Mood: Tired and... Weird...
Music: Passion ~opening theme~ --- Hikaru Utada

Rae: Well, look who it is. Yup, I’m back with the next part. ^^

Though I’m not very happy with it. At all. -_- You see, I had originally planned to have a lot more happen in this part, but... It simply got too long. I had to split it. I’m not very happy with where I had to cut it off though. *sigh* It just kind of... Ends with not a whole lot happening and all... This part is like, about ninety pages here. Plus I already have about fifty pages of the next part already written, so hopefully I’ll have the next part finished soon, neh?

Still not happy with where I split this...

It got so long and...

Dude. Nothing freaking happens. x_x;;;;;

I think it’s because there’s more introspective getting into people’s thoughts blah blah blah and all... But it’s lame. I’m lame. Lalalala.

I believe I really am going to buy a domain this month. (I know I keep saying that, but I really mean it this time.) Which means... I’ve been thinking. You know, this diary has been fun, but now that I’ve started writing this story in 3rd person, it’s kind of a hassle trying to split it up and all that. I’m thinking about just having a whole sub-domain devoted entirely to my muses and their story.

I’m going to rewrite previous entries that are not in 3rd person, and I’m gonna write a beginning and stuff. Like how I met them, etc. Because, you know, they started out as random insanity characters I just joked around with, but they’ve changed and developed so much. (You go far enough back and everyone is all weird and really scary. Like Kitsune the crazed evil yami for example... Dude. I was rereading through some old entries randomly and was quite terrified. It was all... SO OOC and weird...XD) They’ve grown to be extremely dear to me, and I love ‘em with all my heart. So yeah. I think I might be moving out of this diary pretty soon, and into an actual website. I’ll still post here with update news and stuff though. ^^

So, I’m fairly excited about that. It’s going to be a lot of work, but I enjoy it so much, so yeah. XD Oh, and I can make a layout for the muse site using pics from SC3. ^^ (My PSP skills have improved, so I think I can handle it. My html coding skillz still suck, but I manage.)

Anyway. Heh, speaking of layouts, I changed the layout again. Like it? It’s all purple-pinkish and yes that is Gackt-sama sleeping there all adorable like. Awwww. Kawaii desu, neh?

Well. Anyway. Let’s get this over with. T3h angsty weirdness commences now...

Note: There is a lot of telepathy and flashbackness going on in this... I hope it doesn't get too confusing... And yes Jiro. It's t3h angst. *sticks tongue out at Jiro* Yes, angst pwns my soul. Get over it. XD It's not going to stay angsty forever... Or. Is it? *cue evil laughter* ^_~ (I did throw in something after the entry though... That's... Hm...Heheh...)
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~ Monster~
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--Don’t go near him... He’s not normal.--

--Get away from me, monster.--

Voices floated through his mind, bleeding together, forming a deafening unison of cries and mutterings. Pained cries of agony mixed in with resentful whispers and deafening screams...

Please... Stop...

To no avail, it only continued, louder and louder, images of faces from the past, of cities no longer present, of people no longer among the living.... Death and decay, blood and tears. Too many voices crying out, mixing together. Too many images, flashing so fast, dizzying, like a merry-go-round careening out of control. Sickeningly fast...

Please... Make it stop...

--You see that boy? He isn’t normal. I’ve heard rumors...--

Pain...

Ravaging, tearing... His pain... Yet others... Too many...

Stop...

His chest on fire... Fire and ice running through his veins... His head... Filled with so many voices and memories. With no beginning or end, the voices calling, screaming. Whispering... Too... Too many...

Stop...

--I heard he’s even responsible for his own parents’ deaths. Such a small child, yet already so evil. He’s heartless.--

Blood... The taste and smell of blood filling his senses, the tempting darkness stretching out before him... If... It would make it stop... Please... Just stop...

“...Druu... Can you hear me? Open your eyes for me, Druu...”

I... I can’t...

It hurt... So very much...

A bitter symphony of agonizingly loud voices, whispers and screams... Somewhere in between consciousness and the world of dreams he drifted in the shrieks and whispers, the pain and blood...

Fire running, coursing through him... His head...

--You’re nothing but a traitor! You have your little minions fooled maybe, but not me, you disgusting monster.--

It... He was so very cold. So... So very tired.

Too many years... Too many...

If it would just stop... Just for a moment... Just...

Yet it never stopped, did it? The burning, the blood, the pain...

Stop...

--I-I don’t...Don’t want to die, Druuvbin...--

--You let her die! You let her die! You fucking knew, you bastard!--

I’m sorry... So sorry... Stop... Please stop...

Too many screams and too many flashes of faces and... Blood and death... Pain and suffering... It hurts...

--They were right about you... You really are a monster.—

--I never denied it, Veenom.--

It.... Hurts...

“Druu...—an you hear me?...—ruu...Breathe...Come on Druu...”

Voices... Bleeding together to form an eerie choir of disorientating screams... Whispers... I can’t...

--Na vetein, vetein! Gareh? Gareh? Beinea!--

If...

That darkness... Seemed so very inviting... So warm and... Would the pain finally stop? The voices and the blood? The pain eating away inside, the tormented voices and faces from the past? If he... The shadows were so very inviting... That warm darkness stretching out before him, encircling him... ...It hurts...

But.... I can’t...Leave them...

He didn’t... Didn’t want to leave those few people who had ever... Cared. In so many years, thousands of years... Countless... Too many faces and... No one had ever cared before. Not really. Until...

Yet... In the end, I’m nothing... Nothing more than a burden. Maybe... Perhaps it would be best... the thought slowly drifted through his mind as the voices grew ever louder, crushing and oppressing, a black wave of rolling anguish. All encompassing and dark.

--Why do you continue to live? Why can’t you just hurry up and die?--

A good question actually. Why should a monster continue to live when so many others fell so long before? So many years...

Why... Do they wish for me to... Live? He still wasn’t quite sure. Why would... Why would they care for...

--Get that monster away from me! I don’t care if it is a child. It’s a monster. It’s nothing more than a soulless monster.--

I’m so...So cold. Despite the fire burning away his lungs... His body... Felt of ice... Please stop...

Somewhere distant, beyond his reach... Someone had hold of him, a firm, caring grip... Streaming with energy and worry... However, he could not quite place it, could not pull himself out of the voices and images. It was simply too thick. Drowning in that pool of blood and voices. Stop...

“...Druu... Just hang on...” a distant soothing voice drifting through the fog of words and images. Kopaka? Yes... So far away... “Just hang on...”

Why?...Why do you... He didn’t understand.

Druu? A voice louder than the rest... Floating, echoing in his mind... A young voice with a fragile, broken tone. Druu? Please don’t die.

Why... Does it really matter?

It does matter. Because we love you, Druu. All of us... soft and sad, yet echoing, reverberating in the dim abyss of voices and memories...

...Why?

Why do we love you? Why wouldn’t we? Druu... Druu... Your color is fading... Please don’t fade... Please? Pleading... Soft...

...Kouji? That voice... Was it simply another hallucination in the sea of phantasms and specters, another delusion of his fragmented mind? Kouji? Is... That you?

Yes... I, um... You’re slipping away, Druu... I’m so sorry I didn’t remember...

You... Are a sweet boy, Kouji... You have nothing to apologize for... It was so very hard to concentrate, so very hard to piece together his thoughts, to make any sense of the words and feelings. Yet he tried to focus, focus on that young voice... Was the voice even real? Just another illusion? Too many voices echoing, screaming...

Don’t go... Please? You’ll make everyone sad... You’ll make me sad, Druu... A pleading tone in that voice, floating through his mind, so very sad... Please stay...

I... His hold on lucid thought was quickly slipping, the voices threatening to over-run him, the pain and blood... He couldn’t breathe... I...I’m trying Kouji... he forced the thought from his jumbled spiraling mind, focusing on the voice of the young boy. Pain... Too many voices.

Don’t die... Please? Please don’t...

Calm down Kouji... I...I’m not dead yet, neh? he thought, his words drifting through the memories, through the images of blood and death...

No... Not yet.

Hm. Well that doesn’t sound good, he replied through the fog, a bit of amusement tinting his tone despite the overwhelming pain... He tried to focus on the boy, but... The searing... Too much...

I’m holding your hand... Can you feel me? I think I connected our minds somehow. It hurts in your mind, Druu. Your... Your colors are bleeding and fading in the voices... the boy’s voice was fading amongst the countless others... ...Druu?

He couldn’t feel the boy’s hand... Couldn’t feel.... Anything other than the fire and ice. Kouji... Had connected to his mind? His powers... Really were quite impressive. You... Shouldn’t come into my thoughts, Kouji-chan. I don’t want to hurt you with my own darkness... he stated softly through the chaotic bloody mist, his own mental voice quickly drowned out by the tempest of words bombarding him... Voices...

Druu! I don’t care about that! I-- the boy’s words cut off, fading into the dark abyss of fragmented sounds and images. Too many...

--Die. Just hurry up and die.--

--You knew!--

--Na vetein, vetein! Gareh? Gareh? Beinea!--

--It hurts! Help me? Please, someone?—

--My baby!—

--Na vetein, vetein! Gareh? Gareh? Beinea!--

--Daddy’s dead...--

--The city is gone... it’s gone...--

--Why? Why would anyone do this?--

--Damn those humans!--

--Na vetein, vetein! Gareh? Gareh? Beinea!--

--Those demons took everything away from us... Why?--

--War is looming...--

--What about my daughter? Is she.... No. No! That can’t be--

--The city was destroyed. No survivors...--

--Why did you live?—

--There’s too much blood—

--It hurts, Druu...It....—

--No. Don’t die...—

--You... You really are a monster.—

--A monster? Yes. I am.—

--Why won’t you just die?—

--I’m so sorry. I should have come sooner... I’m so very sorry...I didn’t see it until... It was too late...—

--It hurts—

--...I...He's dead, Druu... I killed him... I-I fucking killed him...Stupid f-fucking...Human...—

--Die!—

--I... Am I really a monster?--

--It’s okay to cry. Just let it out... It’s not your fault... It’s not your fault.—

--No! No! Stop! Please?!—

--Help me! Someone...--

--They know what he really is.--

--Na vetein, vetein! Gareh? Gareh? Beinea!--

Druu?! Don’t listen! Don’t listen to—ruu?---lease...stay...

Please...Stop... What little hold he had left on lucidity quickly slipped away and he drifted, falling back into that unending chasm of memories and faces, voices and tears...

No! –Druu----...No...

--Don’t go near him... He’s dangerous...—

--Druu...You traitor...—

-- That’s fine. Fine Druuvbin. Die. Because you know what? I really couldn’t care less.—

Too many faces and too many... So much... His head and... Fire and ice... I’m sorry... He slipped further and further, falling ever closer to that dark shadow... A soothingly quiet darkness... Make it stop...

--It would most certainly make things far easier with you gone.—

Please...

--Oh and you can take care of yourself you say? That’s a joke. You’re a burden and you know it. Fool.—

Please... Please stop....

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Don’t...” Kouji whispered softly, tears slipping from his ice colored eyes. The boy lowered his head, his pale blue-white lips quivering, his shoulders slumping. “Don’t go...”

Kopaka forced his weary eyes open, focusing on the icy half demon with concern. “Kouji? What is it?” he questioned softly, watching the boy’s shoulders shake. “Kouji?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong?” Jiro inquired, moving to sit next to the boy, awkwardly placing a lean hand on those thin shaking shoulders. “What’s wrong?”

“I... I can’t hear him anymore. For a minute... I could hear him, but the voices are too loud now... I can’t hear him anymore... I’m sorry,” Kouji mumbled quietly, clutching the psychic’s unmoving limp hand in his own. “I’m sorry.”

“Kouji-chan... Don’t cry... It... Um... It’s all going to be okay,” Yuki stated softly, his grey teary eyes focusing on the boy, his voice low and reassuring. “Don’t cry.”

Kopaka closed his eyes, a small sigh escaping his lips. Not cool... The wind elemental was... Even with that warm energy radiating from Yuki... ...I’m starting to... Get...

The world was spinning, his eyes blurry and... Whoa. So dizzying. “It’s okay Kouji. Don’t cry.” What had the boy seen? Had he really been able to get through to Druu? What’s even going on in that head of yours, Druu? Kopaka didn’t really want to think about it... Druu. Man...

“It’s so... It’s so... There’s too many,” Kouji whispered, his eyes closing, his lips trembling. “Too many.”

“Too many?” Jiro prompted softly, watching the boy with apprehension in his steel-blue eyes. “Too many what, Kouji?”

“I... I don’t know,” the young half human whispered, his voice tinted with dejection, with confusion. Kopaka really hated the defeated tone in the kid’s voice. Poor guy... If he wasn’t straining so hard to keep the psychic in his arms breathing, to keep that weak heart beating... Forcing Yuki’s energy into that limp, cool body... He’d give the boy a hug or something. However... Yeah. Little busy right now. “It’s okay Kouji. Really. Just try to keep it together, okay?” he replied softly, once again opening his blurred eyes, casting a reassuring smile to the boy. “It’s okay.”

“No. It’s not. You’re losing him and you know it.”

“Kouji-chan...” Yuki whispered, his soft voice wavering.

Kopaka turned his gaze up to the silver haired man, sharing a glance with the ‘spirit’. This... This really sucks. Kopaka and Yuki both knew their power was slowly slipping, that much was communicated with just a simple glance. An uneasy expression flittering through their eyes... Kouji’s right and we both know it. Man. Malba or Kitsune... One of you better show up. Like fast. Otherwise... Druuvbin needed those medicines. Or at least Kitsune. She’s a lot stronger than me and Yuki combined. She could keep him stable a lot better than what we can...

The wind elemental closed his eyes, biting his lip to focus, to keep hold... Damn it... --..Just..-Ngh-Focus...

“Come on Druu. Just hang in there.”

Come on guys... Hurry...

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“Get the fuck out of my way!” Kitsune snapped icily, slamming a slow moving man out of her path, watching with indifference as the large balding human fell from the force of her shove. Without a second glance she continued on, her fists clenched tightly by her sides.

Teaja of all fucking places... The icy haired woman let out a small growl, shoving her way through the crowded metropolis sidewalks, brimming with so many people. Demons, humans, elementals, half-breeds... “Move!”

I’m a fool... she thought not for the first time as she continued her quick pace, an angry expression in her ice colored eyes. Frankly the thought had passed through her mind several times within the last few minutes, since... Since the fairy called, informing her... Fool.

Actually, it probably wasn’t exactly the best idea to be walking freely about in the open in such a busy area of the Main Teaja District. After all, the woman wasn’t exactly a welcomed guest of the Teajan government. Especially since the demon had actually just killed one of their high ranking military police officials only a few minutes before the call from Malba...

The kill had been a pathetically easy task. A fumbling, foolish man, too busy with his own 'secret' sex-slave ring and illegal arms operations to care for his actual position. It was no secret that the man had been a crooked deviant, yet as usual... The Teajan government carefully averted their eyes.

Kitsune had always despised Teaja’s hypocritical, vile government, and when the job offer came in... To take out that disgusting bastard... She hadn’t been able to resist. A simple, enjoyable task, to stab the man directly in his black heart, watching his face as he realized his inevitable death was now upon him... Perhaps it made her evil to think such things, but honestly... She didn’t give a damn.

The woman had seen far too many things in her long years, killed far too many people, seen far too many killed. Death was an every day aspect of her life. Death... Was her business. To feel guilt or compassion for a cold, repulsive bastard such as that fool? No. She’d save her guilt for the ones who actually deserved her feelings of regret. Guilt... I have plenty of things to feel justifiable guilt for.

Such as the little girl from so many years before, discovering her dead father’s body at her own birthday party... Kitsune quickly shoved the memory from the past away, that wide eyed, innocent child...

I shouldn’t have left. I should have just stayed... I knew he wasn’t well... Yet... I didn’t think... Fool, she thought, tapping her foot impatiently as she approached a busy intersection, waiting with irritation for the traffic to stop. A dirty city, full of metal buildings and filthy streets... Too many people and thickly polluted foul air...

The walk signal finally lit up and the woman let out a sigh, quickly moving with the crowd to cross the intersection. This is taking too long. The thought had occurred to steal a car, yet judging by the ridiculous amount of traffic... It undoubtedly would prove to be just as slow as walking. If not more so. I have to get out of this damn city.

As the icy haired woman continued her hurried pace, her thoughts slipped back to earlier... To the discussion... No. The angry harsh words she had snapped at the ill psychic. I... I shouldn’t have... The woman bit her lip, her hands twitching by her sides.

Guilt? Yes... That was it. More guilt... The oppressing feeling that had slowly enveloped her as she spoke with Malba mere minutes before, a cold wave of emotion...

--“Jump to the other world. Now. As in right now.”—
--“What? Why? What happened?”—
--“Druu...”—

Her frown deepened, another cold wave of guilt washing upon her. It wasn’t something the woman could easily identify, trying to sort through the feelings, the.... It was difficult, painful even. Feeling emotions. After all, she had been taught long ago by her father... --"Showing emotion is the ultimate sign of weakness, Kitsune. The blood fox has no need for emotion. You have no real heart, always remember that. You have ice in your heart, nothing else. Only ice, my blood fox."-- A heart of ice? Whether that was really true... She didn’t know. Yet the idea had been ingrained into her at a young age. Ingrained by her father and by years of schooling to train the best assassins, the best warriors, elite ruthless soldiers... Trained to be the cold hearted bitch that I am... Yes. I suppose I do have a heart of ice. So.. why does it hurt? Why... Do I care?

Feelings? Emotions? It wasn’t easy for Kitsune to acknowledge, to properly express her feelings, to sort through her own suppressed, fucked up emotions. Thanks again, Father. Stupid bastard. She knew she had... Issues. For so long she had shown her emotions only through anger or violence, through blood and death. An indifferent mask of death and blood, hiding away the painful sensations buried within her ice-cold heart... So now... It was hard. Hard to properly show emotion and...

Damn it, Druuvbin.

The icy demon glanced about the crowded streets, her keen eyesight quickly spotting a street sign directing to the nearest train station. That’s blocks away... Wonderful. With another irritated growl she pressed on, quickening her pace. I really wish I had brought my katana, she thought halfheartedly, eyeing the annoying swarm of people surrounding her with a cold expression on her pale face. They’d move out of the way if I cut their legs off...

...Though somehow the demon had figured bringing a katana into the bustling modern city of Teaja would have drawn just a bit of attention... The small sharp knife in her black jean pocket had served its purpose however. I still like my sword...

Malba constantly mocked Kitsune on her habit of keeping a katana when smaller weapons could be concealed with such ease. Perhaps it was her old age, but somehow nothing seemed better to her than that old, well used blade... Not that she hadn’t been efficiently trained to use modern weapons of course. It... Well... I just like my sword, damn it. Though really if need be, she could just use magick. However... The katana was by far her favorite.

Damn it. She needed to hurry. Too much time had already passed... I... I shouldn’t have said... Another wave of... Guilt swept over her and she frowned, her clenched hands gripping even tighter, her sharp nails digging into her palms. Why... Why do I yell at him? Why... She... Kitsune couldn’t admit it to the man but... I... I worry about him... So much.

True, Druuvbin was that ever-smiling, pleasant faced picture of calmness, yet... Yet, the mask didn’t fool her. Not one bit. Kitsune was quite an expert on masks after all. She had worn her own mask for... Hundreds... Thousands of years. Despite that pleasant smile and carefree behavior... He’s by far the most damaged of us all. Which... Is pretty fucking sad. Not only was the man so physically ill, but his... His mental state...

Fool... The ice-fox hybrid demon let out an agitated sigh, focusing her attention on her surroundings. She really should be more on guard. After all, I am a 'wanted fugitive'. A murderer and a ‘terrorist’, among other things. The last thing the demon needed was a run in with the Teaja military police.

Only a few more minutes and I’ll be at the station. After that, I’ll get a train to Ganea. Which... Is still going to take over an hour. Damn it. Once in Ganea there’s the checkpoint to clear... Though I have no ID so I’ll probably have to kill all of the guards and... I suppose I could try to teleport out of the city, but... It would take a lot of energy, and if someone were to trace my magick... Damn it.

It was too much time... Too much time, too long...

I wish I could just go through the Tainel District again, yet... The woman had entered the Main Teaja District by the less guarded Tainel District, which though much easier to bypass security... At this time of day, it would be far too crowded. If she were to attempt to exit through Tainel... It could take hours. It has to be through Ganea. Right now that’s the quickest way out of Teaja. Yet regardless it was too much time wasted... Too much...

Kitsune bit the inside of her lower lip, digging her sharp nails deeper into her sword-calloused hands. A masochistic action, guilt still swiftly washing upon her... The woman almost drowning in that thick emotion.

The psychic’s self destructive streak, his self loathing... It bothered her. The fact that he actually... He believes the lies. The lies that those repulsive fools have forced upon him all of his life. As old as she was, the man was so very much older. To live for so many years with no one, with nothing... Kitsune couldn’t imagine the painful, lonely existence he had endured. It... Irritated her. Greatly.

Why? Why had such a horrid existence been forced on the psychic? Why him of all people? It didn’t seem fair. Yes, but what in this fucked up world is fair? Nothing.

When she had first met the elemental, so many years earlier... He had already developed that oppressive illness, already emanated that pained fragile aura about him. Despite his great strength, which far surpassed even her own... He seemed so very frail. Physically and emotionally fragile, so very weary and breakable. The strongest of all of them, yet at the same time... The weakest. A playful innocent smile and a mischievous carefree attitude, hiding that self loathing, weary soul... And what do I do? Yell at him. Make it even worse.

The lean icy haired woman further quickened her pace, her clenched hands shaking, her palms oozing blood. Noting her bleeding palms she only dug her nails in deeper, her eyes angry, agitated.

Druuvbin... Had a way of knowing what to say. When not teasing or being a mischievous ass, he... Seemed to just know. Know when you were hurting or know when you just... Needed someone to talk to. How many times had the water elemental randomly dropped in at Kitsune’s apartment, when her memories were washing over her, the darkness and weariness of all the years of... Druuvbin would show up with that carefree smile and purposefully annoy the hell out of her. Though she never had dared admit it to the man... She appreciated it. Greatly.

Druuvbin... He understands. How it feels to live for so many years... With so many dark memories, haunting and... her thoughts trailed off, another sigh escaping her blue-white lips. That was exactly why the woman would grow so angry with the elemental. His self destructive ways... He tells me to live and to not think of the past, yet look at him. What does he do? He...

Though his illness was ever consuming, he... He only made it worse. Pushing himself, not... Why won’t you take care of yourself, Druuvbin? Why is it that you spend so much time taking care of everyone else, yet you... Constantly... You’re killing yourself, Druuvbin, and you won’t let anyone help you. You keep secrets, you... You’re so very sick, yet... You say nothing.

It... It really pissed her off.

Things... Things had been far simpler before. Before she had met the others, before she had learned to care. Before, when the only soul she cared for was that small boy, lying, eternally sleeping...

Ironically, her first meeting with Druuvbin? Had been an order to kill him, as well as Malba and Kopaka. That turned out... Interesting... A small hint of a smirk appeared on her lips as the memory flashed through her mind. A memory of a fight from years past... The psychic had completely, utterly defeated her, an amused smile on his lips the entire time. Kitsune of course then assumed her life over, waiting for the final blow...

--“Well. That was rather fun, Kitsune-san. That is your name, right? They call you the ‘blood fox’, but I think just Kitsune sounds better, don’t you agree? When you feel up to it, do try again. Fighting with you is rather enjoyable, actually.”--

It certainly had not been what she expected of the notorious, illusive ‘monster’ Druuvbin. Of course that idiot fairy Malba had then shown up, running his mouth, as always. The darkness elemental always had been such an annoying dick...

--“The mighty blood fox, huh? Doesn’t look so mighty to me. Are you sure you don’t want to kill her? She’ll come back once she’s healed, you know. It’ll just be a pain in the ass if we let her live. Want me to finish her?”—

--“Ah, no Malba. That’s not necessary. It was an entertaining fight. I had fun.”—

--“Yeah, well. You shouldn’t be fighting period. Fucking idiot.”—

--“Hm? Really Malba. You worry too much.”—

It was only then that Kitsune finally noticed the sickly aura about him, as she had lain half conscious, her eyes focusing on that pale face. A rasping cough had escaped his lips, a small trickle of blood...

--“See? I told you! You should have just waited for me! You should have let me take her instead of coming here alone! Idiot! Kopaka said that you should still be in bed, not out here getting killed.”—

--“Ah, this--this is nothing, Malba. I’m fine. Really.”—

Suddenly, he had looked so very frail, weary to her blurred eyes... Yet the smile had not faded, that amused, playful smile...

Kitsune shook her head, driving the memory away. It had been inevitable really... Druuvbin, Malba, Kopaka... Of course at the time it had pissed her off to no end that not only was she defeated, but shown mercy? Utterly humiliating. I was such an idiot...

Yet in the end... Those three were ultimately what drove her to pull away from her loathsome father, from the life of a mindless servant of the government. Ironic. The very people she had been ordered to assassinate... She eventually joined. Indeed ironic.

Though joining with them, learning to care... It complicated things. Worries for Druuvbin and his seemingly incurable disease. His eternal self loathing, self destructive --bordering on suicidal-- tendencies. He smiles and laughs, hiding away his own misery...

Malba and his... Stupidity. His recklessness and that unending depression covered up with anger and bitchiness... His... The woman frowned, the black haired elemental’s red eyes flashing through her thoughts. Stupid... Stupid fairy...

Of course there was also Kopaka’s drug habit and the pressure the wind sprite put on himself to find medicines, treatments, to care for Druuvbin and to care for... Kopaka blames himself for not being able to work miracles. He’s just a doctor, not a god. Fool.

Worrying, caring? It was new. To care and worry for others. It... It had definitely taken time to adjust. It was new and painful. After so many years of forcing her emotions away... Now... Now...

Of course to further complicate matters, that damn ‘Jump’... Waking up in a different world, with a foreign device implanted in her flesh. Left with no memory of how the hell she and the others had acquired such a device...

Years later, meeting that girl and... Growing to care for the odd human and her family, that idiot rooster and the weird... ‘Ghost’ boy... Complicated and messy. And with Kouji awake, with the constant fear that someone would come, take him away from her... Drag him back to a lab... I’m far too old for this... The ice/fox hybrid demon let out an irritated sigh, moving a hand up, glancing at her bleeding right palm. With a small shrug the woman licked a bit of blood away, despite a few disturbed glances given to her by human passerby. Yes. I am most definitely too old for this.

Kitsune pulled herself from her thoughts, taking in the large train station in the distance, her eyes focusing on the sign stretching across the front of the immense building.

---Teaja National Station 12 A---

About fucking time... With a roll of her eyes she shoved through the crowded sidewalks, swiftly approaching the building. An older building of red brick, unlike the many newer glass and steel structures crowding the large city. One of the oldest stations in the Main Teaja District, most likely. Run down and low class.

The lean ice demon quickly approached the bustling station, climbing the stone steps, passing through the large automated doors. Kitsune glanced up, taking in the arrival and departure signs posted on a digital screen device hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the enormous dilapidated station.

Three minutes?! her eyes slightly widened as she took in the departure time for the train to the Ganea District. Only three minutes to get a ticket and board. Otherwise she’d have to wait an extra forty-five minutes for the next train... Joy.

“Move or die,” she snapped icily, shoving her way into the crowded station, hurriedly approaching one of the many ticket counters. The woman cut the long line with a death glare directed to the human behind the ticket window. “One ticket to Ganea.”

“U-Uhm, you... Need to wait in line like everyone else, ma’am...” the small blonde haired man stuttered, his blue eyes wide. “S-sorry. And um, you need to have-um, ID...”

“Give me the ticket or I’ll tear out your spine and shove it down your throat. How about that?” she responded coolly, allowing her eyes to flash an eerie black color. Kitsune then pulled closer to the man behind the window, a small growl escaping her lips. “One ticket. Now.”

“Uh-Uh-Yes! Of course ma’am!” the terrified man squeaked, his hands shaking as he quickly prepared a ticket for the ice demon. “Um-Um, here, but I don’t know if you can make it, it’s leaving in um--” he started but Kitsune snatched the ticket from his hands, tossing a few Teajan gyuu coin currency at the man. “Shut up.” With that said she turned, stalking away from the counter. I can’t miss this train.

Practically running through the crowded station the woman barely made it to the long bullet shaped train in time, quickly grabbing hold of the open entryway of the car as it began to move. She pulled herself up, into the train car with a small sigh of relief. That was too close...

“Cut it a bit close, eh, miss?” a man in a dark uniform questioned, amusement in his deep voice. Kitsune turned to give the Teajan train employee an icy stare, not dignifying his question with a response. Instead she silently shoved the ticket into the man’s hands, an irritated frown on her pale lips.

“Eh, touchy, touchy...” the elderly man muttered as he took the ticket from the woman. He then let out a sigh, moving to slide the door closed with a loud bang. “Women...”

The ice demon rolled her eyes, pushing past the man, further into the train car. She glanced about, noting the cramped low class car, the warped bench seats and steel colored graffiti covered walls. Nice... Not that it mattered. The ticket had only cost twenty-five gyuu. As long as the damn thing got her to the Ganea District, the woman couldn’t care less.

With another small sigh Kitsune moved to sit on one of the warped metal benches, --away from the other passengers-- leaning her head against the hard steel back. It’s still going to take a fucking hour to get to Ganea... The woman closed her eyes, clenching her fists, feeling the sticky blood slowly oozing from her palms. I shouldn’t have left...

--“Hello Kitsune, nice to see you again so soon,”-- Druuvbin’s voice echoed through her mind, the frown on her lips deepening as she replayed her last encounter with the man. At Rae’s apartment...

Not only had she yelled at the psychic after he returned from Tokyo, but...

The short telepathic conversation they had shared in that bright kitchen, dark clouds looming in the windows... Her thoughts kept drawing back to those harsh words.

--Have you even slept? Why are you here?-- she had snapped telepathically, anger in that mental voice. It had only been a few hours since she had spoken with him previously, yet he was already back in the human world, with pale, pallid skin and dark circles under his eyes... It... Had irritated her.

--Ah, well what’s that old saying? Sleep when you’re dead?-- was the psychic’s reply, amusement in those weary lavender eyes.

--Yes, well. That may very well be what happens if you don’t start taking better care of yourself. Fucking moron,-- the demon had bit back, frustration welling up within her at the total lack of concern the sprite showed for his own well being.

--Ah, Kitsune. I believe you may be exaggerating. Again.--

--Exaggerating? Exactly how is that an exaggeration? What, do you want to die? Is that it? Because if that’s the case, I certainly won’t stop you. Die if you want. I really don’t care. I’m getting tired of arguing with you about it, quite frankly.--

--I see. How kind.--

--Don't start, Druuvbin. You should be resting, yet instead here you are, back in this world. When's the last time you've slept? When's the last time you've even eaten? Hm? I know for a fact you ate nothing in Tokyo. Though you certainly managed to drink more than enough alcohol, isn't that right?-- Yes, she had lectured him, yelled at him, her mental tone agitated... But... That pale face and... It... Made her so angry, so... Worried.

--Ah, Kitsune. Didn't we already have this conversation a few hours ago? As I said a bit ago, and I’ll say it again: You worry far too much. I can take care of myself, Kitsune. You don't have to treat me like a child. I believe I'm old enough to look out for myself,— had been his response, amused, but at the same time a hint of weariness and exasperation slightly tinting his mental voice. Though the smile hadn't faded from his pale lips of course. --So if you don't mind, could we postpone this lecture, hm? I already have a headache as is. I promise you can scold me again later, if it'll make you feel better.--

--You know what? Forget it. That’s fine. Fine Druuvbin. Die. Because you know what? I really couldn’t care less. At least then I wouldn’t have to constantly deal with your stupidity. It would most certainly make things far easier with you gone. Oh and you can take care of yourself you say? That’s a joke. You’re a burden and you know it. Fool.— Why... Why the hell had she said such a terrible thing? It... It had been uttered in a moment of anger but...

--Ah, so you want me to die? I see. Hm, well I suppose that could be arranged, if you insist.-- Druuvbin had stated it so airily, with an amused smile and mischievous eyes, yet... That must have hurt terribly. Such harsh words...

Why the fuck did I say that? Of all things to say to a dying man... Kitsune squeezed her fists tighter, nails biting her pale palms. Fool. She... She had been angry. Angry at the sprite for keeping secrets, for that pale face and tired eyes and... Damn it.

Kitsune opened her eyes, not wanting to see the image any more, his pale face and amused smile... She... This is taking too long... The woman glanced at a small digital clock embedded on the graffiti covered wall. Too long...

She couldn’t leave it that way. If he died... Died without... I didn’t mean that Druuvbin. I swear I didn’t. I’m... I... Kitsune let out an agitated sigh. The ice demon glanced down at her clenched fists, indifferently noting the blood dripping from her palms.

The woman slowly pulled her gaze away, instead focusing on the dirty window nearest her uncomfortable metal seat. Grime covered and dirty, she could hardly see out that dark window. Instead, she could vaguely make out her own reflection. Her icy blue hair with streaks of white and black, pulled back in a simple ponytail... Her sleeveless black shirt and the white bandages wrapping the entire length of her lower arms... Those cold ice eyes... Emotionless, blank face... I...

Her gaze pulled back down to the blood oozing from her clenched fists. I...

How long would it take Malba to get the medicines? Asikea was so far away from Laineka... Even... Even if the sprite jumped... Malba... I think I really screwed up... Didn’t I? I... I’m such a fool. For some reason she had the sudden urge to hear that idiotic fairy’s voice. Why the hell did she care so much about the moron? Malba... Was annoying and an asshole and... Suddenly, she really... Wanted to hear that annoying, irritating voice, wanted to see that obnoxiously pretty face... Malba... I really am a heartless bitch, aren’t I? The woman closed her eyes, that painfully thick drowning emotion swirling within her. I...

--Die if you want. I really don’t care. I’m getting tired of arguing with you about it, quite frankly.--

I...

--That’s fine. Fine Druuvbin. Die. Because you know what? I really couldn’t care less.--

I...

--At least then I wouldn’t have to constantly deal with your stupidity. It would most certainly make things far easier with you gone. Oh and you can take care of yourself you say? That’s a joke. You’re a burden and you know it. Fool.—

If... If Druuvbin did die... He, he would die with that being the last real conversation they.... She... I...

--Ah, so you want me to die? I see. Hm, well I suppose that could be arranged, if you insist.--

...Fuck it. Kitsune let out a slow breath, her eyes opening. Fuck this stupid world. I really don’t care right now. Right now... Right now that dying psychic a world away seemed far more important.

She stood from the metal bench seat, keeping her balance on the fast moving train. The ice demon strode over to the latched train-car door, her ice-blue eyes focusing on the handle. You are not going to die. If I’m not allowed to die, then you know what? Neither are you. I don’t care what the hell’s wrong with you. I’m not letting it take you. Just like I’m not letting Malba go. I’m not letting any of the people I actually give a damn about die. I refuse to.

“Hey, lady. You need to return to your seat.” That same annoying man in the dark uniform was back, giving her an annoyed glare, his arms crossed in a sign of impatience. Kitsune turned to give the man a brief deadly glare before turning her cold gaze back to the latched door. “This is my stop,” she stated coolly, reaching out a hand to force open the thick sliding door with her demonic-strength. A gust of harsh wind blew into the car as she slammed the door back, a few passengers letting out startled yells.

“What the hell are you doing, you maniac?!”

“...I’m going to see a friend.”

She focused her icy gaze out the door, on the scenery rushing by. The train was currently speeding high over the city, an elevated train moving at an extreme rate of speed, racing across the metallic tracks.

“It’s a suicide! A jumper!” a woman shrieked and a few passengers let out gasps of horror. A small smirk formed on Kitsune’s lips. A suicide, huh? With that thought the woman jumped from the train, falling through the sky, plummeting toward the earth far below her.

“Oh my god!” she made out that irritating uniformed man shriek and she couldn’t help but feel a bit of dark amusement at his shrill tone. Idiot.

Now... I suppose it’s time to give Teaja something to put on the news...

As she fell through the air, the wind blowing her hair, ruffling her black clothing, she closed her eyes, focusing....

A cold wave of energy washed upon her as she activated the Jump, picturing that apartment a world away... You better not be dead.

The demon disappeared, long before she had a chance to hit the earth.

Thousands of demons and elementals throughout the land of Teaja stopped in their tracks, feeling an immense energy coursing through the air... Like nothing ever felt before...

“What... What the hell was that?”

“Oh... Oh my...”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~Far from over, now go to part B, neh? -->