"So why did you hide her here of all places?" Shin returned his attention to their objective, "And how much blood does she still need?"

Sesoni rubbed his temporal before he explained the situation, "I gave her a good bit of my own, but she bled out a lot."

Shin replied aggravated at Sesoni's stalling, "Again, how much blood does she need?"

As Sesoni moved the table back in the residential home, Shin saw Aicirret's small frame, hanging onto her life. Sesoni picked up his niece and placed her on the couch carefully. Her face was pale with an almost blue tint to it. Her breathing was shallow, and her long demon fingernails were beginning to crack.

Shin sighed knowingly, "So it is a lot more blood."

Sesoni focused on the transfer, even more diligently than before. This time there was a third party and everything had to be precise. Using Shin's blood required Sesoni to rely on his friend's full cooperation. Without any words between them, Sesoni latched onto Shin's arm with his blue chakra line. The quiet anticipation gre , and they concentrated every emotion into the transfusion that Aicirret desperately needed. Suddenly, the blue line attached to Aicirret backfired at Sesoni, leaving him stunned by the obscene resistance of the line. This had never occurred before. Why would Aicirret reject Shin's blood? All demons shared the same blood type.

Shin noticed the uncertainty arising in Sesoni's demeanor. Sesoni tried to analyze everything and have an answer for it. And when he couldn't find one, he always started to panic. And Shin was always there to replace his doubt with the answer Sesoni searched for. "I am guessing she is rejected my blood, right?"

Still confused, Sesoni nodded, "This hasn't happened before, and it shouldn't be happening."

Shin continued, "Well, what's the back-up plan?"

Sesoni grew pale in the face and he stopped the lines of chakra from entering Aicirret. She would start losing blood if he continued, and that was the opposite result that he was hoping for. "I don't have one."

"Alright," Shin reasoned, "I'll make a suggestion then."

As Sesoni turned to his demon friend for assistance, Shin pleaded his case, "If she won't take mine, there is no way her body will take Akaya's either. And besides, using half-demon blood would be only in dire circumstances."

Sesoni angrily agreed, "I know that, which leads me to no other options at this point."

Shin shook his head, "That's not true." Shin returned to his plan, "She already took your blood so we know that it'll work. And we also know that you will take my blood."

Sesoni's shocked reaction was something that Shin had been expecting. As if on a cue, his friend was appalled, "Are you suggesting that you can perform this delicate art by yourself with no training in the style whatsoever?"

Shin shrugged, "I'm a fast learner."

Outraged, Sesoni almost yelled at the stupidity of his friend. However, he turned to Aicirret as her hand slipped against his shin. She was cold to the touch. He prepared himself for what he had to do to save his family, even if that meant he would be a sacrifice. What if he lost Aircirret like he lost Toku?

"How fast?"

Shin placed his hand on his friend's shoulder in a comforting manner, "You perform it on Aircirret one more time. Give her as much as you can bear. And I'll be watching." He smiled confidently, "Demons are incredible at retaining important information after all."

Shin took a breath out and paused before his friend starting the jutsu again. Sesoni nodded and returned his lines of chakra to Aircirret, using his blood this time. He knew that he could give her enough if he depleted most of his. He was grateful that Shin hadn't engaged in as much of the battle as he had because Shin's blood would be more of a supply for himself.

Shin studied Sesoni's technique intently. He wasn't going to screw this up. Not when Sesoni was always there covering his back. As the lines of chakra soon disappeared, Sesoni fell to his knees while Aicirret's pale complexion turned into a pinkish hue instantaneously.

Shin acted quickly, replicating the same thick blue lines of chakra to his bloodstream and Sesoni's. The amount of control that Shin had to produce was insane. Sesoni had made it look so effortless, and now, Shin had to focus his entire attention on keeping the flow of blood from exploding out of the lines. As Sesoni gasped, Shin knew it was working but painful. He was not well-seasoned in the art and as a result, Sesoni was going to have to suffer through the circumstances. However, Sesoni stayed still to make the process easier for Shin.

Sesoni spoke unevenly, "That's enough. I can make it on this much."

Shin slowly let the blood flow stop and suck back into his own veins. It was like lava entering his skin. Shin grunted as Aicirret slowly sat up, "You're lucky that you have two demons that want to keep you around, kid."

Sesoni slowly stood up and sat in the spot that Aicirret had opened up by sitting up as well. They both felt dizzy and numb, but they were both still alive.

Confused, Aicirret questioned the outcome, "Have we won yet?"

Sesoni shook her head, "Not quite. But you and I won't be of much good now. The front lines are out of the question now."

Aicirret pouted, "But I wanna see our victory!"

Shin patted Aicirret on the shoulder, "Then you'll see it from our campgrounds with the rest of Konoha."

Sesoni agreed as he felt a haze overcome his normally sharp senses, "You and I are going back there. All of the villagers will be waiting there without much protection." He continued, "You still look weak and feeble. Some rest on a cot would do you some good."

As Aicirret stared her uncle down, she combatively retorted, "You're one to talk."

Shin suddenly looked out into the streets. In the silence, he debated which one of his allies he should help. In the midst of his distracting thoughts, Sesoni spoke up which startled Shin back to reality. Shin wondered when he had become so nervous.

"Shin, Tajek is more than capable of handling that goon. I'm more worried about how Akaya is doing. Himeka is so dangerous and volatile."

Aicirret added, "And to be honest, she's scary too."

Shin smirked as he had been all night. His friend wasn't wrong in the assessment of the situation. Sesoni had probably already analyzed all of the probabilities in his head. Still, there was something looming over Shin. It was a dread that he wasn't ready to face, but for Akaya's sake, he was walking back towards.

"If she's anything like me, that's what will scare Himeka."

Aicirret gave her best attempt at a smile, "Then I'm sure that Himeka is terrified. I know that Akaya is putting up a fight."

Shin left them in a hurry. He wanted to make it there to save them both. If he had even a slight chance at redemption, he was going to take it. Shin had never felt so compelled to help others before, and it felt very unlike himself. It was because of all of their meddling. Even the coldest of demons would melt underneath such as powerful a force as love.

He was emboldened by the power it had given him and darted into the outskirts of Konoha. It was a straight passageway to the middle from the tunnel they had entered originally. It was time to face his past. If everyone else had to face obstacles under this nightfall, he wasn't going to be excluded.

()

Her bold laugh filled his chambers with the beautiful sound of happiness. Himeka was brazen and rude, but there was something about her laugh that made her so soft and gentle, even if she was insulting him, "You're just being silly now, Shin."

Shin complained back to her, "Am I now?"

He touched her shoulder with his fingers and cascaded them down her back. He knew that always calmed her, and because her back was turned to him, it was the perfect opportunity to embrace the affectionate role he wanted to play in her life.

Himeka's legs were draped over the side of the bed. It was odd to be completely naked for something other than the bath house. In this awkward moment, Himeka observed her surroundings to stay collected. Looking around his huge bedroom, Himeka admired all of the craftsmanship he had put into the new Mizukage's quarters. "I like the mahogany you know."

Shin smiled as he continued touching every inch of her back as he remained lying in his bed. "Yeah. I knew that. That's why I made this place to your liking."

Himeka felt her face flush. She was cautious to withhold that from Shin. He would never let her forget about it, "I still can't stay."

Shin frowned as she stood up and headed to her belongings beside her side of the bed. He sighed as he also sat up and threw his legs over the edge of the bed, "It's not permanent. I meant for the night." He smiled lovingly as he lightly brushed his fingers over her arm, "You forget that I am buddy-buddy with your Hokage."

Himeka shot him a dirty look. "This isn't about that, Shin Ryu."

Shin shook his head, "Then stay and tell me why you refuse to stay here overnight."

Himeka slipped her skin-tight shirt over her head. It was nice to be small-breasted as a Shinobi. It was less baggage to have to deal with in the heat of battle. "It's the principle of the thing. What do you think they'll say?"

Shin kept going with his counterpoint as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. He lifted her shirt and kissed her bare skin. She was so warm to the touch. "Who cares? Just stay. I have a hundred rooms for dignitaries. If you don't want to lie in the same bed as me, I can prepare one of them for you."

He kissed her hipbone as he continued ranting to her. "No one will think anything of it. You are an ambassador of sorts for Konoha."

Exhausted, Himeka meekly replied as she ruffled his hair and lightly kissed the top of his head, "I want the one with the pretty silk curtains and sheets. The deep blue one."

Shin nodded in agreement as he kissed her bare stomach before standing up, "It's yours and only yours then."

When standing, Shin was so much taller than Himeka, and she tried desperately to ignore his advances. Even after their sexual encounter, he wanted more of her. What else was she supposed to give him?

Shin noted her uneasiness and located her pants from the other side of the bed. He handed them to her as she slipped her underwear on. He looked at her stature as she eyed him cautiously. There was so much fire that exuded from her, and it was breathtaking. He stood in bewilderment as to how she could even look at him romantically. She was a stealthy goddess while he was a monster.

Himeka looked at him questioningly as she slipped her leggings on quickly, "What?"

Shin felt a tinge of heat spread across his cheeks. He didn't even know that he was capable of such a novelty as blushing, "You."

There was a brief pause of silence between them as she eyed him carefully. As she noticed the blush spread on his face, she replied playfully, "What exactly is that supposed to mean? Does it mean that you'll miss me when I am gone tonight?"

Shin slowly pointed his finger to the door, "I'm heartless, remember?" He recovered, "You should find everything to your liking in the bathrooms as well if you need to use one."

Himeka flashed her brilliant smile at him, and he realized why humans fell in love. And as she exited his room and returned everything to the dark state it was in before she arrived, Shin acknowledged that he was entranced by her.

()

Even though demons needed little sleep if any, Shin laid on his bed, facing the window that allowed the moonlight to shine through the otherwise bland room. He wasn't sure if it was because he was a demon or because of personal preference, but Shin enjoyed when the moon was completely full in the sky. Tonight was exceptionally beautiful as the stars complimented the bright sky. And yet, he felt so alone in the empty bed.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he reopened them, he noticed a light bled into his room from the door opening and closing. As he turned and sat up to see who it was, Himeka stood in his doorway. The moonlight radiated off of her porcelain skin and he felt his heart race once again. He recognized the shirt she was wearing as one of his own and unintentionally smirked. She was stealthier than he had given her credit for.

She smiled timidly at him this time as she made her way to her side of his bed. "Not a single word about this. It's too hot in my room, and I like the coolness of your skin."

She turned into him and as he wrapped his arms around her and placed his chin on the top of his head, he silently reveled in the fact that he found something more majestic and wonderful than a full moon.