I set up different sections for testing the cure. Midori sat by side and I could feel Yugyeom glaring from inside my bag.

"Say, what became of our fellow juzuse out in the woods?" Midori asked as I wrote down steps.

"He left. And don't think of trying anything. He will find out and will come after you." I said, glancing at my bag briefly.

"Really? Just how? Is there some kind of listening device on you?" he asked while looking me over, getting handsy.

I swatted at his hands in fear of Yugyeom exposing himself in a fit of rage. Midori backed off and snickered. His touch made me feel a bit sick.

"Go see where Seo and Rin are. Tell me if they found anything." I said, pushing him away.

"Only for you." he said with a wink.

As soon as Midori left, Yugyeom hopped out of my bag and transformed. Jealousy and anger were clearly present on his face.

"Stop it. You saw it, he initiated it. You can get back at him once you're both cured." I said as I took his hand in mine.

"It's not that I don't trust you. I don't trust him. I'm going to hang around a bit more and keep his grubby hands off of my precious Shihyun." Yugyeom stated.

"Will you be okay...?" I asked worriedly.

"Definitely. I have most control over my body now. Though, I feel it's a bit early to show myself to Rin and Seo huh?" said Yugyeom with a sheepish smile.

"Why not today? Should you do something dramatic? I don't think they'd go for you just casually strolling over. Pretend to be delirious or something?" I suggested then felt my internal alarms going off. "Something's nearby."

"It's been here awhile... now it's made its move. Shi, stay close to me... it's a juzuse." said Yugyeom as he pulled me close.

All was quiet around us, but our bodies were on high alert for the target that threatened us. I discreetly put up a defensive shield in case something were to happen suddenly.

"I see you've come back. Why?" a familiar voice asked.

"I figured it was you. Can't let him out of your sight can you? Why? Because you like him?" Yugyeom asked as he looked around with his eyes.

"Well aren't you smart? Since you already know so much, give him up. It's better for all three parties." Midori said as he walked over to us. "I can give you everything this guy can't."

"But I don't want everything. I want him." I replied as I nuzzled my cheek against his neck.

A strong gust of wind blew towards up and separated us in the process. Midori let his wings materialize before going off on his own with Yugyeom. I tried going after them but was stopped by the sound of Seoho's voice.

"We've got it, Shihyun!" Seoho shouted from above. "Hey, where's Midori? He had one simple job."

Harin landed as well before placing the ingredients in the bag. I remained quiet as I looked off in the direction they went in.

"He'll be back... I don't know when though." I muttered, rubbing my arm. "I think... I think I saw Yugyeom..."

They both looked at me in shock. They started bombarding me with questions. I was hardly in tune with myself as I worried about him. Was he okay? Was he winning? Did he need help?

"Let's make this cure then hurry to find him." said Seoho, crouching down with Harin and started following my steps.

I came to my senses and started helping them out. I promised Yugyeom I'd cure him. We all looked up as a burst of juzuse magic was felt. It was Midori's. I was already up and running before my mind could catch up. Harin and Seoho called after me, but I was already set on going to help Yugyeom.

I arrived at the spot where we sensed the magic then looked around. I spotted familiar colored wings stained with flecks of blood. He looked in my direction causing me to freeze up.

"He... Is he..." I stammered, feeling weak all of a sudden.

"Do you fear me now?" he asked, approaching me.

I screamed in fright and took flight. It couldn't be. Yugyeom was always strong. I bumped into Harin and Seoho who had followed me. I quickly explained what happened, leaving out that it was Yugyeom. I hid behind Seoho as he and Harin prepared to fight.

"Hey, why do you both seem upset?" asked Midori, playing innocent.

"You hurt an innocent human. I knew we couldn't trust you." said Seoho with a glare.

"I was giving you the benefit of the doubt." said Harin with a shake of his head.

"A human? Oh no, I attacked a very dangerous juzuse." said Midori with laughter. "I'm guessing that's what Hyun told you? Come and see."

They followed after Midori as I stayed behind. I panicked and sapped the water out of nearby plants and had Yugyeom's body brought to me. The exchange went unnoticed as I quickly flew away with Yugyeom's body in tow.

I stopped by our things and quickly worked on the cure. I probably only had so long until the infection reclaimed him and he attacked me. I had started blending it all together when I heard a growl from behind me.

"Please let me make it!" I thought, adding in water.

I just barely dodged his attack just as it finished seeping into the water. As much as I didn't want to, I emptied my water bubble of oxygen, causing him to start drowning. I had to be precise as one wrong move resulted in either of us dying. I quickly destroyed the bubble, allowing him to cough up water before forcing the cure down his throat.

His body convulsed which I hoped meant he was getting better. His wings suddenly sprouted and his white feathers started to shed as he sounded as if he vomiting. I watched in pain, wondering if it hurt more than having a wing cut off.

"Ew, gross..." I muttered, not actually expecting him to vomit. I blinked, noticing something dark in his vomit. I swallowed hard before sending water to fish it out. "What is this...?"

It looked like a chewed up and burnt human heart. I wrapped it in a water bubble then looked at Yugyeom who slept like a rock. He was back. I pulled him into my arms and held him tightly. It was then I remembered Seoho and Harin. I couldn't leave Yugyeom alone. I made my choice, relocating and hiding him along with our things.

시현

I arrived just as Midori was about to rip into my friends. I quickly trapped him in a water bubble and removed the oxygen from inside.

"Shihyun!" Seoho said, coughing hard.

"You came..." Harin mumbled, sitting up.

I increased the water pressure inside, not allowing him to try and escape. It was one thing to hurt me, but I wouldn't stand for him hurting my friends, my second family. Midori stopped moving, but I wasn't finished. I tore him in half by increasing the pressure by leaps and bounds. Seoho and Harin looked at me as I stared at the two halves of Midori.

"Shihyun... that was..." Seoho said, unable to hide his surprise.

"We didn't think you had it in you." Harin said, voicing Seoho's thoughts. He punctured Midori's body, making sure he was dead. "You're growing up."

I came to my senses then gave them an innocent smile.

"He's torn in half... Who did that?" I asked, looking around.

"You did." Seoho said.

"Me? Oh wow..." I muttered, surprised by my strength. "I have something important to show you both!"

I led them back to Yugyeom who was still asleep. I explained what the black thing was as Harin had asked about it. Seoho used a bit of the ingredients on Yugyeom's wounds.

"So which method did you use?" Harin asked, looking over the various ones.

"Two." I responded, crossing out the others. "It doesn't seem like we need a whole bunch, but it's not going to be easy healing everyone."

Harin and Seoho discussed ways to give the others the medicine easier while I watched over Yugyeom. He was finally back to us. I kissed his forehead then smiled happily. We were one step closer to saving our species from self extinction.