Third Person

~

The trip back was quiet, and reasonably so with all that had happened that night. They were walking through the rooftops, jumping occasionally or just pausing to get their breaths.

Kira wasn't sure how to feel about it; on one hand, the silence was unnerving, making it hard for her thoughts to stay at bay; on the other hand, she just didn't feel like talking.

Not after what she'd witnessed.

It was all she could do to not break down, she could just clench her fists uselessly at her sides to keep her emotions at bay.

"You guys aren't asking anything." Troy stated, he was ahead of she and Kuro who had gotten in sync at some point.

"Huh?" Kuro blinked, seemingly just coming out of his own thoughts.

"You're not mad I didn't speak out for us? I was willing to keep something at the cost of our lives and you're both not curious?"

Oh, Kira thought, exchanging a look with Kuro, she shrugged.

Kuro sighed, "I won't lie, it was a bit annoying but I guess I can wait a bit longer for you to confess-"

Kira kicked him hard enough to send him flying a short distance away, this really wasn't the time for his jokes even if he was trying to lift the mood. She turned to Troy, "I think what Kuro is trying to say is that we understand."

"Yeah," Kuro hopped to his feet, "You wouldn't put our lives on the line if it wasn't worth it. You really believed we could beat Yamagata-san and I guess that's all that mattered at the moment."

"We're not letting you off the hook though," Kira nudged him in the side, "You were looking at both of us pretty weird Troy, are you sure there's nothing to confess." She teased moving into his personal space.

Kuro joined her immediately, "Yeah Troy, give us a little hint pretty please."

His irritation levels were nearing bursting point already, he took in a deep breath and shot of them the most bone chilling glare, "You're both morons. I don't take interest in morons." He said stiffly.

They both sank to the ground with sad watery eyes. Troy rolled his gold ones, " Get a grip you two, Kira, what was Yamagata-san able to tell you before he passed?"

Kira felt an icy chill roll down her spine, nothing could ease the dread the memory brought with it. She swallowed thickly, eyes locking on Kuro who seemed concerned, "He said I should tell you the word 'Gashadokuro', that you'd understand."

Kuro's eyes narrowed in thoughtfulness, "I might have to visit the library."

"It has something to do with skeletons, right?" Troy questioned.

Kuro nodded, "We'll talk more at noon, What we all need right now is some rest. If we plan on getting through this, we need to be at full strength."

Kira nodded, quickly regaining her composure, now wasn't the time to mourn, there might never even be a time to mourn, not until Nightmare was stopped and then, the breath of relief they all so dearly craved would be well deserved.

Even when she gave up her powers, she wanted to help in any way she could, cheering them on and giving the best support she could.

She turned to head home catching Lucifer's fading voice in the wind.

'You really can't have your cake and eat it Kira.'

***

The scene didn't stop playing in her head for the rest of the day. Kira was getting so tired of seeing Yamagata's dying moment on replay at the forefront of her mind.

The last conversation they had was a tune that was slowly etching it's lyrics into her soul, weighing her down because she knew she could have saved him. If only she wasn't so weak. If only they were all a little bit more powerful.

She closed the door with a heavy sigh, if anyone had asked, she'd say she was okay, she'd just come back from a fun outing with her friends and was going to do home work before eating dinner and heading to bed.

The simplicity of the thought was ironic. She'd put on her best smile and had done her best to keep everything together, but even then, Haru had still nervously pulled her aside to ask of she was fine.

It was easy to lie, especially when it was for his own good and everyone's safety. She wasn't going to be the reason anyone worried ever again.

After getting changed for the night, she sat her desk twiddling the beads of Hikari's bracelet which she had begun to wear as a reminder of the duty she had to carry out.

To her misfortune, not even homework could take her mind off Yamagata.

'He wanted nothing to do with this just like me, but escape is hard when even fate is against you.' She thought to no one in particular.

There was a knock on her door, breaking her out of her thoughts, she turned in her seat, "Come in."

Ares poked his head in, his usual smile lightning up the room as he came in, "Dinner will be ready soon, I have Kat warming up the leftovers from what Troy made last night."

Troy cooking for them was something they'd gotten used to in a short amount of time. Evenings when they'd all make their way from school an discuss homework, movies and other things at the counter while Troy got to work, occasionally hitting either she or Kuro with the spoon when they tried to touch something.

"Okay, I'll be down to make sure she doesn't burn it in a minute." She said.

Ares nodded, "Kira, I'm still a bit worried you know, maybe the volleyball should take a backseat for the rest of the year. I'm happy you're getting better and that people respect you but if the pressure is too much..."

She sighed, the look in his eyes breaking her heart more than she was ready for. He was still worried, but it was about the wrong thing and she had no idea how quell his fears.

'I'm throwing you a bone here...' Yamagata's words echoed in her head.

Throwing a bone...she had to give him something, something that be easy for him to believe.

"My brother's name was Tadashi." She said suddenly.

Ares eyes zeroed in on her instantly, mind not knowing what to make of that information. Kira had never told him about her late family before. He'd always wanted to know more, to have and idea of things were for her before they met. Before the accident that she claimed changed her life.

She walked over to the bed, patting the space beside her, he took a seat and folded his hands in his lap.

"He followed me everywhere mostly because he was afraid of getting bullied. He was pretty smart you know, teacher's wanted us to sign him up for a special school but he didn't want to go. My mum gave self defense lessons at a small school, she went through some stuff as a kid and started teaching me protect myself as soon as I could walk but she made it fun."

"She sounds like really amazing woman."

Kira nodded, struggling to keep the shaking in place, she wished Ahlai hadn't messed with her head, she hated that the last memory of her late family was a bunch of walking burnt corpses.

"Kira...you don't have to..."

"It's okay...my dad, he was the best, he had these big muscles because he was into construction work for a growing company. He carry me and Tadashi all over the place when he got home and he'd read us to sleep. Our house was a small but it was okay for all of us." She sniffed lightly, "I hate remembering cause it makes me miss them so much. That's why I was so happy when we met and you offered to take me somewhere far from home, far from here.

"I wanted to forget everything and start my life all over again because it's my fault. If I hadn't run away, mum and dad wouldn't have spent so long looking for me. Mum would have been home to turn the stove off, instead of running in to save Tadashi and dad running in to get her."

Kira had heard the news all over their small town, she hadn't been there until the very end, when the police and emergency forces had arrived.

"Oh Kira," Ares embraced her in a tight hug, "It's alright, it's hard but you have to let go, sometimes, bad things happen but we have to move past them." He took one of her hands in his.

"Shoving down the feelings won't help, you just have to let it all out, and accept that it's happened look towards the future Kira, I'll make sure nothing bad ever happens to you ever again. So when the bad thoughts come back, just call and I'll be here to cheer you up."

Kira wiped the tears that had begun to form, she wanted to tell him that she wasn't the one that need protecting but maybe she did every now and then. That didn't change the fact that she wanted to be good enough to be the one people depended on, just like the days that were lost to the fire.

"Ares, thank you so much." She whispered hugging him back.

She ran his had through her hair in a soothing manner, "No thanks need, sweetie."

Kat stood outside the slightly open door, eyes burning and heart stinging. She scoffed silently and quietly left to her own room.

***

Kuro groaned loudly, head falling to the leather bound journal on the desk in front of him.

The librarian passing by gave him a warning look to which he flashed an innocently sheepish grin.

Her eyes softened and she walked past him.

According to the time on his phone, there were still a few hours left before he had to meet Kira and Troy at the gates of their school.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Until then, he was stuck, filling his head with every bit of information on mysterious daggers and skeletons.

What was the connection?

Kira had recounted Yamagata's story to him. The item Nightmare inquired about had had to be a rift dagger.

In history, only three were recorded to exist. One was destroyed and two were cast to mystery locations using portals.

All three could open rifts to through the several planes of existence. From the human realm to limbo, from limbo to the spirit realm and other infinite possibilities.

Nightmare was a Summoner, he'd only need the daggers if he was planning something big, like opening a really wide rift. A rift with enough powerful to keep itself open and let spirits wonder freely into the human realm.

Problem was that to open a rift that size, human sacrifices worth the whole of Tokyo would be necessary, people getting killed at a constant rate over a very large summoning seal.

If Kuro pieced it together, thinking the way Nightmare would; that was what that Gashadokuro were for. Giant armoured skeletons, a small army of them to trample over the city.

The flaw in nightmares plan was that the Gashadokuro don't exist, not anymore. They were sealed off into an empty void realm within a jar whose location is a mystery.

Nightmare also needed all three daggers for his plan to work.

Kuro sighed heavily, rubbing the sides of his head to will away the headache, Kira and Troy really thought his job was so easy. He looked at the phone and pair of headphones resting beside it.

A small smile made it's way to his face, he didn't mind though, they had their whole lives ahead of them, they had dreams and visions to fulfill.

He had nothing but the deep rooted hatred he held for the man that took everything from him when he was weak.

The man who ruined his life, forcing him to become a monster time and time again. All he could do was hide among the millions of people walking the streets because attachments would only impede his progress.

He was grateful to Kira and Troy, he genuinely cared for them and he was ready to teach and help them to the best of his abilities but if they got in the way of his vengeance, he wouldn't hesitate to put them down. They were his pawns, everything he did, hanging out with their friends from school, going to Kira's house, the jokes, the laughter, it was all just a means to an end.

He could care, but he couldn't care enough, not when he was cursed to bring harm to everything cared deeply for.

He was about to dive back into his research when the sound of falling books and soft curses reached him.

He turned in the direction of the sound to see a boy about his age struggling to pick up the books.

The boy stopped, glancing up at him with a sheepish grin, "H-hi."

Kuro tilted his head questioningly, "Are you some sort of stalker or something? You've been watching me for a few days now."

The kids face went a bit pale with mortification, "It's not like that!" He blurted out.

Kuro shrugged and turned back to his book, a bit curious. With his spells up, people weren't meant to notice him unless they got too close. Even if they did they would forget about him within the hour.

This kid on the other hand had been creeping about for some time everyday Kuro came in.

Meaning he hadn't forgotten, meaning he was probably special like Kira and a few others in the world who didn't forget spirit occurances easily.

"I'm Takahashi Ryuunosuke." The kid said taking the seat beside Kuro, "I'd say my friends call me Ryu but I don't know that many people."

Kuro had no idea why this stranger was talking to him, "Aren't you meant to be in school?"

"Aren't you?"

"Touche."

They sat in silence for a while, Kuro reading and trying to ignore the other boy. He couldn't sense any ill intent but Nightmare's spies could be anyone at anytime.

Ryu let out a bored moan, "I'm too smart for my school, it's this not the best so everything's a bit behind, I sneak out to come read here. A few days ago we crossed paths but you were really into what you were reading."

"So?"

"Not many kids our age are interested in the books I see you holding. You also look so into them, all different topics and such. I wanted to talk but you seemed so unapproachable."

"What changed your mind now?"

"I guess I just wanted to explain so you don't get the wrong idea. I want to be friends with you since it seems we have the same interests." Ryu said quickly.

Kuro narrowed his eyes, studying the other for a long thoughtful moment. He didn't need friends. He already had his plate full with the others.

But...none of them were ever truly on the same wavelength as him. Kira loved sports and shopping, Haru was brilliant but to shy to keep a conversation, Troy was...Troy, and Moriko could match his pace but they were interested in very different things. The only other person he could think off was Jade but she mostly talked about occultic arts and conspiracy theories.

Kuro was trained around occultic arts and he really didn't need a constant reminder of spells he already knew that humans thought were fake.

Maybe this Ryu would be a good companion to keep around.

"Hatake Kuro, just call me Kuro." He said closing the book he'd been reading. He was so hungry. He reached into his pockets and pulled out a few yen, it wouldn't get him much so he'd just buy a snack and wait to meet up with the others so Kira could give him more.

Before he met her, his means of getting money was pickpocketing some poor sucker of their loose change and returning most of the money back since he could track their location. He didn't feel good about it but he had to survive.

"Hey, I'm off to get some snacks." He said hopping off his seat.

"I'll come with, and hey, how about to celebrate our new friendship, I buy you something."

"That doesn't make sense."

"What, think I can't afford it?"

"We're like thirteen, I'm a pretty expensive guy by the way."

"Pretty sure I can afford you."

Kuro nudged him roughly as they walked out the door into the warm afternoon sun, "Don't say shit like that, people will get the wrong idea."

Ryu snickered and Kuro elbowed him once more. He wasn't used to being the one laughed at not since he was much younger but unlike then, Ryu's laugh didn't sound the least bit demeaning.

"I'll be honest, I saw what you pulled out before we left, I felt sorry for you." Ryu said pushing back strands of his coffee brown hair.

"Keep your pity to yourself." Kuro spat with mock indignation.

"Forgive me, good sir."

Kuro scowled but he couldn't lie, he enjoyed being able to be a bit cynical to someone who didn't know him for being cheery and goofy. He wasn't always faking, but he wasn't always being honest either.

They reached a stall, buying some snacks and finding a bench at a park not far off. They sat for hours, just talking and occasionally derailing into ridiculous debates on several scientific topics that Kuro had given up on ever letting out.

Kuro had no idea that a great deal had flown by until his phone began to ring. He picked it up.

"Brat, where are you?" Troy asked, irritation filling his voice.

"Huh?" He turned to Ryu, whispering quietly, "I gotta take this."

"School's been over for thirty minutes and everyone's debating one what's wrong since you're not here."

"They could just have called."

"That's what I said but the bunch of morons decided the best thing was to make a big deal out of it. Vermillion and Moriko are already discussing 'missing' posters."

"I'll be there in a few minutes." Kuro chuckled before ending the call. He faced Ryu, "My friends are expecting me."

"Oh, okay. I'll be in the library same time tomorrow, let's meet up then." The brunette make grinned.

"You could come."

Ryu shook his head, "I should be heading home soon."

It was only when they parted ways that Kuro began to think he should avoid that library for a while.

He wanted to but the next day he was there, a few minutes after his arrival, Ryu was coming in also. He practically launched himself into the seat beside Kuro, pulling out an astronomy book from his bag.

"My dad kept this around, and since you mentioned it was your favorite field yesterday I thought it be good to bring it."

"Amazing." Kuro gawked, turning the book over, it was pretty old, a rare edition at that.

Soon they were seated in companionable silence, flipping through pages of work and just existing in their little space of the library.

Kuro hated how much he was enjoying the company.

***

Days past and Kuro still wasn't sure what to make of the whole ordeal. He'd been carefully splitting his time between research on Nightmare and hungrily devouring the books Ryu brought for him.

There were a few times the Ryu never came at the usual time but at the end of the school day and Kuro would have to make the awkward decision of ditching the others for his new friend.

They all said they didn't mind but he could tell they were interested.

He would introduce Ryu to them in due time but they were both enjoying the time they could have to themselves to just be what people would refer to as nerds.

"You're really short Kuro."

"Look who's talking."

"I have about two inches on you so don't get cocky."

Kuro rolled his eyes, his phone buzzed.

"Your friends?"

"Yeah, I'll send a text now and meet up later." He tapped rapidly at his screen, "What about you, do you have any close friends?"

"Not really close, we just talk at school and get together for homework and stuff. I like hanging out with you more though."

Kuro flashed a toothy grin, putting his hand on his chin in a thoughtful manner, "I guess you're not that bad."

"Jerk." Ryu nudged him.

***

"You're awfully quiet." Kira stated later that night when they were on patrol, "Did your new friend offend you already?"

Troy was meditating off to the side again, probably eavesdropping at the same time.

"No, Ryu hasn't done anything." Kuro said quickly, she was looking all defensive like she was ready to go attack him herself.

"Then what's the problem?"

He shrugged, "I guess I'm just a bit worried. You know how dangerous our lives are, and he's special, like you he'll be able to see through the Barrier if he has an encounter with spirits. I'm just afraid something I do will get him hurt. I don't want to carry the guilt if that happens."

Kira sat down on the ledge with him, "I'm guessing it's been a while since you had to care about someone without powers, but if I can do it everyday, I'm sure you can do better. You're pretty strong Kuro, and very careful. You've got nothing to worry about."

He moved a bit close to her so he could feel her warmth, he hated how his love depraved heart always clung to even the slightest bit of care people gave him. Kira's sisterly care, Troy's protectiveness, and now Ryu's friendship.

'I'm so lame.' He couldn't help but think.

***

"What was that?" Ryu asked.

Kuro snapped out of it quickly, "Nothing. We're almost there, come on."

"I'm really excited to meet them Kuro."

"I know, you won't shut up about it." He groaned shoving them through the busy streets. With his mind occupied by thoughts, and the feeling of freedom being with Ryu brought him, it was easy to brush off the feeling of eyes watching. He wasn't doing anything special, and he was hiding his aura pretty well.

He'd deal with the feeling later, right now he was Hatake Kuro, not the Dark One.

He should have been worried though.

The hooded form leering down with dark purple eyes from the rooftop at one end of the street.

"Kuro-chan, how I've searched for you, I can't wait to reunite us once again." The voice cooed.