-Chapter Four -- The Crimson Plague-

Kei felt something hit his gut and he lurched back slightly, keeping his balance as he glanced at what had hit him with such a terrible force. It was the same hardcover book that he had seen Anai checking out at the library the day before, and it seemed to be very worn out compared to when he had first seen it. He threw it to the ground in frustration, his stomach in unbearable pain, though he wouldn't show it at all. Before he knew it, Kei was having books, pencils, pens, folders, and notebooks thrown full force across the room. He managed to get hit by nothing else excluding the first book, keeping his eyes skillfully locked onto Anai's. "What are you doing this for? I brought you here to talk to you, not to declare war against you via school supplies," Kei told her with a bit of haste in his voice, seeming as though the various objects began to land closer and closer to his strafing body.

"Then why drug me and drag me here? Why not just ask like a normal person?!" Anai responded furiously, discontinuing her throwing of her supplies because there was either no more left or she was too worn out.

"Because, neither of us is normal, and you know that," Kei's haste disappeared as he was given a moment to rest from the bombardment. "The thing you do not know is what you have fallen victim to."

"Victim? What am I victim to?! What exactly did you do to me while I was passed out?!"

"We did nothing. You have begun changing."

"Changing? I'm like I've always been!"

"You've been like this ever since your family died, haven't you? You lose your night life to something else." After Kei said this, Anai froze completely. The bright red glow of her eyes died down to a dim glimmer and tears began to form. Throwing away all of her fear and hatred for this person, Anai flew across the room, flinging herself onto Kei.

"H-Help me.." She began to plead as Kei wrapped his arms around her in response.

"Let me explain what has happened to you," he persuaded her, escorting her over to a far corner of the room with two conveniently placed chairs. "You have fallen victim to something me and my partner like to call 'The Crimson Plague,' " Kei explained, staring at Anai with her head in her hands. He guessed that she was crying, which was confirmed by a low sobbing sound. Kei affentionatally placed his hand on her thigh. "It's a leak in the power of the Devil. His power is only meant for one, the messenger of Hell," he lowered his tone, beginning to talk of himself in third person. Anai's head suddenly shot up from her hands in response to something Kei had said, a look of pure terror on her face.

"The Devil? Hell?! What have I gotten myself into?! What's going on?!" She began to go crazy. Kei, in an attempt to calm her down, grabbed her hand softly, making her slow down her repetitive speech and sit back down.

"Don't worry. You won't be hurt. I, myself, am the messenger of Hell. I've only recently been aware of this...The Crimson Plague can infect anything from Humans and animals to inanimate objects. In fact, my partner, Ichimaku Ren, was a 600 year-old Japanese sword infected with the plague before I refined him and brought him to life," Kei winced, recalling the painful trials he had to endure to do so, "effectively making him my servant. However...I've never seen anything or anyone besides Ichimaku Ren that had been infected...until now."

"So, what does this mean? Does this mean...that I have to go to Hell?!"

"No, not at all. This means something much more. Something I sure that would be special to you."

"W-What?"

"It means that you are immortal."