"Wake up, Shizuka."

Doumeki lay panting in his bed as though he'd been drowning. His body shuddered and his skin prickled with goosebumps and shivers. He felt too hot, too sticky, too wet, and more sexually frustrated than he'd ever felt in his life.

Kimihiro had left him completely unsatisfied and his anatomy protested loudly and painfully at the loss. He wanted so badly to ignore the proof that he'd reacted in such a way, but he'd always been bad at lying to himself. His twitching, throbbing erection and painfully sore bottom were too much proof that what had happened in his dream had been real, as well as his responses. His wounded pride was an all too real sting as well.

Doumeki realized that, should the Traveler make even one more attempt, he couldn't fight any more. It would be so easy to give in, allow the man to give him anything he wanted, remove him from the misery of this world, please him in any way he could...

The captain grunted and rolled out of his bed. He forced his thoughts to clear as he headed straight to the baths for a cold wash up. It would have been nice to simply dunk his whole body in a giant tub of ice water. He felt like he had a fever.

Still though...Himawari... his parents... there were too many loose ends to tie up and he didn't have the ability to shelter these people from the far reaching, oppressive thumb of the Hunter's Council.

Simply put, he didn't know what he was going to do, but either way he was either going to be dead or insane within the week. It was a chilling thought.

. . . . . . .

Doumeki left the stables and headed towards the barracks. He'd just finished putting his horse back for the night from his recent trip back from the 6th Division's barracks in the neighboring village and he wanted nothing more than to pass out and go to sleep. He was grateful that he'd been able to complete the little side job that General Fuuma had given him early. He wasn't due back home until midday.

It had been three days since Watanuki had invaded his dreams, and two nights of a repeating scene when he slept of the event that had occurred between them in the dreamscape. The captain was tired of waking up unsatisfied, stiff, and angry at himself for lacking the ability to control his stupid body.

The buildings were quiet when he entered the main hall and headed towards the kitchen. His stomach rumbled a little and he really wanted a small cut of cheese instead of the remainder of the rations in his pack. When he made it into the mess hall he nicked the nearest oil lamp off a hook on the wall and took it with him for added light. Even though it was a full moon outside the inside of the building was still mostly dark and there was no guarantee that there would be light in the kitchens once he made it in there.

As he passed through the door into the hallway that led to the food stores he heard muffled voices coming from further on. He furrowed his brow a little as he continued on. New recruits sneaking food, perhaps? Or some higher ranked hunters that couldn't get any sleep? He wasn't looking forward to having to deal out appropriate punishments if it was the former, he just wanted food then bed.

As soon as he entered the kitchen the scene became all too clear.

Commander Sakurazuka was leaning menacingly over Ensign Sumeragi, who he had pinned to one of the cutting counters. One of Seiichiro's hands held Subaru's chin in a rough hold while the other was somewhere lower where Doumeki couldn't see.

Subaru looked like a cornered rabbit. His eyes were wide, his mouth agape, and the color was drained from his face. Both him and his captor turned at the noise of his boots hitting the wood floor as he entered the kitchen.

Captain Doumeki raised one handsome eyebrow. "Commander," he stated evenly.

Subaru used the distraction to jerk away from the loosened hold on him and dashed towards the protective cover of his captain.

If looks could kill Seiichiro would have sent Doumeki to the underworld six times over. "Captain. You're back early," he growled.

"Yes," he responded simply. He ignored it when Subaru clutched his arm with trembling hands.

"After a midnight snack?"

He rattled his pack to highlight its empty contents. "I ran out of rations. I'm hungry."

Seiichiro dismissed him with a snort. He and his insufferable captain had been dancing around barely concealed loathing for the better part of a year. Doumeki had an infuriating habit of both thumbing his nose at his commander's authority while at the same time not doing anything note-worthy or punishable. It was damned vexing, and the scene he'd walked in on was just one of numerous examples. Sakurazuka couldn't punish Doumeki for interrupting him without raising a few eyebrows at the council.

Still though. That thrice-damned bored look gazing apathetically back at him. Where Seiichiro's glare said 'I hate you and I want you dead' Doumeki's look merely seemed to say 'yeah, whatever.' The commander had never been able to influence his captain in any way.

He pushed Doumeki out of his mind for the moment. Instead, he turned his eyes back to the younger boy and a shadow of his previous smile returned. Subaru shook even more. "I want that report on my desk tomorrow morning, ensign."

"Y-yes, Sir," Subaru whispered.

The commander swept passed them and left without another word.

Doumeki shook the grip off his arm and headed towards the cheese. Seiichiro's intentions were painfully clear now. Was this why Subaru was always near him? Because of the commander? "How long has he been bothering you?" he asked his ensign.

Subaru sat down on one of the stools available. "N-not long. A couple of weeks, really. It's gotten worse, though, the past few days."

Short of killing the commander, Doumeki didn't think he could protect Subaru either.

He knew it with a clear truth now – he hated this world.

Doumeki sighed as he wrapped up his new slice of cheese in a cloth. "Try to stay out of his way for a while. I'll see how much I can keep him busy."

Sumeragi lowered his head, his cheeks betraying only a little of his blush in the pale lamp light. "Thank you, captain."

Just as Doumeki lifted the handle of his borrowed lamp and Subaru stood up Doumeki's hand involuntarily dropped his cheese and the lamp clattered back to the table. His fingers flew up to cover the suddenly burning hot seal on his neck. The heat was so intense he almost thought he could hear his skin sizzling and he grimaced.

Subaru was in front of him then and his hands were back on Doumeki's arms. "What's wrong?"

Shizuka's bones vibrated with a familiar thrumming song, so deep inside of his body it filled his ear drums and slipped into his heart beat. He froze as the... it was calling... he was calling...

The warning bells of the village wailed in panicked alarm. When Doumeki could move his arms again the entire division was scrambling out of bed and he could hear feet running towards the weapons rooms.

It was the warning bells. Witches or spirits of some sort were trying to break through the village's perimeter walls. Except he didn't think it was just witches. Kimihiro was calling to him. The immortal man was coming to claim what was his.

Feet were running and hunters were crawling out of their bunks while pulling on their clothes and the captain didn't even bother to pick anything up as he ran to the first place he thought about.

Himawari was staying at his parents' home. He was still fully dressed, fully armored, and fully equipped, so there was nothing he needed to grab to prepare for anything. After all, if Kimihiro was making his appearance loud and public, there was every chance that there were more witches after him.

The lights were on in his family's dwelling as he ran down the street and skidded to a halt at the front door. He almost burst through but the entryway opened and there stood the very person that he was looking for.

She was wearing just a sleeping robe and her hair was uncharacteristically down, but her eyes were wide awake. "Shizuka!" She said with surprise at seeing him. "What-"

"Run," he bade her. "If you have somewhere to go that is safe, somewhere the council won't look for you for a while, run!"

Kunogi's fingers dug into the folds of her robes tightly. "What? Why?"

"Because I'll either be dead... or gone by the time the night is over. Get to safety. Take my horse. He's in the last stall in the stables. Everyone else is already out."

"But-"

"Go!" He ordered her, then ran towards the village's main entrance.

Kunogi's eyes watered but she let no tears fall. She didn't waste any time in heeding Doumeki's warning. Within five minutes she was fully dressed and pulling a tired black horse out of his stall and towards the village's back exit.

Every hunter in the village poured outside of the exterior walls and began to line up around the perimeter. Doumeki drew his bow and an arrow out of his quiver as he tried to mentally prepare for what was to come.

He was just as shocked as everyone else to see a miasma of witches, bodies, corpses and smokey spirits rapidly heading their way.

Their village was not very large, so there were only twenty five hunters to fight what was heading towards them. Doumeki was grateful that his father was currently away. He and Sakurazuka were the only ones in charge. While General Monou was Sakurazuka's direct superior he was still a general, which meant he took care of more things directly with the council and was rarely at the barracks itself.

It was going to be a slaughter.

A few yelled orders from the commander and the hunters started successfully executing one of their more potent tactical formations.

Doumeki stood back with the archers and began to fire. He ignored any gasps of surprise there might have been as the miasma was suddenly rocked with unnatural explosions from his arrows – he'd deal with the accusations and consequences later.

The windy, swirling, chaotic plumes of entities and witches surrounded them. Clouds of dark purple smoke whipped around in powerful winds. Visibility was diminished and screaming was everywhere.

Doumeki released an arrow into the tempest. One explosion later and he had to step back as the body of a witch nearly landed on him. Too close, they're too close for me to fight like this...

Someone was laughing to his left. Doumeki could not see who right away, but he knew it was a voice he'd never heard before.

A pale face emerged from the darkness to reveal blond, fluffy windswept hair. Bright, glacial blue eyes danced in mirth. The man, for it was now that he could see it was a thin, tall man that walked up to him, was wearing an ornate light blue kimono that was covered in white crescent moons.

That smile was very familiar, though. Doumeki's eyes widened in alarm and he took a step back. It looked like – and felt like – another Traveler.

"Want to see something amazing?" The pretty man asked.

Doumeki did not answer, but that did not deter the person in front of him. The unnamed Traveler lifted one of his thin arms and stretched his fingers out, his palm towards the ground. His hair started to fly up instead of into his face when a magical circle lit up underneath of him. Pure, raw power spread out from him like a tsunami. It washed up against the captain and circled him, squeezed him, held his arms down and locked his knees.

The screaming intensified as the nebulous cloud of spirits was washed away. The sound of bodies thumping to the ground was so frequent it could have been rain.

When the area cleared, the Traveler stood in front of the hunters with a satisfied grin. Doumeki looked around and saw that everyone was bound as he was, but these bonds were not invisible. Light blue cords chirped like lightning around tightened wrists. Threads wrapped around chests and shoulders and dug into the ground like tethers. Everyone twitched and writhed, many snarled or glared.

"Who are you?" Sakurazuka commanded from next to him. It seemed fate had deigned to place his trapped form within an arm's reach of Doumeki.

Indeed, and where was Kimihiro?

The stunning man smiled. From behind him a person stepped out as though from thin air. He had to have, for his was easily a full head taller than the Traveler with broader shoulders and a stern yet blank face. His eyes were a fierce cinnamon red, his hair was jet black, his complexion dark. It would not have been possible for him to have stood behind this man and not be seen.

The man leaned against this new person's chest and rested one hand along the man's neck. "Just a Traveler," was his cheeky response to the commander. His eyes slid away from Sakurazuka and looked at Doumeki. "My... Kimihiro said you were handsome, but he didn't say you were this handsome!"

Doumeki frowned as every eye turned to him. Seiichiro scowled. "Traitor!" He snarled and twisted his hands in a desperate attempt to move. "I'll have you hanged!"

"Who are you?" Doumeki chose to ignore the very real threat. A hand ghosted across his cheek, then lifted his chin.

"Fai. Kimihiro asked me to keep you safe for a moment." His smile widened, which caused his eyes to crinkle. "But don't worry, hunter. He will be here soon."

Doumeki's memory sparked and he remembered this name whispered into his grandfather's ear during the dream. The one who'd had a twin that had been too late for his Intended.

"Leave him alone!" Subaru screamed out from a few feat away.

"Damn you, Doumeki! You betrayed the order for some witch?" Sakurazuka spat at him.

Fai sighed and lifted a dramatic hand to his forehead. "Kurogane, please make that person quiet. He's so noisy!" He pointed one finger at the commander.

The broad shouldered man stepped away from the Traveler and drew a sword that had been strapped to his waist.

Every hunter around them shouted and yelled and threatened that if he killed Sakurazuka he'd be pay for it dearly. Kurogane didn't even spare the men a glance as he advanced on the enraged commander. He lifted his sword in one move, then struck the pommel of the handle against Seiichiro's temple in the next.

Sakurazuka Seiichiro went limp in his binding. Blood ran down his head and dripped off his chin.

Doumeki released a breath and addressed Fai. "Where's Kimihiro?"

. . . . . . . . . .

Kunogi cried out as something cold and slimy whipped past her neck and screeched in her ear. She clutched the reins in her hand tighter and urged Doumeki's horse to run faster. She hadn't left the village vast enough because a few straggling spirits had started to pursue her.

Tears leaked out of her eyes. She scrubbed her face roughly and leaned over the saddle, trying to mesh her body to that of the horse as much as she could. She didn't know if she would survive. If the spirits didn't rip her soul out the Hunter's Council would find her soon enough.

Whatever trouble her betrothed was in... it must have been terrible. For an unknown person like her that was cursed with deadly bad luck it wouldn't take much for the harsher members of the council to pin some sort of blame on her.

In any bad event, there always had to be a scapegoat for the council to lay the blame, even if their chosen target was entirely innocent.

Her horse screamed, and it was the most terrible sound she'd ever heard. Panic tightened her throat and made it difficult to breathe. Her heart pounded in her ears and her vision narrowed to the ground in front of her. The creature shook underneath of her like a being possessed. The beast was stumbling, tripping, then falling, and she was thrown from the saddle to slide along the ground.

The poor beast had stepped into a snake or gopher hole. It hadn't been able to pull free and the leg snapped in two. Bone was visible and muscle and sinews quivered as blood squirted everywhere. Himawari covered her ears as the horse continued to scream and neigh in agony. Bad luck, more bad luck...

Bright hot heat, then icy freezing cold surrounded her and washed through her. Himawari gasped at the onslaught and blinked. When she could focus again, the horse was silent, the spirits were gone, and there was someone standing above her.

The man wore an elegant, dramatic, sweeping red and purple kimono covered in jewels. He could have been a lord from forgotten and resplendent age. He smiled at her and extended his hand. "Kunogi Himawari. My Shizuka asked that you be saved from this world. I can offer you safe harbor, but there is a price to be paid."

She was captivated by his deep blue eyes and his sweet voice. "Price?"

"Yes," he grinned. "A price. Your price is you may never return to this world. You may never again see anyone from here that you have known, that you care for, and you will be forgotten here. Can you accept this price, sunflower?"

Himawari soaked in what he had to say. She nodded. The hand she reached up to put in his did not tremble even once.

. . . . . . . .

Fai laughed and backed up into Kurogane's chest. Strong arms circled around his waist. "Where is he? He's on his way. In fact..."

"Wait, Kurogane?" One of the hunters asked. "As in General Kurogane? It can't be! He disappeared over fifty years ago!"

Fai giggled gleefully and turned his head to look up at the man holding him. "Do you hear that, Kuro-puu? Someone still remembers you!"

Dark red eyes narrowed. "Hn."

The earth heaved and quavered underneath of their feet. The reality of the sky stretched out and poured down towards the ground like a raindrop magnified by a thousand times. Pressure settled around the hunters and made their ears pop as the colors that dropped from the sky swirled and pealed away like a flower's peddles.

A large puff of air then Kimihiro was there, in all his venerable and exquisite glory. The diagrammed circle of magic and power pulsated beneath his feet. The light caused his eyes to glow, a living blue sea that stared at him with clear demand. He reached his hand out and the bindings around Doumeki went away.

"Come to me, Shizuka. I can wait no longer."

The song was back again inside of him. Suddenly it was like he wore blinders and the only thing in his vision, in his mind, was Kimihiro's eyes. He could feel his heart beat again, then he thought that this was what it felt like to be alive and not detached from the world, from the life he was supposed to be living.

Doumeki stood up, deaf to Ensign Subaru's pleas for him to not listen to what the Traveler was saying.

He stepped closer. Kimihiro smiled at him and still Doumeki could hear nothing of the hunters that lay bound on the ground. It felt like it took a lifetime to reach him, but finally with one last step Shizuka was in front of the most beautiful person he would ever see.

When Kimihiro cupped his face his knees nearly collapsed. The Traveler seized his hunter around the shoulders and Shizuka clung to him. He dug his face into the space between Watanuki's neck and shoulder and breathed deeply.

Subaru could only watch horrified as the tempest winds picked up again and Shizuka's form began to fade along with Kimihiro and the other pair that stood near them. The last thing he could see was the achingly gorgeous eyes of Kimihiro looking at him directly as he smiled and wrapped his arms tighter still around Doumeki.

The bonds vanished like fog on a warm August morning and the clearing was void of Captain Doumeki and the ones that took him. Subaru bellowed, screeched, and slammed his fists into the dirt at his knees.