"There are more than one way to enter this side Hikari." He informs putting you down. "If you run I will go back and eliminate the demon." He adds when you look for an escape. "And don't bother cleansing me. It's useless with your broken Hikari light."

"Broken..." You echo looking up at him. He nods before pointing to the lanterns in the distance you look over, feeling your heart sink at the dim golden fires you had lit. They were steadily being snuffed out. Fear pulls on you and you unconsciously move closer to the spirit. "I'm fading..." You whisper before blinking as something occurs to you. "I've been afflicted by the darkness?..." You look up at him.

"Yes. It's consuming your light and your links now." He nods. Your eyes widen at that and you swiftly remove the links tossing them away from you in an attempt to preserve them. "Good call. That might slow it." He says before moving along. You felt lost, fear making you keep close to the spirit.

"Why are you taking me away?" You look up at him again.

"With a broken Hikari we can overturn the balance and plunge the other world in darkness." He informs.

"Why would you want to stay in a never ending darkness?" You frown feeling uneasy. He doesn't answer so you keep talking. "You can barely see anything here. Not the sun or all the colors of the sky or earth... The flowers... Sunsets... It just sounds sad to not want any of that. Is that really how you want to continue to exist?"

"... You should stop talking." He breathes and ahead a purplish flame catches your eye. You step even closer to him. There was something bad there, you wanted to run and try to escape, but the spirit grabs your arm firmly. "I said dont run."

"That was fast Katakuri." A familiar rumbling voice comments.

'The one that took me last time...' You recognize, stepping even closer to the spirit called Katakuri.

"It was easier than expected since her light dimmed." Katakuri states. You wince, dropping your gaze. It was because you were too weak... Your shoulders droop, feeling the emptiness spreading.

"We see that. Come closer little Kage." A massive hand presents itself to you. You look at the hand uneasily, touching Katakuri's arm quietly

"No..." You respond quietly. Even in the darkness you can see a darker shape rising in front of you. Surprise makes you take a step back, turning a foot to run.

"Stop Teach." Katakuri says firmly. "I won't chase her if you make her run."

"Zehahaha! But it wouldn't be hard to catch the little lost rabbit again." The voice points out and you can feel the being draw closer. He was right. You were lost. And with most of the lanterns going out you wouldn't be able to find the temple easily. You start to shake tears coming to your eyes as you hide your face in Katakuri's arm. Making the being laugh again. "Awww! The rabbit likes you Katakuri!"

"... When do we start?" Katakuri inquires simply.

"When the moon rises tonight in the living realm." The being answers. "Until then. Keep the rabbit here. We'll return for her when its time." Then they were gone. You relax, the atmosphere seems to clear and you peer around carefully.

"Come Hikari." Katakuri starts off suddenly. You frown following after him.

"What will happen after you succeed tonight?" You ask.

"... That's nothing you need to worry about." He states.

"But it is. I want to see the sun again." You argue.

"No. Because if it succeeds, you'll be gone." He peers over his shoulder at you. "So there's no 'after' for you to worry about." Suddenly it felt frigid, and you stop. Gone? That would be it for your entire existence?

"But I want to see Kid again... I don't want this to be it." You whisper tearing up again. He stands still for a few silent moments, back facing you.

"You can run now. The last of the lanterns are behind you." He says finally. You blink away a few years before looking over your shoulder. Sure enough the lanterns Shanks had lit when you were first taken were still ablaze. You hesitate, looking to his back briefly before turning for the lanterns and running.

For some reason you felt safe as you ran in this darkness. You didn't slow though, instead you push yourself to run faster. It felt like you would run out of time if you didn't get out soon. But suddenly there was a thought that made you stop in your tracks.

'Would they be happy to see me again? I just keep hurting Law and Kid...' You stare at the closest lantern feeling everything in you sink.

"Oh..." You breathe, dropping your gaze.

"Why did you stop running?" Katakuri asks behind you.

"Maybe they're better off without me. Law and Kid... I've just been causing them pain... " You murmur. "Going back just to see them again feels selfish."

"Being selfish can sometimes be the best route." He points out. You look back at him with a frown.

"I think... I've been selfish alot lately... That's why the darkness took my light." You touch your chest.

"... If that's your answer. Then lets go." He states.

"... I said I wasn't going to see them. I didn't say I'd let you plunge their world into darkness." You breathe, meeting his gaze. His eyes narrow briefly before he crouches so he can look at your face better.

"Then humor me. What do you intend to do with your broken light?" He inquires. You watch him for a few moments, mind scratching for an answer.

"Wake up the old Hikari lights." You murmur, eyes flickering to the building where you signed your name. He follows your gaze.

"I can't allow you to do that-" You burst off for it but something wraps around your body, picking you up and pulling you back. "No little Hikari." He says, pausing as you start whispering a prayer. Your restraint weakens but doesn't disappear. "Stubborn..."

"Ha... Guess it doesn't work with a broken light huh?" You smile hopelessly.

"No. But nice try." He releases you, arm reforming. "Come along." He prompts again, starting off. You frown, glancing back at the building again. "Don't run." He adds sternly, making you stiffen.

"... Alright." You frown following after him silently.

Before long he leads you into a rather modern home. He sits on a couch, motioning for you to sit down as well. "We'll wait here until its time." He says as you sit obediently. You frown, peering at him briefly. You had to revive your light somehow.

So your mind went to Kid. Before the crash, laughing and talking with him. How happy you were. But those memories are bombarded back by your present memories with him. No matter what you try, that darkness knocks the good back from your mind.

'Stop it... It's not so bad...' You try to tell yourself.

'Everything is going dark because of you. It's all your fault.' The negativity prods again. You squeeze your eyes shut, covering your face.

"You're in quite the battle with yourself." Katakuri's comment makes you pause and open your eyes. For a moment you had forgotten about him. You carefully peek at him in response. "You seem as confused and pained as the new spirits that awake here."

"... Is that what its like for everyone?" You murmur, dropping your hands. He closes his eyes for a moment or two before looking ahead.

"For most yes. If its unplanned they'll awake disoriented, the darkness of this place also gives them fear, and on top of that there's a great sense of loss and sadness. And when they realize what has happened they become either angry or depressed." He informs.

"So... You're so angry you want to take away all the light?" You tilt your head.

"Not me necessarily." He glances at you briefly.

"Then why are you part of this?" You question. He doesn't answer, instead he stands up.

"I'll be back later." He tells you before leaving. You wait a moment before swiftly going to the door and trying to open it. Sealed shut, you couldn't even jiggle the the door knob. With a frown you try the window and other doors, coming to the same problem. You check for any other ways to escape.

It didn't feel like too much time had passed before he returned. "Come. Its time." He says, beckoning you. It felt like your heart sunk at that.

"Already...?" You murmur uneasily, feeling a slight panic set in. He nods in response and you shuffle after him. What could you do? What could be done?

"Your friends were captured after coming to get you." He adds and you stop, looking up at him in horror. "Yes they're okay. But Teach wants them present when your light is put out..."

"He's going to make them watch?" You whisper. He nods and moves on as you drop your gaze briefly. You wanted to stop this and do something, but you knew Katakuri would stop you.

Soon you see the purple fires, and dimly lit forms amongst them. You blink as your eyes land on a familiar shape. "Law!" Your voice rings out and you move forward to run to him but something clasps around your neck, stopping you.

"Now now little Kage, you shouldn't be so enthusiastic to say goodbye." Teach's voice at your back sends chills through you. You look away from the others as they raise their heads to you and glare at the dark mass behind you. He simply laughs, moving to the largest of the purple flames. "But I guess I can let one of them say goodbye to you. But only one."

"You bastard..." You growl, glaring at him more.

"I'll say goodbye. There's something I want to give her." Kid's voice makes you freeze and look over as he steps forward, eyes on you.

"Hm? What do you think Katakuri?" Teach chuckles. You look to Katakuri as he peers at you for a few moments.

"... Hurry..." He tells Kid, moving away. You shift as the red head approaches you.

"Are you hurt?" He murmurs, touching your cheek.

"No... I'm just... Sorry... This is my fault..." You sniff tearing up. He shakes his head, meeting your gaze.

"I thought you said nothing is anyone's fault. Somethings just need to happen." He says quietly. You blink in surprise, trying to remember when you had said that.

"I told you that after your first engine blew up... You... Remember that?" Your brows knit together in confusion.

"It's a memory I kept... Along with some others." He nods slightly, moving something into your hand. He frowns softly before leaning next your ear. "So I know... This was always meant to be our link." He whispers.

You pause before looking down at the gold ring in your palm, a single ruby shimmering as you move it between your fingers.