What is this? Am I procrastinating on all the homework I should be doing by indulging in my true love, writing?!

Yes. I have no shame.

Hope you like!


"Life is a culmination of the past, an awareness of the present, an indication of a future beyond knowledge, the quality that gives a touch of divinity to matter."

Charles Lindbergh

Zenith


Keiji lifted his hands in a peacemaking gesture. "Listen…"

I don't know what it was, but something had changed in Kurama. He looked absolutely done with everything, and with a simple twist of his wrist, green vines shot out of his sleeve, wrapping tightly around the wraith and hefting him up in the air.

"Kurama—" I warned, in a weak, shaky voice. There was just too much to take in—another demon out to kill me, Yomi's goons cornering us after we'd gotten so close, and now Keiji…

"Why have you mislead us?" Kurama asked in a very quiet voice.

"The instinct—dammit, I don't know why…!" Keiji snapped, the tendons in his forearms straining as he fought to keep a vine from coiling tighter around his throat. His feet, now several feet off the ground, kicked weakly, trying to fight off the growing creepers as they wrapped around his calves, holding him completely immobile. He let out a baleful snarl, eyes locked on Kurama.

The instinct?! I thought frantically. But

"It just… wants to keep—safe!" A finger slipped, and the vine curled around his throat, cutting off his sentence. He coughed and spluttered as Kurama frowned up at him, looking both thoroughly displeased and slightly curious.

It was then that I saw it.

"I bore a son that Karasu never knew about, and left him with his father after making him vow to protect my son, and his descendants to protect my descendants."

"Takeo?!" I gasped, waving my hands frantically to get her to wait, please just one second, wait… "T-takeo…?" I managed. Not Ryo Takeo… there was no way. It had to be a coincidence…

How had I not seen it?!

"A very prominent psychic family," she explained offhandedly. "They had extremely powerful psychic awareness. If they still live, they are bound to protect us to this day."

I reached out and took hold of someone's arm to remain standing; all I could see was the darkness of the interior of the Barrier Stone; Masuyo's pale face. I heard my name, a query, but stared ahead into the vision, holding onto it with building horror and dread.

"Out of his love for me, the father of my son gave up his family's free will in a single instant. If a single person from our family was in danger, they were compelled to protect us, even at the cost of their own lives."

She smiled at me, as if this were something I should thank her for.

It released me with a jolt; I blinked as the world around me came into focus. There was Kurama, standing before Keiji, his eyes glinting with quiet anger. Keiji's face was red as he struggled to release himself from his bonds.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward, shrugging off my backpack and setting it on the ground. Rinku rolled out of it, scrambling to his feet with wide eyes.

"Kurama, put him down!" I snapped, a bit louder than I had intended. The other demons in our group started and glanced at me in a surprised way as my hands curled into fists. The demon in question turned his head to regard me with faint puzzlement.

My hair stood on end as I pulled my psychic energy into crackling streams that ran over my hands and arms. "Now!"I barked, and froze, rooted on the spot, as another memory bowled me over.

Ryo was pinned against the tree, legs kicking—several feet off the ground—in a futile attempt to break the sudden hold Kurama had on his throat.

I cringed against a tree trunk, trembling despite the raging wildfire boiling through my blood, making me feel like I was being burned alive. Despite that, I felt cold.

"You don't know who that is?!" I continued, gasping for air as the onslaught let up briefly, stumbling forward. "It's Ryo, Kurama! Stop!" I closed the distance between Kurama and I and grabbed his arm blindly as another fucking memory rendered me senseless.

"Kurama… stop. You're killing him. Stop, please." He didn't respond. I picked myself up off the ground and bolted over to him, grabbing him by the arm that was holding Ryo, tugging at it desperately.

"I'm not hurt! Let him go!"

I heard a muted thump, both in the memory and in reality, and felt Kurama's arms curl around me as the past and present collided, swirling together in a sickening haze. My face hot and eyes streaming, I shoved the demon off of me and fell to my knees beside Ryo, who was coughing and gagging on the ground. As the last vestiges of the flashbacks faded, I tentatively reached out and grabbed his shoulders, staring at him disbelievingly.

"Holy, Ryo," I breathed. "It is you, isn't it…?"

He nodded as he gulped air into his emptied lungs, looking up at me. I saw it there, in his face—though he wasn't in his body, I recognized his expressions, the emotion in his eyes. How hadn't I seen that before…?

"Alrigh', someone needs t' explain all this t' me," Jin interjected, in an almost annoyed way. I turned to look at him as he pointed at Ryo. "You there, yeh were a human boy. And yeh died savin' her," he pointed at me, "righ' around two years ago now. How're yeh still alive an' kickin'? And how'd yeh become a demon…?"

"I would like to know what's going on as well," Kurama said mildly, eyeing Ryo and I with an unfathomable expression on his face.

"I-I'm not sure why," I admitted, frowning slightly, but still too shaky to calm down completely—my hands ran mindlessly over Ryo's shoulders, his arms, as if touching him would make him more real. "It's all still very fuzzy. But I know that, for some reason, Ryo's family is bound to protect mine… even at the cost of their own lives." I looked over at the wraith, biting my lip to keep it from quivering. "I'm so sorry," I repeated quietly, only for him. My hands dropped to the ground, curled in the dirt. "For… for everything."

He shook his head, grimacing as he realized what I was talking about, and set his hands on top of mine, squeezing gently. "It's okay. I put you there in the first place. I betrayed you, Reina. Betrayed you to Karasu." He stood slowly, wincing slightly and brushing off the dust on his clothing.

"How were you even able to do that?" I asked incredulously, rising with him and peering up into his face. It didn't make sense—the bond made him protect me, and betraying me to my (potential) killer was the exact opposite of keeping me safe… "I mean… the instinct…"

He stared at me levelly. "It's possible to ignore it, work against it even. And I had every reason to want you dead then, Reina." At that, I saw Kurama shift—taking a small step forward, fixing Ryo with a cold stare. "I hated you. You have no idea how much I hated you, Reina."

I started, looking into Ryo's bright yellow eyes, feeling something in me twist. "But… why?"

"Did you ever wonder what I was trying to do, when I was killing all those demons two years ago?" Ryo asked, and I nodded, motioning for him to continue.

He worked his jaw, frowning as he recalled something very unpleasant. Then he sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"When I was a kid, Karasu killed my family," he said quietly, "leaving only my Dad and me alive. Back then—about ten years ago now—your dad was in contact with us. Our families had always been close… but after the initial attack he left for a while."

He sighed and scuffed his boot on the ground. "My dad didn't know how to handle losing his parents, his wife, and his daughter." After this short explanation, Ryo fell silent, bowing his head and drawing a shaky breath.

"Your dad came back a year after that. When he did, Karasu attacked again—and my dad died protecting your father. Your dad offered to take me in, but I refused and left as soon as I was able to… I was just a little kid, only nine years old. I ran off on my own. No family, no friends, nothing to my name except for my father's sword and the clothes on my back."

Every one of his losses hit me like a dull blow. Again I was reminded of just how little I knew of Ryo—his past had been a mystery to me. But I was there at the end, I reminded myself quietly. You did… all you could.

Right?

"Seven years later," Ryo continued, "I came back. I found your dad, and met you for the first time at the train station. I already knew who you were at that point…" I nodded at this, accepting it quietly though with faint surprise, "But it was only then that I realized what the instinct felt like—yes, my family was to protect yours at all costs, but it was stronger when it came to the women, because your psychic powers were passed down through the female members of your family."

"Why did you start killing demons?" I pressed, as he fell silent. I glanced about me; the other demons were watching the two of us intently and silently.

All these questions I thought would never be answered.

Ryo lifted his head, looking at me. "Though I didn't know it at the time, Karasu was in the area. When I saw you—before we actually met face-to-face—that's when the instinct really took hold. I started killing to keep Karasu's attention off of you. Back then though, I didn't know why I was doing it—I just figured that I had finally snapped."

"And when you were put on house arrest by Reikai," I realized slowly, glancing over at Kurama to gauge his expression—he was watching this exchange quietly, with a decisively neutral look on his features. "That was when Karasu found you."

"He told me why I'd been killing," Ryo said quietly. "He told me that everything I'd done was for your benefit... that I had no control." He spat the last word, and I barely stopped myself from flinching. Kurama shifted beside me, uneasy.

Ryo shook his head in a sad, but almost angry way. "And I was… furious. I didn't know why I'd been killing all those demons—it was just something I was doing for the heck of it, I thought." He snorted, shaking his head again, crossing his arms. "But then, I realized… my freedom had been stolen from me—so when Karasu asked me to help him find you, get you alone and unprotected… I accepted."

In the corner of my eye, I saw Kurama's expression shift, his jaw tightening, his eyes narrowing very slightly. I reached out and touched his elbow, lifting an eyebrow in his direction. He nodded, a tight, terse gesture.

Everything, all of this—culminated in this moment. This simple question.

"Why did you change your mind?" I murmured, turning my attention back to Ryo, letting my hand fall from Kurama's arm. "Why, after everything had gone according to plan… why did you save me, Ryo…?"

At that, he laughed—it was a low, self-deprecating laugh, and he shook his head as if he couldn't believe the words that were about to spill from his mouth. It was bitter, shameful, and disbelieving all at once. I braced myself.

"Maybe I underestimated the strength of my instinct to protect," he admitted, looking up at me… his expression wry, and his eyes regretful. "Or maybe… I came to my senses and realized that I was killing someone just so I could be free. A girl, a stranger who had no idea what she was doing to me.

"When I saw you that day—looked into your eyes as I laid there dying—I could see that you would've given anything to be in my place." His voice was urgent and sincere, and something in it made a lump well up in my throat—I bit the inside of my lip, looking at him steadily. "You were holding my hand," he continued insistently. "Apologizing, trying to comfort me even while you were bleeding out, even as Karasu was walking closer… and closer." His voice broke at the end of that; he looked away, blinking furiously and I did the same, pressing my lips together to keep them from trembling.

When he had composed himself, Ryo continued: "It was then that I knew that you never wanted it to be that way. You were innocent… I'd been hating the wrong person all that time." He fell silent for a moment, and then he sighed.

"The instinct is why I'm back here, now." He fixed me with an earnest stare. "Reikai never gave me clearance to possess a demon. I did it on my own—because something in me knew you weren't out of harm's way yet, and I couldn't rest in peace until you were safe again."

This abrupt change of subject made me start, but I let it pass—later, I told myself. Later, you can talk with him. Come to terms with everything.

You will not lose him again.

"Do you know what's going on?" I asked, giving in to the discussion. Maybe the impulse he had would provide some insight…

He shook his head. "Nothing more than you do. Something about you and Yusuke, and Yusuke's people shitting their pants over your presence here in Demon World. I don't know why. Yet."

"—What I want to know," Kurama interrupted in a low voice, "Is why Karasu was hunting your family, Ryo, and why he wanted to kill Reina specifically. Before he realized what she meant to me." I glanced over at the red-headed demon, he was looking me over with worry knotting his brow. He met my gaze as he continued quietly: "I was under the impression that he attacked her for the sole purpose of getting a reaction out of me…"

His words faded to the back of my mind as something else—something much, much worse started becoming apparent. I was numb as Ryo responded to Kurama's question.

"Reina would know better than me, if she hadn't gotten her memory wiped," Ryo said with a shrug. "Sorry about that—" He quickly bit off the rest of his sentence as he realized what he was about to say, the blood slithering from his features as he saw the realization dawn on mine.

It took several moments for me to spit out the words. "It was you."

Ryo could only manage one word, his eyes wide on mine. "Shit."

He started backing away from me, lifting his hands as a gesture of surrender, and I followed him. He stumbled over a tree root and came to a stop, his eyes darting around, gauging his chances of escape. I came to a stop three feet from him, anger making my hair stand on end once more, electricity popping as it whipped across my knuckles.

"Why, Ryo?" I said slowly, viciously. "Why the everloving fuck would you erase my memories? How the hell was that a good idea?!"

I knew I was right when I saw his face fall. He paled even more, and glanced quickly over my shoulder.

Behind me, I heard the other members of our group releasing shocked sounds—a gasp here, a growl there. But what made me turn was a faint thrill that ran up my spine—Kurama's aura spiking. I whirled just in time to see him stalk forward. There was a predatory coldness in his gaze; his hand plunged into his hair.

Kurama absolutely looked like he was going to kill Ryo. Something very base and instinctual within me rebelled, making me have to fight the urge to run as far as I could in the opposite direction, but I held my ground, throwing my arms out to further shield Ryo from the demon's wrath.

"Wait," I said hurriedly. "Let me question him, then I might reconsider not letting you kill him." Kurama paused, and I snapped: "That was a joke, you are not going to kill him Kurama!"

Kurama hesitated for the briefest of moments, a thorny stem clutched tightly in his fingers. "I've heard more than enough to warrant it," he murmured—his gaze was fixed on Ryo, unmoving.

"Well I haven't," I retorted. "I want answers." I turned back to Ryo, who recoiled slightly, taking a few steps back. I followed him and glared up at him, bristling with fury. My vision was red. I felt myself drawing on my power, but didn't feel the spiritual exhaustion through the haze. Behind me, I heard a low whistle.

"Shit's goin' down, mate," Chu muttered to whoever was standing next to him.

"Mine's on Reina." I heard Touya say in a very quiet voice. Suzuka snorted.

I ignored them. "Why?" I asked, my voice surprisingly shaky. "Why, Ryo? Do you realize what you've stolen from me…?" When my voice broke on the last word, he averted his gaze guiltily, training his sulfur-yellow eyes on his toes.

"It wasn't just what I had with Kurama," I continued, trying to get him to see, to understand, "it was… everything. Everything I learned about the three worlds. All my friends—every last one. Knowing how my power worked. I lost everything… and had to start over. I'm still starting over, Ryo. Look at me."

He set his jaw and flicked his gaze to mine. I suppressed the urge to grab him and shake him.

"Why would you do that, Ryo? Why?!"

"The instinct," he muttered.

I stared at him for the lesser part of a second. Then, in a burst: "Well, that just explains everything, doesn't it?! You lead us right into Yomi's hands, it's the instinct." Unable to contain myself, I reached out and shoved him; he stumbled half a step back. "You steal a pretty good chunk of my life away, it's the goddamn instinct?! Really, Ryo?"

Something in his eyes flashed. "It actually did a lot of good, if you'd just listen—!"

"Watch your tone," Kurama interrupted in a quiet, mild-sounding voice. I glanced over my shoulder at him and saw that he was feeling anything but calm. He was still glaring daggers at the wraith—I don't think he had even blinked. I drew a deep breath and faced Ryo again.

"Try to explain, then," I snapped, acid dripping from my voice. "Try being the operative word."

His hands were up again in that peacemaking gesture. "Okay." He shot a nervous glance at Kurama. "Reina, it prolonged the inevitable. But it still prolonged it." He looked around at the rest of their group, gauging their reactions.

"Yomi was able to find you through Kurama. That might not have been the reason he took you," he said hurriedly as my eyes narrowed, "but it's the reason he found you in the first place. All the other stuff about Yusuke, he found that out after he discovered who you were. If you'd been hanging around Kurama—which you would've done with your memories intact—he would've found you a lot sooner."

"That's it?" I growled.

"No," he responded quickly, fixing me with a level stare. "I know why Yusuke's people are scared of you."


"A lot of it was redacted," Ryo continued, unfolding a very dirty and crumpled up folder, and offering it to me. "But… read it for yourself. It's your file from Reikai."

"I'm no longer surprised that this theft was also your doing," Kurama intoned, walking up beside me. He glared at Ryo for a moment, and then flicked his gaze down to the folder in my hands as I flipped it open to the first few pages.

Subject A (class: Mazaku) was identified in utero at 23 weeks. Subject B (class: human psychic) was identified as a newborn in Mushiyori General NICU.

-Redacted- Deemed unlawful to terminate Subject A in accordance with Reikai law #3498, section B. –Redacted-

Deemed lawful to suppress the demonic nature of the human fetus, Subject A. –Redacted- dispatched. Name: -Redacted- Class: -Redacted-

Confrontation with Subject B's psychic family member, father.

"Dad?" I whispered. He knew?

-Redacted- Procedure completed, Subject B stable. Subject A stable.

Frowning, I flipped the page over—nothing more. All redacted. I let out a frustrated sigh and snapped the folder shut.

"You see?" Ryo said, watching my expression carefully. "You did have something to do with Yusuke's demonic energy."

"Yeah, something." I tapped the folder, and gave it to Kurama when he reached for it. "So all we know now is that it's not just a rumor running around. Something really happened."

"Yes, but what?" Kurama murmured. I glanced over and saw Jin, Chu, and Touya looking over his shoulder—Rinku perched on top of Chu's head, clinging to his Mohawk for balance. "The details of the procedure were redacted."

"And whatever it was," Rinku chimed in, "isn't working anymore. Yusuke's a friggin' monster now." His voice was filled with awe, and I smiled slightly, briefly reminded of Kokoda's admiration for Kurama—or Shuichi, as he was known back home. I shook off the nostalgia with a sigh.

"Well, this is not our biggest concern right now." I looked back at Ryo, lifting my hands in a defeated gesture. "We're kind of trapped. Yomi's men are waiting for us on the border between his and Yusuke's territories. I'm pissed at you, but… how're we going to get past them if we can't cut through Mukuro's territory…? Do you have even the slightest idea…?"

He frowned in an aggravated way, and glared out across Mukuro's land, towards Yomi's territory.

"I don't understand why my instinct's leading us towards Yomi's men," Ryo said in a frustrated way, looking at all of us helplessly. "It's kind of the opposite of keeping her safe…"

A couple demons in our group made little affirmative, frustrated-sounding noises.

And then I started thinking… what was the difference between where I was now, and where I had been before, in Yomi's territory? And after a few quiet moments, it clicked. It all suddenly seemed so simple—I actually let out a small, wry laugh. As one, every member of our group turned to give me incredulous glances.

"I do," I said quietly, shaking my head. I sighed and turned, focusing my attention on the wraith (technically he still counted as a wraith I supposed, even if he didn't have clearance from Reikai…) staring into his yellow eyes. "I'm dying out here, Ryo. I mean…" I held out my arm, showed him how thin it had become. Gestured to the dark circles under my eyes. "Look at me. The food, the water—hell, even the air is bad for me. I wasn't made for this world.

"And yes, Human World—home—is the safest place for me to be," I continued, scuffing at the dirt with the toe of my shoe. "That's why, initially, the instinct led you away from Yomi."

"But, now that she's out here, and deteriorating…" Kurama interjected softly, beginning to understand, "the safest place for her, in this moment, is back in Gandera."

"Think about it," I added with a sigh, frowning at Ryo wearily. "Yomi had food and water imported from Human World. The rooms I frequented back there are warded, purifying the air. And, what's more… there's an S-class demon there that wants me alive." I shook my head slowly. "Everything outside those walls wants to kill me."

There was a long moment of silence as everyone mulled over that.

"But knowin' that doesn't help us a' all," Jin interjected. I looked over at him; his arms were crossed. "Ya heard Hiei. He was right about Kei—Ryo. He's right about Yomi's lil' bastards backing us into a corner. How're we gonna get around them?"

"Simple," Kurama said. "We confront them. Distract them while Jin flies over them with Reina. As soon as she gets to Reikai's outpost, she's safe."

"Like hell all of you are risking your safety for me," I said firmly.

"It's better than having to go back and bring you out of Gandera again," Kurama replied, his voice not mean or rude—just a gentle urging. "You are leaving this place, no matter what. Even I have to face Yomi myself."

"At least let me help," I pleaded quietly. "If Kuronue and I work together, then we can lead them wherever you want. Make a false trail. Anything."

"I'd rather you didn't encounter them at all." Kurama turned to Ryo, and I braced myself—even though Kurama seemed calmer now, he was very good at hiding his emotions. But he didn't move to harm the wraith.

"As much as I don't enjoy working with you, I cannot deny that your instinct gives us an edge over Yomi," Kurama said abruptly, addressing Ryo in an even tone. "Where is it telling you to go?"

Ryo nodded, accepting this. "Through Mukuro's territory. Though it's perfectly fine with going around this little land-peninsula too. It looks like they have us completely surrounded."

Kurama's frown deepened at this, and he crossed his arms as he mulled it over.

Suddenly, Rinku let out an alarmed yelp. "Something's coming—!"

A very loud crackling in the bush gave whatever was approaching us away; I whirled and Kurama grabbed my arm, yanking me behind him. Ryo came to stand next to him, releasing an involuntary growl as I finally detected movement in the brush.

Panting and crying, Siobhan pushed her way through the brambles, staring at us wide-eyed and hiccupping. With a wail, she threw herself into Jin's arms, smearing blood and dirt on him as she crumpled to the ground in her misery.

"Ma?!" Jin managed, kneeling next to her. "Ma! Wha'—"

No. I looked around desperately, praying that he would come scrambling out of the bushes behind his mother. But there was nothing, no gray-blue eyes, no shock of red hair among the thorns. I couldn't move as the demoness drew great, gulping breaths, trying to compose herself enough to speak.

"They've taken me boy!" she wept, tears creating long lines through the soot and ash on her face. "Shoji—they want t' trade Rei' for him!"

"What?!" Jin shouted, curling his hands tightly around her shoulders. "Wha' happened, Ma?!"

"They came for Rei'," she sobbed. "Burnt th' house an' everything in it! Told me t' find you and tell you tha' they've taken Shoji—they'll kill him if you try t' get around them!"

The world was spinning. Not only were the demons in my group in danger… now Jin's family was about to be broken apart irrevocably. Because of me.

"We'll make the trade," I assured her. My own words fell disjointed on my numb ears.

"Out of the question," Kurama snapped.

I rounded on him as Siobhan let out a gasping sob, shuddering as she stared wide-eyed at Kurama. "I'm not letting that boy die. If we don't actually make the trade, we at least have to find a way to get him back by negotiating. Or tricking them somehow. I am not flying off with Jin." I turned to the Irish demon, pleading: "Jin, this is your brother. There has to be a way to get him back. And we aren't going to be able to get him back if you get me out of here."

"Ya don't need t' convince me," Jin said in a gruff voice, pulling his mother into a hug and tucking her head under his chin as she cried quietly, tears making clean trails through the soot and grime on her face. He flicked his gaze to Kurama's. "Ya don't have my cooperation if it means sacrificin' me kin."

"Then you have to find a way to keep Reina, and get your brother back," Kurama responded quietly. "I'm not letting her go either."

I wracked my brain for a few tense moments, and then stepped out from behind Kurama. I felt him following along behind me, and reached back, touching his elbow in an effort to calm him.

"Who was there?" I asked Siobhan gently. "Was it Yomi himself, or just some grunts…?"

She sniffed, and shook her head. "A bounty hunter. He said 'is name was Zenchō. Yomi 'imself wasn't around though… but the hunter's got a lot o' goons backin' him."

No surprise there. I bit the inside of my lip, hard, as I remembered his pale, thin features—the rows of razor sharp teeth. I forced those memories aside and started planning. Slowly, an idea started falling into place, and I whirled on Kuronue. The ghost recoiled slightly, widening his eyes.

"Kuronue," I pleaded, pointing at the ground, "float down there. A few meters underground."

"Um… Okay." Shooting me a strange look, he obliged, sinking under the grass and dirt. I let out a sigh of relief—I could barely feel his energy. I looked up at the others, and pointed at the ground.

"You can't even sense his aura down there," I said urgently. "Listen—let me go out to Zenchō. I'll make like I'm going with him without a fuss… and Kuronue can follow me underground." I stomped on the dirt a couple times to get Kuronue's attention, and he floated back up, shuddering.

"I never knew I was claustrophobic till this moment," he grumbled, obviously displeased, and frowned at me. "What was the point of that?"

"I'm giving myself up."

"The hell you aren't, fucktard," he snapped, crossing his arms and lifting a single eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes at his name-calling, wondering how he could still be devilishly handsome even while I was annoyed with him and in the middle of a situation this dire. "Not really, shithead. You're going to follow me underground, because we can't sense your energy when you're down there. When push comes to shove, you'll hop in my body and we'll grab Shoji—"

"—You honestly think Zenchō won't see that coming?" Suzuka asked critically. "It's how you escaped in the first place."

"I figure he'll probably be more concerned about the seven A-class demons standing behind me," I groused back, frowning at him. "If he's smart, he'll be watching you lot very closely."

"That is true, however Zenchō will not allow you to simply grab his hostage and run," Kurama said quietly, looking very perturbed with my brainstorming. "I'm not fully convinced… but if you were to carry out this plan, how would you distract him?"

I smirked and ran a tongue of electricity over my knuckles. "Shock his ass. I know it's not much," I continued loudly as Suzuka started laughing, glaring at him, "but it'll startle him. Immediately after that, Kuronue possesses me, I grab the kid, and run like hell."

"It will grant you three seconds at most," Kurama said after a few beats of thought. "You might be able to outrun him long enough for us to get to you, but…" He frowned. "I still do not like this idea. I don't even think I should be entertaining it…"

"Unfortunately, Zenchō's interested in just me," I said, as calmly as I could manage under the circumstances. I noticed that my fingers were trembling slightly; I shoved them in my pockets. "If he wanted to take all of us captive, I'd gladly let one of you go get Shoji. You all are far more adept than I am in pretty much everything. I know the chances of success are very, very slim." At that, Siobhan let out a small hiccupping sob, and Jin wrapped his arm around his mother's shoulders, comforting her as best he could. I drew a shaky breath, and set my jaw. "But… it's all I can think of at the moment, and we don't have a lot of time. If anyone else has a better idea, please—speak up."

They were all very quiet, but I could see the displeasure and worry on Kurama's features, and turned to him.

"If something goes wrong, you're literally right there," I said softly. "The grunts might hold you up for a few seconds, but they're nothing compared to you guys. There is no way they're making off with me." He didn't respond—just stared at me, eyes roving over my face as if to take in every inch and memorize it.

"I trust you," I said quietly.

Kurama set his jaw, and nodded.


"We'll wait here," Kurama said tersely. His eyes, sharp chips of emerald, scanned our surroundings. "We have a better advantage if they come out to meet us."

They formed an arrow, Kurama at the tip—me behind him, Ryo behind me. Suzuka and Shishi were lingering in the back, looking altogether displeased at being dragged into this conflict. Then again, Shishi was smirking a bit and fingering the hilt of his sword… probably at least a little excited about the coming bloodshed.

Jin stood with Siobhan on my right, one of his arms around her shoulders. This was the most grim I'd ever seen the usually carefree demon—his face was a mask of concentration as he watched the treeline.

We were in a large clearing. The grass was tall, though patchy. We were standing on a small, rocky hill—as Kurama had said, this was the best place for us to confront Yomi's men. We had the advantage of higher ground. And with Kuronue… we had the element of surprise. Not a lot, but hopefully enough.

I glanced up at him; he was hovering on my left. He managed a small, thin-lipped smile in my direction, and nodded.

"They're close," Touya noted, his voice quiet and even. I looked around at all of them, saw how tense they were—their features even and hard. They looked like a grouping of statues. I caught Kuronue's gaze and nodded; he slunk under the earth. I turned to look at the other side of the clearing just as they broke the tree line.

Zenchō appeared first, and then the others filed out behind him—nameless, faceless minions fanning out behind him. One of them, I noticed, had Shoji by the scruff of his neck. As I watched, wincing as I heard Siobhan's quiet whimpers, he shoved the boy forward and Zenchō took hold of his shoulders, drawing the young demon in front of him. He caught my gaze, and winked at me.

"Ah… I see you are no longer running. Good. This makes my job easier," the bounty hunter stated, glancing down at Shoji in a sick rendition of fatherly affection, ruffling the boy's hair—who visibly cringed at the contact. He looked back up at our group, and smiled cruelly.

"Are you going to come quietly…" One of Zenchō's claws raked gently over Shoji throat, "or am I going to have to kill this child?" The boy, his eyes shining, was trying to be brave—he bit his trembling lower lip and shook his head, his wide, blue eyes on mine. I stepped forward, coming to Kurama's side. Ryo let out a low, displeased hiss as Zenchō smirked and tilted his head, regarding me in an amused way.

I lifted my hands in a gesture of surrender, releasing a shaky breath as the adrenaline began to pump through my veins. "I'm coming over. Alone," I emphasized firmly, shooting furtive glances at the two demons now flanking me—Kurama and Chu. Kurama, his gaze steely, nodded sharply, not taking his eyes off of Zenchō, and Chu grunted his consent.

"Only if you promise to let the boy go," I said quietly. My voice sounded small and meek, echoing over this battlefield. My heart was thunderous in my ears.

Zenchō bowed his head in my direction, a tiny little smirk playing at the edges of his lips, revealing his many razor-sharp teeth. "You have my word, Reina."

I took a deep, preparatory breath, and stepped forward.


Lots of twists! But we aren't quite done yet!

We actually only have three or four chapters left, not counting the epilogue. Holy everything, Batman! Could I really almost be done with this story?!

It's been a wild ride. Why don't you tell me your favorite part? :P It can be from ATG or WTT. For me, my favorite part has always been and will always be… the scene in WTT when Reina wakes up from her coma and doesn't recognize anyone. It seems so random, but that was the best scene for writing dialogue, for writing angst, for writing everything, in my opinion. XD It was so much fun (and heartwrenching) to write.

Hope y'all are doing well! I know that school has been kicking my butt. Not failing, though! (Yet.)