Suzuki charged at Nori while the kid stood his ground. As soon as she was within the boy's reach, the kid unleashed his chains on her. She gasped as they came at her from all sides, curving behind to prevent her from escaping that way.

Nori's four chains each grabbed hold of an arm and leg.

"Let go of me," Suzuki yelled as she struggled against the chains. She unleashed a sphere of black flames, but nothing happened to the chains. "What?"

The red-haired boy smiled shyly. "Nori's chains are fireproof, as is Nori," the boy said as the flames spread down the chains and into his hands. The fire's demonic aura faded as soon as they touched the young boy as if they were being exercised.

"Tsk," Suzuki said as she yanked on the chains holding her arms. Nori screamed as he was flung into the air by his own weapons. The young woman laughed as she shook Nori around, not allowing him to fall to the ground.

"Nori is gonna throw up," the little boy mumbled as he grew dizzy.

Suzuki slammed the boy against a nearby rock, causing him to let out a howling scream. Blood dripped out of the kid, dying the black rock crimson.

"Nori!" a voice called out.

Suzuki turned around and saw Eita flying overhead with a sword of light on hand. "Hmph, so you decided to return. Should've run while you had the chance to flee with your life."

Eita flew at her super fast. She tried to move away, but Nori's chains restricted her movements. She gasped as Eita flew behind her and put an arm around her neck. "Sorry for this," Eita said as he raised his sword.

The red-head woman unleashed flames, but the chains absorbed them and redirected them toward Nori. She gasped as she saw the kid standing up. His wounds were closing, being healed by her very flames.

"Wow, you're a tough one, aren't you?" Eita whistled as he saw Nori stand up.

Nori picked up his wooden staff, which had fallen on the ground nearby. He looked up at the demoness and staggered forward. Light covered his staff, transforming it into a silver sword of light.

The white-robed kid took a deep breath as he raised his sword. "Hold Suzu, Nori will purify her."

A voice emerged from Suzuki, but it wasn't hers. Long thorns emerged from her red wings, forcing Eita to unhand her. Nori moved as fast as his little legs could.

Suddenly he saw Eita had come over to his side. The blond nudged Nori toward Suzuki.

Suzuki gasped as Nori used the momentum from Eita's push. The silver sword penetrating her heart. A voice like that of a thousand wails vibrated throughout the air, leaving all who heard it feeling chills.

"Holy Cross!" Nori yelled. The sword unleashed a brilliant golden light.

Suzuki let out another scream, causing the ground around the three of them to crumble into dust. She flailed around as Nori drove his sword deeper.

"Eita!" Nori yelled. "Help Nori save Suzu."

"Sure," Eita said, dashing over. He grabbed Nori's sword of light and thrust it deeper into Suzuki. The three of them suddenly stopped moving as their eyes went dull.

"Nori, Eita!" Rosalba yelled as she arrived at the scene. Black smoke from a dying brush fire engulfed the area. Her hazel eyes widened as she saw the three collapse on the ground where Reno and Nico also laid.

She forced herself forward. Her lip quivered. She couldn't feel Nori and Eita's souls within their respective bodies.

"What happened here?" Kiara asked as she ran over. She stared at her unconscious cousin.

Rosalba ran over to Nori and Eita and placed a hand on their backs. "I'm not sure, but their souls are not within them at present." She glanced over at Suzuki. "Nor is hers."

"Then, where are they?" Takuya asked as he knelt down beside Suzuki. He turned over to look at Suzuki's whip sword and gasped. "Wait, are they..."

Rosa rose up and walked toward the sword, which laid beside Suzuki. Just like when she fought her weeks ago, the blade was covered in a sinister aura. Her angel had become corrupted, somehow. Suddenly the sword began to emit what looked like a thick smog.

Takuya covered his nose with the long sleeves of his shirt and jumped in front of the princess. He picked her up and pulled her away as the smoke continued to disperse throughout the area. Rosa gasped as parts of Takuya's skin were burned as soon as the smoke came in contact. But just like with Tetsuya's wounds at the cave, they healed.

"The boys and Suzuki! We need to save them," Rosa yelled as Takuya put her down on top of a nearby hill

Takuya nodded and drew out the katana on his sash. "I'll redirect the flow of the smoke, you save them."

"No need, I got this handled!" a voice called out as bullets flew through the air. The bullets punctured holes in the smoke as if it were a solid mass. Wind tunnels emerged from the bullets, sucking up the miasma away. However, there were no signs of the four boys and Suzuki.

Rosa glanced behind her shoulder and saw Kiara come around on her board.

Kiara carried her cousins and the others on a giant floating bowl of wind. Taking a deep breath, the girl dropped all of them below the gently.

"Phew, that was a close one," the Makkuroyama heiress said. She looked down at her clothes and saw that her left elbow was a greenish-black color. To make things worse, it was spreading.

"Kiara!" Hideo yelled as he flew over to them. "What was that? That was dan-" His eyes grew in diameter as soon as he saw his sister's wound. "gerous."

Kiara winced. "Darn, how did I allow it to catch up to me?" Sweat dripped down her face. "Though why didn't it affect Suzuki and the two boys near her?" She staggered forward.

"We need to treat it fast," Rosa said. "Do you know any purification techniques?"

"I know one," Takuya said.

"Then hurry up and use it!" Hideo yelled, grabbing Takuya's sleeve. "Save my little sister! Please, I beg of you." Tears stained his eyes. "I can't lose her." He collapsed to his knees and gasped for air.

My bullets weren't enough to keep the smoke from my sister. Not again... Why do I keep failing them?

"Hideo, you alright?" Rosa asked, turning over to look at him.

Hideo moved his gun in front of his face and began to shoot the cloud of smoke indiscriminately.

"Hey, be careful not to strike the sword, Suzuki, Nori, and Eita might still be there!" Takuya yelled.

The green-eyed young man didn't listen, continuing to shoot randomly, poking holes here and there.

I failed, I failed! Why do I keep failing? What's wrong with me?

***

https://youtu.be/aWIE0PX1uXk

[A few days ago- Makkuroyama Mansion]

Hideo ascended the stairs with a bowl of his little brother's favorite food, curry and rice. He smiled to himself. Hope that Dan eats it all. The smile faded. He hasn't eaten much in days. At this rate, he'll get sick.

"Gahhhh!" Dante's voice echoed.

"Brother!" Hideo said, running up as fast as he could, not caring if he dropped any of the curry on the floor. He found Dan's room and tried to open the door but found it locked. Dan had been locking the door to his room ever since the incident. Hideo had to open it by key.

Hideo held the curry in one hand and pulled out a golden key with his free hand and quickly opened the door. He found his brother in a far corner of the dark room, hugging himself as he rocked back and forth. "G-get me out of here... someone s-save me. B-big brother!" he mumbled to himself as if in a trance.

Hideo put down the plate of curry on top of his brother's nightstand. "Dan, I'm here. Your big brother is here," Hideo said, walking over to him. "I brought you your favorite food."

"S-save me. B-big brother!" Dan repeated as he continued to rock himself. "D-dad! A-anyone, p-please s-save me."

Tears stained Dan's face. This wasn't the first time Dan had acted this way since the incident. There were days when he finally started to show signs of improvement, but then he would suddenly revert back to his trance-like state.

Hideo tried not to cry as well. He had to be strong for his little brother. After all, Dan getting kidnapped had been his fault. He hugged the boy tightly.

"It's okay, Dan," Hideo said, patting his brother's head.

"B-big brother, d-don't leave," Dan cried out as he hugged Hideo.

Hideo gasped. Had Dan snapped out of the trance? He looked down and saw that his brother's red eyes were still dull.

"P-please, don't leave me. I d-don't want to be a-alone, n-not a-again."

Hideo hugged him tighter. "I'm sorry little brother, I wish I didn't but have to. I made a promise. Don't worry, you got Nat, Dossie, and the others to keep you company."

"Hideo, time to get going," Kiara said as she walked into the room. Her heart sank as soon as she saw her sobbing brothers. "Dan."

"How is big bro, Dan?" a five-year-old boy with light blue hair asked as he peeked over the door. He ran into the room and held out his stuffed elephant with bear-like ears. "Wanna play big bro? Eli here misses playing with my big bro. Don't cha, Eli?" The kid moved the stuff animal's trunk up and down. "See!"

Hideo snickered. "Nat, you did that."

Nat buried his face on his elephant's head. "Nah uh. Eli did. You're just jealous, big bro."

Dan turned his head away. "K-Kiara is leaving too?"

Nat lowered his head. "Why do big bro and sis get the attention?"

Hideo patted Nat's head. "Dan's just out of it. I'm sure he'll be happy to play with you."

Dan lowered his head. "Nat... y-you aren't scared? L-last time I tried p-playing with Dossie and you, I-I h-had one of my 'episodes'."

Nat lowered his elephant. "A little, but my big brother is just scared. I get scared too, especially of the baddies under the bed."

Dan glanced at the bottom of his bed and stood up. "B-baddies?"

Hideo chuckled. "It's Nat's imagination. Don't revert back to thinking there's a creepy girl under your bed threatening to take you into another world."

"Ehh?" Dan said, running over to Nat. "T-there is?"

Kiara giggled. "No, silly, but I remember when you used to think that."

"What do you mean?" Hideo asked with a grin. "You used to believe it too. Both of you used to run into my room, begging your big bro to protect you."

Kiara narrowed her eyes. "Not that you were much help. You would cower alongside us."

Hideo's smile faded. "Hmph. I was just playing along."

"Hey, kids, time to go," Hideaki said as he peered into the room. He frowned when he noticed Dan had tears on his face. "You okay, kiddo?"

Dan tried his best to smile. "I-I think so. I-I need to be s-strong, for Nat and the o-others."

Hideaki smiled. "You are strong, kiddo. Now, how about you come downstairs and eat the curry your big bro brought you?"

Dan lowered his head. "I-I don't think I am, b-but I'll try to be," he said and followed his father and siblings out the door.

Nat smiled and held Dan's hand. "Let's go play big bro!"

Dan nodded cheerfully. "Ahh, I-I forgot my curry!" he said.

Nat giggled and followed after him.

Hideo could still remember how happy he was seeing Dan out and smiling.

The next day, while on route to the Imperial Capital, Hideo and Kiara found out that Dan had tried to commit suicide. If Nat hadn't entered his brother's room and stopped him, that happy farewell would have been the last time Hideo would've seen Dan...

**Solar Question: What did you think of this chapter? Were you surprised by the ending?**