Ascension 1.

Kain shuffled in his sleep. He winced and lifted himself, feeling the sun pouring in through a window right above him. He moved his blindingly yellow hair away from his face as he stood on all fours, his body feeling heavy. He stared down at the pillow below him. His head was fuzzy; he had no idea where he was. This room just felt so warm at the moment, it felt comforting.

"I'm glad to see you're all right." A calm voice said.

Kain caught his breath and continued to stare at the pillow, now to frightened to look away from it. He forced his vision to the corner of his eye. He saw a person smiling at him from the bedside. Kain let out a breath. "Zeke." He said quietly.

Ezekiel's smile only grew wider. The tinge in his eyes were a deeply violent purple. "Hello Kain. How are we today?"

Kain's force of habit was to wrap the blanket around himself, trying to make some sort of comfort for himself. He felt a chill run down his spine.

"Do you have any idea what I went through to get you back?" Ezekiel asked, looking out the window overlooking the bed.

"I really don't think it was necessary…" Kain said, averting the look Ezekiel gave him. "You shouldn't have gone through the trouble."

Ezekiel let out a light chuckle and stood from his perch. He untied the small fabric that held together his cape and placed it on the chair he had just occupied. "Really? I thought that it was more than necessary." Ezekiel said as he pinned Kain to the bed.

Kain's eyes stayed locked on Ezekiel. "W-what are you doing? Get off me, Zeke." Kain said in a low whisper. "Get off me right now."

"I won't, because right now, I'm going to take you from my brother." Ezekiel said. "My mark is so much more stronger than his is…meaning that you'll want to be closer to me than him." Ezekiel said as he lowered his lips to Kain's neck.

Kain averted his eyes and stared anywhere, trying to avoid the purple of Ezekiel's eyes. "Don't." Kain then said as he pushed against Ezekiel's shoulders.

Ezekiel laughed once more as he sunk his fangs into Kain.

Kain closed his eyes at the flash of pain. He let out his breath. Ezekiel held Kain at the neck with one hand, his other hand doing whatever he pleased. Kain's breath began to catch, and he began to let out light breaths. He felt his face beginning to heat up. Ezekiel was drinking deeply from Kain. Was he trying to kill him as he once said he would?

Ezekiel pulled his fangs from Kain, and traced his tongue over the wounds before they sealed. He went for Kain's mouth and filled it with the metallic liquid. "You belong to me now, Kain." Ezekiel whispered, kissing Kain again.

Kain lost consciousness.

He lay looking dazedly into the sky. He held his head. "What just happened…?" He asked himself as he looked at the small puffs of white drifting by. Some were dark, some were not. It's going to rain soon… Kain thought as he looked at the darkening sky in the distance. He sighed and continued to lay on the grassy embankment, feeling his whole body aching. "Well…one thing I know is that I have control over my body again…" He told himself.

"Hey you." A voice said.

Kain sighed and glanced back. He forced his body to get up. He gripped his sword and looked over at a tree that sat upon the grassy knoll.

"What's with you?" The boy asked. He shook his head to get the white and red locks out of his face. His bright eyes were way too young looking. This kid couldn't have been older than sixteen.

Kain sighed and placed it in it's sheath. "It's only a kid." Kain told himself as he turned and began to walk down the knoll.

"Hey!"

Kain caught the rock that the boy had thrown. Kain turned to yell at the boy, but was nailed in the face by another rock.

"Son of a bitch!" Kain yelled as he held his face. "Stupid brat…" Kain said, throwing the rocks back at him. The two rocks impaled into the tree.

The boy looked at the rocks. He whistled. "Ever try baseball?"

Kain glared. "No."

"Hey, I was just trying to talk to you. I am the one who saved you anyway!" He yelled. "You're lucky that wolves didn't even eat you." He said. "Though, it's amazing that you're even alive…I mean, you fell from so far. Did you break anything?"

"Fell from the sky…?" Kain asked. He then laughed. "No wolf would ever eat me." Kain said, looking at his hand. He shook it off and then placed it at his side.

"Yeah…what a weird way from an angel to show up." The boy said.

"Maybe." Kain mumbled. "Later kid."

"Wait!" The boy called.

Kain continued walking.

"I said, wait!" The boy yelled, standing on the tree branch and grabbing acorns. He hurled one at Kain, whom was already expecting it.

Kain lifted a hand and caught the acorn, only to be pummeled in the face by three more acorns that followed closely behind. Kain groaned loudly and made a frustrated face. He spit an acorn from his mouth. He gripped the other acorns and hurled them towards the boy. To Kain's surprise, he was hit square in the forehead and fell from the tree. Kain took his chance to head over towards the tree.

The boy lifted himself from the ground. "You have to help me. You're from Regulus, aren't you?" The boy asked. His tone had now turned serious.

"I'm going to have to say no-" Kain cut himself off. I kinda am from Regulus…from my family line… Kain changed his mind. "Yeah, I'm from Regulus." Kain answered.

"That's great!" The boy yelled. "You have to come! You were sent by the Holy Order, right?"

"Holy…Order…?" Kain asked. "Uh…sure?"

"Perfect!" The young boy exclaimed. "That means you're going to help me break in, right? You read my request then?"

"Yeah, see…" Kain began. I have to think of a lie and quick. Kain told himself. "You see, I received it and only looked for where the request came from. I seem to have misplaced the request." Kain said.

"Oh, that's not a real problem then." The boy said. "Just help me break in."

"Break into where, exactly?" Kain asked.

"So there's this mob boss guy who totally conquered our city…and we used to be one of the most prosperous cities around. But ever since he came around, all he does is steal from us." The boy answered. "That means, you have to help me."

"Why?" Kain asked.

"It's your duty as an angel."

Kain shook his head. He did have other things to be doing at this point in time. "Actually, you know, I really don't have time for this. Sorry brat." Kain said, turning away, and beginning to head down the knoll. "Catch you nevers."

"You weak shit." The boy said.

Kain stopped. "Weak shit?" Kain repeated. Somehow, this boy reminded him of Ayrton. "Asshole…"

"I'll fight you if it means getting you to come." The boy said.

"Fight me?" Kain cocked an eyebrow.

"Yes…duh…If I win, you have to help us all out. If you win, then you can be on your merry way." The boy offered.

Kain sighed. "Don't make this too long…I'm busy."

The boy smirked. "You'll have to clear out your schedule then." The boy said as he took Kain's left arm and jumped, forcing the arm up and over. The boy then plowed his knees into Kain's back, causing him to lose balance and topple over.

Kain stared at the grass. "You're so going to regret me later…" He mumbled through the grass. He lifted his head and spit out grass. "Ugh…disgusting."

"I-" The boy cut himself off as he looked to where he had torn Kain's shirt.

Kain sighed. "I know you won, brat-" Kain stopped when he saw where the boy's eyes had stopped. "What?" Kain asked.

"This tattoo you have right here." The boy mumbled.

"What?"

"I've seen this mark before…" The boy trailed. "I know I've seen this from somewhere…." He trailed.

Kain watched the kid in silence.

"You a vampire?"

Kain sighed, lifting himself, making the boy fall from his back and onto the ground. "What's it look like?" He asked.

"Well, you don't look like a vampire, but this shield…it's like a whole bunch of vampire bites. There's a tornado…and the shield looks like it's missing two more pieces."

Kain let out a sigh of relief. It was a dream… His hand went to his back and covered the marks. At least…there's nothing I have to worry about right now, besides finding my way after this.

"You've been bitten so many times." The boy muttered.

"Shows what I've been doing in life." Kain said, moving his hand away from his shoulder.

"Wow! To have survived being bitten! Not only once, but twice!" The boy exclaimed. "You must be an extremely skilled warrior to have survived the bite!"

Kain quieted. Yeah…if sex and war are the same thing… He thought. He felt his face flush. He shook his head. I thought he was going to ask if I were some vampire's slave…

"So, then, are you a vampire?" The boy asked.

"No, I've just been bitten, that's all." Kain said.

"Where's the vampire who bit you?" The boy then asked. "I heard that vampires are amazingly gorgeous. Is that true?"

Kain quieted. He then laughed. "You're an idiot. I'm Kain."

"Evan…" Evan replied, noting the change in Kain.

"Well, we'll see about breaking in." Kain said. "Take me there." He then added with a sigh.

The boy nodded and began a slight sprint across the grassy plain. Kain kept him within eyeshot. He looked up and didn't see the distorted sky.

So where am I now? He asked himself.

The hell if I know.

Perfect. You're so much help, Evil Me. Kain replied. He kept walking up the knoll that led to the field.

Shut the hell up. I'm not the "Evil You."

Kain ignored the comment and stopped walking. "What the hell is this?" He asked, looking at the decaying landscape.

"Home…?" Evan said, looking back to Kain. "You'll understand once we get there." Evan then said, beginning to walk again.

Kain then kept quiet. He kept his eyes set on the mound that was off in the distance.

"Come on this way." Evan said as he climbed a makeshift ladder made of several crates and rope.

Kain jumped the wall and landed on his feet.

"Damn show off." Evan said, finally climbing over the wall three minutes later.

Kain walked over to the other edge of the wall. He peered over the edge.

"No, you idiot!" Evan yelled as he pulled on Kain from behind. "You can't let anyone see you yet! They'll know you're here from Regulus."

Kain sighed and fixed his clothes. He thought about them for once, since he had no human clothes here. He looked down at the clothes. They were some 'unique' robes, as Nowaki called them, since the fabric was so hard to find. The armor plates in some places were not even visible, and that was what protected Kain. He wanted to go back home. He looked at Evan. "Isn't this the jailing district?" He asked. "I mean, look at everyone. They all look like people being housed in jail cells."

Evan handed Kain a cloak. He shook his head. "Jailing district…" He said in an irate voice. "This is where the people who can't pay their taxes end up." Evan said, obviously being angered by the whole aspect. "Haven't you ever heard of that before?"

Kain stopped pulling the cloak over himself. He was thinking. He then continued, finally pulling the hood over his head. "People who don't pay their taxes?" Kain asked, stopping once more.

"Well duh…" Evan said. "It's not you can live in a big luxurious house if you don't pay your taxes…" Evan said with a 'what are you, stupid?' look plastered on his face.

Kain shuddered. He went to look over the edge once more. "Dear house," Kain began. I promise to pay my taxes on time so that you and I can live a happy life together. I will never end up like these people…ever. In my entire life. Kain nodded. "It's a promise, all right?" He said to no one.

Evan cleared his throat. "Um, who are you talking to, exactly?" He asked.

"Don't ask." Kain said, looking at the large castle that was dead center of the…kingdom? Wow…if these people had any idea…they could swarm the castle. It wouldn't stand a chance.

"So, do you have any ideas on this whole thing?" Evan asked as he walked over to the edge where Kain also was. "On how we're going to break in?"

"Yeah…I have a couple…" Kain said quietly.

"Hey! Evan!" A voice below yelled. "You have to come see the hanging! It's your friend Hiroki! He's finally going to get what he deserves!" He then laughed. "I knew that you guys were going to get caught eventually!" He said, then continued his run towards the city's plaza.

Evan tensed. "Hiroki…?"

Kain noticed how shaken Evan was. "Who's this Hiroki?" Kain asked.

Evan moved away from the edge. "Hiroki…he's like a big brother to me." Evan said. He looked at Kain. "We have to save him."

Ezekiel paced impatiently. This was the second time Kain had gotten away from him, but it felt even more pathetic, given that Kain was in his sights. He stared out the windows belonging to the estate he was now in. Not far from him, Nowaki sat, his body tense, on an elegant couch. He was able to dress himself in a more refined way now that they were at his own home.

Though, with Ezekiel around, things were beginning to get fairly frustrating. All Ezekiel did was complain, and complain some more about whatever he was complaining about. It was driving Nowaki insane. Nowaki wouldn't mind having Kain around the house, not far from London. Nowaki tapped his foot silently to his own rhythm of irritation. He couldn't get Kain out of his mind, not knowing where he was, or how he was, if he was even all right. He had let go of Kain in their time going through the makeshift portal that Ezekiel had made so shoddily. Kain could've fallen anywhere, since they had covered such an expanse in such a short while. It had been days since he had last seen Kain, and even the people they had stationed around the world could not find him.

Ezekiel leaned against the window. "Nowaki…"

"Yes, my Lord." Nowaki answered. His foot stopped.

"What if Matthew has gotten to him first?"

Nowaki clenched his fist. "I doubt that, sir." Nowaki said. "Matthew does not know the land around Finis. He may as well be trapped in there. He could be already dead, since the four horsemen are surely doing their own damage. There is no way that he could stand a chance against all of them."

Ezekiel sighed. "Yes, that all could be true."

"Just calm yourself, my lord. We have our remaining people searching for Kain. Kain is very noticeable. I really don't believe that he could find his own way around this land, given with his blonde hair and striking eyes. It's not common to see an angel out of Regulus."

Ezekiel nodded. "True. He is an idiot."

Kain sneezed. "Excuse me." Kain said quietly as he held his nose.

"You're probably getting sick from the coming cold." Evan said, following Kain towards the plaza. "Well, we're almost there. The gallows are right up there." Evan pointed. The people being sent to hung were already in place, and people were beginning the chants.

Kain stopped. "What the hell is this?" He asked, grabbing Evan and jumping to a roof to get a better view. Kain placed Evan down and went to the edge. He looked at Evan. "It thought it was just Hiroki."

"Well, the guy only mentioned Hiroki. Maybe this guy got caught…doing something too. I've never seen him before." Evan said with a shrug.

Kain's eyes went back to the two being prepared for the hanging. Kain noticed the build of the person being hung. He watched. "It can't be…right…?" He asked himself. "Move the masks…let me see."

Hiroki was accompanied by a…friend. Hiroki was older than Evan, that was for sure, but this person, Kain could've sworn he knew. He was hoping that he was wrong.

As the executioner walked up to the platform, people began to cheer. The executioner raised his bulky arms to enthrall them even more. "Come on!" He cheered. The people were going mad. They really wanted to see these two people being killed.

"What the hell are wrong with you all?" Kain asked. "A kid?"

The executioner went over to the taller of the two and punched him in the stomach. The person punched obviously felt it, and you could see that he was in pain. "Remove the masks!" A man yelled. The executioner took all this in good stride, and decided to punch the taller once more. The person returned the punch with a kick to the person's obviously sensitive genetalia. The crowd began to roar with laughter. In his embarrassment, the executioner took the person's head in both hands and struck him with a head butt.

Kain's fingers twitched. He could feel this pain.

The executioner walked over to Hiroki and removed his mask first. The people booed and threw things at him. The executioner laughed and went back to the other. He removed the mask. Kain let out a gasp. Evan quickly looked at Kain.

"Something wrong?" Evan asked quickly.

His magenta eyes scanned the crowd. His forehead was dripping with blood. The executioner pulled on his dark spiky locks.

"Chrais." Kain said quietly.

As if he were cued, Chrais' eyes darted to where his name was said in a mere whisper. He looked straight at Kain and Evan on the rooftop.

"Who's Chrais?" Evan asked, pulling at Kain's cloak.

"He's…my cousin."

Evan was opening his mouth to ask a question, but Kain was away, on another rooftop before he could say anything. "Hey, come back!" Evan yelled as Kain headed to get a closer view of the gallows.

Kain kept his blue eyes on his cousin. "How am I going to free you without getting myself killed?" He asked himself. He landed on a rooftop looking down at the gallows. He sighed and slid down. If only I had some sort of way to… He stopped. "Shouldn't I have some sort of power?" He asked the sky.

Of course.

"Then help, yeah?" He asked. "Your grandson is down there. He's going to be killed." Kain said.

Calm down.

"How could you do that to your own grandson?" Kain asked.

It was quiet.

Kain sighed. He then looked down at himself, slightly surprised to see his body moving on it's own. He stomped his foot onto the ground as if he were bracing himself. He winced as a light shock ran up his body.

There you go.

"Ooh, I'm dangerous now. I can shock myself." Kain said in utter sarcasm. "You know, this doesn't help-" Kain quieted as his body began to move once more. "What are you doing?" He asked.

His body then took a stance as if it were bracing itself again. He lifted his right hand and extended two fingers, directly pointed at a building across his view. He stomped his foot once more and retracted his arm to his side, then forcefully pointed at the building. Kain watched as a flash came from his extended fingers and blasted the other building, sending debris in all directions. He was nearly knocked off of his feet from the force.

"I now see why I brace myself." Kain muttered as he slid down quickly.

"Find the terrorist!" Kain recognized the executioner's voice.

"Oh my gawd, I'm a terrorist now?" Kain asked himself. He stood quickly, feeling the urge to become serious. He jumped down from the roof and quickly ran toward the gallows. As the executioner rushed to pull the lever to make the two fall, Kain lunged at him, sending him into a support beam. A loud crack was heard, and Kain continued. He grabbed his arm and flipped him over the edge of the platform. He sighed and walked over to the edge.

"Lose some weight, damn it." Kain said in an obnoxious voice as he inhaled and went for Hiroki. He quickly undid the ropes and told him to stay put. He then went to Chrais and untied him. He turned quickly when he heard noises from the guards.

"We have to move…" Kain said quietly.

Kain winced. He sighed. "Who the hell would shoot me?" He asked. "I'm saving them, you know…" He pulled the arrow from his shoulder. He looked around. He groaned loudly and grabbed Hiroki. "Let's move, little boy." Kain said as he grabbed Hiroki and jumped back to the roof he had just come off of. He ran along, and not so far off in the distance Evan beckoned the trio to come into a small shed that was on the roof.

"Are you all right?" Evan asked as he saw the blood beginning to leave the wound.

"I'm-" Kain began.

"Evan, stay away from that person!" A female voice called.

Evan stood, his view turning the female that now occupied the entrance. "Allison?" He asked.

"Stay away from him, he's the terrorist." Allison said. She had her bow at the ready, and her free hand was ready to pull an arrow at any second. Her wary eyes watched Kain.

Kain sighed. He then pointed at Allison. "You. I can feel the poison running through my veins. Fix it. Now." He demanded.

Allison scoffed. "No. You destroyed a home. Terrorists deserve to die. I know your game. You can't take these people and force them to join you."

"No, Allison, you've got it all wrong. I asked Kain to come here and save us. I asked him to save Hiro too. I asked him." Evan said.

"I knew it was you." Chrais said, walking over to Kain. As cousins do, he took Kain in a hug. "Thanks for saving my ass, Blondie." Chrais ruffled Kain's blonde hair.

Kain made a noise to show his dislike in the touching of his hair. "About that," Kain said. "What in the hell are you doing here?"

Chrais thought. "Well, we got a distress message from here, and I was the only one they could spare, so they sent me along."

Kain quieted.

"So you're the one from Regulus, huh?" Asked Evan.

Kain laughed. "Hey, I saved your friend, didn't I?"

"True."

"I didn't need saving." Hiroki said.

Kain's grip on his shoulder increased. "What a brat."

Hiroki merely shrugged and walked out of the shed. Kain watched the small water droplets pelt his back, and that became a steady downpour. The clouds clapped in the distance; a real storm wasn't far off.

"Wait, Hiroki, they're going to help us get rid of the problem." Evan said, dashing out of the shed and grabbing his friend's arm. "They came all the way from Regulus just because they knew we needed help. We can't just turn them away. Not when we have that guy stealing everyday from us."

"We don't need saviors, Evan." Said Hiroki. "If we can't even save our own selves, then what's the point? How does that show us that we can take care of ourselves?" Getting no response, Hiroki laughed. "See? That just shows how pathetic we are."

Kain lifted himself and walked to Evan and Hiroki. He moved Evan away and grabbed Hiroki by the collar. He lifted a fist and raised it in front of Hiroki's face. "You're dirt." Kain said. "You should be grateful that he even wanted you saved. Shit like you shouldn't even be alive." Kain's glare bore into Hiroki's emerald eyes.

Hiroki stared right back into Kain's deep red eyes. He was slightly shocked to see that this so-called angel had red eyes, and not blue, or white eyes.

"It's people like you, who make people like me, sick. You piss me off. The whole world is falling apart, and your people have been spared from the ruin around you, yet you're bitching about how pathetic you are?" Kain sighed and shoved Hiroki away. "Never mind. You're not even worth my time." He looked to Chrais. "Let's get the hell out of here already. I have to get back to Finis."

Chrais stared. "Finis? Are you serious? Why?" He caught Kain's eye, but quickly averted his own. "What's there, anyway?"

"Everyone. Right now they're fighting the horsemen. The. Four Horsemen. The whole war began there. Your dad is there right now, along with mine, and all that jazz."

"Wait a minute." Allison said, coming from under the shed. "You were to help us?"

"Were." Kain said, his tone irritated. "Not anymore. I've been through all this crap, wasted my time, apparently, and I've also been shot. All for being a good guy. Fuck this. I'm so over it already." Kain began to walk off. "Save yourselves by yourselves. You don't deserve help from people like us."

"I'm sorry." Allison said quickly. "What was I supposed to think? The people from here live very sheltered lives. I'm just not accustomed to seeing such power. It was such an incredible sight, I didn't know what to feel. I was frightened…for lack of a better word."

"Look, there he is!" Evan exclaimed looking towards the castle.

Kain walked over to the edge of the roof. Chrais was right beside him. "So what are you going to do?" Chrais asked. "We still leaving?"

"Unless you want to stay here. That's fine with me." Kain said. "I don't know if you find my ways mean, or evil, whatever, but I'm not putting up with this crap anymore. I have to go along with my own personal thing right now. You know I'm looking for Matt, who knows what's going on over there as we speak. Who knows how many hours, maybe even days, I've lost, Chrais. If anyone is dead over there, it'll all be my fault, because this all started on my behalf."

"Kain, he's that guy over there." Evan pointed.

Kain tried to hold in his laughter. It was, without a doubt, a Faerie. A big, fat ugly thing, but nonetheless, a Faerie. He sighed and shook his head. "Chrais, look."

Chrais sighed. "Waste of my life."

"But why one of them I wonder?" Kain said.

Hiroki and Allison began to draw up a battle strategy, and continued to speak incoherently. Allison then had a disagreement and then began to argue. Then pulled Kain aside and began to yell their own battle plans.

"Kain, listen, I think that if we could get in here, then we can-"

"No, that's stupid, you'll get killed like that. If we can just ambush them-"

"Shut the hell up, I was talking to him first, all right?"

Push then came to shove, and Allison and Hiroki began to argue with renewed intensity.

Kain held his ears. Oh, how he hated when people bitched. This is why he liked living alone, with the exception of Matt, of course. Where was Matt anyway? Think he died? He probably…did… Kain was frustrating his own self. "What if Matt was fighting in that war? No…he was in the tower, following after them. Was he killed in the collapse? If he was…this was Kain's fault. The whole thing to begin with was Kain's fault.

The yelling only seemed to get louder as the two continued.

Kain's head throbbed. "Shut the hell up already!" Kain yelled and shot a bolt towards the castle. He knew he had hit the faerie. He could tell from the sudden panic as the people around him flurried away, trying to avoid the debris. He held his hand as pain shot through it.

The others stared as the building made sounds, beginning to crumble. The city was going into a panic. Kain watched. It was as if the whole world was moving in slow motion. Matt had a total 100 percent chance of being dead, and it was all Kain's fault. Kain held his head and fell to his knees. He looked down at the ground. He couldn't tell what was happening to him. He didn't even need to feel that angry.

"Does that make you all feel better?" Kain asked suddenly. "Are you all happy now? He's dead. Fix your land and your people on your own, got it?" He pulled himself to his feet. Under his nearly lidded eyes, his crimson glowed more vibrantly than before.

The whole group was quiet.

"Kain, are you all right?" It was Chrais' turn to ask.

"No, I'm not all right, Chrais. Can't you tell?" Kain asked, looking away from his cousin. "Nothing feels right to me right now." Kain sighed. He turned to Evan. "You, come with me. Now." He used his hand to call him over. "We're going now."

In the plaza where they all once were not so long ago, Kain walked up to the platform. He dragged Evan along.

"Stay put." Kain said as he waited for the crowds to gather. After a substantial crowd arrived, Kain walked to the makeshift podium to address them. "All of you people!" Kain exclaimed. "You are free! Use this chance to make yourselves as strong as you once were!" He yelled. "Learn, and become a proper kingdom."

It grew very quiet.

"This boy right here will lead you. He has in his mind what it takes to bring you all back to where you once were." Kain said, placing Evan before himself. Kain kept his red eyes on the crowd, scanning every person. Each had the same look plastered on their face. Scared. He left Evan to speak, and walked to Chrais.

"Let's go. I'm tired of this. I'm going crazy." Kain said, walking off the platform and heading to where he first entered the city. He didn't even bother to look at the rest of the place.

Chrais followed closely behind. He couldn't get his head around what was happening to Kain. Why was Kain acting so strangely? What was with his eyes?

Once they were out of the city, Chrais sighed loudly, and tried to get Kain's attention.

Kain stopped. "What?"

"You just finished killing someone. How do you feel?"

"Great."

"Kain, what is wrong with you?" Chrais asked. "Do you think you're accomplishing anything scaring anyone with your, 'Oh, look at me, I'm trying to be a demon' demeanor? Do you think you're scary when you use your demon eyes, or what?"

"My what…?" Kain asked quietly.

Chrais thought. "…Your demon eyes…you have no idea that they're there, do you?" Chrais asked.

Kain covered his eyes. "No." He sounded slightly panicked. He pulled the away to look at a small puddle forming on the ground. He pulled back the hood and walked to it. He peered into the puddle. He had barely realized it. "The demon."

Chrais walked to Kain's side. All Kain could see reflected in the puddle was the tips of Chrais' hair.

"I'm turning into the devil."

Chrais looked over at Kain with his magenta eyes. "You've been like that ever since you got pissed in the shed." Chrais told him.

Kain couldn't pull his eyes away from the puddle. It was his face, his hair, his…everything, but those were His eyes.

Him.

Kain heard cackling.

You've just now realized that you're beginning to lose, Kain?

Kain continued to stare at the image of himself. It was being distorted in the puddle by the heavy raindrops. He felt a chill run up his spine.

You've lost, Kain, and you've been losing ever since you've learning of me. Your time is slowly coming to an end, and there's nothing you can do. You can see that your time is running out for yourself, can't you?

Kain closed his eyes. He laughed lightly. "I lost."

You're just running on borrowed time now. You're slowly ticking away.

Kain stood. "Well, let's go. Onward, shall we?" He asked Chrais. "I hope my deformity doesn't bother you. I can't really do anything about it."

Chrais sighed and shook his head. "Not a problem."

"All right then, first, where-"

"Hey, Vampire!" A familiar voice called. The fmailiar shape grew as the boy came closer.

"Candycane." Kain said, reiterating the fact that Evan had red and white hair.

"What is a candycane?" Evan asked as he reached the two.

"It's what you are." Kain said. "Anyway, what is your point for coming out of the city?" Kain asked, looking at the younger boy.

"I'm going with you." Evan said.

"What? Why?" Kain asked.

"I know that as your aprentice, I too can become a great warrior such as yourself and be able to shot white fire from my fingers." Evan said.

Chrais burst out in laughter. "Become Kain's apprentice and become a great warrior?" He laughed even harder. "Ah, kids these days. Can't live with them."

"But can't live without them?" Kain said, finishing for Chrais.

"No. I can't live with them, like, at all." Chrais said.

Kain made a face.

Chrais continued laughing. "Anyway, this kid must be joking, if anyone is great warrior, it'd be-"

"Dear Cousin." Kain said.

"Yes Kain?"

"Do exercise caution and shut the hell up." Kain said.

Chrais waved him off. "Where were we headed? Where are you headed, exactly?"

"My tasks are to find Matt, kick Zeke's ass, and then go home." Kain said.

"And have a good bone."

"Shut the hell up." Kain said. "Only problem is that I have no idea where Zeke is." Kain added with realization. "Awesome."

"Oh, now we're getting somewhere." Chrais said.

"Ah, what the hell, my entire life is already written for me. We'll just see what I'm supposed to be doing in life, right now, and see where that takes us." Kain said, walking in no particular direction. He fixed his cloak and looked up at the sky. Take me somewhere.

"Oh, that's right, here." Evan said, handing Kain a bottle.

"What's this?" Kain asked, grabbing the bottle and looking at the clear liquid that sloshed inside. The red gleam was becoming even more apparent. He lowered the bottle from his face quickly.

"It's a cure for the poison." Evan said.

"I was only joking about the poison." Kain said. "A poison that weak can't kill someone like me." He added smugly. "But Evan?"

"Yeah?"

"If I really were dying, you would've failed."

"Yes sir."

"Anyway, I'll keep it. Perhaps it can come in handy later." In Kain's very short time living in the Overworld, he realized that his body was now allowed to go to it's natural fullest since there were no mortal limitations here. He was able to handle much, much more here. That was what was probably allowing the demon inside to move around more freely as well.