Shito wasn't quite sure how to react. Should he be surprised, happy, relieved at the voice he heard? Was the person even there? Had he fallen asleep and not remembered even moving to his bed? Questions circled in his head. The voice shouldn't be there. It shouldn't have found it's way into his room, into Shanghai. Shito was afraid to admit to himself that it was real. He was afraid to turn around and find that he was only imagining things. He reached up with both hands to grasp the strong arm holding him.

"Sh. We don't want anyone to know we're here." The voice spoke again. Shito nodded and was allowed to pull the hand away. He hesitated to turn, fearing it was only another trick.

"Shito-kun, how are you?" Bekko said quietly. He pushed his glasses up his nose.

Shito slowly turned around to face the two in the room. "Bekko-san," he said slowly then paused looking up at the other. "Sotetsu. Why…why are you here?" Shito swallowed still uncertain. He looked at them both a second time then slowly moved towards his chair and sat down, slumping against the back.

Sotetsu looked over at Bekko, a question in his expression. Bekko nodded then moved forward. "Shito-kun." He spoke to gain the zombie's attention. "We have come to find you, if it isn't obvious. Now that we have, there are questions to be asked."

Shito looked up at Bekko and nodded, one hand supporting his head. "Questions? I thought all was taken care of."

"Nothing was taken care of." Sotetsu said. Slight anger rose in his voice. "What is wrong with you?"

"Sotetsu-kun, enough." Bekko interrupted him. "Shito-kun, answer me this, please." Bekko sat on the bed to meet eyes with Shito. He wasn't sure what kind of answer he would get but he could tell things were wrong with Shito as well. "Do you know where Akatsuki Chika is?" It was a long shot but worth a try. When the Xu Fu was involved anything was possible. Bekko knew that too well.

Shito's expression changed slightly to one of hurt, injury. He lifted his hand and looked at it a moment. He had been asked about Chika. Why would he ask about Akatsuki? Shito asked himself. If what he'd been told was true, they should know on their own. So why was he being asked such a question? Shito needed to know. He continued to hold the hand up in front of him as he responded. "This hand…is mine."

Bekko blinked a moment and flicked his eyes towards Sotetsu. "So you've switched hands with him then. Shito, I ask again, how are you? What has happened?" The Ferryman returned his gaze to Shito. He watched the boy sort through his own thoughts. The situation seemed more complicated than he had originally thought.

Shito looked at him, confusion apparent in his eyes. They seemed almost lost, dull to the world around him. It was a sight Bekko had seen once before. Perhaps nearly fifty years ago. Shito had been in the care of the current Touhou's father. A cruel man, controlling the zombie to the best of his ability. Shito had been lost then but found his way just before he was put into sleep. Shito was confused, uncertain, spelled. Just like before. Bekko knew it as an old trick the Touhous in years passed used to manipulate their victims.

"My life is not my own at this time, Bekko-san." Shito said quietly. "Akatsuki hates me. I've been denied." The zombie's voice wavered slightly. He didn't want to believe it. He tried all he could not to believe it. Regardless nothing he did worked.

Bekko sighed and stood. "Things are not as they seem, Shito-kun." He paced back and forth choosing his next words carefully. "Akatsuki-kun is not here on his own. He's-"

"He's with Shiba." Shito said. Emotions left his face and voice.

Sotestu cocked his head to one side and gave Shito a disapproving look. "Shiba Reichirou? He's dead."

"Unfortunately, Sotestu, you are incorrect. Shiba is indeed alive." Bekko said. He once again pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose then turned to Shito. "You must listen to me. You've been lied to. I don't know what has been said but it's all been lies."

Shito shook his head. "I've seen the proof. Touhou is right." Shito fumbled slightly with the bandages still covering his own right hand. He fiddled with the ends loosening the crude knot.

"Anything can be manipulated." Bekko responded. "Sotetsu. It is clear that Shiba and Touhou are working together. We haven't much time to save Akatsuki-kun."

Shito jerked his head up. The voice in his head screaming at him that Bekko was right. "Save Akatsuki?" Shito said before his clarity ruined his thoughts. "What do you mean, 'save Akatsuki'?"

Bekko turned to Shito and looked at him for a few moments. "He's hurt, Shito. Kidnapped even." Bekko's voice left no room for interpretation. What he said was a matter of fact that couldn't be denied.

"But on the phone he-" Shito tried to sort through the two truths waging war in his mind.

"Nothing, Shito. You are being manipulated by Touhou. You are too strong to let him trick you completely. Think about it. Everything is wrong, is it not?" Bekko asked. "If things were as you have been told, we would never have come. Not like this. Akatsuki was taken against his will without a single word or warning. He disappeared, just as you did."

Again Shito shook his head. "No, he said he never wanted to see me again. Akatsuki is with Shiba now."

Sotetsu glared and stepped forward. He hauled Shito from the chair by his collar and shook him. "Just listen to yourself. You've never given up so easily before. So why are you doing it now? Chika has always yelled at you and rejected you. That's just what he does. So what makes this time any different? Is he worth nothing to you?"

Shito blinked and stared up at Sotetsu. He didn't say anything. He just stared and continued to blink. He was confused. Nothing was working in his mind. It refused to listen to him, to believe what he wanted to believe. "Akatsuki….he's….he wants Shiba…." He spoke in broken phrases.

Bekko shook his head and moved closer. He knew it wasn't his business to say anything but the state in which Shito was in, wasn't good. In fact it seemed to be deteriorating. Sotetsu looked at Bekko wondering what took him so long. He wondered what the Ferryman was thinking.

"Akatsuki rejected me…for Shiba." Shito said.

Bekko turned and gripped Shito's shoulder tightly. "Akatsuki has been raped by Shiba." He said the words plain, simple, easy to understand. Immediately he felt the muscles in Shito's body tense.

"Bekko-san, what did you just say?" Sotetsu said, shocked at the revelation. "You can't be serious."

"I am, Sotetsu. Yuuta has proven it." Bekko responded. He kept his hand on Shito's shoulder.

Shito remained silent. His thoughts slowly cleared, giving him his own thoughts back. He reached once hand up and gripped Sotetsu's wrist, pulling himself free. He swallowed hard and closed his eyes, his right hand pressed to his forehead. Bekko's words drove a knife through his heart. It burned, stung, tore him apart. Touhou's lies were slowly leaving him, the harsh truth burned into his thoughts. He knew he could trust Bekko. There was no reason for the Ferryman to lie to him, to tell him something so outlandish so…personal. It made perfect sense. Chika would have never accepted Shiba. Not in a thousand years. "How…could I have not seen it?" Shito spoke finally.

Bekko released Shito's shoulder after turning him around to view him face to face. "Shito, are you in your proper mind?" He could see the change in the zombie's body and demeanor. Shito slowly began to stand more straight, more confident. Bekko could almost feel the shock and anger flooding throughout Shito's entire body.

Shito narrowed his eyes and nodded. "I am. Touhou's spells are gone. My mind is clear for the first time in days. It's- Akatsuki…" Shito breathed the last word. "Raped…He was-" Shito's eyes widened. Those words weren't for me. They were for Shiba. He was yelling at Shiba! In a rush of clarity everything became clearer and clearer. "This hand…he wrapped it." Quickly he unwrapped the crude bandaging and dropped them to the floor. Just as Shito's conscious mind returned, so had his normal functioning. The hand was healing as it should. Faintly, Shito was able to make out something written on his palm. No, not written, carved into the flesh.

Bekko looked over Shito's shoulder to see what he was staring at. He raised one eyebrow at the sight. "Akatsuki-kun, you momentary genius." He smiled ever so slightly. "We've actually got a chance at finding him."

Sotetsu looked at Bekko quizzically. "What is it?" He moved to look but Shito closed his hand tightly and held it to his chest.

"Akatsuki, please forgive me." Shito said and spun on his heel to face both Bekko and Sotetsu. "We must save him from his nightmare." The zombie grit his teeth. His own words seemed out of character to him but he didn't care. He didn't care what Bekko or Sotetsu thought. He knew what he felt and he knew what was necessary. His heart leapt at the hope that Chika had not rejected him. Chika needed him. Chika wanted him. That was what mattered. Chika had saved him from mortal dangers despite his immortality. This time, Shito would save and protect Chika.

"How could I have let this happen?" Shito yelled suddenly. He slammed a fist into the wall next to him, leaving a small hole in the plaster.

"Shito they will hear you!" Sotetsu said in a harsh whisper.

"Really, we must plan this out. I know you wish to rush out there and make up for mistakes but you can't. We are in the heart of the Xu Fu Mafia." Bekko spoke as the voice of reason.

Shito's body shook. He understood what Bekko meant and he slowly nodded his head in agreement. "Plan quickly, Bekko-san. Akatsuki's had enough torture, I am sure of it."

Bekko nodded. "Of course." He looked towards Sotetsu and motioned him closer. "We'll have to fight through a number of guards, be ready when we leave. If we meet Touhou or Shiba, you must leave them to me. You cannot fight the Exorcist or a Shinigami."

Shito turned suddenly. "Shinigami." His expression twisted in confusion. "He's…taken the core."

Bekko nodded surprised that Shito understood the concept. It wasn't something that was supposed to happen and only the Ferrymen knew of the possibility. But at the present moment, it didn't matter. Shito was back to normal, or at least, no longer under an exorcist's spell. It would be difficult but he believed that with Sotetsu and Shito it was possible. Bekko was going against the normal protocol's of the Ferrymen but he didn't care. He was responsible for all those in Zombie-Loan. He slowly began to care for each member as if they were his own child.

"Please hurry, Bekko-san. It has been days." Shito said. Bekko nodded and held a hand to his chin in thought.

Now that his thoughts were clear Shito understood all that must have happened. He picked up the photo he'd been given of Chika laying on Shiba's chest. The half containing Shiba had already been torn away and ripped to pieces but the bruises were now more apparent on Chika's skin. Shito yelled at himself within his own mind for not noticing. For not knowing or fighting harder. He blamed himself for all that had happened to Chika. He hadn't fought like Chika would have. He wasn't strong enough when he needed to be. He hated himself for it. He'd never forgive himself. But if he could just get to Chika, take him away, it would be enough.

"I'm so sorry Akatsuki." Shito whispered as he slowly uncurled his palm again. The poorly carved words faded slowly as the hand healed but they were still visible enough to read once again.

"Help me, Shito. 762 Dynasty."

Author's Note: Here you are. A new chapter so quickly after the last. I apologize that this one is shorter but I believe it is all that is needed in this. Please let me know what you think so that I may continue to write better. And once again, thank you for reading thus far. I really appreciate all the comments I've received. They have helped me to keep writing this and others. Without the readers, I wouldn't have much reason to write. Thank you.