Chapter Eight

The smell of copper filled his nostrils. Kazahaya knew exactly where he was the minute he opened his eyes. Blood splattered upon all the furniture, floor, walls, and ceiling. He was in Rikuou and Tsukiko's apartment.

"Rikuou?" he called out, looking around frantically. The blood that surrounded him was still wet on the surfaces. "Tsukiko-san? Are you here?"

His breathing was unsteady, and he was scared to move from where he was standing. He looked around the room again, until something caught the bottom corner of his eye. His breath caught in his throat.

The flowery hair-clip lying in a puddle of blood, somehow still pristine clean.

A tremor overtook his body. Kazahaya swallowed hard as a roaring filled his ears. The tremors increased as he walked over to the hair-clip and stood over it. He tried not to notice how his shoes "splashed" in the blood on the floor. He stared down wide-eyed at the hair-clip. His vision started wavering. He had only seen the hair-clip once before in a vision, but seeing it now made him feel ill…and filled him with dread.

I know this hair-clip. I know—

The thought broke off and he shook his head. He slowly knelt down and reached for the hair-clip with his right hand. The fingertips nearly grazed the top when a woman's hand suddenly lashed out and grabbed his wrist, holding him back. "No, Kazahaya-kun."

Kazahaya's head snapped up and he looked to his right. Tsukiko was kneeling beside him but her face…it was marred with bruises and cuts, and her left eye was swollen shut. Kazahaya gasped in horror when he saw her. "T-Tsukiko-san—"

"You will see," she told him calmly. "You will all see. Please wait until we meet."

Kazahaya blinked with confusion. "W-What—"

"Kazahaya."

This new voice interrupted him, and a bright white light filled his vision.

"Kazahaya."

Kazahaya came awake with a start, gasping for air as though he were drowning in water. He thrashed around in his seat and nearly screamed, but went still when hands gently cupped his cheeks. "Kazahaya."

Rikuou. Kazahaya was surprised to find himself calming down when he recognized the other young man's presence. He opened his eyes to see Rikuou leaning over him, his face so close to his that their noses were almost touching. Kazahaya stared at him for a long moment as he breathing calmed and his heart rate slowed. It took him a moment to realize that they were still inside the passenger van and the van had stopped, but Kazahaya couldn't see outside because the lights were on inside the van.

"You all right?" Rikuou asked him. His voice was low and soothing. "Were you seeing a past vision?"

"I-I…I don't know," Kazahaya answered honestly. His voice was also quiet. He couldn't look away from Rikuou's eyes. "I saw…I was…" he swallowed thickly before continuing. "Your apartment."

Rikuou's brow rose. "Did you see what happened to Tsukiko?"

Kazahaya shook his head, and he felt his heart clench when Rikuou's expression fell. "I saw…the aftermath," he said. "Blood everywhere. A-And…And a hair-clip—"

"Hair-clip?" Rikuou's brow rose in confusion for a moment, but then recognition filled his face. "Oh—right! I remember! I remember seeing a white flower hair-clip on the floor! B-But I didn't think anything of it because of how the rest of the place looked! A-After I called the police it was gone, so I don't know what happened to it."

Kazahaya frowned and his throat tightened. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the seat. "Hey," Rikuou said. "Take it easy. You don't need to tell me everything at once. Seeing my apartment in that state…it's not easy, is it?"

Kazahaya was surprised and…moved by Rikuou's care. He knew how important it was for Rikuou to learn ANY info in order to get Tsukiko back, but he was putting Kazahaya's mental health ahead of that. He opened his eyes again. "It must have been harder for you, though. Tsukiko-san's your older sister. She—"

"It was hard," Rikuou agreed. "But I know that she's alive. I've known all this time. So long as this tattoo is on my body I have confirmation that she's alive."

Kazahaya looked at his right shoulder. He reached up and placed a hand on it, rubbing it comfortingly. "We'll get her back," he said, looking at Rikuou. "I'll help you get her back, Rikuou."

Rikuou managed a small smile. "Thank you."

Silence passed between them for a long moment, holding each other's gazes. "This won't be easy for you either, though," Rikuou said suddenly. "We're taking you home, after all. Home to the people who kept you isolated. Home to…your sister," he said after a pause.

Tears stung Kazahaya's eyes and he cupped Rikuou's cheek. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry she hurt you. I—"

"I told you," Rikuou interrupted him. "That unless you're the one who hurts me then you don't ever need to apologize to me. Your sister has to answer for what she did to me, not you. I don't hold you responsible."

"But—"

Rikuou leaned in closer, pressing his index finger to Kazahaya's lips to silence him. "Enough. I don't blame you, Kazahaya. So you better not blame yourself. It wasn't your fault. Say it." then he removed his finger.

Kazahaya let out a short breath. "Rikuou—"

"Say it," Rikuou interrupted him. "'It wasn't my fault'. Say it."

Kazahaya swallowed again and nodded. "…It wasn't my fault."

Rikuou smiled. "Good. If I hear you say you're sorry again for something that isn't your fault, I'll give you something to be sorry about."

"A-Are you threatening me?!" Kazahaya snapped.

"No." Rikuou leaned in even closer. He looked like he was about to say something else, but paused. Kazahaya became very aware of the face that their lips were centimeters apart. Rikuou had leaned in so close to him that he could feel his breath on his mouth. It almost reminded him of their job at Suiryo Boarding School, and how Rikuou would lean into his face when they talked. Kazahaya knew that Rikuou did it to put on a show for their peers, and to invoke the anger of Nayuki's soul (How is Nayuki? I hope he's doing okay, Kazahaya thought briefly) but this was different now. There was no one for Rikuou to put on a show for. It was just the two of them sitting together, almost on the verge of kissing.

Kissing? KISSING?! Kazahaya looked down at Rikuou's mouth and realized that he couldn't look away from it. His lips were thin, but his mouth look strong, and—

The sliding door to the passenger van suddenly slammed open and Saiga poked his head in. "Hey, you two! Stop making out and let's get going!"

"WAUGH!" Kazahaya shouted, and Rikuou pulled away from him. "We weren't making out!"

"Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time for necking later!" Saiga said with a loud laugh and disappeared back outside.

"We weren't kissing!" Kazahaya protested as Rikuou climbed into the front back seats. The other young man looked slightly irritated as he picked up both of their duffle bags. "Let's go," he told Kazahaya.

"R-Right!" Kazahaya ducked his head as heat flooded his face as he climbed out of the van and stumbled after Rikuou and Saiga. He was stuned by his surroundings. It looked like they were still in Tokyo but he only saw expansive darkness around them. Several meters away he saw Kakei standing beside a pitch black tourism-style helicopter. "W-Where are we?"

"Narita Airport," Kakei told him with his usual smile. "We should get going before the next flight takes off."

"How did you secure this helicopter?" Rikuou asked, looking at their surroundings. "It's pretty amazing how you got this spot at the airport without supervision from employees."

"We're pretty amazing," Saiga said with a grin. "Now, get in boys. It's past midnight now and we got a long ride."

"W-What time should we reach my…" Kazahaya let his voice trail off.

"In one or two hours," Kakei told them. "It will still be nightfall. But yes, we must hurry."

Rikuou nodded. "I'm ready to get my sister back."

"…I'm ready too," Kazahaya said reluctantly.

Kakei held on to his smile, but...it was strange. Kazahaya thought he saw a glint of—sadness? in his eyes. He shook his head to clear it. I'm imagining things. It's nighttime and I just woke up.

He did several breathing exercises as he climbed into the back row seats. Rikuou climbed in behind him and put their duffle bags on the floor in front of them. Kakei climbed into the copilot seat and Saiga climbed into the pilot seat. "Better strap in!" Saiga announced as he flipped switches to start the helicopter. "This is my first time flying without my own wings, so it might be bumpy!"

"Wait, WHAT?!" Kazahaya cried out, sitting up. "Y-You've never flown a helicopter before, Saiga-san?!"

"Please put on your seatbelt, Kazahaya-kun," Kakei scolded him good-naturedly over his shoulder. The helicopter blades started whirling.

"Oh, it should be like riding a bicycle!" Saiga laughed as Kazahaya frantically snapped his seatbelt on.

"...You've ridden a bicycle before?" Rikuou asked warily.

Saiga gave a deliberately long and uncomfortable pause before answering, "Nope!"

"You devil!" Kazahaya cried out, but Saiga barked out an even louder laugh at that. "Well, I AM a demon after all!"

Kazahaya sputtered but Rikuou nudged him slightly with his elbow. "It'll be fine," he told Kazahaya. "They're not going to put us in unnecessary danger."

"But it can be so much fun teasing you Kazahaya-kun," Kakei said blithely.

Before Kazahaya could respond Saiga suddenly announced, "Lift off!" and they were suddenly airborne. Kazahaya wasn't afraid of heights, but it felt surreal seeing the ground quickly get smaller beneath them as they quickly rose into the sky.

"Hang on Tsukiko," Rikuou said, looking out the window. "We're coming for you."

Kazahaya looked at him for a long moment. Before he could stop himself he reached for Rikuou's hand. He brushed over the top and almost retracted it, but Rikuou grabbed his hand and held fast. When Kazahaya looked up though Rikuou was still looking out the window.

Silence swept over the cabin and Kazahaya glanced out the opposite window. His stomach was knotted and he felt his heart in his throat. He was scared to go home after everything that had happened, but a cold feeling of dread started seeping into his core. He squeezed Rikuou's hand, and Rikuou responded with a squeeze back. Nobody was saying anything. Kazahaya had noticed it, but he didn't want to say it out loud. He knew that there was a reason...but he was scared of knowing the reason.

This helicopter...it only has four seats. How will we make room for Tsukiko-san?

The night sky was like a black void. No moon or stars. Even with the lights off inside the helicopter it was impossible to see outside. Kazahaya knew when they left Narita because the ground beneath them became a void. It was like the world itself had disappeared, and all that was left was the four of them inside the helicopter. The closer they got to their destination, the stronger the dread grew inside him.

What's going to happen? What will happen when we get to Tsukiko-san? What will happen...when I see Kei again?

Rikuou didn't let go of his hand for the entire flight. The pressure of his warm and larger hand was comforting to Kazahaya, and it helped to kept him calmer than he would have given the situation. Any time he felt like he was descending into a panic attack he felt Rikuou squeezed his hand, and his heart calmed. It was so...strange how his mere presence had come to make Kazahaya feel at peace. It was so shocking considering that at the start of their relationship they couldn't go a day—or hour, even—without screaming or seething at each other.

Relationship? Kazahaya felt heat on his face and hid his face with his free hand. Wha...Why would I use that word? That somehow implies—

"We are nearing our destination," Kakei announced. Both Kazahaya and Rikuou jumped at his calming voice. "We're going to land beside a lake to the northwest of the village."

"How far will we be from the village?" Rikuou asked.

"Distance doesn't matter because we'll be flying there," Saiga said. "We'll arrive in minutes."

"Once we land, Saiga and I will take on our true forms," Kakei said. "Kazahaya-kun, I will carry you and Rikuou you will be carried by Saiga. We should expect to meet with opposition once we arrive, so do everything we say and do not wander off by yourselves to look for Tsukiko-san. We must all stick together for us to get out of this unscathed. Do you both understand?"

"Yes," Kazahaya and Rikuou said in unison. Rikuou though made a slight face. "Does Saiga really need to carry me?"

"Hey, I'd rather carry the boy," Saiga threw over his shoulder, gesturing to Kazahaya. "But you're bigger than Kakei so it makes more sense for Kakei to carry him."

"The people of the village," Kazahaya said. "I-I believe they're mystics—"

"Yes," Kakei confirmed. "And they believe that you're a child of Kaguya-hime. It is clear from what we gleaned from the cult members of Ship of the Moon that they intended to use both your sister and you as figureheads to take over the Japanese government—and possibly the world. Since they mentioned wanting to send you to the Moon to reclaim your "throne" there, global domination would require such an elaborate trip."

"T-They were going to send Kei and I TO THE MOON?!" Kazahaya shrieked. "That's insane! There's no castle or kingdom waiting for us! There's nothing up there, right?!"

"Do you think they care?" Rikuou asked Kazahaya. "If they're deluded enough to think that you're the son of a story tale Moon princess, they'd be deluded enough to throw you into a rocket and blast you into space."

"Yeah, it's pretty barren," Saiga sighed. "Not even a Karasu-Tengu would survive exposed to the atmosphere of the moon."

"But you said I was human!"

"Oh, you are. I was speaking generally."

"We obviously don't want that to happen to you, Kazahaya-kun," Kakei said. "So stay by our side and don't let yourself be alone with any of the cult members."

Kazahaya nodded. "I will."

"I see the lake," Saiga said, glancing out his side window. Kazahaya still couldn't see anything. "Let's get this show on the road."

Rikuou felt energy crackling around his body, and he couldn't imagine what his aura looked like. His heart was pounding but he was ready for what was to come.

I'm here, Tsukiko. I'm coming.

He heard the splash of water from the still lake, and he held onto Kazahaya's hand as Kakei and Saiga transformed right in front of them into Hisui and Kokuyo. It was surreal watching them shed their human guises to take on their natural forms, and despite Hisui not having his "angel light" he still glowed slightly, illuminating their surroundings.

But it had still been a surprise to both Rikuou and Kazahaya to see them change. I...don't think I'll get used to that, Rikuou thought.

"Let's go," Hisui beckoned them, holding out his arms. "Leave your bags here. You will not need your change of clothes right now."

The statement had an ominous ring to it despite Hisui's serene voice, and Rikuou shook it off. Don't think about it. Get to Tsukiko.

Kazahaya hurried to Hisui, who scooped him up in a bridal carry and took off flying. "Oi, wait for me!" Kokuyo called after them. He quickly motioned to Rikuou. "Let's go, kid."

Rikuou didn't like being carried bridal style either, but didn't complain when Kokuyo scooped him up in such a manner and took off flying after Hisui. It was...strange, flying in the arms of a demon. But not as strange as their surroundings seemed. The trees rustled violently underneath them and the mountains...he could only make out the outline of mountains through the darkness, but the mountain peaks seemed to be...moving.

"The land…the mountains…when I left I lost my way so many times, Rikuou. It was like the earth itself was closing around me—the land rising to block my path so that I couldn't leave."

Rikuou was starting to see what Kazahaya meant.

It was a short flight, and through the darkness Rikuou was startled to hear a bell toll. Several meters ahead he saw lights suddenly spring up, though it looked like torches had been lit. "They know we're coming," Kokuyo said grimly. "Hisui!" he called ahead.

"I know!" Hisui called behind him.

"The center of the village is that way!" Kazahaya shouted. "B-But they may be holding Tsukiko-san in the main house!"

Rikuou locked his jaw. Tsukiko...!

Kukuyo caught up to Hisui. His eyes looked down towards the village. "I can see them now," Kokuyo said. "Thirty human souls. They're mostly panicking, but they're seeking weapons and scrolls. Over half of them are elderly persons."

"Do you see Tsukiko?!" Rikuou demanded.

"Hang on," Kokuyo said. "Let's get down."

The angel and demon carried the two young men down and touched down in the center of the village. The village looked like one Rikuou had seen in all the period dramas. He was certain that they didn't have electricity.

"He's returned!" someone shouted. Suddenly there were voices all around them.

"Kudo Kazahaya!"

"The son of Kaguya-hime!"

"He's returned to us!"

"Go to the main house! We must get rid of Kei-sama before she finds out!"

Rikuou tensed when he heard Kei's name, but Kazahaya suddenly cried, "Don't hurt my sister!" and the painful sound ripped straight through Rikuou.

"Kazahaya-kun stay where you are," Hisui commanded. There were shouts behind them and Rikuou turned to see a dozen people dressed in black kimonos and wearing Noh masks, but all of them were armed with guns. Where did they get those?!

Hisui quickly chanted and swept his arms up, and a violent gust of wind swept towards the group and sent them all flying. The gust was so powerful that it destroyed the siding on some houses and knocked the shingles off a few roofs. "There will be more," he announced.

"And here they are," Kokuyo said grimly. A woman darted out the darkness screaming behind her Noh mask, and Rikuou realized she was holding an ofuda in each hand. Hisui blasted her with wind, sending her flying and her two ofuda papers flittered to the ground. "That wouldn't have worked on me anyway," Kokuyo said. "OW!" he shouted when something hit him in the back of the head.

"Kokuyo!" Hisui rushed to his side and Kazahaya caught what hit Kokuyo. Rikuou hurried over to see what it was. It was a blue Omamori. "Kokuyo, they know you're a demon," Rikuou announced.

"But this doesn't hurt me," Kazahaya said, still holding it.

"It's a kesshin," Rikuou pointed out. "That's a Buddhist Omamori, so it wouldn't hurt a Tengu. But you're human anyway so it's not going to hurt you regardless."

"Kudo Kazahaya!" someone shrieked, charging at them. "Son of—"

Rikuou gave the person a roundhouse kick. "Can we find Tsukiko now?!" he snapped.

Kokuyo straightened and looked around. He suddenly went still. "There."