The crisp morning air transitions into a sultry afternoon, and before I know it, the bell signaling the beginning of lunch blares its pesky tone through the blatant monotone of the class.

Mr. Matsumura exclaims with false joy as he waves to everyone with a friendly grin on his face, "Great job, everyone! Now go enjoy your well-deserved break so that we may continue the journey with our hearts blazing anew and our spirits empowered by the fuel of our empowered hopes and dreams!"

As I pass by him on the way out, I reply with a mocking chuckle as my true pupils reveal themselves briefly, "Soo da ne? Such a poor attempt at hiding your phoniness, bakkun-sensei… What, were you surprised by the inversion of roles in this complex game of cat-and-mouse…or, rather spider-and-fly?"

He whispers in a tone that could only be a mixture of frustration and genuine fear as his body began to quiver, "Yuuki-kun… What are you…?"

I interrupt him with glee as I place my finger upon my lips and at last merge with the flow of the crowd in the hallway, "All will be revealed in time… But I will say that this youthful husk is nothing but a façade, a mask to contain the truth if you will…until the death knell rings within the confines of the blackest nightmare. But, if you will excuse me…I have an appointment to attend to…"

As the noise of the crowd overwhelms his petty tone, I look one last time inside the classroom to see that he had fallen onto his knees as a single sentence forms on his lips…

"Damn you, Yuuki…"

I find Kotaru sitting on a bench all by his lonesome, just staring off into the azure nothingness of the open sky. However, when I approach him, he turns his gaze to me as his eyes grow wide with confusion and shock.

I inquire with a raised eyebrow as I sit down next to him and place my arms affectionately around him, "What seems to be troubling you, Kotaru-kun?"

He replies with a sigh as he clutches his head, "I don't understand it too much myself… Supposedly, two beings…a boy cloaked in wicked flames and a girl seething with frigid apathy, to be specific…claim to be something called a 'Dream Demon', and supposedly wish to share my body with me. What is more, they told me to speak to you if I was confused about what they meant."

I reply with a smirk as I gaze deep into his eyes, "Oh yes… I know of them… Why do you think I even started the business of getting rid of 'nightmares'? Most of the time, vicious nightmares are a symptom of Dream Demon possession…"

Kotaru snarls with a surge of fury as he grabs me by the shirt, "So, you KNEW about this, and neglected to share it with your best friend? What else have you hidden from me, Yuuki-san?"

I sigh as I force his grasp open and reply as my true pupils reveal themselves, "Fine… I will tell you the entire truth since it is your demand, so that you may understand my reasoning a bit more. Yuuki Kagemura is but an alias that I have taken to assimilate with the student body, even if my innate talents still shine when called upon. My true name is Yumechi Darkwing, and I too am a Dream Demon. However, unlike other Dream Demons, I have developed the ability to manifest myself physically without use of a petty vessel. My assignment here in the real world is simple: Maintain order and eradicate all those who would dare bring shame to our kind through acts of anarchy and cruelty. Normally, it is in our best interests to make sure all those who we care about do not get involved with sticky affairs such as these. Unfortunately…you were drawn in anyways. Anyways, it is only coincidence that the fools who dared to possess you…just happen to be my spawn, Embrek and Eserla Darkwing. Therefore, they are obedient enough to me to at least give you a choice whether or not to allow them inside your mind."

Kohaku furrows his brow as he replies with a stern expression, "And what do you suggest?"

I reply with a sigh as I rub the stress from my eyelids, "I don't know… Even though they can be unpredictable at times, they are still very powerful and can hold their own against the top-tier dream demons enough so that your hopes and dreams are more safe in their hands than with another lesser dream demon. So, in the end, it is your choice…"

Kohaku replies with a chuckle as he crosses his arms, "Can you at least be there when I sign the pact? I sense that you have something on your mind that you wish to talk to them about, and I am intrigued to know what that is."

I chuckle as I weave my daydream around us all as well as transition from my school attire to my battle-wear.

Embrek, who is sitting on a makeshift throne of shadows, exclaims with a wide grin, "Ah… So Otoo-chan has arrived at last…with Kohaku-kun… Omoshiroi… So, has a decision formulated, young one?"

Kohaku replies with a nod as he outstretches his hand, "Un. Yumechi-san has told me all that I need to know, and I am ready to become you and Eserla's vessel…given you keep up your end of the bargain by guarding my dreams to the best of your ability."

Eserla replies with a subtle smile as she looks up at the empty sky, "Embrek and I may be merciless to foes, but even we abide by the rules when it comes to vessels. Otherwise, Yumechi-too-san would have our heads before much could get done. Of course we will guard your hopes and dreams, ningen. It will be much easier to use a cooperating vessel than a sleeper agent after all…"

As Embrek takes Kohaku's hand with an eager grin, I exclaim with a sigh as the very air around me begins to ripple and distort, "Now for the bad news… Apparently one of my teachers and his Dream Demon host are pulling a Mistleteinn, and for some reason, they foolishly chose me as their first target…"

Embrek chuckles with amusement as he replies, "Well, that was quite the misstep on their part… Did they initiate their dream or did you? Moreover, do they know who you are?"

I shake my head and reply with a bit of hope in my tone, "Nah… I saw through their trickery almost immediately and brought them into my domain to show them a taste of my power… They still think I am Yuuki for the time-being, although I have thrown doubt upon that being the truth."

Kohaku inquires as he shakes his head to dispel his disbelief, "Why am I not surprised that you have implemented treachery on even him… Anyways, your plan?"

I turn to Eserla and answer Kohaku's question with confidence, "Embrek and Eserla are free to help with the hunt, as is only fair, but this is MY kill…so I would appreciate that you leave the disposal of both Matsumura and his host to me. After all, I have much more…clean ways to deal with garbage like them than either of you do."

Kohaku replies with a sigh of relief, "So…I guess that is all…"

I shake my head as I meet Kohaku's gaze with my own and exclaim with a sly tone, "Not quite… There is still the issue of your confession earlier today. I am curious as to whether or not your feelings are still sincere despite what you now know…"

Kohaku replies with a crimson red blush as he tries to avert his azure gaze, "Well… Although I do not appreciate you not having been honest with me about who you truly were, I still love you for you, not who you claimed to be. Therefore, I will follow your wishes as before, although I would like it if I could join in the battle against these foes of yours. If there is anything I can do…"

I reply with a grin as I bring his face up to mine and press his lips upon mine, "Just make sure you do not ever give up on your hopes and dreams… Never forget that which motivates you, and no matter what happens, always keep fighting for what you believe in."

Embrek whistles with approval, only to cease once my frigid glare meets his passionate orbs, which in turn causes Kohaku to chuckle as he whispers to me, "I am guessing you and him have quite the strained relationship, don't you?"

I reply with an embarrassed sigh, "You have no idea what he had done… It is not as much scorn as it is frustration with his promiscuous perversions. Just make sure that you don't get hooked in by his toxic personality, okay? That will only burn up your precious virginity even quicker than you would prefer…"

Kohaku replies with a nod of understanding, "I understand… Besides…"

He then winks seductively as he continues with a chuckle and pulls me into another kiss, "Wouldn't want that to be stolen before I can give you a taste, after all…"

I reply with an awkward blush as I try to avert my gaze, "N-not that I would do such a thing myself too soon. You are a minor after all…"

Kohaku lets out a sigh as he strokes my face and exclaims with a grin, "…And that should matter why? It is my innocence after all… Just because I am below a certain age doesn't mean that I am too naïve to know what it entails. Besides, I am quite sure you would be cautious on my first attempt as to give me the best experience possible…"

I interrupt with a blush of embarrassment as I narrow my eyes with slight impatience, "Please stop talking about that! There is a time and a place to speak of those affairs, and the window for both is not open at this time…"

Kohaku replies with a grin as he strokes my cheek tenderly, "I understand… How foolish of me to try and speed things up prematurely. When the opportunity does arise, I just want you to know that I will be ready along with you."

I exclaim with a sigh as the daydream begins to fade back into reality, "And that time will come soon… After all, it would be nice if that bakkun thinks of the bell at the day's conclusion as a death knell that signals the coming of my imminent judgment. But, then again…I only showed him the difference between the power levels of Edgefeather and I. He could still assume that there is a possibility that I will not strike so soon after asserting my dominance…and he is partially correct in that. I want him to show me his ruthless spite before I have Embrek and Eserla shatter his mind and eradicate that foolish Edgefeather in the process."

Kohaku replies with a chuckle once we are back in the real world, "So very wicked you are, Yumechi-san… Hopefully this doesn't spiral too much out of your control."

I let out a chuckle as I playfully reply, "Oh, that is not an issue… In fact, should they even dare drench themselves in the haze of shattered dreams, I might not even need to give them a clean execution… Not like I WOULD anyways, but without them breaking the Dream Demon code…I would get hell from on high should I intentionally allow the vessel to intentionally suffer as well as the host."

Kohaku replies in an almost mocking tone as he pensively looks up at the empty mid-day sky, "'Not like it matters anyways. They deserve what is coming to them…' Is that what you were going to say as well, Yumechi-san?"

I subtly nod and reply with an amused smirk, "You can still read me like a book, perhaps even more so now that you have seen more of my pages…"

Unfortunately, our moment of serenity is brutally murdered by the dissonant ringing of the post-lunch bell. Since we are on a tight schedule as it is, we quickly say our goodbyes and rush to class, all while anticipating that bakkun's almost imminent hour of reckoning. After all, a true assassin manipulates his mark's emotions in order to force them into a spot where either their death would bring tears to no one or they make so big a mistake that ends up being key to their undoing.

I sure hope that Matsumura-sensei goes either way soon enough…or the hunt won't be nearly as fun.