So here I am with chapter 3 now! The EXTRA LONG CHAPTER that shows I'm too lazy to create separate chapters and am begging forgiveness for not updating. Well, time to start with review comments:

Experimental- Really? Well, I don't think I'll reference him by name anymore, so it doesn't matter much… but I think I'll have to look it up anyway! Fallen angel, as in, when Michael defeated Lucifer and all that? That could work for my original story!

GQSamy- **sigh** It all depends on how long I can keep him depressed… hee hee… but yeah, the manga did leave it off, and so… this was born. And the manga was sad… **sniffles** They should have included this story arc into the anime! It fits with the Akuma no Toriru~!

Too lazi to log in but will later on…- Wow, why are people so excited and happy about this fic? **looks around confusedly** But there will be actual yaoi someday, so yeah, I'll do something about BOTH our fixes…

Horyuu- Well, at least in death they are together and random fics like this can be born… and Mitani-sensei doesn't have to live on in sadness… but yeah, it'd be better if both of them were alive. **glares at Matsushita-san… who just completely ignores her and doesn't know of her existence**

I am now listening to the Akuma no Toriru… I can't wait till I get the sheet music to it in~! **loves her new violin named Hijiri**

The first couple of pages of this were typed at one in the morning. Please excuse any drastic mood changes… **yawns**

IMPORTANT NOTE as to not confuse poor readers: I am changing the demon's name now- whatever it was previously was annoying me, and it will now be one of the fallen angels, as Experimental has kindly told me Sagatanis was. Erm, now it's Kesabel, the fallen angel that taught shape shifting, according to my research. And if nothing else, it's a cool name.

And today, January 13th 2004, is my… 3rd fanfiction.net anniversary? Yeah! It's also Orlando Bloom's birthday. Yay!

Chapter 3-

Carpe Diem

"Here, let me take your bag." Izuru offered.

"Thank you." Takamiya smiled.

"Um, what about our car?" Mitani asked.

"Why don't you go get it and drive it to the complex and we'll meet you there?" Izuru replied.

"Okay then." Mitani ran off towards the car.

He left the two in a silent walk, the only sound being the dog's collar and two pairs of shoes- one pair of tennis shoes and one pair of high heels.

"So…" Takamiya cleared her throat. "How old are you? Err, I suppose it would be, 'how old were you'?"

"I was seventeen when I died and became a Shinigami."

"Really? I know it sounds as if I'm prying, but why?"

Izuru took a deep breath. "Because I made a deal with a demon. I wronged my lover by forming a contract with a demon and the one I love was killed because of it." He softly replied, eyes lowering to the ground. "I was stupid, that's why."

"It sounds like my own situation in a way." She smiled sadly. "So I guess that means that I should not have dealt with my own demon?"

"That would have been smarter, yes." Izuru also smiled sadly.

"It was about two months ago that I became blind." Takamiya explained out of nowhere. Maybe she just wanted to get it out. "I was rising in the life of a local TV star when I was involved in a car crash. I remember it down to the rusted color of the other car that plowed into me.

"It was then that I realized that I would not be able to act anymore. I was given my Pochi so that I could learn to go on living, but it isn't easy. I've had to scrounge for jobs when I could get them so that I could feed us both- but Pochi has always been there."

Izuru could sense where this was going, along its sad path.

"I invoked a demon so that I could get what I wanted. I wanted my sight back so that I could work and make a living again. My eyes have been damaged beyond any repair, so surgery would not help. I'm stuck in this dark world."

"I'm sorry." This was all Izuru could say to this. What was it like to be blind?

"Tell me Izuru-san, can you describe your partner and yourself to me? And can you describe what my Pochi looks like?"

Izuru smiled. "Of course." He looked down at the dog. "Pochi-san is a golden retriever and his face looks very intelligent. It's obvious from his eyes that he cares about you and your safety.

"I have short, light blond hair and a dark blue shade of eyes. I am… about your height, I suppose. Mitani-sensei is a few inches taller than us with a sandy blond color of hair that he wears in a poofy ponytail with bangs that cover his eyes. His eyes are hazel, by the way."

Takamiya let out a laugh. "Poofy?"

Izuru couldn't help but grin also. "Yes, his hair is poofy."

"Tell me." Takamiya looked at him. "Your lover that you mentioned- was it Mitani-san?"

Izuru flushed, but continued walking. "Is it that obvious?"

"Mm, I've just gained higher levels of understanding people from their tone of voices in the past two months. From inference, I suppose you feel guilt for his death and your own."

Izuru nodded briefly. "Yes."

"But you still love him."

"I… I don't know, Takamiya-san."

"Izuru-san, call me Maaya." She let a gentle, motherly smile grace her young features. "And you should tell him if you still feel from him. When I could still see, I was into anime and manga more than most people my age. One of the main characters of a series that I was fond of was a young grade school boy who had a hard time deciding whom it was he was in love with. But someone told him to clear his mind, and then the one he loved most of all would be revealed. I think you should do the same."

"I'll… keep it in mind." Izuru answered unsurely. He didn't know exactly how much he really wanted to put his mind on the subject, but there was this part of him that wanted him to think about it right now.

Pochi turned to the apartment complex that they had been staking out in front of previously. "We must be here." Takamiya Maaya smiled a grin of a different sort than it had been. Now it was more like that of a best friend than anything else.

Mitani appeared suddenly out of nowhere, causing Izuru to start.

"I'm sorry." He scratched the back of his head. "One of the tenants was looking at me suspiciously, so I felt I should make myself scarce."

Feeling heat rise to his cheeks, Izuru had much of the same feeling.

"So when did the week start?"

"Sunday." Takamiya answered. "If it is now Tuesday evening, that means that there are about four more days left in the deal, including today."

"And no doubt the demon will be after you with all it's got." Mitani frowned.

There was a painful silence in which even Pochi stopped panting and just looked at the other two men inquisitively.

"So, who would like me to cook something? I imagine it is somewhere around dinner time." Takamiya offered, standing.

"No, no. We couldn't impose on you, Taka- Maaya-san." Izuru interjected quickly.

"Come now, I enjoy the company." Her gray eyes smiled as well as her lips. "Pochi and I never get any visitors; and would protecting me be more convenient if you two boarded here for a while?"

There was now an embarrassed silence and the two Shinigami processed this information. "I suppose…" Mitani mumbled. "But at least let us reimburse you for any costs that we may have after this is over."

"I won't have it." She retorted firmly. "You two are my guests and my guards, as well as friends." She let a cross look come over her face. "So you two are staying." She articulated every syllable before turning and walking into the kitchen.

Mitani and Izuru had flushed looks on their faces.

"Why do I get the feeling that any woman could take over the world if she so desired?" Mitani asked nervously.

"I don't know." Izuru stuttered nervously. His thoughts then took a turn from the present situation to the conversation from before.

"…Someone told him to clear his mind, and then the one he loved most of all would be revealed. I think you should do the same."

Mitani… He stole a glance to the man sitting next to him, who was still looking in the direction of the kitchen with a half-amused look on his face.

I imagine that… I may seem stupid, staying so nervous and paranoid like this. If anyone could hear my thoughts- and I hope there are no telepathic people around- they would probably sign me up to go to a mental institution, where I would freak the doctors out. But… how would anyone else feel in my position? All my life, I have been taught homosexuality was evil and condemned- and I found myself in love with a man. We loved each other, slept with each other, and ultimately, I caused our deaths. If it weren't for me… if I hadn't been born…

And here we are, sitting next to another once again, guarding a blind woman from a demon and the gods are seemingly laughing at me by throwing me into this position.

I want to love Mitani-sensei… I feel it in my heart still. But… I will once again ultimately cause our deaths again, and Lucifer had no second chances of getting back into heaven. My feelings… caused our eternal damnations. My feelings were the reason we both died. My feelings are the cause of all of the misery. I may be self-centric, but it is truth- if it weren't for me, Mitani-sensei would probably have grown old with a wife and kids and not lost his chance into Heaven.

I can't steal anything else away from him.

A hand landed on his back and the thumb started in slow circles.

"Izuru? Are you okay?" Mitani asked, now looking at him with full attention. "If something is bothering you, we can talk about it."

"No." Izuru shook his head. "I just zoned a little." He put on a replicated smile.

Mitani's hand subconsciously slid to Izuru's side, causing the boy to flinch and stand up abruptly. "I-I have to use the bathroom." He said quickly, sauntering off in the direction he thought the said bathroom was in. It was a lie- he wasn't even sure if Shinigami needed to use the bathroom. Most likely they did- they ate, didn't they?

After finding the room, Izuru sat on the counter for a few moments before flushing the toilet absentmindedly. With a sudden feeling, he turned on the water in the sink and let tears flow from his eyes.

He hadn't cried in a while. Not since the time he realized that he would indeed by damned for eternity for sleeping with another man. But it had felt so right… and it still did… but he couldn't.

"Izuru, you idiot." He scolded himself. "You can't force yourself to stop loving him. You just can't…"

"Here Takamiya-san, let me help you." He heard Mitani say as two metallic objects clanged together, assumingly pots and pans.

"Oh, thank you. Can you boil some rice?"

Izuru turned off the water and opened the door. It was enough to make the woman feed them, too much to make her pay the water bill.

"I'm going out." Izuru called to the two in the kitchen.

"Be back in half-an-hour!" Takamiya called to him.

"Okay." He answered, opening the door and slipping on his shoes. He closed the door behind him and left.

Mitani watched him walk off, eyes unable to leave the boy that reminded him now of a candle that had been blown out- something you know used to shine with light but someone had dowsed it before it was ready.

"He needs a little time." Takamiya muttered.

Mitani looked at her, gaining more and more respect for the woman before him who lived in the physical embodiment of the dark abyss that which he himself was trying to claw himself out of.

The wind made the day colder than it really was. Christmas wasn't too far away, was it?

"Izuru… I'm going to come…"

"Sensei… Sensei!"

Izuru flushed, remembering last the Christmas Eve he had spent alive and with Mitani. Now as it seemed, he would spend Christmas with the man again, but in a very different light.

"I love you…"

There was a little white plush toy of a dog staring at him from a toy store window. It looked up at him with large eyes that beckoned him. Next to it was the exact same thing, except for black. They stared at him, calling and calling…

"Have a nice day." The cashier lady handed him the plastic bag.

"Thank you." Izuru bowed and ran out the store. No doubt Tatsumi would have a fit- but that didn't really matter now, now did it?

"Hey, look at that!" Someone pointed upwards to the sky.

Izuru gave an unconcerned look upward, and then flinched, seeing smoke.

I have a bad feeling… he started running back to the direction of Takamiya's apartment.

His breath was quickened as his thoughts formed suddenly. Is Maaya-san okay? Is that even her apartment? With what's been going on, there's no real doubt… I have to get there on time!

What about Mitani-sensei?

He stopped, looking around to see if anyone was looking at him. Seeing there was no one of the sort, he cut into a wooded area and jumped into the air. Floating high up, he saw that the fire did indeed come from Takamiya's apartment complex.

"Shit…" he whispered. "Mitani!" He used up a split second to turn himself invisible before flying over to the complex, landing and coming back into visibility. "Maaya-san! Mitani-sensei!" He shouted above the crowds of people who were watching in awe and worry, yet not willing to do anything as firefighters appeared on the scene. "MITANI!"

"Here, Izuru!" Mitani yelled, waving an arm above his head to catch the boy's attention. Beside him was Takamiya, hugging Pochi and with a look of fear on her face. Izuru ran over to join them.

"What happened?"

"The stove caught on fire as I was cooking rice." He made a significant bit of eye contact. "If you ask me, it was no accident."

"The demon?"

"Yes." He nodded firmly.

"What's happening?" Takamiya interrupted fearfully, hair streamed and stuck in various places. Some of her crimson clothing was torn and battered. Her grayed eyes were wide.

"We're going to get you to another apartment somewhere. Don't worry." Mitani leaned down and picked her up in his arms as she clung like a scared child. Pochi whined a little before calming down and looking straight at Izuru, as if pleading help.

They moved Takamiya to a hotel room on the other side of town, feeling like their free reign with Tatsumi would soon be put on a very short leash. Yes, both Shinigami would almost be able to feel the figurative collars slipping around their necks like nooses if they were not so preoccupied with the situation.

"Izuru." Mitani said to him after lying Takamiya down on the one bed. She had fallen unconscious from exhaustion and fear. "I'm going to Meifu to… run an errand. I need to explain our situation. Can you watch Takamiya-san while I am gone?"

Izuru was unsure, but nodded anyway. "What if the demon should attack in the mean time?"

"Then run. Do not try to fight any demons. If Takamiya-san, or Pochi, or you… were to die, then…" He shook his head. "Just don't do anything stupid. I don't want to lose y- my partner so early on." He straightened his coat and left out the door.

Ignore him, Izuru. Just ignore what you know he was about to say.

For the first time, it dawned on him that he still had the bag with the stuffed animals in his hands. Stupid impulse buying… what am I going to do with these? Hm… maybe… Christmas presents? His stomach growled. Dinner. Never ate dinner- but I can't leave Maaya-san to pick up anything. Ack, I should have told Mitani-sensei to pick up something on the way back.

He took a look at Takamiya, who was still asleep.

Poor her, all her stuff is gone. I hope she had insurance, at least… but that still won't take away the hole in her heart. I… I know what it's like to loose everything.

Something wet and cold poked his arm. Looking up, he saw Pochi looking up at him with big brown eyes. A golden paw scratched at his leg and Izuru bent down to scratch him behind the ears.

"You'll help me protect her, right?" He smiled slightly. Sitting down on his butt, he started reviewing the situation as he could see it. The demon has now gone on the offensive- we cannot count that it will not kill any innocent civilians. We can either be defensive and just keep Maaya-san alive, or we could kill the demon… maybe? Why don't we bring her to Meifu? Is there some law against it, or is there some rule in their game saying otherwise? And what about the presence of Mitani-sensei and I. That has to be against its rules. This is just too confusing. Why would anyone be stupid enough to-?

Wait, you did it too, contact a demon. I have no room to ask that question. Stupid child.

He slumped down into a semi-comfortable position and sighed. "This sucks very badly. I don't suppose I could have just died and been done with it? Eh, kami-sama? Do you even exist?" He shut himself up from that slight outburst. "I wonder; does Mitani-sensei still believe in God? I know he did back then, during life, while I was questioning his existence."

There was so much that he could think about, just for the sake of being self-destructive. However, emotional masochism, though it had already taken its toll, did not seem very pleasing right now, so he concentrated on not thinking, which does not work. So after leading that roundabout route that seemed too terribly like a hamster caught in circular tubing with nowhere to go, he abandoned this and starting counting off seconds.

"Zero, ichi, ichi, zero, sayonara." He mumbled randomly. It almost seemed appropriate, but not quite. "Pochi, I am terribly sorry if I'm scaring you, but I have nothing else to do." He commented this after the dog had lifted its paw over its face in an attempt to scratch its ear.

It was after a few hours of thumb twiddling and talking to the dog that Mitani returned. "I'm here." He called, opening the door and closing it quickly behind him.

"What did you do?" Izuru stood, stretching.

"Well, after getting yelled at Tatsumi-san for spending money on the fwooshy coat, I asked Tsuzuki-san about fuda."

"You have fuda?"

"Ah yes, the things you can't live without in life: Tea, anime/manga, pocky, pie, and fuda- not necessarily in that order." He grinned as Izuru laughed. Had he been like this, so comical in life? Izuru could hardly remember, but it seemed very possible. After all, it had been his beloved sensei. And it felt good to laugh for the first time in so long.

The younger felt it again- that big, gaping hole in his chest that cried out to him to be filled. He felt almost like he was a soldier in some war that had gotten himself shot in the chest, and yet just wouldn't die. Or a survivor from the bombings on Nagasaki and Hiroshima who would stand up, dazed and dumbfounded, wondering why there were no more buildings left and why everyone was gone before possibly suffering and dying from radiation.

If only I had died.

"Izuru?" Mitani reached out and touched his arm.

The boy flinched at the contact and pulled his arm away. "I'm okay. You don't need to worry about me."

Mitani lowered his gaze. "Alright, Okazaki-kun."

For some reason, having been called that by this person sting him worse than anything else he could imagine would have.

"It's Wednesday now." He continued, looking at the clock that said it was past midnight. "Four more days. If it goes ahead and attacks, maybe we could kill it and get it over with." He gave a nervous, half-hearted chuckle. "Okazaki-kun, you probably haven't eaten in a while, have you? Why don't you run out and pick up some food for yourself, Takamiya-san, and Pochi?"

"Don't you need anything?"

"No, no." He waved his hands defensively. "Tsuzuki-san also forcibly fed me stuff until Kurosaki-kun found him." Another half-hearted smile. Izuru wanted to know what he was actually feeling, but his hair was covering his eyes, so he couldn't be sure. "Take my jacket. It's cold out there." He politely handed it to Izuru, who slipped it on.

"Thank you, then." He slipped on his shoes and left, feeling the chilly air and automatically thankful for Mitani's generosity. He started away from the hotel room. "Why is he calling me Okazaki-kun now?" He wondered aloud, and then answered his own question. "Because you've been cold to him. To him, it must feel like we're starting all over with this strange relationship of ours. Can we even have a relationship anymore? I… I don't want to hurt him, but no matter what, I am hurting him." He groaned. "What the hell am I supposed to do?"

Feeling as if the entire world had blackened from existence, he hollowly went to the closest twenty-four hour café to eat something, quite sure he was the only one in the world when in fact there were a few people still up at this hour.

He found the only open grocery store and bought a few days worth of food for three people and a dog. The cashier indifferently checked him out and did not even say a farewell. Were all people so indifferent?

A thought came to his mind suddenly as he made his way closer to the hotel. My parents. I'll bet that they're still grieving. I want to see them, and reassure them, but… I'd just hurt them too. Let's face it Okazaki Izuru, you hurt everyone. Why couldn't you have just died when you were supposed to?

I wonder if Mitani-sensei has thought about his own family. We've never talked about them. I wonder what his parents look like, and whether or not he has any siblings.

"I can show you." A voice said to him.

He whirled around, trying to see who was talking to him. In fact, not only had someone talked to him, but they had read his mind.

"Who are you?" He asked aloud.

"I can show you your family." The disembodied voice answered.

Izuru stopped, tempted. "Show me then."

A form hazily appeared before him. It was an orange cat, staring up at him with yellow eyes that started to glow.

"It's you…" Izuru whispered. "Kesabel!"

"Izuru, are you okay?" A woman asked.

"Okaa-san?" He looked around wildly. He was in his own home, dressed in pajamas and seemingly ready for bed.

"Why did you just yell?" The woman put her arms on his shoulders. "Are you sick?"

He hugged her tightly and felt tears forming. "I was dead, I know I was! I died at school!" He cried.

"Izuru!" His mother laughed. The laugh seemed hypnotic, as if the familiarity was soothing him and calming his nerves. "School has been taking a toll on you, hasn't it? You've just gotten back from there for your Christmas break."

"I did?" He let go, arms sliding down to his sides.

"Of course." She shook her head. "Maybe being the Student Body President is a little too much for you, if you're having nightmares about school."

"But it wasn't a dream, I know it!" He yelled. "Mitani-sensei was there, and so were Maaya-san and Pochi! I have to get back to them and warn them about-"

"Calm down. Here, sit." She sat on the couch, patting next to her so that her son would as well. It all seemed so real, and Izuru hoped it was true. "It was just a dream. You're safe, here at home."

"What about Mitani-sensei, and everyone else…" He mumbled.

"Mitani-sensei?" She blinked. "Oh, that teacher that was arrested for killing those two people."

"What?" Izuru's eyes widened.

"Don't you remember? The priest and that student? Um, Fujisawa-kun, I think it was." She thought about it for a few moments.

"But, Mitani-sensei… why?"

"Son, are you sure that you're not sick. You should remember all this." She put her hand to his head suddenly. "You don't have amnesia, do you?"

"No, okaa-san. It's just that… the past while seems like a large blur." He forced an unworried smile on his face.

His mother smiled softly. "Of course, that's understandable. What with all that's gone on… But I can't believe they let a teacher like that into the school! The child molester!"

"Mitani-sensei wouldn't do that!" He stood up, facing her.

"He was convicted, and the student's body was… dirtied. I hope the man's soul finds its way to hell for committing such an evil act."

Mitani-sensei couldn't have… not to Fujisawa-kun…and please not with him! He couldn't have… replaced me… does this even have connection with the reality I remember? Was that even a reality at all? "He wouldn't do anything to hurt someone purposely! He doesn't deserve to go to hell, he was a wonderful teach and I l-" He stopped, face reddening, as his mother started trying to quiet him.

"Sh, dear! You're going to wake your father." She put her hands on his shoulders. "You've had a hard school year. Why don't you go to bed?"

"I… don't know. Okaa-san, I just don't-" He stopped, feeling the hands wrapping around his neck and squeezing with inhuman strength. Thumbs were pressing into his throat, cutting off air. "O-Okaa-san?!"

"Die…" A hissing voice whispered into his ear. The woman facing him did not look like his mother anymore, but a strange, deformed human going through a metamorphosis into a monster. Black wings started sprouting from its back.

Tasukete… He felt the nausea rising into him. Someone help me, I can't breathe. Why okaa-san? Help… The fingers pressed harder down.

"No one is going to help you." The voice told him. "Just die… feel yourself drifting. It is what you wanted."

Yes, this is what I wanted. He felt his mind clouding. I did want to just die, didn't I? Yeah, I'm sorry Maaya-san, Pochi, minna-san. May I get what I deserve now. Sayonara…

Sayonara…

Mitani…

"Izuru!" A voice yelled. It was a different one, more emotional and familiar.

Who…?

"Izuru!"

Hands grabbed his shoulders from behind and jerked him away from the fallen angel-turned-demon named Kesabel, who hissed and took to the sky.

"Izuru…" Mitani slumped down, holding the boy against himself. "Wake up, please!"

"He won't." The fallen angel landed, black hair swirling from the wing flaps. "He wants to die, and so he will." He shrugged indifferently. "You will lose your lover again and I will gain the soul of a poor blind woman who should have died. You should have died too, you know. Such anomalies you Shinigami are." A grin stretched across his changing face and as the features transformed into those of an auburn haired youth. "Ne, Mitani-sensei?"

"Fujisawa-kun… no, you're still Kesabel, the shape-shifter." He shook his head, clearing his mind and reaching into his jacket for the fuda he knew that he would need.

"But Mitani-sensei… it's me, Fujisawa-kun. Don't you remember the night you killed me? We made love and you chopped my head open. I told the boy, you know. He knows now, and no doubt he will die hating you."

"That's a lie!" Mitani screamed. "That boy, Fujisawa-kun, blackmailed me! It was not love that I felt! The only one I could ever love is Izuru."

"Touching. Will he believe that if he ever wakes up?"

"Damn you!"

Okazaki Izuru saw darkness once again, much like when he had been trapped as Fohkaroru used his body. There was sound, however, but it was all dimmed. He could hear echoes, as if they were far away.

He couldn't have replaced me. He loved me, and I… I was in love with him.

I should just die and that would solve everything.

Would it really?

"Don't you remember the night you killed me? We made love…"

Is that truth, Mitani-sensei? Did you make love with Fujisawa-kun before killing him?

What does it matter?

He heard sounds now and vaguely felt heat and energy passing around, over, and through him. It was dulled as if with anesthetic.

Why am I still alive? What is my purpose?

"Izuru."

Izuru, floating in darkness, somehow turned himself to the form of Takamiya Maaya that was floating behind him.

"Bind!" Mitani released the power within the fuda as winds reached out to restrain the demon before him that had reverted back to its angelic form. It caught on for a few moments before breaking off.

"He's fading." Kesabel laughed. "Your beloved Izuru is fading. Why are you fighting, anyway? For him? He doesn't love you anymore. It's crossed his mind to love you again, but he's turned down the thought time after time. He believes that the acts are dirty now, that you are dirty. I can sense him weakening." He lifted his arms in the air, chains that decorated his dark and ripped clothing rattling. "I will end your life now." Dark lightning, seemingly liquefied, formed in his hands. Malice glinting in silvered eyes showed insanity as the attack was unleashed.

"Shield!" Mitani blocked with the defensive fuda. The markings were becoming blurred and would not last long.

"Izuru, wake up!" Please kami-sama, let me have the power to defeat him. I need to save everyone… Maaya-san, Pochi, Izuru… please, let me be able to save them. "Izuru, don't die… I love you."

Kesabel looked as if he was about to laugh, but was stopped by sudden realization. His eyes were wide and he stood straight. "Enma?!"

"Wake up, Izuru-san." Maaya goaded. "Come on, you need to wake up and help Mitani-san."

"Is he in trouble?"

"Yes, he is fighting to save both you and I. He needs your help."

Izuru shook his head. "No one needs me. I would just hurt him further."

Maaya reached up and took off her sunglasses, revealing deep brown eyes that stared at him. "Izuru-san, Mitani-san will die if you don't wake up. And so will you, Pochi, and myself." She reached out a hand to him. "Come now."

Izuru hesitated before taking her hand. Suddenly, he felt himself lifting out of the darkness and into the world.

"Mitani…?" He asked, dazed. Be now, Kesabel had gotten over surprise and unleashed another attack.

"Izuru!" He almost dropped the fading fuda.

"Mitani!" Izuru jumped up suddenly, realizing the situation.

"Hold this." Mitani handed him the shield fuda. "Do not drop it, no matter what, okay?"

"Hai." The boy nodded, taking hold of the paper. Right away his arm started trembling with the sheer force of the opponent's attack.

Mitani smiled and pulled another fuda out of his pocket. "Element fire, strike!"

At that exact moment, the shield gave out.

"Mitani!" The paper flew out of Izuru's hands and the shield broke.

"Izuru!" Mitani grabbed onto the boy, attack already sent and trusting this single attack to save their lives.

"Izuru-san! Mitani-san!" Takamiya and Pochi ran up to the two Shinigami, collapsed amidst ruins of cars and slightly burnt buildings.

"Maaya-san?" Izuru raised himself on his elbows. "What happened?"

"I don't know." She answered. "But you won."

"How can you tell?"

She smiled. "I can see."

His head shot up so that he could look into her eyes. Indeed, they were no longer gray, but the dark brown that he had seen in that vision. But who had the person from that vision been? It couldn't have been Takamiya herself, because she was just an ordinary human.

A while later, he would learn that it had been Enma Dai-oh that had given him the vision, but for now he would remain unsure on the subject.

"Mitani-sensei?" He moved the man off on his legs where he had fallen. He was bleeding from various places that had been cut by the loose attack. The demon Kesabel was nowhere in sight. "Good, he's breathing. But he will have to recover."

"Do you have to go back to where you came from now?" Takamiya asked, saddened by the thought. Pochi poked his nose at the still unconscious man, causing him to stir slightly.

"I'm afraid so." Izuru nodded. "Now that our job is over and you are safe once again, we have to file reports and answer for… damages." He looked around himself, indicating the buildings and cars. "We're just lucky that it was so early in the morning, or else we'd really be in for it." He stood, dragging Mitani up with him. "I'm sorry if this seems so abrupt, but I really do need to get him help."

Takamiya shook her head. "Everything has been running so fast since you two got here. I can't ever thank you enough."

Izuru smiled broadly, face with dirt smudges. "Just live. Don't just survive, but live. Carpe diem, I suppose. Seize the day."

The woman laughed. "I will." She paused. "Will I see you two again?"

"Maybe, but I can't make promises."

"Pochi will miss you."

"And I'll miss him." He shifted so that he could rub the dog on the head with a free hand. "So I guess… sayonara."

"Yeah, sayonara." She started waving, but stopped. "Oh, Izuru-san! You are right- his hair is poofy!"

They exchanged laughter as Izuru concentrated and sifted both he and Mitani out of that plane into EnMaChou, where they were greeted directly by Tsuzuki, Hisoka, Tatsumi, Watari, the GuShouShin, and Kacho.

Izuru smiled weakly. Everything was passing too quickly, and yet it had hardly been any time. "That's it."

Maaya picked up a newspaper and looked at it. The headline said: Local Actress Miraculously Regains Sight. So the town was small enough to put that as their headline? Ah well, she had her job back, and Pochi was alive, fed, and happy. She continued on her way, the said dog tugging on the leash, directing her to the park.

Two blonds sat in the window of the café, watching her pass. The elder folded the newspaper under his arm and turned to the other. "So, do you have it?"

"Yeah." The younger of the two held up an envelope. He felt a little tense around his former teacher because of what the demon Kesabel had said, but he didn't know whether or not it was true, so shouldn't he give Mitani the benefit of the doubt?

"Let's go." They stood and walked to the apartment complex that the rising actress had moved into. Stopping at the building's mailbox, they slipped a note in the one for her number and a small package. Looking at one another, they nodded and disappeared.

When Takamiya Maaya returned home that afternoon, she checked her mailbox, as usual. She was surprised to find a note with no name except her own on it, and a package in the same condition. Tossing her bills aside as she entered her apartment and unleashing Pochi, she opened up the letter first. Reading it, her eyes and smile widened. She tore the wrapping off of the package and uncovered two stuffed animals- a white dog and a black dog. She shook her head and laughed. "You two! You could have said hello to me personally!"

Dear Maaya-san and Pochi,

Thank you for your hospitality while we were on Earth. There should be some extra money in your bank account for our expenses, unless the EnMaChou secretary should find out first, and in which case we would be dead, again.

We send our greetings and love. May you live everyday of the rest of your life.

-You know who

"Yeah." She smiled. "Carpe diem."

All that you really need in like are anime, manga, pocky, tea, and fuda- again not necessarily in that order. Oh, sure all the health books and doctors talk about… healthy food and drink, but what otaku really needs those?

I hate writing battles.

Congratulations all, I just deleted a story arc from my outline that I thought didn't fit at the particular time, only to be moved to later. So yeah, it'll get onto more cases quicker… if I can type it all and get my lazy arse up from reading wonderful Mercedes Lackey shounen ai books and to the computer to type. I love Vanyel, Tylendel, and Stefen (Actual shounen ai! And ANGST!). I want Naitachal and Elianthanis~! (Never mind that there's no official shounen ai there) Elves are so bishie… **drools** **suddenly realizes she has a CERTAIN reader breathing down her neck for a specific chapter she blurted out to her… and a few more people who know where she lives and know where her locker is… and know where all her manga is T.T**

Wildwolf: **holds up sign that says: THEY NEED TO MAKE GRAPHIC NOVEL 12**

Chibi: **sign: READ THE GRAPHIC NOVELS**

Wildwolf: **sign: WE ARE NOT GETTING PAID TO ADVERTISE**

Chibi: **sign: I'M DIRT POOR- MY FORTUNE IS IN MANGA (And half of it's hidden from the parents! ^.^)**

Wildwolf: **sign: AND IT ALL GETS STOLEN FROM US THE DAY AFTER WE BUY IT**

Chibi: **sign: AND I DON'T GET IT BACK FOR 2 WEEKS USUALLY**

More notes: I'm sorry if that seemed sped and crappy, but I suddenly realized Saturday night that my anniversary was coming up and that I had to post SOMETHING. I decided on this cause it was easier for me and on the computer I have access to, unlike all my OTHER fics on the computer that hates me. Blah. I have no real way of sending this to a BETA either… and its too long to print out without having people notice… so blah, rely and my 97th percentile PSAT writing skills… **groans and keels over**

Wildwolf: **kicks her and doesn't get a reaction** **sign: OOPS**

"I believe love surviving death into eternity."

Savage Garden, Affirmation