Hey guys,

Wow, did this take me a while to get this one out. I probably should have taken a bit more time out of my day to get this one done, but boy did this chapter turn itself into a monster. Not only is this one of the longest chapters I have written, maybe in DBR history, but wow does a lot happen in it. I even get to open with something I have wanted to get to for a long time but could never find the time to fit in properly. Yay finally doing things you want!

Anyways, I'm sure you're excited to figure out why I am rambling about there being a lot of content in this one. I just hope you like the content, because after this I have to start slaving away on action scenes. Hopefully I can write a proper climax and end this arc. After all, I've got a little under a week to do it and I'm confidant I will be able to pull it off.

Enjoy this chapter!

xKiha

Brago was rushing through the halls of the Gash's Castle with his eyes widened, his heart beating out of his chest. He had been watching, everybody had been watching. The fact that all those demons and their partners had formed their own gang and decided to band together to take out Xenolith had caught the attention of all of the demons in Demon World. He was hearing demons talking about it everywhere he went, young demon girls admiring Icarus and Shura, little children pretending to be Kesai, Cheshire and Tsumi. This happened every year, he knew that, but now he was impacted.

He was watching for a reason few knew, a reason even the person he was watching didn't know.

"Brago, what a surprise."

The gravity controlling demon was trying to catch his breath as he stood in the doorway of Gash's throne room, usually cold black eyes widened and holding concern. "Gash." He panted the king's name, head pounding.

"You've been watching the Xenolith fight, haven't you?" Gash seemed to have his own projection of the action on the wall, the image of Kenja comforting Kincad seeming to be projected right now. "How have you been liking it?"

"It's been leaving me panicked." Brago said nervously as he entered the room.

"You're watching it just for him, right?"

Gash was one of the people that knew.

"Of course I am." Brago sighed. "I've been watching him this entire time, Gash. I didn't think I'd ever see him again, but there he is and I can't stop."

Gash smiled gently as he got off of his throne, walking over to the demon he took on for the crown all those years ago. "He's your son, weather you raised him or left him when you weren't fit to raise him, you are still his parent. Of course you're going to watch him."

He didn't want to cry, but well, he couldn't help but feel his eyes get a bit misted. "He's barely my son, just because his blood runs through my veins, doesn't make us family. He's even a poison demon like his mother was. You wouldn't understand, you raised your son, I abandoned mine."

"And I watch my child every day, of course I do, but from what you're telling me so do you." Gash said calmly, walking closer to his friend and placing his hand on his shoulder. "Your child is your child, no matter what. I know you made mistakes, but just because you've made them, doesn't mean that all is lost. Your son is fighting against Xenolith, it's no surprise that you're watching with this kind of excitement and concern."

Brago looked away, clenching his fists. "It's just humiliating to know that you know more about my own child than I do."

Gash patted Brago's shoulder once more before heading back to his own throne, sighing. "It is a shame, isn't it? But, with my knowledge of your child, I can tell you without a second thought that I have a lot of faith in that son of yours. I have a feeling that he might be able to win this battle, but only if he learns to trust in himself and prove that he can reach a kingly status."

"But Gash?" Brago's voice hesitant as he spoke, not sure how to ask something like this.

"Yes?"

The gravity demon drew in a breath, clenching his grey skinned hands into tight fists. "If you know anything about what that sound demon said, about Xenolith's desire for his sixth spell, please, tell me!"

Gash was hesitant, drawing in a nervous breath of his own, closing orange eyes with a shudder. He didn't want to think about it, but he couldn't deny that he had an idea of what was going on. "Brago, I don't know as much as you may like."

"Tell me what you do!"

"I know there's a darkness in that book of his, a darkness that will give him power but will be easy to overtake him. This is a lesson some demons don't get a choice in learning, because while some spells can be twisted to force a demon to fight, these spells are a freak occurrence. It's not your fault and it wouldn't be his mother's if she was still with us, this is something nobody could control, even me."

"And what's going to happen to him?"

Gash sat back on his throne, looking back to the projection of the fire duo along with Setsuna and Yukio, sighing gently. "That is something he and his bookreader are going to have to decide when they confront that spell. They can run and hide, avoiding the potential, or they can fight to control their own powers and hope that it doesn't kill them."

Brago felt himself clench his hands into tight fists, not wanting to watch this battle anymore, but knowing he couldn't look away. Everybody was watching the Xenolith battle, everybody wanted to see just what would happen to their child or their friend, eager to pick favorites in hopes that they would become the next king.

Brago watched with pain in his heart, watching somebody who didn't even know he existed struggle to triumph in a situation he probably didn't even belong in. But it didn't even matter in the end that Brago was watching, because even he couldn't stop the fate his child just might face when finally confronting the one they call Xenolith.

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Everybody was walking through the halls that left the trial rooms, heading to Gods nowhere in the hopes of running into the others before they ran into Xenolith himself. At this point, nobody was sure what to think and with the knowledge they had, it was Kyo and Michael who became the most nervous about still being in the castle.

After all, the knowledge that Xenolith can strangle you even though he's nowhere near you and have you dead in seconds flat isn't really the most comforting thing to know.

"You think the others were dumped into a fight like we were?" Kimiko asked as they walked through a rather curious hallway that always seemed to be somewhat curved in some direction, never completely straight.

"It's very likely." Flynn nodded. "Probably some tactic to separate you guys, because strength in numbers and what not."

She couldn't really argue with this point, looking to Aislinn and Cheshire who kept very serious looks on their faces as they continued walking through the hallway. Neither had spoken much since Raiden was defeated and to be honest, Kimiko didn't really want to ask them why. She glanced at them from time to time, but knew it would be better to remain silent.

"Hey, do you see that?" Cheshire suddenly asked, ears pricked up high and alert.

"See what?" Tsumi muttered as his own purple eyes began to glance around in curiosity.

"Look forward."

Standing in the hallway straight ahead of them was a figure, the shadow seeming to be in a person shape that just stared at theme, not seeming to be moving at all, just staring.

"Could be a decoy." Flynn suggested, not liking the way it continued to alertly stare at them. "I think we know Xenolith isn't above doing anything."

Kimiko nodded nervously, cupping her hands together to call to the figure.

"What are you doing?" Aislinn hissed, not liking where this was going.

"Calling to it." The poison bookreader simply replied, seeing the annoyed look on the dream bookreader's face and rolling her eyes playfully. It was almost funny to see how annoyed Aislinn was at Kimiko just trying to see if this wasn't a real person. "Hello there!" She called through cupped hands.

"Kimiko! Is that you?" The figure moved and the voice came from further down the hallway where he happened to be. In fact, the voice sounded a lot like Kyo.

"Kyo?" Kimiko asked, feeling her heart beginning to race with excitement as she turned to look at the others. "Guys, it's Kyo!"

"How do you know that isn't a trick?" Cheshire muttered.

"Because, Xenolith isn't a shape shifter." Kimiko defended before beginning to walk ahead, eager to get a glimpse of Kyo with a smile on her face.

And sure enough, there he was. Kyoshiro Yakage was standing at part of the hallway with a wide smile on his face, seeing Kimiko slowly getting faster the more she could see the details in him up until the point where she put two and two together and realized this was Kyo, rushing over and hugging him tightly.

"H-Hey." Kyo said, blushing gently when he found her shaking arms around her, taking a second to think about this before hugging her back. "I'm so glad you're safe."

"S-Same here." She breathed, trying to keep herself from getting emotional as she heard the sound of her team mates catching up to her. She then left his arms, finding herself blushing as well. "So, who is with you?"

"Amera, Michael and Shura." Kyo said, looking up to the people now behind Kimiko. "So, we're just missing Kenja, Kesai, Mr. Kincad, Icarus and Setsuna." He noted, watching his own group walk away from the hallway wall they had been hiding behind while Kyo checked for any possible enemy.

"I hope they're okay." The poison bookreader said nervously, not wanting to see anybody go yet.

"They will be," Kyo and Kimiko turning to hear Michael's voice as he approached them. "If they're all together like I think they are, then they will make too strong of a group to not be okay."

Kimiko nodded. "You're right, I'm just being paranoid."

Maybe she wasn't being completely paranoid, but the others weren't in the mood to want to think anything else. Success was the only thing they truly had right now as a motivator and having that taken away from them might just turn into the difference between the Puppet Master's book burning or their's.

"But, do you think their hallway will merge with ours?" This was Amera piping up, not all too confidant in her own guess, but hoping she was right all the same.

"It's very possible." Aislinn said. "After all, Xenolith may want us all together for the final fight, if only for his own amusement."

Kimiko felt herself shiver just at the idea of what the Puppet Master would find amusing. She had been tortured by him long enough and was anything but willing to continue playing his games. She wanted this to be done as soon as she could, because at this point she didn't know how much farther she and Tsumi could push it before they reached their limit. Her greatest fear was being unable to press on while facing him, something she could see happening every time she closed her eyes.

"Kimiko?"

The poison bookreader jerked at the sound of Kyo's voice, looking up with frightened and exhausted eyes. "Yes?"

"Come on, we're heading out." Kimiko then looking to see the others had already begun walking. She nodding nervously as she went to catch up with the others, running a hand through her hair with an exhausted sigh.

"Are you okay?" Tsumi asked nervously, although he didn't look like he was in a condition any better than the one his partner was in.

"No," She replied honestly, able to hear her pulse through her ears as she walked. "I'm scared for what we're going to find."

Tsumi's pale grey hand reached up and touched her arm, knowing that hiding his own emotions wasn't going to work. "I'm scared too, Kimi. I really am."

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Nobody was sure how long or how far they walked before reaching the divider between two hallways, but it had felt like a long time. But it was an exciting time, if only because by the time they did, there were shadows beginning to come into view headed towards them.

Kimiko felt hope swell up inside her, cupping her hands around her mouth to call to them once more only to notice the way these figures were walking. They seemed sad, even in the way that they carried themselves and walked.

"There are only four of them."

Everybody focused their attention to the shadows when this was stated by Cheshire, counting them up and realizing right away that there was one small child missing. Shura frowning as he put this all together. "Which one of them is gone?"

Cheshire tightened her hand into a fist, trying to hide the slight relief she felt as she traced the survivors scent. "Icarus isn't with them."

"N-No, you've got to be kidding!" Kyo said, his lime green eyes wider than silver dollars. "Mr. Kincad and Icarus, they seemed to be the most experienced of us. Are you sure it isn't Kesai who's gone?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Cheshire hissed in return, not liking this response.

Kimiko clenched her hands into fists, trying her hardest not to lose hope in their chances against Xenolith. She knew she had to stay positive, because negativity would only trip her up, but with Icarus gone she just didn't know. Not that she was the most self confidant person; in fact she constantly worried about being the worst possible bookreader for Tsumi. But if confidence was ever something she could master, today was the day because today it really counted.

Such a shame, isn't it blossom?

Kimiko could feel his hands on her neck, goose bumps erupting on her skin as she lowered her head. 'You're not real; you're only a figment of my imagination to slip me up.'

Now darling, why would you ever think such a thing? She could hear his laughter, fingertips running across her skin. She could feel every ghastly nail, every little stroke, but nobody could see it. Nobody would know what was happening. A figment? Blossom, no figment could caress you and have your skin react as yours does.

'You're not real!'

Such a pathetic child, so frightened and unsure. But my blossom, you are so close to me. I can practically taste you right now and I look forward to you finally giving me my prize. Come to me, blossom, come to my side where you and my gem have always belonged.

She felt his tongue run up the nape of her neck, tears slightly forming in her eyes. "X-Xenolith." She croaked out, causing Tsumi to look up at her right away, purple eyes wide. "Are you okay?"

"Please, we have to fight him now." She said almost frantically. "We have to get this over with before I lose myself."

"Just calm down." Flynn told her gently. "Just wait for the others to catch up and we'll keep going. Just breathe, that's good, just breathe."

It didn't take too much longer for the figures to catch up with them and as Cheshire said it was Icarus who was absent. Yukio Kincad seemed almost forcibly composed, smiling gently. "I am so glad you all are okay." He could see the fear hidden behind every pair of eyes his met, but he wrote this off as their own uncertainty on what to say to him. This wasn't death, but this was somewhat similar and nobody knew how to handle it when looking to Kincad.

"But kids, are you all ready for what comes next?" Yukio asked as he watched the alliance cluster. "I am almost positive that the thing waiting for us down that hall is Xenolith himself."

"We know." Aislinn said with a sigh. "But, it's not like we can back down now, can we?"

"No, of course not." Kincad said. "But, it's best to be in a good emotional state when facing something frightening. If you go into something with fear in your head and heart, it's going to overtake you if things become too hard to handle. I want to make sure you're full of perseverance when you walk into that room and that no matter what happens, you know that you can handle this with your strength and will. I know Xenolith has been wearing us all down, but if we allow ourselves to walk into whatever game he has set up for us next completely broken down, he will play with that and destroy us."

"How do we know if we're truly good enough?"

Everybody turned to look at Kimiko, seeing her head lowered in what seemed to be defeat and her shaking hands clenched into fists. She was the definition of broken at this point, which was troublesome since from the beginning, everybody had been pushing the fight against Xenolith onto her shoulders. After all, she was the purple gem's bookreader, this one happening basically binding her to this impending fight.

"Kimiko Isahowa, do you not think you are good enough to take down the Puppet Master?" Yukio Kincad asked, but knowing his student, he already knew the answer.

"No…" She whispered.

"And why don't you think you are good enough to be strong?"

Kimiko bit hard into her lip, really thinking this question over. Why wasn't she good enough to do this? She had strong spells, or at least she felt she did and she had a good and understanding partner. But she could constantly feel herself doubting their abilities or admiring the strength of others while beating down on herself. "I-I…I don't know."

"You lack any self-confidence." Kincad said simply, Kimiko cringing at the bluntness of the truth. "And if you learn one thing from going through this castle, it's that coming down hard on yourself isn't acceptable. I want you to tell yourself that you're good enough."

"Mister Kincad, I don't think that is goin-"

"Kimiko."

"I-I…I'm good enough." She whispered,

"What are you, Kimiko?" Kincad asked.

"I'm good enough." She could feel tears beginning to well up in her eyes, shaking as she tried to feel the words truly impacting her. "I'm good enough."

"Yes, you are." Yukio pulled his student into his arms, voice rather paternal. "And you know that you're good enough to go with us into that room and fight Xenolith. You're strong enough to handle this and you're going to exuberate more confidence than the rest of us combined."

She sniffled as Yukio patted her back, his blue eyes looking to the small scrap of hallway they had left that led to a golden door. "Do you think you're going to be okay?"

"Yes sir." Kimiko whispered as he released her, the teacher looking to the ten other faces in the room. "Does anybody else have anything they need to get off their chest or need reassurance about before we do what we came here to do?"

Nobody seemed to as they began what felt like walking the green mile, hearts pounding as they got closer and closer to their entire objective. After everything they had been through, this almost didn't feel like a reality.

But here they were, about to walk into a room with the enemy that brought them together, to face somebody so unpredictable.

And it was one of the most frightening things nobody would forget.

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The golden door opened up when they got close to it, the room only lighting up when the group worked up the nerve to step through the golden doorway. And inside were only two people standing in the center of the brightly lit room: Xenolith and Yuu.

Xenolith had long blood red locks of hair with black accents, his locks spiraling down his back into what seemed to be spikes. He had soul less grey eyes and a psychotic smile on his face with shiny white pointed teeth. He was fairly tall, at least taller than most of the people in the alliance, wearing a ratted old black cloak that had rusted over with what seemed to be blood stains. He didn't have any shoes on, but seemed to have golden bangles around his ankles that were similar to Icarus's.

His partner was even taller than him, standing at a good six foot with a shaved head and cold green eyes. He seemed to have had some class before, because he was wearing a complete white suit set, but by now it had long sense faded and what had once been white was now gray and covered in various types of stains, including blood.

"And I finally get the honor of meeting you all face to face." The Puppet Master said, seeing everybody cringe at the sound of his voice and at the fact that he truly was right there before them. "It seems almost everybody made it through my castle." His eyes falling onto Michael and Kyo. "Shame about Yakamashii, though."

"You bastard." Kyo growled, his hands curling into fists.

"Who's Yakamashii?" Kenja asked with a frown.

"She was a demon in my keeping, but I couldn't have traitors spreading filthy lies about me, now could I?" The Puppet Master asked, seeming to have that psychotic smile across his face the entire time.

Michael and Kyo seemed to be growing infuriated just by the laughter of the demon, Kimiko shaking her head. "Enough is enough, Xenolith! We're not here to play games anymore! We're here to end this!"

"Now now, whoever said this was a game?" Xenolith asked, but continued to smile. "But it is so good to finally have you see me as well, blossom."

'I am good enough.' Kimiko grabbing her book as she got closer to Xenolith, clenching her book tightly with Tsumi remaining by her side. "You can't hurt me anymore Xenolith, because we're not afraid of you!"

"Would you be afraid if you had to do this by yourself?"

Before she could ask what he was going on about, the floor began shaking, everybody looking around as the floor seemed to be splitting.

"N-No!"

The roof of the room opened up and thanks to getting closer with that sudden burst of confidence, Kimiko found the larger part of the room with Xenolith, Yuu, Tsumi and her to be pushed up from the floor and raising into the air. She couldn't believe it, looking to the others being left behind as the poison duo was isolated with the Puppet Master.

"Now then, this was what I was hoping for." Xenolith purred. "My gem and blossom taking me on one on one. All so I could have the pleasure of finally cracking open your book and having that wonderful sixth spell slaughter those downstairs."

"What do you mean, sixth spell?!" Kimiko asked, taking a step back from him.

"My darling, although I would love to teach you, I believe you should focus on trying to kill me." Xenolith gave her one more psychotic smile. "Because without your friends to rely on or back you up, you just might find yourself unable to do what you must."