I finished this at the same moment I finished watching the latest episode of one of my favorite animes. I admit those of you who read this far are simply good people for not giving up after the first few chapters. Anyways thank you JNaegi for helping me with this chapter.

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About 2 hours from when Gero, Daisuke, Akagi, Chazona & Rina had last seen Motoko and Kaede and they had traveled through the traitorous labyrinth staircase of doom.

Walking with some haste, Gero turned to his companions and declared, "We finally made it to the twenty-fourth floor. One more and we get to fight Lucifer!"

Maintaining his calm Daisuke spoke next in in a morbid tone. "Once we arrive there our troubles will be even more dangerous."

"What are you talking about?" Rina asked.

"Don't you remember?" Dai spoke glancing at the blonde. "Those monstrosities took Ian away from us and made him into their mind-controlled slave. I have no doubt they will most likely going to use him to fight against us!"

Upon him saying that the group started thinking about fighting Ian.

Rina was about to say something but Akagi beat her to it. "It does not matter who gets in my way. I don't care about the one named Ian or his circumstances. If he stands in my way I will not hesitate to end him."

Everyone stood surprised by Akagi's declaration; all except a certain tsundere girl that is.

"What do you mean by that?! You just can't decide to kill someone! That fool is being controlled!" Rina shouted at the maid.

Turning her eyes to Rina, the maid spoke with cold intent. "And it is that same fool that brought harm to the residence at my master's home; along with kidnapped Taichi!"

"Don't you dare hurt Ian wonder maid!" Rina exclaimed. "It's not his fault he was turned into a mindless idiot…I mean, he was an idiot to begin with but Ian never meant to hurt anyone." Her voice got quiet at the end which made Daisuke and Gero look at with surprise. "If you're going to hurt Ian you have to go through me!"

For the longest couple of seconds Akagi thought of the process of just breaking the naïve girl's arms and legs to spare her the misery until seeing Gero's face. Thinking on the matter that this was also Gero's friend (and her knowing him better than his other friends) she gave a sigh and turned away from her.

Blinking Rina asked, "What's wrong?"

"There is no need for dramatist; I won't go through you." Akagi stated crossing her arms.

A couple more blinks of confusion came from Rina until she smiled; she finally one upped the maid! As cheering in Rina's head congratulated her Daisuke gave her a questioning look.

"Rina." Daisuke began cleaning his glasses.

This broke her out of her happy mode as she turned to the astute man. "What is it?"

Gero finished it. "When did you fall in love with Ian?"

It took a moment or two for Rina to process the information. "Eh…eh…?!" That's when her world crumbled. A blush radiated her cheeks as she started shouting at the two. "What are you talking about, idiots!? I don't love him! How can I possibly fall for a guy like that?! He's a pervert!"

Even though she said that everyone could tell those weren't her real feelings.

"That's not true, Rina." Gero began as she turned to him. "Granted at first I thought it was hatred and maybe at first you wanted to hurt Ian, but all that hatred inside you changed into love at some point."

This made Rina start quivering on how the skater boy was breaking down her emotional defenses as if he were a teenage boy using truth buellets against a mechanical bear of despair.

"I think it started coming to pas after you chased Ian through the forest with all your pets. You must know you have no power in this labyrinth." He continued as Rina didn't say anything. "Rina…you only came because you wanted to be sure nothing bad happens to him, right?"

All eyes were on Rina as she thought of everything from when she met Ian to seeing him last.

To everyone's surprise she actually spoke like a maiden. "It's true. I really do have feelings for him."

If the entire gang were hear they'd think it was the coming of the apocalypse.

"I know, how do you think I'm dealing with this? He's an obnoxious fool along with indecisive with how he deals with living with girls at an apartment complex which reminds me of a bad anime set up! However I've seen him deal with lots of obstacles along with see how Ian is with animals. I think that's what I love about him…I love Ian."

Revealing that confession was the toughest thing for Rina to do but she felt happy revealing it.

Gero was going to say something until Daisuke's casted a sharp eye to someone approaching the crew from the front.

"Rina…" he said.

The way the spectacle male said it caused a shiver to go up her spine. Turning around she saw the person who was the closest to her heart. "Ian?"

The blonde teen came forward and he appeared somewhat different; his attire was dark and gave them a dead look.

Akagi stepped in front of Gero, who tried calling to his friend. "Stand back Gero, you're friend aims to hurt us!"

This stopped the teen who gave a frown. "But its Ian, he's right there! Ian, come on stop joking around!"

Ian turned to Gero and flicked something at the silver-haired teen! Akagi noted it and tackled him to the ground, ending up getting stabbed by a silver needle-like spear. "Akagi?!"

She grimaced. "I'm all right, just need to bandage this up."

Daisuke glared at his cousin as he stood in front of Rina, while Chazona kept her distance from the aura surrounding him.
"Be on guard, he is under the control of vile powers at hand," She stated.

Rina turned to her. "Come on you are powerful, can't you use some mystical hoo-hah to release him?!"

The blue-eyed psychic closed her eyes; even her gifts couldn't release Ian from that kind of bind but she did have a hunch on what could. 'Of course Rina has to realize that on her own; if I were to tell her than that future will be changed to something even I can't predict' Chazona mentioned in her mind.

Daisuke soon declares he would fight Ian, to everyone's surprise. "I'm the only one who can keep up with him and Akagi can only work when it comes to normal techniques, like that attack that tried piercing Gero." He walked forward as Rina looked worried.

"You don't think he will kill Ian, do you?" She asked Chazona who remained quiet. "Come on answer me!"

Gero soon placed a hand on her shoulder to calm down. "Let's try to believe in Dai, he's a cunning bastard but he is a good person at heart," he added with introspect.

Rina noted how Ian's friend was perspective when it came to such matters. Akagi also appeared impressed by his words as she agreed with the sentiment. "We will not attack than."

Daisuke took off his glasses and placed them in his pocket. "Ok Ian never thought I'd ever go full force against you but you are giving off power you aren't supposed to have."

The blonde didn't say anything but gave a smirk as if saying he understood what his cousin said.

"But at the same time it will feel good going all out without any hesitation," Daisuke said as his voice sounded demonic. A purplish aura covered his frame and his hair got spiky.

Gero took note of this. "You know if Daisuke's aura was yellow than he would look like a Super Saiyan!" Upon saying that Akagi, Rina and even Chazona rolled their eyes.

Daisuke even grew demonic wings and his nails became talon like. "Are you ready my foolish cousin?!"

Ian smiled icily and he soon sported a dark blue aura; materializing in his hand was a skinny sword. It took a moment before the two flicked out and clashed causing a bright light.

No one could see the battle going on all except Chazona.

"I wish I could see the battle!" Rina complained to no one in general.

Chazona than closed her eyes briefly and soon the party could see what was going on.

Turning with intrigue Akagi asked, "How did you do that, Lady Chazona?"

She didn't avert her gaze from the battle and answered. "It's a simple matter of adjusting your brainwaves to perceive their speed; I sped them up."

Gero gave a whistle while Rina didn't say anything, being absorbed in the battle.

Daisuke gave a yell of excitement as he continued clashing with Ian! Aiming a punch toward Ian's face it would very well end the battle but Ian blocked the strike with his sword and easily weaved it at the half-breed to decapitate him! Daisuke maneuvered away and went for another punch which Ian countered with a well-timed sword strike; the blonde was able to get the first blood as the dark-haired teen licked it from his hand.

Ian soon launched a sword projectile towards Daisuke which he slapped to the side of the cavern causing some rocks to fall. Taking charge Ian swiped the sword to pierce Daisuke but the crafty teen wiggled his fingers which stopped the sword, to everyone's shock. Daisuke had wire linked to them and had been able to wrap it around the blade and Ian's body while doing all those strikes at the beginning of the battle.

Holding his arm firm Daisuke smirked as he saw blood coming from Ian's hands. "Awww what's the matter; can't use that annoying toy!" He shouted, pulling the wired strings and tearing away the sword! Ian appeared surprised as the wire stared wrapping around his body. Daisuke didn't give an inch as he soon jammed a knee to Ian causing him to gag and soon lifted him like a trophy.

To the others it felt like Daisuke was becoming the bad guy with Ian being the victim.

"Don't you kill him Daisuke!?" Rina yelled.

Daisuke heard her cry but ignored it; his attention was at Ian. "Are you down with this battle yet?"

Ian struggled against the wire and his cousin's iron grip. The blonde soon stopped moving all together to Daisuke's surprise and slacked off his grip. Eye's opening Ian soon used that to his advantage as he blew away Daisuke with an aura blast. Ian soon sprinted at Daisuke as he landed fast punches to his midsection causing the former to start coughing. Ian soon grabbed Daisuke's face and soon an explosion happened!

Daisuke would have ended up disfigured but his own energy protected him. Growling the half-breed saw his own blood and laughed. "You're getting into this you puppet?"

For the answer Ian landed a gnarly head-butt in Daisuke's face which caused him to take some steps back to get his bearings. Ian soon smiled with excitement. "Of course I'm getting into this!" He yelled with exuberance aiming a punch to the solar plexus causing a coughing spasm from the smarty-pants half breed.

Growling Daisuke aimed his own punch straight at Ian which connected to the right side of his cheek! Ian grinned and returned the favor. This soon turned into a game of who can withstand the might blows.

One blow after another and the two continued at it until Daisuke had enough of this pussy contest and grabbed the fist about to land of his face! He than went for a over toss which Ian landed flat on his back as Daisuke went to knock him out. The blonde moved at the last second as a fist imprint could be seen next to his head.

Getting up Ian landed an uppercut on the unsuspecting teen's face! Soon he got in another punch to the stomach which was enough to knock the demon out of Daisuke as he landed in a heap on the floor!

This shocked the group; especially the Hina residence given Daisuke was the one who usually won these kinds of fights, minus demonic steroid power-ups and super saiyan hair motif's.

Chazona and Akagi gathered him up as it looked like Ian wasn't going to attack anyone at the moment.

Gero thought if he should try but seeing Daisuke getting beat up made him think otherwise. Before anyone could do anything Rina stepped into the forefront.

"Hey Rina!" he shouted but she held up a hand.

"I got this Gero, stick with the maid and Chazona!" Rina replied firmly.

As she got closer Ian appeared momentarily stunned at seeing the blond, something about her was familiar.

"Ian Urashima, you know how to drag everyone into these misadventures," Rina started easily which didn't get a response from him. "I see you got badass but you know what? You're still the same idiot with bad luck; finding ways to see any of us girls naked or playing with the animals in the apartment; along with being friends to some weird individuals."

Gero blinked. "I'm not weird...am I?"

"You bum rushed an all powerful demon with a skateboard..." Akagi said raising an eyebrow. "Along with have hair brain schemes to get Taichi with that big-breasted hussy and constantly say bad jokes...I'd say goofy not weird is the correct context for you."

Three blinks and soon a grin. "Cool!"

Rina continued her dialogue. "Of course you're earnest and helpful when it comes to keeping all of us happy; sure you were annoying but I can't deny that is what I like about you." She gave a smile to him which made Ian look at her as if he were becoming aware of his surroundings. "It doesn't feel like home without you there Ian. I don't care if you are being controlled; you are a strong-minded person and someone who can take my beatings and the rest. Please come back to us."

As he continued looking confused Rina did one thing that might have caused a fainting spell to Gero; she hugged him tightly!

'Please...please come back to me, Ian!' Rina prayed closing her eyes tightly.

It took some moments before..."Ri...na?" Ian mumbled confusion heard in his voice.

She gave a gasp opening her eyes. "Are you Ian? Rina asked getting a look at his face, which caused a light blush to radiate off her cheeks. "Tell us something only the real Ian would say!"

Ian didn't even need to think. "Rina, have you been paying your apartment fees?"

She broke out in a smile and hugged him once again. "That's Ian alright!"

Ian gave her a lopsided smile; he didn't know what else to do in this situation, along with Rina being happy to see him was out of left field.

Rina, once again hugged him as Ian's eyes got wide! Yup it was not a dream, this was reality.

Gero pointed like he was a little kid seeing parents kissing. "Rina hugged Ian!" He shouted obnoxiously.

A slap on the head soon stopped that behavior from the maid of Kou as she rolled her eyes. "Is it really that surprising to exclaim like that?"

Gero turned to Akagi and explained. "Rina is the angriest member of the entire apartment complex who would never hug someone let alone someone she allegedly despised. Her hug Ian is a miracle!"

Akagi appeared bewildered that a hug would cause some divine intervention but given she was in some version of hell in a closed off space who was she to deny the prospect of "miracles" happening in the most unique circumstances.

'I'm glad I have that bottle of Scotch I got from master Kou last year, which will help after this!' Akagi made a note to bust it out of her secret stash later as Gero got a headlock on Ian expressing his own happiness that his friend was safe.

"Guys!" Kaede's voice broke through the reunion with Ian as she waved to them as Motoko brought up the rear, being happy that her "nephew" was once again whole.

Chazona appeared pleased by this as Daisuke had awoken from being unconscious and heard the commotion. "Kaeda and Motoko have returned to us and with Ian on our side we should be able to stop Lucifer."

A smile broke free from Daisuke's handsome face as he put on his glasses. "Looks like our adventure is coming to a close soon?"

Back in Lucifer's lair the three baddies had just watched "the power of love" reached Ian and break free from said demon's trap.

A growl escaped Lucifer's mouth as his eyes narrowed. "Dammit, why in all the 9 hells did that break my control over Ian?!"

The little boy cackled madly. "Hahahaha, should never underestimate it. Besides wasn't that a song?"

Lucifer flicked the boy's head with a hand as he yelped. "This plan might have been a bust I'm not through yet. With Daisuke's demon blood I was able to control Ian with the blood of his father! And I'm going to remind them why no one should trifle with me!"

Once again Lucifer dematerialized to Ian and the group's location.

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Ian has finally been freed from Lucifer's grasp thanks to Rina (of all people). What is in stored for our heroes; and what of Ichigo & Taichi? Fan service next time!