Author's Note: So we're back to Japan again. We haven't heard from Kiku and Kuro in while. The creative forces told me to do this and I did. I love how Kuro's part turned out. I think I will come back to his plan to turn Japan into his dark kingdom. On another note, I have the plots for the Christmas specials together. (Yes, they will all be separate until like the Halloween special.) I will have to look up the title for two of them. (I already had the Durarara Christmas special title.) I don't know what we will be doing for this fic next week. I will have to see. For now, enjoy this week's match.

Match Twenty-Three: Osan Gitsune:

Two sides of Japan. They are going in opposite directions. One struggles to get back the sanity he has lost. The other makes his mark in the world that will soon be his. Both desires cannot survive in the same world. Somebody has to lose. The question is which one?

-Kiku-

Nothing is right. Everything is going wrong with the world. They can't see it. They won't believe him. Even his wife is starting to lose hope. But it doesn't have to end like this. The problem is that he doesn't know what to do.

There was one constant, however.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Kiku's just numb to her by now. Tears rolled down her hollow cheeks.

"Aw, what's wrong?" she asked. He didn't speak. This couldn't keep going. Kiku didn't know how to break away from her. Because of her, they avoid him. Maybe they could smell death on his body. Did he really look like a walking corpse? Kiku never looked at mirrors anymore. She would be there, waiting for him. Plus, the mirror was how he got here in the living world. He doesn't know how to put him back. That's not stopping Sena from trying.

"He is not staying here with us!" she said. Sena has been going to shamans, priests, witches, and even the internet for help. She's not going to have any luck. Kiku knew that. He didn't have the heart to tell her. She was trying to save him after all.

"What if you can't save me?" he asked. Kiku turned to her from the futon. Sena wrinkled her nose.

"Don't say that," she said.

"But…" her husband said.

"Don't!" Sena shouted. Kiku stared at her with a desperate look in his eyes. She pressed her forehead against his.

"Listen to me," she said. "We will get through this. You can't quit on me! We are going to end this nightmare. I am doing everything that I can. You can't give up on me, got it?" Kiku looked so worn down.

"Got it?" Sena asked again. Kiku lowered his eyes.

"Yes," he said. His wife leaned in and kissed him.

"Very good," she said. Sena kissed him on the forehead. He wanted to believe her. He so desperately does. But they both know that time is running out. October was here. Soon, it would be winter. Sena pulled him into her arms.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Shhh," his wife whispered. "We're going to stay like this for a while." Kiku opened his mouth, but she shushed him again.

"Shhh. Shhh," she whispered. Her husband closed his mouth and his eyes.

"That's good," she whispered. Her comfort won't hold for long. Kiku gave up on believing in that. The question was did Sena know it herself. The Japanese man shut his eyes.

He didn't want to think about that.

-Kuro-

He's free to do what he wants. Kuro found himself getting stronger each day. Who knew that Japan had so much vice lurking under the surface? Kuro grinned to himself and rubbed his hands together.

"I came at the right time," he said. He knew just the place to start.

Ah, Kabukicho. So much that the people were swimming in without knowing. To Kuro, this felt like home. Perfect place to build a kingdom. But first, he was going to need a queen to rule with him.

Kuro made his way to Tantra Tokyo The man licked his lips. There was one woman that he had in mind.

Her name was Kuroki Pinkku. She was the top girl in the club. Easy to see why she was so popular. Pink streaks mixed in with her long black hair. Not too skinny and not too plump. Thick thighs, round tight ass, wide hips, perfect perky breasts, and a cute round face. Everything about her was sexy, but innocent at the same time. She would make a perfect queen in his kingdom.

Her shift was tonight.

Kuro walked inside like he owned the place. The bouncer acknowledged him with a nod.

"Good evening," the future king said. Then he went inside. Loud pop-dance music filled the air. Already, the party was lit. Glitter was raining down from the ceiling. The bright lights flashed around the club. Tonight's theme was schoolgirls in Wonderland. Pinkku was the centerpiece of the set. She was in the role of Alice. She danced around women in Playboy bunny suits. A sexy Mad Hatter came up behind her. Pinkku pretended to be shocked. Kuro smirked to himself at her.

Yes. She will do just fine.

He watched until her number was over. Kuro still had to get the timing right. His plans all relied on her answer.

"Would you like another drink?" a waitress asked. Kuro waved her off. He didn't look up as she walked away. Kuro timed himself before getting up and walking backstage towards his prize.

Meanwhile, Pinkku made it to her dressing room. Something told her that she was going to have a guest tonight. She sat down at her vanity. First, Pinkku took off her false eyelashes. She wiped off her make-up. Her hairpins went next. She looked in the mirror at her round face.

A knock came on the door. The stripper sat up straight.

"Come in," she said. She didn't turn around as the door opened. Kuro stood in the doorway.

"Good evening, my dear," he said. She saw him in the mirror. Kuro smirked at her.

"You wanted to see me?" she asked. He closed the door behind him. Pinkku turned around. She wasn't afraid of him.

"Why yes," Kuro said. Her eyes shifted away from him.

"What do you want from me?" she asked. He gracefully made his way over to her. She looked so small underneath him. Kuro gently took her by the hands.

"Be my queen," he said. "I will be your man." His words sounded so smooth. Pinkku had a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Yes," she said. Kuro smirked.

"Heh," he said. The Japanese man leaned down and kissed the stripper on the lips. She relaxed and kissed him back. They shared a few more kisses. He pressed his forehead against hers.

"I'll let you finish your shift," Kuro said in a whisper. "Meet me afterwards." Pinkku drew her mouth closed.

"Yes…" she mumbled. Kuro playfully tapped her on the cheek.

"See me afterwards," he said. The Japanese man turned and walked out of her dressing room. Pinkku sank to her knees with big eyes. She put her hand to her chest.

"Kuro… -sama…" she murmured. Her heart started racing against her chest.

The would-be king is almost ready to make his move. He rented the most expensive love hotel under Kiku's name. No one asked a question. Why would they? This was going to be his kingdom after all. Pinkku was going to have to know that she was going to be his queen. In order for that to happen, Kuro had everything ready.

Around three in the morning, there was a knock on his door. Kuro sat up on the bed.

"Come in," he said. He looked up to see the door opening. He smiled when he saw Pinkku standing in the doorway.

"Oh good," he said. "You got my text. Come closer." Pinkku closed the door behind her and walked over to the bed. Kuro smirked at her.

"Take off your clothes," he said. There was no easing her into this. It was all about his needs now. Pinkku didn't argue. She just took off her dress. Her gloves and stockings followed behind. Kuro took off his jacket and looked her up and down.

Yes. She was going to do perfectly.

"I have something for you," Kuro said. He reached over to the nightstand and pulled open the drawer. She watched him pull out a black spiked collar and leash. Kuro waved it out in front of her.

"Pretty, isn't it?" he asked. He stood and walked over to his would-be queen. Pinkku didn't say a word as he put a collar around her neck. Kuro caressed the leash.

"Looks great on you," he said. Her cheeks turned bright pink. The Japanese gave her a kiss on the lips. Pinkku felt compelled to kiss him back. She tasted like cherries. Kuro pushed his tongue into her mouth. She let off a small gasp before giving in. The Japanese man buried his right hand in her hair, pushing her closer to him. Now, she couldn't get away if she wanted. His would-be queen gave herself over in that moment. Kuro smirked to himself in that kiss. He broke off the last one and leaned in close to her ear.

"Lay down on the bed and spread your legs," he whispered. As if in a daze, Pinkku walked over to the bed and laid down. Kuro smirked as he took off his shirt. This was going to be easier than he thought. He moved her wrists to the headboard and tied them with the rope that he had hidden under the bed. Pinkku looked up at him with a dreamy look in her eyes. Kuro licked his lips.

"Beautiful," he said. "Just beautiful." Pinkku looked away, blushing. Kuro turned her face towards him.

"Look at me. Look at me!" he commanded. "I want to see your face through everything." Kuro leaned down and kissed his queen on the lips. She kissed him back. It didn't take long for his tongue to be pushed into her mouth. Almost reminded him of his own wife. And the Japanese man hated his wife. Still, she had to come here too. For now, Kuro would focus on making Pinkku his queen and building his kingdom in Kabukicho. His hand rested on her breasts as a tent formed in his pants.

It was time to build his kingdom with his queen.

Two sides of Japan part ways and go their own parts. Both want their way. Only one of them will get their wish. The question was, who was it going to be?