Author's Note: Waaaaaahhh~! I did not realize it's been nearly two months since I updated. T_T I'm a terrible updater! I'm sorry everyone, but at least I'm giving out two updates to kind of make up for it... I'm drawing this story to a close soon; hopefully within the next ten chapters it will be over. Thank you to everyone that reviewed! I don't have much time so I cannot reply to reviews on here, but I'll try to send a few PMs out to respond in a few days! Thank you again!

Song for Chapter:

Faithless - Black Veil Brides, Black Veil Brides IV

Chapter Twenty-Four: POW

Daiki and Hajime had been far from uninformed of the blasts that resonated through all of Makai. Hatsukichi had a nose for danger- pun unintended due to her specific youkai breed- and had successfully managed to avoid any of the bombs with the two demons at her side. She had remarked that her clan was more than capable enough to do the same, as they had been specifically trained to avoid any sneak attacks.

After all, foxes were known for being sneaky, not being snuck up on.

"Are you sure you're ready?" Hajime asked the lovely demoness carefully, knowing her temper was just as volatile as Kotone's on a good day. "I mean, the blasts could have knocked your clan off their target locations."

Hatsukichi gave a crass smile and smooth out her dazzling white kimono. "Haji, though I appreciate your concern, I assure you that all will be well."

"He's more fucking worried about our women," Daiki mumbled. "If they got hit too, they could be fucking hurt or… Damn it! If they're in Makai, all of them would be put into danger with being sealed off from the other world."

"We have to have faith. Akiye will take good care of everyone," the brute stated, though even his worries were etched across his chiseled face. "I wonder if Mizue had our baby yet…"

"Enough of that." Hatsukichi could feel the energy radiating from the ground and her face grew serious. "It's time."

The two men stepped away from the mysterious woman, knowing she needed space to work such complicated magic. She smiled, a calculating one, and slowly her hands rose, as if pulling something of great weight as she did. The movement caused a thundering quiver to stumble the males, but they held their ground as best as they could. The lapping of the sea behind them became tumultuous, sending waves crashing into the surrounding forest and against their feet.

The fox demon, undeterred as the hem of her kimono grew heavy with water, exhaled loudly. With the sound came a great upheaval from her arms, producing a row of vines that came just to the top of her head. The vines spread in an arc and in mere minutes, they came in contact with another set from along the way. Yes, the fox demons had been right on schedule, working in tandem to create a barrier that would seclude Makai from further devastation and keep the surrounding two worlds safe.

From the vines, a soft glow emitted and spread in the form of a sparkling turquoise barrier, spreading high out of their sight and into the red skies of this region. The lightning that usually resounded clashed against the barrier, but instead of hindering its process, it aided in the power needed to stretch the dome clear out of their rang of sight.

Hatsukichi stopped, dropping her arms but remaining in place with a determined look on her sharp features. At last, she spoke, "It is done. None can enter Makai… or leave it. My barrier is resolute and I will stand forth here until the war has ended. I owe Youko that much."

But Daiki and Hajime were not convinced that all would remain well for now. They were babysitting while they should be fighting, but Kotone had asked this of them. She was brilliant when she wanted to be, and since she consulted Kurama they knew this was the best course of action for the two. Though, they were unsure how long they could stay when their loved ones were on the frontlines.

~:.:{Raise Up Your Sirens, Break Through The Silence, We Are United In The Search For Something More}:.:~

In another world, King Enma had set forth his troops to invade Makai. He had plans to finally eradicate the world he saw unfit to survive, despite the good a select group of the denizens there brought to the world. What were they but worthless abominations, animals? Their sense of diplomacy was flawed and genocide could be the only reprimand.

"You can't do this!" Koenma begged his father. He had been at it for hours, watching the advancement of the Spirit World troops on the unsuspecting, warring Makai. "My friends are down there! You can't kill an entire world off because you see them unfit! You are not a god, father!"

Enma's fury was lashed out on the unsuspecting prince and he was forced back with the contact of the massive palm. Koenma was unsure if he might have reacted differently if he still held his toddler form as frequently as he did decades ago, but the bruising he felt all over would be his price to pay.

"Makai will fall," Enma boomed, his teeth clenched and eyes glued to the screen. A cruel smile lifted up the hair on his face as the thousands of Reikai troops finally descended upon the feuding world. "Of the three worlds, it is nothing but a disease that deserves to be terminated."

Koenma watched in horror as they fell to Makai, knowing Yusuke and company would soon cease to exist. The Mazoku may be powerful, especially alongside his friends, but none could rival Enma's troops. They had been groomed for war longer than any of the demons had lived, save possibly Mukuro and Yomi. Even then, such drastic numbers would overwhelm even the kings.

Yet, the troops advanced no further upon the massive world. Koenma stared in awe as they met a barrier of substantial proportions, erected- unbeknownst to the king or prince- just in time to halt the advancement of the end of times as they knew it. Try as they might, none could break the advanced spell that had been weaved to protect both Makai and the other two worlds around it.

"SOMEONE FIND THE COUNTERSPELL NOW!" Enma roared and his face reddened in outrage. "HOW DARE THOSE INSOLENT BEINGS!"

"It would seem you weren't meant to overstep your boundaries." Koenma's tone was dark, unbelieving, and he left before Enma could retaliate.

Botan was waiting for the prince as he stepped from the hall of the king, worriedly fretting over the war. Koenma did not need to explain; his father's booming voice had been enough to let all of Reikai know he was no longer in control of the situation as he had hoped.

Instead, she asked a simple question to the prince upon seeing the stark determination on his face and his hurried footsteps. "What are you going to do, sir?"

There was only thing Koenma could do at this point if he wanted his friends to survive. His father was beyond reason and had finally been given the chance to do as he wanted all the millennia he had lived. If he was not stopped, he would bring death to all of demonkind.

"I'm going to kill my father, Botan, and I will need your help."

He would die before Yusuke and his friends were killed. If Kotone could steal souls from under Enma's nose, Koenma could take his father's life.

~:.:{Refuse To Destroy The Altars We Are Serving, The Truth In Living Is That Our Souls Are Searching}:.:~

It was time for Kurama to show his true allegiance in this war. He had not been privy to the horrible plan Yomi had to destroy his companions with explosions, nor did he know he would go so far as to detonate some in Ningenkai at Genkai's Temple. He was livid and it took everything in his power not to change his demeanor the moment he heard the first blast.

Yet, now was the time; he would kill Yomi and end this war with his own two hands. The elaborate plan he had concocted with Kotone would fall by the wayside in light of his anger. Even Youko had been livid; the spirit fox had grown attached to so many of his friends and loved ones. Kotone had been especially high on that list; though the silver-haired deviant did not want what a demon usually wants from a pureblood demoness, he loved her. They were very close friends and somehow, Youko had sensed her injuries in this whole mess.

'She's hurt…' he snarled within Kurama's head, fueling his rage. 'Tear Yomi to shreds, Kurama, or I will!'

And that was the plan, until he entered Yomi's tent, flanked with far too many guards, and saw the unmistakable face of Avaron.

She was conscious and had put up quite the fight, if her injuries said anything. Where he had assumed she had acted as the feral beast moments before, her actions stopped the moment her eyes fell on his shocked face. He could not read the expression in her red eyes, but prayed she knew of his true motives. Unfortunately, she was obviously far too injured to be an aid to him.

"Ah, Kurama," Yomi greeted fondly, as if he did not have the girl in the room, "my troops brought me a gift. Seems it's the child of that detestable woman and the Forbidden Child."

"What are your plans for the girl?" Kurama had to moisten his dry mouth before he could speak. His plans had been foiled so effortlessly; the blind demon knew how to play the fox's game.

"Actually, this will be your duty," Yomi added serenely and smiled at him. "I want you to torture her for information. Or is that too much for you?"

The fox could hear the infliction in Yomi's tone; if he did not torture Avaron, he would be discovered, but he could never do that to the girl. He cared for Avaron and did not want her to be part of this whole mess. Yes, she may be a mighty contender and the child of two S-Ranked demons, but her part in this war should have been on the sidelines. He could not…

"Kurama?"

But he had to.

"Yes," he croaked, unwavering. "I will do it, but I want exclusive rights to her. You may station your guards to watch my methods, but I will be the only to lay hands on her."

Yomi seemed placated with the answer, but Avaron was far from it. The redness of her eyes flared and she snarled, thrashing against the bonds of her captors. Her voice split into his skull, but she would understand his motives later.

"You traitorous wretch!" she hissed and he could feel the heat radiating off her. "I knew you were no good for my family Kurama! I said it from the moment you sided with Yomi instead of my father! My parents should have killed you when they had the chance! Even Youko is more trustworthy than you, and he's a damn thief!"

His inner fox knew what must be done and did not voice his opinions within Kurama's head. Instead, he remained blissfully quiet so the man could properly calculate his plan and his advances.

"Yomi's dream of Makai is more advisable than the haphazard disorder Mukuro wishes to throw it into," Kurama said flatly, completely unfazed by her words. "I'm sorry, Ava."

"Do not speak my name, let alone one as affectionate!" She spat upon the ground.

"Take her away." The soldiers did as Yomi ordered and he rounded on the fox. "I'm proud Kurama. I was starting to have my doubts about you."

"I'm allied with you, Yomi. I would appreciate your faith." With that, Kurama turned on his heel and left. Tomorrow, he would confront Avaron and have a better plan cooked up.

He hoped.

~:.:{No, I Will Never Be The Faithless One}:.:~

"How long until I can move around properly?" Kotone asked her batty counterpart as she leaned up against a tree. Leaves from a healing plant they had found were wrapped around the burns, easing the pain but still leaving behind the tingly numbness that came with nerve damage.

"Tomorrow at the earliest," Kuronue sighed and ran his hands through his ponytail. Part of his armor had been discarded, but he still wore a majority to protect him in case of other attacks. "Think that fox lady has the barrier up yet?"

"I hope," she mumbled and ground her teeth together when she moved.

Karasu arrived shortly after they lapsed into silence, tossing raw pieces of a wild boar to each of the other demons. His mask had been removed as he indulged in his own bloodied catch, skinned though it may be, and the three tore into their food. Though all three would rather have cooked meat- unlike Raizen's insatiable bloodlust- it was too risky to build a fire when they were still so close to the battle.

"Karasu," Kotone finally said when they were finished. His violet eyes peered at her through the darkness, almost radiating. "Thanks for earlier. I might be a hell of a lot more broken up if you hadn't caught me."

He did not answer, but a small smirk came to the corner of his mouth before the mask was slid back into place. As badly as Kotone hated to admit it, she felt that Karasu might have been one of the best choices she made in regards to this war. Though he was seedy and unreliable at first, it appeared he had at last tried to make amends and join the proper side instead of standing on his own.

She still did not trust him.

Next in 'Revelation, Defamation':

But what choice did Kotone have? A message from Kurama arrives in front of the traveling three and her world would shift upon the news she was given. Avaron was a prisoner of war, few in Yusuke's camp trusted the undead- especially Yuji-, and somehow Izume knew her mother would never return to them. The war was tearing them apart, piece by piece. It was time to tip the scales of war in their favor... No matter the cost.