A/N: Helloooooo! I'm ALIVE AND WELL! I spent all day Saturday and Friday working my ass off to finish my schoolwork to be able to post this. It is short, and I am sorry for that! But I would rather post it in how I envisioned it playing out in my head. To everyone who reviews/favorites/follows I LOVE YOU GUYS!

I wake up to the email, or I get out of a gruesome class and read the email, and my day just brightens. I promised I wouldn't abandon this story and I won't!

Also, my second story is currently under construction as we speak. BUT I am not posting it until I have a couple of chapters so that those of you who are interested don't get cut off at one chapter.

P.S: I am replying to your reviews in the next chapter, for some reason the responses refuse to save and stay. BUT I LOVE THEM THANK YOU GUYS!

REMEMBER IF YOU DO NOT ENJOY THIS STORY PLEASE DO NOT FLAME. PLEASE JUST EXIT OUT AND FIND A BETTER FANFICTION. That is all. Thank you.

Enjoy!

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

''-MOM!"

An-….na…no…

Anna saw the others rush towards them as she watched Alaura dash forward to kill her. Screams of their names resounded through the room and she smiled waterlily at the happy memories running through her mind.

She felt the warmth of Mikoto's red stretching out towards her and Alaura at the same time, heard Liz and Kuroh screaming Alaura's name. Alaura's mother was cheering her on with a crazed and bloodthirsty look on her face. Anna blocked that all out to watch Alaura.

A faint flicker of her colors lingered underneath the sickly gray.

''This isn't you,'' Anna whispered as her legs failed to respond to her commands. She couldn't move. "I've known you for such a short time, Alaura, but it's true. You would never kill me. You won't. You'll beat this-I know it-urgh!''

Blood splattered the smooth tile floor.

The room fell silent as Anna choked on air, crimson orbs widening as she felt the warmth of blood run down her body slowly. She began to shake as her small hands lifted to grip the tattered shirt of the older woman in front of her.

''A-Alaura,'' she choked out as the twisted truth settled into her mind. ''Wh-why…''

Liz felt her insides turn cold as she came to a stop and watched her stupidly brave sister shove the blade like swirls of black through the flesh of her stomach. The brunette's body was twitching uncontrollably, her face contorted in a look of unbearable pain and the other half void of emotion.

Rivers of blood soaked poor little Anna's pretty dress as it dripped and splattered onto the tile. They had been so afraid that Alaura was about to kill Anna but she knew her sister would fight it. There was nothing, nothing on this earth that would force her to hurt her family.

She had been right.

Alaura had figured out a way to not hurt Anna.

''Miss Alaura…'' Rikio whispered in awe next to her as they watched Alaura struggle to stand. She raised her arm out and turned to face her mother, breathing labored as her knees shook.

''I'll…'' she choked on the red liquid in her mouth but simply spat it out towards the woman. Moko's face twisted into a horrifying sight of rage as she shook.

"I…'' Liz felt her feet push her forward and push through the others slowly. Alaura raised her arms outward and forced herself to stay steady.

"The world is a cruel place,'' Alaura started coolly, one pupil consumed in red and the other eye pitch black.

''Are you going to start spouting meaningful quotes at me now?" Moko mocked, cocking her head to the side and raising her arm protectively in front of herself.

Though she put on a brave face Liz could see the fear easily in her face now. She was terrified; terrified that she had underestimated Alaura.

''No.'' Alaura breathed in deeply and pressed a hand over her wound. "The world is a cruel place…you and I know this best. We've gone through plenty of pain in our lives, haven't we?"

Cautiously, Moko narrowed her gaze. She shifted nervously as she noticed them closing in on her, Homra watching her hungrily. They were brave now-confident. Alaura had broken through and their King's anger suffocated them as he watched the woman like a lion stalking his prey.

Liz's fingers gripped the handle to her blade and tensed at the sound of it being unsheathed. Her fingers itched for revenge as she saw Tatara pull Anna back from the corner of her eye. The little girl refused to pull her eyes away from her sister's back, and she didn't blame her.

She hadn't taken her eyes off of her shaky form either.

''I…suppose so.'' Moko offered, eyebrow raised. Her eyes kept flickering towards the exits in the room and Liz felt her teeth bare.

No way in hell am I letting you get away.

''Wrong.'' Alaura hissed suddenly, shocking them as her gaze narrowed. Liz picked up on the subtle movement of sister's hand and smirked. Quickly she shared a look with Kuroh to make sure he had noticed as well. He nodded towards her and at that moment her grip on her sword tightened.

''The world isn't a cruel place, those who inhabit it are. You make the world cruel, Moko.'' Alaura frowned sadly. "The rule of Homra is simple…threaten one of our own-and you die.''

''Wha-'' Moko started before her eyes widened and she screamed in agony as two deep gashes appeared across her body.

Liz spun in the air gracefully as she fell to stand before Alaura, Kuroh whipping through and halting next to her. Moko cried out and fell to her knees as the gash on her chest and abdomen gushed with blood. Desperately they saw her try to use her powers to heal her body but to no use, blood simply ran faster.

''What have you done to me?!" She screamed. "Why can't I use my magic to heal?!"

''These blades are special,'' Alaura whispered as she used her own red to heal her wound. ''They were placed under a seal long ago by our Master. 'Shall the user of this blade truly desire it, the one they shall inflict a wound upon will never heal' I thought he was off his rockers when I heard him mutter the spell, but we've learned a lot of new things.''

''I-I can't heal?" Moko ground out and closed in on herself. "You've sentenced my fate!''

''You hurt our sister.'' Liz spat,'' If you expect sympathy you're in the wrong area.''

''Tell me where my grandfather is.'' Alaura demanded. "Be kind in your last moments.''

''Kind?" Moko scoffed and leered up at the brunette. "I have my own surprise for you, daughter. Since your soul refuses to become mine-I have some friends who are dying to meet your new family.'' Her face lit up with mania. "Come on out, boys!"

''Boys?" Liz echoed as her, Alaura and Kuroh looked around. Liz felt a thick blanket of heat come up and looked over to see Mikoto steadily walking past them towards Moko. A twinge of guilt wormed its way into her heart as she saw Moko's face fill with fear the close Mikoto got.

She had tried to take away both of the important people in his life…the woman was dead.

"Liz!''

Her head snapped over as Yata shoved his way through the crowd and came up beside her, flames coating his fists as he looked at all the entrances to the room.

''Yata!" She breathed, her heart lighter at the sight of him. "I'm so glad you're-''

"ARGH!"

"AHHHHHH!"

Everyone's head snapped over at the two screams echoing through the air and Liz felt the color drain from her face. Her knees shook with fear as she heard Kuroh's breathing spike. Her heart hammered in her chest and the next words she was about to speak died on her lips.

Animalistic snaps and growls filled the air that had haunted her dreams for years.

An animal stood on all fours, a sludge that fell and dripped onto the floor from the body sizzling away at the tile. Teeth gleamed dangerously with yellow saliva as…as it attempted to rip through Tatara's abdomen.

"AHHH!" Tatara screamed in pain as his skin burned and blood seeped from his lips. "NO!"

"TATARA!" Anna screamed as she fell back as more beasts began to enter eerily from the exits before tens, no, hundreds filled the empty space around them.

''I told you I had a present!" Moko cackled as she lunged away from Mikoto's reach and disappeared through an exit, her eyes gleaming with triumph. Liz gripped her sword as she tried to conquer her fear and Moko's last words rang in her ears.

''You were the reason Jacob died in the first place Alaura, you couldn't defeat the beasts of the Purple King before-can you save them all now?!"

Homra and Scepter 4 were fucked, Liz realized with a trembling fear as she heard the others cry out as the beasts stalked towards them. Munakata, Mikoto, and Shiro had begun to rush forward and fight back the beasts but it was useless. Everything they did was pointless. Where one beast was burnt to a crisp two more appeared in its place!

The room was being consumed by smoke and the scent of blood and burnt flesh as the red and the blues tried to fight back. Neko was trying to use her magic to fool the beasts and escape but she couldn't; they were immune to strains powers. The Kings tried to erect shields but the beast's saliva burned clear through the barriers. The Kings were failing as they tried to protect their clans and they would be killed just like Jac-

"ARRRRRRGH!"

Red flames exploded as a soul trembling roar challenged the beasts. Liz barely had time to see Alaura's rage filled eyes before she was twisting through the air and barreling into the creature that had its jaws around Tatara. His white button up shirt was soaked with blood as he screamed in pain as the saliva burned his flesh.

Liz watched in a mix of horror and fascination as Alaura shoved her hands into the beast's mouth and stared it down, baring her teeth as she slowly pushed the beast's jaws apart to release Tatara from its grip. As the sound of bones shattering Liz felt a slight tinge of fear of her own at the look on Alaura's face as her muscles strained and she twirled to hurl the beast into a wall. The monster whined pitifully as its bottom jaw hung loosely.

Alaura was breathing heavily, both her eyes bleeding red as her body was consumed in roaring flames that were edged by the lightest shade of purple. Her hair floated eerily and Liz took a step back as she realized this was it.

"Alaura…'' she trailed off.

''Is this the power of two kings in one?'' Kuroh asked for her as he watched his sister lift her arms up and focus on building shields to protect the others from the creatures. ''Is this the power the first Purple King craved?''

''How in the-?!" Yata snapped as he saw a red barrier move like water over his skin, when he moved a light purple shined for a second. Every single person here had it on their body and when the creatures lunged to clamp their teeth over their flesh they would be shocked away in whimpers.

''The Purple King's beasts…Alaura is the next Purple King so they recognize her slightly.'' Fushimi echoed Moko's words as he looked over to see Alaura pummeling her way through the beasts with no hesitation in her movements. Her skin was absent of any barrier and he frowned when he realized she embraced the slight pain.

''The pain fuels her rage.'' He mumbled as he listened to the cheers as the members of Homra and Scepter 4 began to attack back. He saw the three Kings waste no time in destroying as many creatures as they could with their armor now in place. Mikoto's path led directly towards Alaura as he pushed his way through to her.

''Damn idiot.'' Fushimi ground out as he made his way over to the fury induced Alaura, thinking she was blind to anything else.

He didn't know.

Liz rushed forward to Tatara as he groaned in pain, Anna by his side in tears. Yata and Kuroh came over and eliminated any beasts that attempted to get through to them.

''Let me see your wound!" She demanded as she ripped away the tattered remains of his shirt. The urge to gag was strong as pieces of his flesh were torn apart, the ability to see into him easy.

Tatara was going to die.

''How…bad?" He coughed out and spasmed in pain, but kept a slight grin on his lips.

Liz shook her head back and forth and used the tattered remains of his shirt to cover the damage. Anna clenched her eyes shut as her shoulders shook with her sobs. Chaos surrounded them and the others were oblivious to Tatara's current state.

''You can't die,'' Liz pleaded. "You can't!''

"Just…my luck, huh?'' he coughed up and gurgled up blood.

''Alaura can help you!" Liz insisted, looking around for her sister. She must have thought her powers from the shield would heal Tatara's wound just like hers had. If he died…Liz feared for her clan.

''No…not this wound…I can feel it.'' A small grin pulled up his lips as he looked up into the ceiling. "Alaura's mother…she must have used her own powers to prevent Alaura's from healing me. What a…crafty woman.''

"Stop that!'' Liz demanded as she gripped Tatara's shoulders tightly. "Don't talk as if you're going to die!"

"Anna…'' Tatara looked over at the crying child and brushed away her tears, smudging her cheek with his blood. "Alaura and Mikoto…they love you…watch over-them…''

"Don't go Tatara!" Anna wailed, squeezing her eyes shut. "Don't leave us!"

"ALAURA" Liz sprung up and stumbled forward, screeching her sister's name. "ALAURA WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Her screech attracted the attention of the members around her, Fushimi, Mikoto, Kuroh, Yata and Izumo along with Awashima. Yata, panicked she was injured but seeing no wound, looked past her only for his stomach to drop through the floor.

In her haste to get up she had pulled away Tatara's shirt and there, gruesome and bloody, lay his wound for all to see.

"No.'' Yata whispered, sprinting forward and dropping to his knees. "NO, Tatara! You'll be okay!"

"Funny…this feels, like déjà vu.'' Tatara chuckled only to wince. "Ow…''

"Totsuka.'' Izumo breathed, eyes wide as his fists clenched.

Fushimi looked away and closed his eyes to hide from the sight of one of his old friends slowly dying. They were matted in black from the smoke, sweat had begun to pour from their bodies and they were covered in the blood of the beasts.

This was a war, and this was a casualty.

Mikoto held a crying Anna in his arms as Tatara smiled gently up at him. His friend was going to die and he could do nothing but watch. The rage in his heart was burning through his skin it felt like, but still he could do nothing.

"ALAURA" Liz screeched, her throat raw as she noticed her sister's mix of red and purple flames just slightly away. The flames paused in their movement and she sagged in relief. "ALAURA!"

Warmth and the feeling of safety washed over her and she stumbled back, seeing Alaura looking at her with crimson eyes intently. The urge to cry swamped her but she swallowed it down; now was not the time to cry, now was the time to save Tatara.

''It's Tatara, your mom placed her powers on him to prevent your barrier from healing him!" She rushed out just moments before Alaura ran past her to Tatara's side.

Alaura halted at the foot of Tatara and stared down at him, scaring the others as she made no move she recognized any of them in her current state.

''Alaura?" Liz prodded gently.

Slowly the red in her eyes seeped away, leaving in its place brown eyes shining with pain and love. Her body slumped to her knees as she splayed her hands over his wounds desperately.

Minutes ticked by with no results, and it was only when Tatara began to cough harshly that Yata snapped.

''Use your freaky King Powers!" He shouted, cradling Tatara's head in his lap and allowing the tears to fall freely. A war went on around him and they paid no mind as their clan destroyed the battlefield.

''I can't.'' Alaura mumbled through a curtain of her hair that hid her face from view. Her hands shook but red flames pooled around her hands.

"What the fuck do you mean you can't?!" Yata cried. "You saved him once didn't you?! Use your doctor crap!"

"I can't.'' Alaura repeated, her voice softer this time. "I just-I just can't.''

"You can't save him? He's-'' Yata shook his head quickly and clenched his eyes shut. "No! No, he isn't dying!''

''Alaura?"

Tatara's voice, now extremely faint, ghosted through their cries and to Alaura's ears.

''Stop, Alaura.'' Tatara smiled softly. "Stop that.''

"No,'' she shook. The others were confused at the silent meaning between the two but the understanding was clear to them.

''Stop pouring your soul into me, Alaura. That won't fix me.'' He attempted gently. The others gasped as the meaning clicked. Alaura was trying to heal him by putting her own life force into him?

''Alaura…that's a spell, how do you even remember that?" Liz asked, remembering the distant memories of their home where they learned spells they thought to be false. The one Alaura was trying…it meant sacrificing one's life to save another's.

''Stop, Alaura. I don't need that.'' Tatara demanded once more as he felt the rush course through his veins. The stronger he became, the more her shoulders shook.

She was killing herself.

''Alaura-please sto-''

"Why should I?!" She screamed, snapping her head up and stunning Tatara into silence as grief met his view. Her cheeks were soaked with tears and chocked sobs filled his ears. "I can't lose you! I can't lose any more of my family!"

Moko's plan to riddle her daughter with grief had won.

He frowned and weakly slipped his hand through hers. "You won't lose me. I'll be right he-here. Wi-With all of-you-'' he broke off into a gurgle and blood splattered over his chest.

''Tatara!'' She cried, pulling him up slightly into her arms. "Don't give up, I can fix this-''

''No-'' Tatara mumbled through a mouth full of blood as red stained teeth filled their view as he smiled slightly. He tilted his head over to look at her and his eyes crinkled close as he put all his energy into his last smile.

''You-you're the…best per-son I-'' he coughed but his soft tone kept on. ''Alaura…you…you need to save-save the…da-ay-…''

Her eyes shot open as the words matched up to another voice in her head she knew, and pain consumed her.

''You-you're the…best per-son I-'' he choked and smiled, the last light fading. ''Big sis-ter-you…you saved-saved the…da-ay-…''

''No.'' She blinked past the tears uselessly and rocked back and forth as tears slipped steadily down her grime covered cheeks. "No, not again. Please, Tatara, my friend, don't go!"

"I l-love…al-all of…Homra…'' With one last intake of air and sweet smiles, Tatara exhaled for the last time. "No-no blood…no bone…n-no…''

Quietly, almost as if he had slipped into a deep sleep, Tatara's eyes slid close as his hand fell limply to the cold, unforgiving tile floor.

''Tatara!" Yata cried out, clenching his eyes shut and slamming his fist into the ground.

''No,'' Liz sobbed and collapsed into Yata's side, the boy clinging to her like she was his lifeline. Kusanagi looked away into the sea of battle, away from his friend's corpse. Anna cried out silently and buried her face into a stoic Mikoto's neck. Though up close, his eyes brimmed with unshed tears he refused to let fall.

Fushimi looked up into the air and grimaced as Yata's cries met his ears. "Stupid.'' He choked out.

Kuroh looked down at his blood soaked shoes, ashamed he couldn't do more for his sisters.

Alaura pulled back and stared down at Tatara Totsuka's smiling face. ''No ash,'' she finished softly for him, setting him down smoothly.

A thick, burning red barrier encased his body as she stood to her feet and looked out into the horde of monsters. Her mind was racing a mile a minute. Her clan deserved to grieve, to bury their family, but first…

"Ties thicker than that of blood…'' She stated, feeling the red seep back into her eyes. ''In Tatara Totsuka's name, I will destroy the Purple king.''

''No blood, no bone, no ash shall remain when we're done.'' Mikoto spoke suddenly, pulling her eyes toward him to see he was towering over her. His irises were consumed by the crimson he ruled.

''Liz, Kuroh, Yata,'' Alaura interrupted and looked down at them. Liz met her gaze head on. "Find my mother…and kill her.''

The three wore grim looks as they nodded. With one last look at Tatara they disappeared into the fighting to chase after Moko.

Alaura reached out and intertwined her fingers with Mikoto's, needing to feel him to keep her tethered to reality. He squeezed her hand in response as their dual powers burst into flames, coating their bodies.

Before they all dashed forward to continue their promise Alaura snuck one last look at Tatara and felt her heart become heavy with sorrow. Forcing herself to look away Alaura's lips pulled into a snarl as she lunged for a beast.

Homra loves you, Tatara. Our ties run deeper than blood! She thought viciously as her shouts echoed in her ears. I love you, my friend. Her hands gripped the jaws of a beast as she listened to the sound of its death trap snap in her hands. Though anger burned in her heart, she refused to succumb to its pull.

As she snarled ruthlessly at a creature, she spared her mother a last kind thought.

I loved you once, mother. But now…you are nothing to me.

A/N: *wipes away tears and blows nose into tissue* I hated doing this.

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

-ScarlettWriter

PREVIEW FOR CHAPTER 19: You

"You've waited a long time for this.'' She stated as they began to circle on another.

He smirked and stopped in his step, his long robes trailing behind him as purple danced along his fingertips.

''My dear,'' he tilted his head. "You have no idea.''