moment what was in there, but then sighed and hurrying to her cart, pushed it forward quickly to catch up with her partner.

The room the blond maid had almost opened was almost identical to other hotel rooms of the day. An eerie silence engulfed it, making it seem a bit haunted even though the blinds were open and the midmorning sun made pools of bright light on the carpeted floor and the furniture that was scattered about the room. There was, however, a fine film of dust on most of the furniture, but the person who occupied the room surely wouldn't have noticed. But as one listened closer, the silence was suddenly shattered by the whirl, hum and occasional beep of machines. They were all located around the huge bed. White hangings had been strung from the ceiling and fell all the way to the floor, completely obscuring the bed and it's occupant, for indeed there was a person residing in this room. Lying under a few blankets, and covered with the small round life monitor patches and a few tubes, lay the inert body of dream seer and Dragon of Earth, Kakyou Kuzuki. His eyes were closed, his heart gone, and his mind.. well his mind was lost in his dreams….

…A light ocean breeze blew at his hair, lifting it off his neck and whipping it about his face. His white trench coat fluttered as well, then settled back around his ankles as the breeze died out. Gulls soared above him, their flapping wings and harsh songs his only music. Kakyou was standing on a rock ledge, the only one to be seen for miles. Everywhere else, as far as the eye could see was the vast blue-green ocean. He was surrounded by ocean, sky, rock and birds and he minded not at all. Anything to be at least a bit closer to the one that he had cared for…

Suddenly he looked up into the sky as feathers began to ran down and the sky darkened. The sky faded and gears became visible, each slowly revolving a constant cycle, but one that never went backwards.

Always the gears of time move forward. For the past cannot be erased
and the future is already set.

The ocean and ledge disappeared, replaced by a floor that looked to be like opaque glass. It was deceiving however, for the feathers that fell upon it made it ripple. With each new feather, a new ripple, until one never knew where to begin and where to end. Kakyou held out his hand and a feather fell into his palm. He regarded it for a moment and then let it float away on some unfelt breeze. He continued to stand as he had before, as if waiting for something. A large ripple suddenly appeared on the ground a few feet away and as Kakyou watched a figure emerged from under the floor. The person was wrapped in a large tan cloak, part of it used as a hood that obscured his face. Fully above ground now, the boy removed the hood. He didn't look at Kakyou however, but something…or perhaps someone.

So this the Kamui. Kakyou regarded the boy with interest, but what interested him more was as he looked at the reflection, it was not that of Kamui. It was that of another. Taller, and with a more fiery look in his eyes.

Two Kamui's. Twin stars, one for Heaven and one for Earth. Kakyou looked at the real Kamui now. Kamui chooses. The twin star fills the void. That is the reason for two scared swords.

Kakyou looks out beyond Kamui now, and many images of the future run through his mind's eye. His dreams play out to the end and as it stopped he sighed.

In my dreams the fate of the Earth is already decided. The wishes of all will rest in the strength of each, even if to gain that wish it means death.

The image begins to fade and is replaced once again by the ocean, sky, rocks and birds. Another breeze plays at his coat as he looks out across the never-ending sea. Placing his hands in his pockets, he suddenly turns to his right and sees a young girl wandering toward him. She looked lost and a bit bewildered. Kakyou smiled and turned toward her, watching her with golden eyes.

"You seem lost little one." he called out over the space that separated them and smiled at her again.

Kotori walked toward the man in front of her. Her eyes crossed over the ocean scene a few dozen times. It was as if she didn't quite believe it.

"You seem lost little one."

Kotori stopped, looking the way the voice came. Her eyes fell on Kakyou. Softly, she smiled at his kindness, if only for a brief moment.

"A bit..." she replied, choosing her words carefully. She started walking again, reaching Kakyou.

"It seems so lonely out here..." she started.

Fuuma stared down at Kotori as she talked to him. His exterior heard her soul crying for a blissful end while the still retreating voice heard her words. Sister...Run! I can't stop myself from answering your wish. The voices were almost in unison now, it wouldn't be long before the choice was made. He would be Kamui then and would bring the world to its peaceful origin.

Suddenly Fuuma saw her fall against him. What was wrong? He felt that transformation cease for one moment. He's not ready to protect her...I can't just yet. I want to see the happiness in her eyes when I end her suffering Fuuma gently sat, and lay his sister on the ground, near Kamui...near the one he would kill to protect the world from Humanity's corruptive touch. Sister...I must make this choice He touched Kamui's face, feeling it's warmth against his cold hand. "You will join her in death...then you both will be happy...I promise to protect your happiness."

Fuuma rose to his feet, turning his back to the couple. "The stars are not right for their wish...I must wait." He spoke to Seishirou, eyeing him from the corner of his eyes. "If you wish to follow me, come."

In this moment, I know what must be done. I must kill them to truly protect them...to protect their bond...To protect this world from the cancer that slowly kills it. Sister, next time we meet, I shall make you happy. I understand it all now

He smiled cheerfully as he walked in the opposite direction from Kamui. It would seem for now on they would always be on the opposite side.

The choice was made.

Satsuki frowned at Yuuto's words, narrowing her eyes as she tried to take in the full meaning of this new fact. "It wasn't just you, San-san," Satsuki said slowly.

She looked up at the supercomputer, which sat innocently humming away as it performed its task of blocking the falling debris. She had built BEAST with her own hands, a device meant to superior to humans in every way: intelligent, entertaining, companionable, and above all, loyal. Why, then, wouldn't her own creation listen to her? It couldn't be a defect; Satsuki knew that no technological creation of hers could ever be less than perfect. Besides, she ran system checks on the computer dozens of times a day, just to be sure, and it was always in perfect condition. What could have caused the problem?

Satsuki looked at her blond companion, her eyebrows furrowing. "While you were still in the projection, I commanded BEAST to recall the hologram. And it wouldn't listen to me. It wouldn't even acknowledge my presence. It was as if it was completely ignoring me."

This was a riveting shock. Yuuto stared at her. "It didn't obey you? You?" He repeated the last word with dramatic emphasis, raising his eyebrows in wonderment. "Sou desu ne... Hontou ni, doshitan desu ka..."

The trembling of the ceiling stopped, and abruptly Yuuto got the urge to stand. He hated sitting still. Glancing around, his gaze finally rested back on the brilliant young technological genius. "Think we should try the elevator?" he mused out loud. "That is...if you imagine BEAST can hold his own for now."

Seishirou turned his back on Subaru to follow Fuuma. Subaru was caught by surprise. "San-san, where are you going?"

Seishirou stopped without glancing over his shoulder. "Stay out of this." He did not want to leave the man behind--to let those blasted Seals have him back--but this was his destiny.

Subaru quickened his pace and blocked Seishirou's path. "Stay out of what?" he asked, trying to look intimidating.

Scowling, Seishirou finally met Subaru's stern glare. "I asked you once not to turn your back on me. Well, now I'm demanding that you do it. Get out of my way." He attempted to brush past the younger Onmyouji.

"Noubou, Akyasha, Kyrarabaya on arikya..." Subaru started chanting, touching his index fingers together. Seishirou scowled, recognizing instantly the familiar chant of the Onmyoujitsu curse. Subaru's voice increased in intensity and in volume, "...maribori sowaka!!"

The power flared, and Seishirou was forced to take a step back, surprised at the sudden recovery of the younger spiritualist's power. He shielded his face from the flare and snickered sardonically. "So, you wish to die now, after all?"

Subaru jumped back reflexively, expecting Seishirou to take a swipe at him, but he didn't. "I'll die only if I can take you with me."

Seishirou watched out of the corner of his single useful eye as Fuuma walked away into the night. Grumbling under his breath, he held out his hands in the shape of a triangle and uttered his own stream of curses. "On asanmagini unhatta...Onbazalatoshikoku!" His notorious inverted pentagram flew up before him like a shield, blocking the force of Subaru's power.

Subaru sighed. "You know, it didn't have to be like this..."

Seishirou snickered from behind the streaks of red light. "Are you still so naive? Of course it had to be like this. It was destined to be like this. You really are very cute, Subaru-kun, but you were always a fool."

"Every action we take changes our 'destiny'. Your destiny is how it is because you don't WANT to change it, Seishirou-san."

He shrugged. "Maybe that's true. But you said it yourself...that I am a heartless monster. So make up your mind!" He laughed out loud mockingly. "Do you hate me or love me?"

Subaru felt conflicted. Now that the words were being laid out in front of him, he was forced to confront the situation. He was sure that he loved Seishirou at one point in his life. He remembered those days after Seishirou lost his right eye while in conflict with Yuya's mother, how much he cried, how much he was worried about what Seishirou thought about him. If Seishirou hated him... He wouldn't feel that way if he didn't love Seishirou. But even so, he killed his sister. His beloved Elder Sister, who did no wrong. How could...how could he love SUCH a thing? There was no way he could love such...such...

"I'm...not sure," Subaru avoided his answer.

The hesitation was almost tangible in the younger man's face. Seishirou took advantage of his falter with a snicker and lunged forward, cutting Subaru across the face with a blade of energy and landing easily behind him an instant later. "Have you learned anything?" he scoffed. "That could have been your head. You're nothing but a toy to me, Subaru-kun. Surely you've realized that by now."

Subaru felt the teas well up in his eyes. It wasn't from the pain in his leg, either. It was the pain of betrayal. He turned around and started to walk away. "Do as you wish, Seishirou- san." There was no way he would let this man-- no--this monster see him cry.

But Seishirou heard the trembling in his voice...knew its familiar connotations. He had seen Subaru cry before. "What's wrong?" he taunted, folding his arms over his chest. "Afraid to show me your tears? After all we've been through together." He grinned, though the slightest pang of emotion pricked at the pit of his throat.

Subaru reflexively turned around. He looked at Seishirou with piercing eyes, taking a moment to wipe his tears away. "I'm not afraid of you," Subaru said simply.

Seishirou stared on expectantly, tilting his head to the side with a twisted smile. "Oh, but I think you are."

"Why would I be afraid of you? our powers are equally matched," Subaru reminded him.

For a moment Seishirou's expression turned somber, and he strode forward placidly until he stood no more than a pace from Subaru. Smiling gently down at him, he lifted a hand and gingerly stroked a callous finger across the younger man's pale cheek. "Yes, evenly matched in power. I would never deny that you are the only one I've ever had so much trouble with killing. But..." He traced his finger to Subaru's lower lip, brushing it softly with tender care. "...There are other ways I think you fear me..."

Subaru pulled away. "Why would I fear you?" he asked, not needing a clarification. He knew. He knew.

Seishirou chuckled, still wearing a gentle face. "Now you're being repetitive, Subaru-kun. I know you better than you know yourself. And you...hardly know me at all." He cocked his head with a pleasant smile. "It's almost ironic, don't you think?"

"I..I know you," Subaru said, insecurely. "...I know you love animals. I know that...I know that..." he tried to stutter for something to support his retort, but he came up empty handed.

And for a moment--only for a moment--Seishirou's eyes filled with genuine sympathy. -Subaru-kun...- But quickly he shook himself and hardened his expression. "You know nothing. That's why your beloved sister died, and that's why you will die."

"Kill me then..." Subaru's words were low but suddenly, he felt his voice become stronger. "KILL ME THEN. IF THAT'LL SAVE YOU, KILL ME."

The snicker returned to Seishirou's lips and again he met Subaru face-to-face where the younger man had backed up to. "So, after all this...after the sacrifice your dear Hokuto made...you are just giving up now?" He chuckled and rotated his head in a sadistic movement. "How utterly...delicious." Before the wide-eyed Subaru could respond, Seishirou bent his knees and planted his powerful fist solidly into the lovely Onmyouji's midsection. As Subaru curled over his arm, he brought his other fist soaring into the man's jaw in a brutal uppercut, sending Subaru violently to the ground. He laughed all the while. "So is it as enjoyable as you'd hoped?" he shouted. "Is this the end you want?!"

Blood spurted upward from Subaru's lips as he stumbled backwards. He found himself nearly falling, but waved his arms to regain his balance. He brushed his arm across his bloodied lips. "Is this the end you wanted for me?" Subaru asked. "ANSWER ME. I thought you were a Sakurazukamori."

Again Seishirou laughed. "And so you want to die like the victim of the Sakurazukamori, is that it? As...the victim of the Sakurazukamori...?" The taunting laughter fell from his face. "So...you're foolish enough to still believe that I have feelings for you...?"

Subaru smiled. "You said it yourself-- you said you had the most trouble killing me. Those words speak the loudest."

At this Seishirou was stunned. It was true...those words did speak the loudest in his eyes. Frowning with a little less composure, he forced a chuckle. "Don't get so arrogant. We...will finish this later."

Seishirou turned to leave, still feeling wary of his own unexpected emotions.

Subaru grew angry. "I don't want to finish this later. I want to finish this now!" He sent a fist lunging at Seishirou's neck. Subaru blinked at his sudden outburst. He...he didn't mean to...

The warning came too late. His senses were still sluggish. And before he knew what hit him...everything went black...

"Yuzuriha-chan, wait!" Karen called out in alarm as the young girl jumped away towards the building. Before she could do anything, however, the girl had disappeared into the cloud of dust. Karen gritted her teeth angrily as she threw another blast of fire at the oncoming crows and curse zombies. She had to follow Yuzuriha, but with these creatures in her way she wouldn't be able to move anywhere.

Quite suddenly, all of the attacking creatures vanished in the middle of their attacks. Karen blinked in surprise and slowly lowered her hands, looking around. "They're… gone?" she said slowly, completely bewildered. Why had whoever was controlling the spirits stopped the attacks?

In any case, their path was now clear, and they could go after Yuzuriha now. Karen would think about what had just happened later. "Come on, we've got to follow Yuzuriha-chan! We can't let her go in there alone!" Karen shouted to her companions. Without waiting for a response, she leaped from the building top and hurtled off in the direction that the girl had gone. ::Please, don't let anything have happened to her:: Karen thought anxiously as she approached the government building. She saw several figures up ahead of her, obscured by the flying dust, and she increased her speed to reach them.

Unexpectedly, the dust cleared, and Karen's eyes widened in surprise as she recognized the figures. "Yuzuriha-chan! Sumeragi-san!" Karen exclaimed, hurrying up to them. "Are you all right? What's going on?"

She looked bewildered over at the figures slumped on the floor. "Kamui-kun!" Karen cried out, kneeling down on the floor next to the teenager. "He's injured! What happened?" She looked over at Kotori's still unconscious next to Kamui. "His friend's here, too? How did she get here? What's going on?"

As she looked up, a third figure caught her eye. Karen's eyes widened as she recognized the man slumped over on the floor. "That man's aura… he's the one who attacked us with his spirit zombies a little while ago! What's he doing here?"

Karen's head was spinning; she was completely taken aback by this sudden turn of events. There were so many unanswered questions, and she had no idea where to start. She looked up at Subaru, hoping he would have some answers.

Subaru tried to ignore the eyes looking down at him expectantly.

He stared at Seishirou's body, trying to make sense of the last few minutes. What was he going to do?

If he wanted to, he could kill him right now. End all this madness. He could avenge his elder sister.

Instead, he felt nostalgia overcome him. Seishirou had done so much for him. This couldn't be the Seishirou he knew. Something had possessed him, like a ghost.

Seishirou was not like this. Not the Seishirou Subaru knew for so long.

Subaru cocked his head downward and brushed a few stray hairs out of Seishirou's face and brought Seishirou's face to his lips.

Yuzuriha turned to Kotori. "Is he all right?" she asked, nodding her head towards Kamui.

The zombies vanished before his eyes. Aoki watched them disappear with relief. However, he tensed nervously as the youngest girl and her dog suddenly leapt off in the direction of the building. Hesitating, he wondered if he should go after her or to remain behind in case more zombies turned up.

"C'mon, we have to follow Yuzuriha-chan! We can let her go in there alone!" the red-haired woman cried before rushing after her companion.

His moment of decision abruptly ended, Aoki followed her lead. As he raced through the air, he grimly noted that the kekkai had been taken down, which usually meant the owner was either dead or badly wounded. He hoped neither was the case.

Within seconds, the government building had come into view. The dust in the air swirled briefly before dying down. Pausing behind the red-haired woman, Aoki strained to see what she was anxiously staring at--two teenagers and a figure dressed in black.

His eyes widened in alarm when he realized that all three of them were unconscious.

"Yuzuriha-chan! Sumeragi-san! Are you alright? What's going on?" the woman with the red hair asked worriedly, "Kamui-kun! He's injured! What happened?"

Aoki jerked on reflex. It was the name of the boy whose life he would have to protect at all costs.

"Kamui? This is Kamui?" he echoed dumbly before realizing he had even opened his mouth. As if being directed by some invisible force, his gaze traveled to the dark-haired boy that was lying immobile on the ground.

There was a girl next to him as well. And nearby, a man dressed in dark clothes being watched by another man with an unreadable expression.

The manga editor frowned in concern and looked at the red-haired woman, hoping for some explanation.

"His friend's here, too? How did she get here? What's going on?" Unfortunately, she seemed just as lost as he was.

Tentatively, he walked forward to get a better look at the two unmoving figures. Thankfully, they were both alive. But the girl seemed rather fragile, her breaths more gentle and shallow...

Aoki became uneasy watching her irregular breathing. On an impulse, he knelt and checked her pulse. It was weak. Did she need a doctor?

"Are you ok?" he asked, placing a delicate hand on her forehead, "Can you hear me?"

Without waiting for a response, he checked her pulse again. Finding it faint, he lifted her into his arms and called to the other Seals, "Her pulse is weak. We should find a hospital."

He looked at the girl with the spirit dog, "Yuzuriha-san... that's your name, right? Please take Kamui and follow my lead."

"That man's aura… he's the one who attacked us with his spirit zombies a little while ago!" the red-haired woman said suddenly. She sounded distinctly dismayed, "What's he doing here?"

Tensing, Aoki turned to see the comrade that had needed aid. Sumeragi-san, was that what they had called him? He was bent over a darkly dressed man.

Aoki narrowed his eyes. Was that the one that had been attacking them?

To his astonishment, the Seal ignored her and leaned over to kiss the unconscious figure. Aoki blinked, now beyond baffled. Really now... what was going on?

But the weight in his arms reminded him of what he needed to do. He had to find a hospital. Anxiously, he called to the red-haired woman, "Miss! This girl has a weak pulse! We need to get both her and Kamui to the hospital!"

"The elevator...?" Satsuki said doubtfully, looking in the direction where it was located. "We could try, but I don't think it would be working right now. The power might have been cut off, with so much of the basement falling apart right now."

Satsuki looked around at her surroundings, trying to formulate a plan for getting them out of the building. "I'll use BEAST to check the elevator to see if it's working. If it's not, then I'll try to reconnect the electricity long enough for use to use the elevator to get out."

Satsuki took her cell phone out of her pocket and handed it to her handsome comrade. "Try to see if you can reach Kanoe-san. If BEAST doesn't cooperate, we may need help some getting out of here."

This being said, Satsuki walked over to the side of the supercomputer and swiftly leaped up its side to the control center at the top. She took off her yellow jacket and settled into the seat as the wires automatically attached to her skin. Satsuki placed the goggles over her eyes and spoke, "BEAST, please run a check on the elevator's power system and display its data." Satsuki held her breath as she waited, praying that the computer would listen to her command...

Kakyou watched the girl as she approached him. So young and full of life. She had great potential, this one.

Yet she will not live for much longer. Kakyou sighed. And there is nothing I can do to save her.

"It seems so lonely out here.." the girl said.

Kakyou waited for a moment to see if she would continue, but when she didn't he gave her a smile tinged with sadness. "Yes it is lonely here. To be a dream seer is to be alone. It is the price we pay to see the future."

He looked down at her now, and studied her heart-shaped face, golden eyes hidden some by the bangs that fell over his face. Fragments of a scene suddenly came to him and now he looked at her without really seeing her.

His voice was soft as he said, "The chosen ones have decided. The final day approaches. Wishes are all that matter now." He shook his head, the blond hair flying around his face and really looked at her again. Removing his right hand from his pocket, he brought it up to cup Kotori's cheek gently.

"Your wish will save one…but there can only be one future. Only one side will win."

"Dream seer, huh?" Kotori asked. "That sounds so familiar."

"Wishes are all that matter now." the man replied.

Kotori blinked, her big eyes showing a bit of confusion. "Wishes? Can everyone's wishes really come true?" she asked. She gasped a bit, pulling in her breath at Kakyou's sudden movement to cup her cheek.

"Your wish will save one.."

"My wish?" Kotori asked him again. "Why my wish?" She stared at the man, unsure of everything that he was saying, but more than anything, she trusted everything that he was saying. She didn't know why though... It wasn't anything like the trust she had in Kamui-chan, but it was strong..

'Kamui-chan...that's right...is he okay?' she wondered.

Kakyou smiled and dropped his hand. Turning back toward the sea, he gazed out over the ocean. "Of course it is familiar, you have the capabilities. You wouldn't have been drawn to me otherwise."

He glanced over at her. "Not everyone's wishes will come true. Most yes, but others.." He trailed off, not wanting to reveal anything more to this fragile girl.

He continued to gaze at her and heard the question she asked herself. "You see. You know your wish already. But there can still only be one future. You love both Kamui and your brother, but I have seen death...there can be only one fate, one destiny." He looked out to the blue-green sea again, moving his eyes heavenward to watch the gulls soar above.

Kanoe frowned to herself. What exactly was her sister up to? Onee-chan was the last person she'd expect to cause problems for the Seals. The whole thing was a riddle.

And a time-consuming one at that, she noted with disgust. While she had been muddling around in her confusion, the Seals had reached the fallen Kamui and the girl. One of her best warriors, the Sakurazukamori, had been taken out of action. And, to top it all off, the other Kamui was nowhere to be found.

Kanoe cursed her luck.

"Onee-chan..." she muttered bitterly, "Why is it that you always seem to put a stop to my plans..."

She had to reassemble her forces. And that meant rescuing Yuuto and Satsuki, who were probably still stuck under the building. She COULD take the long way. Go back the way she had come out via the stairs. But that could take hours, especially since debris might be blocking the way. The dream gazer wasn't particularly fond of sweat.

Or she could take the short way.

Kanoe walked steadily towards a small grove of sakura blossom trees in the nearby distance. The trees had been grown in a circle and hid a secret, one-way underground entrance. Assassinations in the government building were common for a reason, after all. You couldn't get out from the inside, but that didn't mean you couldn't get in.

The dream gazer cast a lingering look back towards the Sakurazukamori. It was a pity she would have to leave him in the hands of the enemy. She watched in surprise as the young Sumeragi bestowed a tender kiss and then smirked. Then again, maybe the Sakurazukamori would be fine where he was.

"Perhaps we should do you a favor and not rescue you later..." Kanoe commented to no one in particular, witnessing the scene.

But back to Yuuto and Satsuki. The poor girl was probably going insane with boredom.

Kanoe neared the entrance to the passage. It was a metal door cleverly disguised as part of the ground. She entered the electronic code--stolen from the dreams of corrupt politicians--on the panel hidden on the bark of one of the trees and slipped easily into the secret passage.

With quick steps, she soon reached her destination: the electronic metal door that separated her from the basement.

The door itself, though, was a mess as a result of the earthquake. Entering codes wouldn't work. The buttons on the panel were jammed. Kanoe banged on the door but it wouldn't budge.

Wait, were the Dragons even alive?

"BEAST, please run a check on the elevator's power system and display its data."

Kanoe sighed with relief before smiling amusedly to herself. Dear little Satsuki-chan, always hard at work solving problems. Well, time to give her some help.

The dream gazer banged on the door--it would appear a normal wall to those on the other side--and shouted with all her might, "Satsuki! Yuuto!! I'm going to get you out of there! If you can hear me, I want you to hurry up and blast the place where my voice is coming from! In other words, blast this wall down!"

"I don't think she can hear you, Yuzuriha-chan, that girl is too injured," Karen said gently to the young Seal. She looked up at the man dressed in the brown suit –Aoki, his name was? He seemed familiar somehow– and nodded silently in agreement. Kamui and his friend obviously needed medical treatment right away; there was no time to worry about anything else at the moment. But what to do about the man in black who had attacked them? Karen wasn't eager to help him, but after all, he was a fellow human being like the rest of them.

Karen looked up in the direction of their attacker. "About that man, Aoki-san, do you think we should…" she gradually stopped speaking and her eyes widened in surprise. After a few moments, she realized that her eyes were not lying, and that Subaru was indeed kissing the man on the lips.

"…Oh, my." Karen was at a loss for words. She stared silently at the pair for a few moments, and then said, "I think both of them will be fine for now. Neither of them are in any condition to be attacking each other again, and it will be safe enough to leave them here." Karen nodded at her own logic. Subaru obviously cared about that man enough to take care of him; there was no need for the rest of them to take the man to the hospital and help out their enemies.

Karen put her arms under Kamui's body and tried to lift him up, but she found that the most she could do was lift up his shoulders. The teenager was surprisingly heavy for his small frame; she supposed it was natural, as he was a growing boy. "Aoki-san, I think we might need some help moving Kamui-kun…"

A solution suddenly occurred to her, and she looked over at Yuzuriha, still faithfully standing by. "Yuzuriha-chan, do you think you could ask Inuki to change into a cot, or something of the sort? It would make it easier to move Kamui-kun to the hospital."