Kira

~

A groan is the first sound to leave my lips as I return to the waking world. My brain is slow to catch up, registering only the throbbing pain in my skull.

"Welcome back to the land of the living," Troy's biting remark reaches my ears.

I feel the twitch in my arm to sock his pretty little face but I can barely lift it. My panic spikes.

Why isn't my hand moving?

I pull and tug only to find it's constantly dragged back by a strange sticky substance on the springy white surface we’re laying on.

"Stop that or you'll draw their attention before we get a chance to escape," Troy hisses.

"Where are we?"

"On some web obviously. I don't know how long has passed but Kuro's here too," he's glowing faintly, giving as much light as he can but there's a sickening paleness to his skin, "I guess he's still out. Whatever they injected, they must have given him a double dose."

"Why would they do that?" I asked again.

"This web needs to be cut, his feathers can do just that. They probably don't know you can materialize your weapon again." He looks calm like he's thought this through several times before I could wake up. I want to ask what's wrong with him but his observation has me picking apart the other pieces of our predicament instead.

I had watched enough action movies, to know you never went for the easy escape. If they had half the mind to double-dose Kuro, they probably would’ve thought to do the same to the supposedly powerful Demon Keeper.

'You're right to feel that way. Thanks to my abilities your senses have come back sharper than his.' Lucifer drawls, 'Look around.'

"Archer, I don't think that'll work," I turn to Troy, "They're toying with us. If we try to leave now they'd just catch us again."

Especially with you weak and Kuro out cold.

She keeps that part to herself.

'I can only guess he's weak to venoms from the Spirit Plane.’

'Now you tell me.'

"Brilliant observation, Demona-chan~" A smooth honeyed voice calls out to me from somewhere in the dark cavern that must be one of the many corners of the sewer’s labyrinthine network.

"Glow a little brighter, Archer," I whisper.

He gives me a look that all but says he'd rather take instructions from a stick but with a grimace he uses his Magic Energy.

All around us; on webs attached to any where our eyes can see, were Jorōgumo. An especially large one stands on a thickly woven net of silvery silk not that far in front of me.

Nausea creeps in on me again, Troy must see my face because his words of encouragement force me back under control, "Not now please."

I swallowed down the bile and the urge to vomit.

"Who are you and why are you kidnapping humans?" He turns to the spider woman harshly.

She giggles like a school girl without all the charm of actually being one. Her sickly brown eyes are hollow with no emotion and her lips are painted red, most likely with blood as I seriously doubt anyone would sell her makeup of any kind.

"Since you asked so nicely, have you ever heard of the Tsuchigumo?"

Troy's eyes widened, "You're meant to be much smaller."

"You're not wrong my lovely," she edges closer to us, her eight legs scurrying confidently across the dipping web until she's right in front of ours. At this distance, her smell invades my nostrils, it's not the repulsive stink of the sewers, instead, it was an almost hypnotizing floral scent that would have convinced me she wasn't all that bad.

She leans closer to Troy, holding his chin between her thumb and forefingers, "Pretty, pretty, you'd be such a shame to eat but mortal blood tastes so divine."

"Why are you here?" He asks with no signs of obvious irritation, how I wish I could remain that level waded but my nerves are firing rapidly, heart beating so fast I'm sure everyone can hear it.

"Master Nightmare summoned me and granted me the power of souls if I could get my sisters together to bring him new stock and help him kill the former Keeper," She grins with sharp, pointy teeth, black oily hair handing down to her abdomen, "I don't know how that went though, the sisters I lent him never returned. Imagine my surprise when a week ago he told me they succeeded, but there's a new one we have to draw out."

There's a loud crunch to my left. I'm almost afraid to look but turn my head anyway, catching sight of a group of Jorōgumo devouring the body of a nameless civilian. They tear skin from the bone with their jaws and lapped at the blood with a fervor that chills my blood.

I should expect it, they're evil spirits after all but dread still claws at my insides.

The Tsuchigumo oblivious to these thoughts continues, "My final instructions were to bring the new one alive and kill her subordinates. I sent my sisters out just to know how many of you were searching and which powers you possessed, they're not the brightest or strongest but they're very vicious darlings."

Her human hand falls from Troy's face, "Now I've sated your curiosity, my sisters grow impatient," She crawls back some inches from us, spitting an slimy orang liquid onto Kuro who's just beneath Troy anr I, enabling her to pluck him from the trap.

"Demona, summon your weapon and get us out of here," Troy's whisper more of a hoarse trembling sound, but his anger is clear. It's affecting me too.

"And do what exactly?! You're still weak, and Kuro's out and I don't exactly strong enough to deal with…with all this!."

"If you don't do something soon, he's going to be eaten, try!"

That was exactly the point I was trying to make. It's the reason I'd insisted on a team in the first place. They were both more experienced, they had knowledge of how to deal with yokai and monsters. They’re meant to be the ones helping me!

You're meant to be the stronger ones! I want to scream at him but a part of me knows I'd be wrong to do that now. The same part of me that knows I was wrong to think that way from the beginning. I had hoped to just tag along, providing cover and learning but not getting myself killed.

Getting us out of this mess was beyond that, whatever I did, we'd all die. If I remained still, I'd live to speak to Nightmare.

Tsuchigumo's booming voice startles me from my whirlwind of thoughts, "Sisters, who wants the first bite?!” she dangles Kuro's limp form over the pit of spider women below, all jostling and snapping at each other.

The image of the eating Jorōgumo surfaces in my mind, my skin sprawls and I can feel other emotions egging me on. I want to shove them down.

If I move I die, if I stay I'd live and be delivered to Nightmare, he'd find out who I am and then hold my family against me and I surrender because there's nothing we can do.

Nothing I can do.

Survive.

The word I lived by, it had guided me so long, why now o all times did it seem like the wrong option.

Troy seems to pick up on my resignation from the events happening around us, he makes his usual disapproving sound, "I knew you'd be useless." He starts to struggle and I notice him pull out a tiny blade from within the folds of his cloak.

"You'll just fall too," I point out weakly.

"I'll fight," it's the most obvious course for him as I've come to realize. When it comes to Demons or Yokai he doesn't see any other option.

Still I'd hoped for something more, I stare, what the hell was wrong with these two?

A mirthless laugh burns at my throat and I let it free.

'Have you finally gone mad human brat?' Lucifer sound worried, in fact he almost seems amused. Is it a front? Does it matter? Do I even give a shit?

I can feel several eyes on me but I don't care. I can't help it. I turn to Troy, he honestly thinks he can take them in the state he's in while the brains behind our operation is taking the world's longest nap!

They were insane.

Insanity.

Was that really what I was lacking? I search for the person I was when I faced Beelzebub. I guess we all really weren't that different. Anyone would have to be insane to do this anyway.

Tsuchigumo is still dangling Kuro by his shirt and teasing her sisters, his face looks strangely peaceful, my enhanced sight picking out his features, especially the little mole below his left eye that stirs a buried emotion within me.

"Remind me to get you one tomorrow."

To my left, Troy is still cutting himself toward his own demise.

It's crazy how I'm just starting to realize that in our own ways, all three of us had been way in over our heads. Some talent, some wins and just enough luck had done the heavy lifting.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

I can't fight the feeling though, the emotions spurring me on, mine and mine alone this time, told me I'd be better off being insane with these morons than anywhere else.

'Lucifer, I need strength.'

'That's all up to you, brat.'

Tsuchigumo screams ecstatically, “Feast my lovelies!” She tosses Kuro's body into the air.

"Shit!" Troy curses, freeing himself just in time and diving down after the smaller boy. He catches Kuro but his wings don’t show letting me know he's still too weak.

They’re going to die.

The image of feasting spiders flashes in my mind.

More blood on my hands.

The bloodied hand swirls tauntingly in my memory.

Lucifer's voice is a low mocking whisper, ‘Keep running, weakling.’

How irritating.

Fear, disgust and indignation pulse through my veins, I can feel the vile emotion boiling my blood and leaving throbbing burns within my flesh. The air around me flares to life, searching hungrily for a target and slicing the entire web to pieces in their quest.

In seconds, I'm hurtling down, summoning my scythe as I do. I spin in the air glaring down at the pit of Jorōgumo.

Following Lucifer's instructions from our first mission, I envision and let my instincts take over, directing my Magic Energy to burst out around me, a roaring whirlwind wraps me in its embrace, winds of fury slamming all except for myself and the boys into the brick work.

We're carried safely to the ground where Troy lays Kuro down.

"Can you fight?" I ask, my Energy is crashing wildly through me, that sense of euphoria that I'd breached another filling me with courage and a high of power. Even then I know I can’t take these monsters on my own.

'Going at fifteen percent,’ I can almost hear the smirk in my Demon’s voice, ‘I'll start to worry if all I have to do is degrade you to make you stronger.’

'Screw you.'

Troy, oblivious to my inner turmoil, holds out his hands, lightning sparking to create his bow and arrow, "I can cover you,” a mesh dome of sparks and light surrounds him and Kuro, he's pushing himself, I can see the strain it's taking but I won't complain, “Take out the creep at the top, don't worry about us."

My eyes drift to where Tsuchigumo stands snarling at us from above.

"Got it," I say, charging at the monsters that had surrounded me. They throw themselves at us in a flurry of legs and jaws. I cut them down, their splattering onto my face and clothes but all that flashes through my mind are their actions, the lives they've taken.

The ones they've ruined.

I'm angry, filled with the urge to take my annoyance out on the source. I jump off walls, and webs, cutting down the yokai without hesitation, boosting my progress with the wind and urging my healing ability to the max to counter the poison I get from bites as I move forward.

Arrows of golden light soar past me, hitting the targets I miss with my scythe. I take one final jump, my feet planting firmly on Tsuchigumo's unsteady web of silk. There's a gurgling sound from her throat, the insides of her chest and neck lighting up as she hurls at me. I roll to the side, almost falling off edge, in time to avoid getting roasted by a ball of flames.

Fire breathing, just my luck.

"Thanks for underestimating me and not giving me more poison. I'll be sure to make this quick." I sneer, I charge and strike, gritting my teeth as she deflects my attack with one of her many legs.

“My mistake I'll make sure to not repeat it when next you're tied up" She hissed, breathing out more flames.

I disperse them with the wind and push the embers, changing the shape of the blades each time to keep her confused. My best bet to keep her disoriented and get her off the net, it's a terrible match up, my balance not on par with hers but I push on. I speed up my movements, striking and cutting a web with each swipe. There's a warning snap as our weight does the rest of the work.

"Fool!" She snickers at me, opening her mouth. Probably to shoot a web with which to grab onto the ceiling.

Golden light flashes beside me. Severing the cord.

Nice work Angel-boy, I smirk.

Tsuchigumo's eyes are still locked on mine, I see the fear and anger in them as she struggles to find her bearings. I don't give her that grace, not that it's deserved. I raise my scythe as we fall, the momentum of my swing cleaving her head clean off. Blood gushes everywhere. I'm spinning, catching a glimpse of her anguished face before it disappears into the darkness of the sewers.

Her body hits the ground with a dull crunch. I let the winds float me down to Troy's side. We're covered in foul smelling blood, me far more than him.

"Disgusting," the blond sounds highly offended. With me or with the mess, I'm sure but I'll a safe guess it's both.

The remaining Jorōgumo linger around us, hesitant to approach now that their leader has perished, even so I wasn't letting them leave, not after everything.

My voice sounds distant, even to me, "We've still got more to clean up."

Troy nods, “It's about time it ends.”

***

By the time we climb out of the sewers we're all covered in blood and bits of flesh which I try not to let my thoughts linger on. I had also discovered my new found fear of spiders.

I gag constantly as we trek into the cold, desolate streets, my phone letting me know it was just a few minutes after four in the morning.

On a Saturday thankfully.

I can practically hear my bed whispering sweet nothings in my ear already.

Speaking of which, my gaze shifts to Kiro who's on Troy's back, he'd definitely be enjoying it if he was awake. "Is he going to be fine?"

"Yeah. I'll just take him to my place. He'll wake up and leave on his own later." The older blond replied.

"Doesn't he have…a guardian or something?" I know he'd said he has no family when we first met but that didn't mean he had no one, right?

Troy gives me a skeptically raised eyebrow like he can't believe my ignorance, "Kuro has no home," he's a few steps in front of me, "He's been that way since I met him. As a Magic user, he's unaffiliated, as a person…"

"You ever tried getting him to stay?"

"I didn't, someone else did, he declined," He casts a glance at the smaller boy on his back, an unreadable expression in his gaze, "I don't have the energy to waste by convincing stubborn morons what's good for them. He'll live, no matter what, so that's enough for me."

'How does he eat?', 'Where does he sleep?', 'What about when it rains?' All these questions float around my head, not satisfied with a ‘He'll live.’

Troy is speaking before I can ask, "I don't know how he does it but it's none of my business. Knowing him doesn't mean knowing about him, all I do know is that his parents were killed by Nightmare and he wants revenge." Troy turned to me, "That's all he needs us for. Revenge. Don't think about his age or how young he looks, his issues go beyond enjoying the taste of blood, don't get swept up in it."

It's funny, I already feel we're all being swept along.

But I hold my tongue.

We keep walking, taking back alleys I can find through my map app until Troy tells me he can fly once more. He spreads his wide sparkling wings, adjusting Kuro so the boy rests properly in his arms. We hear mumbled words from the unconscious boy and it soothes my nerves a bit. Troy only looks more agitated.

"Drool, disgusting," He huffs, glancing back at me, "Get home without causing trouble."

I nod with a dismissive wave, "Yeah, yeah, and rest up. We've got school after tomorrow. You look like trash." My lips twitch in a victorious smile as I note the twitch in the corner of his eye.

Good, have a taste of your own medicine.

I should have known better as I'm nearly blown back by the force at which he takes off. His wings beating even strokes through the air.

Petty bastard.

I'm still watching their silhouettes against the slowly brightening sky, the sun is coming up and soon people will be safe to move once more.

I'm alive.

We're alive.

I spread my arms, falling to the ground as tears of relief pour down my face.

***

I wake up sometime around noon. Feeling slightly better but my muscles still aching when I moved. I pick my phone up and put it off silent mode as I male my way to the kitchen.

"I was staring to think you'd sleep the whole day away?" Ares teases me with a grin, he snatches the coffee packet out of my hand and replaces it with a mug of tea. He liked to limit how much we had since it's bad for our health or something.

I don't really mind except for times when I was really in a coffee mood. I decide to let it go for today.

One missed call from Troy.

I can feel my brows furrowing in concern.

"Was okay," I reply automatically to something Ares said but I didn't quite hear.

He plants a kiss on my forehead, pulling me from my worries, "I ordered gyudon from a local restaurant. Your share is in the fridge. Brush your teeth right after and join me and your sister for a movie, okay?"

It was probably going to be some new anime he wanted to get us into.

I give him a bright smile, "Sure."

He smiles back, hurrying in the direction of the living room. I look back at my phone, at the missed call, spirits falling when I remember that Kuro doesn't have this.

I want to check on him.

The number picks up on the first ring!

"Kira! What took you so long!"

"Kuro?!" I really shouldn't be stunned he sounds so...fine…

"Yeah! I'm okay but Troy isn't, poison from yokai or Demons really messes with his system. He's sick."

"No, I'm not, you nuisance. Give me back my phone," I can hear Troy's muffled voice in the background.

"He's lying and he's terrible at it. Anyway, we won't be able to meet up today. I'm afraid he'll croak if I leave his side for even one second, like geez you should see how pathetic he looks."

"Stop making false statements, It's only a slight fever." Troy hisses, he sounds closer, there's the sound of footsteps, maybe a struggle and a whine on Kuro's part. It seems Troy has the phone fully now, "Vermillion, I'm fine, the brat doesn't know what he's saying."

"I know you are. Rest up, Angel boy."

"Don't call me that," He snaps before hanging up. I smile to myself, some part of me happy to see those two as friends now even though I know they'll never quite see me the same.

Am I dumb for thinking that?

Maybe.

And probably dumber thinking they'd open up to me. I have no idea what the future holds but my chest feels lighter knowing they'll be by my side.

If only for a little bit.

***

The next time I see both of them is in front of the school gates.

I'm surprised to say the least.

Given that they'd missed our morning jog, I assumed Troy was still too sick to resume school that day.

Apparently, I'd been wrong.

He’s there, in full Hamada High uniform, hair short but still long enough to brush the nape of his neck. He looks better when it's longer but he’s still hot, as Kuro would say. I can't help wondering how it grows when he changes to his vigilante outfit but I doubted he'd tell me. The expression on his face tells me he'd rather be anywhere but here but I can sense some excitement in the sharpness of his gaze.

Kuro is by his side dressed casually, with his scarf as always, and bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet as he constantly says words I'm sure the blond is pretending not to hear.

I approach them, "You're both here?!"

"This is my school too now."

"Sure, sure, Troy's a big boy now." Kuro pouts, "Just don't go making friends and forget about me."

"You're not my friend and such things are merely a waste of time."

Kuro rolls his eyes dramatically, turning to me he pulls me into an unexpected hug, "Thanks, he told me what you did back there."

"Anytime," I beam, taking off my bag and reaching into it to pull out something. I push a white box into his hand, seeing his eyes nearly pop out of his head when he realizes what it is.

"I told you not to bother with this."

"I think I decide what I bother with or not when it comes to my friends," My smirk falls when I notice he's watching me with confusion.

"Kira-"

I cut him off before he could refuse me, "I took care of the internet and everything, you can also come and visit sometimes. We have extra rooms in case you want to sleep over," I add quickly, "I know for a fact Ares wouldn't mind, Kat might take some getting used to though."

A chuckle bubbles up from him, there's a glassy look to his eyes when our gazes lock again but he’s smiling, "I'm fine Kira, but I'll stop by, maybe I'll tie Troy up and bring him with me."

"That's kidnapping," The older boy points out in irritation.

Kuro pretends not to hear.

My face relaxes into a smile of my own, I can work with that.

"We're going to be late Vermillion,” Troy scowls at me.

I gave Kuro one more hug before grabbing Troy's arm and pulling him through the entrance, ignoring his protests to unhand him, "I'll show you around, you're going to love this place."

He merely sighs, trying not to make a scene.

I glance back over my shoulder at Kuro on the sidewalk. He's focused on the phone, a single glistening tear slipping down his face, he rubs at it harshly with his sleeve before he walks off.