A/N: Warning! The beginning of this chapter contains some graphic material.

It was the most horrendous sight Hikari had ever seen. The young girl shivered and took a few slow steps back. Hot tears beaded the surface of her eyelids and short whimpers escaped from her timid mouth. She was terrified at what she was witnessing. Akagi, he was trembling, obviously in pain from what he had inflicted on himself. He was tightly gripping his knife Ebony, soaked with blood, with a shaking hand. He heard Hikari's cries, immediately telling her to retreat until he calmed down and brought himself together. The man was shirtless on such a cold night but what was worse was that there were two long and thin gashes embedded in his back. The wounds leaked a dark black liquid with a tinge of crimson, Akagi's blood. Underneath the man's lowered body were two thickly feathered unattached wings.

"Akagi! What is happening to you? Are those, wings?" Hikari gasped, wanting to move in closer but she was signaled to stay back.

"My body is falling apart Hikari, corrupted, ruined, I want it to go away. I want all my pain and suffering to disappear" The man seemed to be very content with his words and he appeared to be eerily peaceful.

"You need to settle down and drop that knife before you do something even more horrific! Please Akagi, for me." Hikari pleaded for dear life that he didn't harm himself anymore and he finally obeyed. Shortly after ending her plea, Akagi had loosened his grip on Ebony and allowed it to fall gracefully onto the bloodstained grass. This was cue for Hikari to come running and that's just what she did. The young girl knelt down by Akagi's side and brought him in for an embracing hug, careful not to touch his tender back.

"You scare me sometimes Akagi. I thought you were going to do something even more terrifying. Let's get you fixed up and back to bed."

Hikari reached into her travel bag and pulled out a jar that contained a greenish-blue paste. She unscrewed the lid and dipped two fingers in and lathered them up. When she gathered an adequate amount Hikari smeared the paste along the gaping wounds emerging from Akagi's back.

"Yikes! That's cold! What is it?" Akagi twitched and shivered with each gentle touch. His wounds were very tender and would take some time to fully heal.

"It's a special paste my grandmother invented. It can heal even the deepest of injuries. It contains potion, oran berries, sitrus berries and a hint of elixir, the best healing medicine around."

"Your grandmother must be very skilled with medicine." Akagi replied, starting to feel relief from the pain.

"Oh yes she can make anything from poison antidotes to completely reviving someone who is close to death. She's wonderful and so talented!" Hikari's eyes lit up but homesickness tugged at her heart. All her years of adventuring had kept her far away from home.

Once she was finished applying the soothing paste, Hikari tightened the lid on the jar and placed it back into her bag. She carefully began unraveling bandages and wrapping them around his chest to cover his wounds. Once finished, she rubbed Akagi's shoulder and helped him up, arm over her shoulder and towards the hollow where they had been sleeping. She set the man down gently and tucked him in for a second time.

"There, that should help ease the pain some more. Please try to get some sleep now." She turned around to make herself comfortable again within the embrace of the blankets. Akagi was still in pain but knew he would be able to endure the rest of the night. He was happy to have removed such a horrible part of his new corrupted self.

"Thank you Hikari. You've really been the light in my darkness these past couple of days. I'm still surprised that you're helping me."

"I believe that everyone deserves a second chance. You never hurt or killed anyone; you were just confused about life and needed guidance. This is your second chance." Hikari reassured him that everything would be ok now.

"You heard that old couple in Sunyshore. My grandfather had a heart attack in my absence. He was probably so ashamed of me and upset that I let myself disappear and couldn't take it anymore. I killed him." He murmured.

"You can't justify something like that. He was old and probably died peacefully in his sleep. I'm sure he's watching over you right now with a smile on his face. You're starting a new life for yourself and he would be proud of that. In fact, I had the pleasure of meeting him in my travels a long time ago and he would only talk of you, he said you were an intelligent boy who just lost his way."

Akagi turned away and closed his eyes. Thinking about this now would only keep him awake and he needed some serious sleep.

"Well, thanks again Hikari, goodnight."

Hikari also turned away to close her eyes and she smiled before slowly drifting off to sleep.