Chapter Twenty-Four: Gamble

Subaru suddenly felt a warmth radiating from his chest. It had been a long time since he felt like that.

"Thank you, Kantoku-sama, but...I can take care of myself," Subaru said, matching his paces to that of Yuurei's.

"Of course you can," Yuurei nodded, not at all fictitiously. "That's not the issue at hand." He stopped talking as they reached the scene at Tokakushi, and instinctively Yuurei drew his cloak about himself to withdraw into the shadows as so not to be noticed by those participating below. Fuuma already had the sword. Seishirou was with him. Kamui was leaving, abandoning an injured Sorata and Arashi to fend for themselves. -The fools!- he thought with a grimace. -What are they thinking, letting the Twin Star just take the Shinken without more of a fight?- He knew it was destined to be taken, but to give up so easily was a terrible sign of weakness.

Subaru squinted his eyes at the scene below. "What?! They're just going to leave?!" he hissed. "They can't…"

Yuurei clenched his fists. "It certainly looks that way." Warily he glanced at young man beside him, then down to his counterpart, the Sakurazukamori. "It was meant to be this way." Still... "So what are you going to do now?" This was the moment he had been apprehensive of ever since first telling the young Onmyouji to go back home.

"The future can still be changed." Subaru turned around to Yuurei. "I'm sorry, but...as a Dragon of the Heaven, I have to..." Subaru's voice wandered off. "Gomen'asi, Kantoku-sama..." he said, as he leapt from the building to the earth below.

"Subaru!" Yuurei called out the man's name on impulse and reached out to grab his arm, but too late. Furiously he knotted his fist and clenched his teeth. "Gambatte, Subaru..."

Meanwhile, just as he was about to follow Fuuma out for an ice cream after a long night of killing, Seishirou stopped suddenly in his tracks. Was that presence he sensed...his imagination? Slowly he turned around...and his single working eye fell to the familiar form of the same man who had fled his sight only hours ago. A smirk crossed his lips. "And so we meet again, Subaru-kun," he said softly, just loud enough for the man to hear.

"Seishirou-san..." Subaru growled. "Give me the sword." He knew that his words would be in vain, but for some reason, he couldn't help hoping maybe that maybe his words could convince Seishirou.

Seishirou stared at him for a moment, then burst into scoffing laughter. "And you think it's even mine to give?" Then his brow shot up as if experiencing some profound revelation. "Have you come here to fulfill your wish? To kill me, ne? Well, if so, I must say you're still in a pitiful state to believe you could fight me for very long. Seems...I almost have more will to live than you. Ironic, isn't it?" His gentle features could not hide the cold emotionless gaze that lay beneath.

"Not to kill you," Subaru replied. "I'm here only to take the Shinken to the true Kamui, as a Dragon of the Heaven."

But Seishirou shook his head with a dark chuckle. "I'm afraid that's impossible...unless you come through me. You see...this is the real Kamui...and he will change the world."

"If this is truly what you wish for, Seishirou-san," Subaru said. He looked upwards towards the sunrise in the distance and sighed. Such a beautiful day to be doing battle. He threw his arms into the air and put up his kekkai.

Glancing back at Fuuma with mock helplessness, Seishirou quickly returned his gaze to Subaru. "It seems our ice cream break with have to wait, Kamui-sama," he said with a sense of regret in his voice. To Subaru he added, "I have truly had enough of these kekkai and fighting for one day, but if you really want to die that badly, I would never deny your wish, Subaru-kun." He smirked and held up his hand. Soon sakura blossoms began to descend from the heavens as he collected his energy.

"I don't want to die," Subaru said, as he started powering up a shield. "I don't want to have to kill you, either. All I want is for the Shinken to be returned to its rightful master." A fully-formed pentacle formed in front of Subaru, spinning wildly as it formed a barrier between himself and Seishirou.

"Really, do you expect that to stop me?" With an uttered phrase, Seishirou sent the powerful shape of an inverted pentagram to collide with Subaru's and cancel out its effects. Before his adversary could react, he promptly sent shards of black glass-like energy at him like speeding daggers through the air.

"Kuso..." Subaru swore under his breath as the energy tore through his outfit and his bandages. Crimson-stained ribbons of bandage flew from his torso. "I won't let you win, though," Subaru smiled, wiping blood from his cheek.

Subaru clasped his hands together, closed his eyes and began chanting, changing the various positions of his fingers as he did so. The chanting grew louder and louder until Subaru opened his eyes, sending white bird-spirits flying towards Seishirou.

Seishirou could not hold back the cackle that insisted on being heard. "Pathetic," he snickered, shoving a hand into his pocket. "You are weak. If you can't even defeat me, how do you imagine you could fare against Kamui?" With that, he pulled his inverted pentagram back to shield him against the lovely white beasts, watching with a wicked simper as they shattered against his barrier. "You should have waited until you recovered to face me again." Dissolving his shield, he thrust out a hand with an ardent cry, using the same telekinetic blast he had attacked Arashi with and sending it powerfully at Subaru.

Subaru fell. He knew that as much as he wanted to defeat this beast of a man for whatever the reasons he had--whether for his sister, or for the he--he couldn't. Even as he willed himself to continue on, he knew there was no way he could defeat him. But instead of putting his kekkai down like he knew he should, he grinned with blood-stained teeth. "There's no way you're getting out of here. If you want to," Subaru said, stumbling to his feet. "...it'll be over MY dead body." Subaru didn't realize the irony of his words until after he said them, but for some reason didn't regret them. It was very suiting.

Seishirou only smirked and shrugged. "That can easily be arranged." He held out his hand, preparing to strike the man again into the ground with the same attack. He let out a grunt as he blasted the attack. But just as it left his hand and was a split second from colliding with Subaru's weakened body, a shadowed figure descended from nowhere and landed between the two, shielding Subaru from the blast with his own body.

Yuurei could not watch as Seishirou mercilessly butchered the man whom, only a few years before, he had sacrificed an eye to save. Doggedly--not to mention without really thinking about what he was doing--Yuurei leaped from atop the shrine and planted himself between the two opposing forces. His back to Seishirou, he hardly had time to put up a psychic barrier around himself. The impact of the blast nearly knocked him to his knees, but he remained standing, staring into Subaru's shocked gaze with a rigid grin of determination.

"Kan...Kantoku-sama!" Subaru gaped. "I thought...I thought you couldn't...interfere!"

Yuurei grimaced. Subaru had a very good point, and no doubt he would not be the only one to pay the price in days to come. But right now that did not matter. All that mattered was that Subaru did not die at this moment...his death would come at the hands of that emotionless barbarian, as Yuurei well knew, but not now. Not like this. Chuckling huskily and choking on what he was not sure to be either air or blood, Yuurei managed to shrug. "I think it's about time I started taking Destiny into my own hands."

Seishirou stood stunned at what had just happened. Who the hell was this guy? Interfering with a battle was one thing, but intruding onto their personal affairs...? "You!" he shouted vehemently. "Do you have a death wish as well? I would be more than obliged to grant it..." The anger in his face then melted away into a jeering simper.

Straightening his back and ignoring the minor pain caused by Seishirou's attack, Yuurei turned to face the smug Angel, a dark expression of adamant resolution imprinted upon his ashen features. He said nothing, only stared at the man standing twenty paces away.
Careful to stay in front of Subaru, Yuurei made up his mind then and there that Fate would no longer control him. -I've put up with Fate for long enough. Now it's Fate's turn to deal with me. Burn in Hell, Destiny. I have had enough.-

Seishirou chuckled at the shadowed figure's persistence. He had seen the man several times before, but this action contradicted everything he had come to believe about the man. "Go back to your hiding place among the shadows," he breathed coolly. "You're not wanted here; this is not your battle."

Briefly Yuurei glanced at the ground, then assuredly back up at the Sakurazukamori. "No, you're right. It's not. However...I am making it my battle now." He flitted a hesitant eye at Fuuma. The powerful Gemini did not frighten him, but if both were to attack at once...

There was no way Subaru was going to let them get anywhere NEAR Yuurei. It wasn't Yuurei's job to protect him; it was Subaru's job to protect Yuurei-- and all the people of Tokyo.

"Yuurei...leave," he turned to Yuurei, his eyes filled with concern for the man. "I don't want you getting hurt."

"Kantoku-sama...leave."

Yuurei did not turn around, only continued to stare coldly into the eyes of the Sakurazukamori. One word was all he needed to acknowledge Subaru's plea. Just one word...more simple breath.

"Iie."

Indignantly Seishirou straightened himself and narrowed his eyes guilefully. "This is between Sumeragi-san and myself. If you don't step aside, I'll have no choice by to kill you." Not that it would be any real challenge of his morals, as he had just spent the night slaughtering random pedestrians with the Kamui of the Dragons of Earth.

Maintaining his defensive position with no more hesitation, Yuurei was careful never to let Subaru get into range of the bloodthirsty Sakurazukamori. Oh, he knew Seishirou was serious, but so was he. Lowering his head, he remained silent, his expression somber, but held up hand and beckoned the man with two long, callused fingers to try his worst.

And Seishirou was only all too willing to comply. Lifting an arm, he pointed one finger at the Watcher with a smirk, then sent a beam of scarlet light through the air at the man's chest. Judging from their earlier battle, he was not sure what to expect from this stranger, but he knew the man would not dodge and let Subaru take the blast.

Not for a moment did Yuurei think of stepping away. Holding up a hand, he concentrated until a sparking cloud of electricity formed against the pit of his palm. He caught the effulgent beam of light with a grunt, planting his feet firmly into the ground to avoid being knocked backward into Subaru. And though blocking the attack was fairly easy, he still could not bring himself to actually retaliate. That would be the final step, and he could never turn back...

A blade settled on Yuurei's neck, a exact millimeter from touching the watcher's skin. Fuuma had been moving toward the man as he exchanged pleasantries with Seishirou...using the shadows as a cover. Fuuma smiled at Yuurei. "I think I understand who you are now...You are the variable in Fate...one who shouldn't exist but does so it can remain a uncertainty...One who should stay off the actual stage but is too much of a fool to help walking on...Tell me when I'm warm.."

Fuuma's eyes met Yuurei's, locking with them as he changed the subject to one more appropriate. "You know this blade is special...not only was it created through the destruction of a human life but it's unusually sharp...for example if I was to move even in the slightest right now, like if you were to hit me with that attack and I jerked back, it would still cut you at this range." The man's smiled became even more friendly. "See this is why the sword is a tool of the end of the world. Why the blade is considered to be worthy of the messenger of god...Oh one more fact...This particular blade was born from my Mother so that proves that this particular blade belongs to me and not your pathetic little Savior...The blade is bonded to me by blood. Now, shall I show what it means to mettle or will you exit back off stage, watcher?"

Seiichirou caught the box and deposited securely back into his pocket.

"Arigatou," he said coldly to the Dragon of Earth, "I thank you on behalf of my wife."

The other man smiled back at him in an infuriating way.

With effort, Seiichirou shoved all thoughts of Shimako and his anniversary to the back of his mind. The present situation required focus and alertness. Karen's earlier statement regarding the broken truce could not be forgotten, nor could the hostility in the eyes of the opposing Dragons be ignored.

Plus, Arashi and Sorata were still in need of their help. Seiichirou could no longer sense the kekkai that had been put up earlier but that fact only made him more concerned. He had been the one that had suggested their visit to the shrine in the first place; if the two teenagers were no longer alive, it would be his fault. He would not be able to forgive himself.

These thoughts weighing down his soul, Seiichirou nevertheless prepared for battle. The wind was already beginning to answer his summons. It swirled around his hand, a flow of energy and power.

He looked to Karen, murmuring quietly, "I don't wish to resort to violence, Kasumi-san... But it seems that if they don't yield, we may not have any other options but to fight. I think it would be best if you put up your kekkai."

Turning his attention back to their enemies, Seiichirou met their hard, stubborn expressions evenly. The girl stared back coolly. Even the man, who had seemed a flexible, easy-going personality, appeared determined to hold his ground.

"I'm afraid we're pressed for time. I doubt our friends would appreciate our tardiness in coming to their aid. In any case, I'm afraid we're going to insist that you let us pass," Seiichirou tried to adopt an easy-going tone but his worry for Arashi and Sorata didn't allow that to be possible, "Please stand aside."

His voice, instead, had acquired a steel-like quality, "I won't ask again."

"Sorata..." Arashi started. She turned around, ducking her head into the taxi.

"Come on." she said, extending her hand to help him out again. She sighed, looking at the driver. "Thank you." she said, as she dug in her pocket for some money to pay with.

"Let's get you inside. Can you walk there?" But it didn't matter if he could or couldn't anymore. A few white-dressed people ran out with stretchers.

"Don't move! We don't want to worsen the injury!" they said, quite calmly, as the loaded the two on to the stretchers.

"Really..." Arashi mumbled under her breath.

So consumed by Seishirou's threatening presence, Yuurei had failed to notice Fuuma approaching. But the next the he knew, the infamous First Shinken was poised at his throat and ready to kill him in an instant.

As Fuuma spoke coolly with a mock sense of friendliness, Yuurei furrowed his brow and glanced fervently from the sword to the young man's eyes. When at last the Twin Star paused for a breath, he spoke at last.

"I know who Monou Saya is," he snarled in a low voice. "I was there to watch her die. You're right about my Fate; I don't deny that. But you are mistaken if you think I have already made my decision in Kamui's favor. You are as much of a pawn as I am, but I choose now to make my own decisions against Fate's will. You, on the other
hand, are helpless to act of your own free will. Do you think I'm wrong?" He smirked. "Then you're welcome to try and kill me..."

But before Fuuma could make a move, Yuurei had already gathered the bolt of golden lightning into his fist, and in that moment he formed a brilliant sword of magnificent electricity and brought it up to clash against the Shinken without so much as moving any other part of his body. And now that his upper half was free to move without immediate danger of being decapitated, he stared into Fuuma's eyes defiantly as he fell back into a firm defensive stance. He knew his summons was nothing compared to the power of the mighty sword of prophecy, but he also knew how to fight against it. He had dreamed of this moment only too many times.

"I am the factor which will manipulate Fate. Now...what was it you were saying about showing me what it means to meddle...?"

Seishirou pulled back the reigns of his power as Fuuma stepped in to handle the menace. He smirked. Now the stranger would learn what it was to interfere with the Dragons of Earth...particularly "Kamui."

His gaze then fell to a still-fallen Subaru, and a wicked simper crossed his pale, thin lips. Subtly shoving a hand back into his pocket, he strode gracefully around the Twin Star and the Watcher to meet his old adversary face to face.

Gazing down at him out of his single working eye--the other an eternal reminder of what could have been but would never become truth--he reached down with a single hand and grasped the young Onmyouji's shoulder. And with a short taunting laugh, he threw the man violently back to the ground a few paces back.

"Come, now, Subaru-kun," he called, his voice an imitation of welcoming friendliness. "The battle is ours again. Shall I kill you now, or will you turn and run again?" A cold chuckle arose from his throat as he watched the young Sumeragi's face...

The wounds inflicted upon Kamui weren't as bad as they seemed. Compared to his last crop of injuries anyway. His legs were still stable as well and a good majority of his power had been retained. That was at least good enough.

It wasn't like him to run to off like that, especially after a fight. But the pain hurt so much. He couldn't let anyone see him like that. Not in this state.

He hadn't gone very far after that fight. Hiding out in a tree branch, he felt almost invisible to the outside world. He didn't want to deal with any of this. The end of the world, being a savior, this was all nothing but a big joke. That's what he wanted to believe...

Destiny. His mother and even Hinoto said that all this was his destiny. What a cruel fate all this was. The old Shrine man is now dead and Fuuma had forever changed. And Kotori, was it her destiny to die like Hinoto predicted? He couldn't give in to all this. There had to be a way to change it.

The high pitched sound had once again rung in Kamui's ears. Not to far from where Fuuma had left. Had someone confronted him? Leaping down from the tree, Kamui bounded off towards the direction of the fight. This was it. He had to try to retrieve the Shinken from Fuuma on last time. And hopefully bring him back to his senses. He owed it to Mr. Monou.

Blasts of energy could be seen thrown about the field. Two unknown figures stood against what appeared to be Fuuma and that man from before. Kamui's angry rose as he gazed down at him, remembering how he attempted to kill him and Kotori.

Now was time for revenge. Leaping up from behind Subaru and Yuurei, Kamui fired at blast down at Seishirou before landing nimbly on his feet.

Subaru pulled himself up, panting hard from the lack of breath. He was breathing heavy now, and his bad habits really weren't happing his lungs now.

"K...Kamui," he gasped, hunched over. "This fight...this fight is mine. If anything, you should help Kantoku-sama," he said, motioning in Yuurei's direction.

Subaru looked back over at Seishirou, a playful glint in his eye.

"You won't win."

Just as he began to advance toward Subaru again, a flash of power blocked his way. Instinctively Seishirou leaped back and surged his energy forth to block the primary part of the attack. When the effects subsided and the smoke cleared, he found himself staring into the infuriated eyes of the Kamui of the Dragons of Heaven.

Straightening himself defensively as Subaru spoke, Seishirou nodded in agreement. "Yes, this is a personal matter. Not that I'd recommend interrupting 'Kamui's' battle at the moment...but it's your risk to take." He snickered huskily and glanced menacingly back at Subaru...

Yuurei held his ground and stared rigidly into Fuuma's wicked eyes. But at that moment he was a bit distracted by the fact that Seishirou had managed to slip around him and get to Subaru. For now he could only pray that Subaru would be able to hold his own against the vehement Sakurazukamori. Bitterly he tried to concentrate on Fuuma's form...his every move, his every intention. He may have been defying Fate, but Yuurei refused to strike the first blow.

Suddenly a surge of power split the air behind him, and Yuurei did not have to look over his shoulder to know whose ki had emitted such a potent blast. Kamui of the Dragons of Heaven. He was relieved and terrified at the same time. Now Subaru had a better chance of surviving, but what of Yuurei's conflict with Fuuma? Now that Kamui had arrived, could he retreat into the shadows and continue his duties of watching?

No. The answer was there before the question had even formed within his mind. If he left Fuuma to Kamui, then Subaru would still be in danger. Yuurei had already entered the fight. He would not back down now.

"Stay with Subaru!" he called out behind at Kamui. "I don't care if he says it's personal. I won't forgive you if you let him die, Kamui!" And with that, he forced his lightning blade against Fuuma's Shinken until the tips of both swords were touching the ground...

"Kamui," Subaru looked at Kamui with softened eyes. "Protect Kantoku sama. I can take care of myself. You know my power." Subaru felt a drop of blood fall from the tip of his nose and land in a collecting puddle beneath him.

Subaru pressed a bloodied hand against Kamui's face. "It is my duty, as a Dragon of the Heaven to do this. Please understand me, Kamui."

Subaru's hand slid off of Kamui's face, leaving a scarlet streak of blood across his face.

He turned to Seishirou.

Fuuma's eyes narrowed as Yuurei's intentions grew all the more serious. Suddenly a thought came to him as a evil smile grew with his icy glare. He concentrating on using his power to hold Yuurei in place. It was then that Fuuma used half of his strength to attempt to lock Yuurei's blade down and the other half to ram his body into Yuurei, hopefully knocking him off balance into a building.

"I think you forgot one little detail, boy...You see if you think I'm locked within destiny's iron grip then you should know that by entering it you are bound by it's rules and by pure logic that means Kamui is the only one who shall kill the other Kamui...You are truly a fool, Watcher. This is why you're fate is to die. To die for going against that very iron grip that binds me. Simple when you examine it through logic."

Fuuma had sensed Kamui had arrived. It was a pity the boy was not sound enough to heed his once beloved friend's warning. No matter...Fuuma would end the world on the beginning of this day if Kamui was such a fool...Pity, he had almost wished for a more grandiose ending.

Kamui, let this blade pierce your heart for the greater good.

Okita sped up on his motorcycle. It wasn't like him to be out this early...man how was he going to look for the cameras? Eh, it wasn't his concern, it was his manager's...A smile came from under his helmet. And how she was going to freak when she saw how horrible he looked. It was these kind of rebellions that made his days filled with adventure...yet in reality he felt like something was missing...like something he forgot to grab at as he flowed down the river of life...

A sigh returned to Okita's face as he watched the surroundings. Suddenly catching a sight of a rather bizarre gathering...almost as if out of a movie...Okita skidded to a halt, removing his helmet as he watched from a distance. Somehow it didn't bug Okita as much as the casual observer...he was used to the supernatural.

Sorata laid there, staring up toward the heavens...or as much of the heavens as the car roof would provide. He caught sight of Arashi, his vision beginning to blur to accent the light around her. Only a few more hours until his promised date...ugh I'm in so much pain but only a few more hours until the date...Man the wait was killing him more than the pain was...though the pain was making him a bit woozy! NO, He would be strong for this girl...girls liked strong guys...no wait it was sensitive guys, he should show his pain...wait what if he was wrong and came off as a cry baby...wait what if he was wrong again and he came off as a jackass...GAH! This was giving him a headache...

He saw the people in white seize him and lay him across the stretcher as if he were being whisked away to heaven...and all he could say was. "I'll see you tonight! Don't forget!"

Arashi was instantly lifted onto the stretcher. She turned her head slightly to listen to Sorata as he called to her. Despite herself she had to give the tiniest of smiles. He was so determined... if a bit reckless and over-zealous. She chose not to acknowledge that she heard him, so she turned her heard towards the men in white coats about her. She said much of nothing as she was made to lay down and random tests were preformed as she was hurried into the hospital.

Even though he was distracted by the events in back of him, Yuurei was still concentrating enough to sense Fuuma's movements. The stalwart body came crashing into him, a mental command keeping the Watcher's summoned blade frozen in place. But Yuurei was not so easily thrown; his skills as an expert martial artist had taught him to be on guard even when his mind was elsewhere.

Turning to the side abruptly, he released the hilt of the energy blade and let it dissipate back into nothingness. At the same time, he forced his elbow outward, making brutal contact with Fuuma's ribs. The sudden contact was not what he had expected, but it was
too late to back down now. Intent on getting the Twin Star out of immediate range of attacking him, Yuurei caught his balance quickly after being practically body-slammed, then instinctively dropped to the ground and swung his leg around aggressively in an attempt to briskly sweep Fuuma's feet out from underneath him.

"So maybe I'll die," he smirked when he had room enough to do so. "It's quite likely that what you say is true, and I'll be drawn into the trap of Destiny that surrounds you and the others. But that's a chance I've been long-willing to take." His gaze narrowed, and the simper fell from his face. "I know you, Fuuma, and I've been watching you since the day you were born. And you don't know everything about my Fate. You're welcome to keep guessing if you wish, but you might want to save your breath for fighting me instead. Because until you kill me, there's still the chance that you're wrong." The smirk returned, and he leaped back to his feet...

"Subaru!?" Kamui was astonished to see his friend here fighting, but he should have guessed as well. Wherever this man went, Subaru was always no to far behind.

He brushed a hand along Subaru's as he touched his face, wanting to grip it in his own, but let it slip away. He couldn't let his friend face his man alone, especially in his condition.

But this was his destiny after all. They were fated to fight each other to the end. Wiping the blood off his face, he looked over to Subaru. "You better come back after alive after all this," he told him. "We still have a lot of things to talk about..."

Acknowledging his friends request, Kamui leapt away and towards Fuuma. He already seemed to be locked in battle with another man."(Its him...)"

"I don't know what the hell your doing here," he said landing next to Yuurei. "But this is between me and Fuuma. Stay out of it..."

"Fuuma!" Kamui called out. "I cant let you take the sword. A lot of people were hurt today because of it. I owe it to them to retrieve it. Especially Mr. Monou..."

His hand began to charge with energy as he aimed a blast towards Fuuma. "I don't want to fight you! Just give me the sword...please. I really don't want to hurt you Fuuma..."

Fuuma smiled at the sudden attention by Kamui...but it was at a time he felt wasn't in destiny's best interest. "You're right watcher...maybe I'm just guessing but isn't it chilling I've being guessing right all this time?" Fuuma smiled at Kamui's demands. "My my...I thought I warned you dear friend..."

He concentrated on a near by car, it squeaking as it lifted from the ground. He backed away from Yuurei, grinning darkly. "Too bad I'm not in the mood to keep my promise my friend...So I'm going to make this short. FLY!!!" He hurled the car at the ground in front of Kamui, not intent on hitting him but causing a nifty distraction.

Fuuma smiled as he leapt into the shadows and started to run. Destiny wasn't in Fuuma's favor here...plus another sensation was beginning to come to Fuuma...With all this use of power, fatigue was gradually slipping upon Fuuma, he wasn't used to this power yet...nor would be if Kamui caught up to him. Fuuma laughed to himself as the glory of youth filled his icy heart.

The fight was cut short. But before Yuurei even had the chance for either relief or apprehension to settle in, the fiery pain ignited in his head with full-blown fury, and he had to force himself from collapsing to his knees.

Suddenly a sharp pain split his side, and he looked down vaguely to see something metal-glinted fly past him. Blood leaked from the new rip in his cloak, and he staggered back, finally giving in to the urge to grasp his throbbing head. If his mind had been clear enough for him to think, he would have cursed himself for defying Fate so thoroughly. This was precisely what he had asked for, and he was only receiving his just rewards.

-Subaru...- He had no idea why the young man's name flitted through his mind in that instant. Perhaps it was because in the back of his mind he heard Fuuma calling Seishirou's name. Whatever the reason, Yuurei forced himself to look up at where the two had been facing off just a moment before.

They were gone. -Oh, God, don't let me be too late!- his thoughts cried as he staggered toward the shrine. He tried to sense their life forces, but his mind was too overwhelmed with the searing agony. Wearily he stumbled to the building, but he had not gone far before he fell in excruciating torment against the gate. It was no use. Subaru would have to survive on his own.

And with one last conscious breath, he could only manage to get a single word past his dry throat.

"Kakyou..."

He found himself treading languidly through the never-ending abyss of his dreams. But at least now the pain was gone, and he could think clearly again. And he knew where he was going.

But something was wrong. Where was Kakyou's dreamscape? All that remained was an eternal wall of solid nothingness. He stared at it from a distance at first, shocked at its very existence.

-What the living...?-