Kira

~

A groan was the first sound to leave my lips upon waking up. My brain was slow to catch up, registering only the throbbing pain in my skull.

"Well come back to the land of the living." I heard Troy's biting remark.

I wanted to hit him and I damn well would have if my hand could move.

I freaked.

Why was my hand not moving?

I pulled and tugged only to find it was constantly pulled back by a strange sticky substance on a surface that bounced.

"Hey, stop that or you'll draw their attention before we get a chance to escape." He hissed.

"Where are we?"

"On a spider web. I don't know for exactly how long we were out but Kuro's here too." Troy responded he was glowing faintly, giving as much light as he could but I could see even he looked sick, "I guess he's still out. Whatever they injected, they must have given him a double dose."

"Why would they do that?" I asked again.

"This web needs to be cut, unlike me, he can detach his feathers from his body to do just that. They probably didn't know you can materialize your weapon again." He looked calm like he'd thought this through and was relieved weren't going to be stuck here.

I on the other hand, with my extensive knowledge of action movies, knew there was something wrong. If they had half the mind to double-dose Kuro, they probably would have thought to do the same to the supposedly powerful Demon Keeper.

'You're right to feel that way. Thanks to my abilities your senses have come back sharper than his.' Lucifer drawled, 'Look around.'

"Archer, I don't think that'll work." I gritted out, "They're toying with us. If we tried to leave now they'd just catch us again." Especially you weak and Kuro out cold.

'The blond one is strong but I guess his body doesn't handle spirit poisons well.' The demon informed.

'Now you tell me.'

"Brilliant observation, Demona." A smooth honeyed voice sounded from somewhere in the dark carver that must be one of the many corners of the sewers.

"Glow a little brighter, Archer," I said.

He gave me a look that said he'd rather prefer to take instructions from a stick but with a slight grimace he glowed a bit brighter.

All around us; on webs attached to everywhere our eyes could see, were Jorōgumo. An especially large one stood on a thin line of thread not far in front of me.

I suddenly felt sicker than I'd been earlier. Troy must have seen my face because his words of encouragement were, "Not now please."

I swallowed down the bile and the urge to vomit.

"Who are you and why are you kidnapping humans?" He turned to the largest Jorōgumo.

The spider woman giggled coyly. Sick brown eyes hallow with emotion and painted with blood because I seriously doubted anyone would sell her makeup of any kind.

"Since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you what men call me. Have you ever heard of the Tsuchigumo?"

Troy's eyes widened, "Kuro gave me a book on Yokai to read, you're meant to be much smaller."

"You're not wrong my lovely." All too suddenly she spat out a line of the fine, thin web which seemed to seamlessly somewhere on the web somewhere to my right. As she approached, the web dipped but her eight legs moved with grace and confidence, however, her dark stringy hair hung off her scalp and swayed slightly.

She got close enough to smell and I was surprised to find she didn't carry the repulsive stink of the sewers, instead, it was an almost hypnotizing floral scent that would have convinced me she wasn't all that bad.

This must be the way they tricked humans, this scent.

She leaned closer to Troy, holding his chin between her thumb and forefingers, "Pretty, pretty, you'd be such a shame to eat but mortal blood tastes so divine."

"Why are you here?" He asked with no signs of obvious irritation, how I wished I could remain that calm right now. My heart was beating so fast I'm sure everyone could hear it.

"Master Nightmare summoned me and granted me ultimate power if I get my sisters together to cause chaos and help him kill the former Demona." She grinned with sharp, pointy teeth. "Of course, we agreed on the spot. I don't know how that went though, my sisters I lent him never returned but that was until a few days ago when he told me we succeeded."

I heard the sound of a loud crunch to my left. I turned to see a group of Jorōgumo devouring the body of a nameless civilian. They tore the skin from the bone with their jaws and lapped at the blood with abandon.

I stared in horror, a tidal wave of emotions within in my gut; anger, fear, pain, disgust, all those feelings just simmering beneath the skin.

"He set me free, saying I had free reign over what I do." The Tsuchigumo continued, "All I had to do was bring the new one alive if I found them and kill her subordinates. I sent my sisters out just to know how many of you were searching and which powers you possessed."

Her human hand fell from Troy's face, "Now I've sated your curiosity, my sisters grow impatient." She crawled out of our webby prison and spat an orangish liquid on Kuro, enabling her to pluck him from the trap.

"Demona, summon your weapon and get us out of here." Troy hissed.

"And do what exactly? You're still weak, and Kuro's out. I don't exactly know how to handle these situations."

"If you don't do something soon, he's going to be eaten, at least try to think of something."

That was exactly the point I was trying to make. I didn't know shit. That was the only reason I'd insisted on a team in the first place. They were both more experienced, they had knowledge of how to deal with yokai and monsters.

They know what they're doing, I thought sadly.

Meanwhile, I just tagged along, ready to provide and learn but not get myself killed.

Helping us escape this mess was beyond what I wanted to do.

"My sisters, who wants the first bite?" Tsuchigumo dangled Kuro's limp form over the pit of spider women below.

But if I didn't do something now, these two that decided to trust me would be eaten alive, like they were nothing but snacks served on a platter. I'd live and be delivered to Nightmare, he'd find out who I am and then hold my family against me and I surrender like the weakling I was.

Troy seemed to sense my resignation from the events happening around us.

"I knew you were useless." He sighed in that monotone voice of his. He began to struggle until I notice him pull out a tiny blade from within the folds of his cloak.

"You'll just fall too."

"I'll fight." He said simply like he didn't sound insane right now.

I stared, what was wrong with these two? A laugh bubbled up from my throat.

'Have you finally gone mad human brat?' Lucifer questioned, sounding almost amused as I was.

Everyone had turned to me but I didn't care. I couldn't help it. This blond idiot honestly thought he could fight off probably a hundred of those things in his state.

Self-confidence really was a precious thing.

Confidence.

Was that really what I was lacking? Backing down when things didn't look up or turn out my way. I searched for the person I was when I faced Belzeblub, what had prompted that? Was it because I was the only one in danger?

I stared at Tsuchigumo, who was still dangling Kuro and teasing her sisters.

"Remind me to get you one tomorrow."

I turned to Troy who was still cutting himself toward his own demise. Why did I easily attach myself to people? Why did I have to need their help in the first place?

The truth was I needed these idiots and they trusted me to not stab their backs. I scowled.

I needed to step up.

'Lucifer, I need strength.'

'That's all up to you, Kira.'

Just then I saw something fly past me. She had dropped Kuro.

"Brat!" Troy screamed, freeing himself just in time and diving down after the smaller boy. But his wings didn't show which meant he was still weak.

They were going to die.

And it would be my fault.

More blood on my hands.

How irritating.

A dark annoyed feeling flared up inside me. That same indignation I felt back in the underground passage. How dare they? How dare all of them put me through this shit?

The air around me flared to life, slicing through the air and chopping the net to pieces.

I fell but not before forming my weapon and taking a good chunk of Tsuchigumo's leg with me.

I glared at the pit of spider women, a tornado enveloped me, a whirlwind of fury slamming all except for myself and the boys back.

The winds carried us safely to the ground and Troy lay Kuro down. "Can you fight?" I asked, no matter how empowered I felt right now I knew I couldn't take so many on by myself.

'Going at twenty percent, a large jump Vermillion, I'll give you that.' Lucifer informed.

'Screw you.'

Troy held out his hands, lightning sparking to create his bow and arrow, "I can cover you. Take out the creep at the top."

My eyes drifted to where Tsuchigumo stood snarling at us from above.

"Got it," I said before charging at the monsters that had surrounded me. They threw themselves at us in a flurry of legs and jaws. I cut them down, their blood if it could be called that, splattering unto my clothes and person but right now that was the least of concerns.

I was so pissed and I needed to take my annoyance out on the source. I jumped off walls, boosting my movements with the wind.

Arrows of golden light soared past me, hitting the targets my scythe missed. I landed on the web where Tsuchigumo stood. Eyes glaring.

There was a gargling sound as if she had something in her throat. I dodged in time to avoid getting roasted by a blast of flames.

Fire breathing, just my luck.

"Thanks for underestimating me and not giving me more poison. I'll be sure to make this quick." I sneered, running towards her, he deflected my strike with one of her many legs.

"Now I've realized my mistake I'll make sure to repeat it when next you're tied up." She hissed, breathing out more flames.

I used a gust of wind to push it back. Spun through the air, changing the shape of the blades each time, from large steel fans to pointed spears. I decided my best bet was to confuse her and get her off the net since it was getting hard for me to keep my focus and not step in holes.

I sped up my movements, striking and cutting a web with each gut. I heard the snap of the last web being cut.

"Fool!" She snickered. Opening her mouth. Probably to shoot a web with which to grab onto the ceiling.

Golden light flashed beside me. Severing the cord.

Nice work Angel-boy, I smirked.

I saw the fear in Tsuchigumo's eyes as she struggled to find her bearings, I didn't give her that time. I raised my scythe the last time and landed one final strike into her heart.

A shriek echoed in the cold humid space of the sewers. I let the winds float me down to Troy's side. We were all covered in Tsuchigumo parts.

"That was disgusting." He said looking highly offended. With me or with the mess, I wasn't sure but I'd guess it was both.

There were still a few Jorōgumo lingering about but they all seemed hesitant to approach now that their leader had perished. "We've still got more to clean up."

"Let's make this quick."

***

By the time we climbed out of the sewers, we were all so filthy. If I ever saw another spider after this, it'd be too soon.

I made barfing sounds as we trekked into the open on cold desolate streets. The time on my phone read that it was a few minutes after four in the morning.

I was definitely sleeping in.

I turned to the boys, "Is he going to be fine?"

"Yeah. I'll just take him to my place. He'll wake up and leave on his own later." The older blond replied.

"Doesn't he have someone waiting? A guardian or something?" I know he said he had no family when we'd first met but that didn't mean he had no one, right?

Troy gave me a skeptically raised eyebrow like he couldn't believe I was so ignorant, "Kuro has no home." He led the walk, "He's been that way since I met him, moving from place to place, never really belongings anywhere. He only visited my master's shrine in passing. The concept of a home must be completely foreign to him."

"What? Haven't you ever tried to get him to stay?"

"He declined." He cast a glance at the smaller boy on his back, his eyes held an unreadable expression, "I don't have the energy to waste by convincing stubborn brats what's good for them. He'll live, no matter what so that's enough for me."

'How does he eat?', 'Where does he sleep?', 'What about when it rains?' All those questions floated around my head before settling at the tip of my tongue.

"I don't know how he does it but it's none of my business. Knowing him doesn't mean knowing about him, all I do know is that his parents were killed by Nightmare and he wants revenge." Troy turned to me, "That's all he needs us for. Revenge. Don't think about his age or how young he looks, brat's got more issues than liking the taste of blood."

I held my tongue. We kept walking until Troy felt he could fly once more. He spread his wide white wings, adjusting Kuro so the kid rested properly in his arms. I took it as a good sign that the darker-haired boy was murmuring.

"Drool, disgusting." Troy huffed. He glanced back at me, "Get home without causing trouble."

I nodded while waving dismissively, "Yeah, and rest up. We've got school tomorrow. You look like trash."

I could see a twitch in the corner of his eye. Good, have a taste of your own medicine.

I was nearly blown back by the force at which he'd taken off. His wings flapped powerfully.

Petty bastard, I thought. I was watching their silhouettes against the slowly rising sun. I raised a hand to the warmth.

I was alive.

We were alive.

I fell to the ground.

'Then why am I crying?'

***

I woke up sometime around noon. Feeling slightly better but my muscles still ached when I moved. I picked my phone up and put it off silent mode as I made my way to the kitchen.

"How was your sleep kiddo?" Ares asked with a grin, he snatched the cup of coffee out of my hand and replaced it with tea. He liked to limit how much we had since it was unhealthy. I didn't really mind except for times when I was really in a coffee mood.

I decided to let it go for today.

One missed call from Troy, wonder what's up. "Was okay," I replied to my stepdad.

He planted a kiss on my forehead, "I ordered gyudon from a local restaurant. Yours is in the fridge. Brush your teeth right after and join me and your sister for a movie, okay?"

I gave him a bright smile, "Sure."

He smiled back and vanished in the direction of the living room. I let my spirits fall when I remember that Kuro didn't have this. This homely companionship to return to.

I called Troy back, checking in on his condition would be the right thing to do, right?

"Kira! I'm so glad you called back! I was getting so worried!"

"Kuro?!" I really shouldn't be stunned he sounded so...fine.

"Yeah! I'm okay. But Troy isn't, poison from yokai really messes with his system. He's sick."

"No, I'm not, brat. Give me back my phone." I heard Troy's muffled voice in the background.

"He's lying and he's terrible at it. Anyways, we won't be able to meet up today, I'm afraid he'll croak if I leave his side for even one second, like geez you should see how pathetic he looks."

"Quit saying stuff like that. It's just a slight fever." Troy hissed. I heard sounds of a struggle and whining on Kuro's part, "Hey Vermillion, I'm fine, the brat doesn't know what he's saying."

"I know you are. Rest up, Angel-boy."

"Don't call me that." He huffed before hanging up. I smiled to myself, some part of me was happy to admit that those two were friends now. That they were now people I wanted to protect and know more about.

Was I dumb for thinking that?

Maybe.

And probably dumber thinking they'd open up to me. I had no idea what the future had in store for us.

***

The next time I saw both of them was in front of the school gates.

I was surprised.

Taking that they'd missed our morning jog, I assumed Troy was still too sick to resume school that day.

Apparently, I was wrong, he was there, in full Hamada High uniform, hair short enough to brush the nape of his neck. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere but here but I could sense some excitement in his muted eyes as he kept casting glances at the school building.

Kuro was by his side dressed casually and bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet as he constantly said words I'm sure the blond was pretending not to hear.

I approached them, "Kuro! Troy! You're both here."

"This is my school now genius."

"Sure sure, Troy's a big boy now." Kuro snarked, "Just don't go making friends and forget about me."

"You're not my friend and such things are merely a waste of time." The blond said.

Kuro rolled his eyes dramatically and turned to me, he hugged me. "Thanks, he told me what you did back there."

"Anytime." I beamed before taking off my bag and reaching into it to pull out something. I pushed a white box into his hand and saw his eyes widen when he realized what it was.

"I told you not to bother with this."

"I think I decide what I'm bothered or not bothered about when it comes to my friends," I said, taking note his eyes had turned glassy with unshed tears of gratitude.

"Kira-"

"You can always come and visit. We have extra rooms so you can stay over." I said quickly, "I know for a fact Ares wouldn't mind, Kat might take some getting used to though."

A chuckle bubbled up from his throat, it was then it struck me how young he really was, my heart ached for him, "I'm fine Kira, but I'll stop by, and I'll tie Troy up and bring him with me."

"That's kidnapping." The taller boy pointed out simply.

Kuro shrugged him off. I smiled, I could work with that.

"We're going to be late Vermillion." He called.

I gave Kuro one last hug before grabbing Troy's hand and pulling him through the entrance and not listening to his protests, "I'll show you around, you're going to love this place."

He merely sighed.

I looked back over my shoulder at Kuro on the sidewalk. He was focused on the phone and I could swear I saw a single tear slip down his face before he turned and walked off.

Thanks for reading guys, hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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