Yay, I'm back. Thanks again to everyone who reviewed. Love you all, wonderful people that you are. Hope you all enjoy drama, cause after re-reading this chapter, I felt like I was suffocating. Oh well. Hope you enjoy....

Chapter Three: Hanging by a Moment

Kenji groaned and opened his eyes. His head throbbed, and there was a weird, coppery taste in the back of his mouth, an eerily familiar sensation. He raised his head off the floor and spat, and a bright pool of blood instantly stained the carpet beneath him.

What happened? he thought, struggling to his knees. Seeing his hands covered in thick brown fur, with claws the size of machetes growing from them, he froze, blinking in confusion. I morphed? But, how? I don't remember transforming. The last thing I recall was talking to Uriko, and then...

He looked up, and his heart stopped.

Uriko was lying just a few feet from him, her once bright eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling. Or rather, Uriko's head was lying there, looking surprised and a little hurt, as if it couldn't understand why someone would rip it away from it's body. The living room was trashed, and blood was spattered everywhere, indicating the terrible battle that had been fought. Numbly, Kenji looked past the mangled form of his girlfriend and bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. Yugo, or what was left of him, lay crumpled on the couch, an arm flung over his face like he was sleeping. His chest had been smashed in, and shards of bone glimmered in the artificial light.

As Kenji began to tremble violently, a shadow fell over him, and an evil chuckle carassed the back of his head. He twisted around to face the mirror version of himself, a red-eyed demon covered in blood, deadly claws slashing down towards his face.

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Kenji gasped and bolted upright, startling Uriko, who fell backwards with a squeak. Breathing hard, the young man looked around frantically, his heart thudding against his chest, terrified of what he might see. But there was no blood, no ravaged bodies of those he loved scattered over the carpet. He was still on the floor of his living room, which looked the same as it always did, and Uriko was right beside him, looking extremely worried.

"Kenji?"

She reached for him, and he jumped back from her as if stung.

"Stay away from me!" he panted, scrambling to his feet and backing away towards the door. Uriko stared at him, wide-eyed in shock, and took a hesitant step forward. Kenji hit the door and groped for the knob, baring his teeth in a feral warning. "No! Keep back, Uriko! Don't come any closer."

"Kenji, wait! Where are you going?"

He didn't answer. All he could think about was putting enough distance between himself and Uriko to keep her safe; keep her away from the demon inside him. The image of her head, lying there on the living room floor, swam before his eyes and made him want to vomit. He was going crazy, he knew, and he would not drag her down with him, into his pit of darkness and blood. Wrenching open the door, the panicked young man fled into the street.

He didn't even know where he was going; his body just shifted into autopilot, while his mind replayed images of that horrible vision, over and over again, until he wanted to scream. When he came to himself once more, he was on the rooftop of an old, abandoned tower, standing next to one of several gargoyles, gazing down on the city. It was one of his favorite places to come and think; high, lonely and isolated, with only birds and stone monsters for company. Where you could gaze down on the city, so far beneath you, and get a perspective on things.

How long he stayed there, he couldn't recall. He did remember glancing up and seeing a full red moon hanging directly in front of him, like some evil crimson eye. He shivered, turning away from it's terrible scrutiny. Maybe he could stay here forever, he mused bitterly. Maybe it was better for everyone that he stay far, far away, watching the city but not being a part of it, like the gargoyles that shared the ledge with him. Like that classic french novel, where that grotesquely deformed man lived in a church belfry all his life, and only emerged into the sunlight once. But that one time was his undoing. He was immedietely condemned for what he was.

A monster, Kenji thought, gazing back at that strange blood moon, feeling the hairs rise along the nape of his neck. Like me, except the monster is inside.

There was a creak on the stairs behind him, the lightest of padded feet over the ground. Kenji didn't have to turn around to know who it was. "How did you find me, Riko?"

"You're the one who showed me this place," came the throaty voice of his girlfriend in beast mode. Her voice shook as she edged closer, whether it was from fear or cold, he couldn't tell. "Kenji? Come on, let's go home. Its freezing, and Yugo is worried about you." When he didn't move, he heard her shuffle closer. "Kenji," she repeated, her voice choked with fear. "Would you look at me, please? You....you're not going to do something stupid like jump of the building, right?"

He didn't answer, suddenly hit with a sense of despair too deep for words. Oh, Riko. If only you could understand; I'd do this all for you. Closing his eyes, he inched closer to the edge, letting the wind buffet his hair and clothes. Can you fly, Bakuryu? he thought, raising his arms to embrace the wind. I could end it all right here; it would be so easy. All I have to do is let myself fall...

The next thing he knew, he was grabbed from behind, his arms pinned to his sides, as Uriko crushed the air from his lungs in a desperate hug. With a startled grunt, he staggered back from the edge, held in a grip of steel, Uriko's claws tangled in his jacket sleeves. He could feel them lightly pricking his skin.

"If you jump, you're gonna have to take me with you!" she cried, her face pressed into his back, holding onto him for dear life. In half-beast form, the only way to break her grip would be to morph, and Kenji had sworn never to fight her in beast form again. Besides, with the way his lungs were screaming for oxeygon, a few more minutes of this and he would probably faint from lack of air.

"Riko," he gritted out, "I can't breathe."

"I'm not letting you go unless you swear you won't jump!" came Uriko's immediete reply, tightening her hold even further. Kenji would've sighed, if he had the breath. The moment was gone. He didn't think he could summon the strength to take the leap now.

"I'm not going to jump, Uriko. Will you please let me go?" Before I pass out?

Her grip didn't relent. "Promise?"

"I promise."

Her death grip loosened, and he drew in a much needed breath. She didn't completely release him, however, holding him captive in the circle of her arms. A half-hearted attempt to free himself resulted in her clamping onto him stubbornly, with a growl that sounded fairly serious, so he stopped trying.

"Riko? Really, I won't jump, I swear. Seriously, I don't think I could have in the first place." Her arms didn't relent an inch, but he felt her start to tremble against him. "What....what's wrong?"

"What's wrong? Damn you, Kenji!" she yelled, startling him with her vehemence. "Why do you keep doing this to me? Do you know what I go through every time you pull a stupid stunt like this? Do you even care?" She was shaking violently now, and Kenji hung his head. She was right. He was being unnaccountably selfish every time he let his fear and despair take over. I just wanted to protect you, he thought, but, I guess I was taking the coward's way out. He sighed. I'm sorry, Uriko. I never wanted to hurt you. I should've told you everything from the beginning.

Uriko sniffed and pressed her face into his back. "God, Kenji. I love you so much. I don't think I could keep going if you die on me." Kenji's heart did a backflip; even after all this time, to hear her say it still surprised him. Uriko's rigid posture drooped, and she faded back into human form, her voice going soft with resignation. "I thought I would be enough to keep you here, but I guess I'm just fooling myself..."

"No, Riko." Kenji tried to turn around and succeeded this time, as Uriko dropped her arms in defeat. "You....you're the only thing that keeps me here sometimes. I'm sorry. I know I screw up, and I know I make you worry about me. But, I do love you." He stepped closer and took one of her small hands in his. "If you believe anything I've told you, believe that. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

Uriko's eyes shone with unshed tears. "Then, why do you keep trying to go off and leave me?"

Even now, Kenji hesitated. Tell her, his inner voice urged. She deserves an answer. She needs to know the killer still inside your head. You owe her that much, at least.

"Listen, Uriko....I...."

"Boy," hissed a familiar, hated voice in his head. "If you tell this girl anything about me, she will die, by your hands, in the most painful way possible! That little nightmare you had? Only the beginning. I make you a promise of it."

"Kenji?" Uriko whispered, as his face turned a ghostly shade of white. "What is it? What's wrong with you?" He closed his eyes, and felt her hands frame the sides of his face. "Please, Kenji, will you just tell me already? I can't bear seeing you like this. Just tell me."

No, he decided, and at that moment, something inside him snapped. Forgive me, Uriko. But this has gone far enough. He shivered then, realizing what he had to do, for all their sakes. Busuzima, you bastard. I swore I'd never be your guinea pig again, but I have no choice. I can't let Bakuryu threaten my family. No matter what the price, if I have to sell my soul to the devil, I am going to get rid of him once and for all!

"Riko," he murmured, opening his eyes and resting his forehead against hers. Her large, liquid eyes glimmered in the moonlight; he could see himself reflected in those dark orbs. "Do you trust me?"

She blinked, frowning slightly in confusion. "O-of course, Kenji. Why?"

"Then, will you trust me now?" he continued in a low whisper, rubbing his thumb over her cheek, memorizing ever nuance of her lovely face. "There's something I have to take care of now, something I have to do alone. Even if I don't come back for awhile, will you still trust me to do the right thing?"

Her face paled. "What are you talking abou--?"

"Uriko..."

He barely whispered her name, but something in his voice made her pause. She squeezed her eyes shut, and the tears that threatened to spill finally ran down her cheeks. Kenji's heart twisted painfully, but his mind was made up. Now that he was finally resolved, his conscience was clear; there was no turning back. Opening her eyes again, Uriko looked directly into his face.

"I....I trust you, Kenji. Always."

He smiled at her gently. "Tell Yugo not to worry," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her tear streaked face. "Look after him while I'm gone, okay? And, inform Gado that I'm still very much a member of NGO, even if I have gone AWOL."

"I will."

"After this, I'll probably be scrubbing toilets for a month," he joked, trying to be cheerful, for both their sakes. But Uriko's lip trembled, and she threw her arms around him with a sob, hugging him with a desperate strength. Kenji clutched her to him tightly, burying his face in her hair, trying not to think that this could be the last time.

"You're coming back, right?" she wailed softly into his chest. "You won't leave me alone, will you?"

"I'm coming back," he assured. "And when I do, I'll never leave you again." He took a deep breath. "But, Riko, you have to promise me something."

Uriko craned her neck up to look at him.

Kenji bit back a sigh. He wished he didn't have to say this, but he to be sure. He didn't want to leave her unprepared. "If....if I ever turn into Bakuryu again," he began haltingly, and her eyes widened at his alter ego's name, "I don't want you to show any mercy. Just, take him out...permanently. Promise me you won't hesitate if it comes to that, Uriko."

Uriko shook her head frantically. "I couldn't," she whispered. "I....no! I couldn't, Kenji. I'll promise you anything but that."

"Uriko--"

"No!" Burying her face in his chest again, she shook with unshed tears. "How can you ask me to kill you? Would you be able to do it, if I turned back into that mutant demon thing?"

"It would be different, then." Cupping her chin, he gently tipped her face up to his. "Riko, if Bakuryu returns, it means...." He hesitated, then sighed heavily. "It means that I don't exist any longer. If Bakuryu comes back, Kenji Ohagami is already dead."

"You won't die," Uriko whispered feircely. Her eyes gleamed as she met his startled gaze. "He can't beat you. You're stronger than him. You've always been stronger than him."

"I wish....I could believe that."

"You are," Uriko repeated, touching the side of his face. "I have so much faith in you, Kenji. Which is why I'll wait. I'll wait for you to come back to me. If this is something you've gotta do, then you have to face it head on. But, I'll be waiting when you get back, so don't be too long, okay?" She summoned a shaky grin, and brushed away the single tear that had rolled down his cheek. "I love you, Mole-boy. Don't ever forget that."

He kissed her. Not the slow, gentle kisses when they were alone, or the quick pecks whenever they met or parted company. This was a searing, savage, almost desperate kiss; one that ignited a fire within them both. Uriko's nails dug into his back; her lips parted and Kenji swept his tongue into her mouth. She growled, sounding very much like her cat form, and stabbed her fingers into his thick hair, holding his head still while their tongues danced and sparred. Groaning, Kenji slipped his arms around her waist, trying to pull her even more tightly to him, to mold her into himself so that they would become one, body and soul, and never have to part.

Reluctantly, and only for lack of air, they drew back a few inches, still clinging to one another desperately. Both were panting, shaking with the emotions tearing through them, neither willing to draw away. Uriko's arms were wrapped around his neck; he could feel her heart thudding against his chest, echoing the thunderous rythem of his own.

Finally, Kenji broke away, taking a last, final look at his girlfriend, memorizing her face, her slender body, every inch of her. She took a deep, steadying breath, biting her lip to keep back the tears, as Kenji began to slip into the shadows.

"I love you," he mouthed, not trusting his voice at the moment. She smiled bravely and raised her hand in farewell.

"Hurry back," she whispered. He nodded, once.

And then he was gone.