A/N: Wooooooh! I'm going to be writing another fanfiction for K soon, slightly AU so it'd be cool if you guys check it out when I upload it.

I LOVE WHEN YOU GUYS REVIEW AND DON'T FLAME! I SERIOUSLY JUST REREAD THEM AND SMILE LIKE AN IDIOT!

Brokendoll111: Thank you thank you! I'm escatic you enjoyed it so much!

LaughterLover98: You never fail to make me laugh at your reviews! Thank you for reading and replying for me, you're too sweet!

Everyone, enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THIS AMAZING SHOW OR ITS CHARACTERS. *Sobs*

Chapter 14: You can't/I Do

Alaura felt like her mouth was full of sandpaper and she coughed, smacking her lips. She winced at the sound her body made, the slight shift in the otherwise silent room making her head pound. Weakly she opened her eyes and grimaced against the harsh lights surrounding her.

White walls, why the fuck am I-oh, that's right.

She remembered now, remembered the panic she had felt when she saw the sword begin to come down on her Mikoto. Alaura didn't know how it happened or how the sword healed itself. All she knew was that she was desperate to protect them all and to stop Mikoto from thinking he had to carry this on his own.

''You're awake, I should get the others.''

Brown eyes blinked at the unexpected voice and she turned her head to her left, shocked to see Shiro standing at the foot of her bed.

A smile pulled up the corners of her mouth as she went to sit up further before stopping, the sudden pain in her chest making her fall against the reclined bed.

''Ah!"

''Here, you shouldn't be trying to pull yourself up like that yet.'' Smiling gently Shiro adjusted her bed to where she was sitting up completely without having to force herself.

''Thank you, Shiro.'' She smiled gratefully before looking around the room, feeling an inkling of disappointment. ''Where…-?"

Shiro waved his hand to ease her. ''All of Homra was crammed in here about ten minutes ago, sleeping on floors or in corners or at the foot of your bed. Liz and Kuroh fell asleep clutching your sheets and kneeling on the floor.''

She laughed lightly and then stopped, the pain in her chest making that too much. Frowning she pulled down her crisp white patient shirt to reveal bandages all over the top of her body. There was a slight pink in the center from her probably moving.

''Shiro…what happened? I felt myself die.'' She whispered, staring down at her chest.

Shiro shuffled to sit on her bed and smiled at the young girl. As the First King he had a theory on what had happened to her, but he couldn't be sure quite yet.

''What's the last thing you can remember?" He asked, aware that Liz and Kuroh claimed to have felt her when they were chanting.

Alaura's brows furrowed in thought as she laid her head back to stare up at the ceiling. ''Warmth…I thought death would be cold but it wasn't, I was warm the entire time. I felt myself leave and then I remember…I remember stopping. There was this funny little tug in my chest and when I looked back I was behind Liz and Kuroh. They were crying but cheering on, and it made me so sad and happy. I remember dancing through everyone, crying with them and just feeling so warm. Then I was pulled to Mikoto and Anna…''

''They were crying and Mikoto was just emotionless, clutching my body but then I saw the red he had encased my body in. The pulling and the funny feeling was getting stronger and when I reached down to touch Mikoto…I-that's the last thing I remember.''

She closed her eyes at the fuzzy images surfacing in her mind, heartache deep when she remembered wishing she could make everyone stop crying.

Shiro blinked in astonishment. ''Alaura,'' he started, pulling her attention to him. ''Do you know about the 6th King?"

Brown eyes blinked in confusion. ''No, I don't know much about him. Why?"

''You-''

''YOU"RE AWAKE!"

Her head shot over to the door to see Rikio slamming open the door, a cup of coffee in his hands and a wide smile on his face.

Alaura smiled. ''Good morning, Rikio.''

The tanned skin man's lower lip wobbled as he flailed, setting his coffee down and rushing out of the room.

''MISS ALAURA'S AWAKE!''

''Really?!"

''YOU BETTER NOT BE LYING SHIT FACE!"

She giggled softly as she heard the familiar voices explode, the sound of feet hitting the floor increasing. Her eyes widened, just who all was here?

Shiro moved away from her bed with a kind smile. ''They only left after the nurses said they had to change your bandages. They've been waiting for you to wake up.''

''Wait, then why were you in here Shiro?"

Gold eyes closed in a smile. ''I had to check on the next possible Purple King.''

What?

Thoroughly shocked Alaura didn't have a chance to question the boy further, for at that moment her family came pouring through the door.

''Alaura!'' Yata exclaimed, hazel eyes wide and bright.

''We were so worried, don't do something like that again.'' Kusanagi stated sternly, though the wide smile he wore made his words an empty threat.

''Alaura!'' Tatara attacked her, sniffling and being over dramatic as usual. She smiled. ''I thought you were dead! How about we all pledge to not die huh?"

''I'm okay with that.''

''Indeed, as am I.''

Brown eyes sparkled as she looked over the brown eyed man hugging her to see her two siblings at the door, their feet glued to the floor as they watched her cautiously.

Their eyes looked tired, as if the sleep they had gotten had been in spurts instead of a healthy dose. The clothes they wore were rumpled but at least they looked clean.

Alaura smiled brightly and stretched her hand out. ''No more dying.''

She saw Liz's lower lip tremble, tears filling the girl's eyes before she shot forward and buried her face into the mattress, clutching the sheets. Kuroh jutted his chin out, expression neutral before he too copied Liz's placement.

The only sign that showed he was crying was the slight shake in is shoulders.

''Alaura?"

She turned to see Anna in the doorway, ruby red eyes wide as they stared at each other. Her hands were clasped over her chest as a way to protect herself if this was all just wishful thinking again.

''Anna, I came back. I think I missed my birthday though…forgive me?"

The white haired girl chewed on her lower lip before running forward, jumping into the bed and crawling up until her cheek rested against the older girl's thigh.

''Idiot, idiot, you and Mikoto are big idiots!''

Alaura smoothed the girl's hair down, gentle smile in place. She wasn't an idiot if that meant saving Mikoto was a stupid thing to do.

''Where is that man?'' She asked.

Yata was the one to answer her, wiping at his face hastily so she wouldn't see his tears. Too late Yata.

''He-''

''I'm right here.''

Her heart stuttered and she winced, telling herself to cool it as she looked up to see amber eyes watching her closely. She bit her lip at the raw emotion she could see hiding in his gaze, but couldn't make herself look away.

He was so handsome.

And alive.

''Mikoto…'' she breathed, the sound of his chain reaching her ears as he moved to stand against the wall and lean against it.

''Alaura.''

….

Tatara pulled away, looking between the two and wiping away his tears. He pulled Anna away from Alaura and set her down, smiling.

''We should give you two some time to talk.''

The others looked up, noticing the staring contest between the two. Neither parties looked ready to break.

Liz and Kuroh squeezed her hand. ''We'll be back.''

Yata reached out for Liz's hand and pulled her into his side, smiling cheekily as he pressed a kiss onto her forehead with a blush on his cheeks.

Shiro waited for Kuroh, looking back to take one last glance at the woman in the bed.

I used to think that King's walked a certain path alone, no matter how large their clan…it seems you won't let him, Alaura of Homra.

Alaura looked away and dropped her eyes to look at her folded hands in her lap when she heard the door click shut as their friends left the two of them alone.

She could feel the burn of his stare on the side of her face, feel the emotions filling the small room. The pain in her chest was growing the longer her heart beated.

''Why?"

Her head snapped over to see Mikoto with his head hung, hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket.

''Why what?"

''Don't play dumb.'' He stood and took steps forward, pulling a chair over to sit by her side. He leaned over and rested his arms on his knees.

She wanted to reach over and run her hand through his wild red hair, but resisted the urge to instead offer out her hand for him to grab.

A few beats of silence passed before the sound of his bracelets clinking reached her ears and she felt his smooth palm slip against hers, his fingers tangling with hers as they rested their hold on her bed.

She bit her lip. ''I couldn't just sit back and watch you sacrifice your life for ours.''

His grip tightened. ''And you sacrificing your life for mine is any different?"

''You were trying to save us from future threats, from the possibility that the sword would fall with us around, you were scared of hurting us because you care about all of us. But I could die at any moment Mikoto! I could die right now, or tomorrow, or next month.'' Alaura ignored his question.

Mikoto smirked. ''You're ignoring my question. How was you sacrificing your life any different?"

Brown eyes flamed. ''Because your life is more important than mine, you idiot! If you died-'' her voice cut off as she closed her eyes to the pain the mere thought left her in.

''You're ridiculous.''

Her eyes widened as he suddenly moved, leaning over her and knocking the chair backwards as he rested his free hand on the side of her head. Her breath caught in her throat when he hovered dangerously close to her, the tip of his nose brushing against hers. He caged her in and trapped her with the smell of cinnamon and bonfires.

Amber eyes bore into hers. ''You died. You died in my arms and expected us all to be fine without you. You expected me to be fine without you, and that has to be the most fucked up lie of all time.''

She sucked in sharply at the confession. ''Mikoto…you expected the same from us, didn't you?"

His eyes darkened. ''But I knew, I knew you could find someone better than me. You deserve things I cant give you.''

''So you were completely okay with my running off and fucking the next guy I saw?! You thought I could just forget you that easily?!"

''No. The thought of anyone else touching you makes me want to fucking kill them, don't even…''

''How could you think I would be able to find someone else?!"

''Because you deserve better. All of you.''

''We deserve you! We want you, not someone else. We would fall apart without you because you're not just our king. Can't you see that?"

''What about you?''

She didn't miss a beat. ''I only want you.''

For a split second his eyes widened and he closed them. ''Why?''

Alaura brought her hand up to cup his cheek. ''Because I-Mikoto I-''

''Don't. Don't say those next words.'' He ordered, looking away from her and towards the floor.

Alaura narrowed her eyes and reached for him, fingers gripping his chin and pulling his gaze towards hers.

''Why not?"

Mikoto frowned. ''Because once you say them, you're real.''

Brown orbs widened. He could say she was his, he could protect her, but the moment she admitted to the real thing everything would change.

Alaura would become someone who loved him, someone who would see him through every dark part of his past and every great memory he shared with the others. She would become real not just something he wanted to reach for but was too far away to.

''I am real, Mikoto. ''

''You can't love me.'' He stated plainly.

The brunette smiled and rested her forehead against his, closing her eyes at the contact. She thought she was done for, but here she was with the man she loved and her family alive and well on the other side. He thought he didn't deserve her, that she could do better, but how wrong he was.

He was the best of the best in her eyes.

She smiled and snuck in a kiss on his cheek, stunning him into silence and preventing him from interrupting her.

''Watch me, Mikoto Suoh.''

It wasn't her declaring the three words outright, but she figured he needed to see he couldn't stop her from loving him, from proving that this was real. He was going to have to sit back and watch as she proved to him she didn't need anything else.

''Alaura."

"Yeah?"

''Stay with me.''

Her smile grew. It wasn't him admitting it outright either, but his words hit her and made her forget the dull pain from her wound.

''Where else would I be?"

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''I woke up on Christmas…are you shitting me?!"

Alaura exclaimed loudly, snapping up and clutching her chest as the pain bloomed. She felt Mikoto press a finger on her forehead and push her back into the bed, frowning at her pain.

She smiled weakly. ''Sorry, Christmas is just my favorite time of the year! The lights, the hot chocolate, the-ahhhhh! I DIDN'T DECORATE ANYTHING!"

Liz laughed and scratched her cheek. ''Not even two hours being awake and what you're worried about is Christmas decorations.''

Kuroh sighed and crossed his arms. ''Unbelievable, Alaura. You used to throw fits at Master Ichigen when he would forget to buy a tree and you forget to decorate?"

Alaura felt her eye twitch as she smiled evilly. ''You want to say that again? This time a little closer?"

Mikoto was in the bed with her on her left side, legs crossed at the ankles as he crossed his arms behind his head. Anna had immediately crawled onto her other side, cuddling up to her thigh and propping her head on it while falling asleep.

A nurse had come by and tried to ask them to move, but one look from Mikoto and the man backed away quietly.

Yata was sitting on the floor with his legs out on her the left side of her bed, leaning back and resting his upper body weight on his arms. Liz sat between his legs, leaning back into his chest as she stretched out her legs and fiddled with the jacket wrapped around the other teen's waist.

Alaura enjoyed every moment Yata's blush deepened.

Kuroh was standing behind Shiro, the white haired king sitting in a chair and holding Neko in his lap who had transformed into her animal form to sleep. Tatara was sitting in the chair on her right side with Kusanagi standing off to the side of him. Rikio was in a chair at the end of her bed, leaning over the bar and resting his chin on his arms.

Every few moments her gaze would travel to the Silver King, his earlier words making her feel…confused. He had come to check on the Purple King? If he meant her he was sorely mistaken, she was not a king.

Fuck she hadn't even known about any of this a month ago.

That always irritating side of her was reappearing, and as if sensing her stare Shiro looked up and offered her a smile.

"Shiro,'' She spoke up, quieting the others. Mikoto cracked an eye open to watch her. ''How did I come back to life?''

The small room quieted and looked over towards the Silver King, expecting him to answer the question. He had been the one to snap everyone out of their daze when Alaura started coughing up, taking her to the hospital and promising to explain why she wasn't dead when she was awake.

She was awake now.

Shiro smiled and closed his eyes. ''How many of you know the truth of the 6th king, the Purple King?"

Kusanagi frowned and pushed up his glasses. ''The only information the other kings have of him is that he's a recluse as the previous 7th king was. He's older as well, much older than the rest of the kings but younger than you or the Gold King.''

"What does that have to do with Alaura?" Liz questioned.

Shiro opened his gold eyes to pierce through her. "Alaura…what do you know of your parents?"

Her heart panged at the mention of her birth parents. She rarely thought of them, only smiling in passing for the small memories she did have of them. Their faces were blurry in her mind but she remembered their smiles and kind eyes.

''I don't-I don't remember much of them…they died in a car accident when I was only four. They were good to me though, loved me if that's what you're asking.''

The white haired boy nodded and scratched the back of Neko's ear, causing her to purr. ''What of your parents families? Do you know about them?"

Alaura shook her head. ''No, my brother Jacob and I were considered orphans because our parents didn't include any living kin in their wills. We were put up with a lady and stayed there until Master Ichigen came and found us.''

An arm came and wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer into the red headed man's side. Alaura grinned wildly.

''I see…I figured as much. Well, I guess there isn't any better time to tell you that you are the granddaughter of the 6th King, the Purple King.''

…..

''Whoa whoa whoa, what?" She reared back, brown eyes wide as saucers.

Did he seriously just-

''You're the granddaughter of the 6th King, Kimimoto Shua. Your mother was his first and only child and he banished her from their clan when she married someone that was a simpleton and refused to allow him to have you. The Purple King's power flows through bloodlines only. It's a family clan that has branched off over the years. ''

''How would he be able to sustain a clan based off of just blood? It takes time to grow and become strong.'' Alaura demanded, speaking over the wide eyes in the room.

''The Purple Clan have a gift that allows them to become one with another clan but it's dangerous. In fact there isn't a single case where it hasn't failed. Should the two kings be incompatible, the Purple king will weaken and succumb to the insanity that hangs over their head while the other King's clan flourishes.''

Alaura blinked, the nerd in her running frantically trying to piece together the puzzle. ''The current 6th King…the reason no one knows where he is-it's because he tried to bond with a King and weakened isn't it?"

Shiro nodded sadly. ''After your mother left he was desperate for power. His clan was turning on him in fear that they too would be outcasts if they fell in love with a normal person. Running out of options he thought that the only way to maintain order would be to bond with a strong clan, a clan led by a very powerful man, one the other Kings were wary to go against.''

''The Gold King.'' Kusanagi stated, clicking it into place. ''So if the bonding failed…that explains why the Gold King's clan is so powerful.''

Shiro sighed. ''Exactly, but there is a horrible curse that the Dresden Slate placed upon the bloodline of the Purple King. The first purple King was mad with power, and sensing his desire to destroy everything his power turned on him.''

''Demons suddenly appeared in his mind, battering him down until he was on the brink of death. Sensing his death they feasted on his soul and all the agony inside of it. The next King wasn't as unlucky as the first, they appeared in a time of immense weakness and fought to consume him as well. Albeit stronger than the first King, he held up for years against their torture. When his body finally began to weaken the demons went on to their next victim…your grandfather.''

Alaura's breath hitched as she pulled back. ''What does that mean…what does it mean when someone within the bloodline hears the voices while the current King is still alive?"

''That means that the next Purple King is being checked out by the demons, to see if they could consume their soul as soon as they're released from the current mind of the King or have to wait for you to be at your weakest points to attack you. The demons wish to consume the souls of every Purple King to come about into existence, as is the curse for the First King's destruction.''

Liz and Yata shot up, Rikio, Kusanagi, and Tatara blocking her from Shiro's view. Anna shifted in her sleep and frowned.

Mikoto moved from laying down to sitting up, crossing his arm over her and glaring at Shiro.

''Fuck those demons!" Yata growled. ''We already know about them in Alaura's head, and there isn't a chance in hell we'll let them have her soul!"

''She isn't dying again.'' Liz seethed, blue eyes lit up at the thought of Alaura's soul being devoured. ''No way in hell!"

Kusanagi smirked tersely. ''Alaura declines the offer of being the next Purple King.''

Shiro's eyes widened. "You're telling me she's already begun to hear them?" he turned his gaze to her. ''You can't even tell…''

''What does that mean?" Liz snapped, hackles raised.

Shiro blinked. ''It's just, the body begins to show signs of having to fend off the demons alone in their mind. Bruises, scratches, these demons stop at nothing to weaken their hosts to be able to consume them all at once.''

''She's not alone! Mikoto stops the demons from touching her!" Liz spoke up.

Red burned Alaura's cheeks as she saw from the corner of her eye Mikoto grin cockily.

No coffee or tea Liz for a frigging week.

Kuroh narrowed his eyes and uncrossed his arms. "Shiro, what does it mean that another King is fighting off the demons inside of Alaura's head?"

The Silver King blinked and locked eyes with the Red King. ''Do you have any knowledge of this?"

''I figured they were just dreams.''

Alaura's eyes snapped over as her mouth fell open at her…boyfriend? The label felt weird. He had experienced the same dreams she was having?

Her head hurt.

Gold eyes narrowed in concentration as he rested his finger against his lip. ''I've never even heard of another King assisting in battling against the demons in the Purple King's heads. But it would make sense…actually, that allows everything to fall into place!''

Alaura raised her hand. ''Shiro? Do you mind sharing?"

Gold eyes were lit up with hope as he looked around the room before his gaze landed on her and Mikoto.

''The reason Alaura was able to heal Mikoto Suoh's Sword of Damocles…is because she subconsciously bonded their powers when she sacrificed her life for his. The reason she was able to come back to life was because Mikoto's powers and soul, which had bonded with hers, demanded she return. When you two met her dormant powers must have recognized him.''

Alaura frowned. ''I had those dreams before Mikoto and I even met. Actually,'' she paused and blinked at the memory. ''When Tatara was dying there was a voice in my head demanding I save him, because he was one of 'his.' ''

They blinked at her.

''You should really tell me these things, Alaura.'' Liz's eye twitched.

She smiled sheepishly.

Shiro rubbed his chin in thought. "I don't know…is it possible your powers recognized the power of a King who felt it could bond with? If so…that's extremely powerful and you two hadn't even met.''

Alaura coughed unexpectedly into her hand, the sound snapping them from their daze as the coughs racked her body. Worried eyes flickered over to her, Anna stirring and reaching out to pat the older girl's cheeks.

Breathing ragged she looked up at Shiro. ''I though you said that was impossible.''

''I said it's never happened before, so we don't know what exactly happens when two kings bond their power.'' Shiro smiled happily. ''You technically don't possess the powers of the Purple King yet however, so the fact you were able to save the Sword of Damocles means that the bonding of the Purple King requires great strength in will.''

Alaura breathed heavily. ''Does that mean the demons are out of my head? If we bonded and the insanity didn't take me-does that mean my soul is safe?!"

Shiro frowned sadly and shook his head. ''I don't know…we've never seen anything like this. The previous Purple King dies and the demons are released to completely invade the next King's mind. But maybe if the Purple King dies now…the demons will cease to exist in him since you're bonded?"

Her eyes watered as she shook her head. ''So there's no way to know if they're still inside of me?"

A warm hand gripped hers and she looked up to see cool amber eyes staring back at her. Guilt pulled in her gut at the thought that she bonded their powers without him knowing and without his consent.

I've bonded your power to mine in the future without your consent, can you forgive me Mikoto? Her eyes read.

A soft smirk pulled on the corner of his lip as he brushed his thumb across her cheekbone. Idiot. His eyes read.

''The only way to see if the demons are still inside of you would be to weaken your body and see if you and the Red King can find the demons in there. I doubt they would come at your beck and call however…Did they tell you anything?" Shiro questioned.

Her eyes widened as she recalled the last time she had come face to face with the creatures. Her lower lip trembled. ''They told me…they told me that as soon as I remembered my brother's death they would come for my soul.''

Ding! Ding! Idea!

''Hell no!" Liz snapped, rounding on her and glowering. ''You are not going to force yourself to remember Jacob's death just to see if those things will come! You'll be too weak to fight against them if they are in there waiting.''

''Absolutely unacceptable, Alaura.'' Kuroh stated.

Alaura frowned. ''It would be one less question, we see if these things are still in my head and then find the Purple King to help him. I'll have Mikoto with me.''

''Do you two even know how to find one another in there?!"

The brunette bit her lip as Mikoto raised a brow. ''No…but we always do. Liz, Kuroh, please, this is another obstacle that as soon as it's taken care of we can move on with our lives!''

''No way!''

''I'm going to do this,'' she replied tightly, clenching her sheets in her hands. ''I'm ready to live a nice life with these weirdos without the threat of dying hanging over me, aren't you?"

Liz started, frowning before crossing her arms and sighing deeply. "I don't like this, but fine.''

The brunette smiled and relaxed into Mikoto's shoulder as he rested his chin on the top of her head. She looked around at all the other shocked and worried faces, her brother's blue gaze sticking out.

Averting her gaze she looked towards Shiro who smiled comfortingly. ''Put us under.''

Twenty minutes later she and Mikoto were in separate beds side by side, the door to her room locked so no one would bother them. Shiro was going to put them under and they would all stay to monitor the first thirty minutes of their reactions before setting up post outside to guard the door.

Alaura was reeling at all the new information in her head, but she didn't want to stop this. Finding out if these demons were still in her head would help them with everything. They could relax and then go after the Purple King, demanding why he didn't come looking for her.

He must have known my parents died…why didn't he try looking for me to help me when he knew I was next in line? Or Jacob? It could have been either of us. Ugh my head hurts.

Alaura turned her head to see Mikoto on his side, head propped up by his arm as he watched her. She smiled slightly and he smirked in response.

''Will you find me quickly?" She was smiling, but there was a desperation in her voice low enough for just him to hear. She was terrified.

A red aura slowly encased her body and her tense muscles relaxed at the comforting feeling. Mikoto smiled softly at her.

''Yeah.''

Shiro appeared before them before pressing his hands on the top of their heads. ''This will help you fall asleep quickly, but only you will be able to wake yourself up. Once you remember Alaura, I don't know how quickly the demons will come for you if they're truly in there.''

Kusanagi leaned against the wall, watching his old friend stare at the brunette at his side like a hawk. There wasn't a doubt in his mind Mikoto would hunt her down quickly. Tatara held Anna to him, both of their eyes shining with worry.

Liz was hugging Yata's arms around her, unshed tears in her eyes as the memory of Jacob's death played in her and Kuroh's minds. They had barely been able to handle it, they prayed the demons had left Alaura's mind.

And that she won't shatter.

Rikio rested a hand on Yata's shoulders, both boy's eyebrows drawn down and a worried frown on their lips.

Alaura closed her eyes and breathed in deeply before releasing it slowly, calming her racing heart.

Find me quickly, Mikoto.

Amber eyes closed as he kept the red shield around Alaura's body.

I will find you.

A/N: I've been spending most of my time to give you guys a chapter every other day, and for myself as well. I truly love writing and being on here because I hope to become better. Family and friends makes it difficult when they give you funny looks, but you guys and my lovely best friend keep me going!

Okay okay, sorry for being a sap.

Review, eat amazing food, and have a great day/night!

Until next time!

-ScarlettWriter

PREVIEW OF CHAPTER 15: Strength

She was screaming, agony filling her veins as she stared into cold green eyes. She pushed harder, lips pulling back to bare her teeth threateningly.