Yoru: Hello again and welcome to DEAI!

Kuronue: This isn't a game show. By the way, Yoru doesn't own anything.

Youko: Yeah.

Taitsu: Oh boy. Next chapter. I'm so dead.

Yoru: I know you guys probably gave up on this one. I did too. But I'm going to try to get it back on track, kay?

Youko shoved Kuronue toward the door.

"Go outside and stay there. Don't come back in. I'll meet you there." The fox watched Kuronue as the Chimera ran outside. Taitsu growled, bringing Youko's attention back to him.

"That's right, bro. Gaze after some bat. Kill me." Taitsu lunged at his brother. Youko sighed once, then countered, truly beginning the fight.

Kuronue ran outside, only to be grabbed by a bandit.

"Where do you think you're off to, bat?" Kuronue pulled at the hold on his arms.

"Youko told me to come out here. Let go of me!" The bandit did not, tightening his grip instead. The others came up then, watching Kuronue struggle. Finally one bandit came over and lightly tapped Kuronue on the face.

"Stop yer strugglin'. When Youko comes out, we'll find out the truth." Youko came out then. There was blood on his clothes. One tear track decorated each cheek.

"Let him go." The bandit released Kuronue, who ran to Youko.

"What happened? Did you..."

"Kill Taitsu?...Yes." Kuronue stared at Youko, who looked away.

"You killed him...for me?" Youko suddenly grabbed Kuronue and hugged him, crying hard on his shoulder.

"That bastard...he provoked me...he's been doing this for years..." Kuronue didn't know what to do.

"Youko...don't cry. I...you...he..." Nothing he could say would do anything, he realized. Youko was filled with grief and guilt. He had killed his own brother. But as Kuronue let Youko cry, he remembered his own villages cries as Youko's bandits killed them all. His eyes hardened, and he pushed Youko away.

"Why do you cry like that? It's not like you've never killed anyone." Youko stared at the Chimera that he had just saved from a terrible fate.

"Kuronue, what..." Kuronue backed up farther.

"You killed my family. And now you've killed yours. What's the difference?" With that, the Chimera turned and ran. Youko stared after him, anger beginning to cloud his reasoning.

"That stupid prick!" Ignoring the stares of the other bandits, Youko took off after Kuronue.

Kuronue ran for what felt like hours. He knew Youko would come after him. He almost wanted him to. He wanted to make the fox so angry that he would kill the disobedient Chimera. Kuronue welcomed death at this point. Almost as soon as he thought that, the vines appeared and tangled around his limbs. He didn't struggle; it would be useless anyway. Youko came to him, grabbing his face and forcing his Chimera to look him in the eyes.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Kuronue pulled now against the vines and Youko's grip, anger flooding through him.

"How could you? How could you cry after killing? You kill without remorse most of the time! So what if he was your brother? What the hell should it matter to you!" Youko slapped Kuronue as hard as he could. The Chimera's head snapped to the side harshly, but he kept his cry in check.

"You idiot. I saved you from being raped! I heard you call me and I came for you! I don't know why I bothered! I killed the only family I had left for you! Yes, I killed your damn family! Now my family's gone too! ARE WE FUCKING EVEN?" Youko was breathing hard, eyes blazing. Kuronue only glared at him.

"Even. We won't be even until I am free. When do you plan on letting me GO?" A single tear slid down his bruised cheek. Without thinking, Youko reached out and wiped it away.

"Where would you go, Chimera?" Kuronue wrenched his face away quickly. The tears wouldn't stop…he had sworn he wouldn't cry in front of his slaver…

"Away…away from you…you're a bastard…you killed my family and friends, imprisoned me, took away my life and yet…" Youko let the vines drop. Kuronue fell to his knees.

"Goddammit, Youko. Why do you invade me like this? I called you…I wanted you to save me…but why? I hate you…I hate you so much…" Youko sat next to Kuronue. He touched the Chimera's cheek gently, and Kuronue felt the strange sensation of a burden being lifted. When he reached up, he realized the fox-shaped brand was gone.

"Youko…"

"I can't hold you anymore. Not after all this. Just…go." With that, the kitsune disappeared.

Yoru: You know Kuro's gotta decide what to do now. He can't go home, but will he go back to Youko or strike out on his own? Don't think this is the end or anything. Make sure you check back if you want to know what happens.