When Doumeki came to, he couldn't see anything.

Blinking a couple of times, he got up and realized he could see himself perfectly. So it wasn't because the area was engulfed in darkness, his surroundings were the ones that were pitch black.

He couldn't see Watanuki anywhere. When he saw the boy being sucked in by that huge black ball, his first imminent thought was to save him and he had immediately jumped in after Watanuki.

He must have passed out because he didn't remember what happened next.

Worry rose in him as he began to walk aimlessly.

"Watanuki! Watanuki! Wata…"

Wait. Where was the baby? He was certain he was still carrying him when they saw that thing appear.

He blinked and shook his head. The darkness was getting to him. He continued to walk, not knowing where he was heading but knowing that he had to find Watanuki and the baby. Fast.

"Doumeki Shizuka…"

The soft sound alerted him and he froze momentarily in his tracks. Someone was calling his name. He swiveled around but he couldn't see anything.

"Doumeki Shizuka…"

There it was again. Who or what is that?

"Hurry, Doumeki Shizuka…hurry… he needs you…go!"

Doumeki felt chilled to his bones. Anxiety was building up in him and he broke into a run.

He didn't know where he was running to. It doesn't matter. He needed to get to Watanuki. Watanuki… where is he?

The soft voice was ringing in his ears and the chilling feeling didn't go away.

Suddenly, up ahead, he caught sight of something bright. A light. The light was getting bigger but not any brighter.

He quickened his footsteps and could now make out two outlines.

Watanuki was hovering horizontally laid out, like a magician hypnotizing his subject, encased in a cocoon of light. The spirit was hovering next to him, greed and lust overpowering everything else. It froze suddenly and snapped its head up, noticing Doumeki's presence.

Doumeki narrowed his eyes and raised his arms, getting ready to shoot.

"You! Get away! I only want this boy!" the spirit shrieked and started to charge right towards Doumeki.

Doumeki had no time to fire his arrow. With a surprised gasp, he was thrown off his feet by a bone-chilling strong force and he landed a few feet away.

Suppressing a groan, Doumeki attempted to get up, his eyes flickering over to make sure Watanuki was still there.

The spirit seemed disgusted by Doumeki's feeble attempt and began to charge angrily at him again.

Doumeki raised his arms once again in his firing stance and this time managed to fire the spiritual arrow. The spirit dodged and with another maniacal screech, shot towards him and Doumeki felt intense pain on his left side.

Wincing, he fell to the ground and clutched his side. It felt wet and sticky and the pain seemed intensifying. He was bleeding profusely.

This time, the spirit seemed satisfied and floated towards the unconscious Watanuki, wanting to finish its business.

Doumeki breathed heavily and willed himself to get up. The pain was making him light-headed and he summoned his willpower not to succumb to it. He clenched his jaw and staggered towards the light again.

Watanuki. He had to save Watanuki.

The spirit sneered as it looked at Doumeki, trembling and shaking as he held the spiritual bow.

"You don't even have the strength to stand, let alone use your spiritual power. You cannot save him! The boy is mine! "

Something snapped in Doumeki. He narrowed his eyes as he held the bowstring tight in place.

"Get away from Watanuki."

The arrow was released with its tremendous spiritual energy but the spirit only narrowed its eyes and the arrow immediately shattered into nothingness.

"Give it up, human. This boy here is mine. You cannot harm me."

Doumeki didn't give up. He fired another arrow, then another arrow. The arrows only made it halfway before it dispersed like dandelions in the wind. He dropped his arms and stared at the spirit. This was not any ordinary spirit and Doumeki was beginning to feel at a loss. There must be a way to save Watanuki.

"What do you want before you agree to let Watanuki go?"

The spirit let off a laugh. "You want to strike a deal with me?" It narrowed its eyes and studied Doumeki. Doumeki stood his ground, determined to do anything it takes to save Watanuki.

"Very well. This boy here is very valuable to us non-humans. If you can withstand my powers, I'll deem you fit enough to talk terms with me."

There was a burst of light and Doumeki shielded his eyes and squinted as his surroundings took form and he was plunged into arctic atmosphere.

It seemed he was in an icy cold cave, with sharp pointed icicles forming from the top. The icicles were compact and clusters of them were so low that Doumeki would have to duck down if he were to walk.

The icy prison gave off a claustrophobic aura for the top and sides of the cave almost seemed to be leaning towards the center. The entire place was made out of ice and the area was enclosed and dark till it almost seemed blue.

Mist formed as Doumeki breathed. The area had to be degrees below zero and he could almost feel the cold seeping in through layers of his clothing and skin till he could almost feel it in his bones.

"This place is sealed with my powers. Find the seal and try to break free. If you do succeed, I'll let your friend go. Of course if you are smart enough to give up before you lose your life in this icy grave, I'll let you go. But your friend will stay with me."

Doumeki grimaced. There was no way in hell he was going to give up Watanuki to this psycho thing. A soft burst of light alerted him and Doumeki looked up to see a translucent image of a wide-eyed Watanuki staring in horror at him.

"I have decided to let your friend here witness his foolish human companion's act. Because this could well be the last time he'll see you alive."

Watanuki was saying something anxiously but Doumeki could not hear him. Seeming to realize this, Watanuki turned to pounding furiously in his own prison and started mouthing again.

How many times have he seen Watanuki land himself in danger? His life's journey was fraught with the burden, the curse, which he's carrying, since the time he was born.

For most of his life, he had to fend himself from the residents of the netherworld alone and yet the boy in front of him remains strong-spirited, brave and kind, enduring the hardships and the pain quietly

No one notices Watanuki. Probably no one can empathize with him because they do not carry the same burden, are not constantly yearned by spirits as if he was some delicious food.

Yet Watanuki puts others before himself. He would do everything within his power, even if it meant costing his life, for others. Doumeki could go nuts trying to convince him otherwise.

He stared at the now panic-stricken Watanuki still pounding and yelling silently. He wanted this boy to rely on him, wanted this boy to turn to him for solace. He knew he could protect Watanuki for the blood that runs in him dispels the things that Watanuki hated so much. And he resolved to do just that. He was not going to let Watanuki Kimhiro be alone.

Doumeki turned his gaze away. He was determined to break through this and nothing could stand in his way. Not even some powerful psychotic spirit that took pleasure in others' pain. Well it wasn't going to get any from him.

He began trudging through the small cave, ducking his way through long winding tunnels of ice. There were different openings that seemed to lead even deeper in. As Doumeki made his way through, he flexed his fingers constantly to made sure they weren't about to fall off. The air felt frozen in the icy cave and Doumeki willed himself not to think of the coldness.

The time soon felt like hours and Doumeki was beginning to feel numb. The coldness seemed to have numbed out some of the pain from his wound. However, it did not stop the bleeding completely.

Doumeki's brow was covered in cold sweat and he occasionally needed support from the icy walls as he walked. But he couldn't see any clue which led him to find the seal and he wasn't sure how long he could hold out if he still couldn't find it.

He looked up and saw Watanuki looking at him, deep worry manifested in those blue eyes of his. It gave him the renewed confidence and he paced on, Watanuki firmly planted in his mind.

Soon, he began to notice that everytime he came upon different openings, there would be one opening that would be narrower and had long sharp icicles forming from the top.

Deciding to give it a shot, Doumeki chose to walk through all such openings. Before long, he notice that was something glowing at the end of one narrow tunnel. He picked up his pace and came face to face with a large, glowing dome-shaped barrier.

The bright light reflected off all the icy walls and everything was white and sparkling. Inside the barrier was the light source, which Doumeki presumed must be the seal that he was searching for.

Now all he had to do was break the seal. He gritted his teeth and breathed deeply. The biting cold and loss of blood from the gaping wound was draining away his energy.

Watanuki was still staring anxiously at him, brow furrowed and forehead creased in worry. Watanuki needed him. He was the only one who could protect him and saved Watanuki from all the dangers that he gets into day and night.

He had to get Watanuki out safely.

Clenching his jaw, he straightened out and got into his firing stance. He narrowed his eyes in concentration, wanting to build up all his spiritual energy into the arrow so he can get it over in one single shot.

With his mind still fixated on Watanuki's safety, he released the arrow along with massive amount of spiritual energy. The seal broke with a sudden blinding light and the icy cold cave vanished.

Watanuki appeared hovering in front of him and the cocoon of light around him disappeared and he began to fall. Doumeki instinctively lunged forward and grabbed him before he could hit the ground.

He fell to the ground, using his body to support Watanuki and began to breathe heavily. He felt Watanuki moving on his heaving chest and watched through half-lidded eyes, relieved as Watanuki sat up, blinking around before noticing Doumeki's bloody situation.

"Doumeki! Oi, Doumeki!!"

Doumeki felt the shaking and the familiar voice call out his name in urgency, but he couldn't seem to respond. Slowly, he closed his eyes and slipped away to darkness once again.

A/n: really appreciate all the reviews that were left. Thank you so much. Reviews brighten any author's day.

Keep them coming? (smiles)