A/N: Hey, people. Finally decided to update this after leaving it to fester for God knows how long. Well, I guess I better get started, yeah?

...

All was peaceful at the camp. It was night, and they were so close to their destination. They had grabbed the sake and were nearing the Red Oni's cave home. Seeing as Astaroth doesn't sleep, the Black Giant kept watch as Elrick and Z.W.E.I. slept. Little did they know, they were being watched. Elrick in particular.

"Damn it, he's still following me?" Dark Tira asked herself, hiding behind a tree. "And he's got that giant dumb ass and the mutt with him? Who the fuck is this guy?"

"I don't know." Said Light Tira. "But he's kinda cute."

"What? No he's not. He's not even slightly attractive." Argued Dark Tira. "Lord Nightmare, on the other hand..." Dark Tira trailed off, a small, creepy grin on her face.

"Well, can we play with him before we kill him?" Light Tira had a giggle in her voice, which annoyed her Darker side.

"Well, duh. Of course we will, but-" Dark Tira was cut off as Kulutues was slammed into the tree right above her head.

"BITCH!" Her eyes widen as Asaroth grabs her by her shirt, and throws her to the other side of the camp, her back slamming into another tree. Elrick snapped awake, shooting to his feet, only wearing the white leather pants, his hair a mess. He grabbed Tryfing and his glasses, before getting a better look at their intruder.

"Tira." He ground his teeth, absolute hatred in his red eyes. He looked to Astaroth, whom had picked Tira up and was getting ready to cut her head off. "Let her go."

"Uh, El, you do know who that is, right?" Asked Z.W.E.I., whom had finally awoken. Elrick nodded, before grabbing the sack with Eiserne Drossel inside, and pulled the ringblade out. Tira's eyes widened again, before being unceremoniously dropped by Astaroth. She glared at the Giant.

"So, you're still an asshole." She said.

"I don't know who you are, so shut the fuck up." Growled Astaroth.

"You don't remember her, but I do." Said Elrick. He threw Eiserne Drossel at her, embedding the ringblade in the tree. Tira pulled it out, eyeing it. It had not only been sharpened, but cleaned and waxed.

"Why did you take care of it for me," Asks Dark Tira. "Just to return it?"

"Because. I figured you'd want it sparkling when I sent you to hell." Elrick pulled Tryfing from the scabbard, and stood in his stance. "Don't interrupt this fight, Z.W.E.I. The same goes for you, Astaroth."
"What? Wait..." Z.W.E.I. put two and two together, while Astaroth was still struggling. "She's who you were after?" Elrick looked to him, the truth obvious on his face. Z.W.E.I. nodded. "Okay. We won't stop you." Astaroth, finally caught up on the facts, nods as well.

"So, you want to kill me." Tira stands (Dark Stance.) and eyes Elrick. "Why? What did I do to you?"

"You took everything from me." He replied. Before Tira, Dark, or otherwise, could respond, Elrick was already flying at her, sword slashing so fast it was all Tira could do to block the attacks. Elrick backed away, giving Tira a bit of breathing room, before she decided to press her attack, twirling her blade like a hula hoop. Elrick didn't seem to be trying as he subtly dodged the slashes, sidestepping each swing with practice and ease. Tira didn't know what to do. There was so much hate in his eyes. She was certain he would kill her. There was too much hate for him not to. Dark Tira decided it was time for something else, so she slammed her own head into the flat of Eiserne Drossel, pulling out Light Tira in her stead.

"Oh, goody!" Shouted Light Tira, in childish glee. "I have a new toy to play with!" Elrick raised an eyebrow. That was a pretty erratic switch in personality. This might not be as simple as he'd first thought. Pushing that to the back of his mind, Elrick continued to slash at the girl, whom dodged around him easily, as if she were dancing more to her own music than fighting. Honestly, her continuous laughs and giggles were becoming contagious, and he was finding it difficult to keep a straight face. Before long, he was grinning ear to ear, all anger gone from his face. Instead of fighting, it appeared that the two were playing a dangerous game of back and forth. Dark Tira grinned from the inside of the two's shared mind. Suddenly, a dark colored flash came from Tira, and the happy grin vanished, replaced with a sadistic smirk. Before Elrick knew what was happening, a large cut slashed along his bare, muscled chest, blood spouting from the wound.

"Now I recognize you. That brat I killed in Hungary looked just like you." Dark Tira laughed evilly. "I killed his pretty little mommy, too. I'm guessing you were the husband, right? How cliche. Chasing after your wife and child's murderer? Pathetic." Elrick fell to one knee, and Dark Tira approached him. Astaroth and Z.W.E.I. went to help him, but he held up his hand to stop them. This was his fight.

"Yeah, I guess it is pretty pathetic." Replied Elrick, before standing back up, his chest wound still bleeding. "But you know what's even more pathetic? Killing harmless, innocent children. You used to be one, didn't you?"

"What?" Tira backed up a bit, confused. "I don't-"
"Yes you do. You know exactly what I'm talking about." Elrick continued walking towards the slowly retreating Tira, one hand on his chest, and the other on his seemingly heavier sword. "You used to be an innocent. I saw that. We were having fun, and for a short bit, I had forgiven you." Tira looked away from him. Again, the anger was gone from his eyes, replaced with sadness and regret. "I think I understand now. Only half of you is evil. The other half is innocent." Elricks steps became sloppy as he lost more and more blood. "I should have seen it earlier. You're not really evil, are you?" He almost fell, using his sword as a cane. "You're just lonely-"
"SHUT UP!" Screamed Tira, both Light and Dark voices molding into one as she cried. "You're wrong! I don't care about anything! I don't need anybody but myself!" Tears hit the ground, and she forced herself to meet Elricks eyes. He gave a sad, pitying smile.

"No, everybody needs somebody. I know now. You only did what you did in hopes that your master would accept didn't, did he?" Elrick stopped, watching as Tira cried harder and harder, her two personalities coming together in sadness. "He never cared for anybody, did he. He used you, and you went along with it, craving the love you felt he could give you. But he died, didn't he?" Falling to her knees, Tira cried out in emotional pain, her two voices mingling. She closed her eyes, and just cried. Her eyes snapped back open when Elrick hugged her, now on his knees with her. She didn't know what to do.

"What are you-"

"I forgive you." He said, cutting her off. She cried harder, throwing her arms around his neck. It was strange. She didn't feel angry, spiteful, or any of the usual emotions she feels. She just felt sad, not for herself, but for Elrick. After all she had done, he still forgave her. She didn't know what to say or do. She could feel it. She was already becoming attached to him, but not like how she craved Nightmares attention. No, she craved Elricks affection, not attention.

"Thank you." She sobbed. Suddenly, Elrick collapsed, passed out from lack of blood. He fell to the side with a soft smile on his lips.

"EL!" Shouted Z.W.E.I. Astaroth ran over to lift Elrick, but had to wrestle him away from the still crying Tira. The two friends of Elrick ran, trying to get him to the Red Oni's cave, but Tira still stayed where she was, staring at the blood on her hands and clothes from hugging him. She had done that. Standing, she followed after the three, keeping quiet and to the shadows as well as she could, but she was no Taki.

Naobi doesn't get many visitors. In fact, she could count on one hand how many came and went to her cave freely. As a Red Oni, she had bright red skin, horns on her head, and an absolute love for alchohol(And men, but that's a different story.). As a matter of fact, she had been thinking of one of her few yearly visitors in particular that day. A young man she had a deal with. Elrick Von Schlou. Sure, he only remembers the deal, and nothing before that, but still. She met him when he was fifteen, when he asked her to erase his memories. She did, of course, on the condition that he visits her at least once a year. It was getting close to that time again, and he still hadn't shown up. That's when the wooden door to her cave came flying inwards, and one of the largest men she'd ever seen,(Still shorter then herself.) came running in with Elrick in his arms. She looked confused, and eyed the next man that entered. He was much shorter, wearing leather pants, a purple, torn jacket, and a bloodied bandage around his waist.

"He was hurt bad." Answerers the shorter man. "He needs help." Naobi nodded.

"Put him on the table, and leave. Come back in two hours." The man looked like he was going to argue, but a look from the larger man quelled his argument. They left without a hitch, and Naobi set to work fixing Elrick back up.

...

A/N: And there it is. The meeting with Tira, and the introduction of the Red Oni, Naobi. Let me know what you all think. Thanks for reading.

R&R