JC: Do not kill us! We're updating!
Kathrine: We finally got over our writer's blonde with this story.
JC: We hope that it came out the right way, not to overly done.
Kathrine: It would have just been too odd.
JC: So we hope you guys are happy with this. But do be prepared for the Epilogue which will explained EVERYTHING as much as it should be.
Kathrine: Some things do have to be left open for the sequel.
JC: And you can thank this to the new computer we got. It helped a lot. We've been inspired to do a lot of writing.
Kathrine: And we have finally finished our editing of this story. It is now called the below mentioned title, it making definitely more sense. We hope you guys like it.
Disclaimer: WE DO NOT OWN!!!!!!
Warnings: Dark, NCS, Character Death, Abuse, lots of Angst to go around!
Conflictions for the Heart
By JC and Kathrine
Chapter 8
Shingo approached the blonde with a smirk on his lips. He'd wanted to get back at the blonde ever since he'd lost to him all those years ago. Because of his admitting to throwing sand into Seiji's eye to both his father and the Date Family that had been present, his life had changed. After getting home his father had punished him thoroughly for his dishonorable act and banned him from kendo tournaments for the rest of the year.
But ever since then he'd thought about the blonde that had purposely disqualified himself by hitting him and knocking off his kendo mask. He didn't understand why the other boy would take the punishment he knew he had received just to allow him the defaulted victory. For weeks he couldn't stop thinking about him, thoughts that turned from intrigue to desire and lust.
He wasn't sure when he began to want to do more that just have a rematch with him, but he wasn't about to say that the blonde wasn't someone to easily be desired. He was like a porcelain or marble statue that brought people from everywhere on the Earth to stare at its beauty for hours on end and bask in its magnificence. He had taken to going out late at night, to the most dark of places, just to find people, men or women, that actually resembled Seiji when he was still a teen. That was how he had met Nickson one night, searching for a look-a-like to his obsession, but he'd never expected to actually have the illusive blonde in front of him, ready to be possessed by him.
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Seiji couldn't help, but stare in disbelief. How had his former rival actually come into this? Why did the Gods decide to torment him by bringing pieces from his past into what was already the worse thing to ever happen to him? Why couldn't they give him a reprieve from his pain? What had he done that proved he deserved this?
I killed people, he reminded himself. I thought that I had found closure for all the mistakes I've made and sins I've committed, but the Gods still deem me unfit for forgiveness. I deserve this for what I did. He expected the Voice to attack him while in this vulnerable state, but it was strangely silent. He would have taken that as a relief any other time, but he wanted the Voice, wanted to distraction from what was going on outside his mind.
A hand slapped him hard across the face and he was forced from his thoughts back into reality. Said hand then grabbed him harshly by the chin and forced him to stare into smirking brown eyes. " Is my pet giving in to the pain?" Nickson inquired. " But we have so much more playing to do."
" You marked him?" Shingo stared at the brand on Seiji's chest. " How long have you had him?"
" Since around nine last night," the other answered. " But I know I want to keep him."
" You want him that badly?" the younger man didn't seem too surprised. " Believe me, I can understand. He is not the type you would want to give up too easily." He smirked at the blonde kneeling down so that he was eye level. " It looks good on him, a scar that can never be healed or removed. Proof of the lack of perfection everyone always used to believe he was."
" You're just as sick as he is," Seiji spat at him, the words rekindling some of his resilience. He still was confused at how a well-known person from a respected family, like Kazamatsuri Shingo, would KNOW let alone actually be FRIENDS with someone like this man, this evil being, Nickson. What would his family say if they knew? He wondered. Gods, what would Grandfather say if he saw me so pathetic and weak, so incapable of protecting myself? I brought this on myself, I became too comfortable in my life with Anubis. I deserve this.
Even without the help of the Voice that haunted him, he still taunted himself for his stupidity. He was so weak, how could he be worth anything more than a plaything for a sick bastard to get his pleasure from? He didn't deserve Anubis' love, he never had. Now the Gods had been kind enough to show him his true path, what he truly good for in life. At least Anubis won't be brought down with me since he can't find me, he thought gratefully. He needs someone better than me, someone untainted by their own acts and acts of others.
A prick was felt on his arm and he looked down, not even flinching at the slight flash of pain. His eyes were dead, a dark color so unlike his normal lavender/blue. His pupils began to dilate, his heartbeat began speeding up, and he knew what had been done. They drugged me again, he thought as the fire returned to his body, the flame that ate at him insides and aroused him to a painful state. He felt everything and his eyes flashed around the room uncontrollably.
" You weren't kidding when you said that the drug got him going," he heard Shingo chuckle. " It hasn't even been three minutes and he's already ready to go."
" Just don't break him," Nickson's voice came. " He'll be a perfect playmate for his master. Just needs a little training, isn't that right Shingo?"
Hands touched his skin, digging short nails into his pale thighs and scratching downward. That touch alone was arousing to him, even though it was meant to cause some discomfort. All he knew is that he needed more, his body was craving more of any type of touch he could get. Gods, what's happened to me? he thought in despair. Why can't I fight this? Why am I so weak?
" Well, you are like a bitch in heat, right?" Shingo's hands slid onto his abdomen, pushing at the gash on his stomach and causing them to bleed even more. The pain was there, like the knife being relodged into his body, but then there was the drug bringing pleasure with the pain. He cried out, but it ended as a soft moan.
A hand grabbed his face, forcing him to look into dark eyes once again. Shingo just smirked at him. " Just like a bitch, a pet for your master," he licked his lips. " Maybe later on I will show you what it is like to really be taken like one."
" Don't be too rough with him," Nickson warned him with a strange look in his eyes. Shingo stared at him for a moment before nodding.
" Don't worry, I won't," he assured him. " We can't let him break too early."
" With enough work he'll be the perfect pet," the dark-haired man smiled at Seiji. " Isn't that right, my Seiji? Such a pretty name for you, but I would rather call you Cur. It fits better, don't you think so Cur?"
The blonde couldn't answer, still lost in the waves the drug had created in him. He wanted release, he wanted redemption, he wanted death, he wanted salvation. Too many things all combined at once, all begging him and none strong enough to win. He couldn't control himself, the feelings stirring in him even though they were not his own. He wanted it all to end, everything to just stop so that he could be lost in a dark void of nothingness. But he didn't deserve the oblivion, he knew that. He deserved the pain and humiliation that he suffered and more.
Suddenly a hand grasped him and his breath caught in his throat, the drug sending quakes of sensations through his entire body. Shingo laughed at this, loving the reactions the blonde was giving. " It is hard to believe that the 'perfect' Date Seiji is really just a perfect little toy."
" N-n-no," Seiji ground out, his teeth clenched as he tried to ignore the pleasure coursing through his veins. He couldn't betray Anubis anymore than he already had, even if the other man never wanted to see him again afterward.
" Do not worry," Shingo 'assured' him. " You will enjoy everything I do to you." He then leaned down over the blonde. " Drugs are wonderful that way, do you agree?"
He turned his eyes away, not wanting to face the reality of what was happening. But reality as that way of forcing itself upon you whether or not you want to accept it. You see and know everything that truly goes on even when you're trapped within your own imaginary world. And Seiji was wrenched from attempting to reach such a surreal place by the sharp pain in his abdomen.
Shingo pressed against the two bandaged gashes once again, knowing they were a very 'effective' way to regain the blonde's attention when he was trying to leave the here and now. " Keep those pretty eyes on me and me alone," he warned. " I love the attention and just hate when people ignore me." The black-haired man turned his eyes to Nickson then, as if waiting for the older man to say something.
" You may have your fun with him, I just want to watch," he smiled. " I love to share. It just gives me a warm feeling when I can make someone else happy with one of my toys."
Seiji kept his eyes on Shingo's smirking face, not daring to even glance at his other tormentor. The crazed gleam in the brunette's eyes was hidden well by a feigned look of sanity. But he didn't know what had changed Shingo into this. He'd been a well-known competitor and his family was highly respected by everyone who knew them. Had the pressure and etiquette of being part of a high-class family drove him to the edge?
" Nickson, would you mind getting my bag from my car?" Shingo turned to his 'friend'. " I know you have little accessories for your toys here, but I prefer to always bring some extras."
" Of course," the other man agreed. He stood and Shingo proceeded to take off his coat, removing keys from the pocket and tossing them to him as the coat landed on the ground. " I will be back soon."
" You'll have to look for the bag," the black-haired man told him. " I know it is there, I just can't remember where I put it after the last time."
" Be back soon, have fun while I'm gone," Nickson headed towards the door. " And be a good host Seiji, make our friend feel welcome."
" Oh don't worry," Shingo assured him. " The Dates are very traditional with courtesy and proper etiquette. I believe he knows just what to do to keep a guest 'happy'." He turned to smile at the doped up blonde. " We will have lots of fun, won't we?"
Nickson left the room, going to get what he had agreed. He knew the types of 'accessories' that Shingo liked to bring for playtime and highly approved his methods. Maybe he would wait a while before going back in, give his two playthings a chance to get reacquainted. Who knew, this just might work out better than he'd even imagined it could.
He touched the blonde, holding him tightly. He was hard himself already, ready to strike. It had been quite some time since he had taken someone and now he didn't know if he could restrain himself. The object of his tormenting desire was right before him, legs spread like a good whore and hard and ready. He had wanted to take him slowly, to make it last, but he knew now that he just couldn't wait, couldn't hold it out.
He took of his coat and through it on the couch in the corner of the room and then opened his belt, undoing his clothing so he would have more capable movement. It was perfect. His stiff member was ready, already dripping just at the wanton sight of Date Seiji writhing in pain and pleasure on the metal table, tied down like a reluctant gift, though begging for whatever he could give, an oxymoron of desire and repulsion. It was delicious.
Seiji turned his head to the side to ignore whatever what was going. His limbs were shaking with the need to release, to let go. He was hard and unable to will it away, the drug keeping him on a painful high that he couldn't take. Please just end it, Gods, just end it now, he begged in his mind. But he knew it wouldn't end here, no not with how things were leading.
The hands were on him again, pulling him downwards, burning the lacerations on his back, leaving behind a sick pleasure in the form of pain. His knees were lifted and forced apart, using his naturally flexible body to make the way easier. Callused hands gripped him tightly before the fire burned into him, causing a cry of pain followed but a forced moan. He didn't want this, didn't want to be used like some harlot. But it's all I'm good for, he told himself. This the only thing I'll ever be good for.
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Everything was coming together for Shuten now. He knew what the demon spirit's plan was. By destroying Shikaisen's anchor Seiji would lose a part of himself, tipping the scales of balance and sending the blonde's soul from his body into the Abyss of the Forsaken. But because the demon was now a free spirit he could inhabit the blonde's body if it was still alive therefore taking Korin's place.
He wasn't planning on taking Korin down with him, he realized. He was planning on replacing him! Only he wouldn't let it happen. He had to find a way to defeat Shikaisen without losing the blonde as a casualty. Maybe if I weaken Shikaisen in a battle the bond he has with Korin will weaken as well. That might give me a chance of getting rid of it without actually causing harm to the boy.
" This waiting does become tedious," said demon sighed. " You know you cannot win, so why do you refuse to accept your loss?"
" Because I refuse to lose," the red-haired spirit sneered, closing his eyes and calling forth the power of the spirit. Seeing as he was not in a tangible world, but in the mind and soul of person he could use his ability, bring forth weapons to due battle with. Due to having it at his side for over four hundred years, he called upon a weapon identical to his kusari-gama, the scythe with the bladed chain belonging to Oni no Yoroi.
" Prepare yourself Demon," he warned. " Now is not the time for your arrogant confidence. Such stupidity can cost you your soul."
" Or maybe I'll just cost Korin's his," he replied with a smirk. Shuten almost growled at him, but wasted no time in attacking him quickly. Shikaisen jumped back, his smirk still visible. " I hope you know that time passes differently within the mind. One minute could go from being the same in the real world to equaling only a second or an hour even. Days could pass us by and we wouldn't even know it."
" That just means you'll have to die soon," Shuten pointed out. He took a swing, throwing his chain at his adversary, nearly catching him by the leg. But Shikaisen proved to be more agile than he had originally thought for the hideous elderly-seeming demon. Suddenly a sword appeared in the other's hand, striking down and slicing through Shuten's kimono. The redhead drew back instantly, but not fast enough to stop the blade from catching his clothing. Thankfully, it did not strike his skin.
I must be cautious and yet swift, he told himself. If I am injured here or do indeed die, my spirit will be lost forever and Korin no Seiji will most assuredly follow after. We will both go to the Abyss.
" I do hope you will put up a better fight that this," Shikaisen teased.
Shuten gave a deadly smile of his own. " I was once the Oni Masho, Warlord of Cruelty. You have seen nothing of what I am capable of." Increasing his speed, he threw his chain out throwing the demon off guard. He then slashed his blade down, digging its cold steel into the perceived flesh of Shikaisen's arm. If it had been in the Physical world, the attack would have done nothing, but in the Mind it caused a wound that immediately bled dark near-black blood.
But instead of crying out in pain, Shikaisen merely stared at the wound before chuckling in a deep, dark voice. " Good, good," he spoke. " This might just be interesting after all." He held up his sword in both hands, only to have the blade extend to twice its original length and width. It almost looked like an identical replica of the Korin no Ken, the blonde's sword. " Now let us take things up a notch."
This is going to take too long, Shuten thought. I don't have time to waste. The light is dimming faster. Korin is slipping further. There are only a few options I have left.
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Anubis watched impatiently as the buildings and streets changed, near to bleeding together. They were driving rather fast for being within the city limits, but had yet to be caught. He hoped no one would try to stop them because he was not to be detoured. He HAD to get to Seiji. He could already feel their connection slipping. It was as if something was blocking the link, much like a storm would interrupt the signal to a radio. Even so, small bouts of pain leaked through, and even a small dose of something he refused to believe was pleasure. Whatever was happening to Seiji, he knew it was far from pleasurable.
I hope the Gods are willing to take pity upon whoever has hurt him because I will not, he thought darkly. He will wish that I had merely killed him.
" There!" Touma shouted. " The Shoreline Motel!"
The Yami's eyes shot forward to look at the somewhat rundown building that was nearing them on the left side of the road. It wasn't as bad off as he thought it should be. He expected having to run into a cesspool of filth like the shows he'd seen on the television, even though Seiji had often explained to him that most of the things he saw on the box were not actually true. It was not that bad off, but still, it wasn't shogun's house either.
" How do you know of such a place?" Naaza asked their blue-haired driver.
" When I was younger I used to get into spats with my dad about spending too much time away from home," he replied. " I ran away once and made it all the way to Shinjuku only to have enough money for one night at a not-so cleaned up motel. The guy who used to own this place was nice though and actually let me clean up the rooms as payment. That is…until my dad showed up to get me two days later."
" And you know Seiji is here?" Anubis asked.
" Yeah, they have this 'funny' way of numbering the doors, 6, then 66, then 666, and so on, seeing as the have eight rooms," he replied. " The riddle made me think of it immediately." They pulled into the parking lot and Anubis was already opening his door. Touma didn't even bother shutting off the car as he and the other two warlords followed after him. He noticed from the corner of is eyes that the other Troopers were getting out of the jeep not too far behind them as Ryo cautioned Nasuti to stay inside.
" Which door?" Anubis demanded.
" 666," Touma told him.
Anubis hurried through the parking lot, looking at the numbers and heading towards the left. He accidentally ran into a man waiting around outside, but didn't even bother to pay any attention. He didn't even glance at his face. He finally saw the one he had been searching for, two doors down from the end of the building. He increased his speed, rushing. The pain in his heart told him that there wasn't much time left. No! he refused to think that way. Please hold on Seiji, I'm coming for you, just please hold on.
" Anubis stop!" Touma grabbed his arm. " You can't go rushing in there! He might hurt Seiji!"
" He already has!" the other retorted back.
" But do you want him dead?" Tenku asked him. " 'Cause if ya do, then go ahead. Barge in there without thinking and get him killed."
Anubis growled. " What would you care?" he inquired harshly. " You and you little group of 'friends' turned your backs on him without a second thought and now that something bad happened you want to set things right. There are names for your kind of people and none of them are flattering."
" Yami…" Rajura's tone was a warning.
" No, he's right," Shin broke in. " We didn't look for Seiji when he disappeared like we should have. We gave up after the first week and assumed he just didn't want to be found. We thought HE didn't care. And yes, we're trying to make things right, but that's because we didn't know what we were doing was wrong until now. But that doesn't mean that we can't still try."
" Yeah," Shu agreed. " We have to let Blondie know that this isn't his fault. He shouldn't have thought it was in the first place."
" Right," Ryo put in. " but for that we have to set things aside and make sure we don't do anything that will get Seiji hurt. Whoah…did I just say that?"
Rajura gave a small chuckle to that remark. " You're wisdom has grown, Rekka. Age does such things."
" Please Yami," Touma asked him. " Just let believe us. We're not going to turn away from Seiji again. Let us help."
The blue-haired man didn't want to listen, didn't want to let go of the anger he felt towards the rest of the Troopers. They had practically abandoned Seiji, led him to attempt taking his own life. It was really that he wanted a way to focus the anger he felt towards this 'Caril', the one that had harmed his Seiji. But they are not to blame for this, he reminded himself. If anyone is to blame, it is I for letting him bring us to such a place where he could be harmed, for going after Tenku when I knew I should have stayed. They played their part, but not in this.
" I understand," he finally answered. " We must work together…for Seiji."
Touma gave a smile. " Good, I know how to do this, just try to stay out of sight." The others nodded before backing away from the door while Touma walked up to it. Rajura smirked before snapping his fingers and all of the others, but the archer, disappeared. Touma nodded and then banged on the door twice. " Open up!" he called out, his voice sounding older and more haggard. " Ya haven't paid up for tha night! You betta have ya money or ya getting the hell outta here!"
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He gave a small gasp at the pain the dug deep into his body. His voice was gone, he throat clenched and dry. His eyes were blurred, everything unclear. He knew it most likely had to do with the third dose of the drug that his tormentor had given him. Instead of making him painfully aroused, he'd becoming sweaty and weak. His body felt like lead. He didn't think it was the same drug he'd been given before.
" Cry for me," the voice was fuzzy, as if drowned out by water, or the throbbing of his heart in his ears.
But he couldn't cry like his captor wanted. His eyes were red from earlier tears. He did not believe he could give anymore. The pain dug deeper into him, his hands tried to clench into fits, but were too weak. The only sound the came from his was a quiet whimper in the back of his throat.
" So weak, like a small babe or a young fawn, unable to stand on its own legs yet," the man whispered into his ear. He let his eyes roam, falling on the other, but still too fogged to see him straight. " I guess we're going to have to let you rest before we start up again, eh little pet? That's what you are, isn't it? Just a pet to be pushed around until your Master sees fit to take pity on you. Or some toy to be thrown away when you're no longer useful."
Then there was the sound, someone was pounding on something. Seiji almost believed he could hear a voice, but his hearing was fading even more. Everything was slowing down for him. He could even feel his heart as it lessened its pace, becoming only three-fourths its normal rate. He knew it was lowering more and more as time went by, taking what was left of his life and spirit with it. Do…do I want to be saved? Do I want to face the Darkness my life will be if I return to it? Nothing will be the same. Anubis…Anubis will only be hurt by me. I can't do that to him. I can't go back.
" I'll be right back," his captor told him in an assuring manner. " I'll even leave my present in you until I get back." And then he was gone and another piece of Seiji faded away.
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Shu wanted to laugh at how serious the blue-haired man sounded, but knew that this was no laughing situation. This was one of life and death. If they did something wrong even in the slightest, Seiji could pay the ultimate price for it. Why do things never stay right for us, he wondered. Something always happens, is it because we bear the yoroi? Are we forced to face ALL the evil in the world, not just the supernatural?
Touma banged on the door again and waited. They heard someone moving around before the door was opened a small amount. A man stood before them, dark hair and eyes, with a frown on his face. " I don't have the money now," he replied. " Come back in half of an hour and it will be here."
" Mrs. Sanokuo is waiting for her payment," Touma spoke, hiding his anger as much as he could. Could this be him? Was this the guy that had kidnapped Seiji and hurt in a way that it had actually showed on Yami Masho? But he looked so normal, even though it was obvious he had been up to something. His hair was slightly tousled and he was sweaty. He looked like someone who had been either run a marathon…or had just finished having sex. Touma voted for the latter with the heavy smell that filtered through the small doorway.
" It will be here in thirty minutes," he replied. " Just knock and it will be sent through the door."
" All right," Touma nodded. " I'll be back, but if ya don't have it, Sanokuo ain't gonna be taking it outta my hide."
" It will be here," the man repeated. " Now if you do not mind…I have company." The remark almost sent Touma off the deep end. He so wanted to go after the man right then and there. The door was shut quickly in his face with a not so soft bang.
" Why did you not force your way in?" Anubis demanded as the others suddenly returned to view.
" You better just hope no one saw that," he other blue-haired man stated. " But we don't know that Seiji is actually in there. I couldn't just barge in."
" He's there," he swore with conviction. " I can feel him in there and if we don't do something he'll be gone. I can't wait any longer."
Anubis turned and pushed on the knob to the door. Strangely enough, it wasn't locked and he opened it as far as he could. He stared down the small hall that turned off at what looked to be a small bathroom and another open room. His enhanced senses let him smell the blood and dead scents in the air as if a bleeding corpse had been left right before him. He wanted to cover his nose, but he could also determine the scent of sex, of release and sweat. And then there was the final smell, the one that meant the most to him…the smell of sandalwood after a fresh rain in the spring. Seiji…
" Hey…" they heard the voice of the man from the door. He stepped into the hallway, allowing them to see him more clearly. His shirt was partially open and his pants had only been buttoned, the belt still undone. There was red splotched all over the formerly pristine shirt and he held a wooden stick in his hand, something was on the end of it, covering the rounded point to make it a deep dirty brown. The smell was obvious…blood.
Anubis struck. The long claws that accompanied his Yami no Yoroi appeared on his hand before digging into the belly on the man before him, nailing him into the wall. A gasped, shocked noise escaped his lips. His dark eyes were wide in pain. The steel claws were removed just as swiftly as they were entered and he slid down the wall to the ground.
" Seiji's blood," he growled, his canines seeming to lengthen as his feral anger increased. " You hurt him. You made him bleed." He grabbed the man by his shirt, ripping it mostly from the dying body as he dragged him until he dangled above the ground. " I can smell him all over you."
The man opened his mouth, trying to speak, but only blood dribbled down the left corner. " Die 'Caril'," Anubis whispered, his mind fully overtaken by his rage and concern for his lover. He then drug his claws back into the man's body, only to twist them crudely. This only caused a loud raspy breath to escape as more blood poured from both the wound and the dark-haired ma's mouth.
" Yami!" Touma's voice called to him. He turned his eyes and froze at the sight. Inside the dim lighted room the man had exited were objects, obviously meant to cause pain. They were strolled all over the floor and on the chair. The table nearly stopped his heart. Lying on the table was the blonde he had been searching for. His stomach was covered in bloody bandages, his hands and legs shackled to chains on the ends of the metal counter. His clothes were gone and his body was covered with bruises, bite marks, blood, and what even looked to be semen.
Now that his sense were clearer, less wild, he could smell everything, almost as if he could taste it in his mouth. He felt as if he would lose whatever food he might have within him due to what he saw. Touma and Naaza were already at the blonde's side, the master of poison knowing best how to remove the younger man's chains.
" Oh Gods…" he whispered. He did this to him, he thought. He hurt Seiji. It only served to make his rage unstoppable. He twisted the claws into the man again, digging until he could feel the blood and inner organs against his fist within the weapon before ripping outwards, watching as everything else came out with them. The man was now gone. The innards made a sickening splat at the hit the floor and Anubis let the man drop with them. He let the claw fade as he pushed through the others, going to Seiji's side. Oh Gods, don't let us be too late.
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He jumped back, dodging the large blade by mere centimeters. Already he had a deep cut to his leg and a slash to his cheek from a latent reaction. Shuten knew he had to come up with a plan and quick before he had no strength left to fight. It was taking too long. The remainder of light within Korin's mind was already fading away. The blonde was dying, or at least his soul was. Shikaisen was winning, even though they both had sustained serious injuries that would kill a mortal, the other spirit was nearer to his goal that Shuten. Seiji was still losing his own battle and that was what the demon wanted.
I can't allow this to happen! He told himself. I have to get rid of the lecherous demon or else he'll be completely lost! He knew what he had to do, but he didn't want to take such a risk, didn't want to think of the consequences if he failed. But he knew that now he had no other choice. I have only one option left and I hope I'm not too late in taking it.
" Thinking will get you killed…again," Shikaisen smirked. He drove the replica of Korin ken forward once more with lightning speed. Shuten surged forward as well, this time ready. He swung his chain out towards the demon sorcerer, but it was maneuvered about easily. That was exactly what he wanted. He jumped to the side, missing the swipe of the no-datchi and then leaped in the air. He twisted himself around and landed gracefully at his destination, raising his sickle into the air.
Shikaisen turned to face him, eyes widening at what he realized was going to happen. " No, you wouldn't!" he shouted.
" It is the only way," the red-haired spirit stated, accepting his decision. He gathered every ounce of power he still had and struck out, forcing his energy from within his own spirit and into the door that held the lightening bolt emblem. The powers collided, causing the corridor to be filled with the bright sparks between them. The anchor embedded in the memories behind the door was overrun by the former Oni Masho's energy.
Shikaisen felt himself being ripped by the loss of his ties to the boy. " NO!" he cried in distress. Suddenly, the solid form he held seemed to disintegrate, breaking down with the destruction of his power. " You would choose to sacrificed his mind for victory?"
" What must be done will be done," Shuten stated.
" Then he shall join me soon," Shikaisen laughed, only to scream out when he was completely engulfed by the darkness that claimed him.
Shuten fell to his knees; his eyes tired and body depleted of energy. He'd won, the demon spirit was gone. But then his relief was taken by the feeling of the area around him rocking back and forth as if by an earthquake. He looked up instantly and saw that the door he'd just bombarded was cracking, bright lights shooting out from within it. The doors around it seemed to be affected as well, each one crack through the center.
No! The door is breaking! He realized his original fears were correct. I have to do something. Even so he couldn't think of what to do. The hall was falling apart meaning that Korin's mind was going with it.
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Anubis kneeled next to the battered form of his beloved and shakily reached out a hand to him. " Seiji…" he called out. " Please…" He let Naaza melt through the one final chain with the acidic venom seeping from underneath his fingernails. He lifted the blonde them, bringing him to his chest as he cradled the broken body like a newborn babe. " Oh Seiji, my light…"
Swollen, red eyes opened, slightly glazed and unfocused, a dark dull purple instead of lavender/blue. " A…nu…bis…?" the soft raspy voice spoke in return. It sounded confused, dazed, and so low even his sharp hearing strained to catch it.
" Seiji, I'm here," he ran his hand through sweat soaked hair, the ends in the back slightly tinged pink. " Everything is going to be all right Seiji. He's gone. He can't hurt you anymore."
" Go…ne?" the blonde sounded farther away, as if he was slipping.
" Yes, he's gone Seiji! I'm taking you home! You're going home," Anubis continued to speak to him, even as he felt the tap on his shoulder. He looked up to see that Shu had removed his black over shirt and was offering it to him to cover Seiji with. " No," he declined. " I'm taking him straight home. He's been poisoned, I can smell it in his sweat. I have to get him home."
" Yes," Naaza agreed. " I know not what was used, but it seems extremely potent. I can heal him of it at our apartment."
" Seiji, we're going home now," Anubis turned back to his lover. " Home."
" No…Ho…" Suddenly glazed dull eyes went wide a gasping cry being released from the abused throat before the eyes rolled into the back of is head and the blonde went limp. Anubis felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if half of his body had just been cut away and the rest was reeling from the loss. He was taking in deep breaths to steady himself as he held the blonde closer to his chest.
" Sei-Seiji!" he called to him through his own distress, trying to reach to his lover. " Sei-Seiji, no! Please! Wake up!"
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Everything was falling apart. The corridor was fading into an inky black as the doors cracked, the sound echoing loudly. Then the mist came, filling up the hall. Shuten knew that it was too late, he couldn't save him. I have failed, he thought. I failed them both. I am so sorry Anubis. I thought it would work. But I was wrong, I was wrong.
The door with the lightening bolt splintered, everything seeming to explode before his eyes. " NO!" he yelled out. " I won't let this happen! I'd rather give up my eternal spirit that to let this happen!" He stood on the shaky ground his body beginning to emit a burgundy glow. Oh Anubis, please know that I did this for you…for both of you. The glow enveloped everything, disintegrating the mists and turning into a bright, golden white light.
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" Seiji!" Anubis cried out just as Rajura let out a deep gasp, his hand going to his chest. The blonde was still and unresponsive. His body was becoming an empty shell. " No!"
Rajura held his hand to his chest, his shock unwavering. Shuten? he thought, but could no longer feel the connection he had left open to his late brethren. It was dead and blank. What has happened? What has he done?
Tears fell from Anubis' eyes, unable to bear what seemed so obvious to him. He held the limp body to him, smothering his face in the still soft hair. " Awaken Seiji," he called to him in a soft mantra. " Do not leave the Darkness without Light. Do not leave the Darkness without Light."
" This isn't happening," Shu shook his head in disbelief while Shin cried into his chest. Ryo had a hand on Touma's shoulder, steadying the blue-haired boy less his legs give way on him. Both had tears in their eyes ready to fall. Their friend was gone and it seemed like Yami was about to lose himself completely.
" Please…" Anubis was the only one that would not, COULD not accept the truth. " Do not leave the Darkness without Light. What would the Darkness truly be with no Light to define it, to give it meaning. Nothing, black nothingness. Do not do this to me, you cannot leave me. I cannot lose you…He said you were the one. He said you were the one…"
He laid his head on the still warm chest, trying to send his own life into his love's body. He couldn't let go, not now, not after they had only found each other such a short time ago. He couldn't lose Seiji. If Anubis lost the only light left in his life…he wasn't sure he could live through it-or if he'd want to.
Seiji, please do not let go my love, he prayed silently. Please do not force me to live this life without you. I have already give away one love to death…please do not be another.
Then he heard it. The soft, offbeat thumping against his ear. He almost thought it his imagination until he was greeted by he deep, shaky intake of breath that accompanied it. He looked up to see that the blonde had indeed began breathing again, only unsteady and shallow. " Seiji?" he called. " Oh my Gods…"
Eyelids slip upwards, revealing two glazed orbs that were tired beyond recognition. Anubis stared deep into them, trying to decipher what had been done. One was lavender/blue, the other deep green. " Nani?" the Yami Masho didn't understand, but the eyes closed once again, the head drooping to his shoulder. " Seiji?! Please no!"
Naaza knelt down and checked the blonde's pulse instantly. " He's alive," he told him in assurance. " His brush with death has left his extremely weak. He needs to get home so that we can treat his injuries and remove the poison from his system."
" Here," Rajura handed a piece of paper to the Ryo. " That is our address, including the apartment number. Come by in the morning and not before. We cannot deal with all of you at once."
" Wait a minute!" Shu exclaimed, his mind still reeling, though giddy, from the fact his blonde comrade was not dead.
" Do not test me," Rajura warned. " Korin needs to be treated and you all will only get in the way. Come by tomorrow or else we'll return with him to the Youjakai so that he can be healed without interference."
" What?!" Shin was even taken aback by his words. " The Youjakai?!"
" Listen to them," Touma butted in. " Seiji is more important than trying to assuage our guilt. We'll see him tomorrow, you can count on that."
" Besides, you all have your cars to deal with," Naaza told them as Anubis stood, the battered body of his worn lover in his arm. " We don't." With that hey faded from the room, teleporting to where they knew it would be safe.
" We have to get outta here," Touma told them. " There's a dead body over there and someone is gonna notice all of this soon."
" Yeah," Ryo agreed. " Nasuti's probably worried sick. She's gonna kill us!"
" Seiji's alive and he's going to be okay," Shu said. " Isn't he?"
" He has to be," Shin said. " He thought that he meant nothing to us and yet without him everyone of us will fall apart, even the Masho. Without Anubis they'll be lost as well and Seiji is very important to him, that is apparent."
" We better get going," Touma motioned towards the doorway, around the body. " Covered your faces so that hopefully no one will notice. We'll shut the door." They all agreed, each hiding their main features in some way as they left the building rushing to their cars as fast as they could. They wanted to visit Seiji early so they would not have to wait long.
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He stood over the cooled body, taking in the beauty of its destruction. Kneeling, he let his hand pull away the tattered shirt to reveal the mark over the chest. The upraised brand of a star with the symbol for 'ne' in its center. " They broke one of my favorite toys," he whispered. " They ruined it. And they took my pet." He ran his finger gently over the mark. " I want my toy back." A smirk then slipped across his features. " And some people need to know when to not tattletale."
Kathrine: how do ya like them apples?
JC: And the best is still to come.
Kathrine: Be ready for the Epilogue, it will really get to ya with the surprise we've got waiting for you.
JC: Review and tell us how fast ya want it.