((blood and memories; ~windsong~ part e. read the other parts first. Obviously.))

“...Oh. Okay, Mals. I’ll go get you one of mine. I won’t touch your clothes. We’ll uh, let Kitsune or Ryuuji take care of ‘em later, okay?” Rae inquired gently, a sympathetic tone bleeding into her voice.

Kitsune or Ryuuji? Malba opened his eyes to look at the human, slightly raising an eyebrow at her words. Heh... Well. Isn’t she observant? Let one of the demons take care of my clothes... “...Thanks...” was his only response to the human, again closing his glowing red eyes.

“Back in a sec,” Rae stated softly, moving to stand from her sitting position on the cool tile floor. She quickly walked out of the small room, heading down the hallway, turning the corner.

Malba let out a shaky breath, clenching his fists as a wave of melancholy washed upon him, a wave of fatigue, and... This... Heh, this is so fucking ridiculous. Sitting on the floor like a fucking idiot... I’m such an idiot... Yet he simply couldn’t summon the energy to stand, couldn’t even summon the strength to open his eyes... He... “God I’m tired,” he mumbled softly, his tone hollow.

--“Don’t forget me...”--

--Why did... Why did you kill me, Malba?—

Just... Stop it, idiot... He was so tired, so...

“Okay... Here, Malba,” Rae’s voice cut into his thoughts and he slowly pried open his eyelids, meeting the girl’s gaze. She moved to sit next to the man, handing the sprite a pack of Winston cigarettes, along with a black bic lighter. “Heh. Keep them. I’ve got another pack,” the human lightly commented, casting a small smile to the injured, weary elemental. “Okay?”

“...Yeah. Thanks,” Malba replied, his voice quiet, expressionless. Stupid girl... Why was she nice to him? As much as he bitched at her... Hell, he’d even tried to fucking kill her. Dumb human. He really didn’t get why anyone would want to be around him... Kitsune, Druu, Kopaka and Ryuu... They all know what I am, but they still... Meh. Stupid.... All of them... Just like Jinya. Stupid... Stupid for trusting him, stupid for... For... Stupid for liking me.

Malba attempted to shove the thoughts away, pulling a cigarette from the case with a faintly shaking hand. He put the cigarette to his lips, lighting the tip. He then took a deep drag, drawing nicotine into his lungs as he tightly closed his eyes.

“Malba? Um... Do you want me to help you back into the bedroom? I’m just a lame human, but even I can probably handle helping ya walk,” the girl stated softly, moving to rest her left hand on the man’s shoulder.

Yeah, well... Quite frankly, I don’t think I can move, period. I... Even with Rae’s help, he probably would still fall flat on his face if he tried to stand, not to mention walk. “...In a minute, maybe...” he mumbled, taking in another deep breath of smoke, drawing the nicotine into his lungs.

“Okay,” the human responded, a concerned frown on her lips. She instead moved to sit back, pressing against the white tub, not taking her hand from Malba’s shoulder. “You can sit here as long as ya want. Just figured it’d be more comfortable in my room... This tile is pretty crappy,” she lightly commented, her tone soft.

--“Please make it stop... Please?”--

Malba resisted the urge to groan as that pleading voice from the past without warning flooded his thoughts, filling his ears... Don’t start that shit again. He really couldn’t take much more of the whole ‘trip down memory fucking lane’ thing... He... He was far too tired and...

--“...Breathing in and out, in and out, I can't find what I need.
I ruin all peace, making the same errors again and again...”--

Stop it, idiot, he thought, irritated with himself for... Well, for being such an idiot. The sprite exhaled a puff of smoke, closing his eyes a bit tighter. Just... Stop... It was sad. That stupid pain in his side was nothing compared to the fucking voices in his god damn head. I’m out of my mind... He could tolerate the fiery pain from his bullet injury and burns, he could deal with that, it... It was just those words, voices and song lyrics... That... He really was getting far too tired to deal with it.

Too weary to deal with worrying about Druuvbin, about Kopaka, Kitsune, Kouji, Ryuuji’s eye, it... He just...

--“...If it'll make this pain in my heart go away, just kill me already. Don't make a sad face, I'd like for at least you to smile, at least in the end...”--

God damn song.

“Hey, Rae?” Malba inquired softly, his tone hollow, empty.

“Yeah?” the girl responded, her gaze locked on the man’s pale face, her lips set in a deep, worried frown.

“What was that song you sang in Tokyo?” the dark haired sprite questioned, unsure as to why the hell he was even asking. What did it matter? It was just a stupid song, it just... He...

“Lust for Blood. It’s a Gackt song,” Rae answered after a moment of silence, her tone quiet, a brief flash of guilt flickering across her features.

“It’s stupid,” he stated hollowly, taking in another deep drag of nicotine, closing his eyes just a bit tighter.

“Yeah. You’re right. It’s stupid,” the pink haired human agreed without even a moment of hesitation, lightly rubbing the man’s shoulder in a consoling gesture.

Wait, Rae had actually called the song stupid? The big, lame Gackt fangirl? He’d heard the stupid girl ramble on about that dumb human singer too many times to count, so it somehow seemed amusing that she would readily agree to call the song ‘stupid.’ A bitter smirk formed on his lips and he exhaled a puff of smoke, shaking his head. “Stupid human,” he mumbled softly, and even though he had just insulted the girl, his tone was almost... A bit affectionate. Ugh... Blowing my image... Completely...

“Yep, that’d be me.”

“Heh...”

The two fell into silence and the darkness elemental frowned, attempting to drive the images from the past away, the words, and...

--“...Tears of farewell permitted only for us, no one could stop them if they tried. A promise from the past, to end this endless cycle of error, here...”--

“It... It’s sad, though...” Malba suddenly commented, his tone utterly hollow, void of emotion. Sad, stupid song with... Sad, stupid lyrics... It... “It’s really sad...”

“...Yeah, Malba. It really is,” the pink haired human softly concurred, her tone gentle, a deep frown on her lips. “It is.” Rae continued to lightly rub the sprite’s shoulder, her eyes growing a bit watery at the man’s quiet statement.

Malba briefly opened his red eyes to meet the girl’s watery gaze, a weary, defeated expression playing on his pale face. Don’t... Don’t look at me like that... The darkness sprite stubbed out the cigarette on the porcelain tub’s narrow ledge, a deep, shaky sigh escaping him. He... He really was so weary. I am so freaking tired... With that thought he left the cigarette butt on the tub’s ledge, setting the pack and lighter beside it. He then moved to rest his head on his knees, wrapping his arms around his legs. It was too much... Everything, it...

Rae remained silent, choosing only to place her right hand on the man’s arm, still lightly touching his shoulder with her left hand. The girl wore a troubled, uncertain look on her face, obviously unsure what to say or do.

--“ Malba... Please make it stop... Please?”--

“Hey, what’s going on?” a concerned voice broke into the quiet of the bathroom and Rae and Malba both looked up to see Jiro standing in the doorway, a concerned expression on his face. The boy then jumped when noting Malba’s eyes, a startled look in his steel-blue gaze. “Holy shit. Uh, Malba, why are your eyes--” he started, however was abruptly cut off as his sister cleared her throat, catching Jiro’s attention. She faintly shook her head, raising an eyebrow at the boy.

Yeah... Great, let’s make this even worse. Let’s see how much more embarrassing this can get, the sprite thought with a weary sigh, moving to rest his head once again on his knees, his grip on his legs tightening. Stupid fucking humans.

“Malba’s just... Not feeling good right now,” the girl stated softly, her gaze moving back to the elemental, the frown on her lips increasing. “So uh... How come you’re up?” Rae then questioned her brother, her tone light, though her face still held that concerned, uneasy expression.

“Don’t know. Just... Can’t really stay asleep. Too worried I guess,” the shaggy haired brunette replied, his steel eyes still locked on Malba, concern apparent on his facial features. “Uh, should you really just be sitting here on the floor, Malba?” the teen then questioned uneasily, a frown on his lips.

“Probably not, but he doesn’t feel like moving right this sec,” Rae quickly responded for the elemental, exchanging a look with her brother. Both siblings holding an unsure, anxious expression...

--“Malba... Please make it stop... Please?”--

Malba closed his eyes tighter at that voice from the past, filling his mind, his ears. A pleading, desperate voice, soft and... Agonized...

--Why did... Why did you kill me, Malba?—

That soft voice, drifting with the wind, soft and haunting, lost in the wind, it...

--“Please just kill me! Kill me you idiot! Please? Please?”--

Pleading, begging, weary, broken. It...

--“Don’t forget me...”--

“Ngh... Shut up...” Malba mumbled softly, pressing his head against his knees, taking in a shuddering breath. Just shut up, stupid fucking... Human...

“Malba? No one said anything,” Rae responded uneasily, raising an eyebrow, sharing another concerned look with her brother.

“I... Not you...” the darkness sprite trailed off, not knowing what the hell to say. Great. Talking to myself in front of them. Yeah, let’s freak them out even more. God damn idiot.

“Er... Is he okay? Malba, what’s going on? Is this because of your side or what?” Jiro inquired apprehensively, moving to sit on the floor in front of Malba and Rae, crossing his legs Native American style.

“...Yeah... That’s all. I’m fine, just... Tired,” Malba lied, his tone blank, holding little emotion. He... Stupid weak idiot. It was so frustrating. He should be in the bedroom with Kitsune and Druu, or in the living room, checking on Kopaka, not... Not losing his god damn mind like an idiot... It...

“You really are pathetic,” a soft voice whispered and Malba let out a deep sigh, pressing his head against his knees harder. Not again. Go the fuck away, Jinya. Stupid god damn brain.

“Well, are you going to kill these humans like you killed me? Are you?” the phantom delusion with Jinya’s voice questioned softly, a bitter, pained tone in its voice.

Malba slowly pulled his head from his knees, opening his eyes long enough to note that, yes, he was fucking hallucinating. Again. Jinya stood in the open doorway, with that... Betrayed, melancholy look on his pale face. Wonderful. Just fucking wonderful.

“You know, if you would just let yourself die, you wouldn’t have to worry about killing anyone. If you were dead, they would all be safe. You should have just let yourself die that night. You, not me.”

Well, that may be true, but... As weary as he was... He still... Well. Death seemed... Rather frightening. Not that he’d admit it to anyone, but yeah. Plus, hell. There’s no way he’d want to leave the few people he gave a damn about, so... Maybe it’s actually selfish of me for wanting to live, because as long as I’m alive... They’re in danger, but... I... I don’t want to... I don’t want to leave them... It was a terrifying thought. To never see them, never... Never... That night, so very long ago, he had wished to die, but now... Well okay, for the first hundred years after that night he had been pretty suicidal, but now he... It’s selfish, but I’m afraid of not being with them, I...

“Selfish to the end. You’ll kill them all. Just like you killed me.”

“Rae?” Malba softly questioned, attempting to drive the voice away, squeezing his eyes shut tighter, increasing his hold on his legs, pressing his head firmly against his knees.

“Yeah?” the girl responded, lightly rubbing the man’s shoulder, concern and unease bleeding into her voice. “What is it, Mals?”

He... He really just... He... “Could you... Could you go get Kitsune?” the sprite inquired wearily, his tone dejected and melancholy. As embarrassing as it was, he really couldn’t force any emotion into his hollow voice. He just... As fucking selfish as it was, to wake the woman, so weak and tired, he just... He really wanted the stupid mutt... Selfish. Just as selfish as it had been to ask Druuvbin to wake, so sick and in so much pain, he...

“Yes, it is selfish. Because you’re a selfish murderer.”

“Of course I’ll get her,” Rae quickly replied, her tone reassuring and gentle, her eyes flashing with apprehension and sympathy. “I’ll be right back,” she went on to say, moving to stand, stepping into the hallway. She shared a quick anxious look with her brother and then turned, moving down the hallway, towards her bedroom.

“Selfish bastard,” the delusion of Jinya whispered with a sigh, his tone resigned, flat. “Kill everyone. It’s your choice.”

Please just shut up, Malba practically begged the hallucination, irritated with himself for being.. So fucking crazy, and... I’m so fucking tired... He... He really just wanted Kitsune. The woman was... Pretty good at driving the voices and images away. Whether it be by slamming him against an alley wall and screwing him, or holding him in a gentle embrace... Whether it be by punching him in the nose, or lightly kissing him on the lips... It... She seemed to kind of... Know how to make it stop... Stupid mutt.

“Hey, uh Malba? Uh... Sorry you’re feeling bad,” Jiro quietly stated, a frown on his lips, his steel-blue eyes focused on the sprite.

“...Heh.... Thanks kid...” Malba slowly responded, a short, dry laugh escaping him. The teen was pretty nice, really... Annoying, but... He liked the kid. He... Technically he liked all of the stupid humans. Rae, Renee, Jiro, Sanosuke... Yuki. Though he wasn’t sure Yuki counted as a human, but whatever. He... He cared about the stupid humans for some unknown, idiotic reason. Well. He didn’t particularly like the father of the human siblings, but yeah, other than that. He wouldn’t admit it of course but... Stupid fucking humans. He really hadn’t wanted to... Ever get attached to a human again... It...

--“Please just kill me! Kill me you idiot! Please? Please?”--

--“Malba... Please make it stop... Please?”--

--“Don’t forget me...”--

He was so weary, so... Just stop, please just fucking stop... This so wasn’t the time for this, he... Just stop...

--“You won’t forget me, even if I forget myself, right? You won’t let me fade away, right?”--

Too much, it... He... If I can just... stay calm... It’ll stop, I just... He...

“What the hell did you do, fool?” a cold voice snapped irritably, breaking into the sprite’s thoughts and a wry smirk formed on his lips. Stupid mutt... He slowly moved his head from his knees, taking in the ice/fox demon standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, an irate expression on her pale face. Well. Jinya wasn’t there anymore, so that was a good sign, right? Idiot...

“Come on, Kits, don’t be too hard on him. He just wanted to help Druu a little, that’s all,” Rae stated softly from her standing position beside the fox, a small smile on her lips.

--Ryuuji said you used fire energy on Druuvbin, correct? Are you out of your fucking mind?-- Kitsune snapped telepathically, her angry ice eyes meeting Malba’s weary red gaze. --You didn’t have enough energy left to do that, idiot!-- she then bit out, her mental tone incensed.

--Kitsune, don’t start in on me right now, okay? I’ve already had to deal with Jinya bitching at me for the last hour, so can we do the whole ‘let’s scold Malba’ thing later?-- he responded with a fatigued sigh, lowering his head back to his knees, closing his eyes.

“Fool,” the icy haired demon stated aloud, the look on her face softening at the man’s mental words. “Stupid fairy,” she added, moving to stand directly in front of the man. Jiro stood from his sitting position, moving over to stand next to his sister in the open doorway, allowing Kitsune enough room to crouch down next to the dark haired sprite. The demon took in an agitated breath, a deep frown on her icy, blue-white lips. “Malba?” --Why didn’t you tell me it was getting worse, idiot?-- Kitsune went on to question telepathically, moving to place a cool hand on the elemental’s shoulder.

--You were freaked out enough as it was, I just... Dunno... Didn’t want to make you feel worse. I didn’t really know it was going to happen until I woke up a little while ago. I... I didn’t want to freak you out so I figured I’d just let you sleep,-- Malba softy replied, slowly raising his head, opening his red eyes to meet the woman’s intense gaze. --Heh... I was kind of worried about you... Stupid mutt...-- he admitted with a fatigued smile.

“You really are such a fool,” she commented with a sigh, rolling her ice-blue eyes, a flash of irritation appearing on her pale features.

“Shut up, Kitsune. Stupid bitch,” he muttered flatly, though he moved to take hold of the woman, burying his head into her shoulder as he hugged onto the ice/fox. Kitsune blinked, apparently a bit surprised by his sudden action. The demon returned the embrace however, moving to sit, pulling the man closer. “Fool,” she whispered, running a hand along his back.

Malba was well aware that the two humans were watching, but at the moment he really couldn’t work up the energy to care. He’d just be embarrassed later, as he simply didn’t have it in him at the moment. Malba tightened his hold on the woman, taking in the feel of her cool body, pressing his head firmly against her lean shoulder. --Ngh... I’m so fucking tired of being a psychotic freak,-- he mumbled telepathically, his mental voice shaking and uneven. He... He was really tired... He...

--You aren’t psychotic, moron,-- Kitsune responded softly, tightly embracing the elemental, a troubled frown on her lips and her eyes worried, sympathetic.

--Yeah? Well what do you call having a guy that’s been dead for nine hundred and three years constantly stalking you?-- Malba quipped in response, his tone dry, cynical.

--I call it ‘sick,’ fool. You’re sick, not insane,-- Kitsune quickly remarked, agitation in her words.

--Sick? Uh, no. Druuvbin is ‘sick.’ I’m insane. Big difference. I’m a fucking homicidal maniac, not sick,-- the sprite replied with a wry smirk. He appreciated her trying to play down his insanity and all, but seriously. ‘Sick?’ Right...

Kitsune let out a small growl in response, though her hold on the man tightened, her cool right hand soothingly rubbing his back. --You’re such an obnoxious fairy,-- she stated quietly, apparently deciding not to continue the sick/insane debate.

--Yeah but that’s what you like about me, right?-- the dark haired elemental inquired teasingly, taking in a weary breath, closing his eyes tighter.

--Fool...--

Malba smiled a bit at this, amused by the irritated tone in the woman’s mental ‘voice.’ He... He really enjoyed pissing the fox off. She was pretty cute when she was pissed, actually...

--How bad is it?-- Kitsune inquired, the irritated tone fading, replaced with a softer, concerned tint. --Are you hurting?--

--...A little bit... Not as bad now, I’m mostly just numb. It’s fading off. I shouldn’t have had Rae wake you up, but I just... I’m really tired, Kitsi...-- Malba slowly responded, a fresh wave of weariness and melancholy washing upon him. Such a tiring, desolate feeling. The darkness sprite forced the thoughts away, instead focusing on the ice demon, taking in her energy level. Good... She’s restored most of it... She’s probably still pretty fucking tired, but she’s got enough energy back now that she’s okay, so yeah... Stupid mutt...

--...Try living for over seven thousand years, and then we’ll talk about being ‘tired,’ fairy,-- Kitsune softly stated, a hint of dry humor tinting her cool, flat mental voice.

--Yeah well... True, but... At least you don’t have a fucked up hallucination of the guy you murdered bitching at you all the time,-- he countered with a bitter smile, fighting to keep his tone level. Jinya... Damn it, I’m so sorry, you stupid fucking human... I...

--I’ve murdered a lot of people, but as of yet I haven’t had any of them ‘stalk’ me. So I suppose you have me there,-- the ice demon responded, a hint of a smile appearing on her icy, pale blue-white lips.

--You’ve never murdered anyone you cared about... It’s different when you care,-- he stated hollowly, his mental tone again growing uneven, shaky. God damn it... Fucking wimp... He really was such an idiot... I’m such a... Ngh...

--...You didn’t murder him, Malba,-- Kitsune stated with a soft sigh, a frown on her ice-blue lips. --You’re never going to get over it, are you? That... Malba. You didn’t murder him.--

God, not that again... Why did the woman insist on arguing with him about that? Of course he had murdered him. His daggers had gone through the human’s chest, effectively stopping his heart, taking away that... Foolish, trusting human... --God damn it, Kitsune. Will you please not start that again? I killed him. Not only did I fucking stab him with two daggers, but I...-- He.... He had so much blood on his hands, after nine-hundred years, he could still feel it, that... --I killed him.--

Kitsune let out another irritated growl, her eyes troubled, her face holding a look of exasperation and concern. --Yes. You killed him. You didn’t murder him. There is a difference. Idiot,-- she responded, her mental tone forceful, firm.

--...No... There isn’t...-- was Malba’s only response, his hold on the ice/fox demon weakening as a fresh wave of utter exhaustion swept over him. His body relaxing, his arms slipping away from his hold on Kitsune. He didn’t have the energy left to continue to embrace the woman. He... I’m so fucking tired... Though at least the whole ‘going insane, might kill everyone’ thing was fading off. He... Yeah, it’s fading off, I’m alright. This time, anyway...

--Fool...-- Kitsune murmured telepathically, a weary, agitated breath escaping her icy lips. --I’m going to carry you back to the bedroom. You need to rest, Malba,-- she then stated, gently pulling the man back, taking in his pale face.

Malba slowly forced his red eyes open, a frown forming on his lips. --Carry me? Like hell you are. This is already embarrassing enough as it is,-- the darkness sprite muttered, his tone flat. He turned his focus to the human siblings silently standing in the doorway, taking in their expressions. Both wore concerned, troubled looks, though Rae seemed to have a slight bittersweet smile on her lips, watching the darkness sprite and demon... Ugh... Stupid human...

--Oh? Well what do you suggest then, hm? Think you can walk on your own?-- the demon inquired derisively, an irritated expression flashing in her ice-blue eyes.

Er, okay so the woman had a point. He actually... Well he hardly had the strength left to keep his eyes open, so walking? Eh... God damn it... This is so embarrassing... Malba let out a weary sigh, closing his red eyes. --Fine...Stupid bitch...--

--Fairy.--

--Mutt.--

The darkness elemental felt a small smile play on his lips at the exchange, moving to rest his head on the demon’s shoulder. She was such a stupid mutt...

“What’s going on here?” a deep male tone cut into Malba’s thoughts and he frowned, vaguely recognizing that voice. Isn’t that their stupid dad? he thought wearily, forcing his fatigued eyes open, noting that, yes, Rae and Jiro’s father stood in the hallway, his thick eyebrows furrowed. The man tall and heavyset, with salt and pepper hair, hazel eyes... Dressed in a short sleeved dark top and a pair of dark shorts... Why the hell was the man up, anyway? What the fuck is up with this family not sleeping? It’s after five in the morning. First Jiro, now this guy... Let’s just make this even more embarrassing... God damn. Oh, but wait. This could be kind of bad, right? The man didn’t really know anything about his wife and kids’ non-human friends... Shit, my eyes are probably still red, so...

“Oh, uh, hey Dad,” Rae greeted the man with a tight, entirely false smile, her aqua gaze turning to her father. “This is a couple of friends of ours, neh?” she vaguely explained, turning her gaze to Jiro, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah. This is Kitsune and Malba,” Jiro added, crossing his arms about his chest, not quite meeting his father’s gaze.

“Malba isn’t feeling very good, so um, we just figured they could stay the night,” the pink haired human stated softly, a brief flash of concern again appearing on her face. She then smiled however, turning her gaze back to her father. “Malba is uh, diabetic? Yeah. Mals’ blood sugar is a little low right now, so yeah.”

Malba had to stifle a dry laugh at that, a minute grin forming on his lips. Diabetic? What the hell kind of lame excuse was that? She couldn’t think of anything better than that? Heh... Stupid human...

“Oh, well, nice to meet you two. Hope you feel better, Malba,” the tall, heavyset man stated with a blink, somehow failing to notice that Kitsune and Malba were both entirely not human. Uh, doesn’t he think we look a little weird? Kitsune looks like a hypothermic block of ice and I’m... Eh. Well. My eyes are fucking red at the moment, so yeah... Plus, there was the bloody, dirty clothes lying in the bathtub that the man also seemed to completely not notice. Not to mention the fact that as much as Druu had been hacking around, shouldn’t the guy have heard or noticed or something? Er, and Kopaka’s been passed out in the living room for hours now, he hasn’t noticed that either? How clueless is this guy?

“Hn...” was Kitsune’s only response to the man, her ice eyes annoyed, a frown on her pale, blue-white lips.

“Yeah, whatever...” Malba added softly, moving to once again rest his head on Kitsune’s shoulder, tightly closing his eyes. He was too tired to think of anything less bitchy sounding to say, and he quite frankly didn’t really care anyway. Stupid, clueless human...

“...Well. I’m going to get a snack and go back to bed. Goodnight, Jimmy, girls,” the heavyset man stated, using his son’s given name, much to Jiro’s annoyance. He then turned, exiting the hallway, heading into the kitchen.

The darkness sprite let out a sigh, glad that the dumb human wasn’t going to stick around. He really didn’t want to have to pretend to be diabetic or whatever... Er. Wait... Jiro and...Girls? WHAT? “Hey!” Malba exclaimed, pulling his head away from Kitsune’s shoulder, his cheeks flushing red, his eyes holding a look of anger. GIRL? “Girl?” he inquired irritably, his eyebrow twitching, his lips forming an irate scowl.

Rae and Jiro remained quiet for a moment; however their silence was broken as they both had the exact same reaction: Laughter. They... They were laughing at him. “I don’t look like a girl!” Malba snapped angrily, his voice rising. How dare that stupid human?

Rae quickly stifled her giggles, taking in a deep breath, yet an amused smile still played on her lips. Jiro wasn’t even attempting to hide his amusement however, a wide smirk on his face, his steel eyes holding a mischievous look. Malba’s frown deepened at this and he turned his attention to Kitsune, noting that... The damn mutt had a small smirk on her lips as well. “I do not look like a girl!” he repeated, practically shouting, his cheeks flushing redder, his eye twitching. I don’t! Stupid fucking human...

“Um... No, of course not, Mals. Dad is just a baka. Plus you know, all he really saw was your um, long hair and, uh... You’re kind of thin and... Short-ish, er and a little girlish, but uh,” Rae responded, her tone light, consoling, yet still holding a tint of amusement. Malba didn’t even bother to let the girl finish her sentence, letting out a growl, cutting her off. “Not helping. Stupid,” he snapped irritably, turning his gaze to the girl, giving her an angry look.

“Heh... Sorry. But hey, that just means you’re pretty, neh? That’s a good thing, right?” the pink haired human responded softly, obviously not taking any offense to Malba’s angry outburst.

“Whatever,” he muttered, moving to rest his head back on Kitsune’s shoulder. He was too damn tired to even care that much at this point. Now, if he weren’t so tired and.... Utterly drained, he’d go catch the stupid guy’s hair on fire or something... --Stupid human,-- Malba muttered telepathically, pressing his head firmly against Kitsune’s lean shoulder.

--Fairy,-- was the woman’s only response, a small hint of a smirk still gracing her pale, blue-white lips. The ice/fox demon moved to run a hand along the darkness sprite’s back, slightly tightening her hold on the man.

--Bitch,-- Malba remarked, his mental tone quiet, weary. He... Maybe he shouldn’t have yelled... Now he.... Was even more tired than before... The dark haired elemental attempted to force his eyes open, however had no success, finding that he was too weak to even... Open his damn eyes... “Ngh... God... Damn it...” he softly mumbled aloud, a sharp pain ripping through his side. Great, now his stupid bullet wound and burns were starting to hurt worse again. Stupid wimp...

“Malba?” Rae inquired softly, all trace of her previous amusement vanishing, entirely replaced by a caring, concerned demeanor.

He opened his mouth to tell the girl to shut up and stop worrying, but he... Malba was getting pretty dizzy and so tired, he... The darkness sprite simply couldn’t summon enough energy to respond. Yeah... Definitely shouldn’t have yelled...

“I’m taking you back to the bedroom,” Kitsune stated flatly, her ice eyes locked on the man held in her arms, a concerned expression playing on her icy-pale face. “Malba?”

“...Okay...” he finally managed to mumble, his voice far-off, weak. Which was embarrassing as hell, but he couldn’t really help it. He... Damn... I’m so... Fucking tired...

Malba vaguely felt the woman stand, picking him up, holding him, but he... The world was fading and he went limp as unconsciousness swiftly approached him.

This... Was really so fucking embarrassing... Well, he’d worry about that later...

The pain and weariness eased away as he fell into the world of dreams... A dream of a dark, rain soaked forest, wind whistling through tall trees...

Wind and rain...

--“...Don’t forget me...”--

I... Didn’t...

A haunting wind song, sweeping through the trees.

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~~~~~~to be continued~~~~~~
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