Almost over, almost over… Fai repeated the mantra over and over again in his head. He wasn't even looking at the stage anymore, just down. His hands were balled into fists.
Finally, his torture was over and the actors left with the screams of nearly every female in the crowd. Kurogane was silently laughing to himself.
"That was so god damn stupid-" He began
"Absolutely terrible!" Fai hissed, rubbing his head in mock pain.
"The two of you didn't like it?" The merman next to them asked; green eyes full of mirth.
"No." Fai shot back quietly.
"Well, that's too bad. They're going to have another break, and then they'll go straight to the ceremony." He stated. Kurogane turned to stare at him.
"I thought they were going to 'do some other stuff' before that. Why the rush?"
"Her Majesty is bored." Was the reply, with a flourish to the box the Queen was in.
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Fai leaned in to whisper to Kurogane. He had a worried look on his face.
"I sense someone is creating dark magic-"
"You gonna do something about it?"
Fai shrugged, waving a hand.
"I'll do something. You too, Kurgs. No sitting around." He joked.
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Ashura frowned. Where was he? His head appeared, in the sea of people, standing out easily, even through his weak disguise of a hood from a different cloak.
She pointed a long finger at him, shouting a spell before he could react.
"Dementis interfeci!"
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Kurogane shouted, knocking Fai out of the way.
"She's started! Move!"
The two other groups of rebels jumped into action, bringing weapons out of nowhere and charging those who had also drawn weapons. The Queen knew their plans, and had arranged her defense.
The spell hit Kurogane, but did nothing except leave a gash on the back of his shoulder. Ashura had taken her time, setting and bending the spell to only affect one person. Kamui and Subaru appeared before him, waiting for a command. Fai was shoved to them.
"Your plans won't work. She knows!"
They nodded, each taking Fai by an arm and quickly swimming off with him. Kurogane dove back into the fight.
"Let go!" The blond yelled. "I can still help!"
Subaru turned and stared at him with a look full of malice. His eyes began to glow. Kamui mimicked his actions with an insane smile.
"We know." They whispered. Fai's eye widened.
"Who are you?"
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The doppelgangers stopped in front of Ashura's box. So far, no one had even looked up to notice them. She swam out and faced them. Fai's gaze was momentarily locked on her until he looked back to his captors. Their entire appearances had changed into those of the Palace guards.
These were not the real Kamui and Subaru.
They pulled Fai's arms behind him and turned his body to Ashura.
"Prepare to die!" She hissed darkly. Fai looked away, and a webbed hand grabbed him roughly by the jaw and wrenched his face back until he was forced to stare at the Queen.
"Dementis interfeci!"
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Kurogane sliced a merman in half after Fai was gone. Too late, he realized his mistake. How could he have even let it happen? He whipped back around to see Ashura firing the same spell again straight into Fai's chest.
"Damn it!" He shot off to them, blood slowly oozing out of his wound.
By now, others had noticed with horror their poor change in fortune; but they were too wrapped up in their fights to be able to help. Kurogane was alone.
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Fai screamed, feeling a dark surge of power enter his mind. It was just strong enough to trap him, removing his mind from control.
His vampire scenes heightened, and he drew out his claws as the white of his golden eye turned black. The guards tightened their grip on him as he continued to scream and try to claw them to death.
"I can't have him kill those on my side. Pertraho." The Queen said. Fai was completely controlled, andnow was only going to attack those against the Queen.
"Release him." She ordered. They let him go, and he immediately shot down to meet an unlucky ninja, his hood falling and letting his pale hair stream freely through the water.
Ashura laughed. This was so much easier than she had first thought. Now she didn't have to worry about getting cut up by him.
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Fai swung a clawed hand out at Kurogane, prepared to kill him. Kurogane easily dodged as Fai laughed manically, revealing fangs that had never been there before.
"Snap out of it!" Kurogane yelled from behind him. He grabbed the end of the spear, still strapped to Fai's back, and flung the thin man up, forcing him loose concentration for a moment. Fai straightened himself, cutting a nearby rebel without killing her.
His twisted mind was mainly focused on the dark haired man with the bleeding shoulder.
All he saw was the red.
Kurogane laughed darkly, charging at him to get him away from the rest of the people. Fai spun away and swiped his hand out again, barely cutting across the man's stomach. In his head, back in a trapped corner, he was screaming.
Stop! Make it stop!
He felt his lips open as the demon screamed in an animal-like cry. It filled him with terror. And fury.
I don't want this!
Putting his vow to the Witch and fellow travelers aside, he unleashed a surge of magic, cracking the black glaze over his mind.
"Get out!" He yelled. Kurogane stopped. They were high above the rest of the fight. The ninja backed off only a little, still ready to block him if he tried to attack. Fai's face was hidden by his hair.
Fai chocked, losing the little control he had regained as the dark magic resumed its control. He looked at Kurogane with a sadistic grin and beckoned to him with a clawed finger.
"You should finish this. I'm not leaving, and he's not coming back." Fai said with the same sadistic grin.
"The only way to end it is to kill him."
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"He can break it, if he'd only use his damn magic more! What is holding back for?" Kurogane thought angrily. He blocked another swipe, flicking his tail. He flashed past Fai and hit him roughly on the head.
"Fight back, dammit!" He yelled, hoping Fai would try to break the spell.
"Gladly!" Fai's voice laughed, elbowing him in his gut. Kurogane was already out of his reach.
The ninja knew that in the past, he had cracked the mages mask by forcing him to talk or admitting. Minds games may work again. It was worth a shot.
"You're going to let the bitch win?" He called, glaring. "You gonna let that thing inside of you kill everyone?"
Fai seemed to stumble. He faltered in his attack, and Kurogane shot at him, locking his arms at his sides to keep him from cutting him.
He didn't see the black substance leave the eye, but he did notice the claws retract. All was silent save for the clash of weapons below, and then Fai whispered.
"I'm such a fool."
His shoulders shook a little as he tried to hold back tears of frustration. Roughly freeing his arms, Kurogane was a little worried that he wasn't completely back, he swam away to Ashura.
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Kamui and Subaru had seen the whole thing from below between hits and swings of weapons around them. How the guards got their identities was a complete mystery to them. Their eyes widened.
"He's going back to her!" Subaru gasped. Kamui nodded.
"I think he may actually do it. End it!"
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The fight below seemed to stop as Fai sped to Ashura, who grinned and readied a spell. Fai already one hand set with his vampire claws. He held the spear in the other. Ashura held something up at him, a small and orange object, and Fai froze.
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