Hello…yes I have returned and with an open mind at that! This is the seventh chapter and I hope you enjoy, as I hope many of you did the last chapter, (despite its shortness…). One question about Chapter 6: Did you all think it was like insane gothic? Some of my reviewers said so…just wondering what the general populous thought. And as a general statement: THIS STORY TAKES PLACE IN AMERICA. I think I said this already, but a lot of people were confused in the last chapter, so I guess I'll restate it, (and in my responses I'll say it again, just to make sure, because it's kind of like important). Sorry if that got you! My apologies!

Also, in my last chapter there was a slightly large mistake in the Japanese language. I mixed up the order of some words as they are meant to be in Japanese, and I am so sorry for anyone reading who caught that and didn't say anything because they wanted to be polite! Sorry! I have fixed everything, so if you want to check it out again, feel free!

Ok, this chapter is extremely short, shorter than my last chapter, only about 12 pages. I'm sorry! But I promise you that it's jam-packed with action, you'll enjoy it if you like samurai fighting, (although I have to leave a lot to the imagination because of the censors on the site). Please don't be mad at me for its length, I worked so hard on it; it was really hard to write, believe it or not. I hope you do enjoy!

Response to all my Lovely Reviewers:

Heather-Hezzel-Honaluki: Thanks for reviewing. I did well? Why thank you! Yes, I'm sorry they didn't kiss…don't be too sad! I have a reason for myself! You see, if they were to kiss right then, the story would be close to its finish, and I can't have that, of course…so that's why I did what I did. Don't worry! Nothing is forever in this story…(well almost nothing…) Please enjoy this chapter, and drop a review if you can! It was nice to hear from you.

Nachzes Black Rider: I'm glad you're happy…because that makes me happy as well, you know? (claps) I reviewed "h A t I n G y O u" and I understand why you took it off…but I think that's a dumb rule, because I know for a fact that you disclaimered everything! Oh well. Maybe I'll check that out sometime, it's a really really good story! Please read and review, you're a very faithful reviewer!

Fire Kitten: Hi! Ah yes, you've lost the laziness…lol! Yeah, they were kind of close weren't they? Well…all good things must come to an end…(the end is always sooner for Seto, have you noticed that?). Aww…don't pout! Now I feel sad… I wanted to put a little bit of comedy in the last chapter, just to get away from all the drama. Like when Joey tricked Seto, (I thought it was funny too…), and the "Egotistical Boss" book. Hey! Don't worry about Joey's not noticing the scars! That comes in later! Trust the authoress…come on! Lol (Joey, thinking before speaking? Not going to happen.) I don't think I'll add a chapter from Joey's POV, I want to keep this slightly focused on Seto…but I may do something to include his thoughts…you never know, right? No, they couldn't kiss just yet! I must prolong their suffering! Lol…don't worry about it! I'll be a good authoress…(smirks evilly)…maybe…lol. Please review, you know I love hearing from you!

"kaibajoey1": OMG! You're so welcome! Lol. You thought this was one of your favorite chapters? Wow. Thank you! I wasn't sure how people were going to take it…being as I went kind of far with the whole thing…but I think overall it went alright, and you just boosted my confidence! Thanks. Every day you check to see if I updated? You know, you could put me on your author alert list…or if you haven't registered yet, would you like me to e-mail you every time I update? I'd be more than happy to, if that's what you want. In your next review, drop an answer, kk? Oh and I do feel sorry for making you wait so long, I didn't mean to…but I haven't had a lot of time studying for finals and end of the year exams and everything…sorry! Aww…don't cry! I'm glad I made you happy, though. That's really good. Really. No really, it is…thanks for your compliments! I think you'll enjoy this chapter, I hope you do…please enjoy! Lol. Have fun, and don't forget to tell me if you want my e-mails! (btw my e-mail is in my bio, if you want to look at it for any reason…yeah I don't know why, either) Until next we speak.

yami'skoi: Aren't my replies sweet? I think so…lol, but you deserve them from your great reviews. I always love receiving them, as I told you. I love Mokuba and I think you are 100 right about him. (nods) Yes you are. Yes, that was Gozaburo's evilness in the making. I worked hard to make Kazukyoko like I thought Gozaburo would be like, you know? The yakuza like Seto's current employers….hmm…never thought of that but yes you're right! They sort of are, aren't they? Yes I hate people who think they're tough because they can harm a child. DEEP AND UTTER LOATHING! I agree with you, Tsumi. Wouldn't Gozaburo be like that, though? I think so. And yes, this is where Seto got his attitude from. It definitely is, and I tried to make it seem exactly like that. I'm so glad that you picked up on this, you are one of the few who mentioned Gozaburo in your review and I am glad that someone out there gets it…Thank you for your compliments. I want to write lemons and all that, but I am afraid to because of all the censorship that needs to be done on this site. But I'll see what I can do. I don't know yet…(scratches head) Lol, don't you want Seto to talk about being gay? I so do. So so so so do. Plus, it really sounds like him, doesn't it? Ah yes…Seto fighting…one of the best parts of the story if I do say so myself…lol…uh, yeah. Blame my LIS, alright? Seto's emotions are one of the only things that make him human. You're right about that. You can see yourself in Seto's place? That's good! It takes out a lot of stress that way! I am happy for you, Tsumi! It also means that I'm doing my job…or part of it anyway. Repetitive Seto Lust Injury? Hey! I am not…ok well yes I am. Fine, Joey has it too! Lol. Good idea for a sudden lemon…but, uh…no. I can't make that happen just yet. But soon perhaps…ah well, no spoilers! Don't worry, Seto was caught by Joey's fall, too. Don't worry about it. Yes, Seto hates his father. For a combination of reasons, I suppose; the hated weakness and carrying out what Seto himself wishes. True, a bond of trust has developed between Seto and Joey in the sharing of pasts…what better way, right? Love does hurt. A lot. Lots. Especially in forbidden love, like Seto feels. I try to think of a way to end the chapter that kind of wraps the whole thing up, you know? Like a sentence that both defies and defines, you know? Kind of? Sort of? Not really? Maybe that will help you when you decide to update one of your own stories, I have faith in you Tsumi! Wow…your comments are so wonderful! I have to think about the lemon, I'll let you know in future what I decide, but I also feel that I am not worthy of your compliments! They're so good, wow thank you, Tsumi. I want to write something this…hehehehe…ah! No spoilers! Thank you for your review, and enjoy this chapter fully, Tsumi! Until next we speak.

"Green Eggs and Ham": You like? Yay. Dark chippie? Perhaps…Hmm…I don't know if it was as dark as some of my other chapters, but you are totally and in every way entitled to your own opinion! In fact, I encourage it fully! Seto is still human, even if he doesn't act like it, yes. Almost felt sorry for Gozaburo, eh? Lol…was waiting to see who would say that…I kind of did, too…you are not alone. Trust me. Seto is wise! Of course…lol. Loved the questions! Allow me to answer them: SETO AND JOEY ARE IN AMERICA. Must clear that up! Please! Never forget! I think Seto was at that age when Gozaburo fell out the window…I don't know…it doesn't matter all that much, you know? But don't feel like you can't ask, you totally can! Joey is 17 and Seto is 19, (like I mentioned in the last chapter). If you are ever confused about lots of stuff, try reading the fore-chapter notes. I explain a lot of stuff in there, maybe it'll help. But always ask. I love when you ask, it makes me feel like you are really reading and that's good. Aww…don't die…lol! And the foreshadow was meant as suspense, but I hope you enjoyed! Please review, love hearing from you!

Xaio-Darkcloud: Thanks for reviewing! Yes I'm glad I got to write again as well…yay! They do live in Japan in the manga, but this is Marysa's story now! Lol. They live in America in my story, lol. So yeah. Don't worry about it. Thanks again! Can't wait to hear from you!

"apprentice assassin": Hello! Thank you for reviewing! Aha, so you help the other assassins out there as an apprentice…hmm…how do you feel about helping Seto? He seems like he could use it, eh? Lol, just kidding here. But I like your name. Thank you so much for your compliments! They were so wonderful, I am so grateful! (hugs) thank you! I love writing from Seto's POV, it is partly what I live for…um not really, but yeah, I love doing it. So thank you! And please review again, it was nice to hear from you!

".": (Hmm…that's an interesting name…) Anyway, yeah I make mistakes like that. I'll try to edit them more closely. You like the story? That's good. The plot is moving fast! Fast like a rock…yeah…(glances around). Lol. Sorry, but I feel the need to go slower in stories like this. I don't think I'll be changing it, but thank you so much for your opinion! I think this chapter has some more action in it, maybe you'll like? So wonderful hearing from you, "."! Please review again! My story totally needs the editing I know…thanks again!

yamijenny: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you like it, I worked hard. Please read and review! It is nice to get a review like yours, short and sweet. Pretty!

"Miharu": Hi! Thanks for reviewing! Yes, these stories usually do end sadly…but I'm working on the ending so I can't say anything for certain just yet! I agree, Seto does need Joey completely and totally. I wish they could be together, but they just can't yet. Sorry! Mokuba? Hmm…Seto is doing his usual act of taking care of him, but I don't know if he's doing the best of jobs, so feel free to complain! I shan't allow Seto to get his ass kicked, but you probably will see an improvement in his relationship with Mokie…oh, damn! I just ruined it. Sorry! Please keep reading! It was nice to hear from you!

"Muchacha": Don't you love Seto in general, lol? Yes I love the psychology as well…isn't it very fitting for him? I think so…Seto is in partial denial of his sexuality…we must indulge him for the time being…yes it is sad, I cry as well. Joey ALMOST had him. Yes so sad. But you have to love him…I dunno… I loved hearing from you, please read and review again! Thank you!

"Emily Nguyen": You love my story? Wow, thank you! That is always wonderful to hear! Are they going to kiss in this chapter? Hmm…no spoilers! Read and find out! Please drop a review if you can as well, thank you!

Ru-chan: Hi! Thank you so so so so so so so so so so so so much for correcting me! Boy, was that embarrassing…I apologize deeply for making that mistake, it was so totally accidental. I guess I really have a lot to learn about this language, I mean I really really really do. I'm sorry if my mistakes ruined the experience of the story for you, but you'll be happy to know that I went back and changed all the errors to what you suggested. Take a look if you so choose. Anyway, I hope you do come back to read my story even though I am totally dumb, I enjoy having close readers like you! Thanks again!

Storyfreak: Hello! I'm so glad you liked it! I rally try hard to make the story enjoyable, it's so nice to get a compliment like yours! I wish that Seto could stop being a prick, but it is very unlikely…I mean come on, it's in his nature now! And poor Joey wants a kiss, too, don't you, Joey? (Joey enters and nods) Aww…it's alright. Don't worry about little Seto. He's just confused about a lot of things right now. Not your fault. OMG! Don't hurt your computer for my sake! (gently takes stapler and places it on the floor) Now, just leave it there, where it's not hurting anybody…lol. Thank you for your review, (and of course for your wonderful story "Blue Eyes", which I do hope you update soon!), please drop another one if you have the time!

Warning: Umm, hello? If you've read this so far and you are STILL offended by it, I don't know why you don't just stop reading! But I warn you! This contains ADULT THEMES! Blood, extreme violence, sexuality (not the straight kind), please take heed!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, or the song "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones, (which has been redone a few hundred times, but they are the original artists and I could never steal anything from them!). I do not own these!

Chapter 7: Black

"I see a red door and I want it painted black…"

I figure that someone actually begins to loose their mind when they start singing to themselves on the way to their own death. I was singing on the road to The Office just outside of town. I was singing, with little consideration of who overheard me.

"No colors anymore, I want them to turn black."

My mind was pretty much empty, except for the song. I didn't really concentrate on anything, least of all Wheeler who I wished would disappear into black. Along with all that I felt for him.

"I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes, I have to turn my head until my darkness goes."

The gravel of my driveway slowly turned into pavement before my eyes. I knew the way to The Office so well I didn't even have to really look. Perhaps there were people passing by me, staring at me. I had hidden my katana underneath all the black clothes, there was no way they could have had any idea of where I was going, what I was doing, or even who I was, but perhaps my mere presence sent a shiver of fear slithering up their spines. If you saw a man walking by you singing to himself and dressed entirely in black, would you be frightened?

"I see a line of cars and they are painted black. With flowers and my love both never to come back…"

A car or two passed every now and then. It was only 5:00 in the morning, not a lot of people were up. But I am not sure of what the people in those cars felt. I don't care. A part of me wondered what it would feel like to be one of those people, though. Heading innocently on my way to work, never having killed someone in all my life. Better yet, they had fear of killing someone, not guilt. It was almost funny. Most of the people in those lines of cars were ruled by their own fears. So was I. But mine were so different from theirs, it was amazing that we occupied the same earth.

"I see people turn their heads and quickly look away. Like a new born baby it just happens every day."

There were a few whispers around me. Or was that in my head? I couldn't be sure.

"I look inside myself and see my heart is black…"

Eventually the busy city of Domino passed me, and I headed into the strange deserted area of their Office. Rubble clanked under my sharply shined shoes. The smell of the place was never welcoming, exactly.

"I see my red door and its heading into black."

The lone building standing up on top of the garbage. How I knew this building. It was almost strange how attached part of me was to it. As soon as I laid my eyes on it, I felt my heart detach from me. I blinked once. I needed to leave my love behind in this garbage. I couldn't possibly fight the Mafia with my love still burning inside me like the sin it was. I crunched a tin can under my foot, pretending that was my heart. Just end it.

"Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts. It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black."

With all that was left of my being, (without the shrapnel of the tin can smashed under my foot), I headed up to the front door of the small building. Would you believe that it was red? Probably not. But it was. It really was.

I raised my hand and curved it into a fist. The chorus of the song swished around in my mind, but I was done singing. I wanna see it painted, painted, painted black…

Just as I was about to knock once, the door opened right in my face. A Puppet stood before me in his sunglasses and tough façade, letting nothing on.

"You're here. Come in."

I nodded. He moved back and I stepped in. The lighting had not changed one bit since my last visit to this horrible place. Darkened hallway, the smell of cigarette smoke wafting from the other room, I was done with it all by now. Sorry, dear Mafia, but I left my heart at the door.

German floated into my ears. "Aha! Seto Kaiba! He arrives, at last!" Armin.

Then a French accent reached me. Jacques. "Enter. We have much business to speak of."

I walked calmly, smoothly into the shadowy Meeting. They were all sitting there, each and every one of my enemies, some drenched in fat, some so skinny they looked like they were about to break. Some of them were so pale they looked dead, and some were so dark the looked like they sprang from the shadows themselves. All five of them.

None of them looked at me. They just stared at some space before them in superiority.

Silence. The gentle wind of smoke flowing in and out of their mouths. This was boring.

I took the silence and snapped it in two. "Are you going to just sit there and waste my time or are you going to kill me?"

Gustov laughed heartily, they all followed slowly. "Kill you, Seto Kaiba?" he said. "Why would we want to kill you?"

I said nothing. They never had told me they wanted to kill me, but I hadn't brought my katana for no reason. They had implied it. Just to torture me? I didn't know. But I chose not to respond to Gustov's question.

"Or is that what you want?" D.B. asked, smugly.

I sighed. My thumb twirled around my index finger. I was angry at them already. Don't show it. I didn't.

"Let's get right down to the point…" Frederick.

I nodded curtly.

"You may be wondering why you are here right now. Is that right?" His dark eyes looked at me through a mist of smoke. I said nothing, gave nothing for him to feast on with his fat lips.

He sighed and gestured with his cigar. "You are here because you've disobeyed orders. You are here because the boy that you were supposed to kill is still alive and we have reason to believe that you are sheltering him."

A slight pause. "But aside from the sheltering, we are most discontented by the fact that he is still alive. Is he?"

I nodded.

"Perhaps the most obvious question is…why?"

I had been waiting for this. "Because he is innocent of the crime you have given him."

Gustov leaned forward in his chair. He concentrated on me through the smoke. "What do you mean?"

"I mean he had not seen or even heard of you before this whole ordeal started. He's not the one that saw you having the meeting. He's innocent."

Jacques started cursing in French. "You mean we've got the wrong man?"

I nodded.

He cursed louder.

Gustov slammed his hand down on the table to silence him. Jacques was the only one that seemed affected by my truth. Did the others not care at all? Did they just want to see the blood of a child?

"The original crime doesn't hold any consequence at this point. He already knows too much."

They were making no sense. "But who is he going to tell? The police are on your side, after all."

Most of them laughed, except Jacques who was still shaken by the initial outburst. "Quite true, Mr. Kaiba. Our police are. But what about all the other authorities? And what about his playmates? If he were to be kept alive at this point, most of the whole town would know about our society, and there would no longer be any secrecy to our guild."

"You should have told us this earlier, Seto Kaiba. Before we put a bounty on his head." Armin exhaled after he said this. His German was choppy; it seemed almost out of breath. D.B. wasn't translating for him. Perhaps he was on his way to a heart attack. That would have helped a lot.

"I didn't know then."

"Didn't know, or didn't think of it?" He raised an eyebrow in defiance.

Frederick straightened in his chair. "Yes, how do we know that you're even telling the truth?"

"What would it matter either way? It's obvious to me that all you want is an innocent child dead."

Gustov. "What about you, Master Kaiba?" He only called me master when he was about to interject about my stepfather, (because this is what Gozaburo himself called me every now and then). "You nearly killed my own son. You most definitely scarred him for life."

I smirked. "He was going to blow my head off with a shotgun. Was I meant to allow him?"

D.B. nodded. "This would have saved us a lot of trouble, yes." A few of them laughed.

"I thought you didn't want me dead?"

"Don't misunderstand us," Armin said. "We do."

They were talking in circles. They wanted me to be off-guard and then on-guard and then confused as hell. They liked their victims unaware, afraid.

Sorry, my dear Mafia. I left my heart at the door. I knew no fear.

"So, all of that recapped and over with," Gustov again, "Let's talk about a solution to this problem."

"All problems have solutions," I told him, (a throw back to what his son said to me).

He nodded. "Indeed. What is the solution to this problem, I wonder?"

"It seems that there is something about this Joseph Wheeler you would hate to see die," D.B. said. "Is he your new lover?"

A part of me seared with pain when she said this. Why? Was it because I wanted him to be my lover? Was it because I wanted him to be left out of this conversation, not defiled by its nature? Inwardly, I stamped out the emotion and tried to plunge ahead even though they were all laughing at D.B.'s comment.

"Let me try and dumb this down for you all as far as I can. I. Am. Not. Going. To Kill. That. Boy. End of story. All reasons are excess."

The laughter subsided. "I'm sure Mr. Kaiba does have his reasons, whatever they may be. But he's right. They are excess. What we need now is to present him with the facts." Gustov put out his cigarette in an ash tray that rested permanently on his chair. When he was done, he shouted at Jacques to go in the closet.

The scrap of metal on the floor from his chair was horrible. But this was new. I had never actually seen one of them get up from their permanent seats.

Jacques stood up slowly and turned his back to me, displaying a rather nice view of his ass. I actually looked, extremely quickly, and then looked away. Embarrassment and fear followed immediately after the first thrill. I really was gay, wasn't I?

Damn my heart. I thought it was at the goddamn door.

Gustov's deep rooted voice dragged me back to my situation. "You'll soon see the sad consequences of disobeying your role, Mr. Kaiba. For you have broken our sacred contract. You have your company, but we do not have our body."

"Justice must be upheld, Mr. Kaiba," D.B. said, throwing me one of her malicious smiles that seemed eerily like a smile from a skeleton, (she was that skinny).

Jacques emerged from the closet, (front first this time, thank whatever forces there were), carrying a rabbit. It look like it had at once been white, but its coat was stained and some spots of raw skin showed. I raised an eyebrow. The thing was still living, but barely so. I had no doubt that they neglected proper treatment of it. Anger boiled inside of me. Mistreatment of animals was one of my triggers, it set my off into dangerous rage.

"This is Alice, Mr. Kaiba. We acquired her some time ago when our last associate disobeyed us. He was also an assassin, Mr. Kaiba, but certainly not as unique as you."

He stood up, as well, the fat in him transcending like its own continent as he walked. I had no idea he was that obese…the sight truly disgusted me.

"Now, you see," he continued, petting the rabbit softly. "This rabbit seldom left his side. He was let attached to it. Then, one day, we decided to test his loyalty. We ordered him to kill this rabbit. He refused." Gustov's hand dropped from the rabbit's head.

"Do you know what became of this murderous, rabbit-loving gentleman, Mr. Kaiba?"

I said and did nothing. I had more or less of an idea, though.

"We killed him. And took his rabbit, nonetheless." He picked up the rabbit by the scruff of its neck. Obviously, the animal did not like this at all. Unconsciously, a hand moved to the hilt of my katana.

"I'm tired of your games, Mr. Kaiba. I can promise you that your little lover Joseph Wheeler will end up exactly like this rabbit."

His hand reached into the back of his pants and he withdrew a pistol. As if in slow motion I saw the tip of it move to the head of the rabbit.

Anger teemed.

Pent up rage released in a fluid motion from the katana. I wasn't even aware of what I was doing. I just saw a flash of red and then the rabbit was scurrying away, safe in the corner.

Jacques was screaming, the coward he was.

I blinked and the red left my eyes. Gustov was staring at me. Sheer terror shone in his piggy eyes.

I looked down at my hands. The length of my katana was bloody, I had some blood on me.

I chanced looking at Gustov's torso. I saw that I had made a slash straight across his body. Deadly enough to kill him.

The fat man began to fall. Dead he was.

I had killed one of my employers. The leader of them all.

I commented on the swiftness of death for a moment. Just a second ago he was threatening my one love's life and now his was terminated. How ironic is that?

Jacques stopped screaming after a few seconds. None of them did anything.

Well, if they were going to let me, I would act. As agile as I had slain my employer, I bent and picked up his pistol, getting it out of his reach then tossed it aside like trash. I would be damned before I defiled myself with the use of a firearm.

The moment was broken. D.B. stood up and withdrew her own pistol. She wasted no time and shot at me with all her rounds.

I dodged as soon as I heard the gun shots. But not quick enough. I felt the aching pierce of a bullet sear through my shoulder.

The rest of them stood up and the Puppets all around us withdrew their guns. All at once the sound of about ten cocking guns could be heard deafeningly loud.

The pain evaporated from my thoughts. I let go of all my rage.

I can't tell you what I did. I honestly don't remember. When I want to, I can become a dangerous element of murder. When this happens, I loose track of my surroundings and I just let the spirit and sway of the fighting take over me. All I see is a shadow of my blade and the shapes falling through left over cigarette smoke. All I hear is the sound of shimmering Japanese metal as it tears through my enemies. I feel nothing. I taste the staleness of air and sometimes the saltiness of blood, but nothing more than that.

I think that this feeling of pure withdrawal from my humanity is where life can be found. I think this is what Gozaburo meant when he told me how Oni no Ryōshin is the answer to life. For the pure lack of awareness is as peaceful as any form of meditation, better than anything you'll achieve in yoga or kung-fu. It's the holiest thing I've ever felt in my life.

But it didn't feel that way as I took down my enemies. I only felt as if I was betraying some code of sanctity that I had promised to keep alive. I was killing the people that had partially ruled my life for years. And it didn't have a rebellious impression at all. It just hurt…oddly enough.

I don't know how long I fought them. Maybe it was an hour, but I doubt that seriously. Their lives just seemed to slip away with each pass of the blade…slipping into black. One…two…three…four…faces I knew no more.

When I finally descended back into myself, I heard the heavy breathing of a female and the last moans of dying men. I blinked.

Before me, D.B. was kneeling. She had cuts on her face, but her eyes betrayed no horror or even the slightest hint of fear. Only hate. An utter loathing that went beyond description.

I was holding her head by the silk of her angelic hair, my katana was an inch away from her neck.

"Do it," she said, breathing heavy with black hatred and maddening abhorrence. "Kill me, Seto Kaiba."

I chanced a glance around the room. Everyone else lay dead and maimed. Visions that could drive one of those people in the passing cars insane. What had I done? Nothing I would lament later on, or so one would think. But in reality, I felt horrible for having done this to my employers. I can't explain why.

I heard a choking in the corner. Gustov's son was standing over his father's dead body, not crying, not screaming out in anguish. Just standing there and coughing every now and then. I could only guess what his father had done to him throughout the course of his life. Maybe he was glad that all the abuse was over. Maybe he was sad that he couldn't have been the on to kill him. I saw that there was a bandage over the left side of his face, where I had scarred him. Maybe he didn't want the same man who deformed his face to be the one to kill his worst enemy. I don't know.

"Kill me!" she was almost yelling now. I focused back on her. "I want it!" Her accent was so rich it was difficult to understand, but I her meanings were obvious by the look in her eyes.

I moved the katana away from her neck ever so slightly and then made like I was going to bring it down again.

My hand stopped just as I had made the smallest cut in her neck. She gasped lightly in expectation of the blade.

I let go of her and she fell backwards, her weight had been dependent on my hand. Without bothering to wipe the blood of my blade, I sheathed the katana.

Looking at her eyes, still burning, but now more confused, I gestured towards Gustov and his son. "Make sure he doesn't kill himself. Take him with you when you return to your country. Don't call on me to do your bidding any longer, if you have any. I believe we're through with this relationship."

I let my words ring on her perfect ears for a moment. Then I turned and walked calmly into the corner where a frightened rabbit sat. In its eyes I saw fear, but I figured that its interpretation of people in general had not been very good for the past few years. Slowly, not wanting to harm it unintentionally, I lifted it into my arms and carried it out with me. Mokuba liked rabbits. He could give it the love it needed to heal.

The fresh air of morning sifted around my body. I was still unaware of the bullet wound, it having left my mind. I stared up at the sky, searching the innocent clouds for an answer to all this death. When I realized that there was no answer, that things just happened the way they did because of the events that happened before them, I looked away and began my slow journey home.

Out of nowhere I began singing again. Right where I had left off.

"No more will my green see go turn a deeper blue. I could not foresee this thing happening to you."

The rabbit in my arms made no noise and barely moved throughout. I remember wondering if it had died. But I really didn't think of anything, not the people staring at me and whispering loudly, (I can only hope that they didn't recognize me with all the black on), not where I was going, not to whom I was returning, not the people whose lives I had ended, not the way things always had a way of coming out horribly in my life, how nothing was ever the way it should be. Like how I was a gay assassin and how people died for no reason.

"If I look hard enough into the setting sun…my love will laugh with me before the morning comes…"

Walking became an increasingly difficult task as I got closer to my home. I almost didn't even realize it. The bullet wound was not to be taken lightly. It very well could have killed me.

When I saw my front door, I nearly collapsed on it. But I had promised myself that I would make it into my home before I let this happen, (if for the rabbit's sake as well as my own pride).

The door creaked open, brand new and still imperfect, and the familiar sights and connective smells of my home washed over me in a warm but darkened embrace. I dropped the rabbit through loose hands and it scurried and scampered away. It wasn't dead, that's good.

A blonde head jumped off the couch. Wheeler's voice enveloped me in calmness. How I had missed him. "Kaiba! Goddamn, ya' really scared me there fa' a sec'! What's wit the rabbit?..."

"Nothing ever works out right, Wheeler…" I said out of nowhere, wishing to express to him the only thought that had passed through my head for a while.

He paused for a second then continued. "I was worried, ya' were gone fa' a long time…"

I looked at him through clouded eyes. I wanted to see him, I really did. But there was blackness around the edges of my vision.

"Are you ok? Kaib'? Are ya'…oh my god, ya' hurt! Ya' bleedin'!"

I leaned against the wall with one hand, feeling part of my body beg me for sleep immediately. Rest now. Wheeler's here, nothing can harm you…

He was standing over me, both his hands on my shoulders, trying to support me. "Kaiba! Come on, don' die…come on…I love ya'…come on…"

I felt his warm breath caress my cheeks. It felt nice, soothing. All I wanted was sleep now.

My knees gave out and I sat there feeling the pain at last in my shoulder. I practically cried out it hurt so much…but I was too tired for that…

"Stay wit me Kaiba, I'm gonna help ya', jus' hold on, ok? Hold on…"

Then the blackness really took me. It covered me in a dark that matched the black hate in D.B.'s eyes and was darker than any song could ever portray. Black as night, black as coal…paint it black…

It's strange how the blackness of sleep can be so peaceful. My only regret was how I had to leave Wheeler's soft words.

I felt like I was falling…down, down into the darkness…someone should catch me…Wheeler—help me.

A/N: Yes, no? Again, I apologize for the shortness, but the descriptions were good right? Yes, I know that everyone's happy the Mafia has been disbanded with only one member left alive. Did anyone actually want D.B. to be killed? I don't know, but I kind of didn't. She's really cool…I'm sorry, but I like her character, I couldn't make her just up and die on us all! As for her return, I can say almost definitely, but no promises! And no spoilers, either. Was the speed of this chapter, like, 10x that of the last few, or was it just me? If it was, I have good news! I did that on purpose! Bwahahaha! You see, Seto has begun to loose track of things more and more, (basically go insane from lack of sleep and too much stress and attempts on his life), his narration of the chapters becomes choppier, not as fluent as some of the last. That will pretty much end in the chapters to come, because, well, he finally gets sleep. Does this make sense? At all? I don't know…

So, please review! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, (nonsense and all, lol), was it ok for y'all action lovers?

I love you all! I promise a swift update, and a longer chapter! I promise!