Author's Note: I know, I know... I'm terrible at updating. Honestly, I was trying to get OSM and OTL out of the way so I could finish this story up. Now that OSM and OTL are near the end and they are completed outside of FF, I thought I should update here. I'll be devoting as much time as I can to finish up Revelation, Defamation, but it might take some time as well. I am nearing the end of this climatic piece, but I'm not sure if my writer's block is going to dissipate any time soon. This time of year is way too hectic... T_T

Song for Chapter:

World of Sacrifice - Black Veil Brides, Black Veil Brides IV

Chapter Twenty-Six: Irreplaceable

Kotone's erratic pace, going strong for over two days, had slowed. She was weak from her injuries and exhausted from the emotional and physical strain she had placed on herself. Still, Karasu and Kuronue followed her diligently. Without them, she knew she would have succumbed to madness and their presences were a reprieve from the constant plans swirling in her head.

She needed Kurama… she needed his planning abilities. She needed Yuji, her son, to console her with nothing more than a cryptic smile, as he was known for. She needed Avaron to be safe, to scream and throw a fit like only she could with a temper inherited from a fire demon and a wind demon pair.

But most of all… she needed Hiei.

The brief moment she had seen her mate had made her aware of how badly she had grown to depend on him. Were things different, she would have felt sick with such a blatant dependency, one she had not even felt with Hajime, Daiki, and Yuji Takanari when they were a lone, makeshift family.

It pained her to know Mukuro had her clutches on the fire demon, disgusted her to no end. She had wanted Hiei to do whatever it took to gain her allegiance, but now she wondered if she had asked too much of him… because it felt like too much she had asked of herself. What sort of demon- no, woman- would want her mate with another? Even if it was for the sake of others?

He had reeked of Mukuro's scent.

Now, her mind in a blur with all the thoughts that had accumulated, her body weakened from stress and injuries that had yet to heal, she could barely even register a pack of demons before she came upon them.

It was Kuronue that took her from her mighty trek through the lands, snatching her into the air as Karasu bounded head-first into the congregation. His bombs were around him, staring down the group of fierce warriors dressed in armors unlike anything she had ever seen. Had she grown as weak as to charge into a situation she had not even sensed? Had she dulled that far?

This war was taking its toll on her as much as any other, even if she tried to hide it.

"State your business," the masked crow drawled and the leader of the pack snarled.

"None of yours! Disarm yourself and you might live!"

Another thing Kotone needed was the two demons that were at her side, blindly following her into danger regardless of their previous affiliations in different lives. Kuronue had been a thief, now turned into a man worth leagues of her trust. Karasu, though her original feelings of him were necessary, was a villain turned ally. No, they would not be hurt on her watch.

"Put me down," Kotone said flatly to the bat, their golden armor glinting in the moonlight. "Now, Kuronue."

"Don't do anything stupid, Ko," he whispered, but did as she asked nonetheless. Together, they ascended next to Karasu as his bombs made way for their path.

"Our business is our own," Kotone snapped at the demon, which smelt of ash and soot. It reminded her of the detonation of all the bombs across the world and made her stomach churn at the memory.

Orange hair… lifeless… A friend…

The man before her stopped and stared, obviously concentrating on something she could not place. He stepped forward and a wing moved to shield her from an attack that did not come. She pushed it aside, staring straight into the red eyes of the man, and his mouth formed into a solid line.

"You look just like her," he mumbled as his hand went over his heart. "Tell me, demoness, are you of relation to one named Avaron?"

Kotone saw red, and not the eyes of the newcomers, but instead of fury. "How dare you speak my daughter's name! Who are you to ask such questions?" If they belonged to Yomi, she would disembowel all of them as a sign that she was coming… And there would be hell to pay.

"No," the demon said and bowed low to her, catching the wind demon and her company off guard. "We are of the Fire Clan, though just a small portion of the troops. Lady Avaron is our leader and we follow her, hoping to rescue her from the clutches of that ingrate so daft to capture her. I am Kikumaru, General of her forces."

Awe overwhelmed the redhead for a brief moment, until she realized that her children had really gone to all lengths to be of use in this bloodbath. It brought pride to her still heart, but there was little time to spend praising Avaron or Yuji within her head. She had to save her daughter before Yomi killed her. She could not deal with the death of one of her babies on top of everything else.

"We head to Yomi," she hissed his name, "and it is his head we will rend from his shoulders."

"How can we be of service?"

That one question could be the saving grace she needed to rescue Avaron.

~:.:{Cause even if you sacrifice beliefs to get through, And even if you take the side of lies over truth}:.:~

Izume was headstrong, and she knew she had inherited that from her father. It may have taken her a few days to intercept the one she sought, but she found him nonetheless. Yuji Kaze Tsukai's scent was one she knew well…

After all, she loved him.

She could not even find it in her heart to be jealous to see two beautiful wind demons traveling alongside the black-haired man. He sensed her the moment she was close to him and, without warning, his arms opened up to intercept her. He kissed her blindly, no regard for the two traveling alongside him, and though it was their first kiss, he felt nothing but bliss in its urgency.

"I've missed you," she said lovingly, her hands stroking his face when their lips parted. "I thought you might be dead, Yuj. You disappeared for so long… but I felt you when you came close to the castle."

"As I you, Izu," he whispered and nuzzled into her touch. Their affection was short-lived when he heard a cough behind him. "Ah, what have we missed?"

The question was not meant for the war or those fighting in the frontlines. All he cared about… were the casualties. Akiye, the self-proclaimed leader of the survivors, had been ill-informed, save for Keiko's demise. The thought pained him, but he had to know…

"Kuwabara," the Mazoku female mumbled, the pain evident on her face. "Many were injured, but he… was the only one. Yuji, is my mother-"

"Yes."

Her eyes did not fill with tears, as expected, but the anguish was clear on her face. Somehow, she had known and Yuji could see that. That would be the only reason she traveled to find him alone, without an army flanking her. Izume was one to be the first in a fight and the last to withdraw, thus her abnormal flight from the battles was uncharacteristic.

"You go to Avaron?" she asked after a long pause.

Yuji's eyes narrowed at her assumption. What could she possibly mean? He had asked the question before he had time to properly form the words, but nonetheless the girl understood. "What…?"

"She has been taken as a prisoner," Izume explained to him. "I figured you were headed there to rescue her. Your mother is probably on her way there now, since we have not seen her since right after the bombs detonated."

"Your sister?" Fujiye asked. "Yomi is a cruel man, Yuji. He will surely be torturing her for information. We must hurry."

"Kurama will protect her as long as he can," the black-haired wind demon told the other. "Fujiye is right; we must get there as soon as we can before Kurama's cover is blown."

"You know he will have troops surrounding him unlike anything we have yet seen…" Izume moved from Yuji's arms and readied herself for the long run they would be taking.

"That is why I must have faith in my mother and Kurama. It's all we have left…"

~:.:{Everyday the world will take what you give in to, So hold on to every breath of life in a world of sacrifice}:.:~

Hatsukichi was struggling to uphold the barrier, and she knew many of her clan felt the same. Daiki and Hajime had been relentlessly taking care of her, but there was little either of them could do. They did not hold appropriate power to strengthen the barrier, and because of that, a few of the Reikai forces had slipped through the moment a hole began to form in the turquoise dome.

"Shit!" Daiki hollered and sent multiple blasts of flame up from his fists, aiming at the forces that came into view out of the clouds. They were emblazoned against the red sky in their obscene white armor, as if warriors of God. "Finally something I can help with! I'm so fucking tired of being useless!"

"I'll boost you up!" Hajime grappled the little fire demon male and his muscles strained as he pelted the samurai high into the sky. Souls, from that very same demon, met Daiki's feet once he was high enough in the air to try and keep any from entering the hole.

"Hey! Me too!" Another came barreling at the brute and he barely had the time to send him flying. It came as a surprise to see Shoichi propelling higher and higher, readying his spirit bazooka.

"We've come to help." The unmistakable, serene voice of Yuji Takanari drifted in Hajime's head, startling him. "Hatsukichi," he addressed the demoness, "allow me to help."

His hands touched hers and as they did, lightning roared to life on the barrier, sending any he wanted to their deaths from the electric shock. He was careful not to hurt any of the other foxes that were aiding with this barrier, much to the female's relief. She gave him a forced smile, sweat trickling from her brow, and nodded her thanks.

"I think I want to go up too," Tadao whispered to Hajime, giving him the same forced smile as Hatsukichi had to Yuji. "I have to help."

The brute of a demon smiled and threw him high into the air, using more souls to keep him suspended as the three diligently slaughtered the Reikai troops.

"Reikai now has a reason to slay us all," Yuji scoffed loudly, but never let his lightning wane. "Haji, you might need to help Dai and the two boys out. I'm afraid I can't from down here."

"Of course… Hatsu?"

"Go," said the aching fox demoness. "I'll watch." She clearly meant Yuji, but Hajime appreciated it.

He took one long look at the white-haired lightning apparition before he leapt forth into the sky, the souls of the dead aiding him in his ascent.

A small smile wound itself onto Hajime's face as he went though, for it had been decades, a century even, since he had felt pride in knowing Yuji Takanari.

Perhaps all hope was not lost…

~:.:{Hold on, in a world of sacrifice,
Hold on, until your last breath is gone}:.:~

All across Makai, war was being waged. Lives were lost, loved ones mourned, but still the world was in turmoil.

Spread to every corner of this world, there were those that fought with their very lives to save this dying land. The rivers may have run of blood, the mountains may have crumbled at the raw power, but as long as there was a speck of dirt left, they would fight for it.

Makai was their home.

Izume, Yuji, Fujiye, and Tsubaki raced to the camp of Yomi, unbeknownst that they would close in before another group that diligently pursued one goal.

Kotone, Kuronue, Karasu, Kikumaru, and the miniscule portion of the Fire Clan troops were descending upon the King of Gandara's camp, though they were still behind schedule.

If only they could run a little faster…

If only they would have known what would happen after they made it, seconds away from salvation…

Then maybe, just maybe…

Kotone would not have had to dig his grave...

Next in 'Revelation, Defamation':

Kotone would see red that day; her rage would be substantial, powerful, and seeing Avaron so weakened and near death, Yomi would know of how she felt. He dared to harm her child, her fiery Ava, and she would return the favor triple-fold. But she was not ready for the reprecussions... Death would come that day, one close and dear to the wind demon.