*Azami*

Setsuko set me down on the palace's front steps. Her hand pressed against my abdomen. Mana rushed into my stomach, closing the wound, but blood continued to dye my white shirt crimson.

"Why didn't you fight back?" my niece asked, her voice elevated. "I'm sure that you could've blocked that attack."

My eyes shifted to the sky, its blues replaces by oranges and reds. "I deserved that."

The princess huffed. "You really are like that guy!"

"Which guy?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Your son! Serrano beats himself down the same exact way. It's hard to believe that he only grew up with you for a few years."

I smiled as the bleeding came to an end. "I should've guessed. However, my brother is a little like that too."

Setsuko furrowed her brow. "He is?"

"Yeah, like I said before, he used to be a shy kid. He was also one who would often internalize things. Think that's why he ended up being used by Mammon."

My niece let go of me. "Think he's been freed from her grasp now that we purified this place?"

"I'm not sure. We still don't know if she was using it as a medium to possess him or not."

Setsuko nodded. "I see. Hopefully, Rosa and the others have managed to calm him down." She reached into the pocket of her pants and pulled out a bluish-crystal. "This should be able to work soon."

"You can contact them with that?" a voice called out. We turned and saw our nana at the steps. Accompanying her were Miki and his son.

"Yeah, Kuroshi gave it to us."

"That masked man? What did happen to him?"

Setsuko's gaze remained fixed on the crystal. "He's missing. There's a chance he's in that place."

"We should've looked for him before returning here," I said.

"It was too dangerous to linger there with you in that state."

I closed my eyes. Right. If I had avoided it, we could've gotten more done. Couldn't even get a chance to see Serra. Something told me he wasn't doing well. Considering what happened to his brother, he must've been crushed.

My fist shattered the marble steps.

"Hey!" Setsuko yelled, jumping back.

"I'm so useless!" I screamed, shutting my eyes. Nothing was going right! I wasn't even sure if my brother was free from that demoness's clutches!

"Calm down, Azami," Miki said, touching my shoulder. "Don't let anger take root in your heart. Rage is the domain of Ifrit."

I laughed drily. "Maybe that demon will show his face again if I get mad."

"Don't think he will. If anything, he's probably plotting something else," Setsuko said. "Bet he's seething with rage that his plan failed."

"You mean Selena and me killing one another?"

My niece nodded. "Yeah. He took the time to lure you there, only for it to fizzle out."

"Why would he toy around with you at a time like this? Aren't the demons plotting to invade?" Nana asked.

"Demons always find time to play with their victims," Miki said, closing his eyes. "They gain power from the suffering of others. That's why they're referred to them as 'curses' in some parts of the world."

"Sometimes, they're even born out of nothing but raw negative emotion, like the one that attacked my school," Heiji said.

"The one that Takuya slew?" Setty asked.

The kid nodded. "Yeah."

I'd always wondered how demons could be created from negative emotions. Perhaps, it was similar to how angel tools had a remnant of the spirit of angels who lived long ago, such as the angels of the Seven Hill weapons. It is said that hate damages the soul. Did my actions and those of Selena produce anything like it?

"They did, Dad," a voice echoed in my head. I spun around but saw no one.

"Con... No, Ifrit. What do you want?" I snapped.

"Ifrit?" Nana asked, stepping back.

"He's not physically present; that's why you can't see him—only the one he wishes to appear to can. But, I one can still sense the malice from this demon," Miki said, glaring at Ifrit.

"A priest, huh?" Ifrit said, glancing at Miki. He smirked. "How troublesome."

"Why are you bothering me?" I snapped.

He directed his crimson eyes at me and grinned. "Because you're my pa. The same one who abandoned me. You asked what your feelings and those of 'Mama' created, the answer is me. Those actions you took allowed me to get this far. While I failed to get the two of you to kill one another, I am not done with either one. The fun is just beginning!"

"Damn you!" I yelled, rushing at him even though I knew my fist would go right through him. "Leave me alone! If it weren't for you, none of this would've happened!"

Ifrit stepped back. "Me? You hear that, Con? I told you we're alike. The two of us are scapegoats. Everything is always my fault, they say, when in reality it's their own actions that lead them down the road of ruin." He smiled at me. "Or did I push you to hit your wife?"

I gritted my teeth.

The demon burst into laughter. "That's right, you know the truth! I did no such thing. That was all your doing!"

"You aren't without blame," I said, lowering my head.

"Come again?"

I looked him straight in the eyes. "I know what you did. You were the one who gave me those drugs, saying that they would help me with my headache! You framed me!"

"Framed?" Setsuko asked, gasping. "Just like what happened with Tetsuya..."

Ifrit laughed. "Right, I did. So, what? Everything that followed the destruction of your career was still your fault. If you had reacted better, you wouldn't have destroyed your family." He held a hand toward me and clenched it close. "Oh, such anger that was! It was marvelous! I could've taken over your body if I so wanted to."

My leg sliced through him. If only it were possible to hit him. "I've heard enough."

"Then allow me!" Miki said, firing a golden fireball at Ifrit.

The demon jumped, but his legs were hit, shattering the demonic astral projection.

"Seems my time is up, but we will see each other again soon, Pa. You better be ready. I won't hold back. Conrad demands vengeance."

"He doesn't! He's not that sort of kid!"

Ifrit hung his head back, laughing. "You clearly don't know him." With those words, he was gone.

"What do mean I don't know him?" I asked, falling to my knees. Maybe I wasn't there for him for most of his early years, but I knew him during his last years. Unlike Serra, Con wasn't one to hold a grudge.

"Azami, take a deep breath," Miki said, kneeling beside me.

I tried to do so, but my lungs felt like they were rapidly filling up with liquids.

"Uncle," Setsuko said, running over to me. "Sorry for doing this, but it's for your own good." A sudden sharp pain ran through my back, but as fast as it came, it was gone. Everything turned blank.

"Dad?" I mumbled, opening my eyes. I found myself inside a pod filled with a strange liquid. Outside were Uncle Woolsey, Aunt Plum, and Grandpa Reginald. There were also Daisaru and Collin, the first Pillar I had fought in this war. Also with them was a blond man dressed in a white and blue robe.

"Dad?" Woolsey asked, tilting his head as he looked inside.

Dad. I could swear that I felt his presence a moment ago. But now, it was gone. Had I imagined it?

Clicking echoed from my left. Was someone using a noisy keyboard?

The water drained, and the pod snapped open.

"You sure recovered quicker than I'd expected," Grandfather said, smiling. "Mason, you know what to do."

I glanced at the blond man standing next to the computer console attached to the pod.

"Do what?" I asked.

Mason nodded and smiled at me. "Come," he said, holding out a hand. Space distorted around the two of us. A giant circular ring appeared underfoot while darkness covered everything beyond. It reminded me of the room where we knights and my uncle Osamu had our meetings.

"Where are we?" I asked, glaring at the man. He and I were the only ones around.

He continued to smirk. "Dad told me to give you a test."

My eyes widened. "Dad?"

"Yes, your grandfather. He's my dad."

Grandpa had other kids? Just how big was my family?

"I see. Well, sorry to disappoint, but I'm going to have to take an automatic F on that test. I have a little brother to save," I said, turning my back to him.

"You sure? If you win, then you'll gain the power of the Tiger Pillar. With it, you'll have an easier time saving that little brother of yours."

I looked over my shoulder. "The power of the Tiger Pillar?"

He laughed and nodded. "Correct, dear nephew. The power I used to create this place be yours." Multiple white tiles manifested in the darkness until the ring transformed into a stadium.

"Space powers?"

"I like to call these constructs. That's the power of the Tiger Pillar." He crouched and held his hands at me as if they were claws. "So, do you want it?"

"Sorry, but I already know what the destiny of a Pillar is."

My uncle gasped. "What?"

"Skah told Rosa that you Pillars are destined to fight us. If I accept your power, I'll have to go against Zionia, and that means fighting my friends and family." Just like Conrad did when we met in Xeleria...

He laughed. "Well, unfortunately, you have no choice with the whole family part, considering Dad's the boss. Not to mention, all of your uncles and aunts, and even your mother our on our side. If you were to join us, there would be less family to fight."

Was Mom going to participate for real? Having to fight my brother was bad enough already.

"True, but there would be more friends," I said, grabbing my earring.

Mason smiled. "Made your decision already? Thought you would've given it more thought. Not that I'm complaining. Doubt you'll beat me, though. I might not be at the same level as Takeshi, but I'm no pushover."

Silver light bathed my hands as my earring transformed into its twin sword form. "Not yet, but I don't mind some special training!" I yelled, dashing at him.

He laughed. "You'll need it, considering he's been taken over by the one who kidnapped him. Daisaru claims that the fusion should be as strong as him, considering they're bringing the two halves of Hanketsu back together."

My eyes widened. "Conrad's been taken over?"

"Or at least he will be. Even if he is, part of his consciousness should still be intact. We'll need to act fast if we're to rescue him."

I gritted my teeth. Damn it! I had him close to me, and I let him slip away! Despite everything, I was still too weak to protect those I loved! Worst of all, accepting the power that could help me save my brother meant turning against Rosa, Kohri, Tetsu, Xime, and Setty...

**Solar Note: Jesus is risen! Late Happy Easter everyone. Hope that you enjoyed this chapter ^_^. Thoughts? Predictions?**