Chapter 7

Onee-chan: wrote the rest of this story with this chapter already planned. -smile-

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Kouji leaned on a tree and gasped. He'd run all the way here even with the shocks running through his body. He sighed.

'I'll probably carry this burden forever.' Kouji smirked.

"I told you no last time, and I'll tell you again this time." he spoke to the darkness in the trees around him.

A man walked into view from behind trees across the clearing. He leaned his back against the tree and sighed.

"I know. You can be so stubborn sometimes." he began to laugh. "But it doesn't matter."

"I don't understand." Kouji sank to his knees as pain rendered them useless.

"Poor Kouji doesn't understand. I've sped up your magic's evolution. I didn't have time for you to brood for a week. I need that power now." the man's eyes finally shown in the dark around the trees he hid in. Bright golden eyes. Like a cat ready to pounce.

Kouji closed his eyes and felt himself being pulled forward. He put his hands out to stop himself from falling to the grass as he was released from the man's magic.

"I still don't understand... why you chose me of all people." Kouji took gasps of air as he felt himself becoming unusually tired.

"Nothing personal.." The golden eyed man raised his hand and Kouji was pulled to a more 'standing' position. "You just happen to be new blood.. Magic is at it's highest just after it evolves or after years of refining it. I'm a lazy person, you can understand that I don't want to wait that long.."

He drew in the air with one finger and looked extremely bored. The ground around Kouji was cut to form the picture he was drawing. Kouji glanced around him and panicked for a second. The man smiled at the scared look on his face and silently snapped his fingers.

Kouji felt warm air rush past him from the ground and it blew all thoughts from him. All but one as he fainted.

'Takuya..'

– – – –

A light pole nearby snapped and fell over. It crashed between the two boys and glass filled the air that separated them. Time froze and Kouji looked around. A man dressed in deep blues and blacks was standing nearby. All that was visible to identify him was his blazing golden eyes and black hair, which ended at his shoulder blades.

'Hello.' he greeted with a smile.

'Who are you?'

'Call me Knight. So sorry to interrupt your power surge but I've come to collect.' he sighed.

'I don't understand.' Kouji replied. His mind had temporarily forgotten the situation. What could this man want from him?

The man vanished and Kouji felt fingers around his neck. He flinched and tensed up. Knight laughed.

'That's wonderful. Fear.' he covered his eyes as he laughed.

'I wont..' Kouji mumbled.

'What's that?' Knight instantly stopped laughing and seemed to actually be confused.

'I wont let you have my power.. I need it..' Kouji stated. 'Mommy said I could die without it!'

'Ah yes.' Knight pondered this before shrugging and smiling. 'Oh well. Come on, be a good little boy and give in.'

'No!' Kouji yelled. Knight frowned. His eyes scanned the area like a hawk and he was gone.

'Tempting isn't it?' Kouji spun and saw the man sitting by Takuya. He was dragging a finger down his cheek. 'Little boy, I always get what I want..' Knight's voice was low.

'No! Don't!.. Don't hurt him..' Kouji begged, beginning to cry.

'Not today, perhaps?' Knight sat there thinking for a minute and something seemed to spark his interest. 'Another, better day, then. Adieu.' he smirked and vanished.

Time started up again and Kouji saw the thin cut running down Takuya's cheek where Knight had traced his finger. Takuya's eyes were wide in shock and his legs failed him. He fell to the grass and sat there.

'If he'd just never met me.. He wouldn't have been hurt.. He'd never have.. Taken the risks..'

– – – – – –

"Kouji!"

Was someone calling his name?

Kouji opened his eyes slightly only to find himself hanging a few feet off the ground and somewhat transparent. He turned his gaze to the side slightly and saw his brother and Takuya running toward him. He growled low.

"I thought I told you to leave me alone!" he yelled. Takuya paused, a slightly hurt expression on.

"Kouji! What's going on!" Kouichi asked. Kouji was suspended about 3-4 feet off the ground above a glowing circle.

Kouji glanced toward Knight. He was still standing there among the trees. He had the same smile on as when Kouji had passed out and the same glint to his eyes. It was as if the man had frozen. Perhaps this happened each time he absorbed an energy source?

"Kouichi.. I'm sorry for everything." Kouji kept glancing at Knight, making sure the maniac was still preoccupied. Takuya stared in fear as Kouji's body began vanishing before his very eyes. He shook his head. This couldn't be happening.

"Takuya..." Kouji didn't know what to say. Takuya shook his head rapidly.

"It isn't supposed to be this way!" Takuya cried. "You're not supposed to leave! You promised!" Kouji gasped. Takuya shouldn't remember anything like that. "You promised we'd always be together! Kouji you can't leave this way!"

Kouji's eyes darted to Knight when the man moved. Takuya noticed the movement and his eyes darted to Knight but only momentarily before his eyes were back on Kouji, tearing. Knight held his palm open and began to slowly close it. Kouji took in a sharp breath and looked over at Takuya.

"Didn't I tell you? I hate you.." he said jokingly. He looked up at the sky and smiled, a stream of tears running down his cheek.

"Kouji!" Takuya ran up and jumped at him. His mind said to get him out of that circle. Knight smirked and shut his fist. Kouji's lips moved but no sound came out.

Kouji became nothing but what appeared to be balls of light as soon as Takuya touched him. Takuyaslammed intothe ground on the other side and didn't get up.

"Then I bid you adieu." Knight bowed with an evil smirk and vanished.

Kouichi fell to his knees. He couldn't believe it. This wasn't supposed to happen. It was supposed to have a happy ending, dammit!

Takuya clenched his fists around the grass. His tears soaked the ground beneath him.

'You promised! You said you'd never leave..' Takuya cried. Visions of Kouji's smiling face flashed through his memory. "You promised..." he muttered as he sat up. He looked to the sky as Kouji had.

To rediscover a lost and forgotten love just to have it torn out of your grasp. Fate was cruel and grace was unforgiving. And Kouji.. was gone.

– – –

It: And you thought the good guys always won.. -smirk- onee-chan loves stories where Kouji's the little victim.