Kage sat next to Kisu, leaning his head against his chest, eyes half closed.

"It's going well."

"Yes."

"You're working on Hardrock?"

"The best way to convince him, however, is to get Shin."

"I guess I'll need your help, then."

"What do you plan?"

Kage thought, eyes closing. "I'm not sure."

"Well, then. Shin feels the same was about Shu…to change one is to ensnare the other. I'll double my efforts on Shu, then. He'll be easier to change. I just have to work maybe a little harder…he won't be too hard."

"Why?"

"He's the most impulsive. He's the easiest to turn against his friends. It'll just take the right words phrased in the right way. Chip away at his self control."

"How're you going to do that?"

"I've already managed to work my way into his mind. His mental barriers are horrible. I've already planted ideas, words inside him. This…will be fun."

"Oh? Why?"

"He loves to fight. I'll capture him that way."

Kisu slowly stood, and Kage watched him, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"He loves to fight. He lives for a physical challenge. I'm able to provide that, don't you think?"

Kage grinned. "Of course. But I want to fight too!"

"You and he can practice together, I suppose. Though once we have Shin, too…I suspect they'll be occupied with other things."

Kage laughed as Kisu put on civilian clothes and pulled back his hair. He looked in the mirror for a moment, and Kage stared. Kisu smiled and turned away. Kage watched him go, astonished. He had always thought, even as Ryo, but now…there was no doubt.

"That's how he's known all their moves, all their fears, all Ryo's secrets…my God…"

Shu was unable to concentrate that day, and so had given up on trying to do his homework. He went outside and lay on the shore of the lake, trying to make sense of his jumbled thoughts.

"Damn…"

Yuu sat down next to him, and began to pick at the grass, and sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"You wouldn't believe me and I don't think you can keep a secret."

"Oh? Try me. I've been through a lot of weird things."

"Like what?"

"Well, my parents divorced when I was three. I recently found out I have a little sister who I've never met before, and she's 13 now. I've moved around the United States, I've seen Europe and South America, have been sick with some of the strangest diseases on Earth, have been subject to some of the oddest customs…trust me, I've seen a lot."

Shu stared at him. Maybe…he could trust him. Maybe. He knew about the armors, anyway.

"The warrior…you know, the guy we've been fighting?"

"Yes, I remember. What about him?"

"I've met him."

"Really?"
Shu nodded, and sighed. "He said a few things to me that…I'm not sure about myself anymore."

Yuu looked at him, concerned at the defeat and uncertainty in Shu's voice.

"Like what?"

"Am I…I…ah, nevermind."

Yuu pouted, annoyed. "C'mon. I haven't told a soul about your armors, and that's one very big, very juicy secret."

Shu sighed, and looked at him. Yuu's gaze was calm, kind, and understanding. Without wanting to, Shu found himself telling Yuu all his doubts about himself, his fears. He skipped over Shin, but other than that confided into Yuu. When he was done, waiting for the reaction, Yuu just leaned over and hugged him. When he withdrew, he smiled slightly.

"Now, now. Come on. I promise not to tell anyone, and if you ever need to talk again…I'm here."

Shu nodded, and looked down. Yuu stood, concerned, and looked into the water. He froze. Shit. He turned away and began to walk away, at first seeming calm, but his vision slowly began to darken, and the last thing he remembered was walking into the forest.

Shu heard him leave, and laid on his back, sighing. Why had he told him all that? Was it because he was weak from the Warrior's suggestions? He snarled at himself, at his silliness and stood. When he turned to head back to the house, the warrior was standing halfway between the trees and him.

Shu snarled and transformed into his armor, and attacked. The warrior dodged and prodded him, provoked him further and further into anger until he was almost drugged, excited from the adrenaline coursing through him. The warrior seemed to be drawing him out, making him prove all his skills. He and the warrior disarmed each other at the same time, and it became a fist fight, rather than with weapons, both in subarmor. Shu was panting, and was alarmed to see the warrior hadn't broken a sweat. As he watched the warrior fight, he felt something recognizable about the style, about his speed and the fluidity. When it finally dawned on him, he backed up and was pinned to the ground by the warrior's weight, his knees breaking under the pressure, his wrists snapping in his hold. Shu gasped with pain, and stared up at the warrior.

"You…are…?"

The warrior leaned down and whispered in his ear, "My name is Kisu no Shintenshi."

Shu shuddered at the name, and gasped at the ice that slowly seemed to blossom from within him.

"Shu of Hardrock, listen to my proposal. If you come with me, you will not have to justify your temper. No one will insult your intelligence. You won't have to hide your feelings for Shin. You won't have to control your anger. You can fight to your heart's content. I feel in you a true desire to fight, to destroy, to kill."

"I will never become evil!"

"Really, Shu? Look at it from my perspective. To me, you've always been evil."

Shu's breath caught, and he looked up into the entrancing, depthless, haunting eyes.

"What?"

"You're evil, Shu."

"No! I've protected mankind from evil!"

"Shu, you are my enemy. To me, you've always been evil. If you fight against me, you are no longer "good". I am, since I am searching for a new world order where only the strong will be worthy of God, and I will have all the souls I desire."

"What do you want with souls?"

"Shu. I am the Death Angel. My name says so. And you know, no one can win against Death. So, forego this meager existence that chains you. Come with me, Shu. You will be free from responsibility. Free from everything that's told you your desires are wrong."

Shu struggled against Kisu's hold and Kisu let him go, standing up. He looked down on Shu, broken, in pain, and confused.

"Think it over, Shu. I will give you three days to consider my proposal. I am giving you a chance for greatness."

Kisu smiled kindly, gently, and disappeared.

Seiji walked out, looking for Shu, who hadn't come back to the house, and it was nearly sundown.

"Shu?"

He walked out onto the lake and saw a form laying on the bank, still.

Seiji ran over and was relieved to find Shu there, breathing. He kneeled down and was about to speak to him, but the emptiness in his eyes, the void of uncertainty he could see in them unnerved him. He gently shook Shu, who looked at him and slowly sat up, his eyes gaining consciousness again.

"What time is it? I'm starving."

Seiji smiled in relief, and helped Shu up, walking back to the house with him, supporting his defeated, heavy body.