Disclaimer: I don't own X, the characters, the plot, etc.

Chapter III - The fading –

She glared at the KAMUI. „I know why you've come here, but you're just wasting your time."

"Yuzuriha!" Six shocked faces focused the kekkai built up at the park. Sorata clenched his fists, while he gave Karen an angry look. "He's not gonna hurt her, huh?"

"Missy!" Kusanagi's eyes widened. "Please take down your kekkai and leave, now! I'll hold him up for a while." "Of course you will." Fuuma gave him an evil grin, noticing the soldier still tried to protect his girl as well as possible. "Don't worry. I'm not here to hurt your little Seal, or at least her body." The couple changed some confused looks, then stared at KAMUI again. A slight giggle joined his grin. "Little girl, I will deal with you later on. For the moment I would be satisfied with punishing our traitor." Yuzuriha's eyes went shocked. If he didn't want her... "Kusanagi-san!" "You've heard him, Missy. You shouldn't waste such a good chance. You know, I could never forgive myself, if you got hurt now." Kusanagi's voice turned into a numb, cold tone she had never heard before. "It's okay that way."

The couple separated, as a wave of energy reached the place, where they had stood. Fuuma turned to Kusanagi quickly, still an evil grin on his face, while Yuzuriha was left alone with Inuki, who slowly transformed into his "visible" state now. She watched the two men jumping through the area, they still had inside her kekkai, releasing waves of energy to each other, which most times only hit the spot, where one of them had stood for a moment. Her eyes widened, filled with fear. He wasn't strong enough to defeat KAMUI, she knew – and Kusanagi did, too.

Yuzuriha shook her head, then looked down to her obedient Inugami. "I know he's a Dragon of Earth, but we won't let him die, will we?" Inuki gave her an approving glance, before transforming into the sword she always fought with. Maybe it was a crazy idea. Maybe she was even going to die, but it was worth protecting the one she loved.

The scene in front of him became blurred, as Kusanagi opened his eyes slowly, trying to ignore the pain in his chest. There were two figures chasing each other in front of him – one tall, the other petite, almost fragile. "Missy..." His chest even hurt more, as Kusanagi tried to stand up. He noticed Yuzuriha's sword lying next to him. In a panic he searched through his surroundings, but didn't find his girl.

"You're looking for her?" Another pain filled his mind, much stronger and deeper than before, when he saw Fuuma pushing the little girl into his direction. His eyes narrowed, as he caught her. She was unconscious, blood pouring from a wound in her shoulder. Fuuma still had an evil grin on his face. "Oh, don't worry, that's just a little scratch – it won't kill her.. not yet."

"Kusanagi-san..." A weak smile appeared on her lips. "I really hate to admit this..." With a sideways glance she returned Fuuma's evil grin, than turned to the soldier again. "He's right. I won't die! And you won't, either." Kusanagi stroked her hair gently, trying to give an approving smile, before he realized her kekkai began to crumble and left her side, trying to lead Fuuma as far away from her as possible. This time, KAMUI had gone much too far!

Yuzuriha opened her eyes slowly and realized she was leaning against one of the trees, while the two Angels were still fighting. Kusanagi didn't even seem to care, if any trees or other plants got hurt, although her kekkai had already vanished.

"So that's it." Fuuma suddenly stopped fighting and gave Kusanagi a little break to rest. He was in a horrible state: Blood pouring from several wounds in his chest and his left arm seemed to be broken. "It's your greatest wish to die, protecting that little Dragon-of-Heaven-thing... I guess I can help you."

Yuzuriha's look turned into a mirror of fear and despair. That couldn't be... it mustn't... "Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!" Fuuma turned at her angrily, as he realized the little kekkai-shield, blocking the attack that should have killed the traitor. Kusanagi did so, too, but his eyes repeated the look Yuzuriha had before. Her eyes turned into a reflection of hatred and anger, as she tried to keep her kekkai, while Fuuma went on with his attack, sideways glancing at her. "Pitiful fool! That's useless." A stronger wave of energy hit her kekkai and crashed it, hurling the girl against the tree.

The first thing she noticed, when opening her eyes again, was that horrible pain in the back of her head, which later occurred to her as another blood pouring wound. The second thing was that black-haired boy in front of her. "Subaru-san?" She noticed her sword was missing, but instead she could hear Inuki's barking. "Don't worry, Yuzuriha-chan." Subaru took her hand, as she stood up, staggering because of her injuries. "Fuuma is gone. Kamui has just chased him away." "Kusanagi-san..." She stuttered, searching through her surroundings, while Subaru tried to block her view.

"Kusanagi-san!!!!" Her eyes widened, as she found her Angel, lying there – motionless – surrounded by the other Seals. She ran over to him and pushed the others away, than sank down to the ground, grasping his hand. A sea of tears filled up her eyes – so much blood... "Kusanagi-san! Kusanagi-san!!" "Missy..." Her face went shocked, as she saw his eyes opening, filled with a mix of fear and pain. His right hand slowly ran across her hair, feeling the blood of the wound she got, when Fuuma destroyed the special kekkai she had built. "Missy... please... don't...you... you mustn't cry, you hear me?" She looked at his dark eyes filled with pain. A faint sobbing covered her tears he removed from her face. "KAMUI was right." She looked startled, trying to understand his words. "For that moment, it really was my wish... to protect you... no matter... what to pay for." "Don't say that!" The others looked worried, finally trying to separate the two Dragons, but Inuki hold them back. He knew pretty well what the wish of is mistress was. "If you die, I will cry for you, no matter, if you want me to or not! If you die..." Her lips started to tremble. "If you die, I'll die with you..." Kusanagi noticed his eyes slowly closing again. He really had to hurry. "Missy..." He took her hand – so small, so cold. "Believe me, when I say... you won't... die."

The others stared at Yuzuriha, who had buried her head on Kusanagi's chest, ignoring his blood that now poured from his wounds across her cheeks. Arashi slowly leaned down at her, looking angrily at the others, who just stood there – doing nothing, leaving Yuzuriha alone with her tears, ignoring Inuki's barking. "What are you still standing here?!" She shouted at the other Seals, her eyes narrowed with anger. "C'mon, help us! We've got to get him to hospital!"

Okay, some cruel scenes in here... Kusanagi with all his wounds and blood... Yuzuriha's helpless, despaired crying... the others just standing there... but it helped the story