Dark Adaptation

by Hickok

NEW CONTENT ADDED! Bound to the eternal contract, can a life of sin be so easily shed? Muraki has all that he desires, yet so much remains unanswered. What manner of darkness unfurled between the walls of Muraki manor? Muraki x Tsuzuki and Oriya x Watari

10. Tsuzuki: Delusions

Dark Adaptation.

DISCLAIMER: I did not have sexual relations with that doctor. (Blinks) Oh, my bad! Wrong defense! (Clears throat) I do not claim to own Descendant's of Darkness or anything Descendant's of Darkness related. Wish I did, but alas this is a very one-sided love affair.

Note: Sorry for the delay folks! Just having a few minor crises but I have them sort of under control and as they say, the show must go on! (Not to mention that once I was over those original problems my laptop decided that it needed surgery and went in to get the hard rive ripped apart and bits replaced. Hence, my uber long delay. ) And celebrate folks; this is an exclusive Mu/Tsu chapter! Hooray!

Another note: Just worth a mention, folks. I saw a music video with Muraki in it today-

Watari: BWAA HAA HAA HAA HAAA HAAA!

Muraki: SHUT UP! It's not that funny!

Watari: (Rolling around, clutching his belly, laughing until he is crying and pointing at Muraki all at the same time) BWWAAA HAAA HAAAA HAAA! HAAA HA HEH HO HA HAA - I CAN'T BREATHE! I CAN'T BREATHE!

Muraki: Kindly leave it at that!

Tsuzuki: (Watching AMV and trying not to snicker) Aww, it's not so bad Muraki...

Muraki: How so!

Watari: (Still trying not to giggle) Well... pink and purple really are your colors!

Oriya: (Hiding face in yukata) Yeah, not everyone can - (snicker) - pull it off! Hold your head high! Be proud!

Muraki: SHUT UP!

Watari: Aww don't be mad Muraki! You look kind of hot with pink hair and purple eye shadow! It suits you!

Muraki: (Black cloud) Thanks so much. You know, I think red really suits you.

Watari: You think so? Really!

Muraki: Why yes... it really goes well with your complexion. Here, let me show you. (Stalks towards him, holding a butchers knife)

Watari: Eep! (Runs behind Oriya) Save me Ori! Muraki's having PMT!

Muraki: (Flames shooting up) Don't think that his skinny ass can shield you forever, nerd!

Watari: At least he has an ass, Matilda.

Muraki: (Looks ready to explode)

NaPap: (Sweatdrops) Maybe I shouldn't have brought it up... (Grins and shrugs) Ah, who am I kidding! I love the drama! And kudo's to whoever made that AMV! Brilliant piece of work! I doth my cap to thee!

Muraki: When I find whoever made this AMV I'm gonna - Content removed due to strong course language, sexual implications and graphic violence - them and then I'll find anyone who so much as shares a drop of blood with them and I will - Content removed due to strong course language, sexual implications and graphic violence - and once I'm done with them I'll go through their address book and find everyone who ever knew them and - Content removed due to strong course language, sexual implications and graphic violence - then I'll - Content removed due to strong course language, sexual implications and graphic violence - and I'll dig up their corpse once they're dead and - Content removed due to strong course language, sexual implications and graphic violence - then I'll - Content removed due to strong course language, sexual implications and graphic violence - and then I'll pass their corpse on to some necrophiliac I know!

Tsuzuki: (Wide eyed) Tsuzuki just learnt new words!

Oriya: (Dully) Do I even want to know how you became associated with that necrophiliac?

Watari: (Underhand) He's probably referring to himself. After all, he is sleeping with a dead person.

Tsuzuki: (Blushes) SHUT UP! HE IS NOT!

Watari: Yow... defensive...

Muraki: Don't go throwing stones in a glass house. If I'm a necrophiliac, then so is Oriya!

Watari: Don't you DARE classify Ori under the same heading as you!

Muraki: GO BOIL YOUR BIG DUMB BLOND HEAD IN A VAT OF ACID, YOU CROSS-EYED FREAK OF NATURE!

Watari: (Starts singing) "Boys, boys, be my boy; I wanna feel your body-"

Muraki: (Groans) All right, you win! JUST STOP SINGING! (Looks at Tsuzuki) And turn that damn AMV off! I'm sick of seeing myself with pink hair!

Oriya: So are we, Muraki. So are we.

NaPap: (Sweatdrops again) Uh... on that note, thanks everyone for all the nice reviews I

received! BRING ME MORE COOKIES REVIEWERS!

Tsuzuki: (Struggling to escape from Muraki) Bring us cookies too! We deserve them more than the author does!

Oriya: Yeah, what the hell has she done to deserve cookies? All she does is write the damn story!

Watari: It's bad delegation, that's what it is! Maybe we should go on strike until we're justly rewarded for our efforts?

NaPap: You can't do that! You have a contract!

Oriya: We can do as we please! You give into our outrageous monetary and culinary demands and we'll participate in this little fic of yours! It's only fair.

NaPap: I will not! I barely have enough food and money as it is!

Oriya: You will too!

NaPap: Will not!

Oriya: Will too!

NaPap: Will not!

Oriya: Will too!

NaPap: WILL NOT!

Oriya: Whose gonna stab you in the head with a sword?

NaPap: Whose gonna make your wear a pink dress in every single one of your chapters from now on?

Muraki: He already does wear a pink dress.

Oriya: It's a yukata not a dress!

NaPap: (Makes AMV) Not anymore. (Grins)

(A puff of smoke goes up and Oriya reappears wearing a frilly pink dress.)

Oriya: SHIT!

Watari: (Drooling) Are you going to be my lover girl, Ori? (Bats eyelashes)

Oriya: (Blushes) SHUT UP! (Hits Watari)

Muraki: Not laughing now are we Oriya?

Oriya: (Hits Muraki) You can shut up too! (Sulks in corner with his pink dress fanning out around him)

NaPap: The moral of this story kids? Do not argue with the fanfic author. They're always right. And they always win. Enjoy the next chapter everyone!

Tsuzuki

No one could ever accuse me of being perfect.

I know that. I understand it very well and I am fully aware that no one in this world could ever safely be accused of being perfect and live up to such a grand expectation. Being perfect is a big responsibility and as such, one I have never felt the need to entertain.

I don't think about it all that much. I never take the time to have a long hard look at myself in the mirror and remind myself of just how imperfect I am. Yet, there are those times when you do something you know in your heart is wrong and you feel guilty for it and you just need a reason to try and salvage some small shred of an excuse for your actions.

I am not perfect.

People make mistakes and they do things they know are wrong. I know that it was wrong going to see Muraki without bringing someone along as backup. No matter how much my morality insisted that I was doing it to keep anyone else from being hurt, I knew that the selfish half of me was fooling that noble side. Actually it was more like seventy-thirty.

And I am so imperfect, that I actually spent far too long thinking about what I should wear. Last night Muraki had shown me up, dressed to perfection as usual whilst I barely scrubbed up to standard in order to pass the minimum dress code. I didn't think it was necessary to get all razzle-dazzle for such an informal event like a movie but regardless I remembered the embarrassment I had felt last night and didn't care to replicate it. I wasn't going to be made to feel small like that again.

I was doing this for me, not for him. I told myself this but it still felt too much like I was lying to myself. And I was all too eager to buy into those lies.

After standing before my open wardrobe for about ten minutes, I finally came to my decision and fished out from the very depths a suit I hadn't had much occasion to wear. Meaning to say that despite my extended stay in this world, I haven't had much chance to date. Not because I wasn't interested; quite the contrary. Rather I was simply too self-conscious to put myself out there and was notoriously hopeless at reading the signs. When someone was interested in me, I just wasn't able to see it, especially if the signs were subtle and understated.

Muraki was the exception I suppose. No one could accuse him of being discreet that's for sure.

The suit I'd chosen wasn't quite a tux. I can't think of the right words to describe it. It was certainly made to draw the eye of your escort, with a V-neck collar that cut directly down the chest and closed just above the rise of the pectorals, revealing a cheeky nip of slightly tanned flesh. The pants were black and tight, attached to the jacket by two thin straps. The jacket itself was cut high, the base coming to a stop just beside the lowest rung in my ribcage. I wore a white shirt underneath and did my best to tuck in all the corners, leaving only one side un-tucked because… well, call it the personal touch. I folded the shirtsleeves up over the cuffs of the jacket and slid a silver pair of cufflinks through the empty buttonholes. My skin shone with its light tan and I suddenly wished that there were another button on the suit so that I could cover up more of my chest. Muraki was simply going to be all over that skin if I gave him half the chance. I raked my fingers through my hair, tidying it as best as I was able and then slid on the least scuffed pair of shoes I could find. I examined myself in the mirror, wondering if anything else needed work and figured I was spending way too much time on my appearance as it was.

Still, it was nice to dress up for a change. Nice to have an actual date, regardless of who it was with. As terrible as it was, being with Muraki made me feel a little daring, to the point that looking sexy was okay.

I picked up my trench coat from the couch and started to go through the pockets for my wallet. When I didn't find it, I searched amongst the clothes I had been wearing but they came up empty too. Baffled, I called the Summons Section and asked Tatsumi if I had left it there. He said he'd found it on my desk and was just about to give me a call and tell me to come and pick it up. I just hoped he hadn't taken the liberty of lifting a few dollars of good deeds remuneration from it.

It was a warm night outside so I walked to the Bureau with my trench coat slung over my arm and my thoughts drifting above my head. I was feeling a little nervous about waltzing into the Bureau all dressed up.

When I finally strode into the Summons Section, I was rewarded for my efforts with every set of eyes swiveling to face me. Terazuma and Watari's replacement were working at the Main computer and were both staring at me in a mixture of admiration and apprehension. Wakaba's eyes were open wide from behind her desk and she nearly dropped all the papers she was holding. Ruma and Yume, the two girls from Hokkaido who spent most of their time fawning on Hisoka, had been helping her but neither bothered to dive to the floor and save the paperwork from impending dust bunnies. They all proceeded to gawk at me as though Enma himself had just strutted into the room. I didn't see Tatsumi anywhere in sight.

"What, all dressed up and no place to go?" Terazuma said unimpressed. I shrugged.

"Speaking of dresses Hajime, I see that you haven't had much luck improving your... em, condition." I mused scratching my chin. "Maybe I should take you wardrobe shopping! I know this cute little place that sells maids outfits, nurses uniforms and frilly pink dresses!"

Terazuma scowled and lit up a cigarette. "Sorry cry-baby, but I don't share your taste in clothing."

I was just about to reply with a remark to the contrary, when I was interrupted by Wakaba and the two girls converging upon me like a wave.

"Oh, Tsuzuki you look so handsome!" Wakaba enthused, running her hands through my unruly hair. "Why haven't I seen you wear this suit before? It really is quite becoming on you!"

"This old thing? Oh, it's not that kind of suit you'd wear around the office!" I joked weakly but the three girls laughed anyway.

Tatsumi emerged out of his office to see what all the laughter was about. His eyes widened.

"My…" He mused almost too softly for me to hear. I extracted myself from the girls' arms and walked over to Tatsumi, feeling a little self-conscious and meaning to ask for my wallet. But he was two steps ahead of me. "I have your wallet in my desk. Come inside for a minute Tsuzuki."

It was supposedly an honor to be invited into Tatsumi's office but I'd been in there plenty of times myself and could never see what was that great about it. Everything was so symmetrical and clean; it was more sterile than Watari's lab. Not that that was difficult.

I stood awkwardly near the doorway as Tatsumi reached inside of his desk drawer and fossicked around for a moment before coming up with my wallet. I stepped between the two leather guest chairs to reach for it but Tatsumi pulled it in close to his body, reluctant to hand it over.

"I'm sure that it's none of my business," He said, trying to sound sincere about this statement when I knew for a fact that Tatsumi believed everyone's business was his business. "But… are you planning on going somewhere special tonight?"

I lowered my hand, trying to keep my voice casual. "Actually, I have a date."

Well it was true. Though when it came to Muraki and I, the dates were always a little one sided and I was usually there as a result of blackmail.

Tatsumi was respectful of my silence and merely nodded. "Well, I hope you have a good time. You look very nice."

I think he was trying to sound matter of fact but there was something about his posture and tone of voice that betrayed his words. His eyes were shining behind his glasses. I could see them tracing the v shaped cut of my shirt and jacket. I was started to feel severely underdressed in a completely different manner to how I had felt the previous night.

"Um… thank you!" I chirped, using all my willpower to push my face into something I hoped was ignorant enough to not encourage whatever he had been thinking. "Can I have my wallet, Tatsumi? Sorry but I have to get going."

He started as though I'd shocked him out of a trance and then passed me the wallet over the table. His fingers grazed mine momentarily as they slid off of the faded leather and I purposefully pretended as though I hadn't noticed. These subtle nuances apparently did not escape me as much as I may have originally thought. Without a mention I slipped the wallet into my pocket with much difficulty (those pants were really tight) and smiled genially at the secretary. He seemed to be counting the pores in my skin and didn't notice my expression.

"Well, guess I'll be off!" I exclaimed, wishing that he'd just point out the door, wish me a merry time and hopefully not ask any more questions. Unfortunately, he did have one.

"Is your date anyone I know?" He inquired with a suspicious slope of his eyebrow. I felt my heart run in spot.

"Anyone you… know?" I all but squeaked. He nodded solemnly.

"I understand that the two of you had plans already tonight Tsuzuki. And I know that it's really none of my business but… I… I don't think that getting involved with Kurosaki in this manner is a very wise idea."

Hisoka!

"I understand that immortality owes little to ages but that boy is still sixteen years old in mind and body. He lacks the maturity to sustain an intimate relationship with you. Your partnership could be put in jeopardy."

"Um, Tatsumi-''

"I know, I know, I have no right saying this and I'm aware that I'm out of line but… I care about what happens to you. You need to take a long hard look at this and consider whether or not it is worth what you are undoubtedly willing to put into it and-''

I held up a hand. "Hey Tatsumi! Take it easy! I don't have a date with Hisoka tonight!"

He wound down. "You don't?"

"No! Geez where did that come from? It was only two weeks ago you were giving me a similar lecture over Watari!"

Tatsumi sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Forgive me for my indiscretion. Seeing how close the two of you have become I merely assumed…" He seemed embarrassed. "I'm sorry. So, you clearly do not have plans with Hisoka tonight. Does your date happen to be someone I know?"

I could feel myself blushing. "No not really. Just someone I met once…"

He seemed genuinely curious and this annoyed me. "Ah, not like you to bring romance home. Where did you happen to meet them?"

Ah crap. "Em… in church?"

… Well it was the truth!

He raised an eyebrow. "In… church?"

"It's a long story." I sighed hoping that he wouldn't ask me to go through every tiny little detail of it. Muraki had told me not to 'dawdle' after all and I severely lacked the imagination to evade Tatsumi any further.

Fortunately Tatsumi was a pretty fair guy. He knew not to overstep his boundaries. "Well I'd best not keep you any longer. You have a nice time."

"You too!" I said enthusiastically, though how much fun one can have doing paperwork I'll never know.

I was just turning to make my way out the door when Tatsumi stepped up close behind me and brushed his hands over the shoulders of my suit, as though wiping away dust that wasn't there. His lips were very close to my neck and I felt him softly inhale my scent and run his right hand down along my arm, squeezing me softly at the elbow. His body was pressed in tightly against my back and I was starting to wonder if I was suctioned into place. I pulled myself gently out of his hold and made my way out of his office, confused and intrigued by Tatsumi's actions towards me. I had felt a great surge of heat pour out of him when he had touched me and it was times like this I'd often wished I had an ability like Hisoka's; just so I could understand what people were thinking about in these kinds of situations.

I understood this much at least; Tatsumi clearly desired me. Though for what reason I'm not sure. He could certainly afford much better than me and God forbid, it wasn't as though he didn't have his pick of the litter. It was a little unexpected to have suddenly stumbled across this revelation but looking back now I'm even more stunned that I hadn't noticed it there before.

Tatsumi was my boss. I had never really thought about him in that way. At least… at least not now that he was in fact my boss. It had been a little different when we had been partners but even then I'd never looked on him as lover material before – well not when it came to me anyway. And not because I never admired him as a man, or as a person for that matter. I'm a ninety-year-old soul, tapered to the body of a twenty-six year old man and I certainly have all the usual hormones that comes part and parcel of that arrangement. I guess the only true explanation is that Tatsumi had always been such a refined and sophisticated creature.

He deserved better than a half-breed mutt like me.

And if Tatsumi did indeed desire me in that way, it wasn't as though he had made his intentions very clear in all the years we had known one another. Perhaps the urge was there but he felt restricted as a result of our jobs. Getting involved with your boss, mixing business with pleasure was bad under any circumstance and I though I wasn't mad about my job; it was an improvement to the alternative. Moving on.

And I wasn't sure exactly where I'd be going if Konoe ever did fire me.

I loved to help people and though I found working at a desk dull and physically draining, the field missions and the interactions I had with those I was assigned to help made me feel good about myself at the end of the day. The money afforded me afterlife's little luxuries and gave me the chance to live the life I'd never been able to when I'd been alive.

Maybe Tatsumi understood this all too well and purposefully kept his distance, regardless of his feelings toward me.

But then again, I could be reading too much into it. Such thoughts make me sound arrogant, even when deep down I know perfectly well that they contain even the smallest shred of truth.

I emerged from Tatsumi's office and made my way to the door. Wakaba gave me a hug on the way out and Yume and Ruma kissed me on each cheek. Terazuma just continued to look as though he was either unimpressed or digesting a ladle of bad wassabi. I decided to put my money on that last one and left the Summons Section; confident in the knowledge that he was actually thrilled for my sudden sociable attitude and how I'd conducted myself in such a gentlemanly fashion.

Generally, I was still rather uncomfortable with Tatsumi's behavior and would have undoubtedly spent the rest of the night churning over my thoughts and dissecting each newly acquired shred of information. However, I was currently heading for an evening spent with Tokyo's most pre-eminent Doctor, who previously lived an ill afforded half-life devoted to blood, butchery and half faciled dreams revolving loosely around the resurrection and revenge killing of his older bastard of a brother.

I charge you now to find a valid reason to blame me for being distracted.

- Scene Change -

When I arrived in Tokyo, I made my way to Muraki's mansion on foot. For personal reasons, Guardian's of Death are permitted use of Teleportation in order to get from place to place at our leisure. For missions we're required to go through the standard procedure of flying to our location via an airline, which can be a real drag but is necessary in order to maintain our cover during our investigations. You play the part of a human; you must participate in all human detriments, including lousy slow inconvenient transport systems. Not to mention the food they serve on some of those planes! Egads...

Teleportation is much more convenient, though you can't always judge exactly where you are going to be dropped off. I found myself on the footpath outside of the restaurant Muraki and I had dined at the night before. I took a moment to get my bearings and then set off what I hoped was the right direction. My heart was pounding in my chest the entire time. It was exciting and scary... whatever the case, I had a great adrenaline rush going, which flushed through my body like hot ice every moment I drew closer and closer to that white mansion.

When I reached the front gate I noticed that there were two strange cars parked out front. I've never been very good when it comes to production names but from what I could tell, one was a white Lotus; a sleek, sporty vehicle with black trims and shaped a little like a... well a wedge to put it simply. It shone like glass, even though it was parked in semi-darkness. It had to be Muraki's.

The second car was equally, if not more elegant than his. It was a black European sports car, waxed down to the point that I would not be surprised if one good push wasn't enough to send it sliding for a mile. It was parked beneath the lone streetlight, about an inch from the back bumper of the Lotus.

I was just wondering whom the second car belonged to when Muraki emerged from the front gate, his hands wedged deeply into the pockets of his white suit. A thin and extremely well dressed woman appeared behind him, her long medium range brown hair flicking out behind her as she walked. Whatever she had to say to him was wasted on her behalf because Muraki's attention was entirely focused on me at this point. A small smile curled upward from his full lips and he seemed rancorously pleasant, despite the obvious aggravation of the woman he was with.

"Good evening, Mr. Tsuzuki." He purred coming towards me. I fought the overwhelming desire to back away as he approached and allowed him to lift my hand to his lips and softly bestow the skin with a kiss. A shiver cascaded down my spine as he closed his eyes, pressing his thumb into the palm of my hand and trailing his lips along my knuckle and down over the flat of the hand until he reached my wrist. I reacted unconsciously in the defense of my hated scars and yanked my hand away firmly, wishing I possessed the mendacity to strike him with it. But I did nothing. Just stared into his face, watched that mocking smile expand outwards to stretch the skin to a will that was doubtful of this creatures true intentions. Rather then heed my warning; Muraki stepped even closer and leant forward a little, his lips closing over a small patch of my forehead. It was such a chaste action; so purely unobtrusive I could barely believe that he was the one extending it.

"I'm glad that you came." He whispered into my ear, awarding me with another kiss upon the shell before he straightened up. I tried not to let his proximity get the better of me and glanced around his shoulder, meeting the eye of the young woman who was glaring at the both of us expectantly. Muraki finally got the hint, but only because he decided if and when he would, I imagined and placed one hand on my upper arm, moving to my side and extending his free arm in the woman's direction.

"Mr. Tsuzuki... I would like for you to meet Ukyou Sakagumi. She is a close friend of mine. We go back a long way. Don't we Ukyou?"

Ukyou looked perturbed and didn't answer his question. I didn't want to appear rude so I made my way over and offered my hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Sakagumi." I said with a smile. She nodded and accepted my hand but her eyes never once left Muraki.

"An equal pleasure." She said to me. Then, to Muraki. "Is he the one?"

Muraki approached me and rather pointedly, I might add, slid his arm around my waist. I bit my lip as he pulled me in tightly to his side, pressing me into place against his body as though we were a human jigsaw puzzle. The action caused my hand to slide away from Ukyou's.

"He is." Muraki replied simply. His hand started to make circles on my waist and I was forced to smother a whimper. "This is Asato Tsuzuki. He and I have plans tonight and would very much like to get going. Right, Mr. Tsuzuki?"

His arm pressed so tightly around my waist that I figured he was substituting for a belt. He pinched the skin beneath the wall of my shirt, telling me without words what I was going to say to Ukyou. I wasn't sure what was going on but fear of my circulation being cut off and a blood clot going rapidly to my brain, dictated my actions. I nodded and mumbled something that might have passed as 'Mmm-hmm.'

Ukyou was giving me the once over. She wasn't just a pretty woman; she was striking in a classic, ladylike way. Clearly born with a silver spoon in her mouth from what I gathered in regards to her attire and choice of transportation. Next to her I undoubtedly looked as rough as guts.

"Do you not think him below your standard?" She asked congenially. The words stung but I didn't take offense. It was true after all; I had never exactly been up market material. Her words however had been enough to anger Muraki.

"I do not." He said, his voice perfectly polite on the surface but cold steel underneath. "Any simpleton would agree that Mr. Tsuzuki is one of the finest looking men around."

"Oh yes." Ukyou agreed, her voice equally as cool. Muraki moved behind me and put both arms around my body, as though I were a bird in a cage. His chin came to rest on my shoulder and he nuzzled into the material of my jacket. He regarded Ukyou cautiously, like a dog guarding a bone.

"We shall have to talk later." He declared stoically and I felt the biceps in his arms clench against my own. If he wasn't careful he was going to squeeze my insides out through my nose. "Mr. Tsuzuki and I have a prior engagement and you would hate for us to miss it now wouldn't you, Ukyou?"

The tone of his voice was so falsely polite and I knew that Ukyou could definitely sense it. What was most unnerving however was the fact that I knew that Muraki knew that she could and that both of them were tenterhooks away from going at it tooth and nail. There was something deeper happening here and lucky me had been dragged right into the center of it. Why did I always have the luck of wandering into these minefields?

Ukyou did not take Muraki's casual dismissal lightly. I could see her jaw clench in an effort to prevent saying something she would probably regret later. For her sake I was relieved when she got a handle on herself and announced her intentions by slipping on a pair of black velvet gloves. Her eyes appeared sad.

"Well, I shall be on my way then." She declared, fishing a set of keys out of her pocket and unlocking the sports car with the small remote. "I shall call on you again at a more appropriate time Kazutaka. There are certainly many issues to discuss. Not all of which can be handled so effectively over the phone."

He let that slide, though it was clearly intended to rock him and made his way over to hold the car door open for her. She slid elegantly into the drivers seat and twisted the key in the ignition. Muraki shut the door and then knelt down, leaning his lower arms on the windowsill.

"Drive carefully." He cautioned. She glanced sideways at him and then pressed down on the button that slid the glass into place. She spoke through the shrinking gap.

"Yes, you too Kazutaka. Try not to drink too much."

He chuckled ambiguously. "No, ma' am."

Ukyou won points with me for what she did next. With Muraki still leaning on the car, she stuck it into reverse and went roaring backwards, sending him crashing into the curb ineloquently. He sat up hurriedly, wiping at the knees of his suit, which had accumulated quite a bit of dirt and then jumped backwards as the headlights of the sports car flashed on. The light was blinding and I threw my forearm up to cover my eyes but not before I saw the sports car tear forward, crash heartily into the back bumper of the Lotus and then speed off into the night at a near one-fifty clicks.

Such a performance was worthy of applause but one warning look from Muraki was enough to chastise me thoroughly. Funnily enough, he did not appear too upset by the damage to his car or suit. I guess when you have that much money; little incidents like those aren't all that troublesome. He inspected the back bumper, 'hmm-ed' over the damage for a minute or so and then excused himself to change his pants. When he returned he held the door open on the passenger side for me and gestured toward the comfy interior with his hand. I climbed inside as carefully as possible, trying to calculate whether or not I was falling out of my suit in the process. I made the transition safely. Muraki shut the door and got in the drivers side as I did up my seat belt. I'd never driven with Muraki before and I was certainly not going to be taking any chances. I only wished there was an Emergency Eject button that would launch the seat into the air if it looked as though he was likely to propel us over a cliff. I'd just have to cross my fingers and pray he wasn't in a romantic Thelma and Louise state of mind tonight.

Muraki put on his seatbelt and then started the car. The engine purred like a kitten and I found myself falling in love with it. I'd never been much of a car person but this machine was positively desirable. I would have taken it to bed with me if I could.

"So... who was that girl?" I asked once we were moving.

Muraki was staring straight ahead, his eyes focused on the road. "I told you. She was an old friend."

"She seemed a lot more than that. After all, she referred to you as Kazutaka. That's very personal, even more so than being a friend would entail."

He pursed his lips as though he were considering something unbecoming. He hesitated before speaking. "You're very intuitive, Mr. Tsuzuki. Yes, you might say that our relationship is not limited to that of mere friendship. She is in fact my fiancée."

I was definitely glad I'd been wearing a seatbelt; otherwise I would have probably gone through the windscreen. "You're engaged!"

"Yes." Deal with it, his voice said.

I nodded understandably. "Well, no wonder she was upset then. Most people take offence when they find out that their fiancée is cavorting about with someone of the same gender."

"Ukyou is not angry because of my infidelity." He explained, sounding amused. "She is angry because I broke off our engagement so that I could focus my attentions on you. She was not privy to my reasoning however and rather her objection lies in the manner in which I concluded our arrangement."

"You did it over the phone." I said, everything clicking into place. He nodded.

"I did. I wish now that I had gone to see her personally, if only to avoid that embarrassing spectacle. I am especially sorry that you had to have been dragged into the middle of it, Mr. Tsuzuki. It was unacceptable the manner in which she spoke to you."

As far as I could tell she had been perfectly polite, if a bit brusque. "I don't really care." I murmured crossing my arms and hunching down low in my seat. The revelation that anyone in their right mind would agree to marry Muraki had indeed shocked me deeply but not to the degree that I had taken personal offense. It was only natural that he lived a life completely separate from his dalliances as a self-proclaimed witch and murderer. Having a fiancée was one of the many cover-ups he would have orchestrated to ensure that his public concerns were attended to.

Did the fact that he had compromised this particular aspect of his life mean anything? Did it make his decision to pursue me in this more acknowledged fashion somewhat sincere?

I reminded myself that this little hitch would have meant nothing at all. Muraki cast people aside every day of his life and this squirmish with Ukyou was no validation that he sincerely wanted me emotionally. It may have been a risk to him but Muraki lived a life filled to the brim with risk. Now was no exception to the contrary. It was just him; doing what he wanted as per usual.

My thoughts skidded to a halt as I felt Muraki's hand slide across my knee, his long ghost like fingers wrapping around the rise of the cap and then squeezing indulgently. My eyes shot open.

"I'm so pleased that you agreed to join me tonight, Mr. Tsuzuki." He crooned, turning his face toward me for a moment. The lids of his eyes were half closed as though he were completely content. I felt the pressure of his hand leave my knee and I suppressed a gasp as those fingers ghosted down my leg and onto my thigh. The nails tickled my skin through the fabric of my trousers and the feeling was so forbiddingly erotic. A hot flush cascaded down my body and I'm sure my cheeks reddened. "That is a most becoming suit my friend."

"Ah... thanks..." It was difficult to comprehend what he was saying when he was tracing a circle on my inside thigh with his finger.

"Not... a lot of it though..." He mused thoughtfully.

"Ah... you mean... uh..."

I breathed a sigh of relief as he moved his finger from my leg but was awarded no reprieve for that finger now traced the split of my jacket, trailing over the visible skin all the way down to rise of one pectoral. I gulped and shoved his hand away, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning my head against the window. I edged toward the passenger side door, performing a miracle of modern engineering by squeezing myself into the gap between it and the seat and still not managing to be far away enough from Muraki. His hand was now rubbing my upper thigh as though he were a farmer checking a sheep for plumpness. I couldn't figure out how he was doing that without crashing the car. Didn't it take concentration to drive a car!

Muraki smiled as though satisfied and finally released me, turning his attention back to the road. The grin never left his handsome face and I could see it clearly every time we passed underneath a street light.

"I'm glad that it will be dark in the cinema however. I doubt I would be able to keep anyone away if they were to see you like this, Mr. Tsuzuki. How delightful that you decided to dress this way for me."

I didn't even look at him. "Don't be so presumptuous. I dressed this way for myself."

He laughed, that mischievous underhanded chuckle of his that stirred something in me so insistently. "I see. Well, you have certainly done yourself proud Mr. Tsuzuki."

I still wouldn't look at him. "You are mocking me."

We were going down a side road which I supposed led to the cinema, when Muraki suddenly pulled over onto the gravel beneath a copse of overhanging tree's. The movement of the car was so abrupt that I was tossed about in my seat like a rag doll before it lurched to a stop completely. Panic overtook my senses as I saw Muraki rip the keys out of the ignition and toss them haphazardly beneath the dash on the drivers' side. I struggled out of my seatbelt at the exact same moment that he unclipped his own and my hand hooked around the door handle, pulling it downward so forcefully I'm surprised that it did not snap off completely.

It was locked.

Muraki grabbed me. I struggled with all my might as he spun me around and his own hand went beneath my seat, desperately searching for something. He found it because a moment later the entire seat tipped backwards, taking me with it. The headrest hit the backseat and I jolted from the impact, trying still to crawl away from the imposing weight of Muraki's body as he moved on top of me. His eyes were hot behind his glasses, just like Tatsumi's had been only a half-hour earlier.

So naïve was I that I wasn't sure what Muraki had wanted at first. I thought that I had made him angry and now that I was alone he was going to hurt me. This meandering thought frightened me so much that I shoved my hands into the wall of his chest in an effort as fulfilling as trying to push over a wall of solid concrete. I could feel one of his hands sliding under my body, forcing my back to arch upward and our pelvis's to press together. I opened my mouth to scream, raised my hands to summon, kicked my legs to little effect and then realized that I was in no danger at all.

Muraki wasn't forcing himself on me. He was laying there, his body mounted upon my own. But he was merely looking at me. His eyes bore into my own, whilst his free hand gently stroked through my hair as though I were a fragile day old kitten. I could hear how fast he was breathing and knew that our momentary struggle had excited him but he wasn't acting on that at all. Rather, he seemed to only want to hold me.

"I'm not mocking you, my Tsuzuki." He said softly. His hand now traced my cheek with such tenderness I couldn't help but sigh. I'd waited for someone to touch me like this my whole life. "Do you think that I would mock you now? When I have so much need of you?"

I couldn't look away from his eyes. Only moments before I couldn't look at all and now I could not stop myself. His eyes were shining, each one perplexing in their stunning irregularity. But they weren't cold like before. He was still as unreadable as ever but by holding me down he was forcing me to confront the alternative to his personality. Muraki was a seemingly complex representation of duality and ambiguity. I doubted my ability to ever satisfactorily classify him. But for now what I could believe was that he had not been mocking me.

It wasn't like I had a choice but to believe him. He was pinning me down.

"No." I said at last. It came out sounding like a gasp for air.

"Then believe what I say to you."

The air was electric between us and at the very same time, everything within me seemed to relax into the situation Muraki had put me in. There was something... cumbersome yet erotic about the way his body was angled atop my own; one of my legs squeezed tightly between his strong thighs. He continued to stroke my hair and face and I was becoming even more sedate with the soft soothing movements against my skin. His face held no hint of a smile and he looked a little lost himself.

"Tsuzuki..."

I couldn't bear hearing him speak my name like that. Without the official title it sounded so personal and... god forbid, sweet. That husky yet strange voice with its nasal quality made love to my very name in the manner I know now that Muraki for so long desired to replicate. Just by speaking my name he told me all that he promised to reward me, were I to remain constant.

And I had wanted to take him up on that.

I wanted to see what effect I had on him, so I spoke his name back.

"Muraki..."

Both his hands moved to cup my face. His thumbs brushing the rise of my cheeks, just above my lips. I felt my eyes flutter closed. It was like I was in a trance.

"Muraki..."

I risked a peek. His eyes were also shut. I closed mine again and leant upwards, my hands cupping the definitive curve of his waist and pulling him against me. I'd lost sight of guilt and the obligation to my friends at the Ministry at this point. I was crazy with the desire for someone to love me. And Muraki was being so gentle and considerate that what passed between us in these few moments didn't matter anymore. I just wanted to stay this way for a while. I just wanted to feel safe and appreciated.

"Tsuzuki..." I heard him breathe from an inch above my lips. I felt the hot air against my skin and my body trembled. "If you want me to kiss you... you must ask me."

The thread snapped. My eyes darted open and met his.

"W-what?"

"I will not keep kissing you if I even have the slightest doubt that you desire it." He murmured, his fingernails pressing into the back of my scalp to ensure that I was paying complete attention. His nose was touching mine even as he spoke so it was kind of difficult to forget he was there. "If you would like for me to kiss you, then you must ask that I do so. I will not do anything that you do not want, Mr. Tsuzuki."

Don't call me 'Mr.' anymore. "Why this then? Why pull over on the side of the road and pin me down and treat me so tenderly if you do not mean to take what you want?" I could hear the emotion in my voice and it was embarrassingly honest. "Can you not tell what I want by the way I am touching you? That I do not struggle? Can you not tell by the way I speak your name? I can tell! Why do I have to say it if you can see it for yourself!"

His voice was grim. "Because I have chosen to condemn myself to something, Mr. Tsuzuki. I have committed myself to you and no other. Last night, I asked you permission if I could kiss you. It is only fair that you extend the same privilege to me."

I was seeing red. My body was literally trembling with anger, at the fact that I was being denied of something that I wanted and being told that I must instead beg for it like some sort of a dog! It was one of my pet hates. If I wanted something and it was withdrawn from me, I was incited. I would fight to win it back and I would not be reduced to pleading or scraping for the mere scraps of it.

My hands lashed upward from his waist so suddenly that I think Muraki was startled. He jerked back a little as my hands grabbed each side of his face and I pulled myself up to meet his lips with my own. Maybe he expected me to be angry, as I had expected him when he pulled over earlier. But now we knew very well what the other was.

The kiss went on and on, our lips making subtle adjustments against one another's and neither consenting to come up for air. Muraki lowered me down onto the car seat, both arms wrapped around my body in a way that still managed to ensure my comfort. I didn't have much experience in these areas but all the right feelings were racing through my body so I gathered I was doing okay. I felt him move against me and I gasped softly, registering the heat of his desire touch down upon my own. Instinctively, I spread my legs apart and he moved into place between them, allowing even more pressure to crush against my pelvis. It was so bad, so selfish but I was enjoying myself. For all his faults Muraki was skilled when it came to manipulating my body and his soft nudges at my lips soon became insistent nips and licks, enquiring entry into my mouth. My whole body shuddered the very second I granted him access and I wanted to clamp my lips back together but I was immediately glad that I chose not to. Not only was he able to move his tongue against my own, which was a feeling to die again for but also our kisses became even deeper as a result.

It had been so long since I'd been kissed like this. It had been so long since I'd been touched like this. It didn't matter who it was with, the sensation was worth it. Good God that man knew how to play this game. He knew every cheat, every code, every walkthrough, every little twist, turn, shortcut, up, down, duck and dive. My arms snaked around his neck; my tongue lapping at the interior of his mouth as though I were dying of thirst and his lips fed me water. I felt his pelvis floor mine again and this time, without thinking, I bucked my hips upward and felt an amazing heated reaction course through my body. Muraki popped his lips free, his pale cheeks ruddy and his glasses askew.

"Mr. Tsuzuki!" He gasped. He spoke my name the same way he had when I'd stabbed him. Mollified.

I panted breathlessly, my face as innocent as I could make it. He looked at me scoldingly.

"Since you were so bold as to take from me what you wanted, don't think that I will not take from you what I desire if you tease me like that again." He said, his voice ragged. I could tell that he meant it.

I couldn't even reply, I was too short of breath. Too shocked and astounded by my lack of control. Muraki must have realized this. He kissed me again, his lips pressing softly to mine for a few seconds before slowly sliding free. I tilted my head back, my breath steadily increasing as his lips deliberately coursed a path across the visible patch of my chest, moving down as far as the fabric would allow. I suddenly wanted to go further, to feel those lips go lower but he had indulged himself for the time being. He took his weight off of my body and cocked an eyebrow at me as he moved away and slid back into the drivers seat. I was left a confused mess on the horizontal passengers seat, my hair even more of a mess than it was to begin with and my breathing all over the place.

"Now you understand how awful it is to be teased by something you want so badly and have it taken away from you when you think you can have it at your leisure." Muraki said, winking at me cockily.

I could have knifed the smug bastard. Again.

"Asshole..." I hissed, aiming for the heart with a most contemptuous expression.

Muraki evaded its intent and retrieved the keys from underneath the dash. He started the car then looked over at me once more.

"Ah... I do enjoy seeing you on your back my dear Tsuzuki."

"Mr. Tsuzuki." I reminded him as I straightened my seat up and clipped on the safety harness. "And don't you go forgetting it anytime soon."

It was a weak little threat. I said it to make myself feel better, because I was so beyond embarrassment now that the passion was wearing off. Muraki knew that and he ignored me. He just smiled to himself as he pulled back onto the road and continued toward the cinema, our road a contradictory linear line, so unlike the complex twists and turns of our thoughts and the tangle our paths had wound themselves into since the day they had crossed for the very first time.

- Scene Change -

The ride to the cinema was uneventful, following that little episode. We didn't talk and Muraki filled the silence by playing tapes. I wondered whether his insipid fondness of love songs was something he had always been partial too or if he thought it appropriate whilst in my presence. Whatever the case, I was relieved when we arrived at the cinema and could finally escape from the whiny woes of teenage girls and a man who just wanted to 'take the blows and do it his way.'

Yes sir, torture comes in all forms for Kazutaka Muraki.

I had been hoping that Muraki would have taken me to one of the less notorious cinema's on the outside of Tokyo, rather than the mainstream inner city joint that every man, woman, teenager, child and their dog frequented. Of course, Muraki being Muraki, always went for size over discretion and naturally I'd found myself at the Inner Tokyo Cinema. The name was spelled out in gold lights and smacked dab directly in the center of the pink glowing border surmounting the doorway. It looked like a sleazy strip club rather than a cinema.

Once we had parked the car and made our way inside, Muraki noticed that I couldn't stop looking around. "This your first time here?"

I nodded. "Everything is so big! And there are so many people here! How on earth will we get a seat?"

Muraki smiled genially at me as we moved our way through the throng of people toward the ticket booth. We were regarded with many awed expressions and I put it down to the fact that Muraki was so well known in Tokyo because of his profession and his exotic good looks. Coupled with my suit I supposed that we were a little conspicuous.

"Don't worry," He told me, pressing the palm of his hand into the small of my back. I squirmed before realizing that this was how he was keeping me from being swallowed up by the crowd. He was pushing me along beside him, using the walls of our bodies to clear a path and not lose one another. "The movie that I am taking you to see has been showing here for quite some time now. It has been delegated to one of the smaller theaters and there will be less people viewing it at this stage. We may practically have the entire place to ourselves."

This man was truly a force to be reckoned with. A big bead of sweat coursed down the side of my face at the suggestive pinch he deposited against my waist.

"Muraki... I do not intend for anything to happen in the middle of a public place! So don't try anything with me, you got that!"

He kissed me. Right in front of a thousand or so people.

I was mortified. If I hadn't already been dead I'm sure the embarrassment would have killed me. I nearly fell over, that shocked was I and Muraki had to hold me up by the arm wrapped around my lower back. We looked like we were dancing. Over his shoulder I could see a few high school girls giggling and blushing at what had just happened. I didn't understand. What the hell were they so happy about!

"MURAKI!" I yelled wiping at my lips furiously. It was not so much that I didn't like him kissing me. That was fine, just as long as there was no one else around. But in the light of day, in front of people... I wouldn't have kissed anyone in public like that, let alone Muraki! There are just some things that you do behind closed doors or in parked cars for that matter!

Muraki was smiling at me, ignorant of the stunned faces of the people around us. The girls were now poised in the background with camera's of all things! What's the world coming to!

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tsuzuki. Did I embarrass you?" He sounded so phony.

I leaned close to hiss in his ear and we ended up doing some stupid hoppy movement as Muraki followed the line heading to the ticket booth and I was forced to tiptoe with him. A camera flash went off.

"Muraki, don't you dare kiss me in public again, do you hear me!" I snapped, hopping along with him again. Muraki cocked his head at me and grinned suggestively.

"So, I am perfectly entitled to kiss you when we are in private then?"

There was simply no evading this man. "If circumstances allow for it Muraki! But never in public!"

He made an indignant noise through his nose, still managing to sound gentlemanly whilst doing so. "You cause more of a spectacle when you fuss over it, just like you are now. Most people would simply dismiss the odd kiss or too. Do not be so presumptuous to think that the entire world is concerned with what you are doing, Mr. Tsuzuki."

"Presumptuous!" I snapped.

He nodded and we danced up the line a bit more. There was another camera flash.

"Yes, Mr. Tsuzuki. You are constantly concerned with how people are going to judge you and perceive each and every one of your actions. You should relax about things like that. The world is not watching your every move, waiting to see what you may or may not do. That is why a stray kiss here and there is not going to make much of a difference."

"What ever happened to asking whether or not you could kiss me? Hmm?"

His visible eye was tinged with humor, coursing upward from the charismatic curl of his lip. "You saw fit to take, my love. A relationship does not consist of asking and permitting, that is what I am trying to make you understand. It is spontaneous and at the same time it is fair to both parties. We need not ask but we may refute the advancement of the other if we do not want it."

"I AM refuting it! I don't want you kissing me!"

"You felt differently in the car. And I should know. I got a good feel of what you wanted."

I couldn't believe what he had just said. My face was so red you could fry an egg on it and then have enough heat left over for a sausage or two. I was unable to react until we had reached the front of the line. Muraki, pleased at winning our exchange, pulled me up beside him and slipped an arm around my waist as he spoke to the girl in the booth.

"Excuse me, Miss? I have two tickets reserved under K. Muraki?" The doctor inquired smoothly. The girl standing inside of the booth blushed a little at his address and went into an immediate flurry at the pleasure of serving him.

"Ah yes, Dr. Muraki! We have your tickets here for you. I'll just get them. Please wait a moment!" With that she disappeared under the line of the booth and began to search somewhere out of sight for the aforementioned tickets. I waited patiently, my interest consumed by a poster on the wall about industrial accidents. Muraki leant close and pecked me softly on the cheek. Another camera flash went off.

"What the hell are we! A walking circus!" I steamed, wishing that I didn't nearly believe that. "And you! I told you! No kissing!"

Muraki pretended to be surprised. "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you meant I couldn't kiss you on the mouth in public."

This had me very, very worried. Would I have to list all the places that he couldn't kiss me to ensure that he wouldn't try it? What if we were in the cinema, in the dark and he tried to...?

Muraki fished a white handkerchief out of his pocket and held it up to my nose. "You're bleeding." He said simply.

Who could blame me?

When I'd stopped my nosebleed and we'd collected our tickets, Muraki and I made our way to the Concession Stand. I was starving to eat everything there but Muraki insisted I only get a few snacks to nibble on or else I'd spoil dinner. He sounded just like my mother.

In the end, I made my way into the dark movie theater with six boxes of Pocky, a large Coke and a bag of gummi sweets. Muraki had paid, which I was glad for but he hadn't been happy about it. His eyebrow was continually raised at me, even in the dark.

"Was it completely necessary to buy all of that food?" He was hesitant about using the term 'food' here. "Pocky? Aren't you a little old to be eating that?"

"Ridiculous!" I exclaimed through a mouthful of gummi's and soda. "No one is too old to eat Pocky! It is age friendly! Now... where are we going to sit?"

Muraki surveyed the dark theater with a critical eye. He was right; it didn't look as though many people were frequenting this film for the time being and pretty much every seat was vacant. He eventually took my hand and started leading me in the general direction of the back row. I felt my stomach seize up and I had a difficult time swallowing my food.

"Why all the way back here?" I asked, tugging on his hand to make him stop. He turned to look at me, teeth shining from behind his vindictive smile.

"So that we are able to, as the young one's put it, 'make out' without disturbing the other patrons." He said.

He was only half joking.

We sat down and I put all my effort into the consumption of my snacks. Classical music was playing through the speakers; the lights dim in that dusky fashion preceding the movie itself. I watched as the young group of high school girls from before made their way into the cinema and started looking around for a place to sit. At least, that's what I hope they were looking for.

"Hey, this may seem like a dumb question but what movie are we watching?" I asked stuffing a few sticks of different flavored Pocky into my mouth and giving them all a good chew.

Muraki was delighted to indulge me. "The film is called 'A Trip for Two.' It's about a man with the power to defy time itself and how he uncovers the truth behind a grisly serial murder. Perhaps you've heard of it?"

Oh, I'd heard of it all right. It was a German film, written by the director Oleg Francis, renowned all over the globe for his enthralling and complex storylines. This film was rumored to be his greatest cinematic achievement to date. And it was a romance.

Trust Muraki.

The doctor chose to ignore my expression and instead flipped the top off of the water he had bought. He took a sip, generously sliding the water all around the inside of his mouth before swallowing. He dabbed away the stray droplets with the same handkerchief he'd used to clean up my nosebleed. The bloodstains were very close to his lips and I think he was nearly tempted to taste them. I tried not to stare, failed. He caught the look on my face this time and sighed deeply, tucking the hanky away into his pocket.

"Forgive me, Mr. Tsuzuki. But this is reality. I have demons blood coursing through my veins and sometimes it is difficult to resist the... well the blood lust. You surely feel it at times too, do you not?"

I shook my head. "No, I... I would never... and I never have..."

"You have accepted your human half over that of your demon half. I am the opposite. It is unfortunate that neither of us has obtained the middle ground," He mused, screwing the cap back on top of the bottle and setting it in the cup holder. "Perhaps this way you and I can reach that center balance. With you, I hope to obtain more of my lost humanity. With me, perhaps you can accept the demon half of yourself and be at peace with who you are."

I remembered the red stains upon the roses. I never wanted to even touch upon that place I had come to when I was a child. It had messed me up for years. It still messes me up until this very day.

"There is possible merit in that." I stated, trying to make my voice sound matter-of-fact. "But that is not what this arrangement entails, Muraki. I'm here so that you may forfeit that demon side of yourself. I am here because you want me and I want you to stop taking life that you have no right to take."

"You think that you are here because you want to stop people from dying." Muraki said in a tone so ambiguous one couldn't say whether it was a question, a statement, a confirmation. What I could tell though, was that I don't think that he believed if for a second.

I'm not sure if Muraki ever truly considered the precarious nature of our association. My stabbing him in Kyoto should have been proof enough that he should have treated me with more than just polite amusement and yet even now, he did not seem the least bit concerned in my presence. I looked at him, wishing and not for the first time that I could take a peek into his true emotions and find out exactly what he was thinking rather than be toyed with by duplicitous signals and cross-references. In the car I was certain that I had seen him drop his guard. It occurred to me that this reaction was as a result of my confidence when I'd moved against him.

I'd never considered using my body as a means to assert myself, in any situation. If I ever had, it had been unconsciously. I thought to myself that this may have been the way, the only effective way that I could overpower Muraki in all senses but that thought in itself was so bold I could barely entertain it, let alone enact it. I found myself blushing all over again.

I watched Muraki's profile fade into darkness as the commercials started and then I too turned my attention to the screen. For about an hour into the movie there was very little interaction between us. Muraki was particular about when he chose to speak and if he wasn't offering an insightful and often unnecessary interpretation, he'd usually keep quiet and allow ample silence in which to fully enjoy the movie. I'd only ever had a few dates with him but each and every time it had been the same.

Except Kyoto. But it wasn't just Muraki who had changed then. In Kyoto everyone had changed.

The movie was excellent and I was really enjoying it. Though I'll be the first to admit the enjoyment factor did decrease somewhat when I'd run out of food and soda. About three quarters of the way into the film, the main character went through an emotional turntable as he searched for his lover in the 15th century, where he had lost her during the previous visit. He'd learnt that she was going to be burnt at the stake for witchcraft and he didn't make it in time to save her.

I snuffled a little and wiped at my eyes with my sleeve. The scene started to get more emotional and my snuffles got louder. I felt huge gobby tears rolling down my cheeks and I smothered a little whimper.

"There, there now Mr. Tsuzuki..." Muraki soothed, putting an arm around my shoulder. My entire body stiffened. "You do know that it's only a movie right? It didn't really happen."

"Those sort of things happened all the time in the Western countries!" I all but sobbed. I could feel Muraki's hand rubbing my shoulder comfortingly like Watari or Tatsumi would in the same situation. "I read about it in a book! They used to burn all these innocent women for crimes they didn't commit! It wasn't fair! They didn't do anything wrong!"

"I know, I know they didn't... shhh..." He whispered as he drew me in close. Without thinking, I rested my head against his shoulder and buried my face into the material of his jacket. I knew he was only humoring me but the comfort made me feel better just the same.

"Are you cold, Mr. Tsuzuki?" Without waiting for an answer, he lifted my trench coat and slung it around my shoulders as best he could, returning his arm to its previous position and then resting his head atop my own. "You feel such empathy towards the oppressed, don't you?" He asked rhetorically. I'd certainly demonstrated this motive enough times in his presence for him to be certain of the answer. I felt his hand slide over the armrest and his fingers link between my own. I liked that feeling and I let him twine our fingers around one another's, occasionally separating to stroke palms and knuckles and wrists. I looked up into his face. He seemed perfectly content to forego the rest of the movie if I would allow him this intimacy.

"You are... beautiful..." He told me, lifting my hand up to his face and resting my fingers on one of his shining cheeks. I swallowed deeply as I felt the wetness there and realized that he had shed but a single tear. At what I do not know. But I felt that tear and I saw it in the light from the movie screen, coursing its way down his cheek and then onto my palm. It disappeared beneath the sleeve of my jacket and across the scars on my wrist. In the very next second, Muraki's fingers had deftly pulled the watchband down revealing that awful latticework of hatred and regret. I wanted to pull away but then he was kissing them and I lost track of all rational thought.

He was kissing my scars...

I wanted to cry even more. I wanted to beat him to a pulp and tear him apart. But I also wanted to kiss him fiercely and hold him and thank him for touching the part of me I couldn't even bear to look upon myself. I loved and hated this man so much for what he did.

I smothered a sob as he took a hold of my wrist, angling my arm before his face so that he was able to encase the scarred flesh completely within his warm mouth. I was panting, panting in fervor, of madness and want. His tongue traced the rigid lining, his lips peppering the skin as though attempting to heal what was already beyond healing. When his mouth fell away he would nuzzle the perpetually reddened tight flesh with the side of his face, one hand pressing his fingers up through the gaps of my own, holding onto me tightly lest I float up from reality. My lips trembled.

"Muraki..." I whimpered.

He left one lingering kiss on my scars and lowered my arm, still gripping my hand with one of his own. His free hand snuck over the armrest and slowly descended on my thigh. I didn't dismiss him, just gazed into his face, telling him to have all that he wanted of me. That permission unto me was his. That hand took heed and set to work caressing the flesh through the pant leg, the erotic sensation building up in waves to short sharp climaxes whenever he moved inward and closer to my pelvis. We were in a public place and my back was arching and my body literally shuddered and heaved in anticipation the moment his fingers grazed the very seam on my pants outlining my groin. Muraki lifted his upper body over the armrest and moved his face close to mine. He didn't say anything but his breathing was heavy as he kissed me deeply, his tongue massaging mine ever so slowly. I tentatively wound my fingers around the fabric of his jacket and I felt myself blush as I began to work it away from his body. He assisted me and eventually pushed it aside, revealing his whipcord body outlined beneath a befitting white shirt. My hands pressed into his waist as he kissed me again and then again, pressing kisses into my lips as though they were bullets fired from a gun. The hand on my thigh moved.

"Is this what you want?" He asked seductively. He didn't have to explain. The heel of his hand pressed down hard against my crotch and the friction was so outstanding I thought I would faint. I writhed beneath that one touch like a bug skewered on a stick.

"Is this what you want?" He asked again. This time, his entire hand cupped me and squeezed hard, the pressure driving me mad. I thrust against his grip but he teasingly released me, moving his mouth to within an inch of my own. "See how quickly you forsake your delicate concern for the public eye, all for the chance that I might release you of your passion?"

My fist clenched tightly around the fabric of his white shirt and he pulled him in even closer, my teeth clenched to the point of shattering into a thousand pieces. "Don't you fuck with me Muraki!"

His smile widened. "My love... I thought that was exactly what you wanted." As proof of this, he touched me again and I was reminded even more of my urgent need for completion. My back was completely arched off of the seat, fingers opening and closing as though reaching for anything of substance to hold me back. I was in a lot of trouble.

"You're the one who... who wants it you... you bastard..." I groaned between my teeth.

"Oh yes, I most certainly do." He said. Then he took my hand and showed me.

I didn't have time to really rate the feeling because someone screaming from the front row got in the way. I instantly jerked my hand away from Muraki's crotch, thinking that we were about to get arrested for indecent public displays of affection or something when I realized that everyone was looking in the opposite direction. I gazed back toward the screen and exclaimed loudly.

The picture was covered with what looked like black smog, flowing outward from each corner. As it met in the center, each tendril wound around itself and formed in the middle of the venomous darkness two glowing yellow eyes and a gaping rectangular maw outlined by five or six rows of needle sharp teeth. The entity rose up from the movie screen and a strange sound erupted from the mouth. It sounded like a horse gargling with acid if I had to describe it in any particular way.

I was on my feet in a flash. "It's a demon!"

Muraki moved to stand beside me, eyes transfixed on the bizarre creature. "It is Balban; the Daemon of Delusion."

I hadn't heard of it myself but then again, demon's were Watari's specialty not mine. I just beat them up and occasionally got possessed by them. It was a confusing turn of events though. Why would a demon appear in front of so many potential witnesses and risk the delicate balance between Casual and Acasual spaces? Only rogue demons were foolish enough to attempt something like that and from my Second level of Penetration I sensed that this demon was on a Level 4 distinction, which did not classify it as a rogue. Rather as a certifiable soldier. A powerful one at that.

Balban made that same sound again and a semi-permeable vibration cascaded outwards from it at a two hundred and eighty degree angle. I watched as it hit the people in the very front row and they were frozen in place when the sound wave hit. I had seen this spell at work before. It was Paralysis Fever. It activated the neurons in the brain that caused Sleep Paralysis and ignited them into reacting whilst the victim was conscious. The spell was fast approaching up the seats and I realized I was going to have to get out of the way. I inhaled deeply and Jumped, displacing the kinetic energy beneath my feet and propelling myself upward into the air. Muraki cursed and vaulted off of the back of his seat, managing to get just enough air to avoid the clip of the spell but coming down heavily enough to jarr both his ankles. This surprised me. I knew first hand that Muraki was certainly capable of Teleportation and Hovering at the very least. Why didn't he use one of these tactics to remove himself from the threat?

I put this out of my mind and settled back on the ground, my eyes trained on the demon's smoky form. The people in the front row were the one's in immediate danger, so it was imperative that I put myself between them and Balban. I tensed; ready to take off toward the front of the cinema when I felt Muraki grasp me by the upper arm. His eyes were bright.

"Don't you dare, Mr. Tsuzuki." He exclaimed as he pulled me back firmly toward him. "I will not risk seeing you injured by this creature. You are mine."

I tugged myself out of his grasp, slapping at his hand with all the strength I possessed. "I am not yours! And I won't risk innocents being hurt! This is my job Muraki."

His eyes were downcast, the longer clumps of silver hair masking his expression from sight. "I... I do not have the power to protect you, Mr. Tsuzuki. I have given up killing... when I killed, I drained the souls from the bodies of my victims. That's what gave me power. Now that I have stopped I have very little mana left within me. And if Balban were to injure you, I would be required to kill him and I may not have that ability."

"Required?"

"It is demon tradition," He explained. "You must understand. You are mine, Mr. Tsuzuki. I have chosen you as my mate. It is my obligation to protect you."

"An obligation to protect me... well isn't that a delightful little perk?" I said sharply and Muraki had an expression of aggravation for just the hair of a second.

"You are mine to protect..." He repeated and he looked very demonic in his declaration. He pulled me to him and smothered my protests with a passionate kiss. There was something terribly flattering in someone wanting to protect you but it was a stupid argument to be having in this situation. I felt a rush of air on the back of my neck and when I looked up Balban was hovering directly above our heads.

" - Lovers! - " The deep voice sounded all too much like a faulty intercom but it was coming from the creature before us. " - I sincerely hope that you enjoyed your last kiss for you shall share no more from this day forth. - I am Balban, the Daemon of Delusion. - Mitkiel sends his best and advises that Tsuzuki come willingly or I shall bring him bathed in the blood of the other. - "

"Mitkiel?" I wondered, trying to ignore the cage Muraki had wound around me with his arms. I had my hands pressed into his chest in an effort to keep from being pulled against him like some stereotypical female love interest. Like someone who needed protecting. Muraki's head was bowed over mine and his body angled defensively before my own. He tossed his hair aside, revealing his false eye and leveled both at the hovering demon. I kept expecting him to move, to speak.

And he did. "He is mine." He didn't roar it such as he had with me only moments earlier, but his voice had been so cold and venomous it became that much more intense. He pulled me even closer against his body, moving his own slightly forward. Shielding me.

"I'm not yours." I hissed over his shoulder. His eyes were still focused on Balban but I could see just the hint of frustration leak across his face like blotted ink.

"You would rather be his?" He asked rhetorically. I didn't answer. I can do that.

The demon didn't take long to digest this. Perhaps he had already guessed what our reaction was likely to be, because he wasted no time in making good his promise.

And I'll give the cinema seats this much; they may have been as uncomfortable as Hell but they were hard and sturdy little battlers. It took Balban exactly five seconds to swoop down and attempt to slam his big smoky head into our bodies and in that time, Muraki had tugged me down behind the row of seats in front of where we'd been sitting. Balban raked over the tops of the seats but the lack of distance he'd maintained whilst driving forward meant that he hadn't gained enough momentum to pass through. The headrests were knocked from the seats and he was sent tumbling and crashing into the wall behind us.

I wasted no time. Whilst the demon was momentarily stunned, I twisted in Muraki's hold, dropping both arms around his neck and literally yanked him out of our handy dandy little hiding place. Due to the lack of room in the back, I bounded toward the front of the cinema where the handful of other patrons, including the group of high school girls, had been sitting and were now frozen in the rictus of the spell. Muraki's feet were scrambling across the carpet and then kicking at the air unceremoniously whenever I'd vault a row of seats. Our hasty retreat went mostly unnoticed by Balban. He was currently roped up in the cinema seats he had managed to accumulate in his daunting dive, most of which he was throwing haphazardly in all directions in an effort to shake loose. After I'd taken a quick glance at the demon, my feet touched down on one of the very first rows of seats. I bounced off of the cushion like a kid on a trampoline, losing my grip on Muraki. He crashed as elegantly as possible into the isle and then rose to his feet in a method that didn't even involve using his hands. I swear, is there any situation that man gets himself into where he doesn't come out of it looking sophisticated?

I moved to his side.

"I don't have any fuda," I explained, referring to the charm paper I employed as a means of enforcing my spiritual abilities. It hadn't even occurred to me to bring any tonight, which is probably quite telling. "But I still should be able to cast the reversal spell and release these people from the Paralysis. But I need you to cause a distraction. If I'm interrupted whilst casting, I will have to start from the beginning and I think that it is in everyone's best interests that I get it right the first time."

"Oh absolutely." Said Muraki, sounding fairly unconvinced. I don't think he was altogether that concerned with what happened to the innocents as long as he and I got out of this alive. I was about to berate him about his inhuman attitude and reminding him that one hand washes the other around here and so forth when he silenced me by a gentile gesture of his hand. It was so prim you would think the man a prince. "Very well. I shall keep him away from this half of the cinema, Mr. Tsuzuki. But as I told you, my powers are none too strong, so don't expect any theatrics."

"I don't care how pretty it is! If it distracts him, it'll do!" I snapped bounding over the first row of seats and moving to stand beneath the large screen, where even the movie itself had frozen. I guessed that Balban's spell had taken out the gentleman spooling the film in the little room at the back of the theater too.

Speak of the devil, Balban had eventually disentangled himself from the affectionate cinema seats and was swiveling to face Muraki and I. Though, telling back from front with this particular demon was a task in and of itself. The glowing red eyes and gnashing teeth gave it away in the end.

" - Insolent children! -" It crackled, descending down the isle like a somnolent storm front. " - Here I offer you the option of accompanying me peacefully and you spit in my face! - "

"Creature, you spat in your own face." Muraki stated, his voice so calm and smooth it was as though he were addressing his mother. This seemed very appropriate somehow. "I have warned you; Asato Tsuzuki is mine. Now, return to your master and make him aware of this fact also. I have no more to make of you or your insulting offer of peaceful submission."

The demon paused to consider this; the long tendrils that made up its lateral segments creeping through the rows of seats and winding forward across the teal carpet. When it remained still, it broke apart like a wall of fog on a rainy day. I watched as one slanted red eye closed and then the other squinted into a mere cut. It looked as if it were having trouble seeing Muraki clearly.

" - I sense demons' blood in you. -" It spoke, without the slightest hint of inflection in its' tone. One couldn't tell whether it found this knowledge delightful, frightening or if it really didn't give a rat's ass either way. " - No matter. Mitkiel is one of the Nine. He is of the Second hour; a master demon. A full blood, unlike you. Your demon blood is barely a drop in the ocean. A spit in a bucket, as they say. Practically... nothing. Mitkiel has chosen this one to be his mate and this one will comply. It is his prerogative. A mere quarter breed like you has no right to claim that which the master seeks."

This whole time I had been uttering the Reversal Spell, trying not to listen to what they were saying. It seemed a little rude however, that I was not the least bit consulted as to what it was I actually wanted but I guess demon's can be arrogant like that. They will spend centuries fighting over something they hope to obtain and forget the will and conscious life of the being itself. Whatever the case, I couldn't let it get to me. Talk at this point, nothing more.

This talk had angered Muraki though. I'd just finished the final syllable of the spell and the wave was spreading outward to encompass the frozen bodies when an almighty clap of energy displaced the floor beneath me and I was slammed forcefully against the wall beneath the cinema screen. I looked on, stunned, as a halo of white light circled Muraki's head once and a pillar of silver flame erupted from his outstretched palm like a mighty dove arching its' wings toward the Heavens. Muraki's attack had been a little overzealous to say the least. The silver plume rose into the air and then slammed directly into the center of Balban's chest, driving the dusty abomination back into the far wall and pouring against him with unstoppable determination. It was like watching a waterfall, continually pounding upon a gully of rocks without mercy. Balban thrashed, its cries echoing throughout the mostly empty room like the roar of white noise. I winced, my temples panging furiously in objection and glanced quickly to Muraki. His face was eerily calm, the only indication of his rage the judgmental curl of his lower lip and the flashing shine of his irregular eye, visible through a small part in his hair. Much of his attack had taken out a whole line of cinema seats, leaving charred and blackened debris in its' wake.

The patrons, released from the spell had clearly gotten more than they'd bargained for on their night out. They were flocking for the closest available exits and no one, I am pleased to say, was flashing a camera. Which was a good thing since it would cause so many problems later when it came round to erasing their memories.

It took me a minute or so to get my essence under control and climb to my feet. In that time however, Muraki had burnt himself out like an old kerosene lamp and was crouching on the floor, one hand pressed to the wall of his white shirt and his face uncharacteristically struck. His teeth were bared and both eyes crazed.

"He. Is. MINE!" Came the booming voice from Muraki's mouth. He sounded pretty damn firm about it too. I couldn't detect any derision in his expression when he climbed to his feet. Even I was afraid to deny what he was saying. "You insignificant little worm! Neither you nor the one whom you serve has the power to remove my mate from me! I sought him, whom my soul loves and found him I did after a lifetime of searching!" His wicked fingers curved into the carnal grasp of claws, the long nails shining in what little light there was. "I shall lay to waste any whom would dare so much as attempt to possess him; for he is mine. Should it entail that I would run myself to ruin in the process then so be it. For I shall see him dead once more before I see him in the hands of your master."

"Muraki..." I called but he ignored me. There was a tight feeling across my chest and I knew it was because of how emotionlessly Muraki was dealing with what he saw as a threat to me. No... it wasn't so much that he loved me. As Pandora had said; Muraki would not die by the hands of another to spare my own life. He would die to protect what he saw as belonging to him. He would die at the hands of another to protect a possession.

He is mine...

He is mine to kill...

We really weren't that different at all, were we?

There were no more innocents in the room, so I saw this as the perfect opportunity to summon. But first I would have to get Muraki out of the way, or my Guardian's were more likely to kill him than the demon. I concentrated and felt the kinetic energy swell beneath my feet. My energy was converted to raw speed and I shot towards the doctor, arms outstretched. Not a second too soon as it were. The moment I collided with him, Balban fired off a String Cortex; six beads of burning light that erupted directly from the demons bloodstream and sliced through skin as effectively as a knife through butter. Muraki exclaimed loudly as I hit him and elbowed me directly atop the cranium in an attempt to see what on earth I was up to. The blow was hard. My vision swam for a moment until my accelerated healing ability took care of it and then we were airborne; the spell crashing harmlessly into the carpeted floor. Well... harmlessly to us at least and that's what counts. As we sailed through the air, I mentally envisioned an invisible shield surrounding us and cast Impermia. It was fortunate that I did because the next attack Balban fired off was even more powerful than the first. Three balls of fire; yellow, red and blue, the color suggesting a different heat and threat, slammed against the invisible wall. The impact rocked me and my landing on the far side of the cinema was somewhat shaky as a result. I jarred both my ankles as the weight collapsed into my feet, Muraki's own body adding to that but he was quick to relieve me by pulling out of my grasp. His forehead was pricked with sweat and I knew it was a result of his foolish power expenditure.

" - Maggots! - " Balban roared, flowing steadily above the seats toward us. " - If Mitkiel were aware of how much trouble you were, he would not waste his time with such benighted creatures! I ask you again; come willingly Tsuzuki. If you agree now, I shall spare your lover. I see he is weak and he shall not heal as rapidly such as you and I are able to. Such guilt on your conscience would rather be avoided, no? - "

Muraki's entire body was heaving, his anger raw. He practically spat his next words. "Silence! How dare you try to barter with him! How dare you so much as address him! You are unworthy of directing that filthy rubbish to Tsuzuki!"

I grabbed his arm to prevent him doing something rash like flipping the bird and getting the both of us nicely incinerated as a result. I'd never seen the doctor so fired up in all the time I had known him. Which was something I guess, though it wasn't really altogether that romantic a gesture. Honestly, those two were like a pair of insecure primary school boys, preening and gloating about improvised masculine achievements behind the bike shed, all in the name of impressing a girl who probably didn't even know their names. It was kind of sad.

I quickly switched to my Second Level of Sixth Sense Penetration and noticed something alarming. Muraki had moved outside of the range of my Impermia. If I had noticed it, it was very likely that Balban had noticed it too. Any second now he could fire off a spell and take him out.

Why was I so worried about his safety?

I grabbed Muraki by the inside elbow and yanked him back close to me, not really thinking about why I did it. Muraki being killed would have solved a lot of my current problems. Yet despite the logic, it didn't seem appropriate somehow to let him be killed over such an absent slip and by such an... annoying demon.

Muraki glanced at me, sidelong. "Mr. Tsuzuki. You must summon."

I had been on the verge of doing so but Muraki's prompting spurred me into action that little bit faster. I shut my eyes, focusing on the feeling of the mana inside of me. I felt it react as my mental psyche entwined with my spiritual essence, igniting in the center like a spark upon paper and flaring up to consume my entire being. Summoning a Guardian was physically and spiritually draining but for that one small moment, the concoction of subtle variations within my soul, the slight adjustment to each and every tiny stimulus rushing against me was incomparable. I was alive for those few wonderful, fleeting seconds.

"I bow to thee and beseech you: The twelve gods that protect me-"

I felt something rock against the Impermia and then an energy displacement as Muraki fired something back at Balban.

"Anytime, Mr. Tsuzuki." He sounded calm but his voice was strained. I assumed that my divided concentration had weakened the shield and Balban was now attempting to break through it. As though confirming my thoughts, another blast rocked the shield. This time I could actually feel the heat from the spell. I needed to hurry.

My fingers crossed over each other and I positioned them before my eyes; a simple method of summoning without a pentagram. Enticement, conveyance... it streaked through me and cut deep into the Acasual space where the guardians resided. I felt it connect to the very one I was calling and the cord tightened, the pressure escalating at the unspoken verification. I was to be aided.

" - appear before me. Come out; Suzaku!"

I have seen it first hand a thousand times and yet 'till this very day, the vision never ceases to amaze me. The magnificant Phoenix erupted from the flames that birthed it; fire red eyes glowing as it soared high above our heads, wings and tail ignite as it set down behind me, throwing light throughout the darkness of the cinema. Muraki regarded the Guardian carefully. Suzaku had once destroyed his own Summons; a three headed dragon called Hydra and though impressed by my ability in calling forth these powerful entities, I think he was just that little more wary of them now. Seeing them ignite entire buildings and turning them to rubble tends to do that to you.

Balban's teeth gnashed furiously. " - He has Suzaku! -"

I made a rushed gesture with two fingers and Suzaku obeyed immediately. She came down upon Balban with the force of Hell itself, her broad head ramming him directly between those glaring red eyes in an attempt to drive him back. The fog that made up Balban was mostly intangible however and Suzaku passed right through him. Unlike the demon, her reflexes were much better and she was able to avoid a near collision with the wall. Her belly scraped the surface as she flew directly upward and circled the room like a vulture eyeing off a dying animal. She was gaining momentum for her next attack.

Balban's blazing eyes came to rest on Muraki and I, huddled beneath the cracked dome of our flimsy excuse for a protection spell. I could sense the radiation of anger leaking out from the demon. More so, I could sense its' fear.

" - My master has charged me to return with you! -" It reminded us, rising upward until the fog had stretched like an accordion. " - Alive you must be but you leave me no choice now! I shall truly bathe you in the blood of the other and then I shall rend that vile bird asunder! You must comply! Watch now, as I break your pathetic shield and ensnare you from his arms!"

The wall of smoke collapsed atop the Impermia like a snake smacking its upper body against the ground. I yelped loudly as the entire shield buckled and raised my hands, concentrating as hard as I could on repairing the cracks that were showing. Balban's essence was entirely wrapped around the bubble I'd created and was preventing my own mana from taking effect. I quivered and crouched as low as I could, watching in horror as that rectangular maw started to literally gnash against the nexus. The cracks grew. Balban was consuming the very essence of the spell and it fell away in shards from his teeth, like a windowpane of glass. It wouldn't be too long before he broke through.

I could see Muraki's lips moving as though he were mumbling an incantation but whatever he'd been hoping to achieve was interrupted by Suzaku coming to our rescue. At least... I'm sure that's what she had been intending. However, as she circled round and fired Explosion off, Balban sensed the energy displacement and every particle of his intangible body disbanded, leaving the remnants of the shield wide open. My eyes widened.

"NO!" I screamed for all the good it would have done. The pillar of fire heading directly toward us had the potency of flame upon oil. The effect was similar to someone throwing a lit match into a gas station. What remained of the shield had no chance.

Somehow, I didn't hear it - or rather I noticed that unique absence of sound. In light of the fire you would think there would be some initial sound of impact but at first there was nothing. No crackling of flame, no exploding whoomf but instead the mammoth kick of pressure that smacked the shield, shattered through and then collapsed against me with the weight of a speeding Mack track. I lost awareness at that point, the very force of the attack enough to knock me out but I was spared the full brunt by the hard, wide body of Kazutaka Muraki throwing me backwards out of the line of fire. He was screaming something, screaming as his body was shunted inwards with bone crushing force and I could see trims of fire lapping at the collar of his shirt. Dreams of angry light threatened to overwhelm the borders of my consciousness but I clung on, my eyes rising up over the alight fence of Muraki's arm and focusing unsteadily on Balban hovering above us like a conquering King. The force of the impact had thrown us back against the wall beneath the cinema screen and somehow, neither of us was dead. Somehow...

A great swirling black light appeared in the center of Balban's chest and through my hazy state I sensed the power of this attack. It was the one he had been saving. Not for me... but for Muraki. My hands grasped his shirtsleeves in loose fists, my body affected by the barest hint of tremulations.

" - The master shall be angry - " I heard the creature simper. " - He would have been delighted if he'd had the both of you to play with. Sacrifices must be made however... and you shall heal in time Tsuzuki. But this, it seems, is the only way to persuade you to come with me. I pray the master forgives me - "

"Please stop!" I cried, choking as I felt fluid rise in my throat. Blood. I was hurt worse than I realized. I knew I had to try and move out of Balban's line of fire but there was no strength in my body, no spiritual energy to back me up. I saw the light increase and Muraki was crouching over me; both arms wrapped around my body and eyes alight.

And then over the crackling of the fire, I distinctly heard someone snap his or her fingers.

Whatever attack had been thrown at Balban was a direct hit, with no defensive shield to cushion the blow. It had struck in the center of its back, Balban's hissing screams pitching burning hot needles into the area behind my eyes as its body collapsed weightless upon the floor like melted toffee. As the demon died, Suzaku cried out once and disappeared in a wash of fire-red feathers, returning to her place in the Acasual space among her fellow guardians. But it had not been she who had fired the attack.

I wanted to look, to see who had saved us but my body was still healing and I couldn't move as it was. I only realized then what Muraki had been doing. Of course I had noticed before but now that the danger had passed, I truly comprehended it.

My back was against the wall and his body completely covered my own. He had landed on top of me and when Balban had been about to fire off its primary attack, he'd pulled me in tight, his arms twined around my body. He would have taken the brunt of the attack, been incinerated whilst I would have been injured at best.

It couldn't just have been about possession. Muraki was a realist. He knew that a direct hit wouldn't have killed me but he'd still tried to protect me. From being hurt not from being killed.

"Muraki..." I whispered, my voice partially obscured by the blood in my throat. I didn't think he would understand me but he nodded against the crook of my neck, adhering to my tentative call. He pulled his face away and I saw how bleary his eyes were, his face blackened like a chimney sweep. One side of his glasses were cracked, the line stretching outward like a spider web. He seemed to be having trouble focusing.

"Mr. Tsuzuki... can you stand?" He asked.

I took a moment to catalog my injuries. A sore head, bruised shoulders, abrasions on both hands from carpet burn and aching ankles. The blood in my mouth was where I'd bitten my tongue. It could have been a lot worse and in my case, it wasn't really anything to worry about. Serious injuries did take longer to heal, particularly if they were magical wounds but all my little bumps and scrapes had already started to repair.

"I think so..." I murmured, still dazed from the blow to my head. My eyes snapped back to focus blearily on his face. "But what about you? You took a major hit from that thing! Are you all right? Is anything broken?"

He chuckled at my concern. "Thank you Mr. Tsuzuki. No, nothing is broken. However, the back of my shirt was incinerated and my skins a little tender as a result. Otherwise I escaped this encounter with less then I expected. We should be thankful."

"Unbelievable..." I uttered, weaving one hand across his shoulder and down to examine the now bare stretch of his back. He nuzzled my fingers as they strayed momentarily at his neck, nursing a few silver strands of hair, frayed at the ends by Suzaku's fire. He was right though. As far as Muraki went, this was one of his least violent encounters. He hissed through his teeth as I trailed my fingers across the reddened flesh. It was still hot from the impact of Explosion but I doubted he would even lose any skin. An attack from Suzaku should have left him with third degree burns! I wondered if it had anything to do with his demon blood, if that somehow cushioned him from the strength of injuries that would under normal circumstances cause substantial damage, even death. It would certainly explain how he was able to recover so quickly after I'd stabbed him.

Someone was clapping.

"Very good Guardians. I'm impressed."

Muraki stood up quickly, pulling me with him but standing in front of me. He was wobbling and his back was red raw but I was pushed between his body and the wall as though I was the one in need of rescuing. I tried to shove my way out from behind him but he pushed me back as easily as if I were a child. I was forced to stand on tippy-toes and look over his shoulder to see who was speaking.

Pandora was crouching on the wall, looking down at us and clapping in what had to have been a sympathetic manner. When I say he was crouching on the wall, I mean to say that he was halfway up the wall of the cinema, sitting sideways, one leg extended and foot pressed directly down upon the red felt, as casual as you like. There was nothing holding him up. He sat there as effortlessly as a fly.

"Mitkiel sends his best, what a sales pitch!" He exclaimed, straightening up and then walking down the wall until he reached the floor at which point he straightened up and came towards us. His outfit had changed again. This time he was wearing large walking boots, tiny denim shorts with frayed edges and a pint sized white shirt, all the buttons undone and sanctioned around the top half of his body by a knot in the middle. He was showing a lot more skin then Hisoka ever had and ever would I imagined and did so without seeming the least bit bashful. He grinned and raised a finger at us. "Balban was one of the master's most pre-eminent warriors but calling him Mitkiel's best is a bit of a stretch! Still, I was expecting just a little bit more out of you then that. Master always says; 'Tsuzuki is the greAAAtest guardian in the Ministry! And Muraki is the only mortal to train himself in the magical crafts!' A self-trained sorcerer they call you! Gosh, some reputation to live up to! Hope you're not embarrassed!"

"What's it to you, brat?" Muraki said with a frown. Regardless of the kids Spiderman routine, the doctor didn't seem intimidated in the slightest. I soon learnt why. "Mr. Tsuzuki. I understand that... your friend had an important assignment and was not able to accompany you but... was it really necessary to bring the boy in his place? After all, it's not appropriate to keep a child up at this hour."

It took me a moment to catch on. "The boy? ... Oh you mean Hisoka!"

The kid frowned. "I'm starting to develop a Hisoka complex." He grunted, tossing his head sidelong in a diva like fashion.

"Well it's your fault for looking so much like him!" I snapped over Muraki's shoulder. The doctor held up a hand to silence me and then turned his attention to the barely clothed young man, who was now spinning around on the toes of his boots.

"Boy... what is your name?" He asked very carefully, the way one might enquire whether or not a woman is expecting before learning that she is not in fact pregnant. The kid gave him the biggest grin I'd ever seen.

"PanDORA!" He practically sang, clutching his hands to his chest and then spinning in a circle, on foot extended like a ballerina. He struck a pose and then pointed at Muraki, both legs spaced shoulder length apart and one hand on his hip. He looked like Watari when he was pretending to be serious. "And YOU, oh one who has not yet learnt the all inspiring truth of a colorful and interesting wardrobe, are Kazutaka Muraki. I'm here tonight to see you!"

"Oh well, lucky me." Muraki said sarcastically. I managed to worm my way out from behind him and faced the boy, leaning down and pressing both hands to my knees in order to stand eye to eye with him. He looked on curiously.

"Ah, Pandora. You spoke with me earlier, right? Remember? In the elevator?"

He smiled and nodded. "Of course, Mr. Tsuzuki! There's nothing wrong with my memory! So, are the two of you enjoying your date?"

"Well we were until you and that Smoke bomb turned up." Muraki grunted, looking over at the sizzling mess that was left of Balban. Pandora nodded understandably.

"I was only meant to come along tonight as a spectator, nothing more. Master will be angry but he will understand why I acted. Balban did not have the authority to kill either of you and he especially was not permitted to harm Mr. Tsuzuki in any way, shape or form." He shrugged, still wearing that strangely content smile. "As you can see I had no choice but to kill him!"

"Quite right." Muraki agreed coming up beside me. He had one hand extended and I could see a small white flame leaping in his palm. "Please feel free to say hello to him on your way down to Hell."

"Muraki, NO!" I yelled grabbing his wrist and wrenching it hard against my body. The flame burnt my skin for a mere second before Muraki extinguished it. His face held no expression but his mouth was drawn down, revealing his agitation. "No killing! You promised me that!"

"Mr. Tsuzuki. Surely you know what this boy is." The doctor reasoned, cocking his head at Pandora who was obliviously spinning in circles again, eyes shut and arms extended like a child in springtime. "He is a demon. The very same as the creature whom just tried to kill us. It is practical now that I finish him here, before he causes us any further trouble. Reasonable, no? You do not leave a tumor and hope that it shall go away on its own. You do not expect it to leave you alone. It will only escalate to something far more dangerous and far more deadly. Do you think that I will hesitate for a second to destroy anything I believe will put you in danger?"

"No." I said, not really thinking about my reply. I knew it was true though. Muraki would tear up nations if he thought they would bring harm unto me. "But I do not want you to kill for me anymore. Not like you used to do. And he... I know that he might not really be a kid but... still..." I could hear my voice tearing up and my eyes started to leak, the tears hot against my skin. "I want - I don't want anyone to die for me anymore! You promised me that much and that's why I'm here... risking everything to be with you. Risking my friendships... the life I have now and even everything I hold dear about my own morality. I want to be at peace with myself for once and - t-to see you with that look on your face! Like you're going to kill someone in front of me again! ... I... I can't take that anymore! Don't you know how close I came to letting myself die after Kyoto? If you want me to be with you, you have to understand this. I can't... I can't keep going through this!"

"Mr. Tsuzuki... Forgive me. I didn't mean..." He started and suddenly I was pressed into his arms, my hands clutching at the torn remnants of his shirt. It was almost falling off of him, due to the fact that the entire back half was gone and my face rested upon a bare patch of skin just below the line of his neck. The flesh was soft and entirely pleasurable. These thoughts made me feel sick all over again, knowing that I was attracted to this man and I was falling all to easily for the tender way he had been treating me. I'd always been a sucker for kindness. And as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders I fell even harder and I sobbed, hating myself for being so goddamn pathetic.

"Then don't you hurt anyone anymore!" I shouted, punching weakly at the expanse of his chest. It was like hitting concrete all over again. He didn't yield an inch and I don't know if my words penetrated much deeper. I think it was my tears that forced him to pay attention to what I was saying. "Don't you make me... hate myself for this. I can't handle it! I can't- I can't!" I was punching at his chest and then I was holding his shirt and crying, his hands running tenderly over the small of my back and through my hair. I could hear him making soothing noises, not to silence me but to comfort me as I had once done Hisoka when the man in my arms had killed the girl he cared for. I choked back another sob, my body heaving in his grip and my arms folded around his body, fingernails biting into his sore, red flesh. But he didn't say a word. He just held me, as I'd wanted someone to do for so long.

"Tsuu-zuuki?" Pandora called innocently. I noticed that he pronounced my name with the 'T' that was usually silent and he rounded it off with 'Key' rather than a 'Ki.' He also pronounced the Z as an S. For some reason I thought this was cute. He bounced up to our side, ignoring Muraki's baleful glare and gently gripped my arm with just his fingers. His large blue eyes blinked up at me worriedly.

"Oh, don't cry Mr. Tsuzuki! You don't have to worry anymore, because I'm not here to hurt you, right?"

I sniffed into Muraki's sleeve and Pandora's eyes widened.

"You're still crying! Uh, I don't know what to do! Maybe I can give you something? Yeah! I'll give you a present to make you feel better! Here!" At this he fished a small plush toy out of his shorts pocket and pressed it into my palm. He folded my fingers over it and smiled up at me expectantly. "This is my very special treasure! It was given to me by someone I love, a long long time ago. Yeah, it was a long time ago now, Mr. Tsuzuki! But it's okay; because I've had it for so long myself, see? That means it should be okay to give it to you, right?"

Muraki and I both stared at him and uttered confused nuances. I slowly opened my fingers to look at the toy he had handed me. It was a round, brown bird with yellow eyes and dark brown dashes across its' chest. I think it was meant to be an owl. It was worn from years worth of affection I imagined and one of its eyes were missing. Clearly it was treasured. I felt my eyes tear up again.

"Kid I-"

Pandora waved his arms. "No! NO! No more crying Tsuu-zuuki! I don't have much else to give you! Here, there might be something else..." He fossicked through his other pocket and something emerged. "Ah! Here you can have this too! I like it a lot but I don't really need it and maybe you won't cry anymore if you have it!" He passed me a small handkerchief, folded carefully with the imprint of tulip on it. I took it, not intending to keep it but the design made me hesitate. It looked vaguely familiar.

"Where did you get this?" I asked slowly.

He smiled. "It doesn't matter! Not important, as long as you stop crying, ne? That's what matters! Do you like it?"

I ran my fingers over the flawless material, eyes narrowed as I tried to recall back to where I'd seen something like it before. I couldn't dismiss this niggling little feeling.

"It's so alike..." I murmured. Muraki cocked an eyebrow at me.

"In regards to what?" He asked but Pandora interrupted him, hands clasped beneath his chin.

"Ahhhhhh! I'm so happy Mr. Tsuzuki likes it! You can keep it! I have other treasures I can carry around with me! I'm so happy that you're happy! It makes me feel better inside, it certainly does!" He smiled and glanced up at the movie screen, pursing his lips thoughtfully. "Aww... that's a shame. The movies over. I really wanted to see how it would end..."

"Yes..." Muraki murmured thoughtfully as he led me away by the arm, my attention still focused on the handkerchief. "And we were just approaching the climax too..."

Somehow I didn't get the feeling he was talking about the movie.

Muraki led me toward the main exit out of the cinema, the one where most of the other patrons had fled earlier. Pandora flounced along behind us, humming a tune I thought was ringing a few bells. I was suffering from a severe brain fart. I put it down to the fact that I'd just recently had my cranium dashed against a wall.

Muraki stopped and spun around, bringing me with him. We both looked back at Pandora, who was standing just outside the arch of light created from the outside bulbs. I wondered why no one in the cinema had come tear assing in to see why the other patrons fled and guessed that the Public Security section of the Bureau had already arrived and started to clean things up. I'd probably need to give a statement once we'd left the cinema.

Muraki glowered. "You're planning on coming with us, are you?" He asked indignantly.

Pandora's eyes got all big and gooey. "You were... you were going to leave me here, Mr. Muraki?"

Muraki confirmed this by saying absolutely nothing and just looking pissed. Pandora's long bare legs bent in at the knees and he slouched, his bottom lip trembling and his eyes getting rounder and more, if possible, wetter. He looked fit to throw a tantrum.

"After I - hiccup - after I saved you from Balban and everything, you were just going to leave me behind?"

"That was the general idea, yes." Muraki said impatiently. He turned as though to leave again. "You should be grateful that Mr. Tsuzuki convinced me not to end your measly little life here and now because I would normally have solved this debacle five minutes ago. Now be on your way. Return to your master."

"He has not called for me..." Pandora simpered, edging just the tiniest bit closer. Muraki's eyebrow twitched. " 'Sides... I only came here tonight to observe how the both of you fair in combat. I had no orders to fight you myself, so you don't have anything to worry about, see?" He laughed. "You understand, right? I will not hurt you! And I don't want to go back to Mitkiel just yet because he will be angry and he's a little hard to deal with when he gets angry. Maybe I can be with the two of you for a while? Because I don't have to fight you yet! So, there's no reason why I can't spend some time with you, yes?"

"So your master is Mitkiel..." I murmured, pausing to cough up some of the blood from my throat and spit it onto the floor. Pandora nodded and then I was able to continue. "Maybe you can tell us what he wants with us?"

Pandora looked confused. He scratched his chin. "With us?" He gazed upwards and scratched his head. "With us?" He blinked. "With us? Well, there you have it! 'With us!'"

I didn't get it but Muraki nodded, a saccharine smile tilting his lips to one side.

"The problem is with the question, Mr. Tsuzuki." He explained to me as Pandora made rabbit ears behind his head and wiggled them comically. "You have to be more specific. His master probably instructed him not to answer certain questions regarding his motives but if you can find a way to work around the set rules..."

Pandora grinned and raised a finger. "There's ALWAYS a loophole!" He sang joyfully. I gently tucked Pandora's gifts into my pockets and brushed out the sides of my suit before addressing him again. Muraki's arm was still tight around my shoulders, so I wasn't able to move any closer.

"Is there something that... your master wants from Muraki and I, specifically?" I enquired. Pandora's eyes were wide and unblinking. Finally he shrugged, his smile hopelessly apologetic.

"Aww... sorry Mr. Tsuu-zuuki! But that is a question I can't answer! I wish I could but I'd get in awful trouble and I was kind of hoping you wouldn't want that!" His face got long and worried for an instant. "You wouldn't want that, would you Tsuu-zuuki? I mean, if you did, I could tell you! If you start to cry again I'd tell you because I don't want you to be sad! But master can be so mean to me sometimes! Even when he makes love to me, he can be so mean! So, maybe I won't have to tell you, ne? Would that be okay! It won't make you sad right!"

"Oh for crying out loud, would you shut up kid?" Muraki growled rubbing at his forehead. "You're giving me a headache."

Pandora blanched. "I'm sorry! Was I bad?"

My mind was still back at what he said and I all but missed this short exchange. "Your master makes love to you?"

He nodded and Muraki sniffed, regarding him with a mocking expression.

"I see. So you're a demon's whore," He spat contemptuously. Pandora's face grew tight. "You're a pet. Figures... a child like you would sell his soul all for the chance to be a demon's dog."

Pandora seemed to turn at these words and I watched the subtle transformation as his face became carnal, both eyes a sneering concoction of defensive purpose and his voice a sickly sweet undertone, derived from irony but possessing not the least hint of denial. He would not voice objection to Muraki's statement but was not going to be beaten down by it either, is how I understood it.

"Isn't that a little hypocritical, Kazu?" He hissed and I was surprised by the personal use of a nickname. I felt Muraki go tense at my side, his fingers biting into the skin of my shoulder. "Here after all, you are taming a pet all your very own, there's no difference between you and Mitkiel. Don't you see that?"

Muraki's eyes were wide and it scared me to see that kind of fear on his face. "Why did you use that name?"

"Do you see it yet Muraki?"

"Why did you use that name!"

Pandora snickered. "Oh, I know more about you than a mere nickname might entail, Kazutaka. You must see. You must understand that sixteen years is nothing. Time means nothing to the dead. Time means nothing to the damned, my rosebud."

Muraki backed up a step and what little blood was in his face drained away. He was so pallid he was ghost like.

"Muraki?" I called.

A switch was thrown in Pandora and he suddenly jerked up out of the rigid stance he had placed himself in, his actions hoppy and boisterous again. "Whoo... sorry about that!" He giggled, hands pressed to his knees. "Sometimes I just kind of zone out like that! Anyway, maybe we should continue this conversation elsewhere, what say you?"

"Stay the hell away from us." Muraki hissed. If he was a rattlesnake his warning couldn't be anymore clear.

Pandora straightened up and cocked his head to the side, inquisitive and concerned.

"Oh, Muu-raa-ki! What's wrong?" He also pronounced Muraki's name with a drawl and a high pitch that sounded as 'Key' rather than 'Ki.' The 'Mu' came out as 'Moo.' I don't know why this struck a cord in me but it was familiar somehow. I had once known someone who spoke people's names in that identical cutesy manner, so childlike and so nurturing at the same time. "You don't... you don't like me... do you?" He looked ready to cry and he was actually biting his lower lip, shoulders hunched up and hands clasped over his chin. I felt a pang of compassion and I moved as though to go to him but Muraki tugged me away roughly and pulled me toward the door.

"Don't go near him." He ordered as we made our way outside, the light hurting my eyes and causing my head to throb. "Just trust me on this. He's dangerous."

Says the ex-sociopath.

Pandora continued to stare after us solemnly and I kept expecting him to burst out crying. He wasn't one to disappoint and the second we had put one foot outside the door he came running after us like a lost child in the supermarket, tears running down his face.

"Mr. Tsuu-zuuki! Mr. Muu-raa-ki! Please wait!" He wailed arms outstretched as though he were going to hug us both. I turned to face him and noticed something just the smallest bit disconcerting.

"Watch it kid!" I yelled as Balban rose up from behind him, eyes a roaring cosmos of hatred and malice. Pandora cast a glance over his shoulder and froze for a moment before realizing that it probably wasn't the best idea and began backing towards the exit. He was so close I could see his body trembling.

" - YOU BACK STABBING SWINE! -" Balban roared and two of its largest teeth extended to the point that it looked like some bad movie vampire. Pandora whimpered and made another dash towards the exit doors.

They slammed shut right in his face.

Well, they at least tried to. They were hindered somewhat by the fact that I'd grabbed a hold of the inside seal at the last second and was pulling it toward me with all my might. The magical strength that was being exerted on them was unbelievable! Balban must have been doing it but it didn't seem feasible when he was so weak and his concentrated was already divided.

There was about a foot wide gap left when Pandora shoved his arms through. It was all I could see of him. His hands were grasping and clutching at the bar on the other door, trying to get a hold or trying to get it open I couldn't tell. When he failed at doing that however, the hands started clawing at my wrists, leaving long bloodied scratches across my already scarred flesh. I fought back the revulsion, the burgeoning desire to smack those obtrusive hands away and used all my strength to hold that door open. The force pulling against me was so strong! I could feel my feet sliding across the carpet as the door moved inch-by-inch inward, shortening the gap. Soon there wouldn't even be room for Pandora's hands.

"TSUU-ZUUKI!" Pandora wailed and the movements of the hands and arms became even more frantic. Balban must have been getting closer. "HELP ME, PLEASE!"

"MURAKI!" I screamed over my shoulder. "Help me get this door open! Quick!"

He just crossed his arms and regarded me carelessly.

"Muraki?" I said uncertainly.

"I am not going to help that... thing in there." He spat, fingers tightening on the inside sleeves of his shirt. It fell down even further revealing another patch of creamy skin. The door slid shut another inch at my distraction and Pandora's screams became even louder.

"MURAKI!" I could feel sweat popping out on my forehead from the effort of pulling on the door. It was coming so close to cutting Pandora's arms off at the elbow. "You- you promised! You promised me! I CAN'T LET ANYONE DIE IN FRONT OF ME! Not anymore do you understand me!"

Something flashed across his normal eye. Something passed through him. Something rocked him.

"You help me!" I roared, the tendons in my arms straining from the pressure. "You help me, or I'll never forgive you! I don't CARE what you have against that kid in there but I want him alive to figure it out!"

He unfolded his arms but hesitated. My patience was wearing thin. I thought of how tender he had been before, when he'd kissed the scars on my wrist and that single tear that fell down his cheek. Could it all have been an act? Most likely. But he would want to keep that act up and that meant he would need to do as I said. I had that much power over him at least.

"Muraki!"

He shook himself out of whatever trance he had been in and moved to my side.

"Shit." He growled, aligning his own hands on the door above my own. I watched the tension escalate on his face as he pulled the door towards him with all his might. It slowly but surely edged in our direction but it wasn't enough. Pandora's hands thrashed like a fish on a hook, his sobs altogether too much like a child who'd just had a nightmare. The fact that I couldn't just tear the door away and carry him away was killing me. My eyes stung as they teared up and my stomach bunched into a tangle as the fear injected an overdose of adrenaline into my system. I was so afraid for that boy, that boy who was so innocent and treated me so sweetly.

"TSUU-ZUUKI!" He screamed and I felt one of those hands lash around my wrist. I looked down and through the dark crevice I saw two big blue eyes peer out at me. They were shining with tears and wisps of smoke were curling around them from Balban's body. I could feel the fingers trembling around my watchband.

"No... I don't wanna die!"

I screamed and fell back from the door as a great line of blood spurted out from the gap, coating Muraki and I from face to chest. Pandora was screaming and crying for me as the door slammed shut and peals of smoke leaked out through the spaces underneath and through the gaps surrounding it. Blood leaked down the painted blue wood, dripping a pattern across the carpet and I was banging my fist on the doors, yanking the handles and calling out for the boy as his sobs and screams faded away to nothing. In my heart I knew that he was already dead.

But I still tried to get to him. I scratched and punched and kicked the door until I had bruised every inch of my body and when Muraki scooped me up and carried me away, I fought against him too, finally collapsing into his warm body void of strength and crying myself to sleep before I even had a chance to speak with the Public Security officials.

When Muraki put me in the car to take me back to his place I revived long enough to touch the handkerchief in my pocket. The one with the embroided tulip.

I knew then where I had seen it.

My sister had made it for me. Almost a century ago, when I was a child and she was the only friend I ever had.

She had made it for me and I had placed it in her hands before the lid of her coffin was closed for the last time and she was lowered into the cold earth.

And the words Pandora had spoken, the second before Balban had killed him. The words that had made me scream.

They had been her words too. She was the one who had spoken them...

... when I had killed her.

A/N:

Watari: (Sniffles and blows his nose on the handkerchief mentioned above) That was so sad!

Tsuzuki: WATARI! (Snatches back handkerchief and examines it) EW! Now I'll have to go and wash it in NapiSam!

Watari: Sorry! (Shrugs apologetically and then turns to readers.) Ooh readers, did you notice? There was a DEMON in this chapter! I mean, it was kind of hard not to notice since he killed Pandora and all but still, just thought I'd mention it because demons are YAY cool! (Love heart eyes)

Oriya: I swear... he loves demons more than he loves me. Why don't you just go and marry a demon if you love them so much?

Watari: Ori! Demon's are indeed wonderful but none of them look nearly as good as you naked!

Oriya: (Looks ready to explode)

Tsuzuki: (Confused.) How would Watari know what demons look like naked anyway?

Muraki: Demons are always naked Mr. Tsuzuki. They don't wear clothing.

(Saagatanus appears wearing Oriya's frilly pink dress)

All: (Stare)

Muraki: ... Is it too late to take back what I said?

Watari: (Blinks at Saagatanus and then turns to readers) Well, wasn't that a nice chapter reviewers? Now, time for a quick summary of the next chapter!

Oriya: (Reading from the script) Okay... in the next chapter Muraki and Tsuzuki head to Muraki's evil gothic haunted mansion type place for a sumptuous dinner and possible lemon scene? (Shudders) Eww... as if you would have sex with Muraki...

NaPap: (Shows Oriya lemons where he was paired with Muraki.)

Oriya: (Blushes) I cannot be held responsible to that! As God as my witness, I did not have sexual relations with that doctor!

Watari: A-hem.

Oriya: Oh... my bad. (Clears throat) As God as my witness, I did not have sexual relations with that doctor - (Points at Muraki) - but I did have sexual relations with that doctor. (Points to Watari.)

Muraki: Who hasn't?

Watari: Oh, you're a nice one to talk! You're paired up with just as many people as I am, so shut up LOVERGIRL!

Muraki: (Twitches and cracks a tooth) Ergh!

Tsuzuki: (Sweatdrops) They're at it again...

Oriya: Let's just leave them to it and take 'em out for ice cream later. (Waves to readers) Bye-bye now, ya'll! Please leave lots of nice reviews; the more the merrier as they say! Looking forward to you all joining us next time on another splendiferous adventure in Dark Adaptation!

Watari: YAY! Now we can go and watch the Muraki music video!

Muraki: NO WE CAN BLOODY NOT! (Ends up sulking in corner whilst everyone goes off to watch the AMV)