A/N - I'm sick again…  (Geez, you get sick a lot, don't you?)  Unfortunately so…  BUT…  WE HIT THE 100 REVIEW MARK!  Arigatou, minna-sama!!!  (*mumbling to himself*  People are ACTUALLY reading this???) 

Chapter Twenty-Three: Blood on the Glaive

You have friends
Who surrendered their courage to you
In the midst of the wind, they're calling your name

~Break Up!

                Aishuu's rage was very apparent.  Janyuu couldn't help but fear, seeing the pure anger shining inside those red orbs.  "How dare you upset my beloved Tamashii-chan?!?"  His glaive inched closer to Janyuu.  "I shall be pitiful no more to you!"  Janyuu jerked away from the boy's strong grip.  He gasped as he saw the shining blade flying for his chest.  He gasped. 

                The glaive had simply cut, a tiny little cut, into his chest.  Hardly a drop of blood.  Aishuu seemed content though.  "Don't think I've spared you.  Even a small cut from this glaive can kill."  He smirked.  "In fact, the lesser the injury, the more painful it is."  He sat down on the table, as if to watch the show.  "I think I shall enjoy this." 

                And, Aishuu's words were true.  His chest was already burning, and the tiny cut was turning red, and festering badly.  "Why--?  Why this madness?  Why this death?" 

                "Because that is my destiny.  Because I was born to fulfill this destruction."  Janyuu gasped, clutching his chest as the pain shot up his bones.  He suddenly felt a weight upon him.  Aishuu was standing upon him, and Janyuu could clearly feel the sharp boots worn by the dark spirit dig into his back.  "I could end it now, if you like."  Janyuu refused to reply.  "Odd…  You wish to suffer a painful death?"  Aishuu shrugged, as if Janyuu was a lost case.  "If that's what you really want…" 

                "No…no…I have to live for my family."  Aishuu raised an eyebrow.  "I have to…live." 

                "But you can't." 

                "Nothing is impossible." 

                "This is." 

                "No."

                "Good-bye, Lee Janyuu." 

                "NO!!"  But it was already too late.  Aishuu drove his glaive straight down into Janyuu's back.  He gasped, and suddenly, it was over. 

                He noted the woman standing, frightened out of her wits, watching Aishuu.  "I will let you live, but only for your children."  The dark angel's eyes narrowed.  "Tell the police anything you want.  I don't care as long as you do not breathe the name…Takato."  He glared and leaned closer.  "Be assured, you will suffer a very pained death."  He tossed his head. 

                He suddenly glanced at the bedroom where an innocent child slept.  He turned for the bedroom.  "What are you doing?  Going to kill my children now?"

                "Don't be stupid, woman, I have no desire to kill innocent ones."  He shot a death glare at the woman, who meekly lowered her head.  He slowly walked in Shaochung's room.  She was still asleep.  For a long while, Aishuu regarded the girl somberly.  Inside, inside a soul garden, the boy known as Takato smiled.