Song for Chapter:
Last Rites - Black Veil Brides, Black Veil Brides IV

Chapter Twenty-Five: Messages

Kurama lived up to his duties, as asked, and the following morning he entered the tent Avaron was being held in. He had spent the majority of the night planning, but it all boiled down to one thing…

To get her out safely, he needed help.

Thus, he had sent a tracking plant out to find the only person he thought he could use. Kotone had been devious all the time he had known her, sneaky when necessary, and she would be a huge asset in Avaron's successful escape. Of course, it being her daughter could be both problematic and to his advantage, but he knew a chance would need to be taken to further his plans.

The girl in question looked worse for wear, as could be expected. He figured the guards had knocked her around for her sharp tongue, as more blood had trickled from her mouth and nose and dried on her pale skin. Her short red curls were matted and disheveled, resembling her uncle, but her perception was as sharp as always. The moment she could smell his prominent scent entering the tent, her red eyes snapped up and stared at him.

But it was not hatred that brimmed there… Instead, he could see the understanding within those inexperienced orbs. She may still be fairly young in demon standards and not at all on par with, say, Yuji Kaze Tsukai's deductive skills, but she did have a few redeeming qualities. One of which was her perceptiveness and awareness of any given situation she found herself in.

She obviously knew whose side he still fought for, despite being so secretive. What was he but a fox, a creature whom was born to be deceptive and hide in the shadows? He was the behind-the-scenes mastermind, not the one to charge in blindly. He prided himself in being ten steps ahead of his enemies at all points in time.

Without a word- he was being watched by two guards on either side of the chained demoness,- vines slunk up from the ground and began tearing at her fair skin. Within was a message, one he hoped she realized. He may have little faith in the age of the girl, the experience, but it would be detrimental if she did not realize what he was spelling out to her. He hated having to torture her, but in the least he could deliver this and go fairly easier on her than others would.

Avaron, fortunately, was indeed a perceptive girl, and as vines tapped out things against her bruising, opening flesh, she stared at him with wide eyes. Yes, she understood the Morse code he had taught her over a decade ago for precautionary measures.

I have a plan… Give it time… Forgive me …

~:.:{Fear Is In The War For Society}:.:~

Yuji Kaze Tsukai had been diligently following the whispers on the wind the moment he entered Makai. As soon as the Wind Clan had slid through the border of Ningenkai into their home world, a barrier had fallen and sealed off their exit. It was all for the best; he knew the denizens of Genkai's Temple had fled here instead of chancing their survival in Ningenkai any longer.

Thus, he searched for over a day with the Wind Clan troops at his back, following him without question. He could sense the distrust amongst some of the troops though, regardless of their silence. Some had begun to take his side while others remained with Youma, all wordlessly creating a drift that could possibly be their end. He prayed this would not be an issue until long after the war was won.

After nonstop searching, he came across a secluded part of Makai that had been untouched by the bombs. There, he found the Wind Clan survivors, Akiye, Yukina, Mizue, and to his surprise, an unscathed baby boy named Akiyome. The casualties were staggering despite his elation at the birth of Mizue and Hajime's son, giving Yuji little time to celebrate the birth.

"What they've done here," Yuji snarled and the wind beat erratically with his aura, "to these people, to my family, is unforgivable!"

And it was the realization of their losses that made Yuji's newest plan resolute. He would sneak into Yomi's camp alongside a few elite Wind Clan members… and he would assassinate him.

"I want to come too," Akiye told him as he was readying to leave alongside Tsubaki and Fujiye- who he suspected had taken 'his side' in all of this-, "but I know I need to stay and protect Mizue, Akiyome, and Yukina. Kill him, Yuji… Do it for Keiko…"

Unbridled rage coursed through his veins and he now knew the feeling that his sister, Avaron, constantly had to control. Hearing Keiko's name was devastating and he wondered, to his dismay, if Yusuke had heard. Now would not be the time to tell him; it was better the Mazoku and King of Tourin was unaware.

"Youma, take some of your troops to the castle in Tourin," Yuji ordered roughly and the leader of the Wind Clan did not contest him. "I will not return until after I have Yomi's head."

"'We,'" Fujiye corrected and stood beside him. "Let's go."

And they left after no more than a few hours with their loved ones. They did not know that all of them would not survive this mission…

~:.:{I Can Feel The Rapture Is Close So, It's Gonna Follow Me Down}:.:~

"I don't trust him," Hiei snarled to Yusuke, in front of the accused. "Kotone does not just bring him back to life and expect me to allow him the honor of living!"

Had Mukuro been there, she might have been jealous of how fondly Hiei said his mate's name. He missed her dearly, though he would not admit it, and the King of Alaric had been overly-clingy to him now that she believed he hated Kotone for being a traitor. As if he could ever hate her… He had chosen her out of all others to be his and his alone. She had graced him with two children and more were to come in the centuries they would live.

For now, it was best Mukuro was in the dark on his still-standing feelings.

"I assure you," Touya told the small group, "that Yuji Takanari may be a worthless traitor in his previous life, but he has been far from it now."

"Where the hell was he when my daughter was taken?" the fire demon continued his tirade. It had taken all of his will- and Yusuke's fists- to keep him from going after Avaron once he realized she was missing in the fray.

Instead, he had decimated yet another portion of Yomi's army to placate his rage.

"Kurama will make sure she's alright," Yusuke replied, his words curt. "You should be more worried about what the hell we are going to do! Even if she brought back the dead, Kotone is missing right now! Even worse, she's in the hands of that damned Karasu!"

"He may be vicious and untrustworthy," Genkai butted in, "but Karasu has some sort of lofty respect for the girl. He won't be turning on her easily. And for that matter, Dimwit, Kuronue is with them. For an undead thief, I trust the hell out of the bat."

"The human is right," Raizen had made himself a part of this congregation shortly after it was convened. "The girl has earned some respect; it takes a great deal of balls and power to steal souls from under Enma's nose, especially powerful ones."

"Her judgment was poor," Hiei snapped and his red eyes trained on Yuji Takanari and Toguro.

"Don't be talkin' bout me sister, o' tiny one." Jin had been sitting in the corner the entire time, tended to by Koume, Kuwabara and Yukina's daughter.

Despite the revelation of Kuwabara's death, Koume had stepped up and continued her duties. Yes, tears streamed down her face, especially when her brother broke down- who was currently in a different part of the castle with Shoichi,- but she had done her best to be the apathetic healer. Because of her resolve, she had saved more lives than any could count.

"Regardless," Yuji finally spoke, "I will not be staying long. My assistance is not needed here and I fear for Hajime and Daiki. There whereabouts are unknown, but I plan on finding them before something happens. Ko is in capable hands; unfortunately I have placed my trust in Kuronue and Karasu."

"You think we would let you go alone," voiced a perturbed Yusuke. "Even if you are supposedly on our side, why the hell would we let you run off alone when you could go off and kill some of our men? You caused us a lot of hell at the TouMa, you damned snake!"

"I'll be accompanying him." The new voice that had entered was none other than Shoichi. He was flanked by Tadao, who had obviously been crying for the last day and a half, but his vigor seemed renewed. "We will both be going with him in case he turns traitor. Together, Tadao and I can handle him."

"I won't allow it-"

Before Yusuke could shout further, Genkai's fist silenced him. She was never one to be the outwardly caring and silencing her former apprentice was more than her specialty. She calmly said to him, "Let the brats go. They're capable if they were raised by this fucked up family."

"You old-"

Again, Yusuke was cut off, but instead by the only voice that had remained silent this entire time. Markings slithered across her skin, even now, and she seemed angrier than expected. "WOULD EVERYONE SHUT THE HELL UP?! THIS FIGHTING IS POINTLESS!"

All stared at the daughter of the Mazoku. Izume had inherited Yusuke's mouth, unfortunately, and knew when to use it. All silenced, though many glared, as she continued her tirade.

"They aren't the only ones that will be going off!" Izume slammed her hand on the table. "I have something I have to do, and I'll be damned if I'm going to stay here and do nothing about it! I'm going to go and intercept Kurama and Avaron in case they need it! That's the first order of fucking business! I can sense Yuji is here in Makai and I plan on finding him and using his help in this shit!"

Because she could not take the fighting anymore…

Because somewhere, deep inside her heart, she knew her mother was no longer with them…

But she could never tell her father that…

Without waiting on any other words of protest, the few parties leaving exited the room, still bathed in stunned silence. Yusuke knew he would not be able to stop his kids, but he also knew they might be the next casualties of war. Yet, they were stubborn, pig-headed, just like he was.

"She's right," Touya whispered, "fighting is pointless. They're going out there to do what they can. The least we can do is demolish any of Yomi's troops they send our way."

When had Touya become the words of wisdom…?

~:.:{Last Rites For A Place I Call My Home}:.:~

Two days after Kotone had been in the blasts of Makai, she was deemed capable of travel. It was no surprise to find Karasu and Kuronue flanking a speeding kaze dai youkai across the forests of Makai, heading straight for the source of all their grief.

Her pace was halted when she felt something familiar in the trees, as if they were trying to catch her attention. Without a word, she dropped to the forest floor, night veiling their halt, and waited for what was to come. Instead of a written note- as that was dangerous now- the vines around her feet began to slither and writhe.

"What now?" Karasu asked, his voice garbled by the mask.

"I recognize this," Kuronue whispered and a smile came to his face. "The old fox still has the same tricks."

"And then some." Kotone gave a forced smirk, watching the words as they came together in the plant-life.

What she read made a ragged growl tear from her throat, sending fury to every inch of her body. Kurama's message had been lengthier than usual, but necessity dictated the unpleasant words that had scrawled before her.

"'Ava- POW. Cannot get her out safely without aid. Ko, you are needed. Hurry before it is too late.'" Kuronue had read the words aloud and knew the name as soon as he heard it. Kotone had told him about her children…

"First Kuwabara," she shook and her aura trembled, "now my fucking daughter?!"

Needless to say, she tore through the forests, faster than ever. It was all the crow and bat could do to keep up with her.

Next in 'Revelation, Defamation':

There was something foreboding in the air, something intangible but still felt within the urgency such fear carried. Izume searched for Yuji Kaze Tsukai, Kotone and her two companions would encounter a new group of strangers, and Yuji Takanari would at last be of use in a war of giants. What would come of their fates and why would death always follow?