Third Person

~

The trip through the city was a tense one for the duo of vigilantes in a rush to rescue their friend. With no assurance on whether they were too late or not, Kira could only worry as she and Mammon flew through the skies in her shared body.

Chains sprung from the side of buildings, and they flipped through the air with more agility than she'd thought herself capable of.

There were a few wrong turns but finally, they arrived at the location where Kuro's energy had suddenly vanished.

"An old abandoned temple," Kira and Mammon said to Troy as he joined them on the ground, "Figures."

"Let's get this over with, I'm already irritated as it is." He said as he approached the steps leading up to the entrance.

They nodded about to follow up when Kira's body began to convulse. She let out a pained scream that was much louder than it should due to the quietness of the night. Troy flinched, rushing to her side and pulling them behind a wall as he clasped a hand over her mouth.

Kira tried to grit her teeth through the mental strain as she settled back fully into control of her body. Her left eye hurt on a whole other level and when she pulled her hand from it after the episode, all she could see was crimson-red blood coating her and Troy's hands.

"Sorry," she said as she pulled out of his hold.

"Maybe you shouldn't do that again," he suggested.

"Kuro's in danger and there was no time for me to master that skill, letting the owner have some reign was the next best thing." She huffed stubbornly.

Troy seemed ready to launch another argument when a stern voice barked out from the top of the stairs.

"Oi! Who goes there?!"

Kira felt dread wash over her, bathing her in a cold sweat as she and Troy pulled up the hoods of the black and white robes.

'Act natural,' Troy stated in her head.

'I never knew under pressure acting skills were meant to be universal Angel boy.'

'Thank your ignorance for that but for now let me do the talking,' he hissed, beckoning her to follow him into sight.

"It's just us, the kids they asked us to watch went home so we thought we'd head back," He grumbled out in a gruffer, deeper voice.

The figure on the steps studied them briefly at first before beckoning them up with a hearty laugh, "Good job, the master will be all too happy to hear that!" He gestured then towards the entrance, "Go on ahead and give him a report!"

"Where can we find the master again?" Kira piped up, I'm trying and failing to make her disguised voice not sound awkward. Thankfully, the man didn't seem to notice.

"What kind of question is that?"

'Troy?'

'Stand down, I've got a plan.'

Kira wanted to ask but the blond was already talking, hand smacking her over the back of the head, "You know how this idiot always is, just tell him, I'm too annoyed to bother." He huffed.

The man tsks as they joined him in walking up the steps.

"What an idiot. He's in the central chamber with our guest. The spell will take place soon and once it's done, we'll be gone by morning."

'Ask him what's up,' Kira nudged Troy.

'I know,' the blond scoffed, "What does he plan for the kid anyway?"

"Not sure, the boss hasn't told anyone, all we're told is that they're old buddies from training days," he draws, "Kid's a monster from what I've heard, and the boss was the only one that ever got close to him."

"Why go through all this if they're close?"

The man shrugs, "The boss cares and the kid's after Nightmare, who in their right mind would let someone they care about do something so stupid? It's better to give that psycho what he wants than deal with him?"

Kira's steps halted just barely, those words sinking into her mind. Was she the bad guy for not trying to stop Kuro? Was it wrong to support someone with a nearly impossible goal all for the sake of vengeance? Kira didn't want to think so. She wanted him to be happy but no one could fully be happy if they didn't let go of the hate.

Kuro wasn't going to let go and if she could make the hurt less by being there to make life easier and helping as much as she could, she didn't mind. She just wished the path to achieving said dream was as easy as having it.

"I'm heading this way to see to the other preparations, you two hurry so it's faster," he points down a hallway branching out from the one they're in before leaving them.

"So I'm guessing we keep moving forward?" Troy asked.

Kira nodded, "Yeah, unless you want to join in the preparations?"

"Shut up." He huffs before sprinting down the hall, she joins him.

"How do we deal with those needles if he uses them again?"

"We have the element of surprise, we just have to find a way to use that to our advantage and make a quick escape before they can react."

Kira agreed with that, and as their footfalls echoed lightly in the stone hallway, she was already thinking up a plan of her own.

***

Kuro let out another frustrated groan as his umpteenth attempt at punching through the barrier failed. He wasn't a moron, he knew there was no way in hell it would work but time was ticking. He wasn't sure when Akio would be done but he knew it'd be soon, he just had to buy time, either to think things through or for Kira and Troy to arrive.

He pushed it again but the barrier sparked a bright red, pulsating and vibrating before pushing him back by sheer force.

"Stop that already, you'll hurt yourself!" Akio snapped finally turning around to face him.

Bingo.

"Then let me out or I'll keep at it," the younger boy sneered.

"I'll heal you after," the other hissed, pushing back dark green curls that had fallen out of place.

Kuro kicked at his prison, "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Akio's piercing eyes were on him, holding his gaze, "Because you were the only one that cared for me, despite what they said about me, you chose me to be by your side," he took what he had been working on at the table, some candles of a sort, light green and within its wax were what seemed to twigs and leaves. The bowl stood in was covered in intricate symbols and runes.

"I know you're strong Kuro, you proved it countless times but the world those two offered you would only make you weaker, and your revenge is pointless when your foe is Nightmare," he said as he placed them around the cage.

"Don't talk about my team like that, you're one to talk when all you've done since leaving that witch's place is kill people for money."

Akio let scoffed, "You're right, I have no right to talk. Other than you, the only other thing I hold passion for are my poisons and toxins," he let his finger stroke a small, pink, potted plant on the desk, "Despite their beauty, these poor things are shunned for being different. They never get to experience things the way normal flowers do. Kind of like you and I." He turns away from the flower.

"You got to experience some semblance of a normal childhood right, a lovely family you still can't let go of to this day. I never got that, I was born from my father's mistress. She died from complications so he had to take care of me. His family didn't take to me well. They took their anger for my mother out on me."

"You're a grown man Akio, suck it up and shut up now," Kuro snarled with a glare.

Akio chuckled lightly, "I have actually, I don't care for it anymore. But then all those years ago, I couldn't stand it. The abuse from my stepfamily, and nonchalance from my father. It made me a little mad. There was an old playground in the area. Ivy grew there and with that little plant..."

"You poisoned your whole family, I remember."

The there green-haired man shrugged, "They had it coming, all the hate and despair they'd filled me with was finally poured back onto them. I can still see it when I close my eyes, the panic in their eyes as they scratched at their throats, the blotchy red and purple of their faces. Even if I was just nine, it intrigued me greatly."

Kuro watched him pull out a bottle, pour the contents on a cotton swab, and toss it into the prison. The air was immediately filled with the nauseating smell that easily made him weak.

"A special brew I made just for you. Your body immediately shuts down and your vision might swim a little but you'll be conscious through the process. One last look at the memories you can't leave behind."

Kuro was trying his best to fight the dizziness, to lift his knees and throw the damned puffball of aroma out of his proximity, but his body wouldn't respond, "Akio... don't...do this..." he pleaded, hand squeezing the scarf around his neck, an item his mother had given him just before the horrid day things went to hell.

Akio clasp his hand together, and the candle tips lit up, melting the wax which released dark green wisps of smoke that drifted into the spell prison, wrapping around Kuro as the other began to mutter incants under his breath.

The talismans shifted, changing into several varieties of color, diving in every direction while humming with dark energy. Each one shows a different memory only two of them could see.

'I say dumb stuff when I'm stressed,'

Kira.

'You know it's a trap, we all know it's a trap, so why?!'

Troy.

'Then just chase my dream with me, along the line, you might actually start to love it again.'

Ryu.

Kuro reached out a heavy hand to grab those memories, and savor the swell of warmth they made bloom in his chest. But they were flying off just as quickly, older memories taking their place; shadowy forms huddled in a metal cage behind a moving truck, his parents; heat and flames lapping at his skin, his home; angry screams from the floor below him...

It was all beginning to get hazier by the minute, each memory that passed fainter than the last.

Akio's voice broke through the mist, distant and echoing due to his fading consciousness, "I wish I didn't have to take the happy ones too, but for your own safety, even if you don't want it, I have to so I protect you."

Kuro wished he could spit out a biting remark, something to show he wasn't going to go without a fight, but the world was already starting to fade and rumble.

His eyes widened, and his brain struggled to make sense of the trembling beneath him.

The stone floors of the temple shook, the vibrations hard enough to cause cracks and dust to fall for the ceiling. The cracks in the ground grew wider, shooting out large, heavy chains which swing themselves in every direction with the grace of a wreaking ball. Several hit the sealing circle so hard that cracked in several places, breaking the enchantment and allowing Kuro connection to his magic energy once more, his memories were also fine.

There was a loud outcry, an all too familiar pulsing breeze swept past him followed by a voice that made his heart race with joy.

"Consent is freakin' important you damn creep!" Kira screamed at Akio, using one of Mammon's chains to smack him in the face and further into one of the walls. She was running on one of the chains in the room, eyes sweeping over until she spotted Kuro looking up at her with a feeble smile.

She dove towards him, picking him up on both arms and giving him a soft, nervous smile, "I said I'd protect you, sorry I didn't quite live up to that."

"It's okay, I want to get out here," he said hoarsely.

She nodded, focusing. Chains sprung from the walls, anchoring themselves on any surface in sight and pulling taut enough to walk on. Kira hopped from one chain to another. She could feel several magic energies from different parts of the temple. She was holding as many people as she could though she wasn't sure that was everyone in the building, it would have to do for now.

"Troy, now!" She screamed as she jumped off the highest chain, calling on the wind to keep her and Kuro in the air for as long as possible. The room sparked a bright yellow. Gold and white crept with rapid speed along the metal chains that were everywhere, sending shocks to everyone in contact.

Kuro couldn't stop the smirk on his lips, watching the display, "You two are pretty amazing when you put your mind to it."

There was the sound of flapping wings at their side, "Is that how you thank people for rescuing your sorry ass, brat?" Troy scowled

"Yes actually."

"Let's drop him back."

"We can do this later you two, time to go," Kira landed on the highest chain once more, she called on more than crawled higher and higher toward the roof. An especially large chain hit the ceiling with a loud bang, sending its pieces to the ground and leaving a gaping hole.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

She took giant leaps, landing from chain to chain, Troy flying by her side and Kuro in her arms. With the air rushing past her ears and the excited pump of blood in her veins at their victory, she let herself grin. They were going to get out of this.

She took another leap that brought her closer to the hole.

Almost there.

All too quickly, their joy was replaced by dread when they saw several robed figures standing around the edges of the destroyed roof. Energy spheres of various colors poised to fire.

Kira stopped, teeth gritting behind her closed lip, she should have considered the possibility of guards on the roof.

She couldn't fight with Kuro in her arms and with the number of them, she wasn't sure how Troy would handle watching all their backs.

"This is quite the predicament you've gotten your team into, Demona," Akio said as he dusted off his clothes, "Or should I call you Kira?"

She scowled down at him, deciding to go back to the ground so it would be harder for the guards on the roof to hit them. The three were just a few feet from Akio now.

"I don't know what your problem is but I'm sure this can be easily solved with a simple conversation," Kira said, her tone careful. Every nerve in her body was standing on end anticipating an attack no matter the outcome.

Akio chuckled mockingly, "I don't think that's possible. I want to keep your friend here, you two want to take him away; I want to seal his memories, he doesn't want me to. None of us are on the same page, Demon Keeper."

"You murdered hundreds, damaged his friend's legs, and kidnapped him after poisoning us, sorry if I don't feel like just handing him over, especially after I heard you wouldn't even consider his choice in whatever's going on." She snapped.

"All I'm trying to do is stop him from getting himself killed!" Akio barked back, "Do you even realize how foolish your quest is? Tell me, Kira, how do you fight someone who has the backing of almost every demon and spiritual entity on two planes of existence?"

There was a pregnant pause in the air, accompanied by tension so thick one could cut through it with a knife. Kira's grip around the boy in her arms tightened.

"I...I don't know," she replied breathlessly, "It's easy not to dwell too deeply on it sometimes, other times it's all I can do and I realize the weight every action we take carries. I mean look at the three of us, in a world that doesn't know about any of this we're barely old enough to have control over our lives; but in this world, the world full of demons, magic, and madness, we're the only ones it has to fight back."

She takes in a deep breath, dropping Kuro so he was standing on his feet but leaning against her, "If I could, I would have given these powers to someone else long before now, some part of me still wants to. Still wants to run, still wants to find someone more capable but until then, I can't leave the likes of you and Nightmare to wreak havoc on our city," she declared, determination swelling towards the end.

"So you've made your choice then?" Akio scoffed, magic gathered at his right hand, purple light molded and hardened to form a long, jagged, lance-like weapon.

"You two should just...go," Kuro said as Kira pulled away from him, his weakened knees causing him to fall to the ground. He was happy they had come but Akio was a far more formidable opponent and he had numbers against them.

So many people had become more important than they ought to be, all because he decided not to leave that fateful night that Kira asked to join them.

"Shut up and let us clean up your mess, short stack," Troy scoffed, there was fondness buried somewhere beneath that irritation but it was barely noticeable.

Kuro opened his mouth to discourage them from going ahead but the two were already dashing away from where he knelt, probably knowing Akio wouldn't dare to hurt him.

"Troy, you can hit better from this distance right?" Kira asked.

"You want me to cover you?"

"Of you can," she said, Lucifer's staff appeared in her grasp, it ends elongated into blades that clashed ferociously with Akio's lance.

Energy spheres rained down on them, Troy used the chains along the walls to leap through the air, throwing blasts of his own that collided with the shots of their attackers. The collisions led to deafening bangs and colorful smoke. The robed henchmen peered in to look for their target only to see glaring arrows flying toward them.

"You needed the smoke to clear? Pathetic," Troy scoffed dodging more shots and firing arrows back at a rapid pace, diverting their attention so Kira could handle the boss.

Kira hissed as her back collided with the wall, she recovered from the attack just in time to dodge several needles flying toward her.

She summoned more chains from the earth and sent them after Akio but he dodged and hit them away with his lance, and even when they came close to touching him they were blocked off by a dark translucent object that closely resembled a shield. It appeared wherever the chains tried to strike the man, making Kira all the more frustrated because she could feel her magic energy draining quickly from how long their battle was wearing on.

She launched herself through the air, bringing her weapon down harder on her opponent harder than she'd ever had to. The shield appeared trying to push her back, she doubled down on it with sheer force and the addition of her wind powers.

The air around their battle glowed with ripples of tense energy. Akio peeked up at her through his shield, a smug grin plastered on his face, "Just give up, little girl, you can't win this, I have more experience."

"And I have the anger of a pissed-off teen with a math test in the morning," she hissed enhancing her strength, forcing power through her muscles and her wrists.

A quiet crack pierced through the air. A line appeared in the shield.

Akio's eyes widened, and he grits his teeth, using the shield to throw her back. Kira's instincts perked, and she maneuvered midair to dodge the needles.

"Once I'm done beating you into the ground, I'll stick you full of your own needles, see how much you like that, you bastard."

"You're a persistent young lady aren't you?" He charged at her moving to hit her down with his weapon but Kira blocked by crossing her arms over her face. The blow sent her back but she managed to land on her feet, skidding only a little.

Kuro watched mesmerized and irate as the battle unfolded before him, golden light shining down on them as Troy did his best to fend off the disciples above and fearsome energy rippled from every direction as Akio and Kira kicked each other around. For every blow Kira got in, Akio got two back in return as Kira was cautiously watching out for the poison needles he kept on himself as they could easily change the flow of their fight.

He clenched his fist in his lap, feeling hot tears of frustration gather at the corners of his eyes. He had powers but even then his body was still too weak to carry him, his mind too hazy, and everything was going to shit around him again but just like all those years ago, there was nothing he could do to not be a burden.

'What if it's too late when the effects of the drug wear off,' a dark part of his mind whispered, 'What if I lose them all because I couldn't let this go?'

The sounds of more footsteps heading towards the chamber could be heard. Kira guessed that some of the other disciples from the first attack must have recovered and we're heading over to provide backup.

They couldn't stay any longer.

'Are we clear up there, Troy?' she asked in his mind.

'We could probably make it through,' he answered back.

Kira would take that, she used more of her magic, summoning some chains to block the door and distract Akio before taking off towards Kuro, grabbing him and starting their trip upward.

Akio's growl of anger reached her ears and she heard him take off after her. She used her instincts to dodge flying needles as they flew passed her. She spun, kicking out a sonic wave of air toward him before continuing their trip. Leaping from chain to chain and doing her best to dodge needles.

Her sense pricked and in her attempt to dodge two needles she missed one, she tried to spin out of its path but it grazed her right arm.

Apparently, that was still enough for the drug that coated it to take effect. Her vision swam briefly causing a misstep. They tumbled down she turned her body to take the brunt of the impact as they landed on one of her chains. Kuro slipped from her hold, nearly falling but she was holding on to him wither left hand.

Akio was about to go after them but Kira summoned more chains to keep him busy while she tried to pull Kuro up and get them out of there.

'The others have broken into the room, I'll keep the occupied, you two get up here already,' Troy said in their mind space already sounding tired.

'We're trying,' she hissed back, she focused once more on Kuro, trying to ignore the throb in her right arm, it felt stiff and painful like her own blood was burning through the veins there.

"Hang on, Kuro, we're getting out of here soon," she tried for a smirk that resembled more of a grimace as she tried to pull him up but her strength was decreased because of the toxin, "Stupid healing powers sure do take their time."

Kuro stared up at her with tearful eyes as he dangled, torn between admiration and annoyance. Why was she trying so hard? He wasn't just any other child, he was capable. That was what his whole quest was about. To prove he could take care of himself.

"Let me go!" He screamed.

"Now's not the time for a tantrum, Kuro, stop struggling!" She barked gripping harder.

"I don't need you guys looking down on me!"

"What the hell are you talking about? Kuro listen to yourself...or don't 'cause you sound crazy," she hissed, Akio was going to break free any minute and it would all be over, "I said I'm going to protect you and that's what all do."

"You'll get killed, just leave and let me handle it."

"You can't," she said almost softly, she had no idea what had popped into his head to make him act like this but the frustration in the air was palpable between them. So far, nothing had gone as planned, they'd been blocked every corner and what's worse, their chances wet looking bleaker by the second.

This person was connected to Kuro's past, a past he wanted to leave behind but kept haunting him. They were the same and it was easy for him to connect with his feelings.

"If you stay... you'll get killed-"

She was about to say something back when the pain of something piercing through her leg made her muffle a scream instead. She peered behind her to see a needle buried in her calf and Akio getting closer. She turned back to Kuro.

"I'm not going to die, I refuse to end like this and so should you! You said you'd end Nightmare right? We're not stopping until we get him so shut up and let me get you out of this mess," Kira urged, strength slowly crawling back into her veins but it wasn't enough. Not yet. 'Just a bit more.'

Kuro gaped, at those words, and for a split moment, he could see a flash of someone else in Kira's place. Stay there and let me handle this mess!

He smiled, 'Kira...reminds me of someone I used to know, she hesitates a lot but it's there.' He gripped her wrist firmly one last time, 'Even then, I still want to impress her the way I never got to do for them.'

He tugged, the sudden momentum throwing Kira off balance, she tilted, panic causing her to let go.

"Kuro!" She yelled as he fell.

The dark-haired boy watched her as he fell, she was right, they couldn't stop here, not when there was so much to do, so many promises waiting to be kept. 'I'll find you,' he lifted his hand to someone else, someone like Kira but not her, 'Even if I'm a monster when I do.'

He closed his eyes, digging deep for power he told himself he'd never use, not unless it was his final battle with Nightmare. The air around his falling form burned bright red, and his wings sprouted, larger and darker than usual.

Kira stared open-mouthed, not sure whether to be relieved or worried as Kuro seemed to have his powers back. He dove straight for Akio who looked far too amused for someone that was about to be dismembered.

Numerous feathers fell from Kuro's back, spinning around the room in some sort of hurricane, cutting down almost every foe. Kira shielded her eyes with her good arm but still tried to keep an eye on the fight.

Akio's shield was keeping up fairly well against the torrent of feathers and he managed to pass the wire mesh of the garrote that surrounded Kuro.

"This is who you are Kuro, why are you wasting such talent on pointless endeavors?" Akio swatted and dodged a flurry of feathers, slapping on a talisman that incinerated them, "The Lady wouldn't be disappointed."

"I don't give a shit, because unlike you I don't beg the affection of anyone that so much as acknowledges I exist," Kuro growled, "I'll never stand by the side of such a pathetic lowlife, now die!" He screamed dashing for the other.

Akio's smile fell, hand on his chest and face full of visible anger, "All I've done is for us, and that's all I'll continue to do," he whispered.

The was a bright glare of red as their energies collided. Kira reacted too slowly, the haze blinded her but it seemed her healing was working better now. She looked down to see Kuro standing and Akio laying a couple of feet away, not dead but undeniably weak.

They'd won?

They'd won!

She was about to cry out in excitement when a hoarse cough reached her ears just at the same time her senses picked up unease. She stared, watching as Kuro turned to her. There was a blade buried deep into his abdomen, and blood was falling from his nose and eyes as well.

He fell to the ground.

What happened next didn't make any sense; one minute she was on a chain so far away, her body too weak to work; the next, she was towering over Akio, her aura blazing with evil intent, the sharp edge of her weapon glinted against his throat, "What the freakin' hell did you do?!"

A maniacal laugh burst up from his throat, "If I can't have Kuro, no one else can, go ahead! Kill me! If I can't take him in life I'll take him in death!"

"Sick bastard," she spat, moving to push the blade, deliver the final blow, end his life and go help Kuro, but her hand wouldn't move. She wanted to, she wished she could but looking into his disgusting eyes, blood dripping down his face, she couldn't do it because it would be giving him what he wanted.

"Don't have the guts? Let me help," he pulled out a knife from God knows where, "I always get what I want Kira, one way or another," he smirked before slitting his own throat.

Blood spurted from the ruptured vessel, pooling onto the floor and some even landing on her boot.

Kira watched only briefly, mind boggled at the idea that such an revolting person actually existed in the world. She gave the corpse one last look before running to Kuro's side, Troy was already there, his cloak was off and he pressed it over the abdomen wound but blood was still pouring out other places.

It wouldn't stop.

"He's not healing, at all, it should be slowing down but it only seems to be getting worse," the blond stated, he sounded near-emotionless but the furrow between his brows was enough for Kira to know he was getting worried.

"Whatever toxin was used must be action like that weird cage, draining his magic energy, I'll try to push some into him." She said rolling up her sleeve.

"Are you crazy? You're pale as a sheet right now."

"Don't care," she fired back, about to place a hand on Kuro's chest but she was held back. She looked down to see Kuro's trembling hand gripping her wrist.

Kuro shook his head, dizzy eyes moving from Kira to Troy, "It's... fine...go..." Every word was a struggle, his breaths were coming in shallow and the pin stung on every part of his body, but he wasn't going to cry, he'd be strong for them. He opened his mouth to say more but only blood came up.

At least he'd saved them

"We're not leaving," Kira cried, peeling his hand off and placing her's on his chest, but when she tried to summon her own magic, she ended up coughing up fluids too, "No, no, no! I haven't reached my limit!" She screamed in panic, "Lucifer say something!" She pulled at her hair.

Silence.

She grit her teeth, putting her hands down once more and going in for another try, tears dripping down her face as she pushed. The results were the same, her coughing up fluids in futile attempts until Troy had enough. He shoved her back.

"STOP THAT ALREADY!"

"I'M NOT STOPPING!" She crawled back over, taking Kuro's head in her hand and pushing him close against her chest, "I can't...I can't stop..." She sobbed, "I don't want to lose another brother."

Troy bit his lip, hands still keeping his cloak over the wound, frustration, anger, and confusion twisting his gut as he squeezed the cloth. He squeezed his eye shit, why was this happening? This wasn't how things were going to go, and even if this dumb brat was about to die, why did he care? The fool deserved it.

But Troy found himself wishing otherwise, "You're not meant to die like this," he whispered.

Kuro let himself melt into Kira's hold, breathing in the faint lilac smell she always carried around her. He wanted to tell her so much, tell how much her support at to him, how her laugh made him remember better times, and how she was the best person he'd ever met.

He could feel Troy's hands on him, he wanted to tell the blond how much he'd miss their arguments, how he wished he at least had time to outgrow him in the future.

And most importantly, he wished Ryu were here, so he could at least see the face of someone who could connect with him on a level no one else could. He wanted to apologize for not going to be present all the dreams they'd planned.

There was so much to say but with the darkness creeping in and his mind growing numb, he knew everything would always go unsaid.

'Mom, dad... I'm on my way and maybe when I'm there I'll finally know where Himiko is and if she's happy,' he thought, just when he'd begun there was probably more to life, he was leaving.

The enclosing darkness finally took hold of him, dragging him further down, deeper and deeper into the waiting jaws of death.

All too suddenly there was warmth, a bright light above him. Kira's voice rang out almost as clear as day.

"What the hell, Troy?!"

Troy's eyes snapped open, he looked down at his hands on the wound to see they were glowing. Brilliant shimmers of white and gold danced at the opening, creeping every which way along Kuro's body and sinking in into his skin which started to gain its color back.

Kira looked at Troy's hands, then back up at him, her incredulous expression matched his as the air around them warmed with the lightness of the unique magic that belonged to him alone. Maybe he wasn't crazy when he called himself an actual angel at times.

The glow from his hands died, leaving Kuro's healed stomach in plain sight. They were all silent for a split second, heartbeats thudding wildly as they waited for something. Anything at all.

A raspy cough filled the space, causing them to flinch while turning to face Kuro who weakly lifted his head from Kira's chest.

He flashed a very weak grin, "Man, these things are soft."

Kira felt tears well up in her eyes again, she was torn on whether to hug him first or punch his lights out again but there would always be time for that.

She wanted to lift him in her arms but she remembered she could barely walk herself.

"I'll do it," Troy huffed taking the boy, "Will you be okay Vermillion?"

She gave a smile, of course, she would be fine, they were all safe, and it was time to head home, "I just need to walk it off."

And walk they did, out the old abandoned temple into the starless moonlit night.