Shu looked out of the window. He was still inside the small cottage they'd left him, Lui was sitting on the bed beside him, mindlessly flipping through one of the scrolls he'd found. There was a dread settling inside his stomach, a sense of impatience mixed with despair. What he discovered might hold fruit for their further expeditions on truth, but he knew the end was near. They had dispatched a message to the mainland and they were probably taking their ships to the harbour, ready for the voyage. It was only a matter of time when.

"Lui," Shu said, leaning against his shoulder, "Don't you think it's weird?"

Lui stopped reading and looked at him, "Hmm?"

"Don't you think that it's weird that the angel looked like me to begin with? I mean, I look like my parents, most of us have red eyes and white hair, it's like a symbolic feature of our royal blood. So, does that mean we're descendants of it? But wouldn't it make more sense if the People of the Moon were the descendants? They had the angel, it was in their land the angel was murdered."

Lui caressed his locks, seemingly lost in thought. "It would make sense that way, but before your Kurenai family became royal blood, they might've been a normal family. Remember? Thrones and royalty are acquired through coups too. One family doesn't retain, and another grab for power. It's a cycle of vehemence and violence. But all this becomes true if we believe in the angel at all. What if it's just a legend?"

Shu hummed, reaching out to Lui's hand, intervening with their fingers as he thought back to the possibilities, if it was all just a legend, and the Demon lords were imprinting an idea inside people's minds to evoke fear, why was he targeted? Why didn't they just choose someone from this land itself, wouldn't it be easier?

There was a knock on the door, "Come in," Lui said as Daigo walked in, he didn't seem to be bothered by their intimacy, "The rest are here, we can start now."

Shu rose himself from the bed and nodded. "We'll be there."

When the pair walked towards the mess hall, the rest were talking among themselves over tea. Shu watched Valt's animated face as he described something from the mainland, and Shu wondered how long will it take for them to reach here. "Here he comes," Lain grumbled.

"Well, we're waiting for your wisdom," Jin said, the ghost child was perched on his shoulder, and unlike other times, he didn't fly his way over to Shu, just sat there, his haunting empty eyes daring to look at him. Shu knew why. There was a mistrust building among them, that was one of the conclusions he came up with.

Shu sat down between Free and Lui, "I have a question before anything else, do you know anyone else with this same syndrome? Anyone else except, Jin, Lain, Ken, Honey?"

Daigo frowned, his ebony eyes narrowing in confusion, "Not that I'm aware of, why?"

"Because I'm almost certain there's another one," Shu answered, leaning back on his chair. "Each of you represents one aspect of human sense."

Ken gave him a questioning glance as he spoke through Keru, "What do you mean?"

"Look, Honey, can hear, right? She hears everything, the screams, the whispers. And Ken cannot speak, and Jin can see all these horrible things and Lain-" He stopped looking at the young assassin, "Well, Lain can feel it on his skin. It's the five senses, and that's why I said one is missing. Hearing, Seeing, Feeling, Tasting and the smell, there has to be someone who's incorporated with that sense if this plot makes sense."

"It doesn't make sense, what role do you play then?"

Shu smiled, "Well, I guess that they couldn't do it. All these extended senses, a single human vessel cannot hold it. So, they distributed all of them randomly among different people and then me," Shu grimaced, "I'm in the middle because I feel everything, not all the time but when I do, it's a collection of all your symptoms. Let me ask you another question, were there times in the past when your pain suddenly faded away? Like out of the blue, it went away and came back?"

Jin and Lain shared a glance and the former was kind enough to answer. "Yes, it has happened before."

"Can you give me a time and a date?"

Lain opened his mouth to tell how ridiculous the question was but stopped, and gave him a time where his pain was suddenly faded and gone. He hated it because it made him remember how life would be if he were not constantly burning with invisible flames.

Keru spoke, "I remember that day too, the pain was gone for a long time."

Shu pointedly looked at the rest of the table, waiting for them to catch up and to his no surprise, Free and Lui immediately saw the significance. "That's when we had the tournament, you collapsed on the floor after battling with Lui," Free started.

"Yes, and that was the day I saw its effects to its full extent. So you mean to say that, whenever you get an attack, their pain dissipates?"

"Yes, that's the connection, if I'm the vessel they intend to recreate as the angel, the moment I get all the senses, their pain disappears. But I don't think I've carried all the five senses together because I have a feeling that would be the end of the line."

"What do you mean?" Daigo asked.

"There must be a reason all these powers are scattered among five people because one person cannot hold it, I think the moment I conceive all the five senses, I'll just- I'll just die." Shu blinked, realizing how easy it was, to die. If he was the masterpiece in creation, if he was a weapon possessed by the demon lords, wouldn't it be easy to disarm them through his death? "Let's test it," Shu said.

"No," Lui countered, "Snowflake, what the fuck are you talking about?"

"I want to know how bad it is when I take all three together, that way I can make a measurement." Shu was not looking at Lui, he was overcome with the mania of knowledge, he was grasping the edge of the truth, he couldn't quite see it, but he could feel that he was closer to the truth than he ever was.

"No, Lui's right, that's way too dangerous," Valt said, shaking his head.

"But then how are we-" Shu stopped, eyes widening as the pain made him double over, he looked over to Lain and found his indifferent stare on him. Shu grimaced, "At least give me a warning, please," He breathed.

"Well, you wanted to test it, didn't you?" Lain grumbled, looking at Jin and Ken, "What are you two waiting for, get over with it."

Kensuke looked at Valt who pressed his lips to a thin line, even Lui didn't speak, just watched, "Okay, but the moment it feels like it's going overboard, you have to take it back," Lui growled. Ken hesitantly shifted his curse, transferring it to Shu. The albino dropped his head onto the wooden table, grunting in pain, his muscles trembling with the force of it.

When Jin finally transferred his curse, Shu cried out, digging his fingers into his thighs, and breathing erratically. "This is it," Shu whimpered, unshed tears glistening in his eyes, "This is as bad as it goes."

"Fuck," Lain cursed, "I can't take it back."

"What do you mean?" Free asked, standing up.

Shu was trembling with the force of the pain, his forehead beaded with sweat, as he sat down, his face a ghastly white. Lui reached out to him when Shu flinched away from him and stood. The chair rattling behind him, "Don't touch me!"

"Snowflake," Lui urged. He wanted to remind Shu of the crystal flowers, but the albino lit his palms in flames, backing towards the corner of the room, his crimson eyes wild and vigilant as he cowered like prey surrounded by predators.

"He's going to burn the fucking place down," Lain growled, unsheathing his sword, Lui sent him a glare.

"Touch him, I'll kill you."

Free placed a reassuring hand on Lui's shoulder, his ebony eyes firmly on Shu who had sunk to the floor, whimpering with his head buried on his knees. He was openly trembling, a circle of fire surrounding him. The blonde gestured at Lui, "Go ahead."

The White Tyrant approached slowly, "Snowflake," He said, gently. Shu looked up, sweat rolling down his temple, his brows twisted in pain, but his eyes didn't seem to recognize the person, they looked haunted, crippled and exhausted. "You have to get a crystal flower, okay?" He said, crouching in front of him. Shu let him inch closer, but the moment Lui touched his bracelet, Shu moved. He elbowed Lui grabbed the dagger attached to his belt and wielded the weapon in front of him, breathing wildly.

"Don't come close," His voice was a hoarse whisper. Tears rolled down freely on his cheeks.

"This is a first," Valt frowned, "I've never seen him like this."

"It's like he's..." Honcho shared a glance with Valt.

"Possessed," Zac finished. "It looks exactly like he's possessed which sounds ridiculous but still."

"Do you think three is more than he can handle?" Ken asked, using his real voice. It was refreshing to feel the fresh air bursting through his lungs, refreshing to breathe without pain searing his body, yet he didn't want to see his freedom at the cost of another.

"Shu," Lui said, ice covering the floor in front of them. "C'mon, it's me. You're safe. Please put that down."

Free was circling from the opposite side, surrounding Shu as he kept holding the dagger in his trembling hands. Shu closed his eyes, took another shaky breath and angled the knife so that the blade was aimed at himself. "I don't want to," He whispered, lunging the knife down to his heart.

"Shu!" Half of the room cried out, Free acted reflexively, tackling Shu from behind, expertly disarming him before Shu could sink the knife into his body. Lui didn't waste any time reaching him, he grabbed Shu by his hands and locked him in his hold. Shu screamed, his crimson eyes opening wide.

"Let go!" Shu screamed, thrashing against his hold, "Please," He cried out, slumping back, the fight leaving his body. Fresh tears streamed down his face as the albino openly sobbed, "It hurts, please, it hurts."

Lui eased his hold and hauled him up so that Shu's head rested on his chest, he kissed his forehead, parting his lips with his index finger and poured the liquid from the crystal flower down his throat. Shu screamed again, doubling over with a violent cough, staining his white robes red, blood dribbling down his chin. It felt as though he was being gutted alive, as someone was cutting him open and dragging out his organs one by one. Lui placed his palm on Shu's chest, easing the pain. Shu whimpered, leaning towards him, fingers clutching his robes. "There, you're good. I got you," He whispered, peppering kisses along his hair.

When the room quietened down and Shu finally slumped in Lui's hold, breathing wildly but seemingly okay, Valt collapsed to his chair, "What was that?"

Lain winced as the pain transferred back to him, "Well, that was fucking terrific."

Free crouched in front of them, "Shu?" He called, Shu stared ahead, his crimson eyes frighteningly blank. The blonde shared a look with Lui who tapped his cheek, trying to gain his attention.

"Snowflake, can you hear me?"

Shu snapped out of his spell and blinked, "Y-Yes." He winced, "I can."

Zac grabbed the jug of water and poured the contents into a cup. He reached the pair on the floor, "Here, drink this." Shu nodded, reaching out with trembling hands. Zac ran his fingers down his chin, wiping off the dried trails of blood on his face. "Shooting star, you should get some rest."

Shu hummed, "It's funny," He said, letting out a dry chuckle. "I don't remember anything."

"What do you mean?" Daigo asked.

"How did I end up like this, on the floor? I asked for their curses and now I'm like this. What happened?"

Honcho ran a hand through his hair, frustrated, "Well, you went on a rampage, and tried to stab yourself."

Shu blinked, pulling away from Lui as he sat down on the floor, "Oh."

"Are you sure you're fine?" Keru asked, concerned. Shu could hear the guilt in his voice. He nodded, reassuring him.

"It's two," Shu said, "The worst I've gotten is two of your curses, and three makes me lose my mind. I don't know what the fourth and the fifth will do." His face crumpled, "I hope to god it would just kill me."

Lui sighed beside him, "Let's get you to rest." Shu felt guilty for speaking out those words without considering Lui's feelings, but he'd rather choose death than feel the pain of a thousand spears crushed against his heart. It was as if he was being boiled alive, he could only remember the pain, the crushing violent pain, wrapping around him like poison, pulsing as if it was alive.

He didn't object when Lui helped him to stand, "Can you walk?"

Shu nodded, "Yeah."

The others were quiet as they walked out. Shu leaned against his body, as Lui wrapped one of his arms around him, his violet eyes distant and thoughtful. When they reached their lodging, Lui asked him to sit and Shu quietly obeyed. He watched the other grabbing a fresh set of clothes, "Lui, I'm-"

"Don't apologize," Lui said, walking over to him, and finally turning to look at him. "You're not going to die."

It was spoken with such finality Shu almost believed it himself. When he placed his palms on his cheeks, Shu closed his eyes, feeling the warmth, "So you should not give up on it. I'm going to save you, promise me you'll fight too, promise me you won't just give up."

Shu felt tears rushing upto his eyes, he didn't. He didn't want to die. He wanted a life with Lui, he wanted to grow old together, he wanted to kiss him goodnight and wake up in his arms in a room of their own, and he wanted to see him a king, there were so many things undone, so many things they had to accomplish together. Shu nodded, sniffling. "Okay, okay. I'll keep fighting, but Lui it's hard," He whispered, "The pain, it's like this living thing, it's wrapping around me, choking me."

"I'm sorry I can't make it better," Lui said, helpless. Shu opened his eyes, surprised at his tone. It was as though Lui was close to tears himself. He had seen Lui crying, they had held each other through their worst times, but this was different. This was the tone of a man who didn't want to lose him, Shu wrapped his arms around his neck.

"You do," he said, "You do make it better. You're the single thread keeping me alive. I love you, Lui."

Lui traced his fingers on his cheek, "We'll make it out alive. This is not where our story ends."

Shu smiled, "No. This is not."

"Go to sleep, Snowflake. You're tired." He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against his lips and spoke, their lips hovering closer that they were touching each other with every word. "I love you."

Shu nodded, smiling, "Thank you for everything. I know I don't say this enough, but you don't know how many times your love has brought me back from tumbling over the edge of my sanity. Don't ever doubt the place you have in my heart, okay? Take care of yourself for me, I'm doing the same for you."

Lui chuckled, "Of course, princess. Now rest."

----

When Lui walked back towards the mess hall, the rest were in deep conversation. There was a white page resting on the long table with a human figure drawn in the middle of it, with five more figures surrounding the main figure to represent each sense. "How's he?" Free asked, looking up.

"He's fine. He fell asleep," He gestured at the paper, crossing his arms. "What is this?"

"We're trying to figure out Shu's part in this whole affair," Orochi confirmed, "Because there has to be a way he connects to the plot."

"Isn't it obvious though?" Lui asked, "Shu's the human consciousness, essence, soul, call it whatever you want, he's the connecting point. Senses separately provide nothing but a scattered vigilance of one component, the human mind has to make sense of those signals, and Shu's that connection with the outside senses."

"It's like," Ken paused, he was speaking through Keru again, "It's that Shu is the essence of the angel then?"

Lui shrugged, he didn't have all the answers, that's as close as he got to a sensible theory. Lain was missing, he noticed. He stood beside Gou who gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze, "I'm okay," He muttered under his breath as the former sighed.

"Should I go stay with Shu?" Gou asked, "I know you don't want to leave him alone."

"Is it alright?" Lui asked, he wanted to wait for Shu to wake up, but he had questions so he came back once the male fell asleep.

Gou nodded, "Of course. I'll wait there, you sort things out here."

"Thanks," Lui said as Gou walked out. "Well," He said to the rest inside the room, "How long has the legend of the angel been around?"

Daigo tilted his head, "It has been there since long as I remember."

"It should've been," Free commented, "Don't you remember even Shu mentioning it in the council? If Shu's uncle wrote all that in the book, it was there pretty much a long time ago."

"No," Lui said, "I'm asking about the rumour of the angel's appearance, the red eyes and white hair?"

Daigo and Jin shared a look, "I...don't know," Jin admitted, "The rumour of the angel was there since the beginning, but it's only later I learned about the appearance and how it is similar to your partner's."

"That's interesting," Zac commented, "It's as though someone was intentionally doing that?"

"Intentionally doing what?" A new voice said, they simultaneously turned towards the source to find Sasha standing by the door, a sly smile on her face. "Missed me, boys?"

"Sasha!" Valt said, "What are you doing here?"

Sasha gestured at Daigo, "He asked me to bring Honey."

"Yes, because now the truth is slowly unravelling it only made sense to have everyone here. If we find some cure, I want everyone to have a hold of it, not one of us." Daigo said.

"That's true," Xander said, finally joining the conversation, "But if Shu is right, there has to be another one holding a curse."

Sasha blinked in surprise, "Another one?"

Ruway sighed, explaining the revelations to her and the girl seemed baffled by the new developments, "Wow," Sasha said," That actually makes a lot of sense but as far as I'm aware, there's not another person who's- who's like this."

"I was hoping you'd know something," Daigo said, "That's partly the reason I asked you to come."

Before Sasha could answer, Wakiya and Honcho crashed in. They had left a moment ago when a messenger arrived at the village carrying a scroll and the pair volunteered to check if it was a threat. "It's bad," Wakiya announced, placing the worn scroll on the table with his sapphire eyes wild with concern, "It's really bad."

"What happened?" Free asked, grabbing the scroll and running his eyes along the content of it, he instantly turned to Lui.

"They're asking for a peace council," The blonde said.

"Who?" Lui didn't need to ask, he had a feeling.

"The demon lords."