Follow my lead. Kazue whispered in Suzume’s ear. Or at least thats how she imagined in since it was all in her head.

Ok.Suzume replied, though she was not certain Kazue could hear her thoughts.

Hisato is a part of me so he can anticipate your moves before you make them. You have to think outside your normal patterns, I want you to go along with whatever he says.

You make it sound so easy. Suzume said trying to infuse sarcasm into her mind’s voice but she was not certain the point came across.

“Did you get what you were searching for?” Hisato asked. He pulled her close, she could feel all the planes of his muscles tensing as he tightened his grip. His breath, hot against her neck sent ripples of goosebumps along her skin. He pressed his hand flat against her stomach. She tried to keep her muscles relaxed as to not give away her discomfort.

“I did,” she replied, her voice shook somewhat. “I see you haven’t been idle.” Suzume’s gaze swept across the courtyard. In total there were a dozen of the black figures. They were dark as onyx and humanoid in shape. There faces lacked features, where eyes should have been there was blank sockets they had no mouths or noses just smooth skin across bald heads. Rin had transformed into her fox form and she loomed above the creatures and swipe at them with a massive white paw. She knocked over three with one swipe and they burst apart into black clouds. The vapor rained down and six more emerged from the black slug the clouds rained down. They rushed Rin with spears. She bared her teeth at the creatures as they jabbed at her with their spears. Shards of ice rained down from the gray clouds over head, impaling several of the creatures. Suzume looked up to see Kaito in Dragon form, flying overhead. But the impaled creatures only split into thirds creating three new creatures, these ones with swords.

“No, I have not. Do you like my pets, I brought them for you.” Hisato purred into Suzume’s ear.

Suzume closed her eyes just thinking that she had almost made a deal with this creep made her want to punch him. Her hand itched to reach for her staff but Kazue’s warning still rang through her head. That’s what Hisato was expecting, he knew she would try to fight him and if she did —she would lose.

Hisato spun Suzume around in his arms so they were standing face to face. He tilted her head back by grabbing her chin between his thumb and forefinger. She had wondered why when they touched he did not send off a defensive mechanisms, and now she knew it was because they came from the same source. They were siblings in sense, because at one point they had both been part of Kazue.

“You’re very kind but I did not need you to kill them. I am planning on returning to the palace now. I should be going, actually…” She tried to unlock herself from his embrace but he jerked her head back. Suzume gasped and bit down on a expletive. There were a few choice words she wanted to say but she held them back.

“I’m not ready to let you go, Suzume. I told you before we are meant for one another —destined as you and the dragon never could be.”

A shiver of premonition rippled down her spine. “You knew the whole time. Why have me go into that cave if you knew…”

He smiled. “As I said, everything must maintain its balance. I cannot tell you a story that is not mine to tell. Just as I cannot force you to choose me.”

“If you’re not forcing me, then let me go.” She wrenched her arm but his grip only tightened. The fighting continued on around them but it felt muted and distant as all her attention was focused Hisato.

“I cannot force you but I can persuade.” He leaned in close enough to where his lips hovered over hers but they did not touch. Her stomach tightened and she yanked her head back. Just the idea of kissing him made her feeling like she would be kissing a sibling, never an enticing prospect.

“You’re going to try and persuade me just like you tried to convince me to kill Kaito. Maybe the reason you cannot kill Kaito is because you are a part of Kazue and you love him too.”

He threw his head back as he laughed. “No, I have no love for the dragon. His power will help me grow, but I have no desire for male flesh. Yours however…” he trailed a hand up her side and brushed against the side of her breast. It was the last straw. The power came with little effort, it was burning hot and fast. She imagined it in her hands focused on the palms. She placed her hands on Hisato’s chest and forced the power into him.

He yelped and dropped Suzume. Two scorch marks in the shape of Suzume’s hands were burned onto his chest. Suzume’s chest burned as well. She touched her robe and the skin beneath was inflamed.

Hisato grinned. “Haven’t you figured it out yet, we are of one flesh, Suzume. Anything that harms me will harm you.”

Would it have killed you to mention that detail. Suzume thought to Kazue.

I told you to play along with him, Kazue replied. I didn’t think you would try and attack him.

“Just because we cannot harm one another does not mean I’m going to play along,” Suzume said to Hisato.

“Would you change fate, Suzume? Would you give up your life for the dragon’s?”

“What are you talking about now?” Suzume said, she reached for the staff, she may not be able to attack but it gave her some comfort.

Just wait a moment longer, Kazue said.

I hope you have an idea because I’m running short of patience.

Kazue did not answer.

Nearby Kaito growled as he was pulled to the ground by the strange black creatures. There was hundreds of them now. They pinned Kaito to the ground and one stradled his back and pulled on his whiskers. Rin lay still on the ground her tails flopped over. The guardian and Tsuki fought back to back as more and more of the creatures circled around them.

“You see,” Hisato said, “There is no use fighting. Join me, Suzume and together we will rule. Apart we will fall. Our birth created an in-balance in the world one that the Dragon will seek to correct. It is not you he wants but Kazue. If it means killing you to save her soul, he will not hesitate to do it. ”

She knew he expected her to consider his offer at least but it was difficult to even pretend. A part of her wanted to agree with what he was saying. She knew Kaito loved Kazue and once he learned she was not really Kazue but a fragment of her soul, his feelings would change. Would he kill me really? She had been deceived by Hisato before. The others needed her help, whatever their faults they had fought alongside her and come to her aide when she needed it. I betrayed them once; I won’t do it again. I have to save them. Before Suzume could be proud of her own growth, Hisato yanked on her arm and brought her over to Kaito. The black creatures had chained him to the ground. Whatever had bound him was seered his flesh and the air smelled of burning skin and hair. Hisato pulled Suzume over to Kaito and forced her onto her knees in front of him.

“The time has come, Suzume, prove to me how much you to be want free of him. Seal him away and use the power to return your life to the way it was.”

She looked down at Kaito. Still in Dragon form, he looked up at her with large blue eyes covered by bushy brows. He looked sad, damaged, betrayed. She could not look away. He had looked the same way when Kazue sealed him away, and it broke something inside her. I cant do this, how much longer can I pretend?

A few feet away the guardian roared for his son. Everything moved too fast. The creatures became a black ungulating mass around her. Hisato faded away all her attention focused on Kaito. Suzume reached for the staff drew it and pointed it at Kaito. She could feel Hisato’s triumphant smile. She closed her eyes took a deep breath and then a song came to her from somewhere deep and primal, perhaps it was Kazue that provided the words, Suzume could not be certain but the power coursed through her veins, the dams broke and were shattered. She was living breathing power. Energy rippled over her skin and lifted her hair off of her head.

She swung the staff in a circle, singing all the while. The sound of her voice echoed off the walls and surrounded them, wrapping together and making it sound as if there were a hundred of her singing the same song all at once. Kaito closed his eyes prepared to have Suzume unleash the power upon him. Hisato laughed, gloating in his triumph and then at the last moment Suzume turned towards Hisato. He stopped laughing and looked at Suzume his expression confused at first then reality dawned on him.

Now! Kazue shouted inside Suzume’s head. And the power burst from her in a torrent. She was emptied done to the last drop and she fell to her knees. Then standing in front of her was Kazue in the flesh. She looked powerful and beautiful. She took the staff from Suzume’s fumbling hands and attacked, Hisato. To Suzume and Hisato’s surprise the attacks did not effect Suzume. Though he was shocked at first, Hisato fought back once he realized the blows did not impact Suzume. He had a blade which was black as pitch and he swung it at Kazue as she thrust and dodged with the staff in hand. Suzume watched it all in a haze as the glowing Kazue harried Hisato around the courtyard. The black creatures attacked her as well but one swing of the staff sliced them in half and they disappeared into puffs of smoke.

When none were left but Hisato and Kazue. He put up his hands and with a smile. “Well played, mother. I shall cede the day to you, but I will return for my bride soon.”

And in a blast of smoke he disappeared. Kazue turned to Suzume lying on the ground.Kaito had risen to his feet. He walked at first and then ran to Kazue who was standing at the edge of the courtyard. While she had been fighting Hisato she had been glowing and powerful but even now she had begun to fade. Kaito cupped her cheek and Suzume could see his fingers through Kazue’s skin.

“You returned to me.” Kaito said.

She turned her face into his embrace. “I am sorry, my love. This was never how I intended this to happen.”

“Shh. Don’t speak like that.”

She shook her head. She was nearly gone now, just a wisp of smoke. “This was all I had left, but I am glad I had this last chance to see your face.” She reached up and kissed Kaito. Her lips brushed against his before she burst into sparkling red lights that faded and dimmed. It was the last thing Suzume saw before darkness crept over her and she lost consciousness.

A/N:  Sorry for the delay in updating. I had planned to have this up on Friday but my daughter's birthday party was this weekend so I was running around getting everything prepared and I did not have a chance to sit at my lap top. Just one more chapter to go and I am kind of freaking out. Plus I am this close to 10k votes. So if you love me consider voting? And I guess you could give me your thoughts on the chapter. *puppy dog eyes*