Chapter 11: Which is Fleeting, Strong, & Precious

"Do you still intend to fight young hero", the man cloaked in black questioned the injured Zweilt in front of him. "I admire your courage."

Tsukumo gripped the cross around his neck, knowing that somehow he needed to warn the others.

The man raised his hand, a growing orb of blue power spinning in his hand," Say your prayers."

Tsukumo narrowed his eyes as the orb came flying towards him. He felt a burning pain engulf his body as everything went red. The last thing his blurring vision made out was his own blood splattering on the street beneath him. Then everything went black.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

Yuki rushed down the hallway of the courtyard towards the doctor's room. The amber light of the sun was giving a soothing glow to each wall exposed. However Yuki felt the complete opposite of the world in that moment. He was helpless and heartbroken. Not only was Rin still missing along with their friend, Tsukumo had been brought back hurt.

Yuki shoved the door open, panting. The girls were standing outside the door waiting. He frowned deeply, knowing it must have been really bad if visitors were not allowed in yet.

"How is Tsukumo-kun?"

Toko turned to him, tears threatening to spill over," Yuki-kun…."

"Toko-san, it will be all right. He'll be ok", Takashiro's assistant reassured her.

Yuki walked over quietly, stopping when the Doctor opened the door. Unlike his usual carefree or tired expression he looked deathly serious.

"Doctor, how is Tsukumo?"

"Yuki", he stated, ignoring the worried girl. "Come with me."

Narrowing his eyes he nodded and approached the doctor. Toko watched worriedly, praying that her friend was ok.

"Using anti-demon magic and the Zweilt's own regenerative abilities, his external injuries can be healed easy enough…But I can't wake him", the doctor stated.

Tsukumo laid motionless on a bed, nearly wrapped head to toe in bandages.

"Miasma is consuming his body", he continued while Yuki listened quietly. "His powerful will to live is barely keeping his heart pumping, and.."

The doctor pulled out a familiar cross from his pocket. Yuki blinked in surprised at the gift he had given Tsukumo.

"I heard you made this."

"Y-yes…"

"Well apparently, when they found Tsukumo this necklace was glowing softly, as though protecting him."

Yuki looked at his unconscious friend, remembering how thankful he was to receive such a gift. He even promised to always wear it…

"Yuki."

"Yes?"

"I need your help. I know it will be difficult for you, but-"

"I'll do it." He narrowed his eyes in determination," Please let me help you!"

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

"…..I'm sorry for making Yuki-chan suffer again."

"It's what Yuki wants", Luka simply stated as he stood behind her.

The both looked at the water fountain in the courtyard silently for a moment. The moonlight cast a gentle yet soothing glow onto the waters surface.

Toko gripped her arms, head down," Tsukumo heard someone scream and ran off to help. When he got there, he was attacked. He's sensitive to other people's pain. And because he's good at reading their emotions, he puts them before himself. And now he's badly injured…."

"Are you ok?"

"…..I'm fine! I'm something of a big sister here. I've got to keep it together- we still need to find Shusei and Rin-kun after all…."

Luka walked closer to the fountain, "I'm not one of you. So you don't have to keep it together for me…and I WILL find Rin and Shusei."

Toko felt the tears return as she rested her head on his back," Then….lend me your back for a while."

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

Hotsuma slammed his fist against his door in anger," So, Reiga appeared with that Ashley girl, huh? Is Tsukumo all right?"

Toko sighed, on the other side of the locked door," Yuki-chan spent the whole night healing him. But due to that, Yuki-chan…"

Hotsuma cursed Yuki for being an idiot and always worrying about others. Although it was what Yuki was meant for and how he was, none of the Zweilt guardians could bare to see a friend in pain. Especially if that pain was because of one of them.

"…Toko."

"Hm…?"
"….Are you sure no one has found anything on them….Not a single clue?"

"….There's been nothing….even Sodom can't seem to catch Rin's scent…."

Hotsuma sighed deeply. Even though it had only been days, it felt like an eternity. The entire household wouldn't rest till the two missing people were found.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

Water dripped down the walls, mixing with some blood on the stone floors. I groaned, rolling onto her back before hissing in pain. I opened my eyes some, wincing in pain. My entire body felt like it was burning and my head was ready to pop from the pressure.

A whimper escaped me," Y-Yuki, L-Luka….?"

The silence only pained me further. I was still alone-

My eyes widened, sitting up hurriedly," Shusei!?"

He was gone, along with Ashley. What did she do-

….wait….how was I alive? I sat down on my knees, holding my throbbing head. I thought Ashley had killed me….didn't she? I was so confused….

I wanted to go home.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

The door opened with a click.

The hot headed blond sighed, arm covering his eyes," I'm not hungry."

"Hotsuma-kun."
He blinked, lifting his arm. Standing in the doorway was both Yuki and Luka.

"Yuki?" He stood," Are you…"

"I've removed the barrier."

Hotsuma furrowed his eyebrows in confusion," Did Takashiro tell you to?"

Yuki only shook his head, further confusing the blond," Let's go save them…. Shusei-kun and Rin, together."

Luka narrowed his eyes," We still need to get the others…."

Yuki nodded," Tsukumo mentioned someone by the name of Reiga….and I have a feeling he's going to be too powerful to take on alone."

The blond rubbed his head, pulling his jacket on," Great…"

"Let's go!"

Luka followed Yuki as he hurried down the hall. Hotsuma sighed and went after them. They headed through the mansion towards the office that Takashiro was located in at that moment in time.

Yuki pushed the doors open, panting. Everyone that was there with Takashiro stopped their conversation to look at the trio.

The women in charge of driving everyone blinked in surprise," Luka-kun, Hotsuma-kun…"

"What is going on", Takashiro questioned calmly.

"Let me…" Yuki sighed deeply," Let me go to Shusei-kun and Rin. Please!"

"No. We can't send you into an enemy trap."

"E-even if they're plotting something, I have to go."

Takarshiro narrowed eyes at the boy. He was desperate to go, to help his friends and not stay on the sidelines. However he would not allow Yuki to be taking by Reiga. It was exactly what he wanted and that was not to be allowed.

Hotsuma stepped up beside God's Light," We'll protect Yuki, even if it costs us our lives."

Tachibana smirked at the clan head," Boss, looks like you won't be able to stop them."

Takashiro stood with a sigh," Fine… But I'm going, too."

Everyone blinked in surprise.

Tachibana raised an eyebrow," You're going? Why?"

"To find them", he stated as he pulled a slip of paper from his suit pocket. "You'll need this symbol Ashley sent us. It's an invitation for two. Is it possible to bring a third?"

Luka spared him a glance, knowing the question was directed towards him," If you rewrite the spell."

"I'll break Ashley's barrier and then catch up to you. It will take some time, but don't do anything reckless before I arrive. Got it?"

Yuki nodded," Hai!"

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

"This….is an amusement park", Yuki stated in slight confusion.

The invitation, rewritten to bring both Luka and Hotsuma along, had taken them all to an abandoned amusement park. The air was thick and heavy with the feeling of dread. There was no light and all the windows or decorative glass were shattered.

Luka blinked at it all," This appears to be the barrier they put up."

"Ridiculous", Hostuma scoffed.

Yuki narrowed his eyes," Is Shusei-kun and Rin over there?"

Luka nodded once.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

"So that's God's Light." The female Opast mused allowed, watching the trio approach," He's pretty cute and the other two aren't bad either, wouldn't you agree?"

The familiars trapped in the forms of dolls let out shrill laughs," Not bad! Not bad!"

"Mmm…I won't forgive them for breaking the terms of the agreement, but they'll all be part of my collection soon. And that girl... We'll deal with her later- Personally I would dispose of her but Reiga-sama has different plans." Ashley sighed," My my he's no fun…"

The chattering of her familiars was shattered by a shrill scream of pain. They all stopped, recognizing the sound coming from that all too familiar cell.

The half Duras girl.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

Lights snapped on in a blink of an eye when the trio had walked deep into the depths of the abandoned amusement park. Music played and what seemed to be human beings were walking around, laughing and enjoying their time.

Hotsuma scowled," What's happening? A minute ago, this was a ghost town."

Luka kept his gaze forward," We're inside Ashley's barrier. This must be what she likes."

Yuki looked around, seeing the major differences from the doom and gloom. He gasped when something touched his back. When he turned he came face to face with a large pink rabbit holding balloons.

"I'm Mr. Rabbit. Have a balloon", he greeted in a strangely toned voice while offering one to him.

Luka was suddenly between them, his blade piercing clean through the giant rabbit whose smile had turned into a sharp tooth grin. It dissolved with a curse of his misfortune.

The moment it was gone, the lights shut down and silence once again fell over the park. The illusion from before was gone without a trace. Those who had posed as the humans, circled around the trio to trap them.

"Already huh…" Hostuma tsked, summoning his weapon.

The decoys now revealed themselves as several of Ashley's toy like familiars. Each low level Duras was hungry for blood.

"This seems familiar."

Luka held his sword at ready," Hotsuma, go on ahead with Yuki."

"Huh? You intend to take on all these guys alone?"

"Are you stupid? They're after Yuki. And they're already half completed their task. Don't you understand?" Luka glanced at the Zweilt," They'll have no reason to keep Shusei or Rin alive….Look for the most conspicuous place here. That's where you should find Ashley."

Hotsuma turned in place," Conspicuous place…." He stopped. In the distance there was a large mansion of some sort, clouded in darkness but definetly out of place amongst the forest surrounding the entire amusement park.

"If you've found it, then go", Luka ordered. "He's your partner right?"

Hotsuma stared back only for a moment before taking a sharp turn towards the mansion," Yuki, let's go!"

He quickly followed," Hai!"

The familiars all roared in rage and panic," They're running away! After them! After them!"

Luka took his own blade, slicing himself open," But don't you want any of this?"

They stared, attracted to the scent," Blood….blood of a high-ranking Duras! It'll make us stronger!"

Luka leapt high into the air and to the opposite direction of his companies," If you want it, come and get it."

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

"Seems like they're gone", Hotsuma stated, kicking up ash of a burned Duras.

Yuki was helping a man off the ground, a man he knew all too well.

"Where am I", he asked. "I woke up here, and I can't find my way out. I'm being chased by freaks! What's going on?"

"Kanata-san…"

"Yuki", he grabbed his shoulders." This place isn't normal. Even I can see that. Tell me, Yuki. What is this place?"

Hotsuma sighed, arms crossed," Calm down. I overheard your conversation. You're like Yuki and Rin's older brother, right?"

Kanata stood," And who are you?"
"I'm Yuki's friend."

"Friend?"

Yuki let out a sigh as he looked down at his lap," I'm sorry…."

"Yuki…." Kanata embraced the younger male in a hug," Yuki, what's happening to you? Tell me."

"Kanata-san-"

The sounds of one of the rides falling apart and hitting the ground echoed throughout the park. It was followed the sounds of the lower level Duras screaming in victory.

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

"Ah, they're here", Ashley stated as Hotsuma and Yuki opened the doors tp the mansion. "Maybe I should go get them. They seem to be struggling."

She hummed, glancing to the left when another scream echoed throughout the mansion once more.

Both Yuki and Hotsuma froze in their tracks in the hallway they were running down. They both knew that scream.

Yuki grits his teeth, sprinting towards the sound," RIN!"

~XxThexLostxGiouxX~

I panted, body buzzing with pain. I could barely see and EVERYTHING hurt. It was as if I was burning from Hotsuma's flames. I screamed again, gripping my head. I whimpered helplessly, curled up in a ball on the floor. She sighed in annoyance, kicking my knee lightly.

"H-help me….." I squeezed my eyes shut, crying harshly," Y-Yuki, Luka- P-please help me!"

GOMENASAIIII ;-; Please forgive the long wait!