Notice: I'm only doing the Glossary for new words, ones that I've used for practically the whole series are not going to be mentioned, because I think you know what it means by now.

Jin froze at the sight he beheld. Yusuke was lying on her back; her skin was covered in a light sheen of sweat, her breath coming in gasps. Her eyes were glazed and half-closed. Her hair was disheveled and damp with perspiration. The door to her balcony was closed, and the intoxicatingly sweet fragrance of her heat was almost overwhelming, yet... He knew he would not be able to inhale enough of that scent.

Cautiously and nervously, he entered the room and shut the door behind him. Hesitantly sitting on the side of the bed, he waveringly touched her feverish skin, gently stroking her cheek.

"Yusuke...?" He asked in a whisper, not certain that she would hear him. She had progressed so far into the heat without any relief; she was probably experiencing the mind-numbing, excruciating pain that was rarely felt outside the field of battle. He waited for a response of any kind.

She blinked, her eyes focusing slightly, though barely. "Jin...?" Her voice was weak, as her breathing was labored. He smiled, but, it was half-hearted, it tore him apart to see her like this, and he knew she would not let him do anything to help her.

"Ah'm 'ere." He answered reassuringly. He bit his lip, his fang poking out. If she didn't get relief soon... She could die... And the fact that the scent of her heat was starting to get to him didn't really help matters much currently.

She nodded and closed her eyes. "Can you... Grab the first vial on my belt...? The blue one..." He stared. She was unable to even... He watched her breath for a second. He hadn't known that Yusuke could even be like this, he had seen her and known her only as someone that could depend on herself for anything, but... He couldn't help but feel honored that she was swallowing her pride and trusted him enough to do this for her, even though it didn't really appear he would be doing much for her.

Snapping out of his thoughts, he nodded and slid it out from its strap, popping off the cork; he helped her sit up. As she leaned against him, her head was tilted back and he brought the vial to her lips. She drank the liquid and a minute after she did so, he could've sworn that her breathing was becoming less difficult.

In minutes, her breathing returned to normal, her body temperature went down, and the pain receded. He blinked. What had been in that vial?

Yusuke's POV

I slowly sat up after the heat had mostly receded and let out an inward sigh. The potion wouldn't last long, but... Long enough for what was about to happen, I hope. I unsteadily got to my feet and winced. Crap. I still couldn't move completely... And chances were I wouldn't be able to until I had intercourse...

"Could you give me a hand...?" I asked, trying to keep from falling over.

Jin immediately complied, wrapping an arm around my waist to keep me from losing my balance.

"Thank you..." I gritted my teeth as we walked down the hall. Something was about to happen, and... It wouldn't be good for us.

And, of course, I am right.

Just as we reached the throne room, we found Raizen and the others preparing for battle against... I glanced at the screen. My eyes widened.

"What... In the seven hells... Is that?" I asked, it looked like a golem or something. But... It was too large to be. It was at least as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. Damn... It wasn't a demon... But... Then what was it? It was slightly humanoid in appearance, but then again so were golems. It resembled a primate more than a human, slightly hunched over, large arms, small head... But... I started shaking. "No... That's... impossible..." I whispered, my eyes wide with fear.

Jin looked at me. "Wha's impossible?"

"That... Thing... Is a Anima Natura, a being made entirely of dead souls... Only one other has ever been made... If Shinda can make this... Who knows what else he can do; though it must've taxed him greatly to make it, but... Given enough time to recuperate, he could make another... And when there is a battle... There will be more than enough souls to use."

And the best part was, it was heading straight towards us.

Suzaku looked at me. "How was the other one destroyed?"

I shrugged. "I do not know. Us assassins had nothing to do with such a monstrosity. The only reason I know of the previous Anima's existence was because the former Master of the Guild at that time thought it wise to record such a thing's creation, for history's sake. The records of how to create and destroy it are probably in Shinda's hands, if they exist."

"That's comforting." Touya remarked sarcastically.

"Yes, isn't it?" I agreed as I rubbed my temples. How the hell were we going to defeat it...? "Hayabusa! Nike! Beru!"

The three Shidosha appeared and bowed slightly.

"Get the other Shidosha to get the townspeople evacuated while you three rally the hitokiri trained in fighting arcane arts and unusual targets, especially those who know anything about the Anima Natura. "

"Hai!" They vanished.

I glanced at the others, and looked at Raizen. He met my eyes for a moment, then nodded, letting me take control of the situation. Taking a deep breath, and pulling away from Jin, I was somehow able to stay standing, the potion probably had taken full effect.

"Prepare for battle. And make sure you can use your strongest attacks on command. Is that clear?"

Everyone nodded. "Yukina, you're to stay with Touya, Rinku and Shishi, you four will stay here." I ordered. "And no arguments!" I added when I saw the mutinous look on Shishi's face.

"Why do you get to order me around!" He shouted.

I glanced at him, my eyes narrowing. I flitted behind him, and before he could even move, I had my kunai knife to his throat.

"Because I can kill you where you stand if you disobey me." I hissed in his ear, so only he could hear. "And I am your liege's heir." I smirked. "Those are fairly good reasons, no?"

He gulped.

Moving away, I sheathed the knife and glanced at the others. "We will be leaving in five minutes. Meet at the main palace gate."

After everyone left, Rinku approached me. "Why do I have ta stay?" He whined.

I knelt in front of him and smiled sadly. "'Cause I'm selfish and don't want my Ototo to get hurt."

His aquamarine eyes met mine squarely. "Really?"

"Really. Now, you'll protect Yukina, right?" I asked, standing.

"Ma'am, yes ma'am!" He mock saluted.

I grinned. "Good."

Five Minutes Later

As soon as everyone was gathered, we took off in the direction of the Anima. I had grabbed everything that might be of some use in this battle. As soon as we exited the main gates of Tneisha, I sensed the other hitokiri moving towards us. Seconds later, they surrounded us, but stayed to the shadows. I unconsciously grabbed a kunai knife. I have only a half-hour before the potion wears off and I have to take the next vial. I just hope I don't have to take the third, but I will if necessary, I suppose. But... It could take us a half-hour to get to the Anima at this pace...

I let out one piercing whistle, and the assassins move into action. Everyone except Suzuka, Chu, and Suzaku continued to run, or in Jin's case, fly; but my assassins picked up those three as we increased our pace. With any luck, we'd arrive there in fifteen minutes and I'd be able to analyze the Anima with the next fifteen and destroy it after I took the purple vial... Well, one can only hope.

Fifteen Minutes Later

As soon as we spotted it, we charged in desperate attempts to slow it down and/or stop it. As I lunged forward, I leapt onto its shoulder and set my hand down on, I guess you could say it's skin, and transferred some of my aura into it for an analysis. Before I could complete it, its other arm was heading straight towards me. I jumped off and let myself free fall back to the ground. Landing without a sound, I leapt away as it tried to stomp on me. Rolling to the edges of the battlefield, I paused to think of what I had learned. If I had any doubt before it was an Anima Natura, there was none now. It was a huge creature made completely of souls, but the question was, how were they all bound together? If it had been a collage of undead, it would have been relatively easy to destroy, a few runes I have were designed just for that purpose, any mediocre necromancer can create a golem of the undead, but... A being of this magnitude entirely of souls? Turning feelings and emotions into a solid thing? I bit my lip. My time's running out...

Glossary

Anima Natura: Soul Being (Latin), Anima for short

Ototo: Younger brother