Cain was having a strange day. Since the day he'd become an accursed, the staring had begun. Everywhere he went, people felt his presence and couldn't help but stare, right up till the moment he chose to meet their gaze. Then the person staring would quickly avert their eyes and probably scramble away from him. It wasn't anything new, and there wasn't any real change.

People stared.

People pretended they hadn't the moment he looked in their direction.

He almost didn't notice it at this point. But just enough of something was off for him to be bothered by it. What was the difference?

He put it to the back of his mind, focusing instead on the young commander as he gave his report. With the city's magical defenses reinforced, Cain focused more on inspecting their troops and making sure there was progress on that end. The commander explained their training regimen, talked about issues among the men and overall improvement. Pretty standard stuff for a verbal report. So far nothing he'd said had been any different than the dozens of other commanders he'd already talked to today. So then why had Cain felt like something was off the whole day?

"And you've had no other problems?" said Cain. "Nothing of note?"

"Some of the men have taken to gambling, but we discourage them anytime we catch them," said the commander.

That wasn't it.

Cain looked at two soldiers taking a break on a bench. They quickly slid their eyes away from watching Cain. No surprise there.

The commander noticed Cain's attention on the two men.

"Is there another problem? Should I talk to the men?"

"No."

Cain continued to stare. The men started chatting with one another, a nervous energy around them.

Whatever it was, as long as it didn't create any more problems he didn't much care. Cain thanked the commander and turned to leave but was delayed by his scribe. The man was currently talking to some of the men. Well, they were ahead of schedule so no harm in letting him talk for a bit.

After a minute the man finished his conversation, the scribe returning to Cain while the soldiers went back to their work. It would have been just another indistinguishable encountered from the rest of the day had the soldiers not done something completely baffling. They saluted him.

What the?

Soldiers never saluted him. Not unless they were commanders with better discipline than most, or men overseen by Hikaru directly. It was unheard of for Cain to be saluted by random soldiers with no direct relation to him.

His scribe returned, offering a brief apology for holding him up.

"It's no problem," said Cain. He nodded to the soldiers who were returning to their patrol. "Friends of yours?"

"No sir," said the scribe. "They were just asking me a few questions."

"About what?"

"About you, sir."

Not exactly surprising. Except that they'd left in a seemingly amiable mood and with that salute. Nervous under Cain's silence, the scribe hurried to explain.

"I didn't say much. They just, uh, wanted to know what you were like and um. If the article was true…"

The article. That's right, he'd almost forgotten about that. His gaze swept across the room, watching again as soldiers throughout the room quickly averted their eyes, except this time he could finally put a finger on the difference.

"Opinion is changing," said Cain, his surprise evident in his voice. That article appeared to have had some positive affect.

"I think so," said the scribe. "I've been asked similar questions from soldiers at all the places we've inspected today. But I swear I didn't say anything bad! Just uh, that you're a fair boss and that I've never witnessed you kill or threaten anyone." The scribe's face drained of color. "Sh-should I have said something else? I shouldn't have said that. It implies that I thought you might and oh no, please, I didn't really mean anything by it."

"They asked you your opinion of me," said Cain calmly. "Not my scripted PR message. As long as you're not spreading lies you can say whatever you want."

The man nodded, falling silent at Cain's words. Compared to their first inspections together, this was a large improvement. He was still skittish, but at least he wasn't running the second Cain dismissed him anymore. If there was a way to describe his attitude, it was nervously hopeful.

It also happened to be a great way to describe Cain's feelings.

Public opinion was turning. Now, if they could continue to ride this out and avoid any big scandals then maybe the city could pull itself together in time for the battle. He rode the high of this thinking for the next few hours, finishing up the day's demands with a spring in his step.

It didn't last long. A messenger interrupted both his meeting and good mood as dread came back in full force.

Cain pushed the patient door open without bothering to knock. The squirrely assistant wearing a facemask inside jumped but managed to keep her words back upon seeing who it was. She instead focused back on the patient laying on the off-white sheets.

Murasame looked half-dead. He was still in his soldier garb, dirt scratched into his skin and clothes. His arms and neck were covered in rot marks, creeping under bandages like insects. One eye was hidden behind wrappings that covered an obvious head wound. The good one was still sharp as it focused immediately on Cain.

That sharpness held for a moment. Then his lips pulled into the sort of grimace a man forces when attempting humor in the face of defeat.

"And I'm still the prettiest of the bunch, even after all this," said Murasame. "I've always been really good at surviving, no matter the odds."

Silently, Cain took one of the guest chairs, placing it beside Murasame's bed.

"I need to talk to him alone," said Cain.

The assistant didn't argue. She hurriedly scribbled down one last note before rushing out, assuring Cain she'd be back with the physician in a few minutes so don't do anything that could make Murasame's condition worse. The door closed, leaving Cain alone with Murasame in a room full of empty patient beds.

Murasame wasn't looking at him anymore, staring down at his sheets with one good eye.

"Who made it back?" said Cain.

"Just me and one of the soldiers," said Murasame. "One was killed in the struggle, our guide died on the way back from the rot and Hiroaki... We couldn't find him."

"Lost" was how the messenger had described it. They had lost Hiroaki. And while there were a plethora of ways one could become lost in those labyrinthine caves, he very much doubted it was a simple case of losing Hiroaki. Couple that with the fact that, even though they had returned well within their time frame, Murasame's guide was dead of the rot, and Murasame looked not far behind... It stank of a setup.

"Tell me everything that happened," said Cain. They'd have time. The assistant wouldn't come back until he left. Unless it was regarding Kyoko, the physicians here were still too scared of him to scold him for disturbing patients.

Without any of his usual sass or bite, Murasame spoke. He talked about their journey in the cave, the detours and eventually finding their way back to the original path. It was when he started describing their decent at the drop-off that his frustration surfaced.

"There was this weird sound," said Murasame. "Like, bells or something. I dunno. Then the rocks started moving and the cliff-face, or whatever you want to bloody call it, opened up. Hiroaki started to fall and I tried to catch him with magic but— Damn it." He ground his teeth, fists gripping the sheets.

"Something swung at me from behind. I just avoided it but let go of Hiroaki in the process. It was a skeletal undead, Cain. An undead. Underground with a sword swinging for me." He looked at Cain, lost, as if Cain could tell him how that had happened.

Cain kept his silence. Murasame took several breaths, fighting to get himself under control.

"I killed the thing," he said. "But there were others. I have no idea where they came from, there were even a few above me where we had entered at the top of the cliff. Rocks were falling everywhere. Two were killed by the undead and by the time we had killed them all, Hiroaki was nowhere to be found. We checked where he should have fallen but we didn't find anything. No blood. No remains or anything he was holding. Nothing. He just disappeared. We looked and looked but we just had to leave. He'd been holding most of the tinctures. Between the supply the rest of us had, we didn't have enough to get back. We split what was left, hurried back as fast as we could and managed to shave off a few hours. But it wasn't enough. Our guide died just before we reached the exit. We managed to bring his body back at least."

"And the other guard?" said Cain.

"In a coma," said Murasame, his voice dead. "They doubt he'll make it through the night. They say I'll be lucky to make it a few days."

Cain closed his eyes, fighting down his instinctual sense of panic. Hiroaki was gone. Hiroaki, their biggest asset to finding a cure for Kyoko and resurrecting the phoenix from within her. That alone was enough to send him over the edge, but now Murasame was going to die from this as well? Cain didn't want to lose anyone else. He wanted the deaths to stop.

Pressure built within his relic, overflowing as he felt the dark seep from within. He heard Murasame take a sharp breath, no doubt reacting to the marks spreading up his arm like glowing cracks. Cain willed the marks away, but it was impossible to deny them. His feelings couldn't be dismissed that easily.

Instead, he opened his eyes slowly, focusing on the control he did have over his body. Murasame was staring at Cain, fear in his gaze and one arm reaching for something not there.

"Thank you," said Cain. "For making it back to report what happened."

"Uh-huh, sure." Murasame's eye narrowed. "You're not going to take your anger out on me or something like that, are you?"

"What? No."

"Well good, because I'd rather die a slow painful death from this disease than from one of your baby fits."

Baffled, it took a second for Cain to process the implication Murasame had made.

"Has your brain already been addled by the rot?" said Cain. "Or have you been hiding how stupid you are this whole time?"

"Excuse me!" said Murasame, pointing to Cain's arm. "I fail an important mission and you look like you want to murder someone. Then your arm wigs out and you're covered in dark magic. What am I supposed to think?"

"That maybe, I'm upset. That maybe I messed up and everyone is going to end up dead when I should have been there. If I had, then you and Hiroaki wouldn't have died!"

Murasame slowly lowered his hand. It took ten seconds for him to process what Cain had said.

"Stars," muttered Murasame. "I didn't take you for the self-pitying type."

The marks on Cain's arm pulsed with the beat of his heart, neither retreating nor growing. He fought to keep it that way. "Hiroaki was our best chance at finding a cure for Kyoko. Without him, we have no hope of healing her before she-"

He couldn't continue, throat clogged. Instead, he shook his head to both will away the sudden burning in his eyes as well as to hide it.

Thankfully Murasame didn't seem to notice. Instead he scoffed. "Don't kill me and Kyoko off yet, we're both still alive."

Cain couldn't help a small chuckle. "Sounds like something my cousin would say. But you're right. The inhibitor should be done soon, we'll just have to focus on that instead. And maybe it can help you as well." He eyed Murasame. "Do you have any family in the area you want to see, just in case?"

Pain flashed in Murasame's face. It stayed there as he broke eye contact and focused instead on knotting his sheets with his hands. "Here? No. Just a few friends and acquaintances."

"Write letters to those that aren't here," said Cain. "We'll make sure they get to their recipients."

"Only if it comes to that," grumbled Murasame. "Shoot, this was supposed to be a simple scouting mission. How the hell did this happen?"

"I don't know," said Cain. "But I'm going to find out."

He was especially concerned about the presence of skeletal undead. He could imagine a few reasons why they would be there, and each one was worse than the last.

Cain moved to leave. Murasame stopped him before he reached the door.

"Do you even care?" he said. "Apart from our usefulness. Apart from those that were— fortunate enough to know you before this, do you even care how many people have died?"

He sounded more petulant than angry. Cain considered, trying to understand what it was Murasame was really upset about. Upon seeing the accompanied hurt his in expression, it hit Cain with dizzying clarity.

"We'll do everything in our power to slow the rot," said Cain. "With the inhibitor done, and with Kyoko healthy again – the light willing – we'll find a cure and—"

Murasame suddenly threw his hands up in the air. "To hell with the cure!" he snapped. "We've been talking about one for months, and we're still no closer to finding one."

Can waited, but no other outburst came from Murasame. He just wrapped himself in in arms, panting as if that had taken more out of him then he had expected. It probably had.

The color suddenly drained from Murasame's face.

"I—uh, I mean. Not to be disrespectful." His eyes darted to the still humming relic.

Cain let the silence stretch for a moment before continuing.

"We will find a cure," he said, his tone more certain than he felt. "And as you said, you are not dead yet. Get plenty of rest, that way you can continue to annoy me when we do find it. Until then, I give you leave to sort out your affairs." Just in case.

Murasame opened his mouth. Then closed it. He was giving Cain a very odd look as if he imagined there was someone else standing in front of him.

"Right," muttered Murasame. "Kay. I'll do that then."

Cain nodded, finally leaving the room. Two physicians hurried inside right after he left, no doubt waiting as he has suspected.

Cain just made it to an empty hallway before he couldn't keep going. The world spun, and he slumped against the wall, sweat beading around his forehead. His left hand clutched the relic in his right, fighting, pushing back swirls of dark that still hadn't dissipated.

"She's still alive," he murmured to himself. "I'm alright. Nothing has happened to her. She's still fine."

Slowly. Painfully, the darkness receded.

Cain took a second to collect himself, eyes clouded, the world pulsing in hues of gray. Then he pushed himself away from the wall and kept walking.

Despite the late hour, Kuresaki was awake and alert waiting in his study. Him and Cain had to wait a few minutes for the Duchess to wake up and make herself presentable before she walked into the meeting room, hiding a yawn behind her hand. Kanae came with her, still dressed as she usually was in a stiff tunic with a loose sleeve undershirt. She looked the most rested out of all of them, which was the best-case scenario in this situation. Cain's plan required her immediate response.

What's this all about?" said Itsumi. "All my guard would say was that it-" She was interrupted with another yawn. "That it was important."

"The expiration team returned from the caves," said Cain.

While Kanae and Kuresake seemed to catch onto Cain's somber tone immediately, the Duchess perked up in pleasant surprise.

"Did they find anything useful?" she said. "I assume if we're meeting it's because they did." She took a second look at Cain, some of the cloud in her eyes clearing as she focused. "Or… did something bad happen?"

"Hiroaki was left behind," said Cain "Murasame and one other guard were the only ones to make it back alive. The guide is now dead from the rot poisoning and the other guard shouldn't be far behind him."

They reacted much the way he had expected. Itsumi clapped her hands to her mouth that didn't quite muffle her cry of distress. Kanae's eyes darkened to dangerous glints of daggers and Kuresaki reacted the least of them all, giving a soft curse while watching Cain closely.

"You're sure of this?" said Kanae, voice cold steel.

"I just finished talking to Murasame himself," said Cain. "I've given the man leave to sort out his business before the rot takes him."

Itsumi's hand drifted to her side, swatting at the air until she found a chair to sink into. "Poor Murasame What happened? How did they manage to leave Mage Ogata behind?"

Cain told them, keeping it as brief as possible while hitting on the important points. When he mentioned the undead, Kanae started pacing the room, a finger to her lips in thought.

"Why were there monsters there?" she said. "Do you think they're connected to Sozen? Perhaps left over from when he was here?"

"We're not even sure if he had any monsters under his control," said Cain. "It's just as likely they're attracted to whatever is emanating that miasma." Dark magic attracted dark creatures just as light magic attracted light creatures. It was possible there were other monsters attracted to the underground tunnels as well.

Kanae let out a snort. "Yeah, maybe. But that's best-case scenario that monsters just happen to be wandering around under the city and just happen to take out our scouts."

"How is that best-case scenario?" said Itusmi with some bite. "We basically have lost that entire team, including Mage Ogata."

"She's not talking about that," said Kuresaki slowly. His eyes were focused on the ground, brows drawn tight against his forehead. "She's talking about what those monsters were doing there in the first place. It would be best if they had just wandered into the area. But considering the depth of those caves and the ringing sound that Murasame heard, it would be a mighty tall coincidence that they were there by happenstance. We have to consider that they were purposefully placed there."

Cain nodded at Kuresaki's words. "Those were my thoughts exactly. I think that ringing must have been some sort of alarm which alerted the undead to attack. If there's an alarm, then that means they're organized. That could mean any number of things."

"Such as?" said Itsumi.

"Such as, they could have been scouts themselves. We know Sozen was aware of the tunnels. It's likely the other Accursed were told about them as well. If there are Accursed coming with the army, then they could have sent scouts to investigate the tunnels under the city."

Itsumi clamped a hand over her heart. "You mean they could be here? Accursed in the city?"

"That may be too much of a stretch," said Cain. With the change in his vision, he could spot an Accursed by sight. Even with whatever spell Sozen had used to hide his aura, Cain had known what he was immediately. If there were other Accursed in the city, he would know about it. Probably.

His assurance mollified the Duchess, who relaxed back into her chair. She stiffened a moment later as Kuresaki spoke.

"I don't see why it's not possible," said Kuresaki. "Let's say the other Accursed knew about the tunnels. If it were me, I'd use those tunnels to my advantage. Silently route a secret entrance and place guards around them to make sure they're not discovered. If they had time, they could have even created one that leads well outside the city." He met Cain's eyes, expression grim. "I hope I don't have to explain why that would be disastrous."

He didn't. If the Accursed or monsters had ways to slip past them and get into the city, there were any number of things they could do to cause chaos, either before or during the attack.

"We can't leave the tunnels open," said Kuresaki. "I'm ordering all known entrances to be collapsed immediately and sending out a team to search for other unknown entrances. I don't plan on being caught off guard."

"Not all of them," said Cain. "We just need to leave one open, preferably a small one with an entrance we can guard easily."

"What for?" said Itsumi. "We have no idea what could be coming in and out."

"Because we need to send out our own scout. Someone that can tell us if there are any new tunnels that lead outside the city."

Itsumi made a face. "Cain, I know we need the intel, but you would be sending men on a suicide mission. Even knowing there were monsters in the caves it will take a while to make enough tinctures to survive the trip. Unless you plan on making it a one-way thing and give them a way to communicate with us."

"He doesn't plan on sending a team," said Kanae suddenly. "He wants to send a scout. A single person. Someone who can survive within the Miasma without a tincture."

Kanae had stopped pacing. She was eying Cain, measuring him with her angular face and almond eyes. It gave the distinct impression of a red-tailed hawk measuring the worth of its handler.

"You want me to go into the caves," she said, voice flat.

As expected, she caught on quick. As the only person besides Cain that could survive the cave's Miasma, she was an obvious choice. An adept fighter, intelligent and quick on her feet, no one else could match her worth as a scout or a guard. Which was why they had kept her on assignment with Kyoko instead of going with the first scouting group.

Kanae knew this. She also knew that leaving the caves unexplored was leaving a gaping hole in their defenses they couldn't afford. Cain might have volunteered to go himself, but that would have meant leaving Kyoko's side. Were Kyoko to activate her necklace while he was in the caves, he could be hours away from reaching her. That anxiety combined with the cave's miasma would not be good for his self-control.

"That would be the best option," said Kuresaki slowly. "We could give you a rellaywell, one of the smaller ones to report back to us if you find anything."

Kanae frowned. "With all that dirt, stone and magic between the two wells, I doubt they'd connect, but we could still try. Even if it is bloody cumbersome to bring along." She exhaled forcefully through her nose, obviously irritated.

"I can be ready to leave in an hour," said Kanae. "I'll talk to Murasame. See if he still has that map they were modifying."

Cain nodded, some of the tension in his shoulders easing. He had half expected her to argue, hating the idea of leaving Kyoko as much as he did. Indeed, as she turned to leave the room, she threw him a disgusted look.

"I want the guard doubled until I get back," she grumbled. "If Kyoko has so much as one scratch, I'm holding you personally accountable."

He gave a wry smile. "Thank you, Kanae. We'll be awaiting your report."

She gave one last snarl before slamming the door behind her.

Itsumi wrinkled her nose. "I'm glad she wasn't angry at me for once. Kanae is scary when she's irritated."

That, Cain could agree with, though he also knew the soft heart her prickly exterior hid. It took special people like Kyoko and Shin to naturally pass through the brambles untouched. He did not count himself in that category. There was an unsaid competition between them, constantly tugging to see if love or friendship won out in the end over Kyoko. They'd likely never find a true victor in their mutual respect and dislike for one another.

But I can trust her, thought Cain. She puts Kyoko first, just as I do. And that fact alone was comforting.

"Dead," whispered Kyoko. "All of them. None of them survived."

Kanae shrugged, the movement exaggerated by the bulky pack on her back. She only planned to stay for a few minutes, not seeing the point of taking it off. She'd already lectured Hikaru and the rest of the lot, making sure they understood just how important it was to keep Kyoko safe while she was gone. Hikaru alone seemed to get it. Not a big surprise there.

"Technically, Murasame is still alive, as is the other guard," said Kanae. "But essentially, yes. I'm going down to scout out the area."

Kyoko ran a hand along her neck absently, tracing the outline of the necklace she always wore. She looked tired, weary at yet another bleak piece of news. The fire that usually lit her golden eyes had become hollow and dim.

"I can't believe it," said Kyoko. "Hiroaki is gone. And Murasame is going to... Just how many more lives are going to be taken from us?"

"Likely a few more before the end," said Kanae. They still had a battle to fight. Were it not for the very real threat of the enemy's forces creeping up behind them, Kanae wouldn't have volunteered to go in the caves. But here she was, recklessly risking her life in a dark smelly cramped death cave to help save the city or some nonsense like that. That was how Cain would paint it to the other leaders. In reality, she just wanted to keep Kyoko safe.

"I think they're going to hasten the construction on the inhibitor," said Kanae. "Without Hiroaki to come up with a cure for the rot and with a potential enemy below us, they decided that required top priority. Not that they hadn't already been rushing the process. We'll be lucky if they construct the thing correctly."

"They will," said Kyoko. Always the one with more faith in people. "And we'll have an inhibitor from King Kuu soon. I think we've done a fair job of helping our defenses as best as we could." She suddenly gave Kanae a sharp look. "You're not too tired for this job, are you?"

"I'll be fine." She'd taken a nap today, thank goodness.

"I'm sure," said Kyoko. "It is you afterall, but I'll still worry." She bit her lip, taking a moment to compose herself.

"I'm tired of losing people," she said softly.

Kanae frowned at the soft feeling of protection mushing through her chest. Not in irritation, but because that was how she had always responded to those sorts of emotions.

"You," said Kanae sharply, flicking Kyoko's forehead. "are to spend your time sleeping and not working. I'll be back before you know it, crazy sick physician. If I hear a single report about you leaving your bed or experimenting on another—"

"Yes, Yes. I get it," Kyoko focused back on Kanae, eyes darting back and forth between Kanae's. Then she flung herself forward from the bed, grabbing Kanae into a hug.

Kanae could have dodged the assault considering how weak Kyoko was, but she decided against it. The embrace felt needed. Which was strange and weird and probably meant Kanae was getting even softer after spending so much time with this sap. How long had it been since Kyoko had attempted to tackle hug her like she used to?

Too long, Kanae decided, careful not to touch Kyoko's marks as she returned the hug.

"You come back soon," said Kyoko. "Or else Shin's going to annoy Cain to death when he gets here."

Kanae couldn't help a snort at the mental image. Yeah, she could see Shin treating Cain as he always had. Poking at the bear with no regard for his image. It would be funny as hell too see all the fat noblemen and magistrates freak out as the Hizuri laughed and tormented the Accursed.

"There's no way I'm missing that," said Kanae. "Few things would bring me more joy."

Kyoko gave a half-hearted "Be nice."

She pulled out of the hug, Kanae adjusting the bag as it had slid to one side. The physician was a little misty-eyed and weary but looked bright all the same.

"Thank you for always looking out for me Moko-san," said Kyoko. "Come back-" Her voice suddenly broke, full of emotion. "Come back safe."

Kanae grunted, which was her promising she would.

Kimiko paced her bedroom, gnawing on a pinky nail as it threatened to split any second. She'd be in trouble when it did as it was the last remaining nail, the others torn to pieces as she waited and waited for these incompetent fools. Didn't they know she had a deadline? They all did, but hers was approaching much sooner than theirs.

The dark blotches that covered her face were carefully hidden by hair and shawls, but that wasn't enough. The darn things were spreading faster than before. She was restless, tired, and on occasion heard things. She needed a cure for the rot like, yesterday. Which was when they had promised to contact her!

She kicked her bedframe as she passed, staggering a second before finding her balance again.

"You seem distressed, should we return at a later time?"

Kimiko whirled around. Two people stood in the entrance of her hidden hallway, the door closing silently behind them. One – the one who had probably spoken – was a beautiful female, calm and imposing with eyes that seemed to know everything. Her cloak was plain, though underneath, hints of finer fabric and embroidery could be seen. A single circlet decorated her long wavy hair, a ruby resting in the center of her forehead.

Beside her was what was probably a man, though he could have easily been mistaken for an animal at a glance. Large and hunched over, his form was covered in swaths of fur and hair. Strapped to his back was a large ax with dark runes etched into the crescent metal.

Kimiko pursed her lips, the action splitting her final nail.

"Distressed?" hissed Kimiko. "I have been more than a little distressed, no thanks to your masters. Where have you been? You were supposed to be here yesterday."

At her tone, the beast-like man straightened a tad, fingers cracking as he flexed his hands. It was the sort of posturing of typical of thugs and something Kimiko wasn't impressed with.

The beautiful woman opened her mouth to speak, but Kimiko cut her off.

"No! I don't care. You can take your excuses and convert them into compensation for my time spent waiting. The light knows they're good for it." She held out an impatient hand. "My cure, as I was promised then. Go on. Give it here."

The woman didn't move, eyes glittering with mirth.

Kimiko didn't see anything funny about this. She stomped her foot in irritation. "What, are you deaf as well as stupid? Hand it over, now. I don't have much time."

"Did you complete the task that was given to you?" said the woman.

"Of course I did. Do you think me stupid to not do as I was instructed?"

The woman's lips tugged into a pitying smile. "Then why do the people now support Cain instead of oppose him?"

Kimiko balked. Who was this plebeian questioning her? "That's not my fault," she said. "I supported the rebels, created opportunities for Cain to be seen as a villain and I spread falsehoods like I was asked. Which, I'll have you know was difficult to do without getting caught." It was more like luck. Had the city not been so overwhelmed by, well, everything, they would have traced everything back to her within a few days. As it was, she'd been getting away with this for the past few weeks.

"It's not my fault you didn't inform me that female mercenary was an Accursed," she continued. "Otherwise I wouldn't have instructed Koga to kill her in the caves. And those rebel idiots killed a bunch of kids. What did you expect the people to do? Support a group that doesn't mind killing innocents in the crossfire?"

The woman stepped farther into the room, walking around Kimiko to stand beside her dresser. She picked up a single bracelet, slipping it onto her already heavily decorated arm and examining the effect.

"Hey! Don't touch that."

Kimiko snatched the bracelet from the woman, taking a few other bracelets for good measure.

"Such manners!" said Kimiko. "Who do you think you are coming in here touching my stuff and questioning me? Just give me my cure and get out before I call the guards."

Kimiko's threat had no effect on the woman. Her actions, however, seemed to be a different matter. The second the bracelets slipped from the woman's wrist, her eyes turned to Kimiko, sharp and deadly as a snake. It took everything in Kimiko not to apologize and hand back the bracelets.

"Kanae is not an Accursed," said the woman. "We didn't know she'd be safe from the miasma's effects, though I can admit, we should have foreseen this. She has been blessed by the touch of the Dark Djinn. Anyone who can withstand that without dying is strong. It is unfortunate that we do not have time to corrupt her as we were able to corrupt Hirotaka."

The woman tapped her chin in thought. "As for the rebels and rumors, those are purely your fault. I'm afraid I can't reward you for a mission you failed to complete."

Kimiko forced down her internal scream, some of it escaping in the form of a high-pitched whine.

"I need that cure!" she said. "Your masters promised-"

"You mean I promised," corrected the woman.

Kimiko froze. A chill swept through her whole body in an instant, leaving her shivering with a sudden cold. This man and woman weren't simple messengers.

Kimiko stumbled back, apologies and excuses spluttering from her.

"Sorry—how was I supposed to know? I wasn't informed you would be coming. I thought that—" Her back ran into something solid. She looked up to see the beast-man standing behind her.

"It really is my fault," said the woman. "I shouldn't have excepted so much out of you. Such a simple task and you were more worried about being found out or getting your cure. I should have expected this incompetence from a common noble like yourself."

The woman reached out, and Kimiko flinched as acrylic-coated nails cradled her cheek softly. She hissed when they brushed along the edge of her marks, feeling it burn along the trail her fingers took.

"You've done your part," said the woman. "I have no use for you anymore."

Kimiko moistened her dry mouth, managing to croak out. "Then, that means you'll give me the cure and leave me alone?"

The woman blinked in surprise, then let out a loud and harsh laugh. Kimiko tried to laugh along but it came out as a whimper.

"You silly girl," said the woman. "I can't do that. And besides, you did your best, and I guess that does deserve some reward."

The air to the right of the woman blurred. Kimiko blinked, wondering if the rot was making her see things again. Then the blurred form darkened and took shape. A figure, hooded and cloaked in darkness stood a head taller than the woman, hovering just a few inches from the ground.

An all-encompassing fear took hold of Kimiko's heart when she looked at this thing, making her breath catch and her chest ache.

The woman watched Kimiko's reaction with that all-knowing gleam in her eyes.

"Feel blessed," said the woman. "For being allowed to see his form before the end."

Kimiko didn't try to run. She couldn't, too paralyzed to even scream. A decayed hand reached out from beneath the figure's robes as it slowly crept toward her heart. Her heart thudded like crazy, as if making up for all the beats it would never get to take. It instinctively knew what Kimiko was still trying to wrap her head around. What she couldn't comprehend.

She'd just shaken the fear from her bones, ready to make a run for it when the hand plunged into her chest.

And Kimiko finally screamed.

Thanks for reading!

Hi, I am still alive. Mostly. I promise.

And a big thank you to the guest that pointed out I had accidentally posted over one of my other chapters with the wrong chapter. (Every now and then I see a grammatical error in my past chapters that bugs me too much and I must fix it. I wish I was more of a perfectionist.)

-Blushweaver.

What a fun Halloween-y end to that chapter. Well… fun if you're not Kimiko. BTW, I wouldn't mind if this is how she dies in the manga.

-Imouto

Alternate titles: "I feel like every sentence Kanae addresses to Cain ends in "F You!" You know she's thinking it." "#Moreproblems." "Kyoko Has Been Useless for Like, Ten Chapters." "Kimiko's comeuppance." "Husband! Help us come up with a chapter title." "There's a penny." "That's a great Chapter Title." "Husband, You're Fired." "Lots of Necessary Things Before Important Things." "We just all want Shin to come back."