Sorry It took so long. I STARTED SCHOOL D:

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Flint, Kana, Kumatora and Boney all carried Duster to Hometown, determined to cleanse his soul of the spirit possessing him. But by Nightfall, Duster was already awake and thrashing about. It took all of Kumatora's and Flint's strength to keep him down.

"Can't you work any faster?!" Flint said, trying to stop Duster from getting up, "I don't know how much longer we can hold him."

"These things take time, Flint." Kana said, grabbing things from off a shelf, "I gathered almost all of my stuff, don't worry."

"Please hurry …" Kumatora said, struggling to keep Duster down, "I don't think we can hold him much longer."

"Kumatora, I've been kicked 7 times already." Flint said, still keeping the Trashing thief down, "We both need to remain strong, for him at least."

Duster Managed to get his arm out of Kumatora's grip and used it to strike Flint, who flew back to a cabinet filled with bottles and jars. Duster crept right up to him and prepared to punch him a second time, but was stopped by Kumatora clinging to his arm.

"Duster, please!! Don't do this!!" She yelled, trying to keep him from harming Flint.

Duster stood stiff, trembling. Kumatora saw in his eyes that there was pain and confusion, but the darkness within him was struggling to take control. He was in there, she knew that much.

Duster fell to his knees and clutched his head in his hands, yelling in pain. "The evil is rising … no … don't do this … the seed has sprouted and will soon grow … No, stop this …! … He shall feed off that who holds much despair … Get out of my head!!"

"Get Duster back on the bed." Kana said, grabbing a pouch of powder, "It seems Duster's fighting this off as well."

Flint and Kumatora did their best to drag the raging Duster back to the bed while Kana drew a circle of runes around the three. She then summoned Boney over, much to the surprise of Flint.

"Boney, I have a favor to ask you …" Kana said, patting Boney lightly.

'What is it you want me to do?' Boney barked.

Kana pulled out an orb and gave it to Boney. "Hold this orb: I will use it to trap the spirit. Do not let it drop, and of course, don't swallow it."

'It seems like you know what you're doing.'

"I've done this 3 times before, actually …" Kana said, pulling her hood over her head.

Flint held on to Duster's and struggled. "Are we finally ready …?"

Kana held her hands over her heart and began to chant.

"Everto … expulsum … Ex is putus animus … digredior obscurum quod lux lucis …"

"I'll … take that as a 'yes'" Flint said

Kana's hands started to glow slightly as she approached Duster. Kumatora saw the darkness swirl in Duster's eyes, figuring the darkness knew it was about to be exorcised. This made Duster squirm like mad, trying to break free from the two's hold. Kumatora held on with all the strength she can muster, hoping with every hope she had.

Kana slowly put her hands on Duster's chest, and right before everyone's eyes, stuck her fingers through his chest, much like the Zombie had done. Duster let out a cry of pain, hurting everyone's ears, still squirming out of control.

"What do you think your doing?!" Kumatora yelled over Duster's screaming, "This is only hurting him more!!"

"Sometimes, we must hurt to help, dear princess …" Kana replied, concentrating on the task at hand. "Although he is in much pain, if we don't do this, the spirit will tear apart his soul …"

Kumatora closed her eyes tightly, trying to stop tears from coming out. "I … I don't want to see him in this much pain …"

"Help me …" Duster's voice croaked, his breath trembling.

Kumatora looked into Duster's eyes again. She saw that he was frightened, hurt, and confused. But that wasn't as surprising as what Kumatora saw next:

Tears.

Duster was so frightened and in so much pain that tears were finally streaming from his eyes. Seeing this, Kumatora's eyes too filled with water, emotion getting the best of her.

"We're doing everything we can …" Kumatora whispered, slightly touching his face, "Just hold on, please …"

Duster trashed about again, almost knocking Kana away. "The darkness shall prevail; the evil shall rise once more: It shall take what belongs to it and feed off despair and hopelessness … he who holds much despair … he who holds its heart …"

Kana stepped back as Duster uttered words, sending a shiver down everyone's spine.

"Giygas will rise once more …"

Kana thrust her hands in Duster's chest once more, him screaming out in pain once again. Slowly, Kana started pulling out a tangled mass of pure darkness, ripping it out as if it was his heart. Finally, the darkness revealed itself before the group as it squirmed about in Kana's glowing hands. The darkness took a small humanoid shape before Kana stuffed the darkness in the orb Boney was holding.

'What … what was that?' Boney said, whimpering

"That … was the evil …" Kana said quietly, taking the Orb from Boney.

Flint released Duster and walked up to Kana. "What is this … evil?"

Kana shook her head and walked away. "There are many things I should reveal to you … but not tonight …"

Kumatora looked at duster, his chest slowly rising and falling as he breathed. His eyes were pained, but she did not see any signs of darkness within him. She looked at Kana, quite afraid. "Will … Will he be alright …?"

"He might catch a fever, but that's all … if we got the spirit in time, all he needs is a rest."

Kumatora smiled, tears falling from her eyes. Flint decided to leave the two alone, summoning Boney at his side and walking away. Kana followed shortly after.

Duster finally closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, the last thing being seen was Kumatora's smiling face.

--

Lucas tossed and turned, but no matter what, he could not get to sleep. They were just mere days away from the Ruins of New Pork city, and Lucas still didn't feel prepared to tell Claus the truth. What could he say? How will Claus react to the fact that he's supposed to be dead?

… And how did he come back to life?

Lucas was shocked that he didn't think of that sooner. It was a question on how he came back to life, but there was also what happened to his old body? How did he manage to find his way to the village? What was he doing near the river in the first place?

Why does he not remember the events that happened so long ago?

Lucas sat up and clutched his knee. He now felt uneasy about the whole thing. His mother kept repeating something about 'the evil', and now he felt as if something was … watching him.

Lucas looked around. Both Polly and Claus were asleep next to each other on the ground. They both looked peaceful enough to be real, but looks could be deceiving.

He was about to shake his brother awake, but stopped himself. No, he will not dive into this any further. All will be told and answered once they reach their destination.

Lucas perked his head up, swearing he heard a voice. It didn't sound like his mother, but he knew it was female. The voice called out to Lucas, so soft and serene Lucas felt relaxed by it.

"Hello?" Lucas called, "Is anyone there?"

'Do you remember the lady in Hometown, the one your brother called 'weirdo freaky lady'?"

"… Kana?" Lucas asked softly.

'Yes …' Kana's voice said softly.

"Where are you?"

'I am not here in physical form: My body is back with your father and the group. Close you eyes.'

Lucas did as commanded and closed his eyes.

'Now concentrate … go within your mind and I shall be there …'

Lucas relaxed and concentrated, almost meditating. Before he knew it, he was in the same place he kept meeting his dead mother, the same place the darkness was invading.

He was in his own mind.

Lucas looked and saw Kana, standing there, almost transparent. Lucas walked closer to her and looked into her eyes.

'I didn't know you could do that.' Lucas said in a tiny voice.

'The mind is sanctuary in which you need the right key to get into.' Kana said, smiling. 'I was trained in many forms of "Mind-reading", this is the one I just use often.'

'You think I could learn that?' Lucas asked, smiling.

Kana patted his head, 'Lucas, you do not need such power. This is your sanctuary.'

Lucas tilted his head 'Oh … well, okay, if you say so …'

'I am afraid, though, your mind is very vulnerable to outsiders: I can sense darkness has stepped in here more than once.' Kana said, frowning.

'Is that bad?' Lucas asked.

'It can … if you fall into its grasp. Lucas, you need to learn to strengthen your mind to able to repel the forces of darkness.' Kana said

'How can I do that?'

'I am not even sure myself: even I had darkness get into my mind …' Kana said, her voice softening.

Kana then looked away, sensing something amiss. She saw the darkness starting to swirl again, surrounding the two.

'Oh no … not this again …' Lucas whimpered.

'Lucas … I am sorry, there is not much I can do for you without my physical body …' Kana said depressingly.

'Get out of here before the darkness gets you too, Kana!' Lucas yelled to Kana, his voice becoming desperate.

Kana started to turn to run, but stopped mid-way when she sensed another form of essence within his mind. Kana searched around until she saw a woman-like figure, running to Lucas, her face expressing worry and fear.

'Lucas, get out of here!!' The woman said, reaching out for Lucas.

'Mom?' Lucas's voice rang out, 'Mom where are you?!'

Kana stood there, surprised. So that was his mother, and she seems to be protecting him from that darkness … what could this mean?

Kana decided to do as Lucas said finally and left his mind. Her spirit drifted back to her physical body, sitting in her bedroom.

Kana held her head. This boy had something … unusual about him. He was stuck with a certain fate, yes, but there was something about the other spirit she saw within Lucas's mind, his mother.

Did his mother have the ability to penetrate minds as well? Or was she doing something else Kana was not aware of?

Whatever it was, Kana smiled. Flint's wife was not only beautiful, but even beyond death, life, or the physical manifestation of a human body … Hinawa was still able to protect her loved children.

Kana sighed, "Flint, I believe your wife heard your wish. While the boys are still in danger … I now have hope that they'll be safe, even with a seed of evil within one of them …"

--

Lucas jerked his eyes open, staring face to face with Polly, who was right up to his nose. Lucas let out a yelp and fell back, startling Polly at the same time.

"Hey … guys … can'ya keep it down … I'm tryin' ta sleep …" Claus said, stirring

"P-p-polly!" Lucas stuttered, "What were you doing?!"

"You were having a vision again …" Polly said, "I was getting worried because you looked like you were in pain …"

Lucas got up and swatted away the dirt on his pants, "I'm fine, Polly, thank you …"

"Y'know … Lucas …" Polly whispered, "I'm not sure if you really are alright …"

Lucas grudgingly walked away from Polly, not wanting to talk about anything. "I am fine, Polly, It's okay. Just go back to sleep."

Polly stared at Lucas before sighing to herself and laying back down. She saw that Lucas was in pain, that he was lonesome, scared, and confused. Worst of all, all this stress is getting Lucas both physically and mentally. Soon, Lucas won't be able to go up against anything if it remains like this.

Polly smiled.

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+20 points if you know what Kana was speaking and what she said .