Sakura had been chasing Raz, but no matter how hard or fast she pumped her legs, he stayed far ahead, his back turned to her. One foot in front of the other, his long braid swinging side to side, he continued to leave her further behind. She tried to scream, to call out to him, but nothing came out.

How long had it been?

She couldn’t stop.

She had to get him back.

Beg for his forgiveness.

Be resolved of her sin.

It felt like drowning without water. Her body was full and heavy, but she felt so empty. Weighed down while floating aimlessly.

If only she could get closer.

Get his attention.

She just had to try harder.

Stop being so weak.

Raz!

Nothing came out.

Raz!

Still.

Raz!

Nothing.

Raz!

“Please don’t go.”

But it wasn’t Sakura’s voice.

Ren.

Raz stopped.

Sakura got closer.

Raz turned.

Sakura opened her arms to him.

Raz faced her, his features young and beautiful again, flawless and free from his scars. Blond hair lustrous and ocean eyes clear and gracious.

He looked so much like Ren.

She was almost there.

Almost close enough to touch.

“Go back, girl,” he said, voice as gruff and gravely as ever. “No one wants you here.”

Sakura’s eyes snapped open. Raz was gone and a white ceiling looked down at her.

What the fuck was going on?

“Please.” She heard the whispers, felt the hot breath against her neck, the heavy limbs curled around her. “Please wake up. You have to.”

Her mouth opened to say something, anything. But a rush of oxygen filled her lungs as if it were the first time such a phenomenon had ever occurred, leaving her wheezing and choking on the fullness in her chest.

Ren was above her, wide blue eyes looking like they’d seen a ghost. “You’re… you’re…” he stuttered and then fell on her, his arms wrapping around her body and crushing all of the air from her. His words were unintelligible and frenzied, body quivering like leaves in the breeze.

“Ren!” a small voice called. The door swung open and a little boy frolicked in. “Play with…” He froze. His eyes bulged and his mouth dropped. “Mama!” he screamed, running away as quickly as his little legs could carry him. “He’s killing her, Mama!”

It was all too much. Nothing made sense. It was all a jumbled blur, a tousling sensation that was impossible to pinpoint and stake down. Sakura wasn’t sure if this was death, but if it was then it was probably hell. It was fitting, what suited her best. She probably deserved to be here.

“Get off of her! What is wrong with you?!”

The man was pried from her body and an unfamiliar woman looked down at her. Her expression went from rage to shock, and her hands grabbed at the fox’s face; peeling apart her eyelids, opening her mouth, rubbing her neck.

“Can you speak, Sakura?”

“Yeah.” The sound came out raspy and uncertain, being not quite sure what the appropriate response was supposed to be.

Ren pushed past the woman, his knees on the ground and torso across the bed, as he grabbed the demon’s face to pull it towards his own. “You’re okay.” Tears poured from his eyes. “You came back. I knew you wouldn’t die without me.”

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Sakura sighed, death looking more and more like the better option. “You are such an idiot.”

A grin crept across his damp cheeks. “I know, but you still came crawling back to me.” Unbridled confidence teeming as he was dragged back away from the vixen again.

“Okay! Enough!” the jaguar scolded. “You either calm down or get out!”

The man nodded, wiping at his face. “I’m calm. I’m good.”

She sighed heavily and turned to Sakura, extending her hand to her. “Can you sit up?”

The fox took the unfamiliar offering and sat up with some assistance as she looked around the strange room, trying to gain her bearings. “Where am I?”

“I’m Marisol. You were brought here after being bit by a nibbler. You’ve been unconscious for a fortnight now.”

“Where’s Ivy?” The memory of the forest crashing back along with the fear and panic. “Where is she?!”

“She’s fine,” Marisol assured softly. “She’s out in the garden. She’ll be back in soon.”

The fox didn’t even to listen to the woman, unable to hear over the belligerent screaming in her own mind and the pulsing of the room around her. The blanket was torn from her body, and she made a hasty attempt to escape the bed before the jaguar demon stopped her.

“You need to rest!” she insisted, trying to gently but firmly push her back. “You shouldn’t be moving around yet! We have no idea how the poison may have affected you!”

Marisol’s voice was nothing more than the buzzing of a pesky fly in Sakura’s ear, only adding to the chorus of mayhem engulfing her. One that was in her way and hindering her from getting to where she needed. One that was going to need to be squashed if it didn’t move.

No matter what, she needed to find Ivy. She couldn’t waste any more time.

“Alright. Relax.” Ren slipped his way in between the two struggling woman. Large hands clasped firmly around the vixen’s face, trapping her attention, as his forehead rested against hers, his voice hushed and slow. “Breathe. Just breathe. Ivy’s fine. There’s nothing wrong. She’s right outside. Do you want to go see her?”

It was a lull that sedated the noise, allowing her thoughts to return and vision to clear. She closed her eyes, filled her lungs fully, and nodded.

The man pulled back. “Alright. Let’s go see what she’s up.”

“Ren! She shouldn’t be running around.” Marisol scolded. “Ivy can come see her.”

“Let her go.” Ren wasn’t nearly as apprehensive as the jaguar as he helped the fox out of bed. “If you think I’m annoying then you’re in for a real treat once she gets going.”

The woman wasn’t happy, but she couldn’t help but soften at the sight. She’d only seen the angel in a constant state of misery and anguish, but now all of that had seemed to just melt away in an instant. He radiated joy as he dotted on the fox demon, and she didn’t feel that it was her place to get in the way of his elation. The man had been little more than a lumbering husk that only took up space since their arrival and she worried about him just as much as she did Sakura. He had been of no help thus far, but she trusted that he could at least manage getting the woman to the garden and back without too much damage done.

“Alright,” Marisol agreed, displeased with the two but understanding she had no choice in the matter. “Just take it easy and don’t overexert yourself. I’ll go start supper. Both of you are much too thin and need to fatten up.”

The pair made their way outside and towards the garden with Ren over exaggerating with his sudden state of concern, hands grabbing at her arms and waist and hips as the vixen constantly smacked them away from her, finding his help not very helpful at all. Ivy was returning to the house with a basket of vegetables when she spotted Sakura coming around the corner of the house, bickering and kicking at the man. The girl froze, her hands going limp as the basket fell to the ground. The sound of wicker crunching upon impact brought her out her daze, and she sprinted to the woman, nearly tackling her to the ground as the girl threw herself around her.

“Why does everyone keep crying?” the demon asked softly, smoothing the girl’s hair as she sobbed uncontrollably into her chest. “Are you okay? You were so sick. Did that jaguar woman take care of you?”

Ivy only managed to shake her head and squeeze the woman tighter.

“By the time they got here she was fine,” Ren told her. “Like nothing ever happened. She didn’t even remember it. Zero said she woke up once they got out of the trees.”

It was so bizarre. “But how? She couldn’t even move. How do you just get over that?” If there was an answer to that question, she was asking the wrong person as the man merely shrugged, the reason alluding him as well. Sakura gazed back down at the mass of dark amethyst waves and sighed with relief. Sometimes life didn’t always revel the answers, preferring to keep its secrets tucked away, and she wouldn’t fight against it this time. The woman kissed the top of the girl’s head and rested her cheek against the silky tresses. “As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. Where’s Zero? I figured he’d be with you.”

There was no response, only the shaking of the girl’s body as she began to cry harder.

“He went back to the forest,” the angel answered for her, seemingly uninterested in the boy’s whereabouts, as if he had just gone for leisurely stroll and would be back shortly.

The demon looked at him like he had sprouted another head, her eyes bulging and mouth gaping at his lack of acceptable reaction. “We have to go get him! Why would you let him go back there alone?! What is wrong with you?!”

He shrugged, unable to even fathom a care. “He wanted to. He’s a big boy. He’ll figure it out. The two of you worry way too much. He’ll be alright.”

“Why would he go…” she started before clicking her tongue in irritation. “That dumb ass,” she spat. “We have to go get him. How long has he been gone?”

Ren waved her off, the conversation getting boring and dragging needlessly on for his tastes. “I don’t know. A few hours. Maybe six or seven at most.”

“Four days.” Ivy’s muffled voice came from the woman’s chest.

“Four days?!”

“Yeah. He comes and goes. He’s fine.” The angel dismissed their concerns. “He’ll be back tomorrow. Probably. Mark my words.” He walked over to the spilled basket and picked up the contents. “Come on, let’s go inside. I know you’re hungry.” He snuck behind the two women and ushered them towards the house with demanding bumps from the basket with every step.

Sakura looked in the direction of the forest, ignoring the man’s unwavering and rapid jabbering. It was unnerving knowing that the devil was there on his own. However, Ren seemed confident in Zero’s abilities and despite his aloof attitude towards the current situation, it was evident that the man loved and cared deeply for the boy. If the angel had any doubt that something was wrong, that Zero was or could possibly be in any danger at all, he would certainly go to find the boy.

Certainly.

Glancing back, the vixen chewed her cheek while observing the man guffawing without a worry in the world. The way he smiled with ease and the sparkling brightness of his eyes. Euphoria at its finest.

There was no doubt about it.

Sakura would have to go retrieve Zero herself.