Chapter 20:

Monica continued her way out of what she could tell was a long passageway. She wanted to turn back but with Ban's voice in her head telling her to keep going, she pressed on the best she could while taking care not to hurt her broken leg more. As she continued she heard movement coming towards her, which made Monica stop in her tracks. She pressed herself as close to the wall so as not to be seen. The movement continued to get closer, while her heart was rasing, she prayed that it wasn't another one of those men again. As time seemed to slow, and her heart beat going faster, Monica braced for the attack that was sure to come. But the attack that was supposed to happen never did, as Monica suddenly heard a whimper and yips. Her eyes grew wide as she knew those noises.

"MOZART!"

Monica called as her trusted dog came running towards her. She did the best to kneel, which ended up with her just sliding down the wall. Mozart came up to her and licked her face to tell her that he made it. She wrapped her arms around him, as tears started to slide down her face. The dog sensed this and slowly pulled away and laid his head on his owners lap. A small, but comfortable silence formed around them as they relished in the company of one another. Monica after a while, calmed down, whipped her face, and cleared her voice.

"Mozart."

The dog's ears perked up at his master's call.

"I need you to find Ginji and the others, you remember Ginji don't you boy?"

"Woof, Woof"

Monica smiled at his answer and patted him on the head.

"Good boy now I want you to go and find him, and show them how to get to where I am ok."

Mozart cocked his head to the side to show that he was listening.

"I would come with you but I can't move to well, considering my leg is broken."

Monica said as he rubbed her leg to show him. Mozart whimpered at this and laid his ears against his head. Monica scratched him behind the head and continued.

"It's alright boy I'm fine, just go and find Ginji, Ban is hurt badly and he won't last long if we don't get help, so please go and find him."

Mozart started at his master for a few minutes, licked her hand, woofed once, then took off to go look for the blonde electricity user. Monica watched as her trusted dog took off and disappeared around the corner.

"Good boy Mozart just hurry please."

She thought as she rested against the wall, and let the tiredness she felt take over, until she fell asleep.

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As Ginji, Kazuki, Jubbei, and Akabane continued to head for Monica's house they could still hear the battle between Shido and Natsuhiko. Ginji wanted to go back, but one look from his lover told him to keep his mind on the task at hand.

"Ginji I know you're worried but we need to find Ban-san before its to late."

Akabane said as he wrapped his arm around his shoulder, and held him close. Kazuki and Jubbei nodded in agreement. Ginji smiled at his lover and friends, sighed, shook his head, then went to finish the mission.

"Alright guys let's get going."

The group then went on their way to the mansion. As they walked down the street, a sudden noise caught their attention. Akabane looked ahead of them and saw nothing, but at the same time heard sounds heading in their direction.

"Do you guys hear something?"

Ginji asked as he also looked and listened as his lover was doing. Kazuki shook his head, as well as Jubbei. But soon the sounds got closer, as a shape started to form in front of them.

"What is th-

Suddenly the shape jumped and before anyone could do anything Ginji was thrown to the ground with a grunt of pain. Akabane was about to grab the thing that knocked his lover on his butt, but when he was greeted with laughing he relaxed as he saw what it was.

"It looks like Ginji has a new friend."

Kazuki smirked but the smirk soon disappeared as he saw the dog.

"That's Monica's dog what is he doing here?"

"Kazuki are you sure?"

"Yes I am, I just meet him once or twice but I know him."

Ginji after a few minutes finally controlled himself, and held the dog away from him as he tried to catch his breath. The dog on the other hand yipped and wagged his tail all the while.

"Hey Mozart, what are you doing out here I thought you were with Monica?"

At the sound of his owner's name his ears flattened against his head, and whimpered sadly. Ginji noticed the sudden change in the animals behavior and placed him on the ground.

"Oh Mozart...

Akabane then kneeled down and looked at his lover and the dog. He rested his hand on Ginji's shoulder and turned his attention to the dog.

"Mozart."

The dog turned to the sound of his name being called, and looked into the dark eyes of a man in black. Akabane smiled kindly at the dog and held out his hand for him to sniff. Mozart started to sniff the hand, and after a few minutes he stopped, looked up at the man, and waited for the man to continue.

"Ok boy now what is it you want to tell us?"

Mozart stood up and started to bark wildly, trot from where he came from, and back again. Kazuki watched this and figured out what the dog wanted them to do.

"Mozart wants us to follow him. Besides if we do, we might be able to find Monica and Ban."

"Really Kazu?"

The thread spinner nodded to his friend, and smiled kindly at him. Ginji then looked at Jubbei who also agreed with his lover. The young blonde then turned at last to his lover, for his opinion on this plan. Akabane leaned close and kissed his lover. Ginji answered by responding to the kiss, then as soon as the kiss started, it ended with Akabane breaking it, standing up, reaching down for his lover, and both standing up.

"Of course Ginji, now why don't we head out and follow Mozart."

With a bright smile on his face Ginji nodded his head, looked towards Mozart, and signaled that they were ready.

"Ok Mozart lead the way boy!"

"Woof, Woof!"

With that Ginji and his friends were off following Mozart, to were they were hoping to find their two friends.

"Hold on Monica-chan, Ban-chan we are coming."

Ginji thought as he ran as fast as he could to keep up with the dog.

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The sound of brick wall breaking, was another way of telling that the fight between Natsuhiko and Shido's death match was still going on. Shido slowly raised to his feet as his body was finally able to break away from the wall...or what was left of it. Miroku smirked as he walked over to the beast master, pulled his sword out, and pointed it right in Shido's face.

"What's the matter beast man, having a little trouble keeping up?"

Shido glared at him through his blood stained hair, and started to laugh. Miroku stared at the man and wondered what was going on. As laughter was the only thing that was coming from the beast master, Natsushiko decided that was enough so he lifted his sword once more, and went to make contact with Shido's head, but a sudden hand wrapping around his wrist stopped his attack. The assassin tried to get his wrist free but couldn't, but didn't give up. As Miroku continued to try getting his wrist away, Shido slowly raised his head and glared his eyes at the man in front of him. Miroku saw the look in the beast master's eyes and he suddenly went white in the face. Shido smirked as his once gray eyes were now bright red, and he started to transform into his most strongest form.

"Now that you had your fun it is now my turn."

Shido then tightened his grip on Miroku's wrist until he heard a crack. With a yelp from the man, he then picked him up, and threw the man so hard and far that he couldn't tell where he fell. Although he didn't give him the pleasure of landing as he suddenly disappeared, then appeared right where Miroku was headed, punched him again, as he then went flying into the wall that Shido hit just moments earlier. The best master laughed and went to have more fun with his opponiate, and oh how fun it will be.

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"Woof, Woof!"

Mozart's barking started to get more wild as he looked back, then moved forward, and back again to see if the humans where following. Ginji and the rest of the group were indeed still behind them, so he ran around another corner to check for his master. As he found her still laying where he left her, he ran to her and tried to wake her up. Mozart licked, yipped, and whinned, and waited for some response. After a few minutes Monica finally opened her eyes slowly to see the muzzle of her dog in her face.

"M-Mozart I thought I told you to go-

But Monica was cut off as she heard footsteps heading in her directions. Her body froze in fear as the steps got closer. The girl was about to move away, but the sudden voice she heard made her stop.

"MONICA! There you are."

Monica whipped her head in the direction of the voice that she knew so well. While Mozart kept barking and ran around his master.

"Ginji-kun is that you?"

Ginji and the rest of the group finally arrived. As the blonde caught his breath he spoke through short pants.

"Y-Yes M-Monica w-we made it."

Monica suddenly broke into tears as she was so happy that her friends finally arrived to help. Mozart licked her face to comfort her, then she cleared her throat, and smiled happily.

"I am so happy you guys made it but...

"What is it Monica-chan?"

Ginji asked as Jubbei, and Kazuki looked her over. She was grateful for the help but they needed to save Ban. So she tried to get up to her feet, but was stopped by hands on her shoulders.

"Monica you need to keep still, your leg is broken."

"I know but we, Ban...

Ginji froze at the sound of Ban's name and stared at the blind girl with wide, worried eyes.

"What about Ban? Where is he Monica-chan?"

Monica sighed, lifted her hand, and pointed back to the pathway she just came out of.

"He is in the room at the end of this pathway, you need to hurry. He is injured badly."

The men froze at the information. Ginji was shaking from the fear but soon it turned into anger. He was about to head down the pathway, but a hand stopped him. He whipped his head around to face the person who tried to stop him. His eyes softened as he saw Akabane holding him back.

"Ginji wait...I'll go with you, you're gonna need help carrying him if he is injured as bad as Monica says."

With a deep sigh he nodded his head, then turned his eyes over to his two other friends who were checking on Monica.

"Kazu, Jubbei?"

Both men looked at their friend. Ginji smiled at them and started giving them orders.

"Kazu, Jubbei, both of you stay here and watch Monica. Me and Akabane will go and get Ban alright, then we will head back to get Shido."

Kazuki and Jubbei shared a look, but soon agreed as they nodded their heads. Ginji nodded back, and with Akabane following they headed back down the pathway.

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As Shido walked up to man who hurt his beloved Ban, his muscles tightened, as he had flashes of the same image from before. The image of Ban's bloody corps laying out in front of Miroku, while he laughed his sick ass off. He then decided to hurt this man just as much as Ban was hurt. So he leaned down and picked up Miroku's sword that landed a few feet away from him. Miroku saw this and with all the strength he could gather at the moment, he tried to get up and move away from the once sane, now crazed beast master, that was now moving closer to him with a dark look in his bright red eyes.

"Oh now you think you can escape from me huh Natsushiko?"

Shido asked as he watched the man start to limp away. The beast master shook his head as he raised the sword and held it, like you would a harpoon and took aim, all the while with a big smirk on his face.

"I don't think so you sick son of a bitch, not when you made Ban suffer as much as you did now...HERE'S SOME OF YOUR OWN MEDICIENE!"

Shido then released the sword, and it flew through the air towards its target. As the sword came closer it seemed like it moved in slow motion, as Miroku looked behind him with shock in his eyes, and tried to dodge it, but it made contact as it went right through his shoulder blade.

"AHHHHHHH!"

The assassin yelled in pain as he took in the damage he received. Miroku tried to move but found that the sword tip went threw his shoulder, and straight into the ground holding him there. Seeing this Shido laughed out load, but it wasn't the same laugh as he usually had, it seemed more demonic, maybe even possessed. Which is what Ginji and the rest of the group saw and heard as they arrived at the battle, with Monica, and Ban in toe.

"Shido has lost his mind...what are we going to do Akabane?"

Ginji asked as he watched his friend continue to laugh like a mad man. Akabane was as shocked and disturbed as the rest of the group, and for once he had no idea of how to stop Shido.

"Sh-Sh-Shido...

Said the weak voice of the jagan master, as he slowly tried, and eventually opened his eyes. He took in the scene in front of him, and was shocked to see all the damage that was done. Although not as shocked as he finally saw his lover standing in the middle of the ruins laughing his ass off. Kazuki noticed that Ban was awake and taped Ginji on the shoulder to get his attention.

"Ginji I think I have an idea on how we can get Shido to snap out of it."

Ginji turned to the thread spinner and waited for him to continue.

"Yea what is it Kazu?"

Kazuki then smiled and pointed to a now semi-awake Ban, that was leaning against Akabane for support. Ginji smiled at his friend and rushed to him, and looked him over. Ban on the other hand just kept his eyes on the destruction in front of him.

"Ban-chan are you alright how's your shoulder?"

All Ginji got in response was Ban slowly, but surely, stand away from Akabane, and stood up on his own.

"Ban-chan wait you shouldn't do

But Ginji was completely ignored as Ban walked/limped towards the beast master that was still standing in the middle of the ruins. The jagan master was happy to see his lover not hurt, but at the same time mad for the way he was acting. This was not the Shido that he knew, this was not the man he fell in love with, and this certainly wasn't the man he shared his first time with. So with all the strength he had left he limped over to stand in front of the crazed beast master.

"I know you're still in there Shido, I know the Shido that I love is still there, so please...please."

Ban slowly raised his hands and placed them on either side of the beast master's face.

"Please stop this craziness and come back to me Shido."

Shido's red eyes turned down to the man who was staring right in his eyes. He watched the man closely, and noticed how beautiful those bright violet eyes were. Then something snapped inside him waking him up. As images of this man were flashing threw his head, along with memories of fights, arguments, passion, kisses, lovemaking... and a voice so sweet to the ears that it made you want to listen to it for the rest of your life.

"Shido...come back...I love you...please come back."

Suddenly Shido's eyes were back to normal and he stared at the man...no...his lover. He then crushed him against his chest as he took in his sent, pulled him back, and kissed him so hard that Ban almost lost his footing. Soon the kiss broke for some much-needed air as the beast master looked at Ban once more.

"Ban...you're here...I-I can't believe it I-I thought...

"Shhhhh...Shido calm down I'm right here, I just have an injured shoulder that's all."

"But Miroku told me...

Ban pulled him in for a searing kiss until he heard a moan from the beast master. He then pulled away and glared at his lover.

"Never mention that name in front of me again."

Shido nodded as he wrapped his arms around his lover and held him close, as they both shed tears of joy, happy to be with each other once more.

There is another chapter done. Well like, hate, Please read and review. There will be at least one or two more chapters coming. So it still not quite over just yet lol.