Chapter 44 - The Grey

A/N: I hope the Hitomi chapter was received well. I'm sure many were expecting her to be this bubbly light character. She's not. Sorry if this disappointed anyone. Anyway, back to Kas!

I hope everyone has had very happy holidays! My Christmas wish is to see this story get to 300 reviews, we're so close!

. . .

The only thing that registered was the fact I had a river of salt water streaming down my face. I didn't hear the soul wracking sobs that left my chest and choked out of my mouth. I didn't understand why I was curled on the floor. I didn't feel the open wounds on my back or the soreness in my body.

Dead...he was dead. Not just dead, but gone - forever. He was never coming back. I would never get to say goodbye. I would never get to tell him how sorry I was for being such a bitch. I would never be able to explain to him why I just could never bring myself to return his feelings.

Amano Ren, my partner, my defender, my irritation and savior all wrapped into one beautiful package. He was dead…

And the selfish part of me hated him for leaving. He was a liar and secretive and hadn't been who I thought he was. But the personality...the soul - that had all been genuine. And the love...that adamant, unfailing love he'd held for me.

I'd kicked dirt on those feelings more than once. I felt so guilty.

And here I was, trapped in a dungeon, lost in another time. I hadn't been there for him.

That day with Koenma...those words came back to me. Him springing up, begging to help "one last time." Those words made sense now.

Goddamn you Chronos. Goddamn you to hell.

"There would have been nothing you could have done."

Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you! What did that matter?! I should have still been there!

"You are acting like a spoiled child."

No, you bastard. I was acting like someone who was grieving the loss of a friend! How dare she, how dare she come back now and say those things to me!

"I left to watch over the proceedings. Things went as Hitomi planned."

To watch over the proceedings? Did she mean to watch over Ren's death?! To make sure my sister took the life of another person?! This had all been in their master plan, her and Chronos. My sister was just as secretive as everyone else. I didn't know her anymore. She wasn't the same person.

My stomach twisted. Pain...so much pain. I just wanted to die.

"You mean to die over the death of someone so meaningless?!"

With those words I was enraged. So enraged that I swallowed all my tears and all the pain in my body and spat it back out at the god with a vengeance. The bars on my cell rocketed to life but try as they might there would be no stopping this. Nothing could stop me from exploding now.

"You will cause lasting damage, child! Stop this nonsense!"

Lasting damage? I realized I was laughing maniacally. At first just a few chuckles but it turned into full blown crazy soon after. I didn't care about any goddamned lasting damage.

The cell's bars flared and I felt the spark on my skin as the wards tried to subdue me. But my power roared and with it I took the god's. I would eat her up, destroy her, ruin her.

How dare she! How dare she!

"Enough!"

Everything stopped. Literally.

I could no longer move. I felt the runes etch their way into my hands and forehead. Chronos was forcibly taking over my body so she could manipulate the outside world. But unlike months ago, it did not hurt me. I felt the wounds on my body steam and sting and with just a bit of searing pain they disappeared. How many minutes or hours or days had that taken off my life? Did it even matter?

"Let me go," I snarled aloud.

Time sped up again and with a jerk I lurched forward. I hadn't expected her to listen. My anger was still sizzling beneath my skin. I felt like I was on the edge of an abyss. If I were to fall off, there would be no turning back. But at this point...I almost felt it would be worth it.

"He is not your destined. He did what we needed him to do and that's the end of it."

"If I could kill you, I would," I snapped.

Chronos laughed inside my head. "So violent. Will you ever grow out of your anger issues?"

"How did he die?" I asked. I ignored her jab, not caring what she thought of me.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes, it matters you prick."

"He died nobly. He saved Hitomi's life. And yours."

"Enma then…"

My heart broke. Ren...I hadn't loved him, but he didn't deserve to go out that way. He should have lived a long life, had lots of babies with a woman that could treat him right. But instead I'd caused his death. There was even more blood on my hands. When would this stop? When would I be strong enough to protect the people that mattered to me?

"Absorb me and you will be," said Chronos. But then the god laughed again. "Not that it will ever happen."

I hated her. Even if we lived together under an impasse I still despised her. I didn't want to cease to exist. My only options were either to absorb her power or allow her to take me over. I wouldn't let that happen...but I didn't know if I'd ever be strong enough to take her. I was not worthy. Not worthy of such holy energy...not worthy of many things.

And since the incident with Penance...I felt as if I'd grown stronger. But in a...dark, twisted kind of way. I couldn't explain it with words. Only feelings.

I'd come back feeling...wrong.

Another dark chuckle filled my head. But I ignored her. I didn't want her stupid opinions. I didn't want to know what had happened to me, if anything. I just wanted to pretend things were kosher.

And now that all my wounds were healed. It was time to blow this popsicle stand. "Let's get out of here."

"You think I can make that happen?"

"Yes…"

"Don't be stupid. You got yourself into this mess. Now get out of it."

"Chronos…!"

Her voice faded and the last I heard from her was one final laugh. My anger returned ten fold. She couldn't be serious? Wasn't she worried I would die here?!

I counted to ten. When that didn't calm me down I counted to a hundred and took some deep breaths.

I fell into the motions of Tai chi, trying to calm my racing heart. Chronos had a sick sense of humor. But this topped the charts. I had to keep my head on my shoulders.

I would never make it out alive otherwise.

. . .

Two days later, Ren's death still weighed heavily on my mind. But Konstantin didn't allow me much time for contemplation...or escape.

I was forced to train in preparation for an upcoming series of fights. It was a two week long event. There would be fights three times a week, with rest periods in between. It was also so other poor suckers could register new fighters after the others were defeated. If things went Konstantin's way I would kill all his opponents and he would win all the bet money. Like the bastard needed to become richer. He already had a disgusting amount of wealth, if the furnishings in his keep told me anything.

I had done as I was told. And I hadn't killed any of his men, as tempted as I'd been. Adder hadn't been forced to torture or whip me again. I planned to keep it that way.

I'd embarrassingly started to...sort of...enjoy the demon's company. Or at least, I enjoyed it more than dealing with the other schmucks that lived in this shit hole.

Adder escorted me to and from my cell. He watched all my training. And stood guard when I was fixed up afterwards by Ratfink. At night, sometimes he would bring me a tray of food...and let me talk his ear off for a while as I was eating.

He was the only companionship I'd had in this place. I was also certain it was Stockholm Syndrome at this point. But if I was aware of it...did it really matter?

Probably. But I didn't care.

That night after the conversation with Chronos he hadn't even asked why my wounds were gone. I had still been in my cell, the bars intact. He'd come around the corner to find me sitting on the floor meditating. I'd started up my regular routine again, after the months of training with Takahiro. Old habits died hard and it gave me some kind of comfort to continue it now.

We were currently walking back to my rotting stink pit in the dungeons after a long day of being pushed past my limits. I was tired but knew sleeping tonight would be impossible. The fights began tomorrow...and I was nervous.

I couldn't help but remember the last time I'd felt like this…

Hiei had kissed me. I'd been so shocked then...I'd forgotten to be nervous. He was the last person I had ever thought would pull a stunt like that.

But there was no Hiei here to take my mind off the upcoming fights this time. I only had Adder - my torturer turned confidant.

"Where did you come from, Kasumi?"

I sensed pure curiosity but there was also a dangerous edge to that question. I couldn't just tell Adder I was from the future and I didn't know much about the Makai to lie.

I was hoping he'd trust me enough to spill a few secrets about this place. But I couldn't deny that I had other reasons for wanting to talk to him. Loneliness played a part, though I hated to admit it. The only two people I knew were on my side in this world were long gone. And I wasn't even so certain both of them would have my back anymore.

I needed any allies I could sink my claws into. I wouldn't feel so bad dragging some random demon down with me either.

Except...Adder was quickly becoming less so a random demon...and more so a friend. This also annoyed me. I was sure I was being stupid, but I couldn't stop myself. There was just something about him…

Realizing I'd drifted out into space, I cleared my throat and answered him. "The human world."

He gave me a sour look. "I am aware. What region, specifically? Your dress upon arrival was...odd."

"Are you familiar with the regions of the Ningenkai?" I shot back at him.

He paused. "Not...particularly."

"Then it doesn't matter."

This silenced him. He knew that he was fighting a losing battle.

The trip down to the dungeons was taking longer than it normally should. Adder walked at the slowest pace possible without being too obvious that was what he was doing. I walked beside him easily, my boots scuffing against the stone floor, and my attention on only him. Even this late at night the keep was busy. Even dressing and acting like a man (not a hard feet for me) didn't keep the attention off me. All the demons here were interested in Konstantin's chosen fighter.

They were even more curious since many of them had seen me fight out in the training ring. I did my best to ignore the world around me. I had a plan forming...but a lot of it depended on Adder's cooperation. And in order for that to occur I needed to gain his trust - and fast.

"When will you tell me why you're here?" I asked.

We'd just reached the iron door leading down to the dungeons. Adder stopped before slotting the key home. That one pause gave me a bit of hope. But he still wouldn't tell me. He just shook his head, eyes shielded, and opened the door.

I stepped through ahead of him and waited on the stairs as he relocked the door. This place made my skin crawl. I'd do anything if they'd just let me out of the dungeon...even for a night. I'd sleep on the stone floor of the keep's proper anyday over this.

I stood on the stairs just a tad too long. Adder's warm palm met the small of my back, a nudge forward. The touch was gentle...too gentle. That kind of touch held hidden meanings.

My breath hitched and I prayed he hadn't heard it. I moved away, down the stairs and back into the literal hole into a level of hell. The screams of the other prisoners grew louder and louder - the crying, howling, anguish filled cries. It made me want to cover my ears. But I didn't. I had shown too many signs of weakness already.

The walk to my cell felt like a walk towards the gallows. It had been the same every day since arriving here.

I prayed I would win tomorrow. If only to please Konstantin enough to gain some kind of favor. I would never be able to escape if I didn't get out of this warded dungeon.

Just as Adder opened my cell door and I walked inside, he stopped. He left the iron bars hanging open, his hand wrapped around them. He stared at the floor for a time.

And then, "I came here to save someone I love."

I sunk down to the floor, against the opposite wall. I drew one leg up and wrapped my arm around it. My head fell back to rest against the wall. I didn't say anything...but let him know I was listening. This was good...really good.

"My sister...she…" his tongue flicked out to taste the air. A nervous habit, I realized. "She's one of Konstantin's personal consorts."

That struck home. I could understand why he did what he did now. I sympathized with this man. I had a sister I would do anything to protect as well. I would beg, borrow, steal, and murder to keep her safe. Perhaps that's selfish and awful and makes me a terrible person, but I didn't give a damn. She was all I had.

"I have a sister too," I said.

"Back in the human world?"

I nodded. "She's the reason I'm here too."

Adder stood there in silence for a time, just staring at me. I didn't understand that look. I didn't know what he was thinking. But I hoped I'd made a dent in that cold shell of his.

He sighed and then slowly shut my cell door, clicking the lock home. When he looked back up it was to pierce me with those gold eyes of his. They were stunning in their own way…

But they didn't hold a candle to Hiei's.

"Do not lose tomorrow."

I nodded again and said with conviction, "I won't."

"Good."

Adder left then and I was alone once more. I drowned out the sounds of the dungeon with meditation. I prayed slumber would be swift, but it never came.

I sat in my cell the entire night, stealing myself for what was to come.

. . .

I won my first fight easy enough. I wasn't fighting against demons, just human slaves. They'd all been bought, captured or sold just for this purpose. We were all prized roosters forced into cock fighting. It was degrading.

It was even worse that the first guy I'd been put up against was pathetic to say the least. He lacked in the spirit energy department, but was trained well enough in martial arts. But not as well as I had been.

I almost felt bad for him in the end...especially when I didn't kill him...but his owner did in my stead. I couldn't watch. It was like seeing a dog get put down right in front of you, his only mistake being alive.

I didn't say anything - couldn't say anything. My mission was more important than some poor slob's life. I hated to think like that, but I had little choice. It was the same with the prisoners I walked by everyday in Konstantin's dungeon. Out of sight...out of mind.

I was being escorted from the ring, the shouts of angry patrons falling behind. Many people had bet wrong today.

I was new, an underdog. I looked weak. Dressed in baggy men's clothing and my hair slicked back, I looked like some mix between a man and a child playing dress-up. I had wondered where the armor had gone to, but hadn't missed it during my fight. The other man hadn't been wearing any either. No need to stack the odds against him even more.

"You did well today."

I said nothing. I wanted no praise for that absolute butchering. They'd killed him for losing. They'd chopped off his fucking head.

There was nothing to praise.

And so I walked just a bit faster. And Adder didn't say another word.

Even with my win, Konstantin had decided it was a fluke and I wasn't allowed any freedoms. I was a dog meant to be chained. So back in the dungeons I went. Caged, like the animal I had become.

I continued to ignore Adder, though it was detrimental towards gaining his trust. When he left without a word, I sunk down to the floor of my cell and for the first time since I was a little girl I prayed to any god that would listen.

I prayed for the safety of the ones I loved. I prayed that I would make it through even just one more day. I prayed for the lost souls that had been abandoned here.

...And I prayed for a love I would never have. A dream I kept close to my heart.

I spent a single day in the dungeon. The only thing that broke the solitude was when my meals were brought to me. Konstantin, who I had thought I'd gained no favor from, had sent hearty foods. They still tasted strange to me and I never asked what they were. I ate to survive here, not to enjoy it. I didn't need to know what I was eating so long as it wasn't poisoned.

The end of the day neared. I occupied myself with practicing my katas. I did exercises, like pushups and crunches. I spent time meditating. I waited for Chronos to appear again, but true to her word she never did. She truly meant for me to figure this out on my own.

I had always stood on my own two feet. I didn't take handouts. I didn't cut corners. But this time...I would have taken some help gladly. It was one thing not to be afraid of muggers and murderers and other such scum. But these were demons.

If meeting Hiei had shown me anything - it was that demon's were deadly and not to be trifled with.

I had relied on the protection of others for too long now. It was time to go back to the old Kasumi - the one that trusted no one, kept to herself, and hated everyone. It might not make me any friends, but I didn't need ones that acted the way they do here.

My silent contemplation was interrupted with the sound of a food tray being set down. I planned to ignore the girl who usually brought it to me. But an annoyed hiss had me opening my eyes.

Adder stood there. He'd set the tray down. That wasn't anything remarkable. What was, was the fact he'd entered my cell and was sitting cross legged on the floor. He'd left the bars hanging wide open and for a split second I considered bolting through them.

But I would be caught before I even reached the steps leading up from the dungeon.

Without any preamble he shoved the tray towards me and said, "Tell me the truth."

I didn't begin to eat, I just stared at him. Tell him what? "Would you like to elaborate on that?"

"You're not from here, where did you come from?"

"Haven't we gone over this?" I said with a nervous chuckle.

I picked up whatever the hell it was on my plate and began to nibble at it, if only to stall. It tasted like ashes. I fought the urge to spit it out, knowing I needed the nourishment. I did my best to pretend Adder didn't exist the entire time.

"You come from some place...other. Not the human realm. Not here. Just other."

My mouth twitched. I couldn't look at him. How the hell could he know that?

"I do come from the human world," I said.

"Not the human world I know of."

I swallowed my food, my mouth thick and dry. I coughed when I ended up choking on it.

"Tell me the truth...and I will help you."

I took a drink of my stale water to calm my throat and stared at him wide eyed. That was more than I could have hoped for. But there was still a problem…

"What about your sister? Wouldn't you be risking her?"

"She's been lost to me for so long now...but you stand a chance."

"Adder…"

"Don't call me that!"

I reared back. His face had turned serpentine. His slitted eyes narrow. He was angry. But why? He'd told me to call him that days ago.

"My name is Caius! Call me by my name!"

I sucked in a breath. Oh. That's why he was mad. I had learned his true name and had refused to use it this entire time. I still didn't understand why it had provoked such a vehement reaction from him. But if that's all he wanted…

"Okay...Caius."

His face calmed and he loosed a breath. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. I can't tell you where I came from, Caius."

"Your reasons?"

"It could cause serious problems for the people I care about. Surely you can understand that?"

He said nothing, looked to the floor, and then rose. He left my cell without a backwards glance. And he'd left it wide open…

I sat there for an entire sixty seconds before I realized what he'd done. And that he wasn't coming back to lock me in.

He'd given me a chance to escape. A chance to fight my way out.

But I didn't take it.

I know it made me a colossal fool. And if Hiei ever found out he'd kill me without batting an eye. But I couldn't leave and have the weight of Adder's punishment on my shoulders. Would they behead him too? Or perhaps they'd just behead his sister while he watched. There were infinite things they could do to hurt him or his sibling.

I just couldn't let me be the reason for any more senseless deaths.

So I rose, gripped the bars to my prison, and slammed the door shut. I would finish what I started. I would kill Konstantin and save Adder and his sister and maybe even all the poor bastards that were trapped like rats down here - trapped just like me.

Besides, sneaking off had never been my style anyway.

. . .

I finished my first week of fights without any losses. I sustained only minor injuries. Caius had been stunned to find me the next morning, after he'd given me the chance to run. I hadn't explained. I hadn't wanted to. It made the fact I felt sorry for him all too real.

I had been raised to think all demons were evil and that they all deserved to die. While nine times out of ten I had found that to be true there had been too many exceptions to ignore.

They were people. Just like me. They had feelings and souls and bodies and brains. It wasn't right for me to judge every single one by the teachings from my grandfather. He had been a good man - a smart man. But that didn't mean he had known everything.

So I fought for Konstantin. I obeyed like a good pet. I had earned him a nice sum of money. After my third fight, I was let out of the dungeons and placed in a room in the servants quarters.

I was still watched twenty-four seven however.

Adder had become my permanent guard. By the scowl he sported on his face these days, it was easy to say that he hated it.

The room I had been given was small, no bigger than a large closet. It housed a single bed with a thin mattress and a bucket meant to be used as a latrine. But still...it was a bed. And flat as it was I enjoyed every second I got to lay in it that first night.

By then I had been in the Makai nearly three weeks. Against all odds I had managed to survive. It was time I started playing the cards I'd been dealt. I needed to find information on the dragon. I held onto the hope that Hiei and Yusuke were on the hunt for it, but I couldn't rely solely on them. Just in case they weren't able to complete the mission, I would have to step up to the plate.

After two weeks of talking with him and having him at my side every waking hour, Adder had grown to trust me. I had a feeling he knew more than he was letting on, but I never told him the truth about me. He accepted that I couldn't tell him and left it alone.

I was glad for this new connection. He let me ask questions freely and today I was building up the courage to ask him about the beast I was hunting. I didn't want him to think I was crazy. I didn't know how rare a dragon was, even in this time. According to Kurama there was only one left at this point. But before that, had they been around in abundance?

I was being escorted from my room to the arena Konstantin used for his fights. It was a glorified hole in the ground. The spectators surrounded the upper levels and the fighters were thrown into the pit. Only one was allowed out. It was kill or be killed.

Instead of watching another be butchered in front of me...I'd taken their deaths into my own hands. I'd made them quick and merciful. I'd fought a few creeps but most of them were just martial artists or Reiki users that had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I had a lot of blood on my hands. I would never be able to wash away the stain.

I'd never thought of myself as a killer, but now…

I swallowed, pushing those thoughts away. I needed to grow a set. I would never get out of here otherwise. The things I had to do were unfortunate and they would haunt me until the day I kicked the bucket. But if I dwelled on them...I'd lose myself in some deep dark pit inside my mind and never come out again.

I turned to my silent companion. He was dressed in colors today. In honor of my fight, he'd said. He couldn't openly cheer for me, but he had watched every fight on the sidelines. Normally he wore black, except on fight days. Today he wore a pale gold tunic that clashed with his eyes, but he didn't seem to care. Tight fighting leathers encased his legs and dark leather boots covered his feet. Adder also liked his ornamentation - he wore gold earrings, a gold choker around his neck and he had a gold piercing through his septum. His obsidian hair was braided down his back, gold thread weaving in and out of the plaits.

"Do you dress like this when you leave the keep?" I asked him.

His eyes flicked to me and then away, straight ahead as if he were embarrassed. "It is how I used to dress...before."

Before his sister had been taken and he'd offered up his services to Konstantin. I would have liked to have met that Adder. Back when he was known only as Caius. I wondered what he was like and if he had always been so distant.

"I like it," I told him with a smile.

One side of his lip quirked upwards and I considered that a bit of a victory. So I screwed up my courage and asked, "Hey Caius?"

"Hm?"

"Have you ever...seen a dragon?"

He stopped dead in his tracks and I skidded to a halt so I wouldn't walk by him. He was staring at me with wide eyes. I knew then that I had made a mistake in asking.

"Why would you want to know that?"

"I...overheard someone talking about it. I was just curious."

His eyes narrowed, the slits of his pupils thinning until they were barely noticeable. "You are lying." His forked tongue flicked out. "I can taste it."

I backed away from him. "The fights will start soon…"

His arm shot out and a hand wrapped around my forearm. His palm was so much larger than Hiei's, I thought, comparing it to the scar there.

"Tell me the truth, Kasumi."

He hardly ever used my name. His deep voice had turned dark. It made me shiver but I wasn't afraid of him. I didn't sense any bad intentions...but I still couldn't tell him. He could hinder my mission and if that happened…

I really didn't want to have to kill you Caius. Please drop this…

I was saved from having to answer him when Konstantin came wandering around the corner. He held some kind of scroll in his hands and was perusing it as he walked. But he had spotted Adder and I.

Caius' hand shot back to his side and he stood a bit straighter. Konstantin had seen...and he wasn't happy.

"Well, well...what is going on here?"

Caius bowed his head. "I was escorting her to the arena, Lord Konstantin."

"That isn't what it looked like from here."

Konstantin stepped up close to me and crouched so he could look me in the eye. "Was he hurting you, pet?"

I cringed at the nickname, disgusted. "No," I replied.

He reached forward, the scales on his hand shining in the light from the torches that lined the walls. He gripped my face hard, squeezing my cheeks and making it impossible for me to speak. He pulled me forward until he had me wrapped in the crook of his arm. He pressed his face into my hair and took a deep breath of my scent.

I was revolted. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to try and kill him then and there. I needed information. That was my first priority. If I lost Konstantin's favor...or Adder's trust, I would be screwed.

"Do not be mistaken Adder. I chose you to watch her because you are capable." The look on Adder's face was well controlled but I could see the rage burning in his eyes. "Touch her without permission again...for any reason...and she dies."

I knew he wasn't talking about me. He was speaking of Adder's sister, his personal consort. I had yet to see the girl anywhere. I had assumed she was kept locked up in Konstantin's chambers. This man was pure scum. I hated him even more.

"Now, my little fighter," Konstantin said to me, "Go and win me some coin."

His lips brushed my forehead before he let me go. He walked away, shooting Adder a warning glance as he passed. He disappeared deeper into the keep, more than likely headed to his special box seat in the arena.

I glared down the hall where I had last seen him, rubbing his saliva from my skin. Disgusting.

"We must not be late," said Caius.

He held out a hand, gesturing for me to walk ahead of him. He kept his distance. He did not speak to me again until we reached the gate leading into the arena's pit. He stood there with me, waiting for the call to arms.

I was fitted with my armor. I'd only worn it once before in battle, against my last opponent who'd been a knight. I'd been told that all the fights from now on would require protective gear.

Just before the heavy iron gate opened Caius stepped up beside me. His voice low, he said, "Be careful."

The words made my heart stop and then jump start back into a fast tempo. Those words...how many times had he said them to me in the past? Because it hadn't been Caius' voice that I'd heard - but Hiei's.

I closed my eyes, imagining it was the fire demon standing beside me and not one of my captors. It helped me steal my resolve. And broke my heart all at once.

I missed him. A lot more than I should.

I nodded once at Adder and slammed down the visor on my helmet. I heard them call for the first fighters to enter the pit. The great clang of the iron gate rising had me holding my head high. I drew the broadsword I'd been given...and stepped into the ring.

The other opponent wore armor just like me - strong, heavy, and unbreakable metal. He wasn't a large man, lithe and light on his feet. I would have a hard time with him, but it was to be expected this late in the game. The other fighters wouldn't be chump change anymore.

I awaited for the call for the fight to begin and scanned the surrounding crowd. I had been careful to hide my energy, keeping it suppressed. But unwillingly I felt just a tiny bit escape - hunting, searching, desperate. I froze, staring in the direction my energy was pulling me.

There, hands in tight fists around the railing, was a person wearing a burlap cloak. A matching companion stood beside him, just a bit taller.

My energy exploded beneath my skin - calling, crying, screaming.

And his rose in answer.

The cloak was thrown over his head. I didn't notice when I stopped breathing or when the call for the fight came. I stood there stunned, my eyes unable to leave him. It was as if I'd been lost in a desert for far too long and just found an oasis.

I saw as he vaulted over the railing...and then I was slammed into a wall.

I'd forgotten all about the fight. And I'd just paid dearly for it.

My opponent had been able to walk up right beside me and smash me in the face with his gauntlet. He'd hit me hard enough to dent my helmet and stun me. I felt the warmth of blood dripping from my temple. In the few moments it took me to recover, and throw my ruined helmet off, he was on me again.

The armor weighed me down too much. I wasn't able to dodge the second punch either. I swung my sword at him in retaliation, but he retreated out of reach. I was surprised he hadn't drawn his own sword. Why not take the chance to end the battle quickly?

"Are you paying attention now?" his voice matched his body. Light, masculine, and probably music to some women's ears.

However, I had a disparate taste in men. I liked them how I liked my coffee - dark and bitter.

"You won't get that lucky again," I snarled.

I didn't have time to worry about the man above. He hadn't jumped into the ring. I was thankful for that, I wouldn't have been able to concentrate. I needed to have eyes only for my adversary right now.

I didn't sense any reiki from him, but the way he held himself...it made the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

"I don't plan to lose today," he said.

He lunged for me, finally drawing his sword. I drew mine up to clang against his. He disengaged, swinging again. I parried and countered in succession, but my sword slid off his armor, useless.

He chuckled, amused. "This is not tin armor, little boy."

I glared at him, putting more weight behind the next swing of my sword. He blocked, throwing my sword to the side. It left me wide open - a stupid rookie mistake!

I could make up a million excuses - I wasn't used to the sword's weight, it wasn't fitted to me, I was formally trained with a proper katana. None of them mattered. I'd fucked up.

He struck me in the side, right between my armor. It cut through the leather there like butter and slit straight into my hip. Blood gushed from the wound, already soaking my leg. He'd cut me to the bone.

Fucked! I was so fucked!

I couldn't lose here. I couldn't let myself get this distracted. I'd been through hell to get here and then another three weeks trapped in this shithole. I'd be damned if I let them kill me now.

Blowing caution to the wind I released my energy. It crackled and hissed and breathed life into me. It smelt like ozone and flashed like lightning. I smirked at the man across from me. "Your armor won't save you now."

He took a step back, sword brandished between us. He didn't think he was such tough shit now, did he?

I drew my hands up, poised in the air as if holding an invisible bow. The neon pink energy siphoned away from my glowing aura and formed into my spirit weapon. It solidified, turning into the massive greatbow, a single arrow nocked. I didn't put much power behind it...I wouldn't need it.

I took in a deep breath, the smirk fading as my opponent backed away until he had nowhere left to go. I pulled the string back.

"Go into the next life with peace in your heart."

He held his head a little higher - afraid, but accepting. He had nothing to defend against this. A bit of metal couldn't stop one of my arrows. He could die knowing he'd wounded me at least.

I didn't drag it out. I loosed the arrow, it pinned his head to the wall, blood splattering against the stone. It disappeared and he sunk to the dirt floor. His helmet fell off, revealing his face. He was young - a teenager at most, a boy at best.

Forgive me…

I had never wanted it to be like this. I had never asked for this…

My life had never been ideal...but I had never expected to become a murderer. It took my entire being to keep my scream contained. I didn't want this. I didn't want this life!

My face blank, I turned jerkily back towards the rising iron gate. Adder waited there, as he always did, but he did not congratulate me. He lunged for me as soon as the gate was closed. We had been bathed in a semi-darkness, the only light streaming through the openings in the iron bars.

Adder had also decided not to heed Konstantin's warning.

He was stripping my armor off as fast a he could. I didn't stop him. I didn't even bother to ask what he was doing. I didn't care.

Because a blazing, beautiful, stunning energy was bolting down the hallway. A calmer, electric blue followed at a much slower pace. I could never mistake either one of them.

I pushed away from Adder, even as he grabbed for me. I forgot I was wounded. I forgot about everything other than that angry, violent power heading straight for me.

So close, he was so close.

"I can tell you about the dragon you seek."

I didn't hear him at first, I was so intent on that energy. It was taking him too long. What had delayed him?

But then, "What did you say?" I asked.

Adder walked around me, cutting off my view of the hallway. "The beast you seek stands before you."

I think...the world might have stopped turning. He was joking...right? Adder, he was a snake, wasn't he? I mean, they even called him Adder!

But what was a dragon...if not just another type of serpent.

My eyes were wide, horrified at what he'd just told me. Take it back! Tell me it wasn't true! Anything other than that!

There was only supposed to be one...but he had a sister. He had to be lying, he had to be.

"I was told there was only one left," I said.

"As far as the world is aware...there is."

"Shit," I breathed.

I had two options here. Kill Adder here and now, take his heart, and leave. Or…

I grabbed his hand and bolted. I suppressed my energy, gritting my teeth through the pain in my hip. I wasn't going to be able to run for long.

I pushed through a side door further down the hall. It was a room full of random junk - ruined armor, broken swords, brooms.

I begged whatever god that was listening for them to run by. Don't look in here. Go to where I last was.

A moment later, those energies blew by...and disappeared. I let loose a breath I hadn't known I was holding and then turned to Adder. What was I supposed to say?

"I want you to forget what you just told me. Never bring it up again."

He made a noise, as if to protest me, but I clapped a hand over his mouth. I leaned upwards, my eyes easily finding the golden glow of his in the dark. "Never bring it up again."

This was a huge problem. I had thought this entire time I was looking for some massive beast, with wings and giant teeth and fire spewing from its mouth. I had not once figured that the dragon would just be another type of demon and not some mythical monster.

I couldn't kill him…

There was no way I could take this man's life.

I was up shit creek without a paddle and I could see rapids up ahead.

If Hiei found out about this…

Both Adder and his sister were as good as dead. There would be nothing I could do. The price I would pay for this…

It would be astronomically world ending, heart rending - betrayal.

There was no good choice here. Maybe that made me insane. Caius had hurt me, tortured me...I should want him dead.

But I had gotten to know him, I had sympathized with him. And that would be my downfall.

I could not take this man's heart and leave my conscience intact. It was so much more than black and white.

I was lost somewhere within the grey...and I had no idea how I was getting out.

I stood in that tiny closet completely at a loss. The metallic tang of blood filled my nostrils. I'd been in such a hurry to get away I had barely noticed the pain. The wound was so deep I didn't even know how I was still standing - adrenaline?

Caius knelt at my feet, his golden eyes glowing in the dark, his vision clear. He placed gentle hands at my hip, assessing. Then he leaned forward...and blew.

His breath was warm...it made my skin tingle...and the wound began to knit itself back together.

What the hell?

That was when the door flew open. And standing in the flickering light of the hallway was the man I had been so desperate to avoid.

Wide cherry dark eyes took in the scene before him. He took a single step towards me...and then stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of Caius.

His head cocked to the side, eyes narrowed and his lip turned up into a snarl. But Caius rose from the floor, calm, collected. He towered over the male before him and I watched as Caius' lips turned up into one of those tiny little grins.

"I haven't had another dragon challenge me in quite some time…"

I had no idea what Caius was talking about…

But by the look on Hiei's face, the fire demon knew exactly what he'd meant. And it left me reeling.

A moment later I hit the floor in a dead faint. I couldn't tell you if that was a blessing or a curse.

. . .

A/N: Important plotty stuff this chapter. Show of hands who saw this coming with Adder? Kasumi has a very hard choice to make. I'm sure many of you will wonder wtf her insane reasoning is, but she sees herself in Adder and that's going to screw her royally. Until next time, thanks for reading!