~Chapter 18: Battle~

Krystal P.O.V.

I was awoken by the birds chirping outside my open window. I found myself in my bed tangled in the sheets and huge blanket.

I was back controlling my body, thankgoodness. I sighed and got out of bed. Hopping in the shower I caught a glance of Shizuka smirking in the large mirror over the double vanity. That made me fall onto the shower floor.

"I'm still here Krystal. Now hurry up and finish getting ready." She said.

"Hey, don't rush me! I'm taking my time just for that." I retorted getting undressed and stepping into the shower.

A few moments later I was done, dressed and went downstairs to eat breakfast. Finally no more people forcing me to do things that I didn't like. I could speak my mind here, I hoped.

"Good morn—" I gasped as I looked at a long chore list spread out before me. It had my name on it and about three pages full of chores listed.

Is this a joke, they couldn't be serious, right?

"Ah Krystal, there you are. Goodmorning! As you can see, we have laid out a great list of chores for you. Please have them done by tonight or else you won't be happy." Mrs. James gave a fake but cruel smile.

"Mrs. James, this is a joke right? I mean, I don't mind doing chores but—"

"Get started NOW!" She roared as she opened her mouth and I saw her fangs. Oh crap.

"Yes mam!" I said quickly wanting to get away from her as soon as possible. I was halfway through the chores when my phone rang. I was in the garden watering the flowers and somewhat talking to Shizuka in my head.

She was apparently resting and I was glad that wasn't bothering me.

"I'd hate to be you right now. I would kill her but I'll wait for a while." She said as she filed her fingernails.

I had forgotten all about the phone call and fished it out of my blue jean pocket. Turning it on, I found out it was Zero who I had ten missed calls from since last night. I quickly called him back.

He picked up and said, "Hey, what happened to you calling me last night?"

I wanted to tell him about Shizuka but she said, "Tell him and your mom and sister will be dead within a half hour." She said it so menacing that I knew she would do it.

"I was getting used to the new place and all. They are much respected people and nice. I even have a closet full of brand new clothes!" Some of it was true and that one part was a lie, but I had to take precautions.

"Oh well then you're forgiven, what are you up to now?" He asked.

"Just watering plants and then I'm off to visit my mom and little sis. After that I was going to—" I started to cough violently and I dropped the phone. I heard Zero voice calling out my name as my world spun.

I ended up coughing up more blood than usual and I to sit down for a moment. I slowly picked up the phone as I used the back of my hand to wipe the remaining blood off my chin.

"Zero, I'm alright, just a bad intake of air is all." I lied.

"Jeez, it sounded like you coughed up something again." He said as we both remembered the time I threw up on the boat. Gross.

"I'm alright, hey why don't we meet up on the way to my mom's place? We could get ice cream." I suggested although I feel he didn't believe me. He could tell I was lying I bet.

After getting through half of the super long chore list, I snuck out to meet out with Zero. We saw each other about ten minutes later.

"Hey!" I said as I smoothed out the wrinkles in my purple dress. It was a plain v-neck purple. I wanted to change before I left because I had blood stains and dirt on the other clothes.

Zero hugged me and we walked side by side. "Hey Zero, what's that tattoo on your neck? If you don't mind me asking." I looked at him.

He was about to say something when a loud screech from a nearby car cut him off. It was speeding towards us at about eighty miles an hour. Zero pushed me out of the way but the car ended up hitting me instead.

I was thrown skyward as I saw Zero shooting the hell out of the tires and car engine. He was pissed.

Before I hit the ground he caught me easily. "Krystal! Say something!"

I blinked a few times and said, "I think I'm okay, I can move and everything.." I trailed off feeling weird about how I can do this stuff when I just got hit by a car.

Zero sat me down gently on the sidewalk. I stood up and everything seemed fine but then..

"So that's your connection to him. I can feel the love between you two, but that going to change right now." Shizuka said as she regained control of my body and voice.

"No Shizuka, leave him alone please! Its—" I let out a sharp gasp of pain because I felt those spirals increase on my back.

"Its time for the kill." She finished my sentence.

"Zero, can you come here for a second, I think my ankle is sprained." She faked an innocent tone. Zero came anyway and she instantly kicked him in the face.

"Ouch!" He yelled as he held his nose. My eyes glowed red as Shizuka grabbed his leg and flipped him over onto his back.

I could see that Zero was in complete shock. "How the hell- what has gotten into you!" He said outraged at my actions. I couldn't get back in control as we continued to fight.

"Hahahaa! Your girlfriend's body is mine to control, can you stop me now Zero?" Shizuka said.

Zero almost reached for his Bloody Rose but didn't pull it out. "What the hell are you doing in her body bitch?" He hissed.

"It's simple I'm going to take out you and your whole family!" Shizuka replied. Thank god he knew it wasn't me.

Shizuka made my body jump high in the air as she tried to land a kick on Zero's stomach. He rolled out of the way quickly and grabbed my hands and held them behind her back. My eyes glowed red again as she levitated the trees nearby and sent them flying at us.

She grabbed Zero's white shirt collar and threw him into the ground and made a deep crater. He was then punched in the stomach so hard he coughed up blood. It was then that he brought out his Bloody Rose gun.

He was hesitant to shoot because he obviously didn't want to hurt me. After several moments Zero was severely injured as he struggled to stand his ground. He was just defending himself, and didn't hit me as hard as should have.

"Zero!" I cried as I still struggled to fight for control. I've been trying forever! It was then that after trying so hard, and before Shizuka stabbed him through the heart with a long pole, I had regained control.

I made myself put the pole down as I threw myself at Zero and hugged him hard. "Zero, I'm so so sorry!" I cried into his shirt as he slowly hugged me back.

Then the clouds rolled in and it began to rain. Zero spit out a little blood. "It's alright Krystal, I know it wasn't you. What happened?" he asked as we still sat in the middle of the abandoned street.

I brought my face away from his shirt, which was already soaked with rain. "I saw Shizuka's ghost in my bathroom last night and she went inside my head. She is still there but she was tiring out so I think that's how I was able to get back." I explained. I still had tears falling down because of how hurt he looked.

I hung my head in sadness. "Are you going to be okay?" I whispered as he brought my head up gently to meet his eyes.

He smiled a true smile and said, "It's going to be alright." He kissed me on my lips and then let his head rest on my shoulder. "I'm just glad you're not hurt."

My eyes widened in shock. He was in so much pain but all he really cared about was how I was doing? He's so sweet! I blushed.

"Come on lets—"I started to say but once again, I was throwing a coughing fit. My lungs burned, and I couldn't breathe. My eyes were watery again as I cried while I coughed up more and more blood. My head was pounding.

"Krystal, what the hell is going on? That's the second time I've heard that." Zero questioned as he wiped the remaining blood off my mouth. He was tempted to lick it but didn't.

"Remember what I've told you Krystal, even if you told him, you're going to die anyway. Either by him, or by the curse." Shizuka's voice rang in my head. "Too bad, you only have six months to live because of the curse, or you'll die by the hands of your loved one." She laughed evilly as I began to cry even harder.

"Zero…I want you to kill me, that way Shizuka will die and—"

"No way in hell! We'll figure something out together; we'll find a way Krystal." He said while he kissed me again for what I didn't know would be the final time…