End of Last Chapter:

"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...

Chapter Twenty-Six of Without Light:

Tripped – to make a slip, error, or mistake, as in conversation or conduct

"No." While the word was a relief to Kagome, displeasure was curled into Sebastian's tone. His eyes were chilling when he glanced up from his bow to meet her gaze. "Kagome Higurashi, where did you first hear my name?"

Kagome rubbed her arms, cold by the glance he was giving her. She hadn't seen him take such a scary persona before and she heard herself answering before she had time to really think about what he'd asked. "I heard it at the large remembrance for my family and friends at the school. One of the siblings or cousins to one of the dead mentioned it at the event."

"I need you to remember...what did the boy look like, what did he say exactly?" Sebastian's words were more commanding than she ever heard them, the chill in his voice seemed to make the temperature in the room drop even further. She was frightened but at the same time she didn't want to look away from his eyes, was this what deer felt like in headlights?

"I didn't see him...just heard him speak. He told his sister that there were demons here, that if you made a pact with one they could fulfill any wish you wanted. In return for your soul they follow your every whim. You just need to cut yourself and call to them. With the sacrifice of blood you call to Michaelis. He was saying one of the girl's could get revenge this way." Kagome heard herself continuing to explain but wasn't actively forcing herself to speak. "I was thinking about it after I cut myself in the bottom of the well the night we met."

The room was darker than before, much darker, had the lights gone out? She couldn't glance away to see if the power had died, she was still trapped in the devil's gaze. He was so angry, but his eyes made answering everything so easy, they offered her a clarity to whatever moments he questioned her about.

"This angel you met, he said that he knew it was Ciel behind the attack?" He stroked the back of her hand as he continued to stare at her, he didn't even blink.

"Yes." She agreed right away.

"Did he give you his name?"

"Yes. He said it was Variel."

Sebastian didn't reply, he stared at her a moment longer, then pulled her close and held her tightly. Without meeting his eyes whatever enchantment he had over her ended and her body shuttered from the cold and fear...his ire had crept into her bones and she suddenly had a hard time breathing, as if a pressure was on her chest keeping her lungs from opening. Her legs betrayed her all together because while she wanted to get to her feet they wouldn't move.

"Shhh..." Sebastian's more gentle voice helped calm her nerves but she still jumped at the reminder that he was there. Her eyes dilated when she leaned back to gape at him, not trusting her own ability to voice her question. He appeared to know what she wanted to say regardless.

"I'm sorry, I needed to know exactly what had happened Kagome. I had to access your memories slightly to see what you'd been through." He explained, rubbing her arms. "It will pass. Think of something positive, warm, something that you use to comfort yourself when you are frightened."

Kagome pulled herself closer to Sebastain, still shivering as she held onto him weakly. Her mind was foggy now, perhaps doing its best to forget the darkness that had just probed inside of it. Was that the true face of Sebastian then? Of the devil her fate was bound to? She shook her head, trying to dismiss the negative thoughts, she was certainly already wondering if this was some sort of punishment for questioning him.

"Kagome." She winced at her name, still more than a little effected by whatever he'd done.

"I...I...I..." She couldn't get her body to work the way she wanted.

Her eyes widened a moment later when he kissed her, his lips were soft and warm, and she let herself get swept away again, returning a tender kiss a long moment before she had to draw away to breath. "What, what are you doing?"

"Making you feel better it seems." Sebastian grinned at her blush before schooling his expression. "Are you going to be all right?"

"Yeah...yeah I think so...what did you do?" Kagome wanted to hear a better explination.

"I used an ability that let me see your memories...unfortunately it has some negative side effects...you seem to be recovering neatly however." Sebastian answered. "What you thought was a disrespectful boy was in fact the same Variel I fought tonight. He is the angel of change, he can take other forms without much consideration. He manipulated your summoning of me...what I'm not sure of is why."

"...but...that doesn't make sense, he said he was my guardian. He knew things he shouldn't about me." Kagome answered, still doing her best to put on a brave face after the terrifying moments of having Sebastian in her head. Was his mind full of that darkness?

"All the easier to know how to manipulate you, to know what would break you down to the point of wanting to sell your soul to not be alone." Sebastian pointed out.

"If he's supposed to protect me that doesn't make sense. What could they possibly gain?" Kagome asked, scowling now that she realized someone that had claimed they were her protector would want to harm her in this way...

"I don't know...but we'll need to find out." Sebastian admitted, he knew much of supernatural lore but this he wasn't as certain of. He was now assured that the angel had lain the groundwork so a contract could be forged with Kagome but he didn't know why. "My only guess would relate to our connection itself and it having a rare mystical quality. I haven't personally heard of another devil that was in contract with a person of holy blood."

"So...you are saying he set up my family, my friends, to die...all so I would find you?" Kagome asked, her body was rigid again but this time it was anger and not fear that inspired her shaking. She didn't care as much what they wanted, just that they had done all of this to her for some selfish gain. How could they judge devils and demons when they clearly lacked any sort of moral compass. An angel dedicated to her own protection had killed her family so she would sell her soul?

"My lady..." Sebastian's glove on her cheek returned her eyes to his. Thankfully they weren't the same as before...it was her usual Sebastian looking at her. She felt the lump in her throat more in that moment of offered comfort.

"...they did it...they killed them..." She was doing her best not to start sobbing.

"You only need to give the order my lady." Sebastian pointed out.

It was clear what he meant, he was offering to kill Variel for her. She wanted to say yes at first...but she shook her head and started to deflect. "You are already injured..."

"I am already healed." Sebastian interrupted, tired of people trying to steal that which belonged to him. Whatever the plan of the heavens, he would see them all burn. "His harming you is something I would rather not forgive."

Kagome felt the desire for revenge, more than she ever had with Naraku...it burned inside of her...and she knew she wouldn't be able to get it herself. What could her holy magic do to an angel? The ember of hatred was swift to blossom into fire at her devil's prompting, she knew it was wrong to kill an angel but she didn't care. This creature had done everything in it's power to destroy her, to use her, and she was done being a victim for them. She ignored the part of her telling her she shouldn't overreact and nodded. "Sebastian Michaelis, I order you to find and destroy the angel that came to speak with me today. I want to see this finished."

"Yes, my lady." The wicked smile that lit the devil's ace at accepting his new job came only a moment before shadows enveloped them. When the darkness cleared they were back at the train crash, the angel was just starting to stir at it's center. "Shall I make it quick or slow?"

The purple eyed man glanced to them, raising himself to his feet.

"You choose the darkness then?" Variel snapped in frustration.

"I don't think you offered me much choice. Don't hesitate Sebastian." Kagome replied, answering both men at once as she stepped slightly to the side to watch Sebastian work. She was done, she wasn't going to offer mercy or forgiveness, not this time.

"You'll cease to exist." Variel stated as he blocked the first of many attacks to come.

This person had stolen everything from her...had destroyed hundreds of lives for some scheme. Kagome was tired, tired of being the one to forgive sins, tired of being the better person, what had it ever done for her?

"So? I know what lies in store for priests on the other side. I wonder what will lie in store for you." Kagome returned in as cold a voice as she had ever offered anyone but Naraku. This time she refused to take the high road. What more could they do to her? She'd already sold her soul.

"She isn't who you should be concerned with." Sebastian remarked as he stabbed one of the feathers half way through the angel's upper right arm.

"You aren't? She could remove your deal at any time and kill you. Do you think this ends well for you?" Variel switched tactics, following the advice to focus his attention on Sebastian. "She was already doubting you...otherwise you would have finished me while I was unconscious, how long until she realizes that you cannot care for her and you lose another meal. You make decidedly bad choices for your targets."

He swept his wings, throwing several feather like knives forward but his jump back was paused by Sebastian's hand and another feather was driven into his spine...forcing him to fall to his knees. "I'm certain I'm not the one that should be mentioning bad choices given how badly you've tripped."

The angel laughed, ignoring the blood on it's pale skin. "It will do you no good. I know the girl more than you ever will...I watched her grow and turn into this woman. She'll do the right thing in the end...and that will end you along with the rest of your wretch..."

A gurgle is all that made it out of the angel's mouth after Sebastian left the rest of the feather's he'd picked up in a ring around the bodies throat...blood pouring out from several veins he let the holy creature go...the blood hissed on his own skin like acid. He would be injured from the battle...but he would heal. In the end he was more concerned with what the angel meant...there was more to their plan and it certainly involved his latest contract...he needed to learn what it was his connection to the priestess meant.

"It's done my lady...shall we return?" Sebastian moved between her and the body. She looked worse for wear now that her revenge was complete. He knew it wasn't in her nature to make this sort of an order but she would adjust...what he did know about her was that she was strong.

"Yes...yes. I have things I need to do." Kagome agreed. The scene was gruesome but she didn't really feel regret or relief at the angel's death. She didn't really feel anything...just a want to get back to what she was doing before he'd interrupted and tried to destroy even more of what little she had. "Sebastian...don't let what he said bother you. I've thrown my lot in with you...and that creature clearly didn't know me anywhere near as well as he thought he did."

"I know my lady." Sebastian nodded, kissing her hand again before she realized they were elsewhere, at a small mall by the look of it. "I would recommend getting some new clothes for the school trip. It's a rather expensive private school and you did state you didn't want to stand out."

"Or go...I said I didn't want to go." Kagome pointed out with her deadpan expression. Sighing when she realized he wasn't going to give up on this. "Fine, where are we going anyway?"

"Las Vegas." He answered calmly, holding open the door to a shop.

"What?" Kagome scowled, trying to keep her voice down. "Who the hell takes a high school trip to a gambling city where they can't gamble?"

"Students with parents quite willing to afford them false identification." Sebastian replied. "I've already forged yours, it's quite perfect if I do say so myself. Come on then, don't leave the poor workers inside waiting on us."

End Chapter

I wrote this chapter twice. I had one way I wanted it, but then decided I didn't really like the way it worked out and liked this better. Besides, Sebastian in Vegas just seems particularly fitting...

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Heh, still glad for the love, hope you continue to enjoy! You make me happy I found the time!

Kedakumi – That would remove a lot of drama I think...XD.

Lunasnoir – I hope that means crazy good. ^^;;;

KioshiUshima – I'm pretty sure feelings don't work that way...at least not for Kags.

Meeshkla18 – Heh, that was the idea. I wanted something that wedged a little drama in there.