Cain had prepared himself for this: The inevitable moment when Kyoko would get hurt or injured, probably during an encounter with the Accursed. What he hadn't prepared for was seeing her faint in front of him with no reason or warning.

As she fell, his insides turned cold in fear.

"Kyoko?"

Kyoko grabbed him, her head lolling backward. He scrambled to catch her, huddling over her limp body.

"Kyoko, hey! Wake up. Kyoko!"

He shook her gently, afraid she may break. She didn't stir. The soft light she emitted was pulsing. Was it weakening? What was happening? He searched her body for any blood. Any markings. Anything that would indicate what was happening.

Her shirt shifted.

There, beneath her collarbone and extending to the shoulder was a strange mark. Her skin flowed from salmon pink to an angry red, then darkened to a sickly black. He couldn't see the extent of the damage as much of it was still hidden by her sleeves, but he had seen enough.

The Shuemans rot had already hit her.

Cain looked around frantically. No one paid them any attention. No one seemed to care that someone had fallen unconscious. It lit a spike of rage toward the indifferent people. If one of them had fallen, Kyoko would have rushed to their side without a second thought. Why did no one seem to care?

Swallowing his panic and rage, Cain scooped Kyoko in his arms, marching to the nearest guard.

"Where is the closest clinic?" said Cain, his voice a low rumble.

The man gaped and sputtered stupidly at Cain. He did not have time for this.

"Where is it!" said Cain again, this time growling. He could feel his magic starting to react to his emotions

"T-there!" cried the guard, pointing wildly in a direction. "S-straight d-down and take a l-left. There's a s-sign."

Cain was off.

People moved without asking. They tripped over each other in their haste to escape. He cared not what he looked like, his one desire was to get Kyoko the help she needed.

He burst into the clinic, already to the desk before any of the other crowded occupants noticed he was there. The receptionist's face paled at seeing Cain.

"I need a physician," said Cain, still holding Kyoko.

The woman fainted.

Cain let out a hiss of frustration. The room was full of other patients, people lining the walls as they waited for their turn to be seen. Well they all looked fine to him, minus the terror in their eyes. If they were still conscious then Kyoko definitely got first priority.

"Hey!" called Cain to the back. "Is someone there? We have an emergency."

He strode past the reception desk and into the back. Turning the corner, he nearly ran into a man.

"What are you-"

"She's sick," said Cain. "I need your help."

The man trembled but did not faint. That was a good sign at least. He appeared young, but the gray tunic and pin identified him as a physician. The man cleared his throat, taking several seconds to collect himself. Cain waited, not with patience, but because finding another person to help would take even longer.

Finally, the man spoke.

"I-er. Yes. I can see she needs help. W-what happened?" he said.

"She just fainted," said Cain. "There's a mark on her shoulder. It's the Shuemans rot."

Obviously afraid for his life, the man gestured for Cain to follow, stumbling down the hall like a drunk sailor during a storm at sea. Cain followed him past crowded rooms, physicians, and a group of assistants who shivered as if a cold wind had blown past. They made it to an empty room where Cain placed Kyoko on the patient table.

He laid her down softly, cradling her head and stroking her hair.

"Don't worry Kyoko, I won't let anything happen to you," he said.

Her face was serene, breaths even and deep. She could have been sleeping, but Cain knew better.

"Umm, we um," said the man. "We need to do an exam."

Cain's eyes slid to the trembling physician.

"Then do your exam," said Cain. "The mark is on her shoulder."

The man swallowed. Two people came to the door and looked in before darting away. He could hear panicked voices and people rushing about outside. The physician's eyes darted to the door twice between staring at Cain.

"Okay," said the man. Finger's trembling, he pulled Kyoko's shirt to the side, exposing her shoulder.

Cain drew in a hiss.

The whole shoulder was covered in a dark purple and black bruise-like mark. Five distinct black points crested the curve of her shoulder, partially crusted and glinting in a strange crystallized light. It was from these that the dark marks spread down her arm and toward her collar. How had he not noticed this before? Or was it something recent. It may be a trick of his eyes, but he though the mark appeared to be moving, pulsing and growing.

"W-what is this?" said the man, looking astonished.

"It's not the Shuemans rot?" said Cain.

"It's not any mark I've ever seen before," said the man. "What happened to her shoulder?"

A thought sent a chill through Cain. He reached for Kyoko's other sleeve, pulling down that one as well.

There it was. Five identical bruising marks that crept across her skin. If Cain placed his hands on her shoulders, his finger-tips would match the alignment of the marks perfectly.

Dread now filled him. He had done this. When she had stopped him from rampaging at the palace his claws had torn into her skin. He thought she had recovered from them. Had seen the marks days after the event and confirmed they had been healing. What had caused this sudden change?

"How efficient are you with curses and dark magic?" said Cain.

"N-not terribly," admitted the young physician. "M-most anyone that has any knowledge is at the City Hall, helping to research a cure of the Shuemans rot. W-we're just a general unspecialized clinic here."

"Then this has been a waste of time."

Cain covered Kyoko's shoulders, picking her up in his arms again. He left the clinic, aware of the stares and panic that trailed in his wake.

The City Hall's white stone appeared through the throng of people. He walked through the same halls he'd tread yesterday and pushed through the double doors into the waiting room. Different receptionists stood at the desk of the clinic, but the look on their faces told Cain they'd been warned of his presence from yesterday.

They hadn't been warned how to stop him.

"Mage Hiroaki," said Cain. "Where is he?"

Neither looked able to answer due to all-encompassing fear.

The anger and panic Cain had been surprising started to stir. The magic rumbled inside him like a storm cloud that had yet to release its thunder. He held Kyoko closer, his main tether to sanity as he loomed over the two receptionists.

"Where. Is. Hiroaki Ogata."

The woman's entire body turned white. Her hand lifted involuntarily as she pointed down the hall, the words 'room thirty-seven' rising from her lips.

Cain hurried the way she had pointed. As with the other clinic, he left fear in his wake as he passed through the halls. He counted rooms, watched the numbers with close attention until he found the one he was looking for.

Without knocking, Cain pushed through the door.

A man was inside, wispy and frail as a flower. Delicate hair brushed his chin as he turned to see who had entered, face freezing into surprise. While younger and much softer, he bore the unmistakable resemblance to his father. This was Hiroaki.

He also slumped to the ground, trembling at the sight of Cain.

"W-waah wahhh!" said Hiroaki.

He was doing a lot worse than his patient. The young woman sitting at the table hadn't fallen at the sight of Cain, though, that was probably attributed to her lack of decent vision. Dark marks covered her face and sealed one eye closed. Cain had seen similar marks in the city though much smaller in size. She was a victim of the Shuemans rot.

"Mage Hiroaki," said Cain. "I need your help."

Hiroaki blinked several times, still staring at Cain.

"S-sorry?" said Hiroaki. "Do I… what was that?"

"My wife," said Cain with impatience. "She won't wake up."

Hiroaki just continued to stare.

From the hall, Cain heard the tell-tale clinking of armored men approaching. Security would be here soon, and Cain preferred not to deal with that mess. What should he do? Take Hiroaki with him and force him to help Kyoko? No, that wouldn't work. He'd need tools to help diagnose and help Kyoko and he hadn't the faintest idea of where they could hide out.

He swept the crazy idea from his head, instead stepping forward. Hiroaki shot to his feet, taking a desperate step back, but Cain didn't go any farther. He knelt, cradling Kyoko's back against his chest. He pulled the shirt aside just enough to show the dark marks on her shoulder. They glistened in the lamplight, crystalline in quality.

Hiroaki's attention zeroed in on those marks, finally focusing.

"Please," said Cain softly. "You're the only one that can help us."

Now Hiroaki's attention was on Cain, studying him as he knelt there, keeping Kyoko's unconscious body cradled against him. He still didn't speak. Still didn't move. Just kept staring with a curious expression.

Soldier's arrived. They fanned out behind Cain, swords pointed awkwardly around him in the small space. Cain didn't move. He did hold Kyoko closer, shielding her from the weapons. She felt too warm in his grip. Soft and entirely breakable.

"Mage Ogata, are you alright?" said a soldier.

"Yes, I'm fine," said Ogata absently, still staring at Cain with that strange expression.

The guard saluted in relief, nodding to his men. "Take this man away," he said.

They moved forward.

"Wait!" said Hiroaki.

His voice stopped the men and they muttered in confusion. Hiroaki walked to Cain and then knelt, examining Kyoko's shoulder. His hand skirted the edges of the mark without touching. There was reverence and pain in that gesture. Like he too felt the agony Kyoko was no doubt going through.

"How… what is this?" he muttered to himself. "It's still growing. What happened to her? How did she get hurt?"

Cain didn't answer, unsure what Ogata would need to heal Kyoko. Did he need to know Cain was an Accursed? That the claws of his enraged-self had pierced her skin and shredded her flesh?

Ogata didn't wait for an answer.

"Get a room for this woman," said Hiroaki, pointing to one of the people in the hall. "I want a stabilizer, serrit kit as well as a cleric. Check if Wakana is around, he shouldn't have left yet. Make sure not to touch the infected portion."

The men all stared for a moment before slowly moving, as if they were waiting for Hiroaki to stop and say it was all a joke. When the mage insisted for them to hurry up, they finally did so, and Cain found someone trying to take Kyoko out of his arms.

He growled at them, making the person fall back in terror.

"You can carry her," said Hiroaki, who was up and ushering Cain out the door. "Just hurry."

Cain followed, a strange entourage of confused physicians, guards, and assistants flanking them. An assistant came running down from another area, showing the group to an empty room. Cain carried Kyoko inside, taking his time to place her carefully on the surgeon table. Hiroaki was shooing the guards out of the room, others flitting in and out with different instruments. It all when by in a whirl as Cain just watched to make sure Kyoko was still breathing.

"Excuse me," said Hiroaki, "But you're going to need to leave."

Cain rounded his sharpest glare at the man, sure Hiroaki would cower at the sight. The man flinched but didn't back down.

"Please, you'll be in the way, and I'm not sure what tests or procedures we may need to perform on her."

The man obviously pitied Cain, but he was also used to this. Concerned family and friends who refused to move from their beloved's side. Well, Cain wasn't going to leave Kyoko's side for a second. He couldn't. It would have just felt so wrong, to not be here when she may be fighting for her life.

Hiroaki just stood there awkwardly, the room still. They were all waiting for him to move away from Kyoko.

Reluctant, Cain did as he was told. He moved to the edge of the room and leaned against the wall.

"Um," said Hiroaki, obviously uncomfortable. "You'll need to stay outside."

Cain didn't react.

Finally, Hiroaki shook himself, ushering the others in the room to start their tests. The room was soon a flurry of movement and magic, Cain lost in the details of what was happening. There was an awkwardness to their movements, eyes constantly flickering in Cain's direction. They were obviously uncomfortable with Cain being there. Well he didn't give a damn about their feelings. All he cared about was making sure Kyoko was fine.

Cain wasn't sure how long he stayed there, watching as they performed tests on Kyoko. They took biopsies of the corroded skin, wove strange devices over her and muttered to each other in their corners. So far it looked like nothing had helped. Kyoko hadn't woken up.

Cain's finger tapped relentlessly against his arm, his panic rising with each minute. What would happen if she didn't wake up? What if she fell to this unknown illness and… No. This was not good. Thinking of a life without Kyoko was the wrong thing to do. It felt wrong. Colorless. And did not help his panic one bit.

When one of the physician's rose a scalpel to Kyoko's unmarked flesh, Cain's patience snapped. He was next to the patient table, his hand around the wrist of the man who held the blade. It shook in his grip above Kyoko's collar.

"What are you doing?" said Cain.

"Cain," said Hiroaki sharply. "You need to stay outside."

"Why are you cutting into her?" said Cain, panic roaring inside of her. Inside he was yelling at himself to stop. To let the physicians do their job, but his panic was out of control.

Hiroaki kept trying to persuade him away, but Cain couldn't hear him. All he could see was Kyoko and the small light she emitted to his eyes, a soft yellow that softened his demons and made him weak with worry.

A hand grabbed his shoulder, and with a rough yank, Cain was forced to swivel around, letting go of the physician. Ready to lash out at whichever idiot had pulled him from Kyoko's side, he froze when he saw who it was.

Hikaru had a strong grip on Cain, angrier then Cain had ever seen him.

"You need to leave," said Hikaru.

Cain didn't answer, shaken from his internal battle by the friendly face. Hikaru took the silence as defiance.

"The men can't even think properly with you here," said Hikaru, motioning to the others in the room. "If you want your wife to wake up, I suggest you let these men do their job and get your ass out of here."

Cain swayed, the words hitting him hard. He finally saw the faces of the other men. The terror on their expressions was another succor punch to his conscious.

What am I doing?

Cain pushed past Hikaru and out into the corridor. It only took a few turns to find a waiting area and plop himself into a seat.

In the silence, Cain's mind was able to wander again, this time imagining all sorts of terrible fates for his beloved. In some, Kyoko lost function of her arms. In others, she was permanently disfigured. His stomach twisted at the possibility of pain in each of these scenarios, and worst of all, Kyoko yelling at him that it was his fault.

It is my fault, thought Cain. I have no idea how to control these powers. I have some semblance of how they work, but not enough. I don't control it. It controls me. Fear makes me weak.

It had happened again. He'd lost control. Terrified the people here at the clinic. He'd forced someone else, Hikaru, to snap him out of his panic. He hadn't learned a damn thing about controlling his emotions.

Colonel Hikaru didn't have to look hard to find Cain. He just had to find the only place in the overcrowded clinic that was quiet and bingo! There he was. Death reincarnated in the form of Cain. The devil was calm now, slumped forward with his head in his hands.

At a quick glance, Cain's terrible appearance repelled those around him. Though not visible, there was an unmistakable danger that radiated from the man. You couldn't put a finger on what it was that frightened you so much, but it was there, and it kept everyone away. Everyone but those that swallowed their fears and kept staring.

Hikaru was one such soul, breathing slowly to calm his nerves. He had managed their previous encounter thanks to Kyoko's presence, but without her there, it was harder to ignore out the unmistakable feeling of wrongness around Cain.

Can he really be the prince?

The question had haunted Hikaru these twenty-four hours, unsure if he should even voice the possibility to his superiors. Several were already aware of Cain, hence Hikaru's presence here. After the man had muscled his way through the clinic, the other guards had sent for Hikaru.

Cain hadn't moved, and Hikaru still hadn't figured out if he wanted to talk with him or not. Hell, he knew he didn't want to, but he needed to. He had to know if this man was a danger to the city, or to Kyoko.

Gritting his teeth, Hikaru crossed the room. He took a seat by Cain, half expecting the man to react, but he didn't. Cain didn't give any reaction that he'd noticed Hikaru.

The longer Hikaru sat, the less anxious he felt. The man seemed completely unaware of him and Hikaru was happy to let the silence stretch. His mind turned to Kyoko instead.

His stomach twisted at the thought of anything happening to her. She'd been so healthy yesterday. Tired, but alight and full of her usual energy. Hikaru knew he wasn't the best at reading women's emotions, but was he so blind that he hadn't noticed anything wrong with Kyoko? He'd shadowed her for a month! Watched as she had dove through rock and rubble to save those that hated her, powered through political bullying, pressed forward in the face of murder and risked herself to save the prince.

He could still see her in his mind, pushing against all the odds to clear a path for herself. One only she could create. It had inspired him. Shook him from his complacency within the palace and made him strive for better. To be better and take pride in his role. Had it been so long that he'd forgotten what her silent pain looked like?

Hikaru looked at Cain.

The man hadn't moved. He was still slumped forward, head in his hands.

Ah.

No, he'd just forgotten to stop and look. Whoever this 'Cain' was - the prince, Accursed, her husband, or all three - the man cared for Kyoko.

"Hiroaki is one of the best mages in the kingdom," said Hikaru, his voice tight. "And some of the best clerics in the city are in that room. I don't know how you managed to do it, but you got Lady Kyoko the best care she could get. And you didn't even have to be put on a waiting list."

His attempt at humor was ignored.

Hikaru drew a breath to try again.

"Lady Kyoko will be fine, I'm sure."

That was more for himself than Cain. Geeze, this was too much. It wasn't enough that Hikaru been yanked from his duties with little explanation. He had to confront a man who had the social capabilities of a rock. Maybe Hikaru would have more success if he bashed his head against one. This was starting to give him a headache.

I have to make a decision, thought Hikaru. To report Cain, or not. I have to know if he's a danger to the city.

Before he could think of anything else to say, the man sat back in his seat and stared at Hikaru. The colonel didn't flinch, no longer frightened by Cain. The edge of madness was gone from Cain's eyes. He was in more control than when Hikaru had yanked him from the room.

"What are you doing here?" said Cain.

"The soldiers sent for me," said Hikaru. "They knew I knew you and thought I may be able to knock some sense into you."

"They weren't wrong." Cain hesitated. "Thank you for getting me out of there. I shouldn't have lost it."

Hikaru blinked. Huh. Maybe this man wasn't as out of control as the rumors claimed him to be. Or maybe only certain things could make him lose his cool.

"She's very important to you, isn't she?" guessed Hikaru.

Cain let out a mirthless chuckle. "You don't know the half of it."

Something about that response was odd. Either way, it at least confirmed that Kyoko was important to Cain.

"Is this why you guys came here?" said Hikaru. "Did Lady Kyoko get hurt from the attack on the palace?" It was small, but Hikaru saw Cain flinch. That was not a good sign. "Did you come seeking medical aid?"

"That's none of your business."

And now they were back to the brooding haze of gloom. Rather than scaring Hikaru this time, it irritated him. This man was acting like a child.

"Of course it's my business," he said. "Lady Kyoko is my friend. I'm worried about her."

"You claim she's a friend, yet you address her with a title."

"It would feel wrong to address without one." She had been his charge. A noble lady he had sworn to protect. Few deserved the respect of a title like she did.

The comment, oddly enough, seemed to amuse Cain.

"What happened to her?" insisted Hikaru. He wasn't leaving without an answer.

"She was hurt in the attack," Cain finally admitted. "But I don't think that's the only reason you're here."

"No," admitted Hikaru. "It's not."

Cain gave Hikaru a long searching stare. It was unnerving. Like he was the suspicious one in this situation. Hikaru held the gaze. If Cain was a threat to Kyoko, he didn't care what happened to him, he would remove this man from her side.

"Who are you Cain?" said Hikaru. "What is your relationship with Lady Kyoko?"

"Husband and wife."

"That's not what I —where did you come from? What happened to the prince?"

Cain broke eye contact, now looking to the floor. "He's gone," said Cain. "And you can guess the rest."

"I don't want a guess, I want an answer."

Cain suddenly stood up. He walked away, completely dismissing Hikaru.

Son of a-!

"Are you an Accursed?"

Cain stopped.

Hikaru's anger fled as fear filled him. Oh shit. He hadn't meant to ask so directly. What if the man actually was one?

Slowly, Cain turned to face Hikaru. It was impossible to determine what the man was thinking. Though no anger was visible, something in Cain's expression made Hikaru tremble. This man was dangerous.

Hikaru swallowed his fear and got to his feet.

"Well?" forced out Hikaru. "Are you?"

"That's an interesting guess," said Cain. "Not one I expected. What made you come to that conclusion?"

"You love Lady Kyoko," said Hikaru. "And you were at the palace during the attack. Then… some say the prince died and some say he turned into an Accursed. I know that Prince Kuon loved her so…"

Though not directly stated, the implication was clear. Hikaru was asking if Cain was Prince Kuon.

"And you'd stake such an offensive guess on rumors?" said Cain, still speaking in that terrifyingly calm manner.

"No," said Hikaru. "I stake it on Lady Kyoko. I know her. I know her heart. She'd never abandon a friend, even if that friend had abandoned themselves."

And that was what it came down to. If Cain was the prince and had become an Accursed, then she'd stay by his side. Help him overcome whatever darkness had swallowed him. Only two things could make Kyoko abandon Kuon. If he'd personally betrayed her in a way she couldn't forgive – as Sho had – or if Kuon had truly turned evil.

Cain let out a snort.

"If your guess turned out to be true, what would you do?" he said.

"I… don't know."

Hikaru trusted Kyoko. He trusted she wouldn't stand by Cain unless it was for a good reason. But she was also naïve. What if she was wrong about Cain - about Kuon - and he was taking advantage of her? What if Kuon had truly turned to the other side?

It meant Hikaru was the only one that knew, and he'd just alerted the enemy he was aware of the deception.

Sweat trickled down Hikaru's neck. Hell, he'd made a huge mistake. If this man could take down three necromancers in a field of undead, then there was no way Hikaru could protect himself. He was a dead man.

Hikaru took an involuntary step back.

Cain's eyes flickered at the movement. Hikaru froze, every muscle straining with the desire to move, yet he couldn't.

After a short, dizzying pause, Cain turned and walked away.

Hikaru stared at the spot Cain had left, then let out a long breath, every muscle relaxing to the point he almost fell over.

He sat with a plop, taking several steady breaths as he tried to pull his thoughts together. That had been his stupidest move to date. He'd learned nothing about Cain but had given the possible enemy insight on what he knew.

It's because I wanted it to be true, thought Hikaru, wiping sweat from his brow. He wanted Cain to be the prince. For the man to be here with Kyoko, bringing hope to their situation. But if he was, there was no reason to hide it from Hikaru.

Unless they had both turned.

Hikaru shook his head fiercely. No way. Kyoko would never do that. She was still true. But Cain?... what if he was an Accursed but Kyoko had managed to 'tame' him, for lack of a better word? What if Cain was on the side of light?

Hikaru didn't move for another thirty minutes, his mind swirling at the possibility of a 'good' Accursed.

Thanks for reading!

As always, many many thanks to those that leave reviews! And to those that just read. And fav. And follow. And all the things! You all are too kind. And Guest… if you do write that fanfic of this fanfic, give me a link so I can read it. XD

I will now be going back to releasing one chapter every two weeks. So Tuesdays are the new Wednesdays! ( I know this came out on a Wednesday but that was due to technical difficulties.)

Thanks again!

-Blushweaver

Hey peeps! Hope you liked the chapter! I suggested to Blushweaver that we alter the story and have Ren and Hikaru fall madly in love. She didn't like that, so I guess you'll have to read what ever she's got planned.

-Im0ut0

Alternative chapter names: "Calm the heck down Cain." "Anger: The way to get what you want." "The curious case of crystals slowly killing Kyoko." "The part of the show where Cain comes out and has an angry thought."