A/N: Thank you for the reviews!

We're at the second to last chapter already... sad, but exciting, no? Anyway, I like to think of this as Climax Part II, so get ready for a little bit of fluff, some action-packed action, and a whole lot of angst!

Disclaimer: I do not own Junjou Romantica

Chapter 7: Okay, Maybe I'm in Way Over my Head

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I awoke slowly, as if swimming up from deep beneath the surface of some huge lake, a lake full of some viscous liquid that kept me from moving properly and made my limbs feel like they were tied down with a ton of bricks. And it stung too, well it did sting, I was sure of that, but somewhere in the darkness I had passed the point of stinging and moved onto a dull ache.

That would be the effects of the holy water, said Kage and his voice in my mind immediately jolted me awake. The memories of what had happened flooded back into my head as if the water had broken through my skull and infiltrated my brain, making my head ache as well.

I slowly opened my eyes, squinting at the dim rays of golden light seeping around the drawn curtain over the bedroom window. I couldn't tell if the sun was coming up or going down – I had no clue how long I'd been out for. What I did know was that I was not in my own bedroom. I was lying in the middle of Usagi's large king-sized bed.

The same Usagi who had come to my rescue the night before. The one who had killed the demon and carried me back here and cared for me. The one who had said 'I love you' moments before I blacked out. I felt my face turn red at the memory.

"And so he lives," said a voice that made me flush deeper, "I would recognize that blush anywhere." I turned my head to look at Usagi, who was sitting in a chair beside the bed and regretted it immediately. My whole body ached viciously.

I let out a low groan at the pain and then felt Usagi shift from his position in the chair to beside me in the bed. "Let me help you," he said softly as he slid an arm beneath my back and pulled me up into a sitting position. The blankets fell away from my torso and I could see the white bandages that Usagi had wrapped around me where the holy water had burned my skin.

But if Usagi had been the one to bandage me that means he must have realized…

…That I'm here, Kage finished the thought, Misaki, we cannot waste any more time. He must be eliminated. Now.

I gulped involuntarily, suddenly feeling very sick. I looked up and my gaze was immediately met with Usagi's violet one. His beautiful amethyst eyes, framed by silver hair, looking down at me with such concern that I probably would have done about anything to wipe the sadness away.

"How much of last night do you remember, Misaki-kun?" asked Usagi suddenly.

To which Kage replied immediately with one simple word: Lie. And I was forced to comply – what I else could I do without letting the angel know there was a demon inside of me bent on killing him?

"Nothing," I said trying to sound lost and confused – which admittedly was not very hard given the state of my (and my demon's) conflicting emotions at the moment.

Usagi looked down at me hard and for a second I thought he was going to contradict me. But he didn't. Instead his expression shifted to a small, sad smile as he lifted a hand to pat me on the head. "You know, Misaki," said Usagi, "if there is ever anything you want to talk about, I am always here for you. Nothing could ever make me stop caring for you. Remember that."

A shiver coursed down my spine with his last words although I'm not sure if that had to do with what he said or who he said it to. His eyes weren't focused on mine and I got the strange feeling he was looking deeper. Like he could see through me or within me…

He knows… said Kage's voice grimly from the back of my mind. But he was cut off as Usagi leaned down and kissed me. Slowly at first, with lips working against mine as if he was trying to memorize the shape, the feel with his own. And then it turned fiercer as his teeth grazed my lips and his hand pressed against the small of my back. I scarcely noticed the pain as I willingly arched towards him.

I brought my hands up and twined my hands through his hair, letting the silky strands slide through my fingers. My lips parted as I let out a small gasp and his tongue found mine. He tasted so sweet… so good… so perfect.

And all too soon, he was gone, drawing back with a sad smile playing on his lips. He brought a hand up and stroked my face, running his smooth fingers first down the line of my jawbone and then over my lips before cupping my whole cheek in his palm. He placed one more kiss on my lips, this one, however, much more chaste and final before dropping his hand to his side.

I'm not sure how long we sat there in silence before Usagi spoke again. "I thought as a special treat," said Usagi, tone changing completely, but there was an odd remnant hitch in his voice that seemed to signal an emotion that I couldn't quite place, "I would do the cooking today. That would just leave you with the cleaning and laundry. I think that sounds fair. Wouldn't you agree?"

He stood and left the room as I just sat there staring. I don't think I'll ever understand this guy… I thought.

It won't matter, replied Kage, this angel knows I'm here. Which means it is time.

Wait, what? I said in my mind, but my thoughts were pressed aside as Kage took over.

I have prepared for the creation of a body, said Kage off-handedly as if he were discussing nothing more than the weather, and now that he knows of my existence it will only get harder to kill him. The sooner the better.

No! I yelled, struggling against Kage's will, but it was too strong. I felt my consciousness being pressed into a corner of my mind as Kage pushed my body to its feet. It hurt like hell, but Kage was better at compartmentalizing the pain than I was.

It's been a fun ride, little human, said Kage, but I think I liked you better when you were still an emotional wreck. Well, you're still pretty much an emotional wreck, but guilt is easier to control than love.

I didn't respond, instead focusing my efforts on overthrowing Kage's dominance over my mind. He just laughed at my futile efforts as he slipped silently out of the bedroom door.

From the top of the stairs I could Usagi standing over the stove cooking something that could probably be considered stew if you had really low standards in food. He somehow made the checkered apron he had tied around his waist look manly – I have no idea how this was possible. I probably would have smiled if there wasn't a demon planning on killing him currently in control of my every move.

Keep your thoughts to yourself, snapped Kage and I just glared internally back at him. Kage moved my body lightly down the stairs, but with enough noise that Usagi looked up when we reached the bottom.

"Misaki-kun," said Usagi with concern, "What are you doing out of bed?"

I felt myself smile against my will. "Do you even know how to cook, Usagi-san?" said Kage innocently with my voice.

Usagi smiled and looked back down at the stew he was stirring, his hair falling into his face and covering his eyes. "Ye, of little faith, Misaki," he said, "What if I told you I used to be a chef before I became a novelist?"

"I wouldn't believe you," said Kage exactly as I would have responded.

Misaki, deplored Kage, we've been together for ten years. I know how you think. You are mine.

Anger coursed through me. Get out of my head, demon! I yelled and Kage laughed.

Funny, said the demon, I think I've heard that one before. Now shush, this will all be over soon enough.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," laughed Usagi but there was an odd, unreadable lilt to his voice. Sorrow, maybe? He turned towards the opposite counter, causing his hair to shift slightly and allowing me to catch a glimpse of his violet eyes. I could have sworn they were shining, rimmed with tears…

But apparently Kage hadn't noticed. He saw this as the perfect opportunity to strike and he was going to take it.

The demon stole my body silently over to the counter where he grabbed a knife that lay there abandoned. I don't think he noticed that it was the demon girl's, but I did and it made me wonder what Usagi was up to… but I clamped down tightly on all thoughts. Kage may be in control of my body but he was not using my thoughts if I could help it.

Fortunately (well, fortunately, relative to the overall horribleness of this situation) Kage was too filled with glee at the thought of the imminent creation of his new body to notice my thoughts. He tiptoed right up to Usagi's back, lifting the dagger into the air, poised to pierce it through Usagi's back. I felt my stomach drop as I mentally thrashed, trying to somehow stop this demon in my mind.

This is it, Misaki, said Kage, See you in another life.

Please no… I cried in my mind but I was cut off by a voice.

"Please just get it over with, demon," said Usagi in a strained voice, hands gripping the counter, his back still to us. And now it was Kage's turn to freeze.

"You know?" said Kage listlessly through my voice.

Usagi suddenly turned towards us and snapped, "Of course I know!" before sighing and bringing a few fingers to his head to knead his forehead. He blinked his amethyst eyes and a teardrop loosed itself and slid down his cheek. He let out a sad laugh. "You know, never in all my years – and believe me there have been a lot of them, angels don't die of old age – did I think I would care this much about a human. Enough to die for one. I love you, Misaki and I hope you have a wonderful life once this demon is gone."

If it were possible for your heart to melt, I think mine would be in a puddle at my feet. "Usagi-san," I murmured and it took me a moment to realize I had said that. Not Kage.

"Shut up, human!" yelled Kage, also in my voice, "Your time is over angel, say goodbye." And without he lifted the dagger, ready to plunge it into Usagi's heart.

"NO!" I yelled in my own voice, pushing with all my might at Kage's presence. I felt my hand freeze midair as we battled for control.

"What are you doing Misaki?" growled Kage in my voice.

"Taking back what is mine!" I yelled back. The dagger was trembling in our joint grip.

"You'll get it back," snapped Kage. "Once we kill the angel. Just give up, you will never win. The human mind can't fight forever." But my voice under his control sounded strained.

"It doesn't need to last forever," I growled back, my control of my voice growing in strength.

"Misaki…" I heard Usagi's voice float through the air and I caught a glimpse of him through Kage's fleeting vision, white and feathery wings stretched wide, glowing radiantly as if they generated their own light from within.

And that pushed me over the top. I couldn't let this demon take such beauty from the world. From my world. Usagi was my world. "I love him…" I murmured.

I heard Usagi gasp as Kage's hold slipped. And I knew immediately what I must do.

You wouldn't, said Kage in my mind.

"I would," I said, and I twisted the dagger so that it was facing towards me and plunged it forward.

I heard Usagi cry out as Kage said, Stupid human, we could have both lived. But if you insist…

Before the blade reached my chest I felt something rip inside of me. As if someone had taken my mind and soul and tore them both down the middle. I cried out as my body went limp, the dagger fell to the floor, clattering on the hardwood.

"Misaki!" I heard Usagi yell, but his cry was lost to Kage's cackle that was no longer coming from within me. My vision swam as my body felt oddly light and empty as I fell to the floor. Above me floated a giant swirling mass of smoke, through which I could just make out the silhouette of a winged and horned creature laughing mercilessly. And then everything went black.