Chapter 21

Putting a friendship back together

Gabriel had cried the whole day in small fits of silent tears. The servant was just as calloused as Raden and paid her emotions no mind. She had completely given up all hope of being rescued or escaping her fate. The day went by and the night came. The dawn of her final day approached. The servant had gone for the night, leaving her alone and frightened. Too anxious to sleep, she remained at the window, watching the moon.

The man in the moon was very clear, his face contorted in sadness and agony. A timid knock came to the door. "Go away!" she said, burying her face in her arms. Gabriel could hear the locks on the door shift and the hinges squeak. " I do not wish to see any one, please, go away." She said sadly. "Miss," a small voice said. The sad demon's face met hers as she raised her head. "Toko. What are you doing here?"

"I had to talk to you, you cannot give up hope-"

"And why not?! I cannot give up hope I never had!"

"Miss, please just hear me out."

"What have you to say that I have not already heard from you?" Toko did not answer right away, what could he say to her? "This is all my fault, I have dug my own grave. I should never have become friends with Youko and Koronue." Her head sank back onto her arms.

"Miss, please. You have to hold out a little longer, you can still get out of here."

"Make it out of here? You lie, you LIE! The only way out is death!" she snatched a knife from the table and held it to her throat. Toko paled, she wouldn't…

"Miss, no! Don't do it, there is hope-" Toko jumped and wrestled the knife away. He held her wrists to keep her from getting any other sharp objects to hurt herself with.

"I no longer want freedom, I want to die!" She began to cry again. Toko hugged the crying girl.

"Miss, I would never lie to you. You are my friend, even if I am not your friend." He bent his head lose to her ear, "He is here, miss. Don't be afraid, he will save you."

"Youko-?"

"Shh! The walls have ears; take this favor he sends to you." He held something warm to her hand. She slightly opened her fingers; a glitter of silver caught her eye. It was her bell pendant. Her tears stopped, "Where is he now?" she asked.

"I cannot say, just have courage."

"Thank you, Toko. You are a true friend."

"Be strong now, the next day will test us all."

Toko was idly walking around the dungeons, listening to his own footfalls. When he came upon a familiar door, he sighed, thinking about his former friend. "What have I done to you, miss? This is my entire fault; if I hadn't spoke with Raden, you would not have gotten angry with me. But if I had not spoke to Raden, you would still be in this squally cell. I was only trying to look for your best interest. I'm so sorry, miss Gabriel." He berated himself to no end.

The door swung open silently, he looked up to see who it was and tried to scream. A slim hand shot over his mouth while another pulled him through the door. The door swung shut behind him, sealing him into darkness. He could feel a second pair of hands wrap around his arms. "I'm going to let go of your mouth now, if you scream, I'll slit your throat; understand?" a voice said.

Toko nodded feverishly. The hand released his jaw, "Who are you?" were the first words from Toko's mouth. "I shall do the questioning here, boy. My name is Youko Kurama, and this is my partner, Koronue."

"Yo," Koronue said.

 "How do you know Gabriel?" Youko demanded

"I was her appointed healer, you see, Raden was not kind to her." He heard a hiss of contempt come from Youko.

"Where is she now?"

"In a tower."

"Be more specific, my patience runs thin today." Toko felt something sharp pressing against his throat.

"In the tower closest to the forest in the east wing of the castle. Are you here to rescue her?"

"What did I say about questions, boy? Yes, I am here to rescue her, and now that you know our little plan, you have to die."

"Wait, I can help you!!" he began to struggle a bit. "Please- call it a last request and just hear me out!!"

"I'm listening…"

Toko took a deep breath to calm his self; it didn't work too well. "Miss Gabriel used to be friends with me, she stopped being my friend because I was in coalition with Raden. I would tell him what kind of things she liked and he promised to move her out of the dungeons and treat her better." Another hiss from Youko, "Any way, I know exactly where her room is, I could help you escape with out any one knowing."

"Why should I trust you?"

"I feel responsible for her predicament. I want to make up betraying her trust. She has only one day left…" he said sadly.

"One day until what?"

"Until she is trapped in her human body forever. If no one close to her can donate enough life energy, she can't turn back into a fox."

"Damn it! Where have we been all this time?" Youko cursed to himself. "Alright, we need to change our plan, now here is how you can help us…" After what seemed like hours, the three had pieced together a plan. The elements were not on their side, and neither was luck, but their determination was all they had.

Youko held out something to Toko, "Take this to her, the next time you see her, tell her not to give up. But don't tell her the plan. Raden may find a way to squeeze it out of her."

Toko nodded and put the small treasure Youko gave him in his pocket. "Good luck, Mister Youko, I hope this works."

"So do I boy, so do I."

I bet you think Youko is going to give Gabe-chan the energy, don't you?