Kira

~

The sting on my palm as I spiked the ball onto the other side of the net sent tingles of excitement down my spine, especially when Sasaki and the others were unable to stop it.

I let out a whoop of joy and gave Kamura-san a high five for the nice pass. Wiping the sweat from my brow I gestured for Kaito bring over a water bottle.

"You're doing great Kira," He said sweetly, "The mid air twist was pretty impressive."

"Thanks I used to take gymnastics lessons back in the States." I grinned. Back then, I'd had issues with my body image so Ares thought lessons like that would help me build up confidence in myself. He was intuitive that way.

Which was why I worried my well kept secret wouldn't be well kept for too long.

"I just thought it'd be nice to start integrating some skill into my counters." I told Kaito.

"So you were a ballerina too, Vermillion?" Sasaki sneered walking under the net to my side. The neckline of her white shirt was drenched in sweat and showing way too much but it would be pointless to point out. She snatched the water bottle from my hand.

"Not really." I responded, I wasn't going to be baited by her tone.

"Oh, can you do those split things?" Tenya Fubuki asked, twiddling her fingers with a nervous smile.

"Well..."

"Go ahead Kira." Kamura-san egged as well.

I really hated when people asked me to do this. I sighed and stretched my legs before I slowly went down into a side splits.

There were claps from the few watching, Sasaki merely snorted and muttered, "Showoff."

"Can you do some flips next?" Tenya asked again but Captain Miura wasn't having it.

"This isn't the time or place for this, take your five minute break like regular people."

I gave a nodded as I got up, thanking Kaito for the water and jogging off to my friends who had become so regularly expected that they had another bench specially for them.

Haru ran towards me, grabbing my wrists excitedly and completely unbothered by my sweat soaked skin, "Kira that was awesome, you jump so high every time and you always hit the ball...and-and...it's all so cool."

"Told you," Kuro joined in.

It was actually Haru's first time witnessing me play, he had constantly refused to come along because of his anxiety but today he'd finally worked up the courage to come with the others.

I was happy for him, and also happy that my hard work was paying off. Kaito's compliments were enough to indicate that.

I was working my butt off and probably running on fumes at the end of every day but I couldn't stop. Our mission was tomorrow night and we had to be back before dawn I could get enough rest for Saturday morning practice.

"You look a little pale Kira." Jade said, point at me with the new manga she'd just started reading.

"Really?" I reached for my bag to pick out my compact mirror but Coach Makino's whistle signalled it was time to get back to practice.

I ran back to the court without a second thought, I was okay and all I had to do was put my all into practice.

Soon, it all came to an end and after we all cooled down, we got to cleaning up. I was helping Kaito put away some heavy equipment when my vision began to swim, black spots dancing in and out of sight.

The world seemed to sway, at least, that what I thought was happening. It took a second to realize that I was the one tipping over.

There was a loud bang, followed by panic screams. I heard the captain screaming something, in a flash someone was carrying me.

I could hear Troy as well, he was yelling at Kuro to call Ares.

As the world started to fade, my thoughts were about how much deep shit I was in.

***

"We've run numerous tests Mr Vermillion, your daughter is fine." The doctor said to Ares who was sitting beside my bed.

I was texting in an attempt not to make eye contact with my stepdad.

Nearly two hours had passed since I fainted in the gymnasium. I'd been asleep until thirty minutes prior, feeling a bit more refreshed but not by much.

Ares was already there, asking the doctors to run more tests and find anything wrong with me. He wasn't being his best self at the moment. He had refused to look me in the eyes as well so I decided to get in contact with my friends.

Apparently, Kaito had been the one to carry me to the school clinic. I'd only been there a few minutes and when Mr Nobutoshi, the school nurse, had found nothing wrong, Ares brought me here for proper tests.

I put it at the back of my mind to call Kaito to say thanks and sorry for the trouble.

At the moment, I was arguing with Troy and Kuro who were constantly trying to persuade me from coming to training.

Well, Kuro was the one trying to convince me while Troy just said he'd kick me all the way back into my room of I showed showed my pathetic face that night.

Yes, those were his exact words.

"It's probably just stress." The doctor said, her tone was calm and curt, Ares must have been getting to her with his questions and demands.

I put my phone down and turned to him, "Ares, the nice lady is probably right. I'll slow down and be all better by tomorrow."

He threw a slight glare my way before giving a nod in agreement.

In a few minutes, we were both seated in the car and driving towards home. I turned my attention to the world beyond the window, willing the tense atmosphere between us to go away.

Sadly, that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

"Kira...what exactly is going on with you?" He asked suddenly.

"Nothing, Ares, I'm fine," I faced him to see that his eyes were still on the road but his grip on the steering wheel had tightened significantly, his knuckles were white and he looked more anxious than angry at this point.

"What is it you can't tell me Kira? You think I don't notice? I've been taking care if you for years now and you think I haven't learnt how to tell things are wrong?"

"Ares-"

"It's the little things, Kira. How the smile on your lips and eyes don't match, you suddenly started eating more, the way everything just feels different when I look at you. Like you're you but there's someone else there, something new, different, and I don't know how to handle it."

I said nothing

"I can tell Kira, you're not sharing something. I'll be waiting but until you tell me, I'll continue to be worried. If you still want to move back, just say so, I'll try to finish up work quick and we'll go back."

This man was the worst, making me feel more guilty than I already was. A few weeks ago, I would have jumped at the opportunity to get out of here.

Now, with all that was happening, I couldn't leave, not yet anyway. The responsibility of protecting the Seal was a shackle that bound me to city of Tokyo and until I found a new person to take these chains from me, I was stuck here.

I couldn't leave Japan without a Keeper. I couldn't leave Kuro and Troy to go on by themselves.

I had no idea what to tell Ares that would ease his dread. The truth was out of the question since that might only get him killed and he'd probably be able to tell a half hearted lie if I did say something.

I forced myself to settle into the seat, my gaze going back outside. The drive home felt much longer than twenty minutes and all that time I couldn't stop agonizing about how things were constantly yanked out of my control.

***

"We told you not to come." Troy hissed as I made my landing at our official training ground of the scrap yard.

I waved dismissively, not wasting time, chains sprang out from the cracks in the ground, "We're leaving tomorrow and I'm just starting to get the hang of it. No way I'm cutting back now."

"You just fainted a few hours ago, you shouldn't be putting strain on your body like that." Kuro said swatting away a particularly touchy chain that was creeping his way.

"I'm fine, they prescribed some meds which I took and I had a nap before coming."

"That doesn't mean you should-"

"Lucifer and Mammon haven't said anything, and unless they do that means I'm perfectly fine." I snapped at Troy before he could utter his sentence, "They trust my abilities and I'd like for you two to do so as well."

"It's not like that-" Kuro began calmly.

"You know they're still demons right, you have no idea what they do when they aren't lingering around you." Troy took a menacing step towards me.

Sick of him throwing his attitude around, as well as wanting to get a good hit in for all the beat downs I'd suffered as well, I met him halfway. I jabbed my finger into his chest.

"Look here Angel boy, they are my demons, my abilities and I'm in control here. I said I'm fine, don't bring your hatred or high and mighty bias over their kind into this."

He was glaring down at me but on seeing that I probably wasn't budging he stepped back.

The tension melted slightly from my shoulders, "Hey, if you're worried about me, just say it like a normal person."

The air around him sparked, he scoffed, "If you want to get injured, I'll be more than happy to oblige you."

"You're both too intense sometimes." Kuro sighed, looking relieved once it was obvious things wouldn't escalate beyond a training match.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

"Unlike you, everyone isn't always on a sugar rush." The blond spat.

Kuro stuck his tongue out before facing me, "I still don't think you should be fighting so soon but if you say you're okay... I'll try to be supportive I guess."

"That's all I want." I managed a small sincere smile.

"And Kira, if you ever want to talk about something, or just make fun of Troy behind his back," He shrugged the others glare of, serious and caring red eyes on me, "You can always come to me."

The tides of frustration started to ebb away from my heart at those words. I swallowed thickly, giving a curt reply I didn't even think of before turning to Troy.

***

The next night came far sooner than I'd wanted it to. It was easy expecting it, dreading it, waiting patiently, but looking at the fading sun in the horizon dead in the eye brought a new sense of realness to it all.

Earlier, I'd told Ares that I'd be sleeping over at Troy's house so we could study together. I packed an overnight bag and everything for good measure.

He sent me off with a wink and warning not to do anything stupid. If I wasn't too happy seeing him back to his normal self I would have screamed at him and told him how wrong he was to insinuate Troy and I had that kind of relationship.

"So, is everyone ready?" Kuro asked, stretching his wings.

I gestured to Troy who was meditating in a lotus position not far off form us. The picture of serenity and peacefulness as the evening light bathed him on orange-gold hues.

"Hurry up Angel boy." The younger male called, "We don't have to do this today Kira-"

"I won't say this again Kuro, I'm fine." I said with a heavy sigh. I flexed my wrist a bit, "So which way are we going?"

"You both just have to follow me, I'll get us there no problem." He smirked.

"Let's get this over with, once we know what Nightmare's after, we can come up with better counters."

Troy got up from his position, the air glowing in glowing ripples around him as his wings sprouted, "We can leave now."

"Took your precious time, huh?" Kuro said taking off.

We went after him just as quickly, the thrill of excitement taking over me as flew through the air, alternating between swinging with chains and launching with my super jump.

Kuro had explained unless we drew attention to ourselves while out in broad daylight, no one would notice us. That was the the barriers between realms did. The normal human mind had become too fragile to handle abnormality on a regular basis.

Those with powers and abilities were far too few and there was special training for those like Xie Ren who came from old families that are still involved in keeping the balance.

I staggered a little on one landing, I managed to gain my footing once more before launched myself once again, catching up with Kuro who flashed me a smile before diving down into a twirl, stopping a few feet before he hit the ground and pulling up once more.

I wasn't a competitive person unless it came to volleyball, but I took that right there as a challenge.

Troy was about to start scolding the returning Kuro when I went down myself, spinning and enjoying the cool of the rushing breeze and the buzz of my instincts.

I created a chain mid fall, its other end connecting to a building in the direction of our destination, using some air, I pushed myself forwards, letting the moment carry me onwards.

"You're doing great, Demona." Kuro cheered.

"Stop drawing attention!" Troy growled pulling the darker haired boys ear, "Let's get going before it gets dark."

"So mean."

"Does the fox spirit we're seeing have a name?" I asked curiously as my focus returned to the mission at hand.

"He has many names, but right now he goes mainly by Yamagata." Kuro said, "He spends most of his days lounging in the forest and using his powers to stop humans from harming it."

"Very eco-friendly of him."

"It's his home Vermillion, of course he'll send others away." Troy said.

"Since we have powers, the enchantment won't work on us but there are other measures to keep outsiders looking for him out, I'm going to need both of you to not leave my side." Kuro instructed.

We voiced our agreement and continued the journey, and soon the tall skyscrapers gave way to shorter family homes whose roofs I had to treat delicately.

The scenery was soon filled more green and before I new it, we were within the forest. Troy's wings vanished and he joined me in leaping from tree to tree on silent steps while Kuro flew lower to the ground.

The darkness of the woods around us was heavy with the energy of a foreboding aura that gave me chills as it practically screamed for us to leave.

We pushed on though, my resolve was set this time, more confidence pumping through my blood since I now had Mammon's power in my back pocket.

Our pace continued as it was for a while, fast but cautious as we moved through the eeriely silent forest, until there was the snap of a twig.

We halted in sync, all looking off in different directions for anything else that might be stalking us.

A movement, swift and too well hidden by the darkness, zoomed past my perch on a tree in Kuro's direction but he was faster and whatever it was missed, bouncing on the ground and zooming off towards some other trees.

Soon there was an muttering all around us, too quiet and numerous to make out what was said but I knew were in a very dangerous situation.

Before I could think of what was best to do, a large weight came baring down on me, gravity dragging us down at an alarming speed.

"Kira get out from beneath it now!" Kuro yelled.

I grit my teeth maneuvering myself from beneath the object and just before before it hit the ground kicking up dust, I managed to see what it was. Some roundish monster, leathery skin glinting in the moonlight as it descended but instead of growing smaller as it descended it was only growing larger.

"If one grabs you throw it off immediately, they grow super heavy if you leave them be." He warned. Is heard zaps and turned to see Troy holding lightning Kitanas.

"Back to back, and eyes out until we're clear of the... whatever they are." I ordered.

"Obariyon."

"No one cares brat." Troy hissed slicing one that was about to descended on me, I did same for Kuro. The monsters were trying to go for each person's blind spot but with all of us watching each other's backs, they didn't stand a chance.

We forged on, continuing our journey at a much slower pace as we kept fending of the gross offending beings. Just when we thought we were done, another wave would start up, more ferocious than the last.

I'd had enough. I sent out a air blast, pin pointing everyone I could, chains sport out of the ground and darted into the trees. The sound of metal ripping through skin reached my ears along with pained cries. I grinned in triumph, nothing was a match for me when I put my mind to it, these monsters were just measley obstacles blocking my path to my goal.

"Kira..."

I looked down at Kuro, "What?"

"Just checking, your eyes got a little weird back there."

I shrugged, having an idea of what he was trying to say but not wanting to get into it. I pinched my free arm, 'Keep it together, Kira,' I told myself

Troy nudged the body of an obariyon with his foot, "You think that fox set them here to protect the forest?"

"It's not really a stretch," Kuro knelt beside it, probably ready to go into full study mode but we didn't have time. Each moment we spent here made my skin each with underlying feelings of anxiety and irritation.

There were traces of strong magic all around us, we needed to leave quickly, "Let's get back to the mission." I said.

Kuro hopped to his feet and spread his wings again, feathers flying ahead of him to probably look out for oncoming danger.

The forest went back to being filled with silence, our pace swift and unbroken until Kuro flew into a really dark cave at the base of a hill. I paused, it wasn't that I was scared of the dark but since I'd gotten these powers, I'd grown more wary of dark enclosed spaces, my mind never failed to go back to that passage.

Where someone had died.

There was the sudden sound of a small pop, a light lit up ahead, Kuro was holding a talisman which was on fire. He tilted his head inwards, egging us on.

I made my way to his side, "How did you even find out about this place?"

"I found a way to get in touch with my master." He replied curtly, the note of finality in his voice I rarely heard was there.

The deeper we went, I began to notice the walls glowing, pale orange crystals radiating barely enough to guide our steps. I enhanced my vision a bit more and took in the the gems.

The ceilings rose higher and soon the sound of deep breathing could be heard.

My heart stilled and my body tensed significantly. The walls on either side of us pushed up into a open space where in the center was a nesting space on which lay a really giant fox with six tails.

Part of me was relieved because if I learned anything from the animes Kuro and Ares forced me to sit through, it was that the nine tailed ones were most dangerous.

Then again, was there really anything that one could believe on TV?

We had barely managed to get in when a gruff voice called out.

"Who are the ones foolish enough to disturb my rest?" Amber eyes locked on us, there was the sound of shifting straws and and grounding dust as the creature changed position to watch us.

"Yamagata-san, we've come seeking your knowledge." Kuro said resolutely. How did they not freak out at stuff like this?

The fox stood, shaking his reddish-orange fur like a dog would and at his full height, he was even larger, over ten feet tall and grazing the top of the cave.

I freaked, drawing my spear, immediately on high alert. Troy seemed to have come to the same conclusion and was glowing faintly.

A deep chuckle spilled from the fox spirit's lips, his sharp teeth glinting, "A Seal Keeper, The Dark One and...who do we have here?"

There was a sharp pop, the spirit burst into fog and glided towards us. Kuro held up a hand for us to stay calm.

"He's not attacking, relax."

The mist wove it's way towards Troy and circled him, a fox head shape formed, staring right into his face as if inspecting him, "What new power, extremely rare in quality and strength."

Troy looked pissed and disgusted. Personal space was something I'd come to understand was important to him, not to mention his dislike for yokai in general, "Yamagata-san, will you listen to us?" I managed to bite out despite the fear lodged in my throat.

The fog turned to me, coming to stare into my face, "Extremely weak," He drawled heading back to his straw bed, "But there is potential."

He took the form a fox once more and tucked himself into his nest, "Please do leave, the punishment for entering my territory is death but I'd hate to rid the world of it's last shred of hope."

"What's that's supposed to mean?" Troy hissed.

Yamagata snarled, "I know you came to inquire about, Nightmare. Your activities aren't exactly subtle," There was the sound of a yawn, "I have no business with the war, and I refuse to involve myself in activities that yield no gain for me."

"Too bad, we've come a long way, we're not turning back without answers." The blond seethed, I could hear some familiar indignation rising.

"Archer, how about we not anger the centuries old fox spirit?" I said not liking the way those eyes continued to glare at us.

"Yamagata-san, we just want to know what his plans are." Kuro pressed.

"You three are merely over zealous children way in over your heads." The fox spirit chuckled, "You do realize there's a price for my knowledge?" He six tails swayed behind him with glee, mischief dancing in his eyes which turned to rest on Troy.

"We're not sacrificing someone." I said quickly.

"It's nothing like that, Demona. You see, my knowledge is often like a booby trap, you can take it but you have to put back something of equal value or you'll set of a chain of very unfortunate events," he popped into smoke again, voice now echoing off the walls, "Then at times, it's a guarded treasure and all you have to do is defeat it's guardian. I hardly doubt the three of you could defeat me at the levels you are now."

My eyes were following the smokey fox outline dancing all over the ceiling. I was getting tired of his little puzzle act.

"What do you want?" Kuro asked innocently.

"A secret."

"What? Why?"

The smoky fox glided down, scoffing smoke in Kuro's face before curling up around Troy once more, the blond didn't stand still this time. He batted the smoke off but it clung to him in irritating wisps, "I absolutely love secrets, and I can tell your friend here has one that's simply clawing to get out."

I saw Troy's eyes widen in surprise, more expressive than I'd ever seen them. Yamagata took on physical form, one powerful tail swooped down and swept me and Kuro to the side, slamming us against the wall. Another held Troy in place.

"What fun it is that fate brought you here to me, your type is the exact one I despise, and now I want you to make the decision."

I struggled against the strength of the tail keeping me from my teammates, "Hey fox, I'm the one in charge! Let's work something else out."

"Hush now girl," He ignored me for Troy, "You hate spirits don't you, it's not enough that you think of us as dirt beneath your boots but you want us gone huh? The disgust in your eyes is what makes monsters like the one you're chasing."

"He isn't like that." Kuro spat, seemingly unable to keep his proper boy demeanor any longer.

Yamagata was still ignoring us, leaving us to battle his tails while he spoke to Troy, "Come on, little dove, the ball is in your court. Just tell us all what you're hiding deep down and everyone walks away free."

I stilled, was it really that simple?

I highly doubted it.