Shadow within the Darkness

(Day 14 – Part 1)

By: Little Ucchan

The standoff lasted forever.

There was no sound at all. Just the beast's breathing, echoing even in the open area. They could have stood there forever. But the tense atmosphere was eating him up inside. And the longer he waited, the more edgy he became. His body was becoming worn with trying to stand ready for all this time. Waiting…

And that's when he knew. The demon was trying to psyche him out. Wear him down. It'd wait all day… just for the opportunity to drive its battle-ax straight down his throat.

Takeru had to act. Had to move. But with a defenseless girl at his backside… how could he?

He readjusted the grip he had on the hilt, catching an image of himself in the blade. He watched as a few strands of silver fell between his eyes, examining himself --- his appearance --- for perhaps the last time. He looked at his straight long hair tied at the base of his neck. His thin nose and strong, somewhat slender appearance. And his eyes. He stared at them the longest for it was the physical feature that Celine loved the most about him. The narrow, glass-like orbs that revealed everything about him, and yet nothing at all.

Was this the end?

He felt it in his heart that it was. How else could he describe the morbid, heavy sensation of finality that he felt inside? He knew that he was going to die. So why bother doing anything at all? Why was he still so tense? So… worried? He never shied away from death. Confronted it face-to-face so many times before. So why?! Why be afraid now?

Just then, he caught a glimpse of Celine's reflection off of the glistening metal he held in his hands. Of the young lady who had stolen his heart… and would not let go.

Celine…

Takeru closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath to calm his nerves. Being enveloped by that sweet fragrance called peace that he felt whenever she was near. Feeling that warmth again for one… final… moment.

And then… he decided.

This… I do for you, my love.

***

The demon's eyes widened in amazement, taken aback by the sudden display of strength the boy exerted when charging to attack. It gritted its teeth, baring the long sharp canines right up to the gum line as the two combatants fell into a battle of strength, Takeru trying his hardest to smash his sword through the battle-ax's handle in order to tear into some demon flesh.

The demon remained in shock. The boy had a deep wound --- three long gashes that ran diagonally down his chest --- that it recalled wasn't there the first time it encountered this silver-haired warrior. And yet his strength must have tripled since when they last did battle. Where was he getting all this power? Just what was it that was driving him forward?

Well, whatever it was… there was no way that a mere mortal could overpower a demon. This arrogant human will die, along with his beloved princess.

In one fluid movement, the demon forcefully shoved Takeru back and dug its battle-ax into the boy's unprotected side.

Takeru retched forward, feeling the gruesome sensation of rib bones collapsing, cracking, splintering under the weight of the blow dealt to him. He sputtered up blood, gagging at the foul taste in his mouth accompanied with the sickening wave of nausea that pervaded his mind, blurring his vision and sending such a profound pain surging through his skull that he thought it to be impossible to feel any worse than he did now.

Unfortunately, he was wrong. Having all of his air suddenly robbed from his lungs seconds later when the demon rammed its fist right under his chest… That pain plus all that he felt prior to was the absolute worst feeling he had ever experienced in his life. And with that, Takeru collapsed, the loss of blood making him weak and defenseless. At the mercy of this towering monstrosity that hovered above him.

Celine… He blinked, trying to get his eyes to focus again. Celine, I'm… sorry…

"Takeru!!!"

He slowly turned his head to the distant sounding voice, breathing labored breaths into the dirt as he tried to defy the law of gravity and lift his head higher off the ground. His eyes, laboring the same, tried to get a clear vision of his beloved standing not too far away, screaming his name. "Takeru!! Please!! Get up!! Takeru!!!"

The foggy haze that had shrouded his eyes lifted, allowing him to see the red haired girl with the pained expression; her hands drawn tight to her chest --- over her heart --- the sight of seeing him in pain tearing her up inside. She was still standing there. Right at the spot where he had left her.

"Ce…line," he managed out in a hoarse whisper, eyes widening in appalled horror. She had to leave. Had to run. Before… before it…

Celine!! Get away from here!!

The demon had seen her, of course. Had always kept an eye on her through its vision or otherwise. Even throughout the battle it had with the human boy, it knew exactly where she was. The demon couldn't lose her. Especially when he had been sent out to kill her.

Her… the keeper of the light. Master of the Holy Rune.

No. It would not let one girl ruin their chance for domination. Their chance for revenge against the one who had forsaken them. No! It would not let one girl with one rune destroy their plans!! Their future!! There was no other path to choose!!

She must die!!

Screaming in pure rage, the demon swerved on its heels, glaring down at the girl with a look of malicious intent flickering in its eyes. Celine chocked down her attempt to scream, finding herself suddenly robbed of her voice. Her strength. Her will. Just by looking at it straight in the eyes; making eye contact with it. Becoming lost within her own terror, frozen in place out of fear. It's going to kill me.

She saw it move… raise its arm, blade ready.

It's going to kill me…

The battle-ax… the instrument of death… was gleaming brightly in the waning sun.

Oh God…

"Ce… line!"

The voice briskly brushed by her mind. Was someone calling her name?

"Celine!!"

…Takeru?

"CELINE!!! RUN!!!"

She suddenly jerked out of her stupor, the deadly grasp of fear finally releasing her from its paralyzing grip. That's exactly when the battle-ax flew right out of the demon's hands. Right for her… But she could move. She could run! And she did.

Celine took flight, barely avoiding the battle-ax that flung right past her as she ran towards the church doors. If she could get inside… If she could just get inside!!

The demon shot out its free hand, closing its fists. It's not going to be that easy!! it growled, aiming the sharp tentacles attached to its forearm directly at Celine's retreating back. This time, I'll kill you for sure!

Takeru gazed at the demon and then at Celine, eyes wide in pure horror. No… He shook his head. No no no no…! It can't!!  Hastily scrambled to his feet, Takeru unsteadily raised his sword. He couldn't just stand there and do nothing while all of this was going on around him!! He had to do something!! He couldn't let her die!!!

In one moment, the demon released its tentacles, the three sharp projectiles coming in fast in a straight line. That's when Takeru moved.

He didn't know where the extra strength came from. He was just grateful that it was there. It gave him what he needed. And already, before the demon was aware of it, the boy brought down his sword on the tentacles, slashing through one… two…

The third was out of his reach.

Takeru immediately turned, watching as the last made its way towards Celine. "NO!!"

Celine gave a start at the sudden outcry, misplacing her foot and tripping over the church steps. She immediately looked back from where she laid on the stairs, eyes wide as the needle-like edge of the tentacle came straight for her heart. And then…

All was still.

The only sound that filled the air was the clatter of a sheen black pendant falling down the church steps.

***

The bus pulled away from its stop, leaving two teenaged boys staring down a dirt path leading deep into the woods. The larger one of the two ran his hand through his tousled hair. "I was hoping that he'd snap out of it on his own."

"Yeah well…" The other one glanced down the street, watching as the bus they had been on disappeared over the horizon. "I had a feeling he wouldn't."

Kento sighed aloud, recalling what had happened the other day. When they had found Ryo, he had a blank look on his face. White Blaze was already with him, the tiger having had tracked down his master before the rest of them were able to. He only looked at them with sad eyes. Something was wrong.

He couldn't figure it out though. And none of them were able to for the rest of that night. Ryo had remained quiet that entire time, not saying a word to anyone or even making a visible attempt to pay attention to what they were saying. Rowen had suggested the possibility that Lady Sierra had done something to him, since none of them knew what had happened after Ryo chased after her. But White Blaze shook his head, looking at his companion again with those same sad eyes. Nothing had happened to Ryo. He was just genuinely upset about something so big that he wouldn't speak of it to the others. Sage had then called off the meeting, saying that they should talk again when things had settled down.

Kento had hoped that Ryo would be able to just sleep off whatever it was that was bothering him. But the next day…

"He hasn't answered at all?" Kento asked unbelievingly, playing with the telephone cord as he waited for a response from either Rowen or Cye.

"No." It was Rowen. "His grandfather was the one who picked up and he said that Ryo wasn't feeling well."

"Great."

"How about trying to contact him through the armor?" Cye had asked. Kento blinked. Telelink? He hadn't thought of that. But then again, they seldom use it. Only for emergencies.

Rowen sighed. "That'd be nice… if we had our armor."

Kento sweatdropped. "Oh yeah…" He had almost forgot about that.

"What about Sage?"

It was quiet on the other end of the line.

"Rowen, what had happened to Sage?" Cye's voice was a bit tense, not liking the sudden silence that had followed his question. "Shouldn't he be on three-way with us?"

"Um…"

"C'mon Rowen!" Kento was getting impatient. "Spill it already!"

"Well…" He paused for a moment. "He hasn't been answering his phone either."

Kento opened and closed his mouth a few times before he cried out, "So what's his problem?!" This was not what he needed right now.

"I'm not really sure," Rowen replied. "I talked to Satsuki and she said that he's been meditating all day."

"So why don't they just wake him up?" Kento demanded.

"That's the problem," he explained. "They can't. Satsuki's already tried. Nothing's been able to bring him out of it. And he's been at it since five this morning."

It was one o'clock.

Kento blinked, plopping down onto his bed with a bit of a shocked expression on his face. Sage? In a meditative trance for eight hours? Man, something must be bothering the shit out of him.

"I'm going to go over there in a few minutes to see what's up." Rowen had told them.

Cye agreed. "You do that. Kento and I will go and see how Ryo's doing. Right Kento?"

"Right." About time they did something about this. He had hated it when he couldn't do anything the other day. Made him feel kinda restless. "We'll talk to ya in a few. Ja ne."

So that's what had happened that lead Kento and Cye to their current location. A nice nine-mile hike through the woods to Ryo's house. God, what'd I do for my sub armor right now! Kento never actually had to walk the whole distance to his leader's house before. And he didn't feel like starting now.

Glancing over at Cye, he asked, "So what'd you think?"

A pause. "About how Ryo was acting yesterday?"

He nodded.

"I dunno." He shrugged his shoulders. "But I'm sure it has to do with whatever he said to her yesterday."

Kento frowned. "So you didn't catch what he said either."

Cye shook his head, falling deep into his thoughts as they continued to walk. One word. He was sure of it. Ryo had only said one word. Cye knew that Wildfire's present state had to somehow do with that transaction he had shared with Lady Sierra. But… There're not many words out there that can get such a reaction.

What had Ryo said?

Maybe… Maybe it wasn't a word. Cye's eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Maybe it was a name… His eyes suddenly widened as a new thought struck him. Could it be? Does Ryo know who Sierra is?

Riiiiiiing!!

Cye jerked back, stopping abruptly. A phone? Here? He turned to Kento who, to his surprise, pulled out a cell phone from his back pocket.

"Yeah?" A pause. "I'm going over to Ryo's house… Sure… Uh huh. I will… Don't worry I will… Okay. Bye." Kento placed the cell back in his pocket and glanced over at Cye. He finally took note of the startled expression on his best friend's face. "What?"

"Since when did you have a cell phone?!"

He grinned sheepishly. "Ma wanted me to get one." When he hesitated to say anything else, Cye automatically knew that there was more to it than what he was letting on.

"Any reason?"

"Uh well…" He laughed a bit. "You know Mama Fuan. She wasn't exactly happy with me when I 'disappeared' on her last year. And then I've been going out a lot recently so…" Kento sighed in defeat. "It's her way of keeping tabs on me. I have to have it on at all times."

A pause. "Did you have that on you yesterday?"

"Yeah." He blinked. "Why?"

An image of Kento whipping out his cell to talk to his mother in the middle of yesterday's duel suddenly came to mind, the mental picture leaving Cye bent over with laughter. Oh man! I wonder how Sierra would have reacted!

Kento crossed his arms over his chest, looking at his friend questionably. "What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing," he quickly said, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Just… thinking."

"Uh huh. Suuuuure."

"So, what do you think happened to Sage?" Cye quickly changed the subject.

"Who knows." Kento glanced at his watch. "If he's still at it, then that makes almost ten hours of straight meditation." He shook his head. "Man, I didn't really think he could go for that long! And without eating!!" The thought made the boy shudder. "I'd never be able to stand it."

Cye shook his head in amusement, and then sighed. "I just hope that Rowen will be able to help."

***

"He's been sitting like that all day?!"

"Yup." A sigh. "All day."

Rowen stared incredulously at Sage who was sitting in the middle of the dojo in the traditional meditation position --- i.e. crossed legs, straight posture, and hands (folded) resting lightly on top of the lap. And he hasn't moved an inch. I'll have a newfound respect for him if he gets up from there without one single muscle cramp.

"What happened before he started meditating, Satsuki?" He turned to gaze at her and was surprised when she refused to make eye contact with him. "Satsuki?" She lowered her head, fiddling with her skirt absently, trying to distract herself from looking into his face. How could she tell him? What happened today was…

The girl gave a small start when Rowen's hands came to rest gently on her shoulders, making her look up at him. There was a look of concern in his eyes. "Please?"

Why did I have to have a crush on him? She sighed in defeat. "He had a bad dream. Actually, he's been having bad dreams for two weeks now."

"Really?" Rowen asked, pretending that he was surprised. Actually, he was, for he didn't know that Satsuki was aware of it. As far as he knew, Sage didn't tell anyone about his dreams.

She nodded.

"How did you know? Did he tell you?"

She shook her head. No. "But I think that's why he's been so tired lately," Satsuki explained. "I mean, he hasn't been doing anything different as far as I know. And he's been getting the same amount of sleep, if not more."

"So, if he's been having dreams that are disturbing his sleep, what makes today any different?"

Rowen watched as she stiffened at the question. Uh oh. This did not look good.

She leaned against the wall of the dojo, eyes downcast on the floor. "He was… screaming." Satsuki closed her eyes. "I woke up to the sound of it. And I ran straight for his room. Mom and Grandpa were already there." She paused for a moment, a worried almost sad look crossing her face. "He was in pain. I know it." Rowen's eyes had suddenly narrowed, but she was too caught up in her own words to notice. "I could hear it in his voice. And when I walked in, he was struggling so hard in his sleep. As if he were fighting for his life!"

"Satsuki…"

She stopped for a moment, eyes beginning to water as she gazed at her brother sitting on the floor. "I don't know what's happening to him, Rowen. And it scares me… that I don't know. It means that I can't do anything about it."

A few tears started to fall down her face.

Rowen had to momentarily divert his eyes, unable to deal with the scene before him. True, he was aware that --- out of the three siblings --- Satsuki was the one who readily expressed her emotions, of any kind. But still… I've never seen her this distressed before. Rowen was so used to seeing her lively personality that he fell into a mild state of shock when the young girl started to cry. He watched as she took a moment to compose herself, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand.

"Grandpa had to forcefully shake him out of it," Satsuki continued, a bit more in control. "And when he woke up, he had such a wild, almost strangled look in his eyes."

He frowned at her word choice, falling into a contemplative mood almost immediately after she spoke those words. That idea succeeded in igniting a small spark in the back of his mind, telling him that there was something wrong. Sage? Wild? Rowen knew his friend well enough to know that he did have his reckless side. But the way Satsuki described it…

"That look you said he had." He paused, wanting to word this right. "Why did you describe it as being both wild and strangled?"

"Because that's exactly what I saw," Satsuki quietly replied. "Almost…" She broke off from that last thought, taking in a deep breath. It was if the very thought left her shivering.

"Rowen…" He gave her his full attention. "Rowen, you can't laugh at me alright? Or think I'm crazy or anything like that."

"I won't," he promised. "Just please… tell me everything you saw."

She nodded in agreement, taking in another deep breath before she straightened up, the expression on her face solemn. "Rowen… Those weren't my brother's eyes."

Satsuki waited for the teenaged boy's reaction and found him to appear a bit startled, but yet still with her, urging her to continue. "I don't know. They looked like his but they weren't. They were more… dangerous. More…" She waved her hand around absently. "Wild. Untamed. Out of control. Take your pick."

Rowen nodded thoughtfully. "And the strangled part?"

"Well," she frowned a bit. "This is the part I don't get. I saw a definite… ferocity in his eyes. But there was something else there. And when I saw it, it made me think of someone who was…" Satsuki paused, groping for words. "Was…"

"Trapped?"

She nodded. "Yeah, that's it."

"Do you think what you saw was fear?"

Rowen could see her visibly think it over for a moment. "Maybe," she said. "But there was more to it. It was like… those two impressions I got weren't supposed to be together. But they were, you know. And I really don't know what to make of it." Satsuki began to chew at her bottom lip. "And the weirdest thing was that I swear that first feeling of rage was slowly fading away to be replaced by that second emotion. Almost as if it were dying, but it didn't want to leave just yet." She laughed a bit when she saw Rowen's expression. "I'm sorry. Am I making any sense?"

"No --- I mean yes." He smiled a bit, trying to put her at ease. "I understood what you were saying. Was there anything else?"

Satsuki thought back for a moment, crossing her arms and looking up at the ceiling. "Well, there was this odd feeling I got just a moment before Grandpa was able to wake him up."

"Go on."

"It was… hot. Like dry heat. But I wasn't sweating. It felt kinda oppressive. And it kept moving."

Energy. From that description, Rowen knew that there must have been a strong amount of energy present. It might have been Sage, but then again it might have very well been something else. But… Satsuki was able to feel that? It made him wonder if he should accredit his best friend's unusual 'gifts' involving the supernatural to the armor or to his own family. He made a mental note to ask Sage about that later and zoned back in to what Satsuki was saying.

"It was building up right before he woke up, and then it started to die down as well. And that also was replaced by this cool, brisk feeling of calm." She smiled a bit, as if her words brought back that airy feeling that had filled her brother's room. "It stayed that way for a while. And what was strange was that I liked that feeling. It was… friendly."

Friendly? He looked at her sharply. "You mean the other one wasn't?"

"No." She immediately shook her head. "I was afraid when I felt it… I was so afraid." Rowen could have sworn that he saw her hands trembling. "You have no idea how scary it was… to have that feeling all around you… and to see that look in Nii-chan's eyes." He knew that it'd only be a moment longer. She was taking in shorter breaths and she spoke. "You have no idea… how much that scared… me… How much that… hurt… to see him… like…"

Satsuki broke down into tears, choking on her last words as her legs gave out from under her. Rowen immediately positioned himself for him to catch her, wrapping her arms protectively around her as she sobbed into his shirt. He wondered how long she'd been holding this in since this morning as he absently stroked her hair in a brotherly fashion.

"Shhh. It's okay," he whispered softly, trying to comfort her the best he could. He was never good in situations like this. But Rowen showed no signs of his uneasiness while he let Satsuki cry all she wanted in his arms.

"I'll find out what's happening to your brother, okay?" he soothed. "I'll find out… I swear I will."

***

The princess wrapped a trembling arm around her younger sister, encompassing the little girl in her embrace, holding on tightly to what life was left in her body. She wouldn't dare let go. Even thought she knew that her sister would not survive, she didn't dare let go.

Celine gently rocked back and forth on the church steps, clutching the little girl fiercely to her breast as the child's body shivered with death spasms. Her skin began to pale, dark red stains spotting her royal gown she wore --- the one that was always a little too big for her small frame. The blood ran freely from the wound in her chest; the would the demon's tentacle had created…

The wound she took to save her sister's life.

She remembered it clearly. Too clearly for her liking as fresh tears started to fall down her face. One came to rest of the little girl's cheek, her nose wrinkling for a moment.

"Maya?" Celine called out to her, her voice coming out as a small whisper that was barely audible compared to the pounding of her own heart, filled for a fleeing moment with hope. "Maya? Sweetie… can you hear me?"

Celine could see her eyes moving slowly beneath her eyelids, the shades that obscured her sight fluttering open to stare into the face of her elder sister. She was greeted by a soft smile. "How you feel?" Celine asked, stroking the child's hair. "Are you okay?"

"Are you… okay?"

She blinked back in surprise at the reversed question. Or was it to stop her tears from falling?

"…Yes," she nodded. "Yes, I'm fine… I'm just fine." It was hard to talk now, the lump in her throat growing bigger as her eyes began to cloud over. "You saved my life, Maya," Celine spoke to her softly, unable to bring her voice over a whisper. "Did you know that? You saved my life…"

The little girl blinked up at her big sister, not a trace of pain visible on her face. Only surprise, and a bit of inquiring curiosity as well. "I did?"

Celine nodded, biting back on her lower lip. "Yes you did."

Maya smiled a small grin. "I really did?"

She laughed a bit, wiping away a tear that had fallen down her face. "Yes… Yes you really did."

Her eyelids began to close, keeping them open being a hard task. "I'm glad… that I was able to… help you."

A shiver ran through her entire body, making Celine pull her closer. "I'm cold," Maya whispered, breathing slowly out of her mouth. "I… I can't feel… What's wrong with me?"

"…Nothing." Her hands were shaking as she spoke, gently stroking the side of the girl's head. "Nothing is wrong… You just rest now."

A quiet silence followed. "…Will I see Mama and Papa?"

Celine stopped what she was doing for a moment, staring out across the empty field, not looking at anything in particular at all. Maya slowly followed her sister's gaze, trying to see for herself what she was staring at. Then, a drop of water fell on her eyelashes, making her blink involuntarily and look up at Celine. Another one of her tears fell onto Maya's face.

"…Yes. Sweetie you will. You won't be lonely… So don't be afraid."

"I'm not," she assured her sister, although her eyelids were close to being closed now. "I'm not afraid. Please… stop crying."

Celine couldn't. Her sorrow… her pain was too great for her to overcome. And even if it was her sister's dying wish… the tears would not cease. She couldn't stop crying.

"Don't worry." She used the last of her energy to smile at Celine. Her usual, cheerful smile. "I'll find a way back to you." Her eyelids closed and with her dying breath she repeated her promise. "I'll find a way back…"

***

Takeru wasn't even aware if he was breathing or not, watching in silence as Princess Maya died in her sister's arms. Forever a child. Forever innocent. Forever… six years old.

And at that moment… That final realization that a child of so young an age had sacrificed her life willingly without fear of death… That image. That thought. That truth gave him strength. It broke whatever reserve he had. Tapped into something greater. Higher. And he found himself rising up despite his injuries. Despite his fatigue. He got up regardless and gripped the handle of his sword with such force that the friction between his hand and the leather binding burned his skin.

So complete was his anger.

The demon didn't move as Takeru made his way towards it. Didn't even acknowledge his presence, or the warning signal that was blaring at the back of its mind. It only continued to stare at Celine and Maya. Arms limp. Eyes wide. Frozen in place.

It had made a mistake.

No…

A grave mistake.

…No! Not the child!!!

"Bastard monster!!"

The demon diverted his gaze only for a moment to catch a wisp of silver hair before Takeru rammed his sword right through its abdomen, the blade easily penetrating through the beast's skin to come out on the other side.

It chocked on its breath, gasping as the boy pushed his weapon even further into its body, putting all his anger, his frustration, and his pain in that one finishing blow.

And that it was. The demon could feel its energy leaving, draining out of it in such a sudden rush that it couldn't breathe right, gasping for air. Was this its fate? To die, just like that?

No… Staring into its enemy's eyes, its own hardened in stubborn determination. No. No. NO!!

I will not accept this!!!

Takeru gave a start at the unexpected outcry, his eyes widening in surprise when the demon grabbed his hand and pulled inward, consequently driving the sword deeper into its wound and… bringing the boy right into its reach.

In the instant that it drew him forward, the demon brought back its free arm and drove its claws straight through Takeru's stomach, immediately yanking its hand relentlessly upward to produce a gasping cry from the human warrior. The demon smiled wickedly, feeling the red sticky liquid dripping down its fingers. It knew it had just pierced his lungs.

Takeru could feel his lungs filling with blood, gagging and coughing up the thick liquid while his body shivered in shock. His eyes had stayed riveted on the demon's own. He was vaguely aware of Celine calling out his name over and over again in hysteria, her voice only a slight buzzing at the back of his mind. The only sound that was clear to him was the demon's own deep rough voice.

I will not accept this… as my fate. Despite the fact that it was dying, the demon's voice was still strong. Strength of will and that alone. No… Even if I die. I will correct that which has happened here.

Its eyes glowed red, contrary to the demon's normal metallic yellow hue. And you, it breathed. You'll live in hell… A hell that I will create for you…

Then a blinding red glow encompassed them both. Celine kept calling out her loved one's name, but she couldn't even hear herself think over Takeru's agonizing scream.

***

Sage fell back onto the floor, panting like mad. His chest burned. His entire body felt sore. And his head was spinning far too fast to be considered healthy.

Another failure. He gritted his teeth. And even that made him feel uncomfortable.

Bringing both hands up to his face, he pushed his sweaty hair away from his forehead. A few glistening strands escaped his fingers, falling over his right eye. Another dead end.

"Shit."

This would mark the sixth time he's run through the entire dream via mediation. And every time, when he reached the end, he'd be blocked. But what made it frustrating was that it wasn't some foreign unknown force that was preventing him from finishing the dream. It was his own armor that hindered his progress. Halo was stopping him.

Sage sat up, looking around himself. Nothing. He was surrounded by absolutely nothing. Darkness only met his eyes. Such was the reality that he had chosen. Normally, he'd chose a nice, quiet setting, such as the scenery surrounding the Koji manor, or perhaps the serenity present in the Nether realm as his meditation stage. But calm peace wasn't exactly what he was searching for. He was looking for answers. And he couldn't afford to be distracted by anything.

So, enter a world full of nothing. Or something close to it.

Sage smiled wryly. I could never get this place as dark as how Cale did when we fought that last time. I guess it's just not in me. He could still see rather well. The place he had committed himself to was more like a giant empty room with no walls or ceiling. Just floor, accompanied by a drab sort of setting. Not exactly his taste, but it suited his needs. He could recreate scenes better if it were dark. Kinda had the same effect as closing your eyes and remembering something of the past. Except now, it was more vivid. It filled every corner of your mind. And it was so real that you could reach out and touch it.

Here, by meditating and using his armor as a sort of stabilizer, Sage could bring back to life the world he saw in his dreams. Replay all events in order, choosing to watch as a spectator the path that Takeru took, or to live through it all again through the boy's eyes. Here, he was in absolute control. Or so it seemed.

Why is the armor stopping me? Right when the demon spoke those words to Takeru… Right before the red light consumed him… He'd wake up (so to speak) right where he started. In the dark room first created by his own mind and maintained by the power of his armor. That's where he'd end up every time. And Sage didn't know why.

He stood up, eyes flashing dangerously as he stared into darkness. "Why?" he demanded. "Why do you keep interfering?!" Sage knew there was more to the dream than where it stopped. That it didn't end with that light. He felt it. Last night. Something else had happened. But, he couldn't remember what. All he recalled was pain. And… fear. A fear he's never experienced before. And it wasn't fear of death. He was sure that it was caused by something worse than that.

"I'm looking for answers," he said. "But I can't find them if you keep stopping me!! Why won't you let me see what happened?! You think I can't handle it?!" His voice echoed with every word, power ringing around him. But no answer came.

"Halo… I know you've seen what I have. And even more. You know what happened." Sage sighed tiredly, closing his eyes. "Through those dreams, I felt everything Takeru had. His pain. His love. His anger and sorrow. And when Maya died… I felt that too." He opened his eyes again, a bit damp with the memory. "Knowing what happened to Takeru… Knowing what happened to Celine…" He paused for a moment, clenching his fists. "It… It wouldn't compare to seeing that girl die! Please! I need to know how the dream ended!!"

Silence. And then… 'No.'

"Why?" he whispered softly. "What are you afraid of?"

'Not afraid.' Sage waited. '…Protecting.'

"Protecting…?" he echoed. "Protecting me?"

No reply.

"From what?"

Silence again, but he already knew the answer. From whatever it was that happened to Takeru.

Sage blinked, speechless for a moment as his brain worked to sort out what he just learned. That's right. I felt everything he did. So if I had completed the dream, whatever had happened to him, I would have felt as well. But there was still something nagging at him. He had experienced every blow that was dealt to him throughout the course of the dream. He didn't think that it could get any worse than how he felt when the demon had delivered that blow and stabbed him in the gut. Sage didn't think it could have possibly gotten any worse than that.

"If I had experienced it… would it have hurt me, physically?"

'…No.'

It wouldn't? Then what…

'Kill.'

Sage froze instantaneously as another one of Halo's thoughts entered his mind. 'In real life… Kill you.'

That idea had completely caught him by surprise. I would have… In real life I could have… He could've died?!

'If didn't intervene first time… Be dead,' the armor continued. 'Light Bringer can't die yet. Too much… have to do.'

He nodded blankly, still not exactly over his own shock. He was that close. Sage wasn't even aware of it, but he had been that close to death. So did that mean that Takeru died?

"You can't tell me what happened, can you." It was more of a statement than a question, answered (as expected) by silence.

Sage sighed. "Figures. Like I can ever get a straight answer out of you." He could feel the impression of soft laughter briefly brush by his mind.

"But, can't you show me anything that may be useful?" There was so much he needed to know. So many things he speculated, but were still left unclear. He needed something concrete. Something to base a foundation on.

Before he knew it, his request was granted. Sage saw an area ahead of him grow lighter, as if a spotlight had dropped out of the sky and illuminated a privileged circle in front him. And there, standing in the center, was Takeru.

He wasn't dressed like Sage remembered. Instead of the tunic and trousers that revealed that he may have been a commoner in his land, the boy was dressed in… black jeans and an overcoat? He blinked twice, not believing his eyes. The warrior standing before him wore a thin coat buttoned loosely over a black turtleneck shirt. The coat flapped openly around his waist to halfway down the shins, the material brushing lightly against the dark leather boots and almost concealing from view the brown leather gloves on his hands. He appeared… normal in his standards. A man dressed properly, if not fashionably for the winter season ahead.

And he looked well. That was very surprising for someone who took the kind of beating that he did. Takeru looked healthy. In fact, he was older. Stronger. Had a more mature air about him. But why was Halo showing him this image?

The silver-haired man walked towards Sage in long, casual strides, eyes fixated on this one spot off to the blonde's right. He watched, amazed as Takeru walked right by him. Immediately the air shifted, making Sage whirl around on his heels.

Takeru was gone.

But in his place was another spotlight, shining on a group of shadows ahead of him. Dark figures that, even in direct light, could not be identified.

Sage looked harder, trying to separate one shadow from the next. He was able to count five of them. Or was it six? He couldn't distinguish auras either. The best he could do was set aside the three on his left, who he immediately identified as human. The others… he couldn't tell. Maybe he was more tired than he had first believed. Or maybe he really wasn't supposed to know just yet who they were.

At that moment, the one on the right moved, stretching out dragon-like wings… Wings that were far too familiar for his liking.

His jaw dropped open once he recognized the silhouette of the demon he saw at the duel yesterday. The one with the incredible presence that had overwhelmed his senses and made his bones feel brittle. Looking over the group in front of him, he knew what they were.

They're all demons. Sage took a step back. They're the enemy…

But what did this mean? What did it have to do with Takeru and his dreams?

The spotlight then faded, the scene rapidly shifting before him. It grew brighter. Noisier. And oddly familiar.

Sage closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again to find himself outside in the sun, standing out in the middle of the busy streets of Tokyo. He recognized the area. It was near his house. But why…

A lock of silver caught his attention.

Quickly turning to his left, Sage saw Takeru walking on the sidewalk with the rest of the afternoon crowd, taking in the scenery as he let the current of people carry him down the street.

This image…

The man in the long, gray coat stopped at a corner store, looking at the window display.

It's… it's real?

He pulled away from the shop, continuing on with his stroll.

Then that means…

Sage swallowed hard, finding his throat to be suddenly hoarse.

Takeru's alive? And… he's here?!