*Watari awakens with a jolt surprising D and Enma somewhat*
I've seen him. We must find a way to cut his source of power first and then Tsuzuki can defeat him once and for all. I know he can.
*The kamis eagerly pore through the scrolls left by D's sofu seeking the weakness of the demon*
Watari
Li looks a little worried. With a sudden snarl he swings his sword and slices through Watari.
Tsuzuki's eyes widen. "WATARI!!"
Without a word, the shinigami disappears, leaving only Li and Tsuzuki standing with swords in the dreamscape. Tsuzuki stares at the spot where Watari was standing, then turns to Li.
"YOU!" Angered, he raises the sword and lunges. Li smirks and winks out of sight to appear behind Tsuzuki.
"Your friends, it seems, will be quite a problem for me."
Tsuzuki glares. "Yeah, a big one!"
Li sighs, as if not hearing him. "Love. Such a pathetic emotion, yet it will be /that/ which will cause the most trouble." He looks at Tsuzuki with an evil smile. "We'll just have to get rid of them a little earlier than planned, yes?"
With an enraged cry, Tsuzuki rushes Li with the sword. Almost idly, Li raises his own weapon and parries quickly, locking both hilts together and staring straight into Tsuzuki's face.
"You want to fight me, yes? Your friends' faith in you has given you strength. But, dear puppy ..." he traces a finger down Tsuzuki's cheek, " ... I am more powerful than you have realised .... and am here in your own mind. You cannot fight me. You haven't the strength." Abruptly, he twists the sword and Tsuzuki's weapon goes flying to be lost in the darkness. Tsuzuki stumbles and tries to rise, only to find Li's sword at his throat.
"All you can do is watch as I kill off your friends .... one by one."
Tsuzuki stares in mute horror. "My friends ..." he manages to say, "my friends will kill you first."
Li laughs. "Oh really? They don't want to hurt you, so they won't hurt me. The only person who can truly exorcise me .... is yourself." Maliciously, Li shoves the sword through Tsuzuki's throat. Tsuzuki chokes on the blood that spurts out first in dribbles, then in splashes as Li removes the blade. "And you can't do that."
Tsuzuki *tears in eyes*
Ganbette!
Smiles at his friend
Hesitantly, the child reaches out for the sword. Li laughs mockingly.
"It's very heavy, puppy. You can't lift it. You don't have the strength."
The child pauses. Looks at Li. Looks at the smiling blond man. Seeing the smile, he bites his lip and takes hold of the sword as Li's eyes widen. The moment his hand touches the sword-hilt, his body shimmers as he stands, like light through mist. Finally, the sword is aloft and everything clears. Tsuzuki. Still a little frightened and tears still in his eyes, but Tsuzuki, adult nonetheless. He stares at Li and slowly raises the sword to en guarde position.
Tsuzuki
Take the sword Tsuzuki. I trust you. You're stronger than he can imagine.
Ganbette
The child stares at the sword fearfully.
poor confused scared Tsuzuki!
*Throws the sword to Tsuzuki*
Tsuzuki-san. I will not fight him because my victory will mean your death. I trust in you. Don't believe the lies this man seeks to poison you with.
Remember, you are not alone in this. Tatsumi, Hisoka, Wakaba, Terazuma, Konoe, Gushoshin, Enma, the Count and myself. We all trust in you.
Show Li, the power of the shinigamis! Show him your love for your friends!
Can Tsuzuki do it?
Li smiles darkly and steps slowly towards Watari. Behind him, the child can only watch, too scared and confused to do anything.
"So touching. Talk all you like -- you can do nothing. The only way for me to leave is if you force me out. However, this is /our/ mind you are in. Should you fight me you will damage your friend's mind ... but you have no choice."
Suddenly, two swords appear, one in each hand. He throws one to Watari.
"Well?"
Li. You can't stop us. Tsuzuki is our friend. Our friendship is stronger than the fear you are trying to confuse Tsuzuki with.
Tsuzuki. You can overcome him. I trust you, with all my life.
Watari
The children, the river, the rushes all disappear. All that is left is the blond man, the Chinese man, and the purple-eyed child. The child stares at the blond man, who wears glasses and has such a kind smile. He knows this person, he knows he knows this person .... he reaches out to touch him --
Angered, the Chinese man pulls the blond man away and throws him aside. The child cries out in fear.
"Interfering shingami, what are you doing here?" The Chinese man stands over the other, handsome face twisted in anger. "What can you possibly accomplish? He wants to be damned, I will make him so!"
Hush now, *patting the frightened child* you've always protected us. Let us, your friends protect you for once.
Tsuzuki-san, don't cry. Tears do not look good on you.
You're not alone. You're not unloved.
Hush now ...
No more pain. Startled, the child looks up at the blond man protecting him. He seems familiar. The child searches for a name without success. All he knows is that this person is protecting him at the expense of his own self. The Chinese man and the faceless children laugh as they hurl sharp, jagged stones.
"No!" The child struggles to free himself from the blond man's arms, crying. "Don't hurt him! He has nothing to do with this! He has nothing to do with me!! DON'T HURT HIM!!"
No ... *rushes to the crying child trying to shield him as the two of them are pelted with stones*
The Tsuzuki-san I know is a kind soul. No, he is the kindest soul I have ever known, he would rather die than let anyone be hurt. He's different but so what. He'll be more human than some people ever will be. He is my friend.
Watari
Rushes. A river at night. A small child runs, battered, bruised, but not daring to stop as those behind him yell and throw hard, unforgiving rocks.
"Please ... I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"You're not sorry."
The child freezes. Slowly, fearfully, he turns around. Behind him stands a tall Chinese man, devestatingly handsome with long black hair and elegant robes. He smiles, but it is a smile of cruelty. Behind him gather faceless children, all wearing the same smile.
"You're not sorry, are you," says Li to the child. The child's purple eyes are wide and frightened. "You're not sorry that you scared those people. You're not sorry that you hurt them. You know you're different; you should be hated. You did this to hurt yourself."
The child cowers, crying. The man smiles.
*Walking around in a tortured landscape*
Where am I? *sees an image of a young child with purple eyes being pelted by stones and chased by other children*
Tsuzuki-san? This is his mind?
Watari
"Th-that thrice-damned doll! He took back the powers I stole from that shinigami!"
*small smile* "See? You won't win."
"SHUT UP! I still have YOU and your power alone is more than enough! The top shinigami of the JuOhCho ... you've killed many people I'm sure."
*screaming in pain -- in Tsuzuki's voice*
'Tsuzuki' -- it huuuuuuurts!!
*Suddenly, a strange blue fire envelopes Li/Tusuzki and a green light escapes the demon possessed shinigami, heading in the direction of the petshop where a sleeping shinigami rests.
The green light envelopes Watari, and he begins breathing more easily.*
*smiling, nodding to D* Cousin you had better rest too. We will need all our strength when 'ari awakes to deal with that demon. *chuckles as he imagines the pain Li feels as a result of the spell* There now, Li. Wasn't that fun? Don't worry, we will definitely pay you back for what you did to D, Tsuzuki and 'ari.
The kami team to the battle table
"What is this? I feel ... strange."
*In the meanwhile, Enma and D begin the spell to remove the stolen kami powers from Li/Tsuzuki*
Internal monologue/angst
".... please, don't hurt anyone anymore."
"And why not? You have no idea what I have had to endure as a result of the /doll's/ meddling."
"But that doesn't give you the right to kill people! It doesn't give you the right to hurt my friends!"
"SILENCE! As I said, I will get my revenge. And besides, dear puppy, if you can't bear the thought of so much pain being delivered by your hands why don't you fight me? Hmm? Why haven't you forced me out of your body?"
"I . . . . I am . . ."
"You're Damned. You don't want to be saved, do you. You don't fight me because you believe yourself deserving of condemnation."
"N-no! That's not true! My friends, they --"
"Yami no matsuei. Despised. Feared. Unwanted. Unloved. What, no answer? It's the truth. You want to be damned. You deserve to be damned. And since that is the case .... I shall make you so."
As Enma and D perform the rituals to retrieve the stolen kami and shinigami powers, Watari sleeps to regain his strength.
Will our 3 kamis succeed in awaking Tsuzuki before it is too late? All this and more, in "The Meifu" as soon as we return from a short commercial break.
But of course! Let us get your beloved to his room and we can both study those onmyoujitsu books Sofu left when he went overseas.
(Gods, I sincerely hope we get rid of this supreme bother before he manages to let out any other hint about our past together. I have a reputation to keep, and seducing a demon into becoming a part of my menagerie TO THAT EXTENT surely will not help keeping it clean....)
And THOSE are the things you worry about, D?? O_O
*teleports them all to the petshop*
I know, Mother told me about everything.
*looking tenderly at the sleeping blonde in his arms* Cousin, do you have somewhere for Watari to rest and regain his strength first while we perform the rituals to retrieve the powers Li stole from 'ari. We do not need him using our own powers against us.
This is WAR you monster, for hurting my cousin and my love!!!
Enma! *soft feminine sigh of relief* I was about to call out to you. I have some horrible news for you: Cheng-jung, (my Li, remember? The one you never approved of? -_-;;) is free again. He attacked Mr. Watari only because he knows I care about him. I was afraid he might be going for you next.
We must discuss this matter and find a way to seal him back or exterminate him.
This is a family matter.
Boss, I'm fine. We need to save Tsuzuki and the whole world from Li.
Am I glad to see you for once Enma
*Suddenly Enma appears catching the fatigued blonde in his arms*
Watari? Cousin? Are you alright? Watari what happened to you? *carries the blonde in his arms*
Cousin, Mother called me saying she felt an evil force unleashed on the world. Was it the same monster that did this to my 'ari?
Enma is BACK
Iria was never a completly nasty child, you know. *melancholic smile* Just a bit capricious yet likeable. In fact there was a time when I was very fond of her, but do not tell her I confessed that.
Very well, then. Mr.Tsuzuki will have his chance. But if he fails to shove the demon away from his body I am very sorry but I will see myself in the need to destroy them both. I believe Enma's help will be invaluable on this matter. Shall we return to the petshop so I can send him a mental call? Perhaps the three of us can work out a way to save your friend.
Let's set the shop as our spot of Rendezvous
In the past, I had to fight her to keep her from resurfacing, but she seems content to be one with me now ...
Count I trust Tsuzuki-san. We must at least give him a chance to overpower Li. If only there was a way we could speak to him ...
I trust Tsuzuki
Iria said she was sorry....? My, is that not a pleasant surprise. I believe she is truly beginning to bond with you now, Mr.Watari.
*sigh* I understand how you feel about your friend. And believe me when I tell you I feel sorry for Mr. Tsuzuki as well (a bit ¬.¬). But that might be the only change we have to get rid of him. Li is very dangerous in that state. He could have damaged my physical body enormously if it was not for the fact he decided to use one of the shikigami, who are somehow reluctant to hurt a kami of my species.
You sure you're THAT sorry about it, dear? :P
Count ... Iria's strength is more than enough for me. She has given up all her powers to me but before she fell asleep she wanted me to let you know she's sorry. I'll be okay, I just need time to recover.
Count, can you promise me to give Tsuzuki a chance to fight the possession? He is my best friend and I am sure he can overcome Li.
Please don't hurt Tsuzuki
*D picks Watari up into his arms with care, showing off a bit of that huge strength that looks so weird in such a fragile body*
Do not worry, Mr. Watari. *encouraging smile* I shall give you a little more of my blood when we get to the Petshop. Like that your strength will increase. You shall be much more safe if you stay with me. Then I shall go hunt Li down again, this time with definitive purposes. He has become too strong to trap him once more, so destroying him in his current form could be the only way to stop him. That, of course, unless your friend manages to fight against the possession, something I truly doubt.
'D' for 'Drastic'
Count ... *smiles weakily at the kami*
We've got to save Tsuzuki ... Li has drained all my powers and I would have died but for Iria ...
*spits a bit of blood, apparently he had exerted himself in breaking the kekkai around the mansion to send out the kami signal*
Thank you Count
*Appears right before the tired, half-conscious figure of Watari*
Oh dear, what did that despicable creature do to you...? Your powers have been almost completely drained...
Worried Count
Must ... find help ... for Tsuzuki ...
Weak but alive
*Still standing in the middle of the wreckage produced by his confrontation with Li, D's hissy fit about being fooled so easily by his ex lover is interrupted when our resident China Doll perceives Watari's call*
Ah! Please wait up Mr. Watari! I am coming for you! It is so good your energy still persists despite your weakness. That way I shall be able to find you, wherever you are...
*uses his own, much stronger Kami Power™ to teleport, following Watari's weakening aura*
D to the rescue...
*Somewhere, in a dark mansion in the Meifu, the kidnapped shinigami sends a kami SOS out ... hopefully a kami or any shinigami with adequate reikan will pick it up*
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