Third Person

~

Shiro lays amongst the fallen rubble of the outer wall, his stomach hurting like hell where the Keeper had struck him as the world continues to fade in and out focus. He briefly considers surrendering, getting it all over with.

Deep down he knows it's not possible, if surrenders they'll take Ryo from him; he had realized in the split second he'd almost crushed the orb, he doesn't want to let go.

He can't.

He's in too deep.

A thunderous chorus of heavy footsteps rush towards him so he knows he has to act quick, he can't be caught here, not when he knows what awaits him with The Overseers. With Nightmare, he still has information to trade from his time playing this whole charade.

He'll take that chance.

***

Kira watches the Overseer scouts rush off in the direction her punch had sent the imposter flying. She has half the mind to inwardly apologize for the destruction she had just caused despite their promise to abide by the Overseers' methods more seriously.

Kuro glides swiftly to her side, "Did you get the soul orb?"

"No, he hid it away just before I hit him," she growls, disappointed, she still isn't fast enough. She had seen it though, the hesitation and grief that had come upon on the imposter's face just before he put the orb away. Something had made him pause and it wasn't her attack.

In fact, it was like she hadn't even mattered in that split second.

One of the scouts from the impact site runs towards the Council Members' seats, "Your Graces, we can't find him!"

"How?!" Tokiya's gentle voice is tinged with hints of fascination as well and irritation.

Motoichirou doesn't wait for a reply, he's pointing accusingly at Kira's team, "You three have something to do with this, don't you?!"

Troy puts a hand over Kuro's mouth before the younger boy can blow up and cause a scene that they definitely don't need right now.

Kira notes several scouts are leading the ten or so special visitors out of the Council chamber, including Troy's master and the blonde girl he had arrived with who doesn't look all too pleased. The Captains, just like Inoue, are already off their seats and dividing up their forces. It's a calmer approach than she had expected and the only sounds are the thud of boots pacing to and fro to secure the area while the air still carries the embers of quickly rising tension.

She summons Lucifer and Mammon, rounding on them with a touch of annoyance in her tone, "The something off you kept talking about? This was it, wasn't it? Why didn't you tell me more?!"

Lucifer brushes her off with a dismissive wave, willing a cigarette and silver lighter into existence from god knows where. He lights it up like someone who has all the time in the world, "We're not psychics, but it does make sense it was a Shape-shifter with the real soul close by."

"That Nightmare bastard got us," Mammon snarls, his spiral shaped green eyes light up vicious glee, "I'm going to enjoy smashing that lackey of his to a pulp."

Kira feels the same way, but more than anything she wants answers. It's been long since she's felt Hikari's emotions swirl this fiercely within her own heart, all her hairs are standing on edge, fury and heartbreak threaten to overturn her reason.

"We should be searching for him too," Troy says firmly, bringing their attention back to the matter at hand.

Mammon grunts his assent, "Yeah, can't thrash 'im if we don't know where he is."

A low rumble shakes through the earth beneath their feet as if in response to his words, growing louder and more violent by the passing second. Kira feels herself forcefully pulled just as the floor splits open right where their team had been standing. A burst of magic pushing outward as a large serpentine yokai slithers out with its wide maw, fangs on display for all to see and red slit eyes gleaming with hunger.

"That's a huge snake," she scowls, nodding at Lucifer, "Thanks for the save I guess?"

"It's the job," he replies dryly.

The creature's sharp hiss echoes through the room, its voice the same one that had derided the Overseers just a few moments before, "You might have ruined my plans but before I go I'll be sure to make a few corpses for my Master's sake!"

With shocking speed for a body that large it lunges at the raised dais where the Council Members are sat watching with emotions ranging from disregard to curiosity and, in Lady West's case, excitement.

Kira's muscles itch to jump in but she's held back by Lucifer wearing a smug grin.

"Let's see what the Overseers are capable of, we're going to be working with them after all."

Unfortunately for hjm, the Council Members don't lift a finger. At the last second, Inoue appears from across the room, silvery spell circles at ready on both hands, he holds them out and whispers a breathless almost negligible incantation Kira is only able to catch the last words of.

"...Cosmic Barrage."

A wall of minuscule lights spread out before him and the Shape-shifter rams head first into it, bursting into a cloud of smoke and grit amidst shrill, ear-splitting cries.

Kira can't keep the disbelief out of her voice, "That can't be it, right...?"

Kuro takes a piece of floating grit between his thumb and forefinger, inspecting it closely, "This kind of dust only comes from clones."

Inoue raises an inquisitive brow at him, "Are you saying he has two Abilities?"

"Nightmare sure knows how to get his hands on a nice little toys, hm?" Lady West chirps. The remark earns her several side-way glances from the Council members. She acts oblivious to it all, pushing forward with a sardonic laugh, "You're all no fun but my former pupil is obviously correct, we have to act before-"

She's cut off by the sounds of commotion from beyond the damaged wall. Kira enhances her hearing to pick out specifically the words from the scouts.

"Behind you!"

"No he's there!"

"Look out!"

There are other sounds; weapons being drawn, cries of terror followed by hisses and growls from unknown creatures beyond the Council Chamber.

"More clones...he's sent them out as a diversion..."

"He's trying to run," Motoichirou scoffs, clicking his tongue.

"Isn't the only exit spell circle for this place in this building?" Troy asks.

"It is...but there's another spell, it's more complicated but it exists," Inoue replies.

"If we don't find him in time he'll use it to leave the Sub-plane and it'll become ten times harder to find him," Motoichirou adds.

"Spread out the forces, if he doesn't surrender kill him on sight!" Yasushi spits.

"That's not happening!" Kira waves aside the order, her tone firm and unrelenting, "I...We need answers! And to do that we need to bring him back."

The oldest looking Council Member is waving his cane angrily her way, "Why you..."

"I'm not backing down on this! Team Demona will bring him back, give us thirty minutes! I'll make sure the Shape-shifter is back here."

"Bold words."

They turn to the voice, spoken in the deep bemused tenor of the Magic user in question. Or at least one of his clones that's manage to make it's way back into the Chamber.

"You're underestimating my abilities if you think I'm that easy," the clone shifts and splits, breaking off into eight more identical figures that speak at the same time in an haunting echo, "I'll be long gone so just give up and save your strength for some other day."

Kuro laughs, stretching his arms and wings as he speaks, "Compared to that Arius guy, you look like you'll be a walk in the park."

Shigeru fixes Kira with a stern look, "Keeper..."

Kira gives the older woman a thumbs up, "We'll just need some cover, we've got some amazing trackers on this team so let us work."

Tokiya claps cheerfully, "Ahhh, youth sure is a wonderful thing."

Shigeru nods her assent, "Show us what you've got, team Demona," she turns to Inoue, "Give them cover, let the other available divisions and squads know."

An echoy hiss of disapproval comes from the clones who immediately launch into action, some morphing into Yokai while the other's start on spells to hold the team back.

Inoue creates the wall of tiny lights around the dais to protect the Council Members once again before turning his attention the clones, single-handedly taking them all out with flying lights so that the team can make their way outside through the busted wall.

The courtyard beyond is a mess and even more clones are heading their way.

"Just how many of these bastards can he make?" Mammon growls, grabbing one by the face and slamming it into the ground hard enough to make a sizeable crater, "I'm getting pissed with all these small fry."

Facing Kira, Lucifer forms his staff and speaks without taking his cigarette out, "What's the plan, brat?"

She points to the wall, or more specifically one of the watchtowers by the gate, "He's probably out of here already so we can't waste any more time, once we're up there we'll get a better look at how much ground we gave to cover."

"There won't be much," Kuro adds, "If he's looking for a place with ample hiding space to open an exit spell circle, he'll definitely be heading through the forest at the foot of the mountain."

Kira mulls over it briefly before her eyes light up, a small grin making its way onto her face, "I've got something, let's get over that wall!"

Their path is immediately blocked by a large hairy creature, several feet tall with a single horn poking out of its forehead, an oni, opening its tusk-filled mouth to snap in the Shape-shifter's voice, "And where do you think you're going?!"

"Up you go boss~" Mammon grabs Kira by her cloak without warning and within seconds she's hurtling through the air with flailing limbs until she manages to create a chain which embeds its sharp end into the wall of the watchtower.

She's angrily cursing him in her head as Kuro, Troy and Lucifer make their way to join her, taking out some clones on as they do.

"Damn meathead, I need him for that tracking bit too..."

Lucifer arrives on the tail end of his staff, the other end being in the form of a hammerhead with a couple crushed clones beneath it, "He'll come, just let him play around a bit."

"We can't wait," Troy huffs, "Tell us the plan, Demona."

"Right," Kira nods, adjusting her hood as wind begins to pick up again, almost as if responding to her racing heart. Their clock is running out by the second and they need to capture the impostor first. She has questions, so many of them spinning around in her head it's almost enough to give her a headache.

His hesitation earlier, they've faced off against enough of Nightmare's people for her to know none of them would have ever made that face.

A face of pure regret.

She wants to know why, needs to.

She can feel Hikari's desire for an answer raging within her chest and she's going to get it.

"He'll be banking on the dark for cover, we need to make sure that won't happen, " she flashes a nervous smile Troy's way, "Kuro can figure the best place for them so can we count onto a couple of your Thunderstrikes?"

Troy gives her an unamused glare, "You sure know how to ask for difficult tasks out of nowhere."

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't know you could do it," she nudges him.

"Not so close, moron," He pulls further away, visibly disgusted. He spreads out his wings for take off, "Forget the thunderstikes, I've got something better."

"Really?" Kuro perks up.

"If we had to fight the Overseers, such measures are the bare minimum," the blond huffs.

Kira stares, "And here I thought you'd have left us alone," she lets a small relieved laugh escape her, "Thanks."

He tsks, taking to the skies, Don't thank me yet.

"What about the rest of us?" Lucifer asks, tugs on her ear.

"Give me a sec," Kira bats him off before continuing, "It's been a while since I've had to use the air wave tracking skill, so you'll do that while I try finding the similar Energy of more clones with Mammon's chains and Kuro will just do what he does with his feathers while directing Troy to light us a path when he finds something."

The three-horned Demon twirls his staff, smirking just a bit, "Not half bad."

Just at that moment Kira picks out the gentle mutter of Troy's voice in a spell as he comes to halt, floating above the point between the mountain and the forest. He lifts his hands above him, forming a giant spell circle just like the one he had used in the battle with Arius.

This one is several times larger and brighter, spanning acres and bathing the world in a brilliant glowing gold with the crackling lightning above his head as he finishes the spell.

"...Halo."

Kira looks at the world beneath them and just as expected, it's been lit up, almost like day time. Unfortunately, it's also caught the attention of the clones who immediately try to pull away from their battles with the scouts, taking even more monstrous forms to reach them.

"The gate!"

"Don't let them go!"

She spots a long nosed Yokai figure swooping off towards Troy's position in the sky."

"Archer!"

"Um, Demona," Kuro calls, tugging her cape to look down at the monsters and clones running towards them. A sharp thwack cuts through the ear and she follows the sound to a spiderweb holding a jurōgumo that's steadily crawling towards them.

A shiver goes down her spine, Just how many forms does this guy have? And why the damn spider-lady too?!

"Time to bounce," Kira grabs the younger boy by the scruff of his scarf as he screams jeeringly for Inoue.

"Tsukito-kun aren't you meant to be covering us~"

Lucifer takes him from her and throws him over the edge, "Let's go."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

She glances up at Troy who's somehow managed to take down the tengu that had been heading his way. "I was going to say one of us should protect him but he seems to be doing fine."

"True but we don't know how long he can keep this up, let's end things as soon as possible," he grabs her hand, "And prove our worth to those scheming bastards."

She squeezes his hand back, "Look who's talking."

They both leap down together, a tirade of monsters not far behind them as they descend. The moment he feet touch the edge of the mountain, Kira takes off running even lower, pouring as much focus as can into keeping her footing along the the rocky uneven sides. She can feel the chains spread out beneath her in their search but there's no different energy signature save for Lucifer's at her side and the hoard of clones chasing them.

Kuro's form is far ahead falling from the sky and disappearing into one of the trees as he disperses all his feathers in search.

Air pulses at her side as Lucifer takes off right beside her, launching himself with the air pressure at the side of the mountain, 'We won't find anything here,' he says in her mind, 'But there are more signatures in the forest.'

'Got it!'

The unmistakable boom of an explosion erupts behind her, followed by the enraged cries of their opponents. Kira glances back to catch the fading brilliance of Inoue's Barrage attack. He has a few other scouts with him whom he leaves to handle the rest of the impostors before dashing to her side.

"You called for backup?" He asks dryly.

"Technically that was Kuro but I don't mind."

"My squad will find your partners and provide aid...even for the Demons."

"I'm going to owe you guys big time for this, won't I?" She groans sadly, coming to a rough halt on one ledge now she doesn't have to worry about the clone chase as much.

That earns her a small smile that disappears just as quickly as it had come, "Why are we stopping?"

"There's nothing here so I'm looking for the best spot to take us."

"Hurry, an old report on our target was found in the archive, his name is Shiro Akane, his two Abilities are Ultimate Spawn for cloning, and Devouring Self for his Shape-shifting, the longer this fight draws out the more bloodthirsty he becomes," he turns to Kira, "That means it'll be harder for you to talk him down."

She flinches a bit at the underlying harshness in his tone, "Are you trying to help me?"

"He has a number of brutal murders to his name and he's a dangerous scout of Nightmare's, as far as I'm concerned there's no use talking to anyone like that..." He he sends a small ball of light flying above them to hit a clone that had been planning to ambush them, it falls past them with the remain half turning to dust and and smoke, "They're either blinded by his promises of power, or they fear him too much to ever be of use to society. There's no reasoning with them but our orders are to give you your opening until your time is up."

Kira's fists ball at her sides, he's not entirely wrong. First had been Ahlai, next had been Arius and now she's about to face another one of Nightmare's men who hated the Keepers and Overseers on a level that feels almost personal.

But this Shiro, there had to be something different about him if even Hikari's emotions were pushing for answers rather than revenge.

"I'll figure it out." The sky in front of them lights up as one of Troy's arrows paints a path to a section of the forest to the far west. 'I'm on my way there!' She informs the others before turning to Inoue, "Can you leap that far?"

He gawks at her, "No one can go that far."

A nervous chuckle escapes her lips, "Sorry 'bout this but we have to get there quick," she adds before sweeping him into her arms in a bridal carry.

"WHAT ON EARTH-"

Kira builds the pressure beneath her feet, gathering the winds under and around her before launching them in the direction the fading arrow had shown.

Inoue smartly stops struggling in her hold, hastily pulling his arms from around her neck and pointedly glaring at anywhere but her face, she can almost feel the wild pulse of his heartbeat just as well as she can hear it, "Damn Keepers, always doing whatever you want?"

"I apologized didn't I?!"

He ignores her, glancing over her shoulder, "We've got company."

A glowing fireball singes the air above her head, forcing Kira to spin around to see what they're facing since so far they're still on the right trajectory. The yokai chasing them is a large head wreathed in flames, it's mouth hung open to shoot another fireball their way.

This one doesn't look like it'll miss.

"What the hell is that?!"

"Ōkubi, I'll deal with it, just take us down safely." Inoue replies, a spell circle forms between them and the monster just as the fireball is hurled. The spell circle absorbs it, multiplying around the the monster before releasing a torrent of shimmering orange tinted lights.

Kira lands, skidding slightly as she takes in the light show above, "Woah!"

Inoue hurriedly gets out of her hold, dusting his clothes, "It's nothing impressive, let's get moving."

Kira kneels on the ground, placing her hand to the dirt to send the chains to work, "Right!" A cloud of steam follows her words, her confusion quickly giving way to understanding as she suddenly begins to feel the drop in temperature around them.

The Second division Captain swears at her side as a tall figure draped in snow and frost appears in front of them blocking the way forward her chains had shown her. "I take it we're on the right path?"

Kira nods, standing.

Ice is slowly beginning to coat everything round them and more clones appear taking the shape of the Yokai that had found them first. The Yuki Onna, a Yokai closely associated with snowstorms.

The Keeper glares into it's empty pitch black eyes beneath the frosted hood, it's all Kira can do to keep her voice even as the unforgiving cold sinks into her bones and frost forms along her costume, "Shiro! I don't know what Nightmare's promised you but I know it's not worth us fighting over, if you come with me I'll talk to Overseers, we'll work something out, all we want...all I want is the truth."

The silence stretches for a long tense moment and Kira can feel the stiffness digging into her limbs but since they're this close she doesn't want things to escalate unless it's unavoidable.

The clone finally replies, as if it had been waiting and it confirms an assumption she had been harboring about the Shape-shifter being able to acquire information through his clones.

"I don't need another person pretending to help me."

Before she can fully absorb his words an arrow of ice forms mid air, soaring towards her. She evades by sliding to the side, chains burst from the ground, wrapping around the Yokai and crushing it. She doesn't feel the usual pulse of power rushing into her so she figures she'll need to get her hands on the real Shiro to use the temporary weakening effect of Mammon's Ability.

"I don't know what you mean but I'm not going to stop," icicles begin sprouting from the ground at terrifying speed, she slips past each one pushing forward only for another clone to block her path.

"Between the two of us I'm the one who really doesn't have a choice so whether you like it or not, I'm dragging your ass back and we'll work something out, because I know..." She flips into the air, kicking it into a cluster of trees, "You're not like the rest of them!"

***

Shiro stumbles, another flash of intense pain ripping his nerves to shreds as more and more of his clones lose to the onslaught. He's managed to get away but at the cost of his strength dwindling away even faster.

He's not sure for how much longer he can keep it up but he knows that the moment he stops, they'll be right on top him.

It doesn't help he's still disoriented from Lady West's ability, how a part of him still clings to that mirage of a life they could've had if only Ryoichi had chosen him.

A life where the voices don't sing over again that everything is all his fault.

A life where a part of him doesn't agree with them.

Glass reality had shown him all of his desires, along with the truths he had run so far from. There was no stopping Nightmare, and he had wanted to believe so badly running was the only other option.

Running from magic; hiding from the pain, hurt and pleasure it had brought him.

Bile and blood fill his throat and he falls to the ground as the Keeper damages another one of his clones with the intention to kill, his bloodlust responds to it in turn.

She's getting closer.

And so are the others.

Hunger sets his nerves alight with every step, it comes so easily. A reminder that there's no escape from what he's become. A violent monster weak to selfish hunger, afraid of pain and death, worth only being used.

A monster begotten from some being far worse.

A being he couldn't run from even though he had tried to use Ryoichi too, looked to him as a means to achieve the impossible; a path other than fighting.

He finds an alcove of trees that provide shelter from the angel's golden light, an unforeseen wrench in his escape attempt. But even still, he's going back, there's no room for him here among the self righteousness of those that have no idea what Nightmare has in store. He settles into the cramped space willing his heart to calm it's erratic beat as he begins digging through his clothes for the special black talisman given to him by Nightmare, it's magic power far exceeding the usual ones and granting him a higher chance of his spell working.

It takes several precious seconds but his finds it, hurriedly pulling it out along side Ryoichi's soul orb which falls to the ground with a soft thud, rolling across the the grass and stopping just at the entrance to his hiding place- beyond the shadows and beneath the moonlight, as if begging him for a final time. He reaches out to it, eyes misting over slightly. He can almost see it, Ryoichi in front of him, white robes and all, hand held out.

'The way down definitely isn't pleasant, take my word for it, and my hand maybe,'

His own unconsciously reaches out in return, passing the mist of Ryoichi's form to rest on the orb. Smooth but warm with familiar energy.

The talisman crinkles in his other fist, his only way back to the world where someone like him belongs.

Not for the first time, his will wavers, his mind his racing with panic and bloodlust as Nightmare's seal thrums in painful reminder that there is no other path.

The air shifts with, the light above where he'd peeked out is eclipsed all too quickly and he barely has enough time to duck out of the the alcove before a form comes barreling down.

A large broad sword plunges into the earth, the force of its descent enough to shake the soil loose and send trees flying. Before he can find new cover a presence dives in from behind and he turns, crossing his forearms over his face to block the Keeper's punch.

The pain flares up his forearms, rattling his bones, and he leaps back to put as much distance between them as possible.

He can still the presence of the other person, an Overseer lackey, hiding in the shadows.

Kira let's out a tired sigh, "I really hoped you wouldn't block that."

He scoffs, "So you and your cowardly friend in the shadows can capture me?"

Inoue strides out into the open with measured steps, "Isn't that a bit ironic coming from the guy with a Cloning Ability?"

Shiro's gaze shifts from one to the other on either side of him. In peak condition, fending both of them off to find an opening wouldn't be much trouble. The Keeper was a bit below mid level at best and the Overseer Captain was the one to truly be worried about. Right now though, he was running fumes while still trying to keep others from reaching this area.

"Now, now, Inoue-san, remember we're not here to fight, or judge," Kira tries in what she can only hope is a soothing tone. She and the guys had decided it was best not to use and voice disguising spells tonight but a part of her wonders if that would have been a better option to letting her emotions affect her tone as much as they do usually.

"You're not here to fight, once your time is up I won't hold back in taking him as Overseer property," he points his weapon at the shape-shifter, "Shiro Akane, for the lives you taken and your plot to deceive the council, I will be taking you into custody."

"Time out, I haven't said anything yet!" Kira shrieks with wild gestures.

Shiro unsheathes his knives, four in each hand glinting menacingly between his fingers, "You should listen to your friend Demona, I don't plan on coming along peacefully, or at all. In fact let's all forget this night happened and we all go home."

Kira's shoulders slump, "I'd love to, but I can't leave, not yet, not until we work something out." she forms her scythe just as chains split the earth open, lunging straight for Shiro's spot, "There's no way I can give up now."

Shiro smirks, the heady rush of battle comes instantly and he summons five new clones which dash for the Keeper but Inoue is there to intercept them, sending flying lights after the ones he can't get too immediately. With his knives Shiro fends off the chains, swinging his blade in time just in time to catch the edge of the Keeper's scythe as she bursts through the dust clouds.

Kira doesn't waste time, vanishing the weapon in favour of a swift kick to the midsection to send him flying. Shiro rolls a few times, finding his footing in time to dodge a Barrage attack from Inoue and spawning more clones which take the shape of more monsters and yokai from arsenal.

Kira finds him easily enough, charging at him and focusing all her attacks at him even when he changes shape. Her blows are relentlessly quick for the power they lack, and worse of all she doesn't talking.

"Send all the Clones and monsters you want Shiro's, I not stopping until you give in."

Shiro shifts into a tengu, taking to the skies but she creates a chain between them, it pierces through his wings, dragging him down to crash into the cracked earth. Blood spurts from his lips and his body morphs between forms as he struggles for concentration. He let's his bloodlust take the lead with each passing second as they trade swipe for swipe, one hit for another.

He rips off his mask, his usually dull red eyes blazing with fury at her insistence, "Guess I'll just have to add you the list, finish off the last trace of his previous sensei once and for all like I was meant to!" he lets dark pained laugh that echoes through the clearing and dashes straight for her.

Kira meets him head on, her own emotions spurring her on, she's not feeling Hikari right now and she's glad for that. She wants to use her own words to reach him not as just Keeper but as someone with guilts and fears of their own, "You didn't kill Hikari. Nightmare-"

He catches her off guard, shifting into his serpentine Uwabami form and warping her tightly into his coils. He opens his jaw in a furious hiss just before he slams her into the hard trunk of a tall tree, "Shut up, shut up, shut up!" He looks over her, "You don't know anything, you and him, you both go on and on but you don't know-how bad things are!" he pushes down harder, the feeling of her body being crushed bringing ecstasy to his twisted reason, "Just how terrible people can be..." he whispers.

Shiro can hear the Overseer Captain's distant call for her but there are enough clones between the three of them.

"I'm not pretending to know everything," there's a faint crack as the tree trunk tries to hold up, a cough as and harsh pants as Kira strains her muscles into fighting back against the strength of Shiro's tail, "You can't hide it well, not at this stage; you're in pain, you feel remorse and it's clear you don't want to do this," another splintering crack rends the air but she doesn't pay it mind, her hands find purchase along his scales and she manages to push back enough to alleviate the pressure, "But you're afraid aren't you Shiro? You're scared of what he can do and guess what?! So am I but we can't let that fear make us worse than we are!" With a grunt, she summons the wind, no longer holding back.

The air swirls thick forceful gusts, sweeping Shiro back and giving Kira the boost she needs to get a punch in. Shiro skids along the ground, shrinking in size and panting as he struggles to maintain a standing position against the gale and the glare he has trained on Kira.

"How am I supposed to believe you're afraid when you're fighting so hard to keep me here, to good against him?!" New knives appear in his hand and he has the talisman ready in his pocket, he's kept the spell going in his head and that'll just have to do for now. He no longer cares for the outcome of what will happen should it not be done correctly.

"That's because right now I'm not fighting Nightmare, I'm fighting to save you and if-no, when we go back to the Council we'll work together to stop him. We know his plan, we know there's a way to stop it, all we need right now is you..." she takes a tense tentative step forward, the winds dissipate leaving the clearing deathly still and Kira can feel the thump of her heart as she tries not to stumble over her words, "You can't bring back the lives you've taken, you can't undo the pain or wipe away the mistakes you've made in Nightmare's name...but you can start to atone, you can be the person Ryoichi knew you could be."

Something snaps finally inside him, the overpowering voices and memories of lives overlapping, swimming in and out of each other as he's starting to lose himself. But even if he loses that, he can't lose Ryoichi, "HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT RYO WOULD HAVE WANTED?!"

Kira's heart breaks a little at that, at the broken mess of his voice and the way he calls Ryoichi's name, it's painfully familiar. A memory of someone she's managed to put out of her mind for months rares it's ugly head but she shoves it down, reminding herself she'll never have to deal with them any longer.

Right now, she has to convince Shiro, her thought linger on the question and a gentle breeze sweeps between them when she finally finds her answer. Hikari's emotions are pulsing once again, guiding her, "Because I know Hikari, and I have an idea of the kind of person she'd keep as her student, someone... who wants to save everyone."

'I want to impress someone who loves saving others so it's only right I save others too.'

Ah, Shiro's knives clatter to the ground, the world blurs into iridescent shades of blue, green and the gold of the angel's halo above them. He doesn't know why it takes him several long seconds to realize he's crying as he falls to his knees. Every step the Keeper takes towards him takes back to the night it fell apart.

He knows she's not Ryoichi but just just like his former friend, she wouldn't kill him either.

There's a rustle off to the side and Kira stops about three feet away, looking to see Inoue watching them, the startled look on his face melting away before he gives a stern nodded for her to continue.

"It's okay to realize you're afraid, to know you're not strong enough to face somethings alone," her mind goes back to the glass reality trap, to every instance she's need Kuro, Troy or Demons to bail her out...to her friends, to Ares.

To everyone.

It's as much a choice as it is luck, to allow help, to get it, "Sometimes, the one you want won't be the one to reach out," she takes another step, closing the distance even more and crouching down so they're somewhat level and Shiro's blank gaze can meet her eyes, "So let me be the next person, make the choice you want and I'll see it through with you in Ryoichi's place. Let's end this chain of suffering and once Nightmare's gone, let's be free."

"I don't think I can ever be free...not without Ryo...all I can be is a monster."

"Right now, I don't see a monster so let's take things one step at a time, that's what Ryo would want." Kira holds out her hand to him, "So, will you join us, team Demona that is?"

Fresh tears begin streaming down Shiro's face, he wonders if Ryo would have looked at him the same way with out his mask. Deep down he knows the answer.

He barks out a dry wet laugh, lifting his hand, "I don't want to die, Keeper."

Kira smirks, "Same here."

He's about to give her his hand to let her pull him up when all too suddenly the ground begins to tremble; steadily building up in intensity until they're all struggling for footing as cracks form here and there.

"Keeper?!" Inoue screams.

"Not me! I swear."

"Same here!" Shiro grunts.

The ground between them splits, his sinking lower and Kira dives after him, their fingertips brushing just as thick thorny vines take up to the widening space between them, lashing about the forest and striking at anything within reach. She sees the look of despair on Shiro's face just before a vine latches onto his leg, dragging him off into the trees.

He knows who's doing this.

He's afraid.

'I don't want to die, Keeper.'

She picks herself up, dashing after him, dodging and cutting up aggressive foliage in her wake as she curses over and over in her head. Pressure spills outward, a Demonic presence that's more than just Aura.

There's a Demon here, one that wasn't invited. One strong enough to sneak through whatever enchantments the Overseers had been bragging about.

She can hear Inoue calling out to her not to be stupid but she pushes forward.

A green light erupts and she sees a familiar portal appear, a bit different from the kind Kuro makes but that's only because it's larger, far larger like its trying to show them just how far outmatched they are.

"Shiro!" she spots him, a knife stuck into the ground while he tries to hack at the vine around his ankle with another but more just keep emerging form the portal, wrapping around him and dragging him deeper, "I'm coming!"

Vines erupt at her words, blocking her path, and if that wasn't enough, the forest darkens significantly and she spins on her heels in time to see Troy falling out of the sky.

Shit, shit, shit, SHIT! 'Guys, who's closest to Troy?!' she calls out slashing at vines.

'I got him!' Mammon's voice comes in immediately.

'Brat get away from that crazy energy right now!' Lucifer barks into her mind.

Not yet. She finally in Shiro's range, one of his arms now bound but the other stretched out, scratching along the ground for purchase, she activates her speed, pushing forward but there's a emotion that passes across his face the shakes her also.

Resignation.

Something far brighter than the portal appears in his hand.

No.

He gives her a sad smile, before tossing it into the air with his magic. Kira's eyes follow it with dismay. Souls within the soul orb are forever trapped between life and death, eternal purgatory and agony unless certain rites are performed. Should the orb break, those souls would cease to exist and never find rest.

She catches the last words that leave his lips just as she leaps for the orb and the portal closes.

She falls to the ground in front of the spot, punching the earth as tears of frustration prick at her eyes. The orb sways slightly with the vibrations, dimmed as if grieving as well.

'Vermillion...' Troy's raspy voice breaks through the haze of her agitation, '...they...can't find Kuro...'

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