Yeah, I know the earlier chapter was a wee bit too long. Sorry for that. The story continues and I guess I'll be extending it a little from the previous pre-written story.

Chapter 20: Spirits

The Hyuugas and Mikan gathered in the villa's living room, all huddled up near the fire thanks to the cold. The forest rangers secured the area and they set a group of officers every few meters along the river to find Koko.

It's already sundown and no one was calm. The day was a disaster and Mikan was getting stressed from all the things happening to her. "I've called Koko's family earlier. They've sent their own search squad to the mountain." Ruka said and sat next to Mikan. "He'll be fine. I'm sure of it."

"It's been almost five hours since he fell!" Mikan shouted, frightening everyone in the room. "How can you be so sure of it?!"

Youichi held his palm in front of Mikan's face and chanted something under his breath. Mikan's eyes widened and looked empty and after a few seconds, it shut and she fell to the couch unconscious.

"Wh-What did you do?!" Ruka asked and Reo patted his shoulder.

"He just removed her feelings," Reo said and glanced to Youichi. "He does that a lot to people."

"It's best for her. If she worries too much, she'll get sick," Youichi said and folded his arms. "We have to find him soon. Once it gets towards midnight, this area will affect his powers."

"His powers?" Ruka asked.

"This villa is built on a special mountain where powers can be tested. It's a place that mother made to train both Persona Nii and I," Youichi said. "We train outside at midnight, when nature would challenge our powers. Weaken our soul and mess with our minds. It's the best place to train and control. But Koko hasn't fully had control nor does he know about the forest's ability to play with his powers."

"Is it just this forest?" Ruka asked.

"There are plenty in the world," Youichi said. "This forest specialises in attracting the dark powers, which is why mother only started to use this villa more when I was born, so I could help her train Persona Nii."

"What would happen to Koko, then?" Reo asked as he took a seat.

"His powers could get sucked out of him by the forest's spirits," Natsume walked into the room. Ruka rushed to his aid after the maids helped to disinfect and wrap Natsume's ankle.

"Are you okay?" Ruka asked.

"Yeah, I just need to get to the hospital once we're in the city," Ruka helped Natsume sit next to Reo and propped a soft cushion under his ankle. Natsume glanced at the girl knocked out on the couch. "What happened to her?" Natsume asked and saw Youichi raising his hand and flipped it over. "Ah, you pulled away her fears. Good thinking. She's been yelling in panic ever since we got back here." Natsume rubbed his ears.

"She can't help it. She feels like everything that happened today was her fault," Reo added and leaned on the couch. "What happened after you found her anyway? You guys looked unbelievably awkward when Youichi found you."

Natsume chuckled and covered his face with one hand and left his hand massaging his forehead. "Stupid stuff. Just stupid stuff."

There was a sudden knock on the front door and the sudden burst of power surprised Youichi and he fell to the floor. Izumi Sakura walked in with a formal suit and looked dishevelled. He saw Mikan on the couch and a long sigh left his lips. "Thank goodness."

"You know…" Natsume jumped off the couch and flinched in pain, forgetting his ankle. "There's this culture here where you knock and we'll open the door for you." Natsume said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Apparently the Yumes gave me the wrong info," Izumi shook his head. "That old man is still playing around with me."

"W-Why are you here?" Youichi asked and Izumi rubbed off the dust from his shoulder pads and glanced at the Hyuugas.

"The Yume gumi requested I help in your search. The old man said Mikan was missing too but I'm guessing that's not the case," Izumi said, glancing at his daughter unconscious on the couch.

"She was," Reo said. "But Natsume found her and brought her back as soon as the rain stopped."

"Where was the last time you saw the Yume boy?"

…

After helping the maids tuck Mikan into bed, the Hyuuga boys led Izumi to the steep side of the riverbank that Koko fell into with the torchlights they found. "He slipped when he ran." Reo said. "I couldn't stop him."

"Yes, I could see that," Izumi placed his hand on the dirt and shuts his eyes. "His steps were heavy and caused the drop. He fell into the waters." His eyes were still closed as he said it. After that, Izumi turned to the river and slides down on his own. It was dark and the Hyuugas couldn't see Izumi at all.

"H-Hey!" Natsume shouted and saw Izumi waving lightly.

"It's fine," Izumi said. "The current isn't as strong." He stepped into the river and realised it was pretty deep as the water rose up until his chest. The cold water didn't affect him one bit and he started walking to the centre of the flowing river.

"What's he doing?" Ruka asked and Youichi stepped forward.

"He's going to see," Youichi muttered. "But it's already so dark, his powers would be totally limited."

The ground in the river that Izumi stepped on started to glow. Youichi grew more curious and stepped forward, causing him to fall off balance. "Yo-YOUICHI!" Natsume shouted, trying to reach for his brother that fell off the riverbank.

A swift move of his hand caused Youichi to levitate just centimetres above the water. Izumi's hand stayed still until Youichi was able to get a hold of himself. Izumi's other hand touched the river and the water started to glow in a light blue shade. Amazed at his powers, Youichi beamed.

Youichi looked down at the water beneath him and saw it slowly getting shallow to a point that he could see the ground. "Step down," Izumi said and the Hyuugas finally noticed Izumi created a hole in the river and the water surrounded Youichi after he steps his foot on the ground. "I can't use my power to raise you back up there, so stay still and don't touch the water."

The boys saw the glow spreading and covered the length of the river from where they could see. The dark forest was illuminated by the river's blue glow. "What are you doing now?" Youichi asked, trying to learn whatever it is Izumi was doing.

"As you said, I'm seeing," Izumi said.

"But you can't possibly use the water-."

"There's life in everything in this world, and every life has memories," Izumi said. "The water and ground would know where Koko is, as long as I can concentrate on his scent."

Izumi raised both his hands above his head and made a gesture as though he threw a huge boulder in front of him. A huge gust of wind appeared and blew from behind and caused the leaves on the trees to rustle and the river waves splashed onto the rocks.

The boys covered their eyes from the intense wind and after they opened them, there was a glowing path beneath the river from where Izumi stood. The path led on towards the bottom of the mountain and Izumi smiled, pleased with his powers. "You're a really powerful witch." Youichi muttered and Izumi smiled.

"I'm no longer just a witch, my dear boy," Izumi said and Youichi noticed the glint sparkle of the two earrings on the man standing before him. He initially had one and Mikan returned the other to him.

"You've already earned the title?" Youichi asked and stepped forward to get close to Izumi before Izumi raised his hand to block Youichi's path with a small force-field, preventing him from touching the waters. "You have, haven't you?" Youichi said with such amazement. "You're a sorcerer! You are! You've learnt every little spell from the Original Book. You didn't even have to chant when you used spells."

"Well, you're a fascinating little creature," Izumi smiled. "The fact that you know the title shows you're on the path to it. Not everyone knows the existence."

"Well…I'm trying," Youichi smiled, still very enthusiastic that he could meet a sorcerer of the generation. "This is amazing! But to use such powers in the Sacred Forests…"

"I'm not a dark witch, so my powers merely benefit them more than anything. They don't see my powers as anything that would harm them," Izumi said. "It's true the forest sucks on my powers but it also just limits my dark spells."

Izumi pointed to the Hyuuga boys squatting by the edge of the riverbank, staring at the glowing path. "You may come down," Izumi said and lightly made circles with his finger. There was an invisible force that surrounded Natsume, Ruka and Reo as they floated and stepped into the hole Youichi is in. Izumi widened the diameter of the hole and the boys are able to stand properly.

Natsume was merely observing Izumi's powers and knew that if his own brother is fascinated, Izumi must be one of a kind. "Walk on the same pace as I will, the hole will follow me. The water must never be touched."

With that, Izumi created his own hole and his wet clothes started to dry up. "We don't have much time until midnight." Izumi said and they started walking, following the glowing path.

…

It's dark.

It's cold.

His eyes opened slightly and allowed some light to enter. He flinched at the sudden brightness and finally blinked. Where am I? He thought and sat up slightly, trying to search his surroundings.

He grabbed his throat when he opened his mouth and started to cough out water. He spat the remaining and breathed out. His gaze was that of a predator, trying to analyse his location and condition.

His head hurts and his hands rushed up to his head when it felt like his brain is pulsing and giving him a headache. Oh right…I fell into the water. He remembered and coughed again. He tried to stand up, one leg at a time. There were random stinging pain all over his body.

Cuts were all over his arm and he noticed blood stains across his shirt. Shit, this hurts. Koko ripped his shirt and started to rip strips to tie it around the big cuts around his arm.

"You're going to die from the cold."

Koko's head turned and his hand shot out an explosive power the second he faced a dark figure. The impact of the explosion caused Koko to slide back and slammed his body on a tree trunk. The dark figure stood still, remained unmoved and unscathed. My throat still hurts… Koko thought and raised his hand in front of him in case the figure attacks.

"Calm down, dark witch," The figure voiced out and Koko blinked. "It will be midnight in a few hours, follow me if you wish to live."

What about midnight? What's going on at midnight? Koko thought and the figure turned his body around.

"A dark witch in the Sacred Forest by midnight…is like giving a free meal to the spirits," The figure said.

Can I trust you? Koko asked.

"What does your heart say?" The figure asked and Koko nodded. Koko used the tree to try and lift himself up. He probably has a few fractured bones but he needed to get out from the cold. A gust of wind blew across his face and the dark faceless figure was suddenly behind him and helping him up. "We'll take you to shelter. There should be things in there to help a human."

Koko was tired and he relied on the figure to lead him to one of the cabins. Once in, a fire suddenly lit up and blankets flew out of the closet settled down in front of the fire. With his legs failing, Koko fell to the ground and breathed out heavily. "Get your body to the fire." The figure said and Koko crawled towards the fire.

Once his fingers touched the warm blanket, he felt at peace. It was like a soft piece of cloud beneath his skin. The figure then dropped the emergency kit in front of Koko. "In my form, I won't be able to help you much."

With the warm air surrounding him, Koko managed to cough out more water and smiled at the figure. "T-Thank you," Koko said with a hoarse voice. "You saved my life."

The figure was in a spirit form, dark purple and black particles just floating in a shape of a person yet his form could change as it feels. Koko decided to stop staring and started to put the antiseptic on his cuts and bruises after untying the strips of his shirt.

Once settled down, Koko turned to look at the figure again. "What are you?" Koko asked without holding back.

"I am a spirit," It said and Koko looked at him again.

"So am I your meal?" Koko chuckled and the figure changed its form and flew across the room into the closet. It brought out a few pieces of clothes and dropped it onto Koko.

"You will be at midnight," The figure said.

Koko snickered and wore the shirt the figure gave him. "So you're basically heating up your meal, I assume."

"This is…humorous to you?" The figure asked and Koko nodded.

"You're an idiot if you think you can consume me as you are," Koko said and suddenly he felt his body freeze cold and life force was being sucked out of him. Koko's eyes shone bright red and he burned his own body, heating himself up causing the figure to back away from the intense fire.

"By midnight, you will have no power," The figure said.

"I see," Koko said and wrapped himself in the blanket. "So I'm supposed to just give my life away to you, now?"

The spirit started to levitate once more and circulate the fire. He made a slight swift turn and made the fire burn brighter and grew bigger. "I have no interest in consuming you."

"Then why did you save me?" Koko asked and the figure just stayed still like the first time Koko saw it. Koko's body shivered and he shuts his eyes from the pain. My insides are freezing…

"It's not the time for you to die," The figure answered and Koko glanced at him.

"What happened to me?" Koko asked and rubbed his head.

The figure separated into particles and covered Koko's head. "I'll show you…I'll leave out the pain." The particles shadowed Koko's sight and then Koko realised he's slowly losing consciousness.

It's dark… Where am I?!

Water…I see water.

Oh…he's showing me what happened in the river.

Koko saw how he fell into the river, how the current drove him away in seconds. His body smashed into one rock after another and Koko's body reacted terribly to the pain.

Losing control, his weight pulled him under the current. His eyes opened under water and everything was hazy.

It's beautiful.

Koko saw the sky from under the water. The rapid movement above him and some fishes trying to swim against the current.

Oh fishes…that's right. We're supposed to go fishing today.

Koko suddenly realised the current became worse and scooped him from the bottom of the river and pushed him down. He saw how his body tried to fight.

His fingers dug to the ground, trying to get a grip but the current still dragged him on and his body kept slamming into the rocks on the riverbed. As his last breath left his lips, he felt his head knock hard onto a rock and it was then his sight disappeared.

When his sight returned, Koko took in a deep breath, panicking after the feeling of drowning. He glanced around and realised he's back inside the cabin. "Wha… What…" Words couldn't come out of his mouth properly and he kept his eyes wide open and saw the figure return to its human-like form in front of him.

"A-Am I dead?" Koko asked and hugged himself. "I shouldn't be alive… how am I alive?" Koko asked and looked at his fingers. His nails chipped and there was blood clot stains around his fingertips from the riverbed grip.

"A miracle…" The figure said. "Master wants you to live."

Koko kept on breathing out of rhythm and he grabbed his shirt above his heart and his head fell forward to the floor. He was suffocating, he was running out of breath. His heart hurts, his insides were in pain. He could feel his body cold and suddenly it turns hot again.

There's a war inside of him. He didn't know what's going on but he's getting tired. He gave up fighting and allowed the changes in his body to have a war against each other. He couldn't stop it. He could feel his heart beating and suddenly the beat was gone. His lungs expanding and contracting and at some point his chest just stop rising.

I'm dying…aren't I? Koko thought to himself as his sight turned hazy. Hey…I know you can hear me. Koko said and the figure clouded his vision and Koko smiled. I know who you are… He said again and he just remained on the ground.

His eyes were open but he couldn't see anything. Hey…Death… Koko said in his head and with the last bit of energy, he pushed himself over to lie on his back. Couldn't you at least make it less painful for me to die?

"Everyone feels the same when they die," The figure said.

That's not true… If you struck me now, I won't have to go through the pain process. Koko thought and he could lightly feel the figure stroking his head. You said Master, earlier… Kaoru-sensei…you know her?

"That woman is not my Master," The figure answered.

Then…Persona? Koko thought quietly… his life and consciousness slowly fading.

"I am a spirit," The figure replied. "Death only uses me to assist him with the lost lives."

So I'm lost? Koko asked and suddenly there was a sharp pain in his chest. Koko wanted to scream but he couldn't. It felt like someone stabbed him with the sharpest knife straight through his heart.

"Remember what I said earlier," The figure said.

You've said too much, Koko chuckled and he knew the figure is staring at him oddly.

"How is any of this…amusing to you?"

Because I've faced Death countless of times and this would be the last time. I've lost this match.

"Countless?"

I took my life for granted, thinking having these powers would benefit me…but it's only leading me closer to Death, Koko said quietly finally realising what's going on. He remembered Izumi's words, how when a newly awakened power user is faced with injuries, the heart will use the power to heal and when the power depletes…so does the life force.

"Remember what I said earlier," The figure repeated and Koko became curious.

What's so important for a dying person to remember?

"It's not the time for you to die."

Hearing this, Koko mustered his last bit of strength to try and open his eyes but he was too weak. He didn't understand, he didn't know what's going on. You're wrong, Death has come.

"Not if you choose not to," The figure said and Koko became confused again.

His head hurt and he knew now his body is useless and numb. He couldn't feel anything. Hey…you didn't…answer me. Koko finally realised it's his final moment. Who is…your… Releasing his final breath… Master…

…

"We're close," Izumi said and stopped his movements. "Get on the ground and stay there for a while."

"Can we touch the water now?" Ruka asked and Izumi nodded.

"Just make sure you hold your hands together so no one slips and gets themselves hurt," Izumi said and destroyed the hole he made for the boys.

"Wooooah!" Natsume shivered when the cold water touched him. "W-Was this necessary? Couldn't you have lifted us up!?"

"He won't have enough energy, it's already so late," Youichi reminded and the Hyuugas managed to get themselves up on the riverbank.

The glowing river started to dim and Izumi levitated above the water and made his way to the boys. The forest became unbelievably dark once the glow was gone. "Now what?" Reo asked and Youichi shushed him.

"He got out here," Izumi said and bent to the ground. He used his sight again and tried to see what occurred where he stood. From then, he knew Koko had used some of his powers to destroy a being, the branches near the trees proved him. That idiot. If he used his powers in his state, he'd pass out! Izumi thought quietly and his eyes widened when he realised there was a powerful being around Koko.

Izumi stood up straight after seeing the vision of the past memories of the earth and trees. "I need you guys to stay close…but when I tell you to, you have to run back at a certain distance."

"Why? What happened?" Ruka asked and Izumi shook his head.

"There's something here that wants Koko," Izumi said. "That thing took him somewhere."

Without chanting or raising a finger, the muddy grass that could peek through the ground started to glow light blue, the same glow on the riverbed beneath the water. It turned into a path and they started walking with no words.

Izumi grew curious and started to worry about the boys following him. There's something supernatural in the part of the forest they're walking on but Izumi couldn't tell what it is. Koko's life force… Izumi was losing scent of Koko and he panicked.

He started to run and the boys followed him. The scent was growing weaker and Izumi became terrified and what could have possibly happened. "It's a cabin!" Natsume pointed out and they could see light from the window of the cabin.

The only thing the boys could see was the light emitted by the fire in the cabin, but Izumi could see much more. A spirit! He thought and due to the fact he was too shocked, he didn't screen his thought well and Youichi caught it.

Izumi realised Youichi heard him and shuts his mouth immediately. "Don't say a word, don't even move."

"But spirits can't be released until midnight!" Youichi said.

"It's not a typical spirit. It's summoned," Izumi answered and the other boys merely listened to the two power-users' conversation.

"Spirits can only be summoned by powerful users," Youichi said. "Did you-."

"No…I swore to never release a spirit," Izumi said. "Once you have one, it will stick by you forever and be passed down to every generation that possesses power. It's a heavy price to summon one."

"Then who summoned the one with Koko?" Youichi asked and Izumi lightly pushed Youichi back.

"All of you… stand behind the trees," Izumi said. "Youichi, if you feel a huge amount of power being emitted, try and conceal your powers. The forest spirits will get attracted to this power surge and might take yours."

"But…you said it'll only take a dark witch's-."

"A light witch is able to become a dark witch, but a dark witch can never turn into light. There's darkness in our powers regardless if we used it," Izumi said. "Do not release your powers at all cost. Don't even mind read."

Youichi nodded and brought his brothers deeper into the forest. "What's going on Youichi?" Natsume asked as they started to hide behind the trees but still at a distance where they could see the cabin.

"Koko is near a summoned spirit," Youichi said. "A summoned spirit is different from forest spirits. It's a spirit that has a master and whatever the master commands, they will see it through no matter how brutal or cruel it could be."

"Why is that kind of spirit with Koko?" Reo asked and they suddenly heard a huge blast,

The boys had their attention to the cabin on fire. It exploded and Youichi started to shut his senses and powers. He wanted to listen, to see what's going on but doing so would take his life. "We gotta help!" Ruka shouted and Youichi pulled him back.

"Stay down," Youichi said. "Trust him."

Seconds passed and they saw Izumi standing with his arms open, as if trying to control the fire surrounding the building. There was a silhouette in the fire and they all knew it was Koko. The fire splits in front of him and Koko walked out of the fire, unscathed.

Natsume couldn't stand still, there was something awfully wrong with that situation and he knew Izumi couldn't do it alone, even if he is a sorcerer. Natsume ran out from behind the tree and ran towards Izumi.

"NATSUME!" Youichi shouted and ran after him. Reo and Ruka ended up following suit.

It was a strange fire. They could feel the heat but they don't feel a sense of danger, like the fire is being contained. It's not harming the trees or the air, it was just…there.

The Hyuuga boys ended up behind Izumi and Izumi didn't have the time to argue with them. They saw Koko standing in front of them. His eyes were lifeless and his body was scarred with so many marks and bruises.

"I know you're in there, spirit," Izumi shouted and Koko's eyes turned to Izumi. His gaze was empty but he knew where Koko was looking.

"I wish you no harm," A dark voice came out from Koko's lips.

"Then return the boy," Izumi said.

"I gladly will," The voice answered. "But return him to his family."

"Family?" Izumi muttered, curious with the request. "I will."

"You must," The voice said sternly and Izumi stepped forward.

"Unite with me, spirit," Izumi held his hand forward. "Show me your true self."

"I'm afraid that is not the wish of my Master," The voice replied and Izumi pulled his hand back.

"Then what is your Master's wish?" Izumi asked and looked at Koko properly. He should have already died with all those injuries…if not from drowning or the cuts, his powers should have already died. How is he still standing?

"My Master wishes to return," The voice answered and Izumi finally understood the situation.

Izumi smiled and shook his head in disbelief. "Alright," Izumi said and got on one knee. "You can trust me, spirit. You can trust me…to return your Master to his family."

"Thank you, witch. I am in debt to you," The voice faded and Koko fell to the ground. The fire miraculously disappeared and Izumi ran to catch Koko.

"Wait, what happened?!" Natsume muttered out in shock. "What just happened?"

Izumi carried Koko on his back and a chill ran down his spine. "I'll explain later, we have to go."

"No, at least explain a little, I'm too confused-."

"The forest spirits are coming soon, we have to go! Run!" Izumi shouted and without delay, they started running in the direction of the villa.

Izumi was low on power in his state but he still smiled at the incident that happened before him. Who knew…that this boy owned a spirit…

That's the end of this chapter. Thank you for reading. Yes, I made Koko survive the whole thing. No way is my favourite character dying on me! Thank you so much for reading Blacklite Wings. I really appreciate it!