The murmuring from the auditorium had faded a while back, and yet Lory kept his quick pace in the opposite direction. The king needed him sure, but when Sulmod had revealed they knew about Kuon's location, Lory had realized where the breach in their security was. It made perfect sense. The more he contemplated the unsolved leaks, the more the pieces fell together in a perfect, horrifying picture.

The Accursed learning about Kyoko getting the black pearl for Kuon. Their defenses easily breached on the latest attack, though both Hirotaka and Masato had been kept away from the details of the defensive magic. And each written plan for the inhibitor, destroyed, despite the multiple copies that had been made for that exact precaution.

Though there were many ways these pieces of information could have been retrieved by the enemy, it was this last piece that put it all together: Sulmod knew where Kuon was.

Only one message had come from Mosall. Sozen had intercepted it, but they'd caught him early enough that he couldn't have learned it there. He shouldn't even have been able to guess that the Accursed known as Cain was in fact Kuon. Yet he did. Somehow, he knew. Someone had told him.

Just as the Accursed had known Kuon had asked Kyoko to pick up the pearl from Konoe.

Both secrets had used the same magic tool to convey information. A relaywell. Their conversations were being watched, and only one person had been trusted to provide safe and reliable relaywells.

Lory reached his destination. He pressed a hidden switch, walking into the empty room. It was spacious, big enough for the fight that was to come. Lory didn't expect the traitor to go down without a fight.

Before the door closed, a shadow slipped in. A man that unless ordered otherwise, watched over Lory constantly.

Sebastian knelt, head bent, only his eyes showing under the layers of cloth.

"Sir," said Sebastian. "Why have we come here?"

"Because I found out who the traitor is."

Sebastian paused, then rose smoothly to meet Lory's eyes. It was impossible to decipher his friend's feelings. He thought he had known that gaze. Been able to rely on it. But he'd been deceived.

"Since when?" said Lory. "How long have you been working for the Accursed?"

"Since the beginning."

Both the speed and detached tone of the answer made Lory's eyes darken. He'd known Sebastian for years. He was one of his oldest and most trusted friends. An elite of the shadow mages and assassins that Lory had inherited from the previous leader. Besides Lory, no one else knew more secrets in the kingdom. How had they survived with a man with that much knowledge and skill on the other side?

"Did they threaten you?" said Lory. "Your family. Wife. What did they dangle over your head to work with them?"

"This is unusual," said Sebastian, surveying him with genuine surprise. "You're usually so quick on the uptake, but even with the answer in front of you your scrambling for the truth." Sebastian paused, the gaze free of any malice as he surveyed Lory. It held the same patience and depth it always held.

"From the beginning," continued Sebastian. "Means even before I met you. Before I was born. My family has served the Dark Djinn for generations. The Djinn was overjoyed when finally, after years of trying we were able to infiltrate the deepest part of the kingdom; The spy network."

Lory had never heard of such a thing. The Djinn controlling families to breed more loyal supporters? The thought that other Ashurons were being forced to follow the Dark Djinn made him sick, but it still didn't answer the question of why they weren't all dead. Unless…

"You're playing both sides," said Lory. Something during Sebastian's duty had caused the man to change his mind. Withhold information and keep them safe from the Djinn. "You crazy Bastard. Don't you know how dangerous that is? One slip up and either of us would kill you."

And that's exactly what had happened. Sebastian had slipped up. Made mistakes that could only have come from him.

Sebastian shrugged, walking slowly through the room as he raised his eyes to the ceiling, watching something that Lory couldn't see.

"Why didn't you come to me for help?" said Lory, partially pleading to the man he could still only see as a friend. "Why can't we help you now? Are you an Accursed?"

The last question caused Sebastian to stop in the center of the room. It hung between them, separating them on either side of an imaginary line. A division that represented good and evil.

"Sometimes, you don't get to know all the answers," said Sebastian. "But if you wish to find out, you can fight me."

Sebastian pushed aside his cloak, pulling out his sword with quick precision. Lory took out his own hilt, slower as the light magic flared within him. Light exploded from his hilt, extending into a long sharp blade.

"I've always wondered which of the two of us was stronger," said Sebastian. "I've been looking forward to this day for years."

So he had always expected it to end this way. Lory raised his blade, pushing down all his hesitation and heartache. Another friend lost to this war.

"I trust you won't be holding back on my account," said Lory trying to keep his voice light. It came out strained.

Sebastian's eyes widened a fraction before sharpening again, though they were softer now.

"That's my line, sir," he said, voice low. Respectful.

Lory rushed forward with the intent to kill.

They really shouldn't have held the trial outside. Hiroaki's body was drenched in sweat, his sleeve soaked from the number of times he had wiped it on his brow. He might have asked Iitzuka to bring a cooling fan if he wasn't afraid his courage would fail at the slightest distraction.

He shifted to the next sheet of notes, praying his voice sounded stronger than he felt. This heat and pressure was killing him.

"… and though the battle damage to the city was considerate, there were only two casualties, ten injuries, and one individual still in intensive care whose fate is yet unknown. Though I do not wish to gloss over any lost life, for a battle inside the city between two Accursed, these numbers are incredible. Especially since Cain was able to kill Sozen."

Hiroaki chanced a glance up into the crowd. They hung on every word, some with looks of disgust, others with confusion. This trial was informative as much as it was entertainment. Rumors had flown like flies through the city and now they were hearing what had actually happened.

Duke Momose raised a hand, Hiroaki cutting himself off by instinct.

"You keep saying that Sozen was an Accursed," said Momose, "But that's just impossible. The man has done so much for our city. I won't just sit here and let you taint his image with your lies and slander."

Hiroaki swallowed, glancing to Iizuka for support. Technically no one could interrupt Hiroaki's time unless he allowed it, but he had doubted this trial would be fair from the start. And, well, this was the Duke, and Hiroaki was the wicked man defending the Accursed. No one would fault Aizen for calling Hiroaki out on anything he claimed. It was a good thing they had prepared for this.

"My proof," said Hiroaki. "Is my own eyes, and the witnesses of over a dozen physicians Sozen attacked before transforming. I have their testimonies written out if you'd like to see them. I believe you spoke to them right after the incident."

Hiroaki motioned to Iizuki who tugged out a scroll and handed it to Kuresaki. The General took the scroll, reading over it slowly.

"If these accounts are true," said Kuresaki. "Then bring them forward. Have them speak for all to hear what they have to say."

Hiroaki bristled. Kuresaki had already heard their accounts in person. Why bring it up as if he hadn't already heard from them? Unless… he suspected the men wouldn't testify. In front of the crowd and in defense of the Accursed, they'd chose not to come forward.

"They wished to remain anonymous," said Hiroaki, mixing truth with lies. "As you could imagine, standing before this crowd and claiming that Sozen was an Accursed could earn a fair amount of anger. Both from the people and from Sozen's followers. For their safety, I ask that you don't call them out." He gave a show of pausing, tilting his head as if an idea had just hit him. "Unless… you'd like to have a private trial. In that case, they'd be more than welcome to present their statements."

More sweat trickled down Hiroaki's neck as he locked eyes with Kuresaki, unsure if the man would call his bluff. For one thing, changing this to a private trial it would get them out of the heat and they'd have a better chance of winning. On the other hand, he doubted any of his colleagues would willingly come forward to confirm their statements, real or not.

The General finally broke eye contact, waving the scroll.

"This doesn't prove anything except that you saw something the Accursed wanted you to see," said Kuresaki. "It all could have been an illusion."

"True," said Hiroaki, foreseeing this denial. People were masters of denying what they saw with their own eyes. It made sense that Kuresaki and the Duke would deny what others saw as well. "But that's why I also brought this."

Iizuka pulled out several scrolls, holding them to the general. He took them, Opening the first one as Duke Momose left his seat to peer over the general's shoulder.

"What is this?" said Kuresaki.

"Records," said Hiroaki. "Of all the information in the clinic that Sozen has tampered with. Or at least what we've been able to find." He licked his dry lips, trying not to trip over the words as he rushed ahead. "There are medical records, individual cases as well as scores of experimental research that was tampered with. Much by Sozen's men. We even have included a list of men we suspect were working with him to cause this falsifying of information."

As the two looked over the scrolls, Hiroaki changed a glance at Kyoko. The girl gaze was trained on Cain. The man hadn't moved from where they had set him, a slumping cloud of darkness that looked one breeze from disappearing. The guard that held his chains looked distinctly uncomfortable being there. Murasame was his name… right?

"This is ridiculous!"

Someone from the crowd raised a fist, the lush fabric of his clothing identifying him as a noble. He stood with other nobles as murmurs grew and people pressed forward.

"Sozen saved this city!" shouted the man, others joining him with similar claims. "He can't have been an Accursed."

The small ring that separated the trial from the crowd seemed to shrink infinitely as they inched closer. If the crowd decided to stampede, he doubted the guards would be able to stop them. In fright, Hiroaki looked to Kuresaki to tell them to stop pushing. But the corner of the man's lips her turned upward. This was exactly what he had wanted.

Hiroaki had to do something if he wanted this to stop.

He gathered his courage as well as his voice as he called out. "Is that really so hard to accept? Our city has been plagued by this disease with no true cure in sight. Is it not unusual? Both the disease and our lack of progress. It makes sense that someone has been tampering with the research."

He saw a ripple of doubt run through the crowd. Good, they were starting to question. Hiroaki raised a hand to the scrolls that Kuresaki held. "Now we have evidence who that person was. An outside party that was secretly working with the Dark Djinn. An evil man that provided us with the 'help' needed to combat this disease."

"Are you saying that Sozen brought the Sheuman's rot to this city?" said the Duke. He asked with true earnestness. It was a good sign. It meant he was starting to open up to Hiroaki's words.

"We're… not sure about that yet," admitted Hiroaki. Shoot, he should have just lied and said yes. "But we are positive that Sozen has been tampering with research concerning it. There are too many inconsistencies."

Kuresaki suddenly tossed the scrolls onto the desk behind him, dismissing them as if they were nothing. "Let's say you were right, for one moment," said Kuresaki. The way he said it held a humoring tone that openly mocked Hiroaki. "That Sozen was an Accursed. It still has nothing to do with these two over here."

The crowd's attention was suddenly brought back to Kyoko and Cain. The Accursed. Good. Hiroaki hadn't even had to make this connection.

"It has everything to do with them," said Hiroaki. "Because it means that Cain saved us from Sozen."

Kuresaki's eyes darkened. He had seen his mistake. He shouldn't have tried to sweep the rug from under him.

"If this—" started Duke Momose, but this time it was Hiroaki who got to cut him off.

"If you don't mind," said Hiroaki. "My hour is not up. I still have the floor, so if you would please allow me to speak my piece without any more interruptions…"

Hiroaki was amazed by his own audacity. Cutting off the Duke in front of so many people? His already burning neck warmed to uncomfortable levels as he waited for the man to respond. Duke Momose just mumbled in annoyance, folding his arms.

"Fine!" he said. "You have twenty minutes left."

Considering they had kept interrupting him, he should have been given more as compensation. But Hiroaki didn't want to push his luck. It would just waste time and the look Kuresaki was giving him already told him what the outcome of that fight would be. He glanced at the sand dial on the table, swallowing as he noticed how little sand he had left.

Hiroaki took a deep breath and started telling all the stories they had managed to dig up about Cain and Kyoko's true character. Stories about saving the outpost. Cain working with others as a city guard. Kyoko's skills as a physician as she helped without asking for pay. He talked, each story strangely increasing his own conviction that these were good people. That Cain and Kyoko were not here to harm them, but to help.

"Much of what I've told you has come from people who have witnessed these events," said Hiroaki, the crowd completely captured by his words at this point. "And more than anything else, I believe what speaks the most about their character is the fact that Cain is here. Take into custody when he could so clearly have destroyed us."

Hiroaki gestured to the closest building. One that had been destroyed during the fight.

"He chose the peaceful option," said Hiroaki. "He chose to give himself up. For the sake of keeping peace, and for the hope that we would be able to help his wife. We've all heard tales that the Accursed are selfish creatures that only wish destruction, but I tell you this Accursed is different. He—"

"Time's up," said Kuresaki.

The interruption was so sudden that Hiroaki flinched, having forgotten they had been there. He'd been entranced by his own words, now realizing he may have overdone it. Well, at least the crowd didn't look as bloodthirsty. It seemed his words had managed to reach some people.

Kuresaki took the stage again, gesturing to the side. His deep voice destroyed any lingering hope Hiroaki had created from his defense.

"Now that we've heard from the opponent," said Kuresaki, "We'd like to bring out our own character witness."

"Character witness?" Iitzuka leaned closer to Hiroaki, hissing out. "Why did they even have one prepared? Surely, they didn't expect someone to stand against them today? I mean, they don't even have an impartial mediator. The stupid General is just swinging his ego around like a sword while representing both accuser and executioner. Sheesh, this is all one big hoax."

That it was. But they'd known that from the start, which was why Hiroaki was sweating harder at this point. Kanae and her men should have arrived by now. He had done everything he could, pulled out all the stops and had nothing else but bluster to give. Interestingly, it appeared Kuresaki and not the Duke was the one they needed to convince, and Hiroaki had no idea how they were going to manage it. The man was convinced Kyoko and Cain were evil.

Where are you Kanae? He groaned internally.

From the center of the group of nobles, a man appeared. His blonde hair reflected the sunlight, young face pulled into an unpleasant sneer. Hiroaki recognized him. He was one of the few men in the kingdom talented enough that his music actually soothed pains from the patients. Sho Fuwa.

As Sho reached the ring, a gasp grabbed Hiroaki attention. Kyoko was staring, eyes wide as the color drained from her face.

…that couldn't be a good sign.

Explosions shook the room. Magic charged the air with a tangible energy that sparked and broke cracks in both floor and ceiling. If it wasn't for the spells placed outside of the room, the whole palace would be in uproar wondering where the invasion was coming from. In the middle of this storm of magic, two men battled and fought, exchanging blows and deadly spells.

Lory spun a new destructive spell in one hand, his sword cutting through another. Magic circles shone around his feet as he darted and dashed around the room, dodging white shots that could stun him with a single hit. And in this battle, being immobile was synonymous with being dead.

A circle shone on his right, exploding up into a ring of fire and forcing Lory to skid to a stop. At the same time another spell descended from above. Sebastian probably expected him to jump right to avoid the combined attack. Instead, Lory dove straight through the flames on his left.

The flames singed but didn't scorch thanks to the defensive spells he had placed on himself. Sebastian was not expecting that, the man stalled between having to shift his weight the other way to attack Lory with the spell he had prepared. He should have just dropped it. Within that space of time, Lory shot a quick pulse shot of arcane magic.

Sebastian was forced to roll to avoid the shot. He rolled right into Lory's trap.

A chaining spell snatched at Sebastian's feet, freezing his left leg in place. Gotcha!

Lory swung his spell coated sword. Sebastian managed to raise his own in time, but his balance was compromised. When the blades hit, they slid, slicing into Sebastian's hand. With a wrench of magic, Sebastian tore free of the spell on his ankle. The next swing from Lory was met with a solid stance. For a moment, their faces were only a foot apart, each straining to press the other back. Lory stared into the eyes of the enemy.

It was not a good idea. It reminded him who he was fighting.

He saw his friend.

Something glinted to his right.

Lory broke away just as a wave of heat rushed in front of him. The spell was a solid wall of fire, hot and streaming red and gold flames. Lory didn't wait for it to disappear. Above his shoulder he formed a lance made of light, shooting like an arrow in the middle of the flames.

No noise hit his ears, meaning Sebastian had already moved from where he had been standing before. It didn't matter. Another flick of the spell and the spear split, arching up briefly before raining down dozens of slightly smaller lances into a wider area.

Then the fire disappeared.

The area in front of Lory was empty, smoking burns indicating where his spell had hit the floor. Where had Sebastian gone? He couldn't sense any other spells which meant the man had lowered his defenses. Got rid of them so he could use a cloaking spell. Which meant he could be anywhere.

Knowing his friend, Lory suspected where the attack would come next.

By instinct, Lory ran to the center of the room, activating three spells installed in his ruby encrusted hilt. Two of the spells were obvious and flashy, made to draw Sebastian's attention. The third was quiet and almost completely undetectable as it scurried across the floor. He only had one shot at this. If this didn't work, this fight was going to be a lot harder to win.

The spells hummed in his hands, seconds from being activated.

"Last chance Sebastian," said Lory, turning on the spot as he waited for the spells to build. "Please, don't make me do this to you."

But he didn't come forward.

Lory's hands exploded with light. A wave of charged power pushed out from him in a complete circle. It would continue until it reached the corners of the room, stunning anyone it hit. Or, if anyone broke through the spell, it would reveal where they were.

The spell continued, nothing coming out as it got closer and closer to the wall.

It was as Lory suspected.

As he turned, he sensed magic flare from behind him. Lory spun just in time to see Sebastian descending from above. Out of reach from the spell raging across the floor.

Lory sent his other charged spell forward, a crisscross of magic light. It was a weak spell, not meant to kill, but it did what it was meant to do; Create a nuisance that most people wouldn't be able to avoid – especially mid-air.

Sebastian wasn't most people.

He dodged using a spell, crashing through the weak spot. His sword raised as he got ready to attack. Lory scrambled to defend himself.

A spell, fast and small shot from the side of the room.

It collided with Sebastian, surprising him and knocking him off course. It was enough.

Lory attacked with a three-pronged spell. The first part rammed into Sebastian sending him crashing into the floor. The second forced him to jump to the side to avoid it. The third collided with its target, destroying the arcane shields around him.

Defenseless and still scrambling for a spell, Lory drove his sword home.

Blood sprayed through the air.

Sebastian jumped backward, gripping his bleeding side. Then he coughed, blood spilling down his chin as he slumped to the floor.

Lory straightened, sheathing his sword as he approached. There was no surviving that attack. Lory was a master of medicine. He knew where to place a fatal injury.

Sebastian rolled to his back, breaths shallow as head wrap came undone. His eyes fluttered at Lory's approached.

"How…" he asked. "That spell… where…"

In answer, someone appeared from the shadows.

It was a man wearing a dark tunic with daggers hanging from his belt. They represented only a fraction of the number of hidden weapons he carried. He too covered most of his face, but his arms were bare, dark bands encircling thick biceps. He was strong, dangerous in both appearance and strength. It was the man Kyoko had affectionately nicknamed Shadow.

The secret spell Lory had sent wasn't the shot that had stunned Sebastian. It was a message to the guard who had been watching, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Upon the shadow guard's arrival, Sebastian let out a chortle, the sound strangled due to blood.

"I never thought… you'd rig our duel for an ambush," said Sebastian.

"I don't hinge the fate of the kingdom on my pride," said Lory slowly. "A lesson you've reminded me of time and time again,"

Sebastian coughed, eyes glazing over as pain left and death crept closer. The corner of his lips curved.

"I'm… surprised. Thought your sentimentality… But I was wrong. I'm glad."

The next round of coughs was so violent that the man's whole body shook. Each hack and cough were felt in Lory's heart, as if he were the one that experienced those shots of pain. But he didn't avert his eyes, no matter how it hurt to watch.

Sebastian's eyes fluttered open again, hands fumbling at his side. Something fell from his pocket, clinking on the ground before Sebastian managed to grab it. He struggled to gain a grip on it, fingers lacking the strength needed to lift it.

Lory closed the distance, kneeling to grab the item and clasp it between their palms. His strong hands enclosed the item in Sebastian's weak ones, slick with blood, waiting.

"Use it in my room," said Sebastian. "I think… you'll find something interesting..." His eyes grew unfocused, one last gasp escaping his lips. "May the light-"

Sebastian's hands went slack.

He was dead.

Lory carefully placed his friend's hand beside him, closing Sebastian's eyelids so that his spirit could rest. He left his hand there. His own eyes closed as he sent a silent prayer to the goddess for his friend.

Once gathered, Lory encircled his emotions. He didn't force them into place or strive to control them. Just direct. Keep himself moving until he had time to deal with each piece of them.

"Sir."

The shadow guard placed a hand on Lory's shoulder. It gripped once, for strength, for a reminder, for sympathy. It helped bring Lory to his feet as he opened his palm to see what Sebastian had given him.

It looked like a large pebble, strange symbols like random paint strokes lining the edge of it. Four triangular pieces had been cut out near the edges, standing on opposite sides of the circle. The center was also cut out. He had no idea what it was or where it had even come from. He'd never seen it before. But he could feel something humming inside of it. Not dark, but not good either. Neutral.

"What do you think it is?" said the guard.

"Not sure," said Lory. "But there's only one way to find out."

The Shadow guard stared at Lory with a blank expression. One that most people thought difficult to decipher. Lory didn't have that problem.

"Sebastian wasn't on our side," said Lory, addressing the silent skepticism. "But I don't think he was against us either. I'm not sure what he was, but I have a feeling that this will provide us with answers."

Lory closed his fingers around the stone, slipping it into his pocket before turning on the guard.

"I'll need a new right-hand man," said Lory. "Are you interested in the position, 'Shadow?' "

This time the subtle smile on the guard's face would be impossible for anyone to miss.

"Only she was allowed to call me that," said Shadow.

"Then what shall I call you? Don't you still hate your real name, Ruto?"

Shadow stalled, a dangerous man with a heart of gold. He and Kuon were similar in a lot of ways.

"Shadow will do," he relented, but he didn't seem irritated by it. "But are you sure I won't turn on you as well?"

It was a legitimate concern. There were dozens of other shadow guards to choose from. Other informants that had just as much, if not more experience that Lory should consider. But Lory was never one to follow the proper hierarchy and social norms. If he did, then Kyoko would never have become a physician.

"If anyone should be concerned, it should be you," said Lory. "I'm three for three on surviving betrayals."

Though lighthearted in tone, his eyes trailed to where Sebastian lay. Still impossible to see him as an enemy.

A boot scuffed across the ground. Shadow was halfway across the room, pausing to send Lory a pointed nod of his head. Lory followed, feeling a part of him lessen with each step he took. The room felt a lot bigger now. Like it could swallow him whole.

Once outside, Lory locked the door so that no one else would happen upon it. He wanted to be the one to come back and recover his friend's body.

Thanks for reading!

Wow, so all sorts of opinions on Itzumi, though a lot more negative than I thought…. But now that I think on it, yeah, she's a brat. It makes sense. I still like her… but that may be because I'm the author. That's probably it.

Just so you know, we're reaching a point where I'll need to go on break again. The story has completely derailed from where it was supposed to go, and I need to collect it before I can release later chapters. Don't worry, this tension will end before I do that, but this is just a heads up.

Extra note: In canon, Kyoko gave Ruto the nickname Sebastian. In this story, Kyoko gave him the nickname Shadow. : )

See you all in two weeks!

-Blushweaver

I have torn myself away from shark week with my hubs to edit this for you. Hope you liked it!

-Im0ut0