End of Last Chapter:

"Sebastian...appear now." She demanded as she pulled down her collar, the brand on her neck burned and sinister dark light emanated from the connection. The would-be guardian angel's eyes widened at her sudden summoning, he moved toward her as if to stop her but it was too late. Her view of him was interrupted by her devil's back putting itself between her and the creature that had her so emotional. They slammed into each other a moment later, trading blows with such speed that Kagome had a hard time keeping up...

Chapter Twenty-Five of Without Light:

Doubt – a feeling of uncertainty about the truth, reality, or nature of something

Lines of crimson dripped from both combatants when the battle paused long enough that Kagome could get a clear view of them. Her self-proclaimed guardian angel and the devil she sold her soul to each had been injured in their battle. She could still feel the uncomfortable burn around the shimmering circle on her neck, the malevolent tattoo that connected her with Sebastian. She didn't have anything to say however, still shocked by the idea that Sebastian could have not only known the cause of her family's death...but could have aided with it. Her heart was a jumble of uncertainty and her thoughts weren't far behind that.

"You will not have my ward as a meal you foul beast." Variel's voice had gotten deeper, angry where it had been gentle until then...pale platinum wings unfolded from his back and the static in the air made her hair start to rise. Kagome felt the indignation in the angel's words...

"Angels, always deflecting their inability to accomplish their own goals." Sebastian replied, slipping to one side as he dodged a line of metallic feathers that stuck into the train nearby like bullets. He pulled them from the wall throwing them back at his opponent, smirking as a few cut the expensive suit and one cut a gash along the back of the angel's hand. "Must I remind you in the same way I do the grim reapers? She doesn't belong to you."

Kagome grit her teeth at the comments...all of them...they were all the same...

She was nothing to them...

"Are you certain she belongs to you?" Variel whispered in amusement. He'd been forced backward several stepsby the aggressive devil that didn't appear to be backing down. His wings blocking their own feathers turned makeshift knives by the devil. Sparks flying where the two were pressed near one of the train's walls. Sebastian's eyes widened at the implication and he risked a glance to his ward, it lost him his advantage. He was nearly hit in the neck as he jumped away from the angel...he hadn't noticed before the slight salt beneath the metal in the air. Kagome was crying, it was so quiet it couldn't be heard beneath the loudness of battle.

"Admit it devil...you purposefully set up your master's last contract did you not?" Variel pressed forward this time, shooting more feathers from his wings at the offending devil. Sebastian managed to block most of them and winced slightly at the one that dug into his leg. He was now left to consider how that had gone...

Ciel's last contract...they'd wanted him to kill all of their peers. Kagome's school...that was the connection...and Sebastian had arranged it. He needed Ciel to be distracted so he had time to find ingredients for his own escape. He hadn't connected it with Kagome's family until now...but the angels knew...

"Where are your quips now devil? Has fear of losing yet another contract turned them to ash in your mouth?" Variel mocked, slamming Sebastian into the ceiling hard enough to bend the metal and make the entire train shutter from the movement, nearly knocking it off the tracks. Kagome stumbled, falling to her side and remaining off her feet. She was still trying to figure out what was true and what wasn't...Sebastian wasn't arguing what happened. So was it all true then? He'd never care about her? Could he?

Sebastian grabbed both arms of the angel that had pushed him into the roof and bent them backwards, the snapping of bone audible in the open car. He reversed the favor, driving the angel into the bottom of the car with enough force to bend it. Catching Kagome and using his back to send them through the glass while the rest of the train cars continued to crash and explode he landed with her on a nearby rooftop, bending the knee of the leg that had been hit in the battle. Angel's weren't easy targets after all, and this would likely only slow him down. Still, he'd already done more damage than Sebastian might be able to repair.

"Kagome...don't listen to them. They're bending the truth." Sebastian's words at least managed to draw up her face so she was looking at him. The was a discomfort he was completely unaccustomed to that rose in his chest when he saw the tears along her face. "I wasn't trying to target you. I never knew you existed before that night in the well."

"But you...you were involved in the events that killed my family?" She asked uncertainly. He knew she'd probably believe anything he told her. She had trusted him implicitly in the past after all. For the first time in a long while he had the urge to do something he didn't do...lie.

Just tell her that it's a ploy by the angels to tear them apart.

"I am not completely certain yet. Now that more has been brought up, it is likely I was involved indirectly." He answered. It was truth, perhaps not the complete truth but he hadn't lied. "I will speak to you of it in length when we have the time...but right now you need to choose if you want to run or finish this. I'm not certain we'll have another chance to kill the angel again. I've already injured him."

The tall man from before was unconscious and tattered at the center of the crash, his nice suit was ribbons and there were feathers all around him glittering despite the dust in the air. He had told Kagome he was her guardian...that he'd watched her all her life...but right now she didn't feel particularly secure. Still she bit her lip, hesitating to make such a call...the creature before them was helpless, and if he was telling the truth someone that had watched over her to some degree. Perhaps the reason she'd survived to this point...

"Kagome?" Sebastian asked. "Now isn't the time for hesitation."

"Go, just go...take me home." Kagome answered, she wasn't going to be pressured into murder. Even if the creature might be targeting her...or it could be some ploy. She couldn't bring herself to trust Sebastian either at the moment...he had to keep her safe for now...but if he started to realize how much she was wavering on their deal that might change. The air and the city might have looked beautiful on another day but now she just felt empty. It all passed by quickly enough while she tried to decide what she should do...

"Kagome." His voice was softer than usual, the change did draw her attention but she bit her tongue at the site of the devil. She hated to admit that she'd allowed herself to get feelings for him much faster than she ever should have. She'd allowed him to do things with her, to her, no one else would...it was difficult to not cry at the handsome face looking at her in concern. When she didn't speak he held her a bit tighter and shook his head, his gaze moving to where he landed them at the shrine.

"You don't have to say anything. I should have realized Ciel was the one behind the attack when we first met." Sebastian stated, carrying her inside and to the kitchen where tea was already set out. She didn't question it, she knew he could do things that others could not. Instead she just took her tea and held it close, the warmth was nice after the day she'd had. "May I explain how we came to Tokyo in the first place?"

Kagome nodded quietly...Sebastian normally wasn't one to volunteer information, but she supposed he had to try to explain to keep hold of his own contract...it felt dishonest. She still wanted him to have a good reason, some way he couldn't have stopped her family's death...something that let her have some sort of relief from this suffocation...

"I had been seeking an escape from Ciel's control for a long time. To sum up a rather frustrating century Ciel was made into a demon while I was still in contract with him. The unexpected turn left me in eternal contract unless I could return him to his mortal state." Sebastian remarked, pulling out some of her favorite cookies and setting the tray next to her. She didn't reach for them...it was all a empathetic curtain pulled over the metal within the devil's heart. Her friends seemed more right by each moment that passed.

"I learned of an old spell, something that could return a mortal to their mortal form. It involved several ingredients, one of which was here in Japan. When a contract called from this area, I encouraged Ciel to take it, but I did not know of you or your blood. I only encouraged his presence because I needed the time to search for the ingredient I required." Sebastian continued to explain his involvement. "However, please understand that even if it wasn't Ciel, the mortal selling their soul would have found someone to fulfill their desired contract."

"How...how does it work? You never explained how someone summons a demon." Kagome asked...she needed to know everything she could...her heart was still holding on by a thread. The angel hadn't lied to her...Variel...he claimed to be her angel but she couldn't recall him before now. His words were that this was Sebastian's fault...but Sebastian was right...even if the human that wanted the school dead hadn't found a demon he could have set a blaze to the school himself. It didn't make the nearness of her own devil more comfortable...Sebastian could have just as likely been lying to her.

"Blood and a name, one must know the true name of the demon they wish to summon and pay the initial contract for just a meeting in blood." Sebastian answered her, watching her face play through many emotions. It was clear this had effected her deeply. He would make this angel suffer for it's involvement in her pain.

"Then how did I hear your name at the funeral?" Kagome asked quietly, her shoulders shaking in rage and sorrow. "...if it wasn't you...why were people speaking your name? I order you to tell me the truth Sebastian Michaelis, were you at all personally involved in the plot that killed my friends and family. Yes or no?"

Crimson eyes narrowed, displeasure clear on his fine features as he stared at her a long moment after the question was asked. He took a step back and bent to a knee, her heart beat with pressure, fearing what he might say to her. She knew he couldn't lie, not once she'd given him an order directly, her friends had told her that much and she believed them. Whatever he said, it couldn't be a lie, not as far as he was concerned...

End Chapter

Whee, I like having just a little time off between now and my next classes. It's not much but I really needed some time to work on creative writing instead of essays for college. Essays get pretty tedious when you have to turn in one or two a week! It's hard to want to do anything bug veg out when you do get free time. I am enjoying where my story is going though. I hope others are too.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Yay to those sticking with me til the bitter (or hopefully not too bitter) end. XD Thanks so much for your support.