A/N: Holy strange, I written this chapter up and it turned out to be 21 pages long. So, chapter 5 is in two parts.
Yay! This is it, the finishing chapters. Sorry it took so long.
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Tohru and Yuki sat in Tohru's room rummaging through Katsu's bags after barely succeeding at getting them from Katsu's host family. The two had to tell them of a farfetched story as to why Katsu was missing for so long and why they came to retrieve his things, but it seemed to have worked as the family had let them have the bags. It was stressful for Tohru because she didn't want to lie to such nice people, but Katsu seemed to have exceptional abilities when it came to fabricating a story. Yuki didn't like it either, but he had no say in the ordeal.
Yuki – Katsu – dug into a bag frantically, tossing out clothing that fluttered to the ground around the two. Everything he had owned was in green and tan colors.
"I don't think it was right to lie to that nice family…but if it's for Kyo-kun's sake…" Tohru trailed off while removing a fallen piece of clothing from her head after it floated there.
The first bag was tossed aside and the second bag was ripped open, more clothing flying up into the sky and floating downwards as Yuki ravaged though everything, soon smiling with laughter and holding up a black blade. "I have it!" He lowered his hand to show the blade to Tohru, "It's all we need to get him back; it's the key to get down there. Now, how will we get Chiyo out of that place? We need her since she knows the Underworld better than us." Yuki paused, and Tohru noticed the change in facial expression that turned softer, it was how she knew that Yuki came back to take over for the time being.
"Yuki-kun!" Tohru smiled at him. "How are you feeling?"
Yuki sighed, "Not all that well Honda-san," He looked up at her and then back down at the blade, "Is this what Katsu-san was looking for?"
Tohru nodded enthusiastically, "Yes! Katsu-san also wants to get Chiyo-san out of the Main house. Do you know how we can do that?"
Yuki thought for a while before shivering at what the plan entailed; going against Akito – whose wrath is not something anyone wanted to think about. "I don't know Honda-kun, but I won't let you go down there by yourself. I have seen Katsu-san's memories and that place is too dangerous for you. I don't think he could get you there safely either."
Tohru looked at Yuki with watery eyes, "I must save Kyo-kun, I at least owe him that!" She pleaded, "Please, there must be some way! Chiyo-san shouldn't be put though what she's going through either!"
Yuki's eyes softened as Tohru started to cry, he wanted to hug her but sadly wasn't able to. He settled for patting her on the back in a caring manner instead, letting her head lean against his chest. "Something will be done Honda-san. We will get things back to how it should be."
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"Please, please Hatori-san!" Tohru pleaded at the front gate to the main house. Hatori stood at the door with an expressionless look while listening to the girl make her request. It seemed like such a good way to help out both the woman and Kyo, but the factor of Akito was still in his mind. What would he do once he found out that Chiyo was allowed to leave the estate? She was his new project, and no one got in the way of Akito and his projects.
"I wish I could help you, but…" Hatori sighed, which made Tohru hold back sobs.
"There has to be a way for you to do this without you getting into trouble! I don't want Hatori-san to get hurt over this." She cried. "But I know where Kyo-kun is now and we can save him! Wouldn't you do anything for the one you most cared about?"
Tohru didn't expect to say the last part, but it seemed to have an affect on Hatori as he widened his eyes a little and let the question sink in. He then nodded curtly and left Tohru at the door. It was only a few minutes later that she heard a confused female voice and then she saw Chiyo being dragged by the arm by Hatori.
"Tell me what's going on!" She shouted.
Hatori only pointed to the door, and Chiyo followed his finger and widened her eyes, "What's going on?" She asked quietly.
"Hatori-san is letting me take you back, Chiyo-san." Tohru smiled warmly and held her hand out to her. She watched as Chiyo stared at the gesture and hesitated, Tohru frowned. Did Akito really do some damage to her like Shigure said? Chiyo looked as if she was expecting another trick.
"It's not fake." Hatori said, as if he knew what Tohru was thinking. "Go." He nudged Chiyo over to Tohru and watched as the broken woman slowly went over and stepped out of the gate. Her eyes widened and she looked at the outside.
Tohru felt Chiyo's hand take her own, the grip tightening as if she was going to be yanked away any moment.
"Come on Chiyo-san, we have to get Kyo back." Tohru looked up at the woman, who was staring at her in disbelief. "You found out?" She asked.
"Found out what?"
"Akito and Azrael traded us." Chiyo whispered, watching Tohru's eyes widen. She said nothing, but just shook her head and started walking down the sidewalk. Hatori had shut the gate a while ago and left them to their own devices. It wasn't long until Tohru heard Chiyo choke down a sob. "Tohru-san…" She suddenly started crying and Tohru now found herself being embraced by the raven haired woman. Tohru let herself be brought down as Chiyo cried into her chest, her arms secured tightly around Tohru for support. "Azrael traded me to punish me…" She started saying in between sobs, "Because I remembered…"
Tohru placed her hand on Chiyo's head and tried to comfort her, "Remembered what?"
"I remembered my past life…it's forbidden to remember. I—he—he was there. He was there in human…I remember, I was a thief in the Middle Ages. He watched me—saw my potential…I was a great thief…no one could catch me. He fell in love with me and decided to end my life. He killed me with a knife—and watched me die…the stars were so bright... then he carried me to his home…the Underworld…he took my soul and the necklace it came on…I—I hated him—but then he took my memories away and told me that I was his chosen successor…we—we were lovers…I never asked why…he told me it was an honour… but—but then many years passed and I was on a mission…I saw the most beautiful mortal…with the most amusing personality. I decided to see him more and more…then Azrael found it out and my next mission—he had written his name on the list—but it wasn't his time yet… I had to watch as he was killed by accident… this was many many years ago—"
"You and Katsu-san knew each other for a long time?" Tohru asked quietly, wanting to know more. She was near tears as well, it sounded like a tragic love story.
"He was reincarnated each time…and each time—I was sent to collect his soul…I had no other choice, I was Death and Death never ignores the list." Chiyo wiped the tears from her eyes, "It was then when I started to remember my past life. It was because I was getting mad at Azrael for doing this to me…I then figured out that he wanted me all to himself…that's why he killed me before it was my time…that's why he had Katsu killed in every life…it was then I decided to save Katsu." Chiyo freed a hand so it could ball up into a fist as tears started forcing themselves to be freed once more.
"Azrael became insane with rage…he sent demons after him and I destroyed them to keep Katsu alive. Then Devilyn came into the picture…she's a succubus, all she wants is Azrael and she went after me just because she was jealous of his feelings towards me. She seduced him to get my position but all she was able to achieve was to be in charge of the demons at his command. That made her angry and the next demon attack I tried to save Katsu from, she was able to capture me instead. And he came down to save me…I don't know how he did it, I was unconscious at the time…but I woke up and Katsu was there…he had my soul with him…"
Tohru couldn't hold back now, she started crying against Chiyo. "That was the saddest story I ever heard…"
Chiyo started to cry again, "This is all my fault. Kyo-san's down there because of me. Katsu is going to be inside Yuki-san forever because of me…I should have told you this in the beginning, and then you all would have known how bad this was! I'm so sorry for lying to you all…it's all my fault… I tried to forget my memories but living with Akito brought them back. He's right…I—I'm the cause for everything bad that happened."
Tohru widened her eyes to Chiyo's words; she started to wonder what had happened between her and Akito to have her break down this badly. She looked towards the door but Hatori was long gone and the gate was closed. Though she had a wandering thought that maybe the Dragon was listening from the other side. "Chiyo…Chiyo-san, don't blame yourself! It's not your fault. It was never your fault. Don't listen to Akito-san; you never had anything to do with this."
"If I just left Katsu alone and stayed with Azrael…all of this wouldn't have happened. No one would have gotten hurt. You all wouldn't be in so much trouble! I'm so selfish."
"No!"
Chiyo raised her head to see a distraught Yuki behind Tohru, staring down at her. "Katsu…"
Yuki walked over to Chiyo and took her hand, raising her to her feet and bringing her into an embrace. "Don't let him get to you." He whispered in her ear. "Where's my Chiyo, the strong woman that saved me from death and would never leave my side?" He stepped back to cup her face with his hands, smiling down at her. "You are a fighter; don't let Akito change you now. You weren't selfish when you decided to save me from death, if that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have met you."
Chiyo felt his fingers wipe the tears from her cheeks and shut her eyes, "He has your body..." She said quietly. "I want to go back in there and get it for you…"
"Chiyo-san, we can get Kyo-kun back and then he can help!" Tohru stated, "Katsu-san said that we would need him to get him back into his body."
"We will get him back." Yuki nodded, "Though…I want to do something first…as long as you can be touched, Chiyo…"
Tohru blinked, and then turned around with an overly flushed face after she saw Yuki lean down to kiss Chiyo. She squeaked and wondered if Yuki was consenting to something like that! It was romantic and frightening at the same time. "Um—Katsu-san—did you ask Yuki-kun for permission—?"
A giggle fluttered to her ears and she smiled, that was Chiyo. Tohru assumed it was safe to turn back to them and she saw Chiyo blushing and Yuki now red in the face with his fingers touching his lips. It seemed that Yuki heard Tohru's concern and took over.
"Ah…Honda-san, yes he did ask me." He tried his best not to look at the giggling woman standing next to him and sighed. "I didn't mind…" His cheeks now had a tinge of pink on them as he admitted that.
Tohru stared at him blankly, causing Chiyo to double over in laughter. Katsu then took over once again and pulled the scythe piece out of his pockets. "Are we going to do anything now or just stand in an awkward silence until Akito comes out to look for you?"
"Oh!" Chiyo stopped laughing and looked back at the gate door in foreboding. "Yes—let's hurry away from here…fast."
"Tohru-kun," Yuki fingered the scythe piece and looked at her sternly, "Stay close to us, we can't afford losing you when we get down there, and trust me – its easy to get lost."
Tohru nodded and took Chiyo's hand. Yuki nodded at the gesture and knelt down, slicing into the ground with the blade and creating an opening. "Let's go."
They all descended into the tear that led them into the Underground.
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"Tohru, remember this if you ever get separated from us. Anyone with red eyes are demons, anyone with blackened eyes are workers of Death. If you see anyone with either red or black eyes, then run."
"Everyone has normal looking eyes though, normal colours I mean."
"They do have normal eyes, like me. I have green eyes, but do you remember when Devilyn attacked us? My eyes turned black. They change when either a demon or a …shinigami, as you call us, become either enraged or foresee death. Devilyn has red and black eyes as she was a demon turned shinigami. You will do your best to keep away from her, she's one that was never born without a soul and works for Azrael because she chose to. Those sorts of people are more dangerous than anyone."
"She was very scary, Chiyo-san. Um…would you mind if I asked how the Underground works? I thought when people die there was a Heaven and Hell."
"There is a Heaven and Hell, the Underground is the crossroads. Souls are collected by us shinigami and taken to the Underground where they are sorted depending on how bright the soul is. A clean soul is sent to heaven while a blackened soul is sent to hell, which is in the same area as the Underground. Though, it isn't all that great. Hell is where we dump the blackened souls into a burning lake. In heaven, the souls take form of who they were and they live out their lives in bliss. Souls that are not dark or light enough are sent back up to the Living World, where they get to be reincarnated and get another chance."
"Oh…" Tohru whispered, thinking that her mother must be in heaven. Despite her past, her soul had to be more pure than crystal.
The three were descending a seemingly endless staircase that led along a rock wall. Everything below them was decorated in red fire. The floors were made of black marble and the volcanic walls were covered in black soot from the fires. At the end of the stairwell there was a river created out of molten lava. There, at the foot of the steps, was a gondola with a hooded figure at the end, waiting for his passengers.
Chiyo looked back at Tohru as the frail hand in her grip tightened. "He is deaf, blind and dumb; do not worry. His job is only to transport anyone from the entrance to the main city inside the Underground. The only thing we need to worry about is the gate keeper, Bergdis. I will have to distract him so you two can get through."
Tohru nodded, "Um…Chiyo-san, how do people become Death-sama?"
Chiyo thought about the question for a while as the three made their way onto the gondola. "Well, humans that sell their souls or have their souls sold by other people are made into Death's workers. Their bodies are taken along with the soul and made immortal. The souls are kept within something the person cherished and a spell is added on to…erase the person's memories of their past life…" Chiyo was idly fingering her necklace as she spoke, "As for me…I never sold my soul or anything…I wasn't owned by anyone and no one could sell me…Azrael just took me because he wanted me."
Tohru watched as Yuki's arm wrapped around Chiyo's waist and brought her into a comforting embrace. Akito-san must have sold Kyo-kun to Azrael-sama. Mother, I wonder if you are watching this, I wonder what you think about me going down to Hell to rescue Kyo-kun. Oh mom, I think I love him. Wish me well. Tohru smiled in determination.
Chiyo stared at the necklace after noticing that she was playing with the rock. It used to hold my soul… She suddenly felt alone in the gondola while her eyes looked at the small reflection in the rock, I'm not the cat…no…I'm not a monster… Her eyes shrunk as that word came to mind. Monster…
"Why are you keeping that stupid thing on?" Akito drawled while pointing at her necklace. He had let Chiyo into a small garden that was closed off by a wooden fence. "Really, if it has no more use to you, then throw it away."
Chiyo's hand wandered to the stone and closed around it, she had known why she should keep it on, if Shigure was correct about his educated guess. He told her never to take it off or something bad would happen, and she didn't want to know what it was that made him tell her that.
"Un…no thanks." Chiyo muttered, it was her third day at the Main House, and she still felt like going back home. She was able to triumph over Akito's mind tricks so far, but he seemed to keep turning up the volume. Right now she was wary about why they were out there, it was the first time she had seen him out of his room.
"Take it off." Akito tried again, narrowing his eyes at her. "It's an ugly piece of jewellery. Why would you need it anyway?" He inched closer to the woman, who was oddly dressed in a kimono; another one of his false acts of kindness. The kimono was suited for the woman though, flower printed and dark coloured.
Chiyo stepped back, her hand now on the stone for protection. "I told you no. Why are you being so stupid over this?"
It was the wrong thing to say. Akito's arm lunged out and grabbed Chiyo's free wrist. He pulled her over to him and glared darkly at her, "I give you shelter and clothing and you won't give me this one request? How ungrateful are you?"
"I have my own reasons!" Chiyo glared at him, but then felt Akito's other arm reach for her necklace and ripped it off of her neck in a clean sweep. Chiyo stared in shock as he grinned in accomplishment and took the necklace into his hands, staring down at it and then at her with a malicious glee.
Chiyo's eyes became cat-like as she doubled over in pain; with the necklace off, she was turning into the monstrous cat. By the time the transformation had ended, what was left of her kimono were shredded pieces of fabric that sat to the side in a fallen heap.
Her thoughts were racing; she stared at Akito as he brought his hand up to his face in a look of pure disgust, shielding his nose as he stared at her as if she was the most horrible thing that ever existed. "Ugly…" She heard him say.
Chiyo panicked; what had happened to her? What's going on? She could smell something terrible, like rotting flesh but she didn't know where it was coming from. She saw a small pond in the corner of her eyes and ran over to it, screaming as she saw her reflection. "WHAT IS THIS?" She cried. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?"
Akito grinned under the safety of his kimono sleeve, "I didn't do anything to you. That is what you are; a sick, disgusting monster. This is what you get for being possessed with the cat spirit. You should have never let me take that necklace off of you. You're so hideous now…all warped and ugly…what would Katsu do if he ever saw you like that?" Akito chuckled lightly, "He'd probably run away…there's no way he would still love you if he saw this."
"That is not true! He would never. He knows what I truly am." Chiyo snarled at Akito, "He would never base his feelings on this BODY."
"You can't be so sure though, can you?" Akito smiled as he saw Chiyo turn away from him, and then away from the pond. "Kyo was still alone, his precious Tohru Honda saw him, and the first thing she did was throw up. That was such a lovely gesture."
Chiyo shook her head and tried to ignore him. "I'm not going to stay this way. I am not going to stay this way!" She chanted.
"You are..."
Chiyo fought back some tears and tried not to look up at Yuki. Would he run away at the sight of her if it ever came off again? Her eyes then glanced at Tohru; she still loved Kyo even though she saw his other form. Chiyo sighed, stop letting Akito control your thoughts and fears…
"Chiyo!" Yuki nudged her again, "We're here."
"Oh!" The woman snapped out of her reverie and looked up at the pathway to the gate. "Okay…Tohru-kun, go with Katsu…he knows what to do. Just…let me work. This cat spirit has to be good for something."
The three stepped off of the gondola and onto the marble floors, Yuki and Tohru watching as Chiyo went ahead of them to a man that was pale with white hair. At the sight of the legendary Death, the white haired man widened his eyes. "You—you're back!"
"Bergdis." Chiyo commented, her voice sounding full of authority. Tohru watched from behind Yuki as she fully changed personality to that of who she used to be.
"When she waves her hand, follow very close behind me." Yuki, or Katsu, whispered over to her.
Tohru nodded, watching Chiyo chat with Bergdis. Their faces immediately went pale, though, as they watched the gate keeper create a flaming ball of fire and aimed it at Chiyo.
"Shit. RUN!" Chiyo screamed.
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"A mission! A mission! Finally after all these months!" Laylah squealed with glee as she held the list of souls at arms length, marvelling at how the light from above was hitting the back of it. "I can smell those yummy foods already."
Zeru and Kyo watched her giggle and skip down the street as they were going to the front gate to see her off. The two had a silent agreement not to mouth off to each other as long as Laylah was with them. They rolled their eyes with similar sarcasm as she was listing off her favourite foods.
"It's pointless to eat such things. You cannot digest the food and it makes you ill." Zeru commented.
"THEY TASTE GOOD ANYWAY!" Laylah shouted back at him with a flicker of red in her eyes.
Kyo glanced at Zeru and grinned, "Don't try telling her otherwise, she's too stubborn and I don't care if she does get sick afterwards."
Zeru sighed, "I'm not going to hold her hair while she throws up in the bathrooms afterwards."
Laylah whimpered, "I wish I was alive for just a few hours…at an all you can eat buffet…"
The two men just shrugged and patted her shoulders. "Please just do your job first. You get to play afterwards."
"Nintendo!" The brunette brightened and started skipping past them. The two just rolled their eyes again. Laylah was a woman with the mentality of a fifteen year old. Food and fun was all she cared about.
A scream shook the two men into attention as they saw Laylah pointing wildly at what looked like a chase. "It's Miss Chiyo!" She shouted.
Zeru widened his eyes to the name, he and Kyo ran over to Laylah just in time to see Chiyo run past the three along with a grey haired frail looking boy and a highly freaked out brunette girl. Kyo's jaw dropped as he watched the brunette that he knew was named 'Tohru' being dragged by the woman.
"Chiyo-san! It's Kyo-kun!" Tohru wailed as she noticed the orange hair. "Kyo-kun!" She called out.
"Tohru!" Kyo shouted back, and then noticed the odd looks his friends were giving him, "What?"
"You know a mortal!" Laylah stared at him, amazed.
"Come on!" Zeru waved his hand in front of the girl's face and took her arm, dragging her after him as they pursued the other three. It wasn't long until the three dead teens entered an alleyway where the three mortals were catching their breaths. "What in Hell was that about?" Zeru began.
Chiyo looked up and glared at him, "Shut up unless you want us caught."
"You're Miss Chiyo!" Laylah pointed with an awed look on her face, "You're Miss Chiyo!"
"I think we have that figured out.' Zeru cupped his hand over the girl's mouth. "Though, I feel it's supposed to be me who should be in shock right now." He blushed and looked away. Kyo saw the tint to Zeru's cheeks and felt like he wanted to gag.
"Shh!" Chiyo hissed, and the six of them shut up in time to hear a group of footsteps running past the alley, they were too far inside to be noticed by any of the demons that passed. "That damn Bergdis alerted Azrael to our arrival." She cursed silently and leaned against the wall. "This is going to be hard."
"At least we found Kyo-kun!" Tohru smiled in reassurance while looking up at Kyo.
Laylah looked at Kyo and then at Tohru and back at Kyo. "Is this a name you made up when you went up there Hadyn?" She grinned mischievously, "Ohhh, a secret love affair?"
"EH?" Tohru squeaked, and Kyo glared at Laylah and smacked her on the head. "Don't be stupid." He frowned.
"What Tohru-san is saying is that your name is Kyo. Your real name is Sohma Kyo." Chiyo began, "We're here to get you out of this place, body and soul."
There was an awkward silence as the three dead ones stared at the three living ones. Kyo had no idea what to say, or what to think for that matter. Though, the sound of that name sounded too familiar to him, and when looking at the beautiful mortal in front of him, Kyo Sohma sounded so right.
Zeru decided to step forward and he raised his gloved hand to Chiyo's face, trailing his fingers down her cheek until he met the neck. He didn't show any shock when he felt a pulse. "You're alive." He stated.
Laylah gasped. "How is that possible?"
"That succubus cursed Kyo-san and I. Our curses were switched."
"Curses switched? What was Hadyn cursed with?" Laylah asked, soon gaping as Chiyo brought Zeru into a sudden embrace that made her poof into a black cat. Kyo was also staring in shock as the black cat glowered at him with green eyes.
"Stop staring, Neko-bozu."
Kyo's eye twitched at the title, the series of formed letters into those two words had a highly irritating effect on him but he did not know why. "I am not a boy."
The cat only licked her palm, "Then don't act like it."
"Okay this is amusing and all, but please tell me why she just turned into a cat!" Laylah pushed Kyo aside to pick up the black cat, "Miss Chiyo? Are you speaking the truth about Hadyn? If so then I want to help."
"I…I'd like to help as well," Zeru spoke up while trying not to blush, "Miss Chiyo, I—" The green haired man's eyes shot wide open as the cat poofed back into Chiyo, a naked Chiyo.
Zeru hid behind Laylah before Yuki was able to hit him.
"Oh dear…" Tohru sighed while she stood in front of Chiyo to let her dress. She noticed Kyo staring at her thoughtfully and she smiled at him. He looked away immediately.
As Chiyo zipped up her boots, she looked to the five and then solely at Kyo. "You will need your soul back if you intend to remember everything, don't try to strain yourself. You're doing better than I thought you would be doing." She held her hand out to him, "Trust me."
Kyo stared down at the woman's hand hesitantly and then glanced at Tohru. It was only because he wanted to remember who she was that he nodded and shook Chiyo's hand. "Alright, I'll help you." He muttered.
"Great!" Tohru squeaked cheerfully.
"Now how do we get into Azrael's citadel?" Laylah asked, "You won't be accepted in and if demons are looking for you three, then we're better off in the lake of fire."
"I think I can get you six inside…Azrael wants to see his intruders and traitors." A sour feminine voice caused all of them to turn around; in their sights was Devilyn with a small army of other red eyed demons behind her. Devilyn shook her head as she looked at Kyo, "I knew you wouldn't last…but it makes me look better, so I do thank you." She smirked at him and snapped her fingers; there were a few flashes and the demons had now apprehended the six of them.