Apologies for the feels in the last chapter. D: Unfortunately I'm going to have to prick them a little more before it can get better, so please bear with me.

A thanks to all my supporters!

Two days later...

I stared at the ceiling in silence, hearing nothing but the quiet tick tic of the clock on the wall. I had no lights on, nothing running in the background. Just silence in my apartment.

I was trying to convince myself that it would be worth getting up today. That I needed to do some chores around the house, or to go out and get some cheap groceries so I could keep eating. But it was too hard, my body responded. Too hard to bring myself to move, or to even eat.

My reason to get up and go had...well, gone.

Without something to look forward to every day, I found myself struggling to do even simple things. Even going and turning no the tv seemed like too much of a hassle. I couldn't talk about what had happened with anyone, so what was there for me to do but let my thoughts swirl around in my own mind?

I rolled onto my side, hugging my pillow as I stared at the wall for a while. I knew I should just forget, just move on, but all I could hear were those last words we said to each other ringing in my ears, echoing the regret and pain in my heart.

I'm going back to my world. You're not to follow me, or call to me ever again. I won't respond if you do, either, so you might as well not even try. Goodbye, human.

Human.

A low, pitiful creature who didn't even know when to draw the line. Didn't know that the next few words they would utter could decimate their entire world. I buried my head in my pillow, taking a deep breath to steady myself before forning my body to move out from under the warm covers.

I moved silently over to the kitchen, staring at the pile of dishes that had been there for a while now. I knew I'd have to clean them up eventually, but I just couldn't find the energy to start. I looked over at the living room, particularly the futon that served as a sofa.

A memory flashed in my mind, of that night Takeru had stayed over. We'd been so happy, making fun of those dramas. The pain in my chest tightened even farther, and I turned my head away. I needed to get out of here.

I dressed myself quickly and walked out of the door, not bothering to check if I seemed presentable to the rest of the world. As I stepped out into the midday street, the warmth of the sun enveloped my chilly skin. Shivering at the sudden temperature change, I struck out towards the mall area, wishing to loose myself in the hustle and bustle of the city.

But even here, memories haunted me. I passed the arcade and karaoke where we'd had our date, remembering how close he'd held me as he sang those words of the song to me, practically confessing he liked me in front of an audience. I remembered the close margin of how I'd won our silly little dance off that had led to him singing.

I walked by the cafe where I'd sat down with his brother, Tsukito, for the first time. The way he'd watched as we'd interacted still brought about a sense of unease, like he could read us like a book.

The shopping mall where I'd gotten my mother-of-pearl bracelet brought back pain as well, and I hurried by them, fighting to stay together at least a little.

I walked past my school, eyeing the spot where he'd waited for me, and I'd gotten my first look at his human form. He'd been so casual then, not really caring if my schoolmates had seen us together. Hell, he'd practically stated for the entire student body to hear that I was his.

I lowered my eyes to the pavement beneath my feet, not wanting to see anymore of those once happy memories. I let myself wander aimlessly around, not caring where I ended up, as long as I was away from the pain.

My body, however, seemed to love the pain, as when I next looked up, I was standing at the rail by the beach, the sea breeze strong today and kicking my frazzled hair in every direction. I frowned at the sight of my pile of rocks in the distance, the memories of just a few days ago still fresh in my heart.

I debated for a minute, wondering if I should go down there and risk the pain, or just turn and leave. I watched the waves as they swept the sand from the surface out towards the deep blue sea, feeling the tug of them unconsciously. Knowing I'd regret it, I swung myself over the rail and plodded my way down to the surf, hoping that perhaps they could soothe my aching heart.

I took my sandles off and let the water cover my feet, sighing as the coolness seeped in and numbed them slightly. If only it reached my mind and heart, I thought bitterly. I turned and started walking in a now familiar direction, not even caring if it hurt me anymore.

I knew I got several cuts from sharp shells and rocks in the surf, but I kept walking, the feeling of dread growing in the pit of my stomach as I approached the cave. I didn't know why the shudder crept up my spine, but I attributed it to what had happened not forty-eight hours earlier, when we had left on such an angry note, and kept going.

I stood in front of the small entrance, peering into the darkness within. I couldn't see anything in the deep darkness, even though the sun had set just enough to angle the light almost directly into the opening. I sat down on the lip before pushing in, deciding to continue on the painful nostalgia trip.

As I walked through the cave silently, I recalled the first time I'd been in it. Not knowing what lay within, darkness falling quickly and my own curiosity urging me on...walking down the same path now, I wasn't sure if I'd been lucky, or just plain foolish.

I reached about midway when I realized that the light that usually started to appear wasn't there anymore. Frowning, I reached forward...and ran into an intensely narrow corridor, like it had been the first time I'd explored. I felt how wide the space was, and by sucking in my gut to the point of pain, I managed to wriggle through somehow. Huffing from the effort, I kept going in, wondering what was wrong.

Another narrow opening awaited me, and then I finally reached where the Light Pool was. The opening there was barely big enough for me to even hope to squeeze through, even with holding my gut in. But as stubborn as I was, I would not be denied the finale of my trip. I grit my teeth and shoved my way through...

...Only to find it easier than I'd thought. I tumbled to the other side in surprise, oofing as I landed. Rubbing my knees, I sighed and finally took a look around, only to have my breath catch in despair.

The once dancing light of the pool had dimmed, leaving the once bright cave within shadow, gloomy and uninviting. No gaily floating particles that glowed, only dark dust that made the atmosphere even worse. The shade hid the memories and pictures we'd drawn, and in the darkness I wondered if they even were there anymore.

But what made the tears well up in my eyes was the pool itself. It no longer rippled happily, and emitted next to no light. The surface moved sluggishly, like it was molten lead. When I reached a hand to touch it, the icy chill made me snatch my arm back, hissing in shock. I stared in despair at the bottomless pit of water, wondering if the loss of it's beauty was because of the loss of love between me and my god.

I clenched my fists against the ground as I stared down into the dark pit, the tears and pain finally welling up within me as I remembered the first time I saw him appear from this very place. How he'd given me that suspicious glare, arms crossed and hovering as if by magic.

Who the hell are you?

I curled up at the lip of that cold, silent pool and screamed, finally letting out the pain tearing me from the inside out. The tears fell freely, as it finally sank in that he was gone.

"TAKERU!"

Takeru groaned as he woke up, feeling the sharp pain in his chest that had been there the last two days. He sat up slowly and put a hand over his heart, the ache lowering to a dull throb as he rubbed the area. He glanced out the window, seeing that the sun was already high in the sky.

"Sheesh..." he grumbled, standing up and stretching his arms above his head. The potion his brother had given him made him sleep in late, and as thankful as he was for the break from the pain, he knew he would have to face his emotions eventually. He ran his fingers through his bedraggled hair as he made his way to the kitchen, not even giving the darkened portal a glance.

Ever since he'd come back the lights had dimmed in that room, and the pool of water had become ugly and grey, moving sluggishly instead of how water was supposed to move. When he'd tried to rekindle the lights, he found his power ineffective, which disturbed the sea god greatly. After many frustrating tries, he'd just given up.

It wasn't like he'd need to use it again anyway.

His chest clenched again at that thought, and Takeru tried to shake his head to clear it as he grabbed a bite to eat. He made himself eat, though the last two day he'd had next to no appetite. Those last words they'd spoken to each other had left acid in his system, and he had gladly spit it out to any god other than his brother foolish enough to come close to him.

The Storm god never said it out loud, but the way he'd acted around Kushinada the few times she'd tried to come to explain her actions had made it clear that he was close to considering killing the woman if she even considered coming anywhere in his immediate proximity. Her father had to keep an eye on her so he wouldn't loose his only daughter to a foolish mistake.

Takeru looked out the back door of his house, out to where the courtyard for the gods and goddesses was. The cherry trees here were forever in bloom, and their soft petals danced in the light breeze that came through the area. A few others were walking and talking to each other, enjoying the midday sun above them.

"Tch." How could they be so happy? The blunette turned his head away in disgust, finishing off the riceball in his hand. Here he was, feeling like his heart had been torn into pieces and stomped on, and they were out there laughing at one another, enjoying the time they spent in the other's presence.

He remembered the fun he'd had in Yukino's presence, how sweet those memories were still. The time he'd taken her to the sea floor to see the jellyfish and turtles, or when he'd sang that song to her...

When he'd promised to protect her.

He snorted in self-disgust, grimacing and turning away from the outside. That promise had been the one he'd been forced to break, he knew that, but to go back on his word like that...it ached horribly. Like a knife in his gut being twisted around mercilessly, taunting him in the failure to keep the one he'd love safe.

"Why does it hurt this much?" he muttered to himself angrily, heading back towards his bedroom.

"TAKERU!"

The god's head snapped around at once to the pool room, golden eyes widening as he realized it was Yukino's voice he heard. On instinct he bolted for the portal, falling to his knees before it and reaching a hand down, only to pull back with a grunt of surprise.

The water was bone cold, and even he found that he couldn't tolerate the temperature. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he waved his hand over the surface of the water, desperately trying to see what lay on the other side.

At first the water refused to respond, staying in its sludgy, slow-moving state. Takeru cursed under his breath and pushed harder, needing to see, needing to know...

The waters finally stilled, dulling from black to an inert stone grey. Breathing a short sigh of relief, he peered through the portal, and his heart clenched at the sight before him.

Yukino was there on the other side, but her eyes were screwed shut as she screamed and sobbed, hugging herself tightly as she let her own pain out. The god felt it now, from the connection the pearl that still lay on her neck, felt the sense of utter loss and helplessness she suffered. His own sense of not being able to do anything became known, and he gritted his teeth as he reached forward again, wanting to take her in his arms once more, soothe her, tell her it would be fine...

The cold of the pool was unbearable to his skin, but he kept trying to reach through. The Emperor had already told him that he was to no longer contact her, but seeing his precious pearl this distraught, he couldn't help himself.

The only thing that made him stop was the feeling of the bottom of the pool. His hand, instead of going through to the other side, was still in his world. The sense of despair that rolled over him as he realized this made him pull back. Unable to do anything but watch as she cried herself out, he cursed himself.

Takeru had sworn he would protect her, but with the threat of what the Emperor would do to both of them still loomed, ever present in his mind. To protect her, he would have to let his promise to protect her be broken.

It was a sick, twisted path he'd been forced onto, and he saw no end of it in sight.

My eyes scrunched up, and I grimaced as I felt the unusual hardness of my pillow under my cheek. I moved a hand up to fluff it, but instead felt the cool, rough texture of rock beneath my fingertips.

Startled, I sat up and looked around, blinking away the blurriness. I dimly realized that I had fallen asleep beside the Light Pool at some point while crying, and my body was aching from the rough terrain that I'd taken a nap on. I arched my back to pop it, sighing in relief as the muscles relaxed.

I rose to my feet and sighed heavily, looking around the cavern. I paused, realizing that I could see more of what was in here than before. My eyes fell to the pool, and I felt a sliver of relief when I realized that some of the light had returned to it. Maybe getting my grief out of the way had helped, I thought offhandedly. It wasn't likely, but it comforted me anyway.

I turned to leave the cave, sighing again as my hand drifted up to the pearl around my neck. It wasn't cold anymore, I discovered as I wriggled through the narrow passages. My heart irrationally started to hope, but I shut that feeling down quickly. Baseless hope would only hurt me more in the end.

I stepped out onto the beach, looking up at the starry night sky. "Sheesh, how long was I asleep?" I asked aloud, frowning at the crescent moon floating alone in the sky. Shaking my head at my stupidity, I walked back to the city, displeased that I had lost so much time.

The city was oddly deserted tonight, barely a soul on the streets or walking around. I glanced around nervously in the silence, clenching my hands tightly as I put one foot in front of the other, creeped out by the empty silence around me.

"Damn it," I cursed under my breath, putting on speed as I got closer to my apartment building. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I had the vague feeling that I was being watched, followed. I took a quick glance around, not finding anything at all out of the ordinary.

I had almost made it home when I tripped over something sticking out of an alleyway. I let out a sharp shriek as I hit the pavement, oofing on impact. I gritted my teeth and sat up slightly, looking back to see what had tripped me.

I blinked at the sight of a delicate shoe on a small foot. Frowning, I followed the leg up to the face of the person who had made me fall, only to have my eyes widen as I met dark, terrified eyes.

"Nayomi?" I asked, pushing myself up to stand in front of her. I took in her rather haphazard appearance, from her tangled hair to her very rumpled shirt and skirt. But then I felt myself stiffen as she moved her right hand, bringing up a knife to hold in front of herself, trembling as she stared at me.

"C-come with me," she whispered, the cold steel glinting in the faint light of a distant lamppost.

"Whoa, wait a minute," I said, taking a step back and holding my hands up. She followed me, taking a slight step forward, and I felt a slight shiver run down my back. "What are you doing, Nayomi? Don't be rash."

"Sh-shut up and just come with me!" she insisted, her voice cracking, sounding like she hasn't had anything to drink in a long time. I glared at her in defiance, wondering what in the world had gotten into her to make her act like this.

"I'm not going with you, Nayomi," I said firmly, taking another step back She moved with me, sliding so that she was between me and the way to my apartment. Clearly, she had learned since her last attempt on me.

"You have to!" the distraught girl insisted, her eyes flicking around nervously, like she was watching out for someone. I took a second to look around as well, but I couldn't see anyone at all. We were completely alone in the dark of the night.

"I'm not going," I said again, taking in deep, steady breaths in preparation to run.

"I can't be punished again..." she murmured, a few tears falling down her face as she gripped the knife handle even tighter. "I'm sorry, Yukino, but I have to bring you to him!"

Nayomi lunged forward, but I was prepared. I sprang back to avoid the swipe she took with that damn knife, feeling the breeze hit my belly. A spark of fear came with the knowledge that she would actually cut me in order to get me to go with her, so I took the most obvious course of action.

I turned tail and ran.

She let out a frustrated cry as I fled down the street, and I heard the heavy thumping of her own feet upon the pavement as she gave chase. Determined bitch...

I ducked into a side street that led to a maze of roads in a local neighborhood, one I knew like the back of my hand after wandering the streets after school some days when I didn't go to the beach. As soon as a turn came up I took it, swiftly loosing the desperate Nayomi in the chaos of the silent night streets.

Not bothering to see if she knew where I was, I ran as fast as I could, ducking and weaving through the streets, avoiding the lamps that illuminated parts and would give my position away. I could hear her on the occasion, calling out for me in desperation that was strange to hear from her.

I paused just inside of an alleyway to breathe, having to put my hands on my knees to keep myself up as I panted heavily, my lungs burning from not being used to such heavy exercise. I swallowed down more oxygen as I peered out of the alley, trying to get a bean on her location so I could make my way back to the safety of my apartment.

What is going on with her? I found myself thinking, turning and slowly edging my way through the dirty alley. I was used to a high and mighty, better than thou Nayomi. This Nayomi was scared, terrified of someone hurting her, 'punishing' her as she'd said earlier. Who would be in such a position to put these fears into her clearly distraught mind?

I took one step out of the alley and into the street, only to hear the relieved cry of my hunter. I jerked my head up in the direction of the cry, seeing as she started to run towards me, that blasted knife still in her grip. I marveled at her stupidity and willingness to run with such a sharp object for a mere instant before I turned right around and dashed back down the alley, cursing myself for not checking before going out of hiding.

I had almost reached the end when another figure stepped out of the shadows, causing me to ram into them with how fast I was going. I fell back onto the ground, yelping in pain when my rear hit the hard concrete. I looked up with a glare at whoever had gotten in my way of escape, only to choke in surprise.

"Fujiwara!" I gasped, scrambling up in front of the confused looking teen. "Help me! Nayomi's trying to stab me!"

"Whoa, what?" He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head and acting casual. "Are you okay, Yukino-chan? You look exhausted."

"That's cause I've been running from your crazy girlfriend!" I spat out. The sound of footsteps behind me caused me to turn around and face a wide eyed, terrified Nayomi as she stared at us. I hissed and took a fighting stance, glaring at the girl.

"Run, Fujiwara!" I ordered him, lips pulling back into a snarl of defiance.

But to my utter astonishment, Nayomi dropped the knife and fell to her knees, hugging herself and starting to sob uncontrollably. Her body shuddered violently as she gasped for air, her voice coming out high and keening in distress.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! She ran, I had to ch-chase her down!"

Confusion rooted me to the spot as I stared at her, wondering what the hell she meant. Why was she telling this to Fujiwara?

A soft sigh came from behind me, but before I got the chance to turn and look at the male, his arms came around me, pinning my arms to my side in a swift and purposeful movement. I let out a scream of shock, hearing it echo in the close walls of the alley.

Kouta quickly covered my mouth with a piece of cloth, muffling any further sound I made. I struggled in his grip as fiercely as I could in my already tired state, which was almost enough with the adrenaline in my blood. But when I inhaled, I smelled a stuffy, unpleasant smell in the cloth, and I realized too late that it had been doused in chloroform.

Kouta spoke up then, sounding highly displeased. "Nayomi, I told you to get her quickly and quietly. You made me do it myself instead, and you will be punished." His normally soft voice was stern, unforgiving, and my mind registered the shock as it started to slip away.

Nayomi shook her head violently, sobbing even harder. "I t-tried to get her to c-come, she wouldn't! It's h-her fault, don't punish m-me!"

"Oh, she'll be punished too." I slumped in the teenager's arms, unable to hold myself up or struggle anymore, the smell of the chemical invading my senses and making my head go blank. "After all, she tried to break free of my game."

He shifted me in his arms, a vicious smile filling my vision just as my eyes closed.

"And we just can't have anyone breaking the rules, now can we?"

I heard him laugh at those words, and then I fell into darkness with a last thought.

Where's that sea monkey when you need him...