Kira

~

After the incident with the Haru, I was finally getting a hold on Mammon's powers.

My excitement was thoroughly stomped into the ground on realizing how much Kuro wanted me to cover in a short span of time.

I grunted from exersion as I focused my mind on holding the old, beaten down car up while simultaneously swatting away the arrows Troy kept pelting me with.

I could tell he was going easy on me because at the speed at which I was moving the extra chains he would have found several openings.

"Go faster, Angel boy." Kuro said, sitting on some pile of scarp and studying us.

When I really thought about it, he'd never actually joined us in training, he mainly just instructed both of us and gave tips here and there.

Looking at him closely she could the aura he concentrated when he wasn't suppressing it like during day. He was strong, but by how much.

"Come on Demona, put some work into it." He cooed when my pace faltered once more.

At those words, I crumbled, chains vanishing into ash and my body falling to my knees. There was a loud crash and several creaks that came from the car.

"I'll bounce back in a minute," I winced, holding up a hand, I turned to Kuro, "How do you do it?"

He tilted his head questioning, his red-ish tint around him against the night sky making him look ethereal, like some being meant to be anywhere but a scrap yard.

"You can make several feathers do several different thing at once, but you've only got one mind right? How do you not lose focus at some point?"

"Who said I never lose focus?"

I said nothing, not sure how to answer that as I'd just simply thought he could.

"Just unlike your chains, my feathers are an extension of my body. Like another arm or eye or leg. They weren't always like that at first but I learned," I feather that had been skirting round the scrap yard flew obediently into his waiting palm, "You have to stop thinking of them as weapons, you have the connect with them as they connect with you, so that your minds are in sync."

My mind went back to how I'd been losing control before the incident. All this time, I thought I had been fighting Mammon, but maybe, just maybe, these things did have a mind of their own, which was why they were loyal to him.

Once he relinquished his hold to me, they did also but I still hadn't learned them.

"Again." I said turning to Troy.

"Are you sure?" Kuro asked.

"I'll go a bit faster time." The blond stated, the air already crackling from the energy he was gathering.

I nodded resolutely, getting stronger was my aim now, so just in case they left me. When they no longer wanted to work with me after I told them I just wanted this power gone. I truly wanted to help them stop Nightmare, but the was I couldn't.

I never told them, why would I? I was completely frightened at the prospect of fighting him again. If I ever made it that far. He could summon demons of equal levels of Lucifer and Mammon. Who's today he doesn't have stronger ones?

Thoughts like that kept me up at night after patrol, but I couldn't tell the boys. My pride wouldn't let me.

I swiped Troy away, sending him back a few feet but he merely glared back.

I had to be strong, keep wearing my best smile and working hard.

He ducked out of my reach, sending a bolt towards me almost immediately, I rolled to my left before it managed to connect with me.

I had to keeping pushing so I could stand in my own when the time came and they left because they couldn't stand working who'd give up on stopping some crazy villian.

In a matter of seconds I was in the ground again, Troy's boot pressing onto my stomach with not too much force.

I struggled to get up and call on my powers but I was too mentally drained, he shoved me back down.

I gripped at the dirt beneath me, 'I'm sorry,' I apologized to no one in particular in my head, 'I don't want to die.'

I couldn't die fighting or in a blaze of glory like the both of them were ready to. I wanted to go peacefully, asleep with happy memories and warmth in my chest. It was stupid but I wanted to be happy and these dumb powers ruined everything.

Troy got his leg off me and held out a hand.

I stared.

"You can't honestly want to lie there all night." He scoffed.

I ignored his hand, pushing myself to my feet, locking on his now gold eyes, "Again."

"You're not serious." He stated, rejecting.

"I am."

"Let's just cool down and get to patrolling, Demona." Kuro cut in lightly, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder, "You've done enough for tonight, school tomorrow, remember?"

He was right, I couldn't burn myself out now or the little rest I got from the few hours of sleep we got just wouldn't be enough for me.

I gave him a stiff nod in response.

I took to patrolling a precinct not far from the school. It would take a while for Tokyo to come back to life but at night, at least the people would stop living in fear.

Nothing major had happened so far after the Jubokku attack. There were brighter lights and more people moving around for a little more time after the curfew.

News was police would be resuming patrols as the heat from Demona's activities had reduced.

I let my feet dangle off the side of the building, the glow of the sprawled out city before me was completely breath taking, but even though it wasn't Nagoya, I was still reminded of the life I had there.

I didn't want to remember. I kept shoving it further and further into the dark recesses of my mind but the more force I used, the stronger it resurfaced until it finally gave birth to the thought of visiting my former home.

What a pain.

I was about to move onto my next destination when Kuro's voice broke into my thoughts.

'Kira, can you see if you can reach Troy? I'm not getting anything.'

I tried to reach Troy as well but he wasn't answering as well.

I sent out a wave and found him but his aura was definitely weaker than it usually was.

I became immediately worried, 'Kuro track me and meet me at his location.'

'On it.'

I sprung into action, power jumping past buildings and watching everything blur by thanks to my enhanced speed. I was quickly getting faster and I could already lift objects several times my own weight. My eyesight and instincts were getting better as well.

Which Why I was easily able to spot Troy's leaning heavily against the side of a building. His breaths seemed to be coming in heavy and slow, and his hand was gripping a bloody wound at the side of his shoulder.

"What happened? Where's the danger?" I rushed in asking as I landed before him, drawing my scythe.

He shook his head, "I don't know what attacked me, it moved too quickly but... I think it poisoned me."

I paled instantly, poison from yokai was easily Troy's main weakness. I wasn't sure if whatever was in his system would only knock him out and weaken him like the Jorōgumo poison did.

But I also didn't know if it could kill him in a few minutes.

Kuro arrived just as Troy slumped into unconsciousness and into me. I caught him easily.

"He's been poisoned and whatever did it ran away." I informed the younger boy.

"Or it's waiting around to follow us." He suggested.

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He closed his eyes in concentration, "I can't feel any eyes on us but you can never be too safe."

He pulled out three blank slips of talisman papers and pierced his thumb on the sharp piece of flint attached to his garrote string. He hurriedly scribbled sever symbols before slipping one into the neck folds of my cloak, another into the collar of Troy's top and one into his own cloaks.

"We have to take him home." He said simply while making some hand symbols.

I gave a nod of understanding, "I'll carry him ,you lead the way."

"Are you sure? I could just create a feather bed."

"You need to fly fast, and I'll have no problem keeping up while carrying him." It was a bit awkward considering Troy was a bit taller than I was but managed to get a good hold on him, "Let's go."

"He's going to be so embarrassed about this later." The dark haired boy chuckled watching where Troy's head laid on my chest. His breaths were becoming short, like he was struggling to keep take them in.

"Get moving, Kuro."

He spread his dark wings, "Right, don't let those things fall off and the moment you think they have, tell me immediately."

I didn't have time to reply as he swiftly took to the skies. I got between two buildings and used them both to get back to the top. I spotted Kuro hovering some distance away and took off after him.

We soon got to a nice looking housing district with narrowed down streets. Kuro made us stop once again to sense around for anyone tailing us, after making sure we were safe, he pointed to a house surrounded by a not too tall brick fence.

He pushed a button next to the small gate while I adjusted Troy into a slightly standing position. He was coming too slowly but his face was still scrunched up in pain.

The gate was opened by a youngish looking male, probably in his early twenties. The tips of his dark hair were frosted blue and the tired look in his eyes vanished as soon as he noticed the stated Troy was in.

"Uncle Ren, Troy's been poisoned." Kuro said quickly.

The man, Uncle Ren apparently, rushed forward and took Troy from my hold, saying a rushed out thanks and inviting us in.

We crossed the small yard into the house. Other than the door that led outside, the interiors were of a traditional Japanese style. We followed him to a door, that Kuro slid open to reveal a quaint room with a simple bed, a tall closet in one corner, a desk in another and cushions piled up next to them.

The top of the desk held several notebooks and music sheets, as well as a flute. The walls were covered in posters of people I assumed could only be musicians.

Describing myself as surprised would be an understatement, of all the things I expected Troy's room to look like, this wasn't it. My expectations were filled with books, weights and probably a punching bag.

It was easy to forget he was a regular teenager when his entire demeanor constantly oozed the I'm-better-than-you energy.

"Kira, right?"

My blood turned cold as I hurriedly spun around to met the eyes of Uncle Ren as he lay Troy on the bed, "How..."

"Troy's told us all about you, Kuro might have mentioned you during a visit as well."

I turned to Kuro, "So both of you do gossip about me?"

He rubbed the back of hair, smiling nervously, "We would never."

The older man in the room chuckled, "They don't say anything bad for the most part."

I gestured to Troy, "What are we going to do about him?"

Uncle Ren sighed, bending to ruffle Troy's hair a bit, "This idiot will be fine, no need to worry. Did you see what got him?"

Kuro and I gave slow head shakes.

Uncle Ren nodded, "Go sit in the living room, I'll be with you after sort him out."

"Thanks a lot Mr Ren." I sigh, relief filling my veins at the assurance Troy would be fine.

"Just call me Xie Ren." He gave me a polite smile before leading us out.

Kuro and I sat sat not too far apart, I could see his eyes flitting in the direction of Troy's room every few seconds. I was just as anxious but this Ren person seemed to know Troy a great deal so I put my mind to rest that our blond was in good hands.

This was his home after all.

It was about thirty minutes before we saw Ren once more, he walked into the room bringing in the scent of herbs and spices with him. A sheen of sweat could be seen on his brow but save for that, he seemed no different.

He was also holding a tray of what I assumed was tea.

"I'm sorry that idiot's put you through so much trouble tonight." He sighed, pouring our drinks and then falling into his own seat.

The only person I was used to hearing insult Troy was Jade. Everyone else was probably too terrified or too enamored to do so.

I was a mix of both.

"He said it snuck up on him so it couldn't be helped." I said taking sip from my cup, the taste was strongly soothing.

Xie Ren waved dismissively, "That's most likely a lie; nothing can sneak up on Troy. He probably sensed it and decided he could take it on by himself, then it got him, it had to be really quick to pull that off."

I let my hood fall from my head and pulled down my mask, not much use some he already knew who I was, "You seem to know him pretty well."

"I knew him a bit before I decided to become Master Wei's disciple."

"Is Troy a disciple as well?" I couldn't help but asking. Troy hardly spoke about himself and even Kuro never said anything beyond how they'd met the one time before teaming up with her.

"It's a bit more complicated than that you see," Xie Ren dropped his empty cup on a saucer, "Troy was picked up by the Master's younger sister on her trip in England, they found him on the road and he had no memories of who he was or where he'd come from. At least that's what I was told.

"Master Wei arrived that same night because the spirits led him there, the Mistress wanted to raise Troy as her child but Master Wei managed to convince her that his destiny was far beyond what she had planned and he would only thrive under intense discipline."

"He wasn't wrong there." Kuro chuckled his input.

Xie Ren nodded, "You could say that. Master Wei took him back to China so the Mistress could finish her business trip. For as long as I've know Troy, he's always received gifts from the Mistress but he was always more interested in training and the great destiny Master Wei spoke about him."

"His path had been decided front the start, huh?" Kira said, tone low and bordering on sympathy.

"Not exactly, he chose it himself after realizing he had powers. Troy would never do something he doesn't want, especially when there's no gain for him," Xie Ren's eyes seemed wistful now, "I can always remember how his eyes blazed when he first got into all this angel nonsense, he made the Master change his name. He took it a bit too far in elementary school, but he's calmed quite a bit now."

"But he might as well be right though, so cold but yet so beautiful." Kuro sighed.

There was the sliding sound of a door, we all turned to the hallway to see Troy marching towards us. His steps were light but clearly careful, the only signs that he was putting far more effort into them.

The yukata that covered his form was lose and his hair was still long and a bit all over the place.

He grabbed Xie Ren and pulled the slightly older man out towards the hallway, he paused and turned back to I and Kuro, gold eyes blazing, "Gossiping about someone is a very bad habit." He spat before pulling an amused looking Ren out if the room.

Soon I was able to hear an angry Troy going at it in another language at Ren.

"What's going on?"

Kuro shrugged, "My mandarin is a bit rusty but let me give it a try." He whispered and we crept towards the hallway to listen.

"Okay... he's pretty angry Ren's still kept us here...now..."

I nodded but Ren was talking now, "Hurry what's he saying?"

Kuro listened a bit before chuckling, "He's brushing it off and... making fun of Troy I think..."

I heard both I and Kuro's name but waited to for Kuro to translate.

"He's saying... it'll be a bit hard for me now you're here since we're both equally cute and...which one of us does he like now?"

I felt heat flood my cheeks immediately, then for no reason I burst out laughing. Kuro joined me shortly after.

"I find that a bit offensive though since I'm definitely cuter than you." Kuro got out once we had settled.

I was about to throw something back when Troy appeared at the entry way, brows furrowed and cheeks a bit flushed.

"We're you two idiots eavesdropping?"

"It's very mean of you to assume to the worst if us Angel boy." Kuro defended.

"Then why are you both on the floor instead of the chair?" The blond hissed.

"Uh... exercise..." I stopped before anymore stupid words got out, Kuro placed a comforting hand in my shoulder as Troy roughly pulled us to our feet.

"Thank you for bringing me here, you may leave now."

"Not so fast, you haven't told us how you're feeling." I protested.

He shrugged, pushing some stray hair out of his eye, "I don't feel as weak as before, it'll probably be better by sunrise."

"You don't have to come to school you know?" I said.

"I'm fine, I'll just skip the jog in the morning." He said, a note of finality in his voice, which I refused to concede to.

"But-"

Kuro took hold of my hand and squeezed gently, I stopped talking and watched him level Troy with his ever charismatic smile, "I'll see her out, just get back to resting."

Troy huffed, looking between both of us before walking back towards his room, Ren coming to his side to escort him. "Make sure you leave as well."

"We both know you don't want that." Kuro teased as he led me to the door, he squeezed my hand again, "There's no getting through to that moron."

I had nothing to add to that since it was totally true.

"Don't worry, I'll watch over him, and Ren's pretty good at keeping him in line as well."

"I wonder when I'll get the same power over him like you guys." I couldn't help but sigh.

Kuro led me out the door, drawing another talisman and tucking it into my hand, closing my wrists around it with his hands.

"Troy's just like any other person, even though he refuses to see it; and like everyone else, you just need to know when to push, and when to pull. If you surrender completely, he'll see you as nothing and if you try too hard, he'll definitely make sure to put you back in place."

"The definition of an ass." I felt even more lost.

He gave me a thumbs up, "Call me when you get home."

"Sure will." I said before heading to the rooftops. Deciding I'd try to swing a bit before I head back home. We had to be prepared for when we'd meet that fox spirit.

A powerful Kitsune that even Kuro was tentative to go in unprepared to face.

I wasn't going to be caught off guard. I looked down at the chains in my grip, I'd make them obey me before then, I'd master them and make them sync with me so the power to protect all that I love and return to my life would finally be with reach.

And when it was, I'd grab it without a second thought.