Without moving a single step, Acinomia leaned away from a cross, quickly snapping her body low as Victoria's leg whistled above her head in a strong roundhouse.

Slashing low, Acinomia's leg was quick to place its mark on Victoria's standing leg, forcing the latter to crash hard onto the ground. Although slightly taken by surprise, the athletic-clad Enid reacted accordingly, pushing her body into a small roll as soon as her back met the ground, completing it with a crouch.

Glaring angrily with furious scarlet eyes -- an evident sign of Rage's currently dominant presence -- Victoria rose back into her stance again. Acinomia appeared unfazed, however, as she stared stoically at her opponent, with her medallion gleaming every so often.

In a blurring burst of speed, Victoria closed in on her adversary. The kick that followed was just as swift, but not undetectable to Acinomia's eyes as it bounced off her upraised guard.

Recovering rather quickly, Victoria threw her leg low, aiming for, and connecting with, Acinomia's unguarded torso. With her defence left open for the time being, the far taller female fell victim to a follow-up crushing upward knee, with enough force to send her staggering back slightly.

Wasting no time, Enid then dropped low, falling into a slight crouch as she quickly summoned forth a surge of energy into herself...

"Crescent Slash!"

From her knelt position, Victoria leapt to the azure skies above, manipulating her body into a graceful, yet astonishing quick, forward somersault as one outstretched leg blurred downward in a slashing arc, generating a blue energy wake as it did so.

Unable to avoid the technique in time, Acinomia's body took the attack in full force, Victoria's hell slamming itself into her jaw and sending her spinning uncontrollably to the ground. Enid, meanwhile, landed back into a crouching stature, her body recovering itself from her expenditure of energy.

No more than a few seconds afterward, Acinomia flipped herself back into her stance. Despite the stoical expression on her features, her eyes clearly said otherwise, narrowed in what one could only indentify as some sort of anger.

Tasting the sharp tang of blood on her lips, Acinomia ran her hand across her jaw, wiping the small trickle of crimson from her chin, but not before wincing slightly at the small sting she felt as she brushed past the cut. Her lips slowly curled into a tiny, bemused smile.

"Impressive, child," she began. The smile then faded. "Now, it's my turn..."

And with that, Acinomia lunged forward with near inhuman speed, whereas Victoria strengthened up her stance as much as she could, awaiting her opponent's intended attack...

~*~

Hidden well, the knife pressed perfectly against her thigh. The cold metallic feel captured solace and threatened life.

The hospital refused to allow weapons for the obvious. Briskly walking, she was ignored by the scurrying doctors and nurses. A few fights recently ended and those who lost the match feared they'd lose their lives. –And they should, death was amongst them and Nis just smiled.

She walked to the last room of the recovery floors. He was recovering physically, but mentally he was more bruised and recovery seemed like a whimsical fantasy. With another growing grin, she saw the name on the door and smiled.

Blackness filtered like thick velvet when the door opened and shards of artificial neon hospital light permeated. She knew exactly where to cut the video recorder wires and took the blade with beauty and grace.

~*~

{Victoria Enid, I believe?}

"Huh?" Enid blinked momentarily, caught off guard by the unexpected telepathic message. Acinomia was quick to take advantage of the situation, aiming a vicious-looking strike to the side of her opponent's face. Instinct screamed at Enid to move, and Victoria reacted accordingly, whipping her body back and away from the strike's path just before Acinomia recovered, pressing forward her assault.

A horizontal roundhouse was once again blocked, causing Victoria to give a small grin as she caught hold of Acinomia's ankle. A sharp pull was delivered, just as Victoria's left knee flashed forward in a blur of speed and energy, literally embedding itself into the abdomen of her adversary.

Acinomia stumbled back, finally coming to rest on one knee as he halted her unwilling retreat, raising her head to keep her field of vision on her opponent. Victoria's eyes stared towards Acinomia with utmost seriousness, no longer glowing, as the latter gave a cold grin in response, climbing onto her feet once more.

{Victoria Enid,} the voice returned, reminding her of its presence, with a flat monotone, as if unwilling to betray its growing impatience and anxiousness. Victoria sighed slightly, keeping her eyes on Acinomia warily.

{This had better not be you, TS,} she forewarned.

{Call me Shadow Dragon,} the voice answered. {I need a corporeal body for a temporary period. Yours, if you are willing.}

Enid's eyes instantly widened. {Say... what?!}

=====

"They attack in droves, usually trying to swarm you," ShockWave swallowed in a bitter grimace, jamming his sneakers into the soft earth, as well as tightening his grip on his staff. "Greatest strength is in numbers."

"Superior numbers is no match for superior firepower," Iwa retorted in a sarcastic tone, embracing her fighting stance, before the high-pitched gibbering of the Giaks suddenly rose in volume. "Well, at least in theory..."

"Aki-amaz kog adez!!" the leading Giak roared, pointing his double-edged serrated blade at Kumori, who was standing at the forefront of the group. "Shezag ard kor Argazad!!!"

Kumori blinked. "Come again?"

"Giak," replied ShockWave coldly. "It means, 'impale them on the sword, for the glory of Argazad'."

"In other words?"

"'They don't like us' should pretty much cover all our bases..." Zuke sighed.

Then the entire horde charged.

"Here they come..." John whispered silently to himself.

~*~

(Hospital Scene)

He jumped slightly pressing his bedside remote controller.

The window dimmed and the fluorescent lights illuminated the most of the room. –Most of it. He coughed a dry throat.

"I..."

But nothing; he could say nothing. He then pressed another button on the rest of the lights. He saw her. His eyes narrowed. "Visiting hours are over."

She threw the knife up catching it the grip and then on the flat blade side. It glistened with tempting beauty. Finally she decided to speak.

As if he didn't know already her purpose. –But he wasn't a mind reader. He was just a mere mortal now. Even less, a part of his already born, separated and it was as if he wasn't even a real human.

–And here Nisshoku stood, with the influence of a God.

"Should I ask why you’re here?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

He knew the answer. Goose bumps decorated his arm and the chills froze his spine. He knew the death essence still had her primary reason for existence.

"Why?"

He knew that to protect the death essence was merely a cover. She was here to kill.

"Now that's vague." She scoffed almost insulted.

"Why are you punishing me?" He spoke pushing himself up in the bed making him atleast feel taller even though he was still sitting.

Nis-Nis nodded and started doing her nails with the tip of the blade.

        "You're about to take away all that I have left, atleast give me the answer."

        Again, another pause.

"Sadistic angel of death!" Kay snapped.

        The purple hair danced and she shook her head, "I'm an angel of mercy. I'm sent to put those out of their misery."

        "I knew I shouldn't have given it up…" he shrugged helplessly and brief regret. He didn't mean it. He was one soul with too many thoughts and he just so happened to give up the wrong one.

        She pointed the dagger directly at him, "Not only did you, an essence, give your life to one who was killing another essence, but you've proven you are not worthy as a human to take your life back."

        {Darius…} Kay nodded, {This is all about Darius.}

"I just want to be left alone. I just want out. I don't want this life anymore."

"Well, I can definitely liberate your cursed life," she smiled with a wink.

"Bitch," he glared.

~*~

{Sounds outrageous, doesn't it?}

{Among other things, yes,} Victoria replied, taking a quick step forward as she met Acinomia's advance head-on with a flurry of attacks in exchange of her opponent's, the two fighters struggling to land the telling blow, competing with each other for the upper hand.

{Look, can we talk later? You caught me at a bad time.}

Acinomia's barrage of punches were deflected with an equally rapid series of palm strikes, followed by the fighter rushing in with an elbow lunge, striking Victoria across the cheek.

With a vicious grin, a second punch was landed on Victoria's left shoulder, with the latter grimacing in pain as she railed against the stinging sensation, gathering enough strengh and speed to suddenly deliver a rising kick that hurtled up and forward, catching Acinomia from under the jaw.

{I have approximately 48 hours to live before my soul-energy runs out, Victoria. That is, unless I can merge back with my own mind and body.}

{Why me?}

{You're the strongest telepathic mindforce around these parts. Aside from me, that is. And Zorkaan. Who so coincidentally happens to be occupying my body right now.}

{I see...}

{You are contemplating the worst that could happen should I suddenly decide to use your body for... certain immoral purposes.}

Victoria's face turned a distinct shade of red. {See? You're not even in my mind yet!}

{I'm afraid all I can offer you is my word, Victoria. As a Kai Grand Master.}

{And that is worth?}

There was a short pause. {Would a week's supply of strawberry ice cream suffice?}

{Make that two.}

{For the sake of my own self, as well as the small band of fighters whom have been led to believe that Zorkaan is me, I suppose that would be a small price to pay,} the voice sounded somewhat miffed.

{Hey, just kidding, okay? Promise me you won't do anything embarrasing, immoral, unlawful or otherwise compromising of my trust, thusly forcing me to scribble all over your forehead with a permanent marker pen.}

{I already have. Deal?}

{Deal.}

=====

"What..." was the only word ShockWave could mutter as he let his arms drop, as the full might energy conflageration finally faded away. He blinked.

Lying scorched beyond recognition on the ground were all that remained of the Giaks, with the repulsive scent of burned flesh drifting through the air. With a curse under his breath, he turned to survey the destruction, as well as attempting to locate its source.

"Oh my God... I don't believe this..." John muttered disbelievingly. From the curled tendrils of smoke emerged a hunched-over figure, visibly attempting to support itself on its arms as it dragged itself painfully forward.

Kumori squinted through the distorting effects of the smoke, with the other fighters bracing themselves against any possible attacks.

"Lay it off, people," an all-too-familiar voice croaked. ShockWave blinked. Several seconds later the battered frame of his elder brother heaved itself from the foggy cloud.

His tattered trenchcoat dangling loosely from his shoulders, Shadow Dragon looked up, acknowledging the small band of warriors with a small nod, and a weak grin. ShockWave rushed forward, dropping his staff on the ground just as his brother staggered forward, catching Shadow Dragon just as he sunk to his knees. He sighed, partly from relief, partly from sheer chagrin.

"You okay?"

"Been worse."

ShockWave chuckled, hefting his brother's arm over his own shoulder. "How did you...?"

Shadow Dragon raised a fluttering finger to his right, holding it up with obvious effort. ShockWave's gaze turned, finding two warriors, each leaning nonchalantly against a tree. Instantly his breath was caught short, as he recognized the two.

"We're in big trouble now, aren't we?" ShockWave asked, his expression grim as Jin and Astaroth turned to walk over to them.

"They helped."

ShockWave turned again, this time to face Shadow Dragon as his face wore an expression that was nothing short of incredulous. "W.. w... WHAT??"

Shadow Dragon stared at Jin squarely in the eye, his irises flashing a black aura as he did so, projecting a telepathic message at Jin's mind. {You managed to convince her?}

The expressionless look on Jin's face did not change, as ShockWave's own incredulous facade slowly subsided. "She believed we had... changed," came Jin's reply, as the fighter added a final word under his breath, "...Zorkaan."

Shadow Dragon grinned slightly at this. {Good... these humans, weak in spirit, feeble in will. The master will be most pleased with the girl.}

=====

Acinomia landed from Victoria's attack in a graceful somersault, landing squarely on her feet in a crouch to lessen the shock of impact, instantly lunging forward again as soon as she regained her balance, her right knee sent forward in a horizontal arc as soon as she was within striking range, succeeding in connecting with empty air.

Her eyes narrowed in surprise as her eyes darted around, finally locating Victoria standing coolly behind her back.

"Quick." A single word was the sole acknowledgement of her opponent's blinding speed. "Too bad all you can do with your speed is to run," was the follow-up remark.

Spinning around, Acinomia extended a leg at shoulder level and aimed at Victoria's head, once again missing as the latter cocked her upper torso back by several inches, allowing Acinomia's leg to whistle through the air. Completing her maneuver, Acinomia dropped back onto the stage, this time with her brows furrowed together.

"You were saying?" Victoria murmured politely, giving a seemingly concerned look at her opponent. Acinomia snarled, this time rushing forward with a plethora of revolving kicks, aimed at the midsection, her frustration growing as each kick was somehow narrowly avoided at the last possible instant, all without visible effort on Victoria's part.

Giving off a cry, a fist shot forward at Victoria's face, and was once more evaded by Victoria neatly shifting her entire body to one side, as Acinomia's entire arm flashed past unhindered.

Acinomia turned to stare at Victoria as she retracted her arm, a strange combination of curiosity, fear and respect on her face. In a visibly last-ditch effort, her leg was brought up in a diagonal path, with Acinomia throwing herself into a forward somersault kick in a full revolution, grunting with frustration as Victoria bent over backwards, supporting herself with her hands and feet with her chest thrust upward.

Acinomia soared directly over her adversary, once again failing to connect as she landed a small distance behind Victoria, only to have the latter quickly right herself, before her entire self transformed into a flash of blue-white energy.

"Psi... MAELSTROM!!!"

The final sensation Acinomia was aware of a searing pain all over her body, as well as the feeling of being taken airborne as multiple sledgehammer-like kicks connected with crushing force.

Flashes of white engulfed her vision, followed by a merciful darkness that encroached on her from all sides as her senses succumbed to the overwhelming pain, serving to shield her from the final force of impact as her body finally descended towards and slammed onto the ground, crashing cleanly through the surface of the stage in the process...

{...and I managed to sever my soul from my body before that happened,} Shadow Dragon continued his mind speech. {Zorkaan has seized control of my body now, but thankfully not my abilities.}

{And you have 48 hours to get it back,} Victoria finished. {But aren't you technically dead by now, since your soul's out of your body?}

{Spirit-Walking. It's something I can do.}

{I see...} Victoria replied with a noticeable tone of scepticism.

"Winner by knockout, Victoria ENID!!" the voice of the referee came over the loudspeakers as Victoria climbed out of the ring, past a slack-jawed Karin and picking her jacket which was draped on one of the ropes, proceeding to tie it around her waist.

"Where are you going?" Karin asked without turning as Victoria walked past her.

"Off... to, settle some business," Victoria breathed heavily from her exhaustion, leaving Karin in deep thought for several seconds. A brief distance behind Karin, Victoria's entire frame flashed with a silver-blue aura, dissipating as Victoria herself phased from view.

=====

        (At the Hospital)

        A second apparition appeared. He seemed to not even be fully in existent. A sheer, gossamer denizen. He came from her shadow just like another weapon cloaked.

        "I lived two souls," Kay spoke.

        She didn't care, neither did her partner.

        "You let hate overcome your mind disguised as love. A fool you are! So easily deceived! Naar is days away from crushing this world into oblivious and your lusting like a whore after a murderer!" Zuke snapped.

        "My, my, you're both disappointed in me," Kay glared. "What do you two call yourselves while you party by night and kill whenever you wish? Because you both possess death and reincarnation you think you have the right to make judgement like Gods?" Kay exclaimed, "You two posses the lowest traits of humans!"

        "You represent the deception of human folly. While you blame schizophrenia, I'll make sure you regret your lack of self control in your soul," Nis remarked as she threw the dagger straight at his face.

        Kay ducked covering his head w/ his arms. Slowly a warm, red liquid escaped a slit in his neck, {She knew I was going to flinch.}

        Zuke approached the bleeding body and slowly placed his hand over Kay's neck. It phased through.

{Zuke isn't even in a mortal body. He's just a spirit.}

But before common sense struck, Kay could feel the last of his life being destroyed. After all, why send a mortal to condemn a soul? Let mortals kills mortals; Let spirits kill spirits.

        A quick gasp escaped as the blood never touched his sheets but acted as a bridge where Zuke could cross and conquer what was left of Kay. The memories of Darius and Acinomia were dying as well as the faint connection with the wandering Darius, wherever he was.

        {I just want out. I want this to be over!} Kay gasped fighting. {Leave me alone}

        "Leave me alone!" He hollered.
 
~*~

"Our enemies surround us, my Liege. Ruanon has been captured, and Darkland armies are massing at Sommerlund's most southern point for the final attack against us. Barricaded off at the east from Durenor, we have no way of receiving any supporting troops, or supplies. It is my estimation, my Liege, that we can only hold off our foes for 60 days, no more."

"Then we will hold out as best as we can. Let Ishir decide upon our fate."

"You are still hoping the Kai Lord will reappear."

"The boy is impeccable, both in skills and spirit. I have faith he will not forsake us in our hour of greatest need."

"I mean no disrespect, my Liege. But in pitting our trust in the Kai, thousands of years ago, I fear our fate had already been sealed then."

"...Go on."

"The entirety of our faith and trust, my Liege, were put on the powers and abilities of the Kai. They became our sole beacon of hope. During the first invasion of the Darklords, the Kai Lords were responsible for our victory. During the Age of Eternal Night, the Kai Master Lone Wolf single-handedly infiltrated the city of Helgedad and prevented us catastrophe.

As time passed, we became all too reliant on the Kai... when they fell, all our collective hopes and spirits were extinguished as well, and now Magnamund lies in smouldering ruins, almost completely conquered by her enemies.

What are we, now that the Kai are not behind us? Where is this Kai, Shadow Dragon, now that the forces of Chaos threaten our very existence? How much longer must we pin our hopes and dreams upon an extinct fantasy?"

=====

"You saved me, didn't you?"

"Yep."

Victoria spun around, eyes darting rapidly as she surveyed her surroundings. Nothing extraordinary could be seen, or felt. A brow arched itself upward in mock bemusement, followed by Victoria tilting her head back downward, gazing intently upon the bustling metropolitan streets from her vantage point, 50 storeys above it.

"...thanks."

'It' sighed. "Look, I wasn't supposed to do that. So do me a favor and keep mum about it, okay?"

"The gods of Light are forbidden to directly intervene in the events, while Naar threatens us all?"

"Is there a problem?" the voice sounded slightly ticked.

Victoria returned to her stance, folding her arms before her chest. "No. Not at all."

"Hell's intents are often bent on straightforward destruction, boy. We prefer to remain subtle. Keep that in mind. And oh, 3 miles... southwest."

"Southwest?" Victoria's head snapped upward, but even as she did so, she could sense 'it' fading slowly into non-existence. "Hm..."

=====

Volpe blinked. And rubbed his eyes. And decided to blink once more, just for good measure. Squik, squik.

The scene didn't change.

His jaw dropped. "The match is... OVER?! But..."

"But what?" Karin replied menacingly, staring at the man who had half-trailed, half-dragged himself after her for the past five minutes. Which had been quite a feat, judging from the various casts and bandages attached to his rather muscular, if bulky form. Her glare wasn't a pleased one, nor her clenched lips. Volpe cringed silently.

"Where's Vicky-chan?" he asked timidly.

*SLAM*

"Owww..." groaned the floored private investigator as Karin's footsteps quickly faded away. "Feminity takes on a whole new definition."

=====

"Hold still..." Kumori bit her lip as she stepped up towards Shadow Dragon. An intricate turn was performed with her palm, causing a warm aura to glow forth. "This might feel a bit paralyzing."

Shadow Dragon grimaced the instant Kumori's palm touched his chest, generating an intense wave of heat and air that jarred ShockWave's grip loose on his elder brother, and several feet away.

A shimmering aurora glowed brightly, causing both Kumori and Shadow Dragon to thrash violently as they sank slowly to the ground as charges of bright energy began to gradually form in the air, revolving around the two with ever increasing speed.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING?" John yelled above the screeching cacophony, holding an arm up to shield his eyes from the light source that was rapidly increasing in intensity, barely concealing Kumori and Shadow Dragon who were both engulfed in spasms. "I DON'T THINK IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO THIS WAY!"

Jin moved forward, his clothing ruffling wildly from the unnatural winds. The Murasame was drawn in one swift motion and jammed with breathtaking speed and precision into the tiny opening between Kumori's palm and Shadow Dragon's chest, tingeing a hint of black as Jin's own energies was into the vortex. With a roar, a charge of ki flashed at Jin's fist, quickly transferring itself to the Murasame, down the blade and to its tip.

"Uh oh..." ShockWave mumbled.

A glancing eruption of dark energy burst outward as Jin, Kumori and Shadow Dragon were blasted apart, with Jin skidding backwards and the other two thrown off-balance. The three figures lay still for several seconds, until Jin pulled himself upright. The other two did not.

"Conflicting energies... their powers were, what, incompatible?" Zuke voiced aloud, lowering his arms as he disengaged his defensive stance.

Iwa raised a brow, "Something is strange about this..."

===========

Natalie slowly opened her eyes... only to see more darkness. "Damn..." she thought, at least until her eyes adjusted enough for her to see she was on the bed in a poorly lit cabin.

She sat up slowly, looking around, and registering that this cabin was definitely not hers, nor any other of her friends' that she'd been to. She then noted the room looked a bit like a college boy's dorm, the bed messy and clothes here and there, with very, very little decor.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, leaning forward to get up but grimacing slightly at the fact that her wounds from the fight with Jin were not completely healed yet...

"Whoa... wait... where are they?" she thought, remembering that when she passed out, Jin and Astaroth were with her... after quite a skirmish. She blushed slightly as the events before her brother showed up replayed in her mind and she absently traced her fingers across her lips lightly, almost not believing it. "For a reclusive, shy guy... he sure was forward with that..."

She sighed, ignoring the slight pain and getting up, her curiosity of whose cabin it belonged to clearly getting the best of her. She glanced downward, idly kicking a pair of black pants, obviously belonging to a man due to the size, out of her way. She then blinked, "Black... who wears black all the time? It would make sense that they wouldn't just leave me there..." she thought.

She walks over to the simple, standard cabin dresser and pulls one of the drawers out, only to find men's underwear, mostly in black. She blinked, "Yup... one of them definitely lives here... only they'd wear black everything," she thought, one thin brow raised slightly.

She closed the drawer and turn to look around a bit more, but finding very little to look at. She walked to the door at the wall opposite the bed. Opening the door, the found the adjoining room, a bit neater than the other, but still obviously belonging to a man.

She walked to the dresser in this room and paused at what she saw on top. There, lay a crystallin black cross, slightly chipped at one edge, with a long loop of thin black cord. She picked it up, looking at it, "Astaroth..."

Her face turned again from curious to melancholic as she sighed and looked at a photo laying next to where the cross was, without a frame. Putting the cross back down, she picked up the photo and examined it. "This... is me..." she thought, eyeing the rather worn photo of a very small girl with chocolate brown hair and blue eyes, smiling widely.

She sighed again and set the photo back in it's place, walking over to sit on what she now figured was her brother's bed.

"Nothing to do but wait... I wonder where they are..." she thought with some worry, as she could vaguely feel the presence of a certain kind of evil somewhere distant on the isle...

======

Iwa knelt next to her unconscious friend. Something was wrong here... the healing energy of Kumori's magic should not have caused such a reaction from Shadow Dragon... yes, something was definitely strange. Her dark eyes turned and narrowed slightly at Shadow Dragon's unconscious form, studying it but failing to detect exactly what was different.

Everyone else stood around, somewhat in shock and wondering exactly what to do or think. ShockWave ran to the side of his brother, "What the hell?"

Astaroth stood with crossed arms and looked at Jin, who placed his sword back in its sheath as he looked back. The former's voice echoed in the latter's mind, "This will cause some problems..."

"I know," came Jin's reply. He walked over to observe the condition of "Shadow Dragon", ignoring ShockWave, who was attempting to wake his brother. Astaroth stood, silent as usual as he simply watched, seeming unconcerned, which was a bit unnerving to a few of the others.

"Are you having trouble waking the body?" Jin sent telepathically to Zorkaan.

The psycic reply was a bit exasperated, "The body has been through hell and the clash of energies did not help neither it or myself. Did you really have to use that to separate us??"

Jin's right brow raised just slightly as he sent his reply, "Would you prefer being left like that?"

"Hn. Anyway... so you do have the girl bound and ready to meet the Master?"

"She's secure, not bound. I saw no need."

"You fool! Yours and Astaroth's actions as of late have been suspicious enough, this is your last chance to redeem yourselves! It's taken too long as it is to get to her! Don't let her out of your sight! Get her, if she trusts you then bring her if you must, but if she in anyway finds out and escapes, the Master will NOT have mercy on you!" Zorkaan hissed in Jin's mind.

Jin's eyes narrowed slightly, but he simply replied, "Fine," and turned to go. Astaroth raised a brow, looking at Jin and knowing some exchange had taken place. "He's sending you for her?"

Jin nodded, almost unnoticeably. Astaroth's facade darkened somewhat, "Don't forget, let nothing happen to her, but if this plan of yours fails and we are unable to keep her... kill her..."

Jin looked at Astaroth for a few seconds with darkened eyes, before telepathically replying, "I understand."

Then suddenly, Jin teleported and disappeared from sight. ShockWave, as well as the rest of those conscious, looked around, "Where did he go?"

"He went... to find someone who might be able to heal your brother," Astaroth replied in simple monotone. ShockWave eyed him suspiciously, but then dismissed it and went back to trying to figure out what the hell had happened.

A flash of silver-blue materialized unnoticed above them as Victoria appeared levitating in mid-air, arms crossed as she regarded the events below with a slightly amused expression.

Dark brown eyes shifted from fighter to fighter, finally resting upon the comatose bodies of Shadow Dragon and Kumori. Now was a good time as any to make a move, she noted as her eyes began to shimmer faintly.

But unnoticed to her, as well as everyone else, "Shadow Dragon's" lips curled slightly into a twisted smile...

"Ahh... finally. Time to wake up," Zorkaan thought as his host body began to respond...

~*~

"You almost done?" Nis asked with a yawn.

        "Yeah, he's putting up a good fight."

        Nisshoku recognized Ayame getting out of a car and walking through the main entrance. "Hurry, we can't be seen. Not like this."

        Zuke nodded and noticed something, "You're molting, dear."

        Nis picked up a black feather and burned it in her palm. The ashes flew from her hand and she then glanced into a mirror. The black wings from her back and her glowing eyes erased any thought that this woman was ever a human.

It makes sense. After all, there is no way a mortal could ever take a soul. Zuke stood by Heagy the entire time and no one ever knew what had happened. –And Nis, side by side with her friends.

Still having the need to protect Iwa, while still concluding a common job. A job no one likes and no mortal can fathom. She tried to reason in the beginning, but in the end she would always get her way. Death would always get their way.

        Ayame screamed when she saw a collapsed Kay, surrounded by doctors and nurses, with blood running down his neck, torso, dripping past the bed and collecting in a puddle on the white floor.

        "Doctor, he's nearing a flat line."

        Kay, with the little energy he had left -

{I just want out…}

{I want to escape…}

{I don't want this life anymore...}

~*~

"You know, he probably still thinks he's dying," Nis-Nis talked with Zuke.

"Let him think that," Zuke solemly spoke.

"He wasn't dying; he was being reincarnated."