It took me long enough, right?
Well I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Read, enjoy, and (give a nice) review.

Ch. 6: Heart Crystals

Cold. Darkness. Alone. So this is death? Odd, I thought I would have to go through a trail or something before He made His decision.

Why did I die so early in my life? Didn't He have something great planed for my life? What about my hopes and dreams for the future… my friends and family?
Well… I'll finally get to see my mom and dad after ten years.

And… the world of death smells like fresh roses.

My chocolate brown eyes open slowly, blinded by the light admitting from the silver roses. I lift myself up being careful not to fall.
Looking around the area my eyes widen with realization. "No, this can't… be…" I whisper to myself.

Picking up the white dress I run towards the lake. Sitting on my knees I bring a hand to my mouth. My reflection… I'm dressed in the white and silver gown with the tiara. "Why…? … OKAY!!" I stand up and shout to the universal sky. "Why do something like this!? IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT I'M DEAD, BUT NOW YOU'RE MESSIN' WITH MY HEAD!! Way to go." I glare up at the sky, and then sigh greatly. Rubbing my forehead I sit on my knees. "That's just great Gloria, yell at someone who can decide where you go…"

"Little one?" My chocolate eyes widen at the voice. Slowly turning my head around I see the silver kitsune, his golden eyes just as wide as mine.

"Youko…?" I take a step forward and so does Youko. "Youko!" I run the best I can, Youko's long muscular legs take him further. I jump in his arms once I'm close enough, and Youko spins me around.
Like one of those – crappy – romance movies/books.

He keeps me in his embrace, refusing to let me go or for my feet touch the ground. "Youko…" I rub my nose against his muscular, but lean, neck receiving the sweet smell of roses. He rubs his cheek against my face with a deep long purr, and gets the smell of my scent.

"I'm so glad that I get to see you again, little one." Youko purrs out. I move my head slowly towards his face and open my eyes half way. My arms wrapped around his neck, his arms around my waist. Right now I just don't want to let go of him, Youko Kurama.

"I thought you said that we'd never see one another again." I whisper out.

Youko's silver fox ears twitch at the statement. But I feel his lips move slightly, into a smirk. "Would like it if I left?"

"No!" I hold on to him harder. "I haven't seen you for a week, you better not leave!!" Youko chuckles, his chest moving mine.

"Very well, little one, I'll stay for a while." His embrace tightens around my waist.

"Make it a long while…?" I ask in a whisper. Youko nods his head, resting his chin on top of my head. I close my eyes and bury my face in his neck.

A pressure on my chest causes me to look down. "What the-?!" Youko's head in on my chest… again!! "Youko?! Nani!" I try to move out from under him. What the- under him!! I look around, and sure enough we're lying on the field of silver roses. "When did you- how did you-… Youko!" I whine out.

Youko chuckles and buries his head further into my chest. "HEY!! QUIT IT!" Unfortunately, he weighs much more than I do and he has my arms pinned against my sides; so I can't slap him like I did the first time. Wiggling doesn't really work either; it just makes him hold on tighter and bury his face into my chest, so I stop and just calm down looking up at the sky.

It's quite for a while; all that is heard is both of our breathing. I could go to sleep right now.

"Little one?" Youko's smooth masculine voice breaks me from my trance. Looking down - so he knows that he has my attention - at Youko I see his silver fox ears twitch. "Why is your heart beat so fast?" I'm about to answer when I see a sly smirk form on his lips. "Are you embarrassed about something?"

My jaw drops. I'll admit I was embarrassed about this position at first; but then I've kind of gotten use to after about… … five minutes, but I soon felt my heartbeat slow down to normal.
Remembering the time I listened to his heart, it beats rather slowly compared to the human heart and him living in Makai his whole life its no wander why he's curious.

"Well maybe your heart is just too slow!" I state. I yip once I feel a pinch, through the material of the dress, on my thigh. "What was that for?!"

"Hm… I don't know." Youko gives off a smug smirk once I bang the back of my head on the ground.

My arms are still pinned to my sides so I can't really do much and one of Youko's long legs is draped over both of mine and pinning them against the other; so I'm basically defenseless. Great…

What feels to be an hour, time flies by and a question keeps nagging at the back of my mind. "Youko…?" I feel him move his head, so his golden eyes see my chin and part of my face. "Are… are you dead too?"

I gasp once I feel Youko's steel grip loosen and his face is above mine, his arms holding him up. "What kind of question is that?"

I look to my left, not really feeling up to looking at his handsome face and his golden eyes. "Well," I begin. "I was blown up into a lot of pieces, and well… you're here… so…" I trail off, hoping that Youko would get the idea.

I hear Youko let out an aggravated sigh. "Gloria, just because of that doesn't mean that you're dead."

I look back up at the silver kitsune. "HA! That's where you're wrong, Youko!! I'm surprised that I didn't die after the second blow."

Seeing Youko's abnormal white fangs and his eyes flash a dangerous killing color and hearing his demonic growl, I want to shrivel away. "Gloria, I am a S class demon. Do you really think that I would be killed so easily?!" I look away, only to have Youko grab my chin and make me look back up at him. "And, do you really think that I could enter a dead human's dream?" He increases the pressure on my chin.

"No, and no…. One 'no' for I know you wouldn't be killed so easily, and the second 'no' for the talking to dead people." Youko releases my chin, his evil demonic look diminishing.

I sigh; Youko once again places his head on my chest. Looking up at the sky – with its planets, constellations, comets, stars, and a black hole – I close my chocolate brown eyes. I'm not dead… how can this be? Over a dozen times bombs have hit me (or at least that's what it felt like). Not only that but the whole jumping off a cliff near a waterfall, into the bone chilling rapid water, and spent the night alone and wet. How did I live?


+With Mark & Rebecca+
Rebecca's POV

Hearing the birds 'chirp,' I open my sky blue eyes. Two days ago my heart suffered the greatest amount of pain I've ever felt. Could Gloria really be dead?
The pain was intense; it felt like my heart was shattered into tiny pieces. Then slowly and painfully put back together, although some of the pieces still litter the floor and ground. My blue eyes are still filled with pain, but the tears refuse to show themselves.

Without our brunette, playful, kitsune the two of us (Mark and I) seem dead. Who would kill someone like that? I ask myself.

I don't blame myself for her death, but… maybe I could've done something! I sigh heavily knowing that this is a Demon's world, and we'd both be dead and Mark would most likely kill himself if both of his friends weren't here to suffer with him.

"So…" Hearing my brotherly figure's voice I look up at him. "Neko, are we going to look for her body?"

I stop in my tracks, eyes widen slightly for him asking such a question. "Of course we are, Ookami!" I lower my voice once I realize that I raised it. "What type of friends leave their dead friend and leave it to rot here in this crazy mixed up place?"

"Makai." I look up at Mark, raising an eyebrow. He looks down at me with a smirk and a glimmer in his emerald green eyes. "This place is called Makai, The Demon World in other words." He gives me a goofy smile.

Continuing our way deep into the Makai forest, we talk about times we love. How we met one another, our first days of school, lasts days of school, when Mark stuffs his face and the scolding afterwards, and of course the laughter.

Eventually, we saw and smelled the strong salty smell of crimson liquid. I immediately felt sick, and my eyes watered.
This is Gloria's blood. I just know it.
I don't know, but something yanking in my gut told me, every fiber of my being screamed, "This is Gloria's shedding of life! She's not dead! She's gone!"

My back straightened at the strange thought. Gloria…alive? Gone? What did that mean? If I'm going to have feelings about things, and creepy abilities of knowing things I never knew, couldn't they at least get specific?

"She's alive," I muttered.

Mark stared at me. "Nugh-ugh. Don't talk shit, Neko. It's hard to take, I know, but she's dead. Gone. What the hell do you think this is? A demon and a demon fighting, that's one thing. But this-" He spread his arms to display the gore. "This is human blood. You know why? Because its all over here, but it doesn't spread out. Demons can fight each other, but a demon and a human," He shook his head, "A human couldn't defend herself. The blood is all right here; it's everywhere, but only here. No fighting or resistance… humans can't resist… resistance of a human is equal to demon affirmation."

I wanted to cry. "But-"

"No," he placed his hand on my shoulder in comfort. It didn't help. I smiled, but I knew it didn't even come close to reaching my eyes. I walked out of his grasp, and aimlessly went to the broken tree. I saw something shining in the sea of blood.

A lump took hostage of my throat. It was Gloria's necklace!

I bent down, still foolishly desiring the privacy of my school-uniform-skirt. I scoop the necklace with my fingertips, trying to avoid the blood, though doing so fruitlessly. It slid to the middle of my palm, the blood forming a pool, causing a trail down my arm.

"Neko, what the hell are you doing?!" Mark's shout breaks the through the blood scented air. I ignore Mark, still trying to accept the necklace in my hand without its owner. The Makai sun causes the cross in my hand to glint an orange shimmer, like its saying 'Rebecca, I'M NOT DEAD!!'

"But how?" I let out in a whisper.

"What cha' say, Neko?" I hear Mark heavy footsteps patter on the red earth, then a sigh. "That's Kitsune's, isn't it?" I sense his emerald eyes fill up with despair.

"Of course it is." My hand tightens into a fist, disappointed that her body isn't here but something that she holds precious is. I bolt up more determined to find her…not her body…her.

I don't believe Mark. There are many things that I would have been adaptable and easy-going enough to g with the flow, but not this time. Forget the flow! This was no river flow…it was a raging sea that tosses and turns me, its will to kill me relentless and so far successful. However. The sea missed a major key.
Hope.
It had not yet destroyed the hope in me, the pulling in my heart that would lead me to her. To Gloria.

I look around the bloody area, hoping to find a trail of Gloria's blood. I feel Mark's gaze on me, wandering why I'm looking for something that isn't here. Soon after Mark helps me look for something, hoping to find a trail of blood or some kind of clue that she was taken away.

"Gah! What the hell!?" Mark's hands ruffle his own hair, out of desperation. "We're not finding anything!!"

"Aren't you a positive thinker." I mumble.

My sky colored eyes travel up to the similar blue atmosphere. I furrow my eyebrows together it occurring to me that she was flown away.


+Gloria's POV+

It feels like hours pass by in this silver universal world. Youko released my arms a while ago, so now I'm petting behind his fluffy silver kitsune ears – making him purr pleasurably.

Youko suddenly bolts up, a green thorny whip in his hand, and lowly growling. Sitting up I look around to see anything out of the ordinary, but finding nothing. "Youko…?"

Youko does not respond, his gold eyes shifting around the area. "Damn witch." His low growl turned a dangerous snarl. I blink my eyes several times in curiosity, wandering what and whom he was talking about.

The silver roses seem to be pulsing and have a fine-edge. This can't be good. I state bluntly to myself.

The world looks as if it begins to fade away. "Youko?" Catching his attention, he looks back but his memorizing eyes widen.

"No." he whispers out.

"No' what?" I look down at my hands, perplexed by what he meant. I saw that my hands were see-through, as was my whole body.

"Youko!"

Darkness.

Then light. Blinding. And the Makai birds aren't helping with the ringing in my ears. Lazily and shakily I place my palm on my forehead, with a tired groan. "My head is pounding." I whine.

"That's understandable, child." My eyes widen when I hear the freaky elderly voice. Not moving my head I look to the right, and what I see makes my eyes widen even more so.
An elderly woman whose face has a black beak sprouting in the place of her nose and mouth, her arms seem to be replaced with black crow-like wings, her pale pointy ears were pierced with tiny black skulls (and whether they're real or not, I don't want to know), and her long rich black hair is tied back into a female heian hairstyle with a black bandana tied on her forehead.
Her entire feudal outfit is midnight black; a kuro kosode hides her entire body from view, a kuro hakama hides her legs and their shape, the kuro haori conceals her chest, and the lunar belt ties the basic outfit together. A crystal ball floats by her on left side; her walking towards the center of the room signals me that she's not wearing the type of 'sandals' they wear here, but some type of heel.

Having her onyx eyes on me makes me feel on edge. Her eyes show many years of knowledge and destruction, and yet they still have kindness.

Her beak seems to gain a smile to it, seeing me awake. "It is about time you have woken up." She states closing her eyes. She sits by the blue fire with unreadable expression on her pale elderly face. "Do you wish to know why you have lived through your ordeal with Karasu?"

Hearing the demonic name makes my sore body tense. But I don't answer the crow witch, fearing it.

The elderly woman sighs and slowly shakes her head. I look away and ask her why I'm here.

"Well, my dear sweet child, I wanted to help you."

I begin to wander why she, a demon, would want to help me, a human. First I die, and then I find out (through Youko) that I'm not, and now some crazy old crow is 'helping' me. Isn't my life just great?

I must have had a 'Duh' look on my face, for the old crow is chuckling. "My dear sweet child, you and your two friends don't know the power you all possess."

I look at her with a glare on my face, but with curiosity shining in them.

"Try sitting up."

Now my face gains a 'Are you insane' look, but hearing her chuckle I decided to endure the pain.

Using one of my hands for support and the other to hold up the thick black blanket, I slowly sit up. Miraculously I don't feel the burning, stinging, pain like I thought I would. But only a numb type of feeling.
Confused as to what's going on, I look back up at the crow woman.

Her black eyes returned to the dancing blue fire. "It truly is amazing what the Heart Crystals can do…." she states to no one unparticular. Her crystal ball floats into the fire, making the blue flames change to purple. The tip of the roaring flame splits and grows above, creating a circle and an image of a Valentine beating heart showing. The crow's black eyes gain admiration in their depths.
"The Crystal of Healing has the ability to heal any wound. Whether it be new or old, large or small, sickness or injury, but only physical pain." Her scary eyes follow to me.
"Have you ever been sick for a long period of time?"

I slowly shake my head; my throat refuses to work. Her beak slowly forms a skin crawling smile.

"Have you ever touched one of your friends wounds, and then nothing be there?"

I nod my head, getting more freaked out by the minute.

Her coal colored eyes travel to the beating heart that soon becomes clear but still has a pinkish hue color. "And your friend, Rebecca or 'Neko,' seems to be pulled by a force, correct?"

Recalling the whole portal, thing, I nod my head again. How does this crow demoness know all of this?

"And, she passes many tests – and such – without much studying?" Jeez!! Is this woman a stocker?

The clashing of two swords erupts through the small hut. Looking up at the heart I see two ancient fighting swords pierce through the heart, creating an X through the clear pink heart.

"Your male friend, Mark or Ookami, seems to always have the need to fight and be protective of you and Rebecca?"

With a hard glare I nod, getting less freaked and more agitated, trying not to growl at the elderly woman who 'saved me'.

Her black eyes penetrate my hard brown eyes. Her beak gains a kind smile, reaching her eyes while I keep my stern look.

"All three of you contain the three Heart Crystals: the Crystal of Healing," the Valentine heart begins to beat stronger. "the Crystal of Knowing," the heart seems to get clearer. "and the Crystal of Courage." The two swords become sleeker.
"With the these united crystals all three of you shall be unstoppable. But divided you all have your own power.
"Before I forget, the Crystal of Healing has a barrier around it (your heart to be more specific)-"

"But what about my friends!" I hoarsely shout, rubbing my neck.

The old crow woman sighs while shaking her head slowly. "I'm afraid that they don't have protection around their hearts. Because your crystal has the ability to heal it must have a barrier, for if someone attempts to kill you your heart will be protected and you will still be alive. Much like you are now." She moves her hand up and down in display of my body.
"If someone wants your Heart Crystal, you must surrender it. While your friends, unfortunately, might get stabbed in the heart and the jewel shall 'float' out and into the person's hand."

"Again, that's unfair." I say lowly, not wanting to harm my vocal cords again.

The black crow sighs. "In Makai its kill or be killed. You, my sweet child, are-"

"STOP!!" I yell loudly, bolting up and dropping the black blanket. "I'm not your child, nor will I ever dream of it! Right now you're being a thorn in my side; saying things about 'Heart Crystals' and talking about my friends like you've known all of your life. NEWS FLASH!! You don't!"

My voice is no longer sore, but a cold wind makes my body shiver and slowly fall to my knees - holding myself to keep warm. I hear the crow demon sigh and the clicking of her heeled shoes.

Looking down I see that my chest, arms, hands, stomach, legs, my whole body resembles a mummy! The only place where I'm not bandaged is my face and neck area. (Luckily for my privacy my human world underwear is still on, but sadly shown to the world.)

Feeling the thick blanket around shoulders, I look up at the back of the crow demoness, confusion shining in my chocolate orbs; but I grasp the blanket covering my body.

"Yes, I don't know them well but I do know the power they possess. Their, and your, Heart Crystals give off a powerful aura; most - who are able to sense such things – will think of you three as S class demons, not wanting to mess with you. But-"

I interrupt her, with closed eyes and a stressed sigh. "There's always a 'but'."

The crow woman calmly continues. "You must learn how to control the power.

Especially the Crystal of Knowing, for if she looks into something that mustn't be looked into… I don't know what will happen." The demonic crow shakes her head slowly, her beak gaining a frown. "The Crystal of Courage may want to learn how to control his temper, and learn more fighting skills." I chuckle lightly, thinking about Mark and his rash temper.
"But you, Gloria, don't have to learn much. Just be sure you heal the right people, your tears are the best way of healing a loved one."

Changing the subject, away from these 'Heart Crystals' I ask her when I'm able to go and look for my friends.

"As soon as, your body is no longer sore. Which should be by tomorrow's afternoon." She replies with a smile. Now that the whole 'knowing my friends when she doesn't' thing is over with, I feel strangely calm.

Fixing the blanket I slowly fall back to the wooden floor, wanting more rest, closing my eyes. I hope my friends are okay…. With that last thought I drift off to my dream world.


+Rebecca's POV+

"Here we are, Neko." I look up at the wooden sign. My face gains a disgusted look to its features.

Mark thought it would be best if we headed into a demon's town, wanting to know the names of the lizard demons. I had a feeling that we would have to go to a bar; with Mark's knowledge of this type of place we should be fine.

I grip on to the, now golden, cross hoping to find something here that'll give us a lead to find Gloria.

Note: Is it me or is there a lot of sighing in this story so far?
Anyway, I'll try to update ASAP. (Need the nice reviews people!!)