Cain dove behind a pillar. It cracked a second later under a barrage of magic, chunks of brick blasting off. It gave Cain two seconds to catch his breath, just enough time to let another piece of armor on his body form. He'd only been fighting a few minutes, but his body was almost covered in armor. Every time he blocked an attack, another one was there, breaking through his defenses and forcing him back. They were simply too strong.

Cain felt a pool of magic forming around him, the sensation now familiar. He pushed himself out of the way just in time. The area he'd left flattened a moment later under its own weight. He couldn't see the thin Accursed, but knew the spell had come from him. Apparently, his second ability was manipulating gravity within a certain area.

In his bid to escape the magic field, Cain had exposed himself to the outside. A flash of metal was all the warning he had. Cain barely managed to lift his sword in time, blocking Kemo's attack. The Accursed swung his axe again, his eyes burning in a feral glee.

Cain boosted his speed and strength. Magic hummed in his veins as he backtracked, summoning more shields on his fingertips.

Something slammed into his partially formed shield. Cain staggered, risking a glance behind him.

The Djinn was there, sword in hand, readying itself for another strike. Behind it, he could see Setsuko from a distance, her smile mocking in its familiarity.

The sight brought another rush of anger. He hadn't gotten any closer to her since this fight had started. Every time he gained some ground, he'd been thrown off by a well-placed shot of magic from the thin Accursed, or blocked by Kemo's shadow wolf. The two times he'd been lucky enough to break through those defenses, the Djinn was there to stop him. It had become clear to Cain that the monster was being controlled by Setsuko. She commanded it, the Djinn listening to every order.

Armor slid into existence on his chest, no longer waiting for damage before forming. He should care what that implied, but he was too angry to barely give it more than a passing glance. This woman was responsible for so much death and pain in his life. He didn't know exactly to what extent, but it didn't matter. She had known his struggles, watched and pretended to support him and Kyoko, all the while plotting and scheming to bring them misery and death.

She needed to die.

A blow hit Cain across his head. It sent his spinning across the ground. He barely managed to reorient himself — knee on the ground and blood trickling down his cheek — when the wolf attacked. The monster rose to its hind legs, a pair of enormous paws descending on him.

Cain rolled out of the way, swinging his sword toward the exposed tender underside of the monster's paw. He didn't have time to wrap the blade in a spell, but the steel managed to draw blood. The wolf gave a bark in pain, and Cain rolled back to his feet, sword held in both hands as he prepared more spells. He heard Setsuko yelling something in the background, catching only a piece what she said.

"—n't kill him, I told you. Let him turn, then he'll be ours."

Cain tightened the grip on his sword, ignoring the blood dripping from the crossguard and coating his black gauntlets. It hissed and smoked as it seeped into the violet molten glow that filled each gap between the armor. How arrogant this woman was. If he did turn, the first thing he'd do would be to rip her head from her shoulders with his bare hands.

The shadow wolf moved to attack him again.

Cain danced out of the way of the wolf's reach, the monster as large as a cart. In one stride it could keep up with Cain running full speed aided with magic. Desperate to give himself some distance and time to recover, he skidded down a narrow alleyway. The monster crashed into the narrow opening, partially collapsing both buildings on either side. But it stopped. The creature's jaws snapped at Cain's heels, now out of reach.

Magic filled him as he drew upon its strength. He hurtled a series of complex spells at the caught creatures. The monster jerked out of the way, but it wasn't fast enough. A wheel of arcane magic tore into the monster's snout. Blood oozed and ripped from the monster's wounds, yellow eyes fixed on Cain with rage.

Pain erupted on the side of Cain's head. His vision went white. He found himself on the ground, blinking as he struggled to find his bearings. He had to move. He had to—

Something flickered in his vision and he threw up his hands by instinct. He just managed to catch the edge of a half-moon blade, the steel biting painfully into his flesh. Blood trickled from between his fingers, dripping into the sand, on his chest, and running down his arm. The Accursed Kemo held the shaft of his axe in both hands, literally growling as he pressed down harder, yellow teeth bared.

"Die, human," said the man. "This is hardly fun anymore."

Cain couldn't respond. The axe was too heavy, most of his magic strengthening his arm to stop the axe from severing his head from his neck. The rest of his magic was roaming free, circling around his wounds and patching up the breaks. His head itched as metal formed over the injured area, half a helmet forming over his eye.

He needed to stop. The anger. The armor. It all needed to be controlled and condensed. That was what he had promised to Kyoko and to himself. To not be overtaken. To not let his anger get the best of him.

How laughable.

As if he had the power, or even the will to hold it back. The boost in strength he was getting from each newly formed piece of armor was welcoming. This was what he needed to win. This was what he needed to survive. To kill.

Anger burned in him.

Cain let out a guttural yell. He released one hand from the axe, shoving in the Accursed's face. Fear and surprise flickered in Kemo's eyes.

"How—"

Magic burst out from Cain. It sent the Accursed flying, crashing him against the ground.

Cain stumbled out of the narrow alley. He picked up his sword as he ran, stumbling after the Accursed. Wisps of dark magic swirling around him. Armor slid into place along his body, leaving only half of his face visible. Everything else was covered, a half-formed cloak flapping behind him as he gave chase. Why had he ever suppressed his ability? It was so easy to use. It filled him as well as his anger, restraining any pain or fear he may have had otherwise.

Kemo ran, favoring one side of his body from the multiple injuries Cain had given him. He yelled something, and Cain ran straight into a familiar sensation of magic. His gaze fell on the thin Accursed, previously hidden beside an abandoned food stand. They'd led him into a trap!

Magic crashed down on him. His whole body slumped, weight greater than anything he'd felt previously pulling him downward. He couldn't take a single step forward. It was taking everything he had just to remain standing.

The thin Accursed let out a series of expletives. The man had one arm outstretched, body shaking as he struggled to hold his spell.

"Just how much magic does he have!"

"Too much," said Kemo. The man was approaching Cain, his gait lazy and untroubled now that Cain was pinned.

"Oh, now you decide to talk? You flea-bitten animal." The thin man flicked his wrist, and the weight on Cain increased. His hands crashed into the ground as he doubled over, now unable to keep his head up. "Hurry up and take him out, I can't hold him much longer."

It was too difficult to even breathe. He felt weak, unable to keep hold of everything. His grasp on something slipped as darkness started to cloud his vision. The final piece of the vizor was forming.

No!

With a great strain, Cain pushed against the unseen force. His helmet shattered as he managed to rein in his anger. It was like hanging onto a cliff's edge with two fingers, but he was managing it. He could manage it!

The thin man let out a cry of frustration, pulling back his hand from the air and waving it as if it were burnt. At the same time, the weight on Cain's back lifted. It happened so suddenly he swayed, nearly losing his tenuous grip on sanity.

Before Cain had time to reorient himself, the wolf appeared. Cain managed to raise an arm just in time. The claws dug deep grooves into his armor, but didn't break through. The monster didn't stop with just a single attack, darting and snatching at Cain's body with its jaws and bloody paws.

Desperate, Cain kept the monster back with his sword and magic. It was taking everything just to do so while keeping that two-finger hold on his sanity. But deep within him, he felt that something was wrong. A sense of dread was pooling inside him that he couldn't shake off. What was it? What was he forgetting?

Cain parried a swipe from the shadow wolf, only to find Kemo darting in the opening. Cain couldn't get a spell or blade up in time.

The axe bit into Cain's side, breaking through his armor and tearing the vulnerable flesh within. Cracks spiderwebbed from the impact, his own blood outlining the breaks in the armor. The pain was such a shock, he couldn't react. His hold on his senses wavered.

Kemo yanked the weapon out of him, making Cain stagger. He felt himself starting to slip again, back to that state of rage and power. He needed it. Needed the magic to close his wound and fix the break in his armor. It had broken because he hadn't been feeding it enough of his rage.

As Kemo raised his axe to bring it down again, Cain knew this couldn't continue. He couldn't keep fighting the battle inside himself and survive. The struggle would kill him. But if he let go of his senses and fought with everything he had, he'd succumb to the anger and be lost in a rampage.

I promised.

Cain closed his eyes, summoning what strength he had left. He had no other options.

As the axe fell, Cain's eyes shot open. He dropped his sword and charged straight into the weapon, hands thrown up like before. The Accursed saw what Cain was doing. Cain saw it in the sudden flicker of panic that shot through Kemo's eyes, but it was too late. The Accursed's full weight was behind the attack. Every bit of magic Cain had left gathered in his palms.

The shadow wolf, tied as it was to its master, reacted to Kemo's distress. The monster's jaws clamped around Cain's waist and he screamed as fangs dug into him. It turned into a garbled choke as blood filled his lung. It splattered the ground and soaked his broken armor, but he still didn't break the spell in his hands.

Then the axe met its mark.

Light exploded. The impact pushed his hands apart, wrenching one of his shoulders out of its socket. It sent another shudder of pain through his already tattered body. The wolf let go of Cain who stumbled backward.

He swayed where he stood, vision hazy as he looked at what he'd done. The shards of the Accursed's axe lay scattered in the ground, already blackening and withering away into dust. The shadow wolf that had been attached to Kemo had already vanished, nothing more than a trail of smoke. Last was Kemo, the man no longer emitting the aura of an Accursed, kneeling on the ground.

With head in his hands, Kemo howled like a wounded animal. He called out again and again, his cries becoming more furious and panicked.

Cain fell to his knees, struggling to form a single spell. He needed a sword. A spell. Something before the other Accursed attacked. He couldn't remember what had happened to his sword. All he could see was blood. His blood coating his hands and feet. Everything felt strangely cold.

A spell hit his shoulder.

Cain fell with no resistance, flopping like a ragdoll as he rolled to a stop. He tried to gasp as pain stabbed at him from every side. He choked instead, feeling like he was still rolling as the world spun.

He stayed there, fighting to stay awake and not let the pain take him under. Crazy enough, he could feel his magic already trying to stitch up his wounds, starting with his insides first. Just how insane was his healing ability? Could it replace his lost blood or would be bleed out before his magic could close his wounds? He'd taken the gamble to kill at least one Accursed but hadn't been sure if he'd live in the process.

Sorry, Kyoko, it looks like I can't stop myself from doing stupid things, he mused. She'd probably cry if she saw him right now. The thought was sobering, helping him come down from his anger. Not that it would make a difference. He couldn't move, his body too banged up. His healing was fast, but not that fast.

The sounds of a scuffle brushed dimly across his attention. Cain's head lulled to the side, grateful he was on his back and able to do so. His eyes widened in shock at what he saw.

Kemo had risen to his feet. The ex-Accursed had the thinner man by the robe, the two scuffling over something Cain couldn't make out. Then there was a spurt of blood, and Kemo went down. This time for good.

Cain blinked in astonishment. Had that Accursed just killed his companion? Cain was completely confused.

The taller man shook the blood from his hands, coming to walk over to Cain. His steps were calm and measured.

"Hey, Prince. Are you still alive?"

Cain let out a choking gasp, feeling the air suddenly rush into his lungs. His vision cleared, and he could make out the black aura of the Accursed.

"Why?" Cain rasped. "Why did you kill him? He was your companion."

The thin man lifted a careless hand, the long fingers flicking as if to ward off a fly. "The fool lost his relic and thought he could take mine. Naturally, I took issue with that."

"But there was no need to kill him." Forget that Cain would have liked to, he was surprised at the cruelty even between the Accursed.

"He would have died anyway," the man said. "and if he didn't get mine, he would have gone after yours." His eyes lit up. "Huh, I guess that means I saved your life."

Cain's eyes hardened. "Excuse me if I don't seem grateful."

The man gave a lazy grin. Only now did Cain see the relic hanging about the man's neck, partially hidden by his white-blond hair. The man traced a finger around the pendant's dark gem.

"Ungrateful," spat the man. "Though, it was more for myself, so I guess I'll give you that. Setsuko would have killed me if I had let you die, and I'm more afraid of her than you. It might just be a shadow of the avatar, but I don't fancy having my essence ripped out from that monster she controls."

With his words, Cain was suddenly hit with what had been eating at him. Where was Setsuko? He hadn't heard or seen her magic in… a while.

Panic flared, his magic surging again. He fought for control, his healing slowing in the process.

"Where is she?" said Cain, voice hard despite his exhaustion. "Where is Setsuko?"

The thin smile on his lips was enough for Cain.

"She's going after Kyoko, isn't she?"

"To be specific," drawled the man. "It's the phoenix, but yes. I bet she's caught up by now."

His grip on sanity slipped further and the panic rose.

No.

He struggled, with each surge of panic his control slipper further, causing more panic to rise. And on it went. Instead of wounds closing, he felt armor reforming.

It would have to do.

Cain sat up. He slumped, struggled, and gasped more than once as something pierced his insides, but he kept going. He didn't have time for this.

"Don't get up!" said the thin man. He raised a hand.

Gravity crashed down on Cain. He fell back to the ground, chest first. He gasped as something crunched under him.

Magic gathered, and he fired a well-placed shot of pulse magic. It took the Accursed by surprise. He pulled his hand back just in time to dodge the attack. The movement lifted the gravity magic.

Cain threw himself forward. It was sloppy, idiotic, and painful as hell, but it didn't stop him. He had no idea where his sword was, but it didn't matter. An arch of magic would be enough.

The blond man cursed, just raising a shield to block the spell. Cain's magic broke through, cutting into the man's shoulder. Blood spurted as it hit, adding further to the man's other injuries.

Cain fell back to the ground, strength gone and unable to move. He trembled as everything hurt. Stars, it hurt.

The man staggered back, clutching his shoulder. "Crazy cockroach," he muttered. "But that's what I get for corning an injured beast. I'm not making that mistake again."

The man turned and walked away. He walked away! Staggering while muttering something about survival.

"Get back here," yelled Cain. He was going to kill him. Every last one of those Accursed. They all deserved to die.

The man just raised a hand in return. Not looking back.

Blood dripped into Cain's eyes. He shut them, nothing but panic and pain now occupying him as his mind swam.

Kyoko was fully awake now. Awake, and angry. Sho was still carrying her, bumping and jostling now thanks to his depleted stamina. She knew he would get tired quickly!

"But there has to be something I can do," she said. "I can't just leave him there against three Accursed. Three! He'll either die or… or fall."

"There's nothing you can do," said Hikaru. The man continued to run in front of them, sporting a few more wounds from the monsters they'd past. Thankfully, none of the injuries were urgent, but the one on his head would need tending before he lost too much more blood. "You'd only be in the way."

The truth of it stung. She knew she'd be useless but still! It didn't mean she had to be happy with it.

"Not to worry," said a smooth female voice. "It's only two Accursed, so I'm sure he'll come out just fine."

From the alleyway ahead of them, Setsuko appeared. She was being carried by the specter in the same fashion Kyoko was being carried. Kyoko shuddered at the idea of those dark claws curling around waist and legs, but Setsuko bore it like a procession. The Djinn set her down carefully, Setsuko stepping gracefully as if it were a carriage.

The three of them came to an immediate stop.

"Was she flying?" gaped Sho. "Since when can they fly?"

It took a moment for Kyoko to understand. When she did, she practically jumped out of Sho's arms. Sho couldn't see the Djinn! Hikaru had a sword raised to the Accursed, eyes narrowed, but focused just left of the Djinn. He couldn't see it either.

Images appeared in her head. Memories of something like this happening before. Of watching Kanae gasp and struggle as the Djinn squeezed the life from her soul.

She ignored Sho's outcry. She ignored the sudden burning in her soul. All she could do was stumbled forward, yelling and stretching for Hikaru.

But even then, she was too late.

The Dark Djinn moved with inhuman speed, robes billowing as he descended on Hikaru. A single decayed and graying clawed hand plunged into Hikaru's chest.

Kyoko's yell was drowned out only by Hikaru's. He dropped his sword, feet lifted just barely from the ground as he hung suspended by the minter's grip on his essence.

Something wrenched in Kyoko's soul. She threw a hand out to the Djinn. Pushing, pulling, doing something with her magic. Anything to hurt this monster.

Yellow light burst from her hand. It scorched the Djinn, the flesh closest to her disintegrating. The monster flinched back, the hand holding Hikaru reduced to ash. Hikaru collapsed on the ground, hacking and coughing, but he was alive! Alive, and conscious.

But huh, she didn't feel so well.

Kyoko swayed, the crystals on her arm spreading. They reached the back of her hands, encircling them till only her palms remained uncovered. She felt them close around her neck, her heart, leaving only her face untouched. She couldn't help but gaze at the crystals, thinking them beautiful. The purple glow felt so comforting.

She couldn't hear anything. She couldn't feel anything. She didn't even feel her conscious slip as she collapsed to the ground.

Everything hurt. It was as if someone had been attempted to peel back the skin of his bones while he was alive. Hikaru shook and coughed, emptying his stomach into the streets. He was surprised to his skin unbroken, hands trembling as they kept him from falling forward. He expected to see nothing but muscle and bone.

Shouting and magic surged around him. He raised his head, squinting at something in front of him. It looked like a gray cloud. The phenomenon grew thicker then solidified into a tall hooded figure. Understanding hit him just as the sounds did.

The Dark Djinn. Specifically, the avatar that Setsuko could control.

The woman was yelling at the Djinn, something about getting her. Getting Kyoko.

That's when he heard Sho yelling. He turned his head. Kyoko lay next to him, collapsed, and almost completely covered in the dark marks. She looked almost serene, her face devoid of any of the fatigue and pain that had marred it earlier. Sho shook her shoulder, and Hikaru had a sudden desire to slap his hands away. Kyoko's expression was so peaceful, no one should disturb her. Then Sho's words hit him.

"She's not breathing!"

Reality snapped back in place. Hikaru scrambled to his feet, nearly going back down as his head swam. Something flickered from the corner of his eye and he changed direction. He lunged for his sword.

Hikaru just managed to get it up in time to stop the attack. The Djinn's claws scraped against his sword. It backed away, one sleeve dangling uselessly from its side.

"Stand aside," called Setusko. "It's her we want."

"No." Hikaru's whole body shook. It was taking every effort he had just to stand, but he wouldn't back down. "You won't have her."

Setsuko gave out an impatient tisk, brushing her hair back. "Don't be an idiot. She's already dead. What's the use in guarding a body?"

Already dead.

The words rang in his ears. He couldn't believe them.

"You're lying." His voice choked from unshed tears.

"She will be soon anyway." Setsuko reached out a hand, palm up as if asking him to take it. "Give her to me and I'll let you two live."

"No." Hikaru adjusted his grip on his sword, no longer shaking. Behind him, he could hear Sho giving Kyoko chest compressions. "I swore an oath." Ah, there were the tears now. "I won't let you have her."

Setsuko lowered her hand, her mouth twisting into an ugly sneer. "Really, How does she attract these useless hero types? Fine. I'll let you fulfill your oath and defend her to the death." Her smile deepened to one of mania. "Just know it will be pointless."

A black sword swirled into existence in the Djinn's hand, radiating dark magic. The monster attacked. Hikaru parried, pushed and channeled every bit of magic he had against the Djinn. It was barely enough. His whole body felt sluggish and weak. Injuries from previous battles split back open and poured out his strength.

He twisted the sword in his hand to push back an attack, and the Djinn slipped in the opening. The dark sword sank into his chest.

Hikaru gasped, pain flaring. As the sword tore out of him, he felt something sever. The strength in his left arm disappeared and the arm hung useless at his side.

The Djinn raised the sword to finish him. Hikaru dug in his heels and pushed back with magic, retreating away from the Djinn. It followed.

He spotted Setsuko sneaking around the battle, toward Kyoko. The woman raised a hand to Sho's back. The man was too busy still trying to revive Kyoko.

"Sho!"

The musician looked up just in time. He threw up a barrier, just managing to block Setsuko's attack. Before she could shoot off another pulse of magic, Hikaru was there with his own onslaught of pulse shots at the woman.

Fear flooded into her face. The Djinn just managed to come between her and the barrage of magic, taking the damage from the attack.

It gave Hikaru a moment to breathe and take stock of his left arm. A quick test proved his guess was right. His arm wouldn't move.

"Just die already!" screeched Setsuko. She had lost most of her allure and beauty, something in her form flickering. "Fall, you useless boy."

Hikaru didn't flinch. When the Djinn attacked again, he remained where he was. He didn't allow the monster to push him back a single step. He would defend Kyoko, no matter what. He wouldn't let them have her, even if she really was… even in her death.

The sword cut into him again, and then again. It bit into his side, his hip, and grazed his cheek. He tasted blood in his mouth and knew he was dying. His heartbeats seemed to be slowing, but his mind was blessedly sharp.

The Djinn swung high and Hikaru raised his sword to block it, but as he did, the monster ducked out of the attack, changing trajectory and aiming for his legs. He'd fallen for it!

The sword met true. Hikaru fell to one knee, gasping in pain as blood poured from his calf. He could barely keep a grip on his sword. He raised his eyes to the Djinn as it swung for the final blow. He could barely see the thing. He struggled to stand or form a single spell to stop it from killing him.

He couldn't. He was completely exhausted.

Something whistled in the air.

Setsuko screamed. An arrow stuck out of her shoulder. Blood stained her cloak and the fine clothes beneath as she gasped and swore, hands clawing at the wound.

Hikaru's gaze traveled to where the arrow had come from. The road was clouded, hazy with smoke and sand but if he squinted, he could just see something through the dense fog. As it got closer, he could finally make out what it was.

It was a group of people on horseback. One figure stood apart from the rest, his chest armor emblazoned with the insignia of the phoenix. Hikaru felt something different from him. Something light and powerful.

The Djinn suddenly darted to move around him.

Hikaru lunged, managing to raise his sword and plunge it into the Djinn. His attack hit. The two of them fell, pain jolting through his whole body. He lay there, panting and tense as the monster disentangled itself from Hikaru. He felt so queasy and weak. Like he'd eaten several rotten apples but his stomach wouldn't eject the sour fruit.

Setsuko screamed again, hunched over as she yelled at the Djinn.

"Just grab the dead girl! Don't bother fighting. Her body will do, dead or alive."

The Djinn moved as if to get around. Hikaru struggled to even sit up, hands shaking even as he tried to form a spell.

More arrows rained down on Setsuko. The woman threw up a barrier of magic, but it didn't stop all of them. The Djinn stopped, twitching as if it were being hit but a dozen blows. Rage bloomed in Setsuko's face as she reached out.

"Just grab her! We're so close."

The Djinn darted forward.

With the last of his strength, Hikaru stood, balanced on his one good leg, sword in hand slick with his blood. He put himself once more between the Djinn and Kyoko. The monster shrank back, trying to dodge around him. The is suddenly flinched, shrinking as if it were in pain.

Hikaru glanced at Setsuko and saw another arrow shoot through her outstretched hand. She yanked it back, the monster now twisting without stopping. It hit Hikaru then, that the Djinn's pain was probably linked to Setsuko's and visa versa.

The arrows continued. The men were close now.

Setsuko's gaze burned. Hate, nearly tangible seared into him as she fixed her rage on him. The hair that had once hung so perfectly around her was now tangled and stained with blood. Her one delicate face twisted into an almost demonic rage.

"You died in vain, boy!" she yelled. "I will have her. Ashuron will fall by my hands. Your existence was nothing, and you accomplished nothing but delayed in the inevitable!"

She reached out, and the Djinn moved to her side, hoisted her once more into its arms, and carried her away and out of the range of the arrows. They disappeared into the maze of houses around them.

The sword fell from Hikaru slack grip. He felt numb. Cold, actually. Like some idiot had decided it was a good idea to put ice all over his body, wasting the precious resource. He looked back at his companions, ignoring the men as they reached him.

Sho no longer hovered over Kyoko. He sat back on his heels, pale and shaking. Kyoko remained unmoving. Her black hair fanned out around her, framing her pale hollow cheeks. There was no warmth left in them. No stir in the sand from her breath or rise and fall of her chest. Nothing moved but the glimmering of the stones that ran up every part of her body. She was dead.

Grief swelled in him at the sight. He hadn't been enough. He'd failed to protect her. Setsuko's words rang in his head as he let the exhaustion take him and he sank to the ground. You died for nothing…

nothing…

nothing…

Murasame jumped off his horse, cursing his luck and the gods, and everything he could think of as he raced to the side of the fallen soldier. He was the one that had recognized Hikaru even from this distance. He had pointed them out the group to the passing soldiers, spotting Kyoko in the process. He'd thought himself lucky to find them in this mess. Apparently, his luck had been just a few minutes too damn late.

He crouched next to the Colonel, taking Hikaru's head in his. The man's uniform was bloody and ragged. The wound on his chest would have been enough to take down any man, but not Hikaru, right? This man was too important and amazing to let a single wound like this take him down.

"Hang on," said Murasame. Then he called to the men. "Where's our flipping medic? Hey! Get your butt over here."

Hikaru coughed, blood trickling down his cheeks. His eyes searched wildly, finally resting on Murasame.

"Kyoko," he said. "I… I couldn't— I failed."

"Don't talk, you're hurt." Murasame snapped. He glanced at the fallen physician, throat clogging at what he saw. Stars, they'd gotten to her too. "You did what you could, now just hang in there." He couldn't help a half hysteric laugh. It was getting harder to talk through the lump in his throat. "You've survived stupid stuff like this in the past, you'll get through this too."

The man gave a weak smile, a flash of the lively grin he used to wear all the time. "Sorry, Murasame. It looks like… my stupidity finally caught up with me."

The medic finally came over. He put a hand to Hikaru's chest, assessing it with magic. After a second, he retracted his hand.

"I'm sorry," said the medic. "But there's nothing I can do."

"A fat load of help you are," said Murasame, but his words had no bite to them. Stars, how much would they lose in this mess? The city had fallen, undead poured from the cracks of the ground and people burst into monsters. And now this. The city's hero had fallen.

Hikaru suddenly grabbed his hand. The grip was firm, his eyes focused as they met Murasame. "Don't let them take her," he said. "Promise me. They can't have her."

Life and determination burned in those eyes. A devotion Murasame felt to his core. He returned the gesture with as much strength, squeezing his hero's hand. His friend. "I promise."

The smile lost its painful edge. Hikaru's eyes glazed over as his grip slackened. "Thank you."

He became still.

Damn it!

Murasame wanted to punch something. He settled for several expletives, carefully sliding the man's eyes closed. He'd keep his promise. Damn it he would! But he wasn't going to leave Hikaru's body behind in this monster's snare.

The other men had already formed a ring around Kyoko. One of the men, almost a boy in stature, was openly crying. He bore it with a noble silence, but the grief was unmistakable. Looked like he'd known the girl. Not surprising, now that Murasame knew who she and Cain were. Murasame hadn't managed to get the lad's name, but from the way the other soldiers listened to him, he was in charge. The fancy-pants armor would have indicated his rank alone.

The boy barked orders for everyone to get ready to leave.

"We aren't leaving them," pipped up Murasame. "Hikaru, or Kyoko." He'd fight the kid if he had to. He'd need at least one if not two horses to get them both away from here.

The kid nodded as if it had already been discussed. "Hurry, we don't know if there are other Accursed nearby."

Murasame hurried to help, a feeling of dread welling up inside him each time he looked at Kyoko's body. All he could think about was Cain and how he'd react when he learned what had happened. It mixed with his grief, bubbling within him as the group galloped for the city gates.

Woops, I did a thing.

I'm so proud of myself for not taking a month to write this. Good job me. I feel I learned a lot after writing it. Let's hope that I/we can see the improvement in later chapters.

I have an insta if you care to see any of my own art, including stuff from TPC and CT. Hope to see you all there. I don't get on twitter anymore, all the news and anger just makes me too sad.

Thanks again for reading!

-Blushweaver

*Sob* I Imouto hav- *blows nose* have read and ap-p-p-prove this chapter *wails*