DISCLAIMER: ... Buzz off! No one is making any money here.

Yusuke:                       Now it's in a bad mood.  0_o

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K.H.:    Did you people check my sister's fanfic yet? ^_^ Hey, she also has a Fictionpress novel. You can read it at story's pretty dark and angsty. Might not be for everyone but it's good. Her ideas are sugoi! Now why didn't I think of that! ^_~ Oh yeah, she's waaaay better than me when it comes to naming her OCs.

            Waaiii! ^o^ Reviewers! Ok, here goes. First come, first serve.

Dragon Lady Supreme - Here's what Kurama told me. He was waiting for you to see the light. I'm gonna use those items that you've given to me in my story. Especially that fan. ^_^ Hope you're feeling better.

Kawaii Kitsune Cub - That's ok. Homework is also important. ^-^ I read your first fic and your bio. Tee hee, I guess all schools are the same no matter what dimension they are in. ^_~

Kaeru Soyokaze - Oh! A pug! Yeah! I saw it! Thanks! ^o^  Kawaii!

Bloodfang - I think I know where you got the roses...^_~ Thanks! At least you know how to cheer a person up. ^-^

Sammy - Sugoi! I hope your Filipino teacher is nice. If not, I'm going to send Hiei over there hehehe. ^-^ The cat's back! I left food this time. ^_^

Nancy - Thanks for leaving a message friend!

Shiozaki - That was some teaser! ^_^ Poor Kyo. Ok, here's the next chapter. Took a while because I was stuck. Plus, my workload just doubled here in the real world . Oh and your cliffy is just evil @_@ Taka and Kyo 4-ever! Yay!

Pippin Skyweasley - Oro? I guess I did get a wee bit carried away with the adjectives, ehehe yep, that I did. @_@

            *holds up a box* Ne, guess what's inside this? It holds strips of paper with the names of everyone who left a review. *shakes box then picks two strips out* And the two reviewers who gets a cameo in this chapter are *TA-DAN!* Cute Anime Kitty and Yayo! If you want to appear in this fic leave a descript and a nick if you don't have a bio. If you don't, don't throw a tantrum if I accidentally described you wrong.

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Word Watch

Kawaii = cute, nice

Descript = short for description - I'm mad for shortcuts. ^_^

Shikigami = powerful spirits who can be summoned by those whom they have sworn their loyalty

Chi = energy possess by all living things

Sakura = cherry trees you baka! ^-^ could also mean a thing of passing beauty

Fuda = rectangular paper charms with spells or enchantments on them

Manga = definitely not the fruit you baka! It's a Japanese comic book!

Yamite = stop!

Daijobu = Are you ok?

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                                                                        Chapter 8:       Wind of Tragedy

            An eerie hushed fell over the whole of Meifu. Shadows lengthened. From where Tatsumi was standing from the shattered windows he could see the inhabitants of Meifu stopped whatever it was they were doing and stare into the horizon. He looked around him to see that everyone else in the wrecked office was standing still. The two trainees were helping up an obviously shaken Konoe. What were their names? Yayo and Kitty? He shook himself. This was ridiculous! Here he was thinking about the names of two female shinigamis-in-training while something was evidently wrong with Meifu.

            Watari was still gaping at the scene.

            "Watari!" he yelled. The blond scientist jumped at Tatsumi's yell and turned to him with dazed eyes. "I told you to get Hisoka to the hospital!"

            "I...oh yes, mon!" Watari scooted over to where Tsuzuki was busy throwing stuff of Hisoka's unconscious body. The boy had been nearly buried by an avalanche of office belongings.

            "Well?" Tatsumi said to everybody. "What are you people standing there for?"

            Everyone snapped back to reality. So far so good. Get everyone moving or doing something to avoid panic. He was feeling panicky himself. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not even when a demon possessed Tsuzuki and nearly destroyed this section of Meifu did he ever felt this sense of wrongness. Besides, the trees never started dying and even then, when half the place was on fire the climate never changed. It was making the hairs on his skin stand on end.

            "Si...sir?" a frightened voice said near him. He looked down and found himself staring at the wide-eyes of one of the trainees. She reminded him of a kitten.

            "What is it?" His voice came out harsh. The girl shuddered. He was sorry. He didn't mean  to sound that way.

            "Look," the girl pointed towards the horizon. When she saw her dark-haired friend moving closer to the window, she called out in a scared voice, "Yayo! No!"

            The brunette stopped then backed away. "My god, what's happening?" the girl said.

            A few people where now staring at the horizon. Tatsumi could see why. It was beginning to darken. It wasn't the kind of dark that one expects from the coming dusk. It was the kind of darkness that seemed to absorb all light. All Life.

            The horizon was fast disappearing under a dark mist. He heard someone scream. His eyes were drawn to the soul of a young man down on the streets below. The soul fell to its knees and clutched its head all the while wailing in pain before finally vanishing.

            Pandemonium broke loose. Everyone was now running to the exits. A few more souls vanished, their cries echoing in Meifu as the dark mist advanced. Konoe was doing his best to contain the stricken group but to no avail.

            Evil Wind.

            Huh? Tatsumi jerked back to reality. The word had just come floating into his mind. He spun around to see Tsuzuki holding the unconscious Hisoka. Watari was holding the boy's limp wrist as if to check the pulse. Both wore the same shocked expression that he knew was also on his face.

            Evil Wind. Evil Wind.

            "Hisoka?" Tsuzuki said tentatively to the unresponsive boy.  He started to shake him, " Hisoka! Hisoka! What is it? What are you trying to say?"

            "Stop it, mon!" Watari laid a restraining hand to the man. " You'll only hurt him."

            ...Second Sun...Divine Wind...Evil Wind...

            Then all at once, the boy started to scream and thrash wildly. His eyes rolled back. All around them more souls vanish, their cries echoing in the gathering gloom. Even Hisoka was starting to fade.

            Tsuzuki straightened up. Tatsumi could see the crackling, swirling chi around Tsuzuki. That meant either his shikigamis were eager to have a go at whatever that was out there or it could also mean that the shinigami was really pissed.

            He was pissed too. He HATED being helpless. He was unaware that his own shadow warriors were straining for release.

            "Use this!"

            Something black and heavy was shoved into Tatsumi's hands. He gave the old chief a questioning look.

            "Artifacts! It contains artifacts that can be use against gods," Konoe said. He was sweating heavily which was a little odd because a) they were dead and b) it was freezing. Ice had formed on the jagged remains of the windows.

            "You mean gods did this!"

            It was Tsuzuki. He was shaking with anger.

            "Why? WHY?"

            Konoe quailed with fear," I don't know. I don't know but right now I think that's our only chance." He gestured to the box.

            "Whatever you people are planning to do I suggest you hurry it up," Watari said. "Because I don't think I can keep Hisoka here for very long..." His voice trailed away and the other shinigamis noticed that Watari had drawn a circle around them both. The circle was glowing and for a while, Hisoka had stopped screaming. "As long as we stay in this circle, as long as it doesn't break I can stop him from fading away," he explained. "But you'll have to hurry because whatever it is that's affecting Hisoka is also affecting me too." His own hand started to fade then turned back to its solid self. For a moment, the magic circle wavered then steadied.

            Tatsumi opened the box. Inside were three artifacts. A mirror with elaborate runes on its face. An intricately designed dagger with the same enigmatic runes. A large jeweled object the shaped of a winged globe.

            Tsuzuki reached for one item only to have his hand zapped.

            Konoe stared at the items then looked at Tatsumi, " You try."

            He was about to argue then thought better of it. They really couldn't afford to dawdle while they were losing Meifu and its inhabitants by the minute. He reached in and was surprise when he didn't get shocked like Tsuzuki did.

            "Well, what do you know..."

            He barely heard Watari. As soon as his hand closed around the dagger, images and knowledge started to flood his mind. He couldn't make sense of it. On and on the sounds, images and even words poured into his head. He was drowning in the visions.

            /Stop it! What are you trying to tell me!/

            All at once the visions stopped. Tatsumi stared into nothing. And then a grey sick light appeared at the horizon. It was getting closer. A great army stood on the plain.

            Sons of Belial.

            He didn't know how he knew that. One by one, the soldiers started dropping to their feet as the grey mist came over them. And then from a distant hill a voice echoed.

            Shurpu Elish Shamamu.

            Shurpu la zakrat Shuma.

                        Purify the lofty Heaven.

                        Purify the firm Earth.

            A  man clad in priestly garments stood there. On his chest was the jeweled disc, his right hand held up the mirror on his forehead. His left held the dagger. It was pointed towards the mist. A golden light surrounded the being. The light expanded and Tatsumi  was blinded.

            "TATSUMI!"

            He blinked. Tsuzuki had just yelled into his ears.

            "I know what to do. Let's go."

            The two of them stood in the middle of the ruined sakura groves. A cold wind whipped their long coats. The mist was creeping slowly. Meifu had grown deserted in such a short while.

            Tsuzuki brush a lock of his hair that had fallen across his face. He glanced at the secretary. The man was standing a few feet behind him muttering to himself as he put on the artifacts. Then he looked up and gave Tsuzuki the go-ahead signal.

            Show time.

            He let his shikigamis go. The sudden release nearly threw him off his feet. He half expected all 12 to go but was surprise to see only Suzaku and Byakko launch themselves into the mist. Sohryu, the guardian of the East, had surrounded the Juohcho building in his dragon form. So was Touda, the guardian of the black fire. The two were not in good terms. The fact that they were working together worried him. This was serious.

            What happened next was something that they did not expect. From the mist, blackened creatures leaped out and attacked both shikigamis and shinigamis. Tsuzuki was barely able to evade one such creature. As soon as the fuda that he threw made contact with the creature, it gave a horrible shriek. The black substance surrounding it retreated to reveal one of Meifu's lost souls. Terazuma fell, the fuda still stuck on his forehead. An expression of horror was on his face.

            Tsuzuki stared. He was shaken. They were fighting their friends! Another creature attacked him. The fiery bird Suzaku tore it apart. He screamed. The nameless soul vanished with a cry.

            "YAMITE!" he fell to his knees, clutching his head. " No. No. Stop! STOP!

            "Get up Tsuzuki!"

            The secretary's voice cut through the haze. It sounded clear and strong. He turned to the man. The artifacts were giving off a golden light. A few of the blackened creatures attempted to wrench away the artifacts but Tatsumi's own shadow warriors deflected them.

            "Hang in there! We CAN save them! Tell your shikigamis not to destroy them!"

            Tsuzuki nodded dumbly. He could hear the other shinigami chanting. More creatures leaped out of the mist. The mist itself was reaching out to them. A smoky tendril grabbed his coat. His coat shriveled. He hurriedly took it off and threw it at the mist where is disintegrated. And then he realized something. Tatsumi's voice was growing louder. The light surrounding the man was getting brighter until he could no longer see the other shinigami. All he could hear were the roar of his shikigamis and the cries of the blackened mist creatures.

            Shurpu Elish Shamamu!

            Shurpu la zakrat Shuma!

            Tatsumi's voice thundered over the din. A great light shot from the man and pierced the darkness. The psychic scream that resulted from that drove both shinigamis to their feet. When Tsuzuki regained his senses, he saw that the secretary was down. He scrambled towards the other man.

            "Ne? Tatsumi-san? Daijobo?"

            Tatsumi sat up. "I'm fine, Tsuzuki..." Both men got to their feet albeit still shaky.

            Both men looked around. The darkness was gone. So where the shikigamis and shadow warriors. Lying on the ground were some of the many souls of Meifu. One by one, every one started regaining consciousness.

            Terazuma pulled off the fuda that was still stuck on his forehead and blinked at Tatsumi and Tsuzuki.

            "What happened?" he asked.

            The two just stared at him.

TBC

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K.H.:                Ahh! I just love those gorgeous guys in Yummy no, err... I mean Yami no Matsuei. Read my first song fic please! It's about another tall, dark, brooding and gorgeous guy, I mean demigod, in Gensomaden Saiyuki. ^_^ And yeah, Evanescence rocks!

Kurama:          Sheesh! *rolls his eyes at Hikari* There she goes again.

K.H.:                As if! Hello?! You're also attracted to dark, beautiful and twisted type of personalities!

Kurama:          Oh really? Name one. *one eyebrow arched*

K.H.:                There was Korunue, Karasu, *Kurama shudders* Ok, maybe not Karasu but there WAS Yomi and yes! Hiei!

Kurama:          I see. Sorry I asked. -_- R and R, minna.

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