Chapter 3: Inner Demons

"Ready Kouji?" Saniro asked, raising his practice sword, preparing to attack. He glanced at the prince with a serious look, "come at me…" he murmured, positioning himself into his battle stance. The field was soon filled with the sound of metal banging against metal, as they countered each other's attacks. The oddly quiet servant stood a few feet away, looking around the courtyard curiously.

"Hey there!!" A voice called out, making Kouichi jump. He turned around, looking into a pair of deep blood red eyes and a smiling face. "Oh… did I scare you?? I'm sorry…" he said, a hint of sadness in his voice. "So you are the new guy? Prince Kouji's new servant I presume?" he asked, seeing the slave nod as he gulped quietly. "Took a vow of silence, kid?" Makato questioned, smiling at him as he shook his head. "Planning to be a mime? The man chuckled, turning his attention to the sparring match. "Hey did you know that Saniro is the greatest swordsman in all the land? Well... so I've heard… but the prince has the ability to succeed him someday…" he said happily, quite proud of his elder brother and his student. "Oh… would you like to learn? If you are going to be attending to the kingdom's only heir… you might as well learn to fight- incase you need to protect yourself" Makato explained calmly. Kouichi looked up at the man, tilting his head slightly to the side. "You and I are to cool for swords and that kind of stuff. But I'll teach you my style of battle, with this" he said, pointing to the black staff in his hand.

"…"what's your name, sir?" Kouichi finally asked, sinking his teeth in is lower lip once again.

"Oh! My name is Makato Yoshimine… nice to meet cha, Kouichi! That is your name right?" he smiled, tossing the boy a long, think black staff. "Here you go! Now hold it like this… no, move your hands further apart… now grip it tightly… Okay, that looks good. Turn slightly and strike!!" he exclaimed, grinning triumphantly. Kouichi gave it an awkward flip, but it ended up hitting him on the head and then landed on the grassy field.

"Don't worry about it, you'll get it!!" Makato encouraged the nervous servant.

"But I'm not good with weapons…" Kouichi mumbled, picking up his staff to give it another try.

"Of course you are little guy. Don't doubt yourself! Now just move your hand a little over…here"

(-)(-)(-)

The young boy jumped high into the air, almost kicking Makato in the face. His eyes were now a blood red; much like Makato's… but it was different… it seemed more… more… evil. For lack of a better word. The man dashed towards the boy, noticing the change in eye color, and gasped quietly. The servant held out his hand, making the man run into an unseen force. Gah… a force felid. Kouichi dashed towards the warrior and raised his staff, but Makato soon used his to knock it out of his hand. "DESU FAIGA!!!" Kouichi yelled, black flames surrounding his left arm. The dark flames took the form of a phoenix, now headed toward Makato.

"ATEMA SHIRUDO!!!" Makato exclaimed, the spell protected him from the fearsome attack. He smiled, looking over at the slave. "Wow you did well!" he said with his cheerful grin, thinking everything was over.

"Bastard… I won't lose…." Kouichi breathed out, "SANDAGE!!!" he yelled, catching the man off guard with a thunder spell. A thousand lightning bolts descended from the sky, striking him. The slave then charged towards the fallen warrior, but was soon warded off by Saniro and Kouji.

"Kouichi! Stop it!! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Saniro asked angrily, holding onto the slave so he wouldn't escape.

"Bastard!! Let me go!! Let me go!!" Kouichi yelled furiously, trying his best to get free. But it was for nothing… they were to strong for him. "Let me go!! Or do I have to end your worthless lives to get my freedom?!" the two struggled to keep their hold on the boy; he must have been desperate to get free…. "LET… ME… GOOOO!!!!" Kouichi screamed, as the black moon on his necklace reacted- glowing a dark purple. His small frame was soon shrouded in a black aura, and then he was able to break the hold and was soon dashing towards Makato. "Bastard!! I'll send you straight to hell!!" the slave shouted, preparing to strike. His right arm was shrouded in a black mist, which he was going to kill the warrior with.

"Suripuru…" Saniro whispered, causing the boy to immediately drop to the floor after the spell's name was spoken.

He tried to get up, but it was no use. "My… b-body… I c-can't move…" Kouichi mumbled angrily, "what kind f spell is this?!" He drifted off to sleep soon after he spoke, lying motionless on the ground.

"Suripuru… a spell that paralyzes one and forces you into a deep sleep for a short amount of time…"he thought with a small smile.

"Saniro… what happened to him…" Kouji asked his teacher, confused at what just happened.

"I don't know… all I sense is bloodlust from him… but he wasn't like this, ten minutes ago. I don't understand" Saniro answered, looking down at the sleeping boy.

"Some things are better left unsaid… San-San…" Makato murmured, rising to his feet. He glanced over to the sleeping boy, wondering what could possibly make a gentle boy like Kouichi become someone that cold-hearted in a matter of seconds.

(-)-(-)-(-)

It was midnight now; the prince had fallen sleep next to his servant's bed. He was worried about him and stayed by Kouichi's side… He had been by his side since he had fallen asleep because of that spell… despite Daisetsu's objections. Kouichi opened his sapphire eyes, sitting up in his bed. He rubbed his brow gently, in attempt to recount for the events before he passed out- but failed. 'How can I not remember? It was only a few hours ago…' he thought, jumping slightly when he heard a gentle knock on his window. The servant stepped out of bed, opening the large windows, and smiled when he saw who was there. "Hi…"

"Hi there Kou" A familiar face said, standing on the balcony's ledge. He leaned in, kissing the younger male's cheek gently as a greeting.

"Elias? What are you doing here?" Kouichi questioned, closing the window and walked out to the balcony. It was a very cold night, therefore- the boy's body started to shiver slightly.

"How've you been?" the blue haired boy casually asked his closest friend, smiling sweetly at him.

"I know you didn't just come here to reminisce, what do you want Elias?" the boy questioned, quivering. He was still tired… he wanted to get this meeting over with as soon as possible.

"Oh, are you cold, Kou-Kou?" he asked, taking off his cloak. "Here" he said, wrapping the black cloak around the shivering boy. "Better?" he asked worryingly.

"Yeah…" Kouichi smiled, admiring his friend's kind actions.

"I did need to talk to you about something anyway, Kou," the blue haired teen told him, crossing his arms across his chest.

Kouichi nodded, "okay… about what?" he questioned, blinking innocently.

"Master ordered me to retrieve the talisman of darkness for you," he started, grinning a bit. "He wants you to retrieve the other nine," Elias said giving him the amulet he retrieved for his friend.

"Wha? How do they even work?" Kouichi asked Elias, looking at the talisman that was in his hand now.

"You'll know how to use it after the three moons align. That's when the powers of all ten activate, so don't use yours until then. Alright?" he said with a smile.

"Understood…" the slave whispered quietly, "Eli?" he called, looking up at him as he clutched the amulet tightly.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you…" he whispered, displaying a serene smile at Elias. The raven haired boy flinched as his friend came closer to him. Their lips were only an inch away from each other now; he closed his eyes for a moment- feeling his heart race. Soon… Kouichi felt surprisingly soft lips on top of his; oh he didn't want this moment to end. "Elias…."he thought as their lips touched. The blue haired boy pulled away, his lips now brushing against the others.

"Kouichi…. I want you to come home… where you belong… with me… master… and everyone else…" the blue haired boy whispered in a low, still voice.

"Why…? After this mission is done… I would be no use to you or master…. I'm just a burden…" he mumbled sadly.

'Kouichi…. You can't see it…. You can't see how I feel about you…' Elias thought sadly, "Kou… you are my best friend!! Master considers you his son!!" he said, almost shouting.

"I don't belong with you…."

"Oh… I see… it's because I'm not like you. It's because I'm not human…." Elias remarked, the anger in his voice steadily starting to rise. He was not human, because I'm a fallen angel? Because God banished me?

"It's not that! I swear to-"Kouichi froze, looking at Elias's disappointed face "… God…I'm sorry…it's not it Elias…" he muttered, burying his face in the other's shoulder.

"It does bother you…."

"No! It bothered me at first because you didn't tell me sooner but I'm fine now!! Elias I lo-"he shouted, but froze in mid-sentence.

"You what?"

"…love you…"

Elias's eyes widened, staring at Kouichi. "w-what?! Love?!" he asked embarrassingly.

"No… not in a weird sorta way… like… like a really close friend…" he mumbled, "why'd you react like that…" Kouichi questioned, wrapping his arms around the other's waist.

"Once… when I still lived in heaven… Lillian said she loved me…. Of coursed I didn't know how to react. She betrayed me soon after. I took the punishment of her sins… but I did love her too, but I couldn't tell her. I took Lillian's punishment, and I never want to love another being again- I don't love any being. That includes you, Kou…" he muttered, lying that he didn't love Kouichi as well.

"I'm not like her, Elias. I'll never betray you. You know that. Lillian sounds more like that she's Satan's minion if she did that to you…" Kouichi smiled, and looked up at the three moons.

"I lied…" Elias suddenly said, looking up at the moons with Kouichi.

The slave turned to Elias, blinking a few times. "About what?" he questioned, tilting his head slightly to the side.

"I do love another being… I lied… I do love you…" he whispered, kissing Kouichi's brow gently. Kouichi blushed a light pink, delighted to hear that he was loved. He tried to hide his face so that Elias wouldn't see his light blue. "I need to go now Kouichi…" Elias whispered. Kouichi looked at him sadly, leaning in and kissed his cheek gently. "Then go… I'll see you again later…" he whispered, turning around so his back was facing Elias. He touched his lips with two of his fingers, blushing a dark red. 'My first kiss…' he thought with a smile.

"Goodnight Kouichi…"

Ultra Special Blah Blah Blah #2

Okay well I don't think that's the best thing I have written… but I was bored and couldn't think of anything. You gotta hate that damn writer's block.

What Lillian did to Elias is unknown, but his punishment is to be reincarnated and violently killed in an endless loop of tragic lives. Since angels are without gender, I have no frickin' idea to make 'em a boy or girl….

I love all of you who are brave enough to sit and read the crap I write! –Sniff-