"You mean to tell me we're sleeping in trees?" Ciel inquired of Shinichi flatly, looking up at the large oak tree that the older had indicated.

"Yes. It's above ground, and people wouldn't really expect it." Shinichi looked meaningfully at him. "Especially not of us."

Ciel crossed his arms. "…I suppose so."

"So we're sleeping in trees," Shinichi nodded, and the young earl sighed.

"Can't you think of anything better than that?"

"I can't miraculously make a treehouse for you like a demon might be able to, if that's what you're asking," he responded, and Ciel began to scowl. "Come to think of it, I don't think that would work anyway, seeing as that would be really loud…"

"That's not what I meant!" Ciel snapped.

Shinichi smiled gently at him. "We're only doing it for tonight, alright, Ciel? We're just switching it up more so we're harder to find. It gives both of us a vantage point to see below, and people less often expect to look above them." He knelt down so that he was eye-to-eye with the younger. "I want to make sure you make it out of this game, so that means… doing annoying things like sleeping in trees."

"I'm not a child," Ciel sniffed, turning away. "I know. I can sleep in a tree just fine. I just won't like it."

"Thank you for bearing with me, here," Shinichi said. "Now, I'm gonna pick you up and jump up into the branches, alright? If we're higher up, it'll take people longer to climb, if they're human…"

"Fine, fine… Hurry up."

Genuine care stirring in those distant eyes of his seemed to warm Shinichi's expression as he scooped him up and brought him into the branches.

Just a bit southwest of this pair, there was Hide, Rin, and Senji, hiding out in the hollow of a tree for the past three hours or so.

"I really hate this," Rin commented for perhaps the thousandth time.

"You should probably be quiet," Hide said brightly.

"Yo, since it's getting dark out…" Senji poked his head out of the hollow, peering through the twilight. "…Maybe we should get a move-on."

"I like that idea," Rin said immediately, obvious relief in her tone.

"It's probably a good one," agreed Hide.

Nodding, Senji stepped out of the hollow first. As he helped out Rin, then Hide, the fireworks went off, much to their confusion.

"Wonder what that means…," commented Rin, gazing up at the shimmering explosions.

"A celebration of a stage passed?" guessed Hide. "And end-of-the-day marker – maybe it's Day 3, or something like that? Entertainment for the audience? It is a game."

"Or maybe a casualty count," Senji added, tone hollow as he looked up at the smoke left in the sky. The others went quiet. "…Let's get going; real quiet now."

Agreeing whole-heartedly, the three began trekking north through the trees.

It wasn't too far from these groups that the pair Yato and Nora had settled for now, watching the waning moon rise as Yato leaned with his back to the barrier, legs spread in front of him as the stars reflected in his lost eyes.

"Yato…"

Distractedly, Yato turned to look at his Shinki. Nora… well, Hiiro.

"That person hurt you," Nora said quietly, smiling her doll's smile as she held up the ripped fabric from her sleeve that she'd torn off earlier in preparation for this very moment. He stared at it for a bit, as if he couldn't identify what it was she was offering him. "Let me fix it up."

"I'm fine," he said shortly. He began to recall a black bartender's vest, ripped in half before being forced on him in order to tend to the gut wound dealt to him by the Gourmet earlier on in the game. Indeed, both Yukine and Shizuo had tried to bandage him up, even though both of them ended up making it worse.

"I want to help you," Nora insisted quietly, reaching to tend to the new wound on his shoulder, given to him by that new player.

Yato's head was bowed. "I don't need anything for it."

"I only need to—"

"It's not even that deep," he said shortly, curling forward.

She watched him, hunching forward and wrapping his arms around his legs, burying his face in his knees. After a moment's pause, she crawled closer, snuggling into his side. He looked at her with distinct confusion, perhaps annoyance. "You're upset," she commented.

"It's none of your business," he answered sourly.

"Does it have to do with that pretty-eyed blond boy you were so fond of?" she inquired, tone lowering.

His glowing blue eyes turned to look straight into her jaded red orbs, gaze unwavering and intense.

She only smiled at him. "I thought so." There was a tinge of sadness to her continuous gentle joy that she always seemed to emanate.

He clenched and unclenched his fists, muscles tensing. It, hurts…

Looking up at his pained expression blankly, Nora wrapped her arms around him. "It's okay, now, Yato. You don't need to worry about any of that anymore. You have me… I'm your weapon. And I'll make sure you make it out of this game, okay…? We can be together like family again. It'll be okay, alright, Yato?"

"Like family…," he repeated, tone hollow. Family, huh? A thought occurred to him: kneeling on the ground, Yukine kneeling at his side. Both of them had tears streaming down their faces and Hiyori, before them, was beginning to spill over with her own salty tears. She pulled them both into a hug, and Yato felt himself giving in to the embrace. Despite the vulnerability, it was somehow a good feeling.

His heart seizing, he watched the image fall to thought of his father standing behind him, hands behind his back with that cruel smile twisting his features. He thought of running off with Nora, laughing like a child while she smiled along with him and held his hand the whole way.

It's true that Nora never once blighted me… She never once 'sinned.' Even in the worst of situations, she just calmly smiles. That's right… He looked at the stars, beginning to shine as the sky darkened further. …In a game like this, Nora would be a better—companion, right? He felt a stabbing sensation through his chest at such a thought. Yukine… he's afraid of the dark. With Nora, I…

"Mm?" Nora looked up at him as he got to his feet.

He looked back at her with his slitted, luminescent blue eyes. "Let's go, Hiiro."

Nora, pleased, joined him at his side. "A night ambush?" she supposed, and he nodded before they jumped off together into the dark woods.


On the rooftop of the house Group 3 was situated in within the residential area, Yukiteru and A-ya sat together, staring up into the sky side-by-side. "Strange… feels like awhile since we've talked together like this, huh?" commented Yukiteru. He found that, pleasantly, he felt rather comfortable talking to A-ya like this – there was none of the initial nervousness this time. "Come to think of it… we didn't last night. Not really, anyway…"

"That was when we saw Aureus," A-ya agreed softly.

"Yeah… We didn't sleep since then," Yukiteru laughed a bit. "But somehow, I'm not even tired. I mean, my body's feeling kinda tired, but that's really it. I feel wide awake."

"Mm," A-ya grunted in agreement. It became quiet, and the two sat together in a comfortable silence.

"…The stars are pretty," Yukiteru murmured.

"If…" began the other, "…if I were to see a shooting star right now… If we were to see one in this sky, what would you wish for, Yukiteru?"

"Huh?" Yukiteru blinked. "I… don't really know."

"It's strange," the raven-haired one remarked with some sadness. "I think… I'd wish for 'normality.' The 'mundane everyday' that… that I hated so much."

Yukiteru looked at A-ya, brow furrowed.

"Those people I met with so often…" A-ya actually began to smile, lying back on the roof tiles and resting on his back with his arms around his head like a pillow. Yukiteru looked back at him, surprised by the smile from such a monotonous guy. "…There were three of them: C-ta, B-ko, and D-ne. D-ne was always pretty weird; she was really sweet and real quiet… but she was actually incredibly mischievous. I'm almost positive she hated C-ta and I. B-ko… she was interesting. The most popular of all of us; she was always outgoing and a crowd-pleaser outside of our little group. To be honest, she was actually just a wearer of masks, and I knew how to get under her skin. She was quite the temperamental one, actually. It was humorous. And C-ta… well, I've known him forever. Yeah, he spoke for me when I was silent… That made him my voice. He… always tried his best to help me, even if it made him kind of clingy… I didn't mind, or anything… No… in fact, I was more just curious as to why he found it necessary… seeing as we'd been together as long as we had… And… I think…" A-ya brought one of his arms over his face, that smile still visible albeit trembling on his lips. "…He and I were always, always… on different wavelengths… But he was the closest to understanding me, all that time… We each tried to communicate to the other, but… in the end… it was always moments too late… Like… just another missed call. Nothing more. Nothing less. Too late, I think… I got the message." A breathy laugh escaped his mouth. "I think, he loved me. It's something I never could have gotten… So, now…"

Yukiteru tilted his head, perplexed. "Wait, what do you mean?"

A-ya removed his arm from his face, looking at Yukiteru with such grave sorrow. "I think he was in love with me, Yukiteru."

"Like, wait—oh…" Yukiteru blinked, paling. "Seriously? Like that? Isn't that… weird?"

A-ya shrugged, gazing up into the sky. "I don't know. I don't think so. It's not all too strange, in the end. All it is… is a feeling. It's too late, anyway…" His red eyes were far-off. "It's weird… I'm realizing only now that the boredom that I couldn't stand was… it really was happiness. I… I wish…."

The other adjusted his hat, his own blue eyes averted. He wished he could understand something like that, but here was where they had a discrepancy. No, Yukiteru never had a 'friend,' not in disguise or otherwise.

"I wonder, Yukiteru… Would it be better if I hadn't known any of them at all? Not having lost anyone… but not having anyone in the first place; would that be better? I can't tell…" A-ya looked at him. "…Isn't that your case? I can tell by the look on your face."

Shocked, Yukiteru stiffened. Then, he relaxed. Yeah, A-ya really did know him well. He lay beside him, grabbing his hand and squeezing. "Yeah, I guess that's true," he conceded.

A-ya glanced at him when the other took his hand, then went back to staring into space.

"I guess… we were both lonely… But it doesn't take being alone to be lonely… you know?"

Nodding slightly, the other responded, "I know."

"In the end, I guess that's my own fault," Yukiteru admitted with a nervous laugh. "I… Even when I had the chance to make friends, I ran away from the situation, every time. I was just… a coward, really…"

"That's fine," said A-ya quietly.

"Maybe," Yukiteru smiled. "But you know… for the first time, I had a connection to somebody… even though, well, they're from a different reality and all… I'm sorry everything had to end up so bad… but I'm really glad I met you, A-ya. Can we, at least be… alone together?"

A faint smile began to tint A-ya's mouth with warmth. "…I guess."

"You know, that's good enough for me," Yukiteru sighed, beginning to laugh. He closed his eyes. "Because I already know that you're just the quiet kind of person… that's all. I think that's okay. I mean, so am I… So it's kinda weird that we can have these conversations… I'm just… really glad, you know? I… really don't want to lose you." Opening hazy eyes, he felt quite at ease. "We've come pretty far. I think we can make it. I think… maybe, we should rest…" Blue orbs closing to rest, A-ya looked over at him with his monotonous expression and sorrowful red eyes. Yukiteru's breathing evened out, and over the next few minutes of silence, A-ya knew for sure that his friend had fallen asleep.

"…Yeah, probably," A-ya agreed very quietly. His mouth twitched; he felt his lips beginning to tremble. "But, I…" His eyes burned, and so he brought his arm over them as he felt warm liquid spilling down the sides of his eyes, wetting his black hair, tickling his ears. "If I fall asleep, wh…what if I, don't wake up…?" he asked no one, voice quavering. "C-ta… I'm so… so sorry…" Dissolving into silent weeping, he held the hand of his sleeping friend tight. Sinking into the abyss of his loneliness, he became distinctly aware that Yukiteru was the only reason he saw any reason to continue forward. And so, he clung onto that hand for dear life, praying for the sunrise to come soon.


"What's that over there?" the quiet question came from Rin Tohsaka.

"Let's find out," Senji answered in equally hushed tones. He then proceeded to step on a stick, snapping it and consequently causing Rin to hiss at him to be careful.

"Nice little clearing," Hide commented as they approached the light ahead that they'd gone to inspect.

"Yeah, the moonlight might even ruin my night vision," Rin remarked, hands on her hips.

"Oh, shit," murmured Senji.

Rin looked at him questioningly, but Senji just walked forward into the clearing to inspect. Looking where he was headed, she saw what it was he had seen. "…Oh."

Lying by the other edge of the clearing was a boy, perhaps fourteen years old. The grass around him was black in the moonlight with his lifeblood. Much to Rin's discomfort, the boy had a smile touching his lips, on closer inspection. Even worse, his eyes seemed to be just barely open, gazing nowhere as if in some silent, aimless apology… or perhaps in thanks.

Terrible…, thought Hide, staring solemnly at the fallen one.

"That's just sad," Senji remarked with restrained emotion. "He's just a kid." He drew closer. "Looks like a stab to the neck did him in…" He shook his head. "Wonder what happened."

"I kinda wonder how long ago it was…," Hide said, brow furrowed as he scratched his cheek uncomfortably. "It… all looks fresh. Smells fresh. Freaks me out…"

"Let's move east," Rin said dismissively, and began walking away.

"…I… like that plan," said Senji, and he and Hide followed after her, moving as silently as possible through the woods.

Elsewhere, Shinichi lay with his back to the trunk of the tree he had chosen to sleep in. Eyes closed, he heard the far-off whispers and footsteps of said group of three. It sounds like… they're approaching, he thought, opening his eyes. He looked over at Ciel, seemingly soundly sleeping – if in discomfort – in the tree nearest him. Shinichi had already sworn to himself that he would remain poised to jump and catch the young earl if he happened to fall out of his resting place. Admittedly, the thought brought a smile to tug on the corners of his mouth.

I should probably check out this group approaching, Shinichi thought. It would be a good thing if they were friendly and willing to ally themselves with us, but if they're a threat… then I should take care of them while they're still nowhere near Ciel. Closing his eyes, he listened closely to make sure that there were no other players anywhere nearby. Fortunately, the only other group he could hear was one a bit further off in the opposite direction – it was a group in the shopping area further east that didn't seem to be moving out anytime soon. In fact, there was barely any movement there, so he supposed they were resting for the night. Good. He looked at Ciel again. So that means if I were to leave him for a moment, he should be safe. Jumping down from his own branch, he walked to Ciel's tree and touched the trunk, looking up at the young earl with a gentle smile. "I'll be right back," he whispered. "Be safe."

As Shinichi sped off to investigate the approaching group, Ciel opened his eyes. After he knew he was gone, the earl scoffed. "Did he really think that I could sleep in this tree…? Besides… I have to be prepared, even on my own…" As if to prove this, his grip tightened on the revolver in his pocket. Closing his eyes again, Ciel sighed. I wonder what it was he was going after… Likely, it was another group – crossing nearby or approaching our general vicinity. Whether they had ill intent is yet to be seen. Eyes flickering open again, he contemplated all the possibilities. "…Hm." There's no real way for me to judge who it could be because I can't possibly get a grasp on all the new players in-game. A smirk tugged at his mouth, and he began to laugh. A game, is it? This is no chess game… if only it were… I didn't look at all the pieces right. Something about what A-ya said to me strikes me… It's very… interesting, in any case. I can see why the game masters are having fun with it. They must be incredibly confident in themselves… Their arrogance is fed by watching even demons and gods fall by the hand of their own creations. Sebastian was wrong… the barbarians are not the ones who came up with the game… No, it's the ones partaking in it. And the masters are laughing at our foolishness. He snickered lowly. It's always the same… But we'll come around sometime. We've got to. In the end, they'll have underestimated our will. We, as people, will not give in so easily. His eyes shut once more. Mistakes and bloodshed will keep on, but in the end, we'll unite. Would it happen again, were we to restart? Of course. That's our nature. But despite our disgusting nature, we'll find our way by the end, every time. And that's the beauty of it.

Smirking, he breathed another sigh. If anyone will solve this game, it would certainly be A-ya. Him and anyone else close to ending it all… If I were a master, I'd try to send them in the wrong direction. I'd like to warn him of such a thing. Why, I wonder? Maybe because I see A-ya surviving beyond me. Why does it matter to me, then? Curious. 'A hole in my heart,' is it, Shinichi?

I do not fear for my own life. I will fight to the end, but the dangers don't faze me in the least. I do wonder… He tentatively touched where his right eye was, beneath his hair and eye patch. I'm curious… as to whether that symbol is still there… That pact… That promise… I… wonder if, by the end of this game, I can come to trust Shinichi. Staring at the leaves above, his visible eye grew hollow. I'd suppose not.

At this thought, a sudden burst of light blinded him, swathing him in blue as he felt the branch falling from beneath him. He crashed to the ground with it, crying out on impact. The wind knocked out of him, he immediately cocked his revolver, holding onto it tight even though he'd injured his dominant wrist on the way down. Gritting his teeth, he pointed the gun forward.

Yato, having sensed life on the edge of the wooded area, had sliced through Ciel's sleeping tree and was now gripping his weapon, raising her into the air as he approached at high speeds, filled with infinite bloodlust that overflowed into the power he put into his swing—

Before him was no more than a child, fighting just to take a breath of air. Yato froze. Ciel glared up at him, breathing hard, on one knee. The god stared at the young earl before him – he recognized him as the one who'd been bound by contract to the demon he had slain. A young lost soul… Yato's eyes flickered, his pupils fading from slits to the softened regular gaze of the person he had been. …He's barely a teenager. He's on the cusp of reaching the turning point in his life. This kid; couldn't I…? The lost spirit Yukine flashed in his mind's eye. Like, at that time…

Ciel staggered to his feet, standing his ground and taking aim with his revolver – just a warning. 'Stay back.'

Yato ignored the questioning thoughts from Nora that permeated his consciousness. Taking her by the hilt, he stabbed her into the ground and took a step forward. "Hey…," he said tentatively, as though talking to a child as a stranger, fearful of scaring them off.

Ciel, eyes suspicious, took a step back, glancing backwards momentarily to see if maybe Shinichi was coming back.

"No, I don't want to hurt you; it's okay," Yato assured him, and Ciel could see the endless sorrow, the desperation in his eyes, slowing a soft blue. The earl looked at the bloodstains on that white scarf of his. "I… know I killed that… demon…"

Not lowering his guard, Ciel kept the gun up, his heart beating in his ears.

"Your soul… was bound to eternity with that demon, right?" Yato asked of him, taking another step forward. "But… you're free. You… you're still alive." He laughed weakly. "You're walking a very tricky path. I… can tell. But—you still have a chance." Yato opened his arms in a show of peace. "You don't need to always dwell in the darkness. You don't have to give up—you're not past the point of no return, no, not yet! I can assure you that there's still a way for things to get better… I swear it! I've seen it before." Another step forward. "Your soul is resilient. I can sense it. You are strong… if in soul alone, that's enough. I don't know how your realm works, but… I swear it; it's all that really, truly matters… And… if you'll let me, I want… to take care… of you…"

Ciel, dumbfounded, began to snicker. This snicker grew into a laugh that evolved to the point of laughing freely with his face to the sky. "You—want to what?" He did his best to stifle his mirth.

Yato paid no mind to the irately vibrating hilt of Nora, lowering his hands slightly in confusion.

"Admittedly," Ciel conceded with that smile twisting his mouth, "I have to thank you. If it weren't for you, I'd have never felt this light again. But looking at the blood on your attire and the shame in your eyes, I'm looking at nothing more than a god on its way to becoming a demon. For you to want to take care of me; it's ridiculous!" The young earl lowered his weapon. "Yes… I can't always rely on everyone else to care for me. Aren't I following the same pattern if I fall into line with you?"

"I wouldn't," Yato vowed. "It wouldn't be… like that…"

"That's a lie," Ciel said coldly. Looking down, he paused, then stared up into the waning moon above. "I know that… maybe there is a way out of the dark game I keep falling into. But at what cost? What would it take? In the end, the moon is always swallowed by the night." He paused. "You gave me my soul back, but that doesn't mean I owe it to you. You also took away the only thing I had left. Pathetic of me? Maybe. But that means you stole from me at the same time you gave. Which overpowers the other? You don't understand… I've always lived in the dark. Over the past few years of my life, I think I've come to figure…" Ciel's expression stretched into a full smile. "I may well belong there. It's not like that's necessarily 'bad.' Haven't you noticed? There's beauty in the night, too. And we need to find that beauty in even the worst of our situations, right? Especially if you know it won't change. And as for myself…" He grinned at Yato, firm resolve in his visible eye. "…I've already decided. I won't give you that satisfaction." He was lifting the gun. "I hadn't planned on giving Sebastian the satisfaction of having my soul either. I have no intention of losing this fight. Tell me, if you're a god. If I defy you, is it a sin? If it's to maintain my dignity?" Ciel tilted his head, pointing the barrel at his own temple. "Because I'm sick of being everyone's pet dog."

Yato stiffened as the moment began to draw itself out into a million.

I feel like I should apologize to Shinichi, thought Ciel, smiling up at the moon. I almost could say I liked having him around, but I know I'll only get him hurt by the end. That's what the masters want anyway. A-ya… I hope he makes it, too. Funny… that I actually don't want to pull the trigger now.

But he did. Yato screamed for him not to, the fear eating away at his heart as the bullet downed him instantly. He was sure that the sound the gun had made was incredibly loud, but all he heard was a muted ringing. He had grabbed the gun, but it had already been shot and now Ciel was on the ground, smiling softly. Yato couldn't even comprehend such an action – taking one's own life… when life… was such a precious and fleeting thing. He himself was someone who struggled to remain in existence. All of the spirits that became Shinki like Yukine – yes, even Nora; even Hiiro… The reason their lost souls remained was because they were fighters…! Because they didn't give up! How could this child say he'd go down fighting when he threw his life away so easily?! How dare he?!

Before Yato was even conscious of his own actions, he found himself, sword in hand, impaling the body of Ciel over and over, shouting at him as if he could hear, stabbing him and stabbing him and stabbing him until his tiny body was mutilated with his persistence. Even when he had at last become conscious of what he was doing, he just kept going, stabbing over and over and over… and… over…

"Yato, that's enough," Nora spoke softly in his consciousness.

Yato stuck the sword through his chest one last time, feeling the blade stick in the ground. Breathing hard, he leaned on the hilt.

"You can stop now…"

Closing his eyes tight, he knew that there was a group of four people nearby. He heard one of them stifling unbearable sorrow.

"For now, we should leave."

"I know," he choked out, and ripped the sword from him before teleporting away in a flash of blue.


Having found Rin, Senji, and Hide, Shinichi had cautiously watched them from the trees as they halted – Shinichi realized that he'd snapped a branch underfoot. "I come in peace," he announced, holding up his hands as he approached them, ready to fight back if they attacked. He didn't recognize any of the three he was approaching, but that might have been because of the dark.

"Who's talkin'?" growled the tallest of the three – a warning.

"I don't want to fight. I'm Shinichi Izumi, from Group 4. Can I ask who you are…?"

The tallest grunted, but the one that Shinichi could tell had bleached blond hair began to grin. "I'm Hideyoshi Nagachika, but you can call me Hide."

"Ya wanna alliance, or do you wanna back off?" asked Senji lowly.

"I'd like an alliance," Shinichi said tentatively. It seemed these three were all new players. "I can tell… Um, are you guys new to the game? Maybe I can help you out… What group were you guys put in?"

"Group 5," said Hide.

Group 5… Isn't that, Kuroha's…?

"Alright, if you want an alliance, that sounds good," the tallest shrugged. The other two knew it was the best option at this point, and so no one disagreed. "I'm Senji Kiyomasa. Senji's fine."

"Rin Tohsaka," Rin said bluntly. "Who else is in your group?"

"I have only one other, and he's a young boy by the name of Ciel Phantomhive."

"How young?" Senji squinted.

"I think… he's twelve or thirteen?"

"Oh, wow." He rubbed the back of his head. "Nice."

"I'm sorry to press, but if we could… I'd like to head back to him as quickly as possible. I don't like leaving him alone… not, in a game like this."

"You left him alone?" cried Rin.

"Welp, let's head towards him," Senji said quickly. "Where's he at?"

"Here, follow me," said Shinichi, and began to lead them, keeping close tabs on all of their actions. "We can better establish what our alliance means come sunrise. For now, we all need a place to rest. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Rin sighed.

But when the loud sound of trees splintering came from up ahead, Shinichi froze. No way. He sped up the pace, the three he'd just met sensing the urgency and jogging along with him. By the time Shinichi could see vaguely the outlines of two people against the moon, still almost full… The partial parasite found himself running faster and faster through the trees until the sound of the revolver going off resounded in his brain. He tried to cry out to Ciel, but Senji was on him in an instant, covering his mouth and holding him back along with Rin while Hide put a hand on his back, perhaps out of comfort. Shinichi watched as what remained of Ciel was desecrated by Yato – he couldn't tell whether the young earl had even hit the god from where he stood, but he knew that this was overkill. Clutching at his chest, he struggled to breathe. This is… my fault, he thought quietly, and fell to his knees, barely noticing the flash of blue ahead as Yato left. Around him, the three strangers stood silent, unable to utilize any words. There were none to say. All was lost. Shinichi noted that, even now, he couldn't shed a single tear.

So it goes.