"Eto," whispered Yoshimura. Amon clutched Akira. His heart pounded. But if Eto—if she was here to help—having a witch on their side would greatly affect their odds of success.

"Keep your trap shut," Eto said, snapping her hand in a wave at her father. The man with white hair and a red mask—Tatara—drew his sword, focusing on Houji.

"Whoa!" Amon shouted, breaking away from Akira and blocking Houji. Takizawa stood to the side, not drawing his sword. For real? "No murdering!" Amon glanced over his shoulder.

"A little late for that, don't you think?" Tatara snarled, glaring at Houji. "He killed my brother!"

Takizawa still refused to draw his sword for Houji. Are you that bitter, Seidou?

No. He'd saved Amon's life, and he had almost as much of a reason to be bitter with Amon as with Houji. But Takizawa knew Houji could handle himself. And he knew what Houji had done, and he wasn't going to shield Houji from facing it. And when Houji had drawn his sword on Takizawa, that was the end, hadn't it been? The end of what could have been. Two fathers, and a mother, lost in one day. For the sake of self-righteousness.

Houji was whom Amon could have been. And yet, Takizawa looked at Amon, meeting his gaze, and Amon knew he was trusting him. Shame gripped Amon. Takizawa really was incredible.

"Did you care at all beyond what they told you to do?" demanded Tatara. "No. We weren't human to you. We were objects, and you—you were a god whose desires and righteousness eclipsed everything else. You are nothing more than a dirty selfish bastard who killed my brother!" His voice bled as the octaves rose.

"And I dragged you away from that fire. Poor work, Kirishima, yes I know it was you," Eto said, tapping her fingers as she glanced at Ayato. "You both are turds. It's not Yan who can't rest until you kill him. It's you, Tatara. Though I have to say, Houji, you are everything that's wrong with this world."

Houji blinked, horror on his face. His mouth gawped open, lips flapping.

"And no matter what world you create," Eto continued. "You're still going to deal with the damage from this one."

Tatara cussed. But he didn't strike. Did he respect Eto that much?

"You're the witch, aren't you?" demanded Urie.

"Tell them," Eto said, looking straight at Yoshimura. "Tell them who I am, Father. That is, if you dare acknowledge it."

Yoshimura's shoulders slumped. "You're… my daughter."

"No," said Eto. "He's my father." She jerked her thumb towards the dark, hooded figure. "Noro's too old to speak clearly now, but he cared for me because you didn't want me. The illegitimate child of a noblewoman and you, a servant. They didn't want me and they killed my mother. And you didn't want me either, did you?"

"I thought you would be safer without me," whispered Yoshimura. Touka glared at him, shaking her head. She covered her mouth.

"You thought you would be safer without me," Eto retorted. Her eyes flashed. Noro stepped closer. "You took care of Koma and Kaya and Kirishima and never me. Not until you sent Arima after me." She tossed her hair back. "How fitting, the bastard son of a king and the bastard daughter of a servant, all wanting a different world, a world where commoners and nobles aren't separated, a reborn world."

Amon blinked. What was the witch saying?

"Arima knew rumors of witchcraft would force the witch inside the palace to act," said Eto.

"So he sacrificed Rize?" burst out Furuta.

"Get off that high horse, idiot," Eto told him. "You don't get any indignation." She smirked at them all.

"Well, if you're offering to lend us some magic aid," said Ui. "We couldn't turn it down."

"Magic?" Eto blinked. She spread her fingers, a smile spreading across her lips. "Let me ask you all, and for you, Furuta, I'll ask you again: do you all believe everything you hear?"

"Huh?" Amon frowned. Tatara stabbed his sword into the ground, rolling his eyes. Yomo grabbed a strand of hay and snapped it in half.

Eto planted her hands on her hips and leaned forward, baring her cleavage. "I'm flattered, really. I wouldn't call myself a witch though. A prophet, maybe. A prophetess. But really, I just tell people what they already fear, or what they hope for. And then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy through their own actions. People are always driven by fear, you know. They'll do anything to avoid whatever it is they fear most." Her gaze landed on Mutsuki, who blanched.

"Excuse me?" rasped Furuta. "What are you saying, you bitch witch?"

"Try again," Eto cooed. "I've never done a spell in my life and I don't have a drop of magical blood in my body."

Amon's jaw fell slack. Everyone gaped.

"Fuck!" shouted Urie. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"The one time we need a witch!" shrieked Ui.

Eto cackled. Roma doubled over, howling with laughter. Uta and Itori smirked. Nico sniggered. Amon felt like stabbing the witch—bitch—Eto.

"And pray tell," Eto said, twisting her long hair around her arm. "Why would you need a witch, though?"

"So we can save Kaneki!" shouted Touka, getting to her feet. "My—he's been turned into a dragon!"

"Because he's an idiot."

Touka stomped her foot. "I don't care! I love him!"

"Well, you should care," Eto said.

"I love—"

"You can love someone as they are and still want them to be better than they are. But you can't change them."

"And what would you know about that?" demanded Hairu, her chest heaving.

A small, sad smile spread over Eto's lips. "You can't change Kaneki back, Touka. You can only offer him something to come back to, if he wants to. Without you, he couldn't come back. But even with you—well, it's up to him. He might be too lost in fear to come back and face himself and what he became."

Tears streamed down Touka's face, down Tsukiyama's. Akira buried her face in her hands.

"We can try," Hide said. "Touka. We have to try. You love him. So do I. He's my best friend. He's my only friend."

Touka looked at him. She nodded.

"You don't need magic," Eto said. "Besides the magic that's all around you. Magic is not more powerful than ordinary lives. The most ordinary of things can stop it."

"Will you help us get into that castle then?" Amon demanded. "Because we're going to need to."

"No," Eto said. "I won't." She cocked her head to the side. "Tell me, Amon Koutarou, are you going?"

"Yes," he said, heart pounding.

"A hero?" Malevolence, fury, dark and flaming, gleamed in her eyes.

"No," Amon managed. He saw Seidou standing there. He was the hero. "But I was saved from the same fate. I can't leave Kaneki to it."

"And what about your entire kingdom?" Eto demanded. "Does anyone have a shit to spare for that?"

"I do," said Ui, rising. He blinked rapidly.

You were always sincere in that, weren't you? To an extent. Amon swallowed.

"Can it be salvaged?" Eto prompted.

"You tell me," he said, crossing his arms.

"No. You answer. I'm tired of prophecies."

Ui scowled. "I'm going to damn well try."

"Very well then." Eto rolled her eyes. "We might spread the word that a brave band of commoners are going to root out the evil from the palace. If you go. They'll listen to a witch—or someone they trust, which is pretty much just me at the moment. You're welcome."

You're saving us. Amon shook his head. Why are you doing this?

He thought of her words to Touka, and Eto's story, and he understood. Will he want to come back to you?

Eto had to try.

"You're helping," Touka hissed, holding a blade to Furuta's throat. Akira's heart pounded.

"Save Rize," Furuta replied. "Save her, and I'll—I'll do whatever you want." He seemed like a small child, begging for his mother.

"I know where he's keeping her," said Kimi. "It's the lowest part of the dungeons, where all the most dangerous prisoners are. There are only a few. There's a secret passageway that you can try in case the other hallways are being patrolled or have caved in."

"Do you still have it?" Akira asked, turning to Furuta.

"Hm?" He glared up at her.

"The magic mirror!"

He blinked. And nodded, patting his pocket.

"Good," said Akira. "Eto, everyone—can you tell the people to gather for an announcement? If we can get Furuta up there—have him give a speech with the mirror, exposing the truth—" She was well aware things wouldn't look good for Furuta in that case. But what else could she do? "It'd be a distraction."

"Suzuya," said Ui. "You and your squires—Takizawa, Yasuhisa—we'll all go with you, Furuta. Give everyone else as much time as possible."

"And me," said Hairu. She glared at him, crossing her arms across her chest. "I'm one of the best swordspeople we've got."

Ui swallowed. He nodded.

"We'll go to the courtyard where Kaneki is," said Hide, gesturing to Touka.

"Me, too," Tsukiyama insisted.

"I'll protect you along the way," said Kanae, grasping her sword. Tsukiyama gaped at her.

"We're going into those cells," said Akira, looking at Amon. She swallowed. The odds of them making it out weren't good. But they had to try. "And free Rize."

"I'm going with you," said Marude. "I know where they are."

Akira nodded. She could barely breathe. Is that going to be where I die? Without even a patch of blue sky?

I'm afraid. I don't want to die.

"I'm going, too," said Ayato. "You can't go by yourself."

"If you go," said Hinami. "I can help, too. I'm not useless. I can hear—you know my sense of hearing, and smell, is—"

"It's excellent," Touka said quietly.

"We'll take Kanou, then," declared Urie. He straightened.

"No, you won't," snapped Akira. "What you'll do is keep him in his chambers as long as possible—but—"

"He's a witch," said Hsiao, grabbing her shield. She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "If he wants to leave his chambers, he'll leave his chambers. So we need a distraction. I've got magical blood." She squared her shoulders.

"What?" demanded Saiko.

Hsiao avoided her eyes. "I'm one of Tsuneyoshi's bastards too. We can use me. As a decoy. Kanou will try to get his paws on me."

"I'm coming too," declared Hakatori, tossing her hair.

"How touching," Eto chortled. "And amusing considering how appalled you all were by magic a day or two ago. Except you never were, were you? You were only ever appalled at the thought that you might not be morally exceptional because then you might not deserve love."

"How are you any different?" Urie shot back.

"I know I'm fucked up, and I love it," Eto answered.

Akira felt sick. But she knew it was true. She hung her head.

"You're all going to die," warned Itori. "He's not to be trifled with."

"I have to," Touka said, voice strained. The sun glittered through the slats of the ceiling, sending diamonds of light down on them all. Akira closed her eyes. "If I had to go alone, I would."

"Well, you don't," said Ayato. Akira saw Touka glance at her brother. Her eyes watered.

"Touka," choked out Yomo, pushing himself back up, leg still broken. "You—it's not safe—you'll get—I promised—your mother—"

Touka's face drained.

"She was my sister—"

"I know," Touka whispered.

"What the hell?" erupted Ayato. "Why didn't you say something? Or were you just so worried about protecting what we thought of you that you couldn't even—"

Akira grabbed Amon, dragging him back to a corner. She looked up into his eyes. "If I die, you live."

Amon touched her face. "I'll sacrifice my life for you if I have to."

"No, that's exactly the problem," Akira interrupted, sitting on a rusted, overturned bucket. "Do you want my father or do you want me? Because we're not the same, and I don't need you to be a hero. I just need you to be Amon. Do you want me to choose my father or you? Because acting to please my father—it's been killing me." Her voice broke. Takizawa had seen it, hadn't he? He'd always known. "Can you just trust me for once? Can you believe you're worth it? Neither of us want to die. At least, I don't. But I don't want you to either—and there are no guarantees—and if—the worst—I need to know you'll still see a blue sky." Her eyes burned. "Please."

Amon squeezed his eyes shut. "I promise."

"Thank you."

"I just always—" he began, and stopped. He cleared his throat. A spider ran across her shoe and Akira didn't even kick it off. "I always wanted to be worth living. Everything—it was always to—convince myself I had the right to, that I could—that it wouldn't—that it wasn't wrong to live—after what I did with—Donato—"

Maybe we were never justified in taking life. Any life. Even Donato's. Akira swallowed. She pulled his head close. "I want you to live."

Maybe deserve had nothing to do with life. Maybe being alive meant you deserved to be alive, because breath filled your lungs and your heart pumped blood, and you could know and fear and hope and love. Akira didn't know. Her father would tell her she was being sentimental. Even for her, thinking these thoughts when she had so much to prepare for was a waste of energy.

Except, it was giving her a reason.

He pulled her close. She rested her face against his chest. "We have to get Rize out," Akira managed. No matter what she is. A witch. A bastard. A woman who never cared for anyone else, from the rumors. She couldn't help how she was born. She deserves to live, and not like this.

"The entire time," Amon said. "I thought witches—they made the world unfair. They made it wrong. But the world is wrong because of people like me." People who are afraid to face themselves, Akira knew.

But I see you. And I'm here. Akira squeezed his hand, "Let's try to make it right."

"Are you sure you're up to fighting?" Urie asked.

Mutsuki adjusted his holster, a sword dangling from it. He nodded. Urie felt his cheeks flaming and hated himself for it.

Of course, Mutsuki wouldn't feel the same way. Of course. Urie gritted his teeth. No, he couldn't allow himself to do this right now. He had a mission. And he'd be damned if he let Saiko or Mutsuki or any of the others get hurt under his watch. Shirazu would never forgive him for losing them too.

That Aogiri girl insisted on coming along. Amon told them she was good with knives. Hakatori, she answered to, like she didn't care about announcing that she was the most shameful of thieves, a grave robber.

"I have to save Maman," Saiko whispered, rocking back and forth from heel to toe, toe to heel.

Like you didn't save your mother? But she left you. Mutsuki glanced at Saiko, brow furrowed. Urie dropped his gaze before he could meet it. Kaneki was an idiot, but Saiko and Mutsuki both loved him, and Urie—he supposed he thought that if he didn't need to impress the man, it would mean he didn't need to impress anyone. Not even his dead father. But all he did, he did for a ghost. A slave, not a knight, clanking following him from chains, not armor.

They crept through the city. Houses stood abandoned, some looted. Others had their doors barred. Bile burned Urie's stomach. He was so hungry. His stomach rumbled. But he couldn't waste time wanting.

"Are you scared?" came a voice beside him.

Urie swallowed. Mutsuki. "Are you?"

"Yes," Mutsuki said, rather than denying it as Urie expected, even though they would both know it was a lie. He shifted his gaze to Urie as if to gauge whether Urie would scold him for not being brave.

Me too, Urie thought. His jaw ached from holding it shut. And I'm more scared of losing you, or Saiko, than of dying myself.

Mutsuki ducked his head. They passed a pomegranate tree, out of bloom, or else Urie would have torn into the red fruit. He could almost taste it. The night sky hung thick and velvet overhead, starless, moonless.

They slipped into the palace, the gates dangling and broken, the wall partly crumpled. In a day it looked as if the great structure had aged a hundred years. The stables were empty, but it still reeked of manure and smoked wood. Wisps of smoke rose from inside the structure. Urie glanced at Touka.

"Let's go," declared Hide, his eyes narrowed.

Kanae, Tsukiyama, Hide, and Touka slipped towards the north entrance. Marude, Ayato, Hinami, Akira, and Amon headed to the south. Ui, Hairu, Kurona, Takizawa, and a manacled Furuta headed east, Hairu holding the mirror and Takizawa hissing threats that Amon and Akira better make it back alive.

Urie turned to his group. The largest, they headed in the west gate, shattered. The hallways echoed with their footsteps, though they tried to be silent. Saiko's breaths came hitched, fast, scared. A rat skittered across the dust-strewn floor and Mutsuki jumped. They made their way towards the tower where the king's chambers were. But Kimi insisted he wouldn't be there—she said he would prefer to stay in the infirmary.

Urie hesitated, but he passed it. They slunk along the throne room entrance. Aura stopped.

"Shinsanpei?" hissed Hsiao. Her sword gleamed in the solitary torch light.

"Aunty?" he managed.

Shit.

"No, Aura!" protested Mutsuki.

"San-chan!" Kiyoko called out, hobbling on wooden legs-enchanted legs, Urie realized. His heart pounded. "I missed you."

"Stay away!" Higemaru pulled out his sword, but Aura was already racing towards her.

"Get down!" screamed Urie. He threw himself at the boy, hurling him to the floor. An arrow lodged itself in Aura's shoulder. Had Urie not thrown him, it would have landed in his heart.

"What are you doing?" wailed Aura. "I need—Aunt—Kiyoko—please—you have to recognize me, you have to see me, you have to care! You have to care who I am!" He flailed, his shrieks desperate.

"You're my nephew," said Kiyoko, a sheen over her eyes. The dim light from the torch flickered over her face like a writhing demon. "And you're in my way." She raised her sword.

"Aunt Kiyoko!" screamed Aura.

A knife landed in Kiyoko's shoulder. Hakatori. Urie gasped, dragging Aura back.

"Shit!" bellowed Suzuya. Urie turned. Tanakamaru, Kuramoto, and a dozen other guards poured towards them.

"Surely one of you can think for yourself!" cried out Saiko. "I'm Saiko, and Saiko loves—"

"You left us," said Kuramoto, a funny lilt to his voice. "Hirako, too. You all left." He aimed the sword.

"Fuck," panted Urie, getting to his feet. He yanked the arrow out of Aura's shoulder. Blood streamed. Tears ran down Shinsanpei's face, and he cowered as if expecting Urie to scream at him.

"Kiyoko," wheezed Nakarai. "You practically raised me—"

She swung. Nakarai barely dodged her blade in time. Hanbee glanced at Suzuya, eyes fearful.

"What's happened to them?" whispered Higemaru.

"I've heard Eto discuss it," said Hakatori. "He placed a curse on them—it amplifies minor fears and resentments and turns them into—violence."

Higemaru panted. He looked to Urie, eyes wide in fear. His arm was still injured.

Urie leveled his sword.

The clash echoed with grunts and shrieks. More guards came running, an endless floor. Fear gnawed at Urie as he stabbed a former—well, he knew the face if not the name—in the throat.

Higemaru let out a desperate cry. Tanakamaru twisted his good arm. Even with the din of the battle, Urie heard the bone snap.

If he stays, he'll die. But the enchanted blocked the path they came. The only way was to head closer to the infirmary.

Hakatori seemed to get that. She grabbed Higemaru by his waist as Aura stabbed at Tanakamaru, distracting him. Hakatori hauled Higemaru away, griping about him being accident prone.

"Urie!" Mutsuki grabbed him. "Furuta's about to—"

"Go!" yelled Suzuya. "You—Arima's—Kaneki's—squires." He beheaded a guard. Urie cringed. Shouldn't we at least try to save them? But he hadn't. What right to did he have to speak? "We'll hold them off!"

Hsiao hauled Aura. Saiko raced ahead. Mutsuki looked at Urie and nodded.

"Let's go," Urie said.

Suzuya smiled, and Urie could only hope this wouldn't be the last time he saw him alive.

Furuta's voice boomed from the balcony.